A trumpet blown in Zion, or, An alarm in God's holy mountain containing an…A trumpet blown in Zion, or, An allarm in God's holy mountain containing an…

God will not only condemn men for evil actions, but their evil words also shall rise up against them at the great day: And as the gracious words which proceed from a sanctified and renewed Christian tends to his Justification, especially when the main design and purport of his Speech tends to exalt and magnify God and his Free-Grace in Jesus Christ; so the evil words of the unsanctified Christian tends to his Condemnation, and declares him to be but mere chaff, or a hypocritical person; but if idle Jesting and foolish Talking is the Character of a vain man, what is a detracting and back-biting Tongue, a Tongue that is set on fire by hell, who vilify and render odious such who truly fear God, that are not guilty of those foul things laid to their charge; such persons are not like to ascend ¹Gods holy hill, nor abide in his Tabernacle, viz. That taketh up false and wicked slanders and reports against his Neighbour, to lessen his reputation among Men: And 'tis with the greater aggravation, when it is done out of Envy, Prejudice or Malice; and 'tis further aggravated when 'tis done to a Minister of the Gospel, on purpose to obstruct or hinder unthinking Christians to adhere unto his Doctrine, or receive that truth which they see not; but set themselves to oppose and gainsay, who do not only in an undue manner spread such Reproaches, but also raise them: It is a great evil to divulge or propagate a fault committed by a Brother, by making it public when it was private, (they breaking thereby the express ⟨p. 22⟩Precept of Jesus Christ, Mat. 18.) But it is far worse to publish false and groundless Slanders and Accusations of him or others: And tis an abominable evil in such who are ready to entertain, and easily to believe, and greedily receive such Reports of him who deserveth it not. Such men are by the Lord called vile persons, Psa. 5. 4. and are contemned by such that sear the Lord, howsoever great and honourable they seem to be. Moreover, if it be so great an evil for men thus to use their Tongues or Pens, to speak evil of, and to blaspheme innocent men, what is the Nature of their Crimes who curse and swear, and blaspheme the sacred Name of God and the holy Jesus? like as the Pharisees did, who said, this fellow doth not cast out