never changed into so many shapes as now for every fond opinion is taken up and maintained for truth but the more opinions prevail the more should wise men lay hold on truth and hold her fast till she return to her owne shape 11. Tethys was the wife of Oceanus perhaps they menet by Tethys the Mediterraen Sea and other bayes which were so united to the Ocean as man and wife by which union the Mediterrane abounds with Fishes and so do the other bayes or armes of the Sea 12. Thetis was also the Sea and married to Peleus because perhaps he was much addicted to Navigation In their marriage all the gods were present except the goddesse Discord it were happy if she were absent from all other marriages 13. Glaucus was a Fisherman who in winter had a way to catch Fish which others had not he was also an excellent swimmer and diver under water being at last drowned or devoured by some great fish he was by superstitious people held for a Sea-god from such weak and foolish beginnings hath idolatry received its increase so Phorcus king of Sardinia being drowned by Atlas in a Naval fight was by his people made a Sea-god in like manner Ino who was called also Leucothea and Matuta being both drowned were made Sea-Gods so was Palemoâ— or Portunus being a mortall man and buried in Isthmus made a God after his death This custome the Romans borrowed in deifying of their Emperours after dâ—ath and the Papists in canonizing of their Saints 14. Triton is most commonly taken for a Sea monster having the upper parts like those of a man but the lower parts like a fish which they made also a Sea God because of his monstrous and unusuall shape but I rather thinke that by Triton is meant the sea in whose upper parts or superficies men use to trade in the lower parts fishes have their abode and perhaps from hence arose the fable of Tritons Monstrous shape 15. By Matuta or Matutina may be meant the morning by Paleâ—on which is from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to shake is meant the winde which is Matutas sonne because it is raised by the morning sun these are laid to fall into the sea and to be made sea gods because of the power which the sun and winde have over the sea OEDIPUS See SPHINX OREADES See NYMPHES ORION HEe was the son of Hyreus begot of the Vrine of Jupiter Mercurâ—e and Neptune when they pissed in the oâ—e â—ide with the flesh of which these three gods were seasted by Hyreus for he being childlesse obtained this for aâ—â—ward of his hospitality for after the hide was buried by their command ten moneths in the gâ—â—und Vrion was borne so called from the Vrin but afterward he was named Orion he proâ—ed an excellent hunter and was Dianas companion but for bragging too much of his skill was killed by a Scorpion and after that placed among the Stars The INTERPRETER 1 ORion is a constellation consisting of seventeen stam whereof seven of them are very bright theresoâ—â— Virgil girds him with gold 〈◊〉 auro circumspiâ— Orion this constellation ariseth in the winter at which time great stormes are raised and much rain falls therefore in respect of the darknes of the aire which Orion 〈◊〉 seth by railing such quantitie of vapours and cloudes 〈◊〉 which stormes rain and thunder are ingendered heâ— said by Seneca to affright the gods tenet Orion Dâ—os and perhaps he was said to be begot of the gods Vrinâ—e becauâ—â— aboundâ—ce of raine falls by his influence hence he is calleâ— Nimbosâ—s Agnosus Pluâ—iâ—sas Orion by the Prince of Poâ— He is said to be killed by Diaâ—ns arrows Diaie virgiâ—ls 〈◊〉 niitus sagÃtta because when the moone shines bright 〈◊〉 the full his starres are scarce seene others write thâ— he was staine by the Scorpion because when this risesâ— the other falls and is hid 2. Orion may be the type oâ— an excellent governour who for his justice and author◠〈◊〉 is begot of Jupiter for his eloquence of Mercury so his skil in horsemanship and navigation of Neptune thâ— men of excellent parts and eminent vertues are called thâ— sons of the gods therefore he was rewarded by all theâ— three gods by Jupiter with a place among the stars by Mecucilrie with skill on the harpe by Neptune with â—alnesse 〈◊〉 body that he could walke through the son quam magnus Orion Cum peâ—◠〈◊〉 medii per maxima Nerei Stagna viam scinâ—tas humero super 〈◊〉 undas 3. Orion for ravishing of Mecops the daughter of Ocaâ— plon lost his eyes by the same Ornopion and for his pride and bragging of his skill was killed by Diana thus we see that lust and pride seldome goe unpunished 4. Orion recovered his sight by Vulcans holpe in counselling and conducting him through the sea to the East towards the sun wee shall never recover our spirituall eye sight which wee lost by our spirituall fornications but by the fierie zeale of the spirit conducting us through the sea of repentance to Christ the sun of righteousnesse 5. Some in steed of Mercury make Apollo one of Orions fathers by which I thinke is meant that by the naturall heat of the seede which they called the Vrinâ— of the gods and the radicall moysture thereof and the influence of heaven every generation is effected in this inferiour world for Jupiter is the heaven Apollo the naturall hear and Neptune the radicall moysture 6. Hyreus for his hospitalitâ—e in entertaining the gods lost not his reward neither shall they that entertain Christ in his Ministers and poore members 7. By Orion may be meant the vapours which are extracted out of the sea by the Suns heat and the Heavens influence for these three are the parents of Orion or the vapours there obscuring the light of the moone was expressed by Orions assaulting of Diana who by her arrowes killed him because the moone by her light and influence oftentimes dispells and consumes these vapours 8. Blind Orion carried Cedalion on his shoulders by whom he was directed and guided towards the Sun even so the blind Church of Rome carried the Protestant Church even in the time of her greatest blindnesse upon her large shoulders who was directed by the Protostants in all ages towards Christ but she would not goe and in this her condition was worse then that of Orions for he followed his director and received his sight but shee persecuted and killed her directors and continueâ— yet in blindnesse If yee aske then where the Protestant Church was before Luther I answer upon the shoulders of blind Orion or of the Romish Church directing her to the sun of righteousnesse ORPHEUS HE was the son of Apollo and Calliope who by the sweetnes of his musick caused birds and beasts stones and trees to follow him Having lost his wife Eâ—ridice who running away from Arâ—steus wâ—â— stâ—ng to death by a Serpent he went downe to hell to bring her backe who bâ— his
the cup is the boat the wine is the river Phlegeton which burns them and Acheren wherâ—in is no true joy Styx which causeth sadnesse and complaints for these are the effects of drunkennesse Charons fâ—â—ry face ragged clothes brawling and scolding tongue rotten boat still drinking in water are the true emblems of a drunkard hee is the childe of Hell and begot of Satan and the Night for they that are drunk are drunk in the night hee admits of no company but such as are dead in this sin and buried in it and such as have money in their mouthes that is spend-thrifts who spend all on their throats CHIMAERA THis was a monster having the head of a Lion breathing out fire the belly of a Goat and the tail of a Dragon which did much hurt but was killed at last by Bellerophon The INTERPRETER 1. THe Church of Rome is a Chimaera her head was a Lions head breathing out fire for her devotion was then awfull and majesticall to the world her zeale was hot like fire and her words were powerfull but about the middle of her raign shee shewed her Goatish belly for wealth made her wanton and insolent but in the end shee shewed the Dragons tail by open persecution in devouring the bodies and striving to poyson the souls of the Saints 2. Some think that this was a hill on the top whereof were Lions and Vulcans of fire about the middle was pasture and Goats at the foot Serpents which Bellerophon made habitable others think this was a Pirâ—ts ship having the picture of these three beasts on it others that these were three brothers called by these names which did much hurt others that by this â—iction is meant a torrent of water running furiously like a Lion licking the grasse upon the banks like a Goat and winding like a Serpent as may be seen in Natal Comes and others 3. But I had rather think that by this Monster may be meant a Whore which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the wave or scum of love wherein many are drowned shee hath a Lions devouring mouth still craving and devouring mens estates shee hath the wanton belly of a Goat but in the end will sting and poyson like a Dragon 4. By Chimaâ—â—a I think Wine may be meant which makes men â—urious like Lions wanton like Goats and cunning or crafty like Serpents 5. The life of man may be meant by this Monster for man in his youthfull yeers is an untamed Lion in his middle age a wanton or an aspiring Goat still striving to climb upon the steep rocks of honour and in his old age hee becomes a wise and crafty Serpent 6. Satan may be understood by Chimaera who in the beginning of the Church did rage like a Lion by open persecution in the middle and flourishing time thereof like a Goat made her wanton and in the end will shew himselfe to be that great red Dragon labouring by secret cunning and slights to undermine and poyson her but Christ already hath and wee in him shall overcome this Monster CHIRON WAs a Centaur begot of Saturn in the forme of a horse of Phyllyra the daughter of Oceanus he was an excellent Astronomer Phisitian and Musitian whose schollers were Hercules Apollo and Achilles he was wounded in the foot by one of Hercules his arrows of which wound he could not die being immortall till he intreated Jupiter who placed him among the stars with a sacrifice in his hand and an Altar before him The INTERPRETER 1. CHiron was halfe a horse and halfe a man God doth oftentimes punish the adulteries of the parents with monsterous and deformed children for Ops was the wife of Saturn and not Phyllyra 2. The deformitie of children proceeds ordinarily from the distempered imagination of the parents 3. That Chiron is begot of Saturn and Phillyra is meant that Astronomie Physick Musick and all other arts are begot of time and experience or of time and books for Phillyra is a thin Skin or parchment or paper or that which is betwixt the bark and the wood of the tree and is called Tyllia on which they used to write 4. Saturn or time begets learned Chiron that is arts and sciences by the help of reading but he must do it in the forme of a horse that is with much patience and labour 5. Chiron may signifie to us the life of a Christian which consisteth in contemplation and so he is an Astronomer whose conversâ—tion and thoughts are in heaven and in action which consisteth in speaking well and so he is a Musitian and in doing well and so he is a Physitian and because Christianitie is more a practick then speculative science he hath his denomination Chiron from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 maâ—â—â— the hand not from the head lastly suffering is a part of Christianitie and so Chiron patiently suffered the wound of Hercules his arrow 6. Chirons feet were wounded before he was admitted amongst the stars so our affections must be mortified befor we can attain heaven 7. Chirons pain made him desire to die so affliction makes us weary of this world and fits us for heaven 8. Chiron hath his Altar still before him and his sacrifice in his hand so Christ our Altar must be still in our eyes and our spirituall sacrifices still ready to be offered 9. In that a Centaur had so much knowledge wee see that sometimes in mis-shapen bodies are eminent parts as were in Aesop Epicteâ—us and others 10. Achilles so valiant Hercules so strong Apollo so wise yet were content to learne of a deformed Centaur so all should hearken to the Ministers doctrine be his life never so deformed though he be a Centaur in his life yet he is a man nay an Angel in his doctrine CIRCE THe daughter of Sol and Persis and by her grand-childe of Oceanus shee was a witch and skillfull in hearbs shee poysoned her husband King of Scythia and for her cruelty was banished thence and carried by her father Sol in a chariot and placed in the Iland Circaeâ— shee turned Vlysses fellowes into swine but over him shee had no power shee could not procure the good will of Glaucus who loved Scylla better then Circe shee infected the water in which Scylla was wont to wash and having touched this water turned into a Sea-Monster The INTERPRETER 1. Circe was a famous witch who was said to transforme men into Wolves Bears and other beasts which is not true indeed for the devill cannot cause such a transformation because it is a kind of creation proper to God onely who could change Lots wife into a pillar of salt and Nebuchadnezzar into a beast but these transformations of witches are onely melancholy conceipts and disstempers of the imagination caused by herbs or oyntments or else they are delusions of the eye 2. Circe saith Nat. Comes is the mixture of the Elements which is caused by heat and moysture the four Elements are the four hand-maids shee is immortall
falleth upon all alike 7. Now the four horses that draw fortune are the four branches of providence whereby Gods love is communicated to us to wit creation preservation gobernation and ordinations of all things to their ends 8. In that they called fortune the daughter of the Sea by this they would shew her instabilitie still ebbing and flowing like the Sea therefore they made her stand upon a wheel and shee was called in a common by-word fortuna Euripus Erâ—s in adag because of the often ebbing and flowing thereof I grant that as one and the same effect may be called fortune and providence fortune in respect of the particular cause but providence in regard of the first and generall câ—use which is God so the same may be called instable in respect of the particular cause but most stable in respect of God with whom there is no variablenesse nor shadow of turning though contingent causes produce contingent effects yet nothing is contingent to God for all things come to passe which he foreseeth and yet his forâ—knowledge imposeth no necessity on contingent things but indeed we are instable our selves and evill and wee accuse fortune of instabilitie and evill a good man may make his fortune good â—uisque suae est fortunae faber 9. I have read that in some places fortune was wont to be pained like an old woman having fire in oâ—e hand and water in the other which I thinke did signifie that providence doth still presuppose prudence whereof old age is the Symbol and because of the mutable and various effects of fortune shee was presented by a woman the Symbol of mutabilitie but the Romans upon better consideration made her both male and female to shew that though the particular and secondarie causes of fortunall effects be various and unconstant like women yet the supreme cause hath the staiednesse of a man the fire and water shews that our firie afflictions which fall not without Gods providence are so tempered with water of mercy that though they burne good men yet they consume them not as we are taught by Moses fierie bush and the furnace of Babylon CHAP. VII G. GANIMEDES HEe was the King of Troys son who whilest hee wâ—n hunting was caught up to heaven by an Eagle Jupiters bird and because of his extraordinary beauty Jupiter made him his Cup bearer The INTERPRETER 1. WHen Ganimedes was caught up to heaven hee let fall his pipe on which hee was playing to his sheep so whilest we are carried up by divine raptures and contemplations wee must sling away all earthly delights 2. Whilest Ganimed was piping on his cane and keeping of his fathers sheep then was hee caught up to heaven God is never better pleased with us then when wee are faithfull and diligent in our calling Not the sad and melancholy but the cheerfull minde is fâ—rtest for God and heavenly râ—ptures 3. Ganimedes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is one that delights in divine counsell or wisdoâ—me and wisdome is the true beauty of the minde where n God takes pleasure 4. Every Eagle is not Jupiters bird as Aelian observeth but that only which abstains from flâ—sh and râ—pine and that was the bird that caught up Ganimedes so fleshly mindes and thoughts set upon rapine and carnall pleasures are not sit to serve God nor to carrie the soul up to heaven 5. The quick-sighted Eagle is divine contemplation or meditation by which Ganimedes the soul is caught up to heaven 6. When by holy raptures we are carried up to heaven the best Nectar that wee can powre out to God is the teares of repentance and of a broken heart 7. Ganimedes was caught up by one Eagle only but if we have the true inward beauty of the mind we shall be caught up in the air by Legions of Angels to meet the Lord and shall for ever serve him at his table in the Kingdom of heaven 8. I wish that the Roman Eagle would not delight so much in rapine and mans flesh as he doth but rather indeavour to be carried up to heaven that is to their ancient dignity the decayed and ruinated parts of the Empire 9. As the Eagle caught up Ganimedes so the wings of a great Eagle were given to the woman Rev. 12. to carrie her from the Dragons persecution the great Eagle was the Roman Empire whereof Constantine was the head by whose power and help the Church was supported 10. Our Saviour Christ is the true Ganimedes the son of the great King the fairest among the sons of men the wisdom and counsell of the father in whom God delighted and was well pleased who by the power and on the wings of his Divintie was caught up to heaven where hee is powring out his prayers and merits before God for us and like Aquarius to which Ganimedes was converted is powring downe the plentifull showers of his grace upon us 11. Vespasian set up the image of Jupiter and Ganimedes caught by the Eagle in the Temple of peace so the image of God and heavenly raptures are found in that soul wherein is the peace of conscience 12. As the Eagle carried Ganimedes so Moses compareth God to an Eagle who carried the Israelites on his wings through the desert and S. Ambrose saith that Christ is the Eagle who hath caught man from the jawes of Hell and hath carried him up to heaven GENII THese were the sons of Jupiter and Terra in shape like man but of an uncertain sex every man had two from his nativitie waiting on him till his death the one whereof was a good Genius the other a bad the good ones by some are called Lares the bad Lemures and by Tertullian and his commentator Pamelius they are all one with the Daemones they were worshipped in the forme of Serpents The INTERPRETER 1. IT was a high degree of honor among the the Romans to swear by the princes Genius therefore Caligula put many to death because they never swore by his Genius so to falsifie that oath which was taken by the princes Genius was most severely punished by which we see that swearing by a superiour is an honour held due to him and therefore Anabaptists rob God of his honour when in cases of necessity they will not swear at all by him On the other side how doe they dishonour God who swear by his Name rashly and falsely and yet are not punished The Romans were more religious towards their Princes which were but men then we are towards the true God 2. The Roman Genius was wont to be painted with the horn of plenty in one hand and a dish with offerings reached out towards the altar in the other hand to shew that the Roman State and consequently all others are supported by outward plenty and religious bounty or devotion towards God 3. Genius à gignendo for by them we are ingenerated and so whatsoever is the cause or help of our generation may be called Genius thus the clements the
as the Poet shewet â—in Argysus asking the cause of his adulterie answers that he was idle desidiâ—sus erat 8. There is no vertue that becomes a woman so much as modestie which Penelope expressed when being sollicited by her Father to stay with him and Vlysses leaving it to her choyce whether she would stay at home with her Father or follow her Husband answered nothing but covered her head with a vaile by which her Father knew her meaning that she desired to follow her Husband in memorie of which fact in the same place the image of God modestie was erected if once a woman cast off that vaile of modestie she is lost Cui perist pudor illam ego periisse puto 9. When Eurynome in Homer adviseth Penelope to wash her body to anoint it and to put on better garments and to leave off her sad life she refused it as things not becomming her modestie nor sitting that she should use any meanes whereby she might looke pleasing in the sight of her wooers how much doe the women of this age differ from Penelope who spend most of their time in washing painting and trimming of themselves dum moliâ—câ—tur dum ornantur annus est by this they shew not onely their pride and levitie but by such baites they draw inconsiderat men to lust and vanitie 10. Though Penelope had many importunat Suitors and her husband stayed away twenty yeares from her yet she continued constant and at last was delivered by her Husbands comming home who killed all these Suitors even so though wee have many Suitors the divell the world the flesh or lusts and desires yet we must not hearken to them but be constant to the end and faithfull to our Husband Christ who though he hath bin long from us yet will returne at last in an hower when they thinke not and will slay all our enemies and give them their portion with hypocrits PERSEUS HE was begot of Jupiter and Danae whilst she was inclosed in the brasen tower Jupiter transforming himselfe into a golden shewer and so falling into her bosolnâ— when Acrisuis Danaes Father heard this he exposed both biâ— daughter and her sonne in a chest to the Sea who were â—aveâ— by a fisher man afterward Perseus overcame the Gorgonâ— and cutt of Medusa's head and delivered Andromeda 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cepheus his daughter from the Sea monster after diveâ—sether brave exploits he was placed among the starres The INTERPRITER 1. PEâ—seus is called the son of Jupiter because he wâ— an excellent man and had done great and braâ— exploits in subduing the Gorgones either wilâ— bâ—asts or cruell women in Africa in warring with thâ— Ethiopians in rescuing of Andromeda in subduing the Kingdome of the Argivi in erecting a Colledge oâ— Schoole in Helicon for which fact he was said to be placeâ— among the starres that is extolled by mens praises unto the starres 2. In that Jupiter in the forme of gold getts within Daâ—aes brasen tower we see that no place Is so strong to hold out where ther is a golden key to open the gates or a golden ram to batter the walles wherefore it was said that Philip of Macedon subdued more townes with hiâ— gold then with his sword 3. Perseus was sayd to be begot of gold either because perhapps his haire was yellow and of the colour of gold or because his Mother was hired for gold to prostitute hâ—t body to Jupiter or because his parents left him great store of wealth and gold which is as it were a second Parent for poore Parents bestow on their Children but the life of nature rich Parents bestow on their sonnes the life of honour and worldly delights for the life of a poore man in wanâ— is little better then death 4. That Jupiter did fall into the lap of Danae in a golden showre is but a fablâ— yet it is most certaine that the Holy Ghost descends into the hearts of the faithfull like a showre of raine to make them bring forth the fruits of a good life or spirituall Children to God 5. When Perseus over came Medusa and her Gorgous he covered his head with Orcus his helmet by which he was made invisible he that will overcome the world and the Gorgones of envie and malice must be content to live an obscure and private life for no men are sooner overcome by such then they that live in publike and eminent places 6. The Gorgones which Perseus killed are thought to be the basilisks a kind of beasts in Africa alone which kill with their ey called Catoblepae because they looke still downeward they are described by Mela Pliniâ— and Aclian if we will be like Perseus good Souldiers indeed and deserve a place among the starres with him we must kill the Gorgones or Catoblepae within us even those covetous affections that are still loooking downeward and fastned on earth and earthly things 7. Perseus was so brave and excellent a man that not onely was he himselfe made a constellation but like wise his wife Andromeda his Father in law Cepheus and his Mother in law Cassiopcia for his sake by which we may see how one worthy person doth innoble a whole family 8. Perseus could not obtain the fair Andiomeda untill he had first killed Medusa and then the Sea monsters neither can we attain true content and happinesse untill we have subdued the monsters of our lusts and affections 9. Out of the dropps of blood which fell from Medusae's head which Perseus cutt off there arâ—se multitudes of serpents in Africa this may represent the nature of heresie which when it is slain by the sword of truth and of authority yet out of it springs up new heresies like so many serpents from the blood of Medusae's head 10. Our blessed Saviour is the true Perseus the sonne of the true God and of a pure Virgin exposed in his infancie and all his life after to many dangers he hath subdued all our spirituall Gorgones and hath delivered the Church his faire spouse from the Devill that great monster who was ready to devoure her at last having conquered all his enemies he hath ascended into glory and there hath prepared a place for hâ—s Andromeda the Church PHAETON HE was the Sonne of Sol and Clymene who taking occasion by his Fathers rash promise intreated and obtained of â—im leave to guide his chariot for one day but for want of â—â—rength and experience in him the horses grew unruly and ran so neare the earth that had not Jupiter struck him downe with his thunder bolt the earth had bin burned up The INTERPRETER 1. BY Phaeton may be meant some fierle exhalation or comet which being near the earth caused a great heat siccitie or conflagration for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifâ—eth burning and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to manifest or make cleare 2. Phaeton was an Astronomer who spent much time in observing the course and motion of the Sun therefore was called his Sonne