I stand the rather upon this, because it is thought a foolish part for a man to bear a discommodity patiently, rather then to shift it off by unlawful means, and is counted a point of wisdom to fall rather into the hands of bad men, though by yielding to sin, then to commit his case to God, with confidence in him: for what account is made of that, though it be against a mans conscience? As many Politics censure Daniel for his upright 1persisting in the service of God, after the decree was made against him by the Princes. What? (say men) had he no shift nor evasion to deliver himself, and elude his adversaries, but he must wilfully fall into the snare? Oh fool! learn by this example the truth of that denunciation; He that will 2save his life, (that is, give skin for skin, conscience and all to save it) he shall lose it: that is, either be disappointed for his shifts, God not giving him favour in the eyes of his enemies, who count him but an hypocrite for all his shifting) or if he seem to gain somewhat thereby in one kind, yet he shall never enjoy his pennyworth with comfort, but rather with a checking and upbraiding conscience, if he do not at length with weariness renounce it, and cast it away, as Judas did his wages of iniquity. But he that loseth his 3life, that is, trusteth God with his most precious liberties, rather then he will run upon the pikes to have his will, he shall find it, as Esther did, by saving 4ir; or as the good Martyrs did, by changing it for eternal life, after the short enduring of trouble, which their good and quiet spirit, and the hope of reward shall make tolerable. Oh that men would once learn to measure gain, not by the presentness, but by the clearness, and worthiness of it! they should by this means avoid many a sin, with the shifts that attend upon it, besides preventing of many after-reckonings of sorrow and punishment, which an evil conscience makes unsufferable: especially if the same mischief light upon them, which with so dear a price they sought to avoid. Very Heathens could say, that vengeance would not suffer the guilty to 5escape, though they might shift for the present. But the word of God teacheth us the cause: because the God of vengeance is the Lord of hosts, and hath a hundred soldiers armed to meet with his enemy, though he have escaped one.
I stand the rather vpon this, because it is thought a foolish part for a man to beare a discommodity patiently, rather then to shift it off by vnlawfull meanes, and is counted a point of wisdome to fall rather into the hands of bad men, though by yeeding to sinne, then to commit his case to God, with confidence in him: for what account is made of that, though it bee against a mans conscience? As many Politikes censure Daniel for his vpright 1persisting in the seruice of God, after the decree was made against him by the Princes. What? (say men) had he no shift nor euasion to deliuer himselfe, and elude his aduersaries, but he must wilfully fall into the snare? Oh foole! learne by this example the truth of that denunciation; He that will 2saue his life, (that is, giue skinne for skinne, conscience and all to saue it) he shall lose it: that is, either be disappointed for his shifts, God not giuing him fauour in the eyes of his enemies, who count him but an hypocrite for all his shifting) or if he seeme to gaine somewhat thereby in one kinde, yet he shall neuer enioy his penniworth with comfort, but rather with a checking and vpbraiding conscience, if he doe not at length with wearines renounce it, and cast it away, as Iudas did his wages of iniquitie. But hee that loseth his 3life, that is, trusteth God with his most precious liberties, rather then he will runne vpon the pikes to haue his will, he shall finde it, as Hester did, by sauing 4ir; or as the good Martyrs did, by changing it for eternall life, after the short enduring of trouble, which their good and quiet spirit, and the hope of reward shall make tolerable. Oh that men would once learne to measure gaine, not by the presentnes, but by the cleerenes, and worthinesse of it! they should by this meanes auoid many a sinne, with the shifts that attend vpon it, besides preuenting of many after-reckonings of sorrow and punishment, which an euill conscience makes vnsufferable: especially if the same mischiefe light vpon them, which with so deare a price they sought to auoid. Very Heathens could say, that vengeance would not suffer the guiltie to 5escape, though they might shift for the present. But the word of God teacheth vs the cause: because the God of vengeance is the Lord of hoasts, and hath a hundred souldiers armed to meete with his enemie, though he haue escaped one.
- 1Dan. 6. 10.
- 2Matth. 16. 25. Job. 2. 4.Matth. 16. 25. Iob. 2. 4.
- 3Matth. 27. 3.
- 4Note.
- 5Acts 2. 4.
