The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…

Now by speech it is broken either by giving or receiving. By giving out speech either true or false, for one may be an enemy and as much break this commandment in speaking nothing but the truth, in some cases, as in other cases if he speak false and lying things, and this truth if it be put in the other end of the balance of Gods judgement will weigh as heavy as falsehood. If one speak the truth without discretion, unseasonable, out of time and out of place, if his words be true, but his end false and wicked, and his purpose naught, he is as cruel and malicious an enemy to the name and credit of his neighbour, and as vile a slander in the sight of God, as if he spoke that which were false. This was the fault of Doeg, that cursed enemy of David. When he sees Saul have an ill opinion of David, and all his friends, and comes in a chafe to his men saying, what will none of you tell me that my son and my servant have conspired against me? And Doeg knew full well by Sauls behaviour, that his end was mischievous, and he would make a dispatch of all Davids friends, he steps me out now in this unseasonable time, and there shows what he had seen; that the priest had given David bread and a sword, and counselled with God for him. This was so indeed as he said, but this was a most devilish and wicked part, and a foul fault; for hence arose that cruel persecution, and the murdering of so many innocent servants ⟨image 180⟩of God. So in the enemies of Daniel, they did indeed catch him as busy at prayer as before, and it was true that he had broken the kings edict, but in the mean space they were most wicked and vile persons that would bring this accusation against Daniel with such a malicious purpose, and hence they bewrayed all their former malice in inventing such an ungodly decree, because they knew Daniel could be caught in nothing but in matters of God and religion. And there he would not yield an inch to them, but sooner leave his life, then his God in the least thing.

Now by speach it is broken either by giuing or receiuing. By giuing out speach either true or false, for one may be an enemie and as much breake this commandement in speaking nothing but the truth, in some cases, as in other cases if he speake false and lying things, and this truth if it be put in the other end of the ballance of Gods iudgement will weigh as heauie as falshood. If one speake the truth without discretion, vnseasonable, out of time and out of place, if his words be true, but his end false and wicked, and his purpose naught, he is as cruell and malitious an enemie to the name and credit of his neighbour, and as vilde a slaunder in the sight of God, as if he spoke that which were false. This was the fault of Doeg, that cursed enemie of Dauid. When he sees Saul haue an ill opinion of Dauid, and all his freinds, and comes in a chafe to his men saying, what will none of you tell me that my sonne and my seruant haue conspired against me? And Doeg knew full well by Sauls behauiour, that his end was mischieuous, and he would make a dispatch of all Dauids friēds, he steps me out now in this vnseasonable time, and there shewes what he had seene; that the priest had giuen Dauid bread and a sword, and counselled with God for him. This was so indeed as he said, but this was a most diuellish and wicked part, and a foule fault; for hence arose that cruell persecution, and the murdering of so many innocent seruants