Envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 1 Tim. 6. 4. Strife and evil surmisings are near of kin. If contentious men can get nothing against their brethren, they will surmise there is something; if they can find nothing in their actions to judge, they will judg their hearts; if there be nothing above-board, they will think there may be something under-board;1 & from thinking there may be something, they will think it is very likely there is something; and from likely there is, they will conclude there is, Surely there is some plot working. But this is against the law of Love, for it thinketh no evil; all the good that they see in their Brethren, is blasted by their suspicion of evil. Love would teach us rather by what appears to judg the best of what appears not,2 then by what appears not to judg the worst of what appears. Suspicion is like some jelly stuff that is got between the joints; if the bone be out of joint, and any jelly be got in, though it be but a little soft stuff, it will hinder the setting of the bone. I confess in these times, because we have been so extremely deceived in those who have been used in public place, in whom we so much confided, there is a great deal of reason that we should be very wary of men, and believe (till we have very good grounds of confidence) with trembling. I remember Melchior Adam in the life of Bucholcerus, tells of a witty counsel of his to his friend Hubnerus, who being to go to the Court to teach the Prince Electors children, at their parting, I will give you, says he, one profitable rule for your whole life, he listening what it should be: I commend (saith he) to you the faith of the Devils: At which Hubnerus wondering, Take heed (says he) how you trust any at the Court, believe their promises but warily, but with fear; you may fear they will never come to any thing. But in the mean time while we are thus fearful of one another, while we cannot trust one another, we cannot join one with another. I have read of Cambyses, ⟨p. 142⟩he did but dream his brother should be King of Persia, and he put him to death. Many amongst us do but dream of men,3 with whom our hearts are not, that they have some plots working, and how do our spirits work against them? Groundless jealousies arise from much baseness in our own hearts. Those who have no principle of faithfulness in themselves, are suspicious of every one;
ENvy, strife, railings, evill surmisings, 1 Tim. 6. 4. Strife and evill surmisings are neer of kin. If contentious men can get nothing against their brethren, they will surmise there is something; if they can find nothing in their actions to judge, they will judg their hearts; if there be nothing above-board, they wil think there may be something under-board;1 & from thinking there may be something, they will think it is very likely there is something; and from likely there is, they will conclude there is, Surely there is some plot working. But this is against the law of Love, for it thinketh no evill; all the good that they see in their Brethren, is blasted by their suspition of evil. Love would teach us rather by what appears to judg the best of what appears not,2 then by what appeares not to judg the worst of what appears. Suspition is like some jelly stuffe that is got between the joynts; if the bone be out of joynt, and any jelly be got in, though it be but a little soft stuffe, it will hinder the setting of the bone. I confess in these times, because we have been so extreamly deceived in those who have been used in publike place, in whom we so much confided, there is a great deal of reason that we should be very wary of men, and believe (till we have very good grounds of confidence) with trembling. I remember Melchior Adam in the life of Bucholcerus, tels of a witty counsel of his to his friend Hubnerus, who being to goe to the Court to teach the Prince Electors children, at their parting, I will give you, says he, one profitable rule for your whole life, he lissening what it should be: I commend (saith he) to you the faith of the Devills: At which Hubnerus wondring, Take heed (sayes he) how you trust any at the Court, beleeve their promises but warily, but with feare; you may feare they will never come to any thing. But in the mean time while we are thus fearful of one another, while we cannot trust one another, we cannot joyn one with another. I have read of Cambyses, ⟨p. 142⟩he did but dream his brother should be King of Persia, and he put him to death. Many amongst us do but dream of men,3 with whom our hearts are not, that they have some plots working, and how do our spirits work against them? Groundlesse jealousies arise from much baseness in our owne hearts. Those who have no principle of faithfulnesse in themselves, are suspitious of every one;
- 1Justius est occulta de manifestis praejudicare, quam manifesta de occultis praedamnaie. Tert. Apol. c. 3.
- 2Quandoquidem ex scholasticis aulicus futurus es praecepto mihi instruendus es ad omnem vitam utili, Hubnerus audire gestit, Fidem Diabolorum tibi commendo (inquit) hoc tibi monitum semper in promptu situm esto promissionibus aulicis credere quidem sed timide. Melch. Adam. in vita Bucholceri.
- 3Si morbo aliquo laboraret, liberaretur, masculum parreret; si difficulter ante pariebat, facilem assequeretur partum, P. Fagius in Numb. c. 5.
