If it be asked, What honour doth import, and what may ⟨p. 323⟩be comprehended under it? Answ. Under honour are comprehended, 1. Charitable constructions of mens actions, whereby what is doubtful is exponed to the best: It will not, nor ought not, I grant, determine a man to esteem every man gracious whom he knoweth not to be profane, nor every thing to be truth spoken by him which he knoweth not to be false: But 1. it will keep a man from running into the extreme of contrary judging of him as wicked, false, carnal, natural, graceless (a lamentable ill amongst even good people, too ready often to give such designations and epithets to their Neighbours, whether inferior or superior to them, on very little ground, and sometimes to persons, who, without breach of charity, may be supposed for true Religion, not to be much, if any thing at all, short of themselves) or such an one as some may call him, even though he know nothing of his goodn •s •, yet because he knoweth not his evil, he forbeareth to conclude so harshly of him. 2. It will make him live with him as (to him at least) negatively gracious, and accept of what he saith for truth, not knowing any thing to the contrary, in so far as Christian prudence will permit him; and thus far a charitable construction will lead us in reference to our Neighbour, for we are not bound positively without ground to determine a thing to be right or wrong, or a man gracious or wicked when we have not certain knowledge, and so may be deceived; but we ought to walk with men whose hypocrisy and dishonesty we know not, as with good and honest men, yea, even where some slips or escapes are to be found. 2. Honour comprehendeth and taketh in humility so far as it respecteth and relateth to a humble carriage amongst men, which is a grace moderating a man so, that he preferreth not himself inordinately to others, either in respect of place or parts, or other such like grounds, which Christ commendeth in the Gospel, and enjoineth that men should not love the uppermost rooms, or first salutations, but seek to prefer others, and be to their own honour as weaned children, or new-born babes, Matth. 18 3▪ readier to serve a •d give honour to others, then desirous of service and honour from them, and this not in complement, but in reality. 3.
If it be asked, What honour doth import, and what may ⟨p. 323⟩be comprehended under it? Answ. Under honour are comprehended, 1. Charitable constructions of mens actions, whereby what is doubtful is exponed to the best: It will not, nor ought not, I grant, determine a man to esteem every man gracious whom he knoweth not to be prophane, nor every thing to be truth spoken by him which he knoweth not to be false: But 1. it will keep a man from running into the extream of contrary judging of him as wicked, false, carnal, natural, graceless (a lamentable ill amongst even good people, too ready often to give such designations and epithets to their Neighbours, whether inferiour or superiour to them, on very little ground, and sometimes to persons, who, without breach of charity, may be supposed for true Religion, not to be much, if any thing at all, short of themselves) or such an one as some may call him, even though he know nothing of his goodn •s •, yet because he knoweth not his evil, he forbeareth to conclude so harshly of him. 2. It will make him live with him as (to him at least) negatively gracious, and accept of what he saith for truth, not knowing any thing to the contrary, in so far as Christian prudence will permit him; and thus far a charitable construction will lead us in reference to our Neighbour, for we are not bound positively without ground to determine a thing to be right or wrong, or a man gracious or wicked when we have not certain knowledge, and so may be deceived; but we ought to walk with men whose hypocrisie and dishonesty we know not, as with good and honest men, yea, even where some slips or escapes are to be found. 2. Honour comprehendeth and taketh in humility so far as it respecteth and relateth to a humble carriage amongst men, which is a grace moderating a man so, that he preferreth not himself inordinately to others, either in respect of place or parts, or other such like grounds, which Christ commendeth in the Gospel, and enjoyneth that men should not love the uppermost rooms, or first salutations, but seek to prefer others, and be to their own honour as weaned children, or new-born babes, Matth. 18 3▪ readier to serve a •d give honour to others, then desirous of service and honour from them, and this not in complement, but in reality. 3.
