His foul fall was but for a fit, a fit of infirmity it was only in him. Whereas on the other side, their fierce forwardness is but for a fit, a sudden fit of heat it is only in them. Thus many again, as ano Heathen man also hath observed, when they lie deadly sick, oh then they seem wondrously well affected, they are very sorry for their sins, seem even to hate and abhor them, very devout and frequent in Prayer to God, taxing and censuring themselves for their former carelessness in that kind, and now if God would vouchsafe to continue life, and restore health to them, they would be new men, leave their sins, and their former lewd courses, and lead another manner of life than ever they did. But it is with them, as it is with Sea-men sometime in a storm, that out of fear of danger and desire of safetyp cast all that ever they have over-board, which when the storm is once over, they strive and labour as fast, if by any means they can, to get up again.* When they are once free from that fear, that before affected them, they return to their former courses afresh, as if it repented them now that ever it had repented them of them.q When God slew them, saith the Psalmist, then they sought him, and returned, and enquired after God early. But they flattered him only with their mouth, and lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was never upright with him, neither were they steadfast in his Covenant. And therefore well didr the Emperor Sigismund's Confessor answer him, when being in a sore fit of sickness, and having made many goodly fair promises and protestations of future reformation upon recovery, and amendment of life, he desired of him to be informed, whereby he might discern whether such his repentance were sincere; If, quoth he, you be as careful to make good in your health, what you now promise, as you are forward now in your extremity to promise. And in like manner is it with many others in some outward danger and distress. Jonah's Sea-men distressed by that sudden and strange storm,s Call every one on his God, then every man to prayer, a man would think no devouter men again in the world; but when the danger is once over, nothing but swearing and swaggering, blaspheming and tearing of that Name, that before so reverently they invocated, none profaner than some of those that a little before seemed so devout.
His foule fall was but for a fit, a fit of infirmitie it was onely in him. Whereas on the other side, their fierce forwardnesse is but for a fit, a sudden fit of heat it is only in them. Thus many againe, as ano Heathen man also hath observed, when they lie deadly sicke, oh then they seeme wondrously well affected, they are very sory for their sinnes, seeme even to hate and abhorre them, very devout and frequent in Prayer to God, taxing and censuring themselves for their former carelesnesse in that kinde, and now if God would vouchsafe to continue life, and restore health to them, they would be new men, leave their sins, and their former lewd courses, and lead another manner of life than ever they did. But it is with them, as it is with Sea-men sometime in a storme, that out of feare of danger and desire of safetiep cast all that ever they have over-boord, which when the storme is once over, they strive and labour as fast, if by any meanes they can, to get up againe.* When they are once free from that feare, that before affected them, they returne to their former courses afresh, as if it repented them now that ever it had repented them of them.q When God slew them, saith the Psalmist, then they sought him, and returned, and enquired after God early. But they flattered him onely with their mouth, and lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was never upright with him, neither were they stedfast in his Covenant. And therefore well didr the Emperour Sigismunds Confessor answer him, when being in a sore fit of sicknesse, and having made many goodly faire promises and protestations of future reformation upon recovery, and amendment of life, hee desired of him to be informed, whereby hee might discerne whether such his repentance were sincere; If, quoth he, you be as carefull to make good in your health, what you now promise, as you are forward now in your extremitie to promise. And in like manner is it with many others in some outward danger and distresse. Ionaes Sea-men distressed by that sudden and strange storme,s Call every one on his God, then every man to prayer, a man would thinke no devouter men againe in the world; but when the danger is once over, nothing but swearing and swaggering, blaspheming and tearing of that Name, that before so reverently they invocated, none prophaner than some of those that a little before seemed so devout.
- oNuper me amici cujusdam languor admonuit, optimos esse nos, dum infirmi sumus. Quem enim infirmum aut avaritia, aut libido solicitat? Non amoribus servit, non adpetit honores, opes negligit, & quantulumcunque, ut relicturus, satis habet. Tunc Deos, tunc hominem esse se meminit. Invidet nemini, neminem miratur, neminem despicit, acne sermonibus quidem malignu aut attendit, aut alitur, &c. Innoxiam in posterum, si contingat evadere, beatamque destinat vitam. Utinam tales esse sani perseveremus, quales nos futuros profitemur infirmi. Plin. epist. 26. lib. 7.Nuper me amici cujusdam languor admonuit, optimos esse nos, dum infirmi sumus. Quem enim infirmum aut avaritia, aut libido solicitat? Non amoribus servit, non adpetit honores, opes negligit, & quantulumcunque, ut relicturus, satis habet. Tunc Deos, tunc hominem esse se meminit. Invidet nemini, neminem miratur, neminem despicit, ac ne sermonibus quidem malignu aut attendit, aut alitur, &c. Innoxiam in posterum, si contingat evadere, beatamque destinat vitam. Vtinam tales esse sani perseveremus, quales nos futuros profitemur infirmi. Plin. epist. 26. lib. 7.
- pJon. 1.5. Act. 27.19, 38. —jactu decidere cepit Navitae cum ventis, imitatus castora, qui se Eunuchum ipse facit cupiens evadere damno. Juvenal. sat. 12.Ion. 1.5. Act. 27.19, 38. —jactu decidere cepit Navitae cum ventis, imitatus castora, qui se Eunuchum ipse facit cupiens evadere damno. Iuvenal. sat. 12.
- *Plerique futuri supplicii metu peccatorum conscii poenitentiam petunt: qui videntur maelorum petisse poenitentiam, bonorum agere; & ipsius poenitentiam agere poenitentiae suae. Ambr. de poenit l. 2. c. 9.
- qPsal. 78.34-37.
- rApud Spinaeum alicubi ni malè memini.
- sJona 1.5.Iona 1.5.
