5. Those that do obseiwe the usual course of God's providence shall find strange traverses in reference to the good report of the saints. God is ever ready to confute the reproaches of the wicked, and to clear up the innocency of his particular servants. It is good to observe providence herein, how God brandeth the wicked, and discovers the hypocrite, and vindicates and rolls away contempt from the godly. He brands the wicked ; that of Solomon is a positive rule : Prov. x. 7, ' The name of the wicked shall rot.' God leaves them to rottenness and stench, and pours infamy upon them, that their names have an ill
384 SEllMO^'S upon Hebrews xi. [Ser. VI.
savour to tliein that are of tlieir own party. So observe how provid- ence doth discover an hypocrite, God giveth them up to folly and sin, whereby they contract a blot and blemish to themselves : Prov. xxvi. 26, ' His wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation/ God will put oil" his vizard, and expose him to shame and contempt. There is seldom a hypocrite upon the stage of the world, but his dis- guise falls off one time or the other. Yea, sometimes the very secret sins of God's children are made manifest : 2 Sam. xii. 12, ' Thou didst it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun/ God would shame David for his secret sin and wickedness. Observe again how providence at other times doth vindicate the godly, and cast shame upon those that do accuse them: 1 Peter iii. IG, ' Having a good conversation, that whereas they speak evil of you as of evil-doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.' All the reproaches of the wicked are but like the dashing of the waves against the rock ; the foam returns upon themselves ; but God's peo})le have the glory ; or as they that spit against the wind, the drivel is cast upon their own faces. Patience and a good conversation will soon dispel all those mists and clouds. Hair w^ill grow again though shaven, as long as the roots remain ; so though the razor of censure bring on baldness and reproach upon the head of religion and ways of God, yet while the root doth remain, while there is a good conversation, it will spring up again. Trust God with your repute, and good names as well as your estate ; the hearts and tongues of men are in his hands, and he can overrule them ; nay, you have given some occasion because of your folly, yet be more circumspect, and so trust God.
Thirdly, Whether in the exercise of faith w^e may eye a good report ? is not this vain-glory ? I answer in four things.
1. Our chief care must be to do the duty, -tind trust God with the blessing ; this is the temper of a christian. Men usually do quite other- wise ; they would enjoy the blessing, and neglect the duty : ' yet honour me before the people,' said that sly hypocrite, 1 Sam. xv. 80. We are careless of service, and yet hunt for praise. Laus liumana non appeti debet, sedaequi ; outward pi-aisemust not be the aim of the action, but the event. And again, Aquinas ; Gloria bene contenmitur, nihil male agendo 'propter ipsam, et bene acquiritur, nihil malo agendo contra ipsam. We must do well, that w-e may not miss of a good report ; and we must not do ill, that we may obtain it. We must do things that are praiseworthy, though not to that end. Do what may be seen, though not to that end that it may be seen : Mat. v. 1 6, ' Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and gloriiy your Father which is in heaven.' It dotli not show what is the aim and cliief end of a christian, but what will follow upon such an innocent, pure, and holy conversation : Luke xiv. 10, ' Sit at the lowest room, that when he that bade thee cometh, he toay say unto thee/ &c. {that is taken for then) ; that is, when you are so modestly humble, then the master of the house will Ind you sit higher. When the heart runs out upon praise more than duty, it is naught. Therefore take heed of such secret whispers of vanity, and suppositions of applause, hearkening after the echo, the running out of the spirit or soul by unworthy low aims.
VkK. 2.] SERMONS UPON HEBUEWS XL 385
and carnal reflections. We are commanded to do things that are 'of good report,' Phil. iv. 8. though not with that aim.
2. If we expect it as a blessing of the covenant, we must rather look for it from God than from men, expect it as the gift of his grace for our encouragement in the ways of religion. Usually we do quite otherwise, and therefore are more careful of ci-edit than of conscience, and are not careful of pleasing God so much as compliance with men. A man that expects a good name differs as much from him that hunts after vain glory, as he that looks after an estate differs from him that would onl}- please himself in the repute of it, or being accounted rich. You must ])refer the testimony of a good conscience before the applause of men : 2 Cor. i. 12, ' This is our rejoicing, the testimony of our conscience ; ' found all your hopes in the inward witness of the Holy Ghost, and take more care to be good, than to seem to be good. The people of God may be described thus ; they perform inward duties cheerfully, that they may approve their hearts to God ; and outward duties watch- fully, that they may not taint their actions with any unworthy aim. Others are altogether for pleasing of men, and careless of grieving the {Spirit of God.