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2 lines
1.1 KiB
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<p>Note, 1. A man may do a great deal of good, or a great deal of hurt, both to others and to himself, according to the use he makes of his tongue. Many a one has been his own death by a foul tongue, or the death of others by a false tongue; and, on the contrary, many a one has saved his own life, or procured the comfort of it, by a prudent gentle tongue, and saved the lives of others by a seasonable testimony or intercession for them. And, if by our words we must be justified or condemned, <i>death and life are</i>, no doubt, <i>in the power of the tongue</i>. Tongues were Aesop’s best meat, and his worst. 2. Men’s words will be judged of by the affections with which they speak; he that not only speaks aright (which a bad man may do to save his credit or please his company), but loves to speak so, speaks well of choice, and with delight, to him it will be life; and he that not only speaks amiss (which a good man may do through inadvertency), but loves to speak so (<a class="bibleref" title="Ps.52.4" href="/passage/?search=Ps.52.4">Ps. 52:4</a>), to him it will be death. As men <i>love it</i> they shall <i>eat the fruit of it</i>.</p>
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