tions. Thou canst not devise how more to vex a detractor than by contempt: thus thou shalt force spite, as a wise heathen once said, to drink off the greatest part of her own poison.

SECTION 8.

The narrow bounds of Infamy.

THOU art disgraced with an ill fame :-What a poor matter is this! How far dost thou think that sound reaches? Perhaps to the next village; perhaps further, to the whole shire wherein thou dwellest. It is likely the next county never heard thy name; and if thou look yet further off, as soon mayest thou be talked of amongst the antipodes, as in the neighbouring region. And what a small spot of earth is this, to which thy shame is confined. Didst thou know the vast extent of this great world, thou wouldst easily see into how narrow a corner either our glory or dishonour can be pent up; and shouldst confess how little reason we can have to affect the one, or be disheartened with the other.

SECTION 9.

The short life of Slander.

THOU art wronged with an unjust disgrace:-Have patience a while: slanders are not long lived. Truth is the child of time: ere long she shall appear, and vindicate thee. Wait upon the God of truth, who shall cause thy light to break forth as the morning, and thine health to spring forth speedily. Isai. lviii. 8.

But if otherwise, what speakest thou of this shame, which is both local and momentary, soon passed over in silence and oblivion. There is a shame, my son, which is worthy of thy fear; which is both universal before the

face of all the world, of angels and men; and beyond the reach of time, eternal. Fear this, and contemn the other.

On the contrary, if fame should befriend thee so much as to strain her cheeks in sounding thy praises, and should cry thee up for virtuous and eminent every way; alas, how few shall hear her, and how soon is that noise stilled and forgotten. Let it therefore be thy main care to demean thyself holily and uprightly before God and man: leave the rest to the Lord, who will be sure to make his word good, in spite of men and devils. The memory of the just shall be blessed; but the name of the wicked shall rot. Prov. x. 7.

CHAP. VI.

COMFORTS AGAINST PUBLIC CALAMITIES.

SECTION 1.

The inevitable necessity of changes, and God's overruling them.

THOU art afflicted with public calamities :-So it becomes thee as a good man, a good christian, and a good patriot. We are all limbs of a community, either in church or state. While the whole body suffers, how can we be free?

This should be no news to us. What earthly kingdom or state hath ever enjoyed a constant felicity. Public bodies, like single persons, have their birth, their vigou their declinations. Even the white marble of that famous emblem and type of God's church, after not many centuries felt the force of time, and mouldered to nothing. It is as much as those heavenly bodies above can do to avoid a change.

Well might we be distracted with these troubles, my

son, if we did not well know whence they come; even from a most wise, holy and powerful Providence. He that sits in heaven orders these earthly affairs, according to the eternal counsel of his will. It is that Almighty hand which holds the stern of this tossed vessel, and steers it in that course which he knows best. It is not for us who are passengers, to meddle with the card or compass. Let that all-skilful Pilot alone with his own work: he knows every rock and shelf that may endanger it, and can easily cut the proudest billow that threatens it. It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good, 1 Sam. iii. 18.

SECTION 2.

The sense and sympathy of common evils.

WERE there no other respects than personal, I cannot blame thee, if thy fears strive with thy grief for public evils. Every man's interest is involved in the common interest: and if the ship sink, what will become of the passengers.

But withal, there is a kind of inbred sympathy in every good heart, which gives us a share in all others' miseries, and affects us more deeply for them than for our own. Indulgent Eli loved his sons too well, and was therefore, no doubt, very sensible of their death. Yet that part of the news passed over without any mortal passion; but when he heard that the ark of God was taken, his neck and his heart were broken together. His religious daughter-in-law, though delivered of a son, yet no sooner heard these heavy tidings than she died in child-bed, and could live only to say, Ichabod, The glory is departed from Israel, for the ark of God is taken; disregarding her new son, when she heard of the loss of her people and of her God. 1 Sam. iv. 17-22.

How many pagans have we read of, that have died resolutely for their country, cheerfully sacrificing them

selves to the public good; how many that would die with their country, hating to think of outliving the common ruin; how many that have scorned to be beholden for their lives to their people's murderer! We shall as soon extinguish both grace and nature, as quit this compassionate sense of the common calamities.

SECTION 3.

The sure protection of the Almighty.

THOU grievest for the public disorders:-Mourn not as one without faith. Be sure, He that keepeth Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Wherefore was the holy tabernacle overspread with a strong tent of skins, but to figure out to us God's church sheltered under a sure protection. He that was so curious of the custody of his material temple, by night as well as by day, that a sleeping Levite might not escape beating, and burning of garments; how careful will he ever be of his spiritual and living house!

How unmeet are we to judge of his holy proceedings. We are ready to measure his love still by an outward prosperity, than which nothing can be more uncertain. The Almighty goes by other rules, such as are most consonant to his infinite justice and mercy. I am abashed to hear a pagan, though no vulgar one, say, Whatsoever is brought to pass, a wise man thinks ought to be so done; neither goes about to rebuke nature, but finds it best to suffer what he cannot alter.' And shall christians repine at those seemingly harsh events, which fall out in God's church, while we are ignorant of his designs, and ready to bless a thriving profaneness?

Look abroad, upon the ancient lot of God's inheritance, and their rivals in worldly glory. Thou shalt see the family of Esau flourishing and renowned, yielding, besides dukes, eight kings of his line; while poor Israel was toiling and sweating in the Egyptian furnace.

Yet

we know the word to stand inviolable, The elder shall serve the younger; and, Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated.

What if that great and wise God, who often works by contraries, and brings light out of darkness, have purposed to fetch honour and happiness to his church out of this sad affliction. Metals are never so bright as when they are scoured; perfumes and spices never so fragrant as when they have felt the fire and the pestle. Wilt thou not give the physician leave to make use of his mithridate, because there are vipers in the composition? How un-worthy art thou of health, if thou wilt not trust the fidelity and skill of the artist, in mixing so unwholesome a cordial !

Thou art troubled with the public miseries :-Take heed that thy grief be clear of all impiety. Wouldst thou not have God to be just, that is, himself. Wouldst thou not allow it an act of his justice to punish sin. Canst thou deny that our sins have reached up to heaven, and called for judgment? Why is the living man sorrowful; man who suffers for his sins. Lam. iii. 39.

I read of a devout man that was instant with God in prayer, for a nation not far off; and was answered, Suffer the proud to be humbled. Whether we will suffer it or no, the just God will humble the proud, and punish the sinful. His wonderful patience and infinite justice have set limits to the wickedness of every people. The iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full, saith God to Abraham. Gen. xv. 16. When the measure is once made up, it is time for God to strike we shall then complain in vain, and all too late.

Wouldst thou know then, what is to be done for preventing a destructive vengeance. There is no way under heaven but this, to break off our sins by a seasonable