Sermons preached

(3.) It comes through rashness and unruliness of Tongue: some Men never learned to bridle their Tongues, and the Apostle James telleth us that therefore their Religion is vain. Jam. 1. 26. Till we make Conscience of these evils, as well as others, we content our selves with a partial Obedience, and therefore cannot be Sincere. But many never set themselves to learn this part of their Duty, and therefore divulge a Report before they try it, or receive any just proof of it. Possibly it may not come from downright Malice, but their Tongues hang too loose, without the coercion and just restraint of Grace, and so they either report false things, or speak Truth to an evil end. Prov. 11. 13. A Tale-bearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful Spirit concealeth the matter. Whisperers must ⟨p. 180⟩be talking, and be it true or false, out it comes. Certainly it is a Sin as long as you knew it not to be true, or if you do, when you have no warrantable call, to mention it. To reveal Secrets which you may conceal without wrong to God, or your own Consciences, or the common Good, or the Good of your Neighbour, is Loquacity, or the Sin of Idle and impertinent Talkativeness, the Disease of a Whisperer and Tale-Bearer.

(3.) It comes through rashness and unruliness of Tongue: some Men never learned to bridle their Tongues, and the Apostle Iames telleth us that therefore their Religion is vain. Jam. 1. 26. Till we make Conscience of these evils, as well as others, we content our selves with a partial Obedience, and therefore cannot be Sincere. But many never set themselves to learn this part of their Duty, and therefore divulge a Report before they try it, or receive any just proof of it. Possibly it may not come from downright Malice, but their Tongues hang too loose, without the coercion and just restraint of Grace, and so they either report false things, or speak Truth to an evil end. Prov. 11. 13. A Tale-bearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful Spirit concealeth the matter. Whisperers must ⟨p. 180⟩