A treatise of self-denial. By Richard Baxter, pastor of the church at KidderminsterA treatise of self-denial. By Richard Baxter, pastor of the church at Kederminster

6. And it is a sin that tendeth to greater sins. For idle words are the ordinary passage to backbiting, railing, lying, and contentious words, [Prov. 10. 19. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin, but he that refraineth his lips is wise] Thus a fools lips enter into contention, Prov. 18. 6. [His mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul] Eccles. 5. 7. [In the multitude of dreams, and many words, are divers vanities: but fear thou God] Eccles. 10. 12, 13. [The Lips of a fool will swallow up himself; the beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is madness] Idleness is the beginning, but worse than Idleness is the end.

6. And it is a sin that tendeth to greater sins. For idle words are the ordinary passage to backbiting, railing, lying, and contentious words, [Prov. 10. 19. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin, but he that refraineth his lips is wise] Thus a fools lips enter into contention, Prov. 18. 6. [His mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul] Eccles. 5. 7. [In the multitude of dreams, and many words, are divers vanities: but fear thou God] Eccles. 10. 12, 13. [The Lips of a fool will swallow up himself; the beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is madness] Idleness is the beginning, but worse than Ideness is the end.