An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of…

The motion of the breath is the preserver of life,¹ and while breath lasts, life lasts; yet many a mans life had lasted longer had it not been for his breath. The wicked mans breath proves his death, and his tongue which hath been a scourge to others, becomes a Sword to himself. His words possibly have wounded, and his breath hath been the death of many: But now he is wounded by his own words, and crushed to death by the weight of his own breath, or by the fall of his own tongue upon him: So the Psalmist gives it (Psal. 64.8.) They shall make their own tongues to fall upon themselves; that is, Their own words shall be brought as a Testimony against them, and condemn them. The tongue is a little member (saith the Apostle James, Chap. 3.5.) and therefore a light member; yet it falls heavy, as heavy as lead. A man were better have his House fall upon him, then that (in this sense) his tongue should fall upon him. Some have been pressed to death, because they would not speak, but stood mute before the Judge; but more have been pressed to death by their sinful freedom, or rather licentiousness in speaking; this hath brought them to judgement, and cast them in judgement: Their tongue hath fallen upon them, and by the breath of their mouth, they have gone away.

The motion of the breath is the preserver of life,¹ and while breath lasts, life lasts; yet many a mans life had lasted longer had it not been for his breath. The wicked mans breath proves his death, and his tongue which hath been a scourge to others, becomes a Sword to himselfe. His words possibly have wounded, and his breath hath been the death of many: But now he is wounded by his owne words, and crusht to death by the weight of his owne breath, or by the fall of his owne tongue upon him: So the Psalmist gives it (Psal. 64.8.) They shall make their owne tongues to fall upon themselves; that is, Their owne words shall be brought as a Testimony against them, and condemne them. The tongue is a little member (saith the Apostle James, Chap. 3.5.) and therefore a light member; yet it falls heavy, as heavy as lead. A man were better have his House fall upon him, then that (in this sense) his tongue should fall upon him. Some have been pressed to death, because they would not speak, but stood mute before the Judge; but more have been pressed to death by their sinfull freedome, or rather licentiousnesse in speaking; this hath brought them to judgement, and cast them in judgement: Their tongue hath fallen upon them, and by the breath of their mouth, they have gone away.