ular, whom He keeps as the apple of His eye, whom He loves freely, as
Hosea xiv. 5. speaks, and dearly respects, [4500]_Charior est ipsis homo
quam sibi_. Not that we are fair, nor for any merit or grace of ours, for
we are most vile and base; but out of His incomparable love and goodness,
out of His Divine Nature. And this is that Homer's golden chain, which
reacheth down from heaven to earth, by which every creature is annexed, and
depends on his Creator. He made all, saith [4501]Moses, "and it was good;"
He loves it as good.

The love of angels and living souls is mutual amongst themselves, towards
us militant in the church, and all such as love God; as the sunbeams
irradiate the earth from those celestial thrones, they by their well wishes
reflect on us, [4502]_in salute hominum promovenda alacres, et constantes
administri_, there is joy in heaven for every sinner that repenteth; they
pray for us, are solicitous for our good, [4503]_Casti genii_.

[4504] "Ubi regnat charitas, suave desiderium,
Laetitiaque et amor Deo conjunctus."

Love proper to mortal men is the third member of this subdivision, and the
subject of my following discourse.

MEMB. II.

SUBSECT. I.--_Love of Men, which varies as his Objects, Profitable,
Pleasant, Honest_.

Valesius, _lib. 3. contr. 13_, defines this love which is in men, "to be
[4505]an affection of both powers, appetite and reason." The rational
resides in the brain, the other in the liver (as before hath been said out
of Plato and others); the heart is diversely affected of both, and carried
a thousand ways by consent. The sensitive faculty most part overrules
reason, the soul is carried hoodwinked, and the understanding captive like
a beast. [4506]"The heart is variously inclined, sometimes they are merry,
sometimes sad, and from love arise hope and fear, jealousy, fury,
desperation." Now this love of men is diverse, and varies, as the object
varies, by which they are enticed, as virtue, wisdom, eloquence, profit,
wealth, money, fame, honour, or comeliness of person, &c. Leon Hubreus, in
his first dialogue, reduceth them all to these three, _utile, jucundum,
honestum_, profitable, pleasant, honest; (out of Aristotle belike _8.
moral._) of which he discourseth at large, and whatsoever is beautiful and
fair, is referred to them, or any way to be desired. [4507]"To profitable
is ascribed health, wealth, honour, &c., which is rather ambition, desire,
covetousness, than l