[ XCIII] A government of the Tongue required.
SOcrates,* 1.1 the Ecclesiasticall Historiographer, reports a story of one Pambo, a plain ignorant man, who came to a learned man, and desired him, to teach him some one Psalm or other.* 1.2 He began to read unto him the 39 Psalm, Dixi, custodiam, &c. I said, I will look to my waies, that I offend not with my tongue. Having passed this first verse, Pambo shut the book, and took his leave, saying, That he would go learn that point first. When he had absented himself for the space of some months, he was demanded by his Reader, when he would go forward. He answered,* 1.3 That he had not yet learned his old lesson; and he gave the very same answer to one that asked the like question, forty nine years after. Such a hard thing it is to rule this unruly member of the tongue,* 1.4 that it must be kept in with a bit and a bridle,* 1.5 bolts and bars. It was David's glory, and it is our shame. It is row held to be a piece of Religion,* 1.6 to be offensive with the tongue, to slander, revile, and backbite their neighbours; nay, such a sinfull liberty have men taken to