XXIX.

fruit of mutual good-will is peace. But the contrary SERM. carriages, contemptuous or disregardful behaviour, difficulty of admission to converse, a tetrical or sullen aspect, rough and fastidious language, as they discover a mind averse from friendly commerce, so they beget a more potent disdain in others: men generally (especially those of generous and hearty temper) valuing their due respect beyond all other interests, and more contentedly brooking injury than neglect. Whence this skill and dexterity of deportment (though immediately, and in its own nature, of no great worth, and regulating actions of small importance, gestures, looks, and forms of speech,) yet because it is a nurse of peace, and greatly contributes to the delightfulness of society, hath been always much commended, and hath obtained a conspicuous place in the honourable rank of virtues, under the titles of courtesy, comity, and affability; and the opposites thereto, rudeness and rusticity, have been deservedly counted and called vices in morality.

6. This precept directly prohibits the use of all reproachful, scornful, and provoking language; these being the immediate results of enmity, and actual breaches of peace. Whence St. Paul conjoins, Mydéva Tit. iii. 2. βλασφημεῖν, and ἀμάχους εἶναι, Το speak evil of no man, to be no quarrellers, (or fighters,) but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. For war is managed (and that with more deadly animosity) with the tongue, as well as with the hand. (There Prov. xii. is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword, saith Psal. Ivii. 4. Solomon; and whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword, saith David.) Words are with more anguish felt than blows; their wounds are more incurable, and they leave a deeper

18.

Ixiv. 3.

SERM. scara. Men usually dread more the loss of their XXIX. honour than their lives, and take more grievously

the ravishing of their credit than the depredation of their estate. Living peaceably therefore implies as much abstaining from opprobrious words as injurious actions; yea more; for reviling is not only a violation of peace, but a dishonourable waging of war; like shooting arrows dipt in poison, and discharging slugs against our neighbour's reputation: practices condemned by all as base and inhuman, and contrary to the laws of a noble warfare; being arguments, we affect rather our adversary's utter ruin, than a gallant victory over him. There be fair There be fair ways of disputing our cause, without contumelious reflections upon persons; and the errors of men may be sufficiently refuted without satirical virulency. One good reason modestly propounded hath in it naturally more power and efficacy to convince him that is in a mistake, or to confound him with shame that is guilty of a fault, than ten thousand scoffs and ignominious taunts. Vid. egre- When we are to express those deeds of nature, (the gium Antonini locum, performance of which is concealed, as containing in it something of supposed turpitude,) we are wont to veil them in such modest circumlocutions, that by the hearers without offence to their bashfulness may sufficiently be understood. So when it is needful or expedient to confute the opinions, or reprove the actions of men, if we either charitably design their amendment, or desire to maintain peaceable correspondence with them, it behoves that we do not by · Ποταπὸν δὲ χρῆμα λοιδορία; ὡς θυμοδακὲς ἀληθῶς, καὶ ἀμύττον ψυχὴν μᾶλλον ἢ σιδηρὸς χρῶτα. Jul. 2. Orat.

lib. xi.

§. 18. 9. ἀδήκτως.

b Ζῆλος γὰρ συγγνώμης ἀπεστερημένος οὐ ζῆλος, ἀλλὰ θυμὸς μᾶλλον ἐστιν, καὶ νουθεσία φιλανθρωπίαν οὐκ ἔχουσα, βασκανία τις εἶναι δοκεῖ. Chrys. tom. v. p. 32.

XXIX.

using the most broad and distasteful language immo- SERM. derately trespass upon their modesty and patience; that (to use Seneca's phrase) we do agere curam non tantum salutis, sed et honestæ cicatricis. De Clem. i. c. 17. Have a care not only to cure the wound, but to leave a comely scar, and not to deform him, whom we endeavour to reform; for no sore is the easilier cured for being roughly handled, and least of all those in manners and opinion. A Prov. xv. 1. soft hand, and a tender heart, and a gentle tongue, are most convenient qualities of a spiritual chirurBut further to this purpose. geon.

7. If we desire to live peaceably with all men, we are to be equal in censuring men's actions, candid in interpreting their meanings, mild in reprehending, and sparing to relate their miscarriages, to derive their actions from the best principles, (from which in the judgment of charity they may be supposed to proceed, as from casual mistake rather than from wilful prejudice, from human infirmity rather than from malicious design,) to construe ambiguous expressions to the most favourable sense they may admit; not to condemn men's practices without distinct knowledge of the case, and examining the reasons, which possibly may absolve or excuse them to extenuate their acknowledged faults by such circumstances as aptly serve that purpose, and not to exaggerate them by strained consequences, or uncertain conjectures: to rebuke them (if need be) so as they may perceive we sincerely pity their errors, and tender their good, and wish nothing more than their recovery, and do Prov. xvii. not design to upbraid, deride, or insult over them, being fallen; and finally, not to recount their misdeeds over-frequently, unseasonably, and with com

9.

SERM. placence. He that thus demeaneth himself, maniXXIX. festly sheweth himself to prize his neighbour's goodwill, and to be desirous to continue in amity with him; and assuredly obliges him to be in the same manner affected toward him. But he that is rigidly severe and censorious in his judgments, blaming in them things indifferent, condemning actions allowable, detracting from qualities commendable, deducing men's doings from the worst causes, and imputing them to the worst ends, and representing them under the most odious appellations; that calls all impositions of superiors which he dislikes, tyranny, and all manners of divine worship that suit not to his fancy, superstition, and all pretences to conscience in those that dissent from him, hypocrisy, and all opinions different from his, heresy; that is suspicious of ill intention without sufficient ground, and prejudicates men's meanings before he well apprehends them, and captiously perverts sayings capable of good construction; that is curiously inquisitive into his neighbour's life, and gladly observes failings therein, and upon That flies all occasions recites stories to his disgrace and dislike a vul- advantage; that is immoderately bitter, fierce, and rion only. vehement in accusing and inveighing against others, cap.exInim. painting such, as he assumes to impugn, with the blackest colours, in the most horrid shape and ugly dress, converting all matter of discourse (though never so unseasonably and impertinently) into declamation, and therein copiously expatiating: in fine, employing his utmost might of wit and eloquence and confidence in rendering that to others as hateful as he signifies they are to himself: such men, what do they else but loudly proclaim that they despise their neighbour's good-will, purposely provoke his anger, and defy his

ture to car

Plut.de Util.

Prov. xvii.

9. xxiv. 17.

utmost enmity? For it is impossible such dealing SERM. should not by them, who are therein concerned, be XXIX. accounted extremely unjust, and to proceed from desperate hatred.

8. He that would effectually observe this apostolic rule, must be disposed to overlook such lesser faults committed against him, as make no great breach upon his interest or credit, yea to forget or forgive the greatest and most grievous injuries; to excuse the mistakes, and connive at the neglects, and bear patiently the hasty passions of his neighbour, and to embrace readily any seasonable overture, and accept any tolerable conditions of reconcilement. For even in common life that observation of our Saviour most exactly holds, It is impossible that offences should not come; the air may sooner become wholly fixed, and the sea continue in a perfect rest, without waves or undulations, than human conversation be altogether free from occasions of distaste, which he that cannot either prudently dissemble, or patiently digest, must renounce all hopes of living peaceably here. He that like tinder is inflammable by the least spark, and is enraged by every angry word, and resents deeply every petty affront, and cannot endure the memory of a past unkindness should upon any terms be defaced, resolves surely to live in eternal tumult and combustion, to multiply daily upon himself fresh quarrels, and to perpetuate all enmity already begun. Whenas by total passing by those

c Sen. Ben. vii. 31. Vincit malos pertinax bonitas. Níka év Tỡ àyaOg To Kaкóv. Rom. xii. 21.

Irascitur aliquis? tu contra beneficiis provoca: cadit statim simultas ab altera parte deserta; nisi par non pugnat: si utrinque certabitur, ille est melior, qui prior pedem retulit; victus est qui vicit. Sen. de Ira, ii. 34.