is excepted,who by virtue of his office does his neighbor no good,but only evil and harm,and nevertheless does not sin against God's commandment,because God has on His own account instituted that office;for He has reserved punishment for His own good pleasure,as He threatens in the First Commandment,--just so also,although no one has a right in his own person to judge and condemn anybody,yet if they to whose office it belongs fail to do it,they sin as well as he who would do so of his own accord,without such office.For here necessity requires one to speak of the evil,to prefer charges,to investigate and testify;and it is not different from the case of a physician who is sometimes compelled to examine and handle the patient whom he is to cure in secret parts.Just so governments,father and mother,brothers and sisters,and other good friends,are under obligation to each other to reprove evil wherever it is needful and profitable.
But the true way in this matter would be to observe the order according to the Gospel,Matt.18,15,where Christ says:If thy brother shall trespass against thee,go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone.Here you have a precious and excellent teaching for governing well the tongue,which is to be carefully observed against this detestable misuse.Let this,then,be your rule,that you do not too readily spread evil concerning your neighbor and slander him to others,but admonish him privately that he may amend [his life].
Likewise,also,if some one report to you what this or that one has done,teach him,too,to go and admonish him personally if he have seen it himself;but if not,that he hold his tongue.
The same you can learn also from the daily government of the household.For when the master of the house sees that the servant does not do what he ought,he admonishes him personally.But if he were so foolish as to let the servant sit at home,and went on the streets to complain of him to his neighbors,he would no doubt be told:"You fool,what does that concern us?Why do you not tell it to him ?"Behold,that would be acting quite brotherly,so that the evil would be stayed,and your neighbor would retain his honor.As Christ also says in the same place:If he hear thee,thou host gained thy brother.Then you have done a great and excellent work;for do you think it is a little matter to gain a brother?Let all monks and holy orders step forth,with all their works melted together into one mass,and see if they can boast that they have gained a brother.
Further,Christ teaches:But if he will not hear thee,then take with thee one or two more,that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.So he whom it concerns is always to be treated with personally,and not to be spoken of without his knowledge.But if that do not avail,then bring it publicly before the community,whether before the civil or the ecclesiastical tribunal.For then you do not stand alone,but you have those witnesses with you by whom you can convict the guilty one,relying on whom the judge can pronounce sentence and punish.This is the right and regular course for checking and reforming a wicked person.But if we gossip about another in all corners and stir the filth,no one will be reformed,and afterwards when we are to stand up and bear witness,we deny having said so.
Therefore it would serve such tongues right if their itch for slander were severely punished,as a warning to others.If you were acting for your neighbor's reformation or from love of the truth,you would not sneak about secretly nor shun the day and the light.
All this has been said regarding secret sins.But where the sin is quite public so that the judge and everybody know it you can without any sin avoid him and let him go,because he has brought himself into disgrace,and you may also publicly testify concerning him.For when a matter is public in the light of day,there can be no slandering or false judging or testifying;as,when we now reprove the Pope with his doctrine,which is publicly set forth in books and proclaimed in all the world.For where the sin is public,the reproof also must be public,that every one may learn to guard against it.
Thus we have now the sum and general understanding of this commandment,to wit,that no one do any injury with the tongue to his neighbor,whether friend or foe,nor speak evil of him,no matter whether it be true or false,unless it be done by commandment or for his reformation,but that every one employ his tongue and make it serve for the best of every one else,to cover up his neighbor's sins and infirmities,excuse them,palliate and garnish them with his own reputation.The chief reason for this should be the one which Christ alleges in the Gospel,in which He comprehends all commandments respecting our neighbor,Matt.7,12:Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.
