ing

all the censures of this world, let us run with patience the race that is set before us: looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God*.

Another case, in which, to preserve a character with their acquaintance, persons will do what every one else, and they themselves often, see to be wrong, is that of party-wickedness. Very frequently prejudices of education, worldly interest, vehemence of temper hurry them into it. But frequently also, their sole inducement is, that if they should stop short, their friends would look coldly upon them, and think meanly of them; and they cannot bear the reproach of not having been true to their side. What a wretched principle now is this! and yet tolerably good persons will be carried strange lengths by it: and others, any lengths whatever. We find in St. John, that on hearing our Saviour's discourses, many among the chief rulers of the Jews, inwardly believed on him, but because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. For they loved the praise of men, more than the praise of Godt. Now just the same thing, which got the better of their conviction in this respect, gets the better of most men's in one respect or another: and they will not reflect, that as the temptations to raise or preserve a reputation by joining in the excesses of party, are often the most trifling, and easiest to be resisted, that can be; so, when the trial is harder, the duty is still the same; but the victory will be the more honourable, and the reward the greater.

A further instance, and a very criminal one, of

Heb. xii. 1, 2.

† John xii. 42, 43.

preferring the good opinion of others to their own conscience is, when persons, having been guilty of some folly or sin, will be guilty of almost any thing to cover it, rather than expose themselves. At one time they will immediately commit a very great fault to conceal a very small one. At others, they will begin, for that purpose, only with what seems a pretty harmless transgression. But that doth not succeed, perhaps entangles them yet worse: and so they are drawn on, till instead of confessing at first a single error, they are shamefully convicted at last of many. But if they could, by such means, escape ever so clear, these are not means, by which they ought to escape. Even an innocent person hath no right to use other than innocent methods for his defence much less is having done one bad thing an excuse for doing a second. So far indeed as honest prudence will hide our disgrace, we are doubtless in the right to employ it. But if that will not suffice; what we have deserved we must patiently undergo, as a just correction, and salutary discipline to produce repentance. There lies our way back: and it is in vain to seek for any other. If we are disposed to take this only right course, all good persons will think it a duty strictly binding them (for indeed it is an important one) to make our return as easy to us, as possible: never to reproach us more with what we have heartily condemned ourselves for; but hold us in that honour, of which a true penitent may sometimes deserve a higher degree, than those who have never offended. And though the world should, as probably it will, do us this justice but imperfectly: yet bearing, in a virtuous manner, whatever shame our faults may bring upon us in this life, will contribute to increase our glory in the next.

One other bad way of aiming at reputation, which must be mentioned, is, when we demolish that of others, to raise our own, and build it on the ruins. Every one feels how grievous this injury is, when done to himself: and therefore knows the wickedness of doing it to his neighbour. Nor truly is the folly much less. Let another person's character in any respect be thought or proved ever so contemptible or so bad, mine continues but just what it was. And as for any hope, that it may be the more admired, when the other is lowered; on the contrary, it will be observed, who hath taken pains to lower it. And they, who are known to give such treatment, generally meet, as they well deserve, with a double share of it. Candour towards all, of whom we speak, is the true art of obtaining it towards ourselves: whereas he that hath shewed no mercy, shall, both from God and man, have judgment without mercy*.

But besides those, who are led into any of these sins by an undue fondness for reputation; they also are blameable, who allow it to give them too much uneasiness. A good name is indeed the most valuable of all earthly things: but, like the rest of them, may be the subject of too much anxiety. If we are not esteemed by every body as we ought; if unjust imputations are thrown, and, for a time, rest, upon us, nay, should it happen to be a considerable time, provided it be not our fault, let us make it as light a misfortune as we can. Perhaps it is for having done our duty, that we are traduced; and what is our case then? Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my saket. Or, supposing the occasion to be not so meri+ Matth. v. 11.

* James ii. 13.

torious; yet it is some alleviation, that these things, in such a world as the present, are of course to be expected. We live among persons that will detract and misinterpret and truly we are too prone to do like them. Besides, without any ill disposition, they mistake our attainments and accomplishments, we mistake theirs, and it cannot be otherwise. Doubtless we should avoid both making and occasioning such mistakes as far as we can. But when we have done our best, it is no more to be hoped that the most excellent person upon earth should have from all mankind a perfectly good report, than that the most regular person upon earth should at all times enjoy perfectly good health. Proper care, generally speaking, will secure us tolerably in both respects; at least will recover us again. And, as our health may sometimes be the better afterwards for having gone through a sharp fit of sickness: so may our character for suffering a severe trial. At least, such an exercise of our patience and meekness, if we preserve them, will do us a great deal more service, than the loss of a little esteem can do us harm. But it must be said again, that let persons only be virtuous and discreet, mild and humble, peaceful and charitable; that is, let them be truly good, and use but common precautions, that their good be not evil spoken of* : and they will seldom fail of supporting a fair reputation.

As for a high one, that is not so easy to be gained: but neither is it so proper to be much desired. He indeed who is conscious, that, were his merit known, it would enable him to be singularly useful, may and should, if he is sure that this is both true and his true motive, strive earnestly to be conspicuous; but we are strangely apt to deceive ourselves in each of

* Rom. xiv. 16.

these points. And, if we have little more than selfgratification in view : vehement solicitude, in most cases, gives more uneasiness, than success gives pleasure. But solicitude for fame hath this further unhappiness, that, as very few have really any considerable title to it, most of the candidates for it must be disappointed: and so much the more certainly the more forward they are in their pretensions. For in proportion as we betray that weakness, we strongly tempt the world, not only to withhold the esteem which we deserve, but even to withdraw that which they had bestowed upon us. And further, if persons will affect to raise themselves to a vast height in popular opinion, though it should provoke nobody to pull their building down, it would in all likelihood, after a while, overturn of itself, or sink under its own weight. Our business therefore is to take the utmost care, that our foundation be solid: but a lofty superstructure is rather to be feared than wished.

And, besides the imprudence of the thing, it is really injustice to demand of the world more regard than we have a right to, and charge them with what they do not owe us. Nor is even this the worst of the case. Persons, who claim too much, are frequently driven to unfair and even criminal methods of getting their claim allowed: and there are many in the world, who would have deserved a very good name, if they had not been too earnest and too hasty for a great one. Here then, the truly valuable reputation is lost in pursuit of a shadow, which is seldom overtaken. To be admired is what we long for: to be disliked and despised is what we usually get. Or, if we succeed better, perhaps the passion to which we make so costly a sacrifice, is only that of being celebrated for some errant trifle: though indeed, be