“The things of religion are rather to be believed than disputed. ‘We believe fishermen, not logicians,’ said Ambrose. The devil at this day seeks to darken the glory of religion this way. He sees that so much light has broken forth that he cannot get men presently off it by profaneness; therefore he labors to …
The Knowledge Drunk
“Wine is good when it goes to the heart to cheer it, but when it fumes up into the head it makes it giddy. Knowledge is good when the strength of it gets to the heart to comfort it, there to breed good spirits to strengthen it in the ways of holiness. But when it …
Smarmy Snakes
“These whispering talebearers have such an art as to cause what they thus speak in secret to sink very deeply into men’s hearts. They profess themselves very sorry for what they tell you, but it is too true, and with a deep sigh they harm their neighbor” (Burroughs, Irenicum, p. 212).
Contagion
“Many men of moderate spirits, if left alone, yet meeting with men who tell them stories and speak ill of those men that heretofore there had a good opinion of, now, before they have examined what the truth is, let a venom get into their spirits before they are aware. their hearts begin to be …
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Like a Fish in the Pond
“Contentions and strifes that are as tedious to other men as death are their delight. They are most in their element when they are over head and ears in them” (Burroughs, Irenicum, p. 207).
In a Chain of Invincible Reasoning
“If contentious men can find nothing against their brethren, they will surmise there is something. If they can find nothing in their actions to judge, they will judge their hearts. If there is nothing above board, they will think there may be something under board; and from thinking there may be something they will think …
And They Snap Easily
“Hearts that are stout and willful are dry and sapless” (Burroughs, Irenicum, p. 202).
Balance
“A man must not be one thing one day and another on another day, not like a weather vane, carried up and down with every wind. Neither must he be willful and stout, like a rusty lock that will not be stirred by any key” (Burroughs, Irenicum, p. 201).
You Can Say That Again
“Many times stoutness of spirit comes from weakness rather than strength. There is not always the greatest strength of judgment where there is the greatest strength of will” (Burroughs, Irenicum, p. 198).
What Makes Men Go
“I think I may say that, in most men, will is the axle and lust and passions are the wheels whereupon almost all their actions are carried” (Burroughs, Irenicum, p. 197).