1. Liyhtness or inconstancy.
2. Purposing or deliberating according to the flesh.
3. And then inconstancy in his s^^eeches, that they should be ' Yea, yea, Nay nay.
The point that I observe from the first concerning lightness is, that
Doct. Erery Christian, especially ministers and public men, should labour by all means to avoid the just imputation of liyhtness and inconstancy.
The imputation of lightness is especially to be avoided of those that are in place. Lightness and inconstancy ! what is that ? When a man hath not pitched his resolutions and purposes to one thing, when a man doth not stand in his purposes.
Now, a man must avoid imputations of lightness, especially persons of quality.
Why?
Reason. Not to speak all that might be said in the point, especially for this end, to jjreserve authority. Authority is that that furnisheth a man in place, in magistracy or ministry, wondrously to prevail, to do good. I take not authority here for that which the king puts on them, or the chief magistrate ; but authority is that high respect that the people have of the eminency of their parts and honesty, an impression of somewhat more than ordinary in them. This is that authority, a beam of excellency that God doth infuse, for the strengthening and fortifying of his own ordinance. What reason is there else that a thousand should be subject to one man, but that God doth put a majesty upon his own ordinance, and upon the per- sons in it ? And this respect to it must be maintained by a uniform, con- stant carriage. Now% when people shall see that they are, as in their place, so in their disposition, great, and serious, and weighty, and firm in their resolutions ; that they may build on them, and know where to have them
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as we say, it breeds authority, and maintains authority. For then what they say is regarded. And how their aliections stand : if it be love, it is much sought after; if displ(!asure, it is much feared. For they are men of a fixed disposition, it gains wondrous respect.
Let men be never so great, if they be such as St Paul here declines from himself, that they use lightness, they lose their authority. Authority is the special help that governors have to rule, and that ministers have to prevail. Now, nothing weakens esteem and authority more than when men arc tossed between the waves of contrary affections ; when men are such as we know not where to have them ; as we say, off and on, fast and loose, one while sitting, another standing: no man will build on them, or much regard their love or hatred.
Now you know authority is a beam of majesty, and God hath put it upon magistrates above others ; and imprinted likewise the respect of it in the people's hearts, to maintain the world. ' The pillars of the earth will shake else,' as the psalmist saith, Ps. Ixxv. 3. What would become of the pillars of government, if it were not for authority in them that are above, and respect of that authority, an impression of it in them that are under.
Now there are many grounds of authority, as success, when God blesseth them with it wonderfully to admiration, and good parts, &c. ; but one main ground of authority is constancy and firmness. This raiseth a high respect in the hearts of the people.
I will not multiply reasons why those that are in place should avoid the imputation of lightness. Ministers especially should take heed of it, be- cause they are ministers of God's truth ; and if they take not heed of it, people will be ready to go from their moral civil carriage to their doctrine, and think there is an uncertainty in that they speak, because they do not regard what thej^ say.
But let me add this by the way, Mater erroris sbnUitudo, Likeness is the mother of error. So there is somewhat like constancy in governors, and others, when they are nothing less, but merely refractory and obstinate ; to maintain the reputation of constancy, they will run into the fault of wilfulness. Such as are subject that way, had need of strong wits to rule their strong wills, to guide them, or else woe be to those that have to deal with them. That I thought good to add, lest we mistake.
We should all labour to avoid inconstancy and lightness in our resolu- tions, in our purposes, and affections.
If we ought to avoid it, how shall we come to know it ? What is the ground of lightness ? The grounds are many.
1. Sometimes from the temper of the hodij. Some are of a moveable temper, of a moveable, quick spirit, that they cannot out of their constitu- tion fix long, except they set weights upon nature. I am by disposition thus ; but my resolution shall be otherwise : as where grace and wisdom is, it will fix the temper, and fix the resolution, and the thoughts. This I could not do, if I should yield to my own disposition ; but this I will do, and I should do. There are many resolutions, as in the younger sort, and some out of their very temper are more fixed and resolved.