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V.7. The lips of the wife difperfe knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doth not fo.

Prov.14.3. In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wife fhall preferve

them. Prov.12.18. There is that speaketh like the pier. cings of a fword: but the tongue of the wife is health.

Prov. 17.5. Whofo mocketh the poor, reproacheth his maker: and he that is glad at calamities, Jhall not be unpunished.

Prov.31.26. She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the Law of kindnesse. Tit.3.1,2. Put them in mind, &c. To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, fhewing all meekneffe unto all men.

Mat.5.22. But I fay unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a caufe, fhall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall fay unto his brother, Racha, fhall be in danger of the councel, but whosoever shall fay, thou fool, fhall be in danger of hell-fire.

Levit.19.16. Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among thy people.

Prov 11.13. A tale bearer revealeth fecrets, but be that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the mat

ter.

Prov.25 18. A man that beareth falfe witmiffe against his neighbour, is a maul, and afword, and a sharp arrow.

Prov.20.

Prov.20.19. He that goeth about as a talebearer, revealeth fecrets, therefore meddle not with bim that flattereth with his lips.

Pfal.15.1, Lord who shall abide in thy Tabernacle?

V.2. He that speaketh the truth in his heart. V3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

Jer.18.18. And they said, come, let us devife devices against Feremiah,—come let us fmite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.

Job.5.21. Thou shalt be hid from the fcourge of the tongue, neither halt thou be afraid of destructi

on when it cometh.

Pfal.31.20. Thou shalt hide them in the fecret of thy prefence from the pride of man, thon fhalt keep them fecretly in a pavilion, from the strife of tongues. Prov.6.1. My fon, if thou be furety for thy friend if thou haft stricken thy hand with a stranger, V.2. Thou art fnared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Prov.12.13. The wicked is fnared by the tranf greffion of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

Ifa.63.8. For he faid, furely they are my people, children that will not lie, fo he was their Savi

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Prov.6.

Prov.6.16. These fix things doth the Lord hate, yea, feaven are an abomination unto him. V.17. A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that fhed innocent blood, &c.

Zeph.3.13. The remnant of Ifrael fhall not do iniquity, nor fpeak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they Shall feed, and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

Levit.19.12. And ye shall not swear by my Name falfely, neither halt thou profane the Name of thy God: I am the Lord.

Prov.21.6. The getting of treasures by a lying tongue, is a vanity toffed to and fro of them that feek death.

Prov.17.14. The beginning of ftrife is as when one letteth out water; therefore leave off contention, before it is medled with.

Prov.18.6. A fooles lips enter into contention,and bis mouth calleth for ftroakes.

Ecclef.5.6. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to fin; neither fay thou before the Angel that it was an errour, wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and deftroy the work of thine hands. Numb.12.8. With him will I speak mouth to month, even apparently, and not in dark peeches, and the fimilitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to peak against my fervant Mofes?

1 Tim.5.19. Against an Elder receive not an ascufation

cufation, but before two or three witnesses. Prov.27.2. A ftone is heavy, and the fand weighty, but a fooles wrath is heavier than them both. Levit. 19.17. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart thou shalt in any wife rebuke thy neighbour, and not fuffer fin upon him.

Eph.5.11. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkneß, but rather reprove

them. Pfal.141.5. Let the righteous (mite me, it shall be a kindneffe, and let him reprove me, it shall be an excellent oile, which shall not break my bead.

Prov.15.5. A fool defpifeth his Fathers inftruction; but he that regardeth reproof is prudent. 1 Pet.3.8. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compaffion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.

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V.9. Not rendring evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrariwife bleffing, knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye fhould inhe rit a bleffing.

Fourthly, Watch over thy Actions.

The Apostle gives us an excellent exhortation in the 5th to the Ephef. v. 15. See that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wife. And in 1 Pet.1.15. We are commanded to be holy in all manner of converfation. True and real Christianity is a careful bufineffe. There is a great deal

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261 of watchfulneffe and circumfpection required to keep our Consciences void of offence towards God, and towards men. O how fad a fight is it to fee men in words profeffing Christ, and yet in works denying him! Shew me thy Faith by thy works, faies St.Fames. And our Saviour in Mat.5.16. Let your light fo fhine before men, that they may fee your good workes, and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven. The men of the world have their cies on the lives and converfations of Profeffors, they know not what they do in their clofets, they care not much what they do in the congregation; they look what the tenour and courfe of their lives is. O therefore let those that name the Name of Chrift depart from all iniquity! Let fuch as profefs themfelves real Chriftians, and true converts, take heed of being taken tardy in such things, which meer moral men (that are strangers to the life of Grace) cannot be justly charged with.

Be very careful therefore of, and watchfull over all thy actions. Take heed the Name of God be not blafphemed, nor his honour wounded by any ungodly action of thine: Take heed of bring ing a fcandal on Religion, and a reproach on the Gofpel. If ever thou wouldst win others to Religion, thou must be exemplary in holinefe and righteoufneffe thy felf, it is a woful thing to be an offence, and stumbling block to others, and to be an occafion of keeping them off from embracing the waies of God. O therefore take

heed

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