A Guide to Godliness, Book 6 · Chapter 6
CAP. VI.
Of externall impediments whereby the world hindreth vsus in the duties of a godly life; and firſt, ſlaunders and deriſion.
§. Sect. 1 How we may be armed againſt the ſlaunders of the world.
ANd theſe are the impediments, which are internall in the mindes and iudgements of wicked worldlings. Thoſe which are externall, ariſe from their words and actions. Concerning the former, the world ſeeketh to diſcourage all thoſe which truely feare God in their profeſſion and holy practice by their contumelies and foule aſperſions, ſlaunders and reproches. For when they hauehave nothing in truth to obiect againſt them, in reſpect of their holy and vnblameable conuerſation; then imitating their father the deuill, who is a falſe accuſer of the brethren, they loade them with calumnies and ſlaunders, either by laying to their charge the things which they neuer did, or reporting things materially true after a falſe and malicious manner, that with theſe obloquies and reproches they may diſcourage them in their Chriſtian courſes, and diſcountenance and diſgrace euen their beſt actions. Thus Ahab accuſed Elias to be a troubler of Iſrael; and Amazias 1. King. 18. 17.Amos to hauehave conſpired againſt the King in the midſt of the houſe of Iſrael, Amos 7. 10.and that the Land was not able to beare his words. Thus they ſlaundered Stephen, that he had ſpoken blaſphemous words againſt Moſes and againſt Act. 6. 11.God. Paul and Silas, that they were troublers of the Citie and State, that Act. 16. 20. & 17. 7. & 18. 13.they did contrary to the decrees of Caeſar, ſaying, that there was another King, one Ieſus. That they perſwaded men to worſhip God contrarie to the Law. That Act. 21. 28. & 24. 5.they taught all men eueryevery where, againſt the People, Law and Temple, and had polluted that holy place by bringing Greekes into it. And thus by Tertullus they ſlaundered Paul, affirming that he was a peſtilent fellow, and a mouer of ſedition among the Iewes throughout the world, &c. Yea, ſo malignant are theſe blacke mouthes, that they dared to caſt foule and falſe Matth. 12▪ 24. & 26. 61. Luk. 23. 2.aſperſions vponupon our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfe, and blot and blemiſh the white and pure robe of his innocencie, with their vniuſt and reprochfull calumnies. And ſuch meaſure his Saints and ſeruants found at the hands of wicked men, in the time of the perſecuting Emperours; ſuch hauehave they found ſince, and ſhall doe vntounto the end of the world. Againſt which diſcouragemenst, if we would be armed, wee muſt remember, that this needeth not to ſeeme any ſtrange thing vntounto vsus, ſeeing our Sauiour Chriſt hath foretold, that this ſhould be the lot of all his ſeruants, to be reuiled and ſlaundered for his ſake and the Goſpels. That our Head and Lord hath borne theſe reproches for our ſake, and therefore wee his members and ſeruants muſt not thinke much, if wee ſuffer the like for him and his truth. That there was neuer any ſo deare vntounto God, nor innocent amongſt men, who hauehave not beene whipped with the ſcourge of malicious tongues; and therefore we muſt not thinke to goe alone vponupon earth, but muſt here beare them company, if euer wee hope to enioy their ſociety in that heauenly happineſſe. Secondly, if we would not be diſcouraged with Nos modò id agamus, vt malè de nobis nemo loqui abſque mendatio poſſit. Hieronym. ad Celantiam. 1. Pet. 3. 16. & 2. 12.the obloquies and ſlanders of wicked men, let vsus preſerue our innocencie, and walke vnblameably in this euill generation, taking great care ſo to carry our ſelues in all Holineſſe & Righteouſneſſe of conuerſation, that no man may ſpeake euill of vsus without a lie; and ſo the teſtimony of a good conſcience will more comfort and ſupport vsus in all our Chriſtian courſes, then the ſlaunders of wicked men ſhall be able to daunt and diſmay vsus. And this is the beſt way to conuince them of falſhood, not onelyonly vntounto others, but euen to their owne conſciences, and euen to make them like and louelove (if they belong vntounto God) the Religion which we profeſſe. Neither can any thing more powerfully beate backe theſe poyſonous darts of ſlanderous reports, then the breſtplate of righteouſneſſe and integrity, ſo as they ſhall neuer wound our heart, though for a time they may blemiſh the brightneſſe of our fame. No verball Apologies can ſo cleare and iuſtifie vsus, and conuince our aduerſaries of falſ-hood and malice, as this reall confutation of an innocent and vnblameable life. Finally, let vsus conſider, that they are pronounced bleſſed by our Sauiour, who are thus reuiled and ſlandered vniuſtly and wrongfully; and the more we are thus diſgraced and diſhonoured in this life, the more wee ſhall be aduanced and glorified in the life to come; In which regard there is no iuſt cauſe of mourning, when wee are thus falſely traduced for Chriſts ſake and the Goſpell: Yea, rather we ſhould reioyce and be exceeding glad, becauſe our reward is great in heauen, Matth. 5. 11, 12as our Sauiour hath taught vsus.
§. Sect. 2 Of deriſion and ſcoffes, which the world vſeth to diſcourage the godly.
The ſecond impediment is the deriſion, ſcoffes and ſcornes of wicked worldlings, whereby they diſgrace the perſons of the godly, and diſcountenance and diſcourage them in all religious and holy duties. The which they doe either by their words, as in taunting ſpeeches, making a ieſt of their profeſſion and holy practice, their hearing; reading, and ſtudying of the Scriptures, praying, godly communication, and ſuch religious exerciſes; or by branding them with opprobrious names, as Lollards, Hugonotes, Puritans, Sectaries, Bible-bearers, Holy brethren and ſuch like; or elſe by ſcornefull geſtures, as nodding, ſhaking the head, mowing, ieering, laughing at them, and the like. The which is a great impediment that hindreth many (eſpecially ſuch as are of milde, modeſt and ingenuous natures) from making any outward profeſſion of Gods true Religion, and performing of any religious exerciſes; or at leaſt, to proceed in them with much diſcouragement and diſquietneſſe of minde; as appeareth by thoſe pittifull complaints which they hauehave from time to time made vntounto God, of theſe indignities offred vntounto them by their ſpitefull aduerſaries. Thus the Church complaineth, that Gods enemies did hiſſe and gnaſh their teeth againſt Lam. 2. 16. & 3. 14.them; that they were a deriſion to all the people, and their ſong all the day. And that in their bitter mourning and day of affliction, they in a taunting maner required of them, that they would be merry and ſing one of the Pſal. 137. 3.ſongs of Sion. That they were become a reproch to their neighbours, a ſcorne and deriſion to them that were round about them. That they were made a by-word Pſal. 79. 4.among the Heathen, a ſhaking of the head among the people. Thus Iob complayneth; I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth vponupon God, & he anſwereth Pſal. 119. 5. & 35, 16.him: The iuſt and vpright man is laughed to ſcorne. So Dauid: The proud hauehave had me greatly in deriſion, with hypocriticall mockers at feaſts they gnaſhed vponupon me with their teeth. They that did ſit in the gate, ſpake againſt me, Pſal. 69. 12.and I was the ſong of the drunkards. And ſpeaking of himſelfe as a tipe of Chriſt, he ſaith; All they that ſee me, laugh me to ſcorne, they ſhoote out the lip Pſal. 22. 7.& ſhake the head. By this, Iobs miſery was much aggrauated, when as wicked Iob 30. 9.men made him their ſong and by-word. And Ieremie brought to ſuch impatience, that he reſolued to ſpeake no more in the name of the Lord, becauſe he was in deriſion dayly, & eueryevery one reproched and mocked him.Ier. 20. 7, 8.
§. Sect. 3 How wee may be armed againſt the deriſions, and ſcornes of worldlings.
But howſoeuer this is a great and grieuous tentation, yet we muſt take heed that wee be not ſo diſcouraged thereby, as to deſiſt, or ſo much as ſlacken our pace in the waies of godlineſſe; but though we ſometime ſtumble at it a & catch a fall, yet we muſt not lie ſtill & quite giuegive ouer our profeſſion and holy practice, but riſe vp againe, and goe in our courſe with renued reſolution: According to the example of the Church of God, who though they were ſomewhat daunted and grieued with the ſcoffes and deriſions of the wicked, yet they Pſal. 44. 13, 17, 18.did not forget God, nor deale falſely in his couenants; Their heart turned not backe, neither did their ſteps turne from his way. And of holy Dauid, who profeſſeth, that though the proud had him greatly in deriſion, yet he Pſal. 119. 51.declyned not from Gods Law. VntoUnto which reſolution that wee may attaine, let vsus conſider firſt, that herein no new thing doth betide vsus, but that which all Gods Saints and ſeruants hauehave ſuffered at the hands of the wicked from time to time. For thus Iſmael derided Iſaac, and Gen. 21 9.(as it is probable) the promiſes of God made vntounto him, and all the faithfull in his ſeed. Michol ſcoffed at the zeale of holy Dauid, 2 Sam. 6. 16.when ſhe ſaw him dancing before the Arke. Thus the Iſraelites ſcorned Gods Prophets and meſſengers that ſpake vntounto them in the Word 2. Chro. 36. 15, 16.of the Lord: And made themſelues ſport with Ezechiels Sermons, Ezek 33. 32.as if he had beene ſome pleaſant Muſician. Finally, thus Sanballat Neh. 4. 1, 4.and Tobiah derided Nehemiah and the Iewes, when they ſet them ſeriouſly to doe the worke of the Lord. And the Iewes ſcoffed at the Act. 2. 13.Apoſtles, when they ſpake with ſtrange tongues the wonderfull workes of God, as though they had beene drunke with new wine. Yea, our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfe, in whom all grauity and wiſdome ſhined, and in whoſe actions Might and Maieſty, Grace and Goodneſſe clearely appeared, was notwithſtanding no whit priuiledged and exempted from the deriſion and ſcornes of wicked worldlings. For the Phariſees laughed at his diuine Sermons. Herod and the ſouldiers in ſcorne clothe him in white and purple, crowne him with thornes, bow the knee before him, and flowtingly ſalute him as King of the Iewes. yea, in his bitter paſſion (which he ſuffering as innocent, Luk. 23. 13.ſhould hauehave drawne from all men euen teares of blood) they ſported themſelues, nodded their heads, and made themſelues merry with his lamentable crie and pittifull complaint, My God, my God, Matth. …7. 27. to 4…. Luk. 23. 31. Matth. 10. 24, 25.why haſt thou forſaken me? Now if they hauehave done theſe things to a greene tree, fruitfull in all grace and goodneſſe, what will they doe to a drie and barraine? If they hauehave thus ſcoffed and derided our Lord and Maſter, let vsus not, who are his poore and vnworthy ſeruants, thinke much to be thus vſed: If he hauehave ſuffred all theſe taunts and ſcornes for our ſakes, why ſhould wee thinke it much, to ſuffer with patience and ioy the like or greater (if it were poſſible) for his ſake and the Goſpels? Yea, if he hauehave meekely borne our ſinnes and ſorrowes, and ſhed his precious blood, and indured the heauie wrath of God due vntounto vsus, that he might ſaue and deliuer vsus out of the hands of all our enemies; how vngratefull are we for all his louelove, if wee will not for his ſake indure a taunt, a ſpitefull ſcorne or reprochfull name, but chuſe rather to neglect the duties of his ſeruice, and to runne with wicked worldlings vntounto the ſame exceſſe of riot? So oft therefore as the ſcoffes of prophane men diſcourage and dis-hearten vsus in Chriſtian duties, let vsus animate and ſtrengthen our reſolutions in them, by looking, with the eye of faith, vponupon our Sauiour Chriſt, hanging naked vponupon the Croſſe, and dying a ſhamefull death for our ſinnes, contemning this diſgrace, and ſwallowing vp this ſhame with the infiniteneſſe of his louelove. Let vsus be content to accompany him in deſpiſing theſe deſpites, that we may alſo accompany him in glory and happineſſe; according to that of the Apoſtle; Let vsus runne with patience, the race which is ſet before Heb. 12. 2, 3.vsus, looking vntounto Ieſus, the Author and finiſher of our faith, who for the ioy that was ſet before him, indured the Croſſe, deſpiſed the ſhame, and is ſet downe at the right hand of the Throne of God. For conſider him that indured ſuch contradiction of ſinners againſt himſelfe, leſt wee bee weary and faint in our minds.
§. Sect. 4 Of the neceſſity of Chriſtian Apology and profeſſion of the truth.
Secondly, let vsus conſider, that this Chriſtian apology in the profeſſion of the truth, and practice of all holy and Chriſtian duties, is a matter of Luk. 9. 23.vrgent neceſſity, which as neerly concerneth vsus, as the euerlaſting ſaluation of our ſoules. For they that will be Chriſts Diſciples, muſt take vp their croſſe daily, and follow him; and bee contented, for his ſake and the Goſpels, to forſake kindred and friends, houſes, lands, and life it ſelfe, if they be called thereunto. Now how ſhall we with patience and conſtancy indure for Chriſts ſake, wounds and ſtabs, if wee ſhrinke for words and ſcoffes? How ſhall wee euer hope to ſuffer rackes and gibbets, fire and ſword, for the profeſſion of the truth, and the practice of Chriſtian duties; if we be daunted with eueryevery ſmall diſgrace, and diſcouraged in them with reprochfull names, and ſcornefull taunts? Let vsus thinke with our ſelues, that if we cannot indure cauſeleſſe ſhame before men, which is accompanyed with true glory, how ſhall we be able to beare that euerlaſting ſhame and confuſion of face, when as Chriſt ſhall be aſhamed to acknowledge Math. 10. 33. Mark. 8. 38.vsus for his, before his Father, his holy Saints, and bleſſed Angels, becauſe we hauehave been aſhamed of him and his truth? Now that wee may performe this duty, which is ſo neceſſary, with cheerfulneſſe and delight, and contemne the deriſions and ſcornings of graceleſſe men, when they ſcoffe at vsus for the performance of Chriſtian duties, bluſhing for ſhame that we ſhould be thus aſhamed; let vsus conſider, that when wee are moſt derided of the wicked world, for the conſcionable performance of any Chriſtian duties, we are then moſt approued of God; and therefore when they ſeeke to daunt vsus with their ſcoffes, and to driue vsus from our Chriſtian hold with gibes and reproches; let vsus oppoſe this as a ſhield of ſtrength againſt them, ſaying vntounto our ſoules, My defence is Pſal. 7. 10.of God, who ſaueth the vpright in heart. Let vsus comfort and cheere our ſelues with the peaceable teſtimony of a good conſcience, and our inward ioy in well-doing; and with the applauſe of the holy Angels who looke vponupon vsus, and the approbation and praiſe of all that feare God. Let vsus remember, that they are pronounced bleſſed by our Sauiour, who are Mat. 5. 10, 11. Luk. 6. 22.thus abuſed for righteouſneſſe ſake, and that they ſhall raigne with him in his glory, who hauehave ſuffered with him in theſe diſgraces: that then, for Eſa. 61. 7.their ſhame, they ſhall receiue double honour, and for confuſion, they ſhall reioyce in their portion, and euerlaſting ioy ſhall be vntounto them. In which reſpect, the Apoſtle Peter exhorteth vsus to reioyce, in as much as we are partakers of Chriſts 1. Pet. 4. 14.ſufferings, that when his glory ſhall be reuealed, we may be glad alſo with exceeding ioy. And therefore let no ſcoffes and ſcornes diſcourage vsus, but let vsus, with the Apoſtle, approoue our ſelues in all things, by honour, and diſhonour, 2. Cor. 6. 8.euill report, and good report; and accompany our Sauiour Chriſt bearing his Heb. 13. 13, 14.reproch, that we may accompany him in glory; for we hauehave heere no abiding City, but we ſeeke one to come, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh.