murderer. Be not hasty to believe Reports, but stay a little till Mephibosheth can speak for himself. 2 Sam. 16, 2. and 19.17. Do as Alexander was wont to do, when he heard one accuse his Neighbour; he would stop one ear, to hear what the other partly could say for himselfe. Iudge not according to the out∣ward appearance of things. Iohn 7.24. Judge not [, secundum faciem] by the face or outward aprearance; many a good mans actions have a face set upon them altogether unlike both the man and his actings. There is no judging of men or matters, by bare Reports, and what is said of them. Should we judge concludingly, of men by some mens Reports of them, how base and contemptible would many gracious men appear, and how glori∣ous would many appear, who are truly contemptible? and therefore believe not bare report, it's the greatest lyar in the world. Report nothing upon bare report, else you may soon condemne the generation of the Righteous. Christ was reported to be mad,Si satis est ac∣cusásse quis innocens erit? Seneca. and to have a Devill; and the Apostles were counted deceivers, though they were true. If a bare accusation were sufficient to condemn a man, who should be Innocent?5. Observe what goodnesse thou canst see in thy Brother, and mention that; most men observe the sins of others, but Christ in his observation of the Churches, Rev. 2. and 3. observes their Vertues as well as their Vices; and commends them for the one, before he reproves them for the other. So the Lord commends Iob for his Patience, Iames 5.11. and Sarah for her faith and obedience. 1 Pet. 3.6. passing by the impatient speeches of the one, and the doubting of the other. and 'tis worth observing how David fills his mouth, even with Sauls vertues (though he were his deadly enemy, and Gods too) yet when dead, he makes a funerall Oration in his praise. 2 Sam. 1.19. &c, Many like flyes, passe over the sound parts, and if there be any galled part, they light on that. Like Beetles they flye over the sweet flowers,Scarabaeum aiunt fimo sepultum vivere, oppubalsamo immersum emori.'Tis for scavengers to rake in sinks and gutters, and as we use to stop our noses, when we come near such places, so should we do too by our cares to such reports. Hele Policy. l. 2. c. 11. but if they can find any dung, they love to creep into that. There is none so vile, but some good or another may be found in him; if with the Chymist, we would set the fire of our charity on work; for as there is some rubbish in the best men, so there is some Oar, something of God in the worst.Aliena vitia in oculis habemus, à tergo nostra. Seneca.Vt quisque est vir optimus, it a difficillimè esse alios improbos suspicatur. Cicero.He that's good himself, hopes well of others.6. Be much in the examination and censuring of your selves, for there are none so ready to censure o∣thers, as those that never judge and censure themselves. Had they spiritual eys to see into themselves, they would find so much work at home, that they would never busie themselves with other mens faults. Now since all that will live godly, must expect slanders, and false accusations from the world, take these few Directions to comfort you against them.1. Get true Grace, that will meeken and humble you, and make you quietly to bear the vilest reproaches, as Moses did, and Iob (31.35, 39.) his advesaries book of accusation, he accounted a com∣mendation, and therefore resolves to wear it as a Crown in token of triumph.Ille nobilis & magnus est qui, more mag∣nae ferae, latratus minutorum canum securus exaudit. Seneca,Conscia mens recti vulgi mendacia ridet. Ovid.Dyke on Conscience. cap. 10. p. 149.Senti de Augustino quicquid libet, sola conscientia me coram Deo non accuset. Aug. Christ who was full of Grace, was also full of Patience. 1 Pet. 2.23. Nature is high and haughty, it quarrells with such as oppose it; but Grace doth not only purify, but it also pacifies the soul. It's a Dove-like spirit, and quiets the soul un∣der all indignities; hence the fruits of the Spirit are said to be Love, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentlenesse. Gal. 5.22. This made the Apostles rejoyce, that they were counted worthy of that honour, to be 0