Yea, if a Preacher reprove sin, he is thought to do it of hatred, or of some particular grudge: and to be too busy, too bitter, too sharp, too rough, and therefore say, he should preach Gods love and mercy, for he is a Preacher of the gospel, he tells us of, & threatens with the law, and so throws us down too low, some to despair: as though we preached the law only, or chiefly, and not the Gospel also continually, to them that loath and strive against their sins, though they sin grievously. Others, as though they were galled, will say, let him keep his text, or they will say, he is beside his book: as though no text in Scripture reproved sin, and so of all doctrines, the doctrine of reproof and reprehension of sin, is most contemned, and least esteemed. But let a Preacher preach dark mysteries, or profane speeches, or unprofitable fables, or frivolous questions, or curious inventions, or odd conceits, or brain-sick dreams, and any of these will be more welcome unto them then reprehension, which is most profitable and necessariest of all. Balaam's Ass never spake but once, and then he reproved. Then if Balaam's Ass reproved Balaam, how much more ought Balaam to reprove 1Asses, or such as will be no otherwise then beasts in their behaviour? But persuade your selves beloved, which is most true, though we speak as if we were angry with you, and threaten as if we would hurt you, and cry against you as if we hated you, yet we love you in the deerest blood we have, and therefore, though with persecution we preach the law to lead you to the Gospel; we preach judgement, that you may find mercy; we ⟨image 55⟩preach hell to bring you to heaven; whatsoever & how soever, we preach, we do all to fill your hearts with joy in believing, and having made you fruitful in all good works, present you without spot, nay glorious also, as a virgin most beautiful, to the Lord of all grace & glory, Christ Jesus.
Yea, if a Preacher reproue sinne, he is thought to doe it of hatred, or of some particular grudge: and to be too busie, too bitter, too sharpe, too rough, and therefore say, he should preach Gods loue and mercy, for he is a Preacher of the gospell, he tells vs of, & threatens with the law, and so throwes vs downe too low, some to despaire: as though we preached the law onely, or chiefly, and not the Gospel also continually, to them that loath and striue against their sinnes, though they sinne greeuously. Others, as though they were galled, will say, let him keep his text, or they will say, he is beside his booke: as though no text in Scripture reproued sinne, and so of all doctrines, the doctrine of reproofe and reprehension of sinne, is most contemned, and least esteemed. But let a Preacher preach darke mysteries, or prophane speeches, or vnprofitable fables, or friuolous questions, or curious inuentions, or odde conceits, or braine-sicke dreames, and any of these will be more welcome vnto them then reprehension, which is most profitable and necessariest of all. Balaams Asse neuer spake but once, and then he reproued. Then if Balaams Asse reproued Balaam, how much more ought Balaam to reprooue 1Asses, or such as will be no otherwise then beasts in their behauiour? But perswade your selues beloued, which is most true, though we speake as if we were angry with you, and threaten as if we would hurt you, and crie against you as if we hated you, yet we loue you in the deerest blood we haue, and therefore, though with persecution we preach the law to leade you to the Gospel; we preach iudgement, that you may finde mercie; wee ⟨image 55⟩preach hel to bring you to heauen; whatsoeuer & how soeuer, we preach, we doe all to fill your hearts with ioy in beleeuing, and hauing made you fruitfull in all good workes, present you without spot, nay glorious also, as a virgin most beautifull, to the Lord of all grace & glorie, Christ Iesus.
- 1Num. 22. 28.
