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1. Reproaches and scornes from the world for thy professi∣on, should fill thy heart with abundance of glory, blessednesse and joy. If ye be reproached for the name of CHRIST, happy are ye (saith S. Peter) for the Spirit of glory and of GOD resteth upon you,* 1.1 1 Pet. 4.14. that is, such a Spirit shall rest on you, which shall make you glorious. Blessed are you (saith CHRIST himselfe) when men shall revile, and persecute
you, and shall say all manner of evill against you falsly for my sake,* 1.2 reioyce and be exceeding glad, Matth. 5.11, 12. Leape for joy, so it is, Luke 6.23. and the word here in Matth. signifieth excee∣ding joy, such as we use to ex∣presse by outward signes in the body, as skipping and dancing, 2 Sam. 6.14, 16. For great is your reward in Heaven.
Thou art honourable in GODS account, Esay 43.4. he takes no∣tice of all thy disgraces, Psal. 69.19. and will take care for thy clearing and comfort, Hee will bring forth thy righteousnesse as the light, and thy iudgements as the noone day, Psal. 37.6. As if hee should have said, howsoever thy innocency be at sometimes covered as it were with a thick and darke mist of slander and oppression, yet the LORD will in his good time scatter and dissolve the mist, and so make thy innocency apparent to the world; yea he shall make thy
righteous cause, as evident as the Sunne when it ariseth, nay as noone day when it is at highest, and shineth brightest. Thou shalt receive double for all thy shame, Esay 61.7. Though you have lien among the pots, yet shall yee be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold, Psal 68.13. that is, although ye have lived in great streights and basenesse, yet yee shall be freed from them,* 1.3 and obtaine il∣lustrious glory.
They shall be honoured in the day of CHRIST, 1 Pet. 1.7. Their reward shall be great in Hea∣ven, Mat. 5.12. and in the meane time there is with GOD a hiding place from the strife of tongues, Psal. 31.20. Iob 5.21. Psal. 13.18. How doth GOD cheare his people, Esay 41. Feare not, be not dismayed, ver. 10. I am with thee, I am thy GOD, I will strengthen thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteous∣nesse. But GOD will bring the
wicked to shame for the con∣tempt with which they have di∣sho••oured his servants, as it fol∣loweth, ver. 11. All they that were incensed against thee, shall be ashamed and confounded. He still incourageth his people there, ver. 13. He saith againe: Feare not, for I the LORD thy GOD will helpe thee,* 1.4 and ver. 14. Feare not thou worme, (that is, were thy state never so weake and de∣spicable) I will helpe thee, saith the LORD and thy Redeemer. He begins the 43. Chap. with the same words; Feare not, viz. thine enemies, for I have called thee, and redeemed thee, thou art mine. Feare not little flocke (saith our Saviour) feare not men, feare not meanes, for it is your Fathers pleasure to give you a Kingdome.* 1.5 See Ier. 46.27, 28.
If thou wouldest be delivered from reproches and evill report, goe to the LORD and urge him upon Covenant; say, LORD thou hast said, Thou wilt blesse the
name of the righteous, thou will honour them that honour thee, that we shall not be ashamed when we have respect unto all thy Commande∣ments, Psal. 119.6. Sue out this promise upon all occasions, as David often doth, Psal. 31.1, 17 and 119.116.
The very kind and cause of the a••fliction should be an argument of great consolation.
Iam. 1.2. Psal. 69 7, 9, 10. Act. 5 41.
Scurtilities and odious nick-names in this kinde are so many honourable badges of thy Christi∣an magna∣nimity, and at the throne of Christ will be certaine∣ly reputed as chara∣cters of spe∣ciall ho∣nour, and remem∣brances of thy worthy service, Bol∣ton.
Esay 16 1••.
Esay 43. c. 2. Esay 44.2.
Luk. 12.32.