The Signs of the palsy are manifest; of this not very close and reserved. He conceives what is good to be done, but fancies difficulties and dangers, like to knots in a bull-rush, or rubs in a smooth way. He would bowl well at the mark of Integrity, if he durst venture it. He hath no journey to go, but either there are bugs, or he imagines them. Had he a pardon for his brother (being in danger of death) and a Hare should cross him in the way, he would no further, though his brother hanged for it. He owes God some good will, but he dares not show it: when a poor plaintiff calls him for a witness, he dares not reveal the truth, lest he offend the great adversary. He is a new Nicodemus, and would steal to heaven, if no body might see him. He makes a good motion bad by his fearfulness and doubting; and he calls his trembling by the name of conscience. He is like that Collier, that passing through Smithfield, and seeing some on the one side hanging, he demands the cause; answer was made, for denying the Supremacy to King Henry: on the other side some burning, he asks the cause; answered, for denying the real presence in the Sacrament: some, quoth he, hanged for Papistry, and some burned for Protestancie? then hoyte on a Gods name: chill be ne'er nother. His Religion is primarily his Princes, subordinately his Land-lords. Neither deliberates he more to take a new religion, to rise by it; then he fears to keep his old, lest he fall by it. All his care is for a ne noceat. He is a busy inquirer of all Parliament acts, and quakes as they are read, lest he be found guilty. He is sick, and afraid to dye, yet holds the potion in a trembling hand, and quakes to drink his recovery. His thoughts are an ill balance, and will never be equally poised. He is a light vessel, and every great mans puff is ready to overturn him. Whiles CHRIST stands on ⟨p. 37⟩the battlements of heaven, and beckons him thither by his word, his heart answers, I would fain be there, but that some troubles stand in my way. He would ill with Peter walk to him on the pavement of the Sea, or thrust out his hand with Moses, to take up a crawling Serpent, or hazard the loss of himself, to find his Saviour. His mind is ever in suspicion, in suspension, and dares not give a confident determination either way.
THe Signes of the palsey are manifest; of this not very close and reserued. He conceiues what is good to be done, but fancies difficulties and dangers, like to knots in a bul-rush, or rubbes in a smooth way. Hee would bowle well at the marke of Integrity, if he durst venture it. Hee hath no iourney to goe, but either there are bugges, or he imagines them. Had he a pardon for his brother (being in danger of death) and a Hare should crosse him in the way, he would no further, though his brother hang'd for it. He owes God some good will, but he dares not shew it: when a poore plaintiffe cals him for a witnesse, hee dares not reueale the truth, lest he offend the great aduersary. He is a new Nicodemus, and would steale to heauen, if no body might see him. He makes a good motion bad by his fearefulnesse and doubting; and hee cals his trembling by the name of conscience. Hee is like that Collier, that passing thorow Smithfield, and seeing some on the one side hanging, he demaunds the cause; answere was made, for denying the Supremacie to King Henry: on the other side some burning, he askes the cause; answered, for denying the reall presence in the Sacrament: some, quoth he, hang'd for Papistry, and some burn'd for Protestancie? then hoyte on a Gods name: chill bee ne're nother. His Religion is primarily his Princes, subordinately his Land-lords. Neither deliberates he more to take a new religion, to rise by it; then he feares to keepe his old, lest he fall by it. All his care is for a ne noceat. Hee is a busie inquirer of all Parliament acts, and quakes as they are read, lest hee be found guilty. He is sicke, and afraide to dye, yet holds the potion in a trembling hand, and quakes to drinke his recouery. His thoughts are an ill ballance, and will neuer be equally poysed. Hee is a light vessell, and euery great mans puffe is ready to ouerturne him. Whiles CHRIST stands on ⟨p. 37⟩the battlements of heauen, and beckens him thither by his word, his heart answeres, I would faine be there, but that some troubles stand in my way. He would ill with Peter walke to him on the pauement of the Sea, or thrust out his hand with Moses, to take vp a crawling Serpent, or hazard the losse of himselfe, to find his Sauiour. His minde is euer in suspicion, in suspension, and dares not giue a confident determination either way.