Chap;35 359 CHAP. XXXV. ions, andCafes ofConfcience about Self-Commendation. Qu ft. S it lawfulfor a'ran to commend himfelf? flnfw, Ir is lawful in fome cafes for a childofGdd to commend himfelf:to declare what God bath done for him,or by him:to fpeakofthe gracesGodbath beftowed i1G %hLì on him;ofhis labours,orworks whichGod inch wrought by him,yea, and of his fufferings for God; as will appear by th.feexamp es: Of Nehemiah,chap.i3.1. to 14, &c. Of yob, chap. 29. and 31. of Pa rl, Aa.ào. Phil.3. I Thefz. z Cor.i 1. and r z. Queft. In what cafes is thisfelf-commendation allowed? Anfw. Firft, of affli;gions from God ; wherein they have profeffed their faith in God : their patience; obedience, fincerity, conflancy,&c. So job, ch:13.14, .i-5. and z3.1o,I1,IZ. and theChurch, Pfa1,44.17,&c, and Jeremy, ch.57.16,57. Secondly, of injuries from men in wordor deed. a. Inword, by fcoffs,and reproaches ,as David, z Sam.6.zo,z1. By flanders of their good converfations : So did Pau1,A6L,zz.i, &c. and z3. I. and 24.5,6. and z6.z,&c. So 'Jacob,Gen.31.36, to42. yea,'Chrift hirnfelf, Joh.8.46 ,48,49 z. In deed :thenwe mayprorett our innocency to prove we fuller wrongfully; as Daniel did, Dan.6.2z,'Chrifl, Yoh.' o.41,42. and 8.4v. Thirdly, when therebywe may fhew forth the infinite riches of Gods free grace, and mercy to fuchvile and unworthycreatures,in giving us grace to be what weare, and enabling us by grace to do what we do, that thereby wemay en- courage weak believers to dependance on God for grace,and mercy, andagainft efpondency notwìthRandmg alltheir infirmities, andunworthineffe, So Paul, i Cor.I5.9,50. 1 Tim. 1.13,1 5,16. Fourthly, togive others occafion,andto provokethem. a. Toprayfor us. So Pawl, HA' 3.18. a. TopraifeGod for us, and glorifiehim inour behalf.So Paul, aCora .1 2,12. Gal. 1.24. Ephef. r. 15, 16. 3. Toglory on our behalfbefore others, ofpccially thofe that feek to traduce , and hander us. SoPaul, z Cor.y.i i,1 z. z Ilea.4. Fifthly, when others require an account of our faith, holineffe, obedience, or experiences : Hence, z Per.3,i5. Sixthly,
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