But, on the contrary, knowing his own interest is strengthened by society, he would first persuade us to neglect the communion of saints, and then bid us “stand in the way of sinners,” hoping thereby to put us into the seat of the scornful. _Judas_ and _Peter_ are melancholy instances of this. The former had no sooner left his company at supper, but he went out and betrayed his master: and the dismal downfal of the latter, when he would venture himself amongst a company of enemies, plainly shews us what the devil will endeavour to do, when he gets us by ourselves. Had _Peter_ kept his own company, he might have kept his integrity; but a single cord, alas! how quickly was it broken? Our blessed Saviour knew this full well, and therefore it is very observable, that he always sent out his disciples “two by two.”
And now, after so many advantages to be reaped from religious society, may we not very justly cry out with the wise man in my text, “Woe be to him that is alone; for when he falleth, he hath not another to lift him up?” When he is cold, he hath not a friend to warm him; when he is assaulted, he hath not a second to help him to withstand his enemy.
III. I now come to my third general head, under which was to be shewn the several duties incumbent on every member of a religious society, as such, which are three. 1. Mutual reproof; 2. Mutual exhortation; 3. Mutual assisting and defending each other.
1. _Mutual reproof._ “Two are better than one; for when they fall, the one will lift up his fellow.”
Now, reproof may be taken either in a more extensive sense, and then it signifies our raising a brother by the gentlest means, when he falls into sin and error; or in a more restrained signification, as reaching no farther than those miscarriages, which unavoidably happen in the most holy men living.
The wise man, in the text, supposes all of us subject to both: “For when they fall (thereby implying that each of us may fall) the one will lift up his fellow.” From whence we may infer, that “when any brother is overtaken with a fault, he that is spiritual (that is, regenerate, and knows the corruption and weakness of human nature) ought to restore such a one in the spirit of meekness.” And why he should do so, the apostle subjoins a reason “considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted;” i. e. considering thy own frailty, lest thou also fall by the like temptation.
We are all frail unstable creatures; and it is merely owing to the free grace and good providence of GOD that we run not into the same excess of riot with other men. Every offending brother, therefore, claims our pity rather than our resentment; and each member should strive to be the most forward, as well as most gentle, in restoring him to his former state.
But supposing a person not to be overtaken, but to fall wilfully into a crime; yet who art thou that deniest forgiveness to thy offending brother? “Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall.” Take ye, brethren, the holy apostles as eminent examples for you to learn by, how you ought to behave in this matter. Consider how quickly they joined the right hand of fellowship with _Peter_, who had so wilfully denied his master: for we find _John_ and him together but two days after, _John_ xx. 2. And verse 19, we find him assembled with the rest. So soon did they forgive, so soon associate with their sinful, yet relenting brother. “Let us go and do likewise.”
But there is another kind of reproof incumbent on every member of a religious society; namely, a _gentle rebuke_ for some miscarriage or other, which though not actually sinful, yet may become the occasion of sin. This indeed seems a more easy, but perhaps will be found a more difficult point than the former: for when a person has really sinned, he cannot but own his brethrens reproof to be just; whereas, when it was only for some little misconduct, the pride that is in our natures will scarce suffer us to brook it. But however ungrateful this pill may be to our brother, yet if we have any concern for his welfare, it must be administered by some friendly hand or other. By all means then let it be applied; only, like a skilful physician, gild over the ungrateful pill, and endeavour, if possible, to deceive thy brother into health and soundness. “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and malice, and evil-speaking, be put away” from it. Let the patient know, his recovery is the only thing aimed at, and that thou delightest not causelesly to grieve thy brother; then thou canst not want success.
2. _Mutual exhortation_ is the second duty resulting from the words of the text. “Again, if two lye together, then they have heat.”