The hunting of the fox: or, Flattery displayed The flatterers devise; a water-man looking one way, and rowing another, with this motto mel in ore, fel in corde. By H. H. Grayens.

THE HVNTING OF THE FOX : OR , THE FLATTERER DISPLAYED .

SAint Gregory compares the world to a rotten nut , which being opened with the knife of verity , you shall finde nothing within but rottennesse , and vanity ; vanity indeed ; so saith the wisest of Kings ; vanitas vanitatum , & omnia vanitas : Eccl. 1. 1. Vanity of vanities , and all is vanity : There is nothing found in the Macrocosme or great world , but vanity ; you shall finde the same in the Microcosme or little world , Man . Homo vanitas , man himselfe is vanity , so saith the Psalmist : but man is most vaine Psal. 39. 6. respect●… vitiorum ; in respect of his vices , as Solomon in his booke of Ecclesiastes witnesseth ; wherein he hath hunted out the vanities , and sins which men most haunt : The wicked like Esau , are cunning hunters of goodnes , and good men ; they hunt both 1 vi & 2 fraude . By force , and fraud ; by hand and head : Wicked hunt : 1. Vi , by force .

Micah 2. 2. They covet fields , and take them by violence . Here they hunt with hands , by force . Anaxagoras thought man the wisest of all creatures , quia manuatus , because he hath hands , whereby to expresse all signes , but hee might better have concluded him the worst of all creatures ; because he hath hands , whereby to oppresse his neighbour .

Mal. 7. 2. They hunt with a nett : Here they hunt with their crafty head , 2. Fraude , by craft . by fraud : As they are hunters , so they are cunning hunters . By their crafty head they have devised politique gins to catch good men : They seeke not the Golden Fleece by Iasons merit or honesty , but by Medeas subtilty ; But as S. Augustine saith , Their trickes August . 〈◊〉 vita & moribus Christi . may be approved of , in iure fori , but they shall be reproved for them in jure poli ; Earth may connive at them , but heaven will never receive them .

I wish that all wicked hunters might bee hunted by good men that are in authority . The hunting of harmfull beasts is commended for recreation . The metaphoricall hunting of wickednesse , Metaphoricall hunting . is commanded for reformation . There are many beasts that may bee hunted ; for wicked men in the Scripture are compared to divers sorts of beasts ; some to wilde Boares , some to Horses , some to Mules , some to Dogges , some to the Fox ; and to others , and that respectu vitiorum ; because they are so deformed by their sinnes , and through them transformed into savage natures ; I insist not vpon many particulars , but onely vpon one , and that is the Fox , whom 〈◊〉 hunt , not with sword , but pen ; Cant. 2. 15. Take vs the little Foxes ; vpon this place , S. Bern. saith . Duo sunt vulpium genera . There are two kindes of Foxes , the Flatterer , and the Slanderer ; of which my intent is to vnbourough only now the Fox-Flatterer .

Flattery is the subject of this ensuing discourse ; which doth object two things to your eye , and consideration ; The 1 Definition 2 Distribution of Flattery .

1 The Definition .

Flattery is a vice hardly discerned from friendship , whereby a man with soft 〈◊〉 . ●…d . ●…at flat●… is . and smooth speeches seekes to get favour with a man for some worldly respect , thereby the more easily to deceive him , pretending what he intends not .

Give mee leave ( gentle Reader ) to open the definition of Flattery , that I may in part open and rip ▪ vp the belly of the Fox-Flatterer .

The definition doth consist of two parts .

The 1 Genus . 2 Differences .

1. The Genus in this word . Vitium , ●…ry is 〈◊〉 . it is a vice .

1. It is a vice .

1 The worst of vices . And secondly , 2 infectious 3 hurtfull 4 fawning 5 scoffing Vice .

First . A Vice : or peccatum , a sinne , so Aquinas calls it ; For ( according to the judgement of Devines ) it is a sinne against the ninth Commandement ; A flatterer beares false witnesse against his neighbour : Now a man may beare false witnesse two wayes : either first privately , by himselfe , or secondly publiquely , before the Magistrate : Flattery , and slandering , are two members of private bearing false witnesse , a slanderer beares false witnesse to a man against others ; a flatterer beares witnesse to a man against himselfe . ●…his ●…a granted proposition , it needes no greater amplification : so that it is as Tacitus saith , Vetus in republica malum , It is an olde evill in the Common-wealth , and no vices like to old vices ; and as it is vetus , so it is vitiosum , a vitious evill , for it is first vitiorum pessima .

1. The worst of vices .

And that in 3. respects , propter 1 Simulationem virtutum . 1. It is the worst of vices . Worst of vices . 2 Odium a deo . ab homine . 3 Conservationem vitiorum .

First , it is the worst of vices , because it counterfeits all vertues : Vice 1. Because i●… counte ●…its all vices . is made vertues Ape in a flatterers practise ; It is his intent Virtutem non colere , sed vitia colorare ; as S. Bernard saith , Not to embrace vertue with a Bern. super Cant ser. ●…6 . good intention , but to paint over vice with a faire complexion : For every vice takes his colours , or his instigations from him , and his greatest exploits are , either to further vice , or to smother it . He is like vnto the Camelion , apt to all objects , capable of all colours , who clokes hate with holines , ambition with good government , and flattery with eloquence ; yet whatsoever he pretends is dishonesty ; for as a Camelion hath all colours save white , so hath hee all points save honesty .

2. It is the worst of vices because it is hated both of 1 God . & 2. Because it is hated . 2 Man .

Man cannot abide him , because he doth a little professe amity to man , God cannot endure him , because hee doth no more but professe it .

Because hee weares Gods livery of true amity , the world daignes not to be his mother , and because his heart is fallacious and sinne-wedded , God meanes not to be his Father . A touch of these . And first he is

Hated of God . 1. Of God .

The Scripture tells vs the Lord hates evill , and the Psalmographer assures vs , that the flatterer harbours an evill heart . Psal. 41. 7. God then cannot chuse but hate him , for if flattery were not evill , it could not be the object of hatred , for nothing can bee hated but evill , or that which is esteemed so at the least , according to the Moralist , Odium est , quo voluntas resilit ab objecto disconuenienti , vel vi disconuenienti ; Hatred is the turning of the concupis●…ible appetite from that which is evill , or esteemed euill . Now God doth not hate flattery as an esteemed evill , but as an absolute evill in it selfe . 〈◊〉

The Schoole-men tell vs of a two-fold hatred in God .

There is a hatred 1 Negative . 2 Positive .

1. The negatiue hatred of God is two-fold : 1 Negatio amoris . 2 Displicentia rei .

The first is , when God doth denie his love , hee is said to hate ; so hee hated Esau before hee had done either good or evill .

The second is ; when sinne doth displease him , causing him to turne away his wonted favour , he is said to hate .

2. The Positive hatred is d●…retum puniendi ; a decree in God to punish ; for when God doth punish man any way for sinne , hee is said to hate the sinner ; now if God doth hate the flatterer , what can hee expect but Gods displeasure and judgements vpon him for his false heart ; and whom God hates man cannot love , and therefore

2. He is hated of man . And why ? 2. Of man .

Because a flatterer pretends amity , intends enmity . Hee salutes his friend in his mouth with Ave , or , God keepe you ; when in his heart hee meanes , Cave , or , The devill take you , thus hee is amicus nomine & ore , inimicus re & corde ; A friend in shew , an enemie in deed . Psal. 41. 5. and therefore worthy to bee hated of man , who thus turnes enemy to man : I may speake of the life of a flatterer , what Tully Tully . speakes of the life of a Tyrant ; Haec est vita Tyrannorum ( saith he ) adulatorum ( say I ) in qua nulla fides , nulla charitas , nulla stabilis benevolentiae potest esse fiducia , omnia semper suspecta , nullus locus est amicitiae ; In the life of a flatterer there can bee no faith , no charity , no sure benevolence ; all things are alwayes suspected ; there is no place of friendship . And therefore he is worthy of hatred . But me thinks I heare the flattering enemy , inducing vs to subjection to the God of the word , producing an obiection out of the word of God . Backing it both with precepts affirmation , and examples confirmation . And first by precept . Math. 5. 44. Wee must doe good to those that hate vs ; and love our enemies . And 1 Ioh. 3. 15. and 1 Ioh. 2. ver. 9. and 11. He that hateth his brother is a man-slayer . And Leu. 19. 17. We ought not to hate our brother in our heart . Secondly , by example . David loved those that hated him , 2 Sam. 19. 6. And therefore wee ought not to hate the flatterer who is our brother .

To these I answere .

First , there is a twofold love . Amor rei . personae . Sol. 1.

The love of the 1 thing or action . 2 person .

We must love the person of our enemie that hath wronged vs ; but wee must hate his ●…nfull actions , wee must pray against their sinnes , not persons . 2 Sam. 15. 31. Acts 4. 29.

Or secondly , There is a two-fold Sol. 2. hatred , say the Schoole-men .

Odium 1 abominationis . 2 inimicitiae .

The hatred of 1 abomination . 2 enmitie .

With the hatred of abomination , a man may hate or distast the evill or sinne done against God , which is hatefull to God , and hurtfull to his members , as flattery is .

Secondly , with the hatred of Enmitie , a man may hate the person ; but how ? onely as he doth will or permit the punishment of the person , because of the evill he hath committed ; so a Magistrate may will a man to bee punished , Vt improbus sed non vt homo ; as a wicked man , but not as a man ; so I may hate a flatterer Non vt homo , sed vt adulator : Not as a man , but as a Flatterer .

Thirdly , It is the worst of vices .

Quia vitiorum altrix & conservatrix .

Because it is a nourisher and preserver 3. Be●… it preser●… vi ces . of vices .

Flatterers are Authores et fautores mali , They are Authors and favourers of evill ; I neede apply no more to this , but what is applied to the Iesuite , may be implied in the flatterer . Consulo , praecipt●… , consentio , prov●… , laudo ; Non retego culpam , non puni●… non reprehend●… ; Participo , de●…ēdo , men in caput ista redundant .

Evill counsell lies lurking in his head , hee forbids good things to bee done with his tongue ; hee can consent to euill in his heart ; he can doe mischiefe with his hand : so that his tongue , head , heart , and hand , are nourishers , preservers , and practisers of vice : So that I may inferre , that slattery is but another sinnes Pander . Demosthenes doth likewise averre , that it is Vitiorum altrix et vei itatis corruptrix ; The nourisher of vanity , and corrupter of verity . Thus it is the worst of vices . Secondly , it is an

Infectious vice . 2 Infectious vice .

Adulatio insi●…it illum , qui cam asficit , et interficit , quem inficit : It doth infect that man , who doth affect it , and it kills him , whom it doth infect : This sinne carries death at his tayle : and therefore saith a Heathen , It kills two at a blow ; the flatterer , and the flattered . The flatterer carries death in his tongue , the flattered in his eare : The flatterer like the serpent in Paradise , wrongs himselfe persuadendo , by inticing to sinne ; the flattered kills himselfe consentiendo , by consenting to sinne : as Eve by beleeving the flattering devill .

The hurt that befalls the preserver of this vice , is manifest . And the dammage that betides the flattered , is mams●…ld ; but yet this infection spreads no ●…r the●… then to the flattered ; there being a reciprocall relation betweene them both ( happy would the nature of man bee , if all infectious diseases were of that nature ) Quamvis adula●… sit perniciosa , noc●…re tamen nemini potest , nisi ei , qui eam recipit , aut qui ca delectatur ; Although it bee pernicious or infectious , yet it hurts none but those , which doe receive it , or delight in that vice , saith Isocrates .

I would wish all men to beware of touching this pitch , lest they bee d●…siled therewith ; It leaves something behinde it where it comes , and therefore it may not vnsitly bee compared vnto Swallowes , which in the Summer time creepe vnder every house , but in the Winter time leave nothing behinde them but dirt , or perhaps some infectious matter ; for , Blanditiae sunt pessimum veri affectus venemon , Flattery is the worst poyson of true affection , saith Ta●…us . It is vitium linguae , a vice of the tongue ; I have read of many vnreasonable creatures that carry poyson in their tayles , but I never read of a reasonable creature , that carries poyson in his tongue , till I read of the flatterer , Vnder whose lips is the poyson of Aspes , saith the Psalmist .

3. It is a hurtfull vice . 3. A hurtfull vice .

Bias being asked of all beasts which was the worst , and most hurtfull , answered ; Inter feras tyrannus , inter cieures adulator ; Among wild beasts the Tyrant , among tame the flatterer ; yet surely if I might compare him to a ●…ame fowle , I would liken him to the tame Peacock for hurt ; and therefore what some have mockingly said of the Iesuite , I may truly say of the slatterer , Pav●… est ; hee is a Peacock ; for hee hath the colour of an Angell , the pace of a thiefe , and voyce of a devill ; what more hurtfull , and deceitfull , then a fine but false colour ; then a comely , but theevish pace ; then a pleasing , but a devillish voyce . And therefore it is the best course of every man to course from him this hurtfull beast ; and if it were my lot to fall among beasts , I would accept of Antisthenes opinion , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , I had rather fall among Ravens then among flatterers ; for they would but peck mee being dead ; but these will pick me being living .

4. It is a scoffing vice . 4. A scoffing vice .

And therefore wee call him a fl●…ering fellow , a fawning Sycophant , and a scoffing Parasite , Adulatores suorum dominorum tam arrisores quam arrosores sunt ; Flatterers are as well scoffers as biters , saith Seneea : They doe as well flowt at their prey , as deceive their prey ; for the flattered is but the flatterers prey , and as long as the hope of obtaining some benefit sticks in his stomack , he is his servant to wayt vpon him ; but as soone as his benefit is obtained , no longer a servant , scarce a friend : and perhaps hee hath left his acquaintance with many a scoffe ; for it is most certaine he hath shewed him some cheating trick , for his curtesies ; his a●…rision is a signe of delusion ; hee hath de●…ved him , and therefore hee áerides him ; but a wise man , will never ( like Solomon ) beleeve the flatterer , nor yet with Diogenes care for his 〈◊〉 ; who when the people mockt him , was wont to say : Arrident me , attain●…n non derideor ; They deride me , Diogen . yet I am not decided .

5. ●…t is a fawning vice . 5. A fawning vice .

It is a fawning vice too ; dog-like , who fawnes vpon his Master for crusts and bones . Loving smiles , and Apish gestures are his best impostures : Hee vses his mouth as the dogge waggs his tayle , the one to obtaine a boone from his friend , the other to gaine a bone from his Master . I wish now that missing their boone , they might bee censured to Adonibezeckes doome , that their hands and toes might bee cut off ; their hards , Vt neminem assequantur ; that they may lay hold of none ; their toes , Vt neminem insequantur ; that they may not follow any man to flatter him : and they should gather crums vnder mens tables ; they fawne like dogs , let them feede like dogs , saith one .

Thus for the Genus in the definition , Flattery is a vice ; now follow the

Differences .

In the words following .

In which observe foure things . 1. Flattery 's neere affinitie with friendship . T' is hardly discerned from friendship . 2. The meanes whereby the flatterer doth deceive : and that is by soft , and smooth speeches . 3. The flatterers end , and that is two-fold . taken from the flatterers 1. Policie ; to get favour for some worldly respect , where note the 1. Object of this policie , & that 's favour to get favour . 2. Extent of the Object ; for some worldly respect . 2. Intent , to deceive . 4. The flatterers hypocrisie ; pretending what he intends not :

First , flatterie's neere affinity with friendship .

It is hardly discerned from friendship , ]

From which Note may bee noted these three notes .

That 1. Flattery is like friendship . 2. A man can hardly know it from friendship . 3. Flattery is a secret enemy .

First , of the first .

1. That Flattery is like friendship .

Flattery is like friendship in shew , but not in fruit , saith Isocrates , Non est eadem , sed sient , o●… fere ; t' is like or almost friendship , Almost in Agrippa mari'd a good Christian , and the flatterers Almost covers a friend , and discovers a soe : They are mutually mingled together affectu ; they differ effectu ; or as the Moralist saith , In omni motis , & affectu animi , sed non in actionibus ; They are ioyned together in every motion and affect of the minde , but they are disioyned in their severall effects and actions ; therefore wee grant the old rule true , Nullum simile est idem , If flattery be similis , it cannot be eadem , That which is like to a thing cannot be the same ; flattery is but like friendship , and therefore nemo amicus idem et adulator , A flatterer cannot be both a flatterer and a friend .

Aquinas will have friendship to be a vertue , and flattery a vice : now vice may bee in some respects like vertue ; and vice sometimes may been vertues Ape ; but yet no vice can be a vertue , for they are meere contraries ; would you know what this friendship is which opposes flattery ; Then thus . Amicitia est specialis uirtus , secundum Aquin. 22. Friendship , what it is . 〈◊〉 quaminter se homines bene disponuntur , simul conviventes ; Or thus arcording to some , which runs both to one sense . It is a community of a perpetuall will , the end where of is fellowship of life ; and it is framed by a perfect habit of a long continued love . Now brasse being gilded over with silver , may to the outward appearance seeme to bee good silver ; but time or the touchstone , ( time by long wearing , or the touchstone by present rubbing ) discernes it to be but brasse ; Flattery being covered over with amity , may appeare to be true friendship to the eye of the world ; but either time ( for true friendship is perpetuall flatterie temporary ) or the touchstone of adversity or present necessity , will discover true f●…iendship from flattery , and therefore well said Plato , It is the property of true friends to live and love together ; but fained friends fly from a man in time of triall ▪ for where flattery dwells , friendship can have no chamber to lodge in : they cannot be lodged in the same subject , no more then God and Dagon vnder one roofe . Nemo potest 〈◊〉 pariter servire , deoque S●…c & adulator null●… 〈◊〉 erit

If God and Sathan may bee bedfellowes , no doubt but flattery and friendship may be chamber-fellowes ; If one man can truly serve God and the Devill , I would yeeld that one man might bee both a true friend , and a flatterer ; Though friendship be like , yet it is contrary to flattery , dislodging verity , without which the name of amity cannot subsist ; and as flattery is Like , so i●… is so like to friendship that ( in the second note . )

2. A man can hardly know it from friendship .

Flattery is an arrant thiefe , he hath robd friendship of his coate , and wea●…es it himselfe . I hey both weare Gods livery , and of m●…n they are both taken for Gods servants ; one that is a wrongfull detainer of a great mans livery , is taken for to be one of his true retai●…ers , and of a stranger t●…ken for his true man ; but the Master knowes hee is none of his servants , wherefore he punishes him for his presumption ; so ●…lattery is hardly discerned from friendship ; Difficile est eodem & adu●…atore et amico vti : It is a hard thing ●…o p●…t any confidence in that man that ●…eemes to be a friend , but indeed is a ●…iend ; Solomon saith Caveat amicus , let ●…he flattered take heed ; but I say ca●…eat adulator , Let the flatterer take ●…eed ; though man knowes not his ●…eart , yet God knowes it ; and will one day pay him home for his dissimulation : The fl●…tterer is cloathed like the Asse in the Lyons ski●… in the fable ; who , when he had gotten on the Lyons skinne , was taken of all beasts for the true Lyon : but his Master finding him , knew him by his long eares , which hee could not hide , disrobed him , and beat him wel for his knavery . The fable is but a fable , the moral●… may be good ; This Asse is the flatterer ; who hath got on the Lyo●… skinne , friendship●… coat , and of all simple , silly and mistrustlesse people taken for the true Lyon , true friendship ; but the Master , that is God ▪ who is Lord and Master over all knowes him well enough by his long eares , that is his heart , that is no●… cloathed with friendship , and therefore God will disrobe t●…is dissembling Asse the flatterer , and make him appeare as hee is indeede , a righ●… Gnatho , a Parasite ; I wish that m●… might know flattery theoretically , bu●… not practica●…y ; that hee might kno●… it to avoyd it , not to practise it ; f●… by practising he becomes mans enemy , for thirdly ,

3. A flatterer is his friends secret enemy .

No enemy like to a secret enemy , and therefore Antigonus in his prayers was wont to desire the g●…ds to defend him from his Friends ; for he said , he could easily beware of them , whi●…h were his open enemies : David the beloved of God , found some secret and inward hatre●… in those , of whom outwardly hee seemed to be beloved , for so David himself confesses , ●…sal. 41. 7. The flatterer did secretly hate him , Pro. 26 24. and seeke his hurt ; These flatterers are Lamiae , Witches , which kill those which suck their milke , Lamiae , is translated Dragons : and Lam. 4. 3. These are the Dragons whi●…h draw out their breasts : I h●…se cannot chuse but be secret enemies , who vn●…er a pretence to give the body nutriment , should be a cause of mischi●…fes increment , and healthes decrement , I c●…nnot chuse but count him my enem●… , that pretends health , but intends death , Prou. 26. that Pro. 26. 28. for to cure my grievous malady , would not care to prescribe a venomous remedy : that vnder a healthfull potion would give me deaths portion . Haec adulatoris amicitia , blanditoris inimicitia , The flatterers amity , in the end proves enmity : For whose sake was devised this device ; A Waterman rowing one way , and looking another ; His motto , this ; M●…l in ore , fel in corde ; Hony is in his mouth , but gall in his heart .

2. The meanes whereby the flatterer doth deceive , and that is , By soft and smooth speeches . ]

Flattery according to the Hebrew tongue , ( as those can best tell as have skill in that language ) signifies blandus , or mollis , smooth , or soft , because the flatterer vses smooth and soft speeches ; but hee is like vnto a Sodome Apple , faire and sound in the outward appearance , but rotten within ; so is hee faire-tongued , but rotten-hearted ; and therefore say some of the Hebrewes , the word ( to flatter ) signifies Dividere , to divide , because in the flatterer his tongue is devided from his hart : but those smooth speeches sooth vp man ad interitum to his owne destruction ; and therefore , well saith Diogenes , A flattering tongue is like Laer●… . in vit●… D●…gen . ●…o a ●…lken halter ; which is soft because silken , but strangling , because a halter .

Smooth words , but all vanity , little verity in them ; for a man had better give the words of an enemy some credit , then the words of a flatterer ; for Illi verum saepe dicunt , hi Tul. in Lalio . ●…nquam , saith Laeliu●… ; they sometimes speake truth , these never .

Receive then Solomons advise , le●…t hee deceive you by his faire-tongued devises . Though hee speake ( fairely or ) favourably beleeve him not ; so I leave his fine , and fained tongue , and come to his vaine

Ends.

Which are twofold , his Policy , where is the Obiect of his policy ; and that is , favour to get favour . Extent of the object , for som worldly respect . Intent to deceive .

First , the obiect of his policie , and that is

To get favour , ]

The flatterers policie is but a craftie , and worldly policy : It is most sure that he is the worlds friend , and Gods foe . For crafty , knavish , and worldly policy , and true , and religious piety never shake hands together . Policie is derived from the Greeke word 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , which in our English tongue is termed civility ; but I am sure the flatterers policy is but knavish civility : the confines of his policy reaches to a mans favour ; and deceit sets a full period to his policy . To be in a mans favour is but to bee well esteemed of him , or to have the favourable aspect of his countenance , and respect of his heart ; I thinke it is strange , that the tur●…ing of a favourable countenance vpo●… a man , should make a man turne devill . To bee a devill in heart , a Saint in tongue : To insinuate is the devils practise , and the flatterer is but the devils Ape ; These kinde of wretches are a kinde of mercenary wretches , they prostrate themselues thereby to suck out private advantage , such a one was Iehonadab , 2 Sam. 13. who being destitute of all grace did prostitute his service to Ammon , to be a gracelesse approver , and shamelesse procurer of Ammons shamefull lust , that so being a favourer of Ammons incestuous minde , he might the better insinuate himselfe into Ammons favour . Thus for the object , now followes the

2. Extent . For some worldly respect . ]

We read of a three-fold love . Amor : 1. Purus . 2. Lascivus . 3. Quaerens vtile .

The first , is a pure love , the second lascivious , the third worldly . The first is a stranger to the flatterer ; with the second hee may , with the third hee alwayes doth entertaine his friend , which shewes him to bee a temporiz●…r . Hee loves his friend , as long as hee can live by his friend : he is a faire company-keeper , as long as he is a faire tongue-keeper ; hoping by faire words to obtaine his worldly desire ; if you can finde in your heart to give him presently , hee will finde in his heart to love you everlastingly ; but yet

Aes in praesenti imperfectum format amorem .

His love is lame of one foote , which makes him goe halting ; hee is like vnto a Hawke , who getting into the wide world with a full belly , gives his Master a kinde farewell ; but if once he finde neede and want , hee will againe stoope to the lure . The Greeke word for the world is 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , which signifies saire , which may shew vs thus much that a faire-tongued flatterer is a meere worldling : 't is the property of a worldling to faine himselfe a friend , as long as he can gaine by his friend ; I would have every good man to beware of this pocket-friend . Thus have I done with his policy his first end , I come to his second end , by which he intends

Deceit . To deceive . ]

Hee doth invont many good words , thereby the more easily to circumvent his friend : he is like the horse-stealer that strokes the horse with a sweet Glove , whose end is to cheat him of his good cheare , for hee gets vpon his backe , and rides him out of his Pasture . Wee read in the Prou. 29. 5. That a man that flat●…ereth his neighbour , spreads a net for his feete . The flatterer playes the fowler , the poore silly mistrustlesse friend is his bird ; and his faire , cunning , and close words , the nett hee spreads to deceive him .

Fistula dulce canit , volucrem dum decipit auceps , saith the Poet.

Pindarus calls the deceitfull man a flatterer , Impossibile est ( saith hee ) vt cives dolosus , qui est adulator , forte aliquod & sincerum verbum proferat . It is impossible that a deceitfull Citizen , who is a flatterer , should speake a true word from his heart : and flattery is not onely deceitfull , but it is cruelties partner , Fallax & crudelis res est adulatio , saith Saint Austin : and therefore Felicem accipimus , qui fallacem non recepit ; Wee account him happy that shunnes the flatterers acquaintance ; For hee that warily receives the deceiving flatterer , may easily perceive a cheating knave ; but follow him not , lest hee leade you to hell , for roaring and drinking is the horse-way to hell , and whoring and cheating is the foote-way to that infernall pitt : and there I leave his deceit , and come to his

4. Hypocrisie . Pretending what he intends not . ]

He seemes what hee is not , and that is player-like , Extremum injustitiae genus est , iustum haberi qui iustus non est , saith Plato ; T' is the highest kinde of injustice for a man to be accounted just , true , and honest , who indeed is not so . A man had better trust to an enemie that seemes as he is , then to a friend that seemes as he is not : For multo melius de quibusdam acerbi inimici merentur , quam illi amici qui dulces videntur & acerbi vere sunt : The greatest enemie deserues better at a mans hand , then that friend which seemes to be his loving friend , but indeed is his greatest foe ; and from such a friend

Libera me Domine .

Thus have I done with the Definition of flattery , I come now to the

Distribution .

which demonstrates the causes object signes of flattery .

First for the Causes , which are foure .

The cause Efficient . Materiall . Formall . Finall .

First for the efficient cause of flattery , and that is , the

Devill .

He makes a man a flatterer ; for these two are great friends ; and there is a kinde of a conjunction copulative that knits these two together ; they are commonly in league soothing vp one another as mutuall flatterers , they never meet without shaking of hands , such mutuall fellowship is there betwixt them , as betweene prosperity and pride , which are seldome perswaded to part company ; but here is the difference , the devill is the Master , and the flatterer is his Schaller ; who being no good and skilfull Grammarian , teaches him to speake false Latine ; his Schoole is the flatterers heart , and quando adulatio linguâ resideat , diabolus corde insidet ; When as flattery is resident in the tongue as porter , the devill keepes Court ( and sits president ) in the heart , as King and the chiefe Ruler ; and wheresoever you see a flatterer , you may say , Ibi diabolus .

He is the devils child too , and as like the father as hee can possibly looke , he is the father of lyes , Ioh. 8. 44. and there is no lyar like the deceitfull flatterer , wherefore lying and flattery are joyned together . Psal. 78. 36. The devill began to flatter our first parents in Paradise , and there hee first put out his flattering hornes , and I thinke his children have them by succession ; therefore it is good for the honest plaine-dealing man to take heede , lest hee be gored with the hornes of the flatterer ; for let him looke how hee can , yet fronti nulla fides ; I will not trust his countenance .

It was Seneca's pride , and he boasted much Vbicunque ago , Demetrium circumfero , But the best thing the flatterer can boast of , is this Vbicunque ago Diabolum circumfero ; wheresoever he goes he carries the devill about him , to whom I leave him , and proceede to the

2. Materiall cause ; of flattery .

It is composed of faire and glozing words .

A faire tongue is the flatterers Hawkes hood , whereby hee carries his mistrustlesse friend quietly into perdition , without ever bayting at the Inne of repentance .

His smooth tongue is but a lying tongue , they be words of seeming amity , but sildome words of any verity ; for which hee is accounted the father of a monster , for hee is the common father of vntruthes , and vntruthes are vnnaturall monsters , for oratio is oris ratio ; the soule is the mother , and the tongue should be the midwife of truth : now for the soule to conceive a truth , and the tongue to bring forth a lye is wonderfully vnnaturall ; such a monstrous tongue ownes our flatterer : It seemes by his faire , sweet , and pleasing words , that hee is a sweet friend ; but Non acerba , sea blanda verba timendasunt , saith Seneca , for all his sweetnesse lies in ore non corde ; in his lips not heart . The Bees goe forth and returne home ( in Virgils phrase ) crura thymo plena ; their thighes full of hony ; but this sweet friend goes out and returnes home , Ora thymo plena , hony-tongued .

By this it seemes their mouthes drop hony combes . l 't is true ; but their end is as bitter as wormewood ; for sweet meate relishes best with sower sauce , saith our proverbe . Would you now know what his faire words are ; Consider what they are

in regard of the 1 sound . 2 sense or triall . 3 his ayme .

They are in 1 the sound , deligtfull . 2 the sense , bitter . 3 his ayme , deceitfull .

1. In regard of the sound ; wee may speake of them as it is spoken of the Nightingales voyce ; Voces sunt praeterea nihil ; They seeme for the present sweet and delightfull in the eares of the Auditour : or else I may say of them as S. Ambrose lib. 2. 〈◊〉 . 7. said of Calanus answer to Alexander ; Praeclara verba , sed verba ; eloquent words but no more .

2. Would you know what they are in the Auditors sense or triall ;

T●…y are , 1. Viseus merus , birdlime . 2. Venenum mellitum , poyson . 3. Mulsum lethale , deadly wine . 4. Melle litus gladius , a killing sword . 5. Laqueus , a net .

1. They are birdlime but entangling ; according to Plautus , Viscus saith hee : Now it is the nature of birdlime , after the poore bird hath touched it , so to entangle her , and clog her , that it hinders her slight againe into the ayre ; such are the words of the flatterer , which being alwayes dedited by the Auditour , will so clogge him , that at last hee shall not bee able to raise vp his flight to heaven .

2. They are poyson , but as sweet as honey , saith Pliny : who would be so mad for a little sweetnesse to kill himself , such is the nature of the flatterers words ; they are to the Auditour sweet in the conception , but deadly in the operation ; for

Impia sub dulci melle venena latent , saith Ovid ; and saith Minus , Habet suum venenum blanda oratio . a sweet tongue but deadly .

3. They are wine , but death is in the cup ; Mors in olla ; he that beleeves the words of the flatterer , is like him that is drunke with wine , bereft of his senses .

4. They are a sword , but it is melle litus ; besmear'd with honey ; thus are the flatterers words like this honyed-sword sweet in the apprehension , deadly in the application ; yea , it is more hurtfull then the sword . Plus nocet lingua adulatoris , quam gladius persecu / da / toris ; The tongue of a flatterer hurts more then the sword of a persecuter , saith a Father .

5. They are laqueus , a nett but entrapping . They entrap a man , saith Diogenes ; Malus homo blande loquens cuique laqueus agnoscendus est ; The tongue of a flatterer is a net to the hearer .

3. Would you know what the flatterers words are in his owne ayme or end , they are deceitfull ; they are like vnto a faire rotten staffe , whosoever trusts to them shall be sure to have a fall .

His smooth words are but oscula inimici , the kisses of an enemie , Prou. 27. 6. Better are the wounds of a friend , then kisses of an enemy .

We read in the Scripture of five kisses . Osculum 1 amicitiae . 2 lasciviae . 3 amoris . 4 proditionis . 5 adulationis .

The first is of friendship , so Ionathan kissed David .

The second of lust . So the harlot kissed the young man . Brou . 7. 13.

The third is of true love , betwixt Christ and his members .

The fourth of treachery , so Iudas kissed Christ .

The fifth of flattery , so Absolom kissed the people in the gates . Two of these are good ; the other three naught , and bad , and are much vsed by the flatterer ; they are the kisses of a false friend , whose kisses are odious ; Amici vulnera , quam inimici oscula sunt vtiliora , saith Saint Ambrose .

His words are kisses , and they be not verba , but verbera , not words , but wounds ; and if a man doe but observe his words , hee shall finde that the composition of them is an opposition to his heart ; and therefore you shall finde them spoken with

a humble complementall tongue .

Hee hath a tongue of humility , and a tongue full of complements :

First , an humble tongue ; a formall hypocriticall humility ; you shall have him shew himselfe affable , courteous , and officious even to admiration , lay his hands even vnder your feete , when his heart picks but matter of some worldly and by-good out of this his abasement . Vt vipera curvando , sic iste humiliando ingreditur ; As the viper enters his cranny by bowing , so he enters your heart by crowching .

And secondly , hee hath likewise a complementall tongue ; hee will tell you , that he will be your servants servant to command , and be at your service to wayte vpon you ; but what his tongue vtters , his heart meanes not : for demand of him the least kindnesse , and he will be ready to forbeare your company , but command his best service , and he will vtterly forsweare your acquaintance . You know now the flatterers language , hee can , imitate Pertinax , of whom it is storied , that hee could speake exceeding well , but doe exceeding ill ; you see his tongue is full of faire words ; but his heart is full of hypocrisie ; that is ,

3. The formall cause ; or formality of flattery .

Hypocrisie , or dissimulation .

The Greekes say that 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , the Lingua . tongue is so called quasi 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , of 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , to know ; signifying thereby , that the tongue should speake nothing but what the heart meanes ; now what greater dissimulation then to expresse that by the tongue which is not impressed in the heart and soule ; for the soule ( saith one ) is the fountaine of knowledge , and the tongue a channell from that fountaine ; Now a flatterer is a right dissembler , and hypocrite , for hee is like vnto Aristotles videtur quod non est ; hee seemes to have a good , true , and sound heart , when as hee is rotten at the heart ; hee is like a Sepulcher , Sepulchrum quasi semi-pulchrum , Extra nitidum , in●… foetidum , saith one ; hee is ( as our Country proverbe is ) like to D●…me silver-pinne , faire without , and soule within . And a stately building where a flatterer inhabiteth , is but a gawdy coate to a Sodome-apple ; I pray GOD keepe every good man from keeping their visitation in his house ( or Chappell : ) for there you shall finde a Gentleman bearing in his armes a cloven or devided tongue , and a double heart ; Of all letters in the Crosse-row a W is the worst , for it is a dissembling and flattering knaves Epitheton ; Can any man thinke the dissembling hypocriticall flatterer to bee a true friend , no ? nor yet a halfe friend , witnesse the Poet.

Qui lingua duplicem mentem sic gestat in vna ;

Hostis , sed nunquam fidus amicus erit .

Cato further confirmes it .

Qui simulat verbis , ●…ec corde est fidus amicus .

Flattery and hypocrisie keepe their revells in that heart , where the signe of a double tongue hangs at the doore of the mouth : The embleme of deceit , as well as hypocrisie is a double heart ; and so I come to the fourth finall cause of flattery , and that is

Deceit .

Whatsoever the flatterer doth propose to be the end of his more then wonted friendship , yet surely his purpose is to end his friendship with Deceit ; No longer pipe , no longer dance , saith the proverbe ; if once his friend can shew him no more booty , hee will shew his friend a light paire of heeles . Craft alwayes vshers deceit ; if Craft be in the premisses , deceit will bee in the co●…sion : for what the flatterers Craft hath in invention , his fraud and Deceit doth put in execution . Wee reade of the craftie Fox , that hee will faine himselfe dead , that thereby hee may the more easily get his prey ; so the flatterer faines himselfe honest , that thereby hee may the more easily deceive his friend : he playes verth his friend as the Fox in the fable played with the Raven , who seeing a peece of Cheese in the mouth of the Raven sitting in a tree , devised this way to cosen her of her fare ; hee praised her for the most fairest bird living , and that shee surpassed all other birds in her most pleasant voyce , which hee most desired to heare ; which praise the Raven hearing , opened her mouth to sing , by which meanes the Cheese fell to the ground , the Fox caught it , and ranne away : The Fox is the Embleme of a Flatterer , hee gets into a mans favour , intending nothing but Deceit .

His words are like Hypomanes balls to deceive Atalanta .

Flattery cannot chuse but be the eldest borne of the devill , begotten vpon the body of deceit , delivered forth by the Midwife Craft .

There are two things that are naught to be practised by any man ; the one is to flatter a friend , the other is to neglect a friend ; The first of these is , to play false in the game of friendship ; the second is , to throw the Cardes in the fire : The first by flattery , blindes the eyes of his friend , the more easily to get some goods from his friend : The last by Pride , bindes his owne hands from doing good to his friend ; these two are both to bee condemned , for this is Lyon-like , to forget his benefactours courtesie ; the other is Fox-like , to circumvent his Neighbours simplicity .

What is spoken of the Youthes of our times , I may speake of flatterers , They beare in their thoughts not 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , not Virgins but Curtezans ; so the flatterer beares in his minde not the Virgin Truth , but the Courtezan , Deceit : Hee vses Covin in all his actions , now Covin in the law , is , when a man making shew of one thing , doth the cleane contrary ; and if ever Covin is vsed by any man in personall actions , it is vsed by the Flatterer : and I wish that wee English could deale with these Foxes , as the Welch-men did with their Wolves , plucke off their skins , vntill they were extinct , and not one of them left in a whole Nation .

I have done with the causes , the object of flattery followes .

The Object is to be considered 1. generally . 2. specially .

1. Generally Is for some outward good ; or for some worldly respects ; and for the flatterers owne private ends : This hath beene handled before , I will but runne it over now , or if you please but little for explication , somewhat for application of this point .

Such as flatter for their owne ends , ( if you desire where to finde them ) you shall finde them

both in Church . Court . Citie . Country .

1. In the Church .

I am sorry flattery should creepe so high to God ; but it is carried thither by flattery 's Porter , Covetousnesse ; I know some will bee ready to say to mee in Terence , phrase , Bona verba quaeso ; good words , I pray ; My intent is not to give any ill words ; but desire from my heart , that no ill flattering words should proceede out of the mouth of a Minister . Mistake mee not ; I am no man to teach Paul ; or to instruct that tribe what to say , but doe honour it with my heart ; but a word spoken in his place , is like apples of gold with pictures of silver . Preachers are Pro. 36. 11. called Fishers , but some there are that fish with a shining shell in their ●…t ; and these are flattering fishers ; These are they that may say at the sunne-set of their life , wee have fished all day and caught nothing ; or if they have caught some fish , ( for the word of God is powerfull , proceeding out of the weakest and wickedest ) yet themselves have perished in the waters ; These are they I ayme at : who ayme not aright .

I would presume that there would be no flatterers found among the sonnes of Levi ; If I might truly speake of them what Nazianzen hath in his Epitaph on great S. Basill ; 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . That their words are thunder ; their life lightning ; But would you know , who is the flatterer ? you shall know him by this if he flatters

either in his 1. Instruction , 2. Conversation ,

Either in his words , or life ; precepts , or example ; If his words bee not thunder , and his life lightning , hee is a slatterer .

1. In Instruction .

He flatters in his preaching , when his chiefe ayme in teaching , is to please ; if hee bee 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , one that makes Marchandise of the word ; and this hee doth , when in teaching hee seemes to ayme at those three golden apples that men-pleasers vsually runne after ; that is , when he

Preaches either for 1. Favour . 2. Profit . 3. Credit .

Devine Paul sought for neither of these in his Doctrine ; For first hee did not carry the word of God in his mouth , thereby to curry favour with men , for 1 Thess. 2. 5. He vsed not flattering words .

Secondly , hee seeked not profit ; His paines was not onely for gaines , hee was none of those silver fishers , that angle for the tributary fish , with twenty-pence in her mouth ; he sought to get more soules to God , not more money to his purse ; for Ver. 5. Hee vsed not a cloake of Covetousness ; It is a badge of a false Prophet to seeke his owne profit , Ier. 6. 13.

Thirdly , he aymed not at Credit ; hee did not distribute the word to man , thereby to purchase credit of man ; hee did not speake to man , that man might speake to him as the people spake to Herod ; Vo●…Deinon hominis , The voyce of God not of man hee desired not at last to come off with a great Hem , and a Plaudite ; for vers. 6. He ought not glory of men , but a flatterer pleases both for favour , gaine , and credit . The Minister must not preach pleasing Ob. doctrine , lest hee turne flatterer ; Then , pray what was Pauls 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Hee became all things to all men , that by all meanes hee might gaine some ? I answere . The flattering Ans. teacher , and faithfull Preacher , may both please but in different respects ; For first , the flatterer in his doctrine pleases in the matter , seeking placentia , but a faithfull teacher doth please for the manner , speaking truth , placenter faithfully , yet wisely to become with men : Secondly , the one doth please in dispendiumveritatis , the other in compendium charitatis : Thirdly , one pleases propterse , and that is a carnall pleasing ; the other propter deum , and that is a Christian pleasing : Fourthly , the one pleases men in their sinnes ; the other seekes to please men by converting men from their sinnes : Lastly , the one doth please men for Gods sake , and that is not to please men but God ; the other pleases men for the fleshes sake , and that is not to please God but men . Thus doth the flatterer sooth vp , humour , and please men in their sinnes ; and therefore they sinne to please men . Would you have the Embleme of a flatterer ? I have read of Trochylus the little Wren of Egypt , who doth picke the Crocodiles teeth , whereby he doth feede himselfe , this tickling and pleasing of the bird doth cause him to gape wide , which Ichneumon the Rat of Pharaoh perceiving , and taking her advantage by this meanes , shooteth suddainly into the bowells of the Crocodile , and eateth out his belly : Thus doth that Preacher , which doth flatter men in their sinnes by pleasing and tickling Sermons , hee humours men sleeping securely in their sinnes , by which meanes hee makes open way for the devill , to enter into the hearts of men ; hee is like to the Serpent in Paradise , who tickled Eve to death with pleasing words ; Eris sicut Deus : and like to the Camelion , hee lives on the ayre of mens favours . Ministers should preach in Love , when ayming neither at favour , nor reward , reprehend sinne in his best friend ; but the flatterer doth otherwise ; hee seemes to have small charity in his heart , when flattery sits in his mouth ; for flattery is contrary to Charity ; but how can that bee , seeing all the while hee Ob. pretends charity ; and it is so taken ? I answere : that flattery in a private Ans. man or publike Minister , may bee considered

three wayes , ratione 1. materiae . 2. intentionis . 3. modi loquendi .

1. In regard of the matter ; when a Minister or other man seemes to praise anothers sinne ; this is flattery ; but you will say ; Ob.

Est procul à nobis populi laudatio ●…ulpa .

It is so ? then what meanes those Ans. hyperboles at the last funeralls of a lost friend ; when wee shall heare the dead raised and praised even ad astra , as though there were none left living to parallell them : when as their Actions in their life time gives him the lye ; when they have beene knowne to have led as lewd a life as the lewdest vpon earth ; of whom a man may speake ( I am sure ) without flattery , and ( I suppose ) without the gift of too hard a censure ; as once it was spoken of a quondam Pope ; Vt Leo vivebat , vt canis moriebatur ; so these , they lived like Lyons , and died like dogs ; then what is this but to praise not them , but their sinnes ; but you will say ; Charity requires a better judgement ; and it is required that men judge favourably ; I graunt this , Love indeede covers a multitude of sinnes , but it is no Love to praise anothers sinnes , ( or to praise a man aboue his deserts , that 's right flattery ) for this contraries first the love of God , against whose justice a man speakes ; and secondly , the love of a neighbour , whom he cherisheth in sinne , and calls evill good , to whom a woe is pronounced , Esay 5. For suppose a man have beene knowne by his neighbours to have beene a most wicked ill liver , yet at his suneralls hee shall have a large commendation beyond his deserts , what is this but to open a flood-gate to sinne , and to give the ignorant further liberty to sinne . I will illustrate this by one instance ; Suppose a man hath beene a notorious Drunkard , but yet a plaine-dealing honest man ; yet at his Funeralls , and death , hee shall bee praised for a very good liver ; an excellent Christian ; an example for imitation ; and that for conclusion , No doubt but hee now rests in peace , &c. As Charity wills a man to judge , I confesse it . Now what will the ignorant bee apt both to thinke , and say ? this is their vsuall saying , Hee was a good man , but yet hee was given to Drunkennesse , that was the worst fault in him ; but yet the Preacher saith , hee is a happy man : then surely thinke they , Drunkennesse is not so great a sinne as wee take it for , but for all that a man shall get to heaven well enough . I hope you cannot but grant ( these things being considered ) that overmuch praising of the dead , is but a flattering of the living : and in this case I hold it better for a man to spare every word , then to speake too many words : and vpon such an occasion ( by which may a fault bee commited ) it is better to conceale , then to reveale all the truth .

2. Flattery is to bee considered

Ratione intentionis :

In regard of the intention of the flatterer , when a man flatters a man to this end , that hee may fraudulently hurt him either corporally or , spiritually ; I hope this is farre from the Ministers intent ; these are they that with the Priests in the sixth of Ier. 13. 14. crie out , Peace , peace , when there is no peace . This contraries charity too .

3. In regard of the manner of speaking ; when the praise of the speaker doth cause the hearer to sinne , prater adulatoris intentionem , beyond the intent of the speaker ; this may not contrary charity , though a man may please to call it Flattery , and therefore take this note out of Aristotle ; Si aliquis Lib. 4. Et●… . cap. 6. velit ad delectationem alteri loqui & execdit modum delectandi ; & si hoc faciat sola intentione delectandi vocatur placidus , sed si faciat ho●… intentione alicujus commodi externi consequendi , vocatur blanditor si●…e adulator ; If a man by speaking doth delight the hearer , and doth exceede in delighting , if hee doe this with an intent onely to delight , hee is called a man-pleaser : but if hee doe it , intending and hoping thereby to get some outward and by-good thereby , hee is called a Flatterer .

Secondly , as hee may flatter in Doctrine , so hee may flatter in Conversation , and life , when hee doth nor leade his life according vnto his Doctrine ; for if the Minister bee given to any vice , the people will imitate it as a ve●…tue ; the Minister doth leade the people by the eyes , as Hercules did by the eares : let them then doe as they say , lest by their ill life they leade men to hell , Plus movent exempla quam praecepta , was Seneca's observation ; but both precept and example joyned together , is most commendable in a Minister . You see how they flatter , and that for some by-respect . Thus for Churchflattery ; now followes

Court-flattery .

The arrowes that these flatterers shoote , flye to two markes onely , either pleasure , or profit ; Pride vshers pleasure , and avarice is Gentleman-usher to profit : for what makes the flatterer flye to the Court for ease and pleasure , but pride ; and what makes him flatter for gaine and profit , but Covetousnesse . Flattery is the Eare-wigge of the mighty , and the very bane of Courts ; Magnates sunt magnetes , Great men are those loadstones , that draw flatterers to them , Divitum sunt asseclae , said Diogenes to Aristippus , they are attendants vpon rich men ; for these horse-leaches are soonest found in great or rich mens waters ; for the rich shall never want them .

Te bona dum splendet fortuna sequuntur amici .

V●… te dum lucet sol solet vmbra sequi :

Quam primum liquidus nebulis offenditur aer ,

Ecce repentè tuum deserit vmbra latus , saith Owen in his Epigrams .

They will follow great men , as long as they obtaine great gaines by great men , but if once adversity should arrest that great man , they would fly as fast from him as Croto's Mouse did , when his house was on fire : for there is no Parasite will lurke but where hee can finde gaines , Patitur dum potitur , Hee will endure the hardest labour to obtaine the ' least favour , for praemium est solatium labor is , saith hee , labour is his consort till a reward bee his comfort , Adulor saith one , quasi adaulor , quod in aulis maxime fieri soleat , It is most vsed in Courts .

King Zerxes marching towards the Greekes with a great Army , called some of these Parasites vnto him , and asked them what they thought of this warre ; the one told him , that when the Greekes heard of his Army , they would quickly yeeld . Another told him , that the ayre had not roome enough for the arrowes they should shoote off ; some spake one thing , some another : The King being puffed vp with pride called ‛ Damascerus the Philosopher to him , and asked him , what hee most doubted of in that warre , hee told him , that the thing hee most feared , was , that these flatterers would deceive him , and destroy him . Adulationis vnctio , domorum est emunctio , The flatterers instruction is but the Creditours destruction : So that the flatterer is but like the trencher-flye , which waytes more for luere then for love . In the Court you shall finde the ambitious flatterer like Absolom , who may speake in Fortunes phrase with Nebuchadonezer ,

Regno , regnavi , regnabo , sum sine regno : but the ha●…e of his head was his death .

Secondly , the self-concei●…ed and politicle Flatterer like Achitophell : but marke his end , he went out and hung himselfe .

Thirdly , the flatterer affecting popularity with Herod , but hee was euen vp with wormes .

Fourthly , the vaine-glorious flatterer like Nebuchadonozer ; but hee was turned into a beast . Take heed ( ye Courtiers and great men ) of these flatterers , and say with an Epigrammatist ,

Tam gravis ille mihi , nigri quam flumina ditis ,

Ore aliud qui fert aliud sub pectore celat , I hate the flatterer like the devill . Thus for Court-flatterie : you shall finde the flatterer likewise in the

Citie .

That is full of flatterers : there you finde a great deale of flattery ,

betweene 1. the Citizen and his wife . 2. the Citizen and the Country-man . 3. the Cheater and the Stranger .

1. Betweene the Citizen and his wife ; you may call it femaleflattery , mutuall friendship , alias flattery . It is a strange thing , that a woman should bee turned like Io into a beast , to be her husbands Spamell ; and she carries two egregious flatterers about her ; her backe , and her belly , or rather flatters for the outward good of them both ; for sometimes you shall finde all a Citizens wealth vpon his Wives backe , and her table ; here pride is flatteries Iackey ; shee like ‛ Dalilah flatters him to get away Sampsons strength , Sampsons lay in his locke , the Citizens vnder his locke and key , or in his purse : To get fine cloathes and Iewels on her backe , and dainties for her belly , is the end of her flattery . Thus shee turnes a Dalilah to her Husband : Dalilah signifies poverty , and how many of them have brought their Husbands to poverty by backe and belly-flattery ; for by their instigations , pride , and flattery , they doe ( as wee vsually say ) maintaine their Wives above their degree ; their Children according to their degree , and themselues ( very seldome now in these dayes seene ) below their degree .

Secondly , flattery betweene the Citizen and Country-man ; or the Citizen , flattering the Country-man ; here is flattery crept into the Shop , for their sale commonly is not without flattery , to the end 〈◊〉 deceive the buyer ; Caveat emptor , let the buyer beware of this flatterer : The poore and simple Country man takes a great journey to London , to buy things for his vse at the easier rate , where hee findes a great many of our , What lacke you Sirs , standing at every Shop ; at last finding a Shop that may supply his wants ; hee makes it his resolution , there to give his purse a discharge of his burthen hee is entertained with Hat in hand , a bended knee , a supple tongue , with speeches sleep't in Oyle ; with candied flattery , and ho●…ed words , carrying in their mouthes the figure Hyperbole , praising their owne Wares , even ad astra , with a None-such , or the best in London , especially of that price , when as the skilfull Marchant knowes , it is the worst ( almost ) in London : thus at last many a faire forsoothes drawes the Chap-mans hand to his Pocket , to draw his Purse : thus to close vp the bargaine with a faire word ; at the heele of Farewell commonly followes their common sayings , either , Pray tell no man what you payd , or else , in good faith ( if it were as strong in their heart , as it is common in their mouth , they would not say ) I gaine nothing by this bargaine , but amrather a looser by it , but I doe it that I may take your money another time , and such like words , when it is scarce worth halfe the money ; and as soone as the Chapmans backe is turned , they can ( with derision and joy ) blesse themselues , and say , God send vs more such Chapmen as he is .

Thus hee was entertained with reverence , respect , and flattery in his face , hee goes away with an ill bargaine , bad ware , excessive price , an empty purse , and scoffe at his backe ; I know who they bee that can say , Expertis crede .

Oh the wickednesse of such flattering Shop-men , experienced by the silly Chap-men . The sale of these flatterers is put in the scole of Injustice , whose waight is deceit , vnjust vendition is their pride , and part of their ambition ; they take Mimus words for their rule , as Saint Austin hath it ( lib. 13. de Trin. cap. 3. ) Optimum est vili emere , & caré vendere . They can by cousonage and flattery put off bad Ware at a deare rate .

Let the buyer take heed of these flatterers , and shunne them ( if hee ca●… ) as hee doth that house where L●…d have mercy upon us , is set vpon the do●…e . So I leave him , and come to another flatterer , and that is the

Cheater ; Who watches for the Stranger , as the Cat for the Mouse : his gettings come in when a Stranger comes to towne ; hee hath a great deale of Pocket-friendship in him : hee laughes a man in his face , when as one hand is in his Pocket : these are such flatterers , as lye in every streete , a man can scarce get to his journeyes end , without meeting , such acquaintance , especially to vnloade his full purse at home , if hee have not Argus his eyes , and especially one eye in his Pocket : This flatterer is so well knowne , I neede describe him no further ; for hee is sibi natus , multis notus , omnibus nocuus , mundi nothus , & diaboli filius : Hee is knowne to many , hurtfull to all , the worlds bastard , and the true-borne child of the devill , to whom I leave him , and come to seeke out siattery in the

Country .

I am sure that is not free from the devils water-men ; that looke one way , goe another way ; that doe one thing , and meane another ; whether shall I travaile to finde them out , I neede not travaile farre to seeke them , for I am sure if I misse them all day , I shall finde them at night at my lodging . Iunes and Taphouses are not free from them ; there you shall finde the Taphousehaunter , a common guest , hee will presume to keepe you company , and professe great friendship , if you will bestow but a Pot vpon him ; this is but pot-friendship , and drinking friendship is but drunken kindnesse : and likewise there finde you another flatterer the Gamester ; that will be ready for you at any pastime to passe the time away ; who will be sure to cheate you of your money , and then perhaps flye your company ; you shall seldome finde true friendship among gamesters , where one word perhaps breakes off the game of friendship , and gives friendship Farewell , with a broken head : this you shall finde at games : Beware of these flatterers bearing in your minde that old verse ,

Ludens taxillis bene quid sit in illis :

Take heede lest the game for conclusion trip vp thy heeles .

Or if these flatterers appeare not thy Host himselfe will come and act the part of a flatterer , who to rob thee of thy money , will entertaine thee kindly but if hee draw the drinke out of his barrell , hee will be sure to draw thy wit out of thy head , and thy money out of thy purse , and then turne thee out of dores : beware of this flatterer , for hee is a monster , if our common saying be true , that such a one must have , ( for if his Wife bee a wanton shee will never want one ; ) a head like an Oxe , a backe like an Asse , to beare all taunts , a belly like a Hogge to drinke with all companies , and a tayle like a dogge to fawne vpon every commer . You shall finde many flatterers besides ; if thou knowest them , shunne them ; if not , bee wary what company thou keepest . Thus have I done with Countryflattery , and with the object of flattery in generall ; next followes

The speciall object of Flattery ,

which is threefo●…d , thy life . goods . good name .

He that aymes at thy 1. life 2. goods 3. good name is a 1. treacherous 2. covetous 3. tale-bearing Flatterer .

The first aymes at thy life ; here Envie is hid vnder seeming friendship , and cloaked vnder Flattery ; these are they the Psalmist speakes of , Psal. 28. 3. That speake f●…rieadly to their neighbours , but imagine mischiefe in their hearts :

Tuta frequensque via est per amici fall●…re nomen , Tuta frequensque licet sit via , crimen habet .

To deceive by emity is but plaine knavery : It is an easie way to deceive by friendship , yet it is the devils policy , to deceive by friendship ; thus was Caesar deceived by his friends Brutus and Cassius , who murthered him in the Senate-house ! So Alexander was deceived by his kinsman , and deare friend ( as hee thought ) Antipater , who poysoned him in the midst of his triumphes at Babylon : Adulator Scorpio est , qui palpando incedit , sed cauda ferit , Super Ezek lib. 1. cap. 9. saith Saint Gregory ; and if a man doe beleeve this Scorpion , the flatterer , he shall finde his tayle , that is , his end , intent , and purpose , to be death and confusion :

— Nam fronte politi , Astutam vapido servant sub pectore vulpem .

This flatterer deales with a man as the Fox doth with the birds , faines himselfe dead , that hee may the more easily catch them to devoure them ; and the flatterer faines himselfe harmelesse , honest , and religious , that hee may the more easily deceive the hearts of the simple . Thus Ioab dealt with Abner , 2. Sam. 3. And thus doth this flattering Butcher claw a man like an Oxe , that hee may the more easily knock him on the head : I can but vse this prayer either for them or against them ; Aut convertantur , ne pereant , aut confundantur , ne noceant ; Lord , convert them lest they perish , or of thy justice confound them , for making others to perish .

The second ayme at a mans goods , and they are covetous flatterers .

Envie moves the first , covetousnesse this . The goods of man is that good which hee aymes at ; hee will most love that man , whose purse hee hath at command ; and what is it that a man will not doe for gaine ; Committitur cades lucri gratia , spoliantur templa , violatur amicitia , fides negligitur , patria proditur , omnia mala patrantur ; Money ( wee say ) makes the man , but money makes the flatterer marre the man : for to get a little gaine , murthers are committed ; friendship violated , and all evill by it committed This hath beene fully handled in the booke , I leave it and come to the last , who aymes at a mans good-name , and hee is a

Tale-bearer :

And is a detractour likewise ; who carries two tongues in his head , one to licke , another to bite ; one to flatter a man to his face , another to slander him behinde his backe ; hee is one that to please some , will backbite and detract from others . The flatterer that gives his neighbour an ill name , is halfe a hangman ; who with the sharp razour of his tongue doth cut his throat , Cum actum est de nomine , actum est de homine : Hee that hath an ill name , is halfe-haaged ; the tongue is a dangerous thing if ill vsed , though it cannot prevaile alwayes ad interitum hominis , yet it will ad interitum nominis ; if it cannot murther , yet it will murmure ; the head of Iohn was cut off with the foote of a woman ; and a mans good name divers times is cut off by the tongue of a man : these flatterers are such as do famam ex infamia comparare ; climbe to merit praise by the stayres of others disgrace . These are the fire-brands of the devill ; if thou hearkens to them they will burne thee in thine eare ; or if thou hearkenest to them , thou hast a devill in thine care as they in their tongues . I have done with the object of Flattery , I come at last to the

Signes of a Flatterer .

The first signe is , to praise a man ( though absent ) beyond his deserts ; so saith Aquinas , Adulator supra debitum virtutis modum verbis hominem delectare studet . A flatterer doth seeke to delight a man by praising others beyond their merits .

The second signe is , to praise a man to his face ; for this is but to puffe a man vp with pride and selfe-conceit : for ( saith one ) it is an easie thing to make men beleeve they be better then they be ; but you may flatter some women beyond the knowledge of themselues . Wee ought not to be proud of the flatterers praise , for anothers dispraise can soone blemish it ; but anothers opinion of thee concernes thee not so much as thine of thy selfe , in which thou shouldst not be partiall .

The third signe is , if , vpon small distasts slacks his acquaintance , then he was not a friend , but a flatterer ; for a good Bow is not easily broken , vnlesse it be extreamly overdrawne , nor a well grounded affection fullied with the smallest distasts .

The fourth and last signe , hee is a tale-bearer , if he doth backbite another , and tell thee long tales to the disgrace of another , hee is a flatterer , for be sure hee spares not to doe the like of thee to another : this is confirmed , Pro. 18. 8. & 26. 22. Psal. 41. 6. Hee hath a devided tongue , of two humours like Ptolomies man , or as of two colours , white and blacke , white with a complementall courtesie to thy face , and blacke with a defaming iniury behind thy back ; hee vses his tongue as Ioab did his hand , hee salutes and stabs the same man with the same tongue : beleeve him not , for he will deceive thee .

Thus have I ript open the flattering - Fox , I hope you may now partly know him , and knowing him avoid him , for there is no truth but deceit in him .

And now ( thou flatterer ) I speake to thee , repent of thy sinnes , which by flatteries meanes doe accompany thee ; lying , covetousnesse , deceit , malice , ambition , hypocrsie , and what not ; Panaces the hearbe was good for all diseases : so this hearbe Repentance applied to thy heart , is good for these and all other thy foule and soule-diseases : repent that God may forgive thee ; repent of all or else of none ; for God will forgive thee all , or none .

Larga Dei pietas veniam non dimidiabit , Aut nihil , aut totum te lachrymante dabit . FINIS .