I Do not say that it is always unlawful to speak that which is ill of another behind his back. Sometime wicked men will take occasion to justify sin it self, by the advantage of a sinners name: And sometime they will magnify the virtues of some wicked man, or of some of their sect, on purpose to cast reproach on godliness, or to make others odious by the comparison. Yet in such cases we must repress their malignity more by a defensive than an offensive opposition. But the usual course of back-biting in all sorts of men, is sinful. The back-biter (how great or learned or religious soever) is but the devils minister, to ⟨p. 128⟩preach down the love of others, and to exhort you to hate your brother, or to abate your charity to him. And he that patiently hearkeneth to such, is a partaker of their sin. And he that believeth them, hath taken the infection. Most of our odious thoughts of others, and our false and uncharitable censures, do come in this way. For the most part, men censure and separate and persecute most, where they are acquainted least, but go by hear-say, and judge of men by back-biters mis-reports: And acquaintance and familiarity usually reconcileth them, and showeth them their error. You think it is a fair excuse for you, when you either believe or report evil of another, to say, that you heard it from very honest and religious, or reverend persons; or you heard it from many, and confidently uttered. But God hath not allowed you to receive back-biters, because they are godly, or because they are many. This very age and time doth experimentally confute this excuse: In which it is so common a thing, for false reports and news to be uttered with confidence, and that by multitudes, and many of them religious, and yet neither truth nor ground at all, for what is said. Back-biters, and haters of God are conjoined Rom. 1. 30. He that back-biteth not with his tongue, nor doth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour, is one that hath the mark of a Citizen of Zion. Psal. 15. 3. An angry countenance must drive away a back-biting tongue. Pro. 25. 23. Paul was afraid of that which we all now feel the evil of, even this evil spirit which I am now detecting. 2 Cor. 12. 20. Lest there be debates, e•vyings, ⟨p. 129⟩wraths, strifes, back-bitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults, and so God would humble him among them.
I Do not say that it is always unlawful to speak that which is ill of another behind his back. Sometime wicked men will take occasion to justifie sin it self, by the advantage of a sinners name: And sometime they will magnifie the vertues of some wicked man, or of some of their sect, on purpose to cast reproach on godliness, or to make others odious by the comparison. Yet in such cases we must repress their malignity more by a defensive than an offensive opposition. But the usual course of back-biting in all sorts of men, is sinful. The back-biter (how great or learned or religious soever) is but the devils minister, to ⟨p. 128⟩preach down the love of others, and to exhort you to hate your brother, or to abate your charity to him. And he that patiently hearkeneth to such, is a partaker of their sin. And he that believeth them, hath taken the infection. Most of our odious thoughts of others, and our false and uncharitable censures, do come in this way. For the most part, men censure and separate and persecute most, where they are acquainted least, but go by hear-say, and judge of men by back-biters mis-reports: And acquaintance and familiarity usually reconcileth them, and sheweth them their errour. You think it is a fair excuse for you, when you either believe or report evil of another, to say, that you heard it from very honest and religious, or reverend persons; or you heard it from many, and confidently uttered. But God hath not allowed you to receive back-biters, because they are godly, or because they are many. This very age and time doth experimentally confute this excuse: In which it is so common a thing, for false reports and news to be uttered with confidence, and that by multitudes, and many of them religious, and yet neither truth nor ground at all, for what is said. Back-biters, and haters of God are conjoyned Rom. 1. 30. He that back-biteth not with his tongue, nor doth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour, is one that hath the mark of a Citizen of Zion. Psal. 15. 3. An angry countenance must drive away a back-biting tongue. Pro. 25. 23. Paul was afraid of that which we all now feel the evil of, even this evil spirit which I am now detectcting. 2 Cor. 12. 20. Lest there be debates, e•vyings, ⟨p. 129⟩wraths, strifes, back-bitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults, and so God would humble him among them.
