2. All the good Qualities and Endowments, the Virtues and Graces of his Brother, (whereby he may be ferviceable to the Publick) thefe fhall be ftudioufly concealed, or gently paft over.

34 If thefe are fo eminent and confpicuous as not to be hid, he will then faintly acknowledge them. But with fuch Diminishing Arts, fuch If's and And's and &c. (thofe Expletives of Malice) that he will thereby blast the fairest Reputation.

The Detractor will not 4. take notice of a Man's General Converfation, the constant Course and Practice of his Life, (which ought to be the Measure of his Cenfure; but he fixeth upon fome fingle Failing; Which moft Triumphantly he enlargeth up

on,

on, and magnifies as Occafion fhall require.

Thefe, amongst Others, are the ufual Methods, whereby Injury is done to a Man's Reputation and Good Name.

And in whatever Inftance the Sick Man is convinced, upon a ftrict Examination, that he is Guilty; let him firft beg Pardon of God, and then make all the Acknowledgment and Reparation that he can, to the Perfon Injured and Defamed.

Of Reftitution for Injuries done to our Neighbour's Reputation and Good Name.

I

F the Sick Man hath been guilty of Slandering and Backbiting his Neighbour, let him heartily Repent of this provoking Sin, that fo he may find Mercy with God.

But here it must be confidered; That Repentance in Matters of Injury to Men, by Word or Deed, doth not only require a Defifting from the further PraTubactice

Etice of the Sin, with due Sorrow for the former Miscarriage; but alfo a fincere Endeavour to make Satisfaction for the Injury

done.

It is therefore requifite, that the Slanderer do readily, freely, and ingenioufly Retract, what hath been fpoken amifs; and Vindicate him, whom he hath injurioufly Afperfed. And also that he endeavour by his future Kindness towards him, to make fome Compenfation for his former Rudeness."

Let the Sick Man here recollect the Paffages of his Life. And if he doth obferve, that he hath Defrauded and Injured any Man in his Good Name; If by Slanders, falfe Stories, and Malicious Representations, he hath put a Blot upon his Reputation; and thereby hath advantaged his Enemies, difengaged his Friends; and fo ftopt his Promotion, or hindred his Trade.

If

If thus he hath been Guilty; He is obliged not only to Confefs his Fault, but also he must endeavour to wipe off the Dirt he hath thrown upon him. That is, He must fet him right again in the Apprehenfions of all Men; but of those most especially, who by his Means were brought to think ill and hardly of him.

an

Thus the Sick Man is obliged to make Reftitution, not only by Acknowledgment of his Fault, but alfo by a ftudious Vindication of the Perfon Injured; by doing him Honour, and repairing his Credit in all fitting Ways.

And if the Injury be irreparable, as it frequently happens; (for we can hardly fo effectual

Vindicate a Man, as we can Defame him: and it is feldom feen that thofe Wounds which are given to Mens Reputation are perfectly healed:) I fay, if the Injury be irrreparable, efpe

cially if it prove really prejudicial to a Man in his Calling and Civil Intereft; if no other Satisfaction will be accepted, it is to be made in Money; Which, Solomon fays, Anfwers all things.

And this is the rather to be done, Because the Reason and Equity of Human Laws, hath thought fit to affign this Way of Satisfaction in many Cafes, upon Actions of Scandal and Defamation.

Now whatever the Law would give in any Cafe, if the Fact could be proved; that is the leaft which the Slanderer is bound in Conscience to do, though the Law cannot take hold of him. To Conclude this Matter. Whofoever pretends to Repent him truly for all his Sins paft, (as the Sick and Dying Man is fuppofed to Do ;) He muft, by all Prudent Means, endeavour K

to