C 11 · Meditationt and JTowu. j ent. . ' ~----~~----~~~~~ A moll are bred throughpride,(whil<s men,upl~ a~ hig~ ~onceit ofthemfdves, fcorn ~- eo goe in the common road,and affectlingolamy m ?P~mon) are confi~med through anger,(whiles they ftomack andgrudge any concradttl!on)andarenounlhed through covetoufneff•, whiles they feek ability to bear out their part. In fame others again, covetoufndfe obtains the firft place,anger the fecond,pride the !aft. Herein therfore I have been always wont to commendand admire the humility ofchofegreac &profound wits, whomdepth of knowledge bath not Ird to by-paths in judgement; but (walking in the beaten path ofthe Church)have bent all their forces to the eftablilhment o[ recoived truths:accouming it greater glory to confirman ancient verity,then eo dcvife a new opinion(though never fo profitable)unknownto their predecdfours. I will notrejeClatruth , formeernovelty: (Old truths may come newly to light; B neither is God tied to times, for the gift_ of~is illumi~ation) but I will fufpeil a noveil opinion,ofuntruth; and not emertame tt,unlelfe tt may be deduced from ancient grounds. 54 The eare and the eye are the mindes receivers;but the tongue is only bulied in ex_ pending the rreafurereceived.Ifrherdorethe revenues ofthe mind be uttered asfaft or fa!ler then they are received; it cannot be, but that the minde mull needs be held bare,and can never lay up for purchaft.But,if the receivers cake in flill with nouccterance,the miode may foon grow a burrhen to tt fdfe, and unprofic•ble ro others. I will not lay up too m,uch, and utter nothing, left I becovetous: nor fpend much,and ftore upIittle,left I be prodigtlland poor. c 55 It is a vain-glorious Battery fora man to praift himfdf: An enviom wrong to derrattlromothers.!will therefore fpeak no ill ofothers,aogood ofml'lfdfe, 56 Thatwhich is the mifery ofTravdlers,tofinde manyOafts;and few friends is the eflateofChriftians in their pilgrimage to abetter life.Good friends may noc,therfore be eafily forgone:neither muft they be ufed as fuitsofapparell;which when we have worn threed-bare, we caft off, and call for new. Nothing,but death or villany, Oull divorce me from anold friend; butftill I will follow bim fo farre,as is either poffible or bond\: and then I will leave bim,with farrow. 57 D True friend!hip neeelf1rily rtquires patience.For there is no man, inwhom I fhall not miOike fome.vhat,&who !hall not,as jufily millike fomewhat in me.My friends faults therefore,iflittle,I will fwallow and di~eft;ifgreat,I will fmocher them: however,! will wink at them toothers1buc,Iovingly notiliethem to hirnfdf. 58 Injuries hurt not more in the receiving, then in the remembrance. A fmall injury !hall go as it comes:agreat injurymay dine or !up with rne;but none at alllhalllodge withme.Why lhould I vex my fdfe,becaufe another bath vexed me? 59 It is gooddealing with that,overwhich we have the moft power. Ifmy ftate will not be framed to my minde,I will labour to frame my minde to my eftate. E 6o It isa gr~at mi~ery t~ be either a!wayes, or never alone : focietyofrnen hath not fo much gam as dtftrachon. IngreateRcompany I wtll be alone eo my fdfe: in greatefl privacy,incompany with God. 6t Gride for things pall that cannot be remedied , and care for things to come that cannotbe prevented, may eafilyhurt, can never benefit me. I will therefore commit my felfto God in both,andenjoy the prefent. 6> Let my eftatebe never fo mean, I will ever keep my fdfrather beneath, then ei. th_erlevell or aboveit.A man may rifewhen he will, with honour : but cannot fall Without lhame. D 6; Nothing
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