•51· Ji0fl. ,, f<::!.efl. 2• f<::!.efl. 4· ~eil·S· ~ef/.6. Cafes about !Jilack.biting and e"Vil Sptaking. CHAP. XXIIf.. Cafes of [onfcience, and Directions , againft !Backbiting, Slandering and E1>il SpeakirJg· Tit. 1. Cafes of Confcience abollt IBackbitirJg and E1>il Speaking. Q!efi. I• MAy I not JPeak.. evil of that which it evil .> And eaU every one trury M ht isl An[rv. You mufl not !peak a known fal!hood of any man under pretence of . Chariry or fpeaking well. But you are no[ to fpcak all the evil of every man which is true: As opening the fauhs of the King or ycmr Parents., though never fo [ruly, is a fin againfi the fifth Commandment, [ Ho~ourthy Father and Mother J; So if you do it without a call, you fin againfi your neighbours honour, and many other waycs ofiCnd. ~efi. 2· Is it not finful filtnce, and. a confent;ng to, M cozmttna1lcing Of the fim of other1 1 to fay nothing againjf them., as trr,dtr of their honour l . . Anfw. It is finful to be filent, when you have a call to !peak : Ifyou forbear to admonilli the of– fender in love between him atid you, when you h1ve opportunity and jufi caufe, it is finful eo be fi 4 lent then. But to filence backbiting is no fin. If you mufi be guilty of evrry mans fin that you talk not •gainfi, b'chind his back, your whole difcourfe mull be nothing but backbiting. Q!efl. 3· May I not jpealz that rvhich bonrft, rtligiouf, credible Pfrfont do report l Aufw. Not without both fufficicnt evidence, and a fufficient call. You mufi not ·judge of the ad-ion by the perfon, but of the perfon by the ad:ion. Nor mufi you imitate any man in evil doing. If a good man abufe you, are you ~illing that all men follow him and abufe you more? Q!ell. 4· May I believe tbt bad "f"'t of sn bone]! credible per{on.? An[w. You muft firfi confider Whether you may hear it, or meddle with it: For if ir De a cafe that you have nothing to do with, you may not fct your judgement to it, either eo believe it, or disbelieve ir. And if it be a thing that you ire called to judge of, JCt every honefi mans word is not prefemly to be bclicvtd: You mufi firft know, whether it be a thing that hcfaw, or is certain of himfelf, or a thing which he only taketh upon report? And what hi• evidence or proof is? and whether he be not engaged by interefi, pallion, or any difference of opinion ? Or be not engaged in fome contrary faction, where the inthcfi of a p~trty or caufe is his temptation? Or whether he be not ufed to rafh reports and uncharitable fpeeches : And what concurrence of tefiirnonies there is, and what is faid on the other fide: Efpecially what the pcrfon accufed faith in his own defenc<. If it be fo heinous a crime in puhlick Judgement, to pafs fentence b.::fore both parties arc heard, and to condemn a man bctore he [peak for himfelf; it cannot be jullifi,ble in private judgement. Would you be willing your !elves that all !hould be believed of you, which Is fpoken by any honell man? And how uncertain are we of other mens honeHy, that we fhould on that account think ill of others> Q!dl. 5· May I not [peak... t11il ofthem that are enemie1 to God, 19 Religion, tmd godlineji, and art open perfecutor J of it ; or are enemie1 to the King or Church? An[w. You may on all meet occaftons fpeak evil of the fin; and of the perfons when you have a juO call; but not :u your own pleafure. Q:tcft. 6. T:Yhat if it be omwhofe honour and credit counttHttnceth an iL'caufe , and hif difhonour would di[ablt him to do hurt l · An[w. You may not bel ye the Devil, nor wrong the worfi man that is, though under pretence of doing good; God nccdc:th not malice, nor calumnies, nor injufiicc to his glory; It is an ill cau{c that cannot be maintained without fuch means a·s thcfe. And when the rna.uer is true, you muH have a call to fpeak lr, and you mufi fpeak it jufily, without unrighteous aggravations, or hiding the bc:ner part, which fhould make rhe cafe and pc1fon t1uly underftood. There iJ a rime and due manner, in which that mans crimes and jufi di!honour m.ay bt: publiOu·d, whofc falfe rtplltation in· jureth the umh. But yet I mufl fay, that a g1eat deal of villany and tlmder is committed upon this
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