Divine aid under temptations-Tongue often injurious.

623. Will God help those who watch and pray, out of all their temptations?

Lk. 22. 31. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee, that thy

faith fail not.

1 Cor. 10. 13. God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may

be able to bear it.

2 Cor. 12. 7. There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

Heb. 2. 18. In that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.

2 Pet. 2. 9. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.

Rev. 3. 10. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Tongue.

624. Is the tongue often an instrument of injury?

Ps. 42. 10. As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me.

Ps. 52. 2. Thy tongue deviseth mischief; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

Ps. 55. 21. The words of his mouth were smother than butter; but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

Ps. 57. 4. My soul is among lions: and I lie even

Often iujurious.

among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

Pr. 11. 9. A hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbor: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

Pr. 12. 18. There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

Pr. 16. 27. An ungodly man diggeth up evil; and in his lips there is a burning fire. A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

Pr. 18. 7. A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. 8. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 21. Death and life are in the power of the tongue.

Pr. 25. 18. A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp ar

row.

Pr. 26. 20. Where there is no tale-bearer, the strife ceaseth. 22. The words of a tale-bearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Jer. 9. 8. Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit.

1 Cor. 15. 33. Evil communications corrupt good

manners.

Jam. 3. 5. The tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed, of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. [See 198 and 390-3.]

To be bridled.

625. Is bridling the tongue enjoined and encouraged?

Lev. 19. 16. Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among thy people.

Ps. 15. 1. Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? 3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.

Ps. 34. 13. Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

Ps. 39. 1. I 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.

Pr. 4. 24. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

Pr. 13. 3. He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

Pr. 21. 23. Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from troubles.

Pr. 24. 28. Be not a witness against thy neighbor without a cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

Ec. 5. 2. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

Mat. 12. 36. Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Ep. 4. 29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.

Ep. 5. 3. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting.

Col. 3. 8. Put off all these, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Col. 4. 6. Let your speech be always with grace

Railing forbidden.

seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to

answer every man.

Tit. 3. 1. Put them in mindman, to be no brawlers.

-To speak evil of no

Jam. 1.26. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

Jam. 4. 11. Speak not evil one of another, breth

ren.

1. Pet. 3. 10. He that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips, that they speak no guile.

626. Has God forbidden railing?

1 Cor. 5. 11. I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer.

1 Pet. 3. 9. Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing.

2 Pet. 2. 11. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

Jude 9. Yet Michael the arch angel, when contending with the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

627. What is said of those who rail at dignities, and revile their superiors?

Ex. 22. 28. Thou shall not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

Ac. 23. 4. And they that stood by, said, Revilest thou God's high priest? Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

1 Tim. 5. 1. Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all

Required.

purity. 19. Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

2 Pet. 2. 9. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished; But chiefly them that walk after the flesh, in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities; Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

Jude. 8. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Watchfulness.

628. Is watchfulness against tempters, temptation, and sin required?

Ps. 39. 1. I 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.

Mat. 26. 41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. Mk. 14. 38.

Mk. 13. 33. Take ye heed, watch and pray for yo know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work; and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you, I say Watch.

unto all.

1 Cor. 10. 12. Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.

1 Cor. 16. 13. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Ep. 5. 15. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not