The arraignment of slander periury blasphemy, and other malicious sinnes shewing sundry examples of Gods iudgements against the ofenders. As well by the testimony of the Scriptures, and of the fathers of the primatiue church as likewise out of the reportes of Sir Edward Dier, Sir Edward Cooke, and other famous lawiers of this kingdome. Published by Sir William Vaughan knight.

LINEAMENT. II.

1

Notes to discerne the spirit of Detraction.

2

A limitation of speeches.

EVen as the well manured earth brings forth seedes and graine for mans reiiefe; * 1.1 and vnmanured gathereth weeds, mosse, and brambles: so the soule of man, if it be well erected towards God, and dire∣cted by his holy Spirit, becomes diuinely disposed, but ill looked vnto, and let as a restlesse rogue, to straggle abroad among Sathans sinfull spirits, is quick∣ly surprised with the witty workema••ship of the wily Serpent, and in a moment corrupted with the bane of he∣retic all doctrine. An Hereticke I account him, who be∣ing a Christian, contumaciously maintaines err••nceus opinions, or peremptory Paradoxes, contrary to the best part of the Church, as when you heare a creature abuse and abase his Creators glory in fatl••ering his forcible

workes vpon his enemy the Diuell then expend and ex∣amine in the ballance of euen reason his vnreasonable detracting sentence; and no doubt but the Spirit of spi∣rits will open your eyes, that you may perceiue the wic∣ked spirit which haunteth him, and hunteth after his soule.

Secondly, obserue the quality of the person, which de∣tracteth: seeing that it is a thing rare in a wise man to make the toyish tongue the Oracle of preiudicate con∣ceit, who from his cradle is otherwise taught to smother vp in silence both his owne ouer-curious inuentions con∣ceiued of supernaturall operations, and also what hee knowes or heares exorbitant, friuolous, and redounding eyther to the dishonour of Gods power, to the dispa∣ragement of his lawes, or to the disgrace of his neigh∣bours same. And for the vulgar sort, their iudgement is crooked and confused, that they extoll showes and sha∣dowes of truth, and cannot distinguish betweene neces∣sary and superfluous speeches.

Thirdly, ponder his manner of speaking, whether as a passionate person in his furious mood, or in the bitter and incited anguish of his soule: whether the spirit of Detra∣ction tickles the possessed party at tableboord, at Tobac∣co-taking, at gossipping (for at those times people waxe giddy headed and phantasticall, by reason of the mouing of the blood and humours) or whether his speeches tend for his owne vtility and profite, or for reuenge of suppo∣sed wrongs or emulous concurrence in worldly affaires. Ex abundantia cordis os loquitur. Out of the hearts abun∣dance the tongue speakes. And as abundance of raine causeth riuers to ouerflow their naturall meeres, bounds, and bankes, and to breake with a violent deluge ouer into meadowes and plaine fields: so the heart boyling o∣uer with surious motions, will runne quite out of course and temper, except it be suffered to cuaporate and vent out by the mouth (which stands like an open Sepulchre,

or a roaring gulfe) whatsoeuer is internally conceiued and consopited. Yea, I haue knowne some (like women with childe) sicke to the heart, till they were deliuered of their suspicious Detractions or monstrous embrions.

But thou, which art the Pupill of silence, note, that a reuiler is a lier, and a lier is forgetfull, as the Italian tea∣cheth * 1.2 thee: Maldicente è bugiardo, bugiardo, è smemora∣to. It is not my purpose by these obseruations, altoge∣ther to debarre discourses, and neighbourly confabulati∣ons, but my meaning is to disclose some meanes, whereby we might discerne the nature of this Spirit, which tempts our common readers to vtter before God and man, such contemptuous contradictions derogatory to his Maiesty, who heares with infinite patience euery word they speake. As my soule cannot brooke these false aspersi∣ons, and flying lies touching ones honour, ones honesty, ones life: so on the contrary, I cannot chuse but approue Christian and ciuill conference sugred and seasoned with charity, loue, and humility, tending to the glory of God, the weale of our Countrey, or the welfare of our neigh∣bours. Nay, I applaude with both hands all such con∣fabulations, which are relished Atticis aut Socraticis le∣porib{us}, with the sauorie smacke of pleasant conceits, not vitiated with the extremes of rude scur••ility, or of rough austerity, but richly refined with the golden meane, Vr∣banity or Ciuility, which the Grecians call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Let the distressed (in Gods name) poure out his grecuances familiarly to his friend, for that easeth the minde, and by talking in counsell with a faithfull friend, the Spirits reco∣uer * 1.3 their former vertue and strength. Let Preachers re∣proue their Parishioners infirmities in priuate, and in any case let them not reprehend particular mens faults open∣ly in the Pulpit: for that place being generall, requires generall speeches. Let them not rebuke any, but exhort an Elder as a Father, the yonger men as brethren: for there * 1.4 is difference betwixt exhortation and rebuking, and so

there is difference betwixt rebuking mens persons, and rebuking mens vices; rebuking to edification, and rebu∣king to desperation; rebuking in patience, and rebuking in passion; rebuking in priuate, and rebuking in publique: the one is proper to the temperate spirit of God, the other to the turbulent spirit of Sathan. Wherefore deare Christian, refraine thy tongue as it were with a bridle; for to what vse will thy house serue without a doore, or thy purse without strings?

Notes

• * 1.1

  1
• * 1.2

  2
• * 1.3

  Commin. l. 5. c. 5
• * 1.4

  1. Tim. 5.