Works, Chapter 4 · Section 6
SECT. VI.
THirdly,3Christians must receive good in good company. Christians ought in good Company, not onelyonly to do what good they can to each other, but also to receive what good they may from each other; God sets up such candles, not for us to play, but to work by. The strongest Christian may gain by the weakest; A small brimstone match, may help to light a great Torch; A servant may sometimes think of a way to inlarge his imprisoned Master, when his Master dreams not of it. Every loop or pin was helpful to the Tabernacle; An homely digger that is poor, doth sometimes discover rich Mines, which wealthy Merchants took no notice of. Apollo, one mighty in the Scriptures, is content to learn of an Handy-craft man; Cordials are not to be refused, because brought to us in a wooden spoon. Who ever sent away silver or gold, because brought to him in a bag of Leather? The Moon though she be but small, and seated in a lower Orb then the stars of the first magnitude, and though she hath her spots and imperfections, yet she lends an useful light to men, prevents their stumbling and wandring out of their way, and produceth here and there a motion subordinate and obedient to an heavenly influence; when those luminaries that are above her in place, are below her in use and service: Proud men disdain to take poor Saints advice, as if wisdom had forsaken all commerce with inferiour persons, and taken up her abode onelyonly in stately Palaces. Sir W. R…wl. Hist. World, l. 4. c. 4.Upon this score Darius (instead of the thanks which he owed) payed Charidemus with no less then death for his good counsel; But its the folly as well as the arrogancy of some, rather to ascend to a dangerous height, then descend at the call of one below them;Prov. 29. 1. O how mad is he that will rather run on in hazardous paths to his ruine, then turn back and retreat at the desire of one that is his inferiour! And such proud Christians have this usually for their reward of God, that when the humble that will stoop to take up jewels at the feet of the meanest are enriched, they get nothing by godly conference. We give no relief to them that go gorgeously attired, and brag of their own large revenues.
There lieth a great deal of wealth and worth in some obscure and neglected Christians; men do not more usually trample upon the golden veins of earth in America, then conceited persons trample on the spiritual riches in poor Christians; but a wise man will better himself by his enemies, much more by his godly friends, both in taking their counsel and receiving their admonition, if occasion be.
1. In Taking counsel; It was said of Demosthenes, that he was better at praising vertue, then practising it. We must write by that Copy which we set others. It was the speech of a Philosopher, That its the easiest thing in the world to give good counsel, and the hardest thing to take it. Iobs friends, though falsly, taxed him as guilty of this crime, Iob 4. 3, 4, 5. Behold thou hast instructed many, and strengthened the weak hands; Thy words have up holden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthned the feeble knees; But now it is come upon thee and thou faintest, it toucheth thee and thou art troubled. Doctor Preston confessed on his death-bed, that he found it difficult to take that Physick which he had often administred to others. But all Christians must and will endeavour it; Solomon makes it the mark of a prudent man; The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he that hearkeneth to counsel is wise, Prov. 11. 15. When out of self-conceit we refuse others advice, we bewray our own pride and folly. Quintilian said of some, They might have proved excellent Scholars, if they had not thought themselves so already; this is true of too many in our days; They might have proved excellent Christians, if they had not thought themselves too good to learn; He that every day layeth up something, though but little, will in time have a good stock.
2. In Receiving admonition. The stomach of man naturally riseth against this bitter Physick, though it conduceth so much to his health; Faithful reproof is the awakening a man out of sleep, and such are very apt to be angry. The Hedg-hog brusleth up her prickles, and will pierce if it be possible those that come to take hold of her.
There are two things that cause men to rage against reproof.
1. Guilt of the sin objected. Guilt makes men angry when they are searched, and like Horses that are g…lled, to kick, if they be but touched. They hate, saith the Holy Ghost, him that reproveth in the gate. The easiest medicines, and mildest waters, are troublesome to sore eyes. Praxaspes having reproved Cambyses for his drunkenness, did so exasperate him, that he shot the Son of the Reprover through the heart, to confute the Father by shewing the steadiness of his hand. Though you stir one that hath a boyl never so gently, yet he will fret and fume. Ahab conscious of his own filth and wickedness, hates Michaiah for telling him the truth. There is s…arce a more probable sign, that the crime objected is true, then wrath and bitterness against the person that chargeth us with it. Children that have cankers, will not suffer honey to come near their mouths, as sweet as it is. Though men are bold to sin, even to the face of God, yet they are so proud, that they would not have it visible to the eye of a man; therefore when by their admonitions they find that they are discovered, they wrangle and quarre….
2. Love to sin makes men impatient under reproof. Twas Davids fondness of Absolon, that made him so strict in his charge to his Captains concerning him, Deal gently with the young man Absolon, for my …ake. Tis love of lust, that makes us so desirous it should be spared, and so passionate when it is pierced by a reproof. A man may gather that sin to be his Dalilah, which he will suffer none to hurt. Eglebert King of West Saxons, slew Earl Cambra for telling him of his faults, but it was because his sin was dearer to him then his soul. When a persons sin is to him as the apple of his eye, no wonder if he be offended at any that shall touch it. Solomon calls reproofs ear-rings; I am sure they are ill bestowed on such uncircumcised ears, Prov. 25. 12.
But Grace will teach a Christian contentedly to take those potions that are wholsom, though they be not toothsom. It is holy Davids expression, Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness, and let him reprove me, it shall be an excellent Oyl; it shall not break my head, Psa. 141. 5. Faithful reproof is a token of love, and therefore may well be esteemed a kindness. Such wounding of a friend is healing, and so David might well call it an excellent Oyl. And he did not onelyonly say so, (which is easie and ordinary) but acted accordingly; He did not as the Papists, who highly commend holy water, but turn away their faces, when it comes to be sprinkled on them. When he had by sin, and continuance in it, so gangrend his flesh, and corrupted himself, that he was in danger of death, he suffered his sores to be throughly searched without regret. Nathan was the Chirurgion whom God imployed to search that wound which had divers months been festring in his soul; and truly he did not dally with his patient, though he were a Prince, but thrust his instrument to the bottom; yet whatever pain it put him to, he took it patiently, and was so far from being angry with the Prophet, that he made him one of his Privy Council. Tis a sign of a polluted nature, for a man like a Serpent, if he be but toucht, to gather poison, and vomit it up at the party.P…ov. 21. 24. Rebuke a scorner and he will hate thee; Rebuke a wise man and he will love thee.
Pride scorns a corrector, and thinks it a disgrace to amend upon anothers desire; hence it hates him that endeavours it: Amos for reproving the golden calves was accused by Amaziah, the chief Priests of the Idols of Bethel, and struck by Vriah the son of that Amaziah with a spear on the head, whereof he died, saith Buntingus Itenerar. Sacr. But reprove a wise man and he will love thee.
Austin notes it as a sign of grace in his friend Alipius, that he received his reproof so well. Paul rebuked Peter sharply, and that before a considerable Company of Peters friends, yet he loved not Paul the less for it; for in his Epistle which was written some time after that contest, and after the Epistle to the Galathians which records it, he makes honourable mention of Pauls writings, and of that very Epistle among the rest (2 Pet. 3. 15, 16.) and calleth him his beloved brother. As they who love their sins, hate the reprover; so they that hate their sins, love him. When Isaiah had declared from God a dreadful threatning against Hezekiah for his pride, he doth not flie out into a passion against the Prophet, but submits with Good is the word of the Lord, which thou hast spoken. Tis said of Gerson the great Chancellour of France, that he rejoyced in nothing more then a friendly reprehension. And it is storied of our Richard the first, that he would be admonished by a poor Hermit. Alphonsus King of Arragon, being asked what company he liked best; answered, Books, for they, saith he, without fear and flattery, will tell me my faults faithfully. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Prov. 27. 6.A loving reproof is a wound in love, the wound of a friend; and therefore we must bestow our anger upon our faults; that deserve the reproof, not upon our friends that give the reproof. How foolish is he that breaks his own head, & then rageth at his friend for endeavouring to cure it. Ahab quarrels with Elijah, as the Incendiary of Israel, for reproving their Idolatries; when alas like AEtna, that flame arose out of their own bowels, which threatned to reduce them to ashes. Some of the Heathen were so sensible of their proness to erre, and to be partial in their own cases, when they had erred, that they both kindly accepted reproofs, and earnestly desired a Reprover. It is reported of Alexander, that having had a Philosopher a long time with him, he should say to him, Recede a me; prorsus consortium tuum nolo, quod cum tanto tempore, mecum degeris nunquam me de vitio aliquo increpasti; Be gone from me, I will have none of thy company, for thou hast lived long with me, and couldst not but observe some failings in me, yet thou hast not reproved me of any. And Augustus Cesar for this cause did much lament the death of Varro, because thereby he was deprived of one that would deal faithfully with him when he offended.
Yet as they say, some roses are too tender to endure the strength of the smell of Wormwood; so some Christians that its hoped are sound, cannot without wry mouths, and angry faces, drink down this bitter liquor. Asa was a good man, yet time was when he imprisoned a Prophet for bringing him an admonition from God. One would have thought that the King would have bid the servant welcome for his Masters sake; but truly a prison was all the reward he had for his pains. It was the speech of a wise and experienced Christian, That he never was acquainted throughly with any one, but first he displeased him by admonishing him of his faults: But as light stuff and rubbish kindleth sooner then solid and more substantial wood; so they are the weaker and less wise Christians that are so soon fired into a pet and passion, if but told of their errors. Tis childishness to be unwilling to take bitter medicines. A prudent person will rather permit cupping-glasses and corrosives to be applied to his body, then suffer his distemper to reign and kill him. The sharpest fruit is most profitable and wholsom. The Lemon is more tart, yet is more excellent then the Orange, which delighteth the taste.
Reader, is it not better to be awakened by a rousing reproof, then to sleep the sleep of death? and wilt thou be angry with thy friend for doing thee that courtesie? Is it not better for thy familiar companion to tell thee meekly of thy miscarriages, and call thee to repentance, then for God to reprove thee, and set thy sins in order before thine eyes? When God uttered his voyce, the Heavens thundered, the mountains smoaked, and Moses himself trembled. The voice of the Lord is powerful, the voyce of the Lord is full of majesty; the voyce of the Lord breaketh the Cedars, yea, the Cedars of Lebanon; the voyce of the Lord shaketh the wilderness, yea it shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh; How wilt thou then endure the thundring of such a Cannon, a reproof for thy sins from the Almighty God, at whose rebuke the earth quakes, the rocks are rent in pieces, and the foundations of the world are moved! The Israelites said unto Moses, Speak thou to us, and we will hear; but let not God speak, lest we dye, Exod. 20. 19. Truly so mayst thou say to thy companion, Speak thou to me of my offences, deal plainly with me about any thing that thou seest amiss in me, and I will hear thee; but let not God speak to me lest I dye, lest his voyce strike me down, strike me dead. There is an absolute necessity of thy sense of, and sorrow for thy sins. This ordinarily must be wrought in thee, either by admonition from man, or by some severe rebuke from God. Consider seriously therefore, whether it be not easier to take a faithful check from thy fellow creature, then to be called to repentance by some dreadful judgement from the jealous God. O tis a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God; for our God is a consuming fire.
One thing more Reader is considerable; It is not enough to take a reproof with patience, but also to be awakened by reproof to repentance. Its a dreadful aggravation of sin to continue in it after thou art convinced of it. Such impudence is followed with fearful vengeance. He that being often reproved heardeneth his heart, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy, Pro. 29. 1.
4Christians should rejoyce in each others graces.Fourthly, Christians if they would exercise themselves to Godliness in good company, must rejoyce in each others grace and good. True love will rejoyce in the welfare of another, as its own; Peter beholding those eminent Graces in Paul, did not repine that a brighter star was risen which would eclipse his splendour, but glorified God in Paul, and gave him the right-hand of fellowship. Its a prophane Esau that hates a Iacob for having obtained his Fathers blessing beyond himself. Envy is from the evil one. Saul who was without God, eyed and hated David for slaying more of Gods enemies, and obtaining thereby greater renown then himself could. Yet alas, the spirit which dwelleth in the best, lusteth to envy: Corrupt nature will shew it self if it be possible at this window. There are some Countries, as Candie, that have (Naturalists tell us) no poison; but there is not any Christian without a spice of this sin. Ioshua is ready to envy them that seemed by their light to darken his Master.
Cantharides a venemous worm, usually breedeth in Wheat when it is ripe; the highest Christians, as the greatest Favourites at Court, are usually the greatest objects of envy. But O tis a sign of a weak eye not to behold the sunshine of others holiness without pain. The holy Apostle is enlarged in thanksgiving to God for the faith, and love, and patience of the Thessalonians, and their grace was … strong cordial to revive him in his sorrows and distress. We give thanks to God for you all; Remembring without ceasing, your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Iesus Christ. We were comforted over you, in all our afflictions and distresse by your faith. Nay, he was so far from grieving at others graces, that he professeth the joy of his life did very much depend upon their perseverance in piety; For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord; As if he had said, Our life will be but a death in regard of sorrow and grief, it will be so doleful a being, that it will not deserve the name of a life, if ye should once be loose and wandring from the Lord, 1 Thes. 1. 2, 3, 4. 2 Thes. 3. 6, 7, 8. 1 Colos. 12. Grace cannot but desire and delight in its like. He that truly loves his God, will rejoyce in his brothers graces, because they tend to his Fathers glory; and he that truly loves his brother, will be glad at his grace, because it tends so exceedingly to his brothers good. Pedaretus when he could not be admitted to be one of the three hundred, among the Spartans, Plutar…h…went home, rejoycing that his Country had three hundred better men then himself. Surely then, Christians when they behold others sparkling with grace, and shining as lights in the World, should rejoyce that the blessed God hath some that can do him more service, and bring him more glory then themselves.