3 98 The Life of Faith. O11ic, and not peralios, by men ofanother Office: And there- fore it is, that bare.titles or authority will not ferve the turn, without proportionableor necefTary abilities or gifts; becaufe the work is done by perfona/ fttnefs ; and cafes and difficulties can no more be refolvcd, nor fife counfcl given for the foul in matters of Morality, by men unable, than for the body or e(tate, in points ofPbyfick, or ofLaw. (As the Lord Verulam in his Conlderations of Lcclefiattical Government bath well ob- ferved.) 45 In fuchcafes where 'duty or frn mutt be 'judged of by compared accidents ; the nature ofaMeans, or the intereft of the End, is the principal thing to be confidered': And that 'which will evidently do more harm than good, is not to be 'judged a duty (in chafe circumftances) but a fin : as if the `qudttion were whether Preaching be at this time, in thisplace, to this number, to thefe individuals, a duty : If it appear to truc Chriftian prudence, that it would be Like to domore 'hurt than good, it is a fin at that time, and not a duty : and yet `Preaching in due feafon, as'grcat a duty (lilt. So ifthe qucftion were, whetherficret prayer be at this hour or day, a duty : If 'true reafon tell you, that it is like to hinder, either family- prayer, or any other greater good, it is not at that time a duty : Or ifthe queftton be, whether reproofor perfonal ex- hortationofa tinner be nowa duty : If true reafon tell me, that it is like to do more harm than good, it is not a duty then, but accidentally a fin: For we mutt not call pearls be- fore Swine, nor give that which is holy unto Dogs, Ica they 'tread it under foot, or turn again and all to rend us. And there is a time when Preachers that are perfccuted in one City, mutt `fly to another; and when they mutt (hake offthe dun oftheir feet, for a witttefs againft the difobcdient, and turn away from them. (The imprudent people can cafily difcern this when it is theirown cafe, but tint when it is the Preachers cafe ; fo `powerful is fell-love and partiality) Mat. 7. 6, 7. Mat. ro. 14. 'St 23.34. & r o. 23. The reafon ofall this is 1, Becaufe God appointeth all Means for the End: 2. And bccaufe the Law by which in filch cafes we mull be ruled, is onlygener,:l; as, Let all things bedone to edification ; as if he Mould fay, Fit ud 'our anions, ìtabicb I have riot, given you a `párticnlar'prremprory Lam
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