*15. “But we must have a care of getting an ill name; for then we should do no good at all.” This is the grand excuse for the fear of man, and it is the bottom of almost all the rest. This is what the men of prudence never fail to urge in their defence: and in this they suppose themselves impregnable. “If I get an ill name, I can do no good.” Hast thou learnt this in the word of God? Hath Christ taught thee thus? Saith he not, _Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company; yea when they shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.――Behold your reward is great in heaven; for in like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. Wo unto you when all men shall speak well of you: for so did their fathers to the false prophets._ To persuade men therefore that the reproach of Christ is an hindrance to the course of the gospel, is a true fetch of the devil’s, by which he endeavours to make void the cross of Christ: whereas, on the contrary, every one of us must certainly believe that he can do nothing at all to the purpose, as long as he refuses to wear this badge of Christ. “Yes; thou thinkest in thy heart, by my being reserved, and not exposing myself, some may be won.” Thou wilt only make hypocrites like thyself; men that are vainly puffed up by a little knowledge, and yet ashamed of Christ and his word, and unwilling to suffer any persecution for the cross of Christ. But if once thou canst resolve, with unshaken presence of mind, to break loose from the bondage of fearfulness, and thus to evidence thy faith, by taking on thee the reproach of Christ, then _others waxing confident by thy sufferings, will be the more emboldened to speak without fear_.