The rules of a holy life. Or A treatise containing the holy order of…

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 evil frequently condemned in Scripture, and yet most usually practised; ⟨p. 212⟩as if it were lawful to speak of any thing which they know to be true: Thou shalt not walk about with Tales, nor stand against the blood of thy neighbour: A strange connection, by which the Lord imports, that this Tale-bearing 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, Prou. 20. 19. & 11. 13. Levit. 19. 16. And for the better strengthening of this rule, thou art yet charged ⟨p. 213⟩to look to thy ears too, as well as thy tongue; Thou must not receive evil reports 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 Talebearers, nor with such as 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 heed of Tale-bearing: He goeth about as a slanderer, that reuealeth a secret, though it be true hee speaketh. It is a maruellous 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 euill frequently condemned in Scripture, and yet most vsually practised; ⟨p. 212⟩