Secondly, bear (I beseech you) with patience the reproach of men: For reproach is a great proof of sincerity. Work on, though men scoff on. And hereby you shall (as the Apostle speaks of himself and his Fellow-labourers 1in the Gospel) approve your selves as the Ministers of God (in this your work for the Church and Common-wealth) in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses: by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report, as deceivers and yet true. It hath been said, that to do well, and hear ill, is Kingly; I am sure it is Christianly. Christ never did more, or better for us, then when he was most derided. Here was the patience of Christ, here the strength and victory of his Love. It had showed the mighty love of Christ, in the work of our redemption; if, when he came into the world, the world had entertained him with honour, and had put him to death only (as Caiaphas gave counsel) because it was expedient that one should dye for the people; 2but to come and dye for those, who (he knew before) would mock and revile him; yea, to do the work while they actually reviled him: This was stupendous love and patience to a miracle. It is commendable to do good, while all praise, commend, approve, and honour; but to do good while multitudes of all sorts and sizes reproach, revile, scoff and slander, is admirable, is quid ⟨p. 31⟩divinum, and bids up fair, to the love of a Saviour. No man ever undertook a great work but he was mis-understood: Wilt thou kill me, saith that Jew to Moses, when he came only to pacify him, and save them all. If your work 3be miscalled, or mis-reported by men, patience will make this a vantage ground, for the raising of your acceptation with God. What the Apostle speaks of Domestic servants, is as true of the Public servants of a State: If when ye do well and suffer for it (the tongue is 4a persecutor, Gal. 4. 29.) ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God: Or as the Greek more elegantly, this 5is thanks with God, that is, certainly for this God will thank you.
Secondly, beare (I beseech you) with patience the reproach of men: For reproach is a great proof of sincerity. Work on, though men scoffe on. And hereby you shall (as the Apostle speaks of himself and his Fellow-labourers 1in the Gospell) approve your selves as the Ministers of God (in this your worke for the Church and Common-wealth) in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses: by honour and dishonour, by evill report and good report, as deceivers and yet true. It hath been said, that to doe well, and heare ill, is Kingly; I am sure it is Christianly. Christ never did more, or better for us, then when he was most derided. Here was the patience of Christ, here the strength and victory of his Love. It had shewed the mighty love of Christ, in the worke of our redemption; if, when he came into the world, the world had entertained him with honour, and had put him to death onely (as Caiaphas gave counsell) because it was expedient that one should dye for the people; 2but to come and dye for those, who (he knew before) would mocke and revile him; yea, to doe the worke while they actually reviled him: This was stupendious love and patience to a miracle. It is commendable to do good, while all praise, commend, approve, and honour; but to doe good while multitudes of all sorts and sizes reproach, revile, scoffe and slander, is admirable, is quid ⟨p. 31⟩divinum, and bids up faire, to the love of a Saviour. No man ever undertook a great work but he was mis-understood: Wilt thou kill me, saith that Iew to Moses, when he came onely to pacifie him, and save them all. If your worke 3be misscalled, or mis-reported by men, patience will make this a vantage ground, for the raising of your acceptation with God. What the Apostle speaks of Domesticke servants, is as true of the Publicke servants of a State: If when ye doe well and suffer for it (the tongue is 4a persecutor, Gal. 4. 29.) ye take it patiently, tbis is acceptable with God: Or as the Greeke more elegantly, this 5is thanks with God, that is, certainly for this God will thanke you.
- 12 Cor. 6. 4, 8.
- 2Joh. 18. 14Ioh. 18. 14
- 3Act. 7. 25.
- 41 Pet. 2. 20.
- 5[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
