might shun the den Of utter darknesse then I should be blest And keepe a Sabbath in eternall rest Munday or dies Lunae THe next day after God had made the light He spread heav'ns curtaines glorios in our sight ' That Huge broad length that long broad height profound ' Th'infinite finite that great moundlesse Mound ' I meane that Chaos that selfe-jarring Masse ' Which in a moment made of nothing was ' Was the rich matter and the matrix whence ' The heav'ns should issue and the elements ' Now th' elements two twins two sons two daughters 'To wit the fire the ayre the earth and waters ' Are not compounded but of them is all ' Compounded first that in our sense can fall There 's no materiall substance but doth beare Within it selfe fire water earth and ayre And God to each his place hath well assign'd According to its nature breed and kind ' Earth as the lees and heaviest drosse of all ' After his kind did to the bottome fall ' Contrarywise the light and nimble fire ' Did through the crannies of th' old heap aspire ' Unto the top and by his nature light ' No lesse than hot mounted in sparks upright ' But lest the fire which all the rest imbraces ' Being too neer should burne the earth to ashes ' As chosen Umpires the great All-creator ' Betweene these foes placed the ayre and water ' For one suffic'd not their sterne strife to end ' Water as cousin did the earth befriend ' Ayre for his kinsman fire as firmly deales ' But both uniting their divided zeales ' Tooke up the matter and appeas'd the brall ' Which doubtlesse else had discreated all The ayre as moderne and the elder Sages Have fitly parted it into three stages The upper's seated next the fiery vault And by the learned very hot is thought That which we touch with times doth variate Now hot now cold and sometimes temperate But middle Region's far from fire set And therefore very cold and little heat In ayrie clouds God bottles up the raine Which gratifies the Ploughmans toyle and paine The ayre ingenders milke white snow and haile Mist dew and yce in season will not faile In divers vapours their effects are strange But in the ayre they keepe a constant range For in the Summer of a sev'rall kinde They doe produce Frogs Toads and the swift wind Whose whisking beesome doth brush cleane and sweepe The cloudy curtaines of heav'ns stages steepe And sometimes they doe make the earth to rocke To shake and tremble like a weather-cocke And when I doe consider lightnings flash It s rare effects my sense in pieces dash A man was once going out of his dore He saw a fire passing him before Which he did follow to see where 't would goe But he will ne'r trust Ignis fatuus so For he had like so far to lose his way That he could hardly finde it the next day When I doe sometimes looke into the skies Me thinkes I see a hundred prodigies Compos'd of exhalations in the ayre But the true cause thereof none can declare Though by nice will and deepe conceited straines They give a ghesse but 't is not worth their paines For the great God of heav'n sometimes delights From top to toe to alter natures rites That his strange workes to nature contrary May be fore-runners of some misery Such are the blazing Comets fiery star That threaten earth with famine plague and war Three Suns three Moones at once green blew gilt bow Gods judgements and his mercies forth to show But I almost forget the firmament Although it was the chiefe of my intent Their number and their nature here to show And how their whirling Orbs about doe goe Yet of their number many a writer varies Yet most agree that there a ten round stories In severall Orbs they place the Planets sev'n After the fixed Stars and Christ â—â—n heav'n Lastly the highest Orbe of all the â—out Is the first mover which whirles all about But there is none that can relate the solace Or boundlesse vastnesse of th' Imperiall Palace ' Where life still lives where God his Sises holds ' Inviron'd round with Seraphins and Soules ' Bought with Christs pretious blood whose glorious flight ' Yet mounted earth above the heav'ns bright Neither doe I know rightly how to write What waâ—ers are above the heav'ns bright For I too bold will not aske how or why God placed water so exceeding high I must believe it for Gods Word doth show Above the heavens God made waters flow ' I 'll rather give a thousand times the ly 'To my owne reason than but once defy ' The sacred voyce of th'everlasting Spirit ' Which doth so often and so loud aver it Besides when sinfull men did God provoke In Noabs dayes these windowes he set ope And by these Seas drown'd cattell men and beast In this example I 'll sit downe and rest So morne and even the second day conclude And God perceiv'd that all his works were good Now why the Sages when they nam'd this day Call'd it Lucina's day I cannot sae Except it be because her wax and waine Doe cause the waters ebbe and flow againe Faire Phoebe she of all the Planets bright Is most infirme because she borrowes light By Poets she is call'd Diana chast Yet shâ— her love on faire Endymion cast Constant in love she her swift course doth run Throughout the Zode twelve times for once the sun Diana was goddesse of chastity And therefore I doe see small reason why The vulgar should affirme a man on 's backe Within the Moone should beare a Pedlers packe Besides I thinke no woman could be chast If that a man within her were well plac'd Luna doth governe Seamen Fishers Hunters Chast maidens and wise Matrons whose encounters Or unchaste meetings with uncivill men Are never us'd but my unlearned pen Hath so outrun my judgement and my wit The uses of this day I quite forget Besides amazement and astonishment At Gods great workes I am by this day bent Advis'd to learne my waters to divide Of charity free from vaine glorious pride And to distinguish my repentant teares From those for losse of worldly things in feares And as the Moone I borrow all my light From God whose glory in me shineth bright And as the Moone so I in vertues race Should still goe forward though darke be my pace And though by frailty I may sometimes faile Yet godly constancy should e'r prevaile Tuesday or dies Martis ' THis day th' Almighties bounteous Majesty ' willing t'enfeoffe man this worlds Empiry ' Commanded Neptune straight to marshall forth ' His floods apart and to unfold the earth ' And presently the Sea to 't selfe betooke ' Mount after mount field after field forsooke ' And suddenly in smaller caske did tun ' Her waters that from every side did tun ' And hath imprison'd them in bounds of brasse ' Which to this day the
Ocean dares not passe ' Without his license for th' Eternall knowing ' The Seas commotive and inconstant flowing ' Thus curbed her and ' gainst her envious rage ' For ever fenc'd our flowry-mantled stage ' So that we often see those rowling hils ' With roaring noise threatning the neighbour fields ' Through their owne spite to split upon the shore ' Foming for fury that they dare no more ' Also God powr'd the water on the ground ' In sundry figures some in fashion round ' Some squaâ—e some crosse some long some Lozenge-wise ' Some triangles some large some lesser size ' Amid the floods by this faire difference 'To give the world more wealth and excellence ' And though each of these armes how large soever 'To the great Ocean seemes a little river ' Each makes a hundred sundry Seas besides ' Not sundry in waters but in names and tides 'To moisten kindly by their secret vaines ' The thirsty thicknesse of the neighbours plaines 'To Bul-warke Nations and to serve for fences ' Against th' invasion of Ambitious Princes 'To bound large kingdomes with eternall limits 'To further traffique through all earthly Climats ' T' abridge long Jorneyes and with aide of wind ' Within a moneth to visit either Inde ' Most wisely did th' Eternall All-creator ' Dispose these Elements of earth and water ' For sith th' one could not without drinke subsist ' Nor th' other without stay bottome and list ' God intermixt them so that th' earth her breast ' Op'ning to th' ocean th' ocean winding prest ' About the earth a thwart and under it ' For the world's Center both together fit ' For if their mixt Globe held not certainely ' Just the just midst of the worlds Axletree ' All Climates then should not be serv'd aright ' With equall counterpâ—ize of day and night ' The Horizons il-level'd circle wide ' Would sag too much on th' one or th' other side ' Th' Antipodes or wee at once should take ' View of more signes then halfe the Zodiake ' The Moones Ecclipses would not then be certaine ' And settled seasons would be then uncertaine ' This also serveth for probation sound ' That th' earth and waters mingled Maise is round ' Round as a Ball seeing on every side ' The day and night successively to slide ' Seas liquid Glasse round boweth every where ' With Sister earth to make a perfect Spheare ' And yet this Globe which we so much admire ' Seemes but a point compar'd to th'upper Spire ' Sith the least Star which we perceive to shine ' Above disperst in th'Arches Christalline ' If at the least starre-Clarkes be credit worth ' Is eighteene times bigger then all the earth ' whence if wee but substract what is possest ' From North to South and from the east to west ' what doth remaine Ah! nothing in respect ' Loe here O men wherefore doe you neglect ' Heav'ns glorious kingdome Loe the largest scope ' Glory can give to your Ambitious hope ' Loe her 's the Guerdon of Mans glorious peines 'A needles point a Mote a Mint he gains 'A Nit anothing did he all possesse ' Or if than nothing any thing be lesse ' And certainely it is Gods onely power ' That doth uphold and keepe earth's branchy Bower ' For though it hang in th' aire swim in the water ' Though every way it be a round Theater ' Though all turne round about it though for ay ' Its selfes foundations with swift Motions play ' It rests unmovable that the holy race ' Of Adam there may find fit dwelling place ' The earth receives man when he is first borne ' Th' earth nurses him and when he is forlorne ' Of th' other Elements and nature loaths him ' Th' earth in her bosome with kind buriall cloaths him ' Oft hath the aire with tempests set upon us ' Oft hath the water with her floods undone us ' Oft hath the fire th'upper as well as ours ' With woefull flames consum'd our Townes and Towers ' Onely the earth of all the Elements ' Unto man-kind is kind without offence ' Onely the earth did never jot displace ' From the first seat assign'd it by Gods grace ' When God whose word more in a moment can ' Then in an age the proudest strength of Man ' Had severed the floods levell'd the fields ' Embast the Aalleys and embost the Hills ' Change change quoth he O faire and firmest Globe ' Thy mourning weed to a greene gallant Robe ' Cheere thy sad browes and stately garnish them ' With a rich fragrant flowry diadem ' Lay forth thy locks and paint thee Lady like ' With freshest calours on thy sallow Cheek ' That aire and water and the Angels court ' May all seeme jealous of thy praise and port ' No sooner spoken but the lofty Pyne ' Distilling-pitch the Larch yeeld Turpentine ' Th'ever-green Box the Gummy Cedar sprout ' And th' Airy Monntaines mantle all about ' The Mast full Oke the usefull Ash the Holm ' Coat changing Cork white Maple shady Elm ' Through hill and dale ranged their plumed rancks ' The winding Rivers bordered all their Bancks ' With flice-sea Aldars and greene Osiers small ' With trembling Poplars and with Willowes pale ' And many Trees beside fit to be made ' Fewell or Timber or to serve for shade ' The dainty Apricock of Plums the Prince ' The velvet Peach gilt Orenge downy Quince ' Already beare grav'n in their tender Barkes ' Gods powerfull Providence in open maâ—kes ' The sweet-sent Apple and astringent Pear ' The Châ—rry Filbert Walnut Meddeler ' The Milky Fig the Damson black and white ' The Date and Olive aiding Appetite ' Spread every-where a most enlightfull spring ' And every-where a very Eden bring I ' Here the fine Pepper as in clusters hung ' There Sinemon and other Spices sprong ' Here dangled Nutmags that for thrifty paines ' Yearely repay the Bandons wondrous gaines ' There growes th' Hesperian Plant the pretious Read ' Whence Sugar Sirrups in abundance bleed ' There weeps the Balme and famous Trees from whence ' Th' Arabians fetch perfuming Frankincense ' There th' amorous Vine calls in a thousand sorts ' With winding Armes her spouse that her supports ' Here for our food Millions of flow'ry graines ' With long mustachoes wave upon the plaines ' Here thousand fleeces fit for Princes Robes ' In Se'rean forrests hang in silken Globes ' Here shrubs of Malta for my meaner use ' The fine white Balls of Bombace doe produce ' Here th'azure-flowred Flax is finely spun ' For finest Linen by the Belgian Nun ' Here fatall Hemp which Denmark doth afford ' Doth furnish us with Canvasse and with Cord ' Cables and Sayles that winds assisting either ' Wee may acquaint the East and West together ' And dry-foot dance on Neptunes watry front ' And in adventure lead whole Townes upon 't ' Never mine eyes in pleasant springs
will not faile For as a Lyon then he will prevaile And then at fifty hee 's a crafty Fox And Lawyer-like gets money in his Box. And so till sev'nty by Industrious paines Woolfe-like hee 's greedy to increase his gaines But after that he feeles his bones to tire Therefore much like the Dog he loves the fire And keeps at home like to the wyly Cat Where he delights to sit to prate and chat Thus doth the Carnall man waste his lifes weeke And seldome doth after true Riches seeke I meane the wealth which beyond Age will last And still endure after this life is past Therefore the Sages That did first ordaine And gave unto each day It 's severall name Did well at first the nimblest Planet place And last of all that of the slowest race To shew that man in youthfull blithfull plight In Grace and vertue should take most delight For painfull age cannot so well hold out As lusty youth yet still should goe about In vertues race and not out of it start Till death doth strike him with his deadly dart Therefore I 'll pray that with the glorious sun I may rejoyce in vertues Race to run And with old Saturne therein persevere So should I well conclude the weeke and yeare Sunday or Dies Dominicus IN the Beginning and the Birth of time God made his glory and his power to shine In framing of the earth and heavens bright And the first day God did create the light ' Before which time there was a confus'd heape 'A formelesse Chaos did together keepe 'A gulfe of gulfes a body ill compaâ—t ' An ugly medley where all difference lackt ' Where th' elements lay jumbled altogether ' Where hot and cold were jarring each with either ' The blunt with sharpe the danke against the dry ' The hard with soft the base against the high ' All all was voyd of beuty rule and light ' All without fashion soule and motion quite ' Fire was no fire the water was no water ' Ayre was no ayre the earth no earthly matter ' This was not then the world 't was but the matter ' The Nurcery whence it should issue after Yet Gods great power did keep this darksome masse And on the waters did his spirit passe ' And he no sooner said Be light but loe ' The formlesse lump to perfect forme 'gan grow ' And all illustred with lights radiant shine ' Doft mourning weeds and deckt it passing fine ' All haile pure lamp bright sacred and excelling ' Sorrow and care darknesse and dread repelling ' Thou worlds great Taper wicked mens just terror ' Mother of Truth true beauties onely mirror ' Gods eldest daughter Oh! how thou art full ' Of grace and goodnesse Oh! how beautifull ' Sith thy great Parent 's all-discerning eye ' Doth judge thee so and sith his Majesty ' The glorious maker in his sacred layes ' Can doe no lâ—sse than sound thy modest praise ' But yet because all pleasures wax unpleasant ' If without pause we still possesse them present ' And none can right discerne the sweets of peace ' That have not felt wâ—rs irksome bitternesse ' And Swans seeme whiter if swart Crowes be by ' For contraries each other best descry ' Th'Alls Architect alternately decreed ' That Night the Day the Day should Night succeed ' So morne and evening the first day conclude ' And God perceiv'd that all his works were good Therefore the learned that each day did name In the whole weekes as I conceive did aime At the great works of God in the creation And so according set the Planets station For first they set the Sunne bright Phoebus hight Who is the fountaine and the spring of light Also the Pots call him by the name Of bright Apollo whose illustrious fame Was very great he was the sonne of Iove He and Diana his deare sister strove Within the Matrix of Latona faire And these two dayes and nights directors are Apollo for his skill in Poetry Physicke and Musique and Divinity Was honour'd as a god by heathen men Such was the ignorance of those times then But why that others call Sol burning hot Flaming bright Tytan my weake judgement 's not Able to shew but sure his mighty power His names doe shew ev'n every day and houre He governes Princes and great men of state And is the Plannet that 's most fortunate He is the dayes bright eye and heart of heav'n For God plac'd him in midst of Planet sev'n And in three hundred threescore daies and five Doth to the period of hâ—s race arrive By him we measure out to us and ours Yeeres ages seasons moneths dayes minutes houres And therefore well plac'd in the front of time But I have him eclips'd in this â—ude rime Therefore I 'll now conclude lest Phaëton like For taking such a taske great Iove may strike Me in his wrath therefore I 'll hast away And speake a little of the Lords blest Day Me thinkes none should make it a scruple why We disagree from Jewes solemnity In keeping of the sacred Sabbath Day They 're in the old and we in a new way They have the old Law and we have the new For state of Christians differs from the Jew Old things are past and new are come in place Then why should we follow the Jewish race Besides our Saviour is the Lord of dayes And therefore for his meritorious praise It s very fit he should a day ordaine His worship and his statutes to maintaine For in this world each Prince his subjects drawes After his lore for still New Lords new Lawes So now new Sacraments new Heav'n new Earth New Testament and Sabbath Day sets forth How we do differ from the Levites law But of the morall we still stand in aw We know that shadowes now are past away Because from death their substance rose this day For now the ceremonies of the Jewes Doe cease yet on this day we alwayes use To rest from labour and vaine idle sport And to the Lords House we should oft resort There both to heare Gods Word divinely taught By learned men and also as we ought There we should pray and sing with hearty cheare And not as some doe sleepe when they should heare Then after Sermon we should call to minde What good instruction we therein did finde Into what parts what doctrines and what uses Was made thereof to checke the grosse abuses Of mans fraile nature and the consolation Weake man doth need to stablish his salvation If I could thus the Lords Day sanctifie Delighting thus to heare sing pray purely And on the Lord set my whole minde and heart That all this day he might not from me part If I could as the Sunne begin to shine From youth to old age in all works divine If I could so distinguish and divide Blind errors wayes from truths bright paths well try'd And well approv'd of God and all good men For graces splendor I
For the heav'ns are not mixtly enterlaced But th'undermost by th'upper be embraced And more or lesse the Rundells wider are As from the Center they be neere or far As in an Egg the shell includes the skin The skin the white the white the Yolke within Now like as in a Clock that is well tended Just counterpoize Justly thereon suspended Makes the great wheele goe round and that anon Turnes with his turning many a meaner one The trembling watch th'Iron Maule that chimes The entire day in twice twelve equall times So the grand heau'n in foure and twenty houres Surveying all this various house of ours With his quick motion all the Spheares doth move Whose radiant glances gild the world above And drives them every day which swiftnesse strange is From Gange to Tagus and from Tag to Ganges But th'under-Oâ—bes as grudging to be still So streightly subject to anothers will Still without change still at anothers pleasure After one Pipe to dance one onely measure They from-ward turne and traversing aside Each by himselfe an oblique course doth slide So that they all although it seeme not so Forward and backward in one instant goe Both up and downe and with contrary paces At once they post to two contrary places But now the neerer any of these eight Approach th' Emperiall Pallace walls in height The more their circuit and more dayes they spend Ere they returne unto their Jorneyes end It 's therefore thought that sumptuous Canopye The which th'unnigard hand of Majesty Powdred so thick with shields so shining cleere Spends in his voyage nigh sev'n thousand yeare Then follow Saturnâ— Iupiter and Mars Divine Apollo Venus's bright Cars So swifâ—ly followes whose doves goe not far From splendant Phebus glory beaming Car Then witty Mercury and Luna last In her Carreer doth make a monethly hast Now should I write how the Latonian twins The yeare the moneth the weeke and day begins First how the sun about the world rides ay How all doe live by vertue of his Ray How even as man the little world of Cares Within the middle of his body beares His heart the spring of life which with proportion Supplyeth spirits to all and every Portion Even so the Sun his Golden Chariot Marches Amid the six lamps of the six low Arches Which seele the world that equally it might Richly impart them beauty force and light Six heav'nly Princes mounted evermore Wait on Sols Coach three behind three before Besides the hoasts of th'upper twincklers bright To whom for pay he giveth onely light And how he cheareth every living thing With light and heat but my muse daies not sing His honour'd prayses for I 'm like the moone In borrowing light from a diviner Sun Therefore I 'll vaile my front under his shine Least I ecclips him by this work of mine So mâ—rn and Evening the fourth day conclude And God perceiv'd that all his workes were good Why this is call'd the day of Mercury Who is of Eloquence and Memory The God by Poete call'd and rules the Muses Marchants and each one that the Pen oft uses Ambassadors the Princes humor pleaser To end his course takes neere a twelve moneths leasure For all the while his nimble winged heeles Dare little bouge from Phoebus golden wheeles Hee 's fained to have wings on Armes and feet To shew his speed for message he is meet I cannot tell except it be to show How swift the motion of the Plannets goe How by the force of the first moving heav'n With speedy hast their flaming Cars are driv'n Now as that grand heav'n by his powerfull force Doth move the under nine in their swift course So of my selfe I know I cannot move To any good It is the Lord above That drives mee forward in the way of Grace That in bright Glory I may have a place There to remaine ev'n as a glorious starre Which happy Blisse doth passe mans reason far Thursday or Dies Iovis IN vaine had God stor'd heav'n with glistring studs The Plain with grain the mountaine tops with woods Sever'd the aire from fire the earth from water Had hee not soone peopled this large Theater With living Creatures therefore he began This Day to quicken in the Ocean In standing Pools and in the straggling Rivers whose folding Channell fertill Champion fevers So many Fishes of so many features That in the waters one may see all creatures And all that in this All is to be found As if the world within the deeps were drown'd Seas have as well as Skies Sun Moone and stars As well as aire Swallowes and Rooks and stares As well as earth Vines Roses Nettles Millions Pinks Gilly-flowers Mushromes many millions Of other Plants more rare and strange then these As very Fishes living in the Seas And also Rams Calfes Horses Hares and Hogs Wolves Lions Urchins Elephants and Dogs Yea men and maides and which I more admire The Mitred Bishop and the cowled Fryer whereof example but a few yeares since Were showne the Norwayes and Polonian Prince As a rare Painter drawes for pleasure here A sweet Adonis a soule Satyre there Here a huge Cyclop there a Pigme Elfe Somtimes no lesse busying his skilfull selfe Upon some ugly Monster seldome seene Then on the Picture of faire beauties Queene Even so the Lord that in his workes variety Wee might the more admire his powerfull deity And that wee might discerne by different features The various kinds of the vast Oceans Creatures Forming this mighty frame he every kind With divers and peculiar Signets sign'd Some have their heads groveling betwixt their feet As th'inky Cuttles and the many-feet Some in their breast as Crabs some headlesse are Foot lesse and Fin-lesse as the banefull Hare And heatfull Oyster in a heape confus'd Their parts unparted in themselves diffus'd Then for their bulk the Orke Whirlepoole and Whale In greatnesse passe the largest ships that saile Me thinkes I see the Dolphin swiftly passe And the rare Tortoise whose shell seemes as brasse Which th' Arabià n makes in sted to stand For hulke at Sea and for a house on Land The dainty Salmons Chevins thunder-scaâ—'d Feast-famous Sturgeons Lampreyes speckle-starr'd Th' adulterous Sarâ—us and the loving Mullet The banefull Crampfish which when in her Gullet ¶ She hath receiv'd the sharp deceitfull hooke ' Suddenly spues into the silver brooke ' Her secret-spreading sudden-speeding bane ' Which up the line and all along the cane ' Creeps to the hand of th' Angler who withall ' Benumm'd and senslesse suddenly lets fall ' His hurtfull pole and his more hatefull price ' In a deep sleep upon the ground he lies 'A firmer league of friendship is not seene ' Than is the Pearle-fish and the Prawn betweene ' Both have but one repast both but one palace ' But one delight death sorrow and one solace ' That lodgeth this and this remunerates ' His Land-lords kindnesse with all needfull cates ' For while the Pearle-fish gaping
light Because it sheweth sinnes deformed sight But I have here almost forgot to write Of blindfold ignorance that hates the light Yet under two sorts I can briefly show How she likewise in croked wayes doth goe The one constrain'd the other 's wilfull blinde And these I call the errors of the minde Their case is pitifull that never heard True saving knowledge but from it debard Such are unfaithfull Jewes Turks Infidels Blinde Papists and many rude nations else That as yet never saw the glorious sight Of sacred Truth shewd in the Gospell bright But others that doe wilfully refuse Such are the Jesuits and the leained Jewes And Protestants who like the Israelite This holy Manna greatly scorne and slight There is a woe denounced against them As was ' gainst Bethsaida and Corazin As in the day wilde beasts doe keepe in caves Because the light should not descry their wayes But in the Night then doe they hunt and range After their preys most cruell fierce and strange So in the dawning of the Gospels light When that Starre Edward in this Spheaâ—e shin'd bright The murth'rous Papists cruell fierce and fell In caves and holes were then constrain'd to dwell But when the Moone began her head to reare In this blest Islâ—nds glorious Hemispheare This light eclipsed was and there did swarme Papists like Locusts which did doe great harme Unto Gods Church by faggots fiery flame To shew in smoky darknesse they remaine For such apparently walke in the darke Because they greatly doe mistake the marke Of saving Truth whose path-wayes are most bright But here I must remember now to write Of that same darknesse which for ay doth dwell In that most horrid dolefull place call'd hell And 't is no wonder though I feare to show What horror in that darke Abysse doth grow For thought thereof doth make my heart to ake My body tremble and my hand to shake Besides it passeth all that I can thinke How shall I shew it then with Pen and Inke For I am weake in judgement sicke in braine Then why should I adventure so in vaine To describe that no man can well expresse Though ne'r so learned yet neverthelesse By some conjectures learned men can tell What horrid darknesse is in that same Cell And what from Gods Words literate men have showne I will not feare in this place to make knowne First I will write of the great cause of feare Then of the punishments that are used there Besides the Majesty of God offended The mercy we receive and have mispended The long forbearance of his wrathfull stroke Should unto godly feare our hearts provoke Feare to offend him by our grievous crimes Feare to displease him in all place and times The very darknesse which is in that place Would in dread horror ev'n confound our face For if the stoutest man should be alone Naked and bare in a darke place unknowne And there should heare the noyse of ugly sp'rits Hissings of Serpents and the dismall sights Of tortured soules would he not quake and feare Although no stripes he on himselfe did beare And such thicke darknesse was the Egyptians night Who in three dayes could not descry the light But now to be tormented in the darke It 's past expression Pray fit downe and marke Oh! wretched man come sit thee downe by me Thinke with my thoughts and see what I doe see As Balâ—'m shew'd to Balack Isacks race So will I shew thee the most damned trace Of hellish torments from the learned fables Of Poets old yet take them not for bables For I doe hope in thee and me 't will breed Such godly feare that so we may take heed To shun those wayes that lead us to the place Wher 's utter darknesse and no light of Grace Mâ—thinks I see grim Pluto calls his Court With Proserpine he sits in dreadfull sort Upon a chaire of fire in ugly forme As blacke as hell yet was a Starre o' th morne Then I see Cerberus that triple dog Who seemes more terrible than Gogmagog ' Then after him from fiery Phlegeton ' Comes Alecto Meger ' and Tesiphon ' Oh then what heare I wondrous thundring blowes ' Alas what yells what howles what dismall showes ' There Eccho made whole hell to tremble troubled ' The drowsie night her deepe darke horrors doubled ' And suddenly Avernus gulfe did swim ' With Rosin Pitch and Brimstone to the brim ' And ugly Gorgons and the Sphinxes fell ' Hidraes and Harpies 'gan to yawne and yell ' One lifting's lungs hisses and barkes and brayes ' This howles that yels another roares and neighs ' Such a blacke song such a confused sound ' From many-headed bodies doth rebound ' Like Guns astuns with round round-rumbling thunder ' Filling the ayre with noyse the earth with wonder Till at the last pawsing a while they staid And suddenly with great confusion made A flight at man all at intestine strife Who might most torture his detested life Then at command of Pluto's dreadfull call Each one unto his worke did quickly fall And then I saw proud Icarus tumbled downe Under fiends feete that wrought above the crowne And all because he thought to sore on high His waxen wings were cut and he did ly Despis'd contemn'd dishonour'd and disgrac'd Although on earth he was so highly plac'd See drunken Tantalus doth rore for thirst Yet to his chin in water so accurst He lies and howles and cannot get a tast And dying lives yet 's dying life doth last See how the Glutton cryes and longs for meate Yet Sodom's Apples he doth daily eate It seemes they doe not fill his hungry maw But looke I pray see how that beast doth gnaw Upon the envious wretch see how his heart Is eaten by the Viper and each part Of all his body is so thin and bare Nothing but skin and bones upon him are See how that lazie slave doth turne the wheele And yet that ugly fiend doth make him feele The smarting lashes of his knotty whip Which makes his hands to worke his legs to skip But see the lecherous man ev'n shake for cold And yet in flames of fire I him behold Oh horrid torment never yet descryde That one should frieze by such a fire side The covetous wretch I saw cramm'd to the full Of burning brimstone Oh 't is wonderfull To marke how he is paid in the same coyne That did oppresse the weake the poore purloyne But harke what heare I doleful shrikes and cryes Of him that 's alway's kild yet never dies It s strange me thinkes so many dangerous darts Should not destroy their bloody murth'rous hearts But 't is not strange for the great God above to shew his justice and expresse his love To chuse a place as well for to torment The wilfull sinner and impenitent As to prepare a place of heav'nly state For his deare friends that are regenerate If then the Lord himselfe shall goe to reare A place of torments who shall that
to recover ' Whose shoares already my glad eyes discover ' Of all the beasts that this day God did build 'To haunt the hils the forrest and the fields ' I see as Viceroy of their brutish bend ' The Elephant the Vant-gard doth command ' Worthy that office whether we regard ' His towred backe where many souldiers ward ' Or else his prudence where withall he seemes ' Tobscure the wits of human-kinde some times ' Neer the Elephant comes th'horned Hirable ' Stream-troubling Camell and strong necked Bull ' The lazy-paced yet laborious Asse ' The quicke proud Courser which the rest doth passe ' For apt addresse Mars and his Master loving ' After his hand with ready lightnesse moving ' When out of hand will selfe advance and bound ' Corvet pace mannage turne and trot the round ' In a fresh troope the fearefull Hare I note ' The oblivious Coney and the brouzing Goat ' The slothfull Swine the golden fleeced sheepe ' The light-foot Hart that every yeere doth weepe ' But of all beasts none steadeth man so much ' As doth the Dog his diligence is such 'A faithfull guard a wachfull sentinell 'A painfull purvey'r that with perfect smell ' Prov des great Princes many a dainty messe 'A friend till death a helper in distresse ' Dread of the Wolfe feare of the fearefull thiefe ' Fierce combatant and of all hunters chiefe ' There skips the Squirrell seeming weatherwise ' Without beholding of heav'ns twinckling eyes ' For knowing well which way the wind will change ' He shifts the portal of his little grange ' There 's the wanton Weazel and the wily Fox ' The witty Monkey that mans actions mocks ' The sweat sweet Civet dearely fetcht from far ' For Courtiers nice past Indian Tarnassar ' There the wife Bever who pursu'd By foes ' Feares off his coolings and among them throwes ' Knowing the hunters on the Pontik heath ' Doe more desire that ransome than his death ' There the rough Hedgebog who to shun his thrall ' Shrinks up himselfe as round as any ball ' And fastning his slow feet under his chin ' On 's thistly brisles rowles him quickly in ' But th' eye of heav'n beholdeth nought more strange ' Than the Chamelion who with various change ' Receives the colour that each object gives ' And foodlesse else of th' ayre alonely lives ' Oh! who is he that would not be astound 'To be as I am here environ'd round ' With cruell'st creatures which for mastery ' Have vow'd against us endlesse enmity ' Phoebus would faint Alcides selfe would dread ' Although the first dread Python conquered ' And th' other vanquisht th' Erymanthian Boare ' The Nemean Lyon and a many more ' What strength of arme or artfull stratagem ' From Nile's fell rover could deliver them ' Who runs and towes warring by land and water ' Gainst men and fishes subject to his slaughter ' Or from that furious Dragon which alone ' set on a Roman army whereupon ' Stout Regulus as many engines spent ' As to the ground would Carâ—hage walls have rent ' What shot free Coâ—slet or what counsell crafty ' Gainst th' angry aspick could aslure them safety ' Who saithfull husband over hill and plaine ' Pursues the man that his deare Pheet hath slaine ' Whom he can find amid the thickest throng ' And in an instant venge him of his wrong ' What shield of Ajax could avoyd their death ' By th' Basilisk whose pestilenâ—iall breath ' Doth pierce firme Marble and whose banefull eye ' Wounds with a glance so that the soundest dye ' From Serpents scap'd yet am I scarce in safety ' Alas I see a Legion fierce and lofty ' Of Savages whose fleet and furious pace ' Whose horrid roaring and whose hideous face ' Make my senso senslesse and my speach restraine ' And cast me in my former feares againe ' Already howles the wastfull Wolfe the Boare ' Whets foamy fangs the hungry Beare doth roare ' The Cat-fac'd Ounce that doth me much dismay ' With grumbling horror threatens my decay ' The light foot Tigre spotted Leopard ' Foaming with fury doe besiege me hard ' Then th' Vnicorne th' Hyena tearing-tombs ' Swift Manticho's and Nubian Cephus comes ' Of which last three each hath as here they stand ' Man 's voyce man's visage man-like foot and hand ' I feare the beast bred in the bloody coast ' Of Cannibals which thousand times almost ' Re-whelps her whelps and in her tender womb ' She doth as oft her living brood retomb ' Then th'monstrous Porcupine there bids me battle ' On whose rough backe an hoast of pikes doth rattle ' But courage now here comes the valiant beast ' The noble Lyon King of all the rest ' Who bravely minded is as milde to those ' That yeeld to him as fierce unto his foes 'To humble Suitors neither sterne nor statefull 'To benefactors never found ingratefull ' There 's under Sun as Delphos God did show ' No better knowlege that our selves to know ' There is no theme more plentifull to scan ' Than is the glorious goodly frame of man ' For in mans selfe is fire ayre earth and Sea ' Man 's in a word the worlds Epitome ' Or little map which here my Muse would try ' By the grand paterne to exemplifie But my dull Muse shall not eclipse thy shine From whom I borrow all these words divine For I can little of mans nature speake But what I take from thy creation weake For here and there I take a little tast Of thy sweet Nectar my tart lines to cast In such a heav'nly smooth delicious mould As with the Word of God may firmely hold Due correspondence and make plaine to sense The wondrous workes of Gods Omnipotence ' Now God that supreame peerelesse Architect ' When of mere nothing he did first erect ' Heav'n earth and ayre and seas at once his thought ' His Word and deed all in an instant wrought ' But when he would his owne selfe 's type create ' Th' honour of nature th' earths sole potentate ' As if he would a councel hold he citeth ' His sacred power his prudence he inviteth ' Summons his love his justice he adjournes ' Calleth his goodnesse and his grace returnes 'To as it were consult about the birth ' And building of a second god of earth ' Or rather he consults with his owne Son ' His owne true pourtrait what proportion ' What gifts what grace what soule he should bestow ' Upon his Vice-roy of this Realme below But of 's particular parts I will not speake It is enough in this my borrowed weeke In generall to write a little story Of soule and bodies first created glory They that desire more of the same to know Learned Du Bartas will divinely show ' Th' Almighty Father as of watery matter ' It pleas'd him make the people of the water ' So of an earthly substance made he
all ' The slimy Burgers of this earthly ball 'To th' end each creature might by consequent ' Part-sympathize with his owne element ' Therefore to forme this earthly Emperor ' He did take earth and by his sacred power ' So tempered it that of the very same ' Dead shapelesse lump did Adams body frame ' Yet not his face downe to the earth-ward bending ' Like beasts that but regard their belly ending ' For ever all but toward the azure skies ' Bright golden Lamps lifting his lovely eyes ' That through their nerves his better part might looke ' Still to that place from whence her birth shee tooke ' And this most peere-lesse learned Imager ' Life to his lovely picture to confer ' Did not extract out of the elements 'A certaine secret Chymick Quinte slence ' But breathing sent as from the lively spring ' Of his divinenâ—sse some small riverling ' It selfe dispersing into every pipe ' Of the fraile Engine of this Earthen type ' In briefe it 's but a breath Now though a breath ' Out of our stomachs concave issueth ' Yet of our substance it transporteth nought ' Onely it seemeth to be simply fraught ' And to retaine the purer qualities ' Of the inward place whence it derived is ' Inspired by that breath this breath desire ' I to describe who so doth not admire ' His spirit is spritelessâ— anâ— his sense is past ' Who hath no sense of that admired blast ' Yet wot I well that as an eye perceives ' All but it selfe even so our soule conceives ' All save her owne selfe essence but the end ' Of her owne greatnesse cannot comprehend ' Yet as a sound eye voyd of vicious matter ' Sees in a sort it selfe in glasse or water ' So in her sacred works as in a glasse 'Our soule almost may see her glorious face ' Mans compleate nature imitates the best ' And fairest workes of the Almightiest ' By rare effects beares records of its linage ' And high descent and that Gods sacred Image ' Was in mans soule ingraven when first his spirit ' The spring of life did in mans limbs inspire it ' For as Gods beauties are past all compare ' So is mans soule all beautifull and faire ' As God's immortall and is never idle ' Mas soulâ—'s immortall and can brooke no bridle ' Of Sloth to curb her busie intellect ' He Ponders all she poizeth each effect ' And mans mature and setled Sapience ' Hath some Alliance with Gods providence ' God workes by reason man his rule God's glory ' Of the heav'nly Stages man of th' earthly story ' God 's great high-Priest man his great Vicar here ' God 's Soveraigne Prince man his Viceroy deere ' O man assoone as God had framed thee ' Into thy hands he put this Monarchy ' Made all the creatures know thee for their Lord ' And come before thee of their owne accord ' And gave thee power as Master to impose ' Fit sensefull names unto the hoast that rowes ' In watery Regions and the wandring heards ' Of Forrest people and the painted Birds ' O too-too happy had that fall of thine ' Not canceld so the Character Divine ' But sith our Soules now-sin-obscured light ' Shines through the Lanthorn of our flesh so bright ' What sacred splendor will this Star send forth ' When it shall shine without this vaile of earth ' The Soule here lodg'd is like a man that dwells ' In an ill Aire annoy'd with noysome smells ' Never in health not halfe an houre together ' Or almost like a Spider who confin'd ' In her webs Center shak't with every winde ' Moves with an instant If the buzzing flye ' Stir but a string of her Lawne Canopie ' Yet without woman man 's but halfe a man ' But a wild wolfe but a Barbarian ' Brute ragefull fierce moody melancholike ' Hating the light whom nought but naught could like ' Borne solely for himselfe bereft of sence ' Of heart of Love of life of Excellence ' God therefore not to seeme lesle liberall 'To man then else to every animall ' For perfect patterne of a holy Love 'To Adams halfe another halfe he gave ' Ta'en from his side to binde through every age ' With kinder Bonds the sacred Marriage ' For God empal'd our Grandsires lively looke ' Through all his Bones a deadly chilnesse strooke ' Siel'd-up his sparkling eyes with Iron bands ' Led downe his feet almost to Lethi sands ' In Briefe so numm'd his Soul's and Body's sense ' That without paine opening his side from thence ' He tooke a Rib which rarely he refin'd ' And thereof made the mother of mankinde ' Graving so lively on the living bone ' All Adams beauties that but hardly one ' Could have the lover from the love descry'd ' Or knowne the Bridegroome from his gentle Bride ' Saving that she had a more smiling Eye 'A smother Chin a Check of purer dye 'A fainter Voyce a more inticing face 'A deeper Tresse a more delighting grace ' And in her bosome more then Lily-white ' Two swelling Mounts of Ivory panting light ' Now after this ptofound and pleasing Trance ' No sooner Adams ravisht eyes gan glancâ— ' On the rare beauties of his new-com halfe ' But in his heart he gan to leap and laugh ' Kissing her kindly calling her his life ' His Love his stay his rest his weale his wife ' His other-selfe his helpe him to refresh ' Bone of his bone flesh of his very flesh ' Source of all Joyes sweet Hee-shee coupled one ' Thy sacred birth I never thinke upon ' But ravish't I admire how God did then ' Mike two of one and one of two againe ' O blessed Bond Oh happy marriage ' That dost the match twixt Christ and us presages ' O chastest friendship whose pure flames impart ' Two soules in one two hearts into one heart ' O holy knot in Eden instituted ' Not in this earth with Blood and wrongs polluted ' Profan'd with mischiefes the prescene of Hell 'To cursed creatures that against heaven rebell ' O sacred Cov'nant which the sin-lesse Sonne ' Of a pure Virgin when he first begun 'To publish proofes of his dread power Divine ' By turning water into perfect wine ' At lesser Cana in a wondrous manner ' Did with his presence sanctifie and honour ' By thy deare favour after our decease ' We leave-behind our living Images ' Change war to peace in kindred multiply ' And in our Children live eternally ' By thee we quench the wilde and wanton fires ' that in our Soule the Paphian shot inspires ' And taught by thee a love more firme and fitter ' We find the Mel more sweet the Gall lesse bitter ' Which here by turnes heape up our humane life ' Ev'n now with joyes anon with jars and strife ' This done the Lord Commands the happy paire ' With chaste embraces to replenish
heav'n and never lookes abroad ' That crownes not vertue and corrects not Vice ' Blind to our service deafe unto our sighs 'A Pagan Idoll voyd of power and Piety 'A sleeping Dormouse rather a dead Deity ' For though alas sometimes I cannot shun ' But some prophane thoughts in my mind will run ' I never thinke on God but I conceive ' Whence cordiall comforts Christians soules receive ' In God Care Counsell Justice Mercy Might 'To punish wrongs and Patronize the right ' Sith Man but Image of the Almightiest ' Without these gifts is not a man but Beast ' God is not sitting like some Earthly state ' In proud Theater him to recreate ' With curious objects of his eares and eyes ' Without disposing of the Comedies ' Content t' have made by his great word to move ' So many Radiant Stars to shine above ' And on each thing with his owne hand to draw ' The sacred text of an eternall Law ' Then bosoming his hand to let them slide ' With raines at will whether that Law shall guide ' Like one that lately having forc't some lake ' Through a new Channell a new course to take ' Takes no more care thenceforth to those effects ' But lets the streame run where the ditch directs ' The Lord our God wants neither diligence ' Nor love nor Care nor power nor providence ' Hee prov'd his power by making all of nought ' His diligence by ruling All he wrought ' His care in ending it in six dayes space ' His love in building it for Adams race ' Hâ—â— providence Maugre Times wastfull rages ' Preserving it so many yeares and Ages ' For O! how often had this goodly Ball ' By his owne greatnesse caus'd his proper fall ' How often had this world deceast except ' Gods mighty Armes had it upheld and kept ' God is the Soule the life the strength and sinnew ' That quickens moves and makes this frame continue ' God 's the maine spring that maketh every way ' All the small wheeles of this great Engin play ' God 's the strong Atlas whose unshrinking shoulders ' Have beene and are heav'ns heavy Globes upholders ' God makes the fountaines run continually ' The dayes and nights succeed incessantly ' The Seasons in their season he doth bring ' Summer and Autumn Winter and the Spring ' God make's th' earth fruitfull and he makes the earth's ' Large sides not yet faint for so many births ' God makes the Sun and Stars though wondrous hot ' That yet their heat themselves inflameth not ' And that their sparkling beams prevent not so ' With woefull flames the last great day of woe ' And that as mov'd with a contrary wrest ' They turne at once both North and East and West ' Heav'ns constant course his heast doth never break ' The floting water waiteth at his beck ' Th' Aire 's at his call the fire at his command ' The earth is his and there is nothing fam'd ' In all these kingdomes but is mov'd each houre ' With secret touch of his eternall power ' God is the Judge who keepes continuall Sessions ' In every place to punish all transgressions ' Who void of Ignorance and Avarice ' Not won with bribes nor wrested with device ' Sans feare or favour hate or partiall Zeale ' Pronounceth judgements that are past appeal ' Himselfe is judge Jury and witnesse too ' Well knowing what we all think speake or doe ' He sounds the deepest of the doublest heart ' Searcheth the Reins and sifteth every part He sees all secrets and his Lynx-like eye Yer it be thought doth every thought descry His sentence giv'n doth never prove in vaine For all that heav'n earth ayre and sea containe Serve him as Sergeants and the winged Legions That soar above the bright star-spangled Regions Are ever prest his powerfull ministers And lastly for his executioners Satan assisted with th' infernall band Stands ready still to finish his command God to be briefe is a good Artizan That to his purpose aptly mannage can Good or bad tools for for just punishment He armes our sins us sinners to torment And to prevent th'ungodly's plot sometime He makes his foes will nill they fight for him Though then the Lords deep wisdome to this day Worke in the worlds uncertaine certaine sway Yet must we credit that his hand compos'd All in six dayes and that he then repos'd By his example giving us behest On the seventh day for evermore to rest For God remembred that he made not man Of stone or steel or brasse Corinthian But lodg'd our soule in a fraâ—le earthen masse Thinner than water britler than the glasse He knowes our life is by nought sooner spent Than having still our minds and bodies bent A souldier that a season still hath laine Comes with more fury to the field againe Even so this body when to gather breath One day in sev'n at rest it sojourneth It recollects his powers and with more cheer Falls the next morrow to his first career But the chiefe end this precept ayms at is To quench in us the coals of covetize That while we rest from all prophaner arts Gods Spirit may worke in our retired hearts That we down-treading earthly cogitations May mount our thoughts to heav'nly meditations Following good Archers guize who shut one eye That they the better may their marke espie For by th' Almighty this great holy day Was not ordain'd to dance to maske and play To slug in sloth to lash out in delights And loose the reines to raging appetites To turne Gods feasts to filthy Lupercalls To frantike Orgies and fond Saturnalls To dâ—zle eyes with our vain-glorious splendor To serve strange gods or our ambition tender As the irreligion of loose times hath since Chang'd the prime Churches chaster innocence God would that men should in a certaine place This day assemble as before his face Tending an humble and attentive eare To learne his great names dear-dread loving-feare He would that there the faithfull Pastor should The Scriptures marrow from the bones unfold That we might touch with fingers as it were The sacred secrets that are hidden there For though the reading of those holy lines In private houses somewhat move our minds Doubtlesse the doctrine preach'd doth deeper pierce Proves more effectuall and more weight it bears He would that there in holy Psalmes we sing Shrill praise and thanks to our immortall King For all the liberall bounties he bestow'th On us and ours in soule and body both He would that there we should confesse his Christ Our only Saviour Prophet Prince and Priest Solemnizing with sober preparation His blessed seales of reconciliation And in his Name beg boldly what wee need After his will and be assur'd to speed Sith in th'exchequer of his clemency All goods of fortune foule and body ly He would this Sabbâ—th should a figure be Of the blest Sabbath of eternitie That the grand Iubile