Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But on the contrary part, if I be desirous to §50give my neighbour good counsel, and to seek his welldoing, so as I am not led by any evil affection, but I would procure his welfare as much as in me is: I may well say unhappy man, look to thy self, it seemeth that thou intendest to sell thy self to the devil, wilt thou be a slave under that cursed bondage? Thou showest indeed that thou art witless and stark mad, seeing thou wilt receive no warning. Wilt thou needs perish so unhappily? Go like a wretch as §60thou art, every man ought to spit in thy face. I may allege all this to a man, and yet do him no wrong. For why? I could not otherwise reclaim him. When I see that Satan hath so hardened him, that he had need to be quickened up with main strokes of the hammer: I may deal thus vehemently with him, and it is the next way to cover his faults. For to what intent do I so, but that they should be pardoned at Gods hand, and that he should no more be defamed to the worldward? It grieveth me to see him pointed at with the finger, it grieveth me to see him a laughing stock to all men, it grieveth me to see him set as it were upon a scaffold for all men to gaze at: I say this gear grieveth me: and therefore I labour to bring him into the right way again. In so dealing there is no wrong at all. But yet for all this we must not take leave to be over bitter. For although we be very well minded, and be not carried with any evil intent: yet may we soon do amiss,¹ if we be too sharp in rebuking. And therefore doeth Saint Paul warn us expressly, to deal mildly in rebuking such as have offended. And why? Consider (sayeth he) that thou thy self also mayest fall. Therefore let us be mild and gentle to our neighbours, as we would they should be to us in like case. But how soever the world go, let us speak of vices without colouring of them, and let us endeavour lustily to correct offenders, according as they be able to bear, and after as we see them disposed: and let charity and brotherly love move us thereunto, for if we pray God to guide and govern us in this case by his holy spirit: the things that are spoken roundly and charitably cannot be counted an injury.

But on the contrarie part, if I bee desirous to §50giue my neighbour good counsell, and to seeke his weldoing, so as I am not ledde by any euill affection, but I woulde procure his welfare as much as in me is: I may well say vnhappie man, looke to thy selfe, it seemeth that thou intendest to sell thy selfe to the deuill, wilt thou bee a slaue vnder that cursed bondage? Thou shewest indeede that thou art witlesse and starke madde, seeing thou wilt receiue no warning. Wilt thou needes perish so vnhappily? Go like a wretch as