Observations Divine and Moral, Chapter 19
CAP. XIX. Of Examples.
THe rules in some Sciences, especially speculative, and for truth onelyonly, are grounded upon examples, and gathered by wise observation, and induction of particulars: but so are not Divine, and Morall rules. Neither is any thing to be reputed good, and just in it self, and so exemplarie to us, because such, and such men have done it: but they have done it (if doing their dutie therein) because it is good, just, and lawfull: and so are unto us examples of Faith, patience, merciemercy, and the like; as they in their particular courses expressed these, and the like vertues; and not otherwise. OnelyOnly he, that can do nothing but good, is our absolute example in things which concern us.
Particular facts commended in Holy Scripture are generall examples, and binde to imitation, when eitherGreenh… ▪ the same thing is els-where commanded in generall; or where either the ground, or drift, or equitte, of the thing in generall. And thus the verie both myraculous, and meritorious works of Christ (though in their particular nature, causes, and ends inimitable) are so far forth our examples, and to be followed by us, as the Holy vertues of Faith, patience, and obedience towards God, and of love, and compassion towards men shine forth in them.
Morall examples serv first for confirmation, and commendation unto others of the truth, and goodnesse contained in precepts; and are therefore called by some the pledges of rules. Secondly, for direction in particularsPlato. agreeable unto precepts, but not expressed in them. Thirdly, to till men on in obedience active, or passive: for even lazie travellers will hold out with good companie, which beat the path before them. And this help examples specially affoard, by taking away the excuse of frailtie, that we are readie to make, against the obedience, Caluin.which yet we confesse, and are convinced that we ow. Now the presidents, and examples of godly men, as of Abraham the Father of the Faithfull in beleeving under hope Rom. 4.against hope; and of Iob in keeping patience in extreamitie of tryals, and the like, are as a Cloud of witnesses Iames 5. Hebr. 12.going before us, as did the Pillar of Cloud before the Israelites in the Wildernesse to shew them the way: and do testifie against our withdrawing hearts, that other frayl men, as we are, by the power of the same grace of God, whereof we are made partakers, have performed due obedience unto God, in such, and greater tryals, then ours are: So that as in precepts we have the Word of God, and his will in it to direct us; so in those patterns of godlinesse we have his work, and, as it were his visible hand reached down from Heaven to lead us in the way, which by his Word we are appointed to walk in. By which if we profit not we take the Name of our God in vain both in his Word, and Works; in which he makes himself known for our good.
He who makes another his ensample, really acknowledgeth both the want, and the desire of that perfection in himself, which he imitates in the other. And so Parmeno in his (how artificiall soever) imitating of the Plutarchgruntling of a Sow, aymed but at a swinish perfection: The like is to be said of childrens playing of Bulls, and Bears, and Horses. To which purpose tended the sayingLord Willoughby. of a great Lord, that Womens imitation of men (as their perfection) in apparrell, gesture, and the like, might better be born; then mens effeminate, and degenerate imitation of Women. Which also the practise of Lycurgus confirmedPlutarch in trayning up maids in manly exercises, and making them thereby, after a sort, masculine; whereas usually by riot, and wantonnesse, men are transformed into women, and made feminine.
Many think themselvs good enough, if there be any worse then they: But we should not strive with the worst, but with the best rather; makeing apace, and as fast as we can, after them, though we come never so far behinde them, in wisdom, and goodnesse: as the Apostle exhorts the Corinthians to be followers of him, as he was 1 Cor. 11of Christ. Yea, further, as Eupompus would imitate Nature, Plutarchand no workman in Painting: So neither should we stint our endeavours, and desires absolutely at the degree of goodnesse, to which any meer man is come before us: but should aym at the verie perfection, which the Law of God requires. Men in shooting aym at the White, though sometime they misse the But. OnelyOnly the Law of Psal. 19.God which onelyonly is perfect, must be made by us the absolute rule of our life, and wayes.
As Land-marks are set up by the Sea-shore not onelyonly to teach men which way to take, but sometimes also which to leav: So are sundry examples even of good men propounded in Holy Scripture not for imitation, but for warning. And a verie preposterous course it is to follow good men, wherein they do evill: which they that use, are like unto Apes, and Dotterels, that are aptest to imitate men in their mops, and mows, and unseemly gestures. And if it were folly in the Persians to Plutarch.esteem such men the fairest, as had hooked noses, because Cyrus their King had such a one: It is meer madnesse in Christians to deem vices vertues, and errours truths, or either the one or other to be embraced, through superstitious admiration of some mens persons, in which they are found. But as the Egyptians following the Israelites with the Exod. 14.dark part of the Cloud towards them, were drowned in the Sea, which the other passed thorow safely: so they who follow good men in their faylings, and not in their vertues, shall surely be punished, when the other escape. Notwithstanding, although examples of others great, and antient cannot make sins to be no sins: yet doth it something Beza.lessen their blame who are mis…d by such guides; as it was in the Polygamy of the Patriarcks; and both hath been, and is in other the like traditionall evils.
Some pretend the examples of good men in their faylings, for the excuse of the evils, which they themselvs have a minde to do, and would do, though none ever had done them before them, or should do them after them: Others are indeed misled by their aberrations. In both the Divel shews himself his crafts-master. And hardly can he more improve evill, then when he so works, that a good, or great mans vertues (which he cannot abolish) should countenance, and commend his vices to others. By how much therefore the more any person excelleth in knowledg, wisdom, vertue, or authoritie; by so much the carefuller must he be, that he furnish not from thence the enemie of Gods glorie, and mans salvation, with weapons of advantage for evill, from whence the speciall means of his overthrow therein, are to be taken; as, by Gods appointment, they are, from great, and good men. And if any thing possibly could, surely this would make the verie Saints in Heaven sorrowfull for their faylings upon Earth; that others having by their example, o… other provocations, been drawn to evill (whereof they never repenting, as the principals did) do for the same suffer the eternall wrath of God, which they by true repentance have escaped.
Examples of Superiours are strong coards to draw on others, either to good, or evill: in which regard, it is rightly said, that great men have no small either vertues, or vices: with which that of Austin consorts; The joy for the Austin.great, is great, if they be good, because it is not for them alone. So on the contrarie, when Peter dissembled for fear of Cal. 2.them of the Circumcision; not onelyonly the other Iews dissembled likewise with him, but Barnabas also was carried away with that their dissimulation. How good were it for inferiours, that Superiours minded this, …s they ought? How much better for themselvs? That they might be warned to take heed, that they encrease not the guilt, and extent of their personall sins by making them exemplarie. He that having many standing under him, falls from aloft, may easily bruise others besides himself, with his fall. And if the blinde do lead the blinde, though both fall into Math. 1….the ditch, yet the guide falls under; and so is pressed, besides his own, with the others burthen, that falls after, and upon him. As, on the contrarie, he that furthers others by his holy ensample, in vertue, and godlinesse hath his part in their goodnesse also both in the eyes of God, and men.