t apt to _believe_ such little blackening Accounts, and more enclined
to be credulous on the uncharitable, than on the good-natured Side.

Such a Credulity is very vicious in it self, and generally arises from a
Man's Consciousness of his own secret Corruptions. It is a pretty Saying
of _Thales_, Falshood is just as far distant from Truth, as the Ears are
from the Eyes. [2] By which he would intimate, that a wise Man should
not easily give Credit to the Reports of Actions which he has not seen.
I shall, under this Head, mention two or three remarkable Rules to be
observed by the Members of the celebrated Abbey _de la Trape_, as they
are Published in a little _French_ Book. [3]

The Fathers are there ordered, never to give an Ear to any Accounts of
Base or Criminal Actions; to turn off all such Discourse if possible;
but in Case they hear any thing of this Nature so well attested that
they cannot disbelieve it, they are then to suppose, that the criminal
Action may have proceeded from a good Intention in him who is guilty of
it. This is perhaps carrying Charity to an Extravagance, but it is
certainly much more Laudable, than to suppose, as the ill-natured part
of the World does, that indifferent, and even Good Actions, proceed from
bad Principles and wrong Intentions.

In the third Place, a Man should examine his Heart, whether he does not
find in it a secret Inclination to propagate such Reports, as tend to
the Disreputation of another.

When the Disease of the Mind, which I have hitherto been speaking of,
arises to this Degree of Malignity it discovers its self in its worst
Symptoms, and is in danger of becoming incurable. I need not therefore
insist upon the Guilt in this last Particular, which every one cannot
but disapprove, who is not void of Humanity, or even common Discretion.
I shall only add, that whatever Pleasure any Man may take in spreading
Whispers of this Nature, he will find an infinitely greater Satisfaction
in conquering the Temptation he is under, by letting the Secret die
within his own Breast.

[Footnote 1: [that]]

[Footnote 2: Stobaji, Serm. 61.]

[Footnote 3: Felibien, Description de l'Abbaye de la Trappe, Paris,
1671, reprinted in 1682. It is a letter from M. Felibien to the Duchess
of Liancon.]

* * * * *

No. 595. Friday, September 17, 1714.

'--Non ut placidis coeant immitia, non ut
Serpentes avibus gem