A Counterpoison, Religious treatise · Chapter 23
CHAP. XXIII.
Because our enemies are ignorant.
2. Reasons in regard of our enemies are three.
1 because They are ignorant.
2 because They are rather to be pitied, than maligned or reckoned of.
3 because Their expectation may not bee answered.
1. HE well considers the ignorance of his enemies, who being carnall, fleshly, unregenerate, cannot discerne the spirituall objects at which they are offended. Father forgive them (saith our Saviour of his enemies) for they know not what they doe, Luke 23. 34. Socrates being perswaded to revenge himselfe of a fellow that kicked him; answered, if an Asse had kickt me, should I have set my wit to his, and kicke him againe; or if a Mastife had bitten me, would you have me goe to Law with him? And when it was told him another time, that such an one spake evill of him, he replyed; alas the man hath not as yet learned to speak well, but I have learned to contemno what hee speakes. Diogenes being told that many despised him, answered; It is the wise mans portion to suffer of fooles. Aristotle, being told that a simple fellow railed on him, was not once moved, but said, let him beate me also being absent, I care not; wee may well suffer their words, while God doth deliver us out of their hands: for if we goe on in a silent constancy, say our eares be beaten, yet our hearts shall be free. And this heroicall resolution had Saint Paul, that chosen Vessell; I passe very little to bee judged of you: (meaning blind sensualists) or of mans judgement, he that judgeth me is the Lord, 1 Cor. 4. 3, 4. and indeed, an ounce of credit with God is more worth than a tallent of mens prayses. I regard not (quoth Plato) what every one saith, but what he saith, that seeth all things; hee knew well enough that the fame which is derived from fooles and knaves, is infamy. Cato was much ashamed if at any time he had committed any thing dishonest; but else, what was reproved by opinion onelyonly, never troubled him: yea, when a foole struck him in the Bath; and after, being sorry for it, cryed him mercy, he would not come so neare revenge, as to acknowledge he had beene wronged: Light injuries are made none by a not regarding. The ignorant multitude among the Jewes said, that Saint John had a Devill; and that Christ was a Glutton, and a Wine bibber: But what saith hee by way of answer, wisedome is justified of her Children, Matth. 11. 18, 19.
Let none object the Scribes and Pharisees joyning with them, who were great Schollers: for no man knowes so much, but it is through ignorance that he doth so ill. Neither doth our Saviour enquire, what the Pharisees, or Priests reputed him; but whom say men (meaning those who minded his Doctrine) that I the sonne of man am, Mat. 16. 13. But this point I have handled at large in another place; therefore to avoid a coincidence of discourse, I passe it.
If men shall hate and revile thee for thy goodnesse, it must needs …ollow, that they are as foolish as they be ungodly: Now yee suffer fooles and Idiots to jest, and play upon you; yea, you take pleasure in it, so should yee suffer these fooles gladly, because yee are wise, as the Apostle speaks: 2 Cor. 11. 19. And certainly if the whole world doe contemne a generous Christian, he will even contemne that contempt, and not thinke it worthy a roome in his very thoughts, that common receptacle or place of entertainment. Much more if a single person, none of the wisest, will he heare with patience, and say with Tacitus, you are able to curse, and I to contemne: Tu linguae ego aurium sum Dominus, you are master of your tongue, and I of mine eares. What saith one advisedly? when we are provoked to fight with women, the best way is to runne away. And indeed, he that lets loose his anger upon every occasion, is like him that lets goe his Hawke upon every bayte.
True, our Gallants that have more heart than braine, and more pride than either, thinke they play the men, when they dare one another to fight: like boyes, who shall goe farthest into the durt; or vie to see who can drop most oathes, whereof the deepest is a winning Card in this their game of glory. But what saith Salomon, if a wise man contend with a foolish man, whether hee be angry, or laugh; there is no rest: Prov. 29. 9. Besides, we may apprehend it a wrong, when it is none, if wee take not heed: for those things passe many times for wrongs in our thoughts, which were never meant so by the heart of him that speaketh. Words doe sometimes fly from the tongue, that the heart did never hatch nor harbour; wherefore, unlesse we have proofes that carry weight and conviction with them, let not our apprehension grow into a suspition of evill; else while wee thinke to revenge an injury, we may begin one; and after that, repent our misconceptions: And it is alwayes seene, that a good mans constructions are ever full of charity and favour; either this wrong was not done, or not with intent of wrong; or if that, upon misinformation; or if none of these, rashnesse the fault, or ignorance shall serve for an excuse. And indeed, in things that may have a double sense: it is good to thinke the better was intended; for so shall we both keep our friends, and quietnesse.