Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1828 edition. Excerpt: ... To the Worshipful and Virtuous Gentlewoman, MISTRESS A. D. Madam, . A OUR virtuous requests, to which your deserts gave the force of a commandment, won me to satisfy your devotion in pennir.g some little Discourse of the blessed Mary Magdalen. And among other glorious examples of this Saint's life, I have made choice of her Funeral Tears, in which as she most uttered the great vehemency of her fervent love to Christ, so hath she given therein largest scope to dilate upon the same--a theme pleasing, I hope, unto yourself, and fittest 'for the time. For as passion, and especially this of love, is in these days the chief commander of most men's actions, and the idol to which both tongues and pens do sacrifice their ill-bestowed labours; so there is nothing now more needful to be treated, than how to direct these humours into their due courses, and to draw this flood of affections into the right channel.--Passions I allow, and loves I approve; only I would wish that men would alter their object, and better their intent; for Passions being sequels of our nature, and allotted unto us as the handmaid's of Reason, there can be no doubt but as their Author is good, and their end godly, so their use, tempered in the mean, implieth no offence. Love is but the infancy of true Charity, yet sucking Nature's breast, and swathed in her bands; which then groweth to perfection, when Faith, besides natural motives, proposeth higher and nobler grounds of amity. Hatred and Anger are the necessary officers of Prowess and Justice; Courage being cold and dull, and Justice, in due revenge, slack and careless, where hate of the fault will not make it odious, and Anger setteth not an edge on the sword that punisheth or preventeth wrongs. Desire and Hope are the..
