A64836:26
A warning to back-sliders, or, A discovery for the recovery of fallen ones delivered…
A warning to back-sliders, or, A discovery for the recovery of fallen ones delivered in a sermon at Pauls, before the Right Honourable, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the city of London / Ralph Venning.
London: printed by T.R. & E.M. for John Rothwel, 1654
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
I shall very briefly touch a few general Observations, which the context and the Text do afford us, and then come closer to the words.
The first Observation is this, That God takes special notice, and keeps an exact account of all our doings, be they good, or be they bad; (I know thy works, viz. what they were, and what they are.) God hath his books of Remembrance written, according to which he will judge the world; for he will bring every work to judgement, with every secret thing, whether ⟨p. 4⟩it be good or evil; I know thy works, &c.
2. Obs. That persons may be praised to their dispraise: they may be commended to their discommendation; I know thy works, but, or Nevertheless.
2. Obs. That persons may be prais'd to their dispraise: they may be commended to their discommendation; I know thy works, but, or Neverthelesse.
A mans praise is ever the less, when he is praised with a Nevertheless. To commend with a but, is but to discommend. To say, such a man was a meek man, was an humble man, was an holy man, is not a praise, but a dispraise; you did run well, who hindered you? Such an one was good, but quantum mutatus ab illo? the man is not what he was. Praises with exceptions are (little better then) disparagements. Nevertheless, &c.