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A05099 The second part of the French academie VVherein, as it were by a naturall historie of the bodie and soule of man, the creation, matter, composition, forme, nature, profite and vse of all the partes of the frame of man are handled, with the naturall causes of all affections, vertues and vices, and chiefly the nature, powers, workes and immortalitie of the soule. By Peter de la Primaudaye Esquier, Lord of the same place and of Barre. And translated out of the second edition, which was reuiewed and augmented by the author.; Academie françoise. Part 2. English La Primaudaye, Pierre de, b. ca. 1545.; Bowes, Thomas, fl. 1586. 1594 (1594) STC 15238; ESTC S108297 614,127 592

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giftes and graces shine For power breedeth reuerence and goodnesse loue Wherfore if we iudge that power and greatnes are ioyned with goodnes and tempered therewithall we shal not onely be moued to reuerence but this reuerence also will engender loue as it is in the hearts of the faithful towards God because that as they consider him almighty and the greatest of all so they behold him most wise and most good But as I haue already touched if we thinke that this greatnesse or power either is or wil be hurtful vnto vs there is another kind of reuerence which only hath feare that breedeth hatred as it is in them that consider the power of God only the rigour of his iudgement not meditating of his clemencie and benignitie Therefore as the great excellency which in all things appeareth in God especially in power wisdome and goodnes induceth vs to reuerence him aright so if we would haue men to honour reuerence vs there must bee excellent vertues in vs in which men may see the image of God to shine that so he may be honoured reuerenced in vs we in him For therein consisteth that true honour that true reuerence which we ought to seek for to desire And although reuerence hath respect principally to the diuine maiestie at the name of which euery knee ought to bow and to those superiorities which are images thereof vnto which they that are of lesse degree estate and condition ought to giue honor seruice neuertheles mutual reuerence is necessary in al true friendship aswel in respect of the party beloued as of him that loueth And indeed we see howe that true friendes reuerence and honour one another and all because of that good opinion which they haue conceiued eche of others desert Concerning this word Honour it is properly a token whereby we testifie that we iudge him to bee endued with vertue whome we honour Wherefore as the consideration of vertue breedeth honour so honour breedeth reuerence and then honour and reuerence breede maiestie which is the highest degree of honour and encreaseth continually according as those vertues and good things excell which induce vs to honour them For if the vertues be meane wee honour them with a more simple honour if greater we adde thereunto reuerence and then maiestie is that honour which can be giuen to the greatest of all And as this affection of honour is in our heart wee shew it foorth by diuers outwarde signes whereby we signifie and testifie that we acknowledge their greatnes and excellencie whom wee honour and that we submit our selues thereunto Therefore the more humble and modest a man is the readier he will be to yeelde reuerence and honour to them vnto whom it is due Contrariwise the more drunken a man is with the loue of himselfe the more he will presume of himselfe and the greater this presumption is in him the lesse wil he desire that another should be more excellent then himselfe and wil be the hardlier perswaded to beleeue it is so Therefore he will hardly yeelde to giue him honour and reuerence But Saint Paul admonisheth the children of God to goe before one another in giuing honour and to be of like affection one towardes another not being high minded neither wise in themselues that is to say arrogant and selfe-weening presuming very much of themselues So that as pride or humilitie aboundeth in vs God our superiours and friendes shal be more or lesse honoured by vs. As for those signes whereby we testifie this honour and reuerence we are to note that they are many according to the diuersities of nations and countries and of their maners Most commonly we vse to bend the knee in testimonie that we abase and submit our selues to those vnto whom we doe this honour Likewise we vncouer the head which is a token of seruitude according to the custome of the Grecians and of the Romanes There are many other such like signes as to rise vp to giue place to accompanie to salute and infinite others which would be too long to rehearse and without profite all which we call bearing of honour and reuerence or yeelding of reuerence Wherefore although God looketh chiefly to that which is within and not to that which is without yet will he haue vs by externall signes to declare that honour which we owe and beare vnto him and by them to yeeld him homage Thus he requireth that we should testifie our faith and our loue towards him by confession of mouth and by all good workes that there may be alwayes an agreement betweene the body and the soule betweene the heart mouth and hands and betweene the workmaster that worketh and his instruments and woorkes to the ende that the one may bee knowen by the other For if the outwarde signes agree not with the heart we make them false witnesses as the tongue is when it lieth For they beare witnesse to that which is not which is right hypocrisie displeasing God and men Therefore we must beware of this vice and take heed that we make no other outward shew then will stande with the affection of the heart Now hauing spoken of honour reuerence and maiestie by reason of that coniunction which they haue with loue as also of fauour and grace it remaineth now that we should speake somewhat of Mercie and compassion seeing that also hath great agreement with loue Mercie then is a griefe conceiued in our heart in respect of some euil which as we thinke is befallen one that hath not deserued it and this we call also pitie and compassion Now because this affection moueth vs to aide succour and to doe good to them that are afflicted as also to pardon such as haue offended vs therefore Mercie is often taken in the holy scriptures for ayde succour fauour grace beneficence good will benefiting friendship benignitie as also for the affection and inclination of the heart to doe good and to succour all them that haue neede of helpe and this proceedeth of charitie Therfore Saint Paul saith He that sheweth mercie let him doe it with cheerefulnesse Let loue be without dissimulation Abhorre that which is euill and cleaue to that which is good Be affectioned to loue one another with brotherly loue not slouthfull to doe seruice feruent in spirite seruing the Lorde distributing to the necessities of the Saintes giuing your selues to hospitalitie Whereby he admonisheth vs that all the succours which we giue to others ought to proceede from a sincere and cheerefull affection of the heart which should prouoke vs to perfourme the same and this cannot be in vs without the affection of pitie of mercie and of compassion In regard whereof the name of almes is taken from a worde which in Greeke signifieth Mercy and therefore also almes signifieth asmuch as mercie or that succour that is done of mercy and compassion wherewith we are affected in respect of
bare vnto him to confound the slaunderer and to propound to euery one in the person of his seruant Iob an example and patterne of true feare of true loue of true faith and of true patience We see then that there are two sorts of hired loue because it may be such not onely in respect of him that receiueth a benefit but of him also that bestoweth it when hee doeth it for the causes aforesaide But he that doth good onely of charitie and loue hath no such scope but looketh only to the good which he delighteth to communicate to others in respect of that goodnes which is in himselfe Therefore he hath a more sure and excellent beginning of his loue namely his owne goodnes and will then he hath that receiueth the good whose loue beginneth at neede and want That Loue also which is grounded vpon goodnesse goeth on more easily and with greater courage from good to better then that which commeth from necessitie proceedeth to good For he that doth good imparteth the same frankely of his owne good will because hee will do so and therefore it redoundeth to his great honour But hee that receiueth a good turne taketh it because hee hath neede of it and therefore hee must acknowledge himselfe bound to his Benefactour For this cause he is somewhat ashamed of his neede and want For as Saint Paul witnesseth according to the saying of Iesus Christ It is a blessed thing to giue rather then to receiue Therefore that may well bee said in this respect which is commonly spoken namely that although Loue be of the nature of fire which alwayes mounteth vpward yet doeth it descend but neuer ascend For Fathers and Mothers alwayes loue their children yea their childrens children better then their children loue them The like may be saide of others that are in the place of parents And by a greater reason this may be spoken of the loue of God our Father towardes vs as also of the loue of Christ Iesus For he did not onely loue vs before we loued him yea euen then when we were yet his enemies but nowe also wee come farre short of loui●● him as hee loueth vs. Therefore hee is called by Saint Iohn not onely louing and charitable but euen Loue it selfe For as he is the Creator of all things so he loueth perfecteth and preseueth them all and turneth them vnto himselfe But among all other things which drawe Loue nothing is of greater force then Loue it selfe For as one fire draweth another so is it with loue for one draweth and engendreth another Therefore if wee would be loued wee our selues must loue But when the contrary falleth out nameely that we are hated of them towards whome wee are well affected it is because hee that is loued doeth not knowe nor feele the loue that is borne him For likenesse hath such force and vertue in loue that it is as it were the mother therof For seeing euery one by nature loueth himselfe greatly and similitude is as it were the same in many it causeth him that resembleth vs to be as it were our selues whereupon it followeth that the same likenesse which causeth vs to loue an other induceth him also to loue vs. And againe loue causeth him that doth loue to engraue imprint in his heart that face and image which he loueth so that the heart of him that loueth is made like to a looking glasse in which the image of the party beloued shineth and is represented Therefore when hee that is loued and beholdeth and acknowledgeth himself in him that loueth him he is mooued and whetted on to loue him againe as one within whome he knoweth himselfe to be as it were Inhabitant yea as a second selfe Moreouer he that loueth doth as it were depriue himselfe of himselfe and giue himselfe to him whome hee loueth Therefore he that is beloued accompteth him deere and is as carefull of him as of a thing of his owne So that if wee loue God we shall be in his heart as if our image were engrauen there and his image also shall bee in ours yea hee will be carefull of vs as of his owne children as wee likewise wil be very careful of his honor and glory And the more we know his loue towards vs the liker we shal be vnto him and shall loue him the more as he in like maner wil loue vs the more Nowe because men can neither see nor know one anothers heart and wil to iudge of their loue we must declare the same by outward workes For none but God knoweth the hearts and willes of men Neuerthelesse he wil haue vs to manifest by workes our loue towardes him and our neighbours as hee hath shewed vs his loue by giuing himselfe with all his benefites vnto vs. Therefore wee must yeelde testimony of our loue by obeying his worde and keeping his holy commaundements the fulfilling of which consisteth in true and perfect charitie But forasmuch as the loue of men is so disordered nowadayes wee are to take 〈◊〉 heede and to looke diligently that wee deceiue not our selues by louing that which wee ought not to loue esteeming that to bee a good thing which is wicked and well done that which is ill done to the ende that our loue be not inordinate and bestowed vpon false and euil things and so prooue a vicious desire rather then true loue Therefore it shall be good if following our matter we consider what this affection of cupiditie or desire is properly and what are the kinds of it and how wee may separate it from Loue. Let vs then hear ken to ARAM discoursing of this matter Of Desire and Coueting and of the kindes of it of the infinitenesse of mens desires and what Good is able to satisfie and content it of the difference betweene Desire and Loue and of the vtmost limit and ende of Loue. Chap. 51. ARAM. As at the entry of a forrest some one path may seeme to be broade and beaten enough yet afterward when a trauailer is well entred into it he beginneth to loose it by little and little and being amazed the farther hee walketh on the more he wandreth out of his way euen so when as sensualitie inuiteth vs to the fruition of some obiect we thinke it an easie matter to attaine thereunto and hope to get some great good thereby but the further wee enter into and follow that path which our concupiscence doth shew vnto vs the worse we find the way to be and can see nothing before vs but a large field full of thornes and thistles which notwithstanding seeme for a time vnto sore eies to be faire floures of very goodly fruit But the tasting of them alwayes bringeth with it a long and late repentance in the ende Nowe as the body of the sunne when he first riseth may be easily looked vpon but after being mounted vp certain degrees in the Zodiake dazeleth the eies of them
the temperatures and complexions of the bodie as he hath disposed of the nature of the affections in the soule seeing the one is to serue the other through that mutuall agreement which they ought to haue one with another Nowe to morrow wee will prosecute our speech begunne concerning the affections of the soule to the end we may fully vnderstand this goodly and large matter which may procure to the soule and body both life and death And first mee thinkes wee are to enter into the consideration of foure things which are in the will and in the power to desire that is in the soule namely natural inclinations actions habites and affections This shal be then ASER the subiect of thy discourse The end of the fift dayes worke THE SIXT DAYES Worke. Of foure things to be considered in the Will and in the power of desiring in the soule and first of the naturall inclinations of selfe-loue and the vnrulinesse thereof Chap. 41. ASER All the actions of the soule are bredde of the powers and faculties thereof and therefore by the benefite of nature which is the gift of God she hath receiued powers for all thinges which she ought to doe Now concerning the facultie of knowing in the soule and in the vnderstanding part thereof of which we haue intreated heeretofore we finde three thinges worthie of diligent consideration namely naturall principles actions and habites gotten by long custome Wee may remember those sundry degrees which we said were in the knowledge of the minde and how by this facultie it doeth not only know simple and particular things as beasts doe but also compoundeth and ioyneth them together how it compareth one with another separateth them and discourseth vpon them finally howe it iudgeth and eyther approueth or refuseth them All which things are actions of the minde proceeding from those notices and naturall principles of knowledge that are therein Nowe if these actions be sodaine and passe lightly so that the minde doeth not stay in them nor acquaint it selfe with them the bare and simple name of action belongeth to them But if the minde doeth one and the same thing often museth much vpon it calleth it often to memorie and accustometh it selfe thereunto so that it is in a manner imprinted in it and thereby the minde becommeth prompt and ready in regarde of thelong continuance therein then doe these actions take the name of habite which is bredde by the often repeating and reiterating of the same things Whereby the minde is made more skilful and ready and the spirites more fitte and apt to performe those exercises vnto which they haue addicted themselues and wherein they haue continued So that such a habite is as it were a light in the spirite and in the soule whereby the actions there of are gouerned In like manner wee finde in the Will and in that power o desiring which is in the soule foure things to be considered namely naturall inclinations actions habites and affections which intermingle themselues in euery one of the other All these thinges are good of their owne nature euen as nature it selfe being considered as God hath created her But as nature was corrupted through sinne so is it with these things by reason of that disorder which the nature of sinne hath brought vnto them But let vs first speake of naturall inclinations and then we will prosecute the rest As therefore the minde hath his naturall principles of knowledge so the will hath her naturall inclinations and affections which of their owne nature are good as they are taken from that first nature created of God neither woulde they at any time bee wicked if there were no excesse in them proceeding from nature corrupted which afterwarde breedeth in vs such inclinations and affections as are altogether euill and damnable We loue our selues naturally our wiues our children our kinsfolkes and our friendes yea we are by nature so enclined to this loue that if it were not in vs we shoulde not onely not bee men but not deserue so much as to bee accounted and taken for beastes no not for the wildest most sauage and venemous beastes that can be For we see by experience what great inclination affection there is in euery one of them towardes their litle ones Therefore when S. Paul maketh a beaderoll of the vices and sinnes of such men as are most vicious and execrable and as it were monsters of nature he saith expresly that they are without naturall affection which indeede cannot be cleane rooted out of any nature liuing vnlesse it be altogether monstrous and vnnaturall For it is an affection which is as it were a beame of the loue that God beareth cowards all his creatures and which he causeth to shine in them so that it is not possible that they which are capable of any affection of loue should not loue their owne blood and their like especially men Wherefore if this loue and this affection were well ruled and ordered it is so farre from being vicious that contrariwise the spirite of God condemneth as Monsters those men that want it And therefore God doth not forbid and condemne this loue and affection in his law so farre forth as it is ruled thereby but he approueth it appointeth it to be the rule of our loue towards our neighbour when he saith Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe But when this loue affection is disordered in vs it is not only vicious but also as it were the originall and fountaine of all other vices and sinnes whereas if it were well ordered ruled according to the will law of God it would be as it were the fountaine and welspring of all vertues For wee should not loue our selues but in God and through him nor consequently our wiues nor our children nor our friends nor any other creature whatsoeur wheras cleane contrariwise wee set God aside and seeke nothing but our selues and the things of the world Therefore this loue and affection being nowe so vnruly through sinne is so violent in vs that it withdraweth vs from the loue of God and of his creatures to loue the deuil and his wicked workes because it seemeth to vs that he is a greater friend vnto vs then God For whereas the holy spirite doeth resist and set himselfe against our euil affections and wil haue vs to bridle them Satan on the contrary part letteth them loose not onely giueth vs ouer to follow our peruerse and vitious affections with full sway and libertie but also prouoketh and thrusteth vs forward with great vehemencie Whereby we may iudge what loue and affection a man may cary towardes creatures in those things wherein they may be contrary vnto him and with what fury and rage he may be ledde against them that resist his disordered affections seeing he carieth such an affection towardes God his Creator Therefore Saint Paul speaking of wicked men that should be
in sorrowe the heart drieth vp and gathereth it selfe in so it causeth the face which is the image of it to retire and drawe backe yea it depriueth the face of all colour and causeth it to fall away Briefly it marreth all health and hath for continuall companions sighs plaints groanes teares and weeping and oftentimes gnashing of teeth as it is written of the damned because of that sorrowe and indignation in which they are by reason of the torments which they suffer It is true that the most of these things serue as a remedy against sorrow For howsoeuer griefe shutteth vp the heart as we haue said yet by groning sighing and weeping the heart doth in some sort open it selfe as if it woulde come foorth to breathe least being wholly shut vp with sorrow it shoulde be stifled Againe teares are giuen vnto vs to testifie our griefe and to manifest it to others that we may mooue them to haue pitie and compassion on vs and to help and succour vs. They serue vs further to declare what compassion we haue of other mens sorrowe and griefe which vse is very necessary for vs to get and preserue friendship one towardes an other and for our mutuall comfort and consolation For we are greatly comforted when we see any take pitie and compassion of vs. Wherefore when we can not otherwise solace them that are grieued but only by declaring that wee are sorrowfull for their heauinesse and for those euilles which they suffer yet doeth that affoorde great consolation And although it seemeth an easie matter to giue this comfort yet is it harder then many thinke it is For before wee can finde this in vs wee must first haue loue in our hearts which causeth vs to open our bowels and mooueth vs to compassion towards our like that we may weepe with them that weepe as we must reioyce also with them that reioyce according as Saint Paul exhorteth vs thereunto For by this meanes we testifie that vnion and coniunction which we haue one with an other as members of one and the same body and as if wee felt in our selues all that good and euill which others feele Nowe because in our definition of these affections of ioy and griefe we made two sorts of those that men feele in their hearts namely either of that good and euill which is present or if that which they looke for wee must consider more particularly of these things and see first why God hath put these affections in the soule and what is true and present ioy as also what that other kind of ioy is which hath regard to that which is to come which is properly called Hope Now let vs heare thee ASER vpon this matter Of the causes why God hath placed these affections of Ioy and Sorrow in the heart of true and false Ioy and of good and badde Hope Chap. 45. ASER. Men haue commonly sharpe wittes to know vaine earthly and carnall things but as for heauenly true eternall things they are able for the most part to vnderstand nothing So that wee may compare the eyes of their soule to the eyes of an Owle which seeth clearely by night but when the sunne is risen seeth neuer a whit Euen so man hath some knowledge of the troublesome things of this worlde but his sight cannot pierce vnto the celestial and diuine light Therefore it falleth out often that being beguiled by his owne sense and reason insteade of Good and Ioy hee chuseth and followeth after that which is euill and full of griefe For when the affection of the heart which naturally desireth Good and seeketh after Ioy is missed and deceiued by humane reason it easily embraceth euill in place of Good and that vnder some vaine shewe of good which seemeth to be in that euill thing it chuseth And although at the first the heart feeleth not that which happeneth vnto it yet hath it leisure enough after to complaine of the torment which is alwaies equall both for age and time to the fault committed and to the abuse of those gifts and graces which God hath placed in the nature of the soule Forasmuch then as the heart is the beginning of life we may well know that God hath not without good cause placed therein such vehement affections of ioy griefe which serue either to preserue or to destroy it and haue for their companions hope and feare as wee wil declare heereafter For by these affections God would giue vs prickes and solicitours to cause vs to thinke seriously of that lesson which Dauid giueth vs when hee saieth Taste yee and see howe gracious the Lorde is blessed is the man that trusteth in him Feare the Lorde yee his Saintes for nothing wanteth to them that feare him The Lions doe lacke and suffer hunger but they which seeke the Lorde shall want nothing that is good What man is hee that desireth life and loueth long dayes for to see good Keepe thy tongue from euill and thy lippes that they speake no guile Eschew euil and do good seeke peace and follow after it The Prophet sheweth here plainely wherein true life felicitie consisteth and the reason thereof hee setteth downe afterward namely that the Lord looketh both vpon the good and bad and that as hee preserueth the good so hee rooteth out the remembrance of the wicked from off the earth Therefore hee saieth afterward Great are the troubles of the righteous but the Lorde deliuereth him out of all Malice shall slay the wicked and they that hate the righteous shall perish The Lorde redeemeth the soules of his seruants and none that trust in him shall perish Wherefore as the children of God that are partakers of his promises can not bee without great ioy in their hearts which feedeth and preserueth them and causeth them to liue happily through the testimonie and taste which they haue of the sweetenesse goodnesse and fauour of God towards them so contrariwise perpetual sorrow dwelleth in the heart of the wicked who cannot haue that ioy in them because they want that which should bring it vnto them For howsoeuer it seemeth that there is no ioy in the worlde but theirs yet they neuer haue any true ioy neither indeede can haue For they seeke not for it neither doe they knowe what it is And therefore in steade of seeking it in God in whome onely it resteth they seeke it in creatures and in al kind of vanitie and yet finde nothing but in offending the maiestie of God For this cause Iesus Christ hath long since pronounced their sentence saying Wobe to you that laugh for ye shall weepe Contrariwise ye that weep are happy for yee shall laugh Blessed are they that mourne that is to say that feele their miseries and seeke for ioy and consolation in God for they shal bee comforted After speaking to his disciples he sayeth Verely verely I say vnto you that ye shall weeepe and lament and
that reuengeth himselfe and will obserue his offences narrowely Forgiue thy neighbour his misdeede and when thou prayest thy sinnes shall bee forgiuen thee Shall man keepe anger against man and will hee aske remission at the Lordes handes Hee will take no pitie vpon his like and shall he demaund pardon for his sinnes Seeing hee that is but flesh keepeth his anger and yet sueth vnto God for pardon who will blot out his iniquities But this ought not to be forgottten of vs to cause vs to abstaine from all anger towards them that by offring vs iniury prouoke vs thereunto namely that we acknowledge thē to be the scourges of God to chastice our faultes which are worthy of greater punishment Thus let vs alwayes looke to the first cause of our affliction and to God who visiteth vs iustly whatsoeuer the meanes are which hee vseth and not to second causes and to the next meanes to the ende that we doe not as dogges doe which runne after the stone throwne against them that by byting it they may be reuenged of it not looking vnto him that threwe it For if we consider that the blowe giuen vnto vs commeth from God we will let the stone goe and not followe after it with anger and reuenge but turne vnto God who threwe it not to stirre vp our selues to despite him or to bee auenged of him but to craue for pardon and grace at his handes And this is the right way which wee are to take for the quenching of our choler that so wee may bridle our anger and keepe our selues quiet Nowe for the ende of this matter it remayneth that wee shoulde knowe whether this affection bee altogether vicious and wholly proceeding from our corrupt nature or whether it haue within it any seede of vertue as well as the rest It is certaine that it is giuen of GOD to man to stirre him vp to the desire of excellent things to the ende that when hee seeth himselfe despised and reiected for base actions and abiect things and is grieued for the same hee shoulde endeuour to leaue and forsake them and to addict himselfe to better and more noble things which can not bee contemned nor hee despised in regarde of them And this kinde of anger is verie good For beeing angrie in this sort our anger is turned vpon our selues onely to blame and reprehende our selues for our slouth and loosenesse and for our other vices and imperfections and by this meanes our anger should not bee sinne but being acceptable vnto God it woulde be vnto vs a Schoolemaster and as a spurre to sollicite and perswade vs vnto vertue and to such things as beseeme vs and that estate whereunto we are called If then wee would be angrie according to the will of God let vs first be angrie against our selues for our faultes and imperfections and when wee haue iust occasion to whet our selues against others let our anger bee turned against their vices not against their persons And such an anger will shewe zeale for the honour of God and the saluation of our neighbours Nowe the sequele of our speech requireth that wee shoulde speake of hatred and of enuie which for the most part followe offence and anger Let vs then heare ACHITOB discourse of these affections Of Hatred and of the nature and effects thereof of a good kinde of Hatred and of the remedy to cure the euill Hatred of Enuy and of the kindes and effects thereof of the difference betweene good and euill Enuy. Chap. 56. ACHITOB. Forasmuch as nature wisedome and goodnes teach that men ought to be knit together by loue as wee haue seene heretofore and that we are by the selfe same nature framed and fashioned thereunto as wee may learne by that which we haue heard of the forme and disposition of the heart wee must needes confesse that the spirite of man can bring foorth nothing more vnworthy it selfe then to suffer it selfe to be ouercome of Hatred and Enuy which are so contrary to loue that they comprehend vnder them all generall iniustice and wickednesse of men For from these wilde plants nothing can proceede by reason of the corruption of mans nature but effects that draw vs cleane contrary from wishing well to our neighbour So that if we plucke out of our heart the cause of this naturall obligation concerning the succour we owe one to another namely Loue what can be either found or placed there but hardnesse inhumanitie crueltie and all kinde of barbarousnesse which are to bee accompted and taken for monsters in mans nature For howe strange and monstrous a thing were it to vnclothe a mans heart of Loue and to put vpon it hatred enuy extreame backebiting bitternesse and crueltie which proceede all from one fountaine Neuerthelesse we see that men are enclined rather to Hatred then to Loue but let vs search out the cause thereof There are many that take Hatred to be an inueterate anger because it is a habite of anger wherby the heart escheweth something as euil and desireth to repell and driue it away Wherefore this affection is directly contrary to loue so likewise is anger For it is an offence rooted in the hart which causeth it to wish greatly his hurt by whom it taketh it selfe to be offended Nowe because contempt doeth often accompany hatred and enuy is neuer without it besides that it breedeth strife contentions manslaughters and murthers therefore in the holy Scriptures hatred is often taken for all these things As for the vehement causes of hatred they are in euery one according as a man esteemeth of the things he hateth Therefore prowd and enuious persons are alwaies very much enclined to hatred Some men also are of such a hatefull nature that they scarce wish wel to any body and surely these are very deuillish natures Some likewise are giuen thereunto of custome which they haue gotten by reioicing at other mens harms But the cause why it is easier for vs to hate then to loue and why Hatred taketh deeper roote in our heart then loue is because hatred findeth a better soile there and a more apt foundation to bee laide vpon then loue doth and that chiefly for two reasons The first is the corruption of mans nature which being left vnto it selfe fauoureth more of the nature of Satan who is hatefull a lyar and enuious from the beginning then of the nature of God who is loue trueth and charitie Therefore Saint Iohn saith that Cain hated his brother and slewe him because he was of the deuill and Abel was of God This hatred will be alwayes in those that haue one and the same Father that Cain had against all good men and children of God The second is because the infirmitie of our nature will not permit vs to enioy any good things in this worlde that are pure and of long continuance and therefore they suffer vs to haue but a little sense and taste of them But
haue giuen to any other besides himselfe and indeede all the creatures ioyned together are not able to diminish or to adde any thing thereunto whatsoeuer they doe but also because hee loueth vs hee is iealous of our saluation and desireth to reserue vs wholly to himselfe and to make vs partakers of his immortall blessednesse Therefore hee will not haue vs spoyle him of his glorie and forsake his seruice in regarde of that hurt and dammage which shoulde befall vs thereby For hee beareth that affection towardes vs which a good Father doeth towardes his children who loueth them not for any profite comming to him thereby but only for their owne good and because hee both will and ought to loue them This loue then which God beareth vnto vs causeth him to be iealous ouer vs when through impietie and wickednesse of life wee leaue him and ioyne our selues vnto his aduersary the deuill Whereupon hee doeth not onely become angry but is full of indignation also both against him and vs. For indignation is a griefe wrought in vs when wee see some good thing befall to an vnworthy person and him that is worthy depriued thereof This affection therefore proceedeth from the same roote from whence compassion springeth namely from the iudgement of that which is good and from the loue thereof But the diuersitie of both their obiects causeth them in some sort to be contrary affections forasmuch as indignation is bred in regarde of some good that hapneth to one that is vnworthy of it and compassion or pity ariseth of some euill that befalleth or is procured to him that hath not deserued it And of these two contrary affections mingled together a third affection is bred which in holy Scripture is called Zeale and Iealousie being taken in the good part Hereof it is that the loue and compassion which God hath of his children when he seeth them go about to bereaue themselues of that good which he wisheth them and the indignation that hee hath in regarde of the good which hapneth to the wicked in the accomplishment of their euill desires for to them euill is in steade of good causeth him to be mooued with iealousie and to bee auenged thereof For this cause the Prophet Ioel saieth Then will the Lorde be iealous ouer his land and spare his people And the Prophet Esay hauing declared to Ezechias the deliuerance of Ierusalem and the succour which GOD would send him against Senacherib saith That the zeale of the Lorde of Hostes will perfourme this In like manner when the true children and seruants of God beholde a confusion in steade of that order which the Lorde woulde haue obserued and which hee hath prescribed vnto his creatures they are greatly mooued in regarde of that zeale which they beare as well towardes GOD as towardes their neighbours For Zeale is nothing else but an indignation conceiued in respect of those things that are vnwoorthily done against him that is deare vnto vs and whome wee loue Therefore if wee loue GOD and his Statutes if wee loue the Common-wealth our Princes our Parents and all others whome wee ought to loue wee will bee iealous for them and can not beholde without indignation aniething done against them that ought not to bee This Indignation and Iealousie will induce vs to set our selues earnestly against all iniustice and to ouerthrowe it with all our might With this Iealousie Saint Paul was affected towardes the Corinthians when hee wrote thus vnto them I am iealous ouer you with godly iealousie for I haue prepared you for one husband to present you as a pure virgine vnto Christ. This kind of Zeale is very requisite in all the true seruants of God but chiefely in them that haue any publike charge whether it be in the Church or in the Common-wealth For except they bee endued with great Zeale towardes the glory of the Maiestie of GOD towardes iustice and all vertues they will neuer haue that care which they ought eyther of the honour and seruice of GOD or of publike benefite or to reprooue correct and punish vices or lastly to maintaine good Discipline vpright iustice and good conuersation in such sorte as becommeth them For this cause hath GOD giuen to the nature of man this affection of Zeale and Indignation for the communion that ought to bee in the societie of men to the ende there shoulde bee a right and indifferent distribution of all good things so that none of them shoulde light vpon the vnwoorthy that vse them ill but to such as deserue them and knowe howe to vse them aright Nowe when these affections are thus ruled they are very good and profitable but commonly they are abused vnto vice For Indignation is quickely bredde of Enuy which being vniust is also of a corrupt and badde iudgement so that an enuious bodie thinketh that whatsoeuer good thing an other hath befallen vnto him hee is vnwoorthy of it And so in like manner the Zeale that is without true knowledge bringeth foorth most pernicious effectes For it proceedeth from a loue which iudgeth not aright of the thing that mooueth it but esteemeth it to bee euill and woorthy of hatred whereas it is good and woorthy of loue Of this Zeale Saint Paul speaketh when hee sayeth of the Iewes I beare them recorde that they haue the zeale of God but not according to knowledge For being deceiued in their iudgement and calling themselues defenders and louers of the lawe of GOD they persecuted the Gospel which was the accomplishment of the Lawe and also them that beleeued in Iesus Christ insomuch that their very Zeale was through their ignoraunce turned into Crueltie and Tyranny which is a very dangerous zeale and ought most carefully to bee shunned of vs as that whereinto the best minded men of all doe commonly fall when they are blinded with ignoraunce as the Apostle Saint Paul propoundeth himselfe in this case for an example before hee was conuerted For hee freely confesseth that hee was a blasphemour a persecutour and an oppressour but hee did it ignorantly and through vnbeleefe There haue beene many such not onely amongest the Iewes but euen among the Heathen For albeit their Religion was altogether superstitious and idolatrous yet they alwayes maintained and defended it with very great zeale persecuting such as professed Christianitie among them and condemning them as the vilest and most detestable men vpon the earth But if the Lord be greatly offended when as wee beare hatred and enuy against any body wee cannot doubt but that this doeth likewise displease him when we commit these things being blinded with ignoraunce and that hee is carried with greater indignation against vs when wee maliciously cloake these vices with a false title of zeale of religion and of his glory thereby to reuenge our selues and to exercise our cruelties much more easily But let vs nowe proceede to consider of other affections of the