A09391:129
A direction for the government of the tongue according to Gods word
Cambridge: printed by John Legate printer to the University of Cambridge, 1593Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legate printer to the Vniuersity of Cambridge, 1593
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
He that speaketh many words, speaketh either false things or superfluous, or both: as when a river overfloweth, the water gathereth much slime: so many words many faults. When a vessel being smitten maketh a great noise, it is a token that it is empty: and so the sound of many words shows a vain heart. The Gentiles have said, that God gave a man one tongue and two ears, that he might hear more and speak less. Valerius Maximus reporteth of Xenocrates, that being in the company of some that used railing speeches, held his tongue: and being asked why he did so, answered, That it had repented him that he had spoken, but it never repented him that he had held his peace. And the proverb is, He that will speak what he will, shall hear what he would not. To the framing of our speech Ambrose requireth three things:1 a yoke, a balance, and a metwand: a yoke, to keep it in ⟨p. 57⟩a stayed gravity: a balance, to give it weight of reason: a metwand, to keep it in measure and moderation.
He that speaketh many wordes, speaketh either false things or superfluous, or both: as when a river overfloweth, the water gathereth much slime: so many wordes many faultes. When a vessell being smitten maketh a great noise, it is a token that it is emptie: and so the sound of many wordes shewes a vaine heart. The Gentiles have said, that God gave a man one tongue and two eares, that hee might heare more and speake lesse. Valerius Maximus reporteth of Xenocrates, that being in the companie of some that used railing speeches, held his tongue: and being asked why he did so, answered, That it had repented him that he had spoken, but it never repented him that he had helde his peace. And the proverbe is, He that will speake what he will, shall heare what he would not. To the framing of our speech Ambrose requireth three things:1 a yoke, a ballance, and a metwand: a yoke, to keepe it in ⟨p. 57⟩a stayed gravitie: a ballance, to giue it weight of reason: a metwand, to keepe it in measure and moderation.
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