Page:Theartofdyingwel00belluoft.djvu/144

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which nothing can resist. This description of the prophet, of a wicked and deceitful tongue, is such, that 110 evil can be imagined greater.

But that the truth may be more clearly understood, I will mention two examples from Scripture. The first, that of the wicked Doe g the Idumean, who accused the priest Achimelech to king Saul, of having conspired with David against him: this was a downright calumny and imposture. But because Saul, at that time, was not well disposed towards David, he easily believed everything, and ordered that not only the priest Achimelech should be killed immediately, but all the other priests, in number about eighty-five, who had not committed the least offence against the king. But Saul, not content with this slaughter, ordered those to be slain also who dwelt in the city nobe; and not only did his cruelty extend to men and women, but even to children, and infants, and animals. Of this wicked and deceitful tongue of Doeg, it is probable that David spoke in the psalm mentioned above, part of which I explained.

From this example we may learn, how productive of evil is a deceitful and wicked tongue.

The other example I will take from the gospel of St. Mark:. When the daughter of Herodias danced before Herod the Tetrarch and his courtiers, she gained his