Holy living in which are described the means and instruments of obtaining every virute, and the remedies against every vice, and considerations serving to the resisting all temptations : together with prayers containing the whole duty of a Christian, and the parts of devotion occasians [sic], and furnished for all necessities / by Jer. Taylor.

* 1.1Acts and duties of Modesty as it is opposed to Curiosity.

1. Inquire not into the secrets of God, but be content to learn thy duty according to the quality of thy person or imployment: that is plainly,* 1.2 if thou beest not concerned in the conduct of others: but if thou beest a teacher, learn it so as may best enable thee to discharge thy office.* 1.3 Gods commandments were proclaimed to all the world, but Gods counsels are to himself and to his secret ones, when they are admitted within the veil.

2. Inquire not into the things which are too hard for thee, but learn modestly to know thy infirmities and abilities, and raise not thy minde up to enquire into mysteries of State,* 1.4 or the secrets of government, or difficulties Theological, if thy imployment really be, or thy understanding be judged to be of a lower rank.

3. Let us not enquire into the affairs of o∣thers that concern us not, but be busied with∣in our selves and our own spheres; ever re∣membring that to prie into the actions or interests of other men not under our charge, may minister to pride, to tyranny, to uncha∣ritableness, to trouble, but can never consist with modesty, unless where duty or the meer intentions of charity and relation doe war∣rant it.

4. Never listen at the dores or windows:* 1.5 for besides that it contains in it danger and a snare, it is also an invading my neighbours privacy, and a laying that open which he therefore inclosed, that it might not be open. Never ask what he carries covered so curiously; for it is enough that it is covered curiously. Hither also is reducible that we never open letters without publick authori∣ty, or reasonably presumed leave, or great necessity, or charity.

Every man hath in his own life sins e∣nough, in his own minde trouble enough, in his own fortune evils enough, and in perfor∣mance of his offices failings more then e∣nough to entertain his own enquiry: so that curiosity after the affairs of others, cannot be without envy and an evil minde. What is it to me if my Neighbours Grandfather were a Syrian, or his Grandmother illegitimate, or that another is indebted five thousand pounds, or whether his wife be expensive? But commonly curious persons (or as the Apostles phrase is) busie-bodies are not sol∣licitous, or inquisitive into the beauty and order of a well-governed family, or after the

virtues of an excellent person; but if there be any thing for which men keep locks and barres and porters, things that blush to see the light, and either are shameful in man∣ners, or private in nature, these things are their care and their business. * But if great things will satisfie our enquiry, the course of the Sun and Moon, the spots in their faces, the Firmament of Heaven, and the supposed Orbs, the ebbing and flowing of the Sea are work enough for us: or if this be not, let him tell me, whether the number of the starres be even or odde, and when they be∣gan to be so? since some ages have discove∣red new starres which the former knew not, but might have seen, if they had been where now they are fixed. * If these be too trouble∣some, search lower, and tell me, why this turf this year brings forth a Daisie, and the next year a Plantane: why the apple bears his seed in his heart, and wheat bears it in his head: let him tell, why a graff taking nourishment from a crab stock shall have a fruit more noble then its nurse and parent: let him say, why the best of oyl is at the top, the best of wine in the middle, and the best of honey at the bottom, otherwise then it is in some li∣quors that are thinner, and in some that are thicker? But these things are not such as please busie-bodies; They must feed upon Tragedies, and stories of misfortunes and crimes; and yet tell them ancient stories of the ravishment of chast maidens, or the debauch∣ment of nations, or the extreme poverty of learned persons, or the persecutions of the old Saints, or the changes of government, and sad

accidents hapning in Royal families amongst the Arsacidae, the Caesars, the Ptolemies, these were enough to scratch the itch of knowing sad stories. But unlesse you tell them some∣thing sad and new, something that is done within the bounds of their own knowledge or relation, it seems tedious and unsatisfy∣ing; which showes plainly it is an evil spirit: envie and idleness married together▪ and be∣got curiosity. Therefore Plutarch rarely well compares curious and inquisitive ears to the execrable gates of cities, out of which only Malefactors, and Hangmen and Tragedies passe, nothing that is chast or holy. * If a Physician should go from house to house un∣sent for, and enquire what woman hath a can∣cer in her bowels, or what man hath a fistula in his colick gut, though he could pretend to cure it, he would be almost as unwelcome as the disease it self: and therefore it is inhu∣mane to enquire after crimes and dysasters without pretence of amending them, but only to discover them. We are not angry with Searchers and Publicans when they look only on publick merchandise; but when they break open trunks, and pierce vessels, and unrip packs, and open sealed letters.

Curiosity is the direct incontinency of the spirit: and adultery it self in its principle is many times nothing but a curious inquisition after, and envying of another mans inclosed pleasures: and there have been many who refused fairer objects that they might ra∣vish an inclosed woman, from her retirement and single possessour. But these inquisitions are seldome without danger, never without

baseness; they are neither just, nor honest, nor delightful, and very often uselesse to the curious inquirer. For men stand upon their guards against them, as they secure their meat against Harpyes and Cats, laying all their counsels and secrets out of their way; or as men clap their garments close about them when the searching and saucy winds would discover their nakedness: as knowing that what men willingly hear, they doe willingly speak of. Knock therefore at the dore be∣fore you enter upon your neighbours priva∣cy; and remember that there is no diffe∣rence between entring into his house, and looking into it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.2

  Eccl•••• 3.21, 22, 23.
• * 1.3

  Qui scruta∣••••r ••st Maje∣••i•• opp••ime∣tur à glo••ia. Prov. 25.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. A••••ian: lib. 1. c. 26.

  Et plus sape••e interdum vulgus quod quantum opus est sa••iat. Lactan••.
• * 1.5

  Ecclu•• 7 21. Ne occl•••• in lette••••, ne mano in ••as∣c••, ne ••r••ch•• in sec••e•••• al∣trus.