CHAPTER XLVIII – 8. The reputation of being orthodox—how to be denied
CHAPTER XLVIII
Reputation of being Orthodox, how far— 8. ANOTHER piece of vainglory to be denied, is the reputation of being orthodox, or of the right religion. The thing itself is in the essentials of absolute necessity to salvation; but the reputation of it, is a thing that we must deny ourselves in. For it commonly falls out in most of the world, that the thing itself, and the reputation of it, are inconsistent; and no man can be orthodox, and of the right religion, but he must be taken to be heterodox, and of the wrong religion; for the wrong is in most places taken for the right. But through the great mercy of God, it is not commonly so in England, nor in the reformed churches abroad, in any great and necessary points. Among us truth hath the advantage of reputation! and so may it continue while the sun endureth! But yet there is use for this part of self-denial, even with us. We converse among many sects and parties of various opinions; and all of them are confident that they are in the right, and that we are erroneous, and against the truth: so say the Papists, and so say the Libertines, and many others. And there is no way to gain the reputation of being sound and orthodox with any of these men, but by turning to them, and forsaking the truth, and ceasing to be orthodox indeed. In Spain, or Italy, or with English Papists, you must be accounted heretics, or yield to heresy; you must either cease to be true Catholics, or be content to be esteemed no Catholics: you have your choice whether you really will be schismatics, or be esteemed and called schismatics. And so you will be used among most sects, who judge of truth and error according to their own deluded apprehensions. Yea, and among the orthodox indeed, because they also have their errors, and are not orthodox in all things, you must
look for the same measure in those particulars wherein they are mistaken. For thinking themselves in the right, they will too often take it for their duty to let fly at others, as erroneous or dangerous persons, that are not of their mind; and in this mistake, they think they do God service to defame Dissenters, and raise jealousies and suspicions of them, and bid men take heed of them, as of them that hold some dangerous opinions; when it is themselves that are deceived, and should turn those jealousies and cautions homewards.
In such cases as these it is a hard strait that a servant of Christ is put to; when he must either err or be supposed to err. But the principal temptation lieth in those countries, where error hath got the major vote, and is patronized both by book and sword, and custom hath fixed the name of truth, upon the foulest heresies; and the name of heresy upon saving truths: here a poor Christian is sorely tempted and put to a lamentable strait. O, saith he, 'If I were reputed but to be base, or beggarly, or contemptible, I could bear it; but heresy and schism are such odious things that no man should be patient under the imputation of them.' Answ. Are they such odious things? Take heed of them then, lest out of your own mouths you be judged. If you think the matter so small that you will rather be a heretic or schismatic, than be called or accounted one, it seems you take it for no odious thing. Is the name or the thing more odious to you? Had you rather be erroneous, or be thought to be so? If the thing be most odious to you, the name will be the more tolerable. But if the name be most odious to you, it is dishonour, and not error or schism that you are against. Had you rather part with truth and religion, or with the name and reputation of them? If you set so much by self, and so little by truth, as to let go truth for fear of being thought to let it go;