I nothing else but compassion ; for there is naturally no affection in us to desire hia friendship, nor no goodness in us to deserve it ; the loadstone Is in himself. When wo were full of blood, he was full of bowels ; when we were enemies, he sent an embas- sage of peace ; when our hearts were turn- ed back from God, his heart was turned towards us. O the tenderness and sympa- thy of our Friend in heaven ! We ourselves have some relentings of heart to those which are in misery; but it is God who begets all the mercies and bowels that are in us, therefore he is called " the Father of mer- cies," 2 Cor. i. 3.
6. He is a constant friend. " His compas- sions fail not," Lam, iii. 22. Friends do often in adversity drop off as leaves in au- tumn. Amici circa sartaginem, as Plutarch saith; these are rather flatterers than friends. Joab was for a time faithful to king David's house ; he went not after Absalom's trea son ; but within a while proved false to the crown, and Avent after the treason of Ado nijah, 1 Kings i. 7. God is a friend for ever: " having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them to the end," John xiii. 1. What tliough I am despised ? yet God loves me. What though my friends cast me off? yet God loves me; he loves to the end, and there is no end of that love. This methinks, in case of discourtesies and uiikindncsscs, is enough to charm down discontent.
The next apology is, I am tinder great reproaches. Let not this discontent : for,
Heplij 1. It is a sign there is some good in thee; saith S(XTates, wliat evil have I (hme, that this bad man commends me ? The ap- plause of the wicked usually denotes some evil, and their censure imjMtrts s(»me good, Ps. xxxviii. 20. David wept and fasted, and that was turned to his " rej)roach," Ps Ixix. 10. As we must pass to heaven through the pikes of suflfV'ring, so through the clouds of reproach.
Jieplij 2. If your reproach be for Gud, as David's was, " for thy sake I have borne
GOG
ART OF DIVINE CONTENTMENT.
reproacli," Ps. Ixix. 7., then it is rather matter of triumph, than dejection. Christ doth not say, when you are reproached be discontented ; but rejoice. Mat. v. 12. Wear your reproach as a diadem of honour, for jjow a spirit of " glory and of God rests upon you," 1 Pet. iv. 14. Put your re- proaches into the inventory of your riches ; so did Moses, Heb. xi. 26. Jt should be a Christian's ambition to wear his Saviour's livery, though it be sprinkled with blood and sullied with disgrace.
Meply 3. God will do us good by re- proach : as David of Shimei his cursing, " it may be the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day," 2 Sara. xvi. 12. This puts us upon searching our sin. A child of God labours to read his sin in every stone of reproach that is cast at him ; be- sides, now we have an opportunity to exer- cise patience and humility.
Reply 4. Jesus Christ was content to be reproached for us ; he despised the shame of the cross, Heb. xii. 2. It may amaze us to think that he who was God could en- dure to be spit upon, to be crowned with thorns, in a kind of jeer ; and when he was ready to bow his head upon the cross, to have the Jews in scorn, wag their lieads and say, " he saved others, himself he can- not save." The shame of the cross Avas as much as the blood of the cross ; his name was crucified before his body. The sharp arrows of reproach that the world did shoot at Christ, went deeper into his heart than the spear ; his suffering was so ignominious, that as if the sun did blush to behold, it withdrew its bright beams, and masked itself with a cloud ; (and Mell it might when the Sun of Righteousness was in an eclipse;) all this contumely and reproach did the God of glory endure or rather despise for us. O then let us be content to have our names eclipsed for Christ ; let not reproach lie at our heart, but let us bind it as a crown about our head ! Alas, what is reproach ? This is but small shot, how will men stand at the mouth of a cannon ? These who are discon- tented at a reproach, will be offended at a faggot.
lieply 5. Ts not many a man contented to suffer reproach for maintaining his lust? And shall not we for maintaining the truth ?
Some glory in that whicb is their shame, Phil. iii. 19. And shall we be ashamed of that which is our glory ? Be not troubled at these petty things. He whose heart is once divinely touched with the loadstone of God's Spirit, doth account it his honour to be dishonoured for Christ, Acts xv. 4. And doth as much despise the world's cen- sure, as he doth their praise.