You must plead so as to desire reformation, not that you may get the victory and have the better of it by your pleading, but with bowels of compassion to seek Reformation you must not cut as an enemy to conquer, but as a Chirurgeon to heal: Therefore before you go to rebuke and to plead you must go to prayer, that God would bless your rebuking, and your exhortation to your brethren, and when you have done pray again to God for a blessing upon it. And look after your reprehensions, and see what becometh of them; and if they do not prosper to Reformation, then mourn, and cry to God for your brethren; and if it do prosper, then bless God that you ⟨p. 164⟩have converted a soul. Thus it was with the Tribes on this side Jordan, when they pleaded with the Tribes on the other side Jordan, you shall find in the story that when they heard the answer of their brethren they blessed God when they saw that their brethren were free from sin: 1so you should do, you should go and plead with your brethren, perhaps your brethren may have the better of it and may convince you that that which you apprehend to be a sin is not a sin, now many men perhaps are angry & will not be convinced that it is no sin, then I shall go a way with the shame, what do I I rebuke him of a sin, and it is no sin? Many a man holds on in an argument what he hath begun, and is loath to yield that it is not a sin, whereas he should be glad to yield it. If a Minister plead or preach that men do any thing that he conceives is a sin, if another should come and convince him that it was no sin, it is a vile spirit in any Minister not to bless God that he is mistaken, why? Because now the g••ilt of his brother is removed in his heart. If I had not been mistaken, tis true, my credit had been somewhat, but I am mistaken, the sin is removed from my brother, Oh blessed be God that my brother is not guilty, though I am mistaken; if we plead against others with such a spirit as this, God will bless us.
You must plead so as to desire reformation, not that you may get the victorie and have the better of it by your pleading, but with bowels of compassion to seeke Reformation you must not cut as an enemie to conquer, but as a Chirurgian to heale: Therefore before you goe to rebuke and to plead you must goe to prayer, that God would blesse your rebuking, and your exhortation to your brethren, and when you have done pray againe to God for a blessing upon it. And look after your reprehensions, and see what becometh of them; and if they doe not prosper to Reformation, then mourn, and crie to God for your brethren; and if it do prosper, then blesse God that you ⟨p. 164⟩have converted a soule. Thus it was with the Tribes on this side Jordan, when they pleaded with the Tribes on the other side Jordan, you shall finde in the story that when they heard the answer of their brethren they blessed God when they saw that their brethren were free from sinne: 1so you should do, you should goe and plead with your brethren, perhaps your brethren may have the better of it and may convince you that that which you apprehend to be a sinne is not a sinne, now many men perhaps are angry & will not be convinced that it is no sinne, then I shall goe a way with the shame, what dloe I rebuke him of a sinne, and it is no sinne? Many a man holds on in an argument what he hath begun, and is loath to yeeld that it is not a sin, whereas he should be glad to yeeld it. If a Minister plead or preach that men do any thing that he conceives is a sin, if another should come and convince him that it was no sin, it is a vile spirit in any Mnister not to blesse God that he is mistaken, why? Because now the g••ilt of his brother is removed in his heart. If I had not beene mistaken, tis true, my credit had beene somewhat, but I am mistaken, the sin is removed from my brother, Oh blessed be God that my brother is not guilty, though I am mistaken; if we plead against others with such a spirit as this, God will blesse us.
- 1Joshus, 22. 33.Ioshus, 22. 33.
