To answer this, the Doctrine and Rule of Christ is without all Answ. 1exception. Whatsoever you would have others to do to you, do you to them also; the meaning is, do you it first unto them, for we are commanded, to consider one another to provoke each other to love and to good works. If I must consider to provoke, then he that is to be provoked to love, hath not yet applied himself unto2 the duty, but I am obliged to go before him in the way thereof, and therefore I must express my love to him first, although he hath not done his duty to me. If then I would have another to trust me, it is clear by this rule, that I must first show that I do trust him, but if I show not this, then I provoke him to the contrary, namely, not to trust me. And if but the Law, which the Gentiles by common nature knew, were heeded in this case, it would take away the causes of our differences and jealousies, and teach us to follow that which is good. Quod tibi fieri non vis, alteri nefeceris, What thou wouldest not have done to thy self, do not thou to any. Is it that thou wouldest not have any fear thee, or suspect thee, or arm himself against thee? then do not thou fear and suspect him, or arm thy self against him. Wouldst thou not have all thy faults ripped up, and all advantages taken against thee, to bring thee into discredit, then rip not up the faults of others, and take no advantages against them to discredit them? Wouldst thou not be judged, condemned and disarmed? do not judge, condemn and endeavour to disarm others; For with what judgement thou judgest, 3thou shalt be judged, and with what measure thou dost mete, it shall be measured unto thee again; and if thou wilt disarm others and keep them as captives under thy power, thou must expect4 to be disarmed and led captive under the power of others, for God doth render to every one according to his works. Wilt thou then follow that which is good? do not make thy self terrible unto any, because thou wouldest have none to be terrible unto thee; cure thine own distempers, mean well towards others, and as thou hast opportunity, make the power which thou hast in thine hand serviceable unto others for good; for he that hath power to do good to those that are under his power and doth it not, is foolish and weak;
To answer this, the Doctrin and Rule of Christ is without all Answ. 1exception. Whatsoever you would have others to doe to you, doe you to them also; the meaning is, doe you it first unto them, for we are commanded, to consider one another to provoke each other to love and to good workes. If I must consider to provoke, then hee that is to bee provoked to love, hath not yet applyed himself unto2 the dutie, but I am obliged to goe before him in the way thereof, and therefore I must expresse my love to him first, although hee hath not done his dutie to mee. If then I would have another to trust me, it is cleere by this rule, that I must first shew that I doe trust him, but if I shew not this, then I provoke him to the contrary, namely, not to trust mee. And if but the Law, which the Gentiles by common nature knew, were heeded in this case, it would take away the causes of our differences and jealousies, and teach us to follow that which is good. Quod tibi fieri non vis, alteri nefeceris, What thou wouldest not have done to thy self, doe not thou to any. Is it that thou wouldest not have any feare thee, or suspect thee, or arme himselfe against thee? then doe not thou feare and suspect him, or arme thy selfe against him. Wouldst thou not have all thy faults ript up, and all advantages taken against thee, to bring thee into discredit, then rip not up the faults of others, and take no advantages against them to discredit them? Wouldst thou not be judged, condemned and disarmed? doe not judge, condemne and endeavour to disarme others; For with what judgement thou judgest, 3thou shalt be judged, and with what measure thou dost mete, it shall bee measured unto thee againe; and if thou wilt disarme others and keepe them as captives under thy power, thou must expect4 to bee disarmed and led captive under the power of others, for God doth render to every one according to his workes. Wilt thou then follow that which is good? doe not make thy selfe terrible unto any, because thou wouldest have none to be terrible unto thee; cure thine owne distempers, meane well towards others, and as thou hast opportunitie, make the power which thou hast in thine hand serviceable unto others for good; for hee that hath power to doe good to those that are under his power and doth it not, is foolish and weake;
- 1Matth. 7. 11.
- 2The way to follow that which is good.
- 3Matth. 7. 2.
- 4Rev. 13. 10. Esa. 33. 1.
