CHRISTIAN PARADOXES. 23 



no man loveth himself so well as he. He is most re 

 proached, yet most honoured. He hath most afflic 

 tions, and most comforts. 



9. The more injury his enemies do him, the more 

 advantages he gains by them. The more he forsakes 

 worldly things, the more he enjoys them. 



10. He is the most temperate of all men, yet 

 fares most deliciously; he lends and gives most freely, 

 yet he is the greatest usurer; he is meek towards all 

 men, yet inexorable by men. He is the best child, 

 husband, brother, friend ; yet hates father and mother, 

 brother and sister. He loves all men as himself, yet 

 hates some men with a perfect hatred. 



11. He desires to have more grace than any man 

 hath in the world, yet is truly sorrowful when he 

 seeth any man have less than himself; he knoweth 

 no man after the flesh, yet gives all men their due 

 respects ; he knoweth if he please man he cannot be 

 the servant of Christ ; yet for Christ s sake he pleaseth 

 all men in all things. He is a peace-maker, yet is a 

 continual fighter, and is an irreconcileable enemy. 



12. He believes him to be worse than an infidel 

 that provides not for his family, yet himself lives and 

 dies without care. He accounts all his superiors, yet 

 stands stiffly upon authority. He is severe to his 

 children, because he loveth them; and by being 

 favourable unto his enemy, he revengeth himself 

 upon him. 



13. He believes the angels to be more excellent 

 creatures than himself, and yet accounts them his 

 servants. He believes that he receives many good 



