A glorious Church is like a magnificent feast; there is all the variety that may be, but every one chooses out a dish or two that he likes, and lets the rest alone: how glorious soever the Church is, every one chooses out of it his own religion, by which he governs himself, and lets the rest alone.
John Selden (1584-1654) English jurist, legal scholar, antiquarian, polymath
Table Talk, § 16.3 “Church” (1689)
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Quotations by:
Selden, John
‘Twas an unhappy division that has been made betwixt faith and works; though in my intellect I may divide them just as in the candle, I know there is both heat and light; but yet put out the candle, and they are both gone: one remains not without the other. So ’tis between faith and works.
John Selden (1584-1654) English jurist, legal scholar, antiquarian, polymath
Table Talk, § 42 “Faith and Works” (1689)
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Old friends are best. King James used to call for his old shoes; they were easiest for his feet.
John Selden (1584-1654) English jurist, legal scholar, antiquarian, polymath
Table Talk, § 45 “Friends” (1689)
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Humility is a virtue all preach, none practise, and yet everybody is content to hear. The master thinks it good doctrine for his servant, the laity for the clergy, and the clergy for the laity.
John Selden (1584-1654) English jurist, legal scholar, antiquarian, polymath
Table Talk, § 53.1 “Humility” (1689)
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Pride may be allowed to this or that degree, else a man cannot keep up his dignity. In gluttony there must be eating, in drunkenness there must be drinking; ’tis not the eating, nor ’tis not the drinking that is to be blamed, but the excess. So in pride.
John Selden (1584-1654) English jurist, legal scholar, antiquarian, polymath
Table Talk, § 53.3 “Humility” (1689)
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We cannot tell what is a judgment of God; ’tis presumption to take upon us to know.
John Selden (1584-1654) English jurist, legal scholar, antiquarian, polymath
Table Talk, § 65 “God’s Judgments” (1689)
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Commonly we say a [divine] judgment falls upon a man for something in him we cannot abide. An example we have in King James, concerning the death of Henry the IVth of France; one said he was killed for his wenching, another said he was killed for turning his religion. No, says King James, (who could not abide fighting) he was killed for permitting duels in his kingdom.
John Selden (1584-1654) English jurist, legal scholar, antiquarian, polymath
Table Talk, § 65 “God’s Judgments” (1689)
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Ignorance of the law excuses no man; not that all men know the law, but because ’tis an excuse every man will plead, and no man can tell how to confute him.
John Selden (1584-1654) English jurist, legal scholar, antiquarian, polymath
Table Talk, § 76.2 “Law” (1689)
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Of all actions of a man’s life, his marriage does least concern other people, yet of all actions of our life ‘tis most meddled with by other people.
John Selden (1584-1654) English jurist, legal scholar, antiquarian, polymath
Table Talk, § 84.1 “Marriage” (1689)
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We measure the excellency of other men by some excellency we conceive to be in ourselves.
John Selden (1584-1654) English jurist, legal scholar, antiquarian, polymath
Table Talk, § 86 “Measure of Things” (1689)
While you are upon the earth, enjoy the good things that are here (to the end that they were given), and be not melancholy, and wish yourself in Heaven.
John Selden (1584-1654) English jurist, legal scholar, antiquarian, polymath
Table Talk, § 104.4 “Pleasure” (1689)
Prayer should be short, without giving God Almighty reasons why he should grant this, or that; he knows best what is good for us.
John Selden (1584-1654) English jurist, legal scholar, antiquarian, polymath
Table Talk, § 109.10 “Prayer” (1689)
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Preachers say, Do as I say, not as I do. But if the physician had the same disease upon him that I have, and he should bid me do one thing, and himself do quite another, could I believe him?
John Selden (1584-1654) English jurist, legal scholar, antiquarian, polymath
Table Talk, § 110.13 “Preaching” (1689)
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