Part. 8.

But now heere come in the many stories, which condemne these purer men to bee guiltie against these duties, and so to be hypo∣crites. Yet runne not away too fast with this neither, but euen in the point of hearing reports, take also some discretion with you. For against good men very commonly, are bold and confident slanders raised, Page  401 which by their stoutnesse might seeme to bee truth it selfe. But let not the wise beleeue them before exami∣nation. For most common∣ly in the very telling of them, will appeare a venom and malice, the true issue of the old Serpent: and vpon farther triall, falshood and lying, the naturall brother of the former, and a truly begotten sonne of the Ac∣cuser of the Brethren. He began the rule in Paradise, and will continue euen to the new Ierusalem; lie bold∣ly, for some of it will sticke fast for euer. And how can it be otherwise, since the la∣sinesse of men is such, that they will beleeue a re∣port at the first telling, ra∣ther Page  402 then trouble them∣selues to examine and finde out the truth, which onely should be belieued; & with∣all their maliciousnesse is so great, that they are wil∣ling and readie to receiue euill reports, yea, they de∣light in them. But the ser∣uants of Christ know, that the last iudgement shall be by words, and that a rash and a bitter iudge shall, though not rashly, yet se∣uerely be iudged. Therefore according to the Psalmist, The good man is merciful, and guideth his words with discretion. He inclineth na∣turally to beleeue good ra∣ther then euill; yet auoi∣ding to condemne the iust, hee also shunnes to iustifie Page  403 the wicked. Therefore that his iudgement may bee righteous, hee searcheth both the matter how pro∣bable it is in it selfe; and next he examineth the re-reporters, whether they bee those, in whom the truth dwelleth, and who them∣selues haue a good report of the truth; not being like Pilate, ignorant, and yet to learne what is truth. For it is a kind of murther of our neighbour in his name and reputation (which is almost as his life) both to beare false witnes, and to receiue false witnesse against him. Lastly, a good man, if hee may conueniently, will in∣quire of the partie himselfe, or of some of his acquain∣tance, Page  404 whether such things haue beene done by him; and if done, in what man∣ner, and vpon what occasi∣on: for many times the ma∣ner of things wholly alters the matter, and the matter may be good, in the man∣ner in which it was done, yet euill in the manner be∣stowed on it by the repor∣ter. Againe, the thing be∣ing true, yet the occasion and cause may, though not iustifie, yet excuse the fact; for many euill deeds are done by infirmitie, which yet prooue not the men e∣uill that did them. It were pittie that men should go to work this way with Da∣uid, and onely iudge of him by his murder and adulte∣rie: Page  405 but it rather becom∣vs, to see whether his course of life being different from his fact, do not manifestly prooue, that these sinnes were of infirmitie; of sinne cleauing to him, not reign∣ing in sinne. And in this point should euery man be the milder; for as it is said commonly in other mat∣ters, it is euery mans cause; this mans to day, and thine to morrow. And though thou sweare with Peter, that if al the world deny Christ, thou wilt not denie him, yet I wil neuer beleeue thee no more then Christ did Peter; for in many things we sinne all, and as the A∣postles said, We are also men, subiect to the same infirmities.