The spiritual watchThe spirituall vvatch

Socrates (as ^kthey report of him) when there came one Zopyrus to Athens that professed by mens physiognomy to tell how they were affected, and having guessed shrewdly at the matter with many other, was at length brought to him, and after a diligent view of his visage censured him for a man blockish, proud, ambitious, vicious of life, and tainted with many foul matters, whereupon the standers by fell a laughing at him as now out ⟨p. 38⟩of his Art; bade them stay their laughter, for the man, he said, spake not amiss: true it was, that he was naturally indeed so affected as Zopyrus had said, but by the help of Philosophy he had altered and overcome nature. Can a natural man then by natural helps so restrain and curb his own natural corruptions, that they shall not come to break forth on him, or to be discovered in him? And cannot Christian men, having spiritual and supernatural helps, do as much, yea or much more? A foul shame it is for us, and no small stain to our profession, if by Gods grace assisting us we cannot do that, which by humane learning alone Heathen men have effected before us: Not to add, what our Saviour saith, that, ^lunless we go beyond such, we shall never be saved.

Socrates (as ^kthey report of him) when there came one Zopyrus to Athens that professed by mens physnomie to tell how they were affected, and hauing guessed shrewdly at the matter with many other, was at length brought to him, and after a diligent view of his visage censured him for a man blockish, proud, ambitious, vicious of life, and tainted with many foule matters, whereupon the standers by fell a laughing at him as now out ⟨p. 38⟩of his Art; bade them stay their laughter, for the man, he said, spake not amisse: true it was, that he was naturally indeed so affected as Zopyrus had said, but by the helpe of Philosophie he had altred and ouercome nature. Can a naturall man then by naturall helps so restraine and curbe his owne naturall corruptions, that they shall not come to breake forth on him, or to be discouered in him? And cannot Christian men, hauing spirituall and supernaturall helps, doe as much, yea or much more? A foule shame it is for vs, and no small staine to our profession, if by Gods grace assisting vs we cannot doe that, which by humane learning alone Heathen men haue effected before vs: Not to adde, what our Sauiour saith, that,