The Practice of Repentance, Chapter 14
CAP. 14. Lets of Repentance from multitude of contrary examples in the world.
THe fourth Let from the world,Let 4. is the multitude of contrary examples. The world hath a great many crooked patternes, many perswaders, and pul-backes, as backe-byasses to Repentance & godly life: whole bands of bad company, and wicked society, which are strong impediments; and so much the more dangerous, As,
1 Our nature is sociall, as well as the bruits: wee readily thrust into company, as naturally enemies to solitarinesse: wee easily follow one that offereth to leade vsus; but if many, or multitudes, or great ones goe before vsus, then we can run as sheepe, and for hast neuer stay to reason the case, neither in what way we are, nor vponupon what errand.
2 Our nature is corrupt, and attractiue of euill: as the Adamant will draw iron to it. We are suddenly corrupted by, first, filthy communication, and euill words which corrupt good manners: secondly, by counsels and perswasions to euill, by which they are iustly carried that will not be guided by the voice of wisedome. Thirdly, by the wicked example, especially of great, or wise, or learned men, who thriue well enough, and are lifted vp in the world without all this nicenesse, and adoe.
3 Adde hereunto that euill is diffusiue of it selfe, and such acquaintance is betweene it and vsus, as the plague cannot so easily and soone infect our bodies, as sinne doth poyson, and suddenly infect our soules.
Now against this Let, consider, (to breake thorough this Let;)
1 The straight iniunctions and charges of Scripture. Exod. 23.2. Thou shalt not follow a multitude to doe euill: the word foreign signifieth as well mighty, and potent men, as many, or multitudes; so as wee must not follow others to euill, be they neuer so many, neuer so mighty, by doing that we either know to be euill, or know not to be good. Pro. 4.14. Enter not the way of wicked men, … them▪ partake not with them: hauehave no fellowship with vnfruitfull works. Ephes. 5.7. Numb. 16.26. Separate from thē ▪ come out from among them. Pro. 9.6. Forsake the foolish and liue.
When wee speake thus from God, as Lot to his cousens; Hast you, get you out, stay not in Sodome; thinke not as they did, that we speake in ieast, lest yee feele the fire of God in earnest.
2 Oppose to this Let, the danger of following multitudes, and corrupt examples. For,
1 Multitudes can make nothing good that is euill, but must needes make that which is euill worse and more hainous: If all the earth be corrupted, the cry is great; many hands rid much worke, many sinners fill the measure full.
2 Multitudes cannot keepe off the reuenge of euill; they may helpe thee into sinne, but cannot helpe thee out of punishment: thou canst not partake in their sinnes, and not in their punishment. Reu. 18.9. Pro. 13.20. Companions of fooles must be destroyed, and therefore let hand ioyne in hand, they shall not escape vnpunished. A world of sinners in earth, a million of Angels in heauen, cannot shift off reuenge, if they sin together against God.
3 It is almost impossible for a good man to retaine his goodnesse among euill men; it is a rare example to be a Lot in Sodome: See Dauid in the Court of Achish, once basely counterfaiting madnesse, another time dissembling himselfe a friend of Philistims, and an enemy of Gods people: and Peter in the company of denyers, and enemies, denying, and forswearing his master: And hereof are two reasons,
1 The disposition of wicked men, like men sicke of the plague, care not how much they can infect, that so the fewer may shun them.
2 Our owne disposition, and aptnesse to receiue infection from them, as sound sheepe, sound Apples are easily infected with the rotten: whereas therefore some pretend to runne with wicked men to win them, they delude themselues; for as there is no great hope to doe them good, so there is certaine perill of thine owne hurt. A man that runneth downe a hill, if he hath hold on him that is going vp, shal easily pull him backe with him, because the descent is easier: And dead carkases tyed to liuing bodies, are not reuiued, but by miracle; but the liuing bodies, tyed to them, are poysoned and putrified by them. Is there so little hope of doing them good, so great perill of thine owne bane and poyson? get out from among them. Pro. 22.14. …e with whom the Lord is angry, shall fall by them.
3 Fence thy selfe against the obiections that might carry thee away.
Obiect. The most doe so, most are in the fashion, most sweare, game.
Answ. Walke with the most, and perish with most: doe as most, suffer with the most, liue as most, dye with most: Argumentum pessimum turba est, saith Seneca. No excuse to say, thus doe my neighbours. Commit a fellony, and say others did so.
Obiect. My forefathers did thus, and beleeued thus, and they were wise.
Answ. A part of our Redemption, is to be deliuered from vaine conuersation, receiued by tradition of our fathers, 1. Pet. 1.2 The Spouse of Christ must forget her fathers house and kindred, Psal. 45.
Obiect. But some Ministers, good Schollers, great Preachers, play, and sweare, and drink, and swagger, may we not follow our guides?
Answ. 1 It is a fearefull thing for Aaron to leade Israel to dance about the calfe.
2 The Scribes and Pharisees were great Schollers, but they said, and did not; they must not be followed further then they sit in Moses chaire. Iudas went farre beyond all Preachers in gifts, yet he led a band to apprehend Christ. And many such there be, of whom Christ saith, He that breaketh the least commandement, and teacheth men so, by word or example, shall bee least in the kingdome of heauen: Christ speaketh of blind guides: no wise man must shut his owne eyes to follow them, le…t blinde leade blinde, and both fall into hell ditch.
Obiect. But I know good men doe thus and thus, may not I follow them?
Ans. 1. The fairest earth hath his Moles, the best men faults, and fals, and must not be followed in all things, as in Noah, Lot, Dauid, Peter. But if we will follow example,
1 Follow the best, not the most, walke in the way of good men. 3. Ioh. 11. Follow not that which is euill, but that which is good.
2 Follow the light side of the cloud, not the darke side, as Praraoh.
3 Follow one man that hath his sight and light to guide him, rather than ten thousand blinde men that walke in the darke.
4 Christ is the onelyonly vnerring patterne, follow him as the wise man by his star, and follow all other as farre as they follow him, be they euen Apostles themselues, 1. Cor. 11.1.
Obiect. But the Church is a multitude of Beleeuers, and a Catholike company to which we must ioyne our selues: here is a multitude▪ which we must follow.
Answ. No, I must not follow a Church because it is a multitude, for that simply maketh not a Church; for then a legion of Turks or Diuels were a Church, but the Church is multitudo orthodoxa, a multitude teaching, and imbracing the truth of Christ: I must liue, and walke by my owne faith, as I see with no mans eyes but my owne.
Obiect. But I shall be counted singular, and more eyes see better than one.
Answ. It is better to walke the right way alone, than to wander with company; It is better to goe to heauen alone, or with a few, than with multitudes to hell.
2 It was Lots happinesse that he was singular in Sodome, and that he went alone; & for Noah, that he alone, and his family, entered into the Arke; and happy is he that is alone, if only sanctitie be counted singularity.
3 One eye hauing sight is better than a thousand blinde eies: one poore crucified theefe had a clearer eye, than all the Iewes rulers and people, that condemned and crucified Iesus Christ.
4 Resolue vponupon the rules of wisedome to fence thee from this sin.
1 Choose thy way, not because it is broad, but because it is straight; and suspect that way wherein thou seest multitudes, multitude beeing a streame wee must row hard against. Most scorne the word, hate the feare of God, liue after the fashions of the world: shunne this broade way.
2 Regard not what is done, but what ought to be done; for that only will stand in the account.
3 In all matter of practice, walke by rule, not by example; looke at truth, not at numbers. Wee hauehave a surer word of Prophets and Apostles, a sure foundation, 1. Cor. 3.11. And as many as walke according to this rule, peace shall be vponupon them, Gal. 6. Christ said he was truth, not custome: and let customes bee neuer so old if not inlightened with truth, they are the worse for their age.
4 The wisedom of the wise, is to chuse and direct his way, Pro. 14.8. Hee taketh it not on mens words, or walketh on aduentures: wisedome will to heauen alone, if it cannot get company.
The wisedome of the wise wil looke better to the soule, than to damme it for company: No man but loueth his body better, but if he see neuer so many leap into the sea, or cast themselues into the fire, or off a rocke, hee will be loath to kill himselfe for company: and wilt thou, foolish man, break the necke of thy soule for company?
5 Thou must hinder and stop the sins of the multitude, rather than imitate them. So Lot perswaded the multitude of Sodomites; striue, resisting sin euen unto bloud; keepe the praise of grace euen in oppositions. Tully cōmended one for being continent in Asia: So hold on the light in the midst of a froward generation.
And what thou canst not hinder, thou must mourne for the sins of the multitude, as Lot, whose righteous soule was grieued daily to see and hear the unchast conuersation of Sodomits: And Ieremy said, My soule shall weep for you in secret: And Dauid, I saw the Transgressours and was sore grieued, and mine eies gushed with riuers of teares. This is true zeale against a mans own sins, which kindleth a fire against other mens sins, and the more vniuersall they be, the more will zeale be kindled.