Motives to holy living, or, Heads for meditation divided into consideratins, counsels, duties : together with some forms of devotion in litanies, collects, doxologies, &c.

§. 16.

2. And Repu∣tation.

1. And as for Honors, Preferments, and Offices; so, for Reputation, and a Name (which we may seek also, even in the not-seeking the other): Keeping ever a strict watch of not being tainted, at least, with this most subtle Evil; never suffering the praise of men to be a motive to you of undertaking any Action. The praise of men, a thing so little worth; which is but of a few of them only; in some Corner only of this lower world: most of these too of little judgment; and this perhaps mis-informed, or partial (as is the praise of friends); or dissembling, and praising only from the lips outward, when the heart de∣spiseth and very mutable, commending to Day, con∣demning to Morrow: (See how it went with our Lord himself, Benedictus qui venit on Palm-Sunday, and Cruci∣fige, Crucifige, within five days after;) the most being of a perverted judgment, and commending things no way praise-worthy, and so this drawing aside the ambitious thereof from doing what his conscience would tell him is most fit, to what is most applauded; (the occasion of

the Pharisees great miscarriage in their actions. Jo. 12.43.5.44. And see Jo. 5.41.) Lastly, all in a short time swept away from the earth, the praiser, and praised; and both forgotten, and unknown to Posterity. This praise of men therefore always rejected, let your only motive be the Praise you shall have with God (2. Cor. 10.18. Rom. 2.29. —1. Cor. 4.7.), and with his Holy Angels, infinitely more numerous; persons more honourable; of a constant being; and, in the next world, our near Acquaintance, and Associates never lost; but to whom, now also, we are a spectacle, as well as to men (1. Cor. 4.9. —1. Tim. 5.21.): and our present Actions discoursed of in the Court of heaven; and laid up in their Memo∣ries (Job. 1.8. Zechar. 1.12, 13. —3.2.): Who see, and rejoice for any good done to us (Luk. 2.14.), or done by us (Luk. 15.7.) and this our Reputation with them declared by our Lord to be worth the valuing: See Luk: 12.8.9. Rev: 3.5. —14.10. Matt. 25.31. Eccl. 6.5. 1. Tim. 3.16. Who considers much, and often, that all his Virtues are seen, and registred in the Court of heaven, will little care to be applauded, or known in the Village of this world: or rather in but one Cottage of it. Mihi pro minimo est, ut judicer ab humana die. 1. Cor. 4.3. Nay, Si hominibus [i. e. mundi] placeo, Christi servus non sum Gal. 1.10. This then, often meditated on, will animate you to worthy performances with much secrecy (know∣ing that God and his Angels see you); and thus, you shall seldome do amiss; for, according to the praise we look after, God's, or Men's, either not the same Actions will be done by us, or not after the same manner.

2. Upon some Good done by you, suddainly diverting any thought of receiving praise from men for it; least such a thought, if long dwelt on, stain the Purity of your good Deeds; and this Praise be your empty reward there∣of; and you lose your reward with God. (consider Matt.

6.2.5.16. Faciunt ut honorificentur ab hominibus: Amen, dico vobis, receperunt mercedem suam (Luk. 14.12.) Hin∣dring it also, as not indeed due to you, but to God; and only, by their error it is, if by men given to you; and, if your good works are to be seen of men (Matt. 5.16.), yet it is, that they may glorify, not you on earth but, your Father in Heaven. Again: what Praise is brought to you against your Will, immediately transmitting it entire to God with a —Non nobis Domine, sed nomini tuo. For it is certain, what you do any way Good, all the good thereof is not from You, but from God; and so the praise thereof to be transferred, without your retaining it at all, to the right owner: the rest that is yours are only the infirmities and defects joined with it; and for these you ought to blush; and not desire praise, but pardon of God, the only Author of all Good, and very free and communicative of it, yet, in return of Praise for it, stands much upon his Right; and usually suffers his Rivals, that rob him of it, afterward to fall shamefully. (See Act. 12.23.)

3. Silently suffering causeless Infamy; and meekly ac∣cepting, and offering it to God, as a deserved punishment for other faults; especially practising thus, where Malice seems unsatisfiable; and more contention only likely to arise from a defence; and where a just vindication bears shew of too much self-esteem: Considering, our Lord's be∣haviour, to the admiration of the Judge, at his Arraign∣ment for Seditions, Treason, Blasphemy. Matt. 26.63. —27.12.14. Who (saith St. Peter, 1. Pet. 2.23.) when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatned not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: And the Apostles (1. Cor. 4.12.) Being defamed we intreat; being reviled we bless; being persecuted we suffer it; know∣ing, that God sooner undertakes, for those, the Justifica∣tion of their Innocence, who, for Peace-sake, and out

of much humility, leave it wholly to him; and in his good time performs it much more convincingly than themselves could.

* 1.14. Chearfully entertaining any Contempt: Which is a breeder of Humility, in the same manner, as Honor is of Pride. And which contempt of secular Reputation, and also of secular Contempt, out of an affection to things divine (that are usually much disparaged by the world) keeps men steddy in Goodness; and cutts off most of the Sins of Discourse; (much of which Discourse is directed to vain Glory, and Applause, (to be attained only in bad things, from corrupt judgments); or, is spent in justifying our selves against Contradictors; all which our love of Contempt avoids;) as also it cutts off all discord, hate, and envy arising from emulation for Precedency and Honor; when, every one striving to be uppermost, and quarrelling with those that obstruct it, he, that can be content to be below, is always at rest, and enjoys himself. Joyfully also entertaining the being evil-entreated, and evil-spoken of, so it be not for evil; which, causlesly, and patiently received, with perseverance in that goodness, for which you so suffer, hath an exceeding reward hereafter, for a small loss sustained here. In such a case happy are yee (saith St. Peter, 1. Pet. 4.13.): Count it all joy (saith St. James) Jam. 1.2. Jubilate & exultate. (saith our Lord) Luk. 6.23. Nor may any think themselves to stand obliged from that Text, 1. Thes. 5.22. To avoid all appearance of evil, when to any Person good things appear evil; Or obliged from that Text, Col. 4.8. To do whatsoever things are of good report, when the report of good is not such as it ought; nor things of good report such things, as are good. But we are to avoid all appear∣ance of evil; when the things appearing evil are such as we may forbear; i.e. are among things indifferent: and we are to do all things of good report; i.e. good report among the good.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Recommen∣dation of Self Con∣tempt.