The Puritans on Taming the Tongue
The Puritans, men of God who were acquainted with Scripture and in love with its God, were well-equipped to speak to the need to keep watch over the tongue. These men strictly adhered to the authority of Scripture, focused on true piety or holiness, and gave great weight to precise morality. The Puritans had an experiential Biblical theology that bound both the head and the heart. They preached good truths applied aggressively.
“Because [the tongue] is so unruly, the Lord hath hedged it in, as a man will not trust a wild horse in an open pasture but prison him in a close pound. A double fence hath the Creator given to confine it: the lips and the teeth.” — Thomas Adams
“How have I used my tongue? It was designed to be my glory, but has it not been my shame? Has not much corrupt communication proceeded out of my mouth, and little of that which is good, which might either manifest grace or minister grace? Have not I sometimes spoke unadvisedly and said that in haste which at leisure I could have wished unsaid! Have not I said that by which God’s great name has been dishonored, or my brother’s good name reproached, or my own exposed? If for every idle word that I speak I must give account to God, I had best call myself to account for them; and I shall find innumerable of these evils compassing me about.” — Matthew Henry
“We should weigh our words before we utter them. When men are swift to speak and much in talk, they bewray some folly which is a stain to them. So ‘he that hath knowledge swarth his words.’ Empty vessels sound loudest, and men of great parts, like a deep river, glide on with the least noise.” — Thomas Manton
“An evil tongue has a great influence on other members. It defiles the whole body. When a man speaks evil, he will commit it; when the tongue has the boldness to talk of sin, the rest of the members have the boldness to act it. First we think, then speak, then do. Men will say it is but talk. Be not deceived; a pestilent tongue will infect other members.” — Thomas Manton
“The mind is the guide of the tongue. Therefore, men must consider before they speak. The tongue is the messenger of the heart, and therefore as oft as we speak without meditation going before, so oft the messenger runs without his errand.” — William Perkins
“Set a watch before thy tongue, lest it make thy throat a sepulcher—a grave to bury thy estate and outward comforts in. It is a sin in many Christians that they know not when to be silent. The wise man tells us, ‘There is a time to speak, and a time to keep silence’ (Ecclesiastes 3:7). This is a great part of Christian prudence, to understand when to keep silence. It is much harder to learn to be silent than to speak.” — George Swinnock