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

Those then are here to be confuted that will not do as God commands them, tell their neighbour plainly of his fault, and not hate him in their hearts, but if they know a fault by him be far enough of from telling him of it plainly which were a duty and an argument of love: But straight set him on the stage, make him known to all men, never leave talking of it, which shows plainly that in truth they hate their neighbour, for if they would as God bids, tell the party, this would heal the soul, and cover his sin, and make him amend. But now to clamour in this wise, and raise up an evil report and brute can do no good but much mischief. Oh but I speak the truth: I but a fool speaks all that he knows, a wise man vvill keep it in till afterward. Let a wise man hear of a thing, he vvill consider the time and place, and persons, and temper his speech in wisdom according to these circumstances, but let a fool get a thing by the end once, and it must all out he cannot keep it, he is with child, and in pain till he be delivered what ever dishonour come to God, or discredit to his neighbour, or hurt to his own soul. Therefore one must not only be careful that he speak no lying thing, but he must look that he speak not the truth also to an ill end, after an ill manner when it may may do more hurt then good. So much for that breach, now follows the next in speaking that which is false, either concerning himself or an other. Concerning himself first in boasting and bragging, which is a most base and abject thing contrary to that which the holy Ghost saith, Let an other praise thee, and not thine own mouth: as in Rom. 1. among the rabble of wicked men, men are reckoned boasters, those that because there is no true matter of praises to be seen in them, will get praise by speaking great things for themselves. So Saul whereas he had saved the king, and all the best of the cattle, he comes bragging to Samuel, blessed be thou of the Lord saith he, I have fulfilled the word of the Lord, when it was nothing so, he had done nothing less then fulfilled the word of the Lord. Here he lied now in bragging of himself. And all in excusing ones fault more then one should. The thing wherein Saul ⟨image 181⟩sinned in the same matter, for when his lie would not go for currant, but Samuel caught him; why?

Those then are heere to be confuted that will not doe as God commaunds them, tell their neighbour plainely of his fault, and not hate him in their hearts, but if they know a fault by him be farre enough of from telling him of it plainely vvhich vvere a dutie and an argument of loue: But streight set him on the stage, make him knowne to all men, never leaue talking of it, which shewes plainly that in truth they hate their neighbor, for if they vvould as God bids, tell the partie, this vvould heale the soule, and couer his sinne, and make him amend. But now to clamour in this wise, and raise vp an euill report and brute can doe no good but much mischiefe. Oh but I speake the truth: I but a foole speakes all that he knowes, a wise man vvill keepe it in till afterward. Let a vvise man heare of a thing, he vvill consider the time and place, and persons, and temper his speech in vvisedome according to these circumstances, but let a foole get a thing by the end once, and it must al out he cannot keepe it, he is with childe, and in paine till he be deliuered what euer dishonour come to God, or discredit to his neighbour, or hurt to his owne soule. Therfore one must not onely be carefull that he speake no lying thing, but he must looke that hee speake not the truth also to an ill end, after an ill manner when it may may doe more hurt then good. So much for that breach, now followes the next in speaking that which is false, eyther concerning himselfe or an other. Concerning himselfe first in boasting and bragging, which is a most base and abiect thing contrarie to that which the holy Ghost saith, Let an other praise thee, and not thine owne mouth: as in