The sacrifice of thankfulness A sermon preached at Pauls Cross, the third of December,…The sacrifice of thankefulnesse A sermon preached at Pauls Crosse, the third of December,…

2. Since God hath made the tongue one, have not thou a tongue and a tongue. Some are double-tongued, as they are double-hearted. But God hath given one tongue, one heart; that they might be one indeed, as they are in number. It is made simple, let it not be double. God hath made us men, we make our selves monsters. He hath given us two eyes, two ears, two hands, two feet. Of all these we will have, or at lest use but one. We have one eye to pry into others faults, not an other to see our own. We have one ear to hear the Plaintiff, not the other for the Defendant. We have a foot swift to enter forbidden paths, not another to lead us to Gods holy place. We have one hand to extort, and scrape, and wound, and not another to relieve, give alms, heal the wounded. But now whereas God hath given us, but one tongue, and one heart, and bidden us be content with their singularity; we will have two tongues, two hearts. Thus cross are we to God, to Nature, to Grace: monstrous men; monoculi, monopedes; bicordes, bilingues: one-eyed, one-footed; double-tongued, double-hearted. The slanderer, the flatterer, the swearer, the tale-bearer are monstrous (I dare scarce add) men: as mis-shapen Stigmatics, as if they had two tongues, and but one eye: two heads, and but one foot.

2. Since God hath made the tongue one, haue not thou a tongue and a tongue. Some are double-tongued, as they are double-hearted. But God hath giuen one tongue, one heart; that they might bee one indeed, as they are in number. It is made simple, let it not be double. God hath made vs men, we make our selues monsters. He hath giuen vs two eyes, two eares, two hands, two feete. Of all these we will haue, or at lest vse but one. We haue one eye to pry into others faults, not an other to see our owne. Wee haue one eare to heare the Plaintife, not the other for the Defendant. We haue a foote swift to enter forbidden paths, not another to leade vs to Gods holy place. We haue one hand to extort, and scrape, and wound, and not another to relieue, giue almes, heale the wounded. But now whereas God hath giuen vs, but one tongue, and one heart, and bidden vs be content with their singularity; we will haue two tongues, two hearts. Thus crosse are wee to God, to Nature, to Grace: monstrous men; monoculi, monopedes; bicordes, bilingues: one-eyed, one-footed; double-tongued, double-hearted. The slaunderer, the flatterer, the swearer, the tale-bearer are monstrous (I dare scarce adde) men: as mis-shapen Stigmatickes, as if they had two tongues, and but one eye: two heades, and but one foote.