HOW TO DO GOOD TO MANY. 543 7. That is the best good, as to means, which most conduceth to the end. 8. There is no earthly good that is not mixed with some evil, nor any commodity that hath not some inconvenience or discom- modity. 9. No sin must be 'done for any good. 10. Some things may be done for good which would be sin, were it not for the .good which they are done for. It would be sin to give a robber your money, were it not to save your life, or some other commodity : it would be sin to do some things on the Lord's day, which necessity, or a greater good, may make a duty : your own defence may make it a duty, to strike another, which else would be a sin. 11. In such cases there is need of great prudence and impar- tiality to knowwhether the good or the evil do preponderate ; and agreat part of the actions of our lives must be managed by that prudence, or else they will be sinful. 12. Therefore it is no small'part of a minister's duty to counsel men, as awise, skillful, and faithful casuist. IV. To do good to many requireth many excellent qualifica- tions This is so far from being every one's performance, that we should be glad if a great part of mankind did not do more hurt than good. 1. He that will do his country good, must know what is good, and what is bad : a fool's love is hurtful : he knoweth not how to use it : he, will love you to death, as an unskillful physician doth his most beloved patient; or love you into calamity, as amorous fondlings often do each other. This is the great enemy of human peacemen know not good from evil ; like him that killed his son, thinking he had been a thief; or like routed soldiers, that run by mistake into the army of the enemy. Malignity and error make mad and doleful work in the world, and worst in those that should be wisest, and the greatest instruments of public good: the Scrip- ture mistaketh not, which tells us of enemies and haters of God; and most of the world are professed adversaries to Christ: the Jews crucified him as an enemy to Cresar, and to the safety of their law and country ; and if we may judge by their enmity to holiness, the Spirit of Christ is takenfor an intolerable enemy by no small part ofnominal Christians : the laws of Christ are judged too strict: the hypocrites that bow to him; and hate his laws, do call them hypocrites that are but serious in the practice of Chris- tianity, and hate them that have any more religion than compli- ments, ceremony, and set words: the image of a Christian and a minister is set up in militant opposition to them that are Christians and ministers indeed: if men that are called to the sacred office
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