house In they went to the Parlour the servant into the Cellar when they were to returne there was no man he was gone they found a Beast in his roome for he was not his owne man he could not be theirs being swallowed up of Wine and strong drinke Doe wee wonder now no sure It were a wonder if it be not so a wonder if they are not as plague soares in a house firebrands there For the servant went in with his Lord and Lady to the great mans house and there hee sate by it till he could not well stand But so he doth not doe when he goes to Gods house if he goes in he goes out presently or suppose he stayes there the polluted himself even then or a lirde before in the Cellar we spake of and now if wee finde him at Church you find him asleepe there Now he that hath an eare let him heare or an hand let him come unto helpe or bowels let him make lamentations And for us Governors high and low rich and poore all fall foule here are our complaints right can wee expect a reasonable service from unreasonable men Tit. 1. 12. Can wee looke that these Cretians should serve their Masters who rebell against their great Master in Heaven Can wee hope that they should bee within command and walke according to rule who come not within the verge of the Spirits walke That they should bee wetted with the drops of Heavens raine who came not to the place where the heavenly dew fell or if they come then place and service to be performed there then the horse hath which hee drives Remember this and shew we our selves men bring it to mind ô we transgressors And pity soules our owne and theirs committed to our charge Shall our servants be at a losse for serving us or can we recompence to them that losse with the greatest wages Wee must we must wee are bound to it being sworne servants to our great Master we must looke to our selves first wee must governe our owne house walking exactly there and then a vile person will be contemned and hee that hath spued so often there shall bee spued out A well governed man a good Governour who answers his name can no more endure such a carcasse in his house then the Sea can a dead corps it is not quient till it worke the dead out This is of infinite concernment let us consider better of it Can wee thinke hee can give us a reasonable service who swallowes Wine and strong drinke till hee bee swallowed up of the same That hee can bee faithfull to man who robbes God of His Day and of His service every day That he should walke in a way of obedience towards his Master on earth who carrieth himselfe presumptuously in a way of rebellion against his Master in Heaven To thinke thus is not to consult with Reason Wee must then according to our patterne * Psal 101. and rule keepe Sessions in our owne hearts and families every day so ordering our selves and them as those that walke under that engagement and bond of duty if wee looke that Children and servants shall walke decently and in order Wee must sanctifie our selves and ours as wee heard and then present our selves and them before Him who is all to us doth all for us wee must sanctifie our selves to day if wee looke for great things to morrow And so I have prepared the way to Church which was as much as I intended and if it bee done it is enough and it may prepare the way to our Conclusion CHAP. X. A childe must not escape for his fault A discreet Master that can judge thereof alwayes and correct it thereafter Sloth how corrupting Diligence must be both in the Teacher and the Learner What way must bee taken to make them both sit the one to give the other to receave Instruction IN very good time now we have 1 Part pag. 90. sect 13. read our Lecture and done with our lessons a we will keep Sessions but in our own Court We will take the child to task for his negligence I said well negligence Let the Master look to him and the Parent by all meanes he must not scape for his negligence nor for his wilfulnesse neither But the Master must be carefull and the Parent also very circumspect must they both be that they may discerne well that we spake of from weaknesse from frailty of nature and invincible ignorance A very hard matter it is to goe even there turning no where neither to the right hand nor to the left The Master had need to carry his understanding alwaies in his hand so the wisest Master cannot alwayes doe he must doe what he can that would punish a child alwayes for his fault A fault it is not to misse again and again and yet a third time nay a fourth as the child may be taught for he may be in a Maze and no clue in his hand to lead him out I am perswaded in my conscience That if justice were done at this petty point so it is adjudged to be but it is no small point the Master might suffer thrice for the childs once for either he informes not the childe at all or if he doe it is the wrong way and by the wrong end or if any way then be knocks him first his hand going before his tongue or if together which should never be the hand is the quicker a great wrong to the weake child Certainly we should doe at this point as the Judge of all the world doth and He doth right For speaking after the manner of men and to instruct our ignorance He came down to see first whether the sins were according to the cry A gracious God! and then if after long patience He will thunder in His judgements as certainly He will yet behold Grace still Hee will lighten first He will give warning that certainly the clap is comming He did so if we marke the Context even to those Cities I made reference to But wee looke too high at so low a point this is too high for us No I remember Chrysostome a In Gen. 18. 21. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. saith This concerns all even every Mothers child we must all hearken to this and doe thereafter Indeed it concerns men in Judicature more specially that they proceed leisurely not like that speedy Judge b Primunt ligant deinde cousas in eam quaerunt Lid-ford Law B. Lue Art 13. P. 48◠Ireade of in Bishop Iuell who hanged ◠man in the fore-noone and sate upon him examining his fact in the after-noon That other but an hasty Judge too for so learned Fortescue c Commend of the Lawes o◠Engl. Chap. 53. cals him did better then so for he proceeded Secuudum allegata probata and so condemned the wife for killing her husband and she was burnt for it but some months after the man servant
confessing that his Mistresse was innocent and himselfe was the man of bloods the Judge now seeing his error and the waste which haste makes weighing withall the fore-mentioned Scripture sorrowed so much that he never enjoyed himself after till his dying De morte lominis nus â—â—st con tla io conga day So Fortescue reports also This I say concernes more specially men in high places called Gods in Scripture oftner then Men That according to their great example they consider well before they determine using all their eyes and eares also for it must ever be remembred which the learned Knight said A wicked sentence is infinitely Hist of the World B. â— Ch 8. sect 8. worse then a wicked fact as being held a president and pattern whereby oppression beginning upon one is extended as warrantable upon all Nor is this praeter casum nor praeter causam It concerns all then us too we must in our low way well see and examine first and punish after Is it a fault sloth stubbornnesse c. which we are about to punish It is Yet stay the hand not withstanding we must not thunder yet The childe should smart in a lesse terrifying way But if we must speak high as if sons of thunder and clap hard too for so the fault may require yet we must be sure that we have lightned first I meane we have let a light into the childs understanding and so set it up there that he is convinced clearly that he might have seene his way and have walked by the light but he would put it out and the clap came he knows now how deservedly We must be very carefull at this point for our pety actions now teach for afterwards and make great impressions that way The child will tell you twenty yeares hence I remember what my Master did how discreet he was or the contrary Our actions may be made presidents when we little think of it Therefore I say again we must not doe as that light Judge did command execution now and call a Jury for examination anon God forbid but it is as preposterous every whit to doe as many times we doe Thunder first and lighten after and most crosse it is to the way of heaven I shall never forget for I felt it That I suffered once as sometimes children doe for my ingenuity I mention it by way of caution as there is need for I do not think that any one twigge fell in vain so much I honour the memory of my master I had Iter in my way and it was my lot to parse it A stammering boy I was and making haste fell short a syllable my Master was as short with me and up I went Wise men have not alwayes their wits about them nor their understanding at their fingers end But this was the old Discipline my judgement is utterly against it but I think withall in this lazy age it would doe most good of that anon To our purpose instruction and correction must still goe together but in the same order still when the childe smarts he must learne too as was said in due place a Childs Patrimony Preface p. 10. Book p. 27. I learned nothing by all my smart unlesse frowardnesse A Master may teach that quickly with the froward the child will be froward that we remember well I saw not my error a great hint to progresse nay to say the truth errour there was none for as the meanest Scholars know well It argued more ingenuity to give the word an increase but of one syllable then of two for I was never told that the old word was Itiner I say then and it is an Oracle if we would in all cases let in the light first it would save us the trouble of thundering and the poore childe would on apace eased of that terrour for it is all the trouble he yet feeles in the flesh as play is his chiefe joy Assuredly the Musick-master takes a good way when he would make the childe sing he will not make him cry for then he knowes the Musick is marred It is so if we would see it in Grammar learning when the childe stands quaking and learnes crying when hee speaks prayers and the Master threats all this time is lost no good done but hurt a great deale Now the Proverb plucks the Master by the eare No man makes haste to the Market where nothing is to be bought but blowes The summe is we must goe gently and very calmly on not blowing at all when we would set up a light in the understanding which must first be done A little puffe of winde blowes out all presently The light you set up in a childs understanding is at first as the candle you have newly lighted and are gone with it by that time you have gone three steps the candle is out for you were too hasty and you did not as the manner is shelter it well from the winde for the least breath doth it Now we have our lesson how to teach and when to correct we will take this one note with it Our natures as well as our consciences are more moved with leading then dragging or drawing and pety errours will be better reclaimed with gentle meanes rather then Catechized with hard words and blowes And now I hope the Child and I are very good friends all this while I have spoken to his heart and to very good purpose I have indeed and I have spoken heartily as he that greatly tenders the Childs good But yet for all this hee and I are not friends as hee calls friendship and accounts the shews thereof Certaine it is I am as great an enemy to his negligence as any one in the Towne and I have many reasons why I must be so For for the most part such the negligence is that it checks the Masters paines every where and it is so fostered at home for the most part that the Parent cannot thinke and thinke with reason that the Child will prove for afterwards either serviceable to himselfe or the place hee lives in The Parent must thinke so as reason must accompany his thoughts for by that level he must walke and then hee takes the meanes along with him conducting to the end Then wee make judgment by the Parents practise in the breeding of the Child That he looks for no more from him then that he eate and drink and rise up to play We have disciplin'd the Parents house already but that labour is lost And so is ours too I speake as all Teachers would speak our paines with the Child for the most part runs on as some water doth to wafte and all because the Child is not quickned betimes and rouzed out of his lazy disease Some hurt also the Master may doe the Childe against his will hee may make the Child carelesse by his over-much care yet hee cannot abate an Ace of it The diligent Master may make the Scholar negligent
nay past all doubt so it is It is the complaint of a learned Commentator on Isocrates and certainly he was right If you shall labour to condescend to your Scholars Hier. Wolfius capacity facilitating the way making it very easie if you doe make all cleare before him then will the boy prove a very slug lazy as may be His master may doe all hee will doe nothing at all or so carelesly that nothing comes of it a In cllectio recta non ignavis sed dilâ—gentibus sese offert at que dat Scal. Exer. 307. Sect. Doubtlesse the best Masters are troubled hereat and it is the great arrest of their endeavours as sloth is the Canker of the parts I am upon the Irish disease I know how well enough it is naturalized amongst us Idlenesse is the common disease of City and Country as dangerous and destroying too It makes Master and Scholar all unprofitable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Chrys in Gen. 2. gifts parts graces It spoyles all Worse then a Moth it eates great holes in the web of our life Nay more unhappy then an Ape or Iackdaw I speake to the Childs capacity it steales from us our very jewels and besides it is very mischievous also Now that wee have met with this block in our way it shall beare all the blame which is unjustly cast upon the Master and besides it shall doe us some little service for it shall helpe us to cleare an objeetion Some there are that call former times to their succours and so make a party against the present course the most naturall Method that can bee thought of and thus they object Obj. The old Method in former times hath produced as good Scholars nay better then that ye call the newest wee doe not call it so wee say and make good what wee say it is the oldest and so exact a Method can doe now Sol. Wee will gratifie them so farre now as to grant this There were as good Scholars formerly as now perhaps better too for my part I verily beleeve it There is an invincible reason for it The old discipline is gone nay that which was but 36. years agoe we have it not now The boy is grown idle and lazy the Parent likes it well But if the old discipline which so crossed Nature and a new method which is they will call it so whether wee will or no though according to Nature if these did meet and close each with other then I know what would bee wee should have very good Scholars now though wee love not comparisons much good would bee done in a little time whereas little is done now in much time I am sure the Objection is answered Now the Parent may heare how he may be mistaken though he hath committed his Child to an honest able man hee must be both hee expects now his Child will thrive and prove a good Scholar and all very quickly for he knowes his Childs abilities are good and the Master faithfull hee hopes what should hinder why his Childe should not prove a good Man and a good Scholar both together A happy proceeding Amen God grant it prove so even so Amen I must tell the Parent now what blocks we finde in the way which hinder progresse mightily and if he will not put to both his shoulders for the removing of them he will fall infinitely short of what he hopes to see But if he will joyne his hand to the work heartily walking by the level of right reason and according to his rule he may finde his hopes and reap comfort all in their season 1. First then he must catechize his childe drop instructions into him whet them upon him morning noone and night that is the Scriptures Method Deut. 6. 7. and Rule These are the seasons for our precognitions spoke of and explained before let that be markt Now if thus the Parent doth not what he possibly can doe for I say again these are the seasons and one more when he walketh by the way let him beleeve me this once a man of some experience here The thing will not be done when the time comes it is more then a doubt he will not finde his hope in his hand If he abate so much as an inch of his proper duty and endeavour touching his childe he must abate also more then an ace of his expectation 2. The boy and girle too hath naturally a lazy sluggish humour Let him doe what he will he will doe just nothing or as good as nothing or worse then nothing he will be idle all the day long and idlenesse we have heard what that will doe rather what it will undoe The Parent must purge out this bad humour what is possible and the sooner the better Let the child rather pick sticks or gather wooll then stand idle If the Parent lookes not to this and doth as hath been said I can assure him the Master cannot for he knowes it is vaine labour to countercheck that which is countenanced and fostered at home The Master doth but his owne task and that hath been compared long sâ—nce to the Mid-wives worke We understand that well enough for our use Then we understand the Masters work The Master findes that in the childe which he works upon he doth not put it there he findes wit and abilities and nature forward to put all forth and now the Master as the Midwife promotes exceedingly But if nature be in a Lethargy lazinesse is such a disease then the Masters may sleep too and doe as much good as talk to a lazy boy I doe not say a dull boy he never troubles me he will doe well enough for he mindes what he doth I say a lazy boy the boy must doe his endeavour else we are at a stand Why it is the law of nature man must put forth his endeavours if he meanes to live God gives us corn we must make it bread the grape we must make it wine wooll we must make it cloth wood and stones we must build the house Still God sheweth us by His works in nature That mans labour must concurre and meet with His of Providence It is just so here betwixt the Master and the Scholar But I am of the same minde I was The more the Maser doth the lesse the Scholar will doe if after the common manner Nay I cannot see with reason how it should be otherwise For the easie gaining of a thing makes us all slack This extundere the pursuit after a thing wich difficulty in attaining the same whets our endeavour and sweetneth it when we have it That I cry after and lift up my voyce for That I seek as silver and search for as hid Treasures that that is a treasure indeed and so will be accounted of They say the flesh of those Fowles is sweetest which have no other meat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Cl Alex. str 2. p. 263. but what
of writing first Nay I will not consult about it I am resolved already so to doe and that for great reason for thereby I shall the better work upon his senses But what if the Parent will not have it so for he must direct the Master not the Master him No matter I am not now to question the Fathers will which commonly is the worst of his reason but to shew how it will promote the childe in the thing hee is about where by one and the same light at one and the same time the child shall see his work understand it and remember it too even all this and altogether by the use of his pen. And it may promote him afterwards for ought we know as the Harp did David I remember one saith very well To write and reade well is a pretty stock for a poore boy to begin the world withall and to live comfortably too n Mulc p. 33. And we must bee perswaded to ground that quickly in young yeares which must requite them with grace in after yeares If wee consider so much we shall relent at the voyce of Reason which commands us to begin with the pen. But the childe is too young yet he is Object not capable sitting with his pen may make him grow crooked too All this Answ may bee as hee may be handled hee may sit too long as the most doe and as the custome is But we are fully concluded That the child must be set straight to his work and not sit long at it but while he is sitting there he muâ—â— make it his play Observe him with his little stick puddering in the ashes drawing lines there or upon the dirt where he can make an impression and almost as busie he is as one was who would not be driven from it with the sword a Archimedes I will tell my observation I have known some who were not taught to write yet could draw faces of all sorts bodies in due proportion frame severall buildings Castles Ships and the like I mention it that Parents and Masters might be perswaded to draw forth Nature b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist phys 2. 2. as you would doe a piece of gold it will spread and compasse it selfe as gold will c Nihil auro ductilius c. Alst phys li. 13. par 4. cap. 7. beyond an ordinary imagination Let us follow nature here for this drawing whether with stick or pen is but Cosen-Germane to writing a precognition or training principle thereunto These two and drawing the most children doe naturally are of one Parentage and pedegree as is noted by the Philosopher d Arist Polit. 8. 3. and others We cannot doubt then but the childe will quickly gain so much now his hand is flexible and fit for frame as will serve very much for his use But what use is of it Obj. 2 Answ This was implied before we will adde to it The use of the pen is great almost universall It helps the little thing to judge of artificiall things what substance is what formes or fashions are and this helps not a little in our practick part It is the character of the speech as the speech is of the thought Besides all this It fixeth the minde of the childe who is Squirrill-headed confirmeth the understanding Is the Assurance office to it and to the memory For now all is safe he may lay in and carry out at pleasure and no hazard worth the thinking of Then the use thereof is great But it will be said sure That writing Obj. 3 is so farre from confirming memory that it weakens it hurts it altogether And it is confessed of all even of them that write for it And the experience of all that have used their pen will say as much too Nay but they must not say so for Answ then they say not the truth They did not use the pen making it subservient to memory but abusd it imploying it altogether and trusting to it so putting the memory out of office and making it quickly of no use c Preface to Childs Patrim p. 13. This is the abuse of the pen and as a great Scholar said long since The most certain corruption yea death of the memory d Scriptionem esse â—â—rtissiâ—am memorie necem ait Socrat. apud Plat. If we scribble scribble scribble and then think we have done the deed as once I did so wise I was our memory will doe us no more service shortly then a man can doe to himself that is in a Lethargy The memory must still be kept waking if we let it sleep as it hath been in some diseases it will die At this point we must remember the dark man his memory is even to a wonder but no wonder at all for he imployeth and exerciseth the same and exercise is all Wee understand Platoes words now Before Scripture was found men were better learned then since because they were forced to write in their minds that that afterwards they have written in paper And having done so they thinke themselves full of learning because full of bookes But they are fully mistaken for their learning consisting in their writings losing them they lose their Science So wee have seene the abuse of the thing which can never be a sufficient condemnation of the thing abused for then gluttony will forbid meat Let it be noted It is the ill in me and in thee which corrupts the good in the thing But we have no need to feare this abuse of the pen from the Child for hee is under them that can direct better for present and give him a Caution for afterwards I suppose now the Child is put to Schoole there to learne the Art of writing which makes a wonderfull riddance in the rest of learning I should say a word to the writing Master and though I have little hope he will make use thereof yet he must heare it for it is of much use to the Child and as much concernes the Parent The Master must looke to the government in his Schoole which is so loose that though the Child thinks now he is put thither he is made yet the great feare is and so experience tels us he is in a way to be marr'd There hee sees and heares Boyes of all sizes who know they have a patent there to prate and to bee rude which corrupts the little Thing we have now in hand more then is imagined Should not a Master looke to the government above all Yes he cannot doubt of it nor of this which followes He must consider well what Copy hee sets before the Child his own example in point of behaviour must be straight and exact for the Child frames after that also most of all for there is life in it And the dead example the copy in his booke I meane the Master must see to also and not so much to its forme I doubt not but there he is exact enough
they scrape out with their feet and gain with their labour So is the water the sweeter the deeper you digge for it The easie attaining to any thing takes off from our esteeme we have of it and as that falls in our judgement so doe we in our endeavour The Commander said well His men should gain their drink by sweat and then it would be wine and win their bread from the roots of trees and then it would be dainties Nor did the old Father dote when he told his son He left him a treasure hid in a field the young man fell to digging c. but no treasure all that while yet by his good husbandry he made the field very fruitfull and that was the treasure the Father meant I say then and such my judgement is I say not under correction That the child profiteth most there where he hath lesse information more exercise and most punishment And I thank God that so it was with me for thereby it comes to passe God ordering it so that I have been the more industrious ever since And what a man gets by his owne labour is sure and best pleaseth as we heard But yet this I must say also It is a way I shall never allow for it is to make the childe to serve in rigour fit enough for his lazy nature which will be taught no good but by a bad method exacting the full tale of bricks and allowing no straw requiring the task and not making it possible by shewing the way of performance No that is pety tyranny or oppression no better I would rather if it might be the child were led on with delight carrying his candle in his hand and then if he slumble as one in the dark fetch him up as you doe your horse and let him feele the spurre in its place And we should doe prety well here and discipline the childe well enough with the Parents leave also if the child were quickned at home but there he is suffered to go on so slack and lazy a pace that he will not be put out of it by our spurre Yet for all that something we must doe else we shall undoe the childe quite who is halfe undone already The childe must know and feele too that is his knowledge that there is a double part in the Schoole nay in every place that is for instruction one the Masters the other the Childes And they must doe each their work mutually else there will be a vain work The Master must speak the child must hearken The childe must ask as the Master must give him the hint of a question the Master must answer calmly And thus the lesson goes on till the Masters work be done And now the child sets to his work presently for it is the opportunity of time he must foreslow no time to recollect to fasten that which was said to make in it a sure word his own for ever The boy must use all diligence that doth mighty things else the Master labours in the fire and so will the child too if he be not well instructed withall that the blessing is from heaven a thing the childe heares little of but it is all in all I said before till the Masters work bee done It is never done Something in point of information something in point of reformation about the child or himselfe findes him work still Let me say it once for all The Master may learn much by teaching the childe A great deale of good Divinity from that little thing which is old Natures right I know no such looking glasse in the world wherein to see the mans heart as is the face of the child Therefore I said well The Master hath still something to doe either about himselfe or the childe and when he cannot make the childe better with all his care then his care must be to make himselfe better then there is no lost labour The longest day is short enough for this work In the winter he must take the night too and and all too little to doe a great deale of good in which should be his ambition The Masters recreation must be with the childe he will make him merry sometimes so must he the childe and then the work goes on I have read and seen an old Grand-sire sporting with his young childe so refreshing his own spirits and the childs both Assuredly we may learn and teach both no fitter way for as so I told you the boy must be serious in his play we allow no time for calvish mirth so must the Master what possibly he can play in his worke he must doe it with all the delight that may be then it is no burden But this is the point He must use diligence b It is order pursuit sequence and interchange of applications which is mighty in Nature Adv. p 178. that he must And what will that doe strange things See the omnipotency of industry c Holy War 2. 12. pag. 60. Industry in aâ—ion is like importunity in speech p. 154. said one very ingeniously as he doth all But then adde too he must be a man of an unblamable conversation that he must he walks before boyes they mark where you would not have them mark and they understand too much where you would have them understand nothing like a sieve they will let goe an hundred good instructions when but one bad example will stick by them while they live He must look to his conversation he must walk reverently there else he is doing and doing and yet doing nothing or which is worse he doth a great deale of hurt As examples in Grammar for they are rules as was said make the quickest penetration into the understanding so doth the example of the Master into the manners of the Disciple nay a greater penetration into the life for the example is lively It hath been said A bad man may be a good Citizen but that distinction was not subtle enough for the Devill for taking away the bad man the good Citizen followed for company Good and bad cannot stand so neare together if a bad man then no good Citizen no nor a good Teacher he must have the Character of a right Orator as well a good Man as a good Speaker else he may tickle the Quint. Orat 12. 1. eare but never gain the heart Like a fire of green wood which is fed with it as it is fuell but quenched as it is green The Master must be a pious man there is no remedy for he is the childs Catechisme the child hath it by rote He must be an exact copy I pray you let us mark that and the reason why The Philosopher gives it Men abandoned to vice doe not so much corrupt manners as those that are halfe good and halfe evil And it is no more but what the Leper gives us Levit. 13. cleare intimation of for if he was halfe whole nay three parts whole
to the second part The Contents of the second Part. CHap. I. The scope herein the excellency of the understanding preparatories thereunto of what use our senses are what our care over them to discourse of Generals is to beat the winde Chap. II. Singulars best fit a childs understanding how to supply their want Pictures how useful ' they will tell the child great matters what the fâ—rme of godlinesse what the power for they increase not nor doe they change In summer and winter youth and age still the same But where life is there is power and growth yet the countenance somtimes more cleared sometimes more clouded They tell also how empty a thing the forme is if no more it feeds the eye onely never fils the stomach no more then painted bread can of such use are pictures but that they may doe the child no disservice we fear not the man we give two maine Cautions touching them Chap. III. To converse in Generalities is to keep a child upon the Pinnacle the word is familiar what it teacheth what also the descent there-from where we meet with the staires the bell and the chilled flie mighty instructions from all these The last cleares and sweetneth also our way through the Church-yard by the chambers of death so leading to singulars and the chiefest of them the Man Chap. IV. Mans body a curious Fabrick but fallen much into decay and by all usage more decayes every day yet as now it is venerable In what considerations to bee cherished and had in honour In what cases to be neglected and despised after their example who lived in the body as out of the body a Incorpâ—re sin corpore Hier. Ep. ad Laet. Gaud. Read our Juels life I rejoyce that my flesh â—s worn and exhausted in the Labonâ—s of my calling His last words Chap V. The soule how precious yet how vile in Mans esteeme while he is himselfe when he is changed his judgement changeth and then he gives us mighty lessons and of universall use Chap. VI. Two propositions cleared 1. All Creatures serve man Mighty Conclusions there-from how we may serve our selves of the Creatures and their Creator in the use of them 2. Art as well as Nature serves man he sets all Trades on work which concludes hee must have a Trade also What that must be How he may prosper in it Sincerity makes mites to passe for and to hold waight with Talents Chap VII Occasionall Instructions from observations of things within â—oores and without Chap. VIII The Milstone a very precious stone a precious instruction there-from A few observations taken up first from the Creatures in our way thither from the Toad the Serpent the worme the stones Chap. IX The Church sacred in reference to the great works done there what they are We must be at cost if we look to know them for they are chargeable works Joshuahs counsell explained cleares all this and is of the same use unto us now as to his people of old To inform Masters and correct servants that all may walk by their rule and know their duty Chap. X. A childe must escape for his fault A discreet Master that can judge there of alwayes and correct it thereafter Haste makes waste we steere our right way by heaven e Eâdem â—atione hant viâ—ae viam quaeri oporâ—et quâ in â—lto iter navibus Lact. 6. 8. wee see it lighten first before we heare it thunder Sloth how corrupting The Father must doe his office Diligence must be both in the Teacher and the Learner Nature teacheth so but the Mid-wife best of all The Masters copy must be most exact before the child the onely way to make them both fit the one to give the other to receive instruction A LIGHT TO GRAMMAR CAP. 1. Serving for an Introduction The difference in children That the strongest are but weak so are all the sonnes of Adam in their best estate but vanity in their worst and in themselves considered but vile How necessary the consideration hereof and how conducting to our scope SOme have compared children to the Earth their common Mother different moulds there All must be tilled which we would have fruitfull but notwithstanding all our tillage all are not alike fruitfull Some have compared them to flowers soone up as soone down quickly flourishing as quickly fading This comparison runs well and instructeth us in our short course for the whole course of things under the Sun run from us as upon wheeles a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 James 3. 6. then children are not behinde nor are out of the number and then good reason why we should not set our hearts upon them Some have compared them to fruits of the earth some early-ripe some not yet some yet later every thing is good in its season we follow the last comparison Some children for their use this is intended are as Sophocles said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Men-boyes like Summer fruits quickly ripe commonly as quickly rotten 2. Other some they the most not so quick for speed but more sure for use 3. Some also whom we miscall and misuse too the more should be the pity dullards hard-heads c. what not many abusive words and all for that they cannot help And yet if we could have patience a chiefe vertue even at this point also and wait their full time and growth we may taste them good very good in their season b Blossoms there be in children of future hopes ripenesse not yet nor tyed to one time no more then all com is ripe for one reaping Some be Hastings and will on some Hardings and draw back Some c. Mulc posit p. 19. Looke wee over againe these formes or ranks of children and observe them every one we shall finde them all even the quickest of all like their age weak and tender As the Vine very fruitfull as the ground is or the care about it must be but must have a strong prop which it runneth up by spreadeth it selfe upon most lovingly embracing take away that you see where it lieth such a thing is childhood and youth both Trem. Shall I stop here No. And Enos c Mortalis infestus aerumnis doloâ—ibusque also he that writes himselfe as he thinks a strong and well growne man even he is but a poore fraile weak man d Gen. 4. 26. Psal 9. 20. though he thinks none of all this but is it not even thus e Amos 2. 11. Hearken what one saith and no ordinary one Man in his best state is but altogether vanity f Psal 39. 5 Heare what another saith an excellent Pen-man also e Bernard Ochinus Preface to his 25. Ser. 2 Pet. 1. 9 His wits are drowned in the body occupied of pbansies weak of sight he cannot see farre off seldome farther then the present sicke and impotent through the fall of Adam and his own sins dead therein What is this man now he
it should be how fundamentall the Mother tongue is what our care thereabout VVEE have not yet begun with the Child but now setting upon it if it be thought a fitting time When is that So soone as the Child can exercise his inward faculties hath any strength there then we must begin and well husband the time Now the Child will take in fast enough like a faire Table-bookâ— wherein is nothing yet but presently there will be something written which we cannot so easily blot out It is the Masters wisdome and for that he shall be counted an understanding man not to leave the child to his choyse For now and so we shall know the nick of time the Child can distinctly observe that which is before his eyes and can call it by its name The Child hath Arithmetick too what a jolly fellow is this I must insert words of incouragement that promoteth greatly the little thing he can skill of Greek hee can tell you how many fingers hee hath upon the one hand then he can number I hope He can put the other five to them and tell what all amounts to then he can adde he can take away the one hand and tell you how many remaines The best Accountant in the towne cannot answer more punctually then wee will grant he can substract yes more yet is his skil for he can tel you what twice 5. is so he can multiply And ten to one if these ten were ten Apples he would divide them by 2. to each hand even parcels and so keepe all for himselfe otherwise and in such cases hee careth not for division though he understands it for his use very well Poore Child hee hath discovered himselfe too far for now his skill is so well knowne hee must to Schoole to learne his Mother-tongue the very next Munday And there we suppose hee is where the Mistresse helps to hold the book with one hand and if it be as I have seen a little twigge in the other which the childe markes very earnestly as wee would have it doe the lesson Here is a change now and that will be pleasing for some houres The next weeke the childe will tell you when is the next Holy-day for that is all hee heard at Church and all he lookes for he knowes where for he findes it to be a red letter And for the Schoole hee hath no minde to it by his going thither and returning thence we perceive well enough that no man loves a prison worfe never looks he to see a mery day so long as he is pent up there Why because the Schoole indeed is but a prison to his body and no way is taken to enlarge his minde What a coyle is there to make him pronounce false and because hee cannot readily doe so for very nature teacheth otherwise perhaps hee feeles the twigge too and his sense is so quick at that point that he cannot relish the Schoole He heares also of Vowels and Consonants What are they Latine poore little Englishman he cannot skill of that Then hee must put these together and spell What is that Greeke indeed so it is to the childe and to the Teacher too Certaine it is the child understands more of his own tongue in one moneth from his Nurse after he can speak articulately then he gains from a Schoole in three in any language which clearly sheweth of what force nature is specially when a little helpt by Art and made mighty by use The one and the other even all three gives us great accommodation here Nature gives us the precognition Art Skill to use it Vse makes it familiar It must not be expected here that I should give the precognition to every thing that I would have learnt thereby that were a dead work Time and place will instruct much and the very thing in hand This I say again we must make it a preparatory to the understanding of every thing so preventing the toyle of conceiving the same And we must finde a precognition or make it as the great Commander said when his way was blockt up before him And this nature shewes that a vowell makes a sound alone perfect of it selfe The Consonant not without a Vowell being indeed of it selfe but the very essay and offer of the tongue and no more And if c g and t might but know their power once and keep it ever u and v distinct in figure but more in sound if I say it were observed it would save us much trouble in afterproceeding so also if the syllable were distinctly framed according to the plaine rules for spelling so pronounced specially the last letter For the pauses or stops our breathing will help us there but the observation thereof is the chiefest part in good reading I confesse my thoughts are not ripened here if they were I would not blot paper with them though it is no disparagement to goe even so low for the Mother-tongue is the foundation of all nay indeed wee have a necessity so to doe every day else wee cannot goe forward orderly the ground-work of the childs entry being so rotten underneath But I may spare my paines oâ— writing upon this Elementary point foâ— I finde a short paper for direction this way from a man of long experience in higher matters gained by travell and and otherwayes l M. Carew And a large tractate there is also treating on the very same subject of more large use M. Hodges And surely great need of all this for the matter of the elementary the Horn-book though it be small in shew yet it is great for processe and for the manner of handling the child of great moment also to hearten him on for afterwards And therefore it would promote the common good not a little if an able man had the ordering the child at this first staire or step for a firme ground here at this low point raiseth the work mightily and makes all stand firme But it is supposed the Master must have answerable pay a good encouragement to come down so low when he shall perceive that reward shal rise up This will be thought upon when Praemia conatum extimulant De Aug li 2. times mend and the day cleares up then our judgement and fore-sight will cleare up too In the meane time I know what will not be done a good Scholar will not come down so low as the first elementary and to so low a recompence also it shall bee left to the meanest and therefore to the worst And there I leave it also even in the Mistresse her hands for there is no remedy And so I come to that work which more properly belongs unto the Master CHAP. VI. Necessary the childe should bee taught to write Objections against it answered It helps the understanding very much but as it is commonly abused hurts more thâ—n it helps WEE are making way now toward Grammar learning And what if I set down the accommodation
but to the matter thereof that it savour of piety and bee a leading hand thereunto so fashioning the life as well as the hand For we must still remember because this Master thinks not of it That the right manner of handling the Childs wit in his reading and writing is of great moment for afterwards and delivereth the next Master from manifest toyle the child from marvailous trouble secureth the Parent also against his feares and sorrows so prevayling these beginnings are of such consequence for afterwards CHAP. VII Of Grammar the practise thereupon through the severall parts thereof ANd now I suppose this Art is attained for we must proceed gradually making cleane riddance all along and then we must grant also that the Child cannot complaine of difficulty afterwards who can read and write perfectly as may serve his turne now For as Plato said of Arithmetick and Geometry they were his two wings whereby hee could flye up to Heaven so setting free the imprisoned ignorant The same may bee said of reading and writing if the child hath purchased these two he hath excellent faire wings which as his Master is able to help him will cause him to towre up to the top of all learning And yet for all our hast wee must not skip nor leape wee may attaine to the top in due season but we must remember our season now and begin at the bottome staire so wee are upon the Grammar where our practise shall be very easie and familiar to the Child for the labour is prevented already and speedy too for wee must remember he hath two wings therefore hee can flie But withal we must grant this that the Reader if he have forgot his grammar as certainly he hath though in his younger yeares hee could say it over and over as perfectly as count his fingers A short time and other imployments will quickly spoyle the memory of all that but what were conveyed to the understanding by an orderly and naturall way so much remaines and no more such an one I say cannot goe along with the Child one foot of the way worth his labour And the Scholar that doth understand may thinke it a dull way but my little Judgement upon it It is the onely quick and sure way And let him take my word yet further That hee shall read no more spoken here but what is really done So we begin out practise with hast enough and yet good speed for wee have our Preparatories at our fingers ends and stumble wee cannot for the Lampe is in our hands It appeareth thus the rules will make it more plaine anon not by explaining the Grammar to him for it is already done If I were to doe it now and so begin I should speake Greeke to him and what use of that I must recall what he already knowes and that will doe the thing and then we have the use indeed if wee please to observe what followes Of Etymologie or the Accidents of simple words all contained under eight notions or parts of speech MOre then a yeare since the Child Nomen could call unto his Mother the maid and the man John and Joane both hee hath set his Mother a stoole or some such thing he hath pickt an Apple and a Nut Cherries also out of her lap and pocket All this he hath done then hee told us what part of speech these are how proper some how common other some what Gender they are too what Gender hee what shee and that the stoole was neither of both We will observe his skill in his Adjective also Tell him of sharpe and sweet he will not be satisfied till he have the thing be it Grapes Vineger Apples Honey Sugar c. Now he knowes his Adjective no man better he relishes it on his tongues end his little judgement is so steeped in his sense that hee can compare through all degrees also This is sharpe that sharper or more sharpe the other sharpest or most sharp of all That sweet this sweeter c. So he hath the signes and terminations all these by the sense which never failes when the child is well When hee doth ill or amisse if the Mother will reach him a rap two or three he will understand all these perhaps better by his feeling a sense that never failes till the man dies so easie is all this And in the Latine it is as easie so is the Gender as easily found in his place as 1. 2. 3. if so many endings if but one ending then one is 3. if two endings then the first is two and the last still neither of both We goe in order still and have concluded that the Child can adde a Numbers and substract can chop and change then he can his numbers very well and distinguish them as well b Hand Hands Man Men. He can find out a house by his signe well-fare all good tokens there is the Fathers house for there-out hangs Cases as they fall in an Author such a signe as easie it is to know his cases the order of them too as for his Declensions they are pat at his fingers ends just so many and as perfect with him The Child can say now hee is come Pronoun instead of a Noune and she also for you it is most proper to say thou commanded and I called them who are these there are no such names in the world they stand in stead of others then the Child will tell us what they are Pronounes and how many parsons there The child doth play and nothing else hee did scratch his brother even now The Mother hath heard of it and he shall be smitten by and by Then he can his A Verb. Adverb Participle verbe Active and Passive and knowes his Conjugations all foure and will remember the times very well feeling what is aking still and put in minde That he was warned yesterday and twice before therefore he was justly to be punished to day Now I say the childe knowes his Verbs their Kindes Tenses Moods Conjugations as easie as is the repetition of Vowels a e i or his Horn-book the as avi es ui is ivi um bo bi co ci do di order of the letters there so the forming of them he hath his Adverb also his Participles all three together for they are very neare of kin true friends all is common betwixt them The Preposition he met with in the A Preposition sixt case and it never left him since for he hath it in his hand now he is driving his top before his Father with his other brother The child hath played many pranks A Conjunction An Interjection and made many complaints so have his fellowes with him sometimes laughing sometimes crying out and alas Then he can his Conjunction and Interjections both together For such changes there are and still will be amongst children So we have gone through the practice of Etymologie The Figures thereof they
this here It is the readiest way in the world to nuzzle up the childe or the man for hee is a childe in knowledge in ignorance if we keep him in his rode and content our selves that he saith perfectly by rote This comes to nothing we must parcell forth his lesson into questions whereto in his rode way it is not possible he should frame an answer And thus if we doe we shall make Grammars all alike to the child let me say and Catechismes also And now I have spoken that which is of infinite use and mighty concernment to the Catechist whether he teacheth men or boyes There is an Objection That the old method produced as good scholars anciently as any new can doe now I verily beleeve it and better scholars too but no thanks to the method I shall give a full reason for that in a few words but I referre it to the last both Part and Chapter I proceed now onward in my rules directing our practice 5. We observe the universall use of all in Analysis commonly called construing and parsing and in Genesis termed Making Latine In construing the first principall care is to finde out the Nominative Case by the rule of Logick that Case must be sought first being the theame or subject of the Axiom but the child will sooner finde out the Verb and let him take his way the Verb next this is the argument or predicat both together make the Axiome Where also we note by the way that the second Concord is taught presently after the Declension and indeed it is the first in nature being most simple and having a Topicall disposition without affirmation or negation whereas the disposition of the other is axiomaticall but no need of this to the childe It is enough he can finde out the Verb and his Nominative Case for that is easiest and knowes the rest are additaments depending upon one of the two 6. The phrases are to be construed first rendringword for word for the learners understanding then rendring phrase for phrase for his use in translation that he may understand that all languages have their severall properties which are by no meanes to be violated nor the composition of the Authour neither wherein Caesar is most exact as he is the best History in the world saith a great Scholar expressed in the greatest propriety of words and perspicuity of Narration that ever was 7. His Authours must be such as are most sensuall I meane such as doe best instruct his understanding and life together whether Fables Colloquies Comedies or Epistles familiar Histories Poets also of the very best for though versifying supposeth plenty of words and freedome of speech yet if a childe stay til then for ought I know I know what their slacknesse is he will never reade a Poet in the Schoole And then no small want though I know prose should be well perfected first But if to a verse then why not to Homer Virgil Ovid and Horace we all are sure they are the best and a childe must be acquainted with more kinde of verses then one But there the childe may find the worst too and so he may also even in those Poets which we account and indeed are most Christian We never knew any garden weeded so cleane but something there was which might offend there our instruction was long since wee know no better now Wee must imitate the Bee and then we shall finde honey or make it so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Isoc ad Dem. w. 8. Concerning Translation and Imitation c. what can be said after M. Ascham M. Horn and many others So also touching aydes or helps to speech and invention Such are Apologues Proverbs Emblems Histories Causes Effects Topicks the heads or places which assist us therein So much hath been said in all this as I know not what can be added Besides it is beyond my scope in this place which is no more then to shew the way how the childe must be taught his Grammar where all along the way the Teacher must observe this and it is the chiefe of his duty at this part he shall heare more at the conclusion of the next but this now 9. Now the Master must consider all along that the first impressions in children are weak and waterish no sooner made but gone like lightning at once begun and ended The first and second time their lesson is rather looked on then learned and the Master must have patience for all that he must compose himselfe to goe as slowly as the childs conceit requires if the Master be quick when the child is slow then there is much matter offered unto passion but then passion goes on and the child back The Masters wisedome is to stoop to the childe to see where he sticks His pen is but a dead thing the Master must put life unto it he must so speak that the childe must see him speak he must as some have done b Childs Patrimony Preface p. 19. heare with the eye and learne to speak by his fingers and this will not be with some children till the Master puts his words upon his fingers ends a thing very possible to be done nay it must be done I may not forget the counsell that Nazianzen gives to his fellow Pastors and Overseers or rather what such should be Not their words onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Nazianz. Orat. 6. but their apparell their going their sitting their whole carriage and deportment must have a tongue speak forth Holinesse to the Lord every thing about them must be so regulated so expresse agreeing to rule so lively a copy as that it bid the lookers on and they are many every ones eye is upon the light and a City set upon an hill a Mat. 5. 14. look on us and as you see us doe so doe yee And this is of singular use for them who teach youth also But that I specially noted for our purpose now when I reade that Oration it is his sixt was this expression I have said he set out before you a Pictured speech b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What is that I will expresse it as well as I can for that is to our purpose I have made my words so plain and visible that your eyes may look upon them as you may the picture which the cunning workman hath set out So plaine have I spoken And so may yee all speake and alwaies speake ye servants of the Lord for this is to speake with tongues indeed when every thing about a Minister speakes And this is to speake in the language of the most sacred Scripture also and in the Dialect of the people too they understand it full well But I seeme to teach my Teachers no I doe but recite the counsell of an ancient father unto them that they may learne how to speake with tongues and to the peoples understanding They cannot be put in
we would have it true recreation play and profit both and this very thing was my after-consideration That for the boyes sake I have gained of the intelligent Master to excuse the child though he doe not give him rime the very next morning saying his part without booke For I remember well that was a tedious worke once to me and of no benefit then nor since but account it reasonable enough that he can his Declensions and Verbes exactly well giving such an account of both every day as that it may appeare hee takes all the rules of English and Latin Etymologie the Latine supplies what the English doth want along with him for they containe all and will evidence That the boy is not led one inch further then his senses those great intelligencers shall give him through-passe to the understanding of the same a mighty helpe to memory besides delight to boote It is indeed the greatest ease to the Scholar and the Master that I can thinke of whereby to gratifie both and so will hee say that shall take leasure to consider throughly thereof So much to the Rules which may serve to promote him that comes after and thinks fit to Practice the same way CHAP. X. What esteeme the Grammar hath how little esteeme the Grammarian The Dignity of the understanding The conclusion of the first a Transition to the second part AND now I had almost said Wee have done with the Grammar but indeed we cannot tell when we have done For though it be of small use in our Mother-tongue yet in forraigne tongues of more use it is of most use in such which cease to be vulgar and are rightly called learned tongues All these three we would still perfect as well for intercourse of speech and understanding of Authors as also for examining the power and nature of words as they are the foot-steps and prints of reason And all this we cannot doe by any other Art then by the Art of Grammar The following words are to be noted Man still striveth to reintegrate himselfe in those benedictions from which by his fault he hath been deprived And as he hath striven against the first generall curse by the invention of all other Arts so hath he sought to come forth of the second generall curse which was the confusion of tongues by the Art of Grammar But though the Grammar is of so much and so generall use yet we must not dwell upon it nor must we make it our ambition to make our childe a Grammarian and no more for that were a very meane promotion He may haply having knowledge therein pick up a poore living if his Salary be duly paid For Homer they say gives many a man his dinner much good may it doe him But he will be a despised man for all that A Grammarian anciently it was a word of reproach and it was well knowne That a base Hypocrâ—te a Stage-player a Fidler had their precedency a mile before him And a Barber waighed downe this Wordy-man above ten thousand pounds in bad money and as much more in good Land What his worth is now I will not dispute but if he be a Grammarian and no more he is as a meere Logician and he hath esteem to the top of his worth and somewhat above it He is in very deed a Babler c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 17. 18. a man of ragges made up of words Such a one as he was who stood in the Corne-Market gathering up the Corne that fell besides the sack in emptying that is a Babler indeed of Casaubon no more worth in judgement then in purse of no worth in either Surely if our work be to promote the childe wee must not set up our staffe here here must not be our Pillars we must not dwell upon words as the Sophister may doe too long upon Genus and Species The Grammar teacheth no more but words it hath indeed some jagges centons or old ends of things nothing of worth It is the unfittest booke to gain the knowledge of things by that I know in the world I mean such books now which may properly be called so for all that passe under that name are not Books said the Noble Scholar b Bockes such as are worthy the name of bookes ought to have no Patrons but Truth and Reason Adv. p. 32. Though Voces and Res should never be distinct in learning yet we must take a more distinct notice of things and not of this or that or the third thing of three things or of foure for this were to emprison the understanding or to keep the immortall soule in a Cloyster nay to seale it up in a dungeon We must informe the understanding what we can concerning this totum scibile this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All that may be knowne of God and we must take the very way that God Himselfe hath revealed for such His Grace He hath made it knowne unto us It was well answered by one who was thought that hee could live but in one place Yes said he in any place where it is possible to live in any place of the world for I am a Citizen thereof Certainly so is man such a Citizen though he may be confined for many waighty reasons to this or that place yet he is a Citizen of the world for he is the very modle thereof he is made after the pattern I know my word is too low and for his understanding it hath for its Range the whole world too what a wrong then to consine f Asperâ—atur certorum finium prâ—scriptionem Sc Exca 307. sect 11. this so noble a faculty and to impale it within a circle which will not keep in a mouse The understanding is quicker then any bird more soaring then an Eagle nay it came from heaven and thitherward it is pointed It hath appealed thither in its right and straight motion and therefore to heaven it shall goe so we say for it is our main scope the white we ayme at We may like enough fall short of it But hee that threatens a starre will shoote higher then he that bends to a mole-hill g Altius ibunt quâ—ad summa nitentur quain qui c. Quint. Orat Prefat And so we leave the Grammar that dull work and set upon that which is more noble and besitting so noble a faculty But it is the work of another day a second task FINIS A GATE TO SCIENCES OPENED By a Naturall Key OR A PRACTICALL Lecture upon the great Book of Nature whereby the childe is enabled to reade the Creatures there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clem. Alex. li. 6. p. 501. Deus ita est Artifex Magnus in magnis ut non minor fit in parvis c. Aug. de Civ 1. 11. cap. 21. Quicquid essentiâ dignum est id etiam scientiâ Nov. Org. 1. 120. Printed at London for Iohn Bartlet 1641. To His worthy Friend Mr. SAM HARTLIB by
Creatures are for mans use All serve him So God their great Lord hath appointed I cannot expresse it more fully and briefly then in the Fathers words O man what hath God given unto Chrys Tom. 1. Hom. 57. thee nay rather say what hath He not given thee Hee hath given the Sunne the Moone all the Quire of Stars Hee hath diffused the Ayre which encompasseth thee He hath stretched the earth under us the heaven above us the Sea about us Hee hath given Mountaines Hils Valleys Rivers fruitfull lands fruitfull seasons All greene things all good things In a word All wee behold with the eye all we reach unto with the hand all wee tread on with the foot We have all so bountifull a Lord have wee It is cleared to our sense that wee live upon mercy doles of mercy every moment of time now the Conclusions will be as cleare And first though it is no good order but fittest for the Child let us give the Creatures their due then their Creator Wee have them to use wee must take heed we abuse them not if so wee doe they will abuse us they will Lord it over their Lords and make their Lords slaves so revenging theit Creators quarrell This appeares in the abuse of meat and drinke which being surfeited upon will cast their Lord sometimes into the water sometimes into the fire And to passe over greater a Holy war B. 3. c. 16. p. 135. mischiefes which our eye have seene and our eare have heard sometimes layes him along in the streets to bee gazed upon as a base slave to that Creature over which a little before he was Lord. If wee thinke hereon wee have enough to conclude therefrom the sober use of the Creatures That we use them as not abusing the same And now wee are upon a great and nice point but I must breake from it yet not so abruptly I say it is a nice and ticklish point to know the just bounds and limits how far we may goe in the use of lawfull a Childs Patrim p. 80. things for there is all the danger b In liciâ— is perimus omnes More dye of Surfets the of poyson I remember Hierome c Ciborum largitatc ebriae 1. 2. ep 17. saith the most temperate man that ever I read off You shal have some sober at their wine yet he would have young folke drink none at all and old folke to use it as a Cordiall but drunk with good cheere And Augustine tels us it was an abominatioÌ„ to him to be drunk God for bid saith he d Ebrietas longe est a me crapula oute subrepit nonnunquam c. CoÌ„fes 1. 10. Hee must be very wakefull that will keepe his heart from being overcharged with meat and drinke yet that is our charge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 21. 34. It is very hard to stand firme upon the â—idge of our liberty that swinish sin should be objected to me that I should swallow Wine till I have swallowed my reason and given my selfe up into the power of the Creature God for bid But Lord Intemperance steales upon me my meat and drinke not withstanding all my watchfulnesse is my snare I eate and I drinke sometimes so as I feele I have strengthened my enemy and weakened my best friend Lord forgive mee Lord fortifie mee at this point I said it is a great point and a ticklish one An easie passage it is from the use to the abuse of a thing there is but a step nay scarce an inch betweeene and hence it is that we fall foule by companies I cannot say a little to it I will onely put a period to Augustins prayer for it should be ours when the meat is before us and knise in our hand the same in the use of all lawfull things Lord make us watchfull now that we use the Creatures to repaire not to pamper Nature that wee use them not abusing the same Amen 2. We must use the Creatures mercifully They are commanded to serve us wee must not make them serve in rigour we must use them as Men that have bowels wee must shew pity to our beast There is no doubt of this Wee are by speciall indulgence Lords over the Creatures a great honour we must not bee Tyrants over them an high point of injustice and sometime sevenged by the Creature it selfe wee have heard and knowne when a man hath beate his horse so long till the horse beate out his Masters braines Then learne wee to use the poore beast mercifully for if we doe not make him wild a Child may lead him 3. And use it reverently too even the least bit of bread or drop of drink what use a bit of bread reverently A Papist I beleeve No I doe not meane you should adore a bit of bread I hold it the greatest presumption in the World and so our Juel said before mee to adore that which Longs wife can make I said we must use the bread reverently and so I say againe and it is concluded by the strongest reason that can be for it comes out of Gods hand into mine and it is mine by free gift and made a staffe of bread to me by a free mercy but that is not all The bread I include all there is not mine for I am not mine owne I am bought with a price I must glorifie God with ail and in all then whether I eate or drinke so I must glorifie God but so I doe not unlesse I use the Creatures reverently But the chiese reason is this These Creatures are a purchase too nay the purchase of blood wee had had no comfortable right to them but in and through Christ Wee were lost and we lost the Creature too Hee redeemed us and gave us Title and claim unto them and all by blood What a purchase and a purchase of blood then we must use them reverently sure enough we are in the strongest bonds that can be imagined 4. And man must endeavour to be very good so we have concluded too All is good about him very good surely he doth not give the Creatures their right unlesse he strives to be good very good even better then they for man is the very best the most excellent of all He must strive to be excellent For all his servants are good round about him What a shame what indignity this that their Lord should bee naught amidst all good things 5. Nor ought man to diminish any thing from the works of God the creatures I meane those that we think the least of all are very good all they may differ in bulke and quantity not in this prime quality Wee must not speake meanely and below the dignity which belongs to the works of Gods hands for this were to derogate from God Himselfe I think of Melancton now his sayings and doings both were very exemplary Hee bade one that sate next him to taste the wine as himself had done and tell
how he liked it which his friend did then told him It was no bad wine At which words Est illnd haud malum pene cum indignaâ—ione c. Cama vita Mes p. 62. Melancton was very angry in him passion quickly to shewed it selfe but hee was more quick to shew his command over it S. said he Good wine must have better commendations then so you should have said It is very good And now it is very easie to apply And I hope from henceforward the child will say Dry bread is good and hard cheese and meate very good though there be no other sawce but what he carrieth with him in the tip of his tongue 6. One thing more while I think of it for I am in such a throng that I cannot get out He that hath all good from Gods hands wee will conclude him to be a mercifull man a man that doth much good to others What hath God bestowed richly upon any man hath hee filled his hand and his mouth and his coffers and his barns with good things And is this man a niggard is he close handed like a fountaine sealed up doth he no good with all this good The childe will cry shame upon him For he hath concluded that such a mans practise is against the voyce of the Creatures and the Law of heaven The childe shall heare again his example which is so fresh being mentioned but now Melancton had plenty as he called plenty a house full of good things and see how good he was to every one that needed It is observed of him that he never denied a poore mans request if he spake supplications then did Melanotons lips and fingers ends drop mercy like the first drops from a full hony-combe that is the sweetest a Me quod per se fluit maxine lauda lie Plin. lib. 11. c. 15. Vxor liberi c. Cam. vit Mel. p. 38. Nay this is reported of him too He gave almes his wife gave almes and by allowance from both so did the children and servants also Now it was as it should be He by Gods favour had many good things he did good to many nay to all or such was his desire and Vniversos inquit cupio i old p. 41. this is our duty Now we have given the Creatures their due man his due we will labour to give God His due also for by this time the child seeth better how he stands engaged God hath given all these as servants to man all minister to him nay the Angels also for so I should have said how should this engage his heart to serve his Lord what all for him poore little creature there is not such adiminutive in the world For the Nations are but as a drop of the bucket or small dust of the ballance b Esay 40. 15. What is man then who beares out himselfe So little comparatively that you cannot see him for he is nothing For this nothing hath God created all things even to serve this little little Master whom they call Lord and they say well But this doth wonderfully engage to duty Hath God so honoured him The Sun for him Moone for him Ayre for him c. for so I should goe over all All for him how reasonable a thing is it that he should be all for his God that he should serve Him feare Him so it should be nay so it must be if man looks that the creatures should serve him He must serve his Lord else very likely the Creatures will rebell and rise up against their Lord they will obey and awe him while hee keeps himselfe as an obedient servant to his great Master for so we know the Viper the Lyon the fire did those hurtfull those devouring Creatures But if this Man be a Rebell against his God the weakest and most contemptible creatures may doe as they have done rise up against man and he shall fall before them because hee is fallen from the service of his God For thus it hath been A gnat a flie an haire a crum have choked him frogges mice have annoyed him toads rats have eat him up so have lice also so weake a Childs Patrimony Preface p. 41. thing is man when he forsakes the God of his strength the rock of his salvation Man must serve his Creator no doubt of that so he doth I hope for who doth not serve God I am perswaded nay no matter what I am perswaded of we know That the Heathen did serve God they glorified Him too The sacred Writ gives cleare intimation hereof They knew God and they glorified Him but here they fell short as we doe by thousands in the manner and that is all in Gods service They glorisied Him but not as God That but Rom. 1. 21. and not as corrupted all their service so now we must have a reasonable service such a service as reason tells us is suitable to God our Master in heaven Who created all things to serve His Glory as the chiese end and man in subordination thereto we must serve Him as God That service which will passe as currant money betwixt me and my Governor yet I will addresse my selfe with care and reverence in my service before him will bee too light in the ballance when wee come before God Bringest thou such a service to Mee Goe offer it to thy Governor who hath his breath in his nostrils as thou hast see whether he will accept of thy person or thy service for blinde and lame it is and if he will not a man as thou art then venture not to come before Me with such a service for in My hand is thy breath and all thy wayes I am God as a God I must be served and then thou glorifiest mee Wee have this more then intimated in the first of Malachi Veâ—se 8. I have often thought of the Text and this I will say There is not any in all the sacred Writ which hath a better edge or sharper point to pierce the side of him or her so to awaken them when they are addressing themselves in their service before God we must serve Him as God not as we serve our Governour wee leave the waight of this service upon that Chapter and the first to the Ramanes verse 21. All the Creatures serve man he must serve God but as God as the great Monarch our Master in Heaven King of Kings and Lord of Lords In that manner man must serve God as God 2. He must be thankfull to Him also Hath he all things to use Is his Lord so bountifull to him doth he provide for his necessity for his delight also this moved a Heathen c Vsque ad deâ—â—â—ias amamur S. n. le Benef. lib. â— Lâ—p 5. Man must be thankfull and chearfull in thanksgiving for so it is expected else hee may reade what followes d Deut. 28. 47 48. I debated upon this large Theame in a fitting place I
shall be the shorter here and borrow nothing thence Childs Patrimony p. 68. The learned Knight hath a feeling speech It is a note of much unthankfulnesse to entertaine the blessings of God with a sullen and unfeeling disposition What full of blessings within Hist 3. 1. 11. and without made up as it were thereof the fuller of praise should his mouth be and his heart as if filled with thankes pressed downe running over Oh how unworthy a Christian a Man that lives continually upon the doles of mercy to have his mouth wide opened to receive blessings and closed up as mute as a fish when hee should returne praise and thanks how unbeseeming a sight to see a man under the continuall droppings shal I say rather streams of blessings and yet as dry as a Pumice-stone as the parched places of the Wildernesse Better had it been for him that he had seene no good all his dayes better he had been as the King prayed the Mountaine of Gilboa might be upon whom neither dew nor raine had fallen for then his condemnation had been light and easie to be born but now it will be very heavy because he is compassed about with blessings mercies distill upon him from above like the deâ—v and rain upon the grasse and yet behold barrennesse the heart is shut up and the tongue filent I professe heartily now I have here penned my own condemnation and have stopt my own mouth for my self with thousand thousands fall short infinitely short here Certain it is for it is the conclusion of experience we are then most apt to forget God when He remembers us most and most graciously When His sootsteps drop fatnesse then we are leanest when our Table is fullest then we are more likely to lift up the heele in rebellion rather then the voyce in thanksgiving Therefore it is That the Spirit of God bids us beware take heed looke well to your selves these are the Caveats the Cautions theremembrances the Spirit gives all along specially then when our portion is satlest All this I must passe over though it were very good to build Tabernacles here that our thoughts might fixe upon Gods mercies that so our hearts might be inclined to a proportionable thanksgiving a Reade M. wards note out of Bradward in his fruitfull Sermon A peace-Offering I shall only remember Melancthon at this point also hee was invited to a great feast and thither he came and all the words from the Master of the seast were Eate eate eate I pray you eate that 's the manner If he should say as fast Drinke drinke drinke pray you drinke wee might thinke he were not Master of himselfe and were resolved to doe us the greatest dishonour to make us not our owne men neither this by the way but so it was In the very midst of the feast up riseth the Master to addresse a City complement to his honoured friend Miclancthon and this it was I am sorry Sir I am not better provided for you Better provided out uponthee astrange returne for his good cheare but very sitting hee was never knowne to hee more angry not his spirit more stirred for indeed hee saw God quite forgot and his grace slighted yeatrod under out upon thee what a wretch art thou Better for mee the worst Camer in vita Mel. p. 68. bit here is too good for thee and for mee I expected to heare from thee nothing else but praises thanksgiving had beene comely and but according to the Rule Deut. 8. 10. and law of mercies Certainly thou dost but complement with thy God too for wert thou thankfull thou durst not have spoken so slightly of His mercies before men God forgive thee and let it be thy hearty prayer also for thy provision here is too much and too good unlesse thy heart were better here is no thanksgiving at all but that was thy proper service being the Master here So hee reproved his Host Indeed it is a custome it was not so of old The greater the seast and the Master thereof the more out of custome in his own person to bespeake a blessing Let custome carry it but I am perswaded I could conclude against it and give reasons strong enough to breake this custome especially amongst the Churchmen though no man is too high to give thanks to the Highest Wee will thinke on Melancthons words when wee make a feast or partake of it we must be thankefull to God wee see how wee stand bound to it though we cannot tell the obligations but so many mercies so many bonds But see how wee have forgot our selves we must be thankfull who doth not give God thanks The Heathen did we are sure and wee doe no more then they if we be not thank to Him as to God who gives all things Rom. 1. 21. richly to enjoy As to God the manner is all wee heard so before in that manner we must be thankfull 3. And patient too under this asfliction and under that under three crosses and also under foure The reason is plaine and therefore wee will bee short here Suppose the man hath foure crosses hee hath foure hundred Blessings Hee receives good things every moment His houre-glasse hath not more sands then hee receives blessings hee must then take in good part the evils he feeles so and yet his sense may be mistaken for chat which hee calls evill and grievous to the flesh God can turne to good so as thereout shall grow if he can be quiet and patient a sweet fruit of righteousnesse for it is no riddle now Out of the strong came sweetnesse a Iudg. 14. â—4 How ever greater reason yet that the man should bee patient for though his evils be many and grievous God can lay on more and make them more smart and grievous yet there is no contending with Him Hee is stronger then we but Hee will do us good in the end if wee can be patient now 4. And depend on Him in silence great reason He should have the glory of our dependence for we are at his finding And though the man finds his provision short yet he must remember that Hee that created all things and worketh hitherto is not weary He can and will create comforts too And let not the man feare for He that holds Esay 40. up the earth will sustaine him in his fainting sits if he can hold his heart in a dependence upon Him And now though we have not given God his due for we shall still fall short at that high point yet wee passe on to the next proposition which wee shall cleare first and conclude from thence after And although all along I speake to the Child and to his capacity yet we shall see the wild Gallant shall be hampered anon and bound to his good behaviour I meane him who makes play his worke turnes night into day and day into night eates and drinkes and riseth up to play We will
higher place in the World but for every man a very fit lesson It teacheth us to beware we meddle not with that which is a mans living which brings him in his bread though it seeme never so meane and contemptible in our eyes as the Milstone doth so contemptible though it be yet it is dangerous to heave at it it may prove a burdensome stone For if I take it away from the man wee Deut. 24. 6. know what it doth import for it is his living I take away his life with it also that I doe The words are expresse No man shall take the nether or the upper Milstone to pledg for he taketh life to pledge Life is a precious thing then so is that which maintaines life If I take away lively hood life is taken away too Nay it is the highest degree of cruelty against the body that wee reade of I will relate a story touching as bloody a person as any our modern Histories make mention of D. Alva was his name imployed by Philip the second for the regaining the Low Councries to the Crown of Spain In prosecution of which great designe he spent as the King spake or rather sighed on his death-bed a great treasure a masse of money but made no other returne thereof to his great Master but in Barrells Grimston Hist p. 413 or Tuns of blood Amongst other his nororious and bloody practises this is scored up in the reddest letters Hee had besieged the town of Harlem and shortly after parling with the poore people there it was compounded they should yeeld the Town and have their lives The peeled people were well apaid life is well bought at any reasoble rate One day passed and a second came all that while they were pent up from livelihood They call out for bread bread for they thought that was included in the bargaine if life then meanes to support life No said the Generall yee were mistaken I gave you your lives I told yee not you should have bread too This I say is scored up in red letters amidst a thousand more his bloody executions but exceeding all in bloody cruelty Indeed with our good God life is more the food but with man food is more then life It more then seems then if I take away life I am a murtherer but if I take away the Milstone that is bread I am such an one a murtherer I meane but in an higher degree and more notorious Deliver us from blood good Lord for though life is very precious yet to man that which maintaines life is yet more precious And now we have so touched this stone that we finde it to be a very precious stone The finest rubie is not to be compared to it for God accounts it as precious as life and man accounts it more precious so we leave the Milstone for we have seene into it and through it We goe now towards the Church for that is the way to make the lessons wee have heard profitable CHAP. IX The Church sacred in reference to the great workes done there what they are We must be at cost if wee looke to know them for they are chargeable workes Joshuahs counsell explained cleares all this and is of the same use unto us now as to his people of old for Direction of Masters and Correction of Servants I Should now lead the childe from thence into the field but we have been there already to my cost and we have been very circumspect there for we have viewed above below and round about us No more remaines now but that we return to the Temple againe for there we were first and there we will be last for after we have viewed that sacred place a little we shall make towards a sitting Conclution To the Church then we goe but we will not goe in Thou shalt peep into it thrusting in thy head or so but no further then as thou maist discerne how neat and costly all things are there so we suppose no further shalt thou goe For me to present my selfe there or to present thee there is a matter of eost a chargeable work and properly the Parents We must remember how it it was under the Law The poorest came not to the Temple but something he brought according as his estate was but the meanest something That is true for that was a very Obj. chargeable service But that burthen is taken off now It is indeed God blessed for every Answ hath taken off that yoak But yet now the shadow is gone the substance is come there is that we may call cost remaining still what it is we shall know presently Cursed is he still that serveth the Lord with that which costs him nothing we cannot goe to a Play-house but it will cost something and as the place is higher or lower so must the cost be And think we then the presenting our selves before the Lord in His house shall cost us nothing Who made us so familiar as a great person said to one who was too bold with him Look childe behold the place well goe round about it look in see the beauty of it Why all this beauty It is the house that God hath builded for the honour of His great Name that it is We must carry our selves reverently there If thou dost heare any laughing talking brawling there or seest any more irreverent carriage know that so it should not be but a Christian like deportment every where Of two extreames we say not which is better being both extreme naught But certainly it is a more seemly a more becomming sight even a devout and humble superslition then a prophane and bold rudenesse not tolerable in a common house This as we said is Gods house And yet thou must not conceive that the earth or stones or wood there such materialls have any holinesse in them any at all No take heed of that vain thought But in relation and reference to the great things done there the place is an holy place Gods Name is called on there Holy and Reverend is His Name Tidings of great joy are heard there the everlasting Gospel that by which we must be judged by which we stand or fall at the last day This is published there and made knowne to the children of men There the reproach of Aegypt is rolled away a Josn 5. 9. There the Lord Christ doth even now at this day as great things as He did in the dayes of His flesh He healed the withered arme opened the eyes that were shut made the lame to goe great things these He doth the same things now He by the ministry of His faithfull servants He is the great Prophet doth open mens eyes doth turn them from darknesse to light and from b Acts 26. 13. c. Wonders no doubt works for which the Lord Jesus Christ shall be admired c 2 Thes 1. 10. And can we think we may come to Church we may bring our bodies