Know thyself.  

MAn's curious Nature still contends to know  
What's acting in the heavens, what's done below;  
he'll number Stars; unfold what is to come;  
Fathom the Seas, bring sand into a summ.  
He will maintain he knows the year, the day  
Wherein this glorious fabric shall decay.  
he'll quere his Creator, and reply  
His own Inventions, his own vanity:  
Poor man look back, look on thyself, that Book  
Will teach enough; man should no further look  
Till that be throughly learned, 'Tis such a task  
The learning of it many an age will ask.  
Study thyself, and all thou canst is study,  
For all thy actions are but dull and muddy;  
Leave off vain questions, meddle not at all  
With heaven's decrees, 'tis diabolical:  
First know thyself, then shalt thou know the power  
That gave this Knowledge, 'tis the strongest Tower  
Man can repair to; This being truly known,  
Makes man entitled man, and all his own.  
But oh Ambition, how it fools the sense  
Of worm-like man! and hurries reason thence.  
How great an influence has vainglory got  
On weak, weak man whom it doth thus besot.  
These actings are men's own, and these intrusions  
Of fame hereafter, are but mere delusions.  
Oh give me moderation, let me live  
No longer than I shall forbear to grieve  
My Christian and my natural brethren so!  
As to condemn their Zeal, or urge their woe▪  
God is a God of order, Man below  
Should not confound, nor seek man's overthrow;  
I'll neither envy Man, nor censure pass,  
How God shall deal hereafter, for alas!  
Man cannot Know himself, how can he then  
Presume to Know, what God shall act, or when?  
Or how, or where, or by what means, or why?  
He that pretends to this presumes too high.    

These are to be given away by the Author, at the Sarazens-head within Aldgate.