And of this the slanderer is most deeply guilty. "A
witness of Belial scorneth judgment, and the mouth of the wicked
devoureth iniquity," saith the wise man. He is indeed, according to
just estimation, guilty of all kinds whatever of injury, breaking
all the second Table of Commands respecting our neighbour. Most
formally and directly he "beareth false witness against his
neighbour:" he doth "covet his neighbour's goods;" for 'tis
constantly out of such an irregular desire, for his own presumed
advantage, to dispossess his neighbour of some good, and transfer it
on himself, that the slanderer uttereth his tale: he is ever a
thief and robber of his good name, a deflowerer and defiler of his
reputation, an assassin and murderer of his honour. So doth he
violate all the rules of justice, and perpetrateth all sorts of
wrong against his neighbour.
He may, indeed, perhaps conceive it no great matter that he
committeth; because he doth not act in so boisterous and bloody a
way, but only by words, which are subtle, slim, and transient
things: upon his neighbour's credit only, which is no substantial
or visible matter. He draweth (thinks he), no blood, nor breaketh
any bones, nor impresseth any remarkable scar; 'tis only the soft
air he breaketh with his tongue, 'tis only a slight character that
he stampeth on the fancy, 'tis only an imaginary stain that he
daubeth his neighbour with; therefore he supposeth no great wrong
done, and seemeth to himself innocent, or very excusable.
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