vanity that are unequall prizers of things who with the losse of their patrimonies and large possessions do purchase to themselves Gemms and precious Stoneâ— which bring them no substantiall advantage and can profit them nothing unlesse it be for superfluous splendour and outward adorning whereby no benefit comes either to body or soule when in the meane while they make no great account of the Loadstone and suppose it worth little though it be remarkable for so many vertues and ordayned by nature for so many uses and serviceable for so many necessary occasions of men Now if we believe Raimundus it belongs unto God alone who cannot encrease within who wants no inward augmentation and accomplishment to seeke an estimation of himself in mens hearts a name and praise by their tongues and finally that honour glory which is outward But that man who only wants inward perfection and the increase of reall good things the more he seeks that honour which is placed in the brest of others the more he pursues after vanity emptinesse unprofitablenesse and is by so much more wretched and poore more remote from solid perfection and blisse which things if they be examined according to the rule of truth peradventure they may seeme too harsh and to savour of Cynicall aâ—d Stoicall rigour for it is lawfull and allowed unto men by God himselfe to seâ—ke in a moderate way those things that pertaine unto outward ornament yet profusely to spend such huge sums of mony for to procure them to put upon them such an excesse of price beyond all measure despising and contemning those things that are of greater use and enricht with more indowments I do not see but that it is extreame folly if I may not say madnesse Chap. 33. Of that Emulation and desire to excel one another which is among Loadstones and likewise among Christians THere is not any where such manifest concord or discord no such vehement and irreconciliable envying either in vegetative or sensitive nor scarcely in things endued with reason as there is among Loadstones they doe so greedily desire the polar point and goe about to enjoy it wholly every one to it selfe after the fashion of Rivalls that for the obtaining thereof they doe expresse either wonderfull friendship or hatred among themselves for if you hang two long pieces of Iron and sharpe pointed over the Poles of the earth or Loadstone they forthwith concurre and accord in their lowest points but in their highest points they avoyd and drive one another away On the contrary if they be short and blunt they will turne one from the other in their lowest points and as it were mutually kisse and imbrace one another in the highest So likewise in humane things the least gaine is such an Apple of contention or occasion of strife among the covetous that because of this one meane man is ready to hate another A common whore is an occasion of contention among the lascivious That these wretched Miscreants do mutually wound and â—ab one another Principality and favour of Princes is an occasion of contention among the ambitious for which Courtiers doe strive by treacheries and poysoning one of another In the meane time true Christians spend all their love of honour love of pleasure and love of money another way that they mâ—y enjoy Christ serve him and please him Peter and Iohn having received newes of Christs Resurrection contended among themselves and ran forte together but the beloved Disciple out ran Peter and came before him unto the Sepulcher and modestly concealing his name he did write the History of this holy Emulation The like fit of contention waâ— betweene Paul and Barnabas and it mâ—y be for the like cause 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Such contention is profitable for mortall men Iacob that he might take away from Esau the blessing and birth-right supplanted him by his own craft and his mothers helpe Chap. 34. The contrary points of the Loadstone stâ—ive among themselves and mutually â—xpelone another from their subjects So it is likewise betweene the flesh and the Spirit IF one whet a Knife on the Northerne point of a Loadstone it receives hereupon the vertue of the Loadstone whereby it both drawes and lifts up Iron But if he shall apply the same to the contrary and Southerne point the Knife wil be deprived of the vertue which it had before it will be subject to a whirling or turning round that it can neither draw nor lift up Iron The like happens to them who doe imitate the vices of those whose manners they doe admire and to those who have attentively heard a Sermon and fervently poured forth their prayers at Church they conceiving good motions and intentions upon this occasion do intend to change their former course of life and turne to a better yet falling into the fellowship of ungodly persons by going into some Stewes or Taverne they returne by and by as dogs to their vomit or as Swine to their wallowing in the mire as if one after the taking of wholsome meat should immediatly drinke poyson or eat Hemlock or some other poysonous herbe or having washt himselfe in a Bath should tumble himselfe into the dirt the end of such people is worse than their beginning having begun in the spirit and ended in the flesh for the devill that envious one takes from them the wholsome seed of the Word which had never taken deep root in them and so poures into them his deadly poyson whereby he makes them unapt and reprobate to every good worke Chap. 35. As the Needle is betweene two Loadstones So is one that wavers between two opinions AS it is a thing familiarly used among those goers about which do use the art of Jâ—gling and present merry plays and sights to the people for money to place in a Cauldron an Iron Needle betweene two Loadstones which they carry hid in their hands that it runs here and there uncertainly waving betweene both one while following the stone which drawes it unto it at first another while that stone which drawes it backe but comes at neither of them and cleaves to neither So doth the devill shew the like sports the like spectacles unto the world when he turnes those men like a Wind-mill with every winde of Doctrine whom the Apostle calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 double minded unstable men tearmed by S' Cyprian aâ—cipites palpatoâ—es hypocriticall dangerous Flatterers and Cheaters of the times constant only in their inconstancy such as Ecibolius was in times past and of late the Archbishop of Spalato with others whose names I spare Such men as hang betweene heaven and earth halting betweene God and Baal one while serving God another while Mammon one while imbracing this present world another while that which is to come neither acceptable to God nor good men whom Carpenter likens to a hungry dog betweene two hares or to one that runs up and downe betweene two Feasts one while this way another
strongly lift it up most like in this to the Dove-like holy Spirit which dwels onely in pure hearts and cleane roofes abstaines and flies from them that are uncleane and foule The Royall Prophet knew this to his great losse and griefe who after he had polluted his body with adultery his soule with murder and both with blood obtained not the returne and reentry of that Spirit before that he had cleansed and purged them both with teares and repentance Chap. 13. Of the Irons first motions to the Loadstone as also of the slownes of mens souls in their first comming to Christ and their readinesse to follow him afterwards THere is a great and manifest difference betweene the first motions of the Iron to the Magnetick Poles and all the latter that arise from the first For at the first touching and drawing the Iron is rather a Patient than an Agent the Iron indeed is drawne being untoucht but approacheth softly and slowly unwillingly as it were by violence Before the contract either no friendship at all passeth betweene the Iron and the Loadstone no respective verticity or pronenesse to turne to the Poles or it is so weake and as it were so soundly asleepe that it can scarce be perceived by the senses which being once stirred up and awakened by the Loadstones coupling with it and breathing upon it runs of its owne accord and very speedily at the command and as it were at the least call of the Loadstone A greater and more manifest difference there is betweene those Arts and motions which go before and accompany our conversion and those which follow it as the fruits and effects thereof for in those precedent Arts our will behaves it selfe in an hostile and passive manner all familiarity with God is not only laid asleepe in us but also quite dead neither were we only estranged from him but also altogether averse and his enemies hatefull and hating God but in these slips and sins which are committed after our conversion some like things happens to us as doth to the dust of Iron long burnt in the fire or defiled with filth or corrupted with rust for the clammy inward moisture of the Iron is corrupted by these and the strength of it diminished which as in a sicke body is with more difficulty raised up by the Loadstone such Iron is hardly drawne by it neither can it be done in such a distance nor with such a speedy pace Now the very same thing happens to Apostata's those that sin unto death and against the holy Ghost as to the same Iron dust strongly and vehemently burnt in a close Furnace of reverberation where the flame is beaten backe and so is turn'd into Crocus Martis as some call it or calcin'd in red powder whose inclination to turne is renewed by no power of the Loadstone nor can be revoked by any Inchantments as being wholly and utterly deformed So it is impossible that those who were once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come if they shall fall away to renew them againe to repentance Chap. 14. Of the Irons slow motion to the Loadstone when it is far off and the speed it makes when it approacheth towards it Iron in the adverse part of a vessell remov'd somewhat far from the Loadstone turnes to it more slowly and goes toward it with a softer motion but by how much the nearer it approacheth by so much the more it hastens its pace and flies to it more speedily for the vertue increaseth more and more and so their comming together is hastened No otherwise was the condition of those Fathers who lived before the Deluge and after about the time of Moses who saw before hand the comming of Christ in the flesh which was to be many ages after for they desired his comming in a more lukewarme languishing manner but such as lived some few yeares before his Nativity as Zacharias and Simeon and saw the same as it were now ready to rise They were carried towards him with the whole bent of their affections as it were with full Sailes The same fervent minde and ardent desire should be in us who are fallen upon the ends of the world towards his second comming to Judgement which is now at the dores The same minde should be in Christians well stricken in age whose salvation and glory is nearer than when they were newly converted and beleeved at first no otherwise than as the streame and violence of Rivolets is much more swift neare the Ocean than hard by the Fountaine it is now time saith aged Zanchius to Sturmius another decrepite old man that we should hasten from earth unto Christ to the Starry sky knowing that we shal be there very shortly with the Lord. Chap. 15. Of Needles not returning to the Loadstone and of soules not returning to Christ without trembling after departure from either of them IF you place a Loadstone in a round woodden vessell as a Mariner in a boat so that it may freely float here and there at pleasure upon the surface of the water in a tunnell or any large vessell it will forthwith oftentimes turn it selfe round about together with the vessell nor will it rest untill it hath lookt just toward both the Celestiall Poles from which if you remove it with force of hands it will whirle about as in a circle with reiterated turnings nor will it put an end to this trembling motion untill it hath found againe the same Poles the like you may see in a Needle toucht with the Loadstone which if you shake off from the polar points will flye about unquietly thorow the severall corners of the Compasse and of the world nor will it stand toward the Poles without some kind of trembling before God hath put the same condition upon our soules after that by sinning we have broken away from him then as Exiles with Cain we wander up down here and there wee are tost with troublesome removals in the land of Nod that is to say of disquietnesse wee passe away our time unprofitably wee build wee pluck downe wee are inconstant like sick men wee tumble in our beds on everie side or as Salomon wee vex our spirits with innumerable vanities not knowing whither to turne our selves untill at length being perfectly taught by the Dove-like spirit we return to the Arkof Noah that is to say of rest wee cast our selves downe trembling with the Jaylor at the feet of our Ministers and learne the song of David Why doest thou cast downe thy self why doest thou trouble thy selfe my poore wandring wretchâ—d soule why doest thou murmur why art thou so disquieted within me put thy trust in God cast thy burden upon thy Saviour take his light burthen upon thy shoulders and thou shalt find everlasting rest Per motus varios per discrimina mille
of life and eminency of learning of whom I would speake more but that I will not offend his humility and modesty I say the Authour himselfe who hath a commanding power in me did request me to undertake this taske and I am glad if my Pensill hath in some measure taken out to the life so curious a Prototype howsoever Courtious and Christian Reader I have resolved to venture upon thy favourable acceptance and to desire thee to interpret this interpretation to the best in hope of which I remaine Thine to my power Harb Grimeston THE WONDERS OF THE LOAD-STONE CHAP. I. Concerning the use of the Load-stone unknowne in former ages discovered in these latter times THe Learned and unlearned have seene the Load-stone and tooke it into their hands many ages agoe yea as I may say from the very beginning of the world the vulgar and meaner sort of people perceived not without amazement the Vertue which it hath to draw Iron unto it and lift it up Arist. lib. 1. de anima Thales Scaliger Gilâ—eâ—tus Flinius Claudtanus Oâ—pheus â— Lucretius The Philosophers disputed subtily about the forme thereof and vehemently contended among themselves about this whether it had a Soule or no Both Historians and Poets have proclaimed the mysticall and wonderfull nature the secret and hidden qualities thereof yet mingling truth with falshood and adding to their discourses diverse vaine sigments of their owne so that of one and the same stone Ludovic Vives in Augustinum de Civitate Dei through errors they made two of a contrary nature one they called Theamedes from the Southerne point another Maâ—nes from the Northerne but I pray to whaâ— good end or purpose when in the meane time they were utterly ignorant of its turning toward the Pole of its use in Navigation and the Art of Dyalling they not so much as dreaming darkly of these things Surely the Lord of Nature would have so many acute and Divine wits of Philosophers and Theologues not to finde out as yet such an excellent invention and so it lay hid altogether in the secret bosome of natures Majesty and that for five thousand yeares and more untill at length after the exhibiting of Christ to the world in the yeare of our Lord one thousand three hundred or thereabouts Almighty God of his goodnesse taking compassion uopn Man-kind did make Mortall men happie declaring unto them by Goias Melphitanus the most usefull and beneficiall Instrument of the Mariners compasse by the helpe and benefit of which wee doe now discover many remote lands that were unknown heretofore and so procure all kindes of Merchants wares Wherefore that which is commonly spoken of Aristotles Booke of Physicks wee may more justly applie to the Load-stone 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that made publike it was and yet not made known because that men did not yet understand the secrets thereof Looke in what manner the Lord of the world to whom belongs the earth Ps. 124.1 the fullnes therof did give the Load-stone unto the world in the very same maÌ„ner did he give the world it selfe and all worldly things to such as are great and worldly people Heaven indeed he hath reserved for himself for his elect both Angels men but the earth he hath given to the children of men in generall Concerning possessions Titles Lawyers plead in their Courts as Divines dispute in their Scholes concerning the right and Lordship thereof whether unregenerate persons since Adams fall have any right to these earthly things as also whether this Right be grounded upon Grace or Nature whether it holds good in Gods Law Court or only in mans Let these controversies bee at an end for me Let the ungodly if God so please hold and enjoy their large patrimonies let worldlings keep to themselves their vaine worldly wealth so that this bee out of all doubt and question that the saving and profitable use of such things pertaines onely to them that are good in the eyes of the Lord who by Christ have recovered that which was lost and forfeited by sinne And this I suppose to have beene the Apostles meaning in that briefe Epitome of our Magna Charta 1 Cor. 3. 21 22 23. the large charter of Christians where he doth accurately and particularly rehearse that ample and royall priviledge of the faithfull excluding all Infidels or unbelievers All things are yours whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come All I say are yours yours onely as touching the true spirituall and Heavenly use of the same and yee are Christs and Christ is Gods So then this good blessing and gift of GOD is proper onely to those that are good which gift the royall Preacher doth praise so much Eccl. â— 19 and 2.24 26 and doth also make opposite to it vanity disease disquietnesse vexation of spirit and that toylsome occupation of gathering and heaping up riches which he notes to be the portion of sinners impos'd as a punishment upon them by God of which he doth else-where complaine Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a foole Seeing he hath no heart or mind that is to say to receiv'e any profit thereby or to make any good use of it Wherefore have wretched Euclio's or Misers the Usurie of much Money and the right use but of little Wherefore is unmeasurable Wealth confer'd on the Covetous which are as greedy as TANTALUS is said to have beene they being such sparing Distributers of it and doe abstaine from their Wealth as if that it were sacred and forbidden to bee touched So likewise wherefore have the Prodigall and wastfull spenders of their Substance such plentifull meanes which they to the destruction of their bodies and Soules doe abuse and consume in Gaming and Riotous living Wherefore have wicked men such excellent endowments inriching their mindes quick understandings stedfast memories happy and fine wits wherby they doe service to Satan and their own lusts which S. Augustine did so lamentably bewaile in his Scholer Licentius a learned and Noble young-man Wherefore hath God infus'd into their hearts the habits of graces wherefore hath hee with a Liberall hand committed these heavenly talents unto their trust if they shall be wrapt up in Napkins and being wrapt up be hid and perish unlesse that over and above he shall adde unto these another Grace whereby they may stirre up these graces received and set them forth to be seene of others and exercise themselves in them to the glory of God the giver of all grace and to the profit of their friends and neighbours Vile latens virtus quid enim submersa tenebris Proderit obscuro veluti sine remige puppis Vel Lyra quae reticet vel qui non tenditur arcus The vertue that lyes hid is poore and vile In darkenesse drown'd what profits it the while A ship without a guide to th' Sea that 's
Kings This was foretold long agoe Esay 8 4. that before the Child should know his Father or Mother the riches of Damascus and the spoyle of Samaria should be taken away before the King of Assyria As when Hercules being in his Cradle kil'd as they say two Serpents he was paradventure a more glorious Conqueror then he was when being come to riper yeares he vanquisht in the Nemaean Forrest a Lyon of huge bignesse Or when in Erimanthus a Mountaine of Arcadia he tooke a live a terrible Boare that wasted that Border So Christ was more illustrious when he drew to him Kings to adore him at his Cradle where he was yet a little Child Then when raining in Heaven He drew first such as Paul and afterward such as Constantine was Thirdly this drawing of the Wisemen is more excellent in respect of his Maiesty He drew other persons when he had shewed many Miracles and was still adding to the number of them as the Earthquake the Rending of Rocks Darknesse throughout the whole World c. Now He hath done a most wondrous work being but an Infant very tender and not able to indure any hardinesse crying as yet in his Cradle and should not have been known unlesse the Angells had made him manifest to the Sheepheards the Starr to the Gentiles and his crying to Strangers behold here those Peeres and great Kings of Persia which otherwise would not confesse themselves to be men are constrained to stand before him in a Stable as it were in a Court They are forc'd to appeare as upon a day appointed by the Summons of a Star as it were an Apparitor that they should as it were pleade their cause and become Suppliants in a black mourning habit He drawes he constraines them whether they will or no O Loadstone O thou that drawest I confesse thou art at this day truly to be admired Fourthly The drawing of the Wisemen was more excellent in respect of their dignity that were drawne at another time he drew but one Thiefe or a murderer the Centurion and some few others Then after that the common people promiscuously But now he drawes persons of the highest quality Philosophers and Kings of the East they were none of the lowest ranke they were at least the Embassadors of Kings or Kings in their Embassadors if so be we believe not that they were Kings in their owne persons Fiftly the drawing of the Wisemen was more excellent in respect of the multitude that was drawne together with them at other times he drew but a few one or two this day tomorow a thousand But now out of his very Cradle he drew three Kingdoms together of the Chaldaeans Arabians and Sabaeans Nam totus componitur Orbis Regis ad exemplum For the whole world is ordered As by the Ruler it is led The common people with equall paces for the most part follow their Kings Whether they be converted averted or perverted what manner of Child think yee shall this be Assuredly Assuredly there is more then Solomon here They came indeed from Sheba to Solomon and brought him gifts but when he was something aged and such a one as was well spoken of for the Fame of his Wisedome But it was a woman that came although a Queene and one of the Sibills in the opinion of some yet a woman But now when Christ was but a Little Child lying hid in a Stable and compassed about with Straw in the midst of two beasts very Famous men Kings and Chiefe Rulers of sacred things and Philosophers came with hast from the furthest parts of the East as it is probable that they might know him This Child is not onely greater then Solomoâ— but now he is greater then himselfe That is greater in Glory being but a Child then when he was come to mans estate a Child he was and tooke our infirmities upon him not through any weaknesse in him or necessity but onely according to his owne pleasure and voluntarie dispensation For he did all things both in Heaven and Earth whatsoever he would Psalme and whensoever he pleased So then O Lord thou haste drawne all things unto thee The whole East with the Kings thereof Yea all Nations â—in these three men Hom. 7 in Math. whom Saint Chrysostome calls the Progenitous of the Church whom wee also not amisse as I suppose doe terme the first fruits of the Gentiles or the seed or the first branches and flowers of the Church among the heathen CHAP. VIII Of the Load-stones attractive Vertue compared with the power of Ministers and Preachers in converting Soules unto Christ. IF a free choise in asking whatsoever he pleased were granted to any Christian especially to a Minister of Gods word as it was granted heretofore unto Solomon when he had offered a Thousand burnt offerings in Gibeon What thinke you ought to be principall and chiefest of his desires but that he should receive from God a large portion of that attractive and Load-stone-like Vertue which in times past he imparted to Peter and Paul and to the rest of the Apostles whom he made Fishers of men by whose helpe he drew to him the world converted it For what can be more acceptable to an Emperour then that he should save many Citizens and bring many enemies into Captivity What is more acceptable to a Fisher-man then that he should draw from the Sea to the shoare and include in his Net a great Multitude of Fishes There is a common report and opinion which is strongly maintained amonst the Vulgar concerning the Fatt of an Osprey that there is such vertue in it that all the Fishes in a Poole will Swimme to it and turne their bellies upwards And as it were halfe a sleepe will suffer themselves to be easily taken and handled which if it were true how diligently would Fishers inquire for it and at how great a price would they purchase it But Christ is not onely able but also useth to furnish his Ministers with that power to endue them with that drawing vertue whereby they may bring backe to him his wandring Sheepe that they may gaine straying Soules and save themselves and those that hear them That they may keepe the Flock committed unto them in the Faith and Sheep-fould of Christ. Which gift to whomsoever it is granted what greater thing should they desire for themselves Or what may they better emulate in others or what may they better envy others CHAP. IX Concerning the Load-stones neglecting of Silver Gold but uniting Iron unto it selfe compared with Christ passing by the Angels as not regarding them but electing men GOld and Silver what are they else but the Monarchs of this Sublunary world commanding the rest of all the Mettalls after the fashion of King and Queene whose companions and Peeres are those Stones which are called precious Brasse and Tynne are of an inferiour Ranke as it were of the order of Knight-hood But Lead and Iron are the meere
vulgar sort With that an unreasonable love of Gold and Silver doe men burne And how much are precious stones esteemed with Princes and great ones Gemmes and Peares in what honour and estimation are they held For they have their Splendour as the rest of the Mettals whereby they may allure the eyes of beholders and bewitch their minds Iron in the meane time because it hath noe bright Colour and is of little estimation is disregarded by all in comparison of all other Metalls and is every where sold for litle it is troden in every place almost under feet and hath but the lowest place and rank amongst all those Metalls all which notwithstanding the Load-stoâ—e altogether despising and counting as nothing the other Mettals which are so bright and excellent in their owne nature hath made choise of the Iron above them all which it drawes unto it with a violent and greedy affection which it imbraceth with a strait bond of love whose company and union it onely desires of whose friendship and neighbour-hood it is wondrously glad of whose fellow-ship and service it doth perpetually make use and as counting it an honour would be term'd by the name of Siderites which is deriv'd from the Iron You which admire this excellent sympathie cast your eyes upon the love of God towards man and upon our Election the Angels that fell likewise if they be compared to us poore men what wonderfully glorious creatures are they what noble Spirits whose knowledge how many degrees goes it beyond our blindnesse whose power â—ow faâ—re doth it exceed our weakenes whose honour dignity how much doth it surpasse our obscurity and meannes But Christ our Lord did not take on him the nature of thâ—se but passing by them as they lay in the Lake of sulphure prison of hell Hee elected us poore vvormes even dust and ashes Hâ—e lov'd us vvretched creatures He vvas made oâ— a vvoman bone of our bone flesh of our flesh Hee carryed up the humanâ— nature above the Cherubins Seraphins and made it to sit in the heavenly places to be adored of Angels and Archangels Hee hath adopted us and made us the sonnes of God that we should be â—eires yea coheires vvith him Hee hath made us partakers of the Divine Nature of grace and glorie Who would not here crie out vvith Saint Chrysostome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Behold the love of our Lord toward mankind doe not thinke this to be a thing of small moment or value it being indeed a thing to be wondred at and full of astonish And I taking this often into my consideration doâ— conceive and imagine great mâ—tters as touching mankind Doe you also my brethren see your calling how that not many vvise and mighty according to the flesh 1 Cor. 1.26 not many sprung of illustrious Progeny but God hath chosen the base and foolish things of the world that he might confound the wise CHAP. X. Of the Loadstones indifferency and of a Christians not respecting of persons BEhold â—urther the indifferency and the not respecting of persons vvhich may be seene both in the Lâ—adstone and every true Christian for the Loadstone doth acknowledge and draw Iron unto it as well vvhen it is shut up in a vvooden chest as in a golden casket in a leaden sheath as in a silken scabberd It is the Iron onâ—ly which it respects it regards not the ornament and cloathing of Iron whatsoever it be It is the Iron that it seekes that it imbraceth not the golden trappings or gilding with vvhich it is covered about wherefore brethren let us be ashamed to have the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory with respect of persons so that if one come into your company having a gold ring or gorgeous attire and there come in a poore man in vile â—ayment and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay cloathing and shall say to him sit thou here in a good place and say to the poore stand thou there or sit here under my footstoole are ye not become Judges that determine perversly are ye not partiall in your selves are ye not become Judges of evill thoughts and make a wrongfull difference Hath not God chosen the poore of this world that they might be rich in faith and heires of the Kingdome which he hath promised to them that love him wherefore beholding rather and considering this difference and not respecting of persons both in the Lord and in the Load-stone be sure to follow both and preferre before the worldly wise and wealthy such Christians as are counted ignoble idiots poore and such as are despised of the great ones of this world choose them onely for your companions your friends and yoake fellowes in the Lord love them and hold friendship with them upon earth with vvhom ye are to live everlastingly in heaven for this is wel-pleasing and acceptable to the Lord our God with whom there is neither male nor female neither Barbarian nor Grecian but a new creature in Christ is all in all CHAP. XI That the Loadstone drawes a greatâ— and heavier weight then Jet HEE that once saw a Loadstone vvith admiration drawing to it not onely small remnants and pieces of iron but also taking up easily and lifting up from the ground a great and weighty burthen thereof as for example an Anchour weighing twenty pounds with what contempt will hee behold Jet or Amber drawing strawes unto them or little motes and that after they have beene heated by much rubbing As great yea a farre greater difference is to be seene betweene the soules of wise men and fooles of holy and carnall men whereof these onely care for and meditate upon these things which are of great moment that pertaine to the Kingdome of God and their everlasting salvation but these seeke after the vanities and trisles of this world Surely there is no lesse difference betweene them then there is betweene Merchants that buy wares of great value and triâ—â—e-selling Pedlers which carry about gewgawes Pinnes and Rattles for children to play withall Then there is betweene Spiders that catch Flies and Eagles that pursue after Hares and Heron then there is betweene fowlers that shoote at Pigeons and children that follow after Butterflies CHAP. XII Of that cleannesse which the Loadstone and the Spirit of Christ require in their objectâ— HOwever the Loadstone hath a desire and inclination to iron yet will it not draw it unlesse it be cleane and pollished and it vvonderfully loves and affects cleannesse but hates and loathes filthinesse very much vvhereupon it comes to passe that if you doe apply it to the rusty side of an Anchour or that which is besprinkled with dust either it will not at all put forth and exercise upon it the vertue thereof or very unwillingly and weakely but if you apply the same Loadstone to a cleane and well polished side it will greedily draw it with all the power it hath and will
evill by meanes of an ill neighbour for wickedâ—communications corrupt good manners but good communications correct confirme whatsoever is amisse the wicked will fasten upon us some vice or another but the good and vertuous will infuse into us some vertue There was a little cloud in the forme of a pillar which was in the midst betweene the Egyptians and the Israelites as they travelled in the wildernesse the hindermost thereof which was dark and mistie the Egyptians followed after but the formost which was lightsome and bright the Israelites beheld Whatsoever thing wee have in us that is spotted and worthy of dispraise they which are the children of darknesse doe imitate that but whatsoever is excellent and praise-worthy that they doe follow which are the children of light and led by the Spirit of God Wherefore wee must not only take heed with whom we converse but upon what tearmes and conditions with a great deale of care in the choyse of our friends and diligent circumspectnesse unlesse that we be willing to endure thereby a dangerous corruption of manners Chap. 28. As the Poles of the Loadstone have their strength in divers regions so good and bad men have their regiment or rule in divers ages THere is as much difference betweene the Poles of the Loadstone as is between the right hand and the left for they have a different power in different regions of the earth In tâ—e Northerne parts of â—he world there is a manifest difference of the Northerne point for it lifts up a greater piece of Iron than the Southerne Pole can doe in the same parts In this world the flesh prevailes against the spirit the body doth here presse downe the soule The sons of Belial dominere in this life every one hath his place his government assigned him by God Chap. 29. Christ doth diligently purge his floore in that sort as Goldsmiths doe their Tables GOldsmiths have an admirable cunning to cleanse their tables upon which small dust of Iron is everie where mingled with golden dust which fall from their files and hammers as they polish those things which they make For they carry about on the Table a Loadstone of great vertue within a fingers distance which readily separates without any damage the small pieces of Iron fâ—om those of gold when passing by and leaving the golden it drawes those of Iron unto it After the very same manner the Lord shall purge his floore in that great day of judgement for when two shall be together in one bed one shall be taken and the other shall be left when two shall be grinding in one mill one shall be taken the other left for the Lord knoweth those that are his he shall separate the Goats from the Sheep and shal winnow the chaffe from the wheat Neither ought it to seem more difficult or wonderfull unto us That the severall members and small parts of the deceased should returne againe to their bodies than that severall Bees in the hive doe know their cels that severall young Lambs in a flock doe distinctly knew their owne Dams and that severall peeces of Iron should flye towards the Loadstone Chap. 30. The Loadstone and Christ together with their vertue do impart gravitie or weight to those persons and things that are drawne by them FUrther wee may be pleased to note by the way That the Loadstone together with the vertues observed doth infuse and put a certaine weightinesse into the Iron For that point of the Needle which is touched and stirred up doth plainly out-weigh that which is untoucht and is enclined towards the earth So likewise doth Christ adde gravitie to those vertues wherewith hee is pleased to endow his Servants and surely it is no lesse profitable and necessary to the soule of man than ballasting is to a ship And although Gravitie is not numbred by Philosophers among the vertues yet it is the ornament and defence of them all Now a grave man is hee which is stedfast in his purpose is firmely fixt upon his intent as a statuâ— or image upon the base thereof and without variation doth alwayes persist in the same mind neither is hee carried away with every popular wind of applause nor chang'd into new forms by any new doctrine or example as other light vaine men are used to be Chap. 31. The Loadstone for love of the earth turnes aside from the poles of heaven as wee also being moved by the authoritie of men doe ofâ—en times turne aside from the truth of God WHeresoever the Loadstone doth enjoy a free and naturall motion there it lookes streight towards boâ—h the Poles the Northâ—rn and Southerne and departs not a whit from the Meridian but it happeneth in many places both of land and sea that it turnes aside and goes out of the way towards some point of the Horizon which is neere to the true Meridian and departs from the Poles point towards the East West which is distant by some degrees This irregularite is by the Mariners called Variation it ariseth and is caused by large high and strong Continents of the land unto which the Loadstone enclines whilst that it turnes it selfe to the eminent parts of its mother the Earth and forsakes the Celestiall Poles for love of them which Variation breeds a troublesom uncertaintie among the Mariners Not unlike to that which befals the Pastors and Christian flock in discussing and determining Divinitie controversies in which as long as they observe the rule of the Scripture and are not moved from the unmoveable foundation and infallible Canon of the Prophets and Apostles so long do they retain verity unitie and peace in the Church but as soone as they are divided and earnestly bend their mindes to maintaine particular factions and doe joyne themselves to that company or Sect of learned men which excell as they suppose in authority and knowledge and attribute more to their judgements and opinions than to the undoubted Oracles of God Hereupon grow so many schismes so many hereâ—ies and so many more than civill wars in the Church Against which mischiefes no better remedy can bee thought upon or desired than that they should admit the voyce of Christ that speaks in the Scripture for the true and living rule both of faith and life of manners and doctrine and for the Supreame Jâ—dge of all doubts Then they walking according to this rule there shall be peace in the Israel of God Chap. 32. Men are deceived in the estimation of Stones and other things while they estâ—eme of them not according to their use but according to their outward appearance IF those things be true which the Romane Ceâ—â—our suppos'd concerning the valuation of things That whatsoever is not profitable for mankind is too deare though you pay but the least piece of money for it That whatsoever is unserviceable is of no worth and that which is of no use is of no estimation Then surely shall they be guilty of the greatest