第4章

Sect。XXVIII。 WHENthoulookestupontheImperfectionsofothers，allowoneEyeforwhatisLaudableinthem，&；thebalancetheyhavefromsomeexcellency，whichmayrenderthemconsiderable。whilewelookwithfearorhatredupontheteethoftheViper，wemaybeholdhisEyewithlove。InvenemousNaturessomethingmaybeamiable：PoysonsaffordAntipoysons：nothingistotally，oraltogetheruseleslybad。NotableVirtuesaresometimesdashedwithnotoriousVices，&；insomevicioustempershavebeenfoundillustriousActsofVirtue；whichmakessuchobservableworthinsomeactionsofKingDemetrius，Antonius，andAhab，asarenottobefoundinthesamekindinAristides，Numa，orDavid。Constancy，Generosity，Clemency，&；LiberalityhavebeenhighlyconspicuousinsomePersonsnotmarktoutinotherconcernsforExampleorImitation。ButsinceGoodnessisexemplaryinall，ifothershavenototherVirtues，letusnotbewantingintheirs，norscorningthemfortheirViceswhereofwearefree，becondemnedbytheirVirtues，whereinwearedeficient。ThereisDrossAlloy，&； Embasementinallhumantemper，andhefliethwithoutWings，whothinkstofindOphyrorpureMetalinany。ForperfectionisnotlikeLightcenter’dinanyoneBody，butlikethedispersedSeminalitiesofVegetablesattheCreationscatteredthroughthewholeMassoftheEarth，noplaceproducingallandalmostallsome。Sothat’tiswell，ifaperfectMancanbemadeoutofmanyMen，andtotheperfectEyeofGodevenoutofMankind。Time，whichperfectssomeThings，imperfectsalsoothers。CouldweintimatelyapprehendtheIdeatedMan，andashestoodintheintellectofGoduponthefirstexertionbyCreation，wemightmorenarrowlycomprehendourpresentDegeneration，andhowwidelywearefallenfromthepureExemplarandIdeaofourNature：forafterthiscorruptiveElongationfromaprimitiveandpureCreation，wearealmostlostinDegeneration；andAdamhathnotonlyfallenfromhisCreator，butweourselvesfromAdam，ourTychoandprimaryGenerator。 Sect。XXIX。 QUARRELnotrashlywithAdversitiesnotyetunderstood；andoverlooknottheMerciesoftenboundupinthem。 ForweconsidernotsufficientlythegoodofEvils，norfairlycomputetheMerciesofProvidenceinthingsafflictiveatfirsthand。ThefamousAndreasDoriabeinginvitedtoaFeastbyAloysioFieschiwithdesigntoKillhim，justthenightbefore，fellmercifullyintoafitoftheGoutandsoescapedthatmischief。WhenCatointendedtoKillhimself，fromablowwhichhegavehisservant，whowouldnotreachhisSworduntohim，hisHandsoswell’dthathehadmuchadotoEffecthisdesign。HerebyanyonebutaresolvedStoickmighthavetakenafairhintofconsideration，andthatsomemercifullGeniuswouldhavecontrivedhispreservation。TobesagaciousinsuchintercurrencesisnotSuperstition，butwaryandpiousDiscretion，andtocontemnsuchhintsweretobedeafuntothespeakinghandofGod，whereinSocrates&；Cardanwouldhardlyhavebeenmistaken。 Sect。XXX。 BREAKnotopenthegateofDestruction，andmakenohasteorbustleuntoRuin。PostnotheedleslyonuntothenonultraofFolly，orprecipiceofPerdition。LetviciouswayshavetheirTropicksandDeflexions，andswimintheWatersofSinbutasintheAsphaltickLake，thoughsmearedanddefiled，nottosinktothebottom。IfthouhastdiptthyfootintheBrink，yetventurenotoverRubicon。RunnotintoExtremitiesfromwhencethereisnoregression。IntheviciouswaysoftheWorlditmercifullyfallethoutthatwebecomenotextemporewicked，butittakethsometimeandpainstoundoourselves。WefallnotfromVirtue，likeVulcanfromHeaven，inaday。BadDispositionsrequiresometimetogrowintobadHabits，badHabitsmustunderminegood，andoftenrepeatedactsmakeushabituallyevil：sothatbygradualdepravations，andwhilewearebutstaggeringlyevil，wearenotleftwithoutParenthesesofconsiderations，thoughtfulrebukes，andmercifulinterventions，torecalusuntoourselves。FortheWisdomofGodhathmethodiz’dthecourseofthingsuntothebestadvantageofgoodness，andthinkingConsideratorsoverlooknotthetractthereof。 Sect。XXXI。 SINCEMen&；WomenhavetheirproperVirtues&；Vices，&；evenTwinsofdifferentsexeshavenotonlydistinctcoveringsintheWomb，butdifferingqualitiesandVirtuousHabitsafter；transplacenottheirProprietiesandconfoundnottheirDistinctions。 LetMasculineandfeminineaccomplishmentsshineintheirproperOrbs，andadorntheirRespectivesubjects。HoweverunitenottheVicesofbothSexesinone；benotMonstrousinIniquity，norHermaphroditicallyVitious。 Sect。XXXII。 IFgenerousHonesty，Valour，andplainDealing，betheCognisanceofthyFamilyorCharacteristickofthyCountry，holdfastsuchinclinationssucktinwiththyfirstBreath，andwhichlayintheCradlewiththee。Fallnotintotransformingdegenerations，whichundertheoldnamecreateanewNation。BenotanAlieninthineownNation；bringnotOrontesintoTiber；learntheVirtuesnottheVicesofthyforeignNeighbours，andmakethyimitationbydiscretionnotcontagion。 FeelsomethingofthyselfinthenobleActsofthyAncestors，andfindinthineownGeniusthatofthyPredecessors。RestnotundertheExpiredmeritsofothers，shinebythoseofthyown。FlamenotlikethecentralfirewhichenlightnethnoEyes，whichnoManseeth，andmostmenthinkthere’snosuchthingtobeseen。AddoneRayuntothecommonLustre；addnotonlytotheNumberbuttheNoteofthyGeneration；andprovenotaCloudbutanAsteriskinthyRegion。 Sect。XXXIII。 SINCEthouhastanAlaruminthyBreast，whichtellstheethouhastaLivingSpiritintheeabovetwothousandtimesinanhour；dullnotawaythyDaysinsloathfulsupinity&；thetediousnessofdoingnothing。TostrenuousMindsthereisaninquietudeinoverquietness，andnolaboriousnessinlabour；andtotreadamileaftertheslowpaceofaSnail，ortheheavymeasuresoftheLazyofBrazilia，wereamosttiringPennance，andworsethanaRaceofsomefurlongsattheOlympicks。TherapidcoursesoftheheavenlybodiesareratherimitablebyourThoughtsthanourcorporealMotions；yetthesolemnmotionsofourlivesamountuntoagreatermeasurethaniscommonlyapprehended。SomefewmenhavesurroundedtheGlobeoftheEarth；yetmanyinthesetLocomotions&；movementsoftheirdayshavemeasuredthecircuitofit，andtwentythousandmileshavebeenexceededbythem。Movecircumspectlynotmeticulously，&；rathercarefullysollicitousthananxiouslysollicitudinous。ThinknotthereisaLyonintheway，norwalkwithLeadenSandalsinthepathsofGoodness；butinallVirtuousmotionsletPrudencedeterminethymeasures。 StrivenottorunlikeHerculesafurlonginabreath：FestinationmayprovePrecipitation：Deliberatingdelaymaybewisecunctation，andslownessnosloathfulness。