Spiritual physic to cure the diseases of the soul, arising from superfluity of choler,…Spiritual physicke to cure the diseases of the soule, arising from superfluitie of choller,…

Sect. 7.

The sixth cause is, to have open cares to every tale-bearer, and credulous harts ¹to believe them. For it is the nature of men, to be most desirous of hearing that which most displeaseth them, Et libenter credere quae inuitè audiunt, willingly ²to believe those things which they are most sorry to hear. But if we would avoid unjust anger, we must avoid this vice also: Multos absoluemus ³si caeperimus ante judicare quam irasci, we shall acquit many, if we vvill not be angry before we judge. Let us not therefore suffer execution to go before judgement, but rather defer our more severe censure, till time have revealed the truth, considering that ⟨image 69⟩it is most usual with men to report untruths, some that they may deceive thee, some because they are deceived themselves, some because they would set friends at variance, some in their accusation will feign an injury offered us, that they may take occasion to show their sorrow, because it was offered; but scarce any of them will stand to that which they have spoken. And therefore let us not be angry before we judge, nor judge before we hear both parties: For what injustice is it to have both ears open to an accusation, and both shut to an excuse? to proceed to sentence of condemnation, before we ask the party accused what he can say for himself? what greater wrong then to believe in secret, and to be angry openly?

The sixt cause is, to haue open cares to euery tale-bearer, and credulous harts