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out

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ven then

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and charitable, to defer it till then: Buta lix difmift Paul for that time, and prom when he had a more convenient feafon to fen:: him, yet is never read to have done it; 015 fordid fcandalous Mifer quarrels with fons in almost every object of Charity he meets to excufe himself from Alms-giving must take heed that we do not pretend bleneß for our excufe, when 'cis meerly ardize or the coldneffe of our Chrifti that is the true caufe of our neglecting t Life is uncertain, we may die, or the dy; then he is for ever out of the ris Charity. The longer he lies in fin, thes is difhonoured, the more wrath is tra the harder his heart ordinarily grows, recovery will be the more difficult. The Fade, fpeaking of fecure finners, f hould fnatch fuch out of the fire, V.23. i Obj.6. But does not our Saviour fay tun not give that which is holy to dogs, nor cos fal before fwine, Mat.7.6. And what are s ners but fuch.

2

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they

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be

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Sol. Every diforderly liver is not to counted as a dog or a fwine (in the fenfe viour ufeth the word:) For of fome fact (peaketh, 2 Thef.3.15. And faith, weny account them as enemies, but admonifb thes brethren. Whom therefore we are to accou dogs and fwine, appears by cur Saviours

the

are the rig

we be

ha

words in that place, even fuch as not only out of a fwinish baseneffe trample under foot the precious Word of God, offered to them in a reproof, but out of a doggish rage and fiercenes are ready to Aly at the throats of fuch, as out of good will to their fouls, offer to loosen them from the devils thraldom, and to help them on towards Hea ven. Left (faies our Saviour) they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rent you.

If you meet then at any time with fuch defperate wretches, that you are in danger of violence from (if you ftop them in their courfe of fin). you may forbear medling with them. And feeing they will be filthy, let them be filthy ftill. Seeing there is no other remedy, let them (wear on, fwagger on, drink on, and at last despair, die, and be damned. O fad condition! Whose bowels do not turn within him that thinks of their woful mifery! But as for others (as we have oppor tunity) let us endeavour their amendment and falvation.

1

Thus much for the Second thing, the removing the prejudices, and answering the objections that are conceiv'd against this duty. I come now in the third place, to give fome Directions for the right practise of it.

I. Labour to walk circumspectly thy felf; look well to thy own life and converfation, that it may be (as much as in thee lies) blameleß and harmleJe; that fo thou maift be more capable of

per

performing this du y (with advangap; wards others.

operat tis n is goo

forwa

mena

And

ter.

II. Look well to thy own heart, that it and intentions be upright and fincere ints. neffe. Take heed thou be not moved to out of any proud humour of contradicting : trolling others, or of purpose to digrat or out of vain glory, and a fecret ament of purchafing to ̊thy self a Name; at fuch by and bafe end, but let thy me earnest defire to discharge thy duty rathe t abate fin, and advance bolineßin this him. to fave thy brothers foul.

V

Loofe

earne

whet

II. Look well to it that the the thers fereft toreprove, be a fault in it felf, make that he is guilty of to whom thou ther reproof, elle thou mistakest thy mark. IV. Before thou fettest upon this

done

go or

V

up fervent prayers (either folemn Serios place

if thou haft time, or fecret mental eja unto the Lord, for the pardon of the and to direct, affift, and blesse thy end feel his own Glory, and the amendment and and i of the party to whose benefit thy admon decla Sign'd.

him

will

V. Let the reproofs thou doft min fhall ufher'd in with prefaces of good wil, and ged with evidences of love, pity, and rebus on to the party reproved. Reproof is abi The and (fometimes must be lapt

in Sag

Pap; but not fo neither, as to make it lofe its operation. When we reprehend che faults of men, 'tis not amiffe (many times) to commend what is good in them, that they may fee we are as forward to take notice of what is good and commendable in them, as to reprehend what is evil. And this will make them take reproof the bet

ter.

VI. Be ferious in reprehending others. A loofe and trifling reprehenfion between jest and earneft, ufually doth more harm than good, and rather confirms the finner in his fin, than reforms him. Well may he think, it matters not much vhether he leave his fin or no, when he fees o- . hers make but a jest at it. Solomon faies, fools make a mock at fin, Prov. 149. Let thy heart. herefore be deeply affected with the dishonour one to God, the danger the parties foul is in if he fo on in his fin; and then thew him plainly and eriously the evil of it.

VII. Back and confirm thy reproofs with plain laces of Scripture, that the party may fee and Feel that 'tis God reproves him rather than thou nd that thou doft but mind him, what God hath eclared concerning men in his condition: Tell im, 'tis not as thou wilt, nor as he will, who hall be fav'd, and who shall not, but as God hill: Now God hath reveal'd that fuch as live bus and thus, fhall never enter into his Kingdom: Therefore entreat him to confider where fuch Ii 3 courfes

courfes will end, and what must needs become of his foul, if he do not timely repent and fr Jake thofe evil waies.

VIII. Be difcreet in minikring reproofs: Call in prudence to affift Charity. Diftinguish prudently between perfon and perfon : For though all are to be reproved, (except they be dogs α fwine, or obftinate obdurate Hereticks, Tit.3.10.) yet all are not to be dealt with in the fame mar ner. This Caution St. Fude gives us, Fude v.21. of fome bave compaffion, making a difference, and others fave with fear, pulling them out of the fire. Some are of a more flexible nature, and therefore fair and loving admonitions are likeliešt to work upon them. Some are hardned and obdr rate finners, these should be rebuk'd sharply, Tit. 1.13. (when gentler means will not do and with fear must be pull'd out of the fire, i.e must be terrified with Gods Fudgments, that they may fear him who is able to caft both foul and body

into Hell.

IX. Be impartial in reprehending those it is thy duty to reprehend. Do not do in reproving men, as Saul did in executing the Command he has against Amalek, who spared the fat and chief and destroyed only the refufe. Put on a truly mob and Chriftian refolution, and fear not the face men in performing tby Duty to God. God is di noured by one mans fins as well as by anothers and fin is deftructive to the foul of one man

we