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Chapter 2

That we must not hearken to the Language of the World, and Vainglory; And how absolute dominion it exerciseth over the hearts of such as follow it, and of the punishment that they shall incur.

WE must not harken, to the language of the World, for it is all but lies; and they, most prejudicial to such as credit them. For they make us forsake that truth which is indeed; and to embrace a lie, which hath no being; but only in appearance and custom. Hereby man, being deceived, presumes to cast Almighty God, and his holy will behind his back; and he disposeth of his life according to that blind guide, of pleasing the world; and so he groweth to have a hart all desirous of honour, and to be esteemed amongst men. He proves like those ancient proud Romans, of whom S. Augustine saith, That1 for the love of worldly honour, they desired to live; and yet for love of is, they did not fear to dye. So much do they prise it, as not by any means to endure the least word, that may be in prejudice thereof; nor any thing which may taste, or even savour, of neglect, though never so far of. Nay heerin there are such nyceties and puntillios; that it is hard for a man to scape stumbling upon some of them, & so the offending of this sensitive worldly man: yea2 and often, you shall fall out to offend him, much against your wil These men, who are so facile to find themselues despised, are no less untoward, and untractable in passing over, and pardoning the same. And if one should yet, of himself, be disposed to do so; what troops of3 false friends and kindred will rise up against him; and allege such laws and customs, granted by privilege of the world; as whereby this proposition may be concluded, That it is better to lose a man's fortune; his health; his house; his wife; and his children; yea all this seemeth little to them, since they do as good as say, that he must even lose the life both of body, and soul; and all the care that he hath both of earth and heaven; yea & that, even God himself, and his law, are to be contemned, and trodden under foot, that so this most vain honour, may not be lost; but that it may be esteemed above all things, yea even above God himself.

O thou vain honour, which wert condemned by Christ, upon the Cross, upon the price of his so extreme dishonour; and who is he, that gave thee place in the Temple of God, which is the hart of a Christian? and this, with so great advantage, as that (after the manner of Antichrist) thou wilt more be prized, than the most high God? Who made thee a competitour with God? yea4 and that thou shouldst even outstrip him, in the hearts of some; by being more esteemed than he? So renewing, that vast affront, which was done him, when they preferred5 Barrabas before him? We must perforce confess, that thy tyranny is great over such hearts, as make themselves thy subjects; and with great expedition and facility, do they perform thee service, whatsoever it cost them.

Aaron6 made himself believe, (by demanding the golden earrings of their wives & children, who asked an Idol at his hands); that rather, then to see such as they loved, to be disadorned, they would desist from their wicked desire of a false God. But so it fell not out; for those things were no sooner asked, then given. Nor did they then, nor do men now, take care of what is needful, for house or Children, so that they may have an Idol of honour, to which they may offer sacrifice. Oftentimes it happens, that even some of them who serve thee, do yet understand well enough, how vain and shaddowy a toy thou art; and what a woeful thing it is to follow thee; and being able, if they would, to deliver themselves from thy heavy yoke, by breaking from thee all at once; yet7 is their infirmity, & misery so great, that they rather choose to burst, and to proceed against the honour of God, then to do God honour, and be at rest, by flying from thee.

God did cast this out, for a curse against them who served false Gods, That8 they should serve them, day and night; and this is punctually fulfilled by such as do adore this Honour. S. John, speaking of some principal people of Jerusalem which believed in Christ, but durst not declare themselves for his (in respect of men) doth say of them, with great reproach;9 That they loved the honour of men, more than that of God. Which with much reason may be verified upon these lovers of honour; since we see that they despise God, rather than they willbe despised by men; and that they are ashamed to perform his law, rather than to be ashamed, in the sight of men. But let them be doing as long as they list; let them honour this Honour, even to the outside of all their power; yet firm, and fixed doth that sentence stand, which was pronounced against them, by the sovereign judge Christ Jesus, when he said, He that shallbe ashamed of me, and of my words; of him will the Son of the Virgin be ashamed, when he shall come in his majesty, and the majesty of his Father, with his Angels. And then shall all those Angels, and all the saints, sing out, Just10 art thou O Lord, & thy judgements are just. For if this vild worm, were ashamed to follow the King of Majesty; be thou O Lord ashamed (thou who art Honour and Altitude itself) that a thing so base, and so wicked, should remain in company of thee, and thine.

O,11 with what a powder, shall the honour of this Babylon, be then shot down, into the profoundest pit of Hell, to be tormented, in company of the proud Lucifer, since these men would needs be his companions, in the sin of pride. Let no man offer to make a jest of this; or esteem that the love of worldly honour, is a sin of small importance; since our Lord, who searcheth the hart, said thus, to the pharisees,12 How can you believe in me, since you seek to be honoured by one another; & seek not that honour, which proceeds from God alone. And now for as much as this vicious affection, is so powerful, as that it sufficed to make men forbear the believing in Jesus Christ; what mischief is that which it will not be able to effect? & who will not bless himself from the same? S. Augustine therefore said, that no man knows what force he hath more or less, to conquer the love of Vainglory, but he only, who maketh war against it.

Footnotes

  1. A strange and yet true state of mind. ↩

  2. A miserable servitude which pride hath put us in. ↩

  3. Indeed they are truly said to be false friends, who persuade a man, to the perdition of his soul. ↩

  4. Pride makes a man esteem himself, more than God. ↩

  5. Matth. 27. ↩

  6. Exod. 32. ↩

  7. A miserable case. ↩

  8. Sin makes men slaves. ↩

  9. joan. 12. ↩

  10. Psal. 118. ↩

  11. Read & tremble. ↩

  12. Ioa●. 5. ↩

Chapter 4 of 115