inftance of a difpofition the most uncharitably wicked; as tending to deprive their fellow creatures of what alone can fupport them with any degree of peace and fatisfaction during their pilgrimage through this vale of forrow; and every comfortable expectation of a future recompence.

Again-Lewd and obfcene talking is liable to much the fame feverity of reproof: Forafmuch as this too betrays an infected heart, is very loathfome to all well nurtured perfons, and has a fatal aptitude to propagate it's contagion. Evil converfation will debauch and vitiate even good manners: And therefore St. Paul gives it in admonition, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out your mouth, but that which is good. to the use of edifying, that it may minifter grace to the hearers;" herein plainly fhewing that a decent and chaVOL. I. ritable

of

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ritable regard is due to all those, who are at any time within the reach of our difcourfe. It is in truth a very unbecoming and bafe kind of liberty, which fo many take of bolting out their filthy imaginations in no lefs filthy fpeeches, without confidering who hears or who regards; and a practice utterly inconfiftent with the virtue of Charity; whose peculiar commendation it is that it doth not behave itself unfeemly, but in every circumftance of outward deportment is always attended with a certain comlinefs and grace.

The next instance that occurs of an uncharitable tongue is, when that noble inftrument is made a trumpet of uncertain found, the execrable conveyance of falfhood and lies.-This is an abuse of fpeech fingularly prejudicial to a neighbour, as it first blinds the man, and then leads him into the ditch. And it is but

too

too obfervable that the confufion and unhappiness so much abounding in the world, iffue for the most part from this troubled fource. How indeed should any Society (for maintaining the civil commerce of which we are principally endowed with this converfing faculty) long fubfift in peace, unless the language of mankind may be relied on as a faithful interpreter of their thoughts and intentions? Since without confidence there can be no intercourfe of friendship, and without veracity no grounds of confidence. But Truth and Charity are nearly allied, have a mutual affection for, and dependance upon, each other. When men can be once brought to confider themselves (according to the expreffion of the Apostle) as members one of another, it were but a neceffary confequence, what he exhorts us to upon this very confideration, that, " putting away lying we speak every one truth with his neighS2 bour :"

bour" It being no lefs abfurd in the moral fenfe for one man to deceive and injure another by telling him a wilful untruth, than it would be in the natural for the eyes purposely to mifguide the feet, or the feet to mislead the body.

very

The last particular I fhall remark of injurious language is, when it is employed for the purpofes of calumny and flander: Which, though ftanding upon the fame rotten bottom of falfhood and wrong, has yet a more than ordinary degree of malignity attending it.-Simply to tell lies is indeed to ftrike at the foundations of equity and confidence. amongst men: But to calumniate a brother by lying words and falfe reprefentations, is to make a ftill greater scism in the body politick; to wound it's members in a moft fenfible manner; and to render them unferviceable both to their own private emolument, and to the be

nefit of the community. Many have little more than an honeft character whereon to fubfift; depending chiefly upon this valuable property for countenance and employ from their fuperiors; and confequently for the maintenance of themselves and families. Such too as are beft qualified to do good in the world may have their talents eafily dishonoured, and made of no estimation or use, through the whispers of envenomed tongues. For the misfortune is, the arrows of the Slanderer commonly fly in the dark, and deftroy unfeen; which justly subjects him to the imputation and guilt not only of a malevolent, but withal of a cowardly and barbarous difpofition, as giving no opportunity of selfdefence.-Now Charity, in the Christian sense, is a most excellent preventive of this reigning malady; and would too be an infallible cure for it. "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyfelf," is a law