Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A19611
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The terrestriall paradise, or, Happinesse on earth. Written by Robert Crofts
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R. C. (Robert Crofts)
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1639
(1639)
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STC 6044; ESTC S109076
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37,271
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114
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good use therof TO the knowledge of contentment in the felicities of the earth we must adde a third intention to wit good use therof if wee mean to be hapâ—â—â— herein â—o much therfore as wee do possesse and may â—oy of these earthly happinesses let us use the â—e well and so let us enjoy them freely and â—erfully without this good use and if instead â—r of we abuse them what can wee expect but â—elicity and misery therin even in this world 〈◊〉 all abuses that is all immoderate and vitious â—ires intentions and ill uses therof are eneâ—es to health peace and happines A multitude 〈◊〉 passions perturbations cares fears griefs â—es diseases distempers and miseries are inciâ—nt to all vices to all abuses and no men even on earth live more unhappily more miserabâ— then abusive vitious men While therefore wee view the pleasantneâ— number variety excellency and happy effects terrestriall felicities wee are by all means to very carefull that in the use and enjoyance thâ— of we exceed not moderation and plunge oâ— selves into the dangers and abuses therof and instead of happines therin cause to our selvâ— much grief and misery For why First Satan is very busie with these earth pleasures and felicities prompting us to abuse and so endevouring by their ill use to steal awâ—â— our hearts from all heavenly graces and so froâ— God himself hee offers us a terrestriall Paradiâ— also and cryes All this will I give thee if the wilt fall down and worship me But he doth notably cozen and mock us hee deals with us as hâ— did with Adam though he offers us Paradise teâ— us we shall be as Gods c. yet hee gives us bâ—â— an Apple and such an Apple as the eating theâ— of will bereave us of all good fill us with all evill and cause us to be driven out of the Paradise oâ— all felicities into a world of miserie His offerâ— and gifts are like that gay painted Box of Pandora stuffed with all manner of evils and miseries if wee could see the evill and misery of the condition we should think it infinitely too great â—te to buy his painted proffers yet these â—hly things are sometimes his principall baits â—atch fools withall wherby he carries them â—ll wickednes I mean such fools as King Daâ— speaks of and King Solomon Fools are we by â—on of our transgressions Let us take heed we not into his unhappy miserable fooles Paraâ— Also the strong torrent of our sensuall corrupâ—ns being once set a running after vice and â—ckednes will often break down the banks of â—deration and stint and if wee be not very â—tchfull and cautelous flow to all manner of â—esse and dissolutenesse for wickednes and vice â—ery deceitfull and with its painted vanities â—d sugred baits of seeming pleasure draws and â—â—res our sensuall appetites sometimes unaâ—res beyond the bound-marks of Reason and â—mperance and so blinds us as that we are ofâ—n perswaded that we are about the businesse health and moderate recreation when indeed â—â—e are canvasing for intemperance and our â—ndes even ready to be drawne away to wicâ—dnes and impiety And therfore we had need 〈◊〉 be carefull and cautelous The World also even these earthly felicities 〈◊〉 themselves have many dangerous temptaâ—ons to vice and wickednes and consequently to hinder the happines thereof and to make miserable therin even on earth The riches of the World being an huge heaâ— and many benefits springing from the good 〈◊〉 therof will if we take not heed draw our hearâ— to covetousnes and covetousnes having once eâ—tred our souls will possesse us with a base sordâ— desire of riches and wee shall become therebâ— unjust deceitfull pinching niggardly and full 〈◊〉 unworthy conditions Alwayes possest witâ— cares feares suspitions and discontents especially at every losse or crosse though of smalâ— value Honour also having a bright lustre shining tâ— the World and being much desired of great spirits doth tempt us to that towring and toplessâ— vice ambition possessing us with a ravenous dry unsatiable thirst therof making us to become fulâ— of vain plots fears perplexities and exceeding desperate and melancholy at every accident 〈◊〉 thwarting our desires therin And pleasures also with their painted and sugred baits allure us and if we beware not will cause us to fall into unlawful lusts intemperance and all manner of prodigalities which are at their best but fugitive follies and their end melancholy and misery and so to plunge our selves into a multitude of griefs aches diseases passions perturbations and miseries which are incident to temperance Idlenesse Lust Riot and all imâ—oderate and dissolute use of Pleasures So that it appeares vice and wickednesse â—hough the same have an outward shew of â—auty yet is inwardly like a painted sepulture 〈◊〉 horrid foule and ugly full of base desires â—amefull actions dangers vanities impediâ—ents anguish distempers passions perturbatiâ—s and miseries even in this life the same at the â—est is surely but a Fools Paradise To the intent therfore that we may be happy respect of these earthly Felicities let us by all â—eans endevour to avoid the dangers and abuses â—erof all unlawfull immoderate and evill desires â—â—d uses therof And in all respects let us endevour to use the â—me wel The good use of earthly felicities conâ—â—steth in three points The first concerning our â—lves the second others The third and princiall Gods Glory to which the two former are so to be directed First concerning our selves Temperance is â—he razor and the rule of enjoying earthly Feliciâ—es the razor to cut off all abuses all strange and â—itious superfluities and the rule of that which 〈◊〉 good and necessary keeping us alwayes withâ—n the precincts of reason and vertue Let us therâ—ore in the use and enjoyance of earthly pleasures and Felicities still observe a due moderation anâ— order in respect of matter measure time manner and all occasions in such sort as the same maâ— best tend to our well being as to the preservation of nature The maintenance of our bodies 〈◊〉 mindes in due temper and vigour so as we maâ— be able to perform all the duties and actions 〈◊〉 our life with alacrity cheerfulnes and pleasantnesse There are no men in the world that live morâ— pleasantly healthfully prosperously and in all respects happily then the moderate vertuous man for by reason of his temperance in the desires and in the use of these earthly Felicities his body commonly becomes free and cleer from crudities rheumes noysomnes ill diseases and distempers and so most healthy agill lightsome and expedite to all the motions appertaining therunto his minde also thereby becomes freâ— from sloth dulnes evill passions and perturbations his affections well tempered and his whole soul apt perspicuous free and cheerful in the performance of all the actions and exercises therof His whole life resembles a fair bright and pleasant day wherin are no clouds no tempest but all fairnes serenity and peace hee seems to go