The works of George Swinnock, M.A

When our desires and ends are purely to get our hearts affected with the dishonour that is done to God by their wickedness, and the danger and misery of their own souls; This is supposed to be the subject matter of the Saints discourse, Mal. 3. 16. when in evil days they spake often one to another. But for men to make it their business to publish others profaneness, this is profane; Thou shalt not go up and down as a Tale-bearer among thy people, Lev. 19. 16. The word for Tale-bearer in the Hebrew, is Bakel, and signifieth a Pedlar, which fitly sets forth the property of a Back-biter; The Pedlar goeth up and down the Country offering his wares at every door, very willing to put them off; he takes them up at one place, and never ceaseth travailing till he hath sold them at another. So the back-biter catcheth up an evil report of a man at one house, and cannot rest till he is at some other house to tell it again, offering to vend it at a very low rate, to any man that will take it off his hands; Nay, he is so full, that he is ready to burst, if none will allow him vent. He is big with child, and can find no ease, till another's ears be the Midwife to deliver him of such a deformed Monster. But this is opposite to the rule by which we ⟨p. 273⟩should walk, Tit. 2. 3. Our God commandeth us, Speak evil of no man; Not of good men, for they are Gods portion; not of bad men, for so is Gods precept; This unchristian course of some professors, hath procured them many a mischief, and brought up an ill report upon them all. The sinner is apt to say of such, as Ahab of Micaiah, I hate him, for he never speaks well of me. And thus instead of saving their neighbours souls, which ought to be the work of every Christian, they harden them in their sins, and help to deepen their condemnations. Without doubt, that time which men spend in reporting others wickedness, would be far better employed, in confessing and be wailing their own; It will prove at last but an evil means to raise our own names higher, by pulling down others, and building on their ruinest ; and to relate their vices as a foil to render our virtues more beautiful and glorious; Let not the evil speaker be established in the earth; Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him,