CHAPTER XXXII.

_Of putting our trust in God when we are evil spoken of._

_Christ._ SON, stand firm, and put thy trust in me: for what are words but words? They fly through the air, but hurt not a stone.

If thou be guilty, see that thou be willing to amend: if thou be innocent, suffer this willingly for God.

It is but a small matter to suffer a few words, if thou hast not yet the courage to endure hard stripes.

Give diligent ear to my words, and thou shalt little regard ten thousand words spoken by men.

*2. _Christian._ O Lord God, thou just judge, strong and patient, thou who knowest the frailty and wickedness of man, be thou my strength, and my whole trust, for my own conscience sufficeth me not.

Thou knowest that which I know not, and therefore in every reproof, I ought to have humbled myself, and to have borne meekly.

Vouchsafe mercifully to pardon me as often as I have failed herein, and give me grace to bear it better hereafter.

For thy abundant mercy is more available to me for the obtaining of pardon, than my fancied justice for my defence, since I cannot see to the bottom of my conscience.

Although I know nothing by myself, yet I cannot hereby justify myself: for without thy mercy no man living shall be justified in thy sight.