fires he doth not answer, and be cenfured by almost all, whofe wills and humours he doth not fulfill and that is, moft, that have a felf that ruleth at home, and therefore they think should be the Idol of others, as it is their own and that are but unacquainted with the reasons of those things that do displease them. Its little comfort to us to do good, if we cannot bear the eftimation of doing evil, and cannot lofe all the obfervation acknowledgement and applaufe of man, as if we had never done the good at all. It is far from Chriftian perfection to be honest, and godly, and fincere, if we must needs be accounted to be as we are, and cannot patiently be efteemed difhonest, ungodly, and hypocritical; and be judged worst, when we are beft; what have the fervants of Chrift loft their lives for in flames, and by other forts of torments,but.

for

for the best of their fervice, and greatest of their piety and fidelity? When dogs bark at paffengers, commonly it fignifieth but two things, viz. that they are perfons that they know not, or that they hate but it is no fign that the perfons are bad, or poor, or fick : For be they never fo bad and miferable, if they know them, and love them, the dogs will not bark at them. See that thou be not an Hypocrite, and then it must be accounted a fmall matter by thee, to be called an Hypocrite: yea if perfons that fear God themselves fhall fo esteem thee, it is no other affliction but what thou must be armed for, and patiently undergo. Even from the godly through miftake, we oft fuffer moft for our greatest duties, and are cenfured moft for that which God and conscience most approve us for; and lose our reputations for that

which God would be greatly offended with us if we did otherwife. As ever then you would not prove your felves Hypocrites, fee that you look not for the Hypocrites reward, as Chrift calls it, Matth. 6. 2. which is, to be approved of men, be they good or bad men, their overvalued applaufe may be but the Hypocrites reward. To be content and patient in doing well, and being judged to do ill,and in being good, and being judged to be bad, is the property of him that is fincere indeed: therefore to be unthankfully requited, and reviled, and fpit upon, and buffeted, and fhamefully used and put to death, even by thofe whofe lives and fouls he had with greatest care and condefcenfion, pittied, this was the pattern of love and felf-denyal that was Tet us by our Lord. And though we cannot reach his mea

fure,

fure, and diftempered Chriftians find much trugling before they can bring themselves to patience, under fuch ingratitude and unworthy ufage from the world, efpecially from their mistaken froward brethren, yet in fome prevailing measure, it must be done. For he that cannot ferve God without the Hypocrites reward, is but an Hypocrite. If he will not be a Christian, obedient, charitable,diligent, faithful, for heaven and the pleafing of God alone, he is not a Christian indeed. And, alas, what a pittiful reward is it, to be thought well of, and applauded by the tongues of mortal men? How few were ever the more holy by applaufe? but thoufands have been hurt,ifnot undone by it. Thou giveft all thou haft to the poor: thou spendeft thy felf wholly, and all that thou haft for the fervice of God, and the

good

good of others: Its well: it must be fo. But after all thou art cenfured, flandered, vilified and unthankfully, and unmannerly ufed. And what of that! what harm doft thou fear by it? what advantage thy pride and selfishness might have taken, even by due applaufe and thankfulness, its eafie to perceive: But now, the temptation is taken out of thy way: thou art fecluded from all creaturecomforts; and fo art directed and almoft forced to look up to the love of God alone: Now thou haft no other reward before thee, its eafier to look fingly on the Saints reward. When God hath no competitour, to whom elfe then canft thou turn thy thoughts? when all others abufe thee, it is eafieft to have recourse to him. When earth will scarce afford thee any quiet habitation, thou❜it furely look to heaven for reft.

1

Thus