Paradise within us: or, The happie mind. By Robert Crofts

THE IX. DIVISION. That by vertue the Mind be∣comes apt and well prepared to enjoy the choicest and swee∣test felicities on Earth.

SO then, having briefly endeavou∣red to shew the fe∣licity of a vertu∣ous mind; The way to gaine the same, to eschew such Maladies, distempers, passions and pertur∣bations as hinder this happi∣nesse, also to embrace such ami∣able and delightfull vertues as may encrease the same; Now let us also further and more plainely view how that by ver∣tue

our minds become most apt and well disposed to enjoy the felicities of Earth and Heaven.

And first concerning Earth∣ly felicities, to instance briefely and to begin with Riches and honour.

First, no men on Earth are more like to attaine Riches and honor then vertuous men, by reason their minds are free from Sloth, dulnesse, Carelessenesse, Intem∣perance, Riot, and such disso∣lute Courses, as usually are the occasions of dishonour and of declining in estates and for∣tunes. And no men living are more likely to gaine Riches and honour then the industrious, diligent, temperate, frugall, un∣passionate, courteous, affable, and every way vertuous man.

Secondly, no men doe enjoy more felicity therein, then ver∣tuous men for why, by reason their minds are active, perspi∣cuous, free, and filled with the delights and felicities of vertue, the same becommeth well pre∣pared to enjoy these earthly Treasures and felicities, and we know that a free and cheerefull mind enjoyes all things with farre greater happinesse then a dull, sottish, turbulent, vicious, passionate, discontented Mind.

Yea, (which seemes a Para∣dox) it is certaine that even Covetous and Ambitious men take not so much pleasure in Riches and honour, which they so much esteeme, as the conten∣ted vertuous man; for Covetous∣nesse and Ambition doe not onely blind and draw away the

mind from all the choycest earthly pleasures, yea and hea∣venly also; But which is most strange even from the pleasures which otherwise they might enjoy in Riches and Honour, for Covetous and Ambitious men, regard not so much what what felicity they may derive from that which they possesse, but still thinke how well they should be if they had some great matter which they have not, the want whereof, almost continu∣ally vexes them, (for Covetous∣nesse and Ambition are unsati∣able desires) they regard not, so much what they have as vexe and perplexe themselves for what they have not, still thin∣king they want although they possesse abundance. The cares which they take in getting and

keeping and the feares and griefes of Crosses, of loosing and parting from what they have doe almost continually perplex them, So as even Riches and honour to Covetous Am∣bitious men seeme to be rather a burthen, a griefe, then a plea∣sure to them. But the contented vertuous man although he bee but of low degree and possesse but a meane estate, yet he en∣joyes farre more happinesse therein, then the other in abun∣dance, he it is whose free cheer∣full and happy mind most sweetly enjoyes within it selfe the choicest felicities that may be derived from Riches and ho∣nour.

So also of pleasures. Vertuous men their free and happy minds

are most apt and well prepared to enjoy the sweetest delights and pleasures on Earth.

They enjoy much more plea∣sure in a little of these Earthly felicities then vitious men in a∣bundance and varieties, who are seldome satisfied or conten∣ted, for if they should glut themselves with all sorts of Earthly pleasures, yet would they still be gaping after and vnsatiably wishing for new con∣tentments, and if they doe en∣joy their gluttonous, Intempe∣rate, Luxurious pleasures to the full yet soone after they remain more melancholly and discon∣tented then Monkes, for all vi∣tious pleasures most certainely will end in sadnesse discontent, shame and misery. But vertue teacheth us to be sweetly plea∣sed

yea even with a little accor∣ding to Nature, Reason, and moderation, and giveth such a free and happy mind to the fol∣lowers thereof as they enjoy all earthly good pleasures with much greater delight then vici∣ous men, & with contentment.

Vertuous men doe farre more sweetly in their minds contem∣plate all good pleasures then vicious men and so more de∣lightfully enjoyes them; for why, Slothfull, Dull, Heauie, passionate, distempered vicious minds doe not imagine, con∣ceive nor enjoy nigh so much pleasure in any thing as active perspicuous, free, cheerefull vertuous minds; for such minds are much more capable then the other to enjoy within them∣selves by contemplation (and

consequently in Action) the most delightfull felicities on Earth.

Such minds do farre more ex∣cellently and pleasantly then the other, contemplate and enjoy the sweetest delights that may be derived from the happy society of Parents, children, husbands, wives, lovers, friends, from Riches, Honour, Sports, Recrea∣tions and pleasures of all sorts whatsoever.

Such a vertuous, free, light∣some, perspicuous, cheerefull, happy mind, can most pleasant∣ly & sprightfully glide through the world and sweetly enjoy the most delightfull felicities there∣of; for by contemplation it can assemble together even in one subject within it selfe all what∣soever is most pleasant and de∣lightfull

on Earth. And thereof make an Electuary of pleasure compounded of the quintessence of all the choycest delights that ever the world produced or Imagined to charme and please the mind of man, As of all the sweetest Quires and Consorts of Musicke both of voices and Instruments that ever nature invented or imagined to ravish our spirits, Of all the most glittering, amiable and glorious sights, shewes, Triumphs, and beauties of the world, Of all the most pleasant sweetes, perfumes and flowers that ever the earth yeelded forth to delight us, Of all the choycest liquors, Wines, Banquets, dainties, and deli∣cates that ever man Enjoy'd, even of all what pleasures the world hath hitherto produced

to charme and delight our Spi∣rits, yea or Imagined either; as of the Graces, The Muses, The Nymphs, The Fayries, The Syrens, of Adonis Orchards, The Hesperian Gardens, The delights of Arcadia, of Arabia foelix, of the Elizian Shades, of Mahomets Imaginary Heaven, or whatsoever is delightfull, In summe, It can by contemplation enjoy a Paradise of delights with∣in it selfe.

J might instance also con∣cerning particular pleasures, as of eating. It is well knowne by Physitians that Intemperance therein destroyes health, makes the body to become full fraught with crudities and noysome hu∣mours. And so in time thereby the stomacke and appetite be∣comes corrupted and spoiled,

Insomuch, as at last even dain∣ties become displeasant to In∣temperate men, but Temperance keepes the body healthfull and agill, and makes the stomacke well prepared to rellish and digest both meate and drinke; Insomuch as ordinary fare to the temperate man becomes more pleasant then choycest dainties to an Intemperate Cor∣rupted stomacke.

So might I instance concer∣ning other pleasures in particu∣lar, But in generall; Vitious men their minds, (and perchance bodies) being distempered by sloth, passions and perturbations, even pleasures are often to them as sweet meate to a sicke man, or musicke to a discontented man, distastfull, displeasant, and irkesome. But vertuous men

their Minds being (as hath been shew'd) free from such distem∣pers, passions, and perturbati∣ons, and possest with lightsom∣nesse, Tranquility, Ioy, and hap∣pinesse, becomes most apt and well prepared to enjoy the sweetest and choycest felicities on Earth.

And indeed there is no earth∣ly pleasure either laudable or truely pleasant which is not contained within the precincts of Vertue, because otherwise the same will cause much more dis∣pleasure then content; For all vice ingenders offence and dis∣content, and in the end will cer∣tainely turne to Sadnesse, Sor∣row, and Misery. But all plea∣sures being enjoy'd within the limits of vertue (which ought to be the rule and guide there∣of)

are good and laudable; And so wee may and should freely and cheerefully enjoy even a Paradice of delights and felici∣ties within us, As I have shew'd and written more of this Sub∣ject in a former Booke Enti∣tuled THE Terrestriall Paradice, OR Happinesse on Earth.

So that of earths felicities our minds within us may A sweet and pleasant Paradise of happinesse enjoy.