6 By admonition we may win and save souls, and for want of due admonition, we loose and destroy souls. When we are admonished, we either deny the thing, or else we quarrel with the affection of the speaker, and find many faults. We had much rather have our consciences privily touched, then our names openly dishonoured: yet when we have chafed with our own shadow, and disputed with our own reason, it will come to1 pass, that we shall speak reverently of him behind his back, whom we much gainsaid in words before his face. Neither for all this unpatient bearing of an admonition, must we leave off, or marvel too much at the little success of this duty: for either we sinned in the manner of doing, or in the want of wisdom: or we would too much have gloried in our selves, if we had done good, or too much grieved with our selves, if we had not done2 good; or we did convince judgement generally, or not observe the applying of things to their circumstances particularly; or we do all without love, or without prayer, and so though we plant and sow, God denieth the first and the latter rain to bless our labours. Again, we are to comfort our selves under hope of time to come: for experience proveth, that some at the first receiving of an admonition most hardly, have after most profited by ⟨p. 29⟩it: and others receiving an admonition very gently, have lost the fruits of it afterward very negligently. For many courteous natures are as soft as wax, sooner able to receive the3 impression of an admonition, but less able to retain it. Again, a more heroical nature, is as the harder wax not so soon admitting the print, as surely keeping the print being made. Many notwithstanding had rather sleep in the whole skin of their senselessness of sin, and therefore give entertainment unto flatterers, whom for a while they love, but afterward most grievously hate: for when a flatterer coming to have some booty is denied, he will reason on this manner: Sir, I did you this good, and therefore I deserve this pleasure. Nay rather he should say; I have not done good but evil: and therefore it is the mercy of God, that I lose the wages of my sin. For let us learn this as a rule of our lief, never to trust him 4that will promise to conceal a sin in us; nor again to mistrust him too much that will not willingly be admonished at the first.
6 By admonition wee may winne and saue soules, and for want of due admonition, we loose and destroy soules. When we are admonished, we either denie the thing, or else we quarrell with the affection of the speaker, and finde many faults. Wee had much rather haue our consciences priuily touched, then our names openly dishonoured: yet when we haue chafed with our owne shadowe, and disputed with our owne reason, it will come to1 passe, that we shall speake reuerently of him behinde his backe, whom we much gainsaide in words before his face. Neither for all this vnpatient bearing of an admonition, must we leaue off, or maruell too much at the little successe of this dutie: for either we sinned in the manner of doing, or in the want of wisedome: or we would too much haue gloried in our selues, if wee had done good, or too much grieued with our selues, if we had not done2 good; or we did conuince iudgement generally, or not obserue the applying of things to their circumstances particularly; or wee doe all without loue, or without prayer, and so though wee plant and sow, God denieth the first and the latter raine to blesse our labours. Againe, we are to comfort our selues vnder hope of time to come: for experience proueth, that some at the first receiuing of an admonition most hardly, haue after most profited by ⟨p. 29⟩it: and others receiuing an admonition very gently, haue lost the fruits of it afterward very negligently. For many curteous natures are as soft as waxe, sooner able to receiue the3 impression of an admonition, but lesse able to retaine it. Again, a more heroicall nature, is as the harder wax not so soon admitting the print, as surely keeping the print being made. Many notwithstanding had rather sleepe in the whole skinne of their senslesnes of sinne, and therfore giue entertainment vnto flatterers, whom for a while they loue, but afterward most grieuously hate: for when a flatterer comming to haue some bootie is denied, he will reason on this maner: Sir, I did you this good, and therefore I deserue this pleasure. Nay rather he should say; I haue not done good but euil: and therefore it is the mercie of God, that I lose the wages of my sinne. For let vs learne this as a rule of our liefe, neuer to trust him 4that will promise to conceale a sinne in vs; nor againe to mistrust him too much that will not willingly be admonished at the first.
- 1How unwilling we be to accept an admonition.How vnwilling wee be to accept an admonition.
- 2Motives to practise admonition.Motiues to practise admonition.
- 3Simile.
- 4Never trust him that will conceal a sin in us.Neuer trust him that will conceale a sin in vs.
