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

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: ²and the Apostle Peter also, by his charging them (in hearing) to lay aside, all malice, and all guile and hypocrisies, and envies, and evil-speakings.

1. 1Jer. 18.18.
2. 2Heb. 13.22. 1 Pet. 2.1.

2. A second way of evil speaking, and a great sin against love and Charity, is, when men raise up false reports of others, or set them forward when others have maliciously raised them.