Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

LI. A Christian indeed can bear the infirmities of the weak: Though he love not their weakness, yet he pitieth it because he truly loveth their persons. Christ hath taught him not to break the bruised reed, and to gather the Lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead ⟨p. 127⟩them that are with young, Isa. 40.11. & 42.3. If they have diseases and distempers, he seeketh in tenderness to cure them, and not in wrath to hurt and vex them. He turneth not the Infants or sick persons from the family, because they cry or are unquiet, unclean, infirm and troublesome: but he exerciseth his love and pity upon their weaknesses. If they mistake their way, or are ignorant, and peevish and froward in their mistakes, he seeketh not to undo them, but gently to reduce them. If they censure himself, and call him erroneous, heretical, antichristian, idolatrous, because he concurreth not with them in their mistakes, he beareth it with Love and patience, as he would do the peevish chidings of a child, or the frowardness of the sick. He doth not lose his charity, and set his wit against a Child, and aggravate the crimes, and being reviled revile again; and say, you are Schismatics, hypocrites, obstinate, and fit to be severely dealt with: but he overcometh them with love and patience, which is the conquest of a Saint, and the happiest victory both for himself and them. It is a small matter to him to be judged of man, 1 Cor. 4.3, 4. He is more troubled for the weakness and disease of the censorious, than for his own being wronged by their censures, Phil. 1.16, 17, 18. Rom. 15.1, 2, 3. & 14.2, 3.

LI. A Christian indeed can bear the infirmities of the weak: Though he love not their weakness, yet he pittyeth it because he truly loveth their persons. Christ hath taught him not to break the bruised reed, and to gather the Lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosome, and gently lead