Last of all; you shall know it by this, that whatsoever the creature hath,1 it hath it but by participation, ⟨p. 139⟩it hath nothing of it self; as in things that are made hot, some things are more hot, & some things less hot, it is an argument they have not hotness in themselves, but there is something else that is perfectly hot: for that which hath but a part, it presupposeth that there is something else that is the whole, of which that is but the part: If you look upon all the goodness, excellency, and beauty in the Creatures, you see some creatures have it more, and some less, which is an argument that there is something else without the creature that hath a Sea of perfection, that is full of goodness, full of excellency, as the Sun is full of light, and as the Sea is full of water, and this is not within, but without the Creature. Now the Creature being thus imperfect in it self, it hath something communicated to it from day to day: for if there be a continual need, there is a daily supply that it must have, and it that fail, or be not so good as it needs, the Creature languisheth. This is so in every kind: if it be in matter of life, if meat, or drink, or Physic, or air be wanting, the creature days for it: for it hath not in it self, it is communicated from another. And so likewise, if it be contentment, if it be refreshing, if it be joy, without which no creature is able to live; if that be wanting, if God withhold his hand, that there is not an influence into it, the Creature languisheth according to the proportion of that defect; if it be in matters that belong to eternal life; if the Lord withhold his hand, if he shut up his hand, they perish eternally. And so ⟨p. 140⟩we may say of all things else. So that this is the condition of every creature, it is exceeding empty; Man himself is empty, and so all other creatures besides are, there is no happiness to be found in them, there is no satisfaction, there is no contentment to the soul of a man. If I should go through the particulars, you should find it so. If you ask, where this happiness is to be found? whether in riches, or in matter of estate? Surely, it is not there:2 for riches are but of two sorts, either they are natural riches, such as meat, drink, and clothes;
Last of all; you shall know it by this, that whatsoever the creature hath,1 it hath it but by participation, ⟨p. 139⟩it hath nothing of it selfe; as in things that are made hot, some things are more hot, & some things lesse hot, it is an argument they haue not hotnes in themselues, but there is something else that is perfectly hot: for that which hath but a part, it presupposeth that there is something else that is the whole, of which that is but the part: If you looke vpon all the goodnesse, excellency, and beautie in the Creatures, you see some creatures haue it more, and some lesse, which is an argument that there is something else without the creature that hath a Sea of perfection, that is full of goodnesse, full of excellency, as the Sunne is full of light, and as the Sea is full of water, and this is not within, but without the Creature. Now the Creature being thus imperfect in it selfe, it hath somthing communicated to it from day to day: for if there be a continuall neede, there is a daily supply that it must haue, and it that fayle, or be not so good as it needs, the Creature languisheth. This is so in every kinde: if it be in matter of life, if meate, or drinke, or Physicke, or ayre be wanting, the creature dayes for it: for it hath not in it selfe, it is communicated from another. And so likewise, if it be contentment, if it be refreshing, if it be joy, without which no creature is able to liue; if that be wanting, if God withhold his hand, that there is not an influence into it, the Creature languisheth according to the proportion of that defect; if it be in matters that belong to eternall life; if the Lord withhold his hand, if he shut vp his hand, they perish eternally. And so ⟨p. 140⟩we may say of all things else. So that this is the condition of every creature, it is exceeding emptie; Man himselfe is emptie, and so all other creatures besides are, there is no happines to be found in them, there is no satisfaction, there is no contentment to the soule of a man. If I should goe through the particulars, you should finde it so. If you aske, where this happinesse is to be found? whether in riches, or in matter of estate? Surely, it is not there:2 for riches are but of two sorts, either they are naturall riches, such as meat, drinke, and clothes;
- 1It hath all by participation.
- 2Riches of two sorts.
