The use of this is that if we would not be found culpable of the breach of this commandment, and transgressing against the name and fame of our christian brother, then must we not give ourselves allowance to conceive any ill opinion of them without sufficient warrant, and due ground for the same, for though the thing which we suspect be so indeed, that is not the question, if we have no warrant, nor no good proof and foundation for our suspicion, we are guilty of the hurting the fame of our neighbour, for what though it may he so, in matters of our neighbours credit, we must not take such light conjectures as a sufficient cause to move a suspicion; we must do as we would be done by, and I pray you what man alive almost is there that would not in his heart judge this an uncharitable thing that because his neighbour should see I know not what weak probability, or rather surmises that had no probability in them of some fault, therefore he should presently think and conclude that it was even so, and bear such an opinion of him as of a transgressor in that kind, what ever fault it be, and so give his name such a wound in his conscience by this deeming as could hardly be healed again▪ no man would count this good dealing to himself and therefore every man must look to himself that he do not build a suspicion against ⟨image 178⟩his neighbour upon weak and idle props, never think ill of one, till he hath deserved and given sufficient cause of it. But now this must be known by the way, that though love will not allow suspicion, yet it doth not thrust out discretion, it judgeth not rashly, but it judgeth justly, it is not so sharp sighted as to see a little moth where none is, nor so purblind, but it can discern a beam, therefore rashness must be condemned and avoided, but there is an holy wisdom to be had, as not to misdeem without sufficient warrant, so when there is evident proof, and plain appearance of a sin to take notice of it to, which must be observed against many men that by this doctrine, and indeed wresting it as evil men do all scripture, take occasion to thrust admonition out of doors, and think all men should be blind, because God will have all men charitable.
The vse of this is that if we would not be found culpable of the breach of this commandement, and trangressing against the name and fame of our christian brother, then must we not giue ourselues allowance to conceiue any ill opinion of them without sufficient warrant, and due ground for the same, for though the thing which we suspect be so indeede, that is not the question, if we haue no warrant, nor noe good proofe and foundation for our suspicion, we are guiltie of the hurting the fame of our neighbour, for what though it may he so, in matters of our neighbours credit, we must not take such light coniectures as a sufficient cause to moue a suspicion; we must doe as we would be done by, and I pray you what man aliue almost is there that would not in his heart iudge this an vncharitable thing that because his neighbour should see I know not what weak probability, or rather surmises that had no probabilitie in them of some fault, therefore he should presently thinke and conclude that it was euen so, and beare such an opinion of him as of a trangressor in that kind, what euer fault it be, and so giue his name such a wound in his conscience by this deeming as could hardly be healed againe▪ no man would count this good dealing to himselfe and therefore euerie man must looke to himselfe that he doe not build a suspicion against ⟨image 178⟩his neighbour vpon weake and idle props, neuer thinke ill of one, till he hath deserued and giuen sufficient cause of it. But now this must be known by the way, that though loue wil not allow suspicion, yet it doth not thrust out discretion, it iudgeth not rashly, but it iudgeth iustly, it is not so sharpe sighted as to see a little moath where none is, nor so purblind, but it can discerne a beame, therefore rashnesse must be condemned and auoyded, but there is an holy wisdome to be had, as not to misdeeme without sufficient warrant, so when there is euident proofe, and plaine appearance of a sinne to take notice of it to, which must be obserued against many men that by this doctrine, and indeede wresting it as euill men doe all scripture, take occasion to thrust admonition out of dores, and thinke all men should be blinde, because God will haue all men charitable.
