s_, a furious disease of
the soul; _insania omnium insanissima_, a quintessence of madness;
[6345]for he that is superstitious can never be quiet. 'Tis proper to man
alone, _uni superbia, avaritia, superstitio_, saith Plin. _lib. 7. cap. 1._
_atque etiam post saevit de futuro_, which wrings his soul for the present,
and to come: the greatest misery belongs to mankind, a perpetual servitude,
a slavery, [6346]_Ex timore timor_, a heavy yoke, the seal of damnation, an
intolerable burden. They that are superstitious are still fearing,
suspecting, vexing themselves with auguries, prodigies, false tales,
dreams, idle, vain works, unprofitable labours, as [6347]Boterus observes,
_cura mentis ancipite versantur_: enemies to God and to themselves. In a
word, as Seneca concludes, _Religio Deum colit, superstitio destruit_,
superstition destroys, but true religion honours God. True religion, _ubi
verus Deus vere colitur_, where the true God is truly worshipped, is the
way to heaven, the mother of virtues, love, fear, devotion, obedience,
knowledge, &c. It rears the dejected soul of man, and amidst so many cares,
miseries, persecutions, which this world affords, it is a sole ease, an
unspeakable comfort, a sweet reposal, _Jugum suave, et leve_, a light yoke,
an anchor, and a haven. It adds courage, boldness, and begets generous
spirits: although tyrants rage, persecute, and that bloody Lictor or
sergeant be ready to martyr them, _aut lita, aut morere_, (as in those
persecutions of the primitive Church, it was put in practice, as you may
read in Eusebius and others) though enemies be now ready to invade, and all
in an uproar, [6348]_Si fractus illabatur orbis, impavidos ferient ruinae_,
though heaven should fall on his head, he would not be dismayed. But as a
good Christian prince once made answer to a menacing Turk, _facile
scelerata hominum arma contemnit, qui del praesidio tutus est_: or as
[6349] Phalaris writ to Alexander in a wrong cause, he nor any other enemy
could terrify him, for that he trusted in God. _Si Deus nobiscum, quis
contra nos_? In all calamities, persecutions whatsoever, as David did, 2
Sam. ii. 22, he will sing with him, "the Lord is my rock, my fortress, my
strength, my refuge, the tower and horn of my salvation," &c. In all
troubles and adversities, Psal. xlvi. 1. "God is my hope and help, still
ready to be found, I will not therefore fear," &c., 'tis a fear expelling
fear; he hath peace of conscience, and is f