The Light of Faith, Part 2 · Section 26
§. XXVI. The rule for our behauiour towards the wicked.
NOw for our behauiour towardsThy duty towards the wicked the wicked, the holy Ghoſt hath abridged it in one plaine rule deliuered in Col. 4. 5. walke in wiſedome, or wiſely, towards them that are without.
In Scripture, all men are caſt into two rankes, thoſe that are within, without the Church: without the pale of it, as Infidels, without the true faith of it, as heretickes, without the path of holy life, as the openly wicked and prophane. To them that are within the pale, the ſaith, the path-way of the Church, is this precept giuen; ordering them in their carriage towards them that are without the pale, the faith, the righteous path of the true Church: that whereas moſt an e…d, or alwaies, the report and fame of their conuerſation will be carryed abroad to them, and ſometimes neceſſary commerce will enforce thoſe within the Church to conuerſe with them, nothing might be done by the Chriſtian, which might giuegive ſcandale, but all things that might winne to the louelove of the truth: therefore it is ſaid, walke wiſely. A direction of great vſe, by the practiſe whereof, wee might winne them to glorifie God, or ſilence them from reuiling the truth, or at leaſt, force their conſciences to bleſſe vsus, and the good way of God. But this is a point of diuine and heauenly skill: for the wiſedome here …equired in our liues, is not the wiſedome of the fleſh, which is earthly, ſenſuall, deuilliſh: but of the ſpirit, the wiſedome that is from aboue, which God hath taught, and not man deuiſed.
Harken then yee Chriſtians, and as you hauehave beene taught, as the truth is in Ieſus, what you owe to God, and what to your neighbours, and what to the godly, or fallen, or weake, or ſtrong, ſo receiue from the ſame maſter Chriſt Ieſus, how you may behaue your ſelues towards them that are without, and for your direction, note two things.
1 The manner of conuerſing as it reſpects them without, it muſt be towards them, not with them.
2 The grace which ſhould ſhine in all our waies, wiſedome, this is the predominant vertue, as charity is the predominant in our conuerſing with the godly; the ſumme of thy carriage towards the one is, walke in louelove; the ſumme of thy carriage towards the other is, walke in wiſedome.
1 To walke towards them, noteth a well framed behauiour, when through neceſſity or calling, we hauehave to doe with them, to walke with them, notes a voluntary ſorting our ſelues with them, and the chooſing of them f…r our companions; hence the firſt rule is gathered.
That needleſſe ſociety may not be held with them that are without, ſuch as are Infidels, Heretickes, or wicked men; neither w…lking in their counſell, nor ſtanding, in their way, nor ſitting in their chaires, they are as leauen among the Lords ſweet bread and cakes, Pſalm. 1. 1. 1 Cor. 5. 7. Pro. 23. 20. Much more ſhould we ſhunne all vnequall yoking with them, by marriage, leagues of amity, contracts of friendſhip, and the like, 2 Cor. 6. 14. the ſinne of the old world, Gen. 6 1. the ſinne of Eſau, Gen. 26. the preamble of his diſ…inheriting. Caluin. Abdicationis ſu… praeludium: the ſinne of Iehoſaphat, for which his workes were broke▪ 2 Chro. 20. 37. the wiles of the Midianites, where with they beguiled Iſrael to ioyne themſelues to Baal-Peor, Numb. 25. 1 18.
2 Yet ſeeing ſometimes wee are in the preſence of, and ſometimes the report of our conuerſation, is carried to the wicked, (for how can this bee auoided, vnleſſe we ſhould goe out of the world) it is not the leaſt of Chriſtian care to walke ſo as our profeſſion may be adorned, euen in their eyes: that this may be, the Apoſtle ſaith, walke in wiſedome, much like that of our Sauiour to his Apoſtles, Behold, I ſend you out as ſheepe among Wolues, be wiſe therefore as Serpents, but what are the particulars of this wiſedome?
1 Diſcretion, which reſpects the time, place, perſons, and the end of our actions: this diſcretion is expreſſed in ſpeech, and in all other our affires. In ſpeech it is diſcretion.
1 To ſpeake out little, ſwif… to heare, and ſlow to ſpeake, a talkatiue behauiour is extreamely irkeſome: but euen a foole when he holdeth his peace, is counted wiſe, and hee that ſhutteth his lippes is eſteemed a man of vnderſtanding: hee that hath knowledge, ſpareth his words, Pro. 17. 27. 28. I am 1. 19. Not that any fullenneſſe or want of affability is commended, for the other is not ſo amiable, as theſe are ſoule and vn…eleeming: but that thou obſerue thy place, that thy hand bee on thy mouth in preſence of thy betters, that thou anſwere not a matter before thou throughly vnderſtand what was demanded, that thou ſtudy to anſwere, and that thy heart inſtruct thy mouth, Pro. 15. 28.
2 To bee ſilent in the euill time, when thy ſpeech cannot amend, but doe hurt, when there is no euident way to bring glory to God, but to runne thy ſelfe into danger. when thy calling requires it not Amos 5. 13. Pro. 14. 33. Wiſedome reſteth in the heart of him that hath vnderſtanding, but that which is in the midſt of fooles is made knowne, Pſal. 39. 1.
3 To forbeare to reprooue ſcorners, Pro. 9. 7. 8. & 23. 9.
4 To anſwere a foole according to his folly, that is, ſo as his folly may be conuinced; but not to anſwere him according to his folly, that is, with the like paſſions, pride, frowardneſſe, and reuiling manner, as he obiects, Pro. 26. 4 5.
5 To ſeaſon our words with ſalt, that they diſcouer not vanity, lightneſſe, vaine-glory, conceitedneſſe, haſtineſſe, deſire of reuenge, mal…c…, diſcontent, exceſſiue feare or ioyes, ſuſpi…iouſneſſe and the like.
6 Not to iudge them that are without; this prouoketh, but …difieth not, 1 Cor. 5. 12.
This is diſcretion in ſpeech.
All our affaires alſo ſhould be guided with diſcretion, Pſal. 112 5.
1 That wee keepe our ſelues to our owne line and meaſure, and be ſure we hauehave our eye on the end and iſſue of things, 2 Cor. 10. 12. 13. 14.
2 That wee truſt not our ſelues too ſarre with them, or beleeue eueryevery word: too much ſuſpition breedes alienation: too much credulity, danger, Pro. 14. 15. Ioh. 2. 24.
3 That wee get out of their company, when wee perceiue not in them the words of wiſedome, Mat. 16. 14.
4 That we reſtraine our paſſions, and ſhew all moderation of minde. Euer the ſame, he that is hasty of ſpirit, exalteth folly, Phil. 4. 5. Pro. 14 29.
Such are the particulars of diſcreet behauiour, the firſt branch of wiſedome: to this, adde theſe following, which wiſedome bindeth to.
2 The honeſty of thy conuerſation, 1 Pet. 2. 12. It is vaine to thinke of being religious, and caſt off honesty: nay, the power of thy religion muſt be proued before them, in the practiſe of duplicate page duplicate page duties of the ſecond Table; outſtripping them in thoſe things, which they themſelues hold to be good: and ſo three things will adorne thee.
1 Harmeleſneſſe, free from all courſes of iniury, cruelty, and oppr…ſſion; Phil 2. 15. An hurtfull conuerſation is an vnſeemely conuerſation, the wiſedome of the Holy is ioyned with innocency, Mat. 10. 16. Thou maieſt be a Serpent, prouided thou be a Doue.
2 Square…eſſe in thy dealing, iuſt and true in words and deeds, abho…ring the ſinnes of deceit, and of couenant-breaking, and louing all plaineneſſe and fidelity.
3 Taciturnity and ſecrecy inEſt & fideli …uta ſilentio merces. things imparted to thy knowledge, he goeth about as a ſlanderer, that reuealeth ſecrets, Pro. 20. 19. & 11. 13.
3 The faireneſſe and amiableneſſe of conuerſing: ſo theſe are alluring vertues, euill men themſelues being iudges.
1 Affableneſſe and vrbanity.
2 Meekeneſſe, ſo…tneſſe or gentleneſſe, and humbleneſſe of minde, that nothing froward▪ affected, or rude, come from vsus, Tit. 3. 2.
3 Peaceableneſſe, ſtudying to be quiet, and to meddle with our owne buſineſſe, 1 Theſ. 4. 12.
4 Patience vnderunder perſonall wrongs.
5 LoueLove of thine enemies, Pro. 20. 22.
4 The profitableneſſe of thy life in two things, firſt, in works of mercy, which are honourable before all men, Iam. 1. 26. & 3. vlt. Mat. 5. 16. Secondly, in diligence in our particular callings.
5 The religiouſneſſe of thy conuerſation▪ and ſo theſe things are thi…e ornament.
1 To expreſſe in thy life, the obedience of Gods ſtatutes, Deuteronomie 4. 6.
2 Mortification, Eſa. 61. 3. 8.
3 Reuerence, feare, & meekeneſſe, when thou intreateſt of matters of religion, 1 Pet. 3. 16. Pro. 24. 26.
4 Zeale in a good cauſe, and courage vndaunted, Pro. 24. 25. & 28. 4. & 25. 26. 1 Cor. 16 22. But take heed thy zeale bee not in things controuerted and doubtfull amongſt the godly wiſe, but cleerely in Scripture warranted to eueryevery one that ſhall reade it, nor a zeale expreſſed in heate of ſpeech, but in ſtrength of reſolution.
6 The goodneſſe of it for ſocieties: where two things aduance the glory of profeſſion.
1 Subiection to authority, 1 Pet. 2. 13. 14. 15. 16. That it may be ſaid of vsus, as of Daniel, wee ſhall not finde any occaſion againſt this Daniel, except wee finde it againſt him concerning the law of his God: ſo faithfull and without error or fault was hee concerning the kingdome, Dan. 6 4. 5.
2 Concord amongſt our ſelue…: peace one with another, Mark 9. 50.
Hitherto of ſuch precepts as guide our liues towards other men. The duties next to bee handled, are ſuch as reſpect our ſelues.