The great wickedness, and mischievous effects of slandering, represented in a sermon preached at St. Giles without Cripplegate, on Sunday Nov. 15, 1685 by Edward Fowler, D.D. ; together with a preface and conclusion in his own vindication.
         Fowler, Edward, 1632-1714.
      
       
         
           1685
        
      
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             The great wickedness, and mischievous effects of slandering, represented in a sermon preached at St. Giles without Cripplegate, on Sunday Nov. 15, 1685 by Edward Fowler, D.D. ; together with a preface and conclusion in his own vindication.
             Fowler, Edward, 1632-1714.
          
           [16], 28 p.
           
             Printed for Brabazon Aylmer ...,
             London :
             1685.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in Cambridge University Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Libel and slander -- Sermons.
           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
        
      
    
     
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           Imprimatur
           ,
        
         
           
             
               C.
               Alston
            
             ,
             R.
             P.
             D.
             Hen.
             Episc.
             Lond
             a
             sacris
             Dornest
             .
          
           
             
               16.
               
               Nov.
               1685.
               
            
          
        
      
       
         
         
           THE
           Great
           Wickedness
           ,
           And
           Mischievous
           Effects
           of
           Slandering
           ,
           Represented
           in
           a
           SERMON
           PREACHED
           AT
           St.
           GILES
           without
           Cripplegate
           ,
           On
           Sunday
           Nov.
           15.
           1685.
           
        
         
           By
           
             EDWARD
             FOWLER
          
           ,
           D.
           D.
           
        
         
           Together
           with
           a
           Preface
           and
           Conclusion
           In
           his
           Own
           VINDICATION
           .
        
         
           Thou
           shalt
           not
           bear
           False
           Witness
           against
           thy
           Neighbour
           .
        
         
           
             They
             are
             Grievous
             Revolters
             Walking
             with
             Slanders
             ,
          
           
             Jer.
             6.
             28.
             
          
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           for
           
             Brabazon
             Aylmer
          
           ,
           at
           the
           
             Three
             Pidgeons
          
           against
           the
           Royal-Exchange
           in
           Cornhill
           .
           1685.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           THE
           PREFACE
           .
        
         
           IF
           the
           Readers
           of
           the
           Following
           Sermon
           knew
           how
           very
           little
           Time
           I
           had
           for
           the
           Composing
           of
           it
           ,
           They
           would
           not
           be
           Offended
           with
           its
           Plainness
           :
           Nor
           Those
           that
           are
           Ingenuous
           ,
           Critical
           in
           observing
           Faults
           or
           Over-sights
           .
           The
           Conclusion
           of
           the
           Sermon
           ,
           which
           contains
           the
           Occasion
           of
           my
           Penning
           and
           Preaching
           it
           ,
           I
           have
           here
           Publisht
           with
           some
           small
           Additions
           ,
           which
           I
           think
           fit
           to
           mention
           ,
           because
           those
           of
           whose
           Humanity
           I
           have
           had
           such
           plentiful
           Experience
           ,
           will
           be
           forward
           enough
           ,
           I
           presume
           ,
           to
           give
           out
           ,
           upon
           their
           finding
           any
           Passages
           they
           did
           not
           hear
           from
           the
           Pulpit
           ,
           that
           I
           have
           Lyed
           in
           the
           Title-Page
           .
        
         
           The
           Design
           of
           this
           Preface
           is
           to
           Vindicate
           my self
           from
           a
           great
           Slander
           of
           theirs
           (
           and
           I
           am
           prepared
           to
           do
           the
           like
           ,
           as
           to
           all
           the
           Other
           I
           have
           heard
           of
           )
           which
           notwithstanding
           my
           Endeavours
           ,
           both
           by
           
             Word
             of
             Mouth
          
           and
           Letters
           ,
           to
           Clear
           my Self
           of
           ,
           doth
           (
           as
           I
           understood
           the
           
             Last
             Week
          
           )
           still
           stick
           upon
           me
           :
           And
           't
           is
           this
           ,
           That
           I
           should
           give
           ,
           about
           a
           Year
           and
           three
           Quarters
           since
           ,
           to
           a
           certain
           
             Fanatick
             ,
             a
             Knavish
             Certificate
          
           ,
           to
           bring
           him
           off
           ,
           in
           a
           
             Court
             of
             Iustice
          
           ,
           from
           
           an
           Indictment
           of
           so
           Scandalous
           a
           Crime
           ,
           as
           the
           
             Depraving
             of
             the
             Common-Prayers
          
           .
           And
           in
           short
           ,
           That
           I
           Certified
           him
           to
           be
           a
           good
           Church-Man
           ,
           whereas
           he
           never
           came
           to
           the
           Communion
           but
           once
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           his
           being
           Qualified
           for
           the
           Office
           of
           Common-Council-Man
           .
           And
           if
           I
           ever
           gave
           to
           any
           such
           Person
           such
           a
           Certificate
           ,
           I
           will
           freely
           acknowledge
           ,
           I
           was
           a
           Knave
           indeed
           .
        
         
           But
           before
           I
           proceed
           farther
           ,
           I
           will
           say
           this
           ,
           That
           I
           know
           not
           that
           I
           ever
           Repented
           of
           
             any
             Certificate
          
           I
           gave
           in
           my
           Life
           ,
           except
           of
           One
           that
           two
           of
           my
           greatest
           Enemies
           ,
           before
           they
           discovered
           their
           Malice
           towards
           me
           ,
           did
           unawares
           draw
           me
           into
           ;
           which
           was
           to
           this
           Effect
           ,
           and
           ,
           to
           the
           best
           of
           my
           remembrance
           ,
           in
           these
           very
           Words
           ,
           
             That
             for
             ought
             I
             know
             ,
             they
             were
             Men
             of
             Peaceable
             and
             Christian
             Spirits
          
           ;
           which
           Certificate
           was
           of
           their
           own
           Penning
           .
           I
           must
           Confess
           ,
           I
           then
           shrewdly
           suspected
           that
           they
           were
           not
           Men
           of
           such
           Spirits
           ,
           but
           because
           I
           had
           no
           certain
           Knowledge
           of
           the
           Contrary
           ,
           upon
           a
           little
           deliberation
           I
           Subscribed
           it
           .
           But
           within
           a
           
             few
             dayes
          
           .
           I
           was
           made
           sensible
           what
           a
           Trapan
           this
           was
           ,
           being
           informed
           ,
           That
           these
           very
           Men
           had
           Represented
           me
           ,
           at
           White-Hall
           ,
           as
           an
           Encourager
           of
           Fanaticks
           in
           our
           Freedom-Vestry
           .
           This
           was
           told
           me
           by
           a
           
             Person
             of
             Honour
          
           ,
           who
           had
           it
           from
           Mr.
           
             Secretary
             Ienkins
          
           .
           But
           I
           Appeal
           to
           the
           present
           
             Recorder
             of
             London
          
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           Alderman
           of
           our
           Ward
           ,
           whether
           ,
           in
           their
           Presence
           ,
           I
           did
           not
           abundantly
           Clear
           my
           Innocence
           ,
           as
           to
           this
           Charge
           .
           The
           Latter
           of
           these
           Gentlemen
           ,
           meeting
           me
           in
           ,
           or
           near
           ,
           Cornhill
           ,
           some
           dayes
           after
           the
           Hearing
           which
           we
           had
           in
           the
           Recorders
           Chamber
           ,
           desired
           me
           to
           Pardon
           the
           Chief
           Man
           of
           them
           ;
           and
           the
           Recorder
           ,
           at
           the
           Conclusion
           of
           the
           Hearing
           ,
           I
           think
           before
           most
           of
           the
           Vestry-Men
           were
           gone
           out
           (
           for
           there
           
           was
           a
           full
           Appearance
           of
           them
           too
           )
           was
           pleased
           to
           Declare
           
             (
             my
             Self
          
           standing
           by
           him
           ,
           and
           
             divers
             Others
             )
             That
             he
             would
             justify
             my
             Honesty
          
           (
           that
           was
           ,
           with
           respect
           to
           my
           Proceedings
           in
           the
           
             Vestry
             )
             on
             any
             Ground
             in
             England
             .
          
        
         
           My
           Adversaries
           thus
           failing
           of
           their
           Design
           ,
           they
           ,
           with
           one
           or
           two
           more
           ,
           have
           ,
           almost
           ever
           since
           that
           time
           to
           this
           ,
           turned
           every
           Stone
           to
           Ruine
           me
           :
           And
           London
           Rings
           of
           their
           Carriage
           towards
           me
           .
           Nor
           hath
           it
           Satisfied
           them
           to
           abuse
           Me
           in
           the
           grossest
           manner
           ,
           but
           they
           have
           put
           an
           intolerable
           Abuse
           upon
           a
           Great-Man
           or
           Two
           ;
           for
           when
           they
           have
           been
           Expostulated
           with
           ,
           for
           making
           my
           Life
           so
           Vneasy
           ,
           they
           have
           Endeavoured
           to
           remove
           all
           Blame
           from
           themselves
           ,
           by
           pretending
           that
           what
           they
           had
           done
           ,
           was
           in
           meer
           Obedience
           to
           their
           Commands
           .
           And
           when
           it
           was
           replyed
           (
           as
           once
           it
           was
           by
           my Self
           ,
           to
           this
           Effect
           )
           
             You
             first
             instigate
             Great
             Persons
             by
             your
             wretched
             Stories
             ,
             and
             then
             Hypocritically
             pretend
             that
             my
             Troubles
             Originally
             proceed
             from
             them
          
           ;
           there
           was
           no
           Answer
           ,
           but
           perfect
           Silence
           .
        
         
           It
           might
           make
           a
           Competent
           Volume
           ,
           to
           give
           an
           Account
           what
           Slanders
           they
           have
           devised
           ,
           and
           Methods
           they
           have
           taken
           ,
           from
           time
           to
           time
           ,
           to
           do
           Me
           Mischief
           .
           I
           have
           a
           Narrative
           by
           me
           of
           the
           Molestations
           they
           have
           given
           me
           ,
           to
           about
           
             Half
             a
             Year
          
           since
           ,
           which
           I
           intended
           then
           to
           Publish
           ,
           but
           upon
           Second
           Thoughts
           I
           judged
           it
           more
           prudent
           to
           hold
           my
           hand
           for
           some
           time
           longer
           .
        
         
           But
           to
           return
           to
           this
           
             Knavish
             Certificate
          
           ;
           The
           Person
           I
           certified
           for
           ,
           was
           one
           Mr.
           
             R.
             W.
          
           who
           is
           one
           of
           my
           nearest
           Neighbours
           .
           The
           Occasion
           of
           the
           Certificate
           was
           This
           ,
           Two
           of
           these
           Three
           or
           Four
           Men
           ,
           who
           have
           
           so
           long
           been
           my
           Adversaries
           ,
           accused
           this
           Man
           to
           me
           before
           his
           face
           (
           which
           fair
           play
           they
           rarely
           use
           )
           of
           having
           called
           the
           Common-Prayers
           an
           Innovation
           ,
           upon
           a
           Motion
           to
           have
           them
           Read
           ,
           at
           the
           meeting
           of
           their
           Quest
           ,
           in
           the
           Quest-House
           .
           Mr.
           W.
           Professed
           that
           he
           only
           called
           the
           Reading
           of
           them
           upon
           
             That
             Occasion
          
           so
           ,
           for
           that
           never
           any
           such
           thing
           had
           been
           done
           before
           ,
           that
           ever
           he
           heard
           of
           in
           this
           Parish
           :
           And
           that
           he
           opposed
           the
           bringing
           up
           of
           such
           a
           Custome
           ,
           for
           the
           Poors
           sake
           ,
           because
           he
           presumed
           they
           would
           pay
           the
           Reader
           out
           of
           the
           Purse
           ,
           that
           at
           
             That
             Meeting
          
           annually
           was
           made
           for
           Them.
           But
           he
           told
           me
           he
           declared
           to
           them
           ,
           that
           if
           they
           would
           pay
           the
           Reader
           out
           of
           their
           
             Own
             Purses
          
           ,
           they
           might
           have
           the
           Prayers
           in
           the
           Church
           with
           all
           his
           heart
           ;
           and
           acknowledged
           then
           that
           he
           gave
           them
           a
           Proverbial
           Saying
           ,
           which
           they
           made
           a
           mighty
           business
           of
           ,
           that
           signified
           no
           more
           than
           that
           every
           Body
           might
           have
           his
           Liberty
           ,
           either
           to
           go
           ,
           or
           to
           
             stay
             away
          
           ;
           which
           ,
           though
           it
           might
           be
           decently
           enough
           used
           in
           most
           Cases
           not
           relating
           to
           Religious
           Affaires
           ,
           yet
           I
           told
           him
           it
           was
           Irreverendly
           done
           of
           him
           to
           use
           it
           in
           this
           Case
           ;
           And
           though
           I
           could
           not
           impute
           it
           to
           his
           Disaffection
           to
           the
           Prayers
           (
           he
           having
           ever
           since
           I
           came
           to
           this
           Parish
           ,
           and
           I
           understand
           ,
           for
           some
           Years
           before
           was
           a
           constant
           attender
           on
           them
           upon
           Sundayes
           )
           but
           to
           meer
           Rashness
           and
           Inconsideration
           ,
           they
           being
           then
           in
           the
           heat
           of
           Passion
           ;
           yet
           at
           that
           time
           ,
           and
           more
           then
           once
           since
           ,
           I
           rebuked
           him
           for
           it
           with
           severity
           enough
           .
           And
           I
           further
           Reproved
           him
           before
           these
           Men
           ,
           for
           not
           being
           as
           forward
           as
           any
           to
           so
           good
           a
           Motion
           ;
           though
           it
           was
           evident
           enough
           ,
           that
           the
           Motion
           was
           not
           made
           from
           so
           good
           a
           Principle
           ,
           as
           that
           of
           true
           Love
           to
           the
           Worship
           
           of
           God
           ,
           but
           upon
           a
           design
           that
           was
           very
           Obvious
           .
           I
           farther
           added
           ,
           that
           to
           encourage
           the
           Reading
           of
           the
           Prayers
           ,
           at
           this
           Yearly
           Meeting
           ,
           I
           would
           My self
           first
           read
           them
           at
           their
           Meeting
           again
           the
           next
           Year
           ,
           and
           so
           for
           the
           future
           ,
           which
           accordingly
           I
           did
           the
           last
           Christmas
           .
           They
           had
           another
           Story
           of
           a
           most
           indecent
           Scoff
           at
           our
           
             Church
             Musick
          
           ,
           but
           this
           he
           utterly
           denied
           ,
           and
           persists
           in
           doing
           so
           ;
           and
           the
           Truth
           is
           I
           never
           Believed
           it
           ,
           but
           now
           ,
           for
           a
           reason
           I
           won't
           mention
           ,
           I
           disbelieve
           it
           .
        
         
           After
           all
           the
           Passionate
           Fending
           and
           Proving
           was
           over
           ,
           and
           I
           had
           ,
           as
           I
           said
           ,
           smartly
           enough
           reproved
           Mr.
           W.
           I
           told
           them
           't
           was
           evident
           ,
           he
           did
           not
           call
           the
           Prayers
           an
           Innovation
           ,
           but
           only
           the
           
             Reading
             them
             in
             the
             Quest-House
          
           ,
           or
           
             upon
             that
             Occasion
          
           ,
           and
           then
           Exhorted
           them
           to
           more
           Christian
           behaviour
           towards
           one
           another
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           Friends
           again
           ;
           Having
           heard
           that
           there
           was
           an
           elder
           Grudg
           between
           one
           or
           both
           of
           these
           Men
           ,
           and
           this
           Mr.
           W.
           And
           that
           the
           Difference
           did
           not
           begin
           now
           :
           Although
           one
           of
           them
           had
           been
           sometime
           before
           his
           great
           Intimate
           ,
           and
           he
           Constantly
           gave
           Mr.
           W.
           the
           Title
           of
           his
           Master
           .
           Hereupon
           they
           Drank
           to
           each
           other
           ,
           more
           than
           once
           ,
           and
           shook
           hands
           .
           But
           the
           Next
           News
           I
           heard
           of
           them
           ,
           which
           surprized
           me
           much
           ,
           was
           ,
           that
           they
           had
           made
           a
           Complaint
           of
           him
           to
           Mr.
           Recorder
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           Constable
           had
           carried
           him
           away
           to
           Guild-Hall
           ,
           and
           that
           there
           he
           was
           bound
           over
           to
           answer
           for
           his
           
             Depraving
             the
             Common-Prayer
          
           ;
           upon
           these
           Mens
           Oaths
           ,
           at
           the
           
             Kings
             Bench
             Barr.
          
           Whereupon
           this
           Mr.
           W.
           signified
           to
           me
           ,
           That
           the
           
             Lord
             Mayor
          
           had
           advised
           him
           ,
           to
           get
           a
           good
           Petition
           drawn
           up
           to
           my
           
             Lord
             Chief
             Iustice
          
           ,
           and
           as
           good
           a
           Certificate
           as
           his
           Minister
           and
           other
           Creditable
           People
           of
           the
           Parish
           ,
           could
           give
           him
           ;
           
           and
           that
           His
           Lordship
           promised
           him
           to
           present
           both
           with
           his
           own
           hand
           ,
           and
           accordingly
           He
           performed
           that
           Promise
           .
           Hereupon
           I
           again
           Reproved
           him
           ,
           and
           told
           him
           I
           hoped
           this
           would
           be
           for
           the
           future
           a
           Warning
           to
           him
           ;
           and
           finding
           him
           much
           dejected
           ,
           I
           said
           I
           would
           willingly
           certifie
           for
           him
           whatsoever
           I
           knew
           to
           be
           true
           of
           him
           .
           And
           the
           Certificate
           I
           gave
           him
           was
           
             this
             ,
             That
             he
             was
             a
             Constant
             Attender
             on
             the
             Prayers
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             a
             Frequenter
             of
             the
             Holy
             Communion
             ,
             in
             the
             way
             of
             the
             Church
             of
          
           England
           ,
           
             and
             a
             forward
             man
             to
             Publick
             good
             Works
             in
             the
             Parish
             ,
             and
             particularly
             at
          
           that
           
             time
             ,
             to
             the
             Repairing
             of
             our
             Church
             and
             Steeple
             .
          
           And
           in
           the
           close
           ,
           I
           expressed
           how
           far
           I
           was
           from
           going
           about
           to
           excuse
           his
           fault
           ;
           but
           in
           
             what
             Words
          
           I
           did
           this
           ,
           I
           don't
           now
           remember
           .
        
         
           This
           is
           the
           plain
           and
           Naked
           Truth
           of
           this
           matter
           ,
           and
           I
           am
           yet
           to
           learn
           where
           lay
           my
           fault
           .
           Nay
           I
           am
           still
           fully
           satisfied
           in
           my
           Conscience
           ,
           that
           I
           did
           nothing
           but
           what
           I
           might
           Lawfully
           do
           ,
           nay
           nor
           any
           thing
           but
           what
           I
           was
           bound
           in
           
             Common
             Iustice
          
           to
           do
           .
           For
           I
           never
           knew
           him
           other
           ,
           than
           a
           Constant
           attender
           on
           the
           Prayers
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           nor
           than
           a
           Frequenter
           of
           the
           Holy
           Communion
           ,
           I
           mean
           upon
           his
           Knees
           and
           at
           the
           Rayles
           .
           And
           ,
           whatsoever
           Faults
           he
           may
           have
           been
           guilty
           of
           ,
           I
           have
           found
           no
           one
           Parishioner
           more
           Publick
           Spirited
           ,
           both
           in
           reference
           to
           the
           Church
           and
           Parish
           .
           And
           he
           was
           one
           of
           the
           best
           Church-Wardens
           (
           I
           finding
           him
           in
           that
           Office
           when
           I
           first
           came
           hither
           )
           that
           I
           believe
           the
           Parish
           ever
           knew
           .
           It
           hath
           been
           Objected
           to
           me
           ,
           that
           he
           behaved
           himself
           Disloyally
           at
           the
           Election
           of
           Sheriffs
           ,
           and
           therefore
           this
           Certificate
           was
           taken
           the
           Worse
           at
           my
           hands
           .
           But
           I
           need
           make
           no
           other
           Reply
           ,
           than
           that
           this
           was
           more
           than
           I
           Knew
           .
           
           I
           have
           but
           little
           Acquaintance
           in
           this
           Parish
           to
           this
           Day
           ,
           and
           had
           
             less
             then
          
           ,
           so
           that
           I
           might
           very
           well
           be
           a
           stranger
           to
           his
           Behaviour
           at
           that
           Election
           .
           For
           my
           part
           ,
           I
           never
           perceived
           any
           Disloyalty
           in
           him
           ,
           but
           the
           Contrary
           ,
           when
           he
           hath
           come
           to
           me
           ,
           which
           he
           does
           very
           rarely
           ,
           but
           when
           Business
           brings
           him
           ,
           though
           he
           lives
           close
           by
           me
           .
           And
           had
           he
           discovered
           Disaffection
           to
           the
           Government
           ,
           either
           in
           Church
           or
           State
           to
           Me
           ,
           What
           is
           commendable
           in
           him
           should
           not
           have
           made
           with
           Me
           an
           Atonement
           for
           it
           .
           But
           there
           is
           no
           end
           of
           these
           my
           Obliging
           Friends
           Stories
           ;
           I
           hope
           though
           ,
           for
           the
           future
           they
           'l
           be
           more
           Innocent
           ones
           ;
           I
           mean
           ,
           that
           their
           
             Tongues
             will
             be
             no
             Slander
          
           .
           The
           worst
           thing
           I
           knew
           of
           this
           man
           was
           ,
           that
           he
           would
           be
           too
           easily
           Provoked
           ,
           but
           as
           soon
           (
           that
           I
           'le
           say
           for
           him
           too
           )
           Pacified
           .
           But
           why
           should
           I
           better
           know
           what
           this
           W.
           was
           ,
           than
           what
           These
           Men
           were
           ?
           I
           was
           I
           confess
           often
           told
           what
           Two
           of
           them
           were
           ,
           but
           I
           would
           not
           believe
           it
           ,
           till
           they
           did
           me
           the
           kindness
           to
           make
           me
           understand
           them
           whether
           I
           
             would
             or
             no
          
           ;
           and
           since
           I
           have
           been
           sufficiently
           upbraided
           with
           my
           Charitable
           Incredulity
           .
           But
           in
           order
           to
           the
           more
           Blackening
           of
           
             Me
             ,
             One
          
           or
           More
           of
           my
           good
           Friends
           have
           reported
           ,
           That
           he
           was
           upon
           the
           Scaffold
           when
           the
           
             King
             was
             Murthered
          
           .
           I
           never
           heard
           of
           This
           till
           this
           very
           day
           ,
           but
           I
           concluded
           't
           was
           a
           Wicked
           Lye
           ,
           before
           I
           sent
           for
           him
           to
           ask
           him
           the
           Question
           .
           His
           Reply
           was
           ,
           that
           he
           was
           then
           but
           a
           Boy
           about
           sixteen
           Years
           Old
           ,
           (
           as
           any
           one
           may
           believe
           that
           knows
           him
           )
           and
           that
           he
           was
           at
           that
           time
           Fourscore
           Miles
           from
           London
           .
        
         
           In
           short
           ,
           Mr.
           
             Attorney
             General
          
           had
           a
           full
           Hearing
           of
           the
           forementioned
           Cause
           ,
           was
           fully
           satisfied
           of
           the
           Baseness
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           gave
           Mr.
           W.
           a
           
             Noli
             Prosequi
          
           .
        
         
         
           My
           Enemies
           after
           this
           ,
           made
           an
           Article
           against
           me
           of
           this
           Certificate
           ,
           at
           
             Doctors
             Commons
          
           ,
           and
           it
           was
           thrown
           out
           again
           with
           Contempt
           enough
           .
           And
           yet
           ,
           it
           is
           still
           made
           a
           hainous
           Crime
           in
           me
           ,
           and
           if
           it
           must
           be
           so
           for
           the
           future
           ,
           after
           this
           pains
           I
           have
           taken
           to
           clear
           my self
           of
           being
           faulty
           therein
           ,
           
             so
             let
             it
             .
             Pervicaciae
             nullum
             opposuit
             remedium
             Deus
             .
          
           
           But
           I
           declare
           farther
           ,
           that
           if
           I
           had
           refused
           to
           certifie
           what
           I
           knew
           to
           be
           true
           of
           this
           Man
           ,
           I
           had
           not
           only
           been
           Vnjust
           ,
           but
           highly
           Dis-ingenuous
           .
           For
           at
           my
           first
           coming
           to
           this
           Parish
           ,
           though
           he
           was
           a
           meer
           Stranger
           to
           me
           ;
           and
           I
           never
           once
           heard
           of
           him
           before
           ;
           he
           highly
           obliged
           me
           by
           standing
           up
           for
           my
           Right
           to
           Houses
           that
           were
           Built
           on
           the
           Church-Yard
           Ground
           ,
           and
           which
           I
           recovered
           without
           going
           to
           Law
           ,
           and
           by
           no
           Mans
           Assistance
           more
           than
           by
           his
           .
           And
           so
           much
           for
           That
           .
        
         
           I
           am
           accused
           too
           of
           this
           very
           Whiggish
           Trick
           ,
           and
           in
           My
           mind
           a
           More
           Knavish
           one
           ,
           than
           the
           pretended
           Certificate
           ,
           viz.
           That
           the
           
             Lord
             Mayor
          
           ,
           or
           
             some
             Great
             Man
          
           (
           no
           body
           knows
           who
           )
           
             sending
             to
             me
             to
             give
             my
             Iudgment
             of
             Persons
             fit
             to
             be
             chosen
          
           Common-Council-Men
           ,
           
             and
             to
             do
             my
             best
             towards
             procuring
             the
             Choyce
             of
             Loyal
             Persons
             ,
             I
             recommended
             Fanaticks
             ,
             or
             at
             least
             Whigs
             ,
             and
             stickled
             for
             them
             .
          
           But
           the
           Reader
           shan't
           need
           to
           be
           scared
           with
           the
           fears
           of
           another
           tedious
           Tale
           ,
           for
           a
           Word
           or
           Two
           will
           do
           this
           business
           ,
           viz.
           I
           solemnly
           profess
           both
           upon
           the
           Word
           of
           a
           Christian
           and
           a
           Divine
           ,
           That
           I
           never
           concerned
           my self
           ,
           either
           directly
           or
           indirectly
           ,
           in
           that
           Affair
           ,
           nor
           ever
           was
           defired
           by
           any
           Mortal
           to
           Meddle
           in
           it
           .
           But
           yet
           this
           Goodly
           complaint
           of
           me
           ,
           was
           told
           me
           by
           no
           less
           a
           Man
           than
           a
           Lord
           ,
           this
           last
           week
           .
           And
           I
           am
           not
           to
           seek
           to
           understand
           ,
           
           why
           just
           at
           This
           Nick
           of
           time
           ,
           (
           I
           mean
           within
           this
           Week
           or
           Fortnight
           )
           there
           are
           such
           Strenuous
           but
           Secret
           Endeavours
           used
           by
           these
           Men
           ,
           to
           make
           me
           all
           that
           's
           naught
           to
           our
           GOVERNOVRS
           .
        
         
           It
           may
           be
           expected
           I
           should
           here
           Clear
           my self
           of
           Discouraging
           my
           Church-Wardens
           from
           Presenting
           Dissenters
           ,
           which
           they
           made
           an
           Article
           of
           ,
           but
           I
           need
           to
           say
           no
           more
           than
           this
           to
           it
           ,
           That
           as
           they
           could
           make
           nothing
           
             like
             a
             Proof
          
           of
           it
           in
           the
           Court
           ,
           so
           the
           contrary
           appeared
           there
           ,
           by
           the
           Deposition
           of
           the
           Principal
           of
           their
           own
           Witnesses
           .
           And
           I
           had
           full
           Evidence
           ready
           to
           prove
           ,
           That
           I
           only
           Charged
           them
           to
           Present
           Impartially
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           Gratify
           any
           ones
           Revengeful
           Piques
           ,
           but
           it
           was
           not
           produced
           because
           't
           was
           needless
           .
           And
           I
           had
           ,
           after
           a
           full
           Hearing
           ,
           
             Ten
             Pounds
             Costs
          
           given
           me
           against
           them
           .
           And
           now
           my
           Hand
           is
           in
           ,
           a
           Word
           or
           Two
           to
           their
           
             Grand
             Article
          
           ,
           That
           I
           gave
           the
           Communion
           to
           two
           of
           my
           Church-Wardens
           together
           ,
           
             Who
             were
             Excommunicated
             in
             the
             Court
             ,
          
           near
           a
           Year
           and
           half
           since
           .
           But
           as
           I
           had
           Leave
           to
           Defer
           the
           Publishing
           of
           that
           Excommunication
           ,
           so
           the
           Sacrament
           was
           given
           them
           before
           't
           was
           Publisht
           ;
           and
           I
           had
           then
           great
           Assurance
           ,
           That
           Excommunications
           can
           take
           no
           Effect
           till
           they
           are
           Publisht
           ;
           and
           what
           I
           did
           ,
           was
           done
           upon
           the
           
             best
             Advice
          
           I
           was
           capable
           of
           having
           ,
           and
           I
           Relyed
           upon
           the
           Authority
           of
           more
           than
           
             One
             Ecclesiastical
             Iudge
          
           ;
           and
           the
           same
           Article
           had
           been
           Exhibited
           against
           many
           other
           Divines
           besides
           my self
           ,
           had
           they
           been
           so
           unhappy
           as
           to
           have
           had
           in
           their
           Parishes
           any
           People
           of
           such
           Venomous
           Spirits
           ,
           as
           those
           Few
           I
           am
           infested
           with
           .
           So
           that
           ,
           if
           this
           were
           a
           Fault
           in
           me
           ,
           it
           was
           a
           Fault
           of
           most
           Excuseable
           ,
           if
           I
           may
           not
           say
           Invincible
           ,
           Ignorance
           .
           I
           no
           way
           Consulted
           mine
           
             own
             Interest
          
           in
           doing
           this
           
           thing
           ,
           and
           I
           Abominate
           the
           breaking
           of
           any
           Order
           of
           the
           Church
           to
           Gratify
           any
           Person
           whatsoever
           .
        
         
           There
           is
           one
           thing
           more
           which
           I
           ought
           not
           to
           omit
           ,
           viz.
           That
           whereas
           I
           might
           say
           (
           but
           that
           it
           may
           be
           replied
           ,
           
             I
             live
             far
             from
             Neighbours
          
           )
           that
           no
           Man
           could
           live
           more
           Peaceably
           than
           I
           have
           done
           in
           this
           place
           ,
           nor
           have
           been
           more
           forward
           to
           Oblige
           all
           Men
           ,
           I
           have
           wondred
           sometimes
           ,
           and
           so
           have
           others
           too
           who
           know
           my
           Conversation
           ,
           how
           I
           should
           happen
           to
           have
           in
           my
           Parish
           such
           Bitter
           Enemies
           ,
           though
           ,
           I
           thank
           God
           ,
           I
           have
           but
           a
           very
           few
           that
           I
           know
           of
           .
           But
           I
           have
           been
           for
           some
           time
           satisfied
           ,
           that
           my
           Impartiality
           in
           Preaching
           hath
           netled
           some
           ,
           and
           particularly
           my
           frequent
           exposing
           certain
           Vices
           of
           some
           among
           us
           ,
           who
           value
           themselves
           mightily
           upon
           their
           Loyalty
           and
           Conformity
           ,
           whom
           I
           have
           plainly
           told
           ,
           That
           they
           are
           a
           Disgrace
           both
           to
           the
           King
           and
           the
           Church
           ;
           and
           it
           may
           be
           I
           have
           but
           seldom
           dealt
           Severely
           with
           the
           Fanaticks
           ,
           and
           Men
           of
           Factious
           ,
           Seditious
           ,
           and
           Rebellious
           Principles
           ,
           but
           I
           have
           had
           a
           Bout
           with
           them
           too
           .
           Now
           this
           is
           a
           Fault
           I
           will
           not
           make
           the
           least
           Excuse
           for
           ,
           and
           if
           it
           be
           a
           Fault
           ,
           I
           believe
           most
           of
           the
           good
           Service
           I
           have
           done
           here
           to
           the
           King
           and
           Church
           ,
           hath
           been
           principally
           Owing
           to
           it
           .
        
         
           A
           Second
           Cause
           of
           my
           Troubles
           I
           am
           too
           sure
           (
           and
           I
           question
           whether
           I
           can
           name
           a
           Third
           )
           is
           ,
           My
           Refusing
           to
           part
           with
           Mr.
           S.
           after
           all
           Endeavours
           that
           have
           been
           used
           to
           Set
           me
           against
           him
           .
           And
           for
           my
           great
           Aversness
           to
           Gratify
           his
           Enemies
           herein
           ,
           I
           will
           Exercise
           my
           Readers
           Patience
           with
           this
           short
           Apology
           .
           viz.
           That
           ,
           besides
           one
           Personal
           Pique
           ,
           I
           soon
           perceiv'd
           ,
           the
           Bottom
           of
           the
           Emnity
           against
           him
           ,
           to
           be
           some
           Sermons
           he
           Preached
           of
           the
           
             Absolute
             Necessity
             of
             Restitution
          
           ,
           
           that
           grievously
           Galled
           some
           ,
           who
           were
           too
           well
           known
           ,
           to
           have
           Wronged
           the
           Poor
           ,
           together
           with
           his
           declaring
           his
           Mind
           Else-where
           with
           some
           Severity
           ,
           against
           several
           unjust
           Practices
           ,
           before
           I
           had
           any
           Relation
           to
           this
           Parish
           .
           And
           it
           would
           have
           lain
           heavy
           upon
           my
           Conscience
           ,
           while
           I
           had
           a
           Day
           to
           Live
           ,
           should
           I
           have
           Joyned
           with
           Those
           against
           him
           ,
           who
           ,
           I
           was
           Satisfied
           ,
           did
           Set
           themselves
           in
           Opposition
           to
           him
           ,
           for
           the
           Zeal
           he
           had
           expressed
           upon
           so
           highly
           Commendable
           an
           account
           ,
           as
           that
           of
           endeavouring
           to
           do
           Right
           to
           Those
           who
           are
           not
           in
           a
           Capacity
           of
           Righting
           Themselves
           .
           Besides
           ,
           should
           I
           have
           dismissed
           Mr.
           S.
           I
           could
           not
           but
           expect
           the
           Curses
           of
           Hundreds
           of
           Needy
           Families
           ,
           for
           ,
           excepting
           two
           Noted
           Citizens
           ,
           I
           know
           not
           his
           Fellow
           for
           bestirring
           himself
           ,
           to
           get
           Relief
           for
           Poor
           People
           .
           I
           am
           Confident
           ,
           That
           never
           was
           a
           Parish
           so
           obliged
           to
           a
           Curate
           ,
           as
           this
           Parish
           hath
           been
           ,
           for
           many
           Years
           ,
           to
           Him
           ,
           as
           Ill
           as
           he
           hath
           now
           ,
           for
           a
           long
           time
           by
           
             some
             few
          
           ,
           been
           Requited
           for
           it
           .
           And
           ,
           to
           speak
           my
           Conscience
           ,
           I
           am
           certain
           this
           Parish
           could
           very
           much
           better
           spare
           my Self
           ,
           than
           it
           can
           Him.
           
        
         
           I
           Confess
           ,
           at
           my
           first
           coming
           ,
           there
           was
           
             some
             Misunderstanding
          
           between
           Him
           and
           Me
           ,
           which
           some
           hoped
           would
           have
           ended
           in
           a
           
             settled
             Enmity
          
           like
           to
           Theirs
           :
           But
           in
           a
           very
           short
           time
           ,
           We
           came
           to
           know
           each
           Other
           Better
           ,
           and
           then
           immediately
           all
           That
           Vanished
           ,
           and
           hath
           never
           been
           in
           the
           least
           Revived
           to
           this
           Day
           .
        
         
           And
           ,
           as
           to
           his
           Preaching
           up
           Loyalty
           ,
           and
           Conformity
           to
           the
           Church
           ,
           I
           know
           not
           a
           Divine
           in
           London
           that
           is
           ,
           or
           ,
           ever
           since
           I
           came
           hither
           ,
           hath
           been
           more
           Zealous
           ;
           as
           
             many
             Hundreds
          
           ,
           I
           may
           say
           some
           Thousands
           ,
           can
           bear
           me
           Witness
           .
           I
           will
           make
           no
           other
           Apology
           for
           troubling
           the
           Reader
           with
           this
           long
           Scribble
           ,
           
           than
           this
           very
           short
           one
           ,
           
             viz.
             Meer
             Necessity
             hath
             ,
             sorely
             against
             my
             Inclination
             ,
             Compell'd
             me
             to
             it
             .
          
           But
           ,
           
             for
             all
             that
          
           ,
           I
           expect
           to
           have
           the
           old
           lame
           Distick
           flung
           in
           my
           Dish
           ,
           viz.
           
        
         
           
             Hoc
             mihi
             pro
             certo
             est
             ,
             quòd
             si
             cum
             sterc●re
             Certo
             ,
          
           
             Vinco
             ,
             seu
             vincor
             ,
             Certè
             Ego
             Maculor
             .
          
        
         
           And
           if
           I
           have
           
             this
             Wipe
          
           ,
           I
           'le
           take
           it
           Patiently
           ,
           though
           of
           all
           Gibes
           ,
           I
           confess
           ,
           I
           Most
           hate
           True
           Ones
           .
        
         
           
             St.
             Giles
             Cripplegate
             ,
             
               Nov.
               16.
               
               (
               85.
               )
            
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           THE
           Great
           Wickedness
           ,
           And
           Mischievous
           Effects
           of
           SLANDERING
           Represented
           .
        
         
           
             Psalm
             .
             101.
             5.
             
          
           
             Whoso
             privily
             Slandereth
             his
             Neighbour
             ,
             him
             will
             I
             Cut
             off
             .
          
        
         
           I
           Shall
           not
           detein
           you
           with
           any
           thing
           of
           Preface
           ,
           but
           fall
           immediately
           upon
           the
           Business
           I
           designed
           in
           the
           choice
           of
           these
           Words
           ,
           for
           my
           Present
           Subject
           .
        
         
           
             The
             Just
             and
             Pious
             KING
             ,
             who
             was
             the
          
           Pen-Man
           ,
           
             spends
             this
             short
          
           Psalm
           
             in
             declaring
             to
             his
             People
             ,
             how
             he
             was
             resolved
             to
             mannage
             himself
             ,
             in
             reference
             to
             the
             encouragement
             of
             Piety
             and
             Virtue
             among
             them
             ;
             and
             the
             
             discouragement
             of
             Vice
             and
             Wickedness
             .
             And
             among
             other
             particular
             Vices
             which
             he
             tells
             them
             should
             by
             no
             means
             escape
             Punishment
             ,
             that
             of
          
           Slandering
           their
           Neighbours
           
             comes
             in
             ,
             in
             the
          
           Words
           of
           my
           Text.
           
             Nor
             is
             here
             any
             one
             Vice
             which
             he
             expresseth
             so
             great
             an
             abhorrence
             of
             ,
             or
             so
             severely
             Threatens
             ,
             as
             this
             of
          
           Slandering
           .
           
             For
             ,
             whereas
             he
             saith
          
           ,
           A
           froward
           Heart
           shall
           DEPART
           FROM
           ME
           :
           I
           will
           not
           KNOW
           a
           Wicked
           Person
           :
           And
           him
           that
           hath
           a
           High
           Look
           ,
           and
           a
           Proud
           Heart
           will
           not
           I
           SUFFER
           :
           And
           he
           that
           Worketh
           Deceit
           shall
           not
           DWELL
           WITHIN
           MY
           HOUSE
           :
           And
           he
           that
           telleth
           Lies
           shall
           not
           TARRY
           IN
           MY
           SIGHT
           ;
           
             He
             makes
          
           Slandering
           their
           Neighbours
           ,
           a
           Capital
           
             Crime
             ,
             and
             declareth
             That
          
           Whoso
           Slandereth
           his
           Neighbour
           ,
           him
           would
           He
           CUT
           OFF.
           
        
         
           First
           ,
           I
           will
           endeavour
           to
           shew
           ,
           what
           is
           here
           Meant
           by
           
             Slandering
             ones
             Neighbour
          
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           Upon
           
             What
             accounts
          
           we
           may
           presume
           this
           Good
           King
           did
           thus
           Threaten
           those
           that
           should
           be
           Guilty
           of
           this
           Practice
           .
        
         
         
           I.
           What
           is
           here
           Meant
           by
           
             Slandering
             ones
             Neighbour
          
           .
           Thus
           to
           do
           ,
           is
           either
           to
           Devise
           a
           Tale
           of
           another
           and
           then
           Tell
           it
           ;
           That
           is
           ,
           Such
           a
           Tale
           ,
           as
           tends
           to
           the
           bringing
           of
           a
           Blot
           upon
           the
           Person
           of
           whom
           't
           is
           invented
           and
           told
           :
           Or
           to
           tell
           a
           false
           Story
           from
           other
           hands
           as
           true
           ,
           and
           with
           a
           design
           to
           have
           it
           Believed
           without
           sufficient
           Evidence
           of
           the
           truth
           of
           it
           .
           Now
           although
           this
           Latter
           way
           of
           Slandering
           be
           a
           very
           Great
           Sin
           ,
           as
           proceeding
           from
           great
           want
           of
           Charity
           ,
           and
           being
           perfectly
           opposite
           to
           that
           Golden
           Rule
           of
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           
             What
             you
             would
             that
             Men
             should
             do
             to
             you
             ,
             do
             you
             even
             the
             same
             to
             them
             ,
          
           (
           than
           which
           no
           Maxim
           in
           Morals
           is
           more
           plainly
           taught
           by
           the
           Law
           of
           Nature
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           Right
           Reason
           unassisted
           by
           Divine
           Revelation
           ,
           and
           which
           a
           Pagan
           Prince
           gives
           us
           in
           Negative
           Terms
           ,
           
             viz.
             Quod
             tibi
             fieri
             non
             vis
             ,
             alteri
             ne
             feceris
             .
             Whatsoever
             thou
             wouldst
             not
             have
             done
             to
             thy self
             ,
             do
             not
             offer
             to
             do
             to
             another
             :
          
           I
           say
           ,
           as
           this
           Latter
           way
           of
           Slandering
           is
           for
           these
           reasons
           a
           very
           
             Great
             Sin
          
           ,
           and
           consequently
           will
           meet
           with
           ,
           where
           it
           is
           not
           timely
           repented
           of
           ,
           very
           
             Sore
             Punishment
          
           from
           Gods
           hands
           )
           yet
           the
           Former
           way
           ,
           
             viz.
             Slandering
          
           by
           Inventing
           of
           Stories
           to
           
           the
           Blemishing
           of
           any
           ones
           Good-Name
           ,
           is
           a
           
             Greater
             Sin
          
           ,
           (
           as
           is
           evident
           at
           first
           hearing
           )
           and
           therefore
           deserves
           
             Greater
             Punishment
          
           .
           And
           the
           more
           the
           Tale
           Blackens
           his
           Reputation
           of
           whom
           it
           is
           told
           ,
           and
           the
           greater
           ,
           or
           more
           useful
           the
           Person
           is
           in
           the
           World
           who
           is
           defamed
           ,
           as
           also
           the
           greater
           the
           Injury
           is
           that
           is
           designed
           him
           in
           telling
           it
           of
           him
           ,
           the
           greater
           still
           is
           this
           exceedingly
           great
           Sin.
           Now
           the
           Slanderers
           that
           King
           David
           must
           needs
           mean
           here
           in
           the
           Text
           ,
           and
           whom
           he
           threatneth
           with
           being
           
             Cut
             off
          
           ,
           are
           such
           as
           shall
           Devise
           and
           Invent
           Lies
           to
           the
           Injuring
           of
           their
           Neighbours
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           of
           any
           Persons
           ,
           be
           their
           Rank
           and
           Quality
           what
           it
           will
           ;
           which
           the
           word
           Neighbour
           doth
           import
           .
           And
           they
           are
           only
           
             such
             Slanderers
          
           as
           these
           which
           must
           be
           here
           thus
           threatned
           ,
           because
           the
           other
           Sort
           
             (
             viz.
          
           Such
           as
           do
           not
           Invent
           ,
           but
           only
           
             Rashly
             give
             Credit
          
           to
           and
           Report
           Lies
           of
           their
           Neighbours
           )
           though
           They
           are
           great
           Sinners
           too
           ,
           yet
           we
           cannot
           think
           that
           the
           King
           would
           doom
           them
           to
           so
           great
           a
           Punishment
           .
           For
           in
           all
           Places
           ,
           there
           are
           too
           many
           of
           these
           Offenders
           to
           be
           made
           Obnoxious
           to
           so
           severe
           a
           Sentence
           .
           And
           besides
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           so
           easy
           a
           matter
           for
           the
           Magistrate
           to
           find
           Evidence
           sufficient
           
           in
           such
           a
           case
           as
           this
           ,
           to
           found
           such
           a
           Sentence
           as
           that
           of
           Death
           upon
           it
           .
        
         
           II.
           I
           come
           to
           shew
           upon
           
             what
             Accounts
          
           this
           Good
           King
           did
           thus
           threaten
           such
           as
           
             Privily
             Slandered
             their
             Neighbours
          
           .
           There
           is
           very
           great
           reason
           for
           his
           being
           thus
           Incensed
           against
           them
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           Because
           Inventers
           of
           Slanders
           are
           in
           the
           number
           of
           the
           most
           Injurious
           and
           Mischievous
           People
           in
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           1.
           
           They
           are
           most
           Mischievous
           to
           those
           Persons
           who
           are
           the
           Objects
           of
           their
           Slanders
           ;
           None
           are
           more
           so
           ,
           except
           those
           Instruments
           of
           Satan
           ,
           who
           by
           drawing
           others
           to
           Sin
           destroy
           their
           Souls
           .
           After
           the
           Divine
           Graces
           and
           Virtues
           ,
           which
           are
           necessary
           to
           Qualify
           for
           the
           Heavenly
           Happiness
           ,
           a
           Man's
           Good-Name
           is
           the
           most
           highly
           Valuable
           .
           It
           is
           not
           only
           
             Better
             than
             precious
             Oyntment
             ,
             and
             rather
             to
             be
             chosen
             than
             Silver
             and
             Gold
          
           (
           as
           the
           Wise
           Man
           saith
           )
           but
           't
           is
           to
           be
           prefer'd
           before
           all
           Temporal
           Enjoyments
           whatsoever
           ,
           not
           excepting
           Life
           it self
           .
           For
           who
           can
           take
           any
           Comfort
           in
           his
           Life
           ,
           (
           unless
           he
           be
           devested
           of
           all
           Humanity
           ,
           and
           strangely
           sunk
           into
           the
           Brutish
           Nature
           )
           that
           is
           sensible
           of
           having
           Out-liv'd
           his
           Good-Name
           ?
           And
           as
           for
           those
           that
           are
           
           
             so
             sunk
          
           ,
           it
           would
           be
           much
           better
           for
           themselves
           as
           well
           as
           for
           the
           World
           ,
           if
           they
           were
           out
           of
           Being
           .
           And
           as
           it
           is
           Natural
           to
           those
           Men
           who
           have
           any
           thing
           of
           Generousnes
           and
           Ingenuity
           in
           their
           Tempers
           ,
           above
           all
           things
           to
           Covet
           a
           Good-Name
           ;
           So
           there
           is
           
             this
             great
             reason
          
           why
           they
           should
           ,
           namely
           ,
           Because
           it
           is
           the
           chief
           Thing
           that
           makes
           Men
           useful
           in
           the
           World
           ;
           and
           there
           are
           no
           such
           unprofitable
           or
           insignificant
           Creatures
           upon
           God's
           Earth
           ,
           as
           those
           are
           who
           have
           lost
           their
           Reputation
           ,
           or
           had
           
             never
             any
          
           to
           lose
           .
           I
           mean
           by
           a
           Good-Name
           and
           Reputation
           ,
           that
           of
           a
           Good-Man
           :
           Of
           a
           Man
           that
           hath
           imbibed
           good
           Principles
           ,
           and
           is
           true
           to
           them
           :
           Of
           a
           Man
           Revering
           the
           Great
           God
           ,
           and
           Fearing
           to
           break
           wilfully
           any
           of
           His
           Laws
           .
           That
           which
           either
           in
           the
           
             Sacred
             Writings
          
           ,
           or
           in
           the
           Books
           of
           the
           Philosophers
           is
           called
           a
           Good-Name
           ,
           is
           wholly
           Founded
           upon
           Good
           Morals
           .
           A
           
             Large
             Understanding
             ,
             shrewdness
             of
             Wit
             and
             Parts
             ,
             High
             Titles
             of
             Honour
             ,
          
           &c.
           have
           ,
           't
           is
           Confessed
           ,
           acquired
           to
           their
           Owners
           
             Great
             Names
          
           ,
           but
           these
           alone
           never
           made
           any
           Man
           the
           Possessor
           of
           a
           GOOD-Name
           .
        
         
           Now
           so
           far
           as
           any
           Man's
           Reputation
           ,
           in
           reference
           to
           his
           Morals
           ,
           is
           Eclipsed
           ,
           so
           much
           the
           less
           Capable
           doth
           he
           immediately
           become
           
           of
           being
           Serviceable
           in
           his
           Generation
           .
           The
           less
           of
           a
           Good-Name
           any
           one
           hath
           ,
           the
           fewer
           Opportunities
           and
           Advantages
           will
           he
           have
           ,
           of
           being
           Beneficial
           to
           his
           Fellow-Creatures
           ,
           either
           in
           their
           Temporal
           or
           Spiritual
           Concerns
           ,
           but
           especially
           in
           their
           Spiritual
           .
           And
           as
           it
           is
           cheifly
           upon
           this
           account
           that
           a
           Good-Name
           ought
           to
           be
           so
           Highly
           esteemed
           ;
           So
           to
           Esteem
           it
           upon
           any
           other
           account
           ,
           separate
           from
           this
           ,
           is
           nothing
           better
           than
           a
           Gratification
           of
           Animality
           or
           
             Fond
             Fancy
          
           .
           But
           this
           Consideration
           makes
           it
           highly
           reasonable
           to
           prize
           a
           Good-Name
           above
           Rubies
           ,
           and
           above
           the
           Wealth
           of
           both
           the
           Indies
           ,
           and
           to
           reckon
           our
           Sufferings
           herein
           in
           the
           number
           of
           the
           greatest
           Worldly
           Sufferings
           .
           So
           ,
           it
           is
           manifest
           ,
           King
           David
           did
           ,
           by
           divers
           Passages
           in
           his
           Psalms
           :
           As
           particularly
           in
           Psal.
           35.
           11
           ,
           12.
           saith
           he
           ,
           
             False
             Witnesses
             did
             rise
             up
             against
             me
             ,
             they
             laid
             to
             my
             charge
             things
             which
             I
             knew
             not
          
           (
           or
           which
           I
           was
           altogether
           Guiltless
           of
           )
           
             they
             rewarded
             me
             evil
             for
             good
          
           (
           or
           this
           Evil
           of
           Slander
           for
           all
           the
           good
           Services
           I
           have
           done
           them
           )
           
             to
             the
             spoiling
          
           ,
           or
           (
           as
           't
           is
           in
           our
           Old
           Translation
           )
           
             to
             the
             great
             discomfort
             of
             my
             Soul.
          
           And
           Psal.
           69.
           19
           ,
           20.
           he
           thus
           Complaints
           ;
           
             Thou
             hast
             known
             my
             Reproach
             and
             my
             shame
             and
             my
             Dishonour
             ,
             mine
             Adversaries
             
             are
             all
             before
             thee
             ,
             Reproach
             hath
             broken
             my
             heart
             and
             I
             am
             full
             of
             Heaviness
             .
          
           So
           that
           a
           Slanderer
           being
           a
           Robber
           of
           that
           which
           is
           deservedly
           so
           Precious
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           he
           alwayes
           being
           so
           in
           his
           Endeavour
           ,
           there
           was
           great
           reason
           why
           this
           Holy
           King
           should
           so
           Abominate
           him
           ,
           as
           we
           find
           by
           our
           Text
           he
           did
           :
           But
           ,
        
         
           2.
           
           As
           the
           Slanderer
           is
           thus
           highly
           Injurious
           to
           Those
           who
           are
           the
           Objects
           of
           his
           Slanders
           ,
           so
           is
           he
           the
           most
           Pestilent
           Creature
           to
           the
           Community
           of
           which
           he
           is
           a
           Member
           .
           Those
           who
           invent
           Slanders
           ,
           are
           the
           greatest
           Pests
           and
           Plagues
           to
           a
           Body
           Politique
           .
           They
           are
           continually
           stirring
           up
           Strife
           and
           Contention
           ,
           Animosities
           and
           Emulation
           :
           And
           where
           these
           are
           ,
           St.
           Iames
           tells
           us
           ,
           
             There
             is
             Confusion
             ,
             and
             every
             evil
             Work.
             One
          
           of
           these
           is
           sufficient
           to
           set
           a
           whole
           Neighbourhood
           together
           by
           the
           Ears
           ,
           and
           a
           Few
           of
           them
           are
           enough
           to
           enflame
           a
           whole
           City
           ,
           nay
           a
           whole
           Kingdom
           .
           King
           Solomon
           saith
           ,
           Prov.
           16.
           27.
           
           
             An
             ungodly
             Man
             diggeth
             up
             Evil
             ,
             and
             in
             his
             Lips
             there
             is
             a
             burning
             Fire
             .
          
           And
           St.
           
             Paul
             ,
             2
             Cor.
          
           12.
           20.
           brings
           in
           Swellings
           and
           Tumults
           immediately
           after
           Backbitings
           and
           Whisperings
           .
           Which
           he
           had
           good
           reason
           to
           do
           ,
           since
           those
           are
           the
           Natural
           Consequents
           and
           Effects
           of
           these
           .
           For
           
           they
           not
           only
           sow
           Seeds
           of
           Division
           among
           the
           People
           ,
           but
           beget
           a
           mutual
           Mis-understanding
           between
           them
           and
           their
           Governours
           .
           These
           Backbitings
           and
           Whisperings
           render
           Governours
           jealous
           of
           their
           People
           ,
           and
           the
           People
           as
           jealous
           of
           their
           Governours
           .
           Princes
           see
           with
           other
           Mens
           Eyes
           ,
           as
           they
           Act
           by
           other
           Mens
           Hands
           ;
           and
           therefore
           't
           is
           the
           most
           difficult
           Thing
           ,
           and
           even
           next
           to
           impossible
           for
           them
           ,
           ordinarily
           to
           discern
           between
           Calumnies
           and
           
             True
             Stories
          
           .
           They
           have
           greater
           Matters
           alwayes
           to
           mind
           ,
           than
           to
           have
           Leisure
           to
           Dive
           to
           the
           bottom
           of
           those
           Reports
           that
           are
           brought
           to
           them
           .
           And
           therefore
           ,
           no
           wonder
           if
           they
           are
           frequently
           Abused
           and
           Imposed
           upon
           ;
           and
           so
           ,
           perswaded
           to
           take
           some
           for
           their
           Worst
           ,
           who
           are
           in
           the
           number
           of
           their
           Best
           Subjects
           ;
           and
           others
           for
           their
           Best
           ,
           who
           are
           really
           their
           Worst
           .
           And
           while
           the
           Slanderers
           are
           as
           Cunning
           and
           Dextrous
           as
           they
           are
           Wicked
           and
           Malicious
           ,
           What
           can
           alwayes
           prevent
           this
           ,
           and
           the
           horrible
           Mischiefs
           occasioned
           thereby
           ,
           but
           such
           a
           degree
           of
           Wisdom
           and
           Knowledg
           ,
           as
           no
           where
           resides
           but
           in
           GOD
           himself
           ?
        
         
           Now
           King
           David
           had
           great
           reason
           to
           resolve
           upon
           doing
           his
           Utmost
           towards
           the
           Rooting
           
           out
           of
           his
           Kingdom
           such
           People
           as
           These
           ,
           when
           he
           knew
           them
           to
           be
           the
           great
           Instruments
           of
           their
           Father
           the
           Devil
           ,
           in
           making
           his
           Subjects
           uneasy
           to
           himself
           ,
           and
           to
           
             one
             another
          
           ,
           and
           himself
           too
           as
           uneasy
           unto
           them
           :
           When
           he
           knew
           that
           all
           good
           Order
           and
           Government
           ,
           was
           inconsistent
           with
           the
           Encouragement
           ,
           or
           Toleration
           of
           such
           a
           Crew
           of
           vile
           Miscreants
           .
           When
           he
           was
           so
           well
           aware
           ,
           that
           let
           such
           pretend
           to
           what
           Loyalty
           they
           pleased
           ,
           't
           was
           impossible
           for
           him
           to
           have
           Naughtier
           Subjects
           than
           These
           are
           .
        
         
           
             Let
             us
             Consider
             what
             St.
          
           Iames
           
             saith
             of
             a
          
           Slandering
           Tongue
           ,
           Ch.
           3.
           v.
           5.
           
           The
           Tongue
           is
           a
           little
           member
           ,
           and
           boasteth
           great
           things
           ;
           behold
           how
           great
           a
           matter
           a
           little
           fire
           kindleth
           !
           And
           the
           Tongue
           is
           a
           Fire
           ,
           a
           VVorld
           of
           Iniquity
           .
           So
           is
           the
           Tongue
           
             (
             or
             a
          
           Calumniating
           Backbiting
           Tongue
           )
           among
           our
           Members
           ,
           that
           it
           defileth
           the
           whole
           Body
           ,
           and
           it
           is
           set
           on
           Fire
           of
           Hell.
           
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           As
           Inventers
           of
           Slanders
           are
           the
           most
           Mischievous
           and
           Destructive
           sort
           of
           People
           ;
           so
           ,
           whilst
           they
           are
           neglected
           and
           let
           alone
           ,
           they
           are
           the
           most
           Successful
           in
           their
           wicked
           Designs
           .
           They
           are
           so
           Successful
           ,
           that
           what
           our
           
           Proverb
           saith
           of
           a
           Flayl
           ,
           is
           much
           truer
           of
           a
           
             Slandering
             Tongue
          
           ,
           that
           ,
           
             There
             is
             no
             Fence
             against
             it
             .
          
           If
           any
           thing
           be
           a
           sure
           Protection
           from
           it
           ,
           one
           would
           think
           the
           most
           Spotless
           Innocence
           ,
           and
           the
           most
           Exemplary
           Virtue
           needs
           must
           ,
           but
           the
           Example
           of
           our
           Blessed
           Saviour
           assures
           us
           of
           the
           Contrary
           .
           No
           Man
           ever
           arrived
           to
           His
           Innocence
           or
           Vertue
           ;
           but
           for
           all
           that
           ,
           never
           was
           any
           one
           so
           strangely
           Wronged
           in
           his
           Good-Name
           as
           He.
           Though
           no
           Man
           more
           Practised
           or
           Taught
           Loyalty
           ,
           yet
           was
           He
           Represented
           as
           an
           Enemy
           to
           Caesar.
           Though
           never
           had
           the
           
             Devil
             such
          
           an
           Enemy
           ,
           yet
           was
           he
           Calumniated
           as
           a
           Great
           Wizzard
           ,
           in
           league
           with
           Beelzebub
           the
           
             Prince
             of
             the
             Devils
          
           .
           Though
           never
           was
           the
           Breast
           of
           any
           one
           so
           possessed
           with
           Divine
           Love
           ,
           nor
           any
           man's
           Mind
           with
           so
           great
           a
           Reverence
           and
           Veneration
           of
           the
           Divine
           Majesty
           ,
           yet
           was
           He
           Stigmatized
           with
           the
           Blackest
           of
           all
           Marks
           and
           Characters
           ,
           viz.
           That
           of
           a
           Blasphemer
           .
           And
           as
           the
           most
           horrid
           Slanders
           were
           invented
           and
           published
           to
           the
           World
           of
           Him
           ,
           so
           were
           they
           generally
           believed
           too
           .
           There
           is
           Nothing
           we
           are
           Owners
           of
           that
           's
           so
           Exposed
           to
           the
           Mercy
           of
           others
           ,
           as
           are
           our
           Good-Names
           .
           Whosoever
           hath
           a
           Tongue
           in
           his
           
           Head
           ,
           if
           he
           be
           but
           Wicked
           enough
           ,
           and
           not
           Universally
           known
           to
           be
           a
           Wicked
           Man
           ,
           can
           ,
           when
           he
           pleaseth
           ,
           do
           our
           Names
           a
           mischief
           .
           The
           
             Wise
             man
          
           saith
           ,
           Prov.
           25.
           18.
           that
           
             A
             Man
             that
             beareth
             false
             Witness
             against
             his
             Neighbour
             ,
             is
             a
             Maul
             ,
             and
             a
             Sword
             ,
             and
             a
             Sharp-Arrow
             .
          
           That
           is
           ,
           He
           is
           made
           up
           and
           Compounded
           of
           all
           fatal
           Mischiefs
           .
           A
           Maul
           cannot
           give
           greater
           Bruises
           ,
           nor
           more
           effectually
           Fell
           to
           the
           ground
           ,
           than
           this
           sort
           of
           Weapon
           :
           Nor
           a
           Sword
           pierce
           deeper
           ,
           or
           Cut
           and
           Slash
           more
           Cruelly
           :
           Nor
           a
           sharp
           Arrow
           wound
           at
           a
           greater
           distance
           ,
           no
           nor
           at
           nothing
           
             so
             great
          
           a
           distance
           ;
           for
           there
           is
           no
           getting
           out
           of
           the
           Reach
           of
           a
           Slandering
           Tongue
           ;
           nor
           is
           there
           any
           where
           to
           be
           found
           Security
           against
           it
           :
           I
           mean
           ,
           besides
           the
           Special
           and
           Extraordinary
           Providence
           of
           God.
           St.
           Iames
           tells
           us
           in
           the
           fore-mentioned
           
             Chapter
             ,
             ver
          
           .
           7.
           &c.
           that
           
             Every
             kind
             of
             Beasts
             ,
             and
             of
             Birds
             ,
             and
             of
             Serpents
             ,
             and
             things
             in
             the
             Sea
             ,
             is
             tamed
             ,
             and
             hath
             been
             tamed
             of
             Man-kind
             ;
             But
             the
             Tongue
             (
             viz.
          
           The
           Tongue
           of
           a
           Slanderer
           ,
           as
           is
           plain
           by
           ver
           .
           9.
           )
           
             can
             no
             Man
             tame
             ,
             it
             is
             an
             unruly
             Evil
             ,
          
           (
           such
           an
           Evil
           as
           there
           is
           no
           dealing
           with
           it
           )
           
             full
             of
             deadly
             Poison
          
           :
           Such
           as
           is
           too
           strong
           for
           the
           most
           Sovereign
           Antidote
           .
        
         
         
           Many
           (
           
             saith
             the
          
           Son
           of
           Syrack
           )
           have
           fallen
           by
           the
           Edge
           of
           the
           Sword
           ,
           but
           not
           so
           many
           as
           have
           fallen
           by
           the
           Tongue
           :
           Well
           is
           he
           that
           is
           defended
           from
           it
           ,
           and
           hath
           not
           passed
           through
           the
           Venome
           thereof
           .
           Who
           hath
           not
           drawn
           the
           Yoke
           thereof
           ,
           nor
           hath
           been
           bound
           in
           its
           bands
           ?
           For
           the
           Yoke
           thereof
           is
           as
           a
           Yoke
           of
           Iron
           ,
           and
           the
           bands
           thereof
           as
           bands
           of
           Brass
           .
           The
           death
           thereof
           is
           an
           evil
           death
           ,
           the
           Grave
           were
           better
           than
           it
           .
           
             So
             that
             the
          
           Slanderer
           
             being
             an
             Enemy
             ,
             against
             whose
             Assaults
             the
             greatest
             Human
             Power
             ,
             Policy
             or
             Wisdom
             ,
             cannot
             wholly
             defend
             us
             ;
             well
             might
             King
          
           David
           
             conceive
             so
             high
             a
             displeasure
             against
             him
             ,
             as
             he
             here
             expresseth
             .
             And
             the
             like
             displeasure
             doth
             he
             declare
             against
             him
             ,
             Psalm
             .
          
           120.
           2
           ,
           3
           ,
           4.
           
           Deliver
           my
           Soul
           ,
           O
           Lord
           ,
           from
           lying
           Lips
           ,
           and
           from
           a
           deceitful
           Tongue
           .
           What
           shall
           be
           given
           unto
           thee
           ,
           or
           what
           shall
           be
           done
           unto
           thee
           thou
           false
           Tongue
           ?
           Sharp
           Arrows
           of
           the
           Mighty
           ,
           with
           Coals
           of
           Iuniper
           .
           
             Or
             ,
             with
          
           hot
           burning
           Coles
           ,
           
             according
             to
             the
          
           other
           Translation
           .
        
         
           I
           proceed
           now
           to
           make
           some
           Application
           of
           what
           hath
           been
           said
           ;
           And
           it
           shall
           be
           This.
           
        
         
           First
           ,
           This
           little
           we
           have
           discoursed
           on
           this
           Argument
           ,
           is
           abundantly
           enough
           to
           render
           the
           
           Sin
           of
           
             Slandering
             our
             Neighbour
          
           most
           abominable
           in
           our
           Eyes
           .
           I
           mean
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           Sin
           of
           Devising
           and
           Inventing
           Defamations
           and
           Slanders
           .
           This
           indeed
           is
           such
           a
           wickedness
           as
           one
           would
           think
           it
           should
           be
           needless
           to
           caution
           those
           against
           it
           ,
           I
           will
           not
           say
           ,
           who
           profess
           Christianity
           ,
           but
           who
           have
           not
           bid
           adien
           to
           all
           Humanity
           .
           It
           is
           such
           a
           Black
           ,
           such
           a
           Hellish
           Sin
           ,
           as
           that
           the
           Devil
           hath
           both
           his
           chief
           Names
           and
           Characters
           from
           it
           .
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           This
           Name
           Devil
           ,
           signifies
           
             the
             Slanderer
             .
             Satan
          
           signifies
           the
           
             Spiteful
             Enemy
          
           .
           The
           chief
           Characters
           we
           meet
           with
           in
           Scripture
           of
           the
           Devil
           ,
           are
           these
           two
           ,
           
             The
             Father
             of
             Lies
          
           ,
           and
           
             The
             Accuser
             of
             the
             Brethren
          
           .
           And
           therefore
           nothing
           can
           denominate
           us
           more
           perfectly
           like
           the
           Devil
           ,
           than
           this
           forging
           of
           Lies
           and
           Calumnies
           against
           our
           Brethren
           .
           And
           we
           see
           ,
           
             Psalm
             .
             50.
             19
             ,
             &c.
          
           with
           what
           severity
           the
           Great
           God
           expresseth
           himself
           against
           those
           that
           dare
           to
           commit
           
             This
             Sin.
          
           Saith
           
             He
             ,
             Thou
             givest
             thy
             Mouth
             to
             Evil
             ,
             and
             thy
             Tongue
             frameth
             Deceit
             .
             Thou
             sittest
             and
             speakest
             against
             thy
             Brother
             ,
             thou
             slanderest
             thine
             own
             Mothers
             Son.
             These
             things
             hast
             thou
             done
             ,
             and
             I
             kept
             silence
             ;
             thou
             thoughtest
             that
             I
             was
             altogether
             such
             an
             one
             as
             thy self
             :
             But
             
             I
             will
             reprove
             thee
             ,
             and
             set
             them
             in
             order
             before
             thine
             Eyes
             .
          
           And
           v.
           16.
           
           He
           asks
           such
           as
           
             These
             ,
             What
             they
             had
             to
             do
             to
             declare
             his
             Statutes
             ,
             or
             that
             they
             should
             take
             his
             Covenant
             into
             their
             Mouths
             :
          
           Or
           to
           make
           profession
           of
           his
           Religion
           ,
           or
           indeed
           of
           any
           Religion
           .
           And
           
             v.
             22.
             
             He
             threatens
          
           them
           
             that
             He
             would
             tear
             them
             in
             Pieces
             ,
             and
             there
             should
             be
             none
             to
             deliver
             ,
          
           if
           they
           would
           not
           consider
           what
           he
           now
           had
           said
           ,
           and
           lay
           it
           to
           heart
           .
        
         
           King
           Solomon
           
             putteth
             this
             Practice
             of
          
           Slandering
           ,
           
             in
             the
             number
             of
             those
             Sins
             ,
             which
             God
             Abominates
             in
             a
             more
          
           Especial
           manner
           .
           Prov.
           6.
           16.
           
           &c.
           These
           six
           thing
           doth
           the
           Lord
           hate
           ,
           yea
           seven
           are
           an
           Abomination
           to
           him
           .
           A
           Proud
           Look
           ,
           a
           Lying
           Tongue
           ,
           and
           Hands
           that
           shed
           Innocent
           Blood
           :
           An
           Heart
           that
           deviseth
           Wicked
           Imaginations
           :
           Feet
           that
           be
           swift
           in
           Running
           to
           Mischief
           :
           A
           False
           Witness
           that
           speaketh
           Lies
           :
           And
           he
           that
           soweth
           Discord
           among
           Brethren
           .
           
             And
             indeed
             all
             these
             Seven
             things
             ,
             except
             the
          
           first
           ,
           
             are
             such
             as
             make
             the
             proper
             Character
             of
          
           This
           sort
           of
           Slanderers
           
             I
             am
             now
             exposing
             .
             And
          
           Rev.
           22.
           15.
           
           Whosoever
           loveth
           and
           maketh
           a
           Lie
           ,
           
             is
             reckoned
             with
          
           Dogs
           and
           Sorcerers
           ,
           and
           Whoremongers
           ,
           and
           Murtherers
           ,
           and
           Idolaters
           ;
           
             who
             are
             to
          
           have
           their
           
           Portion
           in
           the
           Lake
           that
           burneth
           with
           Fire
           and
           Brimstone
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Let
           us
           no
           less
           hate
           the
           Practice
           of
           
             Taking
             up
             Evil
             Reports
          
           against
           any
           ,
           that
           that
           of
           Inventing
           them
           .
           We
           learn
           from
           Psal.
           15.
           3.
           
           That
           This
           also
           will
           exclude
           us
           the
           Kingdom
           of
           Heaven
           ;
           in
           that
           't
           is
           here
           said
           ,
           that
           among
           those
           
             that
             shall
             abide
             in
             Gods
             Tabernacle
             ,
             and
             dwell
             in
             his
             Holy
             Hill
             ,
             He
          
           is
           one
           that
           
             Backbiteth
             not
             with
             his
             Tongue
             ,
             nor
             doth
             Evil
             to
             his
             Neighbour
             ,
             nor
             taketh
             up
             a
             Reproach
             against
             his
             Neighbour
             :
          
           Or
           doth
           not
           without
           
             Good
             Evidence
          
           give
           credit
           to
           it
           ,
           and
           much
           less
           spread
           and
           propagate
           it
           .
           The
           
             Wise
             Man
          
           maketh
           him
           a
           
             VVicked
             doer
             ,
             who
             giveth
             heed
             to
             false
             Lips
          
           ;
           and
           a
           
             Lyar
             ,
             who
             giveth
             ear
             to
             a
             naughty
             Tongue
             .
             Prov.
             17.
             4.
             
             This
          
           is
           as
           much
           a
           Transgression
           of
           the
           forementioned
           
             Golden
             Rule
          
           ,
           Of
           
             doing
             as
             we
             would
             be
             done
             unto
             ,
          
           as
           is
           Devising
           and
           Forging
           Slanders
           .
           I
           doubt
           there
           is
           not
           much
           
             less
             Malice
          
           in
           this
           Practice
           ,
           but
           I
           am
           sure
           it
           savours
           of
           
             every
             whit
          
           as
           little
           Charity
           ,
           as
           that
           other
           Practice
           doth
           .
           I
           can
           have
           no
           Charity
           for
           that
           man
           ,
           against
           whom
           I
           am
           forward
           to
           believe
           and
           report
           whatsoever
           of
           evil
           I
           chance
           to
           hear
           of
           him
           .
           Nay
           ,
           VVhisperers
           and
           Backbiters
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           
             Inventers
             of
             Evil
             things
          
           ,
           are
           reckoned
           by
           Saint
           
           Paul
           ,
           among
           those
           obdurate
           Sinners
           ,
           of
           whom
           he
           Pronounceth
           ,
           That
           God
           
             had
             given
             them
             over
          
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           
             to
             a
             Reprobate
             mind
          
           ,
           Rom.
           1.
           29
           ,
           30.
           
        
         
           Hasty
           Believers
           and
           Spreaders
           of
           false
           Reports
           ,
           are
           the
           Tools
           and
           Instruments
           of
           those
           that
           invent
           them
           ,
           for
           the
           doing
           of
           the
           Mischief
           they
           design
           by
           them
           .
           And
           it
           is
           almost
           wholly
           Long
           of
           these
           ,
           that
           Those
           wicked
           People
           are
           in
           a
           Capacity
           of
           doing
           any
           Mischief
           by
           their
           Forgeries
           .
        
         
           We
           are
           Bound
           therefore
           by
           the
           strictest
           Bonds
           ,
           by
           the
           Bonds
           of
           Charity
           ,
           of
           Iustice
           ,
           and
           of
           Self-Preservation
           ,
           to
           be
           extremely
           Cautious
           of
           lending
           our
           Ear
           to
           Tale-Bearers
           ,
           lest
           we
           be
           Involved
           in
           their
           Guilt
           ,
           and
           so
           brought
           to
           share
           with
           them
           in
           their
           dreadful
           Punishment
           .
           Since
           this
           is
           an
           express
           Law
           of
           God
           ,
           
             Thou
             shalt
             not
             go
             up
             and
             down
             as
             a
             Tale-bearer
             among
             thy
             People
             ,
          
           Lev.
           19.
           16.
           
           Surely
           't
           is
           as
           
             much
             a
             Law
             of
             His
          
           ,
           That
           we
           should
           not
           give
           incouragement
           to
           those
           whom
           we
           know
           to
           be
           Tale-bearers
           ,
           by
           Listning
           to
           their
           Tales
           .
        
         
           Nay
           ,
           We
           are
           obliged
           to
           be
           so
           far
           from
           Believing
           a
           Report
           against
           our
           Neighbour
           ,
           meerly
           from
           the
           Information
           of
           any
           One
           or
           a
           
           Few
           Persons
           ,
           of
           whose
           Integrity
           ,
           and
           of
           〈◊〉
           certain
           Knowledge
           of
           the
           Truth
           thereof
           ,
           〈◊〉
           have
           not
           great
           Assurance
           ,
           that
           we
           may
           not
           ne●●ther
           conclude
           any
           Man
           Guilty
           ,
           from
           his
           being
           Accused
           by
           the
           Generality
           .
           There
           is
           indeed
           a
           common
           saying
           ,
           
             Vox-Populi
             est
             vox
             Dei
             ,
             The
             Voice
             of
             the
             People
             is
             the
             Voice
             of
             God.
          
           And
           in
           a
           certain
           Sence
           it
           may
           well
           pass
           for
           a
           true
           Proverb
           .
           But
           as
           it
           is
           vulgarly
           understood
           ,
           The
           
             Voice
             of
             the
             People
          
           is
           not
           the
           
             Voice
             of
             God
          
           ,
           as
           we
           of
           this
           City
           and
           Kingdom
           have
           often
           found
           by
           sad
           Experience
           .
           All
           Wise
           and
           Honest
           Men
           cannot
           be
           ,
           at
           this
           time
           of
           day
           ,
           to
           seek
           for
           Conviction
           ,
           What
           great
           Sufferers
           ,
           even
           our
           Governours
           themselves
           have
           been
           Wrongfully
           made
           to
           be
           ,
           by
           the
           
             Voice
             of
             the
             People
          
           .
           And
           I
           dare
           Affirm
           ,
           That
           he
           who
           now
           takes
           the
           common
           Vogue
           for
           unquestionable
           Evidence
           ,
           had
           he
           lived
           in
           the
           Dayes
           of
           our
           Blessed
           Saviour
           ,
           would
           have
           been
           made
           One
           among
           that
           wicked
           Crew
           ,
           who
           applauded
           the
           Sentence
           pronounc'd
           against
           Him.
           
        
         
           And
           there
           is
           this
           weighty
           Reason
           ,
           why
           Common
           Fame
           it self
           is
           not
           to
           be
           Confided
           in
           ,
           viz.
           For
           ought
           we
           can
           tell
           this
           Fame
           might
           first
           arise
           from
           but
           One
           Man
           ,
           and
           that
           Man
           a
           Liar
           
           too
           ;
           and
           this
           we
           Certainly
           know
           ,
           that
           the
           Generality
           are
           so
           void
           of
           Charity
           ,
           as
           hastily
           to
           Catch
           at
           Scandalous
           Stories
           ,
           and
           are
           much
           more
           easily
           perswaded
           to
           think
           and
           
             report
             Evil
          
           Things
           upon
           very
           slight
           Grounds
           ,
           than
           good
           and
           commendable
           Things
           ,
           upon
           the
           most
           evident
           and
           apparent
           Ones
           .
           And
           none
           have
           so
           sad
           Experience
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           this
           ,
           as
           Those
           of
           whose
           Reputation
           we
           are
           obliged
           to
           be
           the
           
             most
             tender
          
           .
           I
           mean
           our
           Governours
           in
           Church
           and
           State.
           
        
         
           But
           suppose
           we
           have
           certain
           Assurance
           ,
           that
           such
           an
           ill
           Report
           did
           take
           its
           first
           Rise
           from
           
             not
             a
             few
          
           ,
           yet
           we
           may
           not
           be
           sure
           but
           that
           these
           might
           be
           United
           in
           one
           common
           Interest
           and
           Design
           ;
           but
           in
           this
           Case
           ,
           the
           Report
           of
           many
           carryes
           no
           whit
           stronger
           Evidence
           with
           it
           ,
           than
           if
           it
           came
           but
           from
           One
           Mouth
           .
           And
           this
           was
           the
           very
           Case
           of
           our
           
             Blessed
             Lord
          
           :
           They
           were
           many
           who
           first
           divulged
           vile
           Slanders
           of
           Him
           ,
           but
           they
           were
           All
           acted
           by
           one
           and
           the
           same
           
             Principle
             ,
             viz.
          
           That
           of
           Malice
           ;
           and
           by
           the
           same
           
             Design
             ,
             viz.
          
           That
           of
           
             Disgracing
             Him
             among
             the
             People
          
           ,
           and
           Incencing
           of
           King
           Herod
           and
           
             Pontius
             Pilate
          
           against
           Him.
           
        
         
           But
           Lastly
           ,
           Suppose
           we
           could
           be
           certain
           ,
           That
           the
           many
           '
           first
           Reporters
           of
           Bad
           Stories
           
           were
           not
           Linked
           together
           by
           one
           Common
           Tye
           ,
           yet
           even
           in
           this
           Case
           too
           we
           are
           bound
           to
           use
           Caution
           and
           Deliberation
           ,
           before
           we
           give
           them
           undoubted
           Credit
           .
           Especially
           if
           those
           Stories
           relate
           to
           Words
           or
           Actions
           that
           are
           capable
           of
           a
           two-fold
           Interpretation
           .
           The
           same
           Actions
           may
           be
           Faulty
           or
           Commendable
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Circumstances
           wherewith
           they
           are
           attended
           .
           And
           the
           same
           Words
           may
           be
           so
           too
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Occasion
           or
           Connexion
           of
           them
           .
           But
           People
           are
           generally
           ,
           even
           those
           who
           have
           no
           Malicious
           Intention
           ,
           Rash
           ,
           and
           Heady
           in
           judging
           of
           Actions
           without
           weighing
           Circumstances
           ;
           and
           in
           running
           away
           with
           half
           Sentences
           ;
           or
           with
           whole
           ones
           ,
           without
           Considering
           ,
           What
           
             went
             before
          
           ,
           or
           
             followed
             after
          
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           as
           we
           would
           not
           fall
           under
           the
           Guilt
           of
           that
           Sin
           ,
           the
           exceeding
           Heinousness
           of
           which
           I
           have
           been
           representing
           ,
           Look
           we
           to
           it
           ,
           that
           we
           be
           not
           Hasty
           in
           taking
           up
           Evill
           Reports
           of
           any
           Body
           ,
           let
           them
           come
           to
           us
           from
           never
           so
           many
           .
           If
           this
           be
           warrantable
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           already
           intimated
           ,
           the
           joyning
           with
           those
           who
           ran
           down
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           and
           at
           last
           Nailed
           Him
           to
           the
           Cross
           ,
           had
           been
           very
           Excuseable
           ,
           not
           to
           say
           Defensible
           .
        
         
         
           And
           let
           us
           believe
           as
           well
           as
           ,
           without
           offering
           Violence
           to
           our
           Reason
           ,
           we
           can
           of
           all
           Men
           ;
           and
           chuse
           much
           rather
           in
           our
           Judging
           ,
           and
           in
           our
           Reports
           of
           Men
           ,
           to
           offend
           on
           the
           Right
           than
           on
           the
           Left
           hand
           .
           I
           am
           certain
           ,
           thus
           much
           is
           implied
           in
           those
           
             two
             Precepts
          
           of
           our
           Lord
           ,
           viz.
           
             Iudg
             not
             that
             ye
             be
             not
             Iudged
             ;
             for
             with
             what
             Iudgment
             ye
             Iudge
             ye
             shall
             be
             Iudged
             ,
             and
             with
             what
             Measure
             ye
             mete
             ,
             it
             shall
             be
             meted
             to
             you
             again
             .
          
           Matth.
           7.
           1
           ,
           2.
           
           And
           
             Iudge
             not
             according
             to
             the
             appearance
             ,
             but
             judg
             Righteous
             Iudgment
             ,
          
           John
           7.
           24.
           
        
         
           2.
           
           Ought
           the
           Slandering
           of
           our
           Neighbour
           to
           be
           so
           detested
           by
           us
           ,
           then
           what
           an
           Abominable
           thing
           is
           it
           ,
           to
           Slander
           ,
           and
           injure
           the
           Good-Name
           and
           Reputation
           of
           the
           
             Kings
             Majesty
          
           ,
           and
           of
           those
           that
           under
           Him
           have
           Authority
           over
           us
           !
           'T
           is
           an
           express
           Law
           of
           God
           ,
           Exod.
           22.
           28.
           
           &
           repeated
           by
           St.
           Paul
           ,
           viz.
           
             Thou
             shalt
             not
             revile
             the
             Gods
             ,
             nor
             Curse
          
           (
           or
           speak
           evil
           of
           )
           
             the
             Ruler
             of
             thy
             People
          
           .
           And
           as
           to
           the
           King
           ,
           't
           is
           so
           great
           a
           wickedness
           to
           defame
           Him
           ,
           or
           say
           any
           thing
           to
           the
           lessening
           of
           his
           Honour
           ,
           that
           the
           
             Wise
             Man
          
           thus
           chargeth
           us
           ,
           
             Eccles.
             10.
             20.
             
             Curse
             not
             the
             King
             ,
             no
             not
             in
             thy
             thought
             .
          
        
         
         
           And
           't
           is
           as
           much
           the
           Peoples
           interest
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           the
           Kings
           ,
           that
           He
           be
           not
           
             Slandered
             ▪
          
           or
           
             Spoken
             Evil
          
           of
           .
           For
           Seditious
           and
           Rebellious
           Practices
           do
           usually
           arise
           from
           Mens
           first
           taking
           this
           Wicked
           Liberty
           ;
           as
           we
           have
           all
           known
           by
           very
           woeful
           Experience
           .
           And
           we
           know
           by
           the
           like
           experience
           ,
           that
           the
           King
           suffers
           not
           more
           by
           those
           leud
           Practices
           ,
           than
           the
           People
           necessarily
           must
           .
        
         
           It
           was
           a
           good
           saying
           ,
           as
           I
           remember
           ,
           of
           Aristotle
           ,
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           
             VVhosoever
             defames
             the
             Prince
             ,
             is
             Injurious
             to
             the
             Common-VVealth
          
           ;
           or
           Mischiefs
           his
           Subjects
           .
        
         
           And
           as
           for
           those
           that
           take
           liberty
           to
           Invent
           or
           Tell
           Stories
           reflecting
           upon
           their
           Ecclesiastical
           Governours
           ,
           Pastors
           ,
           or
           Teachers
           ,
           they
           are
           in
           a
           special
           manner
           injurious
           to
           the
           
             Souls
             of
             Men.
          
           For
           nothing
           so
           tends
           to
           the
           prejudicing
           of
           their
           People
           against
           their
           Doctrine
           ,
           as
           their
           having
           an
           Evil
           Opinion
           of
           their
           Persons
           .
           And
           for
           this
           Reason
           ,
           I
           think
           none
           are
           so
           much
           concerned
           to
           keep
           their
           Good-Names
           as
           unspotted
           as
           they
           can
           ,
           and
           to
           clear
           themselves
           of
           whatsoever
           Aspersions
           are
           cast
           upon
           them
           ,
           as
           They
           are
           .
        
      
       
         
         
           The
           Conclusion
           .
        
         
           ANd
           now
           I
           will
           take
           this
           Occasion
           to
           inform
           you
           ,
           That
           Some
           having
           greatly
           concerned
           themselves
           of
           late
           ,
           to
           carry
           Tales
           of
           Scandalous
           Passages
           which
           they
           pretend
           to
           have
           heard
           from
           the
           Pulpits
           of
           divers
           of
           my
           Brethren
           in
           
             this
             City
          
           ,
           there
           are
           Others
           who
           have
           very
           lately
           done
           the
           like
           good
           Office
           for
           My self
           .
           I
           am
           too
           well
           aware
           Who
           they
           are
           ,
           I
           will
           tell
           you
           who
           they
           are
           Not
           ;
           I
           am
           very
           confident
           ,
           they
           are
           
             not
             Papists
          
           ,
           at
           least
           not
           Professed
           ones
           .
           But
           you
           of
           this
           Parish
           may
           have
           a
           shrewd
           guess
           within
           a
           very
           few
           ;
           for
           you
           must
           needs
           know
           some
           to
           have
           long
           expressed
           as
           bitter
           and
           implacable
           enmity
           against
           me
           ,
           as
           if
           we
           had
           been
           of
           
             two
             Churches
          
           and
           
             Contrary
             Religions
          
           :
           And
           that
           without
           the
           least
           provocation
           on
           My
           part
           .
           And
           I
           doubt
           not
           there
           are
           many
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Religion
          
           ,
           from
           whom
           I
           should
           have
           had
           much
           more
           
             Iust
             ,
             Fair
          
           ,
           and
           Christian
           Treatment
           .
           As
           silent
           as
           I
           have
           been
           hitherto
           ,
           this
           is
           not
           the
           first
           nor
           second
           time
           neither
           ,
           that
           I
           have
           been
           in
           the
           self-same
           manner
           most
           vilely
           abused
           by
           These
           People
           ,
           as
           in
           due
           time
           ,
           I
           trust
           in
           God
           will
           be
           made
           
           manifest
           .
           My
           last
           Accusation
           was
           this
           ,
           (
           or
           at
           least
           the
           last
           I
           have
           heard
           of
           )
           That
           I
           vented
           in
           this
           Pulpit
           ,
           on
           
           All-Saints-Day
           ,
           viz.
           This
           day
           Fortnight
           ,
           a
           
             Bitter
             Curse
          
           against
           the
           Papists
           ,
           together
           with
           all
           those
           (
           for
           which
           I
           trust
           to
           the
           Memory
           of
           an
           Extraordinary
           Person
           )
           
             who
             give
             them
             encouragement
          
           .
           And
           the
           Curse
           I
           understand
           was
           worded
           to
           this
           Effect
           ;
           
             I
             wish
             their
             Names
             and
             Memories
             may
             Rot
             Eternally
             .
          
           Whatsoever
           the
           
             Express
             Words
          
           were
           ,
           I
           hear
           they
           perfectly
           Agreed
           in
           the
           self-same
           ,
           which
           is
           so
           far
           from
           Evidence
           of
           their
           telling
           Truth
           of
           me
           ,
           that
           't
           is
           a
           much
           stronger
           Argument
           of
           their
           being
           Conspirators
           against
           me
           .
           But
           may
           this
           Curse
           ,
           instead
           of
           falling
           upon
           the
           Papists
           ,
           or
           those
           that
           Encourage
           them
           ,
           light
           upon
           my
           Own
           Name
           and
           Memory
           ,
           if
           I
           either
           Pronounced
           It
           ,
           or
           any
           Curse
           
             like
             it
          
           against
           either
           the
           One
           or
           the
           other
           ,
           or
           any
           
             Curse
             at
             all
          
           against
           either
           .
           And
           as
           I
           solemnly
           Appeal
           to
           
             God
             Almighty
          
           ,
           so
           I
           Appeal
           to
           You
           my
           Auditors
           ,
           Whether
           there
           were
           the
           least
           Appearance
           or
           Shadow
           of
           an
           Occasion
           given
           by
           me
           ,
           for
           such
           an
           Information
           
             as
             this
          
           against
           me
           .
           I
           Appeal
           to
           You
           also
           ,
           Whether
           you
           can
           think
           it
           Possible
           ,
           that
           such
           an
           Accusation
           as
           this
           could
           arise
           from
           
             meer
             Mistake
          
           .
           I
           am
           Confident
           ,
           That
           All
           who
           
           minded
           my
           Sermon
           ,
           will
           pronounce
           ,
           that
           neither
           
             this
             Charge
          
           ,
           nor
           any
           Charge
           that
           hath
           the
           least
           likeness
           to
           it
           ,
           be
           it
           Worded
           how
           it
           will
           ,
           must
           be
           nothing
           better
           than
           
             pure
             Invention
          
           ;
           which
           we
           have
           shewn
           is
           the
           most
           Horrible
           way
           of
           Slandering
           .
        
         
           I
           prevailed
           with
           a
           most
           Worthy
           Prelate
           to
           hear
           that
           Sermon
           read
           out
           of
           my
           Notes
           word
           for
           word
           ,
           and
           I
           cannot
           call
           to
           mind
           my
           having
           said
           above
           three
           or
           four
           Words
           more
           than
           are
           in
           my
           Notes
           ,
           and
           those
           I
           acquainted
           his
           Lordship
           with
           ,
           meerly
           that
           I
           might
           truly
           say
           ,
           That
           He
           had
           nothing
           of
           the
           Sermon
           Concealed
           from
           Him.
           And
           after
           it
           was
           read
           ,
           not
           one
           Bit
           of
           a
           Sentence
           could
           be
           fixed
           upon
           ,
           that
           might
           put
           my
           Enemies
           in
           mind
           to
           Invent
           such
           a
           Slander
           as
           this
           of
           me
           ,
           unless
           it
           were
           this
           ,
           viz.
           
             If
             we
             do
             not
             justify
             to
             all
             the
             World
          
           (
           meaning
           ,
           as
           before
           was
           expressed
           ,
           
             we
             Divines
          
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           
             England
             )
             the
             Representations
             we
             have
             made
             of
             that
             Religion
             (
             viz.
          
           the
           
             Roman
             )
             to
             our
             People
             ,
             let
             our
             Names
             stink
             ,
             and
             our
             Memories
             be
             covered
             with
             Eternal
             shame
             .
          
           And
           these
           words
           next
           follow
           ,
           
             'T
             is
             a
             most
             wicked
             thing
             to
             Slander
             a
             particular
             Person
             ,
             and
             much
             more
             to
             Slander
             and
             Be-lye
             a
             whole
             Church
             ,
             and
             that
             so
             Excellent
             and
             Famous
             a
             Church
             ,
             as
             that
             of
          
           Rome
           
             once
             
             was
          
           .
           So
           that
           if
           I
           had
           been
           Accused
           of
           Curseing
           my Self
           ,
           or
           my
           Brethren
           ,
           instead
           of
           the
           Papists
           ,
           and
           those
           that
           Encourage
           them
           ,
           there
           had
           been
           a
           much
           more
           Colourable
           Pretence
           for
           such
           a
           Calumny
           .
        
         
           I
           know
           I
           han't
           lived
           such
           a
           Life
           as
           that
           after
           so
           Solemn
           Appeals
           as
           I
           have
           now
           made
           ,
           my
           perfect
           Innocence
           ,
           as
           to
           
             this
             Charge
          
           ,
           should
           be
           in
           the
           least
           Questioned
           by
           those
           ,
           who
           have
           the
           least
           Knowledge
           of
           me
           .
           Bur
           as
           for
           those
           that
           are
           Acquainted
           with
           me
           ,
           I
           am
           certain
           they
           need
           no
           such
           Appeals
           to
           Satisfy
           them
           ,
           that
           I
           could
           not
           be
           Guilty
           of
           so
           Un-Christian
           a
           thing
           ,
           as
           the
           Cursing
           of
           any
           Man
           ,
           upon
           any
           account
           ;
           and
           much
           less
           ,
           as
           the
           Cursing
           of
           
             any
             Sort
          
           of
           Men
           ,
           upon
           the
           account
           of
           their
           being
           of
           a
           different
           Religion
           from
           my Self
           .
           For
           as
           to
           all
           such
           ,
           I
           have
           very
           rarely
           been
           blamed
           for
           any
           
             Defect
             of
             Charity
          
           towards
           them
           ;
           but
           I
           have
           often
           been
           Censured
           as
           being
           in
           the
           other
           Extreme
           ,
           viz.
           Of
           the
           Excess
           of
           Charity
           ,
           which
           I
           have
           alwayes
           concluded
           to
           be
           much
           the
           safest
           .
        
         
           Good
           Lord
           ,
           That
           any
           ,
           who
           profess
           themselves
           Christians
           ,
           should
           be
           so
           depraved
           ,
           as
           to
           attend
           our
           Preaching
           God's
           holy
           Word
           ,
           with
           no
           better
           a
           Design
           ,
           than
           to
           be
           Spyes
           upon
           Us
           ,
           
           and
           to
           catch
           at
           all
           advantages
           (
           and
           when
           they
           can
           find
           none
           ,
           to
           make
           them
           )
           for
           the
           Ruining
           of
           us
           and
           our
           Families
           ;
           Nay
           ,
           and
           which
           is
           worse
           ,
           if
           worse
           can
           be
           ,
           that
           such
           should
           dare
           to
           receive
           the
           
             Holy
             Communion
          
           ,
           and
           that
           at
           Their
           hands
           too
           ,
           against
           whom
           they
           are
           alwayes
           
             Contriving
             of
             Mischief
          
           .
        
         
           God
           Grant
           that
           such
           People
           may
           at
           length
           seriously
           lay
           to
           heart
           ,
           the
           wretched
           State
           they
           are
           in
           ,
           and
           consider
           what
           a
           severe
           Reckoning
           ,
           they
           shall
           one
           day
           be
           called
           to
           for
           such
           Practices
           .
           And
           that
           ,
           if
           timely
           Repentance
           prevent
           it
           not
           ,
           there
           will
           most
           certainly
           be
           
             Bitterness
             in
             the
             Latter
             End.
          
           
        
         
           I
           have
           sometimes
           e'ne
           Trembled
           to
           think
           ,
           what
           horrid
           Crimes
           the
           Devil
           in
           time
           may
           draw
           such
           into
           ,
           who
           are
           so
           forsaken
           of
           the
           
             Divine
             Grace
          
           ,
           as
           to
           be
           Able
           to
           do
           such
           things
           as
           These
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           long
           Remembred
           my
           Adversaries
           particularly
           in
           my
           Daily
           Prayers
           ,
           that
           God
           would
           be
           pleased
           to
           give
           them
           true
           Repentance
           for
           the
           many
           great
           Injuries
           they
           have
           done
           me
           ,
           and
           for
           their
           other
           Sins
           ,
           that
           their
           Souls
           may
           be
           saved
           in
           the
           day
           of
           the
           
             Lord
             Iesus
          
           .
        
         
           I
           am
           under
           a
           greater
           necessity
           than
           you
           are
           aware
           of
           ,
           thus
           to
           clear
           my
           Innocence
           ;
           and
           what
           I
           have
           now
           done
           ,
           hath
           not
           been
           without
           the
           best
           Advice
           .
        
         
         
           Thanks
           be
           to
           God
           ,
           His
           Majesty
           is
           so
           Just
           and
           Gracious
           a
           Prince
           ,
           as
           instead
           of
           readily
           crediting
           ill
           Stories
           of
           us
           ,
           to
           give
           us
           Opportunities
           for
           the
           clearing
           of
           our
           Innocence
           :
           And
           very
           willingly
           Condescends
           ,
           
             Audire
             alteram
             Partem
          
           ,
           to
           the
           hearing
           of
           our
           Vindications
           .
           Nor
           is
           His
           Majesty
           less
           forward
           to
           the
           receiving
           of
           Satisfaction
           concerning
           our
           Innocence
           ,
           than
           Patient
           in
           Hearing
           Complaints
           against
           us
           .
           Which
           Grace
           of
           His
           lays
           a
           Farther
           Obligation
           upon
           us
           ,
           to
           Pray
           for
           His
           Majesties
           Long
           and
           Happy
           Reign
           over
           us
           .
        
         
           
             I
             will
             now
             Conclude
             ,
             with
             that
             most
          
           Christian
           
             Petition
             of
             our
          
           Church
           
             in
             the
          
           Litany
           .
           We
           beseech
           thee
           Good
           Lord
           ,
           That
           it
           may
           please
           Thee
           to
           forgive
           our
           Enemies
           ,
           Persecutors
           and
           Slanderers
           ,
           and
           to
           turn
           their
           Hearts
           .
           
             And
             with
             the
          
           Intercession
           
             of
             our
             Blessed
          
           Saviour
           
             upon
             the
          
           Cross
           ,
           
             for
             his
             Bloody
             Enemies
          
           :
           Father
           forgive
           them
           ,
           for
           they
           know
           not
           what
           they
           do
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
         
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A40081-e310
           
             Tertul.