Discourses, or, Sermons on several Scriptures

First, ¹We ought so to watch over our Brother as to give him timely Caution if we see him in any danger through Temptation or Passion, and to admonish him to stand upon his guard, to recollect himself and beware he be not surprised or injured by such an approaching Sin.

First, ¹We ought so to watch over our Brother as to give him timely Caution if we see him in any danger through Temptation or Passion, and to admonish him to stand upon his guard, to recollect himself and beware he be not surprized or injured by such an approaching Sin.

1. 1By Caution.

And §2Secondly, ¹If we have observed any Miscarriages in him, we are to watch the best Seasons, and all the fittest Circumstances in which to remind him ⟨p. 14⟩of it, that so our Reproof may be well accepted, and become effectual. For he that will venture rashly to reprove without this Circumspection, may do more mischief to his Brother by rebuking him, than he had done to himself by offending: Exasperating and embittering his Heart against Piety, for the Impertinences, at least the Indiscretions of those who profess it, and provoking him to sin the more out of mere Opposition and Contradiction. And I am verily persuaded, and have in some Cases observed it, that very many Sins owe themselves to the imprudence of those who have taken upon themselves to be Reprovers, and would never have been committed, if they had not indiscreetly gainsay'd it. Thus we see what this Duty