PARADISE WITHIN US OR The happie Mind By Robert Crofts LONDON Printed by B. Alsop and T. Fawcet 1640. To the Readers FOrmerly having studied out of many good Authors divers notes concerning this Subject of Mans Happinesse And since for private use written the same together in a Booke Entituled VIA FOELIX The happy Way in three generall Partitions The first of Terrestriall The second of Morall And the third of Divine happinesse on Earth And further devided the same in divers particular Sections I have new lately for some Reasons abstracted and new studied out of the same but in a different manner and method and with divers alterations and additions Three little Generall Treatises The first of Earthly happinesse Entituled The Terrestriall Paradice The second this of Morall happinesse Entituled Paradice within vs. And the third of Divine happinesse on Earth Entituled Heaven within vs. The first and the third I have lately publish't This having Relation to both the other I thought not amisse to be impressed last of the three Having beene encouraged in the former I doe intend hereafter to Review new study and publish the Rest Being a farre more particular and large discourse of this Subject Happinesse on Earth and Physically Philosophically Historically and Divinely digested But not entertaine you with a Prolix Preamble Forasmuch as the Preface to the Readers In the Terrestriall Paradice may in divers respects bee applyed to this Booke also without any further Introduction I proceed THE CONTENTS OF the Booke DIVIS I. THE felicity of a vertuous Mind II. How to gaine the same III. How the body worketh upon the Mind And how we may and ought thereby to mainetaine and encrease the Felicitie thereof IV. Directions concerning Phlegmaticke Complexions and such as are of slow dull lazie heavie minds exciting to Quicknesse Livelinesse and cheerefulnesse V. Concerning Sanguine Complexions And such as are of Intemperate voluptuous minds Also of conceited and vaine-glorious Exciting to Meeknesse and Humility also to moderate delectation VI. Of Chollericke Complexions and such as are of haughty Ambitious Angry Rash violent furious minds exciting to Mildnesse Meeknesse Moderation and Tranquility to affable sweet and pleasing conditions VII Of Melancholly Complexions Of Covetous fearefull Sad sorrowfull Minds exciting to moderate desires and contentment to fortitude cheerfulnesse Ioy and happinesse VIII Of mixt Complexions and various minds of such as are of Envious malicious Revengefull Cruell obstinate froward sullen desperate minds exciting to love kindnesse Clemency humanity and to all vertue pleasantnesse delights and felicities IX That by vertue the mind becomes apt and well prepared to enjoy the choycest and sweetest felicities on Earth X. That by vertue also the Mind becomes apt and well disposed to know attaine and enjoy as farre as the same is capable the felicities of Heaven on Earth PARADICE WITHIN US OR The happie Mind THE I. DIVISION Shewing briefly The felicitie of a vertuous Mind THE happie Mind which in this compendious Treatise J intend to discourse of is That true Joy and Tranquillity of spirit which is said to be the fruit and Crowne of vertue or wisdome and by some Philosophers The soveraigne Good of Man It is an equall firme amiable pleasant and joyfull estate of the soule whereby the same becomes free from Sloth from intemperate desires and from all ill passions and perturbations And possest with true wisdome lightsomnesse tranquillity affability pleasantnesse and well prepared to enjoy either in contemplation or action the most delightfull felicities both Terrestriall and Heavenly So that while wee can maintaine our minds in this estate wee may sweetly enjoy even a Paradice of happinesse within us Who traceth right in Vertues wayes most certainely shall find A Paradice of sweetest joyes within his happie Mind But let us view the same more plainely The fountaine and object of this happinesse in the Mind which we now seeke for is Vertue or true Wisdome the Compound light and directresse thereof is Reason Vertue in generall is described to be A laudable pleasant and constant habit in the Mind which being wrought in us by divine Reason impresseth in our understanding a perfect knowledge of the true good according whereunto as it is requisite and expedient we must Love or hate take or leave The same being the never erring directrix of our affections and actions and alwayes rewarding us with internall Tranquillity Ioy and happinesse More particularly Vertue is usually devided into foure principall Parts namely Prudence Temperance Fortitude and Justice To which all other vertues are subordinate and may be reduced And from which as from the maine branches thereof they as lesser boughes doe spring and proceed All which with their peculiar definitions descriptions differences and kinds are at large described in the Ethicks and are the subject of Morall Philosophy A million of good and happy effects doth vertue produce in such as doe conforme themselves thereunto The same instructeth us to over-sway and command all the Inclinations and Actions of the mindes irrationall parts bridling and cutting off all both the excesses and defects of passions and affections keepeth them within the circle of mediocrity directly betweene too much and too little Expelleth out of the mind all vices as Covetousnesse Ambition Intemperate desires Choller Sloth Melancholy all base feare of danger and of death and armeth with resolution and comfort even against all manner of Tribulations The same also accomplisheth us with true and habituall Wisdome Verity Sobriety Magnanimity Confidence Patience Perseverāce Honesty Gratitude Humanity Liberality Clemency Courtesie Affability Cheerefulnesse Pleasantnesse and all good and amiable conditions It is a light unto our life shewing us that which is good and comely and teaching us how to performe all good and laudable Actions It giueth us also a will to all manner of goodnesse and to declare the same by a sweet and loving Conversation Vertue also advanceth the mind and infuseth thereinto a generous desire of aspiring even to the highest part of that which is most excellent most profitable and most honourable exciting the same to goe on constantly freely fearelessely and cheerefully though through many dangers and difficulties to all good and worthy Actions Maketh a man truely worthy of honour alwaies filleth the mind with good and high resolutions and with inward delectation and happinesse Soe as there is nothing Terrestriall that merits to bee in equipage with Divine vertue The same is a daughter of Heaven If wee could truely know the excellency thereof we should presently commit our selves to her perfect guidance we should incontinently embrace the same with deerest affections And know that the Incirculing Armes of the whole world embraceth nothing that is nigh so excellent as Divine vertue The same being a divine and Immortall quality in us alwaies excites our minds to some good Action or other by an earnest desire to make the same agreeable unto God himselfe and to obtain an Eternal guerdon given by him in the world
of evils and miseries proceeds from such vitious Chollericke passions First to the body for as Choller heated stirres vp anger and fury so these Cholerick passions againe by reason of the neere relation betweene passions and humours doe stirre up and so increase the Cholerick humors in the body inflaming the same as also the Blood Liver Heart and vitall Spirits hinders also rest and sleepe spoyles the stomacke and distempers the whole body Swolne veines imperfect loud and distractive speeches fiery eyes deformed and furious lookes are the outward Symptomes of these Chollericke passions To looke in a glasse when a man is throughly angry and Chollericke is enough to make him ashamed of himselfe hee should see himselfe like a Mad-man And also to the Mind These Chollericke passions hinder the divine vertues of Patience Meekenesse Affability Courtesie Contentednesse and all pleasing quiet amiable conditions all vertue true pleasure and happinesse The same are most pernitious both to our selves and others A chollericke man is like one that burneth himselfe in his neighbours house He fireth his owne Mind with trouble and vexation while he endeavoureth to trouble and vexe another And in this mad fury he will admit of no reason no admonition He then careth not to loose friends or procure Enemies These Inconsiderate Rash Chollericke passions doe blind the mind and prepare the same ready to runne and throw it selfe into all vices evill actions and consequently Miseries As into Riot Prodigality excessive Gaming ill rash Bargaines Swift revenge Into Cursing swearing quarrelling fighting stabbing and the like Wee often see and heere Histories are replenished with Examples of the evill and miserable effects of these passions As of quarrels Contentions Hatred Strife Murder And Ruine of whole Townes Cities Common-wealths and Kingdomes by reason thereof These Chollericke passionate men are commonly all in extreames which are commonly very hurtfull When the kind fit takes them they are often so overkind as they wrong themselves And in a fit or anger or quarrelling they are usually so extreame as they are sometimes beaten often anger and loose their friends and also many times doe or suffer some rash and suddaine Mischiefes These kind of passions also deprive men of justice and patience Yea of reason it selfe which usually comes in the Rere and is joyned with Repentance Their repentance also is somtimes a Rage against themselves even to desperation rather then mixt with good Resolutions and thereupon joyfull hopes as the same ought to bee Yea these passions prepare the Mind to a wild madnesse and fury destroying Wit Reason Art and all goodnesse There is little or no difference betweene a Mad man and a Chollericke man in his fits And if these chollericke angry passions by often use and reiteration grow from a disposition to a habit the same becomes Madnesse Further let us avoyd the occasions and causes of these Rash angry violent Chollericke passions Such as are too much selfe-love Pride and Presumption bereaving us of humility and of reason which ought to bridle and moderate the fury of these bedlam passions Let us also by a manly and stay'd mind eschew nicenesse Curiosity and Impotency which most commonly possesse Women Children some old men and hasty fooles Those who will fret bee angry and take pepper in the nose at every trifle Also let us avoid all Immoderate doting on Earthly things The losses whereof or crosses wherein extreamely frets and vexes such as love them too much and sets their passions on fire And on the contrary let us endeavour by reasons light to resist and withstand the beginnings of these passions and to quench them as we would a fire kindling within us Let us watch over our Dispositions Give Reason leave to interpose resolve Divert our thoughts to some other businesse or occasion And let us by all meanes endeavour to bee of a sweete pleasant amiable meeke courteous mild unpassionate Temper They are much deceived who thinke that Meeke Courteous and mild dispositions are contrary to Fortitude Meeknesse as one faith is a vertue that belongeth to the couragious Part of the Soule whereby wee become contrary to the weakenesse in fearefull women and old men hardly moved to Anger and Choller for these passions most commonly reside in frailest weakest most fearefull and worst Spirits In fraile Women weake Old men in Covetous Ambitious vaine-glorious Cowardly dissolute vitious men There is no heart more worthy and couragious then such a one as can represse these furies No worthier Trophies then those which may bee procured from within our selves No triumphs more glorious then when our Reason can leade our conquered affections as slavish servants and servile Captives which otherwise will insult over us like bloody Tyrants and violently take away the peacefull Tranquility and pleasures of our Soules That Paradice within us which we seeke for Let us further consider that all accidents whereby these passions are provoked proceed from divine Prudence which may move us to be patient and contented Let us also endeavour as neere as wee may to resemble the divine Nature in all meeknesse goodnesse Learne of mee sayth our Saviour for I am Meeke Also the heavenly glory and rewards which hee hath prepared for us should make us scorne to bee of so weake so fraile so unworthy a temper as to bee furious passionate and too much perplex our selves for mundane Trifles Let us then in opposition to these Cholericke passions by all meanes endeavour to bee of quiet peaceable courteous mild affable meeke and of all sweet and pleasing conditions which like the Adamant attract the love of all good men by their amiable and pleasing Graces This mild affable unpassionate pleasing peacefull temper as one sayth resembles the highest Region of the Ayre wherein are no Clouds no Tempest but all fairenesse Serenety and Peace The same is the Character of a pleasant and happie Mind Who doth this Peacefull pleasing Mind possesse Is fit to enjoy the sweetest Happinesse His life resembles a faire lightsome day In which hee rides to Heaven all the way As in a Paradice His mind enjoyes Most pleasing sweetnesse in these happie wayes THE VII DIVISION Of Melancholy Complexions of Covetous Fearefull Sad Sorrowfull minds Exciting to Moderate desires and contentment to Fortitude Cheerefulnesse Ioy and pleasantnesse THe humor of Melancholly though it bee cold and dry of it selfe yet commonly retaineth in it some heat and moisture of the other humours Men of this Complexion if they adict themselves to seeke and follow Vertue and Piety especially if their Melancholly bee with bloud and other good humours moderately humected and allay'd commonly become of excellent wisedome Sharp Iudgements and seeme to doe many things so notably as if they were furthered by some divine Jnstinct or motion Insomuch as oft-times even their Solitarinesse and melancholly dispositions become most profitable sweet and pleasant to them But otherwise if vice possesse them they commonly become very Covetous nigardly fearefull sad lumpish
men Let us also cōsider that this melancholy passion of feare may justly bring upon us those evils which we feare in distrusting divine Providence so that fearing to become miserable makes men oftentimes to become that which they feare and so turnes their Immaginary false feare into certaine miseries How many languish in feare of losses Poverty of disgrace c. And so live miserably and need not how many loose their friends by distrusting them and game diseases by fearing them yea some have dyed even for feare to dye so that feare seemes to serve to no other end but to make men find that which they fly from Feare hindereth a man in all good great and excellent undertakings and Actions Also in all joy and happinesse both earthly and heavenly It dejects and debases a man below the nature of beasts who by reason of their weakenesse want of reason are free from this folly and neuer afflict themselves with evils past or feares to come but freely enjoy all pleasures incident to their nature save onely when they feele present paine Let us not then so abuse that Divine and heavenly light of reason which God hath given us so as thereby to become more slavishly fearefull and worse then beasts which wee ought rather to imploy in the search and Enjoyment of fortitude Magnanimity and all felicity But if any man be so borne to a fearefull nature that yet notwithstanding by Prudence and wisedome he can acquire true valour and fortitude and when there is need thereof temper his naturall feares therewith hee is not onely free from basenesse but worthy of exceeding admiration who can change a weake passion commonly bad into true vertue Let us therefore by Prudence endeavour to arme our selves with fortitude against all vnworthy feares Let us consider that it is notable folly to feare that which cannot be avoided to make our selves miserable beforehand or to feare that which it may be will never come or if it doe may be converted to our felicity for oftentimes that which we most feare brings indeed most happinesse Nor is it amisse sometimes to Imagine the worst of evils before-hand but to this intent onely to endeavour to prevent or contemne not feare them Let us therefore endeavour to prepare our selves with fortitude and Resolution against the greatest miseries that may happen to imitate the best and most Couragious men to be as valiant as David to kill Goliah if he were now here not to feare ten thousand people Psal 3. Nor though the Earth should be remooved and the mountaines into the midst of the Sea Psal 46. Though wee were even at deaths doore Psal 23. So let us endeavour not to feare any danger in a good cause like St. Paul to be perswaded that neither life nor death Angels nor Devils shall ever be able to seperate us from the loue of God in Christ Feare not little flocke saith our Saviour it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a Kingdome what a grosse absurdity is it for a Son of God an heire of heaven to be afraid Let us further consider the noblenesse and excellency of that heroicall vertue of fortitude which is the Contrary to and remedy of this timorous passion True fortitude is placed betweene the two extreames of Cowardlinesse and Rashnesse These excellent vertues namely Magnanimity Confidence Patience Noble resolutions Constancy and perseverance are the parts and Branches thereof It is as the most difficult the most glorious vertue and produced most excellent effects It is an Immortall good seated in the soule Arming the same against all perils and miseries taking away all unworthy feare of dangers difficulties sorrowes and of death it selfe advanceth the mind in a generous manner Prudently without feare Cowardlinesse and perplexity on the one side and without Impudency Rashnesse and Carelesseness on the other to aspire to and accomplish that which is most excellent and Commendable and finally Crowneth the mind with Triumph joy and happinesse Sorrow also is a passion most proper to this melancholly cold and dry humour It is a weake and languishing feeblenesse of spirit dejecting both body mind causing all other perturbations and is directly opposite to and hindereth alloy and Cheerefulnesse Yet truely some sorrowes some Crosses and afflictions in this world are in divers respects even necessary and good for us The same makes us wiser better more circumspect and diligent in all good and vertuous wayes Quickens refines and Illuminates all goodnesse yea all ensuing joyes and happinesse in vs. It is a fit mixture of Crosses adversity and sorrowes that makes even Prosperity joy and felicity vnwearisome most sweet and pleasant to us However we should rejoyce to know that all sorrow will haue an end either in heaven or before and that joy after sorrow past is most delightfull yea that sorrow it selfe may be converted also to the encrease of our heavenly joy and happinesse aswel on Earth as in heaven eternally as I haue elsewhere shewed more plainly Of all which See Terrestriall Paradice Section ij And Heaven within vs the xj Division Yet indeed we ought as farre as we can possible by all good meanes to avoid this melancholly passion of sorrow and all the occasions thereof The rather because it is the misery of all evils all vices and evill passions commonly end in this of sorrow sadnesse Jt defaces and dejects both body and soule It hindereth sleepe and rest causeth an ill stomacke ill digestion and consequently maketh a man looke pale leane dry wither'd and hindereth the whole health and welfare of the body and of the mind also weakning and quelling the same causing therein many other perturbations as feares cares distrust sometimes desperation and many mischiefes The same is most contrary to nature and reason which excite us to joy and cheerefulnesse J meane herein onely of worldly sorrow It maketh the mind unapt to performe all goodnesse and worthy enterprises or to receive any good any felicity for even pleasures and good fortunes are often displeasing to sorrowfull men to whom every thing is unsavoury as dainty meate to a corrupted stomacke and curious Musick to a distempered mind It maketh life it selfe tedious and irkesome and often causeth death before the time Let us therefore even scorne to bee of such a Melancholly sorrowfull weake dejected and pernitious temper Let us by all meanes endeavour to avoyd the same Let us as much as wee may possible by all pleasant and joyfull thoughts banish this displeasant passion of sorrow out of our minds Let us often bee thinking of such delights and customes as are most pleasing to our minds And sometimes let us recreate the same with change of delights and Novelties Sometimes it is also good to delight the mind in variety of pleasant conversation with moderate and lawful sports and Recreations with Banquetting Mirth Musicke and with all good and harmlesse pleasures in a good manner to drive away these melancholly