Condemnation (as was showed) is due only to the wicked, and if an innocent be condemned, he is reputed wicked, and receives punishment as guilty. As that sentence of condemnation which proceeds out of the mouth of God against impenitent sinners and evil doers, binds the guilt of their evil deeds upon them, and delivers them up to punishment; so he that condemns his brother, fasteneth guilt upon him, and speaks him deserving punishment; for as where guilt is, punishment followeth, so a fault is conceived to go before. There are these three things in sin, the fault, the guilt, and the blot, or pollution of it; he that fasteneth guilt by condemnation, fasteneth the fault and blot much more; how sad is it then to be deservedly under condemnation? And how great is the privilege of believers, to whom (though in themselves they deserve it) there is no condemnation! (Rom 8.1.) They who in this life are past condemnation, are also passed from death to life. Many are condemned who are good in the sight of God; but all condemnation makes a man evil, yea wicked ⟨p. 32⟩in the sight of the world. And •••ause every sentence of condemnation renders a man wicked in the eyes of worldly men, therefore righteous Magistrates will not condemn hastily; They will not judge (as Christ did not, Isa. 11.3.) after the sight of their eyes, nor reprove after the he•••• of their ears; To judge by the sight of the eye, is to Judge according to the first appearance of things, before inquisition hath been made, and to reprove by the hearing of the ear, is to reprove according to the first report which is made, without examination. We must not judge thus, because we must judge in righteousness, which cannot be, if we judge thus. How deliberate, how tender should we be in condemning any man, seeing condemnation doth not only impose a punishment upon, but suppose a crime, a wickedness, a fault in him. It is grievous enough to bear punishment, but to bear the burden of a crime or fault, is in reality much more grievous.
Condemnation (as was shewed) is due only to the wicked, and if an innocent be condemned, he is reputed wicked, and receives punishment as guilty. As that sentence of condemnation which proceeds out of the mouth of God against impenitent sinners and evill doers, bindes the guilt of their evill deeds upon them, and delivers them up to punishment; so he that condemnes his brother, fastneth guilt upon him, and speakes him deserving punishment; for as where guilt is, punishment followeth, so a fault is conceived to goe before. There are these three things in sin, the fault, the guilt, and the blot, or pollution of it; he that fastneth guilt by condemnation, fastneth the fault and blot much more; how sad is it then to be deservedly under condemnation? And how great is the priviledge of beleevers, to whom (though in themselves they deserve it) there is no condemnation! (Rom 8.1.) They who in this life are past condemnation, are also passed from death to life. Many are condemned who are good in the sight of God; but all condemnation makes a man evill, yea wicked ⟨p. 32⟩in the sight of the world. And •••ause every sentence of condemnation renders a man wicked in the eyes of worldly men, therefore righteous Magistrates will not condemne hastily; They will not judge (as Christ did not, Isa. 11.3.) after the sight of their eyes, nor reprove after the he•••• of their eares; To judge by the sight of the eye, is to Judge according to the first appearance of things, before inquisition hath been made, and to reprove by the hearing of the eare, is to reprove acco•ding to the first report which is made, without examination. We must not judge thus, because we must judge in righteousnesse, which cannot be, if we judge thus. How deliberate, how tender should we be in condemning any man, seeing condemnation doth not only impose a punishment upon, but suppose a crime, a wickednesse, a fault in him. It is grievous enough to beare punishment, but to beare the burden of a crime or fault, is in reality much more grievous.