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The duties which euery man is bound to performe vnto himselfe, are, first, a care to procure and preserue his good name and credit, and se∣condly, that he giue a true testimonie of himselfe. Our care to procure and preserue our good name, consisteth in vsing the meanes whereby
it is gotten; as glorifying God, seeking his kingdome and righteous∣nesse, walking vprightly, being such as wee would seeme to bee, and * 1.1 in keeping a good conscience. And also in auoiding the meanes, both of vaine-glory; as seeking to please men more then God; hypocrisie, seeking commendation by vanity and vices, louing of flatterers; vsu∣all censuring of others, attempting matters aboue our ability and gifts. And also of infamie, which either arise from our selues, as all sinnes both open, with all apparances of them, and secret, which God to our shame will bring to light; or else from others, as all disgrace∣full lies, slanders, and opprobrious speeches, against which we ought (especially if wee be publike persons) to defend and maintaine our cre∣dit and good name. The true testimonie of our selues is either con∣cerning good; which if it bee true, wee must vpon iust occasion con∣fesse it with modestie to Gods glory; or if false, with modestie and * 1.2 humility to denie it; or else concerning euill, which if it be true, we must confesse it both to God with earnest desire of forgiuenesse, and also to man, when by our confession wee may aduance Gods glory, and either our owne or our neighbours good; or if it bee false, that wee constantly deny it. Contrariwise wee are by this Commande∣ment bound to shun the contrary vices to these vertues; as to deny the good things in vs to Gods dishonour that gaue them, and to speake more basely and meanely of our owne gifts and good parts then there is cause, or then that which wee truly conceiue, either to auoide boasting, which is no better then a modest lie; or to draw commen∣dations * 1.3 from others, which is counterfaite modesty, and a cunning kinde of arrogancy. And also on the other side, vaine and false boast∣ing, wherein wee may offend, either in respect of the obiect, in boast∣ing of that which is not good, but euill, or being good, is not in vs at all, or at least in that measure which wee assume vnto our selues. Or else in respect of the ende, as when wee speake of the good things in vs, or done by vs, for our owne glory, especially when it is ioyned * 1.4 with neglect of Gods honour, or the disgrace of others, or else for our gaine and aduantage. Or finally in respect of euill, when out of pride and selfe-loue, wee deny that euill which is truly affirmed, or affirme that euill of our selues wich is false, to gratifie others, or to picke a thanke.
Phil. 4. 8. 1. Sam. 2. 30. Mat. 6. 33. Psal. 112. 6. Pro. 10. 7. Mat. 7. 1, 2. Psal. 133. 1. Luk. 14. 29, 30. Rom. 12. 3. Eccle. 10. 1. 1. Thes. 5. 22. Rom. 12. 17. 2. Sam. 12. 12. 1. King. 2. 8, 9.
1. Cor. 15. 10. Pro. 28. 13. 1 Ioh. 1. 9. Iosh. 7. 19. Iohn 1. 10. Iam. 5. 15. Psal. 51.
Psal. 52. 1. Phil. 3. 19. Gen. 4. 23, 24.
Mat. 26. 33, 35. 1. Cor. 4. 7. Esa. 10. 15. Luk. 18. 10. Act. 8. 9. Gen. 18. 15. 2. Sam. 1. 10. compared with 1. Sam. 31. 4, 5.