The persons, in whom we may consider this wound of spirit, are either merely natural men, or such as be renewed by the spirit of God: the men merely natural, are either the heathen, such as never knew God in Christ: or carnal professors, such as have not protested Christianity aright: If we look among the Heathen, how many of them have willingly gone under poverty, and have been content to unburden themselves of all worldly treasures, how have some of them, whilst their minds were unappalled, suffered imprisonment exile, and extreme tortures of body, rather than they would betray their Countries: &c. How many of them have devoured many injuries, and born outward troubles with some ease, and with no resistance, whilst their minds were ⟨p. 10⟩at liberty? and yet look not to the ••• nest, but to the best and most excellent men among them, even their wise Philosophers, sweet Orators, and exquisite Poets; who in bearing and forbearing, they thought the chiefest point of virtue to consist: and yet ye shall see, when once some great distress of mind did wound them; some would make an end of it, by preparing a cup of deadly poison; some would violently and voluntarily run on their enemies pikes; some would throw down themselves from high mountains; some would not stick to stab most monstrously their own bodies with daggers, or such like instruments of death. All which men, would seem to have great courage, in sustaining many harms, so long as their minds were not over mastered; but when that divine and supreme essence which they acknowledged, did by his power cross and overturn their witty devises, and head-strong attempts, so as without hope ⟨p. 11⟩of remedy, they were hampered in pensiveness and sorrow of mind: then being not able to turn themselves under so heavy a burden, they shrink down, and by violent death, would rid themselves of that disquietness and impatience of their troubled minds. But, let us come nearer, and whether we behold the Papists, or the family of Love, or the common sort of Christians, we shall see, they will pass quietly through many afflictions; whether for that they have a spirit of slumbering and numbness cast on them; whether because they have brawned themselves through some senseless blockishness, as men hewen out of hard oaks, or graven out of marble stones, I know not:
The persons, in whome we may consider this wounde of spirite, are either meerlie naturall men, or such as be renewed by the spirite of God: the men meerly naturall, are either the heathen, such as never knewe God in Christ: or carnall professors, such as haue not protested Christianitie aright: If we looke among the Heathen, howe many of them haue willingly gone vnder povertie, and haue bene content to vnburden themselues of all worldly tresures, how haue some of them, whilest their minds were vnapalled, suffered imprisonment exile, and extreame tortures of bodie, rather than they woulde betraye their Cuntries: &c. How many of them haue devoured many injuries, and born outward troubles with some ease, and with no resistance, whilest their minds were ⟨p. 10⟩at libertie? and yet look not to the ••• nest, but to the best and most excellent men among them, even their wise Philosophers, sweet Oratours, and exquisite Poets; who in bearing and forbearing, they thought the chiefest point of vertue to consist: and yet yee shall see, when once some great distresse of mind did wound them; some would make an end of it, by preparing a cup of deadlie poyson; some would violently and voluntarilie run on their enemies pykes; some would throwe downe themselues from high mountaines; some woulde not stick to stabbe most monstrouslie their own bodies with daggers, or such like instruments of death. All which men, woulde seeme to haue great courage, in sustaining many harmes, so long as their minds were not ouer maistered; but when that devine and supreame essence which they acknowledged, did by his power crosse and ouerturne their wittie devises, and head-strong attemptes, so as without hope ⟨p. 11⟩of remedy, they were hampered in pensiuenes and sorrow of mind: then being not able to turne themselues vnder so heauy a burden, they shrink down, and by violent death, would ridde themselues of that disquietnes and impatiencie of their troubled mindes. But, let vs come neerer, and whether we behold the Papistes, or the familie of Loue, or the common sort of Christians, we shal see, they will passe quietly through many afflictions; whether for that they haue a spirit of slumbering and numnesse cast on them; whether because they haue branned themselues through som sensles blockishnes, as men hewen out of hard oaks, or grauen out of marble stones, I knowe not:
