Metadata
Title
Gilbert Tennent sermons 52, "De malis Lingua" (On bad language), 1744
Date
1744/1759
Digital Identifier
PHS.TennentSermons052
Description
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening.
Tennent begins this sermon on the topic of bad language by citing Psalm 39:1, "I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me" and James 1:26, " If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain."
From dates noted in the manuscript, it looks like Tennent wrote this sermon in 1744, and delivered it again in 1748, 1749, and 1759.
Tennent begins this sermon on the topic of bad language by citing Psalm 39:1, "I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me" and James 1:26, " If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain."
From dates noted in the manuscript, it looks like Tennent wrote this sermon in 1744, and delivered it again in 1748, 1749, and 1759.
Subject
Place
Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
Congregation
Second Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, PA
Holding Institution
Presbyterian Historical Society
Extent
22 pages
Format (Digital)
tiff
Rights
http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/
Language
eng
Type
Text
Abstract
De malis lingue (On the evils of the tongue) uses citations from the Psalms and the Book of James along with practical theology to illustrate and argue the need to regulate one's speech and influence one's behavior toward God and toward neighbors, which then influences society for good rather than for ill.
Considers the malignity that the tongue so quickly comes out with in human affairs and disputes. Rev. Tennent weighs in especially invoking the name of God, owed all our love and respect as the source of all we have and are, by swearing to a lie in his name, taking His name through thoughtless blasphemy to strengthen an argument in every-day conversation, or in self-aggrandizement, comic sketches, or in making fun of God and the Scriptures.
He then details these damaging behaviors to our neighbors, principally the various forms of lying: lying to conceal the truth, little white lies, slandering the innocent, or those in authority, or of another faith, which leads to lying in court cases or on contracts, which destroy trust and disturb society and the public peace, and against what human speech was designed to do in promoting peace and progress. Boasting is another fault; one's deportment should be modest and reticent to avoid rash speech and preserve the peace.
Considers the malignity that the tongue so quickly comes out with in human affairs and disputes. Rev. Tennent weighs in especially invoking the name of God, owed all our love and respect as the source of all we have and are, by swearing to a lie in his name, taking His name through thoughtless blasphemy to strengthen an argument in every-day conversation, or in self-aggrandizement, comic sketches, or in making fun of God and the Scriptures.
He then details these damaging behaviors to our neighbors, principally the various forms of lying: lying to conceal the truth, little white lies, slandering the innocent, or those in authority, or of another faith, which leads to lying in court cases or on contracts, which destroy trust and disturb society and the public peace, and against what human speech was designed to do in promoting peace and progress. Boasting is another fault; one's deportment should be modest and reticent to avoid rash speech and preserve the peace.
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