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it. If this good report be false, endeavour to make it good by being hereafter answerable to the report.

(8.) If men report evil of you to your face, be not so much inquisitive who raised it, or how to confute them, or clear your reputation amongst men; as to make a good use of it to your own heart before God.

For you must know, this evil report does not rise without God's providence, 2 Sam. xvi. 11. If the report be true, then see God's good providence; it is that you may see your error and failings, that you may repent. If the report be false, yet consider, if you have not run into the appearance and occasions of those evils. Then say, though this report be false, yet it comes justly upon me, because I did not shun the occasions and appearances. This should humble you, and cause you to be more circumspect in your ways. But if neither the thing reported be true, nor you have given occasion for it, yet see God's wise and good providence; not only in discovering the folly and malice of evil men, who raise and take up an evil report against you without cause; but in giving you warning to look to yourself, lest you deserve thus to be spoken of. And how do you know, but that you should have fallen into the same, or the like evil, if by these reports you had not been forewarned? Make use therefore of the railings and revilings of an enemy, 2 Sam. xvi. 10 - 12; though he be a bad judge, yet he may be a good remembrancer; for you shall hear from him those things, of which flatterers will not, and friends, being blinded, or over indulgent through love, do never admonish you.

Fourthly, Your conversation amongst all must be loving: you should be kind and courteous towards all men. Tit. iii. 2. Do good to all, according as you have ability and opportunity, Gal. vi. 10, Give offence willingly to none, 1 Cor. x. 32. Do wrong to no man, 1 Cor. vi. 1 - 8, either in his name, life, chastity, or estate, or in any thing that is his; but be ready to forgive wrongs done to you, Col. iii. 13, and to take wrong, rather than to revenge, or unchristianly to seek your own vindication. As you have calling and