times makes pow'r exceed This safe equality of old foundations Rather with temperance qualifie that need Then strain old words to modern intimation And thereby wrack men to provide for more Excess then all those ages knew before 448. Of which excess whether the root proceed From humours naturally unsatiate Or Casually made violent by need Odious those cures are which equivocate As did Caligula when by quirks of Law Sibi suis he to Sons did draw 449. And though it for a wisdom of estate Enrolled be in the Senate house of Rome When they with Carthage did capitulate That she must from her old sea-nurses come Inferring City signified no wall But Laws which men obey and rule withal 450. Whereby although more got was then was meant And by advantage evil acts made good Yet what this adds to any government Is in dishonour ever understood Since crafty webs which oft serve present turn To warn times coming do like Beacons burn 451. Besides if pomp of Princes must exceed In those kinds rather let their riot be Whose natures though they leave the Crown in need And so embase the State of Majesty Yet keep the Bullion still within the Land And go and grow like fame from hand to hand 452. Yet as a spring for ever feed the Crown By making people able to relieve Where riots that transport pull Scepters down Give Kings and People mutual cause to grieve At that extreme and fatal consequence Of Coin trans ported by misgovernment 453. Among whose many heads though of the chief Is that most idle and unmeasured charge Of Leager Agents sent to take a brief How forrain Princes alter or enlarge Alliance Councels Undertakings Trade Provisions to defend or to invade 454. Which indigested pomp was never known Nor us'd of old but in the Factorage Of Merchants States to pass away their own By making Princes Marts their proper stage Whereby exchange want folly or desire To self ends they let fall or raise things higher 455. Else springs it from improper imitation Of that long breath'd incroaching Court of Rome Which to give her stain'd wares deer valuation And govern all by superstitious doom From her false Ark these Cormorants sends forth To prey on every thing they find of worth 456. And to that end retaineth every where A spy promoter treasurer and Mint Whose charge those humble provinces must bear That are besides exhausted without stint By Priests who cherish for their pride and gain Those sins the very heathen did restrain 457. The narrow Center of which Cloister wit As it seeks to contract the Deity In finite frames of Arts contriv'd by it So are the large acts of humanity Shut up in Dungeons by their muddy sence That except error nothing comes from thence 458. Now what affinity can other Kings Assume with this that only spend to know Which feathers soar in forraign Eagles wings From whence there can no other profit grow But vainly by expence of wealth to buy The vicious forms of forrain Tyranny 459. And so by these mistrained instruments Bring Faction home among the liberal arts With her unequal moulds of Government To traffick or distract the peoples hearts Free denizing that practical deceit By which not small but great States gather weight 460. Out of the insight of which error many Wise Kings this modern course have alter'd And rarely either sent or taken any Unless for present good occasioned To treat of Marriage Commerce Peace or War In which returns the expences answered are 461. Again since as of duties so expence There is a divers nature and degree Kings in the choice of their magnificence Though absolute they seem yet cannot be But bound amongst the many heads of charge Chiefly their Fame or Empire to enlarge 462. Nay even in these expences which be founded Upon the Laws of Nature Honor State Wise Princes with their fortunes must be bounded Since all excesses be unfortunate And do not onely prejudice a Throne But leave no creature master of his own 463. Of this kind charge of Children buildings be House-keeping Furnitures Gifts and Rewards All lively shadows of authority To multiply obedience and regard Wherein yet Kings should therefore keep a measure As in things fram'd to live and die with treasure 464. Whence I conclude it for a Monarchy Wisdome in her expences and creations To use a spare discreet frugality Which gives the work and workmen reputation And so again by all ingenious ways Descending Rents not impositions raise 465. And when with these fair cautions Princes have Forrain Revenues and their native Rents Disposed thus both to beget and save They may with costless grace or disgrace vent Mens thoughts and frame their due obedience More then can be wrought in them by expence 466. For Kings are Types of Heavenly excellence How be it drawn in finite colours mixt With Pow'r and wit both earthly influence Yet were but these Arts in our Princes fixt How to be strong by others Love and Might Their States would soon clime far above their Right Of Peace SECT XI 467. PEace is the next in Order first in end As the most perfect State of Government Where Art and Nature each to other friend Enlarge the Crowe by giving men content And what by Laws within and Leagues without Leaves nothing but prosperity to doubt 468. So that in her Orbe there is left for Kings Great undertakings far beyond the flight Or pitch of any lower feather'd wings The Charge Care Council being infinite As undertaking rage of time and seas Which Tyrant-like to ruine else finds ways 469. Ordering of Boats and Bridges to be placed Upon advantage for the trade of men Rebuilding Monuments or Towns defaced Cleansing of Havens draining dry of Fenns Fitting out Brooks and Mears for navigation All works of Princely Art Charge Reputation 470. Such was the cleansing of the AEgyptian sluces Which got Augustus Ornament and Food For his Praetorian bands and peoples uses In this kind prov'd the Appian high-way good Those publick works which active States bring forth Shewing the stranger Maps of wealth and worth 471. Therefore Kings providence should still adorn Natures producements by the pow'r of Art But to subvert her frames proves Scepters scorn Through Athos who yet sails in any part Is Corinths Istmus from the main Land torn Caesars vain dreams as if fall'n flattering Rome Over the free made Elements had doome 472. The Base of great works and the Majesty Is when the the workers Pow'r and wisdom shew Both in the use and possibility So over Ister Trajan's bridge did goe Amasis and Cheops how can time forgive Who in their useless Pyramids would live 473. Next and of more refined policy The founding is of these sweet nurseries Where knowledge and obedience multiply The Fame and Sinews of great Monarchies As Schools which finely do between the Sence And natures large forms frame intelligence 474. Unto which end in Achai Athens Creet Rhodes Lacedemon and more
sincere By one false Act grow Bankrupt every where 286. Make not mens Conscience Wealth and Liberty Servile without book to unbounded Will Procrustus like he racks Humanity That in pow'rs own mould casts their good will And slaves men must be by the sway of time Where Tyranny continnes thus sublime 287. Observe in greatness this one abstract notion That odds of place possest by spirits inferior Must find strange hills and dales in every motion Nature and Chance growing by turns superior Whence inward weakness never shall be able To keep the outward borrow'd Glories stable 288. Yet above all these Tyrants must have Care To Cherrish those Assemblies of Estate Which in Great Monarchies true Glasses are To shew mens Griefs Excesses to abate Brave moulds for Laws a Medium that in one Joyns with content a people to the Throne 289. Besides a safe wrest of these boundless Kings To get supply or envyless reform Those over-stretched or relaxed strings Of many members which might else deform Still friends to Thrones who as Lords of the choice Give life or death to all acts by their voice 290. For as in Man this little world of ours All objects which affect him diversly With pain or pleasure under feeling pow'rs Of common sence are summon'd presently And there diminisht judged or approved A Crisis made some changed some removed 291. So in the Kingdoms general Conventions By confluence of all States doth appear Who nurseth peace who multiplies contentions What to the people what to great men dear Whereby Soveraignity still keeps above And from her Center makes these Circles move 292. Again since Parliaments assembled be Not for the end of one State but of all Practice of no side can be counted free Anger of greatness there is short-breath'd fall Altring displacing raising pulling down Offends the Burroughs adds not to the Crown 293. People like sheep and streams go all one way Bounded with Conscience names and liberty All other Arts enhance do not allay The headlong passions they are governed by Craft teacheth Craft practice goes not alone But ecchoes self-wit back upon a Throne 294. Small punishments fail not to multiply These Hydra heads and gives them glory cheap Blood were too much great bodies cannot die Pow'r that sows Truth may wealth and honor reap Men joy in war for Conscience and can die Giving their wealth to save their liberty 295. Conscience I say is to the people dear And liberty they like all Creatures love What then needs any force or practice here Where men upon such fair wheels easily move It may stir Jealousie but cannot friend That which both King Men should make their end 296. Pow'r therefore bring all ways degenerate Back to their old foundations whence they grew And suffer not these Pillars of estate By private selfness to become still new Of private Orbs th' Orizons are not great Must they not then diminish where they Treat 297. The large times strength like kept elections free Sheriff's us'd no self-Art in their County-days Great men forbore those shapes of Majesty Which gave the people freedom in their ways And what can Scepters loose by this free choice Where they reserve the Royalty of voice 298. At their Will either to dispense with Law When they are made as prisons of Creation Or Legal yokes which still more bondage draw By bringing penalties in reputation Mild people of the Throne desiring leave More specious Nets on all estates to weave 299. Freedom of speech ecchoes the peoples trust That credit never doth the Soveraign harm Kings win the people by the people must Wherein the Scepter is the chiefest charme People like Infants joy in little things Which ever draws their Councels under Kings 300. Hence Power often in her largest days Hath chosen free and active instruments From Subjects faith that in the subjects ways Humbly to suffer have been well content And since Man is no more then what he knows Ought he not pay that duty which he ows 301. And what expect men for their lives and goods But some poor feathers out of their own wings Pardons I mean from those Law-catching moods Which they before had begged of their Kings Let them speak freely then they freely pay Each Creature hath some kind of Sabbath-day 302. Lastly when Princes most do need their own People do spy false lights of Liberty Taxes there vanisht impositions gone Yet doth the Parlamental Subsidy Relieve Kings wants at home with peoples wealth And shews the World that both States are in health 303. From these sweet Mountains therefore let us view The former great Estates which govern'd all And by the use of many people knew Which way to frame things for the general Yet kept their Soveraignity above By using Councels not of Fear but Love 304. The Roman State for all free States a Glass In her deliberations of weight When she did strive to shun or bring to pass Her real Councels or well mask't deceit Had to her Five and Thirty Tribes recourse Assemblivg many to keep all from worse 305. By them determining in Mars his field The denizing of Realms Magistrates creation When Rome was barren what did over yield When Peace or War and why had reputation Peazing the Senates pride the Peoples rage Lest the excess of one should all engage 306. And by this equal ballance kept upright Her far extended Government and Law Till War by over-adding unto Might The scale uneven did on her side draw And by a martial mutinous election Of Emperors brought Empire to defection 307. Far different is the course of Tyranny Where Mans felicity is not the end But self-contracting Soveraignity Neither to Scepter nor to People friend The mystery of iniquity being there Not to assemble Parlament for fear 308. Instance the present brutish Rapsody Of Mankind under Ottoman's base line Where if in one Man should assembled be Of their well beings freely to define What were it but a liberal Commission For them to cast off Bondage by sedition 309. The true uniting Grecian policy Of course frequented twice in every year Their ancient Amphiction Synodie A Parliament for many causes dear Aswel at home to curb mens divers minds As all encroaching forrainers to bind 310. For active pow'r must not her bounds enlarge By stretching Crown rights which by Law descend To Taxe impose monopolize or charge As if both God and Man's Law had no end But to enhance Prerogatives as far By arts of Peace as they by Conquests are 311. Else when this Crown-assumed liberty Hath shuffled all distinct Imperial rests To give confused will Soveraignity Order thus shak't in Thrones in subjects breasts Makes Duty nothing else but servile fears Where fruits alike for both occasion bears 312. And as these Laws which bind mans birth to Thrones Have therefore under wise Kings government Never been Creatures of their wills alone But like Man-yokes made by Mankinds consent So taxe again to one from many paid Is
minds Not making Tyrants Gods to unmake Kings With flattering air for over-soaring wings 662. And though the ways of wit be infinite Not to be cast in any Mould or Art Like shadows changing shape with every light Ever and never still the same in part Yet by this Model wiser men may see That there is choice even in the vanity 663. And forms establisht which must be obey'd As levels for the world to guide her own Foundations against Anarchy well laid Whose Being is but Beings overthrown Where Thrones as mortal shrines with mortal fear Must be ador'd and worshipt every where 664. Therefore I thus conclude this fruitless dream That if the body have imperfect features Or swim like AEsops wife against the stream Each age must adde to all the works of Creatures And perfect things unperfectly begun Or else in vain sure I have roul'd this Tun. A TREATISE OF RELIGION By Sir FULK GREVILL Lord BROOK 1. WHat make these many laws these rains of pow'r Where with Mankind thus fetter'd is and bound These divers worships which mens souis deflow'r Nature and God with novelty confound 'T is ignorance Sin Infidelity By which we fall'n from our Creation be 2. What is the Chain which draws us back again And lifts Man up unto his first Creation Nothing in him his own heart can restrain His reason lives a Captive to Temptation Example is corrupt precepts are mixt All fleshly knowledge frail and never fixt 3. It is a Light a Gift a Grace inspir'd A spark of Pow'r a goodness of the Good Desire in him that never is desir'd An Unity where desolation stood In us not of us a Spirit not of earth Fashioning the mortal to immortal birth 4. His Image that first made us in perfection From Angels differing most in time and place They fell by Pride and we by their Infection Their doom is past we yet stand under Grace They would be Gods we would their evil know Man finds a Christ these Angels did not so 5. Sence of this God by fear the sensual have Distressed Nature crying unto Grace For Soveraign reason then becomes a slave And yields to servile sence her Soveraign place When more or other she affects to be Then seat or shrine of this Eternity 6. Yea Prince of Earth let Man assume to be Nay more of Man let Man himself be God Yet without God a Slave of Slaves is he To others Wonder to himself a Rod Restless despair desire and desolation The more secure the more abomination 7. Then by affecting pow'r we cannot know him By knowing all things else we know him less Nature contains him not Art cannot shew him Opinions Idols and not God express Without in Pow'r we see him every where Within we rest not till we find him there 8. Then seek we must that course is natural For owned fouls to find their owner out Our free remorses when our Natures fall When we do well our hearts made free from doubt Prove service due to one omnipotence And Nature of Religion to have sence 9. Questions again which in our hearts arise Since loving knowledge not humility Though they be Curious Godless and Unwise Yet prove our Nature feels a Deity For if these strifes rose out of other grounds Man were to God as deafness is to sounds 10. Religion thus we naturally profess Knowledge of God is likewise universal Which divers Nations diversly express For Truth Pow'r Goodness Men do worship all Duties to Parent Child Time Men and Place All known by Nature but observ'd by Grace 11. And that these are no positive made Laws Appears in this since no consent of Nations No Custome Time or any other Cause Can unto Vice give Vertues estimation Or root out those impressions from our hearts Which God by Nature unto Man imparts 12. Yea these impressions are so finely fixt In understanding and the Conscience too That if our nature were not strangely mixt But what we knew it could as easily do Men should even by this spirit in flesh and blood Grow happily Adorers of the Good 13. But there remains such natural corruption In all our Pow'rs even from our Parents seed As to the good gives native interruption Sence stains affection that Will and Will Deed So that what 's good in us and other too We praise but what is evil that we do 14. Our knowledge thus corrupted in our lives Serves to convince our Consciences within Which sentence of Record with self-love strives Leads us for rest and remedy of sin To seek God and Religion from without And free this condemnation which we doubt 15. Yet in this strife this natural remorse If we could bend the force of Pow'r and Wit To work upon the heart and make divorce There from the evil which perverteth it In judgement of the Truth we should not doubt Good Life would find a good Religion out 16. But our infirmity which cannot brook This strong intestine and rebellious war In wit and our affections makes us look For such Religions as there imag'd are Hence grow these many Worships Gods and Sects Wherewith mans error all the world infects 17. For when the Conscience this Religion fashions In blind affections there it straight begets Gross superstition when in witty passions It moulded is a Luster there it sets On hearts prophane by politick pretence Both buying shadows with the souls expence 18. For they Gods true Religion which a State And being is not taken on but in To bottomless hypocrisie translate The superstitious doth with fear begin And so deceiv'd deceives and under-rates His God and makes an idol of his sin The politick with Craft inthralls Mankind And makes his body sacrifice his Mind 19. Both in our selves make us seek out a God Both take self-love and fear for Scale and measure They both become their own and others rod The one takes care the other wrong for pleasure As many minds as many Gods they make Men easily change all they easily take 20. This superstitious Ignorance and Fear Is false Religion offring sacred things Either to whom it should not or elsewhere The manner to the Godhead scandal brings It fears Sea Earth Skie Silence Darkness Light And in the weak soul still hath greatest Might 21. Which natural disease of mortal Wit Begets our Magick and our Star-Divines Wizards Impostors Visions stand by it For what Fear comprehends not it enclines To make a God whose nature it believes Much more enclin'd to punish then relieve 22. The reason is when fears dim eyes look in They guilt discern when upwards justice there Reflects self-horror back upon the sin Where outward dangers threaten every where Flesh the foundation is Fancy the work Where rak'd up and unquencht the evils lurk 23. For Fear whose motion still it self improves Hopes not for Grace but prays to shun the Rod Not to do ill more then do well it loves Fashions God unto Man not Man to God And to that Deity gives
farme Engaging Crowns making pow'rs name a stile To ruine worth which it cannot beguile 99. Yet mark how Vice that it self only friends In her own web still wears her own disease By disproportion compassing her ends And disproportion ruining her ways For those that rose by Providence Care Pain And over pow'r which wanted these did raign 100. Grow fondly scornful idle imperious Despising form and turning Law to Will Abridge our freedom to Lord over us Loosing the fruit of humors with the skill Till by degrees insensibly they fall By leaving those Arts which they rose withal 101. When instantly those undertaking pow'rs Care hazard Wit misplaced Industry Which helpt to build their oligarchal Tow'rs Fly from these downfals of prosperity As Spirits that to govern were created And cannot lower properly be rated 102. The pride of such inferiors did constrain The Swiss against the Austrians Cantonise So were the Belgians likewise forc't again A new Republick finely to devise In which that Monarch was compel'd to Treat As with States equal Free not equal Great 103. For Vices soon to heights and periods rise Have both their Childhood state and declination Are sometimes currant but at no time wise Like blazing Stars that burn their own foundation Or shadows which the shew of bodies have And in self-darkness both a Life and Grave 104. Whence it proceeds that all the works of Error Live not in state of health but sick and cured Change carrying out Excess to bring in Terror Never securing nor to be secured But Physick-like in new diseases bred Either substracts or adds till all be dead 105. Thus rose all States thus grew they thus they fall From good to ill and so from ill to worse Time for her due vicissitudes doth call Error still carrying in it self her curse Yet let this Light out of these Clouds break forth That Pow'r hath no long Being but in Worth Cautions against these weak Extremities SECT IV 106. NOw to prevent or stay these Declinations And desperate diseases of Estate As hard is as to change the Inclinations Of humane Nature in her Love or Hate Which whosoever can make straight or true As wel is able to create her new 107. Hence falls it out that as the wise Physitian When he discovers death in the disease Reveals his Patients dangerous condition And straight abandons what he cannot ease Unto the Ghostly Physick of a Might Above all second causes Infinite 108. So many grave and great men of Estate In such despaired times retire away And yield the stern of Government to Fate Foreseeing her remediless decay Loath in confused torrents of oppression To perish as if guilty of transgression 109. Who then can wary Seneca reprove After he had observ'd his Pupils rage The Brother poison'd strange bewitching Love The Mother slain of vice his patronage If he from bloody Nero did remove And as the Pilots do in Tempests groan To Fate give over Art and all their own 110. But grant such spirits were to be excus'd As by oppression or necessity Disgraced live restrained or not us'd As part themselves of publick misery Yet who are free must labor and desire To carry water to this common fire 111. Have not some by equality of mind Even in the crossest course of evil times With passive goodness won against the wind So Priscus pass'd Domitian's torrid Climes And scapt't from danger to the full of days Helping frail Rome with un-offending ways 112. Was it true Valour or Timidity That made stern Cato so impatient Of his own life and Caesar's victory Vanity it was like smoak not permanent That wrought this weak work of strong destiny Where while he lost his life and Rome a friend He lost that Glory which he made his end 113. For since the most Estates at first were founded Upon the waving Basis of confusion On what but fear can his discourse be grounded That in distress despairs of good conclusion With mysteries of which vicissitude Fate oftentimes doth humane wit delude 114. Again who mark times revolutions find The constant health of Crowns doth not remain In pow'r of Man but of the pow'rs Divine Who fixe change ruine or build up again According to the period wain or State Of good or evils seldom changing fate 115. First then let Tyrants as they do encline By nature either way unto excess Conceive though true perfection be Divine And no where ever brought to pass with less Yet in the world which they would govern well Cures and Diseases both together dwell 116. And though to live by rule proud man be loath Yet rules to Kings and Subjects are such stays As Crutches be to feeble Ages sloth Or as the main turmoiled Mother seas Do find those banks which then confine her course When rage blown up would els make all things worse 117. Let no man then expect a constant Air Between the sence of Men and senseless Might Where one man makes skies foul another fair In Passive orbs who looks for other right Child like must break all toys for loss of one And by their fall add honour to a Throne 118. Rather let People as in Airs infected Not seek to master but avoid disease By absence now by homage now protected Not looking high for stumbling in their ways Lest as of old curst with confused speech They now find no word currant but Beseech 119. Again let weak Kings keep their homour chaste Not daring violence lest over-built They help to lay their own foundation wafte And failing themselves multiply their guilt Since hearts as strong as their Estates must be That can enlarge themselves by Tyranny 120. For as in weak Estates so in weak Minds To injure or oppress humanity Stirs up Right Wit and Heart in divers kinds To shew how easily hazard makes men free Where prospect must appear to these weak kings A sign that ruine flies with nimble wings 121. This weakness which I mean hath divers kinds Some water-like easie to take impression And like it leave not any print behind Which I omit as fit for no profession The other wax like take and keep a mind And may in strengths they have not of their own Be helpt by common Duties to a Throne 122. For as when Birds and Beasts would have a King To furnish this fair creature for a guide Out of their own they gave him every thing And by their gifts themselves more surely tyed Eyes Voices Wings and of their natures skill To govern raise and ruine them at will 123. So may these frail unactive kind of spirits Be with the Milk of many Nurses fed All striving to hold up the Scepters rights With Subjects strengths by Crowns authorised Whereby the feeble may again be wombed And there get life even where it was intombed 124. Which outward help of others providence Watcheth occasion poizeth each intent Nor is Crown-wisdom any Quintescence Of abstract Truth or art of Government More then sweet Sympathy or
forc't for refuge to one Town They in that one cast Dice for all their Crown 178. Rather must they by providence unite All parties so as none may gage their state Or in their private ends withdraw from might But give their greatest such a yielding rate As like the Earth plow'd up they must not groan Though greedy pow'r exhaust more then their own 179. For Faction else lurking in hopes and fears When it awakes by opportunity Straight Hydra-like in many foreheads bears Horror division multiplicity Nor safe unto it self nor to those Kings That unto mean birds will lend Eagles wings 180. Therefore should this well masked Cockatrice Be carefully even in the egg supprest Before the venome of her poisoning vice Against the Prince and Kingdom be addrest It being not safe for strong-witted might To give subjection any regal right 181. For as we see in deep corrupted airs Each petty sickness turns to pestilence And by infection common ruine bears So in the Orb of Kings omnipotence Faction oft makes each private discontent Swell above Law to plague the government 182. For to make bodies strong proves heads are weak And so two Sects prepared in one Realm Which doth the beauty of obedience break By tempting discontented minds to glean And so force Thrones to one side for protection Whose being is to keep both in subjection 183. Nor holds our rule alike with weak and strong Since weak Kings raigns do very seldom raise Such spirits as dare shuffle right aud wrong At least what breeds them breeds their counterpeaze Corruptions weak birth therefore yielding many Lest Liberty should be ingrost by any 184. Whereas this other Princely stirring stuff Oft by example gives new Laws to Kings With danger to Soveraignity enough By those new fashions which they give to things Therefore are factions here to be supprest Which in mild times support weak Princes best 185. Now how pow'r so should ballance things and minds As all dissentions may in her unite Or from what place Pow'r arguments should find To make the crooked undergo the right How it should pierce the skin of passion And yet in these wounds instantly give fashion 186. Strong hearts learn out of Practick wisdom must Which knowing how to pay each with his own By mixing good and ill with fear and Lust Reap among Thorns Seeds by them never sown And make the people yield up their Estate To add more still to government they hate 187. Which artificial steerage of affection Having but small affinity with good No Essence but an Essence like reflection Will best by opposites be understood The soul excess of ill being only that Which to avoid in Pow'r I level at 188. Therefore as little Bridles to restrain Mans climing mind in Princes boundless might Let Tyrants that think all their acts remain Spread like Apollo's beams in each mans sight Which by the divers fate of good or ill Either produce scorn malice or good will 189. Lastly this Tyrant-pow'r veil of the Man In peoples eyes must not assiduous be What hath respect appears but now and then Reservedness that Art of Tyranny Equally graceth both pain and reward Demission works remission not regard 190. Thus much in brief to temper head-strong vice Which thorow Princes often wounds the Crown To shun which dangerous racking precipice Tyrants should all signs of their selfness drown And yet by odds of place work every man To serve them with the best and worst they can 191. But if Pow'r will exceed then then let Mankind Receive oppression as fruits of their error Let them again live in their duties shrin'd As their safe Haven from the winds of terror Till he that rais'd Pow'r to mow mans sins down Please for Pow'rs own sins to pluck off her Crown Of Church SECT VI 192. THus having in few Images exprest The effect which each extremity brings forth Within Mans nature to disturb mans rest What enemies again they be to worth As either Gyves which freedom doe restrain Or Jubiles which let confusion raign 193. There rests to shew what these degrees of vice Work when they fixt be to the moulds of might As what relation to the prejudice Or help they yeeld of universal right Vice getting forces far above her own When it spreads from a perfon to a Throne 194. For as in Princes natures if there be An Audit taken what each kind of passion Works and by what usurp't authority Order and reason's peace they do disfashion Within mans little world it proves the same Which of pow'rs great world doth confound the frame 195. Whence spread Kings self-love into Church or Law Pulpit and Bar streight feel corrupted might Which bounded will not be much less in awe Of Heavenly censure or of Earthly right Besides Creation and each other part Withers When Pow'r turns Nature into Art 196. For as between the object and our sence Look where the mediums do prove dim or cleer Mens minds receive forms of intelligence Which makes things either fair or foul appear So between powers lust and peoples right The mediums help to cleer or dazel light 197. Therefore to let down these high pillar'd Thrones To lower Orbs where Prince and People mixe As Church Laws Commerce Rights well temper'd Zones Where neither part extremity can fixe Either to bind Transcendence by constraint Or spoil mankind of all rights but complaint 198. And where by this well-ballancing of Might Regalities of Crowns stand undeclin'd Whose beings are not to be infinite And so of greater price then all mankind But in desire and function temper'd so As they may current with their people go 199. When Theopompus Lacedemons King Had rais'd up a Plebean Magistrate Like Roman Tribunes which the soaring wing Of Soveraign excesses might abate He therein saw although he bound his Child Yet in a less room he did surer build 200. For infinite ambition to extend The bounds of pow'r which finite pow'rs must weld As vain is as desire to comprehend And plant Eternity in natures field Whereby the idle and the over-doing Alike run on their own destruction woing 201. Active then yet without excess of Spirit Strong Princes must be in their Government Their influence in every thing of merit Not with an idle glorious name content But quick in nimble use and change of wombs Which else prove Peoples snares and Princes tombs 202. Placing the first foundation of their Raigns Upon that frame which all frames else exceeds Religion by whose name the Scepter gains More of the world and greater reverence breeds In Forrainer and home-bred subjects too Then much expence of blood and wealth can do 203. For with what force Gods true Religion spreads Is by her shadow superstition known When Midas having over Phrygia shed Seeds of this Ceremony till then unknown Made Asia safer by that empty word Then his forefathers had done by the sword 204. And is not Mahomets forg'd Alcoran Both with the Heathen in Authority And to
bad one destiny Whence Athens swaying to Democracy For ever changing her Archontes be 608. And as ill luck makes man of man despair And thence appeal a Supreme Soveraign So grows adversity the peoples stair Whereby they clime to Monarchy again What wants Dictator but the name of King Being as Soveraign else in every thing 609. So as if Aristocracies will claim To be the best of humane Government Why do they from their Magistrates disclaim As in extremities still impotent Since who in storms the fittest Pilots be Are ablest sure to guide prosperity The Excellency of Monarchy compared with Democracy SECT XIV 610. NOw if the best and choicest Government Of many heads be in her nature this How can the Democratical content Where that blind multitude chief Master is And where besides all these forespoken fates The most and worst sort govern all estates 611. Since as those persons usually do haunt The Market places which at home have least So here those spirits most intrude and vaunt To do the business of this common beast That have no other means to vent their ill Then by transforming real things to will 612. Besides this equal stil'd Democracy Lets fall mens minds and makes their manners base Learning and all Arts of Civility Which add both unto nature and to place It doth Ecclipse as death to that estate Wherein not worth but idle wealth gives fate 613. Nay where Religion God and humane Laws No other use or honor can expect Then to serve idle Liberties applause As painted toys which multitudes affect Who judging all things while they nothing know Lawless and Godless are and would live so 614. Therefore if any to protect this State Alledge Imperial Rome grew great by it And Athens likewise far more fortunate As raising Types up both of worth and wit Such as no Monarchy can parallel In the rare ways of greatnes doing well 615. Or if again to make good this position Any averr that Romes first Monarchy For lack of courage soon chang'd her condition Of Union into multiplicity Whence Germans over France and Goths in Spain In Africk Saracens and Turks in Asia Raign 616. I answer first that those subduing prides Whereof the people boast were to the hand Form'd by the three preceding Monarch tides And what succeeded if exactly scan'd But imitation was of their brave deeds Who but their own worth no example needs 617. For did not their Tarquinus ere he fell Conquer the Latine and the Sabine nation Making their Martial discipline excel And so increase their strength by reputation Out of which active Legionary worth That City brought her after Conquests forth 618. But be this as it may be I deny Either the Empires growth or consummation To be the work of Romes Democracy Since between her first Caesars Domination And Tarquin her Soveraignity was mixt Of one few many waving never fixt 619. As Consuls Senate or the Peoples Might The first a pow'r which Rome did conquer by The Second set her publick Councils right The last approve increase or qualifie Pain and Rewards of good or evil deeds Two beams of Justice weighing out good speed 620. Whence you may easily pregnant reasons draw To attribute the Glory of old Rome Unto the Monarch part which held in awe The conquer'd world and not the peoples doome Proportion from the great world to the small Shewing with many limbs one head rules all 621 What but the peoples mutinous Conventions Under the factious Tribunes scattered Romes publick patrimonie and with dissentions Her wise opposing Senate threatned By their Agrarian Laws Engines of wrong Dispersing laws which to the state belong 622. Besides as who at home ill Husbands be Seldome make dainty to stretch out their hand Into their neighbors harmless Treasury So did it with these Bankrupt people stand Who sent their armies out by force stealth To bring them home the King of Cyprus wealth 623. Allur'd by no pretence of wrong or right But only that he must not be their friend Whose wealth was reckoned so indefinite Not caring how they get or what they spend But making good their ill by confidence A worth of more use there then Innocence 624. Lastly where they had many times proclaim'd Against the Mamertines their just offence Yet came they to their succor and disclaim'd With Carthage their long liv'd intelligence Whence the first Punick quarrel did proceed And had the fates been just with far worse speed 625. Wherein the Senate Nobly did oppose This heady peoples incivility As besides faith in wisdom loath to loose The rich returns of that affinity Publick respect and shame wrought in the one Who saw that ill deeds seldom pass alone 626. Whereas the People which no notice take Of these small Minutes of humanity But ways above these thin-lin'd duties make Thinking they rule not that restrained be With ravening and irregular excess Stain good and ill to serve their wantonness 627. Now for the Empires final overthrow Falsly imputed to the Monarchy Who doth not by the course of nature know That periods in the growth of all States be Ordain'd Which no Republick can exceed For making each form self-diseases breed 628. Or if too abstract this reply appears Forget not how the Monarchy preserv'd Rome for a thousand and seaven hundred years Part of her Glory her first Kings deserv'd The rest by Caesars in successive Raign Till Mahomet the second made her wain He took Constantinople Anno Dom. 1453. 629. Where on the other side Democracy Did in few ages rise and fall again There being but four hundred sixty three Years between Caesars and Tarquinius Raign In which time Rome corrupted her self so As change she must or suffer overthrow 630. But that indeed which brake the Empires frame Was floating swarms and mighty inundations Of rude Barbarians which from Seythia came To traffick vices with all civil Nations Nor can that be peculiar stain to Rome Which of all other Empires was the doom 631. Attyla Alarick Omar Tamerlane Being in Mártial worth rais'd up as high As he that most unto the Empire wan And against whom old Romes Democracy Even in her pride must have made such retreat As would have shew'd at home she was not great 632. Such as she did at Allia of old When naked Gauls both took and burnt the Town Or Italy from Spartacus the bold When by a slave their Eagles were thrown down So that the Monarch fell by outward fate Whereas the peoples own faults shak't their state 633. Nor do I doubt but that the Roman frame Of Monarchy might have outlasted all The Governments of whatsoever name But that excess did make her old age fall Into a Gulf whose two streams soon devour The Rights and Majesty of real Pow'r 634. The first was their tumultuous election Of Caesars which did many times make way To civil broils disorder and defection Whence she became to forreiners a prey This pow'r of
all without Of which within it lives and dies in doubt 24. The other branch is meer Hypocrisie The worlds Religion born of Wit and Lust All which like hunters follow things that flie And still beyond things found find somthing must As God is boundless endless infinite So seem these Idols to the Hypocrite 25. Wit there is Priest who sacrisice doth make Of all in Heaven and Earth to his desire For from this Wit God and Religion take As many shapes as many strange attires As there be in the World degrees of change Which upon humours time occasion range 26. This teacheth all ambitious Magistrates On sins unquiet humors how to build Idols of Pow'r to alter natures rates And by false fears and hopes make people yield Their hearts for Temples unto Tyrants Laws Which Zeal divine to humane Homage draws 27. And when spiritual Lights which Truth expound Once to the traffick of Mans Will descend With chains of Truth Mankind no more is bound Whereby their hearts should up to Heaven ascend But vainly link't unto their tongues which draw Religion to a fleshly outward awe 28. And though this Fear a Holiness in shew Such as no Eye of Man can pierce the veil But least Gods houshold to contempt should grow Or this Hypocrisie not still prevail To raisâ— them reverence above their worth Blood Inquisition Question they bring forth 29. They draw the sword of Pow'r against her own Or else stir people up to war their Kings Both must be theirs or both be overthrown They bind Man unto words God binds to things For these false heads of holy Mother see Scepters to Miters there inferior be 30. Among our selves likewise there many be That make Religion nothing else but Art To master others of their own degree Enthral the simple well believing heart These have opposers scorn obedient fools Affecting Raign by educations tools 31. And though they serve Ambitious Princes use While they protect them like a nursing Father And while this common traffick of abuse Mutually helpeth either side to gather Yet mark the end of false combined trust It will divide and smart the people must 32. For sure in all kinds of Hypocrisie No bodies yet are found of constant being No uniforme no stable Mistery No inward Nature but an outward seeming No solid Truth no Vertue Holiness But types of these which Time makes more or less 33. And from these Springs strange inundations flow To drown the Sea-marks of Humanity With Massacres Conspiracy Treason Woe By Sects and Schisms prophaning Deity Besides with Furies Fiends Earth Air and Hell They fit and teach Confusion to rebell 34. But as their lives a true God in the Heaven So is there true Religion here on earth By nature No by Grace not got but given Inspir'd not taught from God a second Birth God dwelleth neer about us even within Working the goodness censuring the sin 35. Such as we are to him to us is he Without God there was no man ever good Divine the Author and the matter be Where goodness must be wrought in flesh and blood Religion stands not in corrupted things But vertues that descend have Heavenly wings 36. Not heathen vertue which they do define To be a state of mind by Custome wrought Where sublime Religion seems to refine Affection perturbation every thought Uunto a Mens Adepta which work spent Half of the days to humane Hermes lent 37. For in his work Man still rests Slave to Fame To inward Caution outward form and pride With curious watch to guard a rotten frame Safe undiscovet'd from the piercing ey'd Assiduous caution tyrannizing there To make frail thoughts seem other then they are 38. Under this Mask besides no vice is dead But passion with her counter-passion peaz'd The evil with it self both starv'd and fed And in her woes with her vain glories eas'd The work and tools alike vain flesh and blood The labour great the harvest never good 39. For in this painted Tomb let Mans own spirit Really judge what that estate can be Which he begetting in himself inherits Other then DESERTS of Hypocrisie Within the darkning shadows of his wit Hiding his stains from all the world but it 40. And if the habits of Hypocrisie With such attention must be kept and wrought If to mask vice be such a mistery As must with her captivity be sought If to be nothing and yet seem to be So nicely be contriv'd and dearly bought As vanity must in a Phaenix fire Smother her self to hatch her false desire 41. Then Judge poor Man Gods Image once 't is true Though now the Devils be thine own defection Judge Man I say to make this Image new And cleanse thy flesh from this deep dy'd infection What miracles must needs be wrought in you That thus stand lost in all things but election What living death what strange illumination Must be inspir'd to this Regeneration 42. Must not the Grace be supernatural Which in forgiving gives sanctification And from this second Chaos of his fall Forms in Mans little world a new Creation And must not then this twice born Child of Heaven Bring forth in life this new perfection giv'n 43. Then Man pray and obtain believe and have Omnipotence and goodness ready be To raise us with our Saviour from the Grave Whence Enoch and Elias lived free He made all good yet suffred sin and death To Raign and be exil'd again by faith 44. Then till thou find this Heavenly change in thee Of Pride to Meekness Atheisme to Zeal Lust to Continence Anger to Charity Thou feel'st of thy election no true seal But knowledge only that poor infancy Of this new Creature which must thence appeal Unto the father for obedience Judging his hopes or condemnation thence 45. For what else is Religion in Mankind But raising of Gods Image there decay'd No habit but a hallowed state of Mind Working in us that he may be obey'd As God by it with us Communicates So we by Duties must with all estates 46. With our Creator by sincere devotion With Creatures by observance and affection Superiors by respect of their promotion Inferiors with the nature of protection With all by using all things of our own For others good not to our selves alone 47. And ev'n this sacred band this Heavenly Breath In Man his understanding knowledge is Obedience in his Will in Conscience Faith Affections Love in death itself a bliss In body Temp'rance life Humility Pledge to the mortal of Eternity 48. Pure onely where God makes the Spirits pure It perfect grows as imperfection dies Built on the rock of truth that shall endure A Spirit of God that needs must multiply He shews his Glory cleerly to the best Appears in Clouds and Horror to the rest 49. Such was the soul in our first Sires Creation When Man knew God and goodness not the evil Far greater in the Godheads incarnation Where Truth subdu'd the sin that made the devil She