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

reproved Idolaters; but Zeal for God purely put them upon it. Paul and Barnabas rent their Clothes, as ⟨p. 112⟩well as reproved Idolaters. And Pauls Spirit was stirred with inward Zeal,¹ before his Tongue stirred against the Athenians. Let Reproofs 2. Be mingled with Meekness. Passion is seldom prevalent with a Sinner. Sweep not Gods House with the Devils Besom. Let the Sinner see thee kind to himself, when thou art most unkind to his Sin. 3. Let Reproofs be qualified with Prudence, by observing the nature and degree of the Offence, and the temper of the Offender. A small Offence, like a Fly on the forehead, is not to be killed with a Beetle, nor is a Venice Glass (and so tender are some tempers) to be scoured with as much strength as we scour an Iron Pot with. Prudence is also to be observed in Reproofs, by care to preserve our own safety, and not to expose our selves by indiscreet and lavish expressions, to the malice of those whom we reprehend. 4. Reprove Sinners with Patience; knock twice, nay thrice, at the door of a Sinners Conscience. Importunity may prevail with a Sinner for his own Soul, if with the unjust Judge for another. Wait, if peradventure God may give the Sinner Repentance. 5. With expressing that Commiseration towards a Sinner in private, which thou expressest for him before God in secret. A profane person going once to hear a Play, and telling of a Godly man whom he met, whither he was going; this good man entreated him to forbear, and not to go to so wicked a Meeting, that might easily endanger his Soul: but the man was obstinate, and notwithstanding all the Arguments the good man could use to hinder him from going, he told him he was resolved to go to the Play-house: with that the good man shed abundance of tears upon the beholding his obstinacy. They part one from the other; the one, the resolute person goes towards the Play-house; but just as he was entering into it, the remembrance of the tears shed by the godly dissuader, so wrought upon him that he durst not adventure to go into that hurtful place, but returned from it without incurring the danger of that temptation.

reproved Idolaters; but Zeal for God purely put them upon it. Paul and Barnabas rent their Cloaths, as ⟨p. 112⟩