It is the basest counterfeit of Friendship, and Justice; it seem's to do you right as justice bind's, but 'tis with design to injure you; it seem's to do it with love, and Endeared affection, but as the Crocodile which weep's over the Skull of the man he hath devoured: If you will consult the Scripture's,1 you will find it variously expressed, but ever in a Character that includes it's Notorious falsehood and mischievous tendency; while the flatterer Croucheth and Humbleth himself, 'tis that you might fall a prey to him as to a Lion. David describeth him, Psal. 12. as one who speaketh Vanity with his Neighbour, with flattering lips and double heart, purposing by such words to prevail; and the next you hear, is the poor oppressed, the needy sigh, both are in danger: Which words of the Prophet contain the definition that the Schoolman gives of Flattery, and superadd the mischievous consequents of it, whose Foundation is in a formed Lie, whose aim is to please for an advantage, by a Neighbour, one we ordinarily converse with, whose Good is unduly magnified, whose vice or defects are unduly lessened. In brief, it is the greatest cheat that Wit, dissimulation, and Covetousness, can put on mankind, a false Glass that represents every thing untruly, much fitter to be broken in pieces, and trod under foot, than to be kept by any. If you will know it in its particular branches,2 there is, (1.) A self-flattery,† I am not as other men, ‖I am rich, increased in substance, *they shall find no iniquity in me: So they flatter themselves in their own Eyes, Psal. 36. ver. 2. (2.) A Flattery from others, who represent our Good or Evil very untruly, by making the good seem better than it is, and making the evil seem less than is it, and deceiving in both for advantage. As the false Prophets, false Teachers, Romish Priests, Covetous Clergy-men, Seducing Heretics, Factious Dividers, Hungry Courtiers, and Sneaking Parasites: If you look to the qualities of Flattery,6 and would range it according to these, you• find.
It is the basest counterfeit of Friendship, and Justice; it seem's to do you right as justice bind's, but 'tis with design to injure you; it seem's to do it with love, and Endeared affection, but as the Crocodile which weep's over the Skull of the man he hath devoured: If you will consult the Scripture's,1 you will find it variously exprest, but ever in a Character that includes it's Notorious falshood and mischeivous tendency; while the flatterer Croucheth and Humbleth himself, 'tis that you might fall a prey to him as to a Lion. David describeth him, Psal. 12. as one who speaketh Vanity with his Neighbour, with flattering lips and double heart, purposing by such words to prevail; and the next you hear, is the poor oppressed, the needy sigh, both are in danger: Which words of the Prophet contain the definition that the Schoolman gives of Flattery, and superadde the mischievous consequents of it, whose Foundation is in a formed Lie, whose aim is to please for an advantage, by a Neighbour, one we ordinarily converse with, whose Good is unduly magnify'd, whose vice or defects are unduly lessen'd. In brief, it is the greatest cheat that Wit, dissimulation, and Covetousness, can put on mankind, a false Glass that represents every thing untruly, much fitter to be broken in pieces, and trod under foot, than to be kept by any. If you will know it in its particular branches,2 there is, (1.) A selfflattery,† I am not as other men, ‖I am rich, increas'd in substance, *they shall find no iniquity in me: So they flatter themselves in their own Eyes, Psal. 36. ver. 2. (2.) A Flattery from others, who represent our Good or Evil very untruly, by making the good seem better than it is, and making the evil seem less than is it, and deceiving in both for advantage. As the false Prophets, false Teachers, Romish Priests, Covetous Clergy-men, Seducing Hereticks, Factious Dividers, Hungry Courtiers, and Sneaking Parasites: If you look to the qualities of Flattery,6 and would range it according to these, you• find.
- 1Psal. 10.9, 10. Psal. 12.2, 4, 5. Psal. 52.1, 2, 3, 4.
- 2The Kinds of Flattery.
- †Luk. 18.11.
- ‖Rev. 3.17.
- *Hos. 12.8.
- 6The Qualities of Flattery.
