The Marrow of the Oracles of God, Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
How the godly may comfort themselues against reproaches.
HItherto of the comforts against all outward afflictions in general. Now it followeth, that I instance in reproaches, and aduersaries.
For reproaches; it is euident, Men need comfort against reproaches.there is neede of consolations, more specially against them, because naturall men stumble at it, when they see Religion censured and scorned, and it hardens many men, when their hearts are infected with this preiudice, that they heare this way eueryevery were ill spoken of. Sometimes men are dismaied at the disgrace of sincerity in the generall. Sometimes they are troubled for what they themselues doe suffer, or may bee in danger to suffer. Sometimes the weak are scandalized, when they heare or see what others suffer. And it is manifest, that the best men hauehave beene put to a great plunge when they hauehave beene laden with reproaches. This makes Ieremy so vnquiet, Ier. 18. 18, …1. Now there are many wayes, by Thoumaist comfort thy selfe in th… consideration,which a Christian may establish his owne heart against all the scornes and reproaches of the men of this world.
First, If they consider that God 1. Of the notice God takes of them.takes notice of all the wrongs of that kind done vntounto them. Thus Dauid, O Lord, thou hast knowne my reproch, and my shame, and my dishonour, mine aduersaries are all before thee, Ps. 69. 19. It easeth his heart, but to talke with God, and tell him that he knowes his dishonour.
Secondly, It is an increase of …. Of Gods great account of vsusthe comfort, if wee further consider that God fauours vsus, and accounts vsus deare and honourablt, whatsoeuer the wicked thinke of vsus: And in this argument the Lord himselfe pleades withall, Esay 43. 4, 5. If Gods Face shine vponupon his Seruants, what cares Dauid for all the reproches of all sorts of men, euen of his neighbours and familiar acquaintance? It is enough to him, that his best and next neighbour and friend respects him, Psal. 31. 11, 12, 16.
Thirdly, Thou maiest comfort … Of thy good report among the godly.thy selfe by opposing the good report thou hast amongst the godly, against the reproaches with which wicked men pursue thee. As thou goest through ill report, so doest thou through good report: thou hast honour as well as dishonour, and it is a great recompence to obtaine good report amongst the godly, 2. Cor. 6. 8. Heb. 11. 2.
Fourthly, were it so that thou 4 Of thy Praise thou shalt hauehave in the day of Christ.hadst no honour in thy name on earth, and that well-doing were in no respect at all: yet this should comfort thee aboundantly, that thy faith, and sinceritie, and innocency, will be found vntounto praise, and honour, and glory in the reuelation of Iesus Christ. Thou shalt hauehave vnspeakeable praise at that day, 1. Pet. 1. 7.
Fiftly, the same persons that 5 Of praise from them that now reproach thee.now reproach thee, may bee so turned about by the power and grace of God, that in the day of their visitation they will admire thee, and glorifie God for thee, 1. Pet. 2. 12.
Sixtly, we should bee the lesse 6 Of the small things-thou suf…rest.troubled with our reproaches, because this is not to resist vntounto blood. God deales fauourably with vsus. If wee had liued in the dayes of our fathers, when to professe the Gospell of Christ, had beene occasion of terrible death; then we might hauehave had some pretence of grieuance: but now in these dayes, when the hurt is done only with the tongue of infamous men, it is a great weakenesse to bee disquieted, Heb. 12. 3, 4.
Seuenthly, let vsus looke vponupon the Of the example of Christ.author and finisher of our faith, …en He was exposed to these indignities, and yet for the glory set before him, despised the shame, and endured the dr…sse, and is now crowned in heauen, Heb. 12. 2 What should the seruant complaine of, when the Lord and Master is called Beelzebub?8 Of the cause of thy reproaches.
Eightly, Dauid easeth himselfe, by considering the cause of his suffering. For thy sake (saith he to God) hauehave I borne reproach: shame hath couered my face: The zeale of thy house hath eaten mee vp, and the reproches of them that reproached thee, hauehave fallen vponupon me: When I wept and chastened my soule with sasting, that was to my reproach, Psa. 69. 7, 9, 10.
Ninthly, Why should we be … Of the condition of all the godly.…oubled at that which is the Lot of all the Saints? We hauehave heard of Dauid before, how hee was standered by many, and on eueryevery side, Psal. 31. 12, 13. Ieremy complaines, That they consulted how to deuise deuises against him, and how they might smite him with the tongue, I…r. 18. 18. False witnesses were suborned against Stephen, and in that case of Religion, Acts 6. 11, 13, 14, Many and grieuous complaints were laid against Paul, Acts 25. 7. Yea, it was the condition of all the Apostles and the principall men of the Christian world, to be made a A spectacle to men and Angels, and to bee accounted forlorne, and as the offscouring of all t…ings, 1. Cor. 4. 9, 10, 13. And our Sauiour Christ supposeth it the case of any blessed man, that men may say all manner of euill sayings of them, Matth. 5. 12, &c.
Tenthly, The Spirit of God 10 Of the presence …nd assistance of the Holy Ghost.and of glory doth rest vponupon you, 1 Peter 4. 14. Ye hauehave the Spirit of God in you, what neede you care what the world accounts of you? You hauehave aboundant treasure in your hearts, and you hauehave an heroicall or diuine Spirit in you, And therefore why are yee troubled about such mean things? And your patience & their rage, is a signe you are in a happy condition, and hauehave Gods Spirit; and the Spirit of God which is in you is a Spirit of Glory, and leades you to a better life. And therefore seeing you are but trauellers here, why turne you againe at the barking of eueryevery dog? Yea, these reproaches signifie, that wicked men doe s…e some glory of God shining in you, which they striue by all meanes to vilifie and despise, being vext in their hearts at it.
11. God will certainely take an order with all that reproach 11 Of the condition of those men that doe reproach thee.his people. For first, he will recken all their reproaches, as cast out against himselfe; and therefore will indite them of blasphemie, Psal. 74. Colos. 3. 8. 1. Peter 4. 14. 1. Cor. 4. 13.1.
Secondly, in his due time he 2.will put to silence those lying lips which speake grieuous things proudly & contemptuously against the righteous, Psal. 31. 18.
Thirdly, all that were incensed against the godly, shall be rewarded 3with shame, which God will powre vponupon them for the contempt with which they hauehave dishonored his seruants, Esay 41. 11, 14. And to conclude, God will certainely bring them to iudgement for these things; they must make their accounts before the Iudge of the quicke and dead that speake euill of other men, because they will not run with them into the same excesse of riot, 1 Pet. 44, 5.
12. Lastly, God will prouide for his owne innocent Seruants. 12 Of the course God will take for thy clearing and comfort.His thoughts are not to let his people be ashamed, Mic. 4. 11, 12 And besides, he will bring forth their righteousnesse as the the light, they shall be cleared, Psal. 37. 6. Iob 5. 15. and they shall receiue double for all their shame, Esay 61 7. and their reward shall be great in Heauen, Mat. 5. 12. For which reason, Moses accounted the reproaches of Gods people to be greater riches then the treasures of Aegypt, Hebr. 11. 26. And in the meane time there is an hiding place with God from the strife of tongues, Ps. 31. 20.