A Christian Directory Volume I Part 56

[149] Sic vivendum est, quasi in conspectu vivamus: Sic cogitandum, tanquam aliquis pectus intimum prospicere possit. Senec. Rem dicam, ex qua mores aestimes nostras: vix quempiam invenies, qui possit aperto ostio vivere: janitores conscientia nostra--supposuit: sic vivimus ut deprehendi sit subito aspici. Senec. Ep. 96.

[150] It is a pitiful cure of the Indians' idolatry, which the honest Jesuit Acosta (as the rest) prescribeth, lib. 5. c. 11. p. 483. "But you must especially take care, that saving rites be introduced instead of hurtful ones, and ceremonies be obliterated by ceremonies. Let the priests persuade the novices, that holy water, images, rosaries, grains, and torches, and the rest which the church alloweth and useth, are very fit for them; and let them extol them with many praises in their popular sermons, that instead of the old superst.i.tion they may be used to new and religious signs." This is to quench the fire with oil.

[151] It is one of Thales' sayings, in Laert. Q. Quomodo optime ac justissime vivemus? Resp. Si quae in aliis reprehendimus ipsi non faciamus. To judge of ourselves as we judge of others, is the way of the sincere.

[152] Cato, h.o.m.o virtuti simillimus qui nunquam recte fecit, ut facere videretur, sed quia aliter facere non poterat; cuique id solum visum est rationem habere, quod haberet just.i.tiam. Velleius Patercul. 1. 2.

[153] Jam in ecclesiis ista quaeruntur, et omissa Apostolicorum simplicitate et puritate verborum, quasi ad Athenaeum et ad auditoria convenitur ut plausus circ.u.mstantium suscitentur, ut oratio rhetoricae artis fucata mendacio quasi quaedam meretricula procedat in public.u.m, non tam eruditura populos, quam favorem populi quaesitura. Hieron. in Praef. 1. 3. in Galat.

[154] Permanent tepidi, ignavi, negligentes, vani, leves, voluptuosi, delicati; commoda corpores superflua sectantur, suum compendium in omnibus quaerunt, ubicunque honorem et existimationem nominis sui integra servare possunt: intus propriae voluntati pertinaciter addicti, irresignati, minime abnegati, superbi, curiosi, et contumaces sunt in omnibus, licet externe coram hominibus bene morati videantur. In tentationibus impatientes, amari, procaces, iracundi, tristes, aliis molesti, verbis tamen ingenioque scioli,--In prosperis nimium elati et hilares: in adversis, nimium turbati sunt et pusillanimes: aliorum temerarii sunt judices: aliorum vitia accuratissime perscrutari, de aliorum defectibus frequenter garrire, ac gloriari egregium putant. Ex istis et similibus operibus facillime cognosci poterunt: nam moribus gestibusque suis seu sorex quispiam suopte semet indicio produnt.

Thauler. flor. p. 65, 56.

[155] Quid prodest recondere se et oculos hominum auresque vitare?

Bona conscientia turbam advocat; mala autem in solitudine anxia et sollicita est. Si honesta sunt quae facis, omnes sciant: si turpia, quid refert neminem scire, c.u.m tu scias: O te miserum si contemnis hunc testem. Sen. Ep. 96. Matt. xxiii. 13-15, 23, 25, 27, 29.

[156] Matt. xxiii. 8; Eph. iv. 2-5; Luke x. 42; Matt. vi. 33; 2 Pet.

i. 10; John vi. 27.

[157] 1 Tim. ii. 5; James iv. 12; Hos. x. 2.

[158] 1 Cor. i. 13; Gal. iv. 8; 1 Cor. viii. 5; Phil. iii. 18.

[159] The causes of superst.i.tion (and so of hypocrisy) are, pleasing and sensual rites and ceremonies, excess of outward and pharisaical holiness, over-great reverence of traditions, which cannot but load the church, the stratagems of prelates for their own ambition and lucre, the savouring too much good intentions, which openeth a gate to conceits and novelties. Lord Bacon's Essays. As P. Callimachus Exper.

describeth Attila, that he was a devourer of flesh and wine, &c. and yet Religione persuasionibusque de diis a gente sua susceptis, usque ad superst.i.tionem addictus. Calli. p. (mihi) 339.

[160] Psal. lxxviii. 37; 2 Cor. vii. 11.

[161] 1 John i. 6; ii. 3-5, 15; iv. 6-8, 20; v. 3; Matt. x. 37.

[162] The similitude of superst.i.tion to religion maketh it the more deformed: and as wholesome meat corrupteth into little worms, so good forms and orders corrupt into a number of petty observances. Lord Bacon's Essay of Superst.i.tion.

[163] Non quam multis placeas, sed qualibus stude. Martin. Dumiens. de Morib.

[164] Luke xiv. 26, 27.

[165] Magna animi sublimitate carpentes se atque objurgantes Socrates contemnebat. Laert. in Socrat.

[166] When Chrysippus was asked why he exercised not himself with the most, he answered, If I should do as the most do, I should be no philosopher. Laert. in Chrysip. Adulationi fdum crimen servitutis malignitati falsa species libertatis inest. Tacitus, lib. 17. Secure conscience first, Qua semel amissa, postea nullus eris.

[167] Rom. xiv.; xv. 1-3.

[168] Gal. v. 10; 1 Cor. v.

[169] Quicquid de te probabiliter fingi potest, ne fingatur ante devita. Hieron. ad Nepot. Non solum veritas in hac parte sed etiam opinio studiose quaerenda est, ut te hypocritam agere interdum minime pniteat, said one harshly enough to Acosta, ut lib. 4. c. 17. p. 413.

[170] 1 Pet. iv. 12, 13, &c.; 1 Cor. iv. 12, 13; Acts xxii. 22; xxiv.

5, 6; Matt. v. 10-12.

[171] Psal. x.x.x. 5; lxiii. 3; 2 Cor. v. 9; Rom. viii. 33, 34.

[172] Matt. x.; John xv.; Matt. xxvii.; Heb. xii. 1-3; 1 Pet. ii. 21-23.

[173] We must go further than Seneca, who said, Male de me loquuntur, sed mali; moverer si de me Mar. Cato, si Laelius sapiens, si duo Scipiones ista loquerentur: nunc malis displicere, laudari est.

[174] See Dr. Boys' Postil. p. 42, 43. Marlorat. in 1 Cor. iv. 3.

[175] The open daylight of truth doth not show the masks, and mummeries, and triumphs of the world, half so stately and gallant as candlelight doth. Lord Bacon's Essay of Truth. Why lies are loved.

[176] Offendet te superbus contemptu; dives contumelia, petulans injuria, lividus malignitate: pugnax contentione, ventosus et mendax vanitate: non feres a suspicioso timeri, a pertinace vinci, a delicato fastidiri. Senec. de Ira, l. 3. c. 8.

[177] Unus mihi pro populo est, et populus pro uno. Sen. Ep. 7. ex Democr. Satis sunt mihi pauci, satis est unus; satis est nullus.

Senec. Epist. 7. Socrates was condemned by the votes of more against him of his judges than those that absolved him; and they would not suffer Plato to speak for him. His sentence was, Jura violat Socrates, quos ex majorum inst.i.tuto suscepit civitas, deos esse negans, alia vero nova daemonia inducens. Laert. in Socrat.

[178] Quae ego scio populus non probat: quae probat populus ego nescio.

Sen. Epi. 29. Imperitia in omnibus majori ex parte dominatur, et mult.i.tudo verborum. Cleobulus in Laert.

[179] Inter haec quid agant quibus loquendi a Christo officium mandatur? Deo displicent, si taceant; hominibus si loquantur. Salvian.

ad Eccles. Cath. 1. 4.

[180] Even for the greatness of your services, you may perish, by the suspicion and envy of those great ones whom you served: as is proved by the case of Saul and David, Belisarius, Na.r.s.es, Bonifacius, the two sons of Huniades imprisoned, and one slain, and mult.i.tudes such like.

[181] Persium non curo legere: Laelium Decimum volo: ut Lucilius.

[182] I may add that you have guilty consciences to please. And the guilty are, as Seneca speaks, like one that hath an ulcer, that at first is hurt with every touch, and at last even with the suspicion of a touch. Tutum aliqua res in mala conscientia praestat, nulla securum.

Putat enim etiamsi non deprehenditur, se posse deprehendi; et inter somnos movetur, et quoties alicujus scelus loquitur, de suo cogitat.

Sen. Epis. 106. Prima et maxima peccantium pna est pecca.s.se.--Haec et secundae pnae premunt et sequuntur, timere semper et expavescere et securitate diffidere. Epis. 97. Tyranno amici quoque saepe suspecti sunt. Tu ergo, si tyrannidem tuto tenere cupis, atque in ea constabiliri, civitatis principes tolle, sive illi amici, sive inimici videantur. Thrasybulus in Epist. Periand. in Laertio. Plerorumque ingenium est, ut errata aliorum vel minima perscrutentur, benefacta vero vel in propatulo posita praetereant; sicut vultures corpora viva et sana non sentiunt, morticina vero et cadavera tametsi longe remota odore persequuntur. Galiadus in Arcan. Jesuit, p. 55.

[183] When the divines of Heidelberg appointed Pitiscus to write his Irenicon, his very writing for peace, and to persuade the reformed from apologies and disputes, did give occasion of renewed stirs to the Saxons and Swedish divines, to tell men that they could have no peace with us. Scultet. Curric. p. 46.

[184] They that saw Stephen's face as it had been the face of an angel, and heard him tell them that he saw heaven opened, yet stoned him to death as a blasphemer. Acts vi. 15; vii. 55-60.

[185] Socrates primus de vitae ratione disseruit, ac primus philosophorum d.a.m.natus moritur. Laert. in Socrat. p. 92. Multa prius de immortalitate animarum ac praeclara dissertus. Ibid.

[186] Fama liberrima principum judex. Seneca in Consolat. ad Martiam.

[187] Aristides having got the surname of Just, was hated by the Athenians, who decreed to banish him: and every one that voted against him being to write down his name, a clown that could not write came to Aristides to desire him to write down Aristides' name. He asked him whether he knew Aristides; and the man answered, No; but he would vote against him because his name was Just. Aristides concealed himself, fulfilled the man's desire, and wrote his own name in the roll and gave it him: so easily did he bear it to be condemned of the world for being just. Plutarch in Aristide. It was not only Socrates that was thus used, saith Laertius, Nam Homerum velut insanientem drachmis quinquaginta mulctarunt, Tyrtaeumque mentis impotem dixerunt, &c.--"Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?" Matt. xxiii.

[188] Vis esse in mundo? Contemni et temnere disce. Abr. Bucholtzer.

[189] Socrates dicenti cuidam, Nonne tibi ille maledicit? Non, inquit, mihi enim ista non adsunt.

[190] Dicebat expedire, ut sese ex industria comicis exponeret: nam si ea dixerint quae in n.o.bis corrigenda sint, emendabunt: sin alias, nihil ad nos.

[191] Dicenti Alcibiadi, non esse tolerabilem Xantippen adeo morosam: Atqui, ait, ego ita hisce jampridem a.s.suetus sum, ac si sonum trochearum audiam--et mihi post Xantippes usum, reliquorum mortalium facilis toleratio est. Laert. in Socr.

[192] Hoc habeo fere refugii et praesidii in meis aerumnis: sermones c.u.m Deo, c.u.m amicis veris, et c.u.m mutis magistris. Bucholtzer.

[193] Nemo altorum sensu miser est sed suo: et ideo non, possunt cujusquam falso judicio esse miseri, qui sunt vere sua conscientia beati. Salvian. de Gubern. 1. 1.