Two discourses The first, of evil-speaking: by His Grace, John, late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. The second, of the government of the thoughts: by His Grace, John, Lord Archbishop of York. Both preach'd before Their Majesties, 1694.
         Tillotson, John, 1630-1694.
      
       
         
           1698
        
      
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             Two discourses The first, of evil-speaking: by His Grace, John, late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. The second, of the government of the thoughts: by His Grace, John, Lord Archbishop of York. Both preach'd before Their Majesties, 1694.
             Tillotson, John, 1630-1694.
             Sharp, John, 1645-1714. Sermon about the government of the thoughts. aut
          
           [2], 5-32, 32 p.
           
             printed for Walter Kettilby, Brabazon Aylmer, and William Rogers: in St. Paul's Church-yard, Cornhill, and Fleetstreet,
             London :
             1698.
          
           
             John, late Lord Arch-Bishop of Caterbury = John Tillotson.
             "A sermon about the government of the thoughts" by John Sharp is a reissue of Wing S2983 and has a separate dated title page, pagination and register; divisional title precedes title page.
             Divisional title: The Arch-Bishop of York's sermon about the government of the thoughts.
             Reproduction of the original in the Trinity College Library, St. Patrick's, Dublin.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
        
      
    
     
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               TWO
               DISCOURSES
               .
            
             
               THE
               FIRST
               ,
               Of
               Evil-Speaking
               :
               By
               His
               Grace
               ,
               JOHN
               ,
               late
               Lord
               Archbishop
               of
               Canterbury
               .
            
             
               The
               Second
               ,
               Of
               the
               Government
               of
               the
               Thoughts
               :
               By
               His
               Grace
               ,
               JOHN
               ,
               Lord
               Archbishop
               of
               York
               .
            
             
               Both
               Preach'd
               before
               Their
               Majesties
               ,
               1694.
               
            
             
               LONDON
               :
               Printed
               for
               
                 Walter
                 Kettilby
                 ,
                 Brabazon
                 Aylmer
              
               ,
               and
               
                 William
                 Rogers
              
               :
               In
               St.
               
               Paul's
               Church-yard
               ,
               Cornhill
               ,
               and
               Fleetstreet
               .
               1698.
               
            
             
               Price
               Six-pence
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             
             
             
               A
               DISCOURSE
               AGAINST
               Evil-Speaking
               .
            
             
               
                 TIT.
                 III.
                 2.
                 
              
               
                 To
                 speak
                 evil
                 of
                 no
                 man.
                 
              
            
             
               GEneral
               Persuasives
               to
               Repentance
               and
               a
               good
               Life
               ,
               and
               Invectives
               against
               Sin
               and
               Wickedness
               at
               large
               ,
               are
               certainly
               of
               good
               use
               to
               recommend
               Religion
               and
               Virtue
               ,
               and
               to
               expose
               the
               deformity
               and
               danger
               of
               a
               Vicious
               course
               .
               But
               it
               must
               be
               acknowledged
               on
               the
               other
               hand
               ,
               that
               these
               general
               Discourses
               do
               not
               so
               immediately
               tend
               to
               reform
               the
               Lives
               of
               men
               :
               Because
               they
               fall
               among
               the
               Croud
               ,
               but
               do
               not
               touch
               the
               Consciences
               of
               particular
               Persons
               in
               so
               sensible
               and
               awakening
               a
               manner
               as
               when
               we
               treat
               of
               particular
               Duties
               and
               
               Sins
               ,
               and
               endeavour
               to
               put
               men
               upon
               the
               practice
               of
               the
               one
               ,
               and
               to
               reclaim
               them
               from
               the
               other
               ,
               by
               proper
               Arguments
               taken
               from
               the
               Word
               of
               God
               ,
               and
               from
               the
               nature
               of
               particular
               Vertues
               and
               Vices
               .
            
             
               The
               general
               way
               is
               ,
               as
               if
               a
               Physician
               ,
               instead
               of
               applying
               particular
               Remedies
               to
               the
               Distemper
               of
               his
               Patient
               ,
               should
               entertain
               him
               with
               a
               long
               discourse
               of
               Diseases
               in
               general
               ,
               and
               of
               the
               pleasure
               and
               advantages
               of
               Health
               ;
               and
               earnestly
               persuade
               him
               to
               be
               well
               ;
               without
               taking
               his
               particular
               Disease
               into
               consideration
               ,
               and
               prescribing
               Remedies
               for
               it
               .
            
             
               But
               if
               we
               would
               effectually
               reform
               men
               ,
               we
               must
               take
               to
               task
               the
               great
               and
               common
               disorders
               of
               their
               Lives
               ,
               and
               represent
               their
               faults
               to
               them
               in
               such
               a
               manner
               as
               may
               convince
               them
               of
               the
               evil
               and
               danger
               of
               them
               ,
               and
               put
               them
               upon
               the
               endeavour
               of
               a
               cure
               .
            
             
               And
               to
               this
               end
               I
               have
               pitched
               upon
               one
               of
               the
               common
               and
               reigning
               Vices
               of
               the
               Age
               ,
               Calumny
               and
               Evil-speaking
               ;
               by
               which
               men
               contract
               so
               much
               guilt
               to
               themselves
               ,
               and
               create
               so
               much
               trouble
               to
               others
               :
               And
               from
               which
               ,
               it
               is
               to
               be
               feared
               ,
               few
               or
               none
               are
               wholly
               free
               .
               For
               
                 who
                 is
                 he
              
               ,
               saith
               the
               Son
               of
               
                 Sirach
                 ,
                 that
                 hath
                 not
                 offended
                 with
                 his
                 tongue
                 ?
              
               Ecclus.
               19.
               16.
               
               
                 In
                 many
                 things
              
               ,
               saith
               St.
               James
               ,
               James
               3.
               2.
               
                 we
                 offend
                 all
                 :
                 And
                 if
                 any
                 man
                 offend
                 not
                 in
                 word
                 ,
                 the
                 same
                 is
                 a
                 perfect
                 man.
                 
              
            
             
               But
               how
               few
               have
               attain'd
               to
               this
               perfection
               ?
               And
               yet
               unless
               we
               do
               endeavour
               after
               it
               ,
               and
               in
               some
               good
               measure
               attain
               it
               ,
               all
               our
               pretence
               to
               Religion
               is
               vain
               :
               So
               the
               same
               Apostle
               tells
               us
               ,
               James
               1.
               26.
               
               
                 If
                 any
                 man
                 among
                 you
                 seemeth
                 to
                 be
                 religious
                 ,
                 and
                 bridleth
                 not
                 his
                 tongue
                 ,
                 but
                 deceiveth
                 his
                 own
                 heart
                 ,
                 that
                 man's
                 Religion
                 is
                 vain
                 .
              
            
             
             
               For
               the
               more
               distinct
               handling
               of
               this
               Argument
               ,
               I
               shall
               reduce
               my
               Discourse
               to
               these
               Five
               Heads
               .
            
             
               
                 First
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 consider
                 the
                 Nature
                 of
                 this
                 Vice
                 ,
                 and
                 wherein
                 it
                 consists
                 .
              
               
                 Secondly
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 consider
                 the
                 due
                 extent
                 of
                 this
                 Prohibition
                 ,
                 
                   To
                   speak
                   evil
                   of
                   no
                   man.
                   
                
              
               
                 Thirdly
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 shew
                 the
                 Evil
                 of
                 this
                 practice
                 ,
                 both
                 in
                 the
                 Causes
                 and
                 Effects
                 of
                 it
                 .
              
               
                 Fourthly
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 add
                 some
                 further
                 Considerations
                 to
                 dissuade
                 men
                 from
                 it
                 .
              
               
                 Fifthly
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 give
                 some
                 Rules
                 and
                 Directions
                 for
                 the
                 prevention
                 and
                 cure
                 of
                 it
                 .
              
            
             
               I.
               I
               shall
               consider
               
                 what
                 this
                 Sin
                 or
                 Vice
                 of
                 evil
                 speaking
                 ,
                 here
                 forbidden
                 by
                 the
                 Apostle
                 ,
                 is
                 :
              
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               ,
               not
               to
               defame
               and
               slander
               any
               man
               ,
               not
               to
               
                 hurt
                 his
                 reputation
              
               ,
               as
               the
               Etymology
               of
               the
               word
               doth
               import
               .
               So
               that
               this
               Vice
               consists
               in
               saying
               things
               of
               others
               which
               tend
               to
               their
               disparagement
               and
               reproach
               ,
               to
               the
               taking
               away
               or
               lessening
               of
               their
               Reputation
               and
               good
               Name
               .
               And
               this
               ,
               whether
               the
               things
               said
               be
               true
               or
               not
               .
               If
               they
               be
               false
               ,
               and
               we
               know
               it
               ,
               then
               it
               is
               down-right
               Calumny
               ;
               and
               if
               we
               do
               not
               know
               it
               ,
               but
               take
               it
               upon
               the
               report
               of
               others
               ,
               it
               is
               however
               a
               Slander
               ;
               and
               so
               much
               the
               more
               injurious
               ,
               because
               really
               groundless
               and
               undeserved
               .
            
             
               If
               the
               thing
               be
               true
               ,
               and
               we
               know
               it
               to
               be
               so
               ,
               yet
               it
               is
               a
               defamation
               ,
               and
               tends
               to
               the
               prejudice
               of
               our
               neighbour's
               reputation
               :
               And
               it
               is
               a
               fault
               to
               say
               the
               evil
               of
               others
               which
               is
               true
               ,
               unless
               there
               be
               some
               good
               reason
               for
               it
               besides
               :
               Because
               it
               is
               contrary
               to
               that
               charity
               and
               goodness
               which
               Christianity
               requires
               ,
               to
               divulge
               the
               faults
               of
               others
               ,
               though
               they
               be
               really
               guilty
               of
               them
               ,
               without
               necessity
               or
               some
               other
               very
               good
               reason
               for
               it
               .
            
             
             
               Again
               ,
               It
               is
               Evil-speaking
               and
               the
               Vice
               condemn'd
               in
               the
               Text
               ,
               whether
               we
               be
               the
               first
               Authors
               of
               an
               ill
               Report
               ,
               or
               relate
               it
               from
               others
               ;
               because
               the
               man
               that
               is
               evil
               spoken
               of
               is
               equally
               defam'd
               either
               way
               .
            
             
               Again
               ,
               Whether
               we
               speak
               evil
               of
               a
               man
               to
               his
               face
               ,
               or
               behind
               his
               back
               :
               The
               former
               way
               indeed
               seems
               to
               be
               the
               more
               generous
               ,
               but
               yet
               is
               a
               great
               Fault
               ,
               and
               that
               which
               we
               call
               reviling
               :
               The
               latter
               is
               more
               mean
               and
               base
               ,
               and
               that
               which
               we
               properly
               call
               Slander
               or
               Backbiting
               .
            
             
               And
               Lastly
               ,
               Whether
               it
               be
               done
               directly
               and
               in
               express
               terms
               ,
               or
               more
               obscurely
               and
               by
               way
               of
               oblique
               insinuation
               ;
               whether
               by
               way
               of
               down-right
               reproach
               ,
               or
               with
               some
               crafty
               preface
               of
               commendation
               :
               For
               so
               it
               have
               the
               effect
               to
               defame
               ,
               the
               manner
               of
               address
               does
               not
               much
               alter
               the
               case
               :
               The
               one
               may
               be
               more
               dextrous
               ,
               but
               is
               not
               one
               jot
               less
               faulty
               :
               For
               many
               times
               the
               deepest
               Wounds
               are
               given
               by
               these
               smoother
               and
               more
               artificial
               ways
               of
               Slander
               ;
               as
               by
               asking
               questions
               ,
               
                 Have
                 you
                 not
                 heard
                 so
                 and
                 so
                 of
                 such
                 a
                 man
                 ?
                 I
                 say
                 no
                 more
                 ,
                 I
                 only
                 ask
                 the
                 question
                 :
              
               Or
               by
               general
               intimations
               ,
               that
               
                 they
                 are
                 loth
                 to
                 say
                 what
                 they
                 have
                 heard
                 of
                 such
                 a
                 one
                 ,
                 are
                 very
                 sorry
                 for
                 it
                 ,
                 and
                 do
                 not
                 at
                 all
                 believe
                 it
                 ,
              
               if
               you
               will
               believe
               them
               :
               And
               this
               many
               times
               without
               telling
               the
               thing
               ,
               but
               leaving
               you
               in
               the
               dark
               to
               suspect
               the
               worst
               .
            
             
               These
               and
               such
               like
               Arts
               ,
               though
               they
               may
               seem
               to
               be
               tenderer
               and
               gentler
               ways
               of
               using
               mens
               reputation
               ,
               yet
               in
               truth
               they
               are
               the
               most
               malicious
               and
               effectual
               methods
               of
               Slander
               ;
               because
               they
               insinuate
               something
               that
               is
               much
               worse
               than
               is
               said
               ,
               and
               yet
               are
               very
               apt
               to
               create
               in
               unwary
               men
               a
               strong
               belief
               of
               something
               that
               is
               very
               bad
               ,
               though
               they
               know
               not
               what
               it
               is
               .
               So
               that
               it
               matters
               not
               in
               what
               fashion
               a
               Slander
               
               is
               dress'd
               up
               ,
               if
               it
               tend
               to
               defame
               a
               man
               and
               to
               diminish
               his
               Reputation
               ,
               it
               is
               the
               Sin
               forbidden
               in
               the
               Text.
               
            
             
               II.
               We
               will
               consider
               
                 the
                 extent
                 of
                 this
                 Prohibition
                 to
                 speak
                 evil
                 of
                 no
                 man
              
               ;
               and
               the
               due
               
                 bounds
                 and
                 limitations
                 of
                 it
              
               .
               For
               it
               is
               not
               to
               be
               understood
               absolutely
               ,
               to
               forbid
               us
               to
               say
               any
               thing
               concerning
               others
               that
               is
               bad
               .
               This
               in
               some
               cases
               may
               be
               necessary
               and
               our
               duty
               ,
               and
               in
               several
               cases
               very
               fit
               and
               reasonable
               .
               The
               Question
               is
               ,
               In
               what
               Cases
               by
               the
               general
               Rules
               of
               Scripture
               and
               right
               Reason
               we
               are
               warranted
               to
               say
               the
               evil
               of
               others
               that
               is
               true
               ?
            
             
               In
               general
               ,
               we
               are
               not
               to
               do
               this
               without
               great
               reason
               and
               necessity
               ;
               as
               ,
               for
               the
               prevention
               of
               some
               great
               evil
               ,
               or
               the
               procuring
               of
               some
               considerable
               good
               to
               our selves
               ,
               or
               others
               .
               And
               this
               I
               take
               to
               be
               the
               meaning
               of
               that
               advice
               of
               the
               Son
               of
               Sirach
               ,
               Eccl.
               19.
               8.
               
               
                 Whether
                 it
                 be
                 to
                 a
                 friend
                 or
                 a
                 foe
                 ,
                 talk
                 not
                 of
                 other
                 mens
                 lives
                 ;
                 and
                 if
                 thou
                 canst
                 without
                 offence
                 reveal
                 them
                 not
              
               ;
               that
               is
               ,
               if
               without
               hurt
               to
               any
               body
               thou
               canst
               conceal
               them
               ,
               divulge
               them
               not
               .
            
             
               But
               because
               this
               may
               not
               be
               direction
               sufficient
               ,
               I
               shall
               instance
               in
               some
               of
               the
               principal
               Cases
               wherein
               men
               are
               warranted
               to
               speak
               evil
               of
               others
               ,
               and
               yet
               in
               so
               doing
               do
               not
               offend
               against
               this
               Prohibition
               in
               the
               Text.
               
            
             
               First
               ,
               It
               is
               not
               only
               lawful
               ,
               but
               very
               commendable
               ,
               and
               many
               times
               our
               duty
               to
               do
               this
               in
               order
               to
               the
               probable
               amendment
               of
               the
               person
               of
               whom
               evil
               is
               spoken
               .
               In
               such
               a
               case
               we
               may
               tell
               a
               man
               of
               his
               faults
               privately
               ;
               or
               where
               it
               may
               not
               be
               so
               fit
               for
               us
               to
               use
               that
               boldness
               and
               freedom
               ,
               we
               may
               reveal
               his
               faults
               to
               one
               who
               is
               more
               fit
               and
               proper
               to
               reprove
               him
               ,
               and
               will
               probably
               
               make
               no
               other
               use
               of
               this
               discovery
               but
               in
               order
               to
               his
               amendment
               .
               And
               this
               is
               so
               far
               from
               being
               a
               breach
               of
               Charity
               ,
               that
               it
               is
               one
               of
               the
               best
               testimonies
               of
               it
               .
               For
               perhaps
               the
               party
               may
               not
               be
               guilty
               of
               what
               hath
               been
               reported
               of
               him
               ,
               and
               then
               it
               is
               a
               kindness
               to
               give
               him
               the
               opportunity
               of
               vindicating
               himself
               :
               Or
               if
               he
               be
               guilty
               ,
               perhaps
               being
               privately
               and
               prudently
               told
               of
               it
               he
               may
               reform
               .
               In
               this
               Case
               the
               Son
               of
               Sirach
               adviseth
               to
               reveal
               men's
               faults
               ;
               
                 Ecclus.
                 19.
                 13
                 ,
                 14
                 ,
                 15.
                 
                 Admonish
                 a
                 friend
                 ,
              
               says
               he
               ,
               
                 it
                 may
                 be
                 he
                 hath
                 not
                 done
                 it
                 ;
                 and
                 if
                 he
                 have
                 done
                 it
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 do
                 it
                 no
                 more
                 :
                 Admonish
                 a
                 friend
                 ,
                 it
                 may
                 be
                 he
                 hath
                 not
                 said
                 it
                 ;
                 and
                 if
                 he
                 have
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 speak
                 it
                 not
                 again
                 :
                 Admonish
                 a
                 friend
                 ,
                 for
                 many
                 times
                 it
                 is
                 a
                 slander
                 ;
                 and
                 believe
                 not
                 every
                 tale
                 .
              
            
             
               But
               then
               we
               must
               take
               care
               that
               this
               be
               done
               out
               of
               kindness
               ,
               and
               that
               nothing
               of
               our
               own
               passion
               be
               mingled
               with
               it
               ;
               and
               that
               under
               pretence
               of
               reproving
               and
               reforming
               men
               ,
               we
               do
               not
               reproach
               and
               revile
               them
               ,
               and
               tell
               them
               of
               their
               faults
               in
               such
               a
               manner
               as
               if
               we
               did
               it
               to
               shew
               our
               authority
               rather
               than
               our
               charity
               .
               It
               requires
               a
               great
               deal
               of
               address
               and
               gentle
               application
               so
               to
               manage
               the
               business
               of
               Reproof
               ,
               as
               not
               to
               irritate
               and
               exasperate
               the
               person
               whom
               we
               reprove
               ,
               instead
               of
               curing
               him
               .
            
             
               Secondly
               ,
               This
               likewise
               is
               not
               only
               lawful
               ,
               but
               our
               duty
               ,
               when
               we
               are
               legally
               called
               to
               bear
               witness
               concerning
               the
               fault
               and
               crime
               of
               another
               .
               A
               good
               man
               would
               not
               be
               an
               accuser
               ,
               unless
               the
               publick
               good
               ,
               or
               the
               prevention
               of
               some
               great
               evil
               should
               require
               it
               .
               And
               then
               the
               plain
               reason
               of
               the
               thing
               will
               sufficiently
               justifie
               a
               voluntary
               accusation
               :
               otherwise
               it
               hath
               always
               among
               well-manner'd
               People
               been
               esteemed
               very
               odious
               for
               a
               man
               to
               be
               officious
               in
               this
               kind
               ,
               and
               
               a
               forward
               Informer
               concerning
               the
               misdemeanors
               of
               others
               .
               Magistrates
               may
               sometimes
               think
               it
               fit
               to
               give
               encouragement
               to
               such
               persons
               ,
               and
               to
               set
               one
               bad
               man
               to
               catch
               another
               ,
               because
               such
               men
               are
               fittest
               for
               such
               dirty
               work
               :
               But
               they
               can
               never
               inwardly
               approve
               them
               ,
               nor
               will
               they
               ever
               make
               them
               their
               friends
               and
               confidents
               .
            
             
               But
               when
               a
               man
               is
               call'd
               to
               give
               testimony
               in
               this
               kind
               in
               obedience
               to
               the
               Laws
               ,
               and
               out
               of
               reverence
               to
               the
               Oath
               taken
               in
               such
               Cases
               ,
               he
               is
               so
               far
               from
               deserving
               blame
               for
               so
               doing
               ,
               that
               it
               would
               be
               an
               unpardonable
               fault
               in
               him
               to
               conceal
               the
               truth
               ,
               or
               any
               part
               of
               it
               .
            
             
               Thirdly
               ,
               It
               is
               lawful
               to
               publish
               the
               faults
               of
               others
               in
               our
               own
               necessary
               defence
               and
               vindication
               .
               When
               a
               man
               cannot
               conceal
               another's
               faults
               without
               betraying
               his
               own
               innocency
               ,
               no
               charity
               requires
               a
               man
               to
               suffer
               himself
               to
               be
               defamed
               to
               save
               the
               reputation
               of
               another
               man.
               
                 Charity
                 begins
                 at
                 home
              
               ;
               and
               though
               a
               man
               had
               never
               so
               much
               goodness
               ,
               he
               would
               first
               secure
               his
               own
               good
               name
               ,
               and
               then
               be
               concern'd
               for
               other
               men's
               .
               We
               are
               
                 to
                 love
                 our
                 neighbour
                 as
                 our selves
              
               ;
               so
               that
               the
               love
               of
               our selves
               is
               the
               Rule
               and
               Measure
               of
               our
               love
               to
               our
               neighbour
               :
               And
               therefore
               first
               ,
               otherwise
               it
               could
               not
               be
               the
               Rule
               .
               And
               it
               would
               be
               very
               well
               for
               the
               World
               ,
               if
               our
               Charity
               would
               rise
               thus
               high
               ;
               and
               no
               man
               would
               hurt
               another
               man's
               reputation
               ,
               but
               where
               his
               own
               is
               in
               real
               danger
               .
            
             
               Fourthly
               ,
               This
               also
               is
               lawful
               for
               caution
               and
               warning
               to
               a
               third
               person
               ,
               that
               is
               in
               danger
               to
               be
               infected
               by
               the
               company
               ,
               or
               ill
               example
               of
               another
               ;
               or
               may
               be
               greatly
               prejudiced
               by
               reposing
               too
               much
               confidence
               in
               him
               ,
               having
               no
               knowledge
               or
               suspicion
               of
               his
               bad
               qualities
               :
               But
               even
               in
               this
               case
               we
               ought
               to
               take
               great
               care
               that
               
               the
               ill
               character
               we
               give
               of
               any
               man
               be
               spread
               no
               further
               than
               is
               necessary
               to
               the
               good
               end
               we
               designed
               in
               it
               .
            
             
               Besides
               these
               more
               obvious
               and
               remarkable
               Cases
               ,
               this
               Prohibition
               doth
               not
               I
               think
               hinder
               but
               that
               in
               ordinary
               conversation
               men
               may
               mention
               that
               ill
               of
               others
               which
               is
               already
               made
               as
               publick
               as
               it
               well
               can
               be
               :
               Or
               that
               one
               friend
               may
               not
               in
               freedom
               speak
               to
               another
               of
               the
               miscarriage
               of
               a
               third
               person
               ,
               where
               he
               is
               secure
               no
               ill
               use
               will
               be
               made
               of
               it
               ,
               and
               that
               it
               will
               go
               no
               further
               to
               his
               prejudice
               :
               Provided
               always
               ,
               that
               we
               take
               no
               delight
               in
               hearing
               or
               speaking
               ill
               of
               others
               :
               And
               the
               less
               we
               do
               it
               ,
               though
               without
               any
               malice
               or
               design
               of
               harm
               ,
               still
               the
               better
               ;
               because
               this
               shews
               that
               we
               do
               not
               feed
               upon
               ill
               reports
               and
               take
               pleasure
               in
               them
               .
            
             
               These
               are
               the
               usual
               Cases
               in
               which
               it
               may
               be
               necessary
               for
               us
               to
               speak
               evil
               of
               other
               men
               .
               And
               these
               are
               so
               evidently
               reasonable
               that
               the
               Prohibition
               in
               the
               Text
               cannot
               with
               reason
               be
               extended
               to
               them
               .
               And
               if
               no
               man
               would
               allow
               himself
               to
               say
               any
               thing
               to
               the
               prejudice
               of
               another
               man's
               good
               name
               ,
               but
               in
               these
               and
               the
               like
               Cases
               ,
               the
               tongues
               of
               men
               would
               be
               very
               innocent
               ,
               and
               the
               World
               would
               be
               very
               quiet
               .
               I
               proceed
               in
               the
            
             
               IIId
               .
               place
               to
               consider
               
                 the
                 evil
                 of
                 this
                 practice
              
               ,
               both
               in
               the
               Causes
               and
               the
               Consequences
               of
               it
               .
            
             
               First
               ,
               We
               will
               consider
               the
               Causes
               of
               it
               .
               And
               it
               commonly
               springs
               from
               one
               or
               more
               of
               these
               evil
               Roots
               .
            
             
               First
               ,
               One
               of
               the
               deepest
               and
               most
               common
               Causes
               of
               evil-speaking
               is
               ill-nature
               and
               cruelty
               of
               disposition
               :
               And
               by
               a
               general
               mistake
               Ill-nature
               passeth
               for
               Wit
               ,
               as
               Cunning
               doth
               for
               Wisdom
               ;
               tho
               in
               truth
               they
               are
               nothing
               a-kin
               to
               one
               another
               ,
               but
               as
               far
               distant
               as
               Vice
               and
               Vertue
               .
            
             
             
               And
               there
               is
               no
               greater
               evidence
               of
               the
               bad
               temper
               of
               Mankind
               ,
               than
               the
               general
               proneness
               of
               men
               to
               this
               Vice.
               For
               (
               as
               our
               Saviour
               says
               )
               
                 out
                 of
                 the
                 abundance
                 of
                 the
                 heart
                 the
                 mouth
                 speaketh
                 .
              
               And
               therefore
               men
               do
               commonly
               incline
               to
               the
               censorious
               and
               uncharitable
               side
               :
               which
               shews
               humane
               Nature
               to
               be
               strangely
               distorted
               from
               its
               original
               rectitude
               and
               innocency
               .
               The
               Wit
               of
               Man
               doth
               more
               naturally
               vent
               it self
               in
               Satyr
               and
               Censure
               ,
               than
               in
               Praise
               and
               Panegyrick
               .
               When
               men
               set
               themselves
               to
               commend
               ,
               it
               comes
               hardly
               from
               them
               ,
               and
               not
               without
               great
               force
               and
               straining
               ;
               and
               if
               any
               thing
               be
               fitly
               said
               in
               that
               kind
               ,
               it
               doth
               hardly
               relish
               with
               most
               men
               :
               But
               in
               the
               way
               of
               Invective
               ,
               the
               Invention
               of
               men
               is
               a
               plentiful
               and
               never-failing
               Spring
               :
               And
               this
               kind
               of
               Wit
               is
               not
               more
               easie
               than
               it
               is
               acceptable
               :
               It
               is
               greedily
               entertained
               and
               greatly
               applauded
               ,
               and
               every
               man
               is
               glad
               to
               hear
               others
               abused
               ,
               not
               considering
               how
               soon
               it
               may
               come
               to
               his
               own
               turn
               to
               lie
               down
               and
               make
               sport
               for
               others
               .
            
             
               To
               speak
               evil
               of
               others
               ,
               is
               almost
               become
               the
               general
               entertainment
               of
               all
               Companies
               :
               And
               the
               great
               and
               serious
               business
               of
               most
               Meetings
               and
               Visits
               ,
               after
               the
               necessary
               Ceremonies
               and
               Complements
               are
               over
               ,
               is
               to
               sit
               down
               and
               back-bite
               all
               the
               World.
               'T
               is
               the
               Sawee
               of
               Conversation
               ,
               and
               all
               Discourse
               is
               counted
               but
               flat
               and
               dull
               which
               hath
               not
               something
               of
               piquancy
               and
               sharpness
               in
               it
               against
               some
               body
               .
               For
               men
               generally
               love
               rather
               to
               hear
               evil
               of
               others
               than
               good
               ,
               and
               are
               secretly
               pleas'd
               with
               ill
               reports
               ,
               and
               drink
               them
               in
               with
               greediness
               and
               delight
               :
               Though
               at
               the
               same
               time
               they
               have
               so
               much
               Justice
               ,
               as
               to
               hate
               those
               that
               propagate
               them
               ;
               and
               so
               much
               Wit
               ,
               as
               to
               conclude
               that
               these
               very
               persons
               will
               do
               the
               
               same
               for
               them
               in
               another
               Place
               and
               Company
               .
            
             
               But
               especially
               ,
               if
               it
               concerns
               one
               of
               another
               Party
               ,
               and
               that
               differs
               from
               us
               in
               matters
               of
               Religion
               ;
               in
               this
               Case
               ,
               all
               Parties
               seem
               to
               be
               agreed
               that
               they
               do
               God
               great
               service
               in
               blasting
               the
               Reputation
               of
               their
               Adversaries
               :
               And
               tho
               they
               all
               pretend
               to
               be
               Christiams
               ,
               and
               the
               Disciples
               of
               Him
               who
               taught
               nothing
               but
               kindness
               and
               meekness
               and
               charity
               ;
               yet
               it
               is
               strange
               to
               see
               with
               what
               a
               salvage
               and
               murderous
               disposition
               they
               will
               flie
               at
               one
               another's
               Reputation
               and
               tear
               it
               in
               pieces
               :
               And
               what-ever
               other
               Scruples
               they
               may
               have
               ,
               they
               make
               none
               to
               bespatter
               one
               another
               in
               the
               most
               bitter
               and
               slanderous
               manner
               .
            
             
               But
               if
               they
               hear
               any
               good
               of
               their
               Adversaries
               ,
               with
               what
               nicety
               and
               caution
               do
               they
               receive
               it
               ?
               how
               many
               objections
               do
               they
               raise
               against
               it
               ?
               and
               with
               what
               coldness
               do
               they
               at
               last
               admit
               it
               ?
               
                 It
                 is
                 very
                 well
              
               ,
               say
               they
               ,
               
                 if
                 it
                 be
                 true
                 :
                 I
                 shall
                 be
                 glad
                 to
                 hear
                 it
                 confirm'd
                 .
                 I
                 never
                 heard
                 so
                 much
                 good
                 of
                 him
                 before
                 .
                 You
                 are
                 a
                 good
                 man
                 your self
                 ;
                 but
                 have
                 a
                 care
                 you
                 be
                 not
                 deceived
                 .
              
            
             
               Nay
               it
               is
               well
               ,
               if
               to
               balance
               the
               matter
               ,
               and
               set
               things
               even
               ,
               they
               do
               not
               clap
               some
               infirmity
               and
               fault
               into
               the
               other
               Scale
               ,
               that
               so
               the
               Enemy
               may
               not
               go
               off
               with
               flying
               Colours
               .
            
             
               But
               on
               the
               other
               side
               ,
               every
               man
               is
               a
               good
               and
               substantial
               Author
               of
               an
               ill
               Report
               .
               I
               do
               not
               apply
               this
               to
               any
               one
               sort
               of
               men
               ,
               though
               all
               are
               to
               blame
               in
               this
               way
               ;
               
                 Iliacos
                 intra
                 muros
                 peccatur
                 ,
                 &
                 extra
                 .
              
               To
               speak
               impartially
               ,
               the
               Zealots
               of
               all
               Parties
               have
               got
               a
               
                 scurvy
                 Trick
              
               of
               lying
               for
               the
               Truth
               .
            
             
               But
               of
               all
               sorts
               of
               People
               ,
               I
               have
               observed
               the
               Priests
               and
               Bigots
               of
               the
               Church
               of
               Rome
               to
               be
               the
               ablest
               in
               this
               way
               ,
               and
               to
               have
               the
               strongest
               Faith
               for
               a
               lusty
               Falshood
               and
               Calumny
               .
               Others
               will
               
               bandy
               a
               false
               Report
               ,
               and
               toss
               it
               from
               one
               hand
               to
               another
               ;
               but
               I
               never
               knew
               any
               that
               would
               so
               hug
               a
               Lye
               and
               be
               so
               very
               fond
               of
               it
               .
               They
               seem
               to
               be
               described
               by
               St.
               John
               in
               that
               expression
               in
               the
               Revelation
               ,
               
                 Whosoever
                 loveth
                 and
                 maketh
                 a
                 lye
                 .
              
            
             
               Another
               shrewd
               sign
               that
               ill-nature
               lies
               at
               the
               root
               of
               this
               Vice
               is
               ,
               that
               we
               easily
               forget
               the
               good
               that
               is
               said
               of
               others
               ,
               and
               seldom
               make
               mention
               of
               it
               ;
               but
               the
               contrary
               sticks
               with
               us
               ,
               and
               lies
               uppermost
               in
               our
               memories
               ,
               and
               is
               ready
               to
               come
               out
               upon
               all
               occasions
               :
               And
               which
               is
               yet
               more
               ill-natur'd
               and
               unjust
               ,
               many
               times
               when
               we
               do
               not
               believe
               it
               our selves
               we
               tell
               it
               to
               others
               ,
               with
               this
               charitable
               Caution
               ,
               
                 That
                 we
                 hope
                 it
                 is
                 not
                 true
                 .
              
               But
               in
               the
               mean
               time
               we
               give
               it
               our
               Pass
               ,
               and
               venture
               it
               to
               take
               its
               fortune
               to
               be
               believed
               or
               not
               ,
               according
               to
               the
               charity
               of
               those
               into
               whose
               hands
               it
               comes
               .
            
             
               Secondly
               ,
               Another
               Cause
               of
               the
               commonness
               of
               this
               Vice
               is
               ,
               that
               many
               are
               so
               bad
               themselves
               ,
               in
               one
               kind
               or
               other
               .
               For
               to
               think
               and
               speak
               ill
               of
               others
               is
               not
               only
               a
               bad
               thing
               ,
               but
               a
               sign
               of
               a
               bad
               man.
               Our
               
                 Blessed
                 Saviour
              
               ,
               speaking
               of
               the
               evil
               of
               the
               
                 last
                 days
              
               ,
               gives
               this
               as
               the
               reason
               of
               the
               great
               decay
               of
               Charity
               among
               men
               ;
               
                 Because
                 iniquity
                 shall
                 abound
                 ,
                 the
                 Love
                 of
                 many
                 shall
                 wax
                 cold
                 ,
                 Matth.
              
               24.
               12.
               
               When
               men
               are
               bad
               themselves
               ,
               they
               are
               glad
               of
               any
               opportunity
               to
               censure
               others
               ,
               and
               are
               always
               apt
               to
               suspect
               that
               evil
               of
               other
               men
               which
               they
               know
               by
               themselves
               .
               They
               cannot
               have
               a
               good
               opinion
               of
               themselves
               ,
               and
               therefore
               are
               very
               unwilling
               to
               have
               so
               of
               any
               body
               else
               ;
               and
               for
               this
               reason
               they
               endeavour
               to
               bring
               men
               to
               a
               level
               ,
               hoping
               it
               will
               be
               some
               justification
               of
               them
               if
               they
               can
               but
               render
               others
               as
               bad
               as
               themselves
               .
            
             
               Thirdly
               ,
               Another
               source
               of
               this
               Vice
               is
               Malice
               
               and
               Revenge
               .
               When
               men
               are
               in
               Heat
               and
               Passion
               they
               do
               not
               consider
               what
               is
               true
               ,
               but
               what
               is
               spiteful
               and
               mischievous
               ;
               and
               speak
               evil
               of
               others
               in
               revenge
               of
               some
               injury
               which
               they
               have
               received
               from
               them
               :
               And
               when
               they
               are
               blinded
               by
               their
               Passions
               ,
               they
               lay
               about
               them
               madly
               and
               at
               a
               venture
               ,
               not
               much
               caring
               whether
               the
               evil
               they
               speak
               be
               true
               or
               not
               .
               Nay
               many
               are
               so
               Devilish
               ,
               as
               to
               invent
               and
               raise
               false
               Reports
               on
               purpose
               to
               blast
               mens
               Reputation
               .
               This
               is
               a
               Diabolical
               temper
               ,
               and
               therefore
               St.
               James
               tells
               us
               that
               the
               slanderous
               
                 Tongue
                 is
                 set
                 on
                 fire
                 of
                 Hell
                 :
              
               And
               the
               Devil
               hath
               his
               very
               Name
               from
               Calumny
               and
               false
               Accusation
               ;
               and
               it
               is
               his
               Nature
               too
               ,
               for
               he
               is
               always
               ready
               to
               stir
               up
               and
               foment
               this
               evil
               spirit
               among
               men
               :
               Nay
               ,
               the
               Scripture
               tells
               us
               that
               he
               hath
               the
               malice
               and
               impudence
               to
               accuse
               good
               men
               before
               God
               ;
               as
               he
               did
               Job
               ,
               charging
               him
               with
               Hypocrisie
               to
               God
               himself
               ;
               Who
               ,
               he
               knows
               ,
               
                 does
                 know
                 the
                 hearts
                 of
                 all
                 the
                 children
                 of
                 men
                 .
              
            
             
               Fourthly
               ,
               Another
               Cause
               of
               evil-speaking
               is
               Envy
               .
               Men
               look
               with
               an
               evil
               eye
               upon
               the
               good
               that
               is
               in
               others
               ,
               and
               think
               that
               their
               Reputation
               obscures
               them
               ,
               and
               that
               their
               commendable
               qualities
               do
               stand
               in
               their
               light
               ;
               and
               therefore
               they
               do
               what
               they
               can
               to
               cast
               a
               cloud
               over
               them
               ,
               that
               the
               bright
               shining
               of
               their
               Vertues
               may
               not
               scorch
               them
               .
               This
               makes
               them
               greedily
               to
               entertain
               ,
               and
               industriously
               to
               publish
               any
               thing
               that
               may
               serve
               to
               that
               purpose
               ,
               thereby
               to
               raise
               themselves
               upon
               the
               Ruins
               of
               other
               men's
               Reputation
               :
               And
               therefore
               as
               soon
               as
               they
               have
               got
               an
               ill
               Report
               of
               any
               good
               man
               by
               the
               end
               ,
               to
               work
               they
               presently
               go
               to
               send
               it
               abroad
               by
               the
               first
               Post
               :
               For
               the
               string
               is
               always
               ready
               upon
               their
               Bow
               to
               let
               fly
               this
               Arrow
               with
               an
               incredible
               swiftness
               ,
               through
               City
               and
               Country
               ;
               for
               fear
               the
               innocent
               man's
               justification
               should
               over-take
               it
               .
            
             
             
               Fifthly
               ,
               Another
               Cause
               of
               evil-speaking
               is
               Impertinence
               and
               Curiosity
               ;
               an
               itch
               of
               talking
               and
               medling
               in
               the
               affairs
               of
               other
               Men
               ,
               which
               do
               nowise
               concern
               them
               .
               Some
               persons
               love
               to
               mingle
               themselves
               in
               all
               business
               ,
               and
               are
               loth
               to
               seem
               ignorant
               of
               so
               important
               a
               piece
               of
               News
               as
               the
               faults
               and
               follies
               of
               men
               ,
               or
               any
               bad
               thing
               that
               is
               talk'd
               of
               in
               good
               Company
               .
               And
               therefore
               they
               do
               with
               great
               care
               pick
               up
               ill
               Stories
               ,
               as
               good
               matter
               of
               discourse
               in
               the
               next
               Company
               that
               is
               worthy
               of
               them
               :
               And
               this
               perhaps
               not
               out
               of
               any
               great
               malice
               ,
               but
               for
               want
               of
               something
               better
               to
               talk
               of
               ,
               and
               because
               their
               Parts
               lie
               chiefly
               that
               way
               .
            
             
               Lastly
               ,
               Men
               do
               this
               many
               times
               out
               of
               wantonness
               and
               for
               diversion
               .
               So
               little
               do
               light
               and
               vain
               men
               consider
               ,
               that
               a
               man's
               Reputation
               is
               too
               great
               and
               tender
               a
               Concernment
               to
               be
               jested
               withal
               ;
               and
               that
               a
               slanderous
               Tongue
               
                 bites
                 like
                 a
                 Serpent
              
               ,
               and
               
                 wounds
                 like
                 a
                 Sword.
              
               For
               what
               can
               be
               more
               barbarous
               ,
               next
               to
               sporting
               with
               a
               man's
               Life
               ,
               than
               to
               play
               with
               his
               Honour
               and
               Reputation
               ,
               which
               to
               some
               men
               is
               dearer
               to
               them
               than
               their
               Lives
               ?
            
             
               It
               is
               a
               cruel
               pleasure
               which
               some
               men
               take
               in
               worrying
               the
               Reputation
               of
               others
               much
               better
               than
               themselves
               ;
               and
               this
               only
               to
               divert
               themselves
               and
               the
               Company
               .
               Solomon
               compares
               this
               sort
               of
               men
               to
               distracted
               persons
               ;
               
                 As
                 a
                 mad
                 man
              
               ,
               saith
               he
               ,
               
                 who
                 casteth
                 fire-brands
                 ,
                 arrows
                 ,
                 and
                 death
                 ,
                 so
                 is
                 the
                 man
                 that
                 deceiveth
                 his
                 neighbour
              
               ;
               the
               LXX
               .
               render
               it
               ,
               
                 So
                 is
                 the
                 man
                 that
                 defameth
                 his
                 neighbour
                 ,
                 and
                 saith
                 ,
                 Am
                 I
                 not
                 in
                 sport
                 ?
              
               Such
               ,
               and
               so
               bad
               are
               the
               Causes
               of
               this
               Vice.
               I
               proceed
               to
               consider
               ,
               in
               the
            
             
               Second
               place
               ,
               the
               ordinary
               ,
               but
               very
               pernicious
               Consequences
               and
               Effects
               of
               it
               ;
               both
               to
               Others
               ,
               and
               to
               our Selves
               .
            
             
               First
               ,
               To
               Others
               ;
               the
               Parties
               I
               mean
               that
               are
               slandered
               .
               To
               them
               it
               is
               certainly
               a
               great
               injury
               ,
               
               and
               commonly
               a
               high
               Provocation
               ,
               but
               always
               matter
               of
               no
               small
               grief
               and
               trouble
               to
               them
               .
            
             
               It
               is
               certainly
               a
               great
               injury
               ,
               and
               if
               the
               evil
               which
               we
               say
               of
               them
               be
               not
               true
               ,
               it
               is
               an
               injury
               beyond
               imagination
               ,
               and
               beyond
               all
               possible
               reparation
               .
               And
               though
               we
               should
               do
               our
               utmost
               endeavour
               afterwards
               towards
               their
               Vindication
               ,
               yet
               that
               makes
               but
               very
               little
               amends
               ;
               because
               the
               Vindication
               seldom
               reacheth
               so
               far
               as
               the
               Reproach
               ,
               and
               because
               commonly
               men
               are
               neither
               so
               forward
               to
               spread
               the
               Vindication
               ,
               nor
               is
               it
               so
               easily
               received
               after
               ill
               impressions
               are
               once
               made
               .
               The
               solicitous
               Vindication
               of
               a
               man's
               self
               is
               ,
               at
               the
               best
               ,
               but
               an
               after-game
               ;
               and
               for
               the
               most
               part
               a
               man
               had
               better
               sit
               still
               ,
               than
               to
               run
               the
               hazard
               of
               making
               the
               matter
               worse
               by
               playing
               it
               .
            
             
               I
               will
               add
               one
               thing
               more
               ,
               That
               it
               is
               an
               Injury
               that
               descends
               to
               a
               man's
               Children
               and
               Posterity
               ;
               because
               the
               good
               or
               ill
               Name
               of
               the
               Father
               is
               derived
               down
               to
               them
               ;
               and
               many
               times
               the
               best
               thing
               he
               hath
               to
               leave
               them
               is
               the
               Reputation
               of
               his
               unblemish'd
               Virtue
               and
               Worth
               :
               And
               do
               we
               make
               no
               Conscience
               to
               rob
               his
               innocent
               Children
               of
               the
               best
               part
               of
               this
               small
               Patrimony
               ,
               and
               of
               all
               the
               kindness
               that
               would
               have
               been
               done
               them
               for
               their
               Father's
               sake
               ,
               if
               his
               Reputation
               had
               not
               been
               so
               undeservedly
               stain'd
               ?
               Is
               it
               no
               Crime
               by
               the
               breath
               of
               our
               mouth
               at
               once
               to
               blast
               a
               man's
               Reputation
               ,
               and
               to
               ruin
               his
               Children
               ,
               perhaps
               to
               all
               Posterity
               ?
               Can
               we
               make
               a
               jest
               of
               so
               serious
               a
               matter
               ?
               Of
               an
               Injury
               so
               very
               hard
               to
               be
               repented
               of
               as
               it
               ought
               ,
               because
               in
               such
               a
               Case
               no
               Repentance
               will
               be
               acceptable
               without
               Restitution
               ,
               if
               it
               be
               in
               our
               power
               .
               And
               perhaps
               it
               will
               undo
               us
               in
               this
               World
               to
               make
               it
               ;
               and
               if
               we
               do
               it
               not
               ,
               will
               be
               our
               Ruin
               in
               the
               other
               .
            
             
               I
               will
               put
               the
               Case
               at
               the
               best
               ,
               that
               the
               matter
               of
               the
               Slander
               is
               true
               ;
               yet
               no
               man's
               Reputation
               is
               considerably
               stained
               ,
               tho
               never
               so
               deservedly
               ,
               without
               
               great
               harm
               and
               damage
               to
               him
               .
               And
               it
               is
               great
               odds
               but
               the
               matter
               by
               passing
               through
               several
               hands
               is
               aggravated
               beyond
               truth
               ,
               every
               one
               out
               of
               his
               bounty
               being
               apt
               to
               add
               something
               to
               it
               .
            
             
               But
               ,
               besides
               the
               Injury
               ,
               it
               is
               commonly
               a
               very
               high
               Provocation
               .
               And
               the
               consequence
               of
               that
               may
               be
               as
               bad
               as
               we
               can
               imagine
               ,
               and
               may
               end
               in
               dangerous
               and
               desperate
               Quarrels
               .
               This
               reason
               the
               wise
               Son
               of
               Sirach
               gives
               why
               we
               should
               defame
               no
               man
               :
               
                 Whether
                 it
                 be
              
               ,
               says
               he
               ,
               
                 to
                 a
                 friend
                 or
                 to
                 a
                 foe
                 ,
                 talk
                 not
                 of
                 other
                 mens
                 lives
                 .
                 For
                 he
                 hath
                 heard
                 and
                 observed
                 thee
                 ,
                 Ecclus.
              
               19.
               8
               ,
               9.
               that
               is
               ,
               one
               way
               or
               other
               it
               will
               probably
               come
               to
               his
               knowledge
               ,
               
                 and
                 when
                 the
                 time
                 cometh
                 he
                 will
                 shew
                 his
                 hatred
              
               ;
               that
               is
               ,
               he
               will
               take
               the
               first
               opportunity
               to
               revenge
               it
               .
            
             
               At
               the
               best
               ,
               it
               is
               always
               matter
               of
               Grief
               to
               the
               person
               that
               is
               defam'd
               :
               And
               Christianity
               ,
               which
               is
               the
               
                 best-natur'd
                 Institution
              
               in
               the
               World
               ,
               forbids
               us
               the
               doing
               of
               those
               things
               whereby
               we
               may
               
                 grieve
                 one
                 another
              
               .
               A
               man's
               good
               name
               is
               a
               tender
               thing
               ,
               and
               a
               wound
               there
               sinks
               deep
               into
               the
               spirit
               even
               of
               a
               wise
               and
               good
               man
               :
               And
               the
               more
               innocent
               any
               man
               is
               in
               this
               kind
               ,
               the
               more
               sensible
               is
               he
               of
               this
               hard
               usage
               ;
               because
               he
               never
               treats
               others
               so
               ,
               nor
               is
               he
               conscious
               to
               himself
               that
               he
               hath
               deserved
               it
               .
            
             
               Secondly
               ,
               The
               Consequences
               of
               this
               Vice
               are
               as
               bad
               or
               worse
               to
               our selves
               .
               Whoever
               is
               wont
               to
               speak
               evil
               of
               others
               ,
               gives
               a
               bad
               character
               of
               himself
               ,
               even
               to
               those
               whom
               he
               desires
               to
               please
               ;
               who
               ,
               if
               they
               be
               wise
               enough
               ,
               will
               conclude
               that
               he
               speaks
               of
               them
               to
               others
               ,
               as
               he
               does
               of
               others
               to
               them
               :
               And
               were
               it
               not
               for
               that
               fond
               partiality
               which
               men
               have
               for
               themselves
               ,
               no
               man
               could
               be
               so
               blind
               as
               not
               to
               see
               this
               .
            
             
               And
               it
               is
               very
               well
               worthy
               of
               our
               consideration
               ,
               which
               our
               Saviour
               says
               in
               this
               very
               Case
               ,
               That
               
                 with
                 what
                 measure
                 we
                 meet
                 to
                 others
                 ,
                 it
                 shall
                 be
                 measured
                 to
                 us
                 again
              
               ;
               Matth.
               7.
               and
               that
               many
               times
               
                 heaped
                 up
              
               ,
               and
               
                 running
                 over
              
               .
               For
               there
               is
               hardly
               any
               thing
               wherein
               
               Mankind
               do
               use
               more
               strict
               justice
               and
               equality
               ,
               than
               
                 in
                 rendering
                 evil
                 for
                 evil
                 ,
                 and
                 railing
                 for
                 railing
                 .
              
            
             
               Nay
               ,
               Revenge
               often
               goes
               further
               than
               Words
               .
               A
               reproachful
               and
               slanderous
               Speech
               hath
               cost
               many
               a
               man
               a
               Duel
               ,
               and
               in
               that
               the
               loss
               of
               his
               own
               Life
               ,
               or
               the
               Murther
               of
               another
               ,
               perhaps
               with
               the
               loss
               of
               his
               own
               Soul
               :
               And
               I
               have
               often
               wonder'd
               that
               among
               Christians
               this
               matter
               is
               no
               more
               laid
               to
               heart
               .
            
             
               And
               tho
               neither
               of
               these
               great
               mischiefs
               should
               happen
               to
               us
               ,
               yet
               this
               may
               be
               inconvenient
               enough
               many
               other
               ways
               .
               For
               no
               man
               knows
               in
               the
               chance
               of
               things
               ,
               and
               the
               mutability
               of
               humane
               affairs
               ,
               whose
               kindness
               and
               good-will
               he
               may
               come
               to
               stand
               in
               need
               of
               before
               he
               dies
               .
               So
               that
               did
               a
               man
               only
               consult
               his
               own
               safety
               and
               quiet
               ,
               he
               ought
               to
               refrain
               from
               
                 evil-speaking
                 .
                 What
                 man
                 is
                 he
                 ,
              
               saith
               the
               
                 Psalmist
                 ,
                 that
                 desireth
                 life
                 ,
                 and
                 loveth
                 many
                 days
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 may
                 see
                 good
                 :
                 Keep
                 thy
                 tongue
                 from
                 evil
                 ,
                 and
                 thy
                 lips
                 from
                 speaking
                 falshood
                 ,
              
               Psal
               .
               34.
               12
               ,
               13.
               
            
             
               But
               there
               is
               an
               infinitely
               greater
               Danger
               hanging
               over
               us
               from
               God.
               If
               we
               allow
               our selves
               in
               this
               evil
               practice
               ,
               all
               our
               Religion
               is
               good
               for
               nothing
               .
               So
               St.
               James
               expresly
               tells
               us
               ,
               
                 If
                 any
                 man
                 among
                 you
                 seemeth
                 to
                 be
                 religious
                 ,
                 and
                 bridleth
                 not
                 his
                 tongue
                 ,
                 but
                 deceiveth
                 his
                 own
                 heart
                 ,
                 that
                 man's
                 Religion
                 is
                 vain
                 ,
              
               Jam.
               1.
               26.
               
               And
               St.
               Paul
               puts
               Slanderers
               and
               Revilers
               amongst
               those
               that
               
                 shall
                 not
                 inherit
                 the
                 kingdom
                 of
                 God.
              
               And
               our
               
                 Blessed
                 Saviour
              
               hath
               told
               us
               ,
               That
               
                 by
                 our
                 words
                 we
                 shall
                 be
                 justified
                 ,
                 and
                 by
                 our
                 words
                 we
                 shall
                 be
                 condemned
                 ,
                 1
                 Cor.
              
               6.
               10.
               
               To
               which
               I
               will
               add
               the
               counsel
               given
               us
               by
               the
               
                 Wise-man
                 ,
                 Refrain
                 your
                 tongue
                 from
                 backbiting
                 ,
                 for
                 there
                 is
                 no
                 word
                 so
                 secret
                 that
                 shall
                 go
                 for
                 nought
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 mouth
                 that
                 slandereth
                 slayeth
                 the
                 Soul
                 ,
              
               Wisdom
               of
               Solomon
               ,
               
                 c.
                 1.
                 v.
              
               11.
               
               I
               proceed
               in
               the
            
             
               IVth
               place
               ,
               to
               add
               
                 some
                 further
                 Arguments
                 and
                 Considerations
                 to
                 take
                 men
                 off
                 from
                 this
                 Vice
                 :
              
               As
               ,
            
             
               First
               ,
               That
               the
               use
               of
               Speech
               is
               a
               peculiar
               Prerogative
               of
               Man
               above
               other
               Creatures
               ,
               and
               bestowed
               upon
               
               him
               for
               some
               excellent
               end
               and
               purpose
               :
               That
               by
               this
               Faculty
               we
               might
               communicate
               our
               thoughts
               more
               easily
               to
               one
               another
               ,
               and
               consult
               together
               for
               our
               mutual
               comfort
               and
               benefit
               :
               Not
               to
               enable
               us
               to
               be
               hurtful
               and
               injurious
               ,
               but
               helpful
               and
               beneficial
               to
               one
               another
               .
               The
               Psalmist
               ,
               as
               by
               Interpreters
               is
               generally
               thought
               calls
               our
               Tongue
               our
               Glory
               ;
               therewith
               we
               
                 praise
                 God
              
               and
               
                 bless
                 Men.
              
               Now
               to
               bless
               is
               to
               speak
               well
               of
               any
               ,
               and
               to
               wish
               them
               well
               .
               So
               that
               we
               pervert
               the
               use
               of
               Speech
               and
               turn
               our
               glory
               into
               shame
               ,
               when
               we
               abuse
               this
               Faculty
               to
               the
               injury
               and
               reproach
               of
               any
               .
            
             
               Secondly
               ,
               Consider
               how
               cheap
               a
               kindness
               it
               is
               to
               speak
               well
               ,
               at
               least
               not
               to
               speak
               ill
               of
               any
               .
               A
               good
               word
               is
               an
               easie
               obligation
               ,
               but
               not
               to
               speak
               ill
               requires
               only
               our
               Silence
               ,
               which
               costs
               us
               nothing
               .
               Some
               instances
               of
               Charity
               are
               chargeable
               ,
               as
               to
               relieve
               the
               wants
               and
               necessities
               of
               others
               :
               The
               expence
               deterrs
               many
               from
               this
               kind
               of
               Charity
               .
               But
               were
               a
               man
               never
               so
               covetous
               ,
               he
               might
               afford
               another
               man
               his
               good
               word
               ;
               at
               least
               he
               might
               refrain
               from
               speaking
               ill
               of
               him
               :
               especially
               if
               it
               be
               consider'd
               how
               dear
               many
               have
               paid
               for
               a
               slanderous
               and
               reproachful
               word
               .
            
             
               Thirdly
               ,
               Consider
               that
               no
               quality
               doth
               ordinarily
               recommend
               one
               more
               to
               the
               favour
               and
               good-will
               of
               men
               ,
               than
               to
               be
               free
               from
               this
               Vice.
               Every
               one
               desires
               such
               a
               man's
               friendship
               ,
               and
               is
               apt
               to
               repose
               a
               great
               trust
               and
               confidence
               in
               him
               :
               And
               when
               he
               is
               dead
               ,
               men
               will
               praise
               him
               ;
               and
               next
               to
               Piety
               towards
               God
               ,
               and
               Righteousness
               to
               Men
               ,
               nothing
               is
               thought
               a
               more
               significant
               commendation
               ,
               than
               that
               he
               was
               never
               ,
               or
               very
               rarely
               heard
               to
               speak
               ill
               of
               any
               .
               It
               was
               a
               singular
               Character
               of
               a
               
                 Roman
                 Gentleman
                 ,
                 Nescivit
                 quid
                 esset
                 maledicere
                 ,
                 he
                 knew
                 not
                 what
                 it
                 was
                 to
                 give
                 any
                 man
                 an
                 ill
                 word
                 .
              
            
             
               Fourthly
               ,
               Let
               every
               man
               lay
               his
               hand
               upon
               his
               heart
               ,
               and
               consider
               how
               himself
               is
               apt
               to
               be
               affected
               with
               this
               usage
               .
               Speak
               thy
               Conscience
               Man
               ,
               and
               say
               whether
               ,
               as
               bad
               as
               thou
               art
               ,
               thou
               wouldst
               
               not
               be
               glad
               to
               have
               every
               man's
               ,
               especially
               every
               good
               man's
               good
               word
               ?
               And
               to
               have
               thy
               faults
               conceal'd
               ,
               and
               not
               to
               be
               hardly
               spoken
               of
               ,
               though
               it
               may
               be
               not
               altogether
               without
               truth
               ,
               by
               those
               whom
               thou
               didst
               never
               offend
               by
               word
               or
               deed
               ?
               But
               with
               what
               face
               or
               reason
               dost
               thou
               expect
               this
               from
               others
               ,
               to
               whom
               thy
               carriage
               hath
               been
               so
               contrary
               ?
               Nothing
               surely
               is
               more
               equal
               and
               reasonable
               than
               that
               known
               
                 Rule
                 ,
                 What
                 thou
                 wouldst
                 have
                 no
                 man
                 do
                 to
                 thee
                 ,
                 that
                 do
                 thou
                 to
                 no
                 man.
                 
              
            
             
               Fifthly
               ,
               When
               you
               are
               going
               to
               speak
               reproachfully
               of
               others
               ,
               consider
               whether
               you
               do
               not
               lie
               open
               to
               just
               reproach
               in
               the
               same
               ,
               or
               some
               other
               kind
               .
               Therefore
               give
               no
               Occasion
               ,
               no
               Example
               of
               this
               barbarous
               usage
               of
               one
               another
               .
            
             
               There
               are
               very
               few
               so
               innocent
               and
               free
               either
               from
               infirmities
               or
               greater
               faults
               ,
               as
               not
               to
               be
               obnoxious
               to
               reproach
               upon
               one
               account
               or
               other
               ;
               even
               the
               wisest
               ,
               and
               most
               virtuous
               ,
               and
               most
               perfect
               among
               men
               have
               some
               little
               vanity
               ,
               or
               affectation
               ,
               which
               lays
               them
               open
               to
               the
               railery
               of
               a
               mimical
               and
               malicious
               Wit
               :
               Therefore
               we
               should
               often
               turn
               our
               thoughts
               upon
               our selves
               ,
               and
               look
               into
               that
               part
               of
               the
               Wallet
               which
               men
               commonly
               fling
               over
               their
               shoulders
               and
               keep
               behind
               them
               ,
               that
               they
               may
               not
               see
               their
               own
               Faults
               :
               And
               when
               we
               have
               searched
               that
               well
               ,
               let
               us
               remember
               our
               
                 Saviour's
                 Rule
                 ,
                 He
                 that
                 is
                 without
                 sin
                 ,
                 let
                 him
                 cast
                 the
                 first
                 stone
                 .
              
            
             
               Lastly
               consider
               ,
               That
               it
               is
               in
               many
               Cases
               as
               great
               a
               Charity
               to
               conceal
               the
               evil
               you
               hear
               and
               know
               of
               others
               ,
               as
               if
               you
               relieved
               them
               in
               a
               great
               necessity
               .
               And
               we
               think
               him
               a
               hard-hearted
               man
               that
               will
               not
               bestow
               a
               small
               Alms
               upon
               one
               in
               great
               want
               .
               It
               is
               an
               excellent
               Advice
               which
               the
               Son
               of
               Sirach
               gives
               to
               this
               purpose
               ;
               
                 Talk
                 not
                 of
                 other
                 men's
                 lives
                 :
                 If
                 thou
                 hast
                 heard
                 a
                 word
                 ,
                 let
                 it
                 die
                 with
                 thee
                 ;
                 and
                 be
                 bold
                 it
                 will
                 not
                 burst
                 thee
                 ,
              
               Ecclus.
               19.
               10.
               
               I
               shall
               in
               the
            
             
               Vth.
               and
               last
               place
               ,
               
                 give
                 some
                 Rules
                 and
                 Directions
                 
                 for
                 the
                 prevention
                 and
                 cure
                 of
                 this
                 great
                 evil
                 among
                 men
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 First
                 ,
                 Never
                 say
                 any
                 evil
                 of
                 any
                 man
                 ,
                 but
                 what
                 you
                 certainly
                 know
                 .
              
               When
               ever
               you
               positively
               accuse
               and
               endite
               any
               man
               of
               any
               Crime
               ,
               though
               it
               be
               in
               private
               and
               among
               Friends
               ,
               speak
               as
               if
               you
               were
               upon
               your
               Oath
               ,
               because
               God
               sees
               and
               hears
               you
               .
               This
               not
               only
               Charity
               ,
               but
               Justice
               and
               regard
               to
               truth
               do
               demand
               of
               us
               .
               He
               that
               easily
               credits
               an
               ill
               Report
               is
               almost
               as
               faulty
               as
               the
               first
               inventer
               of
               it
               .
               For
               tho
               you
               do
               not
               make
               ,
               yet
               you
               commonly
               propagate
               a
               Lye.
               Therefore
               never
               speak
               evil
               of
               any
               upon
               
                 common
                 Fame
              
               ,
               which
               for
               the
               most
               part
               is
               false
               ,
               but
               almost
               always
               uncertain
               whether
               it
               be
               true
               or
               not
               .
            
             
               Not
               but
               that
               it
               is
               a
               fault
               ,
               in
               most
               Cases
               ,
               to
               report
               the
               evil
               of
               men
               which
               is
               true
               ,
               and
               which
               we
               certainly
               know
               to
               be
               so
               :
               But
               if
               I
               cannot
               prevail
               to
               make
               men
               wholly
               to
               abstain
               from
               this
               fault
               ,
               I
               would
               be
               glad
               to
               compound
               with
               some
               Persons
               ,
               and
               to
               gain
               this
               point
               of
               them
               however
               ;
               because
               it
               would
               retrench
               nine
               parts
               in
               ten
               of
               the
               evil-speaking
               that
               is
               in
               the
               World.
               
            
             
               Secondly
               ,
               Before
               you
               speak
               evil
               of
               any
               man
               ,
               consider
               whether
               he
               hath
               not
               obliged
               you
               by
               some
               real
               kindness
               ,
               and
               then
               it
               is
               a
               bad
               return
               to
               speak
               ill
               of
               him
               who
               hath
               done
               us
               good
               .
               Consider
               also
               ,
               whether
               you
               may
               not
               come
               hereafter
               to
               be
               acquainted
               with
               him
               ,
               related
               to
               him
               ,
               or
               obliged
               by
               him
               whom
               you
               have
               thus
               injured
               ?
               And
               how
               will
               you
               then
               be
               ashamed
               when
               you
               reflect
               upon
               it
               ,
               and
               perhaps
               have
               reason
               also
               to
               believe
               that
               he
               to
               whom
               you
               have
               done
               this
               injury
               is
               not
               ignorant
               of
               it
               ?
            
             
               Consider
               likewise
               ,
               whether
               in
               the
               change
               of
               Humane
               affairs
               ,
               you
               may
               not
               some
               time
               or
               other
               come
               to
               stand
               in
               need
               of
               his
               favour
               ;
               and
               how
               incapable
               this
               carriage
               of
               yours
               towards
               him
               will
               render
               you
               of
               it
               ?
               And
               whether
               it
               may
               not
               be
               in
               his
               power
               to
               revenge
               a
               spiteful
               and
               needless
               word
               by
               a
               shrewd
               turn
               ?
               So
               that
               if
               a
               man
               made
               no
               conscience
               of
               hurting
               others
               ,
               yet
               he
               should
               in
               prudence
               have
               some
               consideration
               of
               himself
               .
            
             
             
               Thirdly
               ,
               Let
               us
               accustom
               our selves
               to
               pity
               the
               Faults
               of
               men
               and
               to
               be
               truly
               sorry
               for
               them
               ,
               and
               then
               we
               shall
               take
               no
               pleasure
               in
               publishing
               them
               .
               And
               this
               common
               Humanity
               requires
               of
               us
               ,
               considering
               the
               great
               infirmities
               of
               humane
               Nature
               ,
               and
               that
               we
               our selves
               also
               are
               liable
               to
               be
               tempted
               :
               Considering
               likewise
               ,
               how
               severe
               a
               Punishment
               every
               Fault
               and
               miscarriage
               is
               to
               it self
               ;
               and
               how
               terribly
               it
               exposeth
               a
               man
               to
               the
               wrath
               of
               God
               ,
               both
               in
               this
               World
               and
               the
               other
               .
               He
               is
               not
               a
               good
               Christian
               ,
               that
               is
               not
               heartily
               sorry
               for
               the
               faults
               even
               of
               his
               greatest
               Enemies
               ;
               and
               if
               he
               be
               so
               ,
               he
               will
               discover
               them
               no
               further
               than
               is
               necessary
               to
               some
               good
               end
               .
            
             
               Fourthly
               ,
               When-ever
               we
               hear
               any
               man
               evil-spoken
               of
               ,
               if
               we
               know
               any
               good
               of
               him
               let
               us
               say
               that
               .
               It
               is
               always
               the
               more
               humane
               and
               the
               more
               honourable
               part
               to
               stand
               up
               in
               the
               defence
               and
               vindication
               of
               others
               ,
               than
               to
               accuse
               and
               bespatter
               them
               .
               Possibly
               the
               good
               you
               heard
               of
               them
               may
               not
               be
               true
               ,
               but
               it
               is
               much
               more
               probable
               that
               the
               evil
               which
               you
               have
               heard
               of
               them
               is
               not
               true
               neither
               :
               However
               ,
               it
               is
               better
               to
               preserve
               the
               credit
               of
               a
               bad
               man
               ,
               than
               to
               stain
               the
               Reputation
               of
               the
               innocent
               .
               And
               if
               there
               were
               any
               need
               that
               a
               man
               should
               be
               evil-spoken
               of
               ,
               it
               is
               but
               fair
               and
               equal
               that
               his
               good
               and
               bad
               Qualities
               should
               be
               mention'd
               together
               ;
               otherwise
               he
               may
               be
               strangely
               misrepresented
               ,
               and
               an
               indifferent
               Man
               may
               be
               made
               a
               Monster
               .
            
             
               They
               that
               will
               observe
               nothing
               in
               a
               Wise
               man
               ,
               but
               his
               over-sights
               and
               follies
               ;
               nothing
               in
               a
               Good
               man
               ,
               but
               his
               failings
               and
               infirmities
               ;
               may
               make
               a
               shift
               to
               render
               a
               very
               wise
               and
               good
               man
               very
               despicable
               .
               If
               one
               should
               heap
               together
               all
               the
               passionate
               Speeches
               ,
               all
               the
               froward
               and
               imprudent
               Actions
               of
               the
               best
               Man
               ;
               all
               that
               he
               had
               said
               or
               done
               amiss
               in
               his
               whole
               Life
               ,
               and
               present
               it
               all
               at
               one
               view
               ,
               concealing
               his
               Wisdom
               and
               Vertues
               ;
               the
               Man
               in
               this
               Disguise
               would
               look
               like
               a
               Mad-man
               or
               a
               Fury
               :
               And
               
               yet
               if
               his
               Life
               were
               fairly
               represented
               ,
               and
               just
               in
               the
               same
               manner
               it
               was
               led
               ;
               and
               his
               many
               and
               great
               Virtues
               set
               over-against
               his
               failings
               and
               infirmities
               ,
               he
               would
               appear
               to
               all
               the
               World
               to
               be
               an
               admirable
               and
               excellent
               Person
               .
               But
               how
               many
               and
               great
               soever
               any
               man's
               ill
               Qualities
               are
               ,
               it
               is
               but
               just
               that
               with
               all
               this
               heavy
               load
               of
               Faults
               he
               should
               have
               the
               due
               praise
               of
               the
               few
               real
               Virtues
               that
               are
               in
               him
               .
            
             
               Fifthly
               ,
               That
               you
               may
               not
               speak
               ill
               of
               any
               ,
               do
               not
               delight
               to
               hear
               ill
               of
               them
               .
               Give
               no
               countenance
               to
               Busy-bodies
               ,
               and
               those
               that
               love
               to
               talk
               of
               other
               mens
               Faults
               :
               Or
               if
               you
               cannot
               decently
               reprove
               them
               because
               of
               their
               Quality
               ,
               then
               divert
               the
               discourse
               some
               other
               way
               ;
               or
               if
               you
               cannot
               do
               that
               ,
               by
               seeming
               not
               to
               mind
               it
               ,
               you
               may
               sufficiently
               signify
               that
               you
               do
               not
               like
               it
               .
            
             
               Sixthly
               ,
               Let
               every
               man
               mind
               himself
               ,
               and
               his
               own
               Duty
               and
               Concernment
               .
               Do
               but
               endeavour
               in
               good
               earnest
               to
               mend
               thy self
               ,
               and
               it
               will
               be
               work
               enough
               for
               one
               Man
               ,
               and
               leave
               thee
               but
               little
               time
               to
               talk
               of
               others
               .
               When
               Plato
               withdrew
               from
               the
               Court
               of
               Dionysius
               ,
               who
               would
               fain
               have
               had
               a
               famous
               Philosopher
               for
               his
               Flatterer
               ,
               they
               parted
               in
               some
               unkindness
               ,
               and
               Dionysius
               bad
               him
               not
               to
               speak
               ill
               of
               him
               when
               he
               was
               return'd
               into
               
                 Greece
                 ;
                 Plato
              
               told
               him
               ,
               
                 he
                 had
                 no
                 leisure
                 for
                 it
              
               ;
               meaning
               that
               he
               had
               better
               things
               to
               mind
               ,
               than
               to
               take
               up
               his
               thoughts
               and
               talk
               with
               the
               faults
               of
               so
               bad
               a
               man
               ,
               so
               notoriously
               known
               to
               all
               the
               World.
               
            
             
               Lastly
               ,
               Let
               us
               set
               a
               watch
               before
               the
               door
               of
               our
               lips
               ,
               and
               not
               speak
               but
               upon
               consideration
               :
               I
               do
               not
               mean
               to
               speak
               finely
               ,
               but
               fitly
               .
               Especially
               when
               thou
               speakest
               of
               others
               ,
               consider
               of
               whom
               ,
               and
               what
               thou
               art
               going
               to
               speak
               :
               Use
               great
               Caution
               and
               Circumspection
               in
               this
               matter
               :
               Look
               well
               about
               thee
               ;
               on
               every
               side
               of
               the
               thing
               ,
               and
               on
               every
               Person
               in
               the
               Company
               ,
               before
               thy
               words
               slip
               from
               thee
               ;
               which
               when
               they
               are
               once
               out
               of
               thy
               lips
               ,
               are
               for
               ever
               out
               of
               thy
               power
               .
            
             
             
               Not
               that
               men
               should
               be
               sullen
               in
               company
               ,
               and
               say
               nothing
               ;
               or
               so
               stiff
               in
               conversation
               ,
               as
               to
               drop
               nothing
               but
               Aphorisms
               and
               Oracles
               :
               Especially
               ,
               among
               Equals
               and
               Friends
               ,
               we
               should
               not
               be
               so
               reserved
               as
               if
               we
               would
               have
               it
               taken
               for
               a
               mighty
               favour
               that
               we
               vouchsafe
               to
               say
               any
               thing
               .
               If
               a
               Man
               had
               the
               understanding
               of
               an
               Angel
               ,
               he
               must
               be
               contented
               to
               abate
               something
               of
               this
               excess
               of
               Wisdom
               ,
               for
               fear
               of
               being
               thought
               Cunning.
               The
               true
               Art
               of
               Conversation
               ,
               if
               any
               body
               can
               hit
               upon
               it
               ,
               seems
               to
               be
               this
               ;
               an
               appearing
               freedom
               and
               openness
               ,
               with
               a
               resolute
               reservedness
               as
               little
               appearing
               as
               is
               possible
               .
            
             
               All
               that
               I
               mean
               by
               this
               Caution
               is
               ,
               that
               we
               should
               consider
               well
               what
               we
               say
               ,
               especially
               of
               others
               .
               And
               to
               this
               end
               we
               should
               endeavour
               to
               get
               our
               minds
               furnished
               with
               matter
               of
               Discourse
               concerning
               things
               useful
               in
               themselves
               ,
               and
               not
               hurtful
               to
               others
               :
               And
               ,
               if
               we
               have
               but
               a
               Mind
               wise
               enough
               ,
               and
               good
               enough
               ,
               we
               may
               easily
               find
               a
               Field
               large
               enough
               for
               innocent
               Conversation
               ;
               such
               as
               will
               harm
               no
               body
               ,
               and
               yet
               be
               acceptable
               enough
               to
               the
               better
               and
               wiser
               part
               of
               Mankind
               :
               And
               why
               should
               any
               one
               be
               at
               the
               cost
               of
               playing
               the
               fool
               to
               gratify
               any
               body
               whatsoever
               ?
            
             
               I
               have
               done
               with
               the
               Five
               things
               I
               propounded
               to
               speak
               to
               upon
               this
               Argument
               .
               But
               because
               hardly
               any
               thing
               can
               be
               so
               clear
               ,
               but
               something
               may
               be
               said
               against
               it
               ;
               nor
               any
               thing
               so
               bad
               ,
               but
               something
               may
               be
               pleaded
               in
               excuse
               for
               it
               :
               I
               shall
               therefore
               take
               notice
               of
               two
               or
               three
               Pleas
               that
               may
               be
               made
               for
               it
               .
            
             
               First
               ,
               Some
               pretend
               mighty
               injury
               and
               provocation
               .
               If
               in
               the
               same
               kind
               ,
               it
               seems
               thou
               art
               sensible
               of
               it
               ;
               and
               therefore
               thou
               of
               all
               men
               oughtest
               to
               abstain
               from
               it
               :
               But
               in
               what
               kind
               soever
               it
               be
               ,
               the
               Christian
               Religion
               forbids
               Revenge
               .
               Therefore
               do
               not
               plead
               one
               Sin
               in
               excuse
               of
               another
               ,
               and
               make
               Revenge
               an
               Apology
               for
               Reviling
               .
            
             
               Secondly
               ,
               It
               is
               alledged
               by
               others
               ,
               with
               a
               little
               better
               grace
               ,
               that
               if
               this
               Doctrine
               were
               practised
               ,
               Conversation
               
               would
               be
               spoil'd
               ,
               and
               there
               would
               not
               be
               matter
               enough
               for
               pleasant
               discourse
               and
               entertainment
               .
            
             
               I
               answer
               ,
               The
               design
               of
               this
               Discourse
               is
               to
               redress
               a
               great
               evil
               in
               Conversation
               ,
               and
               that
               I
               hope
               which
               mends
               it
               will
               not
               spoil
               it
               .
               And
               however
               ,
               if
               men's
               Tongues
               lay
               a
               little
               more
               still
               ,
               and
               most
               of
               us
               spake
               a
               good
               deal
               less
               than
               we
               do
               ,
               both
               of
               our selves
               and
               others
               ,
               I
               see
               no
               great
               harm
               in
               it
               :
               I
               hope
               we
               might
               for
               all
               that
               live
               comfortably
               and
               in
               good
               health
               ,
               and
               see
               many
               good
               days
               .
               David
               ,
               I
               am
               sure
               ,
               prescribes
               it
               as
               an
               excellent
               Receipt
               ,
               in
               his
               Opinion
               ,
               for
               a
               quiet
               ,
               and
               cheerful
               ,
               and
               long
               Life
               ,
               to
               refrain
               from
               evil-speaking
               ;
               Psal
               .
               34.
               12
               ,
               13.
               
               
                 What
                 man
                 is
                 he
                 that
                 desireth
                 life
                 ,
                 and
                 loveth
                 many
                 days
                 that
                 he
                 may
                 see
                 good
                 ?
                 Keep
                 thy
                 tongue
                 from
                 evil
                 ,
                 and
                 thy
                 lips
                 from
                 speaking
                 falshood
                 .
              
            
             
               But
               granting
               that
               there
               is
               some
               pleasure
               in
               Invective
               ,
               I
               hope
               there
               is
               a
               great
               deal
               more
               in
               Innocence
               :
               And
               the
               more
               any
               man
               considers
               this
               ,
               the
               truer
               he
               will
               find
               it
               ;
               and
               whenever
               we
               are
               serious
               ,
               we
               our selves
               cannot
               but
               acknowledge
               it
               .
               When
               a
               man
               examines
               himself
               impartially
               before
               the
               Sacrament
               ,
               or
               is
               put
               in
               mind
               upon
               a
               Death-bed
               to
               make
               reparation
               for
               Injuries
               done
               in
               this
               kind
               ,
               he
               will
               then
               certainly
               be
               of
               this
               mind
               and
               wish
               he
               had
               not
               done
               them
               .
               For
               this
               certainly
               is
               one
               necessary
               qualification
               for
               the
               
                 Blessed
                 Sacrament
              
               ,
               that
               we
               
                 be
                 in
                 love
                 and
                 charity
                 with
                 our
                 neighbours
              
               ;
               with
               which
               temper
               of
               mind
               this
               quality
               is
               utterly
               inconsistent
               .
            
             
               Thirdly
               ,
               There
               is
               yet
               a
               more
               specious
               Plea
               than
               either
               of
               the
               former
               ,
               that
               men
               will
               be
               encouraged
               to
               do
               ill
               if
               they
               can
               escape
               the
               tongues
               of
               men
               ;
               as
               they
               would
               do
               ,
               if
               this
               Doctrine
               did
               effectually
               take
               place
               :
               Because
               by
               this
               means
               one
               great
               restraint
               from
               doing
               evil
               would
               be
               taken
               away
               ,
               which
               these
               good
               men
               who
               are
               so
               bent
               upon
               reforming
               the
               World
               ,
               think
               would
               be
               great
               pity
               .
               For
               many
               who
               will
               venture
               upon
               the
               displeasure
               of
               God
               ,
               will
               yet
               abstain
               from
               doing
               bad
               things
               for
               fear
               of
               reproach
               from
               Men
               :
               Besides
               ,
               
               that
               this
               seems
               the
               most
               proper
               punishment
               of
               many
               Faults
               which
               the
               Laws
               of
               Men
               can
               take
               no
               notice
               of
               .
            
             
               Admitting
               all
               this
               to
               be
               true
               ,
               yet
               it
               does
               not
               seem
               so
               good
               and
               laudable
               a
               way
               to
               punish
               one
               Fault
               by
               another
               .
               But
               let
               no
               man
               encourage
               himself
               in
               an
               evil
               way
               with
               this
               hope
               ,
               that
               he
               shall
               escape
               the
               censure
               of
               men
               :
               When
               I
               have
               said
               all
               I
               can
               ,
               there
               will
               ,
               I
               fear
               ,
               be
               evil-speaking
               enough
               in
               the
               World
               to
               chastise
               them
               that
               do
               ill
               :
               And
               tho
               we
               should
               hold
               our
               peace
               ,
               there
               will
               be
               bad
               tongues
               enow
               to
               reproach
               men
               with
               their
               evil-doings
               .
               I
               wish
               we
               could
               but
               be
               persuaded
               to
               make
               the
               Experiment
               for
               a
               little
               while
               ,
               whether
               men
               would
               not
               be
               sufficiently
               lash'd
               for
               their
               Faults
               ,
               tho
               we
               sate
               by
               and
               said
               nothing
               .
            
             
               So
               that
               there
               is
               no
               need
               at
               all
               that
               good
               Men
               should
               be
               concern'd
               in
               this
               odious
               Work.
               There
               will
               always
               be
               Offenders
               and
               Malefactors
               enow
               to
               be
               the
               Executioners
               to
               inflict
               this
               punishment
               upon
               one
               another
               .
               Therefore
               let
               no
               man
               presume
               upon
               Impunity
               on
               the
               one
               hand
               ;
               and
               on
               the
               other
               ,
               let
               no
               man
               despair
               but
               that
               this
               business
               will
               be
               sufficiently
               done
               one
               way
               or
               other
               .
               I
               am
               very
               much
               mistaken
               ,
               if
               we
               may
               not
               safely
               trust
               an
               ill-natur'd
               World
               that
               there
               will
               be
               no
               failure
               of
               Justice
               in
               this
               kind
               .
            
             
               And
               here
               ,
               if
               I
               durst
               ,
               I
               would
               fain
               have
               said
               a
               word
               or
               two
               concerning
               that
               more
               publick
               sort
               of
               Obloquy
               by
               Lampoons
               and
               Libels
               ,
               so
               much
               in
               fashion
               in
               this
               witty
               Age.
               But
               I
               have
               no
               mind
               to
               provoke
               a
               very
               terrible
               sort
               of
               men
               .
               Yet
               thus
               much
               I
               hope
               may
               be
               said
               without
               offence
               ,
               that
               how
               much
               soever
               men
               are
               pleas'd
               to
               see
               others
               abused
               in
               this
               kind
               ,
               yet
               it
               is
               always
               grievous
               when
               it
               comes
               to
               their
               own
               turn
               :
               However
               I
               cannot
               but
               hope
               that
               every
               man
               that
               impartially
               considers
               must
               own
               it
               to
               be
               a
               fault
               of
               a
               very
               high
               nature
               to
               revile
               those
               whom
               God
               hath
               placed
               in
               Authority
               over
               us
               ,
               and
               
                 to
                 slander
                 the
                 footsteps
                 of
                 the
                 Lord
                 's
                 Anointed
                 :
              
               Especially
               since
               it
               is
               so
               expresly
               written
               ,
               
                 Thou
                 shalt
                 not
                 speak
                 evil
                 of
                 the
                 Rulers
                 of
                 thy
                 People
                 .
              
            
             
             
               Having
               represented
               the
               great
               evil
               of
               this
               Vice
               ,
               it
               might
               not
               now
               be
               improper
               to
               say
               something
               to
               those
               who
               suffer
               by
               it
               .
               Are
               we
               guilty
               of
               the
               evil
               said
               of
               us
               ?
               Let
               us
               reform
               ,
               and
               cut
               off
               all
               occasions
               for
               the
               future
               ;
               and
               so
               turn
               the
               malice
               of
               our
               Enemies
               to
               our
               own
               advantage
               ,
               and
               defeat
               their
               ill
               intentions
               by
               making
               so
               good
               an
               use
               of
               it
               :
               And
               then
               it
               will
               be
               well
               for
               us
               to
               have
               been
               evil
               spoken
               of
               .
            
             
               Are
               we
               innocent
               ?
               We
               may
               so
               much
               the
               better
               bear
               it
               patiently
               ;
               imitating
               herein
               the
               Pattern
               of
               our
               
                 Blessed
                 Saviour
                 ,
                 Who
                 when
                 he
                 was
                 reviled
                 ,
                 reviled
                 not
                 again
                 ,
                 but
                 committed
                 himself
                 to
                 him
                 that
                 judgeth
                 righteously
                 .
              
            
             
               We
               may
               consider
               likewise
               ,
               that
               tho
               it
               be
               a
               misfortune
               to
               be
               evil-spoken
               of
               ,
               it
               is
               their
               fault
               that
               do
               it
               ,
               and
               not
               ours
               ;
               and
               therefore
               should
               not
               put
               us
               into
               Passion
               ,
               because
               another
               man's
               being
               injurious
               to
               me
               is
               no
               good
               reason
               why
               I
               should
               be
               uneasy
               to
               my self
               .
               We
               should
               not
               revenge
               the
               injuries
               done
               to
               us
               ,
               no
               not
               upon
               them
               that
               do
               them
               ,
               much
               less
               upon
               our selves
               .
               Let
               no
               man's
               Provocation
               make
               thee
               to
               lose
               thy
               Patience
               .
               Be
               not
               such
               a
               fool
               ,
               as
               to
               part
               with
               any
               one
               Virtue
               because
               some
               men
               are
               so
               malicious
               as
               to
               endeavour
               to
               rob
               thee
               of
               the
               Reputation
               of
               all
               the
               rest
               .
               When
               men
               speak
               ill
               of
               thee
               ,
               do
               as
               Plato
               said
               he
               would
               do
               in
               that
               case
               ;
               
                 Live
                 so
                 ,
                 as
                 that
                 no
                 body
                 may
                 believe
                 them
                 .
              
            
             
               All
               that
               now
               remains
               is
               to
               reflect
               upon
               what
               hath
               been
               said
               ,
               and
               to
               urge
               you
               and
               my self
               to
               do
               accordingly
               .
               For
               all
               is
               nothing
               ,
               if
               we
               do
               not
               practise
               what
               we
               so
               plainly
               see
               to
               be
               our
               Duty
               .
               Many
               are
               so
               taken
               up
               with
               the
               deep
               Points
               and
               Mysteries
               of
               Religion
               ,
               that
               they
               never
               think
               of
               the
               common
               Duties
               and
               Offices
               of
               human
               Life
               .
               But
               Faith
               and
               a
               
                 good
                 Life
              
               are
               so
               far
               from
               clashing
               with
               one
               another
               ,
               that
               the
               
                 Christian
                 Religion
              
               hath
               made
               them
               inseparable
               .
               True
               Faith
               is
               necessary
               in
               order
               to
               a
               
                 good
                 Life
              
               ,
               and
               a
               
                 good
                 Life
              
               is
               the
               genuine
               product
               of
               a
               
                 right
                 Belief
              
               ;
               and
               therefore
               the
               one
               never
               ought
               to
               be
               press'd
               to
               the
               prejudice
               of
               the
               other
               .
            
             
             
               I
               foresee
               what
               will
               be
               said
               ,
               because
               I
               have
               heard
               it
               so
               often
               said
               in
               the
               like
               case
               ;
               that
               there
               is
               
                 not
                 one
                 word
                 of
                 Jesus
                 Christ
                 in
                 all
                 this
                 .
              
               No
               more
               is
               there
               in
               the
               Text.
               And
               yet
               I
               hope
               that
               
                 Jesus
                 Christ
              
               is
               truly
               preach'd
               ,
               whenever
               his
               Will
               and
               Laws
               ,
               and
               the
               Duties
               enjoin'd
               by
               the
               
                 Christian
                 Religion
              
               are
               inculcated
               upon
               us
               .
            
             
               But
               some
               men
               are
               pleased
               to
               say
               ,
               that
               
                 this
                 is
                 mere
                 Morality
              
               :
               I
               answer
               ,
               that
               this
               is
               Scripture-Morality
               and
               Christian-Morality
               ,
               and
               who
               hath
               any
               thing
               to
               say
               against
               that
               ?
               Nay
               ,
               I
               will
               go
               yet
               further
               ,
               that
               no
               man
               ought
               to
               pretend
               to
               believe
               the
               
                 Christian
                 Religion
              
               ,
               who
               lives
               in
               the
               neglect
               of
               so
               plain
               a
               Duty
               ;
               and
               in
               the
               practice
               of
               a
               Sin
               so
               clearly
               condemn'd
               by
               it
               ,
               as
               this
               of
               evil-speaking
               is
               .
            
             
               But
               because
               
                 the
                 Word
                 of
                 God
                 is
                 quick
                 and
                 powerful
                 ,
                 and
                 sharper
                 than
                 a
                 two-edged
                 Sword
                 ,
              
               yea
               sharper
               than
               Calumny
               itself
               ;
               and
               pierceth
               the
               very
               Hearts
               and
               Consciences
               of
               men
               ,
               laying
               us
               open
               to
               our selves
               ,
               and
               convincing
               us
               of
               our
               more
               secret
               as
               well
               as
               our
               more
               visible
               Faults
               ;
               I
               shall
               therefore
               at
               one
               view
               represent
               to
               you
               what
               is
               dispersedly
               said
               concerning
               this
               Sin
               in
               the
               
                 Holy
                 Word
                 of
                 God.
              
               
            
             
               And
               I
               have
               purposely
               reserved
               this
               to
               the
               last
               ,
               because
               it
               is
               more
               persuasive
               and
               penetrating
               than
               any
               Humane
               Discourse
               .
               And
               to
               this
               end
               be
               pleas'd
               to
               consider
               in
               what
               company
               the
               
                 Holy
                 Ghost
              
               doth
               usually
               mention
               this
               Sin.
               There
               is
               scarce
               any
               
                 black
                 Catalogue
              
               of
               Sins
               in
               the
               Bible
               but
               we
               find
               this
               among
               them
               ;
               in
               the
               company
               of
               the
               very
               worst
               Actions
               and
               most
               irregular
               Passions
               of
               men
               .
               
                 Out
                 of
                 the
                 heart
              
               ,
               says
               our
               Saviour
               ,
               Matt.
               15.
               19.
               
                 proceed
                 evil
                 thoughts
                 ,
                 murders
                 ,
                 adulteries
                 ,
                 fornications
                 ,
                 false
                 witness
                 ,
                 evil
                 speakings
                 .
              
               And
               the
               Apostle
               ,
               Rom.
               1.
               29.
               ranks
               backbiters
               with
               fornicators
               ,
               and
               murderers
               ,
               and
               
                 haters
                 of
                 God
              
               ;
               and
               with
               those
               of
               whom
               it
               is
               expresly
               said
               ,
               1
               Cor.
               6.
               10.
               that
               
                 they
                 shall
                 not
                 inherit
                 the
                 Kingdom
                 of
                 God.
                 
              
            
             
               And
               when
               he
               enumerates
               the
               Sins
               of
               
                 the
                 last
                 times
              
               ,
               2
               Tim.
               3.
               2
               ,
               3.
               
               Men
               ,
               says
               he
               ,
               
                 shall
                 be
                 lovers
                 of
                 themselves
                 ,
                 
                 covetous
                 ,
                 boasters
                 ,
                 evil-speakers
                 ,
                 without
                 natural
                 affection
                 ,
                 perfidious
                 ,
                 false
                 accusers
                 ,
              
               &c.
               
               And
               which
               is
               the
               strangest
               of
               all
               ,
               they
               who
               are
               said
               to
               be
               guilty
               of
               these
               great
               Vices
               and
               Enormities
               are
               noted
               by
               the
               Apostle
               to
               be
               great
               pretenders
               to
               Religion
               ;
               for
               so
               it
               follows
               in
               the
               next
               words
               ,
               
                 Having
                 a
                 form
                 of
                 godliness
                 ,
                 but
                 denying
                 the
                 power
                 thereof
                 .
              
               So
               that
               it
               is
               no
               new
               thing
               for
               men
               to
               make
               a
               more
               than
               ordinary
               profession
               of
               Christianity
               ,
               and
               yet
               at
               the
               same
               time
               to
               live
               in
               a
               most
               palpable
               contradiction
               to
               the
               Precepts
               of
               that
               
                 Holy
                 Religion
              
               :
               As
               if
               any
               pretence
               to
               Mystery
               and
               I
               know
               not
               what
               extraordinary
               attainments
               in
               the
               knowledge
               of
               Christ
               ,
               could
               exempt
               men
               from
               obedience
               to
               his
               Laws
               ,
               and
               set
               them
               above
               the
               Vertues
               of
               a
               good
               Life
               .
            
             
               And
               now
               after
               all
               this
               ,
               do
               we
               hardly
               think
               that
               to
               be
               a
               Sin
               ,
               which
               is
               in
               Scripture
               so
               frequently
               rank'd
               with
               Murther
               and
               Adultery
               and
               the
               
                 blackest
                 Crimes
              
               ;
               such
               as
               are
               inconsistent
               with
               the
               life
               and
               power
               of
               Religion
               ,
               and
               will
               certainly
               shut
               men
               out
               of
               the
               Kingdom
               of
               God
               ?
               Do
               we
               believe
               the
               Bible
               to
               be
               the
               
                 Word
                 of
                 God
              
               ?
               and
               can
               we
               allow
               our selves
               in
               the
               common
               practice
               of
               a
               Sin
               ,
               than
               which
               there
               is
               hardly
               any
               Fault
               of
               mens
               Lives
               more
               frequently
               mention'd
               ,
               more
               severely
               reprov'd
               ,
               and
               more
               odiously
               branded
               in
               that
               
                 Holy
                 Book
              
               .
            
             
               Consider
               seriously
               these
               Texts
               ,
               Psal
               .
               15.
               1.
               
               
                 Who
                 shall
                 abide
                 in
                 thy
                 Tabernacle
                 ,
                 who
                 shall
                 dwell
                 in
                 thy
                 holy
                 Hill
                 ?
                 He
                 that
                 backbiteth
                 not
                 with
                 his
                 tongue
                 ,
                 nor
                 taketh
                 up
                 a
                 reproach
                 against
                 his
                 neighbour
                 .
              
               Have
               ye
               never
               heard
               what
               our
               Saviour
               says
               ,
               that
               
                 of
                 every
                 idle
                 word
                 we
                 must
                 give
                 an
                 account
                 in
                 the
                 day
                 of
                 Judgment
              
               ;
               that
               
                 by
                 thy
                 words
                 thou
                 sbalt
                 be
                 justified
                 ,
                 and
                 by
                 thy
                 words
                 thou
                 shalt
                 be
                 condemn'd
                 ?
              
               What
               can
               be
               more
               severe
               than
               that
               of
               St.
               
                 James
                 ?
                 If
                 any
                 man
                 among
                 you
                 seemeth
                 to
                 be
                 religious
                 ,
                 and
                 bridleth
                 not
                 his
                 tongue
                 ,
                 that
                 man's
                 Religion
                 is
                 vain
                 .
              
            
             
               To
               conclude
               :
               The
               Sin
               which
               I
               have
               now
               warned
               men
               against
               ,
               is
               plainly
               condemn'd
               by
               the
               
                 Word
                 of
                 
                 God
              
               ;
               and
               the
               Duty
               which
               I
               have
               now
               been
               persuading
               you
               to
               ,
               is
               easy
               for
               every
               man
               to
               understand
               ,
               not
               hard
               for
               any
               man
               ,
               that
               can
               but
               resolve
               to
               keep
               a
               good
               guard
               upon
               himself
               for
               some
               time
               ,
               by
               the
               grace
               of
               God
               to
               practice
               ;
               and
               most
               reasonable
               for
               all
               Men
               ,
               but
               especially
               for
               all
               Christians
               ,
               to
               observe
               .
               It
               is
               as
               easy
               as
               a
               
                 resolute
                 silence
              
               upon
               just
               occasion
               ,
               as
               reasonable
               as
               prudence
               and
               justice
               and
               charity
               ,
               and
               the
               preservation
               of
               peace
               and
               good-will
               among
               men
               ,
               can
               make
               it
               ;
               and
               of
               as
               necessary
               and
               indispensible
               an
               obligation
               ,
               as
               the
               Authority
               of
               God
               can
               render
               any
               thing
               .
            
             
               Upon
               all
               which
               Considerations
               let
               us
               every
               one
               of
               us
               be
               persuaded
               to
               take
               up
               
               David's
               deliberate
               Resolution
               ,
               
                 Psal
                 .
                 31.
                 1.
                 
                 I
                 said
                 ,
                 I
                 will
                 take
                 heed
                 to
                 my
                 ways
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 offend
                 not
                 with
                 my
                 tongue
                 .
              
               And
               I
               do
               verily
               believe
               ,
               that
               would
               we
               but
               heartily
               endeavour
               to
               amend
               this
               one
               Fault
               ,
               we
               should
               soon
               be
               better
               Men
               in
               our
               whole
               lives
               :
               I
               mean
               ,
               that
               the
               correcting
               of
               this
               Vice
               ,
               together
               with
               those
               that
               are
               nearly
               allied
               to
               it
               ,
               and
               may
               at
               the
               same
               time
               ,
               and
               almost
               with
               the
               same
               resolution
               and
               care
               be
               corrected
               ,
               would
               make
               us
               Owners
               of
               a
               great
               many
               considerable
               Vertues
               ,
               and
               carry
               us
               on
               a
               good
               way
               towards
               perfection
               ;
               it
               being
               hardly
               to
               be
               imagin'd
               that
               a
               man
               that
               makes
               conscience
               of
               his
               Words
               should
               not
               take
               an
               equal
               or
               a
               greater
               care
               of
               his
               Actions
               .
               And
               this
               I
               take
               to
               be
               both
               the
               true
               meaning
               ,
               and
               the
               true
               reason
               of
               that
               saying
               of
               St.
               James
               ,
               and
               with
               which
               I
               shall
               conclude
               :
               
                 If
                 any
                 man
                 offend
                 not
                 in
                 Word
                 ,
                 the
                 same
                 is
                 a
                 perfect
                 man.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Now
                 the
                 God
                 of
                 peace
                 ,
                 who
                 brought
                 again
                 from
                 the
                 dead
                 our
                 Lord
                 Jesus
                 Christ
                 ,
                 the
                 great
                 Shepherd
                 of
                 the
                 Sheep
                 ,
                 through
                 the
                 blood
                 of
                 the
                 everlasting
                 Covenant
                 ,
                 make
                 you
                 perfect
                 in
                 every
                 good
                 word
                 and
                 work
                 ,
                 to
                 do
                 his
                 will
                 ;
                 working
                 in
                 you
                 always
                 that
                 which
                 is
                 well-pleasing
                 in
                 his
                 sight
                 ,
                 through
                 Jesus
                 Christ
              
               ;
               To
               whom
               be
               glory
               for
               ever
               ,
            
             
               Amen
               .
            
          
        
      
       
         
           
             
             
               THE
               Arch-Bishop
               of
               
               YORK's
               SERMON
               About
               the
               
                 Government
                 of
                 the
                 Thoughts
              
               ,
               Before
               the
               King
               and
               Queen
               ,
               At
               
                 White-hall
                 ,
                 March
              
               iv
               .
               1693
               /
               4.
               
            
          
           
             
             
             
               A
               SERMON
               About
               the
               
                 Government
                 of
                 the
                 Thoughts
              
               ,
               Preach
               d
               before
               the
               KING
               and
               QUEEN
               ,
               AT
               WHITE-HALL
               ,
               The
               4th
               of
               March
               ,
               being
               the
               2d
               Sunday
               in
               LENT
               ,
               1693
               /
               4.
               
            
             
               By
               the
               Most
               Reverend
               Father
               in
               God
               ,
               JOHN
               Lord
               Arch-Bishop
               of
               York
               .
            
             
               
                 Published
                 by
                 Their
                 Majesties
                 Especial
                 Command
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 The
                 Fourth
                 Edition
              
               .
            
             
               LONDON
               ,
               Printed
               for
               
                 Walter
                 Kettilby
              
               ,
               at
               the
               
                 Bishop's
                 Head
              
               in
               St.
               Paul's
               Church
               Yard
               ,
               1698.
               
            
          
        
         
           
             
             
             
               A
               SERMON
               About
               the
               
                 Government
                 of
                 the
                 Thoughts
              
               ,
               Preach'd
               before
               the
               King
               and
               Queen
               .
            
             
               
                 PROV
                 .
                 iv
                 .
                 23.
                 
              
               
                 Keep
                 thy
                 Heart
                 with
                 all
                 diligence
                 ,
                 for
                 out
                 of
                 it
                 are
                 the
                 issues
                 of
                 Life
                 .
              
            
             
               THE
               Argument
               with
               which
               this
               Audience
               was
               entertained
               the
               last
               
                 Lord's
                 Day
              
               ,
               being
               the
               
                 Government
                 of
                 the
                 Tongue
              
               ;
               I
               cannot
               think
               it
               improper
               or
               unseasonable
               for
               me
               ,
               who
               have
               the
               Honour
               to
               come
               next
               ,
               to
               treat
               about
               the
               
                 Government
                 of
                 
                 the
                 Thoughts
              
               :
               There
               being
               a
               near
               relation
               between
               these
               two
               ,
               and
               a
               necessary
               dependance
               of
               the
               one
               upon
               the
               other
               .
            
             
               Our
               Words
               indeed
               are
               more
               easily
               governed
               than
               our
               Thoughts
               ,
               because
               they
               are
               more
               in
               our
               Power
               .
               But
               it
               will
               be
               impossible
               either
               to
               govern
               our
               Words
               or
               our
               Actions
               ,
               as
               we
               should
               ,
               unless
               we
               first
               bring
               our
               Thoughts
               in
               some
               measure
               under
               Government
               .
            
             
               I
               must
               confess
               this
               Argument
               of
               the
               
                 Government
                 of
                 the
                 Thoughts
              
               ,
               though
               it
               be
               a
               very
               useful
               ,
               yet
               it
               seems
               also
               a
               very
               nice
               and
               difficult
               one
               ,
               through
               the
               great
               variety
               of
               Cases
               ,
               arising
               from
               Mens
               different
               Tempers
               ,
               which
               will
               not
               come
               under
               the
               same
               Rules
               ,
               and
               yet
               ought
               to
               be
               provided
               for
               .
               But
               however
               ,
               this
               shall
               not
               discourage
               me
               from
               undertaking
               this
               Argument
               ;
               it
               shall
               only
               make
               me
               more
               careful
               as
               to
               what
               I
               say
               about
               it
               .
               That
               is
               ,
               to
               have
               respect
               ,
               as
               much
               as
               I
               can
               ,
               to
               all
               sorts
               of
               Tempers
               ,
               and
               to
               deliver
               what
               I
               have
               to
               say
               with
               so
               much
               Plainness
               ,
               that
               every
               body
               may
               go
               along
               with
               me
               .
            
             
               The
               Words
               ,
               upon
               which
               I
               ground
               my
               Discourse
               ,
               are
               those
               of
               Solomon
               ,
               which
               I
               have
               read
               unto
               you
               ,
               and
               which
               contain
               one
               of
               those
               Precepts
               that
               he
               lays
               down
               〈◊〉
               the
               Religious
               Conduct
               of
               our
               Lives
               .
               Keep
               (
               saith
               he
               )
               
                 thy
                 Heart
                 with
                 all
                 diligence
                 ,
                 for
                 out
                 of
                 it
                 are
                 the
                 issues
                 of
                 Life
                 .
              
            
             
               Not
               to
               trouble
               you
               with
               what
               others
               have
               said
               upon
               this
               Text
               ,
               I
               take
               the
               true
               Meaning
               of
               it
               to
               be
               this
               .
            
             
             
               By
               the
               
                 [
                 Heart
              
               ]
               here
               ,
               which
               we
               are
               exhorted
               to
               keep
               ,
               we
               are
               to
               understand
               the
               
                 Inward
                 Thoughts
              
               and
               Motions
               ,
               and
               Affections
               of
               our
               Souls
               or
               Spirits
               ;
               all
               which
               in
               the
               inspired
               Writings
               are
               constantly
               said
               to
               be
               seated
               in
               the
               Heart
               .
               This
               undoubtedly
               is
               the
               Scripture
               Notion
               of
               the
               Heart
               .
            
             
               And
               when
               we
               are
               here
               bid
               to
               
                 keep
                 our
                 Hearts
                 with
                 all
                 diligence
                 ,
              
               I
               think
               there
               is
               no
               question
               to
               be
               made
               ,
               the
               Meaning
               is
               ,
               That
               we
               should
               diligently
               attend
               to
               the
               Thoughts
               and
               Motions
               ,
               and
               Affections
               of
               our
               Minds
               ;
               that
               we
               should
               watch
               them
               narrowly
               ,
               lest
               at
               any
               time
               we
               should
               give
               our
               Consent
               to
               something
               we
               ought
               not
               .
               This
               is
               the
               Meaning
               of
               
                 keeping
                 our
                 Hearts
                 with
                 all
                 diligence
                 .
              
            
             
               And
               then
               a
               Reason
               is
               added
               ,
               why
               it
               concerns
               us
               thus
               to
               keep
               them
               .
               And
               that
               is
               this
               .
               Because
               
                 out
                 of
                 the
                 heart
                 are
                 the
                 issues
                 of
                 life
                 .
              
               What
               is
               the
               Meaning
               of
               that
               Phrase
               ?
               Plainly
               this
               .
               The
               Issues
               ,
               the
               Fruits
               ,
               the
               Effects
               that
               are
               shewn
               in
               our
               Lives
               and
               Conversation
               ,
               do
               certainly
               proceed
               from
               the
               Heart
               ,
               and
               therefore
               ,
               accordingly
               as
               that
               is
               well
               or
               ill
               guarded
               or
               kept
               ,
               so
               will
               our
               Lives
               and
               Conversations
               be
               .
               The
               Goodness
               or
               Badness
               of
               our
               Lives
               doth
               altogether
               depend
               upon
               the
               attending
               or
               not
               attending
               to
               the
               Thoughts
               ,
               and
               Motions
               ,
               and
               Inclinations
               of
               our
               Minds
               .
               As
               our
               Caution
               and
               Watchfulness
               in
               this
               Point
               is
               greater
               or
               less
               ,
               so
               will
               our
               Course
               of
               Life
               be
               better
               or
               worse
               .
               And
               therefore
               it
               concerns
               
               us
               all
               ,
               that
               mean
               to
               live
               well
               ,
               to
               be
               infinitely
               careful
               in
               this
               Matter
               .
            
             
               This
               is
               a
               plain
               Account
               of
               the
               Advice
               that
               is
               here
               given
               us
               .
               So
               that
               you
               see
               ,
               if
               I
               mean
               to
               discourse
               pertinently
               to
               my
               Text
               ,
               my
               Argument
               must
               be
               (
               what
               I
               said
               )
               the
               Care
               ,
               and
               Management
               ,
               and
               Government
               of
               our
               Thoughts
               ,
               as
               they
               fall
               under
               a
               Religious
               Consideration
               .
            
             
               In
               treating
               of
               this
               Argument
               there
               seem
               to
               me
               Two
               Things
               needful
               to
               be
               done
               .
            
             
               First
               ,
               To
               give
               an
               Account
               what
               Power
               a
               Man
               hath
               over
               his
               own
               Thoughts
               .
            
             
               Secondly
               ,
               To
               shew
               wherein
               the
               Art
               of
               Governing
               of
               them
               doth
               consist
               .
            
             
               It
               is
               indeed
               this
               second
               thing
               which
               my
               Text
               naturally
               leads
               me
               to
               speak
               to
               :
               But
               I
               cannot
               speak
               to
               that
               to
               any
               purpose
               ,
               till
               I
               have
               made
               way
               for
               it
               by
               clearing
               the
               first
               .
               It
               is
               in
               vain
               to
               give
               Rules
               about
               the
               Government
               of
               our
               Thoughts
               ,
               till
               we
               know
               how
               far
               we
               have
               Power
               over
               them
               ;
               how
               far
               they
               fall
               ,
               or
               do
               not
               fall
               ,
               under
               our
               Conduct
               and
               Management
               .
            
             
               And
               I
               must
               needs
               say
               ,
               that
               most
               of
               those
               I
               have
               met
               with
               ,
               that
               have
               discours'd
               about
               the
               
                 Government
                 of
                 Thoughts
              
               ,
               by
               not
               enquiring
               into
               ,
               and
               setling
               this
               Point
               ,
               have
               been
               so
               far
               from
               benefiting
               all
               their
               Hearers
               ,
               that
               desired
               to
               receive
               benefit
               by
               their
               good
               advices
               ,
               that
               to
               several
               of
               them
               they
               have
               done
               
               harm
               :
               Because
               as
               to
               them
               their
               advices
               have
               been
               perfectly
               unpracticable
               .
               Now
               those
               that
               by
               their
               own
               Experience
               found
               them
               to
               be
               so
               ,
               instead
               of
               considering
               that
               that
               Teacher
               might
               be
               in
               a
               mistake
               ,
               or
               that
               He
               did
               not
               sufficiently
               weigh
               and
               examine
               the
               Case
               of
               all
               Persons
               he
               gave
               his
               advice
               to
               ,
               have
               peremptorily
               concluded
               that
               they
               themselves
               were
               in
               the
               fault
               ,
               and
               therefore
               they
               were
               in
               an
               evil
               condition
               ,
               because
               they
               found
               themselves
               not
               able
               to
               live
               up
               to
               what
               was
               advised
               them
               .
            
             
               The
               first
               Question
               then
               is
               ,
               How
               far
               a
               Man
               hath
               power
               over
               his
               own
               Thoughts
               .
               There
               is
               not
               indeed
               any
               single
               Answer
               to
               be
               given
               to
               this
               Question
               ,
               that
               will
               fit
               all
               Men.
               For
               that
               is
               impossible
               .
               It
               would
               be
               as
               unreasonable
               to
               demand
               it
               ,
               as
               it
               would
               be
               to
               require
               of
               a
               Workman
               to
               make
               a
               Garment
               ,
               that
               should
               fit
               all
               sorts
               and
               sizes
               of
               Men.
               
            
             
               Some
               Men
               by
               the
               very
               Principles
               of
               their
               Make
               and
               Constitution
               ,
               are
               much
               better
               able
               to
               govern
               their
               Thoughts
               than
               others
               .
               Some
               that
               are
               naturally
               weaker
               ,
               have
               by
               long
               use
               and
               many
               tryals
               obtained
               a
               greater
               power
               over
               their
               Thoughts
               than
               others
               .
               Again
               ,
               the
               same
               Persons
               that
               at
               some
               times
               have
               a
               greater
               power
               over
               the
               motions
               of
               their
               Minds
               ,
               may
               at
               other
               times
               have
               a
               less
               Command
               over
               them
               ;
               and
               this
               according
               as
               their
               Health
               ,
               or
               their
               Business
               ,
               or
               a
               hundred
               Contingencies
               of
               outward
               things
               do
               affect
               them
               .
               So
               that
               all
               that
               can
               be
               done
               ,
               as
               to
               this
               matter
               ,
               is
               to
               lay
               
               down
               some
               general
               Propositions
               ,
               which
               every
               Body
               is
               to
               apply
               to
               himself
               as
               there
               is
               Occasion
               .
               And
               Five
               of
               this
               kind
               I
               have
               to
               offer
               ,
               and
               which
               ,
               I
               think
               ,
               will
               take
               in
               all
               ,
               or
               the
               greatest
               part
               of
               what
               belongs
               to
               this
               Argument
               .
            
             
               The
               first
               Proposition
               I
               lay
               down
               is
               this
               ,
               That
               the
               first
               Motions
               of
               our
               Minds
               are
               very
               little
               ,
               if
               at
               all
               ,
               in
               our
               power
               .
            
             
               By
               the
               
                 first
                 Motions
                 of
                 our
                 Minds
              
               ,
               I
               mean
               those
               sudden
               Thoughts
               ,
               or
               Apprehensions
               ,
               or
               Passions
               ,
               or
               Desires
               ,
               which
               are
               excited
               in
               our
               Minds
               by
               any
               Object
               that
               is
               at
               that
               time
               presented
               to
               our
               Imagination
               .
               As
               to
               these
               ,
               I
               say
               ,
               we
               are
               not
               so
               much
               Masters
               of
               our selves
               as
               to
               be
               able
               to
               stop
               them
               ;
               nay
               ,
               though
               perhaps
               they
               be
               very
               irregular
               .
               And
               the
               Reason
               is
               ,
               because
               they
               are
               produced
               so
               quick
               ,
               that
               there
               is
               not
               time
               enough
               given
               for
               Reason
               to
               interpose
               .
            
             
               There
               is
               no
               necessity
               indeed
               that
               a
               Man
               should
               give
               Consent
               to
               these
               Motions
               ;
               but
               as
               for
               their
               coming
               into
               his
               Mind
               ,
               he
               can
               no
               more
               help
               it
               ,
               than
               he
               can
               help
               his
               present
               Temper
               ,
               or
               the
               present
               Circumstances
               he
               is
               ingaged
               in
               .
            
             
               Thus
               for
               Instance
               .
               Do
               you
               think
               it
               possible
               for
               a
               Man
               that
               is
               of
               a
               Fiery
               Passionate
               Temper
               ,
               to
               avoid
               the
               feeling
               a
               sudden
               Resentment
               of
               Anger
               arising
               in
               his
               Mind
               ,
               if
               he
               meets
               with
               any
               unexpected
               Affront
               ,
               or
               other
               great
               Provocation
               ?
               Or
               for
               a
               Man
               that
               desires
               
               to
               be
               well
               thought
               of
               ,
               not
               to
               entertain
               some
               Vanity
               of
               Imagination
               ,
               when
               he
               hears
               himself
               commended
               or
               flatterd
               ?
               Or
               for
               a
               Man
               that
               is
               addicted
               to
               Pleasures
               ,
               not
               to
               feel
               some
               irregular
               Inclinations
               in
               himself
               towards
               the
               gratifying
               his
               Appetites
               in
               those
               things
               ,
               when
               he
               hath
               all
               the
               Temptations
               before
               him
               ?
               And
               thus
               in
               all
               other
               Cases
               .
            
             
               I
               grant
               indeed
               that
               a
               Man
               by
               long
               Consideration
               ,
               and
               a
               serious
               exercising
               himself
               in
               the
               ways
               of
               Vertue
               and
               Piety
               ,
               may
               bring
               himself
               to
               that
               Temper
               ,
               that
               he
               shall
               not
               have
               so
               many
               irregular
               undecent
               Motions
               in
               his
               own
               Mind
               ,
               upon
               any
               occasion
               whatsoever
               ,
               as
               he
               was
               wont
               to
               have
               ;
               and
               that
               those
               that
               were
               formerly
               Temptations
               to
               him
               ,
               will
               at
               last
               be
               none
               :
               But
               still
               I
               say
               ,
               the
               first
               Motions
               and
               Workings
               of
               his
               Mind
               however
               they
               be
               occasioned
               ,
               are
               in
               a
               great
               measure
               out
               of
               his
               power
               ;
               he
               cannot
               stop
               them
               ;
               and
               therefore
               the
               Art
               of
               governing
               his
               Thoughts
               doth
               not
               lye
               there
               .
            
             
               The
               second
               Proposition
               I
               lay
               down
               is
               this
               ,
               When
               a
               Man's
               Mind
               is
               vigorously
               affected
               and
               possessed
               ,
               either
               with
               the
               outward
               Objects
               of
               sense
               ,
               or
               with
               inward
               Passions
               of
               any
               kind
               ,
               in
               that
               Case
               he
               hath
               little
               or
               no
               Command
               of
               his
               Thoughts
               .
               His
               Mind
               at
               that
               time
               will
               be
               in
               a
               manner
               wholly
               taken
               up
               with
               that
               it
               is
               then
               full
               of
               ▪
               Nor
               will
               he
               be
               able
               ,
               till
               those
               Impressions
               be
               worn
               off
               ,
               to
               think
               freely
               of
               what
               he
               pleaseth
               .
            
             
             
               Thus
               for
               Instance
               ,
               VVhen
               a
               Man
               is
               under
               a
               sharp
               ,
               tormenting
               Pain
               ;
               as
               he
               cannot
               avoid
               the
               feeling
               of
               that
               Pain
               ,
               so
               neither
               can
               he
               avoid
               the
               thinking
               of
               it
               .
               VVhen
               one
               is
               full
               of
               Grief
               for
               the
               loss
               of
               a
               dear
               Relation
               ;
               or
               transported
               with
               Passion
               for
               some
               unworthy
               usage
               he
               hath
               met
               with
               :
               It
               is
               in
               vain
               to
               say
               ,
               Pray
               think
               not
               of
               these
               Matters
               ;
               for
               these
               things
               must
               and
               will
               in
               a
               great
               measure
               imploy
               his
               Thoughts
               ,
               till
               his
               Passions
               do
               cool
               ,
               and
               the
               Impressions
               that
               caused
               them
               be
               vanished
               .
            
             
               Thus
               for
               a
               Man
               to
               come
               from
               some
               Business
               in
               which
               he
               is
               more
               than
               ordinarily
               concerned
               ;
               or
               from
               the
               hearing
               some
               very
               good
               or
               very
               bad
               News
               ;
               I
               say
               ,
               to
               come
               fresh
               from
               this
               to
               the
               saying
               his
               Prayers
               :
               I
               do
               not
               ,
               I
               cannot
               wonder
               ,
               that
               in
               this
               case
               his
               Mind
               will
               be
               much
               upon
               his
               Business
               ,
               or
               his
               News
               ,
               notwithstanding
               all
               his
               Endeavours
               to
               the
               contrary
               .
            
             
               For
               the
               Nature
               of
               Man
               is
               such
               ,
               that
               he
               cannot
               so
               of
               a
               sudden
               turn
               his
               mind
               from
               one
               Business
               to
               another
               ;
               but
               that
               if
               he
               did
               closely
               and
               vigorously
               apply
               himself
               to
               the
               first
               Business
               ,
               his
               Thoughts
               will
               for
               some
               time
               run
               upon
               it
               ,
               even
               after
               he
               hath
               applied
               his
               Mind
               to
               the
               other
               .
            
             
               I
               do
               not
               deny
               ,
               but
               that
               a
               Man
               may
               often
               so
               order
               his
               Affairs
               ,
               as
               to
               be
               able
               to
               keep
               his
               Mind
               clear
               and
               free
               from
               such
               Prepossessions
               as
               I
               am
               now
               speaking
               of
               ,
               so
               as
               that
               when
               he
               comes
               to
               apply
               himself
               to
               any
               Business
               he
               
               hath
               a
               mind
               to
               ,
               he
               may
               intend
               it
               with
               his
               whole
               Might
               .
               But
               this
               I
               say
               ,
               If
               our
               Minds
               be
               once
               engaged
               with
               warm
               Thoughts
               about
               any
               thing
               ;
               it
               is
               very
               hard
               ,
               if
               not
               impossible
               ,
               to
               get
               them
               disengaged
               on
               a
               sudden
               .
               So
               that
               the
               Art
               of
               Governing
               our
               Thoughts
               doth
               not
               much
               lie
               in
               that
               neither
               .
            
             
               Thirdly
               ,
               There
               are
               some
               Cases
               likewise
               ,
               where
               a
               Man's
               Thoughts
               are
               in
               a
               manner
               forced
               upon
               him
               ,
               from
               the
               present
               Temper
               and
               Indisposition
               of
               his
               Body
               .
               So
               that
               though
               he
               be
               in
               no
               Passion
               ,
               though
               there
               be
               no
               unusual
               Objects
               of
               Sense
               that
               excite
               those
               T●oughts
               in
               him
               ;
               nay
               ,
               though
               he
               never
               so
               much
               resolve
               not
               to
               think
               upon
               those
               things
               ;
               yet
               so
               long
               as
               that
               Habit
               of
               Body
               lasts
               ,
               he
               cannot
               avoid
               those
               kind
               of
               Thoughts
               :
               So
               that
               in
               this
               Case
               also
               ,
               there
               is
               little
               room
               left
               for
               the
               Government
               of
               Thoughts
               .
            
             
               That
               which
               I
               now
               say
               ,
               happens
               frequently
               ,
               not
               only
               in
               all
               sorts
               of
               Distempers
               where
               the
               Brain
               is
               visibly
               disturbed
               ,
               as
               in
               Feavers
               ,
               and
               the
               like
               ;
               which
               often
               cause
               a
               thousand
               delirous
               Fancies
               ,
               and
               sometimes
               down-right
               Madness
               and
               Distraction
               :
               But
               also
               in
               other
               Cases
               where
               there
               seems
               to
               be
               no
               Feaver
               ,
               or
               other
               visible
               Distemper
               ;
               nor
               doth
               the
               Brain
               ,
               as
               to
               other
               matters
               ,
               seem
               to
               be
               at
               all
               disorder'd
               ;
               but
               the
               persons
               ,
               in
               all
               appearance
               ,
               are
               sound
               both
               in
               Body
               and
               Mind
               .
            
             
               And
               this
               is
               the
               Case
               of
               some
               deeply
               Hypochondriac
               Persons
               ;
               many
               of
               which
               will
               be
               
               haunted
               with
               a
               Sett
               of
               Thoughts
               and
               Fancies
               ,
               that
               they
               can
               by
               no
               means
               get
               rid
               of
               ,
               though
               they
               desire
               it
               never
               so
               earnestly
               .
            
             
               Sometimes
               they
               cannot
               get
               it
               out
               of
               their
               Heads
               ,
               but
               that
               they
               are
               Atheists
               and
               Infidels
               ;
               they
               neither
               believe
               in
               God
               nor
               in
               Jesus
               Christ
               ,
               nor
               have
               any
               sense
               at
               all
               of
               Religion
               .
            
             
               Sometimes
               they
               are
               tormented
               with
               Blasphemous
               Thoughts
               ,
               and
               they
               cannot
               set
               themselves
               to
               the
               Performance
               of
               any
               Office
               of
               Devotion
               ,
               but
               a
               thousand
               impious
               Fancies
               will
               come
               in
               and
               spoil
               all
               .
            
             
               Sometimes
               they
               fancy
               they
               are
               guilty
               of
               several
               grievous
               Crimes
               ,
               which
               it
               is
               to
               be
               hoped
               ,
               it
               was
               hardly
               possible
               they
               should
               be
               guilty
               of
               ;
               nay
               ,
               you
               cannot
               convince
               them
               but
               that
               they
               do
               every
               day
               commit
               some
               of
               these
               Crimes
               ,
               because
               they
               imagine
               they
               give
               consent
               to
               them
               .
            
             
               And
               whilest
               these
               sorts
               of
               Thoughts
               fill
               their
               Imaginations
               ,
               there
               is
               not
               a
               Passage
               in
               the
               Bible
               that
               they
               read
               ,
               nor
               a
               Sermon
               that
               they
               hear
               ,
               but
               they
               find
               something
               in
               it
               ,
               which
               they
               do
               so
               perversly
               apply
               to
               their
               own
               Case
               ,
               as
               thereby
               to
               increase
               their
               trouble
               ,
               but
               not
               to
               get
               any
               relief
               .
            
             
               I
               have
               known
               several
               well-disposed
               Persons
               ,
               and
               some
               of
               them
               sincerely
               Pious
               ,
               that
               have
               been
               in
               this
               Condition
               .
            
             
               What
               now
               is
               to
               be
               said
               to
               this
               ?
               Why
               ,
               it
               is
               very
               certain
               that
               all
               these
               Thoughts
               and
               Fancies
               are
               thrust
               upon
               them
               ,
               and
               are
               not
               the
               
               free
               ,
               natural
               ,
               voluntary
               Operations
               of
               their
               own
               Minds
               ;
               but
               the
               effects
               of
               Vapours
               or
               Hypochondriac
               Melancholly
               .
               Nor
               can
               the
               Persons
               themselves
               any
               more
               help
               their
               thus
               Thinking
               ,
               or
               Fancying
               ,
               than
               they
               can
               help
               the
               Disturbances
               of
               their
               Dreams
               when
               they
               have
               a
               mind
               to
               sleep
               quietly
               .
               Indeed
               we
               may
               properly
               enough
               call
               these
               Fancies
               of
               theirs
               ,
               their
               
                 waking
                 Dreams
              
               ;
               as
               their
               Dreams
               are
               their
               
                 sleeping
                 Fancies
              
               .
            
             
               Well
               but
               now
               of
               all
               Persons
               whatsoever
               ,
               these
               People
               are
               most
               desirous
               to
               have
               Rules
               given
               them
               for
               the
               Government
               of
               the
               Thoughts
               .
               And
               I
               cannot
               blame
               them
               ,
               because
               their
               Thoughts
               are
               certainly
               very
               Troublesome
               .
               But
               truly
               if
               we
               would
               speak
               pertinently
               to
               their
               Case
               ,
               instead
               of
               giving
               them
               Advices
               for
               the
               regulating
               their
               Thoughts
               ,
               they
               should
               rather
               be
               advised
               to
               look
               after
               their
               Bodies
               ,
               and
               by
               the
               help
               of
               good
               Prescriptions
               to
               get
               rid
               of
               those
               Fumes
               and
               Vapours
               which
               occasion
               these
               Fancies
               .
               When
               the
               Cause
               is
               removed
               ,
               the
               Effect
               will
               soon
               cease
               .
               I
               do
               not
               in
               the
               least
               doubt
               ,
               whatever
               these
               People
               may
               think
               of
               their
               own
               Case
               ,
               but
               that
               this
               is
               as
               properly
               a
               Bodily
               Disease
               ,
               as
               a
               Feaver
               ,
               or
               Fits
               of
               the
               
                 Falling
                 Sickness
              
               .
            
             
               In
               the
               mean
               time
               ,
               while
               they
               are
               in
               this
               Condition
               ,
               whatever
               Rules
               are
               proper
               to
               be
               given
               to
               other
               Persons
               for
               the
               Government
               of
               the
               Thoughts
               ,
               of
               all
               People
               living
               those
               Rules
               do
               the
               least
               concern
               them
               .
               For
               those
               Thoughts
               
               which
               they
               complain
               of
               ,
               do
               not
               at
               all
               fall
               under
               Regulation
               or
               Government
               ;
               because
               they
               are
               suggested
               to
               their
               Minds
               whether
               they
               will
               or
               no.
               And
               for
               my
               part
               ,
               I
               think
               it
               a
               great
               deal
               more
               advisable
               (
               if
               it
               could
               be
               )
               to
               neglect
               and
               despise
               them
               ;
               then
               to
               be
               perpetually
               strugling
               and
               disputing
               with
               them
               ,
               and
               vexing
               themselves
               about
               them
               .
            
             
               But
               ,
               you
               will
               say
               ,
               if
               Men
               be
               such
               Slaves
               to
               their
               Thoughts
               ,
               and
               are
               thus
               necessarily
               passive
               under
               them
               ,
               where
               is
               the
               Freedom
               of
               Thoughts
               ?
               To
               this
               I
               answer
               .
            
             
               In
               the
               fourth
               place
               ,
               out
               of
               these
               three
               Cases
               I
               before
               mentioned
               ,
               we
               have
               
                 Liberty
                 of
                 Thinking
              
               ,
               and
               may
               chuse
               our
               own
               Thoughts
               .
               And
               that
               Liberty
               and
               Freedom
               we
               have
               in
               Thinking
               ,
               doth
               ,
               to
               my
               apprehension
               ,
               mainly
               consist
               in
               this
               ,
               viz.
               That
               all
               of
               us
               (
               who
               are
               not
               in
               the
               Circumstances
               I
               have
               been
               hitherto
               speaking
               of
               )
               can
               ,
               if
               we
               please
               ,
               apply
               our
               Minds
               more
               vigorously
               to
               one
               sort
               of
               thing
               than
               to
               another
               ;
               and
               accordingly
               as
               we
               do
               thus
               apply
               our
               Minds
               ,
               so
               will
               the
               most
               of
               our
               Thoughts
               be
               .
            
             
               It
               is
               in
               our
               power
               among
               the
               multitude
               of
               Objects
               which
               present
               themselves
               to
               our
               Mind
               ,
               (
               as
               for
               Instance
               ,
               
                 God
                 ,
                 Vertue
                 ,
                 Holiness
                 ,
                 Heaven
                 ,
                 Wealth
                 ,
                 Power
                 ,
                 Greatness
                 ,
                 Preferments
                 ,
                 Fine
                 Clothes
                 ,
                 Splendid
                 Equipage
                 ,
                 Sensuat
                 Pleasures
                 ,
                 Recreations
                 ,
                 Divertisements
                 ,
                 Knowledge
                 ,
                 Learning
                 ,
                 Arts
                 ,
              
               and
               the
               like
               :
               I
               say
               ,
               that
               among
               all
               this
               multitude
               of
               Objects
               that
               present
               
               themselves
               to
               our
               Minds
               )
               it
               is
               in
               our
               power
               to
               determine
               our selves
               ,
               which
               of
               them
               we
               will
               dwell
               upon
               ,
               and
               make
               a
               Business
               of
               .
               And
               accordingly
               ,
               when
               at
               any
               time
               we
               have
               pitched
               upon
               any
               of
               them
               ,
               as
               a
               Business
               ,
               it
               is
               in
               our
               power
               to
               mind
               that
               Business
               ,
               either
               more
               or
               less
               diligently
               .
               And
               if
               it
               be
               such
               a
               one
               ,
               as
               that
               we
               mean
               in
               good
               earnest
               to
               concern
               our selves
               about
               it
               ,
               it
               will
               then
               so
               fill
               our
               Minds
               ,
               as
               that
               by
               attending
               to
               that
               ,
               we
               shall
               either
               prevent
               in
               a
               great
               measure
               other
               Thoughts
               from
               coming
               into
               our
               Heads
               ;
               or
               if
               they
               do
               come
               in
               ,
               they
               will
               not
               long
               stay
               there
               ,
               but
               will
               very
               speedily
               give
               place
               to
               that
               which
               is
               our
               main
               Business
               at
               that
               time
               .
            
             
               And
               the
               Reason
               of
               this
               is
               plain
               ;
               Because
               our
               Natures
               are
               of
               that
               Make
               ,
               that
               two
               things
               at
               once
               cannot
               well
               possess
               our
               Minds
               ;
               and
               therefore
               if
               we
               be
               intent
               about
               one
               thing
               ,
               we
               cannot
               have
               much
               room
               or
               leisure
               for
               Thoughts
               of
               another
               Nature
               .
            
             
               But
               then
               Fifthly
               and
               lastly
               ,
               Though
               this
               that
               I
               have
               said
               be
               the
               true
               Nature
               of
               that
               power
               we
               have
               over
               our
               Thoughts
               ,
               as
               to
               the
               directing
               them
               to
               a
               particular
               Object
               :
               Yet
               there
               is
               another
               power
               we
               have
               over
               them
               that
               ought
               here
               more
               especially
               to
               be
               considered
               ;
               because
               in
               it
               are
               laid
               the
               very
               Foundations
               of
               Vertue
               and
               Vice
               ,
               and
               upon
               account
               of
               it
               ,
               all
               our
               Thoughts
               become
               either
               morally
               good
               or
               evil
               .
            
             
             
               That
               which
               I
               mean
               is
               this
               .
               Though
               we
               cannot
               in
               many
               Cases
               ,
               think
               always
               of
               what
               we
               would
               ;
               nay
               ,
               though
               we
               cannot
               hinder
               abundance
               of
               Thoughts
               from
               coming
               into
               our
               Minds
               against
               our
               will
               :
               Yet
               it
               is
               always
               in
               our
               power
               to
               assent
               to
               our
               Thoughts
               ,
               or
               to
               deny
               our
               Consent
               to
               them
               .
               And
               here
               it
               is
               that
               the
               Morality
               of
               our
               Thoughts
               begins
               .
               According
               as
               we
               Assent
               or
               Dissent
               to
               the
               Motions
               that
               are
               made
               in
               our
               Minds
               ;
               so
               will
               our
               Thoughts
               have
               the
               Notion
               of
               Vertuous
               or
               Sinful
               Thoughts
               .
            
             
               VVhen
               any
               Temptations
               are
               presented
               to
               us
               from
               without
               ,
               we
               cannot
               perhaps
               (
               as
               I
               said
               before
               )
               avoid
               the
               feeling
               an
               irregular
               Passion
               ,
               or
               Motion
               ,
               or
               Inclination
               stirring
               within
               us
               upon
               occasion
               thereof
               :
               But
               yet
               at
               that
               very-time
               it
               is
               in
               our
               power
               ,
               whether
               we
               will
               comply
               with
               those
               Passions
               and
               Inclinations
               ,
               or
               not
               ;
               whether
               we
               will
               consent
               to
               them
               ,
               or
               not
               ;
               whether
               we
               will
               pursue
               them
               further
               or
               not
               .
               Now
               if
               we
               do
               not
               consent
               to
               them
               ,
               but
               endeavour
               to
               stop
               ,
               and
               stifle
               ,
               and
               resist
               them
               as
               soon
               as
               we
               are
               aware
               of
               them
               ;
               there
               is
               yet
               no
               harm
               done
               .
               Our
               Thoughts
               ,
               how
               undecent
               or
               irregular
               soever
               they
               were
               ,
               are
               rather
               to
               be
               accounted
               the
               Infirmities
               of
               our
               Corrupt
               Nature
               ,
               than
               our
               Sins
               properly
               so
               called
               .
            
             
               And
               thus
               it
               is
               likewise
               as
               to
               our
               
                 Wandering
                 Thoughts
              
               in
               our
               Prayers
               .
               If
               we
               strive
               against
               them
               ,
               and
               endeavour
               to
               keep
               our
               Minds
               in
               a
               
               Devout
               Composed
               Temper
               ,
               and
               attend
               as
               well
               as
               we
               can
               to
               the
               Duty
               we
               are
               about
               :
               I
               say
               ,
               if
               we
               do
               this
               ,
               I
               hope
               those
               Distractions
               and
               Wanderings
               will
               never
               rise
               up
               in
               Judgment
               against
               us
               .
            
             
               And
               as
               for
               the
               frightful
               Blasphemous
               Fancies
               ,
               which
               ,
               as
               I
               told
               you
               ,
               some
               ,
               even
               Pious
               Persons
               are
               tormented
               with
               :
               As
               to
               them
               ,
               I
               say
               ,
               they
               ,
               of
               all
               other
               irregular
               Thoughts
               ,
               have
               the
               least
               danger
               of
               Sin
               in
               them
               ,
               though
               they
               be
               not
               so
               solemnly
               and
               formally
               disputed
               with
               ,
               and
               contested
               against
               .
               Because
               indeed
               they
               are
               so
               terrible
               in
               their
               own
               Nature
               ,
               that
               no
               Man
               in
               his
               Wits
               ,
               and
               that
               hath
               any
               sense
               of
               God
               or
               Goodness
               ,
               can
               be
               supposed
               to
               consent
               to
               them
               .
               They
               are
               indeed
               great
               Infeticities
               ,
               but
               by
               no
               means
               any
               Sin
               ,
               any
               farther
               than
               we
               approve
               of
               them
               ;
               and
               to
               approve
               of
               them
               for
               any
               tolerably
               good
               Man
               is
               impossible
               .
            
             
               But
               then
               on
               the
               other
               side
               ,
               If
               we
               consent
               to
               any
               wicked
               Motion
               or
               Inclination
               that
               we
               feel
               in
               our selves
               ;
               let
               it
               come
               in
               how
               it
               will
               ,
               never
               so
               suddenly
               ,
               never
               so
               unexpectedly
               ;
               if
               we
               close
               with
               any
               Thought
               that
               prompts
               us
               to
               Evil
               ,
               so
               as
               to
               be
               pleased
               with
               it
               ,
               to
               delight
               in
               it
               ,
               to
               think
               of
               pursuing
               it
               ,
               till
               it
               be
               brought
               into
               Action
               :
               In
               that
               case
               we
               are
               no
               longer
               to
               plead
               our
               
                 Original
                 Corruption
              
               ;
               for
               in
               that
               very
               instant
               we
               become
               
                 Actual
                 Sinners
              
               ;
               Actual
               Transgressors
               of
               the
               Law
               of
               God
               ,
               the
               Obligation
               of
               which
               reaches
               to
               our
               very
               Hearts
               
               and
               Thoughts
               as
               well
               as
               our
               Actions
               .
               Tho'
               yet
               we
               are
               not
               so
               great
               Transgressors
               ,
               so
               long
               as
               our
               Sin
               is
               only
               in
               Thought
               ,
               or
               Desire
               ,
               or
               Purpose
               ;
               as
               if
               it
               had
               proceeded
               to
               outward
               Action
               .
            
             
               All
               this
               is
               taught
               us
               for
               true
               Divinity
               ,
               by
               no
               less
               an
               Author
               than
               St.
               James
               ,
               in
               the
               first
               Chapter
               of
               his
               Epistle
               ,
               v.
               13
               ,
               14
               ,
               15.
               
               
                 Let
                 no
                 man
                 say
                 when
                 he
                 is
                 tempted
                 ,
                 I
                 am
                 tempted
                 of
                 God
                 ;
                 for
                 God
                 tempteth
                 no
                 man.
                 But
                 every
                 man
                 is
                 tempted
                 when
                 he
                 is
                 drawn
                 away
                 of
                 his
                 own
                 lust
                 ,
                 and
                 enticed
                 .
                 Then
                 when
                 lust
                 hath
                 conceived
                 ,
                 it
                 bringeth
                 forth
                 sin
                 ,
                 and
                 sin
                 ,
                 when
                 it
                 is
                 finished
                 ,
                 bringeth
                 forth
                 Death
                 .
              
            
             
               Which
               passage
               of
               the
               Apostle
               doth
               plainly
               contain
               these
               three
               Propositions
               .
            
             
               First
               ,
               That
               no
               Man
               is
               drawn
               to
               commit
               Sin
               by
               any
               State
               or
               Condition
               that
               God
               hath
               put
               him
               into
               ;
               no
               ,
               nor
               by
               any
               Temptation
               ,
               either
               outward
               or
               inward
               ,
               that
               is
               presented
               to
               him
               .
               It
               is
               not
               a
               Sin
               to
               be
               tempted
               ;
               no
               ,
               nor
               to
               feel
               that
               we
               are
               tempted
               by
               some
               disorderly
               Inclination
               that
               arises
               in
               our
               Minds
               thereupon
               .
            
             
               But
               ,
               second
               ,
               then
               our
               Sin
               begins
               ,
               when
               we
               yield
               to
               the
               Temptation
               ,
               when
               we
               are
               
                 drawn
                 away
                 by
                 our
                 own
                 Lusts
                 ,
                 and
                 enticed
                 ,
              
               when
               they
               get
               the
               Victory
               over
               us
               ,
               and
               we
               do
               consent
               to
               them
               .
               Then
               
                 Lust
                 hath
                 conceived
                 ,
                 and
                 bringeth
                 forth
                 Sin.
                 
              
            
             
               But
               ,
               Thirdly
               ,
               Though
               the
               very
               consent
               of
               our
               Wills
               to
               a
               Temptation
               ,
               be
               a
               Sin
               in
               us
               ;
               
               yet
               that
               Sin
               is
               not
               so
               great
               as
               it
               will
               be
               afterwards
               ,
               if
               it
               be
               brought
               to
               Action
               .
               Sin
               in
               the
               desire
               or
               purpose
               ,
               is
               but
               an
               Embryo
               ;
               it
               is
               but
               the
               first
               Rudiments
               of
               Sin
               ;
               but
               when
               it
               comes
               to
               be
               acted
               ,
               it
               is
               then
               a
               Sin
               in
               its
               full
               dimensions
               ;
               and
               the
               Consequents
               of
               it
               may
               be
               Fatal
               without
               Repentance
               .
               
                 Sin
                 when
                 it
                 is
                 finished
                 bringeth
                 forth
                 Death
                 .
              
            
             
               Having
               thus
               given
               some
               Account
               ,
               how
               far
               our
               Hearts
               or
               Thoughts
               do
               fall
               under
               Government
               ;
               I
               now
               come
               to
               my
               Second
               Point
               ,
               that
               is
               ,
               to
               treat
               of
               the
               
                 Art
                 of
                 Governing
                 them
              
               ,
               or
               to
               lay
               down
               the
               necessary
               Rules
               and
               Directions
               ,
               which
               are
               to
               be
               observed
               in
               order
               thereunto
               .
            
             
               And
               we
               shall
               not
               need
               to
               go
               far
               for
               these
               Rules
               ,
               for
               they
               will
               all
               naturally
               flow
               from
               the
               Principles
               I
               have
               already
               laid
               down
               .
               And
               I
               think
               ,
               they
               may
               conveniently
               enough
               be
               reduced
               likewise
               to
               these
               Five
               following
               .
            
             
               First
               ,
               From
               what
               hath
               been
               said
               ,
               it
               appears
               ,
               that
               the
               First
               and
               great
               Point
               to
               be
               done
               by
               us
               ,
               if
               we
               would
               keep
               our
               Hearts
               in
               a
               good
               Frame
               ,
               and
               order
               our
               Thoughts
               to
               good
               purposes
               ,
               is
               ,
               that
               we
               rightly
               pitch
               our
               main
               Designs
               ;
               that
               we
               chuse
               that
               for
               the
               great
               business
               of
               our
               Lives
               ,
               that
               really
               ought
               to
               be
               so
               .
            
             
               Now
               what
               that
               is
               ,
               can
               bear
               no
               dispute
               with
               any
               Man
               that
               will
               fairly
               use
               his
               Reason
               .
               For
               certainly
               ,
               that
               which
               is
               our
               greatest
               Concernment
               in
               the
               World
               ,
               ought
               to
               be
               our
               greatest
               Business
               and
               Design
               in
               the
               World.
               
            
             
             
               And
               it
               is
               evident
               to
               every
               one
               ,
               that
               believes
               he
               hath
               a
               Soul
               to
               save
               ,
               that
               his
               greatest
               Concernment
               of
               all
               ,
               is
               ,
               to
               approve
               himself
               to
               that
               God
               who
               made
               him
               ,
               and
               disposes
               of
               all
               his
               affairs
               ;
               and
               who
               accordingly
               as
               we
               sincerely
               endeavour
               ,
               or
               not
               endeavour
               to
               serve
               him
               ,
               will
               make
               us
               either
               very
               Happy
               ,
               or
               very
               Miserable
               ,
               both
               in
               this
               Life
               and
               the
               other
               .
               So
               that
               there
               can
               ,
               as
               I
               said
               ,
               be
               no
               Dispute
               about
               what
               ought
               to
               be
               the
               great
               Business
               and
               Design
               of
               our
               whole
               Lives
               ,
               and
               to
               which
               all
               other
               Businesses
               must
               yield
               .
            
             
               Now
               if
               we
               be
               so
               wise
               ,
               as
               really
               to
               propose
               this
               as
               our
               main
               End
               ,
               and
               resolve
               to
               mind
               it
               ,
               and
               follow
               it
               as
               such
               ;
               I
               say
               ,
               if
               we
               be
               so
               wise
               as
               to
               do
               this
               ;
               we
               have
               made
               a
               very
               great
               step
               towards
               the
               obtaining
               a
               security
               to
               our selves
               ,
               that
               the
               greatest
               part
               of
               our
               Thoughts
               ,
               and
               Desires
               ,
               and
               Affections
               ,
               will
               be
               such
               as
               they
               should
               be
               ;
               such
               as
               will
               be
               acceptable
               to
               God
               ,
               and
               satisfactory
               to
               our selves
               .
            
             
               For
               as
               I
               told
               you
               before
               ,
               whatever
               is
               our
               main
               Business
               ,
               be
               it
               what
               it
               will
               ,
               it
               will
               ,
               in
               a
               great
               measure
               ,
               draw
               all
               our
               Thoughts
               to
               it
               .
               Our
               Natures
               are
               so
               contrived
               ,
               that
               we
               must
               always
               be
               thinking
               of
               some
               thing
               or
               other
               .
               But
               then
               they
               are
               so
               contrived
               likewise
               ,
               that
               we
               think
               most
               of
               that
               ,
               which
               is
               most
               in
               our
               Eye
               ,
               most
               in
               our
               Esteem
               ,
               most
               in
               our
               Pursuit
               .
               And
               this
               is
               that
               which
               our
               Saviour
               tells
               us
               ;
               
                 Where
                 your
                 treasure
                 is
                 ,
                 there
                 
                 will
                 your
                 heart
                 be
                 also
                 .
              
               Whatever
               it
               be
               that
               you
               place
               your
               Happiness
               in
               ,
               upon
               that
               will
               your
               Thoughts
               run
               ;
               upon
               that
               will
               your
               Desires
               ,
               your
               Inclinations
               ,
               your
               Affections
               ,
               be
               fixed
               .
            
             
               We
               have
               a
               VVorld
               of
               Instances
               of
               the
               truth
               of
               this
               every
               day
               before
               our
               Eyes
               .
               If
               a
               Man
               hath
               set
               his
               heart
               on
               Money
               ,
               and
               proposeth
               it
               to
               himself
               ,
               as
               the
               Business
               of
               his
               Life
               ,
               to
               be
               Rich
               :
               VVhy
               ,
               I
               dare
               say
               ,
               such
               a
               one
               will
               own
               to
               you
               ,
               that
               most
               of
               his
               Thoughts
               are
               upon
               that
               Project
               ;
               and
               that
               he
               finds
               it
               so
               far
               from
               being
               difficult
               to
               keep
               his
               Mind
               close
               and
               steady
               to
               his
               
                 Main
                 Interest
              
               ,
               as
               he
               calls
               it
               ;
               that
               it
               is
               rather
               difficult
               to
               him
               to
               think
               of
               any
               other
               Matters
               .
            
             
               If
               a
               Man
               be
               given
               up
               to
               Pleasure
               ,
               and
               thinks
               nothing
               worthy
               his
               living
               for
               ,
               but
               VVine
               and
               VVomen
               ,
               and
               good
               Eating
               and
               good
               Company
               ;
               Is
               it
               not
               natural
               to
               such
               an
               one
               to
               bend
               all
               his
               Thoughts
               that
               way
               ?
               Or
               doth
               he
               put
               any
               force
               or
               violence
               upon
               himself
               ,
               in
               thinking
               and
               contriving
               all
               the
               day
               long
               ,
               how
               to
               bring
               to
               pass
               the
               Gratification
               of
               his
               Lusts
               or
               his
               Appetites
               .
            
             
               VVhy
               ,
               my
               Brethren
               ,
               if
               we
               did
               all
               of
               us
               in
               good
               earnest
               make
               the
               Service
               of
               God
               ,
               and
               the
               purchasing
               Heaven
               and
               Happiness
               to
               our selves
               ,
               as
               much
               our
               Business
               ,
               our
               End
               ,
               our
               Design
               ,
               as
               these
               Men
               make
               VVealth
               or
               Pleasure
               to
               be
               theirs
               ,
               we
               should
               certainly
               be
               thus
               affected
               .
               The
               common
               Course
               of
               our
               Thoughts
               ,
               
               would
               naturally
               and
               easily
               ,
               without
               the
               least
               constraint
               ,
               run
               upon
               those
               Objects
               :
               And
               we
               should
               take
               as
               great
               delight
               in
               Thinking
               of
               our
               Treasure
               ,
               and
               Contriving
               for
               the
               obtaining
               of
               it
               ;
               as
               they
               do
               in
               Thinking
               and
               Projecting
               for
               theirs
               .
            
             
               I
               say
               ,
               Thus
               it
               would
               be
               with
               us
               .
               For
               I
               cannot
               for
               my
               Life
               apprehend
               ,
               what
               Charms
               there
               can
               be
               in
               Worldly
               or
               Sensual
               Things
               ,
               to
               attract
               a
               Man's
               Mind
               ;
               what
               Fetters
               there
               can
               be
               in
               them
               ,
               to
               bind
               his
               Thoughts
               ,
               and
               tye
               them
               to
               themselves
               :
               But
               that
               there
               are
               the
               fame
               ,
               or
               greater
               ,
               in
               Vertue
               and
               Goodness
               ;
               in
               the
               Love
               and
               Favour
               of
               God
               ;
               in
               a
               Pure
               Conscience
               here
               ,
               and
               Eternal
               Glory
               hereafter
               :
               Always
               provided
               ,
               that
               they
               are
               as
               much
               made
               the
               Objects
               of
               our
               Choice
               and
               Pursuit
               ,
               as
               the
               other
               .
            
             
               And
               therefore
               I
               cannot
               but
               suspect
               ,
               where
               we
               see
               Men
               so
               very
               cold
               and
               backward
               to
               Spiritual
               Things
               ;
               and
               so
               apt
               to
               spend
               all
               their
               Thoughts
               upon
               trifling
               ,
               vain
               ,
               or
               worldly
               Matters
               ,
               that
               it
               is
               with
               a
               great
               deal
               of
               Pains
               and
               Reluctancy
               ,
               that
               they
               can
               bring
               themselves
               to
               think
               of
               their
               Everlasting
               Concernments
               .
               I
               say
               ,
               I
               cannot
               but
               suspect
               that
               these
               Persons
               have
               not
               yet
               
                 laid
                 up
                 their
                 Treasure
                 in
                 Heaven
                 ,
              
               as
               our
               Saviour
               expresseth
               it
               ;
               they
               have
               not
               yet
               so
               wholly
               devoted
               themselves
               to
               the
               Service
               of
               God
               ,
               as
               to
               make
               it
               their
               
                 Main
                 Business
              
               .
               When
               once
               they
               have
               done
               that
               ,
               I
               dare
               assure
               them
               ,
               they
               will
               find
               it
               so
               far
               
               from
               being
               a
               force
               upon
               them
               ,
               to
               think
               of
               good
               things
               ,
               that
               it
               will
               be
               very
               natural
               to
               them
               ;
               and
               they
               will
               find
               the
               greatest
               Pleasure
               in
               the
               World
               in
               so
               doing
               .
            
             
               Secondly
               ,
               Whoever
               would
               keep
               his
               Heart
               always
               in
               a
               good
               Frame
               ,
               and
               be
               able
               to
               give
               a
               good
               Account
               of
               his
               Thoughts
               to
               God
               ,
               must
               have
               an
               especial
               care
               to
               avoid
               two
               things
               ,
               
                 viz.
                 Idleness
              
               and
               
                 loose
                 Company
              
               .
               For
               both
               of
               these
               do
               strangely
               unhinge
               a
               Man's
               Mind
               ;
               and
               disarm
               it
               of
               that
               Severity
               ,
               which
               is
               its
               best
               guard
               and
               defence
               against
               Evil
               Thoughts
               ;
               and
               make
               it
               become
               an
               easie
               prey
               to
               every
               Temptation
               that
               will
               attacque
               it
               .
            
             
               A
               wise
               Man
               should
               never
               be
               at
               such
               a
               pass
               ,
               as
               to
               say
               ,
               
                 I
                 have
                 nothing
                 to
                 do
                 ,
                 I
                 do
                 not
                 know
                 how
                 to
                 spend
                 my
                 next
                 Hour
                 :
              
               But
               should
               so
               order
               the
               Course
               of
               his
               Life
               ,
               that
               all
               the
               Portions
               of
               his
               Time
               ,
               as
               much
               as
               is
               possible
               ,
               may
               be
               filled
               with
               some
               useful
               ,
               or
               at
               least
               some
               innocent
               Imployment
               .
            
             
               It
               is
               Idleness
               ,
               and
               having
               nothing
               to
               do
               ,
               that
               is
               ,
               the
               Mother
               of
               most
               of
               those
               vain
               ,
               and
               unprofitable
               ,
               and
               sinful
               Fancies
               ,
               in
               which
               some
               Men
               spend
               their
               days
               .
               And
               whereas
               Temptations
               do
               now
               and
               then
               come
               in
               the
               way
               of
               other
               Men
               ;
               the
               Idle
               Man
               is
               forced
               to
               seek
               out
               Temptations
               for
               the
               shipwrack
               of
               his
               Vertue
               .
               And
               therefore
               no
               wonder
               ,
               if
               he
               that
               seeks
               them
               ,
               finds
               abundance
               of
               them
               .
            
             
               And
               truly
               Loose
               and
               
                 Impertinent
                 Conversation
              
               ,
               which
               was
               the
               other
               thing
               I
               named
               ,
               
               though
               it
               looks
               something
               with
               a
               better
               Grace
               ,
               yet
               is
               not
               much
               better
               than
               Idleness
               .
               For
               where-ever
               it
               is
               much
               used
               ,
               it
               will
               so
               emasculate
               a
               Man's
               Mind
               ,
               and
               take
               off
               the
               edge
               and
               vigour
               of
               it
               ,
               as
               to
               serious
               things
               ,
               that
               he
               cannot
               easily
               get
               it
               into
               a
               good
               Frame
               again
               .
               
                 Evil
                 Communication
              
               (
               saith
               St.
               
                 Paul
                 )
                 doth
                 corrupt
                 good
                 Manners
                 .
              
               And
               therefore
               those
               people
               ,
               a
               great
               part
               of
               whose
               Life
               is
               taken
               up
               in
               gadding
               up
               and
               down
               ;
               in
               Play
               ;
               in
               merry
               Meetings
               ;
               in
               telling
               or
               hearing
               idle
               Stories
               ,
               and
               the
               like
               :
               It
               is
               impossible
               but
               their
               Thoughts
               and
               Inclinations
               ,
               and
               the
               whole
               Frame
               of
               their
               Hearts
               will
               be
               suitable
               ;
               that
               is
               to
               say
               ,
               very
               frothy
               ;
               very
               light
               and
               foolish
               ;
               not
               to
               say
               ,
               profane
               ,
               and
               wicked
               ,
               and
               Atheistical
               too
               ,
               if
               the
               Company
               they
               much
               converse
               with
               ,
               be
               of
               that
               strain
               .
            
             
               Thirdly
               ,
               Another
               thing
               of
               great
               moment
               ,
               for
               the
               
                 keeping
                 our
                 Hearts
              
               ,
               is
               ,
               to
               be
               as
               attentive
               as
               is
               possible
               to
               the
               
                 first
                 Motions
              
               of
               our
               Minds
               ;
               and
               whenever
               we
               find
               that
               they
               tend
               toward
               something
               that
               is
               forbidden
               ,
               to
               stop
               them
               as
               soon
               as
               we
               can
               .
            
             
               We
               cannot
               ,
               as
               I
               told
               you
               before
               ,
               often
               prevent
               irregular
               Desires
               ,
               or
               Passions
               ,
               or
               Inclinations
               ,
               from
               arising
               in
               our
               Minds
               ,
               upon
               sundry
               occasions
               .
               But
               this
               we
               can
               do
               :
               As
               soon
               as
               we
               are
               aware
               of
               them
               ,
               we
               can
               refuse
               our
               Consent
               to
               them
               ;
               (
               and
               in
               that
               cafe
               I
               hope
               they
               will
               not
               be
               imputed
               to
               us
               as
               Sins
               ;
               )
               Nay
               ,
               not
               only
               so
               ,
               but
               we
               can
               refuse
               their
               
               breaking
               out
               ,
               or
               shewing
               themselves
               in
               our
               Words
               ,
               or
               our
               Actions
               .
               For
               the
               Motions
               of
               our
               outward
               Members
               are
               all
               at
               our
               Command
               ,
               though
               the
               first
               Motions
               of
               our
               Minds
               be
               not
               .
            
             
               Here
               therefore
               will
               lye
               a
               main
               Point
               in
               the
               Art
               of
               well
               governing
               our
               Minds
               and
               Thoughts
               .
               You
               cannot
               perhaps
               ,
               for
               instance
               ,
               prevent
               a
               sudden
               Passion
               of
               Anger
               from
               rising
               in
               your
               Minds
               upon
               twenty
               Accidents
               :
               But
               as
               soon
               as
               you
               feel
               this
               Passion
               ,
               you
               can
               thus
               far
               stifle
               it
               ;
               you
               can
               seal
               up
               your
               Mouth
               ,
               so
               that
               the
               Passion
               shall
               not
               vent
               it self
               in
               unseemly
               Words
               ;
               And
               if
               you
               will
               withdraw
               that
               Fuel
               from
               the
               new-kindled
               Fire
               ,
               it
               will
               soon
               be
               extinguished
               ,
               and
               die
               .
               Whereas
               if
               you
               suffer
               it
               to
               break
               out
               in
               bitter
               Speeches
               and
               Expressions
               ,
               it
               will
               flame
               beyond
               measure
               .
            
             
               Thus
               again
               ,
               If
               any
               undecent
               ,
               impure
               Fancies
               or
               Desires
               should
               be
               excited
               in
               you
               upon
               any
               occasion
               :
               It
               was
               not
               perhaps
               in
               your
               power
               to
               keep
               them
               from
               coming
               into
               your
               Minds
               :
               But
               it
               is
               in
               your
               power
               to
               withdraw
               from
               the
               Temptation
               that
               caused
               them
               ;
               and
               to
               endeavour
               to
               direct
               your
               Thoughts
               to
               some
               other
               Object
               ;
               at
               least
               not
               to
               proceed
               one
               step
               in
               any
               outward
               Action
               towards
               the
               accomplishing
               of
               those
               Desires
               .
               If
               you
               take
               this
               Course
               ,
               the
               Disturbance
               of
               your
               Mind
               will
               soon
               cease
               ,
               and
               you
               will
               return
               presently
               to
               your
               ordinary
               Temper
               .
            
             
             
               And
               let
               me
               tell
               you
               this
               further
               ;
               That
               by
               your
               being
               thus
               careful
               to
               resist
               and
               smother
               the
               first
               beginnings
               of
               Sin
               ;
               you
               will
               not
               only
               preserve
               ,
               in
               a
               great
               measure
               ,
               the
               Innocency
               of
               your
               Minds
               under
               the
               present
               Temptation
               ;
               but
               you
               will
               also
               have
               this
               farther
               advantage
               ,
               that
               by
               this
               means
               ,
               you
               increase
               your
               Power
               over
               your
               Thoughts
               ,
               against
               the
               next
               time
               that
               the
               Temptation
               returns
               .
               Every
               check
               you
               give
               to
               the
               first
               motions
               of
               Sin
               ,
               makes
               the
               next
               assault
               of
               them
               the
               less
               furious
               .
               And
               if
               you
               do
               constantly
               use
               your selves
               ,
               thus
               to
               Guard
               and
               Watch
               over
               your
               Hearts
               ;
               you
               will
               in
               time
               obtain
               such
               a
               Command
               over
               them
               ,
               that
               you
               will
               not
               be
               troubled
               with
               a
               quarter
               of
               those
               irregular
               desires
               ,
               and
               passions
               ,
               which
               heretofore
               upon
               several
               Occasions
               used
               to
               be
               kindled
               in
               you
               .
               By
               this
               Method
               you
               will
               strengthen
               your
               Faculties
               ,
               and
               enlarge
               your
               Powers
               ;
               and
               by
               degrees
               bring
               your selves
               to
               that
               happy
               Temper
               of
               Soul
               ,
               that
               there
               will
               be
               no
               great
               War
               between
               the
               Law
               of
               your
               Members
               ,
               and
               the
               Law
               of
               your
               Minds
               :
               But
               the
               World
               and
               the
               Flesh
               will
               be
               Crucified
               to
               you
               ,
               as
               you
               are
               to
               them
               ;
               that
               I
               may
               use
               St.
               
               Paul's
               Expressions
               .
            
             
               But
               then
               Fourthly
               ,
               That
               you
               may
               be
               able
               not
               only
               to
               keep
               bad
               Thoughts
               out
               of
               your
               Minds
               ;
               but
               also
               to
               have
               a
               constant
               spring
               of
               good
               ones
               ;
               there
               are
               some
               particular
               Exercises
               very
               proper
               for
               this
               purpose
               to
               be
               recommended
               .
               Such
               I
               mean
               as
               these
               ,
               
                 Converse
                 
                 with
                 discreet
                 and
                 pious
                 Persons
                 ;
                 Reading
                 good
                 Books
                 ,
              
               especially
               the.
               
                 Holy
                 Scriptures
              
               ;
               taking
               times
               of
               Meditation
               and
               Recollection
               ;
               and
               above
               all
               ,
               Fervent
               and
               
                 Constant
                 Prayer
                 to
                 God.
              
               
            
             
               It
               is
               not
               to
               be
               told
               how
               every
               one
               of
               these
               things
               doth
               help
               to
               inspire
               us
               with
               good
               Thoughts
               and
               Purposes
               .
            
             
               A
               little
               passage
               now
               and
               then
               ,
               though
               but
               occasionally
               dropt
               in
               a
               Conversation
               ,
               that
               is
               to
               the
               business
               of
               Vertue
               and
               Goodness
               ,
               will
               supply
               us
               some
               times
               with
               matter
               for
               good
               Thoughts
               for
               a
               considerable
               while
               after
               What
               lasting
               Impressions
               then
               ,
               do
               you
               think
               ,
               would
               be
               left
               upon
               our
               Minds
               ,
               if
               we
               made
               it
               our
               constant
               Exercise
               every
               day
               ,
               to
               read
               or
               hear
               something
               out
               of
               the
               Bible
               ,
               or
               some
               other
               
                 good
                 Book
              
               ,
               with
               a
               design
               to
               grow
               Better
               thereby
               ?
            
             
               But
               above
               all
               things
               ,
               we
               must
               take
               care
               to
               be
               diligent
               and
               serious
               in
               our
               Applications
               to
               the
               Throne
               of
               Grace
               :
               It
               is
               Hearty
               Prayer
               and
               Devotion
               ,
               that
               when
               all
               is
               done
               ,
               will
               prove
               the
               most
               Effectual
               Means
               ,
               for
               the
               keeping
               our
               Hearts
               steady
               to
               that
               which
               is
               Good
               ,
               and
               securing
               them
               from
               the
               pollutions
               of
               the
               sensible
               Earthly
               Objects
               that
               do
               surround
               us
               .
            
             
               O
               therefore
               let
               us
               be
               constant
               in
               our
               Religious
               Offices
               .
               Nay
               ,
               let
               us
               take
               every
               opportunity
               that
               our
               Affairs
               will
               allow
               us
               ,
               of
               raising
               our
               Minds
               to
               God
               ,
               and
               thanking
               him
               for
               his
               Infinite
               Love
               and
               Goodness
               to
               us
               ;
               and
               imploring
               the
               continual
               Influences
               of
               his
               Grace
               
               and
               Holy
               Spirit
               ,
               and
               re-inforcing
               our
               Vows
               and
               Purposes
               of
               persevering
               in
               his
               Service
               .
            
             
               By
               this
               means
               we
               shall
               come
               to
               lead
               Spiritual
               Lives
               indeed
               .
               Our
               Souls
               will
               be
               a
               perpetual
               Fountain
               of
               Good
               Thoughts
               .
               And
               while
               we
               live
               here
               ,
               our
               Conversation
               will
               be
               in
               Heaven
               .
               For
               God
               and
               Christ
               ,
               and
               the
               things
               above
               will
               have
               our
               Hearts
               ,
               though
               the
               World
               hath
               our
               Bodies
               .
            
             
               But
               then
               ,
               in
               the
               Fifth
               and
               last
               place
               ,
               Notwithstanding
               what
               I
               have
               hitherto
               said
               ,
               concerning
               the
               Diligence
               with
               which
               we
               are
               to
               keep
               our
               Hearts
               ;
               yet
               this
               is
               always
               to
               be
               remembered
               ,
               That
               with
               our
               Diligence
               we
               must
               be
               careful
               to
               join
               Discretion
               .
            
             
               My
               Meaning
               is
               this
               ,
               We
               must
               have
               a
               care
               not
               to
               intend
               our
               Thoughts
               immoderately
               ,
               and
               more
               than
               our
               Tempers
               will
               bear
               ,
               even
               to
               the
               best
               things
               :
               But
               we
               must
               so
               keep
               our
               Hearts
               ,
               as
               at
               the
               same
               time
               to
               preserve
               our
               Healths
               ,
               and
               keep
               up
               the
               Vigour
               of
               our
               Minds
               .
            
             
               And
               the
               way
               to
               do
               that
               ,
               is
               ,
               Not
               to
               put
               them
               too
               much
               ,
               or
               too
               long
               ,
               upon
               the
               stretch
               at
               any
               one
               time
               :
               But
               to
               relax
               them
               when
               there
               is
               occasion
               ,
               and
               to
               let
               them
               run
               out
               ,
               and
               entertain
               themselves
               upon
               any
               thing
               that
               comes
               next
               to
               hand
               ,
               so
               long
               as
               it
               is
               Innocent
               .
            
             
               It
               is
               a
               vain
               thing
               to
               imagine
               ,
               that
               we
               can
               always
               be
               thinking
               of
               our
               great
               Business
               ;
               or
               that
               we
               can
               always
               be
               a
               Praying
               ,
               or
               Reading
               ,
               or
               Meditating
               ;
               or
               ,
               that
               ,
               as
               our
               Condition
               
               is
               in
               this
               World
               ,
               even
               the
               greater
               part
               of
               our
               Thoughts
               should
               be
               such
               as
               we
               call
               Devout
               and
               
                 Religious
                 Thoughts
              
               .
            
             
               God
               hath
               provided
               a
               great
               deal
               of
               other
               Business
               for
               us
               to
               apply
               our
               Minds
               to
               ,
               so
               long
               as
               we
               live
               in
               this
               World.
               And
               by
               minding
               that
               diligently
               and
               conscientiously
               ,
               we
               do
               serve
               God
               as
               acceptably
               ,
               as
               if
               we
               were
               Reading
               or
               Praying
               .
            
             
               Nay
               even
               then
               ,
               when
               we
               have
               no
               urgent
               Business
               upon
               our
               hands
               to
               take
               up
               our
               Minds
               ,
               it
               is
               not
               necessary
               that
               we
               should
               be
               always
               thinking
               of
               Religion
               .
               Nor
               would
               I
               call
               every
               Thought
               ,
               a
               vain
               ,
               or
               an
               idle
               ,
               or
               a
               sinful
               Thought
               ,
               that
               hath
               not
               God
               ,
               or
               our
               Spiritual
               Concernments
               for
               its
               Object
               .
               Even
               the
               most
               Spiritually-minded
               among
               us
               ,
               must
               oftentimes
               be
               content
               to
               be
               entertained
               with
               such
               Thoughts
               as
               our
               Company
               ,
               or
               our
               Temper
               ,
               or
               the
               present
               Circumstances
               we
               are
               in
               ,
               do
               suggest
               to
               us
               .
               And
               provided
               those
               Thoughts
               be
               innocent
               ,
               and
               do
               not
               intrench
               upon
               the
               Laws
               of
               Piety
               ,
               and
               Purity
               ,
               and
               Charity
               ;
               be
               they
               otherwise
               very
               trifling
               and
               impertinent
               :
               I
               say
               ,
               I
               would
               not
               look
               upon
               them
               as
               
                 ill
                 Thoughts
              
               ,
               nor
               have
               any
               one
               angry
               at
               himself
               upon
               account
               of
               them
               .
            
             
               The
               truth
               of
               it
               is
               ,
               So
               long
               as
               we
               consist
               of
               Bodies
               and
               Souls
               ,
               we
               cannot
               always
               be
               thinking
               of
               serious
               things
               .
               They
               indeed
               are
               the
               Wisest
               that
               think
               of
               them
               most
               ,
               but
               it
               is
               even
               dangerous
               to
               attempt
               to
               think
               of
               them
               always
               .
               
               For
               ,
               as
               most
               Mens
               Constitutions
               are
               ,
               that
               is
               the
               ready
               way
               to
               spoil
               the
               Habit
               of
               our
               Bodies
               ,
               and
               by
               that
               means
               to
               render
               our
               Minds
               perfectly
               unfit
               for
               Thinking
               at
               all
               to
               any
               good
               Purposes
               .
            
             
               Thus
               have
               I
               laid
               before
               you
               the
               Main
               Things
               wherein
               ,
               as
               I
               do
               believe
               ,
               the
               right
               
                 Governing
                 our
                 Thoughts
              
               doth
               consist
               .
               And
               I
               doubt
               not
               ,
               they
               are
               so
               safe
               ,
               and
               so
               effectual
               ,
               that
               whosoever
               will
               sincerely
               practise
               them
               ,
               as
               far
               as
               he
               can
               ,
               will
               so
               keep
               his
               Heart
               ,
               that
               the
               Issues
               from
               thence
               in
               his
               Life
               and
               Conversation
               will
               be
               Happy
               and
               Prosperous
               .
               I
               conclude
               all
               with
               the
               Collect
               of
               this
               Day
               .
            
             
               
                 Almighty
                 God
                 ,
                 who
                 seest
                 that
                 we
                 have
                 no
                 power
                 of
                 our selves
                 to
                 help
                 our selves
                 ;
                 Keep
                 us
                 both
                 outwardly
                 in
                 our
                 Bodies
                 ,
                 and
                 inwardly
                 in
                 our
                 Souls
                 ;
                 that
                 we
                 may
                 be
                 defended
                 from
                 all
                 Adversities
                 which
                 may
                 happen
                 to
                 the
                 Body
                 ,
                 and
                 from
                 all
                 EVIL
                 THOUGHTS
                 which
                 may
                 assault
                 and
                 hurt
                 the
                 Soul
                 ,
                 through
                 Jesus
                 Christ
                 our
                 Lord.
                 
              
            
             
               FINIS
               .