The Drunkards Character, Section 158
§ 158.
SEcondly, they are wiser then the most cunning Politician that lives.2. Wiser then the most cuuning …oli… …s For to judge aright, the greatest Politician is the greatest foole, for he turnes all his religion into hypocrisie, into statisme, yea, into atheisme making Christianity a very footstoole to policy.
Indeed, they are wiser in their generation, then the children of light, and are so acknowledged by the Holy Ghost: Luk. 16. 8. But why? not that there is a deficiency of power in the godly, but will: for could not David go as far as Achitohpel? could not Paul shew as much cunning as Tertullus? yes, surely if they would. But because their Master Christ hath commanded them to bee innocent as Doves, they have vowed, in an Heroicall disposition, with Abraham, Gen. 14. 22. that the King of Sodome shall not make them rich; no crooked, or indirect meanes shal bring them in profit, they will not be beholding to the King of Hell for a Shoo tye; and hereupon, the Foxes wiles never enter into the Lions head.
But take these Politicians as they are in their owne Element, and it may peremptorily bee spoken of them, as one speakes of women; that in mischiefe they are wiser then men, neere upon as that old Serpent the Divell; yea, they are so arted in subtilties, through time, and practise, that they will have trickes in their sconces to over-reach the Divell himselfe: indeed, he hath one trick beyond all theirs, for like a cunning fencer, hee that taught them al their tricks, kept this one to himselfe, namely, how to cheat them of their soules.
But to go on. These are not wise as Serpents, according to our Saviours counsell, but wise Serpents, that is, wise in evill, not wise in that which is good; or, if you will, wise in goods, not wise in grace. For as that old Serpent seemed to boast, that he was richer then Christ, when he said, all these are mine: so the politician may truly say, for the most part, I am wiser then my plain dealing neighbour, by five hundred pounds, but see their wisdome displayed.
They are such cunning dissemblers, that like Pope Alexander the sixth, what they think, they never speake: why is this cast away? saith Iudas, crafty cub! he would have had it himself: as the Fox would disswade other beasts from that booty, wch hee meanes to make his owne: or like a fellow that rides to the pillory, they go not the way they looke; they will cut a mans throat under colour of curtesie: as Vlysses by gold and forged letters, was the means of stoning Palamedes, even while he made shew of defending him: and then, to wipe off all suspicion from themselves, their gesture and countenance shall be like Iulius Caesar's, who seeing Pompie's head, fel a weeping, as if he had beene sorry for it, when by his onelyonly meanes it was cut off; so, like Rowers in a Boat, whilst, in their pretence, they looke one way, in their intent, they go the quite contrary.
It is observed of the Fox, that he will stand by the river and let his taile play in the water, till the Fish come flocking about it; and then with a jerke, he swoopes them out with his paw: these are such Foxes, they will not looke towards the booty they ayme at; yea, they are so politicke, that no man shall be able to determine, either by their gesture, vvords, or actions, what they …esolve; for their vvords, like an Italian Torch, vvill prove your bane, vvhen they seeme to give you most light, and best direction; they vvill say, as Elisha to the Syrian Army, follow me, and I will lead you to the man whom yee seeke, vvhen they lead you into the lap of your enemies. 2 Kings 6. 19. And sutable to this is their gesture and actions, for like Acco, they will evermore seeme to refuse, what they most desire▪ and to desire, what they most despise.
Yea, they can hardly be read, though, like Hebrew letters, you spell them backwards: for admit the stander by conceives their going to be like that of a Crab-fish, contrary to the way they looke, as our Saviour knew it fared with the Pharisees and Sadduces, Mat. 16. 1. 3. which made him conclude with, O Hypocrites! yet having not the spirit of discerning, he can but guesse at it, and so give over; onelyonly this he may be sure of, that they doe not intend, what they pretend; like as in jugling feates, though we know not how they are done, yet we know well, that they are not done, as they seeme to be.
Now if they can any way advantage themselves by anothers ruine, and doe i… cunningly, as Iesabel did, when she kild Naboth, by suborning false witnesse against him, and proclaimed a Fast, before the murther; though all such policy, be but misery; and all such knowledge, ignorance; yet, ô how wise they thinke themselves, now they are able to blind the Devill with a Cushion: but they are grossely mistaken, for wherein doth this their great wisdome consist, but first, in being wise to deceive others, as the old Serpent did our first Parents; or, secondly, in the end to deceive themselves, as the same Serpent did, which brought a curse upon himselfe for so doing, Gen. 3.
The crafty Fox hug'd himselfe, to thinke how he had cosened the Crow of her breakfast: but when he had eaten it, and found himselfe poysoned with it, he wish't the Crow her owne againe. Wealth got by deceit, is like a peece of buttered sponge, (an Italian tricke) it goes downe glib, but in the stomack swells, and will never be got out againe. The gaines a man gets by deceiving, at last, he may put in his eye, and yet see himselfe miserable. Sinne is the greatest cheater in the world, for it deceives the deceiver.
That it is so with them, and all others, who goe to counsell, and leave the God of wisdome behind them, let their case be viewed in other persons. What …aith Pharaoh to his deepe counsellers? Come, let us doe wisely, when indeed he went about that which destroyed him, and his countrey. The Scribes, Pharisees, and Elders tooke counsell against Christ, as though they would most wisely prevent their owne Salvation. Ioseph's Brethren to prevent his having dominion over them, as his dreames imported, thought they had taken a very wise course, in selling him to the Ishmalitish Merchants, which was indeed the only meanes to effect it. See here in these three examples, you have the depth & solidity of our great est and wisest politicians; and yet lewd men, most absurdly, and ridiculously, call wicked policies, wisdome; and their successe, happinesse; but herein Sathan makes them of all Fooles the superlative, in mistaking villany and madnesse, for the best vertues.
And what is the summa totalis of all, but this, Faux- like, they project other mens over-throw, purchase their owne: neither hath any man beene wise to doe evill, but his wisdome hath had an evill end, as,
O the multitude of examples which are recorded, to give credit to this Doctrine! Was not the wisdome of the Serpent turned into a curse? the wisdome of the Pharisees into a woe? the wisdome of Achitophel into folly? the wisdome of Nimr…d into confusion? the wisdome of the unjst Steward into expulsie… out of Heaven? the wisdome of Iesabel into a shamefull death? and shall not the deceivers wisdome, the extortioners wisdome, the sorcerers wisdome, the hypocrites wisdome, the matchevilians wisdome, and the persecutors wisdome have their severall ends answerable? yes undoub…edly; for in the issue, their case will be but like the Spiders, that was weaveing a curious net to catch the Swallow, who when she came, bore away both net, and web▪ and weaver too. Wherefore O God make me but soule wise, and I shall never enuy their knowledge, that pity my simplicity: yea, let me be weake in policy, so I may be wise to salvation. But to make it more manifest, that they are starke Fooles, come we to particulars, though I'le give you but one of ten, being loth to surfer my Reader.