Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-07-10
Aliseellanl,.
For the Bellows Falls Times.
Slander.

wish to call attention to the preva-
lent vice of SANDER, and the sin of the
slanderer; those merciless breakers of /,
bruised reeds, who outdo the Priest and ,
the Levite in tie Gospel, by not only i
passing the unfortunates, but go their ,
way to report them vile, contrary to Law
and Gospel. We would contend against
the Hydra-headed monster, which un-
dermines all our social, civil and relig-
ious rights. Therefore let us apply to
the Law and the Testimony, and if we
speak not according to this, from the cot
tage to the throne, it is because there is
no light in us; A part of which law is,
"Love thy neighbor as thyself-What-
soever we would that men should do un-
to you, do We even so to them; for this
is the Law and the prophets. First,
what is slander, and who are slanderers?
Let us take Noah Webster's definition of
the words, and then quote from Adam
Clark, L. L. d. upon Demons for the Or
igin of the words:
"It appears there is but one Devil
who seems to be supreme, or head over
all the rest. (The DIR. then gives his
name in Greek, and observes), that it |
signifies an accuser or slanderer, 1st Tim. |
8: IL, I'd Tim. 3 3, Titus 2:3 8. Per-
haps Satan was called so, first, because
he accused or slandered God in paradise,
as averse from the increase of mans
knowledge and happiness, Gen. 3, John
3D. A, and secondly, because he is the
accuser Of men, Rev. II: 8 and 10, Job
1:2. He says the word comes from
Greek through and to cast or shoot, be-
cause of his evil suggestions. In Eph.
6:16, heis compared to fiery darts near
ly the same as he who pierces through
Just SO his children pierce through"
Slander then is false reports, to accuse
of evil, to defame, to reproach, to blot or
blast reputation or credit. In Proverbs
HIS, we are told, He that mtereth
slander is fool, and in the eleventh
chapter fourth verse we find that a wick
ed doer giveth heed to false lips, and a
liar to naughty tongue. This proves
us wicked doers, if we give heed to SLAM
4 der and liars, and listen to vile, corrupt
tales against our neighbors. Although
James calls the Gospel, the perfect law
of liberty" yet he tells us that we only
seem to be religious If ace bride not ou'
tongue" And those who take the liber.
ty to speak and write with severity Of
others, from the example of the proph.
cts, or of Jesus and the apostles, should
never forget, first, our duty is to Love
our neighbors as ourselves" always ask
ing before We expose brother, how
would | like such obloquies? Secondly
: can we take the same liberties as Jesus
who knew the hearts of all men, and
knew, as did the apostolic discerners O.
. spirits, how, when, where, and what, anG
to whom to speak? Before St. Paul and
the churches, gave up the fallen brothers
b to Satan, or rebuked them publicly /; they
lexercised the utmost extent of "mei cifu
retaining" spoken of in Matt Is, Luke
IS, Gal. 6, and 1st Cor. 13. Jesus SEN
word to backsliding Peter of His resur
rection, in three or four days after hi
TT apostacy, and restored him to the minis
: try few days subsequent, instead o
blasting his fame. st. Paul filled will
at love for his neighbor, wrote to restore tn,
wicked Corinthian to the church, lest h
should be swallowed up with overmucl
sorrow, as are, and have been, thousand
q upon whom have fallen harshness ant
e. slander, which usually terminates in tn
:. spiritual and eternal destruction of tn
: poor bruised reeds upon whom it fall:
The Gospel teaches us if :" we see ou
/! brother in fault, to restore such an on
'S- S in the spirit of meekness, considerin
ourselves lest we be also tempted; an
he that speaketh evil of his brothe
re- speaketh evil of the law. Let any on
\ search carefully the word of God, an
, gather up the testimony against evi
speaking in all its forms, and bring h
tongue into subjection to Gods law, ar
G.. we might almost look for perfect ma
But how different is the slanderer, fro
what Gods word demands; he has I,
nd his companions, the whisperer. the bacl
T. bitter and the talebearer. Union al
Love, especially among the followers
Christ, should be strongly cultivate
Thev should live as brethren, for hay
;" they not all one Father, all one head
Do they not form one body, and are thu
not all members one of another? Ju
all all imagine the nails pulling out the eye
buy the hands tearing the flesh from I
body; the teeth biting out the tongr
7ar- &C., &C. Would it be any worse than
=. see the members of Christian socie'