494 SERMOKs UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser. LII.
liim that committed adnltery, meaning the heathen Jupiter. Affliction is no disgrace, but sin is.
But what danger is there of being ashamed of the gospel, since^ Christianity is in fashion ?
Ans. 1. Sometimes the simplicity of the gospel is contemned by the wits of the world ; and therefore they either muster up the opi)Ositions of science falsely so called, or else droll upon religion, and make it the common jest and byword.
Ans. 2, The stricter profession of the ways of God is under re- proach. Though the nominal Christian and the serious Christian have the same Bible, and believe the same creed, and are baptized into one and the same profession, yet those that are false to their religion will hate and scorn those that are true to it ; and among the carnal it will be matter of reproach to be serious and diligent. Now, though a gracious heart can be vile for God, yet others are afraid they shall be marked, and accounted precise, or Puritans ; and so by resisting an imaginary shame, they fall into an eternal reproach.
Ans. 3. It may be the strict sort of Christians are the poorer sort ; and though they be i:>recious in the eyes of God, yet they are despised by men : John vii. 49, ' This people that knoweth not the law are accursed. Have any of the Phai'isees believed in him ? ' any people of quality ? They shall be accounted people of no port and breeding if they are strictly Christian. Quantus in Christicmo 2wpulo honor Christi est, uhl religio ignobilem facit? coguntur esse viles ne mail videantur. Eeligion is too mean a thing for persons of quality, of their rank. Thus with many God's image is made a scorn, and the devil's image had in honour, and serious godliness is made a byword.
Now, to fortify you against being ashamed of God and his ways, take these considerations: —
1. The short continuance of this world's glorv. Within a while we shall be levelled with the lowest, and our dust mixed with common earth ; and shall we love the praise of men more than the praise of God? This corruptible flesh must turn into a loathsome rotten- ness, though now it looketh high, and sets forth itself, and would be brave and lordly ; but ' the spirit must return to God that gave it,' to be commanded into unseen and unknown regions : 1 Peter i. 24, ' All flesh is grass, and the glory of man as the flower of grass.'
2. God is the fountain of honour ; all things and persons receive an honour by having relation to him : James ii. 1, 'Have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, in respect of persons.' Services mean in themselves are accounted honourable with resjoect to princes. The reproach of Christ is enough to weigh down all the honours in the world : Heb. xi. 26, ' Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt.'
3. If your hearts be sincere with God, you will not be ashamed of his ways, for ' wisdom is justified of her children ;' in Luke it is, ' All her children,' Luke vii. 3.5. They that have a faith which is the fruit of conviction only may be ashamed : John xii. 42, 43, ' Among the rulers alSo many believed on him ; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue ;
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YeR. 46.] SERMONS UPON TSALM £!XIX. 495
for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.' But that faith which is the fruit of conversion will make us courageous in God's cause. In its infancy there may he some relics of fear in a Christian, as Nicodemus at first came to Jesus by night, John xix. 39 ; but a grown faith counts it no loss of honour or impeachmeut of dignity to become vile for God.
4. The eternal recompense : 1 Sam. ii. 30; ' Those that honour me I will honour ; ' 1 Peter i. 7, ' That your faith may be found to praise, glory, and honour, at Christ's coming.' On the other side, if we are ashamed of Christ, Christ will be ashamed of us for evermore : Mark viii. 38,.' Whosoever, therefore, shall be ashamed of me and my words in tliis adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when he cometli in the glory of his father, with the holy angels.' The eagle eye of faith can look through all the pageantry of the world, and the mists and clouds of time, to the future state, the judgment that shall be made of things. To a be- liever's eye all the honour of the world is but a fancy and vain appearance, a scene in which a base fellow acteth the part of a prince.
5. The judgment of the world is not to be stood upon. Why should we desire the applause of the blind ungodly world, or make any great matter of their contempt and scorn ? Shall the scorn of a fool be more to us than the approbation of God ? If they slight you who slight God and Christ and their own salvation, why should you be troubled ? They are incompetent judges of these things : 1 John iii. 1, ' The world knoweth us not.