A14992:174
A care-cloth
A care-cloth: or a treatise of the cumbers and troubles of marriage intended to advise them that may, to shun them; that may not, well and patiently to bear them. By William Whately, preacher of the word of God in Banbury, in Oxfordshire.A care-cloth: or a treatise of the cumbers and troubles of marriage intended to aduise them that may, to shun them; that may not, well and patiently to beare them. By William Whately, preacher of the word of God in Banbury, in Oxfordshire.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Thomas Man, 1624
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.
2. For the first, he that is not moderate in things indifferent, can never prevail against his lusts, to any purpose; for at the excess of these lawful things, do our natural corruptions begin to take advantage, and to feed themselves, and to gather head. He that will hold under his lusts therefore, and put them to death, must be sparing in meat, drink, attire, sports, and must even cut himself shorter in many of these things, then that which he persuadeth himself ⟨p. 135⟩(and perhaps also truly) that he might lawfully do, even of purpose to keep himself, that he may not be brought under the power of any thing, as the Apostle speaketh. We must learn of the Apostle himself this means; for he telleth us, that he did keep under his body,1 and bring it in subjection. The corruptions of the soul find great furtherance from the humours of the body, as a man doth find from a good and fit tool or instrument: we must keep the tools of sin dull, (as I may so speak) that sin it self may do us less harm by its working. If the body be still humoured and pampered, by letting it have all the ease, fine fare, gay attire, sensual pleasures and pastimes, that it wisheth (and that a man can make to appear lawful and warrantable,) it will not be kept in subjection, it will not be held in order. We are therefore in these thins to call upon our selves, to be very temperate. Be a little more mean in thy garments, then thou thinkest it absolutely needful to be: use a little less liberty in games and pastimes, then thou conceivest that in strictness of conscience thou oughtest to do. So I say for fare, ease, sleep; If thou dost not, from the utmost confines of lawful liberty, there is but a small step to the border of unlawful delights, and soon mayest thou be drawn to step that step, and when thou hast once transgressed, thou shalt find it hard to come into the right way again. He that goes in a river, where he knows that a deep pit is, will not come so close to it as he ⟨p. 136⟩may, but by keeping himself upon sure ground a good way off, will be sure to save himself from being overwhelmed therein. It is much more safe, in things of this nature, to keep our selves a good deal within compass, then to stand upon the edge of our liberty (as I may so speak.)