We must neither bind where God looseth, nor loose where God bindeth, nor open where God shuttcth, nor shut where God openeth ; the right use of the keys is always successful. In personal application there must be great heed taken ; for a man may be a false prophet, and yet speak the truth. If it be not a truth to the person to whom he speaketh ; if he ' grieve those whom God hath not grieved,' Lam. iii. 83, by unseasonable truths, or by comforts m an ill way, the hearts of the wicked may be strengthened. One man's meat may be another's bane.
If we look to the general temper of these times, rousing and waking Scriptures are fittest ; yet there be many broken spirits need soft and oily words. Even in the worst time the prophets mingled sweet comfort for * ' To raiao themselves,' in A and B.
AND SMOKING FLAX. 55
the hidden remnant of faithful people. God hath comfort ; ' Comfort ye my people,' Isa. xl. 1, as well as ' lift up thy voice as a trumpet,' Isa. Iviii. 1.
And here likewise there needs a caveat. Mercy doth not rob us of our right judgment, as that we should take stinking* fire-brands for smoking flax. None will claim mercy more of others, than those whose portion is due severity. This example doth not countenance lukewaramcss, nor too much indulgence to those that need quickening. Cold diseases must have hot remedies. It made for the just commendations of the church of Ephesus, ' that it could not bear with them which are evil,' Rev. ii. 2. We should so bear with others, as we discover withal a dislike of evil. Our Saviour Christ would not forbear sharp reproof, where he saw dangerous infirmities in his most beloved disciples. It bringeth under a curse ' to do the work of the Lord negligently,' Jer. xlviii. 10 ; even where it is a work of just severity, as when it is sheathing the sword in the bowels of the enemy. And those whom we suffer to be betrayed by their worst enemies, their sins, will have just cause to curse us another day.
It is hard to preserve just bounds of mercy and severity, without a spirit above our own ; which we ought to desire to be led withal in all things. That ' wisdom which dwelleth with prudence,' Prov. viii. 12, will guide us in these particulars, without which virtue is not virtue, truth not truth. The rule and the case must be laid together ; for if there be not a narrow in- sight, seeming Ukeness in conditions will be the breeder of errors in our opinions of them. Those fiery, tempestuous, and destructive spirits in popery, that seek to promote their religion by cruelty, shew that they are strangers to that wisdom which is from above, which maketh men gentle, peaceable, and ready to shew that mercy they have felt before themselves. It is a way of prevailing, as agreeable to Christ, so likewise to man's nature, to prevail by some forbearance and moderation.
And 3'et oft we see a false spirit in those that call for moderation. It is but to carry their own projects with the greater strength ; and if they prove of the prevaihng hand, they will hardly shew that moderation to others they now call for from others. And there is a proud kind of moderation likewise, when men will take upon them to censure bothf parties, as if they were wiser than both, although, + if the snirit be right, a looker on may see more than those that are in conflict.
b
[Chapter IX. — Governors should he tender of iceak ones, and also private
Christians.]
2. So in the censures of the church, it is more suitable to the spirit of Christ to incline to the milder part, and not to kill a fly on the forehead with a beetle (c), nor shut men out of heaven for a trifle. The veiy snufters of the tabernacle were made of pure gold, to shew the purity of those cen- sm-es, whereby the light of the church is kept bright. That power that is given to the church is given for edification, not destruction. How careful was St Paul, that the incestuous Corinthian, 2 Cor. ii. 7, repenting, should not be swallowed up with too much grief.
As for civil magistrates, they, for civil exigences and reasons of state, must let the law have its course ; yet thus far they should imitate this mild king, as not to mingle bitterness and passion with authority derived from God. Authority is a beam of God's majesty, and prevaileth most where * ' Smoking,' in A and B. f ' Either party,' in A. J ' Though,' in A and B.
1
56 THE BRUISED EEED
there is least mixture of that which is man's. It requireth more than ordinary wisdom to manage it aright. This string must not be too much sti'ained up, nor too much let loose. Justice is an harmonical thing. Herbs hot or cold beyond a certain degree, kill. AVe see even contrary elements preserved in one body by a wise contemperation. Justice in rigour is oft extreme injustice, where some considerable cu'cumstances should incline to moderation ; and the reckoning will be easier for bending rather to moderation than rigour.