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tongue。 Now； whatever is done with the tongue against a fellow…man God
would have prohibited； whether it be false preachers with their
doctrine and blasphemy； false judges and witnesses with their verdict；
or outside of court by lying and evil…speaking。 Here belongs
particularly the detestable； shameful vice of speaking behind a
person's back and slandering； to which the devil spurs us on and of
which there would be much to be said。 For it is a common evil plague
that every one prefers hearing evil to hearing good of his neighbor；
and although we ourselves are so bad that we cannot suffer that any one
should say anything bad about us； but every one would much rather that
all the world should speak of him in terms of gold； yet we cannot bear
that the best is spoken about others。
Therefore； to avoid this vice we should note that no one is allowed
publicly to judge and reprove his neighbor； although he may see him
sin； unless he have a command to judge and to reprove。 For there is a
great difference between these two things； judging sin and knowing sin。
You may indeed know it； but you are not to judge it。 I can indeed see
and hear that my neighbor sins； but I have no command to report it to
others。 Now； if I rush in； judging and passing sentence； I fall into a
sin which is greater than his。 But if you know it； do nothing else
than turn your ears into a grave and cover it； until you are appointed
to be judge and to punish by virtue of your office。
Those； then； are called slanderers who are not content with knowing a
thing； but proceed to assume jurisdiction； and when they know a slight
offense of another； carry it into every corner； and are delighted and
tickled that they can stir up another's displeasure ＇baseness＇； as
swine roll themselves in the dirt and root in it with the snout。 This
is nothing else than meddling with the judgment and office of God； and
pronouncing sentence and punishment with the most severe verdict。 For
no judge can punish to a higher degree nor go farther than to say： 〃He
is a thief； a murderer； a traitor；〃 etc。 Therefore； whoever presumes to
say the same of his neighbor goes just as far as the emperor and all
governments。 For although you do not wield the sword； you employ your
poisonous tongue to the shame and hurt of your neighbor。
God therefore would have it prohibited that any one speak evil of
another even though he be guilty； and the latter know it right well；
much less if he do not know it； and have it only from hearsay。 But you
say： Shall I not say it if it be the truth？ Answer： Why do you not make
accusation to regular judges？ Ah； I cannot prove it publicly； and hence
I might be silenced and turned away in a harsh manner ＇incur the
penalty of a false accusation＇。 〃Ah； indeed； do you smell the roast？〃
If you do not trust yourself to stand before the proper authorities and
to make answer； then hold your tongue。 But if you know it； know it for
yourself and not for another。 For if you tell it to others； although it
be true； you will appear as a liar； because you cannot prove it； and
you are； besides acting like a knave。 For we ought never to deprive any
one of his honor or good name unless it be first taken away from him
publicly。
False witness； then； is everything which cannot be properly proved。
Therefore； what is not manifest upon sufficient evidence no one shall
make public or declare for truth； and in short； whatever is secret
should be allowed to remain secret； or； at any rate； should be secretly
reproved； as we shall hear。 Therefore； if you encounter an idle tongue
which betrays and slanders some one； contradict such a one promptly to
his face； that he may blush thus many a one will hold his tongue who
else would bring some poor man into bad repute from which he would not
easily extricate himself。 For honor and a good name are easily taken
away； but not easily restored。
Thus you see that it is summarily forbidden to speak any evil of our
neighbor； however the civil government； preachers； father and mother
excepted； on the understanding that this commandment does not allow
evil to go unpunished。 Now； as according to the Fifth Commandment no
one is to be injured in body； and yet Master Hannes ＇the executioner＇
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
sho