Observations Divine and Moral, Chapter 15
CAP. XV. Of Simplicitie, and Craftinesse.
SImple persons are prone to suspect, that all wise men are craftie: and craftie mates to despise all honest men, as simple, and silly. The simplenesse of the former makes them suspitious: and the naughtinesse of the latter causeth them to measure other mens shoes by their own last; and to conceipt, that none are honest, but for want of wit to deceav. But both experience, and reason teach, that craftinesse, and deceipt argue men to be Seneca. Bodin.conscious of their own imbecillitie, and weaknesse, one way, or other; which makes them (Hare-like) to trust to the double, and turn, rather then to the right on course. And so, many of shallow wits, improving throughly, their skill to deceav, prove their crafts-masters that way: shewing that craft and fraudulencie stand more in the wills, then wits of men. I ad, that as David by seeming besides himself, deceaved1 Sam. 2… Achish: so many make advantage of their simplenesse, to deceav the more easily. For, appearing simple, they are unsuspected: and though they be taken something tardi; yet if the matter be not verie foul; men are readie, in compassion of their weaknesse, rather to ascribe it to their want of wit, then of honestie.
And as this of simple appearance is one; so are their other singular engines of deceipt; specially if they fall into the hands of such, as know how to use them. The first is the shew, and appearance of honestie, especially of Religion: and therefore the preamble of the whorish woman Prov. 7.for the inveighling of the simple youth, was, that she had her peace-offrings upon her, and had paid her vowes. And indeed, what good heart would suspect him of unfaithfulnesse with men, that seems entire with God, and to walk under the conscience of his presence, and judgment? A second is flatterie, by which even wise men are made fools, and led as it were, by the lip. By this the Divel brought ou… first Parents in Paradise into a fools Paradise, by beating them in hand, that in following his counsell, they were in a way to become as Gods. A third is the mingling of someGenes. 3. Ireneus truth with falshood, and matter of deceipt (as hucksters do their wares good with bad) that so impostures may not be discerned by being viewed alone. The last is to keep touch in smaller things, that thereby men may take their opportunitie with more both ease, and advantage to deceav in greater; asLivius. is said of Fabius Maximus.
The safest way not to be deceaved by others, specially to our Spirituall prejudice, is not to deceav our selvs: which till we do, no other can deceav us. Hence is it, that God in his Word so oftens warns us, that we be not deceaved, and that we deceav not our selvs, and our own Souls. But and if we either put out our own eyes with our finger, through passion, or prejudice, or willingly wink at dangers, which we might foresee; who will pittie us, if we fall into the ditch of deceipt which others dig for us?
Whilst craftie men deceav others, they themselvs (though they little consider it) are most deceaved by Satan, whose instruments they are, fitted for his hand, & purposes. And what avails it the ravenous bird to devour that, which belongs not to her, if therewith, she her self be taken by the leg, in the Fowlers snare? Besides, even in respect of men howsoever such wi…y-beguili…s may for a time (if they carrie close) amongst other advantages, get the opinion of prudent, and politick persons, and be accounted the more Petrarchwise, by how much they have the more skill to deceav; yet if their craftinesse come to be found out, and appear; they become oftens a prey to all, & alwaies a scorn to the most simple; like the wily fox who being once catched, hath his skin Lord Willoughby.pluckt over his ears, wherewith everie fool will have his cap furred, as a worthy Lord was wont to say. Such are heirs apparent to Achitophels comfort, and reward.2 Sam. 17
His rule was peremptorie that said, A wise man will not Seneca.deceav, nor cannot be deceaved: So was his profession both of wisdom and honestie lowd, who chose this Motto, F…llere vel falli res odiosa mihi: And though usually it be worse to deceav, then to be deceaved (though Austin (andAustin▪ who not) met with many that would deceav, but never with any that would be deceaved) as a sin is worse then a crosse: yet whereas to be deceaved is alwayes either a crosse, or a sin, or both; a man may, in some case, and manner deceav, without either; as did Athanasius the President Lucius, who Eusebius▪pursuing him, and approaching neer the boat, wherein he was, asked for Athanasius, and was answered by him (whom he knew by name, but not by face) that Athanasius was hard before him, and that if he made hast, he might presently overtake him: who thus escaped, deceaving his Arian persecuter, by speaking nothing but the truth, and that both wisely, and with good conscience.