Discourses, or, Sermons on several Scriptures

We may observe likewise that when Nathan was sent immediately by God to reprove King David, he doth not attack him directly, and fall rudely upon him for his Adultery and Murder, but clothes his Speech in a Parable, and when he had so represented the heinousness of his Sin, so as by that means to make him first reprove and ⟨p. 54⟩condemn himself, then he tells him, Thou art the Man.

We may observe likewise that when Nathan was sent immediately by God to reprove King David, he doth not attack him directly, and fall rudely upon him for his Adultery and Murder, but cloaths his Speech in a Parable, and when he had so represented the heinousness of his Sin, so as by that means to make him first reprove and ⟨p. 54⟩condemn himself, then he tells him, Thou art the Man.

Sixthly, ¹If thou wouldst have thy Reproofs effectual, especially beware that thou thy self art not guilty of those Sins which thou reprovest in another. It were indeed a Temper to be wished and prayed for, that we could only respect how righteous the Reproof were, and not how righteous the Person is who gives it. For there is no more reason to reject sound Admonition, because it comes from an unsound Heart, than there is to stop our Ears against good Counsel because it is delivered perhaps by an unsavoury Breath. Yet so it is, that when Men of defiled Consciences and Conversations reprove others, they are apt to justify themselves by recriminating, or ⟨p. 55⟩else to think they do but sport and jest with them: Or thirdly to hate them for gross Hypocrites and Dissemblers; or lastly, to think they do but envy them their Sins, and that they would engross all to themselves. It was a true Observation of Pliny in his Epistles, Lib. 8. Epist. 22. That there are some, Qui sic aliorum visiis irascuntur, quasi invideant: Who are so angry at other Mens Vices, as if they they envied them. It cannot be hoped that the Reproof of such should ever take place. But when a Man of a clear and unspotted Name shall reprove the Sins and Vices of others, his Rebukes carry Authority with them, and if they cannot reform, yet at lest must they needs daunt and silence the Offenders that they shall have nothing