humility, as they ought, do not presently take these ad∣vantages
against them, that they in their heat may perhaps give
you; do not fly upon them as if those unjustifiable expressions
that com from them, came from a spirit of malignity: You know
the man and the manner of his communication, pass by weaknesses,
accept of uprightnesse. Some mens temptation are very strong;
it may be their hearts are pressed with disappointments, it may
be they are pricked with the want of many comforts you have;
they have family-temptations, and personall temptations that
you are freed from: you do not know what you might doe if
you were under the like temptations. Blesse God that you are
delivered from them; but do not adde to your brethrens afflicti∣on,
by taking advantages against them, but according to the rule
of the Apostle, Gal. 6. 1. If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which
are spirituall restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, consider∣ing
thy selfe lest thou also be tempted. Beare ye one anothers bur∣dens,
and so fulfill the law of Christ. Consider their education.
Some men have been brought up altogether amongst Prelaticall
men, perhaps among Papists; some all their dayes have lived
in wicked families, they never were acquainted with the society
of the Saints, with that way of godlinesse that hath the most
strictnesse and power in it. You must not deale with them for
all things you see amisse in them, in the same way you would
deale with such who have had godly education, who have had
acquaintance with the most strict and powerfull wayes of godli∣nesse,
but now manifest a spirit against them.
Consider mens yeares: old age looks for respect, and justly:
especially such as have gone through the brunt and suffered
much for your good: though some infirmities should break forth
that are incident to old age, we must cover and passe by what
we can, not forgetting that reverent respect that is due to the
hoary head found in the way of godlinesse. Consider mens gifts:
it may be they are not able to rise to your height, to understand
what you do; thank God for your strength, but be not angry
with your brother because he is weaker. This was one of the ar∣guments
for peace that Constantine in that forementioned Let∣ter
of his to Alexander and Arius, used, we are not in all things
like minded, neither have we all the same nature and gift engraf∣ted
in us.