7. Bestow no more thought upon worldly things than thou needs must, for the discharge of thy place, and thea maintenance of thy estate: but still let thy care be greater 2for* heavenly, than earthly things: and be more grieved for ab dishonour done to God, than for an injury offered to thy self: but if any private injury be offered unto thee,5 bear it as a Christian, with patience. Never was an innocent man wronged, but if he patiently bare his cross, he† overcame in the end. But thy good name in the mean while is wounded: bear that also with patience. For he that at the last day will give thy body a resurrection; will as sure in his good time, grant a resurrection to thy good name. If impatiently thou frettest and vexest at thy wrongs, the hurt which thou dost thy self, is more than that which thine enemy can do unto thee. Neither canst thou more rejoice him, than to hear that it thoroughly vexeth thee. But if thou canst show, patience on earth, God will show himself just from heaven. Pray for him; for, if thou be a good man thy self, thou canst not but rejoice, if thou shouldest see thy worst enemy to become a good man too. But if he still continueth in his malice, and increaseth in his mischief, give thou thy self unto Prayer, committing thy self, and commending thy cause unto ⟨p. 167⟩the righteous Judge of heaven and earth, saying with Jeremiah; 7O Lord of host that judgest righteously, and triest the reins and the heart: vengeance is thine, and unto thee have I opened my cause. In the mean while wait (with David) on the Lord: be of good-courage, and he shall comfort thine heart.
7. Bestow no more thought upon worldly things than thou needs must, for the discharge of thy place, and thea maintenance of thy estate: but still let thy care be greater 2for* heavenly, than earthly things: and be more grieved for ab dishonour done to God, than for an injury offered to thy self: but if any private injury be offered unto thee,5 bear it as a Christian, with patience. Never was an innocent man wronged, but if he patiently bare his cross, he† overcame in the end. But thy good name in the mean while is wounded: bear that also with patience. For he that at the last day will give thy body a resurrection; will as sure in his good time, grant a resurrection to thy good name. If impatiently thou fretrest and vexest at thy wrongs, the hurt which thou dost thy self, is more than that which thine enemy can do unto thee. Neither canst thou more rejoyce him, than to hear that it thorowly vexeth thee. But if thou canst shew, patience on earth, God will shew himself just from heaven. Pray for him; for, if thou be a good man thy self, thou canst not but rejoyce, if thou shouldest see thy worst enemy to become a good man too. But if he still continueth in his malice, and encreaseth in his mischief, give thou thy self unto Prayer, committing thy self, and commending thy cause unto ⟨p. 167⟩the righteous Judge of heaven and earth, saying with Jeremy; 7O Lord of host that judgest righteously, and triest the reins and the heart: vengeance is thine, and unto thee have I opened my cause. In the mean while wait (with David) on the Lord: be of good-courage, and he shall comfort thine heart.
- a1 Tim 6. 8, 9.
- 2Gen. 28. 20.
- *Col. 3. 1, 2. Phil. 3. 20.
- bJos. 7. 9.
- 5Psal. 139. 21, &c.
- †Nobile vincendi genus est patientia: vincit. Qui patitur: si vis vincere, disce pati. Optima injuriae ultio est oblivio, efficit enim ut animam levet, nec magis laedat▪ quam si facta non esset.
- 7J•r. 11. 20.
