Commentari biblici

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

Be not many masters — Masters of opinions, that boldly obtrude upon others their own placits, and will not have them disputed or debated. Such are the Sorbonists, who rejoice to be called Magistri nostri Parisienses, our Masters of Paris. Bacon, the Carmelite, was called Doctor resolutissimus, because he would endure no guessing or maybes. (Praefat. in 1 Sent.) The pope’s parasites persuade the people, that what interpretation soever he gives of Scripture, be it right or wrong, it is without further trial to be received as the very word of God. Est ipsissimum Dei verbum. (Hosius.)

Knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation — sc. If either we become heresiarchs and sect masters, Revelation 19:20 , or supercilious censurers of others, Matthew 7:1 ; Romans 2:1 .

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For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

For in many things, … — This is triste mortalitatis privilegium, the sad privilege of mankind, as one phraseth it, to have leave to offend sometimes. Every pomegranate hath at least one rotten grain within it, saith Crates. And it is the honour of God alone to be perfect, saith Plato (Euphormio). Jerome pronounceth a curse upon him that shall say that the fulfilling of the whole law is impossible to any. But patres legendi cum venia; Jerome was out in this, and too to blame, μονου Θεου γερας εστι ειναι τετραγωνον . St James, a far better man than Jerome (for he was worthily called James the Just), affirmeth here of himself and other sanctified persons, We offend or stumble all, πταιομεν , impingimus omnes.

A perfect man — That is, a prudent man, Psalms 37:30-31 .

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Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

That they may obey us — Horses, asses, camels, elephants, God in great wisdom, for the use of man, hath made without galls, that they might with the more ease be made tame and serviceable.

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Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

Whithersoever the governor — Peterent caelum Belgae si navibus peti posset, Ley them ask for the skys of Belge if it would be possible to reach them by ship, saith one (Johnston, de Nat. Constant.)

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Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

Boasteth great things — Gr. μεγαλαυχει . It doth magnifically lift up itself, as an untamed horse doth his head. It exalts itself and exults of great things. It walketh through the earth, and faceth the very heavens, Psalms 73:9 . It can run all the world over, and bite at everybody; being as a sharp razor, that doth deceit, that instead of shaving the hair cutteth the throat, Psalms 52:2 . It is made in the shape of a sword; and David felt it as a sword in his bones, Psalms 42:10 . It is thin, broad, and long, as an instrument most fit to empty both the speaker’s and the hearer’s heart. It is of a flame colour, as apt to set on fire the whole wheel of nature, James 3:6 .

Behold how great a matter — Or wood. Camerarius tells a story of two brethren walking out in a star light night. Saith one of the brethren, Would I had a pasture as large as this element; and said the other, Would I had as many oxen as there be stars. Saith the other again, Where would you feed those oxen? In your pasture, replied he. What? whether I would or no? Yea, said he, whether you will or no. What, in spite of me? Yes, said he. And thus it went on from words, till at length each sheathed his sword in the other’s bowels.

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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.

A world of iniquity — A newly found world. Not a city or country only, but "a world of iniquity," a sink, a sea of sin, wherein there is not only that Leviathan, but creeping things innumerable, Psalms 104:26 .

So is the tongue among our members — For better purpose it was there set, sc. in the midst between the brain and the heart, that it might take the advice of both; and that we might verba prius ad limam revocare, quam ad linguam.

That it defileth the whole body — Leaving a stain upon the speaker, and setting a stain upon the hearer; even the guilt and filth of sin.

The course of nature — Gr. The wheel of our nativity. Their breath, as fire, devoureth, Isaiah 33:10 ; "The poison of asps is under their lips,"Romans 3:13; Romans 3:13 . The venomous heat of which deadly poison, like a fire in the flesh, killeth the wounded with torments, the likeliest hell of any other. In the holy tongue dabber signifieth a word, debher a pest; to show (saith one) that an evil tongue hath the pestilence in it.

And is set on fire of hell — That is, of the devil (called elsewhere the gates of hell), as the Holy Ghost (on the other side) set on fire the apostles’ tongues with zeal, that flame of God, Song of Solomon 8:6 ; Acts 2:3 . Evil speech is the devil’s drivel; a slanderer carries the devil’s pack. He hath his name in Hebrew from footing it, trotting and tracing up and down to sow strife: Ragal, to defame or slander; regel, a foot. In Greek the same word signifieth a devil and a slanderer. The talebearer carrieth the devil in his tongue (saith one), the talehearer in his ear.

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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:

For every kind of beasts, … — See Trapp on " Hebrews 2:7 " Some creatures indeed may be taken, but not tamed, as the tiger, panther, monoceros, of which last it is testified, quod interimi potest, capi non potest; slain he may be, but not taken. Such unruly talkers and deceivers the Church is pestered with, Titus 1:10 ; 1 Thessalonians 5:14 ; sons of Belial, untamable, untractable, untouchable, unteachable, 2 Samuel 23:6-7 1 Samuel 25:17 .

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But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

But the tongue, … — Where then are our justiciaries with their pretended perfection? David’s heart deceived him Psalms 39:1 ; "I said, I will look to my ways, I will bridle my tongue." But presently after, he shows how soon he brake his word. "My heart was hot," …, and "I spake with my tongue." Pambus, in the ecclesiastical history, could never take out that one lesson read him out ofPsalms 39:1; Psalms 39:1 . There is one Bennus celebrated in the same ecclesiastical history for this (but I can hardly believe it), that he was never seen of any man to be angry, never beard to swear, or lie, or utter a vain word. (Sozomen, vi. 28.)

An unruly evil — There be but five virtues of the tongue reckoned by philosophers. But there are 24 different sins of the tongue, as Peraldus recounteth them. The Arabians have a proverb, Cave ne feriat lingua tua collum tuum; Take heed thy tongue cut not thy throat. An open mouth is often a purgatory to the master. See Trapp on " James 3:6 "

Full of deadly poison — Such as poisoneth itself, and poisoneth at a distance, which no other poison doth. Some poisons are not poisonous to some creatures; storks feed upon serpents, ducks upon toads, … But the tongue is a universal poison, …

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