Exposition of Proverbs 11-12, Biblical commentary · Chapter 11 · Verse 13
Verſe 13. He that goeth about as a talebearer, diſcouereth a ſecret: but he that is of a faithfull heart, concealeth a matter.
IN this place, and in the ninteenth of Leuiticus verſe 16. and elſewhere the holy Ghoſt compareth buſi-bodies, and ſuch as delight to deale in other mens matters, to petie chapmen, and pedlers, which carry wares about, ſelling in one place, and buying in another; and two markes of lewdnes he brandeth them with, as firſt, that they hauehave falſe and vnfaithfull hearts: and then that they hauehave looſe and blabbing tongues that can keepe no counſell, but tell all that they heare. They will draw on men by their newes and reports to open their minds and ſecrets vntounto them, which after they will publiſh to others. From both which vices hee cleareth all good men, their hearts are faithfull, and their tongues are ſilent to couer ſuch matters as louelove requireth them to hide, and dutie and conſcience do not bind them to lay open.
Doct. A ſlaunderous tongue will be as readie to defame them whom it ſpeaketh vntounto, as whom it ſpeaketh againſt. It trafficketh altogether by exchaunge, it will deliuer nothing to you, but vponupon condicion to receiue ſomewhat from you. It will neuer beare an emptie packe, but deſireth where ought is vttered, and taken out, there to take ſomewhat to be put in, yt it may hauehave choiſe for other places. This is the cauſe why the Lord forbiddeth to chaffer, or to hauehave any dealing at all with ſuch manner of perſons, though they make ſhew of neuer ſo great louelove and kindnes towards vsus. Hee that goeth about as a ſlaunderer, diſcouereth ſecrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips, Prou. 20. 19.
Reaſons. Firſt, the ſame cauſe that moued him to relate others mens affaires to thee, will likewiſe induce him to diſcouer thine to other men: and that is want of louelove, a deſire to be plauſible in ſatisfying itching eares, and hypocriſie, making reſemblance to hate thoſe faults which he cenſureth in others.
Secondly they hauehave been trained vp in that trade, and therefore cannot leaue it, neither will they at any time neglect their markets for any mans ſake.
Thirdly, they hauehave not the power, and gouernment of their owne tongues, but Sathan hath, whoſe gunpowder they are, and if he put fire vntounto them, they cannot chuſe, but take. And that Saint Iames meaneth when he ſaith, that the tongue is ſet on fire on hell, that is by the deuill that helliſh ſpirit, Iam. 3. 6. Now hee is a continuall falſe accuſer, and makebate betweene God and man, and man, and man, and friend and neareſt friend, and therefore looke for no fauour at his hands.
Vſe. Inſtruction: Firſt, if wee would bee truſted, and hauehave men impart their minds vntounto vsus without ſuſpicion of vsus, let vsus auoid the diſcourſes of other mens infirmities and labour rather to pray for them, and heale them. If we deſire that any man ſhould powre his counſels into our eares: let him not ſee one another mans dropping out of our mouthes; for then he may eaſily know what will become of his owne. 2. To be warie to whom wee commit our ſecrets: not to buſie talkers, not to idle walkers, not to them that are hollow harted. If they be briars, and thornes, as Micah Micah 7. 5.calleth them, if they carry prickes in their mouthes, and guile in their ſoules, and ſinne in their liues, truſt them not, put not confidence in them, keepe ſhut the dores of thy lippes from them, though they were friends, though they were counſellours, though they were yoke-fellows. Eſpecially let vsus not communicate with them in giuing them hearing of their vncharitable obtrectations, nor truſt them in our ſecrets: for it were iuſt and righteous that they ſhould be diſcloſed and brought to light for a recompence of our raſh and vnlouing credulitie.