who without any truth or justice do speak ill of and reproach their
neighbour? If for every [Greek], "idle," or vain, "word" we must
"render a" strict "account," how much more shall we be severely
reckoned with for this sort of words, so empty of truth and void of
equity: words that are not only negatively vain, or useless, but
positively vain, as false and spoken to bad purpose? If slander
perhaps here may evade detection, or escape deserved punishment, yet
infallibly hereafter, at the dreadful day, it shall be disclosed,
irreversibly condemned, inevitably persecuted with condign reward of
utter shame and sorrow.

Is not he then, he who, out of malignity, or vanity, to serve any
design, or soothe any humour in himself or others, doth by
committing this sin involve himself in all these great evils, both
here and hereafter, a most desperate and deplorable fool?

Having thus described the nature of this sin, and declared the folly
thereof, we need, I suppose, to say no more for dissuading it;
especially to persons of a generous and honest mind, who cannot but
scorn to debase and defile themselves by so mean and vile a
practice; or to those who seriously do profess Christianity, that
is, the religion which peculiarly above all others prescribeth
constant truth, strictest justice, and highest charity.

I shall only add, that since our faculty of speech (wherein we do
excel all other creatures) was given us, as in the first place to
praise and glorify our Maker, so in the next to benefit and help our
neighbour; as an instrument of mutual succour and delectation, of
friendly commerce and pleasant converse together; for instructing
and advising, comforting and cheering one another: it is an