A Treatise of Self-Denial, Treatise · Chapter 31
CHAP. XXXI. New, Vain Hiſtories, and other Mens Matters, &c.
14. ANother piece of Carnal pleaſure to be denied, is, the Delight men have in reading unprofitable Hiſtories, and hearing News that do not concern us, and medling with other mens matters where we have no Call.
With ſome fancies this is a notable part of carnal delight: Many School-boys, and young effeminate wits are as much poyſoned and carried away with reading Romances, feigned hiſtories and tale-books, and play-books, as by almoſt any piece of ſenſuality. O the precious hours that have been loſt upon this traſh and trumpery; but of this I ſpoke before: that which now I ſpeak is, even true Hiſtory and Reports, as matter of meer News, to pleaſe a buſie ranging mind. Hiſtory is a very profitable ſtudy if it be uſed for right ends, and be rightly choſen. It's a very great help to underſtand the Scriptures, and to know the former and preſent ſtate of the Church; and ſee the wonderful works of providence, that otherwiſe would be as loſt to us. It is not fit that the wondrous works of God ſhould die with thoſe that have ſeen them, and not be tranſmitted to poſterity. God ſhould have the honour of his glorious works, from generation to genetion: and how ſhall that be if all be forgotten? He that knoweth nothing of any age but that which he lives in, is as fooli as he that knows nothing of any Country or Town but that which he lives in. Some Hiſtory is eſſential to our faith; and much more is integral to it; & yet much more is very ſerviceable to it. He that hath not ſome competent acquaintance with Church-Hiſtory, will be at great diſadvantages in the holding and defending his …aith it ſelf againſt an Infidel, or the purity of Religion againſt a Papiſt. And he that knoweth not the preſent ſtate of the world, and of the Church through the world, doth ſcarce know how to order his affections, or compoſe his prayers even in thoſe greateſt petitions, about the honour & Kingdom & will of God. They cannot grieve with the Church in grief, nor mourn with it when it mourns: ſo that it is a great duty of a Chriſtian to labour to underſtand by Hiſtory the former and preſent ſtate of the Church: And it is a great mark of a gracious ſoul that longs to hear of the proſperity of the Saints, and free progreſs of the Goſpel; and a mark of a graceleſs perſon that careth not for theſe things.
But when Hiſtory is not uſed to acquaint us with the matters of God, or to ſurniſh us with uſeful knowledge, but to pleaſe a ranging carnal mind, then it is but ſinful ſenſuality or vanity. Many perſons have no ſuch delight to read the uſeful Hiſtory of Church-affairs, as they have to read the curiouſly penned, though leſs uſeful Hiſtory of other matters. Though I know that the Hiſtory of the whole world is very ſerviceable to the knowledge of Divine things: yet they that uſe it to holy ends, will make choice accordingly, and be no more in it than may ſuit with thoſe ends. It is the moſt humane, with the moſt light, ridiculous paſſages that are moſt pleaſing to vain unſanctified wits; but the godly delight in it ſo far as it ſhews them ſomething of God, and leadeth them to him. In the very reading of Scripture, a carnal reader may be much pleaſed with the Hiſtory, that hath no ſavour in the Doctrine, but is weary to read it: and yet I muſt add this caution by the way; If we find a carnal kind of delight in Scripture-hiſtory or any other that is profitable, we muſt not therefore caſt off the Hiſtory, but ſeek after the cure of our diſeaſe, that we may ſpiritually take pleaſure in all for God, and he may be the beginning, & end, & the life, & the All of our ſtudies and delights: And though our carnal delight in News and Hiſtory be a ſin in us; yet God doth ſometime make it an occaſion of Good by leading us to that holy truth, which after may be the means of our ſanctification, though at firſt we received it but as a Novelty.
And ſo the carnal pleaſure that many have in hearing News, and ſitting with folks that will talk of other mens matters, or things that concern them not, is nothing but a ſinful pleaſing of the fancy, and loſs of time, and neglect of greater matters which call for all our time and care. It was the voice of the Athenians, Act. 17. 21. [for all the Athenians and ſtrangers that were there, ſpent their time in nothing elſe but either to tell or to hear ſome new thing] yea novelty of Doctrine and Religion, and Teachers, is a ſnare and bait to carnal fancies, which many are taken by, that are forſaken of God, having firſt forſaken him, and proved falſe to the truth received.