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What Cyprian then speaketh of the worke of Regeneration, * 1.1 may be truly applyed to Weeping in Regeneration, Sentitur priusquam dicitur, It is felt before it can be spoken of. And because it con∣sisteth rather in the Feruour of affections, then moysture of eyes, it is better felt then vnder∣stood, and yet better vnderstood then can bee expressed. Lacbry∣mae sanguis Anima, * 1.2 Teares are the blood of the Soule; Where though there appeareth no
externall skarre to bee seene in the flesh, yet wounded the Soule is (like the Dove in the Canticles) with the Darts of di∣vine Loue or Griefe, and conti∣nually bleedeth, but inwardly in Teares of Compassion and Compunction. Hence it is, that the Regenerate in their Wee∣ping resemble the strange Plant in Pliny, which buds inwardly, * 1.3 and but seldome shooteth forth any Flowre, Blossome, or Leafe outwardly: So that the greatest commendation of the Spirituall and Regenerate Mourner, is to be like the Garamantite, * 1.4 a pre∣tious Stone that hath no beauty in the outside, but within the body of it Golden Drops doe appeare. And thus whosoever Weepeth in Humiliation, is and must of necessitie bee Rege∣nerate, for he vnfainedly loveth
Regeneration, zealously studi∣eth and practiseth Regenerati∣on, hateth and abhorreth all Vnregeneration, & endeauoreth every day to be more and more Regenerate. Whence wee col∣lect, as naturally flowing from the Text, and without wresting, That
The most Regenerate are most inclined to Weeping.
VVhich is, * 1.5 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The full matter in a few words; the Summe and Centre of all; The Summe of all that hath bin said, and the Centre of all that shall be said in this Tract. And so wee come to illustrate the Necessitie of Weeping, the second part of this discourse, Polemicall.
Cyprian.
August.
Pli•• lib. 21 cap. 16.
Pli. l. 37. c. 7
Basil.