4. When the party is likely to be the worse, rather than better, if he be reproved : Prov. ix.'7, ' He that reproveth a scorner getteth to him-
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self sliame, and he that rehiiketh a wicked man getteth himself a- blot; if it provoketh them to rail. So Mat. vii. 6, ' Give not holy things to dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn ag^ain and rend you.' Some are so wedded to their sins, that Grod's providence calleth upon us to let them alone. No good statue can be made of crooked or knotty timber ; a vicious stom.acli turneth all things into choler ; rain maketh a spongy marsh ground the worse ; blowing increaseth the fire ; a dunghill stinketh the worse the more it is stirred. Some are contemptuous and scornful ; their corruptions are ii-ritated by seeking to restrain them. Therefore if he sinneth the more grievously, that is a worse inconveniency than the reproof can bring good. Yet we must take heed that we do not censure people to be such without a cause ; the reasons for our omission of such a necessary duty must be clear and sure, such as we can urge and avouch before God himself. We must not put by the duty upon slight conjectures, but still remember that God seeth and will consider it. It is" very notable that cautions against rash judging are given before the direction of not casting pearls before swine and dogs : Mat. vii. 1, ' Judge not, that ye be not judged.'
5. When it will be rationally presumed that he will amend without our reproof. As alms ought not to be given to one that is indeed in poverty, when we know there are those that will plentifully relieve him, so in the case of reproof, when neither by ourselves, nor by the help of any other, a man is likely to be awakened, then we are bound to re- prove him, or procure another that may do it more successfully ; for some are capable to manage it with more wisdom than ourselves. I confess this must be taken cautiously. A general presumption that another will do his office doth not absolve us in foro conscientice, be- cause this duty ariseth not from any voluntary contract or paction between men and men, but from the law of God, our supreme governor and judge, binding every one ; and therefore we must do our own duty,. and not think to be discharged by the zeal and diligence of others. And besides, a presumption that others will do it may cause it wholly to fall to the ground ; as, Luke x. 33, the good Samaritan had not been absolved from uncharitableness if he had presumed that the priest and Levite would relieve the distressed man, or, if not they, that some other of his countrymen that came that way, and were nearer to him by nation and blood, and more charitable than the former, that they would relieve him ; but he neither minded the one nor the other, but performed his duty ; he saw a miserable spectacle, one wounded with thieves, 'and he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and biought him to an inn, and took care of him,' ver. 33, 34. So here. The papists indeed make this limitation. Nisi pi'ohabiUier pixi^sumatur aliunde naciurum, qui eum corripiat — Except he probably presume that another will reprove him ; but this presumption must be evident and rational, not probable only ; and where I am privy to it, and know it, and procure it, and know how much better he is able to manage it than myself, then I am not to take it out of his hands, or when others are present whose gifts and office more oblige them to it.
6. When he doth expect a better opportunity, his omission is not
122 SERMONS UPON LEVITICUS XIX. 17.
faulty for the present ; for all things must ho <^one ahont in Iheir season : Eccles. iii. 7, ' Tliere is a time to keep silence, and a time to speak ; ' and in another place, hccause ' to every man there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him,' Eccles. viii. 6-8. He speaketh of the misery men contract upon themselves by disproving puhlic disorders, especially in great persons, princes, and potentates. Therefore certainly it concerneth us to lake a fit season ; not when a man is drunk ; as Abigail told Nabal not a word when the wine was in his head, 1 Sam. xxv. 36, 37 ; not when they are in the heat of })assion, for then they are not capable of discerning right and reason : James i. 20, ' For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God; ' therefore opportunity and conveniency of cir- cumstances must be considered and improved. Yet here is caution still ; we must not adjourn it too far. Life is short, and sin groweth : Heb. iii. 13, 'Exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.' And it nuist be done at length ; if we have long waited for a season, and cannot find it, we must make it, and break a rule of civil prudence rather than violate conscience ; for civilities must not prescribe to religion.