fellowship with tale-bearers; and it is added, Prov. xx. 19, "And meddle
not with such as flatter with their mouth," as indeed commonly they who
reproach the absent, flatter the present; a backbiter is a face-flatterer.
And therefore we should not only not meddle with them, but drive them away
as enemies to human society. Charity would in such a case protect itself,
if I may so say, by "an angry countenance," an appearance of anger and
real dislike. "As the north wind drives away rain," so that entertainment
would drive away a "backbiting tongue," Prov. xxv. 23. If we do
discountenance it, backbiters will be discouraged to open their pack of
news and reports: and indeed the receiving readily of evil reports of
brethren, is a partaking with the unfruitful works of darkness, which we
should rather reprove, Eph. v. 11. To join with the teller is to complete
the evil report; for if there were no receiver there would be no teller,
no tale-bearer. "Charity covers a multitude of sins," 1 Pet. iv. 8; and
therefore "above all things have fervent charity among yourselves," says
he. What is above prayer and watching unto the end, above sobriety?
Indeed, in reference to fellowship with God, these are above all; but in
relation to comfortable fellowship one with another in this world, this is
above all, and the crown or cream of other graces. He whose sins are
covered by God's free love, cannot think it hard to spread the garment of
his love over his brother's sins. Hatred stirreth up strife, all
uncharitable affections, as envy, wrath. It stirreth up contentions, and
blazeth abroad men's infirmities. But "love covereth all sins," concealeth
them from all to whom the knowledge of them doth not belong, Prov. x. 12.
Love in a manner suffers not itself to know what it knoweth, or at least
to remember it much. It will sometimes hoodwink itself to a favourable
construction. It will pass by an infirmity and misken(418) it, but many
stand still and commune with it. But he that covereth a transgression
seeks love to bury offences in. Silence is a notable mean to preserve
concord, and beget true amity and friendship. The keeping of faults long
above ground unburied, doth make them cast forth an evil savour that will
ever part friends. Therefore, says the wise man, "He that covereth a
transgression seeketh love: but he that repeateth a matter separateth very
friends," Prov. xvii. 9. Covering faults christianly, will make a stranger
a friend; b