We are afraid to do that evil which may be reported to great persons, who have power to punish us: It such a man be told (say some) what we have done, what will become of us? Many are not afraid to do evil, who yet are afraid it should be told their betters what evil they have done. Servants will sometimes thus check children in a Family, when they have done amiss, We will tell your Father, we will do your errand to your Mother; that's a dreadful word to a child that hath any reverence of Father or Mother, to say, I will tell your Father and Mother of you. The Lord knoweth all that we do amiss (as was •aid before) though no man tell him; but shall it be told to God what such and such men speak or do, and will they speak or do it still? shall it be told God what they speak, and against whom they speak? shall it be told God whom they reproach, whom they revile? and will they venture it? 'Tis dangerous when such Tales are truly told in the ears of God against the men of the World; they were better have Tales told, and reports made against them to all the Princes of the earth, than have reports made to God against them. To have a poor soul, upon just grounds, telling God, what evil men have done against him, how they have slandered and reproached him, how they have oppressed and vexed him, will come at last to a sad account against them. Shall it be told God that I speak? (saith Elihu) And shall it be told God that we do evil, and we regard it not? Shall we answer tho•e that tell us, they have told, o will tell God of our evil doings, as impudent children and servants do such as threaten them with telling their P••ents and Masters of their evil doings, What care we? do if y•u will? O let us take heed how we do or speak that, which, if told in the ears of God, ⟨p. 590⟩may cause blame, and bring his displeasure upon us. There are a sort of Tale-bearers very odious in the sight of God and all good men; such are spoken of, Prov. 11.13. Prov. 18.8. But they who bring reports to God (as Joseph did to his Father Jacob, concerning his brethren, Gen. 37.2.) of the evils done by men, such Tale-bearers (if I may so call them) do but their duty; and as their reports are accepted with God, so they hasten wrath upon evil men (Luke 18.7.) Shall it be told him that I speak?
We are afraid to do that evil which may be reported to great persons, who have power to punish us: It such a man be told (say some) what we have done, what will become of us? Many are not afraid to do evil, who yet are afraid it should be told their betters what evil they have done. Servants will somtimes thus check children in a Family, when they have done amiss, We will tell your Father, we will do your errand to your Mother; that's a dreadful word to a child that hath any •everence of Father or Mother, to say, I will tell your Father and Mother of you. The Lord knoweth all that we do amiss (as was •aid before) though no man tell him; but shall it be told to God what such and such men speak or do, and will they speak or do it still? shall it be told God what they speak, and against whom they speak? shall it be told God whom they reproach, whom they revile? and will they venture it? 'Tis dangerous when such Tales are truly told in the ears of God against the men of the World; they were better have Tales told, and reports made against them to all the Princes of the earth, than have reports made to God against them. To have a poor soul, upon just grounds, telling God, what evil men have done against him, how they have sland•ed and reproached him, how they have opprest and vext him, will come at last to a sad account against them. Shall it be told God that I speak? (saith Elihu) And shall it be told God that we do evil, and we regard it not? Shall we answer tho•e that tell us, they have told, o will tell God of our evil doings, as impudent child•en and servants do such as threa•en them with telling th•ir P••ents and Masters of their evil doings, What care we? do if y•u will? O let us take heed how we do or speak that, which, if told in the ears of God, ⟨p. 590⟩may cause blame, and bring his displeasure upon us. There are a s•rt of Tale-bearers very odious in the sight of God and all good men; such are spoken of, Prov. 11.13. Prov. 18.8. But they who bring reports to God (as Joseph did to his Father Jacob, concerning his brethren,
