2. Wher-eas the light of nature is variously obscured, and its directive 'poiuer debilitated in us, God hath renewed on us an obli- gation unto this duty by particular institutions, both tmder the Old Testament and the Neiu. The truth is, the efficacy of the law of crea- tion, as unto moral duties, being exceedingly impaired by the entrance of sin ; and the exercise of original, native love towards mankind being impeded and obstructed by that confusion and disorder whereinto the whole state of mankind was cast by sin, — every one thereby being- made the enemy of another, as the apostle declares, Tit. iii. 3, — [and that disorder] not being cured by that coalescency into civil socie- ties, which respects only political and temporal ends ; the discharge of this duty was utterly lost, at least beyond that which was merely parental. Wherefore God, in the institution of his church, both under the Old Testament and the New, did mould men into such peculiar societies and relations, as wherein they might be made meet again for the exercise thereof He hath so disposed of us, that every- one may know every one whom he is obliged to reprove, and every one may know every one whom he is obliged to hear. And as he hath hereby cured that confusion we were cast into, which was ob- structive of the exercise of this duty ; so, by the renovation of positive commands, attended with instructions, directions, promises, and threatenings, enforcing the givuig and receiving of reproofs with respect unto moral and spiritual ends, he hath relieved us against
490 now WE MAY LEAFvN
that obscurity of natural liglit which we before laboured under. Should I go to express the commands, directions, exhortations, pro- mises, and threatenings, which are given in the Scripture to this purpose, it would be a work as endless as I suppose it needless, to all that are conversant in the holy writings. It may suffice unto our present purpose that, — there being an express institution of God for the giving and taking of reproofs, and that an effect of infinite good- ness, benignity, and love towards us, — not thankfully to receive re- jDroofs, when it is our lot to deserve them and to have them, is to despise the authority of God over us, and his gra,cious care for us. When, therefore, it befalleth any to be justly and orderly rej^roved, let him call to mind the authority and love of God therein; which will quickly give him that sense of their worth and excellency as will make him thankful for them : which is the first step unto their due improvement.
8. A due consideration of the iise, benefit, and advantage of them, will give thein a ready admission into our minds and affections. Who knows how many souls, that are now at rest Avith God, have been prevented by reproofs, as the outward means, from going down into the pit ! Unto how many have they been an occasion of con- version, and sincere turning unto God ! How many have been recovered by them from a state of backsliding, and awakened from a secm-e sleep in sin ! How many great and bloody sins hath the perpetration of been obviated by them ! How many snares of temptations have they been the means to break and cancel ! What re- vivings have they been to grace, what disappointments unto the snares of Satan, who can declare ! The advantage which the souls of men do or might receive every day by them, is more to be valued than all earthly treasures whatever ; and shall any of us, when it comes to be our concern, through a predominancy of pride, passion, and prejudice, or through cursed sloth and security, — the usual means of the defeat- ment of these advantages, — manifest ourselves to have no interest in, or valuation of, these things, by an unreadiness or unwillingness to receive reproofs, when tendered unto us in the way and according to the mind of God ?
III. But now, suppose we are willing to receive them, it will be inquired, in the last place. What considerations may further us in their due improvement, and what directions may be given thereunto?
An answer to this inquiry shall shut up this discourse : and I shall say hereunto, —
1. If there he not open evidence unto the contrary, it is our duty to jiidge that every reproof is given us in a way of duty. This will take off offence with respect unto the reprover, Avhich unjustly taken, is an assured entrance into a way of losing all benefit and advantage
TO BEAR REPEOOFS. 4S1
by the reproof. The reason why any man doth regularly reprove another, is because God requireth him so to do, and by his command hath made it his duty towards him that is reproved. And do we judge it reasonable, that one should neglect his duty towards God and us, and in some degree or other make himself guilty of our sins, for no other cause but lest we should be displeased that we are not suffered to sin securely, and, it may be, to perish eternally ? And if we are con\dnced that it is the duty of another to reprove us, we cannot but be convinced that it is our duty to hearken and attend thereunto ; and this will fix the mind unto a due consideration of the present duty that Hes before us, and what is our just concernment in the reproof. Besides, if it be done in a way of duty, it is done in love ; for all orderly rebukes are effects of love. And if we are con- vinced of any one, that he doth reprove in a way of duty, we must be satisfied that what he doth proceedeth from love, without by-ends or dissimulation. For what doth not so, be it what it will, belongs not to rebuking in a way of duty. And this will remove all ob- structmg prejudices, in all who have the least gracious ingenuity. Ahab despised the warning of Micaiah, because he thought they mutually hated one another; he knew how it was with himself, and falsely so judged of the prophet, by his necessary sharpness towards him. But where there are such sunnises, all advantages of reproofs will be assuredly lost. Where, therefore, our minds are satisfied that any reproof is an effect of love, and given in a way of duty, " dimidium facti, [qui coepit, habet,] " — ^-we are half way in the discharge of the duty directed unto.