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…

He setteth forth the excellency of the speech of Godly men by comparison, resembling it to silver that is purged, and ⟨p. 98⟩fined from the dross that was in it. Because a good man will be careful of his tongue, not only that there be no mixture of filthiness, and lewdness in his words, but also to avoid all superstitious, and idle babbling, and so to open his mouth with holy wisdom. Which is contrary in the wicked, because there is a contrary fountain in him of sinfulness and corruption, and no matter of virtue and grace, which are the springs of all wholesome speeches. Thus therefore standeth the Antithesis: the tongue of the just man is as fined silver, because his hurt is precious: but the tongue of the wicked is as dross, because his heart is nothing worth.

Hee setteth foorth the excellencie of the speech of Godly men by comparison, resembling it to siluer that is purged, and ⟨p. 98⟩fined from the drosse that was in it. Because a good man will be carefull of his tongue, not onely that there bee no mixture of filthines, and lewdenesse in his words, but also to auoyde all superstuous, and idle babling, and so to open his mouth with holy wisedome. Which is contrary in the wicked, because there is a contrary fountaine in him of sinfulnesse and corruption, and no matter of vertue and grace, which are the springs of all wholesome speeches. Thus therefore standeth the Antithesis: the tongue of the iust man is as fined siluer, because his hurt is precious: but the tongue of the wicked is as drosse, because his heart is nothing worth.

The tongue of the just man, &c. The best wealth of a Christian Doct. 1 is laid up in his heart, and disbursed with his lips. And ¹that is the meaning of our Saviour, when he saith, that a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things. An evil man may have coin, and plate, and jewels in his treasury, and yet have no treasure: and may draw money out of his purse, & yet have no good, & yet have no good therewithal: but to have grace in the soul, and to utter gracious words with the tongue is proper to a good man, and the exercise good, and the fruit of it good to himself and others. And albeit here seem to be a comparison of equal, as though the tongue were just of the same value, and worth, that fined silver is, yet it is to be understood that at least it is so pure and precious, but in deed far beyond it in excellency.