“Justitia custodit innocentis viam, impietas autem peccatorem supplantat.”
“Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner. the sinner: Heb. sin”
“Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness undermines the sinner.”
“Righteousness guards the way of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.”
“Righteousness guardeth him that is upright in the way; But wickedness overthroweth the sinner.”
Sinner. Symmachus, “draweth on sin.” Virtue is the best safeguard.
Note, 1. A guard upon the lips is a guard to the soul. He that is cautious, that thinks twice before he speaks once, that, if he have thought evil, lays his hand upon his mouth to suppress it, that keeps a strong bridle on his tongue and a strict hand on that bridle, he keeps his soul from a great deal both of guilt and grief and saves himself the trouble of many bitter reflections on himself and reflections of others upon him. 2. There is many a one ruined by an ungoverned tongue: He that opens widely his lips, to let our quod in buccam venerit—whatever comes uppermost, that loves to bawl, and bluster, and make a noise, and affects such a liberty of speech as bids defiance both to God and man, he shall have destruction. it will be the destruction of his reputation, his interest, his comfort, and his soul for ever, Jam 3 6.