crease the Miseries of others, have treafured up only Wrath against the Day of Wrath, when every one fhall receive, according to his Works: whilst the Merciful fhall receive Mercy and be admitted into the Joy of their Lord.

DISCOURSE XI.

The Motives and Mifchief of Defamation.

1 PET. iii. 8.

Love as Brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.

HAVE taken frequent Occafions of fhewing you, in how strong a manner, univerfal Love and Benevo

lence are press'd upon us in the Writings of the New-Teftament; that they are called the End of the Commandment and the fulfilling of the Law. The Apostle in the Words following my

Text recommends a particular Branch of Benevolence, which, tho' it be of the utmost Importance, is generally overlook'd and neglected; and that not only by the Vicious and Profane, but by the better Sort of Men; and tho' it be one of the greatest and most pernicious, is scarce deem'd any Breach of Charity at all; nay, is often gloried in, as worthy and meritorious, by those who, perhaps, would not readily offend in any other way. The Apostle goes on, not rendering Evil for Evil, or Railing for Railing, but contrariwife Bleffing; knowing that ye are thereunto call'd, that ye should inherit a Bleffing. For he that will love Life, and fee good Days, let him refrain his Tongue from Evil, and his Lips that they speak no Guile. You fee the Apostle does particularly recommend Love, Pity, and Courteousness in our Converfation, he forbids us to render Railing for Railing, and tells us, that

the

the way to enjoy Life and to fee good Days is to restrain our Tongues from Evil.

I fhall observe to you in the First Place, how frequent Offences of this kind are, with the Reasons of it.

Secondly, How pernicious they are not only to others, but to our felves.

And Laftly, Exhort you to embrace the contrary Behaviour from the Bleffings that attend it.

First then, I fhall take notice of the Frequency of the Malevolence of the Tongue, and inquire into the Reasons of it.

We can scarce fall into any Company, in which either the real Failings and Misfortunes of others, or elle those that are merely fictitious and imaginary, are not the common Topick of Discourse. We may ob

serve, that upon all other Subjects, most Men are under Difficulties, and at a loss to support Conversation; there is generally a Reservednefs, and long Pauses and Intervals of Silence will intervene; but when Scandal comes upon the Board, every one finds a Fluency of Speech, all are Wits and Orators, every one's Quiver is full-fraught, every one is a fhrewd Archer in discharging thofe Arrows, which are bitter Words. This Game is no fooner started, but we see the moft Dull and Indifferent, the most Silent and Infipid, rouz'd to the Purfuit; there is an Eagerness, a general Emulation who fhall excel, who fhall be foremost in the cruel Chace; as tho' Mankind were form'd to vilify and abuse, to tear and devour one another.

When we confider the focial Qualifi cations of human Nature, and the great Variety of Pleasures and Endearments