of the wicked is to lye in waite for blood: and a foole sprea∣deth abroad follie: and in the mouth of the foolishe is the rodde of pride. And the mouth of fooles babbleth out foolishnes: and the wicked mans mouth babbleth euil thinges: and a wicked man dig∣geth vp euil, and in his lippes is like burning fire: and seeing also that they which haue not their affections wel ruled and ordered, nor their passions wel tamed, but are vnpatient, can not suffer to bee contraried, and wil not dissemble that which displeaseth them, it is not without cause that Solomon saieth nowe.
A fooles lippes come with strife, and his mouth calleth for stripes.
Therefore if wee desire to doe as Saint Paule doeth teach vs, that is, to haue friendship and peace with al men, wee must flye backe from follie, lest it take roote in our heartes, and fil them therewith, so that from the abundance thereof, our mouthes speak flattering woordes, leasinges, slanderinges, false witnessinges, cur∣sings, and other iniurious and outragious woordes. For if suche thinges come out of our mouthes, and that wee should haue to do with men that woulde bee sodeinely mooued to anger, impatient and brainsicke, wee shoulde not bee without strifes and dissenti∣ons, without warres and battels.
Notwithstanding, this is not to say, that wee must not continue stil to rebuke vices and wickednes with anger, sharpnesse and ri∣gour: and chiefly when they are committed with obstinacie, arro∣gancie and offence. Neither ought wee to care though some take suche reprehension iniuriously, cal vs fooles, and starte vp against vs: for the Saintes which are gone before vs, haue sustained suche combattes, and wee must followe them. And if wee must take heede for speaking foolishly, for to auoide strife and blowes, and to bee at discorde and hatred with our neighbours, by a stronger reason must wee beware of speaking foolishely before God.