3. Though men like not the way of godliness so as to embrace it and follow it, yet they admire it: Prov. xii. 26, ' The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour ; ' and Mark vi. 20, ' Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy.' The evidence of their consciences doth compel them to approve and honour them.
Quest. 2. How far is it lawful to mind the approbation of men, or to make it any motive to us ? Since it is said, John v. 44, * How can ye believe, that receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that Cometh of God only ? '
Ans. 1. We are not to cast off all re&pects to a good name, because it is an excellent blessing : Prov. xxii. 1, ' A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and
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gold.' It is of great use for our service and safety. The credit of religion dependeth much on the credit of those that profess it. Now, that we may not be a disgrace to Christ, nor act as blemished instru- ments, we must endeavour to preserve a good name. A pastor of the church must be one that hath a good report of them that are without, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil, Bia^6Xo<;, the slanderer, 1 Tim. iii. 7. The rather must we mind this, because men first make shipwreck of a good name, and then a good conscience ; and he that is lavish of his credit is very seldom tender of his con- science. And it is of great use for our safety. Infamy cast upon the people of God is a forerunner of more trouble, and showers of slanders are a forerunner of the grievous storms of mischief and persecution. The devil is first a liar and then a murderer, John viii. 41. In the primitive times they did invest Christians with bear-skins, and then bait them as bears ; first count them oifenders, and then prosecute them as such. The devil is afraid to meddle with unstained innocence. Valens the emperor spared Paulinus out of reverence to the unspot- tedness of his life. Therefore, since it is a great part of our security and protection against violence, it must not be slighted.
2. This must not be our first and chief motive ; that is the favour of God : 2 Cor. v. 11, ' But we are made manifest unto God, and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.' The approbation of God must be chiefly sought after ; we are not sincere without it ; for sincerity is a straight and sincere purpose to please God in all things. The approbation of men must rather follow than be aimed at. Laus humana non appeti debet, sed sequi. This is the consequent of well-doing, not our proper scope. Gloria bene appetitur, nihil male agendo contra ipsam, et bene appetitur,^ nihil male agendo propter ipsam. Credit is well sought when we do nothing ill against it, and when we do nothing ill to obtain it.
3. The favour of men may be sought when we take it as the fruit of the favour of God ; for all good cometh from his favour. He giveth it us by his secret influence on the hearts and counsels of men : Prov. xvi. 7, ' When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.' He made Laban and Esau kind to Jacob. God can procure unthought-of favour by his Spirit ; either bridle their rage, or dispose them to show you favour. Sometimes he casts a terror into the hearts of enemies, and sometimes incliueth them to show favour ; as Jacob when he met with Esau : Gen. xxxiii. 4, ' Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.' So Joseph found favour with Potiphar, Gen. xxxix. It is God that maketh friends for us, when we seem to be destitute and lost in ourselves. It is not our merits, much less our compliances, that procures it.
4. It is the glory of God, and the honour of the gospel, and the safety of religion, which should be our chiefest aim and scope in all these things : Mat. v. 16, ' Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven ; ' and 1 Peter ii. 12, ' That they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God,' And because it is not our main
^ Qu. ' contemnitur' 1 — Ed.
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122 SERMON UPON LUKE H. 52.
aim, if it come, we should not be over-affected with it. If it come not, we should not be over-troubled ; but in good and bad report we should approve ourselves to be the faithful servants of the Lord, 2 Cor. vi. 6. Man's judgment is not to be stood upon ; God will not ask their vote and suffrage for our admission into eternal glory. As we must not forfeit it by any fault of our own, so we must not desire it as our great happiness ; in this, as well as in other temporal thiogs, we must refer all to God.