Ye see then that the thing which we have to mark in the first place, is that our Lord hath given us tongues too make one another privy of our minds, and that is too the intent we should make them serve too ⟨image 245⟩the benefit of our neighbours, and thereabouts ought we to employ them wholly. And the tongue which is the mean too utter our harts and minds one too another, ought too guide all the residue, as having the superiority over them.1 On the other side, not without cause is it termed by the name of glory, too show whereabouts we ought too employ it, and too what use, namely too the honouring of God. Therefore if we looked well upon the order of nature, it ought to be sufficiently printed in our harts, that our words should be necessary, and too the furtherance of our neighbours welfare and profit. The first point therefore which we have too bear in mind, is that our Lord will have all the parts of us too serve too doing good, and specially our tongue, so as the drift of all our talk be too edify. As for example, one hath need of Counsel, another of warning; another of rebuking, and another too be put in mind of some thing, or else to be taught, because he is utterly ignorant: and again, it extendeth too all things in this present life. True it is that the principal thing which we have too look unto, is too teach the ignorant, and too show them the way of salvation. Besides that, if any man misbehave him self, so as he be negligent and slothful, he must be spurred forward by good exhortations: and if he be unruly, he must be shamed, (as much as lieth in us,) that it may bring him back too the seruis of God. Again, a man must comfort such as are in heaviness, and give counsel too such as are in distress, too the intent they fall not into despair. Too be short, we must endeavour too hold back the poor s•ules that should else go too destruction. And of all others that is the principal benefit. But yet if we see a poor man that is like too be deceived, we must give him some warning of it. And when we be once come too that point, it is certain that we shall give our selves continually to the benefit and behoof of our neighbours, yea even infinite ways, as well in respect of the body as of the soul.
Yee see then that the thing which we haue to mark in the first place, is that our Lord hath giuen vs tungs too make one another priuy of our myndes, and that is too the intent we should make them serue too ⟨image 245⟩the benefyte of our neyghbours, and therabouts ought wee to imploy them wholy. And the tung which is the meane too vtter our harts and mynds one too another, ought too guyde all the residew, as hauing the superioritie ouer them.1 On the other syde, not without cause is it termed by the name of glorie, too shewe wherabouts wee ought too imploy it, and too what vse, namely too the honoring of God. Therfore if wee looked well vppon the order of nature, it ought to bee sufficiently printed in our harts, that our woords should bee necessarie, and too the furtherance of our neyghbours welfare and profit. The first poynt therfore which wee haue too beare in mynd, is that our Lord will haue all the partes of vs too serue too dooing good, and specially our tung, so as the drift of all our talk bee too edify. As for example, one hath neede of Counsell, another of warning; another of rebuking, and another too be put in mynd of some thing, or else to be taught, bycause he is vtterly ignorant: and agein, it extendeth too all things in this present lyfe. Trew it is that the principall thing which wee haue too looke vntoo, is too teache the ignorant, and too shewe them the way of saluation. Besyds that, if any man misbehaue him selfe, so as he bee negligent and slothfull, he must bee spurred foreward by good exhortations: and if he bee vnruly, hee must bee shamed, (as much as lyeth in vs,) that it may bring him backe tooo the seruis of God. Agein, a man must comfort such as are in heauinesse, and giue counsell too such as are in distresse, too the intent they fall not intoo despayre. Too bee short, wee must indeuer too hold backe the poore s•ules that should else go too destruction. And of all others that is the principall benefyte. But yit if wee see a poore man that is lyke too bee deceyued, wee must giue him some warning of it. And when we bee once come too that poynt, it is certein that wee shall giue our selues continually to the benefyte and behoof of our neyghbours, yea euen infinite wayes, as well in respect of the bodie as of the soule.
- 1Psal. 16. c. 9. & 57. b. 9.
