Mat alworldly things are but merev. út:es. ,Sr he iswholly tranfported with couetoufnes,and biceth at no bait foeagerly,as at that which is couered wich gold. Now what worth or excellencie can bee in that, which hath his whole fttbfìflence in fo vnflable a ground, altering and changing,rifing and falling, according to thevaine conceit, and inconfiant opinion ofmutable mankind? But let vs confider the truth hereofin thofe fpeciall i n- 4.Sv. 2. flances,ofhonours, riches and pleafures which worldlings 0pinionMa- dote vpon with fuchgreat .loueand admiration. And fittikethbononrsfo for the honours ofthe world,whofeeth not,that they arc in mxcbaffccl d. themfelues but bare fhadowes and titles, confifling in the obferuance offome idle rites and ceremonies, as inhigher place,capping,crouching,bowing,kneeling,defcents, arms, pie iures,words and tearmes,which haue in them no fubflan- tiall good at all, but onely are efleemed and reputed fo, in the conceit and opinion of the giuers and receiuers; the which foundation being altogether vnflable andinfirme, that which isbuilt vpon it, muff needsbee vaine and muta- ble; honours changing and varying,asofc as their opinions whodoe conferre them change andalter. Andhereofit is; that the felfefame thing which is honourablein onemaïi,is difgracefull inanother; that which is nowpraifed and ex- tolled,is at another timedifcommended and difgraced; and 4 StFi 3. thofeobferuances and ceremonies, which in oneplace doe Thai opinion molt magnifie a mans worth anddignitie, doeinanother giueihruhes place and countrievilifieand difgracehim ; the opinionsof their tbiefeex. men,changing with theaire,and honours with opinion. cellencie. The like altomay be Paid ofrichcs,which althoughthey g`ium et onne bemore reali and fccbüantiallthen the other;yet their chiefe re 711. di, goodneffe and excellencieconfifleth in theopinion ofthofe bra é? alba, whodefire and pofheffe them; for what true worth and ex- guam jolus cellencie are in.pearles and precious flones which are valued bominum error at fuch high rates; if at !call we meafure worth by fruition 'rPwrprmj gis and vie, but that which they haue from the vngrounded [um? phantafie,and vaineconceitofthofewho dcfire them? what Bcrnard.de great excellencie is there ingold and filuer, abone copper, aduent.domi- iron and fleele,but that as one faith,by the madneffëoffome n; seam.¢. Y Æc paacarum merr,they are become precious; Neither bathnuture(as faith inlaniaprecio. another)fsm.Seneca.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=