berera,howand the third Sotdaykn Lent. Ser..z . beremitted, or reproved. fharpely ;as alto the Faddendeath ofother his fellow Adulterers. A fudden ftab takes him out of the world, vt quadeerant tormentsfuppleretpunitio,Thatpu- niJhment mayfupplie what üwanting tohid torments. Another in forne bad fafhion hazards hishonour, Godmiraculoufly preferues him more than once or twice, that he may take warning thereby,and reclaime himfelfe : he mixesa thoufand bitter gallswith his fweet delights; hee affrights himwith fuddenáffaults, this dothnogoodon him : hee ftrikes himwith a Lethargie that depriues him of his fences,& thus through his owne wilfulnes &hardheartednes,he is haled vi- olentlyas it were by the haireofthe head,to this fo miferablean end ; vt quade- erant tormentis fuppleretpunitio. In fauour of the rewardwhichthe Corrected(hallreceiue,Salomonpropofeth many graue fentencesto that purpofe;Theeare that hearkneth to the correction of halllodge among thewife, not onely inearth, but in heauen; for, acspuief- cit arguenti,gloriabitur. Amongftother pledges , that aSoule mayaffure it felfe that God wifhethit well,is,thefendingofa Legat vntohim toaduifc himofhis faults . Si corripueritmeOpts in miferecordia, hoc ipfumfeentiam, (it is Saint Ber- nards) I will receiue him asfent fromGod.Labiatuadiflillantia myrrhamprimam: Myrrh is bitter (as before hashbeene faid)but preferuethfrom corruption ; fo arethewords ofmy Beloued, they arebitter, but are dire ledto the fauing of my life,and to preferueme fromdeath. Saint t Augufline drawera comparifon from him that is franticke,and onethat is fickeofaLethargic ; the one fais into follie, theother into aprofound fleepe : he that bindes theone , andwakes the other,is troublefometo them both ; but beeingboth recouered,they bothgiue him thankes. Thouhaftgainedthy brother . This is theend ;and (as Arsfiotle faith) Finis eft fundamentum omniumailionum noflrarum,Theendid thefoundationofalloarafiions, and the gainingof a loftbrother is the end and fcope of thefe our diligencet. Where I wouldhaueyou tonote,Thathee that dothawrong,dotheuer receiue more hurt thanhe that hath the wrong ; ai alteram ledit,plssafsbi nocet,Flee that harts another,dothmollhart tohimfeelfe;for thehurtthatthe wronged receiueth,is outwardly,and inbodie ; but thehurt of him that wrongerh is inwardly,and in foule. And thereforeSaint Paulfaith,ree thatfinneagainftyourbrotberfin againf! Chri/! ; bethat de ifeth tbefthings , defpifethnot man, but God. And our Sauiour Chrift , He thatJhhalltallhis brother Foole, rsworthie ofHeifre : So that thewron- ged cannot receiuethe thirdpartof the harme ofthe partie wronging. Plato is of' opinion, That hee thatdoth an iniurietoanother, doth thegreatefttohim- felfe ; andcannot (if hewould) ftudie todoe himfelfeaworfe mifchiefe.Dauid was much wrongedbyAbfolon, (for what greateroffencecould a fonne commit, than torife vp in rebellionagainft his owne father:') but hee confidering with himfelfe, Thathis fonne haddone himfelfethe greaterhurt, called out vntothe menofWarre,andfaidvntothem, SeruatemihipaerumAbfalon, Sparemyfen Ab- falon,and f eyou doe notJlay bim. And therefore our Sauiour Chrift teacheth vs this Leffon, If thy brother receiue thegreaterhurt ofthe two by the wrong and iniurie that hedoth thee, doe not goe abouttobee reuengedofhim,but ra- ther take pittieand companionofhim;as thouwoulditbegrieued for him,who thinking togiue theea wound,fhould put a ftoccado vpon himfelf, & diein the place. Reprooue therefore thybrother,and ifheThal hearkenvnto thee,Lucra- iuses fratremNum. Thou haft gainedthy broth& . God hathagreat defire,that thou Iliouldit win thy brother to thee,&gain hisfoule.Tothispurpofeheput that Parableofthe G Sheep- 349 A patienteare (hall reape greatprofit. Prem. Is. eant.,4.
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