all things that they may do hurt; was the ufe of Speech really given us for a Blef fing? Wherefore then doth it difquiet the whole World, driving Men from Nation to Nation, pulling down ftrong Cities, and overthrowing the Houfes of Great Men ? The Tongue cafteth out virtuous Women, and depriveth them of their Labours. Whofo bearken'd unto it shall never find Reft, and fhall never dwell quietly. The Stroke of the Whip maketh Marks in the Flesh, but the Stroke of the Tongue breaketh the Bones. Many have fallen by the Edge of the Sword, but not fo many as have fallen by the Tongue. Well is he that is defended from it, and hath not pass'd through the Venom thereof. But who is there that can escape it? It is a Peftilence that walketh in Darkness; its Arrows deftroy at the Noon-day; thoufands fall befide it, ten thousands at its Right-hand. Oh! that I had Wings like a Dove, would he fay, that I might flee away from this untoward Generation, and be at rest! Surely there is greater Pleasure in Solitude, at least there is Innocence. How is the World become a Defolation, and

the

is

the Wilderness a Place of Refuge! Woe me, that I have converfed with Mankind, and made my Habitation among the Sons of Men! The Roarings of Lions are not fo dangerous as their Tongues; the Dwellings of wild Beafts abound with Safety and Civility in comparison of what Human Society produce.

UPON the Whole then can it be ima

gined that the Ufe of Speech was indulged to us for the uttering God's Praises, for the mutual Edification of ourfelves and others? Can it be imagined, that we are placed here on Earth in order to qualify ourselves for the Conversation of Saints and Angels, and that our Tongues are intended eternally to dwell upon Divine Hallelujahs? This indeed is the gracious Defign of the Almighty; and fhall not the Profpect of that blissful Employment engage us to fet a Watch over the Door of our Lips, and to render our Difcourfe fuch as becomes the Gospel of Chrift, fuch at least as is commonly virtuous and innocent? If our Souls are to be greatly purified and exalted in order to our being made meet Partakers of hea

venly Joys; and if Converfation be a proper and neceffary Means for working out for us fuch Improvements, then does it behove us in every Inftance of Conversation to remember the Dignity of our Being, and to act up to the Worthiness of our Vocation, that no corrupt Communication of any Sort may ever proceed out of our Mouth.

BUT more especially when we are called upon to be Guests at God's Table, let us confider, that in vain fhall we endeavour to purify our Thoughts, unless we likewise purify our Difcourse; because he who feemeth to be Religious and bridleth not his Tongue, that Man's Religion is vain, faith the Apoftle; and we cannot be guilty of a greater Profanation of our Lord's Supper, than by receiving those Holy Myfteries into a Mouth, through which Streams of Corruption are continually flowing. Let therefore the Purifying Coals of God's Altar, while they enflame our Minds with Pious Difpofitions, enrich our Mouths likewife with the devouteft Thanksgivings; that VOL I.

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when our Hearts are ready, we may praise the Lord with the beft Member that we have; that that Meeknefs and Charity which the Gofpel infpires, that Innocence and Simplicity which adorn a Christian Conversation, may run through all our Difcourfe; and that while we minifter Grace unto the Hearers, we may treasure up our own Juftification against that Day, wherein by our Words we shall be juftified, and by our Words we shall be condemned.

SERMON

SERMON XI.

ROMANS Vi. 21.

What Fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the End of thofe things is Death.

W

HERE Interest and Happiness are apparently concern'd, there feems to be no Room at all left for Perfwafion; and the Suggefti

ons of our Nature, one would imagine, should anticipate the Force of any enticing Words of Exhortation, in the Purfuit of whatever may be good and profitable to us, and in the rejecting whatVOL. I. Q 2

ever