Some general directions for a comfortable walking with God delivered in the lecture at…Some generall directions for a comfortable walking with God deliuered in the lecture at…

These premonitions and cautions premised, and observed, every Christian ought to address himself with resolution, and conscience to discharge this Christian duty of reproving, when a just occasion, and a calling thereunto do require and exact it at his hands. For these reasons:

These premonitions and cautions premised, and obserued, euery Christian ought to addresse himselfe with resolution, and conscience to discharge this Christian duty of reproouing, when a iust occasion, and a calling thereunto doe require and exact it at his hands. For these reasons:

First, in respect of the party offending, 1. A seasonable reproof, mingled and sanctified with the spirit of invocation and compassion, may, by the blessing of God, be an occasion of conversion to the offender. And ⟨p. 121⟩let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the ¹error of his way, shall sa•e a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. And it is the most glorious work in the World, and the noblest employment under the Sun, to have an hand in the holy business of saving a soul. Let hope then of doing spiritual good to thy brothers soul, be the special aim, and a principal motive of performing this duty. There is a Law, Exod. 23. 4, 5. that if a man meet his enemies Ox, or Ass, going astray, he must bring him again▪ If he see his enemies Ass lying under his burden, he must help him up again: How much more dear and precious in our eyes should the immortal soul of our Brother be, then the Ass of our enemy? If we must turn back the straying Ox of our enemy, and lift up his Ass, when he is crushed under his burden; with what eagerness and zeal ought we to labour, to stop the furious course of a reasonable creature towards the pit of Hell; and to put our helping hand to raise up that silly foul, which by reason of the heavy weight of its sin, is full sorely bruised and bleeding, ready even to breathe out it last, and sink into the misery of endless horror? Speak then boldly in the cause of God, when thou hearest thy brother blaspheme his Name, jest with his Word, talk filthily, rail against holiness, slander good men, plead for profane pastimes, &c. for they are so many mortal stabs into his own poor soul; besides the natural infectiousness of rotten speeches, which may do much mischief to the standers by. Though thy reproof prevail not at the present; yet thou knowest not what impression and working it may have afterward upon his hard heart, whereby perhaps he may happily think upon a new course, and of conversion to God; and so thou be a blessed instrument of saving a soul. 2. But if it have not so happy a success upon his soul, yet it may be, thou mayest thereby tame and take down his insolency; so cut his comb by a seasonable contradiction, that he do not carry it away bravely;