Offences,how and whento the third Sonda iai Lent. í .Cr.2o. be forgiuen orreproued. Y munities andCommonwealths which haue renouncedthe Lawesoftheworld, it hathbeenheld a pointof honourand ofnobleneffe,notto enter or ftandforth by accufing or denunciating incauls alien/ : For he that shalldoe fo,is account tedbuta baleminded fellow; and one that hathnoworthorgoodneffe in him : and he had need haueanextraordinariealfiftance of Gods fpirit , that (hall take this taske vpon him,when Zeale andHonour cannot agree vponthe point one fwaying thisway,and another that : whichdi(traction is made the more , the moregreat and powerful! the perlons be that oughttobe thuscorreEted. Fir(t,I anlwer,That oneand the felfe fame thingmay be Paid to bee foure and fweer,after a diners refpeet... Saint Mathew faith, That the way to Hell is broad and large.The Damned,they fay it is ahard way,Ambulammsrsvias d ciler,c. ToCorreaand tobe corrtéted flail be eafieto the Spirit,but hardto the Flefh. And putcafeit befoure, yet theajadasde Cofia,. thofegoodfupplies which the Iu(tfhall enioy in this prefentlife,and the hopeofreward in thefuture,wil make it fweet. Secondly,I anfwer, That Feare and Cowardifepropole fometimesdifficul- ties where there arenone ; and hethat is afraidthat he fteal not drawwater from hisbrothers breftand eyes, How (hall he hope todrawwater out of a rockeor aftone r There isagreat dealeof controuerfte andmuch adoo touchingthat fin ofcatofes,for which Goddenied him entrance into the holy Land:S.Paulfaith, That it was incredulitie. Theopinionof the Hebrewes is, That this his finne was , his not fpeaking to the Rocke. God Ipakevnto thefe two brothers and faid,Loquimini adPetram 5 whichMofes ftrooke once or twicewith his Rod,&c. Nowif two words wouldhaue beene fufficiént for todrawwater out ofarocke, Isit much that Man fhould draw itout of theheart ( though it were madeof (tone)and conuey it,asby aConduit,to theeyes r Salomon faith, That manydo excufethemfelues offulfillingGods commandements,alledging theirwant of ftrength andabilitie ; That it!lands not.with their health, to fait onhalfe holy- dayes, aor to eat Fifh inLent, oron Frydayes [flirtsnonfuppetunt.] Hereunto r makea twofold anfwer : Theone , Deus eft Infleclor cords, It is God thattryeth the heart and reynes, he knoweswhither thouhaue ftrength or no ;.thoucanft not cozen himwith a falfe Dye,thoumaincozenthy Phyfitionwith a lye, but thoucanft not cozen God. The other,Ipfe intelligit ; Godknoweswell enough; That thoucanft not doe any good thingwithout hishelpe, for hee muff aflifttheewithhis grace in this life, and with glorie in the life tocome, And will rewardemerieman according tohisworkes. LeothePope faith,That hee that thinkeswith himfelfe,that it is a hard thing tobecorreeted,muft haue recourfe to Godsmercies &to intreat his fauour that hewill free him from this hiseuill cuftome, andfo tohumble him, that correótionmay feeme fweet vnto him. Laftly, Albeit atfirft thepartie reprooued will thewhimfelfeharfh Sc foure unto thee,yet vponbetter confideration heewillcon thee thanker,and likebet- ter of'thy plaindealingwith him,thanif thou hadft foothed vp his times ; He thatreprooues amanfhallafterwards findmore grace thanhee thatdeceiues him with a poringtangue.To S.Amf en,thecorreiiòns &admonitionsofhismotherwere vnfauorie; but afterwards he confefled, That he was much more beholding to herfor hauing reducedhim to theright way, than for bringing him forth into the world. Who is it that maketbmeglad, (faith SaintPaul) 6nthe that it madehea- teiebyme. TheScripture is full ofrewards andofthreatnings, both inthe fa- uour 147 All feareànd cowardife mull be laid afiddin the correcting of ourBrethren.
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