Works, Part 3 · Sermon 4
OF A GOOD NAME, THE FOVRTH SERMON
Prouerbs 22. verse. 1.
A good name is to be desired aboue great riches, and louing fauour aboue siluer and gold.
ALl that is to be desired of a man is this, that hee bee vertuous, godly, and truly religious. This, because it is in it selfe most excellent and most contrarie to our nature, therefore the Scripture vseth many arguments and reasons to perswade vsus thereunto: as in this place, where the Wise man would stirre vsus vp to the louelove of vertue, by setting before our eyes two principall effects and fruits which we may receiue by it. The first of these is, a good name: the second is, louing fauour: both which as they doeTwo speciall fruits of vertue, which euer increase one another. proceede from vertue and godlines, so they doe maintaine and increase one another. For as a man findeth much fauour with those that doe speake and report well of him: so those that will shew a man louing fauour, will, or at least ought to shewe it in this, that they may willingly affoord him a good report. Now both these are preferred before great riches, both these are accounted better than gold and much siluer: and surely whosoeuer is truly wise will make this account of them, whosoeuer doth rightly knowe to discerne what is good, he will first and especially labour for them: for a good name doth commend vsus toA good name more precious thā gold. God and to his holy Angels, in whose eyes those vertues whereof a good name doth arise, are most acceptable. But riches are not able to doe this, no, the abundance of siluer and golde is often an occasion of sinne, whereby we are most out of the fauour of God. Againe, whereas riches, especially if they be euill gotten, do cause men many times to hate vsus, thisEffects of a good name, most comfortable in all states & sorts of men. good name and louing fauour doth win the hearts of many, yea it doth sometimes cause our enemies to be at peace with vsus. And this euer hath been and euer will be most certaine and true, whether we looke to prosperitie or aduersitie, whether we looke to the common callings of this ciuill life, or the callings of the Church. For such is the corruption of mans nature, that naturally they doe not louelove the Magistrates, that God hath placed ouer them▪ but when the Magistrate hath gotten a good report by the due execution of iustice, by hisMagistrates pitifull dealing with the poore, and by his fatherly fauour to all that be good, then will his subiects louelove him, then will they embrace him, then wil they willingly commit their matters into his hands, and then will they with faithfull and friendly hearts cleane and sticke fast vntounto him. To be short, that Lawyer hath most clients, that Physition hath most patients,Lawyers. and that Merchant most customers, whose vertuous and godly dealings hauehave gotten them a good report.
In the callings of the Church this also is true: for if any preacher by the faithfull dischargePreachers. of his dutie, and by his godly life, hauehave once gotten the fauour and friendship of men, how gladly will men heare him, how quietly will they be ruled by him, in what simplicitie will they make known their griefes vntounto him, & how careful wil they be to procure his good. The Schoolemaster also that hath the name of learning to teach, of discretion toSchoolemasters. rule, of godlines to traine vp his schollers in the feare of God, he neuer wanteth schollers, but the most and best men of all will flocke vntounto him. Contrariwise, if any of those be discredited through any euill name, if the Magistrate be accompted an oppressor or a tyrant, the Lawyer be reported to deale deceitfully, if the Minister bee corrupted either in doctrine or life, if the Schoolemaster be once knowne to be insufficient in learning, vnwise in gouernment, prophane and of no religion; then will all men be afraide to hauehave any dealing with them. Those things are often found true in peace and prosperitie: but in aduersitie, as in the time of warre, in the time of sicknesse, and in the time of want and pouertie, they be found most true. Will not all the poore comminaltie in the time of warre, seeke some aide at that Magistrate, who in the time of peace did good vntounto them? Nay rather will they not all with one consent come together, to helpe and defend them euen with all their might, and with life it selfe, seeing that he hath vsed all good meanes to saue and …efend their liues? Contrariwise, how many Kings, how many Captaines, how many MagistratesCaptaines. hauehave euen in their greatest neede been left and forsaken of their subiects & souldiers, because they hauehave too sharply and vnmercifully ruled them? And which is more than this, the subiects hauehave euen procured the death of their princes, the souldiers hauehave laide violent hands vponupon their captaines, and the tenants hauehave been the first that hauehave sought the death of their Landlords, because no pity, no compassion, no friendship and louing fauour hath been shewed vntounto them. Againe, if Magistrate, Minister, Maister, or any other man by executing the duties of louelove, hauehave wonne the hearts of the people, and gotten a good name among them; then in his sickenesse they wil pray for him, they will visite him, they will beare with him a part of his griefe. Againe, what can bee more comfortable to a man than this is, this will glad him at the heart, and this will turne his b…d in all his sicknesse. Psalm. 40. 1. God will turne, &c.In pouertie also he is soonest and most holpen which hath the best name, and hath obtained through vertue most fauour with men. For good men doe consider their owne case in him, and therefore are most readie to helpe him: yea euen the euill and vngodlyGodly poore▪ men, although they beare him no great good wil, yet they are forced to helpe him, partly because his godly life doth witnesse vntounto their soules, that he doth deserue to be holpen, and partly because the Lord doth turne their hearts to fauour him. The widow therefore that came to Eliah for helpe, vsed this argument to perswade Eliah; O man of God (saith she) my husband is dead, and died in debt, yet he feared God; therefore helpe I pray thee, seeing the creditors are come: and immediately Eliah helped her. On the other side, if a man be euil reported of, if he be an adulterer, an Atheist, an Idolater, a riotous person, or a man of hard dealing, and if such a one be once brought into some low estate, if he oncePoore. fall into pouertie and neede, then the hearts of men are shut vp against him, no man will pitie him, and all men will see and say, his owne sinne is brought vponupon him. And thus hath the testimonie of the Prophets, who did often threaten such kinde of punishments to vngodly men, so that no man should say, Ah my father, or ah my mother: but the whole citie should be glad of their departure. This did the heathen people see in some part, and therefore all of them did greatly desire a good name: and as eueryevery one of them did excell in strength and in courage, or in wit, or any kinde of knowledge; so they did labour by that thing to get some credit to themselues. And to conclude this point, though a man hauehave many good things in him, though a Magistrate doe feare God greatly, though a Minister be excellent in many points, though a Physition or Lawyer be skilful in their profession, yet if they hauehave not a good name, they can doe little good with their gifts. All this doth teach vsus that indeed to be true which Salomon here saith, that a good name is to be chosen aboue great riches, and louing fauour aboue siluer and gold. Now the instructions which we may gather out of this place are chiefly two.
The first is, that we ought not to hurt our neighbours aboue all things in their good1 Not to hurt our neighbours good name. name: and therefore the Lord in his law hath ordained, that he which doth such a thing, should hauehave the same punishment which he purposed to bring vponupon another. Men would be loth to steale the goods of any man from him & yet the name of a man is more worth than all things in the world: therefore if any man by raising vp false reports doe impaire his brothers credit, he doth hurt him, and sinneth more grossely & more grieuously, thanSusanna. if he had taken away his lands or his liuing, his corne or his cattell, or any other thing that he hath. And though the thing be false which he reporteth, yet he sinneth neuerthelesse: for after that time euen good men will be more suspicious, and the wicked will not let it goe out of their mindes: But if this be against a Preacher, or professor of the Gospell, then the sinne is the greater, because God and his word becommeth dishonoured thereby.
The second instruction is, that we must be carefull by all good meanes to get and maintaine2 Care to get a good name. our good name. For if it be a sinne to discredit another man, then much more is it a sinne to discredit our selues: if we be charged to further the good name of our brother, then are we streightly commanded to helpe forward our own as much as we be able: then it cannot be without great sinne, that a man should cast off all care of his owne credit. The very Heathen saw this to be a fault, & they did commonly say, that whosoeuer regardeth not the reports of men, he is dissolute indeed, and hath in effect lost the nature of man. And therefore we may well say, that he is without all hope of amendment, which is not brought to some remorse and sorrow, which with a shamelesse face can face out sinne, hauingCare of a good name, keepes vsus in obedience. adders cares and will not heare, charme the charmer neuer so wisely. As then a shamelesse face openeth a doore to all vngodlinesse, so due care of credit causeth a man to be very carefull of his waies: whosoeuer therefore will liue godly, he must safely prouide for his good name. Seeing these things be so, it shall be profitable to consider how this good name may be gotten and preserued: and againe, if we be discredited, what vse and1 profit we must make of it. For the first, it is certaine that seeing fame & honest report are good things, therefore they must needes arise and spring of those things that are good, as of vertue, godlinesse and good religion. Now whereas Turkes and such vngodly men hauehave great fauour amongst the people, and be well reported of, this indeed is no good name, because it ariseth not of goodnesse, it is only a vaine applause of the simple people:Infidels hauehave no good name nay, it is euen the great and fierce wrath of God vponupon them, though they neither see nor perceiue it, when they be well spoken of for their euill deedes. For by this meanes they be hardned in their sinne, by this meanes they be hindred and holden from repentance▪ then the which there is not a greater punishment vnderunder the Sunne. Such a name then is not to be desired, nay wee ought rather to pray against such a name. And if wee will purchase a good name and be of good report, then let vsus take heed that we seeke it by goodnesse and vertue, and then it will be a good name indeede. But let vsus weigh these things more particularly,The first step to a good name, a religious care against open and outward sinnes great and small. and let vsus know that the first step to a good name, is the carefull and continuall auoidance of euill, both outward and inward. In outward and grosse euils wee must first beware of all euill generally: which thing if wee be not carefull to doe, then will our good name be soone impaired. Secondly, wee must narrowly looke vntounto some speciall sinnes, whereunto our nature is most inclinable and subiect: For as one dead flye corrupteth a whole boxe of oyntment, though it be most precious; so some one sinne doth often crack the credit of a man, though otherwise he hauehave been very well reported of. And if it behooueth eueryevery man thus neerely to looke to his waies, then much more is it needful that euerieSimile. Eccles▪ 10. 1.childe of God should so doe. For the world, through the hatred it beareth to them, dealeth with them as it dealeth with witches & Physitions. The witch though she faile in twentie things, yet if she doe some one thing aright, though it be but small, the world louethSimile. and commendeth her for a good and wise woman. But the Physitian, if he worke sixeNote. hundreth cures, yet if through the waiwardnes of his patient, or for the punishment of his patients sinne hee faile but in one, that one faile doth more turne to his discredit, than his manifold goodly and notable cures doe get him praise. In this manner doth the world deale with men, if a worldly man hauehave but an outward gift of strength, of speech, or of comelines, he shall be greatly praised and counted a goodly man, though hee be an Idolater, or a prophane person, and though he swimme and flow ouer in al manner of vices But let the childe of God be truly zealous in true religion, let him be honest and holy in conuersation, yet if there be but one infirmitie in him, or if he hauehave through weakenes fallenThe iudgement of the world of the godly. once into some one sinne, that one infirmitie against which he striueth, or that one sinne for which hee is grieued, shall drowne all the graces of God in him be they neuer so great, and the world wil account him a most wicked man. Seeing then this is the enmitie of the world against Gods people, how warily ought they to walke in so crooked and froward a generation? And hereof they must bee so much the more carefull, because the wicked by such slips and infirmities, will not only take occasion to discredit them, but euen to speake of all their profession, yea and to blaspheme the glorious word of God a…d his eternall truth. Then if wee be carefull of our owne good name, nay if we hauehave any zeale of Gods glorie, if we hauehave any care of the word, if wee hauehave any louelove of the Saints; then let vsus carefully shunne all and eueryevery infirmitie, whereby Gods name is dishonoured, his glorious Gospell blasphemed, his children grieued, and we our selues discredited amongst the wicked And thus much for the open and outward sinne.
As open sinne committed in the sight and view of men hath alwaies the punishment of an euill name ioyned with it: so also secret sinnes which are hidden as it were in the darkeA religious care against secret sinnes, which bring vsus out of credit with God. corners of our hearts, doe bring vsus out of fauour & credit with God: and when we be once out of credit with him, then doth hee make our sinnes further knowne vntounto men. For nothing is so hidden that shall not be brought to light, and nothing so secret that shall not be discouered in the sight of the world. And that we may the better be perswaded of this, let vsus all know of a suretie, that the Lord hath many meanes to bring such things to light▪ for he can make the fields to hauehave eyes to see our wickednesse, he can make the woods to hauehave eares to heare our vngodly counsailes: yea hee can cause the walles of our bedchambers to beare witnesse against vsus for the sinnes committed vponupon our beds. If this will not serue, he can goe further, and cause our friends to fal out with vsus, and the men of our counsailes to bewray our wickednes. And though he hath not any such purpose when we make him priuie to our naughtie deuices, yet in displeasure the Lord doth cause him all at onceSecret sinnes many waies reuealed, whē the Lord will afflict vsus. to lay open all our secrets. Yea rather than thou shouldest beare no reproch for thy secret faults, the Lord will cause thine owne mouth to testifie against thee, and thine own words shall get thee discredit: for either vnawares thou shalt bewray thy selfe, or in thy sleepe by dreames thou shalt make the thing knowne, or in thy sicknesse thou shalt raue of it, or in some phrensie thou shalt vomite it out, or else the torment of thine owne conscience shall be so sharpe, that euen to thine owne shame thou shalt confesse thy fault. Last of all, when thou thinkest or deuisest euill against thy neighbour, though it be neuer so secretly, yet besides all the former, the Lord hath another meanes whereby he will bring thee to discredit for it. And this is a very vehemēt suspition raised vp in the heart of him, of whom thou deuisest this euill: for as it oftentimes comes to passe, that good motions which arise secretly in thy minde for the good of another, doe cause the other man to thinke well of thee, though he did neuer heare of them: so doubtlesse doth it o…ten come to passe in euill motions. Thou deuisest euill against another, hee in some strange manner hath a heartburning in ielousie ouer thee: thou thinkest hardly of another man, and he also is hardly perswaded of thee. Thus the Lord doth cause thee to bee discredited in the hearts of others, as thou imaginest some euil against others in thine heart. True it is, that the partie may sinne and doe very ill if he suspect without iust cause, in as much as he doth thus suspect through an immoderate louelove of himselfe: yet the worke of the Lord is here to be considered, who seeing the cause to be so iust, doth stirre vp such suspitions in his minde.
Then to returne to our purpose, if we will auoide an euill name, we must auoide all euilEuill surmises. surmises and deuises against others. And this the Scripture doth also forbid vsus: for the Wiseman from the mouth of God doth forbid vsus to thinke euill of the King in our bedchambers,Eccles. 7. because birds and other dumbe creatures shall disclose the thing, rather than it shall be kept close. This then must make vsus afraid to do euil, or to imagine ill in our beds, or to declare our deepe counsailes euen to them that lie in our bosomes. And this, as it is a good meanes to prouide for a good name, so it is a speciall rule of all godlines, not when we be afraide of open sinnes alone, but of secret euils: not of acts alone, but euen of the secret cogitations and thoughts of our hearts. Thus we hauehave heard the first step that leadeth to a good name.
The second remaineth to be declared: and that is a godly ielousie ouer a mans owneThe second step to a good name. doings, that they may not breede suspition of euill. For it doth often come to passe, that albeit a man doe not that which is simply euill, he may iustly be suspected, and suffer some blemish in his good name. And for this cause doth the Apostle charge vsus to procure honest things in the sight of God and man. For this cause he commandeth vsus, that if there be any thing honest or of good report, that we must follow, and that we must embrace. It is not enough therefore that men did say, I did thinke no euill, I did meane no harme: for if through want of care or discretion thou hast ventured vponupon the occasion, thou hast giuen great matter of euill speeches to thy great discredit. If then we will auoide this euill name,Auoide occasions of euill. as our prouerbe is, wee must auoide all things that bring it. For when men will care little to giuegive occasion, then the Lord causeth an euill name to be raised vponupon them, that those which indeede are desperate may suffer iust discredit, and they that are otherwise may bee reclaimed from the same. And surely such is the crookednes of mans nature, that if the Lord should not take this course, euen his children would fall into many sinnes. Therefore it is most requisite that men bee mindfull to auoide occasions, and so much the rather, because it is commonly saide, either God or the diuell standeth at their elbow to worke vponupon them. Let vsus see this in some example of our common life. Thou art accustomed toExample. walke abroade at inconuenient times, at that time some thing is stollen, and thou art burdened and charged with it Againe, thou vsest to deale too familiarly and lightly with a maide, she is gotten with child, & the fault is laid on thee. Hereof thou hast giuen suspition, because thou hast been a night goer, and such an one as hath dealt want only with the maide, albeit thou be free from the very act. Now if thou be the childe of God, and if thou be guided by his holy spirit, then will hee teach thee to take profit by this false report, and to say with thy selfe, Lord thou knowest that I am free from this v…ry act: yet it was my sinne to giuegive any such occasion whereby men might suspect me: this sinne, O Lord, I am guiltie of, and I know thou for this sinne hast iustly afflicted me. Yet deare father, I see thy merciemercy in this, that A prayer.whereas indeede I hauehave committed many sinnes, thou hast passed ouer them, and taken this whereof I am not so much guiltie: so that now (most mercifull father) I doe rather suffer for righteousnesse, then for my transgression and sinne: yea deare Father, I doe beholde thy tender merciemercy in this towards mee, that by this euill report thou goest about to stay me from that sinne, and to preuent me… that I may neuer fall into the same. Wherefore, seeing it hath been thy good pleasure to deale thus with me, behold Lord I doe repent me of my former sinnes, and promise before thee euen in thy feare, neuer to doe this, or the like sinne euer hereafter.
See here I beseech you the good profit which a good child of God, through Gods spirit, will take of this slanderous reproch, after he had receiued some godly sorrow for giuing the occasion of that report. But behold the contrary worke of Satan in the heart of vnbelieuers, for hee will soone teach them this lesson, and cause them to say thus: What? doth the churle accuse me without a cause? doth he father such a villanous act vponupon mee, who neuer deserued it at his hands? surely he shall not say so for nought, I will make his sayings true, and will doe the thing indeede. Consider then this yee that feare the Lord, and see in how fickle a state they doe stand which hauehave giuen occasion, and in what great danger they be to be brought to commit the same or the like sinne afterward▪ Therefore if any will be sure to keepe his good name, then must he be sure to auoide all such occasions as might in any wise impaire and hinder it. And thus much for the second step, whereby we arise to a good name. Thus we hauehave heard of two degrees toward a good name, in the auoiding of euill, and the occasions thereof. And these indeed hauehave a great force to stay an euill name,Note. but sure they be not able to build vp a good name and credit among men.
To these therefore there must be added a third thing, which hath most speciall force forThe third step to a good name, is to be plentifull in good workes. this purpose, and that is, that wee be plentifull in good workes. This doth our Sauiour Christ charge vsus to be carefull of, when hee saith, Let your light so shine before m…n, that they may see your good workes. Manie repine at the good report of another m…n, and they bee greatly grieued, because they themselues be not in the like or some better credite. But alas, they should rather be grieued at themselues, because the fault is in themselues, for they regarde not to doe good, they are carelesse of good works, and therefore the Lord is as carelesse of them and their credite. Well, hee that will be commended, must doe the things that be commendable, he must doe good works, yea, he must doe good and pursue it. Yea, we must knowe that it is not one good worke, nor two, nor three, that can gaine vsus a good name indeede: but it is required at vsus, that we be rich in well doing, and continually giuen to eueryevery good worke. For as a precious oyntment (whereto a good name is compared) isSimile. made of many and most excellent simples: so a good name cannot be gotten but by many most excellent vertues. Now when we feele our selues affected to goodnes, then we are warilie to see to two things: First, that all our workes bee done with a simple and sincere1 Two rules of good workes. affection: Secondly, that they be done with good discretion. For when a thing is done vndiscretely and without aduise, it loseth the grace and beautie of the deede: and therefore though the thing be good, yet no great praise doth come of it, because it was not done2 Looke well to thine affectiō, & to the end thou hast purposed in thine heart of eueryevery good worke, with good discretion. Likewise, when men doe things with sinister affections, & to some other end then to the glory of God, they do commonly lose the price of their doings. And hereof it commeth to passe, that many men which do good works to merit by them, or to1 win the fauor of their superiors, or to be of good report among the people, or to some such other end, when (I say) men do things to this end, the Lord punisheth them with the cōtrarie,2 & in stead of deseruing glory, he powreth confusion vponupon them; in stead of honor, he3 giueth contempt; & in stead of riches, beggerie. And albeit men may pretend the glory of God, & face out their wickednes with a fresh colour, yet the Lord will bring their wickednes to light. And truly it is maruellous to see how the Lord layeth folly vponupon such men: so that although in their wisdome they thinke to bleare the eyes of all men, the simple soule doth see their shifts to their discredit. Therfore, when thou hast done well, and yet art ill reported of, do not straight way storme against him which hath raised vp this report against thee; neither doe thou ouer hastilie cleere thy selfe: but rather before the Lord examineGood counsell against euill report. thine owne heart, and see with what affection thou hast done it. And if we finde wickednes in our hearts, then let vsus be humble before the Lord, & know that he hath caused vsus thus to be spoken of: first to correct vsus, and secondly to trie vsus. For when the Lord doth see vsus1 like Scribes and Pharisies, seeking rewards, then he doth punish vsus with the losse of our labour,2 and with shame amongst men, to see if thereby hee can bring vsus to the sight of our sinnes, which before we neither would nor could see. And againe when we hauehave thus done, he doth trie vsus whether there be any goodnes in our hearts, which may moue vsus to continue in well doing, notwithstanding wee bee euill spoken of▪ Here then wee may see what1 fruite we must make of such reports: namely, they must first bring vsus to a sight and feeling2 of our sinnes: and secondly, they must cause vsus with greater vprightnes to continue in well doing. True it is, a man may be accused to hauehave this or that purpose in his doings, although hee hauehave done the thing in the simplicitie of his heart. But when a man through examination doth finde his heart vpright, then he receiueth great comfort by it: then hee may commend himself vntounto the Lord, and his cause into his hands. For the Lord maintaineth good tongues and hearts, but hee will cut out the tongues of them that speake lyes. He will cause the righteousnesse of the righteous to shine as the noone day, and as thePsalm. 37. 5. 6 Sunne after a cloude: but the wicked shall be couered with their owne confusion as with a cloake. This shall the godly see and reioyce therein, but the mouthes of the wicked shall be stopped. Thus we hauehave runne through the things wherby a good name may be gotten, and not onelyonly that, but also whereby a man may be preserued in a good name and credit: and therefore surely the more to be obserued and regarded of vsus. For first of all, wee see what force the good continuance of the Churches beyond the Seas hath to perswade men to embrace the truth, and how soone some men will be moued to continue stedfast, when they see the stedfast constancie of good men in all kinde of godlinesse Againe, we knoweOffences. what great offences are giuen to the weake, when whole Churches, or some particular persons of some good place and credit, doe not stand in that credit, nor maintaine by goodnes their good name, which they had gotten by great vertues? The very Heathen did seeNon …inor est virtus quā quaerere paris tueri. this, and therefore they saide that it was as great a praise to keepe praise, as to get it: yea, and when they saw what great inconueniences would arise when men did not satisfie the expectation of the people, they thought it much better neuer to hauehave any good report amongst men, than to lose it after it had been gotten. Therefore to shut vp this whole matter in one word, if any man, if any household, if any towne, if any countrey, bee carefull to hauehave an honest report amongst men, then must they eschue euill & doe good, then must they seeke peace and pursue it: and if once hauing gotten a good name, they would gladly keepe it, then they must vse the same meanes, so shall we hauehave it both of God and man.
Now because men doe suffer very much discredit, and are very ill reported of amongst men, it shall be good to consider what profit and vse we may make of such reproches and euill reportes. And this shall wee doe the better, if wee knowe vponupon what grounds those reproches doe arise. First therefore we must learne, that men may bee euill reported of,Euill report. either for euill, or for well doing. When men therefore are ill spoken of, they must first1 trie whether it be for euill or for good: and if it bee for euill, then must they goe a degree2 further, to finde whether it bee for some euill worke which they hauehave committed, or for some occasion which they hauehave giuen. When a man is euill reported of for some euill dee…e which he hath done, that euill deede of his is either manifestly knowne, or else it is veknowne. And surely it is a thing most common amongst men to suffer discredit for open and grosse sinnes, yet very few doe rightly profite by it: for some are shamelesse and care not what men say of them, and therfore indeed they are vnfit to receiue any profit by such reproches. Therefore after the most sharpe & seuere censure of the Church, they must becon mitted to the hand of the Magistrate, to be punished in the purse and in the body. And yet surely such are their whorish faces, that there is small hope of their amendement:They are shamelesse men which regard not how they be reported of. Worldly sorrowe. for it doth often come to passe, that they which will not profit by the Church, cannot receiue profit by the Magistrate. Therefore after all this they must be left vntounto the Lord, to worke, if it be his will, by some extraordinarie meanes vponupon their hearts which are exceedingly hardened.
Othersome there be: who being put to open shame, are sorrowfull indeede: but this is because they hauehave sustained open shame, rather than because they hauehave sinned against the Lord. These are in some degree better than the former, & yet they goe not so farre as they ought to do: for the deuill hauing bewitched them, doth perswade them it is no such matter as men would make them belee …e it is, and that as a wonder lasteth but nine dayes, so this shall be of no long continuance. Thus they are letted, so that the shame cannot enter into their hearts, there to worke godly sorrow which may bring forth vnfained repentance. This is daily seene in whores and theeues, and such like male factors, who although they make large promises of amendment, yet the punishment being passed, they fall into the like filthines againe. Some thinke that they doe dissemble and deale deceitfully: but I thinke that they thinke as they speake, and speake with sorrow and griefe. For will a theefe purpose to steale againe when he is readie to be hanged? Will a childe purpose to play the wanton when he is a beating? No doubtles, but in the one there is a childishnes to speake without aduise; in the other is a seruilnes to be moued with nothing but present feare. IHypocrisie. 1. grosse. 2. close. graunt indeede there is hypocrisie in them, yet the grosse hypocrisie whereby men labour to deceiue others, is not in them; but the close & most dangerous hypocrisie whereby the diuell hath beguiled their owne hearts through his subtiltie. This witcherie of the diuell (I say) is the cause why many promising amendement, doe not performe the same. Thus we see how men doe misse of that profit which ought to be reaped of open shame: we therfore are to take a better course, and to labour, that as our faces doe blu…h before men, so our soules may be confounded before the Lord, that being throughly humbled vnderunder his hand by godly sorrow, it may please him in merciemercy to raise vsus vp. Now if we doubt in this case whether our sorrow be sound or no, let vsus trie it by these two rules. First, whether wee1 can with contented mindes take the punishment as a correction from the Lord, and yet mourne and be grieued for the sinne: but in such a manner as giuing place to Gods iustice2 in punishing, we labour for mercy in the forgiuenes of sinnes. Secondly, whether when we could keepe the sinne close, we can yet with Dauid freely confesse and say, Against thee O Lord hauehave I sinned? This if wee can doe, it is a sure argument that our sorrow is godly, and that we hauehave well profited by that reproch which our sin did bring vponupon vsus. As the sinne is sometime so euident that it cannot be couered, so indeede the sinne may be committed,Special rules when a secret sinne is cause of euil report. and yet either not knowne nor suspected at all, or else by probable susp…tions. When the sinne is in this case, the Lord may cause a man that hath so sinned, to bee accused or euill spoken of for that sinne. Here the partie offending must first learne to deale wisely and in such manner, as the sinne may be kept close still, if it may be done without another sinne:1 But if an oth of the Lord be required, then ought we to giuegive God the glorie, though it beeIoshua. 7. with our own shame, and confesse the fault. Secondly, for the profits which may be made2 by such reports, wee must learne with thankefull hearts to receiue this mercifull chastisement of the Lord, and acknowledge it to his praise: for hee might hauehave punished vsus for those sinnes which were manifest, yet he hath passed ouer them: he might hauehave made these knowne, but he spared our name and our credit. Therefore for a second fruite this merciemercy of the Lord must leade vsus to repentance, and to an earnest sorrow for all our sinnes: for it were too too grosse that wee should continue in sinne, because we cannot bee conuicted of sinne: for if the Lord did not mislike thy sinne, why should hee raise such a report of thee? Why should he saue thy good name, if he were not minded to shew thee merciemercy? And if hee would not hauehave thee with all thy heart to repent thee of thy sinne, why doth hee whip thy naked conscience for sinne? Therefore if by this louing kindnesse wee bee not led vntounto repentance, verily it will be a sinne that shall not escape vnpunished. Thus we hauehave heard how an euill name doth arise of sinne committed, and what profit must bee taken hereof.
Now let vsus further consider how a man must profit by an euill name, not when he ha… How wee ought to profit by euill reports.by some sinne deserued it, but when he hath only failed in this, that he hath giuen occasion to be suspected of euill. This occasion is of two sorts. First, when good duties are either altogether omitted, or done with a grudging minde, or else as it were of constraint. This report must teach thee, that although thou be not so euil as men would make thee, yet thou… Two occasiōs of euil reports art not so good as thou shouldest be. Therefore by this thou must learne, as to bee more carefull of doing good, so to doe it with greater and better courage: for the Lord Ioueth a cheerefull giuer.
The second occasion is inward, which although no man can finde out, yet the Lord for thy good doth cause men to speake euill of thee for it. This inward occasion is, when thy heart hath either giuen some full consent to doe euill, or at the least hath much wandred in thinking of it. Here the Lord doth take thee betime; and suffereth men to report of thee that thou hast done that, which indeed thou hast not done, yet in thy heart thou hast taken pleasure in it. Then the way to profit by this, is to confesse the goodnesse of theAn euill thought resting in the minde how dangerous. Lord, who will not hauehave thee to fall into such sinne, as might deserue discredit. For such is the nature of man, that if any euill thought doe long tarie in the minde, it will hardly be restrained before it come to the outward act. Againe, by this report raised on vsus, we must take occasion to call backe our selues, if we hauehave consented to euill, and with griefe to be sorrowfull for it: or if we hauehave not as yet consented, we must labour to represse the heate of our affections, and quench them by the moysture of the word. And thus much shall be sufficient for those reports which arise of some iust ground and occasion.
The last poynt to be hādled in this whole case, is to see what vse must be made of thoseVse of false reports. reports which be altogether false, and hauehave neither ground nor good begining. For it may come to passe, when a man hath auoyded euill, and done good; when he hath shunned1 the occasion of euill, and done all good with a cheerefull heart, yet he may be very ill reported of, and his good name hindered. Now if this doth befall any man, hee must know that it is the Lords doing▪ and that the Lord doth it either to correct sinne, or else to preuent it. The Lord (I say) doth by this meanes correct sinne sometimes, either in the same kinde, or in some other. In the same kinde he dealeth thus, hee suffereth thee to be counted an adulterer, yet thou dost now liue chastly, and hatest filthie sinne: but then he seeth that thou hast either been an adulterer, and hast not repented at all: or if thou hast suddenly repented, yet now thou beginnest to faile, & to coole in the hatred of that sinne. Againe, if after examination thou finde thy selfe cleere in that sinne, yet knowe that the Lord by that report doth correct some sinne quite contrarie vntounto it: as if thou shouldest be accused because thou louest not thy wife, whereas indeed thou louest her too well: or otherwise he causeth thee to be counted an adulterer, that thereby thou maist be brought to see thy couetous heart. And to say all in one word, we shall neuer make true vse of reports, vntill we hauehave been brought to see & repent of some particular sinne, which either we saw not before, or else had not throughly repented of. Furthermore, it may come to2 passe, that we hauing done all good duties, auoyded all euill, & examined our repentance euen for particular sinnes, yet shall we be euill spoken of amongst men. Here we must know that the Lord by reports doth forewarne vsus of euill to come. We are reported of to be of the Familie of louelove: hereby we are forewarned to take heede that wee fall not into that sinne, and so forth of other reports. When any such reports are carried about of vsus, we must be made so much the more warie that we fall not into that sinne. And according to the Apostles rule, we must labour to finish the course of our saluation in feare: which that we may doe, the Lord graunt for his Christs sake, to whom be praise for euer in the Church,
Amen.
FINIS.