A Practical and Polemical Commentary Upon 2 Timothy 3-4, Part 1 · Subpart 3 · Section 7
13. Fierce. foreign.
This is the thirteenth sin which helps to make the last dayes Perilo s. Men will then more especially be of a fierce, rude, savage, barbarous,foreign, immites, feroces, inhumani, & ferinis moribus praediti. Ab foreign Privat. & foreign mansuetus, vel ab foreign, dies; q. dies est jucunda, ut nox fera. Rusticani & inciviles quos belluas veriùs dixeris quàm homines. Bulling. inhumane disposition. They will be cruelly and bloodily disposed. There will be in them no meeknesse, nor mildnesse, to Regulate the Passions, but like bruit beasts they will be ready to slay all such as oppose them. This is a fruit of that Self-love, and Covetousnesse, before mentioned. This fiercenesse they'l exercise especially against the people of God, whom they hate, persecute, imprison and slay; and when dead, yet burn their bones: and if the Lord were angry with Moab, for burning the bones of the King of Edom, a wicked man, Amos 2.1. then surely he will punish those spitefull Moabites, who burn the bones of his deceased Saints, as Bucer, Phagius, &c.
Hominum effigies babent, animos ferarum. Seneca. See Mr. Clerks Mirrour. c. 57This ferity is made one speciall note of the wicked. Prov. 12.10. and 17.3. Gen. 49.7. Hence in Scripture they are compared to Lions. Iob 4.10. to Wolves. Hab. 1.8, Beares. Prov. 17.12. Horses which must be restrained from hurting with bit and bridle. Psal. 32.19. Serpents. Psal. 74.13, 14. Dogs. Phil. 3.2. Mat. 7.6. Boares. Psal. 80.13. Threshers which bruise and oppresse the people of God. Amos 1.3. Milners that grind them with their cruelty. Isay 3.75. and to Butchers, which do not onelyonly fleece, but flay the sheep. To Cooks, which do not only dresse the flesh, but they break the bones to get out the Marrow. Micah 3.2, 3. Hence we read of 23. sorts of trialls which the Saints were exercised with by the bruitish world.All wicked men as they are wicked, in all ages are acted by the same Principles: they are ejusdem ferinae, all of one batch. Heb. 11.3…. to 39. therefore they chose rather to live in Caves and Wildernesses amongst wild beasts, then amongst those bruits; yea the Saints have found more favour from beasts, as Daniel from the Lions, and Lazarus from Dogs; then from their cruell persecutors. Hence David being in a strait, chuseth the Pestilence (though a sad judgement) rather then to fall into the hands of merciless men. 2 Sam. 24.14.
1. Then let men get Grace, that breeds Humanity, Civility, and candid Carriage towards all. Such will not, dare not hurt their Brethren in body, Soul, Goods or Good name. Psal. 15.3. we need not feare those, that truly fear God. Gen. 42.18. their naturall fierceness is subdued and changed, so that they which were sometimes Lions, are now become Lambs. Isay 11.6. Hence they are called Sheep, Doves, little children; all which imply harmlesness, and inoffensiveness. They had rather take wrong, then do wrong. Hence the Apostle blames the Corinths for wronging and defrauding their Brethren. 1 Cor. 6.7, 8. why do ye not rather take wrong (saith he) why do ye not suffer your selves to be defrauded? Grace changes the roughness and ruggedness of our natures, it makes us kind and affable, full of holy sweetness and gentleness. Iames 3.17. many think Religion makes men harsh and sowre, as if no trees grew in Christs garden, but Crab-trees; when Religion makes men meek and modest (Acts 16.29, 30.33, 34.) curteous and kind. And that
1. In their Censures; where things are capable of a candid Interpretation, they take them in the best sense.
2. Modest in their opinions; they are not wise above that which is written, they hunt not after Novelties,
3. Sweet and lovely in their conversations; they can part with their own for Peace. Gen. 13.8, 9. Psal. 69.4.
4. Ready to yeeld to the counsels of others, when better Reasons are discovered. Iob (31.13.) will not despite the counsell of his servant. So Naaman harkened to the advice of his servant, and was cured. 2 Kings 5.12. David, wise as an Angell of the Lord, yet, harkens to the counsell of a woman. 1 Sam. 25.33. yea so flexible and docible are they,foreign est ci cur, quales sunt domesticae animantes. foreign sunt qui naturae ingenium retinent, ut oleaster, insitionem non serunt, culturam non admittunt. Aretius. that even a child with Scripture-Reason, may lead them. Isay 11.6. Many think it a note of a generous spirit, to render evill for evill, blow for blow, reproach for reproach; but Christ teacheth another Lesson. Matth. 5.38, 39. Resist not evill (he speaks of private revenge) But he that smites thee on the one cheek, turn to him the other also (i. e.) we should be so far from revenge, that we should rather suffer a second injury, then revenge the former. That which the world counts basenesse, and cowardise; the wisest of men calls it our glory.Metallum est, sed ex imis inferorum fodinis effossum, reprobum & vile quod nunquam S. Sancti insculptum imaginem admisit. Prov. 19.11. and 16.19.32. A man of understanding is of a cool spirit, and it is the glory of a man to passe by an offence. 'Tis a dishonour to offer wrong, but none to bear it. The world esteems such men of mettle, as auswer blow for blow; 'tis mettle indeed, but 'tis hellish mettle. Wrong them never so little, and they'l take Gods office out of his hand, they'l be their own Revengers, breaking forth into Duells, which are utterly unlawfull, for these Reasons.
1. Reason it self saith, No man may be a Judge in his own cause, especially when he hath lost himself with anger, impatience, and a vindicative spirit.
2. God hath forbidden all private revenge.V. Beesly's Ser. on Rom. 12.22. Levit. 19.13. Matth. 26.52. Rom. 12.19. telling us that vengeance is his, and he will repay. Deut. 32.35. God hath ordained the Magistrate as his Vice-gerent, to execute Justice on offendors, he beares not the sword in vain. Rev. 13.4. now he should bear it in vain, if every private person might be his own Judge, and if the Magistrate neglect his duty, then must we commit our cause to God, who judgeeth righteously.
3. It's a fearful thing to kill, or be killed in our own private quarrell.
1. He that kills is a murderer, and must die for it; now no murderer shall come into Gods Kingdom. Rev. 21.8. and 25.15.
2. If killed, he dies in the height of Passion and revenge, desiring and endeavouring to murder another.
[See more Reasons against this sin. Davenant in Colos. 3.13. p. 318. Brochmane C. C. 2. T. p. 125. Sayrus C. C. l. 7. c. 13. D. Hammon's Practicall Catechisme. l. 2. Sect. 5.]
2. As Grace will keep you from being fierce against others Actively, so it will be a Shield to keep you from the rage of fierce men Passively. Isay 33.15.19. 'tis disobedience which brings fierce men against a people. Deut. 28.50. but when we are obedient, God will restrain their rage, and bound them, as he doth the proud waves of the Sea. Iob 38.11.
3. Promote Learning; even Humane Learning (we see experimentally) civilizeth men, and hath a great influence on their conversations, 'Tis as a blew to the better taking of a right black.See more in my Schooles-Guard. Argument 9. p. 27. What makes our Welch-men, Wild-Irish, and Indians, so bruitish and barbarous, but want of Learning and Instruction?—Didicisse fideliter artes, &c.
Nemo adeò ferus est qui non mitescere possit,
Si modo culturae patientem accommodet aurem.
Hor.
4. Labour for that Gracefull Grace of Meeknesse, which is opposite to this fierceness. Do not only praise it, but practise it. Put it on as your Garment, yea, as your Ornament. Colos. 3.12, 13. 1 Pet. 3.4.
It's an honour to Religion, when the Profes…ors of it are gentle, placable, clement, ready to forget and forgive injuries. None so mild as the meekened man, Numb. 12.3. Gal. 4.20. 1 Sam. 10. ult. 2 Sam. 16.10, 11. 1 Thes. 2.7. Gen. 50.19, 20. Levit. 10.3. and 13.8. they seek not revenge, nor do they study how to render evill for evill, but what was said flatteringly of Caesar, is really true of them. Nihil oblivisci solet praeter injurias. They forget injuries, and remember nothing but kindnesses.
To incourage you to labour for this Grace.
V. Clerks Mirrour. cap, 92.1. Consider that Meeknesse is the Path-way to Peace and Joy. Isay 29.19. Psal. 37.11. it brings rest to the Soul. Mat. 11.29. There's no possibility of living Peaceably in this world without it; we shall meet with so many oppositions, Tentations, Injuries, Crosses, Losses, that an unmortified unmeekned Spirit will never endure them. We live not amongst Angells, and perfect persons, but amongst Lions, Dogs, Devills, froward, wayward, knotty, stubborn, surly, sullen peeces; yea, the best have their Passions, so that without great meeknesse and moderation, no Family, City, Society, or Kingdom, can long endure.
2. 'Tis an Evidence of our Election. Colos. 3.12.
3. 'Tis the way to win the most obstinate sinners; the way to break a flint, is to lay it on a soft bed; 'tis the soft wooll, that dulls the Canon shot. Rom. 12. ult. as we must constantly, and resolutely oppose the sins of such as belong to us, so if ever we would winne them, and do them good, it must be done with a spirit of meeknesse, and of mercy. Gal. 6.1. the reproofes that come from spleen and malice never profit, 'tis love and pity, that winnes men.
See Clerks Mirrour. cap. 36. Ira heroica, ordinata …os fortitudini, …ptimum Dei donum. Luther. See Mr. Beesley's Serm. on Rom. 12.21.190.Caut. Yet beware of stupidity, for it's Moppishnesse, and not meekness, to be silent when God is dishonoured. A holy Anger against sin, is usefull in its Place. As there is a vitious, inordinate Anger, so there is a Vertuous, well-ordered Anger, which is an excellent gift of God.
4. The promises of the Gospell belong to such. Isa 61.2, 3.
5. They shall have protection in troublous times. Zeph. 2.3. Psal. 76.9. God loves to beautify such with salvation. Psal. 149.4. and to raise them to honour. Psal. 147.6.
6. Instructoin. God will teach them, and make them profit by his Ordinances. Psal. 25.8. Iames 1.21. and 3.13.17.
7. They have best Title to the Earth, the meek shall inherit the earth. Psal. 37.11. Matth. 5.5. their meeknesse shall in no wise prejudice their Temporall Estate, he dwells at home where ever he is, he's never off his Masters ground: as the fierce unmortified, turbulent man runs out of all, and loseth the Possession of himself, and all that he hath; so meekness keeps a man in possession of himself, his understanding's cleare, his judgement's right, his Affections composed and setled, so that he can live in any soyle; be content with any condition, and endure any hardship.
Lastly, since in the last dayes men will be fierce and cruell.
1. Let us pray the Lord to deliver us from cruell and unreasonable men. 2 Thes. 3.2. beseech him to correct us himself, and not to sell us into the hands of wicked men, whose mercies are cruelties. 2 Sam. 24.14. Proverbs 12.10.
2. Admire the Goodness of the Lord, who preserves his Lambs in the midst of so many fierce Lions. Did not the great Lord Keeper of the world, watch his Vine-yard night and day, the Boar out of the wood would soon lay it waste. The Thornes would soon over-top this Lilly, and the Birds of Prey devoure Gods Turtle.
Object. We see wicked men are quiet and Gentle.
Answ. So is a Lion in his Grate, but let him out, and you will find him a Lion still. 'Tis not for want of malice, but for want of power, that they are so quiet. God chaines them, and restraines them. Psal. 76.10. But if the Lord should let out their chain,V. A collection of Letters sent to the Protector. we should find the Atheists, and Papists of the world, as cruell as ever. As is apparent at this day, in the barbarous, bloody, perfidious dealing of the Papists, towards the Poor, Innocent Protestants in Savoy.
3. Walk wisely towards those that be without. Colos. 4.5. be exact in your walking, give them no just cause of offence. Be wise as a Serpent, that you be not deceived, be Innocent as a Dove, that you prove not a Deceiver. A man that lives in the midst of Wolves, Lions, wild Boares, and Beares, had need to look about him.