Phillip Stubbes's Anatomy of the abuses in England in Shakspere's youth, A.D. 1583 / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

  • Stubbs, Philip, active 1581-1593.
Date:
1877-1882
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Phillip Stubbes's Anatomy of the abuses in England in Shakspere's youth, A.D. 1583 / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    635/682 (page 97)
    in him? Dje they thinke that his arme is fhortened, or his power weakened ? Is he not able to deliuer his children, that in dooing of their duties depend vpon his prouidence ? And to bee plaine with them, me think that in flieng away from their flockes, they fhew themfelues to thinke ^that either God is not almightie, or elfe not [ leaf Ns] mercifull, or neither. For if they beleeued that he were almightie, and that hee were able to faue them, then they would neuer run awaie from their flocke, but depending vpon his prouidence, beleeue that he is as well able to deliuer them in one place as in another, if it bee his good pleafure. And if they beleeued that he were mercifull, then would they reft vpon the fame, not doubting, but as he is almightie, and omnipotent, and therefore can doe al things, fo he is moft mercifull, and therfore wil preferue al thofe that put their truft He win preserve in him. If a temporall magiftrate that exercifeth but a ciuil office 1“!^° in the commonwealth, fliuld go away from his charge for feare of in- feftion or plague, wheras his prefent abode might do more good than his abfence, he greatly offiendeth 5 how much more then offendeth he, that being a paftor or feeder of foules, flieth away from his charge, wheras his prefence might doe a thoufand times more good than his abfence? And if it pleafe the Lord to take them away to himfelfe. And if he takes are they not moft happie ? Enter they not into eternall glorie ? And £ppy areThej^’ haue they not an end of all miferies and paines in this life, and the perfedl fruition of perpetuall ioie in the heauens ? Are they not blefled, if when the Lord ftial call them, he find ^them fo well occu- F leaf N s, back] pied as in feeding, & breaking the bread of life to, the pore members of Chrift lefus for whofe Hikes he fried his hart blood ? Theod. But they fay, we ought not to tempt God, which thing they muft needs doe if they Ihoulde tarrie when they fee death before their face. And they fay further, that it is written that we muft keepe the whole from the ficke, and the ficke from the whole. Befids, faie they, Natura dedit, potejiatem tuendi vitam omni animanti, Nature hath giuen power of defending of life to euerie lining creture. Againe, euery thing fleeth from his contrarie, but death is contrarie Cowardly to nature, for it came through the corruption of nature, therfore we for1°clg~ flie from the fame by the infrind of nature. Thefe and the like fond reafons they alledge for their excufe in flieng from their flocks and charges : what fay you to them ? shakspkke’s enoland : STITBBES, II. g