of request, and the world will be corrupted by thefe SERM. agents of the evil one. It were indeed, upon this confideration, advisable and juft, not to feem ever to detract; even not then when we are well affured that by speaking ill we shall not really do it; if we should discover any man to seem worthy, or to be fo reputed, whom yet we difcern, by standing in a nearer light, not to be truly fuch, having had opportunity to know his bad qualities, bad purposes, or bad deeds; yet wisdom would commonly dictate, and goodness difpose not to mar his repute. If we should obferve, without danger of mistake, any plaufible action to be performed out of bad inclinations, principles, or designs; yet ordinarily in discretion and honesty we should let it pass with such commendation as its appearance may procure, rather than to flur it by venting our disadvantageous apprehenfions about it: for it is no great harm that any man should enjoy undeferved commendation, or that a counterfeit worth fhould find a diffembled refpect; it is but being over-just, which if it be ever a fault, can hardly be fo in this cafe, wherein we do not expend any coft, or fuffer any damage: but it may do mischief to blemish an appearance of virtue; it may be a wrong thereto to deface its very image; the very disclosing hypocrify doth inflict a wound on goodness, and exposeth it to fcandal ; for bad men thence will be prone to infer, that all virtue proceedeth from the like bad principles: fo the disgrace caft on that which is spurious will redound to the prejudice of that which is moft genuine and if it be good to forbear detracting from that which is certainly false, much more is it fo in regard to that which is poffibly true; and far more ftill is it fo in respect to that which is clear and fure. : 2. Hence detraction is very noxious and baneful to all fociety; for all society is maintained in welfare by encouragement of honefty and induftry; the which, when disparagement is caft upon them, will be in danger to languish and decay: whence a detractor is the worst XIX. SERM. member that can be of a fociety; he is a very moth, a XIX. very canker therein. 3. Detraction worketh real damage and mischief to our neighbour; it bereaveth him of that goodly reputation which is the proper reward of virtue, and a main support to the practice of it; it often really obstructeth and disappointeth his undertakings, estranging those from him, or fetting them against him, who do credulously entertain it. 4. The detractor abuseth those into whose ears he inftilleth his poisonous fuggeftions, engaging them to partake in the injuries done to worth and virtue; caufing them to entertain unjust and uncharitable conceits, to practise unfeemly and unworthy behaviour toward good men. 5. The detractor produceth great inconveniences and mischiefs to himself. He raiseth against himself fierce animofity and wrath : for men that are conscious to themselves of their own honeft meaning and blameless proceedings, cannot endure to be abused by unjust disparagement; hence are they ftirred to boil with paffion, and to discharge revenge upon the detractor. He exposeth himself to general hatred; all good men loathe him as a base and mischievous person, and a particular enemy of theirs, always ready to wrong them; every man is apt to say, he that doth thus abuse another will be ready to serve me in like manner if I chance to come in his way, vilifying the best thing I can do: even the worst men will dislike him; for even such affect to do fomewhat laudable or plaufible, and would be glad to enjoy approbation for it; and cannot therefore brook those who lie in wait to rob them of the fruit of their good endeavours: fo do all men worthily deteft and shun ́the detractor, as a common enemy to goodness first, and then unto men. Farther, 6. The detractor yieldeth occafion to others, and a kind of right to return the fame measure upon him. If he hath in him a fhew of any thing laudable, men will not SERM. allow him any commendation from it: for why, conceive XIX. they, fhall he receive that which he will not suffer others to enjoy? How can any man admit him to have any real worth or virtue in himself who doth not like it or treat it well in another? Hence, if a detractor hath any good in him, he much injureth himself, depriving himself of all the respect belonging thereto. 7. Again, the detractor, esteeming things according to moral poffibility, will affuredly be defeated in his aims; his detraction in the close will avail nothing, but to bring trouble and shame upon himself; for God hath a particular care over innocence and goodness, fo as not to let them finally to fuffer: the good man's righteoufnefs he will Pfal.xxxvii. bring forth as the light, and his judgment as the noon day. Wife men eafily will discern the foul play, and will scorn it; good men ever will be ready to clear and vindicate the truth; worth, however clouded for a time, will break through all mifts, and gloriously expand itself, to the confufion of its moft fly oppofers. Such are the natural and obvious effects of this practice; the confideration whereof (together with the causes producing it, and the effential adjuncts which it did involve) will, I should think, fuffice to deter us from it. I fhall only adjoin one confideration, which our text fuggefteth: Speak not evil of one another, brethren, faith the Apostle: brethren; that appellation doth imply a strong argument enforcing the precept: brethren, with especial tenderness of affection, should love one another, and delight in each others good; they should tender the interest and honour of each other as their own; they should therefore by all means cherish and countenance virtue in one another, as that which promoteth the common welfare, which adorneth and illuftrateth the dignity of their family. We should rejoice in the good qualities and worthy deeds of any Christian, as glorifying our common Father, as gracing our common profeffion, as edifying the common body, whereof we are members. Members we are one of another, and as fuch fhould find compla 6. SERM. cence in the health and vigour of any part, from whence XIX. the whole doth receive benefit and comfort; for one bro ther to repine at the welfare, to malign the prosperity, to decry the merit, to destroy the reputation of another, is very unnatural; for one Chriftian anywise to wrong or prejudice another is highly impious. To conclude: it is our duty, (which equity, which ingenuity, which charity, which piety do all concurrently oblige us to,) whenever we do fee any good person, or worthy deed, to yield hearty esteem, to pay due respect, gladly to congratulate the person, and willingly to commend the work; rendering withal thanks and praise for them to the donor of all good gifts: unto whom, for all the good things bestowed upon us, and upon all his creatures, be for ever all glory and praise. Amen.. SERMON XX. AGAINST RASH CENSURING AND JUDGING. MATTH. vii. 1. Judge not. XX. THESE words, being part of our Saviour's moft divine SERM. Sermon upon the Mount, contain a very fhort precept, but of vast use and confequence; the obfervance whereof would much conduce to the good of the world, and to the private quiet of each man; it interdicting a practice, which commonly produceth very mischievous and troublesome effects; a practice never rare among men, but now very rife; when, with the general caufes, which ever did and ever will in fome measure difpofe men thereto, some special ones do concur, that powerfully incline to it. There are innate to men an unjust pride, emboldening them to take upon them beyond what belongeth to them, or doth become them; an exceffive felf-love, prompting them as to flatter themselves in their own conceit, so to undervalue others, and from vilifying their neighbours, to seek commendation to themselves; an envious malignity, which ever lufteth to be pampered with finding or making faults; many corrupt affections, fpringing from fleshly nature, which draw or drive men to this practice; so that in all ages it hath been very common, and never any profeffion hath been so much invaded, as that of the judge. But divers peculiar caufes have such an influence upon |