§. 25. A third point or head of this spiritual Watch, is the careful avoidance of all occasions of evil. oA prudent man, saith Solomon, foreseeth the plague, and hideth himself: but the foolish go on still, and are plagued. And it is indeed a point of true spiritual wisdom to foresee sin afar off in the occasions of evil, and pby eschewing the one to prevent the other. qFly from sin (saith Sirach's son) as from a Serpent. rHe were evil advised that would sleep near the hole where he knew that a Serpent harboured; or that seeing a Serpent making toward him, would use no means to keep it from him, till it got within reach of him; alleging for himself that she were safe enough, so long as the Serpent fasteneth not upon him. tNor were they better then stark ⟨p. 40⟩fools, that should sit still and suffer the enemy, whom they were informed to be up in arms and coming for them, to enter their territory, approach their City, sit down before it, and raise ramparts against it; pretending the mean while, that all is well enough with them (what should they need to fear or care?) so long as their walls are not scaled, nor the City it self surprised: The latter is like enough soon to follow, if way be given to the former. In like manner here uit is but a sorry watching that we hold against sin, unless we keep watch withal against the occasions of evil. If we wax remiss in our watching against the one, we shall soon be surprised and subdued by the other.
§. 25. A third point or head of this spirituall Watch, is the carefull auoidance of all occasions of euill. oA prudent man, saith Salomon, foreseeth the plague, and hideth himselfe: but the foolish goe on still, and are plagued. And it is indeed a point of true spirituall wisdome to foresee sinne afarre off in the occasions of euill, and pby eschewing the one to preuent the other. qFlie from sinne (saith Sirachs sonne) as from a Serpent. rHe were euill aduised that would sleepe neere the hole where he knew that a Serpent harboured; or that seeing a Serpent making toward him, would vse no meanes to keepe it from him, till it got within reach of him; alledging for himselfe that she were safe enough, so long as the Serpent fastneth not vpon him. tNor were they better then starke ⟨p. 40⟩fooles, that should sit still and suffer the enemie, whom they were informed to be vp in armes and comming for them, to enter their territorie, approach their Citie, sit downe before it, and raise rampires against it; pretending the meane while, that all is well enough with them (what should they need to feare or care?) so long as their walls are not scaled, nor the Citie it selfe surprized: The latter is like enough soone to follow, if way be giuen to the former. In like manner here uit is but a sorrie watching that we hold against sinne, vnlesse we keepe watch withall against the occasions of euill. If we wax remisse in our watching against the one, we shall soone be surprized and subdued by the other.
- oProu. 22. 3. & 27. 12.
- pVitare peccatum est vitare occasiones peccatorum. Melanc. in loc. come. 22.Vitare peccatum est vitare occasiones peccatorum. Melanc. in loc. com. 22.
- qSirac. 21. 2.
- rQuousque vicing serpent tua malè securadormitat industria? Bern. epist. 125. Circa serpentis antrum positus non eris diu illaesus. Isidor. solil•q. l. 2.Quousque vicin• serpente tua malè securadormitat industria? Bern. epist. 125. Circa serpentis antrum positus non eris diu illaesus. Isidor. solil•q. l. 2.
- sNoxia serpentū est admisto sanguine pestis: Morsu virus habent, & fatum in dent minantur. Lucan. b•ll. Pharsal. l. 9.▪Noxia serpentū est admisto sanguine pestis: Morsu virus habent, & fatum in dente minantur. Lucan. b•ll. Pharsal. l. 9.▪
- tPraeoccupanaus est aditus cunctis insidijs, ne hostilitas prior obrepens accurate improvidis. Autor de singular. Cleric.Praeoccupanaꝰ est aditus cunctis insidijs, ne hostilitas prior obrepens •ccurrat improuidis. Autor de singular. Cleric.
- uQui peccati occasiones non fugit, necipsum à see peccatum sem•uet. Stella in Luc. 11.Qui peccati occasiones non fugit, necipsum à se peccatum sem•uet. S•ella in Luc. 11
