Answ. What I mean by sin and duty I have so fully opened before, and proved to be such by the light of Reason, that this Objection hath no place. Even the sober Heathens, the Greek Philosophers, and Roman Worthies found and confessed all this to be true. If there be any thing in the Life before described, which all sound Reason doth not justify and command, let him that is able manifest so much: If not, it is no superstition,*, to live as a man that is governed by God, and led by Reason; and to do that which all our faculties were made for. And for austerities, I have pleaded ⟨p. 119⟩for none, which are not become needful to our own preservation and felicity: As a Patient will endure a strict diet, and exercise, and blood-letting, and bitter Physic for his health: It is not any affected unprofitable austerities, that I plead for; but those which are for our good, and fit us for our duty, and keep the flesh from rebelling against Reason, and keep Man from living like a Beast: Even less than many of the Philosophers plead for; and he that useth but thus much which is needful, will find it both opposed as unsufferable by the World, and murmured against by his suffering and displeased Flesh; and that the Soul cannot do its duty, but at a considerable cost and trouble to the Body. Though there may be an evil masked and cunningly moderated, which men call Goodness, which may be had at a cheaper rate. But saith Seneca truly, Non est Bonitas, pessimis esse meliorem.
Answ. What I mean by sin and duty I have so fully opened before, and proved to be such by the light of Reason, that this Objection hath no place. Even the sober Heathens, the Greek Philosophers, and Romane Worthies found and confessed all this to be true. If there be any thing in the Life before described, which all sound Reason doth not justifie and command, let him that is able manifest so much: If not, it is no superstition,*, to live as a man that is governed by God, and led by Reason; and to do that which all our faculties were made for. And for austerities, I have pleaded ⟨p. 119⟩for none, which are not become needfull to our own preservation and felicity: As a Patient will endure a strict dyet, and exercise, and blood-letting, and bitter Physick for his health: It is not any affected unprofitable austerities, that I plead for; but those which are for our good, and fit us for our duty, and keep the flesh from rebelling against Reason, and keep Man from living like a Beast: Even less than many of the Philosophers plead for; and he that useth but thus much which is needfull, will finde it both opposed as unsufferable by the World, and murmured against by his suffering and displeased Flesh; and that the Soul cannot do its duty, but at a considerable cost and trouble to the Body. Though there may be an evil masked and cunningly moderated, which men call Goodness, which may be had at a cheaper rate. But saith Seneca truly, Non est Bonitas, pessimis esse meliorem.
- *Qui toto dies precabantur & immolab•nt▪ ut sui liberi sibi superstites essent, superstitiosi sunt appellati: Quod nomen patuit postea latius: Qui autem omnia quae ad cultum Deorum pertine•ent, diligenter pertractarent, & tanquam relegerent, sunt dicti Religiosi, ex relegendo, ut elegantes ex eligendo, à diligendo diligentes, ex intelligendo intelligentes: superstitiosi & Religiosi, alterum vit•i nomen, alterum l•udis Cicero de nat. Deor. lib. 2. p. 73, 74. •rdua•re haec est opib•s non tradere mores. Martial. Pittaci dictum est, Perdifficile est esse bonum. Bruson. All Cicero's Books de Finib. show the worthlessness of Pleasure in comparison of Virtue.Qui toto dies precabantur & immolab•nt▪ ut sui liberi sibi superstites essent, superstitiosi sunt appellati: Quod nomen patuit postea latius: Qui autem omnia quae ad cultum Deorum pertine•ent, diligenter pertractarent, & tanquam relegerent, sunt dicti Religiosi, ex relegendo, ut elegantes ex eligendo, à diligendo diligentes, ex intelligendo intelligentes: superstitiosi & Religiosi, alterum vit•i nomen, alterum l•udis Cicero de nat. Deor. lib. 2. p. 73, 74. •rdua•re haec est opib•s non tradere mores. Martial. Pittaci dictum est, Perdifficile est esse bonum. Bruson. All Cicero's Books de Finib. shew the worthlesness of Pleasure in comparison of Virtue.
