The works of George Swinnock, M.A

First, He speaketh the truth in his heart; His speech is the genuine and natural off-spring of his heart; there is a great resemblance between the Child and the Parent; That language which is confused, and not to be understood, speaks not a Citizen of Zion, but a builder of Babel or Babylon. When the words are spurious, and not the hearts own; like Abimelech, they destroy the Family of which they descend; sometimes that ⟨p. 35⟩tongue cuts the owners throat. The getting of treasure by a lying tongue, is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death, Prov. 21. 6. The deceitful tongue seeketh death, though not intentionally, yet eventually; The Saints words and thoughts are univocal, they speak as they think; and are like clarified honey, clear to the bottom; his heart is the Mine, his mind frameth the matter, and his tongue is the shop that exposeth it to public view.

First, He speaketh the truth in his heart; His speech is the genuine and natural off-spring of his heart; there is a great resemblance between the Child and the Parent; That language which is confused, and not to be understood, speaks not a Citizen of Sion, but a builder of Babel or Babylon. When the words are spurious, and not the hearts own; like Abimelech, they destroy the Family of which they descend; sometimes that ⟨p. 35⟩tongue cuts the owners throat. The getting of treasure by a lying tongue, is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death, Prov. 21. 6. The deceitful tongue seeketh death, though not intentionally, yet euentually; The Saints words and thoughts are univocal, they speak as they think; and are like clarified honey, clear to the bottom; his heart is the Mine, his mind frameth the matter, and his tongue is the shop that exposeth it to publique view.

Secondly, He sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. His hand will make good his lawful promises, how much soever they shall be to his prejudice. There is a Symmetry between his hand and his tongue; he is slow to promise, not hasty to enter into bonds, but being once engaged, he will be sure to perform. He dares not falsify his word, knowing that his God was an earwitness.