If we reprove any man for an error in his judgement, and do not prove it to be an error; or if we reprove a man for sin in practice, and do not prove his practice sinful, or that he hath practised that sin, no conviction follows. What is said and not proved comes to the ear only, not to the conscience. Therefore saith Christ (John 8.46.) Which of you convinceth me of sin. Find a spot in my life if you can. I know you are ready to slander me with, but you cannot convince me of evil. It is said of Apollos (Acts 18.28.) He mightily convinced the Jews. How did he convince them? not by reproving them only, for not receiving the Messiah; he did not barely tell them, ye are a company of unbelievers: but he reproved them by proving the necessity of their receiving Christ the Messiah, and the evil of rejecting him, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. Here was proof, and so conviction followed. He convinced them by authority, by the testimony of the word, comparing Scripture ⟨p. 80⟩with Scripture, the prophecy, with the history of Christ. The Apostle would have the Ministers of the Gospel mighty at this work (Tit: 1.8.) They must hold fast the faithful word, that they may be able by sound doctrine, both to exhort and to convince the gain-sayers. Not only must they be able to rebuke gain-sayers, this will not do it; they must also convince them, or stop their mouths. (James 2.9.) If any of you have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the Law as transgressors. How doth the Law convince? Not only by reproving, but by proving, It shows us a rule, and saith, there you have departed from it; here is the line, and there ye have transgressed, or gone over it. Thus ye are convinced, that ye are transgressors. He is both wise and faithful, he doth his work like a workman that needeth not be ashamed, who not only gives reproof but proof, either of error in judgement, or of evil in practise. For the close of this point, I may show you three great convincers.
If we reprove any man for an errour in his judgement, and doe not prove it to be an errour; or if we reprove a man for sin in practice, and doe not prove his practice sinfull, or that he hath practised that sin, no conviction follows. What is sayd and not proved comes to the eare only, not to the conscience. Therefore saith Christ (John 8.46.) Which of you convinceth me of sin. Find a spot in my life if you can. I know you are ready to slander me with, but you cannot convince me of evill. It is sayd of Apollos (Acts 18.28.) He mightily convinced the Jewes. How did he convince them? not by reproving them only, for not receiving the Messias; he did not barely tell them, ye are a company of unbelievers: but he reproved them by proving the necessity of their receiving Christ the Messias, and the evill of rejecting him, shewing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. Here was proofe, and so conviction followed. He convinced them by authority, by the testimony of the word, comparing Scripture ⟨p. 80⟩with Scripture, the prophesie, with the history of Christ. The Apostle would have the Ministers of the Gospel mighty at this worke (Tit: 1.8.) They must hold fast the faithfull word, that they may be able by sound doctrine, both to exhort and to convince the gain-sayers. Not only must they be able to rebuke gain-sayers, this will not doe it; they must also convince them, or stop their mouths. (James 2.9.) If any of you have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the Law as transgressours. How doth the Law convince? Not only by reproving, but by proving, It shews us a rule, and saith, there you have departed from it; here is the line, and there ye have transgressed, or gone over it. Thus ye are convinced, that ye are transgressors. He is both wise and faithfull, he doth his worke like a workman that needeth not be ashamed, who not only gives reproofe but proofe, either of error in judgement, or of evill in practise. For the close of this poynt, I may shew you three great convincers.
