The second Part.
Vers. 11. Speak not evil one of another, brethren: he that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the Law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the Law, thou art not a doer of the Law, but a judge.
The special Exhortation touching restraining the lust of detracting from the reputation of the brethren, follows. There are five arguments of the Dehortation.
Speaketh ill] Argum. 1. Whoso defames his brother, judges him and condemns him, because he doth it as if he was a Judge: Therefore ye ought not to detract from the fame of your brethren.
Condemneth] Argum. 2. He which detracts from the reputation of his brother, and judgeth or condemneth him, he also detracts from the Law, and judges or con∣demneth the Law. The reason is, because the Law for∣bids and condemneth rash judging and evil reports: but the backbiter on the contrary, in the very act whilest he diminishes the fame of other men, he allows that practice as if it were good, and so speaketh, and so doth contrary to the Law, and pronounces the Law neither good, nor worthy to be obeyed by any.
A doer] Argum. 3. Because he that slanders his bro∣ther, is not an obedient doer of the Law, but a violator and condemnor of the Law, as it appears before: There∣fore ye ought not to defame your brother.
Vers. 12. There is one Law-giver, who is able to save, and to destroy: Who art thou that judgest an∣other?
Argum. 4. It belongs to God alone to exercise the parts of a Judge: Therefore what man is he that invades the office of God the Judge?
One] Argum. 5. God alone, as he is able to save, if the slanderer shall repent; so also he is able to destroy, unless by repenting of this and other sins, he obey the Admonitions of God: Therefore ye ought not to indulge this sin.