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opportunity, do good to the souls of your neighbours; exhort and encourage unto well-doing, 1 Thess. v. 14. If they show not themselves to be dogs and swine, Matt. vii. 6; that is, obstinate scorners of good men, and contemners of the pearl of good counsel, you must, so far as God gives you any interest in them, admonish and inform them with the spirit of meekness and wisdom, Lev. xix. 17. With this cloak of love you should cover and cure a multitude of your companions' infirmities and offences, 1 Peter iv. 8. In all your behaviour towards him, seek not so much to please yourself as your companion, in that which is good to his edification, Rom. xv. 2.

(1.) Speak evil of no man. Tit. iii. 2; nor yet speak the evil you know of any man, except in these or the like cases. (1.) When you are thereunto lawfully called by authority. (2.) When it is to those whom it concerns, to reform and reclaim him of whom you speak, and you do it to that end, 1 Cor. i. 11. (3.) When it is to prevent certain damage to the soul or estate of your neighbour, Acts xxiii. 16, which would ensue, if it were not by you thus discovered. (4.) When the concealment of his evil may make you guilty and accessory. (5.) When some particular remarkable judgment of God is upon a notorious sinner for his sin, then, to the end that God may be acknowledged in his judgments, and that others may be warned, or brought to repent of the same or like sin, you may speak of the evils of another, Psa. lli. 6, 7. But this is not to speak evil, so long as you do it not in envy and malice to his person, nor with aggravation of the fault more than is cause, nor yet to the judging of him as concerning his final estate.

(2.) When you shall hear any in your company speak evil of your neighbour, by slandering, whispering, or tale-bearing, whereby he detracts from his good name; you must not only stop your ears at such reports, but must set your speech and countenance against him, like a north wind against rain, Prov. xxv. 23.

(3.) When you hear another well reported of, let