---

1. Look to thine own calling and the necessary duties of it, that so following thine own plough, thou mayest have no leisure to intermeddle in other men's affairs: busy bodies and prattlers are joined by the apostle.

2. Beware of envy, which is still hatching and inventing evil: the saying is true, "Malice never spake well," but is suspicious, and depraving the best persons and practices, and is one of the greatest enemies of truth, in which God's image chiefly consisteth.

3. Learn to esteem the good name of thy brother, the next thing to his life, considering the truth of that homely speech, that he that wanteth a good name is half hanged; and there is great reason that those who would have their names tendered by others should tender the good name of others, doing as they would be done unto, which is the golden rule of all equity.

4. In receiving reports excuse parties absent as far as well we can, as also facts done, so far as they may be well interpreted; and where we cannot do so to advise the reporter to look well unto and consider himself.

(T. Taylor, D. D.)

---

---

KJV: The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

WEB: and that older women likewise be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good;