Epijlko1S.Pad to Titer. CH&i.3.2. amined, or fworne,and that againfl the credit and good nameof an ho- nett' man, flat againfl therules ofthe lawesofGod and man : of lone to his neighbour , for if there were loue in the heart , it would expreffe it felfe in the tongue, in the iufl defence of theparty: as he would hauehis friend defend his owne name , ifit were hazarded Further, the corn- mandement ofGod is direct againfl ir, E.xod. z3.i Thoesfbalt not recenie afalfe rate: andcosine heedetofalfe lips ,is a note ofawicked man : and on the contrary, it is made oneof the tenne notes of a citizen of hea- uen, not toreceiueanill report againfl his neighbour. Let vs therefore be wife to take vp that wholefome counfell of the wife man, todriuea-, way tale- bearers with an angry countenance ,as the Noth winde, the fharpeRof the windes purgeth the aire,. and driueth away the clouds, whichelfe would quickly refolue chemfeluesinto flowers and formes. Thus (hall we make him loath to fpeake,that whichhe feeth vs loath to heare; andifhe will needes fpeakeofothers , increase him to fpeake of their good behind their backs, andof their culli to their faces : ifthe e- uill be private, withhim to admonifhhim betweene them two; if it be more knowne,put hirninmind that in many things we finneall, and had need beware leaf our (clues fall;or that if he fpeake in loue,ic requireth an ocher manner ofproces:and if ofhatred , his anger were better turned againi his owne finnes.If thou knowefl theparty innocent , openly de- fendhis innocency,as Ionathan didDauids ; if thoudoeil not,.tclihim that the lawerequireth better proofes againfl a franger, and thou maif not give credenceto fo{lender a teflimony. I know there is toomuch nicenes,and it would be thought toomuch inciuiiitie toflay aman from fhooiing his venomed arrowes,by which he would both kill himfeltfe, and hurt others hecares nor how many;but hehath mot comfort in the end,chat can wash his hands beforeGod,and manifef that he bath not carried the deuill,ncicher in his tongue,nor in his care. , No fighters, ] Chrifians mull fofpe4& f do allo as chofe who wil be ruled and lud- fed by the lawofliberty,that is the gofpel,whichis a doctrine ofpeace; a doctrine breaking fwords & fpeare.s into mattocks & tythes;a docirin metamorphosing after a fort lions into lambs,& alpes & crocodiles into harmeles children; a doctrine which curteth off both affetlion and de- fire ofcontention andf rife (for wemight well read after the old tranfla- Lion nofiriuerr) as allo maketh a man lame of the firiking hand. Not that every flrikingand fighting is hereby forbidden. Fur z..euery man is bound to contend in his place for the truth, for religion, truth, and founddoetriae , again falfehood, error, heretic , and tuperflition. a.. The ruler and people may by lawful+ warre, repel1openeitheridolatry, S73 prouap.:3. pfil.r5.3. lam.t.r :. Sundry {-crud contention tawrdi,v tell=ioustiotn uill, anddomeièictl. i I` 3' z i or
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