1Yet take heed of nourishing and cherishing, of bolstering up, and justifying passion: but rather do what in thee lieth to suppress and keep them down. For though, so long as we abide in the tabernacle of this body, and are ⟨p. 143⟩compassed about with frail flesh, we cannot clean cut off 2all affections and passions, yet we may moderate and rule them: which if we do not, passions will soon wax violent, and grow unto excess, if with prudence and diligence they be not kept under. They are like weeds, which grow apace, if they be suffered. They are like beasts and birds, that being naturally wild, if they be not narrowly watched, kept in dark, kept awake, kept from light and sleep, and taught to obey, will ever be wild, never tame. Experience of all ages hath verified this adage (whereof *before) Passions are bad masters but good servants. If they rule over reason, they will be as Lords of misrule, outrageous, disturbers of all order. It will be in mans little polity, consisting of body and soul, as it was in Israel, when there was no King in Israel, Every man did 4that which was right in his own eyes: whence it came to pass that some Tribes in Israel were little better then Sodom. There is more need of means to weaken then to strengthen passions, to famish then to cherish them, to curb them in, then to spur them out, and to hold them back, then to give them head. Though they be in such as are justified and sanctified, yet may they not by any means be justified, or countenanced as things lawful. To justify a sudden distempered passion, is, to call evil good, to put darkness 5for light, and bitter for sweet, against which a woe is denounced. To countenance them, is to make them violent and irresistible in their rebellion, as Absalom and Adoniah 6were. Thus an infirmity is turned into obstinacy. As therefore men are watchful over powder in their houses to keep fire from it, both because it soon takes fire, and also being once set on fire, it is suddenly all on flame, and by that means very violent and pernicious: so on those very grounds we 7have need to be as watchful over passions, and to keep them from all occasions that may stir them up: for they are soon stirred, and being stirred, wax vehement and violent. Yet I will not deny but that passions may have their use and commodity, if there be a very watchful heed had over them.
1Yet take heed of nourishing and cherishing, of boulstering up, and justifying passion: but rather do what in thee lyeth to suppresse and keepe them downe. For though, so long as we abide in the tabernacle of this body, and are ⟨p. 143⟩compassed about with fraile flesh, we cannot cleane cut off 2all affections and passions, yet we may moderate and rule them: which if we do not, passions will soone waxe violent, and grow unto excesse, if with prudence and diligence they be not kept under. They are like weeds, which grow apace, if they be suffered. They are like beasts and birds, that being naturally wild, if they be not narrowly watched, kept in darke, kept awake, kept from light and sleepe, and taught to obey, will ever be wild, never tame. Experience of all ages hath verified this adage (whereof *before) Passions are bad masters but good servants. If they rule over reason, they wilbe as Lords of misrule, outragious, disturbers of all order. It wilbe in mans little polity, consisting of body and soule, as it was in Israel, when there was no King in Israel, Every man did 4that which was right in his owne eyes: whence it came to passe that some Tribes in Israel were little better then Sodom. There is more need of meaues to weaken then to strengthen passions, to famish then to cherish them, to curb them in, then to spurre them out, and to hold them backe, then to give them head. Though they be in such as are justified and sanctified, yet may they not by any meanes be justified, or countenanced as things lawfull. To justifie a sudden distempered passion, is, to call evill good, to put darkenesse 5for light, and bitter for sweet, against which a woe is denounced. To countenance them, is to make them violent and irresistible in their rebellion, as Abs•lom and Adoniah 6were. Thus an infirmity is turned into obstinacy. As therefore men are watchfull over powder in their houses to keep fire from it, both because it soone takes fire, and also being once set on fire, it is suddenly all on flame, and by that means very violent and pernicious: so on those very grounds we 7
- 1Admonition to keep passion down.Admonition to keepe passion downe.
- 2Nos affectus & perturbationes, quam diu in tabernaculo corporis huius habi•amu•, & fragili carne circumdamur, moderari & regere possumus, amputare non possumus. Hier. ad Demetr. de Virg. serv.
- *§. 4.
- 4Judg. 21. 25.Iudg. 21. 25.
- 5Isa. 5. 20▪
- 6• Sam. 15. 10. 1 King. 1. 5.
- 7Passions habent utilitatem suam, s• per eas considerantis pervigil currat intentio. Chrys. Hom. 2 in Heb 1.Passiones habent utilitatem suam, s• per eas considerantis pervigil currat intentio. Chrys. Hom. 2 in Heb 1.
