mouth or lip-labour God respects so much as the heart or mind in an intelligent orator yet the resurrection of the body denotes that our prayers should not bee meerely mentall but conjoyned with corporall action for shall wee not with Saint Paul hope to see God even with the same eyes Lift them up towards Syon hill then bend the knees reach up the handes offer the calves of the lipps make all thy powers powre forth the prayse of him that made thee Meere worldlings in Iudgement are blind in censuring divine mysteries for did not Festus and the learned Athenians deeme Saint Pauls preaching foolishnesse but an over stupid devotion ladeth out of the lighter of the fantasie more into the Arke of the Church then shee should carry but Sectaries would throw the Churches treasure over boord All our life heere is but an entertayning of vanities what good doth capps and reuerences really any man The satisfaction of appetits is but the uncouering of our wants heaping of Riches but as ill servants that will runne to others from us and lagge behinde us nothing heere permanent or true happinesse let us therefore bee carefull to purchasse by prayer and good deedes treasure for heaven that wee may have wherewith to satisfie our reckoning there with the great Host who hath forgiven us one score already and therefore let us not presume too much on the next When I consider the weakenesse of our humane nature I wonder mankind can bee proud for wee cannot subsist a little time without the props of meat and drinke sleepe rest c. which the Angells and spirits need not nor use but when I cogitate our frayltie and vanitie I breath with the Prophet David Lord what is man that thou shouldst be mindfull of him The best use of dreames is to cogitate that as by fullnesse or coldnesse of the stomacke Crudities causeth fearefull apparitions to the wakeing and working fantasie and as good and temperate heate digestion and humours cause pleasant and delightfull passages yet all but shaddowes and vanish like darknesse from the Sunne when we rise So when the soule is freed from this terrestreietie which clowdeth the judgment and reason then the evill workes cōmitted essentially casteth the soule most really amongest those are indeed evill not in apparition but deformed Divells indeed And the good vertuous deeds amongst the blessed pleasures of holy spirits and Angells Wherefore let us take heed wee goe not to the bed of our grave with a stomacke over-charged with Sinnes It much matters not what Religion a foole or a knave is of for their babling is but vaine prating and the tree is best knowne by the fruit Dis the god of Mony now laughs out right because his wares are in more esteeme amongst fooles then vertue and Stultorum plena sunt omnia Th' Almighty God is the Soule of the universe and the rayes of his splendour is the quintessence in every thing bee it Minerall vegetable or Animall therefore in whatsoever genus or region an investigating Philosopher would grow intelligent in that let him seeke the quintessence which is his Moone or else hee laboureth in vaine and gathereth leaves in steede of fruites and seedes for no man can truely meliorate any thing beyond his naturall perfection but by multiplying his quintessentiall part Quintessence is not as Spageriques mistake it separation of pure from impure but must be taken from both the thinne and thicke the spirituall and corporall It is within all things non secundùm locum et partes sed secundùm virtutem et actionem naturalem What is it to mee what is in the Sunne Moone Starrs whether they are worlds or whatsoever Containing when there is a law set downe for me viz. to serue their Creator and mine on this earth whereto I am fixt by that upper ordinance who made them and all But what I can lawfully finde heere he hath given me leave thereby to prayse him and helpe my selfe What thou speakest i. e. cogitates within thy selfe know God onely hears that sees without the eye heares without the eare and made thee both interiourly and exteriourly But what thou doest outward either by action or wordes spirits and men both good and badde see and judg of Cave Not by eating drinking or sleeping doth the soule live c. but those additions helps her to sustaine the bodies ponder and grossnesse When thou tellest another any thing thinke hee is thy enemy present in his rotation of thought or may bee so futurely Man blessed by God with a good understanding may be compared to those feathered Fowles who lose their plumage in molting time so may man his grace in the heat of sensualities and yet by repentance recover but he that is swallowed up by vice is as the Fowle taken kild and plum'd by Cooke ruffian the Divell God is the Spirit of Spirits the Lord of Lords King of Kings to be worshipped in Spirit and truth Angels Spirits Potestares Powers Sunne Moone Starres Firmament Fire Ayre Waters Earth the faculties of his hand and the universe his Instruments Man his Spirit is a sparke of that flame a droppe of that Sea a moate in that sunne his soule with her powers are his Spirits faculties his body is the organon God made man and the whole world to his glory prayse and use yet without his needing them as we doe neede viz. garments houses c. God is within all things but not included without all things but not excluded There are some of opinion that each man hath a double Genious a good Angel and a bad as they please to tearme them which I hold no other but the Animall spirit and the intellectuall The Animall desireth the bodies contentment the intellectuall the soules if the Animall hath the domination the man is given to mundane lights which perish with the life if the intellectuall hath the predominance the soule rejoyceth in spiritual pleasure and affects things good and eternall Every mans conversation for the most part showes who carieth the bridle of the will how and when Those that worke on Natures terminations resemble them who swallow the nut shell and all for the kernels sake for no man can further reach the determinate ordination of God in his handmaide Natures house then by exuberation of the seeds for as sayeth the Philosopher Species in Speciem non transmutation nisi reducantur ad primam materiam and that ordinately digested doth in Philosophie worke beyond Natures Creatures wee see wherefore let no man despise or condemne that he knoweth not God almighty being the fountaine of all wisedome as wee call excellent Sapiens cannot be without the poore riveret of reason which hee hath given to man As our Saviour suffered the afflictions of humane nature as hunger thirst sorrow feare anger weeping abstinence paines c. So ought wee in soule and life to imitate him to our powers viz. to abstayne from Ebrietie to avoyd vayne mirth and to greeve
Mercury and Saturne Actaeon pursued by his houndes will suffer diverse expositions for it may aenigmatize a lover chased and devoured by his thoughts but more properly one given as the phrase is to good fellowship and whose followers devoures his estate The history of Phaeton Iason c. haue golden expositions also but the Pedagogues teach the children all they can as the old crowes put the wormes into the young ones mouthes As sayeth Erasmus without tasting them themselves It is blame and shame enough to plainely deny an unconsiderate and unconscionable demander his requests Give a drunkard that hath learned to reele of the tapspinning Mearmaide and a divell bomm-eRuffian the wall in any case for the one needes it the other in right should haue wall on all sides of him viz. Newgate Hee that rowzeth vp a fierce wrath against women and scolds is like him that draweth his sword upon offensive schoole-boyes No man can say of himselfe he is good if he enters into due consideration of what he knowes by his desires but he may justly say and boldly affirme Man was good if hee lookes into the unspotted puritie and suffering of our Saviour Iesus Christ and reckon his good thereby That man may have some hope of himselfe that sees Penetration compunction with sorrow and shame standing within him with dejected countenances and frowne upon his sinnes but he that hath no consideration therein is in a desperate case A man rich and highly favoured is like a Sun Diall regarded so long as his prosperitie shineth on him but poore no more look't on than the Diall is the Sun being in a Cloud so by man hee is regarded as regarded but by the Sunne of Heauen as his heart is so he is respected be his estate poore or rich I haue heard many seafareing men pray for diverse windes as their way was bound North South East West which Lucian in his dialogues laughs at husbandmen for raine and at the same time travellers for faire wether so in all a confusion As if the Sunne Winde and Raine were to bee fitted to the measure of our sensuall occasions so doth selfe-loue blind most men when indeed the Sunne Wind and Raine are God his Creatures not ours but by sufferance of his goodnesse and however it blowes shines or raines wee ought to bee content and thankfull not grutch at Heauen with Mistris minkes riding to Ware but reverence so great creatures however to our endes contrary To desire of another any thing without valuable consideration is foolish selfe-love and childish craving It is honourable to ayd honest investigation for though not suddainly obtain'd yet the intent was noble but if found profitable with every one praysable When we winke at a friends faults our judgment turnes like vineger the spirituall part inward and is last distill'd in a worthy minds accusation or wonds A drunkard is a mad man for the tirne but a mad man is alwayes drunke When we meditate or act good things wee onely live but when wee eate drinke spend time vainly and sleep wee are dying Stage-playes and pleasures are but wakeing dreames All things are ordayned to prayse God the Metalline stands brightly fixt for his glory the vegetable springs up and spreads his flowers and fruits as in sacrifice the Animalls suffer and labour and therein shew us our duty And we were worse then them all if wee doe neglect withall humiliation to still laude and thanke his bounteous goodnesse to whom hee hath onely given a reasonable and discoursive soule The more we shew our understanding with humilitie and prayer unto God the better hee loves us the more wee shew our wit to Criticall man the more hee disesteemes us Iudgment pearceth into the cause and streatcheth with th' extension of a thing Conceit hath taken but a superficiall eye and a small circulation Art thou crossed and unhappie in thy worldly dedesires and workes why thinke with thy selfe art thou better then thy Captaine and Master Iesus Christ was not hee crossed even to the suffering a most bitter death upon the crosse despised c. And as his great grandsiere David by the mothers side was throwne out of the world as a broken potshard Hold thy selfe then up in God who is not onely the Creator but preserver of all his workes and if thou beest one of his thou neede not feare but that thou art in the eye of his providence And examine thy selfe closly if thine owne courses are not the cause of thy affliction a hundred witnesses to one thou wilt find it so It discovers an earthly soule where the discourse is most of morceaux friands as the French call dainty dishes for wee should eate to live not live to eate A large complement ushers a close craft an honest meaning gives due respects It is easie to make men beleeve they are better than they be but you may flatter some women beyond the knowledge of themselves An ingratefull nature hath great cause to feare necessity for it is but just he be the most despised wretch may bee if hee relapse in his best his thoughts bestinke his memory Make no secret contracts or close businesse with a weake braynd man for lookers on will judge thee crafty by his weakenesse how sincerely soever thou dealest It is a misery in a free spirit to depend on others so unstable are most men in these times wherefore with Paracelsus Ne sit alterius qui suus esse potest The best answer to an ignorant denier of principles is silence and to an obstreperous arrogant a cudgell or laughter Alchymie is the knowledge of things hidden in nature the revelation thereof the gift of God It is worth a large smile to observe how in things darkely discovered every one through selfe love thinks themselves cunning Seest thou that the world runnes not on thy side give over the world then and goe upon Gods side that is despise the desires of it which is but cherishment of this frayle and fading body but if thou changest then to God his side thou shalt at last finde a perpetuall way of blisse when thy soule is got free of his prison It is worth the observing in a knowing man to see how one unknowing Alchymist presumes upon the ignorance of his brother To condemne good and Authentique Authors to uphold a selfe loved argument or opinion showes a reprobate ignorance Keepe not company with him is servant to his servants and they servants to vice basenesse ignorance You can hardly finde a rich Gentle weake unthrift but his house is lyned with Queanes and Knaves diggon Shew no inward excellencie to an ignorant for he is apt to contemne that where of hee is uncapable The science of hidden Philosophie may bee true but most of the Artists the world knowes false A mettall-monging Alchimist is but a hors-keeper to a coyner however hee curries his tromperie but if he rides on the jade himselfe his iorney by odds reaches to
A MISCELLANIA OF MORALL THEOLOGICALL AND PHILOSOPHICALL SENTANCES Worthy observation Printed for Iohn Sweeting at the Angel in Popes-head-alley 1650. To the Right Honourable Henry Earle of Dover c. Right Honourable Lord IF the life of man were onely intended but to eate drinke complement and sleepe it might agree with that Epitaph of Heliogabalus Ede bibe lude post mortem nulla voluptas and so become meere Animall But since th' Almighty and high disposer of this his Clocke-like frame of the Macrocosme whereto his blessed will is the waight and Cause of Motion hath given to humanes Reason as the key to wind up the small portative watch of our owne Microcosme whereby wee are apt still to turne the wheeles of our Cogitations upon th' objects present themselves bee you pleased then Noble Lord that what I so heere have done I present to your Honour beseeching your pardon therein if too bold for if you question why to you I beeing a stranger I humbly answere though a stranger to your Honourable Person yet not to the Fame of the worthy love you beare to good Arts and Artists which I know by many friends to your vertuous and Noble inclination If therefore you please to deigne the vacancie of your more serious affayres to the view of these my short enterviewes I referre them to your censure and recreation resting Your Honours Devoted Servant Iohn Done To the Reader VPon an unranckt regiment it is no matter where you beginne to looke neither upon these my Miscellanies the first acknowledged thrust out issue of my braine Here are of all sorts Morall Philosophicall Theologicall as amongst men diverse Complexions Affections Postures c. Some have drest the like im Meetres and curious laying of words together but I onely affect a full sence of meaning not the trimme as many of our Pamphlet trickers attyre the Bartholmew babies of their conceipts and the dresse is all Rime I hold a Childs Drumme in a wise mans braine and begets Poets as Dr. Thomas Campion saith like a hot Summer does Flyes I neither care for Momus nor Zoylous they may finde their humours here Critiz'd My fantasie begat these upon obiect and I fixt them in this paper field and so they are yours as they were mine They are not obscure if you reade and then consider and if you will not the last breathe not the first They are humble Teachers if you be not too proud a Learner sayes I Done POLYDORON OR A Mescellania of Morall Philosophicall and Theologicall Sentences MAn is like a Citie His skin the walls His eyes and eares the Factors and Merchants His hands the trades men His legs the porters His mouth the gate His teeth the portculize His appetite the Cater His stomacke the Kitchin His digestion the Cooke His expulsion the Scavenger His soule the Church His reason the Preacher His fortitude the Souldiers His words the Shot His understanding the Governor His senses the Officers His braine the State-house His heart the Cittadell or Castell Though a man hath no apparent or eminent vertue yet if he dye rich his heires will finde good parts about him Our life is like an houre-glasse and the sand worldly riches which runnes with us but the time of our continuance here and then is turn'd up by another All our life is but a Childing or bearing for the other world Historicall Poetry is a spruce dressing of Sense Love Poetry a loose Courtizane of the wit Satyricall Poetry like a payre of snuffers snibbingâ— filth in others but retayning it in it selfe Physicall Poetry a perspective to see remote things by A man studious in Science is oft poore outward because his purchase is all inward A man made of meere complement is like the shavings of horne made into flowers Hee that thinkes proudly of himselfe for speaking in a learned or forraigne language is like him that thinks himselfe rich fine because in another mans ground or cloathes Grammer should not bee so much studied for it selfe as for the Arts founded in it yet many thinke them very learned if they can speake Greeke and Latin and the vulgar hold them so when language to a wiseman is but as a dish to serve up the sence Hee that meddles with false Arts workes in the shoppe of shame and his journey man is repentance In all professions it is ignorance that strives for admiration The last thing a wiseman leaves is to love himselfe The reason that vertue is in lesse credit than riches in the vulgar esteeme is few know no other coyne most desire no other stampe Lend not thy money to wine drinking and gaming for the one causeth forgetfulnesse the other repentance It is a perfect minde Fortune hath no place in The hereditary diseases of the soule are sorrow love anger the accidentall covetousnesse pride envie The best Physitian to a sicke soule is prayer Hee doth not truly love that loves the body more than the minde Truth needes not many words but a false tale a large preamble Good is that feare that hinders us from shamefull acts makes a man circumspect As the shaddow follows the body going to the Sunward so doth glory vertue going to Christward Hee is neerest to the Divine nature whom reason not anger moves We neede not goe farre to seeke a Temple to pray in for our selves are either a foule or cleane one but an Egyptian Temple should be clensed first by repentance Hard accidents darkens a weake minde but an Heroicall soule then shines brightest The wheele or vicissitude of earthly motions turnes still happy is hee whose minde is not perturbated beyond his reason that is whose braines or affections are not turned from good actions thereby Hee that strives to shake care from his life is like one that knawes his flesh from his bones If there bee no true comfort in this life but in God how blinde is he that gropes for it in these lower things Since experience approves earthly things to be the worshippe of this world may it not bee justly said the world worshippes the golden Calfe still Hee that strives to show his wisedome is like him that whiffles an Ensigne delightfull onely to children and fooles but to doe good by that one knowes good is carrying the colours quietly There is a fashion in speaking and writing as in cloathes but it is easily perceived where a foole overlaceth it Hee that lets loose his anger vpon every occasion is like him that lets goe his hawke upon every baite Roaring and drinking is the horse-way to hell whoring and cheating the foot-way but swearing and blaspheming followes Corah Dathan and Abiron There are many use the word God damne me superflously if they repent not He that can make his passions stand about him bare is a true master of his underhoushold Passions are the over-set of humours they sinke him that too constantly beares up with them He that depends upon others lets himselfe out ot farme The
best countenance of truth is to be what we seeme To seeme what wee are not is player-like It is a passible vertue to speake well a praisable to do well the one resembles the shadow the other the body but wisely to hold ones peace makes a due Zenith The censure of others troubles not a well planted minde To contend with fooles is to be in the same parallell The blessing of God keepes company with vertuons actions but that Gods blessing many Rich-men bragge of is but eight in the hundred or worse Hee who lives poorely in rich havings is like him that 's a cold in a furr'd gowne the cause onely inward An understanding soule in a grosse body is like a good leg in a winter boote but a foolish spirit in a well featured body is like a mishapen spindle shanke in a bombasted stocking It is a rancke courteosie when a man is forc't to thanke for his owne againe He that thinkes too well of many for the most part betrayes himselfe to the borrower He that loves all alike loves none well and he that hates and suspects all loves himselfe too much What thou judiciously holdest lawdable in others seeke to make reall in thy selfe Those who prayse others thereby to bee commended themselves resemble horses when they knibble one another A palpable flatterer is like a horstealer that strokes the horse with sweete-gloves Whose ende is to get vp and ryde him out of his pasture Craft reqvires more witt than plaine honestie doth which makes knaves so nimble and officious A lyar without memory is like one has lost his purse to a reckonning A young vnthriftie heyre that is greene inward black outward is like a morning dreame wakes and finds all gone Hee that oversets his confidence upon false projects is like him that handes a loose haulser falls over-bord He that delights in doing brave evill as they call Swaggering c. is like him that sweares vildly in some learned language The first and last thing we should doe upon sleepe is to pray to and prayse God If the wine be good bee thou the more wary for if thou drinkest drunke thou defacest the Image of God in thee that is thy reason Hee that drinkes drunke Cudgels his owne braine To Swagger in drinke is to put a horrid Visour upon an il-favored face There is no cause why any man should bee proud bee they Lords Knights Gentlemen c. For if they consider themselves truely they are but Millers Cookes and Dungmen Millers in grinding their Meale Cookes in decocting it Dungmen by carying and expulsing excrements Hee may well clayme a boat-sons place in Barkleyes Shippe of fooles that befooles himselfe and he then blowes the whistle when hee proclaymes his vayne confidence The difference betwixt Fortitude desperate dareing it is betweene the Sunne and common Fyer the one produceth much good the other consumes and destroyes what is put into it and at last goes out it selfe A Gamester that depends his meanes on the hazard is like the weather about Michaelmasse now fayre then foule but in the adversitie of losse hee 's winters fowle way to a lender It is impossible thrivers by play should still prosper for their best is losse waste of time their thrift vndoing of others Ordinary play is an ungodly exercize for it is the whetsstone of anger the father of Blasphemous oathes the murtherer of many mens estates and the box an Iron-fac't bold pickpocket An honest playn-meaning man amongst Cheators is like one that sleeps on an Ant-hill A noted coward is like a Dogge running through a Towne with a bottle at his tayle Esteeme of thy selfe but justly as thou art and no more for the world will doubt thee in that and strive to make thee lesse It is a running plague to a horse when a hastie asse rides him You lame the nimble diligence of a Taverne when you come on the score Hee who offers any thing to sale diminisheth the estimation thereof If you 'l put a false friend on the Test offer to borrow mony of him and hee 'l like lead and copper fly away but his Silver shall still remaine his owne on the coppell of excuses A borrower is the veriest subject in a Kingdome if without a pawne a meere slave to censure He that goeth into a bawdihouse putteth one foote amongst theeves the other amongst murtherers A craftie fellow is somewayes proffitable to a wise man viz. makes him wary Drunkenesse looseth a mans reputation as a bad gamester doth his mony both commonly eyther laughing or quarrelling He that is drunke finds alwayes something in his way because his fantasie is full of figures He that is a true judge of himselfe acquits him from the censure of others Chymicall philosophers say Facilius est construere quà m destruere But fooles have experience to the contrary There is a sport in recounting witty jeasts which who so over-stretcheth becomes Buffone to the Auditory Hee that showes store of money amongst needie persons whets a borrower to cut his courteosies purse or a theefe to steale it Fayned excuses in a friend are like false dice with a gamester He that still talkes for his owne endes should bee worne by his Auditors as woemen weare fringe or lace about the tayle peece Drinking frindship is but drunken kindnesse That is an idle tale that neyther profits the teller nor hearer but a pernitious one that benefits the teller and hurts the hearer Hee that over-feeds his sences doth like him that feasts his enemies Hee that hath good businesse to doe and wants meanes to effect it is like a shippe ryding vpon her Anchor in the wast of victualls It is vanity to put more confidence vpon this life than on a winde at Sea but it is wisedome to have tackling ready for all changes Fooles are like the Sea waves flying from the breath of good counsell We are apt to conceipt of our selves farre beyond the worlds esteeme and to finde repentance too late with his servant had I wist That poverty is justly contemptible which is purchassed by following vice but that not shāefully gotten by acquiring vertuous sence Who give themselves to be the companions of vice in the end become the slaves of it When thou findest thy selfe apt to frailty make the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ thy Looking glasse It is wisedome to be stayed by the advice of many wise man rather than to run with thy fantasie in the field of opinion Things out of the common course of trade neede have an extraordinarie investigator He that gives himselfe to ebriety becomes the servant of letcherie and at last is attended on with povertie Meditation of holinesse is as glowing Cinders but hearty prayer a flame reaching heaven or Elias his fierie Chariot If every one would mend but one wee should have the golden age againe Auxilliarie Souldiers may bee compared to gamesters the Cheefetaines the Setters the common Souldiers the Monies which for honour
or gaine the Captaihes will hazard A poore man standing up on tearmes of Gentility is like one cloathed in silken ragges Gentility in the best definition is but ancient riches but where the Kings favour gives Title Office authority or vertue ornament to them rightly belongs respect Suppose all thy auditors thy enemies when thou dispraysestary There was great difference between the Stoickes and Epicures and likewise betwixt the Sadduces Pharises viz. Whether austerity or the full vse of plenty was the way of mans life The Epicures and Sadduces held Post mortem nulla voluptas the Stoickes and Pharises that by voluptillity heere wee lost the future ioyes of the other life I would leave the judgement to my Masters the Sorbonists but that I read of many of the Iewes Prophets and best men in all nations as S. Iohn the Baptist and above all our Saviour Iesus Christ who both could and did chuse and take the best course for hee sayeth He that is curious to please himselfe is lesse carefull to please God but he that is curious to please God doth little care to please himselfe but the Peripatetique or indifferent man sayes they were choyce and exemplar persons but the vulgar may take the free vse of things with moderation I could hold well therewith but that our Saviour sayth Blessed are they that mourne hunger weepe c. for they shall bee comforted These sayings were practised by the ancient Hermits but are abused in these sensuall times for surely there bee not two heavens for them make one here with all mundane delights and deserve nothing of the other which they scarce reckon of I can laugh at Chaucers wife of Bathe that would bee content to eate browne bread in heaven for a little tolleration of her will heere in earth Why should a man think himselfe better than an other vnlesse hee bee an Epicure and Saducee because he hath the benefits of some earthly goods connexed to the cherishing of his frayle and earthly body when the Divell offered our Saviour all the earth to worship him Wee see God as it were through a Cloud or Veyle for all the world is but his Curtaine Names were first questionlesse given for distinction facultie consanguinitie desert qualitie for Smith Tayler Ioyner Sadler c. were doubtlesse of the trades Iohnson Robinson Williamson of the blood Sackville Saville names of honorable desart Armestrong Shakespeare of high qualitie and Turde Porredge Drinkall ridiculous in condicion but the best appellation in my judgement that can bee is good man good wife but pride hath almost brought it in contempt for a City woman told her neighbour none was good but God and therefore shee would bee called Mistris It is worth the noting how about the suburbs and confines of a great and populous Citie the Victuallers and houses of recreation lye at advantage to catch the Citie Flyes humming about their Trapps and how the Citizens hang out their shop-Cobwebbes to catch the Countrey Flyes so Spider turning fly and fly Spider The expression of our inward good conceites hath two reasons one is to benefit others thereby the other still to remember our selves therewith A wise mans thoughts walkes within him but a fooles without him Wisedome is foolishnes to them vnderstand it not as playing on Instruments fencing and wrestling his blood having lost the vigor Amongst fooles and worldlings there is nothing so valuable as wealth whereof they neither have nor can enjoy without Surfeyt more than a single part rightly considered and some by their miserable penurie scarse that Hee is of a poore and superficiall iudgement that esteemes the dresse of words more than the substance or matter I have seene and noted some that being followed with too much wine would become humorous but fools are alwayes so Nothing now payes scores for estimation amongst the vulgar sort as wealth doth It is an exceeding miserie to a free minde to be depended upon an all undertaking man that is a break-word or promiser unlesse hee 'le turne parasyde which is worst of all The dresse of words is but as the dresse of women to a wise man for bee the fleeve of what fashion soever yet the arme is still the same It is folly for any to write of that hee discovers not plainely for it drawes his reader to thinke he understands not what hee writes because all men preferre their owne iudgements Absurdittie hath but two partakers or foolish friends viz. Ignorance and opinion If a Stoicke should see us whiffe Tobacco drinke healths as the phrase is play the merrie Greekes still c. He would fall with Cato to question and reade whether the Soule were immortall or no In my iudgement the Clergie should not follow the Layetie in idle fashions of Cloathes as the broad Hatt ruffled Bootes and Stockings c. But the Layetie ought to follow the Clergie in good life and maners I could more willingly heare and reade the learned Controversies of these times if the great Scholers on both sides were not so envious to one another But where envie dwels charitie hath no Chamber to logde quietly in Observe regularly the speech of man and there is nothing almost spoken but by figure as one sayes this is my hand for his hand writing this is my deed when it is but his consent thereto The best observation in changing Religion is to observe your selfe in your new course viz. doth this make you pray more love goodnes better contemne mundane delights and vaine things more bee more charitable love God and his goodnesse more fervently respect his Priests and Prophets and husbandmen more lovingly Then have you changed wel but the contrary is fearefull I finde many times I overset my selfe by supposing too much and well of others but seldome deceaved by thinking too little and ill for they in their actions for the most part approve it Put no more trust upon mortall man neither streatch him further in thy hopes than to his owne endes for he is a frayle Creature and to trust unto but a rotten reede whom the upper Spirits know to bee every minute Changeable and vncertaine in himselfe almost even to himselfe and the lower find him often so in his actions if his profits bee not therein throughly interessed Wee have by instinct a veneration of Natures operatitions in somethings but to a wise man Idem is Idem Of all manner of People I hate the paradoxion babling wit shewers those place good and better in the ranke of one esteeme He is a foole that offers to give the paring againe if one will give him an Apple but hee an Asse worthy to eate thistles that takes it for I hold be it spoken with reverence to holy writ Esau was a notable hangman that sold his birth-right for a messe of pottage Blame not men because they are variable and humourous for wee by nature are so as the humour predominating gouerners and encounters occasion so wee
the Gallowes if imprisonment Inne him not by the way Humane understanding followes high science slowly but fooles and women quest with Quando He cannot justly be deemed dishonest that putteth supposition to the proofe though with charge but he that knowes a thing to bee false and for wicked gaine leades others to repentance therein is a knave A bold foole hath great advantage in quiet ouer a sober wiseman for the foole accounts an earthquake but the earth's Morice-dance Thunder the Cloudes Colique the warrs a may-game fighting at sharpe a sport till hee bee beaten to better respects Take him for one of the unworthies that cannot endure the prayse of another In abstruse things arguments are endlesse obedience is better than Sacrifice Base sloathfull minds never thinke themselues satisfied for small panes The word good fellow as it is now senced by the vulgan imports a drunkard in a man a light huswife in a woman In our youth the senses bore the dominion but in our age the understanding should It is a poore back-biting stinking shift to caluminate authentique Authorities and Authors but plaine Roguerie to decurte or mispoint their writings Aproud man of all others should not be penurious for it engenders his hatred and due contempt Study reade practise and doe what can be to obtaine knowledge yet you shall finde an Ignorant will contemne all rather then lose the opinion of himselfe I am many times forc't by the lawes of hospitalitie to endure the hearing of goodmen calumniated but I beare it the easier because the servants of vice doe it In argument strive not too violently with an Obstinate for as staires mounts us to a chamber so must you graduate him An unlearned disputant is troublesome company but if angred very evill society ' and a sponge for defamatory intelligence Bookes are the best companions can bee for they keepe their passions inward and you neede not be troubled with them longer then you list or will A good booke should be read three times first to set his method secondly his matter thirdly to gather his instruction Anothers oppinion of thee concerns thee not so much as thine of thy selfe in which thou shouldest not bee partiall I never tooke a quicke answerer to have a great understanding for small things are sooner contracted then great We haue three things to doe in this world though some say but two viz. to avoide evill to doe good and things necessarie or indifferent Seest thou thy poverty and improsperitie makes enemies of thy former thought friends Faint not therefore for they were but outward friends not in ward and are like dogges that follow the meate not the men A prejudicate conceâ— workes like Yeast in a weake judgment Never trouble your selfe with anothers immagination or what hee speakes oâ— thee in secret for it is noâ— worth thy understanding unlesse hee durst speake it openly Hee that backbites other let him take care hee weare cleane linnen himselfe and keepe no company with women and doggs Point not at an others spots with foule fingers When I behold a man bravely accoutred a Lacedaemonian euen to the shoulders I thinke of Adams nakednesse and smile to see how For-like the world esteemes us more for the case then the carkase Passions are of diverse natures and choler the most unruly and untunable to all gentle societie which if you can command you are master of the captaine Disprayse by a foole Queane or Knave may stick like burs for the time but they pearce no further then the outside of the stookings and garments and are rather an honest mans comendation There 's secret poyson to the soule lurking in the bottome of great bowles of wine Men for the most part shake hands with sobrietie in the third cup of wine women in the second children in the first Bacchus and Venus are neere friends yet will Bacchus breake Venus her glasse when hee is much drunke A coniurer without learning showes his divell is but an asse or the spirit hee workes by an ignorant slave Drunkenesse is the gate to all vice or a paire of spectacles to see the Divell and his workes by Life cannot dye that which wee vulgarly call death is but dissolution of partes God his fire is life which may bee removed but cannot be extinguished That pleasure which is modest moderate and permanent is most to bee desired and highest to bee found A robust breeding makes a rough spirit and condition and is apter to anger then reformation There 's no telling a bred Seaman his errors aboordship or a drunkard hee is so when hee is so A voluptuous man will be master of his word that is hee will rather command it then it shall force him but a just man is a servant to his promise They are the proud indeed who overpasse the bounds of their calling and parts to challendge respect of others Our Appetites are Danaus daughters and our bodies their Tubbs Good objects stay and helpe the wandering of our mindes hence the Historicall use of pictures and holy Images are not unprofitable though Devotion sometimes overshoots the marke The cleanest of our clay houses have many durty corners which like Sluts wee loue not to looke upon till wee are chidden by affliction Men in Ancient time fought to preferre vertue vertuous men now silkewormes doung hath gotten the upper place A Flye with a candle does as a Foole with a fray and mony A Poet hath advantage of a true Historian for hee can fashion men as they should bee with invention onely the other ought to report them truely as hee finds them in many records Vaine boasting of knowledge showes emptinesse therein or vaine glory thereof He that steepes his Iest in his owne laughter is like him that swallowes his spettle but uncomely Ancient Heralds did denote the qualitie of deserts pretily and properly when they gave the field Sables to gownmen a field Gules to deserving Soldiers Argent and Or to men favoured in Courts of great Princes c. But now they sell monsters and cruell beasts to one another Few men weare in their coate Armours Lambes Doves and such harmlesse creatures but ravenous devouring and horrible beasts and birds which denotes that Pride is cruell and this invention is a child be got by warre A Serjant at law will endure the discharge of a great peece as stoutly as the proudest souldier of us all Sleepe of the body is the Image of its death and dreaming showes the soule is neither at home or needs sleepe A translator of bookes is but as one that deales anothers bread to all about him A translator an Anagrammatist are both in a narrow roome or entry cannot bestirre their witts if they deale truely Vulgar and meane witted people that meddle with the affaires of mighty Potentates resemble clownes and russettings in a Stage-play when they presume to sit in the play kings seat A students wife precizely fine and faire denotes her husband hath oft
evill spirits provide before for the safetie of their persons so if by course of argument thou art forc't to contradict the evill spirit of any man bee sure of thine owne safety too for many are no better then evill spiritts and kinds of Divells It is a care every man ought heedfully to looke unto what company hee keepes for evill base and ignorant company are like copper which if thou mixe thy selfe with it wil alaye thy reputation as gold and silver is alayed therewith by the gold-smiths In thy Election and choice let not thy affection shame thy judgment but so choose that thy Iudgment may bee commended in thy election The rayling mouth of an envious villaine against the good is the divell 's baggpipes Answere arguments with reason if reason will not bee heard or approved then answere them with silence Remember alwaies that practize or action takes more deepe impression with men then precept or discourse which Diogenes well knew when hee tombled his tubb Our desires begetts our cares and our courses our fortunes or the accidents befalls us meeting with others in the same passages which wee wrongfully attribute to destiny for all things with us comes from our selves or by our selues I meane mundanely therefore when thou hearest a man complaine of fortune consider his courses with himselfe and others The Philosophers stone is like the northwest passage lockt up in strechio D'avies but not so cold in seeking Things profferd and easie to come by diminish themselves in reputation price for how full of pangs and dotage is a wayling lover for it may bee some browne bessie But let a beautie fall a weeping overpressed with the sicke passion she favours in our thoughts something Turnbull A man poore yet rich in knowledge undertaking to worke some excellerie in this helpelesse age is like a Merchant that intends some rich Sea voyage without a Barke Victuals or Men The wiser fort of humane judgements doe not accept forme for matter but matter for forme otherwise our Sophisters would bee taken for wise men who are yet but Prentises therein A constant and wise considering Spirit giveth onely place to mens humours not to variation in truth A bold talking braggart is like the torrent running from a Mill troubles the eare and eye fruitlessly with what he hath done and seene but angle him of his knowledge and you may perhaps catch a Gudgeon The true correction of an ill tongued man or woman is to bid them speake as they have found and knowne and not more or lesse and forfit for untruths He that converseth amongst ill tongued people is like him that walkes amongst thorns and to contend with them is to tread on Snakes and Adders Conversation with earthly Company and terrestriall things is but groueling upon this surface of our great Mole-hill the earth but when wee in our ayerie discourses lift our selves higher let us take heed wee put not our mouths too peremptorily into heaven Natur 's Instruments wherewith she so wisely and wonderfully workes in the Vniverse as we see are the Sunne Moone and Starres Influencies motions upon in and with the Elements and seeds But God omnipotent works his will by his unspeakable power and word by Angels Nature and all things to whom bee all praise It is no more iniustice in almightie God to kill and destroy evill men then in one makes glasses and disliking his workmanship therein breakes them into the fornace againe When extreames oppresse thee consider wisely thy courses and search well into thy selfe and actions if thou beest not the cause of them thy selfe and through the perversnesse of thine owne will before thou blamest Fortune or that wee call Destinie the one a word or figment the other a course of occasion or chaunce Cast the eye of thy imagination as a stranger upon thy outward actions course and behaviour amongst people and thou maiest find that thy selfelove hath covered many things they secretly blame in thee and which thou oughtest tacitly to amend and discerne in thy selfe Seest thou thy store small and meanes weake bee content then with small things thanke God for that thou hast despaire not of enough and doe thy endeavour honestly and say Deus providebit When thou art tempted by that sensuall or substill Spirit thy will to eate of the forbidden fruit that is to cōmit any evill act eyther fleshly or mentally pray to God seeing thy weaknesse or nakednesse and cast thee downe at the foote of his mercy seate laying hold upon the merits of his Sonne our Saviour and mediatour Iesus Christ and say with the Psalmist If thou O great God shouldest looke on all that is done amisse who can endure thy Iustice O consider that we are but dust and seeing there is mercy and compassion with thee pardon my frayleties and keepe mee from presumptuous sinning and suffer me not to be led into temptation but deliver me from all evills Wee passe our time here with great care of our present being and the conversation thereof but God bee mercifull for the most part of men little looke to the future which is perdurable O let us note and remember what the wise man sayeth viz. As the tree falles so it lyes Goe not to a covetous man with any request too soone in the morning for his covetousnesse is up before himselfe and hee before thee but stay till the afternoone then hee 'le bee drunke upon some borrowers purse Musicke breathd by a gentleman is a juell or earing in others hearing in a begger or fidler it is a wallet in the eyes of others thoughts Wee neede not goe any further then the consideration of our selves who are by Moses in Genesis said to be Gods Image to prove or as it were see the Trinitie in Vnitie and Vnitie in Trinity for is not Deus pater anima Mundi is not Filius mens aut velle Dei patris and is not spiritus Sanctus operatio gratia Dei deus ipse in potentia actu Compare then our bodies to the great world our bodies and flesh shall turne to dust or earth so shall the world to his pristine Chaos our soules shall endure for ever God is eternall our minds affects this or that God the Son came downe was incarnate showed and taught his Fathers will miraculously suffered descended rose againe and ascended into his first place The mind of man circuits but still it returnes the mind conclusively as the Soule and mind setts the spirit to organize in the body to act so the Holy spirit proceedes from the Father and Sonne in the motion of the universe to effect and act his minde and will Wherefore with Anaxagoras all things are in all things Anima Mens spiritus One in that all who is three in parts or persons who moves this all making all things obay and serve this one God as his instruments or organons wherefore Plato sayed well Caput eius est Coelum oculus eius
Sol lula stellae venter mare pedes terra c. Thicke fire was the medium betweene God and Moses in the bush So the unspotted flesh though elementall of the Sacred virgin the interpose betwixt the Deietie of Christ and us For Ethnicks Atheists Turkes Iewes c. making question why an Eternall should have a Sonne answere is God's power and word tooke flesh of the Sacred virgin to satisfie his justice by the order of his mercie and since it was for man hee served it in the same livery which no Angell or creature could doe no more then the hatchet can worke alone Hee gave Moses lawes in Tables of stone which Moses brake in anger of the Israelites Idolatrie but hee gave us precepts in our owne similitude which was darkned likewise by our Sauiour his death on the Crosse but renewed by his resurrection as the other by Moses remounting If there were 100000000 millions of people on the earth's surface more then there is every one having a burning glasse yet all might use it to effect by one Sunne In which there are excellent cogitations to bee meditated The glory of the Almighty shines in all good things as his relucent creature the Sunne spreades his beames in the universe but when it pleased him to contract himselfe to his word then as a burning glasse gathers the rayes of the worlds Sunne so hee kindled a fire on Syon hill and a bright flame in the wombe of the blessed Virgin which the proud malice of the Iewes striuing to extinguish made this Gods Son our soules lumination shine the brighter Whensoever thou seest the Moone goe into a Clowde thinke of the glorious ascension of our Saviour and how hee is in the Sacrament or Communion God is one in himselfe but as hee appeares to the world and us is three viz. God the Creator and our Father God the Sonne as he wore our humanitie suffered and redeemed us God the holy Ghost as hee instructeth gouerneth and Consolateth us Yet all is one God to whom bee all prayse The exceeding difference betwixt us and our Saviour Iesus Christ is very apparent in our disposition for we are bent to the Humanitie and he bent it to him When we contemplate in the feruour of Prayer to find an Idea of the all-Creator the utmost wee arive vnto is a light which our limited thoughts cannot so expound as belongs to his ubiquitie and so wee are set up as with a period Therefore O wonderfull bounty and goodnesse of God that hath sent downe his Sonne and cloathed him in the shape of our humanitie whereby he is our speculum and through whom we see Gods mercie power love c. The word Godly or God-like and it's Econtra hath great signification denoting some vertuous action or contemplation or the contrarie to the contrary The whole universe is but as a bowle in the hand of the Almightie but no magnitude can containe him that made space and place As the luminous carboncle of the Firmament whose presence makes the Day joy and the Night mourne his absence is the guide vnto our bodies in this world So the incomprehensible glorious Sunne of Heaven is the presence of our day in God and our guide to his presence All the workes of God are essentiall concreate not as man looking on his face in a glasse a vanishing shaddow for God from all eternitie could not but know himselfe and looking upon himselfe doubled the beames of his glorious essence begat his similitude or quatenus nobis his Son the divine love of which resemblance produced the holy Ghost or Spirit three individuall persons in one Godhead to whom bee prayse honour and glory in one thankes Let God his studie bee the cheefest place in thy Soules house The highest orbe for our station is the earth the lowest orbe to God's vision is the earth what hee hath done above is for us to looke upon and admire not to examine but what hee hath by his Commandements and his Sonnes precepts directed us to doe and beleeve wee ought carefully to looke unto that is by our Saviour his words thus in breefe Loue God above all things and thy Neighbour as thy selfe God is a spheare whose Center is every where whose circumference is no where A light which through too much claritie becomes invisible a greatnesse containing all magnitude a power gouerning all potencie and a goodnesse inexplicable To beleeve things fall only under our sences comprehension requires no reward for reason payes it but things beyond our reach and verified by two double Testimonies engrosseth our blisse of faith in heavenly Characters The miracles of our Saviour being so supernaturall showed the stony Jewes had beene Gorgonized before his comming All sacred words and divine figures denote unto us what wee ought to know and knowne to hold inviolably and strongly The Humillitie of our Saviour is th' exaltation of our hope to salvation the foote of which Ladder was his humanitie the top his deitie the Angels going up and downe figures of his Passion Death resurrection and ascention Iacob's sleeping our lethargie in sinne God who containes all glorious formes within him cannot be comprehended in any figure by man therefore hee sent his Sonne in man's owne figure to bee the readilier cogitated by man The Ancient Ethnique world were ever too apt and busie in Deifying men if they were but a litle taller in their deserts then the ordinarie pitch of others as in Saturne Iupiter Hercules c. And this was but a tricke of that evill and malignant intelligent spirit that aped in them before hand what he knew would really follow in our Saviour Christ Iesus thereby thinking to stopp his reputation with such communitie By our pronenesse to evill and penetrative sorrow after the fact it declares that our Nature is depraved from the first purity we were plac't in for goodnesse cannot produce euill Doubtlesse the conuersation of some intelligent evill and depraved spirit through envy instigated enticed and contaminated man's Soule which was the fruite forbidden or that Tree of knowledge in good and evill even as coyture with an uncleane woman contaminates the body of a man It hath beene questionable in my thoughts why that displaced dejected spirit should so greedely seeke after mans ruyne I can cogitate no further then that his nature being depraved his burthen of torments great his despaire of release desperate and greevous his enuy therefore is strong upon those are in way to obtaine his place whom he seekes to hinder ensnare in the nets of their owne sensuallities which hee knowes and see's by their proceedings and life Paradise was created and the man in it of pure and incorruptible Elements and the corruptible World for all other things but by mans breach of Gods Commandements the puritie being taken away man became Companion with the other Creatures and by feeding on those Corruptible things by little and little was so thrust out of
Paradice that is out of Incorruptibilitie or tree of life into Corruptibilitie and death As by ill enclined will man fell and was depraved so by God his good enclined will man may rise and be saved God could easiler performe the power of his will by his owne Essence then by any under or subordinate power and because no man can see him and live he appearing in his pure Essentialitie hee therefore Clowded himselfe under the flesh of the Holy Virgin I have noted many carefull to stoppe the wast of fire and but carelesse in the wast of their time the ravenous consumer of the most precious Iewell viz Salvation Mans Soule is a sparke of the pure Fire circuits God his Seate strucke into the Tinder of the flesh by the will of the great Creatour and life disposer which if here contaminated by variation and sensualitie cannot approach to his puritie till purged but obaying God his will and acting to their power the precepts given by his Sonne it becomes a glorious Essence and shall resuscitate and illustrate the body into the same spirituall substance When I heare in some great Cittie many Clocks strike neare together I then judge the howers are neare true telling so when I see reade and heare the unitie of many ancient and moderne judgements agree in Conformitie I deeme their exposition and declaration to bee next the truth in all science The best manner of meanes for us to know our owne soules and immateriall matter whereof it was made is to come neare unto God by fasting prayer humillitie good deeds and for that which is his seate and circuites his glorious Majestie is of the same substance and if worldlings knew their Ignorance they would not bee so bold with their follie God his seate as sayeth a Philosopher is in the purest of pure and invisible Fire which he by his gracious free Spirit onely hath distributed to man in his first infusion of life whereby man is Microcosmos with reverence be it spoken to the Deitie and as in the Threds of a Spiders webbe the Spider being centrall the least touch in circumference gives notion so all the actions of man are by infinite wayes perceptible unto God and hee nearer unto us then wee to ourselves I conceive Heaven to bee repleatly filled with all spirituall delights as the best and most excellent musicke composed with a Homonimall Congruence of well chosen Chordes and ayerie with the precedents tones The ende whereto wee were Created was to serve love and honour God who doth by blessed soules still encrease his kingdome in lieu of those delapsed Angels once fell Seeke to bee one of those Citizens by good and holy life When thou prayest to God conceive thou speakest to the whole Trinitie when by addition of Father then to thy Creator when to the Sonne then to thy Redeemer when to the holy Ghost then to thy Sanctifier So thanke thy Creator through thy Saviour by thy Sanctifier and so in all thou thankest God for all Prayer is a speaking to God in which let us regard what it were for a poore distressed worthlesse person to come before the presence of some great Prince or Potentate of a Kingdome and so stretch or enlarge thy conceit how then before the king of all Potentates Coelestiall and Terrestriall what a reverence and awfull respect ought to bee used No fashion or words can expresse it but an humble heart and minde voyde of all earthly cogitations is the best oblation if done with all sinceritie Pictures of sancteous histories are but notes of divine actions in humane characters Hee that doth not beleeve the Credo or Symbolum Apostolorum hath little to doe with the Pater-noster The Pater-noster denotes hee is our Father by Christ qui es in Coelis that is above all things in place power and glory Sanctificetur nomen tuum the dutie of our acknowledgement and due thankes to his goodnesse Aedveniat regnum tuum that all things and wee are in and under his regiment and so desire to bee Fiat voluntas tua that we as we ought do lay downe all our affections and interrests under his will and dispose Sicut in Coelo in Terra that we may bee as obedient to his heasts and Commandements here as his heavenly host high blessed is there The rest are all plaine particular petitions for our private good The ancient use of praying on both knees signifies in my judgement that wee should offer up all our actions and strength to God for a man in so kneeling disableth himselfe of the possture to act is unpassible and as fixt to that hee came from and to which he must returne The lifting up of the hands denotes hee is before a dreadfull judge craves mercie showes the cheefe actors of evill and wronges and the receivers of many benefits But the standing up when the Creed is pronounced denotes we should bee ready to justifie stand too and maintaine those Canons of our Faith against all Turkes Iewes and Infidells There is a Circle drawne about the list of mans libertie and by God prescribed out of which if any exorbitantly goe they fall into the Divels lash who haunts there as the whippe of God his just justice whereby wee see many punished in this life and by straying out of the fold fall into the wolfes jawes The stars and second causes predominate but upon and in our earthly part and humours for the Soule of man was inspired by God and hee is above all therefore accidents are but as stumbling blocks which wise men sees and stepps ouer but fooles as sayth Salomon goe in the darke And the Kingly Prophet David prayed saying Set up thy selfe above the heavens and thy glory O God above all the earth and so in my opinion Sapiens dominabitur Astris Wee many times idlely blame Fortune a meere imagination or Idea when our owne follies and improvidence is the reall cause of disasters For suppose a tyle fall's on the head and hurts Why fortune therefore you might have kept at home but you must by necessitie goe that way blame the necessitie then Fortune is a figment to expresse chaunce by unto which we are all subiect When stormes inundations Thunders and Lightnings Earthquakes Circuite us wee then aptly confesse our selves under Creatures and that with terror and miserable feare but by forgetfullnesse wee againe clime aboue Ela nay further into Gods closset to his foresight and predestination The Chaos of all things may bee compared unto the flint and iron the striker God the lint or tinder corporall substance the sparkes life or soule In speaking to God by prayer although thou canst not give the reverence is due yet give what thou owest and canst duely Let thy breath first laud him in his goodnesse secondly crave mercy for thy offences thirdly give him thankes for thy received benefits fourthly humbly crave the preservation of thy estate here and life of blisse to come It is not the