A plain and familiar exposition of the ninth and tenth chapters of the Proverbs…A plaine and familiar exposition of the ninth and tenth chapters of the Prouerbs…

First, they are hurtful, and bring great annoyance, and mischief Reasons. 1 to other men, and therefore in the Scriptures, are called swords, and arrows, and razors, and mortal weapons. Jer. 9. 8. Psal. 52. 2. And yet such similitudes are not able fully to express, and set out the evil that cometh by venomous mouths, and virulent speeches. First, the tongue most commonly causeth weapons to be drawn, all wars, all rebellions, all massacres, all quarrels, all manner of strifes are first breathed out of mens mouths, on some part. Secondly, the hand may be held that handleth the weapon, the strokes may be warded, armour may preserve from the violence of them, or there may be refuge and covert to hide them that are pursued: but who can stay an unruly tongue? What defence is against it? whither shall a man fly from a false accuser? what distance of place will prevent malicious calumniations? Thirdly, they which fall into the hands of most fierce and cruel enemies, which are pierced, and wounded with keenest and sharpest edge tools, have all the hurt upon their bodies, the extremity of it reacheth but to take away their natural life, but a slanderous tongue doth smite at the name, which an ingenious man would forgo his breath, to preserve: and a pestiferous seducing tongue doth pervert the soul, and by the poison thereof are many thousands brought to everlasting perdition.

First, they are hurtfull, and bring great annoyance, and mischiefe Reasons. 1 to other men, and therfore in the Scriptures, are called swords, and arrowes, and rasors, and mortall weapons. Ier. 9. 8. Psal. 52. 2. And yet such similitudes are not able fully to expresse, and set out the euill that commeth by venemous mouthes, and virulent speeches. First, the tongue most commonly causeth weapons to bee drawen, all warres, all rebellions, all massacres, all quarrels, all manner of strifes are first breathed out of mens mouthes, on some part. Secondly, the hand may be held that handleth the weapon, the strokes may be warded, armour may preserue from the violence of them, or there may be refuge and couert to hide them that are pursued: but who can stay an vnruly tongue? What defence is against it? whither shall a man fly from a false accuser? what distance of place will preuent malicious calumniations? Thirdly, they which fall into the hands of most fierce and cruell enemies, which are pearced, and wounded with keenest and sharpest edge tooles, haue all the hurt vpon their bodies, the extreamitie of it reacheth but to take away their naturall life, but a slanderous tongue doth smite at the name, which an ingenious man would forgoe his breath, to preserue: and a pestiferous seducing tongue doth peruert the soule, and by the poyson thereof are many thousands brought to euerlasting perdition.