ments,' &;c. Precious aromatical oiutments were things greatly in use and esteem amongst the Israelites, and a special part of their treasures, as is evident by the Scriptures in the margin.^ And yet a good name, which hath its foundation in virtue, and in a holy, innocent, blameless, harmless, and exemplary life, is better than those most precious oint- ments. And it is observable that the initial letter of the Hebrew word 31t3^ Toh, that is here rendered good, is bigger than ordinary, to shew the more than ordinary excellency of a good name and fame amongst men. It was good counsel the moralist gave when he said. Whatsoever commodity you lose, be sure yet to preserve that jewel of a good name. A good renown is better than a golden girdle, say some. And a man's eye and his good name can bear no jests, say others. And if I may but keep a good name, I have wealth enough, said the naturalist. 0 friends ! as ever you would keep a good name, keep off from the very appearance of evil ; for the very appearance of evil will both eclipse and wound a man's name and his conscience at once. Certainly a man were better not to live, than to outlive his good name. A man's good name is hke a piece of white paper, which, if once blotted, will very hardly be got out again, so as to leave no print of it behind. It is like a fair structure, long time a-rearing, but quickly ruined ; or like a merchant's estate, long a-getting, bat lost in a moment. And therefore how much does it concern every Christian to keep his name as he would keep his life ! and this he can never do, except he keeps off from the appearance of evil. It is his name only that shall be kept green and flourishing, like the rod of Aaron, that was laid up in the tabernacle, who keeps off from the appearance of evil. He takes the best and the wisest course under heaven to preserve his good name in the world, and to maintain the peace of his conscience, who is most studious and industrious to abstain from all appearances of evil. But, &c.
(5.) Fifthly, The appearance of evil may very much offend, scan- dalise, stumble, and tempt vjeak Christians ; and therefore it highly concerns us to keep) off from, the very appearance of evil. The more grace any man hath in his own heart, the more fearful he will be of stumbling or offending those that have less. Venturing upon the appearance of evil may not only defile my own conscience, but also wound my weak brother's conscience ; and therefore it concerns me to be very shy of the appearance of evil. If in things of an indifferent nature I must deny my own liberty, as I must, rather than grieve, or offend, or wound the conscience of a weak brother for whom Christ hath died, 1 Cor. viii. 11-13, x. 25, 28, oh how much more, then, must I shun the very resemblance of sin, considering how wonderful apt weak Christians are to be offended and stumbled when they see others so bold as to venture upon the appearance of evil ! Alexander's Mace- donians having offended him, laid by their arms, put on mourning apparel, and came running in troops to his tent, where, for almost three days together, they remained with loud cries and tears, to testify their remorse for offending him ; and shall we make nothing of offending
' Exod. XXX. 22, 23 ; xxviii. 41 ; 1 Sam. xvi. 13 ; Ps. Ixxxix. 20 ; Heb. i. 9 ; Isa. Ixi. 3 ; Atnos vi. ti ; Esther ii. 12 ; Ps. xxiii. 5 ; Luke vii, 4G ; Ps. xcii. 10 ; Deut. xxxiii. 24 ; Prov. xxi. 20,
828 A CABINET OF JEWELS. [ChAP. IT.
those weak Christians that are the price of Christ's blood, and the travail of his soul ? The Lord forbid !
Besides, our venturing upon the appearance of evil may prove a great temptation to weak Christians, not only to venture upon seeming evils, but also to venture upon real evils. Doubtless many weak Chris- tians have been drawn to apparent evils by observing others to venture upon the appearance of evil. It is commonly seen, that when strong Christians will adventure upon appearing evils, weak Christians will be emboldened thereby to commit real evils : 1 Cor. viii. 8-10, 'But meat commendeth us not to God : for neither, if we eat, are we the better ; neither, if Ave eat not, are we the worse. But take heed, lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling-block to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is w^eak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols ?' When the weak shall see men of knowledsre communicating with idolaters in their feasts, their consciences will be emboldened and confirmed in their old superstition about those idols which they w^ere beginning to leave, re- turning now afresh to a more reverent esteem and service of them than ever, &c. O friends ! as you would not offend the weak, as you would not tempt the weak, keep off from aU shows and appearances of evil, &c. But,
[6.] Sixthly, Christians venturing upon appearing evils, will ex- ceedingly harden and encourage ivicJccd men to commit real evils. It is very natural and customary with wicked men to make use of the appearing infirmities of the saints, as excuses and apologies to bear them out in their greatest enormities and wickednesses. Why, did not such and such knowing eminent Christians do thus and thus ? and we have gone but one step beyond them, and is that so great and heinous a crime ? they have been playing and sporting themselves about the pit, and we are but slipped or stepped into the pit. They have been sitting and bibbing with such and such company, and we have but taken two or three merry cups more than ordinary in the same company, and is that so great a sin ? &c. O sirs ! as we should walk wisely towards those that are without, so we should walk compassionately towards those that are without, 1 Thes. iv. 12. 'Of some have compassion, making a differ- ence,' Jude 22. Did not Jeremiah wish that his head were waters, and his eyes a fountain of tears, that he might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of his people ? Jer. ix. 1. Did not Samuel mourn for Saul ? Did not Christ weep over Jerusalem ? Did not the com- passionate Samaritan bind up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, who fell among thieves in his going from Jerusalem to Jericho ? Did not Paul weep over those that were enemies of the cross of Christ ? Yea, shall we shew pity and compassion to an ox or an ass that is fallen into a ditch ? Nay, shall David rather venture upon a lion than lose a lamb ? Shall Jacob rather endure heat by day, and cold by night, than neglect his flock ? Shall Moses fight with odds, rather than the cattle shall perish with thirst V Nay, shall Xenocrates, a heathen, shew compas- sion to a poor sparrow, that being scared and pursued by a hawk, tiew
' 1 Sam. XV. 25 ; Luke xi.\. 10 ; x. 30-35 ; Pliilip. iii. 20 ; Lgv. xix. 17 ; 1 Sam. xvii. 34 ; Gen. xxxi. 40.
Chap. II.] a cabinet of jewels. 329