"Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off.-Psa. ci. 5. "A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends."-Prov.

xvi. 28.

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ANY other verses of Scripture beside these might be brought forward to show how hateful in the sight of God, and dangerous to those who indulge in it, is the habit of backbiting. And yet, alas,

how common a habit it is, how many there are even among

professing Christians who give way to this sin! It is a sin that is generally accompanied by pride, indeed, the more self-righteous a man or woman is, the more likely is he or she to fall into it. The truly humble follower of Christ can never be an habitual slanderer-sometimes he may be betrayed by his feelings into saying more than is judicious about another's failings; but nothing can be more hateful to the true Christian than to be obliged to hear the whisperer's tale.

The slanderer is not at all particular whence he derives his information. No source is too mean, nor can he stoop too low to pick up some dirty bit of scandal with which he can bespatter his neighbour's character.

Look at our picture. Little Johnny is a juvenile tattler, and his schoolmistress is an adult scandal-monger. Johnny has heard of some trouble one of his little schoolfellows has been in at home, and is now relating it to his governess. See how eagerly he is telling his tale; he cannot make his words emphatic enough to express his opinion of his companion's conduct, so he is obliged to bring his fingers into use to point out the enormity of the wrong-doing (a habit I have noticed in others besides juvenile backbiters, and an ugly habit, too). Ah, Johnny, my boy, if I were your tutor your ears would tingle with something different from listening to a detracting tale.

But Johnny's schoolmistress is not of my way of thinking, and as there is nothing more important to be heard just now, she is glad enough to listen to his tale, as you may see by her looks. Well, perhaps, what the child has to say won't do much harm to any one; it is not like the backbiting of older persons, who may do more harm in a halfhour's gossip than a lifetime of repentance can atone for.

All slanderers are not alike. Just as there are different sorts of poisons, some much less subtle and deadly than others, but poisonous still, and as such to be avoided, so there are classes of scandal-mongers.

Some of these are very bold, mentioning names as freely as though all men were their property, to be used or abused

as they think fit; they are circumstantial in their reports, and, alas, perhaps only report what is true. This class I shall call "tale-bearers;" they are the least dishonest among what is altogether a dishonourable crew; their tales are more open to refutation than those of the second class, which may be termed "hinters;" these, when a person's name is mentioned, if they want to vent their spleen on him, immediately throw out hints that may be taken any way, but are meant to be derogatory to their victim's character. Their way of proceeding is (to quote Shakespeare), the pronouncing of some doubtful phrase,

"As, 'Well, we know ;' or 'We could an if we would;'

Or, 'If we list to speak;' or, "There be an if there might;"
Or some ambiguous giving out."

These are cunning slanderers; they give their spite an airing without committing themselves too deeply; they are cowards, and if called to task for speaking ill of their neighbour, they find refuge behind the ambiguity of their speeches; they will have such excuses as these, "We were quite misunderstood," or, "We really didn't mean anything by what we said." Or, if driven close, they will put on an air of candour, and ask you plainly, "What did I say against you?" These are always ready with an equivocation, which is the hardest kind of lie to deal with.

"These are the spiders of society.

They weave their petty webs of lies and snares,
And lie themselves in ambush for the spoil."

But the worst class of slanderers are the "text-quoters," because they carry on their wretched work under a pretence of sanctity.

They seem to be acquainted with all parts of Scripture except those that teach love and charity. Such verses as

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Charity thinketh no evil," "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them," or, "Love one another," are entirely ignored by them; perhaps they think that they apply to every one but themselves, for a

thorough slanderer is one of the most sensitive beings in existence; and if he is rebuked in ever so friendly a manner for wrong-doing, he will solemnly tell you that he is above all you can say, for he has the promise that "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn," quite forgetting that the verse was not written for him alone, but equally for those whom he has constantly slandered.

Persons of this class have a wonderful knack of misquoting Scripture and altering the meaning of verses to suit their own malignant ends. Let us listen to the conversation of two of these unhappy creatures.

"Have you seen poor So-and-so lately?" here follows a significant sigh.

"No; have you?" another sigh.

"Indeed I have not;" and then, after a pause, comes a solemn shake of the head and an upraising of the forefinger and some such quotation as this blurted out, "How is the fine gold become dim !"

"Ah, indeed," is the sympathetic response.

"Not much in that," you may say. "I suppose they were talking of some backslider." It may be so, but if it is, let me ask how much either of these worthies have done to save the backslider? Has their conduct ever been so pure and holy that he might have profited by their example and been kept from sin? Have they ever warned or admonished him, or have they ever wrestled in prayer for him?

Judging from my own observation, I should say that they were more likely talking of some one who has met with reverses in temporal things. Some one who, when he was "fine gold," that is, when he was better off, had been flattered by them, and perhaps had helped them more than his pocket would allow, and now that he is unable to help them any more has "become dim.”

Do not think me uncharitable; a bad disease requires a strong remedy. I am writing on a serious subject, and wish to write plainly.

Just as your thorough-going backbiter is not particular where he picks up a bit of scandal, neither is he particular whom he slanders. It may be that the victim to his propensity is actually one for whom he has a friendly feeling, and doesn't really wish to harm, but some opportunity occurs too good to be let slip; some little mistake has been made, which from its character may be so easily magnified into a serious crime that really the chance must not be lost.

No one is safe from a slanderer's tongue; no, not even the dead; indeed, the characters of those who are no longer able to defend themselves seem to be considered the rightful prey of these persons.

It is said that there is "honour among thieves." It may be so; but there is none among backbiters, for they are not at all above speaking evil of each other when opportunity occurs. When once the love of gossip has taken possession of a man, he loses all respect for truth and honour.

The backbiter does not remember that, in order to be in a position to judge the faults of others, he should be faultless. himself; it is no part of his creed to think that

"He who the sword of heaven will bear
Should be as holy as severe."

So long as he can find opportunity for speaking of the real or supposed failings of others, he is not particular as to his own. The moral of all this may be simply put in these words: Have no dealings with evil-speakers-those that "speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts." If you know a man who is in the habit of backbiting others, if you cannot persuade him to give up doing so, give him up, drop his acquaintance, for you may depend upon it, although he proposes to be your best friend, as soon as your back is turned he will talk of you as he does of others.

You would blame the man who would leave his property exposed, if he knew he were in the company of sharpers and pickpockets; but be sure of this, the man who keeps company with evil-speakers and slanderers is still more foolish,