Observations, censures, and confutations of notorious errours in Mr. Hobbes his Leviathan and other his bookes to which are annexed occasionall anim-adversions on some writings of the Socinians and such hæreticks of the same opinion with him / by William Lucy ...

Sect. 4.

For answer to this, conceive with me, first,* 1.1 that al∣though the assurance of the Testimony which is given to these Divine happinesses were much short of that is given to the other, yet in prudence men ought to pro∣secute it; First because we can be no losers of worldly happinesse by the prosecution of this; there is no action,* 1.2 which a man doth in order to eternal felicity, which hin∣der's, but rather adde's to temporal felicity; the gover∣ning and regulating our passions, without which no man can have any happinesse, faith, hope, and charity, with

all their proper operations; that man is happier here in this world who hath these habits, & operates accordingly, then he who hath the greatest excesse of all worldly things; but, contrarywise, the luxurious enjoying these temporary things rob's a man of those eternall joyes; these actions, in which is most safety, being prejudiciall to no rational felicity; a man acting by the rules of pru∣dence ought rather to doe, such actions then those which are hazardous of his safety, though seemingly more evi∣dent because they appear of no other profit then for tem∣poral, for sensual contents, and may hurt the other; but these will be profitable for eternal, spiritual good, and cannot hurt temporal;* 1.3 We find Merchants venturing their estates, their lives to the East-Indies, per tot discrimina re∣rum, although a Journey full of hazard, rather then pid∣dle at nearer and more secure trades, because the return of the first is of a higher value; If men then reasonably take such paines, with so much hazard of life, for such a little difference of advantage as is betwixt these two, onely because there is a possibility of a better returne here; much rather should men engage in this great ad∣venture for eternity, where upon weaker premises (if they were so) men must expect such an invaluable gaine, and are assured of no possible losse: but I let this passe. Suppose the evidence of it were none but such as Mr. Hobbes report's, A beliefe grounded upon others sayings &c. yet these other men are such, and these from whom they received it, as may give a better assurance then we can have of any worldly things.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ans.
• * 1.2

  The worldly advantages in prosecuting divine happi∣n••sse.
• * 1.3

  Merchant ad∣venturer.