2 2 Reputation rf Godlinefs and Arionefly heww far- as before the Lord, and fee if there be any way of wickednefs in themwhich hitherto you have not difcovered : Try whe- ther there be Hypocrifie and Pride or not ; Efpecially when it is the fervants of God that think hardlyof you, and above all, if it be wife, impartial met. that are acquainted with you, its-then your duty to be very, jealous of your hearts and ways, and to fear lea you are guilty, and to fearch the more dili- gently , and not be quiet. till you either find our your fin, or be fuse that you are clear. And if you be clear in that point, yet fufpea- and fearch left there be Come other fecret or allowed fin, which God would deteft to you, or excite you againft hy, the injurious cenfures of thofe that have re- proached you. 2. When you have fearcht and clearedyour own Confcien- ces, then confider further,that though youare not fuch as you are cenfu red to be, yet firmer! you are,and you knowyour fins in others kinds are fo many and fo great that you fhould bear the more patiently to be hardly thought of, when you know your felves tote fo bad. ifindeed you are godly, you have leen a fink of uncleannefs in your felves, and have condemned your felves oft, and loathed your felves for your abominati- ons, and bewailed them before the Lord. And is it fuitable for filch a fpiric to be eager after the reputation of fincerity, and to be much troubled that you are taken by others to be naught ? 3. And confider alfo that your Cafe may be as Davids was, and God may poflibly make this reproach a chaftifement for fome former i n,. and a means to humble you for it more throughly, and to reclaim you from it. Perhaps he bids (by permiifive providence) fome Shimei curieyou. It may be the voice of a flanderer mull do that which the voiceof a Preacher could not do. And then it is your-work to look behind you and within you, more then without you , and to hearken more to thevoice ofGod and Confcience, then ofthe flande- rer : and to take it as the rodof God, and a call to a more fe... rious Repentance. 4. And confider that when you are under the falfeCen- lures ofthe world, you may have the inward peace of a good con-
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