A Bridle for the Tongue, Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Of the flattering tongue.
SECT. 1. Flattering defined.
WE are now to treat of another ſin of the tongue, ſc. the ſin of Flattering, which may thus be defined.
Flattering is a ſin whereby men beguile others with deceitful praiſe; or as one ſaith, It is an overthwart praiſing or commending of another: Flattery is ingendered by Pride, hatch'd up by Arrogance, and perpetually ſoftered by fools; for they are the Anvils on which the flatterer ſtil beateth, who by reaſon of their weakneſs take no notice of his inſinuation, but are preſently puft up with thoſe Peacocks tails he ſticks in their foreheads; folly and popularity are his prime objects, and he is ſtill preſent where they predominate; his tongue is in the ear of every affectatour, although at the ſame time at a great diſtance from his own heart; he cannot be truly generous, becauſe he is a ſlave to other mens humours,Lentons charact. as One well obſerveth: Flattering is a great ſin; it was become generall in Davids dayes. Pſal, 12. for he complaineth, they ſpeak vanity every one with his neighbour; with flattering lips, and with a double heart do they ſpeak. ver. 2. and the more general it ſpreads among us, the more reaſon we have to labour againſt it; for the more ſpreading,foreign labia blanditiarum, quas Chaldaeus vocat foreign adulationes: Sicut lingua pro ſermone paſſim accipitur, ita labium aliquandò, ut cum dicitu…, Terra labii unius. Gen. 11.1. unum labium. ver 6. peccare labiis Job 1.21. Venenum ſub labiis. Pſal. 14.3. Labium Electum. Zeph. 3.9. Lorinus. in Pſal. 12. the more dangerous.
SECT. 2. Sheweth that men may be guilty of this ſin five wayes. Two Queſtions about the performance of promiſes anſwered.
NOw I will ſhew how many ways men may be guilty of this ſin.
1. When men promiſe in fair words more then they intend to perform; thus do men flatter with God and men: we read of ſome that flattered with God. Pſal. 78.34, 35, 36. When He ſlew them, then they ſought him, and enquired early after God, and they remembred that God was their Rock, &c. Nevertheleſs they flattered him with their mouth, and lyed unto him with their tongue: how uſual is it for men to flatter God in afflictions! how many fair promiſes do they make that they will become new men! but at laſt they deal with God as the Iſraelites did, when as their hearts are as bad as before, ſo that they turn with the dog to his vomit, when they are well again: This ſort of flatterers exceed the ordinary ſort of diſſemblers with men, carrying their diſſembling up as high as God himſelf, ſeeking to put as great a cheat upon God as upon men, being grown ſ… cunning as thoſe cut-pu…ſes that will uſe their Art not onelyonly in the face of the Court, or at the time and place of the execution of their fellowes, but will pick the pocket even of the Judge himſelf,Crooks hypocrit. Part. 1. chap. 25. as One well noteth: God may ſay to ſuch perſons as Delilah to Sampſon, How canſt thou ſay I love thee, when thy heart is not with me? Judg. 16.15.
The Flatterer likewiſe is large in his promiſes to men, like Antigonus (by a Sarcaſm nick named foreign) alwayes ready to give, but never giving,foreign verbis mult…m polli…etur, re nihil praeſtat. Beza. large in promiſing, ſhort in pe…forming The Flatte…er is an excellent Merchant of words, traffiqueth much in promiſes, but breaketh when it cometh to performance. A flatterer boaſteth of a falſe gift, and is no better then clouds and Wind without Rain, Prov. 25.14.
Queſt. But here it may be demanded, whether a man be bound to the performance of all his promiſes to men?
Reſp.1. We are bound to perform ſuch promiſes as are poſſible. A man may promiſe and bind with an oath, that he will leave ſuch a One his Heir to ſuch an Houſe and Land, which is then in his poſſeſſion; but afterward the Land being eaten up of the Sea, or the Houſe conſumed and burnt down by fire, its impoſſible for him to perform that promiſe in ſo ample a manner as he made it; yet is he not perjured, if once he purpoſed to perform it ſo far as was in his power. Item, if one promiſe to pay ſuch a ſumm of money at a certain time and place, and he be robbed by the way, he breaks not his promiſe, becauſe he purpoſed to do it, and was prevented by Gods providence: but men ſhould be ſparing in making any promiſes abſolutely, but with St. James's limitation. Jam. 4.13, 14, 15. elſe the raſh unadviſed making them is ſin.
2. In vowes and promiſes, the thing promiſed muſt be lawful; the rule is, In malis promiſſis reſcinae fidem, in turpi voto muta decretum.
The like caſe may happen, if a child promiſe with an oath to take ſuch a one for his wife; but being come to years of diſcretion, ſeeth manifeſt cauſe of refuſal, as want of conſent of Parents, diſparity in Religion, or the like; ſuch promiſes bind not. Numb. 30.
It may further be demanded, Queſt. whether an enfo ced promiſe be to be kept, and performed or not? as for inſtance; If a Woman being threatned or ill-entreated by her Husband, ſhall thereupon in hope of procuring her peace, and to live better with him, promiſe to paſs over to him an Eſtate in ſome Land that he could not do away without her conſent; Whither is this woman when it comes to the puſh bound to perform it, or not?
Reſp.If her ſelf only be like to ſuſtain loſs thereby, ſhe is bound to perform it, becauſe it was in her power as well to have denyed it, or ſuſpended her anſwer, as to have paſt her promiſe; Therefore the Caſuiſts hold it fit enough that ſhe pay for her folly: But if ſhe have children, who are likely to be prejudiced in their Right, and depraved of their ancient Inheritance, ſhe is not bound to perform her promiſe: a good man ſweareth to his own private hurt. Pſal. 15.4. but the Prophet preſſeth the point no fu…ther.
Queſt. What may be ſaid of promiſes given to enemies?
Reſp.If the conditious be lawfull, they muſt be kept, as that of Joſhua to the Gibeonites. Joſhua 9.15, 19.
2. Men may be guilty of this ſin of flattering when they do overmuch commend another beyond what is his due: As firſt, when men applaud others to their faces for their Parts, Virtues, good Deeds, that do little deſerve it; this is flattering when men extoll others, their Perſons, Guts, Actions, above what they know or think, either to get favour with them, or ſome other way for their own advantage.
A flatterer will report he heard ſuch worthy things of thee,Eltons. Expoſit. in praec. 9. Quī coram laudamur, ſumma gravitate, ſummaque modeſtia laudentur neceſſe eſt, ne ſcurrae magis & adulatores quam orato…es videamur. Brandolin. although it were nothing ſo; and if he know any good done by thee, he will praiſe thee with a loud voice; whereas Solomon tels us, He that bleſſeth his friend with a loud voice, riſing early in the morning, it ſhall be counted a curſe to him.
2. When men by flattery do applaud any in their ſins;Both to vertue and to vice, is flattery a falſe glaſs, making the one ſeem greater, the other leſſe then it is. Felthams reſolves. Cent. 2. When Aeſchines commended Philip of Macedon, that he was well-ſpoken, fair, and able to drink well: Demoſthenes anſwered, the firſt was the commendation of an Advocate, the ſecond of a Woman, the third of a ſponge. I had rather commend the vertues of an Enemy, then flatter the vices of Friend. this ſheweth a high deg…ee of corruption, and baſeneſs in ſuch perſons: thoug they ſee men go on in ſin, yet they bleſs thoſe whom God abhorreth. Pſal. 10.3. Bleſſing them in their wicked ways, dealing with them as the fawning Oratour Tertullus doth with that unjuſt Governour Felix, telling him, that by him they enjoyed great quietneſs, and that very worthy deeds were done to the Nation by his providence, Act. 24.3. Whereas Felix was no ſuch man as Tertullus reporteth him to be; becauſe when Paul reaſoneth of Righteouſneſs, Temperance, and Judgement to come, Felix trembled. ver. 25. being ſo intemperate a man, and unjuſt an oppreſſour, as Hiſtorians relate concerning him: and we may take notice, that flatterers doe love thoſe that will ſooth them up in their ſins: God tells the rebellious Jews, that they would ſay to the Prophets, Prophecy not to us right things, ſpeak to us ſmooth things, prophecy deceits. Iſ…i. 30.10. Flattering Miniſters are here to be taxed, that ſeek to pleaſe, not to profit their people, and ſo ſhew themſelves not to be the ſervants of Chriſt. Gal. 1.10. by crying Peace, Peace, where there is no peace; One building up a wall, and others daubing it with untempered Morter. Ezek. 13.10. refraining wholſom Doctrine to ſecure themſelves from danger; not daring with Nathan to ſay to a great ſinner, Thou art the man; nor with Elias to Ahab, It is Thou and thy Fathers Houſe; nor with John Baptiſt to Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brothers wife; nor with Chriſt, O ye ſerpents, ye generation of vipers, how ſhall ye eſcape damnation? Such as theſe do hinder the building of the ſpiritual Temple, not hewing and ſawing rough timber, nor planing and poliſhing rubbiſh ſtones, but rub with ſmooth ſlikeſtones, and wipe with Foxes skins: whereas they ſhould cry aloud, and not ſpare, but lift up their voices like Trumpets againſt the ſins of their people; they are to be ſons of thunder. Mar. 3.17. It is the ſon of Thunder that ſpeaketh,Filius tonitrus eſt qui loquitur, & tonitrum est quod loquitur. and it ought to be Thunder that he doth ſpeak; except ye repent ye ſhall all periſh. There were 400 Prophets, a whole national Synod, all led by a lying ſpirit. They all flatter King Ahab, bidding him go up to Ramoth Gilead and proſper; the whole Council did vote it, but Michaiah was not among them; he was ſent for and courted to ſpeak as the others had done; he ſpeaks Ironically, go up and proſper, delivering it ſo that Abab perceived he jeered him, as appeareth by Ahabs anſwer: then he ſpeaks more plainly to him, telling him, that he ſaw all Iſrael ſcattered upon the Hills as Sheep that have not a Shepherd; implying that the Sheep (the Army of Iſrael) ſhould eſcape, and the Shepherd (the King) ſhould be ſmitten; and ſheweth him the reaſon why his Prophets ſpake the contrary, ſc. becauſe they were poſſeſſed with a lying ſpirit: yet Ahab would not harken to him, but commandeth the Prophet to Priſon, and there to be kept till he ſhould return in peace: Thus he flattereth and promiſeth himſelf victory, and a falſe return.
3. When men fawningly give unto any more honour then is due unto them:None ſo fawning as fancy-feeding flatterers. Herod flattered the people by killing of James, and perſecuting of Peter, for which they gratify him with a flattery again, by a blaſphemous acclamation which coſt him his life, Act. 12.2, 3.22, 23. At his eloquent Oration they gave a ſhout, ſaying It is the voyce of a God not of a man. We read Dan. 11.2. there ſhall ſtand up a vile perſon, which according to interpreters, is Antiochus Epiphanes the great King of Aſſyria; his name ſignifieth Illuſtrious, yet God calls him a vile perſon: Now Joſephus writing of this man, ſaith, that the Samaritans when they ſaw how he perſecuted the Jews, they ſought his favour, and would not own themſelves Jews, and in a Letter they wrote thus unto him, To Antiochus the mighty God. Good men have ever abhorred ſuch kind of flatteries; Elihu would not give flattering Titles to men; for ſaith he, I know not to give flattering Titles; in ſo doing my Maker would ſoon take me away. Job 32.21, 22.
4. When men are full of vain complements, affected phraſes, and pretended courteſies; the flatterer will tell you he is your very good friend, your moſt humble ſervant, and ready to be commanded by you; he kiſſeth your hand, or the hemm of your Garment; but as (one ſaith) with a kiſs of a Joab or a Judas; Some ſay that the Hebrew word that is rendered to flatter, ſignifies Dividere, to divide, becauſe the flatterers Tongue is divided from his heart.If you come to his Table fu…niſhed with variety of diſhes, he deeply proteſteth to you that you are moſt heartily welcome, and calls oft upon you to eat and drink, when perhaps he wiſheth every bit you eat may choak you: When he meets any man by the way in the ſtreet, or the open Marker, he will fawn upon him, as if he would creep into his mouth, and throw himſelf at his feet; but as ſoon as he turns his back,It is ſaid of Xiſtus 5. that he was the moſt crouching humble Cardinal, and the moſt ſtout and reſolute Pope that ever wore Crown. he looks over his ſhoulder and mocks him to the next he meeteth, bragging how neatly he cozened him. St. Matthem ſets down the form of that flattering ſalutation that Judas uſed to Chriſt, when he betrayed him with a kiſs, Ave Rabbi. Mat. 26.49. St. Mark ſaith, he ingeminated it; Maſter Maſter. Mar. 14.45. as if he had ſaid, alas Maſter! that it is thy hard hap to fall into ſuch troubleſome times, and ſuch danger, from which I wiſh it were in my power to reſcue thee! But alas! we are weak and weaponleſs; few and but feeble in compariſon of this great company, to which ſome think he made ſhew of not coming among, but accidentally,Ret…nens adhuc aliquid ve…ecund…ae, non dedit ſignum violentiae, ſed amoris. and ſo would kiſs his Maſter out of ſhew of love, and lothneſs to leave him: Some think he had ſome Reverence yet remaining in him to his Maſter, when he kiſſed him; but he cometh in a diſſembling manner, ut c…cultior eſſet prodentis dolus, & minor proditi metus, Beda in Marc 14.kiſſing him that he might not be ſuſpected doing any thing more then what is uſual and ordinary: he kiſſeth him, ſaith Boſquier, Boſquier. Theatr. Patient.which was as familiar at meetings and partings among the Jewes as ſhaking hands is among us. Auguſtine ſaith,Auguſt. ſerm 28. ad fratres in Eremo. our Saviour had beſtowed many favours upon him, that he had ſaved Judas from the Gallows, cured his Father of the Leproſie, and his Mother (with whom he ſaith this Miſcreant had committed villany) of the Palſy, made him his Diſciple, and the Almoner or Steward of his Houſhold, found him often falſe and ſpared him, yea even admitted him to the Sacrament; yet thus he requited him.
5. Many unfaithful ſervants are guilty of this ſin, when they entice and draw away their Maſters cuſtomers by whom they have their livelyhood; this ſin is too notorious in Towns and Cityes, when Apprentices come to be Journey-men, and to ſet up for themſelves; for as Abſolom ſtole away the hearts of the men of Iſrael, by flattering them, and calumniating his Father. 2 Sam. 15.6.. So this ſort of people do …eal away the hearts of their Maſte… cuſtomers, by fawning upon them, telling them they ſhall have better choice of wares, better uſuage, and long forbearance: they are to be condemned for impiety, that are thus falſe and unfaithful to their Maſters.
SECT. 3. Of the greatneſs of this ſin ſhewed in ſeven things: of the miſchiefs it doth to thoſe that are deceived by it, ſhewed in divers particulars.
Now that ye may avoid this ſin, I ſhall endeavour to ſet down the hainouſneſs thereof.
1. A flattering tongue is a double tongue. 1 Tim. 3.8. Such a double tongue had Joab, when he ki…led Abner in Hebron, and Amaſa, with whom diſſembling, as a great friend, meeting him upon the way in the open field, and friendly ſaluting him, ſaid, Art thou in health my brother? 2 Sam. 2.9, 10. then taking him by the beard with the right hand, as if he meant to kiſs him, drew forth his ſword with the left hand, and ſmote him under the fifth rib, ſo that all his Bowels fell out upon the ground: ſuch are propery called hypocrites: one compareth ſuch tongues to the tongues of grey-hounds, or dogs exerciſed in hunting, whoſe tongues are ſo apt and pliable, that very eaſily they are every way turned double; and hereunto ſome think the Pſalmiſt alludeth in that phraſe, Pſal, 68.25. the tongue of the dogs in the blood of the enemy.Blondus for his extream flatteries was uſually called Blandus foreign the tongue quaſi foreign of foreign to know, ſignifying, that the tongue ſhould ſpeak nothing but what the heart meaneth.
Flattering Clawbacks are ſtudents in brazen-fac'd Colledge. The flatterer bears in his armes, a cleven or divided tongue, and a double heart.As a Looking-glaſs doth imitate whatſoever is ſet before it, and doth repreſent the likeneſſes of them that look in it, but by a contrary way; for it ſheweth the left ſide to be the right; and if you look into the Eaſt, it repreſents you looking toward the Weſt: Even ſo a flatterer in voice and geſture will imitate thee: if thou laugh and be merry, he alſo will be merry and pleaſant; if thou weepeſt, he alſo will weep for company; if thou wilt backbite and ſlander a man, he will take thy part, and will with obloquies and ſlanders wound the ſame man: if thou wilt praiſe thy ſelf, he will help thee; or if thou loveſt to hear thy ſelf praiſed of others, he will carry thee as it were upon the wings of praiſes and commendations, up into the clouds and lofty sky. Through his ſubtil ſlights he bendeth himſelf every way; he handleth old men gravely,Gawdr. Simil. and young-men courteouſly: the flatterer hath alway the geſtures, voices, inclinations and diſpoſitions of all perſons high and low at his fingers ends: he leaves out none, that he may deceive all; the flatterer is double-tongued: Now he extolleth thee, and ſetteth thee aloft with great praiſes, & by and by will caſt thee down with wrongs and injuryes, as one hath well obſerved He that is fi…ſt a flatterer;Servo. d'altrui Si fà: Chi dice il ſuo ſecreto a chi no'l ſar. He makes himſelf a ſervile wretch to others evermore, That tells his ſecrets unto ſuch that knew them not before. will afterward be a tale bearer, and a revealer of ſecrets. Prov. 17.9. He that flattereth thee to thy face, will ſlander thee behind thy back. He that will hide a man from himſelf, will diſpay him to others. A flatterer if he doth not tempt a man to ſin, yet he flattereth him in it; or (at leaſt) concealeth his knowledge of it, keeping his friend hood-winkt from a true ſight of his own faults, whereby he might mend them, but will not long keep them from others who will deſpiſe his friend for them, as a judicious Divine hath noted.Adulatio blanda omnibus applaudit, omnibus Salve dicit, prodigos vocat liberales, avaros parcos & ſapientes, laſcivos curiales, garrulos affaliles, obſtinatos conſtantes, pigr…s maturos & graves; haec ſagitta levitèr volat, & citò infigitur. Caſſiodor. in quad. Epiſt.
2. Flattering is a ſin much diſpleaſing to God. He that juſtifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the juſt, are both an abomination to the Lord. Prov. 17.15. A wo is denounced againſt them that call evil good. Iſai. 5. and he ſaith, Wo to them that ſow pillowes to all arm holes: will ye hunt the ſouls of my people, and will ye ſave the ſouls alive that come unto you? and will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to ſlay the ſouls alive that ſhould not die, and to ſave the ſouls that ſhould not live by your lying to my people. Ezek. 13.15, 16, 17, 18, 19. The falſe flattering Prophets prophecied againſt the Godly, that they ſhould dye, and ſo dep…ived them of their peace and comfort, and the apprehenſions they had of Gods favour, and filled them with fears,Greenhill's Expoſit. in Ezek. 13. Juſte viventibus adulatores prophetant mo…tem & infortunium, & injuſtis qui per peccatum mortui ſunt, prophetant vitam & proſperitatem, propter dona temporalia ſibi ab illis data. Lyra in Locum. grief, and ſad thoughts, if they harkned to Jeremiah, and ſubmitted to Nebuchadnezzar; or thus, as one noteth, they ſtirred up the people againſt them that were Godly, and would not believe their prophecies, provoking the Magiſtrates to ſlay them before their time, who by the courſe of nature ſhould have lived longer: and they promiſed life and peace to thoſe to whom they ſhould have threatned warre and miſery; God therefore threatens a ſevere judgement againſt them. ver. 22, 23.
3. Flatterers have ever been odious to wiſe men; this made Diogenes call Ariſtippus (flatterer to Dionyſius) a dog; another time a well coucht ſnare. Conſtantine called the flatterer a Moth: Horace the Lyrick Poet gives him the name of a Fox. Aeneas Sylvius reporteth that Sigiſmund the Emperour ſoothing a flatterer up in his folly, and uſing familiar geſtures with him, at laſt lifted up his hand and gave him a good box on the ear, and the other finding fault with this injury done him, ſaid, Alas my Lord, why do you ſmite me? the Emperour replyed why doſt thou bite me? a blow is the beſt reward for a bite.
4. Flattering is a ſin very pleaſing… to the Devil: it is as one ſaith, the Devil's inviſible net, Rot… Diaboli inviſibile. Perald. de v…s. Amici vulnera quam inimicorum oſcula ſunt utiliora. Ambros. Timeo Danaos & dona ferentes. When flattery is reſident in the tongue as Porter, Satan keeps Court and fits preſident in the heart, as King and chief Ruler. Impia ſub dulci melle venena latent. Ovid.which by the flatterer he ſpreadeth to intangle us. A man that flattereth his neighbour ſpreadeth a net for his feet. Prov. 26.6. by flattering the Devil himſelf deceived our firſt Parents: and when he cannot at any time overcome us by force, he laboureth to overcome us by fraud: when temptations and tribulations cannot bear us down, he laboureth to charm us with his flatteries: Satan ever makes ſhew of moſt love when he intendeth the greateſt miſchief; he covereth his hatred with a cloak of love, and ſo do all flatterers; when they make moſt ſhew, there is leaſt love. He that hateth, diſſembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him. Prov. 26.24. flatterers do ſpread the Devils Net befor thoſe that are flattered by them: the flatterer by his mout… (one way or other) deſtroyeth his neighbour. Adulatores homici…ae ſunt, & prodit… es, quoniam ſub ſpecie a micitiae homin…m int… ficiunt, ut ſub ſpecie oſculi (ut Judas) hominem tradant Diabolo. Alex. Fabrit. part. 4. cap. 15.Prov. 11.9. faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kiſſes of an enemy are deceitful. Prov. 2….6. Flatterers are man-ſlayers and ſuch as do betray us, killing a man under the ſhew of friendſhip, and with a ſeeming kiſs (like Judas) they be ray a man into the han…s of the Devil.
5. It is a ſhame to be commended by ſuch vile tongue as the tongue of a flatterer: the praiſe of w…cked men ſaith Seneca, is a manifeſt inſtant that the praiſed is like unto the praiſer: Therefore Antiſthenes the great Philoſopher was very much offended, when he heard that certain lewd fellows had highly commended him, as Diogenes Laertius tells us,O me miſerum, metuo ne in crimen aliquod inciderem. Diog. Laert. which made him ſay, wretched man that I am, I fear no greater miſhap could have befallen me: another Philoſopher alſo being told that ſome of evil converſation had liberally praiſed him, anſwered, Alas what evil have I done?
6. It is a very fooliſh thing to flatter any man whatſoever;Titles without Truth, are like Lanthorns without light, buds without bloſſoms, flowers without fruit. it is great folly to praiſe a man to his face; it is as if one would ſell a man to himſelf: whence it was that one ſaid to a man flattering him, why d…ſt thou praiſe me to my ſelf, wilt thou ſell me to my ſelf? The folly of a flatterer may farther be demonſtrated, in that he flattereth another to find favour with him, which he ſhould the bet…er obtain if he ſpake the truth unto him. Hence it is that Solomon ſaith, He that rebuketh a man, afterwards ſhall find more favour then he that flattereth with the tongue. Prov. 28.23 and elſewhere he ſaith, He that ſaith to the wicked thou art righteous, him ſhall the people curſe, Nations ſhall abhorr him: but to them that rebuke him ſhall be delight, and a good blesſing ſhall come upon them: every man ſhall kiſs his lips that giveth a right anſwer, Prov. 24.24, 25, 26.
7. A flatterer is worſe then a ſlanderer, becauſe detraction and ſlandering are means to humble him;Ipſi ſunt Sacerdo…es De…holi hominis vivo… ſe pelientes. Perald. Tim 2 de peccato linguae. but flattering extolls a man, and by means thereof a man is apt to be puft up; Thus Herod was puft up with pride at the vain flattery of the people; When men are highly extolled and commended, they are apt to have high thoughts of themſelves; One calleth flatteres the devils Prieſts, burying men alive; and under the pretence of adorning others, they ſully them and ſtrangle them.
8. Let us therefore conſider what miſchief it doth to thoſe that are deceived by it. 1. It is an occaſion of drawing men to ſin: thus the Harlot deceiveth the young man; ſhe inviteth him to come to her, ſaying, let us take our fill of love, &c. for the good man is not at home, he is gone a long journey, he hath taken a bagg of money with him, and will come at the day appointed; ſo with much fair ſpeeches ſhe …auſeth him to yield, with the flattering …f her lips ſhe forceth him. Prov. 7.…8, 19, 20, 21. The lips of a ſtrange …oman drop as a honey-comb, and her mouth is ſmoother thin oile. Prov. 5.8. The Princes of Judah, after the death of Jehojada did obeiſance to Joaſh to flatter him into idolatry. 2 Chron. 24.17.Sicut finis oratoris eſt dictione perſuaſiſſe, & medici medicinâ cur…ſſe; ſic adulatoris eſt finis … vi loquio decepaſſe. Chryſoſt. Flattering is an infectious plague, a damnable diſeaſe, a ſweet poiſon, a deadly hony-bait that deceiveth by enticing, and poiſoneth by ſweet perſwading; it is the Siren that draws many to deſtruction.
2. To flatter men in any evil courſe is a means to harden them in ſin;Adulantium linguae ligant homines in peccatis: dele…at enim ea facere in quibus non ſolum non metuitur repraehenſor, ſed etiam laudatur operator. Auguſt. ſ…p. Pſal 9. when men meet with ſuch that will ſooth them up in ſin, they are hardened in ſin: a man is kept in his wickedneſs and hardned in it, when he thinketh he doth that which is good and right: the duplicate page duplicate page tongues of flatterers do bind men in ſinful courſes, for it delighteth them to do thoſe things in which not only they fear no reprover, but alſo the doer of them is praiſed: A mind that knoweth it ſelf guilty, is in a manner dejected to a ſervile flattery.
3. It makes men neglect to ſeek after the vertues or excellencies for which the flatterer commendeth them; this makes many unuſeful, that otherwiſe by diligence might have deſerved true praiſe; as Carneades obſerved in the ſons of Princes, who could indeed learn nothing deſerving honour but horſemanſhip; for in all other things their teachers would flatter them by commending them without cauſe, and ſo keep them from labouring after the truth of thoſe excellencies for which they falſely praiſed them. Therefore Antiſthenes judged it leſs harm to light into the power of Ravens, then into the hands of flatterers; and another Philoſopher quarrelling with one about words,Sicut corvi cadaverum oculos …ff…di…u…, ſic a…ulatores ſuis laudibus hom num animas corrun… …unt. Anton. Moner. in Meliſſâ. parte. 1. many unſeemly ſpeeches paſſed between them: quoth one of them, peradventure I may live to ſee thee hanged, and then the Ravens to come and pick out thy eyes; whereunto the other anſwered; Perh…ps I may live to ſee thee fall among flatterers; for Ravens pick out the eyes but of the dead, whereas flatterers dig them forth while they are living. A faithful friend is as a wiſe Phyſitian, that conſidereth the condition of his Patient, not giving him that which may pleaſe, but that which may do him moſt good: a true Lover woundeth his friend as well as embraceth him: but thoſe wounds are the wounds of a Chirurgion, not of an Enemy: The Holy ſmitings of a righteous man he takes for a kindneſs, and feareth not that ſuch as excellent oyle will break his head. Pſal. 141.5.
4. It makes men fearleſs of judgement and danger, untill they fall into that miſery they were not aware of: Thus the young man (befooled by the wanton Harlots flatteries) goes after her ſtraight way as an Oxe goeth to the ſlaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the ſtocks, till a dart ſtrike thorow his liver; he haſteneth to his ruine as a bird haſteneth to the ſnare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. Prov. 7.22, 23. By flattering words men are put into fools Paradiſe, and peſwaded all is well, when it is quite contrary; and when men are ſoothed up and flattered in ſin, hence it cometh to paſs that they drop into the bottomleſs pit before they are aware of it, not fearing the torments of Hell till they feel them.
5. This carriage is croſs to the carriage of God to his people whom he loveth; the more near and dear any people are to God, the more he will make them to know their ſins by warnings, and by puniſhments if they take not warning: Thus he ſpeaks to the children of Iſrael; You onelyonly have I known above all the families in the earth; therefore I will puniſh you for your iniquityes. Amos 3.2. If David ſin, who was a man after Gods own heart, God will not let him alone in his ſin, but Nathan the Prophet, and Gad his Seer ſhall be ſent unto him, that he may come to a fight of his ſin, and be brought out of it: therefore they that flatter others in ſin, they ſhew not Gods, but the devils kindneſs to thoſe they pretend to love.
6. Conſider how God will deal with thoſe that are flatterers;Labiis & Linguae exciſionem imprecatur, cum tamen malum hoc reverà non ſit labiorum, nec linguae, quae ſunt inſtrumenta, ſed cordis, tanquam ipſius ſontis, cui labia & lingua miniſtrant: Sic igitur deteſtabile eſt hoc malum, ut non ſolùm cor undè fluit, ſed & labia & lingua quibus v…lut inſtrumentis diſpenſatur, rectè deteſtationi & exciſioni ſubijciantur. Muſcul. ad Pſ. 12. God will cut off ſuch flattering tongues ſooner or latter, Pſal. 12.3. Whither they flatter others in ſin, or too much extoll what is good in them: All ſuch flattering lips ſhall be cut off: Some read the words of the Pſalmiſt as an imprecation; let God cut off all flattering lips; the Prophet being moved with zeal for the Glory of God, prays that they may be cut off, and they ſhall be cut off. Elihu ſaith, if he ſhould give flattering titles to any, his Maker would take him away.
7. It brings down judgements not onelyonly upon mens perſons, but upon their poſterity;Plus nocet lingua adulatoris, quam gladius perſecutoris. Gregor. alſo Job. 17.5 He that ſpeaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children ſhall fail: The flatterer ſhall not onelyonly be puniſh'd himſelf, but his children alſo ſhall be puniſh'd for the Fathers ſin; when his poſterity ſhall come to look for truth and faithfulneſs from others, their eies ſhall fail: Thus we ſee what hurt cometh by a flattering tongue, ſo that we may ſay with one of the Fathers, the tongue of a flatterer is more miſchievous then the ſword of a perſecutor.
SBCT. 4. Of the cure of this ſin of flattering.
LEt no man therefore delight in the praiſes of men; for the delectation of popular applauſe, and humane praiſe laſteth no longer then it is heard, and the reliſh thereof periſheth with the very taſte; for when the ſound of the words is gone, the worth is at an end; a folly ſo great, as there can ſcarce be imagined a greater: He that deſireth everlaſting commendation, muſt not ſeek that which cometh from men but from God, the ſearcher and examiner of all hearts; then ſhall evety man have praiſe of God, ſaith Aquinas: There is no ſecurity in committing a mans glory to the tongues of men, which (as One ſaith) are like Cheſts, without either lock or key; for when it is referred to another mans liberty, it is no longer in thy own power, but in the others either to commend, or to condemn thee: Who be they that are reſpected in Kings Courts, and ſuch places but they that be mollibus induti, Mat. 8.11. that is, as Ferus ſaith,Ferus in Matth. ſuch as have ſmooth tongues to fawn and flatter, and ſpeak placentia, ſowing pillow… under their elbows, like Ahabs falſe prophets? but Elijah and Michaiah are no Chaplains for his turn; no more was John Baptiſt for Herod; B…ſe aſſentation is the bane of many Princes: Flatterers like Lazarus dogs do lick even Princes ſores.theſe rough hewen fellows ſhall have no place but in priſon. Jerem. 38. Amos 7.12, 13. But in Gods kingdome, things ſhall be done otherwiſe: the vile perſon ſhall be no more called liberal, nor the hurle ſaid to be bountiful. Iſai. 32, 5. in Heaven ſaith Auguſtine, Lodovic. Granad. Meditat. Part 1.ſhall be true Glory, for there ſhall …one …e praiſed either by errour or flattery. Ibi plus valebunt pura corda quam aſtuta verba, & conſcientia bona quam Marſupia plena: There ſhall pure hearts be more acceptable then crafty words, and a good conſcience then full purſes. The flatterer ſhall go out in a ſnuff at laſt; his conſcience ſhall accuſe him that he hath praiſed men more then God, and conſequently that he hath the praiſe of neither; and though he fit his Lyre to every mans tune, yet in Fine, all men ſhall hate him; for he that is a flatterer cannot be a true friend, as One ſaid to a friend that flattered him,Lenton's Charact. Nòn potes me ſimul amico & adulatore uti; Thou canſt not uſe me both for a friend and a flatterer; faithfulneſs is the beſt and ſureſt token of love and friendſhip; and he that dealeth faithfully ſhall have favour both with God and man. The way to be rid of this ſort of men is not to liſten to them; an angry countenance will ſend them packing: for if flatterers were not liſtned to, neither would they continue, or any one be flattered by them: The more we hearken to them, the more we multiply them: Solomon tells us, If a Ruler hearken to lyes, all his ſervants are wicked. Prov. 29 12.