William Penn. (1644–1718). Fruits of Solitude.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.
Of Man’s Inconsiderateness and Partiality
147. ’T is very observable, if our Civil Rights are invaded or incroach’d upon, we are mightily touch’d, and fill every Place with our Resentment and Complaint; while we suffer our selves, our Better and Nobler Selves, to be the Property and Vassals of Sin, the worst of Invaders.
148. In vain do we expect to be delivered from such Troubles, till we are delivered from the Cause of them, our Disobedience to God.
149. When he has his Dues from us, it will be time enough for Him to give us ours out of one another.
150. ’T is our great Happiness, if we could understand it, that we meet with such Checks in the Career of our worldly Enjoyments, lest we should Forget the Giver, adore the Gift, and terminate our Felicity here, which is not Man’s ultimate Bliss.
151. Our Losses are often made Judgments by our Guilt, and Mercies by our Repentance.
152. Besides, it argues great Folly in Men to let their Satisfaction exceed the true Value of any Temporal Matter: For Disappointments are not always to be measured by the Loss of the Thing, but the Over-value we put upon it.
153. And thus Men improve their own Miseries, for want of an Equal and Just Estimate of what they Enjoy or Lose.
154. There lies a Proviso upon every Thing in this World, and we must observe it at our own Peril, viz. To love God above all, and Act for Judgment, the Last I mean.