PpißleofS. Paid to Titus. CHAP.3.2. tancewith them, andprofefl'e themfelues the childrenof the deuill , in that they will not be thebrethrenofthe children ofGod :know they not that no brother to the Saints, none toChril, who difdaineth not their brotherhood? and if they bebrethren, why is there fuch ditfenrion a- mong them? Lally, profefforsamong themfelues had need beeput in remembrance to walke in inchpeaceableconuerfation, as may wiane others to theGofpel : and for this purpofe tomake an happie exchange of the fpirit ofpride with the fpiric ofhumility& concord; &grow into friendfhipwith fuchas they are at ods,whereby they fhòuldbecomenot the leafy friends to theirowneelate , rather then by an vnmeeknedand vnfubdued Itomacke, hurt both themfeluesand others. And here it wit not bevnfit, to remember anhilorie out of thenaturälift, which I haue obferued applyed to this purpofe; of twogoaes which met in the mida of a narrow plank,vndcr which a (wife current rann, theycould not now "goeby one an ocher, they couldnot turne themfelues togoebackward, they could not fight it out, but to the prefent dangering and drowning of both : this common danger oneof them thus helped, he laid him downe upon the planke, and couchedhimfelfe, fo as hemade himfelfe a commodious bridge for the other togoe ouer him, and foboth of thetn were fused : howmuch better were a littleyeeldingand cooping in a Chriflian, tending to the goodof hisowne , and an others elate, then dangeroufly to land out to the ruineand hurt of both. Learne toouer- come thy felfe rhen,and thou hall already ouercome thy aduerfary ; The flaw to anger id better then the mighty , (faithSalomon) andhe that r eletb hid ewne mind te better thenhe that winnethacitie. And that which thehea- then could fay ofvertue,is true ofgrace,which while it fuffreth , it con- querech. Bat[oft,l A [oftman is ayeeldingor flexible man,one that will not be fohard in his dealing,as fometime by aria !awe he might,but equallyand mode- rately carrieth himfelfe in his words and deeds,asaltotowards the fpea- ches andaötions ofothermen. The effe6tsand fruitsof which vernie, are the very finewes and boneswhich tie together and vnderdrop all hu- mane fociety,without which the world it felfe could not continue vn- diffolued. For, t.it forgiueth iniuries,& pardoneth many wrongs,euen vntill 7o.times 7.times , if they be again a mans felfe, and not again, Godmoredirectly. 2.It tolerateth and beareth with naturali infirmi- ties,fuch as are frowardnes, haaines,f{ownes, defireof praile, tubes of words, fo far as they becomenot enormious and intolerable; and are faults of nature, not ofmalice; and committedof infirmicies,and not of fbtpurpofe. And if thefe mua needs be correéìed , as growing more 0 o T fcan- 579 l'linie. Prou,16.32. numpacitur vinùr. C i it an equi. tie is neeelfary for all Cbrüli aut. The fruits anal rfftQs of this vertu,.
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