'Tis indeed equally matter of complaint and wonder, that men can find so much leisure to direct from such things, wherein there is so much both of importance and pleasure unto, what one would think should have little of temptation or allurement in it, contentions jangling. It might rather be thought, its visible fruits and tendencies should render it the most dreadful thing to every serious beholder. What Tragedies hath it wrought in the Christian Church! Into how weak and languishing a condition hath it brought the Religion of professed Christians? Hence have risen the intemperate preternatural heats and angers that have spent its strength and spirits; and make it look with so Meagre and Pale a face. We have had a greater mind to dispute then live; and to contend about what we know not, then to practice the far greater things we know: and which more directly tend to nourish and maintain the Divine Life. The Author of that ingenious sentence* (whoever he were) hath fitly expressed what is the noisome product of the itch of disputing. It hath begot the ulcerous tumours; which, besides their own offensive soreness, drain the body, and turn what should nourish that, into nutriment to themselves. And it effects are not more grievous, then the pleasures which it affects and pursues are uncouth and unnatural.
'Tis indeed equally matter of complaint and wonder, that men can find so much leasure to direct from such things, wherein there is so much both of importance and pleasure unto, what one would think should have little of temptation or allurement in it, contentions jangling. It might rather be thought, its visible fruits and tendencies should render it the most dreadful thing to every serious beholder. What Tragedies hath it wrought in the Christian Church! Into how weak and languishing a condition hath it brought the Religion of professed Christians? Hence have risen the intemperate preternatural heats and angers that have spent its strength and spirits; and make it look with so Meagre and Pale a face. We have had a greater mind to dispute then live; and to contend about what we know not, then to practice the far greater things we know: and which more directly tend to nourish and maintain the Divine Life. The Authour of that ingenious sentence* (whoever he were) hath sitly exprest what is the noisome product of the itch of disputing. It hath begot the ulcerous tumors; which, besides their own offencive soreness, drain the body, and turn what should nourish that, into nutriment to themselves. And it effects are not more grievous, then the pleasures which it affects and pursues are uncouth and unnatural.
- *Pruritus disputandi scobies Ecclesia.
