Four godly and fruitful sermons two preached at Drayton in Oxford-shire, at a fast,…Foure godlie and fruitful sermons two preached at Draiton in Oxford-shire, at a fast,…

Many offend against this rule, who will never reprove sin in their friends, till God revenge it from heaven; wherein they are far from true friendship: for whereas they might by admonishing them of their faults in time, prevent the judgements of God, they do, through a false love, pull the wrath of God upon them whom they love most dearly. He loveth most naturally, that hath learned to love spiritually: and he loveth most sincerely, that cannot abide sin in the party beloved, without some wholesome admonition.

Many offend against this rule, who will neuer reprooue sinne in their friends, till God reuenge it from heauen; wherein they are farre from true friendship: for whereas they might by admonishing them of their faults in time, preuent the iudgements of God, they do, through a false loue, pull the wrath of God vpon them whom they loue most dearely. Hee loueth most naturally, that hath learned to loue spiritually: and hee loueth most sincerely, that cannot abide sinne in the partie beloued, without some wholesome admonition.

But do not many now adays seem zealously to mislike sin in strangers, who can wink at the same fault in their kindred, in their wives, in their children, in their parents? as if the diversity of persons could change the nature of the sin. This blind zeal God ⟨p. 93⟩hath punished, and doth punish his children. Isaac did carnally love his son Esau for meat, & for a piece of venison.¹ David was too much affected to Absalom and to Adoniah for their comely personage, so as his zeal was hindered in discerning sin aright in them. Now Jacob was not so dear to Isaac, and Solomon was more hardly set to school, and made to take pains: but behold, God loving Jacob, and refusing Esau, (howsoever Isaac loved Esau better then Jacob) made Esau more troublesome, and Jacob more comfortable unto him. Absalom and Adoniah, brought up like Cockneys, became corrosives to Davids heart: Solomon more restrained and better instructed, was his joy, his crown, his successor in his kingdom. This disease is so hereditary to many parents, loving their children in the flesh, rather then in the spirit, that the holy Ghost is fain to call upon them more vehemently, to teach, to instruct, and to correct, as knowing how easily nature would cool zeal in this kind of duty. Indeed many will set by their wives, children, and kinsfolks, if they be thrifty, like to become good husbands, witty and politic, or if they be such as for their gifts can bring some revenue to their stock, or afford some profit unto them; how deep sinners soever they be against God, that maketh no matter, it little grieveth them: whereby they bewray their great corruption, that they are neither zealous in truth of Gods glory, nor lovers aright of their children, because they can be sharp enough in reprehension if they fail but a little in thriftiness, and yet are too too cold in admonition, if they fail never so much in godliness.