124. Generandiret aonsfora and refolve the hearts of Gods children into compa;on and commiferation in fuch cafes : and which they ufe toexprefle, and exercife even toward the lewdeft wretches, and fuch as have no pityupon the fpiritufl miferies of their owne poore and wofull fouies. See z Sam. 15.3 5. and 16. r. lerepg. ¡. Phil. 3.18,19. 2 Cor.a2.21, Lrtk; 19.41 ,42, &c. It was the dogged,anddamned voyce of cruel and curled Cain, to fay , Am I my brothers keeper ? But every true and tender- hearted Chriftian Bothgrieve tofee fo manyof his brethren Iticke fait in the clutchesofthat roaringLyon, and betweene the teethofthat Red Dragon ; and therefore labours by all meanes he can, to refcue them ; to fee fo many about him runne as fait and furiouflyas theycan, todrowne themfèlves in the pit of endlefle perdition; and therefore as occafion ferves, calles and cryes unto them to flay their court, before the hellifh Gulfe of confufïon and horrour bath Phut her mouth upon them. Thirdly, in refpe&ofthofe whichbe prefent : 1. By thy (peaking in fuch a cafe, thou mayelt lay, as it were, the Ipirit ofprophaneneffe for that time; fo that it doe notrage,and over-rule in the refl,as otherwife it would. For wee may fometimes obferve, that a feafonable reproofe gaf- fing froma man of underilanding with refolution and au- thoritie , upon a fellow that fo behaves hirnfelfe, as though fwearing werehis profeffion, and traducing the Saints, his Trade, doth fo quell and confound the fwaggering humour of the ref} of the fame crue in the company, that they are quite put out of their humour, as they fay , perhaps hang downe their heads all the while, and thinke in their hearts, if once theyget out, they will come no more amongll fuck precifefellowes which cannot abide an oath; or where. they cannothave their fling and force in their prophane villanies and curled revelling. 2. Thou mayeft hereby hold inthe weake, that they bee not scandalized. 3. Thou mayett hold up the hearts of flronger Cluilti- ans, that they bee not grieved and raft downe with ti,edo- mineering
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