2. It is a duty because positively commanded by God ; so that unless we will be guilty of flat disobedience, we ought to mind it. God bindeth all men to reprove their erring brother and neighbour, keeping the rules of prudence, justice, and charity. Now that God hath commanded this, many of the scriptures cited before prove : Mat. xviii. 15, 'If thy brother offend thee, go and tell him his fault between him and thee ; ' which is to be understood not only of offences done to us, but to be extended to all wilful crimes of which Ave see him guilty ; for zeal for God should prevail with us as much as injuries done to ourselves ; and it is not angry reproach, but christian admonition that we press you to : 1 Thes. v. 14, ' Warn them that are unruly ; ' 2 Thes. iii. 15, ' Admonish him as a brother.' So Eom. xv. 14, ' I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able to admonish one another.' So Prov. xxv. 8-10, ' Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself, and discover not a secret to another, lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.' All these expressions concern brotherly reproof, debating matters in case of offence and injury real or supposed. If we presently run to law, with- out using previous gentle methods of taking up matters among ourselves, we run a great hazard, both of loss and infamy. Better end it by friendly composition than running to the judge, where, by many uu-
SERMONS UPON LEVITICUS XIX. 17. 115
happy representations, a righteous cause may be oppressed. But for the common duty of christians, see Eph. v. 11, ' Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.' The Avord fidWov ' rather,' doth not lessen oar duty, but enforce it. 'Exk^x^iv Sel, saith Chrysostom, we ought to reprove. We shall not be excused before God unless we do our duty. So Jude 22, 2.3, ' And of some have compassion, making a difference; and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire.'
SEKMON II.
Thou sJialt not hate ilmj brother in thy heart : thou shalt in any loise rehiiJce thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him — Lev. xix. 17.
Thirdly, Consider how far it bindeth.
[1.] Intensively, as to the value of the precept. It is not an arbitrary direction, which we may omit or observe at pleasure, but a necessary precept, which wc must obey.
(1.) From the danger we incur. We are under danger of sin, and bearing punishment for them whom we reprove not ; and the punish- ment of sin is eternal death, if it be omitted out of a culpable negligence. Eternal life and eternal death is in the case ; there is no doubt of superiors, who by justice and office are bound to reprove, as well as by the law of common love and charity : Ezek. xxxiii. 6, ' His blood will I require at the watchman's hands.' But even private persons may bear sin for others.
(2.) Because of the good which cometh thereby, which is the glory of God and the gaining of our brother : Mat. xviii. 15, ' Thou hast gained thy brother.' And the gaining of another's soul is no small advantage ; this will be your crown and rejoicing in the day of the Lord. To enforce both, consider that text. Pro v. xxiv. 11, 12, ' If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain : if thou sayest, Behold we knew it not ; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it ? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it ? and shall not he render to every man according to his w^orks ? ' Hei'e is a work of charity, delivering the innocent from temporal death. The sin is a sin of omission ; every man is bound to do what he can to save Ids neighbour from imminent de- struction. It is our duty not to be silent and see liim perish ; with a safe conscience we cannot do so ; it is against the light of nature and all honesty to use tergiversation in this case, when we have probability to help it ; and will not this hold good in the case of brotherly reproof, when thou seest thy neighbour likely to perish, and be undone for ever ? The same charity that bindeth us to deliver him from temporal death will much more bind us to deliver him from eternal death : Heb. iii. 12, 13, 'Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.' Not only in you your-
116 SERMONS UPON LEVITICUS XIX. 17.
selves, but ' in any of you/ us will be clear in the remedy prescribed : * But exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day ; lest any of you be hardened through the deceilfuluess of sin.' This is a work of christian charity, which we owe to one another as christian brethren. But see how God answereth the excuse, ' If thou sayest, Behold we knew it not.' They knew not the danger or innocency of the person. Can you answer so to God ? ' Doth not he that pon- dereth the heart consider?' &c. He will be judge whether you love your brother, yea or no ? whether this pretence l;e cowardice or mere ignorance ?