A care-cloth

CHAP. VII. Containing the second use, viz. an exhortation and direction to this duty, of mourning for the faults of others.

CHAP. VII. Containing the second vse, viz. an exhortation and direction to this dutie, of mourning for the faults of others.

Use 2 But now, hoping that you do all both fee and feel,¹ this omission of tears to be sinful, I must turn my speech unto your hearts for another purpose, requiring you in Gods name to reform this fault, by turning your laughter into tears, and your joy into sorrow, as Saint James adviseth. Ignorance of a duty required, though it cannot wholly excuse the neglect of it, is yet some mitigation of the fault: but when a man is plainly told of a duty, convinced that it is a duty, reproved for omitting it, and yet is careless to perform it, now his carelessness is notorious and inexcusable. Perhaps, my Brethren, some of you that have now been taught the needfulness of these tears, did never consider the matter so well before, but now that the thing is made plain unto you; and your souls must needs confess, that you also, as well as David, ought to be moved with the faults of others: continue not to omit a known duty, lest your consciences accuse you of wilful disobedience. Not alone to do what God forbids me, when I know his will to the contrary, is a fruit of wilfulness; but also to neglect what he enjoins, when his good pleasure is made manifest unto me.

Vse 2 BVt now, hoping that you doe all both fee and feele,¹ this omission of teares to be sinfull, I must turne my speech vnto your hearts for another purpose, requiring you in Gods name to reforme this fault, by turning your laughter into teares, and your ioy into sorrow, as Saint Iames aduiseth. Ignorance of a dutie required, though it cannot wholly excuse the neglect of it, is yet some mitigation of the fault: but when a man is plainely told of a dutie, conuinced that it is a dutie, reprooued for omitting it, and yet is carelesse to performe it, now his carelesnesse is notorious and inexcusable. Perhaps, my Brethren, some of you that haue now been taught the needfulnesse of these teares, did neuer consider the matter so well before, but now that the thing is made plaine vnto you; and your soules must needs confesse, that you also, as well as Dauid, ought to be mooued with the faults of others: continue not to omit a knowne dutie, lest your consciences accuse you of wilfull disobedience. Not alone to doe what God forbids me, when I know his will to the contrarie, is a fruite of wilfulnesse; but also to neglect what hee enioynes, when his good pleasure is made manifest vnto me.