Christian Directions, Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI.
Of Christian-like carriage under Reproaches.
I. BEware of manifesting any Distemper or Passion under your Reproaches. I deny not but you may, and ought to be sensible of the wrong done to your name,Cant. 1. 3 for as a good name is a precious oyntment, so to have an evil name is a great judgement: and therefore you ought not to be insensible of the wrong done to your name by slanders and reproaches, saying, Let men speak of me what they please, I care not, so long as I know mine own innocency; for though the testimony of your own innocency be a ground of comfort unto you, yet your care must bee not only to approve your selves unto God, but also unto men, to be as careful of your good names as possibly yee can; but yet you are not to manifest any distemper or passion upon the reproachful speeches of others against you. For,
1 That will give others just occasion to conclude, that you are verily guilty of those things whereof you are reproached; so: in truth there is no greater symptome of guiltiness than your falling into passion, and being exasperated when you are reproached.
2 Your distemper and passion will much disquiet your spirits, and indispose you to the right manner of performing any good duty.
II. Beware of returning reproach for reproach, or rai…ing for railing, which is very unbeseeming a Christian, being therein so unlike unto Christ,Pet. 2. 23 who as the Apostle Peter speaketh, When hee was reviled, reviled not again. If therefore you profess your selves to be Christians, farre be it from you to return reproach for reproach, for by seeking to right your selves by raising speeches, you take the cause into your own hands; whereas if you would with patience commit your cause to God,Tu sile, tu tace, tu contemn…, &c. Bernard. he would clear up your innocency and thereby take off the reproaches which are cast upon your names; therefore Bernard adviseth his Friend to be dumb and silent at the reproaches of his enemies.Serm. 42. demod… ….
III. Seem to take little or no notice of those reproaches that are cast upon you. Prov. 19. 11The Wiseman saith, It is the glory of a man to pass over a transgression; i. e. to seem to take no notice thereof. And truly, it is the best kind of revenge you can take of your reproachers; for there can be no greater vexation to your malicious reproacher,Nec prudc…iae quic quam in se essê … o…tendet, qui … sen. than to see you take little or no notice of his reproaches against you, and whosoever will make trial, shall find that his Adversary is more vexed with his silence, than if he should return like for like.
IV When an evil report is raised of you, be not so much inquisitive who raised it, as to make a good use and sanctified improvement thereof. To this end know, and consider, that the report raised of you is either true or false; if true, then you may discern the Finger of God at your enemies tongues end, pointing unto you your sins, and calling upon you to humble your selves for the same. But if the report raised of you be false, yet you may hearken to it as to a Call from God, to look more narrowly over your selves, lest you be overtaken with that sin wherewith at the present you are falsly charged; for God knowing your temper and disposition, happily seeth that you are inclinable thereunto, and therefore suffereth others to charge you therewith, though falsly, meerly for the preventing thereof, that you may not bee overtaken therewith; and thus may you make a good use of the falsest and bitterest objections of your adversaries against you.
V Labour to walk contrary to what is charged upon you, though falsly. As for instance▪ If you are charged with Hypocrisie, that you are no better than Hipocrites; labour the more for sincerity, and resolve to perform all you doe out of respect to God, more than unto men; if you are charged with Pride, carry your selves the more humbly and lowly, that your humility may appear unto all, and so your conversation give your enemies the lye.
VI. Goe and spread your reproaches before God in Prayer, as good Hezekiah did the reproaches of Rabshekah, and make known your case unto him,Isa. 37. 14 desiring help and strength from him, to bear them Christian like, and then you shall not need to doubt of his gracious comfort and support.