A10663:452
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.
And as Contemplation by way of Prescience, when it looketh forward on good things hoped: So also by way of Memory, when it looketh backward and receiveth evil things escaped, doth minister matter of renewed Joy. No Man looketh1 on the Sea with more comfort, than he who hath escaped a shipwreck. And therefore when Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the Sea shore, the fear of whom had so much affrighted them before, they then sang a Song of Triumph. Past troubles do season, and as it were ballast present Comforts, as the Snow in Winter increaseth the beauty of the Spring.
And as Contemplation by way of Prescience, when it looketh forward on good things hoped: So also by way of Memory, when it looketh backward and receiveth evill things escaped, doth minister matter of renewed Ioy. No Man looketh1 on the Sea with more comfort, than he who hath escaped a shipwracke. And therefore when Israell saw the Egyptians dead on the Sea shore, the fear of whom had so much affrighted them before, they then sang a Song of Triumph. Past troubles doe season, and as it were ballace present Comforts, as the Snow in Winter increaseth the beauty of the Spring.
- 1Arist. Rbet. l. 1. c. 10.
But in this particular of Contemplation, notwithstanding the excellency of it, there may be Corruption in the Excess (For in those matters of Delight, except they be such as are disproportioned to our corrupt Nature, I mean divine things, we seldom err in the other extreme.) And that is, when we do not divide our selves between our parts, and let every one execute his proper function, so to attend upon mere mental notions, as to neglect the practical part of our Life, and withdraw our selves from the fellowship and regard of humane society, is as wicked in Religion, as it would be in Nature monstrous to see a fire burn without light, or shine without heat (aberrations from the supreme Law being