Seeing then the ordinary attendants of […] prosperous, are the worst of men, that […] themselves, and are purveying for the ••sh, what wonder if they be flatterers, •hat have neither skill nor will to speak ••at unpleasing language of reproof, that ••ould make the prosperous know themselves! Oh how seldom (or never) do they hear, •hat the poor can hear from every mouth! •f a man of low degree be wicked, or offend, its enemy dare tell him of it, and his friend dare tell him of it, and his angry neighbour • companion will be sure to tell him of it, and they dare tell him frequently till he amend, and tell him plainly, and set it home: But if great ones be as bad, and ••ed more help, as having more temptation, yet alas they may sin, and sin again and perish, for any body that will deal faithfully with their souls; except some faithful Minister of Christ, whose plainness is taken but for a thing of course. And usually even Ministers themselves, are some of them so unfaithful, and some so fearful, and some so prudently cautelous, that such persons have no such help from them to know themselves, as the poorer sort of people have. If we deal freely with them, and set it home, it will be well taken; ⟨p. 452⟩if it offend, yet offence may easily be born as bringing no ill consequents to our Ministry: but if we deal so with the great one• of the world, what outcries would it raise▪ and by what names should we and ou• preaching be called! If it were not for fea• lest some malicious hearers would misunderstand me, and misapply my words, a• spoken of those that we are bound to honour, and as tending to diminish the reputation of any of our superiors (which […] detest) I should have showed you all this in Scripture instances. When Haman could not bear the omission one mans obeisance, what wonder if such cannot bear to be spoken to, as indeed they are! Not only an Ahab hateth one faithful plain Michaiah, because he prophesieth not good of him but evil, (1 King. 22.8.) but Asa that destroyed Idolatry, can imprison the Prophet that reproveth him for his sin, 2 Chron. 16.10. I will not tell you of the words that were spoken to Amos by the Priest of Bethel, Amos 7.10, 11, 12, 13. or to the Prophet. 2 Chron. 25.15, 16. lest malice mis-interpret and mis-report me;
Seeing then the ordinary attendants of 〈…〉 prosperous, are the worst of men, that 〈…〉 themselves, and are purveying for the ••sh, what wonder if they be flatterers, •hat have neither skill nor will to speak ••at unpleasing language of reproof, that ••ould make the prosperous know themselves! Oh how seldom (or never) do they hear, •hat the poor can hear from every mouth! •f a man of low degree be wicked, or offend, its enemy dare tell him of it, and his friend dare tell him of it, and his angry neighbour • companion will be sure to tell him of it, and they dare tell him frequently till he amend, and tell him plainly, and set it home: But if great ones be as bad, and ••ed more help, as having more temptation, yet alas they may sin, and sin again and perish, for any body that will deal faithfully with their souls; except some faithful Minister of Christ, whose plainess is taken but for a thing of course. And usually even Ministers themselves, are some of them so unfaithful, and some so fearful, and some so prudently cautelous, that such persons have no such help from them to know themselves, as the poorer sort of people have. If we deal freely with them, and set it home, it will be well taken; ⟨p. 452⟩if it offend, yet offence may easily be born as bringing no ill consequents to our Ministery: but if we deal so with the great one• of the world, what outcries would it raise▪ and by what names should we and ou• preaching be called! If it were not for fea• lest some malicious hearers would misunderstand me, and misapply my words, a• spoken of those that we are bound to honour, and as tending to diminish the reputation of any of our superiors (which 〈…〉 detest) I should have shewed you all this in Scripture instances. When Haman could not bear the omission one mans obeysance, what wonder if such cannot bear to be spoken to, as indeed they are! Not only an Ahab hateth one faithful plain Michaiah, because he prophesieth not good of him but evil, (
