Seneca, contemplating the beauty and greatness of those Orbs of Light above, cast down his Eyes to find out the Earth hardly visible at that distance, and breaks forth in a Philosophical disdain, ⟨p. 264⟩Is it this to which the great designs and vast desires of Men are confined? Is it for this there is such disturbance of Nations, Wars and shedding of Blood? O folly, O fury of deceived Men! to imagine great Kingdoms in the compass of an Atom, to raise Armies to divide a point of Earth with their Swords! 'Tis just as if the Ants should conceive a Field to be several Kingdoms, and fiercely contend to enlarge their borders, and celebrate a Triumph in gaining a foot of earth, as a new Province to their Empire.1 And from hence he excites Men to ascend in their thoughts, and take an intellectual possession of the material Heavens, as most worthy of their minds. But the Soul that raised by Faith looks beyond the Starry Heavens, how much more justly is it filled with ⟨p. 265⟩noble wonder at the Divine and truly great things, in the Spiritual World, and looks down on the lower Scene of things, and all that has the name of felicity here, as sordid and vile? The foresight that within a little while this World shall be dissolved, and time shall be no more, makes it not seem to be in the Eyes of a Believer that great thing, as 'tis represented to the rest of Men. He looks upon those who shine in Pomp and flow in Pleasure, and think themselves happy, to be as a Beggar in a Dream, that thinks himself rich in treasures: for present things are only coloured with the appearance of felicity, and are as vanishing as the fictions of fancy. While carnal Men will believe nothing but what they see, feel and enjoy by their Senses, ⟨p. 266⟩and embrace mere shadows as solid felicity, he considers them with compassion. For 'tis with them, as with one that in the rage of a Fever, laughs, sings, triumphs. Tell him that he is not himself, he thinks you are mad for saying so. Tell him when his fiery spirits shall be wasted, and that heat of Blood that makes him so lively and strong, shall decline and cool, he will be in extreme danger of Death; he replies he was never in better health. But who envies him that happiness which he seems to enjoy? none but one that is a mad-man like him. Nay, a Father, a Brother, a Friend look on him with a mourning Eye and Heart:
Seneca, contemplating the beauty and greatness of those Orbs of Light above, cast down his Eyes to find out the Earth hardly visible at that distance, and breaks forth in a Philosophical disdain, ⟨p. 264⟩Is it this to which the great designes and vast desires of Men are confin'd? Is it for this there is such disturbance of Nations, Wars and shedding of Blood? O folly, O fury of deceived Men! to imagine great Kingdoms in the compass of an Atome, to raise Armies to divide a point of Earth with their Swords! 'Tis just as if the Ants should conceive a Field to be several Kingdoms, and fiercely contend to inlarge their borders, and celebrate a Triumph in gaining a foot of earth, as a new Province to their Empire.1 And from hence he excites Men to ascend in their thoughts, and take an intellectual possession of the material Heavens, as most worthy of their minds. But the Soul that raised by Faith looks beyond the Starry Heavens, how much more justly is it fill'd with ⟨p. 265⟩noble wonder at the Divine and truly great things, in the Spiritual World, and looks down on the lower Scene of things, and all that has the name of felicity here, as sordid and vile? The foresight that within a little while this World shall be dissolv'd, and time shall be no more, makes it not seem to be in the Eyes of a Believer that great thing, as 'tis represented to the rest of Men. He looks upon those who shine in Pomp and flow in Pleasure, and think themselves happy, to be as a Beggar in a Dream, that thinks himself rich in treasures: for present things are only colour'd with the appearence of felicity, and are as vanishing as the fictions of fancy. While carnal Men will believe nothing but what they see, feel and enjoy by their Senses, ⟨p. 266⟩and embrace meer shadows as solid felicity, he considers them with compassion. For 'tis with them, as with one that in the rage of a Fever, laughs, sings, triumphs. Tell him that he is not himself, he thinks you are mad for saying so. Tell him when his fiery spirits shall be wasted, and that heat of Blood that makes him so lively and strong, shall decline and cool, he will be in extreme danger of Death; he replies he was never in better health. But who envies him that happiness which he seems to enjoy? none but one that is a mad-man like him. Nay, a Father, a Brother, a Friend look on him with a mourning Eye and Heart:
- 1Sursum ingentia spatia in avorum possessionem Animus admittitur.Sursum ingentia spatia in auorum possessionem Animus admittitur.
