A Counterpoison, Religious treatise · Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIV.
Because they are rather to bee pittied than maligned, or reckoned of.
2. BEcause their adversaries are rather to be contemptuously pittied, than maligned or reckoned of; and that whether wee regard their present, or future estate. Concerning the present; If a man distracted (and so are wicked men touching spirituall things) do raile on us, we are more sorry for him, than for our selves: Yea, who will take in evill part the reproaches and revilings of a man in his feaver: or who will be angry with a dogge for barking. (And such an one hath but the minde of a beast, in the forme of a man,) let us then doe the like, in a case not unlike: and not resemble Ctesipho the wrastler, who would not put up a blow at the beeles of an Asse, but like an Asse kickt her againe. When Jullan in a mock asked Maris, Bishop of Chalcedon, why his Galilean god could not helpe him to his sight; he replyed, I am contentedly blinde, that I may not see such a Tyrant as thou art. Anger alone, were it alone in them, is certainly a kinde of b…senesse and infirmity, as well appeares in the weakenesse of those Subjects in whom it raigneth, as Children, Women, Old folkes, Sicke folkes; yea, a …oare disease of the minde. Socrates bidding good speed to a dogged fellow; who in requitall of his kinde salutation, returned him a base answer; the rest of his Company rayling on the fellow, were reprehended by Socrates, in this manner: If any one (quoth he) should passe by us diseased in his body, or distracted in his minde, should we therefore he angry? or had we not more cause to bee filled with joy and thankefulnesse, that wee our selves are in better case. What need we returne rayling for rayling? All the harme that a common Slanderer can doe us with his foule mouth, is to shame himselfe. For his words are like dust, that men throw against the winde, which flyes backe into the throwers face, and makes him blinde: for as the blasphemer wounds himselfe, by wounding Christ: so the rayler shames himselfe, when he thinkes to shame another. Neither have they power to hurt us; strong malice in a weake breast, is but like a heavy house, built upon slender crutches.
True, they conceit of their slanders as the Pope of his censures, who if he put a Traytor into the Rubricke, he is presently a Saint in heaven; if he curse, or excommunicate a Christian, he must needs be inroled in hell: but we know their words, meere Idols, which as the Apostle witnesseth, are nothing in the world; and therefore trouble not thy selfe about them. What need had David to loade himselfe with an unnessary weapon? one sword can serve both his enemy and him: Goliahs owne weapon shall serve to behead the Master: so this mans owne tongue shall serve to accuse himselfe, and acquit thee. Yea, as David had Goliah to beare his sword for him; so thy very enemy shall carry for thee both sword and shield, even sufficient for defence, as well as for offence.
Wherefore in these cases it hath beene usuall for Gods people, to behave themselves like dead Images, which though they be railed on, and reviled by their enemies, yet have eares, and heare not; mouthes, and speak not; hands, and revenge not; neither have they breath in their nostrils, to make reply▪ Psal. 115. 5, 6, 7. If you will see it in an example, looke upon David; hee was as deafe and dumbe at reproach, as any stocke, or stone. They that seeke after my life (saith he) lay snares, and they that goe about to doe me evill, talke wicked things all the day, (sure it was their vocation to backebite and slander) but I was as deafe, and heard not; and at one dumbe, which doth not open his mouth. I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofes, Psal. 38. 12, 13. This innocent Dove was also as wise as a Serpent, in stopping his eares, and refusing to heare the voyce of these blasphemous Inchanters, charmed they never so wisely.
And as their words are to be contemned by us, so are their challenges to fight: when a young Gallant would needs picke a quarrell with an ancient tryed Souldier, whose valour had made him famous: it was generally held, that he might with credit refuse to fight with him, untill his worth should be knowne equivalent to his: saying, your ambition is to win honour upon me, whereas I shall receive nothing but disgrace from you. The Goshawke scornes to fly at Sparrowes: Those noble Dogs which the King of Albany presented to Alexander, out of an overflowing of courage, …temned to encounter with any Beasts, but Lyons, and Elephants: as for Stagges, wilde Boares, and Beares, they made so little account of, that seeing them, they would not so much as remove out of their places. And so the Regenerate man, which fighteth daily with their King, Sathan: scornes to encounter with his servant, and slave the Car…ll m…. And this is so farre from detracting, that it addes to his honour, and shewes his courage, and fo…ti…d…, to be right generous, and noble.
Againe secondly, the wager is unequall, to lay the life of a Christian, against the life of a Ruffion, (and the blind sword makes no difference of persons) the one surpassing the other, as much as Heaven, Earth; Angels, men; or men, beasts: even Aristippus being derided by a fearelesse souldier, for drooping in danger of ship…acke, could answer, thou and I have not the like cause to be afraid: for thou shalt onelyonly lose the life of an Asse, but I the life of a Philosopher. The consideration whereof, made Alexander when hee was commanded by Philip his Father, to wrestle in the games of Olympia; answer, hee would, if there were any Kings present to strive with him, else not; which is our very case: and nothing is more worthy our pride, then (that which will make us most humble, if wee have it) that we are Christians. When an Embassadour told Henry the fourth, that Magnificent King of France, concerning the King of Spaines ample Dominions; First said hee, he is King of Spaine: is hee so, saith Henry? and I am King of France: but said the other, he is King of Portugall; and I am King of France, saith Henry: Hee is King of Naples; and I am King of France: Hee is King of Sicily; and I am King of France: He is King of Nova Hispaniola; and I am King of France: He is King of the West Indies; and I, said Henry, am King of France: He thought the Kingdome of France onelyonly, equivalent to all those Kingdomes. The application is easie, the practice usuall with so many, as know themselves heires apparent, to an immortall Crowne of glory. And as touching their future estate, Fret not thy selfe (saith David) because of the wicked men, neither bee envious for the evill doers; for they shall soone be cut downe like grasse, and shall … as the greene hearbe, Psal. 37. 1, 2. This doth excellently appeare in that remarkable example of Samaria, besieged by Benhadad, and his Host, 2 Kings 7. 6, 7. As also in Haman, who now begins to envy, where halfe an howre since he had scorned: as what could so much vex that insulting Agagite, as to be made a Laqui to a dispised Jew: yea, not to mension that which followed, stay but one howre more, the basest slave of Persia will not change conditions with this great favourite, though he might have his riches and former honour to boot.
I might instance the like of Pharoah, Exod. 15. ver. 9, 10, 19. Senacharib, Esa. 37. vers. 36, 37, 38. Herod, Acts. 12. vers. 22, 23. and many other, but experience shewes that no man can sit upon so high a Cogu…, but may with turning prove the lowest in the Wheele; and that pride cannot climbe so high, but justice will sit above her. And thus are they to be contemned and pittied while they live; and when they dye.
3. After death, the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation (saith Peter) and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished, 2 Pet. 2. 9. Alas, were thy Enemy sure to injoy more Kingdomes then ever the Devill shewed Christ: to bee more healthfull than Moses; to live longer than Methuselah: yet being out of Gods favour, this is the end; to have his Body lye hid in the silent dust, and his Soule tormented in Hell fire. And upon this consideration, when Dionysius the Tyrant had plotted the death of his Master Plato, and was defeated by Platos escape out of his Dominions; when the Tyrant d…sired him in writing not to speak evill of him, the Philosopher replyed: That he had not so much idle time as once to thinke of him, knowing there was a just God would one day call him to a reckoning. The Moone lookes never the paler when Wolves howle against it; neither is she the slower in her motion, howbeit some Sbeepheard or Lyon may watch them a good turne. Wherefore saith Saint Gregory, pray for thine enemies; yea, saith Saint Paul, be gentle toward all that doe thee evill, and instruct them with meeknesse, proving if God at any time will give them repentance that they may know the truth, and come to amendment of life, out of the snare of the Devill, of whom they are taken prisoners to doe his will, 2 Tim, 2. 25, 26. Which thing himselfe had formerly found of force, for with that contrary breath, I meane that one prayer which Saint Steven made at his death, he was of a foe made a friend, of a Saul a Paul, of a Persecutor a Preacher, of an imposter a Pastor, a Doctor of a sedncer, of a Pirat a Prelate, of a blasphemer a blesser, of a theefe a shepheard, and of a Wolfe a sheep of Christs fold.
4. And lastly, if we consider our owne future estate, we have no lesse cause to contemne their evill words; for it is not materiall to our well or ill being, what censures passe upon us; the tongues of the living availe nothing to the good or hurt of those that lye in their graves; they can neither diminish their joy, nor yet adde to their torment (if they find any,) their is no Common Law in the New Jerusalem; their truth will be received, …hough either plaintiffe or defendant speakes it. Yea, there shall be a resurrection of our credits, as well as of our bodies. Nay, suppose they should turne their words into blowes, and (in stead of using their tongues) take up their swords and kill us, they shall rather pleasure than hurt us. When John Baptist was delivered from a double prison, of his owne, of Herods, and pl…ced in the glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God, what did he lose by it? His head was taken off, that it might be crowned with glory; he had no ill bargaine of it, they did but hasten him to immortality: and the Churches dayly prayer is, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly. Yea, what said blessed Bradford? In Christs cause to suffer death, is the way to Heaven on horsebacke; which hath made some even slight the sentence of death, and make nothing of it. It is recorded of one Martyr, that hearing the sentence of his condemnation read, wherin was exprest many severall tortures, of starving, killing, boyling, burning, and the like, which he should suffer; he turnes to the people, and with a smiling countenance sayes; And all this is but one death: and each Christian may say (of what kinde soever his sufferings bee) The sooner I get home, the sooner I shall be at ease. Yea, what ever threatens to befall him, hee may answer it as once that noble Spartan, who being told of the death of his Children, answered, I knew well they were all begot mortall. Secondly, that his goods were confiscate, I knew what was but for my use, was not mine. Thirdly, that his honour was gone, I knew no glory could be everlasting on this miserable Earth. Fourthly, that his sentence was to dye; that's nothing, Nature hath given like sentence both of my condemners and m…. Wicked men have the advantage of the way, but godly men of the end: Who feare not death, because they feared God in their life.
So we see the cudgell is not of use, when the Beast but onelyonly barkes: nay tell me, how wouldst thou indure …ounds for thy Saviour, that canst not indure words for him? if when a man reviles thee thou art impatient, how wouldest thou afford thy ashes to Christ, and write patience with thine owne blood?