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

And the fault is so much the worse because it always hurts three at once, this blow always makes three wounds at one time, he wounds the soul of him to whom he tells the false tale, for as we shall hear after, the receiver is in a great fault therefore he hath one deadly blow. The second stroke lights on the name and reputation of the party thus slandered & backbitten, for his name hath a scar in the account of the hearer. The last and worst and greatest blow he gives his own soul when he infects it with slander, and makes his conscience guilty of a lie. These three mortal wounds this lying tongue like a piercing sword makes at one time. Indeed he scapes best who is falsely slandered for he being innocent God will heal his name and bring forth his, but the other two wounds are more dangerous because they light upon the soul, and more hard to be cured because they are altogether sin.

And the fault is so much the vvorse because it alwaies hurts three at once, this blow alwaies makes three vvounds at one time, he wounds the soule of him to whom he tels the false tale, for as we shall heare after, the receiuer is in a great fault therefore he hath one deadly blow. The second stroake lights on the name and reputation of the partie thus slandered & backebitten, for his name hath a scarre in the account of the hearer. The last and worst and greatest blowe hee giues his owne soule vvhen he infects it vvith slaunder, and makes his conscience guiltie of a lie. These three mortall vvoundes this lying tongue like a percing sword makes at one time. Indeede he scapes best who is falsely slaundered for he being innocent God will heale his name and bring forth his, but the other two wounds are more daungerous because they light vpon the soule, and more harde to bee cured because they are altogether sin.

Therefore it stands every man upon, that he raise up no unjust report against any man. Now the best way to keep himself against slandering, is to make a covenant with his own foul and to vow in himself not to speak often of others mens faults, for he that gives his tongue liberty to be busied about this subject, it cannot be avoided but that he shall slip to far and speak worse then in christianity and equity he should; he that will speak to often of other mens infirmities, cannot keep himself from speaking to much sometimes, therefore the best way is to be sparing in this kind of talk. Speak seldom first. Then secondly, when one hath a good calling & just cause to speak, let him speak discreetly in due time and due place, that some good may come by his speech that either the party may be brought to the sight and amendment of his