Note, 1. Flatterers may please those for a time who, upon second
thoughts, will detest and despise them. If ever they come to be
convinced of the evil of those sinful courses they were flattered in,
and to be ashamed of the pride and vanity which were humoured and
gratified by those flatteries, they will hate the fawning flatterers as
having had an ill design upon them, and the fulsome flatteries as
having had an ill effect upon them and become nauseous. 2. Reprovers
may displease those at first who yet afterwards, when the passion is
over and the bitter physic begins to work well, will love and respect
them. He that deals faithfully with his friend, in telling him of his
faults, though he may put him into some heat for the present, and
perhaps have hard words, instead of thanks, for his pains, yet
afterwards he will not only have the comfort in his own bosom of having
done his duty, but he also whom he reproved will acknowledge that it
was a kindness, will entertain a high opinion of his wisdom and
faithfulness, and look upon him as fit to be a friend. He that cries
out against his surgeon for hurting him when he is searching his wound
will yet pay him well, and thank him too, when he has cured it.