The dignitie of man both in the perfections of his soule and bodie. Shewing as well the faculties in the disposition of the one: as the senses and organs, in the composition of the other. By A.N.

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Title: The dignitie of man both in the perfections of his soule and bodie. Shewing as well the faculties in the disposition of the one: as the senses and organs, in the composition of the other. By A.N.
Author: Nixon, Anthony.
Publication: London :: Printed by Edward Allde dwelling vppon Lambert-hill, neere old fish-street,; 1612.
Rights/Permissions: To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
Subject terms: Human beings -- Early works to 1800.
Cite this Item: "The dignitie of man both in the perfections of his soule and bodie. Shewing as well the faculties in the disposition of the one: as the senses and organs, in the composition of the other. By A.N." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A08247.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 6, 2024.

Pages

Page 78

Of Temperance, Intemperance, and Stupiditie.

Q What is Temperance?

A. A vertue, that containeth the desires and incli∣nations of the soule within the compasse of Mediocri∣tie, and moderateth all actions whatsoeuer.

Or thus: It is a stedfast & moderate rule of Reason ouer concupiscence, and ouer other vehement motions of the soule: as vnbridled desire, and immoderate ioy.

A temperate man, that is not couragious, easily is a coward, and faint-hearted: and a noble heart, not temperate, becom∣meth rash and presumptuous.

Q. How many parts are there of Temperance?

A: Fower: viz. Continencie, Clemencie, Modestie, and Order.

Q. VVhat is Continencie?

A. That, whereby Concupiscence and Desire are gouer∣ned by Counsell and Reason.

Q. VVhat is Clemencie?

A. That, whereby the minds of men, rashly carri∣ed away with the hatred of any one, and with desire to doe him hurt, are kept backe by gentlenes.

Q. What is Modesty?

A. That, whereby honest shame and bashfulnesse purchaseth good and deserued Renowne.

Q. VVhat is Order?

A. A disposition of all things in their conuenient place.

Page 79

Q. What be the effects of Temperance?

1. A. It is the piller of Fortitude?
2. The Helmet against luxuriousnes.
3. The Guide of the eyes.
4. It preserueth good-will.
5. It represseth ill thoughts.
6. It tameth desires.
7. It hindereth dishonest actions.
8. It mollifies mens hearts, And giueth reason for a rule.

Q. What is Intemperance?

A. It is a desire to enioy vnlawfull pleasures: or it is an ouer-flowing of Voluptuousnes against Reason, and the health of the soule, seeking no other contentation, then in that which bringeth delight and pleasure to the Senses.

Q. What be the effects of Intemperance?

A. It inflameth, prouoketh, and troubleth the tran∣quility of the soule. It hath for her companions, Disor∣der, Impudency, Vnseemelines, Luxuriousnes, Slouth, Negli∣gence, and Dissolutenes.

Q. What is the difference betweene Intemperance, and Incontinence?

A. The Incontinent man sinnes, ouercome with per∣turbations, not knowing that to bee euill which hee committeth.

The other sinnes vppon Election, and settled pur∣pose.

The incontinent man repents him presently of his sinne.

The other, hauing got a habit of vice through cu∣stome, neuer repenteth.

Page 80

Q. What is Stupidity?

A. To haue no feeling of pleasure, nor to be mo∣ued with any desires: a thing hardly or neuer seene a∣mongst men.

It doth not belong to Temperance to be depriued of plea∣sures, or desires, but to maister them.