great varietie that the vnderstanding of Man cannot vtter it 40 XXI No place emptie and vnfurnisht of Creatures for Mans behoofe but all full without scarcetie or scant that man for this fulnes and bountie of externall things might returne a proportionate fulnesse in his affections towards God 42 XXII But Man returnes his Maker nothing but Ingratitude 44 XXIII Mans Ingratitude that peruerts the verie benefits themselues to bee instruments of displeasing him that gaue them still presuming that because he sees not God therefore God sees not him 46 XXIIII Gods Omniscience from whose all-piercing eye nothing lies hidden 47 XXV Gods Patience of which Man hath euer a peruerse consideration abusing this as hee doth all therest to his owne vndoing 49 XXVI The great goodnesse and clemency of Almightie God that stayes and expects our repentance so long since the Scripture testifies of him that he is a consuming fire 51 XXVII That the Pagans for tempor all benefits of Heate and Light worshipt the Sunne and Fire 53 XXVIII Yet the darknesse of meere naturall mens minds is such that they cannot see the true light indeed God which giues all things their light and is himself the light of Wisdome and the warmth of Charitie 54 XXIX Gods Wisdome 56 XXX His Powre 60 XXXI Man by his sinfull condition the Wretchedst and the worst of all creatures 64 XXXII Faire without foule within 66 XXXIII We praise substances but pursue shaddowes 69 XXXIIII We follow gaine not goodnesse 71 XXXV We dote on earthly pleasures and seeke happines in them which notwithstanding are but shadowes of those true ioyes that are aboue 74 XXXVI And all earthly torments and miseries no more but shadowes of those that remaine for the damned in Hell 78 XXXVII A comparison betwixt the great and little world 82 XXXVIII Aâ— Elegie vpon the death of the incomparable Prince Henrie 88 XXXIX An Elegie vpon Mast. Candish 90 XL. Teares for Sir Tho. O. DIVINE MEDITATIONS CHAP. I. The shortnesse of mans life in respect of other creatures yet how prodigall man is of time esteeming it farre more basely then any other thing notwithstanding the necessitie of bestowing it well since our eternall miserie or happinesse depends thereon Viue memor quam sis aeui breuis Horat. lib. 2. Sat. 6. Singula de nobis anni predantur euntes Idem Labimur saeuo rapienti fato Ducitur semper noua pompa morti Seneca in Oedip. HOw short's mans life compar'd with other liues The Elephant two hundred yeares suruiues His time so doth the long liu'd Hart And nature to the Rauen doth impart Three liues of Harts and Elephants altho The Hamadryad Nymphes thrice hers outgo The longest date that most men here attayne Is eighty yeares stretcht out with griefe and payne And yet of this how â—â—all a 〈◊〉 we liue Sleepe châ—llenges 〈◊〉 to him to giue And youthfull dayes of 〈…〉 A thirâ— of what 〈…〉 gayne No little sâ—are and doâ—age all the rest So of our dayes our â—oâ—s possâ—â—â—e the best And we our selues â— enâ—oy a share most small Nothing yet of that nothing prodigall There are not many that doe freely lend Their vtensâ—les and rayments to their friend Because they know â—ime all things wasts and weares Yet doe we â—end our seluâ—s for many years With small â—â—â—eatie One perswades to day To hawke and huâ—â— Tomorrow he toth ' play This friend to 's maâ—â—iage earnestly enuites That to solemnize his dead parents â—tes Another crew they tempt vs to pertake In quarrels where our whole times at the stake A thousand pull vs into game and wine Thus doe we lend and giue our pretious time Time in whose vse eternall ioyes doe dwell Or woes for things most base we giue and â—ell How much doe we bestow in fruitlesse vice In seasts in fashions curiosities In beastly lusts nocturnall â—oule desires How much to feed our passions flaming fires How much in trimâ—ning vp the head and face In singing dancing gaming and things base In fruitlesse studies fraught with toyes and lies Fabulous storiâ—s impertinencies Which times so spent we cannot say that we Do liue but that we sleepe or dreaming be How many childlesse men each where appeares Who hauing spent their youth and best of yeares In quest of gayne and gold so much accurst That also loose their latest times and worst In griefe of heart in anguish and in payne In broken sleepes in sweat and trauels vaine Onely to settle their ill gotten pelfes Where it might noâ— be lost yet loose themselues This body takes vp â—ll our time and care How many spend whole yeares heere to prepare Euen for themselues their marble monuments Which in their whole age shewde no prouidence Nor forecast for the soule Alas we see Nothing but what is obuious to the eye Our vnderstanding partes in sence are drownd How many be that for gaine circle rownde The whole worlds frame and come home fraught with yeres As well as wealth to whom no time appeares Fruitfull themseâ—ues to compaâ—le and to gayne Who can account th' innumerable traine Of those that giue their time to others vse That goe or sit or sleepe when others chuse And eaâ—e still at anothers appetite That by commaund doe either lo the or lyke How many that giue vp their times and lifes Still to be conversan in endlesse strifes In following or directing the affayres And suites of other men Which neuer cares For that expense of time that brings them coyne They sweare accuse defend bribe and puâ—loyne Like Salamanders liuing in the fire Of other mens contentions Yet desire Nothing so much as time which still they leese And fondlie sell to others businesses We lauish time as if it had no end No man will share his money with his friend But time with euery one we throw away We loose each present time and fay rest day For good occaâ—ioâ—s and dispose of houres Both dayes and â—eeres which often proue not ours What darke cloudes ouershade the minds of men How crosse affections are assign'd to them When olde age comes and death to claime his due How young they be to learne to dyâ— how new And time that was still vendible beâ—ore They then cry out us to be bought no more We neuer know tiâ—e spends till tiâ—e be gone Then we would giue plate goldâ— possession To the Phiâ—â—tion but for some few houres We wring his 〈◊〉 Such is this wit of ours The time that Nature giues vs is not small We make it little Spending vainely all We liue not to our selues Those onely liue That doe themselues to contemplation giue To vertuous actions Practise and endeuour To liue well so to die wel and liue euer * Nymphae Hamadriades quoruÌ„ longissima vitae est Ausonius CHAP. II. That mans hart the seat of the affections is as a tenant for tearme of life demised and set ouer to the gouernement of Reason by which it ought to be tilled and cultiuate so that in stead
vellicet ad non bon am expellendam c. exce â—t 307. 5. Attamen incontinentiae exemplo vt mihi videtur optiâ—è designauit Aristoteles motuum horum contrarietatem Adulter enim per vicum siue iuxta aedes amasiae suae transiens occasionê commodâ annuente temptatione eadem vocantê cupiditatê eadem libidinê stimulantê aliquando intrat aliquando non vincente nempe ratione aliquando iterumque Cupidine e CuÌ„ autem appetitus fiant inter se coÌ„trarij quod quidem accidit quum ratio cupiditas contrarij appetitus sunt ac fit in ijs quae temporis sensum habent intellectus enim propter id quod est futurum reluctari iubet cupiditas autem est propter id quod iam est â—uia quod iam est iucunduÌ„ videtur simpliciter iucuÌ„duÌ„ et simpliciter bonuÌ„ propter ea quod noÌ„ videt quod est futuruÌ„ Arist. de anima l. 3. c. 11 CHAP. VI. An amplification of the same by way of comparison to a Cittadell besieged and betrayed THus man is like a Towne fortified well With circling walls and high built Cittadell â—n place most eminent where Warders stand Still prest to act their Gouernors command â—n fitting seruice readie to expose Their safeties to repell their open foes And to giues blowes for blowes most readily To each profest and open enemy But when deceit puts on a friendly face And offers gold or greatnes in this case They rocke the Conscience and with seeming gaine Doe selfe-consuming treasons entertaine Yet because these cannot so freely do Except the Gouernour consent thereto They runne with no small tumult to aske leaue That instantly they may themselues bereaue Of happines and freedome for some ends Obiâ—cted by their foes but seeming friends Which if the ruler Reason do denie Th' affections streight fall into mutinie Malice bursts forth and armd with ancient grudge Perswades the rest that Reason's no fit Iudge Of this their present grieuance for while they Labour with wants and wounds both night and day He feeles not these misfortunes Auarice The money and rewards she amplifies Ambition speakes of dignities and place That will be got by yeelding in this case Dispaire and Feare then muster all our wants And still the forces of our foes aduance Vp to a triple number So that here The Captaine both affail'd with Hope and Feare Seemes doubtfull which they taking for consent Force him to accomplish this their worst intent Tho not to yeeld the place yet to take in In stead of Innocence and Goodnes Sinne Rebelâ—â—ous Lusts and Treasons base and ill Gainst God which gaue this mansion to his will The Senses and the Members seruants fit To operate and doe the precepts writ In Reasons tables tho too often they Themselues and this their soueraigne doe betray Both to their owne and Gods foes and are sold For base deâ—ires and thirst of cursed Gold CHAP. VII The blindnesse and slupiditie of man aboue all other creatures which â—uery one know and by all means oppugne that enemie which Nature hath assigned them onely he admits and lodges in his bosâ— me that enemie which alone hath most power to destroy him namely Sinne. HOw much are men then beasts more foolish still We know not friends from â—oes which worke our ill The Owle t' auoyd the Crow trauels by night The Vulture shuns the Kingly â—â—les sight The a Egithus torments the Asse her foe Because her scrubbing doth so oâ—t orethrow Her younglings and the â—error of her bray Frighes them so that to the earth down dead fall they The' Elephants noce the sod where mans foote treads The Crocodile th'lchnewmon knowes and dreads Th'Aspe shuns the Spider and Camelion The Rauen knowes and feares the b A esalon Which tho a little Bird her time still spies To take the liues of her young enemies The Hyen feares mans footing and doth know Tho neuer seene before that hee 's her foe Nature to beasts imparts this wit and light That they discerne their foes at the first sight But man then beasts more blind and more vnwise Cannot distinguish friends from enemies â— poysonous serpent lodges in his brest Few will beleeue that such a noysome guest Harbours so neare But Iuie not entwines The Oke so fast as this our heart strings bindes Where pietie and vertue should haue place Our greatest â—oe this serpent we embrace Tho folly is not Youths more constant Page Disease and dotage nearer kin to age Then is destruction to the Serpents sting The Serpent that I mention here t is Sinne An egge first by that worst of Serpents layd Which more then all the Serpents hath decayd The Asâ—e and two-headed Amâ—hisbena The Baâ—iliske and Catablepha The horn'd Cerastes Alexandrian Sckincke Dipsas and Drynas causing thirst and stinckeâ— The â—yper Scorpion and Sallamander The c Remora Torpedo Scolopender d Tâ—rantula that wines effects procures Mirth sadnes madnes all which musick cures The amorous e Pederotes manlike faest The f Higoana delicate in taste The monstrous Boae harmelesse vnprouokt The fearefull Dragons in selfe knots fast yokt Their teeth and stings this flesh alone annoy But these both bodies doe and soules destroy a Aegitho prelium cum asino est proptereae quod asinus spinâ—tis sua vlcera scabendi causa atterat tum igitur ob eam rem tum etiam quod si vocem rudentis audierit oua abigat per abortum pulli etiam metu labantur in terranâ— itaque ob eam iniuriam aduolans vlcera eius rosâ—ro excauat Arist. Hist. de animal l. 9. c. 1. b Plin. Arist. c Haec tria refert Arist. inter serpentum genera Hist. an l. 2. c. 14. d Ex morsu Tarantulae aliqui sopore occupantur sed non pauciores perpetuis vigillijs distrahuntur Alij flent alij risu diffunduntur quidam currunt non nulli inertes sedent Sunt qui sudent qui vomant qui insaniant c. Scal. excert 185. e Octonum pedum sunt serpentes in mallabar aspectu horribiles innoxij tamen nisi irritentur Puerorum amore capiuntur quocirca pederotes eos libuit appellare pueros enim diut urno content oque aspectu sine maleficio contuentur Dum iacent Anguillina eorum facies est vbi surrexerunt ita dilat ant illam vt ad humanam effigiem propius accedat Scal. excer 183. f Higoana longus est pedes amplius ternos pro delicatissimo cibo venalis est in mercatibus ibidem CHAP. VIII The prayse of Innocence BLest Innocence how faire a thing art thou Thou needst not feare the Mauritaâ—â—an bow A brazen wall thou art that doest defend From dangers all thy Owner and thy Fr. enâ— For when by chance the impious shooter hits Thy wounds redounds to thee as benefits In pouertie and want the worldling faints But these with hope and patience thee acquaints In Stormes at sea in Earthquakes and in Thunder Then quakes the guiltie man and cleaues in
call the noone-day night And herein is that darknesse more accurst Of th'vnderstanding then the senses sarre For this defectiue we 're content to trust A friend to guide vs lest our steps should erre But that most wretched calls the darknesse day And thewd the light in darknesse striues to stay And why 's this cause we trust the sence alone And this light through the sences neuer past The Eyes no obiects haue but bodies knowne To speake of light vnseene to th'sence is waste But vnbeleeuing man that doest agnize Onely things obuious to thy sence and eyes When hast thou seene the Ayre at any time The chiefe sustaining meanes by which we liue Or thine owne soule whose beauties clearer shine More splendant beames then fading earth can giue For each thing is more noble in degree As'ts freer from Materialitie Water therefore 's aboue th'condensed dust Ayre aboue that then th'element of fire Then th'Orbes tralucent a incorporeall most Of bodies Lastly th'Angels that aspire Nearest that incorporeall Sunne aboue That giues the light of wisdome warmth of loue a Most incorporeall of bodies because of tralucent so many hundred thousand miles tho of Adamantine haranesse Coeli enim qualitates sunt 4. 1. Subtilitas siue puritas 2. Indissipabilitas seu soliditas 3. Immutabilitas 4. Rotunditas CHAP. XXIX Gods Wisdome YOu Nations then that starres and fire inuoke To this a light let your hallowed Incense smoke All Lights are darknesse else no other light Can guide your steps from errors dismall night Come then but when to see this light you come You must doe like those that behold the Sunne Looke on some third thing that reflects the skies Because two vehement obiects spoyle the eyes The Bashawes in the Turkish presence bow Their heads and bend their eyes to th' earth downe loe Fearing to gaze too freely on their Prince Then shall we dare more then the Scraphins They to behold this Light in highest place Doe interpose their wings before his face Not able so great glories to behold Then shall we wretched mortals farre more bold Gaze full vpon those beames that make vs blind No let vs for this weake eie of the mind Find some reflecting mirror as we doe For th'sences that t' our intellect may show As in a glasse the shadow of this light For this it selfe is in it selfe too bright For creatures to behold of so low state We haue a glasse a glasse of things create Wherein this wisdome doth so clearely shine That euery eye may see this light diâ—â—ne Therefore in this glasse of the creatâ—res we The glorie of our Maker best may see Who infinite vnbounded vnconteynd Himselfe in limits yet hath all things fram'd By number weight and measure for both Heauen Earth Sea Sun Moone the Stars the Planets seuen The Elements Men Beasts and Plants we find In these termes and dimensions all confind The Heauens in reuolution iumpe with time No accident doth ere their course decline From their first order Such proportion Of magnitude assignd to euery one And distance that if ought herein were chang'd From order the whole frame were quite estrang'd From goodnesse and pernitious to men But this is not ordaind alone to them The little Bees and Ants therewith are blest Such true proportion both in man and beast Of weight and measure in each member plac't And euery part with such true number grac't That if therein the least transgression be It brands the creature with deformitie God giues to man one head two hands two feete If any where this orders changd we meet A Monster If the Nose or Mouth or Eare Be fram'd too large they make the whole appeare Vncomely What an vniformitie In Flowers and Fruits in Seeds and Leaues we see Fram'd with such euennes that oft-times our sight Cannot distinguish all with number weight And measure And what can the wisdome show Of our great Maker more then this to know The number weight and measure of each part Shall not he know the motions of the heart He knowes the number of our steps and haires Shall not he know our secretest affaires And close affections He the drops of raine And of the Sands that on the shores remaine The number knowes And tell me shall not he The number of our words and actions see Yes For his Wisdome yet farre more appeares In that he at one instant sees and heares The actions thoughts and words of euery man Mans lame imperfect knowledge hardly can By many acts discoursing too and fro Scarcely attaine not fully come vnto The knowledge of some one thing But this King By one act sees himselfe and euery thing That Heauen and Earth containes But now we come To th'weighâ— and measure of perfection This Earth for which men striue so much we deeme Compar'd with Gold and Iems of small esteeme But these compar'd with things that life can saue Farre sleighter and much lower value haue The beasts that haue the benefit of sence Offencelesse creatures haue preheminence But men endued with reasons facultie Obtaine a splendor farre more cleare and high Yet these compared with those cleare minds aboue Whom no soule appetiâ—es of sences moue Are poore and low How great diuerâ—â—tie Of weight and measure is in digâ—itie In mens estates and callings here on earth Some wise some weake some meane and low by birth Others noble some indigent and poore Others swelling with abundant store But in the most mans weake opinion erres For tho the state of pouertie appeares Irksome and heauy vnto earthly minds The holy soule therein aduantage finds For wealth 's a snare that doth our soules betray But want's a tutor whips vs to the way That leads vnto eternall happines So that these present discommodities Returne in time an ample recompence When the faire guilded sweets of oppulence Repay their weight in bitternes and gall Oh how inscrutable are his workes all Who can declare the secret simpathies The hidden causes of antiphathies Who can expresse the wondrous properties Of Plants and Beasts their hidden qualities How many excellencies each were dwells Within the fabrick of these earthen cells For of the fairer faculties of mind The mind 's reflected knowledge darke and blind With such imperfectnes it selfe doth view We justly doubt if what we know be true Tho most we find our imbecillitie In contemplation of that Maiestie Which like a Faâ—lkon through the high clouds towres Where we come tardy with these wings of ours a God is light and there is no darknesse in him Iohn 1. 1. CHAP XXX His Power HIs Power againe as hard a taske I find For infinite can neuer be confind To place or number worke too hard and high To shew his powre that rules both earth and skie To whom the Saints and Angels all obey To whom the Lampes that rule both night day For he their Maker and their Mouer is Nor doe they runne their proper course but his Who sometime doth subiect their glorious
whence into her brest New poysons still she takes Then in the Soule recides Furie Despaire and Rage At God which them diuides From him an endlesse age Thus both aliue and dead Scorcht both with Frosts and Flames One while in burning bed And streight in Iere streames Stench neuer kills them here Night neuer shuts their eyes Noyce neuer deafes there â—are By wants or wounds none diesâ— The senses all remaine And euery facultie To worke their greater paine Their selfe tormenters be Therefore feare God and dread Not men that can impose Nothing vpon thee dead Shun Hells eternall woes CHAP. XXXVII The comparison of the great and little Worlds Et creauit Deus hominem ad imaginem similitudinem suam ad imaginem Dei creauit illum Genes 1. HOw much vnlike this great World seemes to be Vnto this little World in quantitie And yet in qualitie how neere they come Within the compasse of a comparison The Heauens and Earth this greater World we name Of Heauen and Earth's composde this lesse Worlds frame The Sunne illuminates the Heauens all And giues earth life So in these bodies small The soule performes as much The Sunne transmits His influence his light and benefits Through the tralucent bodies interposed And triple Ayre in Regions three disposed Euen so the sentient Soule likewise susteines Both moues and gouerns as with certaine reines On th' ayrie wings of b threefold Spirits sent Each facultie of this her instrument And as the Sunne from two halfe Hemispheares Illumines Earth which otherwise appeares But a sad mansion So the soule affords The like through her halfe seene halfe hidden Orbes The Sunne by rarifaction doth euoke Th'attenuated Waters vaprous Smoke To th'ayres cold Region and condensed there Melts them to feede the Earth and coole the ayre The like againe doth Natures lesser Sunne The Soule I meane when through concoction Motion or other cause the vapours flie Vpwards if through the head transpired they be They haue their vses in Dame Natures Hall But if dissolu'd like showres in Haruest fall And many a time the worst disease beget Thus squares the sentient facultie with it But the supreame irradiance of the mind Farre liker to the Worlds high Soule we find Both incorporeall essences and high Vnbounded by c Time Place or Quantitie And as the Worlds high Soule containing all Is not contained d The like thing doth befalâ— To this of ours As that hath supreame powre In all so by Creations right hath ours Ore this her petty Kingdome And as that Doth this great World two waies illuminate By e corporall and incorporeall meanes So seemes the soule to powre forth two-fold beameâ— Beames that doe this dead earth viuificate Beames that doe this darke sence illuminate Beames that forth from that f light and essence flow That in it selfe both light and essence holds And as God is by his infinite Of essence euery thing g So mens soules be After a sort by apprehending all Materiall things and immateriall And as that hath perfect knowledge and will So had this tho now spoild by Satans ill But much they differ in existencie God of himselfe subsists But by him we By whom our soules were first of nothing made The perfect patterns of th'â—de â—s laid Vp in the secret closets of his mind Now for the h Earth altho therein we find Betwixt things ouall and things angular But little semblance Yet some things there are Which in a measure paralels may seeme We haue both frozen Poles and burning Line The head and feete that furthest off remaine The frozen Poles I may imagine them The parts precordiall Line and Center be Where natiue heare consumes humiditie Within the earth is many a burning fire And in our selues Diseases and Desire No small flames breed When Water Fire or Aire Would from Earthes wombe vnto their homes repaire But are deteynd what Feauors they ingender And in our selues the same effects they render As diuerse know * An oylie humor feeds Our Natiue heate Trees haue the like and Seeds Our flesh is but a humour that 's concreat Earths superficies is no more the sweat And fatnes of the clouds Nature alone Imparts not i fat and marrow to our bone Earth hath her fat which k sulphure we doe call Which feeds her Bones her Mines and Minerall Nature to vs alone haire hath not lent The Woods and Groues are Earths like ornament Dame Nature not alone our wants supplies With fruitfull Veines and panting Arteries The christall streames and Riuers â—alt tide wasâ—t In stead of these arâ— reasonantly plac't The two great Seas the l Terrene and the Ocean That mouing still this seeming void of motion Natures Magazines of humiditie Be as in vs the heart and Liner be Hâ—w like are these yet how vnlike againe All faire did not mans sinne their beauties staine a Nonne capitis situs in quo intellectus rationis sapientiaeofficina supremam illam inuisibilis mundi partem quae summi illius numinis intelligentiarum sedes creditur reffert nonne mens Des â—lla portio corporis domina tribus potentijs sâ—u facultatibus eandem tamen cum anima rationalâ— essentiam perticipantibus Dei ousian amâ—riston in personis interim trinam adumbrat tacite quasi ingerit Nonne interiorum sensuum triga tres illas hierarâ—hias in quas religiosa antiquitas intelligentiarum numerum innumerum est partita exteriores autem sensus eas intelligentias quaerationem Angelorum induunt vt sunt Apostolo citante virtutes principatus throâ— Archangeli Angeli tanquam stipatores Deâ— omnipotentis thronum circumstantes iussa illius capessentes salutemque humani generis quouis modo promouentes representant innuunt Galen 1. de temp ad finem Galen 1. de vsu partium cap. 2. 3. Ex Knoblochio Institu Anato b Animall Vitall Naturall c Demonstratum est extra coelum necesse câ—rpus nec etiam esse posse patet ergo neque locum extra coelum esse neque vacuum neque tempus Arist. de coelo lib. 1. cap. 9. d Quid igitur continet animam si sua natura est partibilis Profecto non corpus nam potius econtrario videtur animam continere corpus vnde eâ egressâ euanessit putrescit Arist. de an l. 1. cap. 9. e Per solem nempe instrumentum materiale luminis per spiritum inuisibiliter irrhadiant em omnes piorum fidelium mentes f Quid enim aliud ipse Deus quam lux est sed tamen illa neque visa nec affatu facilis Scaliger Excert 297. 3. excer 365. 6. g Vt ergo Deo quam similimus homo reddatur necesse est cum quoque omnia fieri Cumque omnia fieri non possit per infinitudinem essentiae vt Deus est omnia ideo opportebat fieri per imaginem rerum omnium in mente hominis impressam diiudicatam Keckerman sâ—st Phys. l. 4. cap. 4. hominem intelligendo omnia omnia fieri
house he goe But once or twice a weeke And spend an houre or two How oft he falls asleepe How long he thinkes the time His soule is at his Farme His Ship his Shop the Wine Or on his neighbours harme How great alacritie And chearefulnesse of mind In worldly things shew we In these how dull and blind One houre to holy workes And meditation lent More troubles and more irkes Then yeeres in ill mis-spent Therefore this trauell great For things terrene and base This labour and this sweat Must one day come in place VVhere Iustice in her scale These times and workes shall lay To see which will preuaile The darknes or the day Oh let vs then be wise And coueâ— riches true These onely fill your eyes But nothing profit you CHAP. XXXV We dote on earthly pleasures and in them vainely pursue Happines which indeed are not so much as shadowes of the true Ioyes and Happinesse aboue Pâ—â—asure how great a VVitch Art thou to humane minds The potent and the rich In seruile câ—â—aines thoâ— binds Not Epicurus Bowers North'charmed cups of Câ—rceâ— Alâ—yâ—ous Founts and Flowers Nor Antiochiaâ— Daphnay Not Tawris flowrie Groues Nor ancient Bayas plenty Amara whom Heauen loues Nor blest Arcadian Tempe VVhich whilom were belieued Thy Parents Pleasure where Thy strength thou first atchiued And where thou fosterdst were These doe not now confine Thy Seruice nor thy Psalter Augmented much with time The whole world is thine Altar VVhere fond ingratefull men Giue vp their hearts and minds To transitorie things VVhich Heauen to vs assignes But not intending we Should these for Gods adore VVorking idolatrie VVith creatures base and poore But with intent that these Characters of his loue Our minds to thankfulnesse And Loue should frame and moue For this the Plants and Rootes And Seeds to earth assign'd The Fish the Foule the Fruits And Beasts of various kind Are sent in place and time That best his needs may fit And euery sort of VVine To warme and â—heare the wiâ— The Simples for health sent The Silke the VVooll and Skynne The Iemms for ornament Are all t' allure and wiâ—ne Mans heart to loue and feare That Lord which these conferrâ— But he then saluage Beare Or Tyger saluager Once of the gift possest The Giuer quite forgets His soule in these seekes rest His heart on them he sets Seeking true happines And good in earth alone Beleeuing not true blisse To be in things vnknowne Thus our desires impure Peruert the blessings kind Wherewith Heauen seekes t' allure Our heart and thankfull mind To sorrowes and to grieues To curses and to snares But why doe men beleeue This gulfe and Sea of cares To be a place of blesse And therein so delight As if Heauen did possesse Nothing so faire and sweet If trauelling we spie Some silly earthen Cell We argue instantly That beggers therein dwell But seeing buildings faire Some Castle or rich thing We streight coniecture there Remaines some Lord or King Why doe we not the same When we poore Earth behold And Heauens bright Azure frame With lights so manifold Doe beggers Cells abound With so great wealth and store And shall the Kings be found More indigent and poore No doubt the Heauens containe More worthy things and high Then doth on earth remaine Tho hid from mortall eye Tho by affirmatiues We can but scarcely show VVhat we by negatiues And opposites best know In nature and in sight Is Earth to Heauen oppos'd In Earth dwells endlesse Night And Ignorance enclos'd Excessiue Heate and cold Labour and VVearines And Torments manifold But Heauen hath none of these In Earth Strife and debate Eternall Sorrowes dwell Fraude Rapine Lust and Hate Diseases Death and Hell But Heauen 's the place of Ioy VVhere God himselfe vnuailes VVhere Sinne where Sad annoy VVhere Death no more preuailes Therefore you holy Soules Seeke happines aboue None seeke it here but fooles VVhose ioyes do sorrowes proue CHAP. XXXVI And all this Worlds Torments and Miseries no more but shadowes of those that remaine for the damned Soules in Hell WHere blessings infinite And mercies cannot moue There paine an obiect fit And torments we doe proue To rouze the soules closde eies From sad and dismall slumber Of false securities That most our soules encumber But as this worldly blesse And glory to earth giuen Is but a type and lesse Of that which is in Heauenâ— So all the torments dire That Tyrants here deuise To feede the flaming fire Of their sad cruelties No more then shadowes be Of that tormenting paine That for impietie Th' infernall Lakes containe Name all th' inuentions old Deuisde by haples wits Those torments manifold Where death and horror sits Enthron'd in burning flames With Chaines with Cords and Steele With bloodie seruile traines With Gibbets Racke and Wheele The cursed â—cythian hate That sow'd vp liuing men In Beasts exentorate And there did nourish them Till putrifaction might Engender creatures new And death produce to light Her self deuouring crew The liuing men to kill Tho killing they bestow'd A Tombe on him they kild More then the Tyrants would The fearefull brazen Bulls Of Phalleri expose The poore vnhappy Sculls Made Goblets by their foeâ— Obserue the Pirameds Not those by Niles fat side But piles of slaughtred heads Fram'd so by Turquish pride See all the dreadfull things Brasilia and her feasts The Bowkans fraught with limbs Of men to feed men beasts Yet all these torments here Which tongue cannot reueale As shadowes doe appeare To that the damned feele Below there is a pit Within the Center closde VVherein to torments fit The damned are exposde VVhere Horror like a Queene Sits thron'd in burning steele And Torture with whips keene Close tending at her heele Ten thousand vgly Hags Ten thousand fierie Drakes Are there with burning Drags Ten thousand hissing Snakes Ten thousand Damps and Smells Eternall darksome Night Ten thousand thundring Yells Of Furies that doe fight Ten thousand Blasphemies Gainst Heauen doe there rebound Ten thousand Curses Cryes And Othes make all resound Ten thousand pale Fires run Through black Cocytus waues In burning Phlegiton As many Furies raues Ten thousand greedy VVolues Ten thousand grisely Beares Ten thousand gaping Gulphes Breed here ten thousand Feares Ten thousand Harpies then And Vultures there doe stay To tyre on wretched men That earst on men did pray Excesse here leane and poore Vpon her owne flesh feeds And VVrath hath wounds great store Ten thousand thousand bleeds There Pride is neatly put In new and strange attire In Red and Crimson cut Lac't through with gards of fire But for the greedy Syres That meanes nor measure hold In their vniust desires Are cups of moulten Gold For itching Lust remaines Not least respect and grace The Frends with burning flames Them euery houre embrace Ambition hath no doubt A fitting plague assign'd A rack to lengthen out The bodie to the mind For Enuie is a drest The wreathes of hissing Snakes From