to the slaughter: and that which is worse, whoremasters and drunkards
shall be judged, amittunt gratiam, saith Austin, perdunt gloriam,
incurrunt damnationem aeternam. They lose grace and glory;
[1902]———brevis illa voluptas
Abrogat aeternum caeli decus———
they gain hell and eternal damnation.
SUBSECT. XIV.—_Philautia, or Self-love, Vainglory, Praise, Honour,
Immoderate Applause, Pride, overmuch Joy, &c., Causes_.
Self-love, pride, and vainglory, [1903]caecus amor sui, which
Chrysostom calls one of the devil's three great nets; [1904]Bernard, an
arrow which pierceth the soul through, and slays it; a sly, insensible
enemy, not perceived, are main causes. Where neither anger, lust,
covetousness, fear, sorrow, &c., nor any other perturbation can lay
hold; this will slyly and insensibly pervert us, Quem non gula vicit,
Philautia, superavit, (saith Cyprian) whom surfeiting could not
overtake, self-love hath overcome. [1905]He hath scorned all money,
bribes, gifts, upright otherwise and sincere, hath inserted himself to
no fond imagination, and sustained all those tyrannical concupiscences
of the body, hath lost all his honour, captivated by vainglory.
Chrysostom, sup. Io. Tu sola animum mentemque peruris, gloria. A great
assault and cause of our present malady, although we do most part
neglect, take no notice of it, yet this is a violent batterer of our
souls, causeth melancholy and dotage. This pleasing humour; this soft
and whispering popular air, Amabilis insania; this delectable frenzy,
most irrefragable passion, Mentis gratissimus error, this acceptable
disease, which so sweetly sets upon us, ravisheth our senses, lulls our
souls asleep, puffs up our hearts as so many bladders, and that without
all feeling, [1906]insomuch as those that are misaffected with it,
never so much as once perceive it, or think of any cure. We commonly
love him best in this [1907]malady, that doth us most harm, and are
very willing to be hurt; adulationibus nostris libentur facemus (saith
[1908] Jerome) we love him, we love him for it: [1909]O Bonciari suave,
suave fuit a te tali haec tribui; 'Twas sweet to hear it. And as
[1910]Pliny doth ingenuously confess to his dear friend Augurinus, all
thy writings are most acceptable, but those especially that speak of
us. Again, a little after to Maximus, [1911]I cannot express how
pleasing it is to me to hear myself commended. Though we smile to
ourselves, at least ironically, when parasites bedaub us with false
encomiums, as many princes cannot choose but do, Quum tale quid nihil
intra se repererint, when they know they come as far short, as a mouse
to an elephant, of any such virtues; yet it doth us good. Though we
seem many times to be angry, [1912] and blush at our own praises, yet
our souls inwardly rejoice, it puffs us up; 'tis fallax suavitas,
blandus daemon, makes us swell beyond our bounds, and forget ourselves.
Her two daughters are lightness of mind, immoderate joy and pride, not
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