Sin Stigmatized, Part 1 · Section 68 – Section 69
§ 68.
SIxtly, 6 Is ſottiſh feare, and baſe cowardiſe.ſottiſh feare and baſe cowardlineſſe is another maine cauſe, both of this, and almoſt all other ſinnes: men dare not refuſe to goe to the Taverne when the motion is made, (and they ſeldome meete one another but they make the motion) nor refuſe when they come there to doe as the reſt, that is, to drinke drunke, be it to the wounding of conſcience, hazard of health, life, ſoule, &c. for feare of ſeeming ſingular.
Oh how hard a thing is it, for a coward to ſhew his diſlike of this ſinne in ſome companies, where he ſhall be ſcoft at, and call'd Puritane, if he will not revell it with them in a ſhoreleſſe exceſſe. And indeed, better be poſſeſt with any Devill almoſt, then this baſhfull Devill, for it will give a man no reſpite. But like as Agrippa his Dog had a Devill tied to his coller, and Paracelſus another confined to his Sword pommell: ſo the Coward hath a Devill alwayes at his elbow, to divert him from good actions, or to provok him to evill.
How many men, out of a proud, ignorant, and timerous baſhfulneſſe, miſerably wrong their owne ſoules, leſt the ſtanders by ſhould cenſure them? much like that Lacedaemonian child, who ſuffered his belly and guts to be torne out, by a Cub or young Fox which he had ſtolne, and kept cloſe under his garment, rather then he would diſcover his theft: or like Eurydamas the wreſtler, who vvhen his Teeth vvere daſht out by his adverſary, diſſembled the paine, and ſwallowed downe his Teeth, blood, and all, to the end he which gave the blow, might not perceive the miſchiefe: or rather like Herod, who at the requeſt of his Minion, cut off Iohn Baptiſts head, and why forſooth (for he was very ſory ſhe made that her demand, and had rather ſhe ſhould have required halfe his kingdome) but becauſe they which ſate at table with him, ſhould finde him as good as his word, Marke, 6.26.27. O vaine and wicked Herod, not God, not his conſcience came into any regard with him, but the people; as what will the world ſay, if I ſhould not yeeld to it? every man vvill laugh at me, &c. Oh the fooliſh aymes of ambition! even the miſconceits of the points of honour, have coſt millions of ſoules; this is one notable meanes to fill Hell, lothneſſe to diſpleaſe; and certainly there muſt needs be ſomething in it, that the fearefull are placed by the Holy Ghoſt in the fore-front of the damned crue, vvhichwhich ſhall have their part in that lake which burneth with fire and brimſtone, Revel. 21.8. wherefore think of it, it is a damnable plauſibility, ſo to regard the vaine approbation, or cenſure of the beholders, as in the meane time, to neglect the allowance or judgment of God. A good heart will rather fall out with all the world, then with his maker, then with his conſcience. It is an ill modeſty, that hinders a man in the way to bliſſe, or that ſuffers another to outgoe him; like ſome travelling Jade, that hearing another Horſe come after, ſtands ſtill till he overtakes him.
True love to, and knowledge of Chriſt will think him worth following through fire and water: but goe thy way, and ſave thy ſelfe, to thy loſſe; gaine the worlds fauour, and looſe God's; eſcape deriſion, and meet wth confuſion; and I wil tell thee whom thou art like: thou art like ſome decayed Gentlemen; who becauſe deſcended from an ancient houſe, will not ſo diſparage themſelves as to ſerve or work; but which is more for their honour forſooth, take a purſe; and ſo while they ſeek to ſhun diſrepute among fooles, purchaſe infamy, and looſe their lives, and how it will fare with thee in the end, Chriſt Ieſus will bee aſhamed of thee at the latter day, who art now aſhamed for his ſake to beare a few ſcoffs and reproaches from the world, Mat. 10, 32, 33, 39. For in this caſe, whoſoever ſhall ſeek to ſave his credit, yea, his life ſhall looſe it, and his ſoule too; but whoſoever ſhall looſe his credit, life, and all for goodneſſe and conſcience ſake, hee ſhall ſave it, as our Saviour witneſſeth, Luk. 17.33.
Laſtly, The laſt cauſe is evill company.touching evill company, expect to heare more in the reaſons of breaking off ſociety with our vicious conſorts.
§ 69.
THus what hathbeene ſpoken, The drunkards chief delight is to infect others. A digreſſion proving that all wicked men reſemble the divell in tempting to ſinn. drawing to perdition.proves them much worſe then beaſts; but this is a ſmall evill with them, this is but to worke out their owne damnations: their chiefe delight is to infect others, the Serpents ſpeciall venome, wherewith theſe his elves be intoxicated, is to make others more beaſts then themſelves.
Indeed this is not the drunkards caſe alone, for it fares even ſo with all wicked men. Wherefore give me leave (yea let me take it) a little to ſtirre the earth about the roots of this Science. If it be a digreſſion, to tell you of other tempters, pardon it; if impertinent, (though I hope not) paſſe on to Section the 75.
Wicked men as they are all the ſeed of the ſame old Serpent, Gen. 3.15. and children of the devill, Iohn 8.44. ſo they reſemble the divill, and imitate him in all things, ſo farre as corporall creatures can poſſibly do ſpirituall ſubſtances; but principally in tempting to ſinne, and drawing to perdition, and ever have done, ſince the Divell their father taught them the way. For even as Sathan himſelfe, had no ſooner ſinned, but immediately (as ever ſince) he laid the plot to draw our firſt Parents, and in them all their poſterity, into ſinne with him, Gen. 3.1.4.5. ſo according to this preſident, the wicked in all ages have followed his example, and trod in his ſteps, whoſe image they beare, and whoſe members they are. For thus it fared with Eve, who was no ſooner tempted to break God's Law, in eating the forbidden fruit, but ſhe becomes a tempter, and draws her husband into the ſame ſinne. Thus with Cham, who when he had diſcovered, and ſcoft at his Fathers nakedneſſe, laboured to bring his brethren into the ſame diſobedience. Thus with the elder of Lot's daughters, who when ſhee had made her Father drunk, on purpoſe to commit inceſt with him; the next care ſhee tooke was to make her younger ſiſter doe the like. And thus it fares with all notorious ſinners of all ſorts, as with thieves and murtherers, who before they goe to rob and kill, call their Mates, and ſay, come with us, &c. Pro. 1.10, 11. Idolaters, Deut. 13.6. Falſe Prophets, Ezck. 44.12. Perſecutors of the godly, Act. 2.217.28. and 23 12.016. Covetous wretches, Act. 19.24.25. Adulterers, &c. Ge. 39.7. Wicked men being like ſo many corns of Powder, for as every corne of Powder flies off, and fires his fellow: ſo fares it with them, all that are viciouſly bent, ſeek after followers; and it is thought the greateſt evill, to be evill alone.