Terror of them that turn their tongues loose, and yield §2them liberty to utter whatsoever the malice, or pride, or lust of their hearts, can suggest: yea, whatsoever the Devil shall put into their minds and mouths, and prompt ⟨p. 10⟩them withal. Their case is a thousand times more cursed then that of the Serpents whom Satan spake by, to beguile Eve: and far worse is it with them for their everlasting state, then with1 the possessed man for his present condition, whom the devil made to strike himself with stones, and compelled his tongue to cry out against Christ, which came to deliver him. He was driven to this extremity so to do, and so to speak, by compulsion, but these do voluntarily offer the use of their lips to Satan, and willingly apply them to his service, against God, and their own souls. And therefore the misery of that distressed captive, moved the Lord to commiseration and mercy, and the sinfulness of these blasphemous wretches, provoketh his wrath and vengeance. Such sinful persons yet may be said to keep their mouths, though not as our Text doth admonish us, by shutting them up against all unlawful discourses, but as musketeers having them always charged, with some impious, false, and corrupt matter, and levelling every where at such as they mind to infect or deprave by them. But it were safer for them to shoot with rusty pieces, though peradventure they might mar their faces, then with venomous mouths that will surely wound their souls. Their virulent and wicked speeches will every one recoil upon themselves and strike them to the heart, besides their shame and misery, that is like to forgo their death and damnation.
Terrour of them that turne their tongues loose, and yeelde §2them liberty to vtter whatsoeuer the malice, or pride, or luste of their heartes, can suggest: yea, whatsoeuer the Diuell shall put into their mindes and mouthes, and prompte ⟨p. 10⟩them withall. Their case is a thousand times more cursed then that of the Serpents whome Satan spake by, to beguile Euah: and farre worse is it with them for their euerlasting state, then with1 the possessed man for his present condition, whom the diuel made to strike himselfe with stones, and compelled his tongue to crie out against Christ, which came to deliuer him. He was driuen to this extremity so to do, and so to speake, by compulsion, but these doe voluntarily offer the vse of their lips to Satan, and willinglie apply them to his seruice, against God, and their owne soules. And therefore the misery of that distressed captiue, moued the Lord to commiseration and mercy, and the sinfulnesse of these blasphemous wretches, prouoketh his wrath and vengeance. Such sinfull persons yet may be sayd to keepe their mouthes, though not as our Text doth admonish vs, by shutting them vp against all vnlawfull discourses, but as musketours hauing them alwayes churged, with some impious, false, and corrupt matter, and leuelling euery where at such as they minde to infect or depraue by them. But it were safer for them to shoote with rustie pieces, though peraduenture they might marre their faces, then with venemous mouthes that will surely wound their soules. Their virulent and wicked speeches will euery one recoile vpon themselues and strike them to the heart, besides their shame and misery, that is like to forgoe their death and damnation.
- 1Mark 5. 5. 7.Marke 5. 5. 7.
