Sermons preached

(2.) It comes from uncharitable Credulity, whereby Men easily believe a false report, and so propagate and convey it to others. Jer. 26. 10. I have heard the defaming of many; report say they, and we will report it. All my Familiars watched for my halting, &c. The Prophet complaineth, Many, and those no mean ones, have I heard reproaching and taunting me, so that he was a Terror to himself, and to all his-Friends. Many had combined by false suggestions and malicious informations against him to work his ruin. If any will raise a report tending to the discredit of another, some will foster it, and it loseth nothing in the carriage, till by additions and misconstructions it groweth to a downright and dangerous Infamy.

(2.) It comes from uncharitable Credulity, whereby Men easily believe a false report, and so propagate and convey it to others. Jer. 26. 10. I have heard the defaming of many; report say they, and we will report it. All my Familiars watched for my halting, &c. The Prophet complaineth, Many, and those no mean ones, have I heard reproaching and taunting me, so that he was a Terrour to himself, and to all his-Friends. Many had combined by false suggestions and malicious informations against him to work his ruine. If any will raise a report tending to the discredit of another, some will foster it, and it loseth nothing in the carriage, till by additions and misconstructions it groweth to a downright and dangerous Infamy.

(3.) It comes through rashness and unruliness of Tongue: some Men never learned to bridle their Tongues, and the Apostle James telleth us that therefore their Religion is vain. Jam. 1. 26. Till we make Conscience of these evils, as well as others, we content our selves with a partial Obedience, and therefore cannot be Sincere. But many never set themselves to learn this part of their Duty, and therefore divulge a Report before they try it, or receive any just proof of it. Possibly it may not come from downright Malice, but their Tongues hang too loose, without the coercion and just restraint of Grace, and so they either report false things, or speak Truth to an evil end.