The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

5. It may be known by being impatient of reproof. Herod hears John Baptist gladly, till he preached against his Herodias: this is a noli me tangere; touch me not. The Plant-animal, or the sensible Plant so called, when it is touched, shrinks up, and contracts its self; the sinner shrinks when he is touched in the sore place. The eye is a tender part and apt to be offended, if you meddle with it. This is the reason why people are enraged against a powerful, soul-searching, soul-saving Ministry: most men are for Mountebanks, and Quacksalvers, that make use altogether of Lenitives, and healing Plasters, but as for your faithful Chirurgeons that according to Art, will probe and search, and cleanse the Wound, they cannot away with them, I hate him, saith Ahab of Michaiah, He never prophecies good concerning me, but evil: only I shall add this, that man, especially that Minister that reproves another for his sins, had need to be blameless as much as may be himself:¹ thus the Apostle intimates, Thou which teachest another, teachest thou not thy self? that man that is a teacher of others should teach himself, so much the more, we teach others when we deliver unto them Rules and Precepts, unto which they are to conform, we teach our selves, when we obey those Rules, Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery, &c. that man that hath a beam in his own eye, is not likely to pull out the mote that is in his brothers.

5. It may be known by being impatient of reproof. Herod hears John Baptist gladly, till he preached against his Herodias: this is a noli me tangere; touch me not. The Plant-animal, or the sensible Plant so called, when it is touched, shrinks up, and contracts its self; the sinner shrinks when he is touched in the sore place. The eye is a tender part and apt to be offended, if you meddle with it. This is the reason why people are enraged against a powerful, soul-searching, soul-saving Ministry: most men are for Mountebanks, and Quacksalvers, that make use altogether of Lenitives, and healing Plaisters, but as for your faithful Chirurgions that according to Art, will probe and search, and cleanse the Wound, they cannot away with them, I hate him, saith Ahab of Michaiah, He never prophecies good concerning me, but evill: only I shall add this, that man, especially that Minister that reproves another for his sins, had need to be blameless as much as may be himself: