Book III. OfjBSUSCHRIST. Zl^

felves^ but fupported with the Hopes of Divine Grace and Favour^ to comfort and afEft them i and with the Confideration^ that the Sufferwgs of this frefeiJt time are not 'worthy to he compared with the Glcry that JJhill he re^ ruealedin them. This was the Cafe of thofe glorified Saints who are thy Patterns. And^what Pretence canft Thou have, to hope for that Joy in prefent^ which They waiced long for, and purchafed at the Expence of fore Pains and many Tears^ and great Difhculcies* and thought themfelves well paid even thus ? Watt then thy Matter's leifure, quit thy felf manfully^ ba- nifli Impatience and Diilruft, perfevere in Faich and good Works ; Grudge not to lay out Perfon, Fife, All, for the Service and Glory of God j and doubcnoc^buc I will one day abundantly reward, and in the mean time will ftand by thee, to fuliaia and deliver ihee iq every Danger and Calamity »
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Chap. XLl.
Of defpifing the Vain Cenfures of Men.
Chriji.~\ ]\ /TY Son, repofe thy Soul upon God, i.V Jl call all thy Care there, and let it be thy great, thy only Concern, to approve thy felf to Him. When this is done, a Man fhould not much re- gard what the World thinks of him, nor fear the Cen- fures of Others, while his own Confcience bears Tc- Itimony to his Piety and Innocence. To be ill thought of is fometimes for thy good ; it conforms thee to the Image of thy Saviour rand.if thy Souliike his be meek and humble, if thou feek not thy own Glory, but his that fent thee, the Afflidicn. will not be very grievous to be born. The Opinions of Men are as many and as different as their P€rfons .•
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216 €>{ tt^t gimitatton Bookiii.
The greateft Diligence and moft prudent Condud I Cor ix. ^^^ never pleafe them all. And therefore even St.PWhimfelf, than whom none ever laboured more to recommend his A6lions to the good Acceptance of the World ; He who became all things to fill Meriy yet found it neeeiTary to appeal to a higher I Cqt iv. Court, and declared it a [mall thing with him to he judged of Man s yudgment. He did his utmoft to promote the Intereft and Salvation of Others, but even the utmoft he could do was not fuf- ftcient, to skreen him from the wrongful Cenfures, and perverfe Mifconftrudions of Men. And there- fore he removed his Caufe, and referred the whole Matter to that God who knew his Integrity ; and de- fended himfelf againft the Calumnies and Reproaches of licentious Tongues, with great Humility and In- vincible Patience. Sometimes he heard and paffed their Slanders by in filence : At other times he vin- dicated his own Innocence, and reproved the unrea- fonable Malice of his Accufers : Not fo much in ten- dernefs to his own Honour, as to prevent any OiFence which might be taken from his forbearing to do fo ^ and left the Weak and Ignorant fiiould conclude, that too obftinate a Silence was an Argument of his Guilt.
But what is there fo terrible in the Condemnation of Man } For what indeed is Man ? He lives and flourifhes to Day ; but to Morrow he is gone, and his Place fhall know him no more. Fear God then, and His Judgment; for tliis is Omnifcient and Everlaft- ing; and, the more thou feared Him, th? lefs thou wilt be afraid of any but Him. Confider well what hurt can come to thee by injurious and reproachful Treatment. Alas 1 they who accufe and blacken thee wronp^fully, are much the greateft Sujferers by their own Malice and Injuftice. Their Slander and Decra- aiop can have no Influence, can make no Inipreffion
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