In the second Place, a Man should consult his own Heart, whether he be not apt to believe such little blackening Accounts, and more enclined to be credulous on the uncharitable, than on the good-natured Side.

Such a Credulity is very vicious in it self, and generally arises from a Man’s Consciousness of his own secret Corruptions.  It is a pretty Saying of Thales, Falshood is just as far distant from Truth, as the Ears are from the Eyes. [2] By which he would intimate, that a wise Man should not easily give Credit to the Reports of Actions which he has not seen.  I shall, under this Head, mention two or three remarkable Rules to be observed by the Members of the celebrated Abbey de la Trape, as they are Published in a little French Book. [3]

The Fathers are there ordered, never to give an Ear to any Accounts of Base or Criminal Actions; to turn off all such Discourse if possible; but in Case they hear any thing of this Nature so well attested that they cannot disbelieve it, they are then to suppose, that the criminal Action may have proceeded from a good Intention in him who is guilty of it.  This is perhaps carrying Charity to an Extravagance, but it is certainly much more Laudable, than to suppose, as the ill-natured part of the World does, that indifferent, and even Good Actions, proceed from bad Principles and wrong Intentions.

In the third Place, a Man should examine his Heart, whether he does not find in it a secret Inclination to propagate such Reports, as tend to the Disreputation of another.

When the Disease of the Mind, which I have hitherto been speaking of, arises to this Degree of Malignity it discovers its self in its worst Symptoms, and is in danger of becoming incurable.  I need not therefore insist upon the Guilt in this last Particular, which every one cannot but disapprove, who is not void of Humanity, or even common Discretion.  I shall only add, that whatever Pleasure any Man may take in spreading Whispers of this Nature, he will find an infinitely greater Satisfaction in conquering the Temptation he is under, by letting the Secret die within his own Breast.

[Footnote 1:  [that]]

[Footnote 2:  Stobaji, Serm. 61.]

[Footnote 3:  Felibien, Description de l’Abbaye de la Trappe, Paris, 1671, reprinted in 1682.  It is a letter from M. Felibien to the Duchess of Liancon.]

* * * * *

No. 595.  Friday, September 17, 1714.

  ’—­Non ut placidis coeant immitia, non ut
  Serpentes avibus geminentur, tigribus agni—­’

  Hor.

If ordinary Authors would condescend to write as they think, they would at least be allow’d the Praise of being intelligible.  But they really take Pains to be ridiculous; and, by the studied Ornaments of Style, perfectly disguise the little Sense they aim at.  There is a Grievance of this Sort in the Common-wealth of Letters, which I have for some time resolved to redress, and accordingly I have set this Day apart for Justice.  What I mean is, the Mixture of inconsistent Metaphors, which is a Fault but too often found in learned Writers, but in all the unlearned without Exception.