brother should seem vile unto thee." Whence appears that we should
be careful of not vilifying an offender beyond measure. And how
mildly governors should proceed in the administration of justice,
the example of Joshua may teach us, who thus examineth Achan, the
cause of so great mischief to the public: "My son, give, I pray
thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto Him;
and tell me now what thou hast done, and hide it not from me." "My
son;" what compellation could be more benign and kind? "I pray
thee;" what language could be more courteous and gentle? "give glory
to God, and make confession;" what words could be more inoffensively
pertinent? And when he sentenced that great malefactor, the cause
of so much mischief, this was all he said, "Why hast thou troubled
us? the Lord will trouble thee;" words void of contumely or
insulting, containing only a close intimation of the cause, and a
simple declaration of the event he was to undergo.

Secondly, likewise ministers, in the taxing sin and sinners, are to
proceed with great discretion and caution, with much gentleness and
meekness; signifying a tender pity of their infirmities, charitable
desires for their good, the best opinion of them, and the best hopes
for them, that may consist with any reason; according to those
apostolical rules: "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye
which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;
considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted;" and, "We that are
strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please
ourselves:" and, more expressly, "A servant of the Lord must not
fight, but be gentle toward all, apt to teach, patient, in meekness
instructing those that oppose themselves." Thus did St. Peter
temper his reproof of Simon Magus with this wholesome and
comfortable advice: "Repent, therefore, from this thy wickedness,