aOn that night, saith the story of Assuerus, the Kings sleep went from him. It is no watching to speak properly, neither is it thank-worthy, for a man to lie awake, because he cannot sleep: but when long continuance of waking, and the usual hour of rest, and the drowsiness of his own brain, and the heaviness of his eyes, and the example of others fast asleep by him, shall all concur and conspire as it were to cast him into a slumber, for a man bthen to strive to keep waking is true watching, and is thank-worthy indeed. So here for a man to keep himself sober, when he cannot come by wine or strong drink, or when he wanteth his good-Fellows to drink with (for this it is one of those sociable sins; there is no life in it without company) it is cnot thank-worthy, the will is as good, or as bad rather, still as ever. But for a man to be careful not to break the bounds of sobriety, when he shall be in place where wine is plenty, and no restraint of it, and where company will be egging him on, and urging him with instance to take more then is meet, that is true temperance and praise-worthy indeed. In like manner dfor a man to keep a true man, as we say, because he was never put in trust, or to deal faithfully, where a due and strict account is taken of his actions; it is no commendation the one, and it is but a very slender commendation (if any at all) the other. But for a man that hath trust reposed in him, and none to look after him, or to call him to account (as eJoseph, as fthe work-men about the Temple sometime) to deal then truly ⟨p. 50⟩and faithfully, especially when want and penury shall be persuading him to the contrary, gthat is indeed a matter of high commendation; that is watching over a mans hands and fingers indeed. Thus also for a man to live chastely and keep continent, hwhen he wanteth his lewd company, or for a woman to live honestly whom no man looketh after, or ibecause she is otherwise looked after, and a narrow watch is set over her, deserveth not the name of watchfulness in either, yea the heart may be never a whit the less faulty with either. But for kTamar to deny Ammons incestuous suit, and to stand out against him, till by mere force she be constrained lto endure rather the dishonest act of another, then to do any of her own;
aOn that night, saith the story of Assuerus, the Kings sleepe went from him. It is no watching to speake properly, neither is it thank-worthy, for a man to lie awake, because hee cannot sleepe: but when long continuance of waking, and the vsuall houre of rest, and the drowsinesse of his owne braine, and the heauinesse of his eies, and the example of others fast asleepe by him, shall all concurre and conspire as it were to cast him into a slumber, for a man bthen to striue to keepe waking is true watching, and is thank-worthy indeed. So here for a man to keepe himselfe sober, when hee cannot come by wine or strong drinke, or when he wanteth his good-Fellowes to drinke with (for this it is one of those sociable sinnes; there is no life in it without company) it is cnot thank-worthy, the will is as good, or as bad rather, still as euer. But for a man to bee carefull not to breake the bounds of sobriety, when he shall be in place where wine is plenty, and no restraint of it, and where company will be egging him on, and vrging him with instance to take more then is meet, that is true temperance and praise-worthy indeed. In like manner dfor a man to keepe a true man, as we say, because he was neuer put in trust, or to deale faithfully, where a due and strict account is taken of his actions; it is no commendation the one, and it is but a very slender commendation (if any at all) the other. But for a man that hath trust reposed in him, and none to looke after him, or to call him to account (as eIoseph, as fthe work-men about the Temple sometime) to deale then truly ⟨p. 50⟩and faithfully, especially when want and penury shall be perswading him to the contrary, gthat is indeed a matter of high commendation; that is watching ouer a mans hands and fingers indeed. Thus also for a man to liue chastly and keepe continent, hwhen he wanteth his lewd company, or for a woman to liue honestly whom no man looketh after, or i
- aEster 6. 1.
- bOculos vigilia fatigatos cadentesque in opere detinere. Senec. epist. 8.
- cNecessitas non habet •audem.Necessitas nō habet •audem.
- dNunquam •egavi rem alienam: quia fortasse ne•o tibi commendavit, vel si quis commendavit, sub testibus commendavit. Dic mihi, Reddidisti, quod à solo solus accepisti? si sic reddidisti, si mortuo qui commendaverat, nescienti filio reddidisti; tunc te la•dabo quia post aurū non isti. Aug. de verb. Ap. 19.Nunquam •egaui rem alienam: quia fortasse ne•o tibi commendauit, vel si quis commendauit, sub testibus commendauit. Dic mihi, Reddidisti, quod à solo solus accepisti? si sic reddidisti, si mortuo qui commendauerat, nescienti filio reddidisti; tunc te la•dabo quia post aurū non isti. Aug. de verb. Ap. 19.
- eGen. 39. 6.
- f2 King. 12. 15.
- gSir• 31. 13. qui transgredi potuit, & non transgressus est; & cùm posset mal• facere, non fecit. Bonus ille est, qui & quando potest mala facere, non facit. Aug. in Psal. 93.
- hNulla laus est, non facere, quod facere non potes Ex Lactant. instit. l. 6. • •3. M•. Dum. de or. Nulla laus est ibi esse integrū, ubi nemo est, qui aut possit aut conetur camper. Ci. in Verr. orat. 1.
