A Practical and Polemical Commentary Upon 2 Timothy 3-4, Part 1 · Subpart 3 · Section 3
Helps against this sin.
1. Interpret doubtfull things in the best sense,In dubiis semper benigniora sunt praeferenda. and put the fairest construction on them. Where we want certainty, judge charitably. Better offend in being too charitable, then in being too rigid. 1 Cor. 13.5.7. Charity thinks no evill, but hopeth all things, and believeth all things, that can be hoped and borne with a good conscience; it believeth all things, so far as may stand with Reason and Religion. So Iacob, when he saw the bloody coat, did not suspect his sons, but said, some beast hath devoured him. Gen. 37.31.33. Gedaliah was but over-credulous, and too charitable in this kind. Ier. 40.14, &c. He would not entertain a suspicious thought against Ishmael, though it cost him his life. 'Tis a Rule in Heraldry, and it holds good in Divinity, that in blazoning Armes and Ensignes, the Animals must be interpreted in the best sense, according to their noble and generous qualities. E. g. If a Lion or a Fox be the charge, we must conceive his quality represented to be wit and courage, not rapine and pilfring: So and much more in blazoning my Brothers name, I must find out what is best, and mention that; if I meet with a sin of iufirm…ty, and humane frailty, I must conceal it; 'tis the glory of a man to pass it by. Prov. 19.11. Christ excuseth the heaviness of the disciples, The spirit (saith he) is willing, but the flesh is weak; if it be a great sin, and not publick, we may not divulge it, but admonish the party, and shew him his sin, that he may be brought to Repentanc…. And if there may be twenty Interpretation made of a thing, if nineteen be naught, and but one good, love will take that which is good, and leave the nineteen bad; when we hear the innocency of our neighbour called in question, we should open our mouthes for the dumb, and plead their cause, else by our silence we shall become accessary to their slanders. When David was accused and slandered, by Court-Parasites, to Saul, then Ionathan pleads his cause; Why should he dye, what evill hath he done? 1 Sam. 20.32. when N…codemus saw the rashnesse of the Jewes in condemning Christ unheard, he tells them 'twas against their Law so to do.
2. Shun envy,Suffecetur mater, & non erit filia. which is the Root of slandering and strife. Hence they are joyned together in Scripture. Rom. 1.29, 30. and 13.13. God would have us act nothing from such a Principle. Philip, 2.3. let nothing be done through strife or envie, but let all wrath, and bitternesse, and discontent at the Piety, Parts, and Honour of others, be layd aside, Ephes. 4.15. Two sinnes helpt to crucify Christ, Covetousnesse sold him, and Envie delivered him. They are still two great enemies to the Church of Christ. Covetousnesse sells Religion, and envy prosecutes it.
3. Shun idleness, which makes people slanderers and busy-bodies. 1 Thes. 4.11. Titus 2.3. 1 Pet. 4.15. Peter must look to himself, and not meddle with Iohns businesse. Iohn 21.21. be ever employed either in the generall or particular calling; for when men want work, the Devill cuts them out such work as this; most of the abuses of the Tongue spring from Idleness. Idle persons are usually Tatlers, and busie-bodies, speaking things they ought not. 1 Tim. 5.13.
4. Be not hasty in passing sentence on others actions, hut weigh all circumstances (for they do much vary a Case) and this makes it so hard to judge of mans actions,Qui ad pauca respicit, de facili pronunciat. Aristot. 'Tis good to let a report be ayred awhile, lest we take the disease of it, and to heare it twice, before we speak it once. Herle. because we know not the person, his Ends, Aymes, Tentations, &c. 'Twas the Barbarians rashness (Acts 28.4.) as soon as the Viper appeared on Pauls hand, to conclude him presently, without any …onsideration, a murderer. Be not hasty to believe Reports, but stay a little till Mephibosheth can speak for himself. 2 Sam. 16, 2. and 19.17. Do as Alexander was wont to do, when he heard one accuse his Neighbour; he would stop one ear, to hear what the other partly could say for himselfe. Iudge not according to the outward appearance of things. Iohn 7.24. Judge not [foreign, secundum faciem] by the face or outward aprearance; many a good mans actions have a face set upon them altogether unlike both the man and his actings. There is no judging of men or matters, by bare Reports, and what is said of them. Should we judge concludingly, of men by some mens Reports of them, how base and contemptible would many gracious men appear, and how glorious would many appear, who are truly contemptible? and therefore believe not bare report, it's the greatest lyar in the world. Report nothing upon bare report, else you may soon condemne the generation of the Righteous. Christ was reported to be mad,Si satis est accusásse… quis innocens erit? Seneca. and to have a Devill; and the Apostles were counted deceivers, though they were true. If a bare accusation were sufficient to condemn a man, who should be Innocent?
5. Observe what goodnesse thou canst see in thy Brother, and mention that; most men observe the sins of others, but Christ in his observation of the Churches, Rev. 2. and 3. observes their Vertues as well as their Vices; and commends them for the one, before he reproves them for the other. So the Lord commends Iob for his Patience, Iames 5.11. and Sarah for her faith and obedience. 1 Pet. 3.6. passing by the impatient speeches of the one, and the doubting of the other. and 'tis worth observing how David fills his mouth, even with Sauls vertues (though he were his deadly enemy, and Gods too) yet when dead, he makes a funerall Oration in his praise. 2 Sam. 1.19. &c, Many like flyes, passe over the sound parts, and if there be any galled part, they light on that. Like Beetles they flye over the sweet flowers,Scarabaeum aiunt fimo sepultum vivere, oppubalsamo immersum emori. 'Tis for scavengers to rake in sinks and gutters, and as we use to stop our noses, when we come near such places, so should we do too by our cares to such reports. He…le Policy. l. 2. c. 11. but if they can find any dung, they love to creep into that. There is none so vile, but some good or another may be found in him; if with the Chymist, we would set the fire of our charity on work; for as there is some rubbish in the best men, so there is some Oar, something of God in the worst.
Aliena vitia in oculis habemus, à tergo nostra. Seneca. Vt quisque est vir optimus, it a difficillimè esse alios improbos suspicatur. Cicero. He that's good himself, hopes well of others.6. Be much in the examination and censuring of your selves, for there are none so ready to censure others, as those that never judge and censure themselves. Had they spiritual eys to see into themselves, they would find so much work at home, that they would never busie themselves with other mens faults. Now since all that will live godly, must expect slanders, and false accusations from the world, take these few Directions to comfort you against them.
1. Get true Grace, that will meeken and humble you, and make you quietly to bear the vilest reproaches, as Moses did, and Iob (31.35, 39.) his advesaries book of accusation, he accounted a commendation, and therefore resolves to wear it as a Crown in token of triumph.Ille nobilis & magnus est qui, more magnae ferae, latratus minutorum canum securus exaudit. Seneca, Conscia mens recti vulgi mendacia ridet. Ovid. Dyke on Conscience. cap. 10. p. 149. Senti de Augustino quicquid libet, sola conscientia me coram Deo non accuset. Aug. Christ who was full of Grace, was also full of Patience. 1 Pet. 2.23. Nature is high and haughty, it quarrells with such as oppose it; but Grace doth not only purify, but it also pacifies the soul. It's a Dove-like spirit, and quiets the soul under all indignities; hence the fruits of the Spirit are said to be Love, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentlenesse. Gal. 5.22. This made the Apostles rejoyce, that they were counted worthy of that honour, to be dishonoured for the name of Jesus. Acts 5.41. Paul glories in reproaches for Christ, 2 Cor. 11.30. It's a dignity above all earthly dignities, it's a greater honour to beare reproach for Christ, then to be a Monarch in the world. Heb. 11.26. Ierom comforts Austin, and tells him 'twas a great honour, that all the Hereticks hated him. All the lyes and reproaches of such,Et quod majoris est gloriae omnes Haeretici te detestantur. Hieron. Hec sola mali deputant mala, quae non faciunt malos. Aug. are as so many badges of honour to us, and we may put every reproach that we undergoe, (not for sin, but because we will not sin, not for Unrighteousnesse sake, 1 Pet. 4.14.) as Pearles in our Crown of patience. The blind world esteems them evills, but there is no hurt in them, if we be good. Let us keep Gods way, and then he will keep our names for us. Let us do our duty, and let God alone with all we have; he'l defend us from the scourge of the Tongue, and maintain our reputation against all opposition. He'l clear our innocency as the light, and if we can but make it good, that we are the servants of the Lord, then every Tongue that riseth against us, we shall condemn. Isay 54.17.Mendax infamia terret. Quum? nisi mendosum & mendacem. Hor. Epist, 16. l. 1. Injuria ad Sapientem non pervenit. Sen. Come what can come to a good man, vel non continget, vel non conterret, either it shall not hit him, or it shall not hurt him. We should therefore walk so uprightly, open…y, inoffensively, that even our enemies in their owne consciences may clear us. E. G. do men accuse us of Pride, Covetousnesse, Incontinency? we should walk so Humbly, Liberally, Chastly, that all that know us may plead our cause. We should get convincing lives, that none may credit our back-biters, that their slanders may be like water poured on oyled paper,Mores ita componam ut conviciatoribus fides nulla habeatur. Plato. which runs off as fast as it is cast on. Dan. 6.10, Luther, Calvin, Beza, &c. had a thousand lyes raised against them, but being upright, holy, men, the lyes and reproaches of their enemies returned to the reproachers shame. 1 Pet. 2.12. Ier. 20.10, 11.
Object. They raise such untruths against me, that flesh and blood cannot beare them.
Answ. Gods people can and must bear that which naturall men who are meer flesh and blood cannot do. Matth. 5.47.
2. Since they lay false things to thy charge, as they did to Davids, Psal. 35.11. that's thy comfort. So they dealt with Christ and his Apostles.
Object. They reproach me for naturall defects and infirmities.
Answ. Then they reproach thy Maker, and not thee.
2. There's no reall dishonour in naturall infirmities, it's sin only which dishonours us.
3. It's a sign they want matter, when they reproach thee for Sicknesse, Poverty, and other Infirmities.
Object. They are good men who should comfort me, that do thus revile me.
Answ. That indeed addes somewhat to the affliction,Ad honesta vadenti, contemnendus est ipse contemptus. Seneca ep. 77. See Mr. Clerks Mirrour cap. 10. Edit. 3. God will punish such as slander his. cap. 49. yet 'tis no new thing, we must look to be counted as Monsters, not only in Babel, but in Israel. Isay 8.18. Iobs friends were good men, yet they censure him for an Hypocrite. You must therefore learn to contemn the contemners of you, and of Gods Image in you. For if you cannot eudure the Tongue of Ishmael, you will never endure the sword of Esau. If you cannot bear reproaches for Christ, you'l never die for him.
2. Consider thou art not alone, it hath been the common lot of all Gods servants in all ages to be slandered. Matth. 5.11, 12. Elijah that was the strength and stay of Israel, yet is called the troubler of it. Ieremy is called a Traytor, and a common Barretor.V. Aug. Civit, Dei. l. 2. c. 3. Ier. 38.4. and Paul a pestilent fellow. Acts 24, 5. and the Primitive Christians were accounted the cause of all the miseries of the times.
3. Consider the good Ends which God hath in permitting them.
1. He can use them to the discovery of sin; those sins which Selfe-love will not let thee see, an enemy shall discover them to thee. It's good for every man to have a deadly foe, or a faithfull friend. When Iasons enemy thought to have killed him, by running him through, he cured him of an impostume.Mihi maximè prosunt, qui mei pessimè meminerunt; Lutherus pascitur convitiis. Luth. God can make medicines of these poysons, and make this dung to enrich us.
2. To cure us of sin. S. Austins Mother was cured of her drunkenness by her maids calling her, Meribibulam, a Wine-bibber, she took notice of the foulness of the sin,Aug. Confes. l. 9. c. 8. and left it.
3. It drives us to prayer, Psal. 10.4. mine enemies reproach me, but I Prayer, (i. e,) I give my self up to that duty, I am even compounded, and made up of Prayer. When we are defamed, there's a time to pray. 1 Chron. 4.12.
4. They make us more watchfull over our wayes. Psal, 27.11. Help me because of mine enemies, who watch for my halting, saith David.
4. Remember the day of Judgement is at hand, and then thy innocency shall be publisht to all the world; Then will be a Resurrection of Names, as well as of Bodies. Then the wicked that now revile thee, shall tremble at the sight of thee. Let us then wait patiently, till the Lord arise and plead our cause. Let our moderation be known to all, for the Lord is at hand, the Judge stands before the dores, ready to take vengeance on our enemies. Philip. 4.5. Iam. 7.7, 8. Though for the present, you and your walking may lye under reproaches, yet there's a day of revelation coming, [Rom. 2.5.] when thy integrity and secret obedience,See D. Preston, Iudas Repent. p. 3, 4, 5, 6, &c. shall have open recompence; and the unrighteousnesses and secret contrivances of the wicked, shall be discovered, to their eternall shame. Then all the hidden works of darknesse shall be brought to light. Now Hereticks, Witches, and Devills incarnate have their day, and the world pleads for them as her own. But there's another day coming, when all things shall be reviewed, and scanned over impartially. Then, and never till then, shall we fully and clearly discern between the righteous, and the wicked, between him that fears the Lord, and him that fears him not. Mal. 3.18. The remembrance of this day made Paul to sleight the censures of men. 1 Cor. 4.3, 4.
[See more cordialls against Reproachfull slander. Doctor Hall's Balme of Gilead. p. 142. &c.Mr. Trapp on Mal 3.17. p. 881. Mr. Ienkins on Iude 6. Byfeilds Marrow. p. 319. &c. Burroughes Moses Choyce. p. 343.375.412. &c. Robinson's Essayes, Observe. 41. Beards Theater of Gods Judgements. c. 46. p. 393. Mr. Young's Cure of Prejudice. p. 24. An excellent piece.