Selected quad for the lemma: judgement_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A52444
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A forest of varieties ...
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North, Dudley North, Baron, 1581-1666.
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1645
(1645)
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Wing N1283; ESTC R30747
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195,588
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250
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may bee a Rhetoricall sweetnesse in numbers spirit and proportion charming enough without it I little respect old rules further then reason Reason is the rule of rules they often a buse us and domineere in an usurped authority as if wee were lesse men and had inferiour or lesse faculties of soule then those from whom wee received them I could never find the found reason of subjecting Comicall representations to the Compasse of a day to tell mee that otherwise our conception becomes overstrained is nothing I can as easily stretch my fancy to a yeare as a day and to think my selfe at Rome in an instant from London or Paris as to imagine my selfe at White-Hall being in Black-Fryers I unwillingly lose a good story or any thing that is good upon nicenesse of form Non oportet destruâ—â—e substantiam propter accidens was a good rule I long since learnt of an honest Physitian in case of bestowing more time and paines in study then stood with health Fame is the farthest from my thoughts and yet you see how famous they prove in their production Crescunt eundo like Elias his cloud they unmeasurably spread I intended but a word or two I wonder I should bee so tedious and talkative in Penne and Inke who am nothing lesse in ordinary businesse and conversation I hate a long Tale especially dramaticall in the way of Dialogue and Scene yet if you take but a piece of mâ—e at once I hope you may at least as well indure the reading as I the writing this and all my longest peeces are of one Boutade performed at a breath part of a mornings exercise My sonnets of devotion howsoever versification bee of a more elaborate nature insomuch that most miserably it will sometimes fall out I beleeve with the best and most fluent that the subjection of a rhyme or measure shall cost more time and toyle then writing a Page in Prose and in conclusion matter it selfe must yeeld yet were they generally of a suddain birth they needed no Midwifery but what they found from above You finde also in them an irregularity of here and there a superumetary couplet at the end the peece is compleat without them It also requires your indulgence to matter beyond forme I naturally hate to bee clogd yet hath fortune manacled mee from my youth want of libertie in the free use disposing and ordering of my selfe and mine have infinitely prejudiced my contentment and fortune I take the boldnesse to say it in presumption of such a moderation to have ever accompanied mee and so much discretion as it may bee you will beare mee witnesse that had I not beene check't in the mastery of my selfe and mine I should have done much better in the world But I grow as well diffluent as tedious and therefore with desire of your pardon and constant profession of most sincere affection towards you I rest Your most faithfull Brother and servant Septemb. the 24. 1638. MY really worthy friend It is my unhappinesse to misse your company at my returne to London and that which aggravates is the heavinesse of your occasion wherein I participate in the great losse of your most valuable brother such a gravitie such a soliditie such vertue and Pietie are too much wanting in men of your and his profession Pride covetousnesse licentiousnesse ingratitude hypocrisie usurpe the place of that sweetnesse meeknesse hospitalitie and good affections to God and goodnesse which were wont to bee more frequent in your calling as most incident and proper unto it and held before in coparcenere betwixt you he hath now resigned to your Primogeniture Gods judgments are to be feared when the world is not found worthy of such Inhabitants So young so suddainly dead under the practise of Physick ministers fresh occasion to continue my Invectives against that Caball of collusion calamitous to mankind and nature All the good wee usually get by relying on Physick is the neglect of other better meanes to subsist and presumption in evill diet and disorder I feare I shall hardly see you before I leave the towne and when I shall see it again I know not wee are not fit for one another Mihi jam non Regia Roma Sed vacuum Tibur placet atque imbelle Tarentum The civill pretiosa fames the maligne fires fitter for a Chasing-dish then a Chimney and yet as costly as a Bustum for a great Roman carcasse or Phoenix the Parrat heartlesse complements Gossipping discourse Petty censures of this mans seate house habit estaâ—e and the others last action Lawsuite child marriage entertainment purchase sale and bargaine which the walking spirits of Stowes Chronicle Journalists and Commentators of the time carry from house to house were I never so rich I could not now indure with patience It is enough if not too much to bee by vaine experience made to bee no Gull of ignorance The towne is for Professors Trades-men Officers Courtiers and such as feed on others tables to live in for pleasure and profit Others if they bee wise will not make themselves a silly prey to the proud Shopkeeper who playes the Spider in the Cobweb and is now become come as familiar as hee was wont to be humble and crouching Non tanti emo poenitere non tanti esurio I will not buy ill ayre strait lodging ill drinke and little good company so deare I could possibly finde as much pleasure and esteeme in the Towne as another if my mind were sutable but Quid decet ac verum est have long been my affectation the vanities idle visits Playes and pastimes of young men become mee not other mens tables appeare a kind of intrusion and importunitie nor is a solitary retirednesse pleasing unto mee Serious men are too busie and I am too serious for the lighter sort I will wish plentie and goodnesse of time and howsoever it pâ—ove will helpe it by feeding on my owne pasture and rather inrich then impoverish by dearth and high prices fâ—r the more they grow the more I will spare and contract nor will I dwell at the meâ—cy of exaction with choice of place Tenues luxuriantur opes I cole nunc urbes quicquid non praestat amicus Cum praestare tibi possit Avite locus When the Citie had most of my affection I conceived reason sufficient why a Countrey Gentleman might as I often found grow soone weary and distasted costly and ill lodging and dyet enforced neatnesse importunate visits perpetuall cap curtesie and complements ceremonious acquaintance tedious and chargeable businesse pastime to seeke his wonted healthfull exercise Ayre and command turn'd to a sedentary and servile observance and a sootie Ayre such as the thickest rined vegetables rather pine then live in this and much more may well occasion him to thinke himselfe out of his element when hee is drawne to towne where hee finds honesty and goodnesse accounted â—implicitie and that Rusticitie where not to weare his Beard Cap Cloathes and make his
at thy good pleasure set a period to that life which I only hold in expectation of a happy discharge and dissolution by thee Amen Amen November 5. 1637. A Physitian once told me upon repaire to him for my disease that I was to resort to God call upon him for his grace and guide my self by him or to like effect I thought it then strange and improper in his profession but I have found it spoken like my good Angell for there is no such anchor nor such receipt to a troubled to an agitated soule The melancholy humour once predominant in despite of judgement and resolution will obtrude importunate thoughts and fancies take occasion from almost every object to make a troublesome and discoursing impression make things otherwise of easie resolution anxious and vexing representing difficulties as fast as designes whereunto free spirits are not in the least sort obnoxious they are in a cleare light and alacrity delighted in themselves entertained and diverted with ordinary conversation businesse and pastime whilest the other droope and howsoever often naturally quick would play upon the wing the melancholy clog checks and pulls them to the ground God alone is the Hercules that can purge that Augean stable the Aesculapius who can give reliefe ordinary Physick is but a palliation nay often an aggravation of the disease The powder called Kellowayes powder with Gods blessing is to bee prized for it goes to the root it workes at length and so as the patient may sleep play goe on in an ordinary diet and course a common and long course which urgeth keeping in weakens and makes tender is mischievous and incompatible if such powder breed inconvenience Epsam waters though but a draught in a day at morning wonderfully allay and rectifie as also the use of new and good Sider these with Gods grace constant exercise and a moderation of the minde are incomparable Probatum God hath given mee so strong a body and minde to beare the injuries I have received from my self accident and course of Physicke that I admire May it please him to make my life and death to his glory November 6. 1637. GOod God of thy great goodnesse continue thy mercy upon me and as I have hitherto proved the truth of all worldly things to bee nothing but vanity and vexation of spirit so be thou to me joy and comfort It is true that my nature education course of life and disease require society and diversion the consideration of my past and present fortune is full of sadnesse but thou canst raise light out of darknesse and joy from sorrow thy good spirit is the spirit of comfort and without thee there is truely none thou hast blessed me so farre as to have allayed satisfyed and expelled all my worldly fancies I have fitted my house and fortune to my Son in as much as I affected and was capable blesse it unto him and by thy grace exempt him from these unquietnesses which I have found there is no perfect no solid happinesse in this world teach him to beare such inconveniencies as may be better born then sought with an unquiet unsetling to be avoided it hath bin to me a great disease to over-humour my self therein there will in all conditions be something amisse a minde curious and impatient is a great mischief Thus appeareth that which hath been observed that men seldom or never betake themselves to good and right courses till such time as a pressing necessity I might rather say God compelleth and enforceth them Necessity I have ever said is the sure reformer then and not till then and often after smart we contract our selves and contain and refrain our extravagancies presumption dissolution and luxuriant fancies November 6. 1637. A Searching spirit falne amongst the crudities and cavills of this worlds Sophistry and imperfections is a great oppressor it were well if contentions lay only as some affirme in the brink and not in the depth of Sciences search shews it farre otherwise It is a happy spirit that can passe lightly over the things of this world and even in matters and mysteries of Faith Curiosity is neither safe nor allowable I am something of the nature of those dogges which comming into a strange place rest not till they have ferited every corner It is likewise a naturall importunity with me in any thing that concernes me in minde body or fortune not to take full rest till such time as to my capacity I have run over all that seemeth to belong to such resolution willingly I sit not down short of other men I mean in honesty decency and knowledge much lesse short of my self Yet if we seriously and curiously minde these earthly things they are full of scruple and vexation if we slight them a deliberating nature wants much of satisfaction and contentment and doth as it were brutifie and sin against it self yet so shall it as well Minus dolere as gaudere It is that which I have long since found and affirmed that if we set our hearts on these worldly matters they prove foolishnesse and perturbation if we be cold and dull in them all things are alike but it is the misery of a hot complection that it requires entertainment hot full and stirring c. Where grace once infuseth it self all earthly troubles are evacuated that alone is friends pleasure and advantage enough it is all-sufficient all consolation perfect then good God the inestimable gift of Faith which thou hast given me it is truely thy gift flesh and blood cannot afford nor relish it thy wayes to it are wonderfull often sharp but most sweet in the conclusion I kisse thy rod I rejoyce in my afflictions and feele that I had perished if I had not perished Thou who hast rebuked the winds and they have obeyed thee rectifie my spirit and calm all suggestions all stormes within me Then may melancholy be infectious but not mortall then shall I live and die to thee and thy glory which is all my ambition all my prayer November 7. 1637. I Have not found any thing more strange nor been more abused in any thing then that constitution of soule which is frequent and more or lesse incident to us all so mixt so Heterogene so pregnant and right of understanding in some things and so dull and wrong in others such commonly are they which most disturb the world as dissonant from weaknesse as true strength of judgement exhibiting according to the saying such productions as a fool could not and perfection would not so appearing docile and capable of reason and improvement and yet in effect so insensate incorrigible and unalterable as it is hard to conceive how such incongruities and inconsequences should consist in the same subject or in truth how they can quadrate with a soule rationall and instructible but there is assigned to us all a naturall stature in all things which no Art food or industry can inable us to exceed The ordering of