Sermons preached

Answ. I cannot say so, but yet it is hard to keep it from Sin.

1. He that doth it without just cause is plainly a Detractor, and so a grievous Sinner before God. You may impose and impute false Crimes upon others, which is properly called Slander, and God thereby convinceth the Professor of the true Religion to be an Hypocrite. Psal. 50. 20. Thou fittest, and speakest against thy Brother, and slanderest thy own Mothers Son. God doth not only reject the Liars for Hypocrites, but also the Backbiters and Slanderers. Those that allow themselves in the frequent practice of this Sin, what hopes can they have of acceptance with God, since he hath ⟨p. 181⟩entered his plea against them? For the Act to be sure is sinful, there can be no other end in it but the wronging of our Brothers Fame and Reputation to his loss and hurt. The Nature of the thing showeth it.

1. He that doth it without just cause is plainly a Detractor, and so a grievous Sinner before God. You may impose and impute false Crimes upon others, which is properly called Slander, and God thereby convinceth the Professor of the true Religion to be an Hypocrite. Psal. 50. 20. Thou fittest, and speakest against thy Brother, and slanderest thy own Mothers Son. God doth not only reject the Liars for Hypocrites, but also the Backbiters and Slanderers. Those that allow themselves in the frequent practice of this Sin, what hopes can they have of acceptance with God, since he hath ⟨p. 181⟩entred his plea against them? For the Act to be sure is sinful, there can be no other end in it but the wronging of our Brothers Fame and Reputation to his loss and hurt. The Nature of the thing sheweth it.