Middletown transcript., 1901-08-17
Government of
The Tongue

in the strongest manner, exposes the
ridiculous part of this licentiousness of
the tongue; and the other, the great dam
ger and viciousness of it. When he that
4 is fool walketh by the wayside, his wis.,
dom faileth him, and he saith to every
one that he is fool. The other is, in
the multitude of words there wanteth
not sin.
, As to the government of the tongue in
Q respect to talking upon Indifferent SUBJ
jects: after what has been said concern
ing the due government of it in respect
: to the occasions and times for silence,
there is little more necessary than only
to caution men to be fully satisfied that
the subjects are indeed of an Indifferent
nature; and not to spend too much time
D in conversation of this kind. But per-
sons must be sure to take heed that the
J subject of their discourse be at least of an
Indifferent nature; that it be no way
offensive to virtue, religion, or good man
ners: that it be not of licentious, disso-
lutte sort, this leaving always III impress
sions upon the mind; that it be no way
injurious or vexatious to others; and that
too much time be not spent this way, to
the neglect of those duties and offices of
life which belong to their station and con-
dition in the world. However, though |
there is not any necessity that men should |
aim at being important and weighty in
every sentence they speak: yet since use
full subjects, at least of some kinds, are as
entertaining as others, wise man, even
when he desires to unbend his mind from |
business, would choose that the CONVEX
sation might turn upon somewhat in
structive.
The last thing is, the government of
the tongue as relating to discourse of the
affairs of others, and giving of characters.
These are in a manner the same; and
one can scarce call it an Indifferent SUBJ
ject, because discourse upon it almost
perpetually runs into somewhat criminal.
And, first of all, it were very much to
be wished that this did not take up so
great part of conversation; because it is
indeed a subject of q dangerous nature.
Let any one consider the various interests
competitions, and little misunderstand
ings which arise amongst men; and he
will soon see that he is not unprejudiced
and impartial that he is not, as I may
speak, neutral enough to trust himself
with talking of the character and con-
Germs of his neighbor, in a free, careless,
and unreserved manner. There is per-
petually, and often it is not attended to,
rivalShip amongst people of one kind or
another in respect to wit, beauty, learning,
fortune, and that one thing will insensi-
bly, influence them to speak to the dis
advantage of others, even where there is
no formed malice or ill-design. Since, !
therefore, it is so hard to enter into this
subject without offending, the first thing
to be observed is that people should learn }
to decline it; to get over that strong in ;
clination most have to be talking of the !;
concerns and behavior of their neighbor.
But since it is impossible that this sub v
ject should be wholly excluded conver- s
sation; and since it is necessary that the f
characters of men should be known: the r
next thing is that it is a matter of i'm v
portance what is said; and, therefore, a
that we should be religiously scrupulous D
and exact to say nothing, either good or +,
bad, but what is true. put it thus, be- c
cause it is in reality of as great importance ]
to the good of society," that the characters
of bad men should be known, as that the
characters of good men should. People
who are given to scandal and detraction
NAV indeed make an ill-use of this obser- " u
walton; but truths, which are of service u
towards regulating our conduct, are not :
to be disowned, or even concealed, be- II
cause bad use may be made of them. u y
This, however, would be effectually pre- q
vented if these two things were attended b.
to. First, That, though it is equally of rs
bad consequence to society that men Ia Ia
should have either good or i'll characters ~
which they do not deserve; yet, when th
YOU say somewhat good of man which hi
he does not deserve, there is no wrong ~
done him in particular; whereas, when F.
vou saw evil of man which he does not
deserve. here is direct formal injury,
real niece of injustice done him. This,
therefore,, makes wide difference; and no
yives us, in point of virtue, much greater ra
altitude in speaking well than i'll of Others FRI
secondly, A good man is friendly to his OF,
and lover of mankind; tre
md so will, upon every occasion, and frs
,ften without any, say all the good he nm
an of everybody; but, SO far as he is IN
,ood man. will never be disposed to speak -;
vii of any. unless there be some other 50,
eason for it, besides, barely that it is re,
rue. If he be charged with having given ;s
n i'll character, he will scarce think it a
ufficient justification of himself to say it
,as true one, unless he can also give
,me further account how he came to do
a. a lust Indignation against particular
Instances of villainy, where they are great rev
nd scandalous; or to prevent an inno- Wh
amt man from being deceived and be- mig
-ayed. when he has great trust and con- me
dence in one who does not deserve it. tne
ustiee must be done to every part of iasl
1biect when we are considering it. If foil
,ere be a man who bears fair character N1rt
the world, whom yet we know to be at
ithout faith or honesty, to be really an
man; it must be allowed in general
,at we shall do piece of service to I
,ciety by letting such ones true char PIC
ter be known. This is no more than and
hat we have an instance of in our Say had
or himself; though he was mild and trol
,ntle beyond example. However, no exe sos,
ords can express too strongly the cau- lea s,