The Sinfulness Of Sin - Preach The Word

The Sinfulness Of SinRalph Venningthat wastes the time of men, who would be loth to drink and swear it away,consists of talk that flatters the present or detracts from the absent, censuringsuperiors or despising inferiors. What empty, ridiculous and frothy conversations(that excite to carnality) are the common pastime, even among those who pretendto better things! And what is such company and conversation good for, except toquench zeal and fervour! Indeed it is the easy way to lose credit and good name,and if not innocence, yet always time, which is too precious to be squandered awayand lost, much more to be sinned away! 'Should a man full of talk be justified?'(Job 11.2). Nol Much talk is full of folly; 'for a dream cometh through the multitudeof business; and the fool's voice is known by multitude of words' (Ecclesiastes 5.3).'In the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fearthou God' (Ecclesiastes 5.7); it is as if the multitude of words were inconsistentwith the fear of God. We cannot very well speak too little, unless we speak bycommand from God, and in obedience to him.(ii) If we must speak, let us speak as we ought. Let our words be wholesomewords, such as carry medicine and health in them. Let them be safe and soundspeech that may neither be gainsaid nor reproved, that may do no hurt but may dogood. We should speak that which is good to edify men, that which is good forourselves and others, either naturally, civilly, morally or spiritually good, asopportunity offers and requires. I do not intend any particular enumeration of thesins of the tongue which are to be avoided, nor a detailed discourse about speakingand ordering our tongues; but only to hint at these things in general, leaving theparticular application and improvement to be made by every man, as his own casecalls for. Therefore to conclude this, I shall commend but two things in relation tothis:(a) Look well to your hearts. If they are not well kept, your tongues will be badlykept. Therefore it is said, 'Keep thy heart with all diligence' (Proverbs 4.23); or, asit is in the Hebrew, 'above all keeping'. It needs more keeping than anything else,for all the rest of the faculties and members are at the heart's disposal. Thereforekeep a strict watch and strong guard over your heart. The speaking of the tongue isfrom the musing of the heart, which is as fire in the bosom that cannot be hid, butwill break out into a flame of words (see Psalm 39.3). When you are heart-full,your mouth will run over; and if the fountain of your heart is bitter, the streams ofyour words cannot be sweet. When David prays that the words of his mouth mightbe acceptable, he prays for this in relation to it, Let the meditations of my heart beacceptable (Psalm 19.14). If the latter, that is, our meditations, are not acceptable,then the former, that is, our words, are not likely to be acceptable. When our heartspeaks our words, our words speak our heart, and it is only one thing. No soonerdoes our heart indite a good matter, but our tongue will be as the pen of a readywriter (Psalm 45.1). The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth' (Proverbs 16.23);the Hebrew is, 'maketh his mouth wise'. The fool speaks with an open mouthanything that comes into his head, but a wise man opens his mouth and speaksgravely, wisely, and with deliberation. The mouth needs to go to school, and if wewould have it wise, let us get it a wise heart to be its tutor, to teach it the art andgrace of speaking wisely and well. The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth.'(b) Pray to God. For prayer is the general means for preservation and sanctificationof heart, tongue and life. Lift up your heart and soul to him and pray, 'Let the137