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else you can never converse with all men as you ought to do. For such as the heart is, such the conversation will be. Out of the evil heart come evil thoughts and actions, Matt. xv. 19; but a good man, out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and according to the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, Matt. xii. 34, 35. A man must have the heart of the wise, before the tongue can be taught to speak wisely, Prov. xvi. 23.

Secondly, You must resolve before-hand, as David did, to take heed to your ways, that you sin not with your tongue; and that you will keep your mouth as with a bridle, Psa. xxxix. 1. Before your speech and actions, be well advised; weigh and ponder in the balance of reason, all your actions and words, before you vent them.

Thirdly, Let no passion of joy, grief, fear, anger, &c. get the head, and exceed their limits. For wise and good men, as well as bad, when they have been in any of these passions, have spoken unadvisedly with their lips, Job iii. 3, 23. Psa. cvi. 32, 33. Mark ix. 5, 6. Jonah iv. 8, 9. Mark vi. 22, 23. And experience will teach you, that your tongue never runs before your wit so soon, as when you are over-afraid, overgrieved, over-angry, or over-joyed.

Fourthly, You must be much in prayer unto God, before you come into company, that you may be able to order your conversation aright; let your heart also be lifted up often to God when you are in company, that he would set a watch before your mouth, and keep the door of your lips, and that your heart may not incline to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity, Psa. cxli. 3, 4; and that he would open your lips, that your mouth may show forth his praise, Psa. li. 15; and that you may speak as you ought to speak, knowing how to answer every man, Col. iv. 6; for the tongue is such an unruly evil, that no man, but God only, can tame and govern it, James iii. 8.