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cause_n efficient_a faith_n instrumental_a 2,644 5 11.5403 5 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
B07702 The true choice of a friend. Shewing the comfort of a faithfull friend. : A friend is neerer then a brother..; Reasons metamorphosis and restauration Goldwell, Charles. 1625 (1625) STC 11989; ESTC S92716 48,079 300

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in the kingdome of Christ I will not lighten my burden by the memory of a corporall death but make my yoake easie by dying daily without which to die well can neuer be 34 The Laborinth of nature is more intricate and vnsearchable then the mysteries of diuinity Man hath a whole world of causes effects and ends of scruples and ambiguities in the one to exquire and discusse by himselfe and the helpe of his owne inuention and when hee hath strained his capacitie to the highest he must leaue more knots and difficulties vntouched then hee hath cleered and vntyed and what hee imagines perspicuously resolued lyes still in the way of reasonable opposition as partly true and partly false in all like the Sunne with the better halfe eclipsed But in the Theory of saluation if any more causes be necessary to be known then the efficient meritorious and instrumentall which are the Father the Sonne and Faith any other effect then the sauing of the soule or other end but the glory of God we may finde them truely reuealed by the Spirit of trueth I will passe by that immense Vniuersitie of Gods inscrutable wisedome with admiration and conteine my selfe in the suruey and search of mine owne little world where I finde a tenement of mortall clay inhabited with an immortall guest the reason whereof in their differences I conceiue to bee that the body being framed out of so fraile and contemptible a matter should waxing lofty be beaten down with that inherent apprehension Thou art but dust and ashes And thy soule contrarywise ennobled with the diuine image of her infusor should loath to vouchsafe an inglorious descent to the allectations of the flesh The end of their coniunction also that the body as through the ponderousnes of the predominant elements it declineth sinketh downeward so through the propertie of innate corruption it yeelding to a sluggishnesse sleepe and death in sinne should by the liuely and quickning faculty of the soule be eleuated and rouzed vp to associate her in an heauenly conuersation 35 I find an euen carriage is best that may impart curtesie to all too much familiaritie and secrets vnto none It was a wise shift of a noble Romane whose Lady importunate to know what was debated of that day at the Councell Table when he could not but in some sortsatisfie her instant demand hee answered the Priests had seene a Larke flying in the ayre with a golden helmet on his head and holding a speare in his foote which being heard shee broke the matter immediately to one of her maids shee againe to an other of her fellowes and so forward till it was spread through the Citie and passed for currant but then it receiued a checke and so was staied Some friends are of that sort they will curiously diue into ones brest and by serious inquisition make themselues priuy to the secrets of his knowledge to such I will commit no more then what my minde is ouercharged withall at the present meaning to take it vp againe in another place others are faster lockt but as faulty otherwise though Muske bee one of the sweetest perfumes it is none of the wholesomest and familiaritie though delightfull is incommodious for the concomitant disrespect and following contempt 36 So farre as auncient Fathers accord with holy Writ I will make vse of them and thus I will carie Augustine in my heart Bernard in my mouth and the rest of them before mine eies for soundnesse befits our faith a patheticall and feeling speech is requisite in praier and religious precedents are necessary for the whole life 37 Humane society is like a Ruby that being put into the fire certain houres becommeth afterward of the colour of a burning coale If I addict my selfe to the company of the vertuous I shall bee answerably affected if of the laciuious and disordered of a like blemished reputation 38 Alfonsus King of Aragon after an oratour had concluded an ample Panagerick of his praises answered if thou hast said trueth I thanke God for it if otherwise God grant mee grace that I may doe it Vicious philaty is now generall Vmpire insomuch as he that praiseth most pleaseth best and it is hard to say whither that good King did more heartily attribute glory vnto God or most now arrogate merit to themselues The faithfull heere see God darkely through a glasse which may bee a reason the greater part see him not at all and therefore glory in a sacralegious vsurpation of his due praises as not acknowledging any supernaturall efficient cause besides their owne nature and dexteritie If any thing praise worthy proceed from mee I am but the instrument God is the principall agent It is the effect of his grace and the manifestation of his goodnesse God in euery creature set a chracter of his glory in man his whole image that he might bee knowne to bee wholy his and not his owne 39 Cruell inuentions when flowing from ambitious policy are vsually layd frustrate to the vexation of the complotters the proceedings of Pharaoh and Haman against the Iewes doe witnesse it wherein we see cares and anxieties by due iustice aggrauated vpon them both and Gods people safely deliuered from the malice of them both If I be not conscious I will not feare the disfauour of the mightiest their most enuious proiects of iniustice shall bee reflected from the glasse of mine innocencie to their owne trouble and disgrace 40 When the Sonnes of God ioyned themselues to the faire daughters of men they brought foorth no other fruit but Giganticke and monsterous ofsprings and when the soule condescendeth to the smooth enticement of the flesh thereon followeth the conception of hellish thoughts which breake foorth into horrid and mischieuous designements 41 The Scythian will accuse the Romane ayre as infectious and breeding feuers which is neuerthelesse very wholsome The Blackmoore wil deride the Indian as ill coloured lesse beautifufull then himselfe So custome and nature acquainting euery one best with his owne confirmes in him also a better liking of it then of others I will accustome my selfe so neere as I can to that which is good that I may dispraise nothing in others but what is euill and like nothing in my selfe but what I cannot liue well without 42 I will not bee to liberall in praising any nor to forward this sauours of folly that of flattery bee his vertues resplendent they will shine to others as well as to me if more concealed and priuate they shall be mistrusted of the ignorant for al me and I haply for them if more particular in application to my selfe then to others they will be neglected as lesse materiall and impertinent much forwardnesse is a a note of indiscretion euincing my affectation rather of the party then of his good parts Whatsoeuer I know of the well deseruing though I may speake it publikely for the incouragement of others yet will I bee no common actor but rather a studious