of the Lord is most seen there is not one wrong thought and certainly the more the heart is under the â—â—we and affecting apprehensions of his Presence and Excelency here on earth the less 〈◊〉 evil thoughts get admittance inâ—â— it God is not in all a wickâ— mans thoughts and therefore sin â— so much in them Shall the thing framed entertain thoughts dishonourable to him that framed it Shall the mind work wickedness whilest its Maker standeth by observing it Shall you before whom his goodness in his Son hath so eminently and evidently passed no more fear the Lord and his Goodness than to give way to thoughts that wander from and war against him Joâ—â—1 1 2 3. Joh would not think unchastly of a Maid for God saw all his wayes even thâ— inward wayes of his heart 2. Second Help Take a true measure of thâ— exceeding evil and sinfulness oâ— sin It is said of learning that if iâ— could be beheld with bodily eyes all men would love it surely if sin were seen with spiritual eyes all the beholders would loath it How can you find in your hearts to think evil and so sin Judge of the cause by the effects The burning of Sodom the drowning of the World the torments of Hell yea the sufferings of the Son of God are all the fruits of sin Judge of the Malady by the Remedy The stain of one evil thought is so deep that nothing short of blood no blood short of that which is called the Blood of God being the blood of that Person who was and is God can fetch it out There is no such thing as a sin that is absolutely little 3 Abandon and abhor that false but frequently recited Principle That thoughts are free The Commandment of God is exceeding broad Psal 119.96 binding the mind and inward There is so much more evil in evil thoughts because they are less bewailed and resisted And without controversie one reason why men so easily perswade themselves that their thoughts do not displease God is because they so highly please them Facile credimus quod volumus They soon believe what they would have to be true 4. Bear still in mind the corruption of your natures whence evil thoughts have their rise This impure spring will not run less it is likely to run more when you lose the sight of it This root of bitterness is still ready to send forth its branches The more you trust your own deceived and deceitful hearts Prov. 28.2.6 the more you incur the black brand of folly This should keep yoâ— humble watchful and dependanâ— on Divine Grace for healing Thâ— lust which is in you is still apt to conceivâ— and bring forth thaâ— which is dishonourable to God 〈◊〉 your hearts are not only infected James 1.13 14. but withall infectious 5. Consider the dreadfulness of Divine displeasure which for your former evil thoughts might in justice have been executed on you The wages of sin is death Rom. 6. last even that death which is opposed to eternal life That which is due to sin as sin is due to every sin even to thought-sins Have you not already too too often laid your selves in the mouth of ruine If Gods Patience and Grace had not interposed you had long ago been where the Worm never dieth but ever gnaweth Dare you still give way to those thoughts against which the wrath of God is revealed 6. Keep a strict and constant guard over your senses Evil communications corrupt good manners and draw forth the seeds of evil which are in the hearts of those who hear them If you cannot stop others mouths from vain and vile speeches yet stop your own ears from giving audience to them Learn at holy Job Job 31.1 to make a covenant with your eyes Pray with holy David Psal 119. that God would turn away your eyes from beholding vanity What troops of evil did enter in by his eyes when he suffered them to gaze on a Woman that was washing her self 2 Sam. 11. 7. Above all keeping keep your hearts At the door of every room or faculty set a careful Porter See that the light that is in your understandings be clear representing to you the gloriousness of God the loveliness of heart-purity the hatefulness of filthineâ— of spirit See that your memories set before you your holy profession and high obligations thaâ— your Consciences are truly tender rising against the first risings oâ— sin that your wills stand fully benâ— towards conformity to God thaâ— your affections be pitched Gol. 3.1 and fixed on things above 8. Get an addition to and increase of your stock of habitual Grace The more strong and vigorous the new Man is the less can thoughts which are contrary thereunto get admittance Mat. 12.35 When there is a good treasure in the heart good things will be brought forth most plentifully and evil things be stifled most successfully Covet earnest as the best gifts so the highest degree of graces attainable The more you love fear and delight in the Lord the less can vain thoughts lodge within you 9. Inure and accustom your selves to holy Meditation Your thoughts will be at work Find them still fit edifying subjects to dwell upon Have you not a large field to walk in Let the Attributes Works and Word of God be much in your minds Psal 104.34 So shall your meditation be sweet and you will neither be at leisure for nor yet have an allowance of evil musings 10. Maintain communion with and dependance on the Holy Ghost Though you are not sufficient as of your selves to think well or to prevent evil thinking 2 Cor. 3. â— yet he who proceedeth from the Father and the Son to be a Sanctifier of the very thoughts of the heart is Alsufficient You may do all things and in particular resist evil thoughts Phil. 4.13 so as to find favour with God through the Spirit strengthening you I am apprehensive that learned and diligent Readers are furnished with excellent and enlarged Treatises about the ordering of their thoughts yet I living near to thousands into whose hands these elaborat pieces are not likely to come and believing that small vessels have their use and that the way of the plain is fittest for dim-sighted ones to travel in have communicated these slender thoughts which I shall follow with my prayers that the Lord who seeth mens thoughts would help men to see the evil which hath already been in them and the absolute necessity their Souls stand in of being washed from that wickedness of being supplied from the free full Grace of God in Christ Jesus that their thoughts may carry a sutableness to their profession of Christianity and to their expectation of glory A BRIDLE FOR THE TONGUE Matthew 12.36 But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment SEntences and Sayings
the discharge of his calling Every one should mind his own business and they will be sure to be busie-bodies in evil who do nothing which is good Standing waters will gather filth Gospel glass page 232 233. and Birds that are not flying are in the greatest danger of being shot An idle lazy way of Religion carrieth matter of condemnation in the face of it Branch 2 As those who are negligent in their particular Callings so those who under pretence of following them slight or are slightly in their general Calling are out of the way of life It is dangerous to stand idle elsewhere but most dangerous to stand idle in the Lords Vineyard Mat. 20.3 6. The Lord will not own any idle servants He is for labourers and not for loyterers John 4.14 Where true Grace is it is a well of water springing up The very word Religion implyeth that it is a binder Glavil's Philosophia pia page 155. A religando it bindeth to duties in Church and Families to secret prayer â—f-searching serious meditating constant watching against sin over the inward and outward man 1 Cor. 15. ult to the filling up of every relation and condition with proper services Sluggish hearts are very unlike to win Heaven Branch 3 If idle words are to be condemned in other cases there is no question but they are to be condemned in prayer Should not mens words be weighed when they who are but dust and ashes take upon them to speak to the King of Kings Eccles 5.2 Whether persons in prayer use the same words which they have used before or vary their expressions they should see to this Psal 62.8 that they pour out their hearts unto the Lord and do not draw near to him with their lips only Mat. 15.8 Though uponextraordinary occasions prayer may be long continued in See Doctor Spurstow's Meditations page 17 18. yet strength in prayer is alwayes to be preferred before length in prayer Faith is more excellent than natural fervour The Spirit may help in sighs and groans when the stretching out of the voice is of little value Branch 4 If persons will have a sad account to make for idle words how will they stand in judgment before God who have been and yet are notoriously guilty of false filthy bitter envious yea even blasphemous words 1. What shall be done unto the false tongue Psal 120.3 Doctor Arrowsmith's Tacita sacra page 14 16 Linguae Daemomp vernacula est mendacitas How can persons answer for words which want truth when they cannot answer for words which want weight There are some footsteps whereby the Devil may be traced in other sins but the sin of lying carrieth the very face of the Devil in it Lyars do aloud call him Father John 8.44 The Scripture which cannot be broken doth shut him that maketh a lye out of the City of God Revel 21. ult God hath given this testimony of his Children that they are Children that will not lye Isa 63.8 It was the determination of a Father Bishop Davenant on the Colossians page 298. That a lye should not be told under pretence of saving a world Lyes which are called officious are indeed very pernicious 2. How will they look God in the face who inure their tongues to filthy speeches Ephes 5. â— 4.29 How far is filthiness from being convenient or becoming those who are called to be Saints â—i ofiosus â—ermo reâ—prehendiâ—ur quanâ—o magis â—purcus â—oxius â—ishop â—avenant page 297. What modest language would people speak if they would make Scripture the Master and measure of their speaking An unsavoury breath doth not so much shew the unsoundness of the lungs as obscene scurrilous discourse doth shew the unsoundness of the heart Shall men put their mouths into the most noysome dunghils 3. Will not they be far from making a good defence who at the great day shall be charged with hard speeches and censures and those against such who have desired to fear God Num. 12.8 Were ye not afraid to speak against my Servants â— Kings â— 23 will the Lord say It went ill with Children that called the Prophet Bald-pate Bitter words are Arrows that will fall upon their heads who shoot them They who slander reproach and bear false witness against their neighbours will find to their sorrow that God hath chains of wrath which will hold them when those of his Commands are broken by them 4. Do not they heap and treasure up wrath whose mouths are full of cursing swearing profaning Zech. 5.2 3. and even blaspheming the holy Name of God May not such foresee a whole roll of judgments coming upon them yea flying against them But I go on to a fifth Inference Branch 5 If idle words shall be accounted for then the last judgment will be exceeding strict Eccles the last God will bring every secret work into open view Sins which now obtain the favour to be called little Numb 32.23 will then appear in their own colours damnably great To be sure mens faults will then find them out Judicabit non male judicata Burgess of judgment page 60 Those things which escaped mens judgment shall abide Gods judgment The fore-thoughts of this have driven some friends and lawful delights to spend their times in dens and wildernesses I desire not that it should have any such effect on my hearers but that it should drive them to Jesus Christ and that not only as a shelter but also as a Sanctifier that he who is to be their Judge may be their Advocate Oh that men walked as if they heard the sound of the last Trumpet and the voice of the Archangel saying Arise ye dead and come to judgment 6. Seeing idle words are to be reckoned for this will justifie the care Ephes 5.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Leigh Cr. Sacra and study and stritness of those who are most for walking circumspectly precisely not only according but as much as is possible up to rule Should not they be afraid of running on the score who are sure to be called to a reckoning It is a wonder that good men are not much more wary The tongue is an huge slippery piece it falleth into empty unedifying discourse before a person is well aware It is usually observed that Nature hath set a double guard upon it and clear it is that Grace will not leave it unguarded but will guide men to beg of God that he would set a watch before their mouthes Psal 14 â—3 and keep the doors of their lips Use 2 It is now high time to call my self and others to deep humiliation as for other offences so partiâ—ularly for our offending with our tongues Who that hath taken notice of his words seeth not cause to cry out with Job Job 40.3 4. Isai 6.5 Behold I am vile and with Isaiah Wo is me I am a
do usually obtain regard according to the wisdom worth and authority of the persons that utter them That this Sentence with which I have to do should therefore be more regarded because iâ— was uttered by the Lord Jesus appeareth evidently in that hâ— ushereth in his Assertion with aâ— Asseveration I say unto you I who cannot lye would have you to receive and write on this aâ— a great Truth I who am to bâ— your Judge give you to understand how strict my proceeding will be in judgment I will caâ—â— you to account not only for youâ— notoriously evil actions but with all for all your idle and empty expressions It is father'd upon some of thâ— Fathers that they were startleâ— with this Text One is said to crâ— out St. Augustine Which of Gods faithful one doth not Christ affright when 〈◊〉 saith That every idle word shall bâ— accounted for And another iâ— brought in with these words St. Ambrose Is iâ— I that must give account of ever If that word that startled them do not stir us we may fear it is because our hearts are more hard or less under a firm belief of the future state that state to come which shall begin but shall never end The parts or particulars whereof I shall take notice are 1. A Crime or Fault supposed for which a Bill of Indictment will be drawn up to wit words idle talking 2. Intelligendum hoc de impiis damnatis Gradocks Harmony in locum See Causes of decay p. 174. The parties indictable for Crime to wit Men and Women The Learned do interpret this of persons that live and dye Christless Though idle words are sins damnable sins in all yet unto the truly and throughly penitent who have a Mediatour to stand in and answer for them who would not willingly utter one idle word sins shall not be imputed 3. The proceeding which shall be for this Crime and on these Persons They shall give account that is with grief and to their shame they shall so give account as upon giving it to receive that dreadful doom Mat. 25.41 See Ieanes his second part page 50 51. Go ye cursed The Antecedent of accounting is here as elsewhere put for the sad consequent of it being condemned to eternal punishment This tended most directly to rouze the sleepy Consciences of those blasphemous Pharisees with whom our blessed Saviour was now arguing 4. The time when idle words shal be found so extreamly faulty In Dâ—â— judicii extremi Grad from L. Burgonsis Acts 17.31 and the speakers of them so sharply handled and that will be when time will be no more The day of account will be that great day when the general Assizes shall be held when God shall judge all the World of Angels and Men in Righteousness The Doctrine to be treated of is as followeth At the great day of account idle words shall be accounted for Or thus Idle words do carry in them sufficient matter for mens eternal condemnation My first work shall be to resolve this Quere What words are to be esteemed idle words For the better resolving of this Question I shall first remove out of the way that gloss which as I with others judge is too narrow and doth not take in the full mind of the Lord and that is the gloss of those who would restrain this phrase Quae veri soliditate carent if not to malicious and blasphemous words yet at least to false and lying words as if those only were struck at under the notion of idle or empty words which do want the fitting and weight of truth But as some eminently learned have noted 1. The stream of Interpreters runs quite another way and they judge generally that our blessed Saviour arguing with the Pharisees doth argue in an aggravating way Videatur Christus aliquo exaggerationis genere uti Maldonate from the lesser to the greater He lets them know that they were running to everlasting ruine If they had only the guilt of idle words upon them that might sink them into Hell and what defence could they then make for such monstrously evil words as they had uttered in charging him to cast out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils 2. Our Saviour seems to teach them a Doctrine somewhat new and strange in the Pharisees Schools Moldonate They in their Expositions did straiten the Law but he came to fulfil and explain it It can scarce be doubted Jeanes his second part page â—0 though they were lax loose Expositors that they thought or taught that lyes and blasphemies should not be accounted for But now our dear Lord goes further and assures them in the word of a King the King of Glory that they shall be called to account for their idle expressions It is marked and is remarkable that elsewhere when he will recover the Truth from the false glosses which the Pharisees did put upon it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 5.20 22 28 32 39.44 he useth the very Preface which is used in this Text But I say unto you Having thus cleared my way I shall go on to shew 1. What words are not to be charged with idleness 2. What words are chargeable therewith 1. Negatively All words referring to these lower earthly affairs are not to be accused as idle words The Lord who hath appointed for us particular Callings and hath allowed us six dayes in seven to labour in Exod. 20.9 doth as well approve of the labour of our tongues about them as that of our hands On the Sabbath we should not speak our own words Isai 58.13 God forbid that even on week-dayes our whole discourse should be of anâ— earthly complexion we should learn of our blessed Master to raise heavenly conference out of earthly occasions Yet undoubtedly what words soever are requisite for the better management of our lawful trades or businesses we may use not only lawfully but laudably The Scripture recordeth without the least disallowance the formalities and passages of a purchase between Father Abraham and the Children of Heth Gen. 23.4 c. and between holy Jeremiah and his Uncles Son 2. All words favouring of great civility and courtisie do not justly fall under the censure of being idle Among other duties urged by the Apostle Peter Pet. 3.8 being courteous is one Our blessed Saviour did not stick to stile Judas Friend Mat. 26.50 â—or did Saint Paul scruple to give â—o Festus the title of Most noble Acts 26.25 They who can may defend those usual expressions of Your Servant Sir Your most humble Servant when used to those for whom there is neither service nor love ready Gratiam affabilitatis non excludit oâ—is custodia Bernardi Flores pag. 712. I do not look upon them as in that ease defensible Yet I am clear that it is for the honour of Christianity when Christians are not morose and austere but of
affable inviting obliging carriage 3. All speeches that are recreational and tend to the chearing of those with whom we converse must not have idleness laid to their charge Judges 14.12 Sampson had sundry faults but his putting forth a Riddle to his Companions was none I know very many need a bridle to curb them not a spur to hasten them in this particular It is not an ordinary thing for persons to be both merry and wise at once Jesting doth usually border upon foolish talking and accordinglâ— the holy Ghost by the Pen of Paâ—â— doth draw a black line over theâ— both Ephes 5 4. See Bishop Davenant on the Colossiâ—â— page 297 390. and one of the Fathers iâ— quoted as holding Jests in thâ— whole kind abhorrent from thâ— rule of the Church and anotheâ— affirming Nugae in ore facerdotis sunt blasphemiae See Reyner's Rules page 224 225 Rom. 15.2 3. that trifles when in thâ— mouth of a Priest are blasphemies Yet I question not but pleasanâ— speeches may carry profit in them when used sparingly and warily As Pills may be wrapped up in Sugar so wholesom advices and reproofs may be given to some in more delightful language who would not otherwise take them and we may please our neighbours so far as may be to their profit and edification Having shewed on what words the brand of idleness is not to be set Positively I shall shew what words do deserve that brand to wit Words that have no worth in them Maldonate neither can it be reasonably expected that any good effect should flow from them Quae nullam aut audienti aut dicent edificationis utilitatem afferunt Doctor Spurstow 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Words that are apparently worse than silence words that neither advantage him that speaks nor them that hear them A learned man observed in mine hearing many years ago that the Greek word translated idle was used among the Jews to denote the year of release the year wherein they neither sowed nor reaped and withall to signifie money which lay by and brought no profit to the owner Though some words considered in the general may be counted indifferent Ieanes second part page 51. yet if in their particular use they be not referred to some good end if they be not in some sort needful or helpful they will be found idle My next work is to evidence that Gods proceeding in judgment against persons for idle words is very reasonable and equitable 1. Reason Idle words are real trangressions they do merit the namâ— and partake of the nature of sinâ— and this appears in that 1. In speaking them person forget and do not intend thaâ— noble end for which they werâ— created and created with such 〈◊〉 choice capacity and ability as thaâ— of speaking is See Doctor Roberts upon Psal 16.9 It is usually noted that the same word in the original which signifies tongue doth signifie glory A mans tongue should be his glory and not his shame and then it is his glory when in its use it is directed to Gods glory 2. In idle speaking there is no little loss or mispending of precious time Ephes 5.16 that golden sand should not run out at waste Time is not to be wasted but wared and husbanded carefully What I have said will serve to justifie the Almighty in his judging men for their idle speeches That which â—s sin though men count it a small sin hath death due to it Rom. 6. ult There is moisture in a little drop of water and heat in a little spark of fire so there is contrariety to the nature and will of God in that which is esteemed a lesser sin Causes of decay of Pity page 140. An elegant Pen hath written that sin is so mortal a venom that the least dose of it is deadly Hell is as certainly acquired and Heaven as certainly forfeited by one sin as many 2. Reason Idle speaking speaketh the heart from which it doth ordinarily issue to be in a sinful state and frame Mat. 12.34 35. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Words are truly said to be to the heart what an Index is to a Book they shew the principal things that are contained in it Si trabs in oculo silva in corde Doctor Spurstow Who can contradict him who cried out If there be a Beam of evil in the tongue there is a Wood in the heart It is said That diseases in the body may be discovered by spots on thâ— tongue to be sure diseases anâ— distempers of the soul may bâ— thereby discerned Vanity iâ— speaking is fathered upon strangâ— children Psal 144.11 upon such as are not savingly acquainted with God 3. Reason The use of idle and vaiâ— speeches doth lay open to anâ— make way for speeches that arâ— notoriously vile and evil Theâ— who would have no corrupt communication proceed out of theiâ— mouthes Eph. 4.29 must take care that theiâ— speech communicate grace to those that hear it Sin is as onâ— saith a speedy graduate Causes of decay page 127. Little Theeves put in at the window seâ— the doors open to all the rest Sin is as a precipice or steep placeâ— where if we once begin to fall Leviter volat Bernâ—â—di floâ—es p. 709. iâ— will not be easie for us to stop Iâ— once the tongue be let loose God only knoweth how far it will run 4. Idle words tend to the hurt of those who hear them The heart of fallen man is very prone to gather vanity to it self and vain discourse doth greatly further it in that bad way it doth draw forth that sin which in the seeds of it before lay hid They who come or talk not together for the better do it for the worse They who gain not by conference are in danger to lose by it Use 1 From the Doctrine which I have taught we may be informed in sundry particulars Branch 1 If idle words be sufficient matter for mens condemnation then idle persons can in their present state look for no other then to be condemned Why stand you all the day idle is a question that should startle the guilty The light of nature hath discovered the evil of idleness Idleness is called the Devils Cushion surely then they that are called to be Saints should be afraid to lye or lean on it Adam when he was in innocency was not to be out of imployment Gen. 2.15 Idleness was one of the sins of Sodom Ezek. 16.49 Idle persons do even tempt the Tempter The Sun shining the Heavens moving the Earth bearing the Waters flowing do all of them accuse the slothful In the sweat of their faces either of their brows or of their brains are all men to eat their bread See the Gentlemans Calling 1 Thes 4.11 2 Thes 3.11 The Gentleman is by a most neat hand lead unto