18
of the feast or in some other of the guests, even to say unto them thus, or otherwise, as the cause requireth; I will warn you of one thing, that if you follow counsel, it will do you good; that is, that you would leave off your usury, or your extortions, or your covetousness or oppression, that you would leave off your swearing and blaspheming the name of God; that you would forbear to profane the Lord's sabbath; that you would leave your pride and excess in your diet and apparel; that you would forbear to speak ill of any behind their backs, or to bear any malice or hatred to any of their neighbours; these or the like are the faults which are easy to be espied almost in every place; and these are the faults which every minister of Jesus Christ should not leave unreproved wheresoever he cometh. But as Elias told Ahab of his idolatry, 1 Kings xiii. although he was king. And as John Baptist told Herod of his adultery, altho' he did many things for him, Matth. xiv. Mark vi. 20. 'and heard him gladly.' so should the preachers reprove the people for their notorious offences, notwithstanding some favours and courtesies received of them before. If Christ took occasion to find fault with