Chap. t 3: An Expofftiors upon the Book ofJoa, Ver you have that opinion of myformer difcourfe, let it befo; now come on, hear my chidings once more, hearken to my earneft pleadings. Or (as others) to that Apoldetical narration which I make tor my felf. Hence Obferve, Fall, It is the dutyof aman tomakedefencefor himfelf, and to apologize in his own caufe. He that is innocent mull not let his integrity lie stained or blotted, and not (lit his tongue to vindicate and difafperfe it., It is a duty to band up for another who is wronged , much more for our felves, we being nearer to our felves then to any other. Secòndly, It becomes us, not o 'ily to hear, but diligently to hearken unto them who delre to fet themfelves right in our thoughts. Some ears thirfl for flanders, and can greedily drink in an ill report of their brethren, yet will not have the patience tohear their defence. 'Tis hard to poffefs thofe with the truth of a mans caufe, who are prepoffeffed with an ill opinionof him. Love thinks no evil ofothers,and is not willing to hear it. Justice thinksno evil of others, till it bath heard it, and concludes no evil of others till it hath heard them. As the Judge mull hear what the witness can fay again(} the party acculed, fo what the party accafed can fay for himfelf : In this fenfe, that ofthe Apo- tile fames (howl"d obtain with us; befwift tohear, flow tofpeak, andflow towrath, Jam. 1.19. We should bemore forward to hear what a man can plead in his own justification, then we are to fpeak to his condemnation; we should be more forward to hear him, then to bewroth and angry with him. Thirdly, Obferve, Man accounts it a di(honour, if he be not heard and hearkened to when he (peaks. Not to hear a mans words, is within a degree as difgraceful, as to give him difgracetul words. 'Tis ill when we onlygive another the hearing, who fpeaks the truth; but it is worfewhen we will not fo much as give him a hearing. Some hear much and do not regard ; others regard fó little , that they do not hear ; either of thefe is a fleight put upon man.Nowifit'be a dshonour toman to be flighted when he fpeaks, what a dishonour do they put upon God, who Hight what he fpeaks? How often (as Job B bb 2 here
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