the EEpsffle to the Galatians. Chap.6. faida. And Papal threatens fcucritie, when lenitiewill doeno good.2.Cor. r 3. VI I I. Entry reproofe mull be adminiflred in fitte time whenwe may doe the moll good : therefore ifin wifdome we 5 fhall forelce fitter opportunitic toWinne out brother, wears to take that time, and to omit the prefent : not to tell him of his fault beeing drunke, or in the beat of hip paflion, but after, when hecommeth tohimlele, as Abigail dealt with Nabal. i. Sam.25. For the commandement of God touching reproofe, s o beeingaffirmatiue, bindcth not toall times , but oncly to that which in fpirituall difcretion we fhall iudge thefittefl, both to reclaimehim, and fauehis credit. Salomon faith , that a word fpokent in date time , is like apples ofgold , with pictures offluer. Prou.25.a t.Now ifthisbe true olaword fpoké in due time, E 5 it is much more true of a reproofe deliuered in due feafon. There iea rinseforall things. Eccicf. 3. r. And furcly if euery thing that commcth topaffe in theworldhaue his let time,and opportunitie, reproofemuff needes hauehis timeand feafon. I X. Secret fumesknownconcly to thee,or to a few , mutt 20 be reprooucd fecretly, betwixt thee and the partie alone: they mufl not be divulged, but concealed in loue , which couereth amultitude of Eones. For if thouhaft offended, or :Ph), bro- ther bathought again thee ,gee thy way, andbe reconciled to thy brother. Matth.5. 23,24. If he haue trefpafred againft thee, or 25 thou half ought againfl hint , geeand tell hint-. his fault between himand thee alone.Matth. t 8. r 5. Andalbeit Salomon fay,That open rebuke is better thenfecret loue,Prou. 27.5. yetit makesno- thingagainfl this rule: for hevnderflandethnot that reproofe which is uttered before witnefíes, but that private reproofe 30 which is giuen to his face , and not behind his backe , betwixt th two alone. But open fins are to bereprooucd openly. t. Tim. g.2o. Them that grime, rebuke, openly , that the re]f afomay feare. Which text ofScripture muff rightly be conceiued : for it is not a generali commandement giuen to all, (as Tome 35 haue thought, in alleadging it to prooue that theymay lawful -' ly reprooue open fwearers, and offenders , and that openly : ) but it is a fpecial cömandement giuen to the Paf}ors,or goner. nours of theChurch, that they fhould reprooue thofe elders, and fo confequently all lush as wereconuilled of anycrime, bywitneffes, and that before all men, that is, before the whole Dddd ,2 Church, 4gS
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