SERMON XXXI. 431 are ready to be slain ; if thou sayest, behold, We knew it-not, doth not lie that pondereth the heart consider? That is, if there are any persons drawn out to death, and ready to be slain by sinful oppression, and that thou had a just and reasonable power in thine hand to preserve them, it is not thy duty to stand still or hide thyself, and say, behold I knew it not. He that lets the ox or the ass of his neighbour go astray or sinkunder aburden, and passed' away regardless as though he did not know it, is under the censure of the word of God ;; and much more do wedeserve the censure, if we abandon our fellow-creatures of human nature to perish, when we are able to save them. The all-wise and. almighty God considers it, and he will not approve of such meanness of spirit, and such a shameful defect of christian charity. V. It is a work which calls for courage toadmonish our bre- threnwhen they depart from the ways of righteousness, and to reprove sin among those with whom we converse. The law of God requires it; Lev. xix. 17. Thon shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sinupon him. It is expressed as though a neglect of reproof, where it is a duty, looks like asort of hatred, or want of love. But for the most part it is want of courage forbids it. Let it be done with holy boldness ; but withoutwrath and resentment, or selfish revenge ; let it be expressed and managed with all love and gentleness, with all humility and compassion, and with a be- coming exereise of those lovely characters of moderation and meekness, whichI have elsewhere described. Nathan the prophet ingeniouslyreproved David the king for his adultery and murder. And we should learn the most artful and obliging methods, and the softest language of reproof, that we may practise it with more courage, security, and success ; and the more secret it is, it will generally be most successful. H at any time we are called by most evident providence, to give an open rebuke in the face of the world, together with courage, we must put on all wisdom and humility, lest we publish our own conceit and pride, and provoke wrath without hope of success. When we rebuke the profane and impious wretch, for the most glaring iniquity, we should useour best prudence in distinguish- ing proper seasons, lest we cast a pearl before swine, and st be- come useless, and be troddenunderfoot; Mat. vii. 6. Sometimes it it is hard to know what is our duty in this re- spect but thus far in general it maybe said, This should be done whensoever there is agreat and evident probability of doing ser- vice to God and souls by it : Whensoever a vindication of the nameof God and his honour requires it, or when there is any Vox.. I. F
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=