All which corruptions might soon be helped, if we could with Jacob here say, and think as we say; Non sum dignus, Domine; Lord I am not worthy of ought. If we would look out abroad, buta cast our eyes now and then on those that have far less than we have. As Aristippus, when a friend of his came to condole with him for some land that he had lost, demanded of him what he had to live on himself, and when he made answer that he had but some one small close only, he told him, thatb there was cause rather for Aristippus to bemoan him, than for him to bemoan Aristippus, who had more than thrice as much land still left him to live on than he had. It is hard but we should find some, withc the Cynic, yea not a few be we never so needy, that would be glad of our relics. Or▪ if we would butd cast our eyes home-ward, and consider our selves, and our own unworthiness of ought, we might soon see how little cause we have to be discontent in such cases. For have we but little left? It is more than we deserve. Hath God taken much from us? he might well have took more. As Anytus, a Gentleman of Athens, told his guests that were at table with him, when Alcibiades a young Gallant came in a revelling humour and took away the one half of his plate that stood either for show or service upon the cupboard, and they marvelled much at it, that Anytus could so take it, affirming that he had dealt very unkindly with them,e Nay rather, quoth he, he hath dealt very kindly with us, that he hath left us half, when he might have took all: for it was all his, or at his command. So it is here indeed. He taketh part, thatf gave all; and that might therefore as well take all as part; becauseg all is but his own. They tell of a Jewish Doctor, that was calledh Rabbi This-too, because he used always to say, whatsoever befell him,i This is good too, and this too, and this too, and this too, &c. And in like manner may we well say, how little soever be left us, This is more than I am worthy of, and this too, and this too, &c. If God shall again and again too, never so often, impair our estates, and by piece-meal withdraw from us what he hath formerly conferred on us:
All which corruptions might soone be helpt, if we could with Iacob here say, and thinke as we say; Non sum dignus, Domine; Lord I am not worthie of ought. If we would looke out abroad, buta cast our eyes now and then on those that have farre lesse than we have. As Aristippus, when a friend of his came to condole with him for some land that he had lost, demanded of him what he had to live on himselfe, and when he made answer that he had but some one small close onely, he told him, thatb there was cause rather for Aristippus to bemoane him, than for him to bemoane Aristippus, who had more than thrice as much land still left him to live on than he had. It is hard but wee should finde some, withc the Cynick, yea not a few be we never so needy, that would bee glad of our reliques. Or▪ if wee would butd cast our eyes home-ward, and consider our selves, and our owne unworthinesse of ought, we might soone see how little cause we have to be discontent in such cases. For have we but little left? It is more than we deserve. Hath God taken much from us? hee might well have tooke more. As Anytus, a Gentleman of Athens, told his guests that were at table with him, when Alcibiades a young Gallant came in a revelling humour and tooke away the one halfe of his plate that stood either for shew or service upon the cupboard, and they marvelled much at it, that Anytus could so take it, affirming that he had dealt very unkindly with them,e Nay rather, quoth he, he hath dealt very kindly with us, that he hath left us halfe, when he might have tooke all: for it was all his, or at his command. So it is here indeed. He taketh part, thatf gave all; and that might therefore as well take all as part; becauseg all is but his owne. They tell of a Iewish Doctor, that was calledh Rabbi This-too, because hee used alwayes to say, whatsoever befell him,i This is good too, and this too, and this too, and this too, &c. And in like manner may wee well say, how little soever be left us, This is more than I am worthie of, and this too, and this too, &c. If God shall againe and againe too, never so often, impaire our estates, and by peece-meale withdraw from us what hee hath formerly conferred on us:
- a[Greek or Hebrew], Plut. de Tranquil. [Greek or Hebrew], Favorin. —majori see pauperiorum Turbae comparet, —Horat. Sat. 1. Si vis gratus esse adversus Deum, & adv. vitam tuam, cogita quam multos antecesseris. Cum aspexeris quot te antecedant, cogita quot sequantur, Senec. ep. 15. Aspice quanto major pars sit pauperum. Idem ad Helv. cap. 12.〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Plut. de Tranquil. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Favorin. —majori se pauperiorum Turbae comparet, —Horat. Sat. 1. Si vis gratus esse adversus Deum, & adv. vitam tuam, cogita quam multos antecesseris. Cum aspexeris quot te antecedant, cogita quot sequantur, Senec. ep. 15. Aspice quanto major pars sit pauperum. Idem ad Helv. cap. 12.
- b[Greek or Hebrew]; Aristip. apud Plut. de Tranquill.〈non-Latin alphabet〉; Aristip. apud Plut. de Tranquill.
- c[Greek or Hebrew], Diogen. apud Plut. de prof. not. de muribus; quos & reliqis suis vescentes parasitos suos appestitabat, Laert.〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Diogen. apud Plut. de prof. not. de muribus; quos & reliqis suis vescentes parasitos suos appestitabat, Laert.
- d[Greek or Hebrew], —Homer. Odyss. [Greek or Hebrew]. & Diog. apud Laert. & Plut. de Sanit. tuend. Domum redeamus, Cic. Bruto.〈non-Latin alphabet〉, —Homer. Odyss. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. & Diog. apud Laert. & Plut. de Sanit. tuend. Domum redeamus, Cic. Bruto.
- e[Greek or Hebrew], Athen. Dipnosoph. l. 12 Vel ut Plut. in Alcib. [Greek or Hebrew], Pulo, tamen Plut. ex Athen. castigandum: qui & in Erot. sic extulit, [Greek or Hebrew] Xyland.) [Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Athen. Dipnosoph. l. 12 Vel ut Plut. in Alcib. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Pulo, tamen Plut. ex Athen. castigandum: qui & in Erot. sic extulit, Xyland.) .
