ttponthe Epi.ftle_of JAM I s, JAM E S Chap.III. Verfe r. My Brethren,bt H~t many Ma{fers, k..,Hming that We - fott.ll receive the greater condemnation. HEre the Apofl:le dtvertetb to another matter, re-inforcing what he had [aid in the firll: Chapter of rhe evil of the tongue ; however this Difcourfe is with good reafon fubjoyned to the former: T hoje that vainfJ bOAjJ of their ownp .ith, are moft apt to cenft4re others ; and they that pre– tend to Re:ligion, are wont to take the greate{Hiberty in rigid and biccer rdkct:ions upon the errors of their Brethren. A·ly Brethren,] The Compdlation, though familiar and ufual to our Apofile, harh here a.fpecial cmphafis. 1. Good men are many rimes furprized, 0 and ufurp coo great a liberty over the failings of others. 1. He would not deal too rigidly himfel£, and therefore tempereth his reproof with fweetnefs. 3• The title carrieth the force of an Argument; Brethren lhould not affdt a mafterfoip over each other. ' Be Hot maHJ Maflers,J What's the meaning? The word MA– fter hath divers fignifications: Sometimes #cis taken for an abfolute– nefs of Power and Authority in the Church ; thus Chrifi alone is a Mafter, Mat.z3. 10. His Word is a Law, his Willis authentick: Sometimes ~cis taken for a fubordinate teaching .and opening the Counfds of God, and thofe who do fo by way ofoffice are called aMaflers in l(rael; and fo fome take it in this place, and make aJohn J:ta. the fence of the Apofiles diffwafive to be, that every one lhould not eafily or unlawfully invade the office of publike teaching : And the Reafon, ~nowing that We foal/ receive, &c. they open rhus; becaufe God requireth more of them that are Teachers then of others, and fo by ralh entering into the office they run the hazard of the greater judgment. , But the Context will not bear this fence, the bent and drift of it being againfr the illufe.of the tongue; and the Reafon annexed will not gratifie it without much firaining; and the Scriptl!re faith, That for not reproving and warning, we draw YY the
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