totally impoffible. It is the danger of a hardened ftate, that the Apostle urges; particularly in this paffage, as the argument to diligence, But exhort one another daily, while it is called, to-day; left any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of fin. And, indeed, elsewhere, we are cautioned against delay, for the fame reafon. Thus, in Pfal. xcv. 7, 8. which is cited a few verfes after the text, -To• day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temp ⚫tation in the wilderness,'

3. Let us confider the manner in which this exhortation must be given, if we hope to do it with fuccefs. And, here, I must acknowledge, there is fo great a variety of cafes, that it would be extremely difficult, or almoft impoffible, diftinctly, to enumerate them all, and give the different directions that are fuited to each; there must be a great difference in the manner, according to the end propofed. Superiors of all forts, magistrates, ministers, and heads of families, may, and ought to reprove, both with authority and feverity, because the end is not fingly the reformation of an individual, but the prefervation of others, and the general good: nay, even private Christians may often be called to reprove, in much the fame manner as a publick teftimony of their abhorrence of fin: they may have it, chiefly, in view, to fave or edify the by-ftanders, by refuting the calumnies of an enemy, bearing down triumphant wickedness, or difgracing an open factor for the devil.

But as I reckon the paffage of fcripture, which is

the fubject of my difcourfe, has an eye, chiefly, to brotherly admonition, for the benefit of the perfon concerned, I' fhall juft mention fome of the most important directions for doing it with fuccefs. Thefe fhall be both negative and pofitive.

1ft, You ought not to reprove at an uncertainty, upon bare rumour and fufpicion. This is what many people have done, and thereby have, in a great meafure, loft all the pains they have beflowed. Where men are reproved in the wrong place, or for what they either are not guilty of, or are much lefs guilty than is fuppofed, it often puts them upon felfjuftification, and hardens them against all reproof for the time to come. ›

2dly, It ought not to be done when the offending perfon is in an ill temper to receive it. Though no time ought to be loft in doing what good we can to our neighbour, efpecially to the precious foul; yet it is worfe than lofing time to attempt it, when he is in a difpofition to reject it: for example, it is usually improper presently after the fin is committed, be caufe then the heat is not over, nor the uproar of the paffions and affections appeafed. Many a domeftick reproof is thrown away in this manner. Perhaps, a husband comes home difordered in liquor, and his wife meets him with a furly countenance, and reproachful language; the offence is too recently taken by her to speak with meekness, and the provocation too recently given by him to hear with patience:. hence diffenfions and quarrels arife; and, perhaps, he is hardened in his fin, by thinking he hath greater caufe to be difpleafed with his wife for the fro

wardness of her temper, than she has to be displeased with him for his intemperance. On the other hand, it is not improbable, that, by waiting till the return of calmnefs and reflection, the fin may be fet in fuch a light, as to carry conviction to the confcience, and, by the bleffing of God, prove the means of reformation. Many are the admirable remarks of Solomon on this and the like fubjects; particularly, Prov. xv. 23. A word fpoken in due feafon, how good

is it!'

3dly, We are not to reprove those whom we have reafon to believe to be fuch defperate wretches, that they would be but the more exafperated, and fin in the more daring manner, on account of the reproof. To thefe it would be no act of love and charity, as it would provoke them to difhonour God ftill more highly, and fo heap ftill heavier loads of wrath and vengeance on their own heads. It is a faying of Auguftine, one of the fathers: "If we, "therefore abstain from admonishing wicked men, "because the feafon does not fuffer it, or, we fear, "they may become worfe by it, that feems to be

the counfelt of charity.". And, alas! how many are there, who, when they are reproved for their fins, though very juftly, are prefently kindled into a rage, fall a blafpheming and railing at piety, and all that profess it, and feem more confirmed than ever in their hatred and oppofition to it. Therefore we are expressly warned of the danger of this by Solomon, Prov. ix. 7. He that reproveth a fcorner, 'getteth to himself fhame; and he that rebuketh a wicked man, getteth himself a blot. And, to the

131 fame purpose, our blessed Saviour, Matth. vii. 6. 'Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither 'caft ye your pearls before swine, left they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rent you.' On the other hand, pofitively, when reproof or exhortation are adminiftred,

ft, It should be made appear, as much as poffible, to flow from love and affection as its principle. It is plain that this ought to be its principle, in order to its being a duty acceptable to God; and there will be little hope of its fuccefs with men, unless this appear to their conviction. It would, indeed, be greater perfection to profit by the malicious invectives of enemies; but every body will allow, that is not ordinarily to be expected; for this reason, all oftentation and vain glory is carefully to be avoided, and every thing that may look like only affecting fuperiority; for the fame reason, it fhould, in all ordinary cafes, be done in as fecret a manner as circumftances will permit it. The cafe of publick offences, to be fure, must be excepted; concerning which we are told, Them that fin, re⚫ buke before all, that others alfo may fear.' But, in other cafes, not only of private injury, but of private fins, the rule of our Saviour is to be obferved, Matth. xviii. 15. If thy brother fhall trefpafs against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if he hall hear thee, thou haft gained thy brother.' I cannot fay all that might be faid on this fubject; but nothing can be of greater importance, than, if poffible, to fhow that it flows from love; for, where the offender is truly

convinced of this, even though he fhould not be reformed, it is very feldom that he is difpleafed. Therefore, C

2dly, As it ought to flow from love as the principle, fo it ought to be conducted with meeknefs in the manner. No railing or reviling expreffions, which will look like the wounds of an enemy, to deftroy, and not the balm of a phyficias, to cure. Therefore the Apoftle gives us advice, in the following terms, Gal. vi. 1. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are fpiritual, reftore fuch an one in the fpirit of meeknefs: confidering thyfelf, left thou also be tempted.' This laft expreffion gives an inimitable beauty to the apoftolick counsel. Our own fins fhould fill us with compaffion as much as rerefentment againft finners, and fhould make us take the fame gentle methods with others that we would wish to be taken with ourselves, if we were in their condition. We are of the fame nature, liable to the fame temptations, and, if left of God, may eafily fall into the fame mifcarriages. Befides, as it is moft fuitable to our ftate and character, fo it is moft likely to have a proper effect. Meek and gentle admonitions will penetrate the heart, when rough and clamorous reproofs will be rejected and defpifed. Thus Solomon fays, Prov. xxv.-15 By long forbearing is a prince perfuaded, and a foft tongue breaketh the bone. And, Chap. xv. 1. * A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words ftir up anger.'

3dly, Reproof should be given with fome degree of zeal as well as meeknefs; we frould avoid the ex