Eugenius, Lindamor.
Eug.
IF the Air were calm and quiet, this Kite would lie unregarded ev’n by those very Youths, that now look at nothing else. But the wind that blows away straws and feathers, and throws down leaves, does even by its being contrary, help to raise this Paper-Engine to that admired heighth, which makes it be gaz’d at by many others, than Boys, and not onely attract our eyes, but sometimes soar out of their reach. Thus, if a great Person, for Courage, or Parts, or both, have the ill fate to live in quiet, and peaceful times, he may long enough languish unregarded in an Age that needs him not. But if the times grow troublesome and dangerous, his generous spirit will not onely surmount the difficulties that are wont to attend them, but be rais’d by them, and turn them into steps to Glory and Preferment.
Lind.
Me-thinks, Eugenius, these Kites may afford us no less fit a resemblance of the fate of some Errours about Religion, especially if they chance to be maintain’d by Men that are resolute, and viceless. For there are some of these conceits so fond, and groundless, that they could not long subsist of themselves, and would soon cease to tempt a solemn Opposition, if they did not too soon meet with it. And as you were observing to another purpose, that these artificial Kites, which men take no notice of in calm weather, are both elevated and kept aloft by the blasts of contrary winds, so these erroneous Opinions I speak of, would, if they were let alone, grow quickly unregarded, whereas needless or ill manag’d Persecutions of Doctrine, not prejudicial to Government, (for ‘tis onely such that I mean) bring them into every body’s Eye, and give them a Repute, that nothing else would have procur’d them, and make them be look’d upon as things of a sublime and celestial nature, that lead to that Heaven, they seem to aspire to. To thrive by Persecution, though it be a great Advantage, yet it is not the incommunicable Prerogative of Divine Truths; And though it be certain that they get most by it, yet even Errors do often gain by it too, there being certain Advantages that accrue to Opinions, by being persecuted, without distinguishing whether they be true, or false. For men that are persecuted for their Religion, are generally careful to instruct themselves throughly in it, and furnish themselves with Arguments to defend it. The frowns of the Magistrate, and the watchful Eyes of their Adversaries, are strong Disswasives to them from doing any thing that may arm his hand, or provoke other’s tongues against their Sect, to which they know their personal faults will be imputed. And above all this, their sufferings entitle them to popular commiseration, which is a thing that distress does so much invite, that even condemn’d Malefactors seldome want a share in it. And to some of these men Persecution is the more favourable, because it puts them upon fighting with the weapons they can best handle. For some are far better at Suffering, than at Disputing, and can more easily endure a Prison, than answer a Syllogism. And as this Constancy is often their best Argument, so is it an Argument, that the Generality of Men best understand, and consequently is likely to be most wrought on by, so that the more harsh than effectual way wherein they are dealt with, gives them the opportunity to display a Resoluteness, that makes most men think them well meaning, and in earnest, and their own Party cry them up for Martyrs, or at least Confessors; which, in case that (as it happens in most States) scandalous sins be left unpunished at the same time, that Harmless Errours are so severely dealt with, gives them the fairer opportunity to insinuate into the minds of the people, that their Persecutors had rather see men vitious, than inquisitive. And, generally speaking, any personal sufferings that a well-meaning man undergoes for what he judges his Conscience, is but such a kind of burden to his mind, as feathers are to an Eagle, or a Falcon, which though in themselves consider’d they have a weight, yet instead of clogging him, they not onely help him to support himself, but enable him to soar towards Heaven, and reach a heighth that makes him prais’d or wonder’d at.
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