The Holy State, Book 3 · Chapter 20
CHAP. 20. Of Moderation.
MOderation is *Bishop Hall of Christian Moderation, pag. 6.the silken string running through the pearl-chain of all virtues. It appears both in Practice, and Judgement: we will insist on the latter, and describe it first negatively:
Moderation is not an halting betwixt two opinions, Maxime 1when the through-believing of one of them is necessary to salvation: no pity is to be shown to such voluntary cripples. We reade (Acts 27.12.) of an Haven in Crete which lay towards the South-West, and towards the North-West: strange, that it could have part of two opposite points, North and South, sure, it must be very winding. And thus some mens souls are in such intricate postures, they lay towards the Papists, and towards the Protestants; such we count not of a moderate judgement, but of an immoderate unsettlednesse.
Nor is it a lukewarmnesse in those things wherein Gods glory is concernd. 2Herein it's a true Rule, *Augustin. contra Adamant. cap. 13.Non amat qui non zelat. And they that are thus lukewarm here shall be too hot hereafter in that oven wherein Dow-bak'd cakes shall be burnt.
But it is a mixture of discretion and charity in ones judgement. 3Discretion puts a difference betwixt things absolutely necessary to salvation to be done and believed, and those which are of a second sort and lower form, wherein more liberty and latitude is allowed. In maintaining whereof, the stiffnesse of the judgement is abated, and suppled with charity towards his neighbour. The lukewarm man eyes onelyonly his own ends, and particular profit; the moderate man aims at the good of others, and unity of the Church.
4Yet such moderate men are commonly crush'd betwixt the extreme parties on both sides. But what said Ignatius? *Irenaeus lib. 5.I am Christs wheat, and must be ground with the teeth of beasts, that I may be made Gods pure manchet. Saints are born to suffer, and must take it patiently. Besides, in this world generally they get the least preferment; it faring with them as with the guest that sat in the midst of the table, who could reach to neither messe, above or beneath him:
Esuriunt Medii, Fines bene sunt saturati;
Dixerunt stulti, Medium tenuere beati.
Both ends o'th' table furnish'd are with meat,
Whilst they in middle nothing have to eat.
They were none of the wisest well I wist,
Who made blisse in the middle to consist.
Yet these temporall inconveniences of moderation are abundantly recompenced with other better benefits: for
1 A well inform'd judgement in it self is a preferment. Potamon began a sect of Philosophers called *Diog. Laert in fine Prooemii.foreign, who wholly adher'd to no former sect, but chose out of all of them what they thought best. Surely such Divines, who in unimporting controversies extract the probablest opinions from all Professions, are best at ease in their minds.
2 As the moderate mans temporall hopes are not great so his fears are the lesse. He fears not to have the splinters of his party (when it breaks) flie into his eyes, or to be buried under the ruines of his side if supprest. He never pinn'd his religion on any mans sleeve, no, not on the Arme of flesh, and therefore is free from all dangerous engagements.
3 His conscience is clear from raising Schismes in the Church. The Turks did use to wonder much at our English men for *Bidulph. in his travell to Ierusalem, pag. 98.pinking or cutting their clothes, counting them little better then mad for their pains to make holes in whole cloth, which time of it self would tear too soon. But grant men may doe with their own garments, as their phancy adviseth them: yet woe be to such who willingly cut and rend the seamlesse Coat of Christ with dissentions.
4 His religion is more constant and durable; being here, in via, in his way to Heaven, and jogging on a good Travellers pace he overtakes and out-goes many violent men, whose over-hot ill-grounded Zeal was quickly tired.
5 In matters of moment indeed none are more Zealous. He thriftily treasur'd up his spirits for that time, who if he had formerly rent his lungs for every trifle, he would have wanted breath in points of importance.
6 Once in an age the moderate man is in fashion, Each extreme courts him, to make them friends; and surely he hath a great advantage to be a Peace-maker betwixt opposite parties. Now whilest, as we have said, moderate men are constant to themselves,
Violent men reel from one extremity to another. Who would think that the East and West Indies were so near together, whose names speak them at diametricall opposition? And yet their extremities are either the same Continent, or parted with a very narrow Sea. As the world is round, so we may observe a circulation in opinions, and Violent men turn often round in their tenets.
6Pride is the greatest enemy to Moderation. This makes men stickle for their opinions, to make them fundamentall: Proud men having deeply studied some additionall point in Divinity, will strive to make the same necessary to salvation, to enhanse the value of their own worth and pains; and it must be fundamentall in religion, because it is fundamentall to their reputation. Yea as love doth descend, and men doat most on their Grandchildren, so these are indulgent to the deductions of their deductions, and consequentiall inferences to the seventh generation, making them all of the foundation, though scarce of the building of religion. *Irenaeus cap. 2.3. Tertull. de virgin. velan. Hilarius ad Constant. August. Taur. Maxim. Serm. de symbolo. August. Serm. 2. & 1081. De Tempore.Ancient Fathers made the Creed symbolum, the shot and totall summe of Faith. Since which how many arrearages, and after-reckonings have men brought us in? to which if we will not pay our belief, our souls must be arrested without bail upon pain of damnation. Next to Pride popular Applause is the greatest foe Moderation hath, and sure they who sail with that wind have their own vain glory for their Haven.
To close up all, Let men on Gods blessing soundly, yet wisely, whip and lash Lukewarmnesse and Time-serving, their thongs will never flie in the face of true Moderation, to do it any harm; for however men may undervalue it, that *Ambros. de poeniten. contra Novat. lib. 1. cap. 1Father spake most truly, Si virtutum finis ille sit maximus, qui plurimorum spectat profectum, Moderatio prope omnium pulcherrima est.