Answ. The natural condition cannot be changed▪ but it may be exceedingly helped; as, if we bring our hearts to be content with a more or less simplicity of condition, that is, if the disposition and constitution of the mind be such, that it be not dependent upon many things, but upon few; this is done, when the thoughts and ⟨p. 56⟩affections of the mind do not lie scattered, hanging or lying upon this or that thing, so that you cannot live without it; but when the mind is recollected and gathered up, so that you can be content with a simplicity of condition, with GOD alone for your portion; so that you can live with exceeding little, not requiring a multitude of things, upon which the contentment. and satisfaction of the mind doth depend. As for example; some men cannot live without sports and pleasure, and a great living to maintain them: another must have great learning and gifts, and eminency, and praise that follows it: Another hath his heart so wedded to a convenient house, wife, children, companions, &c. that if any of these be taken away, he is dead in the nest: Not to speak of their vain, base, distempered affections, they must have a hundred things, their fancy is infinite, and all must be to their mind, or else they are still complaining. Now the more things a man needs, the more compound, and less simple he is, (as I may so say) and consequently, the weaker he is, and more apt to be hindered, more apt to be hurt and disquieted; because if you touch any of that multitude of things, upon which his heart is set, he is presently troubled; which is more easily done, as the things are more, upon which his affections are placed: but he is best, who is come to that self-sufficiency of mind, and to be content with that simplicity of condition, that he can say of any of ⟨p. 57⟩these things; I can live by them and without them, I can live without liberty, I can live without friends, I can live without sports and pleasure, without worldly credit, and esteem, without wife, and children, without riches, without conveniency of air, garden, orchards. This is the condition that we should labour to grow up to: and the nearer we grow up to it, the better we are, and the safer is our condition.
Answ. The naturall condition cannot be changed▪ but it may be exceedingly helped; as, if wee bring our hearts to be content with a more or lesse simplicity of condition, that is, if the disposition and constitution of the minde be such, that it be not dependent upon many things, but upon few; this is done, when the thoughts and ⟨p. 56⟩affections of the minde doe not lie scattered, hanging or lying upon this or that thing, so that you cannot live without it; but when the mind is recollected and gathered up, so that you can be content with a simplicity of condition, with GOD alone for your portion; so that you can live with exceeding little, not requiring a multitude of things, upon which the contentment. and satisfaction of the minde doth depend. As for example; some men cannot live without sports and pleasure, and a great living to maintaine them: another must have great learning and gifts, and eminency, and praise that followes it: Another hath his heart so wedded to a convenient house, wife, children, companions, &c. that if any of these be taken away, he is dead in the nest: Not to speake of their vaine, base, distempered affections, they must have a hundred things, their fancy is infinite, and all must be to their minde, or else they are still complaining. Now the more things a man needes, the more compound, and lesse simple he is, (as I may so say) and consequently, the weaker he is, and more apt to be hindred, more apt to be hurt and disquieted; because if you touch any of that multitude of things, upon which his heart is set, he is presently troubled; which is more easily done, as the things are more, upon which his affections are placed: but he is best, who is come to that selfe-sufficiency of minde, and to be content with that simplicity of condition, that he can say of any of ⟨p. 57⟩these things; I can live by them and without them, I can live without liberty, I can live without friends, I can live without sports and pleasure, without worldly credit, and esteeme, without wife, and children, without riches, without conveniency of aire, garden, orchards. This is the condition that wee should labour to grow up to: and the neerer wee grow up to it, the better wee are, and the safer is our condition.
