As it
doth above all things oblige us to bear no ill-will in our hearts,
so it chargeth us to vent none with our mouths.
2. It is therefore often expressly condemned and prohibited as
evil. 'Tis the property of the wicked; a character of those who
work iniquity, to "whet their tongues like a sword, and bend their
bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words."
3. No practice hath more severe punishments denounced to it than
this. The railer (and it is indeed a very proper and fit punishment
for him, he being exceedingly bad company) is to be banished out of
all good society; thereto St. Paul adjudgeth him: "I have," saith
he, "now written unto you, not to keep company, if any man that is
called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a
railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with such an one not to
eat." Ye see what company the railer hath in the text, and with
what a crew of people he is coupled; but no good company he is
allowed elsewhere; every good Christian should avoid him as a blot,
and a pest of conversation; and finally he is sure to be excluded
from the blessed society above in heaven; for "neither thieves, nor
covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall
inherit the kingdom of God;" and "without" (without the heavenly
city) "are dogs," saith St.
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