To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
AS all earthly joys are vain and unstable, so in the World to come all things are cer∣tain, assured and everlasting, un∣to which Almighty God calls us by the sufferance of these Affli∣ctions
which we term Evils, accor∣ding to that of the Prophet, Be∣cause thou wert beloved of God it was expedient that Temptation should try thee. For Almighty God not unlike a Father that entirely loves his Children, brings them up in all continency and sobriety, restraining them from pleasures and not suffering 'em without chastisement, to live wickedly. And on the con∣trary, such as he lightly esteem∣eth, he suffers to wallow without controul, into all manner of luxu∣ry and riot. Shall we say the life of such Servants is more happy than that of those Sons. For as Gold is purified in the furnace, so is the life of a good man pur∣ged by adversity. But what sig∣nify
all the sufferings of this World (as St. Paul says) if com∣pared to the glory which shall be revealed. Will not he that believes this rejoyce in adversity and lament in prosperity? and amidst his miseries persuade him∣self, that God makes trial of his faith, that he may afterwards take him to himself. If in get∣ting worldly glory we usually so greatly rejoyce, altho we know it to be of short continuance, what ought we not to do for this Heavenly glory, which is everlasting, certain, and fully satisfactory. Did men believe these things, they would save me the labour of writing, for who so mad as not to be willing to change this short life, for that which is
Everlasting, this frail for that firm, this unhappy for that most happy, this troublesom for that most quiet.
'Tis our infidelity that makes us miserable: For what can be more profitable after death, or more comfortable in this life, than the hope of that which is to come. And tho' the same were not, yet ought not a man to be dejected, seeing there's scarcely any misery so great but is at∣tended with some advantage. And as adversity and misfortunes have been to some men a means of their promotion, so has Pro∣sperity been to others an occasi∣on of their misery. The ser∣vitude of Ventidius occasion'd his becoming Consul.
What's more irksom than Sickness; Yet did it profit the Emperor Augustus being in Arms against Brutus. For being warn'd by his Physician to remove from his Tent, he by Sleep recover'd his health, which had he done for any other respect, 'twould have been dishonorable: And had he not done it, he had certainly bin slain or forced to fly. Ploti∣nus a Philosopher of Plato's sect, had among others a Scholar na∣med Ornucius Marcellus greatly diseased with the Gout and Pal∣sey; who thro' diligent hearing of his Master (who disputed and read with great sweetness and facility,) forgot oft times to eat: and so with attentive hearing became a singular Philosopher,
and with much abstinence reco∣ver'd his health. A Distemper'd Body do's oft-times much con∣duce to the health of the mind.
II. It is observ'd that Sickly peo∣ple for the most part live longer than those of a firmer constitution.
Pope Paul the 3d. tho' he was a learn'd Man and not un∣like to attain to the Papacy, yet did the opinion of his Old age and sickly body, chiefly occasion his advancement. Amongst other advantages which Adversity has, this is not the least, that, a Man's misfortunate day's once past, he liveth the rest of his life with greater delight. Who can relish health, that has never been sick? Who knows the sweetness of his Country, so well as he that has
been long abroad? Or who can take pleasure in Riches but he that has been poor? As Salt savours Meat, so do's past misery ren∣der our lives more pleasant. What turn'd more to Tully's advantage than his Banishment, when his Goods were sold, and his House pull'd down, then he found how welcom he was to the Citizens, how useful to his Country, and how dear to his Friends: and had he modestly used his Glory, no∣thing that hapned to him in his life could have been more to his advantage. Howsoever, In all misfortunes of a Man's life this argument is of great importance, that we must of necessity comfort our selves at last.
III. Neither do's sorrow serve for any other end, than to en∣crease care, and render our minds more unapt for good coun∣sel. Continual grief and weep∣ing will drive us at length upon desperation. Since then 'tis in our own power to aggravate or diminish our cares, 'tis the part of a wise man to disburden him∣self of sorrow and patiently bear whatsoever happens.
IV. An undaunted suffering of Adversity has oft helped gallant spirits. For we generally soon∣est take pity of those that coura∣giously undergo any misfortune, and presume more of their in∣nocency and vertue, than of those that in like extremity give way to fear. Agis the Lacede∣monian
King, being condemned to dye, was drawn with a Cord to the place of execution; it hapned he spyed a Servant of his standing by weeping, to whom he saies; my Friend, pri∣thee forbear weeping, for being unjustly condemn'd, I am be∣come more worthy of life, than those that put me to death. And having thus said, he willingly strangled himself. When Sce∣vola determin'd to kill the King Porsenna, he for his valiant and voluntary confession receiv'd par∣don; which if he had not done, but with denial craved Mercy, besides dishonor, he would have suffered a most cruel death. In short, patience in Captivity, and magnanimity in Adversity have
ever been prais'd and found to be most advantageous.
V. It is a guilty Conscience that makes a man unhappy. A man is nothing but his mind, if that be out of order, all's amiss, and if that be well, all the rest is at ease.
I remember a certain Rich man, falling mad, snatched up a Straw and complain'd he should dye for hunger, because there was no Corn within the empty Ears. Would we know why we are Fools, 'tis because we count our selves wise. Socrates who by Apollo's Oracle was said to be the wisest of all Mortals, confessed he knew but one thing, and that was he knew nothing. Ptolomy that famous Astronomer, was
wont to say that man who pleased himself was hateful to the gods. And he pleaseth himself that ima∣gines himself wise or provident, and imputeth all to his own wise∣dom and conduct.