An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth, fortieth, forty-first, and forty-second,…

This is a holy revenge; and it is one of those seven effects of Godly sorrow which works repentance, not to be repented of (2 Cor. 7.11.) We should (in some cases) forbear to speak at all, for fear we should speak amiss. They who are truly wise, are much ashamed to speak, when once they see their error in speaking, or how apt they are to err in speaking; and therefore lay that penalty upon their tongues, either to spare speaking, or to speak very sparingly. 'Tis seldom that the tongue is left loose but it speaks loosely, and it often speaks those things which give occasion of offence both to God and man. As all iniquity shall (at last) stop her mouth (Psal. 107.42.) that is, evil men (the abstract is put for the concrete) shall be so ashamed and confounded for their evil deeds, that when they are charged with them or convinced of them, they shall hold their peace, as if their mouths were stopped, or like the man that came to the feast in the Gospel without his Wedding-garment, they shall be speechless (Now, I say, as all iniquity shall stop her mouth for shame) so it is good for the best sometimes to stop their own mouths, for fear they should speak any iniquity. This godly fear, as well as a gracious shame, for what he had spoken amiss before, caused Job to say,¹ I will lay my hand upon my mouth, which resolve he further confirms in the next verse.

This is a holy revenge; and it is one of those seven effects of Godly sorrow which works repentance, not to be repented of (2 Cor. 7.11.) We should (in some cases) forbear to speak at all, for fear we should speak amiss. They who are truly wise, are much asham'd to speak, when once they see their error in speaking, or how apt they are to erre in speaking; and therefore lay that penalty upon their tongues, either to spare speaking, or to speak very sparingly. 'Tis seldom that the tongue is left loose but it speaks loosly, and it often speaks those things which give occasion of offence both to God and man. As all iniquity shall (at last) stop her mouth (Psal. 107.42.) that is, evil men (the abstract is put for the concrete) shall be so ashamed and confounded for their evil deeds, that when they are charged with them or convinced of them, they shall hold their peace, as if their mouths were stopped, or like the man that came to the feast in the Gospel without his Wedding-garment, they shall be speechless (Now, I say, as all iniquity shall stop her mouth for shame) so it is good for the best somtimes to stop their own mouths, for fear they should speak any iniquity. This godly fear, as well as a gracious shame, for what he had spoken amiss before, caused Job to say,