Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

xi S Reafonsmeuing to the contempt ofvnfissitfullit otrledge. 1h11and refufe to runne, or is fluke lame in all his limmes, and not able to fet one foote forward in the way; fìß it will nought auaile vs for the obtaining of this crowne ofeternal happincfl'e,thatwee cleerely fee the way ofrighteoufheffc; if we wilfully refufe to go in ir,or wanting all other venues, which are the finewes and ftrength of the foule,we,through this fpirituall lamenes,be vnable to fetforward in the race. Secß,e. And thus it appeareth that this idle and vnfruitful know- That vnfruit_ ledge doth not profit vs,and therefore is not to be valued or full knowledge eßeemed :but niscch more arewee to defpife andcontemne dish moth boa it feeingit cloth not onelynot bring vs any good,butalfo r vs; ofo1r to much hurt and difaduantage,and that. both in this life and in bodies; the life to come : in thislife it hurteth both our bodies and our foules; our bodies by weakning them, our foules by vexing and corrupting them. For though this knowledge be idle,light and vaine,yet it is not idly procurcd,or bought with the light coyne of fome.finall labour, but it is purcha- fedat dearcrates ,and attained, vnto with much (ludic and cxceffue paines,which abateth the flreugth,impaireth the health,ánd oftentimes bringeth the bodie into deepe con - fumptions, and deadly difeafes. Yea the more. vaine the knowledge is, the more labour commonly itrequireth,as being much more my(licall and fubtilly curious, then that whichis folid and fubflantiall.To which.purpofe one faith, that only unprofitable truth Beth hidden in the deepe; and that ?yulltu ;ni dif reehauenocarafetocomplaintofhardmeafure; becaufe thereis lcilis inuentio nothing difficult in finding out, bit whole findingisaceom e/t,nifr cuino in- parried with this only fruit, that the haue found it ; a.ud whatfo uentæ,bienwru uerma true to make vs betterand.mora /cf d,that flesh in fesítns eff,ix_ y ueni,Te,&c. Se- the open plaine, and netreat hand. In which refpcél there cu- nec.lib.q.de rious priers and fearchers into hidden myßeries and abfirufe bencf.cap.r. knowleçlge,are notvnfitlyscompared to Spiders, who fpend their owne bowelsto make their curioufly wroughtwebs, whichabla(l of winde,or,a fmali broth ofa beefome,doe ,take away,.and bring to nothing : for fo thefe, doe fpend their flrength,impaire their healrh, and fhorten their liues, in attaining fuch a flight and vaine knowledge, as will not uphold them, when she leaftblaf of;tent.acioubloweth vp- an