Of Peace and Contentment of Mind, Book 3 · Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX. Of ſhamefacedneſſe.
SHamefacedneſſe is ſuch a compounded paſsion that it may not be deſcribed in few words. It is a ſadneſs out of the ſenſe or apprehenſion of a diſhoneſt evill. It is a ſelfe condemnation, eſpecially about matters of love and deſires which one would ſatisfie in ſecret. It is alſo a ſudden amazement out of a diffidence of ourſelves when we are ſurprized by ſome inopinate occurrence, where we feare that more will be expected of us then we can performe: And to give a more generall character: It is a ſad reſſenting of ones owne infirmity with ſome inclination to goodneſſe.
It is a cowardly Paſsion, found onelyonly in timorous natures, yet in the more tender age and ſexe it is pardonable, and uſefull too, ſo it be not exceſsive, for by good inſtruction it may be formed into a vertue, but weake, and ſutable to the capacity of the ſubject. Stronger ſpirits dyed with piety and wiſedome abſtaine not from evill out of Shamefacedneſs, but out of knowledge and reſolution. But becauſe ſtrong ſpirits have bin weake when they were under age, and the boldeſt have bin timorous, unleſſe they be altogether dull and beſtiall by nature, there is a time to frame them to vertue by ſhamefac'dneſſe, which may be called a neceſſary infirmity in the beginning. And it is not expedient to remove it too ſoone from young minds by Stoicall precepts, leaſt they wanting that naturall bridle of the appetite, and not being yet well trained and confirmed by reaſon, let themſelves looſe to evill.
Children in whom no marke of Shamefacedneſſe appeares are perverſe and ill natured, and though they be merry ſparkes they ſhall never be good nor able men. Shamefaced children are towardly and diſciplinable. But in conſcience is not the nature of men very weake and poore, ſince their beſt naturall diſpoſitions are infirmities, and that there is need of thoſe infirmities to bring them to ſome good?
Some natures are timorous in all the ages of their life by their native temper, therefore more obnoxious to Shamefacedneſſe; theſe are leſſe capable of a great and heroicall vertue, which is a compound of righteouſneſſe meekeneſſe and magnanimity, but they are docible for a leſſe eminent vertue: and their inclination to ſhamefacedneſs is a pliable ſubject for good diſcipline. That diſpoſition muſt be well managed, as the ſeed of modeſty, and in women, the mother of pudicity, their chiefe vertue. How powerfull Shamefacedneſſe is with that ſexe the knowne example of the Mileſian Virgins ſhewes it.
There is another kind of ſhame recommended in Scripture. That of Daniel, O Lord righteouſneſs belongeth unto thee but to us confuſion of face. Dan. 9.7. That of Ezra, O my God I am aſhamed and bluſh to lift up my face unto thee. Ezra 9.6. And of the penitent publican, that ſtood a farre off, and would not lift up ſo much as his eyes to heaven. Luk. 18.13. But that ſhame which is a godly contrition for ſinne committed, and feare to commit more, is proper to a ſpirit fixt and confirmed in the love and feare of God, and hath nothing common but the name with the paſsion of ſhame, which with all her utilities is but a weakeneſſe of minde and a childiſh perplexedneſſe.
A wiſe and godly man muſt be aſhamed of nothing but ſin. The remembrance of the greatneſſe, preſence, juſtice, and holineſſe of God, and the ſenſe of our owne imperfection muſt keepe us in perpetuall reſpect and humility, which is that good ſhame of Daniel, Ezra, and the repenting Publican. But for our converſation with men, when we are come to mans age, let us weane ourſelves as much as we can from boyiſh Shamefacedneſſe, which dejecteth and perplexeth the ſpirit, and makes a man loſe the faireſt opportunities of doing good.