Consideration of our secret Sins, a motive to Compassionate others. [ 1293]
WE may read of a Iudge in the Primitive times,* 1.1 who when he was se∣riously invited to the place of Judgment to passe Sentence upon ano∣ther, withdrew himself; and at last, being earnestly pressed, came with a bag of sand upon his shoulders to the Iudgment Seat,* 1.2 saying; You call me to passe Iudgment upon this poor Offender; How can I do it, when I my self am guilty of more sins then this bag hath sands in it, if the World saw them all: This was not so well done as a publique Magistrate, being invited to do Iustice; yet as becoming a Conscionable Christian. And thus ought all good Men to do, the consideration of their bosome Sins, should work in them Compassion towards others, saying with∣in themselves;* 1.3 Can I be as Judah to cry out upon Tamar, Let her be burnt, when I remember the Ring and the Staffe, laid in pawn to her in secret? How can I be ex∣tream against my weak brother, when if my faults were written on my forehead, I might deserve as severe a censure my self.