The words of a talebearer are as flatterings, and they go down into the bowels of the belly. 2. Cor. 12.20. For I fear least when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found to you such as I would not, and least there be strife, envying, wrath, contentions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, and discord among you. To receive or ⟨p. 97⟩believe those tales which we hear of others. Exod. 23.1. Thou shalt not receive a false tale, neither shalt thou put thine hand with the wicked, to be a false witness. 1. Sam. 24.10. And David said to Saul, Wherefore givest thou an ear to mens words, that say, Behold, David seeketh evil against thee?
VII. To accuse our neighbour, for that which is certain & true, through hatred, and with intent to hurt him. 1. Sam. 22.9. Then answered Doeg the Edomites (who was appointed over the servants of Saul) and said, I saw the son of Ishai when he came to Nob, to Abimelech the son of Ahitub, 10. Who asked counsel of the Lord for him, and gave him victuals, and he gave him also the sword of Goliath the Philistine. Of this deed David thus speaketh. Psal. 52.1. Why boastest thou thy self in thy wickedness, O man of power? the loving kindness of the Lord endureth for ever. 2. Thy tongue imagineth mischief, and is like a sharp razor, that cutteth deceitfully. 3. Thou doest love evil more then good: and lies, more then to speak the trueth. 4. Thou lovest all words that may destroy, O deceitful tongue.
VIII. To open or declare our neighbours secret to any man, especially, if he did it of infirmity. Mat. 18.15. Moreover, if thy brother trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast won thy brother. Pro. 11.13. He that goeth about as a slanderer, discovereth a secret: but he that is of a faithful heart, concealeth a matter.
IX. All babbling talk and bitter words. Eph. 5.3. But fornication and all uncleanness, let it not be once named among you. 4. Neither filthiness, neither foolish talking, neither jesting, which are not comely, but rather giving of thanks. Joh. 9.34. They answered and said unto him, Thou art altogether borne in sins, and doest thou teach us? so they cast him out. This jesting, or as it is now termed, wit, which Aristotle the Philosopher maketh a virtue, is by Paul the Apostle accounted a vice:
The wordes of a talebearer are as flatterings, and they goe downe into the bowels of the belly. 2. Cor. 12.20. For I feare least when I come, I shall not finde you such as I would, and that I shall be found to you such as I would not, and least there be strife, enuying, wrath, contentions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, and discord among you. To receiue or ⟨p. 97⟩beleeue those tales which we heare of others. Exod. 23.1. Thou shalt not receiue a false tale, neither shalt thou put thine hand with the wicked, to be a false witnesse. 1. Sam. 24.10. And Dauid said to Saul, Wherefore giuest thou an eare to mens wordes, that say, Behold, Dauid seeketh euill against thee?
VII. To accuse our neighbour, for that which is certaine & true, through hatred, and with intent to hurt him. 1. Sam. 22.9. Then answered Doeg the Edomit• (who was appointed ouer the seruants of Saul) and said, I saw the sonne of Ishai when he came to Nob, to Abimelech the sonne of Ahitub, 10. Who asked counsell of the Lord for him, and gaue him victualls, and he gaue him also the sword of Goliah the Philistim. Of this deede Dauid thus speaketh. Psal. 52.1. Why boastest thou thy selfe in thy wickednesse, O man of power? the louing kindnesse of the Lord endureth for euer. 2. Thy tongue imagineth mischeife, and is like a sharpe rasor, that cutteth deceitfully. 3. Thou doest loue euill more then good: and lies, more then to speake the trueth. 4. Thou louest all wordes that may destroy, O deceitfull tongue.
VIII. To open or declare our neighbours secret to any man, especially, if he did it of infirmitie. Mat. 18.15. Moreouer, if thy brother trespasse against thee, goe and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he heare thee, thou hast wonne thy brother. Pro. 11.13. He that goeth about as a slanderer, discouereth a secret: but he that is of a faithfull heart, concealeth a matter.
IX. All babling talke and bitter wordes. Eph. 5.3. But fornication and all vncleannesse, let it not be once named among you. 4. Neither filthinesse, neither foolish talking, neither iesting, which are not comely, but rather giuing of thankes.
