know any that do, in that church, you are highly culpable if you do not inform the deacons of it—“Thou shalt not suffer sin upon thy neighbour.” Many persons, both public and private characters, have used the tongue to degrade both myself and the people who worshipped with me, but who would find enough to do, to look at home; while they can find out one fault, which they suppose I possess, their neighbours, perhaps, can find out an hundred of theirs. It is truly laughable to see the toil, trouble, and expence that many have been at to circulate my supposed infamy, that would not take that trouble, either to save their own souls from hell, or relieve an afflicted person; yet such make a profession of religion, and assign the same hypocritical reason for their opposition to me, which the heathens did of old for their oppression of the Israelites, (Jeremiah l. ver. 7.) All that found them have devoured them, and their adversaries said, we offend not, because they have sinned against the Lord. Much these heathen cared about the Lord—and as to my professing foes, I beg you will always recommend them to the prophecy of Obadiah, it is but one chapter—but do point to them from the 10th to the 16th verse. When such professors come to you with a budget of scandal, just put your finger on this text, as already quoted, and ask them the meaning of it: “Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among my people.” And when you see them quite enjoy the subject of censure and backbiting, shew them this text: “And dust shall be the Serpent’s meat, for Ephraim feedeth upon ashes.” And when there are plenty around your table, pouring out scandal in abundance, always turn to this text—Isaiah 28, “For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness; there is no place clean,” “and this is the mess which dogs are fond of.”—See 2 Peter ii, ver. 22. This will be the best cure for scandal, and will keep your heart stedfast in God’s covenant; and although dark may be the cloud on me at present, stay till the Lord appears for me—Judge not my state or case _yet_; this is not the time for passing an opinion.—Job’s friends erred in this work; they all three agreed to torment him, because they thought he was an hypocrite, but you know how mistaken they were.