Though the faces of men are very different, and we know one man from another, because they are unlike in face, yet as to their constitution and natural condition, they are alike; he that is greatest, is such a man as the least; and the strongest is such a man as the weakest, the richest as the poorest, the learnedest as the most ignorant, and the godliest man is as the wickedest man, as to his natural composition. All men are alike in these four things: First, all men need that which is good. Secondly, all men are sensible of that which is hurtful and afflictive to them. Thirdly, all men are apt to take hurt, and to run into danger by the sin and ill Examples of others, or to receive good by their good deeds, and profitable examples, all men being associated in the same common nature, and familiar each to other. Fourthly, all men are alike in this, that they are not self-sufficient, but stand in need of the help of one another; He that is helpful to a man like himself, helpeth himself, and doth acknowledge that (considering humane frailty) he may have occasion to call for and desire the help of another; and therefore (say some) man hath two hands, two arms, that he may understand himself born as much to need and receive help, as to give it. Thus every man is a man as thou art; and upon these and many other Considerations thou mayest hurt a man as thou art. There is an excellent paradox, handled by some of the Ancients;1 No man is hurt, but by himself; for unless a mans soul be hurt, he is not hurt; which is much confirmed by, and appeareth clearly in the example of Job. For the devil planted all those engines, and made all those assaults upon and against him, not because he had a design to make him poor, childless, and diseased, (all which, he knew, could not hurt him) but to make him impatient, and to extort one evil and blasphemous word against God from him. But though it be true, that no man is hurt but by himself, yet it is true also, that the sin of one man may hurt another. Oppression hurts other men, (as to civils) whether they will or no; but no sin can hurt another (as to morals) unless he will; no man is infected by vice, if himself refuse, and be against it; yea the oppressions and afflictions which other men thrust violently upon us, cannot hurt us, unless we by our impatience under them bring ⟨p. 51⟩hurt to our selves.
Though the faces of men are very differen•, and we know one man from another, because they are unlike in face, yet as to their constitution and natural condition, they are alike; he that is greatest, is such a man as the least; and the strongest is such a man as the weakest, the richest as the poorest, the learnedest as the most ignorant, and the godliest man is as the wickedest man, as to his natural composition. All men are alike in these foure things: First, all men need that which is good. Secondly, all men are sensible of that which is hurtful and afflictive to them. Thirdly, all men are apt to take hurt, and to run into danger by the sin and ill Examples of others, or to receive good by their good deeds, and profitable examples, all men being associated in the same common nature, and familiar each to other. Fourthly, all men are alike in this, that they are not self-sufficient, but stand in need of the help of one another; He that is helpful to a man like himself, helpeth himself, and doth acknowledge that (considering humane frailty) he may have occasion to call for and desire the help of another; and therefore (say some) man hath two hands, two armes, that he may understand himself born as much to need and receive help, as to give it. Thus every man is a man as thou art; and upon these and many other Considerations thou mayest hurt a man as thou art. There is an excellent paradox, handled by some of the Ancients;1 No man is hurt, but by himself; for unless a mans soul be hurt, he is not hurt; which is much confirmed by, and appeareth clearly in the example of Job. For the devil planted all those engines, and made all those assaults upon and against him, not because he had a design to make him poor, childless, and diseased, (all which, he knew, could not hurt him) but to make him impatient, and to extort one evil and blasphemous word against God from him. But though it be true, that no man is hurt but by himself, yet it is true also, that the sin of one man may hurt another. Oppression hurts other men, (as to civils) whether they will or no; but no sin can hurt another (as to morals) unless he will; no man is infected by vice, if himself refuse, and be against it; yea the oppressions and afflictions which other men thrust violently upon us, cannot hurt us, unless we by our impatience under them bring ⟨p. 51⟩hurt to our selves.
- 1Nemo potest ab alio laedi nisi a seipso, nisi enim quis laedatur animo, non laeditur.
