482 / 514
(
4;1
)
SERMON
XXIX.
CHRISTIAN MORALITY,
viz.
THINGS
OF GOOD REPORT,
&c,
PHILIP.
iv.
8.
Whatsoever things are
of
good
report
---
-think
on these
things.
fox
4mi a,
&c.
THE
value
of
a good name
was
so
great
under
the
jew-
ish
dispensation,
that
the Spirit
of
God
does
not
think
it
beneath
his
care
to
recommend
it
to
his
chosen
people,
by
the mouth
of
Solomon,
the
wisest
of
men.
It
is
better
and
Of
more
wórth
than
precious ointment
:
Eccl.
vii.
1.
It
was
counted an ornament and entertainment at
public
feasts,,
to-have
rich-
oils
poured
upon the bead
;
the
price
of
some
of
them
was
exceeding
great;
they gave
refresh-
inent
to the
natural
spirits,
and spread a
perfume
through
all the company.
ßut
a
good
name
is
of
greater
price,
it
is
a
rich
ornament
to
the
character of
him
that
possesses
it,
and has a considerable influence toward
his
happi-
ness;
so
that
to
use
the
words
of
Solomon
again;
Prov.
1.
"
It
is
rather
to
be chosen
than great riches.''
The
blessed
apostle
of
the.gentiles
is
of
the same mind,
and
he
recommends
to
the christian
world,
the
practice
of
those things
that
are
of
good
report,.
which
is
the
way,
whereby
a
good
name
is to be
obtained. He
had
just
be-
fore recerzarercled to us the
things
that
are lovely
in
the
eyes'öf
men,
and
such
as
will
render
us well
beloved
among our neighbours
::
New
he invites
us
to the
prac-
tise
of
t
ru
e
things:tha:t
are
of
goòd
report
irì
the world,
such
as will
procure
us
reputation and a
good name,
}vfrere
we
may:live; especially
among
the
wise
and
sober
part of
mankind.
This bath
some,difference
in
it from
the former, though
it
must
be
granted,
that
all things
that
are
lovely,
have also
a
tendency
to
obtain a
good name.
There
are many things
in
the
conduct
of
life, which
dó
not
so
directly
offer
themselves
to
us,
as.
parts
of.
neces-
sary
justice,
piety,
or
goodness.
But
yet they
are
such
as
hear
a
good
character
in
the
world,
and
they
give
to
the
man
that
practises
them;
a
good
reputation
among