well as another. Therefore one should be admonish'd as well as another: Great men fhoul be admonifh'd, because their temptations are great, and because they may do great good or hurt by their example.And the meanest should be admonish'dalfo,because their fouls are as precious as the others, and (poor creatures) they are (many of them) very infenfible of their fin and danger.

X. Do not ftrive to make any inan more guilty than he is. If he denies the charge, and pleads his innocency, fairly and friendly lay open the grounds upon which thou fpeakeft; but at no hand ftand much upon doubtful proofs; nor wrest things to the worft fenfe, but accept of the most favourable conftruction of words and actions; remembring that Charity thinketh no evil, but believeth all things, hopeth all things, &c. 1 Cor. 13.7. Yet labour from falfe rumours, and un certain fcandals to raise Arguments for greater circumfpection for time to come. Seeing men are fo apt to wait for our haltings, we ought to be very careful how we walk.

XI. By all means forbear bitter and reproachful Language: Many reproofs are quite loft, be caufe there is more of paßion in them, than compaßion. Though there must be (many times) fome warmth in a reproof, yet it must not be Scalding het. Such is the nature of most men, that they are apt to be won with love and mildneffe, but angry and vilifying terms do make 114

them

them more stubborn and obftinate. Therefore the Apoftle faith, the fervant of the Lord must nat ftrive, but be gentle unto all men, patient, in meekness inftructing them that oppose themfelvis, 2 Tim.2.25. Abundance of meekneffe and gentle. neffe, and efpecially patience is needful for theft that have to do with finners in this kind. 'Tis ordinary for them to grow tefly and angry, and fall foul with the reprover. And if you should be angry too, then all hope of doing good is loft; the business will end in an uncivil ftorm and tempest. Come therefore refolv'd beforehand to bear all things, and endure all things. If the party reproved storm at you, let tears of compaffion rather drop from your eies, than words of anger and reproach come forth of your mouth.

XII. When thou hast discharged thy duty, go to God, and pray earnestly to him for fucceffe. P the Throne of Grace, in fecret by fervent prayer, that God would profper thy endeavours, for the Glory of his Name, and the recovery, amend ment, and falvation of the party reproved. To begin, and end this duty, with prayer, is the way to engage God in it.

I come now in the last place, to give fome Reasons why this excellent and most charitable daty ought to be exceeding kindly taken by them to whom it is performed.

1. Confider, Faithful admonition is the most precious part of friendship, the realleft and king

eft good turn one man can do for another. David cal's reproof a precious oyl, Pfal.141.5. Solomon, an ear-ring of gold, an ornament of fine gold, Prov. 25.12. Our bleffed Saviour, a pearl, Mat.7.6. But notwithstanding all this, how few are there that can or will bear it patiently? Go about to admonish a man of a fault, and tell him of an errour, The prefently looks on you as his enemy: You are as Paul tels the Galatians, chap.4. 16. become his enemy, because you tell him the truth. Such a pride there is ordinarily in mens hearts, they must not be told of any thing that is amiffe, though it be with no other intent, but that they may amend it. A ftrange madness I confeffe this is, and the fame that would be in a fick man, to fly in the face of him that comes to cure him, on a phanfie that he difparag'd him by supposing him fick. Certainly he were not your friend, that should fee your house on fire, and would not call to you and tell you of it for fear of disturbing you out of your feep. None hate you worfe then they that fuffer fin upon you. This is the true and great use of friendship, to admonish one another, and to endeavour the bettering one of another; ele, (as one well obferves) is but an empty, formal, juicelesse thing. Dives in hell was more charitable to his wild brethren on earth, then fome people will allow us to be to them; for he would have had a meffenger difpatch'd to them, to admonish and warn them that

they

27,

they come not to that place of torments, Lak 28. But fome people will not inde fhould admonish them, though we put our. upon a very uneafie and unpleafing task for good.

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2. Rejection of reproof is a great arg of fin, and commonly a forerunner of ment. Tis a defpifing not of men only God: It fortifies a man in his fins, it tis mounts and bulworks about them, the can come to affault them. And if we ma Solomon, deftruction will not fail tor Prov.29.1. He that being often reproves eth his neck, fhall fuddenly be deftroyed as without remedy. Refractorineffe to proof can look for nothing but ruine: "T: a man fhould be riding poft to hell, and ↑ dure no stop. That people was in a di fate, Hofea 4.4. when God gave for prohibition, Let no man reprove another, people are as they that strive with the Pri Eli's fons were in a fad cafe, when they to hearken to the voice of their father: The faies, 1 Sam.2. 25. They hearkened n the voice of their father, because the Lord flay them. 'Tis a fhrewd fign God bath left: to themselves, when they reject reproof,

Lev

3. And lastly, 'Tis a good figs (in conjun on with others) of a gracious heart, for a m take reproof and admonition well, and to

head.

his errours and failings thereupon. Frov 15.5. He that regardeth reproof is prudent. In Pfal.141. 5. You may find how well holy David took reproof. Let the righteous fmite me, and it fhall be a kindneffe, and let him reprove me, and it shall be an excellent Oyl, which shall not break my You may read in the Life of that good man Gerfon, that he rejoyced in nothing more than to be lovingly and brotherly reprov'd by any. I shall conclude this with that excellent faying of the wife man, Prov.27.6, Faithful are the wounds of a Friend, but the kiffes of an Enemy are deceitfull.

Lev.19.17.Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart, thou shalt in any wife rebuke thy neighbour, and not fuffer fin upon him.

Prov.25.12. As an ear ring of Gold, and an Ornament of fine Gold, fo is a wife reprover upon an obedient ear.

Ecclef.7.5. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wife, than for a man to hear the Song of Fools.

Prov.9.7. He that reproveth a fcorner, getteth to himself shame, and he that rebuketh a wicked man getterb himself a blot.

V.8. Reprove not a (corner, lest he hate thee rebuke a wife man, and he will love thee. Prov.15.12. A fcorner loveth not one that repro veth him, neither will he go unto the wife.