Therfore, to avoid the Scandall and the Danger both, it is good to take knowledge of[1] the Errours of an Habit so excellent. Seeke the Good of other Men, but be not in bondage to their Faces or Fancies; For that is but Facilitie[2] or Softnesse; which taketh an honest Minde Prisoner. Neither give thou Æsop's Cocke a Gemme, who would be better pleased and happier if he had had a Barly Corne. The Example of God teacheth the Lesson truly: He sendeth his Raine, and niaketh his Sunne to shine, upon the lust and Uniust; But hee doth not raine Wealth, nor shine Honour and Vertues[3] upon Men equally. Common Benefits are to be communicate with all, But peculiar Benefits, with
choice. And beware how, in making the Portraiture, thou breakest the Patterne; For Divinitie[4] maketh the Love of our Selves the Patterne; The Love of our Neighbours but the Portraiture. Sell all thou hast, and give it to the poore, and follow mee: But sell not all thou hast, except thou come and follow mee; That is, except thou have a Vocation, wherin thou maist doe as much good with little meanes as with great: For otherwise, in feeding the Streames thou driest the Fountaine. Neither is there only a Habit of Goodnesse, directed by right Reason; but there is, in some Men, even in Nature, a Disposition towards it: As, on the other side, there is a Naturall Malignitie. For there be that, in their Nature, doe not affect the Good of Others. The lighter Sort of Malignitie turneth but to a Crosnesse[5], or Frowardnesse[6], or Aptnesse to oppose, or Difficilnesse[7], or the like; but the deeper Sort, to Envy and meere Mischiefe[8]. Such Men, in other men's Calamities, are, as it were, in season[9], and are ever on the loading Part[10]; Not so good as the Dogs, that licked Lazarus' Sores, but like Flies that are still[11] buzzing upon any Thing that is raw; Misanthropi[12], that make it their Practise to bring Men to
