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"O Lord, who doft command it: and make me ready, as a dear child, to follow thee, who art "thyfelf ftill giving the greateft examples of it: "that I may be merciful, as my Father in heaven is " merciful. Amen."

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MEDITATION LXXXVII.

Of fraternal correction.

O warn the wicked and unruly, is not only the Minister's duty; but even fuch the Apostle puts upon it, as he exhorted to give a deference to the miniftry, 1 Theff. v. 14. Indeed the precept is indefinite, to every one, Lev. xix. 17. "Thou shalt, in any wife, rebuke thy brother; and "not fuffer fin upon him." And the neglect of that friendly office, is there fignified, to be a hating of my brother in my heart. For how can I cordially love him, whose foul I take to be in a forry dangerous cafe, and yet will not fo much as open my lips, to advertise him of it, and deliver him from it! but ftand by, and see the wickedness upon him, and the damnation before him? and be so unmerciful to let him alone, as if I did not at all care what became of him? this is more cruelty than I would fhew even to my neighbour's beaft lying in a ditch, not to lend a hand to help him out. is this my kindnefs to my friend, to confult his eafe more than his duty and safety, and only claw his humour, inftead of promoting his happiness? is this all the friendship and dearnefs, my foul, to see a poor creature entangled in the devil's fnare, and hurrying on to the place of torment, and offer nothing to ftop and reclaim him? be it a thankless

And

office,

office, and the way to lofe friends, and to gain enemies; what then? fure it is not their thanks, fo much as their falvation, that I am to feek. Though they may be four and cross, even when I moft oblige them, and take that ill, which is meant never fo well; my aim is not to gain their good words, but their precious fouls. Yet I must not (I cannot) think, that all are fuch dogs and fwine, to trample the pearls, and turn again and rend the admonifhers, and fly in the face of fuch as offer them the biggest kindness. A fcorner indeed is apt to hate his reprover: "But rebuke a wife man, and he "will love thee," Prov. ix. 8. Nay, " he that re"hukes a man, afterwards fhall find more favour, "than he that flatters with his tongue," chap. xxviii. 13. Though the reproved knows not how to relish the taste of the phyfic, but is ready to ruffle with him that offers fuch a bitter draught; yet, as foon as he comes to cool, and perceives that it came from a friend's hand, that the precious oil does not break his head, but works for his foul's health; inftead of refenting the chiefest friendship then, as an affront, he will be fo confiderate and ingenuous as to own the favour, and pay his thanks.

Let me not then fhelter my laziness and uncharitablenefs under that plaufible cover, to fay, I have work enough to do at home, what fhould I fo concern myself with others, especially when it is to no purpose but to trouble myself, and exafperate them! they are too hard to receive impreffion; and how vain is it for me to think of overturning the mountains all this is ftruck dead by the exprefs charge, Phil. ii. 4. "Look not every man on his own things, "but every man alfo on the things of others." I must not think it enough, only to fave my own ftake, without attempting any thing to keep off my neighbour's perdition; but when the door is opened, and opportunity offered, here the not

meddling

meddling is a kind of foul-murdering. And when I never offer to hinder the offender, I do, in effect, bid him fin on, and perish. And though he has paffed on above ten hours; how do I know, but he may be called at the eleventh? what have I to do, to limit the almighty Fashioner of all hearts; and to determine of the final reprobation, even of him that seems in the most hopeless condition? may not he who came to fave the loft, recover that which I account as a loft creature? yea, may not he use my admonition, as a means of his falvation? how ill then would it be held in? when fo fmall is the adventure on my fide, to speak, and warn, to call, and admonish; and yet may it bring in fuch a bleffed return. It is my part to endeavour, but God's to command the fuccefs. Let me then venture my labour; for I have loft many a worse: and this fhall not be loft to me, when I but faithfully difcharge my duty; though it produce not the fruit defired where it was placed.

However, my foul, here is a neceffity of concerning myself, even in my own defence: (though I could fhake off all the care of others fouls) that I may not become acceffary to their fins; and contract a participation in that guilt, at which I connive. For not to "reprove the unfruitful works of dark"nefs, is to have fellowship with them," Eph. v. 11. And when I give (at least, a tacit) consent to the wicked abomination, I do make myself liable to their condemnation. So that I cannot be fafe myfelf, if I am not (as they may count it) fharp upon them; and declare, and proteft againft their ways.

But that I may reprove with authority and effi cacy the offences of others, O my foul, what an impartial cenfor and corrector ought I to be of my own manners? that I may not leave thofe whom I deal with, wide room, to retort upon me, to my fhame; yea, that my own confcience may not lash VOL. I.

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me,

me, worse than I do them. And what need have 1 alfo of prudent advice; that I may not go upon bare hearfay, conjecture, prejudice, or the fufpicion of a fault; but ftrike only at that which I know to be foul and finful: and yet not with a like treatment of all, who may be alike faulty. For a glass is not to be handled, as a piece of iron. And the fuperior must not be rubbed all one as my equals and inferiors. Though I muft fpare none, where I have the call, and time for it; yet muft I not be fo rough with the tender, as the ftubborn, nor fo blunt and and familiar with the great one, as with those of low degree, but give honour to whom honour, as well as rebuke to whom rebuke is due. And I cannot but remember the evil how he has done it fo I must not forget myfelf, who I am, that reprove it; O how curious fhould I be, to chufe the proper vehicle, to carry down the difguftful application; and to watch the critical feafon, for a favourable reception? in what earneft to fhew my zeal for God, and my indignation at that which provokes him? not playing and jefting with the fin, nor fquibbing and drolling at the finner; which were to throw oil, rather than water, on the flame; and inftead of ftriking his confcience with terror, hardening his heart, to carry on the wickednefs, which he fees, is made but a matter of fport and mirth. And yet at the fame time, as I ftab the fin; to fhew compaffion and tenderness to the offender; and let him fee my goodwill, as well as his great danger; that my defign is not to fhame, but to gain him; not in fcorn and bitterness, to taunt and revile his folly, but in love and pity, to promote his felicity: not to reek my four fpleen, but to open my warm heart. And thus let me deal, as I would be dealt by, freely, and friendly; with the smart reafonings mingling fuch foft expreffions, that they who will not be converted, may yet be convinced that they have been well

used;

ufed; and muft take the blame and fhame to themfelves, if they die in their fins; and cannot be prevailed with, to be kind to their own fouls,

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LORD! thy fervant David could take it for a kindness, to have the righteous fmite him; but how few are to be found of that tem per! how common is it with men, to count re"buke, an effect of hatred! when yet, without fuch "rebuking, I should indeed hate my brother, even "in my heart. O then, let me not forbear to do "him good; though he may take it ill; nor fo "much confult his humour and good liking, as "his foul's good, and eternal well-being. Help me, "Lord, to exprefs the true and higheft friendship, "however I may fail of the kind and thankful acceptance. Yea, teach me fo to manage it, that I may "not fpoil a good work in the ill performance; "but through thy mercy, may prove fuccefsful, to "fave a foul from death, and hide a multitude of fins. Amen."

MEDITATION LXXXVIII.

Of profecuting fcandalous offenders.

My foul, how wicked is the world in which I live; that it is not only fallen from God, and grown falfe to him; but even all for oppofition of him, and rebellion against him? where fo many do hate to be reformed; and are fo incorrigible in