A27053:722
A treatise of self-denial. By Richard Baxter, pastor of the church at KidderminsterA treatise of self-denial. By Richard Baxter, pastor of the church at Kederminster
London: printed by Robert White for Nevil Simmons, 1675
Treatise › Chapter 49: Reputation of Godliness and Honesty how far—
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. And consider also that your Case may be as Davids was, and God may possibly make this reproach a chastisement for some former sin, and a means to humble you for it more throughly, and to reclaim you from it. Perhaps he bids (by permissive providence) some Shimei curse you. It may be the voice of a slanderer must do that which the voice of a Preacher could not do. And then it is your work to look behind you and within you, more than without you, and to hearken more to the voice of God and Conscience, than of the slanderer: and to take it as the rod of God, and a call to a more serious Repentance.
4. And consider that when you are under the false Censures of the world, you may have the inward peace of a good conscience, which is better than all the applause of men: And this being a continual feast, they cannot do much against your quietness, as long as they cannot deprive you of this.
5. Yea moreover, you have the Approbation of God himself, and that should satisfy against the censure of all the world. Even a Proud man if he have any wit, can bear the Contempt of the ignorant vulgar, if he have but the applause of great and wise, and learned men: As that Orator that valued the judgement of Socrates above all the rest of his auditory. But all the wisest men in the world are fools in comparison of God. Having his Approbation, you have the Greatest, the Best, and the Wisest on your side; and a Judgement ⟨p. 315⟩for you that will weigh down the judgement of ten thousand worlds.
5. Yea moreover, you have the Approbation of God himself, and that should satisfie against the censure of all the world. Even a Proud man if he have any wit, can bear the Contempt of the ignorant vulgar, if he have but the applause of great and wise, and learned men: As that Orator that valued the judgement of Socrates above all the rest of his auditory. But all the wisest men in the world are fools in comparison of God. Having his Approbation, you have the Greatest, the Best, and the Wisest on your side; and a Judgement