--------------------------~~~~~~~.~~~~ upon the [!pinle of J A M I s. VB R's. tt, tak.§tb up a reproach againfl his neighbor. So there is an expr~~ Law,Levit.I9.I6. Thou fhalt not go up and down tU a t.ale-bearer . among the people. k Rok.§l (faithAinfworth) fignifieth aMerchant ~ Se~ Am[· or Traffiquer up and down with Spices; thence the word Rlllkjl WOY/:6 lfl Lev. there ufed for one that wandereth from place to place,uttering Oan- 19 ~ ders as wares ; thefe Pedlers will be always opening their packs, Thus I ha-ve heard offuch nndjuch an one, &c. thefe were not to be fuffered in Ifrael. There are feveral kinds ofevil fpeaking, they may be all ranked under two beads, ~hif}ering and back}iting; \~hiJPering is a privy defamation of o11r brother among thofe thlt think well of him, bllck.}Jiting is more publique before every one promifcuouOy. Now both may be done many ways; not onlyby falfe accufations, but by adivulging of their fecret evils, by extenuating their graces, by increafing or aggravating their faults, imd de– frauding them of their necdfary excufe and mitigation ; by depraving their good actions through the fuppofition of finiO:er aims ; by mentioning what is culpable, and enviouOy fuppreffing their worth. · rwere eafie to run out upon this Argum(!nt, but I contain my fdf. Well then, if all this mif-becometh Brethren, do notgive WaJ to it inpur[elves, norgive ear to it in others. I. Do not give way to it in your felves; nature is marvdouOy prone to offen<i in this kind, therefore you mufi lay on the greater refiraincs,efpecially when the perfons whom you would blemifi1 profefs Religion: Numb. 12.8. Were you not afrt~id to JPeak. againft m] fervant,agai.nft Mofes? Mark the ?rel9~, or emphafis of that expreffion; what againft my fervant? againO: Mofos? You fhould be afraid to fpeak againfl: any one, much more againfi thofe whom God hath amind to honour. This is the DevilS proper fin, He is the Accufer of the 'Bre– thren,Rev. I z, I 9• He doth not commit adultery,break the Sabbath, thefe are not Laws to him;but he can bear faHe witnefs,difhonor pa– rents,accufe the Brethren·: and yet what more common amongO: us? [ohnBaptifts head in a charger uan uf"al dijb at our mtals. When mens hearts are warm with wine and good chc:ar, then Gods children are brought in, like S~tmpfon among the Philifiines, to make them fporti Oh confidfr, God will furely recompence this into your bofoms; Eit~er in this life, They that judg are judged, Mat. 7. I. Men are bold with their names, becaufe they were not tender in me~li~g ~ith others.; Or in the life to come, without repentance.. _Ils fa1d of the wtcked; Pfa/.'4· I o, Their own tong11e ]halt Rrrz foU
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