The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

410 CHRISTIAN PARADOXES.
looks for a great reward. He loseth his life and
THE CHARACTERS OF A BELIEVING gains by it; and whilst he loseth it, he saveth it.
CHRISTIAN, 8. He lives not to himself, yet, of all others,
he is most wise for himself. Ile denieth himself
In parcaoxes and seeminz closetrad'cllons.
often, yet, no man loveth himself so well as he.
1. A CHRISTIAN is one that believes things his ITe is most reproached, yet most honoured. He
reason cannot comprehend; he hopes for things hath most afflictions, and most comforts.
which neither he nor any man alive ever saw: he 9. The more injury his enemies do him, the
labours for that which he knoweth he shall never more advantages he gains by them. The more
obtain; yet, in the issue, his belief appears not to he forsakes worldly things, the more he enjoys
be false; his hope makes him not ashamed; his them.
labour is not in vain. 10. He is the most temperate of all men, yet
2. He believes three to be one, and one to be fares most deliciously; he lends and gives most
three; a father not to be elder than his son; a son freely, yet he is the greatest usurer; he is meek
to be equal with his father; and one proceeding towards all men, yet inexorable by men. He is
from both to be equal with both; he believing the best child, husband, brother, friend; yet hates
three persons in one nature, and two natures in father and mother, brother and sister. He loves
one person. all men as himself, yet hates some men with a
3. He believes a virgin to be a mother of a perfect hatred.
son; and that very son of her's to be her maker. 11. He desires to have more grace than any
Hi-I believes him to have been shut up in a narrow man hath in the world, yet is truly sorrowful
room, whom heaven and earth could not contain. when he seeth any man have less than himself;
He believes him to have been born in time, who he knoweth no man after the flesh, yet gives all
was and is from everlasting. He believes him to men their due respects; he knoweth if he please
have been a weak child, carried in arms, who is man he cannot be the servant of Christ; yet, for
the Almighty; and him once to have died, who Christ's sakle he pleaseth all men in all things.
only hath life and immortality in himself. He is a peace-maker, yet is a continual fighter,
4. I-Ie believes the God of all grace to have and is an irreconcileable enemy.
been angry with one that hath never offended 12. He believes him to be worse than an infidel
him; and that God, that hates sin, to be recon- that provides not for his family, yet himself lives
cited to himself, though sinning continually, and and dies without care. He accounts all his supenever making, or being able to make him satis- riors, yet stands stiffly upon authority. He is
faction. He believes a most just God to have severe to his children, because he loveth them;
punished a most just person, and to have justified and by being favourable unto his enemy, he
himself, though a most ungodly sinner. ITHe revengeth himself upon him.
believes himself freely pardoned, and yet a suffi- 13. HIe believes the angels to be more excellent
cient satisfaction was made for him. creatures than himself, and yet accounts them his
5. He believes himself to be precious in God's servants. He believes that he receives many good
sight, and yet loathes himself in his own. He things by their means, and yet he neither prays
dares not justify himself even in those things for their assistance, nor offers them thanks, which
wherein he can find no fault with himself, and he doth not disdain to do to the meanest Chrisyet believes God accepts him in those services tiano
wherein he is able to find many faults. 14. He believes himself to be a king, how
6. He praises God for his justice, and yet fears mean soever he be: and how great soever he be,
him for his mercy. He is so ashamed as that he yet he thinks himself not too good to be a servant
dares not open his mouth before God; and yet he to the poorest saint.
comes with boldness to God, and asks him any 15. He is often in prison, yet always at liberty;
thing he needs. Hle is so humble as to acknow- a freeman, though a servant. He loves not honour
ledge himself to deserve nothing but evil; and amongst men, yet highly prizeth a good name.
yet believes that God means him all good. He 16. He believes that God hath bidden every
is one that fears always, yet is as bold as a lion. man that doth him good to do so; he yet, of any
He is often sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; man is the most thankful to them that do aught
many times complaining, yet always giving of for him. He would lay down his life to save the
thanks. He is the most lowly-minded, yet the soul of his enemy, yet, will not adventure upon
greatest aspirer; most contented, yet ever craving. one sin to save the life of him who saved his.
7. He bears a lofty spirit in a mean condi ion; 17. He swears to his own hindrance, and
when he is ablest, he thinks meanest of himself. changeth not; yet knoweth that his oath cannot
I-le is rich in poverty, and poor in the midst of tie him to sin.
riches. He believes all the world to be his, yet 18. He believes Christ to have no need of any
hle dares take nothing without special leave from thing he doth, yet maketh account that he doth
God. He covenants with God for nothing, yet relieve Christ in all his acts of charity. He