[ontemplt~tions. L 1 s.IIII, rig!Jt~DI'' [mitt me.Ncxt to the not~rferving a reproof, is the w<il taking ofit. But A who IS fo ready to except andexcla1meas thewrong-doer? The patient rep!ies not. One injury drawes on another:firll to his brother, then to his reprover. Guilti ndfc will make a man llirre upon every touch: he that was wronged could incline t o reconciliation : Malice makes men uncapable ofgood counldl; and thereare no ne fo great enemies to jufiice, as thofe which are enemies to peace. With ~vim impatience doth agalled heart receive an admonition!This unworthy Ifrad1te IS the parteme ofallomackfull offender, firll,he IS moved to chokt in him. felfe: then he cals for the authority ofthe admoni01tr: a fmall authoritv will ferve for a loving admonition. It is the dutyofmen, much more ofChrillians,to adv ifeagainll fin; yc:t this man askes,Who made thee a Judge!for but finding fJult wit h his injury. Then he aggravates, and mifconllrues,wtle tho1• kiU me! when Mofis meant B onelyto fave both. It wasthe death ofhis malice ore!ythat was intended, an d the fafety ofhis perfon.!\.nd laftly,he upbraids hrm \Vithformeraaions ,Thoukilledjhhe Egyptian' What.ifhe did?What if unjuftly!What was this to the Hebrew!Another mans fin is no excufe for ours. A wicked heart never looks inward to it felfe , but outward to the quahty ofthe reprover;ifthatalf?rdexception,it is enough;as a dog runs firfl to revenge on theftone: What matterts 1t to me who he be that admonifheth me~ Let me look home into my felf: letme look to his advice. If that be good,it is more fhame to me to be reproved by an evil man.As a good mans al lowance cannot warrant evill,fo an evilmans reproofe may remedy evii:Ifthis He brew had been well pleafed, Mojis had not heard ofbis llaughter; now in c-holer all will out; and if this mans tongue had not thus call him in the teeth With bloud,he had C been furprifed by Pharaoh, ere he could haveknown that the f.1tl was known. Nowhe grov-ks jealo";,flees,and efcapes. Nofriend is fo commodious in fome cafes as an adverfary; This wound which the Hebrewthoughttogive Mojis,faved his life.As it is gqod for am:intohave, :m enemy, 10 it O!all be our wifdome to make ufe of his moft cholerick objeClio·ns. Thew.~>tll ofan enemy may prove moll foveraigne to our fdves. Mojis floes. It is no difco,mfort for aman to flee when his confcience purfueshin\not: Where Gods Wartant will not protect us, it is good for th<: hedes to fupply the place ofthe to~gue. Mofeswhen he mly not in Algypt,he will be dbinb jullice in Midian. InAlgyp t, he delivers the opprelled Ifraelite; inMidian the wronged'daughters of lethro. A good man wil bedoinggood,wherefoever heis;his TradeisacompoundofClwiry p &Juftice;as therefore evill difpofitions cannot be changed with aires,no more will good Now then he fits himdown byawell inMidian:Therehe mig:u have to d rink, but where to eat he knew not. The cafe was altred W>th Mojis; To come from the dainties of the Com"t ofAlgypt, to the hunger ofthe fields ofMidian.: it is a le ifon rhatallGods childrenmull learn to take out,Towant and to abound.Who canth ink ftrange ofpenury when the great governour of Gods peopl~ once bath nothing ! Who would not have thought io this cofe,MojiJ lhould havebinhearrlelfe& lullen; fo call down with his own complaints,that hen10ul<! havehad no feeling ofoth ers; yet how hot is he upon Jull:ice! No advetfiry can make a good man negle~ good duties:he fees the opprdlion ofthe fhepherds,the image ofthatother heleft beh ind him in Algypt:theMaids(daughters offo great a Peero)draw water fonhcit flo cks, f the inhumane fhepherds drive theqaway; rudeneife h:tth no refpeCl either ro Sexe orCondition; if weJived notundei1awes, thiswere our cafe; Might would be the meafure ofJuftice: we lhould not fo much as enjoyour qwnwater. Unjuft cou rfes will not ever'profper: Mofis !hall rather come from Algypt to Midianto beatthe lhepherds,then they 01all vex thedaughters of Itthro. This aCl of }uftice was not berter done then taken. Ruul requites it kindly with an hofpitJll entertainment. A good narure is ready to anfwercourtefies:weciinotdo too much fora thankf•~ man. And ifa courteous Heathen reward thewarring ofa fheep in this bountifull man ne:, how ll1al ourGod rec6pence but acup ofcold water that is given toa difciple!Th" favor hath wonMojis, who nowc6fenrs todwel with hicn,thoughoutpfthechurch. Curiofiry,or whatjpev<r idle occalions may notcjraw us, (for ourre/id,t;nce) ou;1 ~~
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