I answer: Answer 1 1. Those that object this, as Bernard speaketh, do butb seek for a straw to thrust out their own eyes with. For do they see and observe many such, as they say, that live uncouth and uncomfortable lives? They might as well on the other side, if they pleased, see and observe many more that have lived wonderful cheerfullyc even in extreme want and penury, in so much that their whole life for the cheerfulness of it hath been asd a continual feast; that have carried themselves most comfortably amidst many grievous calamities, that a man would wonder how they could stand upright, or hold up the head under the weight of them, so as they have done.e Not so only (saith the Apostle, having spoken of Christian mens rejoicing in their hope of glory;) but we glory also even in our afflictions. And the faithful Hebrews, fwith much Joy suffered the loss of their goods. And the Apostlesg went from the Consistory when they had been beaten, rated and reviled, rejoicing that they were graced so to be disgraced for Christ. And Many a Martyr of Christ hath goneh as merrily to the stake, as others would have done to a feast. Now these men see and observe the one, but the other they will not see, because they are willing to pick a quarrel to Christian profession. To use a comparison, used before me byi a right reverend Divine. Suppose a man come into one of your shops, and ask to see some wares: which when he is showed, he findeth some fault with; and though you tell him you will show him better, yet he refuseth to see them, and so goeth his way: will you not say that such a one came not to buy, but to cavil? In like manner, when men to object against Piety and Godliness, as the mother and means of a most uncomfortable life, shall pick out examples of some few distressed and disconsolate Christians, that either oppressed with melancholy, ork mistaken through weakness of judgement in their own estates, live pensively, and shall refuse to take notice of others many more, ten to one, that live cheerfully, and go on joyfully with much comfort and contentment in a religious course of life; we may well say and deem of such, that they deal very unequally, and are bent to cavil only at the practice and profession of Piety, becausel they have no love or liking to it.
I answer: Answer 1 1. Those that object this, as Bernard speaketh, doe butb seeke for a straw to thrust out their owne eyes with. For doe they see and observe many such, as they say, that live uncouth and uncomfortable lives? They might as well on the other side, if they pleased, see and observe many more that have lived wonderfull cheerfullyc even in extreme want and penury, in so much that their whole life for the cheerfulnesse of it hath beene asd a continuall feast; that have carried themselves most comfortably amids many grievous calamities, that a man would wonder how they could stand upright, or hold up the head under the weight of them, so as they have done.e Not so onely (saith the Apostle, having spoken of Christian mens rejoycing in their hope of glory;) but we glory also even in our afflictions. And the faithfull Hebrewes, fwith much Ioy suffered the losse of their goods. And the Apostlesg went from the Consistorie when they had beene beaten, rated and reviled, rejoycing that they were graced so to bee disgraced for Christ. And Many a Martyr of Christ hath goneh as merrily to the stake, as others would have done to a feast. Now these men see and observe the one, but the other they will not see, because they are willing to picke a quarrell to Christian profession. To use a comparison, used before me byi a right reverend Divine. Suppose a man come into one of your shops, and aske to see some wares: which when he is shewed, he findeth some fault with; and though you tell him you will shew him better, yet he refuseth to see them, and so goeth his way: will you not say that such a one came not to buy, but to cavill? In like manner, when men to object against Piety and Godlinesse, as the mother and means of a most uncomfortable life, shall pick out examples of some few distressed and disconsolate Christians, that either oppressed with melancholy, ork mistaken through weaknesse of judgement in their owne estates, live pensively, and shall refuse to take notice of others many more, ten to one, that live cheerfully, and goe on joyfully with much comfort and contentment in a religious course of life; wee may well say and deeme of such, that they deale very unequally, and are bent to cavill onely at the practice and profession of Piety, because
- b—Festuca quaerunt, unde oculum sibi eruant. Bern. de bon. deser.
- c2 Cor. 6.10. & 7.4. Phil. 4.11, 12, 13. [Greek or Hebrew]. Plut. de virt. & vit.2 Cor. 6.10. & 7.4. Phil. 4.11, 12, 13. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Plut. de virt. & vit.
- dProv. 15 15. [Greek or Hebrew]. Diogenes. [Greek or Hebrew] Plut. de tranquill.Prov. 15 15. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Diogenes. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Plut. de tranquill.
- eRom. 5.3. Non è malis solùm liberaberis, sed vinum bibes ex eis, ubi ceperis, in his etiam gloriari. Bern. de divers. 18.
- fHeb. 10.34.
- gAct. 5.40, 41. Tribulatio pro solatio, contumelia pro gloria, inopia pro abundantia est. Bern. parv. serm. 63.
- h[Greek or Hebrew]. Gr. Naz. in Julian. 2. Quomodo de Socrate idem epist. 57. [Greek or Hebrew]. Idem de Pasch.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Gr. Naz. in Iulian. 2. Quomodo de Socrate idem epist. 57. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Idem de Pasch.
