A commentarie vpon the most diuine Epistle of S. Paul to the Romanes Containing for matter, the degeneration of our nature by Adams Fall; and the restauration thereof, by the grace of Christ. Together with the perfection of faith, and the imbecillity of workes, in the cause of iustification of elect sinners before God. For forme and maner of handling, it hath the coherence and method, the summe and scope, the interpretations & doctrines the reasons and vses, of most texts. All which, are set downe very familiarly and compendiously, in forme of a dialogue, betweene Tlmotheus [sic] and Silas, by Thomas Wilson, one of the six preachers in the cathedrall church of Canterbury.

DIAL. VIII.

Verse 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.

Their throat is an open Sepulcher, with their tongues they haue deceyued, the poison of Aspes is vnder their Lippes, whose mouth is full of bitternesse & cursing: their feete are swifo to shed bloud, anguish and calamity is in their way: & the way of peace they haue not known. There is no feare of God before their eyes.

Tim.

VVHat meaneth hee by this when hee saith, [Their throate is an open Sepulcher?]

Sil.

It doth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vs, that the speeches of Natural* 1.1 vnregenerate men, are vnsauoury, rotten, and hurtfull to others: for, as a Sepulcher dooth send out noysome sa∣uours and filthy smelles: so euill men doe viter rotten and filthy words. Secondly, as a sepulcher doth consume and deuoure bodies cast into 〈◊〉〈◊〉: so wicked men doe with their

cruell wordes destroy others, they are like a gulfe to de∣uoute men. Lastly, as a sepulcher hauing deuoured many corpses, is stil ready to consume more, being neuer satiate;* 1.2 so wicked men hauing ouerthrown many with their words doe proccede still in their out-rage, seeking whome they may destroy.

Tim.

What is the vertue contrary to this?

Sil.

To vse our tongues to honest, louing, and wise talke, which may doe good to others. Ephe, 4. 29. Coloss. 4. 4.

Tim.

What is the next vice of the tongue?

Sil.

With their mouthes they speake deceitfull words, that is, when the mouth speaketh that the heart thinketh not, with a purpose to deceiue others; to couer hatred with words of deceit, as Caine and Ioab and Indas did.

Tim.

What reasons against this kind of speech?

Sil.

First, it commeth from Sathan: secondly, it swer∣ueth from charity: thirdly, it tendeth to destruction: fourth∣ly, it is a worke of a wicked man.

Tim.

What is meant by Aspes?

Sil.

A kinde of Serpent which spitting forth their poy∣son, doeth there with kill euen those which are a farre off: by which the Apostle would signifie that wicked men (such as all men are by nature) doe with their euill wordes hurt,* 1.3 not onely such as be neare, but euen them which are farre* 1.4 off from them. Example hereof we haue in San ballat and Tobiah being in Persia, yet with their toūgs huit the Iewes which were at Ierusalem. Nehem. 4. 3. Also in Doeg, who hort with his tongue the Lordes Priestes being absent. 1. Sam. 22. 9. In this respect malicious tongues are compa∣red to arrowes Psalm. 53. euen because the malice of the tongue woundeth a great way off, as an arrow shot out of a bow, hitteth and hurteth a great distance off.

Tim.

What learne ye hereby?

Sil.

That it is a great miserie to haue an euil tongue, it makes men like poysonfull Serpents. Secondly, it is a blessed thing to haue our speech reformed, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 3, 3.

That heed is to be taken how we deale with euill tounged men.

Tim.

What is the next fruit of mans corruption as touching his speech?

Sil.

Bitter and cursed words, which bee of two sortes; First against God, as in Rabsakeh 2. Km. 18. 22. And in the* 1.5 Israelite which was stoned to death, Leuit. 24. 11. Se∣condly,* 1.6 against our selues, as in the Iewes, who wished Christs bloud to be vpon their heads, Math. 27. 25. Third∣ly against others, as Shimie, who cursed Dauid, 2. Sam. 16. 5. As they haue gall and bitternesse in their hart, Acts 8. 23. so their mouth runneth ouer.

Tim.

What reasons against this kind of speaking?

Sil.

First, it is against the commandement, which sayeth, Curse not. Leuit. 24. 15. Rom. 12. Blesse, and curse not. Se∣condly, it is against the end, for which speech was giuen to blesse God and man. Iam. 3. 9. Thirdly it is recompensed with the like, Psalm. 109. 17. He loueth cursing, therefore it is come to him.

Tim.

What is the next effect of our corruption?

Sil.

Cruelty, feete swift to shed bloud; that is, to com∣passe and commit slaughter, all men are such by nature, ex∣cept* 1.7 grace do either restraine, or correct and cure our ma∣licious nature; this testimony is out of Esay, that by the mouth of two witnesses, euery word may be ratified: Feet signifieth affections with readinesse, and shedding signifi∣eth cruelty with greedines, powring it out.

Tim.

What is the fruit of their cruelty?

Sil.

Destruction and calamity actiuely towards others, whom they destroy, and also towards themselues passiue∣ly at the last, as in Cain, Pharaoh, Iewes, Iudus, who were gi∣uen to cruelty, & they were rewarded accordingly, bloud did draw on bloud.

Tim.

What is meant by the way of peace?

Sil.

A peaceable and quiet trade of life, which these did not follow, but were of a turbulent nature; and whereas hee sayeth they know not the way of peace, hee meaneth

that they doe not approue it, nor practise it. Like phrase in Psal. 1. 6. 7 knowing, put for allowing.

Tim.

What reasons may encourage vs to liue peaceably?

Sil.

First, the commandement 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God Rom 12. 18. Se∣condly, the sweet and manifold profit of peace, Psal. 133. Thirdly, the sowre fruites of contention. Fourthly, the ex∣ample of godly men, as Abraham, Moyses, Ioseph. Lastly, for that God is a God of peace, & heauen a place of peace, and the Gospell a worde of peace, and Christ a mediatour and Prince of peace.

Tim.

Towards whome is peace to be kept?

Sil.

Towards our selues and others, with kinsfolks and neighbouis, with friendes and with enemies, faithfull and infidell, Rom. 12. 18.

Tim.

What is this that hee sayth, the feare of God is not be∣fore* 1.8 their eres?

Sil.

That men doe not thinke themselues to be in Gods presence. Secondly, that they are not drawne from euill by this consideration. Thirdly, that they are not moued to do good vppon desire to please GOD. Fourthly, when they speake vnto God, and doe heare him speake vnto them, they do it not with due reuerence and awe.

Tim.

Why doth he shut vp all with this sentence?

Sil.

Because the lacke of this is the fountain from which all other euils doe flowe; where Gods feare which is the* 1.9 bridle and curb to sin, is absent, all vices will there bee pre∣sent and abound.

Tim.

What things may stirre vp the heart to feare God?

Sil.

His infinite iustice and power. Secondly, his marue∣lous prouidence and rule ouer all thinges. Thirdly, his in∣comprehensible mercies towardes his children. Fourthly, his iudgements vpon the wicked, and sharpe chastisements vppon the godly. Fiftly, examples of such as fearing him, haue been blessed and protected. Sixtly, the great and pre∣cious promises made to such as feare GOD, as that they shal be happy, be preserued & blessed in their goods, name, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, soules and bodie, temporally and eternally: see Psal. 112. & 128.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psal. 5. 9.
• * 1.2

  Also saith O∣rigen, Vsus sce lerum verecun∣diam 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.3

  Psa. 113. 3.
• * 1.4

  Note further that a veno∣mous tongue is thus resem∣bled 1. be∣cause this Serpent in∣fecteth by bi∣ting: 2. It is a poyson vncu∣rable: 3. they are int: acta∣ble, stopping their care, at the charmers voyce.
• * 1.5

  Psal. 10. 7.
• * 1.6

  Their mouth is said to be ful, because their mouth is as a large vessel, out of which flowes cruel word.
• * 1.7

  Esay 59. 7. 8.
• * 1.8

  Psal. 36. 1.
• * 1.9

  Quideum non timent, sine re∣tinaculo currūs ad maium 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a∣nus.