Page:Sermons on the Ten Commandments.djvu/152

 is, to coin something of the kind, or at least, to offer some suggestion, some supposition, some expression of "wonder," why that person did this or that—or whether it is not likely that he intends to do so and so,—thus often impertinently and ungenerously prying into his private and family concerns:—and moreover throwing over all the shade of evil—infusing the taint of uncharitableness into all that is said. This is the wicked spirit of Slander, whose poisonous breath pollutes the air.

Now, how is this evil spirit to be resisted? It is not very easy to resist it, especially if the bad habit has been long indulged. But with earnest effort it may be done. In the first place, call to mind some command from the Word, for that is Divine and has power—as, for instance—"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor": or that other passage, "Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer amongst thy people." With this Divine truth in the mind, resist the evil thought and strive to drive it away: close the lips; either say nothing at all about the person, or else say something good. Struggle in this way, till the temptation is past, and the victory won. The next time, the conquest will be easier. And after a few such combats, all desire of speaking evil of others will be gone; and in its place there will be found, after a time, a new inhabitant of the heart, just come from heaven—that is, a delight in speaking well of others, and a repugnance at saying anything ill of them. He who has arrived at this state has advanced a good way in the path of regeneration.