A treatise of the passions and faculties of the soul of man With the…A treatise of the passions and faculties of the soule of man With the…

The strength of every thing, is exercised by Opposition: We see not the violence of a River, till it meet with a Bridge; and the force of the Wind showeth it self most, when it is most resisted: So the power of the Will is most seen, in repairing the breaches, and settling the mutinies, wherewith untamed Affections disquiet the peace of mans nature; since excess and disorder in things otherwise of so great use, requireth amendment, not extirpation; and we make straight a crooked thing, we do not break it. And therefore, as he in Tacitus spake well to Otho, when he was about¹ to kill himself, Major animo t•lerari adversaquam relinqui; That it was more valour to bear, than put off afflictions with courage: so there is more honour, in the having Affections subdued, than in having none at all; the business of a wise man, is not to be without them, but to be above them. And therefore our ^*Saviour himself sometimes loved, sometimes rejoiced, sometimes wept, sometimes desired, sometimes mourned and grieved; but these were not Passions that violently and immoderately troubled him; but he, as he saw fit, did with them trouble himself. His Reason excited, directed, moderated, repressed them, according to the rule of perfect, clear, and undisturbed judgement. ⟨p. 49⟩In which respect, the Passions of Christ are by Divines³ called rather Propassions, that is to say, Beginnings of Passions, than Passions themselves; in as much as they never proceeded beyond their due measure, nor transported the Mind to undecencie or excess; but had both their rising and original from Reason, and also their measure, bounds, continuance limited by Reason. The Passions of sinful men are many times like the tossings of the Sea, which bringeth up mire and dirt; but the⁴ Passions of Christ were like the shaking of pure Water in a clean Vessel, which though it be thereby troubled, yet is it not fouled at all.

The strength of every thing, is exercised by Opposition: We see not the violence of a River, till it meet with a Bridge; and the force of the Wind sheweth it selfe most, when it is most resisted: So the power of the Will is most seene, in repairing the breaches, and setling the mutinies, wherewith untamed Affections disquiet the peace of mans nature; since excesse and disorder in things otherwise of so great use, requireth amendment, not extirpation; and we make straight a crooked thing, we doe not breake it. And therefore, as he in Tacitus spake well to Otho, when he was about