| In-Text |
Else a Prince would be a Prisoner, whensoever he pleaseth to be retir'd. Alexander the great was the greatest Prisoner, when he childishly wept for a second world. For as we measure any mans neediness, not by the littleness of his Possessions, but by the greatness of his Desires; so a Prisoner is one who does want more room, who thinks his House is too little, and his Territories too narrow, and therefore labours at least to enlarge his Borders. But the Commandments of Christ do try us up to Contentment; in which is the Absence of all Desire; and in this is perfect freedom. For when the thing which is commanded is to be absolutely free, (especially from the Tyranny and yoke of Sin, ) we cannot be the less free, by being obligingly commanded. There cannot sure be any servitude in our being oblig'd to be happy. For then the Angels that never fell would be enslav'd by their confirmation. No, our Servitude does consist in our being over-rul'd to contrive our misery, not in our being only commanded to seek our Bliss. Suppose a Master commands his Servant even to go whether he pleases, and to do what he lists; that is, in effect, to be a very free-man. We cannot say he is enslav'd, because commanded to be at liberty. For a man to be commanded to use his freedom, hath nothing in it of Impropriety; but to be free, and yet enslav'd, imply's a flat contradiction. It was not by exemption from Gods Commands but in regard of his rigid obedience to them, that Abraham was called the Friend of God. And our Saviour would have us rise, from the lowness of Servants, unto the Dignity of Friends, not by being familiar with him, |
Else a Prince would be a Prisoner, whensoever he Pleases to be retired. Alexander the great was the greatest Prisoner, when he childishly wept for a second world. For as we measure any men neediness, not by the littleness of his Possessions, but by the greatness of his Desires; so a Prisoner is one who does want more room, who thinks his House is too little, and his Territories too narrow, and Therefore labours At least to enlarge his Borders. But the commandments of christ do try us up to Contentment; in which is the Absence of all Desire; and in this is perfect freedom. For when the thing which is commanded is to be absolutely free, (especially from the Tyranny and yoke of since,) we cannot be the less free, by being obligingly commanded. There cannot sure be any servitude in our being obliged to be happy. For then the Angels that never fell would be enslaved by their confirmation. No, our Servitude does consist in our being overruled to contrive our misery, not in our being only commanded to seek our Bliss. Suppose a Master commands his Servant even to go whither he Pleases, and to do what he lists; that is, in Effect, to be a very freeman. We cannot say he is enslaved, Because commanded to be At liberty. For a man to be commanded to use his freedom, hath nothing in it of Impropriety; but to be free, and yet enslaved, imply's a flat contradiction. It was not by exemption from God's Commands but in regard of his rigid Obedience to them, that Abraham was called the Friend of God. And our Saviour would have us rise, from the lowness of Servants, unto the Dignity of Friends, not by being familiar with him, |
av dt n1 vmd vbi dt n1, c-crq pns31 vvz pc-acp vbi vvn. np1 dt j vbds dt js n1, c-crq pns31 av-j vvd p-acp dt ord n1. c-acp c-acp pns12 vvb d ng1 n1, xx p-acp dt n1 pp-f po31 n2, p-acp p-acp dt n1 pp-f po31 vvz; av dt n1 vbz pi r-crq vdz vvi dc n1, r-crq vvz po31 n1 vbz av j, cc po31 n2 av j, cc av n2 p-acp ds p-acp vvb po31 n2. p-acp dt n2 pp-f np1 vdb vvi pno12 a-acp p-acp n1; p-acp r-crq vbz dt n1 pp-f d vvb; cc p-acp d vbz j n1. c-acp c-crq dt n1 r-crq vbz vvn vbz pc-acp vbi av-j j, (av-j p-acp dt n1 cc vvb pp-f n1,) pns12 vmbx vbi dt av-dc j, p-acp vbg av-vvg vvn. a-acp vmbx av-j vbi d n1 p-acp po12 vbg vvn pc-acp vbi j. c-acp av dt n2 cst av-x vvd vmd vbi vvd p-acp po32 n1. uh-dx, po12 n1 vdz vvi p-acp po12 vbg j pc-acp vvi po12 n1, xx p-acp po12 vbg j vvn pc-acp vvi po12 n1. vvb dt vvb vvz po31 n1 av p-acp vvb cs pns31 vvz, cc p-acp vdb r-crq pns31 n2; cst vbz, p-acp n1, pc-acp vbi dt j n1. pns12 vmbx vvi pns31 vbz vvd, c-acp vvn pc-acp vbi p-acp n1. p-acp dt n1 pc-acp vbi vvn pc-acp vvi po31 n1, vhz pix p-acp pn31 pp-f n1; p-acp pc-acp vbi j, cc av vvd, ng1 av j n1. pn31 vbds xx p-acp n1 p-acp n2 vvz cc-acp p-acp n1 pp-f po31 j n1 p-acp pno32, cst np1 vbds vvn dt n1 pp-f np1. cc po12 n1 vmd vhi pno12 vvi, p-acp dt n1 pp-f n2, p-acp dt n1 pp-f n2, xx p-acp vbg j-jn p-acp pno31, |
