+The folly of slander.+ 1. _If this practice be proved extremely sinful it will thence be demonstrated no less foolish._ And it is indeed plainly the blackest and most hellish sin that can be; that which giveth the grand fiend his name, and most expresseth his nature. He is the _slanderer,_ _Satan,_ or _dragon_ spitting forth the venom of calumnious accusation, the _accuser of the brethren,_ _the father of lies,_ the great defamer of God to man, of man to God, of one man to another. And highly wicked that practice must be whereby we grow namesakes to him. 2. _The slanderer is plainly a fool because he makes wrong judgments and valuations of things,_ and accordingly driveth on silly bargains for himself, in result whereof he proveth a great loser. He means by his calumnious stories either to vent some passion boiling within him, or to compass some design which he affecteth, or to please some humour that he is possessed with; but is any of these things worth purchasing at so dear a rate? Can there be any valuable exchange for our honesty? Can anything in the world be so considerable that for its sake we should defile our souls? 3. _Because he uses improper means and preposterous methods of effecting his purposes._ As there is no design worth the carrying on by ways of falsehood and iniquity, so there is scarce any (no good and lawful one at least) which may not more surely, more safely, more cleverly be achieved by means of truth and justice. . . . He that is observed to practise falsehood will be declined by some, opposed by others, disliked by all. 4. _The slanderer is a fool, as bringing many great inconveniences and troubles upon himself._ (1.) By no means can a man inflame so fierce anger, impress so stiff hatred, raise so deadly enmity against himself, and consequently so endanger his safety, ease, and welfare as by this practice. Men will rather pardon a robber of their goods than of their good name. (2.) And he is not only odious to the person immediately concerned, but generally to all men who observe his practice; every man presently will be sensible how easily it may be his own case to be thus abused. (3.) He also derogateth wholly from his own credit, for he that dareth thus to injure his neighbour, who can trust him in anything that he speaks? (4.) This practice is perpetually haunted with most troublesome companions, inward regret, and self-condemnation. (5.) The consequence of this practice is commonly shameful disgrace, with an obligation to retract and to render satisfaction; for seldom doth calumny pass long without being detected and confuted. (6.) The slanderer doth banish himself from heaven and happiness. For, if none that "maketh a lie" (Rev. xxii. 15) shall enter the heavenly city, assuredly the capital liar, the _slanderer,_ shall be far excluded from felicity. All these things being considered, we may, I think, reasonably conclude it most evidently true that "he who uttereth slander is a fool."--_Barrow._