eth his Life: But he that openeth wide his Lips, fhall have. Destruction.

Ecclefiaftic. xxi. 26. The Heart of Fools is in their Mouth: But the Mouth of the Wife is in their Heart.

Prov. xxi. 23. Whofo keepeth his Mouth and his Tongue, keepeth his Soul from Troubles.

If Men would of their Speeches cautious be,
From Inconveniences it would them free:
But Fools, unthoughtful, do themfelves betray,
For they full foon are known by what they fay.

Texts of Backbiting and defaming the Reputations of our Neighbours.

Roverbs xviii. 8. The Words of a Talebearer

Proverbs Wounds, and they go down into the

innermost Parts of the Belly.

Prov. xxv. 23. The North Wind driveth away Rain So doth an angry Countenance a backbiting Tongue.

Prov, xxvi. 28. A lying Tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it, and a flattering Mouth worketh Ruin.

Prov. xx. 19. He that goeth about as a Talebearer, revealeth Secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his Lips.

Levit. xviv. 16. Thou shalt not go up and down as a Tale-bearer among thy People.

fames iii. 6. And the Tongue is a Fire, a World of Iniquity: So is the Tongue amongst our Members, that it defileth the whole Body, and fetteth on fire the Courfe of Nature; and it is fet on fire of Hell.

Ecclefiaftic. xxviii. 13. to 19. Curfe the Whilperer and double-tongued, for fuch have deftroyed

many

many that were at Peace. A back-biting Tongue hath difquieted many, and driven them from Nation to Ñation; ftrong Cities hath it pulled down, and overthrown the Houfes of great Men. A back-biting Tongue hath call out virtuous Women, and deprived them of their Labours. Whofo

hearkeneth unto it fhall never find Reft, and never dwell quietly. The Stroke of the Whip maketh Marks in the Flesh; but the Stroke of the Tongue breaketh the Bones. Many have fallen by the Edge of the Sword, but not so many as have fallen by the Tongue.

Ecclefiaftic. xxviii. 28. A Whisperer defileth his own Soul, and is hated wherefoever he dwelleth.

James iv. 11. Speak not evil one of another, Brethren.

Prov. iii. 7. Devise not Evil against thy Neighbour.

Pfalm xv. 29. He that back-biteth not with his Tongue, nor doth evil to his Neighbour, nor taketh up a Reproach against his Neighbour.

Exod. xxiii. 1. Thou shalt not raise a falfe Report: Put not thine Hand with the Wicked to be an unrighteous Witness.

Pfalm xxxiv. 13. 14. Keep thy Tongue from evil, and thy Lips from fpeaking Guile. Depart from Evil, and do good; feek Peace, and purfue it.

Heb. xxii. 14. Follow Peace with all Men, and Holiness, without which no Man fhall fee the Lord.

Those Men are furely very much to blame,
Who are inclin'd their Neighbours to defame;
It would be better in themfelves to fee
One Fault, than find an hundred Faults in me.

Texts which fhew how difagreeable Wrath, Anger, Envy, and Haftinefs are to pure Religion.

J4

Ames iii. 13, 14, 16. Who is a wise Man and endued with Knowledge amongst you? Let him thew out of a good Conversation his Works with Meekness of Wisdom. But if ye have bitter Envying and Strife in your Hearts, glory not, and lye not against the Truth. For where Envying and Strife is, there is Confufion, and every evil Work.

Matt. v. 43, 44. Ye have heard that it hath been faid, Thou shalt love thy Neighbour and hate thine Enemy: But I fay unto you, Love your Enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully ufe you and perfecute you.

Prov. xiv. 17. 29. He that is foon dealangry eth foolishly: And a Man of wicked Devices is hated. He that is flow to Wrath is of great Understanding: But he that is hafty of Spirit exalteth Folly.

Prov. xv. 18. A wrathful Man firreth up Strife: But he that is low to Anger appeaseth Strife.

Prov. xvi. 32. He that is flow to anger is better than the Mighty: And he that ruleth his Spirit, than he that taketh a City.

Prov. xx. 12. Hatred ftirreth up all Strifes: but Love covereth all Sins.

Prov. xix, II. The Difcretion of a Man deferreth his Anger, and it is his Glory to pass over a Trans greffion.

Prov. xx. 3. It is an Honour for a Man to ceafe from Strife, but every Fool will be meddling

Prov. xvii. 14. Whofo rewardeth Evil for good, evil fhall not depart from his Houfe. The Beginning of Strife, is as when one letteth out Therefore leave off Contention before it

Water:

be meddled with.

Prov. xxvii. 4. Wrath is cruel, and Anger is outragious; but who is able to ftand before Envy. Prov. xxv. 28. He that hath no Rule over his own Spirit, is like a City that is broken down and without Walls.

Prov. xxix. 20, 22, 23. Seeft thou a Man that is hafty in his Words? There is more hope of a Fool, than of him. An angry Man ftirreth up Strife, and a furious Man aboundeth in Tranfgreffion. A Man's Pride fhall bring him low; But Honour fhall uphold the Humble in Spirit. Ecclefiaft. xxviii. to Verse 10. He that reveng eth fhall find Vengeance of the Lord, and he will furely keep his Sins in Remembrance. Forgive thy Neighbour the Hurt that he hath done unto thee, fo fhall thy Sins also be forgiven when thou prayeft. One Man beareth Hatred, and doth he feek Pardon from the Lord? He fheweth no Mercy to a Man which is like himself, and doth he afk Forgiveness of his own Sins? If he that is but Flesh nourish Hatred, who will intreat for Pardon of his Sins? Remember thy End, and let Enmity ceafe; remember Corruption and Death, and abide in the Commandments, Remember the Commandments, and bear no Malice to thy Neighbour. Abstain from Strife, and thou shalt diminish thy Sins; for a furious Man will kindle Strife. A finful Man difquieteth Friends, and maketh Debate among them that be at Peace.

Luke vi. 37. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged Condemn not, and ye fhall not be condemned: Forgive, and ye fhall be forgiven. James ii. 13. For he thall have Judgment without Mercy, that hath fhewed no Mercy

Mark

Mark xi. 25. And when ye ftand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: That your Father alfo, which is in Heaven may forgive you your Trefpaffes. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in Heaven forgive your Trefpaffes.

1 Pet. ii. 1.

Wherefore laying afide all Malice, and all Guile, and Hypocrifies, and Envies and all Evil-speaking.

Gal. v. 14. 15. For all the Law is fulfilled in one Word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy felf. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not confumed one of another.

Ephef. iv. 26, 27, 31, 32. Be ye angry, and fin not: Let not the Sun go down upon your Wrath: Neither give place to the Devil. Let all Bitterness, and Wrath, and Anger, and Clamour, and Evil-fpeaking be put away from you, with all Malice. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Chrift's fake, hath forgiven you.

Rom. xii. 14, 17, to 21. Blefs them which perfecute you: Blefs and curfe not. Recompenfe to no Man evil for evil. If it be poffible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all Men. Dearly beloved, avenge not your selves, but rather give place unto Wrath: For it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, faith the Lord. Therefore if thine Enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirft, give him Drink: For in fo doing thou shalt heap Coals of Fire on his Head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Heb. xiii. 1. Let brotherly Love continue.

Philip. ii. 3. Let nothing be done through Strife or Vain-glory, but in lowliness of Mind let each efteem other better than themselves.

1 Pet. v.

5. All of you be fubject one to another, and be cloathed with Humility: For God

refifteth