Which is, indeed, the triumph of the disease, that it adds unto torment, reproach, and mockery, and imposes upon men by so ridiculous a delusion (wh•le they are made to take pleasure in punishing themselves) that even the most sober can scarce look on in a fitter posture, then with a compassionate smile. All which were yet somen hat more tolerable if that imagined vanishing pleasure were not the whole of their gain: or if it were to be hoped that so great a present real pain and smart, should be recompensed with as real a• consequent fruit and advantage. But we know, that general•y, by how much any thing is more disputable, the less it is necessary or conducible to the Christian life. God hath graciously provided, that what we are to live by should not cost us so dear. And possibly as there is less occasion of disputing about the more momentous things of Religion, so there may be somewhat more of modesty, and awe in reference to what is so confessedly venerable and sacred (though too ma•y are over-bold even here also) then so foolishly to trifle with ⟨image 4⟩such things. Therefore more commonly, where that humour prevails, men divert from th•se plainer things, with some slighter and superficial reverence to them, but more heartily, esteeming them insipid and jejune, because they have less in them to gratify that appetite; And betake themselves to such things about which they may more plausibly contend; and then what pitiful trifles oftentimes take up their time and thoughts. Questions and Problems of like weighty importance (very often) with those which, the abovenamed Author tells us,1 this disease among the Greeks prompted them to trouble themselves about, as what number of Rowers Ulysses had? Which was written first the Iliad or the Odyssey? &c. So that (as he saith) they spent their lives very operously doing nothing. Their conceits being such that if they kept them to themselves, they could yield them no fruit: and if they published them to others, they should not seem thereby the more learned, but the more troublesome, (To this purpose he truly speaks.) And is it not to be resented that men should •ell away the solid strength and vitals joy which a serious Soul would find in substantial Religion for such toys! Yea and not only famish themselves but trouble the world, and embroil the Church with their impertinences!
Which is, indeed, the triumph of the disease, that it addes unto torment, repr•ach, and mockery, and imposes upon men by so ridiculous a delusion (wh•le they are made to take pleasure in punishing themselves) that even the most sober can scarce look on in a fitter posture, then with a compassionate smile. All which were yet somen hat more tollerable if that imagined vanishing pleasure were not the whole of their gain: or if it were to be hoped that so great a present real pain and smart, should be recompensed with as real a• consequent fruit and advantage. But we know, that general•y, by how much any thing is more disputable, the lesse it is necessary or conducible to the Christian life. God hath graciously provided, that what we are to live by should not cost us so dear. And possibly as there is lesse occasion of disputing about the more momentous things of Religion, so there may be somewhat more of modesty, and awe in reference to what is so confessedly venerable and sacred (though too ma•y are over-bold even here also) then so foolishly to trifle with ⟨image 4⟩such things. Therefore more commonly, where that humour prevails, men divert from th•se plainer things, with some slighter and superficial reverence to them, but more heartily, esteeming them insipid and jejune, because they have less in them to grati•ie that appetite; And betake themselves to such things about which they may more plausibly contend; and then what pitiful trifles oftentimes take up their time and thoughts. Questions and Problems of like weighty importance (very often) with those which, the abovenamed Authour tells us,1 this disease among the Greeks prompted them to trouble themselves about, as what number of Rowers Ulisses had? Which was written first the Iliad or the Odysses? &c. So that (as he saith) they spent their lives very operously doing nothing. Their conceits being such that if they kept them to themselves, they could yield them no fruit: and if they published them to others, they should not seem thereby the more learned, but the more troublesome, (To this purpose he truely speaks.) And is it not to be resented that men should •ell away the solid strength and vitals joy which a serious Soul would find in substantial Religion for such toyes! Yea and not only famish themselves but trouble the world, and imbroil the Church with their impertinencies!
- 1Sen de Brev. vit.
