without passion bumbast words or intricate speeches and with the greatest mildness that may be In all disputes that you may prevent prejudices in your Antagonist gain esteem in him and avoid needless Discourse grant all you hear him propose that you reasonably can and that may tend to the clearer detecting the Truth Superstition in Religion is worse than down-right Atheism and quite contrary to true Religion Illorum pietas mera impietas For 't is the reproach of the Deities It being most contumelious to have any opinion of GOD that is unworthy his Divine Majesty 'T is better to have no knowledge at all of him Atheism never disturbed the peace of the State or Church for an Atheist is an observer of Sense Reason the Laws of the Land his Reputation and Preservation But Superstition has been the overthrow of many a flourishing Kingdom Tyrannizing over the fancies minds and Reasons of Men. 'T is a wonderful thing to consider how mens minds are naturally inclined to Superstition than which nothing is more unbecoming a Gentleman Tot mundi Superstitiones quot Coelo Stellae The Superstitions of former times were innumerable Sacrifices and Ceremonies making Images of all matter and adoring them when they had done multiplying so many Rights Torments and Vexations as may well become the Devil to be the Author and maintainer of them 'T is strange to see it so Universal in time past and to continue even to this day That wise and knowing People should take more pains to go to Hell than we do to go to Heaven The Superstition of the Pagan Gentiles If we take a view of the Japans the Banians in Gusart the Chineses Idolatrys the Americans of old in Mexico especially the Mahometan Priests we shall find that the Papists vows Poverty Obediences Orders Merits Martyrdoms Fastings Alms good works as they call them Pilgrimages c. are no more than they do and that their blind Zeal and Idolatrous Superstition in all respects is much at one little or no difference Nay 't is hard to say which is the greatest which is the grossest He that shall read the Papists Golden Legend the Jews Talmud and the Turks Alchoran will conclude that such gross Fictions Fables vain Traditions Prodigious Paradoxes and Ceremonies could never proceed from any other Spirit than that of the Devil himself The Egyptians that pretend so great Antiquity three hundred Kings before Amasis and as Mela writes 13000 years from the beginning of their Chronicles that bragg'd so much of their knowledge of old of their Wealth and Power that vaunted of 20000 Cities yet at the same time as Diadorus Siculus Records their Idolatry and Superstitions were most gross worshipping the Sun and Moon under the name of Isis and Osyris and afterwards such * These Indigites were Men Canonized or Deified and so called Divi. Men as were beneficial to them or any Creature that did them good In the City of Bubasti they adored a Cat n Herodotus Ibis and Storks an o Pliny Ox p Macrobius Leeks and Onions The Syrians and Chaldeans had as many proper gods of their own q See Lucian Vera Historia de Dea Syria Morny Cap. 20. De veritat Relig Guil. Stukius Sacrorum Sacrificiorumque Gentil Descript Peter Faber Semister Lib. 3. Cap. 1 2 3. Selden De Diis Syris Purchas Pilgrimage invention The Romans borrowed from all besides their own gods which were Majorum Minorum Gentium Multitude of gods in all Ages and among all Nations adored as Varro holds certain and uncertain Some Coelestial Select and great ones others * Adopted gods Indigites and * Demi-gods Semidei * Were such as had charge over Mens Houses Lares * Ghosts or Spirits Apparitions Lemures Dioscuri Soleres and Parastatae Dii Tutelares among the Greeks the same as Boni and Mali Genii among the Latines Gods of all sorts for all Functions Some for the Land some for the Sea some for Heaven some for Hell some for Passions Diseases some for Birth some for Weddings Husbandry Woods Waters Gardens Orchards r Pax quies salus Libertas c. All Nations and Offices Kings Emperours and Valiant Men that had done any good Office for them they did likewise Å¿ In this manner he being dead his Body was carried with all Solemnity and Ceremony of the chief Nobility and Senate with Songs Hymns they performed to the gods themselves to a Tabernacle or Tent made with a great pile of Wood in form of a Tent with three other less Tabernacles one upon the top of the other the lowest being richly adorned with Gold outwardly but within full of combustible Matter where they lay him within the second Tabernacle so he that is next to be Emperour sets fire to the lowar Tabernacle and then le ts loose immediately a flying Eagle from the top of the Tabernacle as supposed to carry his Soul into Heaven Canonize and adore as gods 't was usually done and the Devil was ready still to Second their intents Statim se ingessit illorum Sepulchris statuis Templis aris c. He crept into their Temples Statues Tombs Altars and was ready to give Oracles Cure Diseases do Miracles c. As by Jupiter Aesculapius Tiresias Apollo Mopsus Amphiarus c. Dii Semidii for so they esteemed them gods and demi-gods Some were medii inter deos homines between men and gods as Max. Tyrius When a good Man dyed they held his Soul ex homine Daemon evadit becomes forthwith a Demi-god and in commiseration helps his poor Friends here upon Earth Informs Succours c. Punishes those that are bad and do amiss as a good Genius to protect and govern mortal men appointed by the gods so the Platonists will have it ordering some for Provinces some for private men some for one Office some for another for all intents places Creatures they assign gods Neither do they Deifie good men only but Tyrants Monsters Devils Nero's Domitians Heliogabalus's Beastly Women and Errant Whores Nay they make gods on such ridiculous occasions as Children make Babies As Mornaeus notes Their Poets make gods Et quos adorant in templis Ludant in Theatris as Lactantius scoffs Hesiod reckons up at least thirty thousand gods Varro makes three hundred Jupiters Flora was a Rich Harlot in Rome and for making the Common-wealth her Heir her Birth-day was solemnized long after and to make it a more plausible Holy-day they made her Goddess of Flowers and Sacrificed to her among the rest The Statue of Antinous the Emperour Adrians minion was ador'd by him Venus a notorious Strumpet as common as the Boggards to Mars Adonis Anchises and yet she as great a Goddess as the rest and as much renowned by the Poets who were their chief Doctors and Fathers of their Church Cuna was assigned to Cradles Diverra for sweeping Houses Nodina Knots Prema Promunda Hymen Hymenaeus for Weddings Comus
Defects and Infirmities of both Body and Mind if any be As they grow up and become capable the best seasoning of their minds and Spirits will be with Piety and the Fundamentals of Religion besides other Education before Discours'd of not being too morose on the one hand nor too indulgent on the other to let them run on in any Vice till it become habitual But if possible by fair admonitions and advice reclaim them If that won't do the Rod of Correction must bring it out provided it be done seasonably moderately and without passion lest the Child should apprehend himself corrected not so much for his own fault as thy humour and Rage and become rather worse than better afterwards Neither is it for thee only to have a tender care over thy Children while such to see them well Educated and Instructed but to have a watchful Eye over them even when at years of Discretion whether they live according to the Rudiments they have received that they may be encouraged or reprehended as occasion serves giving them thy self a good Example which usually is more prevalent than precept For without it neither Admonition Reproof nor Correction can either take place or be well attempted when guilty of the same which thou thy self shouldest Reprehend and Correct in thy Son There are several other Circumstances that belong to a Parent towards his Children but most of them if not all being Intersperst in the fore-going Discourse to avoid prolixity which I hate and tautology I shall proceed SUBSECT V. To Strangers EVen Strangers as well as those of a Gentleman 's own Countrey City or Town ought to be civilly treated forasmuch as all Men are of one Stock Lineage throughout the whole world And nothing is more commended to us than Love nay we are commanded to love one another by the Founder Author and Finisher of our Religion and Faith And yet there are a sort of dirty People mean-spirited and froward that hate all that are but above them or Strangers though they are enjoyned not to vex a Stranger but rather to entertain them for many thereby have unawares entertained even Angels from Heaven And though this little giddy People make he greatest outward shew of Piety godliness yet they have not so much knowledge as to know this is Scripture but 't is no wonder since the wicked one has sown his Tares among the Wheat in most of the Cities and Towns of England in the late Rebellion which I fear will never be rooted out by the Clemency of Government till the conflagration of all things and they receive the just Judgment of Hypocrites I cannot nor do not generally tax the Gentry with this Crime but this I may and can safely say that many that go under that Denomination are highly hereof culpable But I look on such either as Spurious or Up-starts or tainted with the fore-mentioned sin that is as the sin of Witchcraft I hope a Gentleman worthily so called will not only avoid it but make it a mark of distinction from such as Usurp the Title undeservedly And therefore since as to their Quality I have spoken before I shall here descend SUBSECT VI. To Friends and Enemies YOur Acquaintance may be many yet perhaps your Friends but few True Love is the bond of Friendship grounded upon Virtue not Vice He that loves another for his Company in Drinking Whoring Gaming or any other Vice only is his Enemy rather than Friend Friendship is Zealous and Instrumental for each others good So that he that is Friendless is as it were out of the World or alone 'T is not Company makes Society since in the midst of it a Man may be in solitude without Love As the Latine Proverb is Magna Civitas Magna Solitudo A great City is a great Wilderness For generally there is so much Self-love Covetousness Fraud and Deceit that not one of an hundred you will find true-hearted And then what Society unless merely on the account of Profit Thus a Man may live all his Life in the world without pleasure in solitude and misery there being no greater ease to a Mans Soul Spirit and Heart then to discharge its fulness by communicating his imprison'd thoughts to a Friend whereby Joys are revived and increased Sorrows and Troubles kill'd and impaired Besides by this Communication of thoughts a man 's own Intellect is not only bettered but avoids splitting on the Rock of his own flattering thoughts and arrives into the safe Haven of the good and impartial advice and Counsel of his Friend both in Relation to his Affairs Deportment Great benefit hath risen from Friendly Counsel for the Tongue of the wise man is Health Animi est Remedium oratio Good advice is of force to quiet even a wounded Spirit if it be wisely administred 'T is Incantationis instar a Charm Aestuantis Animi refrigerium The true Nepenthe of Homer which was no Indian Plant but an opportune and seasonable speech Alt'ring and moving a Man more then Circes Cup Helena's Boul Medea's Unction or Venus's Girdle As z In Plotinus's Life written by him Porphirius the Philosopher in a discontent as he was going to make away himself being met by his Master Plotinus was pacified Reconciled to himself and Redeemed é faucibus Erebi by his seasonable and comfortable advice So powerful a Charm is a discreet and dear Friend Ille Regit Dictis Animas Temperat Iras. Nay what cannot he indeed do And how many good Wits good Natures and Excellent parts have been lost and sunk for want of the Admonition and Counsel of a Friend In all Affairs two is better than one especially since a Man is apt to be partial to himself whence a Friend becomes a Man's second self And if he be a true and faithful Friend indeed a Man's Life becomes as it were double all Affairs whatsoever appertaining to his Felicity in this World being given to him and his Assistant since he may perform them by his Friend even at a distance Nay and those things which is another advantage that it may be he cannot neither would it be convenient for him to do himself he can perform with ease by his Deputy Since Friendship then is of so excellent use great care is to be had of maintaining it To which Faithfulness in all secrets and trusts is a great requisite Nay 't is beneath a Gentleman to betray his Trust reposed in him by an Enemy much more by a Friend such a Crime is unsufferable irreparable unpardonable almost for it wounds to the bottom of the heart Constancy also is a very good band to Friendship and so is gentle prudent and seasonable advice on all occasions For this revives a Man's Love when he sees his Friend as it were unexpected watching over him for his good And such a Friend is better than a Brother Shew not thy Levity and weakness in forsaking an old Friend which is very injurious let not every
stands at a stay Increasing or decreasing in Health Strength Wealth and subject to many casualties and misfortunes as well from our selves as others Nothing better than a contented mind GOD has but one Son without Sin but none without Affliction Cast thy care on him and trust in him for Worldly Sorrow causeth Death 'T is but thy mistake and over-weenedness to thy self to think thy misfortunes the greatest Consider how many thousands want what thou hast Compare conditions with thy Inferiours as well as Superiours Be thankful for what thou hast remember thou deservest nothing good at all at Gods hand It may be it would be worse with thee wer 't thou in better condition Shall a living Man complain The wise disposer of all things knows what 's best for thee be therefore content Comfort in sickness What canst thou then complain of Art thou sickly Remember the Flesh Rebels against the Spirit and that which hurts the one must needs help the other and 't is for the good of thy Soul 'T will put thee in mind of Death and Judgement and bring thee out of thy self wean thee from the World and bring thee nearer to God Against Losses Hast thou Losses Covet not Wealth and Honour overmuch which rightly considered puff Men up with Pride Insolency Lust Ambition Cares Fears Suspition Trouble Anger Emulation Envy all Diseases both of Body and Mind Damning indeed more Souls than all the Devils in Hell being the in-let of all manner of Sin and Vice High-place macerateth a Man with fears of Death Perils Degradations Treasons Treacheries c. 'T is Lubrica statio proxima praecipitio Shrubs are more secure from storms than lofty Oaks and Cedars There is much more happiness in a meaner State For Riches are the Devils hooks by which he catches Men And as the Moon is fullest of light when farthest from the Sun that gives her that light So the more Wealth a Man has the farther commonly he is from GOD. Riches consist not in the multitude of Gold and Silver but in the use of it and a contented mind For a Man cannot be said to have more then he makes use of though he has never so much by him He is Rich that has bread to eat and a Potent Man that is not compelled to be a Slave If Fortune take away other means it should not take away our Minds Le ts defie her therefore and come what will come Bona mens nullum tristioris Fortunae recipit incursum If it can be amended do it if not make the best of a bad Market but either way let it not trouble thee Against Imprisonment and Banishment Art Imprisoned Be not troubled we are all Prisoners in this Island Nay the whole World is a Prison Thy Soul is imprisoned in thy Body How many take delight to Navigate and is a Ship any thing but a Prison Nay a Prison may be in some cases desired How many worthy Men have been Imprisoned all their Lives to the publick good and their great Honour Art Banish'd What then Patria est ubicunque bene est That 's a Man's Countrey where he can live at ease 'T is a Childish humour to long after thine own Chimney Corner many would think it a Banishment to be sent to their Home How many Travel for pleasure and it may be to that very place whither thou art Banisht Friends are every where to him that behaves himself well mll places are alike distant from Heaven and GOD is as well in one place a another So to a Wise anm there is no difference of places Against Death of Friends Hast thou a Friend Dead Grieve not as without hope thou must go to him Since he is taken from this miserable World thou hast more Reason to rejoyce than mourn Is it a Wife Thou mayst haply find another as good or make her so therefore never despair Or now thou art at Liberty keep thy self so never be in Love with thy Fetters though of Gold many a Man would have been rid of his willingly before thou wast bound 'T was a pretty Child indeed but who knew whether he would be an honest man or a knave we should rather rejoyce for such as Dye well All things must have an End Houses Castles Cities Families Provinces and Kingdomes have but their times of living only longer than we they have their times of Flourishing Decaying and Periods How many Cities doe we read of famous in former times that are now scarce villages Niniveh that great City is Destroyed and so is Jerusalem That Glorious Temple what 's become of it Mycenae was the Fairest City in Greece Jam Seges est ubi Troja fuit And Babylon hath nothing remaining but Rubbish and Pieces of Walls and yet was once the greatest City in the World Nay we have Liv'd to see the Death of our own ancient and chiefest City London and its interment in Ashes Greece of old was the nursery of Sciences the seat of civility and Humanity now a Den of Thieves and over-run with Barbarism Italy in the time of the Romans was Lady of the World Rome the Queen of Cities now Divided by many petty Princes and the Empire translated to Germany of old time uncultivated and rude Epirus a goodly Province in time past now left desolate of good towns and almost Inhabitants Seventy Citys overthrown by Paulus Aemilius Sixty two Cities in Macedonia in Strabo's time Thirty in Laconia that now are hardly villages All the Cities in Peloponesus so Delicately built and adorned Destroyed where are those 4000 Cities of Aegypt those 100. Cities in Crete Are they now come to two in old Italy there were 1166. Cities and now Leander Albertus can find but 300. and nothing near so populous as in the time of Augustus They mustred 70 Legions in former time which now the known World will scarce yield Nay the world it self must have an end How is it that we are so troubled then at the Death of one another when we are less Durable This is also our foly and great weakness Art Slighted undervalued and Contemned This I confess would move some tempers but to a stayd wise Man 't is nothing For he will counterpoize them with their contraries or make them familiar to him that they Against Contempt and slights may be the less grievous or on mature deliberation avoid or remove the cause An Old Souldier in the World me-thinks should not be troubled come what will come but ready to receive and stand the brunt of all Encounters especially since Faber quisque est Fortunae suae nemo Laeditur nisi à seipso In some kind Prosperity and Adversity are in our hands and every mans mind is stronger than Fortune and leads him to what side he will Our Fortunes Friends Enjoyments Wife Children Parents c. ebb and flow with our Conceits of them Please or displease as we construe apprehend and apply them to