Irenicum, to the lovers of truth and peace heart-divisions opened in the causes and…

Secondly, because his spirit swells so big, he thinks every thing that crosseth him to be very great; his sufferings are great to him according to what great thoughts he hath of himself, according to the excellency or meanness of any person: So are his sufferings to be reckoned, sufferings of a man in eminency are judged according to his eminency and place; if a mean man suffer the same things, they are not accounted so great; now whether a man be great really, or in his own apprehension, its all one in regard of his esteem of his sufferings, he thinks himself therefore intolerable, because they are against himself.

Secondly, because his spirit swells so big, he thinks every thing that crosseth him to be very great; his sufferings are great to him according to what great thoughts he hath of himself, according to the excellency or meannesse of any person: So are his sufferings to be reckoned, sufferings of a man in eminency are judged according to his eminency and place; if a mean man suffer the same things, they are not accounted so great; now whether a man be great really, or in his owne apprehension, its all one in regard of his esteem of his sufferings, he thinks himselfe therefore intollerable, because they are against himself.

Dan. 3. 14. Is it true O Shadrach; Meshach, and Abednego? Do not ye serve my gods? that which you have in your books, is it true? Arius Montanus translates, Nunquid de solatio: what, is there desolation made? what, you to oppose the command of a King? if this be suffered, what desolation must needs follow? Add indeed the root from whence the word comes, signifies desolari, ¹to make desolate; why? was it a desolation that these three poor innocent men made, because they would not, ⟨p. 112⟩nay, they could not do as this proud K. would have them? wht made him thus to aggravate the offence, but merely the pride of his heart? he thought that any thing cross to his command was a most heinous offence, a thing most horrid in the very mention of it, no less then the utter undoing of all things. Pride ever aggravates any thing done against its own mind. This in Dan. that Montanus turns, Nunquid desolatio, Buxtorfius translates num de industria; what on purpose? you do it on purpose to provoke me; thus proud men and women in their families, whatsoever children or servants do amiss; what? you do it on purpose to anger me, do you? When the wind comes cross the stream, the waters rage: So does the will and affections of a proud heart, when any thing crosseth it.