Discourses, or, Sermons on several Scriptures

And therefore, if thou thy self shalt speak but slightly of their Sins, they will be ready to conclude that they were none, or at least so small, that it was nothing but Officiousness, and the love of Censuring made thee take notice of them.

Fourthly, ¹Let all thy Reproofs be given as secretly and privately as possibly thou canst; otherwise thou wilt seem not so much to aim at thy Brother's Reformation, as at his Shame and Confusion. For if (as the Wiseman tells us) ²a loud and clamorous Benediction given too officiously, is so far from being a Blessing, that it is but a Curse and a ⟨p. 49⟩Shame to a Man's Friend. Certainly then a public clamorous Reproof must only tend to the Shame and Reproach of them that receive it. Indeed there are some who offend openly before many: These, (if there be no fear of irritating them to do worse) we ought openly to rebuke, and to give them their Reproof in the Company where they have given the Offence, so saith the Apostle, ³Those that Sin rebuke before all; that is, supposing that their Sins be open and public. But for others whose Sins and Miscarriages have been private, and only known to our selves and a few others, we ought to reprove them in secret, and to be tender not only of their Souls, but of their Reputation also. So is the Counsel of our Saviour, ⁴If thy Brother shall trespass ⟨p. 50⟩against thee, go and tell him his Fault between thee and him alone. And indeed this is a necessary piece of Prudence, not only to preserve his Reputation and good Name as much as may be, but also,