A Mirror both for Saints and Sinners, Treatise · Chapter 67 – Chapter 68
CHAP. LXVII. Examples of Detraction, Slandering, Backbiting.
IT's a great sin, 2 Cor. 12. 20. Rom. 1. 30. Prov. 10. 18.
Complained of, Psal. 31. 13. & 50. 20. Jer. 6. 28. & 9. 4.
How prevented, Prov. 25. 23.
Such are not of the number of Gods children, Psal. 15. 3.
Ought to be punished, Psal. 101. 5.
Scriptural Examples: Jeremy slandered by the wicked Jews, Jer. 18. 18. The Jews, Ezra 4. 4, &c. Nehemiah, Chap. 2. 19. & 6. 6, &c. Ziba, 2 Sam. 19. 27. The Spies, Num. 14. 36. Some slandered the Apostles, Rom. 3 8.
Solon enacted a Law amongst the Athenians, that none should speak evil of the dead, nor of the living, especially in the Temples in the time of Divine Service; nor in the Councel Chamber of the City; nor in the publick Theaters, and that upon pain of three Drachmes to the party injured, and two to the common treasury. Plut.
Alexander M. when he heard any about him traducing his enemy, would stop one of his eares, that he might preserve it from prejudice in hearing the other party.
Dion of Syracuse when he was admonished to take heed of two of his familiar friends, as though they intended to slay him, answered, That he had rather die then to suspect his friends, or to put them in fear of a violent death as if they were his enemies. Val. Max.
Amongst the Romans there was a Law, That if any servant being set free slandered his former Master, he might bring him into bondage again, and take from him all the favours he had bestowed upon him. Alex. ab Alex.
There was also another Law, that if any servant detracted from his Master, his Master might banish him out of the Confines of Rome. Idem.
Vespasian and Titus were such enemies to detractors, and slanderers, that if any were found guilty thereof, they caused them to be whipt about the City, that others thereby might be deterred from the like practices.
Domitian the Emperour, though otherwise a most vile man, yet could not endure slanderers, but banished them out of the City, saying, that they which do not punish slanderers, encourage them. Platina.
Antoninus Pius made a Law, That if any Backbiter could not prove what he reported of another, he should be put to death. Alex.
Nerva made a Law, That if any servants slandered their Masters, they should be put to death, as ingrateful persons. Idem.
St. Augustine to shew his hatred to detractors, caused this Distich to be written on his Table,
Quisquis amat dictis absentem rodere amicum,
Hanc mensam vetitam noverit esse sibi.
He that doth love an absent friend to jeer,
May hence depart, no room is for him here.
Frederick Emperour of Germany having some letters brought to him which were written by Gasper Schli…kius of Newburg, and directed to sundry Hungarians: some Flatterers about the Emperour perswaded him to break them open, suggesting that there might be Treason contained in them. To whom the Emperour nobly answered; I judge Gasper an honest man, and my friend; If I be deceived I had rather that the evil should appear by his own carriage, then that it should be searched out by my overmuch diligence, being provoked thereto by your suspitions, or slanders. AEn. Sylvius.
Nero that Monster of men, when he had set Rome on fire which burned nine daies, to transfer the Odium from himself, he by his slanders thought to lay the fault upon the Christians, as if they had done it out of malice, whereupon he raised the first general Persecution against them. See my Gen. Martyrology. p. 31.
Under the second Persecution the Christians had many malicious slanders raised against them, as that they lived in incest: that in their night-meetings, putting out the candles, they mixed together in a filthy manner: that they killed their children, and fed upon mans flesh: that they were seditious, and rebellious, and refused to swear by the fortune of Caesar, &c. which much incensed the Emperours against them. Idem. p. 34.
Under the third Persecution the Heathens imputed to the Christians all those miseries, and mischiefs which befell them; yea, they invented against them all manner of con…umelies, and false crimes that they might have the more pretence to persecute them. Idem. p. 37.
Under the fourth Persecution heathen servants were examined against their Christian Masters, and being threatned with most exquisite torments, were enforced to confesse against their Masters, that at their meetings they kept the Feasts of Thyestes, and committed the incests of Oedipus, and such like abominations not fit to be named. Idem. p. 41.
Under the fifth Persecution the Christians were slanderously reported to be seditious, and rebellious against the Emperours, to be guilty of Sacriledge, murthering their infants, incestuous pollutions, eating raw flesh, worshipping the head of an Asse, &c. Idem. p. 46.
Under the eighth Persecution the Christians were falsely charged with all the calamities of war, famine, and Pestilence which befell the world, because they refused to worship Idols, and the Emperour. Idem. p. 56.
Under the tenth Persecution there was a Conjurer in Athens which made an Image of Jupiter that uttered these words, Jupiter commands the Christians to be banished out of this City, because they are enemies to him. Also certain Harlots were suborned to say that formerly they had been Christians, and so were privy to the wicked and lascivious acts which they committed amongst themselves at their Sabbath-meetings, &c. Idem. p. 68.
The Queen of Persia being sick, the wicked Jewes and Magicians accused two godly Virgins, for that by charmes, and inchantments they had procured the Queens sicknesse, whereupon they were sawen in sunder by the wastes, and their Quarters hung upon stakes that the Queen might go betwixt them, thinking thereby to be freed from her disease. Idem. p. 80.
The Popish Friers to make the godly Waldenses odious, raised up many foul slanders against them, as that they were Sorcerers, Buggerers, &c. that when they assembled together in the night-time, their Pastors commanded the lights to be put out, saying: Qui potest capere, capiat; whereupon they committed abominable Incests, the son with his mother, the brother with his sister, the father with his daughter, &c. As also that they held many false and damnable opinions. Idem. p. 103.
See more in my Gen. Martyrologie, and two Parts of Lives.
CHAP. LXVIII. Examples of Discord, Contention, and the Evils of i….
IT's a great Evil, Prov. 6. 14, 19. worst in wives, Prov. 19. 13. & 27. 15.
Condemned, Ephes. 4. 31. Col. 3. 8. Prov. 17. 14. Tit. 3. 9. Rom. 13. 13.
It comes from Pride, Prov. 13. 10.
Scriptural Examples; Kings, Gen. 14. 4. Abimelech, and Sechem, Judg. 9. Pharisees, and Sadduces, Act. 23. 2. Servants, Gen. 13. 7. Hebrews, Exo. 2. 13. Judah, and Israel, 2 Sam. 19. 4. Aaron, and Moses, Num. 12. 1. Israel, and Benjamin, Judg. 20. 13. Disciples, Luk. 22. 24. Paul, and Barnabas, Act. 15. 39. Corinthians, 1 Cor. 1. 11, 12. & 3. 3, 4. & 11. 18. & 6. 7. Abrahams, and Lots heardsmen, Gen. 13. 7. Israelites, Isa. 9. 21.
Epiphanius tells a sad story of two Bishops, Milesius, and Peter Bishop of Alexandria, both Professours, and fellow-sufferers for the Christian faith: These two men being condemned, and sent to work in the Mettal-Mines, for a small difference fell into so great a Schisme; that they drew a partitian-wall between each other in the Mine, and would not hold Communion each with other in the service of Christ, for which they both were sufferers: which dissension of theirs caused such a rent in the Church, that it did more hurt then an open Persecution from the enemy.
How much better did Bishop Ridley, and Hooper, who though in King Edward the sixth his daies they had been at great variance about the Ceremonies; yet when in Queen Maries Reign they were imprisoned for the same cause, they forgat all former quarrels, loved, and wrote each to other as brethren. See Dr. Ridley's Life, in my first Part.
In Constantine's time the differences of the Bishops were so many, and so great, that they brought in whole bundles of Petitions one against another to the Emperour, which he, out of a wonderfull desire after peace, would not so much as read, but burnt them all before their faces.
Aristides, and Themistocles being sent joynt Ambassadours to the same City, fell out by the way. Aristides was stout enough, and crosse enough: yet when he came neer the City gates whither they were sent, he condescended so far as to bespeak Themistocles in this manner; Sir, you and I are not now at leisure thus to squabble: Let us dispatch our Countrey affaires: It will be time enough to renew our quarrel when our work is at an end. Plut.
Empedocles was of such a contentious disposition, that every day he would quarrel with some body or other, and prosecute his contentions with much violence. Ravis.
Hyperbolus was a man so addicted to strife, and contention, that it grew into a Proverb, Ultra Hyperbolum.
Frowardnesse is in the heart of a naughty person, he deviseth mischief continually, he soweth discord,
Prov. 6. 14.