lyyi. ON TALE-BEARING. 1 83 



tunate Idler, in the 2 1 ft number of your Bee, and leave 

 it oft" in time. 



Spite is that great fermentatory principle which fet;, 

 all the Tale-bearer s palhons a boiling. — Extra6l this 

 from his temper, and tliere is not a duller, more infipid, 

 infignificant animal in nature. 



Sufpicioiif that felf-tormenting principle, muft likewife 

 be added, and this completes the fliocking compound. — 

 Confcious of his own wicked intentions, he diitrufts all 

 mankind. — Not a circumftance happens but awakens 

 his jealoufy, ancl^aggravates his dread. — He knows un- 

 der what a variety of unexpedled forms he has aflaiied 

 others, and his fear of being in the fame manner aflail- 

 cd makes him continually anxious to guard againlt it. 

 He is afraid he fhall be wounded by fome invifible 

 hand, and trembles for the confequence. Poor, mifer- 

 able being ! it is the tribute he pays for his perfidy ; it 

 is a part of the punifhment which heaven hath appoint- 

 ed for his guilt. 



In vain does fuch an execrable being appeal to reli- 

 gion, to friendfhip, and to good manners. In religion he 

 cannot believe, in friendfliip he can put no confidence, 

 and good manners to him only appear a mafk for vil- 

 lainy. From the confolation thefe afford to other men 

 he is entirely excluded. In the midft of fociety he is 

 in folitude, and the hand of every man that looks upon 

 him he thinks is ready to deftroy him. Our dcteftatlon 

 of fuch a charailfer is almoft ioii: in pity, when v/e con- 

 template it in this point of view : and our g'/atitude to 

 the fupreme Being, ought to be Itrongly excited, when 

 we perceive that he hath fo infeparably annexed the 

 punifhment to the pra61:ice of this deteftable vice. 



I might extend thefe obfervaiions, and fliow that a 

 perfon of this charadlcr can neitlier expecl to find con- 

 iolation in religion, nor experience the foothing balm 

 of friendfliip nor domcilic peace. Independent, there- 

 fore, of the mifchief it does to others, this vice muft. 



