IT followeth; Though Samuel came to tell Saul, how God was displeased with him for his sin before mentioned, yet when he saw how he justified himself, affirming that he had obeyed him, he stayed for a better opportunity afterwards, and now answered his untrue, bold, and unseasonable commending of his act done to the Amalekites: and therefore as he offered him fit occasion, so he took it, and convicted him, and ⟨p. 35⟩proved by clear evidence against him, that he grossly deceived himself. Thus: If thou hast obeyed the commandment of the Lord, saying, Why hast thou not then destroyed all, both men and cattle? But hast reserved some of them: For I hear the lowing of the oxen and the bleating of the sheep, which thou hast brought away with thee from thence for a pray. Therefore thou hast not obeyed the commandment of the Lord. Thus he proved, that he was guilty, wherein he boasted of his great obedience. Now this wise kind of dealing, and careful, the ministers of God must use, for the discovering and bewraying of the peoples ⟨p. 35⟩[…] ⟨p. 36⟩faults and sins unto them, that they may have no excuse for their lying still in them.1 For the people being blind, and full of self-love, do readily flatter themselves in their sins, and are slow to come to the examination of them: and therefore if they be not roused up and made to see them as far as they have given cause, by proving to their consciences, and convincing them that they are guilty, they accuse not themselves, but go forward in their sins. And therefore Saint Paul, among all his grave and weighty exhortations to Timothy about preaching, chargeth him to convince the offenders,2 that they be not able to gainsay him: as being privy ⟨p. 37⟩in themselves, that they are justly found fault with. And that is most likely, if any outward means will do good, namely to control the conscience, and to cause those who are guilty, to see and acknowledge their sins: The which effect every reproof is not like to work. Therefore our Saviour hearing many reproofs by the Pharisees, but all of them unjust, asketh them which of them is able to convince him of sin? 3as if he should say, if ye can convict me, I have nothing to defend my self by. And their manner of teaching and private speaking did he himself use:
IT followeth; Though Samuel came to tell Saul, how God was displeased with him for his sinne before mentioned, yet when he saw how hee iustified himselfe, affirming that hee had obeyed him, he stayed for a better opportunity afterwards, and now answered his vntrue, bold, and vnseasonable commending of his act done to the Amalakites: and therefore as hee offered him fit occasion, so he tooke it, and conuicted him, and ⟨p. 35⟩proued by cleere euidence against him, that he grosly deceiued himselfe. Thus: If thou hast obeyed the commandement of the Lord, saying, Why hast thou not then destroyed all, both men and cattell? But hast reserued some of them: For I heare the lowing of the oxen and the bleating of the sheepe, which thou hast brought away with thee from thence for a pray. Therefore thou hast not obeyed the commandement of the Lord. Thus he proued, that hee was guilty, wherein hee boasted of his great obedience. Now this wise kinde of dealing, and carefull, the ministers of God must vse, for the discouering and bewraying of the peoples ⟨p. 35⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 36⟩faults and sinnes vnto them, that they may haue no excuse for their lying still in them.1 For the people being blinde, and full of selfe-loue, do readily flatter themselues in their sinnes, and are slow to come to the examination of them: and therefore if they bee not roused vp and made to see them as farre as they haue giuen cause, by prouing to their consciences, and conuincing them that they are guilty, they accuse not themselues, but goe forward in their sinnes. And therefore Saint Paul, among all his graue and waighty exhortations to Timothie about preaching, chargeth him to conuince the offenders,2 that they bee not able to gainsay him: as being priuy ⟨p. 37⟩in themselues, that they are iustly found fault with. And that is most likely, if any outward meanes will doe good, namely to controle the conscience, and to cause those who are guiltie, to see and acknowledge their sins: The which effect euery reproofe is not like to worke. Therefore our Sauiour hearing many reproofes by the Pharasies, but all of them vniust, asketh them which of them is able to conuince him of sinne? 3
- 1Reasons why.
- 22. Tim. 4.
- 3Jo. 8. 46.Io. 8. 46.
