A10663:317
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…
A treatise of the passions and faculties of the soul of man With the several dignities and corruptions thereunto belonging. By Edward Reynolds, late preacher to the honourable society of Lincoln's Inn: and now rector of the Church of Braunston in Northamptonshire.A treatise of the passions and faculties of the soule of man With the severall dignities and corruptions thereunto belonging. By Edvvard Reynoldes, late preacher to the honorable society of Lincoln's Inne: and now rector of the Church of Braunston in Northamptonshire.
London: printed by R. Hearne and John Norton for Robert Bostock, 1640
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
I Now proceed to the Consequents or Effects of this Passion: And first for the useful and profitable Effects thereof, which may be these.
I Now proceed to the Consequents or Effects of this Passion: And first for the usefull and profitable Effects thereof, which may be these.
First, a Cautelousnesse and fruit full Wisdom for our own welfare to prevent danger, and to reap benefit from that, which is at enmity with us. For we shall observe in many evils that no man is brought within the danger, who •s not first drawn into the love of them. All inordinate corruptions then most desperately wound the Soul, when they beguile and entangle it. But the greatest use of this Caution is to1 learn how to benefit by the Hatred of others, and •s learned Physicians do, to make an Antidote of Poison. For as many venomous creatures are ⟨p. 138⟩by Art used to cure the wounds, and repair the injuries, which themselves had made (Natural Attraction, as it were, calling home that poison which injury and violence had misplaced:) So the malice and venom of an Enemy may by wisdom be converted into a Medicine, and by managing become a benefit, which was by him intended for an injury. Or to use the excellent similitude2 of Plutarch, As healthy and strong beasts do eat and concoct Serpents, whereas weak stomachs do nauseate at delicates: so wise men do exceedingly profit by the hatred of their enemies, whereas fools are corrupted with the love of their friends; and an injury doth one man more good, then a courtesy doth another. As Wind and Thunder when they trouble the Air, do withal purge it; whereas a long calm doth dispose it to putrefaction: or as the same Whetstone that takes away from a weapon, doth likewise sharpen it; so a Wise man can make use of the detraction of an enemy to grow the brighter and the better by it. And therefore when […] advised that Carthage should be utterly destroyed, Scipio Nascica persuaded the contrary upon these reasons, that it was needful for Rome to have always some enemies, which by a kind of antipe