distaste earth rellish heauen after her dissolution from earth enioy her mansion in heauen Of Smelling 5. ESSAY SO prouident hath that great workeman bin of all his creatures as no delight euen in this Tabernacle of earth is wanting to make him more accomplished and though the fiue Sences as that deuout Barnard obserueth be those fiue gates by which the world doth besiege vs the Deuill doth tempt vs and the flesh ensnare vs yet in euery one of these if rightly employed is there a peculiar good and benefit redounding to the comfort of the soule no lesse than to the auaile and vtilitie of the bodie For euen by the Smell as by the conduit by which is conveyed vnto vs the dilated fountaine of Gods mercie doe we apprehend all varieties of flowers sootes sweetes which moued the Philosopher to terme this Sence the Harbinger of the Spring Some are of opinion that this peculiar Sence is an occasion of more danger to the body than benefit in that it receiues crude and vnholesome vapours foggie and corrupt exhalations being subiect to any infection it is true but what especiall delights confers it for one of these inconveniences cheering the whole bodie with the sweetest odours giuing libertie to the vitall powers which otherwise would be imprisoned delight to her fellow-Sences which else would be dulled and the sweet breathing ayre which by her is reciued all these as so many arguments of consequence bring vs to a more exact acknowledgment of this Sences excellencie The Smelling is termed the vnnecessariest of all other Sences yet may it be employed in cases of necessitie witnesse Democritus who against the celebration of the feast Buthysia fasted nine dayes sustayning nature onely with the smell of hot bread This Sence of mine shall not be subiected to outward delicacies Let the Courtier smell of perfumes the sleeke-fac'd Lady of her paintings I will follow the smell of my Sauiours oyntments how should I be induced following the direction of reason by such soule-bewitching vanities which rather peruert the refined lustre of the minde than adde the least of perfection to so excellent an essence No let Pigmalion dote on his owne picture Narcissus on his shape Niobe on her numerous progenie my Taste shall be to taste how sweet the Lord is my Touch the apprehension of his loue my sight the contemplation of his glory my eare to accent his praise my smell to repose in the faire and pleasant pastures of his word O comfort truly styled one in that my soule transported aboue herselfe vnites her selfe to be ioyned to her Redeemer The Gardens of the Hesperides warded and guarded by those three daughters of Atlas were pleasant the Gardens of Lucullus fragrant the Groue of Ida eminent yet not comparable to those exquisite pleasures which the diuine pastures comprehend there is that hedged Garden that sealed Well that Bethesda that Eden that Syloe here may the delight of euery Sence be renewed the thirstie satisfied the hungry filled the sicke cured the labourer cheered and the exquisite mirrour of all perfection torrent of euer-flowing bounties Iessaes branch Aarons rod and that flowrie garden of Engaddi represented There is mel in ore melos in aure iubilus in corde honie to the taste melodie to the eare and harmonie to the heart honie which breedes no loathing melodie which is neuer discording harmonie euer agreeing This it is to be ioyned to an heau'nly spouse sending from Paradice pomgranats with the fruits of apples Cypresse Nard Nard and Saffron Fistula and Cinnamon with all the woods of Libanon Mirrh and Aloës with the best oyntments What excellent delights be here proposed what exquisite comforts ministred it is sufficient for me to admire them in this pilgrimage enioying them by contemplation which after many pilgrim dayes I shall possesse in fruition There is no Pomander to smell at like the oyntment of my Sauiour he is all sweet all comfort all delight sweet in his mercy comfortable in his promise and delightfull in his presence in his mercy a father in his comfort a redeemer and in his delight a replenisher from his mercy and compassion is deriued abundantly fulnes of consolation from his comfort or promise an assured expectation and from his delight of himselfe a plenarie possession O would to God with happy Ioseph I had taken downe my Sauiour from the crosse embalmed him in the spices or graces of my soule had layen him in the new sepulchre of my heart that at least attending or following my IESVS my obedience might haue ministred something to so heauenly obsequies For how should I think but by the smell of his oyntments my sin-sicke and soule soiled conscience should be cured who had power to raise dead Lazarus stinking in his graue hauing bene foure dayes buried O that I might goe to the mountaine of Myrrh to the hill of Frankincense to be ioyned to him whose oyntments are aboue all spices how should I want any thing being so enriched how should I feare any thing being so armed or how wish any thing hauing whatsoeuer I desired Sweet-smelling perfume of selected vertues pure streame of diuine graces and amiable beauty neuer blemished no delight shall withhold me no affection seduce me no inordinate pleasure entice me no sweet smell draw me I haue tyed my selfe to my spouse in all my Sences being He that ministers refreshment to all my Sences If I eye any thing it shall be my Sauiours crosse if I heare any thing it shall be my Sauiours praise if I touch any thing it shall be my Sauiours wounds if I taste any thing it shall be my Sauiours comforts if I smell any thing it shall be my Sauiours oyntments Blessed eye that hath such an obiect blessed eare that heares such a concord blessed touch that hath such a subiect blessed taste to haue such a rellish blessed smell to haue such a sweetnesse As the Nose is the conduit by which wee receiue breath so should it be the conduit by which we receiue grace by it we breath may wee rather not breath then employ it not in breathing praise to our maker As the Taste and Smell haue two distinct offices yet by an affinitie vnited for the obstruction of the one is the annoyance of the other so may they be linked in one consort in the contemplation of their Creator that as the one is to be employed to taste and see how sweet the Lord is so the other by following the smell of her Sauiours oyntments may at last attaine to the mountaine of eternal spices FINIS ORNATISSIMO ET LECTISSIMO VIRO I. B. de L EQVITI AVRATO PVBLICAE PACIS IVRISQVE STVDIOSISSIMO Pariterque H. B. FILIO INTER SVPERSTITES ORTV MAXIMO TALI PATRE NATO DIGNISSIMO INDOLIS OPTIMAE SPEI AMPLISSIMAE MENTIS TENACISSIMAE RICHARD BRATHWAYT HANC DETRACTIONIS NARRATIVN CVLAM IN GRATAM ANIMI MEMORIAM INVITA QUORUNDAM INVIDIA candide condite intime integre D. D.
summarily emploied the Intelligible the Irascible and the Concupiscible The Intelligible whereby we apprehend the end of our creation whereby we iudge of causes and events touching with the apprehensiue hand of iudgement what may concerne vs and the state wherein we are interested The Irascible when stirred vp with ire or indignation we prosecute reuenge not suffering the least disgrace without an intended requitall The Concupiscible when in an ambitious desire of honour or estate or lustfull satisfaction of our owne illimited affections we couet this or that ardent in pursuing and least contented when obteining that we haue pursued the vnderstanding if rightly seated like a wise Pylot steres the ship saues her from splitting mannaging all things with a prouident respect had of what may come after No Syren can tempt this wise and subtile Vlisses though the sea looke neuer so faire this wise and temperate mariner is suspicious of it knowing Where the Sea lookes the whitest oftimes the periloust rocks and ineuitablest shelfs are seated She sinks plumms and tryes the shaldes whether apt for nauigation or noe in briefe she doth nought without serious premeditation fore-thinks of the meane ere she attaine the end She affects not curiosity either in words habit or manners yet vertuously curious how to expresse herselfe truely honourable in all deportments without aspersion of scandall She will not disguise herselfe in an vnhonest couer but affecting Plainenesse teacheth the same rule and precept to her followers which Iesu the sonne of Syrach taught Ne accipias faciem aduersus faciem tuam not to be dooble faced but with sincere plainenesse such as thou art such do thou seeme A rule far more accomodate to the course of vertue and more directly leading to the seate of glory then all the pollicies which euer Machauell yet inuented or the dissembling appearances of all obseruing Timists Though Numa Pompilius in Rome kept the people in awe and subiected them to what tirannous lawes he pleased vnder pretence of conference with Aegeria Minos in Athens vnder colour he was inspired in a certaine hollow caue by Iupiter and Pallas in a counterfeite habit deceaued Claudius in the adoption of Nero. This deuine essence of the soule the vnderstanding part will assume no other forme then as she is knowing her perfection cannot be made more accomplished by anie borrowed colours She vnderstands her selfe to be composed of a more deuine element then to subiect her will to vnworthy ends for she knowes that as the Sence is conuersant in outward things she is seated in inward things not directed by the eye of the Body which is many times deceued but by the eie of the Soule which alwaies aimeth at one certaine scope to wit immortality She considereth the ends which mortality aimes at honour ample territories great possessions popular respect and long life to enioy these without disturbance and she makes vse of these with a penetrating iudgment apprehending wherto the ends of these externallie-seeming goods confer Honour saith she is quickly fading and an aspiring spirit like the loftie Cedar is euer subiect to most danger when like iacks in a virginall or nailes in a wheele the fall of one is the rising of another ample teritories and great possessions saith she are more then nature requireth she is content with a competent and that competency reduced to a very narrow scantling when of all our drosse estate tresure and possessions going downe into the earth nothing shall you take with you you shall carrie no more hence Nisi parua quod vrna capit but a coffin and a winding sheete When Saladine that puissant emperor of Persia with many victorious and successiue battails had extended the limits of his Empire and through the happinesse of his warrs being neuer in any one pitcht field vanquished become the sole terror of the Easterne part at last fell mortally sicke and perceiuing how there was no way but one with him called his Chiefetaine and commanded him hauing bin chiefe Leader in all those prosperous warres which the Emperor had atchieued to take his shrowding-sheet and to hang it vpon a staffe in manner of a banneret and with it to proclaime in the streets of Damascus This is all that Saladine the Emperor of Persia hath left of his many conquests this is all he hath left of all his victories Long life saith shee is not worth desiring since it giues but increase to a multitude of sorrowes she prefers a good life before a long life and esteemes that life best beyond all comparison which is exercised in the vse of her creation Shee concludes with the Philosopher Optimum est aut non omnino nasci aut quà m cito mori making life the Theatre of shame if abused but the eminent passage from a pilgrimage to a permanent Citie if rightly employed To be briefe she meditates of nought affecteth nought entertaineth nought with a free will and a pure consecrated desire but what tastes of the spirit hauing her eare barracadoed against the insinuating desires of euery seducing appetite shee is not of the world though in the world nor can shee loue any thing within the worlds circumference in regard the world hath her limits but shee not to be confined The Irascible is attended alwaies vpon by Reuenge for the obiect of the wrathfull facultie is honour and aduantage and if this cease straight-waies courage and stomach decay so as the least argument of distast like another Silla stirrs her blood and makes vp a Centaures banquet This Facultie is alwaies as ready to apprehend an occasion of punishing yea before it is offered as to obserue the meanes of executing when the occasion is ministred She will not say with that noble Venetian Duke It is sufiicient for a discreet Prince to haue power to reuenge that his enemies may haue cause to feare him No meditation vpon reuenge is the onely prayer-booke that this vnbounded passion vseth Yet may this part rightly tempered include in it an excellent good for Anger is not alwaies vnto sinne whence it is said Be angry but sinne not Wee may be angry through zeale and the feruencie we beare to the Gospell Christ was angry when he whipped the buyers and sellers out of the Temple he was angry when his Disciples contended for prioritie he was angry at the incredulitie of the Gentiles the obduracie of the Iewes yea he was angry at the barren fig-tree when it brought out no fruit and therefore cursed it shadowing thereby the fruitlesse synagogue O may my soule if euer shee be angry feele this passion in the feruent loue shee beares to her Creator may her anger be against her selfe in the wofull remembrance of her sins that her anger may breed a detestation detestation a reconciliation to her Sauiour But for such as with the Beare cannot drinke but they must bite the water far may my soule be diuided from their dwelling I will be angry but commit no sin for the
affect that which confers to the soulea distaste of all tastes inherent in all subiects none lesse distinguishing than the hungry-mans taste which may appeare in those miserable famines of Samaria and Ierusalem ratts mice weasels and scorpions were no common mens iunkets where motherly loue renounced her name and became the ruine of that shee should cherish as the Matron Myriam who constrained for her liues supportance though shee had but one sonne killed and rosted him Hence comes it that necessitie hath no law nor hunger needs no sawce Let my Taste be directed by reason and not by sence Reason may enlighten her and make her distinguish of desires but Sence perplexeth her and subiects the better part to a slauish appetite Many haue exceeded in the vse of this Sence but few restrained their desires with moderation More Cleopatra's than Cornelia's more Vitellij than Vticae more Sileni than Salustij ancient and moderne replenish vs with stories of this nature where violent ends euer attended the immoderation of Princes but healthfull liues and ioyfull periods summ'd vp the dayes of the temperate The Venetians giue vs instance of these in themselues amongst which there appeares one more memorable Domenico Syluio his Duchesse was so delicate a woman as she would haue dew gathered to make her Baine withall with many other curious perfumes and tricks yet before her death her flesh did rot so as no creature could come neere her May my Taste be seasoned with no such delicacie let my affection rather disclaime herselfe than vndo my soule by intemperate subiects I will not care so much to taste what I loue as what I hate for I know my selfe more subiect to surfet in the one than in the other I haue tasted most of inferior delights yet in a generall suruey of all my pleasures I cannot chuse but weepe to remember how those delights which I affected produce no other fruit but Repentance The taste of vice to a mortified affection is like sweet meats to him that is in an ague shee is distastfull and becomes more odious in that shee cloaths delight with an habit of wantonnesse I will chuse with holy Hierome to build me a cell in the desart to liue out of the heat of concupiscence rather than by liuing in the eye of the world enthral my reasonable part to the appetite of Sence Taste ingenders delight I will not taste euery thing I like lest late repentance force me to distaste that which I liked I will fore-see the end ere I approue of the means that grounding on a golden meane I may attaine a glorious end No tempting delight shall feede my appetite for as preuention is the life of policie so temptation if consented to is the passage to miserie Fowles of the ayre though neuer so empty-stomackt flie not for foode into open pit-falls Quae nimis apparent retia vitat avis My soule shall imitate the bird that she may escape like the bird out of the hand of the Fowler How happy were I if I would taste nothing but what ministers content to the minde sustayning nature but not oppressing her feeding but not pampering her cheering but not cramming her I haue tasted many liquors yet none like the brinie current of mine eyes teares are best extinguishers of sin preparatiues to remorce motiues to true contrition precious Elixir may thou euer be my drinke in the time of my pilgrimage and quench my thirst of sin with a desire of an heauenly inheritance As the Nurse layeth wormwood or aloes on her pap to waine her childe from sucking so will I sprinkle some bitter thing vpon such things as I affect that my delight may be restrained How full of comfort am I when my taste is directed to a right end and how directed when it is besotted with vanities How far better were it to liue temperate taste all things as indifferent and conclude our dayes in quiet than to haue Diues doom Nabals doale or Balthazar 's fall how far better were it to liue like the Hermit in the desert then like the sensuall Libertine in the world so dissolute what is it to feed lusciously fare daintely tast all things with full satiety when our fare shal be reduced to famine our luscious feeding to Soule-staruing and our Satiety here on earth to our penury for euer in hell it is better to distribute to those that craue vse temperance in what we haue make our posteritie true heyres of what we leaue than to cry in midst of an eternall flame for one small drop to quench our thirst and not be heard for one crum and not be satisfied for one minutes ease and not released Taste may my soule no such dainties as may starue her delighted be my soule but with no such vanities as may corrupt her reioyce may my soule but in no other subiect no other obiect yea her only maker Soe in the tast of this life shall I remember my yeres with bitternesse of heart that my life which is reckned not by yeres but Howres not how many but how good may be as the Tast of sweete smelling odors in the nose-thrills of her Sauiour there is no odour like it no perfume to be compared to it it is a saving sauour a pretious odour and the Saints honour Happy Sence that is thus saincted comfortable taste that is thus renewed and blessed soule that is thus invited Taste and see how sweet the Lord is sweet in his mercies sweet in his promises and sweet in his performance And such is the spirituall sweetnes which euery devout soule conceiueth in the contemplation of eternitie whose ioy is not in the tents of Kedar but in the bowels of her Sauiour not with the inhabitants of Moloc but the glorious seed of Isaac these haue their taste in the greene and flourishing pastures of Gods word distasting the slesh-pots of Aegypt and relishing onely the manna of heauenly Canaan Pleasures which are earthly they neither long for in expecting nor loue when enioying They haue found obstruction in the Sences corporall but free passage in the Sences spirituall They compare worldly-tasting men to those wilde asses which snift the winde their desires extend onely to be thought good dis-esteeming the excellencie of reall goodnesse which maketh man truly happy They obserue foure sorts of men in the world discouered by the eye of wisdome Some are wise but seeme not so some seeme so but are not so some neither are nor seeme some both are and seeme the last these onely partake for as their essence concurrs with their appearance so scorne they to expresse more in semblance than they are in essence if there were no God yet these men would be good and for sin though they wist to vse Seneca's words that neither God nor man knew it yet would they hate it O my taste be thus seasoned my palate thus relished my affections thus marshalled my whole pilgrim-course thus managed that my Taste may