The Drunkards Character, Section 200
§ 200.
BUt admit we could keepe them company without harme;4. Because their company will bereave us of much comfort, whichother wise we should enjoy. yet this inconvenience would ensue: their company would bereave us of much good, which otherwise we should enjoy, being alone; it fareing with the godly wise, as with Saint Ambrose, who was wont to say, I am never lesse alone, then when I am all alone, for then I can enjoy the presence of my God without interruption. They are able to say, as Du…artus, and (before him) Scipio, I have never better company, then when I have no company▪ for then can I freely entertaine my owne thoughts, and converse with all the learned, which have beene in former ages.
Antisthenes being asked what fruit he had reaped of all his study? made answer, I have learned by it, both to live, and walke with my selfe. And Alphonsus King of Arragon being demanded, what company he liked best? replyed, Bookes, for these (saith he) without feare, or fl…ttery, or any reward, tell me faithfully all that I desire to know. Cicero was, and I am of his minde▪ and though I bee no Hermit, to sit away my daies in a dull Cell, yet will I choose, rather to have no companion then a bad one.
When Cato Vtican, in vacation times, and at his best leasure, went to recreate himselfe in the country, hee used to cary with him the best Philosophers, and choisest bookes. Algerius an Italian Martyre said, Hee had rather be in prison with Cato, then with Caesar in the Senate house: so was it more comfortable, to bee with Philpot in his Cole-house, then with Bonner in the Palace: Boner's conscience made his Palace a Cole-house, and a dungeon; whiles Philpot's made the Cole-house a Palace. The state of grace is heaven upon earth; and he that knowes the sweetnesse of Gods presence, wil deeme it more tollerable to bee ever alone, then never able to be so.
When I read of Hiero the Tyrant of Syracusa, and other such, that gave over their Kingdomes, to live a solitary life, I somewhat wonder: I should not, to heare of a religious and Christian King that did so. It is impossible for the naturall man to be so merry, in company; as the believer alone; yea, saith S. Augustine, the teares of those that pray, are sweeter then the joyes of the Theater. Indeed, a witty jest may make a man laugh more, and lowder: but he who hath an inheritance fallen to him, feeles a more solid joy within: so hee that enjoyes his Saviour, and hath the assurance of heaven, is truly merry at the heart, and keepes Hilary Tearme all his life. And indeed, nothing in the world is worth envie, besides the condition of a true Christian.
But to what end doe I tell a blind man, how glorious and bright a creature the Sunne is? or a poore man, what summes of money are in the Kings Exchequers? To so many as are unrenewed I speake in Parables, Revel. 2. 17. Yea, this seemes to them a Paradox, that the people of God should be a merry people: for contrariwise, they dreame of nothing but solitarinesse, and melancholly: as the common people thought Tully to bee most idle, when he studied most: or as the Husbandman in Aesope objected idlenesse to the Poet: but as he replyed, I am never so idle as in thy company: so may the religious, we are never so solitary, never so melancholly; as when in society with you that are vicious. This was David's case, which maketh him cry out, W…e is me, that I must remaine in M…seck, and dwell in the Tents of Kedar: he found it a heavie yoke to bee yoked with irreligious companions.
And a double reason may be given of it, though we feare not to suffer either in our persons, goods, or good names (as before you have it.) For first, the soule that lives among thornes, shall hardly thrive, they are such Backbyasses to a godly life, that they will do what they can, to hinder our goodnesse to heaven, and the goodnesse of heaven to us; they will wither all our good parts and qualities which are in us; like an evill North-wind, they blow upon the buds of our graces, and nip them.
2. Secondly, It would make a mans heart to bleed, to heare and consider, how swearing, blaspheming, cursed speaking, railing slandering▪ quarrelling, contending, jesting mocking, scoffing, flattering, lying, dissembling, vaine, corrupt, and filthy scolding, scurrilous, lose, and idle talking, doth overflow with them in all places: so that such as feare God, had better bee any where; then in the company of most men. Now I were madd, if I should so affect company, as to live voluntarily where vexations shall daily salute me.
Indeed, a man is not rightly said to live, untill he hath abandoned wicked society. Similis having lived seven yeares apart from the world, after a long time spent in a military life, he left this Epitaph behind him, Here lies old Similis, yet one that lived but seaven yeares. This made Frederick the third, Elector Palatine, when some such friends of his desired his company, to answer, I have lived enough to you; let m…e now live to my selfe, and with my Lord Christ. Yea, Saint Augustine, tenne dayes before he dyed, desired none might come to him, that so, in that time, hee might the better fit him self for God. And indeed, that soule can never enjoy God, that is not sometimes retired.
O that wee could, in any reasonable time; give a stop to our madding and straying fancies: that we could, after so long time spent in the lusts of the flesh, and pride of life, bring home our cogitations and intentions unto our selves, shake off these violent hold-fasts, bid our companions farewel, which have too long engaged our soules, and estranged us from our selves.
But when we are so wedded, combined, and glewed to the world, it is no easie matter to make a safe retreat: it is a fleaing to some to bee sundred; thereby you pull away some peece of themselves.
In this case, what we cannot doe all at once, let us gaine upon our selves by degrees▪ go back step by step; first, block up one passage, then another. Will you know what course Demosthenes tooke in this case? He▪ to the end that his acquaintance and nearest friends might not (by carying him abroad, according to their custome) withdraw him from his study and bookes, caused the haire of his head to be shaved off; and after took an order, that they should not peepe out, untill hee had shook off his consorts, by continually making them loose their labours. It were happy for our young studients, if they would a little imitate him; if they were not overmuch affected and addicted to company keeping; if they would but consider, that friends are the thieves of time, the most precious jewell they can part withall.