Lastly, this might teach us not to fear death. aIt is a fond thing (saith he) to fear that, that cannot be 2avoided. A folly it is to trouble & turmoil our selves with fear and care about that, that by no thought or forecast we can shun or shift off. But such is death. bDelayed it may be, but avoided it cannot be. And cbe it never so long put off, yet dit will come at last. As an ancient Father therefore well and wisely adviseth; eFear not that, which whether thou wilt or no, will be; fear that rather, which if thou thy self wilt not, shall never be. That is, fear not this temporal death, the death of thy body, which of it self cannot hurt thee, and by no means or care of thine can be prevented: but fear that eternal death, the death of thy soul, fthe greatest of all evils that can possibly befall thee, which by mature care and diligence now used, may be prevented. But we are (as another well observeth) herein, the most of us, glike children, that are hafraid of a visor, but fear not the fire; shriek and start at the one, but thrust their fingers into the other. *We fear the bodily death, but not the spiritual death, the death of the soul, the death in sin, and dying in sin, without which the other cannot hurt. The fear of death troubleth and distracteth much our minds: but the fear of future matters, that are truly fearful indeed, and but for wch death needed not at all to be feared, doth no more trouble or affect the most, than as if ⟨p. 47⟩no such thing were at all, or they were ibabes only that believed them.
Lastly, this might teach vs not to feare death. aIt is a fond thing (saith he) to feare that, that cannot be 2auoided. A folly it is to trouble & turmoile our selues with feare and care about that, that by no thought or forecast wee can shunne or shift off. But such is death. bDelayed it may be, but auoided it cannot be. And cbe it nouer so long put off, yet dit will come at last. As an ancient Father therefore well and wisely aduiseth; eFeare not that, which whether thou wilt or no, will be; feare that rather, which if thou thy selfe wilt not, shall neuer be. That is, feare not this temporall death, the death of thy body, which of it selfe cannot hurt thee, and by no meanes or care of thine can be preuented: but feare that eternall death, the death of thy soule, fthe greatest of all euils that can possibly befall thee, which by mature care and diligence now vsed, may be preuented. But we are (as another well obserueth) herein, the most of vs, glike children, that are hafraid of a visour, but feare not the fire; shreeke and start at the one, but thrust their fingers into the other. *Wee feare the bodily death, but not the spirituall death, the death of the soule, the death in sinne, and dying in sinne, without which the other cānot hurt. The feare of death troubleth and distracteth much our minds: but the feare of future matters, that are truly fearfull indeed, and but for wch death needednot at al to be feared, doth no more trouble or affect the most, than as if ⟨p. 47⟩no such thing were at all, or they were ibabes only that beleeued them.
- aS•ultum est timere, quod vitari non potest. P. Syr. [Greek or Hebrew]. Arian. 1. Epict. l. 1. c. 27.S•ultum est timere, quod vitari non potest. P. Syr. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Arrian. 1. Epict. l. 1. c. 27.
- 2Use 4.Vse 4.
- bDifferri potest, auserri non potest. Aug. de divers. 36. Mortem differunt ista, non au••runt. Idem de verb. Apost. •8.Differri potest, auserri non potest. Aug. de diuers. 36. Mortem differunt ista, non au••runt. Idem de verb. Apost. •8.
- cSed etsi tardius quis moritur, nunquid ideò non moritur? Idē de temp. 74.Sed etsi tardius quis moritur, nunquid ideò non moritur? Idē de temp. 74.
- dQuid autem ad rem pertinet, quadiu vites, quod evitare non possis? Sen. epist. 93.Quid autem ad rem pertinet, quadiu vites, quod euitare non possis? Sen. epist. 93.
- eNoli timere, quod velis, •olis, e[…]: id time, quod, si nelueris, non erit. Aug. de divers. 36.Noli timere, quod velis, •olis, e〈…〉: id time, quod, si nelueris, non erit. Aug. de diuers. 36.
- fDe hoc verè dici potest, [Greek or Hebrew]. Aristot. Ethic. l. 3. c. 6. [Greek or Hebrew]. Ep[…]. La•rt. Timor•m maximus leti metus. Lucan. •b. 1.De hoc verè dici potest, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Aristot. Ethic. l. 3. c. 6. . Ep. Lart. Timorm maximus leti metus. Lucan. b. 1.
