The Christian Governor in the Commonwealth and Private Families, Exposition 1 · Part 13
Vers. 5.Him that priuily slaundereth his Neighbour, will I destroy.
IN this verse the Prophet more specially doth protest against tvvo kinds of euill persons, and their two seuerall euils. The euill persons are Slaunderers and Proud persons: the euils condemned in them, are detraction in the Slaunderer, and bigge lookes, and a large heart in proud persons. For the Slaunderer, the Prophet threatneth to cut him off: and for the Proud person, he saith threatningly, that he will not abide him in the Kingdome. But first for the Slaunderer; here is noted his offence and punishment. His offence is described by the qualitie of it, it is called a priuie slaunder; and the obiect, he is called a Neighbour that is slaundered: the punishment is, hee shall be destroyed or cut off. To slaunder heere, is by giuing out, or by receiuing in of a false tale, or true report, but vncharitably made, to wrong our innocent, or absent brother. And to slaunder priuily, is to wound a man vponupon his back by a cowardly tongue. A slaunderer (therefore) is a malitious informer; and a priuie slaunderer, a priuie thiefe of his brothers name. Such vnmanly dealing with our Neighbour, by a whispering tongue, the Prophet so abhorreth, that he threatneth destruction to it. Such vnauthorised Relators, and secret Thieues of a mans name in the world, who abuse the eares of persons in authoritie, or of brethren in amitie with offensiue and siding tales, yea, though there be some truth in the reporters words, hee promiseth to cut off.
From whence this doctrine may be obserued,Doct. that the sinne of slaunder or priuie detraction, whether by giuing out, or receiuing in of a false and malitious, or true, but vncharitable and hurtfull report against our Neighbour secretly, is a detestable sinne. That the giuers forth of a false report to the hurt of their neighbour; that is, of any Christian, in his name, (for now eueryevery Christian is our Neighbour) are horrible sinners may appeare by that which is written of them, Ezech. 22.9. where they are called Cursitants, or, goers about with tales to shed bloud. Such a sonne of Belial, and man of bloud, was Ziba, who falsely accused his Master to the King, that he might be Master of his Possessions, 2 Sam. 16.3. The Diuell spared not God himselfe, Gen. 3.4.5. and these tongues (descended from his house and linage) hauehave a like disposition in them to touch all his children: and for this they be compared with most deadly and hurtfull things; as to the Poyson of Aspes, to a Rasor, to a Venemous Arrow, to a Scorpion, and greedy Viper, to fire and coales of Iuniper; and when they are inflamed by Sathans Bellowes, and Gun-powder to the fire of Hell… Iam. 3.8. Psal. 140.3. Nay, the Scorpion hurteth not as the scorching tongue, nor is the biting of a venemous Viper so deadly as the wound of a tongue that telleth lyes: for the Scorpion hurteth not but where hee toucheth, nor the Viper but where he biteth first. But the Slaunderer woundeth and killeth, not neere onelyonly, but farre off, nor at hand, but remoued, nor in our owne Land, but in a strange Land, nor curably, but deadly, nor the liuing onelyonly, but quicke and dead. Such a detestable beast is eueryevery malitious Slanderer. There is a Lawe against such walkers, and goers about with tales, Leuit. 19. 16. where the Spirit of God, as also in Pro. 11.13. & 20.19. compareth such busie bodies, to pettie Chapmen, or Pedlers. who carry wares about, selling in one place, and buying in an other: for so these Chapmen of reports goe from place to place, and from house to house, and wander hither and thither, to gather vp tales to tell againe, and to vent in one place what they hauehave receiued, and more then euer they receiued or heard in another. And now, as they be detestable beasts, that giuegive forth false tales to their Neighbours hurt, so they are euill beasts that hurt him, though by true reports; else Doeg could hauehave beene no Slaunderer: for that which he spake, and whereof he accused Dauid in absence, was true, yet hee is noted for a cursed Slaunderer, because hee blabbed out the truth to an euill end, and at an vnseasonable time, euen when Saul was in a great chafe against Dauid, to kindle hotter persecution against him, Psal. 55.2.3.4. &c. The like may be said of Daniels enemies: for what they reported concerning him, was true; yet they were malitious Slaunderers, because they reported a truth maliciously, Dan. 6.6.7. Lastly, they that louelove to heare such tales are wicked Slanderers, as well as they that tell them. So Eue listning to the Serpent, and Adam to her, both suffered as Slaunderers of their Creator, Gen. 3.6.7. Tale-bearers, and Tale-hearers (saith one) are guiltie alike:Bernard de considerat. lib. 2. in fine. for as the Tale-bearer hath the Diuell in his tongue, so the Tale-hearer hath him in his eare. The Apostle speaking of such as are deceiued with vaine words, calleth them Companions with such, Eph. 5.6. the Receiuer as bad as the Thiefe. And the words of the Law are… Thou shalt not receiue a false report. Exod. 23.1. It is not sayd, Thou shalt not make a false tale; but, Thou shalt not receiue it, being made.
Quest. But may not a man without sinne, heare of his Neighbours faults, his Neighbour not in place?
Answere. Yes, and report them to, if it be profitable for him that is absent, or expedient for thee that hearest, or necessary for him that speaketh of them. Profitable for the absent partie, as when his faults, by such information may be corrected. Expedient for the hearing partie, as when danger may come to him of iniury or infection by that persons faults. Necessarie for the speaking partie, as being the deliuering of him from the concealement of an offence. Eli complayned not that the euill behauiour of his sonnes was brought to him by faithfull relation, 1 Sam. 2.22. indeede it had beene good for Eli, and better for his sonnes, if that information had beene better regarded. So Iacob was well content (I doubt not) that his sonne Ioseph should enforme against his brethren their slaunder or euill saying, Gen. 37.2. And all good men will confesse, that it is necessary for a publike State, and for good order in a populous Familie, that some be authorised to make report of offences. But the reports here spoken of, and enueighed against, are reports false, or malitious, made, and receiued. And that it is abhominable to deuise these, or to giuegive an eare vntounto them, being deuised by others, may further appeare.
The Reasons.
First,Mr. D…d on the ninth Commandement. because they that bring vp a false report, hurt three at once, and cause three wounds at one time: The first stroke lights vponupon him to whom they tell the false tale and he is made vncharitable by it. The second lights on the reputation of him that is slaundered, and his name is blotted by it. The last and greatest lights vponupon the soules of those who make that false report: for it infecteth them with slaunder, and maketh them guiltie of a lye. Of these three, he scapes best who is falsely slaundered: for being innocent, God will heale his name, and bring forth his righteousnes as the Su…. The other two wounds are more dangerous, because they are made in the soule, & more hard to be cured because they are made by sinne. Secondly, they that make a true, but vnseasonable, or malitious report, speake eyther idely, and must answere for idle words; or vncharitably, and so hate their brother. And though wee speake the truth, yet if wee speake without discretion, or vnseasonably, out of time and place, because our end is vaine, and purpose naught, it is a slaunder. A good man, when he repeates a matter, will hauehave some good end in telling it; as that it shall be good to him of whom it is spoken, or good for him who heareth it, or good to both. Thirdly, they that heare a false tale; that is, they who with patience and liking heare it, encourage such offenders as receiuers make the thiefe. Nay, as in Murther, there is neuer an accessary, but all are principall: so in this kinde of murther, eueryevery such hearer is as hee that slaundereth with his tongue. Yea, though a tale were suddenly raysed, yet would it as quickly fall againe, if it were not held vp by some easie eare.
Vses.
Vse 1.A warning (therefore) to all, since Tale-bearing is so detestable to God, and iniurious to man, to auoyd to be, or to receiue Slaunderers. The first would be considered of Flatterers and Sicophants, who insinuate themselues by the thrusting out of others. The other of Magistrates and great Men, that they punish by discountenance, or with the Sword, the malitious Tale-bearer, and Sycophant. He that doth not chastise Slaunderers doth prouoke them. And as the fauour of great men is most desired of men, so their tender complection will soonest be altered by a cunning tongue. Dauid himselfe (this way) was grosely flattered, 2 Sam. 16.3.4. and tooke such a staine from Ziba's subtle words, in the beautifull countenance of Iustice, that the mark of his blacke tongue is found remayning in it to this day. 2 Sam. 19.29. But to perswade Christians to abhorre the sinne of hauing, or bidding welcome to a faithlesse and deprauing tongue, let it be considered that charitie is by it impeached; first in the reporter: for, the rule of louelove is; Whatsoeuer things we would hauehave men to doe to vsus, to doe the same to them againe. Matth. 7.12. And (secondly) in the person spoken of; for, it causeth him to seeke to requite the report-maker with as bad or worse: and so Satan sets one to hunt another, till Hell catch both. And (thirdly) in the person spoken vntounto: for, where charitie thinketh not euill, 1 Cor. 13 5. he by such aspersions in absence, causelesly condemnes his brother. Againe, hee that slandereth with his tongue, is commonly a liar, and alway seditious. For, he will tell so much of the truth as may doe hurt, and nothing that may pacifie anger, if he speake true: & if he speake not the truth in a matter, he will clip it by a deceitful tongue, or adde vntounto it by lying lips, his owne soulder and base inuention. Thirdly, besides the sinnes of malice and lying, his mouth is grimed with foule hypocrisie, perswading, or labouring to perswade the partie to whom he… brings this false report of his neighbour, that it is spoken in good will to him, when it is rather spoken in malice to the other… and therefore hee must keepe it to himselfe, and the diuell with it, or he shall not heare of him. And by this tricke of false play, the partie who is accused, shall neuer come to his purgation, and hee, to whom he is accused, must promise to keepe the Diuels counsell in a lie. So, he shall beare coales without cause; but to the burning of himselfe, while he burneth in displeasure secretly against him or her, who in no such manner offended him. Fourthly he that is a slanderer, is of base condition, and (for his vnworthie minde) fitly compared to certaine abiect Flies, that are alwaies lighting vponupon galleà backes, and foule places. So, the slanderer of his neighbour, resting onelyonly or chiefly vponupon the sores and galls of men, passeth by things in them of good report, and when he meeteth with a matter that deserueth dispraise, he bloweth it as farre as the winde of his wide mouth will suffer him, where his whole speech tendeth not to amend the fault, but to damnifie his brother. Hee aggrauates a light fault, and deales extreamely with a great fault. Also, he addeth to the good actions of men, his diminutiues; as that they did well, but did it of affection to praise, or in much hipocrisie, and others doe as well. So the clearest water shall be defiled with mudde, when it passeth through his foule conduit. And heere (by the way) let mee remember you (Christian Lord, and the rest in commission, you worthy Iudges in this honorable Court) of an abuse that would be amended in those that draw Informations and Billes, to be presented to those eyes that should be as the pure eyes of the Almightie that cannot see euill. Habac. 1.13. For, how many Billes, filled with lyes, and fraught with vanitie, are, without respect to Truth (whose countenance should bee louely, and estimation precious in all Courts) offered to the sacred eyes and eares of God, and Gods high Magistrates here? and shal vncharitable slander hauehave for protection, the iudgement seate? But this by the way. Now these things that hauehave beene spoken against the slanderer, may & should be strong motiues to set vsus out with the slanderers sin. Where this may be further added, that to hearken, or giuegive the care to tale-bearers, is a thing vnlawfull, hurtfull, and shamefull. Vnlawfull, because he that would be (here) the child of grace, and (hereafter) an heire of glory, must receiue no false report against his neighbour. Psal. 15.3. Vnlawfull (also) because it is no honest thing either for men to deliuer slanderous reports, one to another, or for the hearers to receiue them. Hurtfull it is, as is euident by our Mother Eue, who giuing both eares to the Father of liars, speaking in the Serpent, by such credulitie ouerthrew her selfe, and her husband, and in him, the whole race of man. Shamefull it is, and of no good report: for, it brandeth those who fauour the slanderer with the marke of wicked men, Prou. 17.4, making them false as he is, and liars like to him. Therefore, a curst tongue and carnall eare are well met. The former rubbeth where the latter itcheth, and the latter is chapman for that which the former vttereth. Lastly, neither hee that telleth lies, nor he that hearkeneth to him, can be good: for, if the tongue of the one be slanderous, the eare of the other is gracelesse.
A reproofe to those who drinke inVse 2. with greater thirst of hearing and more eagerly, a false and vncharitable tale against their neighbour, then the foule conduit of the slanderer can deliuer it: and who, in true reports, regard altogether the matter, and not the good manner of vttering them: neither abhorring in themselues, nor reproouing in others the discouering of a secret, to the touch of their absent neighbour in his name, when their complaint can no way edifie. For, we Christians, should follow after things that be of good report, Philip. 4.8. Salomon saith: As the North-winde dri…eth away the raine, so doth the angrie countenance, a slandering tongue. Prouer. 25.23. His meaning is, that the countenance of a man and woman in great place, should be set as the North-winde against the raine of slander, and that their frowning browes should shut vp, and silence all clamorous lips. For, it is the ouer-good entertainement that the slanderous tongue findeth that cherisheth it, and it is the sterne countenance that driueth such guests away. But some louelove to clawe these hissing Serpents, till they hauehave spent their poison, and left their sting in the good name of those who are simple in heart. Such digge a pit for the innocent, and fall into it themselues. Therefore men and women in credit should, with no better will, entertaine these Deuils in flesh, then they would the Deuill in person, if they could be aware of his comming.
Vse 3.Heere (also) they are reproued, who proclaime their Neighbours secret faults to the wide world: and who, because their speech is true, though their end, in speaking, be euill and wicked, say, they are farre from slander. For, what is it to slander in a true report, but to speake against our Neighbour, and to blaze his weakenesse at all times, and before all companies? The ordinarie defence of such, is, when they are reproued: I speake truely, and tell no lie; and, I will neuer be ashamed of the truth. But a wise man will be ashamed to speake the truth foolishly, when his words may doe much harme and no good: and, it is sinne to speake slanderously (though truely) in a matter. Yea, a man may more sinne by speaking some truth with an ill minde, then when (through infirmitie) he shall speake an vntruth, with a purpose to doe good; the Midwiues lie being more tolerable, Exod. 1, then Doegs intolerable true report. Psal. 53. That wee may (therefore) keepe the mid-way of charitie in our reports, and neither speake the truth foolishly, nor speak lewdly against it, let vsus well obserue these rules which follow. And first, let vsus make a couenant with our mouth, not to giuegive our tongue libertie to be busied ouer-much about other mens faults. For, he that speaketh too often of other mens infirmities, cannot, at all times, keepe himselfe from speaking too-much of them, and from slipping too farre into them. Secondly, when wee hauehave a good calling, and iust cause to speake, let vsus speake discreetly in time and place, that good may come of our speech, to the amending of him that is faultie, and to the bettering of them that heare vsus. Thirdly, in good affection, & with good discretion, let vsus so reproue another, that we forget not our selues to be faultie, and that it is a brother that hath offended. So shall wee make him to confesse, that that which is then vttered and spoken, commeth in tender bowels from vsus, and not from wrath, or humour. Fourthly, what wee would hauehave others to doe to vsus, let vsus doe to them. We would not (our selues) be reproued with bitternesse, so let vsus reproue others mildely: we would not hauehave our owne priuate infirmities published, so let vsus conceale our brothers: we would not (our selues) be made a Table talke, so let not our brother. Fiftly, to discourage the backe-biter, and to defend the innocent; if the report that is made be of things doubtfull, let vsus admonish him who is the reporter, in charitie, to interpret things to the best; if of things true, when the fault is priuate, priuately to reproue it; when it is manifest and publike, not to enforce it too-much, nor too busily, if it be little; and if it be great, to consider if …e had not great prouocations to it. Thus doing, if the slandere… be fir…, wee shall be water to quench him. Lastly, let vsus remember the Law that putteth the slanderer to that same punishment that the fault he spake of had deserued, and the person, he accused, should hauehave suffered, if the thing had beene true. For, he that wrongfully accused another of theft, should hauehave beene dealt with as if he himselfe had plaid the thiefe: He that falsely should say, another committed adulterie, should (himselfe) hauehave beene punished as an Adulterer. For, what can be more indifferent, then that hee who prepareth a pit for another, should fall (himselfe) into it? and hee that seekes to take away his neighbours name and life by a lie, should (himselfe) loose his owne credit and life for a lie? Deuter. 19.19. So much for the qualitie of the offence, the obiect followeth.