The Victory of Patience, Title page – To the reader
THE VICTORY OF PATIENCE, And benefit of Affliction, with how to Husband it so, that the weakest Christian (with blessing from above) may bee able to support himselfe in his most miserable Exigents.
Together with a Counter poyson or Antipoyson against all griefe, being a Tenth of the Doves Innocency, and the Serpents Subtilty.
Extracted out of the choisest Authors, ancient and moderne, necessary to be read of all that any way suffer Tribulation.
By R. Y.
All that will live godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution,
2 Tim. 3.12.
LONDON, Printed by R. B. and are to be sold at the black Beare in Pauls Church-yard. 1636.
TO THE READER.
NOthing in this world can bee framed so perfect, but it shall have some delinquensies; to prove that more were in the Comprisor: and it is almost as easie to find faults, as to make them. To spy the inconveniences of a house built, is nothing: but to lay the plot well, at first, requires the pate of a good Contriver. All Alchymists can doe well till they come to doing: But there is a further distance from nothing to the least thing in the world; then between it and the greatest.
All publique actions are subject to diverse, and uncertaine Interpretations; for a great many heads judge of them, and mens censures are as various as their palats, Matth. 21. Our writings are as so many dishes; our Readers, guests. Bookes are like faces; that which one admires, another slights. Why? Some will condemne what they do as little understand as they doe themselves: Others, the better a thing is, the worse they will like it. They hate him (saith Amos) that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly, Amos 5.10. You know, Herods festered conscience could not endure Iohn Baptists plaister of truth; a galled backe, loves not the curry Combe; a deformed face, loathes the true glas, nothing is so hatefull to the desperatly wicked, as good Counsell: with Balaam they grutch to be stayed in the way to death, and fly upon those that oppose their perdition. And how should they other then miscarry; who have a Pirate (the flesh) for their guide? So that if a man should observe the wind of Applause, he should never sowe; or regard the clouds of Aspersion, hee should never reape. But I had rather hazard the censure of some, then hinder the good of others: yea, I had rather misse of what I expect, then faile to do my utmost. Wherefore, I present to thee, curteous Reader, a posey of such flowers as I have gathered abroad. If they be liked (as Phidias said, concerning his first portrayture) expect more; if not, onelyonly this.
To fore-relate their variety, and severall worths, were to imitate an Italian Host, meeting you on the waies, and promising before hand, your fare and entertainment; Wherefore let it please you to see and allow your cheare. Only, in generall; my Booke is a feast; wherin holsomnesse strives with pleasantnesse, and variety with both. Each Chapter severall is a severall dish, stuft full of notable sayings and examples (for that's the meate) by which a man may, not only become more eloquent, but more wise; not alone, able to say well, but to doe well; for quaint and elegant phrases, on a good subject, are baites, to make an ill man vertuous. Pithy sentences, curious metaphors, witty apophthegmes, sweet similitudes, and rhetoricall expressions (which Aristotle would have, as it were, sprinkled in the most serious discourses) are to the minde, as musicke to the body; which (next to sleepe) is the best recreation. Or as pleasant and delectable Sause, which gives a more savory tast to holsome, and profitable Divinity. And thou shalt finde but few here, which are not both sinewy, and sharpe: mucrones verborum, pointed speeches; either fit to teach, or forcible to perswade, or sage to advise, and forewarne; or sharpe to reprove, or strong to confirme, or piercing to imprint▪
But alas! most men regard not what is written, but who writes: valew not the mettall, but the Stampe which is upon it. To these, I say little, as they deserve little: and turne my speech to all that reserve themselves open, and prepared, to receive each profitabe instruction, and continuall amendment; to the ingenious Reader, that sucks hony from the selfe same flower which the Spider doth poyson; wishing him to come, that out of this Treatise which he did not know before; and well note what speakes to his owne sinne: And perhaps he may, in this short journey make more true gaine, then Salomons Navy did from Ophir, or the Spanish fleete from the West Indies; for in so doing, he shall greatly increase his knowledge, and lessen his vices. In one day he may reade it, and ever after, be the better for it.
But methinkes I am too like a carelesse Porter; which keepes the guests without dores, til they have lost their stomackes; wherfore, I wil detaine you no longer in the porch, but unlock the dore, and let you in.