1. 20, 21. Thou slanderest thy own mother's | O Lord, and all their imaginations against me. son. I will reprove thee, saith God. -Ver. 64. Render unto them a recompense,

Jer. vi. 28. Grievous revolters, walking with O Lord. slanders.

Joel ii. 17. Spare thy people, O Lord, and

ix. 4. Every neighbour will walk with give not thy heritage to reproach. slanders. Ver. 7.

1 Tim. iii. 11. Deacons' wives must not be slanderers. See Ps. xxxi. 13. Rom. iii. 8.

xxxi. 11. I was a reproach among all my Jerusalem and thy people are become a reDan. ix. 16. For the iniquities of our fathers, enemies, and especially among my neighbours.proach to all that are about us. xxxix. 8. Deliver me from all my enemies; make me not the reproach of the foolish.

CHAP. XVII. RAILING, EVIL COMMUNICATIONS, ETC.

1 Cor. iv. 12. Being reviled we bless. vi. 10. Neither thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, &c. shall inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Pet. ii. 23. Christ, when he was reviled, reviled not again. See Isa. li. 7. Zeph. ii. 8, in the foregoing section.

RAILING.

297

Lev. xix. 14. Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling-block before the blind.

Job xxxi. 30. Job said, Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his soul that hated me.

Eccl. x. 20. Curse not the king in thy thought; curse not the rich.

Matt. v. 44. Bless them that curse you.
Rom. xii. 14. Bless and curse not.
James iii. 10. Out of the same mouth pro-
These things

CXCI. Railing. 1 Cor. v. 11. Keep not ceedeth blessing and cursing.
company with a railer.
ought not so to be.

1 Tim. vi. 4. Strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, &c.

1 Pet. iii. 9. Love as brethren, not rendering railing for railing.

2 Pet. ii. 11. Angels bring not a railing accusation against the wicked.

Jude 9. The angel durst not bring a railing accusation against the devil.-Ver. 13.

Instances of the wicked's railing. Sennacherib, 2 Chron. xxxii. 17.-Nabal, 1 Sam. xxv. 14.-Persons at Christ's crucifixion, Mark xv. 29.-A malefactor, Luke xxiii. 39.

EVIL COMMUNICATIONS. CXCII. Evil communications. Isa. ix. 17. Every mouth speaketh folly. God's anger is not turned away, &c.

1 Cor. xv. 33. Be not deceived, evil communications corrupt good manners.

Eph. iv. 29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

v. 3, 4. Fornication and uncleanness, let it not be once named amongst you; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient. Matt. xii. 36. For every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment.

Col. iii. 8. Put off all these, anger, wrath, blasphemy, filthy communication out of mouth.

your

iv. 6. Let your speech be always with grace. 2 Pet. ii. 7. God delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked. See Isa. ix. 17.

CXCIII. Unprofitable disputes about religion. 1 Tim. i. 4. Neither give heed to fables, which minister questions rather than godly edifying. See 1 Tim. vi. 4, 5. 2 Tim. ii. 14. 16, 17. Tit. iii. 9.

CURSING.

CXCIV. Cursing forbidden in Scripture, and avoided by the righteous. Exod. xxii. 28. Thou shalt not curse the ruler of thy people.

CXCV. Cursing practised by the wicked. Gen. xii. 3. The Lord said to Abram, I will curse him that curseth thee. Ch. xxvii. 29. Judg. xvii. 2. Micah's mother cursed about her silver.

2 Sam. xvi. 5. 12. Shimei cursed David. He is punished. 1 Kings ii. 8. 46.

Ps. x. 7. The mouth of the wicked is full of cursing.

lix. 12. For the sin of their mouth, for cursing and lying, consume them in wrath. Ver. 13. Ps. Ixii. 4.

cix. 17. As he loved cursing, let it come unto him.-Ver. 28. Let them curse, but bless thou.

Prov. xxvi. 2. The curse causeless shall not

come.

xxix. 24. The wicked heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.

Isa. viii. 21. The wicked shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God. Jer. xv. 10. Every one of them doth curse me. xxiii. 10. Because of cursing the land mourneth.

Acts xxiii. 12. The Jews bound themselves

with a curse, neither to eat nor drink, till they had killed Paul.

See Numb. xxii. 6 to 17.-xxiii. 1 to 25. Deut. xxiii. 4. Josh. xxiv. 9. Neh. xiii. 2. Where Balak hires Balaam to curse Israel. See Matt. xxvi. 74. When Peter denied his Master.

THE RIGHTEOUS.

CXCVI. The righteous, their care of their word. Job ii. 10. In all this Job sinned not with his lips.

xxvii. 4. Job said, My lips shall not speak wickedness.

xxxiii. 3. My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart.

Ps. xxxix. 1. David said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.

cxli. 3. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

Prov. viii. 6. Wisdom saith, The opening spirit.-Ver. 7. The lips of the wise disperse of my lips shall be right things. knowledge, but the heart of the foolish doeth

xvi. 23. The heart of the wise teacheth his not so. mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

Mal. ii. 6. Iniquity was not found in Levi's lips.

CXCVII. They praise God with their mouths. Ps. xvii. 1. My prayer goeth not out of feigned lips.

xl. 9. I preached righteousness; I refrained not my lips.

Ixiii. 3. My lips shall praise thee.
lxvi. 14. I will pay my vows, which my lips

have uttered when I was in trouble.

Ixxi. 23. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee.

cxix. 13. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.-Ver. 171. My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.

Hos. xiv. 2. We will render the calves of our lips.

Heb, xiii. 15. Let us offer the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. See Mal. iii. 16. Matt. xiii. 52.

CXCVIII. The words of the righteous, the just, &c. toward men. Job vi. 25. How forcible are right words. Prov. xv. 23. Eccl. xii. 10, 11.

Ps. xxxvii. 30. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

Prov. x. 11. The mouth of the righteous is a well of life.-Ver. 13. In the lips of him that hath understanding, wisdom is found.

Ver. 20, 21. The tongue of the just is as choice silver. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for want of wisdom.

Ver. 31, 32. The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom, but the froward tongue shall be cut out. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

xii. 6. The mouth of the upright shall deliver them.-Ver. 14. A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth. Ch. xiii. 2.

Ver. 18. There is that speaketh like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is health.

xiv. 3. In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

xv. 1. A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.

Ver. 2. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright, but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

Ver. 4. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness therein is a breach in the

Ver. 28. The heart of the righteous studieth to answer, but the mouth of the foolish poureth out evil things.

xvi. 13. Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and they love him that speaketh right.

Ver. 21. The sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.-Ver. 24. Pleasant words are as a honey-comb; sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

fied with the fruit of his mouth, and with the xviii. 20, 21. A man's belly shall be satisand life are in the power of the tongue, and increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

xx. 15. The lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

xxii. 11. He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

Ver. 17, 18. Hear the words of the wise. They shall be fitted in thy lips.

xxiii. 16. My reins shall rejoice when thy lips speak right things.

xxiv. 26. Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

Eccl. ix. 17. The words of the wise are heard in quiet, more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

x. 12. The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. Ver. 13, 14.

Matt. v. 37. Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

xii. 35. A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth good things.

xiii. 52. Every scribe instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, is like a man that is a householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

Luke iv. 22. Gracious words proceeded out of Jesus's mouth.

Eph. iv. 29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth; but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

v. 3, 4. Fornication and all uncleanness, let it not be once named amongst you: neither filthiness nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient; but rather giving of thanks.

Col. iii. 8. Put off filthy communication out of your mouth.

iv. 6. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

James i. 26. If any man seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, that man's religion is vain.

iii. 2. If any man offend not in word, the | Compare 2 Pet. ii. 15. Jude 11. Rev. ii. 14. same is a perfect man.

TENTH COMMANDMENT.

COVETOUSNESS.

CXCIX. Of covetousness. Exod. xx. 17. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his man servant, nor his maid servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. Deut. v. 21. xiii. 9.

-His death, Num. xxxi. 8. 16.-Achan, Josh. vii. 5 to 25.-Ahab, 1 Kings xxi. 1 to 16. 19, &c. 2 Kings ix. 25.

CCI. An insatiable desire of riches. Prov. xv. 27. He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house.

xxvii. 20. Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

Eccl. iv. 8. There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child Rom. vii. 7.-nor brother; yet there is no end of his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither

Ps. cxix. 36. Incline my heart unto thy saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave testimonies, and not to covetousness. my soul of good? This is also vanity; it is a sore travail.

1 Cor. v. 11. I have written to you, if any one that is called a brother, be covetous, &c. with such a one, no, not to eat.

Eph. v. 3. Covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints.

Col. iii. 5. Mortify your members, &c. and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Heb. xiii. 5. Let your conversation be with

out covetousness.

CC. Threatenings against covetous persons. Ps. x. 3. The wicked blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.

Isa. lvii. 17. For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him.

Jer. vi. 12, 13. Their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields. For from the least of them even to the greatest, every one is given to covetousness. Ch. viii. 10.

xxii. 17-19. Thine eyes and thy heart are not but for thy covetousness. Therefore, saith the Lord, they shall not lament for him, (viz. Jehoiakim.) He shall be buried with the burial of an ass.

li. 13. O Babylon, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness.

Mic. ii. 1, 2. Woe to them, they covet fields, and take them by violence.

Hab. ii. 9. Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil.

Mark vii. 22, 23. Thefts, covetousness, &c.

defile the man.

Rom. i. 29. Being filled with all unrighte ousness, covetousness, &c.-Ver. 32. They that commit such things are worthy of death.

1 Cor. vi. 9, 10. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? neither thieves, nor covetous, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Eph. v. 5. No covetous man hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. See Ezek. xxxiii. 28. 31.

See instances of covetous persons punished. Balaam, Numb. Chap. xxii. and xxiii.

v. 10. He that loveth silver, shall not be satisfied with silver; neither he that loveth abundance with increase.

CCII. Threats against unjust measures of acquiring riches. Prov. i. 18, 19. They lay wait for their own blood, they lurk privily for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain, which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

Matt. xvi. 26. What is a man profited, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Job xxvii. 8, 9. For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?

1 Tim. vi. 9, 10. They that will be rich fall into temptation, and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.- -Ver. 11. But thou, O man of God, flee these things. See James iv.

13. 16.

carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him. Eccl. v. 15. As he came forth of his mo-poor widow cast in two mites, which make a ther's womb, naked shall he return to go as he farthing. Jesus said, This poor widow hath came; and shall take nothing of his labour, cast in more than they all: For they did cast in of their abundance; but she did cast in all which he may carry away in his hand. that she had, even all her living.

Luke i. 53. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away.

See the parable of the rich fool, Luke xii. 20, &c. And of the rich man and Lazarus, Luke xvi. 19 to 25.

CCVIII. The advantages which one mun hath over another by means of riches. Prov.

x. 15. The rich man's wealth is his strong city; the destruction of the poor is their poverty. Chap. xviii. 11.

xiii. 8. The ransom of a man's life are his riches. Eccl. vii. 12.

xiv. 20. The poor is hated even of his neighbour, but the rich hath many friends. Chap. xix. 4.

Ver. 24. The crown of the wise is their