_Susurrus_ had such a tender, compassionate manner of relating things the most prejudicial to his neighbour, that he even seemed, both to himself and others, to be exercising a Christian charity, at the same time that he was indulging a whispering, evil-speaking temper.
_Susurrus_ once whispered to a particular friend in great secrecy, something too bad to be spoke of publickly. He ended with saying, how glad he was, that he had some hopes it might not be true, tho’ the suspicions were very strong. His friend made him this reply:
You say, _Susurrus_, that you are glad it has not yet taken wind; and that you have some hopes it may not prove true. Go home therefore to your _closet_, and pray to God for this man, in such a manner, and with such earnestness as you would pray for yourself on the like occasion.
Beseech God to interpose in his favour, to save him from false accusers, and bring all those to shame, who, by _uncharitable whispers_, and _secret stories_, wound him, like those that stab in the dark. And when you have made this prayer, then you may, if you please, go tell the same secret to some other friend, that you have told to me.
20. _Susurrus_ was exceedingly affected with this rebuke, and felt the force of it upon his conscience in as lively a manner, as if he had seen the _books opened_ at the day of judgment.
All other arguments might have been resisted; but it was impossible for _Susurrus_ either to reject, or follow this advice, without being equally self-condemned in the highest degree.
From that time to this, he has constantly used himself to this method of intercession; and his heart is so ♦entirely changed by it, that he can now no more privately whisper any thing to the prejudice of another, than he can openly pray to God to do people hurt.
♦ ‘intirely’ replaced with ‘entirely’
Whisperings and evil-speakings now hurt his ears, like oaths and curses; and he has appointed one day in the week, to be a day of penance as long as he lives, to humble himself before God, in the sorrowful confession of his former guilt.
It may be well wondered, how a man of so much piety as _Susurrus_, could be so deceived in himself, as to live in such a state of _scandal_ and _evil-speaking_, without suspecting himself to be guilty of it. But it was the _tenderness_ and seeming _compassion_ with which he heard and related every thing, that deceived both himself and others.
This was a falseness of heart, which was fully discovered, by the true charity of _intercession_.
And if people of virtue, who think as little harm of themselves, as _Susurrus_ did, were often to try their spirit by such an _intercession_, they would often find themselves to be such, as they least of all suspected.
The End of the _Fifth_ Volume.