, and humanity. We should never speak worse of any man
whatever than he certainly deserveth, according to the most
favourable construction of his doings; never more than the cause
absolutely requireth. We should rather be careful to fall short of
what in rigorous truth might be said against him, than in the least
to pass beyond it. The best cause had better seem to suffer a
little by our reservedness in its defence, than any man be wronged
by our aspersing him; for God, the patron of truth and right, is
ever able to secure them without the succour of our unjust and
uncharitable dealing. The contrary practice hath indeed within it a
spice of slander, that is, of the worst iniquity.

5. We must never speak ill of any man out of bad principles, or for
bad ends.

No sudden or rash anger should instigate us thereto. For, "Let all
bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking be
put away from you, with all malice," is the apostolical precept;
they are all associates and kindred, which are to be cast away
together. Such anger itself is culpable, as a work of the flesh,
and therefore to be suppressed; and all its brood therefore is also
to be smothered; the daughter of such a mother cannot be legitimate.
"The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."

We must not speak ill out of inveterate hatred or ill-will. For
this murderous, this viperous disposition should itself be rooted
out of our hearts: whatever issueth from it cannot be otherwise
than very bad; it must be a poisonous breath that exhaleth from that
foul source.

We must not be provoked thereto by any revengeful disposition, or
rancorous spleen, in regard to any injuries or discourtesies
received. For, as we must not revenge ourselves, or render evil in
any other way, so particularly not in this, which is commonly the
special instance expressly prohibited. "Render not evil for evil,"
saith St. Peter, "nor railing for railing; but contrariwise bless,"
or speak well; and "Bless them," saith the Lord, "which curse you;"
"Bless," saith St. Paul, "and curse not."

We must not also do it out of contempt; for we are not to slight our
brethren in our hearts. No man really, considering what he is,
whence he came, how he is related, what he is capable of, can be
despicable. Extreme naughtiness is indeed contemptible; but the
unhappy person that is engaged therein is rather to be pitied than
desp