Treatise of the Passions and Faculties of the Soul, Chapter 24

Treatise of the Passions and Faculties of the Soul · Chapter 24

p. 240CHAP. XXIV. Of the causes of Hope, Want, and Weakenesse together, Experience and Knowledge. In what sence Ignorance may be said to strengthen, and Knowledge to weaken Hope: Examples quicken more than Precept. Provision of Ayds: the uncertainty of outward means to establish Hope, Goodnesse of Nature, Faith and Credulity, wise Confidence.

THe next things to be confidered, are the causes of this Passion: the first impulsive cause of Hope is our Want, & our Weakenesse put together, the one driving us ad Bonum, to the Object; the other ad Auxilium, to the Aid (and wheresoever there is Indigence, there is Impotence likewise.) Now in what man soever we finde these two unsupplyed, there is the root and fundamentall ground of Hope; notwithstanding for the defects of other conditions, the creature may be carried to the quite opposite Passion▪ out of an apprehension of an inevitable subjection unto evill, and utter banishment from the fountaine of good. So then of those three estates of man; the estate of Fruition, which is their Sabbath and rest; the estate of Travell, which is the day p. 241of worke, and the estate of damnation, which is the night of despaire: In the first we have the accomplishment; in the third the finall overthrow; in the second the exercise of our Hopes:) because in that alone our Indigence may by Gods fulnesse be filled, and our Impotence by his Will and Power supplyed. In which respect, all men have roome for Hope to enjoy God their last Good; though not a hope of Confidence, assurance, and Expectation, which is peculiar only unto the godly (who alone have a present interest in his promises;) yet such a generall Hope as may well suffice to s…op the mouth of any temptation, whereby we are solicited to undervalue the Power, or to conclude the unwillingnesse of God to help us.

The next cause of Hope is Experience and knowledge, both in the nature of the thing hoped for, and of the means conducing to the attain ment thereof. For notwithstanding it may often fall out, that ignorance of things, and the not tryall of our strength or others opposition, or of the difficulties of the Object, may with hot and eager minds, worke presumptions of successe, and an empty and ungrounded Hope (which is the reason why young men and drunken men are both observed by Aristotle to be foreign, men of strong…. l. 2 c. 12. E. bi…. l. 3. c. 8. Hopes) being naturally or by distemper bold and opinionative: even as on the other side, strength and acutenesse of understanding; because it sees so farre into the Object, workes often diffidence,Li…. 4. ep. 7. …. l. 2. c. 13. slownesse and irresolution in our Hopes: as Pliny out of Thucydides observes; and the Philosopher p. 242likewise of old m…n, that they are foreign men slow in th…ir Hopes; because of great experience;) yet for all this, if we do observe it, both the former of these proceeds from some opinion of knowledg, as the later doth from some opinion of ignorance: For of drunken men, and those whom in the same place he compares unto them, Aristotle saith, they are therefore confident▪ quia seputant superiores, because they beleeve much in their owne strength. And of young men hee faith in the same place of his Rhetoricks, foreign they are peremptory in the opinion of their owne knowledge; whereas, on the other side, as a …ame man placed upon some high Tower, can overview with his eye more ground, than hee hath hope to overrun with his feet in a whole day▪ so men that have attained unto some good pitch of knowledge, & are withall not insensible of their own weaknes, out of the vastnes of distance which they discover between themselves and their end, doe easily frame unto themselves as narrow Hopes, as they doe large desires; but then thi… proceeds not from that knowledge which we have properly▪ but only as it serves to discover unto us, how much knowledge we want.

So then properly knowledge and experience is the cause of Hope; experience I say, either of the conquerablenesse of the Object by our owne means: or of the sufficiency of the Power, and readinesse of the Will of him from whom wee expect further assistance: For a… there is lesse casualty, and by consequence, more presumption to be had of p. 243an event of art th…n of fortune (the one proceedingforeign. Chilo apud La…. l. 1. from a gouern'd, the other from a blind and contingent cause) so consequently there is greater hope & confidence to be given to the successe of an enterprise, grounded on experience, than of one ignorantly and rashly adventured on. Experience … as the Philosopher observeth, the RootMe…. l. 1. c. 1. of Art▪ … unexperience … of sort ….

Now this Experience may be such, either as our selves have had, or such as we have observed other … to have▪ … which we have from our selves is the most forcible to … this affection, because every man is the best … of his owne abilities. And it is that which … forth influence and force into all our actions; nothing could more assure the hopes of David in his encounter with G…liah, than an experience formerly had against creatures every way as formidable, a Lyon and a Beare, wherein notwithstanding they were the sheep of Iesse, and not of God that were endangered. Thus the eye of Faith and Hope looketh both backward upon the memory of actions past, and forward with courage and resolution on second enterprises: For though in some cases it be requisite with Saint Paul to forget that which is past, when the remembrance of it may be an occasion of sloath, wearinesse, and distrust; yet there may a happy use be made of a seasonable memory in matters of difficulty, wherein haply our former successefull resolutions and patience may upbraid our present fears, and sharpen our languishing and sluggish Hopes. O passi graviora, was the p. 244best Argument which hee could have used to put his fellowes in confidence of that which hee added:

—Dabit De… his quo que …inem.

Since other greater griefes you have found ease,

Doubt not, but God will put an end to these,

And in that great battell between Scipio and Hannibal, ad a…nem Ticinam; though the victory by reason of the excellency of the Generall, fell to the adverse part; yet the Romane Generall could not have used a more effectuall perswasion unto Hope, than when hee told his souldiers that they were to enter on a warre with those men who were as much their slaves as their enemies, as being such whom they had formerly themselves overcome, Cum ijs est vobis pugnandum quos priore bell… terrâ▪ mari que vicistis. You are to joyne battell with those whom in the former warre you conquered both by Land and Sea. A strong inducement; though that in such a case, the feare of a second overthrow would more necessitate the one, than the hope of a second victory persuade the other to courage and resolution▪ As we see in the hot battell between the Greekes and the Trojans, when Hector had driven the Grecians into their ships, and set some of them on fire, which is thus elegantly described by Homer:

p. 245foreign…liad: …04.

foreign

foreign.

These were the mutuall motions did engage….

The minds of Greeks and Trojans on this rage.

The Grecians all despair'd to escape the blow,

Deeming themselves neer to an overthrow.

But former victory in those of Troy,….

Kindled a Hope another to enjoy.

They boldly promis'd to themselves the day,

The Grecians ships to burne, and then to slay,

Thus hope of victory inflam'd the one,

Th' other were more inflam'd, 'cause they had none.

That Experience from others, which may enliven and perfect our Hope, in the applying their examples and successes to our owne encouragements. For since the nature of most men is like that of flocks, to tread in one anothers steps (Precidents having the same precedence to reason in vulgar judgements, which a living and accompanying guide hath to a Mercuryes finger in a Travellers conceipt; the one only pointing too, but the other leading in the way. And as I finde it observed, that running mettall will sooner melt other of its owne kind, than fire alone: So the examples of vertue will sooner allure and prevaile with the minds of men, to frame them to the like resolutions, than a naked and empty speculation of Precepts. It hath pleased Nature to make man, not onelyonly a morall, but a sociable creature, that p. 246so when his Hopes towards good should languish and grow slacke by any conceived prejudices against the reason of Precepts, they may againe be strengthened by the common and more obvious and common sense of examples.

Segnius irritant animos demissa per aures,Horace. ….Quam quae sunt oculis Commissa fidelibus—

Those things more sluggishly our minds excite,

Which enter at the eares, than at the sight.

Sight which is the sense of Example, is oftner imployed in the government of our Passions, than Hearing, which is the sense of Precept. And therefore when the Poet would sit an advise for the person of Ascanius, hee doth not bring any tedious, thorny, morall discourse; but he works upon that affection which is most predominant in ingenuous and noble Natures.

—Te animo repetentem exempla tuorum, Et Pater Aen…, & Avanculus excitet Hector.

Recont the brave examples of thy bloud,

And what thou hast in them seen great and good,

Let be thy Patterne, that the World may see

Father and Vncle both alive in thee.

For though an Argument from Example, to prop a sainting Hope be weakest in respect of convincing demonstration; yet it is strongest, in p. 247respect of morall and persuasive insinuation, as inferring greater descredit upon a sluggish and unnecessary despaire. And therefore they were…. brave instructions which Agamemnon gaue unto Menelaus, when he commanded him to goe into the Army of the Grecians, and animate them unto the battell.

foreign

foreign

foreign.

Run through the Army, cry, encourage all,

Mind them of their Progenitors, and call

Each by his Name, prayse them, and let us too

What we command to others, our selves doe.

It is true indeed that some men are blessed with a greater e…cellency of gifts than others; yet we are not to thinke that any man was ever made, as Seneca speaks of Cato, In convitium humani generis, for a reproach of mens weaknesse, rather than for an example and incouragement of their actions: or for astonishment rather than emulation unto others. This being one end of Nature, in framing men of great vertues, not onelyonly that wee might wonder and beleeve, and know that the same things which for the greatnesse of them, are the objects of our admiration, may as well for their possibility be the objects of our Hope; and the incouragements of our industry.

The third cause of Hope, may be large furniture with, or strong dependance upon the assistant mean… p. 248of what is hoped for Helps in any enterprize are in stead of head and hands, to advance a man… designe, which likewise is elegantly exprest by Diomedes and S…rpedon in Homer:

—foreign

foreign

foreign ….Iliad▪ 222, &c.

If any second would accompany,foreign 410.

My hopes and courage would the greater…e:

For when two joyne, the one may haply note

What the other everpass'd▪ or if he kn…w it,

His counsell would be weake, and his mind slow,

When he should execute what he do's kn…w.

And according as these means, which wee rely upon, have more or lesse power or certainty in them; they are foundations of a more Regular o… Corrupt Hope such are wealth▪ friends, wit, policy, power, or the like. All which can be causes onelyonly of a hope of probability, but not of certainty; because they are all means which are sub…ect to … age, and are also subject to the Providence of God, who only can establish and give finall security to our hopes, as being such an Assistant, in whom there is neither weaknesse nor mutability, which should move him to disappoint us.

All other ayds have two ill qualities in them; they have wings, and therefore can easily forsake us▪ and they have thornes, and therefore if we leane2. Chron. 28. …0. 21. …. 29. 6, 7.2 Chr 28 too hard on them, they may chance in stead of helping, to hurt us. The best promises which p. 249earthly Aydes can make, are bounded by adouble condition.

foreign.

Iliad. ▪ 391.If the thing ly… within my power to doe,

And divine Providence permits it too.

Here then we may discover Corruption in this Passion, when the mind ready upon every present approhension to play the Proph…t in forecasting future events, shall out of weake grounds, and too high a conceipt of those means which it hath, so build unto it selfe peremptory imaginations for the future, as that thereby it is made in it selfe light & opinionative, and upon occasion of disappointment, is to seeke of that patience to sustaine it, which by a wise intermixtion of feare and caution might have been retained.

And as there is an errour in the …rust and affiance, so there may be in the use of those means: For though divine Hope hath but one Anchor to rest upon, and therefore hath but one manner of being produced; yet these lower Hopes, of which I speake, doe alwaies depend upon the concurrence of divers means, and those likewise have their reference unto divers circumstances. And therefore those which have not the wisdome of combining their Ayd…s, and of fitting them unto casuall occurrences, may to no end nourish in themselves imaginary and empty presumptions. And this is that which maketh all worldly hopes so full of p. 250lightnesse and uncertainties, Leves spes & cer…aminas, Hora….as the Poet calleth them; because it may fall out, that the neglect of but some one circumstance; the not timeing or placing our actions right; the not accommodating our means to the variety of of occasions; the miscarrying in some one complement or ceremony; the having of our minds, either too light and voluble; or too fixed and constant▪ or too spread and wandring; or too narrow and contracted; or too credulous and facile; or too diffident and suspitious; or too peremptory, resolute, or hasty; or too slow, anxious, and discursive; or too witty and facetious▪ or too serious and morose, with infinite other the like weaknesses (some whereof there is not any man quite freed from) may often notwithstanding the good store of other ayds, endanger and shipwrack the successe of our endeavours: so that in the prosecution of a hope, there is something alike industry, to be used as in the tryall of Mathematicall conclusions, the Mediums whereunto are so touched and dependant upon one another, that not diligently to observe every one of them, is to labour in vaine, and have all to doe againe.

A fourth cause of Hope, may be Goodnesse and facility foreign. …. Alex. …. l. 2.of Nature, whereby we finde a disposition in our selves of readinesse, to further any mans purposes and desires, and to expect the like from others; for it is the observation of Aristotle, touching young men, sud ipsorum innocentiâ cateros …. l. 2. …. 1….metiuntur. Their own goodnesse makes them credulous of the like in others. For as every mans p. 251prejudice loves to find his owne will and opinion▪ so doth his charity to find his owne goodnesse in another man. They therefore who are soft and facile to yeeld, are likewise to beleeve, and dare trust them whom they are willing to pleasure. And this indeed is the Rule of Nature, which makes a mans selfe the Patterne of what it makes his Neighbour the Object.

Now from this facility of Nature proceeds a further cause of Hope; to wit, Faith and Credulity, in relying on the promises which are made for the furtherance thereof: For promises are obligations, and men use to reckon their obligations in the Inventory of their estate: so that the promises of an able friend, I esteem as part of my substance. And this is an immediate Antecedent of Hope, which according as the Authority whereon it relles, is more or lesse sufficient and constant, is likewise more or lesse evident and certaine.

And in these two, the Corruption chiefly is not to let Iudgement come betweene them and our Hopes.

For as he said of Lovers, we may of Hopes too, that oftentimes sibi somnia fing…nt, they build more upon Imagination than Reality. And then if what Tacitus speakes in another sense, fingunt, credunt que if our facility faine assistances, and our credulity rely upon them, there will issue no other than Ixious Hope, a Cloud for Inno. And therefore…. l. 2. Aristotle out of an easinesse to Hope, collects in young men, an easinesse to be deceived, credulity very often m…ets with Impostures. And hee p. 252elsewhere placeth credulous, modest, quiet andRhet. l. 1. friendly men amongst those who are obnoxious to injuries and abuses. Proud and abusive men making it one of their pleasures to delude and mislead the ingenuity of others: and as once Apelles, to deceive the expectation of another with a Curtaine for a Picture.

The last cause (which I shall but name) of Hope, is wise confidence, or a happy mixture of boldnesse, Constancy, and Prudence together; the one to put on upon an enterprize; the other, to keep on when difficulties unexpected do occurre; and the third, to guide and mannage our selves amidst those difficulties: For as he said in studies, so wee may in actions likewise (when thus swayed and ballanced) Altiús …unt, qui ad sum…a …ituntur. TheQuintil. l. 1. in Pr…am. Mag…a indoli… signum est sperare semper. …lor. l. 4. further wee set our aimes, the more ground wee shall get, and then,

—Possunt quia posse videntur▪

When a man thinks, this I can doe,

By thinking, he gets power too.

And unto this doth the Historian attribute all the successe of Alexanders great victories, Nihil aliud quā benè ausu… vana contemnere, his confidenceLiv. l 19. judging them feacible, did by that means get through them. And though it was vehterous; yet as the case might be, it was wise counsell which we finde in the same Historian, **Liv. l. 25. foreign Eur. p Hec.Audeamus quod credi, non potest ausuros nos, eo ipso quod difficillimum p. 253videtur, facillimum erit. Let us shew our courage inDifficiliora debent ess… quae exercent, quò sit levius ips… illud in quod exercent, Quintil. l. 11. cap. 2. Arist. Ethic. l. 3. c. 7. Ae…ad. 10. adventuring on some difficult enterprize, which it might have been thought wee would not have attempted, and then the very difficulty of it will make it the more easie: For our enemies will conclude that our strength is more than they discover when they see our attempts greater than they could suspect. Thus men teach children to dunce in heavy shooes, that they may begin to conquer the difficult in the learning of the Art. And therfore the Philosopher telleth us, that foreign bold men, are men of Hope; for boldnesse suffers not a man to be wanting to himselfe: and there are two Principles which incourage such men upon adventures; the one, audentes fortuna invat. That resolution is usually favoured with successe; or if it misse of that **Ovid. Met. l. 2 Tutius certe per plana, sed humilius & depressius itur, … currentibus, quam reptansibus …, sed his non labentibus nulla laves, illis nonnulla laves etiāsi labā. …r. Plin. l. 9. ep. 26.Magnis tamen exidit ausis; yet the honour of attempting a difficulty, is more than discredit of miscarriage in it.