And thirdly, It doth justly abase that unworthy, proud, and censorious harshness and strangeness, which many (who would take 1it ill, if they be not in your opinion set up in the highest form of Piety,) do sinfully or foolishly express, either in condemning, or in contemning such as fall very short (in the penitential work) of others, or of themselves; yea, and will shun tender society with them, till they see some further perfections and ripenesses. Alas, what do we! by what rule do we walk? whose example do we look upon? We must be wise, it's true; and what wisdom is it to leave tender buds to the frost, which we might have covered and enlarged with heat and warmth? I beseech you, let us pause a while: 1. Are all in our Family Men? Are there not some Children, perhaps new-born Babes? Are all in the Flock strong Sheep? are there not some Lambs (perhaps) ⟨p. 162⟩newly yeaned? Are all the Stars in the Heaven of the same magnitude? some are greater, others are less, yet all in the Heavens. Do you despise Children? reject the Lambs? or slight the Moon, because of her spots, and lesser light than that of the Sun? Why! we read of the like disparity in the heavenly course: St. John tells us of Fathers, and of Young-men, and of Children too, yea, and of Babes; and Christ advised Peter's respects, as well unto the Lambs, as unto the Sheep. 2. Were not we Beginners once our selves? Was our Sun at the top? our Gold so exquisitely pure? did not we then need compassions and helps in times of infancy, weakness, conflicts, temptations? What is our present strength, but some help to former weakness? Time was, we could hardly go or stand, although now we can walk and run: What a childishness is it, for the Artist in Grammar to slight the Youth who is now spelling his Letters, when this was the first Line of his own Learning, the first step whereby he went to his height? 3. And did God despise us in our beginnings? Did not he gently lead those that were with young, and carried the Lambs in his arms? as the Prophet speaks. How often hath he laid our fainting and weak souls to the breasts of consolation? comforted us in our fears? strengthened our feeble hands? answered our doubts? 4. Nor doth he now slight them, whom he tenderly owns upon the very entrances into a new and holy course, sees them afar off, and hath compassion:
And thirdly, It doth justly abase that unworthy, proud, and censorious harshness and strangeness, which many (who would take 1it ill, if they be not in your opinion set up in the highest form of Piety,) do sinfully or foolishly express, either in condemning, or in contemning such as fall very short (in the penitential work) of others, or of themselves; yea, and will shun tender society with them, till they see some further perfections and ripenesses. Alas, what do we! by what rule do we walk? whose example do we look upon? We must be wise, it's true; and what wisdome is it to leave tender buds to the frost, which we might have covered and enlarged with heat and warmth? I beseech you, let us pause a while: 1. Are all in our Family Men? Are there not some Children, perhaps new-born Babes? Are all in the Flock strong Sheep? are there not some Lambs (perhaps) ⟨p. 162⟩newly yeaned? Are all the Stars in the Heaven of the same magnitude? some are greater, others are less, yet all in the Heavens. Do you despise Children? reject the Lambs? or slight the Moon, because of her spots, and lesser light than that of the Sun? Why! we read of the like disparity in the heavenly course: St. John tells us of Fathers, and of Young-men, and of Chidren too, yea, and of Babes; and Christ advised Peter's respects, as well unto the Lambs, as unto the Sheep. 2. Were not we Beginners once our selves? Was our Sun at the top? our Gold so exquisitely pure? did not we then need compassions and helps in times of infancy, weakness, conflicts, temptations? What is our present strength, but some help to former weakness? Time was, we could hardly go or stand, although now we can walk and run: What a childishness is it, for the Artist in Grammar to slight the Youth who is now spelling his Letters, when this was the first Line of his own Learning, the first step whereby he went to his height? 3. And did God despise us in our beginnings? Did not he gently lead those that were with young, and carried the Lambs in his arms? as the Prophet speaks. How often hath he laid our fainting and weak souls to the brests of consolation? comforted us in our fears? strengthened our feeble hands? answered our doubts? 4. Nor doth he now slight them, whom he tenderly owns upon the very entrances into a new and holy course, sees them afar off, and hath compassion:
- 1Use 3. It discovers the proud harshness of men towards such as come short of themselves or others.Ʋse 3. It discovers the proud harshness of men towards such as come short of themselves or others.
