A Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practically resolvedA Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practicaly resolved

5. We ought to mourn for the Sins of others advantageously to §. 9 those for whom we mourn, with the using of all due means to reclaim and reduce them. 1. By Prayer for their Conversion, and Gods pardoning them. My hearts desire and prayer to God (saith Paul) is that Israel might be saved: Rom. 10.1. He tells, Chap. 9.1. how he bewailed them, that he had great heaviness, and continual sorrow in his heart for them, but here we see he mingled his tears with prayers for them. We cannot mourn for those for whom we cannot pray; for every Evil that makes us grieve because of its continuance, we must needs desire may be removed.¹ Though Moses when he was with the People, maintained the Cause of God with the Sword, yet when he was with God, he endeavoured the preservation of the People with prayer. 2. We must endeavour to follow the Mourning for Sinners with restraining them from Sin (if we have it) by Power. We must not hate Sinners, and suffer them to sin: we destroy those whom we suffer to sin, if we can hinder them. None may permit Sin in another, if he can restrain it, but he that can produce a greater Good out of it, than the permission is an Evil. Restraining of Inferiors is as great a duty as Prayer for Superiors. See it in the case of Eli's negligence to restrain his Sons from their Impieties. 3. We must mourn for Sinners with advantaging them by Example, that they may never be able to tax us with those Sins for which we would be thought sorrowful. Examples sometimes have a louder voice than Precepts. Tears will not in secret drown those Sins which public Examples encourage. We confute our Tears and Prayers before God, by an unsuitable Example before the Offender. The blots of others cannot be wiped off with blurred fingers. 4. We must follow our mourning for others Sins, with labouring to advantage them by holy Reproof for the Sins we mourn for. If our place and opportunities allow us, we must not only sigh for their Sins, but cry against them: Ezek. 9.4. Lot was not only a Mourner for the Sodomites Sins, but a Reprover. I know not whether it be a greater sign of a Godly man, to give a Reproof duly, or to take a Reproof thankfully. 1. But be sure Reproofs be given with Zeal for Gods Glory, not either out of hatred to the Person reproved, or out of desire to promote thine own Reputation and Interest by the Reproof. The Apostles,