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The abuses of speech and the faults committed in conversation are numerous.

1. Our discourse ought at all times to be free from profaneness, from speaking contemptuously of God and religion, from ridiculing things serious and sacred, from excusing, praising, and encouraging vice and immorality.

2. Another fault from which our conversation ought to be free, is immodest language.

3. In conversation, swearing is to be avoided, under which may be included curses and imprecations on ourselves and others.

4. In our conversation, lying is to be avoided, that is, an endeavour to deceive others, by making them to believe that to be true which we know or think to be false.

5. Our speech ought also to be free from railing and abusive language.

6. Our conversation should be free from slander and defamation.

7. Another defect in conversation consists in a compliance with the faults of others.

8. Another defect in conversation is to confine it to discourses which are vain, trifling, and altogether unprofitable.

9. Another fault from which our speech ought to be free, is ill-nature and pride, and that arrogance, positiveness, vain boasting, and rude contradiction which flow from these bad dispositions.

10. Another fault in conversation is garrulity, or that talkative humour which engrosses all the discourse to itself.

11. Another fault to be shunned is flattery, a fault by which we abase ourselves, and do hurt to those whose conceit and self-love we soothe and increase.

12. Another fault, in some respects like that before mentioned, is a perfidious insincerity, making great professions of esteem and friendship to persons whom we value not, and never intend to serve.

13. Lastly, there is a thing called banter and ridicule, which enters much into some conversations, and which whosoever shall condemn, runs the risk of provoking a malicious sort of people.Let us consider, then, what are the proper subjects of our discourse.

1. There are many subjects which relate not directly to virtue and piety, and yet deserve not to be called trifles, subjects taken from our own affairs, from the common occurrences of life, from the various studies and employments which make the honest and innocent occupations of men.

2. There is moral and religious discourse which certainly agrees with the spirit of Christianity, but which the world generally dislikes and avoids as dull and unfashionable.

(J. Jortin, D. D.)

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KJV: Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

WEB: Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.