A compendious treatise of slander/ declaring what slander is/ and what it signifieth/ and how many kinds of slander there be.  
¶ woe be unto him by whom slander cometh. Matthew. xviii. Beware therefore what thou speakest/ of whom and by whom/ that it be not for evil will or malice/ lest thou be in daungre of judgement.   

slander is or synifieeh an offence/ whereby man's mind is sore disquietid or troubled: that is to say/ it is other discouraged or couraged to or from the imitation or following of a thing. 
two. manner of sclaundres. one Pharisaical/ another called slander taken.  leaf; There is a double kind of slander/ one is pharisaical/ which commonly they call slander taken: and that is when that hypocrites be offended other with right doctrine/ or with necessary doing/ & thereupon cometh hatred of the gospel and of godly men: as the pharisyes hated the gospel and the teachers of the same/ & pretended great causes of their grief & hatred taken of man's 
Mat. xv  wit & reason: for what man endued but with a mean wit would not be grieved/ that the fashion of religion should any thing decay/ that comen peace should be disquieted/ that schisms should rise in the church/ that high powers and comen wealths should be brought to nought. They saw that their religion & manner of worshipping of god was little esteemed and that the comen wealth was hindered/ and the authority of superyoures contemned: But although these be great causes/ which worthily doth move men/ yet it is meet to know/ that before these causes yea/ before all things/ that the commandment of god be preferred after this rule: It is necessary rather to obey God than men. 
Actu. v.  Therefore this pharisaical slander or offence is not to be eschewed/ for the commandment of god excuseth us. But it is necessary the doctrine be true certain & profitable to the church. For it is a very grievous sin to trouble the church with evil/ uncertain or unprofitable disputations.  
leaf; There is another kind of slander/ which they call slander given. 
slander given  And it is ungodly doctrine or evil example which hurteth/ other because they follow it/ or because it scarreth men from the gospel. All wicked doctrines are slanders & offences of this kind. Also idolaters worshipping and men's inventions/ which can not be observed & kept without sin: as worshipping of images/ going on pilgrimages/ purchasing of popish pardons for remission of sins. Christ threat the authors of these slanders chiefly.  
leaf; Woe be to the men by whom slander cometh. 
Mathei. xviii.  &ce. Than these slanders and offences with great diligence must be eschewed/ lest we be other auctors or alowers of ungodly doctrine & followers of such wicked worshipping. etc.  

A rule of the use of liberty.  leaf; There is also another kind of slander to be eschewed/ that is/ when that a work which is indifferent/ is done out of time: as the untimely use of Christian liberty. Of this liberty/ there is often disputations and reasoning/ when it is lawful/ and when it is not lawful. It is sin to break men's traditions/ in case that the breaking of them should be occasion of slander or offence to any man. Therefore the rule of Poule is to be held as touching the use of liberty. 
Rom. xv  Paul commandeth the learned men to bear thinfirmity of the unlearned and week/ & follow their minds/ and certify them for their good & for their edifying that is/ that through their gentleness they may courage them to the Gospel and not skarte them: For not alonely ipocryts and the ungodly sort/ but also godly men/ & men of sober living/ specially they that be not taught nor sufficiently instruct when they see ancient customs broken/ they judge by that manner of doctrine/ men to be given to a wild liberty/ and become all ungodly and so be skarred from the knowledge of the gospel. Therefore liberty is not to be used afore them which have not yet herd this manner of doctrine/ as afore/ men not yet sufficiently confirmed/ but the● ample of saint Poule is to be followed: I have been week to them that are week: 
i Corin. viii.  If my meat doth offend my brother/ I will never eat flesh/ lest I offend my brother. But now where as the gospel is clearly preached/ and the church meanly confirmed in the same/ the grievous observation of unprofitable traditions is not greatly to be required. yea/ Paul for to show example of liberty/ he would not syrcumcyse Tyte. 
Gala. two.  And Christ excused his Apostles/ breaking the traditions of the father's/ and saith: 
Mathei. xxb.  Let them alone/ they be blind/ and guides of the blind. &ce. 
Mat. xb xx iii  But yet in this thing it is good to use soberness and discretion/ for even among enemies there be some that rather should be reconciled than stirred & provoked/ and it becometh christian men to refer all their doingis not to their own affections & lusts/ but unto the profit of other/ & to the glory of Christ. 
Apoc. v.  But many there be that break ancient customs/ not to profit or do service to other/ or to do better things/ but because this liberty delighteth them. This is a wicked thing to dyspyce ancient customs & laws/ it is no Christian thing Furthermore/ the breaking of comen customs/ readily stores up great uproar/ and commotions ought not rashly to be excited: for it is an hard thing afterward to have conscience that thou hast given occasion of comen calamities & myseres  

The second rule  The second rule. Also in churches rightly instruct/ there is to be had a consideration of slander/ lest our example do hurt other/ as these be: Oft times not to force of the comen customs/ & to show any contempt/ & to cause other to be forceles/ or to give occasion to dissensions/ schisms/ sects or factions without necessary cause. If any man after this manner breaketh traditions/ certainly he doth sin. Without such occasion of slanders/ we understand traditions to be free. This moderation & equity in traditions is very good to hold/ for it keepeth the authority of traditions & conserveth the comen customs & good order/ and it delivereth men's consciences from that old tyranny/ when that they know that traditions be outward things & indifferent/ & may be omitted & left without sin except it be in case of slander.  

slander of doctrine.  Furthermore/ the slanders and offences of doctrines/ be moche worse than evil examples in manners. Therefore with great diligence/ a man must be ware/ first that he teach no ungodly things/ uncertain or unprofitable. Furthermore when ye teach true things/ that ye set them not forth so confusely and doutefully/ that the hearers conceive any evil opinions in such confused and doubtful doctrine: as we see how much it profiteth the people to be monished after what manner men's traditions may be reproved: and again for what purpose/ and to what use traditions ought to be kept and loved. Except these things be aptly & discreetly expressed/ they that be unlearned conceive a contempt of all laws and customs. Thus also in other articles/ except they be aptly & clearly expressed/ there rise opinions very perilous.  
When that men be justified by faith/ how detestable opinions doth there rise/ except the hearers be monished what thing is entreated of/ and that the person is reconciled by faith/ and after that/ our obedience is necessary/ & in men reconciled/ is righteousness. 
Rom. v.  Like wise of free will/ that god is not the cause of evil/ and many other things/ that deserving is not taken from works/ because we can do no thing that can deserve out of god/ but because the promise of god is our forgiveness/ that the remission of sin may be certain. 
Fre●yll  
Ephe. two.  
Actus. two  More over in men reconciled / good works be also meritorious. 
●●ot. x.  So in all places diligence must be given/ that without sofestry or craft/ they be expressed aptly & distynctly Therefore would Paul that a bishop should be apt to teach that he should teach aptly and distynctly. 
Titua. i  And Christ would that a learned man/ instruct in the kingdom of god/ should belike unto a good father of household/ which in his teaching can use discretion in uttering both new things and old. For except preachers use this discretion & diligence/ many men's consciences be sore troubled/ and evil opinions rise in their minds/ which will hurt religion and manners/ and than springe uproars and many other matters of slander and offence. Therefore let us beware and do our diligence that our manners beutyfye the gospel. Moreover also/ that the way of preaching and plainness of the same may comfort men's consciences/ rid them of all doubts/ and redress their errors.  
Amen.   

¶ Imprinted at London in the Old bailie in saint Sepulchres parish/ by me Richard Lant.