An Expofition upon way we have offended as grievoufly, or may hereafter.Alfo,all hafly,uncharita- ble, and curious judgements are forbid- den by our Saviour Chrift,in Math. 1. T I M. How Both the Apoflle mean, that thofe that condemns others, doe the fame things? Su.. The meaning maybe this.Firft, that they did tranfgreffe the Law of God,as others did,though not alwaies in filch crimes. Secondly,they did thofe things fcretly in the motion of their mind, which others did outwardly in the aEtion of their life. T r M. What vva.t the inffrutiion from hence ? S r L. That it is the note of an Hy- pocrite, to beare with his owne faults, anzi to befharpe againft others. This is proved by Mat. 7.34. and 23. Alfo by the example of the Pharifees. T r ta. Whence comme&& this? S I L. Firft, from blindneflè, that they difcerne not their owne liinnes. Se- condly, from malice, which they beare to other mens perfons.Thirdly, c uriofi- ty in prying too neer into others faults: for by this policy, Satan keepeth them from reforming themfelves, by bufying them too much in cenfuring of others: therefore,in the reproving offinne, wee are thus to proceed ; to begin w ith our felves and to be more fevere with our own fia nnes, thenwith other mens. T r M. What reafons of this duty? S I L. Firft , from the commande- ment of the word; the righteous man firft accufeth himfelfe.Secondly,becaufe every man knoweth himfelfe,and ought to have more care of himfelfe. Thirdly, our felves being reified and amended, then in our admonition towards o- thers, wee thall deale more wifely and charítably,with hope alfo of better fuc- ceffe towards our Neighbour, and more comfort to our felves. Tr se. Thep" tak it to be utterly un- lawful" for any man to judge or c nfure ano- ther of that vice, whereof he himfelfe is cul- pable? Ss L. If hee which cenft'reth, or gi- veth fentence againft another, for that wherein he is commonly knowne to be faulty,thenhe doth give offence unto o- thers,, caufe them to think him an Hy- pocrite. Howbeit,ifhe be a publike per - ton,he offendeth neither againft his of- fice , nor the Lawes which require fen - tence againft malefaEtors:if he beapri- vate mat' , he offendeth not againft his Brother whom he hash juftly blamed, fave by being a fcandall to him, and be- ing an occafion to him,to continue 1111 in his Iinne,becaufe he feeth his reprover do fuch things which he would not do, if he thought them evill. T r M. What further in ,uliion may this firfi vcrfe afford unte us? S L I, Namely this : That all men are held guilty before Gcd,even by force of felfe judgement , or inbred confci- ence. The reafon is , every man doth fomechiug, which he knoweth to bee evill, and to deferve Gods vengeance; either hee committeth Pone outward and odious fault,for which not himfelf alone, but the world can cenft're him: or howfoever hee fo fuppreffe his pafli- ons of wrath,envy,revenge, hatred, co- vetoufheffe, ambition,pride, &c. as they doe not breaks out as puftles and bot- ches in his face and hands,yet they bode withinfandlike (parks out of a furnace, fo there rife up out of the corrupt and uncleane foule,many noifome lufls and defires, whereof they cannot be igno- rant in whom they he. Socrates one of the bell mannered Philofophers could lay,That by nature he was incontinent, though by Philofophy hee bridled that affeflion from running into aftion.The ufe of this inftruftion is twofold.Firf, it ffoppeth the mouth of all Jufticiaries which feek to eftablifh a righteoufneffe by their owne worker, as if they could hand juft before God, and by their owne deeds ; whereas every man bath his owne heart to condemne him ( and therefore, God much more to judge him)asguilty of doing one thing arniffe, or other,or many things rather. Whereas an abfolute freedonie from all faults is required in him who will bee pronounced righteous by his owne do- ings. Secondly, here is an admonition for all men,but chiefly for fuch as have authoriy
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