evil and adulterous generation,
serpents, and children of vipers. Hypocrites, painted sepulchres,
obscure graves ([Greek]), blind guides; fools and blind, children of
the devil." St. Paul likewise calleth the schismatical heretical
teachers "dogs, false apostles, evil and deceitful workers, men of
corrupt minds, reprobates and abominable." With the like colours do
St. Peter, St. Jude, and other apostles paint them. Which sort of
speeches are to be supposed to proceed, not from private passion or
design, but out of holy zeal for God's honour, and from earnest
charity towards men, for to work their amendment and common
edification. They were uttered also by special wisdom and peculiar
order; from God's authority, and in His name; so that, as God by
them is said to preach, to entreat, to warn, and to exhort, so by
them also He may be said to reprehend and reproach.

3. Even private persons in due season, with discretion and temper,
may reprove others, whom they observe to commit sin, or follow bad
courses, out of charitable design, and with hope to reclaim them.
This was an office of charity imposed anciently even upon the Jews;
much more doth it lie upon Christians, who are obliged more
earnestly to tender the spiritual good of those who by the stricter
and more holy bands of brotherhood are allied to them. "Thou shalt
not hate thy brother; thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour,
and not suffer sin upon him," was a precept of the old law: and,
[Greek], to admonish the disorderly, is an evangelical rule. Such
persons we are enjoined to shun and decline; but first we must
endeavour by sober advice and admonition to reclaim them; we must
not thus reject them till they appear contumacious and incorrigible,
refusing to hear us, or becoming deaf to reproof. This, although it
necessarily doth include setting out their faults, and charging
blame on them (answerable to their offences), is not the culpable
reproach here meant, it being needful towards a wholesome effect,
and proceeding from charitable intention.

4. Some vehemency, some smartness and sharpness of speech may
sometimes be used in defence of truth, and impugning errors of bad
consequence; especially when it concerneth the interest of truth,
that the reputation and authority of its adversaries should somewhat
be abased or abated. If by partial opinion or reverence towards
them, however begotten in the minds of men,