Permanent and firm impressions do use to be made in the minds of men by such causes ⟨p. 120⟩as those. First, if the Object be wonderful and beyond the common course of things, it doth then strangely affect the thoughts, whereas bobvious and ordinary things pass through the soul, as common people do through the streets without any notice at all. And this is the reason why naturally men remember those things best, wch either they did in theira childhood, because then every thing brings with it the shape of novelty, and novelty is the mother of admiration; or those things which do very rarely fall out, which howsoever they may be in their causes naturally, yet with the greater part of men, who use to make their observations rather on the events than on the originals of things, they pass for wonders. Now what greater wonder hath ever entered into the thoughts of men, even of those who have spent their time and conceits in amplifying Nature with Creatures of their own fancying than this, that the God of all the World, without derivation from whose life, all the Creatures must moulder into their first nothing should himself dye, and expire, the frame of Nature still subsisting? that he who filleth all things with his Presence, should be stretched out upon a piece of wood, and confined within a narrow stone? he who upholdeth all things by his power, should be himself kept under by that which is nothing, by death? Certainly, that at which the World ⟨p. 121⟩stood amazed, that which against the course of Nature brought darkness on the Fountain of Light, (which could no longer shine, when his Glory who derived lustre on it was it self eclipsed) that which made the earth to tremble under the burden of so bloody a sin, that which the Angels stoop and look into with humble astonishment and adoration, that which consisteth of so great a combination and confluence of wonders, must needs make a deep impression on the Soul, though hard as Marble, at which the stones themselves of the Temple did rend asunder.
Permanent and firme impressions doe use to bee made in the mindes of men by such causes ⟨p. 120⟩as those. First, if the Object be wonderfull and beyond the common course of things, it doth then strangely affect the thoughts, whereas bobvious and ordinary things passe through the soule, as common people doe through the streets without any notice at all. And this is the reason why naturally men remember those things best, wch either they did in theira childehood, because then every thing brings with it the shape of novelty, and novelty is the mother of admiration; or those things which doe very rarely fall out, which howsoever they may be in their causes naturally, yet with the greater part of men, who use to make their observations rather on the events than on the originals of things, they passe for wonders. Now what greater wonder hath ever entred into the thoughts of men, even of those who have spent their time and conceits in amplifying Nature with Creatures of their owne fancying than this, that the God of all the World, without derivation from whose life, all the Creatures must moulder into their first nothing should himselfe dye, and expire, the frame of Nature still subsisting? that he who filleth all things with his Presence, should bee stretched out upon a piece of wood, and confined within a narrow stone? hee who upholdeth all things by his power, should bee himselfe kept under by that which is nothing, by death? Certainely, that at which the World ⟨p. 121⟩stood amazed, that which against the course of Nature brought darkenesse on the Fountaine of Light, (which could no longer shine, when his Glory who derived lustre on it was it selfe ecclipsed) that which made the earth to tremble under the burden of so bloudy a sinne, that which the Angels stoope and looke into with humble astonishment and adoration, that which consisteth of so great a combination and confluence of wonders, must needs make a deepe impression on the Soule, though hard as Marble, at which the stones themselves of the Temple did rend asunder.
- bAug. de Gen. ad literam, lib. 12. ca. 18. amant homines inexperta mirari, &c. Ea quae sub oculis posita sunt negligimus, quia natura comparatum est, ut proximorum incuriosi longinqua sectemur, sed quòd omnium rerum cupido languescit cum facilis occasi• est, Plin. lib. 8. Epist. 20. Magnitudinem rerum consuetudo subducit: sol spectatorem nisi cum deficit non habet, nemo admiratur Lunam nisi laborantem, Senec. not. quaest. li. 7. c. 1.Aug. de Gen. ad literam, lib. 12. ca. 18. amant homines inexperta mirari, &c. Ea quae sub oculis posita sunt negligimus, quia natura comparatum est, ut proximorum incuriosi longinqua sectemur, sed quòd omnium rerum cupido languescit cum facilis occasi• est, Plin. lib. 8. Epist. 20. Magnitudinem rerum consuetudo subducit: sol spectatorem nisi cum deficit non habet, nemo admiratur Lunam nisi laborantem, Senec. nat. quaest. li. 7. c. 1.
- aArlet. Polit. l. 2.
