It is written of Socrates, that being unjustly put to death without cause: while he was going to execution, his wife followed him aloof of howling and weeping and crying aloud: O my husband dieth guiltless, dieth guiltless. Whereunto the good old man (looking back upon her with a frowning & angry countenance) replied thus: Why, thou foolish woman, wouldest thou have me dye guilty? This being the speech of a heathen man, voided of the true knowledge of God, will rise up, I fear, in judgement against many of us that profess christianity in this age, whose common corruption is such, that when we are wrongfully ⟨image 4⟩burdened with any matter of disgrace, we fret at nothing more then that the thing is false that is so charged upon our heads. Why, if I were guilty (sayeth one) or if it were true that they report of me, it would never grieve me: whereas in trueth (if we did rightly consider of it) it should grieve us and humble us most to be guilty, or that those things should be true that are thus blown abroad against us. Wilt thou know then (good Reader) how to carry thy self when thou art thus injuriously dealt with by any false charge or imposition? Look upon th'example of the holy Saints and servants of God in the Scriptures, and as thou seest them do, so do thou. Anna when she was charged by Eli to be drunken, did not fret or snuff at it, or look upon the man with a disdainful eye, but in much patience and modesty made answers Nay, my Lord, not so, 1I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured forth my soul before the Lord, count not thy handmaid a wicked woman, for of th'abundance of my grief have I spoken, &c. Saint Paul likewise, when he was charged by Festus, to be besides him self, was, we see, no whit distempered or inflamed with it, but made answer in all wisdom and reverence: I am not mad, most noble Festus, 2but I speak the words of trueth and soberness, &c. This then must be thy course (good Reader) and these be the steppes that thou must tread in. Thou knowest whose counsel and admonishment it is, not to suffer as a malefactor: 3Look thou to that then in any case.
It is written of Socrates, that beeing vniustly put to death without cause: while he was going to execution, his wife followed him aloofe of howling and weeping and crying aloude: O my husband dieth guiltles, dieth guiltlesse. Wherevnto the good old man (looking backe vpon her with a frowning & angry countenance) replied thus: Why, thou foolish woman, wouldest thou haue me dye guiltie? This being the speach of a heathen man, voied of the true knowledge of God, will rise vp, I feare, in iudgement against many of vs that professe christianitie in this age, whose common corruption is such, that when we are wrongfully ⟨image 4⟩burdened with any matter of disgrace, we frette at nothing more then that the thing is false that is so charged vppon our heades. Why, if I were guiltie (sayeth one) or if it were true that they report of me, it would neuer grieue me: wheras in trueth (if we did rightlie consider of it) it should grieue vs and humble vs most to be guiltie, or that those things should bee true that are thus blowen abroad against vs. Wilt thou knowe then (good Reader) howe to cary thy selfe when thou art thus iniuriouslie dealt with by any false charge or imposition? Looke vppon th'example of the holy Saintes and seruants of God in the Scriptures, and as thou seest them doo, so doo thou. Anna when shee was charged by Eli to be druncken, did not frette or snuffe at it, or looke vpon the man with a disdainfull eye, but in much patience and modestie made aunsweres Nay, my Lord, not so, 1I haue drunke neither wyne nor strong drinke, but haue powred forth my soule before the Lord, count not thy handmayde a wicked woman, for of th'aboundance of my griefe haue I spoken, &c. Saint Paul likewise, when hee was charged by Festus, to be besides him selfe, was, we see, no whit distempered or inflamed with it, but made answere in all wisedome and reuerence: I am not madd, most noble Festus, 2but I speake the wordes of trueth and sobernesse, &c. This then must be thy course (good Reader) and these be the steppes that thou must treade in. Thou knowest whose counsell and admonishment it is, not to suffer as a malefactour: 3Looke thou to that then in anie case.
- 11 Sam. 1.15.16.
- 2Act. 26.25
- 31 Pet. 4.15
