Works, Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII. Rules for our carriage towards all men in general.
THE ſecond ſort of Rules concerning Man, and the things of men, reſpecteth our carriage towards other men; and that, 1 In general towards all: In ſpecial towards good, or bad.
General Rules to carry our ſelves towards all men. 1 Reſpect not all alike.The general Rules are theſe:
1 Wiſely to diſtinguiſh between men, and not promiſcuouſly reſpect all alike. 1 This is a point of wiſdome, 1 Cor. 6.6. And 2 commanded us, Jud. 22. Have compaſſion on ſome, putting difference, others ſave with fear. Again, 3 Many precepts can never bee obſerved without it: As firſt, in things reſpecting God, Caſt not holy things to Dogs, Matth. 7.6. that is, ſuch as are known to bee wilful repellers of the truth, leſt they prophane them, and tear you. Secondly, In things of men, Do good to all, but eſpecially to the houſhold of faith. Thirdly, concerning our ſelves, Hee that hateth, will counterfeit, though hee ſpeak favourably, beleeve him not, &c. Prov. 26.24, 25. Therefore labour to diſcern one from another. 4 There is great difference between an Iſraelite and an Egyptian, between a Jew, and a Samaritan; And wee muſt obſerve the difference, wherein the Lord goes before us, who though hee bee patient and good unto all, yet hee is ſpecially good unto Iſrael, even the upright of heart.
Object. This is to anticipate Gods judgement and cenſure.
Anſw. No, becauſe our judg ment reacheth not to a mans final eſtate, but to the preſent onelyonly; For wee may not judge beyond our eyes, nor yet againſt them: It is alike folly and wickedneſs to juſtifie the ungodly, as to condemn the innocent. Againſt this Rule fail thoſe general men, whom all faſhions and companies pleaſe well enough, no matter whether Proteſtants or Papiſts, Religions, or prophane, Drunkards or ſober, ſwearers, or fearers of an oath; as the Jews, they put no difference between Chriſt and the Theeves who were crucified with him, but onelyonly that Chriſt was the worſt. Others put difference between the godly and others, ſuch as between Jews and Samaritans, they will not meddle with a man truly fearing God, for a diſh of water. But a fearful ſign it is when grace is not acknowledged.
2 Although wee muſt make account to live amongſt all, 2 Muſt live by a…l, but ſ…t with the b…ſt.yet our care muſt bee to ſort with the beſt; that is, wee muſt imbrace friendſhip with all ſo far as is poſs…ble, Rom. 12.18. and ſo as wee war not with God, but familiarity onelyonly with good m…n, who are but a few. Lightneſs of familiarity is indiſcretion. Here the Rule holdeth well, …o try before wee truſt; yea, a wiſe Chriſtian muſt not commit himſelf to every one that ſeemeth good, by the example of Chriſt, Joh. 2.24. For 1 Much hypocriſie lyeth at the root of mens hearts. 2 Satan hath taught many to transform themſelves, and make Religion and good words a cloak for their own ends. 3 Never did the Devil more hurt to Chriſtianity, than by falſe Brethren, who were ſent in to ſpy their l…berty. For even thy brethren, and the houſe of thy Father, even they have dealt unfaithfully with thee,—beleeve them not, though they ſpeak fair to thee, Jer. 12.6. Hee that eateth bread with mee (ſaith David) and hee that dips his finger in the platte… with mee, even hee lift up his heel againſt mee: And Chriſt ſaith, A mans enemies are they of his own houſhold. 4 Solomon ſaith, An unfaithful man is as a broken tooth and a ſliding foot, Prov. 25.19. 5 Chriſt would not commit himſelf to ſome that a… ſaid to beleeve in his Name, becauſe hee knew what was in man. Many friends are like deep ponds, clear on the top and all muddy at th… bottome. And therefore a Chriſtian muſt be well adviſed before he inwardly converſe with another. Now if a man muſt be careful even in entertaining good company, how careleſs are men of themſelves when they thruſt themſelves into evil company, which is more contagious than any ſickneſs, mor… infectious than any peſtilence? no age ſo catching of any diſeaſe, as every age is of deadly diſeaſes of the minde in ſuch poyſoned air. Let no Chriſtian that will bee ruled by Gods wiſdome, preſume to converſe in any ſuch company further than the limit of his particular Calling, or other juſt occaſion and dealing is offered.
3 In our converſe with all men; wee muſt keep a determination, In all c…mpanies do good, or take good.either to do good unto others, or receive good from others, helping one another to life as occaſion ſhall bee offered, Heb. 10.24. Let us conſider one another, to provo…e to love and good works, Jude 20. Edifie one another in your holy fa th. Motives ſo to do:
1 How profi…abl… ſhould wee bee, if our lips were ever feeding others, Reaſ.Prov. 10.20. And if our diligence were to draw underſtanding from others. Prov. 2.5. How ſhould wee abound in wiſdome, and make our whole life fruitful? This would keep us in good trading, and return of godlineſs.
2 This is the right end and improvement of our gifts, for the good of the whole body, Rom. 12 6.
3 Here is an excellent work of love, which is called the Bond of perfection, which tyes perſons and vertues together, and perfects them by frequent actions.
By conv…ſation actually confute all wickedneſs.4. In what company ſoever a man comes, his care muſt bee that his life and converſation bee a viſible confutation of all ungodlineſs. Daniels piety confuted Idolatry, and Lot was a real reproof of Sodome. A Chriſtians light muſt alwayes ſhine, even in the darkneſs of the world, and againſt it. Should the life of a Chriſtian bee like the life of unbeleevers, covetous, contentious, conceited, unjuſt &c. or ſhould not the life of a wife Chriſtian, vary from the multitude and common people, in judgement and practiſe? Did not Chriſt and his followers ſo? This Rule is oppoſite to that worldly wiſdom, to ſwim with the ſtream, and to do as the moſt do, to avoid the note of ſingularity. But here, as in all the courſe of godlineſs; 1 Wee muſt become fools that wee may bee wiſe. 2 Wee muſt not avoid mens evil ſpeaking, by running with them into the ſame exceſs of riot. 3 Wee muſt not take the example of many and great ones, but of Chriſt, the greateſt and wiſeſt of all: And Phil. 3.17. hee yee followers of mee, and look on them that walk ſo. Theſe examples ſuit to our Rule.
Love …very mans perſon, no mans ſi….5 Chriſtiani…y enjoyns love unto all, even the worſt, whoſe vices wee muſt hate, their perſons wee muſt love; by which vertue all men have place in our prayers, in our mercy and compaſſion as occaſion requires. This grace covers a multitude of ſins in all; it beareth with infirmity, it forgives offences in all, Col. 3.13. forbearing, and forgiving one another. And therefore the Apoſtle wi…heth us, above all things to put on love. And to conſider that motive, Col. 4.7. Every one is one of us, even the worſt, in the natural and civil bond; one of us, if not in faith, yet in fleſh; one of our Neighbours, or Congregation, or at leaſt by the common bond of a Chriſtian.
Joyn with good conſcience, good manners.6 Religion requires courteſie as well as piety, good manners, together with good conſcience; and therefore wee muſt bee courteous to all, 1 Pet. 2.17. & 2.8. Honour all men. And Rom. 12.10. In giving honour go one before another. Which honour is a good opinion conceived inwardly, and expreſſed outwardly, by reverent words and deeds. Chriſtianity will make us have a low opinion of our ſelves, and better of others, than of our ſelves.
Object. Some are ſo bad, or ſo baſe, as no honour or reſpect belongs unto them.
Anſw. None is ſo bad, but hath ſome honour on him, hee is Gods creature, hee is a man, a Chriſtian, and hee may bee a good man… a member of Chriſt, and certain reverence belongs to all this.
Object. But how can ſuperiours, in higher place, honour their inferiours?
Anſw. Many wayes: 1 In action, by teſtifying their good opinion of them in words, geſtures, or deeds, not the leaſt contempt: And ſo Job …ehaved himſelf, Chap. 31.13. 2 In affection, eſpecially, when Superiours whom God hath by their place made receivers of honour, could out of an humble affection bee well pleaſed, either to want it, or return it upon their inferiours if they might do it without offence, or might it ſtand with good order which God hath ſet in the Church and Commonwealth.