Selected quad for the lemma: virtue_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A25117
|
A Treatise of civil bonds and obligations shewing the nature, use, and dangers of such contracts : with cautions against suretiship / by R.A.
|
R. A.
|
1688
(1688)
|
Wing A28; ESTC R4069
|
83,886
|
209
|
for the utmost improvement of our Nature and the building of us up in all goodness which can better all Relations and sweeten all conditions I cannot pretend that this Brief is a full Description of the best course but I cannot think any way well worthy of the Name of Religion that comes short of it And by this small pointing the Christian Reader may guess at the whole body of practical Divinity But when I look upon the Genuine Excellences of true Religion the manifold advantages and most comfortable priviledges that grow upon it or are annexed thereto Methinks I am descending very low when I would bow this great and Sacred thing to my present undertaking Yet tho' it be but a small Benefit if a real truth I may represent Religion as a means to preserve men from Suretiship For First This gives them the true measures of that Justice which respects themselves and their Families which being timely thought on and kept in remembrance can make a Strong Defence against all the solicitations of needy Borrowers who would make their Friends great Debtors for them He that gave being to the World hath made his Wisdom and Goodness manifest by implanting Laws in the things which he hath made for their well being He hath built our Nature with an instinct for our own preservation and this Law which as it were is incorporated in our â—rame is not abrogated but highly improved by our Religion and as Nature prompts us to a vigilant care of our â—elves so it propagates this care to the â—ranches that issue from us The very â—ame natural principle which obliges us â—o our own good diffuses it self proporsionably to the encrease and extent of our Families in consideration whereof we must avoid whatever may be damageable to our selves or to those we have a natural influence upon and therefore should not consent to the Imposition of any such Yoke upon us the bearing whereof iâ— inconsistent with the Dictates of that principle our Nature is furnished with Secondly Religion teaches us to be wise as Serpents as well as harmless aâ— Doves and allows us to avoid all thingâ— hurtful to our selves so far as we can with safety to our innocence which justly claims our principal care When no contract is concluded or promise made wâ— have our Liberty and in prudence should shun all such Contracts and promise which are either apparently detrimentaâ— or suspicious as to our lawful interest But when we have freely contracted with others in matters prejudicial to our selves and within our power and have madâ— promises to our own hurt we cannot râ—treat with safety to our integrity Foâ— we have given away a right which waâ— once in our power and they to whoâ— the right is given may justly demand whaâ— is their due That Wisdom which is without innocence may be injurious to otheâ— that innocence which is without Wisdoâ— â—ay be hurtful to our selves If we hurt â—ur selves we must bear it if we injure â—thers we must make satisfaction It is â—uch better to suffer harm than to do wrong but best of all to be clear from â—oth and so to save our selves as to keep â— pure Conscience still And the Wisdom â—f the Serpent is a good preservative of â—he innocence of the Dove as fencing Mens condition from such difficulties and â—reights whereby many are tempted to â—he practice of frauds and immoralities A prudent conduct of all concerns might â—ave them the trouble of contriving many â—hifting tricks which their rash and heedâ—ess folâ—y makes them guilty of Had Aâ—anias of whom we read in the Acts of â—he Apostles been wise for himself Acts 5.1 c. he might have kept the possession that was in his own power and saved himself from a sudden Death But willing to reserve part of the Price for which it was sold â—nd yet to appear as generously kind to the Church as other Christian Disciples â—n his time he was tempted to lie unto God upon which he was immediately struck with a fatal judgment Such who will act well for themselves should consider what they are going to do For it is a true saying that delay hath undone multitudes for the other World and hast hath undone many for this But seasonable consideration and time well manageâ— saves all in both The neglect whereof bâ—trays them either to a pensive remembrance of their foolish rashness or to remediless Misery That Wisdom is beâ— placed which is at the head of all buâ—ness that which comes after either degenerates into craft or sinks into Repentance For dear bought experience is a very dry Seed that can yield little Fruit unless iâ— be bathed in Tears and then it maâ— grow up for anothers use but rarely ripen time enough for him that sowed it Iâ— all matters of moment a precipitant setting out commonly runs down to a sorrowful conclusion Better then be Wisâ— at First and always prosperous than tâ— learn Knowledge by the amazing lighâ— which flashes out of a sad miscarriage Iâ— is much more healthful and pleasant to walk out into the clear Air when the Sun begins to gild the Mountains with hiâ— cheerful Beams than to catch our way when the day is gone by the lightening which is darted from a Terrible Cloud That Light is most seasonable which shews us the safe and right Path when we begin to move The greatest Lustre â—ines too late when by a tedious wanâ—ing we are quite gone out of our own â—owledge Being we are made capable â— deliberation it well becomes us to â—ink over the matters that are before us â—nd never to undertake any thing of imâ—ortance without such consideration â—hich is proper thereto for so doing â—ell suites with the honour of that reason â—e are endowed with Thirdly True and Right Religion aâ—ounds with Graces that are of a thriving â—ertue as Faith in God and Devotion â—his Name Temperance in the use of â— things accommodate to our Natural â—ecessities or suitable to our politick caâ—acities Discretion and diligence in all â—siness Justice and equity in all civil â—ansactions Meekness Peace and sweet â—oncord in Society Loyal submission to â—overnment Patience and Fortitude in â— such difficulties and afflictions which â—e common to mankind Contentedness â— every condition In Sum a most taking â—imility and an Universal Love breathâ—g in all words and stirring in all actions â—hese are Vertues that can win Fortunes â—d when obtained can keep them in subâ—ction A firm perswasion that God is a â—ost bountiful Rewarder of those that diligently seek him makes frequent Addresses to the Throne of his Grace whereby men are rendered capable of hiâ— Blessing and consequently are filled with hope of success in all good undertakings Temperance cuts off all luxuriant suckers all inordinate excesses and vain superfluities and gives fair limits to all expences Discretion finds out the most advantagious Methods in business And diligence improves an handful of Seed to a greaâ— encrease Justice links