§. 63. An eighth help to further us in this spiritual1 Watch is to be jealous of our selves and of our own infirmity and weakness, that we may soon be ensnared and easily surprised, foiled at least, if we be not exceeding wary, before we be aware. As the fear of God will make us careful ⟨p. 97⟩to shun all sin, and whatsoever is evil in it self: so this jealousy of our selves, and fear of our own infirmity, will make us careful to eschew all occasions of sin, and whatsoever by means of our weakness may become matter of evil unto us. For as those that know themselves to be of a weak stomach, ready to take check at such meats as many other ordinarily are wont to digest well enough, are very chary of their diet, and careful to eschew and forbear not such meats only as are simply unwholesome, but even such also as they suspect or suppose to be hard of digestion, and will not in that regard so well accord with their weakness: So ethe man that is suspicious of himself, and jealous of his own corruption, will be careful to walk warily, and diligently to avoid not those things alone that he seeth and knoweth to be simply evil, and in that regard prejudicial to all in general, but even those things also that, though indifferent, and in themselves otherwise not unwarrantable, such as may be done by some sometime without hurt or offence, yet that in regard of the strength of his corruption, his natural disposition, the weakness of grace in him, and his proneness to slip and be overtaken in them, may in that regard prove dangerous and prejudicial to him in particular, howsoever fothers wiser or stronger, or not so affected as he findeth and feeleth himself, might without danger deal with them.
§. 63. An eighth helpe to further vs in this spirituall1 Watch is to be iealous of our selues and of our owne infirmitie and weaknesse, that we may soone be ensnared and easily surprised, foiled at least, if we be not exceeding wary, before wee be aware. As the feare of God will make vs carefull ⟨p. 97⟩to shun all sinne, and whatsoeuer is euill in it selfe: so this iealousie of our selues, and feare of our owne infirmitie, will make vs carefull to eschew all occasions of sinne, and whatsoeuer by meanes of our weaknesse may become matter of euill vnto vs. For as those that know themselues to be of a weake stomacke, ready to take checke at such meats as many other ordinarily are wont to digest well enough, are very chary of their diet, and carefull to eschew and forbeare not such meats only as are simply vnwholesome, but euen such also as they suspect or suppose to be hard of digestion, and will not in that regard so well accord with their weaknesse: So ethe man that is suspitious of himselfe, and iealous of his owne corruption, will be carefull to walke warily, and diligently to auoid not those things alone that hee seeth and knoweth to be simply euill, and in that regard preiudiciall to all in generall, but euen those things also that, though indifferent, and in themselues otherwise not vnwarrantable, such as may be done by some sometime without hurt or offence, yet that in regard of the strength of his corruption, his naturall disposition, the weaknesse of grace in him, and his pronenesse to slip and bee ouertaken in them, may in that regard proue dangerous and preiudiciall to him in particular, howsoeuer fothers wiser or stronger, or not so affected as he findeth and feeleth himselfe, might without danger deale with them.
- 1Help 8.Helpe 8.
- ePanaetius adolescentulo quaerenti, An Sapiens amaturus esset; De Sapiente, inquit, videbimus: mibi & […] qui adhuc à sapient longè absumus, non est committendum, ut incidamus in rē commotam, impotentē, alteri •mancipatam; vilem sui. Itaque conscij nobis imbecillitatis nostra quiescamus. Quod ille de amore, hoc ego de omnibus: nec vino infirmum animum committamus, nec for•, &c. quantum possumus, nos à lubric recedamus▪ in sicco quoque parum fortiter stamus. Sen. epist. 116.Panaetius adolescentulo quaerenti, An Sapiens amaturus esset; De Sapiente, inquit, videbimus: mibi & 〈…〉 qui adhuc à sapiente longè absumus, non est committendum, vt incidamus in rē commotam, impotentē, alteri •mancipatam; vilem sui. Itaque conscij nobis imbecillitatis nostra quiescamus. Quod ille de amore, hoc ego de omnibus: nec vino infirmum animum committamꝰ, nec for•, &c. quantum possumus, nos à lubric• recedamus▪ in sicco quoque parum fortiter stamus. Sen. epist. 116.
- fSapienti non soli itè custodire se tut•m est: gradum ubi volet, sistet. Nobis, quia non est regredi facile, optimum est omninò nō progredi. Sen ibid.Sapienti non soli itè custodire se tut•m est: gradum vbi volet, sistet. Nobis, quia non est regredi facile, optimum est omninò nō progredi. Sen ibid.
