1. It seems to be a proper cure for the sin of pride ; be it pride in the mind, which is self-conceit ; or pride in the affections, which is called vainglory; all sorts of pride ; there is no such effectual remedy as this. Possibly we have been too self-conceited, then God givetli us to such scandals that may show us what we are. Many times our very graces do us hurt, as well as our sins ; and we may be puffed up with what we have received. So for vainglory, when we are apt too much to please ourselves in the opinions others have of us, which is an evil the people of God are liable to, this pride God will cure by reproach. Pride is one of the oldest enemies ever God had ; it was born in heaven in the breast of the fallen angels, for which they are laid low ; and when his children harbour it, God hath a quarrel against it. When Paul was puffed up, when the bladder was swollen, God sent him a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet him, lest he should be exalted above measure, 2 Cor. xii. 7. Possibly it was some eminent affliction ; but when he expresseth it afterwards, he mentioneth reproaches, ver. 10, ' Therefore I will rejoice in infir- mities,' that is, sickness ; nay, ' I will rejoice in reproaches.'
2. For carnal walking. When we are negligent, and do not take notice of the fleshliness and folly we are guilty of and allow in our hearts, that breaks out into our actions. God suffers others to re- proach us and gather up our failings, that we may see what cause we have to take our ways to heart. Every man that would live strictly had need of faithful friends or watchful enemies ; of faithful friends to admonish him, or watchful enemies to censure him. God makes use of watchful enemies to show us the spots in our garments that are to be washed off. Many times a friend is blinded with love, and grows as partial to us as ourselves ; therefore God sets spies for us to watch
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for our halting : Jer. xx. 10, ' I heard the defaming of many : report, say they, and we will report it : all my familiars watched for my halt- ing.' They lie in wait to take us tripping ; and Grod sees it needful that we should have enemies as well as friends ; how ignorant else should a man be of himself ! Therefore God useth them as a rod to brush the dust from our clothes.
3. The sin God would humble us for is censuring. If we have not been so tender of the credit of others, God will make us taste the bitterness of affliction ourselves, and recompense the like measure into our bosoms : Mat. vii. 1,2,' Judge not, that ye be not judged ; for with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.' We shall find others to judge as hardly of us as we do of them. Good thoughts and speeches of others are the best preservative of our own name ; and therefore, when reproach flills upon you, it is not enough you should not slight it, though you know the report to be false ; but a Christian is to examine himself: have we not drawn it upon ourselves by slander- ing others, or talking intemperately of others ? and doth not God pay us home in our own coin ? He that is much given to censuring seldom or never escapes severe censuring from others. It is said, ' Let his own words grieve him.^ Your own words will fall upon you ; therefore humble thyself before God for the reproaches thou hast cast upon others. Thus the Lord ordereth it with good advice to humble US; and that for pride, careless walking, and for censuring others. Secondly, It is to try thee.
1. To try your faith in the great day of accounts. Can you com- fort yourselves in the solemn vindication of the day of judgment, and in God's approbation then? 2 Cor. x. 18, ' He is approved whom the Lord commendeth.' Men cannot defend thee if God condemn thee, they cannot condemn thee if God acquit thee ; and therefore canst thou stand to God's judgment ? In a race it is not what the standers- by say, but what he that is the judge of the games will determine. We are all in a race, and it is not what men say of us, but what God saith, who is judge of all: 1 Cor. iv. 3, 4, ' It is a small thing that I should be judged of man's judgment; but he that judgeth me is the Lord.' In the original it is ' man's day,' and so in the margin. We shall never be resolute for God, until we confe to this, to count it a very small thing to be judged of man's judgment. Now is man's day, but God hath his day hereafter. So to try our faith in particu- lar promises : Ps. cxix. 42, ' So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me ; for I trust in thy word.' A Christian, when he gives up himself to God, he gives up everything he hath to God ; not only gives his soul to God to keep, but that God may take charge of his person, estate, and good name. Now God requires a trust ac- cording to the extent of the covenant, a waiting and confidence in his power. He can turn the hearts of men, and give them favour in their eyes: Ps. xxxvii. 6, ' He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noon-day.'