Chsp.43. e.1n Expoftien upon the Bok of J o a. Verf.7. fon,are like apple: of gold, in ?Wore; of (jiver; and therefore the Lord, whoknows all fcafons, will do and (peak in feafon, and cake the fircell feafon for every work and word, for every thing he either cloth or faith. This fhould teach us to mind the duc timing, both of our adtions and fpeeches, efpecially of our reproofs; we fhould not let chofe who have coanmitted a fault, go too longunreproved, left they think themfelves faultlefs, and that we approve them, or at leafl that their fault is final!, and al- faultlefs. We mufl not fifer fin upon our brother (Lev. i9. 17.) But it may be Paid, how (ball we hinder it ? That Text tells HS how, Thou(halt in any wife rebukebim. Though a man that is rebuked may keephis fin uponhim, and continue in ir, notwith Handing our fevereft and difcreetcft rebukes; yet he that rebukes afinning brother, docknot fuffer fin upon him, but hach done his duty, and ufed the meansappointed by God for the removing of ir. And as we fhould not let the Sun go down upon our wrath a gainf other men, norgiveplace to the devil in our felves (Eph. 4. 26.27. ) fo we fhould not fuffer the Sun to go downupon the fin of other men,nor give place to the devil in them, by our for- bearance to rebuke them for their fin. Thus the Lord dealt with robs three friends; he fpeedily reproved them for theirr error, in 'not fpeaking of him the thing that was right. Further confider, The Lord begins with Yob, and then pro- ceeds to deal with his friends ; Yob had the fir(: reproof , his friends the fecond. Hence note ; The Lord reproved them firfi, wham he refpeht moll, whoare elearefl to him. Wecannot (hew our felves more friendly to any man, that by an early reproof of his error, or as the word is (Lev.19.17.) by net(offering fin upon him.' Tis a mercy(when wereprove not our felves) to meet with a reproof (though lare) from others; but to be foon reproved, is much mercy. Every good,the fooner it comes to us, the better it is.To be helpt out of fin-evil, is agreat good; and therefore, when we are in a fault withothers, 'cis a priviledge to be reproved before others, and with all poflible (peed tobe ,brought unto repentance. The Apofile Peter faith( c Pet.4.17.) Tudgement begin: at the bttfe of God, The Lord judgeth his owe hoaafee.
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