oftentimes the proper countenance of them that are at the point
of death. But were it so, that all anger and passion were so
thoroughly quenched in thee, that it were altogether impossible
to kindle it any more, yet herein must not thou rest satisfied,
but further endeavour by good consequence of true ratiocination,
perfectly to conceive and understand, that all anger and
passion is against reason. For if thou shalt not be sensible
of thine innocence; if that also shall be gone from thee,
the comfort of a good conscience, that thou doest all things
according to reason: what shouldest thou live any longer for?
All things that now thou seest, are but for a moment.
That nature, by which all things in the world are administered,
will soon bring change and alteration upon them, and then
of their substances make other things like unto them: and then
soon after others again of the matter and substance of these:
that so by these means, the world may still appear fresh
and new. XIX. Whensoever any man doth trespass against other,
presently consider with thyself what it was that he did
suppose to be good, what to be evil, when he did trespass.
For this when thou knowest, thou wilt pity him thou wilt
have no occasion either to wonder, or to be angry.
For either thou thyself dust yet live in that error
and ignorance, as that thou dust suppose either that very thing
that he doth, or some other like worldly thing, to be good;
and so thou art bound to pardon him if he have done that
which thou in the like case wouldst have done thyself.
Or if so be that thou dost not any more suppose the same things
to be good or evil, that he doth; how canst thou but be gentle
unto him that is in an error?