False complaints. Or The censure of an vnthankfull mind, the labour of Carolus Pascalius translated into English by W.C. A worke very learned and fit for all estates in this age of vnnecessarie discontentments, shewing how all complaine, but all without cause

Euerie benefit receiued ought to be re∣quited, and how it may bee. CHAP, 31,

HItherto we haue laboured to make plaine what impietie against God, what wickednes against man, and how much inhumanitie is in an vnthankful minde: I haue also taught that those acceptable and fruitefull thankes which only God accepteth of vs, is a sincere and a religious minde, namely that mortalitie should (at least) reuerently worship that sacred power which it cannot recom∣pence with any benefit, and whose benefittes hee cannot value how great they are, that him he should reuerence with all dutie and honour: not in vnlike manner are men to bee requited. First

I say, that whatsoeuer the state is wherein wee are, in that we are neuer depriued of the abilitie of thanke∣fulnes; if with all our vnderstanding bee not taken from vs: for the first steppe of a thankefull minde, is no such thing as there neede much labour to per∣forme it, for it is nothing else, but presently to ac∣knowledge the benefit, presently to be bound by it, to professe the thing not dissemblingly, but as it is in∣deede, to confesse how much thou hast receiued, of what kinde, and of what kinde of giuer, by what oc∣casion, how fit for thy affaires; in how fit a time and place, how bountifully, with what facilitie in the giuer, and with what profit to the receiuer, neither otherwise can they be both made alike. To con∣clude, so to thinke, and thus or in the like manner to speake to him, of whom we haue receiued a benefit: as longe as I liue, I shall neuer thinke that I haue re∣turned thankes: no not though I trie all meanes, nei∣ther I beseech you doe you thinkeso: Your benefitte shall euer remaine firme in my minde: that which you haue giuen, you account a small thinge, but I finde that to be great which I haue receiued: besides how great must I needs thinke it bestowed, without my desert; to obtaine which, I vsed no begging, no cost, no labour, no flattery, no boldnesse: besides you vsed no art, to make mee intreate more ear∣nestly, you•…•… cutte of all those thinges which might hinder or weaken my hope: of your owne accorde you haue euer bestowed that excellent

benefit vpon me; you turned the modesty of my wi∣shes into confidence, my confidence into effect; and hauing yet receiued nothing, yet you expect no∣thing; so that I cannot tell whether your bounty were greter in giuing, or your modesty in expecting: surely if I can perform nothing else, yet I will do this, that the benefit which exceedeth my ability to re∣quite, by my thankfulnesse you shall euer haue cause to remember: although I know that I am more bound vnto you then I can speake; and because I haue nothing wherewith to giue thankes, I will onely wish and desire God to performe it for me. Doubt∣lesse hee that speaketh thus, although he hath not gi∣uen any thing, yet he hath requited the benefit, when as often times hee that hath giuen much, yet hath done nothing, and is vnthankefull. For all the esti∣mation of a benefit (as we haue spoken before) is re∣ferred vnto the minde: not vnto that which is either giuen or receiued, not to the vulgar estimation of men, which often-times misconstrueth things, nor to the profit either reaped or hoped for from the be∣nefit: and as we haue said that a benefit is one thing, and a debt an other, so here wee must distinguish the matter of thankes and reward, benefit and debt: of him who is a debter for a good turne, and of him who is debter for money lent, hereupon it follow∣eth, that it is in euery mans owne power, how vn∣thankefull hee is, for as soone as thou shewest that thou hast gratefully receiued a benefit, thou hast re∣quited

it; study to be thankefull and thou art thank∣full. For as soone as sincerely thou hast but thought of requiting a benefit, thou hast requited it. Look at that which he looked at that gaue it, he that hath giuen a benefit hath filled both the sides of the lease; both of the layings out, and the receits. If thou returnest a benefit with the same mind that thou hast receiued it, thou art thankful, if thou needest none to put thee in mind, if thou be admonisht of thy owne conscience; thou hast obtained the praise of a thank∣ful person; thou hast adorned thy thanks with all the ornaments of beauty; last of all, thou shewest that thou art brought vp in the company of those most thankful graces; whose Trinity wise antiquity made to be the badge of a thankfull mind. The next step of a thankfull mind, is, that he which is so affected per∣form indeed that which he thus thinketh: to this pur∣pose, that he ad al the means & the indeuours that he can, and the greater & more acceptable that the be∣nefit is which thou hast receiued, so much the more soone and more cheerefully seeke occasion, and be∣ing offered take occasion to requite it; leaue nothing vnattempted to shew thy selfe thankfull, so let eue∣ry man perswade himselfe, that as it was needfull to receiue the benefit, so it is no lesse needfull to requite it. In one word, whosoeuer thou art, feare God, reue∣rence the iudgments of men, free thy self from those punishments which remain for vnthankfull persons, know that humanity is contained in the intercourse

of benefits, this being taken away, al right & honesty is vtterly ouerthrown, as much as in thee lieth (who∣soeuer thou art) defend and maintaine this whereof God, nature, and necessity is an author to thee.

These paines Right Honorable I will inlarge no further, although I am not ignorant that much more might be spoken of it, which I know is performed of most learned & most eloquent men, who before me haue trauailed with cōmendations in this argument, but as euery man followeth his own spirit, so I doubt not but I shall obtaine pardon of you, & of all those into whose hands this labour shall come, if being content with these few things I cut of all other su∣perfluous, intricate and by wayes; I know that those delight more, but in these which I haue vsed, there is more strength; peraduenture more authority and credit, and if any thing in this bee preter∣mitted by mee, it is fit that hee that obserueth so much, should supply himselfe, out of those euerla∣sting fountaines both old and new, whilst we in the meane time doe meditate something of more worth.

Laus Deo FINIS.