meaning that euery where while need requireth he runneth or is present to giue vs assistance Or as others expound it from burning that hee will burne the dwelling of the wicked when hee is said to bee a consuming fire vnto them according to Gregorie the Great Wee giue to Angels foure attributes Subtilty of essence perspicacitie of vnderstanding facultie of free will personall discretion In Angels there be foure dignities Dignity of creation grace of confirmation loue of creation vision of the Diuinity There be foure kinde of metals which participate with the foure elements There were 4 things in vse among the old Romanes which made them famous 1 They did vsually fight with the enemie in their own territories as in Africa not at home 2 They endeuored to keepe their souldiers in subiection 3 Their money and troupes of horse men were alwaies ready 4 Their forces by sea were greatly respected Earthly lead and siluer waterie quick-siluer ayerie copper and brasse fierie gold and iron In the soule vnderstanding resembleth fire reason the ayre imagination the water sense the earth Our sight also is fierie hearing aierie smell and taste is referred vnto the water our touching is earthie alwaies dealing with those crassious bodies Now our actions and operations depend of those foure elements A slow motion and solid prefigureth the earth the water signifieth feare sluggishnes and one that is negligent the ayre alacritie friendly manners the fire an acute vehement or angrie passion Whatsoeuer man can thinke vpon foure manner of waies God is He createth euery thing he considerateth of them created he loueth them because hee created them hee maintaineth and sustayneth them The soule of man is a foure fold Number substantiall vniforme conuersiue to her selfe rationall Euery noble soule hath a fourefold operation One diuine the other intellectuall rationall and animall It hath a diuine operatition by the image of diuine proprietie intellectuall by formality of her participation with intelligences rationall by the perfection of her proper essentialitie Animall or naturall by her communion with the body The nutritiue part of the soule hath foure coadjutors Attractiue which taketh in necessaries vnto nutriment Digestiue which separateth the good from the bad Retentiue There are 4 kingly vertues required in 〈◊〉 Wit Experience Prudence Loue of their common wealth which keepeth the meat so long in one place vntill it be altered or concocted Expulsiue which expelleth that which is superfluous in the nutriment The soule by vnderstanding knoweth all things foure manner of waies God which is aboue her her selfe within her selfe the Angels neere her selfe and whatsoeuer is conteyned in the whole Vniuerse beneath her selfe Powers cognitiue are considered by foure differences of vertue intellectiue There are foure kinds of diuine furie loue poefie prophesie mystery All which you may find in Ficuius Episilib 11. The first is of nature diuided into agent and patient The second is of the obiect diuiding the vnderstanding into speculatiue and practiue The third of dignity diuiding reason in that part which is superiour and inferior The fourth is of comparison to the act diuiding the vnderstanding into habit and action That which the Philosopher calls force mouing is quadruple imperatiue conciliatiue affectiue or conciliatiue and affectiue The first is Synderesis some will haue it to be Liberum Arbitrium The second is reason The third is will naturall There be 4 notable qualities required in a Captaine That he bee valiâ—nt wise nimble eloquent and deliberatiue The fourth is vnderstanding practick There bee foure sorts of true dreames The first is betweene sleeping and waking The second that which one seeth of another The third whose interpretation in the night time is vnfolded vnto the dreamer The fourth that is rehearsed to him that dreameth He that meaneth to gaine any certainty forth of Oracles must obserue these foure precepts He must vse abstinence There are 4 properties of a good wife To bee well borne to bee well formed to be well moralized to bee well dowred which defendeth him against the encountrings of diuels and conioyneth him to God He must obserue temperancie which strengthens health Hee must abandon superfluous things He must be respectiue of the meat he eateth For as One saith vsus siccorum ciborum et corpus crassum iciunijs extenuatum et facile permeabilem spiritum humanum purum et potentem reddit They therefore that drench their bodies with much drinke their soules with a plethorie of noxious cogitations There are 4 things desired of all men but neuer or seldome obteined A sober maid assured of looke and minde can neuer dreame true dreames nor see heauenly visions nor haue any thing to doe with the interpretation of experienced Oracles For it will euer be a Maxime Sicca anima sapientissima All kinde of variation in musick consists of foure kindes systeme loue concent and modulation There be foure things which haue an admirable power in nature The stone called Heraclius those plants called Cychoreus Scorpiarius Heliotropium I here be foure other things as admirable A sad young man not giuen to lust wast A husband true not â—elous and vnkind A constant wife not wilfull wise but chaste The loadstone the bloud of a goat the bunch that is vpon the forehead of a fold the stones of a Castor Comets presage the death of Princes and great Personages for foure causes which are all particularly handled by Myzaldus In euery coeâ—licall signification or prediction as touching comets foure things must be obserued according to Ptolomie Place time manner quality Bacchilides saith that foure things are required in a banquet Moderate preparation of Bread and Wine pleasing conference true beneuolence of the guests good Wine wherein old men take great delight Comet Lâ—b 2. cap. 4. There were foure properties in Caesar which made him renowned through all the world Labour in the dispatch of his businesse fortitude The strength of France consisteth in these foure things First that the States obserue well their King That they abound in riches That they grow cunning and exercised in the warre That the Cities Townes and Castles standing neere the Frontiers beo well peopled and made strong Claud us Sisellius De monar Galliae L. 2. in the hazarding of himselfe industrie in doing celeritie in executing To keepe an house foure things are needfull To feede well to feede enough to cloath to till the ground according to M. Cato Those Alchymists or Paracelsians in refining of gold vse foure organes or instruments Solution or putrefaction whereby gold is brought to his first matter Sublimation by whose helpe the spirit soule tincture strength and vertue lying hid in the gold are drawne forth and segregated Caloination or physicall digestion by which the spirit and soule with the body is made an vnion so that out of the three parts there is an vnity made of the whole Fixation by which those three partes distinguished are
truth diligence That which the Paracelsians call Antimonie hath twelue excellent preseruatiues The first is called Panchreston helping many euill affections Pantagogon fit to purge all kinde of humors Theodoretum There be thirteene mathematicall instruments cited by Posse Biblio Selec To. 2. cap. 9. for his diuine help 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for his efficacie in preseruing of health Soterion an wholsome medicament Lysippyreton extinguishing all kinde of hot agues Theodoton a remedy giuen vs from God Theopempton sent from God Panareton endued with all kinde of vertue Polychreston good for many things Isochryson which is to be equalled with gold Lysiponon mitigating all kinde of paine and griefe There be 18 kindes of pthongs in musick treated of by Prolomy â—uchde and others There bee fourteene externe chanels or passages in mans head according to some Anatomists Vnder the seuenteene those seuenteene humors mentioned by Cardan may be represented Zoroastres dwelt in the wildernesse twenty yeeres Moses in his booke of Genesis instructed from God himselfe entreateth of twenty two high and profound poynts such as were neuer handled by any Phylosopher Iew or Gentile Polidor Virgil maketh mention of twenty seuerall nations which worshipped twenty strange gods The beginning of the world God principles of humane things that we call Chaos Deep darknes waters Arid hearbes plants Sunne Moone Starres beastes man the soule intelligent Angels Deluge Gyants Towre of Babel diuision of Tongues and so forth All these things and much more he hath written in such a stile and character that those antient Hebrewes Greekes and Latines L b. 1. cap. 1. haue wond ed at his writing So that some haue not sticked to call him Gods Secretary taking pen in hand to write by his appoyntment There are twenty two Hebrew Letters according to the Number of those Latine Elements There be twenty foure propheticall books called Canonicall according to the Greeke Alphabet Twenty foure Elders are mentioned in the Apocalypse There were twenty foure famous Physicians of Arabia whose names are these alphabetically set downe in this wise Aboal Achme sonne to Abraham Agazo Asal Albumazar Albuer Ammuram Anicenna Auerrois Auenzoar Ebezenzar Elabin Hunim Hamech Elengezar Haly Abbas Saint Hierom affirmes that the Hebrewes made them a Cytharen consisting of 24 strings to the forme of Δ. Epist ad Darda de instru music Haly sonne of Abbas Isaac Abenamaram Mesne Rabi Razis Sabor sonne of Zuzer King of Medoram Serapio Xirase King of Med. It seemeth by this that Physick was in great request in those times seeing Kings were not onely Patrones but chiefe professors of that Æsculapian Science which now by vnskilfull Empiricks and methodians is taken in hand to the great reproach of that worthy and learned study Out of the Text of Scripture and Denuis Areopagite as also from some School-men it will easily be proued that hell hath twenty foure seuerall and distinct punishments Heat of fire a gnashing of teeth darknes smoke weeping sadnesse aspect of diuels crying ariditie thirst sulphureous smell the worm of conscience bands prison fear grief shame enuy rancor want of diuine vision the taking away all hope of redeÌ„ption Andra. Lau. Anato lib. 5. cap. 8. proteruous phantasie mad concupiscence irascible furie The twenty fift Number is famous for this in that there bee so many interne holes or creuises in the head of a man according to the probable computation of some Anatomists The twenty seuenth is a solid Nùber consisting of three times nine spoken of before vnder which progression Huga de S. Victore concludeth the quaterne faculties of the soule The thirtith Number is not without some secret vertue being a triplication of the denarie neither doth it want his signification There are 30 Ornaments required in a faire Virgin expressed elegantly in verse by Cornigerus which were found in Helena of Troy Silua nuptial.pagina 182. because in the space of thirty dayes the Sunne runneth his course through the twelue parts of the Zodiack touched before in this Chapter His extendure is famous for those thirty antient Ciuill Lawyers whose bookes are mentioned in the Pandects of Iustinian the Emperor Their seuerall names are also recorded by that excellent Scholar and Latinist Angelus Politian There bee thirty two teeth in a mans head by consent of all Anatomists on both cheekes equally diuided But it is strange that most men should haue so many and others so few Some write that Enripheus Cyrenens and Phirrus that was King of Epirontes Epis lib 5. Epis 11. had but one tooth in their vppermost jawe and that Direphna daughter to Mithridate wanted both rowes of teeth An Lau. Anato lib. 5. cap. 12. In Hercules and others a threefold chest was found But this was beyond the ordinary course of nature The Zodiack hath thirty fiue burdens called in Latine Gestamina But there is no Number more famous in the Scripture then the fortith Number God made the raine to fall forty dayes together on the earth Christ made the raigne of our saluation to abide forty houres together vpon the earth after his Passion M. Vigerius de cha christia according to the Symbole of that learned Cardinall Moses tooke the Law vpon mount Sina for forty dayes Christ in forty houres went away Conqueror ouer heauen earth and hell Helias fed with one morsell of bread came in forty dayes to the Mount of Oreb Christ fed with the Martyrdome of his Crosse after forty houres expired came from darknes to life againe Christ againe did fast forty dayes in the desart and ouercame Satan Now for the further explaining of this some hold that the soule of Christ remained separated from his body forty houres taking them from three dayes For he suffered about the vernall Equinoct that is at that time when the dayes and nights are of one length and about the middle of the day he let goe his spirit So that hee died six houres before the Sunne went downe because in the time of the Equinoctiall if the day haue twelue houres the middle of the day hath six before Sunne-set He was buried about the completorie houre that is about the going downe of the Sunne He staied in his Sepulcher an whole night going before the Sabbath day and the whole day of the Sabbath which contayne in them twenty foure houres In the morning going before the Dominicall day which was the third day of his death he rose againe The morning goeth for two houres before the Sunne riseth So that wee must beleeue his body remained in the graue on that third day for the space of tenne houres Now six houres of the day of his death and twenty foure of the whole Sabbath day make full thirty Adde tenne houres more of the night following the third day and they make vp iust fotty Therefore the soule of Christ was separated from his body for the space of forty houres that is six before his buriall and after that
Church that I knowe CHAP. XVII Arithmeticall Discourse I Minde not in this Chapter to play the Arithmetician by putting Numbers for ciphers ciphers for Numbers as though I were an Accountant or bredde vp in a merchants or Scriueners shoppe No I meane to frame a scale or ladder according to Theologicall Arithmeticke such an one as neuer was deuised by any man before This is no otherwise then a secret manner of discoursing as touching the subiects of euery thing according to the harmony of Numbers figures concents Wee know that Numbers worke much on the soule figures vpon bodies concent vpon creatures I will frame our scale first afterwards wee will proceede in order to speake of all their subiects Our scale conteyneth six degrees beginning from the higher most to the lowest The first is the Architypall world in which is 〈◊〉 that is the diuine essence beeing God himselfe Second is the intellectuall world in which are intelligences Third is the celestiall in which are those simple bodies wanting all kinde of permixtion Fourth is the lesser world where are placed those rationall bodies Fift is elementarie in this are placed those pure naturall and artificiall creatures Sixt is the infernall world wherein those euill and malignant spirits beare rule In the architypall world from whence comes the Law of prouidence discourse is made as touhing God by simple Numbers which properly signifie diuine things as denaries celestiall centenaries terrestriall millenaries of the world to come exemplified in this wise First the diuine essence is one the fountaine of all vertue and power Secondly it conteynes in it selfe eternall productions according to the will and vnderstanding Thirdly existing in persons the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost Fourthly the existing Law of prouidence and of eternall happinesse in his holy and most blessed name 〈◊〉 Fiftly the existing Redeemer by the price of his fiue wounds of his bitter passion and in the name and vertue of CHRIST called Pentagrammaton Sixtly by creating and perfecting the world on the sixt day redeeming it againe the sixt day Seuenthly resting from his work called the Sabbath Eightly full of iustice and that iustice the fulnes of iustice Ninthly for that in the ninth houre he let goe his Spirit Tenthly in that the tenth day after his ascension he sent his Paraclete that is the holy Ghost Eleuenthly by sending his heauenly grace that is his comfortable Spirit in his most holy and blessed name In the intellectuall world from whence comes the Law of destiny discourse is made from intelligences in this wise First the foule of the world is one supreme intelligence the first creature the fountaine of life Secondly it is fellow vnto Angells which hath constituted that there should bee two intelligible substances Thirdly there are three hierarchies of Angells three degrees of the blessed foure triplicities or hierarchies intelligible foure presidents ouer the corners of heauen foure gouernours of the elements 4 beasts of sanctity 4 triplicities of Tribes foure triplicities Apostles 5 intelligible substances six orders of Angels which are not sent to gouern beneath 7 Angels which stand before the Throne of God eight rewards of beatitudes nine companies of Angels 9 Angells gouerning by triplicities 10 orders of the blessed bearing rule from the seprenary Number In the celestiall world from whence the Law of nature is cōsidered there is one Prince of Stars and fountain of light two great lights 3 quaternions of signs 3 quaternions of houses 3. Lords of triplicities 4 triplicities of signes so many qualities of celestiall elements fiue erraticall Starres called Domini terminorum six Planets passing from the Eccliptick thorow the latitude of the Zodiack 7 elements are adioyned to these with the Sun eight visible heauens 9 mouing Sphears ten Spheares of the world twelue signes of the Zodiack in foure triplicities of signes In the lesser world from whence the Law of wisdome consisteth there is to be considered first one liuing thing and last dying two principall seats of the soule three parts corresponding the threefold world foure elements of man so many powers of the soule and iudiciall faculties foure morall vertues foure elements of mans body foure spirits humors complexions fiue senses six degrees of man seuen members integrall distributed vnto Planers seuen holes or cauernacles of the head eight degrees of beatitude nine senses outward and inward ten arteries or pores of the inward man In the elementarie World where the Lawe of generation and corruption abideth there is to bee found one subject and instrument of all vertues naturall and supernaturall two elements producing a liuing soule three degrees of elements foure elements as many qualities seasons corners of the earth perfect kindes of mixt things so many kindes of creatures answerable to those elements fiue kindes of corruptibles or Species Mixtorum in Plants metals stones six subsanticous qualities of elements seuen birds of Planets so many fishes of Planets metals of Planets beasts and stones eight particular qualities nine stones representing nine companies of Angels tenne beasts of sanctity lifted vp to heauen twelue plants so many stones twelue moneths so many birds twelue sacred beasts and trees mentioned by those who haue treated any thing touching Orphicall Theologie In the infernall world where the Law of wrath and punishment endureth from euerlasting there is to bee seene one Prince of rebellious angels two captaines of diuels two things which Christ denounced against the damned three infernall Furies three infernall Iudges so many degrees of the damned foure Princes of diuels bearing rule in the elements called by Saint Paul Ayerie spirits foure riuers infernall answerable to those in Paradise so many Princes of diuels appointed ouer the foure corners of the world fiue corporall torments six diuels Authors of all calamities seuen infernall mansions if we beleeue Rabbi Ioseph in his booke called Hortus Nucis eight rewards of the damned nine orders of euill spirits tenne orders of damned to whom if you put the soules of the damned and three degrees of the damned they make just twelue degrees of diuels and damned He that can attaine to the Secrets of this scale 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 facile cognoseet to vse the words of that notable Peripatetick that is in one word he shall be able to comprehend both the sympathy and antipathy of all this whole Vniuerse set before his eies to contemplate he shall consider order which precedeth substance which bringeth proprietie which telleth vs what is absolute simple subiect what is the imperfection of substances of influences of parts with many other singularities beyond all formall naturall and artificiall Arithmetick Which scale in one entire summe hath shewed as much as in this whole discourse in grosse hath beene remonstrated so that it is no other than a compendious subtraction of the others confused and copious multiplication CHAP. XVIII Geometricall discourse WEE may discourse as wel by those Geometrical Figures seeing such māner of Figures consist of Nūbers Wherof their
produced vnder the doubleterme of a punct Beeing therefore of small force and efficacie his extendure cannot be so large as others be First wee will beginne with the two Tables of Moses of whom Austen writeth in this manner What disputations what letters drawne from Philosophers Fpistol 3. ad volusia what Lawes of Cities are to be compared to those two precepts of charitie wherein Christ said that all the Lawe and Prophets did consist Heer are morall logicall and politicall counsels to be learned Pythagoras rule taught his schollers consisteth of two to learne how to speak and to knowe how to hold ones peace The soule is composed of a twofold essence The one according to Pythagoras called indiuiduous which Plato calleth intelligible the other diuiduous which he calleth sensitiue There bee two parts in man animall and rationall the one sited in the heart the other in the head according to Plato's diuision There bee two senses in mans body interne and externe The one appertaineth to the soule and hath reason for his guide the other goeth through all the parts of the body ruling the things without the body whereof the sight and hearing is principall There be two principall affections called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pleasure and griefe contrary to the doting of the Stoickes who will haue them proceede from opinion not from nature There be two vnderstandings in vs the one agent the other patient By that part which is counted immortall is signified the agent by the other the passible intellect There are two principall notices of things giuen vs from God whence all philosophy as from a fountain hath his beginning The one called Ana in the Hebrew Tongue whereby from the instinct of nature wee discerne good from euill which the Doctors of the Church call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The other whereby wee know truth from falsitie called Conscientia The Art of Physick is diuided into two parts Theorique and practick Astrologie consisteth of two naturall and coniecturall Arithmetick is composed of two Numbers Par and Impar spoken of before Musick is either naturall or artificiall Artificiall is composed of two Arithmick and metrick There is a twofold life actiue and contemplatiue By the one is figured Lea by the other Rachel There be two astrologicall motions touching those wandring Starres the one from the West to the East the other from the East to the West of the first Glo be Libel contra astrologor iudicia which is the first and swiftest of all according to Trapezontius Historie containeth two kindes of narrations Those that be fabulous others that are serious Others diuide it into that which is manifest that which is hidden Fabularie consisteth of two sorts either to shew a man pleasure as encomicall arguments or by way of exhortation to deterre men from vice to vertue The one feigneth an argument as in Esopes Fables or expresseth truth vnder obscenous speeches or by certaine poeticall figments or perchance couereth it vnder some vaile or moralization as antient philosophers did That which is serious either it is geographicall temporall chronicall naturall annuall politicall and so forth There be two Sabbaths contrary to the opinion of some Rabbins who expounding these words in Ezechiel Sabbata meadedi eis vnder the plurall Number Cap. 20. ◠12. will haue euery kinde of rest mentioned in the law taken for a Sabbath The one is a Sabbath of rest the other a Sabbath of Sabbaths when cuery soule dislodged from his Tabernacle of sinne shall possesse his true and proper countrie giuen him as an inheritance which is the last and most glorious Iubilie By the first may bee signified the graue or the time that the soule of man is separated from the body There are two principal Cōmandements giuen vs from God wherin the whole Decalogue consisteth mentioned in our other Chapter To loue God and our neighbour as our selfe There are two Sacraments Baptisme and the Supper of our Lord. Popish Arithmetick hath found out others contrary to Christs institution There are two Secrets among those Cabalists One that is a simple Secret the other a Secret Cui non est simile called the Secret of Secrets The one is compounded of Art knowledge wisdome affection power habit of the minde and so forth The other from extasie voyce inspiration vision and whatsoeuer is giuen vs from aboue All the elements in the eight bodies of heauen according to Iamblicus after an heauenly manner are found two times retrograde from their procession according to the opinion of Picus they are twice enumerated Theologie is contemplatiue and practiue Saint Bartholomew alleadged by a Thalmudist diuides it into little great As the Hebrewes hold there be two worlds so Phylo will haue two Temples belonging to God One is this world wherein his holy Word is our chiefest Bishop the first begotten The other is our rationall soule whose Priest is the true man of God What can bee more plaine diuine miraculous saith one then for the highest Bishop of the Temple which is the world to become the diuine Word the first begotten The world to be the Temple of God The first-begotten which is his Word begotten from all eternitie to be the hie-Priest of this Temple which is our soule There is a twofold halite of the earth one moist resembling the water the other drie compared to the fire That which wee call Fatuus ignis is diuided into two precedent or subsequent The one is called Castor the other Pollux Man resembleth God in two respects In that hee is made according to Gods owne Image in that hee hath a rationall soule So that it is truly said by one Non reperitur aliquid in homine in quo non fulgegeat aliquid diuinitatis nec quicquam est in Deo quod ipsum etiam non representetur in homine There are two natures in Christ cōtrarie to the heresie of those Monothelites There be two letters mentioned in the Apocalypse wherein Christ hath shewed vnto vs all his diuinitie α and ω. And he hath done it for these reasons following For as α is the beginning of Greeke elements ω the end and terme so is he the beginning because no man went afore him and the end without end because no end shall follow him He is the beginning also of all things from whom all things proceed and for whom all things were made he is the end vnto which all things tend and in whom all things shall haue their abiding There are two Adams the one earthly cap. 3. v. 12. the other celestiall according to that saying in Genesis Ecce Adam sicut vnus ex nobis Hee sayd not one like vnto you speaking vnto the Angels according to some Rabbines exposition but like vnto vs making the second Person in Trinity For in the Angels there is a Number or alteritie which you will In vs which is meant by Christ the second Adam there is infinite vnity eternall simple absolute And yet
in earnest 2 He neuer speaketh ill 3 He neuer speaketh but vpon good cause is necessarie for three respects To know the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to prohibite vnapt times of purging phlebotomizing and giuing of physick There are three things needefull to bee knowne in foretelling The initiall houre the state of the heauens or their position vnto a certain houre the certaine effects of the heauens and Starres The earth hath three appellations animall vegetall minerall It hath three vertues or properties It is the matter whereby wee were first created the mother of all things the truest physick as touching our restauration and conseruation Hee that knoweth himselfe knoweth all things in himselfe God vnto whose likenes hee was made the world whose image hee beareth all the creatures with whom hee symbolizeth Mans dignity consisteth in three things In that God made him a reasonable creature innocent in his life potent in his dominion Man hath a threefold eie Of the flesh whereby hee seeth the world of reason whereby hee seeth his minde of contemplation whereby hee seeth God In one that shall worthily occupie the Pulpit are required these three things Meet to teach wherein are required Grauitie Learning Eloquence As in the Diuinity there is one essence and three persons So in Christ there is one Person and three essences his Deitie his soule and flesh Christs natiuitie is threefold diuine humane of his owne accord the first from his Father the second by his Mother the last by his will There appeared his benignitie and humanity at his natiuity from a threefold receptacle From the bosome of his Father wherein hee lay hid from the shadow of the Law wherein he was figured from the belly of his mother wherein hee was formed His vnion is threefold his deitie with the soule his deitie with the flesh his soule with the flesh Meet to reproue wherein are required Courage Iudgement His first vnion remained still the third was separated vpon the Crosse Christ lay in his graue 3 dayes Some will haue his soule to remaine three dayes in hell Philosophie is diuided into 3 partes physicall logicall morall The action of the soule is threefold By vegetating to bee existing by vnderstanding to be good by reasoning Meet to conuince wherein are required Arts Memorie Knowledge to be excellent good Her vegetable parts are 3 generatiue for the conseruation of their Species augmentatiue for the conseruation of her indiuiduous nutritiue for the perfection of her subiect There is a threefold liberty of free will One is of naure the other of grace the third of glory He that wil be a teller of true dreames must bee endued with these three qualities We are bound to flie hereticks for three causes Because they are excōmunicated and cut off from the body of the Church Because communicating with them we are made partakers of their idolatrie Because wee tempt God to make vs like vnto them He must haue a pure phantasticall spirit apt to prophecie hee must vse frequent meditation and moderate diet There be 3 kindes of learners one that vnderstandeth things of himself the other that harkens to things propounded the last that neither vnderstandeth himself nor will listen to others instructing And this is the worst of all saith Hesiodus Man vseth to dreame three manner of waies by impulsion from aboue First hee can foretell that hee hath some cognation with some celestiall bodie secondly that the aire is full of immortall creatures in which certaine sparkles of noted truth are apparant thirdly that Angels or some supernall powers speake familiarly with him And it is euen a note of true foretelling when the soule is neere departed out of the body There are three conditions of vertue the remouing of temptation multiplication of good workes delight in doing well There bee three kindes of triumphs Humility hath these three excellent properties 1 Shee thinketh no booke so bad but hath some good lesson in it 2 Shee despiseth none of whom shee may learn 3 Shee scorneth none of whom shee hath learned True when as for a mans merits a crowne or garland is giuen him by mutuall consent of the citizens most ample when hee is aduanced to dignity for his vertue most shamefull when he riseth higher through the losse or disgrace of other men All kinde of Cometographie consisteth in three treated of by Mizaldus with much learning and elegancie All kinde of Architecture is tried three manner of waies by the touch-stone by the hammer by the fire Euery modulation is threefold Assumption coniunction vse The art perspectiue putteth vs in minde of a tripled nature intellectuall animall corporeall Memorie consisteth chiefly in three partition common places images Euery peroration consisteth of three Enumeration indignation miseration That which wee call the leprosie is threefold pale white red from Saint Hieromes distinction Diuels are endued with a triple sagacitie Subtiltie of nature by their vespertine knowledge True genealogie consisteth in these three things 1 In the authority of a faithfull and autentique Writer 2 In the neere and aptest pronunciation of each regiō 3 In the site and opportunity of the place vnderstanding naturall things present Experience of time vnderstanding naturall things future Reuelation of superior spirits knowing things that bee voluntary Among the damned three things beare rule Proteruious phantasie mad concupiscence iracundious furie There be three forces in creatures animall naturall vitall The soule of man consisteth in three The minde reason idoll which some call phantasie or imagination There are three faculties of the soule by which we resemble the Image of the Deity The intellect of minde called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taken for the reasonable facultie The meanes whereby it discerneth all things which is compounded of common sense imagination and memory The rationall part which enquireth the causes and effects of things which can neither deceiue not bee deceiued as long it attendeth her office That part of Philosophie we call Metaphysicall consisteth in three things First it comprehendeth God next those mindes se-ioyned from the body last the multiplications beginnings of all kinde of doctrine by the steppes of nature called Axiomata There are three things which are euery where and no where according to Porphirie God vnderstanding the soule There is a threefold ladder of nature wherein three regions of triplicity and in euery of them one state of abstraction is considered The first is the obiect transparant and the exterior phantasie The second is the interior sense phantasie and brutish iudgement The third humane iudgement reason and vnderstanding of all which the minde is Lady and Mistresse There bee three principall meanes or wayes whereby wisdome or the knowledge of all things hath beene deriued vnto vs. The first anon after the creation of the world by tradition dispersed through a great many of nations which if it had not beene violated would haue beene found more profitable vnto mankinde The second by those
will haue it deriued from distribution Among Mathematicks and Poets it is not taken for the same â—hing Arithmeticall is diuided into Par and Impar By one is â—â—â—ified the masculine by the other the feminine gender Thâ— onâ—â—s imperfect diuiduous and infecundious the other perfect fruitfull and indiuiduous Geometricall Number consists of puncts which is a note impartile it treateth of lines straight curued circumferent flexible Rhombus est quatuor linearuÌ„ aequalium non orthogonalium sed tangentium concursus Cylindruâ— GeometricuÌ„ corpus est quod pro â—ius summitate habet duos circulos parallellos Conus geometrica figura est in ipsa basi habens latitudmem in supersicie acumen cum circularicontento Enharmonium quod Enharmonica Diatonicum est quod diatonica dâ—uisione vtitur Chromaticum quod chromatia See of these in Briennius an antient writer cited by Posse Selec Biblio To. 2. cap. 1. Augustine calls the first audicial the second progressory the third occursory the fourth recordable the last sounding Lib. de music 6. c. 9.10.11 jacent perpendicular altern distermine straight angles square narrow summities circles semicircles and those limits called swaddled as also Figures Trilaters Quadrilaters Multilaters From whence come Equilaters Equicrures Gradates Rectangles Acutiangles Obtusiangles and such as are longer as Rhombi Rhombides and Mensulae In such as are solid it comprehendeth Pyramides Prismata Conos Cylinders Cubes Sphears such as are called Octendras Dodecaedras Icosaedras consisting all of diuerse quantities as hath learnedly been handled by Politian Intellectuall Musick is compounded of three Diapazon Diapente Diatessaron resembling the three parts of the minde that is vnderstanding sense and habite The first comprehendeth seuen things the minde imagination memory cogitation opinion reason science The second aimeth at foure sight hearing smelling touching The third consisteth of three increase height decrement That which is called Enharmonious is correspondent to naturall and morall Philosophy Diatonicall to Theology and Ciuill Law Chromaticall to the Mathematick and Economick That which is productiue resembleth the changes of mens liues and the conuersions of manners Of all symphonicall harmony justice hath euer bin taken for the principall so that there is a threefold number or concord Arithmeticall Geometricall Harmonicall Proclus an antient Philosopher constituteth fiue kindes of Numbers in the voice in proportion in the soule in reason and in diuine things so that by putting Theologicall Number to the other three mentioned before is to make a perfect harmony Vnder which I include all those Numbers cited in Scripture touching God or the three Persons in Trinity all those which are mentioned by those antient Doctors of the Church School-men and others who haue treated of holy mysteries whereof this Book shall affoord great plenty As touching the antiquity of Numbers some make a question whether they bee more antient than that which wee call Superficies and the line Macrobius resolueth it in this manner It must needs be saith hee Lib. 1. in Somu Scip. c. 5. that Number is more antient than the other for that from the line we come to the other as to the first from whence all those Geometrical lines or rules are borrowed The first finder-out of Numbers among the Heathens is Pythagoras the Samian some others attribute it to another Pythagoras who was an excellent Grauer or Caruer Linius will haue them to be the inuention of Minerua Polidor Virg l. 1. c. 19. others ascribe it to Mercurie Howsoeuer we need not contend much about their antiquity seeing there is no Monument old or new which can make them so antient as the Book of Genesis or That of Numbers where both in the creation of the world and in the numbring of God's people commanded by God by Moses and Aaron a remarkable President is giuen vs to knowe how greatly the vse of them was respected in those daies So that as God began and finished the Frame of the world with Numbers so he will destroy the same by numbring of his people vnto judgement Considering then all things are made capable of Numbers the heauens earth sea the soule and body of man yea the Angels themselues if wee beleeue those Cabalists what is that which is not comprehended vnder Numbers It is God himself who is that Vnity infinite eternall simple absolute in whom as there is no change so nothing can bee added or taken away from him Who again as he is One from euerlasting so is he vnchangeable in his purpose vnmoueable in his actions past finding-out in his waies making his Throne that he sitteth vpon like himself that the proportion of the one and other might bee equall according to the opinion of that learned School-man To say then that God is not to bee comprehended vnder any Number beeing an Essence numberlesse cannot be offensiue seeing that Maximus Lib. 2. c. 17 an antient Father teacheth vs His God-head is indiuisible because he is without quantity hee is without quantity because hee is not endued with any quality he is void of quaiity because hee is simple he is simple because he is interminate interminate because hee is infinite infinite because he is immoueable immoueable because he wanteth beginning and he could not haue a beginning because hee was from euerlasting Now it resteth that according to order wee should speak of their worth and dignity number force vertue efficacy energie and how large their extendure is as I finde them heer and there related by the testimony of famous Writers Which for auoiding of confusednes fastidiousnes I haue according to their seuerall properties collected them all in a Summe not omitting one Number from the least to the greatest from the Vnary to the Number of fifty and vpwards Neither haue wee barely set down their Numbers properties and effects but haue vnlocked many of their mysteries now and then by diuiding them now and then by adding light vnto them and now and then by bringing in authority and reason for the farther explication explanation and illustration of them All which being performed according to the module of our skill learning and judgement we thought it good in the later end of this discourse to proceed to other speculations borrowing their light from hence or which properly are annexed heerunto by necessary consequence CHAP. III. ONE IF Pythagoras were not the Inuenter of Numbers as some make him yet hee was a great Amplifier and Illuminer of them beyond the common practice of all other Philosophers whatsoeuer so that if hee were to bee blamed in any thing it was because hee did attribute too much vertue to them This is hee Lib. de cura mor. Graco 2. c. 6. who according to the testimony of Theodoret Ambrose and others took his pedigree from the Hebrewes Iearned much from Moses and abstained not from the Iewish Circumcision Which a man can hardly beleeue if he should bee the Author of that transformation of soules into the bodies of other men as it hath been
soule cannot disagree A Number mouing it selfe that which wee call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 harmony spirit light Atomes fire aire earth As of Angels so there bee nine orders of diuells The first are called false gods for they will be worshipped as Gods looking for sacrifices and adorations whose Prince is Beâ—zebub The second are those spirits of lies spoken of by Saint Paul who are addicted to Oracles and by their inchantments delusions predictions and diuinations deceiue the people whose Prince is Artertera In our bookes against Antichrist and his members I haue counted the Pope for one of this number and I haue cited Bernard for mine authorityâ— who calleth Antichrist The Meridian Diuell The third are those vessels of iniquitie or wrath the inuentors of all manner of wickednes and euill arts Belial is their Prince The fourth are the reuengers of wickednesse whose Prince is Asmodeus The fist are those Prestigiators who fain miracles and seduce men vnder colour of false superstition Satan is their Prince If I were not to be thought vncharitable I should place our Iesuites in this rank The sixt are those aerie Spirits who send forth thunder lightning and tempests corrupting the elements causing pestilences and other direfull maladies their Prince is Meririm The seuenth are Furies sowers of discord warres vprores depopulations their Prince is Abadon or Apollion mentioned in the Apocalypse The eightth are slanderers and detracters messengers and explorators of strange newes whose Prince is Astaroth The last are tempters wherof one is appointed to euery man whose Prince is Mammon To conclude of all these there is neuer-a-one good and as One noteth Nullum est malum quod penetrare non audeant nullum bonum quod faciant There are nine holes or cauernacles in mans body whereby the naturall parts perform their duty according to their temperature handled at large by our Anatomists Iohannes Franciseus Picus nephew to Iohn Picus Earl of Mirandula hath written nine worthy Books against false Astrologie Chiromancie Geomancie Sooth-saying Magick Diuination whose contents you may reade in Posseuine Bibâ—soselec To. 2. Cap. 3. CHAP. XII TEN WEE are comne at length to the Number of all perfection within whose compass or centre all other numbers consist and without whom nothing seems to carry the type of perfection Pythagoras calleth it the receptacle and production of all things for that by a collectiue kinde of progression either it makes other Numbers the more perfect included within it or joyned with others it maketh his owne perfection the greater It is a Number without question of admirable power and vertue especially in that we call formall Arithmetick being chiefest among those sphearicall numbers From the vnitie dualty ternary and that which is called Tetrac'ys ariseth his compontion For that being originally diuided from his omnipotent power proceeding to the Art energicall concludeth ten Now the quinarre being his moitie standing in the place of Signifer conteyneth on his right side the next highermost Number which is six and on the left the next lowermost Number which is foure either ascending or descending conjoyned together just ten is made in the whole And being backwards reduced into one wherin lieth his excellency ten is made again which numbred vnto twenty make an vnity and so passing to an hundred a thousand and vpwards Therefore the Greeks note ten with the letter Iota the Hebrews by a punct which signes notwithstanding both to Barbarous and Latines represent a simple kinde of vnity whereof Pythagoras Symbole was framed often mentioned in this discourse His extendure stretcheth large Plato concheth all his moral Philosophy in ten Books touching the framing of a Common-wealth There be ten Commandements giuen vs from God three as touching the first Table seuen concerning the second 0314 0 wherein is redargued the insolencie of Papists who by putting out of one for their better confirmation of images and wrong-displacing of another haue gone about to marre this golden chain of vnity which God himself hath linked together with a knot of inuiolable and indissoluble confederacie Whom therefore GOD hath put together let no man put asunder There be ten Orbs or Sphcars three greater seuen lesser All these mooue sauing Empireum which is the Seat of GOD himself Vnder Chrystalline wee vnderstand that part of the first matter which according to Aristotle is diuided into 2 Orbs the highest being called Primum Mobile This is swift with his motion beeing of an influxiue vertue as touching things inferiour The firmament hath many of the others properties It is called the diuisiue or partition of waters gloriously arraied and picturated with stars There bee ten beginnings or elements belonging to symbolicall Philosophie cald of some The steps of a ladder by which a man may comprehend the knowledge of all things whether they consist in true vnderstanding sense science faith from the greatest vnto the least These contain diuerse kindes of workmanship according to the diuision of those learned Rabbines The first is the minde of man than the which nothing can be found more diuine By those ten Sephiroths are meant those 10 scales of perfection for as God in the greater world so the minde of man among those ten Sephiroths beareth the principality Those antient Iewish Rabbines speak much of these scales calling them by the name of generations or numerations The second is man himself begotten from the miracles of nature toÌ„ speak with Hermes others call him The vniuersall restauration of mankinde after his first Fall a little God the image of the Deity an intelliger of diuine mysteries an Angell on earth a Citizen of heauen with many other excellent appellations The third is a reception of our first father Adam and his posterity to the Colledge of Prophets continued by a kinde of succession or tradition successiuely one after the other For Eue being taught by Adam of a Sauiour to-come after shee had conceiued her first sonne cried out I haue found out that man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so called in the Hebrew Language which letters she had learned before of the Angell called Metratton This was Cain as some Rabbines interpret who kild his brother Abel with a trunk of a tree some write a woodden key for at that time there was no vse of iron Now some either from this wood wherewith Abel was kild or from the Ark of Noe rather doo typically vnderstand the suffering of Christ vpon the Crosse made of wood for the saluation of mankinde for Iob saith that Noe did put his trust in the wood And that as Adam by eating of the fruit of the Tree of life did take life from himself and his posterity so by the wood whereon the second Adam was crucified it should be restored again The fourth consisteth altogether about the parts of symbolical Philosophie which the Rabbines call Anagogicall of which you may read enough in Capâ—iâ— Picus and Galatinus The first is as touching those two places Paradise and Hell