Chapter XIV.
"O merciful God, what man's wit is there able to sound the depth of those dangerous and fearful evils, whereunto our weak and impotent nature is inclinable to sink itself, rather than to show an acknowledgment of error in that which once we have unadvisedly taken upon us to defend, against the stream, as it were, of a contrary public resolution?"—Hooker.
"For my purpose herein is to show, that, when the minds of men are once erroneously persuaded that it is the will of God to have those things done which they fancy, then opinions are as thorns in their sides, never suffering them to take rest till they have brought their speculations into practice. The lets and impediments of which practice, their restless desire and study to remove, leadeth them every day forth by the hand into other more dangerous opinions, sometimes quite and clean contrary to their first pretended meanings."—Id.
"The hardest that men of sound understanding conceived of them was but this, 'O quam honesta voluntate miseri erant'! With how good a meaning these poor souls do evil!"—Id.
"But if the skilfullest among you can show that all the books ye have hitherto written be able to afford any one argument of this nature, let the instance be given."—Id.
"Ye go about to destroy a thing which is in force, and to draw in that which hath not as yet been received; to impose on us that which we think not ourselves bound unto, and to overthrow those things whereof we are possessed."—Id.
"Howbeit, better it was in the eye of his understanding that sometime an erroneous sentence definitive should prevail, till the same authority, perceiving such oversight, might afterwards corrector reverse it, than that strifes should have respite to grow, and not come speedily unto some end."—Id.
"That proud honor claimed
Azazel as his right, a cherub tall:
Who forthwith from his glittering staff unfurled
The imperial ensign, which, full high advanced,
Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind,
With gems and golden lustre rich emblazed,
Seraphic arms and trophies."—Paradise Lost.
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