IF a man had an art to change his face every day, to seem sometimes white, sometimes black, sometimes ruddy, sometimes pale, sometimes hairy, sometimes smooth, sometimes old, sometimes young, how unfit were such a man for society? this which men cannot do in their faces, they do in the unconstancy of their spirits: As our affections and determinations must not be like the Persian Decrees, to admit of no alteration, so neither must they be such as the Polonian laws are, wch (they say) last but 3. days: When a thing is so brittle, that it breaks as soon as you meddle with it, how can you make it join? there must be some consistency in that wch you would fasten to another thing; when mens spirits are so fickle, that a man cannot tell where to find them, how can there be a close? O how much are men now differing from themselves, in what their thoughts of men and carriage towards them have been, though the men concerning whom they thus differ remain the same they were, yea the same they appeared to be long since, there was sweet agreement in affection, loving embracements! rejoicing in the presence of one another, and yet nothing is known in those from whom their hearts, countenances and ways are alienated, &c. more then formerly was: not difference in judgment, that was known before: Such a change of spirits and carriages in hodly men one towards another hath ⟨p. 139⟩appeared, as never appeared in any age since the world began. A great deal of stir there hath been more then formerly,1 & yet what are these men otherwise then they have bin many years since? Were I to speak to wicked men, to charge them of the unconstancy of their spirits, I would make use of that similitude I have out of Epiphanius, 2who speaking of the Jews desiring the coming of the Messiah, but when he was come, they hated him, They were (says he) in this like mad dogs, who first glaver upon men, and then bite and devour them. But because I speak to many of the Saints, I had rather use a softer expression, more suitable to the honour that is due to godly men;
IF a man had an art to change his face every day, to seem sometimes white, sometimes black, sometimes ruddy, sometimes pale, sometimes hairy, sometimes smooth, sometimes old, sometimes yong, how unfit were such a man for society? this which men cannot do in their faces, they doe in the unconstancy of their spirits: As our affections and determinations must not be like the Persian Decrees, to admit of no alteration, so neither must they be such as the Polonian laws are, wch (they say) last but 3. days: When a thing is so brittle, that it breaks as soon as you meddle with it, how can you make it joyn? there must be som consistency in that wch you would fasten to another thing; when mens spirits are so fickle, that a man cannot tell where to find them, how can there be a close? O how much are men now differing from themselves, in what their thoughts of men and carriage towards them have been, though the men concerning whom they thus differ remain the same they were, yea the same they appeared to be long since, there was sweet agreement in affection, loving embracements! rejoycing in the presence of one another, and yet nothing is known in those from whom their hearts, countenances and ways are alienated, &c. more then formerly was: not difference in judgment, that was known before: Such a change of spirits and carriages in hodly men one towards another hath ⟨p. 139⟩appeared, as never appeared in any age since the world began. A great deal of stir there hath been more then formerly,1 & yet what are these men otherwise then they have bin many years since? Were I to speak to wicked men, to charge them of the unconstancy of their spirits, I would make use of that similitude I have out of Epiphanius, 2who speaking of the Jewes desiring the coming of the Messias, but when he was come, they hated him, They were (says hee) in this like mad dogs, who first glaver upon men, and then bite and devour them. But because I speak to many of the Saints, I had rather use a softer expression, more sutable to the honour that is due to godly men;
- 1Adv. Haeres li. 3. tom. 2. epist aduers. Antidic•marianitas.
- 2[Greek or Hebrew], &c.〈non-Latin alphabet〉, &c.
