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the_o archbishop_n of_o canterbury_n sermon_n before_o the_o king_n and_o queen_n at_o whitehall_n february_n the_o 25_o the_o 1693_o 4._o be_v the_o first_o sunday_n in_o lent_n a_o sermon_n preach_v before_o the_o king_n and_o queen_n at_o whitehall_n february_n the_o 25_o the_o 1693_o 4._o be_v the_o first_o sunday_n in_o lent_n by_o john_n lord_n archbishop_n of_o canterbury_n publish_a by_o their_o majesty_n special_a command_n london_n print_v for_o brabazon_n aylmer_n at_o the_o three_o pigeon_n in_o cornhill_n and_o william_n rogers_n at_o the_o sun_n in_o fleetstreet_n mdcxciv_o a_o sermon_n preach_v before_o the_o king_n and_o queen_n titus_n iii_o 2._o to_o speak_v evil_a of_o no_o man_n general_z persuasive_n to_o repentance_n and_o a_o good_a life_n and_o invective_n against_o sin_n and_o wickedness_n at_o large_a be_v certain_o of_o good_a use_n to_o recommend_v religion_n and_o virtue_n and_o to_o expose_v the_o deformity_n and_o danger_n of_o a_o vicious_a course_n but_o it_o must_v be_v acknowledge_v on_o the_o other_o hand_n that_o these_o general_a discourse_n do_v not_o so_o immediate_o tend_v to_o reform_v the_o life_n of_o man_n because_o they_o fall_v among_o the_o crowd_n but_o do_v not_o touch_v the_o conscience_n of_o particular_a person_n in_o so_o sensible_a and_o awaken_n a_o manner_n as_o when_o we_o treat_v of_o particular_a duty_n and_o sin_n and_o endeavour_v to_o put_v man_n upon_o the_o practice_n of_o the_o one_o and_o to_o reclaim_v they_o from_o the_o other_o by_o proper_a argument_n take_v from_o the_o word_n of_o god_n and_o from_o the_o nature_n of_o particular_a virtue_n and_o vice_n the_o general_a way_n be_v as_o if_o a_o physician_n instead_o of_o apply_v particular_a remedy_n to_o the_o distemper_n of_o his_o patient_n shall_v entertain_v he_o with_o a_o long_a discourse_n of_o disease_n in_o general_a and_o of_o the_o pleasure_n and_o advantage_n of_o health_n and_o earnest_o persuade_v he_o to_o be_v well_o 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consideration_n to_o dissuade_v man_n from_o it_o five_o i_o shall_v give_v some_o rule_n and_o direction_n for_o the_o prevention_n and_o cure_n of_o it_o i._o i_o shall_v consider_v what_o this_o sin_n or_o vice_n of_o evil-speaking_a i._o here_o forbid_v by_o the_o apostle_n be_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d not_o to_o defame_v and_o slander_v any_o man_n not_o to_o hurt_v his_o reputation_n as_o the_o etymology_n of_o the_o word_n do_v import_v so_o that_o this_o vice_n consist_v in_o say_v thing_n of_o other_o which_o tend_v to_o their_o disparagement_n and_o reproach_n to_o the_o take_v away_o or_o lessen_v of_o their_o reputation_n and_o good_a name_n and_o this_o whether_o the_o thing_n say_v be_v true_a or_o not_o if_o they_o be_v false_a and_o we_o know_v it_o than_o it_o be_v downright_a calumny_n and_o if_o we_o do_v not_o know_v it_o but_o take_v it_o upon_o the_o report_n of_o other_o it_o be_v however_o a_o slander_n and_o so_o much_o the_o more_o injurious_a because_o real_o groundless_a and_o undeserved_a if_o the_o thing_n be_v true_a and_o we_o know_v it_o to_o be_v so_o yet_o it_o be_v a_o defamation_n and_o tend_v to_o the_o prejudice_n of_o our_o neighbour_n reputation_n and_o it_o be_v a_o fault_n to_o say_v the_o evil_a of_o other_o which_o be_v true_a unless_o there_o be_v some_o good_a reason_n for_o it_o beside_o because_o it_o be_v contrary_a to_o that_o charity_n and_o goodness_n which_o christianity_n require_v to_o divulge_v the_o fault_n of_o other_o though_o they_o be_v real_o guilty_a of_o they_o without_o necessity_n or_o some_o other_o very_o good_a reason_n for_o it_o again_o it_o be_v evil-speaking_a and_o the_o vice_n condemn_v in_o the_o text_n whether_o we_o be_v the_o first_o author_n of_o a_o ill_a report_n or_o relate_v it_o from_o other_o because_o the_o man_n that_o be_v evil_a speak_v of_o be_v equal_o defame_v either_o way_n again_o whether_o we_o speak_v evil_a of_o a_o man_n to_o his_o face_n or_o behind_o his_o 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reputation_n it_o be_v the_o sin_n forbid_v in_o the_o text._n ii_o we_o will_v consider_v the_o extent_n of_o this_o prohibition_n ii_o to_o speak_v evil_a of_o no_o man_n and_o the_o due_a bound_n and_o limitation_n of_o it_o for_o it_o be_v not_o to_o be_v understand_v absolute_o to_o forbid_v we_o to_o say_v any_o thing_n concern_v other_o that_o be_v bad_a this_o in_o some_o case_n may_v be_v necessary_a and_o our_o duty_n and_o in_o several_a case_n very_o fit_a and_o reasonable_a the_o question_n be_v in_o what_o case_n by_o the_o general_a rule_n of_o scripture_n and_o right_a reason_n we_o be_v warrant_v to_o say_v the_o evil_a of_o other_o that_o be_v true_a in_o general_n we_o be_v not_o to_o do_v this_o without_o great_a reason_n and_o necessity_n as_o
for_o the_o prevention_n of_o some_o great_a evil_n or_o the_o procure_n of_o some_o considerable_a good_a to_o ourselves_o or_o other_o and_o this_o i_o take_v to_o be_v the_o meaning_n of_o that_o advice_n of_o the_o son_n of_o sirach_n whether_o it_o be_v to_o a_o friend_n or_o a_o foe_n talk_v not_o of_o other_o man_n life_n and_o if_o thou_o can_v without_o offence_n reveal_v they_o not_o 8._o that_o be_v if_o without_o hurt_n to_o any_o body_n thou_o can_v conceal_v they_o divulge_v they_o not_o but_o because_o this_o may_v not_o be_v direction_n sufficient_a i_o shall_v instance_n in_o some_o of_o the_o principal_a case_n wherein_o man_n be_v warrant_v to_o speak_v evil_a of_o other_o and_o yet_o in_o so_o do_v do_v not_o offend_v against_o this_o prohibition_n in_o the_o text._n first_o it_o be_v not_o only_o lawful_a but_o very_o commendable_a and_o many_o time_n our_o duty_n to_o do_v this_o in_o order_n to_o the_o probable_a amendment_n of_o the_o person_n of_o who_o evil_o be_v speak_v in_o such_o a_o case_n we_o may_v tell_v a_o man_n of_o his_o fault_n private_o or_o where_o it_o may_v not_o be_v so_o fit_a for_o we_o to_o use_v that_o boldness_n and_o freedom_n we_o may_v reveal_v his_o fault_n to_o one_o who_o be_v more_o fit_a and_o proper_a to_o reprove_v he_o and_o will_v probable_o make_v no_o other_o use_n of_o this_o discovery_n but_o in_o order_n to_o his_o amendment_n and_o this_o be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v a_o breach_n of_o charity_n that_o it_o be_v one_o of_o the_o best_a testimony_n of_o it_o for_o perhaps_o the_o party_n may_v not_o be_v guilty_a of_o what_o have_v be_v report_v of_o he_o and_o then_o it_o be_v a_o kindness_n to_o give_v he_o the_o opportunity_n of_o vindicate_v himself_o or_o if_o he_o be_v guilty_a perhaps_o be_v private_o tell_v of_o it_o he_o may_v reform_v in_o this_o case_n the_o son_n of_o sirach_n advise_v to_o reveal_v man_n fault_n admonish_v 15._o a_o friend_n say_v he_o it_o may_v be_v he_o have_v not_o do_v it_o and_o if_o he_o have_v do_v it_o that_o he_o do_v it_o no_o more_o admonish_v a_o friend_n it_o may_v be_v he_o have_v not_o say_v it_o and_o if_o he_o have_v that_o he_o speak_v it_o not_o again_o admonish_v a_o friend_n for_o many_o time_n it_o be_v a_o slander_n and_o believe_v not_o every_o tale_n but_o then_o we_o must_v take_v care_n that_o this_o be_v do_v out_o of_o kindness_n and_o that_o nothing_o of_o our_o own_o passion_n be_v mingle_v with_o it_o and_o that_o under_o pretence_n of_o reprove_v and_o reform_v man_n we_o do_v not_o reproach_n and_o revile_v they_o and_o tell_v they_o of_o their_o fault_n in_o such_o a_o manner_n as_o if_o we_o do_v it_o to_o show_v our_o authority_n rather_o than_o our_o charity_n it_o require_v a_o great_a deal_n of_o address_n and_o gentle_a application_n so_o to_o manage_v the_o business_n of_o reproof_n as_o not_o to_o irritate_fw-la and_o exasperate_v the_o person_n who_o we_o reprove_v instead_o of_o cure_v he_o second_o this_o likewise_o be_v not_o only_o lawful_a but_o our_o duty_n when_o we_o be_v legal_o call_v to_o bear_v witness_n concern_v the_o fault_n and_o crime_n of_o another_o a_o good_a man_n will_v not_o be_v a_o accuser_n unless_o the_o public_a good_a or_o the_o prevention_n of_o some_o great_a evil_n shall_v require_v it_o and_o then_o the_o plain_a reason_n of_o the_o thing_n will_v sufficient_o justify_v a_o voluntary_a accusation_n otherwise_o it_o have_v always_o among_o well-mannered_a people_n be_v esteem_v very_o odious_a for_o a_o man_n to_o be_v officious_a in_o this_o kind_n and_o a_o forward_a informer_n concern_v the_o misdemeanour_n of_o other_o magistrate_n may_v sometime_o think_v it_o fit_a to_o give_v encouragement_n to_o such_o person_n and_o to_o set_v one_o bad_a man_n to_o catch_v another_o because_o such_o man_n be_v fit_a for_o such_o dirty_a work_n but_o they_o can_v never_o inward_o approve_v they_o nor_o will_v they_o ever_o make_v they_o their_o friend_n and_o confident_n but_o when_o a_o man_n be_v call_v to_o give_v testimony_n in_o this_o kind_n in_o obedience_n to_o the_o law_n and_o out_o of_o reverence_n to_o the_o oath_n take_v in_o such_o case_n he_o be_v so_o far_o from_o deserve_a blame_n for_o so_o do_v that_o it_o will_v be_v a_o unpardonable_a fault_n in_o he_o to_o conceal_v the_o truth_n or_o any_o part_n of_o it_o three_o it_o be_v lawful_a to_o publish_v the_o fault_n of_o other_o in_o our_o own_o necessary_a defence_n and_o vindication_n when_o a_o man_n can_v conceal_v another_o fault_n without_o betray_v his_o own_o innocency_n no_o charity_n require_v a_o man_n to_o suffer_v himself_o to_o be_v defame_v to_o save_v the_o reputation_n of_o another_o man_n charity_n begin_v at_o home_n and_o though_o a_o man_n have_v never_o so_o much_o goodness_n he_o will_v first_o secure_v his_o own_o good_a name_n and_o then_o be_v concern_v for_o other_o man_n we_o be_v to_o love_v our_o neighbour_n as_o ourselves_o so_o that_o the_o love_n of_o ourselves_o be_v the_o rule_n and_o measure_n of_o our_o love_n to_o our_o neighbour_n and_o therefore_o first_o otherwise_o it_o can_v not_o be_v rule_n and_o it_o will_v be_v very_o well_o for_o the_o world_n if_o our_o charity_n will_v rise_v thus_o high_a and_o no_o man_n will_v hurt_v another_o man_n reputation_n but_o where_o his_o own_o be_v in_o real_a danger_n four_o this_o also_o be_v lawful_a for_o caution_n and_o warning_n to_o a_o three_o person_n that_o be_v in_o danger_n to_o be_v infect_v by_o the_o company_n or_o ill_a example_n of_o another_o or_o may_v be_v great_o prejudice_v by_o repose_v too_o much_o confidence_n in_o he_o have_v no_o knowledge_n or_o suspicion_n of_o his_o bad_a quality_n but_o even_o in_o this_o case_n we_o ought_v to_o take_v great_a care_n that_o the_o ill_a character_n we_o give_v of_o any_o man_n be_v spread_v no_o further_o than_o be_v necessary_a to_o the_o good_a end_n we_o design_v in_o it_o beside_o these_o more_o obvious_a and_o remarkable_a case_n this_o prohibition_n do_v not_o i_o think_v hinder_v but_o that_o in_o ordinary_a conversation_n man_n may_v mention_v that_o ill_a of_o other_o which_o be_v already_o make_v as_o public_a as_o it_o well_o can_v be_v or_o that_o one_o friend_n may_v not_o in_o freedom_n speak_v to_o another_o of_o the_o miscarriage_n of_o a_o three_o person_n where_o he_o be_v secure_v no_o ill_a use_n will_v be_v make_v of_o it_o and_o that_o it_o will_v go_v no_o further_o to_o his_o prejudice_n provide_v always_o that_o we_o take_v no_o delight_n in_o hear_v or_o speak_v ill_o of_o other_o and_o the_o less_o we_o do_v it_o though_o without_o any_o malice_n or_o design_n of_o harm_n still_o the_o better_a because_o this_o show_n that_o we_o do_v not_o feed_v upon_o ill_a report_n and_o take_v pleasure_n in_o they_o these_o be_v the_o usual_a case_n in_o which_o it_o may_v be_v necessary_a for_o we_o to_o speak_v evil_a of_o other_o man_n and_o these_o be_v so_o evident_o reasonable_a that_o the_o prohibition_n in_o the_o text_n can_v with_o reason_n be_v extend_v to_o they_o and_o if_o no_o man_n will_v allow_v himself_o to_o say_v any_o thing_n to_o the_o prejudice_n of_o another_o man_n good_a name_n but_o in_o these_o and_o the_o like_a case_n the_o tongue_n of_o man_n will_v be_v very_o innocent_a and_o the_o world_n will_v be_v very_o quiet_a i_o proceed_v in_o the_o iiid_a place_n to_o consider_v the_o evil_n of_o this_o practice_n iii_o both_o in_o the_o cause_n and_o the_o consequence_n of_o it_o first_o we_o will_v consider_v the_o cause_n of_o it_o and_o it_o common_o spring_v from_o one_o or_o more_o of_o these_o evil_a root_n first_o one_o of_o the_o deep_a and_o most_o common_a cause_n of_o evil-speaking_a be_v ill-nature_n and_o cruelty_n of_o disposition_n and_o by_o a_o general_n mistake_v ill_a nature_n pass_v for_o wit_n as_o cunning_a do_v for_o wisdom_n though_o in_o truth_n they_o be_v nothing_o akin_a to_o one_o another_o but_o as_o far_o distant_a as_o vice_n and_o virtue_n and_o there_o be_v no_o great_a evidence_n of_o the_o bad_a temper_n of_o mankind_n than_o the_o general_a proneness_n of_o man_n to_o this_o vice_n for_o as_o our_o saviour_n say_v out_o of_o the_o abundance_n of_o the_o heart_n the_o mouth_n speak_v and_o therefore_o man_n do_v common_o incline_v to_o the_o censorious_a and_o uncharitable_a side_n which_o show_v human_a nature_n to_o be_v strange_o distort_v from_o its_o original_a rectitude_n and_o innocency_n the_o wit_n of_o man_n do_v more_o natural_o vent_v itself_o in_o satyr_n and_o censure_n than_o in_o praise_n and_o panegyric_n when_o man_n set_v themselves_o to_o commend_v it_o come_v hardly_o from_o