8. Now then unruly boys will beg, and take it2789 hard to be beat taking exception
against2790 us when we wish to chastise them after this fashion. “I have sinned, but forgive
me.” Well, I have forgiven, and he sins again. “Forgive me,” he cries, and I have forgiven
him. He sins a third time. “Forgive me,” he cries, and a third time I have forgiven him. Now
then the fourth time let him be beat. And he will say, “What! have I tired you out to seventy-
seven times?” Now if by such exceptions the severity of discipline sleep, upon the suppression
of discipline wickedness will rage with impunity. What then is to be done? Let us reprove
with words, and if need be with scourges; but let us withal forgive the sin, and cast away the
remembrance of it from the heart. For therefore did the Lord add, “from your hearts,” that
though through affection discipline be exercised, gentleness might not depart out of the
heart. For what is so kind and gentle as the surgeon with his knife? He that is to be cut cries,
yet cut he is; he that is to be cauterized cries, but cauterized he is. This is not cruelty; on no
account let that surgeon’s treatment be called cruelty. Cruel he is against the wounded part
that the patient may be cured; for if the wound be softly dealt with, the man is lost. Thus
then would I advise, my Brethren, that we love our brethren, howsoever they may have
sinned against us; that we let not affection toward them depart out of our hearts, and that
when need is, we exercise discipline toward them; lest by the relaxation of discipline,
wickedness increase, and we begin to be accused on God’s behalf, for it has been read to us,
“Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.”2791 Certainly, if one, as is the
only true way, distinguishes the times, and so solves the question, all is true. If the sin be in
secret, rebuke it in secret. If the sin be public and open, rebuke it publicly that the sinner
may be reformed; and “that others also may fear.”
2789 Nolunt.
2790 Præscribunt.
2791 1 Tim. v. 20.
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On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xvii. 21, ‘How oft shall my brother sin…