upon the Epiflle of JAM E s. a tranfgrej]ion : Men think it is a difgrace ; as ifclemency did ar1 gue aman voyd of courage and fpirit: But in the Judgment of the Word 'cis your honour; there is more gcnerofity in pardon then revenae, 2. TorhofetbatWant·; Col.3.12· AstbeEle[fo(God J put o~ bowels of mercy ; that's a good garment for a ChriHian, without which he is naked and filthy before God. 4I I 8. The next qualific~tion is,full ofgood \Vorkf, by which he un- Obfervat. 8., derfiandeth all offices of humanity, which will become good nature , and gr.ace : 'Iis a fcandal brought upon Religion, as if 1t were too tetrick and morofe; whereas ;c:is kind and affable, full oi an.holy fweetnefs: ..And he calleth thefe offices of humanitygood fruits, becaufe they are from mercy, as from a root. \Vdl then, Rel-igion is not a barren tree ; the godly are the befi neignbors : Common offices are performed out of apr:inciple and engagement of grace. } 'fis the t?;reat fault of (ome, that when they begin to be religious, leave off to be ·humane ; as if there were no tree that grew in Chrifis garden but crabs~ . · 9· Another property of true wifdom is rlJJJ,xef!&, we render Ob[c-rf.lat. 9. } it in the Text, V. 7 ithout partiality, in the Margin, Without \Vrang- ) . : ling·; the word will brook other fences, 'A1ithout fu!ficion,or without judgjng; all art: proper enQugh to the matter in band : With- · out partiality, that is, making no difference between perfon and perfon,becau[e ofoutward refpef.ls,which indeed is an high point of wifdom. Fools are dazled with outward fplendor, and, ltkechil– dren,coum nothinggood,bm what isgo~Sy,and adorned with pomp; this the Apofile callerh ~9wing things after the flefh, 2 Cor. )• 16. True wifdom weigheth nothing in acarnal ballance. If you render it Without \\?ranglmg, the fence is thus,True wifdom is an enemy to brawling difputes; Paffion dwelleth at the fign of the Fbol: If 'Without fuiJicion. or curious injury, thus, True wifdom cloth not fufpiciouOy enquire after other mens faults; when we defire to make others worfe then they are, we make our felves worfe rhen they; inquifitivenefs argueth malice: So!omoncondemneth lifiening, Eccle(. 7· 2I. Tuk.§ no heed tfJ every word that isJPoken, left thrm hear thy fervants curfe thee : When men will be harkening to every word that is fpoken, they are often acquainted with their o~n dtfgrace. Or you may render it, \Vithout judging Qr cenfu- ~zng : Fo~ls ar~ tbe greatefi Cepfurers; what they want in Worth ts made upmpr1de; and becaufe they cannot raife themfdves to an Ggg 2 - equality
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