Of Innovation

AS THE births of living creatures, at first are ill-shapen, so are all innovations, which are
the births of time. Yet notwithstanding, as those that first bring honor into their family,
are commonly more worthy than most that succeed, so the first precedent (if it be good)
is seldom attained by imitation. For ill, to man’s nature, as it stands perverted, hath a
natural motion, strongest in continuance; but good, as a forced motion, strongest at first.
Surely every medicine is an innovation; and he that will not apply new remedies, must
expect new evils; for time is the greatest innovator; and if time of course alter things to
the worse, and wisdom and counsel shall not alter them to the better, what shall be the
end? It is true, that what is settled by custom, though it be not good, yet at least it is fit;
and those things which have long gone together, are, as it were, confederate within
themselves; whereas new things piece not so well; but though they help by their utility,
yet they trouble by their inconformity. Besides, they are like strangers; more admired,
and less favored. All this is true, if time stood still; which contrariwise moveth so round,
that a froward retention of custom, is as turbulent a thing as an innovation; and they that
reverence too much old times, are but a scorn to the new. It were good, therefore, that
men in their innovations would follow the example of time itself; which indeed
innovateth greatly, but quietly, by degrees scarce to be perceived. For otherwise,
whatsoever is new is unlooked for; and ever it mends some, and pairs others; and he that
is holpen, takes it for a fortune, and thanks the time; and he that is hurt, for a wrong, and
imputeth it to the author. It is good also, not to try experiments in states, except the
necessity be urgent, or the utility evident; and well to beware, that it be the reformation,
that draweth on the change, and not the desire of change, that pretendeth the reformation.
And lastly, that the novelty, though it be not rejected, yet be held for a suspect; and, as
the Scripture saith, that we make a stand upon the ancient way, and then look about us,
and discover what is the straight and right way, and so to walk in it.
 Of Adversity

IT was a high speech of Seneca (after the manner of the Stoics), that the good
things which belong to prosperity are to be wished; but the good things that belong
to adversity are to be admired. Bona rerum secundarum optabilia; adversarum
mirabilia. Certainly, if miracles be the command over nature, they appear most in
adversity. It is yet a higher speech of his than the other (much too high for a
heathen), It is true greatness to have in one the frailty of a man, and the security of
a God. Vere magnum habere fragilitatem hominis, securitatem Dei. This would
have done better in poesy, where transcendences are more allowed. And the poets
indeed have been busy with it; for it is in effect the thing which figured in that
strange fiction of the ancient poets, which seemeth not to be without mystery; nay,
and to have some approach to the state of a Christian; that Hercules, when he went
to unbind Prometheus (by whom human nature is represented), sailed the length of
the great ocean in an earthen pot or pitcher; lively describing Christian resolution,
that saileth in the frail bark of the flesh through the waves of the world. But to
speak in a mean. 1 The virtue of prosperity is temperance; the virtue of adversity is
fortitude; which in morals is the more heroical virtue. Prosperity is the blessing of
the Old Testament; adversity is the blessing of the New; which carrieth the greater
benediction, and the clearer revelation of God’s favor. Yet even in the Old
Testament, if you listen to David’s harp, you shall hear as many hearse-like airs as
carols; and the pencil of the Holy Ghost hath labored more in describing the
afflictions of Job than the felicities of Solomon. Prosperity is not without many
fears and distastes; and adversity is not without comforts and hopes. We see in
needleworks and embroideries, it is more pleasing to have a lively work upon a
sad 2 and solemn ground, than to have a dark and melancholy work upon a
lightsome ground: judge therefore of the pleasure of the heart by the pleasure of the
eye. Certainly virtue is like precious odors, most fragrant when they are incensed
or crushed: for prosperity doth best discover 3 vice, but adversity doth best
discover virtue.