The Victory of Patience, Chapter 24
CHAP. 24. Because they are rather to bee pittied than maligned, or reckoned of.
2 BEcause their adversaries are rather to be contemptuously pittied, than maligned or reckoned of; and that whether we regard their present, or future estate.
Concerning the present; If a man distracted (and so are wicked men touching spirituall things) do raile on us, wee are more sorry for him, than for our selves: let us doe the like in a case not unlike. When Iulian in a mocke asked Maris Bishop of Chalcedon, why his Galilean god could not helpe him to his sight, he replyed, I am contentedly blind, that I may not see such a Tyrant as thou art. Anger alone, were it alone in them, is certainely a kind of basenesse and infirmity, as well appeares in the weaknesse of those Subjects in whom it raigneth, as Children, Women, Old folkes, sicke folkes, yea a soare disease of the mind. Socrates, hidding good speed to a dogged fellow, who in requitall of his kind salutation, returned him a base answer, the rest of his Company rayling on thē fellow, were reprehended by Socrates, in this manner; If any one (quoth he) should passe by us diseased in his body, or distracted in his minde, should wee therefore bee angry? or had wee not more cause to bee filled with joy and thankefulnesse, that we our selves are in better case? What need we returne rayling for rayling? All the harme that a common Slanderer can doe us with his foule mouth, is to shame himselfe. What neede had David to loade himselfe with an unnecessary weapon? one sword can serve both his enemy and him: Goliahs owne weapon shall serve to behead the Master; so this mans owne tongue …hall serve to accuse himselfe, and acquit thee. Yea, as David had Goliah to beare his sword for him; so thy very enemy shall carry for thee both Sword and Target, even sufficient for defence, as well as for offence.
Wherefore in these cases it hath beene usuall for Gods people, to behave themselves like dead Images, which though they be railed on and reviled by their enemies, yet have eares, and heare not; mouthes, and speak not; hands, and revenge not; neither have they breath in their nostrils, to make reply, Psal. 115.5, 6, 7. If you will see it in an example, looke upon David; he was as deafe and dumbe at reproach, as any stock, or stone. They that seek after my life (saith he) lay snares, and they that goe about to doe me evill, talke wicked things all the day (sure it was their vocation to backbite and slander) but I was as deafe, & heard not; and as one dumbe, which doth not open his mouth. I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofes, Psal. 38.12, 13. This innocent Dove was also as wise as a Serpent, in stopping his eares, and refusing to heare the voice of these blasphemous Inchanters, charmed they never so wisely.
And as touching their future estate; Fret not thy selfe (saith David) because of the wicked men, neither be envious for the evill doers; for they shall soone bee cut downe like grasse, and shall wither as the greene hearbe, Psal. 37.1, 2. This doth excellently appeare in that remarkable example of Samaria, besieged by Benhadad, and his Host, 2 Kings 7.6, 7. And thus are they to bee contemned and pittied while they live; and when they dye.
3 After death, the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation (saith Peter) & to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished, 2 Peter 2.9. VponUpon this consideration, when Dionysius the Tyrant had plotted the death of his Master Plato, and was defeated by Platos escape out of his Dominions; when the Tyrant desired him in writing not to speake evill of him, the Philosopher replied: That he had not so much idle time as once to thinke of him, knowing there was a just God would one day call him to a reckoning. The Moone lookes never the paler when Wolves houle against it; neither is she the slower in her motion, howbeit some Sheepherd or Lion may watch them a good turne.
4 And lastly, if we consider our owne future estate, we have no lesse cause to contemne their evill words; for it is not materiall to our well or ill being, what censures passe upon us; the tongues of the living availe nothing to the good or hurt of those that lye in their graves; they can neither diminish their joy, nor yet adde to their torment (if they find any,) there is no Common Law in the new Ierusalem; their truth will be received, though either plaintiffe or defendant speakes it. Nay, suppose they should turne their words into blowes, and (instead of using their tongues) take up their swords and kill us, they shall rather pleasure than hurt us. When Iohn Baptist was delivered from a double prison, of his owne, of Herods, and placed in the glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God, what did he lose by it? His head was taken off, that it might be crowned with glory; he had no ill bargaine of it, they did but hasten him to immortality: and the Churches daily prayer is, Come Lord Iesus, come quickly. Yea, what said blessed Bradford? In Christs cause to suffer death, is the way to Heaven on horseback; which hath made some even slight the sentence of death, and make nothing of it. It is recorded of one Martyr, that hearing the sentence of his condemnation read, wherein was exprest many severall tortures, of starving, killing, boyling, burning, and the like, which he should suffer; he turnes to the people, and with a smiling countenance sayes; And all this is but one death: and each Christian may say (of what kinde soever his sufferings be,) The sooner I get home, the sooner I shall be at ease.