take notice of them. But we should not busy ourselves in inquiring what persons say or think of us; nor should we appear to take much notice of unfriendly, and slanderous remarks, which come to our knowledge. To be jealous of the speech of people, and to be easily moved by it, is injurious to our peace and usefulness. The sneers, cavils, misrepresentations, and ridicule of the foes of virtue and religion are generally best frus trated by neglect. The less the "squibs of the tongue" are regarded, the less injury they do, and the sooner they are forgotten. You cannot much more gratify evil minded railers and defamers, than to take notice of their slanders and abuses, and to appear solicitous in consequence of them. It gives them an importance, which they would not otherwise attain. It shows, that you feel disturbed and wounded, which is a gratification to the slanderer, and an encouragement to proceed. One of the ancients, being told that a certain person privately reproached him, repli. ed; "Say nothing, or he will proceed to do it publicly also." Why should an innocent and useful person regard the cavils and defamations of the wicked? "Let the sun," observes a writer, "say nothing, but only shine on, when owls or snails complain of him." The best way to silence most censures and slanders, is to despise them, or to contradict them only by greater piety and innocence. This is generally more mortifying to the guilty, than any retaliation in our power would be; and, what is of much greater importance, it is calculated to lead VOL. X. them to reflection, to convince them of their faults, and to bring them to repentance. Whereas retaliation, upbraidings, or much notice, has a tendency to arouse their pride and prejudices, and to render them obstinate and permanent enemies. Much notice of defamations and censures often defeats its own purpose. A lying tongue is but for a moment. Most false. hoods and misrepresentations will soon be forgotten by those who hear them, if they are not kept in remembrance by recriminations. We ought not gener ally to trouble ourselves about refuting slanders and misrepre sentations, otherwise than by greater piety and goodness, unless the glory of God and the interests of virtue and religion un. questionably require it; which is seldom the case with persons in private life; and less frequently with persons in a public sta tion, than they are apt to imagine. Rather let us so serve the Lord and seek his glory, that his cause may be ours; and then trust the vindication of our good name to his Providence. There are many other benefits, beside those, that have been mentioned, which Christians nay derive from ill treatment, and from enemies. They may teach us to be more sensible of human depravity, and more to admire the example of Christ under the manifold abuses and sufferings, which he endured, and the immensity of his love. They may teach us to seek worldly enjoyments less; to reduce earthly expectations; and to raise our affections and hopes more to Heaven. They call us to exercise patience; to lament 55 1 the prevalence and evils of sin; and to praise God for his mercy to us; for the continuance, protection and enlargement of his Church, and for all his goodness to our guilty race. But I shall not enlarge on these topics, lest this communication be tedious. As the pious are often grieved and afflicted by opposition and ill-treatment, and sometimes disheartened, and therefore need support and encouragement, let us, 4. Consider some sources of encouragement and consolation. The benefits, which they may derive from ill-treatment in the world, should console and encourage them As we have already seen, it may assist them in the acquisition of self-knowledge, humility, patience, and a meek forgiving temper; which are of vast utility and importance. It may make them more vigilant, circumspect, and holy; and it gives them an opportunity by a right temper and deportment towards their enemies, to copy some of the sublimest virtues of the Savior, and thus to convince others of the power and excellence of the Christian religion, and recommend it to them. The meekness and patience of pious Christians under provocations and injuries, their forgiveness of enemies, and their kindness to them, have always had powerful efficacy in convincing sinners and alluring them to take up their cross and to follow Christ. Ill-treatment in the world also shows Christians, that here is not their rest, and that they ought not not to place their affections on earthly objects; and it in a manner compels them to look more to the things, which are unseen and eternal. It trims. them and makes them brighter and more useful lights here; and it increases their treasure in Heaven, as it contributes in various ways to their final advantage. The considerations of these things should reconcile righteous to the scourgings of evil tongues and to all the abuse received from their enemies; and make them solicitous, rather to derive as much advan tage as possible from them, than about their present ease and reputation. When reviled, slandered, and persecuted Christ's sake, let them rejoice and be exceedingly glad; for great is their reward in heaven. for The unparalleled indignities and sufferings, which the blessed Jesus himself endured; the persecution of the ancient prophets, and of the Apostles and primitive Christians, by those, who rejected their messages, hated their reproofs and opposed their religion, and the illtreatment of pious and good men by the ungodly in every age, afford consolation to those, who are persecuted, reviled, and have all manner of evil spoken of them falsely for Christ's sake. For so persecuted they the proph ets, which were before you, said our Savior to his disciples for their encouragement. Conformity in this respect to the great Head of the Church, and to holy and pious men, who have lived before us, must have great influence in reconciling us to the ill will and abuses of the world, when obedience to God brings them upon us. Because our Lord conversed familiarly with sinners, as a physician with the sick, he was accused of being a friend of publicans and sinners, an approver and partaker of their wickedness He was reproachfully called a wine. bibber; probably because he miraculouslyturned water into wine at a wedding. As he delivered from the power of demons, those who were possessed and afflicted by them; he was accused of being in confederacy with the powers of darkness. He was meek and peaceable; he disavowed all pretensions to an earthly kingdom, and inculcated submission to rulers; yet he was accused, as a mover of sedition He went about doing good, and was with out sin. No person could bring any explicit and supported charge against him; yet he was numbered with transgressors, and crucified with malefactors. Thus we see, that perfect innocence, and the highest excellence, afford no shelter from ill tongues; nor, in many circumstances, from the hand of violence. An evil eye will see matter for censure and misrep. resentation in the best conversation and life. If perfect good ness, and the most meritorious actions, be thus distorted and caJumniated; what have the best of the disciples of Christ to expect? They are often imprudent and faulty, and have many imperfections, which give a plausibility to the defamations of their adversaries. It should be remembered, that we deserve our sufferings, and that those of Christ were wholly undeserved. sidered and treated, as the offscouring of all things. Yea, und all that will live godly in Chris! Jesus, shall suffer persecution; if not the persecution of the sword, the persecution of the tongue, from some quarter or other. Persecution, strictly so called, blessed be God, is not the characteristic of the present age. But if we are in any measure faithful to our Savior; dan we expect the cordial approbation of the world? If we are not conformed to the world, will not our exemplary and holy singularity, as it conveys a reproof of the evil conversation and practices of the irreligious, excite their cons tempt and hatred, or lead them to smite us with the tongue? Is this age so refined; has human nature at length become so improved; that a Christian can now be faithful in showing his disapprobation of sin, faithful in opposing all iniquity, and zealous in every good work, and not be an object of the envy, the displeasure, or the reproaches of the wicked? It is true, that there has been a great and favorable change in the opinions and practices of men respecting persecution; and there is a less bigoted attachment to unessential articles of faith and modes of worship, at the present day, than there has been in some periods; but are those, who are not the cordial disciples of Christ, any more in love with true religion? Has darkness more communion with light, than formerly; or is there more concord between Christ and Belial? No; The ancient prophets were mankind are naturally and eshated, persecuted, and account-sentially the same in every age; ed the troubles of Israel. The and the true disciples of Christ primitive Christians were con- must still be a peculiar people In proportion to their fidelity to Christ, they will now often meet the gross opposition and scurrility of the openly profane and vicious; and they must expect, that the fashionable world and formal professors will sometimes represent their religion as bigotry, superstition, and enthusiasm, and endeavor by sneers, ridicule, and subtle insinuations, to blacken their name, and to obscure their example. It is a thing of course, that they, who do evil, hate, oppose, and malign those, who, by their virtue and piety, are burning and shining lights; especially if placed near themselves. Such lights disturb and irritate the wicked by showing them the horrid contrast which they form. lence, forbearance, and piety; then if we suffer with him, we may have the consolation, that we shall also reign with him. Great will be our reward in Heaven. Considering the illustrious company, and considering the end, who would not rather suffer with Christ and his followers, than triumph with the wicked, or enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season? It is erough for the disciple that he be as his Master, and the servant as his Lord. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? Will not, therefore, the benefits, the reward in heaven, and conformity to Christ, prophets and apostles, afford us sufficient consolation with the comforts of the Holy Spirit, when defamed, opposed, and injured by the wicked? Let no pious man therefore faint in the day of adversity, or be discouraged in the service of God. Let us seek the approbation of God more than the praises of men, and be steadfast, immoveable, almays abounding in the work of the Lord. Watch ye; stand fast in the faith; quit you like men; be strong. Let all your things be done with charity. If we are decidedly holy and pious, we may often have occasion to consider the ill-treatment of the prophets, and apostles, and of our Lord, for our consolation and encouragement. But let us remember to look to Cbrist for another purpose; for grace to imitate his example. Because Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps;—who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered he threatened not, but committed himself to him, that Some will perhaps call the judgeth righteously. When on humble firmness, the holy elevathe cross, he prayed for his im- tion and the indefatigable perseplacable murderers. If we suf- perance of a zealous Christian, fer for our goodness and piety pride. But pride never elevates with meekness and with prayer men above the world. If pride for our enemics, we resemble despise the opinions of men in our Redeemer. A pious man, some instances, still it idolwho endured great indignities, izes fame; it is ever selfish; remarked cheerfully, "what ado it is resentful; it loves to have here is, to make a poor sinner its consequence feit and aclike his Savior!" If we resem knowledged. Only the humbic our Lord in meekness, peace- ble can cheerfully obey God, reableness, resignation, benevo- joice in his will, and live above the smiles and frowns of earth. It was humility which enabled the blessed Jesus to be contented with his poor accommodations, to despise the baits of the world, to tread under foot the pride of life, to bear patiently the taunts of the wicked, and to be fully resigned to his Father's will. Let us learn of him, who was meek and lowly in heart. Such is the world, that we must expect tribulation in it. Evil tongues cannot be silent. No gentleness and kindness can tame them; do not unnecessarily exasperate them; give them no occasion to speak reproachfully; but let not your peace of mind depend on the speeches of the ungodly. Let them not gall, provoke, or discourage you. Only be particularly careful, that when all manner of evil is spoken of you, it may be spoken falsely for Christ's sake. Then you may trust and rejoice in the Lord; and in anticipation of" the peace and glory of heaven. Soon will the pious be, where the wicked will forever cease from troubling. If we endeavor, on all occa. sions, to be faithful and to manifest the spirit of Christ, we must also expect coldness, censures, hard speeches, and rash judgments, from some, of whom we hoped better things, and whom we may still believe to be pious, though under prejudices and mistakes. The zeal of some Christians is too fiery, bitter, and indiscriminate; the prudence of others is too much allied to lukewarmness and the fear of man. They, who take the happy mean between these two classes, will probably be censured by both, and be regarded with jealousy. But let none of these things deter us from the firm and resolute, yet gentle and affectionate, discharge of duty. Finally, let all of us, who profess to be disciples and followers of Christ, endeavor to derive all possible advantages from the ill-treatment we receive in the world, and to persevere in our duty without remissness or discouragement. Thus we may make great improvement in self knowledge, and in the Christian temper and practice; and we may do great good to many, and adorn and recommend genuine religion. Thus also we may do much to prevent divisions, contentions, and animositics. How often revenge perpetuates a quarrel, which forgiveness might easily and speedily heal. How many, and how extensive, are the evils which infest, not only society in general, but the churches of God; which might be prevented, would all, who call themselves Christians, study to know and subdue the evil tempers of their own hearts; to love, forgive, and pray for their enemies; to be meek, humble, and peaceable; to bear ill-treatment with the spirit of Christ; and to overcome evil with good. Let us, my brethren, deeply and seriously consider the impor tance of these things; and may God direct and enable us by his Spirit, to glorify him by a right temper and conduct in every situation. R. W. |