WHen we are expresly told, That if any Man seem to be Religious, and bridleth not his Tongue, but deceiveth his own Heart, this Mans Religion is vain, Jam. 1. 26. We are greatly admonished thereby, to set a diligent watch over that unruly Member, which is the Instrument of the Heart, to express the evil things therein conceived; for out of the abun∣dance of the Heart the Mouth speaketh, Luke 6. 45. It is true, the Scrip∣ture sometimes calls the Tongue a Mans Glory, Psal. 16. 9. & 57. 8. And so it is when ordered by a wise and pious Heart. But as every Man hath his Imperfections, the Tongue will be ready to vent them, if not bridled by the Rules of Truth, Reason, and common Civility. And for some help in this case, we shall here propose a few Directions briefly. And,
1. That we be much with God by Prayer, for a wise and sanctified Heart; for without this there can be no due regulation of the Tongue. It is our Saviour's Rule, Either make the Tree good, and the Fruit good; or the Tree corrupt, and the Fruit corrupt, Luke 6. 45. And truly if it were possible to fill our Mouths with all the good words and fair speeches that may be, and yet retain corrupt Hearts. It would not by any means be profitable unto us. The Tongue is but the Index of Deceit or Hy∣pocrisie, Rom. 16. 18. He then that ordereth the Tongue aright, is he that first speaketh the Truth in his Heart, Psal. 15. 2. And to do this, there is no way better than to beg of God both a wise and an holy Heart. The first was Solomon's request, 1 Kings 3. 10. Give therefore thy Servant an understanding Heart. The second was David's, Psal. 119. 80. Let my Heart be sound in thy Statutes, that I be not ashamed. And thus earnestly seeking the Lord in this behalf, thou shalt have the Peti∣tion which thou hast desired, Psal. 69. 32. Your Heart shall live that seek God. The Heart being thus made alive and sound, is the Life of the Flesh; and this Wisdom coming from Above, will teach thee to rule thy Tongue, which no Man can tame, but as directed and assisted by the Grace of God; for the preparation of the Heart in Man, and the Answer of the Tongue, is from the Lord.
2. The second Direction is, To avoid verbosity, or over-much speaking. Solomon tells us, That even a Fool by holding his peace is counted wise, Prov. 17. 8. Hereby preferring silence, ordinarily, before much speak∣ing: and indeed the truly wise Man is abundantly more quick with his Ear, than with his Tongue; according to that of the Apostle, Jam. 1. 19. Let every Man be swift to hear, slow to speak. Words spoken without fit