with his, as did the outward form, whofe heart, according to Solomons refemblance, anfwered his, As in water face answers face. Prov. 27. 19. with whom he might communicate minds, traffic and enterchange all the notions and fentiments of a reasonable foul.

3. But tho there were this fympathy in their fublimer part which difpofed them to the most intimate union; yet there was a cloud of flesh in the way which intercepted their mutual view, nay permitted no intelligence between them, other then by the mediation of fome Organ equally commenfurate to foul and body. And to this purpose the infinite wifdom of God ordained Speech; which as it is a found refulting from the modulation of the Air, has most affinity to the spirit, but as it is uttered by the Tongue, has immediate cognation with the body, and fo is the fittest inftrument to manage a commerce between the rational yet invifible powers of human fouls cloathed in flesh.

4. AND as we have reafon to admire the excellency of this contrivance, fo have we to applaud the extensiveness of the benefit. From this it is we derive all A 2

the

the advantages of fociety without this men of the nearest neighborhood would have fignified no more to each other then our Antipodes now do to us. All our arts and fciences for the accommodation of this life, had remain'd only a rude Chaos in their first matter, had not speech by a mutual comparing of notions ranged them into order. By this it is we can give one another notice of our wants, and follicit relief; by this we interchangably communicate advises, reproofs, confolations, all the neceffary aids of human imbecillity. This is that which poffeffes us of the most valuable bleffing of human life, I mean Friendship, which could no more have bin contracted amongst dumb men, then it can between pictures and ftatues. Nay farther to this we owe in a great degree the interests even of our fpiritual being, all the oral, yea and written revelations too of Gods will; for had there bin no language there had bin no writing. And tho we must not pronounce how far God might have evidenced himself to mankind by immediate infpiration of every individual, yet we may fafely reft in the Apoftles inference Rom. 10. 14. How shall they believe in

him whom they have not heard, and how shall they hear without a preacher?

5. FROM. all thefe excellent ufes of it in refpect of man, we may collect another in relation to God, that is, the praifing and magnifying his goodnefs, as for all other Effects of his bounty,fo particularly that he hath given us language, and all the confequent advantages of it. This is the juft inference of the fon of Syrach Ecclus. 51. 22. The Lord hath given me a tongue, and I will praise him therewith. This is the facrifice which God calls for fo often by the Prophets, the Calves of our lips, which answers to all the oblations out of the herd, and which the Apostle makes equivalent to thofe of the floor and winepress alfo, Heb. 13. 15. The fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. To this we frequently find the Pfalmift exciting both himfelf and others, Awake up my glory, I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the people, and I will fing unto thee among the nations. Pfal. 57. 9, 10. And Opraife the Lord with me, and let us magnify his name together. Pfal. 34. 3. And indeed who ever obferves that excellent magazine of Devotion, the book of Pfalms, fhall find that the Lands make up a very great part of it.

6. BY

6. By what hath bin faid, we may define what are the grand ufes of fpeech, viz. the Glorifying of God, and the benefiting of men. And this helps us to an infallible teft by which to try our words. For fince every thing is fo far approvable as it answers the end of its being, what part foever of our discourses agrees not with the primitive ends of fpeech, will not hold weight in the balance of the fanctuary. It will therefore nearly concern us to enter upon this fcrutiny, to bring our words to this touchftone: for tho in our depraved estimate the Eloquence of Language is more regarded then the innocence, tho we think our words vanish with the breath that utters them, yet they become records in Gods Court, are laid up in his Archives as witneffes either for, or against us: for he who is truth it felf hath told us, that By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemn'd, Mat.12.37

SECT.

I.

SECT. II.

Of the manifold Abuse of
Speech.

DEW

ND now fince the original deA are figns of fpeaking are fo noble fo advantageous, one would be apt to conclude no rational creature would be temted to pervert them, fince 'tis fure he can fubftitute none for them, that can equally conduce, either to his honor, or intereft.

2. YET experience (that great baffler of fpeculation) affures us the thing is too poffible, and brings in all ages matter of fact to confute our fuppofitions. So liable alas is fpeech to be depraved, that the Scripture defcribes it as the fource of all our other depravation. Original fin came firft out at the mouth by fpeaking, before it entred in by eating. The first use we find Eve to have made of her language, was to enter parly with the temter, and from that to become a temter to her hufband. And immediatly upon the fall, guilty Adam frames his tongue to a frivolous ex

cufe