Of thecivilexils,mhich tborldly thingsbring to theirollmerr.7i5 and impatient ofbearingany loffe, that many, who haue bin fuddleny,& as it were, vnfeafonably(before they couldpre- pare theirminds, andgather their fpirits) depriuedofforce final (hareoftheirabundance,ánd pruned oftheir fuperflui. ties,haue murthered themfelues, and like the Vine, haue bled to deathofthefe Heightwounds,hauing no patience fo muchas tothinkeofoutiiuing their loffe. For after that the loue oftiches hath once foftned their hearts,theyaremade weake,cowardly,andvnable to indure any thing ; and(hew themfelues onely patient and (frong in induring thebale fen. uitude oftheir riches,and in vndergoing al thofe feruileand painefull offices, wherein they will imploy them. To this purpofe one faith, that Chriflian fortitude fleeth couerouf- Ambrofotfic, nefè,as being a blot or blemi(h vnto vertue,whichBoth ef-1b.1.eap39. feminate and weaken it; neither is there any thing focon- trary vnto true fortitude and magnanimitie,as tobec ouer- comewithgaine. Finally, voluptuous pleafures being im- moderately loued andaffeóled, doas much,ifnot more then anything,eneruate v.ertue,andweaken the heart and mind ;.. making them,though theybe naturally couragious,foft and effeminate, whenmentoomuch arc addi6ìed to them. For. when leaning labour and manly exercifes,theybetake them tocarnal' delights, inuring themfeluesto daintie fare, and foft lodging,and fpending their whole time inchambriug and wantonnes, dancing and reueliing, (ports and paflimes, thefe Circe, cupsbewitchandpoifon them,and caufing them to lay afideall manlineffe,do at bell change them into weak women, or which is worfe, transforme them into filthy fwine,abhorringall painesandlabour, and taking all their - delight to wallowthemfelues in the filthie puddle ofcarnal( pleafures. And there curled Dalil es, lulling themafleepe in their laps with their fweete and enchanting fongs, doe take away from themall their flrength, andfo enfeebling them, n,ake them to bec eafilyouercomeofanyvice or finne, and readieto yeeldvntoany tentation ofSatan or the world. So onefaith,that inpleafures, theheart is mademore loft and Chry£ofl:.in flexible;but in affkiiouand timeof mourning, it contra- Matthza.. atth hoteil4z>
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