mor

which preach the Gospel, fhould live is out Spel. Rom.15.27. For if the Gentiles have bees partakers of their Spiritual things, the is alfo to minifter to them in carnal thing Gal.6.6. Let him that is taught in the War municate unto him that teacheth, is

things.

V.7. Be not deceived, God is not mocked; foever a man fowes that shall be reap, S Mat.10 41. He that receiveth a Prophe name of a Prophet, shall receive a Pr

ward, &c.

CHAP. XVI.

dif adm

Am

the me

and

for

did

be

T

'Hat excellent and Chriftian Duty ving and admonishing an offending is(in thefe daies) too much neglected, and an out of use; though it be the realleft gå that can be done from one man to another. L are forward enough to fcoffe and deride the, mifcarriages of others behind their backs; few there are that make Confcience of ro them feriously and foberly to their faces: W people fall out and are angry, then ordin

out comes all that they know (and perhaps
more too), in a rude and paffionate manner to
difgrace each other: But how feldom do they
admonish one another in love, in order to their
amendment and the faving of their fouls? Being
therefore to treat of this duty in this Chapter, let
me premife that there is a double admonition.
1. Paternal or authoritatives.

2. Fraternal or charitative.

Of this latter onely I intend to difcourfe here, and I fhall fhew,

1. What great and preffing Arguments there are for it.

2. Shall endeavour to remove the main prėjudices and objections that lie against it.

3. Shall fhew how, and in what manner it is to be performed.

4. Give fome reasons why it ought to be exceeding kindly taken by those to whom it is performed, and whofe benefit is thereby intended.

Of the first, the Arguments for this Duty. 1. We have Commands for it, both in the old and new Teftament.

Levit. 19 17. Thou shalt not hate thy Brother in thine heart, thou shalt in any wife rebuke thy neighbour, and not fuffer fin upon him. Mat.18.15. Moreover if thy Brother shall trespaß against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone, if he shall hear thee, thou

haft

1

neigh

haft gained thy Brother. Eph.5.11. And have no fellowship with our fruitful works of darkneffe, but rather heard them.

light

filth

fuct

If th

of f

II. Hereby we may much advanceGoki for may discountenance fin, may promote Piy nab world. Many fins may be fuppreßed, if by would but bear witnele against the felv give check unto them by a wife and proof. Ifwe can but perfwade men to brea fins, and embrace the waies of Holine fhall thereby bring much honour and God. And what should not we poor do, to advance the Glory of fo Grac ther?

need

bear

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III. 'Tis the most bleßed and charita we can poffibly be employed in, viz. the Part ing of precious fouls out of the bands » and faving them from everlasting perfo Jam.5.2. He which converteth the fin the errour of his way, shall fave a foul from i and fhall hide a multitude of fins. We read,L 23.4. If thou meet with thine enemies axe si Alle going aftray, thou shalt furely bring it be him again. V.5. If thou fee the Affe of him of hateth thee, lying under his burden, wouldft forbear to help him, thou fbalt furely. with him. Should we take pity and care of

peri

hav

as

it

neighbours oxe or Affe, (yea though it were our very enemies) and not of his Soul? If thou heareft men Swear, toffe Gods Name vainly and lightly in their mouths, jeft with his Word, talk filthily, deride Holineffe, flander good men, plead for prophannelle, or feeft them walk in unconscionable courfes, Oughteft thou not to admonish fuch men, and to intreat them to bethink themfelves, and to confider whither fuch courfes tend? If thou shouldest see a man tottering on the brink of fome deep and difmal pit, where he must needs perish if he fall in, hadft not thou a hard heart, if thou wouldst not catch hold of him, and endeavour to stay him? Alas! Why do not men confider then what it is to fall into the bottomleffe pit of Hell, and to lie there in everlasting burnings.

IV. We fhall hereby keep our felves from partaking in other mens fins. By neglect of this Duty, we may become acceffary to mens going on in finful courfes, and dishonouring God, and fo draw upon our felves the guilt of their fin and ruine. But if we faithfully admonish offenders, we shall hereby deliver our own foal, and if they perifb, they perifh to themselves. Paul could not have faid, Acts 20.26. I am pure from the bloud of all men, if he had not been a faithful reprover, as well as a diligent inftructer.

V. If this Duty were confcientiously practif'd, It would rob Satan of one of his greatest advan

tages

tages to destroy fouls, which is, the fabionablene and creditableneffe of Sin. It would difcredit fin and bring Christianity into reputation: It would drive away that frivolous, impertinent, empty Converfation, that wanton, noisom discourse, that paffes for the only entertainment of this cor rupt world. It would drive away backbiting judging, cenfuring, rejoycing in the folly and Share of others, which are the very bane and Thame of converfe and fociety,

VI. The advantage is great that will acrue unto us, if we discharge this Duty faithfully, Dan.12, 3. They that be wife fhall fhine as the brightneffe of the firmament, and they that turn many to righte oufneffe, as the Stars for ever and ever. Prov. 24.25. To them that rebuke the wicked, ball be delight, and a good bleffing fhall come upon them. A great delight will arife in their fouls from the teftimony of their Confciences, that they have endeavoured to discharge their Duty; and a good bleffing from the Lord will come upor them for it.

So much of the Arguments for this Duty: I come now to the fecond thing; Namely, to remors the prejudices and answer the objections that are conceiv'd against it.

obj.1. 'Tis hard and painful and uneafie t flesh and bloud to practile this Duty. I fhall b thought uncivil, rude, impertinent in mor companies where I come: I shall be laughed

for