Observations Divine and Moral, Chapter 39
CHAP. XXXIX. Of Contempt, and Contumelie.
COntumelie hath a sting; as the saying is: andCicero. is hard to be born eyther by wise or good men, how mean otherwise soever. Even the worm being troden upon will turn again: neyther can any esteem eyther so highly of another, or so meanly of himself, as to think he deservs to be contemned by him. And therefore Ionathan, though1 Sam. 20. both wise, godly, and humble-mynded, being reviled by king Saul his father, scarse kept himself within the bounds of due respect eyther to a Father, or king. Many, sayth one,Ambrose. can better endure paynfull stripes, then contumelious words. And hence it is, that povertie is more greivous unto many then other ordinarie crosses, because it brings with it more contempt in the eyes of others. Now, although the fear of God in a person, should, in all equitie, procure him honour, and respect from all: yet as the phylosopher advised, in his time, Wouldst thou take up the study of wisdom, prepare thy self to become a laughing stock to many, &c. so inEpictetus. ours, and all ages, must Gods most faythfull servants much more arm themselvs against contemptuous, and contumelious caryages by many; if against any other temptation: following therein the Holy Apostle, who approved himself 2 Cor. 6.to God in honour, and dishonour: yea the son himself, the author, and finisher of our fayth, who for the joy set before Hebr. 12.him, not onelyonly indured the crosse, but also despised the shame. And this the more carefully we must do, because the divel will never fayl to stir up his cruell instruments to ply the servants of God, with the most sharp, and byteing rods of contempt, and vilitie, in the middest of theyr other most greivous afflictions; as is to be seen in Christ our Lord, andMath. 27. David his type: that they finding themselvs despised in2 Sam. 16. those their calamities, which should move compassion towards them, in all mens eyes, might even be broken in their hearts, and so, through de…payr, fall from their stedfastnes; as many do, not being sufficiently rooted in Gods promises by faith, whereby to bear this sore-pressing temptation.
Many buy at a dear rate the use of a few contemptuous speaches, and that not onelyonly at the hands of superiours, and equals; but oft times, of meaner persons, then themselvs: with whom they loose more love, and respect by one contumelious passion, then they can recover by many freindly actions. Yea men (so impatient are all of contempt) are better satisfied and contented with a respective denyall of a benefit, then with a contumelious graunt of it; yea, I add further, with a playn injurie of some kinde, then with a favour so sauced: because in some injuries persons are thought worthy to be mynded, though not for good towards them: in the other case, worthy to be despised, even by them from whom they receav good.
He that despiseth the poore, eyther such in estate, or naturallyProv. 17. impotent in minde, or in body; despiseth God that made him so: at which he is alwayes as truely displeased in a measure, as he was at the children, upon whom he sent a 2 Kings. 2.shee-bear to teare them in pieces, for mocking at the prophets bald-head, though he do not so visibly manifest his anger. He that despiseth a man for the grace of God appearing in him (which is too frequent in ours, and all evil dayes) despiseth, and almost despyteth the verie spirit of God, which made him so. But he that despiseth a wicked, and vile person, in liew of his vilenes, despises the divell, and sin, that made him so. And albeit the followers of Christ should not come near a proud, or disdaynfull spirit: yet ought they to get, and mainteyn in themselvs a kinde of spirituall highnes of minde, by which, vileny, and a vile person forPsal. 15. Seneca. it, may be contemptible in their eyes: and vices, as said one, not onelyonly odious, but ridiculous.
Some have gotten the foxes cunning, in scorning the grapes for their sowernes, which for their height he could not reach to; affecting the contempt of that good which they want, and cannot obteyn; that so they may seem to want it upon judgment, as a thing not worthie the having; and not of impotencie. So some contemn learning, others policy, others other things, as unworthie their having; which they indeed are unworthy to have, and unable to attain to. Others partially say, with Salomons buyer, that things areProv. 20. nought, when they would have them easily, & for nought: Thus Lot sayd of Zoar, which he would have God spare for his cause, Is it not a litle one? Lastly, there are, who, inGen. 19. a cruell craft, use to vilifie, and debase, what they can, such persons, and things, as they either have oppressed unjustly, or mean to oppresse. Thus Saul purposing to oppresse David, still terms him, in contempt, The sonn of Ishai: So1 Sam. 20. did the Ephramites term the Gileadites, for like purpose, fugitives of Ephraim amongst the Ephramites, and amongst the Iudg. 12.Manassites: The Iews and others Christ a Samaritan, and Gal…lean: And wicked men now the faithfull servants of Christ, Lutherans, Hugonites, Calvinists, and by other more contemptible names, that so they may make themselvs, and others the better beleev, that it matters not, what is done to, or becomes of so vile, and unworthie persons. But men are men, though they be sowed in bears skins, that dogs might worrie them: And the contempt cast upon the Lords servants, by those carnall and craftie enemies, neyther makes the oppressed by them lesse precious in Gods sight, nor their oppressions lesse odious. Men, on the contrarie, when they have in hand any thing hard, or greivous to an other, should bethink themselvs of what is good, and commendable in the person; that thereby they may breed in their hearts due respect of him, and not wrong him: If the grace of God, though in never so great weaknes; that we wrong not it. If the image of his authoritie, wisdom, or other honourable attribute; that we wrong not it: If nothing els, yet that he is a man, and so deservs all humayn respect to be given unto him, as the Apostle bids, Honour all men.1 Pet. 2.
Men say, Familiaritie breeds contempt; whereupon many fearing to be contemned by others, dispose themselvs to contemn others by a supercilious, and overly behaviour. But as there is a mean in familiaritie, as in all other things; so they most fear contempt by it, who have least worth in them, to free themselvs therefrom: and therefore in jealousie, and consciousnes of their own wants, take up a theatricall, and affected strangenes, and statelynes, specially towards their inferiours, and equals. Such are like the asse in the Lions skin: but by braying when they should roar, are discovered, and become more ridiculous, then if they had alwayes shewed their asses ears.
Considering how greivous a thing, and hard to be born contempt is; it is wisdom in a man, not easily to think himself despised by others; and that even for his own peace. But if an injurie be offered, rayther, if it may be, to impute it to unadvisednes, or negligence, or almost to any other originall, in the offerer, then to contempt. Besides, an aptnes to conceave a contempt shews a minde uncharitable, discontented, and usually proud withall, as looking too much for respect.Sene…a. Lastly, he that judgeth himself despised by another, (specially being troubled at it) honoureth him therein: since it cannot be, but that he desires to be respected of him, with whose contemptuous cariage towards him he is troubled.