A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

Now in such Cases, tho the Cause be right, yet this violent dragging and insulting over those that are in their power, is but natural Rage let loose: and this Paul confesseth to be his Injuriousness, and a Crime that kept the same pace with his Blasphemy and Persecution. True Zeal is manifested by Pity and Compassion. The heights and fervours of Zeal are only necessary, when evil Men are countenanced, and when it is dangerous to appear against them; not when they fall under our power, then there is some Pity due to their Humanity.

(2.) Do no Wrong to their Names; next to their Persons this is to be valued. A Slanderer is worse than a Thief: the one is publicly odious, but the other robs us of our better Treasure; Prov. 22.1. A good Name is rather to be chosen than great Riches, and more conducible to our Usefulness for God, than Wealth. A Wrong done to the Estate is sooner repaired, than a Wrong done to the Name of others; for a Reproach divulged, is hardly recalled; when the Wound is cured, yet the Scar remains: And therefore this is a very great Evil to do wrong to their Names: Especially when you reproach the Godly, and wrong them, because their Discredit lights upon Religion. God is much concerned in the Credit and Honour of his Servants. You hinder their Service, and lay them open to the Rage of the World. A blemished Instrument is of little use. Numb. 12.8. saith God, Were ye not afraid to speak against my Servant Moses? To speak against Persons eminent and useful for God in their Age, is to render them suspected to the World. And who would drink of a suspected Fountain? You hinder their Use and Serviceableness. And the Wrong is greater when one Christian blemisheth another: For one Scholar to speak against another, and one Lawyer against another, so for one Christian to speak against another, it aggravates the Injury. Therefore when there is cause to speak against a Man, it should be with Grief.

(2.) Do no Wrong to their Names; next to their Persons this is to be valued. A Slanderer is worse than a Thief: the one is publickly odious, but the other robs us of our better Treasure;