In this little Work I desire to put the Reader in mind of one or two things remarkable in this Author. The earnest indignation of his spirit against any manner of sin, especially gross sin as this of Usury. And then his sweet melting and compassionate heart in freeing men from it, which if all other instances which might be given of him in this kind should be lost ⟨image 4⟩and perish. This one passage of his written in the last work that ever he put out, and uttered a little before his death would make it good. For having in that book1 proposed twenty considerations to keep men from sin (the best that ever I read) He thus in conclusion breaths out his affectionate spirit, page 130. Now my most thirsty desire and earnest entreaty is, that every one into whose hands by Gods providence this book of mine shall fall, after the perusal of them, would pause a while upon purpose that he may more solemnly vow and resolve, that ever hereafter when he shall be set upon and assaulted by allurement unto any sin, he will first have recourse unto these twenty considerations I have here recommended to him to help in such cases, and with a punctual seriousness let them sink into his heart before he proceed and pollute himself. I could be content, if it were pleasing unto God, that these lines which thou now readest were writ with the warmest blood in my heart, to represent unto thine eye the dear affectionateness of my soul for thy spiritual and eternal good, so ⟨image 4⟩that thou wouldest be throughly persuaded, and now before thou pass any further sincerely promise so to do. So that I may as truly say of him as was once said of Anselme, Nihil 2in mundo quantum peccare timebat, He feared nothing in the world so much as sin.
In this little Worke I desire to put the Reader in minde of one or two things remarkable in this Author. The earnest indignation of his spirit against any manner of sinne, especially grosse sinne as this of Vsury. And then his sweet melting and compassionate heart in freeing men from it, which if all other instances which might be given of him in this kind should be lost ⟨image 4⟩and perish. This one passage of his written in the last worke that ever he put out, and uttered a little before his death would make it good. For having in that booke1 proposed twenty considerations to keepe men from sinne (the best that ever I read) He thus in conclusion breaths out his affectionate spirit, page 130. Now my most thirsty desire and earnest entreaty is, that every one into whose hands by Gods providence this booke of mine shall fall, after the perusall of them, would pause a while upon purpose that he may more solemnely vow and resolve, that ever hereafter when he shall be set upon and assaulted by allurement unto any sinne, he will first have recourse unto these twenty considerations I have here recommended to him to helpe in such cases, and with a punctuall seriousnesse let them sinke into his heart before he proceed and pollute himselfe. I could bee content, if it were pleasing unto God, that these lines which thou now readest were writ with the warmest blood in my heart, to represent unto thine eye the deare affectionatenesse of my soule for thy spirituall and eternall good, so ⟨image 4⟩that thou wouldest be throughly perswaded, and now before thou passe any further sincerely promise so to doe. So that I may as truly say of him as was once said of Anselme, Nihil 2in mundo quantum peccare timebat, Hee feared nothing in the world so much as sinne.
- 1Instructions for comforting afflicted consciences. pag. 108. &c. usque pag 130.
- 2De vita Anselmi lib. 2. in Oper Ans.
