Wisdom from Jeremy Taylor: "fit for communities and proper virtue"

Taylor on how Christian simplicity blesses social and communal life:

Nothing is easier than simplicity and ingenuity: it is open and ready without trouble and artificial cares, fit for communities and the proper virtue of men, the necessary appendage of useful speech, without which language were given to men as nails and teeth to lions, for nothing but to do mischief. It is a rare instrument of institution, and a certain token of courage; the companion of goodness and a noble mind; the preserver of friendship, the band of society, the security of merchants, and the blessing of trade; it prevents infinite of quarrels and appeals to judges, and suffers none of the evils of jealousy. Men by simplicity converse as do the angels; they do their own work, and secure their proper interest, and serve the public, and do glory to God. But hypocrites, and liars, and dissemblers, spread darkness over the face of affairs, and make men, like the blind, to walk softly and timorously; and crafty men, like the close air, suck that which is open, and devour its portion, and destroy its liberty: and it is the guise of devils, and the dishonour of the soul, and the canker of society, and the enemy of justice and truth and peace, of wealth and honour, of courage and merchandise.

From Taylor's sermon 'Of Christian Simplicity', Part II, in The Whole Works of Jeremy Taylor, Volume IV.

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