Scriptural poems being several portions of Scripture digested into English verse /

Affect not, Brethren, Superiority, As knowing that we shall receive thereby The greater Condemnation in the end: For we in many things do all offend. Who doth not with his Tongue offend, he can Guide his whole Body, he's a perfect Man. Behold, in Horses mouths we Bridles out, To rule and turn their Bodies quite about: Behold likewise the Ships, which tho' they be Of mighty bulk, and thro' the raging Sea Are driven by the strength of Winds, yet they By a small Helm the Pilot's Will obey. Even so the Tongue of Man, which tho' it be But a small Member, in an high degree It boasts of things. Behold, we may remark How great a matter's kindled by a spark The Tongue's a fire, a world of ill, which placed Among the Members, often hath disgraced All the whole Body firing the whole frame Of Nature, and is kindled by Hell flame. All kinds of Beasts and Birds that can be named, Serpents and Fishes, are and have been tamed By Mankind; but the Tongue can no Man tame, A stubborn Evil full of deadly bane. We therewith God the Father bless, and we Therewith curse Men made like the Deity: ⟨p. 95⟩Blessing and Cursing from the same Mouth flow, These things, my Brethren, ought not to be so. Is any Fountain of so strange a nature, At once to send forth sweet and bitter water? Can Olives, Brethren, on a Fig-tree grow, Or Figs on Vines? No more can water flow From the same Fountain sweet and bitter too. He that's endued with wisdom and discretion Amongst you, let that Man by the profession Of Meekness, wisely give a demonstration Of all his Works from a good Conversation. But if your Hearts are full of bitterness And strife, boast not, nor do the Truth profess. This Wisdom is not from above descending, But Earthly, sensual and to evil tending; For where there's strife and envying there's confusion, And every evil work in the conclusion. But the true Wisdom that is from above. Is, in the first place, pure, then full of love. Then gentle, and entreated easily, Next merciful, without partiality, Full of good fruits, without hypocrisy; And what is more, the fruits of Righteousness Is sown in Peace, of them that do make Peace.