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…

But now on the other side, Gods people must be very careful ⟨p. 135⟩and tender, what conceits they entertain, and what censures they pass upon others. They are bound by the Laws of divine love, to conceive and speak the best of every one, until his words, ordinary carriage, open profaneness, and fruits of the flesh, clearly convince the contrary; to construe and interpret all things in the better part, so far, as they may with a good conscience, without prejudice to the truth, or impeachment of Gods glory. They ought to be so far from greedy apprehension of imaginary matter, or violent wresting of mens words, actions and behaviour to the worst sense; that if matters be but probable, poised with equal circumstances, and with even weight of reasons interpretable both ways, they are ever to suffer their conceits and censures to be carried the more charitable way. They ought to be so far from censuring others without ground, truth and proof; (which is the ordinary practise of most men) that they should never speak the ill they too certainly know by their brethren, but with fearfulness, as it were, and some kind of enforcement.

But now on the other side, Gods people must be very carefull ⟨p. 135⟩and tender, what conceits they entertaine, and what censures they passe vpon others. They are bound by the Lawes of diuine loue, to conceiue and speake the best of euery one, vntill his words, ordinarie carriage, open prophanenesse, and fruits of the flesh, clearely conu•nce the contrary; to construe and interpret all things in the better part, so farre, as they may with a good conscience, without preiudice to the truth, or impeachment of Gods glory. They ought to bee so farre from greedy apprehension of imaginarie matter, or violent wresting of mens words, actions and behauiour to the worst sence; that if matters be but probable, poyzd with equall circumstances, and with euen weight of reasons interpretable both wayes, they are euer to suffer their conceits and censures to be carried the more charitable way. They ought to be so farre from censuring others without ground, truth and proofe; (which is the ordinarie practise of most men) that they should neuer speake the ill they too certainly know by their brethren, but with fearefulnesse, as it were, and some kinde of enforcement.