Ornaments for the daughters of Zion, or, The character and happiness of a virtuous woman in a disocurse which directs the female-sex how to express the fear of God in every age and state of their life, and obtain both temporal and eternal blessedness / written by Cotton Mather.

Counsel. 4.

While you thus maintain the Fear of God, let it very particularly discover it self in your keeping the purpose of the Psalmist, I will take heed unto my ways that I Sin not with my Tongue; I will keep my Mouth with a Bridle. May it be as much a Causeless, as it is a Common report

concerning you, that your Tongues are frequently not so governed by the Fear of God, as they ought to be. The Fa∣culty of Speech is of such a Noble and of such a signal Figure in the constitu∣tion of Mankind, that it is a thousand pitys, it should be Abus'd; but Woman∣kind is usually charged with a peculiar share in the Worlds Abuses of it. It is indeed a piece of great Injustice, that every Woman should be so far an Eve, as that her Depravation should be impu∣ted unto all the Sex. Nevertheless it highly concerns you to do your part, that in Fames Trumpet, which is a Speaking One, you may be better spoken of, as to the matter of your speaking. The attainment which therefore I re∣commend unto you, is that in Prov. 10. 20. The Tongue of the Just, is as choice Silver. A Woman is often valued according to the Silver that she has to bring unto them that will call her their Mistress, in order to their being Master of that. 'Tis a few Pounds, Shilling and Pence, that makes her weigh heaviest in the Scale of the vulgar Estimation. But a Woman of a Silver Tongue is the person of whom we may most reasonably say, She is

not of little worth. As your Speech ought always to be True, and there should be no less an agreement between your Hearts and Words, than between your Words and Things, ever speaking As you think, tho' it may be not All you think; lest you put Brass or Tin instead of Sil∣ver: so your Speech ought likewise to be Rare, like Silver, which is not so common as Copper or Iron is. Be care∣ful that you don't Speak too soon, because you cannot fetch back and eat up, what is uttered; but Study to Answer. And be careful that you don't Speak too much, because that when the Chest is always open, every one counts there are no Treasures in it; and the Scripture tells us, 'tis the Whore that is Clamorous, and the Fool, that is full of words. Let there be a comely Affability and Ingenuity at the same time, in all your Spe••ch, that it may be as grateful as a Bag of Silver would be to the Receivers of it; and O let there be no Dross in your whole Com∣munication. The Dross of your own Wrath, vented in scolding, fury, vile names; the Dross of your own Worth, vented in boasting, bragging, self-osten∣tations; the Dross of all Filthiness, vent∣ed

in Baudy Talk about the Things which 'tis a shame to speak; let all this Dross be purged out of all your Speech. But instead thereof let your Speech, have so much Ʋse in it, that your Discourse may bring as much Emolument as ready Silver to the Hearers of it; that your Lips may Feed many, your Mouth may be a Well of Life, and your Tongue may be Health: and that ordinarily your Companions may not be a Quarter of an hour with you, before they may have cause to say of you, Her Discourse has been Meat, Drink and Physick to my Soul! O that when you are talking you would imagine what the Prophet says, The Lord hearkened and heard, and acknow∣ledge what the Psalmist owns, There is not a Word in my Tongue, but behold O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. I re∣member Tertullian relates, That the Primitive Christians did use to season their Feasts with very savoury Discour∣ses; and he gives this reason for it; Ita fabulantur, ut qui sciant Dominum audire; They Talk as knowing that the Lord Hears. Pray carry that in your Minds, and that will prevent the Impertinent Gossiping which you have been reproach∣ed

for, that will make you bring forth such things as you may with Joy find entred in The Lords Books of Remem∣brance.