The fourth (and last) volume of discourses, or sermons, on several scriptures

¹Secondly, A clear Conscience, as it will enable a Man to bear Reproaches from others with Patience, so it gives him advantage to reprove others with Authority. It is a very true Rule, that he that reproves another, ought himself to be free from the Fault he reproves; for otherwise his Reproofs neither come with freedom from the Reprover, nor with efficacy to the Reproved.

1. 12. It gives a Man advantage to reprove others with Authority.

First, A Reproof that comes from a guilty Conscience, is but a stammering and a timorous Reproof. Such a Man's own Conscience must needs rise up in his Throat, and choke his Reproofs. Consciousness of the same Miscarriages will retort whatever we can say against others, more strongly upon our selves, and will suggest to us that it is but Hypocrisy for us to blame that which we our selves practise. With what Face canst thou press others to Repent and Reform? What Arguments canst thou use to them, who by continuing in the same Sins, dost thy self judge those Arguments are of no force at all? Thus Conscience will suggest, and hereby Tongue-ties Reproofs.

First, A Reproof that comes from a guilty Conscience, is but a stammering and a timerous Reproof. Such a Man's own Conscience must needs rise up in his Throat, and choak his Reproofs. Consciousness of the same Miscarriages will retort whatever we can say against others, more strongly upon our selves, and will suggest to us that it is but Hypocrisie for us to blame that which we our selves practise. With what Face canst thou press others to Repent and Reform? What Arguments canst thou use to them, who by continuing in the same Sins, dost thy self judge those Arguments are of no force at all? Thus Conscience will suggest, and hereby Tongue-ties Reproofs.