The Holy State, Book 3 · Chapter 19
CHAP. 19. Of Time-serving.
THere be foure kinds of Time-serving: first, out of Christian discretion, which is commendable; second, out of humane infirmity, which is more pardonable; third, and fourth, out of ignorance, or affection, both which are damnable: of them in order.
Maxime 1He is a good Time-server that complyes his manners to the severall ages of this life: pleasant in youth, without wantonnesse; grave in old age without frowardnesse. Frost is as proper for winter, as flowers for spring. Gravity becomes the ancient; and a green Christmas is neither handsome nor healthfull.
2He is a good Time-server that finds out the fittest opportunity for every action. God hath made a time for every thing under the sunne, save onelyonly for that, which we do at all times, to wit Sinne.
3He is good Time-server that improves the present for Gods glory, and his own salvation. Of all the extent of time. onelyonly the instant is that which we can call ours.
4He is a good Time-server that is pliant to the times in matters of mere indifferency. Too blame are they whose minds may seem to be made of one entire bone without any joynts: they cannot bend at all, but stand as stiffly in things of pure indifferency, as in matters of absolute necessity.
5He is a good Time-server that in time of persecution neither betrayes Gods cause, nor his own safety. And this he may do,
1 By lying hid both in his person and practice: though he will do no evil he will forbear the publick doing of some good. He hath as good cheer in his heart, though he keeps not open house, and will not publickly broch his Religion, till the palat of the times be better in taste to rellish it. The *Annos. 5. v. 13.Prudent shall keep silence in that time, for it is an evil time. Though according to S. Peters command we are to give a *1. Pet. 3.15.reason of our hope to every one that asketh; namely, that asketh for his instruction, but not for our destruction, especially if wanting lawfull Authority to examine us. *Matth. 10.18.Ye shall be brought saith Christ (no need have they therefore to run) before Princes for my sake.
2 By flying away: if there be no absolute necessity of his staying, no scandall given by his flight; if he wants strength to stay it out till death; and lastly, if God openeth a fair way for his departure: otherwise, if God bolts the doores and windows against him, he is not to creep out at the top of the chimney, and to make his escape by unwarrantable courses. If all should flie, Truth would want champions for the present; if none should flie, Truth might want champions for the future. We come now to Time-servers out of infirmity.
Heart of oke hath sometimes warp'd a little in the scorching heat of persecution. 6Their want of true courage herein cannot be excused. Yet many censure them for surrendring up their forts after a long siege, who would have yielded up their own at the first summons. Oh, there is more required to make one valiant, then to call Cranmer or Jewell Coward, as if the fire in Smithfield had been no hotter, then what is painted in the Book of Martyrs.
Yet afterwards they have come into their former straightnesse & stiffnesse. 7The troops which at first rather wheeld about then ran away have come in seasonable at last. Yea their constant blushing for shame of their former cowardlinesse hath made their souls ever after look more modest and beautifull. Thus Cranmer (who subscribed to Popery) grew valiant afterwards, and thrust his right hand which subscribed first into fire, so that that hand dyed (as it were) a malefactour and all the rest of his body dyed a martyr.
8Some have served the times out of mere Ignorance. Gaping for company, as others gap'd before them, Pater noster, or, Our Father. I could both sigh and smile at the witty▪ simplicity of a poore old woman who had lived in the dayes of Queen Marie, and Queen Elizabeth, and said her prayers dayly both in Latine and English, and Let God, said she, take to himself which he likes best.
9But worst are those who serve the times out of mere Affectation. Doing as the times do, not because the times do as they should do, but merely for sinister respects, to ingratiate themselves. We reade of an Earl of *Lord Bacon in Henry seventh, p. 211.Oxford fined by King Henrie the seventh fifteen thousand marks for having too many Retainers. But how many Retainers hath Time had in all ages? and Servants in all offices? yea and Chaplains too?
10It is a very difficult thing to serve the times; they change so frequently, so suddenly, and sometimes so violently from one extreme to another. The times under Dioclesian were Pagan; under Constantine, Christian; under Constantius, Arian; under Julian, Apostate; under Jovian, Christian again, and all within the age of man, the term of seventie years. And would it not have wrench'd and spraind his soul with short turning, who in all these should have been of the Religion for the time being?
11Time-servers are oftentimes left in the lurch. If they do not onelyonly give their word for the times in their constant discourses, but also give their bands for them, and write in their defence. Such, when the times turn afterwards to another extreme, are left in the briers, and come off very hardly from the bill of their hands; If they turn again with the times none will trust them; for who will make a staff of an osier?
12Miserable will be the condition of such Time-servers when their Master is taken from them. When as the Angel swore Rev. 10.6. that Time shall be no longer. Therefore is it best serving of him who is eternity, a Master that can ever protect us.
To conclude, he that intends to meet with one in a great Fair, and knows not where he is, may sooner find him by standing still in some principall place there, then by traversing it up and down. Take thy stand on some good ground in Religion, and keep thy station in a fixed posture, never hunting after the times to follow them, and an hundred to one, they will come to thee once in thy lifetime.