This tale bearing is of divers sorts. One is, when men whisper abroad secretly the fault of another,1 whereas they should rather admonish the party, as Ham when he had seen his fathers nakedness, ran straight and told his brethren. The second, when they add to or change the thing said or done, as it serveth for their purpose. Some of the witnesses which came against Christ, charged him to say, I will destroy this temple which is made with hands, and in three days build another without hands. Where first they change his meaning; for Christ spake of the temple of his body. Secondly, they add to the words, For Christ said not,2 I will destroy this temple: but, destroy ye this temple. Therefore the holy Ghost noteth them with the name of false witness bearers. The third, when men surmise, and tell that which was never done. When Jeremiah was going out of Jerusalem to the land of Benjamin, and was in the gate of Benjamin, Irijah took him and said, Thou fliest to Chaldeans. Then said Jeremiah, that is false, I fly not to the Chaldeans, but he would not hear him.3 The fourth is the coloured tale-bearing, when one speaketh evil of another, with fine prefaces & preambles, feigning that he is very sorry that his neighbour hath done such or such a thing: that he speaketh it not of malice, but of a good mind: that he is constrained to speak: that he speaketh not all he could speak: that the party to whom the tale is told must keep it secret. Luther writeth of this fault very well.4 This vice (saith he) whereby we tell abroad the things which we hear of others, and take them in worse part is very rife, and of great force to sow discords: the rather, because it often shows it self under the pretence and name of counsel and good advise. And it is a notable visor for a talebearer to transform himself into an angel of light, and under zeal for Gods glory to backbite and accuse his neighbour of heresy, error, and wicked life.
This tale bearing is of diuers sortes. One is, when men whisper abroad secretly the fault of another,1 whereas they should rather admonish the partie, as Cham when he had seene his fathers nakednes, ran straight and tolde his brethrē. The secōd, whē they adde to or chāge the thing said or done, as it serueth for their purpose. Some of the witnesses which came against Christ, charged him to say, I will destroy this temple which is made with handes, and in three daies build another without handes. Where first they change his meaning; for Christ spake of the temple of his bodie. Secondly, they adde to the words, For Christ said not,2 I will destroy this temple: but, destroy ye this temple. Therefore the holy Ghost noteth them with the name of false witnesse bearers. The third, when men surmisse, and tell that which was neuer done. When Ieremy was going out of Ierusalem to the land of Beniamin, and was in the gate of Beniamin, Irijah tooke him and said, Thou fliest to Chaldeans. Then said Ieremie, that is false, I flie not to the Chaldeans, but hee would not heare him.3 The fourth is the coloured tale-bearing, when one speaketh euill of another, with fine prefaces & preamples, faining that he is very sorrie that his neighbour hath done such or such a thing: that he speaketh it not of malice, but of a good mind: that he is constrained to speake: that he speaketh not all he could speake: that the partie to whome the tale is tolde must keepe it secret. Luther writeth of this fault very well.4 This vice (saith he) whereby wee tell abroad the things which wee heare of others, and take them in worse part is very rife, and of great force to sowe discords: the rather, because it often shewes it selfe vnder the pretence and name of counsell and good aduise. And it is a notable vizard for a talebearer to transforme himselfe into an angel of light, and vnder zeale for Gods glorie to backbite and accuse his neighbour of heresie, errour, and wicked life.
- 1Rom. 1.30. Gen. 9.
- 2Mat. 26.60. 61.
- 3Jer. 37.13.Ier. 37.13.
- 4upon Psal. 15. 3.vpon Psal. 15. 3.
