Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

1 o6 That larofullhonours are to be de fired. culls, rumours andlealoufes do as much offend our brethrê, carting downe the weake,grieuing the flrong,and hardning chofe who arc not called, as tholewhich are truly and really Kobisneceja- committed. And thus it appeareth that we ought to haue great care of our fame and reputation, in regard that it is a ne110' ug, do notable meanes ofour neighbours good. To which purpofe bon.viduit, one faith, that a good life is neceffarie vnto vs, and a good cap.az. name neceflary unto our brethren : and as we mu(llabour to haue a good confcience before God, fo allo to haue a good report among men for our neighbours fake: and therefore cruell and vncharitable is their conclufion, who affirme that they will approuc their aólions to God and their owne con - fciences, and not at all care what men fpeake or thinke of them, feeing the wounds which they fuller in their reputati- on, without euer warding them off, do through their names pierce into the confciences of their neighbour, and often- times wound their foules to the very death,for which Chrift Terns filed hisprecious blood. g.Se5. I g. And as we ought to fecke this lawful' honor and good re- That roe ought port, in regard of God and our neighbours,fo alto in refpeél to defire honour ofour felues : neither is it enough that we haue the fhming for our cane brightneffe ofa good confcience, vnleffe wee haue alto the fake, that it fweet odour ofa good name: becaufe by this fweet perfume, may reuiucand refrefh ur, not only the flanders by are refrefhed,but alto our owne fpi- rits reuiued, and ourhearts cheared,fo as we may with more comfort and courage hold onand proceed in our good cour- fes : for as not only thefight or remembrance ofthe crowne or prize,but alto the applaufc of the handers by refrefheth the fpirits, and giueth flrength to the limmes of thofe who run in an earthly race ; fo alto in the running ofour fpiritu- all race, not only the remembrance of the crowne of glorie, which they that run (hall obtaine, but alto the commenda- tion of the godly and faithfull Both exceedingly reuiue and flrengthen vs,to continue cöflant in our courle unto the end. And therfore confidering howweake and faint we are, info much as we are daily readie in our felues to flacken outpace, fland flill,or turne back againe; itbehouethvs to defire,and much toefleem this and all other good incouragementsand comforts, Eire duo feits- mur, nitorem bona conftien- tic et odorem bone fame.