A godly and learned exposition upon the whole epistle of Jude, containing threescore and…A godlie and learned exposition upon the whole epistle of Iude, containing threescore and…

Use. 1. By this rule is condemned the rigour and austerity of many in too severe censuring offenders and offences. This was a fault and blemish in the ancient Church; which sometime for no faults would enjoin penance, as if a man had married the second time: yea for small and light offences were wont to enjoin a penance of two, five, yea and sometimes of ten years. This is the sin also of those that are departed from our Church, condemning us (for some wants) utterly as no Church nor people of God, refusing to hear the word of God, to pray, and to join in other religious duties with us. It is also the sin of many of the Lutherans, who because we dissent from them in some opinions, condemn us and our Churches to hell; and speak and write that we are limbs of the devil. Which were too great severity, if we held not the truth against them, in the things wherein we differ. Use. 2. We ought on the contrary to put on the bowels of compassion towards offenders, if there be any hope of amendment; following herein the footsteps of Christ himself, who was very tender over Jerusalem, so as he wept over it. Moses when the Israelites had sinned in making their golden Calf, he mourned for them, fasted forty days and forty nights for them, and would not depart from God till he was entreated of him in their behalf. Men cannot but be compassionate towards sick, and dangerously diseased, or wounded bodies; but a rare ⟨p. 143⟩thing it is to be so tender over the sick souls of our brethren. But blessed is he that judgeth wisely of the poor, whether afflicted in body or mind.

Vse. 1. By this rule is condemned the rigour and austeritie of many in too seuere censuring offenders and offences. This was a fault and blemish in the ancient Church; which sometime for no faults would enioyne penance, as if a man had married the second time: yea for small and light offences were wont to enioyne a penance of two, fiue, yea and sometimes of tenne yeeres. This is the sinne also of those that are departed from our Church, condemning vs (for some wants) vtterly as no Church nor people of God, refusing to heare the word of God, to pray, and to ioyne in other religious duties with vs. It is also the sin of many of the Lutherans, who because wee dissent from them in some opinions, condemne vs and our Churches to hell; and speake and write that we are limmes of the diuel. Which were too great seueritie, if wee held not the truth against them, in the things wherein we differ. Vse. 2. Wee ought on the contrarie to put on the bowels of compassion towards offenders, if there bee any hope of amendement; following herein the footsteps of Christ himselfe, who was very tender ouer Ierusalem, so as hee wept ouer it. Moses when the Israelites had sinned in making their golden Calfe, he mourned for them, fasted fourtie daies and fourtie nights for them, and would not depart from God till he was intreated of him in their behalfe. Men cannot but be compassionate towards sicke, and dangerously diseased, or wounded bodies; but a rare