A64836:28
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.
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.
A mans praise is ever the lesse, when he is prais'd with a Neverthelesse. 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 hindred 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. Neverthelesse, &c.
3. Obs. The good we have done will not excuse the bad we do do; God will not put the good in one balance, and the bad in another, and make allowances of the bad for the goods sake; No, it's no excuse at all to Ephesus, that she had laboured, and that she had wrought, when it can be said. ⟨p. 5⟩I have against thee, and thou hast left thy first works. Former fruitfulness will be no excuse for present barrenness; former industry will not plead for any mans present idleness; a good beginning will never make amends for a bad end. If the latter end be worse then the beginning, it had been better for them, they had never known the way of righteousness, then when they have known it, to depart from the holy Commandment. I have against thee &c.