A20559:689
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.
Thirdly, we shall easily discern what affection we bear to our brothers credit, by our grief and sorrow which we conceive when we hear a true report made of any fault or sin that hath indeed blotted him and ruinated his good account. If one be aggrieved and sorrowful for his neighbours faults, whereby he hath deserved discredit and diminished his reputation, then it is sure he was well persuaded of him, so far as was lawful and had that good desire that is here commanded. Thus Ezra showed how dear the names of Gods people were unto him, for he having heard of that foul and reproachful sin that they had taken strange wives and mingled the holy seed with the profane, he wept and mourned, he hangs down his head, and confesseth that he was ashamed and could not lift up his head towards heaven. But what had he done, he was clear, one would have thought he had no cause to be ashamed, he had not offended in this point, a natural man would rather have said, you be rude people and base, you be a company of naughty persons what are not you ashamed to forget God thus? and to go clean contrary to his commandment in this sort? and so fallen straight to rating and reviling them, no he was not of that mind he loved his neighbours name better then so, and therefore he pitied them, and was careful to heal their fault, as he would have been dealt with all in the like case.
Thirdly, we shall easily discerne what affection we beare to our brothers credit, by our greefe and sorrow which we conceiue when we heare a true report made of any fault or sinne that hath indeede blotted him and ruinated his good account. If one be agreeued and sorrowfull for his neighbours faults, whereby he hath deserued discredit and diminished his reputation, then it is sure he was well perswaded of him, so farre as was lawfull and had that good desire that is here commanded. Thus Ezra shewd how deare the names of Gods people were vnto him, for he hauing heard of that foule and reprochfull sin that they had taken strange wiues and mingled the holy seede with the prophane, he wept and mourned, he hangs downe his head, and confesseth that he was ashamed and could not lift vp his head towards heauen. But what had he done, hee was cleere, one would haue thought he had no cause to be ashamed, he had not offended in this point, a naturall man would rather haue said, you be rude people and base, you be a companie of naughtie persons what are not you ashamed to forget God thus? and to goe cleane contrarie to his commandement in this sort? and so falne streight to rating and reuiling them, no he was not of that minde he loued his neighbours name better then so, and therefore he pittied them, and was carefull to heale their fault, as he would haue beene dealt with all in the like case.