A20559:685
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandments gathered from the mouth of a faithful pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholar in Cambridge.The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandements gathered from the mouth of a faithfull pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholler in Cambridge.
London: printed by John Harison for Thomas Man, 1603London: printed by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man, 1603
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
First, for the inward duty▪ here every man is bound to have a charitable opinion, and good conceit of his neighbour, with a desire of his good name and credit. This loving persuasion of the heart, is contrary to the former instructing and misdeeming. For as suspicion allowed makes one lye open to all the sins that follow in speaking or receiving ill reports, so this being observed that our hearts be well seasoned with this charitable opinion and desire of his credit, one is sure not to slander himself, and he can nothing so easily be tainted by receiving the venom of false slanders from other mens mouths. Therefore to mound our selves against all other breaches of this commandment, First, get our hearts to give our neighbours ⟨p. 95⟩that good allowance, that wisdom and charity will afford him. Now whether one have this main and principal virtue of this commandment or no, It must be tried, and every one may know his own heart by these three rules. First, in doubtful things where the matter is not plain, always take things in the best part if any sense can be found better then other, let that be had, If matters be not to evidently ill, always a heart that is charitable disposed to his neighbours credit, will seek the best interpretation and as near as he can make the best of every thing.
First, for the inward dutie▪ heere euerie man is bound to haue a charitable opinion, and good conceit of his neighbour, with a desire of his good name and credit. This louing perswasion of the heart, is contrarie to the former instructing and misdeeming. For as suspition allowed makes one lye open to all the sinnes that follow in speaking or receiuing ill reports, so this being obserued that our hearts be well seasoned with this charitable opinion and desire of his credit, one is sure not to slaunder himselfe, and he can nothing so easily be tainted by receiuing the venim of false slanders from other mens mouths. Therefore to mound our selues against all other breaches of this commaundment, First, get our hearts to giue our neighbours ⟨p. 95⟩that good allowance, that wisdome and charitie will afforde him. Now whether one haue this maine and principall vertue of this commandement or no, It must be tried, and euery one may know his owne heart by these three rules. First, in doubtfull thinges where the matter is not plaine, alwaies take thinges in the best part if any sence can be found better then other, let that be had, If matters be not to euidently ill, alwaies a heart that is charitable disposed to his neighbours credit, will seeke the best interpretation and as neere as hee can make the best of euery thing.