1. There is great need of faithfulness and prudence, in
JOINT AND COMMIXED INFLUENCES
View them conjunctly in some special parts of our work, whereinto they shed down their joint and commixed influences. And these, among some others, are the duties of, (1) defending truth against error, (2) reproving offenders, and (3) dealing with distressed consciences.
1. There is great need of faithfulness and prudence, in defending the truths of Christ, against the errors of the times.
Our faithfulness indeed will oblige us to do it; but prudence must direct us how to do it. The establishment of our people in the truth; is one special end of the institution of the ministry, Eph. 4:11. But without the assistance of both these graces, that end is never like to be attained. A faithful minister dares not be silent, where the souls of his people are concerned; yet all his endeavours to secure them, will be to little purpose, if prudence be wanting in the management of that design. Prudence must both time our contentions, and regulate the manner of them. It will never suffer us to appear too soon, nor too late: Not too soon, because errors are sometimes best cured by neglect, and in a little time grow weary of themselves; not too late, lest they get head, and be past retrieve: Hasty contenders, like young faulconers, let fly the hawk with her hood on. Upon the other side, if friendship, or relation to seducers, stop our mouths too long, we may in a few days be entertained by them, (as Thyestes was by his brother Atreus) with the limbs of our own (spiritual) children.
Prudence will not suffer our pulpits to ring with invectives against seducers, till the more private and gentle methods have been tried in vain; and then neither prudence nor faithfulness will admit of longer delay. But yet when they both advise us to engage, prudence must