A Preparative to Contention, Book · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV.
Happie bee they that proteſt well, and walke accordingly. There be three kinds of Proteſtants.
NOw, how commendable a thing is it, and of al men to be deſired, that thoſe onelyonly which hauehave taken on them to walke in the kings high way, and to fight vnderunder the banner of their Captaine Christ by their Proteſtations, could both containe themſelues therein, and alſo to content themſelues, as they would not ſtarte aſide, either to the right hand or to the left hand, from that feare of God and true obſeruation of his lawes, which of them in dutie is required? Surely, the light is a moſt pleaſant thing (as ſaith Salomon) and theſe men,Eccleſ. 11.7. being in their choyſe, ſo wiſe as Mary was (who ſate at the feete of Chriſt and heard his word) and ſo diligent in doing the works of their vocation, as Martha was (who with carefulneſſe prouided for Chriſt and his Apoſtles) doo with a ſweete harmonie of hearts, and right concord of mindes, comfort the Church, benefit the Common-wealth, and glorifie the Lord in their liues.
And the godly wiſe, which behold them ſo walking and pleaſing God with them, ſeeing that wiſedome is iuſtified of her children, doo moſt ioyfully apply vntounto them, & with them, to themſelues, that ſweete conſolation of the Chriſtian Philoſopher.
O faelix hominum genus:Boeth. de conſol. philo. li. 2. Met. 8.
Si veſtros animos amor,
Quo caelumregitur, regat!
Oh happie kinde of men are yee, whiles Gods good louelove,
So rules your hearts, as heauen high he rules aboue!
And thus ſaith our Lord: Bleſſed are they that hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſſe: Mat. 5.6.7.14.Bleſſed is hee that heareth the worde of God, and keepeth it: for he is that wiſe man which buildeth vppon the Rocke. Therefore, when the Pſalmiſt in the conſideration thereof, had aſcribed them bleſſed which are vndefiled in the way, and walked in the law of the Lord, he vttered this deſire of his heart vntounto the Lord: Oh that my wayes were made ſo direct, that I might keepe thy Statutes. So ſhall I not be confounded, Pſal. 11.9.while I hauehave reſpect vntounto thy commandements.
2 But, there be of them that profeſſe and proteſt with vsus too,EueryEvery talker is not a walker in the way of the Lord. which yeeld vntounto the Lord and his holy annointed, many ſharpe and eager grapes, whiles (hauing their eyes euill becauſe God is good) they verifie that ſaying of the ſame Philoſophers Nemo facile cum fortunatae ſuae conditione concordat: that they can hardly holde themſelues pleaſed with their owne eſtate of life. Therefore abuſing the bleſſings preſently offered them, they do with the craftie Gebeonites endeuour to dazle the cleere eyes of Ioſuah, Ioſ. 9.4 9.with a miſticall vale, whiles by their Cananitiſh conueyances, hydious hypocriſies, and mindes inſaciate, they climbe to pleaſe their haughtie hearts and ambitious heads. Howbeit, they cannot chooſe but bewray their own folly, for ye light wil appeare.
This faigning of fealtie, and making ſhew of obedience,To make a ſhew of good, and to do euill, is an olde leſſon taught by the diuell. Gen. 3.1. when there is nothing leſſe meant then that indeed, is an old leſſon that Satan taught long ago, when in the perſon of a ſerpent he beguiled Heuah, and aſſayeth the ſame yet daily among men, reſembling in ſhape, an angel of light. But good hope aſſureth the godly well-wiſhers, that the ſeer of al ſecrets, & gide of all gouernors will from time to time diſcouer both the one and the other, by pulling off the vizards frō diſſemblers faces, as in times paſt he hath done to many of them, that ſometimes ſate in the higheſt mountaine in the view of terrene kingdomes, and ſemblable renowne, whom after theyr moſt daſtardly yeeldings to Satans aſſaults) he hath deciphered to their ignomie and perpetuall ſhame. For his holy wil and decree is, that Haggar the bondwoman, and Iſmael her ſonne, ſhal both be caſt out of Abrahams houſe, that Iſaak the ſonne of Sarah may be & remain the only right heyre. But to paſſe ouer many ſuch ambagious circumſtances (without ſhame or offence to the true Chriſtian be it ſpoken) among too many of them that paſſe vnderunder the title Proteſtants in this time, Vileſcunt quotidiana. The word of God which is daily preached is loathſome vntounto them. The miniſters of the Goſpel liue in contempt: The truth is not eſteemed: the preſent peace is vnpleaſant: The quiet gouernment is diſliked: Righteouſnes is not entertained: holiness hideth her face: faith is famiſhed: hope is quayled: charitie is cleane put out: men be ingratefull for all the good things enioyed: they be diſcontented, & groane for that whereof they know not the experience, in the diſdaine of yt which they hauehave liberty to vſe to their profit. And in a word, they declare thēſelues to be without ye true zeale & the fear of god, which at no time wil neglect the obſeruance of his commandements. VntoUnto ſuch ſaith Bernarde: Qui vobis cum virtutibus, qui Dei virtutē Chriſtam ignoratis?In Cant. ſer. 22. VVhat right hauehave ye in vertues, which are ignorāt in Chriſt the vertue of God? yea, vntounto them ſaith God himſelf:Pſa. 50.16.17 VVhat haſt thou to do, to declare mine ordinance: that thou ſhouldeſt take my couenant in thy mouth: ſeeing thou hateſt to be reformed, and haſt caſt my words behinde thee.
3 But of Proteſtants we may diſtinguiſh, for of them there be three ſorts: that is to ſay:Three ſorts of Proteſtants. 1. A ſingle proteſtant. 1. A ſingle Proteſtant. 2. a Chriſtian proteſtant. 3. a formal proteſtant. The ſingle proteſtāt anſwereth to his title in this, that hee maketh declaration of his mind in any matter whatſoeuer, for ye better conſeruation of the right, & notwithſtāding of the wrong, either generally in any ſort, or ſpecially before witneſſes: or in that that he manifeſtly denoūceth the thing wherof men are to take heed, & yt which ought to be done: or that hee proteſteth boldly the truth of a matter doubtfull or in queſtion. And this title is diriued from the latin Verb Proteſtor, to proteſt, or witneſſe openly. The name of Chriſtian proteſtant,2. A Chriſtian Proteſtant. was firſt vſed in Germany (as Sledan noteth) then when as the Princes Electours openly withſtood that vngodly decree which Antichriſt made againſt the Goſpel of Ieſus Chriſt, in the yeere of our Lord 1529, vntounto whoſe proteſtation certaine of the cheefe Cities of Germanie did alſo ſubſcribe. And he is aright chriſtian Proteſtant, who in the feare of God and honour of his Prince, doth witneſſe, ſubſcribe, and proteſt againſt the vngodly decrees, damnable doctrines, and filthie abhominations of Antichriſt. Hee is a good proteſtant, which acknowledgeth and confeſſeth the doctrine of Chriſt for his true wiſedome; the mercy of Chriſt for his true righteouſneſſe: the life of Chriſt for his true holyneſſe: and the death of Chriſt for his true fortitude. He is a true proteſtant, that taketh the truth in hande for his cauſe, dealing truely therein, and rendeth zealouſly to the peace of the Goſpel of Ieſus Chriſt. He is a true proteſtant, which is like that true Iſraelite, whoſe ſpeech agreeth with the truth, whoſe hand conſenteth with his heart, whoſe walking concorded with his talking, to the glorie of God. This is that ſheep which heareth the voyce of the true Paſtor; that little one which beleeueth in Chriſt; that wiſe virgin which wayteth for the bride, with a burning lampe in her hand; and that gratefull gueſt which commeth to the wedding with his marriage garment. This is that Chriſtian, which taketh vp the croſſe, his maiſters recognizance, and followeth the Lambe whereſoeuer he goeth. This is that ſouldier, which hauing taken on him foreign,2. Tim. 2.3.4 Eph. 6. All the armour of God, wherewith hee is ſtrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, ſtandeth and fighteth not againſt peaceable men, true dealing men, plaine and honeſt perſons, and the Chriſtian brethren: but againſt Rulers, againſt powers, againſt worldly gouernours of the darkneſſe of this world, agaynſt ſpirituall wickedneſſe in the heauenly places: That is, agaynſt Antichriſt, and all his miniſters: againſt the diuell, and all his Angels. This is that proteſtant, which knowing that the ende of his Redemption is, To ſerue God in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe all the dayes of his life, Luke. 1.75.though hee hath receiued a kingdome immoueable: doth endeuour himſelfe accordingly to ſerue God with reuerence and fear,Heb. 12. 1. Pet. 2.16. Rom. 8. and dayly expecteth the reuelation and glorious libertie of the ſonnes of God, with continual praier, and this heartie deſire: Oh come, good Lord Ieſu.
4 Such a Proteſtant was Nathanael, Nathanael was a good proteſtant Iohn 1.47. Apollos. Acts 18.24.whom Chriſt himſelfe commended for a true Iſraelite without guile. Such an one was Apollos, who aided them much that beleeued through grace; who mightily and that openly confuted the Iewes with great vehemencie, ſhewing by the Scriptures that Ieſus was Chriſt. Such a Proteſtant was Paul, Paul. Act. 20.18.which kept backe nothing that was profitable for the Church: but had ſhewed and taught them openlie, witneſsing to the Iewes, and alſo to the Greekes, the Repentance that is towards God, and the faith which is towardes our Lord Ieſus Christ. And from this his dutie (hauing ſet God before him) he was not mooued, neither accounted hee his life deare vntounto himſelfe, ſo that hee might fulfill his courſe with ioy, and the miniſterie which hee had receyued of the Lorde Ieſu,Nichodemus. Iohn. 3.1. The blind man. Iohn 7.50. and 9.30. to Testifie the Goſpel of the Grace of God. Such a Proteſtant was Nichodemus, who did not onelie come to Chriſt, but alſo witneſſed the trueth, and defended his innocencie before the high Prieſts and Phariſees, without feare: Such a Proteſtant was hee, which being borne blind, and reſtored to his ſight, both beleeued and worſhipped Chriſt, and teſtified, and mightily reaſoned for him againſt the malignitie of the ſpitefull Iewes:Stephen the Protomartyr. Act. 6. & 7. Chriſt the worthieſt Proteſtant. and ſuch a Proteſtant was Stephen, who, for his good proteſtations was woorthilie called foreign, That is, The firſt Martyr or witneſſe of Chriſt, which ſealed his teſtimonie with his blood. But aboue all other, Chriſt himſelfe was the worthieſt Proteſtant, who, as he in all things ſubſcribed to the will of his heauenlie Father, and made the beſt Confeſsion that euer was made, before Pontius Pilate, when hee teſtified, that He came into the worlde to beare witneſſe vntounto the trueth, and that all they which are of the trueth do heare his voyce: So alſo hee ſealed and confirmed this Teſtimonie with his moſt precious and innocent blood, as neceſſarie it was for him to doo, ſeeing that the Lorde GOD required not Burnt Sacrifices, but a Bodie, which this Ieſus offered vp, according as hee had ſayde, I am readie to doo thy will, O God, as in the beginning of the Booke it is written of mee. And thencefoorth all they which beeing enflamed with an holie zeale, and in the feare of GOD hauehave confirmed their doctrine and teſtimonie of Ieſus by bearing of his recognizaunce (I meane the Croſſe of Chriſt) hauehave beene woorthilie entituled Martyrs. That is, VVitneſſes, Martyrs are Proteſtants.or (as I may ſay) Christian Protestants, of the Greeke Verbe foreign, To teſtifie, to witneſſe the trueth of the Goſpel, without feare or fainting, euen vntounto the death. Theſe bee the true Martyrs, and true Proteſtants. Theſe hauehave their prayſe, I ſay, not with men, but with GOD, in whoſe fight their blood is precious, and they bee in their death bleſſed.
5 The formall Protestants, 3. The formall Proteſtant.beeing of an other minde, are not conformed to this rule: For notwithſtanding they ſeeme to ſpeake in the language vſed in this time: yet louelove they to liue after the manners of the corrupt olde time: but not according to theyr manners whome Fauorinus the Philoſopher woulde that men ſhoulde followe: howſoeuer they ſpeake and would be eſteemed. In this, they rightly reſemble them, who bowing their knees before Chriſt, ſayd, foreign,Mat. 27.29. Haile King of the Iewes: but mocked him, and dreanched him with bitter vineger. For, notwithſtanding their proteſtations, they be (in verie deed) blaſphemers of Ieſus, and tormentors of his poore diſciples.2. Pet. 2.16. The libertie of the ſacred Goſpel they vſe for a cloake of maliciouſneſſe, and not as the ſeruants of Chriſt. They are therefore well like ſome of thoſe in Iudaea, but not like the right Iewes: for all thoſe in Iudaea were not the true Iewes: for had they beene true Iewes, Chriſt would not hauehave reproued them ſo ſharpely for their great hypocriſie, and likened them to painted Sepulchres. Neither would Saint Stephen haùe called them ſtif-necked, & of vncircumciſed hearts,Acts 2. & 7. Reu. 3. and ears: nor would St. Peter hauehave called them murtherers of the iuſt: nor would the holy ghoſt by the miniſterie of Iohn hauehave ſo vehemently reprooued them, and hauehave cenſured them of the Synagogue of Sathan. Such kinde of Proteſtants through their vnnaturall degeneration and Apoſtacye, are rightlie noted among thoſe Monſterse, which Nature ſo much abhorreth, beeing therefore not vnaptly likened to the cankred Apoſtate Lueifer, Counterfait Proteſtants likened to Lucifer.altogither ſo contrarie to that light and beautie, which his name noteth. Thinke they, it is not true that the Spirit fayeth: I knowe thy workes! I see thy thoughts! And doo they imagine, that the ſearcher of the hearts and reynes, will not ſet in order before them all that they hauehave done? Bee not deceiued: God will not be mocked: but know for a ſuretie, that euerie man ſhall reape according to that which hee ſoweth. HaueHave a care therefore to ſowe good ſeedes, that yee may reape thereof good fruit.
6 To theſe kinde of Proteſtants is made applicatorie that Song of Bernarde, which is wholſome enough, howe harriſh ſo euer it ſoundeth, and includeth them within the rabble or number of monſters.In lib. de conſider. ad Eugen. Neither feared hee to write it to Pope Eugenius. Monstroſa res est, &c. It is a thing monſtrous (ſayeth hee) to hauehave a chiefe place, and a minde baſe: to bee highest in ſeate, and lowest in life: to hauehave a vaunting tongue, and idle handes: much talking, and little walking: to hauehave a countenaunce of grauitie, and workes of lenitie: to bee in great authoritie, and to bee ſubiect to a nodding inconstancie. As if Bernarde woulde hauehave ſayd in a woorde: To make a great ſhewe of holineſſe, when men be moſt diuelliſh, is a thing moſt abhominable before God and good men. It is then certaine, that all they which beare one title or name, are not by & by of one condition, nor children of the ſame parents, nor ſouldiours vnderunder one Captaine. And it is no maruayle that alſo in theſe dayes, manie of them which paſſe vnderunder the title Proteſtants., hauehave beſides that onelie title, nothing, or verie little belonging therevnto. But ſhall they therein bee holden guiltleſſe? No, no. If the Scribes and Phariſees, which were ſayde to ſitte in Moſes Seate, and pretended great holineſſe, and zeale, for the lawe and Traditions of theyr Fathers, and could not eſcape the commination of that woe, and terrible vengeance which to Hypocrites is due: Alas, then, to what heauie doome bee ſuch appoynted, as vnderunder a faire proteſtation and ſhewe of perfection, will neyther faſt, nor pray, nor giuegive almoſe, nor yeeld tythes, nor tributes, nor yeeld any manner of true obedience to GOD, or their Prince, or anie way performe any of the workes of Chriſtian charitie? And to what thraldome bee thoſe appoynted, that rather dedicate themſelues dayly and hourelie to heynous perfidies, thefts, piracies, ſacrileges, ſimonies; to enuie, ambition, auarice, backbiting and ſlaundering to petiurie, lecherie, luxurie, pride, and idleneſſe: to gluttony, drunkenneſſe, ſtrifes, iniuries, and wickednes? are not theſe the things that pollute a man? do not theſe matters confound him vtterly? and are not manie towns, cities, countries and kingdomes, ſpoyled and quite waſted through theſe inormities? Then what can ſuch perſons expect and looke for beſides ſuch deſtructions? Surely nothing at all. And yet, as men that hauehave no feare of God, and ſo no religion, they dread not thoſe vnhappie euents, vntill they come: but ſitting downe in the Chayre of Peſtilence, wherein they ſcorne God, and all godlineſſe, they liue without feare, and die without hope.
7 I ſlaunder not the title or name of Christian Protestant, no more then Paul did offend the Angels of GOD, when he ſayde, that Sathan tranſformeth himſelfe into an Angell of light. The Lorde which ſeeth the ſecretes of all hearts, knoweth well that I rather reuerence and honour the right Proteſtant with all mine heart. And I am ſorie, that ſo noble a name ſhoulde bee impoſed on ſuch perſons, as doo iniuriouſly vſurpe thereon, abuſe and prophane it, to the high diſpleaſure of God, the diſcredite of the Goſpel, and the offence of good men, in ſuch their groſſe palpable abhominations: But this is the nature and policie of the olde Serpent, wherein, hee is moſt willing that his children ſhould immitate and follow him, who being aſhamed to ſhew himſelfe as hee is, taketh on, him the beautifull face of an Angell of light: who hateth the light, becauſe hee dooth euill, and who knoweth it to bee the eaſieſt way to beguile: for as treaſons are committed vnderunder truſt, ſo are great annoyes compaſſed vnderunder the cloake of honeſtie. There is no ſuch fooliſhneſſe, as that which hath a ſhewe of wiſedome: no ſuch ſinne, as that which is coloured with righteouſneſſe: no ſuch filthineſſe, as is faced with holineſſe: no ſuch thraldome, as that which pretendeth libertie: neither are there like abhominations perpetrated and and wrought in all the worlde, as thoſe which beare a ſhewe of the feare of GOD, and Religion. VVoulde to God that theſe groſſe enormities were not founde among them that bee called Proteſtants! VVoulde to God, that rather trueth, fayth, righteouſneſſe, holineſſe, charitie zeale, knowledge, and the feare GOD indeed, might yet one day, bee more familiar, and of greater eſtimation amongeſt men, as thoſe good giftes, which the more common they bee, the better, by ſo much the more they appeare to be in the eyes of all good men! Then might not our dreade bee ſo great, ſeeing wee ſhoulde not neede to feare ſuch dreadfull euents, as thoſe heynous ſinnes engender in all ages, among all Nations.
8 The Lorde God of Iſrael ſayde thus of the Iſrailites: The more they encreaſed in multitude, the more they ſinned agaynſt mee. VVhat followeth? Therefore I will chaunge their honour into ſhame. Againe:Hoſe. 4.3, 4, 5, 6, 7. For as much as thou hast forſaken the Lawe of thy God, I will alſo forget thy children. Heere is ſorrowe: heere is woe inough: yet worthilie threatned on ſuch a viperous broode.
This entended the Prophet Iſaiah, Iſay 3.when hee ſayd: The Lorde ſhall hauehave the heades of the Daughters of Syon, and ſhall diſcouer their filthineſſe: Therefore ſayde our Sauiour thereof: O ye Daughters of Hieruſalem, weepe not for mee: but weepe for your ſelues, and your children. And he added the reaſon, namely, that great miſerie and ſorrowe ſhoulde ouertake them, which indeed came to paſſe vponupon them, about fortie yeares. And of ſuch a plague the Prophet Amos forewarned them, when hee ſaide,Amos. 5.13. that except they did ſeeke good and not euill, that they might liue, there ſhould bee mourning in all ſtreetes, and they ſhoulde ſay in all high wayes, Alas, alas: and they ſhould call the husbandmen to Lamentation, and ſuch as coulde mourne, to mourning.
God reproued and threatned his owne people for their wickedneſſe.Now let vsus conſider (I beſeech you) what theſe were, whom the Lorde ſo reproued and threatned with theſe plagues and wo: were they of the Gentiles? No trulie: they were of Iſrael, yea, of Syon. They were thoſe whome the Lord had enriched with bleſsings far beyond all their neighbors: For he had not dealt with anie Nation, as he dealt with them in his merciemercy. And what did they? As perſons moſt ingratefull, they did not any way beautifie; but euerie way pollute Syon gates. The more that God expreſſed his louelove towards them, the more they daily prophaned themſelues in the abuſe of his bleſsings. They ſaid, with that ſon in the Goſpel: Father, we wil go forth at thy commaundement, and worke in thy Vineyard: But yet they performed their promiſe nothing at all: but went a whooring in their owne inuentions, and forgat him that had exalted them, and diſdained that right godlie humilitie which beautifieth them that enter into Syon gates. Therefore (as it was meete) hee which adorned them, bereeued them of their garments,VVee muſt hereby take heede, not to abuſe the gifts of God. made them naked againe, and diſcouered their ſhame, to their horrible confuſion. A notable example to terrifie them, that nothing regarde how they abuſe thoſe excellent bleſſings of the Lord, in their wicked & vngodly waies, and ingratefull hearts! Oh that it might pierce and enter into the hearts of thoſe our carnall Goſpellers, who though they cannot denie, but acknowledge Gods great goodneſſe towards them, do neuertheleſſe, eate with the gluttons, drinke with the drunkards, liue with the adulterers, ſweare with the blaſphemers, robbe with the theeues, kill with the murtherers, ſting with the backebyters, that ſo, they might bee fearefull to beare the diuell in their hearts, whiles they hold Bibles in their hands: and learne, that it were much better that they were ſtone cold, then that (like thoſe ſtinking ſnuffes whoſe lights bee lately quenched) they ſhould by their warmeneſſe continue their loathſome ſauour, ſo hatefull to God, and offenſiue to good men.
9 Surely, when they hauehave eueryevery way aſſayed to ioyne God and Mammon in concord, and to combine Chriſt & Beliol together in louelove (becauſe they louelove the world, and would ſerue to the time) they ſhall well perceiue by the manner of Gods iudgements vponupon them, that he doth ſee theyr harts, doth know their deuiſes, and meeteth with them therein well inough. For though they once ſaide in theyr hearts, VVe be rich and encreaſed with goods, Reu. 3.15.& hauehave need of nothing. Yet now they ſhall know themſelues, to be wretched, and miſerable, and poore, and blinde, and naked. And when all theſe things ſhal be well accounted, & the reckoning truely made, they wil change their opinions, and will not ſay (with him that hath bought a good peni-worth) It is good, It is good: but with him that hath not money inough to pay for that which is bought: Deere, deere, it is too deere;Pro. 20.14. and I had it at an vnſeaſonable hande. What good hath all our toyle brought vsus? But whiles this wages is made ready for them, by him which rendreth to eueryevery man according to his deedes, they ceaſe not to ſinne yet more and more, and that becauſe they louelove and take pleaſure in the vaine and tranſitorie things of this world, which they eſteeme farre beyonde the treaſures and pleaſures of the Kingdome of heauen, and which they worſhip before the higheſt God. And although that it be true, which Auguſtine ſayd, Laudabilior eſt animus cui notaeſt infirmitas propria, &c. That is, that mind to whome his owne infirmitie is knowne, is more to be prayſed, then hee which neglecting that, ſearcheth out the walles of the world, the wayes of the ſtarres, the foundations of the earth, and the pathes of the heauens: yet they (in theyr conceit) are wiſer then all theyr inſtructors, neyther will they knowe their owne infirmitie. And therefore, we may pipe to them, but they will not dance: we may teach them, but they will not learne: yea, as the foole, which though he be brayed in a morter like firmentie corne, will not for all that forgo his fooliſhnes: they wil not be perſwaded to know themſelues, theyr owne condition, their ſickneſſe, theyr danger, their miſerie, their imminent deſtruction, and euerlaſting woe.
Adulators are occaſions of mens often ſlidings into ſinne.10 And into this miſerable caſe many the more be pleaſantly drawne by the Adulations and ſeductions of thoſe immitating Apes, (I meane Flatterers) which beeing (indeede) of no Religion, but Epicures, Atheiſts, meere deriders of all holy worſhippe, zeale, and diſcipline, and the verie polipragmones of Sathan, to beguile men and to take them in their ſnares, hauehave learned ſuch a peſtilent Arte, and guilefull Sophiſtrie, as ouerthroweth all other laudable Sciences. They learne of the Camaelion to counterfeit all colours ſauing White,Camaelion. and in theyr dealings ſhewe all things ſaue honeſtie.Eccho. They learne of the reſounding Eccho, to ſooth them cunningly with yea Sir, no Sir, whoſe fauour they ſeeke to obtaine. They be among the Iewes, as Iews: with the Gentiles as Gentiles: with Proteſtants, they bee as Proteſtants: with the Papiſtes, as Papiſts: with Neuters, they bee Neuters: with them that ſpeake well, they bee as good ſpeakers: and with them that ſpeake euill, they will alſo ſpeake euill, euen of thoſe things, and of thoſe perſons they knowe not: and what things they knowe naturally, as Beaſtes that are without reaſon,Iud. ver. 10. in thoſe things they corrupt themſelues. They alſo rightly reſemble thoſe in the Fable, which worſhipped the Golden Image that the Aſſebare on his backe (whereof the Aſſe waxed proude,The Fable of the Aſſe. thinking that all that worſhippe was doone, not to the Image, but to himſelfe) for theſe perſons reuerencing onelyonly the Wealth, credit, power, and authoritie of them whome they Adulate, doo beare them in hande, that all theſe fayre wordes, obſequies, and worſhippes yeelded by them, onelyonly vntounto the perſons for theyr goodneſſe, qualities, and vertues. And in regarde thereof, they giuegive Titles vntounto many of them moſt falſely. They call him wiſe, which is as fooliſh as Nabal was: They call him righteous, which is as wicked as Achab was: They ſay, that hee is louing, which is as enuious as Cayn was. They call the Prodigall man, liberall: the Couetous man, frugall: they call him a boon companion and a good fellow, who is a Theefe, a Whoremaiſter, a glutton, a drunkard.
Theſe doo likewiſe reſemble the craftie Foxe, which, ſeeing that the Crowe hadde in her Mouth a morſell of Meate, commended her for her ſweete note in ſinging,The fable of the foxe and the crow. and requeſted her to ſing: this when the Crow aſſayed to do, ſhe opened her mouth and let fall that morſell; which the foxe catching, ranne his way with it. So, faith the Apoſtle, they reuerence men for aduantage ſake. Neither let they to further the deſtruction of them whome they perſwade, in ſuch ſort, as the fowler deſtroyeth thoſe birds which hee allureth to his ſnares, by his ſweete whiſteling. Theſe bee they which (as Auguſtine ſaid) doo binde men in their ſinnes,Aug. ſuper Pſal. 9. Iſa. 5. Hier. ad Celant. and drawe ſinnes vntounto them (as ſaith the prophet) with cords of vanity. Theſe be thoſe Syrenes (ſaith Hierome) which hauehave deadly ſongs to drown men in ſin, of whō men ſhould be very heedy, and careful to eſchew them, as the ſtrongeſt poyſon, and the ſoreſt perſecutors. For it is true,Aug. ſuper Pſal. 69. that (as Auguſtine ſaith againe) Plas ſequitur lingue adulatoris, quam manus perſequentis. More cruell is the flatterers tongue, then the perſecuters hand. Therefore againſt them praieth Dauid, who had of them ſufficient experience: Lord, keepe mee from the ſnare and grens of the workers of iniquitie, Pſal. 141.5.9that theyr ſmooth Oyle, and pretious balmes breake not myne head.
Chriſt was no flatterer.12 They neuer learne this art of Chriſt, for hee neither flattered any man, nor liked of them that vſed it; but he commended the truth vntounto his diſciples, hee liketh them that ſpeake the truth to theyr neighbours. When Chriſt would commend and prayſe Iohn the Babtiſt hee did it not without good reaſon,Mat. 11.7. conſidering his office and rare vertues: neither did he ſo commend him either in ye preſence of Iohn or Iohns diſciples: but when they were departed from him, then hee ſpake to the people concerning Iohn: By the which,VVho inuented the arte of flattery. he freed himſelfe of all ſuſpition of flatterie, and gaue none occaſion of vaine-glorie to Iohn. But this art of adulation was inuented by the Serpent, which by the ſame beguiled both Adā & Heuah in Paradice, to their ouerthrow,Iob. 32.21.22. and to his owne damnation. Elihu in Iob conſidering this, ſaide: that he would giuegive titles to no men: and he alleadgeth a reaſon: Leaſt my maker ſhuld take me away ſodainly. He ſaw that ſuch perſons as imitated the Serpent, were with him to be damned by vertue of the curſe. And therto concordeth that ſaying of the prophet Iſayah. c.a. 5. VVo be vntounto them that put light for darkeneſſe, and darkeneſſe for light. Prou. 17.15.That iuſtifie the vngodly for rewardes. For as a flame of fire deuoureth the ſtubble, and as the chaffe is conſumed of the flame, ſo ſhall their roote be as rottenneſſe, and their bud ſhall riſe vp like duſt: that is,Prou. 28.10. both they and their poſteritie ſhall periſh: and they that cauſe other to go aſtray ſhal come to ruine.Hiero. ad Demet. Therfore happie be they that do neither adulate others, nor be by others adulated: but that edifying themſelues in their moſt holy faith, and praying in the holy Ghoſt, do keepe themſelues in the fauour, louelove, and feare of God, which euer hath, doth, and will, commend & worſhip them, that ſerue him in holyneſſe and righteouſneſſe. For theſe men hauehave neither iuſt cauſe to be angrie with themſelues, and to bee ouercome with furie, as thoſe others be occaſioned, which hauehave bin led as birds to the ſnare, and fooles to the torment: nor ſhall they bee moued to execrate and curſe others, as thoſe be conſtrained to do, which in the middeſt of their miſeries, doo call to minde by whoſe ſubtiltie and guile they hauehave beene drawne into theſe their endleſſe calamities and woe.