The liberty of iust and vpright correction answereth.
The faults of thy neighbor, are neyther to be concealed, nor consented vnto: but in brotherly charity thy neighbour is to be reproued before his face, and not priuily and behinde his backe to be spightfully handled and reproched. But if it be obiected, I will not therefore reprehend my brother before his face, least he beeing exasperated and vexed, should not profit by my re∣proofe, but rather take offence at my correction: the holy Page [unnumbered] Scripture doth meete with thys, and the case beeing altered tel∣leth thee,* that this is a greater offence, saying; Thou sattest and spakest against thy brother: yea and hast slaundered thine owne mo∣thers sonne. For he taketh a greater offence, who vnderstandeth himselfe to be backbytten, then he that sustaineth a reproouer. And because sometimes the faultes of offenders are for a tyme to be passed ouer in silence, that they may be reproued in a time more fit and seasonable, therefore it is added. These things hast thou doone, and I held my tongue. But least by thys discreet silence detracters and backbyters should applaude themselues, vvho whilst they had alwayes rather priuily derogate and detract, and neuer come to open reproofe; therefore hee further inferreth, And thou thoughtest wickedly, that I am euen such an one as thy selfe. As if he should haue sayd, It is a wicked thought to think, that therefore I am like vnto a detracter, because I not deroga∣ting for a time silence my selfe, expecting a fit place and tyme for open correction. Whereupon this is foorth-with annexed, But I will reproue thee, and set before thee the things that thou hast doone: As if hee shoulde haue sayd, Not priuily, as it is thy cu∣stome, but openly, as it is my care, expecting a fitte time of re∣proofe, will I reproue a sinner, that I may sette his offences be∣fore his face. But thou sayst, I doe not hate him, but loue him, whom I so reprehend in priuitie. Yea thou doost so much the more hate him and not loue him, because thou detractest, and not correctest.
