A61390:228
A discourse concerning old-age tending to the instruction, caution and comfort of aged persons…
A discourse concerning old-age tending to the instruction, caution and comfort of aged persons / by Richard Steele ...
London: printed by J. Astwood for Tho. Parkhurst, 1688
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. These Crosses and Losses are absolutely Hurtful to none. They are not properly and entirely Evils. Criminal evils are real Evils, penal Evils are not so. These fluunt a summo bono, are inflicted by Him that is eminently Good; ducunt ad summum bonum, they guide and help us towards the greatest Good; erant in summo Bono, they were upon him who was entirely Good. Prosperity hath, but Adversity hath never hurt a good man. Yea some of the Heathens ihave been bold to judge those men miserable, that have never met with any troubles. They are our Physic, which may disturb us; but Sin is our Poison, which will destroy us. The bitterest Physic is better than the sweetest Poison.
2. These Crosses and Losses are absolutely Hurtful to none. They are not properly and intirely Evils. Criminal evils are real Evils, poenal Evils are not so. These fluunt a summo bono, are inflicted by Him that is eminently Good; ducunt ad summum bonum, they guide and help us towards the greatest Good; erant in summo Bono, they were upon him who was intirely Good. Prosperity hath, but Adversity hath never hurt a good man. Yea some of the Heathens ihave been bold to judge those men miserable, that have never met with any troubles. They are our Physick, which may disturb us; but Sin is our Poyson, which will destroy us. The bitterest Physick is better than the sweetest Poyson.
- iNihil infelicius mihi eo videtur, cui nihil unquam evenit adversi. Seneca.
3. They are Useful to those that are good. Though they be briars, thorns and thistles in themselves, yet by the ⟨p. 168⟩blessing of God, they prove sweet-briars and holy-thistles to holy men. How many things do we count Evil, that are most wholesome for us? They Exercise our Faith, our Wisdom, our Patience, and the trial of these is more precious than of fine gold. They teach us, as was said of Diseases, many lessons more effectually, than the Word it self without them can do. The Chirurgeon and the Executioner do both bind men, but to different Ends; the one doth it to bereave of life, the other to preserve it