Works, Chapter 30 – Chapter 31
CHAP. XXX. Rules how to walk wiſely towards evil men; Firſt, In general.
THE general Rule is in Col. 4.5. Rules of wiſe walking towards evil menWalk wiſely towards them that are without, that is, the Gentiles who were not converted, without the border of the Church; for even in the Church ſome are of Gods domeſticks, ſome without as ſtrangers that want faith as yet. And godly men muſt walk ſo much the more warily, not onelyonly becauſe they have Gods eye, and godly mens eyes on them, but even eyes of men y…t unconverted, who muſt n…t bee caſt back, or confirmed in their errour, or hardened againſt the truth, but by all wi…e walking (if it bee poſſible) won to the love and liking of it.
Now towards all unbeleevers, and unconverted men in general theſe particulars are worthy obſervation:
1 Avo…d all juſt cauſes of ſ…andal.1 That every Chriſtian avoid all known evils and offences, by which evil men might bee occaſioned to abide out of the Church. The Law is, Thou ſhalt put no ſtumbling block before the blinde: For this is a fearful judgement of God on men unconverted, they would willingly bee blinded, and hardened in their natural eſtate. Now our Rule is, being our ſelves pulled out of danger, to help others out alſo; nay, our light muſt reprove their darkneſs, their covetouſneſs by liberality, their pride by humility, their impatience by patience, &c.
2 All unconverted men hate the light, and are prone to blaſpheme the Goſpel, 2 Stop mouths of evil men.and to reproach the holy profeſſion of it. Wiſe Chriſtians therefore muſt cut off occaſions from them, and take heed of defiling their own neſt, 1 Tim. 5.14. Give no occaſion to the adverſary to ſpeak evil: And David prayeth, that none might bee aſhamed becauſe of him. Ezek. 36.20. the Lord complains, that the Iſraelites among the Heathen polluted his Name, and made them ſay, Theſe are the people of the Lord, and are gone out of his land. A lend childe (ſaith Solomon) diſhonoureth the whole houſe. Nay on the contrary, the meaneſt Chriſtian in his place, by his wife and Chriſtian walking, muſt adorn the profeſsion of Chriſt: ſo the Apoſtle to Titus, 2.10. Servants muſt bee no pickers, but ſhew all good faithfulneſs to adorn the Goſpel of the Lord Jeſus. An holy courſe of life will make the Gentiles ſay, as they in Iſa. 61.9. They are the ſeed of the bleſſed of the Lord.
3 Seek to win them.3 All unconverted men eſteem of doctrine by the life, and the profeſsion by the practiſe of Profeſſors; for they have no taſte of the Doctrine in it ſelf; and therefore in the carriage of our profeſsion, wee muſt apply our ſelves if it bee poſsible to win them. So the Apoſtle (1 Pet. 2.12.) wiſheth the Jews to have their converſation honeſt among the Gentiles, that they might glorifie God in the day of their viſitation. And women are commanded, ſo to watch their whole behaviour, as their husbands might bee won by their godly converſation. Private men muſt convert others by their private converſation.
Motives.Motives ſo to do, are theſe:
1 Chriſtians are on a Mount, ſet on a Scaffold, nothing they do, eſcapeth ſight and cenſure; all is marked, they ſtand or fall not alone, but to many.
2 They have a light with them, which draws all eyes upon them, and diſcovers all.
3 The eyes of the wicked are not on others, but on them, to diſgrace them and through them to ſmite Chriſt himſelf.
4 The will of God is, By well-doing to …lance the ignorance of fooliſh m…n, 1 Pet. 2.15.
5 What a glory is it, to ſlaughter envy it ſelf, to ſtop an open mourh, and cloathe an adverſary with his own ſhame; that he that would accuſe us, muſt accuſe the Sun of darkneſs when it ſhines.
6 Hereby wee ſhall bee conformable to Chriſt, whom when Satan came to ſift, hee found nothing in him: Wicked men ſhall ſay as Saul ſaid to David, Thou are more righteous than I, &c. 1 Sam. 26.25.
CHAP. XXXI. Rules how to walk wiſely towards evil men, in ſpecial: And firſt for Scorners.
NOw wee come to ſpecial Rules concerning ſpecial ſorts of evil men, of whom ſome are exceeding evil in themſelves, ſome are evil alſo to good men. Of the former rank are ſcornful perſons: Of the latter hurtfull.
For Scorners, obſerve theſe Rules.
1 If wee know men to bee ſo far naught, as they ſcorn goodneſs, Rules how to carry our ſelves towards ſcorners. 1 Avoid them.good men, and good things, wee muſt avoid their company, ſo much as wee may. For what comfort can a godly man take in ſuch company, where all good and godly communication muſt either bee baniſhed or derided? There is no hope of doing good, there is danger of taking harm.
2 If wee bee by occaſion beſet, 2 If caſt into their company, obſerve five Rules.or caſt into the company of prophane brutiſh and ſcornful perſons, then obſerve theſe Rules; Firſt, Grieve thou waſt not better directed, Pſal. 120.5. Wo is mee that I remain in Meſhec, and dwell in the tents of Kedar. Secondly, Bee ſure though thou ſeeſt no place or opportunity of good, that thou haſt no fellowſhip with them in any of the unfruitful works of darkneſs. If they will bee no cleaner by thy company, bee not thou defiled by theirs. If they will not conſent to thee in good, conſent not thou to them in any ſin. Thirdly, Pleaſe them not by yeelding to any ſin, but give apparent tokens of diſlike.
Object. Why, May wee not by yeelding a little to them, draw them to us?
Anſw. No, but the way to win them, is a pure converſation with fear, 1 Pet. 3.12. much leſs may wee flatter them in any evil. Mica…ah would not flatter with the King, though four hundred falſe Prophets did. Fourthly, Acknowledge thy ſelf a childe of Wiſdome, which is juſtified of all her children: Suffer not Gods glory to bee trodden down by thy ſilence: Wiſely break off fooleries, by ſavoury Riddles or Queſtions, as Sampſon, and in a wiſe and peaceable manner, change the matter, holding it a ſettled ground of Religion, not to relinquiſh piety, to keep peace with wicked men, Heb. 12.14. Follow peace and holineſs. No corruption of man muſt drive us from our ſtation. Fifthly, So ſoon as wee may, depart from them, Prov. 14.7. Depart from the fooliſh man, when thou perceiveſt not in him the lips of knowledge. And b…ware of falling into the like company again. Joſeph wiſely declined the company of his Miſtreſs, when ſhee daily ſpake unto him, Gen. 39.10. and Dav… would not return with Saul, when hee perceived his wilfulneſs againſt him, 1 Sam. 26.25.