Christian directions, showing how to walk with God all the day long drawn up…Christian directions, shewing how to walk with God all the day long drawn up…

2 By a divulging of their secret evils.

This God did expressly forbid his own people the Jews,¹ Thou shalt not go up and down as a Tale-bearer among the people; like unto a Peddler, which carrieth his Pack from house to house, venting here a little, and there a little, until at length he hath uttered all his Wares. Thus there are too too many who go up and down, from house to house,² uttering slanders and reproaches as Wares, which indeed is the Devils proper sin, who is styled, the accuser of his brethren. Oh consider, that God will surely recompense this into your bosoms;³ for as our Saviour speaketh, Judge not, that ye be not judged, for with what judgement ye judge ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. So that thou shalt be sure to find others that will be as ready to judge thee, and to speak evil of thee, as thou hast of thy brother, who will have as little care of thy credit as thou hast had of thy brothers; so far shouldst thou be from wronging thy neighbour, by being the author and spreader of evil reports, that thou shouldst not lend thine ear to them that spread them, for thine ears may be as guilty as thy tongue; therefore such evil speaking should not be heard without some expression of dislike: which would be a special means for the suppressing of them.

This God did expresly forbid his own people the Jewes,¹ Thou shalt not goe up and down as a Tale-bearer among the people; like unto a Pedler, which carrieth his Pack from house to house, venting here a little, and there a little, until at length he hath uttered all his Wares. Thus there are too too many who goe up and down, from house to house,²