Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of…

8. Again, consider what abundance of reproach and contempt justly many do suffer for their sins and wickedness that indeed they are guilty of, sin carries many men through infinite shameful things: as take one that is given to a base lust, and so as he may enjoy his lust, he cares not what shame he endures, though he be counted the shame of their friends, and the scum of the place where he lives. Who are so basely looked upon as base drunkards? they are looked upon as more vile then the filth and dung of the earth, and yet they go on and bless themselves in the pleasure they have in their lusts, notwithstanding the reproach. If one should be content to go on in his lusts, and please himself therein, notwithstanding all the reproach he endures, what cause have we to go on in the ways of God, and keep close to him, though all the world reproach us?

9. Again, consider the goodness of God in delivering of you from everlasting reproach. In Dan. 12. 2. Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. We might have been amongst the company of those that shall have all their wickedness opened at the last day of Judgement before God himself, and might have had the Lord himself mocking at us.

10. And yet further, consider that the greatest evil of reproach it is from him that receives it, it is according ⟨p. 392⟩as we take it. It is a speech of Chrysostom; As it is with meat, so it is with reproaches, it is not the goodness and sweetness of the meat in its self that makes it to be good and sweet to me, but according as my stomach and body is affected: And so in all reproaches, it is not as it comes from him that casts it, that makes it evil, but it is as he that receives it makes it: cast dirt upon dirt, and it will stick, cast dirt upon