The Christian gouernour, in the common-wealth, and priuate families described by Dauid, in his 101. Psalme. Guiding all men in a right course to heauen. Herewith also a part of the parable of the lost sonne. Luke 15. Both expounded and opened by Robert Horn. With the doctrines and vses thence arising. The more particular contents see on the page following.

His Neighbour.

THe obiect of the Slanderers tongue is his Neighbour. And it aggrauateth his sinne, because it is against a neigh∣bour, that is, a Christian, his nearest neighbour. A Neighbour (properly) is he that dwelleth neere vs, or next vnto

vs, or in the same streete. Commonly, by participation of Nature in the image of God, all men are neighbours. By a fi∣gure and strictly, they are our neighbours who are of one houshold of faith with vs, in the loue and profession of the same Gospell. And, heere hee is called our neighbour, whatsoeuer he be, with whom wee haue any dealings in our fellowship and trade of life. Luc. 10.36.37. Hee that slandereth such an one, and (conse∣quently) any one, is worthie to be puni∣shed; Dauid saith by death, his meaning is, if he offend vnto death. But some thing may be gathered from the word, which here the Prophets vseth, to the conuicti∣on of the Slanderer. For, whom will he slander? euen his neighbour, one who is neerest to him in societie and common vse of life: one that dwelleth before him, or at the next dore to him: Then, whom will he not slander?

* 1.1The Doctrine from hence is: a slan∣derer is false to all men. So the Prouerb•• saith, that speaketh of the slanderer: Prou. 11.13. for, it maketh him a geer about with tales, and a discouerer of se∣crets;

that is, one that will be as readie to defame them whom he speaketh vnto, as whom hee speaketh against: for, hee trafiques altogether by exchange. He will not goe emptie, and if hee deliuer any thing vnto you, it shall be on condition to receiue something from you. As hee telleth you secrets, so he will blaze your secrets. And who can trust him? Prou. 20.19.

The reasons.

The slanderer is true to Satan, who is false to mankinde; and his worke they doe, whose worke they cannot doe, and doe well. Secondly, that that moueth the slanderer to relate other mens affaires to thee, cannot but induce him to disco∣uer thine to others; which is want of loue, and a desire that he hath to serue the Market of an itching eare. Thirdly, the slanderer is Satans Gun-powder, and if Sa∣tan put fire vnto him, he cannot chuse but take it. Iam. 3.6. But Satan will not faile to giue fire where he is sure it will burne, seeing he is a continuall make-bate betweene God and man, and man and man, and a friend, and his neerest friend.

Vses.

* 1.2This sheweth how vnnaturall the sin of slander is, which maketh a man cruell against his owne kinde, vide: Man; and the nighest, in dwelling to him, his Neigh∣bour. I may adde, the neerest of all, his Mothers Sonne. Psal. 50.20. The Lion ra∣geth not against his fellow-Lions, but ma∣keth his prey of beasts of another kinde. The venemous Serpent spetteth not his poison at wormes of his owne shell, but at the enemies of his life. But a man teareth a man in pieces with words of crueltie: Men at Man, the brother at his brother spetteth the venome of a Dragons tongue, and destroyeth those by falshood, whom he should preserue by grace in his lips.

* 1.3An instruction, not to hang any thing vpon the report of a deprauing tongue. For, hee that is false to one, will betray another. And, who will trust him that is false to all? Slanderers are such. They will speake faire, and protest as friends, but their sweet counsels are as an infusion of Wormewood, and their delicacies more bitter then the bitternesse of death. There∣fore, when such shall offer friendship to

vs, and the sweet bait of good will, Let not their Balmes breake our heads. Psal. 141.4.5. Insteede of opening their mouthes, let vs shut our owne eares, and the doores of our lips against them, be they our friends, or counsellours, or yoake-fel∣lowes: For, their commoning is not for peace, and either they haue alreadie be∣trayed vs, or are about to doe it. Surge∣ons heale when they inflict paine and cause smart: but flatterers, that is, flatte∣rers of vs, and slanderers of their neigh∣bour, kill, when they pretend to please, and offer to delight. So much for the slanderers offence, his punishment follo∣weth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Doct.
• * 1.2

  Vse. 1.
• * 1.3

  Vse. 2.