The sinner's tears, in meditations and prayers. By Tho. Fettiplace. Dom: Pet: Cantab.

CHAP. 38. Upon the unruliness of the Tongue, with necessary cautions to restrain it.

Lord,

THY servant David is said to be a man after thine own heart, and yet I find him setting a watch before his lips, that he might not offend with his congue: if such a chosen vessel as he had so much need of circumspection, what holy cautions had I need to use, what strict rules to observe, who am so far from David's purity, that I am nothing else but wilfull impiety? I am so far (Lord) from being at union with thee, that I am even enmity it self against thee.

In vain had holy David set a watch before his lips, unless he had first set a guard upon his heart; where the fountain is impure, the streams can never be wholsome; if the heart be full of sinfull corruption, the tongue will soon overflow with corrupt and sinfull communication.

Lord, I need none other proof of this point, than mine own sinfull failings; how often have I provoked thee to anger, and displeasure against me, by that usuall, but most fearfull sin of swearing? of which, with shame and sorrow I confess, my younger years were sadly guilty; since when, time and experience having added more light to my mind, but thou (O Lord) e∣specially more grace to my heart, when I would have left it, to my great grief I could not; and had not that thy saving and preventing grace re∣strained

my depraved nature, this sin had doubt∣less been a sad memoriall to my grave: such is the power of sin once grown habituall. O let my sorrowfull confession be the readers usefull instruction, that thou mayst have the glory, I the shame of my mis-doing.

Lord, I have often sinned against thee, by my wretched violation of the truth, in envious de∣tractions from the good of my neighbour, vain∣glorious aggravations of mine own abilities, cen∣sorious taxations of my brethrens infirmities, indulgent diminutions of mine own iniqui∣ties.

I have often grieved thy good Spirit, by which thou hast sealed me up unto the day of redem∣ption, by my vain and idle communications, by my rash and sinfull exprobations, by my weak and froward objurgations, to the great dis∣honour of thee my God, to the cominuall grief of thy Saints, to the sad disturbance of my self.

All this (to my hearts grief) have I often done, and by all this I may now plainly see, how much I have hitherto been the servant of sin, and Satan, how great an enemy to thy glory, and to the good of mine own soul: But now, Lord, by thine assistance, my speciall care shall henceforth be, to allow my self no liberty of speech, but what is aiming at Eternity; if my heart be heavenly, my words will be gra∣tious, my actions holy, mine end happy; and that all this may be so indeed (by thy grace Lord) I will observe with carefulness, and con∣stancy, these following cautions.

1. Before I speak, I will consider, that I am in thy blessed presence, that what is once ••p••k••n

can never be recalled, but is recorded for eter∣ternity.

2. That each idle word must be accounted for, and that my whole life hitherto hath been little else but vain and empty discourse, tend∣ing much to thy dishonor, the hurt of my neigh∣bour, and (without mercy in Christ) the de∣struction of my own soul.

3. That there is no truer testimony of a graceless heart, than a licentious tongue; that if I be not holy in my discourse, I can never be happy in mine actions.

4. That it is impossible for those prayers to be pleasing to God, which are offered up with that sinfull member, that is so shamefully de∣filed with evill and corrupt communications a∣mongst men.

5. That if I make a mock at Christianity, by having onely a form of godliness in mine outward actions, but denying the power there∣of in my usuall conversation, God will one day pay me home, by shewing me the rich∣ness of his sufferings, but denying me the bene∣fits thereof, and the sweet enjoyments there∣by.

6. That without helinesse no man shall see the Lord; and that such as is my common, and most accustomed discourse in my life, I may well fear will be my last, and most un∣comfortable expressions at my death.

7. Unto all this I will adde the shortnesse, misery, and uncertainty of a sinfull life; the horrour and amazement of a wretched death; the extremity and eternity of torments after death. Lord, when my heart is thus guard∣ed by thy grace, my lips I trust will be ever open to thy praise.

Blessed God,

If thy holy Angell durst not give railing ac∣cusations against the devill; if thy Sainss in patience possesse their own soules, and their speeches he seasoned with salt, administring grace to the hearts of the hearers; if thou the blessed Saviour of the world, when thou wert reviled, reviledst not again, but as a lamb before the shearers so openedst thou not thy mouth, with what comfort can I now appear before thee, with what confidence expect a blessing from thee?

With grief and sorrow I confesse, that my heart hath ever been full of corruption, and naughtinesse, my mouth full of cursing and bitternesse, my daily discourse full of folly and uncleannesse, the whole course of my life full of misery and wickednesse.

O that my head were water, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night (that I might mourn continually) for mine own and others sins.

Lord purifie my heart, and rectifie my tongue, that both may be accepted of thee, and now and ever graciously directed by thee.

Lord, I acknowledge my faults, and my sin is ever before me; O let the sorrowfull remem∣brance of my sins invite thee to a sweet remem∣brance of thy mercies, that thou mayest have the praise, and I the comfort of thy gracious pardon.

Lord let my heart be inflamed with thy love, and my mouth filled with thy praise, that I may sacrifile my oul unto thee, that I may sanctifie my soul before thee, by devout thoughts, by

gracious words, and godly actions, that so I may with joyfulnesse and thankfulnesse appear in thy fight, not onely all the day long, but even all my life long, that thou (my God) mayst be glorified, thy Saints delighted, and my sinfnll foul eternally comforted. Amen.