The True Convert, Exposition · Verses 31, 32
VERSE 31. And he ſaid vntounto him, Sonne, thou art euer with me, and all that I hauehave is thine.
32. It was meete that wee ſhould make merry, & be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is aliue againe: and was loſt, and is found.
IN it we hauehave, Firſt a Propoſition, which hath in it a Conceſſion, of what the elder brother ſaid. verſe. 31.
Secondly a Confirmation, wherein the Father doth iuſtifie his owne proceedings, ab aequo. It was meete that we ſhould reioyce and be glad. He did nothing but what was equity and right, and therefore, there was no cauſe of diſcontentment. And Secondly, he doth defend his younger ſonnes cauſe, for though he were dead yet he is now aliue, q. d. true it is my ſonne: thy brother was lewd and diſobedient, dead in ſinnes and treſpaſſes, but he is now become a new man, he is aliue againe, all his former courſes are left and forſaken, and he is now returned home. And therefore it is fit I ſhould giuegive him entertainement and ioyfully receiue him.
Now we come breifely to ſome Inſtructions: And firſt in that the Father doth not exaſperate his ſonne, and further incenſe him (he being already moued) by denying what he had before ſaid, viz. that he was dutifull and obedient, neuer breaking any of his commands &c. (which indeed was otherwiſe) but yeeldeth to this his ſaying:
This may teach vsus this point of wiſdome.
Doctr.Not to exaſperate the wicked, when they are incenſed, but rather to yeeld vntounto them, ſo much as poſſible we may, The wicked may not be exaſperated whē they are incenſed.and decline their furie. This point may ſeeme to hauehave ſome affinitie with the former, and therefore I ſhall not need to ſtand long vponupon it.
In a word then; let the Vſe be firſt for Reprehenſion Ʋſe 1 of ſuch as are zealous, but not according vntounto knowledge,Rom. 10.2. (as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh) not paſſing by nor winking at the leaſt blemiſh in any of their brethren. Zeale, if it be well ordered, is moſt beautifull in a Chriſtian; but if not, it is a thing of exceeding great danger: as fire in moderation is moſt comfortable, but in extremitie moſt fearefull. In all ages, it hath bin found leſſe dangerous to the Church, when men hauehave come ſhort of the due proportion of Zeale, then when they hauehave exceeded. Auda Biſhop in Perſia, in an exceſſe of zeale, throwing downe a Temple of the Pagans, was a cauſe that the King thereby incenſed, threw downe all the Temples of the Chriſtians, as Stories do report.Theod. lib. 5. Sometimes then to reproue what we ſee amiſſe, is to put fire into gunpowder: at ſuch times it is wiſdome to forbeare, and watch a fitter opportunitie, when our reprehenſion may do moſt good.
And if theſe are to be reproued, then much more are Ʋſe 2 ſuch to be condemned, who ſport themſelues, and make themſelues merry in prouoking of others, and ſtirring of them vp to wrath: As in cauſing the cholericke perſon to chaffe and fret; the contentious perſon to fight and quarrell; and the like. Theſe doe but lay ſtumbling blocks before their brethren,Math. 18.7. and Woe be to that man by whom ſuch offences come. It is the Diuels office, to ſtir and prouoke others vntounto euill: now what doe ſuch but take the Diuels office from him, and follow his trade and occupation?
Thirdly, ſeeing it is a part of wiſdome ſometimes to Ʋſe 3 yeeld to the wicked, and forbeare contradicting of them, eſpecially when they are incenſed; then let vsus all learne this point of wiſdome, and not prouoke them: It is no good diſcretion, to rouze vp a Lyon, or to take a Beare by the tooth, or for to pluck a mad Dog by the eares, or to thruſt our hands into a Hornets neſt; much danger is likely to follow vponupon ſuch like courſes. Oh that we could once learne this leſſon! that we would yeeld a litle, and forbeare a while incenſing others by our contradiction. This gaine ſaying humor hath bred our woe,Dr Halls Vowes, lib. 2. Medit. 52. though men beleeue it not. The Pelican finding a fire nigh her neſt, and fearing the danger of her young ones, ſeeks to blow it out with her wings; when (fooliſh Bird) by that meanes ſhee doth enkindle it, and at length burne her wings, and ſo make her ſelfe a prey in an vnwiſe pitty. I hope you can tell how to apply it: Meddle not indiſcreetly, when coales are kindled, the blaſt of thy wings abate not the burning; it doth rather increaſe then quench: for a while forbeare, meddle no otherwiſe then by prayers to God: See thy owne peace and ſafetie in the freedome of thy thought, and ſilence of thy tongue:2. Tim. 2.7. Conſider what I ſay, and the Lord giuegive thee vnderſtanding in all things.
Secondly, in that the Father maketh an apologie for himſelfe, we may collect,
Doctr. A man may lawfully ſpeake in his owne defence. Job 22.5. Iob 31. Acts 21.31.It is lawfull for a man to ſpeake in his owne defence, and make Apologie for himſelf, when he is falſly accuſed & wronged by the wicked. Gods children hauehave ſhewed the lawfulnes of this by their practiſe. Thus Iob being accuſed for cruelty, oppreſſion, hypocriſie, and many other ſins, maketh a ſolemne proteſtation of his integritie, and ſpeaketh in his owne defence at large. So Paul when he was in danger to be killed at Ieruſalem by the people, being reſcued by the cheife Captaine, ſpake for himſelf vntounto the people,Cap. 22.1. ſaying: Men, Brethren, and Fathers, heare yee my defence which I make now vntounto you. And thus alſo did he plead his owne cauſe before the cheife Preiſts and Councell.Cap. 23.1. And ſo likewiſe when he was brought before the Gouernour,Cap. 24.10. Cap. 25.8. he made Apologie for himſelfe. Thus did he alſo when he came before Feſtus; openly profeſſing, that neither againſt the law of the Iewes, Cap. 26.2.neither against the Temple, nor yet againſt Caeſar, had he offended any thing at all. The like was his practiſe, when he was called before Agrippa, and at many other times beſides. Thus the Primitiue Chriſtians, when they had bin ſlandered vntounto the people for diſturbing the State, for adulterie, murther, and other horrible ſins and greiuous crimes; did vſually write Apologies, and put vp ſupplications vntounto Princes, that they might defend themſelues in open audience. But what doe I ſpeake of theſe, when we hauehave Chriſt his example, (againſt which can be no exception taken) to proue the point? When the Iewes charged him to be a Samaritan,Ioh. 8.48, 49. and that he had a Diuell, he makes anſwer for himſelfe: I hauehave not a Diuell; but I honour my Father, and yee doe diſhonour me: ſo in many other places, as Ioh. 18.23. and Luk. 11.18, 19. Thus did he euer apologize for himſelfe, when it made for the glory of God, and the good of his hearers.
The reaſons may be theſe:
Firſt, if we ſhould not defend our ſelues, when we be Reaſon 1 thus falſely accuſed, we ſhould giuegive falſe teſtimonie againſt our ſelues, and beare falſe witnes againſt our owne perſons.
Secondly, becauſe the ſlanders which light on our Reaſon 2 perſons, redounds to the diſcredit of our profeſſion. How common a thing is it in theſe daies, to blame the profeſſion, for any one infirmitie in a profeſſor, though of weakneſſe it be committed? See (ſay they) this is the profeſſion; is it not a goodly one, who would beleeue what any of them ſay? Seeing then the profeſſion, and the cauſe of the Goſpell, is thereby endamaged, it behoueth vsus not to be ſilent in anſwering truly, when as our aduerſaries doe obiect againſt vsus falſly. Theſe are the Reaſons. The Vſes follow.
And firſt this ſerueth for Admonition to vsus all, that we Ʋſe 1 beware how we cenſure or condemne ſuch for proud and vaine-glorious perſons, that ſpeake now and then of their own gifts, & plead in their own defēce. For ſome times it is requiſite it ſhould be ſo: A mans owne good name, and the Churches good doth many times require it. Thus the Apoſtle Paul was forced, by reaſon of the Corinthians, more eſteeming (at leaſt in appearance) of other falſe Apoſtles then himſelfe, to ſpeake in his owne praiſe, and to commemorate his owne good parts: I ſuppoſe (ſaith he) I was not a whit behinde the very ch…ife Apoſtles. 2. Cor. 11.5, 6.verſ. 10.But though I be rude in ſpeech, yet not in knowledge. Yea he doth profeſſe, as the truth of Chriſt is in him, no man ſhould ſtop him of this boaſting in the Regions of Achaia.
Queſt.But how doth this agree with Solomons prouerb; Let another man praiſe thee and not thy owne mouth, a ſtranger and not thy owne lips.
Anſw.Solomon there doth meane ſuch a praiſing of our ſelues, wherein we cheifly aime at our owne glory: But this praiſing of our ſelues, which is for neceſſarie defence, and wherein we ayme at Gods glory, and the Churches good, and not made for vaine oſtentation, is not there forbidden: When neceſſarie defence doth call for it and require it, a man may ſafely ſpeake in his owne praiſe, and yet be no tranſgreſſor of Solomons precept. Secondly, it ſufficeth for the truth of that and ſundry other prouerbes, if they be ordinarily & vſually true, though not generally.
Ʋſe 2 Secondly, Is this ſo, that a man may lawfully ſtand out in his owne defence, and apologize for himſelfe, when he is wronged, ſlandered, and falſely accuſed by the wicked? Then let vsus vſe our liberty in this kinde, and in ſuch a caſe let vsus boldly ſpeake in our owne cauſe, and cleere our owne innocency; Gods word alloweth it. And certainely, many are heerein much to blame, who put vp many an vntrue report that is raiſed of them, and neuer goe about to cleere themſelues, nor defend their owne credit: They are too too careleſſe of what is ſpoken of them, although it bee neuer ſo falſely and ſlanderouſly ſpoken, yet they ſit downe by it. Hence it commeth to paſſe,Hominum eſt diſſolutorum & ad iniurias diuini nominis ſecurè conniuentium. &c. Apolog. Iewel part. 1. cap. 3. Diuiſ. 5. that the profeſſion is diſcredited, and the Lord diſhonoured. For men to be careleſſe (ſaith one) what is ſpoken by them and their owne matter, be it neuer ſo falſely ſpoken (eſpecially when it is ſuch, that the Maieſty of God, and the cauſe of Religion may thereby be damaged) is the part, doubtleſſe, of diſſolute and retchleſſe perſons, and of them which wickedly winke at the iniuries done vntounto the name of God.
But muſt a man for eueryevery ſlander,Queſt. goe about to ſend and proue, when then ſhall he be at quiet, if this be ſo?
Such indignities and wrongs as are of the leaſt ſort,Anſw. In what caſe we are to paſſe by a ſlander, & in what, not. Prou. 19.11. and touch onelyonly our priuate perſons, may bee borne withall and winked at. And ſo ſaith Salomon, The diſcretion of a man deferreth his anger, and it is his glory to paſſe ouer a tranſgreſſion. But if the wrong bee of another nature, if the ſlanders which are layd vponupon our perſons, redound to the diſcredit of our profeſſion, and to the hurting and hindering of the cauſe of the Goſpell, in this caſe we may not be ſilent, leſt through our ſides the Church of God receiue a blow.Iohn 8.49. An example hereof we hauehave, in our Sauiour Chriſt, who (when the Iewes obiected againſt him two crimes,Melanct. in loc. & Luther. one that hee was a Samaritane, another that hee had a Deuill) neglected that crime which concerned his perſon, and paſſed it ouer, as being of the leaſt ſort of wrongs, & ſtands vpō that other eſpecially, which touched his doctrine, I hauehave not a Deuill. A better patterne we cannot hauehave for our imitation.
And as this concernes all Chriſtians in generall; ſo in ſpeciall vsus Miniſters: for our good life is more reſpected then our learning. Common people more regard what they heare of vsus, then what they heare from vsus (ſuch is the corruption of our times.) It ſtands vsus therfore in hand, to keepe a good name and eſtimation amongſt Gods people, and to defend our owne innocency, when we are falſely ſlandered and accuſed. We are to perſwade others: Now what can hinder this more then a bad perſwaſion of vsus in the hearts of thoſe, with whom wee are to deale? wee therefore, aboue all others, ought to free our ſelues from all falſe imputations; for a good perſwaſion of the Teacher, bringeth a ready entertainment of the thing that is taught: but a bad conceit doth much preiudice the truth. And thus much bee ſpoken of this poynt, now wee come to the next and laſt, viz.
Doctr. God will maintaine the righteous cauſe of his children againſt the wicked.God will make the innocency of his ſeruants knowne, hee will vphold and maintaine their righteous cauſe againſt all oppoſers. This poynt, though it bee not manifeſtly expreſſed, yet it is incluſiuely implyed in the text, Hee was dead (ſaith the Father) but he is now aliue; he was loſt, but is found. We heard before, what the ſonne obiected againſt his father: Firſt, that hee had beene dutifull and obedient: Secondly, that his brother had beene vndutifull and diſſolute; and therfore his father did deale vniuſtly. Now the father heere cleeres his iuſtice, and anſwereth both his obiections. The firſt, in the 31 verſe; and the other in this laſt: ſo then, without doubt, this did the father intend, as to cleere himſelfe, ſo to defend his ſonne. The poynt then is truely gathered: now let vsus heare it further pooued. Dauid perſwading Gods people to patience and confidence in the Lord, vſeth this as an argument,Pſal. 37.6. Hee ſhall bring forth thy righteouſneſſe as the light, and thy iudgements as the noone day: as if hee ſhould hauehave ſayd:Temple in loc. Howſoeuer thy innocency be at ſomtimes couered, as it were, with a thick and darke miſt of ſlander and oppreſſion, yet the Lord will in his good time ſcatter and diſſolue this miſt, and ſo make thy innocency apparent and cleere to the world: yea, he ſhall make thy righteous cauſe to be ſo euident, as the Sunne when it riſeth? nay, which is more, as at noon-day, when it is at the higheſt, & ſhineth brighteſt. I could further ſhew you the truth of this,Gen. 39.10. by many examples: Ioſeph being accuſed by his Miſtreſſe, and vponupon that falſe accuſation being impriſoned by his Maſter,Pſal. 105.18. where his feet were held in the ſtocks, and hee laid in Irons, found this to be true: for how did God make his innocency knowne vntounto the world, and in his good time ſcatter thoſe miſts of ſlanders caſt vponupon him, cauſing his Sun to ſhine with a glorious luſtre? Thus the Lord dealt with Iob; Iob 42.7.howſoeuer he was falſely accuſed, & had many ſlanderous imputations laid vntounto his charge, yet the Lord at length made his innocency knowne, and did mainetaine and vphold his righteous cauſe, as his ſtory ſheweth at large. This alſo was Gods dealing with Ieremiah, he was accuſed to be a conſpirator, and to weaken the hands of the people, for which he was caſt into priſon,Ierem. 37.15. yea into a loathſome dungeon, but heare him now ſpeake of himſelfe and of Gods dealing towards him,Rament. 3.55.56.57.58. I called vponupon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon, thou haſt heard my voyce, &c. Thou dreweſt neere in the day that I called vponupon thee, thou ſaydſt, Feare not. O Lord, thou haſt maintained the cauſe of my ſoule, and redeemed my life: God did maintaine his cauſe againſt all oppoſers. As this hath beene prooued by Scripture, ſo it may bee further cleered by Reaſons.
For firſt; It is his place and office ſo to doe: he is the Reaſon 1 Iudge of all the world, as Abraham ſayth,Gen. 18.25. and ſhall not he doe right? It belongeth vntounto him to render to eueryevery one according to his workes, and therefore at laſt hee will come forth, and bring the righteouſneſſe of his ſeruants into open light.
Secondly, he hath promiſed, to relieue his ſeruants, Reaſon 2 Pſal. 146.7.10. Rom. 3.4.when they are oppreſſed, and will he goe backe from his word, or ſay and vnſay, as man doth? It cannot be, let God be true, and eueryevery man a lyar.
Seeing then that this is ſo; Let this ſerue to encourage Vſe 1 vsus in all well-doing, ſeeing God is with vsus, and in our righteous cauſe will neuer leaue vsus; let the wicked traduce vsus and ſlaunder vsus, yet God will at length plead our cauſe, and make our innocency knowne to our glory, and our enemies ſhame. It is the lot of Gods children to be euill ſpoken of by the men of this world; to be perſecuted and reuiled, for righteouſneſſe ſake, and to bee condemned of wicked men vniuſtly. Daniell ſhall be charged with diſobedience. Amos of conſpiracie. Eliah for troubling Iſraell. Paul for raiſing vp of tumults. And all Chriſts Diſciples, for moouers of ſedition amongſt the people. But theſe clouds ſhall ſoone be diſperſed, and all theſe darke miſts ſhall ſuddenly be ſcattered. Let not theſe things then, too much trouble vsus, nor any whit diſcourage vsus in the practiſe of Chriſtianitie: our righteouſneſſe ſhall not alwayes lie h…d in the darke, but it ſhall one day ſhine as the Sunne, and be brought into the open light. Commit then thy wayes and workes vntounto the Lord, and wait thou vponupon him. When thou art ſlandered and falſely accuſed, reſigne thy ſelfe to him that ruleth all things, and ſo with patience poſſeſſe thy ſoule.
Vſe. 2 Secondly; doth the Lord defend our cauſe? then let vsus defend his: let vsus plead his cauſe, that pleadeth ours. Let vsus not ſee God to be diſhonored, his name blaſphemed his Sabboths prophaned, his ſeruants, reuiled, &c. and hold our peace. Oh! where is our courage for the truth? Magiſtrates where is yours? Miniſters where is yours? Maſters where is yours? Parents where is your? while drunkenneſſe reeles to and fro about our ſtreetes; while oaths flie about in eueryevery towne, in eueryevery ſtreet, in eueryevery market, in eueryevery houſe in eueryevery ſhop, like a flocke of diſmall Rauens, crooking and crying for vengeance to fall vponupon our heads? Woe vntounto vsus, for ſeeing and hearing God to be ſo diſhonored, and yet will neither heare, nor ſee it, nor plead his cauſe againſt oppoſers. But though Iſraell ſinne,Hoſ. 4.15. yet let not Iudah tranſgreſſe: though men of this world doe thus, yet you that feare the Lord, doe not yee doe ſo: God hath taken vponupon him to plead thy cauſe, and defend thy innocencie, and wilt not thou plead his? Wilt thou ſuffer his name to bee trodden vnderunder foote, and neuer ſeeke to vphold it? Shall wicked men ſpeake againſt Gods truth, and thou ſpeake nothing for it? Oh beware of this, for feare thou wanteſt one to plead for thee at that ſame great Aſſizes, when thou ſhalt ſtand in greateſt need.
Thirdly, doth God take vponupon him to plead the cauſe Vſe. 3 of his children? then let none take vponupon them to reuenge their owne quarrells. Ʋengeance is mine, Rom. 12.19.I will repay it ſaith the Lord. This is an office which is proper vntounto God; to him it belongeth peculiarly to take vengeance. Now what doe ſuch but ſit downe in Gods ſeat, and turne him out of his throne, and rob him of his honour, and intrude vponupon his Prerogatiue Royall? Mat. 5.The Phariſies gloſſe vponupon the law, pleaſeth vsus well: Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, &c. This ſeemeth reaſonable. To render euill for euill, like for like, one euill word for another, one euill deed for another, and no more, is counted good Religion: But let vsus remember, God will plead the cauſe of his, and therefore let all ſuch as are his, commit their cauſe vntounto him. True it is, and cannot be denied, we may ſeeke for helpe of the Magiſtrate, either for the preuenting of wrong, or puniſhing of the doer of wrong: for it is not our mouths which God ſhuts vp from iuſt complaint, but it is our hands he tyeth vp from vniuſt reuenge. When the Magiſtrate doth reuenge, then doth God himſelfe reuenge, whoſe miniſter he is. Rom. 13.4.All priuate reuenge is that which muſt be forborne. Let no prouocation then of any Aduerſary make vsus vſurpers of the Lords authoritie. Let vsus waite his leiſure, and not preoccupate his executions. Remember the bloud of Chriſt, and of the Martyrs, is not yet reuenged? and wouldſt thou hauehave thy turne ſerued firſt? Waite then a while; he that ſhall come, in the end will come, and he will not tarry. In the meane time, waite with patience for his appearing. Say with the Spirit, Come: And with the Bride ſay, Come; for, He which teſtifieth theſe things, ſayth, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Euen ſo come Lord Ieſus.
FINIS.
Errata.
PAge 2. line 19 nere for now p 9 l. 27. condemne for contemne. p. 11. l 23. it for that, and l. 24. with for which, and worſhippers for worſhip. p. 14. in the margent ligurea for lignea. p. 16. l. 19 conſiſted for conſiſteth. p. 29 l. 16. affection for Aſſertion p. 32. l. 15. there wants yeares. p. 37. l 8. and for vnderunder. p 39. l. 4. conferre for confirme. 45 l. vlt. two cauſes for ſecond cauſes. p. 46. l. 3. third for ſecond. p. 47. l. 2. put caſe many ſo be, for in ſuch a caſe they may be. p. 48. in the margent, ſpeciall ſinnes doth cauſe, for ſpeciall ſinnes that doe cauſe; this fault is in ſome coppies amended. p. 49. l. 11. ſonne for ſpirit. p. 51. l 24. leading for lading p. 69. l. 19. right for weight. p. 72 l. 22. plunged for plagued; this is in ſome coppies corrected. p. 109. l. 7. feare for heare. p. 93. l 28. this for thy. p. 98. lin. 11. there wants the text, and therefore put out, And ſo I paſſe from, &c els it goeth harſh. p. 181. in the marg. Thirdly many for three maine p. 225. l. 11 for more, r. for in one; this in ſome coppies is amended. pag. 239. l. vlt. fauour for ſauour. p. 265. in the marg God for food.
Chriſtian Reader, I feare there are many other materiall faults beſides theſe, for my time will not ſuffer me to examine the Book ſo thorowly as I deſire; I deſire thee therefore to correct theſe, and beare with the reſt. Farewell.