When !R,Jproof u or is llOt a 'Duty. For Peace wit!> all men. 2 , T herefore ir muft not be ufed when it apparently hindereth a. greater good. As we may not pny or preach when we fhould be quenching a tire in_ th_e Town, or Caving a mans life : So when rcoroof dorh exclude fome greater duty or benefir, H IS unfcafonab!e and no duty at that tirhe. Cl;rift alloweth us to forbear the cafiing of pear!s before Swir.c, or giving that which is holy to Prov. 9. 7• 8. Dogs, becaufe of t?efe cwo Rcafons forementioned , ~c _is no means to the contCf!lptuous, and M:mh 7· 6. rhcy will turn agam and all to rend us. Much more, 1f H be fome potent mcmy ot the Church, who wiil not only rend us, but the Church it fe!f if he be fo provoked ; Reproving him then is not our duty. 3· Particularly, when a man is in a· pJ(fion or drunk, ufually it is no feafon to reprove him. 4 . Nor when you a: re among others, 'who iliould nor be wirne.ffcs of the fault or the rrproof; or wbofr.: prefence will Chame him and otfr.:nd him (except it be only the lhaming of an incorrigible or malicious !inner which you intend J. 5 • Nor when you are uncercain of rh<:: fact which you would reprove, of uncertain whether it be a fin. 6. Or when you have no witnefs of ir, ( though you are privately certain, ) wilh fome that will uke advantage againfi you as fimdcrers, a repr.oof may be omitted. 1 . And when the offenders are fo much your fuperiours 1 that you are like to have no better fucctfs than to be accounted auogant: Agro1n or tears is then che beH reproof. 8. When you are fa ucterly unable to ffiJ.Olge a reproof, that imprudence or want of convincing reafon, is like tO make it a means of greater hurt than good. 9 . When you forefee a more advantageous feafon if yo·u delay. 1 o. when another may be procured to do it with much more advantage, which your Qoingit may rather hinder. In ail thcfe cafes, that may be a_fin, which at another time may be a dury. §. 18. But Hill remember, 1. That pride, and pafiiDn, and flothfulnefs is wonr to pretend fuch reafons faH1y, upon fame 11eight conjectures, eo put by a duty. 2. That no man mull account ano- Gen. :to. 35'· thcr a Dog or Swine, to excufe him from this duty, without cogerit evidence: And it is nor e\•ery wra 1 1gling oppofition, nor reproach and fcorn, which will warrant us to give a man up as remedilefs, Jo~ 31 • '3· and fpcak to him no more: but only fuch, I· As !hcweth a heart utterly obdurate ;~.frer long means. ~~e·r.\J.·~~~· 2 • Or will procure more fuffering to the reprover, t~a.? good ro the otfender. 3• That when the 2"T101• 1.1~, thing is ordinarily~ a duty, the r-eafons of our omJ!hon mufi be clear and fure, before they will z6. excnfe us. 9· t9· ~dl. M~<JI we rrprove Infideh or Htathens? Wlm bave we to do 10 j•dge them that are without? Anfw. Not to the ends of excommunication ; becaufe they are not capable ofit : which is meant Deut. 22. J~ 1 Cor. 5· Buc we mufi reprove them, 1. In common compaffion to their fouls: What were the ApoUleS and other Preachers fent for, but to call all men from their fins to God? 2. Aod for the defen;e of truth and godlinefs againfi their words or ill examples. CHAP. XVIT. :DireEtions for keeping Peace witl> all men; §• 1• PEace is fo amiable to Nature it felf, that the greatefi defiroyers of it do commend tt; and thofe perfons m all times and places, who are the caufe that the world canp not enJOY it, wtll yet fpeak wtll of it, and exclaim againfi others as the enemies 9/ peace : as jf there were no other name but their Own, fufficient to make the1r adverfaries odtous. As they defire folvatioJt, fo do the ungodly defire Peace, whtch 1s wirh adoutlte error ; one about the Natztre of it , and another about the Cmditions and other lvlrans. By , Peace they mean, the quiet undifiurbed enjoyment of their honours , wealth and pleafurcs; that they may have their lulls and will without any contradiction : And the Conditi9ns on which thc:y would have it are, the complyance of all others with their opinions and wills, and humble fubmif– fion to their domination, paffions, or defircs. But Peace is another thing, and otherwifc:· ro be defired and fought. Peace in the mind is the delightful effect of its internal harmony, as PeacC in ·the body is nothing but its plea[ant health, in the natural pofition, fiate, a6tion and concord of all the parts, the humours and fpirits : And Peace in Families, Neighbourhoods, Churches, King– doms, or other Societies, is the quietnefs, and pleafure of their order and harmony ; and muf~ De attained and preferved by thefe following means. Ooooooo 2 9· ••
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