Thirdly, thou must not walk about with tales; take heed of tale-bearing: He goeth about as a slanderer that revealeth a secret, though it be true he speaketh. It is a marvellous evil custom that many have, to fill up their discourse with the report of the frailties of others, which they by some means or other come under-hand to know: this is an •uill frequently condemned in Scripture, and yet more usually practised, as if it were lawful to speak of anything which they know to be true: Thou shalt not walk about with tales, nor stand against ⟨p. 572⟩the blood of thy neighbour: a strange connection, by which the Lord imports, that this talebearing is a kind of murder; and it is true in the case of many a man, thou wert as good lay violent hands upon him, as with that licentiousness of words to divulge tales concerning him, Pro. 20. 19. and 11. 13. Levit. 19. 16. And for the better strengthening of this rule, thou art yet charged to look to thy ears too, as well as thy tongue; thou must not receive evil report against thy neighbour, but make it appear thou art not pleased with such tales, Psal. 15. 3. Yea, thou art forbidden the society of such persons as carry tales; thou must not meddle with tale-bearers, nor with such a• flatter with their lips: certainly such creatures commonly flatter the present, and reproach the absent, Prou. 20. 19.
Thirdly, thou must not walke about with tales; take heede of tale-bearing: He goeth about as a slanderer that reuealeth a secret, though it bee true hee speaketh. It is a maruelious euill custome that many haue, to fill vp their discourse with the report of the frailties of others, which they by some meanes or other come vnder-hand to know: this is an •uill frequently condemned in Scripture, and yet more vsually practised, as if it were lawfull to speake of anything which they know to be true: Thou shalt not walke about with tales, nor stand against ⟨p. 572⟩the bloud of thy neighbour: a strange connexion, by which the Lord imports, that this talebearing is a kind of murther; and it is true in the case of many a man, thou wert as good lay violent hands vpon him, as with that licentiousnesse of words to divulge tales concerning him, Pro. 20. 19. and 11. 13. Leuit. 19. 16. And for the better strengthning of this rule, thou art yet charged to looke to thy eares too, as well as thy tongue; thou must not receiue euill report against thy neighbour, but make it appeare thou art not pleased with such tales, Psal. 15. 3. Yea, thou art forbidden the societie of such persons as carry tales; thou must not meddle with tale-bearers, nor with such a• flatter with their lips: certainly such creatures commonly flatter the present, and reproach the absent, Prou. 20. 19.
