Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
Ver. 16. Having a good conscience] Which you cannot have if you deny or but dissemble the truth. George Marsh, martyr, being examined before the Earl of Derby, kept himself close in the point of the sacrament. But after his departure, thus he writes: I departed much more troubled in my spirit than before, because I had not with more boldness confessed Christ, but in such sort as mine adversaries thereby thought they should prevail against me; whereat I was much grieved, for hitherto I went about, as much as in me lay, to rid myself out of their hands, if by any means, without openly denying Christ and his word, that could be done. (Acts and Mon.)
As of evildoers] Malefactors, not martyrs.
They may be ashamed that falsely accuse] This is an excellent way of stopping an open mouth. Oh, these real apologies are very powerful. Thus did the primitive Christians plead for themselves, Non aliunde noscibiles quam de emendatione vitiorum pristinorura, saith Tertullian (ad Scapulam), known from all others by their reformed lives. Thus did those old Protestants the Waldenses; In moribus sunt compositi et modesti, &c., said that Popish inquisitor their professed adversary. Their doctrine, said he, is naught, but their lives are unblameable. The man's life (saith Erasmus concerning Luther) is approved of all men; his worst adversaries cannot accuse him of anything in point of practice. Louis king of France, having received certain complaints against the Protestants of Merindol and Chabriers, sent certain to inquire into the business, and hearing what they related to him, he swore a great oath that they were better men than either himself was, or any other of his subjects. (A.D. 1513.)
That falsely accuse your good conversation] We should so carry ourselves, saith Jerome, ut nemo de nobis male loqui absque mendacio possit, that no man might speak evil of us without a manifest lie. Nec hostes reperiant quod calumnientur.