Secondly, As to the manner of thy dealings,1 thy duty is to be courteous as well as righteous. Some men soil the lustre of their justice, and hinder the honour it might bring to the Gospel by the crabbedness of their carriage. A rugged unhewn piece of Timber disgraceth, when a neat smooth one crediteth the building. One end of our dealings with men (as I shall show by and by) most be to gain them to mind godliness, which end will be much furthered by an affable conversation. Men delight not ⟨p. 40⟩to walk in rugged ways, nor to deal with rugged men; As curious Flowers draw the eyes, and rare Music the ears, so doth courtesy allure the hearts of men after it. He that pleaseth all men in all things (indifferent) is the likeliest to save some, 1 Cor. 10. ult. It was the affable carriage of Titus amongst other things, which made him the delight of mankind. Its said of Julius Caesar, 2that he overcame their affections by his humanity, whose persons he had before subdued by his power and policy; He gloried in nothing so much as in pardoning his Enemies, and gratifying his friends; saith Austin. They who durst speak to Caesar saith Marius, were ignorant of his greatness, and they which durst not, were ignorant of his goodness. We may gain their love by soft words,3 who would hate us, if we went about to ravish them, or to lay violent hands on them. Alexander won the love of his Soldiers by calling them Fellow-Footmen; Courtesy, like the lodestone, will draw even Iron to it. Pharaoh an Heathen was full of Courtesy, and though a King condescended much in his carriage towards Jacob, Abraham is noted not only for his faith in God and holiness, but also for his discreet familiarity, and affable behaviour towards men, Gen. 47. 8, 9. Gen. 23. 7. Our blessed Saviour is therefore said to come eating and drinking, because of the sweetness and attractiveness of his conversation. This Lord of Glory in all his converses, had a comely and winning grace. They who are truly noble, are ever affable; those that like the Persian, keep up state, are but according to the French dialect (of their haughty upstarts) gentle Villains. Contempt or arrogancy is a ⟨p. 41⟩weed that ever groweth in dunghills; Tis from the rankness of the soil, that it hath its height and haughtiness; They are but windy Spirits, that bubble thus above others; tis the froth only that gets always to the top of the water.
SEcondly, As to the manner of thy dealings,1 thy duty is to be courteous as well as righteous. Some men soil the lustre of their justice, and hinder the honour it might bring to the Gospel by the crabbedness of their carriage. A rugged unhewn piece of Timber disgraceth, when a neat smooth one crediteth the building. One end of our dealings with men (as I shall shew by and by) most be to gain them to mind godliness, which end will be much furthered by an affable conversation. Men delight not ⟨p. 40⟩to walk in rugged ways, nor to deal with rugged men; As curious Flowers draw the eyes, and rare Musick the ears, so doth courtesie allure the hearts of men after it. He that pleaseth all men in all things (indifferent) is the likeliest to save some, 1 Cor. 10. ult. It was the affable carriage of Titus amongst other things, which made him the delight of mankind. Its said of Iulius Caesar, 2that he overcame their affections by his humanity, whose persons he had before subdued by his power and policy; He gloried in nothing so much as in pardoning his Enemies, and gratifying his friends; saith Austin. They who durst speak to Caesar saith Marius, were ignorant of his greatness, and they which durst not, were ignorant of his goodness. We may gain their love by soft words,3 who would hate us, if we went about to ravish them, or to lay violent hands on them. Alexander won the love of his Souldiers by calling them Fellow-Footmen; Courtesie, like the loadstone, will draw even Iron to it. Pharoah an Heathen was full of Courtesie, and though a King condescended much in his carriage towards Iacob, Abraham is noted not onely for his faith in God and holiness, but also for his discreet familiarity, and affable behaviour towards men, Gen. 47. 8, 9. Gen. 23. 7. Our blessed Saviour is therefore said to come eating and drinking, because of the sweetness and attractiveness of his conversation. This Lord of Glory in all his converses, had a comely and winning grace. They who are truly noble, are ever affable; those that like the Persian, keep up state, are but according to the French dialect (of their haughty upstarts) gentle Villains. Contempt or arrogancy is a ⟨p. 41⟩
- 1Be Courteous in thy dealings.
- 2Benigni•ate adeo praeditus, ut quos armis su••gerat, clementia magis vicerit. Solin.
- 3Austin. Epist. 5.
