to be thus abused, in a way
against which there is no guard or defence. The slanderer therefore
is apprehended a common enemy, dangerous to all men; and thence
rendereth all men averse from him, and ready to cross him. Love and
peace, tranquillity and security can only be maintained by innocent
and true dealing: so the psalmist hath well taught us: "What man
is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see
good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile."

Thirdly, all wise, all noble, all ingenuous and honest persons have
an aversion from this practice, and cannot entertain it with any
acceptance or complacence. "A righteous man hateth lying," saith
the wise man. It is only ill-natured and ill-nurtured, unworthy and
naughty people that are willing auditors or encouragers thereof. "A
wicked doer," saith the wise man again, "giveth heed to false lips;
and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue." All love of truth and
regard to justice, and sense of humanity, all generosity and
ingenuity, all charity and good-will to men, must be extinct in
those who can with delight, or indeed with patience, lend an ear or
give any countenance to a slanderer: and is not he a very fool who
chooseth to displease the best, only soothing the worst of men?

Fourthly, the slanderer indeed doth banish himself from all
conversation and company, or intruding into it becomes very
disgustful thereto; for he worthily is not only looked upon as an
enemy to those whom he slandereth, but to those also upon whom he
obtrudeth his calumnious discourse. He not only wrongeth the former
by the injury, but he mocketh the latter by the falsehood of his
stories; implicitly charging his hearers with weakness and
credulity, or with injustice and pravity.

Fifthly, he also derogateth wholly from his own credit in all
matters of discourse. For he that dareth thus to injure his
neighbour, who can trust him in anything he speaks? what will not he
say to please his vile humour, or further his base interest? what,
thinks any man, will he scruple or boggle at, who hath the heart in
thus doing wrong and mischief to imitate the devil? Further--

Sixthly, this practice is perpetually haunted with most troublesome
companions, inward regret and self-condemnation, fear and disquiet:
the conscience of dealing so unworthily doth smite and rack him; he
is ever in danger, and thence in fear to be d