The Marrow of Divinity, Religious treatise · Chapter 35
CHAP. XXXV. Questions, and Cases of Conscience about Self-Commendation.
Quest. IS it lawful for a man to commend himself?
Answ. It is lawful in some cases for a child of God to commend himself: to declare what God hath done for him or by him to speak of the graces God hath bestowed on him, of his labours, of works which God hath wrought by him, yea, and of his sufferings for God; as will appear by these examples: Of Nehemiah, chap. 13.1. to 14, &c. Of Job, chap. 29. and 31. of Paul, Act. 20. Phil. 3. 1 Thes. 2. 2 Cor. 11. and 12.
Quest. In what cases is this self-commendation allowed?
Answ. First, of afflictions from God; wherein they have professed their faith in God: their patience, obedience, sincerity, constancy, &c. So Job. ch. 13.14, 15. and 23.10, 11, 12. and the Church, Psal. 44.17, &c. and Jeremy, ch. 17.16, 17.
Secondly, of injuries from men in word or deed.
1. In word, by scoffs, and reproaches, as David, 2 Sam. 6.20, 21. By slanders of their good conversations: So did Paul, Act. 22.1, &c. and 23.1. and 24.5, 6. and 26.2, &c. So Jacob, Gen. 31.36, to 42. yea, Christ himself, Joh. 8.46, 48, 49.
2. In deed: then we may protest our innocency to prove we suffer wrongfully; as Daniel did, Dan. 6.22, Christ, Joh. 10.31, 32. and 8.40.
Thirdly, when thereby we may shew forth the infinite riches of Gods free grace, and mercy to such vile and unworthy creatures, in giving us grace to be what we are, and enabling us by grace to do what we do, that thereby we may encourage weak believers to dependance on God for grace, and mercy, and against despondency notwithstanding all their infirmities, and unworthinesse. So Paul, 1 Cor. 15.9, 10. 1 Tim. 1.13, 15, 16.
Fourthly, to give others occasion, and to provoke them.
1. To pray for us. So Paul, Heb. 13.18.
2. To praise God for us, and glorifie him in our behalf. So Paul, 2 Cor. 1.11, 12. Gal. 1.24. Ephes. 1.15, 16.
3. To glory on our behalf before others, especially those that seek to traduce, and slander us. So Paul, 2 Cor. 5.11, 12. 2 Thes. 1.4.
Fifthly, when others require an account of our faith, holinesse, obedience, or experiences: Hence, 1 Pet. 3.15.
Sixthly, when we would propound our selves as examples to others of faith, patience, godlinesse, &c. to draw others to follow our steps: so David, Psal. 66.1…. Paul, Phil. 3.17. Christ, Mat. 11.29.
Seventhly, when our enemies accuse us falsely, and our friends▪ who can, and ought to vindicate us, refuse or neglect to do it, So Paul, 2 Cor. 12.11.
Ei…hthly, to shew and approve our integrity, and reality, that we are not almost, but altogether Christians, before those to whom we relate, or with whom we have to do: So, Paul, 2 Cor. 5.11. that we may make it appeare that we seek not theirs but them, 1 Thes. 2.4, 5, 6. 1 Cor. 10.33. Thus we may commend our selves.
1. To uphold the credit of our calling, as Paul did of his Ministry.
2. To further the successe of our labours: So Paul also.
3. To promote the efficacy of the counsel, or charge we give to others, and make it more prevalent. So Paul, 2 Tim. 1.8.
4. To manifest our love to others by opening our hearts to them, to let them look in and see the treasures of grace, comforts, and experiences which God hath laid up in them: Also to gain their love to us, to insinuate into their bosomes, and so be a means of doing them the more good: So did Paul, 2 Cor. 7.2. We may also commend our selves in some things, to approve our sincerity in other things: So David, Psal. 18.23. and 119.98, 100. and Nehemiah, ch. 5.15.
Ninthly, when the cause, truth, wayes, and Church of Christ, and the Name of God are like to suffer by us, if we be silent and do not vindicate our selves in our sufferings from men: This made Paul even to magnifie his office, &c. Rom. 11.13.
Tenthly, when we leave the place where we lived, or over whom we were set, or give over the office we did bear, it may be seasonable to give an account of our diligent, and faithful discharge thereof, and of our unblamable carriage therein: So did Samuel, 1 Sam. 12.2, 3, 4. So Paul, Act. 20.25.
Eleventhly, to convince others of their sins, and that
1. Either against God by declaring to them that they see no such evil in us, but the contrary graces and practises; that we dare not say, or do, as they do for a world, thereby to draw them to repentance.
2. Or against our selves, when they reject or abuse us, by appealing to their consciences what iniquity they have found in us to deserve the same at their hands.
Object. But is not this condemned? Prov. 27.2. 2 Cor. 10.18. was it not Simon Magus his sin? Act. 8.9. and that Pharisee's, Luk. 18.11. So Prov. 20.6.
Answ. Self-commendation which proceeds from pride, and hypocrisie, or from distrust of providence, as if God would not take care of our good names, &c. is vain, and sinful. Laus proprio sordescit in ore: and hereby such do others a treble wrong.
1. They take other mens office out of their hands; or take that to our selves which is anothers right to give us.
2. They give to others a bad example, who will learn to imitate them.
3. Its tedious to an ingenuous spirit to hear others to boast of themselves: Yet
The abuse of a thing takes not away the lawfulnesse and use of it.
Quest. How then shall we know when self-commendation is lawful?
Answ. First, by the matter, when the thing for which we commend our selves is,
1. Good in it self, and praise worthy: For if it be evil, we glory in our shame: Again, it must not be for our temporals, as Riches, honours, &c. But for spirituals, as the righteousness of Christ, the grace, love, and favour of God: the work or service of God, or for doing, or suffering for God: So, Jer. 9.23. so in Paul, Phil. 3.4, 5, 6. 2 Cor. 11.21, 22, 23. Rom. 15.17. Phil. 4.8. 1 Cor. 4.9. to 14. 2 Cor. 6.4, 5, 8, 9, 10.
2. When for the matter we speak only of such things as are really ours, or that we have in truth, and do in deed, so that for the truth of our words we can appeal to the testimony of Gods Spirit, and our own consciences: as Paul, Rom. 9.1, 2, 3. 1 Thes. 2.10, 11. 2 Cor. 12.6.
Secondly, By the measure, when it is our care, and fear not to over-reach herein, but to speak rather under then over of any good we have, or do: So, 2 Cor. 10.13, &c. Rom. 15.18.
Thirdly, by the manner, and that in a threefold respect.
1. Of our selves, when we commend our selves forcedly, humbly, and modestly.
1. Forcedly, not forwardly: when we are necessitated, or strongly moved thereto; as Paul, 2 Cor. 12.11. and v. 1.
2. Humbly, out of the sense of our own infirmities and unworthinesse, notwithstanding all the good we have or do; and out of feare lest others should think better of us then we are, or deserve: So with Paul, 2 Cor. 12.6. For Gods humble servants take notice of the evil as well as of the good that is in them; as Isa. 59.2. Job 40.4. and 42.5, 6. 1 Cor. 15.8, 9. Ephes. 3.8. 1 Tim. 1.13, 14, 15.
3. Modestly, when we speak of our graces, and performances soberly, not in a boasting way, as Nebuchadnezzar did, Dan. 4.30. How modest was Paul in speaking of matters that concerned his own praise? 2 Cor. 11.5, 24, to 29. Heb. 13.18.
2. Of God, when we speak of the good we have, or do thankfully, and that
1. With a free acknowledgement of God as the sole authour of all, from whom we have received all we have, 1 Cor. 4.7. Phil. 4.13. Isa. 26.12.
2. Out of a sense of Gods goodnesse to us therein, with high and honourable thoughts of God, and fear of his name, and with an heart inflamed with love to God and joy in him.
3. Of others, when we commend our selves charitably, and tenderly, not to despise, disgrace, or discourage others who are weak: as the proud Pharisee insulted over the Publican, whom God justified, when he condemned the other.
Fourthly, by the end: Self-commendation is lawful when the end is good,
1. In respect of our selves to do our selves right, and to preserve our good names, not to get our selves praise from men: For see what Christ teaches us, Luk. 17.10. When you have done all that you can, say we are unprofitable servants, &c. Hence Paul ascribes all to Gods grace, 1 Cor. 15.10. and see what Christ saith, John 5.44. Hence Paul, 1 Thes. 2.6.
2. In respect of God; when, whatever we speak of our selves that is good, we do it that God may be glorified in us, and by us, and for us, and we give God the praise of all our praises: Yea, if God may be glorified, and his name exalted, we can be content to be abased, and to have our honours laid in the dust. So John the Bap. Joh. 3.29, 30. So, 1 Cor. 1.31.
Mr. Reyners Rules for the Government of the tongue.
To these foregoing, add one rule more.
That when a man is urged to a necessary self-commendation, and is forced by the importunity of others to vindicate himself; yet to qualifie his speech as much as may be, its good to use a word of the plural number; as Paul doth, 2 Cor. 5.20. We the Ambassadors, &c. where he distributes the honour to many, that he may not seem to attribute too much to himself, and so that plural number is a phrase of singular humility. Dr. Stoughton.