mmonly would die in the womb, or
prove still-born, or presently entering into the cold air, would
expire, or for want of nourishment soon would starve. It is such
friends and patrons of them who are the causes that they are so
rife; they it is who set ill-natured, base, and designing people
upon devising, searching after, and picking up malicious and idle
stories. Were it not for such customers, the trade of calumniating
would fall. Many pursue it merely out of servility and flattery, to
tickle the ears, to soothe the humour, to gratify the malignant
disposition or ill-will of others; who upon the least discouragement
would give over the practice. If therefore we would exempt
ourselves from all guilt of slander, we must not only abstain from
venting it, but forbear to regard or countenance it: for "he is,"
saith the wise man, "a wicked doer who giveth heed to false lips,
and a liar who giveth ear to a naughty tongue." Yea, if we
thoroughly would be clear from it, we must show an aversion from
hearing it, an unwillingness to believe it, an indignation against
it; so either stifling it in the birth, or condemning it to death,
being uttered. This is the sure way to destroy it, and to prevent
its mischief. If we would stop our ears, we should stop the
slanderer's mouth; if we would resist the calumniator, he would fly
from us; if we would reprove him, we should repel him. For, "as the
north wind driveth away rain, so," the wise man telleth us, "doth an
angry countenance a backbiting tongue."

These are the chief and most common kinds of slander; and there are
several ways of practising them worthy our observing, that we may
avoid them, namely these:--

1. The most notoriously heinous way is, forging and immediately
venting ill stories. As it is said of Doeg, "Thy tongue deviseth
mischief;" and of another like companion, "Thou givest thy mouth to
evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit;" and as our Lord saith of the
devil, "When he speaketh a lie, [Greek], he speaketh of his own; for
he is a liar, and the father of it." This palpably is the supreme
pitch of calumny, incapable of any qualifications or excuse: hell
cannot go beyond this; the cursed fiend himself cannot worse employ
his wit than in minting wrongful falsehoods.

2. Another way is, receiving from others, and venting such stories,
which they who do it certainly know or may reasonably presume to be
false; the becomin