A Bridle for the Tongue, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Of the ſcoffing Tongue.
SECT. 1. Sheweth what ſcoffing is, and how many ways men may be guilty of this ſin.
ANother ſin of the tongue, that is too common in theſe dayes, is Scoffing and Jeering; this was the ſin of the the Rulers of Gods people at Jeruſalem. Iſai. 28.14. that Holy City which ſhould have given the people better examples; and if the Governours were ſo bad, you may eaſily think what the body of the people were.
Definit. of ſcoffing.Scoffing is a ſin when one flouteth or derideth at any perſon or thing becauſe of the goodneſs that is in them; or when a man mocketh at the ſins, infirmities and miſeries of others: Men may be guilty of this ſin divers wayes.
1. When men make a mock at Gods faithful Meſſengers and Miniſters, and entertain the reproofs of the Word with ſcoffs and jeers: the Pharſees were very demure men, and very exact in obſerving their traditions, yet they deride our Saviour and his Doctrine. Luk. 16.14. they did not ſimply deride Chriſt, but gave external ſigns of ſcorn in their countenances and geſtures, and according to the meaning of the Greek word, they blew their Noſes at him,foreign ſignifies to blow the Noſe …t one. Leighs Annot. contemning his Doctrine as a thing of nought. Scorners of the Word make lyes their refuge, and under falſhood they hide themſelves. Iſai. 28.14.15. It was the great ſin of the Jews, and that which haſtned their deſtruction. 2 Chron. 36.16. they mocked the meſſengers of God, deſpiſed his words, and miſuſed his Prophets, &c. When Lot willed his Sons in Law to depart quickly out of Sodom, becauſe of that fiery ſhower that was ready to fall from Heaven upon that wicked City, they made a mock thereat, and received his fatherly admonition no otherwiſe then as if he had jeſted to them. Gen. 16.14. When Hezekiah ſent his Poſts through the Land to call his people to the offering of a ſolemn paſſeover, they of Ephraim and Manſſeh laughed them to ſcorn. 2 Chron. 30.10. and mocked them. When Paul diſcourſed of grave matters before Feſtus, he mocked Paul, and ſaid, Paul, too much learning hath made thee mad. Act. 26.24. and Auguſtine himſelf before his converſion came to hear Ambroſe to laugh at him.
2. When men jeſt with the Scriptures in prophane mirth and merriment, which is done three wayes. Men make jeſts of Scripture-phraſes; as he did of Mat. 17.27. Go to the Sea and caſt in an Angle, and the firſt fiſh that cometh, take; & when thou haſt opened his mouth, thou ſhalt find a piece of twenty-pence; for Angle reading Angel, and thereupon making a jeſt, What got Peter by that, to caſt in an Angel, and get a fiſh with twenty-pence? or as he that ſaid, there were more lyes in the ſtory of the Paſſeover then truths; becauſe Chriſt ſpake but ſeldom, and the Jews often, and they nothing but lyes.
2. When Scripture phraſes are uſed in way of jeſting or ſcoffing to make laughter: as ſuch a one hath no good Talent in railing: and when a man hath many Baſtards, to ſay he hath employed his Talent well, he hath not the ſpirit of pitching and ditching, &c.
3. When prophane fellowes make a mock at the doctrine or ſayings of the Scripture, as thoſe prophane perſons did of old. Iſai. 22.13. who when the Prophet told them of Gods judgements, of death and deſtruction, they make a mock at it: Come ſay they, theſe Prophets tell us, we muſt all die; if we muſt die, let us be merry while we may: let us take time while time ſerveth; for they tell us we muſt away: So our Alehouſe-Knights and Pot-companions at this day, are wont to ſay; Come let us ply the Pot; for theſe Preachers tell us, that Dives when he was dead could not get one drop of drink; its better that we drink out our eyes, then that the worms eat them out: St. Peter propheſied, that ſuch mockers and ſcoffers at Scripture ſhall come in the latter dayes, which ſhould make a mock at the coming of Chriſt to Judgement, and ſay, Where is the promiſe of his coming? for ſince the Fathers dyed, all things continued alike from the beginning of the world. 2 Pet. 3.3, 4. We hear much of the great day of Judgement, wherein all muſt be called to account for their works and words; but where is it? when cometh it? we would fain ſee it once. Thus Julian the Apoſtate that ſcoffing Emperour, when the Ch…iſtians being much wronged and abuſed by the Heathen, complained to him for ſome redreſſe, he ſent them away w…th this ſcoffe: It is your duties to put up wrongs patiently; for Chriſt y…ur Maſter bids you,Tripart. Hiſtor. lib. 36. cap. 6. not to reſiſt evil; and to him that ſmiteth you on the one cheek to turn the other alſo; and him that would take your cloak, not to forbid to take your coat alſo. Mat. 5.38.39. There is a wicked generation that call themſelves the damned crue, in mocking of death and damnation: if you reprove them for it by Scripture, they will preſently anſwer: How know you this or that to be ſcripture, or the word of God? All is not Goſpel: how know you that the ſtory written by Matthew and John is Goſpel?
3. When men do as it were ſcorn at God himſelf, by deriding his workmanſhip, or the manner of his working: as he did, who ſaid, if he had had a hand in making the world,Deriſio eſt, cum a…i u… malum alicujus perſonae vel defectum in …um vel r…ſum ponit. Angel. de Cla…iſio. he would have made it better: So when men deride and mock at the bodily blemiſhes that are in others, as their crookedneſs, deformity, weakneſs, deafneſs, blindneſs, &c. when men keep fools in their houſes onelyonly to make ſport in laughing at their folly; whereas they ſhould be humbled and ſorrowful to ſee the judgements of God and his heavy hand upon them in this kind; fooliſhneſs being either a ſin, or the pun ſhment of ſin: it's a ſin Mar. 7.22. it is the puniſhment of ſin, Deu. 28.28 When ſcorns are caſt out againſt th…ſe that are poor or below others in eſtate or parts, or employments, &c. men do as it were caſt contempt upon God himſelf; not conſidering who it is that hath made the difference b…tween thee and them: contemptuous words ſpoken of our duplicate page duplicate page brethren, argue a vile eſteem of them, ſuch as fool, witleſs, ſhallow brain, a poor beggarly fellow, &c. likewiſe all ireful upbraidings, whether of kindneſſe received, or of ſin committed: He that deſpiſeth his Neighbour ſinneth, Prov. 14.21. this ſin is of ſo high a nature that it ſtrikes at God himſelf; whoſo mocketh the poor, reproacheth his Maker. Prov. 17.5. whatſoever difference there is between thy ſelf and him thou mockeſt, it is the Lord that made the difference; it came not by chance, but according to the good pleaſure of God; and therefore he that mocketh at ſuch a one, reproacheth his Maker, that if it had pleaſed him, could have made thee like him: If there were any true Grace in ſuch mens hearts that are advanced above others, it would make them the more thankful to God, that did advance them above their Neighbours.
4. So it is that very often the Saints of God are the objects of wicked mens ſcorns: ſo it was with the Prophet Jeremias. Chap. 20.7. Thus he complaineth to God, I am in deriſion daily, every one mocketh me; Prince and People agreed together thus to perſecute him with their tongues: ſo David tells us of himſelf Pſal. 69.12. They that ſit in the Gate ſpeak againſt me; and I was the ſong of the Drunkards. David ſuffers for well-doing: O God, for thy ſake I have born reproach, &c. ver, 7. The zeal of thine houſe hath eaten me up, and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me. ver. 9. he ſuffereth from thoſe that ſate in the Gate (which expreſſion denoteth Power and Authority) the Rule…s and Governours of the people derided him; and when the Toſs-pots upon the Ale-bench hear this, they think well may they make him the object of their ſcorn alſo. And 2 Kings 2.23. you may ſee that the young children of Bethel having learnt this ſin from their Parents, they mock Gods Prophet: Go up thou bald head; when as according to the command of God, they ſhould have honoured him being aged:Voces ipſac pueri a parentibus edocti erant; quare pue…o…um clade parentes flagellavit. Illu …en m Aſcende calve, p…oſcindendi per detractionem Eliae aſſumptionis g…atia proſerebant. i e. abripiat te quoque Spiritas, ut i…idem a te liberem…r. Juſt Mart. Queſt. 8. doubtleſs they had learnt that taunting language from their Parents and Elders, at leaſt by hearing them ſpeak ſo, if they were not by them taught ſo to ſpeak; Go up thou bald head, &c. which ſcoff they caſt upon Eliſha in alluſion to the rapture or going up of Elijah to Heaven; as if they had ſaid; Go thou up to Heaven after him, that we may be rid of thee as we are of him: Thus old ſcoffers among us teach their children to deride Religion, and the profeſſours of it: ſo when David in his zeal danced before the Ark of the Lord, his wife Michal deſpiſed him and jeered at him. 2 Sam. 6.20. when Nehemiah is building the Wall at Jeruſalem, Sanballat mocketh the Jews, and ſaith, What do theſe feeble Jews? will they fortify themſelves? will they ſacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the ſtones out of the heaps of rubbiſh which are burnt? and Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he mocked alſo and ſaid: Even that which they build, if a Fox go up, he ſhall even break down their ſtone-wall. Nehem. 4.1, 2, 3. Thus wicked men cannot endure that the work of Religion and Holineſs ſhould go up, leſt they ſhould be forced to leave thoſe ſins they ſo dearly love.
5. When wicked men are at eaſe themſelves, and ſeeing the people of God in diſtreſs, inſtead of pittying them, and mourning for them, as they ſhould do, they ſport at them. Job tells us, that in his afflictions he was as one mocked of his neighbour. Job. 12.3. the juſt upright man is laughed to ſcorn; this is ſet down to be the ſin of the Ammonites; they ſaid Aha, when Iſrael was in diſtreſs, Ezek. 25.3. and when they were deſolate and went into captivity: but ſee what the Lord threatens againſt them ver. 6.7. This David met with when he was in adverſity; In mine adverſity they rejoyced, yea, the abjects gathered themſelves together againſt me, &c. with hypocritical mockers in Feaſts. Pſal 35.15, 16. and ver. 21. Yea they opened their mouths wide againſt me, and ſaid Aha Aha, our eye hath ſeen it: the very ſcum of the people gathered together againſt him and Pſal. 69.26. They perſecute him whom thou haſt ſmitten, and they talk to the grief of thoſe whom thou haſt wounded. When God had wounded him, inſtead of comforting him, they perſecute him and grieve him with their tongues: Yet this was the carriage of moſt of them that were at Jeruſalem toward thoſe of the brethren that were gone into captivity, as if they were got far from the Lord, and that themſelves were the only people of God that were left in the City. Ezek. 11.15. but ver. 21. God ſpeaketh comfortably to them that were ſcoft at, and denounceth his judgements againſt them that ſcoff at them: To mock at a man in miſery is a ſore affliction: among the ſufferings and cruel perſecutions that the Saints endured, the Apoſtle mentioneth this, They had …ial of cruel mockings. Heb. 11.36. … was one part of Chriſts ſufferings; …e was mocked, and uſed like a fool … a play; they put a Robe on his …ack, a Reed in his hand, and a Crown …n his head, and when he hung upon …he Croſs, and was perfecting the …ork of our Redemption, they (in …igheſt ſcorn) bid him come down …rom the Croſs, and ſave himſelf. The Philiſtines thought it not e…ough to make Sampſon grind in a Mill, after they had put out his eyes, …nd bound him with fetters of Braſs; but at their great Feaſt they call for Sampſon to make them ſport: but their jeſt ended in earneſt, they pulled an old houſe about their ears, which was the deſtruction of three thouſand men and women.
6. Sometimes wicked wretches ſcoff at their Parents, whom they ſhould honour; but this ſin, and the danger it brings with it, is ſet down by the ſpirit of God. Prov. 30.1… The eye that mocketh at his Father, … deſpiſeth to obey his Mother, the Rave… of the Vally ſhall pick it out, and … young Eagles ſhall eat it. So that … there be but a ſcornful caſt of the ey… againſt our Parents, God takes notic… of it, and will puniſh it; and he addeth▪ He that deſpiſeth his Mother to obey he… becauſe children are more apt to ſcor… their Mother, then their Father: H… that mocks at his Father. as an ol… doting fool, or that deſpiſeth his Mother, looking upon her with diſdain as an old withered creature; he tha… deſpiſeth the wrinckles of his Mother, the judgements of God will light upon him: By the Law ſuch a child was to be put to death,
7. When men make a ſport at their own ſins, and the ſins of others: inſtead of mourning for them as they ſhould do, they ſport at them. Prov. 10.23. it is a ſport to a fool to do miſchief; theſe are in the number of Solomons fools: fools make a mock at ſin. Prov. 14.9. they ſport with their …n ſins, and albeit they caſt fire-…nds, they think it excuſe enough … ſay, Am I not in ſport? and …us ſinners glory in their …ame, as if a condemned ma…factor ſhould boaſt of his …alter: And as they ſport at …eir own ſins, ſo they mock … the ſins of others alſo; e…ecially at Gods children, … they ſee any of them fall in…o ſin: Luther ſaith,Tanquam famelici Porci immergunt ſe in ſtercora nostra, & ex ijs delicias ſaciunt, dum infirmitatem noſtram exemplo maledicti Ham aperiunt, & traducunt; vere enim eſuriunt & ſ…unt ſcandala noſtra. Luther in Gen. 9. they …unger and thirſt after the …lls of the Godly, and if at a…y time through humane frail…y, they fall into an evil, like …ungry Hogs they nuzzle in …heir excrements: and Augu…tin compareth them to Dogs, …o the rich Gluttons dogs, that lay licking and ſucking Lazarus ſoars: Some think that when Noah was overcome with Wine, that Canaan Chams ſon,Hebraeus etiam id tradebat & ratine confirmabat, proprimum Chanaan verenda avi ſui vidiſſe, ſuoque ſolum patri narrâſſe, tanquam de ſene ri…entem. Theodoret. in Gen. Queſt. 57. firſt ſaw his Grandfather in that caſe; and he being one without all Religion, and perhaps having been often reproved by Noah, therefore Canaan ſeeing him in his ſhame, tells it to his wicked Father Cham, and he afterward with mocking and deriſion to Shem and Japhet; elſe why ſhould Noah curſe Cham in his ſon Canaan, rather then in any other of his ſons? for he had divers other ſons? Gen. 10.6.
SECT. 2. Of the greatneſs of the ſin of ſcorning and ſcoffing, laid down in four things.
NOw let us conſider how inconſiſtent this is with the power of Religion, whatſoever ſeeming ſhewes any one maketh; and alſo how great a ſin it is; conſider therefore,
1. It is a note of hypocryſie whereſoever it is found in any man that ſeemeth to be Religious: David ſets out the hypocrites of his time, by the name of mockers at Feaſts; he calleth them hypocritical mockers at Feaſts. Pſal 35.16. and he was cut to the heart with hypocrites, that were factious, and ſanniones, mockers that in their Feaſts made him their ſport: St. Jude ſpeaketh of ſuch mockers that ſhould ſeparate themſelves, being ſenſual, not having the ſpirit. Jude ver. 18, 19.
2. The Scripture ſets forth the ſcorner as a graceleſs perſon. Pſal. 1.1. It is the character of the bleſſed man that he ſitteth not in the ſeat of the ſcornful: he that is truly Religious, will not come into the company of any ſuch, nor have to do with any of them: By the ſcornful there, are meant proud Rhetorical, artificial mockers, and prophane jeſters, ſuch as make a mock of ſin, and ſcoff at Religion and the Profeſſors thereof, and ſuch as are any way watchful over their wayes, and ſuch as contemn God and all Goodneſs, and do as it were ſet up Shop, and make open profeſſion of all impiety: Some tranſlations read the words In Cathedra peſtilentium, Hieron. Lyra Theodoret.in the Chair of the peſtilent, calling ſcorners peſtilent people; and moſt fitly; for as the Plague or Peſtilence ſecretly infecteth and ſuddenly devoureth whole Pariſhes, and great Congregations: ſo this kind of people by their bitter words and ill examples, do infect and poiſon many ſouls.
3. When men entertain the reproofs of Gods word with ſcorn, this ſheweth ſuch men to be Atheiſts in heart; and that while they in words ſeem to own his word, yet in heart they ſhew they do not believe it to be the word of God; for did they beleeve it to be ſo, they would not ſcorn it, but rather tremble at it: Such ſhew themſelves like thoſe proud men mentioned. Jerem. 42.2, 3. that when God met with them by his ſword, they ſaid, Baruch the ſon of Neriah hath ſet thee on againſt us: ſo ſay theſe men; ſome body hath told the Miniſter ſome ſuch thing of us, and ſo they ſtorme at the word, and mock it: Reproofs do no good upon ſcorners. Prov. 9.7, 8. Reprove not a ſcorner leſt he hate thee: He that reproveth a ſcorner, getteth to himſelf ſhame.
But God ſaith. Levit, Object. 19.17. Thou ſhalt not hate thy Brother, but ſhalt rebuke him, and not ſuffer ſin upon him.
We muſt either conſtrue Solomon of ſuch as are deſperately evil and incorrigible,Reſp. concerning whom our Saviour forbids his Diſciples to give holy things to dogs, or caſt pearls before Swine. Mat. 7.6. And if we could diſtinguiſh ſuch, (as like enough many of the Prophets could in Solomons time) then ſurely we might leave them; but ſith we cannot, therefore we muſt plant by doctrine, water by exhortation, and labour to cut off and pull up what might hinder the growth of what we have planted and watered by reproof and reprehenſion, leaving the ſucceſs to God: or it may be that ſpeech of Solomon was not ſpoken of matter of ſo high a nature, but only a Moral precept, whereof that book of the Proverbs is full, being called his Ethicks, and ſo it may contain a direction for a mans carriage in his ordinary converſation; and ſo (as the proverb ſaith) it's good ſleeping in a whole skin, and no wiſdom for us to meddle with them on whom we can do no good, but they may do us much hurt.
Now when men entertain the reproofs of the word with ſcorn, and mock at Gods Meſſengers, they ſcorn and deride at the Lo…d Jeſus Chriſt himſel…. He that deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth me, ſaith our Saviour; and he that deſpiſeth me, deſpiſeth him that ſent me, Luk 10.16. The like ſpeaks the Apoſtle of all Gods people in general: 1 Theſ. 4.8. He therefore that deſpiſeth, deſpiſeth not man but God, who hath given to us his holy Spirit: he ſaith ver. 7. that the Holy God inviteth and calleth all men to holineſs: it may be thou art one that when thou ſeeſt another that laboureth to walk more accordingly to the rule of Gods word then thy ſelf, thou derideſt him, and ſaiſt, There goes ſuch a Saint, a holy Brother, a Preciſian, and the like: thus by thy vilifying him, thou deſpiſeſt God himſelf.
4. When men m…ke a ſport at ſin in themſelves or others; ſee how contrary this is to God, to Chriſt, to his holy Spirit: it is a ſin very diſpleaſing to God:Men are very forward to laugh at other mens ſins, at their running to Hell: they laugh to ſee a man drunk, and to make a fool of himſelf; but if he begin to be godly, they perſecute and abuſe him: The very Heathen made Lawes that vice ſhould not be laught at; yet even Chriſtians ſport to ſee God diſhonoured, Chriſt crucified, and the ſpirit grieved, & men carried away in Satans jaws. See Tacitus deſcription of Germany. the Lord Jeſus Chriſt wept over Jeruſalem for their ſins, and wept over others becauſe of the hardneſs of their hearts; he alſo ſhed his precious blood to waſh away ſin; and canſt thou ſport at that which coſt the Lord Jeſus ſo deere? the ſpirit of God likewiſe is grieved by our ſins. Eph. 4.30. Now to ſport at ſin, you ſhew your ſelves like unto the Devil: the repentance of ſinners on earth, is the joy of the Angells duplicate page duplicate page in Heaven; and if devils have any joy, it is when men make a ſport of ſin: ſuch perſons alſo walk quite croſs to Gods peoples mark and practice; for the people of God have alway mourned for the ſins of others, as for their own: ſo did Lot when he was in Sodom; he was vexed with their ſins; and Rivers of tears ran down Davids eyes becauſe men kept not Gods Law: ſo Jeremiah, Ezra, &c. mourned in ſecret for the ſins of others. Conſider ye ſcorners, and ye that laugh at ſin, how croſs ye walk to Gods word, and to the examples of Gods people in all ages of the world.
5. As for thoſe that ſcorn at Gods people in affl…ctions, they Act more like thoſe that perſecuted Chriſt and put him to death, then like to the people of God: So Herod and his men of warre ſet him at nought and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous Robe, and ſent him to Pilate. Luk 23.11. Pilate alſo with the Souldiers mocked him, calling him the King of the Jews; the chief Prieſts and Elders mocked him alſo. Mat. 27.41, 42. Again. 2. This is croſſe even to natu…e, that one member ſhould rejoyce in the afflictions of another, and ſcorn it: in the body of man, Nature teacheth, that if one member ſuffer, the reſt take part with it: and if one member of Chriſt ſuffer, the reſt ſuffer alſo, and are grieved; and if it be otherwiſe with you, there is no truth of Religion in you: 3. Herein men Act croſs to Gods command, Rem. 12.15. who requireth us to rejoyce with them that rejoyce, and weeep with them that weep. and Heb. 13.3. to remember them that are in bonds, as if we were bou…d with them; and them which ſuffer adverſity, not to ſcorn them, but to pity them; knowing that our ſelves are in the body.
SECT. 3. Of the ſeverity of Gods threatning againſt ſcorners, ſhewed in divers particulars.
MOreover, that we may take notice of the miſery of ſuch as go on in this ſin, let us conſider what the Lord in Scripture threatens againſt ſcorners, and how he eſteemeth of them.
1. God ſcorneth the ſcorners. Prov. 3.34. Take notice of this ye ſcorners; you mock and ſcorn at others, and God ſcorneth you;Prov. 14.6. you think to ſhew your wit, when your tongues walk againſt others, and when God and his people are your ſport; but therein you ſhew your folly: A ſcorner ſeeketh wiſedom, and finds it not, ſaith Solomon.
2. Set the condition of Michal Sauls daughter before you; you ſee how God dealt with her for ſcorning at David her Husband, when in his zeal he danced before the Ark of God. 2 Sam. 6.23. ſhe meets with a ſharp reproof, and a great judgement: ſc. to be childleſs to the day of her death: and to be childleſs was lookt upon as a great and ſore affliction in thoſe dayes; and this was for ſcorning a child of God; and as God ſhut her up under bodily barrenneſs; ſo ſuch perſons may juſtly fear leſt God ſhut them up under barrenneſs of ſoul, and barrenneſs in Grace, that ſcorn others for their Piety and Holineſs; and it is a great mercy if God remove this curſe from their ſouls.
3. Thou ſcorneſt at the people of God and his Miniſters; conſider what ſhall be thy reward; read and tremble. Prov. 1.23, 26, 27. How long will the ſcorners delight in ſc…rning? Ye have ſet at nought all my counſels, &c. I alſo will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh: Gods ſcoffing at men doubleth their miſery: it is one of the torments of Hell to have God deride us;Many do flear when they ſhould fear. oh that mockers would conſider this, that in their miſery they muſt be derided; God ſhall then loath them, and laugh them to ſcorn when their fear cometh: you laugh at Gods people in their calamity, and God wil laugh at your calamity; you make a mock at the committing of ſin, and God will mock at you when you fear and tremble at the approaching of Gods wrath unto you; ſcorning doth in a ſpecial manner ſtrike at God and his Honour, and he will avenge it.
4. God ſheweth what low thoughts he hath of ſcorners: Job was had in deriſion by thoſe that were younger then he, and perſons ſo baſe, as whoſe Fathers he would have diſdained to have ſet with the dogs of his Flock. Job 30.1. and the Holy-Ghoſt calls them children of fools, children of baſe men, men of no name, as in the Hebrew. ver. 7. Such as were viler then the duſt of the earth. ver. 8. and Pſal. 59.6. he compares them not to rational men, but to dogs; thoſe that open their mouths againſt the people of God, and the wayes of Holineſs, they Act like dogs that make a noiſe and go round about the City, and are belching out with their mouths; if a man gallop through the ſtreets and ride beyond the ordinary pace, then the dogs run after him, and bark at him: So thoſe that run the way of Gods commandements, making more haſte in the way of Religion and Holineſs then others, they ſhall meet with theſe ſcorners, and ſuffer the laſh of their tongues; and like they are to dogs, who ſometimes bark at the ſhadow of the Moon; ſo theſe will bark at the ve…y ſhadow of Relgion.
5. God hath ſore and ſharp puniſhments in ſtore for ſcorners: Judgements are prepared for ſcorners. Prov. 19 29. the ſcorner ſhall be conſumed, and all that watch for iniquity ſhall be cut off. Iſai. 29.20. the children at Bethel tear the Prophets name; and God ſent two ſhe-Bears that teared two and forty children in pieces; they that go on in this ſin, ſhall howl for ſorrow, they ſhall run howling about, like dogs, and be caſt out of the Heavenly Jeruſalem. Rev. 22.15. foris Canes, without are dogs. Now therefore be not mockers, leſt your bands be made ſtrong. Iſai. 28.22. Know this ye ſcorners, if the bands of Religion will not hold you in, and keep you within compaſs, God will make bands ſtrong enough to hold you under his wrath to all eternity: A great ſcoffer was Libanius the prophane ſophiſt, who ſcorned at the Religion of Chriſtians, calling them Galileans, Tripatrit. hiſtor. lib. 6. cap 1. & lib. 7. cap. 12.and their Chriſt a Carpenter; and asking what then the Carpenters ſon was doing, jeſting at Chriſt; a godly Schoolmaſter anſwered him that he was making a Coffin for Julian the Apoſtate a great ſcoffer of Chriſt and Chriſtians, who dyed immediately after. Mocking is called in Scripture perſecution, and no perſecution is like it. Sarah ſaw Iſhmael the ſon of Hagar mocking at Iſaac. Gen, 21.9. Now the Apoſtle …iting this Text, ſaith: He that was …orn after the fleſh, perſecuted him that …ar born after the ſpirit. Gal 4.29. and …or this he and his Mother are caſt out of Abrahams houſe. Gen. 21.10. Now the Apoſtle citing this Text, ſaith: He that was born after the fleſh perſecuted him that was born after the ſpirit. Gal. 4.29. and theſe words ſpoken by Sarah to Abraham, Caſt out the bond woman and her ſon, are called the voice of ſcripture. ver. 30. The reaſon is, becauſe they were afterward approved by God. Gen. 21.12. If any ſhall demand why Sarah was ſo ſevere to Hagar and her ſon, as to have them baniſhed; Tremellius will anſwer,Tremell. in Gen. de vartis ſignificat. vocis Haebr. lege Lyram in Gen. 21.9. Ille Ludus erat illuſio. Gorran. in Gal. 4. Ludendo laedebat, Lyra ut anteà. Metſachek ſignifieth Ludentem vel idololatrantem, ut Exod. 32.6. Sive occidentem. 2 Sam. 2.14. So ſhe might fear leſt he might make him away, that himſelf might inherit. who tels us that Iſhmael being much elder and bigger then Iſaac, being 13 years old (at leaſt) before Iſaac was born, might eaſily wrong him, which his Mother (loving him tenderly) could by no means endure: othe…s ſay he mockt at him for the Religion wherein he was educated, and that he made Images of Dirt or Clay, enticing Iſaac to worſhip them; which if he did, then Sarah had cauſe to beſtirre her ſelf to have him turn'd packing; this ſignifies to us, that all mocking, perſecuting Iſhmaelites ſhall have no portion with Iſaac, with true Beleevers in the Heavenly inheritance.
Conſider further what the Scripture denounceth to fall upon ſcorners; Nehem. 4.4, 5. Hear O our God, for we are deſpiſed, and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the Land of their captivity, and cover not their iniquity, and let not their ſin be blotted out from before thee: 1. He tells them that God heareth all their ſcorns againſt his people. 2. God will turn their ſin upon their own head, and make them to be the ſcorn of others. 3. He ſaith, this them their ſin ſhall ſtand for ever againſt them before the Lord upon his Book, and never be blotted out: and the Holy man denounceth this, not in paſſion, or ſelf-revenge; but as Gods judgement upon his enemies: the people were working for the glory of God, and the good of his Church; and now by ſco ning of Gods people they provoke God to this ſeverity againſt them: Chriſt would not ſuffer that rude multitude that ſcorned him to behold his miracle of raiſing Jairus daughter; he would not let them ſee myſterium reſurgentis, qui reſuſcitantem indignis deridebant contumeliis, as Hierom noteth.Hieron. in Luc 8.
SBCT. 4. Remedyes againſt this ſin of ſcorning.
NOw in the laſt place, that this ſin may be avoided;
1. Take heed of familiarity with thoſe that are ſcorners; for if you converſe much with them, you may learn their practice; eſpecially beware of the company of pot-companions: Wine is a mocker, ſtrong drink is raging, ſaith Solomon. Prov. 20.1. it is ſo called becauſe it produceth ſuch effects in thoſe that are overcome thereby. In the day of our King, the Princes have made him ſick with bottles of wine; he ſtretcheth out his hand with ſcorners. Hoſ. 7.5. Plutarch tells us of a notable drunkard,Plutarch. in vit. Pyrrhi. who being brough before Pyrrhus for jeering at him in his cups, ſaid It is true that I ſpake ſomewhat againſt thee; and much more ſhould I have ſpoken, had not the Wine failed me. Drunkards obſerve no Laws, reverence no Magiſtrates, reſpect no friends, ſpare no coſt, regard no Religion, fear no God; tell them of Gods wrath, they will jeer you to your face: tell them of Solomons induction. Prov. 29.30. like ſo many Edomites they will make ſongs of you all,Math. Griff. Bethel. as one noteth.
2. Take heed of harbouring any unruly Luſt in your hearts; for when men give way to them; no wonder …f at length they become ſcorners, that give way to their luſts. St. Peter ſaith, …here ſhall come in the laſt dayes ſcoffers, walking after their own luſts. 2 Pet. 8.3. let us avoid all appearances of evil; he that walketh in the counſel of the ungodly, and ſtandeth in the way of ſinners, will at laſt ſit down in the ſeat of the ſcornful. Pſal. 1.1. Take heed of covetouſneſs, that was the ſin of the Phariſees, they were inordinately ſet upon the love of the world, thence came their mocking of Jeſus Chriſt: when Chriſt had bidden them make friends to themſelves of the Mammon of unrighteouſneſs, and told them that no man could ſerve two Maſters, God and Mammon; then the Phariſees who were covetous, hearing theſe things, they derided him, Luk 16.14. Beware likewiſe of pride of heart; for pride is a cauſe of ſcorning and contempt; none ſo ſcornful as the proud in heart. Our ſoul is exceedingly filled with the ſcorning of thoſe that are at eaſe, and with the contempt of the proud. Pſal. 123.4.
3. See that there be no inward deſpiſing of others in your hearts: for if you give way to the ſin there, at length it will ſhew it ſelf in the tongue: it is ſaid of Michal, firſt ſhe deſpiſed David in her heart. 2 Sam. 6.16. there the ſin began, and it did not end till it brake out againſt him in her tongue unto his face: ſo many ſervants there are that contemn their Maſters in heart, either becauſe their Maſters are poor, of mean place, and parentage, and themſelves well born and bred, or becauſe their Maſters are ſimple, ignorant in this or that, wherin they are ſkilful, they ſcorn to learn of them, to be told and directed, much more to be controlled by them▪ or elſe by reaſon of their Maſte…s familiarity, or kind uſage to them, grow contemptuous and ſcornful, and make no reckoning of them; familiarity aſpireth to equality.
4. Take heed of all ſcornful behaviour or geſture tending to vilify, mock or diſgrace any one, as making of mops and mowes, nodding the head, pointing with the finger, clapping of hands, putting out the tongue,Though pity muſt not, yet wickedneſs may be derided: as Elijah did the worſhippers of Baal: but with theſe caveats. 1. To inſtruct others by it, and to hate the practice of it the more. 2. Y…u may mock them not as men, but as ſinners, and ſuch as are out of hope of returning; not becauſe they break Gods precepts, but at their folly and madneſs: for we are to mourn for the breaking of Gods commandements. Aequo animo audienda ſunt imperitorum convitia, et ad honeſta vadendi contemnendus est iſte contemptus. Nemo plus videtur aestimare virtutem, nemo magis illi eſſe devotus quam qu… boni viriſamam perdidiene conſcientiam perderet. Seneca. making horns, grinning, gibing, &c. this is condemned in Davids enemies who made Mowes at him. Pſal. 22.7. and gaped at him. ver. 13. and in thoſe that mocked Chriſt on the Croſs: They that paſſed by reviled him, wagging their heads. Mat. 27.39. theſe ſcornful geſtures often more diſgrace the perſon of our neighbour, then reviling and plain railing; for though it be a dumb geſture, yet it ſpeaks loud. Prov. 6.13. He that accuſtometh himſelf to the uſe of ſcornful geſtures and behaviour, will not ſtick at the giving of ſcornful language.
And if at any time you are derided and ſcorned by others for Holineſs and Piety, regard it not: for if ye be reproacht and ſcorned for the name of Chriſt, happy are ye; for the ſpirit of God and of Gl…ry reſteth upon you: on their part he is evil ſpoken of, but on your pa…t he is glorified. Seneca tells us that among the Heathens, Vertue was derided: what though you are derided for fools and mad-men, and counted the off-ſcouring of the world! its no matter how others call you or eſteem of you, but what you are indeed. Intus teipſum conſidera, ſaith Seneca, inwardly conſider of thy ſelf, and judge not what thou art by the words of others: for the moſt part good men are called fools and blockheads; let me be ſo derided, ſaith he: the reproaches of the ignorant or unſkilful muſt be patiently heard, and this contempt of one that followeth vertue muſt be contemned: yea, as one well noteth, it is the higheſt honour to be accounted bad, that we may not be ſo; and the greateſt tryal whether we be indeed ſincere, to be put to it, to be either accounted hypocrites, or to be ſuch: no man ſaith Seneca, ſeems to ſet an higher price on vertue, no man ſeems more to be devoted to it, then he that hath loſt the reputation of being a good man, leſt he ſhould loſe his conſcience: You cannot mock men out of their drunkenneſs, pride, and covetouſneſs; and let none mock you out of the practice of Piety and Holineſs.