Common Places, Part 2 · Chapter 13 · Section 2 – Section 3
Of ſuſpicions.
12 But here alſo we maie for good cauſe demand, how farre foorth we are to fauour ſuſpicions. In 1. Sam. 29, verſe. 3. A definition of ſuſpicion.Suſpicions doo depend of coniectures, through which we inquire, either what is doone, or what maie come to paſſe. And ſuſpicion is an obſcure knowledge of ſome euill at hand, from whence ſpringeth feare. And malicious men, and old men, and thoſe which are often hurt, and enimies, are ſoone brought into ſuſpicion. And ſometimes the cauſes of ſuſpicious are iuſt: as in the Digeſts De ſuſpectis tutoribus, & curatoribus; He is ſuſpected, who is ſuch in manners. And albeit that he be not ſuch a one indéed, yet it ſufficeth, if he ſéeme to be ſuch a one. For though that Dauid were no traitour, yet by that report, 1. Sam. 2, 19.which commonlie went of him; to wit, that he was a traitour, and deſired the kingdome, the Philiſtines did wiſelie; who thought good to beware of him. In déed, we cannot auoid it, but but that ſuſpicions will ſometimes ariſe in our minds; ſéeing they be not in our power: We muſt not giuegive place to our ſuſpicions. Auguſtine.but we muſt not raſhlie aſſent vntounto them, or iudge by them. Auguſtine, in the 54. epiſtle to Macedonius: Men (ſaith he) of a certeine ſelfe-louelove, are eaſilie lead to iudge; inſomuch as euerie man is a friend to his owne cogitations, and thinketh that he dooth ſuſpect wiſely. Yet (ſaith he) nothing muſt héerein be doone raſhlie, though the cauſe maie ſéeme neuer ſo probable: for euen manie things are credible, and yet falſe; and againe, manie things are incredible, and yet true. But thou wilt ſaie; What if a man be a gouernour of a church, or of the common-weale; ſhall he not prouide in time, if he ſuſpect anie euill to be at hand? What is lawfull in ſuſpicion.He ought no doubt: but yet without hatred or harme of another man. So iudges muſt beware, that vponupon light ſuſpicion they diſturbe no man: for poore wretches, being oftentimes ouercome with griefe in puniſhments, doo confeſſe thoſe things, which they neuer thought. The ſuſpicions of the Philiſtines aroſe not of weightie, but euen of probable cauſes; therefore they commanded not Dauid either to be troubled or put to death, but onelie to be ſent awaie. And this Dauid gained by fléeing vntounto Achis, that although he were had in honour, yet he came into ſuſpicion of treaſon. Wherefore we muſt neuer depart to the enimies of the faith; ſith that had neuer good ſucceſſe. For admit thou canſt perſuade the prince, that thou art a good man; yet ſhalt thou neuer perſuade the multitude. And thus much by the waie.
Of mocking and tawnting.
In 1. kin. 18 verſe. 17.13 By the mocking, wherewith Elias mocked the worſhippers of Baal, it appeareth, that godlie and ſincere men maie vſe pleaſant diſſimulation, What maner of mockings be lawfull. Looke in 1. Sam. 22, verſe. 16.wittie conceits, proper nips, and merie ſpeaches; ſo they vſe them not to ſatiſfie reuenge and hatred againſt their enimies, but for the condemning and diſallowing of wicked religion. The ſenſe of theſe ſignes is perceiued rather by pronuntiation, than by words. The imitation of this kind did Paule vſe, when in the epiſtle to the Coloſſians, he ſaith vnderunder the perſon of the falſe prophets; Touch not, taſte not, handle not. verſe. 12.How pleaſantlie dooth Eſaie, in the 44. chapter, deride the idoll-maker; bicauſe of the one halfe of a trée he maketh a fire to warme himſelfe, and to ſéeth his meate; and with the reſt of the blocke he frameth an image, before which he afterward falleth downe, giueth honour vntounto it, worſhippeth it, calleth vponupon it, and ſerueth it. The whole chapter.The ſame did Baruch the ſcribe of Ieremie, in the ſixt chapter: he pleaſantlie mocked the idols. Elias, by that wittie mirth of his, taught that Baal was no god, that he heard not, felt not, nor regarded anie maner of thing. So then, ſcornings & mockings may ſometimes ſerue, verie fitlie, for the prophets and miniſters of the word of God. For how could men be more plainlie taught, that they loſt their labor in worſhipping of Baal? Howbeit, Paule, in writing to the Epheſtians, ſéemeth to forbid this kind of talke in Chriſtians; Let there not be in you (ſaith he) foreign; that is, Ephe. 5, 4.filthie and fowle communication; foreign, fond & fooliſh words; and foreign, that is, Vrbanitie and pleaſant ieſting, which otherwiſe is counted a vertue, wherby thoſe that he ſad, & in ſickneſſe, are ſome times chéered vp: bicauſe it muſt not be taken for ſin, when it perteines to charitie. But it muſt be vnderſtood, that Paule, in that place, by the word foreign, dooth note foreign; that is, ſcurrilitie, whereby ſcoffes and railing ſpeaches be raſhlie caſt out againſt others, rather with offenſe vntounto the godlie hearers, than with anie edifieng. It is not lawfull for Chriſtians to trifle vnaduiſedlie.