Works, Chapter 3 · Section 4
SECT. IV.
FOurthly, Labour to get some good by such as are evil; The precious stone Amyanthon, being cast into the fire, is made the more clear and pure; A skilful Naturalist, will make some use of the most venemous Hearbs and Serpents; A gracious person may improve the vilest sinners company to his own spiritual profit. As wicked men are helpful to the temporal good, so often to the eternal good of Gods people; Like Leaves, though they are nothing worth in themselves, yet they keep the good fruit from blasting, and hereby are instrumental to its further Growth and Ripening. Ismenias the Theban Musitian, taught his Scholars, not onelyonly by shewing them such as struck a clean stroak, with, Do so, but also by shewing them such as bungled at it, with, Do not so. Antigenidas thought men would like better, and contend the more for skil, if they heard untuneable notes. Satan intendeth wicked men as dirt and earth, onelyonly to besmear and defile them, but God outshoots him in his own bow, and makes them as Fullers-earth, to purge and purifie them; As poisonous as they are in their own nature, through the Correctives of the Spirit, they become not only not hurtful, but helpful to the beleiver. Ungodly men are compared to dung and filth, which we know, being applied to the good Trees, makes them more fruitful. That slime and mudde, which the overflowing of Nilus carrie…h along with it in the Summer Solftice, causeth Egypt to bring forth abundantly. The Graces of Saints have increased, even by the abominations and oppositions of sinners. Lots hatred of sin was the greater, by viewing the unclean conversations of the Sodomites. The Serpent Tyrus, saith Brittenbacchus, is so venemous, that there is no remedy against its bitings, but by cutting off the member; yet even of this there is a Treacle made, which serveth for excellent purposes. Though the flesh of the Vulture (saith Pliny) be unwholsom and unmeet for meat, yet it is most medicinable; an Oyntment made of the fat of it, is specially strengthning to the sinews. Though ungodly men are ill food, and not fit to be our ordinary constant diet, yet they may be good Physick and profitable, when necessity compelleth us to use them. A deboice, lewd Master may teach a Scholar many good lessons; If God send us to School to the Beasts of the field, Job 12. 7. Ask the Beasts, and they shall teach thee; I know no reason but much good may be learned from these brutes in the shape of men. Some tell us that gold was extracted out of Ennius his dung. Thou mayst Reader, through the help of the Spirit, get that which is better then Gold, out of these noysom and loathsom persons. The smell of Trefoil, is often stronger in a moist and cloudy dark season, then in fair weather; So should the savour of a Saints graces, be most fragrant amongst evil Companions.
1. Let thy zeal be the more inflamed; zeal is the heat or intention of the af…ections; It is an holy warmth, whereby our love and anger are drawn out to the utmost for God and his glory; Now our love to God and his ways, and our hatred of wickedness should be encreased, because of ungodly men; cloudy and dark colours in a table, make those that are fresh and lively to appear more beautiful; others sins should make God and Godliness more amiable in thine eyes. Thy heart should take fire, by striking on such cold flints;Quemadmodum siquis margaritam in luto conculcet, …jus amplius demonstrat pul hr…tudinem. Sic virtus sanctorum, quo…mque eam proje…eris, declarat suum splendorem, in servitute, in carcere, in prosperitate. Chrys. Hom. 62. in Genes. David by an holy Antiperistasis, did kindle from others coldness, Psal. 119. 39. My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy word. Cold blasts make a fire to flame the higher, and burn …he hotter: A true child hearing others speak faintly, is the more fervent in the commendation of his Father; Because the wicked forsake thy law; therefore I love thy commandments above gold, yea, above much …ine gold, Psa. 119. 127. Do others in thy presence declare their loathing of Gods pre…cepts? do thou love them the more. Do they trample them under their feet? do thou prize them at the greater rate; Truly, the more they dishonou… God by their swearing and scoffing at Godliness, the more reason thou hast to honour him. Phineas is Sainted in Gods Calendar, for being zealous in Gods Cause; as Varnish addeth a lustre to all colours, and makes them amiable, so zeal addeth a beauty to all our services, and makes them the more acceptable. The Spirit of God works like fire, and if it dwell in thee, twill make thee fervent in Spirit. How little sign have they of their Saintships, who can hear sinners belch out their blasphemies against God, and tear the precious body of Christ in peices with Oaths, and yet are as sensless as stocks and stones as if they had no relation to God and Christ? The redeemed of the Lord are a zealous people. Tit. 2. 14. Thou art but false in thy profession of friendship, if thou canst behold others abusing thy friend and sit still. Ah, what true Christian can see hellish lusts embraced publiquely, and the glorious Lord disowned openly, and not loath the former, and love the latter the more for it! The Grecians would bring their children to hate drunkenness, by shewing them Drunkards wallowing in their vomits, what loathsom persons they were in such conditions. Good examples are provocations to holiness, Mal. 3. 8. Bad examples may work a detestation of vice, Deut. 18. 9. Ephes. 4. 17. Wise men have more to learn of fools, then fools of wise men, said Cato. That Trumpet which is filled only with wind, may encourage and awaken a living man to the battle; That person who is dead in sin, may rouse up a sleepy, yet living Christian, and raise his affections more towards God.
2. Let thy heart be the more inlarged in thankfulness; Dost thou behold the prophane, glorying in their pollutions? Dost thou see sinners abusing Gods creatures? Dost thou discern ungodly ones making a mock of sin; jearing at holiness, and riding post to Hell; how should thy heart be raised in thankefulness to thy dearest Redeemer, that thou dost not run with them to the same excess of riot, and in the same road of eternal ruine? Every time thou comest into such company, and observest their wicked courses, thou mayst well pity such deluded souls, and praise thy gracious Saviour. Mayst thou not think thus with thy self; Lo here are those that play with the eternal fire, and sport with the Almighties fury, that dance merrily over the bottomless pit, and take pleasure in the way to endless pains, that are wholly regardless of God and Christ, and Heaven, and their unchangeable estates in t…e other world; I was as bad as the worst of them, or at least, I had slept as deep into that mire of prophaness, and equalled or exceeded them in all manner of impiety, if free grace had not with-held and prevented me. I have the same root of bitterness, and had doubtless brought forth the same cursed fruits, if the hand of mercy had not new grafted me; What thanks do I owe to my Redeemer, who makes me to differ, and what cause have I to love and laud, to please and praise him, world without end! O friend, if the Israelites blessed God for their preservation from those waters in which the Egyptians were drowned; hast not thou cause to give thanks for preservation from that wickedness in which others are damned?
3. Thy care and watchfulness should be the more increased. The falls and failings of others, should be Sea-marks, and give thee warning to avoid those rocks and shallows, if thou wouldst avoid shipwrack. Thou hast the same poisonous seed, therefore take heed, lest thou committest the same sin. These things (saith the Apostle) were written for our example, to the intent we should not lust after evil things as they did, 1 Cor. 10. 6, 16. All these things happened unto them for examples, and they were written for our admonition. As the sins and sufferings of others are recorded for our instruction, so God lets them be acted before our eyes for our admonition. If he that walketh before me falleth and breaketh his neck, I have the more reason to ponder the paths of my feet; If a fire break out in one house, every wise man will look the more to his own. If enemies be near the walls, the Garrison will be the more diligent to keep watch and ward. Ah how foolish is that Mariner, who beholdeth a Ship before him, cast away upon some Rock, and doth not steer his course with the greater care?
Thus the Sword of Goliah, may be serviceable to a David, and those weapons of unrighteousness, which are designed for our destruction, may be helpful to our preservation. Those Kites that destroy Chickens, do also eat up offals of Beasts, and many noisom things, which otherwise would infect the Air; whence, say some, its a Law in England, that near a Market Town they should not be kill'd. Unclean Beasts are serviceable to men, and unclean men may be helpful to Christians.