Men by Nature looking more after their bodies, then their Souls. [ 1667]
SOcrates one day meeting Zenophon the sonne of Coryllus in a certain angiport,* 1.1 or Haven-street, and seeing him a youth of great hopes, stayed him with his staffe, and asked him this question; Where was the place where severall Merchan∣dizes and Commodities were to be sold? To whom Zenophon readily replyed; In such a place he might be furnished with all sorts: Then Socrates demanded of him another question, Where was the place where Men were to be made good? To this his answer was, That he could not tell. Then saith Socrates to him, Fol∣low me that thou mayst learn it.* 1.2 And so from that time he began to be Socrates's Scholler. Now as it was with Zenophon at that time, so it is now with most part of Christians, they know readily, and are very well verst in all the waies of Worldly Trade and Commerce, as having special care to be ignorant of nothing that belongs to profit or pleasure; but if the demand be made concerning the Pearl of price, the rich Merchandize of the Soul, the graces of Gods holy Spirit, and where and how one may purchase them, they answer with Zenophon, they can∣not tell; And why? because they never made it their work to enquire after things of that Nature.