merchant or trader in ill reports and stories concerning our
neighbour, to his prejudice. Not only the framing of them, but the
dealing in them beyond reason or necessity, is interdicted. And it
is part of a good man's character in Psalm xv., Non accipit
opprobrium, "He taketh not up a reproach against his neighbour;"
that is, he doth not easily entertain it, much less doth he
effectually propagate it: and in our text, "He," it is said, "that
uttereth slander" (not only he that conceiveth it) "is a fool."

And in reason, before exact trial and cognisance, to meddle with the
fame and interest of another, is evidently a practice full of
iniquity, such as no man can allow in his own case, or brook being
used towards himself without judging himself to be extremely abused
by such reporters. In all reason and equity, yea, in all
discretion, before we yield credence to any report concerning our
neighbour, or venture to relate it, many things are carefully to be
weighed and scanned. We should, concerning our author, consider
whether he be not a particular enemy, or disaffected to him:
whether he be not ill-humoured, or a delighter in telling bad
stories; whether he be not dishonest, or unregardful of justice in
his dealings and discourse; whether he be not vain, or careless of
what he saith; whether he be not light or credulous, or apt to be
imposed upon by any small appearance; whether, at least in the
present case, he be not negligent, or too forward and rash in
speaking. We should also, concerning the matter reported, mind
whether it be possible or probable; whether suitable to the
disposition of our neighbour, to his principles, to the constant
tenor of his practice; whether the action imputed to him be not
liable to misapprehension, or his words to misconstruction. All
reason and equity do, I say, exact from us, diligently to consider