creature that shall endure to everlasting The worke of a Physitian is to cure nature not to weaken it but if the body be distempered it must be weakened before it be strengthened to make that sound he must give them strong purgations that shall afflict them and affect them as much as the disease for a while but all is to make them strong afterwards So God afflicts us to drive us out of our selves that we may come at last to trust in him in whom is all our good and happinesse LXXXV Bees live like Souldiers in a Camp and therefore as besieged Cities or Armies that feare an approaching enemy never dare give themselves wholly over to securitie but alwayes night and day have their scouts centiness corp du guard to keepe watch and ward least some of their many enemies should by a sudden Camisado surprize or beate up their quarters We have a hellish enemy the Devill a roaring Lion who waiteth for a time of drowsie securitie wherein he may suddenly seize on us and teare us in peices Therefore when theâ—e seemes to be most securitie and cessation of spirituall armes let us conceive the most danger to be at hand and prepare and arme our selves against the day of battell For Hierom saith truly Tunâ— maxime expugnaris cum te expugnari nosâ—is thou brâ— most assaulted when thou feelâ—st no assault When our adversary seemes to sleepe he watcheth but an opportunitie to run upon us and destroy us If wee were assured that some fearefull enemy was upon his march and approaching towards us with fire and sword the trumpets sounding the drummes thundering the horses neighing and the Cannons roaring what watch and ward would we keepe how would every one bestirre him and who would not thrust himselfe into the danger and be ready to stand in the gap to save his Countrey his life his friends his libertie his goods But Satan our Arch-enemy who seeketh to destroy that which is farre more precious unto us then all these things yea then all the world For what shall it profit a man if he shall gaine the whole world and lose his owne soule is not only approaching but also encamped against us with all his forces and shall we now sleepe in sinne and be senselesse in grosse securitie LXXXVI Bee Masters tell us that they are the best hives which make the greatest noyse so that is the best conscience which makes the greatest noyse with daily reasonings before it's owne barre If we never goe to bed before we have parlied it out throughly with our hearts then we shall find of our selves as Alexander said of Antipater That he did weare white garments without and was purple within so we will give no rest till we find some comfortable testimony of our amendment LXXXVII It is observable that the creatures nearest the earth are most greedy to accumulate what creature stores up so much provision as the Bee But the birds of the ayre that flie next heaven neither sow nor reape nor carry into the barne saith our Saviour We are next to heaven in profession let us hate to be furthest off in conversation LXXXVIII Bees are small creatures but have great and dareing spirits and almost deadly poyson though industry and diligence can worke much to tame other creatures yet little on this by a continued converse and frequent presence their rage and fury may be palliated but once provoked neare the hive they acknowledge no respect to any For the most part those beasts have least immanitie that have most strength Oxen Horses and Elephants are tame and serviceable but Bees and Waspes have stings So wisely hath the Creator disposed that there might not be a conjunction et potentiae et malevolentiae that malice and might may not meete so they are suffered to have will to hurt and not power or power and not will LXXXIX Religion is the greatest enemy to religion the false to the true favos etiam vespae faciunt Waspes also make combes though instead of honey we find gun-powder XC The grub or worme in it's first state or life is a rude creature not much delighting in it selfe lesse delighting others but when it is shut up to be transmuted then it is for a time a formelesse lump without any beauty or comelinesse but waite a few dayes and the parts will appeare life will move in these yet imperfect members which are at length perfectly formed and then it comes forth an agill usefull creature And as God doth not make the whole fabrick of the world at once though it waâ— not impossible to him being a God almighty but in the space of six dayes so doth God deale with his children when God creates in his children a new heart he suffers first their hearts to be as a rude and massie lumpe full of darknesse and then sends his holy Spirit into their hearts which illuminates them and drives away those black clouds of darknesse and ignorance and then he breathes into them the sweete ayre of his Spirit And thus out of Tohu and Bâ—hu is the new creature formed XCI We should doe as the Bee when she hath sucked sweetnesse from the flower she better concocts and refires it in her owne bodie and so it becomes pure honey Thus when we have sucked any precious truth we should by holy meditation concoct it in our hearts and then it would become pure profitable honey XCII The young Bees as soone as they have past their second birth and transmuted their shape and qualities and are winged and strengthened to flie abroad presently fall to their worke and imitate the elder Bees And so doth the beleeving soule as soone as it is borne againe strengthened and winged with grace from God makes after him in workes of obedience holinesse and praises imitates the examples of the Prophets and Apostles as they have followed Christ. Let disadvantages be what will be you cannot keepe young Bees in the hive when once transmuted and winged no more can you keepe the regenerate soule from working the workes of God and with holy praises ascending to heaven when they are once under the line of Christs everlasting love and feele it shine mighty hot in them with full face with perpendicular rayes but with a present rapture make holinesse their worke and Hallelujahs all their language XCIII Honey is gathered with much art from great variety of trees and flowers and joy is a honey a fragrancy made from above with much picking choosing and composing XCIV Bees are neate sweete and cleanly creatures naturally abhorring stinking places and strong senting herbes It is true they gather of the flowers of some weeds which are bitter and offensive but yet the flowers are not as Broome Henbane Mayweed as your tast and smell may informe you But where the flowers participate of the ill sent of the herbes they meddle not at all as Gallopsia Cheesrunnet And Christ puts
descending gently one by one Like curled locks dishev'ld from the Sun This object pleas'd mee well but when I spy By wings of fancy poys'd with gravity Thy thoughts to soar a higher pitch why then My mind 's unpleas'd but better pleas'd again I've peep'd into thy Hive thy Book and I Finde Bees t' have less of art and industry And sweetness too and so must needs confess I long to taste thy hony from the press Each page a comb each word 's a bell from whence Mellifluous dew's distill in eloquence Were I to lead thy troops hither I 'de flye On every leaf to prove their Chymistry Here tyr'd and weary thoughts may sweetness scan And re-assume new life with Ionathan Thy observation 's quick what thou hast writ Speaks thee Dame Natures châ—efest favourite The thoughts of various Authors thou hast shewn And prov'd them flye-blown fancies of their own Thou knowest each Bee their flight and tracts their stage And so hast wrote a second Pilgrimage One hony'd 'ore a Tyrants eye to feast Did run the Gantlope through a Hornets neast Wasp-like who at thy Book exceptions take Makes thee a Martyr for thy sweetness sake Io. Angier Ad venerabilem Apiarium Authorem Mr. Sam. Purchas Ministrum de Poly-historico suo Mellificio nec non lectorem candidum carmen Anagrammaticum Samuel Percas Nomen Mel curas apes Anagram MEl curas apes magâ— oves has diligis illos Nee â—ugis aut ullo negligis ipso modo Sancta Theologiae pandit mysteria docte Sic tua conscribit suada Philo-loâ—ia Rhetorem historicum libro nunc asplee docto Ecce Minister ovum atque ecce Magister apum Ja. Norricius To the Reader upon the Philo-logical and Theo-sophical Treatise of BEES WHat Aristotle Pliny wrote before Virgil Aldrovana Scaliger Butler more In this one book see thou mayest more than any And marvell not if that I do say many All that have written of these Insects nature So much which very little are in stature I do not know whether for mine own part Bees nature most t' admire or Masters art Who centuries hath perus'd his eloquence Besides experience mark t'history Philosophy i th' Treatise Theol'gy You may call 't an Encuclopedy all For tongues arts matter pos'tive polem'cal A Bee-hive for thy life most full of hony Purchase then this Purcasan work thy mony 'T will far excell exceed to thee as gainfull As 't was though pleasant to the Writer painfull For a subject so good you cann't less give Give then good words and praise it while you live Or else amend choosing or to do better Or to desist from the censorious letter There 's hony in his name more in his book Which is mellifluous come caste as look Make this Anthology Pantol'gy thine Ambrosian Purchas Nectar Divine I wonder not it is so natural For thee to be 'bout Bees historical This Treatise framed with such artifice Shews some paternal metemsychosis Though some Antilogists shall vilifie The Work Work-man both have my Eulogy To Zoilus Can Mimâ—s do the like will Momus like This Polanthean Pantologick book With tongue or pen do not perstringe or strike Pie not be Mome nor Mime to be I look While Bees shall be and shall their Hony give This Bee-masters name fame when dead shall live Ia. Norrice Pastor of Caâ—ondun Upon the Authors Learned and Elaborate Treatise of BEES in both parts of it an Encomiastick REader read here a book of BEES dissected Their nature stature feature parts detected Their feeding breeding building industry Their prudence providence sagacity Their peace their war their love their mortal hate Their Prince their Leaders order in their state All these and more unfolded in such wise That it a Hive of glass thou mayest surmise Then magnifie this little Creatures Maker That it of such endowments made partaker Wherein his Wisdome and his power Divine As in the heavens above do clearly shine In text hand-writing what-thou there dost see In smaller letters here imprinted Bee Next praise the Authors Bee-like diligence His reading learning long experience And then read on to that which follows next The Preachers Sermon on this pretty Text Doctrine distilling like the Hony-dew Mellifluous most pleasant upright true O gather then the Hony from these leaves Those vices flye to which thy nature cleaves And learn those vertues which the Bees do teach Thine understanding else this book don't reach By his loving Friend and Neighbour T. P. Master of Arts P. P. Ad doctum Authorem in Mellifluam ipsius de Apibus historiam carmen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 FLoribus eximiis mel Apes producere lustrant Sic Purchas libris roseida mella legis Quae veteres scripsere diu tutestibus aequis Arte probas Laudem dulce loquatar opus Tractatus doctus permisceâ—s utile dulci Sâ—illans delicias Religione liber Hic labor hoc opus est Apibus medicina salubris Conditur ac medicam porrigis arte manum Mystica naturae narras amor urgeâ— habendi Nectar Apis placida discutis historia Gratulor ingenium librum dum menâ—e revolvo Mel sapiâ— scriptis cum pietate â—ovum Guil. Rogers A. M. Upon the Authors Treatise of BEES WHat Creature i st ' that God hath made But emblems forth some signal shade Of that divine and highest power Who makes unmakes all in an hour The sea is fill'd with small and great The earth as full and most compleat The glorious heaven beyond compare That place where Saints and Angels are The basest worm who eats but dust Speaks glorious praise and that most just Unto that God who made us all In his own way mysterial The eye of man is over dim To see the glory that 's in him His hinder parts wee may behold Which hee in Nature doth unfold Here is the Bee a creature small Which Sans the rest may teach us all His pains who hath this Bee exprest Shews whether Bee or Drone be best Who reads this work shall therein finde A skilful pen an honest minde Peruse it well and thou shalt see More Hony here than in the Bee Io. Loane Minister of Little Stambridge In Melissologiam a viro omnifariam docto Domino Purchaso Elogium PLurima mandantur chartis de Apibus Mâ—nimenta Parvi aâ— moments plaeraque fictiâ—iis Atque putatitiis vâ—nis sunt scriptarâ— ferta Munous vult falli credulus faâ—uus Falsum pro verâ— torpenti Com te pressus Devâ—rat bine sophia maximus illâ— labor Negligitur satis esse putans in verba Magistri Iurare indubium quicquid id ipsus aiâ— Amplectens Genio arridet fallacia dulcis Quodque â—oveâ— pigrum semper erit placidum Sedlater in puâ—ei veneranda scienâ—ia fundâ— Anâ—lare ac debet continuo rigidus Qui studet optalum tandem comprendere Adeptum Ille nucem frangat qui volet nucleum Hoc iter adverum quo tu mi Purchase docte Tendebas credent nobilius sapere Ex
Of Hony p 135 Chap. 23. Of Tree-hony p. 147 Chap. 24. Of Waâ—e p. 157 Chap. 25. Observations and discourses Historical and Fabulous p. 161 Chap. 26. Observations Physical c. p. 169 Chap. 27. Of divers kindes of Wild-Bees p. 179 Chap. 28. Of the Wasp p. 181 Chap. 29. Of the Hornet p. 186 Chap. 30. Of Humble-Bees p. 188 Chap. 31. Of Grashoppers p. 193 Chap. 32. Of American Bees p. 202 A Catalogue of such Authors as are cited and made use of in this Tractate A MR. R. Abbot Abynzoar J. Acosta Actuarius Aelian Aesope Mr. Adams Agatharsis Raimund de Agiles Cor. Agrippa Albertus A. Alcynt Uâ—isses Aldrovan dus F. Alvarez Alex. ab Alexand. Ambrose Andernacus Amyretus Jo. Anglicus Appian Alex. Aphrodiss Hier. Fab. ab Aquapendente Aquinas Aristophanes Aristoteles Athanasius Atheneus Augustinus Avicenna Ausonius B Dr. Balcanqual Hermolaus Barbarus Baronius Bartudas Broughton Basil A. Battle Bauhinus Gorop Becanus Beda A. Bellunensis Pet. Bellonius Bernardus Pseudo-Berosus Bodinus Bonfinius Mr. Bolton Gio. Botero Mr. Brathwayt Geor. Brawn Mr. Butler Buxtorâ—ius C Cajus Aâ—oys Cadomustus Caeâ— Calcagâ—â—nus Calepine Calvinus Camden Camerarius Al. Campense T. Cantipratanus Julius Capitolinus Cardanus Georg. Cedrenus Cor. Celsus Ranulph Cestrensis Chaucer Chrisostomus Chytâ—aeus Cicero Ped. de Cieca Claudian Dr. Cleland Mr. Cobbs Columella Natal Comes Val. Cordus Fernand. Cortese Mr. J. Bottoâ— P Bottoâ— Mr. Cowper Bishop Elias Cretensis Pet. Crescentiensis Pet. Criniâ—us Crollius Aelius Jul. Crotta Cael. August Curio Q Curtius Cuspinianus Cyprian D Dalechampius Dr. Day Diodorus D. Dike Dion Dioscordes Mr. Down E Jacob Ekcelius Mr. Elton Marcel Empyricus Epiphanius Erotis Estates of the world Euripides Eustatâ—ius Eutropius F Fazelius Dr. Featly Fernelius Fran. Fernandus Marsil Fiâ—inus G. Fletcher Florentinus Mr. Fosbroke Franzius Otho Frisingensis Fuchsius Mr. Fuller J. Fungerus G Galenus Mr. Garey Mr. Gataker Theod. Gaza Cor. Gemma Geminianus Gilpine Hier. Girova Rob. Gloceâ—â—rensis Godignus Godwin Mr. T. Goodwin Ber. Gomesius Miâ—dis Mr. Googe Gregorius magn Gregorius Nazian Mr. R. Greenham Hil. Greg. Gyrald J. Ja. Gryneus Gualther Anâ— Guevara Guild H Hackâ—nit Dr. Hakewill Dr. Hall Mr. Harris Mr. Hartlib Dr. Harvey H. Hawkes J de la Haye Sir Jo. Hayward Helmont Mr. Herbert Herodian Herodotus Ant. le Herrera Hesychius Hesiod Hieronimus Higinius Hilarius Mr. Hill Pet. Hispanus Hippocrates Mr. Hoard Mr. Holbroke Hollerius Dr. Holland Homer Horatius Job Hoâ—â—op Hugo Cardinal I Mr. â— Jacombe Dr. James Jarricius Dr. Jenisoâ— Josephus Indicus C. Jobson Dr. Jones Mr. Johnstone Josephus Jovius Isocraâ—es Isidorus Hispalen Pelusiot Silius Italicus Justine Juvenal K Dr. Kilbie Kimchie Dr. H. King Dr. J. King Kranâ—zius L Lactantius Dr. Lake Jo. Langius Mr. Lawson Levin Lemnius Ambr Leo Jo. Leo Nicol. Leonicus Lerius Mr. Levit And. Libanius Linschoten Lipsius T. Livie Matth. de Lobel Mr. Lockyer Lucian Lucretius M Mocrobius Magirus J. Magnus Olaus Magnus Majolus Bapt. Mantuan Martial Episcop Poeta Matth. Martinius Marullus Matthiolus Pet. Matthew Mr. May Menosa Hier. Mercuriâ—lis Mr. Merideth Mesue Ped. de Mexia Mr. Milles Jo. Miletius Mizaldus Rhodol Modius Moryson Mouffetus N Nicander Nicephorus Nicetas Nigidius Niphus Joach Nizaeus O Julius Obsequens Onesicritus Paulus Orosius Adamant Origines Ortelius Osorius Ovidius Oviedo P Dr. Page Sanct. Pagninus Palladius Guid. Pannyrollus Paracelsus Pausanias Pennius Perottus F. Picolomineus Phavorinus Philo J. Picus E. of Miran Pigafetta Pineda Geor. Piscatorius Guil. Plantius Dr. Playfere Plautus Pliny Plutarch Polanus Polybius Porcaccâ—i Dr. Preston Dr. Prideaux Dr. Primrose Mr. Purchas R Mr. Randal Raymundus Mr. Remnant Mr. Reyner Mr. Reynolds Ramusio Beat. Rhenanus Râ—bera Matth. Ricius Rivetus Cael. Rhodiginus Mr. Roberts Mr. Rollenson Hier. Romano Rosinus Mr. Rowlandson Hieron Rubeus S M. A. Coc. Sabellicus Salmeron Hen. Salmouth Salvian Sands Mr. Sanderson P. Sanâ—lorus Joaon dos Santos Jo. Saâ—isberiensis J. Caes. Scaliger Dr. Sclater T. Scot Scrâ—bonius Largus Selden Seneca Servius Dr. Sibs J. Silvester Huldâ—ichus Smidel Socrates Solinus Sophocles Mr. Southern Spanhemus Spencer J. Stobaeus Mr. Stock Dr. Stoughton Strabo Valfridus Strabus Mr. Sâ—â—uther Stuckius Mr. J. Stanes F. Stancarus Sylvaâ—icus F. Suarez Suidas Mr. Swift Mr. Sym T C. Tacitus Tarnovius Dr. Jer. T. Taylor Tertullian J. Ra. Textor Theocriâ—us Theodoret Theophilact Theophrastus Ped. Teixeira A. Thevet Mich. Toxites Maxâ—mil Transilvanus A. Turnebus Geor. Turonensis Willer Tyrensis Arch. Tzeâ—zes V Valerius Maximus F. Valesius Valleriola Varro Garrillasso de la Vega L. Verulam Vigetius Vincentius Virgil Polyd. Virgll Viâ—â—chindus Fulvius Uâ—sinus Dr. Usher W Dr. Wall Dr. S. Ward Mr. Watson Weckerus Dr. Williams Jod Willichius X Xenophon Z Zanchy TO THE Author upon his Physio-theological History of BEES WHence this brave slame and to what sacred fire Divine Prometheusâ— do thy thoughts aspired Mysterious Nature takes it ill to be Dethron'd from her retired Majesty Thy daring hand hath taken off her dress And shew'd her naked mid'st her hid recess Thou hast broke up her Archives and hast set To sale her Jewel and her Cabinet Her Iliad in her Nut and now thy Bee Is not her work but her Anatomy Which thou hast handled too at such a rate That ' â—were but one step higher to create Thou hast her Miracle so here made known 'T was ner'e hers once more then 't is now thine own Hers at the best was natural but thine Is through thy learned labour made divine Paradise is her flowry Garden whence Shee suckâ— Elixir all and Quintessence This sacred sympathy wee ner'e did know Till thy high soaâ—ing search had found it so That which wee all have yet admin'd was but The shell thou only feastedst on the Nut Whilst towring far above our common sense Thou takest heaven by thy violence And with thy soul on wing invad'st the sky Bringing us Angels Manna from on high In pious raptures thus this work of thine Gives us another table Smaragdine Above and Here are like the Gordian Twist Is thus unravel'd by our Trismegist Now Heaven and Earth in one combin'd we see And God and Nature center'd in a BEE This wee must owe to thâ—e thy learned sweat Bankrupts and leaves us dying in thy debt Pardon mee then if unto thee I do Assert the keyes of Earth and Heaven too Gather our Bees and hiv'd from Envies harm Thrive may those stocks from whence these Graces swarm N. T. Upon the Authors Elaborate Treatise of BEES BRokers in verse condemn it as a crime To preface Tissue with a ragged rime Oh this doth strike mee dumb and bids mee look I draw no Curtain to eclipse thy Book No if my Lackey-muse sets out poor shee Runs but to take up eyes to gaze on thee Let others soundthy worth in silver mettle Whilst to thy Bees I â—ang a jarring Kettle My Muse had kept at home but that she sees Even Drones themselves indulg'd amongst thy Bees I 've sometimes view'd thy small Volaticks flye Like golden atom's hov'â—ing in the sky And then
â—io toades in his bosome saith one nor beleevers wicked men into the intimacy of their affections puritie will bosome puritie corruption cannot delight in uncorruption Heterogeneals will not incorporate light and darknesse are inconsistent gracious and ungodly men cannot live and linke together A good heart cannot with more pleasure rest it selfe then in Gods resting place in Christs societie in the way of the Spirit in the Ministery of Angels and fellowship of the Saints XCV In the Common wealth of Bees all are employed none are idle The Commander directs and orders the Drones are usefull for procreation and by their heate very instrumentall for the hatching of the young Cure every one contributes somewhat to the publique good And in the Bee-hive of the Church there is no pretence for any man to be idle in the profession of religion Thou hast not riches thou canst not give thou hast not place thou canst not shew countenance to others but if thou beest a child of God thou hast the Spirit of prayer the Spirit of adoption the Spirit of a sonne in thee which enables thee to pray for thy selfe and others there is no Christian but he may doe this XCVI Bees though they freely act in all their undertakings yet doe they all with reference to the publique and in subordination to the Queene whom they not only love but after a sort live in for without her they will live no longer in their old habitation not at all except they get under the regiment of another And this their Queene they delightfully serve and observe her silent directions doe they readily comply withall once their carriage in and out of the hive is regulated and squared by a love of and awe unto this their Commandresse And it should be with beleevers after this manner wheresoever we are or whatsoever we doe in the world our conversation here must be directed by a higher aspect The ship while it is tossed in the Sea iâ— ruled by the Pole starre that must guide it So in our conversation in the world the staffe of our conversation may be the businesse we have in the world but the rule the regiment of all must be from heaven with an eye to God XCVII A little honey is sweet much â—ulsome such is pleasure whose insinuations are so cunning that you shall not perceive your excesse till you be sick of a surfet XCVIII Revenge commonly hurts both the offerer and sufferer as we see in the foolish Bee though in all other things commendable yet herein the patterâ—e of fond spightfulnesse which in her anger invenometh the flesh and loseth her sting and so lives a Drone ever after indeed lives not long after I account it the only valour to remit a wrong and will applaud it to my selfe as right noble and Christian that I might hurt and will not XCIX Hast thou found honey that is hast thou found the sweetnesse of a mans familiarity or conversation eate that which is sufficient for thee that is use his friendship or familiaritie to sobrietie not altogether withdrawing thy selfe least he forget thee not yet too frequently visiting least he loath thee for it is better by seldome comming to make thy presence desireable then by frequent visits to make him weary of thee Whereupon the son of Sirach saith Be not unsatiable in any daintie thing nor too greedie upon meates but the words which follow make it cleare Withdraw thy foote from thy neighbours house least he be weary of thee and so hate thee C. Although Bees have small strength yet have they great anger and insatiable wrath and when they violently pursue any doe not a little terrifie and affright them Such is the pertinacious and implacable rage of the enemies of Gods people that if God did not wonderfully stand by interpose and support them they would unavoydably perish but they are quenched as the fire of thornes which although it makes a great crackling noise in the beginning and a greater flame then solid wood yet is suddenly extinct and consumed so that in a word though wicked men tumultuously set upon Gods people their violence in a moment shall come to nothing THE SECOND CENTURIE I. TEmporall occasions open the mines to digge out spirituall instruction For Christians may clime by the staires of these inferiour creatures to contemplate the glorious power of the Creator A good Christian like the Bee works honey from every flower suffers no action demonstration event to step by him without a question All objects to a meditating Solomon are like wings to reare and mount up his thoughts to heaven As the old Romans when they saw the blew stones thought of Olympus so let every object though low in it selfe elevate our mindes to mount Sion A meane scaffold may serve to raise up a goodly building it was once said Faelix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas now better Faelix qui potuit rerum cognoscere casus It is good to know the casuall beginnings of things it is better to know their casuall ends It is good to be a naturall Philosopher but better to be a supernaturall a Christian Philosopher that whiles we intentively observe the creature we may attentively serve the Creator II. Some use flowers only for the beauty or the smell the Physitians for health but the Bees for honey So doe wise and pâ—udent persons apply their studies for the enriching and feeding of their mindes III. As a Spiders web is not therefore better because it is woven out of her bowels so neither is the labour of the learned more contemptible because as Bees they gather much from others IV. Consider a Bee out of a hive as a solitary Insect and it is the most helplesse and shiftlesse creature that is If she workes alone she cannot frame repositaries to lay up food would she breed she cannot both hatch the young and gather meate Is she assaulted with enemies alone she hath no defence nor power Finally she cannot secure her selfe from any much lesse from the many evills and enemies whereto she is obnoxious And what is a man out of Christ as a man in a storme that hath no cloathes to hide his nakednesse to cover him from the violence of the tempest As a man in a Huricane that is out of a house to shelter him as a stone out of the foundation that is scattered here and there as neglected as a branch out of the vine without sap and influence ready to be cast into the fire A man out of Christ that is not cloathed with him that is not built on him that is not grafted into him is a destitute forelorne and neglected wretch V. The weakest creatures have the strongest shelters Bees have hives and hollow trees to secure them thus weaknesse occasionally is a helpe for conscience of weaknesse makes all creatures seeke for supply out of themselves So the Conies as Agur saith hide themselves
in the rock they flie to their burroughs and the Bees to their hives Man is a weake creature in himselfe weake in judgement weake in affection but the consciousnesse of our weaknesse should make us seeke for strength out of our selves goe to God in Christ and then he is a kinde of almightie man I can doe all things saith the Apostle in Christ that strengthens me A Christian is omnipotent if he depend upon the promise and commit his wayes to God but he is impotent and weake in himselfe it is God therefore that must establish us VI. Gnats in numerous multitudes like clouds doe nothing but play up and downe in the warme Sunne and sing and when they have done sit downe and sting the next hand or face they can seize upon see here a perfect Embleme of idlenesse and detraction how many doe thus miserably spend their good houres who after they have wasted the succeeding dayes in vaine and meerely unprofitable passe time sit downe and backbite their neighbours The Bee sings too sometimes but she workes also and her worke is not more admirable then usefull but those foolish flies doe nothing but play and sing to no purpose Even the busiest and most active spirits must recreate but to make a trade of sport is for none but lasie wantons The Bee stings too but when she is provoked these draw blood unoffended and sting for their owne pleasure I would be glad of some recreation but to enable and sweeten my work I would not but sting sometimes where is just cause of offence but God blesse me from those men which will ever be doing nothing or ill VII The Commandresse of the Bees is a Queene a royall creature and therefore she workes not it is beneath her dignitie to drudge and toile as the meaner subject she flies seldome abroad communicates little with the world state procures respect and honour to eminent persons Though she hath a sting yet rather as an Ensigne of power then an instrument of revenge for she never useth it It is the property of a base and dunghilly spirit to be vindicative If I be a Christian I am a King shall I debase my selfe in sinfull practiles shall I cast my crowne in the diâ—t God hath raised me and made me an heire of heaven shall I abase my selfe to sin and to base lusts the Devills drudgery so that I cannot role my owne members and yet professe my selfe to be a King When we are tempted to sinne and to base courses let us say as good Nehemiah when he was moved to flie What shall such a man as I flie so should we say to any temptation to base courses of life what shall such a man as I doe this For a Christian that is a King that hath a guard of Angells about him that is the most excellent creature in the world for him to abase himselfe to the world He that is bred from heaven for him to have no higher thoughts then the things below to have an earthly minde or revengefull thoughts is a shrewd presumption that he is only a titular Christian and hath not received the inward and spirituall anoynting VIII All is one to God to make an Angel or a Bee to create the brightest Cherub or tâ—â—â— most contemptible flie for in every creation no lesse then an omnipotency must be the efficient and no more then nothing is ever the object IX If the Queene Bee be slaine or any wayes miscarry the whole hive is overthrowne but if she safe though they have weaknings meete with injuries suffer from enemies yet they will recover themselves and out grow other dangers A mans darling sin is Satans strongest hold whither when by the power of the word he is dislodged out of other parts of the soule he retires as to his most impregnable Castle but if in this he be over powred by the blessing of God on the word of his Gospell then is his dominion shaken and the man driven to a deepe detestation of himselfe throwne downe to the lowest step of a penitent dejection he is inegered with thirsty greedinesse for pardon and grace and at length forced out of his naturall estate X. Bees in their private quarrells are patient and regardlesse they neglect anâ— slight personall injuries but if their hives be assaulted their Common wealth beleagered or endangered with Waspes robbing Bees or other enemies they lustily bestirre themselves fight it out to the death whereas the Drones as they watch against no danger so they resist none but love to sleepe in a whole skinne letting all goe at six and seven as they say like lazie passengers in a dangerous leake will not lay hands to the Pumpe and yet must miscarry with the ships destruction And are not most men in the world Drones not Bees affected perhaps with their owne troubles or reproaches but silent and sloathfull in Gods cause and truth then they are loath to stirre fearing hatred trouble obloquie among men If their owne reputation be called in question it will not a little startle them but if Gods name be blasphemed his word traduced his ordinances violated the course of the Gospell be stopped in the freedome and libertie whereof is the Churches happinesse and glory and the sailing of it the destruction of a people Yet they are little affected it goeth not to their hearts they keepe silence as if this of all other things did least concerne them When Iehu approached neare unto Iezabel and espied her in her window after the fashion of harlots he cryes out to them with her Who is on my side who and the Eunuches threw her downe The Lord seemes sometimes thus to say to us in the extremities of the Churches affliction and he seemes to cry to us who is on my side If then thou be silent that which our Saviour hath will be here applied who is not for him is sure against him and so shall be accepted in the day of accounts XI Waspes and Hornets are very noysome creatures and therefore we seek their destruction Nay burne up nests and young and that before they have injuried us or ours only because we know what they would doe if they be suffered to live and flie abroad And shall poore Mortals thinke it much if God who knowes our thoughts a farre off and the principle within us and what men would doe if occasion be offered which for the present they know not of themselves as Hazaels answer to Elisha imports Thinkest thou c. No wonder if the Lord â—ut off many in their youth and infancy because he knowes their nature that they would doe this and this Such passages of his providence there may be as to cut off children and young men out of the foresight of the evill that they would doe to his Church because he knowes their thought a farre off XII The Drones are alwayes idle observe them as often as you will and you shall
satiate the endlesse intemperancy of unnaturall desires only the Gospel being spiritualâ—y apprehended hath treasures enough for the soule to rest on and to seeke no further XI A Bee when she hath once stung can sting no more yet will testifie an angry disposition by loude buzzings and frequent strikings at the face of the partie stung before sometimes to his trouble and perhaps to his feare also being already sensible of his present smart and suspecting further danger So many froward men when they have to their utmost injuried others and intended more but when their causes are tryed and prove desperâ—te in right they will yet still create perverse matters to molest their neighbours and the more they sinke in the maine of their intendment the more impetuously will they seeke to perplex and trouble them XII All relations and conditions have a mixture of some Wormwood wood or Gall with them they are not all honey but like Bees they have a sting of griefe and trouble A man may have bitternesse with his sweetest comforts so had Abraham with his good wife Sarah she was twice taken from him XIII There is a magneticall attractive force in the Queen Bee so that what the Loadstone is to the iron is she to the rest of the Bees and therefore wheresoever she is will they be also And no lesse attractive and powerfull is Christs love in us our hearts are heavy and downwards of themselves but his love drawes us upwards and makes us heavenly minded it makes us desire further and further communion with him still there is a magâ—eticall attractive force in Christs love wheresoever it is it drawes the heart and affections after it XIV Waspes and Hornets feed on flesh carâ—ion dead Bees flies almost any thing but the Bee is a neate aâ—d curious feeder she sucks and extracts the quintessence of flowers which she chimically distills in the Limbeck of her belly and thus prepared layes it up for future food So the Christian soule in this respect is a Bee that will not feede on worldly carrion or sinfull pleasure but on Christ and spirituall things The soule of a carnall and naturall man useth to feede upon dust carrion earth and earthly things when the soule of a true Christian that hath the tast of grace feedes neatly it will not feede on that which is base and earthy but upon heaven and spirituall things The perpetuall everlasting intercourse between Christ and a Christian is his maine happinesse here and his eternall happinesse in heaven XV. Temptations to sinne come about us like Bees buzzing into our mindes evill thoughts and preparing to sting by drawing us into consent but it is in the name and by the power of the Lord that we doe destroy them and therefore the Apostle saith expressely The God of peace shall tread downe Satan under your feete If he be trodden downe it is God that doth it for us XVI Whosoever dallies or playes with the Bees at the hives mouth doth it with his owne perill for although at first he be perhaps neglected or assaulted but with one or two yet if he persists in his folly or fool-hardinesse he shall quickly find more fists about his eares then his owne and not escape scot-free Would we not be overcome and foyled by temptations conjure them not up daily not with them but if they be risen quickly lay them stifle them in their birth and they will expose us to no further trouble or danger Though flax saith one be never so catching a sparke of fire may fall in and yet not enflame if it be espied and taken out suddenly ere it have time to insâ—â—uate its force into the combustible matter and so evil motions if quenched at the first kinding seldome breake out into a flame of rebellion But if we neglect them bid them welcome or parlie with them or please our selves in them though with no intent to commit sinne lust will incalâ—scere wax hot and conceive and then the next thing we are like to heare of will be the birth of some soule sinne or other XVII There is a kinde of life in the Worme the first but imperfect birth of a Bee but yet neither seeing nor heareing nor locomotive faculty though it stirres in it's cell and receives the food that is brought to it yet can it doe nothing for it's benefit or defence or others pleasure or profit And as life is thus shut up in this imperfect creature till by a further birth and transmutation it receives a new and better life so is the light in a naturall man shut up before regeneration all the light they have doth but glowe in their breast shewing it selfe there as a late reverend Divine and making it evident that they have such knowledge but it is not a candle that enlightens all the roome that enlightens all the corners of the soule Take the light of a Starre in a darke night and compare it with the light of the Sunne though never so little Looke in what measure it appeares it scatters the darknesse from East to West So there is a light in the mindes of earnall men which is but as a Starre in a darke night which doth not take away the darknesse but in the regenerate it is a sanctified light like the light of the Sun not shut within a narrow compasse but spreading it selfe unto all the parts of the soule Or as if a Candle be brought into a darke roome it lightens all the house but if it be a sparke of fire it showes it selfe and glowes and does no more it doth not enlighten the house XVIII Many things in the nature of Bees when we have most studiously enquired after them can we not find out and certainly resolve and determine of as concerning their manner of generation the duration and continuance of the Queene-Bee with their methods and orders in sending forth their first swarme yet doe we where we are unable to find out certaine grounds conclude all to be done discreetly and orderly wisely and wonderfully And shall we not suspect and check our shallow conceite and judgement when it carries us to question and reason about Gods providence about diverse things below and not scruple our wisdome when we cannot see the causes of things and Gods course in disposing of them when he deales diversly and not as we would thinke in our reason yea and ceasing from our wisdome to search into thing more then we can comprehend If in finite and small creatures we poore mortalls are often nonplust and at a stand let us not be too busie to know the reason of his counsells and doings but ascribe all to his infinite wisdome XIX God exhibits evident tokens of his goodnesse to all men even then when they are afflicted with diverse and sundry calamities that when others like Drones doe gather honey but from the hive a true beleever should gather it even from thistles and
any ability or opportunitie in any kind to glorifie God let us not be negligent but say with the Psalmist As long as I have any breath I will praise the Lord. And with that Valiant Captaine that defended his Ship with his left hand when his right hand was cut off and with his teeth when his left hand was gone If we are disabled one way for doing good let us try what we can doe another if by our tongues our pennes our hands our gestures XXXI Some young Queene-Bee in the departure of the last Colonie will steale forth with her that is designed Leader because in her present state by staying behind she is sure to perish In her going forth there is roome for hope and possibilitie of life if she can attaine the throne Beleevers that have been formerly reduced unto extremities and impossibilities within themselves looking upon God as omnipotent and so able to save as mercifull and in Christ reconcileable and so likely to save if he be sought unto resolve as the Lepers in the famine of Samaria not to continue in the state they are in nor yet to returne to the Citie to his wonted hants and waye where they shall be sure to perish and in the latter is a possibilitie not to perish Therefore take up a conclusive purpose to trust Christ and if I must perish yet he shall reject me I will not reject my selfe I will goe unto him XXXII When Bees rob other hives a speciall way to divert them and cause them to desist and give over is by making them worke at home by running a pen knife through the hive and so opening their combes let out their honey which they will seeke presently to stop up againe and let their neighbours alone Thus Hambal was wont to say that the only way to fight against Rome was in Itake and this Scipio happily experimented upon the Carthaginianâ— XXXIII If our lippes drop honey by the preaching of Gods Word and the sweetnesse of his Doctrine it is good and commendable but if our hands drop Myrrhe by the crucifying of sinne and the mortification of our earthly members to the obedience of Christ and the perfect imitation of Christian holinesse it is most comfortable and heavenly XXXIV As the wittie Bees when they goe about to fill their combes with sweet honey suck first upon the sweetest flowers of the fields and gardens and then carrie the sweete juice into their hives so ought beleevers before they enter on their prayers to fixe their cogitations upon the two sweet flowers of power and love which they find in the name of the Father and then carry the pure juice of them into the inward hives of their soules and consciences and so shall they make a most precious honey combe of all spirituall devotion XXXV Honey and oyle are used by the Spirit of God for the two Emblemes of pâ—â—ce and plenty as we may read in the song of Moses saying He made him râ—aâ—â—n the high places of the earth that he might eate the increase of the field and he made him to suck honey out of the Rock and oyle out of the stâ—nty Rock XXXVI I eate my honey-combe with my honey hereby is understood that peace which ouâ— Saviour hath made betwixt our Saviour and us The sinne of Adam and Iâ—ve in Paradise made the breach between God and mankind the death of Christ made the atonement and reconciliation When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne As then Sampson in his Riddle said unto his companions Out of the eater came meate and out of the strong one came sweetnesse which was meant of a dead Lion in whose belly Bees had hived and made honey so I may say of Christ for he was the Lion of the tribe of Iudah and from him being crucified for our sinnes and slaine for our redemption we receive our honey and our honey-combe that is to say peace with God the Father But for the honey-combe why should Christ eate it Wolves are very hungry that will not leave the bones till the morrow and so is Christ though he be not a Wolfe yet he is a Lambe that is both hungry and thirsty till he have taken away the sinnes of the world and therefore he eates his honey-combe with his honey so greedy is he to cancell the hand-writing which was against us so desirous of our peace and reconciliation XXXVII Beleevers must not flie low and close to the ground like Bees against a storme but raise their flight to a high pitch even as high as the most high as did Moses when he saw him who is invisible for mens quavis ave levior cum deus pennas aptarit praetervolat montes saith Chrysostome The soule when God hath once furnished her with wings flies higher then any bird over the highest mountaines and so as the same father saith else-where as God is said to be in heaven and yet is also bere on earth so we that are here on earth are yet also in heaven XXXVIII As honey is not truly honey when it hath lost its sweetnesse no more is the death of the righteous truly death having lost it's bitternesse and fearfullnesse and terrors in the godly XXXIX The Spider is never the more commendable because he weaves his web out of his owne bowells neither the Bee despised because she gathereth her honey out of diverse flowers The citing of humane Writs for illustrating points of Divinitie is not so common as commendable if it be done without vanitie and ostentation making choice of the best Authors for better understanding of the Text and more cleare declaration of the truth XL The Bee for her honey pleaseth many but for the sting displeaseth not a few so mildnesse hath bent where severitie could not breake XLI As one will know more of the sweetnesse of honey by one tast of it then by a hundred disputations and discourses of it so to speake of spirituall joyes to such as have not felt them is ridiculous because they are knowne by apprehension not by discourse and to them who have felt them it is needlesse to discourse of them for this doctrine is better knowne by one experience then by a hundred rules XLII Mors is Morsus death is but a biting not a consuming and utter devouring as he that biteth taketh some and leaveth some so death getteth a morsell of flesh as the Kite taketh garbadge from the dunghill and the Dogs offall from the shambles but the soule it meddleth not with I cannot therefore better compare the grave then to the honey-combe where is both honey and waxe The honey of the soule is taken out the wax of the flesh remaineth behind till the resurrection of just men XLIII The waxe that is affixed to Letters patents howsoever for substance it be the very same that which is to be found every where yet
be defaced before the image of Christ can be formed in us we must dye before we can live LIII The Bee being to flie home to her hive and fearing least if she should be taken by the way with a rough winde she might perhaps be blowne about in the ayre counterpoiseth her selfe with a little stone and so flies straite home This teacheth us what we ought to doe we must not be wavering and carried about with every blast of doctrine like a reed shaden in the wind but as the Bee is ballanced with a little stone so we must be built on the chiefe corner stone and grounded upon a rock and established with grace that howsoever the raine fall or the floods arise or the winds blow or what times soever come yet we may stand fast in the street which is called straight alwayes following Christ directly towards the marke LIV. Honey is very sweet and pleasant to the â—ast but eaten overmuch is bitter in the stomack and the maker of it the Bee hath a sting in her taile Such are the delights and pleasures of the world therefore saith Martiall an ancient Bishop Quid ad nos delectatio mundi what have we to doe with the delights of the world you may call it as you will pleasure passe-time mirth joy but in Gods Dictionary it hath no such name but is there called Adams goodly Apple which beâ—â—g eaten deprived them of Paradise Esaus red pottage which being supt up bereaved him of his birth-right Ionathans sweet honey which being but tasted was like to cost him his life It may delight thee for a while but it shall torment thee for ever As any solid body though it have never so faire a colour as crimson purple azure yet alwayes the shadow is black so any earthly thing though it have never so faire a shew yet alwayes the shadow of it is black and the delight thou takest in it shall prove to be grievous in the end there is bitternesse in this sweetnesse a sting in this Bee And therefore Philo calls the world A sweet bitter thing let us then account worldly delights not Naomie but Mara because it is nothing so much Naomie sweet and pleasant at the first as it is Mara and Amara bitter and loathsome at the last LV. An heavenly mind turnes earth into heaven like a Bee that sucks honey out of supposed bitter herbes and like unto fire that turnes into fire that which is cast into it As the good stomack doth turne even grosser meats into good nourishment whereas an ill stomack would turne the finest meates into bad juice LVI Let a swarme remaine at the place where it was hived a day or two and then be removed to another standing yet for two or three dayes after will they either sullenly keepe in except the weather be very faire or if they flie abroad and gather repaire with their labours to the first place hankering and flying about it most part of the day some not at all returning back to the hive but desperately dying there and the rest for many dayes lingring about their first mansion And are there not many in the world who having stood in the way of sinners and sat in the chaire of the scornfull cannot be moved or perswaded to alter their choice but will doe well to be angry to be evill And if feare of hazzard or hell or love of benefit aâ—â—ures and with-drawes them from the publique practise yet shall they not from the inward liking and approbation so that when he alters his standing gives over the practise of his sinnes seemes to be divorced from them because he hath a station an abiding else-where in his open carriage somewhat altered yet he flies about his former standing his thoughts and imaginations feed all day long upon his lusts he relisheth speculative wickednesses so that when he hath withdrawne himselfe from his sinne and given it over he may have a months mind after it he may doe with it still as the husband of Michâ—l did when by a strong power she was taken from him it would have hazza ded his life to have refused yet saith the Text he came weeping after her a farre off he longed after her still and loved her still So a man may part with his sinne after such a manner that still he goes weeping after it he would have it againe he would faire enjoy it if it were not for some greater danger or some greater trouble that he exposeth himselfe unto as you see in Phalâ—iel it was not for want of love to his wife that he parted with her but it was out of a desire he had to save himselfe to escape the danger of the Kings wrath imprisonment and death that would have followed upon it LVII Bees are creatures fitted with naturall instruments for the getting of honey they have long tongues to draw it out of the sockets of the flowers and they have nimble wings to carrie them from place to place that so what is not in one field may be found in another and they have quick sights to discerne but most active is their smell And they have a little bottle within them to containe the honey when they have extracted it and which is more then all delightfull willingnesse to employ all these abilities for the compassing of this end and the thriveing in their labours by all the meanes and opportunities they have But the foole hath a precious price in his hand but knowes not how to use it he lets slip many golden opportunities letting them runne like water besides the Mill driveing no trade of knowledge with them making no use of them for that purpose and so soone loseth all the benefit of these meanes he hath it is admirable to thinke how under the droppings of the Pipe a man should be drie how that under the continued meanes of grace a man may continue in deepe ignorance it is terrible I say to thinke that whereas delicious Manna heavenly Nectar falls dayly about our tents as it were that if a man would vouchsafe to step out of his doore and carry his Omer in his hand he might fill it every day But if men will not vouchsafe the gathering of it never make use of the meanes of grace that God offereth but will be as childish and as foolish as those that goe to the Market they goe there for some businesse but when they come there like fooles they goe see this gay thing and the other gaudy thing and so forget utterly their errand and goe home againe without it they come to Gods house to see and to be seene to prate with this partie and gape on another and so let all fall besides them without minding what they heare or to know and remember it they may have excellent meanes and yet thrive not make no advantage of them but he that will thrive and increase in knowledge must make precious account of