2 Samuel 12:7

And Nathan said to David, Thou [art] the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

Ver. 7. And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man.] Tu is es, de te narratur fabula. You are the one and about you is the story told. This was downright plain dealing indeed. See the like, 1Ki 20:35; 1Ki 20:41 Gen 40:18-19 Dan 5:22 Matthew 14:4. Truth must be spoken, however it be taken: it is a treacherous flattery in divine errands to regard greatness. If prophets must be mannerly in the form, yet in the matter of reproof they must be resolute. What brave and bold preachers of old were Athanasius, Ambrose, Chrysostom! and since that, Ode Severus, Johannes Sarisburiensis - who reproved the Pope to his teeth, and then wrote his "Polycraticon," - Lambertus Trajectinus Episcopus - who stoutly reproved King Pipin for his adulteries, A.D. 798, and lost his life for so doing! a To come nearer to our own times, what brave and undaunted spirits were Luther, Farell, Latimer, Lever, Gilpin, Deering, Perkins, Stock! of which last, Mr Gataker giveth this true testimony, that as he could speak his mind fitly, so he durst do it freely. I myself once heard him say to some that slept before him, If ye will not rouse up yourselves, I will pull you up by the poll.

a Godw. Catal. Revius, De Vit. Pontif. Hist. Gal. Epit.