Secondly, there is a certain virtue in the words and behaviour §2of men that are endued with heavenly wisdom, which also by the blessing of Gods holy spirit doth work effectually in many that live with them. That which they say is very forcible to illuminate the mind, and quicken the heart: and that which they do is of great importance as a president for their actions, and a pattern for their ways. The brightness of their shining virtues doth make them better sighted, which see them with good liking: and the looking upon such examples, is a means to make the beholders like unto them. And for this cause the Queen of Sheba did so much admire the preferment of Solomons attendants:1 Happy, saith she, are thy men, and happy are these thy servants which stand before thee alway and hear thy wisdom. And in like manner there is a venom in the works and words of the ungodly, which as the Apostle saith, do fret like a gangrena, and ⟨p. 60⟩mens souls are much more subject to the contagion of sin, than their bodies are to any diseases. Oh, how many ways, and by what degrees doth mischief and ruin grow to them which haunt their company? The use of hearing of lewd or blasphemous speeches doth quickly quench zeal, and make them seem to be nothing offensive. The custom of seeing of abominable practises, doth quell their hatred of them, that they can be lookers on without dislike. And so from the ear in time cometh contagion to the tongue: and from the eye infection proceedeth to the hand, that that which they hear they will speak, and that which they see they will do. Moreover though there were in them before, some good opinion of godly men, and Christian exercises, yet when they shall daily hear them spoken against, and jested at, and none to refute the slanders, or reprove the scoffing, it will at length estrange, and utterly alienate their affection from them. When a brand is taken out of the fire, and cast into the snow or rain, it cannot but be extinguished at last, though it blazed much at the first. And add yet this to all the rest, that they shall not only be perverted by the gross sins and vices of the wicked, but also enchanted by their evil qualities, and seeming virtues.
Secondly, there is a certaine vertue in the words and behauior §2of men that are indued with heauenly wisedome, which also by the blessing of Gods holy spirit doth worke effectually in many that liue with them. That which they say is very forcible to illuminate the mind, and quicken the heart: and that which they do is of great importance as a president for their actions, and a patterne for their waies. The brightnesse of their shining vertues doth make them better sighted, which see them with good liking: and the looking vpon such examples, is a meanes to make the beholders like vnto them. And for this cause the Queene of Sheba did so much admire the preferment of Salomons attendāts:1 Happie, saith she, are thy men, and happie are these thy seruants which stand before thee alwaie and heare thy wisedome. And in like manner there is a venome in the workes and words of the vngodly, which as the Apostle saith, doe fret like a gangrena, and ⟨p. 60⟩mens soules are much more subiect to the contagion of sinne, than their bodies are to any diseases. Oh, how many waies, and by what degrees doth mischiefe and ruine growe to them which haunt their company? The vse of hearing of lewd or blasphemous speeches doth quickly quench zeale, and make them seeme to be nothing affensiue. The custome of seeing of abhominable practises, doth quell their hatred of them, that they can be lookers on without dislike. And so from the eare in time commeth contagion to the tongue: and from the eye infection proceedeth to the hand, that that which they heare they will speake, and that which they see they will doe. Moreouer though there were in them before, some good opinion of godly men, and Christian exercises, yet when they shall dayly heare them spoken against, and iested at, and none to refute the slanders, or reproue the scoffing, it will at length estrange, and vtterly alienate their affection from them. When a brand is taken out of the fire, and cast into the snow or raine, it cannot but be extinguished at last, though it blazed much at the first. And adde yet this to all the rest, that they shall not onely be peruerted by the grosse sinnes and vices of the wicked, but also inchanted by their euill qualities, and seeming virtues.
- 12. Chro. 9. 7.
