God's terrible voice in the city

23. The twenty third sin of London is slandering and backbiting, which hath been the consequent of the former. The ninth commandment hath been exceedingly broken in London, especially in a private way of bearing false witness against the neighbour, and wounding his reputation by a slanderous tongue: some inventing lies, and raising slanders, which they have in their consciences known to be false; others taking up slanders, readily believing them without any just proof. This sin you have set forth with a caution to take heed of such persons, Jer. 9. 4, 5. London hath been full of backbiters and tale-bearers, and too many professors have been guilty of this sin: few have entertained backbiters with an angry countenance, which as the wind driveth away rain, would have driven them out of sight. I might here add the hatred of one another that hath been in London (much through slanders) the emulation that hath risen from hatred; the wrath that hath risen from emulation; and the wrath of God which hath arisen from these and other works of the flesh, spoken of, Gal. 5. 19, 20.

23. The twenty third sin of London is slandering and backbiting, which hath been the consequent of the former. The ninth commandment hath been exceedingly broken in London, especially in a private way of bearing false witness against the neighbour, and wounding his reputation by a slanderous tongue: some inventing lyes, and raising slanders, which they have in their consciences known to be false; others taking up slanders, readily believing them without any just proof. This sin you have set forth with a caution to take heed of such persons, Ier. 9. 4, 5. London hath been full of backbiters and tale-bearers, and too many professours have been guilty of this sin: few have entertained backbiters with an angry countenance, which as the wind driveth away rain, would have driven them out of sight. I might here add the hatred of one another that hath been in London (much through slanders) the emulation that hath risen from hatred; the wrath that hath risen from emulation; and the wrath of God which hath arisen from these and other works of the flesh, spoken of, Gal. 5. 19, 20.