Worthy therefore (or rather lamentable) is the consideration, to see to what pass things (even in this age) are brought, both in opinion and effect; and would we employ some time in sounding our selves throughly, how easily should we perceive that the contexture of the best, is built upon weak and decaying pieces, quos fama obscurd recondit, it being an especial testimony of our frailty, that we cannot s•ttle our contentment on any on thing, and that it is even beyond our desire and imagination to choose what we want, and find out our Summum b•num; but are ever uncessantly wheeling in this endless Labyrinth; we discern nothing aright, but by a false light, puffed up with art and our own opinionatedness, we waver between divers indifferences; each hour produceth new fantasies, every day […] follies; in so much that whosoever looks home shall hardly ⟨p. 3⟩find himself twice in one and the same elate, •o various is the visage of our soul, subject to perpetual contrarieties, and the blast of accidents; hence we prove the Microcosmos of all infirmities, and (the soul excepted) of all creatures the worst▪ and what is this world but an over-shadowed Picture enter-shining with infinite varieties of false lights, to exercise our conjectures? Neither is there any reason but hath another contrary to it in this case what can be pleasing? since no good can bring us pleasure, except that against whose loss we are prepared: Nam in aequo est dolor amissae re•, et timor am•ttendj: Lo then unto what a rep• atnesse of hurtful humours are we subject, it being impossible to find even ground to rest secure: Yea the very perfection of our health being too strong and joyful must (as Physicians observe) in some •ort be abated, least by ascending too high they over violently recoil into disorder: nay farther (though our evils are essential) the very goods we possess, are only in imagination: we go not, but are carried as things that float, sometimes gliding gently and sometimes Hulling violently, following the inclination of our appetites according as the wind of occasions doth transport us, and as the times shall prove either stormy or calm: so that in respect of the many intermixtures of our miserable infirmities, who can •dicate his sincerity whilst he dwells in this house of clay:
Worthy therefore (or rather lamentable) is the consideration, to see to what passe things (euen in this age) are brought, both in opinion and effect; and would we imploy some time in sounding our selves through•y, how easily should we perceave that the contexture of the best, is built upon weake and decaying peeces, quos fama obscurd recondit, it being an especiall testimony of our frayltie, that we cannot s•ttle our contentment on any on thing, and that it is even beyond our desire and imagination to chuse what we want, and finde out our Summum b•num; but are ever uncessantly wheeling in this endlesse Laborinth; we discerne nothing aright, but by a false light, puft up with art and our own opinionatednesse, wee waver betweene divers indifferences; each houre produceth new fantacies, every day 〈…〉 follies; in so much that whosoever lookes home shall hardly ⟨p. 3⟩find himselfe twice in one and the same e•ate, •o various is the visage of our soule, subject to perpetuall contrarieties, and the blast of accidents; hence we prove the Microcosmos of all infirmities, and (the soule excepted) of all creatures the worst▪ and what is this world but an over-shadowed Picture enter-shining with infinite varieties of false lightes, to exercise our conjectures? Neither is there any reason but hath another contrary to it in this case what can be pleasing? since no good can bring us pleasure, except that against whose losse we are prepared: Nam in aequo est dolor amissae re•, et timor am•ttendj: Loe then unto what a rep• atnesse of h•rtfull humors are we subject, it being impossible to finde even ground to rest secure: Yea the very perfection of our health being too strong and joyfull must (as Physitians observe) in some •ort be abated, least by ascending too high they over violently recoyle into disorder: nay farther (though our evills are essentiall) the very goods we possesse, are onely in imagination: we goe not, but are carried as things that floate, somtimes gliding gently and somtimes Hulling violently, following the inclination of our appetities according as the winde of occasions doth transport us, and as the times shall prove either stormy or calme: so that in respect of the many intermixtures of our miserable infirmities, who can dicate his sincerity whilit he dwells in this house of clay:
