[147] Multi Christum osculantur; pauci amant: aliud est φιλειν, aliud καταφιλειν. Abr. Bucholtzer in Scultet. cur. p. 15. Dicunt Stoici sapientes esse sinceros, observateque et cavere sollicite nequid de se melius quam sit commendare putemus fuco seu arte aliqua mala occultante, et bona quæ insunt apparere faciente, ac circumcidere vocis omnem ficionem. Laert. in Zenone. Philosophia res adeo difficilis est, ut tam vel simulare magna sit pars philosophiæ. Paul Scalig. It was one of the Roman laws of the 12 Tables, "Impius ne audeto placere donis iram Deorum." "Let no ungodly person dare to go about to appease the displeasure of the gods by gifts:" viz. He must appease them first by reformation. Bona conscientia prodire vult et conspici; ipsas nequitia tenebras timet. Senec.
[148] When Petrarch, in vita sua, speaketh of others extolling his eloquence, he addeth his own neglect of it, Ego modo bene vixissem, qualiter dixissem parvi facerem. Ventosa gloria est, de solo verborum splendore famam quærere. Conscientiam potius quam famam attende. Falli sæpe poterit fama: conscientia nunquam. Senec.
[149] Sic vivendum est, quasi in conspectu vivamus: Sic cogitandum, tanquam aliquis pectus intimum prospicere possit. Senec. Rem dicam, ex qua mores æstimes nostras: vix quempiam invenies, qui possit aperto ostio vivere: janitores conscientia nostra--supposuit: sic vivimus ut deprehendi sit subito aspici. Senec. Ep. 96.
[150] It is a pitiful cure of the Indians' idolatry, which the honest Jesuit Acosta (as the rest) prescribeth, lib. 5. c. 11. p. 483. "But you must especially take care, that saving rites be introduced instead of hurtful ones, and ceremonies be obliterated by ceremonies. Let the priests persuade the novices, that holy water, images, rosaries, grains, and torches, and the rest which the church alloweth and useth, are very fit for them; and let them extol them with many praises in their popular sermons, that instead of the old superstition they may be used to new and religious signs." This is to quench the fire with oil.
[151] It is one of Thales' sayings, in Laert. Q. Quomodo optime ac justissime vivemus? Resp. Si quæ in aliis reprehendimus ipsi non faciamus. To judge of ourselves as we judge of others, is the way of the sincere.
[152] Cato, homo virtuti simillimus qui nunquam recte fecit, ut facere videretur, sed quia aliter facere non poterat; cuique id solum visum est rationem habere, quod haberet justitiam. Velleius Patercul. 1. 2.
[153] Jam in ecclesiis ista quæruntur, et omissa Apostolicorum simplicitate et puritate verborum, quasi ad Athenæum et ad auditoria convenitur ut plausus circumstantium suscitentur, ut oratio rhetoricæ artis fucata mendacio quasi quædam meretricula procedat in publicum, non tam eruditura populos, quam favorem populi quæsitura. Hieron. in Præf. 1. 3. in Galat.
[154] Permanent tepidi, ignavi, negligentes, vani, leves, voluptuosi, delicati; commoda corpores superflua sectantur, suum compendium in omnibus quærunt, ubicunque honorem et existimationem nominis sui integra servare possunt: intus propriæ voluntati pertinaciter addicti, irresignati, minime abnegati, superbi, curiosi, et contumaces sunt in omnibus, licet externe coram hominibus bene morati videantur. In tentationibus impatientes, amari, procaces, iracundi, tristes, aliis molesti, verbis tamen ingenioque scioli,--In prosperis nimium elati et hilares: in adversis, nimium turbati sunt et pusillanimes: aliorum temerarii sunt judices: aliorum vitia accuratissime perscrutari, de aliorum defectibus frequenter garrire, ac gloriari egregium putant. Ex istis et similibus operibus facillime cognosci poterunt: nam moribus gestibusque suis seu sorex quispiam suopte semet indicio produnt. Thauler. flor. p. 65, 56.
[155] Quid prodest recondere se et oculos hominum auresque vitare? Bona conscientia turbam advocat; mala autem in solitudine anxia et sollicita est. Si honesta sunt quæ facis, omnes sciant: si turpia, quid refert neminem scire, cum tu scias: O te miserum si contemnis hunc testem. Sen. Ep. 96. Matt. xxiii. 13-15, 23, 25, 27, 29.
[156] Matt. xxiii. 8; Eph. iv. 2-5; Luke x. 42; Matt. vi. 33; 2 Pet. i. 10; John vi. 27.
[157] 1 Tim. ii. 5; James iv. 12; Hos. x. 2.
[158] 1 Cor. i. 13; Gal. iv. 8; 1 Cor. viii. 5; Phil. iii. 18.
[159] The causes of superstition (and so of hypocrisy) are, pleasing and sensual rites and ceremonies, excess of outward and pharisaical holiness, over-great reverence of traditions, which cannot but load the church, the stratagems of prelates for their own ambition and lucre, the savouring too much good intentions, which openeth a gate to conceits and novelties. Lord Bacon's Essays. As P. Callimachus Exper. describeth Attila, that he was a devourer of flesh and wine, &c. and yet Religione persuasionibusque de diis à gente sua susceptis, usque ad superstitionem addictus. Calli. p. (mihi) 339.
[160] Psal. lxxviii. 37; 2 Cor. vii. 11.