Secondly, it serves to reprove, and shame all such as are guilty of so hateful a sin, especially,
1. Such as have a mouth full of cursing,1 and bitterness such as are many Masters, and Mistresses, or Dames, that cannot speak to their servants, but it is with reviling terms; their usual speech to them, is to find fault with reproach, and so in any ⟨p. 820⟩sort of men, that are thus bitter-tongued, Rom. 3.14. Jam. 3.9. It is the sign of an unregenerate heart.
2. Such as are given to it to complain of their neighbours in all places, evil-minded men, that know little other discourse, but by way of finding fault, or reproaching this or that man: and they cease not, till they have filled town and country with reproaches and slaunders, Jam. 5.9.
3. Such as revile innocent men, and speak evil of the just and godly, whom they ought to praise and honour.
4. Such as revile men for this very reason, because they are good. It is monstrous ill to revile a good man, but abominable vile to revile goodness and Religion it self, to scoff and reproach preaching, and hearing of Sermons, and praying, &c. Woe is to them that thus call good, evil: and the worst is, when they set up, in stead of those things, the praises of drunkenness, good fellowship, and lascivious meetings, and riotous disorders, and so call bitter,2 sweet; and evil, good.
5. Such as rail at such as are in authority, and speak evil of dignities, Jude 2. Pet. 2.
6. Such as revile their very parents, and speak evil of such as God and nature have so nearly bound them to. And so is it monstrous vile for wives to traduce their husbands, and by backbiting to destroy their reputations, as it is monstrous for the people to revile their teachers, that are godly and painful men.
7. Such as revile Christ, as the Jews did (of which afterwards) and such are they, that revile ⟨p. 821⟩God, as swearers, murmurers, and blasphemers do in their kind, as well as Pagans and Atheists, that speak reproachfully of the doctrine of the duties, or treaty of persons.
Secondly, it serues to reproue, and shame all such as are guilty of so hatefull a sinne, especially,
1. Such as haue a mouth full of cursing,1 and bitternes such as are many Masters, and Mistresses, or Dames, that cannot speake to their seruants, but it is with reuiling tearmes; their vsuall speech to them, is to find fault with reproach, and so in any ⟨p. 820⟩sort of men, that are thus bitter-tongued, Rom. 3.14. Iam. 3.9. It is the signe of an vnregenerate heart.
2. Such as are giuen to it to complaine of their neighbours in all places, euill-minded men, that know little other discourse, but by way of finding fault, or reproaching this or that man: and they cease not, till they haue filled towne and countrey with reproches and slaunders, Iam. 5.9.
3. Such as reuile innocent men, and speake euill of the iust and godly, whom they ought to praise and honour.
4. Such as reuile men for this very reason, because they are good. It is monstrous ill to reuile a good man, but abominable vile to reuile goodnes and Religion it selfe, to scoffe and reproach preaching, and hearing of Sermons, and praying, &c. Woe is to them that thus call good, euill: and the worst is, when they set vp, in stead of those things, the prayses of drunkennesse, good fellowship, and lasciuious meetings, and riotous disorders, and so call bitter,2 sweet; and euill, good.
5. Such as raile at such as are in authority, and speak euill of dignities, Iude 2. Pet. 2.
6. Such as reuile their very parents, and speak euill of such as God and nature haue so neerely bound them to. And so is it monstrous vile for wiues to traduce their husbands, and by backbiting to destroy their reputations, as it is monstrous for the people to reuile their teachers, that are godly and painefull men.
7. Such as reuile Christ, as the Iewes did (of which afterwards) and such are they, that reuile ⟨p. 821⟩God, as swearers, murmurers, and blasphemers doe in their kinde, as well as Pagans and Atheists, that speak reproachfully of the doctrine of the duties, or treaty of persons.
- 1Who are guilty of reviling.Who are guilty of reuiling.
- 2Isaiah 5.20.Esay 5.20.
