478 CHRISTIAN MORALITY, VIZ. DARK X7CIX; a poor man ; and he that loves wine and oil, feastings and entertainments, he shall not be rich," Thirdly, A tattling humour, excessive talking, and an idle inquisitive impertinence; are great enemies also to that industry, that is now recommended to us. Solomon assures us, that though there is profit in all labour, yet the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury, Prov. xiv. 23. And he redoubles it upon, our ears, that a: prating fool shallfall, l-iay. x. 8, 10. There are some persons that love to talk of any thing; or every thing, besides their own business; ;like foolish children that turn every page of their books, and flutter a little about every part of them, besides where- their lesson is. Every moving feather is ready to seize the fancy of these triflers, this fickle and talkative race of men : They are but taller children. Every little story entertains their idle inclina.* tion, and gives them: fresh employment to tell it over again. They had rather. do any thing .than the duty of the present hour; they spend their tithe like the inhabi- tants of Athens,' in little else but hearing or telling some new thing. Some of these persons are ready to intermingle them- selveswith every man's concernments, uncalled and un- desired: They search into the secrets of families, in or der to gratify a wicked humour, to spread abroad and publish some private scandal. They creep into . houses to make mischief there, and by tattling and repeating matters ofcontest, they separate very friends, and raise angry quarrels in peaceful families; .Prow. xvii. 9. Such persons seem to deserve the public censure of the ma gistrate, in the opinion of the apostle Peter; l Pet. iv. 15. But let noneof you, that are christians, suffer as an evil-doer, or as a busy-body in other men's matters. He himself once fell under the censure of Christ our Lord, for this inquisitive and needless curiosity. Johit xxi. 21, 22. When St. Peter had received a prophecy from his master concerning his own martyrdom, he had also an express notice what his own business was, viz. to follow his master.. But Peter had a mind to know what should become of John too : " Lord, says he, and what shall this man 'do or suffer?" What if I will, says our blessed Lord, that. he tarry till I come again ? What is that to
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