termes which it seems he forged in the shop of his invention But whatsoever the Ancients have related concerning diverse kindes and some Neotericks to appear as knowing as any in former ages have described wee in these parts of the world acknowledge because we know but one sort of Domestick hony gathering Bee Some indeed live in woods as wild others in hives as more familiar and milde but these interchangeably shift their habitations And I question not but the wilder because more remote from the company of men by familiarity will prove as gentle as any Aristotle commends a little round Bee in the first place and in the next that which is somewhat long and in shape not colour like a wasp But as I said wee have in these parts of Europe but one sort of domestick Bee And yet Pliny Varro Columella and in a word all receive this distribution of Bees from him And which is more hee confounds the Drone into two sorts a Thief and a Drone which Scalliger reconcileth well thus that by the Theef is to bee understood that which others call a Drone Varro citing Menocrates tells us of three kindes of Bees one black a second red a third party-coloured which hee commends for the best In all the Islands of the Moluccas their hony is made of certain Flies lesse than Ants. It is a report not confirmed by any but supposing it true the Bees not Flies were small like unto the American Bees and the Ants great such as are in some parts of the Indies greater than our Flies Moreover there is some difference in the bigness of Bees but it is accidental for they that are loaded especially with water or honey seem greater and longer than those that are empty The Nymphs also when they come first abroad are not grown to the full bigness which afterwards they have and the old ones do wither and become little again Likewise in these three Ages their colours also do vary for in their middle age they are brown whereas before they are more pale and at the last they grow grey of whitish again but these are differences of Bees in the same hive and not of one hive from another since these divers sorts are in every Hive The report is That all Bees were at first of an Iron colour but for feeding of Iupiter had this reward bestowed on them to bee changed into a golden colour But not to insist upon Fables In some Countries there bee white Bees Aristotle saith in Pontus Many such are in America not because they are thinner or of a more transparent substance or feed more sinely as some rather they are a fainter and feebler kinde of Bees for white is a penurious colour and where moysture is scant so blew Violets and other flowers if they bee starved turn pale and white Some assign this as a cause of colours the excrementitious moysture which as it passeth through a courser or more fine and delicate strainer so are the colours brighter or darker Others Bees are not therefore brown or black because their thin substance is easily dried and that which is burnt and moist as a coal becomes black Nor are Bees of one colour more than Wasps because they feed of fewer sorts of food than Wasps For colours are disposed unto all things by the great Creator of which no more certain reason can bee given then why some men are Negroes others are not Now Negroes are not black by reason of their seed this is confuted by Aristotle nor yet by the heat of the clymate for this is confuted by experience in that Countries as hot produce of a different colour who can certainly shew why about the Magellanique-Sâ—raits they are so white about the Cape de Buon Speranza when as in the East-Indian Isle â—â—ilan and the Coast of Malabar they are black both in the same parallel Nor of the soyl as some have supposed for neither haply will other races in that soyl prove black nor that race in other soyles grow to bee better complexioned but rather upon the curse of Noab upon Cham or the posterity of Chus But of this can wee bee no more assured of than the former for Chus inhabited a part of Mesopotamia watred by Gyon a river of Paradise and one of the branches of Euphrates Some leaving the hot impressions in the aire attribute it to the driness of the earth as though the Libyan Desarts were not more dry and yet the people no Negroes than many parts of Africa where they are all blacks Some ascend above the Moon to call some heavenly constellation and influence into this Consistory of nature and there will I leave them yea I will send them further to him that hath reserved many secrets of nature to himself and hath willed us to content our selves with things revealed As for secret things both in heaven and earth they belong to the Lord our God whose holy Name be blessed for ever for that hee hath revealed to us things most necessary both for soul and body in the things of this life and that which is to come CHAP. V. Bees nature and properties BEES are neither absolutely wilde nor altogether tame creatures but of a middle nature between both Some Bees are not as some conceit ignorant or negligent in gathering honey and framing their combs but yet serviceable in meaner imployments as fetching water watching and warding but all are naturally skilfull in all their proper labours and interchangeably perform them Their sting is more often the cause of their ruine than instrumental for their relief for loosing it which they alwayes do when they sting they unavoydably lose their lives but with the fear of it they often chase away timorous persons from their Hives Some fancy that the cause of their humming noyse while they flye iâ— least they should bee deprehended for theeves whereas the robbing Bee or theef boldly discovers his purpose as soon as hee comes near the hive which hee intends to assault with a loud threatning noyse proclaiming their destruction if they shall resist and not willingly permit their goods to bee plundered endeavouring by fear to betray the courage that self-preservation should arm them with That some Bees stay at home to receive the labours of those that go to work as Aristotle delivers is but a fable hee saith the Bees returning from their labour shake themselves and three or four attend and follow and ease them of their burden That they carry in a windy season little stones to poise themselves is a false relation yet in a storm they will help themselves by flying under the Lee-side of an hedge or encompassing a high and hilly place if there bee any and so as it were by making a board as Sea-men speak take the advantage of the wind But if it bee a plain Champaign Country where evasions avail nothing then if the wind blow strong against them they flye
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
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
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
never find them carefully endeavouring their present or future good Bees though laborious creatures yet if you come to the hive in winter especially in extreame frosts and colds are shut up none appeare or if in a warme day they flie a little abroad yet they bring nothing home contribute nothing to the publique treasury they then seeme to be as carelesse and as thriftlesse as the Drones But the Drones are constantly idle and therefore at all times you find them alike carelesse come this day and you see them to gather nothing and come another time and you find them gathering nothing But the Bees though they be sometimes hindred for want of the externall favour of the heavens that they cannot gather as in the winter time Yet when the Sunne returnes in the Spring and the plants and trees begin to put on their Summer roabes and the heavens are cleare and smile upon them then they diligently follow their delightfull labours Vigorous and spiritfull actions are not alwayes infallible characters of life a man may be a living man and yet in a swoone no action left in him a man may be a living Christian and yet be in some deficiency of spirit and in some swoone his spirits bound up and not in case for action alwayes in any kind so that actions are not sure characters of being in the right way to true happinesse For a godly man may be like a tree which may have life in it when it hath neither fruit nor leaves upon it as in the winter time but in another season they are more or lesse fruitfull for the Bias of their soule is set to God-ward and to heaven-ward and though it may by a rub be put out of it's course yet because the qualification of their soules are heavenly their affections are changed and turned they will be exercising themselves in spirituall duties whereas wicked men in whom is no change of hearâ— are never heaven-bound they may pretend it sometimes and make faire shewes and promises as the Drones in a faire day flie abroad with many a circling motion and a great humming noise but observe them it it not to add to the publique store but that they may with better stomacks devoure the Bees labours Thus the Pharisees performed many duties made long prayers but to devoure widowes houses XIII Every drop of honey is honey and has the nature and definition of the whole it is throughout like to it selfe so our felicitie above is homogeneall heaven is all heaven every corner of heaven is a heaven every thing that is tasted a heaven every thing that is smelt a heaven every thing that is lookt upon or meddled with a heaven a full felicitie to the soule XIV Bees are temperate feeders but when they are violently robbed of their honey or forced from their hives they will then eagerly and glutton-like fill themselves and scarce give over without smoaking or much disturbance Now they are like to lose all which they had painfully laboured for and charily shut up with waxen covers as under lock and key till a time of scarcitie And they resolve therefore to have a share before all be gone And thus many wicked men having had by legall terrours a fore-tast of hell fire before their time after their deliverance grow a great deale worse and knowing their time to be but short fall on earthly delights more furiously and graspe the pleasures of the world with more greedinesse and insatiable importunitie XV. A Bees sting easily enters in and when the Bee is flowne away yet the sting remaines and workes it selfe with more violence deeper diffusing thereby the venome more strongly and causing greater dolour and paine and the longer it continues with more difficulty is it at last extracted so that no man that knows the danger except he have the perfection of a mad man would run the hazzard of the anguish by delaying to pull it out And such is sinne it easily pierceth the soule and when the tempter is gone yet once intertained it easily winds it selfe further in And having the plea of continuance and custome will not be easily shaken off shall a Blackmore change his skinne or a Leopard his spots in three or foure dayes which they have contracted in twenty or thirtie yeares Oh no but as a late learned and holy Divine observeth the longer thou puts it off and deferrest the more unfit thou shalt be to repent thy custome in sinning will exercise more tyrannie over thee the curse of God for going on still in thy trespasses will be more heavy on thee The corruption that lurked in thy owne bosome will be more strong against thee Thy understanding will be more darkened with hellish mists of ignorance Thy judgement more perverted Thy will more subborne Thy memory more stuft with sensuall motions Thy affections more rebellious Thy thoughts more earthly Thy heart more hardened Thy conscience more seared and thy selfe more sould to sinne And every day thou contiâ—…s estate of darknesse thou art much more the child â—…an then thou wast before XVI Bees have many enemies the Mouse the Waspe the Spider besides robbing Bees their worst enemies it is no wonder then if they keepe a continuall guard least they should be surprized and examine every one that goes in and out and are presently in alarmes upon the least motion or disturbance their safety and well-being lies at stake A beleevers condition is obnoxious to dangers very liable to temptations and shall we not walke circumspectly and stand alwayes upon our defence We are naturally subject to so many bâ—tteries and breaches by the assaults of Originall sinne and other implacable enemies to our soules that there is extreame need of perpetuall watch and ward of repenting and repairing dayly least the new man be too much opprest and be often surprized with the many and cunning encounters of the old Adam The consideration of this should prevaile much with us to set a dayly guard about our soules David was very watchfull yet he was surprized unawares by the sudden rebellion of his heart We should therefore observe our hearts as Governours doe rebells and mutinous persons We see to what an excesse sin growes in those that denie themselves nothing nor will be denied in any thing who if they may doe what they will turne all libertie into license and making all their abilities contributaries to the commands of over-ruling and over-ruly lusts XVII What a pitie it is to see these profitable industrious creatures fall so furiously upon each other and thus stinging and biting kill each other in the very mouth of the hive I could like well to see the Bees doe this execution upon Waspes enemies to their common stock this favours but of justice but to see them fall foule upon those of their owne wing it cannot but trouble their owner who must needs be an equall loser by the victory of either There is no more perfect
David I know mine owne iniquitie and my sinne is ever before me LXXIX Bees are very little creatures and their sting is very small not visible except it be very neare and yet this sting affects with grievous smarting paine And if the sting of a Bee swell and rankle and smart so much what will the teeth of the Adder or the taile of the Scorpion if those little sinnes that are so small that we can scarce discerne them to be sinnes put the conscience to so much paine and anguish what will great sinnes doe If whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the Iudgement and whosoever shall say unto his brother Racha shall be in danger of the Counsel And whosoever shall say thou foole shall be in danger of hell-fire What punishment is he like to endure who beareth malice in his heart against his brother envieth his prosperitie undermineth his estate woundeth his good name nay spilleth his blood this is a crimson sinne and mortall in a double sense not only because it slayeth the soule but also because it killeth the body LXXX Plutarch writeth that though Time be a most drie and bitter herbe yet that not only the Apothecaries draw an wholsome oyle out of it but also that the Bees extract from thence sweet honey This drie and bitter herbe is affliction to the tast of most men yet out of it men may draw both a wholesome oyle to cure a wounded conscience and honey also to delight the spirituall tast Oyle out of the nature of afflictions which are chastenings and honey out of the cause Gods love As many as I love I rebuke and chasten LXXXI If you doe but take any peice of Gods word and doe but stay upon it as the Bee doth on the flower and will not off till you have got somewhat out of it if you be still digging in this mine this will make you rich in knowledge and if you be rich in knowledge it will make you rich in grace LXXXII The word of God saith the Prophet is good yea and pleasant too to every one that walketh uprightly as sweet as honey yea sweeter then the purest honey to such as David professeth of himselfe But even honey it-selfe though of it selfe good and pleasunt and wholsome and medicinall yet causeth paine and smart to an exulcerate part And children therefore that at other times much desire and cry for it yet will not endure to have it come neare their lippes when they have sore mouths It is mans love of his owne corruption and impatience of cure that maketh the word of God haâ—sh and unpleasant unto any LXXXIII Looke upon the silly Bees the best Emblemes of obedient creatures painfull in their labour dutifull in their life their king being sase they are at unity So long as their king is well they follow their worke but being dead they leave and â—â—ath their honey-combes Behold how nature hath stamped obedience by instinct to Bees to be subject to a superior in their kind how much more should nature reason and grace stamp obedience in the hearts of Christians knowing that without a government Kingdomes and States are thraldomes Remota justitia quid sunt regna nisiâ—magna latrâ—cinia take away â—justice and what are kingdomes but dens of theeves take away obedience to government and that were miscere terris tartara make earth and hell all one but only in name LXXXIV Bees will not be forced to communion with others except they voluntarily forsake their owne hives in a swarme for take them at other times as when they lie out and sweepe them into another hive yet they will at furthest the day following all returne back to their owne and proper hive it is with them as with a streame that hath made it selfe a channell wherein to run it may indeed by a strong hand be turned out of it's course but yet it will be still bending towards it's owne way and never leave working and winding till it be where it was before so howsoever the upright person may be unsetled for a time and put besides his course yet he strives and labours to be where he should be and never finds himselfe well till he be in his first path like the Needle in the Compasse though it be jog'd aside for a season yet it makes toward the North againe and is in a perpetuall trepidation till it be where it should So the children of God though they be subject to manifold declensions manifold desertions manifold stops and stayes in their course to heaven yet still set their faces thitherward though the wind may sometimes violently oarry them besides the way yet it doth not dismay them nor doe they find any rest or content in their soules till they be in their right course againe LXXXV Bees of all politick creatures most unanimously comply and combine together live and love together mutually protect and provide for one another alwayes agree among themselves and act and worke all for the publique good and wellfare of the whole body they as it were throw downe all enclosures lay all in common not selfish looke not on their owne things but on the things of others tendering their well-doing as their owne neither are they apt to give offence carelessely nor to take it causelesly And shall men shall Christians be so unnaturall as to enveigh one against another to entrap one another to desame disgrace and devoure one another tantaene animis coelestibus irae as he said in another cause this is all one as for one eye to pull out another one hand to cut off another know we not that perfection and safety depends in union as on the other side danger and destruction inevitably followes on distraction Union like the wise woman Solomon speakes buildeth up the house but division as the foolish woman pulleth it downe with her hands LXXXVI The Waspe loveth not the Apothecaries Gally-pot but the sweets contained therein If we love any for our pleasure we love indeed our pleasure and not him if we love him for our profit we love our profit and not him if we love him for any end of our owne we love our selves not him Thus the Iewes loved not Christ but the loaves which he multiplyed by miracle LXXXVII Some Naturalists observe that the thickest and best honey is that which is squeezed last out of the combe so usually the daintiest dish is served in at the last course and Musitians reserve the sweetest straine for their close the last speech of a dying friend leaves a deepe impression in our hearts and art imitating nature holds out the last note of the dying sound in the Organ or voice LXXXVIII The Israelites comming into a wood where they saw the honey dropping and found the meate as ready as their appetite yet dare not touch the sustenance and will rather endure famine and fainting then an
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