S. MATT. vii. 1. Judge not, that ye be not judged. Μὴ κρίνετε, ἵνα μὴ κριθῆτε. OR the understanding these Words, we must confider them, FOR I. Negatively. 1. Not as if the Civil or Ecclefiaftical Magiftrate might not judge Malefactors and Offenders, as the Anabaptifts think, and wrest these Words to countenance their Error. For, 1. They receive Commiflion from God to judge and punish Criminals and Delinquents, 2 Chron. xix. 6. Rom. xiii. 1, 2. 2. Our Saviour Himfelf hath given His Church the Keys or Power of Binding and Loofing, S. Matt. xvi. 19. S. Job. XX. 23. Πῶς ἢ αὐτοῖς καὶ τὰς κλῶς ἔδωκεν, εἰ γὰ μὴ μέλλεσι κείνεν ἁπάντων ἔσονται άκυροι, Chryfoft. Καὶ μάτην * εξεσίαν το δεσμῶν καὶ τὰ χύειν αλή oaor, ibid. 3. Without this Power of judging, all Things would be brought into Confufion. Εἰ τότο κρατήσειεν, ἅπαια οιχήσεται καὶ τὰ ἐν ἢ ἐκε κλησίαις, καὶ τὰ ἐν ᾧ πόλεσι, καὶ τὰ ἐν ᾧ οἰκ nicus, Chryfoft. 2. Nor that we fhould not reprove others. 1. It is abfolutely commanded, Levit. xix. 17. 2. It is necessary for ourfelves and others. 1. For 1. For ourselves. 1. To discharge ourselves from the Blood of others, Ezek. iii. 18, 20. 2. That we may not partake with them Qui non vetat peccare cum poteft, jubet. But very particular Care is to be taken in giving Reproof, that it be, 1. Perfonal, or before their Faces, 2 Sam. xii. 7. 2. With Prudence, S. Jude 22, 23. S. Matt. vii. 6. 3. Humble, Levit. xix. 17. S. Jam. i. 20. 4. Scriptural, 2 Tim. iii. 16. 5. Seafonable, S. Matt. xviii. 15. 1 Sam. XXV. 37. Οὐδὲ γὰ ὀνειδίζειν δῶ, ἀλλὰ νοθελῶν ἐδὲ κατηγο ρῶν, ἀλλὰ συμβολεύειν· ἐδὲ μετὰ ἀπονοίας ἐπιλί θεος, ἀλλὰ μετὰ φιλοςοργίας διορθόν, Chryf. II. Pofitively. Not to entertain a bad Opinion of any Man, without a just Cause. 1. Not of any Man's Perfon, S. Luk. xiii. 32. 2. 3. 4. Because, Words, Pfal. Ivi. 5. Actions, S. Luk. xix. 17. much less, of his Thoughts. 1. We fhould do to others, as we would have others do to us, S. Matt. vii. 12. 2. Hereby we rob our Neighbour of his Due, even Credit, which is, and ought to be most Dear to us. Because, 1. Man is most honourable of all Creatures. 2. His Honour is in his Holiness, 1 S. Pet. i. 15. 3. By judging him, we pronounce him finful, and fo deprive him of his Honour, Rom. xiii. 7. 3. This breeds a Contempt of him, Rom. xiv. 3, 10. This is Ufurping the Prerogative of God, 5. We ourselves fhall be judged; USE. 1. Our Perfons. 2. 3. 4. 5. Thoughts, Rom. ii. 15, 16. Words, S. Matt. xii. 36. 1. How far are fuch from obeying Christ, who are always cenfuring others? 2. Let us judge our felves rather than others, 2 Cor. xiii. 5. For, 1. Judging others doth but aggravate our own Sins. 2. We have Sins enough of our own to judge ourselves for. And, 3. We know more of our own Sins, than of other Mens, S. Matt. vii. 3, 4: S. MATT. vi. 20. But lay up for yourselves Treafures in I. Heaven. WHAT Treasures HAT Treasures can we lay up up in 1. The Love and Favour of God, which will be very beneficial in this World, Ephes. ii. 7. Pfal. iv. 6. Rom. viii. 28. 2. Everlasting Glory and Happiness, containing all manner of true Riches, and therefore exprefs'd by the Names that we give to the Riches of this World; as, Manfions, S. Joh. xiv. 2. White Raiment, Rev. iii. 4, 5. A Pearl of great Price and Treafures, Matt. xiii. 44, 45: A Crown, 1 Pet. v. 4. 2 Tim. iv. 8. An Inheritance, 1 Pet. i. 4. A Kingdom, S. Luk. xii. 32. Such Treasures as no Man is able to exprefs or conceive, I Cor. ii. 9. II. What does our Saviour mean by Laying up Treafures in Heaven? In general, to be charitable to the poor, and fo to ufe the Things of this World, as to recover the Favour of God by them, and have Comfort of them hereafter, S. Luk. xii. 33, 34. and xvi. 9. I Tim. vi. 18. Now to direct you in this weighty Business, we shall confider, 1. Who ought to give. 1. Every one, tho' he is not able, yet should be willing, 2 Cor. viii, 12. 2. They only are bound actually to give, who have fomething of their own, 1 Joh. iii. 17. Ifa. lxi. 8. 3. Hence, not only the Rich, 1 Tim. vi. 17. but Men of the lowest Estate, even fuch as labour with their Hands, ought to give fomething, Ephef. iv. 28. S. Mar. xii. xlii. Act. xx. 34. 2. How much is every one bound to give? 1. Bountifully, 2 Cor. ix. 6. 2. Proportionably to his Estate, 1 Cor.xvi. 2. 3. More than we spend upon our Lufts, our Pleasures, and our Vanities. 4. What ourselves have no real need of, 2 Cor. viii. 14. 5. Sometimes what is neceffary, when others Neceffities are greater than our own, 2 Cor, viii. 3. 3. How ought we to give? 1. From a Sense of our Duty to God. 2. Out of Love and Pity to our distressed Brother, 1 Cor. xiii. 3. 3. Willingly, 2 Cor. viii. 3, 10, 11, 12. 1 Tim. vi. 18. 4. Chearfully, 2 Cor. ix. 7. Rom. xii. 8. 5. Readily, without Delay, Prov. iii. 27, 28. Deut. XV. 10. 6. Thankfully, 1 Chron. xxix. 13, 14. 7. Sincerely and from a right End, and therefore, 1. Not from Vain-glory, S. Matt. vi. 1, 2. for that makes it no good .Work, and hinders the Reward, ibid. Such Men G 3 |