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IT was an high speech of
Seneca, ( after the manner of the Stoickes ) That
the good things, which
belong to Prosperity, are
to be wished; but the good
things, that belong to Aduersity, are to be
admired. Bona Rerum Secundarum, Optabilia; Aduersarum, Mirabilia. Certainly if
Miracles, be the Command ouer Nature,
they appeare most in Aduersity. It is yet a
higher speech of his, then the other,
( much too high for a Heathen ) It is true
greatnesse, to haue in one, the Frailty of a
Man, & the Security of a God. Verè magnum,
habere Fragilitatem Hominis, Securitatem
Dei. This would haue done better in Poesy; where Transcendences are more allowed. And the Poets indeed, haue beene
busy with it; For it is, in effect, the thing,
which is figured in that Strange Fiction,
of the Ancient Poets, which seemeth not
to be without mystery; Nay, and to haue
some approach, to the State of a Christian: That Hercules, when hee went to
vnbinde Prometheus, ( by whom Humane
Nature is represented ) sailed the length of
the great Ocean, in an Earthen Pot, or Pitcher: Liuely describing Christian Resolution; that saileth, in the fraile Barke of
the Flesh, thorow the Waues of the World.
But to speake in a Meane. The Vertue of
Prosperitie, is Temperance; The Vertue
of Aduersity, is Fortitude: which in Morals is the more Heroicall Vertue. Prosperity is the Blessing of the Old Testament; Aduersity is the Blessing of the New;
which carrieth the greater Benediction,
and the Clearer Reuelation of Gods Fauour. Yet, euen in the old Testament, if
you Listen to Dauids Harpe, you shall
heare as many Herselike Ayres, as Carols:
And the Pencill of the holy Ghost, hath
laboured more, in describing, the
Afflictions of Iob, then the Felicities of Salomon. Prosperity is not without many
Feares and Distastes; And Aduersity is not
without Comforts and Hopes. Wee see in
Needle-workes, and Imbroideries, It is
more pleasing, to haue a Liuely Worke,
vpon a Sad and Solemne Ground; then
to haue a Darke and Melancholy Worke,
vpon a Lightsome Ground: Iudge therfore, of the Pleasure of the Heart, by the
Pleasure of the Eye. Certainly, Vertue is
like pretious Odours, most fragrant, when
they are incensed, or crushed: For Prosperity doth best discouer Vice; But Aduersity
doth best discouer Vertue.
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