To speak evil of no man
As not of one another, so not of the men of the world, to the
prejudice of their names and characters, which are tender things,
and ought to be gently touched; nor of magistrates,
principalities, and powers, of persons in dignity and authority,
which the false teachers were not afraid to speak evil of, and by
their principles and practices taught others to do the same:
to be no brawlers;
or "fighters", either by blows or words; not litigious and
quarrelsome, wrangling and striving about things to no profit,
and to the detriment and disturbance of civil government,
churches, neighbourhood, and families; which is very unbecoming
the followers of Jesus, who strove not, nor cried, nor was his
voice heard in the streets. But gentle, showing all meekness to
all men; yielding and giving way, rather choosing to suffer wrong
than to brawl, contend, and litigate a point; taking the advice
of Christ in ( Matthew
5:39-41 ) , carrying it in a meek and humble manner to men of
all ranks and degrees, whether superior or inferior, rich or
poor, bond or free, Jews or Gentiles, members of the church, or
men of the world.