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[ 1833] In the apprehension of Fear and courage, Mans mistaking of the Object spoils all.
HE that stands below and looks up to the top of St. Pauls London, or some such high place, they that are upon the top of the steeple, appear to be out of small stature, though in themselves they be tall and great, and they that are at hand upon the same flat, seem to be great, and all this by reason of the distance of the one and the nearness of the other: But è contrario if a Man stood upon the top of S. Pauls and should look down, then they that are above would seem great, and they that are below would seem little: So it is with Men in time of trouble, if their eyes be fastned upon the Earth, their Enemies will appear to be great and mighty, and God which is higher then the highest Heavens, small and impotent;* 1.1 but if their eyes be in Heaven, as Iehosaphats were, and that they look down from thence upon their Enemies, then God will appear strong and mighty,* 1.2 and the Enemy weak and withered: It is the misapprehension of the Object that makes many living Creatures here below do and suffer many things more then they need to do. The Sheep at the first sight of the Woolf apprehends him for a terrible object of fear, whereas the Lyon passeth by him and all other beasts of the Forrest with an honourable scorn and disdain; As for Men, the three spies that were sent out to discover the Land of Promise having a sheeps eye spied out more danger then they needed, Whereas Caleb having a Lyons Heart apprehen∣ded no terrour at all.* 1.3 The Nobleman upon whom the King leaned in the siege of Samaria had so base an eye,* 1.4 that looking upon the present miseries, he took them to be greater then God, and perswaded himself that although God should rain Victuals out of Heaven, the Famine could not speedily be remo∣ved; But Elisha had his eyes in Heaven and looking down from thence de∣spised the present calamities, in respect of the present help of God, that by next day would make the price of Corn to stoop so low at the gates of Samaria, that it should be there at a very easy rate,* 1.5 and the siege removed. And there was a flattering Courtier, that looking upon the Royall person of the King, held a Paradox,* 1.6 That the King is the strongest thing in the World. But the good old Prophet saw no such great matter in Kings and Princes, when they be compared with God, they were in his esteem but as so many Grashoppers skipping and leap∣ing up and down the Field.* 1.7 By all which may be easily concluded, That in the apprehension of Fear and courage, Mans eye mistaking of the Object spoyls all.