2. This pattern of Christ his patient s• fearing reproaches doth minister a lesson of comfort to such as suffer unjustly, because your Innocent and holy conversation doth confute those false and unjust aspersions, so did Christ confute those that reproached him, his Innocency so shined, that even Pilate himself did acquit Jesus Christ from such aspersions as they cast upon him, and he saw plainly that it was his Adversaries malice, and not his desert, Math. 27.18. for he knew that it was for envy that they had delivered him; no wise man will believe such reproaches as the Innocency of the party doth sufficiently confute, without any words of Apology, Innocency it self speaks a consolation, and maketh the Arrows to fall & light on their own pate, Daniel is a famous Example of an innocent sufferer, Dan. 6.5 Then said these men we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the Law of his God, and he pleaded his innocency before the King, ver. 22. my God hath sent an Angel, and shut the Lyons mouths, that they have not hurt me, for as much as Innocency is found in me, before him, and also before thee O King I have done no hurt. Such was the pattern of Jesus Christ which he hath left us, as it is expressed in the Prophesy of David, Psal. 35.11, 12. false witnesses did rise up, they laid to my charge things that I knew not, they rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my Soul. Again, it is a matter of great consolation and holy joy, to suffer any thing for the sake of Jesus Christ, Act. 6.41. they departed from the presence ⟨p. 56⟩of the Council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer flame for his Name, Luk. 6.22, 23. Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their Company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your Name as evil for the Son of mans sake, rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy, for behold your reward is great in Heaven, blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, rejoice ye and be exceeding glad, for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you, in this case it is good to say with David if this be to be vile, I will yet be more vile; grace is incensed, stirred up, & increased by such Tribulations and abuses, many graces are exercised and increased by such wrongs, Rom.
2. This pattern of Christ his patient s• fering reproaches doth minister a lesson of comfort to such as suffer unjustly, because your Innocent and holy conversation doth confute those false and unjust aspersions, so did Christ confute those that reproached him, his Innocency so shined, that even Pilate himself did acquit Jesus Christ from such aspersions as they cast upon him, and he saw plainly that it was his Adversaryes malice, and not his desert, Math. 27.18. for he knew that it was for envy that they had delivered him; no wise man will believe such reproaches as the Innocency of the party doth sufficiently confute, without any words of Apology, Innocency it self speaks a consolation, and maketh the Arrows to fall & light on their own pate, Daniel is a famous Example of an innocent sufferer, Dan. 6.5 Then said these men we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the Law of his God, and he pleaded his innocency before the King, ver. 22. my God hath sent an Angel, and shut the Lyons mouths, that they have not hurt me, for as much as Innocency is found in me, before him, and also before thee O King I have done no hurt. Such was the pattern of Jesus Christ which he hath left us, as it is expressed in the Prophesy of David, Psal. 35.11, 12. false witnesses did rise up, they laid to my charge things that I knew not, they rewarded me evil for good to the spoyling of my Soul. Again, it is a matter of great consolation and holy joy, to suffer any thing for the sake of Jesus Christ, Act. 6.41. they departed from the presence ⟨p. 56⟩of the Council, rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer flame for his Name, Luk. 6.22, 23. Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their Company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your Name as evil for the Son of mans sake, rejoyce ye in that day, and leap for joy, for behold your reward is great in Heaven, blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake, rejoyce ye and be exceeding glad, for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you, in this case it is good to say with David if this be to be vile, I will yet be more vile; grace is incensed, stirred up, & increased by such Tribulations and abuses, many graces are exercised and increased by such wrongs, Rom.
