224 Of the Advancement of Learning. Lib. VII. 



Herefy of the Anabnptifis^ who taeafur^d all things according to the Motions 

 andltjfijti&s ofthej'pirit, and the conjtanc); or wavering of Belief. But 

 it is raanifeft that all this we have recited, tends to private repofe and 

 complacency of Mind, and no way to the Point oi'Societj^ and the 

 Epia. En- Qgg^i oj- comrftumon. Again, it cenfures alfo the Philofophy of Epde^ 

 rian! iTb' *»^o who lay es down this prefuppofition , That Felicjtji mujl be placed in 

 ». ' * thofe things whick are in our power ^ leji we be liable to fortune and di* 

 fiurbance : as if it were not a thing much more happy, to be difturbed 

 and fruftrated of a good fuccefs in worthy and generous intentions 

 and ends, which concern the Publick^Good^ than to obtain all that we 

 can wiQi toourfelves, in thofe things which refer to our Private For' 

 tune. As Confalvo Qiewing his Souldiers Naples, bravely protefted,r^4# 

 he had rather run himfelfupon certain ruine with one foot forward^ than to 

 have his life fecxrd for long, by one foot of retreat. Whereunto the wif- 

 dom of that heavenly leader and commander hath fign'd, who aflirm'd, 

 Pj y That agood confcience is a continud Feaji'y by which words is plainly 

 ' fignified, that aAIindConfcious of good Intentions^ however fncceeding^ 

 affords more folid andfincere joy^ andio nature more agreeable^ than all 

 that provifion wherewith man may he fiirnipt either for the fruition of his 

 defires, or the repafe oj his Mind. It cenfureth likewife that abufe of 

 Philofophy, which grew general about the time of Epi&etus, which 

 was, that Philofophy was converted into a profeflbry kind of life, andjas 

 it wercjinto an Occupation or Art ^ as if the purpofe of Philofophy ,was 

 not to reprefs and extinguifh perturbations, but to fly and avoid the 

 caufes and occafionsofthem , and therefore to fbape a particular kind 

 and courfe of life to that end 5 introducing indeed fuch a kind of health 

 ofmiadjas was that ofHer(?^if»j in body, whereo^^Ariilotle makes men- 

 tion, which was, that he did nothing all his life long but intend his healthy 

 and therefore abftain'd from infinite number of things, being amerc'd 

 by the fruition of his body: whereas if men refer themfelves to duties 

 of fociety, that health of Body is principally to be defired, which may 

 beft endure and overcome all alterations and extremities : fo likewife 

 that mind is properly found and ftrong, which can break through the 

 moft and greateft temptations and perturbations. So as Diogenes (eems 

 to havefpoken well, who commends thole powers of the Mind, which 

 AvJz* ^ere able not warily to ahfiain but valiantly tofu^ain, and which could 

 Sumraa refrain the violent encounter of the Mind, even in the fteepeft Preci- 

 stoic. pices, and which could give unto the Mind (which is commended ia 

 Philof, vvell-broken horfesj the Ihortefl: ftop and turn. Laftly, it cenfures the 

 tendernels and the want of Morigerous application, noted in fome of 

 the moft ancient and reverend Philofophers, that did retire too eafily 

 from Civil bufinefs, that they might difcharge themfelves of all indig- 

 nities and perturbations, and fo might live, in their opinion, more un- 

 ftained, and, as it were, lanftified perfons , whereas the refolution of 

 a man truly moral, ought to be fuch, as the fame Confalvo required in 

 afouldier, which is that his Honour (liould be woven hTela CraJJzore, 

 and not fo fine as that every thing fhould catch in it, and tear it. 



CHAP; 



