God's anger

One soul complains; I have obloquies, reproaches, calumniations cast upon me; which ¹render me contemptible to good societies. Morality would thus argue with the heart. Be these imputations, thus charged upon me, true or false? If true, let the integrity of thy future conversation so convince thy associates, that they shall both suspect those reports, and rest assured of thy constant goodness.

One soul complaines; I have obloquies, reproaches, calamniations cast upon me; which ¹render me contemptible to good societies. Morality would thus argue with the heart. Bee these imputations, thus charged upon me, true or false? If true, let the integrity of thy future conversation so convince thy associates, that they shall both suspect those reports, and rest assured of thy constant goodnesse.

1. 11.

But the Divine grace applies a more virtual medicine to thy conscience, which shall revive, either thy patience, or thy repentance. The soul shall argue with it self: If these imputations be true, here is work for my repentance; I will weep in secret for my sins. If false, let them not trouble me: It is the slanderers sin, not mine: neither am I bound to father another's bastard. But still upon this calumny, the world condemns me: but thy faith and patience assures thee, ⟨p. 72⟩that thou shalt not be condemned with the world. Yea, there is yet a higher degree of honour belonging to thy patience. Have not the best men been traduced? Was not the best of men, God and man blasphemed? yea even upon the Cross, he was jeered when he dyed, by some of them for whom he dyed. Thus do the comforts of God requite thee; that in all this thou art (in thy measure) conformable to the sufferings of Christ. So dost thou allay all these furious tempests with one breath of faithful ejaculation; Thy comforts delight my soul.