3. All the respect that we have to men, is by a greater care of duty, to prevent undue surmises and suspicion : 2. Cor. viii. 21, 'Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of God, but in the sight of men.' To clear up their hearts to God, and clear up their religion to men : 1 Peter iii. 16, ' Having a good conscience, that whereas they speak evil of you, as of evil-doers ; they may be a^amed, who falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.' Thus are you to cut off occa- sion from them that desire occasion to reproach you. This is but a necessary aim to undeceive the world.
4. The glory of God and the credit of religion must be at the utmost end of all : Mat. v. 16, ' Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works ' — he doth not stop there, ' and glorify your Father which is in heaven ; ' and 1 Pet. ii. 12, ' That v.hereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.' otill the utmost end must be the glory of God and credit of religion. Usually men desire a name and repute in the world, on design to pro- mote carnal and secular advantages, but our main end should be Gods glory, and adorning the gospel. All a christian's actions and aims terminate in reasons and ends of religion, and they eye self only in subordination to those great ends.
Use 1. Prize this blessing ; it is a sweet encouragement to you in the work of God. I observe that usually men first make shipwreck of a good name, then of a good conscience. He that is tender of his con- science will not be over lavish of his credit. The old testament, which speaketh sparingly of heaven, speaketh often of the advantage of a good name: Eccles. vii. 1, 'A good name is better than precious ointment.' Iteligion preserves the name from rottenness and putrefaction ; this will embalm, perpetuate, and preserve your memories in the churches. Keligion with a good name is like a comely body in a handsome gar- ment; a jewel set in iron hath not the lustre as when set in gold. Grace hath its lustre, though clouded with reproaches, but a good
VOL. XIII. 2 B
886 SKRMONS UPON HEBREWS XL [SeH. VI.
name will make you more clieerful ; ' For a good report maketli the bones fat,' Prov. xv. 30. And it will make you more useful ; a blem- ished instrument is of little use. The priests under the law were to have no outward blemish or deformit}^ It is a qualification of a bishop, 1 Tim. iii. 7, ' That he must have a good report of them that are with- out;' not only be known in the churches, but" of unstained life in the world. Who would drink of a suspected fountain? or take meat out of a leprous hand ? Men are prejudiced with the offering of the Lord when the ])riests are scandalous : 1 Sam. ii. 17, compared with ver. 25. Use 2. Be careful how you prejudice the good name of a believer ; you cross God's ordination. How ought you to tremble, when you go about to take off the ci-own which Grod hath put on their heads ! Num. xii. 8, ' Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses ? ' What ! against Moses ! Did not your knees smite one against another for very fear ? ' Thus shall it be done with the man whom the king delighteth to honour,' Esther vi. 9. A man should be afraid to dishonour those whom Grod will honour. You are the worst thieves, you rob them of the most precious jewel ; no treasure like a good name : Prov. xxii. 1, ' A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.' This is the very devil's sin ; it is his proper work to be the accuser of the brethren, Kev. xii. 10 ; to frame mischievous insinuations against the cliildren of God. The devil doth not commit adultery, bi-eak the sabbath, dishonour parents, but ho doth accuse the brethren. You are but acting the devil's part, while you are scanda- lising those that are eminent for grace : Ps. Ixiv. 3, ' They whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows, to shoot their arrows, even bitter words.' It is meant of those that speak against religious eminency ; and see their judgment, ver. 7, 8, ' But God shall shoot at them with an arrow, suddenly shall they be wounded ; so they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves.' Better a mountain fall upon you, than when he shall come to visit this sin, the mischief of your evil tongue should fall upon you. Most odious it is in those that pretend to be christians, to do it to one another ; as for one soldier to defame another, or for a scholar to despise learning. We should rejoice in the repute of others, that they have a worthy name, and not blemish it ; as the apostle, Rom. i. 8, ' I thank ray God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world,' that you are eminent believers ; so Col. i 3, 4, ' We give thanks to God, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have unto all the saints.' That Christ hath worthies abroad, this should be our joy. We should preserve the repute of others, because it is a good means to keep our own. Rash censures meet with a retaliation : Mat. vii. 1, 'Judge not, that 3'e be not judged.' But you will say, If the man do but profess religion, must we not speak evil of him ? no, unless it be done with grief ; that one which belongs to Christ should dishonour himself and his profession. There may be malice where there is truth, if we are glad of their failing ; ' Of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,' Phil. iii. 18; he speaks of licentious persons under a form of godliness, which drive on a secular design. Take heed what tho,u sayest of those who in outward profession are more zealous than