A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

It is our duty then in the same matter to show our love to others: Our tongue, which is apt to speak the best of our selves, should not frame it self to speak the worst we can of our Brethren. The Apostle chargeth Titus ¹to put Christians in mind of this, among other duties; to speak evil of no man.

It is our duty then in the same matter to shew our love to others: Our tongue, which is apt to speak the best of our selves, should not frame it self to speak the worst we can of our Brethren. The Apostle chargeth Titus ¹to put Christians in mind of this, among other duties; to speak evil of no man.

1. 1Titus. 3.2

There are several ways and degrees of evil speaking:

1. The first, and most notorious, is, when men are spoken against as evil doers, for doing that which is their duty to do; When they are condemned for that, for which they ought to be commended: Thus was Jeremiah dealt with in his time, when he faithfully declared the mind of God to the people;¹ Come (say they) and let us smite him with the tongue: The same lot had John from Diotrephes, who prated against him with Malicious words, because he had wrote to have the brethren received, a work of Christian love and Charity, which he had no heart unto. To speak evil of others for that which is their duty, is a common thing among men; and too ordinary among some professors; If they be told of a truth, or exhorted to a duty, that doth not agree with their private opinion, and Comport with their carnal interest, how do their hearts rise, and their mouths begin to open against such as declare it to them! We may well conceive, that the Apostle Paul observed some such thing in his days, when we find him beseeching Christians to suffer the word of exhortation: