yet time hath worn out, and wiped away thy tears, and made thee weary of weeping: but notwithstanding, thy vain mind will not suffer that grief, which even length of time hath buried long ago, to lie quietly in the grave, but draws into consideration, and remembers for the nonce, its speeches, favour, pretty behaviour, and other lovely circumstances, to make thy heart bleed afresh, and wring from thine eyes new torrents of tears, &c. Sovereign therefore against these Harpies and devourers of the heart, is that counsel of Christ, which I have commended unto you from his own mouth; seconded also by the Apostle, Philip. 4. 6. Be acareful for nothing: That is, with tearing and torturing the heart, with carking, thoughtfulness, anxiety, fretting, impatience. Do not waste and weaken thy mind, immoderately, unseasonably, imaginarily, untimelily, with distrustful anguish, pensiveness, and base prostitution of the flower and sinew of thine immortal spirit, to fruitless and endless impertinences and mis-employments. For by the way, we must take notice and acknowledge, notwithstanding what hath been said against carking, and other needless distractions2 and exorbitancies of vain minds; that a moderate, Christian, provident care and fore-cast, is both convenient, and commanded; both for provision of things necessary, ⟨p. 111⟩and prevention of dangers. But this is not distressful, but delightful, because enjoined by God: See 1. Timoth. 5. 8. (For aperformance of Gods Commandment, and the very act of Obedience with sincerity, should beget much spiritual sweetness, delight, and joy in the heart.) And a fair, easy, unangry providence for things needful and time to come, sweetened with the life of Faith, and a patient reliance upon Gods wise and merciful disposing all our affairs, and their success, is one thing: and a restless carking, and pursuit after things unnecessary, imaginary, and sometimes impossible, embittered with many slavish fears of feigned or future evils, is another. It is profitable also to gather matter from time past, by contemplation of youthful pollutions, crosses, and corrections for sinful courses, companions in iniquity, or any other aggravating circumstance, for the increase of godly sorrow, and hatred of sin. But this is joyful, and easeth the heart:
yet time hath worne out, and wiped away thy teares, and made thee weary of weeping: but notwithstanding, thy vaine minde will not suffer that griefe, which euen length of time hath buried long agoe, to lie quietly in the graue, but drawes into consideration, and remembers for the nonce, its speeches, fauour, pretty behauiour, and other louely circumstances, to make thy heart bleed afresh, and wring from thine eyes new torrents of teares, &c. Soueraigne therefore against these Harpies and deuourers of the heart, is that counsell of Christ, which I haue commended vnto you from his owne mouth; seconded also by the Apostle, Philip. 4. 6. Be acarefull for nothing: That is, with tearing and torturing the heart, with carking, thoughtfulnesse, anxiety, fretting, impatiencie. Doe not waste and weaken thy minde, immoderately, vnseasonably, imaginarily, vntimelily, with distrustfull anguish, pensiuenesse, and base prostitution of the flower and sinew of thine immortall spirit, to fruitlesse and endlesse impertinencies and mis-imployments. For by the way, we must take notice and acknowledge, notwithstanding what hath beene said against carking, and other needlesse distractions2 and exorbitancies of vaine mindes; that a moderate, Christian, prouident care and fore-cast, is both conuenient, and commanded; both for prouision of things necessary, ⟨p. 111⟩and preuention of dangers. But this is not distressefull, but delightfull, because enioyned by God: See 1. Timoth. 5. 8. (For aperformance of Gods Commandement, and the very act of Obedience with sincerity, should beget much spirituall sweetnesse, delight, and ioy in the heart.) And a faire, easie, vnangry prouidence for things needfull and time to come, sweetned with the life of Faith, and a patient relyance vpon Gods wise and mercifull disposing all our affaires, and their successe, is one thing: and a restlesse carking, and pursuite after things vnnecessary, imaginary, and sometimes impossible, embittered with many slauish feares of fained or future euils, is another. It is profitable also to gather matter from time past, by contemplation of youthfull pollutions, crosses, and corrections for sinfull courses, companions in iniquity, or any other aggrauating circumstance, for the increase of godly sorrow, and hatred of sinne. But this is ioyfull, and easeth the heart:
- a[Greek or Hebrew], is derived, [Greek or Hebrew] is so full of a vexing sense, that Virgil is [Greek or Hebrew] to express Homers [Greek or Hebrew], a word of the same Original and signification in two Verses.〈non-Latin alphabet〉, is deriued, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 is so full of a vexing sence, that Virgil is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 to expresse Homers 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, a word of the same Originall and signification in two Uerses.
- 2Atque animum nunc huc celerē, nunc dividit illuc: In partèsque rapit va•ias, perque omnia versat.Atque animum nunc huc celerē, nunc diuidit illuc: In partèsque rapit va•ias, perque omnia versat.
- aQuando mens fibi recti est conscia, gratulatur: vel infusione quadam spiritually repletur animus gaudio: cùm aiicuius vel studia, vel ope•a a Deo probantur. Ambr. De Cain & Abel.Quando mens fibi recti est conscia, gratulatur: vel infusione quadam spirituali repletur animus gaudio: cùm aiicuius vel studia, vel ope•a a Deo probantur. Ambr. De Cain & Abel.
