5. ' Whatsoever things are lovely,' 7rpocr(f)i\r]. There are certain things which are not only commanded by God, but are grateful and acceptable to men. Such are a loving, affable carriage, peaceable be- haviour, meekness, lowliness of mind, charity, usefulness : Kom. v. 7, ' For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.' The apostle telleth us of some things which are ' acceptable to God and approved of men,' Rom. xiv. 18. Now these things a christian must make conscience of : Rom. xii. 17, ' Recompense to no man evil for evil ; provide things honest in the sight of all men.' What are those ? To live charitably and peaceably : 1 Thes. v. 15, ' See that none render evil for evil unto any man, but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.' As in the body there is something that is lovely, and appeareth so to all men, so in the soul. Now these are things which we should look after. When the disciples lived christianly and in peace and charity, they had favour with all the people : Acts ii. 46, 47, ' And they continued daily with one accord in the temple, and break- ing bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people.' Therefore by this lovely carriage we should commend our profession to the world.
6. ' Whatsoever things are of good report,' eu^T^/Lta. This is another boundary ; for there are some things which have no express evil in them, but they are not of good fame, as generally condemned by the wise and sober. Now a christian is first to look to his conscience ; but because the honour of God and the credit of his profession is concerned, he must avoid those things which have an appearance of evil : 1 Thes. v. 22, ' Abstain from all appearance of evil' And the rather because
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they are not over-tender of their conscience who are lavish of their name. Indeed a christian is not to hunt after the applause of men, yet he is to do his duty, so that the holy profession be not blamed, nor evil spoken of for his sake. It is a good and short decision of Aquinas, Gloria liumana bene contemnitur, nihil male agendo propter ipsam, et bene appetitur, nihil male agendo contra ipsam. Then we rightly contemn the applause of men when we do nothing ill to gain it; and then we rightly desire it when we do nothing ill to forfeit it. It is to be contemned if we must do evil to gain it : 2 Cor. vi. 8, ' By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report, as deceivers, and yet true.' Be contented with the glory that cometh of God only, else we do not believe in Christ : John v. 44, * How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only ? ' You cannot be the servants of Christ if you honour men. As for our own credit, we must be content to be evil-spoken of for the gospel's sake and our duties' sake. And it is well deserved by doing nothing on our part to hazard it. So 1 Peter ii. 12, ' Having your conversation honest among the gentiles ; that whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.* We are to stop the mouth of iniquity, and to put to silence the ignor- ance of foolish men; not justly to cause our names to stink and be unsavoury, but live down the reproaches of the world, as much as in us lieth, and bring the holy ways of God into request.
7. The last limitation is, ' If there be any virtue, or any praise.' I join both these things together, because they are linked to one another. That is, if they found anything praised and esteemed in the world, provided it be a virtue. Many things gain applause in the world which yet are not virtuous and praiseworthy ; as the revenging of au injury, zeal for a man's faction : Gal. i. 10, ' For do I now persuade men or God ? or do I seek to please men ? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.' So for peaceable compliance with sin, and good-fellowship : Luke xvi. 15, ' And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men, but God knoweth your hearts ; for that which is highly esteemed amongst men is an abomination in the sight of God.' Now christians should abhor such things, though never so much cried up in the world : there is a praise of such things, but they are not virtues. Or else you may understand this limitation thus : If there be any virtue, that is, something lower than grace, any good thing among the heathens with whom they conversed, they should take it up, and adorn religion with it. So if there be any praise : Among good things some are more eminent ; others, as they are not disproved, so they are not praised. Now any such praiseworthy or commendable action they should imitate, and adorn their profession with it. The gifts of the Holy Ghost are called graces, but these commendable actions are called virtues.