backbite their brethren? Is it not grown so common a thing to
asperse causelessly that no man wonders at it, that few dislike,
that scarce any detest it? that most notorious calumniators are
heard, not only with patience, but with pleasure; yea, are even held
in vogue and reverence as men of a notable talent, and very
serviceable to their party? so that slander seemeth to have lost its
nature, and not to be now an odious sin, but a fashionable humour, a
way of pleasing entertainment, a fine knack, or curious feat of
policy; so that no man at least taketh himself or others to be
accountable for what is said in this way? Is not, in fine, the case
become such, that whoever hath in him any love of truth, any sense
of justice or honesty, any spark of charity towards his brethren,
shall hardly be able to satisfy himself in the conversations he
meeteth; but will be tempted, with the holy prophet, to wish himself
sequestered from society, and cast into solitude; repeating those
words of his, "Oh, that I had in the wilderness a lodging-place of
wayfaring men, that I might leave my people, and go from them: for
they are . . . . an assembly of treacherous men, and they bend their
tongues like their bow for lies"? This he wished in an age so
resembling ours, that I fear the description with equal patness may
suit both: "Take ye heed" (said he then, and may we not advise the
like now?) "every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any
brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every
neighbour will walk with slanders. They will deceive every one his
neighbour, and will not speak the truth; they have taught their
tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity."

Such being the state of things, obvious to experience, no discourse
may seem more needful, or more useful, than that which serveth to
correct or check this practice: which I shall endeavour to do (1)