A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

¹The means of preserving our own and our neighbours fame and name, is to have an inward disposition unto it, and an high esteem and great regard of it. And secondly, an outward profession of the truth concerning our neighbour, joined with charity and discretion. The inward disposition ⟨p. 159⟩is a true care of our own and our neighbours fame and credit, with the fruits of it, whereby we tender our own and their good name, out of true love and charity. The fruits of which care are referred ²either to the fame it self, as to rejoice in it, if it be good, and sorry, if it be bad; or else to our hearing, judging and reporting of our neighbour. In respect of hearing, we are not willingly to hear rumours ³and reports, tending to the infamy of our neighbours, but to repel talebearers; and contrariwise, with all readiness to hear their praises and commendations. In respect of judging, we are to be charitable; and to show it by the fruits thereof, in not being suspicious, and in repressing the unjust suspicions of others; in not believing, or determining any thing rashly against our neighbour; and in interpreting good things well, and doubtful things in the better part. In respect of reporting, we must report no ill of our neighbour, though it be true, unless it be in charity, when as it is either profitable for the party of whom we speak, that he may be reformed; or for the party to whom we speak, for the prevention of danger intended, or infection like to ensue by his company, or else necessary for our selves, when as silence will make us guilty of his fault.