XX. 7] THE SECOND BOOK. 189 
7. There is formed in every thing a double naturé of 
good: the one, as every thing is a total or substantive in 
itself; the other, as it is a part or member of a greater 
body: whereof the latter is in degree the greater and 
the worthier, because it tendeth to the conservation of a 
‘more general form. ‘Therefore we see the iron in par- 
ticular sympathy moveth to the loadstone; but yet if it 
exceed a certain quantity, it forsaketh the affection to the 
loadstone, and like a good patriot moveth to the earth, 
which is the region and country of massy bodies : so may 
we go forward, and see that water and massy bodies 
move to the centre of the earth; but rather than to suffer 
a divulsion in the continuance of nature, they will move 
upwards from the centre of the earth, forsaking their duty 
to the earth in regard of their duty to the world. This 
double nature of good, and the comparative thereof, is 
much more engraven upon man, if he degenerate not : 
unto whom the conservation of duty to the public ought 
to be much more precious than the conservation of life 
and being: according to that memorable speech of Pom- 
peius Magnus, when being in commission of purveyance 
for a famine at Rome, and being dissuaded with great 
vehemency and instance by his friends about him, that 
he should not hazard himself to sea in an extremity of 
weather, he said only to them, JVecesse est ut eam, non ut 
vivam. But it may be truly affirmed that there was never 
any philosophy, religion, or other discipline, which did 
so plainly and highly exalt the good which is commun- 
icative, and depress the good which is private and par- 
ticular, as the Holy Faith ; well declaring that it was the 
same God that gave the Christian law to men, who gave 
those laws of nature to inanimate creatures that we spake 
of before; for we read that the elected saints of God have 
