Chap.29. an Expfition upóri the Book of Jo a. Verf. s T. 509 thereunto. To deny or with -hold jufl praise, is next door to the givingof undue prailes. To`doe the latter is ,flattery,' and not to doe thefiat is at feafl a defea of charity, if not an effeet of en- vie. It may be much betides our duty to (peak evil of our Rulers when they have done evil, but not to (peak well of them , when theydoe well, is alwayes a negle& of dude. He that ju/tififth the wicked, and be that.condermneth the jaft, even theyboth are an abo- mination to the Lord (Prov. 57. i ç.) And they who doe not jufli- fie the godly , in all that they have done juttly, cannot (as to finch forbearance) be accepted of the Lord. Chrift himself faith to Pilate (John r 8. ?,7.) To this end wru I born, and for this caufe came I into the world, that I jhould bear witnefs unto the tratk To bear witnefs to the truths of God, is the great end of our corning into the world, and 'tie no little one to bear witnefs to the truth of man, whether it be the truth of his opinion , or the truthof his pra ife. f is boll to be found doing good our felves, and 'cis very good to be found giving witnefs to thofe who doe fe - Yet we mutt ufe much caution in doing ir. There are few that are able to hear of the good they have done, without taking hurt. A true teflimony may have a temptation in ir. And there- fore we mull not be at this work too much, nor too openly ; indeed not at all, but in theft two cafes. Fìrfl, To vindicate them rvhenwronged. Secondly, To incite them when difcouraged;other- wife, as it bath been long lince noted, The Moll and molt freindl.' way is, to tell men of their faults and failings to their faces, andtore - part their vertuet and good deeds behind their backs. Thus we fee what reverence .end refpea this good man had of all his people, as alCo the rearms and ground of it, even &ecaufe he delivered the poor that cryed, &c. If we confider this whole con- text from the feventh verfe inclulívely to the end of the eleventh, we have a compleat 'defcription of a Magil{rate , ha all the circumttances of his flute and honour in publick admiflratìont. Firtt, We have the feat of Judgementprepared for him. Secondly, We have him parsing through the fireets to ir, with due equipage and attendance. Thirdly, VVe have all men giving reverence to his perfon and authority. The young men :modeflly withdrawing, the aged ri- fing and funding up, ,_ Fourthly a
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=