The Cause and Cure of Ignorance, Section 38
SECT. 38.
17 They will withstand and contrary the truth by us delivered.2. IT is their manner to withstand and contrary the Doctrine which they are commanded by God to deliver. Thus Zidkiah the false Prophet withstood and contraried Michaia's Doctrine, 1 Kings 22.24. The Priests, Prophets, and all the people, Ieremiahs, saying, Why hast thou prophesied in the Name of the Lord, that this house shall be like Shilo, and this Citie shall be desolate, and without an inhabitant? Ierem. 26.8, 9. And thus Elimas the Sorcerer withstood and contraried Paul and Barnabas in their preaching, Acts. 13.8.
And this is still the manner of wicked men (being better acquainted with wrangling than reasoning, and deeper in love with strife that truth) even to cavill against the good Word of God,They will cavill against the very word and oppose the messengers. They fly the light. and oppose the messenger, and what they cannot maintain by reason, a feminine testinesse shall outwrangle.
These night-birds know right well, that where the Sun shines, there is small place for them to appear: whence the Ministers preaching is as great a vexation to them, as their conversation is to him: and in case he hath a …ire in his tongue kindled with a coal from the Altar, they have a sea of water in their hearts to quench it.
But if some one be more specially gifted in convincing of sin,A powerfull Minister most opposed. he is sure to have treble opposition: if he molest Satan, and dispossesse him of his strong holds, Satan will molest him with a powder; all the Drunkards in that Parish shall fall about such a Ministers eares; yea, perhaps some neighbour Ministers that pretend gravitie and good will to God, shall more than set them on: for vertue fares hardest oftentimes from such as should uphold her. When Henry Zu…phen was Preacher at Breame; the Catholiques sent their Chaplaines to evey Sermon to trap him in his words: but the greater part of them that were sent to hearken, were thereby converted: and did openly witnesse for him to his Adversaries teeth,Strong braines too wise to be saved. that they never in all their life had heard the like, at which the Monkes and Cardinals were mad. The case of our Prelates, during the time of their High Commission. None so deep in Hell, as knowing men: strong braines are commonly too wise to be saved by the foolishnesse of preaching. But Paul the babler must be both heard and admired, before heaven can be had: yea, great Doctors must acknowledge themselves but great Dunces, in comparison of meaner men; speaking by the Spirit of God: as it fared with the Philosopher, when he read the fir…t Chapter of Saint Iohn's Gospel, who said, This Barbarian hath comprised more s…upendious stuffe in three lines, than we have done in all our voluminous Discourses.
An humble man will never be an here…ique.And indeed, The wisedom from above is gentle, easie to be perswaded; when better, reason is alleadged, Iames 3.17. as in Peter, Iohn 13.8. First, peremptory, but after conviction pliable. An humble man will never be an Heretique: shew him his errour, he will soon retract it. Iohannes Bugenhagius a reverend Dutch Divine lighting upon Luthers Book, De captivitate Babylonicâ, and reading some few pages of it as he sate at supper, rashly pronounced him the most pestilent and pernitious Heretique that ever the Church had been troubled with since the times of Christ: but a few dayes after, having seriously read over the Book, and well weighed the matter, he returned to his Colegioners, and recanted what he had said, affirming and proving, that Luther onelyonly was in the light, and all the world besides in grosse darknesse, so that many of them were converted by him, and won to imbrace the same truth.
Thus Satan and his instruments deal like our Pirats, who will set upon rich laden ships, but passe by those that are empty.
Nor are they to be appeased after they have once begun,Nor will they be appeased. for that which rashnesse and follie have brought forth, pride afterwards and contumacie shall maintain to the last gaspe. Usually, an ill cause once undertaken, shall be maintained, though with bloud. Nay, rather than want cause, they will now hate such a Minister,They will hate us because they have hurt us. because they have formerly hurt him: as many husbands hate their wives, onelyonly because themselves have wronged them, or at least love them the lesse for their owne faults: all which they will defend with their tongues, though they condemne it with their consciences.
They neither hear him themselves nor suffer others.Which men are like those wicked Iewes, Acts 13 45. who would neither believe the Doctrine which Paul preacht, nor abide that the Gentiles should be brought to the Faith of Christ: For they not onelyonly forbear to hear such a Mini…er themselves, but will dehort all their familiars: in imitation of the high Prie…s, Scribes, and Pharisees, who in their own opinion were too good, too wise, too holy to receive Christ into their companie; and, not content to seque…er themselves from Christ, they disdained also that he should be conversant with Publicans and sinners.
They adde to their own reputation by det…acting from others.Pride was ever envious and contumelious, thinking she addes so much to her own reputation, as she detracts from others: and indeed the twinckling starres at the approach of the Sun lose their light, and after regain it not, untill darknesse be upon the deep: yea, the whiter the Swan is the more black is the Crow that's by her.