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Imprimatur,
Vice^Cancell. Oxon,
January. 24, 1675.
I
THE
Government
OF THE
TONGUE
By the Author of The Whole Duty of Man, &c,
^eath and Life are in the fower of the Tongue, Prov, 18.21.
The third Impreffion.
'Atthe The ATE R in Oxford.
M. DC, LXXV.
1 \r^A f\
THE
PREFACE
H E Government of the Tongue has ever bin jufily reputed one of the moHim^ fort ant parts of human i?e- The Philofopher and the Divine equally attefi this \ and So- lomon ( vpho Tfos both ) gives hpsfuf- frage alfo ; the perfvpafions to , and encomiums of it , taking up a conft-- derahle part of his book, of Proverbs. \Jball not therefore need to fay any a 2 thing
giment.
The Preface*
things tojujlifie my choke of thk fubjeSi , which has Jo much better Authorities to ccmmcnd it^ I ra- ther vpifo that it had not the fuper- addition of an accidental fitnefs grounded upon the univerfal negleSl of it ^ it now feeming to be an art r^hollj cut-dated. For tbofome linea- ments af it may he met with in 'books ^ yet there is fcarce any foot- ^ej?s of it in praSiice , where alone it can he figni/icant. The attemt therefore of reviving it I am fure hfeafonahle^ Iwijh it were half as eafj.
2' Indeed that skjll was never very cafy ^ it requiring the greateji vigi- lance and caution , and therefore not to be attain'' d by loofe trifling fai- nts. The Tongue is fo flippery^ that
it
The Preface.
it eaj) deceaves a droujy or heedlefs guard. Nature feems to have given it Jme unhappy advantage towards that. 7ps in its frame the mojl ready for motion of any member , needs not fo much m the flexure of a joints and by accefs of humors acquires a glihnefs too , the more to facilitate its moving. And alas we too much find the efe5i of this its eafy frame ; it often goes without giving us warning ; and 05 children when they happen upon a Tolling engine , can fet it in fuch a carriere , as wifer people cannot on a fudden ftop ; fo the childijh parts of m^ our paffxfns , ew fancies , all our mere animal faculties ^ can thruji cur tongues into fuch difordtrs ^ mouf reafon cannot eafily reSiify. The due mmagery therefore of this unruly
member
The Preface.
member , may rightly be efieemedone of the greate/l myjieries of Wijdom and Vertue. This is intimated by St* James , If any man offend not ift word, the fame is a perfeft man, and able alfo to bridle the whole body , Ja* 3. 2. Tis Jloried of Bemho a primitive Chrijiian , that coming to a friend to teach him a Pfalm^ he be- gan to him the thirty ninth , I faid I will look to my waies, that I offend not with my Tongue; upon hearing ofvphichfirji verfe , hejiopt his Tutor -> faying^ This is enough for me^ if I learn it as I ought ; and being af- ter fix months rebuked for not com- ing again ^ he replied^ that he had not yet learnt his firjl leffon : nay af-^ ter ninteen years he profefi^ that in that time he had fear ce learnt tofuU
fii
The Preface.
fill that one line. I give not thi6 in-^ fiance to difiourage ^ but rather to quicken men to the Hudy ; for a leffon that requires fo much time to learn , had need be early begun with.
3. But efpecially in tbis age , wherein the contrary liberty ha6 got .fuch aprepofjejfion , that men look on it as apart of their birth-right^ nay do not only let their tongues loofe^ but Jiudioufly fuggeft inordinancits to them 5 and ufe the /pur where they Jhould the bridle. By this means converfation 16 fo generally corrupted^ that many have had caufe to wip they had not bin made fociable crea- tures. A manfecludtd from company can have but the Devil and himfelf to temt him ; but he that converfes^ has almofi as many fnares as he has b compa^
The Preface.
companions: Men barter vkes^and as if each had not enough of his own growth -, tranfplant out of his neighbors foil^ and that which was intended to cultivate and civilize the worlds has turned it into a wild defert and wildernefs.
4. This face of things I confefs looks not very fromifmg to one who is to folicite a reformation. But whatever the hopes are ^ I am fure the needs are great enough to jujiify the attemt : for as the difeafe is Epi- demic ^ fo it is mortal alfo , utterly inconfijient with that pure religion , which leads to life. We may tak? St. James'^ word for it , If any man feem to be religious , and bridleth not his tongue, that mans religion is vain, Jam, i. 26. God knows
The Preface/
m have not much Religion among U6 1 tps great pity vpe Jhould frujiratt the little we have , render that utter- ly fignificant , vphich at the beji a- mounts to fo little. Let therefore the difficulty and neceffity of the tasK^ •prevail mth us to take time he^ fore U6^ not to defer thisfo necefary a work, till the night come ; or ima- gine that the Tongue will he able to expiate its whole age of guilt by a feeble Lord have mercy on me at the lafi. Tho indeed if that were fuppofeable^ twere but a broken reed to truji to , none kriowing whether he JImll have time or grace for that. He may be furpriz^d with an Oath^ a Blafphemy ^ a Detra^ion in his mouth : many have bin fo. Tis fure there muji be a dying moment \ and
how
The Preface.
how can any man fecure bimfelf\ it
Jhall not be the fame with that in
which he utters thofe , and his eo(pi-
ring breathy lefo empkied ? Sure they
cannot think, that thofe incantations
C tho hellijh enough ) can make them
Jhot free , render them invulnerahle
to deaths darts ; and if they have not
that or fome other as ridiculous re--
ferves , 'tis firange what fiould
make them run fuch a mad adven^
iure.
5. But I expeSi itj/jould he oh- jeSied^ that this little defpicable TraH is not proportionable to the encoun- ter to which it is brought ; that befides the unskilful managing of thofe points it do's touch , it wholly omits many proper to thefubje^ , there be-- fng faults of the Tongue which it
paPs
The Preface. paffesin fiknce. Iconfefs there is colo^ enough for this objeSiion. But I believe if it were put to votes > more would rejolve I had faid too vtuch , rather then too little. Should I have en- larged to the utmoji compafs of this Theme , IJhould have made the vo- lume of fo affrighting a bulk , that few would have attemted it ; and by faying much I Jfjould have faid nothing at all to thofe who mofi need it. Mens flomacs are generally fo qneafie in thefe cafes ^ that tis not fafe to overload thein , let them try how they can digefl this : if they can fo as to turn it into kindly nurifi- ment , they will he able to fupply themfelves with the remainder. For I think I may with fome confidence affirm^ that he that can confine his
Tongue
The Preface.
Tongue within the limits here pre- fcrib'dmay without much difficulty re- Jlrain its other excurfions. All IJfjall beg of the Reader , i^ but to come with fincere intentions , and then perhaps thefe few Stones and Sling ufed in the Name^ andmth invocation of the Lord of Hofts , may countervail the viaffive armor of the uncircumcifed Philiftin ; And may that God who loves to viagnifie his power in weak: nefs , give it the like fuccefs.
THE
THE CONTENTS.
Se5l. I . of the UJe of Speech, p, i. SeEi, 2. Of the manifold Abiife of Speech. 7.
SeEi. 3. Of Atheistical ^ifcourfe. p,i2.
Se5i. 4. OfT>etra£lion, p, 39.
Se£t, f. Of Lying "Defamation, p. 49.
Se^. 6. Of Uncharitable Truth. /• ^^
Se£i^ 7. Of Scoffing andT)erifion. /• 113
4^^/^. 8. Of Flattery. p. 134.
«y^^. 9. 0/ Boafting, p, 155-.
4^^^. 10. Of Slueruloufnefs. p, 174.
*5>^. 11.0/ Tofitivenefs. /. 1 8 8.
aSV^. 1 2 . OfObfcene Talk. p. 204.
TheClofe. p.io6.
OF THE
Government of the Tongue.
S E C T, I.
Of the Vfe of Speech.
'AN at his firft creation was fubltituted by God as his Vicegerent, to receive the homage, and enjoy the fer- vices of all inferior beings : nay farther was endowed with excellencies fit to maintain the port of fb vaft an Empire. Yet thofe very excellencies , as they quali- fied him for dominion, fo they unfitted
A him
2 The Government of the Tongue.
him for afatisfadtion or acquieicencein thofe his vaflals : the dignity of his na- # ture fet him abov^e the Ibciety or con- verfe of mere animals ^ fo that in all the pomp of his roialty , amidft all the throng and variety ofcreatures , he ftill remained folitary. But God who knew what an appetite of fociety he had implanted in him, judged this no agreeable Itate for him , It ts not meet that man should be alone. Gen. 2.18. And as in the univer- fal frame of nature , he ingraffed fiich an abhorrence of vacuity, that all creatures do rather fubmit to a preternatural mo- tion then admit its fo, in this emty, this deftitute condition of man , he relieved him by a miraculous expedient , divided him that he might unite him, and made one part of him an allbciate for the o^ ther.
. 2 . Neither did God take this care to provide him a companion , merely for the entercouries of Senfe : had that bin the fole aim, there needed no new pro- dudlions, there were lenfitive creatures enough: the defign was to entertain his nobler principle, his reafon, with a more equal converle, affign him an intimate, whofe iatelledt as much correiponded
with
Sect. I. Of the Ufe of Speech. 3
% with his, as did the outward form, whofe heart, according to Soloynons refemblance, anfwered his , As in water face anfisoers face, Prov. 27. ip. with whom he might communicate minds , traffic and enter- change all the notions and fentiments of arealonablefoul.
3 . But tho there were this fympathy in their fublimer part which difpofed them to the moft intimate union ; yet there was a cloud of flefli in the way which inter- cepted their mutual view, nay permitted no intelligence between them, other then by the mediation of iome Organ equal- ly commenfurate to foul and body. And to this purpofe the infinite wifdom of God ordained Speech ; which as it is a found refulting from the modulation of the Air, has moft affinity to the fpirit, but as It is uttered by the Tongue , has immediate cognation with the body, and fb is the fitteft inftrument to manage a a commerce between the rational yet in vifible powers of human fouls clothed in flefli.
4. And as we have reafon to admire the excellency of this contrivance, fo have we to applaud the extenfivenefs of the benefit. From this it is we derive all
A 2 the
4 The Government of the Tongue.
the advantages ot fociety : without this ^ men of the neareft neighborhood would have fignified no more to each other then our tj4ntipodes now do to us. All our arts and fciencies for the accommodati- on of this life, had remained only a rude Chaos in their firtt matter, had not fpeech by a mutual comparing of notions rang- ed them into order. By this it is we can give one another notice of our wants, and follicit relief; by this we interchang- ably communicate advifts, reproofs, con- folations , all the neceflary aids of hu- man imbeciUity. This is that which pof- lefles us of the moft valuable blefllng of human life, I mean Friendfhip, which could no more have bin contracfted a- mongft dumb men , then it can between pictures and ftatues. Nay farther to this we owe in a great degree the interefts even of our ipiritual being, all the oral, yea and writren revelations too of Gods will : for had there bin no language there had bin no writing. And tho we muft not pronounce how far God might have evi- denced himfelf to mankind by immediate inlpiration of every individual , yet we may fafely reft in the Apoftles inference Rom. lo. 14. How shall they believe in
him
s
S E c T. I. Of the Ufa of Speech, f
him whom they have not heard, and how shall they hear without a preacher ?
y. From all thefe excellent ufes of it in refped: of man, we may colled: another in relation to God , that is » the praifing and magnifying his goodnefs , as for all other Effedts of his bounty, fo particularly that he hath given us language, and all the confequent advantages of it. This is the juft inference of the.fon of Syrach Ecclus. fi. 2 2. The Lord hath given me a tongue , and I will praife him therewith. This is the facrifice which God calls for fo often by the Prophets, the Calves of our lips , which anfwers to all the oblations out of the herd , and which the Apoltle makes equivalent to thofe of the floor and wineprefs A^o ^ Heb. 13. 15. The fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. To this we frequently find the Pfalmift exciting both himielf and others, ^ylwake up my glory y 1 will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the people, and I willfing unto thee among the nations, Pfal. 57.9. 10* And 0 praife the Lord with me^ and let tis ma- gnify hi^ name together, P fal, 34. 3 . And in- deed who ever obferves that excellent ma- gazine of Devotion, the book of Pfalms, Ihall find that the Lauds make up a very great part of it, 9. By
6 The Government of the Tongue.
6. B Y what hath bin laid , we may de- fine what are the grand ufes of fpeech, viz. the Glorifying of God, and the be- nefiting of men. And this helps us to an infaUible teft by which to try our words. For fince every thing is fo far ap- pro vable as it anfwers the end of its be- ing, what part foever of our difcourfes a- grees not with the primitive ends of fpeech, will not hold weight in the ba- lance of the fand:uury. It will therefore nearly concern us to enter upon this fcru- tiny , to bring our words to this touch- ftone : for tho in our depraved eftimate the Eloquence of Language is more regarded then the innocence, tho we think our words vanilh with the breath that utters them, yet they become records in Gods Court , are laid up in his Archives as wit- nefles either for , or againft us : for he who is truth it felf hath told us , that By thy words thou shalt be jujlified , and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Mat. 1 2 . 3 7.
Sec t.
of the Abufe of Speech.
Sect. IL
Of the manifold Abufe of Speech.
I, And now fince the original de- j[\ figns of fpeaking are fo noble , fb advantageous, one would be apt to conclude no rational creature would be temted to pervert them , iince tis fure he can fubftitute none for them , that can equally conduce , either to his honor, or intereft.
2. Y E T experience (that great baffler of fpeculation ) afliires us the thing is too poffible, and brings in all ages matter of fadt to confute our fuppofitions. So lia- ble alas is fpeech to be depraved , that the Scripture defcribes it as the fource of all our other depravation. Original fin came firft out at the mouth by fpeaking , before it entred in by eating. The firft ufe we find Eve to have made of her language , was to enter parly with the temter , and from that to become a temter toherhuf- band.And immediatly upon the fall^guilty ^dam frames his tongue to a frivolous ex- cuse
« The Government of the Tongue.
cufe, which was muchlels able co cove^ his fin then the fig-leaves were his naked- nefs. And as in the infancy of the firft world 5 the tongue had licked up the ve- nem of the old lerpent , fo neither could the Deluge wafli it off in the fecond. No fooner was that fmall colony Q where- with the depopulated earth was to be re- planted ) come forth of the Ark , but we meet with Cham a delator to his own fa- ther , inviting his brethren to that execra- ble fpedacle of their parents nakednels.
3. N o R did this only run in the blood of that accurfed Perfon 5 the holy feed was not totally free from its infection, even the Patriarchs themfelves were not ex- emt. Abraham ufed a repeted coUufion in the cafe of his wife , and expofed his own integrity to preferve her chaftity. Ifaac the heir of his bleffing, was ion of his infirmity alfo, and ad:edover the fame fcene upon Rebecca's account. Jacob obtained his fathers bleflSng by a flat lie. Simeon and Levi fpake not only falfiy, but infidioufly, nay hypocritically, abufing at once their profelytes , and their religion, for the effe(5ting their cruel defignsupon the Stchemites, Mofes tho a man of an un- parelleFd meeknefs, "^ctjpake unadvijedly
with
Sect. II. Of the Ahufe of Speech, 9
with his lips y Pfal. 106. 33. T>avid ut- tered a bloody vow againit NabaU fpake words fmoother then oil to Uriah '^ when he had don him one injury, and defign'd him another. Twere endlels to reckon up thofe feveral inftances, the old Teilament gives us of thefe lapfes of the tongue: neither want there divers in the new 5 tho there is one of fb much horror , as fu- perfedes the naming more> I mean that of St. T?eter in his reiterated abjuring his Lord, a crime which (abllrad:ed from the intention) feems worfe then that oijudasi that traitor owned his relation, cryed Ma- fier Majter even when he betraied him, fo that had he bin mefured only by his tongue , he might have paft for the better difciple.
4. These are fad inftances, not re- corded to patronize the fin, but to ex- cite our caution. It was a Politic infe- rence of the elders of Ifrael in the cafe of Jehu ; Behold two Kings flood not before himy how then shall we fland} 2 Kings. 10. And we may well apply it to this • if per- fons of fo circumfpedi a piety, have bin thus overtaken, what fecurity can there be for our wretchlefs ofcitancy ? If tkofe who kept their mouths as 'it were
B with
lo The Government of the Tongue.
*isjith a bridLt-i i^xai. 39. i. could not alwaies prelerve them innocent, to what guilts may not our unreltrained licentious tongues hurr}'- us ? Thofe which as the Pfaimift fpeakech Pfalm. 73. p. go thro the world-i are in that unbounded range very likely to meet with him who walks the fame round. Job. 2. 2. and by him be tuned and jfet to his key, be fcrued and wrelted from their proper ule, and made fubfervient to his vilelt defigns.
f. A N D would God this were only a probable fuppofition! but alas experience lupplants the ufe of conjediurc in the point ; we do not only prefume it may be ib^ but actually find it is lb. For amidft the univerial depravation of our faculties, there is none more notorious then that of Ipeech. Whither shall we turn us to find It in its priitine integrity ? amidft that infinity ofwords in which we exhauft our breath, how few are there which do at all correfpond with the original defigna- tion of fpeech ; nay which do nottiatly contradidl: it? To what unholy, uncha- ritable purpoiesisthat ufeful fiiculty per- verted? That which was meant to ferve as the perfume of the tabernacle, to fend "p the inceiifes of praifes and prayersj
now
Sect. II. Of the Abuje of Speech, \\
now exhales in impious vapors, to ecclipie if it were poflible the Father of hght. That which should be the itore-houleof relief and refreflimenc to our brethren, is become a magazine of all otfenfive wea- pons againlt them, (pears and anoous and sharp fwords^ as the Pfalmiit often phrafes it. We do not only fall by the llip- perinefs of our tongues , bur we delibe- rately difcipline and train them to mif- chief. JVe bend our tongues as our bows for lies^ as the Prophet fpeaks, Jer. 9. And in a word, what God affirmed of the old world in relation to thoughts, is too ap- pliable to our words , they are evil and that continually , Gen. 6. 5. and that which was intended for the inftrument, the aid of human fociety, is become the difturber, the peft of it.
6. I (hall not attemt a particular dif^ cuffion of all the vices of the tongue : it doth indeed pafs all Geography to draw an exa(^ Map of that '^juorld of iniquity^ as i^t. James calls it. I fhall only draw the great- er lines, and diftribute it into its principal- aiid more eminent parts, which are diitm- guifliable as they relate to God , our Neighbor, and our Selves s in each of which I (hall rather make an e(ray by B2 \vav
1 2 The Government of the Tongue.
way of inftance , then attemt an exacS: enumeration or furvey.
S E C T. III.
Of Atheifiicall Difcourfe.
3.x Begin with thofe which relate to j^God, tliis poor delpicable member the tongue being of fuch a gigantic info- lence tho not fize, as even to make war with heaven. Tis true every difordered ipeech doth remotely fo, as it is a violation ot Gods law ; but I now ipeak only of thofe which as it were attaque his peribn, and immediatly fly in the face of Omni- potency. In the higheft rank of thefe we may well place all Atheiftical Difcourfe, which IS that bold fort of rebellion, which ftrikes not only at his Autority , but him- lelf. Other blafphemies level fomeatone Attribute, fome another 5 but this by a more compendious impiety , flioo ts at his veiy being, and as if it fcorn*d thofe peice-male guilts, lets up a fmgle monfter big enough to devour them all : for all in-
ferior
Sect. III. Of AtheiBicalT>ifcourJe, 13
ferior profanenefs is as much outdated by Atheifra, as is religion it ielf.
2. Time was when the inveighing a- gainft this, would have bin thought a very impertinent fubjed: in a ChrijfLian nation, and men would have replied upon me as the Spartan Lady did, when flie was ask'd what was the punifliiaent for adultereflcs. There are no Juch things here. Nay even amongft the moft barbarous people , it could have concerned but ibme few fingle pcrlbns ♦, no numbers, much lefs io» cieties of men, having ever excluded the belief of a Deity. And perhaps it may at this day concern them as little as ever; for amidft the various Deities and wor- fliips of thofe remoter nations, we have yet no account of any that renounce all. Tis only our light hath fo blinded us : io that God may upbraid us as he did Ifra- el. Hath a nation changed their gods which yet are 710 gods ? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit, Jer. 2. ir. This madnefs is now the inclofure, the peculiarity of thofe who by their namei^ and infti tution fliould be Chriftians: as if that natural Apho- rilm , That when thnigs are at the height they muft fall agaifty liad plpxe here alfo ,
and
1 4* The Government of the Tongue.
and our being of the moft excellent, moft elevated religion, were but the preparative to our being of none.
3. Tis indeed deplorable to lee, how the profefTors of no God begin to vie numbers with all the differing perfwiifions in religion, fo that Atheifm leems to be the gulph that finally fw allows up all our leds. It has ftruck on a fudden into fuch a reputation, that it fcorns any longer to fculk , but own's it felf more publicly then moft men dare do the contrary. Tis fet down in the feat of the fcorner, and fince it cannot argue, relblves to laugh all Piety out of countenancejand having feiz- ed the mint, nothing ihall pals for wit that hath not its ft amp, and with it there isnomettleoffobafe an alloy, but (hall go current. Every the dulleft creature tliat can but ftoutly difclaim his maker, has by it fufficiently fecured its title to in- genuity -; and fuch mefures being once eftablifhed, no wonder at its (holes of pro- fely tes , when it gives on the one hand li- cence to all (enlual inordinances, permits them to be as much beafts as they will , or can, and yet tells them on the other, that they are the more men for it. Sure tis not ftrange that a hook thus doubly baited
(hould
Sect. III. OfAtheiftkal'Difcourfe, if
flioald caccli many, hitlier of thoie al- lurements lingle, we fee has force enough. The charms of lenfuahty are fo fafcina- ting, that even thoie who believe another world, and the ievere revenges that will there attend their luxuries, yet chule to take them in prelent with all the difmal reverfions. And then iiire it canifot but be very good news to fuch a one to be told, that that after-reckoning is but a falfe alarm, and his great willingnefs to have it true , will eafily mcUne him to beleive it is fo. And doubtlefs were A- theiim traced up to its firtt cauies, this would be found the molt operative ; tis fo convenient for a man that will have no God to controul or reftrain him, to have none to punish him neither, that that utihty pafles into argument, and he will rather put a cheat upon his underftanding by concluding , there is no future account , then leave fuch a fting in his plefures, as the remembrance of it mufl: needs prove. This ieems to be the ori- ginal and firft rife of this impiety, it be- ing impoffible for any ir^an that fees the whole, nay but the finalleft part of the Univerfe, to doubt of a firft and fupreme Being, until from the confcioufnels of
his
1 6 The Government of the Tongue.
his provocations , it become his intereft there should be none.
4. T H I s IS indeed, confidering the de- pravation of the world, a pretty faft te- nure for Atheifm to hold by- yet it has of late twilled its cord, and got that o- ther ftring to its bow we before mention- ed. Its bold monopolizing of wit and realbn compells , as the other invited men. This we may indeed call the devils prefs,by which he hath filled up his troops: men are afraid of being reproched for fil- ly and irrational , in giving themfelves up to a blindbeliefofwhat they donot fee. And this bugbear frights them from their religion ; refolving they will be no fools for Chriftsfakcy 1 Cor. 4. 13. I dare appeal to the brealls of many in this age, whether this have not bin one of the moft prevalent temtations with them to ef- poufe the tenet : and t ho perhaps they at firlt took it up , only in their own de- fence, for fear of being thought fools, yet that fear loon converts into ambiti- on of being thought wits. They do not fatisfy themfelves with deferting their re- ligion , unlefstiiey revile it alfo; remem- bring how themfelves were laught out of it, they efl"ay to do the like by others. Yea
fo
Sect. III. 0} AtheifticalT>ifcourJe. \f
fo zealous propugners are they of their negative Creed 5 that they are importu- nately diligent to inftrudl men in it, and in all the litle ibphiftries and colors for defending it : io that he that would mefure the opinions by their induftry, and the remiilhefs of believers , would certainly think that the great interefts of E:ernity lay wholly on their fide. Yet I take not this for any argument of the confidence of this perfwafion , but the contrary : for we know they are not the fecure, but the defperate undertakings, wherein men are moll defirous of part- ners , and there is fomewhat of horror in an uncouth way , which makes men unwilling to travail it alone.
5. T H E truth is, tho thele men fpeak big, and prcfcribeas pofitively to theit pupils , as if they had fome counter reve- lation to confute both of Mofes and Chrift , yet were their iecret thoughts laid open, there would fcarce be found the like afllirance there. I will not fay to what reprobate ienfe fome particular pcrfons may have provoked God to deliver them, but in the generality, I believe one may affirm, that there is feldom an infidelity fo fanguine as to exclude all fears. Theit C moft
i8 The Government of the Tongue.
moft bold Thefis, That there is no God, no judgment, no hell, is often met with an inward tremulous Hypothefis, What if there be ? I dare in this remit me to rhemfelves, and challenge (not their con- fciences, who profefs to have none, but} their natural ingenuity to fay, whether they have not fometimcs fuch damps and shiverings within them. If they shall fay, that thele are but the reliques of pre- pofleflion and education , which theif reafon fbon diffipates. Let me then ask them farther , whether they would not give a confiderable fam to be infallibly afcertained there were no fuch thing: now no ienfible man would give a far- thing to be fecured from a thing which his reafon tells him is impoflible-, there- fore if they would give any thing (as I dare fay they themfelves cannot deny that they would ) tis a tacite demonftrati- on that they are not fo fure as they pre- tend to be. ; 6. I might here join ifKie upon the whole , and prels them with the unrea- fbnablenefs , the difingenuoufnefs of em- bracing a profeflion to which their own hearts have an inward reludiance, nay the imprudence of governing their lives
by
Sect. 111. Of AthetfiicalT>i(courfe. 19
'^' by^thaTpofition , which for ought they know may be ( nay they adtually fear is ) falfe , and if it be , mult inevitably immerfe them in endlefs ruin. Bat I niuft remember my defign limits me only to the faults of the Tongue > and therefore I mull not follow this chafe be- yond thofe bounds. I shall only extend It to my proper fubjed: , that of Athei- ftical talk , wherein they make as mad an adventure as in any other of their enor- mous pradlices, nay perhaps in fome re- fpecSls a worfe.
7. In the firft place tis to be confider- ed, that if there be a God, he, as well as men, may be provoked by our words as well as deeds. Secondly tis poflible he may be more. Our ill deeds may be don upon a vehement impulfe of temtatiouj fome profit or plefures may tranfport and hurry usj and they may at le all have this alleviation , that we did them to pleafe or advantage our felves , not to ^^ight God: but Athcillical words cannot be fo palliated : they are arrows diredlly shot againft heaven , and can come out of no quiver but malice : for tis certain there never was man that faid , There was no God , but he wished it firft. We know
C 2 what
^o The Governmenc of the Tongue,
I " I I a IP ■ I I
what an enhancement our injuries to each other receive from their being malicious : ^nd fure they will do fb much more to God, whofe principal demand from us is, that we give him our heart. But third- ly this implieth a malice of the higheft fort. Human fpight is ufually confined within fome bounds , aims fometimes at the goods, fometimes at the fame, at moft but at the life of our neighbor : but here is an accumulation of all thofe, back't with the moft prodigious infolence, Tis God only that has power of annihi- lation , and we (vile worms ) feek here to fteal that incommunicable right, and retort it upon himfelf , and by an anti- creative power would unmake him who has made us. Nay laftly, by this we have not only the utmoft guilt ot fingle rebels, but we become ring-leaders alio , draw in others to that accurfed aflbciation 2 for tis only this liberty of difcourfe that hath propagated Atheifm. The Devil might perhaps by inward fuggeftions have drawn in here and there a fingle Pro- fcly re > but he could never have had fuch numbers , had he not ufed fome as de- Coies to enfhare others.
§. And now let the brisk Atheift a
httle
Sect. III. OfAtheiJiicalT>ifcourfe. 21
little confidcr , what thefe aggravations will amount to. Twas good counfcl was given to the Athenians, to be very fure ''Fhilip was dead, before they exprefled their joy at his death, left they might find him alive to revenge that hafty triumph. And the hke I may give to thefe men , Let them be very fure there is no God, be- fore they prefume thus to defiehim, left they find him at laft aflert his being in their deftrudlion. Certainly nothing lefs then a demonftration can juftify the rea- fonablenefs of fuch a daring. And when they can produce thatjthey have lb far out- gon all the comprehenfions of mankind, they may well challenge the liberty of their Tongue, and fay. They are their own^ who is Lord over them, Pfalm. 12.4.
6. B u T till this be don , twere well they would foberly ballance the hazards of this liberty with the gains of it. The hazards are of the moft dreadful kind, the gains of the flighteft : the moft is but a vain applaule of wit for an impious jeft, or of reafon for a deep confiderer : and yet even for that they muft in- croach on the Devils right 'too, who is commonly the promter , and therefore if there be any credit in it may juftly
challenge
2 2 The Government of the Tongue.
challenge it. Indeed tis to be fear*d he will at lad prove the mailer wit, when as for thofe little loans he makes them , he gets their fouls in morgage. Would God they would confider betimes, what a woful raillery that will be which for ought they know may end in gnashing of teeth, lo. The next impiety of the Tongue is Swearing, that foolifh fin which plaies the Platonic to damnation, and courts it purely for it felf , without any of the appendant allurements which other fins have : a vice which for its guiilt may jufti- fy the fliarpeft, and for its caftomarinels the frequentelt invedives which can be made againft it. But it has bin alTaulted ib often by better pens, and has sa ;wed it felf fb much proof againfc all Homily, that it is as needlefs as difcourag-'iig a task for me to attemt it. Tis indeed a thing taken up fo perfedily without all fenfe, that tis the lefs wonder to find it main- tain its felf upon the fame principle tis founded, and continue ivv the fame defi- ance to reafon wherein it began.
II. All therefore that 1 shall fay con- cerning it, is to exprefs my wonder how it has made a shift to twift it felf with the former fin of Atheifm > by which ac- cording
iH
Sect. III. OfAtheiftkalT>ifcourfe, 23
cording to all rules of reafoningit feems to be luperleded : and yet we fee none own God more in their oaths , then thofe thatdifavow him in their other difcourfc. Nayfiich men fwear not only to fwell their language , and make it found more full and biuitring, but even when they moft defire to be believed. What a* abfor- dity of wickednefs is this ? Is there a God to iwear by, and is there none to believe in, none to pray to ? We call it frenzy to fee a man fight with a shadow : but fure tis more lo , to invoke it. Why then do thefe men of reafon make fuch folemn appeals ( for fuch every oath is ) to a mere Chimera and Phantafm.^ It would make one think they had fome inward belief of a Deity , which they upon furprizal thus blurt out : if it argue not this , It does fomething worfe , and becomes an evidence how much the ap- pearance of a fin recommends it to them, that they thus catch at it, without exa. mining how it will confift with another they like better. Thefe are indeed whole- fale chapmen to Satan , that do nor truck and barter one crime for another, but take the whole herd : and tho by reafon of their difagreeing kinds they are apt to
gore
24 The Government of the Tongue.
gore and worry each other, yet he ftill keeps up his old policy, and will not let one Devil call out another. A league shall be made between the molt difcor- dant fins, and there shall be a God, or there shall be none, according as opportu- nity lerves to provoke him : fo aflum- ing to^ himlelt a power which even Omnipotence difclaims, the reconciling contradiiitions. A nd he fucceeds in it as far as his concern reaches : for tho he cannot fblve the repugnancies in reafon, yet as long as he can unite the fins in mens pra- d:ice, he has his defign; nay has at once the gain and the fport of fooling theie great pretenders to ratiocination.
12. A third fort of impious difcourfe there is, which yet is bottom'd on the moft facred , I mean thofe profane paraphra- ies that are ufuaily made upon the holy Text, many making it the fubjedt of their cavils, and others oi their mirth. Some do it out of the former Atheiitical principle, and I cannot but confefs they ad: confb- nantly to themfelves in itjfor tis bat a need- ful artifice for men to difparage thofe tefti- monies, which they fear may be brought againft them. But there are others who not only profcfs a God, but alfo own
the
Sect. HI. Of Atheiftical T>ifcourfe, 25-
the facred Scripture for his word , and yet ufe it as courfly as the others. And thefe I confefs, are riddles of profanenefs, that haiig , as fome have pictured Solo^ moUj between heaven and hell, borrow the Chriitians faith, and the Atheilb drollery upon it : and tis hard to fay in which they are more in earneft. It^ is indeed fcandalous to fee, to what defpi- cable ufes thofe holy Oracles are put: fuch as fliould a Heathen obferve , he would little fufped them to be own d by us as the rule of our rehgion , and could ne- ver think they were ever meant for any thing beyond a whetilone for wit. One tries his Logic upon them , and objeds to the fenfe 5 another his Rhetoric, and quarrels at the phrafe ; a third his con- trivance, and thinks he could have wo- ven the paits with a better contexture : never confidering, that nnlefs they could confute the Divinity of their original, all thefe accufations are nothing elfe but di- rediblafphemy, the making Gody?/r^^^?^^ a^s themjelves , Pfal. 50. 21. and charging him with thofe defefts which are indeed their own. They want learning or in- duftry to found the depth of thofe facred trefures, and therefore they decry the
D Scri-
26 The Government of the Tongue.
Scripture as mean and poor 5 and to ju- Ihfy their own wifdom , dilpute Gods. This is as if the mole fliould complain the fun is dark 5 becaufe he dwells under ground, and fees not his fplendor. Men are indeed in all inftances apt to fpeak ill of all things they underitand not, but in none more then this. Their ignorance of locall CLiitoms , Idioms of language, and feveral other circumftances, renders them incompetent judges, (as has bin excellently evinced by a late Author. } Twill therefore befit them , either to qua- lify themfelves better, or to fpare their Cricicifms. But upon the whole, I think 1 may challenge any ingenious man, to produce any writing of that antiquity, whole phrafc and genius is fo accomo- dated to all fucceflions of ages. Styles and waies of addrefs we know grow ob- foletc, and are almoft antiquated as gar- ments : and yet after fo long a tradt of time , the Scripture mult ( by confider- ing men ) be confeft to fpeak not only properly , but often politely and ele- gantly to the prefent age : a great argu- ment that it is the dictate of him that is, The jameye[lerday, to day ^ and for every Heb. 13.7-
13. But
Sect. HI. Of AtheijttcalT>ifcourfe, 27
13. But beiides thefe more folemii traducersj there are a lighter ludicrous fort of profaners , who ule the Scripture as they do odd euds of plaies, to fur- xiifli out their jells ^ cloche all their lit- tle impertinent conceits in its language, anddebafeit by the mixture of fuch mi- lerable trifles, as themfelves would be a- fliamedof, were they not hightned and infpirited by that prof anenefs. A bible phraft ferves them in difcourfe as the haut.gouft do's in diet, to give a relifh to the moft inlipid fluff. And were it not for this magazine , a great many mens railery would want fupplies : for there are divers who make a great noile of wit, that would be very mute if this one To- pic were barr'd them. And indeed it feems a tacite confeflion , that they have little of their own, when they are Kin thus to commit facriledg to drive on the trade. But fure tis a pitiful pre- tence to ingenuity that can be thus kept up, there being little need of any other faculty but memory to be able to cap Texts. I am fure Sfuch repetitions out of other books would be thought pedan- tic and filly. How ridiculous would a man be , that fliould alwaies enterlardhis D 2 dif.
2 8 The Government of the Tongue.
dilcoarfe with fragments oi Horace , or Virgil , or the Aphorifms of 'Fythago^ ras ^ or Seneca ? Now tis too evident, that it is not from any luperlativeeiteem of facred Writ, that it is io often quo- ted : and why fliould it then be thought a fpecimen of wit to do it there, when tis folly in other inltances? The truth is, tis fo much the referveof thofe who can give no better Teltimony of their parts, that methinks upon that very fcore it fliould be given over by thofe that can. And fure were it poflible for any thing that is fo bad to grow unfafliionable, the world has had enough of this to be dol- ed with it: but how fond foever men are of this divertifement , twill finally prove tha-t mirth Solomon Ip ?aks of, w hicli ends in heavinefs ^ Pro v. 14. 13. for cer- tainly v/hether we eftimate it according to iiuman or divine mefures, it mull be a high provocation of God.
14. Let any of us but put the cafe i a our own perfbns : fuppofe we had writ- ten to a friend , to advertifehim of things of the greateft importance to himfelf , had given him ample and exa<fl inilru^ (ftions, back'd them with earneft exhorta^ tioas ^nd conjurings not to riegled: his
QWU
Sect. III. Of AtheifttcalDtfcoiirje^ 29
own cojacern , and lailly enforced all with the moft moving expreffions of kind- nefs and tendernefs to him: fuppolc, I fay 3 that aicer all this, the nexc news we fhoald hear of that letter, were to have it put in doggrel rime, to be made fport for riie rabbe, or at the beft have the moii: eiiiinent phra'es of it picktoiitand made a cjr.imon by— word : I would faja know how any of us would reient inch a mixture of ingratitude and con- tumely. I think I need make no minute applicat.on. The whole dcfign of the Bibxe do's fufficiently anfwer, nay out- go the firft part of the parallel , and God knows our vile uHige of it do's too much ( I fear too literally } adapt the latter. And if we think the affront too bale for one of us, can we believe God will take it in good part ? That were to make him not only more ftupid then any man, but as much fb as the heathen Idols, that have eies and fee not^ Pfalm. 1 1 5. f. And tis fure the higheft madnefs in the world , for any man that believes that there is a God , to imagine he will finally lit down by fuch ufagc.
15. But ifweweighitinthe fcaleof religion j the crime will yet appear more
hei«
3x) The Government of the Tongue.
heinous. Mere natural Piety has taught men to receive the Refponfes of their Gods with all poflible veneration. What applications had the Delphic Oracle from all parts , and from all ranks of men ? What confidence had they in its pre- didtion , and what obedience. did they pay to its advice? If we look*next in- to the Moiaical Oeconomy , we fliall fee with what dreadful folemnities that Law was promulged , what an awful- re\^erencc was paid to the mount whence It ifllied, how it was fenced from any rude intrufions either of men or beafts : and after it was written in tables, all the whole equipage of the Tabernacle, was dciigned only for its more decent repofitory , the Ark it lelf receiving its value only from what it had in cuttody. Yea fuch a hallowing influence had it, as transfufed a relative fand:ity even to the meancft utenfils, none of which were after to be put to common ufes: theve* i*y perfume was fo peculiar and iacred, that It was a capital crime to imitate the compofition. Afterwards when more of the divine revelations was committed to writing, the Jews were fuch fcrupu- ious reverers of it, that twas the bufinefs
of
Sect. III. OfAtheiJlicalDifcourfe. 31
of the Maforites , to number not only the fedions and lines , but even the words and letters of the old Teftament, that by that exad: calculation they might the better fecure it from any lurreptiti- ous praftices.
16. And fure the new Teftament is not of lefs concern then the old : nay the Apoftle aflerts it to be of far greater , and which we fliall be more accountable for, For ij the word fpoken by Angels were Jied* fafii and every tranfgreffion and disobedi- ence received a jusi recommence , how shall we ejcape if we negle5i Jo great Salvatiovh which at the jirft began to be Jpoken to us by the Lord ^ and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him? Heb. 2. 23. And It is in another place the inference of the fame Apoftle, from the excellency of the Gofpel above the Law, that we fliould ferve God acceptably with revc- rene arid godly fear , Heb. 12.28. And certainly tis but an ill elThy of that reve- rence and godly fear, to ufe that very Gofpel fo irreverently and ungodlily as men now do. If we pafs from the Apo- ftolic to the next fucceeding ages of the Church , we find the Primitive Chrifti- ans lookt on their Bibles as their moft
im-
32 The Government of the Tongue.
important trefure. Such was the out- ward refpetlts th^y paid to them, (of which the itaading up at the reading of the Golpcl, llill in me among us, is a faint jnemonal ) that the heathen perfecutors made it one part of their examinatioil of the Chnltians broaght to their tribu- nals, Ifljat thofe books were '■juhich they adored inhile they read them ? Such was their innimate eileem, that th:y expofed all things eiie to the rapme of their ene- mies, io they might fecure thofe volumes. Nor was this only an heroic piece of zeil in fomc) but indifpenfably requi- red of all : infomuch that when in the hear of perfecution , they were com- manded to deliver up their Bibles to be burnt, the Church gave no indulgence forLhacneceffityofthjtimes, but exhort- ed men rather to deliver up their hves: and thofe whofe courage failed them in the encounter, were not only branded by the intamous name of TradJtars-^ but Sepa- rated from the communion of the faithfiil, and not readmitted till after many years of the fevereit penance.
17. I have giv^en this brief narration. With a delire that the reader will com- pare the pradice of former times with
thole
Sect. III. Of AtheiHicalT>ifcourJe. 33
thole of the prefent , and lee wiiac he can find either among Heathens, Jews, or Chriftians, that can at all patronize our profanenefs. There was no relpect thought too much for the falie Oracles of a f alfer God : and yet we think no con- temts too great for thofe of the true. The moral Law was fo facrcd to the Jews, that no parts of its remoteft retinue, thofe ceremonial attendants, were to be lookt on as common : and we who are equally obliged by that Law , laugh at that by which we muft one day be judged. The Ritual, the Preceptive, the Prophetic, and all other parts of facred Writ, were moit feduloully, mod reU- gioully guarded by them : and we look upon them as a winter nights tale, from which to fetch matter of fport and mer- riment. Lailly the hrll Chriftians paid a veneration to, nay facrificed their lives to refcue their Bibles from the unworthy ufuage of the Heathens, and we our felves expole them to worfe : they would but have burnt them, we fcorn and vilify them, and outvy even the perfecutors maUce with our contemt. Thefe are milerable Anrithefis'sj yet this God knows is the cafe with too many. I wonder what
E new
54- The Government of the Tongue.
new Hate of Felicity hereafter thefe men have fancied to themfelves : for fare they cannot think thefe retrograde fteps, can ever bring them fo much as to the Heathens Elyzium, much leis the Cliri- liians Heaven.
iS. It will therefore concern thofe wlio do not quite renounce their claim to that Heaven , to confider foberly , how niconfiitent their prad:ice is with thofe hopes. A man may have a great ettate conveied to Jiim ^ but if he will madly burn, or childifhly make paper kites of his Deeds , he forfeits his title with his evidence : and thofe certainly that deal fo with the conveiances of their eternal inheritance , will not fpeed better. If thev will thus dally and play with them, Ciod wiil be as little in earneil: in the per- formance , as they are in the reception of the promifes • nay he will take his turn of mocking too, and when their fcene of mirth is over, his will begin. A dread- ful menace of this wc have, Prov. 1.24,. which delerves to be fet down at large, Becaufe I have called ^ and ye refrjed'^ I have fir etched out my hand ^ and no man regarded : But )C hav3 fet at nought all my counfelf and would none of my rejproof.
Sect. III. OfAtheiftkal'Difcotirfe, 3f
/ alfo will laugh at your calamity , / will mock when your fear comet h. When your fear cometh as defolation ^ and your deftruBion cometh as a whirlwind : when dtjlrefs and anguish cometh upon you, then shall they call upon me 5 but 1 will not anfwer ^ they shall feek me early ^ but they shall not find me. Would God I could as well tranfcribe this Text into mens hearts, and there would need no more to iecLire the whole Canon of Scripture from their profanation. Could men but look a little before them, and apprehend how in the daies of their dillrefs and a- gony, they will gafp for thofe comforts which they now, turn into ridicule*, they would not thus madly defeat themfelves, cut off their beft and only referve, and with a pitiful contemt caft away thole Cordials, which will then be the only fupport of their fainting fpirits. As for thofe who deride Scripture upon Athei- ftical grounds, all I fliall fay is to re- fer to what I have faid in the beginning of this Sed:ion \ they had need be very well affiired that foundation be not fan- dy : for if it be , this reproching Gods word will be a confiderable addition to the guilt of all their other hoilility, and
E 2 how
36 The Government of the Tongue.
how jolly Ibever thev icem at prefent, it may be when thac qaeltion they are fo willing to rake for granted, is by death draw ng near a decilion , fome of their coiifideiice wi 1 retire , and leave them in an amazed expect! ation of iomwhat, winch th.y arc lUre cannot be good for them, who have fo ill provided for it. Then perhaps their merry vein will fail thcni, and iiot their infidelity, but their delpair may keep them from invoca- ting tliat Power they have fo long deri- ded. Tis certain it has fo happened with fome : for as Pradlical , fo Speculative wickednefs , has ufiially another afped:, Avhen it Hands in the fhadow of death, then in the dazling beams of health and vigor. It would therefore be wifdom before hand to draw it out of this de- ceitful hgiitjand by fober ferious thoughts, place It as near as may be in thofe circum- llances in which twill then appear: and then fure to hearts that are not wholly petrifi ^d, twill feem fafer to own a God early and upon choice , then late upon comp'ilfion.
19 However if they will not yield theitilelves Homagers , yet the mere poflibihty of their being in the wrong,
ftould
Sect. III. Of Athetftical T>ijcotirfe, 37
fhould methinks perfwade them at leaft to be civil adverfaiies. A generous man will not piirfue even a falling enemy with revilings and reproch , much lefs will a wife man do it to o\\^ who is in any the left probability of revenging it : it being a received Maxim, That there is no grea- ter folly then for a man to let his tongue betray him to mifchief. Let it there- fore in this cafe at left ftand neuter , that if by their words they be not juftified, yet by their words they may not be con- demned. They can be no loofers by it : for at the utmoft, tis but keeping in a little unfavory breath, which ( fuppoling no God to be offended with it ) is yet naufeous to all thofe men who believe there is one. To thofe indeed who have a zeal for their faith > there can be no Difcourfe ^o intolerable , fo difobliging : it turns converfation into skirmifliing, and perpetual difputes. The Egyptians were fo zealous for their brutiili Dei- ties, that Mofes prefumed the Ifraelites facrificing of thofe beafts they adored, muft needs fet them in an uproar, Exod. 8. 26, And fure thofe who do acknow- ledg a Divine power , cannot conten- tedly fit by to heare him blafphemed.
Tis
^8 The Government of the Tongue.
Tis true there are Ibme io cool , that they are of the fame mind for God, that Gideons father was for BaaU Judg. 6. 31. Let him plead for himfelj\ they will not 1 appear in his defence : yet even thefe have a fecret confcioufnefs , that they ought to ' do fOj and therefore have fome uneafi- nefs in being put to the Telt : fo that it cannot be a plcafant entertainment even for them. And therefore thofe who have no fear of God to reltrain them, Ihould niethinks, unlefs they be perfe(3:ly of the temper of the unjuft Jndg, Luke 1 7. i. in refpedt of men abltain from all forts of impious difcourfe •, and at leall be civil, tho they will not be pious.
Se c
T..
S E c T . I V. OfDetramon. 3p
Sect. IV.
Of DetraSiiort.
WE have feen in the laft Secftion the infolence of the Tongue to- wards God i and fare we cannot expedt it fliould pay more reverence to men. If there be thofc that dare ftretch their mouths aga'mH heaven , Pfalm 7.39. we are not to wonder if there be more that will shoot their arrows^ even bitter iz'ords^ againft the beft on earth , Pfalm 64. 3. I lliall not attemt to ranfack the whole quiver, by fliewing every particular fort of verbal injuries which relate to our Neighbors, but rather chufe out fomefew, which either for the extraordinarinefs of their guilt > or the frequency of their pra- ctice are the mod eminent. I begin with *T>etra6iion ^ in which both thofe qualities concur : for as in fome inftan- ces tis one of the higheft fins, fo in the general tis certainly one of the mod: common , and by being {o becomes in-
fen-
_^_ \]
40 The Government of the Tongue. j
fenfible. This vice (above all others) leems to have maintained not only its Empire , but its reputation too. Men are not yet convinced heartily that it is a fin : or if any j not of fo deep a die, | or fo Wide an extent as indeed it is. I'hey have if not falle , yet imperfedt notions of it, and by not knowing how far its Circle reaches , do often like young Conjurers itep beyond the limits of their fafcty.
This I am the apter to believe, be- caufe I fee fome degree of this fault cleave tothofe, who have eminently corred:ed all other exorbitancies of the Tongue. Many who would ftartle at an Oath, w^hofe ftomachs as well as confciences re- coil at an obfcenity, do yet Aide glibly into a Detradlion: which yet methinks pcrfons otherwile of ftridt converfations ihould not do frequently and habitually, had not their eafy thoughts of the guilt fmoothed the way to it.
It may therefore be no unkind at- temt , to try to difentangle from this fnare by diTplaying it •, fliewing the whole contexture of the fin , how tis woven with thrcds of dilTerent fi/cs , yet the leait of tliem ftrong enough to nooze
and
S E c T . I V. Of T>etramon. 41
and intrap us. And alas , if Satan fetter us , tis indifferent to him whether it be by a cable or a hair. Nay perhaps the fmalleft fins are his greatelt ftratagems. The finer his line isfpun, the lefs shadow it cafts, and is lefs apt to fright us from the hook : and tho there be much odds between a talent of lead and a grain of fand, yet thole grains may be accumu- lated till they out-weigh the talent. It was a good reply of Tlato's ^ to one who murmured at his reproving him for a fmall matter , Cuftom faies he , u no fmall matter. And indeed fuppofing a- ny fin were fo fmall as we are willing to fancy moil, yet an indulgent habit even of that would be certainly ruinous : that indulgence being perfecilly oppofite to the Love of God , which better can con- filt with the indeliberate commiffions of many fins, then with an allowed per- filtance in any one.
B u T in this matter of Detraftion I cannot yield that any is fmall, fave only comparatively with fome other of the fame kind which is greater: for abfo- lutely confidered , there is even in the very loweft degrees of it , a flat contra- didtion to the grand rule of Charity,
F the
42 The Government of the Tongue.
the loving our neighbor as our felves. And furely that which at once violates the fum of the whole lecond Table of the Law , for fo our Savior renders it,Luk. lo. 7. mull be lookt on as no trifling inconfidcrable guilt. To evi- dence this 1 shall in the Anatomizing this fin apply this Rule to every part of it: firft confider it inGrofs^in its en- tire body , and after dcfccnd to its feve- ral limbs.
1. Detraction in the native importance ot the word , fignifies the withdrawing or taking off from a things and as it is applied to the reputation, it denotes the impairing or leffening a man in point of fame, rcndringhim lefs valued and eftcemed by others, which is the final aim of Detradion , tho pur- fued by various means.
2. This is juftly lookt on as one of the molt unkind defigns one man can have upon another, there being im- planted in every mans nature a great tcndcrnefs of Reputation : and to be care- lefs of it , is lookt on as a mark of a De- gene rous mind. On which account Solon in his Laws prefumes, that he that will fell his own fame ^ will alfo fell the pub- lic
Sect. IV. OfT>etra6lion. 43
lie intercit. Tis true, mauy have un- proved this too far , blown up this native fpark into fuch flames of Am- bition , as has ^Qt the world in a com- bnftioil J Such as Kyilexander , Cefar , and others , who facrificed Hecatombs to their Fame, fed it up to a prodigy upon a Canibal diet , the flesh of Men: yet even thefe exccfles ferve to evince the univerfal confent of mankind, that Re- putation is a vaUiable and defireable thing.
3. Nor have we only the fuffrage of man , but the atteftation of God him- lelf, who frequently in Scripture gives tefl:imony to it; xji good name is better then great riches^ Prov. 22.1. And again, A good name is better then freciom oint- ment, Ecclef. 7. i. And the more to re- commend it, he proposes it as a reward to piety and vertue , as he menaces the contrary to wickednefs. The memory of thejuft shall be hlejjed^ but the name of the wicked shall rot. Prov. 10. 7. And that we may not think this an invitation fitted only to the Jewish Oeconomy , theApo- fl:le goes farther , and propofes the en- deavor after it as a duty. Whatsoever things are of good report , if there be any F 2 'vertue
4+ The Government of the Tongue.
'Vtrtne ^ and tj there he any ^praife^ think on thefe things. Phil. 4. 8.
4. A N D accordingly good men have' in their eftimate ranked their names the next degree to their Soals , preferred them before goods or life. Indeed tis that which gives us an inferior fort of Immortality 5 and makes us even in this world furvive our felves. This part of us alone continues verdant in the grave, and yields a perfume j when we are Itench and rottennefs : the confideration where- of has fo prevailed with the more gene- rous Heathens , that they have cheerfully quitted hfe in contemplation of it. Thus Epaminondas alacrioully expired , in con- fidence that he left behind him a per- petual memory of the vid:ories he had atchieved for his Country. Brutus fo courted the fame of a Patriot, that he brake thro all the obftacles of gratitude and humanity to attain it : he clieerfuUy bare the defeat of his attemt , in contem- plation of the glory of it. Twere endlefs to recount the ftories of the Codri , T^ecii , and Citrtti , with the train of thofe noble Heroes, who in behalf of their Countries devoted themfelves to certain death.
f. But we need no foireign Medi^
• urns
Sect. IV. Of T)etra5iion. 45
urns to dilcover tiie value of a good name : let every man weigh it but in his own fcales, retire to his breaft , and there refled: on that impatience he has when his own repute is invaded. To what dangers, to what guilts do's fometimes the mere fancy of a reproch hurry men? It makes them really forfeit that vertue from whence all true reputation iprings, and like Efops dog loofe the fubftance by too greedy catching at the shadows an irrefragable proof how great a price they fet upon their fame.
6. A N D then fince reafon icts it at fb high a rate, and paflion at a higher, we may conclude the violating thisinte- reft , one of the greatcft injuries in hu- man commerce; fuch as is relented not only by the rash, but the fober: fothat we muft pick out only blocks and ftones, the ftupid and infenfible part of man- kind , if we think we can inflidt this wound without an aiBi(3:ive fmart. And tho the power of Chriftianity do's in- fbme fo moderate this refentment, that none of thefe blows shall recoile,no de- gree of revenge be attemted 3 yet that do's not at all juftify or excufe the in flicSer. It may indeed be a ufeful trial
of
46 The Government of the Tongue.
of the patience, and meeknefsof the de- famed , yet the detainer has not the left either ot crime or danger: not of crime, for that is rather enhanced then aba- ted by the goodnefs of the perfon injur'd; nor of danger, fmce God is the more immediate avenger of thole who attemt not to be their own. Bat if the injury meet not with this meeknels ( as in this vindidive age tis manifold odds it will not ) it then acquires another accumula- tive guilt. Hands anfwerable not only for its own poiitive ill, but for all the accidental which it caufesin thefufferer, who by this means is rob'd not only of his repute , but his innocence alfo , pro- voked to thofe unchriltian returns , which draw God alfb into the enmity, and fet him at once at war with heaven and earth. Andtho as to his immediate judg- ment, he muft bear his iniquity, anfwer for his impatience : yet as in all Civil infurre(3:ions the ring-leader is lookt on with a peculiar feverity, fo doubtlefs in this cafe, thefirft provoker has by his feniority and primogeniture a double portion of the guilt, and may conle- quently cxped: of the Punishment, ac- cording to the Doom oi our Savior,
Wo
Sect. IV. OfT>etra6tion. 47
fVoe be to that man by whom the offence cometh. Mat. 18. 7.
8. Indeed there is fuch a train of mifchiefs ufually follow this fin , that tis fcarce poffible to make a full eftimate of its mahgnity. Tis one of the grand incendiaries which difturbs the peace of the world, and has a great fliare in molt of its quarrels. For could we examine all the feuds which harrafs Perfons, Fa- milies 5 nay fometimes Nations too , we fliould find the greater part cake their rife from injurious rcprochful words , and that for one which is commenced upon the intuition of any real confide- rable interett , there are many which owe their being to this licentioufnefs of the Tongue.
5>. I N regard therefore of its proper guilt, and all thofe remoter fins and miferies which enfue it, tis every mans great concern to watch over himfelf. Neither is it lefs in reiped: both of that univerfal aptnefs we have to this fin , and its being fo perpetually at hand , that for others we muft attend occafions and convenient feafons , but the opportunities of this are alwaies ready: I can do my neighbor this injury , when I can do him
no
48 1 he Government of the Tongue.
no other. Belides the multitude ot objects do proportionably multiply both the pof- fibilities and incitations y and the objects here arc as numerous, as there are Per- sons in the world, I either know, or have heard of. For tho fome forts of Detractions feem confined to thofe to whom we bear particular maHce, yet there are other kinds of it more ranging, which tly indifferently at all. Laltly this fin has the aid almoit of univerfal example, which is an advantage beyond all theo- thers, there being fcarce any fo irrefiftable infinuation as the pradiceof thofe with whom we converfe, and no lubjed: of converle (o common as the defaming our neighbors.
10. Since then the path is fo flippery, it had not need be dark too. Let us then take m the bell light we can , and atten- tively viQW this fin in its fever al branches, that by a diftind: difcovery of the divers ads and degrees of it , we may the better be armed againlt them all.
Sect
S E c T. V. Of Lymg Defamation, 49
Sect. V.
Of Lying Defamation.
i.T^ETRACTION being (as J[^^vve have already faid) the lefs- ning and impairing a man in his repute, we may reloive, that what ever condu- ces to that end , is properly a Detracti- on. I fliall begin iwith that which is nioft eminent, the Spreading of Defama- tory reports. Thefe may be of two kinds, either falfe , or true : which tho they feem to be of very different complexi- ons 5 yet may fpring from the fame Itock, and drive at the iame defign. Let us firft confider of the falfe.
2. And this admits of various cir- cumftances. Sometimes a man invents a perfe<3: falfity of another •, fometimes he that do's not invent it, yet reports it , tho he know it to be falie ^ and a third fort there are , who having not certain know- ledg whether it be falfe or no, do yet divulge it as an abfolute certainty, or at G leaft
fo The Government of the Tongue.
leallwith Tach artificial infinuations, as may biafs the hearer on that hand. The former of thele is a crime of fo high, fo difingcnuous a nature , that tho many- are vile enough to commit it, none are fo impudent as to avow it. Even in this age of infulting vice, when almoft all other wickednels appears bare-fac'd, this is feign to keep on the vizard. No man will own himfelf a falfe accufer : for if modeily do not reftrain him, yet his very malice will ; fiiice to confefs would be to defeat his defign. Indeed it is of all other fins 'the molt Diabolical , it be- ing a conjunction of two of Satans moll eflfential properties , Malice and Lying. We know tis his peculiar title to be tf:?e i^ccufer of the brethren : and when we tranfcribe his copy, we alfo afllime his nature, intitleour ielves to a defcent from him, Te are af your Father the 'Devil ^ Joh. 8.44. We are by it rendered a fort of Inciibm brats , the infamous progenies of the Lying fpirit. It is indeed a fin of fo grofs, fo formidable a bulk, that there needs no help of Optics to render it dif- cernable > and therefore I need not far- ther expatiate on it.
3. The next degree is not much
fliort
S E c T. V. Of Lying T>efamition. 5 r
fhort of it ; what it wants is rather of invention then malice: for he that will fo adopt anothers lie, Ihews he would willingly have bin its proper Father. It do's indeed differ no more then the maker of adulterate wares , do's from the vender of them : and certainly there cannot be a more ignominious trade, then the be ing Huckfters to fuch vile Merchandize, Neither is the fin lefs then the bafenefs : we find the Lover of a lie ranked in an equall form of guilt with the Maker Rev. 21. And fuiely he muft be prefu-' med to love it, that can defcend to be the broker to it , help it to pafs current in the world.
4. The third fort of Detradlors look a little more demurely , and with the woman in the Proverbs, Chap. 30. wife their mouths , and fay they have don no wickednef.. They do not certainly know the fallity of what they report, and their ignorance muft ferve them as an Amulet againft the guilt both of decei. and mahce : but 1 fear it will do neithert For firft perhaps they are affededly i- gnorant : they are fo willing it fhould be true, that they have not atcemtedto examine it. But Secondly it do's not
G 2 fuffice
51 The Government of the Tongue.
futHce that i do not know the faility; for to make me a true fpeaker, tis ne- ceflary I know the truth of what I affirm.^ Nay if the thing were never fo true, yet it I knew It not to be fo , its truth will not fecur« me trom being a liar : and there- fore whoever endeavors to have that vz- ceiv'd for a certai nty, which himfelf knows not to be fo , ollends againlt truth. The iitmoll that can confiit with fincerity,is to reprefent it to others as doubtful as it appears to iiim. Yet even that how conlonant loever to truth , is not to Cha- rity. Even doubtful acculations leave a ftain behind them, and often prove in- dcleble injuries to the party accufed : how much more then do the more pofitive and confident afpcrlions we have hither, to fpoken of .^ Let me add only this concerning tJiis later fort , that they are greater advancers of Defamatory defignsj then the very firit contrivers. For thole upon a confcioufncfs of their falfenefs are obliged to proceed cautioully , to pick out the credulous and lead difcern- ing perlons , on whom to impofe their fidtions, and dare not produce them in all companies for fear of detedion : but thefein confidence that the untruth (if it
be
\
Sect. V . Of Lying 'Defamation, 53
be one) lies not at their door, fpeak it without any reitraint in all places , at all times ; and what the others are tain to whifper , they proclame , like our new En- gine , which preten is to convey a whilper many miles otf . So that as in the cafe of Stealing tis proverbially laid , that if there were no receivers there would be no thieves i fo in this of Slander , if there were fewer fp readers , there would be fewer forgers of Libels: the manufadiure would be difcouragcd 5 if it had notthefe retailers to put oft the wares.
f. Now to apply thele practices to our rule of duty , there will need no ve- ry dole infpedtion to difcern the ob- liquity. The molt fuperficial glance will evidence thele feveral degrees of Slan- derers to do v/hat they would not be willing to fuffer. Who among them can be content to be falfely afperfed.^ Nay fo far are they from that , that let but the ihadow oftheir own calumny refled: on themlelv^es , let any but truly tell them that they have f ilfely accufed others , they grow raving and impatient , like a dog at a looking glals , fiercely combating that image which himlelf creates : and hov/ linoothly foever the original lie Hides
from
54 The Government of the Tongue.
from them , ' the Echo of it grates their ears. And indeed tis oblervable, that thofe who make the greatelt havock of other mens reputation , are the moft nicely tender of their own ; which iets this fin of calumny in a moft Diametrical oppofition to the Evaiigehcal precept of Loving ournetgh'jors as our f elves,
6, Thus much isdiicernable even in the furface of the crime; but if we look deeper andexammethe motives , we fliall find the foundation well agrees to the fuperftrufture , they being ulually one of thele twoj Malice or Intereft. And indeed the thing is lo difingenuous , fo contra- ry to the didrates of Humanity as well as Divinity, that I mull in reverence to our common nature, prefume it muft be ibmc very forcible impellent j that can drive a man fb far from himielf. The Devil here plaies the Artift : and as the fataleft poifons to man are ( they fay } drawn from human bodies , fo here he extra(3:s the venem of our Irafcible and Concupiicible part, and in it dips thole arrows , which we thus flioot at one a- nother.
7. Tis needlefsto harangue feverally upon each. The world too experiment
tally
Sect. V. Of Lying defamation. ff
tally knows the force of both. Malice is that whirlwind, which has jfhook States and Families j no leis then private Per- fons-, a paffion fo impetuous and preci- pitate , that it often equally involves the Agent and the Patient : a malicious man being of like violence with thole who flung in the three Children , Dan. 3. confumed by thofc flames into which he caft others. As for Intereft , tis that univerfal Monarch to which all other Empires are Tributaries, to which men facrifice not only their Confciences and Innocence, but ( what is ufually much dearer 3 their Senfualities and Vices. Thofe whom all the Divine ( either ) threats or promifes , cannot perfwade to mortify^ any^Dut reltrain one Luftj at Mammons beck will difclame many > and force their inclinations to comply with their intereft.
8. And whilft this fin of Calumny has two fuch potent Abettors , we are not to wonder at its growth: as long as men are malicious and defigning, they will be traducing i thofe Cyclops's will be perpetually forging Thunderbolts, a- gainft which no innocence' or vertue can be proof. And alas we daily find
too
y6 The Government of the Tongue.
too great efFed: ot their ii;iJ[ aft ry. Bat tho theie are the forgers of the more lolemn deliberate calumnies , yer this fportive age harh produc-jd another fort, there being men that dv^tame others by way of diveiti(ement-. invent httie itories that they may find themleivcs exercife, and the Town talk. This if itmait pafsfor iport 5 is fuch as Solomon delcribes , Prov. 26. 18, 19. K^s a mad man that cafleth jircbraiids ^ arro'jvs a?>d death, fo u he that dccei'Vcth his neighbor , and faith ^ am not I infport ? He tliat (hoots an arrow- in jeft, may kill a man in earneft; and he chat gives himfeif hbcrty to play with his neighbors tame, may foon play it away. Moft men have fuch an aptnefs to entertain fmifter opinions of others , that they greedily draw in anyfuggeftion of that kind •, and one may as ealily per- I'wade the thirfty earth to refund the wa- ter (he has fuckt into her veins , as them to depo(ite a prejudice they have once taken up. Therefore fuch experiments upon fame, are as dangerous as that which Alexander is faid to have made of the force of Naprha upon his Page, from which he Icarce efcaped with Hfe. Thele jocular (landers are often as
milchie-
Sect. V. Of Lying ^Defamation. 57
mifchievous as thofe of deeper deiigiij and have from the llightnefs of the tem- tation an enhancement of guilt. For lure he that can put fuch an intereft of his neighbors in balance with a little fit. of laughter , lets it at a lower price then he that hopes to enrich or advance him- felf by it : and tho it pafs among fome for a Ipecimen of Wit, yet it really lifts them among Solomons fools who maken mock at fin ^ Prov. 14. ^. In the mean time lince flander is a plant that can grow in all foils, fince the frolick humor as ,well as the morole betraies to the guilt who can hope to efcaps chis Scourge of the Tongue , as the Wifeman calls It, Ec. 26.6. which communicates with all. Perfons of all ranks do mutually afperle , and are afperfed : fo that he who would not have his credulity abu fed, has fcarce a fecurer way , then ( like that Aftrologer, who made his Almanack give a tolerable account of the weather by a dire(3: inverlion of the common prognofticators, } to let his belief run quite counter to reports. Yea lo Epi- demic is this dileafe grown, that even rehgion (at leaft thole parties and fa- i^ions which aflTume that name) has got
H "a
58 The Government of the Tongue.
a taint of it j each fedt or opinion feek- ing toreprefent its Antagoniit as odious as it can. And whilft they contend for fpeculative truth, they by mutual calum- nies forfeit the pradlic: a thing that juftly excites the grief of good men, to lee that thofe who all pretend to the fame Chriftianity , fhould only be unanimous in the violating that truth and Charity it prefcribes.
10. And if thefe be the weapons of our fpiritual warfare , what may we think of the carnal ? How are our fecular ani- mofities purfued , when our Speculations are thus managed? How eafily do we run down the reputation of any who Hand in the way , either of our fpleen or avarice? When Jofephs refolute purity had changed the fcene of his Miftrefs*s paffion , she do's as readily shift that of guilt too 5 and fixes her crime upon him, Gen. 39. 14. So when Ziba had a mind to wndoivminQ Mephihoshethinhis eftate, he fir!l practices upon his fame in a falfe acculacion, 2 Sam. 16. 3. And alas how familiarly do we now fee both thefe fcenes readied? Thofe who will not take vice into their bofoms, fhall yet have it be- fpatter their faces: they who will not run
to
Sect. V. Of Lying Defamation, fp
to the fame excefs of riot , mull exped: to be evil fpoken of, i Pet. 4. 4. Nay not only pious men , but piety it felf par- takes of the fame fate , falls under the two edg'd flander both of deceit and fol- ly. And if men cannot be permitted quietly to enjoy their piety , much lefs will theythofe things whereof the world hath more guft , I mean fecular advan- tages. There are ttill crimes to be dif- covered in the pofleflbrs of honors or E- ftates, and they wonderfully excite the zeal of thofe who would lupplant them. What artifices are there to make them ap- pear unworthy of what they have , that others more unworthy may fiicceed them? Nor are thefe ftorms only in the upper region j in the higher ranks of men; but if we pafs thro all degrees , we fhall find the difference is rather in the value of the things, then in the means of purfuing them. He that pretends tothe meaneft office do's as ftudioufly difparage his com- petitor, as he that is rivaled for a king- dom. Nay even he that has but a merry humor to gratify , makes no fcruple to do it with the lofs of another mans reputa- tion.
II. Thus
6o The Government of the Tongue. '
11. Thus do wc accomodate every petty temporal intereft at the coft of our eternal ; and as an unskilful Fencer, whilft he is purfuing his thruft , expofes his bodyj fb whilll wethusadtuateourownmahce, wc abandon our ielves to Satans , receive mortal wounds from him , only that we may give a few light fcratches to onea- nother. For as I have before faid , there is nothing do's more fccurc his title to us 5 then this viceof Calumny , it bearing his propL^r imprefs and figure. And we may fear Chrijl will one day make the fame Judgment of Perfons as he did of coin, and award them to him whole /- mage aud Suferfcripion they hear ^ Mat.
22. 20.
12. And now how great a madnefs is it to make coilly oblations to fo vile an Idol ? This is indeed the worfhiping our own Imaginations, preferring a mahcious fiction before a reall felicity : and is but faintly refembled by him > who is faid to have cholen to part with his Bifliopric > rather then burn his Romance. Alas are there not grofs corporal fins e- nough to ruine us , but mult we have aereal ones too , damn our jfelves with Chimera's , and by thele forgeries of our
brains
S E c T . V . Of Lying T>efamation. 6 1
brains dream our lelves to deftrucftion ? 13. Let all thofe then who thus un- happily employ their inventive faculty, timely confider , how unthriving a trade tis finally like to prove, that all their falfe accufations of others will rebound in true ones upon themfel ves. It do's often fo in this world , where many times the moft clandeftine contrivances of this kind meet with dete(9:ion: or if they fliould happen to keep on the difguile here , yet twill infallibly be torn off at the great day of manifeltation , when be- fore God , Angels , and Men , they will be render'd infinitly more vile , then twas poffible for them here to make others.
Sec
T.
62 The Government of the Tongue. Se c t. VI
Of Vncharitablc Truth.
I. TN the next place we are to confi- j|^ der of the other branch of Defama- tory reports , viz. fuch as are true : which tho they niuit be confeft to be of a low- er form of guilt then the former, yet as to the kind , they equally agree in the de- finition of Detra(9:ion , fince tis poflible to impair a mans credit by true reports as well as by falfe.
2. To clear this Ilhall firft obferve, that altho every fault hath forae penal efFedl which are coetaneous to the adt, yet this of Infamy is not fo : this is a more remote confequent 5 that which it imme- diatly depends upon , is the pubhlhng. A man may do things which to God and his own confcience render him abo- minable, and yet keep his reputation with men : but when this ftifled crime breaks out , when his iecred guilts are de- tected J then , and not till then , he be- Comes infamous : fo that altho his fin be
the
Sect. VI. Of Uncharitable Truth. 63
the Material , yet it is the difcovery that is the Formal caule of his Infamy.
3. This being granted, it follows that he that divulges an unknown con- celed fault, (lands accountable for all the confequences that flow from that di* vulging J but whether accountable as for guilt, muft be determined by the parti- cular circumftances of the caufe. So that here we muft admit of an exception: for tho every difcovery of anothers fault be in the ftrid: natural fenfe of the word a Detraelion , yet it will not alwaiesbe the fin of Detraftion,becaufe in fome inftances there may fome higher obligation inter- vene , and fuperfede that we ow to the fame of our neighbor-, and in thofe cafes it may not only be lawful , but neceflary to expofe him.
4. N o w all fuch cafes I conceive may fummarilybe reduced to two heads, Ju- ftice and Charity. Firft as to Juftice : that we know vs^ a fundamental vertue , and he that fhall violate that , to abound in another , is as abfur'd , as he that under- mines the foundation to raife the walls. We are not to fteal to give alms , and Godhimfelf has declared that he hates robbery for a burnt-oifering : fo that no
pretence
$4* The Government of the Tongue.
pretence either of Chanty or Piety can abfolve us from the duty we ow to Ju- ftice. Now it may often fall out , that by concehng one mans tault, I may be injurious to another, nay to a whole community : and then I afllime the guilt I concelc, and by the Laws both of God and Man am judged an acceffory.
f. And as Jultice toothers enforces, fo Ibmctimes [u it ice to a mans felf al- lows the publilliing of a fliult, when a confiderablcinterclt either ot fame or for- tune cannot otherwife be refcued. But to make loud outcries of injury, when they tend nothing to the reprefs of it , is a liberty rather aflumed by rage and impatience, then authorized by Ju- ltice. Nay often in that cafe the corn- plainer is the mod injurious Perfon; for he intlid:s more then he fuffers , and in lieu of fome trivial right of his which is invaded , he aflaults the other in a nearer intereft , by wounding him in his good name: but if the caule be confide- rable and the manner regular , there lies fure no obligation upon any man to wrong himfelf , to indulge to ano- ther.
6. Neither do's Charity retrench
this
Sect. VI. Of Uncharitable Truth, 65
this liberty : for tho it be one acit of Charity to concele another mans faults, yet fometimes it may be inconfiftent with fome more important Charity , which I owe to a third Peribn, or per- haps to a Multitude 5 as in thofe cafes wherein public benefit is concern'd. If this were not allowable, no Hiftory could lawfully be written , fince if true, it cannot but recount the faults of many: no evidence could be brought in againft a Malefaftor : and indeed all difcipline would be fubverted • which would be fo great a mifchief , that Charity obliges to prevent it, what Defamation foever fall upon the guilty by it* For in fuch inftances tis a true r^le 5 that mercy to the evil proves cruelty to the innocent. And as in a competition of mifchiefs we are to chule the leaft , fo of two goods the greatell: , and the more extenfive 5 is the mod eligible.
/.Nay even that Charity which re- fledts upon my felf ^ may alfo fometimes fuperfede that to my neighbor , the rule obliging me to love him as, not better then my lelf. I need not fure filently afient to my own unjuft Defamation for fea^ of proving another afalfe accufer,
I nor
66 The Government of the Tongue.
nor Tuffer my felf to be made a beggar, to concele another mans being a thief. Tis true in a great inequality ofinterefts. Charity (whole Character it is. Not to feek her o-mn i Cor. 13. f. ) will promt me to prefer a greater concern of my neighbors before a Ihght one of my own : but in equal circumftances I am fure at hberty to be kind firft to my felf. If I will recede even from that , I may; but that is then to be account- ed among the Heroic flights of Cha- rity , not her binding and indifpenfible Laws.
8. Having now iet the bound- aries to the excepted cafes •, as all in- itances within them will be legitimated, lb ail without them will ( by the known rule of exceptions ) be precluded , and fall under that general duty we owe to our neighbor , of tendering his credit ; a^ obligation fo Univerfally infringed, that tis not imaginable the breach fhould alwaies happen within the excepted ca- fes. When t!S remembred how unacStive the principles of Juftice and Charity are now grown iw the world , we muft cer- tainly impute fuch inceflant efFed:s, to Ibme more vigorous caufes : of which it
may
Sect. VI. Of Uncharitable Truth 6j
may not be amiis to point out foineof the moft obvious , and leave every man to examine which of them he finds molt operative in hmifelf.
9. In the firft place I may reckon ^ride^ a humor which as it is alwaies mounting, fo it will make ufe of any foot-ftool towards it rife. A man who afFedts an extraordinary fplendor of re putation , is glad to find any foils to iet him ofFj and therefore will let no fault nor folly of anothers enjoy the fhade , but brings it into the open light , that by that companion, his own excellences may appear the brighter. I dare appeal to the brealt-'of ar y proud man, whether he do not upon fuch occafions , delight to make fome Pharifaical retiediions on himfelf , whether he be not apt to fay, / am not like other men , or as this Tnblican , Luke 18. tho probably he leave out the God I thank thee. Now he that cherifhes fuch refentaients as thefe in himfelf, will doubtlefs be willing to propagate them to other men, and to that end render the blemiflies of others as vifible as he can. But this betraies a degene- rous fpirit, which from a confcioii fnefs that he wants folid worth , on which to I 2 bottom
68 The Government of the Tongue.
bottom a reputation , is tain to found it on the mines of other mens. The true Diamond fparkles even in the funfhine: tisbuta glow-worm vertue, that ows its luiter to the darknefs about it.
lo. Another promter to Detra- d:ion is Envy ^ which fomctimes is par- ticular, fometimes general. He that has a pique to another, would have him j as hateful to all mankind as he is to him; and therefore as he griev's and repines at any thing that may advance his efti- mation , fo he exults and triumphs when any thing occurs which may deprefs it , and is ufually very induftrious to im- prove the opportunity , nay has a llrange fagacity in hunting it out. No vul- ture do's more quickly fcent a carcals , then an envious Perfon do's thofe dead flies which corrupt his neighbors oint- ment, Ecclef, lo. I. the vapor whereof his hate, like a Itrong wind , fcatters and difperfes far and near. Nor needs he any great crime to prad:ice on : every lit- tle infirmity or paflion , lookt on thro his Optics, appears amountianousguilt. He can improve the leaft fpeck or frec- kle into a leprofy, which fhall over- ipread the whole man : and a cloud no %-
get
Sect. VI. Of Uncharitable truth, 6p
ger then a mans hand^ like that oiElisha^ I Kings i8. 44. may in an inftant, with the help of prejudice, grow to the utter darkning of the brighteil reputation , and fill the whole horizon with tempeft and horror. Sometimes this Envy is gene- ral, not confin'd to any mans perfon, but diffiifed to the whole nature. Some tempers there are fo malign , that they wish ill to all , and believe ill of all ; like Timon the Athenian, who profeft him- felf a univerfal man-hater. He whofe guilty confcience refleds difmal images of himfelf; is willing to put the fame ugly shape upon the whole nature, and to conclude that all men are the fame, were they but clofely infpe(3:ed. And therefore when he can fee but the leaft glimmering of a fault in any , he takes it as a proof of his Hypothefis > and with an envious joy calls in as many fpedla- tors as he can. Tis certain there arc fome in whoie ears nothing founds fo harlh as the commendation of another , as on the contrary nothing is fo melodi- ous as a Defamation. Tlutarch gives an apt inftance of this upon AriHides\ ba- nifliment , whom when a mean Perfon had propos'd to Oftracifm , being askt
what
70 The Government of the Tongue.
what difplefure i^rijiides had dun him> he replied , None , fiejtber do I know him^ but it grieves rm- ^o hear every body call him a jttfi mayi. I tear fume of our keencil accufers now a daies Jiiay give the fame anfwer. No man that is eminent f jr Piety ( or indeec! but mo- ral vercLie ) but h.' lliall ha^^e many in- fidious eies upon Wina "juatching for his halting : and if any the leait obliquity can be efpied, he is ufed worfe riien the vileft malefadtor : for fuch are tried but at one bar , and know the utmoft of their doom ; but thefe are arraigned at every Table, in every Tavern. And at fuch variety of Judicacures, there will be as ^r \.c /ariety of fentences i only they c.jmmonly concur in this one, that he IS an Hypocrite, and ti'eri what com- placency, what trtumph have they m fuch a difcovery ? Th:'re iS not half fo much Epicurifm in any of their moft ftuctied luxuries , no fpedacle affords them fo much plefure , as a bleeding fame thus lying at their mercy.
1 1 . Another fort of Detraftors there are, whofe defigiies are not fo black,but are equally mean and fordid, much too light to be put in balance with a neighbors
Cre-
Sect. VI. Of Uncharitable Truth. 7 1
Credit. Of thofe fome will pick up all the little (lories they can get , to humor a Patron : an artifice well known by thofe trencher guefts , who , like Rats , ftill haunt the beft Provifions. Thefe men do alraoft come up to a literal liQniQ of what the Tfalmtsf fpoke in a figurative, Pfam. 14. and eat up people for bread y tear and worry men m their good names, that themlelves may eat. It was a Curfe denounced againft Eli's oifspnng , that they should come and crouch for a morfel of bread i. Sam. 2. 3p. But fuch men court this as a pre- ferment, and to bnng themfehcs with- in the reach of it itick not to affiime that vileft office of common Delators. There are others who v/hen they have got the knowledg of another mans fault, think it an endearing thmg to whifper it in the ear of lomc friend or confi- dent. But fure if they muft needs fa- crifice fome lecret to their triendfliip, they Ihould take Davids rule, and not offer that which coH them nothuig. If they will exprefs their confidence , Jet them acquaint them with their < v n ph- vat crimes. That indeed would show fomthing of truft : but thofe experiments
upon
72 The Government of the Tongue.
upon another mans colt , will hardly con- vince any confidenng Perlon of their kindnels. .
12. There ftill remains a yet more trifling fort of Defamers , who have no deUberate dcfign which they purfne in it , yet are as alliduous at the Trade as the deeper contrivers. Such are thofe who piiblifh their neighbors faiUngs as they read Gazers, only that they may be teUingNcws: an Itch wherewith Ibme peoples tongues are ftrangly over-run, who can as well hold a glowing Coal in their mouths, as keep any thing they think New 5 nay will fometimes run them- ielves out of breath , for fear leaft any fliould fcrve them as Kylhmaaz, did Cu* shi. 2. Sam. 18. 23. and tell the tale before them. This is one of the moft Childifli vanities imaginable : and fure men muit have Souls of a very low le- vel , that can think it a commenfurate entertainment. Others there are who ule Defamatory difcourie, neither for the love of News , nor Defamation , but purely for love of talk : whofe fpeech like a flowing current bears away indifl criminately whatever hes in its way And indeed fuch incefiant talkers, areufually
peo-
Sect. VI Of Uncharitable Truth. 73
people noc of depth enough to liipply themfelves out of their own ftore , and therefore can let no forreign acceflion pafs by them , no more then a Mill which is alwaies going, can afford any waters to run wait. 1 know we uleto call this Talkativenefs a Feminine vice^ but to Ipeak impartially , I think , tho we have given them the inclofure of the Scandal, they have not of the fault, and he that iliall appropriate Loquacity to Women, may perhaps fonietimes need to light T)iogenes\ Candle to feek a man : for tis poffible to go into Mafculine com« pany, where twill be as hard to edg in a word, as at a Femal Goffiping. However as to this particular of Defa- ming, both the Sexes leem to be at a vye : and I think he were a very Cri- tical Judg , that could determine between them.
13. Now lead this later fort of Defamers fliould be apt to ablblve themlelves , as men of harmlefs inten- tions, I fhall defire them to confider, that they are only more impertinent, not lels injurious. For tho it be grant- ed, that the proud and envious are lo niake a diftindl account for their pride
K and
7+ The Government of the Tongue.
and envyj yet as far as relates to the Jieighbor, they are equally mifchievous, Kyinncreon that was choaked with a grape- ftonc, died as liirely as Julius Ce* far with his three and twenty wounds ^ and a mans reputation may be as well tbol'd and prattled away , as malicioufly betruied. Nay perhaps more eafilyj for where the fpeaker can leaft be furpe<fted of delign , the hearer is apter to give him Credit: this way of infinuating by fa* miliar difcourfe , being like thole poifbns that are taken in at the pores, which are the molt infenfibly fucked in , and the mofl impoflible to expel.
14. B u T we need not dtfpiite which is worlt, fince tis certain all are bad, none of them ( or any that hold pro- portion with them ) being at all able to pretend their warrant either from Ju- Itice or Charity, And then what 6\xt Savior faies in another cafe 5 will be ap- pliable to this. He that vs not for us is againji m. Mat. 12. 30. He that in pub- lifinng his neighbors faults, ad:s not upon the diftates oi: Juitice or Charity, ad:s dired:ly in contradid:on to them: for where they do not upon fome par- ticular relpeCts command , they do im- plicitly
Sect. VI. Of Uncharitable Trdth, /f
plicitly and geuerally forbid all fiich dif* coveries.
If. For firft if a fault divulged be of a light nature, the oflfender cannot thereby merit fo much , as to be made a public difcourfe. Fame is a tender thing, and feldom is toft and bandied without receiving fome bruile , if not a crack: for reports we know like fnow» balls gather ftill the farther they roule, and when I have once handed it to another , how know 1 how he may improve it , and if he deliv^er it fo ad- vanced to a third, he may give his con- tribution alfo to it , and fo in a fuccef- five tranfmirting, it may grow to fuch a monftrous bulk, as bears no proportion to its Original. He mull be a great ftranger to the world, that has not 'Ex- perimentally found the truth of this. How many perlbns have lain under great and heavy fcandals , which have ta- ken their firft rife only from fome in- advertence or indifcretion? Of fo quick a growth is Slander 5 that the Icaft grain, like that of muftard feed , mentioned Mat' 13.32. immediatly flioot^ up into a tree. And when it is fo , it can no more be reduced back into its firft caufe,
K 2 then
y6 The Government of the Tongue.
then a tree can (lirink into that little feed from whence it firft fprang. No mines are fo irreparable as thofe of reputation : and therefore he that pulls out but one ftone towards the breach , may do a greater niilchief then perhaps he intends : and a greater injultice too ; for by how much the more ftridliy Jufticc obliges to reparation in cale of injuries don , fo much the more leverely do's it prohibit the domg thofe injuries which are unca- pabie of being repared. In the Leviti- cai Law he that knew his ox was apt to gore , and yet kept him not up, flood refponfible for any mifchief he happened to do, Exod. 21.29. I think there is no confidering man can be ig- norant how apt little trivial accufati- ons are to teai and mangle ones fame: and yet i{ the lavifh talker reftrain them not, he certainly ftands accountable to God, his Neighbor, and his own Con- feiencc) for all the danger they pro- cure.
16. But if the report concern fomc higher and enormous crime, tis true the delinquent may deferve the lefs pity, yet perhaps the reporter may not de- ferve the lefs blame : for often fuch a
dif-
Sect. VI. Of Uncharitable Truth, yf
dilcovery lerves but to enrage, not re- clame the offender, and precipitate him into farther degrees of ill. Modefty and fear of ihame , is one of thofe natural reltraints, which the wifdom of God has put upon mankind , and he that once llumbles , may yet by a check of that bridle recover again : but when by a public deteftion he is fallen under that infamy he fear'd, he will then be apt to difcard all caution, and to think he ow's himfelf the utmoft plefures of his vice, as the price of his reputation Nay perhaps he advances farther , and fcts up for a reveril; fort of Fame , by being eminently wicked : and he who before was but a Clandeitine difciple, becomes a Doctor of impiety. And fure it were better to let a conceled crime remain in its wiflit obfcurity, then by thus rouz- mg It from its covert , bring it to Hand at bay, and let it felf in this open defi- ance ; efpecially in this dcgencrous age, when vice has fo many well wiUers, that, like a hoping party , they eagerly run into any that will head them.
17. And this brings in a third confi- deration relating to the public, to which the divulging of private (efpecially if
they
78 The Government of the Tongue.
they be novel unufual ) crimes , do's but an ill piece of fervice. Vice is contagi* ous, and calls pefliiential vapors: and as he that lliould bring out a plague-fick Perfon, to inform the world of his dif- eafe , would be thought not to have much befriended his neighborhood, fo he that difplaies thefc vicious Ulcers, whillt he feeks to defame one , may per* haps infed: many. We too experimen- tally find the force of ill examples. Men often take up fins, to which they have no natural propenfion, merely by way of conformity and imitation. But if the inftance happen in a crime , which more fuits the pradice of the hearers, tho ic cannot befaid to feduce, yet it may en- (Jourage and confirm them •, embolden them not only the more frequently to ad, but even to avow thofe fins; wherein they find they Hand not fingle , and by difcovering a new acceflary to their Par- ty, to invite them the more heartily and openly to efpoufe it.
1 8. These are fucheffedis asfurely do not very well correfpond with that Juftice and Charity we owe either to particular Perfbns , or to mankind in General. And indeed no better can be expe(9:ed,
from
Sect. VI. Of Uncharitable Truth. 79
from a praftice which fo perfectly con- tradifts the grand rule both of Juftice and Charity , the doing as we would be don to. That this do's fo , every man has a ready conviction within him, if he pleafe but to confult his own heart. Alas with what folicitude do we feek to hide our own guilts , with falfe drefles , whiit varnifi: ?s have we for them? There are uoc more airs of difguifmg our Cor- poral blemiflies, then our Moral: and yet whillt we thus paint and parget our own deformities? we cannot allow any the Jealt imperfedion of anothcrs to re- main undetefted, but tear off the veil from their blufliingfiailties, and not on- ly expo fe but proclame them. And cm\ there be a grofler , a more dcteftable partiality then this? God may fure in this inltance ( as in many others ) expo- ftulate with us as he did with Ifrael, Ezek. 53. f^re not your is:aies unequal? What Barbarifm, what inhumanity is it, thus to treat thofe of the fame common na- ture with our felves, whom we cannot but know have the fame concern to preierve a Reputation, and the fame regret to lofe it, which we have? And what ihame is it, that that Evangelical
precept
8o 1 he Government of the Tongue.
precept , ' of doing as we would be don to, which met with lb much reverence even trom Heathens, that Severm the Emperor prefer'd it to all the Maxims ofPhilofophers, fliould be thus contem- ned and violated byChriilians, and that too upon llich flight inconfiderable mo- tives as ufually prevail in this cafe of De- famation ?
ip. But we are not to confi- der this fault only in its root as it 13 a defed: of Juihce and Charity, but in its produd: too , as it is a Seminary of more injuitice and Uncharitablenefs. Thofe diilidvantageous reports we make of our neighbors, are ahnoft ieen to come round: for let no man pcrfwade himlelf • that the hearers will keep his counfel any better then he do's that of the defamed Perfon. Tlie fofteft whifper of this kind, will fiad others to Echo it , till it reach the ears of the concerned Party, and perhaps with fbme enhancing circum- Itances too. And when tis confider'd how unwilling men are to hear of their faults, tho even in the mildeft and moft chari- table way of admonition , tis not to be doubted a public Defamation, will leem difobliging enough to provoke a return^
which
Sect. VI. Of Uncharitable Truth. 8 1
which again begets a rejoinder, and ib the quarrel is carried on with mutual recriminations 5 all malicious inquuies are made into each others manners, and thofe things which perhaps they did in clofets, come to be proclamed upon the houle top : lo the wild-fire runs re ind, till fomtimes nothing but blood will quench it ; or if it arrive not to that, yet it ufually fixes iu an irreconcileable feud. To this IS otten owing tho.e di- ftances we lee among f/'cnds and re- lations ; this breeds iiich ftrangencfs, Inch animolities amongit neighbors, that you cannot go 10 one , but you fliall beentertain'd witli.invedlives againft the other ; nay perhaps you fliall lofe both, becaufe you are willing to fide with neither.
20. These are the ufual confequen- ces of the liberty of the Tongue : and what account can any man givetohim- felf , either in Chriitianity or prudence, that has let in inch atrain 'of mifchiefs, merely to gratify an impotent childiih humor of telling a tale? Peace was the great Legacy Chrift left to his followers, and ought to be guarded, thoweexpofe for it our greatelt temporal concerns,
L but
82 The Government of the Tongue.
but cannot without defpight to him, as well as our brethren , be thus prolti- tuted.
21. Yet if we confider it abftrad:^ edly from thoic more folemn mifchiefs which attend it , the mere levity and unworthinefs of it fets it below an in- genuous Pcrfon. We generally think a tatler and bufy.body a title of no fmall reproch : yet truly 1 know not to whom it more juftly belongs , then to thofe, who bul'y themfelves firil in learnig, and then in publifliing the faults of o- thers : anemploiment which the Apoltle thought a blot , even upon the weaker fex, and thinks the prevention of fuch importance, that he prefcribes them to change their whole condition of life; to convert widow-hood (tho a flate which in other refpeds he much prefers , i Cor. 7. 8. ) into marriage, rather then ex- pofe themfelves to the temtation, i Tim. f, 135 14. And if their impotence can- not afford excuie for it , what a de- bafcment is it of mens nobler faculties to be thus entertain'd? The Hiftonan gives it as an ill indicdtion o(T> omit ians temper, tliat he emploi'J himfelf in catch- ing and tormenting Flies : andfure they
fall
S E c T. VI. Of Uncharitable Truth 83
~ II
fall not under a much better cliarafter, eitherfor wifdom J or good nature , who thus fnatch up all the little flutternig re- ports 5 they can meet with to'thc preju- dice of their neighbors.
22. But beiides the divulging the faults of others 5 there is another branch of Detradion naturally fpringing from this root, and this is cenlining and fe- vere judging of them. We think not we have well plai'd the Hiftorians, when we have told the thing , unlefs we add alio our remarks, and animadverfions on it. And altho tis, God knows , bad enough to make a naked relation , and truft it to thefeverity of the hearers •, yet few can content themfelves with that, but muft give them a fample of rigor, and by the bitterhefs of their own cen- fure invite them to pafs the like : a pro- cefs contrary to all rules of Law or e- quity , for the plantifF to afflime the part of a Judg. And we may eafily divine the fate of that mans fame, that is fb un- duly tried.
23. Tis indeed fad to fee how ma- ny private tribunals are every where iet up, where we fcan and judg our neigh- bor's aition, but fcarce ever acquit any.
L 2 Wc
S4 The Government of the Tongue
We take up with the moft incompetent wirnciT'<s , nay often fiiborn our own fur- miles and jpcuoufics , that we may be lure tocaftthe unhappy Criminal. How nice- ly an J fcrupuloufly do we examine eveyy circumftance • ( Would God we were but half as exad: in our own penitential in- quifitions ) and torture it to make it confcfs lomething which apears not in the more general view of the faft , and which perhaps never was in the adfors intention ? In a word we do like witches with their Magical Chymiftry , extrad: all the venem, and take none of the allay. By this means we confound tlie degrees of fins , and fentence deliberate and inde- liberate, habit or an aft all at one rate, t!iat is (Commonly , at the utmoft it can amount to, even in its worle accepti- on : and fure this were a moft culpa- ble corruption in judgment , could we flew our commiflion to judg our bre- thren.
24,. But here we may every one of us interrogate our fclves in our Saviors wore iVhomade me a Judg? Luke 12. i+. And i£ he difclam'd it, who in re- fpcft of his Divinity had the Supreme right, and that too in a cafe wherein
one
S E c T. V. Of Uur bar it able Truth. 8 f
bne (atleaft) of the Litigants had de- fired his interpofition, what a boldnefs is it in us to alFame it , where no fuch appeal is made to us , but on the con- trary the Party difowns our Autority ? Nay ( which is infinitely more ) tis fuper- feded by our great Law-giver, in that exprefs prohibition. Mat. 7. i. Judg not ^ and tliat bnck'd with a fevere pe- nalty, thcit ye be not judged'^ As God hath appropiiaLcd vengeance to himielf", fo has he Judicature alio ; and tis an in- vafion of his peculiar , for any ( bat his Delegates the lawful Magiitrares ) to pretend to either, And indeed in all pri- vate Judgments, fo much depends upon the intention of the Offender , that un- lefs we could poflels our felves of Gods Omnifcience, twill be as irrational as impious to affume his Autority. Until we know mens hearts, we are at the beft but imperfedl: Judges of their adli- ons. At our rate of judging St. Paul had furely pafs'd for a molt malicious Periecutor, whereas God faw he did /- gnorantly in tmbdief ^ and upon that in- tuition had mercy on him ^ i. Tim. i. 13. Tis therefore good counfel v/hich the Apoftle -gives/ 1. Cor. 4. f. Jttdg
nothing
86 The Government of the Tongue.
nothing before the time until the Lord' come. For tho tis faid the Saints shall jiidg the -ji'orldj i. Cor. 6. 3. yet it mutt be at the great Afiize , and he that will needs intrude himfelf into the office be- fore the time, will be in danger to be rather Paflive then Adivc in the Judica- tory-. I do not here advife to fuch a llu- pid charity as fliall make no diftin6tion of Aftions. I know there is a wo pro- nounced as well to thole who call evil goody as good eviL Surely when we fee an open notorious fin committed, we may exprefs a deteftadon of the Crime, tho not of the Ador^ nay ic may fome- times be a neceflary Charity, both to the Offender , and to the innocent Spe- d:ators , as an Amulet to keep them from the Contagion. of the Example. But ftill even in theft cafes , our Sentence muft not exceed the evidence , we mull judg only according to the vifible undoubtea circumftances , and not aggravate the crime upon prefumtions and conjeftures; if we do , how right foever our guelles may be , our judgment is not , but we are as St. James Ipeaks, Judges of evil thoughts. Chap. 2.4.
2j. Indeed this rafli judging
IS
Sect. VI. OfUncharitable Truth. 87
IS not only very unjuft both to God and man , but it is an ad: of the greateft pride; When we fet our felves in the Tribunar we alwaies look down with contemr on thofe at the bar. And certainly there is nothing do's ^o gratify, fo regale a haughty humor , as this piece of ufurpt Soverainty over our brethren : but the more it do's fo , the greater neceillty there is to abftain from it. Pride is a hardy kind of vice, ahat will live upon the barclt pafture : you cannot ftarve it with the moft indultrious mortifications : how lit- tle need is there then of pampering and heightning it, which we cannot more eftedually do, then by this cenfohous hu- mor ? for by that we arc i'o perpetually emploi'd abroad, that we have noleifurc to look homeward, and fee our own de- fefts. We are like the inhabitants of Ai^ Jof. 8 . fo eager upon the purfui t of others, that we leave our felves expofd to the ambuflies of Satan, who will be fure Itill to encourage us in our chafe, drawusftill farther and farther from our felves , and cares not how zealous we are in fight- ing againil the crimes of others , fo lie can but keep that zeal from recoiling upon our own,
26 Laft.
88 The Government of the Tongue.
26. Lastly this judging others is one of the highell violations of Charity. The Apolllc gives it as one of the pro- perties of tliat grace, that it thinks no e^ 'vil (r,e.) IS not apt to make levere con- ihudtions, but lets every thing in the fairell light, puts the moft candid inter- pretations that the matter will bear. And truly this is of great importance to the reputation of our neighbors. The world we know is in many inilances extreme- ly governed by opinion, but in this tis all in all s it has not only an influence upon It, but is that very thing: reputa- tion being nothing but a fair opinion and eilimation among others. Now this opinion is not alwaies fwaied by due motives : /bmtimes little accidents, and ofcca fancy, and oftell prepoflefliou go- verns in it. So that many times he that puts the firft ill Charad:er , fixes the liamp which afterwards goes currant in the world. The generality of people take up prejudices (as they do religions) upon trull : and of thole that are more c.irious in .inquiring into the grounds, there are not many who vary on the more charitable hand, or bring the com- mon fentence to review, with intent to
m9-
S E c T . VI. Of Uncharitable Truth 89
moderate but inhance it. Men are apt to think it ibme dilparagement to their acutenefs and invention , if they can- not fay ibrathing as fliarp upon the fub- jed: , as has bin faid before 5 and fo tis the bufinefs of many to lay on more load, but of few to take off: and therefore he that pafles the firft condemnatory ien-- tence, is like the incendiary in a popular tumult, .who is chargeable with all thofe diforders to which he gave the firft rile, tho that free not his Abettors from their fhare of the guilt.
27. And as this is very uncharitable in refped: of the injury ofter'd , {o alfo is it in refleftion on the grand rule of Charity. Can we pretend to love our neighbors as our ielves , and yet (hall our love to him have the quite contrary effedls to that we bear our ielves ? Can felf-love leflen our beam into a mote, and yet can our love to him magnify his mote into a beam ? No certainly, true Charity is more fincere , do's not turn to us the reverfe end of the perfped:ive, to reprefent our own faults at a diftance, and in the moft dimunutive fize, and yet fliuffle the other to us when we are to view his. No, thefe are Tricks of
M Le-
po The Government of the Tongue.
Legerdemain we read in another Schoel. even in hii whole Itile is tfne accujer ef the brethren. We know how frequently God prrvteils againil falfe weights and falfc mefurcs. And fine tis not only in the fliop or market that he abhors them, they are no le(s abominable in conver- fation then in traffic. To buy by one mefure and fell by another, is not more unequal, then it is to have thefe differing ftandards for our own and our neigh- bors faults, that our own fhall weigh, in the Prophet Jeremies Phrale, lighter then vanity , yea nothing , and yet his Q tho really the lighter) fhall prove Zachari- es talent of lead. This is llich a partial- lity , as conlifts not with common ho- nclty, and can therefore never be recon- ciled with Chriitian Charity : and how demurely fbever fuch men may pretend to lancStity , that interrogation of God prefles hard upon them , shall I count them pure with the wicked balances •^ and with the bag of deceitful weight si Mich. 6. II. Such bitter invcftives againfl o- thcr mens fliults, and indulgence or pal- liation of their own , fliews their zeal lies in their ipleen , and that they con- fider not fb much what is don ^ as who
do's
Sect. VI. Of Uncharitable Truth, 91
do's it: and to fuch the fentence of the Apoftle is very applicable, Rom. 2, i. Therefore thou art inexctifahle O man, whofoever thou art that judgeH , for "ji^here- in thou pL^gefl another thou condemneft thy felf, for thou that judgefl ^ doji the fame thing, B'at admit a man have not the very fame guilts he cenfures in a- nother, yet tisfure every man hasfome*, and of what fort foever they be, he de- fires not they (hould be rigoroiiily fcaa*d, and therefore by the rule of Charity , yea and juftice to, ought not to do that which he won Id not fufFer. If he can find extenuations for his own crimes, he is in allreafon to prefume others may have fo for theirs: the common frailty of our nature , as it is ape alike to betray us to faults , fo it gives as equal fliare in the excufe •, and therefore what I would have pafs for the effed: of impotency or inadvertence in my felf j I can with no tolerable ingenuity give a worfe name to in him.
28. We have now viewed both thcTc branches of Detraction , ictw both the fin and mifchiefs of them ^. we may now join them together in a concluding ob- fervation , which is that they are as im- M 2 prudent
5)2 The Government of the Tongue.
pmdent as they are unchriltian. It has bin received among the maxims of civil life, not unneceflanly to exafperate any body 5 to which agrees the advice of an ancient Philofopher , Speak not evil of thy neighbor, if thoa do'ft thou flialt hear that which will not fail to trouble thee. There is no Perfon fo inconfide- rable, but may at fome time or other do a difplefure: but in this of Defaming men need no harnefling , no preparation, every man has his weapons ready for a return : io that none can flioot thefe ar- rows, but they muft exped: they will re- vert with a rebounded force : not only to the violation of Chriftian Unity ( as 1 have before obferv'd} but to the Ag- greffors great fecular detriment , both in fame, and often times intereft alfo. Re- veng is iharp-fighted , and overlooks no opportunity of a retaliation, and that commonly not bounded as the Levitical ones were 5 lyin eiefor an eie , a tooth for a tooth 'i Exod. 21. 24. no nor by the larger proportions of their reftitutions fourfold -, Exod. 22. i. but^ extended to the utmof^ power of the inflid:er. The examples are innumerable of men who have thus laid themfelves open m
their
Sect. VI. Of Uncharitable truth, 93
their greateft concerns , and have let loofe the hands as well as Tongues of others a- gainft them , merely becaufe they would put no reftraint upon their own: which is fo great indiicretion , that to them we may well apply that of Sr\om.ow,A fools mouth is his deffru£iion , and his lip are the fnare of his foul. Prov. 18. 7.
25>. And now who can fufficiently wonder , that a practice that to thwarts our intereft of both worlds, (houldcome univerfally to prevail among us? Yet that it do's fo, I may appeal to the confciences of molt , and to the obfer- vation of all. What fo common To- pic of difcourfe is there , as this of back- biting our neighbors ? Come into com- pany of all Ages, all Ranks, all Pro- feffions, this is the conitant entertain- ment: And I doubt he that at night fliall duely recoiled: the occurrences of the day , (hall very rarely be able to fay, he has {pent it without hearing or fpeakmg' (^ perhaps both ) fomewhat ot this kind. Nay even thofe who reftrain themfelves other liberties , are often apt to indulge to this: many who arc fo juft to their neighbors property , that as Abraham once faid, Gen. 14. 23. they isjould not
take
5).j. The Government of the Tongue.
take from kirn , even from a thred to a shoe luichet ^ are yet fo inconiiderate of his Fame, as to find themlelves dilcourfe at the-expcnce of that, tho infinitiy a greater injury then the robbing of his Coffer: which ihew's wliat talie mefures we are apt to take of things, and evin- ces that many of thofe , who have not only in general abjured the world in their baptifm, but do in many inftances feem to themfelves ( as well as others ) to have gain'd a Superiority over it, do yet in this undifcernably yield it the greatell enfign of Soverainty 5 by permitting it to fet the Standar ds and eftimates of things , and faking its cuftomary Prefcriptions for Laws. Por what belides this un- happy fervility to cultom, can poffibly reconcile men that own Chriftianity , to a practice fo widely diftant from it ? Tis true thole that profefs themfelves men of this world who defign only their portion in this hfe, may take it up as Ibmetimes conducing ( at leait feemingly} to their end : but for thofe who propofe higher hopes to themfelves , and know that Charity is one of the main props to thofe hopes, how fooHflily do they undermine tnemfelves, when they thus
adt
Sect. VI. Of Uncharitabk Truth , 9 5-
ad; againlt their principles, and tliAt up- on no other Autority, but that of popilar ufage? I know men are ape to exciife themfelves upon their indignation againil vice, and think that their zeal mail as well acquit them for this violation of the Second Table, as it once did Mofes for the breaking both, Ex. 32. 15). But to fuch I may anfwer in Chrifts words, Luke 9. 55-. Te know not '^jchat manner of fptrit you are of, Meeknefs and Charity are the Evangelical graces, which will molt recommend and affi- milate us to him , who was meek and lowly in heart. But after all this pre- text of Zeal , I fear it is but a cheat we put on our felves, the Elder brothers rai- ment only to difguife the S'Jpplanter. Gen. 27. Let men truly ranfack their own breatts and I doubt the beft will find there is fomthing of vanity which lies at the bottom, if it be not the po- fitive fort mention'd before, of defigning to illuitrate my felf by others blemiflies, yet at lead the negative, that I am un- willing to incur the contemt incident to thofe , who fcruple at fmall fins. Befides I oblerve perhaps, that tis the common entertainment of the world , to Defame
their
96 The Government of the Tongue.
their neighbors , and if I Itrike notin.up- on the Theme , I fliall have nothing to render me acceptable company ^ perhaps I fliall be reproched as morofe or dull ^ and my lilence Ihall be conftmedto proceed not from the abundance of my Charity, but the defed: of my Wit.
30. But fure they that can thus ar- gue, do hereby give a more demonftra- tiveproofofthaf defect. He whofe wit is fo precarious that it muft depend on- ly upon the folly or vice of another, had beft give over all pretence to it. He that has nothing of his own growth to fet before his guefts , had better make no invitations , then break down his neighbors inclofure , and feaft them upon his plunder. Befides how piti- ful an atteitation of wit is it, to be able to make a difgraceful relation of ano- ther? No fcolding woman but may fet up fuch Trophies : and they that can value a man upon fuch an account , may prefer the Scarabes , who feed upon dung, and are remark'd by no other property , before the Bee that fucks flowers and re- turns hony.
31. But in the next place admit this reJtraint fliould certainly expofe one to
that
Sect. VI. Of Uncharitable Truth, 97
that reprochi methinks this fhould be no news to thofe who know the con- dition of Chriftianity is to take up the Crofs : and fare it cannot weigh lighter then in this inftance. What am 1 the worle if a vain Talkative Perfon think me too referv'd ? Or if he, whole frolic levity is his difeale , call me dull 5 becaule I vapor not out all n.y fpiri-cs into froth? Socrates when inform'd of fome deroga- ting Speeches one had ufed of him be- hind his back, made only thii. facetious reply , Let him beat me too when I am abient. And he that gets not fuch an indifference to all the idle cenfures of men , will be difturb'd in all his civil tranladlions , as well as his Chriftian: it being fcarce poffible to do any thing, but there will be defcants made on ic. And if a man will regard thofe winds , he muft , as Solomon laies , never fow % Eccl. II. 4. He muft fufpend even the necelTary actions of common life, if he will not venture them to the being mil- judged by others.
32. But there is yet a farther con- fideration in this matter : for he that upon fuch a delpicable motive will vio- late his duty in one particular, lets Sa-
N taa
pS 1 he Government of the Tongue.
tan get a main point ot him, and caa with no good Logic deny to do it in others. Dctrad:ion is not the only fin intafhion: Profanenefs, and Oblcenity, and all forts ot Luxury arefo too, and threaten no lefs reproch to thofe who icruple at them. Upon the fame grounds therefore that he difcards his Charity to his neighbor, he may alio his Piety, his Modelty , his Temperance , and almoft all other virtues. And to fpeak the truth, there is not a more fertile womb of fin, then this dread of ill mens reproch. O- ther corruptions muft be gratified with coft andinduftry? but in this the Devil hath no farther trouble* then to laugh men out of their fouls. So prolific a vice therefore had need be weeded out of mens hearts : for if it be allowed theleall corner , it it be indulged to in this one inftance , twill quickly fpread it feif far- ther*
33. Yet after all, this fear of re- proch is a mere fallacy , ftarted to dif- guife a more reall caufe of fear : for the greater danger of reproch do's indeed lie on that other fide. Common eftimation puts an ill Churader upon pragmatic medling people. For tho the inquifi-
tivenefs
h Sect. VI Of Uncharitable Truth. 99
tivenefs andcanoiity otthe hearer, may fomtimes render fuch difcourfes grateful enough to him, yet it leaves in him no good impreffions of the fpeaker. This is well obferv'd by the fon of Sirach , Ecclus. 19. 8, 9. Whether it be to friend or foe , talk not of other mens lives ; and if thou canH without offence , renjele them not , for he heard and obferv d thee , and when time comet h he will hate thee. In a word allconfidering Perfonswill bee- ver upon their guard in luch company} as forefeeing that they will talk no lc(s freely of them , then they do of others be- » fore them. Nor can the commonnefs of the guilt obviate the cenfure, there be- ing nothing more frequent then for men to accufe their own faults in other Perfons. Vice is like a dark Lanthorn, which turns its bright fide only to him that bears it, but looks black and dif. mal in anothers hand: and in this par- ticular none has fo much reafon to fear a Defamer , as thofe who are themfelves fuch: for (bcfides the common pruden- tial motive^ their own confcioufnefs gives them an inward alarm , and makes them look for a retribution in the fame kind. Thus upon the whole matter we N 2 fee
1 oo The Government of the Tongue.
fee , there is no real temtation , even to our vanity , to comply with this uncha- ritable cuftom > we being fure to lofe more repute by it then we can propofc to our feives to gain. The being elteem'd an ill man will not be balanced by be- ing thought plefaat, ingenuous compa- ny , were one fure to be lb. But tis odds that will not be acquired by it neither, for the moll afliduous talebearers and bit- terelt revilers are often half-witted peo- ple : there being nothing more frequent- ly obfervable , then fuch mens aptnefs to fpeak evil of things they underftand not, Jude 1.2.
34. O Let not then thofe that have re- pudiated the more inviting fins, Ihew themfelves philtr'd and bewitc'd by this, but inlteadoffubmitting to the ill exam- ple of others , fet a good one to them , and endeavor to bring this unchriftian cuftom out of fafhion. I am fure if they do not , they will be more deeply chargeable then others : for the more command they have over their other corruptions , the more do they witnefs againft themfelves. Their remifnefs and willing fubjediion to this, befides their example when ill , is more enfnaring then other mens , and is apt
to
Sect. VI. Of Uncharitable Truth, loi
to infinuaie eaiy thoughts of the lin. Men are apt to think themfelves fafe while they follow one of noted piety > and the aiitority of his Perfon often leads them blindfold into his failings. Thus when Teter diflembled , St. 'Paul tells us that the other Jeijus and evefi Barnaba^s aljo was carried away with hu dijjiwula^ tio7.. Galat. 2. 13. And I doubt not in this particular many are incouraged by the liberty they fee even good men take. So that fuch have a more accumu- lative guilt, for they do not only com- mit 5 but patronize the fault: the conli- deration whereof has kept me, I confefs, longer upon this head then is proportio- nable to the brevity of the reft ; but I think not longer then agrees to the im- portance of the fubjcd:.
3f. And now fince we have conli- der'd the malignity of this fin of Detra- ftion , and yet withall find that tis a fin, which as the Apoftle fpeaks , doth fo eafi^ ly hefettis^ tis but a natural Corollary that we inforce our vigilance againftit. And where the importance and diflScul- ty are both fo great , twill be a little ne- ceflliry to confider what are the liklieft means, the moft appropriate Antidote
againft
I02 The Government of the Tongue.
againft this fo dangerous , and yet fo E- pidemic a difeale.
36. And here the common rule of Phyfic is to be adverted to, viz. to ex- amine the caufes , that the remedies may be adapted to them. I fhall therefore in the fine place defire every man ferioufly to Ihidy his own conftitution of mind, and obferve what are his particular tem- tations to this fin of Detradtion , whe- ther any of thofe I have before menti- on'd, as Pride, Envy, Levity, &c. or any otfier which lies deeper , and is only difcernible to his own infpedlion. Let him , I fay , make the fcrutity , and then accordingly apply himfelf to correct the fin in its firlt principle. For as when there is an eruption of Humor in any part, tis not cured merely by outward applications, but by fuch alterative Me- dicines as purify the bloody fokhis Le- profy of the Tongue will ftill fpread farther , if it be not check'd in its Spring and fource , by the mortifying of thoie corrupt inchnations, which feed and heighten it.
37. This is an inquifition I muft leave to every mans own Confcience, which alone can teftify by what im-
pulfes
Sect. Vl. Of Uncharitable Truth. 103
pulfes he adts. Yet as the Rabbles were wont to fay , that in every Signal Judg- ment which befel the Jews, there was fome grain of the Golden- calf 5 {o I think I may venture to fay , that m all Detra- d:ion, there is fbme mixture of Pride : and therefore I fuppofe, a Caution a- gainfl: that , will be {o generally ieafona- ble, that it may well lead the Van of all other advices in this matter. And here tis very obfervable, that God who has made of one blood all Nations of the earth. Actt. 17. has fo equally diftribu- ted all the moft valuable priviledges of Human nature , as if he delign'd to pre- clude all infulting of one man over an- other. Neither has he only thus infinua- ted it by his Providence, but has in- forc'dit by his commands. In the Levi- tical Law we find what a particular care he takes to moderate the rigor of Ju- dicial corredion, upon this very ac- count, left thy Brother be defpjed in thine eies. Deut. 2 jr. 3. So unrealbna- ble did he think it , that the crime or milery of one , fhould be the exultation of another. And St. jPW brands it as a great guilt of the Corinthians , that they up- on theoccafionof the inceftuous Perfon
"■ji'ere
104 The Government of the Tongue.
"joere puffed up ^ when they should have mourned, i. Cor. f. 2. When we fee a dead Corps , we are not apt to infult o- ver it, or brag of our own health and vigor ; bat it rather damps us , and makes us redect , that it may ( we know not how loon) bw our own Condition. And cer- tainly the fpediacles of Spiritual mor- tality iliould have the fame operation. We have the fame principles of Corru- ption with our lapfed Brethren 5 and have nothing bat Gods grace, to fecure us from the fame eifefts, and by thefe infulting reflexions forefeit that too^ for he gives grace only to the humble. Jam. 4. 6. St. Paul's advice theretore is very appjfite to this c^&,^ Gal. 6. i. Bre- thren if a m^n be overtaken in a fault , rejiore fuch a one in the fpirit of Meeknefs^ confidering thyjelf-, leafi thou alfo be temt^ ed. In a word the faults of others ought to excite our pity towards them , our cautiOn as to our feives 5 and our thank- fulneis to God , if he hath hitherto pre- fer v'd us from the like, For who made thee to differ jrom another ? 1 Cor. 4. 7 . But if we Ipread our Sails and triumph o- verthefc wrecks, we expofe our feWes to worfe. O ther fins like Rocks may Iplit us,
yet
Sect. VL Of Uncharitable Truth, i o )
j^et the lading may be preferv'd ; but Pride like a Gulf fwallows us up ^ our very vermes when {o levened, becom- ing weights and plummets to link us to the deeper mine. The counlel therefore of the Apoftle, is very pertinent to this matter. Rom. 1 1 . 20. Be not high minded, but fear.
38. But God knows we can infult over others when we are not only un- der a poffibihty, but are aftually inyolvM in the fame guilt: and then what are all our accufations and bitter ceniures of others, but indicftments and condemna- tory fentences againft our felves ? And we may juiUy exped God ihould take us at our word, and reply upon us as the Prophet did upon "David, Thou art the man, 2 Sam. 12. 7. For tho our officious vehemence againft anothers crime, may blind the eies of men , yet God is not fo mocked : as therefore when a thief or murderer is dctedted , it gives an a- larm to the whole confederacy ; fo when we find our own guilts purfued in other mens Perfons, tis not a time for us to join in the profecution, but rather by humble and penitent reflexions on our felves to provide for our own fafety.
O When
io6 The Government of the Tongue.
When therefore we find our ieives (up- on any mifdemeanor of our brother ) ready to mount the tribunal , and pro- nounce our lentence, let us firil confi- der how competent we are for the office, calling to miud the decifion Chriftonce made in the like cafe. He that is vjtth- out fin let him fir ft catt a ftone-^ Joh. 8.7. And ii wc did this, many perhaps of our fierceft impcachers , would think fit to retire and leave the delinquent (as they themfelves finally defire to be) to the merciful indulgence of a Savior. In fliort, would we but look into our own hearts, we (hould find fo much work for our inquilitions and cenfure , that we fliouid not be at leifure to ramble a- broad for it. And therefore as Lyciirgus once faid to one, who importuned him to eftabliili a popular paiity in the ftate. Do thou, faies he, begin it firft in thine own faiiiiiy 5 fo I (hall advife thole that will be judging, to pradrice firft at home. And if they will confine themfelves to that , till there be nothing left to cor- redt, 1 doubt not their neighbor will be well enough lecur'd againft their De- tractions.
35>. Another prefervation againft
that
Sect. VL Of Uncharitable Truth. 107
that fin is the frequent contemplation of the lall and great judgment. This is m^ deed a Cathoiicon againft all : but we find it particularly appli'd by St. T^ral to this of judging and defpifing our Brethren. fVhy doH thoujudg thy brother ? or izhy doH thou jet at nought thy brother ? We shall all Jiand before the Judgment Seat of Chrift. Rom. 14. 10. That is the great day of Revelation and retribution , and we are not to anticipate it by our private in- quefts or lentences : we have bufineis e- nough to provide our own accounts a- gaiuil that day. And as it were a fpight- ful folly for MalefadVors that were go- ing together to the bar , to fpend their time in exaggerating each others crimes: fo furely is ic fo^^ us , who are all go- ing toward the dreadful tribunal , to be drawing up Charges againft one an- other. And who knows biic we may then meet with the fiite of T)aniels accufers, fee iiim we confur'd acquit, and our felves doomed. The penitence of the crimi- nal may have nurnbred him among the Saints, when our nnretrad:ed unchari- tablenefs may fend us to unquenchable Flames. 1 conclude this confideration with the words of St, Jaynes^ there is one O 2 Law^
I c 8 The Government of the Tongue.
La^jigiver iz'ho u able to Jave and to deftroyy isuho art thou that jtidgeft another^. J^i^- 4. 12.
40. A third expedient may be, to try- to make a revuliion of the humor, to draw it into another chanel. If we mull needs be talking of other peoples faults, let it not be to Defame, but to amend them , by converting our Detra- ftion and backbiting into Admonition and fraternal correption. This is a way to extradl medecine out of the viper, to confecrateeven this {o unhallow'dapart of our temper, and to turn the ungrate- ful medling of a bufy-body , into the moft obliging office of a friend. And indeed had we that zeal for vertue, which we pretend wken we inveigh a- gainft vice, we fhould furely lay it out this way, for this only gives a poffibility of reforming the oifender. But alas we order the matter fo , as if we feaf d to lofe the occaiion of Clamor, and will tell all the world but him that it moft concerns. Indeed tis a deplorable thing to fee how univerfally this neceffary Chriftian duty is negleibed ; and to that negled: we may in a great degree impute that ftrange overflowing of Detraftion
a*
Sect. VI. Of Uncharitable Truth. 1 09
among us. We know the receiving a" ny thing into our Charge, infenfibiy be- gets a love and tendernefs to it (a nurle upon this account comes often to vie kindnefs with the mother : ) and would we but take one another tlius into our care, and by friendly vigilance thus watch over each others fouls , tis fcarce imaginable what an endearment it would create : fuch certainly as would infalli- bly fupplant all our unkind reportings, and fevere defcants upon our brethren 5 fince thofe can never take place, but when there is at leail an indifference , if not an enmity.
41. The next cure I fliall propofe for Detrad:ion , is to fubftracSt its nu- nlliment , by fupprefling'ali Curiofity and inquifitivcnels concerning others. Were all lupplies thus cut off, it would at laft be fubdued. The King of Ethi- opia m a vie of Wit with the King of Egypt , propoi'd it as a Problem to hmi , to drink up the Sea , to which he replfd, by requiring him firft to ftop the accefs of Rivers to it : and he that would drain this other Ocean , muft take the fame courfe , dam up the ave- nues of thofe Springs which feed it. He
that
Ho The Government of the Tongue.
that is aiwaies upon the icciiu , iiuiiting out fome difcovery of others, will be very apt to invite his neighbors to the quany ; and therefore twill be necellary for him , to reilrain himfelf from that range: not hke jealous States, to keep Spies and pcnfioners abroad to bring him intelligence , but rather diicourage all fuch" orHcious pick-thanks : for the fliller he is of fuch informations , the more is Iiis.painifhe keep them in, and his guilt if he publifli them. Could men be per- fwaded to affed: a wholefome ignorance in thefe matters, it would conduce both to their eafe and innocence : for tis this Itch of the ear which breaks out at the Tongue : and were not Curiofity the Purveior, Detraftion would loon be ftarv- ed into a tamenefs.
42. But the moft infallible receit of all, is the frequent recolledling, and ierious applying of the grand rule , of doing as he would be don to: for as Detrad:ion is the violation of that , fo the obfervation of that muil certainly flippumc Detradlion. Let us therefore when we find the humor fermenting within us , and ready to break out in Declamations againft our brethren. Let
us
S E c T . V I . Of Uncharitable Truth, 1 1 1
us 5 1 lay , check it with this fliort que- ftion, Would I my lelf be thus us'd ? This voice from within, will be like that from heaven to St. Paul, which ftopt him in the height of his carrier , Ad. 5). 4. And this voice every man may hear, that will not ftop his ears, nor gug his confcience, it being but the Echo of that nativ^e Ju- llice and equity. which is planted in our hearts : and when we have our remedy fo near us , • and will not ufe it , God may well expoftulate with u$ , as he did vrith the Jews, Why will ye dte^ O houfe ofjfrael ? Ezek. 33.11.
43. These are fomc of thofe many receits which may be prcfcrib'd againft this fpreading diieafe. But indeed there is not fo much need to multiply remedies, as to perfwade men to apply them. We are in love with our Malady, and as loth to Be cured of the Luxury of the Tongue, as St, Ky€ugiiftine was of his other Sen- fuality 5 againil wliich lie praied with a Caveat , that he might not be too fooii heard. But tis ill dallying , where our Souls are concern*d : for alas tis they that are wounded by thofe darts, which we throw at others. We take our aim per- haps at our Neighbors, but indeed hit
our
1 1 2 The Government of the Tongue.
our felves : herein verifying in the high- eit Senfe that Axiom of the Wile- man. He that diggeth n pit , shall fall into ity and he that roleth a ftone , it shall return npon him, Prov. 2 jr. 27. If therefore we have no tendernefs, no relenting to our Brethren , yet let us have fome to our felves*, fo much compaflion, nay fomuch relped to our precious immortal Souls, as not to fet them at fo defpicable a price, to put them in balance with the fatisfy- ing of a petulant peevifh vanity. Surely the fliewing our lelves ill-natur'd (which is all the gain Detra6tion amounts to} is not fo enamouring a defign, that we fhould facrifice to it our highelt intereft. Tis too much to fpend our breath in iuch apurfuit, O let not our fouls alfo exhale in the vapor ^ but let us rather pour theiir out in praiers for our brethren, then in accufations of them : for tho both the one and the other will return into our own bofoms , yet God knows to far differ- ing purpofes , even as differing as thofe wherewith we utter them. The Charity of the one like kindly exhalations will defcend in fhowers of bleffings, but the rigor and afperity of the other, in a fe- vere doom upon our felves : for the A-
po-
Sect. VII. OfScffiingand'Deri/ion. 113
poftle will tell us , He shall have jud^^ ment without mercy , that hath shew(td no merely ]amQs 2, 13.
Sect. VIL
Of Scoffing and Derifwrt,
1/ I ^HERE is alfo another fault I of the Tongue injurious to our neighbor , and that is Derifion and Mockery > and ftriving to render others as ridiculous and contemtible as we can. This in refped: of the fiibjed: matter dif^ fers from the other of Detradlion, as much as folly or deformity do's from vice: yet fince injuries as well as bene-, fits are to be mefured by common efti- mation , this may come in balance with the other. There is fuch a general aver^ fation in human nature to contemt that there is fcarce any thino- more ex^ afperating. I will not deny but the excefs of that averfation may be level'd againft Pride , yet fure fcorn and dildain never Iprung from humility, and therefore ard
P Very
1 14, The Government of the Tongue.
very incompetent Corred:ors of the otherj fo that it may be faid of that, as once it was of Diogenes , that he trampled on Plato's Vn&Q with greater of his own.
2, Nor is this nijury enhanced on- ly by the refentment of the fufFerer , but alio by the way of inflidling it. We generally think thofe are the fevereft marks of infamy, which are the moft indelible. To be burnt in the hand or pilloried , is a more lafting reproch then to be fcourged or confined j and it is the fame in this cale, for here common- ly Wit is the Lidtor, which is arnVd with an edg'd tool, and leaves fears be- hind it. The reproch of rage and fury leemto be writ in Chalk or Lead, which a difpafiionate hearer ealily wipes out , but thofe of Wit ari5 like the gravers bu- rine upon copper , or the corrodings of Aqua-fortis , engrave and indent the Charadiers that they can never be de- faced. The truth of this daily experi- ence attells. A dull contumely quickly vanifhcs, no body^ thinking it worth re- membring-, but when tis fteel'd with Wit, it pierces deep, leaves fiichimpref- fions in the fancy of the hearers , that thereby it gets rooting in the memory, and
will
Sect. VII. Of Scoffing andDerifion, iif
will fcarcc be eradicated : nay Ibmtimes it happens to furvive both fpeaker and hearer , and conveys it feif to polterity j it being not uniifual for the larcafms of Wit to be tranfmitted in ftory. And as it thus gives an edg, fo alio do's it add wings to a reproch , makes it fly a- broad in an inftant. Many a poor mans ^ infirmities had bin confined to the no- tice of a few relations or neighbors, had not Ibme remarkable ftrein of drollery fcatter'dand difperfedthem. The jeil re- commends the Defamation , and is com- monly fo incorporate with it, that they cannot be related apart. And even thofe who like it not in one refped:, yet are many times fo tranfported with it in the other, that they chafe rather to propagate the contiftiely , then IHfle the conceit. Indeed Wit is fo much the T>iana of this age, that he who goes a- bout to fet anv bounds to it muil expecil an uproar i Afts 15). 18. or at leaft to be judged to have impofed an envious inhibition on it, becaufe himfelf has not flock enough to maintai n the trade. But how ever iharp or unexped:ed the cen- fure may feem to be , yet cis neceffary that plain downright truth faould fomtimes
P 2 be
Ii6 The Government of the Tongue.
be fpoken , and I think that will bear me out, if I fay us poffible men may be as oppreflive by their parts , as their po- wer; and that God did no more delign the meaner intcUeftualls of fome for triumphs to the Pride and vanity of the more acute, then he did the pofleffions ot the lefs powerful , as a prey to the ra- pine and avarice of the mighty.
3. And this fuggefts a yet farther aggravation of this iin , as it is a per- verting of Gods deiign , and abufe of the talent he has committed to menintruft. Ingenuity and quickneis of parts , is iure to be reckoned in the higheft ranks of Bieffings, and an inftrument proper for the moft excellent purpoles : and therefore we cannot fuppole the Divine wifdom , fo much fliort of fcuman, as not in his intention to allign it to ufes v/orthy of it. Thole muft relate either to God , our lelves , or our neighbors. In refpeCt of God, it renders us more capable of contemplating his Perfed:i- ons, difcerning the Equity and excel- lence of his Laws , and our obhgations to obedience. In regard of our ielves, it makes us apprehend our own intereft in that obedience j makes us trad: able and
per?
Sect. VII. Of Scoffing andlDeriJion. 117
perfwafible , contrary to that Brutifli ftub* bornnefs of the Horfe and Mule , which the Pfalmift reproches, Pfal. 32. 5). Be^ fides it accommodates us in all the con- cerns of Human life , forms it felf into all thofeufeful contrivances, which may make our being here more comfortable : efpeciaUy it renders a man company to hmifelf 5 and in the greateft dearth of Society , entertains him with his own thoughts. Laftly , as to our neighbors, it renders us ufeful and afTiilant. All thofe dilcoveries and experiments , thofe Arts and Sciences, which arc itow the common trciure of the world, took their firft rife from the ingenuity of par- ticular perfons : and in all Perfonal exigencies wherein any of us arc at any time involved , we need not be told the ufefulnefs of a wile advifer. Now all thefe are emploimentscommenfurable to the faculty from whence they flow, and that anfwcr its excllence and value j and he that fo beftows his talent , gives a good account of his truft. But 1 would fain know under v/hich of theie Heads Deri- fiori of our Neighbors comes in: cer- tainly not under that of being affiftant fo him. It would be a forry relief to a
poor
1 1 8 The Government of the Tongue.
poor indigent wretch , to lavifh out wic upon him, in upbraiding of his mifery. And is not this a parallel cale? is it not the fame Barbarifm, to mock and re- proch a man that wants the gifts of Nature , as him that wants thofe of For- tune ? Nay perhaps it may be more , for a Beggar may have impovenflit himlelf by his own fault, but in Natural de* feca:s there is nothing to be charged , un- lefs we will fly higher, and arraign that Providence that hath fo difpenfed. In a word as the Superfluities of the Rich are by God affignM as the ftore-houfe of the poor, fothe Abilities of the Wife are of the ignorant : for tis a great mi* ftake, to think our felves Stewards in fome of Gods gifts , and proprietaries in others. They are all equally to be emploi- ed, according to the delignation of the Donor, and there is nothing more^ni- verlally defign'd by him, then that man- kind lliould be equally helpful to one another. Thofe therefore whom God hath bleft with higher degrees of fa-. gacity and quicknefs , ought not to look down on others as the objeds of their contemt or fcorn , but rather of their care and pity , endeavoring to refcue
them
Sect. VII. Of Scoffing and 'T>erifion, 119
them from thofe mifchiefs, to which their weakneis may expofe them^ re- membring Itill , that God might have changed the Scene , and made themfelves what they fee others. It is part of Jobs juftification of his integrity, that^^'Z^;^^ eies to the Blind , and feet to the Lame , Job. 25>. 2f.(/.^. ) he accommodated his affiftancesto all the wants and exigencies of others : and fure tis no lefs the part of a good man to do it in the Mental then in the Corporeal defecfts.
4. B u T alas many of us would ra- ther put a Humbling block '\\\ the way of the Blind, pull away the Crutch from the Lame ; that we may fport our felves to fee them tumble : Inch a fenfuality we have in obferving and improving the imperfedlions of others , that it is become the grand excellence of the Age to be Dextrous at it , and Wit ierves fome men for little elle. We are got indeed into a merry world , Laughing is our main bufmefs- as if becaufe it has bin made part of the Dehnition of man , that he is Rifible, his man- hood confin- ed in nothing elfe. But alafs if that be all the ulemen have of their underftand^ ings , they were given them to little pur-
pofe
I20 The Government of the T^ongue.
pole , fince mere Idiots can laugh with as much plefure and more innocence then they ; and it is a great inftance how ex^ tremes may be brought to meet , that the excels of Wit in the one, and of Fol- ly in the other, ferve to produce the fame efFedt.
f. Y E T fo voracious is this humot now grown , that it draws in every thing to feed It. There is not game enough from the reall folly of the world, and therefore that which is the moil di- ttant from it mult be ftampt with its mark. Tis a known Itory of the Frief who on a failing day bid his Capon be Carp, and then very Canonically ate it j and by fuch a tranfubftantiating power our Wits bid all ierioufnefs and conlideration be formality and foppe- ry, and then under that name endeavor to hunt it out of the world. I fear mo- ral honefty fares not better with fome of them then moral prudence. The old Philofophical vertues of Juftice , Tempe- rance , and Chaftity are now hift off the llage , as fit only for the Antiquated fet of A6tors , and he that appears in that equipage , is by many thought more ri- diculous , then he that walks the ftreetin
his
ECT. Vil. Of Scoffing andT>enJmK 12 1
his Anceftors uaiiik hole. Nay indeed vice its felf is fcarce lecure \i it have not the grand accompiifliment of impudence: a-piiny blufliing iinner is to be laught out of his Modeily , tho not out of his fin 5 and to be proof againfl their fcorns, he muit firlt be lo againft all the regrets of his own mind.
6. A N D if mere Ethnic virtue , or fliamefaced vice have this treatment , Chriilian Piety mufl expcd: worfe : and fo indeed it finds, its profeflbrs being be- yond ' all others expofed to their Icorn and concemt. Nor is it ftrange it fliould be fo, fuch men being made ^ as it is Wifd. 2. 14. to reprove their ^jua'tes^ they think in their own defence they are to deride theirs. This is it indeed which gives a fecret iting and venem to their reproches : other men they abufe as an exercile of their Wit, but thefein defence of the party. So Jidian after his Apoftacy , thought it a more effectual way to persecute the Chriilians by taunts and ironies, then by racks and tortures, as thinking it more poffible to fliame, then fright them out of their religion. And the ftratagem feems to have bin reaffumed by many in this age, and I CL fear
i2 1 The Government of the Tongue.
fear with too great faccels : for 1 doubt not there are divers who have herded themfelves amongft thele profane Scof- fers , not that they are convinced by their reafons^bat terrified by their contume- lies,- and as fome Indians are faid to worfliip the Devil, that he may not hurt them- fo thefe chufe to be adlive, that they may not be pafiive in the contemts flung upon rehgion : fuch men forget the dreadful denunciation of Chrill againft thole that Ihall^^ ashamed of him and his words. Mat. 8. 38.
7. As for thole whoj upon a jufter ellimate , find the advantages of piety worthy to be chofen , and take it with all its accefllny ignominies, they have the encouragement of very good com- pany ii\ their fufFerings. The Pfalmift long ago had his fiiare, when not only Thofe that fate in the gate fpake againfi him , hut the drunkards made fongs upon him^ Plahn. 6c>. 12. Twasalfo the Pro- phet y.'r^^^/>J complaint, / am in ^e- rijion daily , enjery one mocketh me , Jer. 20. 7. Nay our bleflTed Lord himfelf was derided in his life by the Pharisees, Luke 16. 14,. mocked and reviled at his death l)y the Pneits, the Elders j the
Sol.
Sect. VII. OfScffimgandT>eriJion. 123
Soldiers j nay by cafual paflengers, Mat. 27. 39. And fhall the fervant think Jiimfelf greater then his Lord? Shall a Chriftian exped: an immunity from what his Savior has born before him? ( He that do's fo, is too delicate a member for a crucified head. ) No fure, let us rather animate our (elves , as the Apoltle ex- horts, by confidering him 'who as well de- fpijed the shame , as endured the crops for us, Heb. 12. ,>. and who has not only given an example, but propofed a re- ward, a Beatitude to thofewho are re- viled for right eotifnefs Jake t Mat. 3. 11. And when this is foberly ponder'd, twill fure make it eafy for us to refolve with holy 'David in a like cafe, / '■jjill be yet morevile^ iSam. 6. 22.
8. But to return from this digrelli- on • to thole who thus unhappily employ their parts ) let me pi pole to thJiii, that they would borrow every day fome i^w minutes ftom their mirth, and ie- rioully confider, whether this be (I need not fay a Chriftian, but) a manly cx- ercife of their faculties. Alas when they have raUied out the day from one com- pany to another, they may lum up their account at night in the wife mans fi-
0^2 mile
124 The Government of the Tongue.
mile, their Laughter has bin but like the crackling of Thorns under a pot , Ecckis. 6, 7. made a little brisk noife for the prefent, and with the fparldcs perhaps annoied their Neighbors, but what real good has it brought to themfelves? All that they can fancy is but tlie repute of \Vit. But fare that migh: be attainable fome other way. We find the world atfeded to new things, and this of De- riiion and abufeto others is fo beaten a road , tliar perhaps the very variety of a new way would render it acceptable. They are the lighter fubilances that ftill fwim away with the ftreani, the greater and more Solid bodies do fometimes Itop the current: and fure twere a no- ble eflliy of a mans p^irts to ftem this tide, and by a more ufeful application of their own faculties, convince others th^ theirs might be better emploied. Tis iaid o£ i^nacharjis , that at a featt he could not be got to fmile at the affedred railleries of common Jeilers , but when an ape was brought in he freely laught, faying, an ape was ridiculous by nature, but men by art and ftudy. And truly lis a great contemt of human nature to think^^ their intellefts were given them
foy
Sect. VII. Of Scoffing and T>eriJiGn, I2f
for no better end then to raife that laughter, which a brute can do as well or better.
p. I v/ould not be thought to recom* mend f^jch a Stoical iournefs, as fliall admit of nothing of the cheerful plea- fant part of Converfation. God has not fure bin more rigid to our Minds then to our Bodies : and as he has not lo devoted the one to toil, but that he al- lows us fome time to excrcile them in recreation as well as labors, fo doubtlefs he indulges the fame relaxation to our Minds : which are not alwaies to be fcrued up to the height, but allowed to defcend to thoie eafineffefs of Converfe , which entertain the lower Faculties of the Soul. Nor do I think thofe are ill emploied in thofe little skirmiflies of Wit, which pafs familiarly between intimates and ac- quaintance? , which belides tlie prefent divertifement, ferve to whet and quicken the fancy. Yet 1 conceive this liberty is to be bounded with fome Cautions : as firft inthefeentercounters, the Charge flionld be Powder not Bullets-, there fhould nothing be faid that fhould leave any ungrateful irnpreffions, or give any um- brage of a fpightful intent. The world
wants
126 The Government of the Tongue.
wants not experiments of the mifchiefs have happened by too fevere Railleries: in fach Fencing jcil has proved carneft, and Florets have oft turn'd to Swords, and not onty the Friendfhip, but the Men have fallen a Sacrifice to a ]cii,
19. Secondly this is to have the fame reftr d:ion with all other recreati- ons, that it be made a divertifement, not a trade. Tis an infinuating thing, and is apt to encroch too much upon our time, and God knows we have a great deal of bafinefs of this world, and much more for the next, which will not be don with laughing^, and therefore tis not for us to play away too much of that time, which is exad:ed by more ierious con- cerns. Tis fure we fliall die in Earneft, and it will not become us to live alto^ gether in Jeft. But befides this ftealth of our time, tis apt to fteal away mens hearts too, make them fo dote upon this kind of entertainment, that it averts them from any thing more lerious. I believe I may appeal to iome who hav^e made this their bufinefs, whether it go not againft the hair with them to fet to any thing elie: and having efpouled this as their one excellence, they are willing to de- cry
Sect. VII. OfScoffi?igandT>erifion, 127
cry all others , that they may the more value themfelves upon this. By this means it is , that the gift of Raillery has in this Age , like the lean kine , devour- ed all the more folid worthy qualificati- ons , and is counted the molt reputable accompliilmient. A ftrange inverted erti- mate , thus to prefer the little ebullitions of Wit , before folid reafon and judg- ment. If they would accommodate their Diet at the fame rate, they fliall eat the Husk , rather then the Kernel , and drink nothing but froth and bubbles. But after all, Wifdum is commonly at long running jultified even of her Defpilersj theie great Idolaters of Wit often dafli- ingthemielvesupon fuch Rocks , as make them too latewilli, their Sailes had bin lefs, and their Ballait more. For the preventing therefore of more fuch wracks, 1 Willi the preient caution may be more adverted to , not to beftow an unpropor- tionable part of our time or value on this flight exercife of mans llighteft Fa- culty.
II. A third Caution in this matter , is to confine our felves to prefent Com- pany, not to make abfent Perfons the Subjeft of our mirth. Thofe freedoms we
ufe
12 8 The Government of the Tongue.
uie to a mans face as they are common- ly more moderate , io they are more e- quitabie, becaule v/e expole our leives to the Uke from hmi ^ but the back biowes are difiiigenuous , and give fufpition we intend nor a fair trial of Wit , but a co- wardly murder of a maus fame. Twas the precept of the Philoiopher , T>ende n^'t the ahfent -^ and I think it may well befo ot the Politician: there being no- thing more imprudent as to our civil con- cerns then the contrary liberty. For thole things never die in the company they arefirft vented in (^ nay perhaps the hearer is not wilUng his wit Ihould fofoon ex- pire •,) and when they once take air , they quickly come to the notice of the de- rided Perfon, and then nothing in the world is more difobliging. Twas a fober precept given one , not fo much as to laugh in compliance with him that de- rides another , for you will be hated by him he derides. And if an accefiary be hated , fure much more the principal : and I think I may fay , there are many can looner forgive a Iblemndeep contrivance againlt them , then one of their jocular reproches: for he that defigns leems to acknowledg them coniiderable > but he
that
Sect. VII. Of Scoffing andT>€ri(ion, 129
that mocks them , feems to think them too low for any thing but contemt : and we learn from Ariftotle, that the me- fure of anger is entirely taken thence i men being lb far provoked, as they ima- gine they were Ihghted or affronted. In mere fecular wifdom it will there- fore become men to confider, whether this trade be like to turn to account, or whether it be worth the while, at once to make a jeft and an enemy.
12. And if it be imprudent to make man our enemy, tis much more to make God fo, by levelling our blovves^at any thing facred: but of that I have already had occalion to fpeak, and fliall not re- pete 5 only give me leave to iay , that belides the profaner fort of jefts, which more immediately refled: on him, he is concern'd in all the unjuft reproches of our brethren , our love to them being confirm'd by the fame divine Sandtion with our reverence to him ; and fure no- thing is more inconfiftent with that love, then the expofing them to that contemt we are our felves io impatient of. In a word what repute foever this praftice now has of Wit, it is very far from wifdom to provoke. God that we mav alfo difob-
130 The Government of the Tongue.
ligeman: and if we will take the Scrip- ture eiymate , we fhall find a Scorner is no fuch honorable Epithet as we leem to account it. Solomon do's almolt con- ftantly fet it in oppofition to a Wife man: thus it is, Prov. 9.8. and again Chap. 13. I. and many other places 5 and on the other fide , clofely links it with the Fool : and thgt not only in title, but m punifhment too , Judgments are fre^, fared for [corners ^ and strifes for the back offools^ Prov. 19. 25?. So that if our Wits think not Solomon too dull for their Ca. bal, wd lee what a turn he will give to their prefent verdidt.
13. And if thefe reproches which aim only- at oftentation of Wit, be lo un- jullifiable, what fliall we lay to thole, that are drawn with blacker lines , that are founded in Malice or Envy , or fome undermining defign? Every man that is to be fupplanted cannot alwaies be attaqued with a down-right battery: perhaps his integrity may be fuch, that, as twas faid of 'Daniel Chap. 6, 4. They can find no occafion againfi him : and when they cannot Ihake the main Fort, they mult try if they can pollefs them- felves of the out-works, railefomepreju^
dice
S E c T . VII. Of Scoffing andT>erifion, 131
dice againft his difcretion, his humor, his carriage, and his moll extrirific ad- herents , and if by reprefenting him ri- diculous in any of thefe they can but a- bate mens reverence to him , their con- fidence of him will not long hold out ; bare honefty without fome other adorn- ment, being lookt on as a leaf-lefs tree, no body will truft himfclf to its flielter. Thus the enemies of Socrates, when they could no other waies fupprels his reputa- tion, hired Kyiriftothanes a Comic Poet to perfonate him on the ftage, and by the infinuationsof thofe interludes, infenfibly conveied firft a contemt,and then a hatred of him into the hearts of the people. But I need not bring inftances of former times in this matter, thefe being fufficiently verft in that myftery.
14. I T is not ftrange that men of fuch defigns, fliould fummon all their Wit to the fervice , make their Railleries as picquant as they can , that they may wound the deeper : but methinks tis but a mean office they affign their Wit , to be ( 1 will not fay the Pander,, that be- ing in this age fcarce a title of reproch, but) the executioner or hangman to their malice. Chrift bids us be wife as Ser. R 2 fents^
1^2 The Government of the Tongue.
pents 5 yet adds withall harmlefs as DoveS'^ Mat. lo. 18. but here the Serpent has quite eat up the Dove , and puts a Vultur in the place) a creature of fuchfagacity and dihgence inpurfuit of the prey, that tis hard for any art or innocence to efcape its talons.
If. There is yet another fort of Contumehous Perfons, who indeed are not chargable with that circumftance, of ill employing their Wit, for they ufenone in it. Thefe are people whofe fole ta- lent is Pride and Scorn ^ who perhaps hav^e attained the Sciences of dreffing themfelves finely and eating 'well, and upon the ftrength of thoic excellences, look faftidioully , andfpeak difdainfuUy on any who want them^ concluding if a man fall fliort of their Garniture at the Knees and Elbowes , he is much in- ferior to them in the furniture of his Head. Such people think crying, O ri- diculous ! is an ample Confutation of a- ny thing can be iaid -, and fo they can but defpife enough, are contented not to be able to fay why they do fo. Thefe are, Iconfels, themoft innocent kind of Deriders in relpeft of others , what they /ay having not edg enough
to
Sect. VII. Of Scoffing andT>eriJion. 133
to caiife any fiiiart. The greatett hurt they do is to themlelves , who tho they much need , yet are generally little ca- pable of a refcue, and therefore I Ihall not clog the preient difcourie , with any advile to them : I fliall chufe rather to conclude with enforcing my Suit to the former , that they would foberly and fadly weigh the account they muft one Day give of the Emploiment of their Parts, and the more they have hitherto embeazled them, the more to endeavor to expiate that unthriftinefs, by a more careful Managery for the future j that fo inftead of that vain, emty , vanifliing Mirth they have courted here , they may find a real , full , and eternal Satisfadioa in the Joy of their Lord.
Sect.
134 The Government of the Tongue. S E c T. VIII.
Of Flattery.
I . " I ^ H E laft of Verbal injuries to Jl our Neighbor which I ill all men- tion , IS Flattery. This is indeed the fa- talleft wound of the Tongue , carries leall Smart but infinitly more of Danger, and is as much fuperior to the former ^ as a Gangrene is to a Gall or Scratch j this may be fore and vexing, but that ftu- pifymg and deadly. Flattery is fuch a Myftery, fuch a Riddle of iniquity; that its very foftnelles are its cruelleft ri- gor,. Its Balm corrodes, and (to com- prize all in the Pfalmifts excellent D - fcription ) its ''juords are fmoother then oiU and yet be they t'ery fwords. Pfalra. 56. 21.
2. But befides the mifchiefs of it to the Patient, tis the moft diflionoring , the moft vilifying thing to the Agent. I fhall not need to empannel a Ju- ry either of Moralilts or Divines, eve- ry
Sect. Vlll. Of Flattery, 135
ry mans own breaft fufficiently ihltruct- ing him in the unworthinefs of it. Tis indeed a Colleftive accumulative Bale- ne(s, it being in its Elements a compound and a complex of the mod fordid , hateful qualities incident to Mankind. I (hall inftance in three, viz. Lying, Servility, and Trecheiy, which being detellably deform'd fingle , mull: in Conjundion make up a loathfom Monllrous guilt. Now tho Flattery has two Branches, yet thele lie fo at the Root as equally to in- fluence both : for whether you take it asitisthegivingofpraife where it is not due, or the profefling of kindnefs which is not real , thefe Properties are Hill its Conftitutive parts.
3. And firft we may take Lying to be the very corner Stone of the Fa- bric ^ for take it away, and the Whole falls to the ground. A Parafite would make but a lean trade of it , that fliould confine himfelf to truth. For tho tis poflible fo to order ,the manner and circumitances, as to flatter even in the reprefenting a mans real vertues to him , yet commonly if they do not fal- flfy as to the kind, they are forc'd to do it as to the degree. Befides as there are
but
136. The Government of the Tongue.
but few fuch lubjedts of Flattery, fo nei- ther are men of that Worth fo receptive of it. Such fort of addreffes are lefs dan- gerous to thofe who have the perfpicaci- ry to fee thro them : fo that thefe Mer- chants are under a neceffity of deahng with the more ignorant Chapmen, and with them their counterfeit wares will go off belt. It is indeed Itrange to confi- der, with what grofs impudent talshoods men of this trade will court their Pa- trons. How many in former ages have not only amafs'd together all lublunary excellences , but have even ranfacked heaven to fupply their Flattery, Deified their Princes, and perfwaded them they were Gods , who at laft found they were to die like men ? And tho this ftrein be now out-dated, yet perhaps tis not that the vice is grown more modeft, but that Atheifm has rob'd it of that To- pic. Thofe that beHeve no God, would rather feem to annihilate then magnify the perfon to whom they Ihould apply the title. But I do not find that the pradtice has any other bounds. A great mans vices fhall ftill be called vertuesj his de- formities, beauties- and his mofl: abfurd follies, the height of ingenuity. Such a
fubtil
Sect. VIII. Of Flattery. 137
fubtil Alchymilt is this Parafite, that he turns all he touches into gold, imagina- ry indeed as to the deluded Perfon, but oft-times real to himfelf. Nor is Lying lefs natural to the other part of Flatte- ry, the Profeilion of fervice and kind- nefs. This needs no evidencing, and to attemt it would be a felf-Confutation: for if thofe Profeffions be true, they ai*e not Flattery , therefore if they be Flattery, they muft needs be Lies. It will be almoft as needlefs to expatiate on the Bafenefs and meanefs of that fin • for tho there is no Subjeil that affords more matter for Declamation, yet Lying is a thing that is adiamed of it ielf, and there- fore may well be remitted to its own con- vidlions. Ti s AriBotles obfervation, that all Elements but the Earth, had fome Philofopher or other , that gave it his vote to be the firft produd:ive Principle of all things : and I think we may now fay, that all Crimes have had their A- bettors and fautors , fome body that would ftand up in their defence ; only Lying IS fo much the dregs and refufe of wiekednefs that none has yet had Chy- miftry enough to fublimate it, to tring it into fuch a reputation, that any man
S will
1 38 The Government of the Tongue.
will think fit to own It • the greater won- der that what is under fb univcrfal a re- proch, (hould be fo commonly admitted in practice. But by this wc may make an eftimate^ what the whole body of Flattery is. when in one limb of it we find fb much corruption*
4. A Second is Servilityland Abje<Stnef$ of humor : and of this there needs no other proof then has bin already given 5 this charge being implicitly involved in the former of Lying, the condefcending to that> being a mark of a difingenuous Ipirit. And accordingly the nobler Hea- thens lookt on It as the vice of Slaves and vaflalSj below the liberty of a free man, as well as an honeft. But tho I need no other evidence to make good the accu- fation, yet every Sycophant furniifhesme with many fupernumerary proofs. Look upon fuch a one^ and you fhall lee his eies immoveably fixton his Patrons face, watching each look, each glance, and in every change of his countenance ( like a Star-gazer} reading his own deftiny, his Ears chained (like gally-flaves at the oar) tohisdi(9:ate, fucking in the moft infipid difcourfes with as much greedi- iiefs, as if they were the Apothegms of
the
Sect. VIII. Of Flattery. 139
the {Q,vcn. Sages, his Tongue tuned only to Panegyrics ^nd acclamations, his feet in winged motion upon every nod or other fignification of his plefure : in a word) his whole body ( as if it had no other animal fpirits then what it derived from him) varies its poftures, its exerci^ fes, as he finds agreeable to the humor he is to ferve. And can humanity contrive to debafe it felf more ? Yes it can, and do's too often, by enflaving its Diviner part too, taking up not only opinions^ but even crimes alfo in compliance, play- ing the incarnate Pevil , and helping to ad thofe villanies which Satan can only fuggeft : and if this be not a ftate of abjedl Uavery, fure there is none in the world. Tlutarch tells us, that Thiloxenm for defpifing fbme dull Poetry of *Dio^ nyfitiSi was by him condemned to dig in the quarries: from whence being by the mediation of friends remanded, at his return T)ionyfius produced fome other of his verfes , which as ibon as Vhiloxe^ nus had readj he made no reply, but calling to the waiters, faid, Let them carry me again to the quarries. And if a heathen Poet could prefer a corporeal flavery before a mental , what name of
S 2 i:e-
140 The Government of theTongae.
reproch is low enough for thole, who can fubmit to both, in purfuit of thofe | poor fordid advantages they project by their Flatteries. Nor is this bafenefs more obfervable in thefe mean fawnings and obfervances , then it is in the pro- teilations of kindnefs and Friendlhip. Love is the greatett gift any man has to beftow, and Friendlhip the facredeft of all moral bonds : and to proftitute thele to httle pitiful defigns, is liire one of the bafeft cheats we can put upon our common nature , in thus debafing her pureit and moft current coin, which by thefe frequent adulterations is become fo fiifpeded, thatfcarce any man knows what he receives. But Chriftian Chari- ty is yet worfe ufed in the c^le : for that obliging to all fincerity , is here- by induced to give gold for drofs, ex- hibite that Love indeed , and in tmth^ which is returned only in word and in ^onguey I. Joh. 3.18. And fo it do*s in thofe who obferve its rules ; but in thofe who o\yn, yet obferve them not, tis yet a greater fuflferer by larboring under the fcandal of all tneir diffimulations. |t was once the Character given ChriT lli^ns 5 cvea by their pnemies, Behold ^ bow
Sect. VlIL • Of Flattery. 141
how they love one another : but God knows we may now be pointed out by a very differing mark. Behold how they deceive and delude one another. And fare this violation we herein offer to our religion , do's not allay but aggravate the bafenefs of this pradlice: for if in the other we fell our felves, in this we fell our God too, facrifice our intereft in him to get a furreptitious title to the favor of a man. And this I conceive do's in the lecond place not much com- mend the art of Flattery, which is built up of fb vile materials.
f . A N D to compleat this infamous compoficion , in the third place Treche* ry comes in j a crime ot fo odious a kind, that to name it is to implead it: yet how intrinfic a part this is of Flat- tery, will need no great skill to evidence, daily experience fufficiently doing it. Tis a common obfervation of Flatterers, that they are like the Heliotrope, open only towards the fun , but (hut and contract themfelves at night, and in cloudy wea- ther. Let the object of their adoration be but eclipfed, they can fee none of thofe excellences which before dazled their eies : and however inconftant they
may
14^ The Government of the Tongue.
may feem in it to others , they are indeed very conftant to themfelves, true to their fixt principle , of courting the greatnels not the man • in purfuit whereof their old Idol is often made a facnfice to their new : all malicious difcovery is made of their falling friend, to buy an intereft in the riling one. Of this there are fuch crouds of examples in Story , that it would be impertinent to fingle out any, cfpecially ia an age that is fitter to fur- nifli prefidents for the tuture, then to borrow of the paft times. But fuppo- fing the Parafite not actually guilty of this bafe revolt, (which fet he feldom fails to be upon occafion ) yet is he no left Trecherous even in the height of his Blandilliments ^ and while he moft courts a man, he do's the moft ruinoufly under- mine him. For firft he abufes him in his underitanding , precludes him from that which wile men have judged the moft cflential part of Learning, theknowledg of himlelf, from which tis the main bu- finefs of the Flatterer to divert him. And to this abufe there is another inevitably confequent : for this ignorance of his faults or follies, necefiarily condemns hini to the continuing ia them, it being im-
pollii.
Sect. VIIL Of Flattery. 143
poffible for him to think of correfting either the one or the other, who is made believe he i> as neither. This is like the tre- chery of a bribed officer in a Garrifbn, who will not let the weak parts be for- tified, and laies the man as open to aflaults, as that doth the Town. Yet this is not all) he do's not only provide for the conti- nuance, but the improving of his crimes and errors, which alas are too prolific of themfelves , but bemg cultivated and manured with perpetual foothings and encouragements, grow immefurably luxu- riant. And accordingly we fee that men ufed only to applaufes , are fofwell'dwith them, that their infolences are intolera- ble. And this they are fomtimes taught to their coft, when they happen among free men , who will not fubmit to all they fay , nor commend all they do. And finding thefe uneafiy contradidli- ons when they come abroad , they are willing to retire to their moil complai- fant company : and fo this Sycophant Devil having once got them within his circle, may enchant thejn as he pleafes, lead them from one wickednefs to an- other. And as Caligula and other vo- luptidous Emperours , by being adored
as
144 The Government of the Tongue.
as Gods, iiink in their fenfuality below the Nature of man , fo thefe celebrated Perfons are by chat falfe veneration a- nimatedtoall thofe reprochful praftices, which may expole them to a real contemt: their follies, as well as their vices ftill get head, till they anfwer the defcription the Wile man gives of the old Giants, Who fellarjuay in the firength of their foolishnefs. EccI* 16.7.
6. A N D fure he that betraies a man to all thefe mifchiefs, may well be thought perfidious. But that which infinitly am^ plifies and enhances the Trechery is, that all this is adted under the notion and dilguifeof afriend 5 a relation fo ve- nerable, that methinks tis the neareft (e- cular tranfcript of the treafon, which is ftoried of thofe who have adminiftred Poifbn in the Eucharift. The name of a friend is fuch an endearment, as nothing human can equal. All other natural or civil ties take their greateft force from this. What fignifies an unfriendly Parent, or Brother, or Wife ? Tis friendfhip only that is the cement which really and effe- ftively combines mankind : and there- fore we may obferve , that God reckon- ing up other relations , illuftrates them
by
Sect. VIII. Of Flattery. 14^
by feveral notes of" endearment , but when he comes to that of friendfliip, tis the friend ixjho is as thine oij^n fouU Deut. 13.6. nothing below the highelt initance was thought exprellive enough of that union. XVhat a Legion of fiends then pofTefTeth men that can break thefe chains Mat. f . 4. nay that can hammer and forge thole very chains into Daggers and Stillettoes, and make their friendlhip an engine of rume? This is certainly the blacked color wherein we can viewaPa- rafite , his falle light makes the iliadow the more di final. As the Ape has a peculiar deformity above other brutes by that aukward and ungraceful lefemblance he has to a man, fo fure a Flatterer is in- finitely the more hateful for being the ugly Counterfeit of a Friend. And as this Trechery lies at the bottom of the Panegyrics, fo alfo do's it of all the carefles and exuberant kindnefs of a Flatterer 5 which if they aimed not at any parti- cular end of circumvention, mult yet in the general be trecherous by being falfe. A man looks on the love of his friend as one of the richeil pofleffions (upon which account the Philofopher thought friends were to be Inventoried as well as goods.)
T What
/
ij^6 The Government of the Tongue.
Vliat a uetcat and diicomhtiire is it to a man when he comes to iife this wealth, to find it all fal(e metall , fuch as will not aniwer any of thofe piirpoles for v/hich he depended on it. There cannot fure be a greater Trechery , then firft to raife a confidence and then deceive it. Bat befides this fundamental fallenefs, there are alio many incidental Trecheries, which fail in upon occafion of particular defigns. A pretence of kindnefs is the univerfal ftale to all bafe projects : by this men are rob'd of their fortunes, and wo- men of their honor : in a word all the woififli defigns walk under this ftieeps clothing; and as the world goes, men have more need to beware of thole who call themfelves friends, then thofe who own themfelv^es enemies.
'7. These are the lineaments of this vice of Flattery, which fure do toge- ther make up a face of molt extreme de- formity. I might upon a true account add another , and charge it with folly too. I am fure according; to the Divine efti- mate it is alwaics io: and truly it do's not fcldom prove fo in the fecular alfo. Men of this art do fbmtiraes drop their vizard before they have got the prife,
and
Sect. VIIL Of Flattery. 146
and then there is nothing in i\\t world that appears fo conremtible , lb iilly ; a barefaced Flatterer being every bodies fcorn. The fliorcis, wherever this game is plaied there is aiv/aies a tool in the cafe ; ii the paraiite be detected , it falls to his fliare : if he b^ not , to his v/hom he deludes. But at the bell tis but fub- tilty and cunning he can bowift or j and if he can in his own fancy raife that to the opinion of true Wifdom, tis a iign he IS come round to practice his deceits upon himfelf , and is as much his own Flatterer as he has bin others.
8. An D now I know not whether it be more fliame or wonder , to fee that men can fo put offingcnuity , and the na- tive grearnefs of their kind, as to d.^- fcend to fo bafe,fo ignoble a \ico: yet alas we daily fee it don , and that not only by the fcum and refufe of the people , fuch as Job ipeaks of, "who are viler then the earth. Chap. 30. 8. but by Perfons of all conditions. Flattery like a fpring forc'd upwards afcends, as cares are by the wile man faid to defcend, Ecclus. 40. ^.from him that weareth a linen frock to him thatweareth a crown: allintermedial de- grees are but like pipes 5 which as tliey T 2 fuck
148 The Government of the Tongue.
luck from below , ib tranfmit it Itill up- wards. There are few fo low but find fome body to cajole and Hatter them. Some intereft or other may fometimcsbe to be ferved even upon the meaneft, and thole that find themrelvcs thus folicitcd for benefits , are eafily taught by it how to addrels to their immediate fuperiors, from whom they cxpedl greater : and as tis thus handed from one rank to an- other , the art ftill is more fubtilized and refined (God help poor Princes the while, who Commonly meet with the Elixir, and quinteflence of this venem : ) and thus it pafles thro all ftates and conditions: as they are paffive on the one fide , and are flattered by fome , fo they are adive on the other , and flatter others.
5>. I fay all conditions , I do not fay all Perfons inthofe conditions , tor no truly , generous foul can Hoop fo low : but tis too evident to what a low ebb Generofity as well as Chriftianity is grown, by the numbers of thofe who thus degrade them- felves, every little petty intereft being thought worth thefe bafe fubmifiSons. And truly it is hard to find , by what To- pic of perfwafion to afl^ault fuch men. The meannels, or the fin will fcarce bediffwa- • ' fives
Sect. Vlll. Of Flattery, 149
fives to thole who have reconciled themfelves to both : if any thing can be pertinently iaid to them 5 it mult be up- on the fcore of Intereft , for that being their grand principle, they can with no pretence difclame the inferences drawn thence.
10. Let them therefore duly bal- lance the advantages they project from this practice with themifchicts and dan- gers of It. What they expect is common- ly either Honor or wealth, thefe they hope may be acquired by their proitra- tions to thofe , who can difpcnfeor pro- cure them. Tis true , as Honor fignifies Greatnefs and power, it is fometimes attained by it 5 but then as it fignifies Reputation and eftecm , tis as fure to be lolt. He that thusafcends , may be lookt on with tear, bnt never with reverence. Now 1 think tis no good bargain to ex- change this fecond notion of Honor for the firll : for befides the difterence in the intrinfic vahie, tis to be confider'd how tottering a Pinaclc unmerited Greatneis is. He that rais'd him to fatisfy his hu- mor at one time , can ( with more eafe and equal jiiltice) throw him down at another: and when fuch a man do's fall>
: he
I f o The Government of the Tongue.
he falls as without pity , fo without re- medy J has no foundation on which to rebuild his fortune. His Sycophanting arts being detected, that Game is not to be plaid the fecond time : whereas a man of a clear reputation 5 tho his barque be iplit , yet he favcs his Cargo , has fome- thing left towards letting up again , and ib'is incapacity of receiving benefit not , only from his own induftry , but the friendfliip of others. A found piece of Timber, if it be not thought fit for one life , yet will be laid by for another; and an honeft man will probably at one time or other be thought good for fome- thing.
II. As for the other aim, that of Wealth, tis very poffible that may fometimes be * compalled ; and well it may, the flatterer, having feveral Springs to feed it by. For he that has a great Patron, has the ad- vantage of his countenance and Autori- ty,he has that of his bounty and libera- lity ) and he has another (fometimes great- er then both) that of his negligence and deceivablenels. But yet all chele acquifitions are many times like Fairy mony, what is brought one night is taken ^v/ay the next. Men of this mold fel-
dom
Sect. VIII. Of Flattery, i j i
dom know how to bear prolperity tem- perately, and it is no new thing to fee a Privado carr}'' it fo high, as to awaken the jealouf^^ of his promoter, which be- ing affiited by the bufy induftiy of thofe who envy his fortune, twill be eafy e- nough to find fome flaw in his Gettings, by which to unravel the whole Web: an event that has bin oft experimented not only in the private managery of Fa- milies, but in the moil public admini- ftrations. And thefe are luch hazards, that laid all together would much recom- mend to any the Moral of Horaces Fa- ble , and make one chule the Country Monies plain fare and fafety, rather then the delicacies of the City with fo much danger. This then is the ftate of the profperous Paraiite: but alas how many are there who never arrive to this, but are kickt down ere they have climb'd the two or three firft rounds of the Lad- der , whole defigns are fo humble , as not to aipire above a Major-Domo, or fome fuch domeitic preferment, (for in this trade there are adventurers of all fizes. ) But upon all thefe confidcrations , methinks it appears no very inviting one to any. At the long
rUn
1 52 The Government of the Tongue.
run an honeft freedom of fpeech will more recommend a man, then all thele iheaking datteries : we have a very wife mans word for it , he that* rebuketh a rnan-i ajter^-jnards shall find more favor ^ then he that flatter eth ^-jo'tthhis Up. Pro. 28.23.
12. But after all that hath or can be faid, the fuppreffion of Flattery will moft depend upon thoi'e Perfons to whom it IS addrell : if it be not repuls'd there, nothing elfe will difcourage it, and if it be, ris cruflit in the egg, and can pro- duce no viper. Thefe Vulturs prey only on carcafles, on fuch ftupid minds, as have not life and vigor enough to fray them a- way. Let but Perfons of quality enter- tain fuch cu Homers with a fevcre brow, with fome fmart expreffion of dillike, thofe Leeches will immediatly fall off. In Sparta when all laws againft theft prov'd nieffedlual, at lail they fixt the penalty on them that were rob'd , and by that did thebulinefs: and in the prefent cafe, if twere made as infamous to be flatter'd as tis to