Repbj 6. We live in an age wherein men dare reproach God himself. The divinity of the Son of God is blasphemously re- proached by the Socinian ; the blessed Bi- ble is reproached by the Antiscripturist, as if it were but a legend of lies, and every man's faith a fable ; the justice of God is called to the bar of reason by the Armini-* ans ; the wisdom of God in his providen- tial actings, is taxed by the Atheist ; the ordinances of God are decried by the Fa- milists, as being too heavy a burden for a free-born conscience, and too low and car- nal for a sublime seraphic spirit ; the ways of God, which have the majesty of holiness shining in them, are calumniated by the profane; the mouths of men are open a- gainst God, as if he were an hard master, and the path of religion too strict and se- vere. If men cannot give God a good word, shall we be discontented or troubled that they speak hardly of us ? Such as labour to bury the glory of religion, shall we wonder that " their throats are open sepulchres," Rom. iii. 13., to bury our good name ? O let us be contented, while we are in God's scouring-house, to have our names sullied a little ; the blacker we seem to be here, the brighter shall we shine when God hath set us u])on the celestial shelf.
The sixth apology that discontent makes, is disrespect in the world. I have not that esteem from men as is suitable to my quali- ty and grace. And doth this trouble ? Con- sider,
Reply 1. The world is an unequal judge; as it is full of change so of partiality. The world gives her respects, as she doth her ydaces of preferment; more by favour often, than desert. Hast thou the ground of real worth in thee? That is best worth that is in him that hath it; honour is in him tliat giv.'s it ; better deserve respect, and not liave it, than have it and not deserve it.
ART OF DIVINE CONTENTMENT.
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Reply 2. Iliist tliou grace ? God respects thee, and liis judgment is best worth priz- ing. A believer is a person of honour, be- ing born of God. Since tliou wast precious in mine eyes, " thou hast been lionourahle, and I have h>ved thee," Isa. xliii. 4. Let the w()rhl think wliat they will of you ; perhaps in their eyes you are a cast-away, — in God's eyes, a dove. Cant. ii. 14., — a spouse, Cant. v. 1., — a jewel, Mai. iii. 17. Others account you the dregs and off- scouring of the world, 1 Cor. iv. 14. ; but God will give whole kingdoms for your ransom," Isa. xliii. 3. Let this content : no matter with what oblique eyes I am looked upon in the world, if I am recta in curia, God thinks well of me. It is better that God approve, than man applaud. The world may put us in their rubric and God put us in his black book. What is a man the better that his fellow-prisoners com- mend him, if his judge condemn him ? O labour to keep in with God, — prize his love ! Let my fellow-subjects frown, I am contented, being a favourite of the king of heaven.
Ihply 3. If you are a child of God, you must look for disrespect. A believer is in the world, but not of the world ; we are here in a pilgrim condition, out of our own country, therefore must not look for the re- spects and acclamations of the world ; it is sufficient that we shall have honour in our own country, Heb. xiii. 14. It is dangerous to be the world's favourite.
Reply 4. Discontent arising from disre- spect, savours too much of pride ; an hum- ble Christian hath a lower ojHuion of him- self than others can have of him. He that is taken up about the thoughts of his sins, and how he liath provoked God, cries out, as Agur, " I am more brutish than any man," Prov. xxx. 2. And therefore is con- tented, though he be set among " the dogs of my flock," Job xxx. 1. 'riiough he he low in the thought of others, yet he is thankful that he is not laid in " the lowest hell," Ps. Ixxxvi. 13. A proud man sets an high value upon himself; and is angry with others, because they will not come up to his price. Take heed of pride ! O had others a window to look into their breast — j ba Crates once expressed it — or did thy j
heart stand where thy face doth, thou wouldst wonder to have so much respect.
The next apology is, I meet with very great sufferings for the truth. Consider,
Reply 1. Your sufferings are not so great as your sins : put these two in the balance, and see which weighs heaviest ; where sin lies heavy, sufferings lie light. A carnal spirit makes more of his sufferings, and less of his sins ; lie looks upon one at the great end of the perspective, but upon the other at the little end of the persj)ective. The carnal heart cries out, take away the frogs: but a gracious heart cries out, " take? a\\ ay the iniquity," 2 Sam. xxiv. 10. The one saith, never any one suffered as 1 have done ; but the other saith, never one sinuc <1 as I have done, Micah vii. 7.