3. Not basely to fear it —
[Though you are not to make an ostentatious display of any excellence you may possess, and especially of piety, you are not to put your light under a bushel, through the fear of any hostility which a discovery of it may provoke. Whatsoever your duty is, whether to God or man, that you are to do ; and to leave all consequences to the disposal of an all-wise Pro- vidence. It should be in your mind " a very small matter to be judged of man's judgmenf^." If you have " the testimony of your own conscience that you are serving God in simplicity and godly sincerity," that should bear you up against all the obloquy that the envy or malignity of others can heap upon you. You must expect that " they who render evil for good will be against you, if you follow the thing that is good ;" and you must commit yourself to Him who judge th right, and who will, in due season, both vindicate your character, and make 3^our righteousness to shine forth as the noon-day.]
4. Not angrily to resent it —
[Supposing you to be traduced and injured in a variety of ways ; " what temptation has befallen you but that which is common to men ? " Instead of grieving that you are per- secuted for righteousness sake, you should rather regard the hatred of men as a homage paid to your virtue ; and should " rejoice that you are counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ's sake." You will remember the prayer of our blessed Lord for his murderers : " Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." This is the pattern which it becomes you to follow. Your envious neighbours really do not know what they do : they are not aware by what spirit they are actuated, or what evil they commit. Instead, therefore, of being angry with them for the evil they do you, you should rather pity them for the evil they do to themselves. This was the way in which David requited Saul, sparing him when he had him in his power, and mourning for him when he was removed to another world '^. Your rule, under all circumstances, must be this ; " Not to be overcome of evil, but to overcome evil with good."]
«= 1 Cor. iv. 3.
d 1 Sam. xxiv. 9—11. 16—18. and 2 Sam. i. 17, 24—27.