Bulstrode, Richard, Sir (1610-1711)

Miscellaneous Essays

London

printed for Jonas Browne

1715

"Freedom of Speech is sometimes to be foreborn, least we give others Power thereby to lay hold on the Rudder of our Minds; for in all there are some Places weaker than others, and prudent Men will take heed of lying uncover'd that Way."

Speech was given to Man as the Image and Interpreter of the Soul: It is anime index & speculum, the Messenger of the Heart, the Gate by which all that is within issues forth, and comes into open Veiw: And therefore the Philosopher said well to the Child, Loquere ut te videam, Speak that I may see thee, that is the Inside of thee; for as Vessels are known whether they be broken or whole by their inward Sound; so is Man from his Speech, which carries with it not only a great Influence, but a great Discovery of our Minds; and Integrity herein is the publick Faith of Mankind. With all sorts of Men we should deal ingeniously yet reservedly, saying what we think, but thinking more than we say, it being not good to say at all Times all that the Heart thinketh, tho' all that the Heart thinketh be good. Freedom of Speech is sometimes to be foreborn, least we give others Power thereby to lay hold on the Rudder of our Minds; for in all there are some Places weaker than others, and prudent Men will take heed of lying uncover'd that Way: 'Tis true there may be possibly in Discourse a Fault of Omission; but this is a right-hand Error; a Man may be sometimes sorry he said no more, but very often that he said so much: God hath given us two Ears and one Mouth, that we ought to Hear more than to Speak; we have no Ear-Lids to keep us from Hearing, and often must Hear against our Will; but our Mouth shuts naturally, and we may keep our Tongue from Speaking, unless by Intemperance we lose that Privilege of Nature.
(pp. 26-27)

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Miscellaneous Essays (London: Printed for Jonas Browne, 1715). <Link to ECCO-TCP>

09/22/2013