Of Peace and Contentment of Mind, Book 2 · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. Of Diſhonour.
REal diſhonour is within, and conſiſteth in viciouſneſſe and indignity of the perſon; for by it a man is ſeparate from God the ſcource of honour, out of whom there is nothing but diſhonour and miſery. But the diſhonour which we are here to conſider is out of the perſon, and conſiſteth in the Opinion of others. Theſe two ſorts of diſhonour do not meet alwayes, for many that are vicious and infamous before God are honoured of men, even becauſe they are vicious; and others that are good & honoured with Gods love, are blamed and diſhonored of men, even becauſe they are good; So erroneous and fantaſticall is the judgement of the multitude.
We have already found that therenowne and praiſe that men give is but winde; that is enough to judge that the blame and infamy which they give, is of the ſame ſubſtance. It is ſuch an imaginary evill, that it is almoſt impoſſible to find out in what ſubject it ſubſiſteth. It is not in him that is blamed, for what is that to him that is in the grave, or to him that is alive and knowes it not, or careth not for it? It is not alſo in him that blameth; for it proceeds indeed from him but ſubſiſteth not in him: elſe he that blameth another for a murther ſhould be a murtherer himſelfe. If then the blame ſubſiſt neither in the blamed, nor in the blamer, where ſhall wee finde its ſubſiſtence betweene both? It may be conceived that it ſubſiſteth in the blamed perſon becauſe it ſticks ſo faſt many times to him, and penetrates ſo deep, that it kills him with ſorrow. Yea but to ſpeak properly and truly, it is not the blame that doth the harme, but the imagination of the blamed, prevented with an erronious Opinion, which makes a man fanſy an evil where there is none, and do to himſelfe that harme which none could have done him but himſelfe: And is not that voluntary paine, which is not felt unleſſe a man have a minde to feele it? God give me never greater evills then thoſe that cannot hurt me unleſſe I will be hurt, and have need to begge my conſent and my hand to give me the blow.
A wiſe man will deſpiſe, not onelyonly that imaginary evil, but even the remedy. For what need of a plaiſter where there is no ſore? When his friends come to him to comfort him becauſe that ſome have ſpoken ill of him, he will deſire then to apply the remedy where the diſeaſe is, even to the raſhnes of the judgement of thoſe weake perſons, and to the intemperance of their tongue. And will think that their applying a balſome of conſolations to his heart, for a ſickneſſe in his neighbours braines, no leſſe ſtrange and extravagant, then if they would warme his bed becauſe his horſe hath a cold.
This is indeed the right reaſoning when the thing is conſidered in its proper and bare nature, but becauſe the world being prepoſſeſt with a wrong opinion of a worthy man may be perſwaded to do him harme, or hindred to do him good, or deprived of the good he might do to the publique; that worthy man muſt not altogether neglect to rectifye the miſconceits taken againſt him, which he may with leſſe difficulty atchieve by a ſerene and conſtant courſe of integrity then by finding and proving, confuting, and keeping a great buſtle to bring contrary witneſſes face to face. Innocency and the confidence that attends it muſt needs ſtand ſo high above the babling of the vulgar, as to be no more moved with it then the Starres with the wind …owing in the lower Region.
The diſhonour that hath ſome ground in the truth muſt be wiped off, not by excuſes, but by amendment. Is one blamed for being vicious? He muſt be ſo no more. And that out of hatred of vice, not of diſhonour, which being but a ſhadow of it will vaniſh at the rayes of Vertue.