2. We must Reprove impartially, and without respect of Persons. Good ⟨p. 184⟩men, if they miscarry, must be reproved as well as bad men. If Peter temporize, Paul will not spare him, nor Barnabas neither, they shall hear on't, Gal. 2. Again, great men, be they never so great, they should be admonished as well as others, so long as they are under the great God, and subject to great failings and miscarriages; Kings, and Nobles, and Magistrates, as well as meaner and inferior persons. Nathan reproved David, though a King, and so did Elijah Ahab; and Nehemiah reproved the Nobles, and Rulers for Usury and Sabbath-profanation. Certainly, if any be fit to teach great men, they are as fit to reprove them, for both must go together, 2 Tim. 4.2. That's but a drone-like Preaching that hath lost the sting of Reproving. It is the great unhappiness of Princes and Nobles that they have so many flatterers about them, and so few Reprovers. Carneades in Plutarch was wont to say, that great mens Sons learned nothing well, but to ride horses; for men would be sure to flatter them; If they run, they would lag behind, that they might out-run them; if they wrestled, they would fall on purpose, that they might seem to cast them, &c. But a Horse not knowing a Prince from a Peasant, would down with him if he could not rule him. Just so 'tis now, let great men do what they will, both against Scripture and Reason, and Law, and Conscience, they will not want their Parasites, both to encourage them, and applaud them: If there be not a Law for Cambyses to marry his Sister, tush, what of that, there is a Law for Cambyses to do what he pleases; and thus men out of cowardice, and fear of frowns, and wrath, dare not reprove guilty Greatness. Oh but if a man be a faithful Monitor, he must be impartial in his reproofs. Agag must be reproved as well as the poorest Amalekite, and the Mountains must be touched, let them smoke and fume never so furiously, to allude to that place, Psal. 144.5. This made that excellent Emperor Theodosius so much esteem Ambrose, viz. that he durst, and would out of the sense of his duty, reprove even the highest and proudest.
2. Wee must Reprove impartially, and without respect of Persons. Good ⟨p. 184⟩men, if they miscarry, must bee reproved as well as bad men. If Peter temporize, Paul will not spare him, nor Barnabas neither, they shall hear on't, Gal. 2. Again, great men, bee they never so great, they should bee admonished as well as others, so long as they are under the great God, and subject to great failings and miscarriages; Kings, and Nobles, and Magistrates, as well as meaner and inferiour persons. Nathan reproved David, though a King, and so did Elijah Ahab; and Nehemiah reproved the Nobles, and Rulers for Usury and Sabbath-prophanation. Certainly, if any bee fit to teach great men, they are as fit to reprove them, for both must go together, 2 Tim. 4.2. That's but a drone-like Preaching that hath lost the sting of Reproving. It is the great unhappiness of Princes and Nobles that they have so many flatterers about them, and so few Reprovers. Carneades in Plutarch was wont to say, that great mens Sons learned nothing well, but to ride horses; for men would be sure to flatter them; If they run, they would lag behinde, that they might out-run them; if they wrestled, t•ey would fall on purpose, that they might seem to cast them, &c. But a Horse not knowing a Prince from a Peasant, would down with him if hee could not rule him. Just so 'tis now, let great men do what they will, both against Scripture and Reason, and Law, and Conscience, they will not want their Parasites, both to encourage them, and applaud them: If there bee not a Law for Cambyses to marry his Sister, tush, what of that, there is a Law for Cambyses to do what hee pleases; and thus men out of cowardize, and fear of frowns, and wrath, dare not reprove guilty Greatness. Oh but if a man be a faithful Monitour, hee must bee impartial in his reproofs. Agag must be reproved as well as the poorest Amalekite, and the Mountains must be toucht, let them smoke and fume never so furiously, to allude to that place, Psal. 144.5. This made that excellent Emperour Theodosius so much esteem Ambrose, viz. that hee durst, and would out of the sense of his duty, reprove even the highest and proudest.
