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THE SECOND BOOKE 147
of the same was the chiefe pillar of the one part;
the negative was the maine-underprop of the other:
And listen now from whence commeth the voyce and
instruction of one and other : and whether armes
clatter and clang less for this than for that cause.
And we burne those men which say that truth must
be made to abide the yoke of our need : And how
much worse doth France than speak it. Let us confesse
the truth : he that from out this lawfull armie
should cull out first those who follow it for meere zeale
of a religious affection than such as only regard the
defence and protection of their countries lawes or
service of their Prince ; whether hee could ever erect
a com pi eat company of armed men. How comes it to
passe that so few are found who have still held one
same wil and progresse in our publike revolutions, and
that we see them now and then but faintly, and sometimes
as fast as they can headlong to runne into the
action ? And the same men, now by their violence and
rashnesse, and now through their slownes, demissnes,
and heavines to spoile, and as it were overthrow our
affaires, but that they are thrust into them by casual
motives, and particular consideration, according to the
diversities wherewith they are moved ? I plainly perceive
we lend nothing unto devotion but the offices
that flatter our passions. There is no hostilitie so
excellent as that which is absolutely Christian. Our
zeale worketh wonders, whenever it secondeth our
inclinations towards hatred, cruel tie, ambition, avarice,
detraction, or rebellion. Towards goodnes, benignitie,
or temperance it goeth but slowly, and against the
haire, except miraculously, some rare complexion leade
him unto it, it neither runnes nor flieth to it. Our religion
was ordained to root out vices, but it shrowdeth,
fostreth, and provoketh them. As commonly we say,
' We must not make a foole of God/ Bid we believe
in him, I say not through faith, but with a simple
beleefo ; yea (I speake it to our confusion) did we but
beleeve and know him, as wee doe another storie, or
as one of our companions; we should then love him