EpifileofS. Paulto Titter. CHAP.3.2 a talc by the ende,they are incrane', till they hauedeliuered it toothers; and with thefe all opportunitic of good andedifiable fpeachperifheth. True is is, that a good man cannot bee an mill fpeaker, and where the (peach is nor good, all religion is naught;Ifany feeme religious and refrai- neth not his tongue, that mans religion is vaine: and yet in truth this is the molt religion ofour daies. Which although it haue the nameof boun- ding andbinding the wholeman toGod, to men,to all goodoffices and duties to both, yet indeede hachnot preuailed to thebridlingof this lit- tle member in the mot}. 4. Were it not moll difgracefull for aChritlian. to becounted a theife, or a continuall robber in the high way, or a con- tinuall breaker ofthe peace? andyet this finne isagreater breachalone then theft, or fpoylingof the goods: for a good name is more precious thengold, more fweete then the fweetetl oyntment. And ifour neigh- bours beati or goodsmull finde releifeat our hands,muchmore muff his name: for if :hole (houldbe taken away orperifh, they might be refio- red,or otherwife fupplyed; but a wound in his name, is like adangerous galls in the bodie, ofwhich we fay,once brokeneuer a [carte. Now if it be the greatenenemie to loue, which is the badge and markeofa Chri- niananddifciple ofChrin, andofpeace, whereof the refraining of the tongue is a preferuatiue; how can it ponibly agree with the- perfon or placeofa Chrinian. The fecond poinr,is the Langer ofthis finne,which cannot but attend it,vnlefle we conceiue no danger inbreaking fuch expreffe commande- ments as we haue, Leu.t 9.16. Thoufhalt not goe about with tales among thypeople: and Iam. q. t t.fpeake not coil! one of an other, brethren : for this faith he, isnot onely to breake, but condemne the lame: that is, as not fufficient or worthy to guidehim in all the particulars of his life. The defenceofmany a man is, I fpeakenothing but the truth , and fo long I may fpeake it : But if that thou fpeake( be a tale true or falfe(as it is if without a calling thou players thepedlar, and fetter to fate the nameof thy brother) thefe commandements can and condemne thee. Others thinke it is a fault indeed, but not fo great a fault to fpeake the thingwe knowe by an other: but looke vpon it, not as it may feeme in thine eye, but in thepenaltie theScripture hach let vpon it ; Pfal.t5.3 .it hindreth the entrance into the holymountaineofGod: and t. Cor. 6. so. raylers and reuilers fhall not enter into the kingdome ofheauen :and therfore it is no fuch(mall matter as many take it for. Others reply,what are words but winde, andGod isnot fo tirait-laced: ifaman fhouldgoe tohell for euery word, who (hall come to heauen? This indeede is an auncient na- turatl conceit,that outward profeffionand ceremonie,wii carie a man to heaucn,alchough in the particulars of the life , the power of godlincife N n 4 be tam,aaó. ßeligioirGli gando. 4 It is not thoughtfo dan- getous aa it is.
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