Use. 1 Consolation to the poor innocent servants of God who yet are defamed with all kind of false accusations. They are called hypocrites, heretics, rebels, traitors, and all that naught is. David was so charged by Saul & his courtiers: Paul was so charged by the malicious Jews: the godly Jews so charged by Hamon: Christ himself was so charged by the Priests, Scribes, and Pharisees: all good men must look to be so charged by all sorts of sinners. Well it is for them that their hearts can witness that their desires are only good, and better that the Lord seeth it, and best of all that they have such a God as will openly publish it. If he knew as much by us as the wicked say against us, or would refuse to testify that he knoweth for us, as every one of us were more righteous, so should he be of all others most ignominious. For no creature that ever God made (the devil not excepted) is so ⟨p. 84⟩much spoken against, as good men are, neither any so bad a name as they, if the violent tongues of malicious persons may make a good mans name to be bad. If sentence should pass upon the godly at the last day, according to the verdict of them that are not friends or parties, we should be all cast, and condemned, not one man would be acquitted. But here is an help against all these surmises of purposes within, and accusations of behaviour without: let appeal be made to him that beholdeth all, and he will clear the righteous from all these imputations. This brought Job to speak so confidently of his cause; Oh that I had some to hear me; behold my sign that the Almighty will witness for 1me: though mine adversary should write a book against me. This brought David with such affiance to repose himself upon God: Judge me Lord according to my righteousness, and according to the 2innocency that is in me. And this brought Isaiah to use such liberty and boldness in challenging his quarellous enemies. He is near that justifieth me: who will contend with me? Let us stand together: 3who is mine adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold the Lord will help me: who is he that can condemn me?
Vse. 1 Consolation to the poore innocent seruants of God who yet are defamed with all kinde of false accusations. They are called hypocrites, heretickes, rebels, traytors, and all that naught is. Dauid was so charged by Saul & his courtiers: Paul was so charged by the malitious Iewes: the godly Iewes so charged by Hamon: Christ himselfe was so charged by the Priests, Scribes, and Pharises: all good men must looke to bee so charged by all sorts of sinners. Well it is for them that their hearts can witnesse that their desires are onely good, and better that the Lord seeth it, and best of all that they haue such a God as will openly publish it. If he knew as much by vs as the wicked say against vs, or would refuse to testifie that hee knoweth for vs, as euery one of vs were more righteous, so should hee be of all others most ignominious. For no creature that euer God made (the diuell not excepted) is so ⟨p. 84⟩much spoken against, as good men are, neither any so bad a name as they, if the violent tongues of malitious persons may make a good mans name to be bad. If sentence should passe vpon the godlie at the last day, according to the verdict of them that are not friends or parties, we should be all cast, and condemned, not one man would be acquited. But here is an helpe against all these surmises of purposes within, and accusations of behauiour without: let appeale be made to him that beholdeth all, and he will cleare the righteous from all these imputations. This brought Iob to speake so confidently of his cause; Oh that I had some to heare me; behold my signe that the Almightie will witnes for 1me: though mine aduersarie should write a booke against mee. This brought Dauid with such affiance to repose himselfe vpon God: Iudge me Lord according to my righteousnesse, and according to the 2innocencie that is in me. And this brought Isaiah to vse such liberty and boldnes in challenging his quarellous enemies. Hee is neere that iustifieth me: who will contend with me? Let vs stand together: 3who is mine aduersarie? Let him come neere to me. Behold the Lord will helpe me: who is he that can condemne me?
- 1Job 31. 35.Iob 31. 35.
- 2Psal. 7. 8.
- 3Isai. 50. 8. 9.
