ed in this opinion, by our Saviour's caution, Matth. vi.1. "Take heed that you do not your alms before men. But the next clause there, [to be feen of them,] removes that fcruple. For he that would have our works confpicuous as the light, to caft a convincing fplendor abroad in the world, cannot oblige us to fuch contradictions, as alfo to ftifle our good, fo that it may evermore escape the notice of our neighbours. Therefore muft his meaning be, that we make not mens obfervation and oftentation, our aim and intention, but have a better meaning, in our well doing; not that they may praise us, but praife our Lord, and be excited to the glorifying of him, by what they fee exemplary in us. proverbial expreffion, ver 3. "Let not thy right And that hand know what thy left hand doth ;" is but a farther check to the vanity, and pride of boasting and trumpeting our own good deeds; teaching us, that fo far we fhould be from angling for others applaufe of them, that as far as may be, we fhould ourselves overlook and forget them. And that honour, which is the fhadow of virtue, if it follow us, without our feeking; yet fhould we no more heed and regard it than we do our fhadow, any further, than it is a gift of God's bounty, and a spur to our duty. But for all this, never muft we leave the praifeworthy thing undone; left any fhould know of it, or commend us for it. For fome may take as much pride in a fort of concealing, as others do in divulg. ing the matter. And we may be willing others fhould be witneffes; that they may alfo be followers of our good. Nay, we are bound to follow after the things that are lovely, and of good report; and to provide things honeft in the fight of all men. For though all be not gold that glifters, yet the right gold fhould look like itfelf; and true ftars not wrap up themselves in obfcurity, because fome meteors make but a glaring fhew. Our works fhould praise us, us, though our own tongues muft not. And when we refuse" to confefs our Lord before men, he calls "it a denying him," Mat. x. 33. Nay, if we fhew not ourselves for him, and with him, he fays we are against him, Mat. xii. 30. O my foul, if my heart has felt, and loves the holy truth, as it is in Jefus; fhall I not ftand up to declare for it; that I may encourage others alfo to plead the fame caufe, and fo make the greater party against the wicked enemy? when vice and ungodlinefs is fo bold-faced, fure it is not a time for ferious religion to hide all in corners: but a call unto all that fear and love our Lord, to come forth and fhew themfelves, and join their forces, to vindicate the maligned truth; and to ftickle for the oppreffed cause, and let the world fee that we will not be determined by its fashion, nor be ashamed to go abroad in a religious garb though never fo much out of request with the moft: but be awed by confcience more than cuftom, and ftill cleave faft to our Lord, though it be even againft all the world. B LESSED Jefus! thou haft promised, that whofoever fhall confefs thee before men, thou "wilt confefs him alfo before thy Father in heaven. "O God forbid, that ever I should be afhamed of "him, in whom alone I have cause to glory. I have "been openly received into thy church, O Lord, and "enrolled in the number of thy faithful foldiers and "fervants. Such a one it is my honour, to be cal"led and fuch let it be my care to be found. O "let me dare to efpoufe thy caufe; whoever dare to oppose it: yea, the more let me appear for it: the more any take upon them, to fay or do against it. "Let me fpeak of thy teftimonies, even before the "biggeft, and not be ashamed, and defend thy holy ways, against the bittereft, and not be afraid. ' "give me, not only the grace to be godly, but also "the zeal, that fhall make me exemplary. That the "holy religion may look amiable in me, like itself: "and fo win others to ferve and glorify my Lord. "Amen." MEDITATION LXXIV. My My Soul, how ftudious and laborious are men to get a name, and to eternize their memories; that they may hear well while they live, and be talked of, to their praife, when they are dead? great indeed was the man," who pronounced "a good name to be better than precious oint"ment," Ecclef. vii. 1. For it cafts a fragrant odour abroad far and wide; not only to refresh him that enjoys it, but others also that are entertained with the grateful perfume of it. But yet this good name (like the reft of worldly goods) will do us good, only according as we get it and ufe it; that is, if we come honeftly by it, and if we make the right improvement of it. It is to be valued as the refult and luftre of worthy actions, efpecially when we are in fuch pofts and places, that the credit of the gofpel and the advancement of religion depend much upon our unblemished reputation. And fo far then we may thankfully accept the honour, as a means to promote the honour of our God; though ftill we must be more careful of our fouls than of our credit, yet will the care of our fouls keep us alfo from growing careless of our credit, yea, and oblige us to follow after the things which are of good report, that fo we may be the more capable of doing better fervice to our Lord, and alfo more good good to others fouls: for, when we have loft ourfelves in the world, what regard then fhall we find in our attempts, though we fet ourfelves to promote even the beft works? after we are grown fcandalous ourselves, it cafts a blot of infamy and contempt upon all that is faid or done by us. Stigmatized perfons are fuch forry inftruments; nay, they lie by as ufelefs tools. And together with their names, how commonly do they make fhipwreck alfo of their fouls! Yet muft I not be fo concerned for a name, my foul, as if I had done all my business, when I had got the popular applaufe. For there is no living by that air. No, I may have it, and be starved in the midst of it. And, Ó what will it avail me, to have a name that I live, when the Lord knows I am dead; to be called and reputed other than I am; to be careffed and admired of men, when I am cast out, and abhorred of the Lord! as it is a small thing to be judged of man's judgment; fo how fmall, to be hoifed up by man's plaudit? as it will do me no hurt to be cenfured for a cheat, when God knows my heart to be right; fo what good, to be thought good, when he knows me to be naught? If I have peace within, and his approbation from above, what need I then hang at the people's courtesy, how they will be pleased to write me down in their books? alas, what empty nothings are their thoughts and words? and how wretched is the life, to feed upon rumours, and ftand beholden to fame for my content; and afk the multitude, whether I fhall be happy?`yea, how wicked is the cheat, so to put upon the world a fallacy, and rob God of his glory, to covet the hearts of men, which are his throne; and feek the praise of all, which is only his right? O how many are called my betters, who are never a jot the better for that? and how many are trampled, as the off-fcouring of all things on earth, VOL I. Y y earth, who are the jewels of heaven, and fet apart of God for himself? let me not hang the head then, to pass fometimes through evil report, as well as good report; after fo much worthy company of (indeed) my betters; who were once traduced, even as the worft of men, but will be for ever honoured as the faints and favourites of God. O what can an empty title add to me, or diminish from me? and when I am going to receive my everlafting doom, how little will it ftand me in ftead, what they do think of me, who must themfelves be judged together with me, and we must all of us ftand or fall, at the fentence of our Judge eternal! if I am faved, then shall I inherit the higheft glory: and if I perish; alas, what will all the world's cominendations then relieve me! Ο O my foul, let me not plod and struggle, for a bubble to furvive me; but be in greateft care to do my duty, and the things that are praife-worthy; and then leave the Lord, whom I ferve, to provide for my honour; and be at his finding, what share I fhall have; and when, and how, it fhall come to my hands. He is faithful, who has promised, that "the righteous fhall be in everlasting remem"brance," Pfal. cxii. 6. Therefore let my grand concern be, to approve myself one of that number; and then, be fure, I fhall not want for honour. But that I may not too early erect my plumes, let me still confider my fins, to keep me low in my own eyes. That however others please to commend me, I may not forget to condemn myself; nor fuffer any honour to rest upon me, but what shall redound to the honour of my Lord, and be fent away to his exchequer; that not unto me, but unto his name, may be all the glory. THE |