ly does he incite them against those in
the ministry, leading them to close watch at all times for material
available for purposes of slander.

The Papists at present have no other business than to watch our
conversation for the purpose of slander. Whenever we fall into human
error (for we are truly weak and are beset by our failings), they
seize upon our moral uncleanness, like famished swine, and find great
delight in publishing and betraying our weaknesses, like Ham the
accursed. They truly hunger and thirst after our offenses. Although by
God's grace they cannot fasten adultery, murder or like errors upon
us, unless by their own fabrication (this shameless class of people
abhor no kind of lie), yet they gather up smaller matters, which they
afterward exaggerate to the public.

151. David's experience is well known. He was surrounded on all sides
by enemies who eagerly sought out every opportunity for persecution.
They were envious because he had been called to the throne by God;
hence, they triumphed over his horrible fall.

152. His case, however, serves for our instruction. God sometimes
permits even righteous and holy men to stumble and fall into offenses,
either really or apparently, and we must take heed lest we pass
judgment at once, after the example of Ham, who, having secretly
despised his father long before, now does so openly. He declared that
his parent, being imbecile by age, had clearly been deserted by the
Holy Spirit, since he was unable to guard against drunkenness, though
the government of the Church, State, and household lay upon his
shoulders. O wretched Ham, how happy art thou, having found at last
what thou soughtest--poison in a most delightful rose!

153. Everlasting praises and blessings be given to God, whose dealings
with his saints are wonderful indeed. While he permits them to be weak
and to fall, to be overwhelmed with disgrace and offenses, and while
the world judges and condemns them, he forgives them their weaknesses
and has compassion upon them; whereas he delivers into Satan's hands
those who regard themselves angels, and utterly rejects them.

The first lesson of this story is that godly persons have the needed
consolation against their infirmities when they see that even the
holiest men sometimes fell most disgracefully by reason of similar
infirmities.

154. In the second place, the case of Ham is a fearful example of
divine judgment, to teach us by Ham's experience not t