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, death and life are, no doubt, in the power of the tongue.
Tongues were Æsop'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
(Ps. lii. 4), to him it will be death. As men love it they shall eat
the fruit of it.