A Minister's Mite: Cast into the stock of a weak MEMORY: HELPED BY RULES AND Experiments. With a winter Night school tutor Discourse to Generous Youth. LONDON, Printed by T.H. and are to be sold by John Saywell, at the Greyhound in Little Britain 1650. The Book to the Buyer. I Do not promise here for some few ponce, In Schools of Knowledge, thou shals so commence To be Pansóphós by this little book, Gnostick, or Beauclarke, if on it thou look. As with a Magazine and Treasury To furnish thy discourse and memory; I no Philantist am, Narcizzide else. So far to be conceited of myself, As though my Crows were Swans, my mental issues, Phoebus or Pallas darlings clothed in Tissues; Yet confidently this I do aver, Such Rules and Cannons here prescribed are, That for some triple part of one poor shilling, Thou shalt have some few mites if thou beast willing, Cast to the stock of thy memorative, So much in knowledge and discourse to thrive That by short practice thou shalt in thy brain Learned notions read or heard, more strong retain: This being but a Pinnace of small worth To afraught ship ere long to be launched forth, The Brain-book to be called, most brains it will With subjects sacred, secular so fill. By the Lucubrations of Steven Hierome, Ecclesiastes Grenewichensis. Good Reader take notice of some few Errors escaped in the Printing. Page 17. line 23. read diverted. Page 21. line 10. read Urine. Page 23. line 15. read Vinum. A Minister's Mite: Cast into the stock of a weak Memory: Helped by Rules & experiments. With a winter night's school tutor discourse to generous youth. Preceptor. COme near, my best of Pupils, the flower of my School; as besides your public Lectures have dictated unto you many things in private, for your profit in hearing and reading, by remembering; your ear more than your eye, being the sense of Knowledge: so as a trial of your wit to attain, and memory to retain, what I lately Dialoguized with you; now play the pretty talking Echo, and before your father and your friends, resonate our discussions: and wherein your memory is short, (like some Minister of much reading in his Pulpit) read the rest in your Notes. Puer I thank you Sir, that I am so much in your Books, as to afford me the benefit of my Book with Notes: I note it as a special favour and amongst the rest of my studies, I will study to deserve it. Pr. Not to pluck the least feather out of the wings of Time, what thing hath perfection, but not period, in Unity? Pu. God, ens ontium, the thing of things, the Alpha and Omega, beginning of beginnings, and end without end, an Unity of Essence in a Trinity of Persons, as one and the same light, in the Sun, Moon, and Stars; one and the same fire in three kindled sticks, one and the same flame in three lighted candles, one soul in man in three faculties; so three persons in one God: three in one, a Trinity of persons, in an unity of Essence, in Triune Jehovah Elohim. Pr. What things are sole and alone without Dualls or plurals, besides this Triune God? Pu. One humane nature, one divine nature, making one Messiah, (as body and soul make one man) one sole-justifying faith, one Christ, one immortal spirit in man, one true Church of Saints militant in earth, one of saints and spirits triumphant in Heaven, one Ark in the Sanctuary, one of Noah, (types of one Church) one sun, one moon, one way, one truth, one life, one salvation, one rock to build on, one Phoenix writ on, one Baptism to believers, (not to be reiterated in Cyprians error) and one Bible to be believed and rested on, as the rest & touchstone of all our facts and faith; without building on the sands of Pope's erring, Counsels, Fathers, Superstitions, and Traditions bogging and sinking thousands of souls into that bottomless pit which sends forth Locusts of Jesuits, Familists, new Donatists, Enthusiasts, Swinckfeldians, and all Hell hatched Heretics. Pr. In what things for use may a wise modest, and moderate man, terminate and limit his will and desire in one? Pu. In the prime place, in one God, crushing (as the Ark did Dagon) all Paganish, Turkish, and Popish deities: one Christ weighing down to hell, all old and new Antichrists, one Orthodox truth dissolving all errors and heresies, as the sun mists and clouds. Pr. And what more? Pu. One good horse is enough for a journey by Land, one stauncht ship, as a Sea-horse for the Sea, one good Pilot for a ship, one Pastor for my soul, one Physician for my body, a Tutor for my learning, a book for my present reading. Pr. What book should that be, as your choice delight besides the Bible? Such as Homer was to Alexander, Tertultian to Cyprian, Quintus Curtius to Alphonsus, and Livy to Prontisperge. Pu. In History, as you told me, to be confined unto one book it should be Pliny, or Diodovus Siculus, or Gesner, or all epomitizing Zuinglius. In Morality, Plutarch's Ethics, Picolomineus, in positive Divinity, calvin's Institutions, or Polanus Syntagme, or the works of Zanchy, or Gerauld: for Logic, Keckerman or Downam on Ramus: for Rhetoric Vossius, for common places, Peter Martyr, or Aretius, or Musculus: for Philosophy, Zabarell: for witty passages the French Stevens his translated World of Wonders, or Boccace his Decamerou, or the Queen of Navarres Novels, or the Bee Hive of the Romish Church. Pr. What Catechisms did I tell you, were best to acquaint you with the Fundamentals of Religion? Pu. Vrsinus and Bastingius Catechisms, which now speak English: that of Mr. Ball, and the Lancashire Ministers, purposely compiled for Families: those for brevity compiled by Mr. Perkins, Egerton, Burton, chiefly the large Body of Divinity, by the learned Primate, deserving prime place: and next to it in our tongue, the Questions and Answers of Dr Babington, on the Creed, Lords Prayer, and Ten Commandments. Pr. What parents trained up their children and families in the Rudiments of Religion in private, as Origen, and Didimus Alexandrinus in Alexandria, Vrsinus in Belgia, and others in public. Pu. Adam trained so his sacrificing Abel, Abraham his Isaac, his soldiers and servants, Joshua his household, David his, Job his, Buthshebah her Solomon, Helena her Constantine, Macrina her nurse-child St. Basil, Monicah her Augustine, Auna her consecrated Samuel, Ewice and Lois good Timothy, with others, who proved excellent instruments of God's glory, in their times and great comforts to their Parents. Pr. What is the heart and mind of a Child nakedly in itself considered? Pu. It's white paper, fit to take any writing, soft wax fit for any impression, tabula vasa, a plain board or stone fit for any carving or sculpture, a new vessel fit for any seasoning, with bad tar and smelling oils, or sweet wines, and white Cloth fit for any colour or tincture in dying. Pr. But to reflex a little further on your Unities, what only one may content a wise man, as a Sculler without a fellow? Pu. One Caesar in Rome, one General in a Camp, as one Master Bee in a Hive, one Master in a house, one friend like Jovathan, Socrates or Crates the Theban, to converse with, one Plato in stead of all, one Cato to consult with, one Fedus Achates to walk with, one wise Abigail, or patiented Grizel, or Willobeyes Avisa, or Overbury's Wife, described to live with, and that Wife to have but one good tongue to talk with; many tongues of Dutch, French, Spanish, Italian, Latin, in a woman, being suspicious to be all good, oft breeding a Babel's confusion. Pr. What is the first thing that lives in Man? Pu. His heart, which is also said to be the last that dies, as in some women the tongue is the last which moves, aut metiuntur Poetae. Pr. What is the tamer of all shrews? Pu. Not words nor swords, nor blows, which quiet a Xanthippe, as stones thrown at an angry dog, or red colours, Turkey cocks and Unicorns, but Morpheus or Mors, death or deadly sleep, which makes a shrew a sheep, a sounding vowel, as silent as a Turkish mute. Pr. What creatures begin their works in the midst? Pu. All Birds, and Swallows their nests, the silk worms their clewes, the bees their honeycombs, and the spiders their webs, as in generation God first framed the heart in the midst of man, and in regeneration infuseth grace into that midst as was seen in the Jews pricked and repentant, and in the Aethiopian Eunuch, believing first in their hearts, ere grace was known and shown in their lives, Rom. 10. v. 10. Pr. What is it for mere Legal Preachers to preach and press duties to be done, and sins to be left and loathed, to carnal Auditors, ere ever they know or feel the power of Faith, or Evangelicall Repentance, the roots of duties, and the conqueror's of corruptions, Heb. 11.6. John 15.1.2.3.4. 1. John 5.4 Pu. This is to require an apple ere there be an engrafted tree, an egg where there is no hen, breathing where there is no soul, yea to expect sucking and crying in a dead child, Eph. 2.1. Music in Organ-pipes, where be no blowing bellows, feeling in a wooden leg, and an eye of glass, where there is no participation of vital and animal spirits, and to look for fruit of dead trees, dried up, cut down, and withered, this merely sets the cart before the horse, the effect before the cause, and will needs bring forth a son to God, to believing Abraham, Gal. 3.7. and a daughter to Sarah, ere there be any mother, or any regenerating immortal seed, 1. Pet. 1.21. in which most of our strict stern Legal and austere Ministers, who neither experimentally know Christ, nor how to reveal him to others, go in a tract to convert souls, as if they should walk with their heads downward, and heels upward, or rear up a firm house without a foundation, urging moral duties to unbelievers, which honest Pagans Jews and Turks have done, and may do to no purpose without a Christ, Acts 4.12. Matth. 15.13. Acts 10.43. Pr. What is the best knowledge in a Preacher? Pu. As in a Physician that which is experimental, drawing that which he preacheth and presseth to others, as the spider her webs, and the silkworm her clew, out of the bowels of his own experience, without which he talks as a Parrot by rote, connes by heart his part and his Quew, like a Player, patcheth up as a Tailor his shreds, what he can scrape and snap from Polyanthea, Granateusis his Silua, and every Author; and often as the echo of Mr. Perkins, Smith, Bisiald, Taylour, Bayne, Greenham, Dike, Deering, repeats as good Sermons, or homely Homilies, as any he can buy for money. Pr. What's the best Emblem of a Preacher? Pu. A Cock, first clapping his wings to awaken himself, then crowing to awaken others; like that Cock which preached Christ's rehearsal Sermon to Peter, peceant and penitent. Pr. What's the best Emblem of a good Hearer? Pu. First, to be as swift to hear, as slow to speak, and as studious to meditate, as the Scholars of Pythagoras, or Thomas Aquinas (of a long time called Bos mutus, a dumb Ox, for his silent Soliloquies) as is said of young Nightingales, that they sit solitarily on boughs, and repeat by themselves, what notes and tones they hear from the old ones. Camerarius reports the like of Elephants, musing on their Master's lessons, directing their dance on hard stones, to the sound of music. Pr. What helps did I prescribe you for Memory, with the reasons that most remember Sermons no better? Pu. First, want of attention, their wand'ring eyes or walking tongues carrying their hearts a woolgathering from their ears, whereas a History, Music, and Sermons, should have strict attention, Luke 4.20 21. Secondly, the seed of the word is choked with the thorns of carking cares, Luke 8.7. or drowned in the bogs and quags of lusts, or washed out of their minds with the lutulent waters of sensual thoughts, or overgrown with weeds of wrath, James 1.21. Thirdly, one nail drives out another; the rusty nail of the world, the golden nail of the word; carnal discourses causing forgetting of that in the Churchyard, which they got in the Church: their streams turned into other torrents, makes their hearts so dry, their lives so barren and their brains so shallow. Fourthly, want of love to the word: for had a man as many children, as Ahab and Prianus, a schoolmaster as many scholars as Jo. Scotus, Erigona, or Orbilius once, or Ramus, they would be remembered, because all are loved; it being no marvel, that Cynus, Mitloridates, and Scipio, remembered their soldier's names so well, because their hearts were upon them, and they loved them as well as Alexander and Caesar their soldiers, whom they called their Commilitones, fellow-soldiers. Fisthly, want of compunction, because their hearts are not pricked, nor their consciences wounded in hearing, nor cut with the sword of the spirit, Heb. 4.12. Jer. 22.29. more than the Smith's Anvil or the scales of a Dragon, harder for beating and hammering, being unmelted with the fire, their hearts take no print; for a man remembers where, when, and how, he was wounded, by pike, sword, or pistol, all the days of his life. Sixthly, want of practice; the soldier scarce forgetting the postures he hath learned to practice. Seventhly, there is oft most fault in Preachers, 1. either in their dull and dead preaching, without light, life, or power, which charms them asleep, as Mercury's pipe did Argus; 2 or stupifies them as Henbane doth pained teeth. 3. Or claws them like Tigers to a tamenesle, 4. or sows pillows under their elbows for the drowsy naps of security, 5. or by their immethodical luxate and unoynted preaching, they lose themselves and hearers, method being the mother of Memory: 6. or by too high and sublime preaching, they entangle their hearers in intricate Labyrinths and Meanders, out of which they cannot unwind themselves: 7. or their truantly reading their Sermons, like words from a faint sick man, making no impression: in egregious folly calling on their hearers to remember their Sermons, when they cannot remember them themselves: or lastly, the fowls of the air pick up the uncovered seeds, as soon as they be sown: and therefore as when gold and plate is stolen, men cry Thiefs, thiefs, those who presently forget what they hear, may cry, the Devil, the Devil. Pr. These rules I did dictate unto you, as removals of the Remoraes' and obstructions, both to youth and to years, in remembering of Sermons, and you do well to remember them, and yet you have not repeated all. Pu. Indeed Sir, I find what you told me, that my memory was like a Sieve or a Riddle, which leaks out the pure water, and keeps in the dirt and dross. I can remember toys and tales, and Ballads, and babbles, better than solid matter; as weak stomaches be more filled oft with wind then with good meat, and as a child's pocket is sild with trash and pebble stones, rather than with gold and good things. Yet now I call to mind some other Rules you prescribed to my memory. Pr. Tanaom aliquaudo, let us further hear them. Pu. I must as a main help to memory, meditare of what I hear or read; meditation chewing the cud, digesting all mental cares, and turning them in succum & sanguinem, into blood and nutriment, Ps. 1.3. For want of meditation, the word heard or read, takes no more impression than a serpent's way over a stone, an Eagle in the air, or a ship in the sea: like the sands which run in an hourglass, out in one hour, as they run in, in another; that running out at one ear, which comes in at another. Secondly, you prescribed me conference, which brings much to light, as the repercussions of steel and flint, bring forth fire, and as laying of stick to stick, and coal to coal, both keep in fires, and as beggars every one of them bringing several scraps, make a beggar's feast, so it is when hearers meet and confer notes, (not of Randall Aristippus, or Aristotle, but) of Sacred Scripture and Sermons. Thirdly, noting and quoting (by penning) principal heads of Sermons: and after recollecting and examining them, as the noble Bereaus did, Acts 11. is a tried help to memory, that being most tenatiously revited and infixed, which is done by most circumstances: one circumstance like links in a golden chain drawing on another, pull one, the rest follow. Fourthly, Hearts must be free from cares, griefs, sorrow, fear, boiling anger, and all passions, perturbations, and regnant lusts, which fill the mind as puddle waters fill the Vessels, and keep out the Rosa solis, and the true Aqua vita of the Word, it being hard to see any face reflexed fair in a lentulent and troubled water. Fifthly, it's both a trial of a sincere heart and love to the Word, and a help to the memorative faculty, to give the word heard, the prime and first place in the thoughts and cogitations of the heart. In our first morning wake when the mind is most cleared, and the brain least clouded, than a heart opening to the Word, as the S to the Sun, brings a great stock to the treasury of Knowledge, and to the Magazine of Memory. Sixthly, as usur promtos facit, use makes perfect; use legs and have legs, the child first creeps and then goes; so use memory and have memory. Augustine by often preaching profited, and by profiting preached; and Miloes' shoulders not by any increased strength, but by daily, constant exercise, bore a Calf till it grew to a ponderous Bull. And in the Art of Memory, those young Tirees who have begun at first to lodge but seven or eight words in a chamber, which they ever bear as an Idea in their minds, in few days by degrees have lodged thirty, forty, fifty, or sixty, not only words but sentences in the upper middle, and lower places of the said chamber divided into several Continents, and its probable that Seneca, Cyrus, Hortonsius, Portius, Latro, and our Doctor Fuller, with others famoused for memory, attainned their perfections by such degrees prescribed. Seventhly, it brings no small adjument to memory, presently ere any action be intervenient, to strike whilst the Iron is hot, and to set the Seal whilst the Wax is soft, in writing down what ere we can remember as soon as ever it is heard; for though writing by characters or at large be more gainful as communicable to others, yet it so takes away or dulls the edge of affection in a ducerted course, turning the care into a pen, that for to heat devotion its more powerful to hear attentively, and to write what we receive retentively, after we have pondered what we heard. Eightly, you told me, for remembering other Classical Authors, whether divine or humane; it was most profitable to extract the very marrow and quintessence of them into short Epitomes and Abridgements, as some have abridged calvin's Institutions, and some Master Rogers his Directories, as Lucius Florus, Livies History. Ninthly, some to remember some Author have transcribed him wholly, as Demosthenes writ out Thucydides eight times. Tenthly, some have read over an Author very often, as Cyprian did Tertullian, and Alphonsus the Bible fourteen times, as it's said in one year. Eleaventhly, others have committed to memory whole books, or parcels of them, as some the book of the Psalms, some younger Boys and Girls in our Times all the Epistles of St. Paul. Twelfthly, some have extracted out of the Bible all the Promises, as Mistress Alice Fenuick; some all the parallel places, as Junius; some all that mainly confute Popery, as Pelargus in his Jesuitismus, and the zealous Father of Sir James Ware in Ireland. Thirteenthly, others have ripened their Judgements, and strengthened their Memories by translating Authors, as calvin's Institutions, and his Comments on Job, Pareus his Comments on the Revelations, Musculus and Peter Martyrs Common places, Philemon Holland, plutarch's Lives and morals, Plinny, Suetonius (not suffered to be Tranquillus) our Tapsell, Gesners History, with others, which Plebeians read, rather than understand in our English tongue. Fourteen, others have incorporated other Authors into their own styles, and moulded them into their memories by a near imitation of them, as Theocritus in this kind imitated Hesiod, Virgil, Homer, our Laureate, Spencer, and the Latin Lucan, Virgil, Doctor Hall, Seneca, Gesner, Pliuny, our late Aeobanus Hessus, and our Draiton, and Daniel, Ovid, and Coquier, Lipsius in his Political Aphorisms. Fifteenthly, its advantageous to memory, to take the opportunity of the morning, which is said to be Musis amica, ever a friend to the Muses; studies and serious recollections after a full and free repast, in a dinner, chief night studies being as prejudicial to the brain as to the body. Sixteenthly, you acquainted me also with some helps in diet, as amongst the rest such a moderate use of mine, as Paul prescribes to his Timothy, 1 Tim. 5. and the Mother of Solomon to her Lamuel, Prov. 31. Secondly, Birds whose bloods by reason of often motion be more pure than the waterish blood of Fishes, or grosser bloods of Beasts. Thirdly, of Birds the wild, of Teal, Duck, Mallard, Pheasant, Partridge, rather than the tame, though as the Friar said, who desired but the leg of a Capon, and the wing of a Goose with the brains of a Woodcock, neither comes amiss. Fourthly, for flesh, Veals, Muttons, Pigs, Rabbits, and these of purer bloods, and lighter digestion than Beefs, Porkes, Bulls, or such as dainty Dames call the grosser Butchers ware. Fiftly, of wild Venisons, Hares, Dear, Stags, Roe-Bucks, rather those which are hunted, then shot with Pieces and killed (as many Innocents') by clublaw. Sixtly, of all kind of flesh, rather that which is roast, (which dries up the humidities) than what is sodde, whose strength goes into the broth. Seventhly, the often eating of Raisins of the Sun, Candid Ginger, Coriander prepared, Chestnuts, and all styptics. Eighthly, the often mistication and clawing of white frankincense called Olybanum, the anointing of the head, with that which is called the Philosopher's Oil, the speedy expulsion of all excrements from the brain by the nose, from the body by the draught, or by urim, often frication and rubbing of the head with a Scarlet or Linen cloth moderately warmed, as also the oft washing the head with the sweetest Herbs, and the feet with the decoction of Fennell, the leaves of Laurel, and Camomile, with the use of Buglesse, how ever it be taken. Ninthly, moderate exercise before meat as a preparative to a supping or dining stomach, and after meat as a digestive, with washing the hands chiefly in Rose-water, which washing though some scoff it before meat to be Pharisaical, though after meat Physical, yet neither before nor after (even Fish and Oysters) may be thought slovinnicall, and intrinching on Gorbianus and Gorbiana, he and she slovens, though indeed above all these prescribed. Sepe recordari medicamine fortius omni. No Paracelsians, galenists, supplyings Help memory so much as * Vsus Magister aerris. Morat. exercizing. Lectio lecta placet, decies repitita placebit, Vsus & ars decuit, quod sapit omnis homo. Ten times repeating, what doth please being read, Rivets all readings, in the weakest head: With art, use, right commixed, makes rich supplies Of what man needs to cure all maladies. Pr. Who usually have the weakest memories? Pu. Old men, by reason of the too much dryness, Children by reason of too much moisture in their brains, Drunkards by too much in their bellies, which not only rots the Livers of such wicked livers, as Rains and Mildews rot the Livers of Hares, Dear, Sheep, and Rabbits: But as thick fogs from an Irish bog, ascend from the lower Region of their bellies, to the upper Region of their clouded and dulled brains; withal sick men by the commotions of their spirits, and distemper of their heads; especially timorous and fearful ones, whose heads are in their trembling hearts, and hearts in their heels, have seldom so good memories as the sound and courageous; neither have the melancholy in their thickened blood, and clouded spirits, so strong memories as the sanguine in their purified bloods and spirits. Pr. What things are obnoxious to memory, besides these we have already discussed? Pu. The greedy gulphing of all raw fruits, with the use of Vinegar, or Wine aegar, is as fare short of sweet Wines, Malmsie, Muscadines, Greek Wines, Canary Sacks, and Vivium Cos, for memory, as Eringoes, and hot Drugs, are short of cold Lettuce, steeped Rew, Tobacco, and Agnus Castus, for Chastity. Withal the too much ingurgitations of meats and drinks in our Gluttons, and Hellicons Hogs of Epicurus his sty, drown both their minds and memories in Hogsheads, as the Duke of Clarence once in a Butt of Sack: Much sleep also like a Dormouse, or the Beast Colus after Rutilio, and the Mauritanian Asses, after their Hemlocks stupisies the memorative faculties; so do also all meats which are gross and of hard digestion: chief the immoderate use of Venus, which dulls the brain, spends, spoils, and soils the vital and animal spirits; and shortens life, as we know in the Cock sparrow the quail, and other salatious Creatures: withal no less obnoxious to memory, are all sharp vaporous liquids from Onions, Garlicks, Mustard seed: as also our too cold and moist Cucumbers, water Cresses, and Sorrells. Lastly, many things accidentally hurt memory: as the corrupting of it, when the species of things past are forgotten; as also the diminution of it, by accidental passions, sicknesses, and diseases: or the ablation of it utterly lost, by the wounding of the brain or some part of it: hence, besides many brainsick Heretics, whose brains had need be purged, with Helibore (chiefly our new Seekers beyond the moon for some fift Gospel, like that once of the Carmalites; as though the Religion of the Prophets and Apostles were imperfect) we have some other Fantastics, called men of cracked and crazy brains. Pr. Hence we have so many learned, and famoused men in Authors, quite losing their memory, and turning as oblivious as the Ostrich which forgets her eggs which she hath hid in the sands, upon several occasions: as Bambo the King of the Goths, by a draught of poison administered unto him by Heringius his successor. Gregory Trapezuntius by old age forgetting all letters, both Greek, and Latin; which was also the case of Francis Barbarus the learned Venetian, and of Orbilius the great Grammarian, and some by a cold Palsy, as Lycosthenes, Anno Dens 1555. who lost his memory, as Nabuchaanezzar lost his Reason for seven years; and after recovered it: some by long sickness, as Messala Corvinus after a long sickness forgetting his own name: as those nominated with others are recorded more largely, by Solinus, cap. 7. Polihist Pliny, lib. 7. hist cap. 24. Sabellicus, lib. 10. cap. 9 Volaterau lib. 21. Authrop, and Valerius, lib. 1. cap. 8. Therefore the sum of all this is, that all hearers of the Word, all students in humanity, and Divinity, should by frequent and fervent prayer, be Petitioners to the Throne of Grace, to the giver of all gifts, both general and special, common and sanctified; that he who gave wisdom to Solomon, tongues to the Apostles, inspirations to the Prophets, a mouth unto Aaron, the door of utterance unto Paul, eloquence to Apollo, and gifts unto men when he ascended up unto heaven, Eph. 4.12. would in mercy bestow his spirit upon them, not only to enlighten their understandings as the Sun doth the air, and to open their eyes, Acts 26.18. as he did the Disciples, Acts 24 and their hearts, as he did Lidia's, Acts 16. and to lead them into all Truth, Joh. 16.13. but to strengthen their memories according to his promise, Joh. 14.26. as he did the memories of his Disciples, Joh. 2.22. and of his Virgin Mother, who hide all his words in her heart, Luke 2.51. without this influence of Grace on our hear, and readings, as the fruit of prayer, all the means for memory prescribed be but in vain, 1 Cor. 3.6.7. and by prayer watering them, our poor prescriptions may be blessed. Quod omen exoptat Hieronymus Ecclesiastes Greenewickensis. Cum facilis sit inventis addere, si quid rectius istis noveris, Candidus imperti, si non his utere mecum. A Winter night's School tutor Discourse to Generous Youth. Philologus. COme my ingenious Pupil, as I have put your Brother's wits and memory to the test and touchstone: So to make some experience of yours to pass the time this Winter night in the best pastime to your Parents and Friends, I require you to repeat unto me, what you writ lately from my dictates unto you? Puer. By the help of my Notes I hope Sir, I shall answer your Demands: for I assure you I have not left out, nor lost any thing out of them which I heard from you. Ph. Then you have like most Schoolboys tosesm in saculo all in your satchel. Pu. No Sir, all in my Pocket, though not in my Pate. Ph. It seems you begin betimes to pocket up a great wrong to your memory? Pu. No Sir, I desire to allege, scripturus est, & litera scripta manet, cum verba volaut; words are but wind, but writings are firm, Authentic, and obligatory, paper chains being oft stronger than those of Iron, in this Iron Age full of Ire, and full of Iron. Ph. It seems you trust more to your writings, like Scriveners, Brokers, and Usurers, then to your wits like a Scholar: As some Preachers have their Sermons, and some Players their Parts (which they con) more in their Notes (as men of note and great readings) than in their hearts, trusting their books more than their brains, in which posture, as some Mercers with their debts, and some cold Christians with their prayers you book all; for take them from their booke-formes which they follow, as Boys their written Copies, and Girls their Samplers, and you take props from hops, Crutches from Cripples, and Oaks from Ivies. Pu. Indeed Sir, I thought a man sand-blind might have used his Spectacles, and a lame man his crutches, and a weak memory some Notes? Ph. They are Notes indeed of a weak memory, but howsoever since it will be no better, I grant you your book. Pu. It's a great mercy Sir, in a Judge to a Prisoner, though I hope my tongue hath not broke the Jail, nor like a Gentleman Usher gone before my wits. Ph. You are a pretty Spark, and since you can find your tongue so soon, and (as a womanish weapon) wield it so well, tell me why the tongue is not joined to the heating, seeing, smelling, touching, and tasting, as a sixth sense? Pu. Because as a Bedlam or mad man, or rather mad women, Lingua being of the Feminine Gender, it oft runs wild Goose chase after Sir Gregory Nonsense. Ph. But to render further your Repetition Lecture, how many eyes have you? Pu. Not so many Sir, as Argus, or a Lamprey, only two. Ph. How many hands have you? Pu. Fewer than Briareus, only two. Ph. How many feet? Pu. Not so many as a Gnat, and the Poetising pediculus in her hexametrizing feet. Ph. How many ears have you? Pu. Though I never saw them whether they be long like Midas his ears, or short like a Mouse, yet I am sure I have but two. Ph. How many Tongues? Pu. One? Ph. Why have you two legs, two hands, two eyes, two ears, and but one tongue? Pu. Because one is enough, if it be a good one, two tongues being as needless as two strings at once to a bow, two Horses for one man in a little journey by Land, or two wooden horses by Sea. Ph. And why besides? Pu. Because as I have but one tongue, it should only express the thoughts of one heart, without playing at Doublets, by Jesuitical Equivocation doubling, as is writ of Pope Alexander the sixth, and Caeser Borgia his Bastard son (machiavil patterns of his politic Prince) that the one never spoke as he thought, the other never thought as he spoke, their words and thoughts (like Germans lips) being nine miles a sunder. Ph. And what more? Pu. I have two Ears, to hear much; two eyes, to see much; two hands, to work much; two legs, to walk much; and but one tongue to talk little, according to the old Caution; Aude, vide, tace; si velis vivere pace: hear, see, and say the best, if thou wilt live in peace and rest: let not the Warehouse of thy heart, all to thy tongue's shop impart. Ph. To reflex a little further upon your senses: What Creature hath quicker sight than Man? Pu. The Hawk, the Eagle, the Serpent Epidaurus, and the Lynceus, which is said to penetrate even solid bodies. Ph. What Creatures exceed man in smelling. Pu. The Dog, the Fox, the Swine, the Badger, the Puttock, the Vulture, who will smell carrion as far off, as a thief will smell a Purse, or a wife man a Rat, called a Knave masked in the habit of honesty. Ph. Who exceed Man in exquisite touching? Pu. The Spider, who feels the least touch in her Web (as a wife man feels the least touch on his name and reputation) though some man hath an exquisite touch on a Lute and Instrument, as an artificial supply in this sense Ph. Who exceed Man in hearing? Pu. The Hart, the Hare, the Boar, and the Mole; yea almost every Beast and Birds, chief in these times, in which it is hard to hear any good news. Ph. Who hear the worst? Pu. Kings and Tyrants, such as Dionysius once, Herod, Alexander, and such as delight like Tigers to be clawed by flatterers, who seldom or never hear the truth told them by their Court Scycophants in private, or Ahabs Chaplains, and Jezabels Priests in public. Ph. Who are most blind? Pu. Those that will not see Woods for trees; also those that like the Pharisees, the Laodiceans, and selfconceited fools, think they see when they are more blind than Beetles, and Moales, and those who suffer their eyes to be put out with white and yellow dust blown into them as high as the seat of Justice: Like some Ormondized Grandees in Ireland, who could not see Kerns and Rebels enclosed in some Castles (as Cacus, and five Kings of Midian in their Caves) but let them fly out, as Woodcocks in a Mist: Ph. But who were those, who being blind saw more than those that had eyes? Pu. Samson, who never saw his folly with Dalilah, and the Harlot of Zoreck, till his eyes were out. Ph. Who else? Pu. Mauritius and Zedekias who never saw so far into God's justice on their sins, as when the first was blinded by Phocas, the other by the Chaldeans vexation giving understanding, as it did to Manasses, David, Adonizebeck the Gospel's Prodigal, and many more. Ph. And who else? Pu. Blind Homer, blind Didimus, Alexandrinus, blind Mr. Fisher late of Cambridge, who saw more internally than most that had eyes externally, as a blind man cured by Christ, saw more than the ocular Pharisees, John 9 and a blind man burned in Queen Mary's time, saw more into God's truth then bloody Bonner, Bishop Morgan, Gardiner, Friar Alphousus, and all the Sons of the scarlet Whore. Ph. But who saw as clearly by night as by day? Pu. Some say Scanderbag, Tamburlaine, and Tiberius Caesar, as though they had the eyes of Fowmarts, Ferrits, Wolves, Foxes, and Rats, yea of Draytons' Owl (the Emblem once of an ocular Courtier) who saw not only day at a little hole, but so clear in the night in Queen Elizabeth's Time, that she needed not Diogenes his Candle, nor the dark Lantern of a Faux, or our Catilinarian Firebrands; but not to come too near to Courts nor Camps, lest Guns and Cannons deaf us that we cannot hear, flashes and lightnings blind us that we cannot see the truth at noon day. Ph. To return to the Creatures, which of them in the nearest Sympathy love the dearest? Pu. The Olive and the Pine, the Myrtle and the Rose, the Ivy and the young Oak amongst Plants. Ph. Who amongst Birds? Pu. The Doves and the Peacocks, the Felfars & Stairs who feed together, and all Birds of a Feather that flock together, as Cranes, Teals, Crows, Wild-geese, and Scotch solemn Geese called Barnacles. Ph. Which amongst the Fishes? Pu. The Swordfish, and the Flaylefish, who as two Dogs against a Bear, join together to plague the Whale that is so great, the one pricking him under his belly, the other threshing his back, as ne Hercules contra duos. Ph. Who also? Pu. The Sea-Lamprey, and Viper, who couple together, and the little Musculus, who as the Whale's Harbinger, goes before him to sound the depths, that he welter not on a sandbed, or come too near the shore. Ph. Who amongst Beasts? Pu. The Sheep and Deer who feed together in one Park, the little Ibis also for a Bird, the Crocodiles Barber-Surgeon, who picks his teeth when he sleeps with open mouth, as though he gaped for a Benefice, or some Golden Gudgeon. Ph. Betwixt what Creatures is the greatest hatred and antipathy? Pu. Betwixt the Elephant and the Unicorn, the Lion, the Gryphin and the Dragon, the Crow and the Ass, the Horse and the Wolf, the Fox and the Lamb, the Dog and the Deer, with many more who agree together like two snarling Hounds in a couple, two Cats at a Mouse, two Wives in a house, two Beggars at a dole, two Hawks at a Partridge, two Dogs at a Boar, two Kings at a Throne, who seldom agree in one, more than two corrivals in one Office, in one Love, in one Crown. Ph. What's the way to quiet Bees when they are fight? Pu. To throw dust amongst them, the remembrance of Mortality that we must all lodge in, the lap of one common Mother the Earth persuading Unity: else our wraths are like flamiferous Aetua, and the Coals of Juniper, unquencheable, unless the milk of the Word, the waters of the Sanctuary, the blood of the Pascall Lamb, and the wine of the Encharist quench our devasting wildfires. Ph. But what is the cause of most Law-suites, and Westminster quarrels? Pu. Two words (Meum & Tuum) Mine and Thine, as the two Mothers before Solomon for a Child, and the three Goddesses before Paris contested for a golden Ball. Ph. Who desides the controversy? Pu. Not liberty of Conscience which plays sweep stake, and rakes all: But the Law, and oft Ambidexter the Lawyer, in such Equity, as that Arbitrator, who gave two that contested about an Oyster, either of them a shell, and himself eat the Fish, or in such a fate and state as the Butler's box, that wins all when every Gamester looseth, after much shuffling and cutting. Ph. Who are the greatest sleepers? Pu. Not Dormice, nor Russian Bears, nor the beast Colus after Rutting, nor Poetized Endymion with the Moon; but those of the leuder Laity, profane Plebeians, drowsy Clergy, and somniferous Magistracy, who paralleled with the seven sleepers in Dioclesian's Time, will not, nor cannot be awakened with the golden Bells of Aaron, for this late seven years, nor with the Trumpets of the word, nor the warning Cannons of War, nor the pricks of swords, nor the voices of Criers louder than John Baptist, yea as loud as the bloods of many Innocents', abels, Naboaths, and Zacharia's. Ph. Who was the wisest man of mere men in the World? Pu. Solomon, a Type and Figure of Christ, wiser than Socrates, Solon, Bias, Thales, Periauder, Cleobulus, Cato, Plato, or any Sages of the Romans or Athenians, who had their wisdom either by study: As Abraham, Isaac Jacob, who had Wells by digging, or by experience and observation; but he had wisdom without study; as the Prophets and Apostles their tongues and gifts by immediate inspiration. Ph. Wherein was his folly for all his wisdom? Pu. In his unsatiable effeminacy, more than ever was read of Horcules, Claudius, Clodius, Heliogabulus, Proculus, or the most luxurious Goats: As the Canker in his Rose, and the Coloquintida in his pot, polluting all his best, and befooling all his wisdom. Ph. This womanishnesse indeed hath been the Cantharideses in the ointment of the most wise, worthy, and valiant, even of Samson the strongest, of Hannibal the Martialist, losing all that glory in Capua, which he won in Canna, and of famous Caesar called Meehum calvum, the bald Lecher, and omnium mulierum virum, a Jack for every Gill, and beauteous Trull, such as Terentia, Servillia, Postbumia, and others, pretermitting how much Paris was eclipsed by Heleva, Troilus by Creseida, and both Achilles and Agamemnon by Briseis, for whom they contended: Hence tell me who were most alured by their eyes in this nature? Pu. David by Bathsheba, (as fabled Actaeon by Diana) the two old Goatish-Judges by the beauty of Susanna, Sichem by Dinah, and the Sons of God by the Daughters of men, by whose commixtions Giants were first produced, as monstrous Births, from monstrous Lusts. Ph. But were no women snared and inflamed by their eyes, by, or through which, baneful beauty shot a poisoned Bullet into their hearts, called by Poets, blind Cupid's Darts? Pu. Yes, the whorish Egyptian was scorched by looking and lusting after chaste and fair Joseph. Phadra by beholding Hippolytus (the Paganish Joseph) and more than a good many others, in Burtons' love Melancholy: for, Femina vidit, uritq videndo: a woman when she looks on men desired, her heart is Tinder, Powder, Match love fired: whence the poor lover sighed; Curio perii, cur lumina noxia vidi? Why did I eye the beauty bright, fired by Cockatrice's sight? Ph. What is the best preventing Physic for such poison? Pu. To guard well the Cinque-Ports against traitorous Love-passions; not only with Ulysses to stop our ears from the charms of such Sirens; but to close our eyes from beholding vanity, chiefly in a luring Dalilah, and a painted Jezabel, according to the Caution, Quid facies, facies Veneris, cum Veneris ante, nè sedeas, sed eas ue Pereas per cas: What wilt thou do when Venus comes thee nigh? Oh sit not nigh her! lest thou perish by her. Ph. He indeed that will prevent sin, mustprevent the occasion, as he that hath a dizzy brain must not walk over a narrow Bridge, and he that will not be bit with Wine as with a Serpent, must not look at the colour of it: as the fond Fly, if she will not be scorched, must not dally with the flame; besides, he must quench the heats, of Love or lust, (as Factions in the Church, and fractions in a State) in their first sparks; cruch them like serpents in the head, and Cockatrices in their shells, in their first rise, ere they get head, as young Hauks are caught in eyries, ere they get wing: but among those who were culpable in their eyes, who most abused their tongues? Pu. Ahab who falsely accused, Jezabel who threatened, the Zealous Thisbite, Turtullus who traduced Paul, Diotrephes who prated against John the Divine, Shemei who reviled, Michall who mocked, Saul who vituperated, Goliab who blasphemed, holy David (as Rabshekah, both God and Hezekiah:) with all the Priests, and false Prophets who scandalised Jeremiah; the proud and profane Jews, who smote him with the tongue; the same Jews who contradicted, blasphemed, & scandalised both Paul & Steven, & Christ himself; as the Arians in the Primitive times did Athanasius, Narcissus, Eugenius, and all the Orthodox; & as Cocleus, Belserus, Stapleton, Feverdentius, Scurrilous, Kellison, & all the Romish Rabshekah's tongue poisoned, Luther, Melancton, Calvin, Beza, & all our most famous Belgic Divines, praetermitting the muttering mouch-murthering tongues of Corah, Dathan, Abiram, and the hard hearted Idolatrous Jews, against Moses and Aaron, and the poisons in the tongues of some Priests (as if like Popery and frenzy running in a blood) against old Hierom the Trilinguist, Hierom of Prague, Hierom Savanorola, Hierom, Zanchius, and others. Ph. Who like many a Monsieur mendax, gulling Guzman, lying Lazarillo, lewd Lentulus, and Hell hatched heretics of our days had his lying tongue more than Latin tongue? Pu. Gehezi, who was a Leper for his labour, and his seed after him. Ph. Who used their tongues as instruments of God's glory, and the good of others? Pu. Moses, Aaron, Samuel, Daniel, Phineas, old Simeon, in praying and Prophesying, Deborah, and Baruck, Elkanaes', Anna, Judith the Beththulian, and the Virgin Mother in praising God, chief David, whose tongue was the Pen of a ready Writer, who had ever an Eucharistical Song and Psalm for God, as God had a mercy of Adornation and Preservation for him, in delivering him from the Bear, the Lion, Doeg the Dog, Achitophel the Fox, Saul the Tiger, Goliath the Monster, the treacherous Ziphims, Shebah, Absolous, and the Philistines. Ph. It is remarkable also, that when Augustine and Ambrose met, they composed in mutual answers: that, te Deum, we praise thee O God. And when our Doctor Sibbs, and Doctor Preston met, they found ever to discourse on some further excellencies in God: as did also (as the best precedent for women) Elizabeth and the Mother of Christ, reasonating Gods praises, not like carnal Gossips, abusing their tongues, and mispending their time in prattlings, traducing the absent, often the innocent. Hence its easy to resolve which be the best or worst of all Dishes. Pu. Aesop long since told his Masters, they were tongues as they were well or ill dressed, and laid in Pickle, seasoned with the salt of the Sanctuary, yea washed in the best holy water, & sage the best of them, or Rotten, ripe for rotting, like the tongue of Nestorius the worst of them. Ph. What trade is most profitable, least prejudicial to others, lest envied, most honoured with the greatest, which yet at last will fail, though now the most profess it? Pu. It is neither Law, Physic, Divinity, Merchandizing, Surgery, nor any other Function, Liberal, or Mechanic, by sea, nor by Land; but in one word, begging. Ph. You say true; for to illustrate all my proposals by demonstration: first, it's most profitable literally, 1 and English, or a Scotch Courtier (praetermitting all the quondam gains of it in the Courts of Alexander, Pirrhus, Augustus, as also in their Camps) getting more in one morning by begging, whilom from King James than a Preacher by spending his Lights and Lungs, or an Advocate by pleading half Nestor's years. 2. Withal, It's least prejudicial in a metaphorical sense, begging by prayer: it being in the Order of Petitioners, as in the Order of Predicants, and true Elemosinarians, the more the better, though it hold in few other professions in Troynovant: the moe Hounds the better hunting, more Spaniels Hawking: there multitudes being as prejudicial to their thriving, as many Physicians were to the health of Adrian, one (in a manner) devouring another; not as Pharaohs lean Kine the fat, and empty ears the full: but the fat the lean, as great Pikes the little fry, and greater beasts and birds, the lesser. 3. Withal, whereas in other trade's emulation is a great stickler, plaguing itself and others, this is the least envied. 4. Withal, however other trades are respected by men chief liberal Artists: yet never had any Galenist, Justmian, Baldus, Bartolus, or Hermolaus Barbarus that respect with Grandees: no not Ennius with Scipio, Virgil with Augustus, or Cyneas with Pyrrhus, as the poor soul hath with Christ, by a praying spirit. 5. Last of all, it's most gainful, though not with the men of the earth, yet against the men of the earth, and with the great God of Heaven: as for instance, this begging and petitioning by prayer, hath brought fire from heaven, shut and opened the heavens in Elias his time: stayed the course of the Sun in Joshua's time: brought Manna from heaven, water out of a Rock: plagued Pharaoh: drowned an Army: divided the Sea in Moses his time: raised two children, with Dorcas, Lazarus, and Jairus his daughter, healed Ezekiah, divided Joràane twice: wrestled and prevailed with God, and with men: healed Leprosies, and all diseases: dispossessed Demoniacs: and as Faith's Daughter, did ever as great marvels, and miracles as did the mother: yet for all this, this trade must at last fail; after the Resurrection there will be no more use of it in the full fruition of felicity, than of Faith and hope. But this subject having drawn on an enlargement, to abbreviate the rest: Who were Martyrs, yet never Confessors, nor Disputants for the Faith, nor Petitioners to the Court of Heaven? Pu. All the Infants of Bethelem, as innocent Lambs destroyed by Herod the Fox. Ph. Who was wiser than his Teachers? Pu. David more wise than Gad, and Nathan: Moses wiser than Jethro his Counsellor: Paul a greater Proficient in Christ's College than Gamaliel: Apollos more eloquent than Aquila, and Priscilla: and amongst Moralists, Aristotle in his Philosophy exceeded his Master Plato: and of Divines, Thomas Aquinas out shined his Master Albert, how ever like Basil called great. Ph. Where was virtue truly in the midst? Pu. Christ in the midst of the Doctors in the Temple, and in the midst of his Disciples, after his Resurrection, as the Sun in the midst of the Planets, as the true Centre in the World's circumference. Ph. Where was virtue in the midst betwixt two extremes, as a Shippc betwixt two Rocks? Pu. When Christ was crucified on the Cross betwixt two Thiefs, and as the Scotch Buchanan descanted, when in Italy he saw him pictured betwixt Friar Francis and Friar Dominick, and when Peter slept betwixt a quaternion of Soldiers in Herod's Prison, where the Angel was his Goale-deliverer, as also Paul and Silas in the like case at Philippos, and Queen Elizabeth, when she was tanquam ovis, as a sheep, betwixt her Sister and Gardiner, designed for the slaughter; in Caesar's case when he was stabbed by Bodkins in the midst of the Senate, and John Scotus Erigona with Penknives in the midst of his Scholars. Ph. Where is the Earth higher than the Heavens? Pu. In Christ's human nature, exalted above the visible Heavens, and above invisible Angels glorified, as that true body took from Earthly Adam. Ph. Where did the Earth water the Heavens? Pu. When Mary Magdalen an earthly sinful woman, did wash the heavenly feet of Christ, her eyes being the Basin and Ewer, and her hair the Towel. Ph. What waters ascend to Heaven? Pu. The tears of penitent sinners, wronged Widows and Orphans. Ph. At what Feast were most Guests fed with the least meat? Pu. When five thousand were fed in the Desert with five Loaves and two Fishes. Ph. Where did the Hawk and the Partridge, the Hound and the Hare, the Wolf and the Lamb, the Elephant and the Unicorn, and all creatures now opposite, live, lodge, and love together. Pu. Not only before man's fall, but in Noah's Ark, a Type of the Unity of the Church. Ph. Where did the Lion roar, the Ass bray, the Wolf howl, the Cock crow, the Nightingale sing so loud that all the World heard them, the Fox and the Fowmart smell so strong, that all the World felt them, yet unheard, unfelt in all parts of the Earth? Pu. In the same Noah's Ark. Ph. Why was Cham saved in the Ark, being a wicked man? Pu. To show Gods general Providence over all, and his bounty to all in the common blessing of Preservation; as still he givea food to all flesh, who live, move, and have their being in him. Secondly, that he and his Posterity might be a whip and corrective Rod to the sinning Posterity of Sem and Japhet, as the seed of Moab and Amon, and Ashur, were to the Israelites, the Turks to sinning Europe, the Imperialists lately to the Palatinate, and Arminianized Germany, the bloody Kern to our Peccant Colonies in Ireland, and perhaps Gog and Magog, Turk and Pope ere long unto us, armed already against us by our crying sins Regnant in our yet deformed Reformation. Ph. What are the swiftest things of Inanimates in their motions? Pu. An Arrow out of a Bow, a Bullet out of a Gun or Mortar-piece. Ph. What of Fishes? Pu. The Dolphin, and those Fishes which are said to fly so long as their fins are wet, in Lapland, Finland, and other parts in the Mediterranean Sea. Ph. What of Beasts? Pu. The Horse, the Hart, the Hare, the Greyhound, and Dromedaries, on which its thought those wise men road from the East to worship Christ. Ph. Who of men? Pu. The Jewish Hazaell, the Pagans Atlanta, and our Irish Kerns, who by turns will run a Dear to death on the Mountains, they being wilder and vilder themselves than the worst Rascals. Ph. What of Naturals in their motion? Pu. The Sun the great Peripatetic running daily his course through the Heavens, and in a short space through all the signs of the Zodiac; darting also his beams in a trice upon the Earth. Ph. What is the swiftest thing in man? Pu. In his body his tongue, most swift and voluble in motion, and as unwearied (chiefly oiled in Lawyers and heated in women) and the thoughts of his heart as swift as lightning. Ph. What of Birds? Pu. The Hawk, the Eagle, and the Swallow; but of all these the influence of grace on the heart and soul, the motions of the spirit, and the reflections and dartings of the spirit of man by the spirit of grace, in mental and ejaculatory prayer, as was said of the Monks of Egypt and Lybia in their darted devotions, are swifter than all those, in a trice piercing the clouds, and having access unto, and success with the God of Heaven, without any frothy formalities or verbal vaniloquys or lip-laboured stultiloquys, either with a book or without a book. Ph. Who was borne as a man, died as a Lamb, risen as a Lion, and ascended into Heaven as an Eagle? Pu. Every mean Christian can tell you it was Christ the Son of God. Ph. How many kinds of Sons hath God? Pu. Sons by Creation, as the Angels, Sons by Adoption, as the Elect, and only one Son by Nature, Christ our Emanuel, God with us. Ph. Who were Types and Figures of Christ? Pu. Of Types personal, Isaac was a Figure of his Birth, Joseph of his betraying, Samson of his Death, Ionas of his Resurrection, Enoch and Elias of his Ascension, Solomon of his Wisdom, Noah and Abraham of his active obedience, Melchisedech of his Priesthood, David of his Kingly and Prophetical Office. Ph. What were his Real Types? Pu. The Manna from Heaven, the Rock in the Widernesse, the escape Goat, the Propitiatory, the Sanctuary, the Sanctum Sanctorum, and the bloody oblations of Sheep, Goats, Bullocks, and Turtle Doves. Ph. What things were reserved in the Ark? Pu. The Book of the Law, the pot of Manna, and the Rod of Aaron which always budded. Ph. How oft was the Temple of the Jews polluted by the Gentiles? Pu. By the Babylonians, by Antiochus, and by the Romans, when Pompey made it a stable for his Horses. Ph. What three Languages were honoured and sanctified by pilate's writing them upon Christ's Cross? Pu. The Greek, the Hebrew, and the Latin: These not only flourished when one of the Ancients was called a trilinguist; but in later times, as the Egyptians were rob of their Jewels, the Pagans of their Arts and Sciences, to the use of the Sanctuary; so for the same purpose these tongues of late have been wondrously adorned, spread and polished; the Greek by Budaeus, Turnebus, our late Seapula, and the French Stevens; the Hebrew by Drusius, Buxendorffius, Martinius, and our Broughton; and the Latin by Erasmus, Agricola, and others, rubbing the rust from it, as it was overspread with such Barbarism (as some Levellers aim at now) by the inundations of the Goths and Vandals over Italy and else where. Ph. But to proceed, who was wiser dreaming than her Husband waking? Pu. pilate's Wife forwarning him not to meddle with the King of the Jews. Ph. Now we reflex on meddling, what are Medlars? Pu. Chief without gifts and calling, as Vzziah meddled with the Ark which belonged to the Levites to touch, and Vzzah with the Office of the Priests, for which he was as leprous as most ungifted and uncalled medlars since (for such I only stigmatize whether in black or colours) who skip from shops and ships, yea from a seven years Academical Prenticeship died black or block, into pews and public Pulpits, such medlars are never ripe till they be rotten, chiefly such as meddle with other men's matters, and come to counsel before they be called, it being a bad Dog which is not worth whistling for. Ph. How did I describe such unto you? Pu. As Bishops in other men's dioceses, fond Mariners with their oars in other men's boats, fond Cooks scalding their lips in other men's broth, fond Husbandmen and Gardiner's weeding other men's grounds, and idle sluttish Housewives sweeping other men's houses, when their own are nasty, and overgrown with Cobwebs, and critical if not hypocritical Pharisees, who see other men's moats, but not their own beams, strangle others Gnats, and swallow their own Camels. Ph. What is that proud and curious Princock, who rejects and repudiates great and good proffered matches, till at last she be neither well sped nor clean without? Pu. She hath gone through the Wood, and chosen the crookedest stick, fond put on a straight glove or shoe which she cannot put off, when she had choice enough in large and wide shops, and looked so high till a moat is fallen in her eye, and as a plague to her clogs, she is tied as an Ape to logs, having time enough to repent what she did not prevent, roasting herself at a linger fire, and gnawing her own heart as Vultures and Eagles the Livers of Titius and Poetized Prometheus. Ph. What are these things which once lost or passed, can scarce or never be recalled? Pu. Winged Time, a word once spoke, though it be Treason, a Bird once flown out of the bush or bosom, a Ship sunk in the bottom of the sea, lost Virginity, lost opportunity, hairy before and bald behind, and usually a loss in Honour, in Nobility, and loss of a good name in a woman, a scandal once raised and blazed, being as hard to be laid even by innocency itself, as the Northern Winds stirred up by Norway-Witches, or the Devil himself once conjured up by a Junior Faustus, or Cornelius Agrippa. Ph. What's the best way to keep credit with man, and conscience with God? Pu. Moral honesty (such as was in the two Cato's and Fabritius) called once by King James the best Policy: Secondly, to do well and say little, good Acts as the best letters of Commendations, speaking a man better than words: Thirdly, so to converse with God in sincerity, as though men saw, and every Momus had a Window into his heart, and so to converse with men as if God saw, as indeed he doth; And lastly, so to live, that men's eyes at last shall give a lie to their tongues and ears. Ph. What is the issue of false reports? Pu. At last truth prevailing, as little David over great Goliab; like Diamonds (though unworthy that name) they are cut in their own dust: as waves dashing on the Rock of innocency, they wash it whiter, and break themselves to froth, as a brass Ball thrown up into the air, hurts not the air, but hits upon the head of the thrower, as Egyptian Dogs barking at the Moon, they hurt not the Moon, but show their own tongues and teeth: as the wrathful Weasill biting the hot iron they hurt not the iron, but oft so burn their lips and tongues, they can never by't more; chief when their heels are bolted, though not tongues more than Xerxes could shackle the Hellespont, or King Canutus stay flowing waves. Lastly, lewd and lose Rumours, as lying, as flying; squib-like, flash, Crack, stink, and die. Ph. What's the best salve for every sore, in name soul and spirit? Pu. Faith, and evangellical repentance salving and balming all sins, guilts, and sores better than Homer's Moli, Grinaeus his Panacea, or all the drugs of Galenists, or Elixirs of Paracelsians. Ph. Since, Ille vere dolet, qui sine teste dolet: who wept with a Witness, when he wept without a witness? Pu. Peter, when after his blameful, and shameful denial of Christ, he went out and wept bitterly, Et delevit, quod deflevit, after he had denied his Lord and Master he salved the sores of sin with sorrows plaster, and was more faithful after he had bewailed his want of faith, as is more fully seen in origen's Repentance versified he never after hearing a Cock crow, but he sight or wept, as is recorded. Ph. Though the Lion is said to be afraid of a Cock, what courageous Cock was frighted with the cackling of a Hen? Pu. Peter when he cried Craven at the voice of a Damsel, in whom its probable the Devil spoke as in Paul's Pithonist Acts 16. (as he danced in the Daughter of Herodias) as he spoke also in Apollo's Oracles, and in the serpent to Eve. Ph. What Creature preached a Remembrance Sermon to a forgetful Hearer and Preacher? Pu. The Cock preaching a memento to Peter. Ph. Who without any soap or water, either from Fountain, or River, or Clouds from above, laudrest and washed every night his couch and his sheets? Pu. David with his own Tears; such warm water as Richard the Second gave his cruel Barbers, when they barbed him with cold water, and Sylvia a Courtesan, and Pelagia, that Pelagus lachrimarum, who only for thirty years together washed her face with nought else but her own tears as a second Niobe. In fontĕ frontem, in flumina lumina vertens. Her front into a fountain ever running, Her eyes to floudgates by repentance turning. Ph. But Claudite jam rivos! For this night the Clock striking ten to bedward, we shut up our mouths shop ere Morpheus bind our tongues to peace in John a Nox his dark Jail, till Phoebus or Aurora be our morning's Jail deliverer. Ad lectorem hoc tantum. Like to Noah's Dove, these are sent out to try Their welcomes to the World; if all be dry And clear, swift Time (truths Mother) will send forth If Jove please, something soon of much more worth. Mean time Alcides by his foot was shown, And following floods may in these drops be known, Suddenly falling from an aged brain, Sans Books, Writs, Scrouls, even in a talking strain. FINIS.