The Gentlemans Calling, Section 8
SECT. VIII. Of the last advantage, that of Reputation.
1. THe last advantage is that of Reputation and Esteem, which is generally presumed the due of Persons of Quality, unless where some personal unworthiness hath cut off the Entail, and forfeited that right. And though these days have taught the Vulgar to defalk much of that respect which former Ages paid to Superiors of all sorts, yet I cannot think the Levelling principle has so universally diffused it self, as totally to rase out all impressions of reverence towards them; so that there still remains somewhat of this Talent for them to negotiate with. It will be their part so to manage and dispose it, as to bring in profit to their Lord, by making it also an engine to draw men to piety and vertue.
2. This they may sometime do by Councel; to the success whereof there is nothing more contributive then an esteem of the Adviser, most men being rather apt to consider who speaks, then what is spoken: And therefore persons, whose Quality and Education have prepossest them with an opinion of their Wisdom, have a great advantage towards the working on them. And this it will befit them to make diligent use of, by seasonable advices and exhortations to those whom they shall discern thus prepared for the entertaining of them, to take all prudent occasions to recommend Christian-Practice to them, and by pulling off those disguises which the false measures of the world have put upon Vice and Vertue, to represent them in their true and native shapes, the one the object of horror and detestation, the other of love and delight. 'Tis the want of this discovery, that has given Impiety so free a range, it has drest it self up in a counterfeit splendor, false Gemms and Tinsel-gaudery; and in this glittering appearance it marches on triumphantly, receives acclamations, yea and Obeisance too, nay commands not only the knees (as every prosperous Usurper can do) but even the hearts of men. And will none have so much charity, so much zeal for publick Concern, as to uncloak this Impostor, and shew the dazled world what it is it thus bows to? Perhaps this is lookt on only as the business of Divines; but certainly would Gentlemen also set to it, they were like to prove the more prosperous undertakers: What comes only out of the Pulpit, passes for the foolishness of preaching, 1 Cor. 1: 21. or for the discourses of those whose trade it is to inveigh against sin; All their Thrusts being of course, and expected, their Wards are as well known too, and we daily see Vice approve it self an expert Fencer against them. But the endeavours of these would not be liable to those prejudices; a Blow from them would come (like the Revolt of a Confederate) with the advantage of a Surprise; and there is little doubt, but by friendly and familiar Conferences they might many times insinuate that into mens breasts, which the more solemn and Authoritative Exhortations of Ministers often fail of.
3. But Councel will be of little efficacie, if it be not seconded by Example; they must therefore look their Lives be such, as may shew they believe themselves, whilst they go about to perswade others. He that shall with never so pressing Arguments dehort a man from that Sin, which himself at the next opportunity commits; will never be supposed to have any real ill opinion of it, but rather so passionate a love, that he is jealous any but himself should have its embraces: And then surely this will be so far from averting, that it will excite the appetite of the other to taste of that which he sees is thought so desireable as to be Monopolized.
4. Indeed there is nothing by which they have so universal an influence, as their Example: Things that are set in some high and eminent place, do naturally attract mens eyes to them; so that eminencie of condition wherein Gentlemen are placed, renders their actions more observable. They are like the City our Saviour speaks of, set on an hill, and have by that advantagious situation the means of making their light shine further then other mens. And therefore it ought to be their constant care, by the bright lustre of their exact and exemplary Conversations, to inlighten the whole sphere wherein they move. Would Gentlemen make this their united designe, what a happy Constellation of auspicious Stars would they prove, by whose benigne Aspect the sterility of Vulgar minds might be cured, and even those Clods be inspirited, and rendred capable of excellent productions.
5. For what can be more perswasive to those of the lower Ranks to embrace Vertue, then to see it made the election of those whom they suppose to have most judgment to discern its value, and so fall not on it blindfold, and who have also all the contrary pleasures of Sin within their reach, nay prostrate at their feet, suing for entertainment, and so are not cast on it by impotence. What a blur and infamy would it cast upon Vice, if it were once banished out of Gentile company, and how fair a step would it be towards its exclusion out of all? We see what a natural aspiring the lower sort have to approach to the condition of their Betters; and though that being …ow aimed only at their Pomps and Greatness, be no commendable temper, yet sure it were much in the power of those emulated persons to make it so: For would they so order the matter, that their Vertue should outshine all their outward splendors, that it should become the character and distinctive note of a Gentleman, to be eminently good, this were a way to consecrate even Ambition it self, by making it an engine not to rack and torture men, as common ambitions do, but to advance them to all vertuous industry.
6. He that desired to ennoble his Family, would then begin at his Mind, cast out thence all base and degenerous Inclinations, and make himself a Gentleman without help of Heraldry. Thus hapily might they deceive men into Piety, and make those Emulations, whose first rise was meerly from Earth, a ladder wherewith to scale… Heaven. And how noble, how excellent a… charity is this, and yet of all others the cheapest, it having that Proverbial property of Charity, To begin at home: The being good, is primarily a kindness to themselves, and to other… only by way of result, and propagation, and easie consequence? How unchristian, unmanly, yea unskilful too will it then be, to den… this benefaction, which has that very argume… on its side, which is opposed to other kinds o… Liberalities; that fear of lessening a mans sel… which in those contracts and shuts up the bowels, is here in all reason to enlarge and dila… them; for in this case men cannot deny, with out their own greatest injury, and diminution: And sure 'twould justly pass for a prodigie both of malice and folly, for one so to avert the benefiting another, as to incur the greatest damage to himself in avoiding it.
7. But alas, it is not only Charity either to others or themselves, which exacts of them thus to promote Piety among men: They have brought themselves under another more constraining obligation, I mean that of Justice, parcularly the justice of Restitution, for 'tis too visible they have been deeply accessory to its decay: so far have they been from advising and exciting men to good, that I fear their perswasive faculties have generally been imployed …o a quite distant purpose. There are few or none, that by their own pious endeavors do at all abate the need of the Priests exhortations; but many that do evacuate their efficacie, by decrying it as the greatest folly, the most unmanly submission, to yield them any consideration: As for their own Councels, they are too often in earnest, what Solomon's was by way of irony, Eccl. 11. 9 Walk in the ways of thine heart & in the sight of thine eys, encouraging and animating men to all Sensuality; and if they discern any begin to startle at the course, to entertain but a sober thought of that dismal end to which it leads, he is to be …aught out of that Hypocondriack fit, taught …o look upon it as a spice of Phrensie, the loud noise of roaring Mirth is reinforced to drown that poor whisper of Conscience, and by the sound as it were of those Trumpets he is incited to turn to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battel, Jer. 8. 6. all arts of encouragement used to imbolden him to run fearlesly on to Damnation. This is their one known Recipe—for all pangs and gripes of Soul; And if it be not of every days practice, 'tis not that they have any better method of Cure, but such arts of prevention, such means of stupefaction and obduration, that the disease seldom occurrs among them.
8. Nor do they omit to back and fortifie this with proportionable Examples, which God knows are so many and so efficacious, that like a dismal Cloud they overspread our whole Horison. They who are by God designed as lights to illuminate all aboutthem, have been the instruments of introducing a more then Egyptian darkness, thereby exemplifying that Aphorisme of our Saviours, Mat. 6. 23. If the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness?
9. What a deluge of Prophaneness and Impiety at this day overflows this poor Nation, is too visible not only by the direct, but th… reflexed beams, those sad Judgments they have brought down upon it; and though there be too many springs which feed this Ocean, ye… there will scare any be found to have more liberally contributed, then the open and scandalous viciousness of the Gentry. They who are placed as Stars in our Firmament, if they dart nothing but malignant Influences, what wonder is it, if an universal Pest ensue? 'Tis they that have brought Vice into countenance, made it the Mode and fashion of the times, so that people dread the singularity of being innocent, and a man may with less peril of scorn appear in the most superannuated dress, then own the Obsolete qualities of Meekness, Purity, Sobriety, &c. How great and fatal a snare this creditableness of sin has proved: I feare there are too many thousands of entangled Soules can witness; and on whom can they more properly charge their ruine, then on those who have advanced it to this repute in the world? Mens natural pravity gives them propension more then enough to ill, and therefore it hath been the business of Laws both humane and divine to put a bridle upon those inclinations, by feare and shame to restrain their inordinacy; but this converts the bridle into a spur when those that should discountenance Vice, thus animate and encourage it.
10. For what a Temptation is it to the vulgar to run to all excess of Riot, when they see their superiors have beaten the path before them, and are themselves immerst in the most brutish sensualities? which of them will endure to be sober, when Drunkenness shall be accounted so dignifying a quality, that it may make a Peasant company for a Lord? when Gentlemen are Atheistical, Clowns will think themselves very modestly wicked, if they be but prophane; and when they heare their Betters discharge loud Volleys of Oaths, they will so on find they are as well qualified for that part of greatness as the best, their Tongues are as much their own, Psa. 12 4. and will be glad that by such an easie imployment of them they can be Gentlemen so good cheap. 'Twere as endless as unnecessary to enumerate the several sorts of infection, which the ill examples of great men have diffused; 'tis too obvious in the mortal effects to need any other way of discovery; and I am sure it ought to be matter of the saddest reflection to all who are involved in that guilt, it being a most direful account, which they will one day have to make, who have been the Authors of such miserable vastations, turn'd Communities of Men, of Christians, into Herds of Beasts, nay into Legions of Devils.
11. Every sin even of the privatest obscurest person carries much of contempt and affront to the Divine Majesty, but Great mens vices are of a yet more Giantly frame, they proclaim solemn War with Heaven, levy forces, and draw in multitudes of abettors and confederates in their hostilities; and God knows this kind of Unevangelical violence the kingdom of Heaven daily suffers. Oh that the Chieftaines and leaders of these unhappy troops, would at last think fit to sound a retreat; that they would, in pity if not to themselves, yet to their seduced followers, cease thus desperately to rush on upon the mouth of the Canon the Jaws of Hell. And not only so, but that they would also endeavor to bring them into some terms of accord with that omnipotent Enemy they have provoked, by their own penitent and reformed lives teach them the postures of humility and submission, as they have formerly done that of defiance. This certainly is that to which common equity obliges them, reparation of injuries being confessedly an indispensable part of justice; and certainly there can no injury exceed, nay equall this of betraying men to eternal ruine, and consequently nothing less then the utmost industry to repaire it, can be any competent expiation. God grant all those, whose guilt gives them a peculiar title to this admonition, may own their right to it by a particular and serious application, such as may for the future engage them to the most zealous endeavor of reforming not only themselves, but others, for rescuing their reputation from that foulest blot, of being an agent for Satan, and advancing it to that highest dignity of being serviceable to God.
12. But there is little hope they will rightly consider the use, who are so utterly mistaken in the nature of true reputation; A man of Honor is now understood onelyonly to be one that can start and maintain a Quarrel, that for every the triflingest injury expects like Lamech, Gen. 4. 24. to be avenged seventy and seven fold; that despises the Christian precepts of Meekness long suffering, and Forgiveness, as rudiments of cowardize and unmanly pusillanimity, and has no other measure of courage and gallantry, but by an utter opposition to all those; and whilest reputation is thus hung onelyonly at the point of the sword, 'tis a very fit instrument to destroy bodies, but sure not to save Soules. We find daily many occasions to complain of the Tyranny of Custom and Opinion, but scarce any where so much as in those unjust and absur'd Laws they have imposed in this matter, which were they consideringly weighed would surely evince them such contemptible Legislators, as would be enough to dethrone and depose them from that usurped Empire they now maintain in the world.
13. To take onelyonly a short and cursory view of them, we shall in the first place find them to be horribly impious; for what can be more so, then thus to teare off those signatures of Honor, which God himself hath imprest, and vilifie those whom he hath dignified? God has pronounced that it is the discretion of a man that deferreth his anger, and it is his glory to pass over a transgression▪ Prov. 19. 11. and again he that is slow to anger is better then the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit, then he that taketh a City. Pro. 16. 32. But this new notion of Honor proclaims the quite contrary; he passes for a Phlegmatick foole, whose blood boyles not at the first glimpse of an Affront; and 'tis Gallantry to offer many Injuries, but ignominious Tameness to bear one. It has always been the indisputable prerogative of Kings to be the Fountains of Honor; what an impious daring is it then to divest him of that priviledge, by whom Kings reign? to cancel his Patents, and mark them out as the objects of scorn, to whom God gives so glorious a testimony? Yet thus is it daily done to the men, whom the King of Kings will honor; these are all the Triumphs these Mordecai's must expect; An evidence how much worse they are then Haman, that allot them. Certainly there cannot be an act of greater defiance against the Divine Majesty, then thus to reverse his Decrees; And upon this hostility and opposition against Heaven it is, that all the private Quarrels and Combats on Earth are (as on their foundation) superstructed; so that to initiate a Duellist, his first Challenge must be directed against God himself.
14. Nor are these false measures of Honor more opposite to Religion, then Prudence: The glosses the Sword-men have put upon the one fundamental Law of Not bearing an Injury, have introduced such a multitude of ridiculous Punctilio's, that the next Age will be in danger of receiving the Fable of Don Quixot for Authentique History; and I see not with what justice this can laugh at them in him and his Squire Sancho, and yet think them serious enough to govern men in their most real and weighty concernments. It would indeed astonish any sober person to consider, what Chimera's they are to which men sacrifice all that ought to be dear to them; How many Duels have been fought, how many men kill'd, (when neither of the Combatants were so implacable but that they could willingly have compounded the matter) only because they thought Point of Honor exacted it, and the declining it would be inglorious? Certainly the Gallies is a state of perfect liberty, compared with this bondage; And were the Release from those necessarily to infer a subjection to this, were those Slaves obliged thus to become Gentlemen; I should cease my wonder why so many of them have despised a manumission: For, thus to have a mans Estate, his Life, yea Soul too, at the mercy of Popular breath, (not only to be lost, but lost by his own act) is a Slavery beyond all that the most abject creature ever groaned under. And yet so prodigiously absurd is the World, as to cut this out for the Benjamins portion, make it the especial and peculiar priviledge of Gentlemen; they are set upon a Theatre, and as the Gladiators of old must kill one another, only to entertain Spectators. And who would not think Bedlam the onelyonly Seminary to breed men up for such a Trade? Yet so universal is this Lunacie, that one may suspect the Institution of that Hospital is perverted, that that incloses only the Sober persons, whilst the Frantick run loose about the world.
15. But perhaps the more Malicious Duellers will think themselves exempt from this number, because 'tis their own satisfaction which they designe in it; their Enemies blood will make so delicious a draught for their revenge, that they gasp after it, and think it a pleasure well worthy their pursuit. But sure these differ from the former, not as Wise men from Fools, but as a worse Natured Fool from a better. He that would justifie the rationalness of any Adventure, must prove the Prize at least to equal the worth of that he hazards for it: But who that considers he has a Soul, can seriously set it at so contemptible a rate? or what man in his wits, that believes a Hell, will say the pleasure of a Revenge can countervail those pains? Nay indeed, none can with any pretence put it in ballance with the meer loss of Life; for he that is kill'd (as every man may be that fights) can have no sense of that pleasure, and so becomes uncapable of the compensation, if that were able to make it. Nay I shall descend yet lower, and with some confidence affirm, that the uneasie consequences even of the Victory do quite overwhelm the satisfaction. For this I dare refer my self to any of those who have had the unhappy Triumph of a Murtherer, and doubt not that if they will speak their experiences, they will tell us that the cry of their Adversaries blood in their Conscience, did utterly extinguish the relish of it in their Fancie; or if they were persons who were hardned against all sense of Divine vengeance yet the fear of Humane was abundantly enough to defeat them of that pleasure they expected; so impossible is it to gather grapes of these thorns, to reap any contentment from so unchristian an Attempt: Their Revenge is not compleated without Blood; and if they have it, it proves a Torrent to carry away that imaginary Delight they projected from it: And then what colour of reason can any man bring, why he should thus sell his soul for nought, and become a Platonick to Damnation?
16. But Revenge has two ill-matcht qualities, Blindness and Impetuosity; and so all its darts, though they carry force and venom enough to destroy all about them, yet by being ill aimed revert mortally on the breast whence they were shot. Certainly there is not in the world a more prodigious Infatuation, then that which rules in this Affair: What can be more senseless, then for me, when a man has done me an Injury, to think to wipe off that by exposing my self to more? when he has given me the Lye, to invite him to give me the Stab too? Did ever any man attempt to make up a breach, by widening it? to close his wound, by tearing it further? The Physicians indeed talk of a method of curing some Diseases by Majoration; but sure Injuries are not in the number of those maladies, nor capable of that way of remedy: The greater may, 'tis possible, overwhelm, but not cure the less, as the more moderate Pains become insensible by the superveniencie of the more acute; yet I presume none would applaud his choice, that should call for the Rack to drown the pain of a Cut finger, which yet is no hyperbolical embleme of this sort of Revenge.
17. But besides all this our modern Gallantry is treacherous to its self, confutes its own pretension, and whilst it vainly assumes the Monopoly of Courage, is indeed the meanest Cowardise in the world. That by which we use to discriminate base Fear from just Caution, is the formidableness of the object feared: No man is reproached for not standing the inundation of the Sea; but to quake at stepping over a Gutter, would be a ridiculous timorousness: 'Twould be neither wonder nor shame to run from the pursuit of a Lion; but to be chased by a barking Whelp, is the property of an Hare, not of a Man. And according to this measure, what wretched Cowards are our greatest Hectors? For what can be more contemptible then those unjust Scorns of men they so tremble at? which if they were sure to be universal, yet what real ill can they do a man, who does not by his own fan…y lend them an edge wherewith to wound him? But neither can this be the Case, till all both Christianity and Sobriety be quite worne out of the world: For to a Christian, 'tis certain the irreligion of Fighting a Duel would be the most infamous thing, and even to a sober Heathen the folly of it would be so too; so that he can be in no danger of either of their reproaches, for declining it: And when these are set aside, who is there whose censure can be at all considerable? Yet this so pitiful despicable thing is it, which so terrifies and amazes them; And how shall we define Cowardise, if this be not it?
18. And as it has the nature, so has it the Fate of it too, which usually is by fleeing an imaginary danger, to fall into a real: Men fight, that they may not be thought Cowards; and by fighting they do not only become indeed so, but also rush themselves upon other far more formidable mischiefs, run from a Scarcrow into a Precipice. And now what a riddle is this thing they call Gallantry, which so startles at the weakest noise, yet stands undauntedly the stroke of a Thunderbolt? They who so dread the reproach of vain impotent men, do yet confidently encounter the anger of the omnipotent God; and if Valor and Fool-hardiness were not very distant things, would confute my whole argument by making it evident, that they dare be damned. Thus by a strange kind of inverted operation their Fear makes them bold; would God that Antiperistasis might go on to work, till that Boldness have again brought them to a fear, I mean that penitential Fear, proper to those who thus deliberately provoke the Divine Majesty.
19. And that very Deliberation is a circumstance of so great an enhancement, as unmeasurably heightens the sin: Sudden acts may be capable of some alleviations by the surprise they make on a mans spirit; but contrived and premeditated Crimes can have no milder appearance then of obstinate Rebellion. And this aggravation can scarce ever be wanting to a Duel, many hours, if not days intervening between the designment and the execution; and in that interval 'tis not possible for all the Opiate Receits in Sathans Dispensatory to keep the Conscience so drowsie, that it shall not startle, but it will undoubtedly represent to a man the horror of that he is going about, which is no less then the engaging himself in a double Murder, his own, and his Adversaries, (for the wilful hazard of both fastens on him the guilt, though both happen to survive the Combat;) but if it be his own fate to fall (as he has much reason to expect, who thus puts himself out of Gods protection, nay dares his vengeance) what possible hope can remain for him, who thus dies in that very act of the greatest sin? We are generally apt to think but uncomfortably of those who make away themselves; but certainly many of those deserve to be Canonized, in comparison with a man that dies in Duel; the principle of that being often an excessive Feare of God, which sure is less culpable, then a prophane contempt of him Besides the temptation in that case is usually more violent and impetuous, it being (if not begot, yet) cherisht and fomented by melancholly, the most untractable and obstinate of all humors, whereas the suggestion to this hath no such Auxiliary to aid it, the original of quarrel… being frequently from too free a jollity. And lastly, that, of how heinous a kind soever, is yet but a single sin, whereas this, as I said before, involves a twofold guilt; And of how crimson a colour must that soule appear before Gods Tribunal, that is thus double-died in blood!
20. And now who can choose but cry out in the Prophet Esay's stile, Heare O Heavens, and hearken O Earth! What strain of wonder and amazement can bear proportion with the desperate madness of men, that can thus knowingly and consideringly rush themselves upon such unspeakable mischiefs; especially since here they want even that miserable reserve, which serves to embolden them to other sins, viz. the hope of a future repentance: for those that make but the slightest measures of that, can scarce fancy any opportunities of it in this case, since to him that dies there seldom remains any space of interval between his sin and his death, no time for those clouds to gather, those penitential showres to descend, which should wash away his blood-guiltiness; or if there did, yet what expectation is there he should imploy it to any effect? such Presumptuous considerate sins naturally work an obduration in the heart, which nothing but an extraordinary grace can remove, and after such a high and daring provocation 'tis very reasonable to expect God should withdraw even the lowest degrees, but sure not that he should add higher.
21. These Considerations are all of them so obvious, that they naturally suggest themselves, and certainly they are so weighty and pressing that 'tis a Prodigie to see they should be so universally ineffectual, which can proceed from nothing but the want of close and serious application. Would men dare but to meet single with their own sober thoughts, 'twould certainly supersede all other Duels, there remains therefore nothing more for me to add but to invite them to this one encounter, to beseech them to grapple a while but with the force of Reason, a combat of all others the securest, where to be subdued is more glorious then to conquer in any other; and when it has despoyled them of that false courage, which exposes them to such dismal ruines, to permit it to reinspirit them with a true one, such as may give them daring enough to stand up against this so more then Barbarous a custome, to endeavor to banish it out of Christendom, and so take of that reproach which our profession lies under from so impious a practice, which having no other Tenure but Prescription, there needs nothing but Desuetude to destroy it. Let every man for his own part strictly abstain from it, and avow the doing so, and then by ceasing to be a fashion, it will cease to be at all.
22. But the misery of it is, no man will assume to be leader in this so noble an enterprise, to begin this so necessary a reformation; which though it have so much more of compliance even to carnal Interests, then its contrary, that I doubt not many wish it were universal, yet till it be so, they think 'twill be uncreditable to any particular person; But were that the certain event of it, 'tis sure that reproach ought to be despised, when it comes in competition with Duty; In this case the resolution of David (as great a Swordman as any of them) is most proper; I will yet be more vile then thus. 2 Sam. 6 22. and certainly a man cannot pass a more glorious Martyrdom, then to suffer ignominy upon such an account. I am sure 'tis a real shame to see that men can offer violence to all their dearest complicated Interests, to comply with that unchristian custome, yet cannot cross a single imaginary one, to suppress it.
23. Nay the truth is, they create Punctilioes in this case, by which themselves will not be govern'd in any other. In a common Fire does any man suspend his own endeavors, till he see the whole Town running to quench the flame? or if one of these popular persons had been of the Philistims company, when the house began to fall, Iud. 16. 30. would he have so dreaded the singularity of a solitary escape, as not to have attempted it, till sholes of others had led the way? We have had some experience, under what prejudice a publick Act falls, that is by its makers precluded from being a president, and sure these men do tacitely (yet very intelligibly) accuse the unreasonableness of this feare, whilst they confine it to this single instance; and me thinks 'twere but just, they should be required to be consentaneous to themselves, and act in other things by the same measures; which would prove so sharp a penance, as were more likely to reduce them to sobriety, then all the force of Argument.
24. But besides this severe remedy, there is sure an antidote against this malady, a way to separate the duty from the Contempt which their fancies have so closely annext to it, and that is by making their lives so uniformly Christian, that it may be evident, 'tis Conscience, not feare that works with them. Without this I know indeed no security from reproach: For to see a man who tramples upon all other commands of God, catch up this, as a buckler against a Challenger, who can be so blindly charitable, as to impute this to any thing but Cowardise but when the whole tract of a mans Life is one continued course of Obedience, no man will expect he should violate that upon this occasion. To this may be added a cheerfull and free exposing himself to all warrantable dangers, when any publick occasion of hazard is offered; if he then shew himself daring, 'twill be apparent, that 'tis not the feare of Death, but Sin, which locks up his sword from private Duels. Or when there is no opportunity of this active valor, let him approve his passive by a contented, nay joyfull submission to any suffering that attends the discharge of a go…d conscience; and of this there is little feare (in these daies especially) to want occasions. He that does this, will be in no danger to be defamed for declining Duels, but on the contrary such an aequable piety will extort reverence from all, there being such a venerable amiaebility in it, that the most prophane do, even against their wills, bear it some inward respect.
25. Let not men therefore pretend the fear of reproach, as an excuse, since here is so ready a Salvo to that objection, but let them by an assiduous practice of all other Christian vertues, render this also secure to them, and qualifie themselves for the propagating it to others. And Oh, that we could once see all other quarrels amongst Gentlemen converted into this one holy contention, who should be forwardest in this Heroick attempt. 'Tis the false notion of Honor, that is one of Satans principal Citadels, like Zion to the Jebusites, and the assaulting of that, would be an atchivement of so much glory that he that could prosper in it, might justly challenge the dignity which David there promises, 2 Sam. 5. 8. of being Chief and Captain. Here then they may lawfully quench their thirst of Honor, yea and that of Revenge too, by wrecking their utmost malice on this their so grand Enemy: Let it be remembred how long it hath befooled and cheated the world, and be exposed to all the shames and detestation of a discovered Impostor; nay let it be brought to a solemn arraignment, those innumerable murthers of which it has been guilty, charged on it, and prosecuted to death, so utterly extinguished, that it may never again appear in the world, whilst all good men applaud the justice, and say, So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord.
26. Having thus reflected on the common abuses of Reputation, all that remains is to consider how injurious men are to themselves in their ill managery of this Talent, which might be improved not only to their final account, but even their present pleasure. For first, he that by seasonable advice rescues any man from a course of sin, will infallibly feel so unutterable a complacencie in having done so, that he will find he was kind to himself, as well as the other and will have no temptation to think himself unprofitably imployed, though that were to be his onelyonly reward. This bringing sinners to repentance is so noble, so tempting a design, that it drew even God himself from Heaven to prosecute it; and that not by cheap and easie means, but by all those Sufferings, which humane nature most trembles at: yet such was the joy of Mans salvation▪ which was set before him, as enabled him to endure the cross, and despise the shame, Heb. 12. 2. How rich a bargain will it then be to a man to partake with him in that joy, to share with him in that prize, upon so much easier termes, to pay but a little breath for that, which exhausted his blood, and to become (in a lower inferior sence) a Saviour without a Cross?
27. In like manner, he that by a strict and exemplary conversation sets himself up a landmark to direct men in this turbulent and dangerous Sea▪ his light, 'tis true go…s forth to others, but the warmth and cherishing heat of it remains within his own breast. What cheerful what exulting reflections may he make upon himself, that can make good St Pauls protestation, Acts. 20. 26. that he is pure from the blood of all men; that he hath not by any scandalous example ensnared any soule; but on the contrary hath by positive illustrious acts of Vertue endeavored so to adorn his Christian profession, as to draw in Proselytes not to the name, but the obedience of Christ; That hath made it his business to stand in the gap, not only by his Intercessions with God against the Plagues, but by his endeavors with Men against the sins of the Nation, and by a steady opposing himself against the inundation of prophaneness and licentiousness, hath invited others to give some stop to those impure torrents? It has alwaies been accounted so glorious a thing to redeem ones Country from slavery, that men have thought their greatest hazards amply paid with the Title of a Patriot: but there is no vassalage so ignoble, no servitude so miserable, as that of Vice, and consequently no attempt so worthy, so ingenuous, so satisfactory to the undertaker, as to break that yoke. He that aspires to no more then a private Innocence▪ is onelyonly on the defensive part, stands upon his guard against Satan; but he that aimes at this sort of publick reformations, maintains an invasive War against him, and so more shakes his kingdom; The reducing of any sinner is the dispossessing him of so much of his usurpt territory, and weakens his Empire in the world. This is indeed the true Publick Spirit, which though many have pretended to from whom we discern nothing of these effects, yet those very pretensions bear witness to the excellency of the thing, and ought to animate men to be indeed, what so many have coveted to be thought.
28. I suppose I need not go on to the other instance; every mans sence, without consulting either his Reason or Religion, will be able to pronounce that 'tis better to be in Peace then Hostility, to have a whole then a wounded body, to keep securely his own station, then to be hunted like a Partridge on the Mountains by the Avenger of blood. The greater is the miracle, that men who in all other instances devote themselves wholly to their sensuality. should here onelyonly abjure it; that when body and soule come in competition, live as if they had no soule, yet upon this occasion can dare, as if they had no bodies. Oh that men should be such ill husbands of their sufferings, and thus enhance Satans markets! Alas, Hell is a purchase will never be taken out of their hands, how many chapmen soever they see about it, they may secure their Estate there firm enough by those sins they have more gust of; why should they be thus madly prodigal to outbid the common rate? Must Gentlemen buy Damnation, as they usually do Wares, dearer then other men? How is perdition become so amiable, that like Rachel a double servitude is judged light for it; whilst Heaven in the mean time, like Leah, is so much despised, that 'tis thought an injury to have that obtruded on them, though upon the easiest terms? Certainly they are strange transforming Optick's which these men make use of; would God they could be but perswaded, if not to break yet at least for a while to lay by those false Glasses, and behold things in their genuine and proper shapes, and then I doubt not they will discern That Honor to be infamy, which sets men at defiance with God; and that Reputation then alone becomes estimable, when like a River it paies its Tribute to the Ocean, promotes His Glory, at whose feet Kings (without diminution) cast both themselves and Crowns.