PAGE XXXI.—The duty and reward of bounty to the poor. PSALM CXII. 9.—He hath dispersed, he hath given to 143 162 . 185 . 200 . 228 . 252 280 . 308 XXXII.-On the passion of our blessed Saviour. PHILIPPIANS II. 8.-And being found in fashion as a XXXV.-Abiding in Christ to be demonstrated by walking as SERMONS. SUMMARY OF SERMON XVII. PROVERBS, CHAP. X.-VERSE 18. IT is shown that general declamations against vice are indeed exceedingly useful; but that men ought to be made particularly acquainted with their sins, and by proper arguments dissuaded from them. Hence the sin of slander is now selected, being in nature vile, and in practice common. There are principles innate to men, which ever have, and ever will incline them to it. this point enlarged on. But from especial causes, the present age does peculiarly abound in this practice: manners of the age described at length. Hence it is, that no discourse appears more needful or useful than that which serves to correct or check so vile an offence. Endeavors to effect this; 1. by describing the nature; 2. by declaring the folly of it. I. For explication of its nature, slander may be described as the uttering false (or equivalent to false, morally false) speech against our neighbor, in prejudice to his fame, his safety, or his welfare, out of malignity, vanity, rashness, or bad design : this forbidden in holy Scripture under various terms, some of which signify the nature, others the special kinds, manners, or ends of this practice. But it seems most fully intelligible if BAR. VOL. II. A we observe the several kinds and degrees thereof; as also if we reflect on the various ways and manners of practising it. The principal kinds stated as follow. 1. The grossest kind of slander is that which in the decalogue is called bearing false testimony against our neighbor; that is, flatly charging him with facts which he never committed. Instance in the case of Naboth. This kind is the most rare, and they who are guilty of it are accounted most vile and infamous; but there are many out of the court, who run about scattering false reports, and infecting society with their poisonous breath, who are scarcely less guilty. 2. Another kind is the affixing scandalous names, injurious epithets, and odious characters on persons, which they deserve not. Instance of Corah and his accomplices against Moses; of the Pharisees against our Saviour; of the Jews against the Apostles: evil of such described. 3. Similar to this is the aspersing a man's actions with harsh censures and foul terms, importing that they proceed from ill principles, or tend to bad ends: thus when we say of him that is generously hospitable, that he is profuse; of him that is prudently frugal, that he is niggardly; of him that is conspicuous in virtuous practices, that he is actuated by ambition or ostentation; when we ascribe a man's charity to vain-glory, or his strictness of life to hypocrisy; we are indeed slanderers, imitating the great calumniator, who thus slandered even God himself; Gen. iii. 5. 4. Another kind of slander is the perverting a man's words or actions disadvantageously by affected misconstruction. All words are ambiguous, and capable of different senses. Instance of the false witnesses against our Lord: Matt. xxvi. 60. 61. 5. Another sort is, a partial and lame representation of men's discourse or practice, suppressing some part of the truth, or concealing some extenuating circumstances. In such a |