[544] Eccles. ii. 2; vii. 6; Eph. v. 4.
[545] Prov. xxii. 17; xii. 18; xiii. 20; xv. 2, 7, 31.
[546] You will else be but ingeniosi nugatores, as one called him that wrote a great book on a little matter.
[547] 1 Tim. iv. 12; Job xii. 12; Eccles. xi. 10.
[548] 1 Cor. xv. 33.
[549] Socrates inter loquendum sæpe, agente id orationis vehementiâ, jactare digitos solebat, ita ut à plerisque rideretur, et despectui haberetur: quæ tamen omnia æquo animo ferebat. Laert. in Socrat.
[550] Si quis vero eorum mitior, et veritati aliquatenus propior, videretur, in hunc quasi Britanniæ subversorem omnia odia telaque sine respectu contorquebantur, et omnia quæ displicuerint, Deoque placuerint, æquali saltem lance pendebantur, si non gratiora fuissent displicentia. Gildas. Quod autem quædam de illo inhonesta et maligna jactantur, nolo mireris: cum scias hoc esse opus semper diaboli, ut servos Dei mendacio laceret, et opinionibus falsis gloriosum nomen infamet; ut qui conscientiæ suæ luce clarescunt, alienis rumoribus sordidentur. Cyprian de Cornel. Epist. ad Antonian. Hæc et nos risimus aliquando. Tertul.
[551] Malignity so blindeth the understanding that it maketh men ascribe all the evil that befalleth them, to that which is the only way to happiness: every bad success that the heathen Romans had, they imputed to the christians: saith Paul. Diaconus, lib. 3. when Radagusus the Goth invaded the Romans: Pavor infinitus Romam invadit; declamatur a cunctis, se hæc ideo perpeti, quod neglecta fuerunt magnorum sacra Deorum: magnis querelis ubique agere: et continuo de repetendis sacris celebrandisque tractatur: fere in tota urbe blasphemiæ ad nomen Christi, tanquam lues aliqua probris ingravantur, conducuntur a Romanis adversus Radagusum duo Pagani duces, &c.
[552] Saith Chrysostom, As those that run or act in public games, besides the prize which they hope for, do much increase their strength and health by preparing their bodies for it: so besides the hopes of heaven, it is no small comfort and advantage here in the way, which christians get by their holy lives.
[553] Heb. xii. 14; 2 Thess. i. 8-10; ii. 12.