Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)

For the reproach of an enemy, may be to many men a quicker spur to the amendment of their life, then the gentle monition of a friend. Phillippus the King of Macedony, when he was evil spoken of by the chief rulers of the city of Athens, he did thank them heartily, because by them, he was made better, both in his words and deeds: for I study (said he) both by my sayings and doings to prove them liars. This is the best way, to refel a mans adversary, so to live, that all, which shall know his honesty, may bear witness, that he is slandered unworthily. If the fault whereof he is slandered, be such, that for the defence of his honesty, he must needs make answer, yet let him answer quietly and softly, on this fashion, that those faults be laid against him falsely. For it is truth that the wiseman saith:¹ a soft answer assuageth anger, and a hard and sharp answer doth stir up rage ⟨image 89⟩& fury. The sharp answer of Nabal,² did provoke David to cruel vengeance, but the gentle words of Abigail, quenched the fire again, that was all in a flame. And a special remedy, against malicious tongues, is to arm our selves with patience, meekness, and silence, least with multiplying words with the enemy, we be made as evil as he.³ But they that cannot bear one evil word, peradventure for their own excusacion, will allege that, which is written: he that despiseth his good, name is cruel. Also we read: answer a fool, according to his foolishness.⁴ And our Lord Jesus did hold his peace, at certain evil sayings, but to some, he answered diligently. He heard men call him a Samaritan, a carpenters son, a wine drinker, and he held his peace: But when he heard them say, thou haste a devil within thee, he answered to that earnestly.⁵ Truth it is in deed, that there is a time, when it is convenient to answer a fool according to his foolishness, least he should seem in his own conceit to be wise. And sometime it is not profitable to answer a fool, according to his foolishness, least the wise man be made like to the fool. When our infamy is joined with the peril of many, then is it necessary, in answering, to be quick and ready. For we read that many holy men of good zeals, have sharply and fiercely, both spoken and answered tyrants and evil men: