Armor of Proof, Section 30
§. 30.
FIftly. Another reason why we should separate our selves from their society is, that according to the Apostles rule, so far as is possible, we may have peace with all men, which is no way obtainable, but by a separation. A wicked man (saith Salomon) is abomination to the just: and he that is upright in his way, is abomination to the wicked, Prov. 29 27. if so, either no communion, or no peace.
Believers, and such as are enemies to the Crosse of Christ, can never be reconciled, at least in heart. What communion can righteousness have with unrighteousness? You may as well tye a sure knot between a Cobweb and a Cable as a true and fast love-knot, between the child of God and a wicked man. These two yoked together, agree like the Harp and the Harrow: they are as suitable, as a wooden Legg, and a Thigh of flesh: which makes the Apostle Rom. 12. 18. …n enjoyning us to have peace with all men, to add, if it be possible: and in another place to say, be not unequally yoked with infidels, for as we should not be yoked with infidels; so we should not be yoked with common drunkards, and swearers, nor with Atheists, which are no better then infidels; for that also is to be unequally yoked, unless we be Atheists too.
As the Iews might not consort with the Canaanites: so we may not consort with them, which are like Canaanites. Wise Salomon chargeth us from God, that wee should not keep company with gluttons and drunkards, Proverbs 23. 20. and the Apostle enjoyneth us, not to have any fellowship, nor so much as eat with a runkar…, 1 Cor. 5. 11. and that we should have no fellowship with these unfruitful works of darknesse, or, if unwittingly and unwillingly we be thrust into any such society, we must not imitate, but reprove them, Ephesians 5. 11. and wee professe our selves the servants of God: new they are bad servants, who will keep company with their masters enemies, especially, after he hath streightly charged them to the contrary.
Alasse! what should we do in the presence of base persons, when even our seber ignorance, in ill courses, is more then di…teemed of the world? Yea, when it is not enough for them to be bad themselves, except they … at the good? When if there be one in a company, that abhors impious language, they will blaspheme on purpose to vex him? When they will think themselves slighted, if they be not sent away drunk? When to depart sober, is … incivility? And we cannot talk idly enough, nor do lewdly enough, to bear the… company; we can neither say as they say, no… be silent when we see and hear … ba…eness. As whom would it not stir, to hear oaths … for number, with words; scoffs, with oaths; vain speeches, with both? we love neither to bite, nor fawn … we can not forbear to speak the naked truth; which i… we do, will breed a quarrel. As for instance; one j…sts … with his Maker; another, makes himself sport with Sc…ip…ure; a third, sils his mouth with oaths of sound; a fourth, … at the religious; one, speaks vi…lany; another, laughs at it; a third, de…ends it; one, makes hims…l… a swine, another, a divell, Now who, that is not all earth, can endu…e it? Yea, who, having grace, can hear such wickednesse, and …eeleth not some sp…rk of holy in…ignation arise in him, while he thinks of it? O who having no… lost his spiritual …, can endure the …avour of such noysome and …king breath, as their rotten lungs send …orth. Well born children a…e touched to the quick, with the injuries of … Parents: and not thus to be moved, is to confess our s…lves bastards. Indeed, men of steel stomacks can digest any discou…s…, though never so cours…; but the g…acious know, that as they must render an …c…ount for every idle wo…, so likewise for their idle silence; for in this case not to reprove them either by word, or gest…re, is to do the same things in judgment and conscience, which the other doth act… ally. Every evil we see doth either v…x, or infect us. The very sight of sin makes a man either sad, or guilty: if we see it, and be not sorrowful, we are sinful. If Lot had not been vexed with the beastly So…omites, God had been vexed with him: yea, in such a case not to be very angry, is to make God very angry. Ely heard of his sons impiety, no doubt with grief enough, but not with anger enough; therefore he is punished with hearing of their destruction, that was too remisse in hearing of their transgression. It is easie to be guilty of anothers wickednesse, even our very permission appropriates crimes to us: we need no more guiltine…s of any sin, then our willing tolleration. All sins which we give allowance to, being committed, or not hind…d by us, if we may, are ours, as if we committed them: fu…rt, Commanders; 2. Abbettors; 3. Counsellors; 4. Consenters; 5. Commenders; 6. Connivers; 7. Concealers; 8. not hinderers; each of these will be found guilty before Gods T…bunal. What saith the Prophet to King Ichosaphat, wouldst thou help the wicked, and not only so, but wouldst thou love them that ha…e the Lord? therefore for this thing the wrath of the Lord is upon thee, 2 Chron. 19. 2. We need do no more to bring the wrath of God upon us, then even to love and favour these which hate him.
How much better then to oppose thy friend by rep…ving him, then that God should reprove thee for being at one with him.
But this is no friendly part: yes, the Scripture affirms, that not to tell one… Brother plainly of his fault, at least, if there be pr…bability of doing good, is to hate him in his heart, Levit. 19. 17. And Philosophy tels us, that is truly perfect love, which, to profit and do good, f…areth not to hurt or offend; that admonitions and corrections are the chiefest offices of friendship. Diogenes when they called him Dog, for his sharp kind of rebuking, would answer, That other Dogs used to bite their …, but he his friends, for their greater good. And S…ipio, the elder, when his f…iends, for so doing, turned his enemies, was able to …ay, I have given mine enemies as much cause to l…ve me, as my friends.
Ph…cion when a friend of his would have cast himself away, would not suffer him, saying, I was made thy friend for this purpose: and to King Antipater, thou canst not have me both for thy friend and flatter. Indeed, a flattering friend is a bitter enemy, yea (as one swee…ly) no enemy can be so mortal, as these officious Clyents, whose flattery sothes a ma… up in wickedness! for they are traytors to the soul, and by a pleasing violence kill the best part eternally. Whence Euripides exhorts men to get such friends, as would not spare to disple…se them, saying, friends are like wines, those that being new are hard and harsh, prove best; the most pleasing, are least lasting: and indeed, he that loves not such a friend, hates himself.
A wise man will say to his friend, love heartily, and then speak what thou wilt. And for a man not to chide his f…iend, least he should offend him, is as if (when he were ready to be drowned) he should fear to catch him by the hair of the head, lest he should loose a few of them. Wherefore either let them abide thee no f…iend to their faults, or no friend to themselves.
And what if admonition and reproof be as unwelcome to thy friend, as water into a Ship? What if it sound no better to him, then musick out of tune; or tast no sweeter, then bitt…r pils, which sick men take with an unwilling willingnesse? Wilt thou neglect the office of a friend, to avoid the suspition of an enemy?
Indeed, if thou meet with a contentious fool, thou shalt do wisely, in not answering whatsoever he objects: for it is more policy and discretion to gain a f…i…nd without trouble, then a foe with it: and our Saviour saith, give ye not that which is holy to Dogs, neither cast ye your pearl before Swine; least they tread them under their feet, and turning again all to rent you, Matth. 7. 6.
Again, as in Gods and their own behalf we are bound to reprove them: so in our neighbours also, to whom, in this case, we owe a duty: for, admit we are in company when, and where our brothers good name is taken away by false report; it is our duty to defend the truth, in his behalf: we must neither backbite others, nor be willing to give eare unto backbiters of others. It was an honest speech of one; as I will be my present friends self, so I'le be my absent friends deputy, to say for him what he would, and cannot speak for himself.
But thou wilt ask me. What need men trouble themselves with that which so little concerns them?
My answer shall be such another question. What needed Moses to have afflicted himself with the afflictions of others, that he might work their deliverance, when himself was at ease and pleasure in the court of Pharaoh? what needed Ionathan have purchased his fathers displeasure, and brought his own life in jeopardy, that he might justifie David in his uprightness, and save his life? What needed Calvin, in the yeer 1556, when Perin had conspired against the estate of Geneva, have run into the midst of their naked swords, to appease the tumult? what needs the hand cast it self betwixt a blow and the head, though it be cut off by this mean? What needs the eye serve more to the use of the other members, in being watchfull rightly to direct th…m, then for it self? A good heart cannot abide to be happy alone; which is a religious answer, to a reasonable question unreasonably moved. Yea, admit it were not a duty for one member to seek the good of another, or of the whole, and that God had not enjoyned us so to do: I am sure it is a pardonable fault, to do lesse good to our selves, that we may do more good to, and for others.
But suppose we offend them not this way; yet we shall another, if we keep them company. The naturall man conceits of himself, far beyond what another esteems him: and in …ase he finds he is undervalued, will flye in your face, and perhaps do you more mischief, then can easily be repaired: as that was done in one quarter of an hour by our first Parents, which tended to the ruin of them, and all mankind. It is usual with drunkards to kisse when they meet, and kill when they part. D…unken Alexander killed Clytus, for whom sober Alexander would have killed himself. The Danes and Norwayes once purposing for England, fell drunk on shipboard, and so slasht one another, that there was an end of their voyage. Out of their gallant disposition, you shall have one kill another, upon the interpretation of a word; a manifest confession, that their life is not much worth, sith they will sell it so good cheap: yea, there are not wanting of them that resemble Fimbria of Rome, who meeting a Citizen that he hated, gave him a deadly thrust into the body with his sword, and the next day entred an action against him, that he had received but part of his blad into his body and not all, as he meant it.
Yea, perhaps they may make you to do that which you never dreamt of: like Herod, who cut off Iohn Baptist's head, only to answer the expectation of the standers by, Matth. 14. 9. As for flattery it never wants welcome, while self-love, is at home: but the plain dealing man cannot live among these Vipers, and not be stung by them: yea, he lives most in trouble, that most seeks to have peace with them by a familiarity.
Well then, if they are so offensive to the stomack of our company, that they will not let us be at peace; our best way will be to spew them out, to deal with our old vicious con…orts, as the Fox in the Fable did by his Flees: who wading backward into the water, by degre…s, drew them all into a lock of Wooll, which he …ad in his mouth, and then left it swimming; even leave them, without taking leave of …hem; or if you like not to tear friendship asunder upon the sudden, you may unsow it by little and little. He that would not continue a friend, may … neglect him, and have his aym.