492 .An Expojition, ~ithNotn , fall upon them: -How unfupportablc is the weight of the fins ohhis one member 1 2. Do not give way to it in others; your ear.r maybe as guilty as their tongues ; therefore fuch whifperings fhould . never be heard without fome expreffion of diflike. Solorf!on com– mendeth a frown,and the feveriry of the countenance, 'PrO:v. 2). 2 3• As the North ~inddriveth awa7 r:tin, fo doth an angr] count·e– nance a back}iting tongue. They are difcouraged 4 when theydo not meet with compl~ance. Davidwould not have fuch to dwell in his houfe,P/al.I 01 ·5. Certainly our countenancing them draw– eth us into a fellowlhip of the guilt. Now if we mufl: not receive thefe whifpers againG: an ordinary brother, much lefs againfi aMi– nifter; there is exprefs provifion for the.fafety of their repute and credit, AgainftanElderreceivenot,&c. I Tim.) .I9· Partlybe– caufe men are apt to hate him that reproveth in the gate, and fo they are liable to be traduced: Partly bccaufe men in office are mofl: ob– ferved an~ watched;. fee '/er.z®.I 2• .and E:t.e~ 33.3o. And partly becaufe their credit is of mofi concernment for the honour of the Gofpel; therefore we lhould not eamy hear thofe that are talk: ing of them bJ the V;a!/s and doors of the. hou.fes, as/ cis in the Prophet. . . For he th~t fEeak.fth evil ofhis bPother,andjudgeth~his brother ,J In that wor.d ;udgeth the Apofile fhewethwhat their cenfuring·a:- . mounted to 1 an ufurping ofGods office,and ap~ffingfentence upon . their brethren i and alfo wh;at kind of evil fpeaking he principally interideth, that is, for things meerly indifferent, _as obfervationof days,meacs, and the like; fee Rom. I4·3,4· Obferve ber.Jce, That cmfu.r:ing is a judging : You arrogate an aCl: of power which doth>: not belong to you. When you are advanced into the chair of arro– gance and cenfure, check your felves by this thooghr, Who gave me this fuperioricy? The quefi.ion put to MP[es, may well be urged,in, the behalf ofour wronge~ brethren,to our: Souls; 1 who made thee a.Jufg over m ? Paul ufeth c.he fame di{fwafion, Rom, I 4·4· JP-h() art thou that judgejt another mansfervant ,?&c•. · Speak...eth evil of the Law, and judgeth the L~tw :] How can, this be ? Several ways may this .fepcence be made good ; I fualt name the r,rincip~l. . . · · . ~ . · Firfi, .Thus: Every fin is akind ofan affront to the Law that for· biddeth it ; for by doing quite contrary, we do in effe&·judg the law not fit or worthy_ to be obeyed ~ As todnihmce in thep'refe~t ca1e
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