Eugenia's tears for Great Britons distractions, or, Some slender observations reflecting on those sad…Evgenia's teares for Great Brittaynes distractions, or, Some slender observations reflecting on those sad…

shall I say those are they against whom our Saviour denounced so many ^*Woes, who labour rather for the applause of men then the reward of Heaven? from whose exorbitant pride (thinking themselves better gifted then² they are) proceed so many dangerous and unheard of tenets; hence it is that every discontented and self-opinionated Artist takes upon him to expound the Scripture, little considering that of our Saviour, to ^*them it is not given to know the secrets of the Kingdom of God; Alas it is not the ordinary wisdom of flesh and blood which can judge of the spirit, sure there is something more in it then for every illiterate and idle brain to undertake so weighty a Task, grace being an especial concomitant thereunto. Oh how hard (and with as much sweat of our brows, as toil of our minds) do we labour for the provision of this ba•er life! and is it so easy a matter to attain the food of a better? I deny not but as there are diversities of gifts, so they are extraordinarily bestowed, but if all should be Teachers, where would be the Hearers; Nay in time who would care to hear, if none care to study; what need have we to sweat so many drops, watch so many hours, peruse so many Tracts, endure so many perturbances of mind and body, and at last (like the industrious Be) divide the sweetest Honey ⟨p. 28⟩from the rankest poison, sealing that long […] for truth with our latest breath, if with so much ease we may attain heaven; is learning now become so contemptible? O charity whither art thou fled! how do those men fall out with learning & the very name of a Scholar, and rail against all the degrees thereof because they could never attain to any, including so much unhappiness therein, when it is not Culpaartis sed utentis, as if the sharpness of the Knife, and not the madness of the actor were the cause of hurt; can you account S. Paul Vain-glorious in saying he knew himself nothing inferior to the most excellent of the Apostles? away then with those sons of ignorance who standing upon the quaintness of their own fancies, descent from the opinions of all the Fathers, and even with contumely reject their reverend authority; what Rhetoric can dissuade, what Logic rectify their brainsick humours? Surgunt hi indoctit eaelum rapiunt, they take Heaven by violence, yea and if it were possible would deceive the elect;