ru£ nTyit- yinn-LC 
 
 ( 
 
 «U. €-:> 
 
 l^ c>t ur/ijB/n_ f^enj e oueir ^» cm-'fft^a-f- Co 
 
 Y^ctffiQo^- ci:;:^ ^^^ i^^>r Cv^I^i 
 
 rQ>w«. €xtL0l '{^iixm'u J^iiti <^ mtnt, 
 oj n.e. -JT o.>^*\^zJ (rf nrJi'r )tc^urtJ 
 
 . Liae-'v
 
 T'he Face of the Soo{^, Unmasked. 
 
 HEre, til* Uni^erfe in Natures Frame, 
 Suftain'd by Truth ^ and Wtjdomes hand. 
 Does , by Opinions empty Name , 
 And Ignorance J diftradicd ftand : 
 Who with ftrong Cords of Vanity^ confpire, 
 Tangling the Totall , with abftrufc Defirc. 
 
 But then the "Kohk Beart infir'd , 
 
 With ^yes , divinely from above , 
 
 Mounts (though with wings moift and bcmir'dj 
 
 The great Gods glorious Light to prove, 
 Shghting the World : yet felt renouncing, tries, 
 That where Qod draws not, there (he finks, and dies.
 
 ^ 
 
 ^' \niv7/ 
 
 
 fi'~' 
 
 "^^7 
 
 fc.. ^^^<'. 
 
 '^i': 
 
 H 
 
 OPINIO 
 
 V-^d 
 
 ISOLVl ^ 
 
 pie nmtn Impreill 
 
 zraLLotncrAliiii ong_ 
 ?m ni7rofe,ana.Vzi 
 
 bjicdcmuUeo^ 
 
 "^^\ 
 
 i% 
 
 JGNORAm'JA 
 
 
 LL
 
 RESOLVES: 
 
 Divine, Moral, Political, 
 THE 3\CI3\C7H 1 MT 1{E S S 1 3\C 
 
 With Z^fTi; and feveral other 
 
 ADDITIONS 
 
 BOTH IN 
 
 PROSE and VERSE 
 
 Noc Extant in the former Irapreflions. 
 
 Owen Felltham Efq; 
 
 St Jic demulceo yitam. 
 
 'ffWlO 
 
 L K V n-:-" 
 
 Printed for A. Seile , and are to be fold by Allen 'Bancks and 
 Charles Harper at the Flower-de-luce in Fleetjireet 
 
 over againft Cliffords-lmi. M. DC. LXX. 
 
 0.3/8
 
 STACK ANUa
 
 ."Mojl Bumbly Thefe 
 TO THE 
 
 RIGHT HONORABLE 
 
 My moft Honored Lady, the Lady . 
 
 MARY 
 
 Counters Dowager oiTHO MO 3\(JD. 
 
 Let it plcafe you (Madam) to believe» 
 
 Hat it is not out of the opinion of 
 any wotxh^that all or any of thefe 
 enfmnz^ Pieces.can he capable of; 
 hut out ofthefenje ofT>uty^ that 
 they haye here afpiredjto the Pa- 
 tronageo/jo^rName, <^;^^ Dignity. "Being 
 (moft of them) Compojed under the Coyerture of 
 your ^oof\ andfo horn Subjech under your do- 
 minion ; It Vi^ouldhaye been the incurring of too 
 apparent a Premunire, again ft Equity andfu- 
 Rice^ tointitle any other ^ to their of^ning or 'Pro- 
 tection ; or to fet up any forein VoTper , to be 
 Supreme and Paramount^ to that of your La- 
 difliips^ oyer them, 
 
 And yet (Madam) you haye further ^rero- 
 gatiye^ Tphereby^ ypith me^ you may challenge a 
 
 A z higher
 
 The Epiftle Dedicatory. 
 
 higher Command-^ and that is^jour Native Inge- 
 nuity ^T^/^/V^, withthofe of your Jc quaint ance^ 
 fopreyaih upon their fudgment and Ejlimati- 
 ons ; that you feemto haye an Empire of Affe- 
 Bion^ dejlind^ to that yiyacity of Jpirit, fi^hich 
 renders jour Conyerfation grateful to all that 
 haye the Honour to kno'^you. 
 
 Thefe^ and many other Obligations^ that are 
 upon me to your Ladrjhip , ypith the dejtre 1 
 haye^ to leaye toToperityJome Memorial of 
 my Thankjulnefs {though in it felf^ not 'pporthy 
 of your Aderitj or the florid) haye emholdned 
 me into this Dedication : and the humbly beg- 
 ging of your pardon^ for the breaking out of this 
 ^refumption^ in 
 
 (Madam) 
 
 Yourmoft obedient, 
 and nioft humble 
 
 Servant, 
 
 OiVEN F ELLTHAM. 
 
 To
 
 
 ! To the Reade 
 
 R. 
 
 He (^ader may pkafe to he informed^ That 
 the latter part of thefe Relolves , formerly 
 Printed as the firft Century j the Author^ 
 upon their perufal^ could not him/elf be fms- 
 fied "Spith the}7J. for, ho'^ever all feem'd to 
 pals currant , and did arife to fevcral Im- 
 prcffions ' yet^ being written ^t^hen he T^<w but Eighteen^ tky 
 appear d to him^ to have too many young wcaknefles , to be 
 y?j// continued to t/;e World : though not for the Honeftyj 
 >ef, in the Compofure of thm. 
 
 If any fluU alledge their general Acceptation. Ihatj to 
 him, is no prevailing Argument j for^ thz Multitude, though 
 they be the mofi in number , are the "^orjl and mojl partial 
 Judges. And that hath made him, j'n t/;« Impreflion, to give 
 rkw d new Frame, and various Compolicioni by altering 
 many, leaving out Ibme, and adding of others new. 1 hat 
 noTt>, upon the 7natter, they quite are other things, ^nd that 
 they, andthere/i, 'which f)all be found in this Volume , are 
 now Publiflit, hath the fame KcuConTi^hichatfirflwasgtVen. 
 They Ti^ere not written /orrjMcfcto pleaieotherSp as to gratifie 
 and profit himfelf. Nor does he plead the importunity of 
 Viicnds, for the Publication of them. If they be'Worthy of the 
 common view, they need not that Apology: ]f they be not, 
 hep70uld haVe but fhoto'd, that he had been abus'd , 04 well by 
 his friends <w himfelf. 
 
 The truth is, tie hath not the Vanity to ixpeci from others, 
 ^wjy ^rc^f applaufe. He h:<th often us'd to fay. They were 
 written to the middle (ort of people. For the wifeft,r/;Qi are 
 not high enough ; ?ioryct fo flat and low , as, to be only fit for 
 
 A I fools :
 
 To the Reader. 
 
 fools : fij}?ofoeV£r pleaftb only thefe , is miferable He Tt^rir^ 
 as did LucWiuSj mention d by the Orator , Scripta lua, nccab' 
 Do6ti(limis_, nee ab Indo(5i:iffimi3, legi voluk. Too profound, \ 
 or too P?alloWj he holds not proportion Ate to the Work. ] 
 
 Sure it is^ the Invitation he had, to write and publifli them \ 
 loos notfo much to pleafe others, or to f^ew any thing he had, 
 could be capable of the name of Parts • hut^ to pve the world \ 
 feme account, ho"^ he j^ent /;« vacant hours: and that (by^ 
 p^ljifj^ the Prefs^ they beaming in a manner Uhiquitaries) thty i 
 might every where be as Bovrnd^ncSj to hold him 'it^ithin the li- 
 mits o/Priidence, Honour, and Vertue. 
 
 T/?e PoemSj f /;e Charader, andfome ofthel^ttitn^heloiks, 
 u^n as fportsj that rather improve a man by prejerving him from i 
 worfe, than by hrinoing (jthtr^ife any confiderable profit, /is 
 they T^ere his o'^n Recreations, fo he Ti>ipHs they may prove to 
 others. Other things are left to themjelves, and all to every 
 mans juft liberty, to approve ^rdiflikc at he plea/es. ilyid 
 however it be^ the Author fl) all not much .be troubled ■, fince he- 
 believes. No man can lightly haVe a lefjer ejleem for them^ than 
 dwels with him that fiprit them ; ^ho yet ivillbe bejl pleas' d if 
 any man by them jhall find but any benefit j and admit him 
 Cthough but tacitely) m the number of ^hoje friends he prays 
 fir. 
 
 A Table 
 
 I —
 
 
 Table of the Matter in the feveral Trafts 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Book RESOLVES. 
 
 The f irft Century. 
 
 Rcfol 
 I. 
 
 2. 
 
 3 
 
 Pag. 
 I 
 
 OF fndden Profperity 
 of Refolutions 2 
 
 A Friend and Enemy when mofi 
 
 dangerous 
 of the ends 
 
 4 
 of Virtue and Vice 
 
 ibid. 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 8 
 
 IZ 
 
 14 
 
 of Puritans 
 
 of Arrogancy 
 
 of Reward and Service 
 
 of Reprehenjion 
 
 9. of times continual [peed 
 
 10. Of Violence and Eagernefs 
 
 11. Of the Trial of Faith and Friend- 
 
 12. That a wife Man may gain by any 
 Company \ 7 
 
 I J. Of Man's unwiilingnefs to die 19 
 1 4 . Of the 1 1 orflnp of Admiration 
 i"). Of Fame 
 
 16. Of the choice of Religion 
 
 17. Of Petitians and Denials 
 
 18. Of Poverty 
 
 19. Of the Evil in CM an from himjelf 
 and occajjons 3 5 
 
 20. OfTreaching ^S 
 
 21. of K^confiltng Enemies ^8 
 
 22. of our Scnfe of abfent Good 59 
 i]. That no Man can be good to All 4 1 
 
 22 
 
 26 
 29 
 
 Refol. Pag. 
 
 24. That Man ought to be extenfively 
 
 Good 42 
 
 25:. of the Horror Sin leaves behind 
 
 43 
 7.6. Of Man's Imperfe[ii»n 45' 
 
 27. of Curiofity in Knowledge 4^ 
 
 28. of being overvalued 47 
 
 29. That Mifconceit hath ruined .^Man 
 
 48 
 go. OffVomen 51 
 
 II. of the Lofs of Things loved jj 
 32. OftheVncertaintyoflife 54 
 
 5 J. Ti&^/ ^^oW Ccnnfel [Jjould not be va- 
 lued by the Perfon ^6 
 J4 0/ Cujlom in advancing LMoney 
 
 ■ ^7 
 3 y. Twd/ 5/« « wor^ crafty thatt violent 
 
 59 
 ?(5. of Difcontents 60 
 
 37. o/" Natures Recompenjing mcngs 
 
 . 6i 
 
 1%. of Truth and 'Bitternefs in Seels 
 
 59. of <^pprehenJion of H^rongs 64 
 
 40. I'Vhen Vice ii m.o(l 'Dangerous 6^ 
 
 41. Th^t all Things are 'R^flrained 
 
 66 
 
 42. of Diffimulation 67 j 
 
 -. -. 4 ?- Of 
 
 f
 
 The Table. 
 
 Rcfol. Pag.' 
 
 /\l. of Cenfures 6% 
 
 44. of iVi(dom and Science 69 
 
 45. Th At Mi^n-^ylicxtion makes Vajjion ill 
 
 70 
 
 46. Of the yvajle and change of Tme 
 
 72 
 
 47. Of Death ' 73 | 
 
 48. Of Idlenefs ' 7$] 
 
 49. That allThingshavea like Prigref- ! 
 Jim and Fall 77 
 
 50. ofDetraUion 78 
 
 51. Jgainfi Compuljisn 80 
 J2. O/" Dreams 8 1 
 5:3. of 'Bounty 83 
 5:4. O/" ^<«»'j Inconfiancy 84 
 55. Of Logick 8y 
 y(5. Of Thottghtfulnefs in Mifery %6 
 5'7, of l]l Company 87 
 <r8. T^rf/ »o Af<i;* d/jvrfw /w?/ unPHnijhed 
 
 .88 
 5-9. Of opinion 90 
 
 60. That rve are Governed by a Power 
 
 92 
 
 94 
 
 Guide 
 
 95 
 
 96 
 
 98 
 99 
 
 lOI 
 
 I02 
 103 
 105 
 107 
 
 above ui 
 
 61. Of Mifery after Joy 
 
 62. Of the Temper of Affe^ions 
 6^. That Religion w the befi 
 
 64. Of the Soul 
 6$. Of Courtejies 
 66'. Of a Alan's Self 
 
 67. Of the veorfi kind of Perfidie 
 
 68. Againfi Infttltation 
 
 69. of AffimuUtion 
 
 70. of Poets and Poetry 
 71.0/ Fear and C0vioardiee 
 
 Rcfol. Pag. 
 
 72. That, Man is neither happy nor mi- 
 ferable but by Comparifon i of 
 
 71. of Pride andcholler m 
 
 74. That great Benefits caufe Ingrati- 
 tude 112 
 
 7 5. of Virtue and mfdcm 113 
 -J 6' Of Moderation 113 
 
 77. of Modefly 11 y 
 
 78. OfSufpition 116 
 
 79. of Fate 119 
 
 80. Of Ofientation 121 
 
 81. Of Hope 123 
 
 82. That Sufferance caufeth Love 124 
 
 8 3 . That Policy and Friendjbip are fcarce 
 
 compatible 12.6 
 
 84. of Drunkennefs i%-j 
 
 %iy. Cf Marriage and fingle Life 129 
 
 86. of charity 131 
 
 87. Of Travel IJ3 
 
 88. Of Mufick 134 
 
 89. of Repentance 1^6 
 5)0. Of war and Sculdiers .137 
 
 91. of Scandal 140 
 
 92. T/'4? Divinity does not erofs Nature 
 fo much as exceed it 141 
 
 9l. Of Tedioufnefs in Difcoarfi 143 
 94. of Liberty and Rejlraint 144 
 
 95'. O/"//;^ C4/ri/fj /)&i«/ /w4^f men diffe- 
 rent 146 
 
 96. of Divination 148 
 
 97. That 'tis befl increajing by a little at 
 once I4P 
 
 98. of God and the Air 150 
 p^. of Contentment 1^2 
 100. Hotv he mufl live that UvesrveUi 5-4 
 
 The
 
 The Table. 
 
 ##+#^*S'4*$'t4*i'#'l'€''^4'^#^'l'##^^'w^|'##*|> 
 
 The Sei^iid Ct^ntury. 
 
 .«^ Ws 
 
 .<?, 
 
 1.0' 
 
 4- 
 
 S- 
 6. 
 
 7- 
 8. 
 
 RefoJ. Pa^. 
 
 F Idle Books. 1 57 
 
 Of Humility 160 
 
 of Religion and Morality 162 
 
 Of Truth and Lying 166 
 
 of T repaying againfl Death 16S 
 
 Againft Extreme Longing s 171 
 
 of Prayer ijz 
 
 The rirtuous man is a vponder 174 
 
 p. of Venial Sins 176 
 
 10. of Memory and Forget fulnejs in 
 Friendjhip 179 
 
 1 1 . tvherein a ^hrijian excels other At en 
 
 181 
 
 12. of Lojfes 184 
 I J . of long and (hort Life 186 
 14. of Ejiabltflting a troubled Goiern- 
 
 ment 187 
 
 1 5". of Doing Good mth Labour, md 
 
 Evil with Pleafure 189 
 
 16. That Virture and Vice generate after 
 
 their kind 190 
 
 X"]. of Memory ipj 
 
 1 8. A^*' man Hcnejl that it not fo in hii 
 Relations 195' 
 
 19. of the Salvation of the Heathen 
 
 ...o, 198 
 
 20. whence a Maris Fame arifes <^zz 
 zi. That 'tis fome Difficulty to he rich 
 
 and goood 204 
 
 22. Again ff being Proud by being com- 
 mended i.q6 
 
 23. OfSecrefie 208 
 Kyi chrifiians threefold Condition 
 
 209 
 of ordering Expences 211 
 
 Of a Chrifian's [ettlednefs in hii Sa- 
 I viour 21^ 
 
 127. Of Reading Authors 214 
 
 J28. Of the variation of Men in them- 
 I f elves 216 
 
 24. 
 
 2d. 
 
 Rcfol. Pag. 
 
 29. A Caveat in chufing Friends 218 
 50. of the danger of Liberty 221 
 
 1 1. In the ftriileft Friend/hip fomefecrets 
 may he re fervid 22^ 
 
 32. That 'tis no difjoneur fome times to 
 retraB a Purfuit 224 
 
 33. To have reguardto Means, but not to 
 deffair without 226 
 
 34. The Mifery vf being old and ignorant 
 
 . .228 
 
 l"^. A twofold way to Hinour 229 
 
 36. Of Superflition 232 
 
 97. of Cowardice 2^4 
 
 ?8. OfHiftory 23 j 
 
 59. Of Frei Difpojitions 257 
 
 40 Tl^f Danger of once admitting a Sin 
 
 4 r . Of Gratitude, and Gods accepting the 
 
 Will for the Deed 240 
 
 42. Of Diflrufl and Credulity 241 
 
 43. Concealed Grudges the DefiruElion of 
 Friendfljip 243 
 
 44. A^f/>/;fy Greatnefs of Eflate or Ho- 
 nour, can make a, man truly happy 
 
 244 
 45". Of NcgUa 247 
 
 4(5. Oflngury 249 
 
 47. Of Faith and Good Work ( zt;z 
 
 48. T/?^ <;^rf»^^r (j/" a fruitlcfs Hearer 
 
 49. 0/ Solitarinefs and Companionflnp 
 
 256 
 
 5'o. Of the life of Pleafure 258 
 
 ^\. Of Libelling 261 
 
 $z. Of Appard 262 
 
 5 J. The good nfe of an Enemy z66 
 5-4 . of Gifts, and their Power 269 
 55. T/'(f Inconvenience of neglecting 
 
 Prayer 272 
 
 ^f^. Of Envy zjj 
 
 ., p. ff'hy 
 
 A
 
 The Table. 
 
 Refol. Pag. I 
 
 5'7. why men chufe hone ft Adverfity be- 1 
 v^ fore undue Trofperity 277 
 
 58. of PUy and gaming 279 
 
 ^p. Prayer mojl needful in the Morning 
 
 282 
 
 60. To beware of being furprifed 284 
 
 61. Of Improzing by good Example 
 
 286 
 6x. Of Hatred 288 
 
 65. 0/ Hardnefs of Heart 292 
 
 64. Of Revenge 293 
 
 65. T/»rff wp/? wf^ have their vpeaknefes 
 by which they may be taken 296 
 
 66. That Spiritual Things are better-^ 
 and Temporal werfe, than they feem 
 
 191 
 6j. Of Bu/tnefs 299 
 
 68. Of Nobility 301 
 
 69. of three things to be ccnfider'd in 
 Man 304 
 
 70. of Dancing 307 
 
 71. Ofthe Folly of Sin. 310 
 
 Refol. Pag. 
 
 72. T.^^/ f^tf Mind only makes Content 
 
 73. Of Ceremonies 314 
 
 74. O/' /^f Contentment after overcom- 
 ing aflrong Temptation 3 \6 
 
 75. Of Civility 318 
 
 76. T/'4; f /^f prefint Times are not rvcrfe 
 than the Former 320 
 
 77. of three things roe ought to knorv 3 24 
 
 78. Of the "Uncertainty of Fame 325 
 
 79. of Alms 317 
 
 80. of Tromifes and keeping one' s fVord 
 
 329 
 
 81. of Love and Like nefs 351 
 
 82. of Larv 333 
 
 83. OfConfcience 336 
 
 84. of Peace 339 
 
 85. Of Divine Providence 34 t 
 
 Something upon EcdcC. 2. 11, 
 t/'/'ow 54/»/ Luke 14. 2oi 
 
 345 
 355 
 
 A Table of che Principal Matters in Luferia. 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 6 
 
 ibid. 
 
 7 
 8 
 
 TTiuc Happinefs 
 To the Lady D. S. 
 The Sun and wind 
 On the 2)«^fi'/' Buckingham 
 The Appeal 
 
 Elegie on Henry Earl of Oxford 
 
 On a "^ewel given at parting 9 
 Vpon my Fathers Tomb at Babram tn 
 
 Cambridgefhire 10 
 
 The Caufe ibid. 
 
 The P' eve-Breach 1 1 
 
 The Sympathy ibid. 
 
 The Reconcilement 12 
 
 A Farexvel ibid. 
 
 [Fiinebrc Venctiarum 1 3 
 
 \An Epitaph en Robert Zor^ Spencer 14 
 
 ''{The Spring on the Rock i 5 
 
 ' The Amazement ibid . 
 
 An Epitnph on the Lady Mary Farmor 16 
 On a hopeful Tcuth ibid. 
 
 An Anfveer to the Ode of fome leave the 
 loathed Stage, &c, 17 
 
 To Phryne 18 
 
 To Air. Dover <»» his Cotfvvold ijames 
 
 On Sir Rowland Cotton, famous for Let- 
 ters and other parts ibid. 
 Vpon a Gentlcvooman whofe Nofe was 
 pitied with the Small Pox 2 1 
 Upon Mr. Francis Lcijh who died of the 
 Tlague,Ma)-day^ 16^ J ibid. 
 Song 22 
 Guncmaftix 23 1 
 To the Painter^ taking the Picture of the \ 
 Lady Penelope Counters of Peccrbo-l 
 
 ^6\ 
 The\ 
 
 rough
 
 The Table. 
 
 Pag. 
 The Vovp-'Erench 27 
 
 Written hy a GentlevpomAn^ &c. 28 
 
 Song ibid. 
 
 This enfning Copy the late Pi inter hxth 
 been pleafed to honour -, hy miftaking it 
 Among thofe of the moft ingenious-) and \ 
 too early lojl^ Sir John Suckling 29 
 Song 30 
 
 Vpon a r/tre roice ibid. 
 
 Confiderations of one dejjgh'd for a Nun- 
 nery 1 1 
 
 Pag. 
 In Archicpifcop. Guiicl. Laud. ^t, 
 On Thomas Lord Coventry 34 
 
 Vfon Abeliflnng the Nativity of oar htef- 
 fed Saviour J Anno 1643. ^6 
 
 On Mr. Mynflial 37 
 
 An Epitaph on His late Majefiy 38 
 
 On the Lidy E. M. ^p 
 
 Three Weeks Obfervations upon the \ 
 Statt'^ Countries 43 
 
 ♦#$i'4##-|###^###'l"l'#^J"l"l^#####^J'^l'#^ 
 
 A Table of the Letters. 
 
 PErftvading to a mfe 
 To Oliva 
 To Meliodorus 
 To Clariila 
 To Meliodorus 
 To Oliva 
 
 6^ 
 
 66 
 
 ibid. 
 
 ibid. 
 68 
 
 To A Gentleman that hAving a fair And 
 virtuous wife of his on>n,yet rvould needs 
 take A fancy to Kitchin-ivennhes and 
 Drudges 6p 
 
 with fome of his Poems ^ and the charaHer 
 
 of the Lorv (Countries 
 To A Deifor of Phjfick 
 To the Lord C.]. R. 
 To t^cinilia 
 To A Perfon of Honour 
 To Mr. S. T. 
 To Sir C. F. 
 A Letter from a Jefuite 
 The Anjrver 
 To S. H. C. 
 To the Lady B. T. 
 
 The End of the Table. 
 
 71 
 ibid. 
 
 ibid. 
 
 74 
 75 
 
 . 7^ 
 ibid. 
 
 79 
 
 ■97 
 
 98
 
 [ 
 
 RESOLVES: 
 
 Divine , Moral ^ Political. 
 
 I. 
 
 of Sudden Trofperity, 
 
 Rojperity in the beginning of a great Action ^ many times 
 undoes a Man in the end. Happmefs is the caufe of 
 mifchief. The fair chmce of a treacherous Dye 5 at firft 
 flatters atl improvident Gamejier^ with his own hand^ to 
 /^yojv away his wealth to another. For while we expect 
 all things laughing upon us, like thofe we have pafs'd ^ wc remit our 
 care^ xadperifif by negleBing. When a w/' Crown has newly kifs'd the 
 Temples of a gladded iC//?^ , where he findes all things in a golden 
 fiream^ and kneeling to him with aufpiciotti reverence j he carelefly 
 Tv^i^« himfelt iwxhc [welling plenty. Layeshis heart into pleafures, 
 and forgets t\\c future • till ruine feize him, before he can think it. 
 Felicity cats up Circumspection j and when that guard is wanting, 
 we Vic /pread to the /hot o( general danger. How many have loft the 
 victory of a Battel., with too much confidence in the good fortune, 
 which they found at the beginning ? Surely, 'tis not good to be 
 happy too {oov^. It many times wWt'w a A^i?^/i? Family.^ to have the 
 Ellate fall to the hands oi an //dr in minority. Witty children oft 
 ail in their rf^^, ot what their childhood promifcd. This holds not true 
 in temporal things only, but even in spiritual. Nothing flackens the 
 proceedings of a chrifiian more, than the too-early applaufe of thofe 
 that are groundcdly Honeft. This makes him think he now is far 
 enough, and that he may r^, ^wdi breath, m\(^ gaze. So he /?/^f j back, 
 for v/aiit of (iriving to go on with increajc. Good fuccefs in the midfl 
 of ail a^ion., takes a man in a ^nwfcttlednefs: and though he finds 
 t\^^: event alter; yctf/f/?flwz before, will continue his care for after- 
 wards. In the end, it aoR'w his expectation ; and incouragcs \nm to 
 the like care in other things, that by it , he may finde the fequel an- 
 fwerablc. But in the beginning, it falls like much rain as foon as 
 the feed is (own : winch docs rather wajh it away, than give it a 
 moderate rooting. How many had ended better , if they haa not /'f- 
 ^««fowell? Pleafure can «Wo a man at any time, I'i yielded to. 'Tis 
 an inviting ^/» to catch the ;^^Wf()J'-w^« in. Cr^ftu counfel'd Cyr/^, 
 it he meant to hold the Lydians in a Jlavcry, tliat he lliould teach 
 
 B them 
 
 Cent. I.
 
 Cent. I. 
 
 ^E SO LF ES. 
 
 them to fiKg, and play, and drmk , and dance, and dally -^ and that 
 would do it without his endeavour. I remember Ovids Fable of the 
 Centoculated Argus 'j Tlic D^w7 I compare to Aiercury , his Ptfe to 
 pleasure, Argui to ^^«, his hundred eyes to our care , his peeping to 
 fecurity, lo to our y^«/, his transformation to the fwr)^ o/^ Go,;/. The 
 Afcr^/is only this- The Devil with plcaf/tre , pipes lAin into fecurity, 
 thtnjleals zw^y his foul-> and leaves him to the rvrath of Heaven. It 
 can mine y4»//'<';?r in the midft of his Fortunes, it can Jpoil Hanmhal 
 after a /c;?^ and glorious war : but to wff/ it at firft, is the moft dan- 
 ger-^ it then being aptcft to finde rf^w/^c;? ; though to «2fff and yield 
 the vvorft at laft : bccaufc there is not then a time left tor recovery. 
 If the aBion be of veorth that I take in hand , neither lliall an ill ^c- 
 «^^;?/ difcourage me, nor a good one make me carelefs : If it happen 
 ill-, I will be the more circumfpelt , by a heedlul prevention to avoid 
 the like, in that which infues. If it happen well , my fear lliall make 
 me warily vigilant. I will ever fitfpecl the fmoothed Jlream for dcep- 
 nefs • till we come to the end. Deceit is gracious company - for it al- 
 wayesftudicstobey4/rand/'/(?<«^;7^: But then, like a thief, havin^ 
 train'd us from the Road, it robs us. Where all the heneft we have 
 left Is this : thatjif we have time to fee how we were cozened, we may 
 have fo much happinefs^ as to dye repenting. 
 
 II. 
 Of <B^Jolution* 
 
 T7I 7"Hat a skein of T\Med Jilk is the uncompofed Manl Every 
 y V thing that but offers to even him , intangles him more, 
 as it, while you unbend him one way, he wa'peth vvorfe the other.j 
 He cannot but meet with variety of occadons, and every one o\ 
 thefe, intwine /?//» in a deeper trouble. His vpayes are /?rnvWwith 
 bryers, and he buf^les himfelf into his own confufion. Like a 
 Partridge in the net, he masks himfelf the more, by the anser of his 
 flittering rcing. Certainly, a good Refolutionh^hemo^ fortifying 
 Armour that a difcrect man can wear. That , can defend him asainft 
 all the unwelcome y7^/<;^f J that the poor rude World puts on'him. 
 Without this, like hot Iron, he hif^es at every drop that findes liim. 
 With this, he can be i^ervant , as well as a Lord ; and have the 
 fame inward pleafantnefs] in the quakes and (Jjakes of Fortune , that 
 he carries in her fofteft fmiles. I confcfs , biting Fenury has too 
 ftrong talons for mud-rvall'd Man to grafp withal'. Nature is im- 
 portunate for neceffities : and will try all the Engines of her wit, 
 andporver, rather than fuffer her own deJlruBion. But where ilie 
 hath fo much as l"he may live: Refilution is the only Marjhal that 
 can keep her in a decent order. That which puts the loofe vjfoven 
 minde into a whirling tempeft , is by the Refolute , feen , Righted, 
 laughed at: with as much honour, more quiet , more fafety. The 
 . worm
 
 'I^ESO LI/ ES, 
 
 vi'orld has noching in it worthy a man's jeriom anger. The belt way 
 copcrilTi discontentments^ is cither not to /^f^hcm, or convert ^\q.)x\. 
 to a dimpling mirth. How cndlcfs will be the quarrels of a cho- 
 lerick nmn^ and tiic contentments ot him, that is resolved to turn indig- 
 nities into things to make fport withal ? 'Tis fure , nothing but 
 experience and collcdcd 'judgment can make a man do this : but 
 wiicn he has brought himfclt unto it , how infinite lliall he findc his 
 cAfe: It was Xanttppe's obfervaticn , that \\\c ever foutid Socrates 
 return with the fame countenance that he went abroad withal. Lucan 
 can tell usj 
 
 'Fortunaque perdat 
 
 Oppofita z'irtute, minas. 
 
 •All Fortunes threats be loft, 
 
 Where Vertue docs oppofe. 
 
 Iwilli no man fo fpiritlcfs ^ as to let ^\\ abufes ^^ak thcdulncfs 
 oi xwlWxxgi^ fljonlder : but 1 willi him an able dijcrction -, to difcern 
 which arc fit to be (hrrcd in, and thofc to profccute tor no other end, 
 but to ih.ew the injury was more to vertue , and dear natures jujlice, 
 than to himfclf. Every man iliould be Equities champion : becaufe 
 it is that eternal pillar , whereon the fVorld is founded. In high and 
 marntain'd Fortunes resolution is ncccilary , to infafe us from the 
 thefts ^n^rvyles oi projperity: waich Jleal us away, not only from 
 om [elves, hntvertuc: and for the moft part, like a long peace ^ 
 fohly delivers us into impoverijjjing War. In the ream of Fortune, 
 Refolution is likcwifc ncceffary , to guard us from the difcoutents 
 thatufually ajjail the poor dejected man. For all the world will 
 beat the man whom Fortune buffets. And unlcfs by this , he can 
 turn o!? the blows, he lliall be fure to feel the greatcft burthen, in 
 \\\so\'r,\(x\minde. N. wife man makes a trouble Icfs , by Fortitude: 
 hvMio z fooU 'tis heavier by his/(5o/'/;!?^ to't. 1 Would fxinbrinwrny 
 [elf to that pafs , that I might not make my hafpinefs depend on 
 anothcrs judgement. But as 1 would never do any thing unhonejlly : 
 fo I would never fear the immaterial winde of cenfure , when it is 
 done. He that fleers by that gale, is ever in danijcr ot wrack. 
 Honejly is a warrant of tar more fafety than Fame. I will never be 
 a^iam^doi that which /'c^r^ her jeal: As knowing 'tis only Prided 
 bcins in fafhion , that hath put honejl Humility out of countenance. 
 As for the crackers o( the brain , and tongue-fquibs , they will die 
 alone, it I Hiall not revive them. The bcrt way to have them forgot- 
 ?^« by others, [^.^x^iio forget i\\cm my felt. This will /rr/>myfelf 
 in quiet, and by a noble mt-carmg, arrow tiic intenders bofom : who 
 will ever fret mod:, when hcfindeshis defigns moll frufir ate. Yet, 
 in all thefc, 1 will fomcching refpcd cufom, becaufe llic is magnified 
 irwhdiX. world, wherein 1 am one. But when llic parts from j/</? rf4- 
 fon, I lliall rather dtfpleafe her by parting ^ than oJfcnd in her com- 
 '_ " B 2 p^» y. 
 
 Cent. I.
 
 Cent. I. 
 
 ^E SO LV ES. 
 
 panj. 1 would have all men let up their reji-, tor all things that this 
 iT^^r/i can yield : Yctfojas they ^v/i/^ upon a i^Kx: foundation than 
 themfclv'cs : othcrwife, that which fr.ould have been ^zvi foimdation>, 
 will furely fr^/f them J and that is, GOD. ' 
 
 I 
 
 HI. 
 
 A Friend and Enemy-, "iohen moji dangerom. 
 
 Will take heed both of afpeedy Friend, and a Jlow Enemy. L<roe 
 is never lafiing, that flames hcio\cii hums. And Hate , like wet- 
 ted Coa/s, throws a fiercer heat, wUcnJrre gets the Maftcry. As the 
 firftmay quickly fail ; fo the latter will hardly be altered. Early 
 fruits rot foon j As quick reits have feldome found judgements, 
 which lliould make them continue : fo friendjbip kindled fnddcnly, 
 is rarelj found with the durability of affection. Enduring Love is ever 
 \>\x)\t on Virtue: which no man can fee in another at once. He that 
 /jfi-/-^ upon her, lliall finde a beauty that will everyday take him 
 with fome new ^r-tc^" or other. I like that Love, which by '\ foft 
 afienjion, does degree it feli in the foul. As tor an Enemy that is lon^ 
 a makins^ : he is much the veorfe , tor being ill no Jooner. 1 count 
 him as the aciions ot a wife State , which being long in refohing, arc 
 in their execution fudden, mdjlriking home. He hates not but with 
 caufe, that is unrvillmg to hate at all. If 1 muft have both, give me ra- 
 ther a friend on foot, and an enemy on horjeback. I mav perfwade the 
 one to flay, while the other may he galloping from me. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Of the ends of Vertiie and Vice, 
 ' Ertue and Vice never differ fo much, as in the end : 
 
 VErtue and Vice never differ fo much, as in the end ; at leaft, 
 their difference is never fo much upon the I'iew , as then. 
 And this, I think, is our reafon, why fo many judgements arefeduced 
 mpurfuit of ill. They imagine not their lafl yic?willbe Tragical-^ 
 becaufe their tormcr Scenes have all been Comedy. The end is fo 
 far off, that they fee not thofe flabbing (hames, that arvait them in a 
 killing ambufh. If it were nearer , yet their ov/n dim ftght would 
 \t^.\ex}!\em.tmdifcovered. And the fame thing that incouragcth f'ice, 
 difcouragcth Vertiie. For, by her rugged vpay , and the reftftancc that 
 iTie findes in her pajptge : (he is oft perfivaded to ftcp into Vice's path : 
 which while lliefindethj^iw^/', \hc never perceiveth /////'r;^y. Vice's 
 ^(j^^ is paved with /f^ J Inviting by the eye, but tripping ap ihe heel, 
 to the hazzard oi avpound, or drowning. Whereas Vertue's is like 
 \ks.e parage o{ Hannibal ovex. the Jlps, a work of a tyring toy I of in- 
 finite danger. But once performed, it lets him into the Worlds garden, 
 Italy : and withal, leaves him a fame as laftin^ , as thofe which he 
 
 did
 
 ^ESO LF E S. 
 
 did Conquer, wii\\ his n\o\i mujed weapon of ivar , Vinegar. Doubt- 
 Icfs the AFor/i^ hath nothing fo^/isrw/^^ as Vertite : as Venue \m\\qxiv^.^ 
 rides triumphant. V\'hcn like a Phcebcan champion , ilic hath routed 
 the Army ot her enemies , flatted their firongejl Forts , brought the 
 mightiefi of her Foes in a chained jubje^ion , to humour the motions 
 oF her thronged cA/tr/W, andbc the^4^;^ot the abufive world, vice^ 
 at beft, is but a difeafed Harlot : all whofc commendation is, that ilie is 
 fainted. 
 
 Sed locum virtm habet inter ajira, I 
 
 Vere dnm fores venient tepenti, 
 
 Et comamfihis hiemcs recident, 
 
 Vel coma?n fih'is revocabit tejlas. 
 
 Pomaqtie Atitumno fugiente cedent, 
 
 Nulla te terrii rapiet letujlas. 
 
 Tu Comes Phcebo, comes ibis ajlris. 
 
 Bun Vertti's thron'd amons the Stars, 
 And while the Spring warms th'infant bud,"*. 
 Or Winter balds the ihag-hair'd wood : 
 While Sunmier gives new locks to all, 
 And iruits full ripe in Autumn fall. 
 Thou llialt remain, and ftill fhalt be. 
 For Stars, for P^a'^»f, company. 
 
 Is a rapture of the lofty Tragedian. Her prefence is a dignity , which 
 amazes the beholder with incircling rayes. The conceit of her Acii- 
 ons, begets admiration in others , and that admiration both mfnfeth 
 a j^ in her, and inflames her magnanimity more: 'X\\c good honour 
 her, for the love ot the like , that they finde in themfelves. The bad^ 
 though they repine inwardly^ yet fljame (which is for the moft part 
 an eHe6t ot bafe Vice) now goes before the aBion., and commands 
 their bafr hearts x.oJilence. On the other fide, what a Monjler^ what 
 ^ Painters Devil is vice., cither in her W^<s/ i^7«, or her own enfirdtd 
 rags ! Her own^w/Zjand the detejlation which Hie findes from others, 
 fet up two great Hells in her one little, narrow heart ^ Horror, Shame- 
 and that which moft ot all doth gall her, is , that Hie findes their 
 flames zxQ.inextinguSmble.^ Outwardly, fometimes ihc may appear 
 like Virtue : For all the feveral Jemmes in Vertiie, Vice hath countcr- 
 kkflones, wherewith (he gulls the Ignorant. But there be two main 
 reajbns which lliall make me Vertttes Lover : for her tnfide, for her 
 end. And for the fame rcafons will 1 hate Vice. If I Hndc there be a 
 difference in their rpayes ^ I will yet think of them , as of the two 
 fons in the Cjofj/el ; whereof Vertue faid lie would not go to the Vine- 
 yardj yet did : And Vtce^ though he promifed to go, dejifled. 
 
 Of 
 
 Cent. I.
 
 \ 
 
 Cent. I. 
 
 ^E SO Ll^ ES. 
 
 Of furitans. 
 
 IFinde many that arc called Puritans ; yet few, or none that vvill 
 oyvni\iQ name. Whereof the rcafon furcisthis, that 'tis for the 
 moft part held a name of infamy , and is (o new , that it hath fcarcely 
 yet obtain'd a definition: nor is it an appellation derived from one 
 mans name , whofe Tenents we may findc dicrcftcd into a Felume : 
 v/hcrcby we do much crrc in the application. It imports a kindc of 
 excellency above another ; which man (bcin^ confcious ot his own 
 frail bendings) is alliamcd to alfumc to hinifclt. So that 1 believe 
 \.\\Q.xc-:ixQmQ\\Wt\{c\\wotilA be Puritans : but indeed not any t\\^t are. 
 One will have him one that lives rcligioufly, and will not revel it in a 
 fnorckfs excefs. Another , him that feparaccs from our Dt- 
 'vine ylffembiies. Another, htm that in fome tenents o\\\)' [i peculiar. 
 Another, him that will wot [wear. Abfolutely to define him, is a 
 work, ithinkot Difficulty'.^ fome I know that rcjoycein t\\Qname:^ 
 butfurctheybcfuch, as leaft «Wi'fy?^/^^it. As he is more generally 
 in thcfc times taken, I fuppofe we may call him a church-Rebel^ or one 
 that would exclude order, that his brain mi*ht rule. To decline of- 
 fences ^ to be careful and confcionable in our fcveral actions, is a Pu- 
 rity , that every man ought to labour for, which wc may well do, 
 without a fuUen fegregation irom all feciety. It there be any Privi- 
 ledges^ they are furely granted to the Children of the King ; which 
 are thofe that arc the Children ot Heaven. If mirth and recreations 
 be lawful, furcfuchaane may lawlully ufc it. It i?'/^^ were given 
 to cheat the hearty why fhould I tear to ufe it tor that end ? Surely, 
 the merry foul is treer trom intended mifchiefthan the thoughtful man. 
 A bounded mirth, is a Patient adding time and bappincfs to the cra- 
 zed lifeot Man. Yet if Laertim reports him rightly , Plato dcfervcs 
 a Cenfure for allowing drunkenness at Fejlivals ^ becaufe, faycs he, is 
 then, the Gf'^j- thcm.felvcs reach w/zi-j to ptcfent Men. 6W delights 
 in nothing more, than in a chearful heart., careful to perform him fer- 
 vice. What Parent is it, that rejoyccth not to fee his childe plca- 
 fant , in the limits of a filial duty ? I know , wc read of Chrifts 
 weeping, woioi Wis laughter : yet we fee, he graccth a R'/?/? with his 
 firjl Mirack -J and that a. Feaji of joy : And can wc think that fuch a 
 meeting could pafs without the noife ot laughter ? What a lump of 
 quickened care is the melancholick man ? Change anger irito mirth, and 
 the Precept will hold good ftill : Be merry, hut fin not. As there be 
 many, that in their life aifume too great a Liberty-.^ fo 1 believe there 
 are fome, that abridge thcmfclves of what they might lawfully ufc. 
 Ignorance is an ill Steward., to piovidc for cither Soul., or Body. A man 
 that fubmits to reverent Order, that fometimcs unbends himfelt in a 
 moAQxatcrelaxation • and in all, labours to approve himfcl', in the fc- 
 renenefsof a healthful Confcience: fuch a/'ar/Z'^w^Iwill love immu- 
 tably. But when a man , in things but ceremonial., lliall fpurn at the 
 
 _ ! .gf'^^'^
 
 q{ESOLl/ES. 
 
 crravc Authority ot the church.) and out ot a nccdlcfs nicety^ be a 
 T"hicf to himfclf, of thofc benefits which GOD hath allowed him : 
 or out of a blinde and uncharitable Prde^ cenfure, and fcorn others, 
 as reprobates : or out of obftinacy, fill the V\'orld with brarvls., about 
 mdetermimble tenents : I iTiall think liim one of thofc, whofc opmion 
 hath fevered his zeal to madnefs and dijlraiiion. I have more taith in 
 one Solomon.) than in a thoufand Dutch Parlours of fuch Optniontjis. 
 Behold then; what 1 have fcen good! That it is comely to cat , and 
 to drink, andtotakcpleafurc in all his labour wherein he travcllcth 
 under the Sun , the whole number of the dayes of his life , which 
 GOD givethhim. For, this is his P^'r/'/w. Nay; there is no froft to 
 Man, but that he eat) and drink, and delight hiifoul with the frofit of 
 his labour. For, he that faw other things but vanity , faw this alfo, 
 that it was the hand of god. Methinks tlie reading oiScckfiafles fhould 
 make a Puritan undrefs his brain, and lay off all thofe Phanatick toyes 
 that gingle about his underjlandmg. For my own part , 1 think the 
 World hath not better men, than fome, that fuffer under that name : 
 nor withal, more Scelejlick njilianies. For, when they are once elated 
 with that pride, tlicy fo contemn others , that they infringe the Laws of 
 all humane fociety. 
 
 VI. 
 Of Arrogancy* 
 
 I Never yet found Pride in a noble nature : nor Humility in an unwor- 
 thy minde. Itmayfeem ftrange to an incon(iderateeye.)i\\zx.{vLc\i 
 a poor violet Vert ne.) Aiould ever dwell with Honour: and that fuch 
 anafpiringtume asPr/^^'is, llnouldeverfojourn with a conflant bafe- 
 nefs, 'Tisfurc, wefeldomfindeit, butinfuch, asbeingconfciousof 
 their own dejiciency, think there is no way to get Honour^ but by a bold 
 affuming it. As it, rather than want/twf , they would with a rude af- 
 fault, dejioTcvre her : which indeed, is the way to lofe it. Honour., like 
 a w^/fr/y^/'», will never agree to grace the man that ravijheth. It 
 llie be not won by courtefie, \Vq will never love truly. To offer violence 
 to fo choife a beauty., is the way to be contemned , and lofe. 'Tis he 
 that has nothing elfe to commend him, which would invade mens 
 good opinions, by a misbecoming-favecinejs. If you fearch for high and 
 {it imc A carriages, you lliall for the moft part, meet with them in low 
 men. Arrogance.) is a weed) that ever grows in a dunghil. 'Tis from 
 the ranknefs of that foil , that Hie hath her height 7ir\A Jprcadings : 
 Witnefs Clowns, Fools, and Fellows that from nothing are lifted fomc 
 few ftcps upon Fortunes Ladder : where , feeing the glorious repre- 
 fcntment ot Honour ) above; they are fo greedy oUmbracin^ , that 
 they rtrive to leap thither at once : fo by overreaching themlclvcs in 
 the way, they tail of the end.) and fall. And all this happinefs , ci- 
 ther for want of Education^) which fliould feafon their mindes with the 
 
 — -. S£2^ 
 
 Cent. I. 
 
 "T
 
 8 
 
 Cent. I. 
 
 ^E SO LF ES, 
 
 generous precepts ot Afor^/z^)'^ or, which is more powerful , Ex- 
 ample: orclfe, for lack of a difcerning Judgment-, which will tell 
 them, that the bcft way thither, is to go about, by humlity and de- 
 fert. Othcrwife , the River of Contemp runs betwixt them and it : 
 and if they go not by thcfe palTagcs , they mull ot necelTuy either 
 /«r»^4c/' withAiame, or fuficr in the defperatc i^f«/^«ri?. Oi Trees.^ 1 
 obferve, GOD hath chofcn the r/;?<?, alow /"/^^z, that creeps upon 
 the helpful n'/z//; Of all Beajls^ the foft and patient Lamb: Oi all 
 Fowls the mildc and gall-lcfs Dove. CHRIST is the ^c/fof the 
 Field, and the Lilly of the Falley. When GOD appeared to Mofes ; 
 it was not inithc lofty Ci'^itr, nor the fturdy Oake , nor the fprcading 
 Plane ; but in a Enjl}, an humble , flender, abjed jhrub. As if he 
 would by thefe elections , check the conceited arrogance ot Ma». 
 Nothing procureth Love, like Humility: nothing Hate , like Pride. 
 'X\\Q proud man \N'3\ks'S.mo\\2ydaggers, pointed againft him: whereas 
 the humble and the affable, have the people for their guard in dangers. 
 Tobehumbletoour5«/'m<'«r.s is^«(>'5 to om Equals, eottrtejie-^ to 
 owx Inferiours,mbleneJs. Which for all her lonmefs, carries fuch a 
 fway, that fine may command their fouls. But, we muft take heed, 
 we exprefs it not in unworthy y^c7«;2j. For then leaving Vertue , it 
 falls into difdained bafenejs : which is the undoubtablc badge of one, 
 that will betray Society. So far as a man , both in words and deeds, 
 maybe free ^rom flattery, and unmanly cowardife ; he may be humble 
 with commendation. Butfurely, no c/Vf^/w/^^/^cf-canmake thccxpref- 
 fionof />r/^laudablc. If ever it be, 'tis when it meets with audaciom 
 /'r/^f, and conquers. Of this^Witmay then be ^/^/•/'cr, that the af- 
 frontingman, by his owny«'//y, may learn the way, to his duty, and 
 voit. Yet this 1 cannot fo well call Pride , as an emulation of the Divine 
 '^ujlice ', which will alwayes vindicate it felf u^on prefumptuoiis ones 
 and is indeed faid to fight againll nojin, but Pride. 
 
 VII. 
 Of ^ward and Service. 
 
 WHen it lights upon a worthy nature, there is nothing procures 
 a more faithful fervice, than the A/aJIers liberality : nor is 
 there any thing makes that appear more , than a true fidelity. They 
 are each of other, alternate parents -, begettins and begotten. Cer- 
 tainly, if thefe were pradifed, great men neecl^ not fo o'tcn change 
 their FoUorpers : nor would the Patronshe abandoned by their old At- 
 tendants. Rewards are not ^/^'^;z, hut paid, to Servants that be good 
 and wife. Nor ought that blood to be accounted lojl , which is out- 
 letted for a noble Majler. Worth will never fail to give Dejert her 
 bayes. A liberal Majler , that loves his Servant well, is in fome fort 
 ^godMwto him: which may both give him blejfings , and proted 
 him from danger. And believe \i , on the other fide , a diligent and 
 difcreet Servant, is one of the bejl friends that a man can beblcfl 
 
 with-
 
 ^J5 SOLl/ES, 
 
 withal. He can do whacfoever africWmay : and will be comman- Cent. 1. 
 dcdwitlilclVcrhazzardof lofm^. Nay, he may in a icindc, challenge l/^V^J 
 a glory above his Mafler : tor, though it be harder to play a Kings 
 fart well, than 'tis to act a Subjects • yet natures inclination is much 
 more bent to rtdc than to obey : fervice being a condition , which is 
 not found in any Creatures of one kindc , but Attn. Now, if the 
 Queftion be, when men meet in thefe relations , who fnail the firll 
 begin ? The lot will furely fall upon the fervant: for he is tyed in 
 duty to be diligent • and that ever bindcs without exception. The 
 Lord is tyed but by his honour : which is voluntary , and not com- 
 pulfive ; Liberality being a free adjedion, and not a tye'm his bargain. 
 'Tis good fometimes for a Lord to ufe a fervant like a friend-, like a 
 companion : but 'tis alwayes fit for a fervant to pay him the reverence 
 due to a Majler. Pride becomes neither the commander nor the com- 
 manded. Every family is but a (c^iQXdX plume ot Feathers : the mean- 
 eft is of the felt-fame ftuff ^ only he that made the plume ^ was plea- 
 fed to fct the Zor^higheft. The power of commanding is rather /c- 
 liticaly than from equal nature. Ihcfervice oiman, to man., followed 
 not the Creation, but the fall of man : and till Noah curs'd his Son-, 
 the name of fervant is not read in Scripture. Since , there is no abfo- 
 ioXx^Xftfreedom to be found below , even Kings are but more fplendid 
 fervants, for the common body. There is a mutuality between the 
 Lord and Faffals. The Lord ferves them of neceffaries j and they him, 
 in his pleafures and conveniences. Fertue is the trueft liberty : nor is 
 he free, that ftoops to paffions: nor he in bondage , that ferves a noble 
 Mafler. \N\\i:iX\.T)emonax{a\N one cruel in the beating of a Servant: 
 Fie (fiyes he) forbear ; left by the ivorld, your felf be taken for the fer- 
 vant. And if we have any faith in fl^udian:, we may believe, that 
 
 Falljtur, egregio quifquis fub Principe credit 
 Servitium : nunquam libertas gratior extat 
 Quamfub Rcgepio. ■ 
 
 He knows no bondage, whom a good King fwayes ; 
 For freedom never lliines with clearer rayes. 
 Than when brave Princes Reign. 
 
 /mperioufnefs turns that fervant into a (lave • which moderation makes 
 asanhumble-fpcaking Friend. Seneca begins an Epiftle with rejoy- 
 cing, that his/r/^;z/lived familiar with' his Servant. Neither caji 
 have comfort , where both are uncommunicablc. I confefs , the like 
 countenance is not to be llicwed to all. That which makes a wife man 
 .modcft, makes a fool unmannerly. 'Tis the favocy fervant that caufcs 
 jthc Lord to ilirink his defccnding favours. Of the two, pride is the 
 more tolerable in a /l/^y?fr. TlicoihcY is ^prcpofleroufnejs, which 5c- 
 /owo«faw the i'/tr^/' did groan for. Hadrian fcnt his inferiour Servant 
 a box on the ear, toj;;vk'alkingbut between two Senatonrs. As I would 
 not ferve to be admitted to nothing, but lo high commands : So 1 
 think, whos'ercis rudely malepert , blemifnes the difcretion of iiini- 
 
 C lell
 
 lO 
 Cent. I. 
 
 ^E SO LV ES. 
 
 felt, and his Lord. As there ought to be eqtfdity^ becaufc Nature has 
 made it i fothcrcoughttobea^/jftrrwi-, becaufc Fortinie\\3.<i fct it. 
 Yet cannot the ^//?<«w<?ot" their ftfr?«/?f^ be fo much, as their aearnejs 
 inbeirif^^w. No F/i^^ can fright away that likencfs. The other we 
 have found in motion^ in variance -^tvtn to rare and inverted mutations. 
 Let not the Lord abufe his fervant-, for 'tis poffiblc he may fall below 
 him:Let t\oti\)efer'uant mgkdhisA/apr-^^oi: he may be caft to a mean- 
 er condition. Let the Servant deferve, and the Mafler rccompcnfc : 
 and if they would both be mble^ the beft way is for tnofc that be fub- 
 jed to for<yet their fervices ; and for thofe that are Commanders , to 
 remember'them. So, each loving other, for their generoM rvorthinejs -^ 
 the world fhallftrew praifes in both their paths. If the fervant i\^^- 
 pofehis^^tobehard, let him think, that /fravVf is nothing but tnc 
 free-mans calling : wherein while he is, he is bound to difcharge him- 
 fclf rvell. 
 
 VIII. 
 Of ^prehenliofi. 
 
 TO reprehend well, is both the hardeft, and moft neccffary part 
 of Frtendfljip. Who is it, that will either not merit a check, 
 or endure one ? Yet wherein can a friend more unfold his love , than 
 in preventing dangers-, before their birth ; or, in reducing a man to 
 fafety, which is travelling in the way to mine ? 1 grant , the manner 
 of the application may turn the benefit into an injury : and then it both 
 ftrengtheneth frri'r , and wounds the Civer. Corre^ion is never in 
 vain, vice is a miery deepness : if thou ftriveffc to help one out , and 
 doft not'-, thy flirting him, finks him in the further. Fury is the mad- 
 der for his chain. When thou chidetf thy tvandering friend^ do it 
 fecretly •, in feafon, in love : Not in the ear ot a popular convention 
 For many times, the prcfencc of, a multitude , makes a man make up 
 an unjuft defence,' rather than fall in a juft ihame. Difeafcd 9-1?^ en- 
 dure not an unmasked Sun: nor does the rcouql^^x. rankle more, 
 which is vanned by thcpublick air. Nor can I fl0R blame a man, 
 though he iliuns to make the Vulgar his Confejfor : for they are the 
 moft uncharitable tell-tales that the burthenedf^r?;^ doth fuffcr. They 
 undcrftand nothing but the dregs of anions : and with fpattering 
 thofe abroad, they bcfmcaradeferving /^zw^. A man had better be 
 convinced inprivate, than be made ^////f;' by a Proclamation. Open re- 
 bukes 'are for Magijlrates , and Courts of Jnjlice : for Stalled cham- 
 bers, and for Scarlets, in the thronged Hall. Private, are for friends^ 
 where all the vpitneffes of the offenders blufljes , are blinde , and deflw 
 and dumb. We fhould do by them, as Jofeph thought to have done 
 \>y Mary., feek to cover blemifhes with fecrejie. Puhlick reproof, is 
 like ftriking of a 'Deer in the Herd^, it not onl ^ 
 lofs of inabling Blood, butbetrayes him to the 
 makes hmi, \iy\visfellovps , bepulTnt out oi m 
 
 unds him, to the 
 
 \{\s Enemy: and 
 
 Even ctnceal- 
 
 ment
 
 ^ESOLIES, 
 
 ment of n faulty argues lome chanty to the 'Delinquent : and when 
 wc tell him of it in fccrct, it fncws, wc willi , he ihonld amend, 
 before the n'cr/t^ comes to know his amifs. Next, it ought to be in 
 feajon, neither when the l^rain is milled , with ariling Fumes : nor 
 when the m/nde is madded, with un-reined /'.ij^c^/j. Certainly, he 
 s^r^^/i'hitnfel'', that profav.es Rea[onh^ as to urge it to \x drunken 
 man. A"^/«?r unloofcd in af-lyingfpi-cd, cannot come ol with a I ud- 
 ien {lop. 
 
 Qnis matron^ niji mentis imps, infuncre Nati 
 
 Flere -vet at ? non hoc uUa ntonenda loco cjl. 
 He's mad, that diycs a Mothers eyes full tydc 
 At her Sons Grave' : There 'tis no time to chide : 
 
 Was the opinion of the fmootheji Poet. To admonifJj a man in the 
 iicightof \\\s pafjion -^ [sioc^W^ Souldier toCouficely inthcmiJtl, in 
 the iicat of a Battle. Let the combat flack, and then thou maift cxpe(^l 
 a hearing. All p^fions are like rapid torrents : they fwcll the more tor 
 meeting with a dam in their 'violence. He that will hear nothing in the 
 rage and rore of his anger-, will, after a paufe, enquire of you. Seem 
 you X.O forget him ; and he will the fooncr remember himfelf. For it 
 ol'ten falls out, that the end of pajjion., is the beginning ot repentance. 
 Then will it be eafie to draw back a retiring man : As a Boat is rowed 
 with Icfs labour, when it hath both a n'/W^and ?/^c to drive it. A 
 word feafonablv given, like a Rudder , fometimcs fleers a man quite 
 into another conrje. When the Macedonian Philip was capring in the 
 
 view of his Captives : fiyes Demades, Si^/ce Fortu-ne has mad^ 
 
 /(;«///v Agamemnon, why will you Jheiv your felf like 'VhcrCitcs ? And 
 thischang'dliim to another man. A blow beftow'd in the ftriking 
 time, is better than ten, delivered unfeafonablv. There are fome 
 nicks in Time , which whofocvcr fimieg, may promife to himfelt 
 fuccejs. As in all things, fo in this'; tfpecially if he- do it as he 
 ought, in love. It is not good to'1:)C too tetrical mA. virulent. Kinde 
 nWf makem/!^/' ^tV/()/2.f'plaurible. The bictcniefs o^ Reprehenfion., 
 is infwectned with the plcafingncfs of CompeEations. If ever flatter)' 
 might be lawful, here is a caufe., that wjuld give it admiiTlon. To be 
 plain-, aygna hone/iy : hvit to be plea [ing., argues dtfiret/on. Sores are 
 arc not to be anguillvt with a ruflick prellure ; but gently ilroked 
 with A Ladled hand. Phyficians fire not their eyes at Patients: but 
 calmly minifler to tl-.eir difeafes. Let it be fo done , as the offender 
 ny?.y kc affeclion w'iihoui arrogancy. V\'ho blows out Candles Witn 
 too ftrong a breath , does but make them iHnk, aiul blows them 
 light again. To avoid this, it was orJain'd aiv.ong the Lacedaemoni- 
 ans., That every Tranfgrejfor, fhould be, as it were , his own Beadle : 
 for, his punilliment was, tocompafsan ylltar-, iinging an Inventive 
 made Jigiiinlt liimfelf. It is not confonant , that a member fo un- 
 boned as the tongue is, fnould fmart it with an Iron lajh. Every lUifn 
 that adi'ijeth, alluir.es as it were , a tranfcendency over the other ^ 
 
 C 2 which 
 
 II 
 
 Cent. L 
 
 >^
 
 12 
 
 Cent.I. 
 
 1{E so LV ES. 
 
 which if it be not allavcd with protejhtiom, and ronK-l"cl:-iacluding 
 terms grows hateful : that even the reprchefijion is many times the 
 greater fault of the twa. It will be good therefore , not to make the 
 cdmpkint our own, but to lay it upon fomc others ; that r.ot know- 
 ing his grounded Vertiies^ will, according to this, be apt to judge of 
 all his 4i7/(?;?j-. Nor can he be a competent "^udge ot anothers m^^^, 
 that is£uilty oFthclikc himfeU. 'Tis unworthily done, loconAcnm 
 that in others, which we would not have but /'.Wt^/'/t'i in our fclvcs. 
 When Diogenes fell in the School of the Stoicks • He anfwers his de- 
 riders -, with this Queftion : ivhy , do you laugh at me for falling back- 
 roard, vphcnyoiiyotir jehesdo retrograde your liues'^. He is not ^/ to 
 cure a dimmed fight, that looks upon another with a beamed eye. Freed, 
 we nv^Ly free others. And, if wc pleafe them with praifing fomc of 
 their Vertnes they will with much more ca^e., be brought to know 
 their Vices, shame will not let them be angry with them , that fo 
 cqually.flV^/ both the ^cflf, ^x^^ Laurel. If he be much our Superiour, 
 'tis good to do it fometimcs in Parables, as Nathan did to David: 
 So, let him by collection, gi\'C himfell the cenfurc. If he be an equals 
 let it appear, rf,)ff^/<'» , and the truth ot friendjhip urging it. If he 
 be our ?;?/^?vw;r, let it fcem our care, and defire to benefit him. To- 
 wards ail, I would be fure to lliew humility, and love. Though 1 
 findealittle^//^^r for the/'rf/iv^/-, lam confident, I i1t all meet with 
 /Z/^/?/'^ afterward. And in my /?/^/'^-^ef , his reverend report following 
 me.. If not : the belt wav to lofc a friend , is hy feeking-, by my love 
 to fave him. 'Tis bell: for others , that they hate me tor vice • but it 
 \\\\\\^hQ hated, 'tis befl for mv feli, that they hate mc formy^^'o^- 
 nefs : For, then am I mir.e own antidote againit all the poyfon they can 
 (pit upon mc. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Of Times continual /peed. 
 
 IN all the actions that -3. Man performs, fomc part of his lifepaffeth^ 
 1 VVe ^y*? with doing that, for which only, om Jliding life was 
 granted. Nay, though we do nodiing , Time keeps his conftant pace, 
 and flies as falf in /^/i?;!Zf/f, ^s'\.r\imployment. Whether wcpLty, or/i- 
 boiir, or Jleep, or dance, or Jhidy, the. Sun ^oQ:eth, and the Sand runs 
 Anhourof F/a' isas long as an hour oi Fertue. ^\xt xhc difference 
 which follows upon^W/jc7/c«j-, is infinite from that of /I/ ones. The 
 ^W, though it diminilliour//>»^here,yet it layes u^ a pkafrire (or Eter- 
 nity • and will recompenfe what it taketh away, with a plentiful return 
 at latf, V\ hen we trade with Verttte, we do but buy pleasure with ex- 
 fence o'itime. So it is not fomuch a confnmwg of time, as an exchange. 
 Orasifnan fows his corn, he is content to want it a while , that he 
 may, at the /a^-x*?/? receive it with advantage. But the Wij/^f*:// that 
 we do here , do not only rob us of fo much time ; but alfo be-fpcaka 
 
 torment 
 
 ■y
 
 ^ESOLl/ES. 
 
 torment tor hereafter : and th it in Inch a life , as the greatelt^/c'-i/z^n- 
 wc could there hQ,crownd withal , would be the very ^cl of dying. 
 Ihc one freafurcs up a pleaffire in a Ltfin/g life: the other provides /!«■ 
 torture in a death ctern.il. Man , as foon as be was made, had two 
 •//eat Suitors for his life and [oul : rertue-, Vice. They both travcU'd 
 :hc world with tr.tins, h.irhcngers, and large attendance : rertue had 
 before her, Truth, runviing naked, "valiant^ but unelegant : then U- 
 hour, cold, hunger., thirfi, care, z-igilance ; and thcfe but poorly arrayed. 
 and ll.c; in plain, though clean attire. But looking near, ire was of 
 fuch a felfj/erfeciion ^ that ll.e might very well embleme whatfoever 
 Owiw/'o/fwj' could make moft rare. Modefl Ihc was: and fo /cx't'// ; 
 That whofocver/of^/'V but ftedfallly upon her, could not, but infoul 
 himfelf in her. After her, tollowed Content : full of Jewels, Coins, 
 Perfumes, and all the majfy riches of the world. Then Joy, with Maf- 
 quers, Mirth, Reveling, and all Ejfential Plcafures. Next , Honour-, 
 with all the ancient Orders o^. Nobility., Scepters, Thrones, and Crovens 
 Imperial. Laftly , Glory , lliaking fuch a brightnefs from her Sunny 
 Trejfes, that I have heard, no man could ever come fo near , as to 
 defcribe her imly. And behinde all thefc, came Eternity, cafting a 
 ^/;>z^ about them ; which like a ftrong jnchantment ■, made them tor 
 ever the fame. ^husFertue. Ficet\\\xs: Before her j Firft went ijy/^?^, 
 fmooth, painted hu-srvife: clad all in Changeable., but under her gar- 
 ments, tullot Scabs., and ugly V leers. She fpokc pleafingly ■, and 
 promifed, whatfoever could be tvz/Z'/- for, in the behalf of her Mi- 
 ilrifs, r/ff. Upon her, wit waited: a conceited /^/W , and one 
 that much took Man with his pretty tricks and gambals. Next Sloth, 
 and Luxury, fo full ^ that they were after choaked with their own fat. 
 Then (becaufe llx* could not have the true ones, for, they follow Fer- 
 tuc) iVie gets Jmpofiors, to perfonate Content, Joy, Honour, in all their 
 wealth, md royalties : After thcfe, fje comes lier felt, fumptuoufly 
 appareird, but a/^/r/T^furfeited Slut; whereby, if any kiflhcr, they 
 were fure by her ^r^rf/^A to perijh. After her, tollowed on a fudden, 
 like enemies in zn\h\i\\\., guilt, horror, flume, lofs, rvant,forrorv, torment. 
 Thefc charm'^ with Eternities Ring , as the other. And thus they 
 wooed fond 'Man ^ who taken with the fubtil cozenages ot Ftce, 
 yielded to lye with her : where he had his nature fo impoyfon'd, 
 that \\\'i^eed was all contaminated, and his corruption even to this .day, 
 is Itill Conduitcd to his undone Pofierity. It maybe r/r^//kncwof 
 fuch a Itory when he writ, 
 
 Quifquis enim duros cafui virt litis amore 
 Ficerit, illc fibi laudcmquc decufque perabit : 
 At qui defidiam, luxiimque [equetur incrtem '• 
 1)um fugio oppofitos, incauta mente, laboresy 
 Turpis inopfquc fimtit, mijcrabilc tranfiget <svum, 
 
 Man that Lovc-conc|uers Fertues thorny waycs, 
 Rears to himfelf a tame-tomb, tor his praile. 
 
 But 
 
 n 
 
 -^ENT. 1.
 
 Cent. I. 
 
 t 
 
 I^E SO LF E S, 
 
 But he that Z,///?, -ind Leaden syh doth prize, 
 While heedlels he, oppofed Labcnr {lyes , 
 All-, fonl and poor, molt rnifcrably dies. 
 
 'Tistruc,//;ry, both //'fW us time alike: nay many times, hojiejl 
 /W/z/ryTpcnd's a man more, than the ungirthed /o/^tfi-ot afenlual 
 Libertine : unlcfs they be purfued with ifiordinateaefs , then tlicy dc- 
 (Iroy the prefect, lliortcn xhc future, and haftcn pain. V\'hy fr.ould I 
 wiQi lopaj's away this life ill, which to thofc that arc ill, is the befit 
 If 1 mull: daily Icjfcn it, it Aiall be by that, which ll^all joy mp with a 
 future Income. Time is like a ship, v.'hich never Ay:chors : while 1 am 
 /tZ-oW, I had better do thofc things, that m.ay ad\antage mc at uiv 
 landing-^ than/';-.i(."///i'fuch, as Inall caufe my commitment, when i 
 come to the (hore. W'hatfocvcr I do, I would think what will become 
 of it, when it is ^cw. li good, I will go on to fnijh it. If bad, I 
 will cither leave o*?, where lam- or not undertake it at all. r/ce, 
 like an nnthrift fells away the Inheritance, while it's but in Reverpon : 
 But Fi?r^tff, husbanding alU/'//;gi- well, is a Fiirchafer. Hear but tlu- 
 xVitty Spaniards Diftich • 
 
 Ampliat^tatis ffatiumfilJi, vir bonus, hoc eji 
 Viverebu, vita pojje priore frii/. 
 
 He that his former well-led life cnjoyes, 
 Lives twice : fo sives addition to his daycs. 
 
 X. 
 
 Of y'lolence and Ea^ermfs, 
 
 THc too eager purfuit of a thing; , hinders the injoyment. For, it 
 makes men take indirect- wayes , which though they projper 
 fomctimcs, axq blejfedwcxQx. 'the Co-vetom, becaufe heismaiupon 
 r/cchs, pra6T:ifeth injurious courles, which Clod curfin^", bring him to 
 a fpcedy Poverty. Opprejfion will bring a Conftimptionwyon thy gains. 
 ^rr-t/z/^Ihatch't up by //;!?////? and injurious wayes , like ^rotten Ojeep, 
 WvWinfecixhy healthful flock. V\ c think by wrtJ/z.^ to hide our felves 
 \xo\\\want, when 'tis that only, which unavoidably^////jit on us. 
 ]J\\s:- Thieves, that hooking tor clothes in the dark, they draw the 
 Owner, which takes, and then imprifons them. He that longs for 
 Heaven \N\t\\(vic\\imp/ttiencc, as he wilH/W himfelF, that he may be 
 there the fooner, may by that act, be excludedi\\Qv.c(i ^ and lie gnafh- 
 ing of his teeth in He]l. Nay , though we be in the right way, our 
 /^/t/Zf will make oury?/?)' the longer : "He, that rides all upon the dri- 
 ving ipiir, tyres his Horfe e're his journey ends : fo is there the later, 
 tor making fuch unwonted fpeed. He is like a giddy mejfenger, that 
 runs away without his errand : fo difpatches lefs tot his nimblenefs. 
 fvhen God hath laid out Man a way, in vain he feeks a near one. We fee 
 the things we aim at, m Travellers do Towns m My.Countreyes ^ we 
 . ' " J^e^
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 j«/!^^ them near, at the 9/0- end- becaufc wc fee not the i/^/^^x , and 
 the brook in them, that irtterpofe. So, thinking to take lliorter co/irfes^ 
 we are led about , through tgnormce , and incredulity. Surely God 
 MrfZ-wrf^difpofing Nature, knovcs her better, than imperfcdl: man. 
 Andhe that is once /'^;/n'/t^f^ of this, will rather ftay ihc leafureoi 
 the Deitj, than follow the chafe of his own deltijions. H^'ego furcft, 
 }fphen rve poaft not in a precipitation. Sudden rifinss, have feldcm found 
 "oundations. V\'e might frveat lefs, and avail more. How have I 
 fccii a Beef-brain' d-felloxv (that hath only had impudence enough to 
 iTicw himfclf a/^o/) thruft into <!^//cwr/^^of m/,thinking to get ejleem : 
 when, all that he With purchafed^ hath been only, the hifs of the -wife, 
 and a j«y? derifion trom the abler judg?nents. Nor will it be lefs toyl- 
 fome , then we have already found it, incommodiom . SNWit jealous and 
 enviom furies ^mw l\\Q. burning breaji of the ambitiom foolt What 
 fears and cares alftright tht farting Jleeps of the covetous ? Oi which 
 if any happen, they crufh him, ten times heavier, than tliey would do 
 thcmindeoi the tvell-temper'd man. All that affeB things over-vio- 
 lently, do over-violently grieve in the difappointment . Which is yet 
 occajioned., by that, the too much earnefnefs. Whatfoever 1 wifh for, 
 I will purfuc eafly, though 1 do it afftduoujly. And if I can, the hands 
 diligence, l"hall go without the leaping bounds of the heart. So if it 
 happen well, 1 Ihall have more content :as coming lefs expe6ted. 
 ThofejtfjKw clafp us with a friendlier arm., that7?<f4/ upon us, when we 
 look not for them. If it fall out iU, my minde not being fet on't- will 
 x.Ci2ic\\n\Qpatience,\r^x.\\Qi fadningrvani. I will cozen /^z^, with care- 
 leffnefs, and plump \\\^ joyes , by letting them furprize mc. As, I 
 would not negle£i a fudden good opportunity j fo I would noi fury my 
 fclf in thefearch. 
 
 XI. 
 Of the trial of Faith and Frieridfhip. 
 
 FAith and Friendfhip , are fcldom truly tried, but in extreams. To 
 finde/wW/ when we have no need of them, and to want them, 
 when we have, are both alike eafe, and common. In Profperity , who 
 WiW not profefs, to /ox'f a man ? InAdverJity, how few wiU^fxp that 
 they ^//indeed ? When we arc ^rf/'^^, in the Spring-tide oi Abun- 
 dance, audthcrifing flood o{ Plenty, then, the wor/^;/ will beour^fr- 
 vant : then, all men ^of/t about us, with bared heads , With bended 
 bodies, and proteftng tongues. But when thefe pleafxng -waters fall to 
 ebbing •, when wealth but (Ijtfteth, to ^nothzijland : Then, men look 
 upon us at \difance ; znAfijfen themfelvcs , as if they were in Ar- 
 mour-^ left (if they ll-iould comply us) they fhouldget a jvow^^^ in 
 the cloze. Adverfity'i'iYAc Penelope smght; which undoes all, that 
 ever the clay did n-eave. 'Tis a mifi:ry that the knowledge of fuch a 
 bleffedncfs , as ^friend is, can hardly be without [oiwcfad misfortune. 
 
 For 
 
 I 
 
 ^ 
 
 Cent. I.
 
 I< 
 
 ^ES OLVES. 
 
 [Cent. 1. 
 
 Forwe can never throughly trj him, but in the kick oi malignant 
 Chame. And till we have^r/^ him , our kmvpledge can be ca^'d but 
 by the name of Hope. What a '^IniwX plight is poor dujl-tonper' d-man 
 in, when he can neither be truly happy without -3. friend; nor yet 
 know him to be a true y9/^W, without his being unhappft Our Fortunes, 
 and our [elves are things fo clofely linked , that we know not , which 
 isthef4«/^ot the love, that we tindc. When thefe tvi^a {hall part, 
 we may then difcern to which ot them ajfeliion will make tving : 
 When they are covered together, we know not, which is in purjuit. 
 When they rz/f", and ^rf4/(', we ll:iall then fee , which \s aimed ■xx.. I 
 confefs he is happy, that findes a true friend in extremity : but he it hap- 
 pier, that findeth not extremity , wherein to try hii friend. Thus the 
 trial oi friendfjtp, is by finding, what others will do for us. But the 
 tryal of Faith, is, by finding what we will do for God.-'Xo truft him 
 for ejlate, when we hive i^o. Evidences in our Iron chef, is e.tfe ; and 
 not thank-worthy. But to depend upon him,' for what we cannot)^^ ; 
 As 'tis move hard iox Man to do; fo 'tis more acceptable to God, 
 if it be done. For, in that acf, we make confeffion of his Deity. We 
 know not in ^tfows of our contentednefs , what we our fclvcs are j 
 or, how we could neglect our felves, to follow God, connnanding,us 
 All men will be P^rf^-j in their bragging tongue: and moft men will 
 be Peters , in their bafe denial. But few men will be Peters , in their 
 quick repentance. When we arc rve]l-, we fwcar we will not leave him, 
 in our gvczic^Jicknefs ; but when our ficknefs comes, we forget our 
 vovps^ and^ay. When we meet with blows, that will lorce us, either 
 to let go our hold of God , or our felves : Then we fee , to which 
 oury^///fWill cleave the fafteft. And, of this tryal, excellent is the 
 ufe we may make. If we findc our Faith upon the Tefl, firm -, it will 
 be unto us, a perpetual banquet : If we finJe it daftardly farting afide 
 knowing the weaknefs , we may ftrive to finew it, with a Itronger 
 nerve. So that it ever is, either the alTurance of our /A?/'/>//^i'/}, or the 
 way whereby we may findc it. Without this confidence in a power 
 that is alwayes able to aid us, we wander, both in trouble and doubt. 
 /;«/?if///;' is the caufe of all our wcf J, i\-\q ground o\ all ourT?''?^. Not 
 truftingGod, we difcontent our felves \N[i\i fears a.r\d folicitations : 
 and to cure thefe, we run into prohibited paths. Unworthy earthen 
 worm ! that canft think God of fo un-noble a nature, as that he will 
 fuffer fuch to want, as with a dutiful endeavour do depend upon him. 
 It is not ufual with Man , to be fo bafe. And canll thou believe, 
 that moft Heroical ?ix\di Omnipotent Infinitcnefs of his , will abridge a 
 follower of fuch poor toyes, as the accoutrements of this lite are ? Can 
 a Daify. be inhumane? Or can he thatgrafps the unempcied/'rox'//J-l 
 ons of the world in his hand, be a niggard to {-(isfons , unlefs he fees it 
 for their ^00^ and benefit ? Nay, could' fl thou that readeft this (what- 
 foeverthouart) if thouhadflbut a Sereptan widows Crufe of Cold, 
 could'fl thou let a diligent and affeftionatc fervant, that ever waited 
 on thee, want neceffaries ? Could'ft thou endure to fee him fliamed 
 
 in
 
 ^ E so LP ES, 
 
 17 
 
 indifgracingr/ii^^/; nipt to ,x bcnumming, with the Icy thumbs o't 
 ivinter -^ complaining tor want o{ JuJlemKce ; or ncgkdcd in the 
 times of jickficfs ? 1 appeal to thy inward and more noble ackmve- 
 Icdgement -^ I know, thou could'll not. O ^ert'erfc thought of perver- 
 ted man I And wilt thou yet imagine, thou canft want fuch thincrs as 
 thefc trom fo unbounded a bounty as his is ? Serve him , and but be- 
 lieve ^ and upon my foul, he will never tail tlicc, to: what is mc^lt 
 convenient, O my God! my Re f/ige, my Altar, xad my fouls Anchor: 
 I beg that 1 may but ferve thee, and depend upon thee : I need not beg 
 ftipply to the other two, thou giveft that without asking. Thou know- 
 eft, for mv fclf, my /f/z/j- wilV.es arc not for a vajl abundance. If ever 
 I lliould wiili a ^/f///)' ; it iV.ouIdbetof my friends^ not hic. I care 
 not to abound in abounding ^ and I am pcrfwadcd, 1 iViall never want • 
 noinecejjaries-, woxcrnvcniencies. LetmcHndemy heart d^wdiwX ^ and 
 my faith upon trial ftedtaft : and 1 am furc thefc will be ground 
 enough tor fiillicicnt happtnefs, while I live here. 
 
 Cent. I. 
 
 XII. 
 That a, "kfi/e Man may gd\n hy any Company, 
 
 AS there is no Book fo poorly furnillied, out of which a man may 
 not gather fomcthing lor his ^f«^jf-, fo is there no fcw/'^^^ fo 
 favagely W, but a wife man may from it learn fomethingto make 
 himfelt better. Fice is ot fuch a toady cotnplcxion-, that ll c cannot 
 chiife but teach the _/««/ to hate : So loathfomc , when life's fecnin 
 her own ugly dre^s : that, like a man fain in a pic before us, tlie gives 
 us warning to avoid the danger. So admirably hath cW difpofed of 
 the waycs of Man ; tliat even the fight of Vice in others, is like a 
 Warning-arrow H-.ot, tor us to take heed. When llie thinks by pub- 
 liil'iingot herfeU, to procure a /m« ; God^ by his fccret working, 
 niaVs her turn her rveapons againft her felf : and (Irongly plead for her 
 Aclverfary, Vertne. Of which take Balaam for a type : who intend- 
 ing to curfe the Ifraelites, had enforced blejfings , put in his dilTenting 
 tongue. VVcare wrought to^^'w^ by contraries. Foul aBs, keepVertue 
 from the charms of Vice. Sayes Horace, 
 
 • Infuevit Pater optimm hoc me, 
 
 ZJtfugerem excmplis vitiortim qu^que notando. 
 Quiim me hortaretur pare}, frugalitcr^ at que 
 Vtverem titi content tu co, quod mi ipfe parajfet : 
 Nonne vides, Alhi ut male vivat fi lifts ? tit que 
 Barrits mops ? Aiagnum document um, ne pat nam rem 
 Perdere quis vclit. A turpi meretricis arnore 
 Quttm deterrcret^Sei'tant dtffntnlis fis. 
 
 Sic me 
 
 Formabat pucrum dittis. 
 
 D 
 
 Thu'
 
 i8 
 
 Cent. I. 
 
 ^ESOLIES, 
 
 Thus my bcft Fatky taught 
 
 Me to fiyc rue ; bv noting thofc were naught 
 ■^Vhcn he v/oukl charge me thri\c, and fparing be. 
 Content, with what he had prepar'd tor mc : 
 Scc'ft not how ill young All^ui U\ es ? how low 
 Poor Barrm ? Sure, a weighty Item^ how 
 One fpcnt his means. And when he meant to ftrike 
 A hate to ivhores • To Sectan be not like. 
 
 . — thusmeachilde- 
 He with his Precepts fal^.ii v:C<S- 
 
 I confefs, 1 do not learn to correct faults in my felf , by any thing 
 more, than by feeing how uncomely thcv appear iwothers. Who can 
 but ^Vv\\\<\\i.l\nafiy'Bea(i\\zW\x\drnrikemiefs , that hath feeii how 
 noyfome it hOrth made another ? How like a nated joj), (ponged , even 
 to the cracking ot a skin ? Who will not abhor a choknckfaffion^ and 
 3. firvcy pride in himlelt ; that fees how ridiculom and contemy'-ibk 
 they render thofc , that are infcRed with them ? Why tliould i bclo 
 befottedly blindc, as to believe, others Aiould not fpy thofe vices in 
 me, which I can fee, when they dodifclofc in them ? Vertnc and vice^ 
 whenfoever they come to ^(?, are both margin'd with a pointing./f^- 
 ger-j butin the/>/-f;2/, the difference is much: when 'tis fet againft 
 Fertile J it betokens then rcfpeci and worth : but againft rice, 'tis fet in 
 fcorn, and lor averjion. Though the bad man be the Vv'orfe, tor having 
 Vice in Xyiseye : yet the good man is the better, tor aU that he fees , is 
 iVi. 'Tis certain, neither ^a:^;^//^, nor /r^ff//", (unlcfs it be in matters 
 w/'cK;' rr//^/o/«) canbe the abfolutc^«»W£'j"ot the true rcife man. 'Tis 
 ox\\^ ^ knovpwg., AwA^ praBical judgment of his own, that can direct 
 him in the maze of life : in the bujlle of the world : in the twitches 
 and the trvirls of Fate. The other may help us fomething in thc^«2^- 
 ral-j but canno: be futTicicnt in/'.'?r//V/;/j;7. Alans life is like a State' 
 ttillcafual iu the future. No man can leave his Succe([cr rules tor»Ji;'- 
 verals j bccaufc he knovv^s not how the times will be. He that lives 
 alwayes by Book-rules, ib.zll il:ew himfelf afecled, and a fcol. I will 
 do that which I fee comely, (fo it be not difnoneil:) rather than what 
 a grave Philoffher commands me to tr.e contrary. I will take wiiat I 
 fee is fitly good from any : but 1 think there was never any one man, 
 thatliv'd to be ^ferfecf guide of perfection. In many thin^is, I foall tall 
 lliort: in fome things 1 may go beyond him. We teed not the ^^^ri 
 with the food of one di(h only : nor does the fedulous Bee , thyme all 
 her //^/^//^ from one f/ojvfrj fingle vcrcucs. She takes the bcft ^rom 
 many -^ and together, One makes them fcrve : nor without working 
 that to honey, which the putrid Spider would convert to poyfon. Thus 
 iTnould the wife man dcr. But, even by this, he may better learn to 
 jlove the good , than avoid that which is ofe/ffive. Thofe that are 
 throughly arted in A^^^T'/^.t/-/^;? , do as well know the Coafls, as the 
 Pcean : as well the Flairs , the Sands , the shallows, ai]d the Rocks ; 
 
 as 
 
 :|
 
 'J^E S Ll^ ES. 
 
 as tht Jecure depths, in the moll unperiUom Chafim'l. So, 1 think, tliolc 
 that aKperfefi men (I fpeak ot pcrfeciion fincc the tall) muft as well 
 know W, that they may ^/rWi? it ; as the ^W, that they may em- 
 brace. And this knowledge we can neither have To chcAp^ or fo certain, 
 as by feeing it in others, yNlxhaptttfuldifukc-, Surely we I'hall know 
 Fertite the better, by feeing that, which is not (he. It vvc could pafs 
 the world , without meeting Fice : then the knowledge of Fertnc 
 only were fufficient. Bur'tis not pollible to live , and not encounter 
 ler. Fice is as a God in this world : whither can we go to fly it ? It 
 latb an ubiquity^ and rideth too. 1 with no man to know it , cither 
 3y«/?j or by intriifton : but being unwittingly catl upon it, kt him 
 obfervCj for his own more fate diredlion. Thou art /'^/'^j, when thou 
 makll another mans vices fteps lor thee, to climb to Heaven by. 
 The wife Phyjitian makes the poyfon medicinable. Even the »?«^of the 
 world, by the induftrious Hollander 'is turned to an ufeful fuel. If I 
 light on good company, it Hiall cither induce me to a new good, of con- 
 tirm me in my liked old. It I light on bad , I will , by confidering 
 their dull fiains, either correal tho^o. faults 1 havCy or jhun thofe that 
 I might have. As the Mariner that hath Sea-room^ can make any veind 
 ferve to fet him forward, inhis willicd voyage: fo a rvife-man may 
 take advantage from any company , to fet himfelf forward to Vertues 
 Religion. Fice is fubtil, and weaving, for her own preferment : why 
 fhould not Vertm be plotting for hers ! It reqiiires as much policy to 
 grow good, as great. There is an inmcential providence, as Well as the 
 flynefs of a vulpine craft. There are vices to be dijplac d -, that would 
 (top us, in the way of our Rife. There are parties to be made on our 
 fide •, good Memento's, to uphold us when we are declining, through 
 the private lifts of our imjujl maligncrs. There is a King to be pica- 
 fed J that may protcft us againtt the Aiock of the enviom Plebeians : 
 the reigning humours of the time, that plead cuftom, and not reafon. 
 We mutl have Intelligencers abroad , to learn what praftices. Sins, 
 (our Enemies) have on foot againft us : and beware whatfuits we en- 
 tertain, left we dillionour our felvcs in their grant. 'Every good man is 
 a Leiger here tor Heaven : and he mu{\ be wife and circumfped , to 
 vain the fleck navations of thofe, that would undo him. And, as thole 
 that are fo for the Kingdoms ot Earth , will gain fomething from all 
 Societies that they fall upon : So, thofe that are tor this higher Empire; 
 may gather fomething beneficial , from all that they lliall converfc 
 with ; cither for prevention , or confirmation ; cither to Jlrengthen 
 themfelvesy or confound their oppofers. 
 
 XII I.- • 
 Of "Mans unftfillin^mfs to dye. 
 
 WHat lliould make us all fo unwilling to ^/^,when yet we know, 
 till ^4//;, wc cannot be accounted happy? Isitfweetncfs 
 
 D 1 we 
 
 Cent. 1.
 
 20 
 Cent. I. 
 
 "[{E so LV ES. 
 
 wefindeinthis/z/V^joi^ffj-? Is there pkafure in the lujhiom blood.^. 
 Is it the honour^ or the/f^//?, that doth in Death affrigiit us ? Or, is 
 it our fear-i and doubt of what lliall become of us after ? Or, is it 
 th&guiU of our mif-guided fouls, already condemning ii<, by the prc- 
 apprehcnfion ot a. future pum(hmefitl If 1 found 'Df^//; terrible alike 
 to all, 1 lliould think there were fomcthing more in Death • yea, and 
 in life too, than yet we do imagine. But, I find one man can as wil- 
 lingly dye, as another man can be willing to M>ie. Some, that can as 
 ghdiy le.i\-e this rvorld, as the wife man, being old, can forbear the 
 Court. There are , to whom Death doth fcem no more than a hUod- 
 letting : and thcfe, 1 finde, are of the fort of men , which we gene- 
 rally do cfteem for xvt^e. Every man, in the vUy of this world, 
 
 befides an .^^cr, is a Spe3ator zoo : when ' txsfiew begun , with him, 
 (that is, in \{\s youth) it promifeth fo much,that he is loth to leave ix. : 
 -when it grows to the middle , the A61 ot 'vinltty, then he fees the 
 Seems grow thick, and fill, he would gladly underftand the end 
 but, when that draws near , and he findcs what that will be • he is 
 then content to depart , and leave his room lo fucceeders . Nay, many 
 times, while before this, he confiders, that 'tis all as it were detu- 
 fion, and a dream, and palTeth away as the consumed derv , or as the 
 found of a Bell that is rung • he then grows weary with expectationi 
 andhis///eisentertain'dwirha tedious dijlike of it [elf. Ohtheun- 
 fetled conceit of Man ! that feeking after ciuiet , findts his tmrejl the 
 more : that kno'vs neither what he is, nor what he (hall he / V\'c arc 
 like men benighted in a mldernefs : we wander in the tread of fcve- 
 \\Tii\.paths : wc try one, and prcfently finde another is more likely : 
 we follow that, and meet with more, that crofs it : and while wc ar^ 
 diftrafted about thcfe various wayes, the fierce Bcaft, Death, devours! 
 us. 1 finde two forts of men, that differ much , in their conception^ 
 that they hold of Death. One lives in afuU joy here : he Jtngs , andi 
 revels, and plea fants his /pleen, as if his /^rfr^'^ were perpetual •, and 
 the whole worlds face falhioned to a.poJlure, laughing upon him. And 
 this man would do any thing, rather than /^f : whereby he tells us, 
 (though his tongue exprcfs it not) that he expeBs a worfe ejlate hereaf- 
 ter. Another lives hardly here, with a heavy heart , furrowing of a 
 mournful/rfcf : as if, like the J?^^, he were yeaned into the world, 
 only to aft ^fad mans part, and dye : and this man fceks Death, and 
 mifles him ; intimating, that he expefts a better condition by 'Death : 
 for 'tis furcs Natura fetnper in meliorem tendit: Nature ever aims 
 at \ better ; nor would line wilTi a change , if flie did not 
 think it a benefit. Now, what do thefe two tell us ? but that there is 
 both a w//<'r)', and ajcy attending Man, when he is vanillit hence. 
 The like is fhewcd by the^W man, and the bad : one avoiding what 
 the other would wil"h ; at leaft not re/?//? , upon offer. For the ^W 
 man I muft reckon with the veife ; as one that equally can dye, or 
 live. He knows, while he is here. Cod will proted him ; and when 
 he goes hence, (^od will receive him. 1 borrow it from the Father : 
 
 Non
 
 ^ESO LI/ ES, 
 
 21 
 
 Non it a vixi, ut me vixilje pitdeat : nn ttmeo mon , quia bontim habeo 
 Dominum, I have not /o liv'd^ as 1 l"hould be afhamed : nor fear I to 
 dye-y for God is merciful. Certainly , wc arc never at e[Hict , in any 
 thinff long, till we have cow^'w^r^'^ the fear of death. 'Every fpecfacle 
 of Mortality terrifies. Every cafital danger affrights its. Into what a 
 diimpt did the fight o^ Cyrus Tomb, ftrike the mod noble Alexander ? 
 It comes, like an arrefl ol Treason in a 'jollity : blafls us, like a Light- 
 mng-flajb-, and like a Riftg put into our Nojes, checks us in the frisks 
 md levaltoes of OUT dxncinq^ i>lood. Fear of /st^f/' kills us often, when 
 T)tath it felf, can do it but once. 1 love therefore , the fayins of the 
 dying Enipcrour Julian, He that veould not dye vehen he muji , and he 
 that vpoidd dye when he mnjl not, are both of them Corvards alike. That 
 which we knorc we niuft do, once ; why llnould we be afraid to do it 
 at any time ? What wc cannot do till our time comes , why Aiould 
 vjcfeek to do it before ? I like the man that can dye mllingly, when- 
 foever God would have him dye ; and that can live as tvillingly, when- 
 focvcr God would have him not to dye. To fear Death much, argues 
 an evil mm ; at hefl a man that isrveak. How brave did Socrates ap- 
 pear, when he told the ^.^henians they could do nothing j but what 
 Nature had ordain'd, before them, condemn him to dye ? How un- 
 movedly did he take his pyfon ? as if he had been drinking of a Glory 
 to the Deity. Into what a trepidation of ihc foul, does fear decline the 
 Covpardt how \x. drorens \h.Q. head in the intremhUd hofoml But the 
 Spaniflj Tragick tells us. 
 
 Qui vultiis Acherontis atri, 
 Qui Styga trtflem, non trijlis videf) 
 Atidetque vit^e ponerejincm. 
 Par ille Regi, par Super is erit . 
 
 He that fmiling can gaze on 
 Styx, and black-wav'd Acheron ; 
 That dares brave his ruinc • he 
 To Kings, to Gods, lliall equal be, 
 
 'Tis a Fathers fentencc, jV/7^/7 eft in morte quod metuamm, fi nihil 
 timendum, vita commifit : Death hath nothing terrible , but 'what our 
 life hath made fo. He that hath liv" dwell, will be fcldom ««jv/i/«7^ to 
 dye. Death is much facilitated, by the vertues, of a well-led life. To 
 (ay ihcgood man fears not God , 1 think may be wood Divinity. Faith 
 approaches Heaven with confidence. Arifliypus told the Saylers , that 
 wondered why he was not, as well as they, afraidin the ftorm ; that 
 the odds was much : for, they feared the torments due to a wicked 
 life ^ and he cxpcftcd the rewards of a good one. Vice draws Death 
 with a horrid look, vmh a whip, and flames, and terrours. It was cold 
 comfort Diogenes gave a lewd liver ; that baniilit , complain'd he 
 iTiould dye in a for reign foyl ; Be of good cheer, man, where jbever thou 
 art, the way to Hell w the fame. 1 conkfs, take a man, as Nature hath 
 made him, and there is fomc reafon why he fliould fear Death ; bc- 
 
 caufe 
 
 .. _ 1. m JI M r " «!*■ 
 
 Cent. I.
 
 22 
 
 Cent. 1. 
 
 1{ES OLV ES. 
 
 caufe he knows not what it will do with him. What he fin3cs"here, he 
 fees, md k/iows ; what he lliall findc after death, he knoweth not. 
 And no man, but would rather continue in a moderate delight, which 
 he knows 5 than indure /»/«/», to be delivered |o tmertainties. 1 would 
 live, till God would have me dye : and then, 1 would do it without 
 eitheryr^ror^r//^/^^. It were a tliame tor me, hQiw^^d. chrijlia» 
 and believing Heaven, to be afraid of removing from Earth. In re- 
 folviag thus, I iliall triumph over other cafnalties. AD thincrs that we 
 yj-^r here, we fear zsjieps, that defcend us towards our Craves , to- 
 wards Infamy, and "Deprivation. V\ hen we get the victory over this 
 great terrour ; all the fmall ones are conquered in it. Great Cities onccj 
 expttgned, the 1)orpes, and Fz/Z-i^fJ willfoon come in olthemfelves. 
 
 1 
 
 XIV. 
 0/"f/;e Worflnp of Adm'iratwi. 
 
 WHatfoever is rare , and pajjionate , carries the foul to the 
 thought of £/frw>;'. And, by contemplation, gives it fome 
 glympfes of more ahfolmc perfection, than h?re 'tis capahle of. When 
 1 lee the ^^7^/()' of & State-Jhorv , at fome unwonted _/^/fw;i?tfyj my 
 thoughts /'rf/?;?/- me fomething, more royal than this. When I fee 
 themoft/W^^;^^/)^^ beauties, that £/?rM can l"hcw me; I yet think 
 there is fomething far more glorious : mcthinks 1 fee a kinde of high- 
 er /'^r/^^/o/?, peeping through the frailty of zface. W hen I hear the 
 ravijhing-Jlrams ot a frveet-tuned voyce , married to the rearhles of 
 the artful Inflrumcnt -, I apprchendby this a higher T)iapafgn : and 
 do almoft believe, I hear a litdc Deity whifpcring , through the pory 
 fubjlance of the tongue. But, this I can but grope after. I can neither 
 findc, noi fay, what it is. When I read a rarely fententious man, I 
 admire him, to my own impatiency. I cannot read fom-e parts of ^^f 
 neca, above two leaves together. He raifes iwyfiuho a contemplation, 
 which fets me a //'/i^^vV?^, on more, thinl can imagine. So I am for- 
 ced to caft him by, and fubjide to an admiration. Such effects works 
 Poetry, when it looks to towring Vertues. It gives up a man to ra- 
 ft wes-, onA inradiates the foul , with fuch high apprehenjions : that 
 all i\\Q glories which this rverld hath, hereby appear, contemptible. Of 
 which, the (ok-foul'dOvidgi\es a touch, when he complains the rvant. 
 
 Impetus ille'Sacer, quivatiim Pe&'ora nutrity 
 
 Qui prius in nobis effe folebat, abefi. 
 That Sacred vigor, which had wont, alone. 
 To flame ^q Poets noble brcft, is gone. 
 
 But this is, when thefe excellencies incline to gravity , and feriouf 
 nefs. For otherwife, light airs turn us into [prtghtful actions • which 
 breathe away in a loofe/^/^/vf^r, not leaving half that imprejjion be- 
 hinde them, which ferious confideratitns do. As if Mirth were the 
 
 excel.
 
 9i E so LI E S. 
 
 n 
 
 excellcmy [o^ i\-{Q. body ^mAnu'ditxtion ioi Khitjoiil. As it one were, tor 
 chc contentment oi his life • and the other , .eymg to that ot the life to 
 come. AW endeazwurs afykc lo Emine/icy -^ all Er^unencies do hcict m 
 Admiration : And, this n\akcs me bclic\'c, that contemfLitive Admira- 
 tion^ is a lars;c part oi die worflnf o\ the Deity. 'Tis an xdorativn-^ 
 purely, ot" tSc Spirit : a more f/tlplime bowing ot the fo/ilzo the god-. 
 head. And this is it, which that Homer ot Philofophers avowed, could 
 onn2^ a. m3.n to per feci h.i//pinefs ^ i^ to his Contemplation he joyncd a 
 conitaiit /!«//<t/-/V« ot God, in Ju/lice, ivifdom, Holinefs. Nothing can 
 carry us fo near to God^ ajid Heaven, as this. The minde can walk, 
 beyond the /Fi^^/ of the af ; and (thou2;h \\\\ cloud) can lift us into 
 Heaven, while wc live. Meditation is the [oids Pcrfpeciive Glafs : 
 whereby, in her long remove, llie difccrneth God, as it he were nearer 
 hand. 1 perfwade no man to make it his whole lifes bulinefs. Wc 
 h:x\'Q bodies, as well as/w/A". And even this wor/i^, while wc arc in it, 
 ought fomcwhat to be cared for. As thofc States arc likely to flonrifh, 
 where execution follows found advifemetts : So is A'lan, when contem- 
 plation is (bcondcd by aBion, Contemplation generates ^ Action pro- 
 pagates. Without the tirfl, the latter is defective. Without the laft, 
 the firft is but abortive, and embryotps. Saint Bernard compares con- 
 templation to Rachel , which was the more fair : but action to Leah, 
 which was the more fruitful. I will neither alwaycs be bufie, and do- 
 in^ : nor ever (Ivit up in nothing but thoughts. Yet , that which fomc ' 
 would call idlenefs, I will call the fwectejlpart of my life : and, that 
 is, my Thinking. Surely, Cod^made fo many varieties in his creatures, 
 as Well tor the imvara foul, as the outward Jenfes ; chough he made 
 them primarily, tor his own free-will, d.\v\ Glory. \ie\wxs^ Monk oi 
 an honcftcr age, that being asked how he could indure that life, with- 
 out the pkafure ot books, anfwcred : The Nature of the Creatures was 
 his Library : wherein, when he picafed, he could mufc upon Gods 
 deep Oracles. 
 
 XV. 
 of Fame. 
 
 IT may dcm firange, that the whole world of men, Hiould be tarried 
 on with an earnejl defire of a noble Fame , aiid Memory after their 
 deaths : when yet wc know it is not material, to our vpe]Ly or /// be- 
 ing, what cenjiircs, pafs upon us. Tiic tongues of the living, avail no- 
 thing, tothe good, or hurt, of thofc that //> iu' their qraves. They' 
 can neither adde to theix plcafure, nor yet diminiui tlieir torment , it 
 they tindc any. y\s account m\\\\. pafs upon my own 4f//ow, not upon 
 {c\e reports o\ others. In vain mcnlabour'd, to^/'/'roT'f themfelves to 
 goodncjs, tithe Palaces whitii Fertuc rears, could be unbuilt by the 
 taxes ot a v^ounding tongue. Falfe rvitnejjes can never finde admijfion, 
 where the God of Hc/ivcn fits judging. There is no Common Law in 
 
 the 
 
 Cent. l\
 
 Cent. 1. 
 
 3^E5^ OLV E S, 
 
 the New Jerufalem. There Tnith will be received , though either 
 Plmtiffe ov Defendant, i^Q.z\.si\.. Wqxcwc iw^y article ■i<yim\.t a man, 
 by a cummonfame : and by x.\\q. frothy bitzz^ of the veorld-, call away 
 the blood oi Innocents. But Heaven proceeds not after fuch incertain- 
 ties. "Wift jingle nmn fnall be believed in truth, before all the humming 
 o'i fuccejjive ^es. What will become ot many ol our Lawyers, 
 w\\en not an yldvocate , but Truth, lliall be admitted'^. Fame, iViall 
 there be excluded, as a lying witnefs ; though here , there is nothing 
 which we do fojfcfs, which we reckon oi an equal -value. Our wealth, 
 om i^ileafure, om lives, will not all hold nv/^//? againll: it, when this] 
 comes \.n competition. Nay, when we arc circled xowni^ with calamities, 
 our confidence in this, like a conjiant friend, takes us by the hand, and 
 cheers us, againft all our miferies. When Phtlip ask't Bemocvitas , if 
 hedidnot tear tolofehis AfW, he anfwcr'd no; iorif he did, the 
 i^thenianswQvX'S.'fysiiVwcion'i immortal. He ihould be Statued, in 
 the treafury of eternal fame. See it it were not Ovids comfo)ter , in 
 his Banijhment. * ' 
 
 ■ " ■ " ■■■ Nil non mart ale tenemns, 
 
 Pecloris exceptis, ingeniique bonis. 
 En ego, ctimpatria, car earn, fohijque, dcmoque : 
 
 Raptaque Jint, adimi qii£ potuere mtht -^ 
 Ingenio tamen ipfe meo comitorque fr nor que : 
 
 Cffar, in hoc potuit juris habere nihil, 
 Qinlihet h.inc ftvo vitam mihi finiat enfe ; 
 
 Me tam;n extincto, fama perennis erit. 
 
 All that we hold will dye. 
 
 But our brave thou'jjits, and Ingenuitv. 
 
 Even 1 that want my Countrey, Houfe, and Friend : 
 
 From whom is ravilbt, all tliat Fate can rend j 
 
 Poflefs yet my own Genms, and enjoy 
 
 That which is more, than Ctfar can deftrov. 
 
 Each Groom may kill me : but whcns'crc I dye. 
 
 My Fame fnall live to mate Eternity. 
 
 Plutarch tells us of apoor Indian, that would rather endure a doc>n- 
 ing to death, than fijoot hdorc Alexander , when he had d/fcontinued -^ 
 kikhy /booting ill, he lliould marr the Fame hchad gotten. Doubt- 
 lefs, even in this, Man is ordered by a power above him ; which 
 hath injlin5ted in the mindes of all men, an ardent appetition of a lad- 
 ing Fame. Defire of Cjlory, is the laif garment, that , even wife men, 
 lay afide. For this, you may truft Tacitii^s, Stiamfapientibns, Ctipido 
 glorix, mviffima exuitur, Not, that it betters him'felt , being gone ^ 
 but that \tflirs up, tliofe that fo]low him, to an earnefi Endeavour ol 
 Noble Actions ^ which is the only means, to win t\\Qfame we wivli for. 
 Themifiocles that Jlreamed out his youth, in veine , and "jenery ^ and 
 was fodainly c/'^^^f^, to a vertuous, an<i t'^ltant man, told one, that 
 ask't what did iojhangely change'him : that, the Trophy of Aliltiades 
 
 U'ould 
 
 I
 
 1{ES0LVES. 
 
 ^5 
 
 would not let himjieep. TamberUm made it hispra^icc, to read often 
 the Heroick deeds ot his own Trogenitors ; not as boafling in them : but 
 ^%gleriom examples propounded, to intirc liis Venues. Purely, nothing 
 avpakes o\iv Jleepifig vcrtnes^ like the Nobis Acts of our Predecejfors. 
 They are flaming ^Beacens, that Frntc, and T/wd-, have fet on Hills^ to 
 call us to a defence oiVertue • whenfoever Fice invades the Common- 
 veexlth oiMnn. Who can indurc to skulk away his life in an idle C(jr- 
 ^f-rjwhen he has means, and finds how Ktw^ has blown about defer- 
 •ving names ? Worth begets in weak and bafc minds,£/zx'jy : but in thofe 
 that are Magnanimous ^EmuUt ion. Roman vertue,made Roman vertues, 
 kfling. Brave men never dye ; but like the Phcntx : From whofe 
 preferved afjjes-, one, or other, rtill do:h fprtng wp, like them. How 
 many valiant Souldicrs, does a generous Leader make ? 'Brutus , and 
 ^rutus^ bred many conttant "Tatriots. Fame^ I confefs, I finde more 
 eagerly purfucd by the Heathen-, than by the chnfllans ot thefe times. 
 The Immortality (as they thought) of their name-^ was to them, as the 
 Immortality ot the foul to us : A ftrong Reason., to pcrfwade to wortbi- 
 nefs. Their knowledge halted in the latter ; fo they relied in the firft. 
 Which often made them facrijice their lives to that , which they 
 ejleem'd above their lives, their Fame, chrtftians know a thing beyond 
 ic : And, that knowledge, caufes them to give but a fecondary refpeft 
 to Fame ; there being no reafon, why we fliould negleH that, whereon 
 all our future happiness depends , for that, which is nothing but a 
 name, and empty air. Fertue were a YvcAoimifcry, if Fame only were 
 all the Garland, that did crown her. Glory alone were a reward incom- 
 petent, for the toils of induflrious Man. This follows him but on 
 Earth, in Heaven is laid up a more Noble, more F^entutl rccompenfe. 
 Yet, bccaufe 'tis a fruit that fprings from good actions, 1 muft think, 
 \\Q.\k\^\. loves that, loveth alfo that which caufeth it, worthinefs. In 
 others ; 1 will honour the Fame, for the deferving deeds which caufcd 
 it. In my fclf, 1 will refpe^ the actions, that may merit it. And, though 
 for my own benefit, I will not much fcek it : yet, I fhall be glad if it 
 may follow me, to incite others ; that they may go beyond me, 1 will, 
 if 1 can, tread t\\cpath which leads to't. if I find it, 1 lliall think it a 
 bleffing-. if not, myendcvour will be enough (o\- difcharging my felt 
 within, though 1 mifs it. God is not bound to reward me any way ; 
 it he accepts me, 1 may count it a mercy. Tlie other 1 will not look for. 
 I like him, that does things that dcfcrve a Vame, without ^ivdcxQx fiarch 
 iiX caring ioi \x.. chrtjl, ^[icc iwfiw^ miraculous cures, injoyned \\\'ipati- 
 ents filcncc ; perhaps to check the world, for the tootoo violent qucfl, 
 of this vacuum. For a mean man to thirft for a mighty fame, is a kind 
 ot fond ambition. Can we think a Moufc can cafk a (hadow like an Ele- 
 phant t Can the Sparrow look for a train like the Sagle ? Great Fames 
 are for Printcs ; and fuch as for their parts, are the Glories o{ Humani- 
 ty : Good ones may crown the private. The fame fire may be in the 
 waxen Taper, which is in thcfiaved Torch ; but 'tis not eejual i'khcv in 
 quantity, or advancement. Let the world fpcak well of me, and 1 will 
 
 E never
 
 26 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 never care, though it does not fpcak much, check t\vjk\U thou Atr- 
 monger-^ that with a madding thought, thus chikik fleeting Jhaddoivs. 
 Lost fiihjiances-, and reft thy Iclf content with what Eeetitu tels thee : 
 
 Quictmque folam, mente pr^cipiti, petit 
 
 Sttmmumque credit, Gloriam: 
 Lat} patentes , atherii cerniit pUgas, 
 
 Ar6lumque terrarum'fitum. 
 "Brevem replere non valentis ambitutn, 
 
 Tudebit an[H nominis. 
 
 He that thirfts for Glorious prize. 
 
 Thinking that , the top ot all : 
 Let him view th' expanfed skies, 
 
 And the Earth's contracted Ball. 
 ' He'l be afhamed then, that the name he wan, 
 
 Fils not the lliort walk, of one healthful man. 
 
 XVI. 
 Of the choice of (^ligmi. 
 
 VAriety, in any thing, diftracieth the mind, and leaves it rv.wing 
 in a dubiom trouble ; and then, how cafic is it to fw/ty the mind 
 to either fide ? But, among all the diverfties that we meet with, none 
 trouble us more, than thofe that are of ^<?//^/tf«. 'Tisrrfr^ to findtwo 
 Kingdoms one \ as if every Nation had (if not a God, yet at leaft) a vcay 
 to G(?dfby it fclf. This7?«w^/« the unfcttled /£>«/; that not knowing 
 which way to take, without the danger of ^m»^, fticks to none; fo 
 dies, ere he docs that, for which he was made to live , the fervice of 
 the true Almighty. We are born as men fet down in the midft of a 
 jvood; circled round with fevcral i/^jcfj calling us. Atfirfl,we fee not, 
 which will lead us the right way out ; fo divided in our felves, we fit 
 flill, and follow none : remaining blind in a flat Athetfm, which ftrikcs 
 deep at the foundation, both of our own, and the whole worlds happi- 
 nejs. 'Tis true, if wc let our dimmed underjlanding fcarch in thcfe va- 
 rieties (which yet is the only means, that we have in our felves, to do 
 it with) we fliall certainly lofe our felves In their windings ; there be- 
 ing in every ot them fomcthing to believe^zhosQ that reajon which leads 
 us to t\\Qjearch. Rejfon gives us the Anatomy of things, and illujirates 
 with a great deal o{pUinne[s, all the wayes that fhc goes : but her line 
 is too lliort, to reach the depths ot Religion. Religion carries a confuta- 
 tion along with it : and with a high hand oCSoveraignty, awes the in- 
 quifitive/-o^?g^«if of A^4?«^^; and when fhe would »2«rw«r privately, 
 flic will not let her /^eak. Reafon,\ike a mild Prince, is content to fhcw 
 his Subjects the caufcs othis commands,^ni rule. Religion,^'\.t\s. a higher 
 Jlrain ot Majefty, bids do it, without inquiring further then the bare 
 command: which, without doubt, is a means of procuring mighty 
 
 reverence.
 
 1{E S L V E S, 
 
 ^7 
 
 reverence. V^ha.twc)f.novf r\oi.,\vc reverent /j/ admire ; what \vc do 
 know,ts in a fore fubjed to the triumphs of thcytf///,thac hath difcove- 
 red it. And, this not knowing, makes us not able to judge. Every one 
 tells us-.hib own is the trueft : and there is none, 1 think,but hath been 
 fed'dWiCn the blood ot forae. Nor can 1 fee, how wc may more than 
 probAbly-) prove any : they being all fet in fuch heights-, as they are not 
 fubjeSi to the demonjirations of Reafon. And as wc may cafier fay what 
 ^.j'oid'is not, than what it is : fo we may more calily difprovc a Reli- 
 gion fovfalfc:, than prove it for one that is true : There being in the 
 rvorldj far more Error, than Truth. Yet is there beildes, another mife- 
 ry, near as great as this; and that is, that wc cannot be our own chu- 
 fers : but muft take it upon truft., from others. Arc we not ott, before 
 we can difcern them/^, brought up and grounded in thcfalfe, fucking 
 in Herejie, with our milk in childhood'^. Nay, when vye come to years 
 of ^i^/frjW'^Tw?^/-, wherein the mind is grown \i[^ compleat Man : we 
 examine not the foundnefs ; but retain it mecrly, becaufe our Fathers 
 taught it us. What a lamentable weal-nefs is this in Man, that he 
 iTiiould build his Eternal xvelfare, on the approbation of perhaps a weak 
 and ignorant Parent 'i Oh \ why is our ncglcci the mofl, in that,where- 
 in our care lliouldbe^rfi?^!?/?? How few are there which lulfil that 
 'Precept oi trying alU/'/»^j, and taking the bejl'^. Ailurcdly though 
 Faith be above Reafon, yet is there a Reafon to be given ot out Faith. 
 He is a Fool ih^t believes he knows neither what, nor why. Among all 
 the Diverftties of Religion^, i\\2.i the rvorldholds-, I think it may l\and 
 with mofk fafety, to take that, which makes moftfor Gods glory, \and 
 Mans quiet. I confefs, in all the Trcatifes of Religion that 1 ever faw, 
 I find none that I lliould fo foou follow, as that ot the church of Eng- 
 land. I never found fo found a Foundation, fo furc a direction tor Reli- 
 gion., as the Song of the Angels at the "Birth of Chrifl ; Glory be to Qod 
 on high. Tliere is the Honour-, the reverend Obedience, and the Admira- 
 tion, and the Adoration, which wc ought to give him. On earth peace: 
 This is the efe[i of the former ; working in the hearts of men., where 
 by the world appears in his nobleft beauty, Wing an entire chain of inter- 
 mutual amity . And goodwill toward men : This is Gods mercy -^ to re- 
 concile Man to himfelf, after his fearful defertion of his Maker. Search 
 all Religions the world through, and you will finde none that aicribes 
 fo much to oW, nor that con/litutes Co firm a love among Men, as does 
 the eflablijht 'Do[frinc of the Proteflant church zvc^x\2^ us. All other 
 1 either detract from God : Or infringe the Peace oi Aicn. The jews in 
 their Talmud fay, Before Go^made this, he made many other nwlds, 
 and marr'd them again ; to keep himfelf from idlenrfs. The Turks in 
 their Alchoran bring him in, difcourfing with the Angels, and iliey tcl 
 ling him, of things which before he knew not : and after, they make 
 t"iim (tvear by Mahomet s Pfw.and Lines:, and by Figgj., and Olives. Tiic 
 Papijls pour tray him as an old Man ^ and by tliis means, d/fdcijie h/m, 
 derogating alfo from his Royalty., by their (xlious interpofing of merit. 
 And for the Society of men ; what bloody Tcnents do they all hold ?
 
 28 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 as, Thac hedcferves not the name of Rabbit that hates not his Enemy 
 to the death, that 'tis no fin to revenge injuries : That 'tis meriterieUs 
 to kill a Heretick-, with whom x^o faith is to be kept : Even to the un- 
 ^luincr of the whole worlds frame; Contcxtcd only, by Commerce^ and 
 Contracts. What zlo\ioxx<t^ barbarifms did 5^/yw/« leave mTreeepty 
 to his Succellor Selyman ? which , though 1 am not certain they 
 were ratified , by their Mufties ; 1 am fure, arc pradticed by the Inhe- 
 ritors of his Empire. By this tafte , learn to detect them all. 
 
 Ne ptttet effe nefas , cognatum haurire cruorem : 
 
 Et nece fraterna , conjlabilire Domum. 
 fttra^ Fides, Pietas, regni dum nemo ptperjit 
 
 i/Emulus , haud tiirbent rclligione animu7n. 
 Hiic ratio eft, qiu fola qneat regale tueri 
 
 Nomen-i (jr expertem te finit ejfe metus. 
 
 Think not thy kindreds murther ill, 'tis none : 
 By thy flain brothers , to fecure thy Throne. 
 
 Law, Faith, Religion, while no Rivals aim 
 Thy ruine, may be pradic'd, elfe they maim. 
 
 This is the way, how kingly names may be 
 Infaf't, and from diftraftive terrors free. 
 
 \noK\\fC Religions f o{xk\(i Heathen ^ what fond opinions have they 
 held of their Gods ? reviling with unfcemly /^/y7'(f4/^j , when their affairs 
 'h?iSQrthivarted\\\tm . As it allowing them the »4WKf, they would con- 
 ferve the Nnmen to thcmfelvcs. In their J4cr//7f^j',how Butcherly cruel? 
 as ifCas 'tis faidof them) they thought by inhumanity^ to appealc the 
 ■wrath ot an offended T)eity. The Religion\\\^\c\\ we now profeis, efta- 
 blilTieth all in another /?rA/». What makes more for Cods glory ? what 
 makes more for the mutual love of •JAIan^ then the Gofpel ? All our ^/-i- 
 ///id-j- of good, wc offer toGod^^sthc Fot»/4/« from whence they ^ream. 
 Can the day be light, and that light not come from the :Sun ? Can a 
 Clock go, without a weight to move it, or a Keeper to fet it ? As for 
 A<fan:\t teaches him to tread on Cottons-, mild's his wilder temper : and 
 learns him iu his patience, to a^'ed'his Enemies . And for that which 
 doth partake on both ; it makes Jujl God, a friend to unjufi man,w[th~ 
 out being ««//</?, cither to himfelf, or Man. Sure, it could be no other, 
 then the Inventien o{zT)eity, to find out a way, how Man,t\\zx. hiAjuJl- 
 />made himlclf «iiii'/i/'/>7, llnould, with a. ^nWfatisfa^ion to exadeft 
 ^uflice, be made agiin moft happy. 1 would wifh no man that is able 
 to try, to take his Religion upon others words : but once refolvedin 
 iti 'tis dangerous to neglect:, where we know we do owe ^fervice, 
 
 'Dii rnulta neglecii J^derunt-, 
 Hesperite mala lu^uofe. 
 
 God negletSled, plenteoufly 
 Plagued mournful Italy. 
 
 And thisjbeforc Horace his time- when God is negleBed of Man; Man 
 
 (hall 
 
 k
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 fliall be contemned of God. When Man abridge th God ot ins homur ; 
 (j<?^willfhortcn Man oi\\[ihapptnef^.\ic^^nox. but be belt, to give all 
 ro^/'w, of whom whacfocverwc have, vvc hold. I believe ic /^/^y? to 
 take that Religion^ which n\o\\. magnifies god^ and makes molt, for the 
 peaceable converjation of men. For, as wc cannot afcribe too mucU to 
 him, to whom wc owe more then we can rf/cr/^^ : fo I think the molt 
 fplendid eflate of Man., is that, which comes ncarcft to his firft Creati- 
 on : wherein, all things wrought to2ethcr,in the plcafant cmbracements 
 o( mntual/ove.y and concord. 
 
 XVII. 
 of Petitions and Denials. 
 
 DEnialsiwfuits, arc Reprehcnfions., xo him that asketh. We feem 
 thereby to tell him, that he craves t/Mt., which is not convc/iient ; 
 fo errs from that Jlation, he fliould reft in. In our demands, wc uncover 
 our own defires ; in the anfwers wc receive, wc gather how wc arc 
 affected. Beware what thou askclt ; and beware what thou deniefi . For 
 ii difcretton guide tlicc not, there is a great deal ot danger in botn. V\'e 
 otten,by oncrcqueft, open the rvindows oi o^x: heart wider, then all 
 the indcavoursof our obferi'erscm. 'Tis XAi^giving ot a man our hand 
 in the dark ; which directs him better where wc are, tiien either our 
 voyce^ or his own (earch may . It wc give repulfes , wc are prcfcntly 
 held in Jufpicion •, and infcarched tor the caule : which it it be found 
 trenching on dijcourtejte -^ Love dyes and Revenge fprings from the 
 afhes. To a /^vfW therefore, a man never ought toalvc a rough dental: 
 but alwaycs, cither to grant him his reqneji, or an able reafon why 
 wc condescend not ; by no means futieriug him to go away unjatufied : 
 For that, ever Icavcs^r^", to kindle a fucceedtngjarr. Deny not a jult 
 fuit J nor prefer thou one,that is unjujl : Hither, to a wife man, itamps 
 unkindnels in the Memory. I conicls, to a generous fpirit, as 'tis hard 
 to beg • fo 'tis har^j to be denyed. To fuch, let thy grant be free, for 
 they will neither beg injurioui favours, nor be importunate-^ and when 
 thou bceft to receive ot fuch, grate Hot too much on a yielding friend-^ 
 though thou mailt have thy wifli tor the prcfcut, thou iliall pdhapi 
 be a lofer in the fequel. Thofc that are readily daunted upon a repulje^ 
 I would willifirlt to try by circumflanccs, what may be tlic fpced of 
 their/////. 'Tiscalierto bear collcclcdunkindnefs, than that wliicli we 
 meet in affronts : the one we may wrap to death in a (till filence-^ the 
 other wc muft, for honours fike, take notice on. For this caufe, 'twill 
 be belt, never to propound any thing, whicli carries not with it, a pro- 
 bability of obiAimng. Negat fibt ipfttqui quod fieri non potcfl petit : VViien 
 WC ask what is not likely lo be had, before wc ask, we give our felvcs 
 the denial, ill Que (lions arc the w«/j for worfer Anfwers. Our refufalis 
 dcfcrvcdiy, while our demands are either unfitting, or beyond the ex- 
 pedience of him that flwuld grant. Nor ought wc tobeolfendcd with 
 any but onr fclves, when we have in fuch requejis, tranfgrelled the 
 
 bounds 
 
 ^9
 
 3° 
 
 2{ES0LVES. 
 
 bounds of modejly : though in fome I have known the denyal of c»e 
 favour ydxowning the memory oimany fore- performed ones. To think 
 ill of any man, tor not giving me that,which he needs not, is i»jufiice : 
 but for that^xo blot o^M former benejiisiis extreme ingratitude. '\\\Qgood 
 mans t\\zvks{oi old favours-, \\VQ, ^scx\ in the blows of injury. Why 
 lliould a dtfrpoftnted unkindnefs mzVt me ingratc ioireonted benefits ? 
 I like not thofc difpofitions, that can cither make unkindnejfes-, and re- 
 member them : or unmake favours, and forget them. For all the fa- 
 vours I receive, I will be thankful, though I meet with a ftop. The 
 failing oione, ftiall not make me neglcftful oimany : no, not though I 
 find upbraiding ; which yet hath this erfeft,that it makes {hat an injury, 
 which was bctorc a benefit. Why fliould I,for the abortion otone child, 
 kill all the elder ijfue ? Thofe favours that I can do, I will not do for 
 thanks, but for Noblenefs, tor Love ; and that with a free exprejjion. 
 Grumbling with a benefit, like a hoarfe veyce, mars the muftck ot the 
 fong : Yet, as I will do none tor thanks • fo I will receive none with- 
 out plying them. For Petitions to others, 1 will never put up undecent 
 ones ; nor will I, it I tail in thofc, either vex my felf, or difiajle too 
 much the denyer. Why fliould 1 think he docs me an injury, when he 
 only but keeps \\iSoven ? I like P/tdaretta his mirth well, who when he 
 could not be admitted tor one of the three hundred among the Spar- 
 tans, went away laughing, and faid. He rvas heartily glad, that the Re- 
 publique had three hundred better men than himfelf I will neither im- 
 portune too much upon umviUing minds ; nor will I be flow in yielding 
 what I mean to give. For the firft, with Ovid, 
 
 Et pudet, ^ metHO, femperque eademque precari, 
 Ne fubeant animo t<edia jufta tuo. 
 
 I fhall both fear andrtiamc, too oft to pray, 
 Le(\ urged minds to jufi difdain give way. 
 
 For the other; 1 am confident, Aufonius gives good counfel, with 
 perfwading reafons : 
 
 Si bene quid facioi, facias cit}) : nam cito fa[ium^ 
 Cratum erit ; ingratum, gratia tarda facit. 
 
 Difpatch thy purpos'd^oc^: quick courteom deeds , 
 Caufe thanks ; ^o\N favour, men unthanktul breeds. 
 
 XV II I. 
 ~ 0^ foverty, 
 
 THq poverty ohhe poor man, is the leaft part of his zwi/^r)'. In all 
 the ftorms of Fortune, he is the tirft that muft ftand the fhock 
 oH extremity. Toor men txt perpetual Sentinels,vf ztcKmg in the depth ot 
 «^^/^^5againft the incelTant afiauks oirvaat; while the rich lye ftovcd in 
 fecure repofes : and compafs'd with a large abundance. If the Land be 
 rulTetcd with a bloudlefs Famine ; arc not \k\tpoer the firft tha.tfacrifice 
 their lives to Hunger ? If fvar thunders in the trembling Countries 
 
 lap,
 
 ^{ESOLVES. 
 
 lap, arc not the poor tliofc that arc cxpofcd to the E/termes Sword and 
 outra<yei\i che I'tAgue^YAc a loaded [pmge^'AiQ.s-,('i^x[vk\[x\2.J>oy fin through 
 zppulom Kingdom ; thc/tfor arc the fruit that are fiiaken trom the bur- 
 thcn'd Tree : while the rich, turnilbt with the helps of Fortune, have 
 means to wind out thcmfclves, and turn thcfe fad induranccs on the 
 foor, that cannot avoid them. Like fait mxrfljes, that lye low ^ they are 
 fare, whenfocver the Sex of this World rages, to be firft under, and 
 imbarrcn'd with 3i fretting care. Who like the poor arc harrowed with 
 opprejfion, ever fubjcd to the imperious taxes, and the ^ripcs ot mighti- 
 nep. Continuall care checks ihc fptrtt ; continuall labour checks the 
 body ; and continuall infultation both. He is like one rowled in a Vef- 
 fcl full of Pikes; whichwayfocver he turns, he fomethinwiinds that 
 pricks him. Yet bcfides all thefe, there is another tr an fcendent rnifery: 
 and this is, that makcth men contemptible. 
 Nil h abet infalix, drc. 
 
 Unhappy want hath nothing harder in it, 
 Then that it makes men feornd, • ' 
 
 As iiihe poor man were but Fortunes Bvparf-^ made lower then the 
 reft oiVCiQW^iohQ laughed at. 'Xhc Philofopher {though he were ihc fame 
 mind, and the fa?ne man) in his (qnaUid rags, could not find admiflion, 
 when better robes procured both an open door and reverence. Though 
 outward things can add nothing to our ejfentialvoorth : yet, when we 
 arc Judged on, by the help of others outward fenfes,tnc^r\\Vich conduce 
 to o\it value otdif-ejeem. K Diamond Cet in braji, would he taken tor 
 a Cryjlal, though it be not fo, whereas aCryfialfct in Gold, will by ma- 
 ny be thought a Diamond. A poor man rvtfe, fliallbc thought a y^o/j 
 though he have nothing to condemn him , but his being poor : The 
 complaint is as old as Solomon : the wifdom of the poor is defpifed ; and 
 his rvordsnot heard. Poverty is 3.gulf, wherein all good parts are fwal- 
 lowcd. Poor men, though wife, arc but like Sattens without zglofi ; 
 which every man will retufe to look upon. Poverty is a reproach, which 
 clouds the luftrc of the /'rt?'<f/?^'^;'/«f. It turns the wz/f man foe I to h\x- 
 mour him that is z.fool. Good parts {^Poverty, Aicw like beauty zitexfick- 
 nef; palltd :ind pnlingl)/ deadijh. And if all thcfe calamities be but ^r- 
 tenda/.'ts , what may we judge that Hie is in herfelf} Undoubtedly, 
 whatfocver we preach of contentednep in want •, no precepts can fo 
 gain upon Nature, as to make her a Non-fenfitive. 'Tis impolTible to 
 hnd content in 2^\\\\v[r\gpenury. Lack of things ncceffary, like a heavy 
 load, and an tllfaddle, is perpetually wringing of the back that bears it. 
 ¥.\txc:Li\\ poverty one Cd.W'i di Lanthorn, that lights us to zWmiferies. 
 And withou t dou.bt,whcn 'tis urgent and importunatc,it is ever chafino; 
 upon the very heart oi n at ure.SN hat plcafurc can he have in lifc,who{c 
 whole life i'S griped by f jmc or other mts fortune ? Living no time tree, 
 but that, wherein he docs not live, his Jleep. His mind is ever at jarre, 
 cither with defire,fear, care, ox [orrow : his appetite unappeafedly cra- 
 ving ////'/'/>' of food, for his body ; which is cither nummed with cold, in 
 idUnefs ; 
 
 ?I
 
 3^ 
 
 1{ E S L V E S. 
 
 idleneff-j or ftevv'd in [iveat, with labour : nor can it be, but it will im- 
 bafecven the ^nrcdmeiarmma/^tit will Alchimythcgold oivertue, 
 and mix it with more dull Allay. It will make a man fubmit to thofc 
 courfe vpayes-, which another cftate would fcorn : nay, it will notfu&r 
 the Joid to cxercife i\\-:\.x. generoHS freedom , which equal NMure has gi- 
 ven it ; but hales it to (\xc\\\o\^ imdecencies, as ^vxWdifdain aponit. 
 Coimfell and difcretion^ eitlier quite leave a man ; or clfc are fo Jimircd, 
 by unrefiftable neceffity-^ as they lofc the brightnefi they ufe to ihine 
 withall, 
 
 Crede mlhi mi^eros^frndentlifrmx reliquity 
 Etfenfus cum re^ co?iJiliumque fugii . 
 
 Believe it, mfdom leaves the man diftreft : 
 
 With -wealth, both rvit and counfell quits the breft. 
 
 Certainly, extreme poverty, is worfc then abundance. We may be 
 good in plenty y ifwcrv///; in biting penury vvc cannot, though wc 
 would. In one, the danger is cafual : in the other, 'tis neceffitating.'ihc 
 beji is that which partakes o' both, and confifis ol neither. He that hath 
 too little , wintsfeathers loflie withall : He that hath too much-, is but 
 cumbred with too large a taile. If a flood o'iveealth could profit Qs,it 
 would be good to fwim in fach a Sea : but it can neither lengthen our 
 lives , nor inrich us after the end . 1 am plcafed with that Ef^rsm, 
 which is fo like Diogenes, that it makes him bite in \\\s grave, 
 
 Effigiem, Rex Crcefe, tuam, ditijjhne regumy 
 
 Vidit apnd Manes Diogenes Cynicus : 
 Conftitit utque procul,folito major e cMhinno 
 
 Concujfus, dixit : Quid tibi divitix 
 Nunc profuntj Regum Rex 6 ditiffime, cum (is 
 
 Sicut egofolus, me quoque pauperior ? 
 Nam qu£cunqtie habui, mecum fero, cum nihil ipje 
 
 Ex tantis tecum-) Qrcs^e^ferM opibtts. 
 
 When the Tubbed Cynick went to Hell, and thcre^ 
 Found the pale Gho[l oigolden Crcefus bare. 
 He ftops, and jeering till he fliruggs again, 
 Sayes ; O thou richcil King of Kings, what gain 
 Have all thy large heaps brought thee, fincc I fpy 
 Thee here alone, and poorer now then I? 
 For, all! had, I with me bring : bur thou. 
 Of all thy wealth, haft not one farthing now. 
 
 Of what little ufe does he make the mines of this fame opulentitaan? 
 Surely, Eftates be thenbcft, when they arc likeft mindes that be woril; 
 I mean, neither /;()/, nor cold: neither diftendcd wiihxoo much, nor 
 narrowly pent with too little : yet nearer to aplenty then vi^snt. We 
 may be at cafe in a room larger then our felvcs : in a room that is U^ 
 we cannot. We need not ufe more then vpiUferve : but we cannot ufe 
 /(?/. W' e fee all things grow violent, zwAJiruggle, when we would im- 
 ___^___^ prifon
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 93 
 
 prifon them in any thing /c^thcn thcmfelvcs. Fire^ fliut up,is furious. 
 Exhalations indonAcd :, breakout with T/junder . fvater compvciXcd, 
 fpurreth through the ftretchcd jlrdiner . 'Tis harder to contraft mmy 
 grains into one\ then to caufc many fpring out oUne. Where the chan- 
 nelis too little for the floud , who can wonder at the" over-fierving ? 
 Quifyuts imp peccat, minor ejl reus. 
 
 He is lefs guilty, that offends for want, 
 
 was the charity oiPetronim Arbiter . There is not in the world , fuch 
 another objeft oipity-, as the pinched flate ; which no man being fccu- 
 red from, I wonder at the Tyrants braves, and contempt. Queftionlcs, 
 I will rather with charity help him that is miferable-^ as / may be -^ then 
 dcfpifc him that is poor, as 1 xvotddnot be. They have flinty and ftcclcd 
 hearts.^ that can add calamities to him,that is already but one intire maf^. 
 
 XIX. 
 Ofthi Evil in Man from him/elf , and occafiom, 
 
 TIs not fo much rvant of good, as ex'ce^of ill,thit makes man poft 
 to lewdncfs, 1 believe there ^xcjparks enow in the Jorfl, to flame 
 a man, to the moral life oi'vertne : but that they arc quenched by the 
 putr id fogs oi corruption. As fruits o\hotter Countries, t\:dir\(-i:^nh' A in 
 colder Climates, have vigour enough in themfclves to be fru^uom ac- 
 cording to their nature: but that they are bindrcd by the chilling nips 
 of thc4/>, and they^/7, wherein they arc planted. Surely, the y^«/ hath 
 the reliqu' d Imprefja s oinitiKe Kert/te {till Co left within her, as fhc 
 would mount her felt to the Torvre of JVobknefs, hut that flie is depref- 
 fed, by an unpalTablc Thicket of hindrances ,• the frailties of the Bodj-^ 
 the current oi the ^orld ; and the Armies ot Enemies that continually 
 war z<^^\n{\ goodnefi, are ever checking the produHion of thofc motions, 
 flic is pregnant with. When wc run into new crimes, how we fchool 
 our fclves when the aci is over ? as if C^nfcii'nce had (fill fo mwchju- 
 fiice left; as it would be upright in fentencing even againft it felf. Nay 
 many times to gratulatc the company, wc are fain to force our felves to 
 unvporthinef, llia^/ons run againlt the grain of the undejiledjoul :':ind, 
 even while wc arc a doing thcm,our hearts chide our hands and tongues 
 for tranfgrefling. There arc tew, that arc bad at the firrt, mecrly, out 
 of their love to vice. There is a noblenc^in the mind oiman, which of 
 it felt, intitles it to the hatred oi what is ill.Who is it, that is fo bottom- 
 lejly ///,as to love wVr,becaufc it is vice} Yet we find,thcre are fomc fo 
 good, as tolove^w^^f/Tpurcly tor ^i^cxii^^f/rdikc. Nay, iw*? it felt is lo- 
 ved, but for the feem/ng good that it carries with it. Even the lirftyw, 
 though it were (as Saint Aiigufline laycs) originally from the foul : yet 
 it was by a rvilful blindncf, commicred, out of arefpc61: to igood, that 
 was look't tor by it. 'Tis the bodies contagion, which makes the /o«/ le- 
 prous. In the opinion that we all hold, at the firft infufing, 'ns fpotle^\ 
 and immaculate : and where wc fee, there be means to fecond the pro- 
 
 p greJJions\
 
 'I(E S LV E $. 
 
 grejjions of it, it flics to a 2jlorious height ; fcorning and weary of the 
 muddy declining weight ol" the body. And when wc have pcrtormed a- 
 r.y honourable action-, liow it cheer s'^^w^ lightens it felt, and man ? As if 
 it had no true joy., but in fuch things, as tranfcending the fcnfe of the 
 druggy Jle(h,tcudcd to the blazeyax\AafpiringJlame oi vertue:^iy,theni 
 as it ihe had difpatchcd the intent of her creation, llie refts full, in her 
 own approvcmcnt,without the weak worlds reedy under-propping. Man 
 has no fuch comfort, as to be confcious to himfelf, of the noble deeds 
 oiVertue . They fet him almoll in the Throne of a Deity ; afcend him 
 to an unmovednef -^ and take away from him thofe black fears., that 
 would fpeak him ftill to be but fragile man. 'Tis the fick and difeafcd 
 foul that drives us unto unlimited ^<iyJ/o;?/. Take her as fhe is in her 
 felf, not dimm'd and thickncd with the mifts oicorporality j then is fne 
 a beauty:, difplayed in a lull and d'mxic fweetnej?. 
 
 Amat, [apit^ retlc facit-, anime qnando obfeqniturfuo. 
 
 When man obeys his mind, he's wife, loves, and does right. 
 
 But this is not to be undcrftood at large, For,fays the fame Comedian., 
 Vum id modo fiat bono., Nor does it only manifclUt felf in it ^e-^j but 
 even over the ^^^ too ; and that fo far, that it even converts it to a 
 fpirituality: making it indefatigable in tr avails, in toils., in vigilancies j 
 infenfible in wounds, in death^m tortures. 
 
 Omnia deficiunt, animm tamen omnia vincit ; 
 lUe etiam vires cor put habere fac it : 
 Sayes the grand Love-Mafter. 
 
 Though all things want -., all things the mind fubducs. 
 And can new ftrengtli in iainting7?</2» infufe. 
 
 When we find it feconded with the prevalent imitations of Litera- 
 ture and fweet Morality : how couragious , how comfortable , how 
 rowring is/Z^^ ? Socrates calls Nature, the reafon of an honeji man : as if 
 man., following her., had found 3 Square, whereby to dired his life. 
 1 he /W thai takes a delight in lewdnefs, is gain'd upon by cuflom: and 
 aiter an undoing, dulling/r^^/cf takes ajoyin that, which at firft did 
 daunt with terrour. The firft a£iso{ftn.,ziG for themoft part trembling, 
 fearful., ax\d full of the bli^j. 'Tis the iteration of evil that gives y%rr- 
 head to the foul offender. 'Tis cafie to know a beginning [wearer ; he 
 cannot mouth it like ih.Q practiced man. He oaths it, as a cowardly Fen- 
 cer ^hy^S:, who as foon as he hath otiiercd a ^/oxr, flirinks back : as if 
 p.is heart fulfered a kind oi violence by his tongue : yet had rather take 
 a ftcp in Fice, then be left behind tor not being in fajhion. And, though 
 a man be plunged in wickednefs., yet would he be glad to be thought 
 good. Which may ftrongly argue the Intentions of the Soul to he good ; 
 chough unable to mamrate that feed that is in it. Nay, and that like a 
 kind of Captive , fhc is carrycd by corruption, through boggs, and 2)<?- 
 ■erts., that at firft flie fears to tread upon. Sin at firfl docs a little ftartle 
 the blood, vice carries horrour in her confidered look, though we find a 
 fbort
 
 ■ 
 
 7{ E S L F E S, 
 
 jhort pLiulthility-, in the prefcnt imbraces. There is no man, but in his 
 )^«/ dillikcs a new vice, before he acts it. And this diftaftc is Co general, 
 that when cu/lom has duU'd the fenfe • yet the w^^fliames to tranfmit 
 it felf to the to/igue ; as knowing, he which holds Tenents asainCl: Na- 
 tures Principles , llvall, by fliewing a (^tiick veit , lolc his honeft name. 
 Goodneji is not fo quite exttnd in man, but that he ftill flafhes out a 
 glimmering light, in morality. Though wc^ in fomc fouls, have got 
 the ftart on her j yet flic makes every mans tengue fight for Ftces extir- 
 pation. He that maintains rice lawful!, lliall have mankind his t^nemy. 
 'lisgain, not love to Treafon, that makes man fall a Traitor. A noke 
 deed does bear a (fur in it felt. They are bad works, that need rewards 
 to crane them up withall. I bclicvc,if wc examine Nature^thok thin(Ts 
 that have a plcafure in their performance, are Wbut by mif-ufc ; not 
 fimply fo in thcmfelvcs. Sating, drinking, mirth,zxQ ill-, but in the man- 
 ner, or the meafure ; not at all in the matter. Mans wifdom confirts not 
 in thc»o/ itjtng, but in the well ujing of what the world atfords him. 
 How to life, is the molt weighty lelfon oiman. And of this we fail, for 
 want of feconding the feeds that be in the foul : The thorns do firft 
 choke them ; and then,thcy dwindle,\o\. lack of watering. Two things 
 I will ftrongly labour tor : To remove annoyance ^ and to cherijJj the 
 growth of budding Fertue. Hefpends his time well, that ftrivcs to re- 
 duce Nature to her tirft perfection. Like a true friend, fhc willies well 
 to man, but is grown (opoor, and fain into fuch decay, as indeed flie is 
 not able. 1 will help her what I can in the way ; though of my fclf, 1 
 be not able to fet her fafe in the end : and if it be in (piritual things, not 
 able to begin. As man has not that free power in himfcit, which firft 
 lie had : fo 1 am far from thinking him fo dull, to he 2. patient mecrly : 
 it was not in the firft {dWjlain, but irrecoverably lamed : debilitated, 
 not annihilated. But whether this be true or no, I think it cannot be 
 ill, of whatfocver^co^ we do, to give our God the glory on't. 
 
 XX. 
 
 Of 
 
 breaching. 
 
 THe excef^ \v\\ic\i is in the defeB of preaching , has made the Pul- 
 pit flighted , I mean, the much bad Oratory wc find it guilty of. 
 'Tis a wonder to me, how men can preach fo little, and fo long : io long 
 a time, and {o little matter : as if they thought to plcafc, by the in- 
 culcation of their vain Tautologies. I fee no rcafon , that fo high 
 a Prince^ as Divinity is, Oiould be prefcntcd to x\\vpeople in the fordid 
 rags of the tongue : nor that he which fpcaks troai the father 
 of languages, {\-ion\d deliver his Embajfage in anill one. A man can 
 never fpeak too well, where he fpeaks not too cbfciire. Long and dif- 
 tcnded claufes, arc both tedious to the car, and difficult for their re- 
 taining. A Sentence well couch'd, takes both thcy^«/^and the under- 
 fianding. 1 love not thofc Cart-rope (peeches , that are longer then the 
 memory of man can fathom. I fee not, but that Divinity, put into apt 
 
 r 2 fgni- 
 
 35
 
 y 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 /z^«//zV4»/-/, might ravilli as well as Pof/rr. The weighty lines men 
 hnd upon the Stage^ I am perfwadcd, have been the lures to draw away 
 the Ttdpitsfollcvpers. We complain of drowzinefs at a Sermon ; when 
 a ?/4/ of a doubled length , leads us on ftill with alacrity. But the 
 fault is not all in our felvcs. If wc faw Divinity aded, the gejlure and 
 variety would as much invigilate. But it is too high to be pcrfonated 
 by Humanity . The Stage feeds both the ear and the eye ' and through 
 this latter fenfe,zhc Soul drinks deeper draughts. Things 4^f^,pollers us 
 more, and are too more retainable, then the f affable tones of the tongue. 
 Befides, here we meet with more comfofcd language : The 'Dulciafermo' 
 nis , moulded into cmions phr a fc ; though 'tis to be lamented , fuch 
 wit J are not fet to the right tune, and conforted to Divinity ; who with- 
 out doubt, welldeckt, will caft a far more radiant /«/?r^, then thofe 
 ohfcene fctirrilities , that the Stage prefcnts us with , though oc'd and 
 fpangled in thch gavpdiejl tyre. At a Sermon well drefs'd, what under- 
 jiander can have a motion tojleepl I)/w/z/>y well ordered, carts forth 
 a bait, which angles the foul into the ear : and how can that clofcjwhcn 
 fuch a gueft fits in it ? They are ^frwc^j but of bafcr metal, which 
 /i?/i^ the eyes to (lumber. And Diould we hear a. continued Or ation^upon 
 fuch a Subjeft as the Stage treats on, in fuch words as we hear fome 
 Sermons, I am confident, it would not only be far more tedious but 
 naufeous and contempfnll. The moft advantage they have of other pla- 
 ces, is , in their good Lives and Anions ; For 'tis certain, Cicero and 
 Ro^cius are moft compleat, when they both make but one Man. He an- 
 fwcred well, that after often asking, faidflill, that Action was the chie- 
 te{\ part of an Orator. Surely, the Oration is moft powerful, where 
 the Tongue is dirfufivc and fpeaks in a native decencie-)t\tn in every Urn. 
 A good Orator fhould pierce the ear, allure the eye., and in.vade the 
 mind of his hearer. And this is Seneca s opinion : Fit words are better 
 then^;!?^ ones : I like not thofe that are in-judicioujly made ; but fuch as 
 be exprej/ively jlgnijicant : that lead the mind to fomething, befidc the 
 naked term. And he that fpeaks thus,muft not look tofpeakthus every 
 day. A kemlyd Oration will coft \)0\k\f-weat and the rubbing of the brain. 
 And kemb'd I wifh it, not frizzled, nor curl'd. Tiivinity fhould not 
 lafciviate. Vnveormveoodedjefts 1 like well ; but they arc fitter for the 
 Tavern., then the Majcfty of a Tew/Zf, C^ri/? taught the People with 
 Authority. Gravity becomes tb.e Pulpit. Demofthenes confcft he became 
 an Orator., by fpcnding more Oyl then wine. This is too fluid an Ele- 
 ment to beget fubjiantials. Wit., procur'd h^wtne, is, for the moft part, 
 like the Jpark lings in the cup., when 'tis filling : they brisk it for a mo- 
 ment, but dye immediately. I admire the valour of fome men , that 
 bebre their Studies., dare afcend the Pulpit ; and do there take more 
 pains, then they have done in their Library. But having done this, I 
 wonder not, that they there fpend fomctimes three hours., but to wea- 
 ry the People imojieep. And this makes fome fuch fugitive Divines, 
 that like cowards, they run away from their Text, words arc not all, 
 nor matter is not a^ ; nor gejiure : yet together, they arc. 'Tis mucli 
 
 moving 
 
 i
 
 RESOLVES, 
 
 moving in an Orator^ when chc 5p«/fccms to fpcak, as well as cnc 
 tongue. Saint Auguflme^ faycs TtS,y.^ was admired more for his tongue, 
 then his mind ; Ar'iftotle more for iiis minde., tiien his tongue : but P/ato 
 for both . And furcly, nothing decks an Oration more, then a Jmge- 
 mentahlc well to conceive and utter. 1 know, G^^^hath chofenby weak 
 things, to confound the wife : yet I fee not but in all times, a waflied 
 Z^/^^w/j^e- hath much prevailed. And even the ■Sf?7j&///r^j-, (though I 
 know not the Hebrew) yet I believe they arc pcnn'd in a tongue ot deep 
 expreflion : wherein, almoft every word, h^th a Metaphorical fenfe^ 
 which docs illuftrare by fomc allu/ion. Wow political [s tJM.ofes in his 
 ?entateuch ? How Thilofophical Joi ? How ma fie and fententious is So- 
 lomon in his Proverbs} how quaint andjlamingly amorous in the Canticles} 
 how^r^x'^ and folemn in his Eccleftaftes } that in the world, there is not 
 fuch another dilfcdion of th.e rvorld as it. How were the Jews aftonicd 
 at Chrijls DoBrine } How eloquent ^pleader is Paul ac the Bar ? in dif- 
 putatien how fubtic ? And he that reads the Fathers., fliall find them, 
 as if written with a crijjied pen. Nor is it fuch a fault as lome would 
 make it, now and then, to let a Philofopher ot ^ Poet^ come in and 
 wait, and give a Trencher at this Banquet . Saint Taul is Precedent for 
 it. I wifli no man to be too dark., and full oiJJjadow. There is a way to 
 be fleajingly plain, and fome have found it. Nor willi I any man to a 
 total negleft of his hearers. Some Stomacks rife at [weet-meats. He pro 
 digals a Mine oi Excellency, that laviflies zterfe Oration to an Apron d 
 Auditory. Mercury himfelf may move his tongue in vain, if he has none 
 to hear him, but a Non-intelligent. They that fpeak to children, af- 
 fumc a pretty lifpmg. "Mirds arc caught by the counterfeit of their own 
 (brill notes. There is a OUagick in the Tongue-, can charm the wilde 
 mans motions. Eloquence is a "Bridle., wherewith a wife man rides the 
 Monjler of the World., the People. He that hears, has only thofe affecti- 
 ons that thy tongue will give him. 
 
 Thou maift give [miles or tears., which jo^fy do blot : 
 Or wrath to fudges, which themfclvcs have not. 
 
 You may fee it in Lucans words : 
 
 Flct^ fi jlere ]ubes ^ gaudet , gaudere coactta : 
 Et te dante-i capit Judex,quum non habct iram. 
 
 I grieve, that any thing fo excellent as Divinity {% fhould fall into 
 a fluttifh handling. Sure,though other intcrpofurcs do eclipfe her ; yet 
 this is a principaf. I never yet knew ■\goodTongue., that wanted d-^rj to 
 hear it. I will honour her, in hcv plain trim : but I will wifli to' meet 
 her in her gracefull "Jewels : not that they give addition to hcvgoodnefs: 
 but that ("he is more pcrfwafivc in working on the foul it meets with. 
 When I meet with fvorth which 1 cannot over-love, 1 can well endure 
 that Art., which is a means to heighten liking. Confections tliat are cor- 
 dial, are not the worfc, but the better for being ^uilded. 
 
 ^7 
 
 O 3' 
 
 Of 
 
 50318
 
 3^ 
 
 1{ E S L V E S. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 of ^concilm^ Enemies. 
 
 TIs much fafer to reconcile an Enemy ^ then to conquer him. Vi£io- 
 ry depriveshimofhis /cw^r^but KeconcilUtion^ of hisiv/^: 
 and there is Jefs danger in a iv/// which wi/Z^e^^w^^, then in ^pe■wer, 
 which cannot. Ihtporver is not fo apt to tempt the w///, as the jv;7/is 
 ftudious to find out means. Befides, an Enemy is zperfetnai Spie^ upon 
 thy actions; z watch, toobferve thy fails, and thy exctirjions. AH 
 which, in time of his Captivity^ he trcafures up, againft the day of ad- 
 vantage , for the confounding of him that hath been his Detainer. 
 When he is free from thy power, his malice makes him nimble-eyed : 
 apt to note zfatilt^ and publifli it ; and with zfirained conjlrnctton, to 
 deprave thofc things,that thy intents have told thy/w</are honejl. Like 
 the Crocodile^ he flinics thy way, to make thee tall ; and when thou 
 art down, heinfidiates thy int rapped life; and with the warmeftbloud 
 ot thy life^ fattens his intuiting envy. Thy veayes he (trews with Ser- 
 pents and invenomings. Thy vices he fets, \\.\£. Pauls, on high : for the 
 gaze of the TvcrA/,and the fcattcr'd O^y • Thy -z/^r/z/^i, like Saint Faiths , 
 lie placeth under ground, that none may note them. Certainly, 'tis a 
 mifcry to have any Enemie, either very powerfull, or very malicious. 
 If they cannot wound upon/'rofl/},rhcy will do it yet upon likelihoods: 
 and fo by degrees and fly waycs corrupt the fair temper of our Repu- 
 tations. In which, this difidvantage cannot be helped ; that the Mul- 
 titude \v\\\ fooner believe them then our fclves. Vov affirmations are 
 aptcr to win belief, then Negatives to uncrcdit them. It was a Spavtn 
 oi Machiavel, thit a flander o>ice raifed, rvill fcarce ever dye, or fail of 
 finding fome., that will allow it both a harbour^ and trufl. The baggage- 
 world defireth of her fclf to fear tiie face., that is fairer then ftie : and 
 therefore, when tlie finds occafion, l"he leaps, and flycs then to im- 
 bracement of the thing flic wifned tor : where, with afharp-fct appe- 
 tite, fhc quarries on the prey flie meets withall. When Seneca asked 
 tlie Queftion, Qmd eft homini inimiciffimtim ? Seneca anfwers. Alter 
 Home. Our Enemies Jludies are thcplots of our ruine : nor is any thino- 
 left unattcmptcd, which may induce our damage. And many times 
 tlie danger is the more, bccaufe wc fee it not. It our Enemy be Noble, 
 he will bear \\\VA{iAivaliantly,z\y^ fcorn to give us an advantage againtl 
 him : though his own judiciousy^rmrr^Wify?, may put us to the w«rfe, 
 let his worth perfwadc thee to an atonement. He that can be a worthy 
 Enemy -J will-, reconciled., be aworthier Friend. Hethat in aJ/</? caofe, 
 can valiantly fight againft thee • can in a like caufe, fight as valiantly for 
 thee. If he be unworthy, reconcile him too : though there be nothing 
 elfe gain'd, \i\xt filling of a fcandalous tongite • even that will be worth 
 tny labour. Ufehimasa Friendir] out ward fair nef: but beware him, 
 as an Enemy,apt to re-allume his Arms. He that is a bafefoe,\v[\\ hard- 
 ly be but falfe in fnendjhip. Enemies, like Miners, are ever working, 
 to blow up our untainted names. They fpit apoyfin, that will freckle 
 
 the 
 
 i
 
 1(ES0LVES. 
 
 ^9 
 
 the beauty of A good report : and thizfame which is vphite and pure., the) 
 fpot with xha puddled J])r ayes of the tomue : For, they cannot but fomi-- 
 timc fpcak as they think : and this S. Gregory will perfvvade us to be- 
 lieve: That Humana, mens ^ omnem qttem mimkum tolerate etiamini 
 quum (^ mpium pHtat : All men think their Enemies ill. Ifitmiybc 
 done with honor, 1 fliall think it a work ot good difcrction, to regain 
 9 violent Adversary. But to do it fojas it puis a ^oornepox\ a mans (elf ; 
 though it hefafe, is worfc then to be conquer'd in a manf/tl contcfiati- 
 e». Friendfhipis not commend able, when it rifes from dijhcnorahk Trea- 
 ties. But he that upon good terms , refufes a reconcilement , m.ay I e 
 jlubborn^ but not valiant^ nor vei^e. VS'hofoever thou art, that wil- 
 fully continueft an Enemy ^ thou teacheft him to do thee a fnifchief it hi' 
 can. I will ti link that endevourfpent topurpofe, thateitiierz^^/vi- a 
 Friend, ox unmakes v\£nemy. In the one, aTrf^i/ar^ is won ; in the 
 oc^icr, zStege is raifed. When one (aid, he was 'Mvife King., that wab 
 kind to \\\-6 friends, ■xwAfljarp to his Enemies : Sayes another, He is wi- 
 fer-, that can retain his friends in their love ; and make his Enemies I: ke 
 them. 
 
 XX 1 1. 
 Of our fenfe of ahjmt Good. 
 
 QUrely, the oMad-rvorm hath wildcd all Humanity ; we fweat for 
 i^what we lofe, before we know we have it. VVc ever ^^^f moii on 
 things when they are wanting ; before we poffej^ ihcm, we chafe them 
 with an eager run : When wc have them, wc flight them : Wiicn they 
 a::egone^ wc fink under the wring olforroWi fotthcir loj^. Infatuated 
 ejlate oi Man ! That the injoymcnt of n.pleafure , mult diminilh ic ; 
 That perpetual ufe muft make it, like zPyramide, IcfTcning itfclf by 
 degrees, till it grows at laft to ^punctum., to a nothing. VV'ith wh.u 
 undelayable heat, does the lime-twig' d Lover court a deferving "Beau- 
 ty ? Which, when he obtains, is far fliort of chat content it proaiifcd 
 him ; Yet he again no fooner lofes it, but he over-cjieems it, to an hy- 
 perbolical [urn. Prefence drowns, or mightily cools contentment : and 
 abj'cijce fccms to be a torture, that afflicts moft, when moll (Iretched. 
 '^vant tcachcth us the veorth of tilings more truly. How fwect a thing 
 (cems liberty^ to one immur'd in at/t/^of tvrfWy ^ Howdear a^Vivf/is 
 health to him that tumbles in diflcmpered bloud ? Is it fo, that Fleafure, 
 whicii is an airy cenflitution, cannot be grafpcd by a real body ? Or do 
 we fo empty our fclves in the fruition, that wc do in it, pour out our 
 api'ctites ^\(o> Or IS content'i\ic\\^^QX\d.ei title, that 'tis nothing but 
 the prefent now ; fled fooner then cnjoy'd ? Like the report of a loud- 
 tongud Gun, ccis'd altoon as heard, without any thing to Akw it 
 has been, favc remembrance only. Wc defirc long, and plcafe our 
 felvcs with /'(»/'<'. We enjoy and /c/f" together : and then we fee what 
 we have forgone and grieve . I have known many , that have lov'd 
 their dead friends hcizer^ then ever they did in their lifetime. There 
 
 is
 
 40 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 is (if I have given you the right feiife ) a like comfUiiit in the finetfie 
 Lyrick. 
 
 O quifquis velit impias 
 
 cJdes^ dr rabiem toiUre cy»icaf» ; 
 Si qturit-i Pater urbtum 
 
 Subfiribi ftatnU-i indomitam andeaf 
 Refrxnare licentum.y 
 
 cUrui fcjigenitis: qmtenta {heu nefoi^) 
 Virtutem tmolumem odimus-y 
 
 SubUtam ex eculii quariniHt invidi. 
 
 They that ftrivc to chafe away . 
 
 Slaughters and inteftine Warre; 
 That would have dumb Statues fay, 
 
 Thefe their Cities Fathers are ; 
 Let them their own wildc lufts tame. 
 
 They fliall not live, till dead. (O Fate ! ) 
 We envious, hate fate Vertues name ; 
 She dead, we figh our widowed ftate. 
 
 We adore the bleffings that we are deprived of. An e ftate fquander'd 
 in a wanton vpafte^ llicws better in the miff^ then while we had the ufe 
 on't, PcJffffionhlnntslhethougktAndapprehenJiea. Thinking is propc- 
 reft to that, which is abfent. We enjoy theprefent : but we think on 
 future things, or palled. When benefits are loft, the mind has time to 
 recount the feveral vporths : Which, atter a cow^iAtxiXtfearch , flie finds 
 to be many more, then the umxammingpo^ejjion told her of. We fee 
 more in the di{compo[ure of a Watch, then we can, when 'tisj^r together. 
 'Tisatrue one; 5/o^/i?^j-appearnot, till they be r/Wfi/^/". ^ht Come- 
 dian was thtnferiouty when he writ, 
 
 Turn deniqtie homines mftra intelligimtu bona. 
 Cum quA in fotefiate habiiimtti, ea. amijimus. 
 
 Fond men, till we have loft the goods we had. 
 We undcrftand not what their values were. 
 
 'Tis foUy to negleft the prefent -, and then,to grieve that we have »e- 
 glecied. Surely, he does beft, that is careful to preferve the blejjings he 
 has, as long as he can ; and when they muft take their leaves, to let 
 them go without ytirr(jjv;«g-, or over-humming them. Vain arc thofe U- 
 mentattons that have no better fruit, then the dt(pUafa»ting of the foul, 
 that owns them. I would add a thirteenth real labour, to the feigned 
 twelve : or do any thing that lies in noble man, to plcafurc or ptelcrve 
 the life oiz friend. But ^^af once; z\\ i\\dit tears can do, is only to 
 flicw the world our' wcaknefs . I fpcak but my fclt.a fool, to do that 
 which reajon tells me is unreasonable. It was the Philofophers dictate. 
 That he wnicn laments the death oi a Man,laments,that that Man was 
 a Man. I count it a deed-royal, in the Kingly David, who began to 
 warm his joycs again , when the Infants bloud was cold : As it the I 
 
 breath I
 
 I^ESOLFES. 
 
 I 
 
 heath which the f/'/'/^ loft, h^^ difclouded his indxrkned heart. I will 
 apply my fclf to the prefent ; lo prcferve it, to enjoy it. But, never be 
 paffionateioT the lofs oithat^ wliichi cannot keep-^ nor can regain. 
 When 1 have a blejjtng-, I will reOc^t it, I will love it, as ardently as 
 any man. And when 'tis gonc,I confefs, I \vo\x\(\ grieve as little. And 
 this I think I may w^// do, yet owe a dear re(peci to the memory oiih^x 
 I loft. 
 
 XX I II. 
 
 That no Man can he good to all. 
 
 r Never yet knew any man fo W, butfome have thought him honeft-^ 
 J and afforded him love. Nor ever any (ogood, but fomc have thou^^lit 
 himwZ?- 2i\-\'\hatcd\\m\. Tccw 3.rcCo /iigmatkal., as that they are not 
 honefl to fi^me. And few again are Cojuft, as that they fcem not 
 to Come unequal: either the /^^iir^wf, thcenvj, or the partiality oi 
 thofc th3.t judge J do coniHtutc a various man. Nor, can a man in him- 
 felt, alrvayes appear alike to all. In fome, Nature hath inverted a difpa- 
 rity. In fome, Report hath fore-blinded Judgement. And infomc,4f- 
 cident is the caufe of difpofing us to love., or hate. Or, if not thcfc,the 
 variation of the hodtes humours. Or ^perhaps-, not any of thcfe. The foul 
 is often led by fecrct w^^w»j, awi loves, llie knows not why. There 
 are inipuliive/'rmtfi(f.f, which ur2;e "s to a liking, even againft tlie 
 Parliamental Acts ot the two HoufesJ keafon^ aod the Common Scnfe. 
 As if there were fome hidden beauty -^ ot a more Magnetique force ^ then 
 all that the eye can fee. And this too, more powerful at one timr^ than 
 another. Undifcovcred influences /'/f/t/? us now, with what we would 
 fometimes contemn. I have come to the fame man, that hath now 
 wc\i.ovi\w\ li^mi: with \i free exvrejjion of love ^ Mti cotirtefies : and ano- 
 ther time hath left meunfaluted at all. Yet, knowing him well, I have 
 been certain of his found aff'eciion : and have found this, not an intended 
 negleci ; but an indifpofednefs, or, a mind, fcrioufly /'«/?<f<^ within. Occa- 
 fion reins tl .e motions of the ftirring mind. Like men that walk in their 
 (leeps, we arc led about, wc neither know whither nor horv. \ know 
 there is zgeneration, that do thus, out of pride ; and in ftrangers, I 
 confefs, 1 know not how to dijlinguilh. For there is no difpojition, but 
 hath a varnijht vizor, as well as an unpencill'dface. Some people cozen 
 the world : are bad, and are not thought fo. In fome, the rvorld is co- 
 7.encd : believing them ill, when they arc not. llnlcfsit hath been 
 fouic few oiTi Family ; I have known ti.e whole iJ\tole-hill ot Pifmtres 
 (the World) in an error. For, though Report oncf vented, like Hl jlojie 
 call into a /'W, bcgetsf/rc/fuponarf/c', till it n.cets with the ^^w/-, 
 that bounds it : yet Fame often playesthe Currc^ and opens, when flic 
 fprfn{7S no game. Cenfitres w'lW not hold out weight, that have life only 
 from the (ptingie eels ot the common brain. Why ihould I definitively 
 cenfure any man, whom I know hut fuperficially ? as it I were a God, to 
 fee thtinveardfoul. Nature, Art, Report, may all tail : Yea, oftentimes j 
 
 G probabi- 
 
 4^
 
 4^ 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 \ 
 
 prebabilities. There is no certainty to difcovcr Man by, but Time^ and 
 Ccnverfation. Every man may be faid in fonie fort, to have two fou/s ; 
 one, tht internal mind -y the other, even the outward <«;> of the /iff , 
 and bodies gefture. And how infinitely in fome fliall they differ ? I have 
 known a rvife look hide a/it)/ within : and a merry face, inhold a difcon- 
 tentedfeul. cleanthes might well have faiVd in his judgement , had not 
 accident have helped him, to the obfcured truth. He would undertake 
 to read thtmindin the bedj. Some to try his /)&///, brought him a luxu- 
 rious fellow, that in his youth, had been cxpof'd to tojl : feeing his face 
 tann'd, and his hands leather' dmih a hardened skin, he was at zjiand. 
 Whereupon departing, iharw^L^fneezed, and Cleanthes [a.ys., Now I 
 know the man , he is effeminate. For great labourers ViLzi.\y fneeze. 
 Judgement is apt to^rr^, when it palleth upon things we know not. 
 Every man keeps his mind, ifhelitts, in a Labyrinth. The heart of 
 Man, to Man, is a room infcrutable. Into which. Nature has made no 
 certain window, but ashimfelf fhall plcafe to of en. One man lliiews 
 himfelt to mc, to another, he is fhut up. No man can eiihcv like all, 
 or be liked of all. God doth not pleafe all. Nay, I think it may ftand 
 with Divinity, as men arc, to fay, he cannot. Man is infinitely more 
 impotent, I will fpeak of every man as 1 find. If 1 hear he hath been 
 ///toothers, Iwill beware him, but not «Wf«?» him, till I hear his 
 own Afologie. 
 
 Qui Jlatuit aliquid ,:y>arte inaudita altera, 
 
 (i/Equum Itcl't (iatUt.rit, haud <equHi ejl. 
 
 Who judgment gives, and will but one fide hear, 
 
 Though he judge right, isnogood Jufticer. 
 The Nature of many men is abflrufe : and not to be efpi'd, at an 
 inflant. And without knowing this, I Vx\aw nothing, that may warrant 
 my Sentence. As 1 will not too far believe reports from others: So I 
 will never cf'»//<rf any man, whom I know not internally-^ nor ever 
 thofe, hmfparing, and with modejly. 
 
 XXIV. 
 That Man ought to be extenfively good. 
 
 I Find in the Creation, the firjl blefftng Godgave Man, was, "Be fruit- 
 ful and multiply. And this I find impofed by a precept, not zpro- 
 mife. It being a thing fo neceffary, as God would not leave it, but al- 
 atod in an impuljive quality. Andwithall to ("hew us that (even from 
 the beginning) mans happmefdionld confift,in obeying Gods commands. 
 All men love to live in pojlerity. Barrennefs is a curfe ; and makes men 
 unwilling to dye. Men, rather then they will want infiiing memory, 
 will be (poken by the handed Statue : Or by the long-lafting of fome 
 infenfate Monument. When bragging Cambyfes would compare him- 
 fcif with his Father Cyrtt^t and (omc oihxs flatterers told him, he did 
 excel him : Stay, faycs Crcefm-^ you are not his equal, for he left a fin 
 bchinde him. As if lie were an imperfect Trince,thsLt leaveth an unhel- 
 
 med
 
 1{ES0LVES. 
 
 43 
 
 med State. When Philip viewed his young fon Alexander, he faid, he 
 could then be contcnc lodye. Conceit oiz furviving name, fwcctcns 
 Deaths aloed potion. 'Tis tor this, wc fo love thofe that a:e lo prejerve 
 us in extended fucceffions. There was fomething more in it, then tlic 
 naked jeer, when C^Jhr (feeing ftrangcrs at Ro»)e,wk\\ Mjelps and Men- 
 kies in their indulgent laps) asked, if they were the children that the 
 women of thofc Lmds brought forth. For he thought fuch refpeciful 
 love, was due to none, but afelt-extra6i:ed^y-^r//?^. Npr is this only 
 in the hufer fart ofman^ the body • but even in the fagacious foul. The 
 firft A6t God requires of a Convert, is Ee fruitful. The good mans^oo^- 
 nef^ lies not hid in himfclt alone ; he is ftiil ftrcngthcning of his wea- 
 ker brother. ]Ao'N ^oo\\wov\dt\\e world 2i\\d Chrijlimity tail, if there 
 were not propagation both of it and man ? Good works, and goodi»- 
 ftrttclions, are '^e generative acts oithefiul : Out of which fpring v.:\v 
 peflerity to the chnrch and Gojpel. And I am perfwaded, to be i means 
 of bringing more to heaven^ is an infeparable delire of a /i»«/, that is 
 rightly /.zfif.Tf. GWmen,wifli all that they cc^z'^r/^wiuijll, ingood- 
 nef^, to be like thcmfclves. How ungratefully he /' ■ /.y away,that dyes 
 and docs nothing, to refledl iglory to Hei.ven ? iiow barren a tree he 
 is, tliat lives^ zr\d f^reads, and cumbers the ground ; yet leaves not one 
 feed,r\ot one good work, to generate anotiicr after him ? 1 know all can- 
 not leave alike ; yet, all may leave fomething, anfwering thek propor- 
 tion, their kindes. They be dead, and withered grains efCorn, out of 
 which, there will not one£^r fpring. The Phyfiti&n that hath a Sove- 
 raign Recepit-, a.nd dyerh unrevealing it,robs the nW^^ of many blcfings 
 which might multiply alter his death : Leaving this Colleliion, a. truth 
 to all /«r7v/z.'<?r/. That he did^W to others, but to do himfelfa^r^.?- 
 ter. \A- iiich, how contrary it is to Chnfiianity., and the Nature vf ex- 
 plicative Love , I appeal to thofc minds where Grace hath fown more 
 charity. Vertue is diflributive, and had rather pleafitre many witii a 
 (elf-injury, then bury benefits that might pleafure a multitude. I doubt 
 whether ever he will find the way to Heaven, that defires to go thither 
 alone. They zxe e\Wio\x% Favorites, that wifli their A'//??^ to have no 
 /o7^/5»^jVc?x,but themfelves. KWheitvenly heAxts ^xe cfjaritable. In- 
 light ned fouls cannot but difperfc their rayes. I will, if I can, do fome- 
 thing for others, and heaven ; not to deferve by it : but to exprcfs my 
 felf, and my thanks. Though I cannot do what 1 would, 1 will labour 
 CO do what 1 can. 
 
 XXV. 
 Of the horror Sm leaVes behind. 
 
 NO willing Stn was ever iu the a^ difpleafing ; yet, is it not fooncr 
 p.i/l, then dijla/lful. Though pleafure merries the Senfes tor a 
 while : yet horror alter vultures the unconfuming heart ^ and thofe 
 which carry the tno[\ plea/ing tafls, fit us with the largcfl rcluflations. 
 Nothing fo foon, can work fo flrange a change : Now, in the height of\ 
 __^_____^ G z delig^ht ;J
 
 
 44 
 
 ^ESOLFES. 
 
 delight J Now, in the deph of horror. Damned Sat a» ! tna. with Orphe- 
 an atrs^zuddextrot^s rvarlles, lead'ftus to the Flames of Hell: and then, 
 with a contempt dcridcft us. Like a cunning Co/trtiz^n, tliat dallies the 
 Ruffian to undo himfclf ^ and then payes him with a fleer ^ and feorn. 
 Or, as fome men will do to a defired beauty ^ vow, and promifc that, 
 in the heat tfpajjien^ which they never mind to ftand unto. Herein only 
 is the difference : Cratitudey and good nature^ may fometimes make 
 them /'^/?//f»/, and fcekfomc way to fatujiei whereas, he that yields 
 to the wooing De-vil, does but more augment his tyranny. For when 
 we meet with ignehle ffirits, the more ebediencej\s a caufe of the worfer 
 ufe. How often., and how infinitely arc we abufed ? with what Ma.fqftes 
 and Triumphs are we led to dcftrudion ? Fooli^, befottedy degenerate 
 Man ! that having fo often experimented his juggling, wilt yet believe 
 his ficliens, and his tmkd Mines : as if he had not many waycs to one 
 defiroying end: or could bring thee ?iny pleafure, and in it not aim at 
 thine overthrow. Knoweft thou not, that he fows his tares by night ; 
 and in his Baits, hides all he knows may hurt theet Are not all thofc 
 delights he brings us, like traps we fct for Fermine^ charitable^ but to 
 ktlP. Does he notfirft pitch his toils ^ and then train us about to /»- 
 fnare us ? He fhews us nothing but a tempting face j where he hath 
 counterfeited Natures excellency, and all u\^ graces ot a modejl counte- 
 nance : while whatfoever is infective, is vailed over with the cxafteft 
 drefs o{ comelinefs. When owe fouls thirft zk^i pleafurey we arc call'd as 
 Bea/ls with fodder to the jlaughter-houfe : or as Boyes catch Horfes with 
 provender in their hands to ride them- /// actions a.re perpetual pertur- 
 bations : the punijhment that follows, is far move grievous, then the per- 
 formance was delightful : and the guilt is worfe then the punijhment. 
 Eftque pati pcenam, quam meruijfe, mintts. 
 
 The moft fmart is, to think we have deferv'd it. 
 
 ric give you the Story. A Pythagorean bought a pair oishooes upon 
 truft- \!i\e Shoomaker d-yts '. the Philofopher is ghd, and thinks them 
 gains : but a while after, his confiience twitches him, and becomes a 
 perpetual chider : he repairs to the houfe of the dead, cafts in his money, 
 with thefe words ; There, take thy due. Thou liveft to me, though dead to 
 all befide. Certainly, i^ gotten gains arc far worfe then lojfes with prefer- 
 ved honefly. Thefe ^r/(f^'f but once, the other arc continually ^r^/i/g^ 
 upon our quiet. He diminijhes his own contentment, that would add 
 to it, by unlawfulnefi; looking only on the beginning, he thinks not to 
 what end, the end extendeth. 'Tis indifcretion that is Hare-fighted, 
 
 Demea, ifluc eftfapere, non quod ante pedes modo eft 
 rider e ; fed etiam i&a qitxfutura funt projpicere. 
 
 1 tell thee Demea, Wifdom looks as well. 
 To things to come as thofe that prcfcnt are. 
 
 This differ enceth a wife man and iifool. The firft, begins in the end ; 
 the other endsintk\e beginning. Iwill take a part of both, and fix one 
 
 'ye\
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 4'? 
 
 eye on the J^, another on the CtfifeqHence. So if I fpy the Devtloc 
 jhrorvded'm xlxefeiiomng train, 1 will Hiut the dore againft the pkafure 
 it feif, though it comes like a Lord, under zpretewe oi" honouring me. 
 
 XXVI. 
 of Mans Im^erfeSlion. 
 
 OF my /?//*, what can Ida without the hazard o[ erring} Nay,what 
 can I think}Hiy,\ivhsii can/w/^(»,or »o/ thinhtSQn my beft buji- 
 ne[^, and my beft vacancy ^iitt vpcrks of offence and error. Uncomfortable 
 conJiitHtiooofman ; that canft not but be^4</, both in aHion-, and forbea- 
 rance. Orr*(/'^/(7/»mixeth with our pmckdevttifns :ind not to perform 
 thcm,is negle£i. When we think not of God at all, we ar« impou-S:, and 
 ungrateful', when we do, we are not able to \k(\x\\. aright. Imperfection 
 fwaycs in all the rveak dtjpatches of the palfiedyt"*/. If the Devil be ab- 
 fcnt, our own frailties are his tempting deputies. If thofe forbear, the 
 Meretricious world claps.our cheeks^ina fonds us to a cozening fail. So 
 which Tvay foever we turn, we arefure to be bitten with the one, or 
 the other head of this Cerberus. To what can we intend ourfelves, 
 wherein there is not a "Devil to inirap us ? livttpray^ how he cafts in 
 wandring thoughts^ or by our eyes^ ftcals away our hearts^ to fome 
 other cbjeB then God \ If we hear^ he hath the dmc policy, ^ndprejudi- 
 cates our opinion with the Man^ or partof his^^r/>f. If we read, he 
 pcrfwadcs us to let Reafon judge, as well as Faith : So, meafurin^ by a 
 falfe rule, he would make us believe. Divinity is much fhort of' what 
 itfl/ervs for. If we do good tvoriis, he Viovddpoyfon them with Pharifaifm, 
 and makes us, by over-valuing^ lofe them. If we do ill, he incourages 
 us to 2l continuance; and atla(\ accufes us. li nothing, wcnegkifthe 
 good we lliould do. liwejleep, he comes in dreams, and wantonneth 
 the ill- inclining [out. If we wake, we mif-fpend our time ', or, at beft, 
 do^W,not vpell. So,by bad circumflances,poyfon a well intended prin- 
 ciple. Even Actions oinecejjity, wedifpatch not without a y?4/»; we 
 drink to excef; and the drowning of the brain. We eat, not to fatisfie 
 Nature, but to over-charge her, and to venereate the unbridled j^/r^>j-. 
 As a Mill-rvheelis continually turn'd round, and ever drenched with 
 a new (Iream : fo arc we alwayes hurried with fuccefl'ions of various 
 (ins. Like Arrows l"hot in mighty tvindes, we wander from the "Boiv 
 that fcnt us. Sometime we think we do things well : but when they 
 are paft, we are fcnfiblc of the tran^refflon. We progrefs in the wayes 
 oiKice, and are conftant in w/A;»if, but perpetudl offending. You may 
 fee the thoughts of the whipping Satynjl, how divine they are •' 
 Nobilis, d^ varta eft ferme natur.i malorum : 
 Cum fcelus admtttunt, fupereft con/lantia : cfuid fas, 
 Atc^uc nefas tandem incipiunt [entire, peraiiis 
 Criminibus : tanien ad mores natura recurrtt 
 Damnatos Jixa, (^ mutari nefci* : nam quit 
 Peccandi fnem pofuit jibi ? quando receptt 
 Ejecfum
 
 46 
 
 J^E S L V E.S. 
 
 Eje£fum feme/ attrita. de fronte ruborem ? 
 Quifmm homifium efl, quern tu cententum videris m$ 
 
 FUgitio ? 
 
 Nature is motive in the qucft of ill : 
 Stated in mifchicf ; all our ablcft skill 
 Cannot know right from vcrong^ till rtrong be done : 
 Fixt Nature^ will to condcmn'd cuftoms run 
 U;ichangcdlyi Who to his fim can fet 
 A certain end ? When hath he ever met 
 Bluflies once from his hardned forehead thrown ? 
 Who is it fins, and is content with one? 
 Surely there will not a mm be found, that is able to anfwcr to thcfc 
 quxries. 1): civ puis have cieledeyes, that can fee nothing but pcrfedi- 
 on, ill their own labours. It is not to any man given, absolutely to be 
 ablolute. I will not be too forward in cenfuring the works oi others ; nor 
 will i ever do any, that 1 will not fubmit to judgment, and correction; 
 yet fo, as 1 will be able to give a reajont why 1 hv^z-order'd them, as 
 the world fees. 
 
 XXVII. 
 of curiofity in i\tio1i?kd^e. 
 
 Nothing yvraps a fnan in fuch a miji of Errors^ as his own curio- 
 fity , in fearcliing things beyond him. Woy) happily do they 
 live, that know nothing , but what is necejfary ? Our knovekdge 
 docn but fliow us our ignorance. Our n\o^Jl»dioits fcrtitiny.^ is but 
 %difcoveryo{\Nh2iX.'Vj& cannot kncvp. We fee the ejfe^ ^ but cannot 
 guefs at the caufe. Learning is like a River -^ whofc head being far in the 
 Land, is, at firft rifing-, little^ and eafily vierved : but, (fiU as you go, it 
 gapeth with zwider bank : not without^/(f/t/«y(f,and<^f//^/&i(/«/ winding; 
 wnilc it is on both fides fet With trees^ and the beauties of various 
 flovpers. But (fill the //^r/'/'cr -^ovl foUotvix^ the deeper and tb.t broader 
 'tis ; till ac laft, it inrvaves it felf in the nnfath^md Ocean ; There you 
 fee more vpxter ; but nojhore,r\o end of that liquid fluid 'vaftnef. In ma- 
 ny things we may found Nature^ in the fliallows of her revelations. 
 Wc may ?r4ff her to her kcond caufe s ; but beyond <them, we meet 
 with nothing but the puzzle of the foul, and the dazle of the minds dim 
 eyes. While we fpeak of things thac are, that we may diffe£l, and have 
 povper, and means to find the caufcs-, there is fome pleafure, fome certain- 
 ty. But, when we come to Metaphyficks, to long buried Antiquity, and 
 unto unreveal'd Divinity, we arc in a Sea^which is deeper then the iTiort 
 reacu of the line of Man. Much may be gained h-^ fudious inquifition • 
 but more will ever rclf, which Man cannot difcover. 1 wonder ac chofc, 
 that will adume a knowledge of all ; they arc unwifely afljamed of an ig- 
 norance , which is not dtfgracive. 'Tis no (hame for man not td 
 know that , which is not in \\\s poffibility. We fill the world with cruel 
 brawls, in the objlinate defence ot tha-t, whereofwe might with more 
 
 honour^
 
 RESOLVES, 
 
 47 
 
 honour -jConic^s our fclvcs to be ignorant. One will cell lis our Saviours 
 difputations among the 'DoEiers. Another, vviiac became ot Alo^es do- 
 dy. A third, in what place Taradij'e flood : and where is local Hell. 
 Some will know Heazien as pcrfedly, as it they h;id been hurried about 
 in every Sphcar ■: and 1 think they may. Former Writers would have 
 the Zo«<?j inhabitable; vjQ^wAt^Qm by experience, temperate. Saint 
 Augujline would by no means indure the Antipodes : we arc now ot 
 nothing more certain. Every Age both confutes old Errors, and be- 
 gets neve. Yet ftill arc we more intxngled, and the turchcr we go, the 
 nearer we approach a Snn that hlindes us. He that went lurclitlt in 
 tl-.efe things, we tind ending with a censure ot their vanity -^ their •vexa- 
 tion. 'Tis queflionablc, whether the progref^ of Learning hath done 
 more hurt, or good, whether the Schools have not made more Que- 
 (lions then they have decided-^ where have wefuch peaceable,and flou- 
 rifliing Common-wedths, as wc have found among thofc, which have 
 not fo much as had tic knowledge of Letters} Surely, tlicfc fruitlej^ 
 and <enigmatiqne quejltons, arc hones the Dm/ hath caft among us, that 
 while 'wcjlrive tor a vain conqueji^iw thefe toyes wc forget i\\tprize^NC 
 fliould runfor. The Hitsband/nan i\\^x. \odk.s not beyond the Plough, 
 and the Sythe, is in much more qiitet-, then th.c divided brain of the Sta- 
 tift, or the Scholar. Who will not approve the judgement of our Mo- 
 dern Epigrammatijl ? 
 
 "^udice me, foli femperque perinde beati 
 Sunt-y qnicunque fcitwt omnia, qutque nihil. 
 
 If I may judge, they only happy Hiow, 
 Which do or nothing, orclfe all things know. 
 
 In things whereof 1 may be certain, I will labour to be tnflrucled. But, 
 whcu 1 come where reason lofeth herj^^; I will be content with xqx\. 
 xin^ admiration. Why fliould I rack my brains, for unprofitable /»z- 
 poffibilities} Though I cannot knorv how much is hid-^ 1 may foon 
 judge what may be difcovered. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 Ofbein^ Overvalued. 
 
 TIs an inconvenience for a Man to be counted rvifer then ordinary. 
 It he be a Superior, it keeps him from difccrning what his infe- 
 riors arc. For, their c/'/ww of his piercing j«^/Wif»/, makes them to 
 diffemble thcmfclvcs ; and fits them with a care, not only to hide their 
 defects, but to fliew liim only, the bell of thcmfclvcs. Like ill comple- 
 xion d women, that would fain be miftaken iox fair ; they paint molt 
 cunningly, where they know iblemijh, or skar ; elpecially, when they 
 are to imounter with ihofe,that be naturally beautiful. Worth in others, 
 and defeli in our fclvcs, are two 7mtives,'dc\'M induce us to theguilding 
 ot our own imper feci tons. VVhen the Sun-bak'd Peafant goes to tcall it 
 with a Gentleman, hQ.tv.t(Jjes, and brufjes, and kerfies hiiutclt in liis Ho- 
 ly-day
 
 48 
 
 I^ESOLVES. 
 
 ly-day clcathes. When the Gentlemnn comes to him, he doesjf/?<f up 
 his homely houfe, and covers his cUyed floor ^ with the treflmefs ot a rnPjy 
 carpet : and all is, that he may appear as abov'c himfelf: while he is to 
 meet with one that is fo indeed. If he be an equals men 3.rc fire-opini- 
 on'd of him tor a politick man : and in any matters of.voeighty commerce, 
 they will ftudy how to be more cMtelom ot him, than they would of 
 an line fleemcd man. Sohefliallbe {mc to coficlude nothing, but upon 
 liarder conditions for himfelf. General Fames warn us to advifed con- 
 tracis. He that is to play with a cunning Fencer-, will heed his Hoards, 
 and Advantage more ^ who, were he to meet with one unskilfnl., he 
 would neglect, or not think ot them. Strong oppofttion teaches oppojition 
 to befo. Ihavefcena riiing f^z'^^ri/^ laid at, to be trod in thtdnfl: 
 while the unnoted man, hath pafs'd with the greater c^uiet, and gain: 
 Report both makcsJ^^/c^/FfJ" where there are Z7(7«^,and increafeth thofe 
 that there are. If he be an inferiour, he is often aman oi unwelcome fo- 
 ciety. He is thought one oUoo prying an observation : and that he looks 
 further into our actions, then we would have him fcarch. For there be 
 few, which do not fometimes do fuch anions., as they would not have 
 difcretion fcan. Integrity it felf, would not be awed with a blabbing 
 Spie. I know, the obferver may fail as well as the other : but wc all 
 know Natures tobe fo compofed, 
 
 Aliena melius ut videant, c^ judicent, quam fiia.. 
 That they fee more of others then their own. 
 We judge of others,, by what they fbouldbe : of our fclves, by what 
 we are. No man has preeminence, but willies to prcferve it in unpru- 
 ncd flate ; which while an /;//^w«rnotes oi imierfeclion, he thinks, 
 dothfuffcT detriment: fo he rather feek tobe rid ot his c^'/w/'/r;?;', then 
 dcfircs to keep him,as the rvatch of hit vnayes. Let me have but fo much 
 voifdom, as may orderly manage my felf, and my means ; and I fiiall 
 never care to be digited, with a That is He. I with, not to be eftecmed 
 wifcr then ufual : They that are fo, do better in concealing it, then in 
 telling the vcorld. I hold it a greater injury to be over-valued, then un- 
 der. For, when they both fhall come to the touch, the one fliall rife 
 wkhpraife, while the other ihsW decline with fhame. Thc^r/?hath 
 more incertain'd honor; but kkfafety : The latter is humbly fecure^and 
 what is wanting in renoivn,is made up in a better bleflingj^^wW. There 
 is no detraction worfe then to over-praife a man. For whilcft his worth 
 comes flibrt of what report doth fpcak him : his own actions arc ever 
 giving the lye to his honour. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 T^hat 3^'tf- conceit has mind Man. 
 
 OUr own follies have been the only caufe, to make our lives uncom- 
 fortable. Our error of opinion, om cowardly fear of the worlds 
 worthlcfs cenfure, and our madding after unnecejfary gold, have bram- 
 bled the way of Fertue, and made it far more difficult then indeed it 
 
 is.
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 \ A9 
 
 is. Fertue hath fuffcrcd moft by thofe which llnould uphold her ; That 
 now we feign her to be, not what fhe ?;^,but what our fondnefs makes 
 her, a/////alnioft unafcendablc, by the roughnefs oidLcrxggyway. 
 We force insurance on our fclvcs, to wave with the wanton tail of 
 the vi>orU : We dare not do thofe things that are Uwful^ left the 
 wandrmg rvorld m\(-cox\{kmc them : As if we were to look more to 
 what wc fliould be thought, than to what we fliould refolvedly be. As 
 if the Toet writ imtruth, when he tells his friend, that, 
 
 Virttii, repnlfx nefcii fordid^, 
 
 Intumtnutis fidget honorUim : 
 Nee fumit, ant ponit fecitres 
 
 Arbitrio popuLtris Atirx. 
 
 Verttie, muddy cenfures fcorning, 
 
 With unftaincd Honour lliines : 
 Without vulgar breath's fuborning, 
 
 Takes the Throne, and C^ewn rcfignes. 
 
 Nor docs fhe live in penury -^ as forae have ill imagined : though 
 ("he lives not in TaUces, yet line docs in Paradtfe : and there is the 
 Spirit of joy, youthful in perpetual life. Fertue is 3. competent fruition 
 of a Uvpfid pleafure ; which we may well ufc fo far, as it brings not 
 any evilin the fe^uel. How many have thought it the Summum bonum? 
 Antijlhenes was of opinion, that it had fufncicnt in it, to make a 
 man pcrfeftly /'<«/'/'/: to the attaining of which, he wanted nothing 
 but a Socratiquejlrength. Shall wc think Goodnejs to be the height of 
 pleafure in the oth&T -world -^ and lliall wc be fo mad, as to tliinkit 
 here ihc fufj'erance ofmifery} Surely 'twas none of C7o^/ intent, to 
 fquare man o^xiio'c forrows. In on: Jalutes, in our prayers., we with 
 and invoke heaven for the happineJ?oi our friends : and fliall wc be fo 
 unjuft, or fo uncharitable, as to withhold it from om [elves } As 
 if we fliould makcii a. fa/hion, to be kind abroad, and difcourtcous 
 ii home. 1 do think nothing more lawful, ihzn moderately io(^ns^t 
 the pleafing dejtrcs of Nature ; fo as they infringe not Religion, hurt 
 not eurfelves, or the commerce of humane [ociety. Laughing is a faculty 
 peculiar to ^4« : yet as ifit were given us for /«x'fr^c», no creature 
 lives fo miferable, fo dtfconfolate. Why lliould wc deny to ufe that 
 lawfully, which Nature hath made {or pleafure in imployment ? Vertue 
 hath neither fo crabbed '\face, nor fo aullcre a look, as wc make her. 
 'Tis the veorld, that choaking up the way, does r«^^<ri!/ that which is 
 naturally //wot'r/'fr. How happy and how healthful do thofe things 
 live, that follow harmlefs Nature ? They weigh not what is pafl,y 
 arc intent on the prcfent, and never folicitou-s of what is to come: 
 They are better plcafcd with convenient food then dainty : and tliat 
 chcy C3.t not todifiemper, but to nour/fh, to fatisfie. They arc well 
 arayed with what Nature has given them : and for rayment, they arc 
 never clad in ihi^ Jpoils of others ; but the Flies, the Beafts, the Fifljes, 
 may, for all them, welcome Age in their own Silks , fViols , and 
 
 H Scarlets.
 
 I 
 
 :o 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 Scarlets. They live like Children^ innocently fpordng with their Mo- 
 ther-, Nature : and with a pretty kind ot /AtrW(;//2f/i-, they hang Uf>oii 
 hcv Kurjlnghraff. How rarely find wc any difeafed, but by lil-mans 
 mif-ufing them ? Othcrwife, they ucc fonfid znd u/2cemjf/Mfiif7g. And 
 this Ucjfcdnef they have here above Man ; that never fceking to be 
 more than Nature meant them, they are much nearer to the happinefs 
 oithckjirfiejiate ; Wherein this, I contcfs, may be fame reafoh; 
 A/an was curs'd for his ownjift : they but tor the Jin of Man : and 
 therefore they decline lefsinto rvorfe, in this the crazed age of the 
 wor/d : \\ here as, Man is a daily multiplycr ot his own calamities : 
 and what at firft undid him^ docs conftantly increafe his veoes ; Search-, 
 and felf-prefumption. He hath fought means to wind himfelf out of 
 mifery-, and is tticrcby implungcd to more. He hath Ictt Fertue which 
 the Stacks have defined to tie honefi Nature ; and is lanchcd into hy- 
 devices oi his own ingiddiedhrain : nor do I fee, but that ihisdejini- 
 /w;2 may hold with true i?(f//^/£)». For that does not abolilVi A^4^«y<r, 
 but redtifie it, and bound it. And though A^an «t firft !cll defperatcly, 
 yet wc read not of any Lan' he had to live by, more than tlie Injlinci 
 of Nature., and the remnant oi Gods Image iw him, till JlIo(es imxc: 
 Yet in that time, who was it that did teach Abel to do Sacrifice} as 
 it wc lliould almoft believe,that Nature could find out T{elrgion. But 
 when Man (once fain) was by degrees grown to a height oi prevari- 
 cation : Then Ged commanded Mofes, to give them rules, to clieck 
 the madding of their ranging minds. Thus, God made A4an righteoiu; 
 but he fought out vain Inventions ; among all which, none hath 
 more befooled him, than thcfcttingup oiGold: For now, {riches 
 fwaying all) they that fcrve Vertue, like thofe of another Faction-, are 
 puAit at by thofe that run with ihQ general Jlream. Incogitablc cala- 
 mity oi Man ^ that muft make that tor the hinges of his ///^ to turn 
 on, which need not in any thing be conducent to it. 1 applaud that 
 in the Wcjlcrn Indies j where the Spaniard hath conqucr'd : whole 
 Inhabitants cftecmed^('/<^, but as it was wrought into nccclfary vejfels; 
 and that no more, than tliey would alike otany mferiour metal -^ 
 eftecmingmore ot the commodioufnep ., than they did ofthe thing it 
 felf. Is it not miferablc, that wc fliould fet up fuch an idol, as fhould 
 dedroy OUT happinefs } And that C/;;7/?/4»^ ihould tezch Heathen to 
 undo themfelves by covetoufnefs \ How happily they liv'd in Spain, 
 iiWfire imdo^iomc Meiintains \oimx. Gold \ and' what mifcrable dif- 
 cords tollowed after, Fives upon AugHJline doth report. It this were 
 put down, Vertne might then be Queen again. Now, we cannot ferve 
 her aswc ought, without the leave otthis Godling. Her acccfs is 
 more difficult, bccaufe we muft go about to come to her. As when 
 an Vfiirper hath depofcd the rightful King -^ thofe tliat would ftiew 
 their love to the true one, either ^^rf not, ok cannot, for fear ot the 
 falfe ones might. Some things I mult do that I would not ^ as being 
 one among the reft, that arc involved in (^t general necejfity. But in 
 thofe things wherein I may be free from impugning the Latvs ofHu- 
 
 nhtnity.
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 manityy I will never deny my felt an honcft/(>/4c^, for fear of an/t/r^ 
 cenfure. Why tliould another mans mjujiice breed my imkindnep to 
 my felf ? As for gold^ furcly the world would be much happier, if 
 there were no fuch thing in it. But fince 'tis now the Fountain whence 
 all things flow, 1 will care for it, as I would for a Pafs^ to travel 
 the pvorld by, without bcgnng. If I have none, I fliall have fo much 
 the more mifery ; becaule cttftom hath plaid the /op/, in making it 
 material^ when it needed nor. 
 
 51 
 
 XXX. 
 of Women, 
 
 Q 
 
 Onic arc fo uncharitable., as to think ail women ktd : and others are 
 
 io credulous, as they believe, they all jLrcgood. Sure, though 
 every man fpcaks as he finds ; there is reafon to direft our opinion, 
 without experience of tlic whole Sex : which in aJlriSi examination^ 
 makes more tor their honor, then moft men have acknowledged. At 
 firft, fhe was created his Equal ; only the difference was in the Sex : 
 othcrwifc, they both were Man. If we argue from the Text, that 
 male a.nd female made man : fo the mtin being pVit firji, was worthier. 
 
 1 anfwcr, So the evening and the morning was the fir fl day : yet few 
 will think the night the hetter. That Man is made her Governour, and 
 fo above her ^ I believe rather the punifhmcnt oi her Jin, then the Pre- 
 rogative of his worth. Had they both ftood, it may be thought, flic 
 had never hiicn [\\ z\\3.t fubjeclion : for then it had been no curfe, but 
 a continuance of her former eflate ; which had nothing but hlefjednefs 
 in it. Teter Martyr indeed is of opinion, that man before the /^tf, had 
 priority. Ytwt. chryfoflom, hefaycs, docs doubt it. All will grant her 
 body more admirable, more beautiful then Mans : fuller of curiojities, 
 and Noble Natures wonder : both for conception, a.nd fojiering the pro- 
 JuJled birth. Andean wc think Gui would put iworfer foul into a 
 better body} VVhcn y1/(«» was created, 'tis faid, God made man: but 
 when woman, 'tis faid, God builded her ; as if he had then been about 
 a frame of rarer Rooms, and more exali compofition. And, without 
 doubt, in her body, Hic is much more wonderful : and by this, wc 
 may think her fo in her mind. Philofephy tells us. Though the foul be 
 not caufcd by the body ; yet in the general it follows tlic temperament 
 of it : fo the comeliefl ont-fides, arc naturally (for the mofl part) ver- 
 tuoui within. \{ place can be any privilcdgc ; we lliall find her built 
 in Paradife, when Man was made without it. 'Tis certain, they are 
 by conflttiition colder then tl'jC boyling Man : Co by this, more tempe- 
 rate ; 'tis /"?-?/ that tranfporcs Man lo immoderation inS furie ; 'tis 
 that, which harries him to a favagc and libidinous violence. Women arc 
 naturally the uxwcmodcfl : and modefly is the feat and drvcllin(f place oi 
 rertue. Whence proceed the moCt abhorred villanies, but trom a 
 m.ifculine unbL-'fljino^ impudence ? W'hat a deal oifrvcctncfs do wc find 
 in -i. mild di/po/ition i When 2 woman grows bold and daring, we 
 
 H 2 cliflike
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 diflikeher, and fay, (he is too like a man : yczinonvfehes, wcmag- 
 nifie what wc comemn in her. Is not this injujiice ? Every man is fo 
 much the better ^ by how much he comes nearer to God. Man in no- 
 thing is more like Him ; then in being merciful. Yet pvoman is far 
 more merciful then Man : It being a fex, vA\cxQm pity ^wA compajjion 
 have difpcrs'd far brighter rayes. God is faid to be Love ; and I am 
 fare, every where vpcman is fpokenof for tranfccnding in that quality. 
 It was never found, but in two men only, that their love exceeded 
 that of the feminine fex : and if you obferve them, you fliall find, 
 they were both of melting dijpojitions. I know, when they prove had, 
 they arc a fort of the vilefi creatures : Yet ftill the fame reafon gives 
 it ; for, Optima corrupta pejjima, : The befl things corrupted^ become 
 thevoorjl. They are things, whok fouls artoiz move duSltble temper, 
 jtben the harder metal oiman : fo may be made both better and worfe. 
 The Reprefentations of Sophocles and Euripides may be both true : 
 and for \.\\t tongue-vice ^ talkativenefs, I fee not, but at meetings, men 
 may very wqW vie rvords with ihem. 'Tistruc, tiiey are not of fo tu- 
 multuous Sijpiriti fonotfo ^tiov great anions. Natural heat 6,Qt% 
 more aduate the ftirring Cenita oi Man. Their eafie Natures TXiikQ 
 them fomewhat more unrefolute ; whereby men have argued them of 
 feannd. inconftancy. But men have alwayes held the Parliament, and 
 have enaded their own wilis^ without ever hearing them fpeak : and 
 then how eafie is it to conclude them guilty > Bcfides, Education 
 makes more difference between men and them, then Nature : and, 
 all their ajperfions are lefs noble, for that they arc only from their 
 Enemies, Men. Diogenes fnarled bitterly, when walking with another, 
 he fpyed trvo veomen talking, and faid. See the Viper and Afp are chan- 
 \ging poyfon. The Poet w^s conceited that faid, jifter they were made 
 ill, that God made them fearful, that Man might rule them ; otherrvife 
 they had been pajl dealing rvith. CatuUui his conclujton was too general, 
 to collect a deceit in aXirvomen, becaufe he was not confident of his 
 
 
 orvff. 
 
 I^Mi fe dicit mulier mea nubere malle 
 
 Quam tnihi : non ft fe Jupiter ipfe petat. 
 Dicit : fed mulier cupido quod dicit amanti. 
 
 In vento ^ rapida fcribere oportet aqua. 
 My Miftris fwears, fhe'd leave all men for me : 
 Yea, though that fove himfelf fliould Suiter be. 
 She fayes it : but what women fwear to kind 
 Lxnies, may be writ in rapid flreams and wmd. 
 
 lam refolved to honour r(?y/«^, in whatj^jcfoever Ifindit. And 
 1 think, in the general, I Ihall find it more in women, then inen ; 
 though weaker, and more infirmly guarded. 1 believe, they are better, 
 and may be brought to be worfe. Neither fhall the faults of many, 
 make me uncharitable to aU : nor the goodnefs of feme, make me cre- 
 dulous of the re^. Though hitherto, 1 confefs,I have not found more 
 ^^^^^^ fweet
 
 1{ E S L V E S. 
 
 [rveet andcovflantgood^efs in Ma», rhcn 1 have found in rveman : and 
 yet oithefe-) 1 have not found a. number. 
 
 XXXI. 
 of the lofs ofthw^s loved. 
 
 NO crops do fo much affed us , as thofe that befall us in the 
 things wc love. We are more grieved tolofe one child of af- 
 feB'ton^ then wc fliould be for manyr^zx. wc do not fo neerly care for, 
 though every ot them be alike to us, in rcfped of outrvard TieUtions. 
 The foul lakQS^ freedom, toindear wh^t it liketh, without difcover- 
 ing the reafon to Ma» : and wl len that is taken from her, flie mourns, 
 as having loft ^fin. When the choycc of the affections dyes, a general 
 lamentation follows. To fome things we fo dedicate ourJelves, that 
 in their /'/ir/if/?^, they fccmtatake away even i\\c fubftance of our foul 
 along : as if we had laid up the treafure ofour lives^ in the frail and 
 moveable hold oi another. The Soidi'i fram'd offuch an aciive nature, 
 that 'tis impoffiblc but it muft aiXiimcfimething to it fclf, to delight 
 in: We feldomc find any, without peculiar delight in Come peculiar 
 thing; though various^ as their /i»«>j lead them. Honour^ ivar^ 
 Learning-, Mufick-, do all find their feverai votaries : who, if they 
 fail in their fouls wijhes, mourn immoderately. David had his Abfalon: 
 Hannahs vpiflj was children : Hamans thirfi was Honour : Achitophel 
 took the glory of his Co«»/f'/. Who would have thought, that they 
 could, for the mifs of thcfc, have exprclTed fuch exceffive pjj/ions ? 
 Who would have believed, that one negledion of his C<?«»)^/, would 
 have trufs'd up Achitopheliw a voluntary Halter ? Wc then begin to 
 he mifcrable, when wc are totally bent on fome one temporal objeB. 
 Whit one [uhlunary Center is there, which is able to receive the 
 circles oi i\\c Jpreadtng fouP. All that wc find here, is too narretv, and 
 too little:, for i\\c patent affeHions of the mind. If they could afford us 
 happinefs in thciv pojfefflon, it were not then [\ichfondnefs to inleague 
 our felves with an undividable love : but,being they cannot make us 
 truly happy in theifi injoying ; and may make us miferabk by thcir^<«r- 
 ting • it will be beft, not to concenter all our rayes upon them. Into 
 how many ridiculom paffages do they precipitate thcmfelvcs, that 
 dote upon a Rofey face ? Who looks not upon Dido-, with a kind of 
 fmilingpity, if Virgil's Poetry does not injure her wiihlove to eyGneoft 
 rather then tell the truth of her hate to larbas. 
 
 Vritur infalix Dido,t*ta^; vagatur 
 Vrbe furens : qualis conjecl.i Cerva fagitta j 
 Quam prscul incautam nemora inter Creffia fixtt 
 Paflor agens telis, liquttq; volatile ferrum 
 Nefciu-s: ilia fuga [ylvas faltttsq-^ ^eragrat 
 DiiiMS : h^ret Uteri Lethalis arundo. 
 
 Scorch'd in fierce flames, through Cities feverai wayes, 
 Loft Dido wanders : like fome Deer that flrayes. 
 
 A<W
 
 54 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 And unawares, byfomc i:\idcShepherdsDart, 
 In her own CretCi picrc'd to her fearful heart. 
 Flies tripping through all Di^e sGroycs and Plains j 
 Yet ftill the deadly Arrow fticks, and pains. 
 Butforfuch high-fed Love is this. Crates triple-rcmedy'is thcbeft 
 that I know : either Fxjling, or Time : and if both theic fail, a» 
 Halter. And furely he defervcs it, for. robbing himfclf of his foul. 
 Certainly they can never live in quiet, that fo vehemently intend a 
 peculiar qneft. Fear ^nd fufpicio/i Itartlc their affrighted minds -^ and 
 many times, their ever-loving is a caufc ot their lofs : Moderate care 
 would make it laft the longer. Often handling of the rvithermg Flow- 
 er, adds not to the «»/i««4»f(?, but is a properation of more fwift 
 decay. Who loves a Glafs fo well, as he will Itill be playing with if, 
 breaks that by his cMdi(hne[s, which might have been found in the 
 cellar or cafe. But when in this we fliall lay up all our befi content- 
 ments, what do we, but \i\ic feolijh Merchants, venture all our ejlate 
 in a bottom ? It is not good to bring ourfelves into that abfolute*^- 
 ceffity, that the failing oiene aim ihonldperifb us. Who, that cannot 
 fwimwell, would with one fmall thred, hazard himfelf in thefaith- 
 Icfs and unfounded Sea ? How plcafantly the wife Man laughs at that, 
 which makss the Lady vteep ; The death of her little T)og > The loving 
 fart in her, wanted an objcd : {oplay, and lapping on it, made her 
 place it //'ifrf ; and that fo deeply, that (he mult bedew her/z'^rjat 
 parting with't. How improvident arewc, tomake that,^j^/£7;w; in 
 \\\zfarewe^, which while we had, we knew was not alvvaicsto/?<iy ? 
 nor could (if we fo pleas'd not) thieve the leaft mite from us. He is 
 unwife, that lets his%^/- (pleen c\^'^\\\'iwanton fides, which knows 
 it needs muft 4?^, whenf'cre the yJ/zz/if^ccafes. Hike him, that can 
 both/'/^j', and w///, and /^w^/', and /(?/<•, without a f/'^/^orTg/'.f. Our 
 loves are not alwaycs cofifant : their objects aremuch more uncertain; 
 and events more cafual then they. Something I m\i[i like and love: 
 but, nothing fo violently, as to undo my felt with wanting it. If I 
 fliould ever be intangled in that fnare • I will yet cad the rvorfl, and 
 prepare as well for 2l parting journey , as cohabitation. And to prevent 
 all, 1 will bend my love toward that, which can neither be lojl, nor 
 admit oiexcef?. Nor yet will 1 ever love a Friend [o little, as that he 
 fhall not command the Alloinnhonejl man. 
 
 XXXII. 
 of the uncertainty of life, 
 
 Mjferable brevity 1 more miferable uncertainty of life f V\'e are 
 fure that we cannot live long : and uncertain that we fnall 
 live at all. And even while I am writing this, I am not fare my /-i?/? 
 fhall end the fentence. Our life is fo/hort-, that we cannot in it con- 
 template what our felves arc : fo uncertain-, as we cannot fay, we 
 rvill refolve to doit. Silence was a iull anfwer inihsLt Philofopher-, that 
 bcuig
 
 1{ R S L V E S, 
 
 being asked, nhat he thought of htirmne life -^ faid nochins, turn'd him 
 round, and vanifln. YaYq leaves on trees, wc are the fport of every 
 puff'ih^z blows : and with the leaft^///?, may be Hiakcn from our life 
 and nutriment. Wc travail-, \nq flndy^ we think to dilfca the tvorlti 
 with continued fearches : when, while wc are contriving but the 
 neerefl n-rf/ to't, ^-^f, and con fumed jears o'retake US; and oncly 
 lal/our payes us the lojfes of our ill-expended time. Death whisks about 
 the unthoughtful rrorld, and with a 'Pegajean fpced^ rfyes upon nn- 
 yNzr^AIan-^ with the kick o{\\\s heel, or the .:^<i/i& of his/ix)/, fprinu- 
 ing Fountains ot the tears of Fw»<if. J/w^W docs tell us, how lije 
 wings away : 
 
 Fe/linat enim decurrere velox 
 
 Flofculta angu^lx, mifer^eq; brevifjima vit£ 
 Tortio: dum bib imti^s ■, dum fert a, unguent a., fuel Lts 
 Pofcim/is, obrcpitj nen tnte\lecta.,fenccfiis. 
 
 ■ The fliort-Iiv'd Plowrcy^ndportiok 
 
 Of poor, fad life poft-haffcth to be gone : 
 
 And while wc drink, fcek rvomen, wreaths and e^rn'd 
 
 Applaitfe, old age fteals on us undifiern'd. 
 
 \{ Nature had not made Man an active creature, that he lliould be 
 delighted in imployment^ nothing would convince him of more folly, 
 than the durance of fome enterprises that he takes in hand : for they 
 are many times oi fuch a future length, as wc cannot in rcafon liope 
 to live till their conclujion comes. We build, as it we hid foundations 
 {ox Eternity: and the expeditions we take in hand, are many times 
 the length ot three or four lives. How many i-rarriers have cxpir'd in 
 their expugnattons ; leaving their breath in the places where they laid 
 their 5/>?^? Certainly, he that thinks oUifes cafualties, can neither 
 be carelefs, nor covetoui. I confefs, wc m.iy live to the Spectacle, and 
 the bearing- fiaff, to the (looping back, to tlic [norv, or to thcJJeeknefs 
 ot the declining croxvn : but, how few are there, that can untold you 
 a Diary of fo many leaves > More do dye in the Spring and Summer 
 of their years, than live till Autumn, or their^roiv;^^ ^ winter. When 
 a man lliall cxhauft his very vitality, for the hilling up oi fatal Gold ; 
 and rtiall then think, how a Hair or tly may fnatch him in a moment 
 from it- how it quels his /^^c^rw/^ hope, and puts his pofting mind 
 into a more fafe and quiet pace. Unlcfs, we arc furc to enjoy it, why 
 lliould any man ftrain himfclt, for more than is convenient ? 1 will 
 never care too much, tor that 1 am not furc to keep. Yet I know, 
 fhould all men rcfpcft but their own time, an Ageo'i two would tind 
 the World in ruine : Co that tor fuch adions, men may plead their 
 charity, ihit though they live not to enjoy thofc things tiicmfclvcs, 
 they ihall yet be be;icticial to pofierity. And I rather tliink this an 
 InflinCt that God hath put in Man, for the confervation ot things ; 
 than an intended good of the Author to his followers. Tl lus, as \n propa- 
 gation wc arc often more beholding to thcpleafure of our Parents,K\un 
 
 tlu'ir 
 
 5^
 
 56 
 
 5^ £ 5 PL V E S. 
 
 their defire of having us : fo in matters oi tht rvcrld, and Fortune^ 
 the aims of our Predecejfors for thcmfelves, have by the fecret work 
 oi Pro'vide^ce, caft benefits upon idS. 1 will not altogether blame him 
 that I fee begins things Upng. Though they be vanities to him, bc- 
 caufe he knows not who ihall enjoy them : yet they will be things 
 well fitted for fome thatfhall fuccecd them. They that do me good, 
 and know not of it, arecaufesofmy benefit :, though I do not owe 
 them my thanks : and I will rather h/efs them, as inftruments ; than 
 condemn them, as not intenders. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 That^ood comfel jhould not he Valued by the per/on, 
 
 TOfome, thereisnota^yf/i/^r vexation, than to be advifcd by 
 an Inferior. Direlfions are unwelcome , that come to us by 
 afcenfions : as ii wealth only were the full accomplifhmcnt of a foul 
 within ; and could as well infufe an tnrvard judgement, as procure 
 an eutrvard rejpecf, Nay, I have known fome, that being advifed by 
 fuch, have run into a rvorfer contradiction-^ bccaufe they would not 
 fcem to learn of one below them : or if they fee no other way conve- 
 nient, they will delay the fraBice, till they think the Prompter has 
 torgot how he counfel'd them. They will rather flye in a perillous 
 height,then feem to decline at the voycc oione beneath them. Pitiful / 
 that welliould t^thcv mifchtef our fehes, than be content to be »«- 
 prided : For had we but fo much humility, as to think our felvcs but 
 what we arc, Men ; we might cafily believe, another might have 
 brain to equal us. He isfick to the ruin ot himlclt, that refufetha 
 Cordial, becaufe prcfented in a Spoon of vpood. That rvifdom is not 
 lajltngly goad,' which ftops the ear with the tongue : that will com- 
 mand and (peak all, without hearing the voice ot another. Even the 
 slave may fomctimes light on a way to inlarge his Mafier, when his 
 own invention fails. Nay, there is fome rcafon why we iTnould be bcft 
 direfted by w<?/? belovp our ftate : For, while z Superior is fuddemxiA 
 fearlefs, an Inferior premeditates the beji ; left being found weak, it 
 might difpleafe by being too light in the poize. Job reckons it a part 
 of his integrity, that he had not refufed the judgment ofhisfervants. 
 'Tis good io command, and A^^r them. Why fhould we iliame, by 
 any henefi means, to meet with tbat which benefits us ? In things 
 t^^x. he difficulty and not of importantyf'fr<'9', I think it not amifs to 
 confult with Inferiors. He that lies under the Tree, fees more than 
 they that fit o'th top on't. Nature hath made the bodies eyes to look 
 upward with more eafc than down : So. the eye of the foul fees better 
 in afcenfions, and things meanly raifed. VVc are all, with a kind of 
 delectation, carried to the things above w : and we have alfo better 
 means of obferving them, while we are admitted their vtew, and 
 yet not thought as Spies. In things beneath us, not being fo deligh- 
 ted with them, we pafsthem over with negleB, and not obferving. 
 
 Servants
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 Servants are n^naW^ om be ft friends ^ o^ om wor ft enemies : Neuters 
 fcldom. For, being known to be privy to our retired actions, and our 
 more continual converfation , they have the advantage of hi:iv['^believed, 
 before a removed friend. Friends have more ot the tongue.):)\xt Servants 
 of the hand : and anions tor the molt part/pcak a man more truly than 
 ■words. Attendants are like to the locks that belong to a houfe : while 
 they zicjlrong and clofe^ they prcfcrvc us in fafety : but Tveak or open, 
 we are left ^prey to thieves. It they be fuch as a ftranger may pick, 
 or another open with ifalfe key, it is very fit to change them inftant- 
 Jy : But if they be well warded, they arc then goodgnards oioxxt fame 
 and welfare. 'Tis good, I contefs, to confidcr how they ftand affe^ied-^ 
 and to hindle tneir cetmfels before we embrace tlicm : they may fome- 
 times at once, both pleafe zndpo)^fon. Ad^^/ice is as well the wife mans 
 fall, as the fools advancement : and is otten rnoji wounding , when it 
 ftroaks us with a flken hand. All families are but diminutives of a 
 Court ; where moft men refped more their own advancement, than 
 the honour of rhcir Throwned King. The fame thing, that makes a lying 
 chamber-maid tell ■x foul Lady .^ that flie looks lovely: makes a bafe 
 Lord, Cooth up his ill King in mifchirf. They both counfcl, rather to 
 injinuate themfelves, by floating with a light-iov'd humor ; than to pro- 
 fit the advifed, and imbctter his fame. It is good to know the difpoG- 
 tion of the Coimfellor^o ftiu'U we better judge of his counfel ; which yet 
 ifwefind^^W, wcfliall do well to follow, howfoevcr his affedion 
 ftand. I will love ihc good ceunfelitstn oi^bad man. We think not 
 goldiho. worfe, becaufe 'tis brought us in a bag of leather : No more 
 ought we to contemn ^('Oij/ counfel^ becaufe it is preiented us, by a bad 
 man, or an underling. 
 
 ' XXXIV. 
 of Cujiom in advancing l/tony. 
 
 C"^1^/?owmifleads us all : we magnific the wealthy man, though his 
 J parts be never fo poor ; xk\cpoor man we defpifc, be he never fo 
 well otherwifc qualified. To be rich^is to be three parts of the way on- 
 ward to per feci ion. To be poir, is to be made a pavement tor the tread 
 of the fiUl-mindcd man- Gold is the only Coverlet of imperfeciions : 'tis 
 the Fools Curtain, that can hide all his defefls from the world: It can 
 make knees bow, and tongues [peak, againtl the native genius ot the 
 groaning heart : It fupples more than Oyl, or Fomentations : and can 
 lliffcn beyond the Summer Sun, or the ivinters white-bearded cold. In 
 this we differ from the ancient Heathen'^ '1 hey make Jupiter their chief 
 god ; and we have crowned Pluto. He is dMafter of the Mufes, and can 
 buy their voices. The Graces wait on him : Mercury is his Mejfenger : 
 c^Lars comes to him for his pay : Venm is his Proflitute : He can make 
 Vejla break her vow. He can have ^-tcf/w/ be w^-rrj' with ium^ and 
 Ceres feall: him, when he lifts : He is thzfick mans z/^fculapius : and 
 the Pallas oi ^n empty brain. Nor can Cupid caufe love, but by his 
 I golden-
 
 58 1 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 gclden-hecided Arrow. UvLoneyiSdi general Man: and,vvithout doubt, 
 excellently parted. Petrenim defcribes his Qualities : 
 
 Quifquis habet nummos-^fecKra. nAviget aura : 
 
 Fertrwamq; fuo temperet arbitno. 
 Vxorem ducat Danaen^ ipfumq; licebit 
 
 Acrifium jubeat credere quod Damen : 
 Carmtnii componat^ declamet-, concrepet omfres 
 
 Etperagtt caufas^Jitque C at ene prior. 
 Jurijconfuittes, paret, xcxparet, habetor ; 
 
 At que efio^ quicquid Servius aut Lahco. 
 cMulta loquor : quidvis fiHn»mis prxfentibui <fta^ 
 
 Et veniet : cbufum pojjldet area Jovem. 
 
 The moneyed-man can Tafely fail all Seas ; 
 And make his forrtf;?^ as himfelffliall pleafe. 
 He can wed Dame^ and command that now 
 Acrifim felt that fatal match allow. 
 He can declaim, chide, ccnfurc, -verjes write ; 
 And do all things^ better than Cato mi^ht. 
 He knows the Law, and rules it : hath, and is 
 Whole Serviiis-i and what Labeo could polTefs. 
 In brief ; let rich men wirti whats'erc they love, 
 'Twill come ; they in a lockt chejl keep a Jove. 
 
 The time is come about, whereof Diegenes prophcfied ; when he 
 gave the reafon why he would be buried groveling ; Wc have made 
 the Earths bottom powerful to the lefty skies : Gold, that lay buried ia 
 the buttock of the rvorld; is now made the Head and Ruler ot the People-^ 
 putting all under «, we have made it extcnfivc, as the Spani[h Ambiti- 
 on : and, in the mean, have undefervedly put worth below it. fForth 
 without wealth, is like an able fervant out of imployment ; he is fit for 
 all bufinclfes, but wants wherewith to put himfelfinto any : he hath 
 good Materials for fi foundation : but milTeth wherewith to rear the 
 wals of his fame. For, though indeed,riches eannot make a man worthy, 
 they can iliew him to the world, when he is Co : But when we think 
 him wife, for his wealth alene,vit appear content to be mijledwhh the 
 Multitude. To the Rich, I confefs, we owe fomcthing ; but to the wife 
 man, moft : To thii^'iox himfelfand his innate worthtnefs : to the other, 
 as being cafually happy, in things that of themfclves are blefjings 5 but 
 never /o much,^s to make Virtue mercenary^ or z flatterer oi rice, worth 
 without wealth, befidc the native Moblenefs,hzs this in it ; That it may 
 be a way of getting the wealth which is wanting : But as for wealth 
 without worth, I count it nothing but a rich Saddle, for the State to 
 ride sin Afs withal. 
 
 That
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 That Sin is more crafty than Violent. 
 
 BEforc wcji», the Devil fiiews his po/icj; when we ha,vc Jtmed, his 
 bafe fiefs : he makes us tirft revile our Father, and then ftcps up, to 
 witnefs how wc have bUffhcmed. He begs the rod, and the wand^ for 
 faults which had not been, but for his own intkemcnt. He was never 
 fuch a Sotddier, as he is a Politician : He blows up more by one mine-, 
 than he can kill by ten afjauits : He prevails molt by Treaty, andface- 
 tictts wayes. Prefents and Parlies win him more than the cruel veotindyox 
 the drag ohhc compuljive hand. AllT?^ is rather///^///, than valiant. 
 The Devil is a coward ; and will, with thy rcjijling, fly thee : nor dare 
 he lliew himfclt in a noted good mans company ; it he does, he comes 
 in feeming-virtues ; and the garnicnts ot he'lyed Truth. Vice ftands 
 abafli't at the glorious yJ/^jVy?/o{ a good confirmed y^iw/. C^/o's prc- 
 fence ftopt the prafticcs ol the Romans brutiili Floralia's, Satan began 
 firft with hefitations, and his lly-couch'd Oratory : and ever iince , lie 
 continues in wiles, injlratagems-, and iha fetches oi a toyling brain '^ ra- 
 ther perfwading us to fin, than urging us : and when we have done it, 
 he feldom lets us fee om folly, till we be plunged in fome deep extre- 
 mity : then he writes it in capital Letters, and carries it as a Pageant at 
 a (how, before us. What could have made David fo hcartlefs, when 
 Abfalom rofe againft him,but the guilt ot his then prefented^w^whcn 
 he j^f<i,and wept, ^\\d fled zyiXw'^ It appears a wonder, \k\zx. shimei fliould 
 rail a A'/;?g- to his face ; and, unpunifnt, brave him, and his hoft of 
 Souldiers, ca'Hng/ewj'jand fpitting?/t«;^//,while he ftood incompaired 
 with his iVo^/^j. Surely, it had bccnimpoflfiblc, but that P>iz'/iat was 
 full of the horror of his y?»j-, and knew he repeated truth • though in 
 that, he aded but the Devils part, ignobly to infult over a man in mi- 
 fcry. Calamity, in the fight ot worthincfs, ^lompts the hand,a.nd opens 
 the/'«y/<', to relieve. 'Tis a hell/jjj difpofition , that watcheth how to 
 give a blow to the man that is already reeling. When wc are in danger, 
 he galls us with what we have done ; and on om§ck beds, lliews us all 
 om fins in multiplying-Glajfes. He firft draws us into hated Treafon ; 
 and when we are traken, and brought to the Tiar,he is both our accnfer, 
 and condemning witnefs.liis clofe policy, is now turn'd to declared bafc- 
 nefs. Nor is it a wonder : for, unworthinefs is ever the end oiunhonejl 
 deceit : yet fure this cozenage is the more condemned, for that it is fo 
 ruinous, and {o eafie. Who is it but may coz.cn j\[ he minds to be a Vil- 
 lain ? How poor and inhumane was the cratt of cleomcncs, that con- 
 clnding a/f^^«f for feven daycs, in the night alTaulted the fecure Ene- 
 my ? alleging, 'Xhznights were not excluded from (laughter. Nothing 
 is fo like to Satan, as a Knaz/c furniflit with dijho?ic(l fraud: the belt 
 way to avoid liim, is to difdaiii the league. 1 will rather labour for vd- 
 lour, at the firft, to refill him • than ikcx yielding, to endevour a flight. 
 Nor can I well tell which 1 Ihould moft hate, the Dcvil,ox his Machi- 
 avel. For though the Devil he the more fccret Enemy,-^^t the bafe Poli- 
 
 I- 2 tician 
 
 ^9
 
 6o 
 
 ^ESOLFES. 
 
 tician is the more familiar : and is indeed but a 'Devil in Hofe and 
 'Doublet, fram'd fo, in an acquainted lliape, to advantage his deceit 
 the more. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 of D'tfconttnts. 
 
 THe dijcofitentecl man is a Watch over-wound,vvrefted out of tune, 
 and goes falfc. Grief is like Ink poured into vpater, that fils the 
 whole Fountain full oi blacknefs and dtfufe. Like mijl^ it fpoils the bttr- 
 m(h ohhe Jiher-rnind. It cafts the Soul into the (hade, and fils it more 
 with confidcration of the unhapptnefs^ihan thought ot the remedy.^^^y, 
 it is fo bufiedin ihc fnifchief, as there is neither roomjnor time for the 
 waycs that fliould give us releafe. It does dilTociatc Man-, and fends 
 him, with Beafts^ to the lonelinefs of unpathed Defarts, who was by 
 Nature made a Creature companiable. Nor is it the mind alone, that is 
 thus mudded ; but even the body is disfaired : it thickens the complexi- 
 on^ and dies it into an unpleafing fvearthmefs : the eye is dim,in the dif- 
 colouredface ; and the whole man becomes as if fkatued into fione and 
 earth. But, above all, ihok difcontentsiYmgdcep^ik, that are fuch as 
 may not with fafcty be communicated : For,then the y^«/ pines away, 
 and ftarves for want oi coimfelythzi fhoul J feed and cherifli ii.Concealed 
 forrows,are like the ^'/l^(;»r/,that,bcing fhuc up,occafion Earth-quakes-^ 
 as it the world were plagued with a fit of the Colick. That man is truly 
 miferable,thitCcLnnot hut keep his mtferies ; and yet muft not nnfold 
 them. As in the body, whatfoever is taken in, that is di/lajl/ul and con- 
 tinues there unvoidcd, does dayly impojlhume, and gather, till at laft it 
 kiils, or at leafl: indangers to extremity : So is it in the mind : Sorrows 
 entertain'd, and fmother'd,do coUecl ftill, and ftill habituate it fo, that 
 M good diff>oJltion gives way to a harfl) morojity. Vexations^ when they 
 dayly bi^kOTp upon the mind^ they Iroward even the fweeteft foul, and 
 from a dainty aff ability, tntn it into (^leen and teftinefs. It is good to do 
 with thefe, as ^ocajla did with Oedipus^ caft them out in their infancy y 
 and lame them in their feet : or, for more (afety, kiR them, to a not 
 reviving. Why lliould we hug a poyfoned Arrow fo clofcly in our 
 wounded bofomes'i ]>lzit\\ct griefs, not joyes, were ever ordained for 
 fecrefie. It is againfl: 2yjf/»r^,thac we fliould fo long go with child with 
 our conceptions • cfpecially when they are fuch, as are ever ftriving to 
 quit the ejecting womb. 
 
 Strangulat inclufm Dolor., atq; cor aftuat intm • 
 
 Cogitur c^ fires multiplicare fiLts. 
 Vntold griefs cboak, cynder the Heart ; and, by 
 
 Reftraint, their burning forces multiply. 
 
 I tliink, no man but would willingly tell them, if either /Z'/««?f of the 
 
 caufe, or diflrufl of the friend, did not bridle his exprefjions. Either of 
 
 thefe intail a mans mind to mifery. Every forrow is ajhort convulfien ^ 
 
 but he that it makes Kclofepr if oner, is \\kcd. Paptjl, that keeps Geod. 
 
 Friday
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 6i 
 
 Friday all the year ^ he is ever vehipping^ and inflifting penance on 
 hinifclfj when he needs not. The [adman is an Hypocrite : for hefeems 
 rvife, and is not. As the eye^ fixt upon one ebjeCi^ Ices other things but 
 by halves and glancings : fo the foul intent on this accident, cannot 
 difcern on otlicr contingencies. Sad objects, even tor worldly things^ 1 
 know arc fonictimcs profitable ; but yet, like mllovps, if we fet them 
 deep, or let them fta.nd too long, they will grow trees, and overfpread, 
 when wc intended them but iox Jlayes, to uphold. Sorrovp is a dull paf- 
 fion, and deads the aftivcnefs of the mind. Mcthinks Crates fliew'd a 
 i>raver lpirit,v^\\^v\ he danc'd and laugh'd in his thred-bareCloai,and his 
 tvallet at his back, which was all hiswealth: than Alexander, when he 
 wept, that he had not fuch a huge 'Beaft, as the Empire of the world, 
 to govern. He contemned, what this other did cry for. If I muft have 
 forrffxv, I will never be fo in love with it, as to keep it to my [elf 
 alone : nor will I ever fo aifcd company, as to live Wiiere vexations 
 fliall daily filuceme. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 
 of Natures recompenjlng Wrongs. 
 
 THcre be few bodily imperfeciions, but the beauty of the mind can 
 cover, or ooiinter'vail,c\n:n to their mt-feeming. For, that which 
 is unfightly in the body, thdugh it bcour misfortune, yet it is not our 
 fault. No man had ever power to order Nature in his own compofure : 
 what wc have there, is fuch as wc could neither give our felves, nor 
 refiifc when it was bequeathed us : But, what we find in the foul, is 
 either the blur of the man, or the bloffom for which we prailc him : be- 
 caufe a mind well qualified, is ott beholding to the indujiry of the care- 
 ful man : and that again which is mudded with a viciotts inquination, 
 is fo, by the vilenefs oi iwilful fclf-ncglecl. Hence, when our foul 
 finds a rarcnefs in a tuned foul, wc fix fo much on that, as we become 
 charitable to the difproportiond ^ff^,which we find containing it : and 
 many times, the fu Is of the one, a.:i: foils, to fct oft the other with the 
 greater grace and luflre. The minds excellency can fxlve the real ble- 
 mifhesoi the body. In a man deformed, and rarely qualified, wc ufe firft 
 to view his blots, and then to tell his virtues, that tranfccnd them : 
 which be, as it were, //'/wg^ fet o^^witli iwoxo. glory, by the pitty and 
 defed of the other. 'Tis fit the mind fliould be moft magnified. Which 
 I fuppofe to be the reafon, why Poets have afcribed more to Cupid the 
 Son, than to FcnU'S the Mother : bccaufc Cupf^ firikcs the mind, and 
 renus is but for the /"o^. Homer fays, Minerva cnv'dvlijfesoi his 
 wrinkles and baldnefs ; not that flic took them away by fupplements, 
 or the deceiving fucta : but that he was fo applauded, lor the acutencfs 
 of an ingenious mind, that men fparcd to (<bje(5t unto him his deformi- 
 ty, and it itfhall chance to be remembied, it will be allayed with 
 tile adjun6t of the other's worth. It was fiid ot bald, hook-mid, crook- 
 footed Galba, Only that his wit dwelt ill. tyorth then docs us the befl 
 fervice.
 
 1{ E S L F E S. 
 
 fcKvice, when it both hides the f milts of NaJure-y and brings us into 
 eftimation. We often fee blemiflfd bodies-, rare in mental excellencies : 
 which is an admirable inftinci of Nature^ that being confcious of her 
 own defe^ls:, and not able to abflerge •"hem, Aie ufes diverfion, and 
 draws the confideration of the beholders to thofc parts, wherein (he is 
 more confident of her qtidijications. I do thinkjtor worth in many menj 
 we arc more beholden to the defects of Nature, than their own inclina- 
 ry love. And certainly, for converfe among meoj beautiful perfons have 
 lefs need of the minds commending Qualities. Beauty in it felf is fuch a 
 filent Orator, as is ever pleading tor refpecl and liking : and by the eyes 
 of others, is ever fending to their hearts tor love. Yet, even this hath 
 this inconvenience in it, that it makes them oft negled the furnifhing 
 of the mind with Noblenefs. Nay, it oftentimes is a caufe, that the 
 mind is ill. The modejl fweetnejs of zLillied face makes men per- 
 fwade the heart ^k^^xoimmode fly : Had not Dinah had fo good a one, 
 llie had come home unravijhed. Vnlovely features have more liberty 
 to be ^W withal ^ bccaufc they are freer from folicitations. There is 
 a kind ot continual combate., between Virtue and Trofortions fleafing- 
 nefs. Though it be not a curfe; yet 'tis many times an unhappinefs to 
 be fair. 
 
 —' Vet at opt art faciem Lucre cia., qualem 
 
 Ipfa habuit • cuperct RtitiU Virginia gibbum 
 
 Accipere, atq; fuam Rutil^^ dare. Julius atttem 
 
 Corporis egregiimifer OS, trepidofq; parentes 
 
 Semper habet : rara ejl adeo concordia fornix 
 
 At que pudicitix. 
 
 Lucretids fate warns us to wifli no face 
 
 Like hers ; Virginia would bequeath her grace 
 
 To Lute-backt Rutila, in exchange : tor {fill. 
 
 The faireft Children do their Parents fill 
 
 With greateft care ; fo feldom Mode fly 
 
 Is found to dwell with 'Beauty. 
 
 The words be Juvenal's. Above all therefore, I applaud that man 
 which is amiable in both. This is the true Marriage, wtiere the body 
 and the [oul arc met in k\\q Jimiliary Robe of Comeliness. : and he is 
 the more to be atfefted, becaufe we may believc,he hath taken up his 
 goodnefsjvathcr: upon love to i/,than upon Jinifer ends. They arc rightly 
 virtuous, that are fo, without incitatioa : nor can it but argue, virtue 
 is then ftrong, when it lives upright, in the preafe ot many temptati- 
 ons. And, as thefe are the beft in others eyes, fo are they moft compo- 
 fed in themfelves. For here Reafon and the Senfes kifs ; difporting them- 
 felves with mutual Jpeculations : whereas thofc men, whofe minds and 
 bodies differ, are like two that are married together, and love not : they 
 have ever fecret reluBatioi^s, and do not /^r^ tor any other reafon, but 
 becaufe they cannot. 
 
 m
 
 1{ E S L V E S, 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 of Truth, and hittermfs in Jejls. 
 
 IT is not good for 2 man to be too tart in his Jefis. B'ltterncjSi^ for 
 ferious 'Tort ions ; not for Healths of merriment -, and the jollities of a 
 mirthful Feafi. hx) cffenjlve man is the Devils /'ifZ/crvj, wherewith he 
 blows up contentions and j-tr/. But amon^ all pallagcs of this nature, I 
 finde none more galling than an offcnjiz'e Truths For thereby we run 
 into iwo great Errors. One is, wc childe that in a loofi Uughter^ which 
 fhould be^^^r/iT/fjand favour both oilove indpit^. So wc rub him with 
 a poyfon'd oyl, which fpreads the more, lor being put in fuch afieeting 
 fufplenefs. The other is, we defcend 10 particulars, and by that means, 
 draw the tr/W(? co;«^/f«7 to witncfs his difgracc wc break it on. The 
 Souldier'is no\. noble, that makes himfcUiport, with the wounds of his 
 own companion. V\'hofocver will j(?/?,fliould be like him that purines 
 at zfhow : he may turn his weapon any way, but not aim more at one, 
 than at another. In this cafe, things like Truth-, arc better than Truth 
 it [elf. Nor is it Icfs ill than unfafe, to fling about this voormrvood of the 
 brain: fome nofes are too tender to endure the ftrcngth of the Jmell. 
 And though there be many, like tyledhonfes., that can admit a falling 
 fpark, unwarm'd : yet fome again, arc covered with fuch light, dry 
 firarv, that with the Icaft touch they will kindle, and flame about your 
 troubled ears : and when the houje is on fire, it is no difputing with how 
 fmall a matter it came : it will quickly proceed to milchiet Sxitus lr<x 
 furor : Anger is but a ftep from %ige\, and that is wildc_^rr,which will 
 not be extinguillicd. I know,w//? men arc not too nimble at an injury. 
 '^or,Z'i\w\\h fir e.yt\\(^ light fluffe,2LnArubi>ijh., kindles fooncr than the 
 folidj and more compared : fo anger fooncr inflames a Fool^ than a man 
 compofcd in ins refilutions. But we arc not fure alwayes to meet 
 difcreet ones : nor can wc hope it, while wc our felves arc otherwife in 
 giving the occaflon. Fools are the greater number : tvife men are like 
 timber-tree s\n a Tvo(?^,here and there one : and though they be moft ac- 
 ceptable, to men wife like themfclvcs, yet have they never more need 
 01 wifdcmy than when they converfc with the ringing elboes : who, like 
 corrupt air, vcc\mve mzBy Antidotes, tokccp us from being intcdcd : 
 But when we grow bitter to zrvifeman-, we arc then reorf: Eor, he 
 fees further into the difgrace, and is able to harm us more. Laughter 
 lliould dimple the cheek, not fnrrovi? the brorv into ruggcdnefs.The birth 
 is t\\c\\ frodigiotis,\^\\Qn Alifchief is the child o\ Mirth. All llioulJ have 
 liberty to kugh at a Jefi: but it it throws a difgracc upon one, like the 
 crack ot a firing, it mikes a flop in the Afufck. Fltttts wc may fee pro- 
 ceed from an inward contempt ; and there is nothing cuts deeper in a 
 generous mif/d than (corn. Nat/treat firft makes us all equal: wc arc 
 di^crcncWbviihx accident, and oulnrards. Audi think 'tis X jealoufe 
 that fhc hath intus'd in Man-,{ox: the maintaining ot her own Honeur a- 
 gainft external cattfes. And though all have not wit to reject the Ar- 
 roKVy yetnioft have memory 10 retain the ojfence • which they will be 
 
 concent 
 
 y
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 content to owe a while ,thac they may repay it both with more ad-van- 
 tagCj and eafe. 'Tisbnt an unhappy iv^/,that ftirs up Enemies againft the 
 owner. A man may fpit out \i\s friend trom his tongtie ; or laugh him ; 
 into an Enemy. Gall in mirth is an ill mixture ^ and fometimes truth is 
 bitter nefs. 1 would wiui any man to be fleafingly merry : but let him i 
 beware, he bring not Truth on the Stage^ like a wanton with an edged ' 
 weapon. 
 
 X X X 1 X- 
 
 of Jpj^nhmfton in Wrongs. 
 
 WE make our fclvcs more injuries than are offered us;they many 
 times pafs for wrongs in our own thoughts^ that were never 
 meant fo,by the heart of him that fpeaketh. The apprehenjion of wrongs 
 hurts more,than the fharpeft part of the wrong done. So,by falfly ma- 
 king of our khcspatients of n'yo»^,we become the true and Erft Actors. 
 It is not good, in matters ot difcourtefie^ to dive into a mans mind, be- 
 yond his own Comment : nor to ftir upon a doubtful indignity, w'ahoMZ 
 it ; unlefs we h3.\c proofs, that carry weight and conviction with them. 
 Words do fometimes fly from the tongue.,i\\^i the heart ^idi neither hatch 
 nor harbour. W\\].\t we think to revenge an injury, we many t\.n\Qt begin 
 one : and after that, repent our mi/conceptions. In things that may have 
 Adottblefenfey'tisgoodzoihinV.j'Xhc better was intended; fofhallwe 
 ftill both keep our friends, and quietnefs. If it be a wrong that is appa- 
 rent ; yet is it fometimes better to dijjemb/e it, than play the f^'afp, and 
 ftrive to return a Jiing. A wife 7nans glory is, in pafling by an offence : 
 and iWis Wis Solomons Phtlofophy. A fWftrook C^^fin the Bath; and 
 when he was forry for it, Catohid forgot it : For,fayes Seneca, Meliut 
 putavit non agnofcere-, quam ignofcere. He would not come fo near Re- 
 venge, as to acknowledge that he had been wronged. Light injuries are 
 made none, by a not regarding ; which with a. purfuin^ revenge, grow 
 both to height, and burthen. It ftands not with the difcretion of a 
 generouifpirit, to rcimn a. punijjjment ior cx'ST"} abufe. Some arc fuch, 
 as they require nothing but contempt to kill them. The cudgel is not of 
 ufe, when the beafl but only barks. Though much fufferance be zflupi- 
 dity; yet.a little is of good cfteem.We hear of many that are diflurbed 
 with a light offence^^nd we condemn them for it : becaufc,that which 
 we call remedy. Aides into difeafe ; and makes that live to mijchief us, 
 which elfe would ^/f,with giving life to fafety. Yet, 1 know not what 
 [elf partiality makes us think our felvcs bchind-handjif we oifer not re- 
 payment in the fame coin we received it. Of which, if they may ftand 
 for reafons,\ think, I may give you two. One is the fudden apprehenjion 
 of the mind, which will endure any thing with more patience, than a 
 di [grace ; as if by the Cecvetfpirits ot the air it conveyed a fab to the 
 ^ethereal foul. Another is,becaure living among m.inr,we would juftifie 
 our felves, to avoid their contempt ; and thcfe being moft fuch, as are 
 not able to judge, we rather fatisfie them by external anions, than rely
 
 f 
 
 1{ES0LVES. 
 
 6% 
 
 upon ^judicious verdict^ which gives as in for nobler-, by contemning it- 
 Howfoevcrvvc may prize the revengeful man ioxfpirit-^ yet without 
 doubt Ws Princely to difdain A wrong: who, when Embaffadors hiwc 
 offered undfcencies-)\iCc not to c^^i?,buc to deny them audience : as if ^- 
 lence were the rvay Royal to rejed a vpreng. He enjoys a brave compojed 
 nefsjthat feats himfelf above the flight of the injunom claw. Nor does 
 he by this Aiew his vpeaknefs^ but his wifdom. Vov-,QHi leviter feviunt, 
 fapinnt magis : The mfe/f rage the leajl. I love the man that is modeftly 
 valiant., that ftirs not till he muft needs ; and then to purpose. K con- 
 tinued patience I commend not ; 'tis different from what is goodness. 
 For though Gsd bears much-^^tt he will not bear always. 
 
 XL 
 When Vue U mojl dangerotts, 
 
 WHen rice is got to the midjl^k is hard to ftay hcr,till (he comes 
 to the end. Give a hot Horfe his head at firfl,and he will furcly 
 run away with you. Who can flop a man in the thunder of his rvrath^ 
 till he a little hath difcharg'd his paffion either by intemperate fpeech or 
 blows ? In vain we preach ipatience^ prefently alter the fcnfe of the 
 lofs. What a (tir it asks, to get a man from the Tavern^whcn he is but 
 half-drunk \ Dejire is difperfed into every vein ; that the Body is in all 
 his parts concupifcible. And this dies not in the way • but by difcharge 
 or recefs. Tht middle o{ extremes is worf\. In the beginning^hc may for- 
 bear-jin the^Wjhe will leave alone : in the middefl-^'e. cannot but go on 
 to worfe ; nor will he, in that hcat,admit of any thing, that may teach 
 him to deiifl. Rage is no friend to any man. There is a time, when 'tis 
 not fafe to offer even the befi advice. Be counfel'd by the Roman Ovid. 
 
 T)um furor in curfu fjl, current i cede fur or i ; 
 Dijficiles adftm impetus omnis habet. 
 
 Stulttts.) ab obliquo qui cum difiedere pojjit, 
 Pugnat in adverfas ire natator aquas. 
 
 When rage runs fwiftly ffcp afide, and fee 
 
 How hard th' approaches of fierce Fury be. 
 
 When danger may be fliun'djl reckon him 
 
 Unwifc that yet againft the ftream will fwim. 
 We are fo blinded in the heat of the chafe^ihat we beat back all prefer- 
 vatives : or make them means to make our xwfj more. That 1 may 
 keep my fclf from the end , 1 will ever leave olV in the beginning. 
 Wliatfocver Precepts f\ri£t Stoicifm would give us, for the calming of 
 untemperdpaffion; 'tis cert3in,there is none like running away. Preven- 
 tion is the bell bridle. I commend the policy of Satyrus^oi whom Arijlo- 
 r/(?hath this Story; that being a Pleader.,mv\ knowing himfelf t/Wmc^, 
 and,in that whirre of the mind, apt to rulli upon foul tranjgrepon ; he 
 ufed to flop his ears withmijc, Icflthcfcnlc of /i/ Language iliould 
 caufe Ins fierce blood lo fccth in Wis difiended skin. It is m Man loi- 
 void the occafion-^ but not "d^K. inconvenience^ when he hach admitted it. 
 
 K Who
 
 66 
 
 %E S LV E S. 
 
 Who can retire in the imfetuoui girds of the Soul ? Let a Giant knock, 
 while the door is fliut, he may with eafc be ftill kept out ; but it it 
 once open,that he gets in but a limb ot himfelf, then there is n© courfc 
 let: to keep out the cntirer bulk. 
 
 XL I. 
 'that all thin^i are refirained, 
 
 J Cannot think of any thing that hath not fome enemy ^ox fome AntA- 
 I gomjlfio reftraln itjWhen it grows to excefe. The whole wcrldis or- 
 der by difcord ; and every part ot it is but a more particular compofed 
 jar. Not a Afan,uoz a beaJi,wot a cre.it Hre,h\it have fomcihingtoballaft 
 their lightnefs. On^fcak is not always in defreffJ on -tViOi the other lifted 
 ever high ; but the alternate wave of the beam keeps it ever in thcpUj 
 of motion. From the Pifinirc on the tnfted hiU to ttie Monarch on the 
 raifed Throne, nothing but hath fomewhat to aripe it. We are all here 
 like ^/r^/,that Toys let flye in tarings ; when we monnt too high^wc have 
 that which puis us down again. What man is it which lives fo happily ^ 
 which fears not fomcthing^that would faddcn his [oul if it fell ? nor is 
 there any whom Calamity doth fo much triftitiatc, as that he never fees 
 the flajljes ot fome warmingjc/. Beafis with beafis arc terrified and d£- 
 lighted. Man wich man is ^w^'^and defended. States with States are 
 bounded and upholded. And in all thefe it makes greatly for the Makers 
 ^/or/jthat fuch an admirable Harmony fhould be produced out of fuch 
 an infinite difcerd. The world is both a perpetual rvar, and a wedding. 
 Hcraclittts call'd Difcord and Concord the uni\erral Parents. And to rail 
 on Difccrd (fiys the Father of the Poets) is to fpcak ill oi Nature. ks in 
 mufick, fomecimcs one ftring is lowderjfomethiies another ; yet never 
 one long, nor never all at once : fo fometimes one State gets a Monar- 
 cby, fometimes another ; fometime one Element is violent, now ano- 
 ther : yet never was the whole wcr/^ under one long, nor were all the 
 Elements raging together. Every ftring has his «/?,and his ?««f ,and his 
 ?//r».When the ^j(^r/'4»j fcll,the Perfians rofe. When the Per flans fell, 
 the Grecians rofe. The lofs of one man, is the gain o{ another. 'Tis vi- 
 ciffitude that maintains the vtorld. As in intinite circles about one Cen- 
 ter there is the lame method, though not the fame meafnre : fo in the 
 fmalleft creature that is there is an 'Epitome of a Monarchy, of a ^P'orld^ 
 which hath in it (cli Gonvul/Ions. Arefcations, Enlargements, Ereclims : 
 whichjlikc props, keep it upright,\\'\\ich way focvcr kleans. Surely God 
 hath put thefe lower things into the hands of Nature, which yet he 
 doth not reltnqtiifh, but difpofc. The world is compofed of four Ele- 
 fnents,md thofe be contraries. The year is quartered into four diffe- 
 rent /f^y^/zj-. Tlie body both confifts, and is nouritb.ed by contraries. 
 How divers, even in effect are the birds, and the heajlsz\\itfeedn.s; and 
 how divers again are are thofe things thitfeed themlHow many feve- 
 ral qualities have the plants ih^z they brotvfe upon ? which allm'ingled 
 togc cher,w'hac a well-temper'd SaUad do they makc?The mind coo is a 
 
 mixture
 
 y^ESOLFES. 
 
 I 
 
 mixture of dijparitie-^ :joj,forron>^ hope, fear :, hate, aod the like- Neithe'- 
 arc thofe things p/eajw^ , which flow to us , in the fnuothuefs of a 
 ktcprcjlitittion. A gentle refinance heightens the dcfires of the [eeker. 
 A friendly war doth indulciatc the enfuing cloze. 'Yisvariety that hits 
 thc^«wt>rxof both fides, 'Tisthe imbecillity of declining ^^<f,that com- 
 mits man prifoncr to a/^^^^^iry fettiednefs. That which is the vigor 
 of his life-y is rangin'r. He.it and c»ld.,dryKefs and moyfture, quarrel and 
 agree within him. In all which he is but the great veorlds Breviarj. Why 
 may we not think the ryorld like a ntafqui/tg "Battel, which God com- 
 manded to be made lor his own content in viewing it ? Wherein, even 
 2i dying file may lecture out the ivor/i^^;^^/'/^/?//. Surely, we deceive 
 our felveSjto think, on e'^r//^, continued joys wonld pleafe. 'Tisaway 
 that crollcs that which Natnre goes. Nothing would be more tedious, 
 than to be glutted with perpetual JvHit/es : were the ipody tyed to one 
 difh always, (though ot the moftcxquifite delicate , that it could make 
 choife of) yet after afmall time, it would complain of loathing zwAfa- 
 tiety. And (b would the/c«/,it it did ever epicure it felt \Vi]oy. Difcon- 
 tents are fomctimes the better part of our lifeX know not well which 
 is the more useful) Joy I may chufe io'c pleafure^hnt adverfities are the 
 hQ&. {ox profit. And fometimes thefe do fc^ lar help me, as I ftioidd, 
 without them, want much of thej^^ 1 have. 
 
 67 
 
 XLII. 
 Of Vip'mulatm. 
 
 DIjJitmiUtion in Vice is like the "Brain in man. All the Senses have 
 recourfe to that, yet is it much controverted, whether that at all 
 h^fenfitive, 01 no:So,allTW«?j- tall into diJfimHlatien,)et is itin zdijpute, 
 whether that in it felf be a Tice, or no. Sure, men would never a6t vice 
 fo freely, if they thought not they could efcape the (hame on't by dif- 
 femhling. rice hath fuch a loathed look with her, tiiat fhe dcfires to be 
 e\cr mafqned. Deceit is 3. drefs that Hie does continually wear. And 
 howfocvcr the ?fW^x corrupted courfe may make us fomctimes ufc it ; 
 even this will condemn it, that it is not of ufe,but either when we do ill 
 omfi;lves , or meet with ill from others. Men are divided about the 
 queftion^ fomc difclaiiu/?//,fumc admit too wz«f/y, anJ fome havehit 
 the Mean. And furcly as the tvorld is,it is not all condemnable. There is 
 an honeflfdicy. Tlic heart is not fo far from \\-\<i. tongue, but that there 
 may be a rejervation ; though not a contradiction between them. All 
 policy is but c[xc\\n\{kim:x\ dil}eml>ling ; pretending one thing, /«r^W/«^ 
 another. Some will fo far allow it, as they admit oi an ablblutc rccejs 
 itom 3. Tvord cilrcaiy pajjed, and fay, ihxt Faith ishnti merchant!, or 
 mechanick-vertue : And fo they make it higher, by making ic a rcsal 
 wVf .There is an order thatout-gocth Machuvel: or elfc he is honcttcr 
 than his wont,wherc he confeRcs,V fits frauds in ceteris aciionihtu dete- 
 (iabilis : in hello gerendt laudabilis. That fraud which in war is comwenda- 
 ble, is, in other actions, detejlxble. 'Tis certain there is a prerogative in 
 
 K z Princes,
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 Pr^wf^,whichmay legitimate ion\tx.h\x\'g in their Negotiatiom^\N\\iQ\\ is 
 no: allowable in ^prfvateperfoff.hut even the grant of this lil^ertjyYunh 
 encouracred them to too great an laUrgement. State is become an ir- 
 reliqiem Riddle. Lewii the eleventh ol France would wifli his fon to 
 learn no more Latine., than what would teach liim to be a di^emyiing 
 Rtdtr. The plain heart,[n fcurt, is but grown a better word tor a FcoL 
 Great me/r haveoccafions both more, and of more weight, and fuch as 
 require contrivings, that go not the ordinary way ; kllj being traced, 
 they be cormtermi»ed-,and fall to rume.Thc ancient Romans did (I think) 
 mijcal it, Induftry. And when it was againft ■i.wenemy, or a bad man., 
 they reeds would have i-t c('wwfW^/'/if. And yet tlic prifoncr that got 
 from Hannibal^-^ eluding his oath^wd.'i by the Scnate(as Livie tells us) 
 apprehended 3.wA fent back again. Ihcy prAcfiz,'d more than fonie of 
 them taught ;tnough in this deed there was a greater caufe of perform- 
 aiiccjbccaufe tl;cre was a voluntary truft repofed. (^ontrary to the opi- 
 nion of P/ii/Pjthar allowed a lye lawful,either to fave a Citizen^ or de- 
 ceive zn enemy. There is ay^//,that the Poet bid us coezen ^ 
 
 Falltte falientes^ ex magna, parte profanum 
 Sunt genus : in laqueos, quospofuere^ cadent. 
 
 Coozen the Coozcners ; commonly they be 
 
 Profane : let their c^nfnare their ruine be. 
 But lure we go too farjwhen our coozenage breeds their mifchief. 1 
 know not well wnether I may go along with Lipfim ; Fr'am triplex : 
 prima levis,ut diffimulatio^r^ dtjfidentia : banc ju.ideo. Secunda media., ut 
 cenciliatio,^ deceptto'.iUam tolero. Tertia magna-,nt perjidia^c^ injujlitia., 
 ifiam damno. I had rather take Peter Martyrs dijiinciion of good and had: 
 Good, as the JVurfc with the child^ot the Phyjician with his Patient.^ for 
 his /'^.t/^AV fake: Bad, when 'tis any way author of /-(jrw. .Certain- 
 ly, the ufe oi it any way is as great z fault , as an imperfeHion • and car- 
 ries a kind o[ diffidence oi God along with it. 1 believe if Man had not 
 fain., hcfhould never need haveus'd it; and as he is now, I think 
 no Man can live without it. The bell way to 4zwWit,is to 4'i'w^much 
 hufinefs and fice. For, if wen defend not in fome fort,as others offend ; 
 while you maintain one breach, you leave another unmann'd : and for 
 Fice, flie ever thinks in thhdark:, to hide her abhorred foulnefs. If I 
 muft ufe it, itfliall be only fo, as I will neither, by it,dtJhonour "K^ligi- 
 on^ nor be a caufe of hurt to my neighbour. '^ 
 
 XLIII. 
 Of Cenfure, 
 
 TIs the eafiefi part to cenfure, or to contradiii a truth. For truth is 
 bnt<»,^^, and feeming//'«^/'j" arc W4«)' ; and few veorks arc per- 
 formed without errors. No man can write fix lines, but there uiay be 
 fomething one may carp at, if he be difpofcd to cavil. Opinions arc as 
 varioM,asfalfe.^udgment is, i\:on\ every tongue, 3. feveral. Men think 
 by cenfuringtoheaccountea wife; bm^m my conceit, there is nothing 
 lays
 
 '!{ E S L V E S\ 
 
 lays forth more of the Fool. For this you may ever objerve-^ chcy ti.a. 
 kmve \Qai\:iCenftire\\\o\k. And this I believe to be a reajon^ why men o' 
 precife /ives,zze often rafb in this extrnvigAttcy. Their rctirednej's kct pi 
 them jgnorttnt in the courfe oHfiJi/jefs • it they weighed the imperfecti- 
 ons ot humanity ihcy would breathe left condemnation. Ignorance gives 
 difparagefnent, a lowder tongue than Know/edge does. ^//^ ?^f« had ra- 
 Ciicr /'/7on', than /'r//. Frequent dijpraifis arc, at beft, but the faults of 
 uncharitable vvir. Any C/on7» may fee the Furrow is but crooked^ but 
 where is the »?.t« that cm plow me a freight one ? The beft n'/^rX'^ are 
 but a kind ot yl'///c-i?//W^?;'; the cleaneft C(Jr;?,will nor be without fomt 
 foil : No not a'cer ofcen rvinnowing. There is a tinclnre oi corruption-, 
 that dies even :\.\\mortaliiy. I would wifii men in wcrZv of ochcrs, to 
 examine two things before they judge. Whether it be iwoxcgocd, than 
 ill: And whether they thcmfelves could at firft have pcrtorm'd it bet- 
 ter. If it be moiigood ; wc do amifs ior (ome errors to condemn the 
 rvhole. W ho will caft away the whole body of the Eeaft-y becaufc it in- 
 held both^///j and ordure ? As man is not judged ^oo^, or bad-, tor one 
 actton^ot tiic feweft number j but as he is mod in general: So in works, 
 we lliould weigh the ^^<'»o''r.i//rj/, and, according to tha.t,cenfurc. If it be 
 rather ^<'ci^ than ill, 1 think he deferves {omc praifc, tor raifmg Nature 
 above her ordinary //^/^^. Nothing in this n'orld can be framed fo en- 
 tirely /'rr/r J?, but that it Hiall have in it fomc delinquencies, to argue 
 more were in the comprifor. It it were notfo,it were not trom l^ture., 
 but the immediate Deity. The next, it wc had never fecn that frame., 
 whether or no,we think wc could have mended it. To efpy the inconve- 
 niences of a houfe built, x'^eafie : but to lay the plot at lirft, well ; is 
 matter of more /-/j/^, and fpeaks the/^-^zz/i? ot a good Contriver. The 
 crooked lines help better to lliew the freight. "judgment [s more certain 
 by the eye-, than in ihc fancy ; furcr in things done than in thofe that are 
 but in cogitation. If we tind our felvcs able to corred a Copy^mA not to 
 produce an Origin.il.,'^cx. dare to deprave; we lliew more Criticifm than 
 Ability. Seeing we fliould rather magnihc him, that hath^ow beyond 
 us ; than condemn \\iSvporth for a few fails. Self -examin-tt ion will make 
 om judgments charitable. 'Tis from where there is no judgment-, that 
 the hc3.vici\ judgment comes. If wc muft needs ccnfure-, 'tis good to do 
 it as Suetonius w:[tcs of the twelve Cefars j tell both their vertues,and 
 thc'iv vices unpartially : and leave the upfhot to celle^ion o{ the private 
 mind.So Hiall wc learn by hearing of the faults to avoid them : and by 
 knowing the vertucs praiStile the like, Othcrwifc, we rtiould rather 
 praife a man for a little^uoir/jchan brand him tor his more ot lU.MWc are 
 full of /4«//j,by Nature-^\wt 3l:c good^not withoni our care and indtijiry. 
 
 ^LIV. 
 
 Of Wifdom and Science. 
 
 Q^Cicncehy much is Hiort o^f^ifdom. Nay,ro tar, as I thinkyou fliall 
 O f'^'ii'cc tind a mo\c Foof thanfomctimcsamccr Scholar. He will 
 
 fpeak
 
 'O 
 
 3^ E S PL FES. 
 
 fpcak Greek to an Ofiler, and Lati»e familiaily to rvomen that undcr- 
 Ita'nd it not. Ktiovpledge is the trexfiire of the wy/W,but Difcretion is the 
 key : without which it lies dead, in tb.e dulncfs ot a frhifkfs rejl. The 
 praclick part of m[dom is the Left. A native ingenuity is beyond the 
 watchin'JS of indufkrious ftudy. infdom is no inheritance ^\\o not to the 
 prcateft C/t-rytj-. Men vpr'ite commonly more formallyj than thcy^i'?-^- 
 ciife-^ and they com-erfing only among books arc pin into affeBation, and 
 peda/it/fm. He that is built of the /'rf/j, and the Pen, fliallbe lure to 
 malcc himklf ridiculous. Compmy and Converfation are the bcft Injiru- 
 clors for a Noble bebxvionr. And this is not tound in a- meUnchdy ftudy 
 alone. What is written, is moft from Itmgination and f.-Jzzcr.And iiow 
 aery muft they needs be, that are ctngeriated wholly on tlic fumes, per- 
 haps of dijlempered brAtns ? For if they nave not judgment-, by their 
 Learning., to amend their converfttio.-js ; they may well wintjudgment 
 to chufc the worthieft Authers- \2.xx\Mi\\Q)' knowntuch : and 1 think 
 anv man may dofo, that Hath but Memory :,z?A beftows fome time in a 
 Library, "ilicrc '\s 2t jlovcing Kublenefs.,ihai (ome men be graccdvvith, 
 which fat out-'Aiines tlieA/c/w^3-ot i timed Student. And without the 
 vain purls of \Rhetorique ; fome men fpcak more exceilently., even from 
 N^itures own j»dicioufnefs,ihin can the Scholar by his quiddits of Art, 
 How fond and nnttmable are Frefb-mens [Brawls ^ when we meet them 
 out of their Co^eqe> with many times a long recited Sentense, quite 
 out of the wrfjj Arguments about nothing ; or at bcft,^/V,'//r/. As one 
 \so\A^\>tQ'^ Martin ■i Religion, z.\\ox\\<t\.o\. Luther s, and fo quarrel a- 
 bout their faith. How ea fie m invention may put falfe matcer into 
 true Syllooifms'^. So 1 fee how Senfta lau^ht at ihem.O pueriles ineptias .' 
 inhocJHpcrcilt.i [ubdiiximia} in hoc barbatn dimi-jimus '^. Difpurationes 
 ifla^ utinam tantnm non prodefent.,nocent. O mojl childifj fogies ! ii it far 
 this vre knit our breves^ andjhoke cur beards ? JVoitld Gcd thefc Difputati- 
 0ns tnly did not profit m ; they are hurtful. \n dtfcmrfe, give me a ^/4» 
 that fpcaks reafon:, rather cheti Authors: rather fenfe, than a Syllogifm, 
 rather his on?//,than another s. He that continually quotes others, argues 
 a barrcnr.efs in himfelf\ wfiich forces him to be ever a borrowing. In 
 the one, a man bewrays Judgment:, in the other, Reading. And in my 
 opinion, 'tis a greater commendation to fay, lie is w/y^,than well-r^^^. So 
 far 1 will honour Knowledge.^ as to think, this art of the brain., when it 
 meets with an able Nature in the mind^ then only makes a man com- 
 pleat. Any wi/fftiallfpeak the better, where he kneyvs\v\\zx. others 
 havefaid. And fometimes the confcioufnefs of his inward knowledge, 
 gives a confidence to his outward behaviour : which of all other is the 
 beft thing to grace a man in his carriage. 
 
 I 
 
 XL v.. 
 
 That mifal>plication makes Tafsion ill. 
 
 Read it but of ^Wjthat 'tis faid,He was a Alan after G»ds own heart. 
 And Him among all others, 1 find extremely paffiomte, and very j 
 
 valiant.
 
 1{ E S L V E S. 
 
 viilunt.\iWo ever read fuch bitter Curfes, as he prays may light upon 
 his Enemies ? Let DeMh comehafiily upon them : and let them go quick 
 to Hell. Let them fall from one rvickednefs to another. Let them be wiped 
 out of the Book of Life. Let their prayer he turned into fin. Certainly, 
 iTiould fuch imprecations tall trom a Modern tongue, we fliould cenfure 
 them for want ot charity : and 1 think we might do it j*/?//. For God 
 hath not given us Commifion to curfc his enemies^, as he did to David, 
 The Gofpcl hath fet Religion to a fweeter Tunc. The Lava was o-ivcn 
 with 7V;;vWir,(lriking Terr our in the Hearers ^ The Gofpei with Mufick, 
 Veyces-, and Angel-like apparitions. The Law came in like f^'ar^ threat- 
 ning mine to the Land of Man • The Gofpel like Peace^ in the foit plea- 
 fures of uniting Weddings. And this may fatisfie for his r/Vfl«r ; But if 
 we look upon him in another trim of the mind : \\ow fmooth he is, and 
 mollifying 't how docs his yiJ^/ melt it felt into his eyes, and l^is horvels 
 flow with the full Jlreams ofcompa/fion ? how fixt he was to Jonathdn ? 
 how like a weak and tender woman, he laments his Rehel Alfolom, and 
 weeps ottcner, than I think we read oi any through the whole Story of 
 the Bihle ? His valour^ we cannot doubt : it is fo eminent in his kihng 
 of the Bear and Lyon : in his r/n^/ with that huge Volyphemc of the Phi- 
 liflims^zn^ his \\\di\\y othex Martial acis againftthcm. So that there 
 (eemstobc in him, the highcfl: pitch ot contraryingpaffions : and yet 
 the man,from Gods ovon mouthy hath a tcftimony of a true approvement. 
 S^\\en pajjions Z'ce direded to their right end, they may fail in their 
 manner -^hwK. not in their meafnre. When thcfuhjef^ of our hatred is Jin, 
 it cannot be too dee{^ : When the ol>jecf of our Love is God, it cannot be 
 toe high. Moderation may become cl fault. To be but 7v.trw,when God 
 commands us to be hot, isjinful. \A cbelye rertue into the conftant 
 dulncfs of a Mediocrity. 1 fliall never condemn the nature ot thofc 
 men, that are fometimes z'w/i?«/' : but thofc that know notjwhen 'tis// 
 to be (o.raUr is then beft tcmpcr'd,when it can turn out of a (kcrnfor- 
 titude into the mild ftrains of Pity. 'Tis written to the honor oi Tam- 
 berlane, that conquering the Mufcovites with cxprelTion of a princely 
 valour, he falls from the j(y of the victory, to a lamentation of the ma- 
 ny cafual mijerics chcy endure, that they arc tycd to follow the leading 
 o'i AmhitioM Cjcnerals : And all this, from the light of the ^(?/i,covered 
 with the fetiilejs men. Some report of Ctfir, that l.e wept^ when he 
 heard how Pompey dy'd. Though pity be a downy verti<e,yQi iIk- never 
 fliines more brightly, than when ("lie is clad in/ieel. A Alartial man 
 compaponate fliall conquer both in /'C.-fff and w^r; and by a two-told 
 way get f^ichry, with honour. Temperate men have their paj/ions fo bal- 
 lanced within them, as they have none of either fide in their height 
 and purity. Therefore, as they feldom fall into foul acts j fo they very 
 rarely call a lutlrc, in the excelling deeds ofNvhlenefs, I obferve in the 
 general, \^^^: mo^ famed men tftben'orld\\\\e\\\<\ inthemboth Cou- 
 rage and CompaJJion ; and oftentimes wet eyes, as well as wounding 
 hands. I would not rob Temperance of her Royalty, Fabim may con- 
 quer by delaying, as w«.ll as dfar, by expedition. As the cajitalties of 
 
 the 
 
 7^
 
 ^ESOLFES. 
 
 the rvorU arc, Temperance is a 'uertue of fingular worth : But without 
 doubt, highjpirits dircftcd right will bear away the Bays for more 
 glorietu actions. Thefc are beft to raife Co^^'^^-^^'^^ths : but the 
 orhcr are beft to rule them after. This, bcft keeps in order-, when 
 the other hath flood the/Z'of/& of an inmvation ; of either, there is ex- 
 cellent ufe. As I will not over-value the moderate : So I will not too 
 much difejicem the violent. An 2inoW:,aimed rights is not the worfe for 
 being dravpft home. That action is beft done, which being ^W, is done 
 withthc w^w/fr ofthci^/mj. What makes zeaKo commendable, but 
 the fervency that it carryeth with /'/ ? 
 
 XLVI. 
 Of the Tt>a/ie and change of Time, 
 
 f Look upon the lavifli Expences of former -Ages, with Pity and /dd- 
 miration. That thofe things men built for the honour of their name, 
 (as they thought) arc cither eaten up by iVtJleely Teeth of Time , or 
 elfe reft as monuments, but of their pride, and luxury. Great vporks,]ix\- 
 dertakcn ioi ojientation , mifs of their fW, and turn to the Authors 
 (Ijame : if not ; the tranfitions of time, wear out their engraved names, 
 and they laft not much longer then C4/g'«/(r's 'Bridge over the "Bajx. 
 What is become of the Maufoleum,ox. ihtfljip-beftr'iding Colojfm}whete 
 is Mar cut Scaur ta Theater, the Bituminated tvals of Babylon l and how 
 little refts of the z/Egyptian pyramids ? and of thcfe, how divers does 
 report give in their 'Builders ? fome afcribing them to oWjfome to ano- 
 ther. Who would not pity the toyls of Vertue , when he fhall find 
 greater honor infcribed to loofe Phryne,'Cc\&VL to vidtorious Alexander ? 
 who when he had razed the veals of Thebes,^(t offcr'd to reedtfie them, 
 with condition this Sentence might but on them be inlittefd : Alexan- 
 der pu]l'd them down ; but Phryne did rebuild them. From whence,fome 
 have jefted it into a quarrel for fame, betwixt a whore and a Thief: 
 Doubtlefs, no Fortifications can hold againft the cruel devajlations of 
 Time. I could never yet find any eflate exempted from this Mutability. 
 Nay,' thofe which we would have thought had been held up with ilie 
 ftrongcft pillars of continuance, have yet fuftered the extremeft changes. 
 The houfes of the dead, and the urnedbones, have fometimes met with 
 rude hands,ihaz have fcattered them Who would have thouglit when 
 Scanderbeg was laid in his totnb, that the Turks fhould after riffle it, 
 and wear his bones for J-eveels ? chmge is the great Lord of the World, 
 Time is his Agent, that brings in all things tofu&r his un/iaid Do- 
 minion. 
 
 '-—— — lUe tot "B^gum parens, 
 
 Caret Sepulchro Priamfti,(ir flamma indiget. 
 
 Ardenie Troja 
 
 -He that had a Prince each fonne, 
 Now finds nograve, and Troy in flames. 
 He wants his Funeral one. 
 
 We
 
 "!{ E S L l^ E S. 
 
 » Wc arc fo far from leaving any thing certain to pq^erit)/, tha.i we can- 
 not be fure to iffjfy what wc have, while we live. We //f^" fomctimcs 
 to fee more changes in our felves, than we coald expecl could happen 
 to our lajfing ojf-Jpring. As if none were ignorant ot the Faie-^ the Poet 
 asks. 
 
 Divitii audita e(l cui non epulentia Crceji ? 
 Nempe tamen vitam-, captm ab hojle tultt. 
 
 lUe, Syracufa. modo formidatm in urbe-^ 
 Fix humili duram repptdtt arte famem. 
 
 Who has not heard of Crceftu heaps of Gold, 
 Yet knows his Foe did him a Pris'ner hold ? 
 
 He that once aw'd Sicylia's proud extent, 
 By a poor Art-, could Famine fcarce prevent. 
 Wc all put into the fVorld, as men put Money into a Lottery. Some 
 lefe all, and get nothing : Some with nothings get infinitc/>r/^;f ^ which 
 perhaps ventring again,with hope hope ot increafe, t\\€y lofe wahgriefj 
 that they did not reft contented. There is nothing that we can confident- 
 ly call our own : or that we can furely fay,we Qiall cither do-, or avoid. 
 We have not pon>er over the prefent : Much Icfs over the futurs^whtn 
 we lliall be abfent ; or diffolved. And indeed, if wc confidcr the kVorld 
 aright, wc fhall find fome reafon^fov thefe continual Mutations. If eve- 
 ry one h^Apovper., to tranfmit the ccnnin pojfefflon of all his acqmfitions., 
 to his own Succeedcrs., there would be nothing left, for the Noble Deeds 
 oinewafpirers to purchase: Which would quickly betray the rvorld.y to 
 an incommunicable dulnefs , and utterly difcourage the generous defigns 
 of the ftirrinfr., and more elementary fbirit. As things now arc, every 
 man thinks fomething may /4tf to his pare: and lincc it muft crown 
 fome indcavours , he imagines ^ why not his? Thus by the various 
 treads of Men-^ every action comes to be done., which is requifite for 
 the Worlds maintaining. But fincc nothing here below is certain, I will 
 never purchafe any thing with too great a hazard. 'Tis Ambition, not 
 fvifdom, that makes Princes 'hzza:d their whole elates for an honor 
 mcerly titular. If I find that /»/, which 1 thought to have kept ; 1 will 
 comfort my fclf with this, that I knew the tvorld was changeable j and 
 that as God can take away a lefsgeod : fo he can, if he plea(c,confer me 
 Sigreater. 
 
 73 
 
 XLV.Il. 
 Of Veath. 
 
 THerc is no spectacle more profitable., or more terrible, than the 
 fight of a dying w/t»,whcnhe lies exfpiring his foul on his d<^ath- 
 bed: to fee how the ancient focicty of the body and the /(Wis divcllcd ; 
 and yet to fee how they thugglc at the parting : being in fonic doubt 
 what fliall become of them attcr. The (pints i\mnk inward, and retire 
 to the anguiflit heart : as if, like Sons prell from an indulgent Father, 
 they would come lor a fad Fale, from tliat which was their lifesmain- 
 
 L tainer : | 
 
 ^\
 
 74 
 
 li^ESOLFES. 
 
 tamer: while that in the mean time ^2L:\x.s'w\i\-iafrightmg paKgs ; and 
 the haniis and feet, being the moft remote from it, arc by degrees en- 
 coldned to a fajhiomble day : as if Death crept in at the Kat/s, and by an 
 infenftble furprize-, lutfocated the invirond heart. To fee how the mind 
 would fain utter it felfjwhen the Organs of the voice arc fo debilitated, 
 that it cannot. To fee how the eye fettles to a fixed dimnefs, which a 
 little before, was fwift as the Jhoots of Lightffiftg, nimbler than the 
 thought, and bright as ihc pclijht Diamond : and in which this Miracle 
 was morceminent than in any of the other parts. That it, being a mate- 
 rial earthly body, lliould yet be conveyed with quicker motion, than the 
 revolutions of an indefirnte Sotd\, fo fuddenly bringing the obje[l lo 
 conceit s,^\\z\. one would think, the apprehenjion of the heart werefcated 
 in the eye itfclf. To fee all X^vi friends, like Conduits, dropping tears a- 
 bout him ; while he neither knows his vtants, nor they his cure. Nay, 
 even the Phyjician, whofe whole life is nothing but ^jlndy and practice 
 to continue the lives of others, and who is the Anatomifi of general 
 Nature, is now as one that gazes at a Comet, which he can reach with 
 nothing, but his eye alone. To fee the Countenance, ( through which 
 perhaps there lliin'd a lovely Majefly, even to the captivating of admi- 
 ring Souls) now altered to afrighttul/'4/f//f/s-, and the terrours of a 
 ghaftly look. To tliink, how that which commanded a family , nay per- 
 haps a Kingdom • and kept all in awe , with the moving of a ffongy 
 tongue, is now become a thing fo full of /'«'rrcr,that Children fear to lee 
 it : and muft now therefore be tranfmitted from all thele inchanting 
 blandiffjments, to the dark and hideously ^T'f : Where,in ftead of fha- 
 Viwgoi tV.t gclden Scepter, it now lyes imprifon'd but in five foot of 
 Leadf and is become a nejl of worms, a lump of filth, a box of pallid pu- 
 trefeilion.'XViQXQ is even the diiicrcnce of two fevcral Worlds betwixt 
 a King enamcl'd with liis Robes and 'jeveels, fitting in his f^air of ado- 
 red StatCy and his condition in his bed of Earth, which hath made him 
 but a C.ifeoi Cramlers : and yet all this changcjwithout the lofs of any 
 vifible fiibflantial : Since all the limbs remain as they werc,without the 
 leaft fign, cither oidiflccation, or diminution. From hence 'tis, I think, 
 Scaligcr defines Death to be the Ceffation of the Souls junciiens : as if it 
 were rather a rfy?r^/;?/, than a mijjive i^. And if any thing at all be 
 wanting, 'tis only colour, motion, heat, and empty air. Though indeed, 
 if we confidcr this diffolution, man h-^ death is abfolutely divided and 
 dif-man'd. That grofs objedt, which is left to the fpeftators eyes, is 
 now only a compofure but of the two bafer Elements^ Water, and 
 Earth: that now it is thefe two only,that fcem to make the body, while 
 the two purer, jF/>^ and v4/r , are wing'd away, as being more fit for 
 the compAdi oi in elemental and afcentive Soul. When tnou flialt fee 
 all thcfc things happen to one whofe cenverjation had indearcd hiin to 
 thee ; when thou flialt fee the body put on Deaths fad and afliy coimte- 
 nance^'m the dead age ot night, wher) Jilent darknefs docs incompafs the 
 dim light ohhy glimmering Taper,znd thou hcareft a.folemn Bell tolcd, 
 to tell the fvorldoi'n ; which now,as it wcre,with this found,is ftruck 
 
 into
 
 "[{ E S L V E S. 
 
 iwio 2i dumb attentien : Tell me if thou canll then find' a thought of 
 thinc,dcvoting thee to pleafure, and the fugitabic toys o{life ? O wiiat a 
 bubble^ what ^fulfe., what but a veink of Lifcis mxn ! And with what a 
 general {wsdlow-^Death Itill gapes upon the gefter.t/ ivorld! when Hadri- 
 an askt SecunduifW'hzt 'Death vvas^Hc anfwercd in thefe feveral truths; 
 It is a (leep eternal ; the Bodies diffolution -^ the rich mans fear -^ the poor 
 maKsrvifh; an event inevitable; an uncertain If our ney-^ a Thief that 
 fieals away man ; Sleeps father ^ Life s flight ; the departure of the living , 
 and the refolittion of all. Who may not from (\xc\\ fights and thoughts as 
 thefe, learn , if he willjboth humility and loftinefs ? the one to vilific the 
 body^ which mult once perifli in ^flenchfulnaflmefs ; The other to ad- 
 vance the Sold, which lives here but tor a higher, and more heavenly 
 afcenfion ? As I would not care for too much indulgiating of the flefjj, 
 which 1 muft one day yield to the worms: So I would ever be ftudious 
 for fuch a6tions,as may appear the illues of a noble and diviner Soul. 
 
 XLVIII, 
 Of Jcllenefs. 
 
 THe idle man is the barrenejl piece of Earth in the Orb. There is no 
 Creature that hath life, but is bufied in i^omt action for the bene- 
 fit oi the r^/Z^/fW^r/^. Even tlie moft vemmous and molt ravenous 
 things that are, have their commodities as well as \^t\i annoyances : and 
 they arc ever ingaged hi fome action^ which both profitcth the tvorld:, 
 and continues them in their Natures courfes. Even the Vegetables^ 
 wherein calm Nature dwels, have their turns and times in fructifying : 
 they leaf they /lowr, they feed. Nay, Creatures quite inanimate arc 
 (fome) the moft laborious in their motion. With what a chccrly face 
 tne Golden Sun Chariots thorow the rounding skie ? How perpetual is 
 the Maiden Moon,m her juft and horn'd mutations ? The Fire^now rclt- 
 Icfs in his quick and cir.c\\m<gfiames'i In the ys?;>,what tranfitions'*. and 
 howflucluousarc the falted w.tTYJ? Nor is the teeming earth we^xy-t 
 after fo many thoufand ye'X'CS productien't All which may tutor the 
 couch-firetched mankind raife the mode/l red to fliewing thorow his un- 
 wafljt-face. idlenefs is the moft corrupting Fly-, that can blow in any hu- 
 mane mind. That /(^«or/twf is the moft miferablc , which knows not 
 what to do. The idle man is like the dumb Jack in a Virginal: while all 
 the other dance out a winning mufiek, this, like a member outofjoynt^ 
 fullcns the whole Body., with an ill difturbing lazinefs. I do not wonder 
 to (I'C fome of our Gentry grown (ivcll-ncer) the lewedefl men ot our 
 Land: fincc they are moft of them, fo muffled in a non-imployment . 
 'Tis Action that docs keep the ,So«/both (weet \\\\ found : wnile lying 
 /tilldoQS rot it i<y m crdftr d noyfomnefs. Anguflinc imputes £/4//s lols 
 n't the blef/tngi pivilytolns Ihthfielnefs, that had rather receive meat, 
 than feck it. Surely, fjcfrc//*? is the fat'ning food ot the Soul, without 
 which, flie iirows lank, and thinly-parted. That the Followers ot 
 Great men arc fo much debauched,! believe to be want of Imployment: 
 
 L z For 
 
 75
 
 1{E S L V E S. 
 
 For the Soul, impatient of an ahfolute recefs, for want ot the wholcfom 
 food oibujinefs, preys upon the lervder Acitons. 'Tis true, Men learn 
 to do ^//, by doing what is next it, nothing. I believe ^('/ozwo^ meant 
 the Jield ofthepiggard^ as well for the Emhleme of his mind., as the cer- 
 tain Index of his outward ft. ite. As the one is over-grown with Thorns 
 and dryers ; fo is the other with vices and enormities. If any wonder 
 how Egifiusgre^ adulterate, the exit of the Vcrfe will tell him— P^- 
 ftdiofm erat.^V^hcn one would brag the Uefjitigs oi the Roman ft Ate ^ 
 that lince Carthage was raz'd,and Greece fubjcded, they might now be 
 happy ^ as having nothing to fear : Says the bcft Scipio^ we novo are moft 
 in danger ; for while we want biiftnefs, and have no Foe to awe us, we are 
 ready to drown in the mudofvice andftothfnlnefs. How bright does the 
 Sou/ ^{-owwkhufe and negotiation ! With what proportioned yiv^^/'- 
 nefs does that Family flourilli, where but one laborious Guide ftecreth 
 in an order'd Ccurfe I When Cleanthes had laboured, and gotten fome 
 coin-, he fncws it his Companions, and tels them, that he now-, if he will, 
 can nouri/h another Cleanthes. Believe it, Induftry is never wholly un- 
 fruitful. If it bring not ;c^ with the /»f(!?w//ig-^ro/7/5 it will yet banifli 
 mifchiefkom x\vj bujied gates.'Wxcre is a kind of^W^;?^f/ waiting up- 
 on diligence, that ever carries a Laurel in his hand, to crown her. For- 
 tune, they faid of old, fliould not be pray'd unto, but with the hands 
 mmotion. The bofom'dfijl hcckcus the approach of poverty, and leaves 
 bcfide, the noble head ungarded ; but the lifted arm does frighten want, 
 and is ever i/hield to that noble director. How unworthy was that man 
 of the world, that ne'r did ought,but only liv'd and dyd. Though Epa- 
 minondas was fevere, he was yet exemplary, when he found a fonldier 
 flecping in hX'i watch, and ran him thorow with his -Sw^^ri; as if he 
 would bring the two Brothers, "Death ■xwd Sleep, to a meeting: And 
 when he was blam'd for that, as cruelty, he fays he did but leave him 
 as he found him, ^f4^. It is none of the meaneft happinefs, to have a 
 mind that loves a vertuous exercife : 'Tis dayly rifing to bleftednefs and 
 content ation. They are idle Divwes,'dAZ\. are not heav'ned in their lives, 
 above the un-ft udious man. Every one fhall fmell of that he is bufied 
 in: as thofethatftir among/'fr/wwfjandj^/ffjjfhall, when they are 
 gone, have ftill agratcful odour with them: fo they,that turn the leaves 
 of the worthy Writer, cannot but retain afmack of their long-liv'd Au- 
 thor. 'I hey converfe with Vertttes Seul, which he that writ, did fpread 
 upon his lafting Paper. Every good line adds' fine w to the vertuous 
 mind: and withal, heals that wf^, which would be fpringing in it. 
 That I have liberty to do any thing, I account it from the favouring 
 Heavens. That I have a mind fomctimcs inclining to ufe that liberty 
 well ; I think,I may,without bflentation, be thankful for it,as a bounty 
 of the Tieity. Sure, 1 lliould be miferable, if I did not love this bufinefs 
 in my vacancy. <l am gladof that /?///i(rf, which gives mcleifure to 
 imploy my [elf. If I fliould not grow better for it ; yet this benefit, I 
 amfure, would accrue me : Ilhould both keep my felt from worfe, 
 and not have time to entertain the Devil in. 
 
 That
 
 1 
 
 7( B S L F E S. 
 
 77 
 
 XL IX. 
 That all things have a like progrefsion andfaH. 
 
 THcre is tbc fame method thorow all the fVorld in general. All 
 things come to their height by degrees -, there they Iky the leaft 
 of time ; then they decline as they refe : only mifchief, being more im- 
 portunate, ruincs at once,what Nature hath been long a rearing. Thus 
 the Toet fung the fall. 
 
 Omma fuKt hominnm tenni ^endentiajiloy 
 
 Et fubit9 cafft, que valuer c-, ruunt : 
 All that man holds, hangs but by (lender twine ; 
 By (uddcn chance the rtrongcft things decline. 
 A<fan may be killed in an inftant ; he cannot be made to live, but by 
 fpace ot time in cenceptitn. We arc curdled to the falliion of a lifejby 
 time^ and ^q\. [uccejjions ; when all again is lojl-^ and iu the moment ot a 
 mixwMC^ gone. Plants, Jifhes^ beajls, birds, men-, all grow up by leisurely 
 progrej/ions : fo Families, Provinces, States, Kingdoms, Empires, have the 
 fame way of rife by ftcps. Aljjput the height they niuft ftay a w1iile,be- 
 caufc there is a ncernefs to the middle on both fides, as they rife, and 
 as they fall : othcrwife, their continuance in that/o^, is but the very 
 /»*/«roU//z?f, the prefentwjv, which wjv again is gone. Then they at 
 beft defcend •, but for the moft part tumble. And that which is true in 
 the fmaHeJl particulars, is, by taking a larger vie^v, the fame in the di- 
 fiended Bulk. There were firft, Men, then Families, then Tribes, then 
 Common-Wealths, then Kingdoms, Monarchies, Empires j which,we 
 find, have been the height of all rvorldly dignities : And as wcfind thofe 
 Monarchies did rife by degrees ; fo we find they have (lid again to de- 
 cay. There was the Ajfyrian, the Perfian, the Giecian, the IR^man. And 
 furc, the height of the Worlds glory was in the days of the Roman Em- 
 pire ; and tlic height ot that £mpire,[x\ the days ot Auguftm. 'T'eace then 
 gently breathed thorow the Vniverfe, Learning was then in iVcr fuUefi 
 fiourilh : no Age, cither bciore or fince, could prcfcnt us with fo many 
 ton-ring ingenuities. And then, when the vphole ivorld was moft like un- 
 to God,\n the (way otonc Monarch, \v\\q\\ they filutcd him by the Title 
 ofAugufus ; and they then, like God, began in rule to be called Jml>e- 
 ratores : This, I take it, was the fulnejs oft/me, wherein GOD, the Sa- 
 j viour of the world, vouchfated, by taking humane nature upon him, to 
 1 defcend in iho. ivorld. And furely the conlideration of fuch things as 
 thcfe, are not unworthy our thoughts : Though our Faith be not bred, 
 yet it is much confirmed, by obferving fuch like cir cum fiance s.Y>\li then 
 may we think, how (mail a time this Empire continued in this fcuri/h. 
 Even the next Emperor,TiberiHs, began to degenerate ; Caligula n\o\c ; 
 Nero yet more than hc,^till it grew to beembroyjed and difmembrcd, 
 to an abfolute divijion. Since, how has the Turk fcizcd one in the Ea(l i 
 And the other in the Weft, how much is it fubdivided,by tiiedcdudi- 
 on o^, France,'Britain, Spain'^. Some have alfoobferved the Site o\ chefc 
 Emp;res,ho\\ the firll was ncareli the Eajl ; tlic next, a 'Degree liu ther 
 
 oft";
 
 78 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 oA; and fo on in diftant removals, following the courfc of the Sun : ' 
 as if beginning in the tnorning, of the JVcrld^ they would would make 
 a larger day-^ by declining toward the iveft, where the Sun goes down, 
 after his riling in the Eaji. This may Ib.nd to the Southern and uejlern 
 Inhabitants oi th^ fVor/d -^ but 1 know not how to the Northern: for 
 elfe how can that be be faid to rife any where which refteth m where, 
 but is perpetually in the fpced of a circular motion ? For the tinie, it 
 was when the world was within a very littlc,aged Apoo. years ; which, 
 1 believe, was much about the middle age ot the world : though feeing 
 there ar:epromifes that the latter days lliall be jhortned, we cannot ex- 
 pc<S the like extefit of time after it,which we find did go before it. Nor 
 can we think, but that decay, which haftcus in the mine of all lelTcr 
 things, will likewife be more fpcedy in this. It' all things in the world 
 decline isS^Qihyhr, than they do ^Jcf/^^ • whyfnouldwe not believe 
 the world to do fo too ? I know not what certain grounds they have, 
 that dare affume to foretel i\\q particular time of the worlds conflagra- 
 tion. But furely in reafon, and Nature^ the end cannot be mightily di- 
 ftant. We have fccn the Infancy, the Touth, the Firility-^iW paft : Nay, 
 we have fecn it well ftcpt into ^f<ir/j anS declination, the moil infalli- 
 ble /'r^wow/or^ of a dijjolutien. Some could believe it within Icfs than 
 this nine and twenty j^^rj, bccaufe as the f /c«ii deftroy'd the former 
 world, one thoufand lix hundred fifty fix years after the jirfl dejiroying 
 Adam I fo the /rf/Tfrnw/is^fliall be confumed by ^>-^ , one thoufand 
 fix hiundred fifty and fix years after the fecond facing Adam ; 
 which is chrifl. But 1 dare not fix a certainty, where God hath left the 
 world in igmrance. The cxaft knowledge of all things is in God only. But 
 furely, by coUecfions from Nature and Reafon, Man may much help 
 himfclf,in likelihood z.\^i. p- oh abilities. Why hath Man an arguing and 
 premeditating Soul, if not to think on the course and caufes of things, 
 thereby to magnifie his Creator in them ? I will often mule in fuch like 
 Theams : for, befidcs the pleafure I fliall meet, in knowing further ; I 
 fliall find my Soul, by admiration of thefe wonders, to love both Reafon, 
 and the Deity better. As our admiring of things evil, guides us to a j?- 
 cret hate and decef]ion : fo, whatfoever we applaud ioxgoodnefs , cannot 
 but caufe fome raife in our affections. 
 
 Of VetraSiion. 
 
 TN fome unlucky difpofltions, there is fuch an envious kind of Pride, 
 I that they cannot endure that any but themfelves lliould be fct forth 
 for excellent : fo that when they hear one juflly praifed,ihey will either 
 feck to difmount his Fertues ; or, if they be like a clear //>/;/,eminent ; 
 they will7?.t^ him with a "But oidetraBt»n : as if there were fomething 
 yet Co foul, as did obnubilate even his brighte ft glory. Thus when their 
 tongue cannot juftly condemn him, they will leave him in fufpccled iU,, 
 hyfilence. 'Surely^ it wtconCiAcie^ detract at ion, to be bred of ^^^i^, 
 nefted
 
 I 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 ne/ledouly in deficiefit minds ; we fliould Hnd, that the applauding o' 
 virtue would win us far more ffo/zor, than l\\e Seeking flily to drfp.nage 
 it. That would llicw we lovd what we commended-^ while this cells the 
 vforld^ wegtudgc acwhatwe want inourfelvcs. Why may we not 
 think the Poet meant them tor Detrtcicrs^ which fpruns of the teeth of 
 Cadmta pyfoned Serpent > I anifure their fWj may parallel • for they 
 ufually murthcr one another in their/itwf : and wiiere they find not 
 Jpot^^ihey dcvife them. Le is the l^afeji Office Man can fall into,to make 
 his tongue the rvhippcr of the worthy man. If we do know 'vices in men, 
 I think we can fcarfe lliew our felves in a nobler virtue^ than in the cha- 
 rity of concealing tliem : fo it be not a flattery^ perfwading to conti- 
 nuance. And it it be inabfencey cvcnfomctime that which is true^ is 
 moft unbcfceming tl.c report ot a Afan. Who will not condemn him 
 as a Traitor lo reputation ind fociety, that tells the private fault oi his 
 friend^ to i\\e fnhlick xnA depraving fVorldt When two friends part, 
 they lliould lock up one anothers (ecrets^ and interchange their keys. 
 The honejl man will rather be ^ grave to his neighbours fails-, than any 
 wdi^ uncurtain them. I care not for his /'«;«tfr, that loves to clip the 
 wings oi a lofty fame. The Counfel in the Satyre 1 do well approve of, 
 
 ■ — ■ Abfentcm qui rodit amicum^ 
 
 Qui non defendit alto culpante,folutos 
 
 Qui capiat rifas hominum., famamq; dicacis-^ 
 
 Fingere qui non vifapotefl., commtjfa tacere 
 
 Qui nequj; hic niger ejl, banc tu-^ Romane-yCaveto. 
 
 Who bites his abfcnt Friend, 
 
 Or not defends himblam'd, but holds along 
 
 With mcnsloofc laughter, and each /-r^/^r^ tongue ; 
 
 That feins what was not, and difcloaks zfeul ; 
 
 Beware him. Noble Roman, he is foul. 
 And for the moft PTCjiie is a.s dangerou^yin anothet vice a.s this. He that 
 candetracl unrvcihi/y, when thou canft not anfwer him; cm flatter 
 thee as unworthily, when thou canft not chufe but hear him. 'Tis ufual 
 with him to fmooth it in the chamber-, that keeps a railing tongue for the 
 HaV,. And belldes all this, it implies a kind ot corvardife : for who will 
 jud|;c him othcrwifc , that but then unbuttonshis tumor'd brejl, when 
 he finds none to oppofe the bignefs ot his looks and tongue ? The vali- 
 ant mans tongue, x^osx^ it never boalteth vainly ,yet is ever the grcateft 
 Coward'iw ahfence : but the Coward is never valiant but tlicn '• and thciw 
 too, 'tis without his /'f^r/, or j^/r/^. There is nothing argues Nature 
 more degenerate, than her fecrct repining at anochers tranfcendensy. 
 And this,bcridcs the ill, plunges her into thisy<>//>',that by this a[l, iVic 
 is able Ids to difcern. He that pretending virtue isbiifie in r\\efiains\ 
 ot men, is like to him that fecks loft gold in ajhcs, and blowing thcml 
 about,hidcs that more,which he better might have found with ffilnefs. 1 
 1o over-commend a man, I know is not good: but the Detractor] 
 wo\.\x\iisthree\N\th the one Arrow ot his viper oui tongue. Indeed it is! 
 hard tofpcakawrf>/ true, as he is: but howfocvcr, 1 would not dc- 
 
 pravc
 
 8 
 
 ^J{E S L V E S. 
 
 pravcthctanieofthc /i^/«/; 'Tis chen a time tor praifes, rather than 
 tor reprehenfion. Let pnife be voyccd to the [preading atr ; but chidings 
 whifper'd in the /^//S<f^ f-*?" : Which aftion teaches us, even while we 
 chide, to love. If tlicre be Firtnes, and I am call'd to (peak of him that 
 owns them, I will tell them forth unpartially. It there be ^7Cf ^ mixt j 
 with thofe, 1 will be content the veorldihiW know them by fomc other 
 tongue than miae. 
 
 LI. 
 jigatnjl Compulfioit, 
 
 AS nothing prevails more than Courtejie : fo Compulpon often is the 
 way to lofe. Too much importunity does but teach men how to 
 deny. The more we dcfire togain, the more do others dcfirc that they 
 may not lofe. Nature is ever jealous ot her own [upremacy : and when 
 flic fees that others would under-tread it, fhe calls in all her porvers 
 for rejijiance. Certainly they work by a wrong Engine, that Icck to 
 gain their ends by conjlraint. Crofs tvpo Lovers, and you knit but their 
 affe^ ion livongcr. Yon may Jlr oak tht Lyon imo ihond/tge : but you 
 fnall fooner henf him to pieces, th;in beat him into a chain. The f^Armay 
 praife the Croiv/ meat trom her 'Bill: but cannot with Ws fwiftnefs 
 overtake her rving. Ea/ie Nature, a.nd free liberty, will ftcal a man into 
 a M^my excejs : when urged healths do but Aiew him the way to refufe. 
 The ncble/l rveapen, wherewith Man can conquer, is love, andgentle/l 
 courtefte. Howmany have loft their /'o/w, wtiile they have fought to 
 ravip} tiicm with too rude a hand ? Njtureis more apt to be led by 
 the foft motions of the mufic.d tongue, than the ruftick thrclliings of a 
 ftriking arm. Love of life, and Jollities, will draw a man to more, than 
 the tear oideath, and torments. No doubt, Nature meant C^far for a 
 Conquerour, jwhcn llicgave him both fiich courage, and fuch courtejie ; 
 both which put A'fanui into a 7mize. They which durfl fpcak to him, 
 inc did) were ignorant of his greatnefs ; and they which durfl not, 
 were fo oi his goodaefs. They are men the bejl composed, that can be re- 
 folute, 2ind remij?. For, as fearful Natures are wrought upon by the 
 ftcrnnefs ot a rough comportment : fo the valiant arc not gain'd on, but 
 by gentle affability, and a flicw oi pleajing liberty. Little Fifhes arc 
 twitchedupwith the violence of a /Wiif^^wK- when the like adion 
 cracks the line, whereon a great one hangs. I have known den)ials,\.\\zi 
 had never been given,but for the earneflnefs of the requefler. 'Xhcy teach 
 the petitioned to hz fujpicions ; and fufpicion teaches him to hold mdfor- 
 tijie. He that comes with^o* mufihaveme, is like to prove but a fruit- 
 less Wooer. Urge agrant to fome men, and they arc inexorable ; feem 
 carelefs, and they will force the thing upon you. Auguftus got a friend 
 oicinna, by giving him zfecond life, whereas his death could at bed 
 but have remov'd an Enemy. Hear but his exiled Teet. 
 Fle[titur cbfequio curvatm ab arbere ramu-s : 
 Franges, ^ vires experiere tuas. 
 
 Ohfeqiiio
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 8i 
 
 Obfequio tranantur aqu£j nee uineere pojjis 
 Fltimina^fi contra,^ qua.mra.pt uada^nates. 
 
 Obfequiitm Tygresq-.^ iomat-, tnmido[q\ Leone s : 
 Rujlica. pauUtim taurtu aratrafubit. 
 
 The Trees crookt-branchcs, gently bent, grow right ; 
 
 When as the hands full vigor breaks them quite. 
 
 He fately fwims, that waves along the flood 5 
 
 While croiruig ftreams is neither fafe nor sood. 
 
 Tygers and Lyom-, m'mnefs keeps in awe : 
 
 And, gently us'd, 3tds yoaktin Ploughs will draw. 
 Certainly, the/^/r way is the beft, though it be fomething the further 
 About. 'Tis lefs ill for z Journey to ho. leng^ than dangerom.'Xo vex other 
 men, I will think, is but to tutor them, how they lliould again vex 
 mc. 1 will never willfi to purchafe ought unequally : VVhat is got a- 
 gainft reafon, is for the moll part won, by the meeting of a Fool and 
 Knave. If ought be fought with reafon, that may come with kinclnefs ; 
 tor then 'Tieajon in their own bojoms, wiH become a.pleader for me : but 
 I will be content to lofe a little, rather than be drawn to obtain by vi- 
 olence. The trouble and the hazard we avoid, may very well fweeten, 
 or out- weigh a /lender lofs. Con/lraint is for extremitiesywhen all ways 
 elfe fnall fail.But in the general, Faimefs has preferment. If you grant, 
 the other may fupply the dejire-, yet this does the like, and purchafeth 
 love; when that only leaves a lothfim hate behind it. 
 
 LI I. 
 Of Dreams, 
 
 Dreams are notable wf4»j-of difcovering our own inclinations. The 
 rvtfe man learns to know himfelt as well by the nights black man- 
 tle, as the fearching beams oi day. In Jleep, we have the naked and natu- 
 tal thoughts ol our fouls: outrvard objeSls intcix'^o^e. notjcither to llmttie 
 in occafional cogitations, or hale out the included fancy. The mind is then 
 l"hut up in the Burrough ot the body : none of the C^nqueperts, of the 
 ifie of Many are then open, to in-let any flrangc dijiurbers. Surelyjhow 
 we fall to vice, or rife to virtue, we may by obfcrvation find in our 
 dreams. It was the wife Zeno, that faid, he could coUeft a man by liis 
 Dreams. For then the foul, ftated in a deep repofe , bewrayed her true 
 ajJe£lions : which in the buUe ^/rf)", (hevjowllkeithex not fherv, or not 
 note. It was a cuftom among the /Wi4»^, when their Kings went to 
 then Jleep, to pray with piping acclamat ions, thit they might have happy 
 dreams ; and withal confult well for their Subjects benefit : as if the 
 night had been a time, wherein they uiight zxovi good, and rvife. And 
 certainly, the vpife man is the wifcr tor hisjleeping, it he can ordir rvell 
 in the diy, what the eye-lefs night prcfenteth him. Every dream is not 
 to be counted ot:nor yet are all,to be cali away with contempt, I would 
 neither be a Stoick,fuperJiitiou4 in all ; nor yet an Epicure , conjiderate 
 of none. It the Phyfician may by them judge of tlie difeafe of the btdy, 
 
 M I fee
 
 8a I 
 
 ^ESOLl^ES. 
 
 I fee no:, but the Dw/«^ may do fo, concerning the /c«/. 1 doubt not | 
 but the Gemtfi of the Soul is waking and motive, even in the tafteft clo- 
 furesjoi the trnpifoning eye-Ms. But toprefage from thefe thoughts of 
 Jle^ is a w[dom that 1 would not reach to. The beft ufe we can make 
 oidreams^xs ohfervatio/t : and by that, our own coneBmi, or imounge- 
 ment. For, 'tis not deu'otable^ but that the mind is working, in the 
 du^tfi depth fffleep, 1 am confirmed by Claudian, 
 Omni A qu^fenftt volvuntur vota diurtto. 
 Tempore noilurm reddit arnica qmes. 
 Venator defejfa toro ciim membra reponitj > 
 
 Mens tamenadfylvaSy (^ fua lujlra redit. 
 j0dicil>tti lites, anrig^ /omnia currui, 
 
 yaitaque nocfurnii met a, cavetur equis. 
 Furtoga/tdef amans • per mm at navita merces : 
 
 Et 'vigil elapfii qu^ri4 avarus opes. 
 Blandaqae largitur fruftra Jltienttbtti ^grif, 
 
 Irrigutu gelido pocult fonte fepor. 
 MeqHoque Mufarumjludium, fub no£le JUenti, 
 
 Ar4tb(u Ajjiduu, foUicitare felet. 
 Day thoughts, tranfwinged from th' induftrious breft. 
 All feem re-aiScd in the nights dumb reft. 
 When the tyr'd Huntfman hi$ repofc begins, 
 Then flyes his mind to Woods, and wild Beafts dens, 
 judges dream cafes : Champions feem to run. 
 With their night Courfers, the vain bounds to lliun. 
 Love hugs his rapes, the Merchant traftique minds. 
 The Mifer thinks he fome loll treafure finds. 
 And to the thirfty fick fome potion cold 
 Sdffe flattering deep inanely feems to hold. 
 Yea, and in th' age of filent reft,evcn I, 
 Troubled with Arts deep mufings, nightly lye. 
 Dreams do fometimes call us to a recognition of our inclinations, 
 which print the deeper in fo nndijlurbed times. I could wi(l} men to 
 g^ive theiu their conftderation, but not to aHovp them their truft-, though 
 fometimes 'tis eafie to pick out a profitable Moral. Antiquity had them 
 in much more reverence^ and did oft account ihtvixprophefies, as is ca- 
 fily found in tlicfacred volume : and among the Heathen, nothing was 
 V[\oxt frequent. Ajlyages had two of his daughter Mandana, the Vim, 
 andher'L'r/;*. Calphurnia o{\x<ii Cafar ; Hecuba oi Paris ; and almoft 
 every Prince among them, had his Fate fnewed in interpreted dreams. 
 Galen tells of one,that dream' d his thigh was turn'd to7?<'»<?3when foon 
 after it was flruck with a dead Paljie. The aptnefs of the humors to the 
 like effects, might fuggeftfomething to the mind, then apt to receive. 
 So that I doubt not but either to preferve health oi amend the ///I", 
 dreams, may, to a vpife ebferver, be o'i (fecial benefit. I would neither 
 "dcpcnJ upon any, to incm a. prejudice, nor yet caft them all away, in a 
 prodigal negleSi zxid^fcorn.l find it of one that having long been troubled 
 
 with
 
 1{ES0LVES. 
 
 «3 
 
 with t\iQ paining Jpleen ; that he dreamp't, if he opened a certain vein, 
 between two oihisf»gers^hc fhould he cured: wmch hc,<<w^W,did, 
 and mcHded. But, indeed I would rather believe this, then be drawn 
 to practife after it. Thefc prediSlions are more rare fore-te^ings^xiicA to 
 be lapp'd in ohfiured folds : and now that ^rt \o%chrifiiA»ity hath fet- 
 led us to Icfs inquifition; 'tis for a Romm Soothfayer to read thofe dxrk- 
 erjpirits of the night,and tell that ftill 'Diciator ; His dream^oi cepulati- 
 m with his mother-^ fignified hisfuhjeBif/g of the vporld to himself. 'Tis 
 now fo out ot ufe, that I think it not to be recovered. And were it not 
 for i\\c power of the Gojpel, in cryirig down the vains o^. xntn, it would 
 appear a wonder, how a Science fo picafing to hnmmity-, lliould fall To 
 quite to ruine. 
 
 L 1 1 1. 
 Of 'Bounty. 
 
 THcre is fuch a Royalty in the mind, as betrays a man to bafenefs, 
 and lo poverty. ExcclTes, for the moft part, have but ill conclu- 
 yitfw. There is a dunghil mifchiefihzt awaits even the man of the bounti- 
 om foul: and they, that had '^o'ct oi z native goednefs^gro'^iv ^t lart to the 
 pritciiceQii\\tfouleJl villanies. They are free as the defcending rain,and 
 pour aplenty on the general world, 'ihis Munificence confumes them, 
 and brings them to the miferies of an emptyed Mine. Yet, in ihisy^/^ of 
 their melted demeans .fXhQy grow ajbamed tobc publickly fcen come 
 fliort of their wonted r£"t/<r//;>;^. So, rather than th<? wiir/^ fliall fee an 
 alteration^ they leave no lewdnefs pnvnitly unpra^i fed. 'Tis a noted 
 truth of Tacitus. z/E,rarmm^ambitione exhauf}am-,per feeler a fupplendum 
 erit. Treasure Jpent ambitioujly^will be fupply'd by wickednefs. 'Tis pity, 
 that which bears the name oi Noble, Oiould be parent of fuch hated 
 Filenefs. What is it Ambitionmll not praBife, rather than let her port 
 decline? rain-gloryQndsinlewdnefs,dLnd contempt. The lavifh mind 
 loves any indirection better than to flag in (late. A iondi popularity ht- 
 witchesthe/c«/, to 7?rojr about the wealth, and means: and, to feed 
 that difperfive humor, all ways fhall be trodden, though they never fo 
 much unworthy the man. Surelv, we nick-name the {^n\c floodding man, 
 when we call him by the name oi^rave. His n:riving,to be like a God 
 in Bounty, throws him to the lowcfl eftate of man. 'Tis for none, but 
 him that has 4//, to give to' all 4/'«»^«//y. Where the carrying/r^w 
 is greater, than the bringing one, the bottom will be quickly waterlefs • 
 ana then what commendation is it, to fay, There is a plenty waited ? He 
 has thebcft Fame, that keeps \\\.%eflate unnig^ardly : The other/w.v, is 
 meerly out oiweaknefs. He overvalues the drunken and reeling love of 
 A^^ vulgar, that buycs it with the m«^ ot ///>w/^//iani \\\^ family. He 
 ■ears he is not lov'dyWwMs that he be loofc and fcattcring. They arc 
 fools that think their minds ill-woven, unlcfs they have allowance irom 
 the popular flamp. The wife man is his own both yf''orld and "^udge ; he 
 gives what he knows is Bt for his eftate, and him, without ever caring; 
 
 M 2 how
 
 §4 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 how the rvaving Tumult takes it. To rvexk mmds, dife People are the. 
 greateft Parajites: they rvorfiip an^ httee them, to thefpending of a 
 tair inheritance : and then they cr alli them with the hexvy load of Pity, 
 'Tis ihtmconfiderate >W/«;?,thac rAvels out zJfacioHS Fortune. He never 
 thinkcth how the heif will /fj/'f/?, bec::ufc he loofes, but by ^rAW,and 
 parcels. They are ill ^/frr/iri^j-, thatfo/^wr away ^ large State. Says 
 DemecritHi, when he fawonc giving lo all, and that would want /?(?- 
 z/'/;?^ which his mind did fr4^■(r^Maycft t\\ou perijh unpitied^ioi making 
 ot the Virgin Graces^ Harlots. He made his liberality^ like a f^hore, to 
 court the Publque -, when indeed fhe ought to vein by modejly. For, as 
 ihc Harlots offers but procure the jito-^wii/zj- /;4?<f; So when ^o/*^^;' 
 proves a C«r/'^5:<i»,&: oftcrs too undcccntly,it tails of gaining love, and 
 gets but the dipkeoi the vpife. He does ^^jw/j^j injury, that fncws her 
 fo Much, as he makes her but be laugh' d at. Who gives or fpends too 
 much, muft/f//, or elfe delift wkh (bame. To lire well of a little, is a 
 great deal more hontr ith&n to fpcnd a great dcslz'ainly.To know both 
 when, and what to part withal, is a knowledge that bctits a Prince.The 
 beft eljell of bounty, is either necejfity, or dejert. The beft motive, thy 
 os^\^ goodnefs : And the limit, is the fatety of thy ^ate. For, this 1 will 
 conliantly think j The beft bounty of man, is, not to be too bountiful. 
 It is not good to make our kindness to pthers, to be cruelty to our 
 [elves and ours. 
 
 XLIV. 
 Of Mans Inconjlancy. 
 
 NO ff 'cat hercock under Heaveft is ioi-arixbU, as inconflant Man. 
 Every breath o! voind, fans him to a vdriout (hape . As if his w/W 
 were fo near a kin to Air, as it muft,with every motion, be in ^perpetu- 
 al change. Like ax\ Jnftrument c\Jimn\'^y plaid OK, It doi:s rife, ^nd fall, 
 and ^//•cr,and all on a afudden. We are Feathers blown in the blufler ot' 
 our own loofe pajjlons, and are meerly the dalliance of the flying winds.] 
 How many in aninftant have /Awr^/'frfW the Wifa they have lov'dt asi 
 {{Accident were the /'^/fot things!, and the Epicure had balked /r»^i5i.' 
 How ardently can we 4^^/? forac, even beyond the deiirc of dying for' 
 them, when immediately o\-\ci\xddtnEbulirtien of choler Jftiali render* 
 thcnv extremely efenfive ? my,fleep them iii our /';»f^,and frfrJJ-j ? Be-' 
 hold the /'c/^:^ which yWrf» doth take of^4«7'tis loft in a »wzw«^,with 
 but the clacking of the tongue, a /w*^, ov frown, or any fuch like nothing! 
 We cancel leagues With friends, make ik!w ones with our Enemies, and 
 break them ere concluded. Our Fmjorites with the places alter : And 
 our /'x/f hath wings to alight, and depart. In our fl^/fZ, how infinitely 
 docs the ^/4mZ/0«of/'«w«'rJdifrcllifl^ the ill t/tjling palate 'i what to 
 rf^jy we raven on, is the y//<rof the next days ftomach. In our recreations, 
 how inconftantly hving'i fometimcs affeHing the noi[eful Hound ; 
 fometimcs the ftillcry^oy^ of the wing j though ever ingagcd to 2l giddy 
 variety. In our Apparel how mutable > Asiifa/hion vverc a (7oi, thac 
 
 need^
 
 I^ESOLFES. 
 
 85 
 
 needs would be adoi'd in changes. Our whole /ife is but a grcatci-,a!id 
 loncrer child- hood. VV'hat rfian /iving would not die with aKgwfJj, were 
 he bound to lollow another, in all his un(ledfa(} motions; which though 
 they he t\ ex. turniag., yet are x\tMQz plcifing^ but when they proceed 
 from the native freedom of the Sottll which argues her change not more 
 oin oi ol^jecf-) ih^nhcx Jc/fj and the //wwrj wherewith {\\eiscompofed. 
 They firlt flowing to incite Dejtre, then poTvred out upon an cbjeci , dye 
 in their birth^ vvnilcmorc fucceed them. Like Souldicrs in a running 
 Skirmijlj-^come up,dtfcharge,falt off,Jlte^Sin(Ji r^-//?/vrff themfclves.Only or- 
 der is in their proceedings, \N\M\e confufton doth diftradt tLc w4;?.Surcly. 
 there is nothing argues his imperfellioa more. For though the Nbokr 
 Elements be moft Alotivey^nd the Earth lealt of all^whtch is yet hapji : 
 yet are they never mutable, but as the ebjecl that they fix on makes 
 them ; nor do tlicy ever waidcr from that qualityt whercwithi Nature 
 did at hrrt invejl thcni. But W4»j had he no ohjccf, he would change 
 alone j and even to fuch things, as Nature did not once intend him. 
 Minds thus temper'd, vvc ufe to call too light, as if they were unequally 
 mixt,and the two nimbler Elements had gotten the predominance. Cer- 
 tainly, the bel\ is a noble confiamy. Vox^perfeBion is immutable. But 
 for things imperfeti ^change is the way to perfe£l them. It gets the name 
 oi'wilfulnefs^whcn it will not admit ot a lawful change-^xo the better. 
 Tiieretore Co-nfiancy, without Knoivledge, cannot Isc always good. In 
 things ill, 'tis not virtue, but an abfolucc Fice. In all changes^ 1 will 
 have regard to thefe three things tCo^^j approbation, n\y own bemfit-, and 
 the not-harming of my Neighbour y^N\\cxz the change is not d. faulty I will 
 never think it a difgrace ; though thp great Excha»ge,thc n'orld, fliould 
 judge it fo. Where it is i/ault, 1 would be conjlant^ though outward 
 things ("hould wilTi my tuming.Wz hath but a weak warrant for what 
 he does,that hath only i\\t fortune to find his bad aciions plaufiblc. 
 
 Of Logick^ 
 
 ^10thinghath fpoyl'd Truth more than the Invention of Logic k. It 
 \ hath found out fo many dijlin^tio/fs, that it inwraps Reafin in a 
 ntij of doubts. 'Tis Reafon drawa into too fine a thred ; tying up Truth 
 in a twift oirvords., which, being hard to tm/otje , carry lier away a5 a 
 prifoner. 'Tis a net to irttangle bcr, or an art infirfuting you , how to 
 teil a reafonable lye. When Ditgenes heard ii<?w, with fi-ibtle 4rgH- 
 meats, proving tliat there was no Motion : he fi.iddc;nly fl'trts up, and 
 walh. Z^w asks the f4«/f? Says he again, /but confute yeurreafins. 
 Like an over-curious rvorkman,h hath fought to make Truth fo excel- 
 lent ; that it hath marr'd it. Fives faith, He doubts not but the T)ev/l 
 did invent it. It teaches to cppofe the Truth, and to be falfely ob^t- 
 nate, fo cunningly delighting, to put her to the werfe, by deceit. As a 
 Conceiteft, it hath laid oivfo many fo/<«)rj, that the counterfeit is more 
 vartoiti than the pattern. Itgives us £0; many Airf^, that we koow not 
 
 wiiich
 
 86 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 which is the fame. Truth^in logical argumems^ is like a /'r/'wr in a 
 Majque ; where are fo many other frefentcd in the fame attire., that we 
 know not which is he. And as we know there is bin one Prince^ fo we 
 know there is but one Truth ; yet by reafon ot the Majque^ 'judgment 
 is diftraBed, and deceived. There might be a double reafon, why liie 
 Areopagitd banil'ht Sfilpo^^or proving by his Sophifiry, Minerva was no 
 Geddefs : One, to fhew their dijltke to the Jrt : aiiotherj that it was 
 not fit, to fuffer one to vfur/tcn with the Gods. Sure, howfoever men 
 might firft invent it, for the help of truth, it \\z\.\\ froz' d but a help to 
 rerangle : and a thing to fet the mirtd at jar in it felt ; and doing no- 
 thing but confound conceit ^a grows a toy to laugh at.Lct mc give you 
 but one of our own. 
 
 Nafcitur intenehi^ animal, puer., infcins-) infans^ 
 Confer at Oxonium fe, citojiet homo. 
 
 A thing born blind, a child, and foolifli too. 
 
 Shall be made man, if it to Oxford go. 
 Arijlarchtti his Qmp, may fall upon our Times : Heretofore (fays he) 
 there were but feven wife men ; and now it is hard to find that num- 
 ber oi fools. For every man will be a Sophifler, and then he thinks he's 
 wife -J though I doubt, fome will never be fo, but by help of Logick. 
 Nature her ^If makes every man a Logician : they that brought in the 
 Art, have prefented us with one that hath cver-aEted her : and fomc- 
 thingy?r4/»Vher beyond hev genuine plainnefs. But I fpcak this of Lo- 
 gick at large, for the pure Art is an Excellency. Since all is in /jfe, 'tis 
 good to retain ir, that we may make /'/ defend m, againfl it felf TliCre 
 is no way to fecure a Mine, but to cmintermine. Otherwifc , like the 
 Art of Memory, I think it fpoils the Natural. How can it be otherwife, 
 vvhtnihclnvention of Man, fhall ftrive with the invefligation of Su- 
 pream Nature ? In matters o^ Religion, I will make Faith my means to 
 4/c<?r/4/>?,though not comprehend them ', For other matters, 1 will think 
 fimple Nature the beft Reafen,^r\d naked reafon the beft Logick. It may 
 help me to f rip ojfdoubts, but I would not have it help to make them. 
 
 LVI. 
 Of ThoHghtfulnefi in Mtfery, 
 
 THe unfortunate mans rvifdom, is one of his greateft miferies. Un- 
 lefs it be as well able to conquer, as difcern, it only ihews him 
 but the blacker face of mourning. 'Tis no commendation, to hz\c an in- 
 fight deep in Calamity. It can Ihew him mifchcif which a Feel fees not ; 
 fo help him to i/fjf4?/o»,which he cannot tell how to cure. In temporal 
 things, 'tis one great happinefs to be free from miferies : A next to 
 that, is not to hefenjible oithem. There is a comfort, in feeing but the 
 (bell offorrorv. And in my opinion, he does wifely, that, when grief />rr- 
 fents her felf , lets her wear a ^';.^or, fairer than her ^^i-^^ /y&;». Cer- 
 tainly, 'tis 2L felicity to be an heneflfool, when the piercing eye of his 
 Ipirit, Q\a\\T\otktm.oi]L& bowels oi\iis attendant trouble. I believe 
 
 our 
 
 I
 
 1{ E S L V E S. 
 
 our eyes wOuld be ever votnterly^\\. wc gave them thcy?i'iv but for every 
 )\i{kccca/:0n. I IWiQoi Solon's courfe-, in comfort'mg his conltant /a7>«^': 
 when taking him up to the top of a Turret^ ovcr-lookin;j all the filed, 
 buildings-, he bids him think, how many Difcontents there iiai been in 
 thofe houfes fince their framing., how many are, and how many wiil he. 
 Then, if he can, to leave the TrorZsi's calamities-, and mourn but for his 
 own. To mourn for none clfc, were hardnefs, and injujlice. To mourn 
 for all., were endlefs. The beft way is,to uncontraB the ^ron;, and Ic: the 
 rvor/ds m^id /pleen {rct,for that wc fmilcin rvoes. Sorrows are \lk^' putrid 
 graves^ the ^^a-f^fr you dig, the /«/^£'r both oifienc/j,Md horror. Tnou'^h 
 conjideration and a Fool be contraries-, yet nothing incrcafcch mifery like 
 it. Whocverkncwaftf^/dye ofadifcontcntingw^i'/iiwWy? So poor 
 a condition is man /^/w /c, that even his^/cr^ is become \\Vif)rn!^jment : 
 and the rays of iiis veifdom lioht iiim but to fee thofe anguijhes, which 
 the darknefs of his mind would covcv. Sorrows are not to be enrcrtfiin'd 
 with hugs, and lengthned complements ; but the cafl of the eye, and the 
 put-by of the turning hand. Search not a wound too deep, left you 
 make a new one. It was not fpoken without feme Reafon, That fortu- 
 nate is better than wife ; fincc whofoever is that,{h3.\\ be thought to be 
 this.Yox vulgar eyes judge rather, by the event,r.\\m the intention. And 
 he that is unfortunate,tho\ig\\ he be wife, iTiall find many, that will dew 
 him with that at leaft fuppofed folly. This only is the wife mans bene- 
 fit : As he fees more mijchiefs ; fo he can curb more pfjjions : and by 
 this means hath wit enough, to endure \\[s pains iujccrecy. 1 would look 
 fofar into crojfes, as to cure the prefent, and prevent the future: But 
 will never care iotjearchrng further, or indearing cares by thoughful- 
 ncfs. They are like charons Cave in //4//j where you may enter a little 
 way, without danger, and further perhaps with benefit, but going to 
 the end, it ftifles you. No ship but may be call away, by putting too 
 tar into tcmpcftuotu Seas. 
 
 LVII. ~~ 
 
 Of III Company. 
 
 WE have no Enemy MYc bafe Company : it kills both onv fame, 
 and OUT fouls. Itgivcsusw^^Wj, which never will admit ot 
 helling', and is not only difgraceful,hut mifchievota.MW ci'i thou a Kivg^ 
 a would rob thee ot thy Royal Majcfty : who would rcvercnc*: thy 
 [way, wlien, like Nero, thou fliould'ft Tavern out thy time with wan- 
 tons, triumph with Minfirels in thy chariot, znd pre font thy felt upon a 
 Common fiage with tlie buskin'd Tragedian, and the Tantomime ? 'Tis 
 like a ship new trimmed, whercfocver you but touch, \tfoyls you : and 
 though you be clean, when y(ni enter, even a little motion will fill you 
 with defiled badges. And then the whiter the Swan is , the more is 
 the black apparent. How many have died ignormnioujly, and have ufcd 
 their laft brcath,on\^ to complain ot this ^ as the mtch that had inchan- 
 ted them, to the evils that they now muft {mart for ? 'Tis an Engine 
 
 where-
 
 88 
 
 1{ES0LVES. 
 
 Wherewith the DevHis ever pra^iJJKg, to litt A^a» out o{ Virtues feat, 
 "lis the /piritualM'hore, which tojis the good «Z4/? to his fouJs undoing. 
 Certainly, ii ihtxehe z\vj DaliUh v^n^iex Heaven, it is in hd^A Society. 
 '\\{i%\Ni\\i'indm, betray us^hlindui, undota. Many a man had been 
 good that is not,if he had but kcpc^W company. When the Achates ot 
 thy life fliall be /i/, who will not imagine thy life to be (o too ? even 
 waters change their virtues^ by running thorow a changed njein. No 
 man but hath both ^W and bad in his nature^ cither of which fortijie^ 
 as they meet with their like ^ or decline, as they find a contrary. When 
 r/« runs in a finglcy?rM/Wj 'tis then a pa/ablejhallotv •, but when many 
 of thefe fhall fall into ene,thcy fwell a deeper channel to be diroverid in^ 
 (Jixj^^ and jvi/^ Af^otiates^ are like Princes in defenlive Leaguss ; one de- 
 fends the other againft the devices of the common f ^d". Lewd ones are 
 like ihe miflaken Lanthorn in 88. which under pretence of guiding,will 
 draw us unto hazard-, and lofs among our Enemies. Nor was the fcii- 
 on of the Sjrens any other in the Moral, then pleafant wits, vitiated in 
 aecu/lom'dlervdnefs^who lor that were feighncd to be A^onflers of a par- 
 ted nature, and withfweet tunes,intifed men to dejlruciion. Could my 
 name be fafc, yet my foul were in danger ; could my foul be free , yet 
 my fame would fuffer ; were my body and <f/?^/f fccurc, yet thofe other 
 two (which are the pureft excellencies of Man) are ever laid at the 
 flake. I know, Phyficians may converfe \NkhJick ones-, uninfected t but 
 then, they mufthavey?r(»»^^>' Antidotes, than their nature gives them : 
 clfe they themfelvcs ftiall ioowfland in need, of, what theinfelves o-nce 
 vf ere, Phyficians. One rotted Apple, will tnfeci the foor. Ihc putrfd 
 Grape, corrupts the whole found Clufier. Though 1 he no Hermite, to 
 fit away my days in a did Cell ; yet will I chufe rather to have no Com- 
 panion, than a bad one. It 1 have found iny good, I will cherijh them, as 
 the choife of men : or as Angels, that arc fent tor Guardians. If I have 
 any bad ones, 1 will Jludy to lofc them •' left by keeping them, I lofe 
 my felf in the end. 
 
 LVIII. 
 That no Man d"^ ays Sins Uttpiinip?t, 
 
 WHen P^ti'/W faw the delights of the yvicked,he was torced to flie 
 to the flop, with a, Fret net thy felf, O my foul ! The ferities of 
 the villanous manflagger the religious mind. They live, as if they were 
 pajjing thorow the world in Jlate : and the ftream oipro/perity turning it 
 felf, to rorvl with their applauded ways : When, it we do but look to 
 dcfpifcd virtue, how mtjerable, zndhow flormy is her Sea ? Certainly, 
 for theprefent, thegoodman feems to be in the difgrace of Heaven', He 
 fmarts, and pines, a.nd fadneth his incnmhxed foul md lives as it were 
 mvhe frown, and the ^o^ofthe traducing world. When the fpicure 
 confidercd this, it made him to exclude the Providence. And lurely 
 to view the vtrtuoui with but l^atures eyes, a man would think, they 
 were things that Nature envi'd, or that the whole world were deluded, 
 
 with
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 I 89 
 
 with zpoyfinota lye, in making only the virtnou4 happy . 'Tis only che 
 daring fouly that dtgejiing vicem grofsjclimbs to the feat oi Honor. In- 
 nocence is become zjiair to let others rife to our abnfe^zni\ not to raifc 
 ouvfe/ves x.o great nefs. How rare is it to find one raifed for his foher 
 worth and z'trtue ? What was it but ^ofeph's goodnefs, that brought 
 him to i\it (locks :,^x\d^ /r*»j? Whereas if he had coap'd with his Inticer^ 
 'tis like he might have fwam in Cold, and liv'd a lapling to the (ilk, and 
 dainties. The rvorld is fomuch Knave^ that 'tis grown a vice to be ho- 
 neft. Men have removed the Temple of Honor ^^vA have now fet it, like 
 an arbor J in a Wilder ne^s^'^Vtio. unlefs we trace thofe devious n'47j,therc 
 is no hope ot finding it. Into what ^fad (Complaint, did thcfe thoughts 
 drive the weighty Tragedian ? 
 
 Res humana4 ordine nuUo 
 For tuna regit, Jpargitque manit 
 Munera c£cd, pejora f ovens. 
 Vincit fan£tos dira libido ; 
 Fratu fublimi regnat tn aula. 
 Tradere turpi fafies populus 
 Gaudet : eofdem colit^ atqtte edit. 
 Trijlis virtus per^er^a tulit 
 Prjemia re£li : Ca(los fequitur 
 KjMala paupertas-, vitioque potffis 
 Regnat Adulter. 
 
 Bent to worfe, all humane ways 
 Quite at random, Fortune (wiys. 
 Her loofc favours blindly throwing. 
 Cruel lufl the good man kills : 
 Fraud the Court triumphant fills ; 
 People, honors ill bcftowing. 
 Them they hate, even thofe they kifs. 
 Sad worth ill rewarded is ; 
 And the chajle are poor, while rice 
 Lords it by Adulteries. 
 Were thcfe Ages chain'd to ours ? Or why complain we that the world 
 is vporfe, when fifteen hundred years fpace cannot (for ought 1 fee) al- 
 ter the condition'*. But,what is paft,we forgett,\^\\^x. is to come,wc kmiv 
 not : fo we only take a fplcen at the present. 'Tis true, Fice braves it 
 with a boldnedface-, and would make one think, it were only Qic that 
 the ^o//;!g- JVi?r/i^ had chofc, to make a Frfz^cr//^ on. But, ifwc have 
 time for observation.^ we fhall fee her halting with a Cratch^ 3.w6.[hame, 
 Have wc not feen tVic vices of the aged Father , puniftit in the 5c»,when 
 he hath been aged too ? I am perfwaded there be few notorious vices, 
 but even in this ivor/isi have a ccrcain/'«»//Z'w»f»^, although we cannot 
 know it. God (for the moft part) doth neither puni(Jj,not blefs at onccj 
 but hydegrees,md warnings .The world is fo full oichangings, that 'tis 
 rareiov one man, to fee the completed race oiznoihei:. Wc live not 
 long enough to obfcrve, how the Judgments of the jujlej} God do walk 
 
 N their
 
 po 
 
 ^ESOLf^ES. 
 
 their rounds in ftriking. Neither always arc wc able. Some o\. Godi 
 
 corre^ions arc in the mght, and clofetted. S'^ciy o£e»ce meets not with 
 
 a Market laJJj. Private funifljments fomctimes gripe a mart within, 
 
 while men, looking on the omev face o'i things-, fee not how they fmarc 
 
 in fecret. And fometimes thofe are deep wounds to one mA»^ chat 
 
 would be 'Balm and Phyjick to another. There are no Temporal blef- 
 
 fings, but are fometimes had in the nature ot ferterted curfes. And 
 
 furely all thoie creatures that god hath \pn\. Subordinate to Man, as they 
 
 (like inferior fervants) obey him while lie is a true steward : fo when 
 
 he grows to injure his great Majier, they fend up complaints againft 
 
 him, and forfake him ; ctiufing rather to be true to their Maker, God-y 
 
 than alTiftingto the vilenefs oi his falfefi Stevpard,Man. So chat though 
 
 men,by lewd ways,may ftartintoal1riort/'rf/^'rwf»^- yet fure there 
 
 is a fecret chain in Nature,w\{\c\\ draws the univerfal lo revenge a vice. 
 
 Examples, might be infinite ; every Sterji is a Chronicle of this Truth, 
 
 and the whole fVorld but the pra^ice. How many Families do wc dayly 
 
 fee, wherin a whipping hand fcourgeth the ftream of all their lineal 
 
 hloud ? As if there were curfes, hereditary with the Lands their Fathers 
 
 left them. I confefs, they have a valour beyond mine, that dare forage 
 
 in the wilds of -z/zt^. Howfoever I might tor awhile, in my felf, jleep 
 
 with a dumb confcience j yet I cannot thinK, the All of Creatures would 
 
 fo much crofs the current of their natures ^ as to let me go unpunilhcd. 
 
 And, which is more than this, I find ayZ"*/ within my ye*/, which tells 
 
 me, that I do unnobly.^ while I love Sin more for the pleasure of itjthau 
 
 I do Virtue for the amiable frveetnefs that llie yields in her felf. 
 
 LIX. 
 0/ Opinioti, 
 
 NOt any Sarthly pleafure is fo cfTentially /«// in it felf, but that even 
 bare conceit may return it much dijlafieful. The iverld is wholly 
 fet upon the C/4^ and waving : mecr Opinion is the Ceniui, and, as it 
 were, the foundation o( i\\ temporal happinefs. How often do we fee men 
 pleafed with Contraries ? As if they parted the j%^/j- and frays of Na- 
 ture : every one maintaining the Fa^ion which he liketh. One delight- 
 Qthin Mirth, and theyrw/^;/?^/ of an Airy foul: another findechytiwf- 
 thing amiable in the faddeft look oi Melancholy. This man loves the free 
 and open-handed ; that the grajpedfjl, znAfrugalJparing. I go to the 
 market, and fee one buying.^ another feeing, both arc excrcifed in things 
 different,yet.either pleas'd with his own j when I,ftanding by, think it 
 my happinefs, thit I do neither of thefe.And in all thefe,nothing frames 
 Content fo much as Imagination. Opinion is the {hop oi pleafures, where 
 iW humane felicities ire ioTged, and receive their ^/r/^A. Nor is their 
 rW unlike their beginning : for, as they are begot out of an airy phan- • 
 tafm ; fo they dye in zfume, and difperfe into nothing. Even thofc 
 things which in them carry a rtiew oi'reafon, and wnercin (it Truth be ; 
 Judge) we may dikern filidity, are mzde placid or dtjgujlful, as fond 
 
 Opimon
 
 
 1{ E S L V E S, 
 
 91 
 
 opinion catches them. Opinion guides all our paf/ions and affections, 
 or, at leaft, begets them. It makes us love, and hate, and hope, and 
 fear, ind 'uarj: for, every thingjWe light upon, is as wc apprehend it. 
 And though we know it be nothing,but an uncertain prejudgment of the 
 mind, mil-intormed by the outward fenfes ; yet. we Ice it can work 
 wonders. It hath untongued fome on the fudden ; and from fomc hath 
 fnatcht their natural ^^///>/<r/. Like Lightening, it can ftrikc thcC/'/'/ii 
 in the woml>, and kill it ere 'tis worldcd ; when the Mother iTiall re- 
 main unhurt. It can cad a man into J^eedy difeafes, and can as foon re- 
 cure him. I have known fome, but conceiting they have taken a Potion, 
 ha.\c found the operation, as it they had taken it indeed. If wc believe 
 Tliny^w. can change the Sex : who reports himfclf to have feen it ; and 
 the running Montaigne fpeaks of fuch another. Nor is it only thus 
 powerful, when the oZ-jV^^of the mind is at home in omfehes ; but al- 1 
 lo when it lights on things a(7road,x\d aj/art. Opinion makes women fair, 
 and Men lovely : Opinion makes men rvtfe, 'valiant,rich,w2i'^ any thing. 
 And vvhatfoevtr it can do on one iidc topleafe md fatter us ; it can do 
 the fame on the other {ide,to molef ^:\dgrieve us. As if every man had 
 ifeveral feeming trHth'm\{is[oul,w\\\.c\\ii\\cio\\oW'i, can tor a time 
 render him, either happy, or miferable. Here lies all the difference ; If 
 we light on things but feeming, oui felicity fades ; if on things certain 
 and eternal, it continues. 'Tis fure,we fliould bring all opinions to Rea- 
 fon, and true "judgment, there to receive their doom of admittance or 
 ejeciion • but even that,by the former is often feduced,ind the grounds 
 that wc follow, are erroneous, and falfe. I will never therefore wonder 
 much at any man , that is fwaycd with particular ajfeBions, to things 
 fablunary. There arc not more objects ot the mind, than dijpofitions. 
 Many things I may love,x}c\zx. I can yield no Reaf'on tor : or, if I do,per- 
 haps Opinion makes me coin that for a Reafon, which another will not 
 allent unto. How vain then arc thofc, that ailuming a liberty to them- 
 fclvcs, would yet tie all men to their Tenents^. Conjuring all men to 
 the trace of their y?£'/'x;when,it may be,what is Trvth to thcm,is Error 
 to another as wife. I like not men that will be Gods, and have their 
 Judgments abfolute. If I have liberty to hold things as my mind in- 
 forms mc, let mc never defire to take away the like from another. If 
 fair arguments may perfwadc,I thall with quiet flicw \^\\Zi grounds do 
 lead mc. If thofe cannot fatisfie, I think I may wilh any man to fatis- 
 ^cHs own Confcience. For that, I fuppofc, will bear liim out in the 
 things that it julHy approves. Why iViould any man be violent tor 
 M^/, which is more diverfc, than the wandering judgments of the hur- 
 rying Vulgar, more changing than the love ofinconjiant women ; more 
 multivarious than the (ports indplays of Nature, which arc every mi- 
 nute /«£?«o/«, and returning in their new varietiesiThc hQ[\gutde that 1 
 would chufe,is the reafon of an honefi man : which 1 take to be a right- 
 informed Conf'cience : and as for 'So<»/('j,which many rely on,they tliall be 
 to me, as dijcourjes but o'i private men, that niuft be judged by Religion, 
 and Reafon ; fo not to tie ine,unlcfs thefe and my ctnfcience joyn, in the 
 confent with them. N 2 Thaf
 
 *i? E S LV E S, 
 
 LX. 
 That ^e are^oyernd by a ^ower aho've us, 
 
 THat which we either defire ox fear, 1 obfcrvc, doth feU^m hap- 
 fen ; but fomethingjthat wc think not on,doth tor the mod part 
 mterijeaejZndiconclitde: or it it do fall out as we cxpe6t,it is not till we 
 have given over tucfearch, and arc almoftout of thought oi finding it. 
 Fortunes befal us unAvoares, and mfihie/s when we think them fcaped. 
 Thus Cambyjes, when Cyrus had been King oftbe Boys, he thought the 
 predi^ims of his rule fulfilled,and that he now might fit and jleep in his 
 Throne ; when fuddcnly he was awaked to ruine. So, Sarah, y/z%frmt- 
 ful; when flic could not believe it : and Zachary had ay(»»,when he was 
 ftooped intoj'^rfrj, and had left hoping it. When Dioc/eftan thought 
 himiclf deluded by the Prophejie, having kill'd many vpild B0res,z.i laft he 
 lights on the right ^per,z.[iQx: whofc death he obtained the Empire. Ks if 
 God, in ihQ general \Noi\\ii teach, that we arc not wife enough to chufe 
 for o\xxfi'lves, and therefore would lead us to a dependency on Him. 
 Wherein he does like wife Princes, who feed not the expe^ations of 
 Favourites that are apt to pre fume ; but often crofi them in their hopes 
 ^\\<\ fears : thereby to tyc them fafter in their ^«/-y,and reverence to the 
 hand that givcth. And certainly, we fliall find this infallible : Though 
 God gives not our dejires, yet he always imparts to our profits. How 
 infinitely fliould we incanglc our fclvesjif we could7z/^ow»,and obtain 
 our veijhes ? Do we not often wirti that, we after fee would be our 
 confu[ion}3ir\di is not this,bccaafe wc ignorantly follow the/f/^,the body 3 
 and the blinded appetite, which look to nothing, but the pjeli and out- 
 Jide ? Whereas Go^refpedeth the foul, and dirtributeth his/4w«r, for 
 the good oithat,ind his glory. God fees and knows our hearts,and things 
 to come in certainty : fVe,b\it only by our weak colleBioMs,w\\ich do of- 
 tenfail of finding truth, in the Croud of the fVorlds occafions. No man 
 would be more miferable, than he that (hould cull out his orvn ways. 
 What a Ipecioui (fjew carryed Adidas his wifj with it, and how it paid 
 him with ruine at h[\ \ Surely, God will work alone , and Man muft 
 not be of his counfel. Nothing pulls deflruBion on him fooner, than 
 when he piefumcs to part the Empire with God. If we can \)Z patient, 
 Goflf will be profitable: but the time and means we muft leave to him, 
 not challenge to our felves. Neither muft our own indcvours wholly 
 be laid in the couch to laze. 'I he Aioraloitht Tale is a kind of an in- 
 flruciive Satyre,\v\\tr\ the Carter prayed in vain to JupiJer, becaufe he 
 did not put his (houlder to the wheel. Do thy part with thy induflry, 
 and let God point \}c\z event. 1 have I'ccn zw4//f r^ fall our fo unexpect- 
 edly, that they have tutor'd me in all 4^/rj,neither to dejpair, nozfre- 
 fume: Hot to de/p.tir ; for God C3.r\ help me : Not to prefume ; for God 
 czncrofsmc. Itisdid oi AiartuSithxt one day m^^o: Wim Emperor, the 
 next faw him rule ; and the third he was fiain of the Souldiers. I will 
 nevzx dejpair, 'caufe I have a God: I will never prefume, 'caufc I am but 
 a Man. SMeca has counfel, which I hold is worth the following : 
 
 Nemo
 
 1{ E S Lj V E S. 
 
 Nemo cotjfidit nimm>n fecundis-, 
 Nemo dejperet meliora-, lapfuf ; 
 Mifcet h<sc illii, prehibetq; Clothf 
 
 Stare fortunam. 
 
 Let none lain, dcfpair to rife, 
 Nor truft too much profperitics. 
 Clotho mingling both, commands 
 That neither ftands.- 
 
 LXI. 
 
 Of Mi/ery after Joy. 
 
 AS it is in Spiritual proceedings, better never to have been righteous^ 
 than, after righteoufKcfs, to become j^pojiate : So in temporalit is 
 better never to have been happy, than after bappinefs, to be drown'd in 
 calamities. Oi^W ebjects o^forrow-,x diftrejfed King is themoft/'////Y</^be- 
 caule it prcfents us moli i\\c frailty oi Humanity -^ and cannot but moft 
 midnight the foul of him that is fain. Thcforrorvs of a depofed King, 
 are like tlx diftorquements of a darted Confcience^which none can know, 
 but he that hath loft a Crovpn. Who would not have veept, with our 
 Second Edward , \v\\zw\\\'i Princely tears were all the rvarm rvater his 
 Butchers would allow to yZ'dx'r him with? when xhc hedge was his 
 cloth of State ; and his Throne,t\\c h!tmble,t\\ow^-\ the honoured ground. 
 ylf/'/fr;' after y^-, is killing as 3. fudden damp ; terrible, is Jire in the 
 w^/*/, that ftartles usfrom a^/?^»^r<'/'o/"?. Sudden changes , though 
 to good, arc trotiblefome, cfpecially if they be extreme : but when they 
 plunge us into rverfe, they arc then the Strapadoes of a humane foul. A 
 palpable darknefs in a Summers day would be a difmal thing. Pifeafes, 
 wnen tliey do happen, arc moft violent in the firongefi confitutions. He 
 that meets with plagues after a longprojperity, has been hm fatted, like 
 a beaf, for (laughter : he is more moliijied, only to make tiic piins and 
 pangs oi death more fenjible : as if wc fliould hift fupple a limb with 
 Oyls and Vngucnts ; and then dab it with Jquafortii , toothed waters, 
 and corroding Minerals, It is better never to have hecwfair, than after 
 a rare beauty, to grow into uglinefs: Tlie memory of thy blefednefs, 
 makes thy mifery more deplorable ; which like dead Peer, is never 
 more diftaftful, than after a Banquet of Sxveet-meat^. Nor is this mife- 
 ry vixeedy opinionate^, but truly argued from the meafurc o\pity chat it 
 meets with from others. ¥or you m3.y period upon this-. That where 
 there is the moft pity from tf^^r^^therc is the greateft mitfery in the party 
 pitied. Toward tl"iofc that iiave been alrvay poor,pn7 is not Xopajfionate : 
 for they have had no elevation to make their deprcj/ipn d-cm thcgreater 
 wonder. The tann'dflave, that hath ever tugg'd at the Oar, by a long 
 ufc, hath mingled y5'///^ry \s\th Nature ^ that he can now etlduic it 
 uncomplaining. Ikit wrxn a. foft iranton coiwcs to the Galley, every 
 ftroak is arvounding Spear in the Jide. I wonder rot to hear Dionyfuts 
 fay, They are happy, that have been unbUjl frorh their youth. It was the 
 opinion
 
 P4 
 
 I^ESOLVES. 
 
 o^mowoi Viogertes-i that the moft lamentable j^f^rfc/<? that the vperld 
 had, was an old man in mifcry : whcrcunto, not only ^prefentimpo- 
 tency-y but alfo a remembrance oiapaffedjouthf gave addition. Even 
 the abfcnce alone of fore-gone jVj, is tioublcfome : how much more, 
 when they wind downward, into fmartful extremities ? BeAth and 
 Dxrknefs both Z'i^hvitfrivations-^ yet we fee how deep they terrific. 
 fT/fjf, when it takes ^fecondimfreffion^ receives it not without rievepaf- 
 fio», and more •violence : fo the mind^ retaining the frints oijoy , fuf- 
 fereth a new Creation, in admitting a contrary /lamp. For Tajazet to 
 change his Seraglio for a Cage j for Valerian to become ^Footftooho his 
 proud foe ; are calamities that challenge the tributes of a bleeding eye. 1 
 lliall pity any man that meets with misery ^ but they that find it after 
 continual blejjednefs^^xt fo much the more to be wailcd,by how much 
 they are unacquainted with the gleominefs of dorvnfals. That which 
 Sopfjoni^baxetmn'd^ when her W«f^4W fent herpoyfon, the day after 
 her rveddingi as it fliewe'd refolution in her, fo it incites compajfion in 
 others: Hoc nuntia, melius me mortturamfuijfe, Ji n$n in funere mee 
 nupfijfem. Te]i him, I had died more vpillinglyi if I had not met my Grave 
 in Marriage. 
 
 LXII. 
 Ofihz temper of yfjfeWons. 
 
 EVery Man is a vaft and (pacious Sea : his pajjions are the winds, that 
 fwell him into dijlurbant xvaues : How he tumbles, and roars, and 
 fomesy when they in their fury trouble him! Sometimes the weji oi 
 pleafure, tanning in luxurious gales : fometimes the madid South, fer- 
 revpful, and full of tears ; fometimes tht /harp Eajl, piercing with a te- 
 fiy (pleen : fometimes the violent and blujlering North , fwelling the 
 cheek, with the Angers beylingbloud. Any of thcfc, in txtremes,xsi2kt% 
 it become unnavigable, and tull oi danger to the vef^el that fliall coaft 
 upon it. When thefe are too lowd, \isperillous : but when again they 
 arc all laid in the flilnefs of an immotive calm, 'tis ufelefs : and though 
 it be not fo ready to hurt, yet it is far from availing, to the profit ofz 
 Voyage : and the pajfengers may Coonev famifb, by being becalmed, than 
 coafiiiovcxiotihQ advantage oiil-izh Mart. Surely, the man that is 
 Silwuys /lill and repofed in his orvn thoughts, though he htgood, is but a 
 piece of deadned charity. I care not tor xh^ planed Stoick, there is a SeB 
 between him and the Epicure. An unmovedman, is but a motive Sta- 
 tue-^ harmlefsand unprofitable. Indecdyary is tar the rvorfer extreme ; 
 for, befides the trouble it puts on the company, it always delivers the 
 Author [x\x.o [uccejjive mifchiefs. He that is raging in one thing , feeds 
 his bufinefs with many inconveniencies. Fury is like falfe pofition in a 
 Verfe, at leaft nmt faults together. 
 Says Claudian, 
 
 Caret event u nimius furor : 
 
 
 — ' — Rage knows not when, oor how to end. 
 
 riike
 
 1(ES0LVES. 
 
 95 
 
 Wikcnzithti Qi devour tftg Stork.) nox 3. J up iters Leg. Alun is noetic 
 for converfdtioftymhhci when his paffions hurry him in a hideous diftem- 
 per ; nor when they are all laid in zfilent and unfitrring calm. The Sea 
 is htik imp leaf ant Gale: and fo is Man, when his f^j^o/?/ arc alive, 
 Withom raging. GOD implanced/)4;^(?«j inthc5o«/, as he gave his 
 Talents in the Gofpel^ neither to be Uvijht out impetuoully, nor co be 
 buryei in Napkins. Wc may warm us at thcfe^rd-j : though we burn 
 not. Man without any, is no better than z (peaking stone. Cato's beft 
 Emperor was, Qmpttuit imperare affeBibus ; he does not fay, deponere. 
 Moderate pajjions zxc^ihcvcifj^ affable exprejjions o{ humanity ; without' 
 which, the 5o«/ finds nothing like it felt to love. A Horfe, too hot and 
 fiery,is the danger of his T^der; one too dfMy\s his trouble : And as the 
 firjl will not endure any man; Co the latt Will be indur'd by no man.Onc 
 will futfer none to back him ; the other admits each child to abufe him. 
 fii good temper is iCmc expre^oa o( 3. well-compos' d Soul. Our wild paf- 
 fioHs are like fo many i:<«i^<frj,wrangling and bawling at the Bar • Dif- 
 cretion is the Lord-Keeper ofMan^ that ucs as Jttdge^ and moderates 
 their contejlations. Too great a Jpirit in a man born to poor means ^ is 
 like a high-heeld (hoe to one of tacinfiature : It advanceth his propor- 
 tion, but is ready to fit him with falls. Thcjlatfole walks more hire, 
 though it abates his^r4c^/w/f : yet, being too lorv, it is fubjeft to 
 bemirc the foot. A little elevation, is the beft mediocrity ; 'tis both 
 raifed from the Earth:, and furc : and for his talnefs, it difpofeth it to 
 an ec[\xdi\ competency. I will neither walk {o lifted, as to occafion fal- 
 ling ; nor fo dejected, as at every ftep to take foil. As 1 care not for 
 being /'tfW<?r, ox the cap ef the Company -^ fo I would not be £rfr/^, or 
 the Fools Foot-ball. 
 
 LXIII. 
 
 that Religion is the kft Guide, 
 
 NO man lives cenveniently^ unlcfs he propounds fomcthing, that 
 may bound the whole way of his a£lions. There muft be Some- 
 thing for him to flye to, beyond the reach of liis cavilling fenfes^ and 
 corrupted reafon : otherwife, he fliall waver in his ways, and ever be in 
 a doubtful unfetlednefs. If he tzkzs policy, that is both endlefs and uncer- 
 tain : and many times depends more upon the circumftame, than the 
 main Act. What today is goad-, is to morrow unfaving : what bene- 
 fits one, may be the undoing of another -^ though to an e)/e that is not 
 curiotts, the mattermay appear the fame. How like the Afs it fliow'd, 
 when he thought by leaping in his Majlers lap, to be made much on, 
 bccaufc he hadfccn the Dog do the like, before him ? Betides, Ptlscyis 
 not a /'/c»rrf growing in every mans Garden. All the world is not wit 
 ^x\A firatagem.M it \Nexc,Policy is but afght ofwit,ibrAtn-war : and in 
 all yvars,ho\v doubtful, how inconttant is Viiiory* Oedtput his cunning, 
 in the refolving Sphinx's Twiddle, did but betray him to the fatal mar- 
 riage of his Mother. Palarhedes found out Vlyjfesfained madnefs ; and 
 Vljfjfes
 
 p6 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 \ 
 
 Vl)iJ[es a.ktv, by htdiien goU,2i\vi forged LetUrSi found mea»s to \)a\-e 
 him Jlmed-, even while he made lliew of defending him. No man has a 
 Memfoly ot crnft alone. Again, inprivafe men it is infinitelyy?jt'V/'f»'i/j 
 both in rcfpeft oi means and Uvefulnefi. Even thofe that have allowed 
 deceit lawtul in Princes^\\^st yet condemn'd it as 'vkiom in private per- 
 fons. And believe itjT*//ffy runs fmootheft, when it turns upon a ^<?/- 
 den hinge : without the fupply ot means, 'tis but like a Clock without 
 a rveight to fet it going : Curious Tivorkma»fhip,h\it it wants a mever. If 
 a man takes Nature, Ine is both obfcure and in[ufficient : and will, with 
 a pleajing breath, waft us into yt/^r^ mortuum. Nay, /&<? that, before 
 ManhW, washisfufficientc?f»/«f5is fince becomchis/'4r4^/f, that 
 fmoothing hisT^'s^Tfi, ferves them, as iht tyrannous Emperor didhisfer- 
 vants, let them fall into a chamber fill'd with ^o/f-j ; that, being [mo- 
 ther' din them, they might meet the bitternefs of death, in frveetnefs. 
 Nor is Nature, for the moft part, without the over-bearing of predo- 
 minant humors. Cicero is in one place doubtful, whether fhe be a mo- 
 ther, or zjiep-dame ; fhe is fomctimes fo weighing a man to extremi- 
 ties. Nor, if flie were able, could we have hti pure alone. Cujlom hath 
 fo mingled her wither?, that we can hardly fever her : if we do, we 
 (hall fo differ from the rvorldy as we iliall but, by it, make our felves a 
 prey to the nature i\\zx. is arted^'\}i\\ the fubiilties of time and practice. 
 Either of thcfe arebut^^/^/zj^^iJcr/jthat will fail us, when our weight 
 is on them. Reafcn is contradi6ling,and fo is Nature-^ind Co is Religion, 
 if we meafure it byeither ofthefe. "Qnt Faith being the Rule of that 
 placeth^it above the cavils o{ Imagination, and fo fubjefteth both the 
 other to //. This being above a^, is that only, which, giving limits to 
 all our Actions, can confine us to a fetledreji. Policy governs the world -^ 
 Nature, Policy ; but Religion, All. And as we fcldom fee thofe King- 
 doms govern'd by Vice-Roys, flourifli like thofe where the Prince is prc- 
 fent inperfon : So, we never dndPolicy or Nature,io keep a man in that 
 quiet, which Religion can. The two firft I may ufc as CounfeUors ; hear 
 what they fay, and weigh it : but the lafi muft be my Hover aign. They 
 are to Religion^ as Apocryphx to the 'Bible ; They are good things, may 
 be bound up, and r^^^with it : but. muft berejcded, when they crofs 
 the Text Canonical. G OD is the Summit of Mans happinefs : Religion 
 is the fVdy. Till we arrive at Him, we are but vapours, tranfported by 
 1 uncdnflant poinds. 
 
 LXIV. 
 Of the Soul. 
 
 HOw infinitely is Man diftra(5ted about himfelfi Nay, even about 
 that which makes him capable of that dijlr action ; his Soul'^. 
 Some have thought it of the nature oijire, a hot fubtil body, difpcr- 
 fingitfelfintor47/,andjK?r;'^/o»?j ; as Vemocritus andfomcofthc 
 5/w^i-,0thers have thought it Air;zs T)iogenes,&nd Varro,and others. 
 Epicurui makes it a Spirit,va\xi oijire and air. Some would have every 
 _____^__ Element
 
 I^ESOLFES. 
 
 91 
 
 Element i Parent oix.\\z Soul, (q^zxzk(:\^: fo every ^4w ihould have 
 many diftinft 5Wj-, according to the Principles of his compofition. Some 
 have call'd it tn undetermined virtrte j fomc, a felf-rneving number ; 
 fomc, A Qumt-effence. Others havedcfin'd it to be nothing but a Har- 
 tnony, conflated by the nioftevcn compofarc of the four Elements in 
 W4;;. And for this,onc might thus argue:The body is before the /*«/; and 
 till tlic hody\i(t pcrtcft, the /W appears not ; as if the pcrfcftion of the 
 bcdfy in his even ccntemperation.i were i\\Q generation of tnc fcul within 
 it. the foul alfo changcth with the body : Is it not childidi i;i Infancy, 
 luxurious and unbounded in Tfuth, vigorous and difccrniug in the 
 Jlrength of AUnhood-i^xow xxdi and doting in the declining age of his life ? 
 For, that which in oldmen wc call tranfcending rvijdomj is ntore collecti- 
 on by long cbfervation, and experience of things without them, than the 
 genuine vigour of jW^wf-^f in themfclves. Hence fomc wife Trinces 
 have been careful, neither to chufe zgreenhead, nor one that is worn 
 with age., for Counfel. NextjWe fee the y^«/tollownig the tempcra.ture 
 of the body-j nay, even the dejires of it, generated by ihc prefent 
 conftitution of the body : as in longing after tfiings that plcafc our />>«- 
 f»ors, and are agreeable to tb.eir defefl or excefs : Doth not the diflcm- 
 per of the ^(»^ infaniate the/c«/ ? What is rnadnefs, hm A^ania^ and 
 the exuberancy and pride of the bUud ? And when again they mean to 
 cure xhcfiul, do they not begin with Dofes, and Potions^ and Prefiripti- 
 cns io the bodyl 'Johannes de Combis citzs Augufiine., faying, AnimA 
 e(l omnium fwulttudo : bccaufc it can fanfieto it felf,the lliapc of what- 
 focvcr appears. But for all thefe, I could never meet with any, that 
 could give it fo in an abfolute Definition^ that another, or himfclf could 
 conceive it : Which argues, that to all thcfc, there is fomcthing fure 
 immortAlzx\A tr an (tending, inivLsW from a fupernal Power. Cicero is there 
 Jivincywhcxc he fays, Credo 'Deum immortalem (parjljfe animos in huma- 
 nAcorpon: and where he fays again, /'I/i/;/(j«/^c*«? nunquamperfuaderi 
 petttit^t Animos., dum in corporibu4 ejjent mortAlibm., zii'vere : cum ex/JJent 
 exiii-f emori: ttenld never think jbuls to live in mortal bodies, to die when 
 they depart them. SenecA docs raifc it higher, and asks,^/^ aliud voces 
 hunc, quam Deum, in corpore humatso hojpitantem ? lyhat ether canjl thou 
 term it., but a God, Inning in thejlefhofMant The Confcience, the ChA- 
 raSter of a God ftampt in it, and the apprehenfion of Eternity , do all 
 prove ii^fljootofSverUJltngnefs. For though I doubt whcthef I n\ay 
 be of their opinion, wno utterly take away all reafon from Beafls : 
 yet I verily bcHcvc, thcfe arc things that were never infiinBcd in them. 
 Man hach thcfc things \x\ grant only : whereby zlKfoul doth fecni im- 
 mortal ; and by this feeming, is proved to be fo indeed ; Elfc feefning 
 fliould be better than certainty ; and fal^jood better than truth j which 
 cannot be. Therefore they wfiichfiy, thcyi/z/is notimmortalj yet, 
 that 'tis good men l"hould think it fo, thereby to be awed ixomviee^ 
 and incited to virtue ; even by that Argument , argue againf\ them- 
 fclves. They that believe it not , Jet them do as Philofophers wiih, 
 them to do, that deny fire to be hot, becaufe they ftc not the means 
 
 O " that
 
 5>8 
 
 'I^ E S LV E S. 
 
 chac make it fo ; lee them be ctji into it, and then hear it' they will de- 
 ay : So let them that de»jf the tmmortdity of the foul, be immcrgcd in 
 the horrors of a vul»ed Conjcience, then let them tell me what they be- 
 lieve. 'Tis certain, Man hath a Soul; aud as certain, that it is immor- 
 tal. But what, and how it is, in ihc pcrfe^ nature andfuhjlaace of it j I 
 confefs, my humane reafoa could never To inform mc, as 1 could fully 
 explain it to my own apprehenfion. O my GOD! what a clod o^ mo- 
 ving Ignorance is Man ! when all his indujiry cannot inftruft him^what 
 himfclf is ; when h.e knows not that, whereby he knows that he docs 
 not know it. Let him ftudy, and think, and invent, and fearch the very 
 inrvards of obfcured Nature ', he is yet to feek, how to define this /»- 
 explicable, immortaL,incorporeal rvender : l\u.% Ray oi Thee ; this emana- 
 tion of thy Deity. Let it then be fuificient, that GOD hath given mea 
 Soul, and that my eternalwelfare depends upon it ; though he be not 
 accountable either how I had it, or what it is. I think both Seneca 
 and Cicero(^s trueff, when they arc of opinion, that Man cannot know 
 what the 5(?«/is. Nor indeed need any man wonder at it; Since he 
 may know, whacfocver is created by a Superiour Tower, fuffcrs a Ccm- 
 pofure, but cannot know it : becaufe it was done, before it felf was. 
 J/4/?, though he hath /V/4/-m.t/f, cannot make any thing, that can ei- 
 ther know how it was made, or what it is, being made; yet it is with- 
 oat defcci, in refpcLl: of the end 'tis intended for. How then can Man 
 think to know himfelf, when both his materials and compefure, are both 
 created and formed by a Supreme Power, that did it without co-opera- 
 titn ? Why fliould 1 (\rive to knorv that, which I know I cannot knoro ? 
 Can a man diil'cdl an^tome ? can he grafp zflamf^ or hold and feiz on 
 Lightenings ? I am fure I have d-fcttl : and am commanded to keep it 
 komjin. O Thou,the G OD oi that little god within me, my Soul .'Jet 
 iwc do that, and I know, thou art not fucn an £;?^/«>' to ignorance in 
 Afan,hm that thou art better pleafed with his admiration oi thy fecrets, 
 than h.is fearch of them. 
 
 LXV. « 
 
 OfCourtefies, 
 
 N OthinglnHiveth a grateful Nature , like 2^ free benefit . He that 
 confers it on me, ftealsme from my felf: and in one and the 
 fame Acl, makes me his Fajfal, and himfclf my King. To a difpofition 
 that hath worth in it, 'tis themoft tyrannical War in the morld: for, it 
 takes the mind-3.prifoner : and,till the Ranfom be paid by alike return, 
 'tis kept iny^-Z/^r/, and conltrained to love, to ferve, and toht ready, 
 as the Co»^««rr defires it. He that hath requited a i^fw^r, hath re- 
 deemed hmifclf out oiprifen : and,likc a man out of debt, is free. For, 
 Ceurtefies, to Noble minds, ZX& the moil extreme extortions that can be. 
 Favour s,t\\\xs imparted, are not Gifts, but Purchafes, that buy men out 
 of their oven liberty. Violence and compuljlon, are not half fo dancrerous. 
 Thefe bcfiegc us openly, give us leave to look to our felves,to^coiIe(ft 
 
 our
 
 ^{ESOLVES, 
 
 99 
 
 om forces, and refortific, where wc arc fenfible ofour ovrn rveaknejfes: 
 nay, they fomctimcs befriend us, and raifc om fortttttde higher, than 
 their higheft brxves. But the other, undermine us, by a fawning Stra- 
 tagem : and if wc be Enemies,x.hcy make us lay down our iveapmsyind 
 take npLove. Thus the Macedoman proved himfelf a better T^hyfician 
 for calumny -i by his hotmties ; than his Philofophers-y by their gray ad- 
 vifements. They make of an Enemy ^ a Subjeii ; of a Subje^^ a Son. A 
 Crovpii is fafer kept by Benefits^ than Arms^ Melius be neficiu Imperium 
 cujlodttttr quam Armii. Thcgflden Sfverdcan conquer more thin Jleel- 
 oncs : and when fhefe Tnall caufe a louder cry, that fliall filencc the 
 barking tongue. There is nothing adds fo much to thegreatnefs of a 
 King^ as that he hath wherewith to iwskc friends at his pleafurc. Yet 
 even in this,he plays but the Royal Merchant .^ihit patting no condition 
 in his bargain, is dealt with in the fame way : fo for zpety benefit^ he 
 often gets zwinejltmable friend. For, "SfAZf^/j, binding up our bodies, 
 take away om fouls for thsgiver. I know not that I am ever faddcr, 
 than when I am forced to accept courtefies, that I cannot requite. If 
 ever I ihould affed in-jujlice, it (hould be in this,thac I might do eonr- 
 tejies, and receive, none. What a brave height do they flyc in, that like 
 gods, can bind all to them, and they be tyed to none ! But indeed, it is 
 for a <j(Ji!^ alone. How heroicalwaskin Alexander Severus, who ufed 
 to chide thofe he had done nothing for, for not asking ; demanding of 
 themjif they thought it titjhe (hould be (till in their debt;ov that they 
 lliould have caufe to complain oi^ him when he was gone ? Certainly, 
 as it is a tranfceading happinefs to be able to (hine to all ; fo , I muft 
 reckon it one of the greateji miferies upon Earth, wholly to depend 
 upon others favours : and a next to this, is, to receive them. They arc 
 grains caft into rich ground, which makes it fclf ftcrilc, by yielding fuch 
 a large increafe. Gifts are the greateft Vfury ; becaufe a two-fold re- 
 tribution is an urged effeSf, that a Noble nature prompts us to. And 
 furcly, \ii\\c generous man confidcrs; he fliall find he pays not fo much 
 for any thing,as he does for what is given him.l would not,if I could, 
 xtcc'iMC favours oimy friends,\xv\ck 1 could rc-rendcr them. If 1 muft, 
 1 will ever have a ready mind^ihongh my handhc Hiortned. As I think 
 there be many, will not have all they may : So 1 think there are few, 
 can requite all they have : and nonc,but fometimes muft receive fomc. 
 G&dhath made none Abfolute. The Rich depends upon the Poor, is well 
 as docs the Poor on him.Thc yvorld is but a more magnificent building : 
 all the Ji ones arc graduatcly concemented, and there is aone that fub- 
 fiftcth alone. 
 
 LXVI. 
 0/ A Mam Self, 
 
 WE ever carry om greateft Enemy within us. There was never a 
 founder truth,than,iVemo Uditiir nijiafeipfo. Had we the true 
 reins of our own paffions zx\S.afieciions, outward occafmis might exercifc 
 
 O 2 " our
 
 100 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 our virtkeSi but not ininre them. There is a way to be veije and^oo</, 
 in Tpight of cccajiofis. We go abroad, and fondly complain, that we 
 meet with rvrongs ; as if we eould crofs the Troverl'i and prove, that 
 they may beoftered to a vpiHing frefarednefs. Others cannot draw us 
 inzowconvemenciesy if we help not our felves forward. 'Tis our i»Jtde 
 that undoes us. Therefore fays Machiavel-, A Prwce ought to kmrv the 
 temters of men ^ that he m Ay fit them with baits .^ and rvtnd them to his 
 own ends. A Curtez,an cannot hurt thee, unlefs there lies a Letcher in 
 thy heart. When nxtnplot upon us, to intrap dtnAjhare us,they do but 
 fecond our orvn inclinations : and, if they did not ice a kind of invite' 
 ment from our felves, they would never dare to begin. When Cyrtu 
 befought the Laoedemonians to enter League with him^ rather than Ar- 
 taxerxes ; he only tells them, he had zgredter heart than his Brother^ 
 and could bear his drink better ; For he knew they loved men gene- 
 rous znd, hardy -. foby making himfelf like them, he thought to win 
 their liking. When men happen upon things that go againft the Genius 
 ofthewiW, then they work in vain : but when others^4//fr/<rj ilnalj 
 joyn with ^z great Flatterer, a mansfelf; he is then in the way to be 
 wrought upon. 'Tis fure, there is fometimes a [elf-conftancy, that is 
 not temptablc. In Athens there may be one Phocien, to refufe i\\tgold 
 of Harpahis and Alexander. But this indeed is rare, and worthy his 
 magnifying. Nil magnumin rebm hurnanis-inifi animus magna defpiciens. 
 Ochcrwife, it is we only, that ruine our felves : if not totally , yet pri- 
 marily. If we do ill compulfirjely, we are cleared by the violence. In the 
 judgment of an upright foulyZm^in is r\ot guilty of that which he cannot 
 avoid, (Imean,in Civil matters.) There isnomifchiefihit wcfall into, 
 but that we our felves are at leaft a coadjutive caufe, and do help to 
 further the thing. A mans own heart is as arch a Traitor, as any he 
 (hall meet withal : wttrujik xoo much, andZ-wwit too little: and 
 while we think i\. fure- footed, itjlides, aijd does deceive us. That we are 
 the Authors of our own ill, the fuccefs will tell us : For, Confcience is 
 I always j«/?,and will not chide us wrongfully : and when wc have done 
 an ill, though by others procurement, yet fhe rates us even to a loathing 
 of our felves. Says the Comick, 
 
 Jam aderit tempui, cum fe etiam 
 
 ipfe odertt. '-^— 
 
 The day will come, when he fliall hate himfelf. 
 The wife man Ihould ever therefore keep a double watch ; one, to 
 keep his heart from extravagancies -, the other ,to keep the Enemy from 
 approaches. Occafion, and our Nature; are like two inordinate Lovers ; 
 they feldom z»^^^,but they fin together. If we keep them afunder, the 
 harm is prevented ; or if they do meet, and the heart confent not,I am 
 in fome doubt, whether the ofience be puniQiable, though the acf be 
 committed. It is no (iult in the true man , to let the T/'d/' have his 
 purfe, when he can do no other. In the old Law, the ravijhed woman 
 was to be free'd : for, fays the Text, There u in her no caufe of death. 
 Qui volens injuftc agit, rhalus eft : qui vera ex necefjitate, non dico pror- 
 
 h
 
 ^{ESOLVES. 
 
 ^r 
 
 fits malum. 'Tu not the neceJJitated^lfHt theivMi/$gillfhat /iains. Hven 
 A^ual jins have fo tar dependency on the hearts approbation, as that 
 alone can vitiate or excufe the AH. While we keep that ftcddy, our 
 Enemies can much lefs hurt us. The reafon is, it is not in Man to com- 
 pel it. The mmd ot Man-, from Man, is not capablc'^f a violation : 
 and whom then can I tax for my o\N\\yieldmg, bat my/^^? No man 
 hath power over my OT/W,unlcf$ I viVj [elf dio give it him. So chat this 
 I fhall think certain ; No man falls by free action, but is faulty infome- 
 thing, at Icaft by fomc circum[la»ce ; though cxcufabk in the moft,and 
 mtflimportAnt. I know, calumny ind conje^ure may injure Innocence 
 itfelf. In matters oic^;siy«rf, nothing but a <rfrr4/>z,twW<?^^, fhould 
 make us give a certain judgment. lame and Air are both too weak 
 foundations for unfpotted Truth to build on : only deeds are lyable to 
 the domn-right fax : Bccaufe they carry the heart along ; which in 
 every aftion is a witnefs, either for or againft us. Surely, Man is his 
 own Devil, and does oftentimes tempt himfelf. All the Precepts of 
 mgderation^we meet with, arc but given us to beware our felves : and 
 undoubtedly, he that can do it, is rifing toward Petty. Htrk but to the 
 Harp oi Horace. 
 
 Latitis regneSy avidum demando 
 
 Spiritum, qulmji Lybiam remotii 
 
 Gadibm jungas., ^ Hterq-, Panus 
 Serviat uni. 
 
 By curbing thy infatiatc mind, 
 
 Thou ihalt fway more, thanj:ouldft thou bind 
 
 Far Spain to Lybia : or to thee 
 
 caufc either Carthage fubjed be. 
 One eye I will furc have for without ; the other I will hold vpithin 
 me : and left I fee not enough with that, it (hall ever be my Prayer^ 
 that I may be delivered from my f elf. A me me falva, Domine ! (ball 
 be one Petition I will add to the Let any of my befeechings. 
 
 LXVII. 
 Qfthz ^orjl kind of Tcrfidie, 
 
 THc Dead, the Abfent, the Innocent, and him that trufls me,l will 
 never deceive willingly- To all thefe we owe a Nobler Jujlice ; 
 in that they are the moft certain trials of human equity. ks i\\zi grief is 
 the trueft, which is without irvitnefs • fo is that honefly bcftjWhich is 
 for it /ir^jwithout hope o^reward^oxfear oipuni/bment. Thofc virtues 
 that itejincere, do value applaufe the leaft. 'Tis when we are confci- 
 ous of fome internal defeat , that we look out for others approbations. 
 Certainly, the ivorld cannot tempt the man that is truly honejl. And 
 he is certainly a /r«(f fWii«, that will not7?<r4/ , when he may, without 
 being impeached. The two firft arc hindered, that they cannot tax my 
 injury •, and deceit to them is not without cowardice, throwing Nature 
 into tfic loweft degree oibafenefs. To wrong the third, is favage, and 
 
 comes
 
 ^E S OLVE S. 
 
 comes from the Bea/l, noi Afaa.lt was an JS} like Nature in Xenocrdtes^ 
 when the purfucd Sparrow flew into his bofom, to cher(Jh,ind difmifs 
 it. How black a hearf is that, which can give Sijlal^ , for the innocent 
 fmles oi ar\ I»fa»t ^ Surely, Innocence is of th^t puritj, that it hath 
 more of the Gfd in it, than any other qua/itj ; it intimates a freedom 
 ^rom general vice. And this is it, which makes the injury to it fo de- 
 tcllable ; and fomctimcs gives the owners a divine and miraculous 
 force : as we may read in the Turkifhj?or)/,oi a. child th^t ftruck anin- 
 tending Mtirtherer into a frvoHnd, with offering to imbracc him. The 
 /ajl I cannot defraud without Ingratitude ; which is the very lees of 
 rice : and makes my ofence fo much tUcgreater^hy how much he was 
 kinder, in making me Afajler of himfelf. Allu redly, as Nature hath en- 
 dued man with a more earncft defire to do right to thefe ; becaufe a 
 true per formance do&i in thefe things moft magnifie him : fo fhe hath 
 made the contrary appear the moft odious ; becaufe they arc breaches 
 that moft deftroy humanity. It came from him that had but Nature, 
 Cicero ; PerdttiJJimi eft hominti,fa\lere eum, qui Ufus non ept, nificre- 
 didifct, None but the mofl I'iUanous man, rvtU decive him that had been 
 fafe, hut for trufiing. 
 
 LXVIII. 
 ^^ainjl hiftdtation, 
 
 IT cannot be fafc to infult over any. As there is no creature fo little, 
 but may do us a mifehief: fo is no Man fo low, but may occafion 
 ourfmart. The Spider can impoyfon -^ the j4ntcznfiinjg ; even the f^ 
 can trouble our patience. Into iWfenJitive Creatures, Nature hath put a 
 kind of a vindt£iivejujiice ^ that in fome meafure they arc able to re- 
 turn an Injury. It they do not always, 'tis only becaufe they are not 
 able. Man hath both a more <i^/<f,and more impatient [ml : and though 
 Reafin teaches him not to he furious, yet withal, it teaches him not to 
 bcduU. Extremities of Injury often awake extremities oi Revenge: 
 efpecially, if we meet with contempt from others, or find defpair in our 
 fehes : for dejpatr makes a Coward bold and during. Nor ftands it but 
 with reafcn, that ^ Jlrong patienee,m^tA beyond it felf,fliould turn into 
 t\\efirc»ge(i rage. The B6rv,t\\zt is hardeft to bend, fends out an Arrorv. 
 with mo& force. Negleci an Enemy, but contemn him not. Disdain will' 
 banilli Vtitience,a\\d bring in Fury ;»which is many times ^greater Lord, 
 than he that rules a Kingdom. Contempt unbridles Fear, and makes us 
 both to rvilL, to dare, and to execute. So Lipjius has it, Contemptus ex- 
 cutit timoris frxnum, dr (fficit, ut non velis folnm, fed audeas, S" tentes. 
 It is not good too far to purfue a Victory. Sigifmund faid true. He hath 
 conquer d weZ, that hath made his Enemisfiie : wc may beat them to a 
 defperate refiftance, that may ruine us.Hc is the wrong way high., that 
 fcoins a man below him, iotHs lovp/iefs. They are but puft minds, 
 that bubble thus above /»z/m(j»rj. We fee, 'tis the froth only, that 
 gets to the top of the water. Man cannot be fo much above A^an, as 
 
 that
 
 1{ E S L f/ E S. 
 
 102 
 
 that his difference ihovA'i Icgicimacc his Icom. Thou knowcfl not what 
 may fliew it fclfjwhcn thy contempt awakes the Lion oi zjlee^ing mntL 
 All Dijdain,h\.\\. that of f7fr,dctradeth from the worth ot Man.Great- 
 nefsfin any man, makes not his />j//r/ more larvful^hiK mote great. And 
 as he thatfnd'crs, thinks his -j/zj^^r^fd' more noted tor the others fw- 
 fiency : fo he thinks his own honour will be the more, when he hath ac- 
 compliflithis ;r^r/;^<r ; whereby, in fomc kind, he hath raifcd him- 
 fclf to be his Superiours e^ual. Mah'is-^ Animal generofifjimurn: and 
 though he be content to fubjcft himfelt to anothcrs commands., yet he 
 will not endure hisbraves. A lafhgivcn to thc/o«/,will provoke more, 
 than the I'odies cruel torture. Derijton makes the Pe.tfint brave the 
 Prince. When At4gitftm faw one like himfelt, and ask'd him in a fiof^ 
 ii his Mother were never at %ome: The "Boy anfwers, No ; but \(\%Fa- 
 ther was. When Julian in a mock, ask'd the reverend., and aged, blind 
 Ignatius, VMiy he went not into Galilee, to recover his iij^ht : Says he, 
 / am contentedly blind, that / may not fee fuch a Tyrant as thou art. Wc 
 are all here feUow-fervants : and wc know not how our grand Ma- 
 fier will brook Jnfolencies in his Family. How darcft thou, that art but 
 a piece of Earth , that Heaven has blown into, prcfumc chy felt into 
 the impnde?tt ufurpation of a Majcfly un(}jakcn ? Thou canft not (tt up- 
 on fo higli ^Cog, but mayft with turning prove the lovtefi in the 
 n>heel:^x[d therefore thou mayft think of the measure that thou would'lt 
 then have given me. If we have Enemies, 'tis better wc deferve to have 
 their/rz/rWyZ'/^jthan either to de(Jnfe, or irritate them. No mans iveak- 
 nefs fliall occafion my greater weahnefs,w\ proudly contemning him. Our 
 Bodies, (jut Souls have both the like original compofure : If 1 have any 
 thing beyond him, 'tis not my coodnefs, but Gods : and he, by time and 
 means, may have as much, or more. Take us alone, and we arc but 
 Twins of Nature. Why fliould any defpife anotherjbccaufe he is bet- 
 tcr iurniflit with that which is none of his own ? 
 
 LXIX. 
 
 Of ^li.milatmi. 
 
 THorow the whole rvorld this holds in general, and is the end of 
 all ; That every thing labours to make the thing it meets with, 
 like it [elf. Fire converts all tofire. Atr cxficcates and draws to ii felf. 
 water moifiens, and rcfolveth what it meets withal. Earth changcth all, 
 that we commit to her, to her orvn nature. The world is ail vicijfitude 
 and conversion. Nor is it only true \\\ Materials zx\d Subjlances ; but 
 even in spirits ^\w Incorporeals • nay,in thcfc there is more iJ/'^/jf-pj they 
 mix more JrJ^tiUy, and pafs into one another with a nimbler glide. 
 So we fee infection fooncr'takcn by brtath than co?3t action : and thus it 
 is in difpflfttions too : The Souldicr labours to make his Companion -va- 
 liant. The Scholar endeavours to have his Friend learned. 1 he bad Man 
 would have his company like himfelf. And thcgood Man Itrivcs to 
 frame otiiers virtmui. Every Mail will be bufie in difpcnding that
 
 I^ESOLVES. 
 
 quaUtyiWhidi is predominanc in him. Whence this Caveat may well 
 become us, to beware both whom and what wc chufc to live withal. 
 Wc can convcrfc with nothing, but will work upon us; and by the 
 unperceived i\cakh of Tw/^jaliimilatc vs to it Iclf. The choycc there- 
 fore of a mans Ccmpa^y^xs ©nc of the moft weighty Actions of our lives: 
 For, our future well or ///being depends on that £/<f(J?/'d». Ifwechufe 
 illjcvery day declines us to iverfe: wc have a perpetual rveigk hanging 
 on us, that is ever finking us down to rice. By living under Pharaeh, 
 how quickly Jofij^h learned the Courtjhip of an Oxth ! Italy builds a 
 FilUm: Spain [uperbtates '^ Germany makes a Druvkard, andf^<f;?«^a 
 Letcher. But if wc chufe well, wc have a hand, of Virtue^ gently lifting 
 us to a continual rising Nobleness. Antijlhenes ufed to wonder at thofe, 
 that were curious but in buying an earthen Di/h, to fee that it had no 
 cracks, nor inconveniences^ and yet would be carelcfs in the choyce of 
 Friends-^ to take them with the flaws oiFice. Surely,a mans Companim 
 is afccond Genim-^to fway him to the rvhiteiO: bad.tK good Man is like 
 the D4^,enlightning and warming all he fl/ines on,and is always raifing 
 upward, to a Region of more conlf ant/'wr;//, than that wherein it finds 
 the Objeff. The bad Man IS like the night -^ dark, obiruding/f^r^ , and 
 dimitting unwholfom vapours upon all that reft beneath. Nature is fo 
 far from making any thing abfolutely id/ej that even lojlones and dul- 
 lejl meddals, fine hath given an operation : they^r^w, and fpread, in our 
 general Mothers ve'ms : and by a cunning way ot incroachmect, couzen 
 the Earth of it felt; and when they meet a Brother'd Conftitution,they 
 then itnite and fortijie. Hence grows the height offriendPnp^sv\\tn two 
 fimilary S»uls Ihall blend in tlicir commixions. This caufes , that we 
 feldom fee diftcrcnt difpofitions to be entirely loving. 
 
 Oder tint hilar em trifles, trijlemque jocojl : 
 Sedatumceleres-^ agtlem gnavumque remijjl. 
 Pot ores Eibuli media de noUe Falerni 
 
 Odertmt porre^a negantem pocula 
 
 Sadmen iiatc mirth • ihc pleafant^fadnefs fhun : 
 Srvift men, the Jlovp ; the jlothful,:hok that run. 
 Who drinks at midnight, old Falernian mne. 
 
 Scorns him that will not take his ^w/*/ . v 
 
 It is likenefs that makes the true-love-knot o[ friendship. When welnd 
 another of our own dijpojition, what is it, but ihtfame feul in a divided 
 bodyt What find we, butourfelvcs intcrmutually tranjpofed, each 
 into other ? And Nat»re,x.hzi makes us Itveo^xi felves,makes us,witb 
 the fame rcafon,/wtf thofe that are like us.For this,a Friend is a more 
 [acred name than ^Brother. What avails it to have the Ww from 
 the fame Original, when the Souls within them ditfer ? 1 believe, that 
 the applaufe wliich the Ancients gave to equal friendjhif, was to be un- 
 dcrftood of the likenefs of minds, rather than oie/late, oi years: For, 
 wc find no feafin, nor no degree ot Man, but hath been happy with this 
 Sun of the fVorld, Frrend/hip : Whereas in jarring diJ^oJitions,we never 
 as yet found it true. Nay, I think, if the minds be confonant , the beft | 
 ^ friendfljip,\
 
 J(ESOLFES. 
 
 105 
 
 frienclfljip is between different fortunes. He that is l«r» , looks upward 
 yNiih ^2XtztQ.i loving reverence : and he that is high .^ looks dorpnrvard 
 more afectionately; when he takes it to be for his honour^ to favour his 
 fnferiour iWhom he cannot chufe but love the more for magnifying him. 
 Something 1 would look to outrvards j but in i friend^ 1 would efpe- 
 cially chulc him full of worth, that if I be not fo \\\\felf\ he yet may 
 work me like him. So for Company, Books, or whaclocver ; I would, if 
 I hive freedom , chufe the ^f/? : though at firft I fliould not fanfic 
 them, continual ufe will alter mc, and then I fhall gai;; by tl^cir graces, 
 li judgment dirett me right in my choice, cufiom-^wmning upon my rviU, 
 will never fail in time to draw that after it. 
 
 LXXI. 
 
 Of 
 
 Toets and Toetry, 
 
 SUrely he was a little wanton with his leifur^ , that firft invented 
 Poetry. 'Tis but a Tlay, which makes Words danccy in the evennefs 
 ot a Cadency : yet, without doubt, being a Harmony, it is neerer to the 
 mind xhiwprofc : for that it felf is a Harmony in hcighth. But the mrds 
 being rather the drofsypart, Conceit 1 take to be ihcprincipal. ^nd here 
 though it digredeth from Truth, it flies above her, making her more 
 rare, by giving curious rayrnent to her nakedness. The iV4//z<?3the Greci- 
 ans gave the men that wrote thus, (hew'd how much they honoured it : 
 They call'd ^q.x^\ Makers. And had fome of them had power to put 
 their Conceits in Aci, how neer would they have con;e to Deity ? And 
 for the w>/«fj ot men ^ they reft not on tlic bare Demeanor, but Aide 
 into imagination : fo propoiing things above us. they kindle the 'Rea- 
 der to wonder and imitation. And certainly, /'tf(rr/,that write thus,P/4/* 
 never meant to baniUi. Hisown/'r<«^/« ihcws, he excluded not all. 
 He was content to hear Antimachtu recite his Poem, when all the Herd 
 had left him : and he himfelf wrote both Trag(edies,A\\A other pieces. 
 Perhaps he found them a little too bufie with \\\sgods : and he, being 
 the firft that made /'/'//o/^/'/^ D/x/;»^, ind Rational, was modefi in his 
 own beginnings. Another Name they had o\ honour too, and that was 
 rates. Nor know 1 how to diftinguilli between the Prophets and Toets 
 oi/frael. What is Jeremie's Lamentation, but a kind of SapphickEle- 
 gie ? David' % Pfalrns are not only Poems ^ but Songs, Snatches, and Rap- 
 tures o{ z flaming (pir it. And this indeed 1 obfervc, to the honour of 
 Poets ; I never tound them covetous, or fcrapingly-hafe. The Jews had 
 not too fuch a://?^/ in all their Crfr^/pfw^", zs Solomon, and his Father i 
 Poets both. There is a largencfs in their Souls, beyond the narrowncfs 
 of other men: and why may wc not then think, this may imbrace 
 more,both oi Heaven, and god^. 1 cannot but conjedturc this to be the 
 rcafon, that they, moftofthem, ire poor : Tlicy find their minds fo 
 folaced with their own flights, that tliey ncglcdt the ftudy of growing 
 rich : and this, 1 contefs again, 1 think, turns them to vice, and un- 
 vtanly courfes. Befides, they arc for the moft part, mighty lovers of 
 
 P their
 
 ,o5 
 
 ^ESOLf/ES. 
 
 cheir p/iUates ; and thi* is known an imfoverifljer. Antigontu, in the 
 Tented Fields found Antagoras cooking o( a Conger hinifcU. And they 
 all ivc frknds lo ih.Q Grape 3ind Liquor : though I think, many, more 
 out oididu^iyie Nature^ and their love lopkafant company^ than their i 
 af&dion to t\\tiuyce alone. They are all oi free Natures ; and are the| 
 trucft Definition of that Philofophe/s many which gives him. Animal^ 
 rifihile. Their grojjefi fault is, that you may conclude them fenfti- 
 al: yet this does not touch them a]l. Ingenious for the moft part they 
 are. Iknowthcrcbefome ^//»/»^y('<'/f; but what have they to do| 
 with Voetry ? ^VtXiSalufl would tell us, that Sempronia's rvit was not 
 ill ; fays he,' — Potuit verffti fapere, & jocum movere : She could make a 
 Verfe, and break a Jefi. Something there is in it, more than ordinary : 
 in that it is all in fuch meafured Language, as may be marr'd by reading. 
 I laugh heartily at Philoxenui his J eft, who pafTing by , and hearing 
 (omt MafinSj mif-fenfing his lines, (with their ignorant fawing of 
 them) falls to breaking amain : They ask the caitfe , and he repTicSj 
 They fpoyl his work, and he theirs. Certainly, a vporthy Poet is fo far i 
 from being afW, that there is fome w// required in him that fliall be 
 able to read him well : and without the true accent , numbred Poetry 
 does lofc of the glofs. It was ajpeech becoming an able Poet of our 
 own, when a Z,cr^ read his yerfet crookedly, and he befeecht his Lord- 
 jbip not to murder him in his own /?/?w. He i\\&i{^t^k^ falfe Latine^ 
 breaks Prifcians head : but he that repeats a rerfe ill, puts Homer out 
 oijoynt. One thing commends it beyond Oratory ; it ever complyeth 
 to the lliarpeft Ju^ments. He is the bed Orator that pjeafeth all, even 
 i\\t Crowd znd clowns. BucPf^f/ry would be foor, that they iTaould all 
 approve of. If the Learned and Judicious like it, let the Throng bray. 
 Thefe, when 'tis bejl, will like it the leaft. So,they contemn what they 
 underjiand not -, and the neglected Poet falls by want .Calphurnius makes 
 one complain the misfortune, 
 
 Frange puer c alamos, dr inane s defers Mufas : 
 Et potiusglandes, rubicundaq-^ coUige corna. 
 'Due ad mulciragreges, ^ lac venalt per urbem 
 Non tacitus porta : Quid enim tibi Fijlula reddet. 
 Quo tutere famem I certi, mea carmina nemo 
 Prater ab his fcopulis ventofa remurmurat Eccho. 
 Boy, break thy Tipes, leave, leave ihyfruitlefs Mufe : 
 Rather the A/aft, and blood-red Cormll chufe. 
 Go lead thy Flocks to milking ; fell and and cry 
 Milk through the City: what can Learning buy. 
 To keep back hunger ? None my Ferfes mind. 
 But Sccho, babbling from thefe Rocks and Wind. 
 Two things are commonly blamed in Poetry:nzy,yovi take away That, 
 iiThem : and thefe are Lyes, and Flattery. But I have told them in the 
 worji words: For, 'Tisonlyto t\\t (hahw in fight that they appear 
 thus. Truth may dwell more clearly in an Allegory, or a moral" d Fable, 
 than in a bate Narration. And ior Flattery, no man will take Poetrie 
 
 literal
 
 1{ E S L IE S, 
 
 liter d : fincc inf^ww^W/tr/o^j, it racher (hews wnacincn ihouJd bc^ 
 than what they arc. It this were not, it would appear w^w^k-^. But 
 wc all know , Hyperbole's in Poetry do bear a decency , nay , z grace 
 along with them. The greateft danger that 1 find in it, is, that it wdn- 
 tens the "Bloud-y and Imaginatien ; as carrying a man in too high a 'De- 
 light. To prevent thefe , let the vpife Peet Itrive to be moie(l in his 
 Lines. Firlt, that he aAfh not the Gods : next, that he injure not Chafti- 
 ty-i nor corrupt the Ear with Lafctvtoufnefs . When thcle arc declined, 
 I think ^ grave Toemxhc deepefi kmd «f vVnting. It wings the 5o«/ 
 up higher, than the Jlachd pace oi Profe. F/afhes that do follow theC«/>, 
 I fear me, are loojpritely to he [olid: they run fmartly upon the loofe, 
 fov i Difiame ox two ; but then being /i«/, they give in, and //rf. I 
 confefs, I love thefvber Mufe, and fijiing : From the other , matter 
 cannot cooiefo clecr,but that it will be miftcd with the fumes olivine. 
 Long Poetry fome cannot be friends withal : and indeed, it pallcs upon 
 the reading. The wittieft/'of/zhave been a.\\/bort, and changing (oon 
 their Subje£i ; as Horace, Martial-, ^wvenal^ Seneca, and the two Co- 
 mcedians. Poetry fhould be rather like a Coranto,jhort, Sind mmbly-ltfty ; 
 than a </«// Le^on<y of a day long. Nor can it but be deaddtfjj, if diftend- 
 ed: For, when 'tis right, it centers Conceit., and takes bu: i\[(^J}ifit of 
 things: and thevefove fooltjh Poejie is oi a\i rvriting the mojl Ridiculous. 
 When a Goofe dances,ind ifiol rerjlfies^ihc^e. is/port alike. He is twice 
 an Afs, that is a riming one. He is fomething the L-fs unwife , that is 
 unwife but in Profe. If the Subject be Hijiory., or context id Fable , then 
 I hold it better put ii» Prtfe, or Blanks: tor ordinary dtfc o/trfe r\cvcv 
 lliews fo well in Meter, as in thcjfrain that it may fcem to be fpoken 
 in ; the commendation is, to do it to the l.'fe : Nor is this any other, 
 then Pfetry in Profe, Surely , though the iVorld think not fo , he 
 is happy to himfelf, that can play the Poet. He fliall vent his paffions 
 by his Pen, and cafe his heart of their weight ; and he fliall otten raife 
 himfclt a Joy in his Raptures, which no man can pcrccive,but he. Sure, 
 Ovid found zpleafure in't, even when he writ his Trijlia. It gently de- 
 livers the mind of diftempers ; and works the thoughts to a fiveetnefs, 
 in their jearching conceit, I would not love it for a Profejjion : and I 
 would not want it for a ^^fyM/w/». I canmakcmy felf^^rw^/r, nay, 
 amending mirth with it ; while I fhould perhaps be trying of a reorder 
 pafltme. And this I believe in it further, Unk'fs Conversation corrupts 
 his eajinefs-, it lifts a man to Noblenefs j and is never in any rightly, but 
 it makes him of a Royal and capaciom Soul, 
 
 107 
 
 LXXII. J 
 
 Of Fear and CeTi^ardice, 
 
 THey,that arc made oi fearful dtjpofitions, of all others, may fcem 
 the lea(\ beholding to Nature. 1 know not any thing, wherein 
 they can be more unfortunate. They enjoy nothing without z frighted 
 mind; no, notfomuchas thcirjl^r/'x. They doubt what they have 
 
 P 2 done.
 
 io8 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 
 done-iXoSi'iivx^^ hurt them: thc-^ trewhlennheprefeaty and Miferies 
 thithm may come J ihcy a^ttctpate mA (cud for, and inferr in a more 
 h»rridhai>it, thaiiany fwwj' candcvife toput them in. Nay, it were 
 well, if they did bni fear more miseries:, than the bolder people : But it 
 plainly appears, that the Coward really meets more ^4»gfr^,than the va- 
 liant man. Every bafe Nature, will be ready to offer injuries, where 
 they think they will not be repayed. He will many lirxitsbeat a Coward, 
 that would not dare to ftrike him, if he thought him o'^/w^r. When 
 the Paffenger gallops by, as if \\iifear made him fpeedy ; the C«r fol- 
 lows him with an open mouth, inAfmftnefs : let him walk by, in a 
 confident negleSi ; and the Tiog will never ftir at him. Surely , 'tis a 
 weaknefs that every Creature (by a native inftind) takes advantage of; 
 and CfWsrds Yiivc fouls of a cmrfer mixture, than the common Jl>irits 
 oimen. £t///r that muft be, they meet with before their time: as if 
 they ftrivcd to make themfclvcs miferahle, fooner, than God appointed 
 them. Evils that are buiprobable, they afcertatn. They that by an even 
 pots^e might fit fafe, in a 'Boat on a rough Sea, by rifing up to avoid 
 drtwning, are drowned. For this is furc ; It cozens the weak mind in- 
 finitely, both in making of her falfcly believe flic may avoid dangers 
 by ftytng, and in counterfeiting whatfoever is iU. All difeafes are belyed 
 hy fear, and conceit : and wc know fome, out of fear oi Death , have 
 dy'd. In a54//<'/wefee the valiant man eCa^t ofcfafcj by a confiant 
 keeping his r4»jt 5 when the CowW, fliifting dangers, runs, by 4^m^- 
 ing one, into the fcveral walks of many. Multcs infummxpericuUmifit 
 Venturi timor ipfe mali. Certainly 1 have ftudied in vain, in thinking 
 what a C«w4r^ may be good for ; 1 never heard ofanyyf<^ becoming 
 virtue, that ever came from him. All the Noble deeds that have beat 
 their Marches through fucceeding Ages, have all proceeded from men 
 of courage. And I believe many times, their confidence kept them fafe. 
 An unappalled look does daunt a bafc attempter. And oftentimes, if a 
 ^/;» has nothing but a fp«r4^/<j«tf9'<r, it protedts him. The brave foul 
 knows no trembling. C'^Jar fpakc like Cafar, when he bade the Mari- 
 *tfr/ fear nothing ; tor they carryed him and his /Vf;«»«. And indeed 
 valour cafts a kind oi honour upon G<w/;in that we IItcw that wc believe 
 hisgoodnefi, while we truft our felves, in danger, upon his care only : 
 Whereas the Coward eclipfes his fufficiency, by unworthily doubting , 
 that God will not bring him off. So unjufily accufing cither his power, 
 or his will, he would make himfelf his own Saviour, and becomes his 
 own confounder. For when man miftrufts God, 'tis juft with God to 
 leave Man. Marcus Antenius would not believe, that Aviditts Crajfus 
 could ever have depofedhim : and his reafon was,The Gods had greater 
 care of him than to let Crajfits wrong him undcfervedly. And this 
 l»y/««/»^himlove, eftablilVthim : whereas. Fear on the other fide 
 frujlrates a fiifficient defence. Themijlocles compared a Coward to the 
 Sword'fi[b,vj\\ic\\ hath a weapon, but wants a heart. And then what ufe 
 c^nths. quaking hand ^yjit it to? Nay, when he may flic, c»wardize 
 hinders him from playing the Coward ; He would run away , and 
 
 fear
 
 9{ES0LFES. 
 
 loy 
 
 /rararrefts him whhi(en(ckCi awazemeaty that betrays him to the 
 piirfuit ot his Foes. No aruiour can defend a fcart'ul ncart. It will kill 
 it fclfj within. Cleomenes was fo far out o{ charity with this pile paffi- 
 oa, as the Spoyls he wan from Cowards-, he would neither [acrifice to 
 the Geds, nor let the LAcedemoman Youth behold them, There are two 
 miseries., for which it is famous beyond all other fajjions. Love, An- 
 ger, Sorrovt, and the like, are but for a tinie, and tnen over : but this 
 is ferfetud , A di^eale of^ life long, which every day flaves a man to 
 wiiatfoevcr ill he meets with. It vafiails him to the veorld, to heafis, 
 and men. And like a lurly Tyrant, inforccth wlutfo'erc it propofech. 
 For this, does Martial Epigram upon it. 
 
 Quid fime Tonfor, chm ^ri£fa novacaU fupra. ejl^ 
 
 Tunc Libert Atem, Divttiafque roget ? 
 Promittam : ncc enim rogat fUo tempore Tonfor, 
 
 Latro rogat. Res eft tmperiofa. Timor. 
 Suppofe my Barber, when his ^^^cr'snigh 
 
 My throat, fliould then ask wealth, and liberty j 
 I'd promifc furc. Tiie Barber asks not this, 
 
 No, 'Tis a Thief, and Fear imperious is. 
 Ncxtjwhereas other paeons are grounded upon things that arc,as £»» 
 vie upon happinefs : Rage upon Injury , Love upon "Beauty, 8nd (o the 
 reft. This is as well upon things that are not -, It coyns mifchiefs ihat^' 
 neither be, nor can be. Thus having no #^jV<;7 to ' ^<»»W it , it runs in 
 infinitum, and cannot be fecured by any condition of life. Let the Co^'f- 
 ard have a guard, and he fear^ that : Let him have none, and he will 
 fear for want of it. I have known fomc , as happy as the rvorld 
 could make them ^ and their own ncedlefs/^-wj- have made their lives 
 morcfirvr, than his that hath been ftreightned in all. 1 have pitied 
 them ; to think that a weak, vexatious, and unprofitable pajjion lliould 
 quite mine the blcfTings of a fair eflate. Some things I may doubt, and 
 endevour tofiiun : but I would never fear them to zfervility. If 1 can 
 keep but Xf(«/i« jLor^j/^^y will ferve, znA benefit mc : bat when that 
 gets the Throne, it will domineer infultingly. Let mc rather have a 
 mind confident, and «W^«»/^^ with forae troubles 'y than a P^^ ftiU 
 beating/fdr, in the flvifh of P^-o^m/T)'. •* 
 
 -- j . . — . . ■ ■-..r^nr, /ul 
 
 L XX 1 1. .. v/ ;ii.,. J . •jiMlv;tU\i.M^\ 
 
 That Man is neither happy ^ normtprahlel Mtty^cmpdrijhh.' 
 
 THere is not in this vcorld, either perfcdi mifeicy, or perfed h<^pi- 
 Kefs. Comparifon, more than Reality, makes men happy, and can 
 Oi^Yc th^m^vpretched. What lliou Id wc account ww/^r^i'/ir, it wc di<i 
 not lay it in the balance with fomc thing, that hath more felintyi If 
 we faw not fomc men vaulting, in the gay trim of HonoWy and Great* 
 nefs, we fliould never think a poor efiate fo lamentable. Were all the 
 jVorU ugly. Deformity would be no Monfier. In thofe Countries where- 
 all go naked, they neither fhamc at their being uncovered, nor contpUmi 
 
 that
 
 110 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 that, they are expos'd to the violenct o\ the Sun and winds. 'Tis with- 
 out doubt,our eyes^4i./»g at others above, calt us into ayZ'^</(f,vvhich 
 before that time, wcmeinotwith. Whatfoever is not />/«/», or /«/)^- 
 TAnce , might well be born without^r«w/'///ii'^ : did not other obje£is^ 
 fuller oi contentedHefSfdxVN away our fouls from that wehavc,tothofe 
 things which we fee, we have not. 'Tis Ef)vy, and Ambit io»-y thac 
 makes us far more mtferabk, than the conrtiution which our liberal 
 Nature hath allotted m. Many never find thcmfelvcs in voAnt^ till they 
 have dffitziered the abundajfce oi fome others. And many ao;ainjdo 
 bear their ir4«rj with eafe, when they find others below thcmfelvcs in 
 hafpinefs. It was an anfwer bewraying a Philofopher , which ThaUs 
 £f ave to one, that asked him how /idverjity might beft be born ? By 
 feeing our Enemies in rverfe eJlAte than our [elves. We pick our own 
 firreivs, out ot the Jop of other men : and out of their firrewsy likc- 
 wife,wc affume our jo^/.When 1 fee the toy ling Labourer Cwezz thorow 
 both his skins, yet can fcarcc get fo much, as his importunate beily 
 confumcshim; Ithenlookuponmy/f^with^^fl(«<r/}. But when I 
 eye the Dijlributors ot the Earth, in their Royalty : when I think oiNero 
 in hhjourney-y with his thoufand Chariots, and his Mules a\\ fhod with 
 fiher ; then, what a poor Jtome do I account tayplfy compar'd wiih 
 thcfc huge piles of State ? 
 
 Tolie felicesy remoueto multo 
 
 Divites auro, remoueto centum 
 
 Rura qui fcindant opulent a btbm ; 
 
 Pauperi furgent animi jacentes. 
 
 Ejl mifer nemo, niji comparatw. 
 
 reid the blcft, and him that flows 
 
 With the weighty Gold, and fifty Plot^hs 
 
 Furrowing wcihhy pa/lures goes; 
 
 Poor w;W/ then will^r/^^. For none 
 
 Is poor but by comparifon. 
 It was comparifon, that firft kindled thcjir^ to burn Troy withal. Give 
 it to the fair eft, vm it y which jarr'dt]:\tGoddeJfes. Paris might have 
 given the "BaU. with lefs oftence, had it not been fo infcribed. Surely, 
 J«»o was content with her ^frf*/y, till tht Trojan Youth caft her, by 
 advancing F<?/»/«. The ^<'W4«D4w^ complained not of her husbands 
 hreath,vim\.\t iVie knew nokifs but his. While we fpy no joys above our 
 own, wc in quiet count them bleffings. We fee, even a tew companions 
 can lighten our miferies : by which we may guefs the etfcft of a gene- 
 rality. Tllacknefs, iflat nofe , thick lips, and goggle eyes, are beauties, 
 where no (hapes nor colours differ. He is much imp^.tient, that refufeth 
 ^t general Let. For my felf, I will reckon that mtfery , which I find 
 hurts Hie in my felf ; not that which coming from another, I may 
 avoid, if 1 will. Let mc examine whether thac I f^/fy, be not enough 
 to felicitate me, if I ftay at home. If it be, I wotild not have anothers 
 better fortune put me out of conceit with my own. In eutvoard things,! \ 
 will look to thofe that arc beneath me; that if I mutt build my felf i 
 
 out ,'
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 Out of others, I may rather raife content than murmur. But f'or^c- 
 comflifljments of the mind, I will ever fix on thofe above me; that I 
 may, out of an honeft emulation, mend my felf, by rontinnal ftriving 
 to imitate their Noblenefs. 
 
 LXXIII. ~~~ 
 
 Of Trlde and Chokr. 
 
 THe Proud man and the choleriek feldom arrive at any height of 
 virtue. Pride is the choler of the mind ; and choler is x\\c pride of 
 the body. They are fometimes born to good parts of Nature, buc they 
 rarely are known ro add by indujlry. 'Tis the mild and fu&ring;^/- 
 Jpofition^ that ofteneft doth attain to £minency. Tewper, and Humility 
 are advantagious virtues, for bufiaefs, and to rife by. Pndc and cWrr 
 make fuch a noifc, that they iwsiV.ctdangers ; which the other with a 
 foft tread fteal-by undifcovered. They fivell a man fo much,that he is 
 too big to pafs the narrow rvay. Temper and Humility are like the Fox-, 
 when he went into the Garner • he could creep in at a little hole, and 
 arrive at plenty. -Pr/W^ and C/'c/fr are like the fcjf offering to go out, 
 when his /-^//y was full ; which inlarging him bigger ih^wtV^o. fajfage 
 made him (tay, and be taken with /Z'rfw^. They, that would come to 
 freferment by T^ride , are like them that afcend a pair oi Stairs on 
 Horseback -J 'tis ten to one, but both their ^r^// will caft them, ere 
 they come to tread their chamber. The minds ot proud men have not 
 that clcarncfsofdifcerning, which iTiould make them judge aright 
 of thcmfelvcs, and others, 'Tis an uncharitable vice, which tcachos 
 vs\itXK\\o^ to negle[iz.vidi contemn. So deprefiing others , it feckcth to 
 raife it felf: and by this depreffion angers them, that they bandy againft 
 it, till it meets with the /o/j. One tning it hath more than any vice 
 that 1 know : It is an Enemy to it felf. The -^roud man cannot endure 
 to fec/'yi^ir in another. Diogenes xx^\\^^\t^. Plato-, though indeed 'tis 
 rare to find it in men fo qualified. The main thing that fhould mend 
 thefe two, they want ; iv\dit\\AX.[s,i\\tReprehen(ionofafriend. Pride 
 fcorns a Correlior, and thinks it a dijparagement to learn : and Choler 
 admits no counfel that crojjes him ; crojjing angers him , and anger 
 blinds him. So if ever they hear any /W/^, it muft cither be from an 
 Enemy in difdain, or from a Friend^ihii muft refolvc to lofe them by't, 
 M. Drufus, the Tribune of the People, caft the Consul, L. Philipptts, into 
 Trifon, becaufe he did but interrupt him in fpcech. Other Dijpofitions 
 may have the benefits of a friendly Monitor ; but thefe by their vices 
 do fcem to give a defiance to Counfel. Since, when men once know 
 them, they will rather he filent, and let them reft in their foUy, than, 
 by admonifhing them, run into a certain Brawl. There is anotf er thing 
 fhews them to be both bafc. They arc both moft awed by the molt 
 abjeSi paffion of the mind, Fear. We dare neither be proud to one that 
 can punifh us ; nor choleriek 'to one much above us. liut when we 
 have to deal with fuch,wc clad our felve» in their contraries : as know- 
 il^_
 
 113 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 ing they are habits of more fifety, and better likwg. Every man flies 
 from the burmng houfi : and one of thcfe hath afire in his heart , and 
 the other difcovers it in his face. In my opinion , there be no -vices 
 that incroach fo much on Ma» as thcfe : They take away his Reafon, 
 and turn him into ajiorm ; and then Virtue her felf cannot board him, 
 without danger of defamation. I would not live like a Beaft, pulht 
 at by all the world for loftinejs ; nor yet like a yvafp, ftinging upon 
 every touch. And this moreover Ihall add to my milliking them, that 
 1 hold them things accurfcd, for fowing oiflrife among 'Brethren. 
 
 LXXIV. 
 
 Ihat great 'Benefits caufe Ingratitude, 
 
 AS the deepeji hate is that which fprings from the moft viflent 
 leve ; Soothe greate/i difieurtefies oh arife from the largeft fa- 
 vours. Benefits to gotd Natures ^czn never be [o great ^ts to make thanks 
 blufh in their tendering : but when ihcy be neighty, and light on ill 
 ones, they then make i\\tix return m Ingratitude. Extraordinary fa- 
 vmrs make the giver hated by the receiver , that fliould Uve him. 
 Experience hath proved, that Tacitus wrote truth-, 'Beneficia ufque adeo 
 latafuntfdumvidenturfojfeexfolvi: uhimultum antevenere-y pro gra- 
 tia, odium redditur. Benefits arc fo \ox\ggrateful, as we think wc can 
 repay them : but when they challenge more, our thanks convert to 
 hate. It is not good to make men owe us more than they are able to 
 pay : except it be for virtmut defer ts, which may in fome fort chal- 
 lenge it. They that have found tranjcending courtefi^-S:, for Ofiices that 
 have not bceny^w^^; as in their firft aiitons they have hcenjlained, fo 
 in their ^r*^r^yj" rhey will prove ungrateful: For, when they have 
 fcrved their turn of his benefits., they feldom fee their Patron without 
 thraldom ; which (now by \\\s gifts being lifted into happincfs) they 
 grieve to fee, and ftrivctobe quit of. And iH thty he defenjive fa- 
 vours, for matter of facf, they then, with their thraldom, (hew them 
 theiifhame: and this pricks them forward to wind out themfelvesj 
 though it be with incurving a. greater. Tlic ^4/e/4(f?oy, which thou 
 faveft, will, if he can, condemn thee. Some have written , that Cicero 
 was (lain by one, whom his Oratory had defended, when he was ac- 
 cufcd of his Fathers murther. 1 knew a French Gentleman invited by a 
 Dutch to his Houfe ; and,according to the vice of that Nation, he was 
 welcom'd fo long with/«i/ cups, that in the end the drink diftemper'd 
 him : and going away, in ftead of giving him thanks,he quarrels with 
 \\^%Hofi, ax\<ijirikes\\im. His ^r/VW blaming him, heanfwcrcd. It 
 was his Hofis fault, for giving him liquor fo ftrong. It pafs'd for zjefi : 
 but certain, there was lomething in it more. Men that have been thus 
 beholding to us,think we know too much of their vilenefs: and there- 
 fore they will rather free themfelves by their Benefactors ruine , than 
 fuffer themfelves to be had in fo low an/ylf-^w. VVhen kindnefies arc 
 fuch as hinder Juftice, they feldom yield a fruit that is commendable : 
 
 as
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 as if njingeance followed the Bejiovptr , for an injury to equity^ or for 
 not futfcring the D/'r'/>f(r£^/<!7^ to have their due fulfillings. Beware 
 how thou robb'ft the Lavt of a Life-, to give it to an ill-fiefervifig man. 
 The wrong thou doll to that, is greater than the benefit that tf.ou doft 
 confer upon him.Such^/>^ wounds the Pw^/f/tf, which is often revenged 
 by him thou didft beftow it upoti. Benefits^ that are good in them- 
 fclves, are made ill by their being »//^//<f<r^. Whatfoever iavours 
 thou impartcft, let them be to thofe oi defert. It will be much for thy 
 Htmur, whenjby thy kmdKefs-,mcn (hall fee that thou atfcftcrt Firtue ; 
 and when thoulayeftitononc ofw#r/^, grudge not that tliou haft 
 plac'd it there : For, believe it, he is much more Noble that deferves 
 a^^»r/Zf, thanhe that ^(r/?p»'j-one. "Baches, though they may revpard 
 rinufSyysz they cannot caufe them. It I Qiall at any time do a courtejie, 
 and meet with a negleCi^ I ("hall yet think I did v»e]l^ bccaufc 1 did we^ 
 intend it.Ingrxtititde makes the Author rv0rfe,b\it the Benefa£for rather 
 the better. If I ["hall receive any Kindneffes from others, I will tnink, 
 that I am tyed to ackn«rvledge, and alfo to ret/trn thera;fmall ones,out 
 o( C0urtejie ; and great ones out of ^«(y. Toneglcd them, is i»hu- 
 mxnity: to requite them with ///, SAtmicd. 'Tis only in nnck 
 grounds t that much r*in milnQS weeds fpring ; where the foyl is clean, 
 and well planted, there is the more fruit rcturn'd, for the Jhoivers thit 
 did fall upon it. 
 
 "3 
 
 LXXV. 
 
 Oj Virtue arid Wifdom, 
 
 THcrc are no fuch GuArds of Safety , as Firtue and wifdom. The 
 one fecures thefful-, the other , the Eftate and "Body. The one 
 defends us againft t\\e ftreke oftheLavp'^ the other againtl the muta- 
 bility of fortune . The Lanv has not power to ftrike the virtuous : nor 
 can Fortune fubvcrt the fvifet Surely, there is more Divinity in them, 
 than we are aware of ; for, if we confider rightly, wc may observe, 
 rirtue or Goednefs to be habitual^ and ivifdom the dijlributive or ^^ual 
 part of the Deity. Thus , all the Creatures flowing from thcfe two, 
 they appeared to valde bona, as in the Text. And the Son ofsiracb 
 couples them more plainly together ; for he fays, A]l the rvorks of the 
 Lord are exceeding good : and all hts Commandements are done in due 
 feafen. Thcfc only perfe^ and defend a man. When un juft Kings de- 
 fire to cut ot thole they diftaltc, they firft lay trains to make them 
 fall into rice : or at laft, give out, that their Anions arc already crimi- 
 nal-^ fo rob them of their r/rf«f,and then let the Law feiz them. Other- 
 wife, rirtut's garment is a SanSluary fo facred^ that even Princes dare 
 not ftrike the man that is t\\\x%roabed. 'Tis the Livery of t\\e_King of 
 Heaven : an J wlio dares arrefi one that wears his Clothl This pr©ied;s 
 us when wc arc unarmed : and is an Armour that we capnot, unlcfs 
 wc bc/4//(?coour felves, lofc. D^»wm«*co a Id comfort himfelf with 
 tnis, that though the Athenians dcmoliflied his Statues , yet they 
 
 Q^ could
 
 114 
 
 ^E S L FES. 
 
 could not extinguifli his more fyntmidicd virtues^ which were the 
 caufc of raifing them. Phocien did call it the Divine Z^ir, which fliould 
 htiVcfquAre oizWoMz Anions: Virtue isthcTV^w^, by which we 
 hold oi Heaven: without this we are but 0«/-/*»'JjWhich cannot claim 
 prtteHieff. Sure, yirttte is a Defendrefs, and valiants the heart of mM, 
 Hfirace reports a wmder^ which he imputes to his integrity. 
 Integer vit<t feeler ifq; furta 
 Non eget Mauri Jaculis, nee ArcUf 
 Nee 'venenatis gravida Sagitky 
 FufcCf fharetra. 
 Sive per Syrtes iter ajucfa^, 
 Sive faBurus per inho(^italem 
 Caucafum, vel qux loea faind^fut 
 
 Latnhit Hydafpes. 
 Namq; me fylvk lufus in Sahink^y 
 Bum meam canto Lalageu-, <jr t*ltr* 
 Terminum titru v/^or expedituf, 
 
 Fugit inermem. 
 Innocent and fpotiefs Jiearts 
 Need nor Matrian Bow nor Darts : 
 Quivers cram'd with poyftn'd (hfitj 
 O FufcM ! they need not. 
 Boyling Sands , unnavigable, 
 Scythia's Mount inhofpitable, 
 Media, Inde^ . and Parthia, they 
 Dare pafs, without difmay* 
 For when I prais'd iny Lala^, 
 And carelcfs walk'd beyond my way, 
 A fierce wt^'tiom a Sal?i»e Wood, 
 Fled me; when nak'd I ftood, 
 Iffometimes f^;r/*^ gives not yr^-^^/owij fhe yet gives fuch Or<:fct//, 
 as froliek the heart, in the prefs oiadverfity. She beams forth her fcli 
 to the gladding oi^-bruifed foul: and by her light tht dungeon' dfrifimer 
 dances. Efpccially fhe is brave, when her Sijier wifderris with her. 1 
 fee not but it may be true, that the mfeman cannot fall. Fortune^ that 
 the Ancients made to rule all} the wifcft of the Ancients have fubjeft- 
 ed to fvifdom, 'Ti$ tTic that gives us ^fafe cosduSi thorow all the va- 
 rioHi eaf»alties o{ Mortality. And therefore when Fortune means to 
 ruine us, (he flatters us firft from this Altar : fhc cannot hurt us, till 
 we be ftript ot thefc Hahiliments: than the doth both wound and laugh. 
 'Tis rare to fee a man decline in Fortune^ that hath not declin'd in fvtf- 
 dtm before. It is for the mod part true, that, 
 
 Stultum facit Fortuna^quem vultferdere. 
 Fortune ^x^ fools the Man ihe means lofoil. 
 She dares not, (he cannot hurt us while we continue wife. Vifereticn 
 (ways the stars, and Fate : For fvealth, the Philofophers forej^ht of the 
 fcarcity of Oy/,fhews it can help in that defe^. For Honourt how many 
 
 did
 
 T^ESOLFES. 
 
 »} 
 
 did it advance in ^tke»s, to a rcnown'd Authority ? When all is done, 
 The rvife vmn only is the cunning'ft Fencer. No man can either give a 
 blow iofoon , or wArd. himfelf (o ptfely. le two lines has the witty" 
 Horace funim'd him. 
 
 Ad fummum ; Sapiens mo minor ejl Jove. Dives. 
 
 Liber i Honor aitu^ Pnlcher j Rex denij-^ Regum. 
 
 Take all ; There's but one Jove above him. He 
 
 Is Rjch., Fair, Noble^ King of Kings, and free. 
 Surely, COT> intended we lliould valne thefe trvo above our lives ; 
 To live, is common ; to be tvife zndigood, particular 5 znd^ granted but 
 to a/nv. 1 fee many chat wiflifor honour 3 for wealth , for friends ^ for 
 fame, for pleasure : I dcfirc bu|>hefe two, rirttte, wifdom, I find not a 
 Man that the world t^tt hadjfo plentiful in all things, as was Solomon, 
 Yet wc know, his requeft was but one oi thefe ; though indeed it in- 
 cludeth the other. For without Virtue,ivifdom is not; or if it be, it is 
 then nothing clfc, but a cunning rpay oi undoing our felves at the lajl. 
 
 LXXVI. 
 
 Of Moderation. 
 
 Nothing makes Great nefs laft, like the Moderate ufe oi Authority. 
 Haughty and violent tninds never blefs their owners with a fetled 
 peace. Men come down by domineering. He that is lifted to fudden pre- 
 ferment, had need be much more careful of his 4^/(7»^, than he that 
 bath /»/*/^ it long. Ifitbenota wonder, it is ^itt ftrange -, and all 
 ftrangers we obfcrve morc7?r/(f?/>'j thanwcdo thofe that have dwelt 
 among us. Men oh(er\tfreJb Authority, to inform thcmfclves , how 
 to truft. It is good that the advanced Afan remember to retain the 
 fame Humility, that he had before his Rife : and let him look back, to 
 the good intentions thu fojourn'd with him in bis low (?/?<^^. Common- 
 ly, we think then oi worthy deeds j which we promife our felves to do, 
 it we had but w^4#/. But when that «>^4/»j comes, we forget what we 
 thought, ^wApraciife the contrary. Whofocvcr comes to place from a 
 mean being, had need have fo much more rirtuCiis will make good his 
 want of "Bloud. Nobility will check at the leap of a low-man. Saiujl has 
 obfervcd of Tully, when he was fpoken of for ^o/?/«/; 1ha.t,Pleraa; No- 
 bilitai invidia. xftu^bat , (jr quaji poUui Confulatum credebat ; fi eum, 
 ^^quamvia egregius^ homo novm, adept uiforet. To avoid this, it is good 
 to htjuftindplaujible. A round heart will iiUcn friends • and link men 
 to thee, in the chains rf Love. And, believe it, thou wilt find thofc 
 friends firmcft , (though not moft) that thy virtues purcliaf* thee. 
 Thefe will loi;e thcc,vvhcn chou art bat nun again: Whereas thofc that 
 arc won without defert, will alfo be loft without a caufe. Smoothnefs 
 declincth Envy. It is bectcr to defccnd a little trom State, then alfume 
 any thing,that may fccm above it.It is not fafe to tenter Authority. Pnde 
 increafcth Enemies: but it puts our /r/>;»^ to flight. It was ajuft 
 Quip, i\\m proud Cardinal hid iiomz friend, that upon his El'e^ion 
 
 0,2 went
 
 114 
 
 1 
 
 %B S LV E S. 
 
 went to Rome^ on purpofe to fee him : where finding his behaviour 
 (Iretched all u pride zndjiate ^dcp^ttSy^nd makes him a Mourning Sute^ 
 wherein next day he comes again to vijit him : who asking the caufe 
 of his Uaeks, was anfwered , It was for the death of Hiirmlity , which 
 dy'd in him , when he was EleBed Cardiml. Authority difplays the 
 Mah. Whatfocvr cfinion in the reorld^ thy former 'virtues have gained 
 thee, is now under a J'wrj'j that will condemn it , if they ^ack here. 
 The way to make Honour laftjis to do by it, as men do by nchjevpels • 
 not incommon them to the M/f;'jf-<:^_y ^'f ; but mj^ them up, andjvfrf/- 
 them but on Fejiivds. And, be not too glorious at firft ; it will fend 
 men to too much expectation, which when they fail ot , will turn to 
 negleff. Thou hadft better (hew thy felf by a little at once ; than,in a 
 windy ojle/ttationipom out thy p^ together. So, that r(|^f^,thou gain- 
 eft, will be more permanent, though it be not got in fuch hajle. Some 
 projit tbou mayeft make oi thinking from whence thou cameji. He that 
 bears that .ftill in his mindy will be more wary, how he trench upon 
 thofe, that were once *bove him. 
 
 Fama. ejl,ji£iilibui ccenajje Agathodea, Regent ; 
 
 Atque ahacum Samio f^pe oneraffe luto : 
 PercuUgemmxtis cumponeret horrida vafisy 
 
 Et wifceret opes-ipaKperiemqae fimul. 
 Qutrenti cau^am , rejpondit : Rex ego qui [urn 
 
 Sicsnia, figuUfum genitore [atM.. 
 Fortunam reveren^er habe, quicunque repente 
 
 Dives ab exili progre^iere loco. 
 With Earthen Plate, Agathecles (they fay) 
 
 Did ufe to meal : fo ferv'd witn Samo'i clay. 
 When Jervell'd Plate, and rugged Earth was by. 
 
 He fecm'd to mingle wealthy znd poverty. 
 One ask'd the crf«/f ; heanfwers; I, that am 
 
 Sicilia's King, from a poor Potter came. 
 Hence learn, thou that are rais'd trom mean ejlate 
 To fudden riches, to be temperate. 
 It was the Admonition of the dying Otho , to Cocceitts -• Neither too 
 much to remember y nor altogether io forget, that Cdfar was his Vncle. 
 When we look on our felvcs in zacfbine ofprofpertty, we are apt for 
 ihe/»/'and fc0rn. When we think not on't at all, we are likely to be 
 much imbafed. An ejate evened with thefe thoughts indureth ; Our 
 adfvancement is many times from Fortune; our moderation in it is that, 
 which Ihe can r\tit\\ti give nor deprive us of. In what condition foever 
 1 1 /ix'^, I would neither bite^ not fawn. He does well that fubfcribes 
 to him that vrit. 
 
 Nolo mtMor me timeat, dejpiciatve major. 
 
 Of
 
 9( E S L V P S, 
 
 115 
 
 
 LXXVII. 
 Of Uodefty. 
 
 THcre is Modejly^ both a Virtue^ and a Vice • though indeedjV/he" 
 it is bUmeahU, I would rather call it a fooli(h bafhfulnefs. For 
 then it hetnys us to all incenveniencies. It brings a /'('c/ into Bonds,to 
 his utter undoing : when, out of a weak flexibility of Nature , he has 
 not courage enough to deny the requeft of a feeming friend. One 
 would think it ftrange at firft,yet is it prevedly true: Hhit^Modefiy un- 
 does A Maid. In the faeeia is a lure to make even lervdmen love : which 
 they oft exprefs with large gifts, that fo work upon her yielding nx- 
 ture, as fhe knows not how to deny : fo rather than be ungrateful^ fhe 
 oft becomes unchafle : Even blufhing brings them to their Vevirgina- 
 tion. In/rie^djhip/ lis an odioiis vice^ and lets a man run on in M/fur- 
 Jities ; for fear of difplcafing by telling the /4«/if. 'Tis «the f (Jc/ only, 
 that puts Virtue out of countenance, wife men ever take a freedom of 
 refrovingy when Vice is ^(;A/, and daring. How plain was ^T^/i? with 
 Nearchm ? How blunt Piogena with Alexander ? How ferious 5(fwcj 
 with the favagc jyjerv't A Spirit medeftly bold, is like the tr/W, to 
 purge the veorlds bad rf/r. It difperfes Exhalations from the %,«^^ 
 £rfr/A, which would, unftirr'd, infect it. We often let r/c^ lprins7,»I 
 for wanting the audacity and courage oi ^Debellation. Nay, wc ma 
 ny times forbear good -anions , for fear the world Hiould laugh 
 at us. How many men , when others have their fore, will rvant 
 ihcmfclvesj for fhaming to demand their ovpnl And fometimes in 
 extremes^ wq unvoifely ftand upon points ot infiptd Modefty. Bur, Rebus 
 pamper pudor abjit in arUis. In all extremes flye Bafhfulnefs. In any 
 good Acli*n-i that muft needs be bad, that hinders it : of which7?r^i«, 
 many times, is the fondnefs of a blu[hi»g {hamefaflnefs . But to blujh at 
 ^ifc<f, is to let the JVtfr/i^ know, that the ^^4r/^ within hath an inclina- 
 tion to Virtue. Modefty a virtue, is an excellent curb to keep us from 
 thcjlray^ and offence. 1 am perfwadcd, many had been bad, that are 
 not ; if they had not been bridled by a bafhful nature. There are divers 
 that have hearts for vice, which have not face accordingly. It chides 
 us from bafe company, rcftrains us from bafe enterprizes ; from begin- 
 ning ill., or continuing where wcfee it. It teaches co lo\e virtue only ; 
 and direds a man rather to mix with a chafle foul, than to care for 
 prclTing of die ripened bofom. It aws the uncivil tongue ; chains up the 
 liceutioui hand -^ and with afilcnt Vin^XoiMajejly, (like a w.uch at the 
 dore ot a Thief sT)en)i\\ii\xs Vice not dare peep out of the /'Mr/,vvhcre- 
 in it is lodged. It withholds a man frOm vain-boajling : and makes a 
 ■wife man not to fcorn zfool. Surely ,the Graces fojoLVrn with the blitfjj- 
 ing man. And tlic Cyn'tck would needs have Virtue to be ot a blu(h co- 
 Imr. Thus Arijlotle's Daughter flicw'd her felt a better Moralifl^ than 
 Naturalifl : wiicn^ being asked which was the hc^ colour., l"he anrv\X'r- 
 fd : That which Modefly produced in Men ingenuous. Certainly, tl:c 
 heart of the blushing man, is nccrcr Heaven than tiie brazed forehead. 
 
 For
 
 u^ 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 For it is a branch of Humility, and when that dyes, rirfue is upon the 
 vanifli. Modejiy in Wetneny is like the Angels fluming Svetrd, to keep 
 vile wdn out of the Paradife of their Chiftity. It was ZmVs wodejiy^ 
 that took Auguflui : and (lie that wan Cyrw from a Multitude^ wis a 
 w*^ one. For though icbe but exterior y i^A face-deep onlyjyct it in- 
 vites affe^ien ftrongly. PUuttu had skill in fuch commodities ; 
 Meretricempudoremgerere magis decet, fHampHrpuram : 
 Magis quidem mertricem fuderem, quam aurumgerere ctffdecet. 
 
 Even in aLfrhtre^ a medeji look, and fafhionj 
 
 Prevails beyond all gold, and purple dyes. 
 If that be good which ishni cou/tterfeiti how excellent is that which is 
 real} Thofe things that carry a Juft;»/4w»y with them, Iwilljuftlybe 
 ajhaf/id to be fcen in. But in ailiofts either ^W, or not iU, it may as 
 well be a crime. 'Tis lear and cotvardizeiihit pulls us back from Good- 
 »<?/(•. That is i>afe hloud^&igi hliffjes at a 'virtuom A6tion. Both the nciioMi 
 and the moral oi Agefilam was good : when in his OhUtions to P alias y 
 a Lowff bit, and he pulls it out, and kiilsh before the Teople^ faying ; 
 Trefpaffers were even at the Altar to be fet npon. I know, things u»- 
 [eemlyy though noi difhonefi, carry a kind o^fhamf along, but fure, in 
 reftfiing vilianyy where Courage is asked, 'Safbfuliiefi is, at ^£/?, but a 
 )y^4)C', and treacherrus virtue. 
 
 f . 
 
 LXXVIII. 
 
 Of Sufpkion. 
 
 ^Vjpicions are fomctimes out oiJudgment.Yit that knows the world 
 ^ bad, cannot hni fujpecl it will be fo {till : but where meufuj}e^ by 
 judgment y they willlikewife,byj«/:^zw^;»?, keep thii fu/j>e^ from hurt- 
 ing them. Suspicion for the moft part, proceeds from 2ifelf-defe£{ : and 
 then it gnaws the mind.lbty that inprivate liften to others, are com* 
 monly fuch as are iH themfelves. The wfi/e and honefi^ are x^&'icxfopled 
 with this qualtty. He that knows he defcrves not ;//, why fnould he 
 imagine that others i^QviidJpeak him fo ? We may obferve how a Wii/? 
 is difpofcd, by gathering what he doubts in others. Saint chryfojlom has 
 given the rule ; Sicut difficile aliquem fujpicatur malum^ qui benut efi : 
 Sic difficile aliquem fujj^icatur bonum^ qui tpfe malm efi. Nero would not 
 believe, but all men were aioH/oul Libidinifis. And we all kiBfiiv, there 
 was never fuch a Roman "Seafiis he. SuJpeSling that we fee not, we in- 
 timate to the ivorldy either what our a£is have been, or what our dijpo- 
 jitiens are. I will be wary mfHjpeiiing another of /tf, left, by fo doing, 
 I proclaim my felf to be guilty : But whether I be,or not,why fhould 
 Ifirive to hear my felf ill fpoken of ? Jealoufie is the worfl of madnefs. 
 Wc feek for that, which we would woijind : or, if we do, what is it 
 we havc^o/, but matter of vexation ? which we came fo bafely by, as 
 we arc ajham'd to take notice ofit. So we are forced to keep it bcyling 
 in our brefis : like neve tf^ine^ to the hazard of the Hogfbead, for want 
 oi venting, Jf4/p«/Ff is a gin that we fet to catch 5<T/'f»/j'i which, af- 
 
 foon
 
 7{ES0LVES. 
 
 i\9 
 
 foon as we have caught them, fling m. Like the Foel^ that finding a 
 box of foyfoDi tajlsy and is foyfond indeed. Are we not mad, that be- 
 ing quiet, as wc are, muft needs go fcarch for difcontentments ? So Tar 
 fliould wc be {xovn feektKg them, as to be often carelejs oi thofcwc 
 fi/tJ. Neglect will kill an injury^ fooncr than revenge. Said Socrates, 
 when he was told that one rait don him j Let him beat me too-, [o ibe 
 abjent, I care not. He tliat will queftien every difgracive wor \ , which 
 he hears is fpokcn of him, tliall nave ic^Nfriinds-, little nvV, and uiuchi 
 trouble. One told chryjlppns that his friend reproached him priziately. 
 Says he, ^^ye,b»t chide him not, for then he tvill do as much in public i'. 
 We lliall all meet with Trjc-t^/o/zcnougti, which wc- cannot avoid. I 
 cannot think any man loves ferrow fo well, as out of his difcretion, to 
 invite it to lodge in his heart. Pompey did well to commit thofc Letters 
 to the jir^', before he read them, wherein he expected to find tlie caufe 
 ofhis^^r;>/. I will never Undertake an ««»'t'r//^w«/f^ for that which 
 will but trouble. Why fhould we riot be afhamcd to do that, which 
 we lliall be afhamed to be taken in? Certainly ,they that fety^/WjUpon 
 othersjor by li/lening, put the bafe office oi litteUigencer upon them- 
 fclves ; would blufh to be difcovcred in their /'rcjV^j : and the beft 
 way to avoid the difcovery, is at firft to avoid the aif. If I hear any 
 
 1 thing by accident, that may benefit me j I will, if I can, take only the 
 good: but I will never lye in wait for mine ob;/?4^«/?; or for others 
 that concern me nor. Nor will I flame at every vain tongues puffe. He 
 has ipoorjpiritthitis not planted above petty wrongs. Small injuries 
 I would either not hear, or not mind: Nay, though I were told them, 
 1 would not know the Author : for by this 1 may rne»dmyfelf,3nd. nc- 
 fCT malice the perfoM. 
 
 LXXIX. 
 Of^ate. 
 
 CErtainly, there is i Fate that hurrieS Man to his end beyond his 
 oTvn intention. There is uncertainty in rvifdom, as well as in foUy. 
 When manplotteth to fave himfelf, that plotting ddivers him into his 
 ruine. Decrees are paft upon us: and our own rvit oi^ten hunts 
 us into thcyir^rw, that above all things we wpjjdfhun. What wc 
 fufpe£f indwovildflyj wc cannot : what we fu^^Hot, we fall into. 
 That which fav'd us now, by and by ki^s us. Wc ttfe means oiprefer- 
 vatiott^' and they prove de(lr0ying ones. We take courfes to ruine us, 
 and they prove means oifafety. When Agrifpin£% death was plotted, 
 her vpoman thought to fave herfelf by alluming of her Milfris name : 
 and that only was the cattfe of her killing . Florus tells of one, to whom, 
 F'iBoriam pr<eli» error dedit : an error inihc fight -, giyic vi^ory. How 
 many have, flying from danger, met with ^^4f/^? and, on the other 
 fide, (o\inA protection even in the very jiJVJ ofmifchiefi 
 Et cum Fata vtlunt, bina venenajuvant. 
 And when Fate lifts, a doubled />(>;']*;» favcs. 
 
 Son\c
 
 120 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 Some men in their Jiff/' are caft into Fortunes Up : while othcrs,with I 
 all their tTidHJlry, cannot purchafe oncfmile from her. How tlrangc a j 
 Refiue from the frekage of an Efiemjf had that Citj/, that by the Leaders I 
 crying, Back, hack, when he wanted room for the fctcning of his hlorv, I 
 to break a chain that hinder'd him , was, by mif-apprehending the 
 fVord, ^nthnck in i violent Jligk'i 'Ihere is no doubt, but mfdom is 
 better than F«Uy, as light is better than darknefs. Yet, 1 fee, faith Sclo- 
 moff} It happens to the wife and fool alike. It fell out to be part of Afi- 
 fljridates miferjf, that he had made himfelf unpeyfonahle. All humane 
 rvifdom is defcftivc ; otherwifc it might iielp us, againft the flajb and 
 ftorm. As it is, it is but h'itifeUy ^ which prcferving fometimes, fails 
 as often. Grave dire^ions do not always profpcr : nor docs the Fools 
 holt ever mifs. Domitian's reJU^ive galleries could not guard him 
 from the skarfed arm. Nor did Titus his freencfs to the two Patrician 
 af^irers, hurt him : For, his confidence was,Thac Fate gave Princes So- 
 veraignty. Man is mecrly the '^ of Time : and is louictimc taken 
 from the Plow to the Throne ; and fometimes again froni v,\t Throne 
 to a Halter : as if we could neither avoid being wretched^ or happy , or 
 both. 
 
 Non fotiicftx pofunt cur a 
 
 tJMutare rati Jiamina fufi. I 
 
 Quicquid patimur mtrtaU gentu^ 
 Quioquid facimufi venit ex alto. 
 • Servatq-^ fu4 deer eta coins 
 Lachefis, dura revoluta manu : 
 Omnia certo tramite i^adunt-^ 
 Primufq; dies dedit extremum. 
 Our moft thoughtful cares cannot " 
 Change eftablifht Fates firm plot. 
 All we fuifer, all we prove. 
 All we adt comes from above. 
 Fates Decrees (till keep their courfe .• 
 All things ftriftly by thetr force 
 Wheel in undifturbed ways; 
 Ends arefctin our firft days. 
 Whatfoever Man thinks to do in contrariety; is by G O D turned to 
 be a help of haftening the end he haJi appointed him ; It was not in 
 the Emperturs povner-, to keep Afcletariuiiiovn iVtVogs, no, though it 
 was foretold him : and he bent himfelf to cro[s it. We are govern'd 
 by a Power, ^zi wc cannot but oheyiovn minds are wrought againft our 
 minds, to alter us. Man is his own Traitor, and maddeth to undo him- 
 felf. Whether this be Nature order'd and relinquiOit ; or whether it 
 be accidfptal; or the operating/'ovfr of the Stars ; or the eternal con- 
 nexion oicaufes ; or the execution of the mU of God ; whether it takes j 
 away a]\ freedom oivpiUixoai Man -^ or by what means we are thus i 
 wrought upon, I difpute not. I would not think any thing,that fliould | 
 derogate from the Majejly oiCod. I know, there is a Providence order- ; 
 
 iD^i
 
 1{ E S L V E S. 
 
 in^ all things as it plcafeth ; ot which, Muh is not able to render a 
 reifon. We may believe St. Jerome, Providentia. Dei omnii guberKun- 
 tur-^f^,qtupHtitt{rpcena^ Afedicma efi. But the fecret /To^rfj^ow, I 
 confefs, I know not. I fee, there arc both ^r^«wf/rrj- and O^jVAVw 
 on every lide. I hold it a kind of Mundme ^redejiinatttn^ writ in fuch 
 chin^iers., as it is not in the wit ot man to read them, in vain we 
 murmur at tnc things that muji be : in vain wc mourn for what We 
 cannot remedy. Why fliould we r/ntc, when we meet with wliat we 
 look not for ? 'Tis our igmrnnce that makes us wonder our felves to a 
 dull ftuf/eftB ion. When we confidcr but how little we knoWj we need 
 not be difturbed at a new event. 
 
 Regit ur Fatii mortale genut. 
 
 Nee fibi quijj/iitm fpendere poteft 
 
 Firmum; (^ (fxbile : perq; cajui 
 
 Folvitf4r varies fimper nobis 
 
 fjvletnenda dies. 
 
 All Mankind is rul'd by Fatey 
 
 No man can propofc z (late 
 
 Firm and ftable : various chance^ 
 
 Always rowling, doth advance 
 
 That Something which we iear. 
 Surely out of this, we may raifc a Contentment Royal^ as knowing we 
 are always in the hands of a Noble Protestor ^ who never gives ill, but 
 to him that has dcfcrved ill. Whatfoever bcfals mc,I would fubfcribe 
 to, with a f^uared fottl. It were 3. fuper-infaniated folly, to ftru^srlc with 
 a power, wnich I know is all in vain contended with. If a fair endea- 
 vcurnuy irccme,! will pradife it. If that cannot,lec me wait'it with a 
 calmed mind. Whatfoever happens as ^.-wonder, I will admire and 
 magnifie, as the Act ot a Tower above my apprehenjlon. But as it is an 
 alteration to Man,\ will never think it marvelletis. I every day fee him 
 fuffer more changes, than is of himfelf to imagine. 
 
 LXXX. 
 Of Ojlentation. 
 
 V^/»-^/<ir>'> at beft, is but like a windorv-Cufhion, fpccious with- 
 out, and garnillicd with the tazled penJant ; but within,nothing 
 but hey, or terv, or foiiic fuch tr.i(Jj, not worth looking on. Where 1 
 have found a^flp<^ in the /^'w^wf , I have ottcn found the he.iyt empty. 
 'Tis the hollow In/inment that foUnds loud ; and where the heart is 
 full, the tongue is fcldom liberal. Corcainly, he that boafieth, if he be 
 not ignorant, is inconjtderate ; and knows not the fitdes and cafualties 
 that iiang on ^/4w. It he iiad not an ttw.wor//'/ /Aurr, he would rather 
 ftay til the world had found it,than fo undecently be his own Prolocutor. 
 Ifthoubeelt^W, thou mayft be fure ttic iv()r/<i will know thcefo. If 
 thou becft ^i»^,thy bragging tongue will make thee rv^'r/t'; while ihc acti- 
 ons ot thy life confute tliee. It thou wilt yet boafl \.\\cgood chou truly 
 .- R' haft, 
 
 121
 
 121 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 haftj thou obfcurcft much of thine own worth, in drawing of it up by 
 fo unfcemly a Bucket, is thine own tongue. Tiie honeji man takes more 
 plcafure in knowing lumfelf ^o»^y?, than in knowing that all the n-or/d 
 approves him fo. r/r/»^isbuilt upon her /f^. Flour ijbe s ivcior Net- 
 rvorks ; belter Contextures need not any other additions. Phocion call'd 
 bragging Latflhenesy The Cjyfrefs Tree ; which makes a hh/hotv, but 
 fcldom bears any/r«/>.Why may he not bccmblem'dby the cozening 
 Fig-tree^ that our Saviour curs'd j 'Tis he that is confcious to himfclf 
 ot an inrvard defecfjVfhich^by the brazen "Bell of liis tcngtte,wo\x\d make 
 the Tpor/d believe, that he had a Church within. Yet, /Wchat he is j 
 this is the way to make men think the contrary, if it were fo. Ofienta- 
 tion after, overthrows the Action, which was good, and went before ; 
 oratleaft, it argues that ^i'l'^ not done well. He, that does ^W tor 
 ^raife only i fails of the right end. ^gotdrpcrk ought to propound, He 
 is virtuous; that is fo for w>/«fV fake. To do well, is as much ap- 
 plaufe as a good man labours for. VVhatfoever good work thy hand 
 builds, is again pull'd down by ihc folly of a boafting tongue. The ^/4- 
 5;/;ig^jofthe^r*»<iwillgoout in dijlench and pneke: Their braggings 
 will convert to fhame. Saint Gregory has it wittily : Sub hojie quern 
 profiernit, meritur, qui de culpa quamfuferat eleiatur. He both lofcth 
 the good he hath donejand hazardeth ior fhame with men : For clouds of 
 <///i/tf/» are commonly raifed by the w/Wot Ojientation. He that re- 
 members too much hii own Firtues, teacheth others to objed his 
 Fices. AW a:c Enemies to ajfuming A/an. Wlicn he would hi\L more 
 than his due, he feldom findcch io much. Whether it be out of je.tlju- 
 fie, that by promulgating his Virtues wc vainly think he ("hould rob us 
 of the worlds love ; or whether wc take his exalting himfelf, to be our 
 deprejfion ; or whether it be our envy ; or that wc arc angry, that he 
 lliould fo undervalue ^c<'^»(/i', as, dcfpifing; her approbat/on,hc (hoald 
 feek the uncertain warrant or mentox wi ether it be an Jnjlmit inflampt 
 in Man, todiilike them -, 'Tis certain, no man can endure thepuffsoii 
 [welling mind. Nay, though the r.t«»?j be true, they do but awaken 
 feoffs : and in ftead of a clapping hand, ihcy find 2l check w'ah fcorn. 
 When zSouldier brag'd too much of agreat J^l'^r in his forehead, he 
 was asked by Auguflus, if he did not get it, when he looked back,as he 
 fled'i Certainly, when 1 hear a vaunting man,\ih3.\\ think him like a 
 Peece that is charged but with powder ; which neer hand gives a 
 greater report, than that which hath a Bullet in't. If I have done any 
 thing well, 1 will never thii.k the world'is wortn the telling of it. There 
 is nothing added to ejSential virtue, by the hoarfe clamor of the blun- 
 dering Rabble. If 1 have done ;// ; to boaft the contrary, 1 will think,is 
 like painting an old face, to make it fo much more ugly. If it be of any 
 thingpafi, ihe world will talk oi u, thoughlbc filent. If not, 'tis more 
 Noble to ncgledt F.ime, than feem to beg it. If it be of ought to come. 1 
 am foolilli, for fpeaking of that which 1 am not fure to perform. Wc 
 difgrace the work of Virtue, when we go about any way to fcducc 
 voyces for her approbation. 
 
 . . Of
 
 1{ E S L y E s. 
 
 LXXXI. 
 
 HVman life hath not a.furerfrieKcl,nor many^times a greater enemy ^ 
 than //■tf/r.'Tis x^^mifer able mans God^ wh'ch in the hardcft^r/^f 
 oi calamity ^■o.tiiQX fails to yield hiai be.ims of comfort.''Xi% the prefumpfu- 
 ciismans Devil,\vh\ch leads him a while in AJmoeth iv4;',and thcnxiiakes 
 him break \\\sneckim thefudden. Hope \s to Man, Ks^bUdder co a 
 learning fwimmer ; it keeps liim kom Jinking , in the bofom of the 
 waves; and by that lielp it may attain the cxercije : but yet many times 
 it makes him venter beyond his height^ and then, if that breaks, or a 
 Jiormrifcs, he ^/•oir;?j- vvithoiu rccoz'ery. How many would dye , did 
 not Hope fuftain them ? How many i.avc dy'd, by hoping too much? 
 This wonder vfc may find in Hope ; that flic is both a flatterer-y and a 
 true friend. Like a -viliant dpt/tin, in a lojing "Battel-, it is ever incou- 
 raging Man; and never leaves him, till they both exjpire together. 
 While breath pants in the dying body, there is Hope fleeting in tlie wa- 
 ving Scul. 'Tis a!mo!l as the air, by which the mind does live. .There 
 is one thing which may add toour^'^/#tfofit ; that it is appropriate 
 uHto Man alone : For furely, "Beafs have not hope at all ; they arc only 
 apihlc ohhc f/refent ; whereas Afan, apprehending /«?Ar(? things, 
 hath this given him, for the [njlentation of his drooping Stul. Who 
 would live rounded with calamities, did not fmiling Hope cheer him, 
 with expc<5lation of deliverance ? The cojnmon one is in Ttbulltu : 
 Jam malaJiMtJJem Lethe ; fed credula 'vitam 
 Spes fovet, df melius eras fore femper ait. 
 Spc-s a lit agricoLts • [pes fulcu credit aratis 
 bemina, qux m.igno fa-nore reddat ager. 
 H£c lacjiieo volncres, h<ec captat arundtne pifceSj 
 
 Cam tenties hafnos abdidtt ante cibut. 
 Spes etiam i\ilida folatur compede vinBum j 
 
 Crura fonant ferro, fed canit inter opus. 
 Hope flatters Life, and fays fhee'l ftill bequeath 
 Better; elfe I had cur'd all i^s h^^ Death. 
 She blythes the Farmer, docs his^r4/» commit 
 To Earth, which with large ufc replenticth it. 
 She fnarcs the Birds • and Fifbes, as they glide. 
 Strikes with fmall hooks, tUat Coining baits do hide : 
 Shce cheers thclhackled /'r//»<'r, and whil's thigh 
 Rings with his chain, he works andfings on high. 
 There is no ejiate fo miferable, as to exclude her comfort. Imprifoa, 
 vex, fright, torture, ttiew death with his horridejl brow ; yet Hope 
 will dart in her reviving rays, that lliall illumine and exhilarate, in the 
 tumour, in the /»ri/ofthele. Nor docs fhc more friend us with her 
 gentle Jhine, than flic of^tcn fools us with her fleck delufions. She dandles 
 us into killing flames , fings us into Lethargies • and, like an)over-hafty 
 fhirurgeon, skinncth dangers, that Arc full, and /<>*/ within. SIh: cozens 
 
 R 2 the 
 
 125
 
 134 
 
 ^1{ E S L V E S. 
 
 
 theTA/f/of the C«»he fteals: and cheats the Game/ler more than 
 c\cn the falfefiliye. It a.h\x(cih univerfal Jl/a»y {torn hiiwihzz ftoops 
 CO thclome rvall, u^on ihc naked Comm«», to the A^onarch in his /»«r- 
 pledThroae. 1: undoes the melting I'T^digal -^ it delivers the Ambitt- 
 em to the ed.ged.Axe , and the ta^ SouUier to the ibattcrings of the 
 firedVomit. Whaifoever^fjf^ we fee, it tells us we may obtain it ; 
 and in a little timcj tumble our felves in the Doven of our vp'i^jes : but 
 it often performs like Domitian-, promifing all, \vit\\ nothing. 'Tis (in- 
 deed) tlie ^rf/z/t'jwljich Nature did provide, toftill the froward crying 
 of the fond child Man. Our Life is but a Run after the drag of fome- 
 thing that doth itch our [enfis : which when we have hunted home, 
 we find zmeerdelufion. We think we fcrve for Rachel,h\iz are deceiv'd 
 with blear'd-eye Leah. Jacob is as Ma»^ Laban is the chnrli[}ji enviom^ 
 ungrateful yVorld : Leah is the pleafure it pays us with, blemillit in that 
 which is the life of beauty, perilhc evenin the£>'<rj emblem'd too by 
 t\\tfex o{frailty,fVomen. We fee a 'Box,vfheiein we believe a Pardon • 
 fo we arc merry in the brink of 1)^4/^^ While we are dancing, the 
 Trapdoor falls under us, and Hope makes ns jocond^ till the ladder turns, 
 and then it is too late to care. Certainly, it requires a great deal ot 
 judgment to balance our hopes even. He that hopes for nothing , will 
 never attain to any thing. This good comes of over-hoping, that it 
 fweetensour/»4j[/4^f thorow thewpr/flf, andfometimcs fo icts us to 
 rvork, as it produces^r^^^ anions, though not always pat to our ends. 
 But then again,he that hopes t^o much,i\\z\\ cozen himfclf at iaft; cfpe- 
 cially,if his indujlryopes not along to fertile it. ¥ov,hope without a^i- 
 on is a barren undoer. Thebeft is to hope ior things poffibU, zvlA proba- 
 ble. If we can take her c<»»z/<;r//,withouc transferring her our confidence, 
 we lliall furely find her a/acrf/ ««»/>^()». I will be content my Hope 
 (hould travail beyond Reajen ; but I would not have her build there. 
 So by this, I lliall reap the benciu of her prefent ferziice, yet prevent 
 the Treafon fhe might beguil me with. 
 
 LXXXII. 
 7 hat Sufferance caufeth LoVe. 
 
 IN Noble Natures, I never found it fail, but that thofc who fuffered 
 for them, they ever lov'dintirely. 'Tis a Juftice living in the Soul, 
 to indcar thofe that hzve fmarted for our fakes. Nothing furcr tyes a 
 friend, than freely to fubhumerate the burthen which was his. He is 
 unworthy to be treed a fecond time, that does not pay both ajfeBien, 
 and thanks, to him that hath under-gone a mifchief, dne to himfelf. He 
 hath in a fort made zpurchafe of thy life, by faving it : and though he 
 doth forbear to call for it, yet 1 bclieve,upon the like,thou oweft him. 
 Sure, Nature,he'wg an Enemy to all injuftice, fincc flie cannot recal a 
 thing done, labours fomc other way, to recompcnfe the pajfed injury. 
 It was Dariui his confejjion, that he had rather have one whole Zopy- 1 
 rm, than ten fuch 'Babylons as his mangling wan. Volumnius would i 
 
 needs ;
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 '^5 \ 
 
 needs have dy'd upon LucuUm corps, bccaufc he was the caufc of his 
 undertakiHg the^Trfr. And Achdies did alccr his purpofe of refraining 
 che Grjecian Camp, to revenge Patrcclm his death, when he heard that 
 he was flain in his borrovpedj4rwanr. Sure, there is zfympathy of fouls • 
 and they are fubtilly mixed by the Spirits of the Jir ; which makes 
 them fenfible ot one anoxhtxsfnjferances. 1 know not by what hidden 
 way J but I find that /^I'd' incrcafeth by adverfty. Ow^ confclTcs it : 
 
 ■ Adverfo tempore crevit Amor : 
 
 Love heightens by deprcflion. 
 
 We often dnd in Pri/ices-, that they love their JViT^^wn/i?/, for being 
 skreensy that take away i\\tenvy of the People ; which elfe would light 
 on them : and we fliall fee this love appear moft, when the People be- 
 gin to lift at them : as if they were then ty'd to that out of fuftice and 
 Gratitude, which before was but matter ot /^T'p*r, and in the way of 
 courtefie. Tomakctwo/r/fW/intire, we need but plot, to make one 
 fttjfer for the others fake. For this is always in a veorthy mind -^ it 
 grieves more at the trouble of z friend^ than it can do tor it felf. Men 
 oftcn.knowin thcmfclves how to manage it, how to cntertainit : in 
 another they are uncertain how it may work. This^^^r troubles love, 
 and fends it to a nccrcr fearch, and pity. AW creatures flicw a tha»k- 
 fulnefs to thofc that have befriended them. The Lyon, the Bogg, the 
 Storkin kiitdnejfes &iQ ^\\ returners : Whole Nature leans to mutual 
 requitals ; and to pay with numerous »/^, the favours oizfree affeEii^ 
 on. And if wc owe a Retribution tor unpainful Ceurtefies., how much 
 fliould wc reflow, when they come arrayed in fufferings ? Though it 
 bcnottoourfclvcs a benefit of the /4r^<;7?/r2^f; yet it is t® them a 
 fervice of zhc greate/l pains : and it is a great deal more Honour to re- 
 compcnfe after their Ail, than our Receipt. In Courtejies, 'tis the moft 
 Noble, when we receive them from others , to prize them after the 
 Authors intention, if they be mean • but after their effe£i, if they be 
 great: and when we o3cr them to others, to 'value them Icfs good, 
 but as theyj'3'«^/ proves them to the ^fcf/x/^r. Certainly, though the 
 world hath nothing worth loving., but an honeji man : yet this would 
 make one love the man that is vile. In this cafe I cannot exempt the ill 
 one out of my affection : but I will rather widi he may ftill be free, 
 than I in bonis to lewdnefs. Nor will 1, if my iftdujlriom care may void 
 ii, ever let any indure a ttrment tor me ; becaufc it is a courte- 
 fie, which I know not bow to requite. So till 1 meet with the 
 jlikc ofptrtttnity, I muft reft in his debt, for his pafflon. It is not^ood 
 I to receive favours, in fuch a nature, as we cannot render them. Thofe 
 bondsarecr«<r/tyes, which make man ever /i^jVif? to debt, without a 
 power to cancel them. 
 
 That
 
 ^' 
 
 ^I{E S LV E S. 
 
 LXXXIII. I 
 
 That Policy and Vriendfln^ are fcarce compatibles 
 
 AS Pclky is taken in the gefteral, we hold it but a kind of crafty 
 wifdom, which bowcth every thing to ifelf-f/rofit. And therefore 
 a PoliticUft is one of the worft [erts ot «?£■«, to make a frknd on. Give 
 me one, that is virtuoufly veije^ not cunningly hid^ and twined to him- 
 felf. Policy in friendfliip, is like Logick in truth : foniething too fubtil 
 {oz i\\t pldnnefs oio[6.\(c\o[\w^ hearts. And whereas this works ever 
 for appropriate ends ; Love ever takes ^ partner into the Be»ejit. Doubt- 
 lefs, though there be that are furc, and I\raight to i\\cvc friend: yet in 
 general-^ he is reckon'd, but a kind o{ poftfojitum : or an Heir that muft 
 not claim till after. We have found out an Adage , which doubles 
 our love to our fclvcs ; bat withal, it robs our Neighbour. Pnximm 
 ipfemihij is urged to the ruinc oifriendJhip.They that love themfelves 
 over-much, have fcldom any cxprcliive^W»if/}. And indeed, it is a 
 quality that fights againll the tvctft of friendship. For what love joyns, 
 this divides, and diilanceth. Sctpit would not believe it was ever the 
 fpeech of a veife man^ which wills us, fo to love^ as if wc were to hate 
 immediately. The truth of /i/ffc?/*^ ^io]cQiq\.\\ perpetuity, i'^nd that 
 Irve which can prefently leave, was never well begun. He that will not 
 in a time ot need, halve it with a ftrcightncdyr/^W,does but upirp the 
 name, and injure it. Nor is he more to be regarded, that will kick at 
 every lail o: nis friend : A friend invited Alctbiades tofitpper : He rc- 
 fufed ; but in the middle oi their meal^ he ruQics in with his fervantSj 
 and commands them to catch up the w»f, and carry it home to his 
 houfe : they did it, yet half ihcy left behind. The Gue/ls complained 
 of this «««x//7 violence : but his/r/VWwith this mild f/>eech, cxcufcd 
 him, faying ; He did courteoujly to take but half when all was at his 
 fervice. Yet in thcfe lenities i confcfs Politicians are moft plauJU^le. 
 There arc that will do as Fabms faidof Syphax, keep correfpondency 
 ix\fmall matters, that they may be trufted, aixl deceive in greater : and 
 ot graver confcqucnce. But thefc arc to be baniflfd the League. The 
 politick heart is too tull of cranks and angles-^ for the difcevery of a 
 plain familiar. It is uncertain finding of nim, that ufeth often to {hift 
 his habitation : and fo it is a heart, that hath devices, and inverfions 
 for itj^^alonc. Things that differ in their cnd,will furely part in their 
 vpay. And fuch are thefe two : The end of Policy, is to make a mans 
 felf gre^it. The end oi love, is to advance another. For i friend to con- 
 verfe withal, kt me rather meet with a found affe^ion, than a 
 cralty brain. One may fail me by accident, but the other will do it cmt 
 0-. fore-intent. And then there is nothing more dangerous, than ftudied 
 adulation-^ cfpccially, where it knows 'tis trufted. The foundefl affe- 
 [iion, is like to be between thofc, where there cannot be expc6taiion 
 ot finifter ends. Therefore have your Poets feigned , the entirejl 
 love, among humble shepheards : where rvealth and honour have had 
 wo [vpay in their unions. 
 
 Of}
 
 ^{ESOLVES. 
 
 127 
 
 LXXXIV. 
 Of Vrmkennefs, 
 
 Aid Mufeuiy The reward ofFirtne, U ferfetud DrnnkeMnefs. Buc he 1 
 i_; meant it, oi ceUftial exhiUration : andfurclyfo; the good miff is 
 full oi gladding vivipcatkn., which the rverld does never reach unto. 
 The other drunkennefs^ arifing from the Grape, is the Jloattng of the 
 (lernUfs fenfes in a, fea, and is as great a Hydra^ as ever was the multi- 
 tude. That difpoptions differ, as much zs/aces, Drittk is the cleareft 
 provcr. The Cup is the betrayer of the mind, and does difapparrel the 
 foul. There is but one thing which dijiinguijhetb Beaft and Man ; 7(ea- 
 fo». And this it rol?s him of : Nay,it goes further, even to the fubvert- 
 [n^oi Natures injlitution. ^\\tthoi^ts oi iht heart, which C7o^ hath 
 fecluded trom the very Devil, and Spirits, by this do fuffer a fearch, 
 ind denudation. Quod in ctrde fobrii , in tingKxehrii. He that would 
 Anatomize the Soul, may doit beft, when Wine has numm'd tht fenfes. 
 Certainly, for confefjion, there is no fuch rack as Wine ; nor could the 
 Df-y/Zever find a cunningcr bait 10 angle \io\}L\{ovaS{s, and meaning: 
 Even themoft benighted cogitations of tUtfoul, in this Jloud, do tumble 
 from the fvoelled tongue ; yet madly we purfue this Vice, as the kindler 
 both o^voit and mirth. Alas ! it is the blemifb of our times, that men 
 are of fuchj/oiy conceit, as they are not company one for another, with- 
 out cxceflivc draughts to quicken them. And furely 'tis from this 
 barrennefs, thsLtthtimpertinenciesoi drink, zndfmoak, were firft tane 
 in at meetings. It were an excellent ^vj, {ox vnanoS. quality, to con- 
 vert this madnefs, to the difcufjion ini. practice oiArts, cither Military 
 or Civil. Their places oi re fort might be fo fitted with inftruments, as 
 they might be like Academies oitnjlruciien, and proficiency. And thefe 
 they might fweecen, with the adding oUlUfive games. What fcveral 
 Plays and Exercifes had their continual ufe with the flourifliijig ^0- 
 mans ? was there not their Compttales, Circenfes, Sceniei, Ludicri, and 
 the like ? all which, were as Schools to their Touth, oirirtue, Active- 
 nefsf or Magnanimity : and how quickly, and how eagerly, were their 
 Bacchanalia biniihed, as the teachers only o'i detejledvieel Indeed 
 DrunkennefshcCots a Natioo,znd beftiates even the bravcft/^/r/'/j'.There 
 is nothing which a man that is foked in drink is fit for,no no: knjleep. 
 When the frvord zad fire ragcs,'tis but man warring againit maniwhen 
 Drunkennefs reigns, the 'Devil [% at war with n\an, and the Epotations 
 oi dumb liquor d3.n\n him. Macedonian Phtltp would not w:n againft 
 the Perfians,\ivhen he heard they were fuch Drinkers : Tor he faid,they 
 would ruinc alone. Doubtkfs, though the Soul ot a Drunkard ftiould 
 be fo drowned, as to be infenfate • yet his Bo'dy, mcthinkSiflionld irk 
 him to a penitence and difcefflon. VV'licn like an inipoyfoiicd bulk-, all 
 his /»o»>frj mutiny in his dillcndcdj-X'/w, noqucilion but he muft be 
 pained, till they come again tojetling. What a Monfter Man is, in his 
 Inebriations 1 a. fmmming eye, 2L Face both roafi and fod, a temulentive 
 
 I Tongue, clammed to the roofzudgami ; a drumming Ear, a flavoured 
 ^ body '^
 
 iq8 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 iredy ; a boyling Stomach ; a MouthT\i{{y with ejfenfive fumes , till it ' 
 fickcn the Brain \N[l\\giddy verminations ^ a pa/Jied hand, and legs tot- j 
 tering up and down their moyjiened bwthen. And whereas we eat our i 
 dijhes fcveral , bccaufe their mixture would loath the tAJl^, the eye, and i 
 fmell ; thisjwhen they are half made excrement y reverts them, maflied I 
 in an odious lemit. And very probable 'tis, that this was thcppyfon, \ 
 which kill'd the valiant Alexander. Troteas gave him a quaffe of txvo 
 gallons.) which fet him into a difeafe he dyed of. 'Tis an ancient Vice ; 
 and Temperance is rare. Cato us'd to fay oidefar, that He alone ame 
 fpi>er, to the everthroxv of thejlate. But you l"hall fcarcc find a man 
 much addided to drink, that it ruin'd not. Either it dotes him into 
 i\\Q.fnares ofhts Enemies, or over-bears his Nature, to a final jinking. 
 Yet there be, whofc delights are only to tunn in : and perhaps, as Bo- 
 neftts, they never ftrain their bladder for't. But farely, fome ill fate 
 £{ttends them, for confuming of the Countries fat. That 'tis pradlis'd 
 moft of the meanefl people, proves it for the hafervice. 1 knew a 
 Gentleman that followed a Noble Lady, in this Kingdom, who woulch 
 often cottiplain> that the grcateft inconvenience he found in Service 
 was, his being urged to drink. And the better he is, the more he ihall 
 find it. The eyes of many are upon the Eminent : and Servants, cfpe- 
 cially thofeot xhc ordinary IR^nk, arc often of (o mean breeding, as 
 they arc ignorant of any other entertainment. We may obfervejit ever 
 takes iooting firft in the moft 'Barbarota Nations. The Scythians vvere 
 fuch lovers of it, as it; grew into i\v€\xname: and unlefs it were 
 one Anacharjis , how barren were they both of veit and manners ? 
 The Greiians,l confcfs,had it •, but when they fell to thi$,they mighti- 
 ly decayed in brain. The Italians and Spaniards, which 1 take to be the 
 moft cm//c<ri:/, I find not tainted with this ^()/. And though ihc Hea- 
 then (in many places) Templed and adored this drunken God ; yet one 
 would take their afcriptions to him, to be matter of dijhonour, and 
 mocks : As his troup oifuried Women : his Chariot drawn with the Linx 
 and Tyger: And the Bea^s facrcd to him,vvere only the Goat and Srtine. 
 And fuch they all prove, that frequently honour him with exceffive 
 draughts. 1 like a Cup, to brisk the /J>ir its ; but cootmuance dulls them. 
 It is Icfs labour loploiv, than topot it : and urged Healths do infinitely 
 add to the trouble. 1 will never drink but Liberties, nor ever thofe Co 
 lon^, as that 1 lofe mine own. 
 
 Hctace reads it thus ;• — Non ego te,eandide'tBaffarea ! 
 Jnvitum quatiam : nee variii objita frondibua 
 Sub divum rapiam. Sxva ttne Herecynthio 
 Cornu tympana j qu^e fubfequitur cscm amor fui, 
 Et tellens vacrtttm, pltu nimio, gloria njerticem, 
 Arcaniq-^ fides prediga, perlucidier vitro, 
 
 Dear Bacchui, lie not heave 
 
 The rtiak'd Cup 'gainft myjlomack : nor yet reave 
 
 Ope' arbor'd fecrets. Let thy Tjmbrels fierce, 
 And Phrygian Horn be mute ; blind [elf-loves curfe. 
 
 Braves
 
 'i^ESOLVES. 
 
 \ 
 
 Braves without brain ; Fxith's clofctines, alas .' 
 Do follow thee, asifbut cloath'd wini GUfs. 
 Let me rather be difliked for not being a Beaji, than be ^oed-fehwei 
 with a /'•g^, for being one- Sotat Uughix. me for being /»^fr ; and I 
 laugh at them for being drunk. Let their pleafurts crown them, and 
 their mirth abound ; the next day they will ftick in mud. Bibite, ^fer- 
 gr^camini-, o Cimmerii .' Ehiftatemijlupori dolor ^imbeciHit as, morbus-^ 
 mors ipfa. comitantur. 
 
 129 
 
 LXX5tV. 
 Oj Marriage, and fingle life. 
 
 BOth Sexes made but Man. So that Marriage perfcds Creation. 
 When the Hmband and the wife are togeth'cr, the world is con- 1 
 traded in a Bed ; and without this, like the Head and Bodjf parted , ci- 
 ther would confumc, without a poflibility of reviving. And though 
 we fifid many Enemiesio the name oi Marriage j yet 'tis rare to find an 
 Enemy to the ufe on't. Surely he was made imperfeSi, that is not tend- 
 ing to /'r<»/'rfg-4//V>/;. iVd/«rf, in her trae work, never made any thing in 
 vain. He that hperft^^ini marries not,may in fomc fort be faid to be 
 guilty of a contempt againft Nature;is difdaining to make ufe of her en- 
 dorvments. Nor is that which the Turks hold without fome colour of 
 Reafon:Thcy fay.He that marries not at a fitting time (which they hold 
 is about the age of five and twenty years) is not juft, nor plcafeth God. 
 1 believe it is from hence, that the rorv of Chaftity is many times ac- 
 companycd with fuch /wo^x'fw^wffjaswefeecnfue. I cannot think 
 Godi^ pleafcd with that,which crotTeth his firft Ordinat7on,ind the cur- 
 rent ot Nature. And in themfelves, it is a harder matter to root out an 
 infcparable/jp^j' of A^4r«r<r,than they arc aware of. The beft ch.ijiity of 
 all,l hold to be Matrimonial chafitty ' when fairs keep themfelves in a 
 moderate intermutualnefsf each conftant to the other ; for ftill it tcnd- 
 eth to awo», and continuance of the world in pojlerity. And 'tis fit 
 even in nature and Policy ith&t this propriety fliould be inviolable ; Firft, 
 in refpcft of the impurcncfs oimixtpofterity. Next, in refped oi peace 
 and concord among Men. If many Men fliould be iutcrelTcd in one wo- 
 man, it could not be, but there would infinite J/irj arifc. Some have 
 complained of Chrijlian Religion, in that it tycs men fo ftridly in this 
 point, as when matches happen ill, there is no means oi Remedy. But 
 furely, if liberty oi change were grantcd,all would grow to confufion : 
 and it would open tgap to many mifihiefsy arifing out of humour on- 
 ly, which now by this nccefTity are <^/g<r/?<?i)/, and made ftraight again. 
 Thofc I obfervc to agree bcfV, which arc oifree natures -^^ox. fubjed to 
 the fits oicholer. Ihc'n freedom ("huts out JealoufieyV/hich is the canker 
 ofir^<^/r>f^ J and withal, it divideth both j»y siud forrorv. And when 
 hearts alike difclofe, they ever link in love. Nay, whereas fmall and 
 dome^tck Jars move irci marriages y thin great ones and publick ; thcfc 
 two will take them away. Freedom reveals thcm,that they rancklc not 
 
 S the
 
 i3< 
 
 'J{E S LV E S. 
 
 che Hetrt to ificret U4thfffg;tnd mUnefs bears them, wichout Anger t 
 or fitter words : fo they clofe again attcr difi$(JJl»>t, many times in a 
 fir lighter Tye. Poverty in fVedUek^ is a great dccaycr ot love and fo»- 
 tetftatitn ; and ^/V/;« can find many ways, to divert an i»coHveme/tct : 
 but the mirtd of a -^4/» is all. Some can be ferviky and tall to thofe la- 
 hturs which another cannot ftoop to. Above all, let ihegentrotu mind 
 beware of marrying /wr ; for though he cares the leaft tor rvedtb, yet 
 he will be moft galled with thciv4;7/of it. Self-eooceited feeple ncvti 
 agree well together : they arc wilful in their hrarvls^ and Reafin can- 
 not reconcile them. Where either 3.:c only cpinhnately vcife^ Hell is 
 there, unlefs the ocher be a Patient meerly. ISut the worft is, when it 
 lights on the tvoman : fljc will think to ruU^ becanfe flic hath the y«^-i 
 tiier brain : and the Man will look for't, as the friviledge «f his fex. 
 Then certainly, there will be mad rverk, when mt is at war with Pre- 
 rogative. Yet again, where Marriages prove unfortunate, a Woman 
 with a had Hutharui, is much worfe, than a Man with a badmfe. Men 
 have much more freedom, to court their Content abroad. 1 here are, 
 that account vtomen only &%feed-flots for poftcrity : others worfe, as 
 only quench for thcirjfrrj. But lurcly there is much more in tncm, if 
 they be difcreet and good. They are women but in body alone. Qpcfti- 
 onlcfs, a woman YiixXii wijefmly istnchtieft Companion for man: 
 otherwife God would have given nim a Friend rather than a wife. A 
 wife wife comprehends both fixes: Ihe is woman tor her body, and fhe 
 is »»4« within : for her /ow/ is like her Husbands. It is the Crown of 
 buffings, when in one woman a man findcth both a wife and a Friend. 
 Single life c^anot hi\ t ihis happinefs -^ though in lomc minds it hath 
 many it prefers before it. This hath fewer Cares, and more Longings : 
 hui marriage hath kwGV Longings, and more C<«r«. And as 1 think 
 Care in marriage may be commendable ; fo I think Defire in Jingle life, 
 is not an evil of fo high a bound, as fome men would make it. It is a 
 thing that accompanies A^4/«r<r,and Man cannpt avoid it.Somc things 
 there arc, that Confcience in general Man condemns, without a Literal 
 Law: 3L%InjuJlice,'Blaj}'hemy, Lying, zndiiVit like; But to curb and 
 quite beat down the //f/?r« eftheflefl), is a work of Religion , rather 
 thanof A^<i;«f^. And thcretorc fays S^vni Paul, l had not known Lujl to 
 have been a fin, if the Law hid notjaid, Thtn/balt not Lufl. Vettve ab- 
 flinence^ fome cold c»n[iitutiens may endure with a great deal oi vexa- 
 tious penitence. To live fA^y?^ without *'<)»'/«§', 1 like a great deal bet- 
 ter ; nor fhall we find the Divelio bufie to tempt us to a finglc fin of 
 unchajiity ; as he will, when it is a Jin of uncha/lity and perjury too. 
 I find it commended, but not impofed. And when Jeptha's Daughter 
 dyed, they mourned , for thatfliedy'de z.Maid. Xht Grecians, the 
 ^tmans did, and the Spaniards at this day do (in honour of marriage) 
 ftliiikd^tht wedded. And though the ^*W4»/ had their rir/?4/r, yet 
 after their thirty years continuance, the cruelty oUnforced chajlitywas 
 not in force againft them. Single life I will like in fome, whofe minds 
 can fuffer eontinency : but ftiould a^ live thus, a hundred years would 
 
 make
 
 9{ES0LFES. 
 
 make the fVoridiDefart. And this alone may excufe me,though I like 
 oi marriage better. One tends to r«i»f, the other to increafing ot the 
 glorji of the Tvprlt^, in multitudes. 
 
 J3> 
 
 LXXXVI. 
 Of Charity. 
 
 CHarity is communicated ^W«?/} ; and without this, Alan is no 
 other than a "Beajt, preying^ for himfelt alone. Certainly, there are 
 more men live upon c/'m/y, than there arc, thatdoy//^/?//of them- 
 fclves. The iverUy which is chdind together by intermingled love, 
 would all flutter, and fall to pieces, if cWz/yfliould chance to dye. 
 There are fomc fccrcts in it, which fecm to give it the c/mr from all 
 the reft oi virtues. With K/)orvledge,v/'n\) Valettr^WiX.\\ Modejly, and fo 
 with other particular Firtaes., a man may be /// with fome contrarying 
 vice : But with charity vjc cannot be tU at all. Hence, I take it, is that 
 faying in Timothy ; The end-y er confummatioit of the Lave it love out of a 
 pure heart. Habere omnia Sacrament a.,(^ malui ejfepotejl : habere autem 
 Charitatem-, (jr mains ejfe nonpoteft, faid Saint Atigufiine of old . Next, 
 whereas other virtues are re^ri^ive, and looking to a mans felf : This 
 takes all the world for it's obje^ : and nothing that h^thfenfe, but is 
 better for this Difplayer. Tticre be among the Mahometans, that arc 
 fo taken with this beauty, that they will with a price redeem imaged 
 Birds, to reftore them to the liberty of their plumed wing. And they 
 WiW oktmnwcs, Wit\\ coJlitcAfifbes in ^zftreaming water. But their 
 opinion,of deferring by it, iwikQS k as a. SuperJlitioM filly : and in ma- 
 terials, they arc nothing fo zealous. Indeed , nothing makes us more 
 like to C7<'<:^,than charity. ^s all things are filled with his^W»^/},fo the 
 Vniverfalis partaker ot the good mans (preadittg love. Nay, it is that 
 which gives lite to all the Race of other Ftrtues. It is that wnich makes 
 tlicm to appear in Acl- yfijdom and Science arc worth nothing, un- 
 k'fs they be difiributive, and declare themfelves to the tvorld. wealth 
 in a Mifers hand is ufelefs^ as a lockt-up Treafure. 'Tis charity only, 
 that makcth Riches worth the owning. We may obfcrve, when chari- 
 table me» have ruled, the tvorld hzxh flourifljed, and enjoyed the blef- 
 fings ot TMctf and Proy^m/j' ; the //Vwfi' have been more /'/(f^/i/;^ and 
 fmofth : nor have any Princes fate more fecurc or firm in their Thrones, 
 than thofe that have been clement and benign : as Titus, Trajane, An 
 tonine, and others. And we may obfcrve again, how rugged, and how 
 full ot bracks thofc times have been wherein cruel ones have had a pow- 
 er. Cicero fays of 5;tf<t's time, — Nemo illo invito, nee bona, nee patri- 
 am,necvitamretinerepotuerat. And when the Senate in Council was 
 frighted at the cry of fevcn thoufand Romans, which he had fcnt to ex- 
 ecution at once, he bids them mind their bufincfs , for it was only a 
 few Seditiaries, that he had commanded to be flain. No qucI\ion but 
 there arc, which delight to fee a /?ow<r in Hamcs, and like a Ravifht 
 
 I Troy, mocking the abfcnt day with avthly Jires, that can linger A/en to 
 S z martyrdom.
 
 n 
 
 ^E S LV E S. 
 
 martyrdom^ and make them dye by piecemeal, liber'tm tola one that 
 petitioned to be c[ulckly kitl'd ^ that he was not yet his frte»d. And T;- 
 tellm would needs fee the Scrivener dye in his prefeme^ for he faid he 
 would feed his eycs.But 1 wondcrjwhcnce thefe mei^ have their tniads. 
 God, nor ^-i^, nor Nature ever made them thus. Sure, they borrow 
 it from the Wildernefs, from the imboaftcd Savage , and Irom tor- 
 mentin<y fpirits. When the Lr^^^" will neither bear the Body, nor the 
 ftemachM^zxk his receit, nor tliehand be ferviceable to the direding 
 Head, the Whole mu(\ certainly Unguiflj, and dye : So in the body of 
 the iverld, when Members are fuUen'd, and fnarl one at anothtr, down 
 falls the /r4Wf of all. 
 
 Quod mtmdttiy (labili fide, 
 
 Concordes varUt vices ; 
 
 Quod pugnantia femina 
 
 Fcedus perpetitum tcnent : 
 
 Quod Phiebu6 rofeum diem, 
 
 Cstrru provehit aureo. 
 
 Vt quas duxerit Hejpertu, 
 
 phcebe mctibui imperct : 
 
 Vt fiu&Hi avidum mare 
 
 Cert fine eoerceat, 
 
 Ne terris liceat vagts • 
 
 Ldtos tendere termims : 
 
 Ham Rerum feriem ligat 
 
 {Terras ac Pelagus regens, 
 
 Et C^lo imperitans) Amor. 
 
 That i\\cvetrld[x\ conftant force. 
 
 Varies his concordant courfe : 
 
 That feeds jarring hot zndcold. 
 
 Do the breed perpetual hold ; 
 
 That the S/ms in's golden Car, 
 
 Does the Rofie Tiay iHll rcrc. 
 
 That the Moon fways all thofe lights, 
 
 He{per ullicrs to dark mghts. 
 
 That alternate Tydes be found, 
 
 Seas high-prided vyaves to bound ; 
 
 Left his fluid waters Mace, 
 
 Creek broad f^rr^j invallied face. 
 
 All the Frame oi things that be, 
 
 Love (which rules Heaven, Land, and Sea) 
 
 Chains, keeps, orders, as you fee. 
 Thus 'Btetitts. The ivorld contains nothing, but there is fome quali- 
 ty in it, which benefits fome other creatures. The Atr yields Forvls ; 
 ihe fVater Fifi; '^ the Earth Fruit. Andall thefc yield fomething from 
 themfclvcs, for theufc and behalf, not only o\ Man, but ot each other. 
 Surely, he that is right, muft not think his charity to one in need,a cour- 
 tefie ; but a debt, which Nature at his firft being, bound him to ^ay. I 
 
 would
 
 1{ E S L V E S, 
 
 133 
 
 would not water a ilxinyigrottndy to leave my own in drought : yet I 
 think to every thing; that h^ihfenfe, there is a kind o/'pity ovpwg. Solo- 
 mons good tmn^ is merciful to his Bend : nor take I this to be only in- 
 tentional ; but expreffivc. God may rcfpcft the mind, and tvill ; but 
 man is nothing better for my meaning alone. Let my mind be charita- 
 ble, that Ced may accept me. Let my actions cxprcfs it, that man may 
 be benefited. 
 
 ~~ LXXXV.II. ~^ 
 
 Of Travail. 
 
 A speech which often came from Alexander was ; that he had^//- 
 f(3z/<?r(r^ more with his eye, than other Kings did comprehend in 
 their theughts. And this lie fpakc of his Travail. For indeed, men can 
 but gucfs zx. places by relation only. There is no Map like the view of 
 the Country. Experience is beft Informer. And one Journey will fliew 
 a man more, than any ^(f/fr/^/^» can. Some would not allow a man 
 to move from the (hell ot his own Country. And 0.tudian 'iicntions it 
 as a happinefs, for birth^ life^ and bund, to be all in a Parifh. But fure- 
 ly. Travail fuHcth the Man: he hath liv'd but /of/tWup in a larger 
 chefi., which hath never feen but one Lmd.K Kingdom to the world., is 
 like a CorportiHten to a Kingdom:\ man may live in't like an unbred man. 
 He that fcarchicth forain Nations, is becoming a Gentleman ot the 
 iVorli. One that is learned., honefi., and travail'd,is the beft compound oi 
 m.xn • and fo corrects the r^Ve of one Country-, with the Firtues ot ano- 
 ther, that like Mithridate, he grows a perfect w?ijf/«>'^,and an Antidote. 
 Italy ^England^Francc ^ni Spain XCQ. as the Court oilYiCWorld-^ Cjcrmany^ 
 Denmark^ and China.,v:fc as the Cz/^.The reft are moftof them Country., 
 3iid Earbarifm: who hath, not fecn the beft of thefe, is a little lame in 
 knorvledge. Yet I think it not fit , that every man ihould travail. It 
 makes a Wife man better, and a Fool worfe. This gains nothing but the 
 gay fights., vices, cxotickgeflures, z\\6.t\\Q. Apery oid. Country. A Tra- 
 vailing fool IS xhcfljame ot all Nations. Hcfhames his ervn^hy his rveak- 
 nefs ibvoid : WcfJjamcs others, by bringing home their follies alone. 
 They only blab abroad domeftick wf<r/,and import them that are tranf- 
 marine. That a man may better himfelf by Travail., he ought to ob- 
 ferve,.and comment : noting as well the ^.li^, to avoid it; as taking 
 the good., into ufc. And without Regtjiring thefe things by the Pen, 
 they will Aide away ww/r^/iVrf/^/y. A man would not think, how much 
 the CharaBeriz,ingo( a. thought in'Paper, faftens it. Litera [cripta ma- 
 net, has a large fenfc. Hc,that does this,may, when he plcafeth rejtur- 
 ney2L\\\\v% Voyage .,{\\\\isClozet. GviMC Natures arc the hc[\ proficients 
 by Travail: they are not fo apt to take a Soil ; and they obfcrve more : 
 but then thcymuft put f)n an outward freedom, with an Inquijition 
 fcemingly carekjsMwxx c an excellent thing in a State,\.o have always a 
 fele£l number ot Touth,o'( the Nobility and Gentry; and,at years of fomc 
 maturity, fend tbemabroid iox Education. Their /'^rf^/j could not 
 
 better
 
 34 
 
 1(ES0LVES. 
 
 bctccr difpofc of thcm,:ban in dedicating ihem to the Republick. Tlxy 
 thcmfelvcs could not be in af/iiyer vcay of f re ferment : and no qucfti- 
 on bat they might prove mightily [erviceableioint State, at home • 
 when they ["ball return well verfed in the ^vorld , languagcd and well 
 read in men; which for Policy, and Negotiatitn is much better than 
 any Book-learning, though never fo dcep,and knowing. Being abroad, 
 the l>eft is to converfe with the^f/?, and not to chufe by the tye, but by 
 Fame. For the State yiniivnOiion is to be had at the foHrt; For Traffick-, 
 dawow^ Merchants. Vox Religiom Eites, l\\c C/ergie ; lor Government, 
 the Lajvyers ; and for the Country, and rural knowledge, the Boers, and 
 Peafantry can bed help you. All Rarities are to be fecn, efpccially 
 .Antiquities 5 for thcfe Ibcw us the ingenuity of elder times in Aci : and 
 a:tm one hoth example, and precept. By thcfe, comparing them with 
 with modern Invention, we may fee how the World thrives in ahiUty, 
 and brain. But above all, fee rare men. There is no monument ^ like a 
 worthy man alive. V\ c Qiall be fure to find fomething in him, to k :■>- 
 die oMxJpirits, and inlarge our minds with a worthy emulation of hh 
 w/ww.^/ir/j of extraordinary note cannot fo lie hidjbut that they will 
 (hine forth through the tongue, and behaviour, to the inlighcning of the 
 ravif^d beholder. And becaufe there is lefs in this, to take the fenfe of 
 theJ^^r, and things are more readily from a living />4r/(?r» ; the Soul 
 fhall more eafily draw in his excellencies, and improve it y^^with 
 gXQ&itv profit. But unlcfs imiinh^s judgment to order tocfe aright, in 
 himjeif, at his return, all is in vain, and loft labour. Some men, by 
 Travel wlW be changed m nothing : and fume again , will change too 
 much. Indeed, the zw^y4/ou tilde, where focvcr we be, may fecm beft, 
 when fomething fitted to the Nation we are in . but wherefoever I 
 fliould go, or flay, I would ever keep my Goi^ and Friends unchange- 
 ably. Howfocre lie returns, he «>.«)&« an /i/r"c;^^r, that changeth his 
 Faith with his Tongue and Garments. 
 
 LXXXVIII. 
 Of h4uftck, 
 
 Diogenes fpake right of Mujick, when he told one that bragg'd of 
 hiSjMj that, mfdom govern'd C/>/>j ; but with Songs , and 
 Meafures,a. houfe would not be order'd well. Certainly,it is more for 
 pleajure, than any profit oiman. Being but a.foHnd,ii only works on the 
 mind for the prefent ; and leaves it not reclaimed,h\it rapt for a while : 
 and then it returns,forgetting only ear-deep warbles. It is but wantorid 
 Air, and the Titillation oi xhn Jpirited Element. We may fee this, io 
 that 'tis only in hollowed InJlruments,yN\\ic\\ gather in the ftirred Air, 
 and fo caufe ^ found in the Motion. The advantage it gains upon the 
 mind, is in refpeit of the nearncfs it hath to t\\tjpirits compofure,which 
 being a^thereal, and harmonioets muft needs delight in that which is 
 like them. Befidcs, when the 4/ris thus moved, it comes by degrees 
 to the ear by whofe minding entrance ; it is made more pUafant, and 
 
 .__ . ^?
 
 1( E S L F E S, 
 
 \ 
 
 by that in-e^ent Air, carried to the Attdit$ry /lerve^vjWchpye feats it to 
 t\{t common fe»fe-,3in(ii(olor.\\cmte\Le£{uaL Oi^WMufick-, that [% bcfl 
 which comes from an articulate voice. Whcthericbe that W4» can- 
 not make an Inftrument fo mel$dieut.y as chat which God made, livin* 
 man ; or, becaufe there is fomething in this, for the rxtionalfart , as 
 well as for the ear alone. In this alfo, that is bcO, which comes with 
 a carelcfs freenefs-y^nA a kind of a negleftivc eajinefs. Nature beincr al- 
 ways moft loveljf^ in an unaffeHed. zwdijpontaneousfioyving. A dexterous 
 Art fhcws cunnings and tadufiry ; rather i\\ir\judgmenty and ingenuity. 
 It is a kind oi disparagement, to be a cunning Fidkr. It argues his neg- 
 lect of better imfloyment^, and that he hath fpent much time upon a 
 thing unnecejfary. Hence it hath been counted ill, tor great Ones^ to 
 fing^ox play-y like an Arted Aiupcian. Philip ask'd Alexander j if he were 
 not ajhamed, that he fang (o artfully. And indeed, it foftcns the mind ; 
 the curiojity of it, is fitter for tvomen than Men, and for Curtezans than 
 Women. Among other defcriptions of a Roman Dame, Salujl puts it 
 
 down for one, that (he did PfaUerey &faltare-, eligantms^ qttam 
 
 neceffeejiproba. But yet again 'tis pity, that thcfe fhould be fo excel- 
 lentiin that which hach fuch/<'»rfr to fafcinate. It were wcll,^w were 
 barr'd of all her helps oirvooing.Miny a mindhaih been angled unto /tf, 
 by the £4r.It was Stratonice,th^t took Mithridates with a iiong. For as 
 the Notes ivcframed^it can drarv,znd. incline the wW. Lively Tunes do 
 lighten the /»/W:Graveoncs give it Melancholy. Lofty ones raife it, and 
 ddvance it to above. Whofc dull blond will not caper in his f^"//;/, 
 when the very 4/r,he breaths vn^frisketh in a m^/(?<i w^)?/** ? Who can 
 but fix his<7^,and tfxughts ywhcn he hears the fighs, and Dying groans, 
 geftur'd from the mournful /n^rumentl And 1 think he hath not a mind 
 well temper'd, whole zeal is nst inflamed by a heavenly Anthem. So 
 that indeed mufick hgoodyor bad, as the end to which it cendeih. Sure- 
 ly, they did mean it excellent, that made Apolio,who wisgod ofmfdom, 
 to he god of mufick alfo. But it may be the i^gyptidns, attributing the 
 invention of the Harp to him, the rarity znd pleafingnefs made them fo 
 to honour him. As the Spartans ufed it, itfcrved ftill tor an excitation 
 to Valour, and Honourable actions : but then they were fo careful of the 
 manner of it, as they fined Terpander, and nailed his Harp to the poftj 
 for being too inventive, in adding z firing more than ufual ; Yet bad 
 he done the State ^pod fervicc : for he appcafed a Sedition by his play, 
 ind' Poetry. Sometimes, light JVo/(?j arc ufcful ; as in times of ge- 
 neral J*;', and when the w//w^ is prcifed with /4^/f<f/jr. But certainly 
 thofe ^e bcft, which inflame z,eal, incite to courage-^ or induce to gra- 
 vity. One is for Religion ; fo the Jexvs. The other tor i^ar, fo the (Jre- 
 cians, and Romans. And the h{{ for Peaee , and Morality : Thus Or- 
 fhetu civilized the Satyrs, and the bad rude men^ It argues it of fome 
 excelUncy, that 'tis ufed only of themol\ aerial creatures ; loved, and 
 undcrftood by man alone ; the "Birds next, have variety ot wtes. The 
 Beajls, Fifbes, and the repttlia, which are of grolfcr compofition, have 
 only filence, or untuned founds. They that defpife it wholly, may well 
 
 be 
 
 n%
 
 .j6 
 
 ^E SOLVES. 
 
 ht fttfpeitedy to be fomething of a i/Ji/iif f nature . The //rf/M«i have 
 fomewhai a [mart cefifure, ol thofe that afe^ it not : They fay , Ged 
 loves not him, whom he hath not made to love mujick. Arifiotle*. 
 coMCfitj that Jove doth neither Harp not fingil do not hold a dilpraifc. 
 W c^nd'm Heave fithciehcHaUeIujahs(\ing. 1 believe it, as a helper 
 both to good and ill j and will therefore /fontur it^when it moves to rir- 
 tue, and beware it when it would /4r/^r into Vice. 
 
 LXXXIX. 
 Of ^^entance. 
 
 HE that will not repe;tt, fliall rume ; nor is he to be pitied in his 
 fufertKgSy that may cfcape a torment, by the comfHtfctien of a 
 hearty and /^^rj. Surely, that God itmercifitl, that will admit offenfes 
 CO be expiated by ihe_^A5and fluxed eyes. But it is to be wondered at, 
 how T^epentance an again infavour us with an effendedCod ; fince when 
 2i finis paft^rw/may letfen it,but not unfin it. That which is done, is 
 unretallable -^ becaufe a 7»» does intend i» infinitum. Adultery once 
 committed, maugre all the tears in man^ for the aB remains Adultery 
 ftill ; yea though thc^«///, and puntfliment be remitted : nor can a 
 man u»-a£f it again. When a Maid is robbed of her Firgin honour ythcvc 
 may be ComcfatisfaBionj but no refiitution. Certainly, there ztcfecret 
 Y/aliis oi Goodnefs znd Purity ^ whereby all things arc revolved in a 
 confiant »jy,which by the Supreme Power ^(Jo^/jthey were uBrikinve- 
 fied in. And when man ftrays from this In/linif yi\\c whole courfe oi Na- 
 ture is againft him, till he be redueedinto his firft rank, and order. And 
 this, I think, may excufc God oi (hangeahlenefs, when he turns to many 
 upon his Penitence: for indeed 'tis /»-<» that f/»4»^^/ , God is ftill the 
 un-altered fa.me. And the firft //»w«/4^;///>' of things, never leaves a 
 man, till he be either fettled again in hlsplace^ or quite cut off from 
 troubling of the ^(^//o;*. And as he is not rightly re-inferted, till he 
 does co-operate with the N oh le revolution of all : fo he is not truly peni- 
 tent, ih^i is, not progreffive in the Motion oiafpiringgoodnefs.SNhzn he 
 is once thus again, though he were ^firaggleriiom. the Round, and like 
 a wry Cog in the vheel'^ yet now, he is ftrcighted, and fet again in his 
 way., as if he had never been out. Says the Tragedian : 
 
 Remeemm illuty unde ntn decuit priits 
 
 Ahire. 
 
 Return we whence it was a fhame to ftray : 
 And prefently after, 
 
 Quem panitet peecaffe, pane efi innocens. ' 
 
 He that repents, is well-near innocent. 
 Nay, fomctimes a failing, and return, is a prompter to ifurer hold. 
 Saint Amhrofe obferves, that Peters Faith was ftronger after his fall, 
 than betorc : fo as he doubts not to fay, that by hiifall, he found more 
 grace, than he lofi. A man (hall beware thtfleps he once hzth fiumhled 
 on. The fJm/fomeiimes coozcns himfclf, by plunging man into a 
 ^ de ep
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 deep offdnfr. A fudden ill All grows abhorred in the mind that did it. 
 He is mightily carelefs^thzi docs not grow more vigilxnt^ow an Enemy 
 that hath once furprized him. A I'Uw that /marts will put us to ^fifer 
 tvard. But the danger is, when we glide in a fmoothed vexy : for then vvc 
 mall never return o. our /i'/^'<fJ• alone. Queilionlefs, Repentance is lb 
 powerful, that it cannot be but the gift oi Deity. Said the Romax Theo- 
 dofim : That tniing men dye^ is ufml^ and natural-^ but that dead men 
 //x-^ again by Repent Ance^ is a vocrk ot Godhead or\\y. How f.ir, how fe- 
 curefliould we run in P^ice^ did not thc/0B'<fr ofgoodnefs^ check us in 
 our k\\\'l^lovpnfaiP. Without d0Hh that is the beit l/fe,wh.ic\\ is a little 
 /^rinkled with the [alt oi CroJJes. The other would be quickly rankjZnd 
 tainted. There arc whok paths are iy<»/Z'/ with Butter, and the Rofebud 
 crowns them ; but doabtlcfs, 'tis amifery to live in ojledvice, when 
 her w^j-j are midc Jltpperj with her own ftime : and the i^ared track in- 
 viteth to a ruinoM race. Heaven is not had without rc/'^^/^wf^j and ri?- 
 fentance fcldom meets a man m jollity, in the career of Z«/? , and tlie 
 ^/ofj^j looferiot. ^Father faid oi David ; He finned,as Kings ufc to do ; 
 but he repented, fighed,and rvept,as Kings have ufed not to do. I would 
 not be Co happy, as to want the means whereby I might be penitent. I 
 am fure no man can live without/w : and 1 am (lire nojinner can be 
 faved without it.Nor is this in a mans orvn chi)ice,to take it up when he 
 pleafe. Surely, man, that would never /f4^'^ to Jtn, would never of 
 himfelf begin to repent. It were ^<r/?, \i pof/ible, to live fojSs we mio-ht 
 notneedit : but fincc I can neither not ^f^^itjRor give it my fi-^I will 
 pray him to give it me, who after he hath given me this, will give me 
 both releafe and glory. 
 
 m 
 
 xc. 
 
 of War^ and SouUiers, 
 
 AFter a long Scene of Peace ^ ivar ever enters the Stage ; and indeed, 
 is fo much of the ;^(jr/^j P^jr/Jf/', asitisbotha Purge, and bhod- 
 letting. Peace, Fttlnefs, Pride, and pvar, are the four Fellies, that being 
 let into one another, make the veheel, that the Times turn on. As wc 
 fee in Bees , when the Hyve multiplies and Jills, Nature hath always 
 taught it a way of eafc by [warms : So the yvcrld and Nations, when 
 they grow o^er -populous, they difcharge thcmfelvcs by Troups, and 
 Bands. 'Tis but the diflemper of the body Politick, which (like the na- 
 tural) Rel\, and a full dyct hath burthen'd with repletion : and that \ 
 heightens humours, either to ficknefs or evacuation. When 'tis eafcd of | 
 thcfe, it fubfidcs again to a quiet reft and temper. So n'ar is begotten I 
 oHt oi Peace graduacely,and ends in Peace immediately. Between Peace, 
 and War are two Stages ; Luxury, Ambition : between irar and Teace, 
 none at all. The caufes of all irars, may be reduced to five beads : ' 
 Ambition, Avarice, Revenge, Providence, and Defenfe. The two Hr(f, ' 
 were the moft vfual caufes o{ivar among the Heathen. Yet what all 
 the conquer'd call'd Pride and CoveUujnefs ; both the Romans and \ 
 
 T Grecians
 
 }^ ' 
 
 *I( E S L F E S. 
 
 Grecians were taught by their hiofii bloods, to call Honour and iftcreafe ! 
 oi Empire. The original of all Ttbu^lu^ will needs have^^tf/^/. 
 Quji futt, herrendos primm quiprotulit e»fest 
 
 Quam fertu, (^ 'verc ferreus tile fuit ? 
 Turn c£des hominum genert-^ tunc p-AundtA ; 
 
 Tunc brevier dira mortis apertM, "via, eji. 
 At nihil ilie mifer meruit ; nos ad mala nojlra, 
 
 Vertimtu, in fsvas quod dedit iHe feras. 
 Divita hoc vitium eji auri \ nee beUa fnerunt, 
 
 Fdginu4 abfiibAt dum fcyphui tnte dApes. 
 Of killing Svpords who might firft Author be ? 
 Sure, a,^eelmi»d, and hloodj thought had he. 
 Mankinds deJiru£tion,n'ars were then made known, 
 And ihorter ways to death with tcrrour ihown. 
 Yet (curs'd) he's noti'th fault ; \vc madly bend 
 That on our felves, he did ioibeajls intend. 
 '^\A\gtl£%iW\ fault : no W«rj, noj-«r/ were then, i 
 
 When Tieeth-\>ovih only were in ufe with men. j 
 
 That which hath grown from t\\t prcpAgation of Religion, was never j 
 of fuch force, as fincc the Mahumetan Law, and Catholick caufe, have j 
 ruffled among x^t Nations. Yet queftionlefs to lay the foundation of 
 l^eligion in blood, is to condemn it, before wc teach it ; The Sword xm^ j 
 force Nature, and deftroy the Body, but cannot make the mind believe i 
 that Liwful, which is begun in unlawfulness : Yet without doubt in j 
 the enterpriz^rs, the opinion has animated mxxoii : we fee how it for- ! 
 mcrly fired the 7»r/',and is yet a (Irong motive to the Spanijh attempts : | 
 Unlefs he throws this abroad to the iverld, to blanch his Rapine and ; 
 his cruelty. For that oi Revenge ; 1 fee not, but it may be lawful for a j 
 Trince, even by fVar, to vindicate the honour of himfelt, and People. \ 
 And the reafon is, becaufe in fuch cafes oi injury, the whole Nation is , 
 interelTcd ; and many times the recompenfe, is more due to the Subjects, 
 than the Severaign. That of Providence may well have ^pafs : as when 
 Princes make n'ar to avoid ivar : or, when they fee ijiorm inevitably 
 falling, 'tis good to meet it, and break the force : Should they ever fit, 
 ftill while the blow were given them, they might very well undo thcm- 
 felves by patience. We fee in the body, men often bleed to prevent an im- 
 mintni Jicknefs. For that of Defence, both Religion and all the Rules of 
 JV<<^«r^ plead for't. The Commanders in ivar ou2\\t to be bui/t upon 
 thcfe three Virtues ; they ("hould be wife, VaUantl Expertenc' d. mfdom \ 
 in a General, many times ends the ^yar without vfar. Of all Vicfories, \ 
 the Romans thought that beft, which leaft was ftain'd with blood. { 
 And they were content to let CamiUm triumph, when he had not \ 
 fought. In thefe times it is cfpecially requijite, lince Stratagems and 
 Advantages are more in ufe than the open and the daring Valour. Yet 
 Valiant he mult be ; clfe he grows contemptible , lofcs his Command, 
 and, by his own fear, infers his Troups with Cowardice. To the eternal 
 honour of C^jir, Off /■« reports that in all his C(?z»iw4W/ of the Field, 
 
 there
 
 "[{ E S L 1/ E S. 
 
 there was noc fo^und an Ito-, but ^.Feni : as if he IcornM in all his On- 
 fets^ CO be any chins;, but ftill a Leader. Always teaching by the 
 flro?2gefl Authority ^\\'i, own forvcardnefsjhis own example. And thouo-h 
 thcfe be Excellencies^ they be all, without Experievceihme. Let him 
 be never Co learned, his Books cannot limit his 'Dcfigns in feveral : and 
 though he he perfect in a Paper-plat ■> where his eye has all in View ; he 
 will tail '\x\ a Leaguer, \v\xxq. he fees but a limb at once : BcfidcSjEjc/ir- 
 rience puts a credit on his Actions, and makes him tar more prompt in 
 undertakings. And indeed, there is a great deal of reason, why Wtt 
 lliouldr^y/'fcl? him, that, withan«»/^/»/<f^^^/«'«r, has grown old in 
 Arms, and hearing the Drum beat. When every minute. Death fecms 
 to pat's by, and fliun him ; he is as one that the Supreme God has car'd 
 for, and, by a particular Guard, defended in the Hail of Death. 'Tis 
 true, 'tis a life tempting to exhorbitancy ; yet this is more in the com- 
 mon fort, that are prefled as the reffufe, and burthen of the Land, thai 
 in thofe that, by a Nobler breeding, are able to Command. fFant, idle- 
 nefs, and the defperate face oi blood , hath hardened them to Out-rages. 
 Normay we wonder, fince even their life is butanorder'd Quarrel, 
 taiCed to ihc feud o( killing. Certainly, it was with fuch that Lucan 
 was fo out of charity. 
 
 Nulla Jides, pietafqiie viris, qui caftra, fequuntury 
 
 Venalefqim manu-s : ibt fas, ubi maxima merces. 
 
 Nor Faith,no\: (onfcience, common Seuldiers carry ; 
 
 Bcft/'/y is right : their hands are mercenary. 
 For the weapons ofWir,they differ much from thofe of ancient times: 
 and 1 believe, the invention of Ordnance hath mightily f^ived the lives 
 of men. They command at fuch diftance, and are fo unrejijiable, that 
 men come noc to the {hock of a 'Battel, as in former Ages. We may 
 obfcrve, that the greatcfl numbers have fain by thofe weapons, that 
 have brought the £»rw/>j neercft together. Then \.\\q pitched field \<j3ls 
 the trial, and men were fo ingaged that they could not come of, till 
 blotid had decided viSlory. The fame advantages are ftill, and rather 
 greater now, than of old: The »v/W, the 5«», the bctter^rc«W. In 
 former H^ars, for all their arms, the air was ever clear : but now their 
 /'fifca do mift, and thicken it ; which, beaten upon them by difadvan- 
 tages,n\3y(oon indanger an Army. Surely,jvdri are in the fame nature 
 viiz\\ofJenfes, Necejfe eft ut veniant, Thcymuft be; yet, V<t indu- 
 centi. They are mightily in fault that caufe them. Even reafon teaches 
 us to caft the bloudoi the ftain, upon the unjufl y^^/^crj of it. That 
 which gives the mind fccuricy, is a j«y? caufe, and a j«/? deputation. Let 
 me iiave thcfe, and of all other, I ihall think this, one of the mblejl, 
 and mofl manly ways of dying. 
 
 139 
 
 T 2 
 
 of\
 
 140 
 
 2^ £ SOLVES. 
 
 xci. 
 
 of Scandal. 
 
 TIs unhapi/tnefs enough to himfclf, for a man to be rotten within. 
 But when by being/^//^, he Qiall pull zfiain on a whole Stcie- 
 ty^hisgui/t will^^^w him with a lliarpcr tooth. Even \k\tejfe^ is con- 
 trary to the fway ot Nature, and the vetfljes of the whole extended 
 Earth. All men defirc, that, vexing their y^^/, they may gratifie aud 
 glad thth friends : only he thiifcandals i church,oi Nation makes his 
 Frie/fds mourn, and his £»<rw;r/rejoycc. Theyfigh, for his )ui{ Jhame 
 unjuftly flung on them : rhcfe fmilc, to fee an adverfary fain, and the 
 h/ovp gi'jLn to thofe that would «^W^ him. And though the Juthtr 
 lives where he didj yet hisyji«/has been a Traytor, and upheld the con- 
 trarjfide. One ill man may discountenance even the vearranted and 
 maintained cau^e of a Nation; cfpccially if hehasbceii good. Blots 
 appear fouler in ^flrici Itfe^ than a loofe one ; no man wonders at the 
 5i»'/,wj' wallowing : but torcean£r«?/»tfmyr'd, isaTroi^/^/V. Where 
 do Vices ilncwfo toul, as in a Minijier ,v4\\^r\ he ftiall be heavenly in his 
 ?ulftt alone ? Certainly, they wound the (jo(^ely that preach it to the 
 xvorld^ and Xwfi.^ as if they thought to go to Heaven fome other way 
 than that they teach the people. How unfcemly is it^when igravc Caf- 
 fock, fliall be iin'd with a wanton ReieUer,sx\di with crimes, that make a 
 loofe one odioM ? Surely, God will be fevereft againft thofe, that will 
 wear his badge, and fccm hisfervantSy yet inwardly fide with the De- 
 vil^ and lujls. They fpot his Honour, and caufc frofhane ones jcft 
 at his Holinefs. VVe Ice, the Prince fuffers in ihc fails of his Ambaffa- 
 dour : and afert-ants ill a^ion is fome touch to his Majiers reputation : 
 nor can hcjree himfelf, but by delivering him up to jufiice, or difcard- 
 inghim : othervvifc,he would be judg'd to patronize it. Other offenfes 
 Godmay punifli, this he w»/?, left the Enemusofhis Truth triumph a- 
 gainft him. David had his whip for this : Becaufc by this he had caufed 
 tne Enemies of God to blaspheme yXHsic (^hildmu^ dye. When he that had 
 Aathem'dthQpurenefsofthe Godoflfrael., and proclaimed the Noble 
 ACts he did ot old ; and fcem'd as one indear'd to the Almighties love: 
 how would the Philiflims rcjoyce, when he fhould thus become Ape- 
 ftate, and with a rvildlicentioujhefs, mix his lujl with murther and in- 
 gratitude ? Surely, the Vices ot Alexander the lixth did mightily difco- 
 lour Papacy : till then. Princes were atraid ot Bulls and Excommunicati- 
 ons : but it was fo ufual with him, to curfe upon his own difpleafure, 
 and for advancing ot his Jpuriom race : that it hath made them flighted, 
 ever fince his faffions fo impublik'd them.What %jlain it was to Chrt- 
 flendsm, that the Turk fhould pull a Chrifiian-Kings violated CcvC' 
 nant from his bofom,'m the fVar^and prcfent it the Almighty,2is an z£k of 
 thofc,that profcfs'd thcmfelvcs his Servants ? Beware how thy ^c?^ 
 o«i fight againft thy Tongue o^c Pen. One /tf///f will pull down more, 
 than mzxvjgood tongues can build. And doutltfs, GOD, that is jealom 
 ot his Honour, will vindicate t!iefe/«/j, with hismoft defiru^ive arm. 
 
 Take
 
 9( E S L F E S. 
 
 Take heed, not of /r;^»f/S-j hnio^ falliffgfiu//j akcv it. As he that 
 frames the ftrongeft yir^«»!'f»?j againft himfelf, and then does fully 
 anfrver thcni, docs thebert de'end his Caufc : So he that lives/r;"^^, 
 and then forgoes his hold, does worll difgracc his 1'atron. Sim of this 
 nature, arc not faults to our fclves alone, but, by a kind oi argumen- 
 tative way, diihonour GOD in the coMfequent. And even all the 
 church ot (mcQxc^ good men-) fuffcr in 2. feeming good mans fall. This is 
 to be re/igioufljf Icvpd. It thou bccft unfound within, foyl not the glo- 
 rious Roab ot TrHth,\iv putting it upon thy beajllinefs. When Diogenes 
 faw a wanton vaunting in ^ Lions skin^hc calls unto hiin,that he fhouM 
 forbear to make virtues garment blufli.And indecd,r/>?«^ is aQiamed, 
 when il'^.c hath zfervantfile. When thofc that Hiould be Suns^ lliall 
 be cclipfed, the /ejfer Stars will lofc their light and fplendour. Even 
 in the Spaniards Conquers of the Indians, I dare think, their cruelty and 
 bloudinefs have kept more from their Faith, than all their force 
 hath won them. Some would not believe, Heaven had any hlejfed- 
 nefs, becaufc there were fomc Spaniards there. So hateful can deteBed 
 Vice make that, which is even goodnefs it felf : and fo excellent is afoul 
 oi integrity , that it frights the /t-w*/ from /«jf«?^ to reverence. The 
 bcaltly f/<7r4/w»/ wre abaflVd and ceas'd at the upright Cato's pre- 
 fencc. A fecond to eternal goodnefs, is, a wife man^ uncorrupt in life : 
 \\isfoul fhines^ and the beams ohhat/hine, attrad others that admire 
 his worth, to imitate it. The b'eft is, to let the fame fpirit guide both 
 the handand tongue. I will never prolefs, what I will not ftrive topra- 
 t?//^ ; and will think it better to be hut crooked timber-, than ^ Jlrait 
 block, and after lye to (tumble men. 
 
 XCll. 
 That Divinity does notcrofs Kature,(omuch a^ exceed it. 
 
 THey that are Divines without PhiUfophy^csin hardly maintain the 
 Truth'm deputations. 'Tis polfible they may have an infufed faith, 
 fuiiicient for themfelves ; but if they have not Reafon too, they will 
 fcarcc make others capable of their InJlruBion. Certainly, "Divinity 
 and Morality arc notfo avcrfe, but that they well may live together : 
 I'or, ii Nature be reciijied by Religion ; Religion again is Jlrengthened 
 by Nature. And as fome hold ot Fate, that there is nothing happens 
 bclowjbat is writ above in the 5/4rj,only we have not skill to tind it : 
 fo, I believe, there is nothing in ^f//^/o/;,contrary to X^^y^;;,if we knew 
 it rightly. For converfation among men, and the true happinefs of 
 Man J Philofophy hath agreed witti Scripture. Nay, 1 think 1 may alfo 
 add, for defining ot gW, excepting the Tr/w/^, as ncer as Man cau\ 
 conceive him. Howexadt hath it made ^uflieel How bufie to find 
 out Trtithl How rightly diredcd Love ? exalting with much earncft-! 
 ncfs, all thofc Graces,-Cmi arc any way amiable. He that fecks in Plato, 
 Uiall find iiim making God the Selumfummiim 'Bonum ; to which a pure 
 and virtuous lite is the vpay. For defining God ; my opinion is, that 
 Man,
 
 14^ 
 
 \E S L V E S. 
 
 Mariy ncichcr by 'Divtmty nor Philojophy^ can, as they fay , QnidditA- 
 tii'Cj tell, What he is. It is fitter for Man to adore and admire him> 
 than in vain to ftudv to comprehend him. God is for Man to Hand 
 amazed and wonder a:. The clogo'd and drojjie Soul can never found 
 him, who is x\\<z iinmagmable Fountain ot Spirits ; and from whom, 
 all thin'3-s, by a graduate Denvatitn^ have their light, life, and heing. 
 In thcfc things thtya'^rcc, but I find three other things , wherein Di- 
 zumtyovct-toiXreih Nature. In the Creation oi the H'orld, ir> the Re- 
 demption oiMan-i and in the veay and i?//f/ wherein God will be wor- 
 fliippcd. In the Creation of the World: No Philofophy could ever reach 
 at that which Mvfcs taught us. Here the Humamfls were all at zjland 
 and j^r ; all their conjechires being rather tvitty, and conceit, than triie 
 and real. Some would have all things from Fire-, fomc, from Jir ; 
 fomc, from ivater ; fomc, from Earth ^ fome, ftom Numbers ; fomc^ 
 from Atoms ^ from Simples, fome • and fomc, from ^cw/'o//»^/. Ari- 
 ^^?/^ came the nccreli , in finding out r}o.txx\i^^ Materia Prima: but 
 becaufe he could not believe this made ol nothing, he is content tO' 
 err, and think it was f/^^/;*?/. Surely, this f<JWir/> was as far from rea- 
 fon, as tlic otlxr ; his Reafin might have fled unto Omnipotency, as well 
 as to Eternity. And fo indeed, when Philofophy hath gone as lar as flie 
 is able, flic arrivcrh at Almightinefs, and in that Abyfs is lo(\: where 
 not knowing the jv.t)',{hc goeth by guefs, and cannot tell when flic is 
 ri^htoz wrung. Yet is fhe vathcx fubordinate, than contrary. Nature is 
 I not crejs, but runs into Omnipotency : and, like x petty River, is fwal- 
 I lowed 'miha.tboundlefs Afaifi. ¥ov the Redemption o\ Max, even the 
 Scripture calls it a Myficry '■ and all that Humanity could ever reach 
 of tnis, was, only a flying to tlic general name ot Mercy, by the urg- 
 ings of the Conscience. They all knew, they had jailed, and fain. Their 
 own boforns would tell them thus : bur the way how they might be 
 rcftored, never fell into their /f<r4r/'<'»-thoughts. This was a work that 
 GOD declared only to his own Peculiar, by the immediate Revelation 
 of his fVordmA ivill. For the manner how God would be wor[ljipped,x\o 
 Naturalifi could ever find it out, till he bimfelf gave dircdions from 
 his facred Scripture. In the firf^ chapter to the Romans , Saint Paul 
 grants, that they may know Ged, tb.rough the vijtbilities in his vporks : 
 but for their ignorance in this, he fays. The wrath oi God is revealed 
 i againf\ them : Becaufe that when they knew God, they glorified him 
 i not as God, hnt turned the Glory o{ the incomparable God, to the fimi- 
 I litudc of the Image of a corruptible Man, and of Birds, and of four- 
 ] footed Beajls, and of creeping things. And thcfe three things the 
 i 5c;'//'/«rf tcachcth US', which clfe we could never have learned, from 
 ' all the iSci'/tj in the world. Thus we fee ioz Morality, Nature ik^tW is 
 fomcthin2/>fy/- ■a.n'l vigorous: but in the things of God it is confined, 
 thatflie \% thick-fighted, and cannot kc them. Can a Fly compre- 
 liend yJ-/.^^ upon the top o( A/onarchy'^. no more can Man compre- 
 hend God in the hcii^hioi Omnipotency. There are as well My/leries 
 for Faith) as C'^ufes for Reafon. This may guide me, when I have to 
 
 deal
 
 RESOLVES, 
 
 H5 
 
 deal with Man ; but in Divine affairs, Reafin (hall wait on Faith^ and 
 I fubmit to her Prerogative, The Conscience is great ; but qoi is far 
 
 I greater than it. 
 
 t . , 
 
 , XCIII. 
 
 j OfTedioufnefsinDifcourfe. 
 
 A Prating "Barber came to trim King Archelam.^ and asked him,5;V, 
 HoTV Tvill yotipleafe to have me cut your hair ? Says the King,Stlent- 
 |/k. And certainly, though a. ■T/4;? has nothing to do, but to A^^rand 
 anftver ; yet a limitlefs tongue^, is a ftran^e unbttted'BcaJl^ to worry one 
 with. And the mifcry is, they that fpcak fnnch-, fcldom fpcak rvelL : for 
 they that know t^ow to Jpeak aright , know not how to dwell in 
 Difcourfe. It cannot be but igncrance, when they know not, that long 
 speeches, though they may pleafe xhcjpeaker-, yet they are the torture of 
 the hearing ear. I have pittied Horacej\v\\Qn he was put into his/*^4/, 
 I and almolt llain in xhcviafacra-, by the accidental detention ot a Bab- 
 biers tongue. There is nothing tires one, like the /iw/»^ of ones ears^ 
 \v\\Q.\\vi>ords^'3\\ clatter ■, like a windotv loofc in rvind. A talkative 
 Fellopp is the unbran'dDrum^ which beats a wife man out ot his wits. 
 Surely, Natirc uid not guard the tongue with the double fcnfe of teeth 
 and lips^ but that flie meant it fliould not move too nimbly. I like 
 in ifocrates, when of a Schela};in\\ oiwerds^hc asked a double Fee : ore, 
 to learn him to Jpeak vveH-, another^ to teach him to hold hii peace. They 
 which talk too much to others, I fear me, fcldom fpcak with them- 
 fclves enough : and then, for want of acquaintance with their own 
 bofomsy they may well be miftaken, and prefenta Fool to the People, 
 while they think themfelves arc rvije. But rhere arc, and that fevcral- 
 ly, that be much troubled with the difeafe oi /peaking. For, aduredly, 
 Loquacity is the Fiftulao^tXit mind; ever running, and almoft incura- 
 blcySome arc bUbs oi fecrets ;a.nd the(c arc Traitors to Society; they are 
 rejjels unfit for ufc ; for they be boarcd in their bottoms. Some will 
 boaft the /Qw«n they have found; and by this means, they often 
 hi{n2^ goednefs into fufpcdt, lofe love and injure Fame. 
 Sed tacit w pafci Ji pojfet CorvM, haberet 
 Plm dapit, (^ rixx multo minus, invidt,tque. 
 But could the Crow be filcnt fed, his diet 
 Might daijityer be, lefs envyed, and more quiet. 
 You fhall find too them, that will cloy you with their own Inventi- 
 ons : and this is a fault oi Poets ; which, unlcfs they meet with thofe 
 that love the Mufes, is as a dainty Oration deliver'd to one in a Lan- 
 guage that he undcrftands not. Hlsjudgment found this fault,that made 
 his Epigram inviting his Friend to fuppcr, promifc, that he 
 
 no F'erfcs would repeat. 
 
 Some will preamble a tale impertinently, and cannot be delivered ol a 
 _/«?/?, til they have travail/:d an hour in trivials -^ as if they had taken 
 thcwWf Talc by Stenography, and novf were putting it out at /<rgf : 
 
 thus
 
 44 
 
 ^E S L F B S. 
 
 t^hus tlicy oicen fpoil a. good difj^ wltn inipropcr/iirfr, and uiifavoury 
 fahements. Sonic have a vein in cotwfe^ing •, even till they flop the car^ 
 they pour it in. Tedious admomt'ions ^\y\\ \:\\(i advifed -^ and make the 
 ^ivcr contemptible. 'Tis the jhorKjepreof^ that ftays like iijl/ib in the 
 Memory : and many times three werds^diQ more good , than an idle 
 Difcourfe of three hours. Some have varieties ol Stories^ even to the ty- 
 ring of an Auditor • and thcfe are often, even the grave feUies of age : 
 whofe unwatcht tongues ftray into the rvajie of words^ and give us 
 caufe to blame their memories^ for retaining fo much of their youth. 
 There arc too, that have a leaping tongue, toj/g^g into the tumult oi 
 difcourfe ; and unlefs you have an jirijlim to take you off, you 'arc in 
 much danger of a deep vexation. A Reok-yard^m a ^/ir/^^-mornino-jis 
 neither fo ill nor noifeful, as is one of thefe. But this is commonly a 
 feminine fault. Doubtlcfs, the tcft way ^orjpeech, is tohcfjortypUin^ 
 w4/ma/. Leime hear one w/Jr«i(<i» fentenceit, rather than twenty 
 Fools, garrulous in their lengthened tattle. Eft tempm qnando nihil, eft 
 temfw quando alimid : nullum autem efl temp its -^ i» quo dicendafunt em- 
 
 ma. Hugo Fi^orinm. 
 
 XGIV. 
 Of Liberty J and ^firalnt. 
 
 li w9ish\it!L four ijhoi Cicero's Oratory, whenhefaid, -^d Dectts & 
 Lihertatemnati fumm . The greateft Frinee^ that ever was produc'd 
 by Woman., comes infanguin'd into the world, and is a poor rcfiftlcfs 
 ftave, to the firft arm that he falls into. But if he meant it of the NebJe 
 fpjrit of Man, then I think 'tis true ; for it ftill advanceth to that Sun, 
 from whence it hath both life and vigour. And thusjwe fee all things 
 do afpire to liberty and the affecting of an uncontrolled/rf? ^o»;. Every 
 Creature is prompted by Nature, to be like that , ftom whence it is 
 derived. Look over all the veorld, and you fliall find, that every thing, 
 as far as the ability will give it line,doQs fnailit after a Deity, and with 
 akindot riftng Emulation, ([o\v\y Apes Jlmightinefs. But this Liberty 
 Oi Humane (pir it,, is that which cannot be rcftrained j and therefore 
 the rcftraint of the body, is that which wc will fpcak of. This is com- 
 monly by iwprifonment, or hyfervice. That ot Imprifonme»t,[s nothing 
 fuch a mifchief, as the moft do think it. 1 he greatefl is, in that, the 
 iy is debarred the delight of the wior/-:/^ Variety. Nor indeed is this 
 /o?4/, but in part, and /ow/ only. Inthis, a^/iWw4» is the moii mi- 
 ferable Prifoner of all : Whatfoever place docs hold him, he is rtill in 
 the Worlds 'Dungeon, wandering in the Nights uncomfortable (iMde. And 
 indeed, the mofl bmthcnComc. imprifonment is to be Prifoner to a 
 Difeafe • as to the Gout, the Palfcy, and the like : bccaufe for the moft 
 part, ihcfc hold us, not wkhom pain, and the mighty tfouble of our 
 friends about us. For the other, I fee not, but a local reftraint , with- 
 out rvant, and inforced imploymcnt, may very eafily be converted to a 
 happinefs : unlefs men will 1ft their minds long againft the Tyde of 
 
 "^eafon.
 
 1{ E S L V E S, 
 
 J^a.[on. It is no other but a place ol retyring^ ;l\\A Jequef ration Irom 
 the vporld, which many ol the wifcft have voluntarily put upon chcm- 
 ftlvcs. Demtjlhenes would lliavc his /-(f^r^^hy half, ti:>kccp himfclt' 
 within, by a willing necefflty. Dioclefian's two and \W(:ni^ years Empe- 
 rj',could not put him out of love with his retyring pLce : Nor Charles 
 the Fifth, his many Kingdoms. There arc Examples oi extraordinary 
 gain., that men have made of (uch confinements. Alfurcdlyjwhilc a man 
 is toiled among; men, and huftnefs ; he cannot fo enjoy himirelf,as when 
 he is fomething- fccluded from both of thcfe. And it is a Mijery, when 
 Si man muft fo apply himfelf to others, as he cannot liave Icifure to ac- 
 count with himjelf. Belidcs, be he never fo at large ; he does but run 
 over the fame tilings j he fees but the like nWa^, in another place. 
 If he has but light., and s.\-\'<j pro(peB., he may fee by that, what the reft 
 is,and enjoy it,by his boundkls/w;W. For the rejlraint by fertice ; if 
 it be with impofed toyl, thcnis it far worfc, than the being ctreum- 
 mnred only ; This Man dirlereth not in the aft of his life from a Beajl: 
 He muft ply his task., and have his food but only to make him fit for his 
 task again : he is like one that is Surety for a Bankrupt. 1\\cgods fell all 
 for labour ; and he has entred Covenant, to work for one i\\:i.i plays : fo 
 is become a I'rinctpal for another mans debt, and pays it. This furely 
 is ihcgrcateft Captivity., the grcatcft //rfz/^ ry. The attcndanty^rx'/fw of 
 Nebiltty, arc far eafier to the Man znd Mind: though the perpetual 
 fight of//<ii£/?^X(f/ above them, may well indanger thofe minds that 
 have not Ealiafi in them. To fee Heaven, and come no neerer, than to 
 wait at the door., is a terrible torment to xhc (pirit. l^. naked Beauty fccn, 
 would tempt one f/;/*/?^, to err. Yet withal, 'tis fomething \\.Y.t Love., 
 a kind oihitter-fveet, it both /'/c'4/e'//7 and difplcafcth the mind at once : 
 It is pleafcd to fee it ; but 'tis difpleafcd, that it cannot enjoy it. Be- 
 fidcs, if there be toyl., a wife man may take lefs of it : and an honefl man 
 by the plea of his duty., makes his mind content in dtjpatcbes. Courage 
 and Ability., ixizkcbttjinefs iwnch tlic eafier. One asked the Cynick,how 
 he could live a Servant to Zeniades ? but he returns ; That a Lyon does 
 not fcrvc his AVr/ifrjbut his Keeper him. Yet for all this, Nature pleads 
 for Liberty : and though Comniands may be often eaf;e,yct they fome- 
 times^r/i/fjand^^tf. So that if we appeal to the nnnd of ^/<i/;,that will 
 fay, It is better being a King., though but in a Tub ; than to be a fer- 
 vant in the roofed Palace. Tlierc arc helps that may abate //?f<'/T'z/<'/;/'- 
 j encies: but Liberty will ovcr-fway witli Man.When one vvas applaud- 
 I ing Calijihenes., that he went brave, and dined with the King -^ Dtfgenes 
 \ replycs, That for all that, C^l/Jlhenes dined when Alexander plcafed j 
 i and Vfoge:^es> when it plcafed Diogenes. If this be not rather opiniona- 
 i five than real, it is qucftionlefs an unhappincfs loferve. It I have my 
 7/^<ry/y, I would refl inthe/r/Wf^i^fj that accrue it. If I want it, I 
 Would joy in the benefits that accrue the n^ant : fo in cither cftate, 1 
 may find Content my Play-fellorv. 
 
 CSNT. I. 
 
 u 
 
 of
 
 14^ 
 
 Cent. I. 
 
 ^{ESOLVES. 
 
 xcv. 
 
 of the QAufes that make -^Men dijfetcnt, 
 
 r T Om: homini quid, prafiat ? was the former times juft rvonder : and 
 ITJ. ir.uecd, it would almoft pofc tiie thought, to weigh the dillc- 
 rencc ot thcj^/yi/j- ot f»^». It hath been a Quejiicin., whether all Souls 
 are equal zi their firft/^/a/zo* ? and it it be ot that Soul purely, which at 
 the fame inftant, is both created and infufed -, then, no queiiion, but 
 they arc alike. Nothing copies immediately Irom 6V^, but is pure, 
 perfe^,3.nd umerrupt.YsVii becaufe the fcnfitivc part in Alan bears a great 
 fway, it many times falls out, that by the dcHciency of the Organical 
 parts, the Soulis eclipfed and im/>rifoKcd Co, as it cannot appear in the 
 vigour it Would flicw, if the Bodies con^pofition were perfctt, and 
 open. A perfeB Soul, in an imperfcB Body, is like a bright Taper in a 
 dark Ltnthorn : the fault is not in the light., but in the cafe which cur- 
 tains it with fo dull an outfide, as will not let the (Iji^e be tranfparcnt. 
 And we may fee this, even in thofc that wc have known both able and 
 ingenious', who after a hurt received in fomc 'vitalpart,\\^\c grown mo- 
 ptjh, and almoft infenfible : When the zitalpafages ot thcfenjitive and 
 vegetative arc imferfell , though they cxtinguifii not the inteHeSiual., 
 becaufe it is impolfiblejthat a thing mortal, fliould dcftroy a thing im- 
 mortal: yet their delc6ts keep it founder, as it appcareth not to the 
 eutveard apprehenficn. Not that Man hath tlirce diltind Souls : for the 
 inteUeciual in Man., containcth the other tvco : and wiiat arc different 
 in Plants^ Beafts.^ and A^fan ^ are in Afan one, and co-und together. O- 
 therwife, he were zplant-, and fcverally, a brute, and rational. But as 
 the folid cryjlalline Heaven., and^/JVy? Mover ^ contains the Region of the 
 Fife and Atr ; and the Region ol the Fire and y^/^jthc Globe of the Earth 
 and Waters ; yet all make but one ivorld : So the IntelleBual con- 
 tains the Senfitive, and the Senjitive the Vegetative j yet all in Man^, 
 make but one Soul. But the differences of Aien may all be referred to 
 two caufes ; cither Inrvard, or Outward : Inward, are defcds iniV^- 
 ture^ and Generation : cither when ihc aclive part, the feed, is not per- 
 fe^i, OT when the nutrimental znd paj/tve power hil o\ then fufficiency, 
 arc too abundant., or corrupted. And when Matt is of himfelf, from the 
 womb, the malignity of fome humour may interpofc the true operation 
 oi the (pirits internal. Certainly, thofc men that we fee mounting to 
 the Ntblenefs ot Mind, in Honourable Jllions , are pieces of Natures 
 truejl work ; efpecially in their inward faculties. External defeBs, 
 may be, and yet not always hinder the internal powers : as, when they 
 happen remoted from the noblcll parts , clfe they are often caufes of 
 debilitation. And thcfe are commonly, from the temperature of the 
 Air, from Education, from Diet, and from Age, and Faffion. From the 
 Air, we fee the Southern people are lightfome^ingenigm,zr\Afubtile, by 
 reafonofthe heat thzt rarifies the fpirits. The Northern zxe f.ower, 
 and more dull, as having them thickned with the cbiH colds ccnden- 
 fition. 
 
 . Temperie
 
 1{ E S L V E S, 
 
 Tanperte CwU CorpufqHCf Ammujqta Juvatttr. 
 I Rcnh Sou!^ and 'Boiij, change, by change of j4(r. 
 
 ; Edftcation hath his /wf^ fcen in every place. It you travail but from 
 Conrt^ to tiie Country: or but trom a Fiilage to an Academie : or fee but 
 ; a Horfe w^ il mariKxg'dji'CiA another Rejiy in his ownjiercenefs. Z>/t'/, no 
 j qucftion alters much ; even the giddy Airinefs of the French ^ 1 fliall 
 j rather impute to their T>iet ot mne-y and wild Forvl^ than to the diftc- 
 rence of their (^//w^, it being fo necr an adjoyncr to ours. And in Eng- 
 j land, 1 believe our much ufe oijlroag Beer., andgrofs Flefh, is a great 
 occafion of dregging our [pirits, and corrupting them, till they fliorten 
 life. Age^ is alio a changer. Man hath his Zenith^ as well in w//, as in 
 ability ot ^o^y ^ he grows if:om fenfe^to reafoa ; and then again declines 
 to dotage.,3.nd to Imbecilltty. Youth is too young in hrain; and -^f again 
 does drain away the fpirits. /'4^»« blunts the edge oi conceit: and 
 where there is much /<)r;-£;jv, the w/W is dull, and unperceiving : The 
 foul IS oppreffcd, and lies languilhing in an unfociable lonelinefs, till it 
 proves fiupid, a.nd inhumane. Nor do thefc more alter the ;5?/>?^, than 
 the body. The lamenting Poet puts them both together. 
 Jam mthf deterior canis ajpergitur xttts ; 
 
 Jtmque meos vultui ruga ftnilii arat. 
 Jam vigor-, (jr qi**jJo Unguent in corpore vires : 
 
 Nee Juveni^ Lttftu, qut placuere, juvant. 
 Nee me, Jl fubito videos, cegncfcere pojjts • 
 
 i/Etatis ja[Ia eft tanta raina me^. 
 Confiteor, facer e hoc tnnos : fed (jr altera caufa eft ; 
 
 Anxietai animi, continuufq-^ Labor. ^ 
 
 Now, colder years, with/«i;iv my hairs cnchafe; 
 And now the agedwrtnkle plows vw'^ face. 
 Now through my trembling joynts., my vigour fails, 
 Mirth too, that chcet'd my youth, now nought avails. 
 So ruin'd and fo alter d am I grown. 
 That at firfk pght, I am not to be known. 
 Age one caufe is : but that which more I find, 
 \s pain perpetual, and a troubled Kind. 
 Certainly, the beft is, to vpeigh every man, as his means have been : a 
 man may look in vain for Courtftjip, in a Plovc-man j or Learning in a 
 Mechanick. Who will expeft a Lime man Uiould befrvift in running; 
 or, that iftck manihonld deliver an Oration with agrace,2nd cheerful- 
 nefs ? If I find any man failing in his Manners, 1 will firll confiderhis 
 means, before 1 cenfureihc man. And one that istliort of what he 
 might be, by hh floth and negligence, I will think as juftly blameable, 
 as nc that owioUnduflry has adorn'd his behaviour above his means, is 
 commendabL-. 
 
 U 2 
 
 Of 
 
 '47 
 
 Cent.
 
 148 
 
 Cent. L 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 X C V I. 
 
 of Dmnat'mi. 
 
 T "^ THat is it Ma^t (o much covets-^z^ to pry into Natures Clofet,and 
 V V knows,not what is to come? yet, it we but confider it rightly, 
 we lliall Snd it uprojitahle PrevidcKcc^ which hath fet our ejlate in fu- 
 ture, fomethiug in 2xrk andJJjade. It Mart doubted not of what Death 
 would deliver him tOj he would (I think) either live more /fW/j-, or 
 more unhappily. If we kntw death were only an end oUi/e, and no 
 more ; every man for his own cnds^would be a diflnrbcr of the worlds 
 peace. If we were certain oi torment ; thought and fear would make our 
 prefent life a death continual, in tlie agitations of a trouhledfeul. If we 
 were furc oijoy,3.nd Glory, we fliould be carclcfs of our liz/ing rvell.CQV- 
 tainlyjffc^ hath made Man to dwell in dotsh iih.cLi he might be awed to 
 Good, by Fear and Expeclatitn. Wc arc led along by Hope, to the Ends 
 that are appointed us;and by an uncertain n'<y,we come at laft to a cer- 
 tain end; which yet we could neither /'^i^rv, nor avoid. I^I^q great 
 Creator wifely put things to come, in the Alift and Twilight , that wc 
 might neither be over- joyed with the certainty o'i geo^^nor over-much 
 terrified with the aiturance of an unavoidable ill. Though Prefcience, 
 and Divination be a God-like Quslity, yet, bccaufc it can only tell of 
 danger, and nox. prevent it, the wtfer fort have ever had this Art in neg- 
 lect, 'n\ dijlike. liFate be certain, it can be no good to knttip it, bccaufe 
 we cannot prevent it. If it be H»certain,wc fearch in vain to find out 
 that which may be. So,cither way wc hazzaud ior unhappinefs. Bit mi- 
 ferejfe^upit, qui mala, qu£ vitari nonpojfimt, amatpKcfcire. I remem- 
 ber, Cicero reports it olcate, that he wondrcd how South-fayers could 
 forbear laughter, when they met one another ; they knew they ufcd fo 
 WoguV, the People.Onc thing there is,that(if it were certain) doth migh- 
 tily difparage it ; and this is, That it fets a Afan over to fecond caufes, 
 and puts him oft from Providence.Bni it cannot be certain and determi- 
 nate : Man is not wife enough to [cent out the ab[lrufe fteps of T)eity. 
 It is obferved by onQ,x\\2X,Nigidiui what ufcd tor dcfcnfe ot his Art{h-^ 
 turning of a fvheel,and marking it twice with Ink) hath caft it all into a 
 va^ incertainty. And indeed, the minute of Generation, Conception, and 
 1'roduliion, are fo hard to know juflly; i\\c point oi place (o hard to 
 to find ; the Angles, the Ajpe^s, arid tl.c Conjunctions of the Heavens fo 
 impoffible to be caft right in their influencesyhy rcafon of the rapid and 
 Lightning-like motion (A t\\zSphears ; that the whole Art, thorowly 
 fearchcd and examined, will appear a mcer y^i/^c/V and delujion of 
 the wits of Men. If their Calculations be from the [even Alotive Sphears 
 only, how is there fuch difference in the lives oi children born toge- 
 ther, when their oblique ws/'/V;? is fo flow, asil.cMcon, (though far 
 more fpeedy than any of the reft) is yet above feven and twenty days 
 in her ccurfe ? li theiv calculations be by their diurnal motion, it is im- 
 poifiblc to colled the various influences, which every title of a minute 
 gives. Bcfides, in clofe rooms, where the windows arc clozed ^ the 
 Fire,
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 149 
 
 Fire, Tcrfumes, concoiirfe ofi feople, and i\\c parental humours bar tl'.cir 
 operation from i\\c child. Bu: fuppofc there were af.'i/if transfc-rr'd 
 rom cliC Stars to Man. ; Who can read their (ignijicAtiofis ? Who hath 
 told ciicir ptmiicnhr pfediHiefis ? Are they not all mcerly the uucertaift 
 conjeciures of mcn^ which rarely ^/>5 and often yi//? So in Bca/ls,'m 
 Birds J in Breams y and all viary Omens, they are only the gheifivc inter- 
 pretations of dim-cy'd Man : full o^i doubt, full o{ deceit. How did the 
 Tufcane Scuthfiyers, and the Philofophcrs that were with "Julian, dilTcr 
 about; the wounded Lion, prcfcntcd him, when he went to invade the 
 Perftans ? How about the Lightning that flew J-ovinianus, and his two 
 Hordes ? Yet of the reft, 1 believe there is more from t!x Stars, than 
 thcfc <^A^<ix oltfervations : hv^x.x^vi's.'ix^v.cwiox. general inclinations, not 
 for particular events : Thofe are fare in the hands and Cabinet of the 
 Almighty : and none but Prophets, that he infpircs, are able ro reveal 
 them. The fccurcft way is to live well; then we may be furc oi\fair 
 end, and zpaf^ahlevpay. He that lives virtuoujly, needs not doubt ol 
 finding a happy Fate, Let my life picafe god, and I am fure, the fuccefs 
 fliall plcafc me. Virtue and Vice are both Prophets ^ the one of certain 
 good ; the other, or oi pain, ox penitence. 
 
 Cent. 
 
 XCVII. 
 That *tis bejl hicreafing by a little at once. 
 
 THcrc is no {\ich prevalent workman, as fedulity, and diligence. 
 A man would wonder at the mighty things, which have been 
 done by degrees, and gentle augmentations. And yet there are, that arc 
 over-ready in the ways of pleajing and labour. When diligence re icr.es 
 to humour and Jlatterj, it grows poor, and un-noblc: And when to 
 Pride and Curiojity, it then loofcs his fraife. So the Priejl of Ammon 
 would needs falutc Alexander as a God : and Protogenes fpcnt feve;^ 
 years, in drawing J/r/^'/aj' and\\\s1)og: and a King of Fcrjia would 
 needs, for a Prefcnt, adulterate Rofes with an artful fmell. Wiicn thtfc 
 two arc avoided. Diligence and Moderation arc the bcft (leps-i w'xrcby 
 to climb to any rjccfZ/fw^. Nay, [i%rare\i there be any other way. 
 The Heavens fend not down their rain \n floods, but by drops, and deiufy 
 diflillations. A man is ncither^W, nox wife, no: rich, a^ once; yet 
 foftly creeping up thcfe hills, he fliall every day better hisprofpc,^ ; till 
 at laft, he gams the top. Now he learns a /^/>/«f, a;'d then he damns 
 a Vice. An hour in a day may much froft a man in his fludy ; when he 
 makes it flint and cuflom. Every year fomething laid up, may in 
 time make a flock great. Nay, it a man docs but/ixr, he Hull tncreafe^ 
 and though when the grains are Icattcr'd, they be next to nothing : yci 
 together, they will fwcU the heap. A poor man once found the tag of 
 a^Peint, and put it in the /.r/' ot his j/vr/ ; one asked him, What lie 
 could do with it ? He anfvvcr?, What 1 lind all the year, (thougli 
 it be never fo little) I lay it up at home, till \\-\<t years ends ; and with 
 all together, I every New-years day add a Dijh 10 my Cupboard. He 
 
 that
 
 8^0 
 
 3^ E SOLVES. 
 
 thac'has the patience to attend fmal/ profits, may quickly grrow to 
 thrive and pitrchafe : they be eafier to acconiplifli, and come thicker. 
 So, lie that from every thing coUcds fomervhat, fnall in time get a 
 Treafiiry of mfdom. And when all is done, for cA-ian^ this is the beft 
 way. It is for God^ and for Ommpotency^ to do mighty things in a 
 moment : but, degreeingly to grow lo great nejs, is the courfc that he 
 hath left for Man. And indeed, to gain any thing, is a double work. 
 For, firftj it mud rcmovcihc hinderances y next, it inuft aftunic the 
 advantage. All good things, that concern 4/4«, are in fu.ch a decli- 
 ning Eftate, that without perpetual I'igilancy, they will relide, and 
 fall away. But then there is a ^ecompenfe^ which ever follows Jn- 
 dajiry : it ever brings an Income, that Iwcctcns the toyl. ■ I have often 
 found hurt of idlenefs • but never of a Uveful hufinefs. Nay, that 
 which is not profitable in it fclf, is yet made fo, by being imployment: 
 and when a Alan has once accufiomed htmfcU to bttfinej's , he 
 will think it ^/f4//<ri?, and be afhamed ot rr/t'. Polcmon-, ready to ^f, 
 would needs be laid in his Grave altve ; and feeing the Sun fliine, he 
 calls his friends in haft t© hide him ; lefi (as he laid) it flwuld fee him 
 lying. Befides, when we gain this way, Praclice grows into Habit: 
 and by doing fo a while,wc grow to do fo for ever. It alfo contlitutes 
 a longer lafiingnefs. We may obferve, thole Creatures thar arc long- 
 cfi: in attaining their heigth, are longefl in d-jclming. Man is trvcnty j 
 years incrcafing, and his life is fitirfiore : but the Sparrove, that is ! 
 f^cdgc in a moneth-, is dead in a year. He that gets an Efiate^ will ! 
 kecp'vx. better, than he that jfW^ it. I will never think to be pcrfcd ' 
 at once. If I find my fclf a gainer at the years end^ it fliall fomc- 1 
 thing comfort mc, that 1 am proceeding. I will every day labour 
 to do fomcthing that may mend mc ^ though ic be not much, ir will 
 be the furcr done. If I can keep Vice under, and win upon that which 
 is good-i (though it be but a little at once ; } I may come to be better 
 
 in time. 
 
 X C V 1 1 1. 
 Oj God, and the Air. 
 
 F Or ..i/4;? to pray aright, is needful: but how to pray fo, is d!_^- 
 cult. We muft neither mifconceive of God, nor arc we able right- 
 ly to conceive him. We arc told, he is a Sfirit : and wfio can tell 
 whit z Spirit is? Can any man tell that, which no man ever faw ? 
 A<fan is able only to comprehend vifible fubjiances ; what is invifihle, 
 and spiritual, he can but guefis and rove at. Spirit is a word, found 
 out for Man to mask his Ignorance in ; and wiiat he does not know, 
 he calls it by that name. When wefpeakof God, wc are to believe 
 an ubiquity : but then, how are we able to conceive that this ubi- 
 quity is ? I fpeak to Reafon, not Faith; for I know, this believeth 
 wfiatitfees not : Yet, fomething to help Nature and Reafon, I would 
 
 wifli
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 ,vifli a mail to conlidcr the c^ir. It is every where ; not a vhchuw in 
 ( dic whole T^tura rerum : nay, you cannot evade it : Dig the molt 
 'condcnrcJ E.irf/j, and it is at the point of you: Spade: you can fee 
 nothing, biu before you fee it, is open to the yl/r ; and yet this -r4/>, 
 although you know, you cannot fee. It is alfo invioUble : caft a 
 jione-, and you make no hole in'c : nay, an Anorv cannot pierce it : it 
 clozeth agrain, and there is no track left. Nay, there be Philofophers 
 that will tell you, the progreffive motion ot 2iflone caft, when the h^nd. 
 has left it, is from the v4/r it felf : that fliuttingfuddcnly after, and 
 Nature impatient of a vacuity, it docs with a coaciive power ^ thruft it 
 ftill forward, till it pailes againft injHtutive Nature^ who made it, 
 to incline to the Ce?iter. Nor is it corruptible. V\^e fpcak falfly, when 
 we fay, the Air infc[ieth. They arc unwholefome Vapours and Ex- 
 hatatiom^ that putrid things breathe oat ; and thcfc, being carryed 
 by the motive wind and air, fly about, and infe5i, through their rarity 
 and thinnejs. The Atr it fcU ever clarifies : and is always working out 
 that taint^ which would mix with it. Next, wc can do nothing, but 
 the Air is privy' to't : even the a£ts of light lefs Clozets, and the thick- 
 curtain'd beds., are none of them done without it. When Diogenes 
 faw a Woman bow fo much to the Altar., as flie left her back-parts bare-^ 
 he asked her, if fhe were not afhamcd, to be fo immodeft to the Gods 
 behind her. Nay, our very thoughts, which the Devil (though he 
 be the fubftilcft of all malevolent fpirits) cannot know, are not framed 
 without this air. Every breath wc take, it goes unto our heart, to 
 cool it. Our Veins., our Arteries^ our Nerves, our inraoft Marrorvy 
 arc all viviried by their participation of Air : and fo indeed is every 
 thing that the n-orld holds : as if this were the Soul that gave it live- 
 lihood. Fi(bes., though they breathe not perceptibly, yet wc fee, the 
 want of Air kills them ; as when a long Frofl fiiuts up a Pond in Ice. 
 Even Plants, which are but Vegetatives, will not grow in C'^ves,'^\s.zxQ. 
 the motive and Jlirring Air is barred from them. Wc may often ob- 
 ferve, moreover ; that Heat and Moifture is the only caufe of all Ge- 
 neration : and thcfc arc the qualities proper to the Air alone. Now, 
 I would not wifli a Man to compare god, the Creator, with this Ele- 
 ment, which is but a Creature : but let him confidcr of thefe proper- 
 ties, and then by way of eminencie-, let him in his Soul fet God above, 
 and fee if by this way, he climb not nearer Deitie., than he lliall by 
 any other. If this be fo univerfal, why may he not by this, think of 
 la Spirit more diftufue and ubiquitar^ ? That which Ovid writ of 
 \poetSy may bcapplyedto all thcw//?, and come fomcthing near to 
 this purpofc. 
 
 Efi Deui in nobis , funt ^ commcrcia Cceli ; 
 Seitbui t/Ethereis Spirttrts ille venit. 
 
 l"?! 
 
 Cent. I. 
 
 In us God dwells. Heaven our aquaintancc is 
 His Spirit flows through Airy Injitunces, 
 
 Certainly
 
 Cent. I. 
 
 ^ E S L V E S. 
 
 Certainly by this way, it is not fo difficult lor Reafcn to conceit 
 an OmntPrefeNce : and if we have this, wc may by it peer at his 
 Ommjctence and Omnifotence too ; for the o;-.c is as hard to conceive, 
 as the other. Saint Augujiine:, when he has told us, that God is not 
 an Obje^ pLTceivable by any of the Outrvard Senfes-, fays j Tamen 
 aliquid eft, qued [entire facile ejl^ explicare mnpffibile. So the rvAys 
 of Cod, in Scripture., are compared to the riia;ht of an Eagle in the 
 Airy which no man can either trace or know. Surely therefore, when 
 we are to fpeak to him, the bcft is, humbly to intreat his Spirit to 
 infpire ours in the way, and apprehenfion that may bcil pieafe him. 
 He is belt able, by his fecret immijjion, to dirc6t us the way he docs 
 beft approve of. And this cannot chufc but comiort the G'W, when 
 they know, the Searcher of the heart and reyns is with them, and be- 
 holds them. From this, 1 will learn to cheer my felF in ft*fferings, 
 and to refrain from ;//, even in private. How can man think to ad his 
 ill unfeen, when GOD lhall,likc the Air-^o. circumfpicioui round about 
 him? It is not polfible, that fuch a /i<^^jV7?)'fliould either not defend 
 the Iftnocent, or permit an /// unpuniHied. 
 
 XCIX. 
 
 of £ontenhmnt. ': 
 
 THcy xhit preach Cofitentment to all, do but teach fome how to 
 dwell in miferie : unlefs you will grant Co/ite»t dejire, and chide 
 her but for mumtiring. It is not a taulc to flrivc to better our Eftates : 
 which yet we Hiould never do, if we retted fully content with what 
 we enjoyed for the prefent. Cod hath alotted Ma» a motive mind, 
 which is ever climbing to vaoxz perfect ion, or falling into a lorver Vice. \ 
 Certainly, that Content which is without defiring more, is a kind of i 
 fault in any. Perfection is fet in chat height, that 'cis impoffiblc mor- j 
 tal bodied man fhould ever reach the Croiv^/ : Yet he ought ftill to be I 
 aiming at it, and with an indufiritas perfecution, pcrfcvere in the rifing 
 way. We cannot be too covetous oi Grace ; we may well labour '. 
 for more accomplifhmcnts : and by lawlul ways, and tor good in- j 
 tents, there is no doubt, but 'tis lawful to dcfire to increafe, even in ' 
 temporal vpealth. Certainly, Man fliould be but a dull Earth, to fit 
 ftill and take the prefent ; without either "^oy, or Complaint : without 
 either fear, or appetite. In this, 1 like not Ariflippus his Doctrine, 
 who is hot in perfwading men, neither to be troubled at what is paft-^ 
 nor to think of what is ta come. This were quite to vilific Providence: 
 who is one of the Principal Cuards ot Adan. For, though it be true, 
 that nothing is fo certain, but that it ma^ fomctimes tail ; yet, we 
 fee, it feldom does : and even /'rc^/?/';///; is almoft certain. Let not 
 \Man fo fleep in content, as that he negleft the means to make himfclf 
 mere happy and blejfed : nor yet when the contrary of what he look't | 
 for comes, let him murmur ox repine at tha: providence, which dif- 
 ^ pos'd
 
 RESOLVES, 
 
 ^/os'd it Co crufs his expeciatiofi. 1 like the man, that is never content 
 with what l.cdoes enjoy; but by a c.i/w and fair courfe, his z mind 
 ftill riliivj to a higher happinefs : But I like not him, that is lo much 
 difiontent^ as to repine ac any thinc^,thar does bctall him- Let him take 
 ihcprefent p.ttiently, joyfully^ thankfully. But let him ftill be fobcrly 
 in Queft lor better : and indeed, it is impofiiblc to find a life fo hap- 
 py here, as that we Tnall not find fomcthing, wc would add'^ fomc- 
 thing, wc would take away. The vpcrld it felf, is not a Garden, where- 
 in all the Flowers of 'Joy are growing : nor can one man injoy them. 
 It it were, that all were here, we may queftionlefs conclude ; that 
 there is no ahfolute contentment here below. Nor can we in reason 
 think there llnould be : fince whatfocver is created., was created tending 
 lofome end ; and till it arrives at that, it cannot be fully at rejl. Now 
 wc all know, Go^ to be the end, to which the y^«/ tends ; and till it 
 be d.iim^w'xchii oit\\Q. clogging flejh., it cannot approach t\\e prefence 
 oi C\ich purity., C\ich glory: when it meets with £7oi^, and is united to 
 him, who is the fpring, and fgurce ot all true happinefs ; then it may 
 be calm.) and pleajed, and cfuiet : till then, as Thiftcians hold of health, 
 that the bcft is but Neutrality : So it is of happinefs ; and content, in 
 the fcul: Nay, the moft abfolute co»/-^»^ w^t;? can enjoy, in his cor- 
 ruptiUe raggs ©f earth., is indeed, bur lefTcr difcontentment ; That 
 which we find here moft perfeft, is rather meer Vtopian., and Imagi- 
 /lative, than real., and fubflantial : and is fooncr found tailing from a 
 Poets pen, than any way truly enjoyed by him, that fwims in the deep- 
 eft ftrcam of pleafure j and of thcfe, in ftcad of many, you may take 
 that one of Martials : 
 
 ritam qiu faciunt heatUrem, 
 'Jucundtffime Uviartixlii, hxc funt : 
 Res mn part a labor e., fed reli£ia ; 
 Non-ingratus Ager-, Focus perennU, 
 Lis nanqaam. Toga rara^ tjAlens quieta, 
 Fires ingenue., Salubre Corp/«s, 
 Trudens Simplicitof, pares Amici, 
 Convi£ifufacilis^ fine arte tnenfa ; 
 Nox mn ebria, fed folxta cur is : 
 Non trijlis torus, attamen pudictts : 
 Somnus., qui faciat breves tenebras, 
 Qufdfis., effe velis, nihilq ; malit ; 
 Summum nee metnxs diem, nee eptes. 
 
 Thijigs that can blefs a life, and plcafej 
 Swecteft Martial, they arc thcfc : 
 A Jlore well left, not gain'd with toil ; 
 A houfe thine own, and pleafant foyl, 
 i^ojrife, (null fate, ^ mind lit peace. 
 Free ftrength, and limbs free from difeafc, 
 
 X ■ Wife 
 
 Cent. 1.
 
 154 
 
 Cent. !• 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 Wife Innosent^ friends like and good, 
 Vmrted-mcAti kind neighbourhood. 
 No drunken reft-, from cares yet free ; 
 No fadning [foufe, yet chajle to r^ff : 
 Sleeps, that long »ig/^/j abbreviate. 
 
 Bccaufe 'tis liking, thy wifli't State 
 Nor feAr'd, nor j^-V, at death or /^/f. 
 
 But where fliall you find a man thus fcafoiicd ? if it be for a while, 
 it lafts not : but by one, or other accident, he is tolled in the waving 
 rvorld. And this made Diogenes refolvc ; unto Fortune, to oppofc his 
 confidence, and refilution ; to the Law, Nature • and to his AffeEiions, 
 Reafon. This was good, but not rvell : wc have Grace, and Scripture 
 for a better guid than Nature. I would be fo content with what I have, } 
 as I would ever think the prefent bcft : but then I would think it bcft, j 
 but ion the prefent : becaufc, whenfocvcr I look forward, I ftill fcej 
 better; to arrive at which my /<»«/ will long, and coz-et. T^he fouli 
 that by but half an eje fees GOD, will never be but winging, tiJI flie 
 alights on Him. 
 
 C. 
 
 HoT^ he mujl live^ that lives Tfell. 
 
 WHofover neglcds his duty to himfelf, his neighbour, or his 
 God ; halts in fometking, that fhould make lite cemmendahle. 
 For our felves, we need order ; tor our neighbour, charity ; and for 
 our god, our Reverence, and Humility : and thefe are fo certainly linked 
 one to another, as he that lives orderly, cannot but be acceptable, 
 both to C7 O D, and the yvorld. Nothing jars the fVorlds Harmonj, like 
 men that break their ranks. One turbulent fpirit will diilentiatc even 
 the Calmejl Kingdom. We may fee the beauty of order, in nothing 
 more, than in fome Princely Precefjion : And though indeed, the cir- 
 cumjiances, and complements belonging to State, be nothing to better 
 government ; yet by a [ecret working in the minds of men, they add a 
 Reverence to State: and awe, the (elfc-loofe) rabble. See a King in 
 Parliament, and his Nobles fet about him : and fee how mad he ihows 
 that wildly dances out of his room. Such is Mint, when he ffurns at the 
 Law he lives under : Nay, when he gives himfelf leave to tranfgrefs, 
 he muft needs put others out of their way : and he that diforders 
 himfelf dtd, fliall trouble sWihe Company. Did every w/»» keep his 
 own life ; what a concord in Mujick would a fVorld, a Kingdom, a City, 
 i Family he? But being fo infinitely disjoynted, it is neccllary fomc 
 fhould help it, and be charitable. If no man fliould repair the breaches, 
 how foon would all lye flatted in demoU^^ments ? Love is fo excellent, 
 that, though it be but to ones felf alone, yet others fliall partake and 
 find the benefit. Pefiertty will be the better for the Bdggs that the 
 
 Covetous
 
 "I^ESOLVES. 
 
 Covetom hoarded up tor liimfelf. But when a man fliall be ever ftriv- 
 inc^ to do the »rsr/i a f c^r/^/F^r, his leve is fo much the more thank- 
 Worthy, by how much the good is larger. Without Charity^ a man 
 cannot be [ociable : and take away thar, and there is little elfc, that a 
 man has to do in the veorld. How plcafant can good compmj make his 
 life beneath ? Certainly, if there be any thing frveetin mcer Huthh- 
 nity-y it is in the intercourfes of beltved foctety, when every one fhall 
 be each others Co«/?/f//o/!!r, each others yr/V»i, and yl///?f, 2indSoUce. 
 And fuch a fleafam life as this, 1 take to be the beft plcaiing, both to 
 God unA dMan. Nor yet can this be truly plcafant, unle(sa«?4» be 
 careful to give to G OD the honour that he ows him. When a Man 
 fhall do thcfcand perform his duty to his Maker ; he fliall find zfexce 
 within, that fhall fit him for whatfoevcr falls. He fhall not fear him- 
 {^\\. : for he knows his courfe is Order. He ffiall not fear the rvor/d : 
 for he knows lie hath done nothing, that has angcr'd it. He fhall not 
 be afraid ot Heaven; for he knows, he there Hiall find the favour of 
 a Servant, of a Son ; and be prote6fed againft the »)a/ice and ihefpUen 
 of Hell. Let me live thus, and I care not, though the rpor/d fliould 
 font my Innocence : I willi but to obey Saint Bernard, then I know I 
 cannot huz be happy^ both below, and after. Tuquiin Cengregatitne 
 es^ bene "vive^ erdinabiliter^ fociabiliter (^ humlliter : ordinabiliter tibi, 
 fociabiliter proximo, humiliterDeo. 
 
 Omnia Deo. 
 
 Ill 
 
 Cent. I. 
 
 FIT^IS. 
 
 %z
 
 i
 
 RESOLVES: 
 
 Divine, Moral, Political. 
 
 I. 
 
 Of Idle 'Books, 
 
 D L E BOOKS arc the licemUte fellies of the 
 Age ; that, like a corrupt air, mfe5l wherefocver 
 they come. Some are jimple ; and thefe, befides 
 making the Author ridicHlms, feldom hurt the 
 Reader with more rhen lofs ot time : For if he 
 hath any fenfe he will grow wifcr by the folly 
 that is prefenced him : as drunkards are often cu- 
 red by feeing the bcaftlincfs of others that arc fo. 
 He hath extream ill luck, that takes pains to be laugh'd at, when he 
 might at once both have fpared his labour, and prefervcd his credit. 
 But he that hath not Judgement to cenfurc his oven^ will hardly come 
 to be mended by Admonition. And bcfides ; the lca(\ caution is to be 
 given of thefe. For a man will no more dwell in one of thefe than a 
 Travaikr of quality, will lodg in an Alchoufe or Booth. It wasCw- 
 ros-i Lecitonem fine ulLt deleChtione negligo^ He hated reading where no 
 f)lea[ure dwelt. As cobwebs thefe, by them that are Neat will be fwept 
 away, and if they hang (till, they catch but only flyes. 
 
 Another fort arc wanton and Ufciviotfs : and thefe like rani' flefh 
 unfalted , when they fliould prove vpholcfome food ^ carry a taint 
 :\\zx. poyfons ; foin the end they enliven only Fermine, and do beget but 
 jlench. 'Tis true, mt is naturally readier at this than any other Theme ^ 
 Yet the bcft is never obfiene. As the dry light is the purefl., (o is rvit, 
 when it is terfe and jpruce without the fulfomncfs of ungcntilc lan- 
 i',uage. The old Law forbad t\\t touch o^ any thing that was unclean. 
 A man may know that hand to have need ot waftiing, from betwixt 
 whofc fingers the Ink that drops is foul. Vicious ox z Cloven is his 
 character TiihcW : but for the moft part iU-hred perfous arc the moll 
 dehauteh't. Civility is l\\c Correilion o\ manners: And though if fuch 
 •works fliould be quaint in Language, yet are they but as unfavoury 
 breaths perfumed ; there is only a more precious ftink, wiiich cer- 
 tainly fliews either what the Converfttion hath been, or what the 
 I/icltnation'is: For more then fpcech, [•iiho. pen, iho: minds interpre- 
 ter. As the breaking out of Itch and "^/.f//// fhew the body is not not 
 
 clcer : 
 
 M7 
 
 Cent. 11.
 
 158 
 
 ClNT. II. 
 
 ^ E S L V E S, 
 
 deer; fo /oo/t- and ««r«»/(^ exprefllons are \.\\z pur u lent ^x\^ ffHrcittoHs 
 exhaUticns ot a corrupted, mim, ftain'd with the un[ei[onedae[s of the 
 
 Yet doabtlcfs if we re[peci humane focietr, rpritwgs that arc fcan- 
 dalous are worfe than thefe. 'Tis a kind of Ltrl^aroufrefs in death unto 
 the dead: i&v though hoth he Alive ix: the pul^UPjing, ycr Prmting is 
 a kind of perpetuity, and carryeth to future ages both the Authers ma- 
 lice and the .parties i»famie that is traduced. A book, that brands a 
 perfon with Indignities, is his Lots wife m a pillar of fait : It remains 
 a Monument of difgrace. The malitiom writer is like the Bcc, Animam 
 in fulnere ponit : he puts his foul mio the wound he makes, and drovers 
 himfclf for ever after : For the venome which he vents himfelf, lazics 
 his reputation with others. Multi cum aim mdedicunt, fibi ipfis convi- 
 tium faciunt, was an obfcrvation of Seneca's. 'Tis unnoblc to tra- 
 duce the abfcnt, though provok't by palTidn : but to difplay a mans 
 malice in writing, is deliberate rtickednefs ; to which (with his own 
 Jifi^racc) he fets his hand^wd. feal ; and does an injury for which he 
 cannot make amends fujficient, for admit he docs retra£i in pubiick, 
 he is not fure all that faw his firft book fliall come to read his lajl. 
 And then what cafe is he in that dyes in d^\.'^\A'g\v\2, premeditated vprong ? 
 \s vpitches p^k by aWtht rvholefome Jimples oi the earth, and gather 
 only poyfoHoui and baneful {ox their Sorceries : So the fpitefulpen picks 
 out only the vices and corruptions ot men, but leaves their virtues bu- 
 ryed and untouched, which jultly but remembrcd might balance all 
 their failings. Like T(»4^i they gather up only the venome of the gar- 
 den : and as our geld-fnders they have the honour in the night and 
 darkncfs to dive infiench and Excrements. But above all to abufe the 
 dead is molt deadly. The dead is zs the Father lefs zn6i mdorv, whofe 
 caufe, becaufc they want defenders, God himfelt will vindicate. How 
 belorv the gallantry of man is it, to tyrannize upon the undefenjtble and 
 fenfelefs ? The brave foul fcorns advantages. Is it reafonabk in 
 Arms to fight againft the naked ? To meet my enemy without a fVea- 
 pon is his prete^i^n. If I he provided. The dead ate tamely paffive, 
 and fliould the difh«n$ur of them be tolerated, what fame could reft 
 unbla/led in the grave ? Certainly that ^f» is ill made, that inftead cf 
 cutting a. deer letter, leaves a ^/tf/. When Agefilaus was prefentcd 
 with Lyfanders treafonable Letters, and was about to read them in 
 the head of his Army, he was told Lyfander was dead : and this took 
 him off his purpofc. He beats the air and Combats chofis, that vfounds 
 the departed from life. 
 
 Next to thefe are the Heretical. Thefe feed the rtorld with Tares, 
 like ?// plants in a^oi?^ ground, if they be let ^row to feed, they y^jr 
 rhcmfelves, and perpetuate their corruptions to after generations. 
 The Heretique muft needs be obftinate and -urrc^rf^/j for by prefum- 
 ing on his own fenfe, he grows Jncorigible. He is the higheft Papall 
 man in the World. For he fets up himfelf above the church and all 
 her Dolors. While he cries doivn others for Infallible, he ///>j him- 
 felf
 
 '21 E S L V E S. 
 
 fclf Up to be fo. His frefumption nmft needs be v/tfl^ that builds more 
 on his own Tenets than upon the mature jitdgmefit of all the fuccejjive 
 Fathers. As if God had revealed v^oxt to him, than to all the pillars 
 and propagators oi his church. If he will \\xmq liberty given him to 
 maintain his own opinions-^ Why Ihould not Reafon tell him that others 
 will expc(5t the like lor thcmfclves ? Saint Augujline tells us that he is 
 an Heretiqiiey Qui pro alicujns temporalis Commodi, ^- maxime gloria 
 principatmq; fut gratia, falfts ac novas opi/iiones, gigr.it aut fe^uitury 
 That for foine temporal pro^fit, a:id for the glory oi his own preemi- 
 nence, eicher Author s,ox: Terfifis in feme new and falfe opinions. Ufu- 
 ally they arc for ends and Intereji ; And then how infinitely docs he 
 offendy who will byafs Gods Truths, and defcend and horv them to his 
 corrupted Benefit I He raifcs himfclf ^^c'Z'f God, under the pretenfe 
 of ferving him, and fins more in hxsgrave, and dead, than when he 
 was alive. For \\cpoyfons kom generation to generation. And, which 
 is worlt of all, he ojjends till the ivorld's end, in a book which cannot 
 Repent., 
 
 But above all, the profane arc to be <?z/<?;^(?</ ; The very readintr 
 is a.^ unhappynefs, but i fecond perufal, guilt, and approbation: The 
 Heretick mifundcrftands 'Religion, but the Profane docs fcorn it. Such 
 the very Heathen admitted not to facrifice ; The Prophane, faics one, 
 is he. Qui nihil habet facri, qui [acranegligit,violat, fonculcat : Who 
 hath nothing of Religion in him, but negleds, dcftroys and fpurris 
 at all that's [acred. He is indeed the practical Atheijl, that contemn- 
 ing Heaven, hath more than the mccr Pagan forgot himfclf to be man, 
 It is,a ftrangc kind of faucincfs for man to Jefl with God. He that is 
 well-bred cannot but abominate fuch rudencfs. He is a Clorvnto Hea- 
 ven, that makes himfclf too familiar with the 1)eity. He vapours 
 away his foul in air that by his/'*?/? or tongue would call a. dtfgrace 
 upon Godj \{ man compared o'l Infirmities be fo Jcaltu-s oi his 
 Honour, that with the hazard of his life, he dares duell him that 
 ftains it ; How will Cod, that made man with„ this Jealoufie, be z,ealous 
 of his own honour by punifhing fuch as rvildly do defpifi it ? How in- 
 finitely will the /*/>f/y?/>/c« of the Jirivj cry down the loofe neglect of 
 our times? Prophane}jefis\%h\xiz\\xxVL \ft{'=> daring blasphemy; and at 
 hearing this, they us'd to be fo extafi'danS impaffiori! d, as prefcntly to 
 tear \}:\t\x: garments : fo St. and Paul, St. Barnabas-^\x\ Ads the I4''^- Such 
 Reverence had they to the Name of God, that they held it an offenfe 
 CO think of him in any Noyfome place. Every day was the mouth to be 
 rvafh'd, left Gods Name fhould come out of 1 foul place. And in a 
 fiool-Room they were all /ty^-/'4W^is^ becaufc with i\\c right they wrote 
 the name of God and Angels. Shall the C/.;^grow infolcnt againft the 
 potter, or thcw^'/'woffcr to^fy/O it up at the Uceof Man? Beware of 
 the profane and fcorner. He that neglects Go^will make no fcruple of 
 betraying Man. If he fits loofe to Heaven, he will never \\Q\Afirm to 
 Earth; but for himfclf will forfakc his Friends, having done (o already 
 to God, that yet gives hiiu all. Any of tlicfc arc the plague in paper, 
 I wiiich
 
 1^0 
 
 ClNT. II 
 
 "tjESOLVES, 
 
 which he is in much danger of catching that comes but between the 
 fhcets. Nor can he offend alone. A corrupt Book is an AmfhisbxnA : 
 A Serpent headed at cither end ^ one y'ltes him that reais^ the other 
 flings him that vcrites. For if I he corrupted by his pen^ the guilt 
 grows his, as well as ntine, although the grave holds him. 1 will 
 not write, left 1 hurt my felf, and pejlerity. I will not read left I hurt 
 my fe/f and PredeceJJors : They that dye of the pep/erne arc not kfs 
 infeilious laid forth, than when they arc alive. The body of that 
 wickcdnefs fhews poypn^, which continues working longer than life, 
 aad when all the fenj'e is gone. A foolifh Sentence dropt upon paper 
 fcts folly on a /////, and is a monument to make Infamy eternal. 
 
 II. 
 
 0/ Humility. 
 
 HE that means to build lofting^ muft lay his foundation Icrv: 
 As in moory grounds they crcdl their Houfcs upon piles driven 
 deep into the ground : So when we have to doe with men that arc 
 boggy and rotten, our Cenverfation would be unfound and and totter- 
 ing, if it were not founded upor\ the Graces ot Humility ; which by 
 reafon of their jlendernefs pierce deep and remain firm. The proud 
 man, like the early fJjoots of a nery-feii'd Coppice thrufts out full of fap, 
 t^rten in leaves and frefj in colour ; but bruifcs and breaks with every 
 wind, isnipt with every little cold, and being top-heavy, is wholly 
 unfit for ufc. Whereas the humble man retains it in the root, can 
 abide the Winters killing blafts , the ruffling concuffions of the 
 wind, and can indurc far more than that which does appear fo flou- 
 rifliing. VAt the Pyr amis y he hath a large foundation, whereby his 
 height may be more Eminent, and ftill the higher he is, the IcfTer doth 
 he draw at the top ; as if the nearer Heaven, the fmaller he muft ap- 
 pear. And indeed, the nighcr Man approacheth to Cekfiids, and tiie 
 more he doth confidcr God, he fees the more to make himfelt file 
 in his own efteem. When the lalcon flies higheft, flic lelTcns her 
 felf moft, and by fo doing, hath the more command of her game. 
 And then this ufaally falls out, That he which values himfelfleaft, 
 fliall by others he prized vxof^. Nature fwclls when Oie meets a check-^ 
 but fubmijjion in us to others, hcgets [ubmijji on in others to us. Force 
 docs but compel our bodies • when Civility and Manfuetude docs calm 
 and captivate even the rugged temper of the rude and boyjlercus, and, 
 like a gentle Lenitive, diflipates and affwages the Tumors of the moft 
 elated Mind. Humility is t\\t foot-ftocl^ without which Man can hard- 
 ly get up to the bcdoi Honour. The proud man is certainly a fool-^ 
 I am fure, let his parts be what they will, in being proud, he is fo. 
 One thing may allurcdly perfwade us of the Excellency of Humility. 
 It is ever found to dwellmo^ with men that are moft gallant. 'Tis a 
 flower that profpers not in lean and barren foils, but in aground that's 
 
 rich.
 
 1{ES0LVES. 
 
 rich., ic Hourifhcs and is beaatitul. Give me a man that's huniLle out 
 j of iudjcment, and I can find him full ot all parts. Charles the hfth, 
 I was as inve in holding the Candle to his departing rtfita/fts^ as when 
 { he was troofd about with his Vutoriom Officers. The Lcgiflacivc 
 : Monarch Mo^es., that was &.c firji diV\di greatefl Divine., StateJ-ma»^ 
 ^ Hiftortan., Phil0fopber.,z\-\APoet, wno, as a valiant General, led Ijrael 
 outot Egypt^ was rcnown'd with J//>4f/«, that could rowl up the 
 waves to pafs his men, and tumble them down ajrain upon his Ene- 
 mies, was a Tyfe ot chrijl, {[ykd * friend of Cod, and (as Eccleji- 
 afiicuj rells us) belovei hoth of Gad and men : yet was he tnefk above 
 all that were upon the face ot the Earth. And, left om proud daft 
 l"hould think it a difparagcmcnt to be humbln, wc are commanded by 
 our Saviour to learn it («t him, who tells us the benefit will be, reft 
 to our fouls. VVc arc fcnt to the Pifmire for Indufirj., to the Lyon for 
 valour i to the Dove tor I»»ocence, t« the Serpent tor mfdom ; but for 
 Humility unco Gtd himfelf^ as an attribute more peculiar to his Ex- 
 cellence : And certainly, if we fliall but contemplate him, we fliall 
 find him able for all, either that we can, or, cannot conceive : yet 
 by his up-holding and fublcvaminous PruTOW^f^ff, according to his 
 meer will he orders, guides, and governs all. No man ever loft efeem 
 with rvife men., by ftoopisg to an honefi lovpnefs when there was occa- 
 (ioH. I have known a great Duke to fetch in wood to his Inferiors fire; 
 and a General of Nations, dcfcending to a Foet-mans office in lifting 
 up the boot of a Coach : yet never thought it an eclipfc to cither 
 of their dignities. The Text docs give it to the Publicans dcjeciednefs 
 rather than to the Pharifees boafting. That ^hip waots Ballafl that floats 
 upon the top of the waters : and he may well be fufpedfed to be de- 
 feSltve within, that would pull on refpeil to himfclf by his undue 
 ajjuming it. What is that man wcr/i? that lets his ////i-r/or go before 
 him ? The folly is in him that takes it when not due .* but tf e pru- 
 dence refts with him, that in the ferenenefs ot his owo rvtrth does not 
 value it. In Qiows of State, the meancft marches firft. I am not 
 troubled, if my Dog out-runs me. Tlie 5#» chides not the morning 
 Star., though it prcfume to ullier day before him. My place is only 
 where I am at prefent • but that wherein 1 am not, is not mine. 
 While the proud man buttles in the ftorm, and begets himfelf Ene- 
 mies, tkc humble peaceably pallcs in the lliadc uncnvy'd. The full 
 fayl over-fcts the Vcllcl, which drawn in, may make the voyage 
 profpcrous. Who is'c that "^'[mc^ Haman., when only c^Mordecaies 
 uprightncfs in the gate fliallfickcn him ? Hcfure is queafie flomach't 
 that muft pet, and puke., at fuch a trivial arcurnflance. Humility pre- 
 vents difturhance : It rocks ^/-^/r aflcep, and keeps men in fo^//««c<;^ 
 peace. Men rclt not while they r/^ vn jlate, ox hurry ic {m furious 
 charge : but when they humble themfclves to the Earthy or a Ctuch., 
 retrefliing fleep does then becalm their toyls and cares. When the 
 two Goats on a narrow Brielgc met over a deep ftreani, was not he 
 the vtjer chat lay down for the other to pals over him, than he that 
 
 Y would 
 
 i6t 
 
 Cent. 11.
 
 162 
 
 Cent. 11- 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 would rather hazard both their lives by contending ? he prcfcrv'd liim- 
 felf from dangjcr, and made the other become debtor to him tor his 
 fatety. 1 will never think my fclf Mfparag'd, cither by preji'rvi/ig < 
 peace, or doiftg good. He is charitahle^ that out of chrifiian ends car. ! 
 be content to part with his due : but he that would take it trom me^ 
 wrongs not me fo much as he docs himklf. I have ever tliought it i 
 Indifcretion to z'le it \x\ continued Jlrife : Prevailing is but vicfcry in! 
 part ; his pnde may (fill rea\ain unconqiier'd. It 1 be fid'dued ; bc- 
 fidc my jhame, I pmchzic his contempt to boot. When yielding out 
 of prudence, triumphs over all, and brinf^s him in to be mm. i had 
 rather be accounced too much humble, than cftecmcd a little proud i 
 That tends to virtue and mifdom ; this to drjhonour and vice. Even 
 in Gold the ftiffeft is the balcft ; but the pure, by being duftible, 
 keeps whole. 
 
 III. 
 Of ^li^ion and SMorallty. 
 
 TO render a man perfect, there is requifue both Religion and I 
 Nature-^ that is, Faith and \yviorality. But fome will tell mcj 
 there needs but one ; .Rt'//^«» comprehends both: And certainly,.' 
 l\-\cChriJlian Religion '^ViZoX^j "pizCiKcd, will do fo; lor it rectifies and' 
 confirms the Larv oi Nature; and purging man Irom Corruption by! 
 faith, prefents him jujlified, and a fitlfillcro'i the Law, whic:i Naturc\ 
 cannot do. Religion more properly rerpc6^s the fervice oi Ged ; yet ' 
 takes care of Man too. Morality looks mo(^ to our converfation with ' 
 men : yet leaves us not when we come to God and Religion. 1 CDnfefs, ' 
 I underftand not, why fome of our Divii^cs have fo much cry'd down 
 Morality. A Moral man with fomc, is but another word- tor a Repro- 
 bate : Whereas truely, charity and probability would induce us co 
 think, That whofoever is wwd//)' /;c«^, isio owx. o\ confcience in obe- 
 dience to the commands of God, and the Injlinctmcnts ot Nature, fo 
 framed and qualified by God htmfclf, rather than out oi finifier, 
 lower, or lejs noble ends: And therefore, I hold it to be moft true, 
 i\\lt 2i% true Religion czwwothcWiihoVii Morality ; no more can Mora- 
 lity that is right, be without Religion. I look upon it as the Primitive 
 and Everlafting Law and Religienoi man : which, inftampfd in his! 
 foul at his Creation, 'mRay arifing from the Image 01 God. Till! 
 the Larv was given, Vi\\zx. Religion hzA he but his own Morality, for' 
 almotl 200O years ? It was the worlds Religion. What was it clfe i 
 that taught man to pray, and humble himrdf co a Deity ; when he liad ! 
 done amifs, to make Ojfertories to appeafe an angred God-head ; and to | 
 think of ways of expiation ? And when the Larv was promulgated in \ 
 Tables of /lone to fliew ihc perpetuity of it ; V\'as it not the fame re- j 
 duced to literal Precepts, which even in the worlds Infancy was writ- ' 
 ten in the hearts of man ? The Judicial and Ceremonial Larv of the \ 
 J eves, '
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 ^ewsi vvc fee aboliflic a: our S^i-Jtoiirs coming. But the Decalogue.^ 
 bccaufc 'tis Moral, holds. V\ c find it alfo barely Preceptive and Im- 
 fer'ul. De thii^ or, Do not do this, WvihoiM zreifoH given (unlcfs in 
 fomc out ot the confcqucnce) bccanfe being Monl there needed none. 
 The retifon was in each mans heart bctorc : not only among the Jevcs, 
 but the Gentiles alfo. It was the "Jniverfd Religion of the world, 
 which God at firft gave man : So fregoAnt in the minis of all ; That 
 it was [iificiettt in fonie good meafure to curb the loofe exorbitancies 
 of depraved Nature^ and lead her up towards her duty. VVhat 
 "Bariareus Heathen condemns not in his Conlcicnce, what the Law 
 prohibits ; or applauds not what it does command ? Ot this the great 
 Apot^lc fpakc, where h.c tells us ; That vehcn the Gentiles, rvhich 
 have not the Lave, do yet naturally the things contained in the Lave, 
 they areaUtv te themfelves. Even Reafon, which is Nature, leads a 
 man up to Religions Palace, though it fhow us not all the private 
 rooms within it. It brings us into the /'r^'/^wf, though not into the 
 Privy chamber. It ul>.ers us to Faith j which rightly ftated, is little 
 more than ratified and pure Celcftial Reafon. For of Faith, there is 
 reafon to be given : And though it be fct in a height, beyond our 
 Humane Perfpicience , I can believe it vathtv fuper-elevated, than 
 contradiciive to our Reafon. When Man comes to Faith, he then 
 runs cut of himfelt ; but" not at all againjl himfelf. By his virtue, 
 he but lifts up 2>{4//<r<? to a higher fcalc. Religion and Firtue is but 
 Nature better bred, more immediately deducing its Original from 
 god the Author iVi>\ Fountain ,oi all that is good: fuitablc to this, is 
 that which the Orator tells us, where {de legibus) he makes Ffrtue 
 nothing elfe, hm perfect Nature x d^Sc A lo iis full fublitnity. And be- 
 fides the School-men, I have met with a Divine, declaring, That Reli- 
 gio eft omnium Moraliitm virtutum Nobiltf/tma, Reltgitn is the Noblejl 
 of all Moral virtues. And it is Cornelius a Lapide. Reafon can tell us, 
 That having offended, (without fatisfadion) we are lyable to punifh- 
 ment. It can let us to fearch tor a Saviour, though it cannot find him 
 for us in his gracious Co^/r/z/rfwf/, and fublimc Immenjities: Even 
 the Gofpel in its larger part is Moral -^ The Lave is the Compendium 
 of Morality, and the Cjofpelis the Compendium of the Law. Upon 
 loving God above all, and our Neighbour as our [elves, hang all the Law 
 and the Gofpel. And this as the coacreated Rule with Man, is that 
 which the Apoflle calls the Royal Law, which if we fulfil, we do 
 wftf. 1 find in molt Religions, fomc Tencnts that are deftructive to 
 Humanity, though not in the firft fancHon and frame of Religitn; 
 yet in time brought in by particular Profeffors, who have Ictt po- 
 flerity their difciples. The very Series and Foundations ot Religion, 
 by fuch as thefc have been difpens'd with, under the prctcnfe of pub- 
 like Intercft to bring in particular Defigns. But the true Chrijlian Re- 
 ligion and the true Morality dares not do a vrrong, nor fo much as 
 plead neceffity, whcre,by fufftrtng, it may be avoydcd. Even in all Re- 
 ligions, when they be cut out into .svf^/i-,they run to divifiott, and defiroy. 
 
 Y 2 Like 
 
 \6'^ 
 
 Cent. II.
 
 i64 1 1( E S L I E S. 
 
 ClNT, II- Like little Rills from large TiJ^vers.) they fuffer not the ftoncs to reft, 
 L/'^vOU but rattle and make a noife with their fliallowncfs, while the main 
 Stream, by reafon of his deepnefs, isbothfmooth and filcnt. Men 
 that arc of depraved and harlh difpo/idofis, are aptcft to become 
 Sectaries • and when fuch come once to be dtft in Religion, (for to be 
 well wafhed, clenfeth) they are ufually more virulent than any other 
 fort of men. If they had the grounds ot .^/cr^Z/Vr, even x.\)c goodnejs 
 of Nature would make them tn-oj>i>reJjize, and didate to them, That 
 it were Ncifler to undergo a fclf-defiyifjg ov Come SuferAme, than by 
 Singularity and the Morofity of an Eager (pUen give a puhlick Difiur- 
 bmce-i perhaps to the unhindgitjg of the whole frame of Government. 
 Certainly, however the pretext be Religion, and that milleading Me- 
 teor, Liberty ; yct in the Violators of a jult Authority, 'tis citl.er an 
 ill Nature, or 2ijinijier end, which draws them to perfift in't. It there 
 were 0}arity, (without which all Religion is vain) no man would 
 prefcrr a ^elf -immunity, before a general peace. Therefore let men 
 be never fo (pecioui'iwxh^ formal profeJfiomwA Verbalities oi Religion ;, 
 when I fee them ad things agalnll Morality, ^':>LA fuch as arc deftruBive 
 to Humane Society ; 1 fhall be concent to call it Craft or Policy, but by 
 no means i?f%w» to be imitated. To circumvent n\c\\{'Mo Snares of 
 cither Life or Ejlate or Liberty ; To Infidiate and intrap the unfujpi- 
 ciotts and rvell-meaniag mar\. To 2^:ow great and Rife by my Neigh- 
 bours fall, to which I have contributed ; To undoe a man for ading 
 Hoiaejiy and Confcieace ; To delude the world by vorvs and promifes ; 
 To falfyfie Oaths and publick Manifefloes ; To he prodigal oi the bkud 
 and lives of others ; To ///? them out ot the world for ends ; To 
 impropriate my felf into that which is not mine j To pretend one thing, 
 and adl the Contrary : Thefc and the like being againft the Rules of 
 Morality, let them carry what tace they will, Religion may be tlic 
 Paint, but never the Complexion ot fuch Actions. He that is not Mo' 
 rally Henefi, whatfoever glofs his Religion bears, he wears it but in 
 H^ater-coleurs, which cither a rvarm breath or zrvet (lorm will melt 
 away or blemiflj. Methinks I tind the foundnefs of Heathens putting 
 the blufl} upon the praftice of Chriflians, who (tain their fincere pro- 
 fejjion by the underhand complications ot fraud and cellnfion. How na- 
 tural was it in the Romans to have their blouds rife at Lucitu Marcus-^ 
 for that by fubtilties wiles and craft he went about to facilitate his 
 Viciories againft the Macedonian Perfem ? When Meander ot Samos 
 flying to the Spartans from the \Perfian'^oiQcs, declared what ivealth 
 he had brought along, and how much he would give to Cleomenes 
 their Covernour ; Cleomenes prtCently vcpiivs to ihe Senate : And tells 
 them, // would be well if they bani/ht their Sami.in guejl, lejl he might 
 perfwade fome Spartan to be wicked. The name of Great had not been 
 undefervedly givento-^/ifjr^Wi'r, for telling one that perfwaded him 
 to take the Advantage of a dark night to fct upon his Enemy Darius: 
 No, fays he, I had rather repent my Fortune than blufb at myViciory: 
 And in a Chriftian it deferr'd a high applaufe, C»nrade the tirft Empe- 
 
 rour
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 rour oi Germanj/; who whQn Mifims {who pcrfiftcd in his Fathers 
 Rebellion} not being able to defend himfcU againft the Eniperours 
 puillancc, fled to ivalderictis Duke oi Hohemix^ and he after pronii- 
 iing protccftion and alfiftancc (covvork his own ends) privately treated 
 with the Empcrour for delivering him into his funds. The Enipe- 
 rours Heroick Hearty, difdaining fo bife a TreAchery,ov to gain an Ene- 
 my by CcmpfyaKce with fo great unworthinefs, fent Word to Mi/icttj 
 That he wffit/d do vpell either to fubmit himfelf to him-, or provide him- 
 felf of a finer SuncUmy '^ for that his pretending friend rvouU betray 
 him. Doubtlcfs there is a moral Gallantry in T^ature that will lead 
 a man to any thing but poornefs and Indirection. And ctrtainly, 'tis 
 more fafe to truft a poor good Natur'd Publican, than any fupercilious 
 and high pretending Pktrifee. 1 Hiall furely much fufpeB that Reli- 
 gitn, which hath not got the maiftery of Pride., Intemperance, and 
 Deceit. Tlx-rc is a genuine Cleernefs that looks braver than all the 
 nick-nam'd ftrong abilities oi over-reaching. To beacJW<«» anfwc- 
 rable to Davids Queries in his i S'^ Pfalm (which do all point at our 
 Converfe with men.)In the beginning it makes him dveellin Gods Taber- 
 nacle., in the end it fets him immoveable. The Apoftle fecms to 
 couple both together when he tells us ; That fearing God and, working 
 Righteousness ^ makes a Man acceptable in what Nation foever he be. 
 The Immolation of Teajls and the other coftly Oblations in the Law 
 were the Higheji outward duties of Religion that we read of; Yet ne- 
 ver prized like the Intirenefs of an honeji Heart, endeavouring in all 
 things to bear a good Confcience towards God and towards Men. If we 
 believe Solomon., the Prophets, and the Apoflles ; they will tell us, 
 That to do Ju/lice and Judgement is more acceptable than facrifice. 'Tis 
 charity and unfpettednefs that is ihzpure and undefiled Religion. And 
 indeed God hath no need of om Service, were it not for our own 
 avail. But man hath. And purfitant to this, there arcVICom- 
 mandements relating to Alan, and but IV to God : Yet indeed be- 
 caufe they cannot be ^/^Wf^ they all make up one Law. The tvorld 
 confifted of two forts of people, jews and Gentiles. The trueworfhip 
 of the Deity was difcovered but to one. But the Moral Law relating 
 to man was l^turally impofed on both ; and when both parties con- 
 firm it, why fliould any decry it ? 1 take that to be^eo^ Pm^/z^-zhough 
 I have it from the Roman Perfitts. 
 
 Quin damns id Superii, de magna, qttod dare lance 
 Non pojpt magni Me^aU lippa propago : 
 Compofttum Jm, Fajq; Animi, San5iefq-^ recefftu 
 Mentis, (jr intoclum generofo pe^ui Houefo. 
 
 Let's give God, what Mef^allas blear ey'd Race, 
 Cannot in their huge inccnfc-Chirger place , 
 Rcfolvcd Right ; Pure Thoughts ; A mind raif'd high ; 
 A foul ingrain'd with Noble Honcfty. 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 0/1
 
 ^66 
 
 Cent. II 
 
 ^ E SOLVES. 
 
 IV. 
 of Truth and Lyin^. 
 
 I Find to him that the tale is told, Belief ow\y nukes the difference, 
 betwixt the Truth:, and Lyes. For a Lye beleired is true • and 
 Truth uncredtted^ a Z-^if. But certainly, there rcfts much in the Hear- 
 ers judgement, as well as in the Tellers Falfbood. It muft be a frobable 
 Lye, that makes the judicious, Credulotts ; And the ReUteur too, 
 muft be of fomc Reputation : otherwife, ftrange ftorics dcteft fomc 
 deformity in the mmd. And in that, (as in certain natural protcr- 
 vities in the body) they are feldom takings but often beget a diflike. 
 They may a little fiourt(lj a mans Invention : but they much more 
 doubclefs will cry down his Judgement, and difcover a mind i\)zi floats 
 and is unbaUnctd. There is a'.-ocncration ot men, whofe nnweighed 
 cujlome makes them clack out atiy thing their heedlefs fancy Iprings ; 
 That arc fo habited in faljhood, that they can cut-lye an Almanack-, or, 
 which is more, a chancery IBillr, and though they ought to have gtod 
 memories, yet they Ar fo often, that they do at laft, not remember 
 that they lye at 4//. That behdcs creating whole fcenes of their ovfn ; 
 they cannot relate any thing f/r^r, and candidly : but cither they muft 
 augment-, or dtminifh. They falffie fo long the fcience of Arithmetick, 
 that by zhc'iv Addition, ind Hub/Iraclion, they quite dcftroy the noble 
 Rule of FellowJJjip. Like Samfons Foxes, with their Fire-brands, they 
 leave a ^/i«?f in every field they pafs through. Fal/hood, like duft caft 
 in the eyes of Ju/lice, keeps her from feeing Truth. It ottcn creeps 
 even to the Barr at Tribunals ; and there perverteth Judgment. A fe- 
 vere penalty were well inflicted, where the Advocate fliould dare to 
 obtrude an untruth. How can that ^udge walk right, that is bemifled 
 in his way ? W'c can never come at cither peace or jnflice-, it we be 
 not lighted through the dark by Truth ; and Peace never abides long 
 in any Region where Truth is made an Exile. Certainly a Zj/tr,though 
 never fo plaufible, is but a defective of the prefent tenfe ; being once 
 difiovered, he is look't at, not only as inconfiderate, but dangerous. 
 He is a Menfter in Nature : tor his Heart and Tongue, are incongruous, 
 and dijjentive • As it upon a Humane body the head ot a Do^ were (ct 
 on. The lieart is much unpurified, which bubbles up fuch frothy 
 yanities. And betides he that often lyes in difcourfe, when he needs 
 not, will be furc to do it ever when he needs. So his laterefl being 
 only inwArd to himfelf, all that is without him is not fee by. And 
 dowhilck Humanity hath not a worfc C(jw/>4«/^«, than he thzzfingu- 
 larly loves himfelf. Think not to live long in peace it thou converfefl 
 With ^ lying man. Nor canft thou think to live long in Reputation : 
 You can neither freely relate any thing attcr him, nor pafs a right 
 judgment upon any thing he [peaks. It you believe him, you arc 
 deceived: If you do not believe him, Ic takes it as an affront. The 
 way is cither to pafs him by, as not minded 5 or check him a little 
 
 obliquel y '
 
 RESOLVES, 
 
 j i6j 
 
 obliquely in his own way. As when one told Ga/ki, he had bough: , C^NT. II. 
 Laaiprcy in ^w/Zyhve-foot-long. He anfwcred him; That was no ■-''^^»'*-' 
 vconder^ for there they were fo lono' that the Fijijermen ufc-d them for 
 Ropes : A Lytr is the Ball ot Comemten that can fct even Goddejfes tQoe- 
 cher by the e/crs. 
 
 1 could fooncr pardon fomc Crimes that are apitaly than this mld- 
 fre in the tcagtte ^ .that whip's, and fcorchcs wherefoevcr it liffhts. 
 It (liows fo much 5'«j!^W in the mind ot i\\t Relator, that you will! 
 cafily conclude, It is the breath ot Heti.. I wonder not that the Inge- 
 nious bloitd docs boyl lo high at having the Lye given. For furely, a 
 Lyar is both a CoTv-trd and a Traytor. He fears the face of man, 
 and therefore Jnaks behind the littlcnefs of a Lye to hide himfelt. 
 A Traytor he is, ior God having fet him to defend his Truth, he bafcly 
 deferts the /jo/d, and runs to his enemies Colours. He dares not keep 
 the Poji he is afllgned to, by owning ot his Truth. But like a Coyner 
 (pretending Gola) he Jiamps the great Kings Image, Truth, upon 
 Copper, and coorfe AlUy. What is that Man good for, that cannot 
 be trufted in his own voluntary Relations? One would break that 
 Dy.d into Attmes, whofe falfc lines only ferve but to mislead. Whole 
 every (fealint^ Minute attempts to fliame the Sun. Speech is the Com- 
 merce of the World, and Words are the Cement of Society. What have 
 we to reft upon in this world, but \S\tprofejJions and Declarations that 
 men ferioufly and folcmnly otfer ? When any of thcfe fail, a Ligament 
 of t'ne V\ orld is broke : and whatever this upheld as a foundation, 
 f^s. Truth is the good mans Mijirefs, whofe Beauty he dares Jujii- 
 fiey againtt all the furious Tiltmgs of her roandring enemies ^ 'tis 
 the Buckler under which he lies fecurely covered, from all the ftroaks 
 oi Adverfaries. It is indeed a Pf/// ; tor C^^ himielf is Truth -^ and 
 never meant to make the Heart and Tongue disjun^ives. Yet bccaufc 
 Man is vanity, and a /yr ,we ought to weigh what we f}ear. He hath an 
 eafic faith that without Confideration believeth all that is told. Thatj^ 
 will foon be catcht, that will be nibling at every caft-in-%r to ftvailotv 
 it. But for him whofe weaknefs hath abandon'd him ix\x.o x Lyar ; I 
 look upon him as the dreggs of mankind. A Trotetts in converfation, 
 vizarded and indifguifc: As a thing that hath ^^w/rw/'r^^^ himfclf in 
 Humanity, that is to be contemned, and as a f#«»/f r/jV to be nayl'd 
 upon z.po(l that he may deceive no more. If there be truth of Tongue, 
 |lmay h^MdiTrajfique with men ot all other vices : but take away 
 chat, and I tread upon a /-s^, and quick-fands ; And, like the Prophet 
 Ifaiahs Idolater, C^^/>. 44.22. wlien 1 expe6t deliverance as from a 
 God, / carry a lye in my hand. 
 
 Though 1 fpcik not always all that is truth,yct would I never fpeak 
 any thing falfe. A Man may be over-horn and kill'd : b«t Truth is 
 a thing Immortal-^ and going out of the world with htm, gives him 
 courage even under the Axes ftrokc. 1 would not value life fo dearly, 
 as to purchafc it with tlie poornefs of a lye. And we ought to take 
 difcourfc from others, as we ufe to chule tome fruits, not by their 
 QUt-fide, but by their weight, and poizing them. Nee
 
 i68 
 
 Cent. II 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 Nee cito Credideris : Quantum cito credere Udat^ 
 
 Sxem^lttm vchis, non leve^ Procri* erit. 
 Believe not rafhlj : Harm from thence that flews, 
 Dear Prccrii Fate in fad-cxample lliows. 
 
 V. 
 
 Of Preparing ag^inft Death. 
 
 THe life of tnaa is the lace (idle walk of tir»e ; wherein every 
 moment itzjlepy and pace to E»f4/A. Even our growing to/er- 
 fe£iion, is a pr»grefs to decay. Every thought we have, is a land run- 
 ning out of the glafs ot life. Every letter that 1 now rvnte^is fomcthing 
 cut off from the mcafure of my l^eing here. 
 
 But fince no man can be happy, in the life that is affrighted with the 
 fear of djt/tg j It ought to be our principal care, either to put 6i 
 Death ^ or, ovcrcome^hc fear of ir. Elfc, while we have life, we (hall 
 not enjoy it : but dayly with the fear of dying, dye. To put off Deaths 
 is not in Man to do. Fixt Fate (without hmi) dooms him once to 
 dye. The Decree is paft, and no Jppeal is left. To avoid Death total- 
 ly therefore, 'tis in vain, to try : We may fomctime Court him into 
 a forbearance : But the whole worlds wealth is rf^r//'<? too fmall to 
 win him to acquittance. Yet ihe fear oi Death h nox. Invincil'le. It 
 is a Gyant to the iveaky but a Pygmie to the rvell-rejclved. We may 
 majler that, and then though we cannot totally overcome Death, wc 
 may contemn him j or, fo brare him, as to make him finHe-y not/row^ 
 upon us. It is therefore fit, we take heed ot fuch things as are like 
 M»ltiplying-glajfes, and fiiew fears either more Kumerom., or lugger^ 
 far than they are. Such arc Inexpeciation, Z'nacquaintance, veant of 
 Treparation. 
 
 Incxpedation. The fodain blow afoni/bes : hut forefeen, is cither 
 warded, or avoided. A furprife alone is torture. In it, I have not time 
 to tliink, till the time of thinking be too late. 'Tis falling irom a pre- 
 cipice in the dark. A man is at the bottom, before he knows he is from 
 the top. The foul is over-whelm'd with horror, which is infinitely 
 blacker by it's not being look'd tor. Belfljazzers knees had never beat 
 each other, if he had expeded the hand to appear. When Accidents 
 like Thieves, unthought on, let upon us ^ the ctnfernathn gives the 
 deeper rfound. It is worfe for the time than hanging ; lor it choaks 
 the fpirits, as to help ; but lets them live, to critciate and vex with- 
 out remedy. Like Spirits in the night, they flafh Hell-fire into our 
 face, and drive us from our wits and hopes : And our terrors arc the 
 more, becaufc we dedicate that time to re[l, without expecting ought 
 that Ihould affright us. 
 
 Vnacqtiamtance. Familiarity takes away fear ; when matters not 
 ufual prove Induciions to terror. The firft time the Fox faw the Ly»n, 
 ho feared him as death ; The fccond, he feared him, but not fo much ; 
 
 The 
 
 4
 
 "!{ E S L V E S, 
 
 The third time, he grew more l^old, and palled by him without c[ua- 
 king. The pradiCd Seaman fmilcs at /?(?rwy,that others dare not look 
 on. A Lyon is not frightful to his Keeper ; and Maft'tffs are nor fierce, 
 bin when they meet \\'\x\\ fir angers. Every report of a Musket Jiartles 
 the new-come Sontdier : but ranging through the fttry of two or tlircc 
 Battails^ he then can fearlefs fland a breach^ and dares undiunted look 
 'Z>^,r/A in the face. 
 
 Laftly, n'ant of Preparation. Muft x\o\.\\t\>t over- come ., that, »»- 
 armd^ meets his weapon d Enemy ? C/fii/, that by his Providence, is a- 
 kin to wife men, and fo docs ufually proted the prudent, is not ob- 
 liged to prefcrvc the foel. He that does firft abandon himfelf, by his 
 own example teaches others to do fo too. When 1 am prepared for 
 rlic worft, the worft cannot difmay me : but unprepared., 1 muft lye 
 down and yield. '^VQV\premeditation alone, is a piece of defence. Neg- 
 ligence not only invites the Foe, but leaves open all our Ports, and 
 Avenues tor him to enter at. The difference is not much between not 
 meeting an evil, and bcing/'/'^/'^r'^for't. 
 
 Left, then, I make my death fcem more terrible to me, than indeed 
 it is, I willfirfi: dayly expeftit. It were madnefs, to think, I fnould 
 never arrive at that, to which I am every minute going. If an Ene 
 mj^ that I cannot refifl, fliall threaten that within fuch a {pace, he will 
 affault and plunder me, but will not tell me the precipe tiuie ^ fliall I 
 not every hour \oo\ for him ? It was P/zi.Vs opinion, That tiie wife 
 mans life, was the meditation of death. And to expeii it, is to give 
 the blow a meeting, and break the flroke : Not to cxpeft it, is a ffupi- 
 dity ^ iince t!^.e world hath nothing that is like a %eprieve. The Philo- 
 sopher will tell us,r>s well as the Divine ; That, Omne Hunianum Genus, 
 quodcimq; ejt, quodcunq; erit, morti damnatumeft. hW Humanity x\y^i 
 either », or fliall ^(f, once fliall ^^. And furely then, \\ti$\>\xtdead 
 already, that docs not look iox death. A G/rf/J though it be brittle, 
 (if fafcly kept) may laft long. But Uvlan prcferv'd declines. His Child- 
 hood, Touth, Virility, and Age, they are but feveral fi^fges porting him 
 to death. He may fiourifj till about fifty, and may dye any day before: 
 But after that, he UnguifJjes like an October Fly, till at laft he weakly 
 withers to his grave. 
 
 Secondly, 1 will^row to be acquainted with it, by conjidering what 
 it is. 'And certainly, well look't into, he is rather lovely, than a Mon- 
 fter : 'Tis Fancy gives him thofc hideous [Ijapes we think him in. It is 
 a foft and cafic A'o'ww^ ; ihc ccjfation at Life's funR ions. Actions ab- 
 sence, and Nature's fmooth repofe. Certa'nly, it is no more to dye, 
 than to he born. We felt no /-</» c6n)ing into the wc^/^; nor fliall 
 we in the aB oi leaving it . Though in the /"r/?, one would believe 
 there were more of trouble than in the latter. For we cry coming into 
 the world, but quietly and calmly leave it. When Socrates was advifcd 
 by his friends. That if not for his own fake, yet for that of his chil- 
 dren and acquamtants • he would have a care to prefcrvc himfelt from 
 death : He prefently tells them ; That as for his children, Ged that 
 
 Z gave 
 
 1^9 
 Cent. 11.
 
 170 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 gave them, wottld hive a care of them : and for his friends^ {if he dyed) 
 he /hettld in the other world find the Itke-^ or better : and thoje th.it here \ 
 he left-y would but a very little while fiay from him. What is there j 
 that in Death is terrible^ more than our unwillingncfs to dye ? Why \ 
 fliould 1 be angry, when my Prince repeals my banijjjment^ and admits 
 me home ionxy Country, Heaven'^. When the Soul, {WVcz Swa\Low-, 
 dipt down a Chtrnny) beats up and down in rcftlefs want and danger ; 
 Death is the opened C<«/?wr;?r that 2;ives her rr/? and liberty ixom. pe- 
 nury, fears, and fnares. 'Tis Natures play-day, that delivers man from 
 the thraldom oi the worlds School to ihc freedom iji his Fathers family. 
 Tile Philofopher will tell us (take it which way you will) whether the 
 Soul perilbes, or be tranflated, there is cither no ill, or much good, 
 m J9eath. But when we know the Soul is Immortal, and purchafcd to 
 be a Ve^cloi Everlajiing Honour, what fliould affright m ? uwlcfs we 
 fear to be happy. When my death appro iches, I am growing to 
 Immortality, commencing Do^or, and beginning to underhand all 
 thofe crabbed Criticifms that puzzle here Mortality. It frees me from 
 the [corns of life, the malice and the blows of Fate, and puts me in a 
 condition to become invulnerable. It mounts me up beyond the wiles 
 and reaches of this unworthy world. It lays mc in the ranck with Kings, 
 and lifts mc up to Deity. 
 
 Laftly, I will endeavour to be prepared. Neither furprife, nor 
 flrangenefs can hurt me, if I be ready for both. He defeats the Tyrant 
 of his fcall:, that is fo /'rif/'^r'^ as nottollirink Z{ torment. The way 
 to dye undauntedly, is to do that before, which we ought to do^ when 
 dyin^. He that always W4//J upon Gc^ is ready whenloever he calls. 
 I will labour to fct my accounts even, and endeavour 10 find God fuch 
 to mc in my life, as I would in death he Oiould appear. If I cannot 
 put off Humanity wholly, Ictmc put off as much a.s I can • and that 
 which I mufl wear, let me but Joofcly carry. When the Jjjeclions arc 
 gjewed to the world, Death makes not a Dijfolution, but a Fraciion ; 
 and not only feparates the foul, but tears it away. So the pain and the 
 hazard is more. Ho. is z happy manthzx. lives '[o, as Cf^//* at all times 
 may find at leifurc to dye. And if we contldcr, that we are always in 
 Gods hand; that our Leafe is but 6.\xx\x\2^pleaj'iire, and that we are ncccf- 
 fiiated once to dye : As we Hiall appear Infidels, not to trufl a Deity, 
 fo we muft befools, to Jlruggle where we can neither conquer', nor 
 defend. What do we do living, if wc be afraid of traveling that 
 high-way which hath been pafs'd through by all that have livd, and 
 mu(t be by all thatfliall /«f ? We pray, undrefs, and prepare for 
 fieep, that is not one night long 5 and fliall we do Icfs for Death., in 
 whofearmes we muft reft /r//c;?fr/, till the Angel with his Trumpet 
 fummons him forth to refign us ? This will not make life more trouble' 
 fif»e, hnt more comfortable. Hcmay//:^ tliat liath donehis/^-^^^'. No 
 Steward need fear a /«/? Lord, when his accounts are even and always 
 ready drawn up. If \ get the Sen and Heir to be mine, the Father will 
 never hold off. Thus living.^ I may dye at any time, and be afraid at no 
 
 time ' ,
 
 ^{ESOLVES. 
 
 time : Who djes Death over every day, it he does noc kiH death out- 
 right : ac leaft he makes him tame with rvatching him. 
 
 VI. 
 jdgamfl Extreme Longings. 
 
 Extreme Longings in a chrifiian (tor the things of this world) 1 
 feldom fee fuccccd »'f//; Surely, God means fo to temper his, 
 as he would not ha\e them violent in the fearch oi a temporal hlepng : 
 or, clfe he knows our frailty fuch, as we lliould be more taken with 
 the fruition ot a benefit y than the <^uthor. Profperities arc firong plea- 
 ders ioxfin : but troubles are the fccret Tutors oigoodnefs. How ma- 
 ny would have been lo/l, if they might have but found :he enjoyment 
 of their ovpn defires ? The too earnefl purfuit of temporals, is a kind 
 of mental idolatry, wherein wc prifc oar defires beyond our duty ; 
 and nc^lcdling our fubmiJfioH to a Providence, we over-value our own 
 frail ends, and fct them up as znothev kind of Deitjy. So wc fome- 
 timcs have our rvifhes, but with fuch fuccefs, z% Pyrrhm hzti in his 
 rears : who in two Battails againft the Remans, gain'd his viUories 
 with fo great lofs, that he told his applauding friends. One viBory 
 more. would abfolutely undo him. AgripfmcC's, Occidat mtdo Imperet. 
 proved a prophcfic of hcrown dcflrudtion. When it comes to that, 
 We muft have children or we dye ; wc expofe our felves to be our 
 fervants drudges, and on our knees, and in our bofoms, nurfe up their 
 illegitimate Ijfues. We lay our felves open to unlawful practices, for 
 obtaining what ^nq. covet; and, like teeming vcomen, we mifcarry il 
 wc fail of what wc long for. Death had not flown in among the 
 Quails, it y/rWhad not been too much impetuous after them. Let him 
 tiiat eats too greedily, beware he does not furfet. I have known a Fal- 
 con upon her down, come (mifiing her quarry) j^/> her fclf upon the 
 Falconers pole. Our fcnfes arc not deer when they are born along in a 
 hurry. Who rides upon f^eed, fees matters but in pafs ; his eye is fo 
 lodainly fnatcht from the obje^^f, that he neither knows whither he ^cfj, 
 nor what he leaves. When wc are too eager upon wlut wc defire, wc 
 become like children, froward, xnAcryingy till wc pull the r*?^ upon 
 us. ' Tis but blind and bcartial metal to be rampant after what we af- 
 fc6V. Like a fljip in a ftorm, when our Anchor (Modcracion) is gone, 
 wc float before the raging winds. When wc proceed calmly, wc 
 have time to look about us, and may viaWi fecure: But prickt on 
 fiercely, wc bait our own jharp hook, and put our felves into a pofturc 
 of being deceived. 
 
 • — QuifqHtt trepidus pavet, veloptat, 
 Quod non fit fiabiUs, faiq-. Juris ; 
 Abjectt Clypeum, Itcoq; mottts, 
 N eel it, quxvaleat trahi, Cattnam. 
 
 Z z Who 
 
 Cent. 1L
 
 Cent. II- 
 
 "l^ESOLFES. 
 
 Who not himfcif, nnJieAdy fleers \ 
 
 "Bin pa£io»atel)i hopes, or fears; 
 
 Quits his defence. He loofely fits. 
 
 And his own chain, to draw \\nw,knUs. 
 Is the judgement of the grave Btetitu. When 6«d, commznds fdriety 
 and patience, fhall Majf prefumc to Hnew himfelf intemperate ? He 
 that makes hajie to be rich, Hiall not be without fin. So, chough the 
 thing we aim at, be^Win it felt ; yet who can tell, whether it fliall be 
 good to us ? St. Augufiine will tell usj That he which frays for the 
 things of this life, is fomctinies gratioully heard, and oitcn gratioufly 
 rejufed. The PhyJicia»,hcttQv than they/f/&,knows what befits his health. 
 He that is not heard to his [enfe, is often to his f^fety. VmiJlraBedly 
 to ufe the means is geod ; but to give up our fclvcs wp.iffion, is undo- 
 ing. If the thing 1 covet, be good, 1 cannot truft it into better hands 
 than Providence and Indufiry. But he that is violent in his q^uejl, takes 
 himfelt from thofe Protections-^ and rowls upon his own vain fancy. 
 That which the wife man fays of Anger, may hold of all other Paffi- 
 ens. They reft io the bofome of Tools. What, lliall xX.q faculties of the 
 Noble Sotili made to Contemplate Heaven, and the Sacred 'Deity, ftoop 
 fo low, as to be wholly taken up with temporal md terrejlrial vanities'i 
 'Tis like an Emperour catching Flies. Saturn, that is the higheft Pla- 
 net, is the Jloivejl in his motion. Sure he, that in a brave fereaity can 
 bear up himfelf from being a ///iz.r to himfelf j that can be content 
 fometimes, to take the C/aW for his ^«/<i/<r, as well as iliejire; that 
 looks upon what he vf ou]d have, with a quietnefs in his appetitien-^ 
 that CM calfnlyrvijh, znd want: It is he, that may be written Alan. 
 If 1 can, 1 will never eztreamly covet. When I dote upon any thing 
 here below, like a fouldier I break my ra»k, and If I prcfently be not 
 awed /» again, by my Commander, Reafon ; I am in the way of being 
 cither kilfd, or prifoner. Bcfides, "tis fo like cither the weaknefs of a 
 Woman, or the rudenefs of a Clown, tliac indeed, I thereby proclaim 
 to all men, that I want both firength, and breeding. 
 
 VII. 
 Of Trayer. 
 
 TTis not an eafie matter for men of inferior r-inck, to get accefs oi 
 freedom of conference with one that is an Earthly Prince. Admifiion 
 to a]i, would whcigh him down to a fiave. He cannot be a Center large 
 enough to receive all the lines that come from the vat^ Circumference, 
 But bad he an Ear for a^, he could not have wherewith to grant and 
 fatisfie all. Nor were men fare to fpeed, although they were admitted. 
 He iha.i to zWfhould grant whii is asked, would quickly leave him- 
 felf nothing at all to grant : he might perhaps inrich fome others ; 
 but he fhould be fure to impoveri/h himfelf. How great then is the 
 freedom and the Prerogative of the devout Chrifiian, who hath a reve- 
 rence
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 reifce and an affection to x.V,c grcAtnefs and the goodnefs of his God ? 
 Though lie often lives here in a Height ejieem among men, yet by his 
 prayers and the ardent eliulion oi his groans and ivilhes he can freely 
 confer with rhc King of Heaven. Trayer penetrates through all the 
 clouds and fphcars. it makes a man a kind o{ Intimate with Cod, and 
 by a towring flame mcunts him to the bofom of the great Creator ; 
 who not only hears his hitnaties-, but delights in his rec^uefls ; invites 
 him to come^ and promifcs a plcafing or happy retnrn-j which he 
 flicws in fulrillinghis<afr//;w, ox better : fitter for him. In refpcd of 
 whom the grcatelt AUnarch\%vi\oxtmean than the bafcft Va^al^ in 
 regard of the moft mighty and molt puilfant Emperor. Man docs not 
 near fo much fA^^f^ the worft of Cr^/i/«rw, as C7(7^ above doth him. 
 What it I be not known x.o\.\\<t Nimrods of the world, the Pharaohs 
 and the Ptolemies of this <L/Egipt : I can fpcak to ///w, to whom they 
 all as well as 1 mult borv. My admrfflon is as cafie as theirs, and by my 
 humble Prayers (unkTs my own offences hinder) I never am dcbarr d 
 accefs. 'Tis the folloq/ij that continues the friend/hip 'twixt God and 
 Man. VVe fee thofc that are daily /rf/^Wj«/- upon great Perfons, by 
 the benefit of their accefs and conference, have a greater prevalency 
 with them, than thofe perhaps of ^r^'^/i'r/'^r//, that live as ffrangers 
 to them. And we cannot think, but he which prays often, by that 
 means comes acquainted with God : If the Noblenefs of A^aa be fuch, 
 that he will be more fm/, and /^Wfr^r to him, thai is obfequious and 
 refpeBive to him, by contimied addrejfes, and exprelfiner his fole de- 
 pendence to be upon him ; than he will to one that looks not after him : 
 Surely, Ge^^ will much more take notice of him, that by ajfidHom and 
 frequent applications makes himfelf familiar with his Deity. It would 
 incourage one in Prayer, to read what St. Anffine hath Metaphorically 
 enough delivered lis, Oratio Deum ungit, fed Lachryma compungit • hxc 
 Lenit, i^a Cogit : Prayer, anoynts God: but fVeeping, picrcctli Him : 
 that appeafeth, this compels Him. However, it is fo Ejjential a part 
 of Religion, that Ithink I am not amifs, if I fay, There can be none 
 without//: We read not ot any j^f//^/cJ«, the 77^/^/" had, befidcs iiis 
 Prayer on the Crofs : Yet we fee, by the mercy of our Saviour, it pre- 
 fently convcy'd him from a bad life to Paradife. And furcly, Man of 
 all other creatures, would be the moft wzz/fr^^/^ without it. WTien 
 he is fliut up in Prifen ; when he is in any accidental danger • when 
 he hath fain into di/pleafure, by his offence and difibedience ; where is 
 his friend, where his fupport, where his reconciler, il this be wanting'? 
 I had rather be deprived of all the folaees of this life ; yea, and the 
 Ordinances that tend to a better, than be debat'd of recourfe to my 
 God by Trayer. Next to chrift, it is Mans Mediator, to re-inftate 
 him in the favour of zv^ off ended Deity. 'Tis the Mofcsx\\i\. opens the 
 Rock, and brings Ifrael fotd in the irildernefs. 'Tis the Sun, that gives 
 Jerhny light in the Dungeon. It puts a muz,zel ow the Lyons jaws, that 
 elfc would tear a Daniel. 'Tis the Angel, that realkin^ with the chil- 
 dren in iWq furnace, keeps them trom fo much isjindging in the midli 
 
 ot 
 
 Cent. II.
 
 174 
 
 Cent. Ij 
 
 IjESOLVES. 
 
 of ficrceft flames. It attacques the Suns fwihjleedt ; and, like a Senti- ; 
 nel, commands ibemflanil, in the fpccd of their lull career. VVithi 
 reverence be it fpoken, 'Tis a kind ot ffjarw caft upon the Almighty-, \ 
 fo pvperful^ that it prevails upon Omnipotencj., and makes God that \ 
 we //<^ unto, to become a j/z/i'r unto us ^ Z^^ ;»£■ <7/o«<? (as if he were ; 
 held) was heg'doi A-fofes, when A^efes imj>ertuned him. Certainly,! 
 becaufe God faw it fo abfolutcly necejfary tor his children^ He would 
 not leave it in the power of A'fan to cake it from them. Rcmes Empircy 
 in all her ten Terjecntions-, could not take this from chrifiLins. This 
 they could make ufe of in the dark without a Tof?gne, and h\ the midtt 
 of all their Enemies, while their Tormentors ftood and watcht them. 
 Load a man with chains, let him lye upon the rack or Grid-irons, leave 
 him but a live heart, and Prayer fhall dwell there out of the Tyrants 
 reach, and comfort him. And doubtlcfs then it fpcaks Gods heavyeft 
 "judgement, when men are feared up by a fpirit that cannot f/ray. 
 Who can apprehend any thing more miferable than a J«^<f:f or a 5/'/^^, 
 both fliut out from Prayer ? It deprives the Soul oi hope ; and then is 
 Defpair let in, with that Immortal veerm, the terrors of eternal guilt. 
 He gives up h\vi:\k\ix.operdttion that neojefts to give himfelf to Prayer. 
 CMan was never fo great an Independent, but every minute he muft 
 need his God. And if he makes himfelf a ftranger, can he expcdl to 
 be heard as a Friead ? Other facrifices of the Larv have fomctimes met 
 with a chccque ; but this from a lincere heart is an offering chat is <f^'^r 
 fleajing; and />»/'cr/«»/'/y docs not give offence. It it prcvail'd upon [ 
 the unjufl fudge, will not the mofl righteous God be gaind upon ? And ' 
 indeed, what is it can fend us z'^Vj empty, but our own ^»j? Forj 
 it it carry us not faiely through all the ro^s/lfj of danger, the fault is-f 
 in our [elves not it. Like a faithful Companion when friends, wealth, i 
 health, honour, and life, is leaving us, /Aw holds us by the /'^W and I 
 \^zA%M%xo overlook \}c\t [Ijadesoi Death. \N\\ci^ Jpeechisgone, k lifts I 
 up hands and eyes j and, inftcad ot Language, groans, I 
 
 VIII. 
 the Virtuous ^!^an is afi^onder. 
 
 IF it were true when David lived, There is none that doth good, no 
 not one ^ How can it be Icfs in thcfc times, when the long Scries I 
 ot Prailice, hath heightned, and habituated Alan in vice, beyond that { 
 oi faffed ages ? The Virtntus man therefore doubtlefs muft be a Wofi- , 
 der. That Fire, is of an unufual compofure, that is made to hum in i 
 water : And fo mufl his Temper be, that can hold his Heat and I 
 Brightness, compared with Corruptions waves, and courted by thofej 
 temptations every where, that (like the Antient air) encircles him.| 
 That I fee men rvicked, it is no marvel at all. Bate a man Education, \ 
 and 'tis Natural for him to be fo. FoUy is bound up with the life of a ' 
 child. And fince vice is a 'Declination, furely Adan is born to m, as I 
 
 heavy ;
 
 1{ E S L F E S, 
 
 as heavy chinas iink downward. And then how much eafier is it faUina 
 dorvn the Hill, i\\xn climi/ig itt V\'hcn the handfomc curtczan Theo- 
 data, vaunted to Socrates^ how much Uic was to be ejieemd before 
 him ; becaufc flic cov\\i\ gam many profclytcs from him, but he none 
 at all from her : He rcply'd, it was no wonder ; for l"he led men down 
 the eajte and defcefiding road of P^ice^ while he compell'd them to the 
 therny and afcentivc path of Virtue They that arc tyded down the 
 ftream of loofenefs, have much the advantage of thofe that follow 
 goodnefs. Virtue dwells at the head of the iJwfrj to which we can- 
 not get but by rowing againft the Current. Bcfidcs thofc indinAtions 
 that fway the foul to ///, the way is broader, and more ftrewed with 
 guilded pleafures. He that walks through a /ar^^ field, hath only a 
 narrevf path to guid him right in the way. But on cither fide what 
 a. wide room hath he to wander in 'i What Latitude can bound apro- 
 phane mt, or a lafciviom Fancy ? the loofe tongue lets fly at all, while 
 the fober David (cts a fvatch at his lips, and examines all his Language 
 ere it pajfes. Every Virtue hath two vices, that clofe her up in curiota 
 limits : and if fiie fwerve, though never fo little, flic fodainly ^eps 
 into Error. Life is a palTagc 'twixt Scylla and cbarybdis ; mififing the 
 Chanel, our Bark is prefently fuckt into jhip-wrack : Religion hath 
 Superftition, and Profanejs. Fortitude hath Fear^ and Rafhnefs : Libe- 
 rality, Avarice, and Prodigality : Jufiice, Rigor, and Partiality ; and 
 fo the like in others ; which have made fomc to define Virtue co be 
 nothing clfe but a mean between /jv^ extreams. The truth is, the 
 track of Virtue is a nice way, 'tis walking upon an edge. And were 
 there not ijfar within that guids and flioots in raycs of comfort j 
 Nature would hardly take the pains to be virtuem. Virtue is a war 
 wherein a man muft be perpetual fentinel, 'Tis an Obeltfke that re- 
 quires many Trophies to the erecting it ; and, though loundcd in the 
 Earth {man, ) his fpire docs reach to Heaven. Like the Palm-tree 
 though it hath plcafant fruit ; It is hard to come by, for the Jlem is 
 not eafie to clime. Vir bonm, ctto ncc fieri, nee tnteWtgi potejl : nam 
 iUe,alter fortafe tanqnam Phcenix, anno quingentejirno najcifur, A good 
 man is neither quickly »si4^c, not cafily underftood : for like the /'/;«'- 
 nix, he by accident is born, but one in 500 years. And this was Se- 
 neca's opinion. To which not unfutablc, is that ot ^;;/<'W«f. 
 
 Judex ipj'e fiii, totum fe explorat ad ungtiem, (jrc. 
 
 Offenfus pravis, dat Palmam et Prxmia Reilis, c^c. 
 
 Vir bonus & Sapiens, qualem vix reppcrit ullum 
 
 \JMillibits c mnltis hominum, confultns Apollo. 
 
 Who's his own Judge,\\m\^c\i doth all Indite, ^c. 
 
 Who hates the Pad, rewards good,crowns the Right, (^c. 
 
 'Mongft many thoufands, Lcarn'd Apollo can. 
 
 Thus wife OLni\good, Icarcehnd one fingle man. 
 And indeed Virtue hath this in it. It is a pjip that rides among the 
 Rocks ; is cxcrcifcd in Sufferings, and in Difficulties, his A Sccevss 
 /bieldj throng'd with the arrows ot the Enemy. Who had known of 
 
 Mutitu 
 
 '75 
 
 Cent. II.
 
 ij6 
 
 Cent. 11- 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 Mutm-ScavoU, if his hearts Refolution had not left his hand in- 
 (enfible of fiames ? Where had been the memory of our Martyrs, 
 if their Pagan pcrfecutors had not given them the glory "ot their 
 Torments ? 
 
 lion e[l ad Ajlra mellis c terris vi.i. — 
 
 Imperia dura foUe, quid Firtus erit ? 
 
 From Earth to Heaven^ the vcay's v.orjoft, x\orfinooth. 
 
 In e.tjie things -y brave Virtue hath nop/ace. 
 Like mid-June fwine, we can quickly rowl and tumble us in the 
 mire of Fice : but to be a Virtnouj man. is toil and expugnation, 
 'tis winning of a City hy inches -^ for we muft not only make p-W 
 our own ground, but we muft ^f/'<r/our Enemies, who will ajjault 
 us, even from every room we pafs by. If in Fiee there be a per- 
 petual Gn'j[/i//o», there muft be in virtue a perpetual r/g/'/^w^: and 
 'tis not enough to be incellant, but it mult be univcrfal. In a Eat- ! 
 tail we fight not but in complete Armor. Virtue is a Catafhra£i : \ 
 for in vain we arme one Z/w, while the other is without a defence. I 
 I have known a man (lain in his eye, while (all cllc armed) he hath! 
 but peered at his Enemy. 'Tis the good man is the World's miracle-^ 
 he is not only Natures miftrcfs, but Arts maflcr-peice, and Heavens j 
 mirrour. To be foaked in Fice is to grow but alter our breed. But j 
 the good man 1 will worthily magnifie ; He is beyond the ManfoUum \ 
 or Bphefian Temple. To be an Honejiiwzw is to be more than Nature 
 meant him. His birth is as rare as the charge of Religion^hvit in certain \ 
 few periods of time. Like the only true Phylofonhers ftone, he canl 
 unalchimy the A]lay of life^ and by a certain calejlial [uperfcetation^ turn 
 all the brafs of this world into Gold. He it is that can carry on his 
 Bark againft all the %»jfliNg vcinds^ that can make the thorny way 
 pleafantj and un-intanglc the incumbrances ot the Earth. A wife a t'/V- 
 ///WW man, though he be in mifery, he is but like a black Lant-horn 
 in the night-, He may fccm du)l and dark to thofc that are about him, 
 hut within he is full of Light and Brightnefs^ and when he lifts to open 
 the door, he cz\-\jhevo it. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Of Venial Sins. 
 
 WHat fin is there which we may account or little or venial., un- 
 lefs comparatively ? It we look at the Alajefty ofcnded ; that 
 is infinite. If we look at the corruption oftcnding:, that would be 
 infinite. And then as to the very Entity of fin ; How can there be 
 alefsin infinites'* fince every /-^wV^ muft needs run out beyond the 
 line of Degrees. What therefore doth aggravate or diniinilliTj^, arifes 
 out of circumftance ; the very firft original ofy?« being equally in all 
 privation. In the main, Ifind their are but two opinions of fin: 
 One concludes, every fin Mortal ; The other holds, fomc to be but 
 
 Fenial :
 
 ^ESOLFES. 
 
 p^emd : Ttic tirll crycs up Gods Jujlice, the other may kc in his 
 Mcccy. The reformed way (as hn} lays,Evcry Jin in it felt Is^ortal; 
 So that every thou_^ht we think, every adion we commit, either is no 
 Jin-^ or elfe is fuch as without a Saviour finks us into Heil for ever : there 
 to be Tormented to Etermty. 
 
 The Church oiRome is not fo highly fevere. Some Ji»s they can al- 
 low to be but renial; fuch as ol^/ige not man to the PimifljMent o\ Eter- 
 nd death : which indeed is a Life endlefs, in endlefs torment. But yet 
 they allow them to be fuch as dcferve PuniPjment^zhhough fuch as are 
 cj.f\\y pardonal'/e : rernijfible of conrfe^ or exfiable by an o.^'iic penitence. 
 And tlirec ways they tell us they become 'vemd. 
 
 rirrt: is that which is Venial in it's kind: As an idle word. 
 
 Secor.dly, Sin may become Venial by event : As a mortal fin by true 
 Repentance iwdiy become Venial. 
 
 Thirdly, a fin may be venial c[\.\\tz by Infirmity or Ignorance^ when 
 thofc (they Hiv) that arc done out of either of thefe, neither need a 
 Saviours pajfion to fatisfis for them, nor oblige man in himfelf to be 
 bound to ■xpcrfctuity ot punfijment : but by a fijort penitence or a /?>//e 
 findging in a Purgatory fire, they fliall vapour away as things that never 
 were done. 1 intend not here to difputc the Truth of either of thefe 
 opinions. 1 believe if we take //z cither way, we rtiall quickly find 
 enough that (both out of duty znA prudence) i\Xd.y fright us from com- 
 mitting it : It all be mortal^ we need no more ; All arguments are 
 Icfs than that, to which nothing more can be added : it the punish- 
 ment be eternal, whatever is faid more, is lefis. But x.\\q fin in tnc 
 milder fince^^nd fliould we grant it venial -, Yet certainly there is caufe 
 enouo'h to beware : for albeit fome have made Coficnder account ot (im 
 that arc Venial) as to rank them but with firaves and trifles calily com- \ 
 mitted and as ealily wiped off: Blots with the fame breath made and 
 expunged. Yea the Noble 5t. Augufline {Sermon, de fanclis/^j, et in 
 fententiis cap. 46. informs us, Non fuflitiam impedire nee animam occi 
 dere venialia Pcccata ; That veniaffins, neither hinder Juflice, nor 
 defiroy the Soul. Yet 1 find divcrfe that upon deliberation have figncd 
 them with fo black a brand, that every wife chriftian will think them 
 Rocks as dangerous as thofe that fplit the fiiip, and perifli all the 
 fraight. ATitfcny with kfs than pin-holes will let in water as well 
 as the wide-fpaced Give. They dy, Venial fin may become Mortal lour 
 manned ot ways : 
 
 lit. Out of Confcience. For, be the matter never fo flight, as but to 
 lift a Rufij from thegro»nd.,yc:t done againtf Confcience it packs the Author 
 to Hell. Yea though the Confidence be Erroneoits. 
 
 ^ly. Omo{ Complacency. It is the fame St. Auguflines-^ NuUumPec- 
 catum adeo efi vcntale-, quod noa fiat mortalc dum placet, ^o fin can be 
 fo venial-, but that delight in it will make it Mortal. 
 
 .^ly. Out ot DifipofitioH. Becaufc by often tailing into venial fins 
 a man is difpofed unto mortal: by the proclivity, and tendency of his 
 own Corruptions : W hereforc St. Gregories caution may be of very 
 A a good 
 
 Cent. II.
 
 n 
 
 8 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 "RESOLVES, 
 
 ofood ufe unto ns-^Fitafii SaxagrAndU ^ Vide ne cbruaru Arena. Let the 
 Mariner that hathfcap'd the Rocks^ take head he be not wrack't upon 
 
 the Sands. 
 
 4ly. Out of TrogreJJion, For though Sin at firft puts up a plcafing 
 head, qlwA ([\(iws\inx.z.modejl "jcmality: yet, it it be not check' t, it 
 quickly ftvells to what is [ad and mortal. And bcfides thefc, they are 
 content to admit of [even fevcral dangerous ejfecis of thofe Jins that 
 thus they fineoth for venids. 
 
 Firft, they fay even the fetty venial does oblige a man to Pitnifj- 
 merit : Nay, it a man ^fj with Mortal 2nd r(f/?/W fins together, he 
 fhall hepumJJjt eternaly tor both. 
 
 2ly. It Jciles the /««/, 'tis the dujl of that cLtrecolc which with its 
 Z//;?^ Atomes blacks the beauty of the minAsfnir countenance. r^wd though 
 in the Elc6l, Grace wipes it 0% as x.o guilt ; yet it docs not do it, as to 
 pini^hment^ but he muft be cleans'dln Purgatory. 
 
 gly. Like rvater caft on Jire it deads thie Ac^/ of fharitj. 'Tis the 
 Ctf/^that f/'///^ the enltvcniisg warmth oi Virtue : hs piercing winds they 
 hinder the /r«/> o^ piety from ripemng^ and by degrees inlcnfiblc, they 
 y?r^/ us into drowfinejs and Lethargy. 
 
 4ly. It rvearies and /Wj the fc*/, that flic cannot be Co a£live in^ec^:/ 
 as fhe ought. Like Bells and Vervels they m^y jingle and perhaps feem 
 to 4^or» ; but indeed they hinder our flighty are but fpecieus Fetters, 
 and proclaim us in anothers property. 
 
 5ly. 'Xhcy keep us back kom glory: and whereas without them, wc 1 
 might pafs the neerejl way to Heaven, they make us go about by P«r- 
 g^tory ; where we muft. /?<<>' and bathe -^ and /"/if, and ^«r» ^all 
 our ^«/?. 
 
 dly. They dimini/h our glory : for, while wefliould be <afw>^ what 
 increafes it;, we trifle upon //'fp, and lejfen it. ^s cry good Action con- 
 tributes a /?4)' to the Inflre o\ ^Chriflians Crervn, but neglect alone 
 expofes it to famijh from it's brightness. 
 
 yly. They are often cccajtons of mortal Cms: They are Natures 
 kifes that Z^'/'r^^ «^ to Incontinence. They arc ihcfparkles and the .Rf^- 
 »^y} of that W/^i-f which oft /»//ff to Drunkennefs. Therefore take 
 now which ^^^ you pleafe, with all thefe conliderations where is 
 the offence that juftly we can count little ? That Gale that blows me 
 to a wrack among the Rocks, be it never fo gentle is to me the fame 
 with a Tempeft, and certainly in fomc refpecis more dangeretis. All 
 will labour to withftand zjlorm, but danger unfufpcded is not car'd 
 for. There be far more deaths contra5:cd out of tb.c nnperceiv^d irre- 
 gularities of diet, than by open and apparent furfeits. If they be 
 lefs in quality, they are move in number -^ and their multitude equals 
 them, to the others greatness. Nolite contemnere vcnialta quia rninimn. 
 funt, fed timet e quia plur a -^ "^^fpij^ not venial Jins, becaafc they are 
 [mall: but rather r^^W them becaufe they are «?;t/?)', was Si. Augtt- 
 fiines Counfel oC old. Ihe Aggregation oi Atomes, made at firft the 
 And the ^^^r^^^/zo;? of ^r^'/'j did ^fijjr^ it when 
 
 it 
 
 Worlds huge Mafs.
 
 "l^ESOLFES. 
 
 it was made. Who will think that wound fmall, that gives a fodain 
 Inlet, it' not to death, to difeafe'i li ^reat Sffishc i'illwg, the fmall 
 ones take us Prifoners, and then we are at the mercy ot the Enemy. 
 Like the Allies from the Mount Vefuvitis-^ though fingly fmi\l and no- 
 thing; yet in ctnjoyned qmntitiesi\\f^ embarren all i\\t jields about 
 it ; The Grxfs chough the ffnalleji of plants yet uumeroujly increafing^ 
 it covers all the face of the Earth : the mz,Iing rain makes fouler rvay, 
 than the 'violence of a right down jhovper. Great fins and fublick I will 
 avoid iov there fcandal and wonder ; Lejfer and private for their Danger 
 and Multitude ; both, bccaufe they difpleafe my God^ and will r«/>zf me. 
 I cannot if, / leve\him., but a^/^'^'r what he loaths. I cannot, if I love my 
 /?^ but beware of what will ^/r/?/-^^ awf-. 
 
 X. 
 
 Of JMamry and forgetfulnefs In Frlendp)'tp» 
 
 FOrgetfulnefs in Friendfhip may fomctimes be as necej^ary as Me- 
 mory : For 'tis hard to be fo exa^ly vigilant, but that even the 
 mofi /-rr/^J? lliall fomctimes ^/'I'f' and fometimes take offence. He that 
 expcdls every thing to be fully compleat^ remembers not the frailty of 
 Man. Who remembers too much, forgets himfelf and his friends. 
 And though perhaps a man may endeavour to be Tyte in all hii ways ; 
 Yet ke makes \\[m(c\i too Papal, that thinks he cannot erre, or that he 
 aEis not what dtfpleafeth an t'/Z'fr. If Zpz/e- can fO'Vfr a multitude of in- 
 firmities-, Friendfijip which is the growth of Love furely ought to do 
 it worf. When Ageflaus found fomc that repined at his Gevernment, 
 he would not fee their Malignity : But Commanding them to the iv^rx 
 with himfelf, he faffered them to enjoy both offices and places both of 
 Tr«/? and profit in the ^r;»)'. And when they were compkin'doxy for the 
 lUmanaging thereof, he would take their part and cxcufe them. And 
 by this means, of dangereus and underhand-enemies he form'd and 
 fmooth'd them into open and conftant friends. He was a Chrifi and 
 a Saviour that laid down his life for his fijeep., even while they were 
 ftraggling and averfe to his fold. And it look'd as unhandsome when 
 "^OHOi would be fo pettifh at the withering ot his C^ourd alone. Nor 
 ought my Forget fulnefs in friendfhip to be exercis'd only abroad, but 
 oftentimes as to my felf and at heme. It I do my friend a Courtefie, 
 1 make it mne\{ I put him in mind on't; expcding a return 1 am 
 ;{•/»</ to nvjfelf not /»//»; and then I make it Traffique not Beneficence: 
 Who looks for requital fcrves himfelf wot me, and with the Noble 
 Barque o\. friendfhip, like a Merchant, he Ventures ion game. As W(?4- 
 i/f^ lets his dews tall in the wj^///, fo thofe Favours arc mod Coeleftial 
 and refre(h us mo(\, that are /?c//i:-» upon us even wliilc we arc afleep : 
 like the fragrancies in fomc plants, they exhale too'fodainly when ex- 
 pofcd to the open Sun. What 1 do in friendjhip is galhnter, when 1 
 j mind it not more.Hc that tells me ot the favour he hath done me,canccls 
 ' A a 2 the 
 
 Cent. II
 
 i8o 
 
 Cekt. II. 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 the dekl«rv\ntxi; he files off the C^ain that kept me his frifinery 
 and witTi his tongue unloofeth the fetter that his hand put on. Intitling 
 himfelf to the Chccque which Martial beftowcth upon his talking 
 
 Tojlhttmtu. 
 
 Qua mthi pr^JIiteris memmit femperque tenebe ^ 
 Cur igitur Taceo {Pofthume) ? tu Loqtterii, 
 
 Incipio quoties alicui tua dona, referre-y \ 
 
 Trotintis exclamat ; Dixerat ipfe mihi. 1 
 
 Non helle quxdam faciunt dm : jujficit untu 
 Huic operi. Si vis tit loquar-, ipfe tace. 
 
 Crede mihi-y quamvii iagentia, Pojihume, donesy 
 AuBoris pereunt garrulitate fiti. 
 
 What {Pofthume) thou halk done, lie nc're forget : 
 
 Why fliould I fmoot her t, when thou Trumpet fl it ? 
 
 When I to any do thy guifts relate. 
 
 He prefently replyes, I heard him fay't. 
 
 Some things become not two ; Here one may fcrve ; 
 
 If I muft tell, do thou thy felt" rcferve. 
 
 Believe me, Pofthume, though zhy guifts be vaft ; 
 
 They perifli when the Authors tongue runs waft. 
 Certainly it Liberty bee to be prefer" d before Bondage, though he 
 injures himfelf that upbraids his friend with ought that he did beltowj 
 yet he does indeed (though he intend it not) befriendhim in it. As 
 the Romans did their jlaves, he manumits me with a Cuff ; and I am 
 not much lefs hcheldtng to him for this unkindnefs than I was before 
 for the "Benefit ; which as it is the givers Honour fo it is the takers 
 Bondage. It I be able to do a Courtejie, I rebate it by remembring it ; 
 I blot it out,when [ go about to Text it. If I receive one, 1 render my 
 fclf unworthy of it, whenfoever I do forget it. That is but a barren 
 earth where the y^^^ dyes before it comes to Ripenefs. Sutable to 
 thefe, It was thus, long fincc, enaftcd by the richly-ipeaking Seneca. 
 "Benejicii inter duos lex efi. Alter ftatim cblivtft:i debet dati : Kilter 
 accepti nunquam. Qui dedit "Beneficium, taceat : T^arret, qui acceptt. 
 Between to friends it is the law ot kindnefs. That he that does it, for- 
 get it prefently : but he that does receive it, never. Let him that be- 
 ftoivs it, hold his tongue : but let him that takes it, teU. Surely that 
 man means it nobly, and it comes from his own genuine goodnefs, 
 when he cares not to have any know it but his friend alone. But he that 
 blorvs his trumpet at his Alms, is a Pharifee. In friendfljtp, I would 
 ever remember my friends kindmefs ; but I would forget the favours 
 that I do him. I would alfo forget his negleBs : but 1 would remem- 
 ber my own failings. Friendftjip thus pre^rv'd ends not but with life. 
 Continuance will extend it to the fame effects, with the tyes of Nature; 
 which ufes to overlook the defeBs, of her oveny and not to be lefs 
 kind, though in fomething there be difproportkn, that might take 
 her off. 
 
 wherein '
 
 I^ESOLFES. 
 
 XI. 
 wherein a Qhrijiian excels other men. 
 
 THcre arc fcveral things wherein a chrifiian hath much the 
 Advantage of all the profefTors of other Religions. He excels 
 them all, in his Fortitude, in his Hope-^ in his Charity^ in his Fidelity. 
 \n\\\s Fortitude ; That is, when his caufe is J«y?. It was well dcfin'd 
 ot the Orator, Fortitude eft virtttspugnans pro ^quitate ', Fertitude is 
 a vhtue combating for Jujlice : otherwife he fhrinks under the load, 
 and couches like Jj[achers alTe, between the two burthens of his 
 Caufe and Confciencc. Hemay fliowlike Abraham with his hran- 
 difljt Sword above, as if he would prefently facrifice Ifaac himfelf : 
 But the Angel (his wk\i[n-CoKfcie/!ce) lays hold on his Arm, and ties 
 up his ha»d from Jlrikiffg. And indeed courage in a bad matter may 
 be humane policy., but cannot be Chrifiian valour. At beft it is but 
 Beauty with a skar. And the end of intention, when it comes to dis- 
 cover it felf in the end of the <^citon^ will have a greater influence 
 upon the mind of man than the fuccefs^ be it never fo prosperous. 1 
 may be applauded by the lookers on, as brave and /«// ot Fortitude. 
 When the Bates and Flu tterings oi ^ Cenfcience W\x!m\ llnall hlove up 
 coles., and kindle nothing but flames that fhall confume me. If I fiaht 
 in a bad Caufe., 1 fight againft my felf as well as againft my Enemy • 
 For befides him, \ combat my 5W againft my 2?^^)/ ; and, inftead of 
 one Enemy, I make my [elf two at the leaft. But in a Juft caufe, 
 how bountiful of all things is a chrifiian ? Nothing in the invention 
 of man can appal his Noble fourage, 'Tis true, there is no Religion-, 
 but fome have fealed the defence thereof with their lives. But"^cer- 
 tainly the World hath never drunk a quarter Gj much bloud of anv 
 other Religion, as it hath done of the chrifiian. The number of all 
 other Religions put together cannot come neer the untold multitude* 
 of Martyrs for ChriiUanity ; nor hath ever any other incrcifcd fo 
 with fufferi»g : as it the Martyrdomc of one were the watering to 
 make another grovo ; fo far Irom avoiding the fury of their Enemies, 
 as they have often itched ikcv Torments with an invvard plcafurc, fun<T 
 while the Element of fire was vphipping them ; It their be any Ne[i.ir 
 in this life, 'tis in the forrows that we indure for goodnefs. The Caufe 
 gives courage, which being juft, we arc backt by a Melior Natura, that 
 will not let us fear. It is 'Davids quarie Pfal. ij. H^he/tCjod was his 
 light, whom fljculd he fear ? He diOionours God that in his caufe gives 
 ground. Who will tear a temporal King,when he is in pay under one 
 that is eternalt When the Perjian Varanes chccqu't Hormifda for his 
 Chriftianity,'and would have pcrfwadcd him to renounce his pro- 
 feffion. His anfwcr was, that he commanded that which was both 
 impioui and impojfible, to think that hefliould forfakc the God of the 
 Vniverfe to make him his /r/f^j^ that was King but of a petty part. 
 When the Aged Polycarpm was urged to reproach his Chrift, he tells 
 
 tlic 
 
 i8i 
 
 Cent. II.
 
 182 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 ^ E S L V E S. 
 
 the Procenfrl Herod, That fourfcore and fix years he had fcrvcd him, 
 and never was harmed by him ; with what Confcicnce then could he 
 bUffheme his King that was his Saviour ? And being thentneJi on, 
 with fire, if he would not fwear by C^fars fortune ^ he tells him, 
 'Twashis ^[g'wr^wf that made him to expedit. For, fiyshc, it you 
 know not who I am, hear me telling you, that I am a Chriftian. 
 And when at the fire-, they would have taftncd him to the fiakcy the 
 brave Bi^e^ cries out to let him alone as he was. For, that God who 
 had enabled him to endure the fire would enable him alio without any 
 chains of theirs to ftand unmoved in the mid(l ot flames. So with his 
 hands behind him, unflir'd^hz took his Crorvn. So may you fee fome 
 Reverend Temple fix'd, not valuing all the minds, till fatal Violence 
 iozce ii dovpn ; or pece-weal clfe the eager yZ^/w^ digcft it into Cin- 
 ders. Here was difcovered the Noble and Heroick Nature of Chrifti- 
 anity, the jlrcngefl courage in tlie vpeakejl age j A Magnanimity as far 
 exceeding old Romes boafted Sc£ziol£s : as the whole body, does 
 the hand in Magnitude. When Lucius was lead tw Execution he gave 
 thanks that being difmified kom wicked Maflers, he fliould be remit- 
 ted to the King of Heaven. Vicior Vticenfis tells us. That when 
 DioKy/ia a Noble Matron was immodeftly denudated and barbaroujly 
 fcourged^ with a Courage beyond her Sex and in the midji of bloud the 
 told her Tormentors, That what they intended for her jhame fiiould 
 hereafter be her Glory. It is moft true that in matters unjuft, Chri- 
 ftian Religion wheys the bloud and makes a forvard ot man : But in 
 matters that are right, it advances Humane Courage beyond the flan- 
 dard of humanity. Heaven and the commands of a Deity are in the 
 eye, whereby all the Temptations of this World become unedged and 
 unprev Ailing. And certainly one main caufe hereof is his Hope, where- 
 in as well as Fortitude he excels all other, as feeing further by the 
 Gofpels light than any in the world befidc. The Heathen as they lived 
 in darkncfs, fo they going to the Bed of Death without a Candle, faw 
 not where they were to Jye. And in tiac general, they faw nothing 
 beyond Death, but either DuU, oblivion or Annihilation. Or \i not 
 thefe, they dyed in doubt ; which more than any thing diftrafts the 
 mind in uncertainty. 
 
 foft mortem nihil ejl : ipfaque mors nihil', 
 
 Velocii fpatii meta. novij^ima, 
 
 Spem ponant avidi, foUiciti metum. 
 
 Quxris, quo jaceaspojl obit urn Locel 
 
 Quo non-nata, jacent. 
 
 Death nothing is ; and nothing in it's place ; 
 
 'Tis but the laft point of a Tojiing Race. 
 
 The greedy, Hope : the troubled Fear lUji by. 
 
 Wouldcft^cnow where 'tis, that after Death men lyc 1 
 
 'Tis where thofe are, that never yet were born. 
 Having this from fo grave an Author as Seneca we may for the moft 
 conclude it the Heathen Creed. Mahumetijme indeed propofeth fome- 
 
 thing I
 
 !I{ E S L F E S, 
 
 183 
 
 thing after the bodies difTolution. But it is a fenfm I h^ppincCs, fuch 
 as the (rAilty of the Body is CapnLlc o\ ; inch as here they covet, they j 
 p:opo(c in Paradife. So the change being Jittic, the expeciation can- 
 not be great-, (kicc life that they efjjoy here in feme certainty of kfiovp- 
 ledge., will be rather preferr'd, than a little bettering with the hazard 
 that is run in ^;7>?^. The y<?»v in part allows an Immortality: though 
 the Sadduccs deny it. So, their hope is buryedin the fame grave with 
 them. And for tlic major part they liold Pythagoras his A-fetempJucho/is-, 
 only limiting it to the lame fpecies. And their Fear is as well of tvorfe^ 
 as their Hope is of any better being. But the Chriftian hath a Hope 
 that is better far. The Joys attending him are fpiritual and eternal, 
 Tb.e beatifical FiJ'ion of the face of God, to fee and kuow the im- 
 meafe Creatour ot all things. The tmion to the God-head, the ifijoy- 
 mcnt of a Deity beyond our here Conceptions.^ bletVed ; Such things 
 as for the great Apojlle were no: lawful here to utter., the being freed 
 from fw/and the fear of ir, the being fct in a ftatc of purity and per- 
 feciion^ far beyond the //^w/g/'/j that herein the rveaknejs of the flefj} 
 we carry, as far exceeding our prefent Apprehenfions as Spirits do 
 exceed the drofs of black corruption. 1\\cHope and Faith of thefe 
 muft needs beget a Fortitude., which others wanting thefc can never 
 reach. Death as a Pirate fteals away others from their (ountryVtrCy 
 and with ten thoufand /^^rjthcy zxz diJiraBed, bccaufc they know 
 not what they lliall be put to. But the Chriftian goes as fent for by 
 an Ambaffadour to the Court of Heaven^ there to partake felicities un- 
 utterable. And indeed is happier here, bccaufc he knows he fliall 
 be happier after : He can be content to part with a life here full of 
 Thorns and Acerbities, that he may take up one i\\zi's glorious an«i in- 
 corruptible : and having this Anchor above others, with far more cafe 
 he rides out all the ftorms of Life. Next, In Charity he furmounteth 
 all the profelTors of all the other Religions. He can part with all for 
 that God that hath provided more than all for him. He can, not on- 
 ly bear, but pardon., all the injuries that can befal him ; not only par- 
 ^c»thcm, but requite them with ^W. What Religion, but it, will 
 teach man to pray for him ihnperjecutes him, to blefs him that curfeth 
 him, to /'^^/'Cc/<'i-ot fire uponhis //i?^i, that fliall ^^f»^/y warm his 
 charity, and inflame his Love, not render him vpor^e by niaking him 
 more inexcufable f We look not upon him as a ChrilHan, if when lie 
 (^yf J- he forgive not, and pray {ox,h\<i Enemies. Herein o/tt-foaring the 
 Dictates o[ depraved Nature-, which would prompt us to retaliate 
 wrongs ; 'XVa% 0]arityhc2<^i%\\\s Fidelity. For indeed it is the glue of 
 Soulsy that by rhc influence ot Divinity cements them together in Love. 
 Nulla vis major pietate vera eft. There is no Fnendpip like tb.e fricnd- 
 fhipo^ Faith: Nature., education., Benefits, cannot all together tye fo 
 ftrong as this. Chriftianity knits more fure, more indifoluble. This 
 ma.kcs a. knot that Alexander caimot cut, ^league Hell cannot brrak. 
 For as Grace in her felt is far above Nature, io is flic in her Ejfecis. 
 The fouls of Believers like wines once mixr, they ftrcight become 
 I infeparable. 
 
 Cent. II.
 
 184 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 ^ E S L V E S, 
 
 infeparable^ as pureft wools once mingled.^ never part : The fire cannot 
 divide them. They puri^)-, fade, they lize and dye together. A 
 Chriftian though he would, he cannot refohe to he ftlfe. Whatfoevcr 
 is joyned log's.ihcv upon temporal Co fjfidcratiom, niav be by the fame 
 again dillolved ; but that League which deduces its Original froiii Hca- 
 ven, by Earth can ne'rebe fevered. Tyrants fliall fooner want In- 
 ventitn iov Torments, thin chriflians with tortures he made Treache- 
 rous. Who can fcparatc the conjunftions ol \xT>city'^ Nor is it in 
 kindnefs only, h\it in Reproof , thuWis Jide lit y{[-icw$ it fell: However 
 he conceals his friends faults from the fliering eye of the world ; yet, 
 if he offends, his being a David and a King fliall not free him from 
 this TSJjthans Reprehen/ion. To which he is drawn, chat he may Jave 
 not ff/oil. He fcorns to be fo haje as to flatter, and hates to be fo cur- 
 rifjj as to bite. So his Reproof is kindnefs,ind the vcoiinds h.c makes are 
 noc without "Balfome to heal ; Thefe qualifications of all other men 
 make a Chriftian the beft Companion. An Enemy he never is ; it at any 
 time he feem fo, 'tis but that he may be a friend. For he is avcrfc 
 to only ill. He would kill the difeafe, but docs it, to prcfervc the 
 Patient ; So that it will be my Fault, not his, if he be not ^ friend 
 to me. And when he is fo, he is furc without private Interefl, Feur, 
 or Malice : and affords me a Security,which 1 cannot well cxpedl from 
 anv other Rank of men. 
 
 XII. 
 Of Lojfes, 
 
 IF we fcan things rightly, we have no Reafon to be fadned for thofe 
 wordly goods that we lofc : For what is it we can lofe which pro- 
 perly we can call ours ? Job goes further j he blelfeth him that takctb 
 away, as well as him that gives. And by a queftion concludes his 
 Contentment with both. Shall we receive ^^jo^a? at the hands ot the Lord, 
 and not fw/? And hitherto, the Text clcers liim from being paffi- 
 onate 'iQi any, or all, his Crojfes: If after he did fly out. It wasj 
 the redarguing of his mifguided friends, not his heing Jlript of all; 
 that movedhlm. Nay 'tis certain, in the ReBitude of Reajon wc can- 
 not lofe at all. If one lend me a ^eweho vpear, l"hall I, becaufe I ufe | 
 it, fay, 'tis my own. Or when my friend requires it again, fliall I fay, ' 
 I have /?/? it; No, \ \nW\ reflore it rather. Though we are pleafed 
 that wc are ?y///?^^ with the Wz-^wf^ things of this Life; we ought 
 not to be difpleafed when the ^r^4/Creatour calls for what he had but 
 lent us. He does us no injurj that takes but his own : And he pleads 
 an unjufl Title againft Heaven, that repines at what the God of Hea- 
 ven refumes. It was dettbtlefs [nch zConfideration is this, that made 
 Zeno when he had been Shipverackt, only to applaud Fortune and to 
 fay. She had done honeflly in reducing him but to his Coat. Shall 
 God aLford us all our life long not only Food but Feafling, not for
 
 ^ E S L V E S. 
 
 185 
 
 Vfe buc Ornament , noc Neceffity alone, but Pleafure'i and when Cent. II. 
 at laft he withdraws, fhall we ht pajfionate and Melancholy'^. If 
 in the blackncfs ot the ^z^/'^, one by accident allows me the be- 
 nefit of his light to nW^ by J fliall I j'/z^rr^/ him becaufc he ^ri-s'^j 
 me not /;o/we ? I am to thank him for a /////(f, which he did not oxve 
 me ; but never to be Angry that he affords not more. He that hath 
 abundance rides through the reerld on Horfe-back : Perhaps he is 
 carrycd with fohae more eafey but he runs the /'-«2;/im'of his ^f^ : 
 And bcfides the Cajuahy of his own Frailty , he is fubjeft to the 
 danger of thofe ftumbles that his Bearer makes. He that wants a 
 plenty, docs but rvalk on foot : He is not born fo high upon the 
 Creature, but more fecurely palTcs through the variom Adventures ol 
 life. And not being J'^wrr^ by picking want, may take his eafe in tra- 
 vailing as he pleajcs. 
 
 In all loj^es 1 would have a double profpe^l : I would confidcr what 
 I have lofii and 1 would have regard to what I have left, it may be in 
 my lojs I may iind a Benefit. I may be rid with it of a Trouble^ a jnare, 
 or danger, it it be Wealth, perhaps there was a time when / had it not. 
 Let me think it then 1 Itvd not well without it. And what then A^ould 
 hinder that 1 lliould not do fo now ? What news is it that a Bird with 
 vctngs fhould^? /?/c/^f J have fuch, and 'tis a thoufand to one buc 
 fomc other did lofe them before. I found them when another lofi 
 them, and now 'tis likely fome other will find them from me : and 
 though perhaps 1 may have loft a Benefit ^ yet thereby likcwifc I may 
 be eas'd ot a Cumber. In moft things of this nature 'tis the opinion ot 
 the lofs more than the/c/> \k\^'i vexes. If yet the only prop ot my 
 itfe were gone I might rather wonder that in fo many forms I rid fo 
 long with that one iingle Anchor than now at laft that it fliould break 
 and failmc. When Vvar had r/tz'{/Z'£'^ all tVom 5;i^(j, zw^ Demetrius 
 ask'd him, How he could brook fo vaft a defolation^. He returned, that 
 he had loft nothing. The goods he had, he ftill enjofd j his rirtue. Pru- 
 dence-, Juftice-t lUll were with him, thcfe were matters permanent and 
 immortal: tor the otlicr it was no wonder. That what was pcrifliable, 
 fhould pcriHi. 
 
 In the next place, let me look to what I have left. He that mif- 
 
 carrics once will husband what is left the better. It the Dye of Fortune 
 
 hath thrown me an ill chance, letmc ftrive to mend it by my good 
 
 play. What I have is made more pretiom by my want ot what 1 
 
 once was owner of. If I have lofi buc lit^h^ let me be thankful that 
 
 I loft no more, feeing the rrw^/Wt-r was as flitting ^s the rclt that's; 
 
 gone. He that in a Battail is but jlcightly wounded rather rcjovces 
 
 that he is got off fo well, (hzMgreives that he was hurt at all. But, 
 
 admit it were all that is gone j A man hath Hope ftill left. And 
 
 he may as well hope to recover the tilings he hath /'/?, as he did 
 
 acquire them, when he had them not. Tliis will lead him to a new 
 
 Magaz^ine, where he cannqc deny but he may be fappl/d with Ad- 
 
 ! vantage ; God will be Ictt ftill. And who can be poor who hath 
 
 I Bb him
 
 i86 
 
 Cent. 11 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 him for his friend that hath all. In Pemry a Chriftian can be rici> ; and ' 
 'tis a kind ot" Psradox to think he can be poor, that is dcftined to be i 
 
 Kingdoms Heir. 
 
 XIII. 
 Of long and fl)ort Life. 
 
 THere is no queftion but Life in it fclf is a BleJJing : And it is 
 not rvorfened by being long. The being of every thing, as a be- 
 ing, is good. But, as fome ABions that are good in themielves, by 
 their Circumjlames become (Condemn able ; fo that /ife which abftra- 
 6lively is good, by Accidents and Adherencies may become unfortunate- 
 He that lives long, docs many times outlive his Happinefs. As even- 
 ing Tempefts are more frequent^ fo they carry a blacker terrour 
 along : Toutb like the Sun^ ott rifes clecr and dancing ; when the after- 
 noon is cloudy, thtck^ and turbulent. Had Priatnus not liv'd fo long, 
 he had neither feen his fifty children llain, nor Troy {enlarged) lolt, 
 nor himfclf after two. and fifty years Reign made captive-, and by 
 Pyrrhui flain : SyUa got the name of Happy-, Pompey of great., yet by 
 living long they both loft both thofe T/?/?/ : Cx/«^///?«j his high For- 
 tune was not fweetned by his long extended life. It could be no great 
 plcafurc to want an ilTue male of his own ; to fee his Adopted Sons 
 untimely loft ; his Daughters loofnefs ftaining the Homnr of his Hott^'e : 
 and at laft rather by Neceffity than choice to fix upon a Succejfor 
 neither worthy of himfelf nor Rome. How much more blefi had Nero 
 been, if he had not out-liv'd his firft five years of Empire ? What 
 is paft^wich us, wc know; but who can prye into the Borvels of 
 Fate ? And though (at that time) Seneca had only tailed the dif- 
 pofition, not felt the anger of Nero ; Yet he found enough to en- 
 force him to cry out : Hen quam mult a poenitenda eccurrunt^ diu z'i- 
 'venda ? Alafs, how many irkfome bufinctlcs befall us by our livino- 
 long? If a man be bad or unfortunate., he docs but incrcafe his 
 mifery here or hereafter. If he be good, he is fubjed to the more 
 ahufes : For, the greater part of the m>rld is ill, and /// natur'd 
 felf-lovc bends almoft all men to themfelves, preferring their own 
 Benefit before the incenvenience of another. And being io, he that 
 is good is expofed to move fufferings than another. A good mingrorvs 
 in ihisrvorld like fome Garden-plant in a hedge, ovcr-top'd and juft- 
 led to a. Decimation : belides his being /haded and dropt upon, the 
 Themes and Bufijes are too rude and Clowni[h for the finenefs of a 
 fruitful Tree. And if the World were good, yet the Bufinefs of the 
 world .is Touths. Age like a long travail'd Horfe rides dull toward his 
 Journeys end ; while every new fetter o\it,gaUops away, and leaves him 
 to his MeUmholick Trot. In Ttuth., untaimed blond does gcad\x% in- 
 to /^//j-; and, till experience m»/ w, vfc n<^Q unbitted., wild-^ and, 
 in a rvanton fling, difturb our filves and all that come but neer us. 
 
 In
 
 ^ESOLFES. 
 
 In Jge, our Je/ves arc with our Je/ves dilpleafed. VVc are look'^ 
 npoii by others as things to be e»dur'cl, not courted or apply d to- 
 VVho is it will be fond of gathering f-^ding fiowers ? Frmts pilt 
 Maturity grow lefs to be ejleentd. "Beauty it fclf, once Autumn d, docs 
 not tempt. 
 
 On the other fide, what is it that we loofe by dying ? If, {■\sJob 
 fays) our life be a warfare, who is it will be Artgry tliat it ends be- 
 timesl Alongfupper, thouifh a (call, does grow to a tedious thing; 
 bccaufc it tyres us lo iLaJfitude-, and keeps us from our rcrt that Ts 
 fwceter. Lite is but a/'/.rj upon this vporlds flage. And it a man were 
 to chufc his part, in difcretion he would not take it for the length, but 
 for the ea^e and goodness. The fliort life has the fliorter Audit to 
 make. And it it be one of the greatcfl Felecities that can befal man-, 
 to be in fuch a Condition as he may not difpleafe God ; furely their, 
 foon to enter upon Death is beft. 'Tis true, 1 may by living be In- 
 jlrumental to Gods Glory, the good of ethers, and my own 'Benefit. 
 But if 1 weii^li niy own Corruptions, the World's Temptations, and 
 my Enemies Malice, the odds is on the other lidc. VVho can lay, he 
 can travail infafety when his way is in a Forclt oi mid Be afls, Thieves, 
 and OHtUv()s-^\Nm\\ man is his own Syren,^xi^ when in all [ho: Jlr earns he 
 frvims in, Bayts arc Jlrervedt Death to a Righteous mtin, whether it 
 Cometh foon or late, is the beginning ot a certain happinefs ; the end 
 but of a doubtful and allayed pleafure. I will not much care whe- 
 ther my Life be long or: Jhort. It lliort the fetver my days be, the lefs 
 1 fliall have ot Trouble, the fooncr fliall I arrive at Happinefs. If 1 
 cfcape from nothing elfc, yet fliall I efcape troin the haz,ard, lite will 
 keep mc in. If long, let mc be fure to lay it tut in doing the more 
 good. And then though I flay for it a while, yet as abjlinence fliarp- 
 pens appetite, fo veant and expectation will make my Joy more 
 ■welcome. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 OfEJiablip?'m^ a troubled Qovernment, 
 
 HE that would eftabliili a troubled Government muft firft van- 
 quiHi all his Foes. VMiocanbc quiet while his Enemie is in 
 Arnis againrt him. FaElioits heads lliould be higher by zpole than tiieir 
 bodies. He that would rule over many, mult pr [I fight with many 
 i and Conquer • and be fure to cut off thofe that raife up Tumults, or by 
 . a Majefitque avpe keep them in a y/r/'c? Stibjeclion. In every able Prince, 
 \Lipfifis Wi)ald have two things eminent, f^is et l^irtiti. Porter and 
 Virtue. He ought to have power to break infurreftion at home, and 
 repel a force that would invade him trom abro.id. He ought to have 
 (Virtue to prefervc his /^.tr^ and D/^' />//;', and by the nccellary art of 
 Policy fo to order all the jlreams ot Government as they may run 
 deer and obedient in their proper chanels. Porvcr is, certainly, 
 ' B b 2 the 
 
 iS7 
 
 Cent. II.
 
 i88 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 IjESOLVES. 
 
 the moft cffential part of Sovereignity. 'Tis an infefarahle attribute of; 
 the Deity. God is Ommpotettt as well as Onmifctefit . And without j 
 it, he were not God : 'tis that which diftinouiflieth and [nper-pojits \ 
 him above all. When \vc would fpcak oi the true god indeed we al- \ 
 ways name him god-^/mgk): As therefore he that would be a 
 Prime, the firft thing in his ^izsfhouldbe Porver ; fo when he isaj 
 Prime znd deve/ls himfelfof it, he depofis And unthrenes himfeU, and 
 proclaims himfelf a Prey to any that will attempt the boldness but to ! 
 take him. He feems to tell his Emmies-^ that he is now tveak and 
 unarmed.) and invites them to fct npon him. V\ ithout Power., he Is 
 but Fortunes jdol, which every Sejarms may revile and fpurn at his 
 Tleafure. 'Tis Porver that begets Fear, and Fear that Hrft made CJ^jis^j: 
 But fuppofe he \\3.ihporvery if he have not Refolutioa, like a Child he 
 wears a Srverd, but knows not how to ufe it. Irrefelution is a worfcr 
 rice than Rafhnefs : he thatyZ'<'c^i^<j'?may fomctimcsmifs the mark, 
 but he that fjeots mt at alld^zW be furc never to hit it, A Ralli a(3: 
 may be mended by the aBivenefs of the penitent, when he fees and 
 finds his frrer. But Irrefoluiion loofcns all the joynts of State: like 
 an ^^«^ it (hakes not this or that Limb^ but all the body is at once in a 
 fit. 'Tis the dead palfiy^ that, without almoft a Miracle, leaves a 
 Man unrecoverable. The irrefolute man is lifted from onQpUce to ano- 
 ther, till tyr'd, «t lafthe hath noplace left to refi on. He flecks from 
 one Egg to another, fo hatcheth nothing at laft, but addles all his ABi- 
 e»s. An eafie Prince at beft is but an ufelefs thing. A facile natnr'd 
 Man vni^ he 2i good Companion {ov a private perfon : but for a Prm^ 
 to be fo, is mifchief to himfelf and others. Remiffnefs and Connivence 
 are the r«/;9f/ of unfecled Kingdoms. The G^fwe ot Majcfty will not ad- 
 mit of too open a play, simplicity is as Liberality , of which Tacitus 
 obferves, iVf/i modm a^fit^ in exitinm vertitur.^ It it ftands too ftill, 
 it putrifies. 
 
 My paflions and affedions are the chief difiurbers of my Civil 
 State. What peace can 1 expe<5t within me, while thefe Rebels are 
 not under Snbjcclion ? Separations are the rvounds of a Crown, where- 
 by neglefted it will bleed lo death. If I have not the virtue of J«^- 
 ment to difcern their traias, and fly Siiggeflions j If I have not the 
 virtue of Courage to withftand their Force and 'Batteries : If 1 have 
 not the power ot Authority to command them to Obedience ; If I have 
 not the power oijlrengtb to mafter all their Co^^f^ications : I leave my 
 fclf a prize to vice^ and at laft Hiall not live to be man. PUto was of 
 Opinion that thofe Common-vpealths could not be fafe^ whofe Cover - 
 xours were not Philofophers, Or whofe Prince was not a ftudcnt of wif- 
 dom. And furely, if a Man underftands not fomethin^ of Reafon, or 
 be not able to judge oi prudence ^ he ihall very hardly find a Life with- 
 out Broyls^ or be able to govern his own unruly pajjions. Therefore as 
 the Prince that will be fife among turbulent Subjelfs, muft ever be 
 upon Ht Guard \ fo he that knows the irregularities o'i hh own de- 
 prav'd affecli-ons:, muft keep perpetual Sentinel upon them. A fleeping 
 _ _ Samfon
 
 RESOLVES, 
 
 Samfen needs buc 2i feeble tvomaxt co cue his locks ojf\ and deliver him 
 up to deftrHcii$n. 'Tis Security and confide nee ih^x. as oft undoes a 
 Prince, as Force. But vigiUnce is (cldom under-min'd. A itate awake 
 and upon its Guard-, tis difficult to [urprize. Cato was of opinion that 
 Govermnr defervcd moft praife that could govern himfelf and his 
 fajjions. And as the (kength of him that commands conlilts moft in 
 the confent of thofe that obey : fo if 1 can bring my j>aJJions and af- 
 fections to fubmit to Religion, and Reafon, I may fettle my Deminion 
 my felf fo, as I need not fear the airaak ot them without me. If 
 
 iSP 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 m 
 
 I cannot prune oft all my fuperfluites, let me yet fo reftrain them as 
 1 may not z&. my own fliamc, nor give matter oi infultation to others. 
 If my llrcngth be once gone and I become blind, 1 then am fitted to 
 make fport for the Philijlims. He that is ajlave to himfelf and his 
 orvn fond /«/?/, can never long prcferve his liberty from others. As 
 man is commonly his own pnme flatterer, fo is he, lor the moft part, 
 the firft engine of his own low fervitude. 
 
 XV. 
 Of doing GoodTvith Laheur^ and EVtlyt^ith 'Pleafure. 
 
 IT was ancicfitly faid. That whzt(otr cv good rvork a man doth with 
 labour, the labour vanilT:ieth, but the ^W remains with him that 
 wrought it : And whatfoevr evil thing he doth with fleapire-, the 
 pleafure flies, but the ^w'/ftillreftcth with thc^c^or of it. Goodnefs 
 making labour ftveetj while evil turneth pleafure to a burthen. The 
 Creation, which was Gods work for fix days, hath both publiiht and 
 perpetuated his glory ever fince. Where the end is but profit alone-, 
 how uncomplainingly we toyl and tug the trembling Oar • we ftrain 
 our nerves, and anoint our felves with frveat, and think it pleafure 
 while we compafs what may folace us hereafter. The firft Inventors 
 of Arts, though with pains they fpcnt much time and treafure too^ 
 yet being done once, all their patchings arc prcfcntly vanidit. But 
 ihc/r«/>of their labour, paid them with co«/f»/-, while living; and 
 after that, gives the Tribute of a Noble tame to their memory. VVhile 
 wc arc rvorking what is good, wc arc but fcattcring feed, which after 
 all our harrowing, will ripen up to happinefs tor our fclvcs ; like well 
 plac'd benefits, they redound to the Collators honour. Ticneficmm dmdo 
 accepit, qui dtgno dcdit : J^y giving he receives a benefit, that Jays it 
 on the well-dcferving man, Alexander Scverus was ot (o Noble a Na- 
 ture, that he thought not them his friends, that ask'd not fimethmg 
 of him : And when it was in difputc, who was the bejl 'Trincel his 
 opinion was, that he ought to be held for bcfi, that retain d\\\% friends 
 by favours, and reconciled his Enemies with courtefies. TuUus Hojiilttu 
 was to Rome z forreiner a Tradefmans fon , and an Exile-, yet his 
 induflrioHs virtues fitted him fo dcfervedly to the top ot Honour, that 
 Vderim Maximm fcruples not to tell us ; That Rome never repented, 
 
 tliat 
 -■ . I . . . ■«■«■ -i*f' p'
 
 I90 
 
 Cent. Ij. 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 that fiie borrcwed a Kifig from her neighbours:, rather than fet up one ' 
 oF her own. His Succcrior Scrims Tuliiw, was not Ids SLwcnder : ' 
 The fame City that bred him a Jlave, tor his 'virtues chofe him a } 
 King ; and to his eternal Boneur^ left his Statue paradox'd with Servi- \ 
 tude and Royalty . \ 
 
 Nay, it's certain, though tlie [uccefs of noble actions be fometimes i 
 mo^ ingratefnl ; yet, when they arc done our of uprighnefs and in- \ 
 tegrity, they rervard the (Author with fuch an inrvard jhine of conjci- \ 
 ous [atisJA^ion-i that he remains unprickt with the ^^rfy/j' of even the 
 iror// returns. And the greater his /^Z-o/zr and hazard was, the plca- 
 fanter is the remembrance when 'tis pafl. In dangers efiapedj a man 
 may find himfelf ^^/ci'^^ ot the Deity, guarded by his better Jlngel, 
 and cared for by a Genms that lie knew not of; which cannot but ad- 
 minifter comfort and content to himfclf : whereas unworthy and inglo- 
 rious aciioiis, though they give a prefent blaze to the finiul corruptim 
 of man ; yet it is fuch zjii'e, as that is of burning-\\oVi[<ss ; where the 
 flame-i whik [hiving, is not wkhoui a^righting pnoh ; but, that once 
 paft, the end is rubbi/h, Jench, and ruine. Tarquins rape was dogg'd 
 with the over -throw oi his houfe, and expul/ion of Monarchy. Sforza 
 languifli'd near as many years a prifoner in the Tower of Loches, as 
 he had ufarped Empire in his Nephews turmoyled Dukedome. When 
 Ly/imachus, through thirjl, was forced to yield himfelf to the Scy- 
 thians ; he could then /-nv^// himfelf, that tor fo lliort a /'/(f4/»r^, he 
 fliould part with fo great a happinefs as his liberty. Like a draught 
 of pleafant poyfon, tlie guft is gone, while the torture ^fiays, and 
 burns us to om grave. How long an age doth many a man repent one 
 youthful ryott Surely, as a wife man never repented oi a good aliion ; fo 
 he never did, Ww. repent oi z. bad one, 1 will not therefore care how 
 laborious^ but how honejl my alitons be ; not ho\N pleasurable^ but how 
 good. It it could be, let me be virtuous and noble-, without pleafure ■., 
 rather than wicked, with much joy. It was indeed, a refolution well 
 bekcming a Royal chri/lian^ That he had much rather be in (hcCata- 
 logue o{ "Unfortunate Princes .^th^n of tricked •, for his judgement clearly 
 was, That a Crown was not worth taking up, or enjoyi/jg, upon fordid^ 
 dishonourable, and irreligious terms. 
 
 XVI. 
 That Virtue and Vice gQiierate after their kind. 
 
 AS in the firft Injlitution of Nature., and the Propagation of Cor- • 
 poreal Efences, it was enaded, and yet continues. That every j 
 thing fljould bring forth fruit after his kind: So I find it in ihc propx- j 
 gation of Firtue and Fice^ they bring forth fruit after their kind. Fir- \ 
 tue begets Firtue. Fice begets Fice. And 'tis as natural for a man to ! 
 expcd a return of Firtue out of Firtue, and a return of Fice out of! 
 Fice J as 'tis for him to expcd an Elephant lliould beget aii Elephant, I 
 
 or
 
 1{ E S L V E S. 
 
 or a Serpent beget a Serpent. Nay, not only the ^^-^^if, but the very 
 \ [pedes holds ; and ottcncimes, the proportion of that (pedes too. 
 I High actions beget a return oi Actions that arc (o : And poor low 
 '.flagging deportments^ beget a return ot the //'/r. The Eccho is accor- 
 : ding to the voice tha.: fpeaks : The report of the Peke is proportionable 
 to the magnitude it bears : If it be but by reflection only, the hsams 
 arc reverberated bright, as is the Sun that fliines them. And clouds 
 import a flude^ as is their proper blacknefs. For his fnendfljip and 
 riches, the Romans bcflowcd on Attaltts the Kingdom of Pergamai : 
 and he to cxprefs g^ratitude ( not having children of his own) left 
 the City of Rome his Heir ; returning their gift advantag'd with his 
 infinite reedth. CdmiUus his Noble a£i of whipping back that treache- 
 rous Schoolmajler by the Youths that he would have betray' d^ obtained 
 him the yielding up that 0/7 to him, which his valour with all the 
 Arms of Rome could no: enforce. Terentitu his virtues and his be- 
 ing one of the Roman Senate, made fo deep an impreffion in ScipiSs 
 manly heart, that when the Carthaginians came to fue for peace and a 
 league^ he would not hear them, till they brought him forth difcharg'd 
 ot his Jmprifonment j\n\\o\\\ he placed on the Throne with himfelf, and 
 then difmifs'd his arms. And this again fo prevailed with Terentiui^ 
 that when Scipio had his Triumph, Terentitu-, though a Senator, put 
 himfelf into Scipio' s Liverj, and as his freed man w^i/^^*^ on his pom- 
 pous Chariot. In the fecond Punick War, when Capua was belieged 
 by Fulviu-s, two Countreyvi>enches would needs be kind 10 Rome ; one 
 daily made her offering for the fafety of the Army, the other fupply'd 
 the captivd Souldiers with/ooaf and other necejfaries : which at the 
 faccage of the place, the Senate of Rome requited with refloring 
 them their goods and liberty, and granting •them what elfe they de- 
 ftred. He teaches me to be good, that docs me good : he prompts me 
 to enlarge my heart to him, that firfl: enlarges his own to mc. If 
 virtue in the heart be not totally dry'd up and withered : Curtefies 
 receiv'd, arc rvatcrings t\\^x.m2kQ.ii pjoot up znAgrorv, till it flower 
 and returns a /ff"^. Tliat r/r^/» which the loofe Courtiers o{ Charles 
 the fifth, h'Sidi purveyed io'C hvs wanton appetite -^ when with tears for 
 our blclfed Ladies fake (whofc picture then adorn'd the room flie 
 was in) flic bcgg'd the prcfervation of her Chaflity^ it wrought fo 
 high in tb.e Empcrours Heroick brefl-, that it made him chdfi, that 
 I was refolv'd to be otherwifc ; and to reward her tor that virtue 
 which he fully did intend to violate : being indeed a rare example, 
 that luft, fredhy youth, power,^nd opportunity, and enflamed by Beauty, 
 Hiould be abated into Continence, by only meeting with a native Mo- 
 defly. And tlie fame genuine etfeft hath vice. It not only corrupts 
 by example, but it fows it fclf, and gives a cro^ of the fame grain that 
 by our fclves is fcatter'd. With t\\Qfroward thou ihalt Icarn froward- 
 nefs. Pa/fion enkindles /Mj^uw ; aud pride begets pride. How many 
 arc calm and quiet, till they meet with one that is cholerick ? He that 
 fows Iniquity, mufl look to reap it. Did not Davids Murther and 
 
 Adultery, 
 
 Cent. II.
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 Adultery, bring the Srvord and Inceji inco his F.imily ? How fatally 
 and evidently was the Mafacre at Tarn, fcourgcd in thofc thjt were 
 held for the chiefeft adors and contrivers of it ?' Cktrles the King, 
 before the 25th year of his Age dy'd, bath'd, and dyed in bloud. 
 Anjou, the fuccceding King was Al^aJJlnxted^ and Ibiii in the fame 
 room the Alajfacre was plotted in. Guife, murdered by the Kings 
 appoi/ttment . The Queen, conjunid with grief. And with fuccced- 
 ing Civil iVAr, both P^ris and the Nation torn. It is a Ibangc reta- 
 liation in the ftory oi Talent inian and Maximum. ralentifiiAa by fraud 
 and force i-itiated the wife ot Afaximus : tor which Alaximu^s by 
 fraud and force murder'' d him, and marryed his wife :' whofc difdain 
 to be compelled, and deiire 10 revenge hzz Husbands death, ma :1c her 
 plot ihc dcjiruif ion oi -iAUximi^s znd Rome. And indeed, 'cis fo plen- 
 tiiuUy proved in all (loricsj that no Proverbvs become more true than 
 the faying of the Satyrijl, 
 
 Ad generum Cereris, Jtn^e c^de ^ [anguine, pauct 
 
 Defcendunt Reges, dr Jicci morte Tyranni, 
 
 Few Tyrants find Death natural., calm-, or good ; 
 
 But, broacht with Jlaughter, rowl to Hell in blood. 
 There is in rices not only a natural production of evil in general, 
 but there is a proportion ot parts and drlncnfions •, as if the feed 
 brought torth ii\Q plant, or the parent did beget the fen. BugOM, a 'Per- 
 /tan Noble man, having poyfon'd Artaxerxes and Arfamnes-, was detc- 
 6lcd by Darius, and entorced to drink /'9'/^« himfclf. Diomedes, that 
 with humane tiefli y^^ beatts, atlaftby Hercules was vmAe xhdx food 
 himfelt. Pope Alexander the 6th, having dciign'd the poyfoning of 
 his friend Cardinal Adrian, by his Cup-bearers m'tflake of the Bottle, 
 he cofencd the Cardinal ot his draught ; lo dyed by the fame Engine 
 that he himfelf had appointed to kill another. Treafon and falfljood how 
 oitcn is it paid in its own peculiar kind ? Tarpeia that bctray'd her fa- 
 ther, tor what Tatius his Souldicrs wore on ihck armes, infiead of the 
 Bracelets ifie cxpedfedj was paid with their shields thrown on her till 
 they preiTcd her to death. And to requite the faOiood of three Captains, 
 whom he hired to dilfwadc Philip of Atijlria from giving him battel, 
 Charles the tourth of Germany paid them in counterfeit money, alluring 
 them that counterfeit money was good enough tor their counterfeit Jer- 
 vice. Certainly, in vain they cxpcd good, that would have it arife 
 out of evil. I may as well when I plant a Thijile, expcft a Fig : or 
 upon fowing Of/'/t? look for w/^if^/, as to think by iW/r^u? courfes, to 
 beget my own benefit. But, as the bcft Husband looks to have his 
 feed the cleaneft -, fo doubtlefs, the bcft policy tor a mans fclf, is to 
 forv good and honeji Anions, and then he may exped a harvefi that is 
 anfwerable. 
 
 o^
 
 ^ P^ S L V E S, 
 
 XVII. 
 Of Memory, 
 
 iP3 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 CHould the Memory oi the World but fall ajleep, what a Fair of 
 
 LJ^mad Bcarts would the f-jr//* be ? andfurcly much the w^^/i^irr for 
 
 jche ^Tongue. Since he i\\diX. forgets himfelf in his tongue gives an other 
 
 kaufe to remember him cither with »f^/fc7, or offence ; In all that 
 
 does belong to ma»^ you cannot find a greater wonder. What a trca- 
 
 fury of all things ia the lile oiMan ? What a Record, what Journal ol 
 
 all ? As it Provident Nature^ bccaufc iTie would have Mm circtim- 
 
 (pe£ii had provided him an Account-book to carry always with him. 
 
 And thoui^^h it be the worlds vaft Inventory^ yet it neither burthens 
 
 nor takes up room : To my felf it is infcniible, I fcell no weight it 
 
 prelTcs with ; toothers 'tis invifiblc, when I carry all within mc chcy 
 
 can fee nothing that I have. Is it not a miracle, that a man from the 
 
 grane ot Sand to the fuV. and gloriom Sun, fliould lay up the veorld 
 
 in his Bram\ and may at his plcafure bring out what part he Hits, 
 
 yet never empty the place that did contain it, nor croved it though he 
 
 lliould add more ? What kind of thing is it, in which the fpacious 
 
 Sea is flioard and boanded ? where Citties, Nations^ the Earths great 
 
 Globe and all the Elements refidc without a ^ww^^r ? How is it that 
 
 in this little luvtfible flace-, the height ot the Star^ the bignefs of that, 
 
 the diftance of thefe, ihccompafsof the Earth, and the Nature of 
 
 all fhould lie and always be ready for producing as a man fliall 
 
 think Jit. If a Conjurer call up but his phanattque Spirits^how wc Jlare 
 
 and flartk at their ftrangc approach ? Yet here by Imaginations help 
 
 we call what ere wc have a mind to, to appear before ta, and in thofc 
 
 proper fijapes., wc have heard them related in, or elfe in thofc which 
 
 wc our fclves liave fccn them in. Certainly, it cannot be but a 
 
 work of injinitenefs that fo little a Cjlobe oi fkttU as man hath, fhould 
 
 hold fuch an almoft infinity ot bujinefs and of knowledge. What 
 
 Oceans of things exaEtly and orderly ftrcaming forth fliall wc find from 
 
 the tongue of an Oratour,x.hiz one who did not fee him fpcaking would 
 
 believe he read them in fomc printed Catologue ; and he that does 
 
 fee him, wonders from what inexhauftiblc Fountain fuch cafie ftreams 
 
 czw Jlow ? Like a Jugler playing his prize, he pulls words like Ribbands 
 
 out of his mouth, as fall as two /'rfW^ can draw. Ask him of the 
 
 Sea, he can tell you what is there ^ ot the Land^ ot the Skye^ o\ 
 
 Heaven-) of Hell-^ of pajl things and to come. A learned man by l)is 
 
 Memory a.\on(^ is the Treafury of all the ylrts, he walks not without a 
 
 Library about him. As the Pfalmifl (ays oi the Sun, It goes from 
 
 one end of the Heaven to the other, and notiiing is hid from the 
 
 heat thereof : So the Memory with imagination travails to and fro 
 
 between the motf remoted parts, and there is nothing that is not 
 
 comprehended by it. And the Miracle ii ; Neither after all this, nor 
 
 Ibefore, can any print hereof be difccrnd, W'hat is outwardly fccn 
 
 I C c morel
 
 '94 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 ^ E S L V E S. 
 
 more than there is iu a /ix'f^ Image, which is no other than a E/ock ? 
 And who can tell me where; this •vajlnefs lyes ? What ha-^.d^ what 
 feu did rvrite it ? Anatomiz^e Man, and you fliall find there is no- 
 thing in him like it. 'Bones -^ Sineves^ Nerves, Mufcles, Jlefh, bloud^ 
 veins, and marrovt, and corrufting fuhfiances -^ H)ut no redck-, r\o like- 
 nefs, of that which in his life came from him. No tracks wo notion 
 ot any thing remote or forein. Dilted the Train, the Senfesfeat, and 
 the tliop ol,btijie thoughts, and Court of ^fft'r^ in Man. What do 
 the curious i»fpe£iors ot Nature find there ? but a white and fpongeous 
 fijbftance divided into 5 fmall Cells, to the fmalleft of which the 
 Memory is afcribed, but not a line not any one idea ot any thing that's 
 abfent can be read there. Certainly, if momanteny and futrefalhz^ 
 man can undifcerned and unburchcn'd bear fo much about him ; If fo 
 little a point as the lealf Tertiaoi the brain the Cerebellum can hold in 
 it felf the notions of fuch immeasurable extents ot things : we may 
 rationally allow Omnifcience to the great Creatour ot this and all things 
 elfc. For doubtlcfs we know what we do remember, and indeed 
 what we remember not we do not know. Ctcer0 tells us, 'tis the 
 Trace of things frinted in the mind. Queftionlefs 'tis an underftanding ; 
 faculty conferving thofe Ideas arifing from common fenfe through 
 imagination, which with the help of thcCc again whenever there is 
 caufe lliee's ready lo produce ihtvn. 'Tis t\\Q Souls repojitory where 
 ftie ftorcs up all that ftie is pleas'd to keep, t\\e furniture of the 
 wcrld lyes ttiere packt up : and as he that goes into a vvard-robe, 
 mifiing fometimcs at firft of what he feeks for, removes, and turns 
 over feveral parcels, before he finds the thing he comes to look for ; 
 So man ot'h fodain remembers not all he would, but is fometimcs 
 put to /^«;«? ^«i?«w^/(? over many things till he comes at h(f to that 
 he therc'would find: as if rerapt up in folds, by degrees we unlap and 
 light upon them. Nor is the difterencc hereof in men Icfs rvonder. 
 In fome men how prodigious \ In others how dead and dull ? Appim 
 Claudius had fo ftrong a Aiemory, that he boafled he could //t/w/^ all the 
 Citizens of Rome by their Names. And Mithridates of Pontm could 
 fpeak 22 Languages, and Mufler his Soiildiers by his memory, calling 
 them all by their names- And upon this ground where the Senate haii 
 condemn'd his Books to be burnt, CaJJitts Severus \.o\dit\\Qm, If they 
 would not have them remain, they fliould burn him too, for that he 
 had them all in his memory. On the othtr fide fome of the Thra- 
 cians were ufually fo blockifh, that they could not count beyond four, 
 OT jive. And MeJJala Corvinusli^'d to forget his own Name,: as I 
 have known fome, that have in henkh forgot their own children, whom 
 they have dayly feen and liv'd with. If we confult Philofophy, how 
 this huge difference comes, that will prelume to tell us, 'tis from the 
 temper of the brain ; the moderately dry beins happier in their memo- 
 ries, than the ovcr-moift, which being liquiti and flippery, are Icfs 
 receptive and tenacious of any flight ImpreJJiom that occafionally there- 
 on are darted. Like glimpfes of the Sun on rvatet, they fliine at 
 
 prefcnr.
 
 3^ E S L V E S. 
 
 prcfciir, but leave no liga thac they m:re ever there ; and this may be Cent. II. ! 
 the reafoa (bccaufe of their great humitity), why memory in children is l./^>/'^vJ 
 fo brittle. But how it comes to pafs, that many old men can remem- 
 ber things of their youth done threescore years ttgo^ and yet not thofe 
 they adfcd \i^^\.'^^ day before^ is certainly to be admired ; fince none 
 can tell me, where they lodge characfertzd the while, without bcino 
 (hitjfled ontj or quite defacd by new fucceeding aftions. One thiug 
 in the Memory beyond all, is obfervable. VVc may eahly reptember 
 what wc arc intent upon ; but with all the art we can ufe, we cannot 
 knowingly forget what we v$euld. What would Tome give, to veife 
 their forrervs irom. their: thought, which, maugre all their induftry, 
 they cannot but remember. With good rcafon therefore vvould the 
 wife Themijlocles ha.\'e lenrri'd the ^rt of forget fu/nes^ as deeming it 
 far more beneficial toman, than that (fomuch cry'd up) o! memory. 
 And for this caufe, (doubtlcfs) we had need be careful, that even in fe- 
 cretf wc plunge not into evil Actions. Though we have none to wit- 
 ncfs what we do ; wc iliall be gall'd fufficiently with our own pecu- 
 liar memory ; which haunting us perpetually with all our beft endea- 
 vours, we cannot either ctift arvay, or blot out. The fVorm would dye, 
 if Memory did not feed it to Eternity, 'Tis that wiiich ilaakes the 
 fpend fart oi Hc]l : for whether it be the punifhment of lofs^ or the 
 punifnmcnt oi fenfe: 'tis memory that does f»^/t«zf them both. Nor 
 is there any a^Stna in the foul of man^ but what the memory makes. 
 In order unto this, I will not care to /rww, who 'tis that does me 
 injury, that I may not by my memory malice them. Remembring the 
 wrong, I may be apt to malign the Author, which not knorving^ I iViall 
 free my felf ot vexation, without the bearing any grudge to the man. 
 As good Actions^ and ignorance of i^, keep a perpetual calm in rhc 
 mind : fo quefticnlefs, a fecret horror is begotten by AJecret vice. From 
 whence we may undoubtedly conclude,That thout'h thfigale oifuceefs, 
 blow never fofull and profperoufly, yet no man can be truly hapj^y, 
 that is not truly innocent. 
 
 XVIII. 
 No man lionefl^ that is not fo in his ^Itlm. 
 
 BEfides the general and nccelTary dependence that every man muft, 
 and ought to have upon God-^ There is no man whatfocvcr, but 
 is even in this world particularly related to fome particular pcrfon 
 above the^fwr^//// of other men. He can neither come into the world 
 nor continue in it, and be an Independent man ; And by his demeanor, 
 in his IfriiSteft Relations, he may be gucllcd at in the other progrefs 
 and courfe of his lite. Irt all the Relations that arc contingent to men, 
 thofe are moft binding, which Nature hath framed neerejl in the 
 feveral conditions ot men. In which, if a man be not henejl in 
 vain he is cxpeftcd to be found fo in others, that are more dtjlantly 
 
 C c 2 (xtended 
 
 iP5
 
 1^6 
 
 Cent. II 
 
 H^ESOLfES. 
 
 exte/ided from him. The higheft /'/^^W/, (as moft concerning the 
 publique good), I take ro be between a /'C'r^ Subject -^ and legitimate 
 Prince purluing the good of the Countrey.. He is Pater Patrije^ and 
 every fiibjeB is but a little morerenioted fin. He that is prodigal 
 of his Subjecis lives-, will eafily be drawn to be carclcfs ot any but his 
 And indeed, (as Cy^"^ ufcd to fay) No man ought to gcvern 
 
 oven, 
 
 others, but he that it better than thefe that he governs j there being a 
 greater obligation upon a Pr/;fff to be ^flo^, than there is upon other 
 men: for, though he be hunane inhisPerfon, as others are; yet, 
 for the publick fake, his Pcrfon is Sacred, and the government he cx- 
 ercifes is r>/w»(r • lo, with greater caution ought to be adminifired-, 
 and, in imitation of the Gods., requires a greater height of virtue^ 
 fo to irradiate his Throne, that men misht gaze with Admiration:, 
 and obey with Reverence. Near this was the Noble Spartans an- 
 fwer, who when one defir'd to learn how a Prince might be fafe with- 
 out a guard, he replycd, if he ruled his fttbjecis-as a Father doth his 
 children. 
 
 The fame reciprocal tye is infubjecls towards their Prince. And if a 
 man benot /'i»»(r/?in this his Relation, that is, inhis Loyalty ; let no 
 man expcd that man to be honefi in any thing further, than conduceth 
 to his own particular Interejl : The breach of this, not only out of 
 Political, but Natural Reafin, the Laves have made more capital than 
 other crimes; not or\\y punijhing the person offending, but attaint/no^ 
 all his Poftcrity with the confifcation of all that they were capable of 
 owing in this life. Rebellion being as Parricide and ivitchcraft. Nor 
 is the Ignominy lefs than the Crime. To be a Traytor, delivers one 
 to the loweft fcoru of men, as well as to the heavieft curfe of lavi>._ 
 And no State that ever yet I read of, but held fuch unvoorthy of life', 
 and fo not fit for any conversation of men, as having forfeited in that 
 all which makes one man compan'onible to another. In like man- 
 ner, he that is a Parent, and morofe, and froward to his children, 
 hardly will be affable to any. Who ncglcds Nature, undoubtedly 
 is an uncivil man. He that loves not liis oven, will not probably 
 be drawn to love thofe who are nothing to him : So is it with a child-^ 
 If he once contemn his ?.zr^«/.'-, heexpofeshimfclt tube contcmn'd 
 by others. And to flicwhow honid finsol this nature are, the Le- 
 vitical Lave made difibedience unto Parents, fioning 5 the word of 
 the four capital puniifliments among them ; Nor was he to live, that 
 had curfied either Father, or Mother. Neither can I believe this law 
 was abrogated in the days of Solomon, who tells us, The eye that 
 mocketh hit father, er difdains obedience to his mother, the frorvs of the 
 valley (hall pick it out, or elfe the young Eagles eat it : which, in erfedf, 
 is to fay, Tliat he fliall come to fome «»//V»f/y ^W, either //f»^V on 
 fome tree, or cajl out without burial, for the fovels of the air to feed 
 on. To this inclines the opinion of St. Jif^owi", where he fays, ISlec 
 vultu Udenda ejlpietas Parentum : We ought not to caft fo much as a 
 difcontented look at the piety of a parent. He that hath iorgot to be a 
 , , (oni
 
 ^ E SOLVES, 
 
 /i»», is an Jgrippa to the W(?y/!i, and is born averfe to Nature. As v^ent. U. 
 corrupted humors arc \a\q continued diflemper oi (he body that diJ breed\ --^"^^^^ 
 
 cncm ; fo a vit'mu and disobedient ^on is the torment oF the Parent that 
 begot him. It was a good rcalon the Philofopher ;j;ave to one, why 
 he fliould not go to lavy with his father : Says he ^ if yon charge him 
 nnyiflly.) all Vi-iil' condemn yon : And if your charge be J«/?, yon rciii yet 
 be condemned for blazing it. ' Tis an unhappy queftion Cajjiantts asked 
 an undutiiul ion : Quem alienum tibifidttm tnvenies^ fi tuis hojlis fuerisi 
 Qui f alter e andebit Parentes^ qu.tlii erit in cxtercs ? What fir anger 
 Oiall he ere find faithful to him, that to his Parents is become an 
 Enemy ? What will he be to others, that is to Parents falfe ? It is 
 the fame in other Relations, between Husband and Wife, between 
 Mailer and Servants. Cato did not doubt but flie would prove a poy- 
 fofier, that had lirlt been guilty of Adultery. And indeed, whofoevcr 
 is not honcft in his Relations., gives the world an E'vidence^ that he can 
 be falfe in x.\\clefcr, that hath already failedv:\i\\c greater. To be 
 falje in our Relations-, is to break our triijl, in which both Religim and 
 Nature hath fet us. He that is perfidious and untrite in that, cancels 
 all the bonds he aitcr can be tjed in. When '^uda>s had betra-fd his 
 OAjifier., nor Friends, nor Enemies, nor his own Confcicncc would 
 endure him after. Whereas, he that behaves himfelf well in his Rela- 
 tions, gives us hope of his being found in all things that we have to 
 do with him befides. If wc can believe the Excellent Silms ; we 
 fliall find by being falJe in thefe, wc not only loje our felvcs with 
 ethers ; but we become implunged even in all the calamities of life in 
 the fcvcral Relations that wc have, and live in. 
 
 • Qi^i fr anger e rerttm 
 
 Gaiidrbit paSa, ac tenues fpes Imquet amici, 
 Non illi demus, aut conjux, aut vita, manebit 
 Vnquam expers luilm, lachrjmxc^ue : Aget a^uore femper^, 
 Ac tellurepremens ; aget xgrtim-, nolle dieq; 
 'Dijpecla-, ac violata fides — . 
 
 — ■ Who loves to break 
 
 Wife Njitures bonds, and cheat his friends poor hope, 
 Coiuradts turmoil, and tears ; that never ttop. 
 Nor hoitfe, nor tvi/r, nor life is (afe : but he 
 Orc-rvhelm" d \\[i\\ Earth, ploughs the unquiet Sea : 
 
 A broken Faith difccrn'd, is lickncfs ever . 
 
 Certainly, there is no man but foiue way hath relation io others, 
 either by Religion, Policy, Nature, Alliance, or Humanity ; therefore as 
 \ fbrifiian, z Friend, a. Kindred, ^Sttfieriour, ox ■a. Man, lo all a man 
 may take occafion to be honeft. Though 1 comply not with all their 
 ways, yet Chriflian Piety, and natural Probity is never to hn partedivith. 
 He that loofes, or throws away thefe, dcfcends into a Beafl, that hath 
 not Reafon for his guide, and is humane but in jhape alone. 
 
 Of
 
 I9S 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 ^ E'S L V E S. 
 
 XIX. 
 of the Sahatim of the Heathen. 
 
 I Have met with forae, that will not by any means allow that a 
 Heathen may be faved. I do not know, that they ever read the 
 Book of Life and Death, or were admitted to the counfel of the moji 
 High • no more, but by colleftion ariling from found. Principles, and 
 the tender fenfe oi Humane Nature. Indeed, 1 know not how to ap- 
 plaud their Charity, that will defperatcly damn fach a world of men, 
 and the fucceeding Generations, of fo many Ages faft, and to ceme. 
 Is it not enough, that we may be admitted to be Heirs our fclvcs, 
 but all our other Brethren muft be dif inherited ? Nor can I think, God 
 approves their judgement, who fo Ikidtly undertake to limit his mer- 
 cies, which yet to us appear not only above, but over all his rvorks. 
 None of his (Attributes being magnified ncer fo much throughout 
 all the Scriptures, as his Mercy. And in fome meafure to allay the 
 Xfeverity ot the Law ; Thefirlt two Tables that were delivered with 
 Thunder, Lightning, and Terror, being broken at the giving of the 
 Second, God then was pleafea to proclaim The Lord, the Lord, ftrong, 
 merciful, and gracious, Jlow to Anger, long-fuffering, &c. Where, to 
 ballance the lof r^xeepts in x\\t Decalogue, there arc lo Attributes re- 
 lating all to Favour and to Mercy towards Man. The Mercy-feat was 
 over all the Ark,^niX that all-fiiadcd with the cherubs wings. And why 
 thofe cherubims may not type unto us not only the tne Tables of the 
 Law in the Ark , but the /B'f Tefaments oi the Law and the (fof^el, 
 and the two Generations of the world the "^cws and the Gentiles, cither 
 of them mutually refpc^ing each other, and the Oracles of Godad- 
 fing from between them ; 1 know no prohibition. Some indeed have 
 given laps'd Nature too too high apriv/ledge : Enabling her of her felf 
 alone to work out her own Salvation, as Pelagim, and before him (in- 
 clining that way) Origen. And if I find him rightly cited, Zuinglius, 
 where he teljsus tliatiVaw^, Cato,Scipio, and fuch like juft //<f4/^^», 
 without Faith in chriji were Naturally faved, that Is, by the virtue 
 of the Law of Nature which they did obferve. The laft (tlie Obfer- 
 vation of the Law) being intimated by the Apoftle. Who tells us ' 
 though they have no written Z-^ns yetnariually doing the things ofi 
 the Law, they arc a Law unto themfelves. Others have more mo- ' 
 deftly interpreted this Text, as Aquinas, and feveral more bcfidc, al- ; 
 lowing them yet Salvation: though not fo much from the natural j 
 knowledge they have both of God and good and evil, as from the help | 
 they have in their Souls from the affiftance of Supernatural Grace, ; 
 whereby they are enabled through Faith to fulfil the Law. St. Pctci^^ 
 tells us, that in every Nation, He that fearcth god and worketh Righte- \ 
 oufnefs is accepted with him. 'Tis not Mans Merit, but 'tis Gods Ac- \ 
 ceptance that is his fecurity. And lurely, if we will not be too critical j 
 wc may find examples of this truth. It is doubtful whether '^ob were ' 
 
 not
 
 1{ E S L V E S, 
 
 \99 
 
 noc ot the line ot Efatt : cercain, laich Sc Augufiine^ He was neither ha- 
 tHral Ifraelacy nor Profelyte, but born and buried in idumxti. And Bel- 
 Urmlne allures us he was not ot the Children oi Ifrael: but either an 
 idam^an^ or an Arabian. Both ot which were counted Enemies to 
 Ifrael. Next may be inftanc'd MeUhifedeck^llethro the Pricft o{ Alidian^ 
 Rahah the Harlot, Na/tman the Syrian^ and others. 
 
 But it will be alJcadgcd from the Fourth of the <^cls, That Sal- 
 vation canmt be had by any ether but by chrtfi. For amontr men there 
 is given no other Name under Heaven^ whereby wc mult be faved. 
 And wichout f 4;/^ in him Salvation cannot be had, and Faith in him 
 they cannot have, becaufc they never heard of him. I grant all bat 
 the lait, and literally that too. 1 doubt not but al],to whom the found 
 of the Goffcl hath any way come, arc ftridly obliged io this : When 
 God hath fliewed them this Name, in vain they feck for another. No- 
 minal 0}rtfi is necelfary to thofe that have nominally hcSL^ii of him. 
 Yet who can tye up the Spirit ot God, konx illuminating this to tl>eir 
 fouls, cither in their life, or in the very Farewell of it ? But this is ra- 
 ther fojjible \}niiir\ proving. Though I hope it will not prove a Paradox 
 if I fhould beg leave to believe that fomc who never heard of Chrifl:-, 
 may yet dye and he faved by having ^ Faith in him. How many oi 
 them have dyed Tcemtent tor rhcir fins, for which they have found 
 their Confcience checquing them, and withall wholly retting them- 
 fclves on the Mercy ot the Supream God'i What was the Philofophers, 
 Oens entium miferere met, but this? He would never \\^vt fled to 
 mercy, if his Soul had not been confciousoi fomc ill: And if he ha 1 
 not had Faith he would never have pr?.yd for it, fince no man pray^ 
 for that whereof he docs defpair the Graunt. What were tlie lail 
 words almott ot every common Malefactor among them at his end, but 
 adcliringGod and Nature to forgive him ? Betides the Grace and 
 Favour of God, two things are required ot Man tor the attaining o! 
 his Salvation, Faith and K^pentance. For to both thcle hath God 
 engaged himfelf. He that Repents lliall find Mercy, and he that be- 
 \lieves fhall be faved. Repentance clofcth the breaches of tl\at Larv 
 which fin hcioxc did violate. When the heat of Ltt/l hath ilirivclcd 
 up the Confcience into wounds and clefts, (as Rain on Earth that's 
 chapp'd) repentant Tears will fill up all thofe chafms : Ptenitcntia 
 aboleri peccata indubitanter credimui, faics St. Augujline. Repent and 
 beliel'e, is the precept ot the Gofpel. Now I Would ask the qucltion, 
 whether Chrtfl crujified and Gods Mercy be not things co-incident ? 
 Nay, if it be not the very efteft and and height of Cods mercy ; which 
 they flic to though not in the literal name oi chrijl yet in fuch a name 
 as is the fame, and comprehends the oftercd Chrilt in it, ^JAlercy. 
 The tJAiercy-feat was the Propitiatory, and Chrift is call'd our Propi- 
 tiation. Our venerable Bede giving us the Anagc^ial fenfe, tells us 
 plainly ; Propitiatorium aureum eft Humamt.H Chrijli Cjloriofa. The 
 golden Mercy-feat is Chritts glnriom Humanity. In ttie firft of St. 
 Luke, Inlhc Song oi the blejfed rirgin, it is laid, G$d hath helped his 
 
 Servant 
 
 Cent.
 
 ZOQ 
 
 Cent. 11. 
 
 35 ESQ LVES. 
 
 Servant Ifracl in remembrance of his Mercy. In the Song of Zachmas^ ' 
 It is faid, He hxth gone on to pr form the Mercy promifed to our Fore-: 
 Fathers. Which Mercy in both places, by all Interpreters, is under-; 
 ftood of Ch r ift, the MeJJiah. i 
 
 In two fcveral places in Cenejls it is promifed, by God himfelf,'; 
 That in Abrahams feed (vvliich is meant ot Chrift) all the Nations 
 of the World fhould be bleircd. In a third place, there it is, All the 
 Families of the Earth. And in the Ails it is faid, All the Kinreds of 
 the Earth lliall be blclTcd. But if they mull give an account for lite- 
 ral Chrift , and yet through infuperablc NcceiTity and Ignorance 
 they could never come to know or hear of him ; I conceive Chrifts 
 comino- would be l"o far from being a BleJJing to them, as it would 
 prove unto 'cm a J^ck and 'Bitternefs. Before the coming of Chrift, 
 we fliall find few ot the 'Jews, refiing exprclledly upon the promifed 
 MepM ; but their anchor was Gods mercy ^ and fo the very thing which 
 was the p9us Heathens refuge. The holy Prophet David clearly did 
 rely on it, P^xl. 52./ vviU trufi in thy mercy for ever and ever. But wc 
 may come ncercr, even to the very Name, which we may illuftrate by 
 this infuing Inftancc. 
 
 A King hath a Province in Rebellion, whereby his Subjects become 
 all guilty of Treafon, and fo in the jujlice of his Larvs are dead. This 
 Kings Son intercedes, and fatisfies his Father. Whereupon he publifli- 
 tlhz general Pardon^ that for his Sens fake, all fliall be rejiored that 
 will comem, confefs their offence^ and claim a Reception in right of his 
 Son. Now fome of thefe Traytors hear not of thk : But out of their 
 confidence oS. ^\t\x. Prince s\viQ\vVi goodnefs, and the /^(^^^ they have of 
 pardon^ they come repentantly^ proftrating themlclvcs to his niefcy. 
 Now whether this King-^ being ot a Noble Nature^ and inclinable to 
 I mercy, may not, without impeachment to his Jujlice-, receive them to 
 Gracey by virtue of his General Pardm tor liis Scus fair, though they 
 never heard of it 5 I fubmit to charitable judgements. 
 
 If this may not be, I yet demand. How it can ftand with Gods 
 Ju/lice, in requiring their Faith in that whicli they never had means 
 to know. Nominal chrijl ? What they could reach co, they fajlen up- 
 on. But muft we think them fit to be punifjjt., bccaufe they lay not- 
 hold on that which they cannot come at ? Though they cannot plead 
 merit y or a pcrfonal filial Mediator ; yet, I fee not what hinders, that 
 they may not plead mercy. 1 am fure, St. Paul tells us, That they rvho 
 do not know the Larv, fhall not be judged by the Larv : But by that 
 Latv of Nature in thcmfclves, which is fo far infemmated in the hearts 
 ot ally as is fufficieni to lea\e all without excuie, and convince them 
 all as authors ohhcit own de/Iru^iony it they perijb. And why then, 
 fhall we think, thev who never heard of the G»fpel, fliould be cou'- 
 demneiy for not having faith \n the Gofpel'* Lexnoncogifad impoffi- 
 bile. But if they muft dye for ignorance of that which they could not 
 knovf, it may be asked. Whether they do not dye for a fault that is 
 none of their ojv»? 
 
 VVhen
 
 ^ E S L F E S, 
 
 20I 
 
 When tne J^ofile in the i. of Corinths and the i. came to Form- 
 CAtors that were out of the fde ot the churchy he rcfufcd to ]udge 
 them-i as out of his bounds and jurtfdiclien : And I conceive it may 
 bc<.'ome a charitable Chriftian, either not to pafs a final fentence up- 
 on /*//tbc Heathen ; or eJfc to incline to Charity, which is the Law of 
 the Gefpel. Why may wc not argue oi Faith, as Sx.Pard docs oipvcrks ; 
 If the Gentiles have a /Jt//^ in Gods mcrcy^ may not they be fivcd by 
 that, as Chrifiians by their /i/'/A in Chrijl^ which is but Gods mercy 
 manifcfted ? And certainly, without this /ri//^, it will be true, what 
 the Father fays of their belt works, They are hut jhinif'g fins. But 
 what is it fliould hinder now, that this faith rmy not jufttfie ? As I 
 believe the chancier and Imfrefs of Gods Image in them, is their Uiv 
 forbidding their /z», and injoyning their ^///"j- folalfo believe, as a 
 Needle once touch'd, their Confciemes will diretl them to a Refuge 
 in their Makers mercy. Therefore I hope, I iTiall not much err, it 1 
 ibould believe , A Heathen which never heard of chrifi, labouring to 
 keep a clear confcienee-, truly repentant for his offences, and calling him- 
 felf with faith upon Gods mercy^ may come to \[.\q. in heaven among the 
 Uejfed. 
 
 If any objeft then, that 'tis {\o priviledge to be a chriftim^ I fuppofc 
 him much miftakcn : For as St. 7^4»/anfwers for the 'l[evcs,\t is a Chief, 
 that unto them are committed the Oracles of Cjod.^\\Q.y arc pre-cmincnc'd 
 before the reft of the world. Though a Pagan polTibly may in the dark 
 night o^ Nature,hy Gods mercy grope out a way to Heaven ^ yet with- 
 out doubt, he is more happy that hath a light and a guide to direli him 
 thither. The Illuminations o[ the Gofpel, arc enlivening and inltruding 
 beyond the jullied Notions oi Philojopby. Any man will like his Title 
 better, that is declared an Heir^ tlian his that is but in a capability ot 
 adoption. Methinks, o^z Suns, and /^z/^wr thar wc find from Heaven, 
 fhould make us look upon them with /'/>;' and /cw, rather than with 
 uncharitable and deftroying cenfures. 1 fee, they live better by the faint 
 gleams of Nature^ tuan many Chriftians in the corufcations of the 
 Gofpel. And why l"hould I think, that they who live better by the dim 
 glimpfes of thctr confcienee, and die, rcfigning thcnifclvcs to God and 
 his mercy, whom they have fpeUed out, and found in the Book of the 
 Creaturesy and the Book of their Confcienee ; lliould yet be ca/l away 
 in Sternal perdition ? Certainly, looking on their aciions, withoat hear- 
 ing either party fpeak, one would take the poor Indians to be better 
 Chrijlians than the Spaniards, that deltroycd them. However, none 
 can deny, but Cfj^by his fecret grace may bcjth attract, and accept them. 
 And I cannot, but have a more honourable apprehCnfton of my Om- 
 nipotent and ever Gracioffs God, than to believe, that fj pure, fo mu- 
 nificent , and fo abfolutely pertedt an Sfience, fliould dclij^ht it fclf 
 to fee fo many millions of millions of men lie fryixg in Eternal Tor- 
 I ments, that yet were his own molt noble and admired rvorkmanJJjipyZnd 
 whofe frailties he both knew and pitied. And this to betal them through 
 I a priftine (and in them unavoidable) corruption ; out of which thcv 
 i D d did 
 
 Cent. II
 
 202 
 
 Cent II. 
 
 y{ E S LV E S. 
 
 L 
 
 did not efcife, (for cught we know), only becaufe they did not kmtv 
 the rvay. What pleafure can any good man take, to fee but poor 
 fimple "Beafts continue fweating in perpetual /»«/>? What ^ood 
 can i reap, by feeing the languifhing torture of aaocher ? Thofe that 
 are plcas'd with fpedacles of cruelty, we naturaly abhor as fav/tge 
 in their nafures. It Calfgttla. and Nero, were both juftly condemn'd of 
 cruelty^ the one for bidding the Executioner (ojirike^ as Delinquents 
 might die leifurefy'^ and the other for but looking on, while his Mother 
 was dijfe^ied, though dead'^ What difpofition can thofe men have 
 who can fo joUily give up verlds to keener and more lafting funifh 
 ments than all their dire imaginations can devife ? Is it fuitable to a 
 tdther of mercies^ and of his crexture ? or. Who will longer laugh 
 at thefe poor Heathen ; who made their Saturn full of children, and 
 then to devour them alToon as they were born ? If I do err, in this 
 inclination to a charity, 1 had rather it fhould be on this hand, than 
 trenching but the leaft on cruelty j and whatfoever it ii^ I fliall ever 
 lubmit to the moderatCy and the vptp. 
 
 XX. 
 
 Whence a ^^ans Fame arifes. 
 
 Sometimes there is not a greater cheat, than Fame and Reputation 
 The Hypocrite, till he be difcovered, appears garniHied with all 
 the plumes that hrave Report does ufually fly withal : but once de- 
 tested^ is as black and fpotted, as the Panthers skin^ or the outfide 
 of the Dragons belly. Indeed, 'tis hard for any to cfcapc the Uflj of 
 cenftire : But the Emanations of a true and perfc(5l report, iov the 
 moft part rife from a mans private converfation. Few converfe fo 
 much with perfons abroad., as to fliew their humors and inclinations 
 in Publique. To tiieir Superiours, they put on Obfequioufnefs, and 
 Pageant-out their virtues, but ftrongly they conceal their Fices. To 
 their Equals^ they ftrive to fiiew the gratefulrtefs of a condition. To 
 their infer tour s^ cmrtejteind beneficence. To all there is a dtfguife. 
 Men in this, like Ladies that are careful of their beauty., admit not 
 to be vifited, till they be drefs'd and trim'd to the advantage of their 
 faces. Only in a mans retirement, and among his domejlicks, he opens 
 himfelf with more freedom^ and with lefs care:, he walks there as 
 Nature fram'd him : He there may be feen not- as he feems, but as 
 he is ; without either the deceiving Properties of Art, or the var- 
 nilTi of belyed rirtue : So, as indeed, no man is able to pafs a true 
 judgment upon another^ but he that familiarly and imvardly knovpi 
 him, and has vie)ived\\\m by the light of time. When Tiberius ha J a 
 Noble Fame among ftrangcrs, he that read him Rhethorick, ftuck not 
 to pronounce him Luto ^ Sanguine maceratum. 
 Neither can aconftant goood report io^o^ zn-^ man, but by a con- 
 
 ftant
 
 ^ ESQ L V E S. 
 
 203 
 
 ftant adherence to virtue-, inAvirttnits actions. 'Tis much harder tOiM-^^Tr. ^* 
 read the actions., and to know risrhdy Great perfinsy than 'tis men ot 
 Infer iour condition : For, though they be extravagant, yet their ^r«/- 
 nefs is (omc kind of avpe to the toofe and fcattered reports ihzt Jly 
 about from mean mens tongues. And their attendants not only palliate 
 thck vices as improper tor them to <s/i'z/»i^£' : but withal, they w^^- 
 nifie their good parts, and rf/rf/t'^/' them tullcr to the world thin thcyl 
 are • That oftcn-timcs thole pafs in the common, for pcrfons rareLy\ 
 qtialijied ; who, being llridly veirved, are but flmrifl} and deceivingl 
 out-fide. And bcfidcs this, many a man while he hath a curb upon} 
 him, keeps himfelt in modejl bounds, from which once yrff^, he la- 
 viflics, into excefs aad grofs enormities ; likchot metalTd Horfes, that 
 may ride wctl wich a wary hand upon them ; but when the reins are 
 loofensd, they ;?/»^ and grow unruly. 'Tis liberty and experience that 
 truly Okws a man what lie is. i'«(f/'«»w/« oblcrvcs it of Tibcrinsy that 
 when he had gotten to C'^prea, where he lurked, remov'd from th.c 
 eyes of the people, he at once poured forth himfcif in all tHofc hor- 
 rid vices, which before for a long time with much ado he had dilicm- 
 bled. And though Pc/i^/V/rf^i- feek to /j&.t^<'w themfelvcs, by appearing 
 the leafl of what they are ; yet, they come at laft to b? unmasked, and 
 declare thcmfclves to the world : like Hedge-hoggs, they rowl up 
 themfelvcs before jlr angers ; but in private arc fo dilated, as they may 
 cafily be known to be but vermine-^ fo that, in the cn6., private fins are 
 rewarded with ^ publick jhame : and then the fuppofed honefi man is, 
 hated as a grown monfler, difcovercd by the blab of time. Vice is a 
 concealed fire, that even in darknefs will fo work, as to bewray it felf. 
 And doubtlefs,fomcthing it is, according to thole among wiiom a man 
 lives. Even a^c^J^man among ill neighbours, Ihail be iU reported of^ 
 and a bad man, by fomc,' may be beloved. Some yices are ialfcly lookt 
 upon as Ornament, and Education : and a modefl Innocence, is as much 
 miltakcn ior Jiilinefs ar.d ignorance. To be^W, is thought too necr a 
 way to contempt. That which tiic -^w/zV-^/j admired, wc both lli^ht 
 and laugh at. k good hone fl man, is but di better word iot a fool: fo 
 chat no man, can promife himfcU free from the whipo'i a licentious 
 tongue, slanders and calumnies like contagious airs art Epidemical'm their 
 Infection : only the foundeft conftitutions are Icfs thereby tainted than 
 die other , but all fliall be fure to find a touch. I like not thofe that dtf- 
 dain what the world Ciycs of them. I null fufpccl that womans mo- 
 defty, that values not to be accounted modefl. \/v'i.ile 1 am innocent, in- 
 jurious rumors fJiall the Icfs torment me. But as 1 c that is careful of his 
 health will not only avoid infected places, but antidote himfcif by pre- 
 venting Phyjick ; and will not be abftemious only at a yeiff, but in liis 
 private diet ; So he that would be wfI/.c//£YWf(/ mull not oiily efchew 
 ill company, but mull fortifie himfelf with Precepts ^nA Re jolul ion to| 
 prcfcrve himfcif, ^nd not only in the /-/^rc/Tf^, and abroad, but in his 
 retired drcjjing-room ; for fincc a mans good or bad fame, docs firlV 
 take rife from fuch as be about him , and Icrvants being neither 
 ^ d 2 always
 
 204 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 always *«r/, nor ever difcreet ^ It behoves him that loves his own re- 
 putation, to give them no uufe of reporting what lliall crofs it. He 
 that is carelcft of his fumcy 1 doubt is not fond of his Integrity. The 
 firft ground to be layd is a mans Honeft enieiuours-y and cuac as well 
 in the chamber as in the Court : and then 'tis likely a Gad Fame follows. 
 If I do my part, I fhall be the Icfs croubled,i{ the world fhall not do his 
 in alUwi/ig me what 1 lahour for. 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 XXI. 
 That 'tis fome difficulty to be 'B^ch and Good. 
 
 GRace and Riches like the Matchings of Cofen- Germans-, though 
 they be not forbidden, yet they fcldomc marry together. 'Tis 
 rare to fee a Rich man Religiota. For Religion preaches Rejlraint^ and 
 Riches prompt to Liberty. If our faviour himfelt had not given an 
 expoiicion of his own hard Text of the Camel i^6 the eye of a Needle, 
 by calling it upon fuch as place their truft upon riches ; Certainly no 
 Rich man could be thought to be faved, but God mult be put to work 
 a miracle for it. When W?^///' abounds, men ftldom come by fuf- 
 fcriRg to be fober. They buy out their pcnnancc, and fliip over thofe 
 Conjiderations that fhould make them feriom. The Education of Rich 
 men teaches to command, fo they never come to be acquainted with 
 that which is better than a facrtfice., obedience. Buoy'd up by the 
 Corks of jrealth and Greatnefs, they are feldom let down into the 
 depths where the greatcft fiflies like grown Rcjolutions arc to be found. 
 They arc fo humor'd by Attendants, and lo elated by the "Borvings 
 of all about them, and withal fo fwallowcd up with plcafurc, that 
 they often mifs of knowing rightly cither themlclvcs or others. And 
 by the Pravity of mans weak Nature, it Co fcts them on the folaccs 
 ot this Life, that they feldom have time to think ot another or better. 
 The ivorm of ih'is fair fruit is Pride^ and it fooncr takes the goodly 
 than the lean. Old Jacob begg'd but only Food and Raymer.t : and 
 Agur prays diredfly againfl a Plenty : and though Solomon was Co 
 wife as not to aske it ; yet wc fee, when he had ir, well nigh it 
 had eaten out all his ^ifdom. Certainly, Richesbc no: evil in thcm- 
 felves : yet for the moft part there is a Cafual ilnefs that attends 
 them. And if our blelled Saviour had not fcen fomcching in them 
 more than we apprehend, he would never havedcclar'd it Co much 
 difficulty for a man at once to be both good and opulent : neither 
 would he have advis'd the young man to fell what he had, or com- 
 manded his Difciples to leave all and follow him ; nor would he 
 have fo exampled poverty to us in his own meannefs, if he had not 
 known our human frailty too apt to be drawn away by abundxme. 
 Befides the danger of their pattering us to a Reliance upon them, 
 they hinder us from the ^enfe of Charity, not feeling the nvams that 
 
 others
 
 7{ E S L F E S. 
 
 205 
 
 octiers live in, wc cannoc be Icnliolu ot their endurances : lo wc are 
 not begotten into conimiferation. How ftrict and vigilant have i 
 known fome upon a poor mans Labour-, who hath toyl'd all the day 
 from fix to [ix, for fixpcnce ? who, if it were not for the pleafurc of 
 night and inrkne^^s-y which gives him fomc flendcr Refrejhmenty he 
 might certainly be concluded in a worfe condition than the Savage 
 'Beafis of the Defcrt. Nature hach privilcdg'd them againft the wain 
 of Jpparel ; and though they be put fometimcs to hunt for their 
 Food^ yet providence hath made that a pleafure to them, fo far, that 
 they arc rather to be envied than pitricd. But the daily Labouring 
 Man fells both his jirength., his time., and his ea^ey lor that alone 
 which will no: fatiably content his fr.tx'/>g5<r//)'. Not apprehending 
 the hardjhip of others, by rcafon of the Beckonings and /ligations oi 
 pleafure, and the divcrtive crowd ot other occalions, Rid men have 
 not Icifure to ftay upon thefe, to conjider and weigh ihclv Condition : 
 fo, that charity which they have, is rather [elf-love than Charity : 
 which doubtlefs is not rightly call'd fo, when God is not the /«/>(?, 
 and others more their o^jV^j than themfelve*.. And it is as undoubt- 
 edly true, that without the voings ot Charity, it will be very hard 
 to mount to the Region of Happiness. Riches befidcs,' are often as thorns 
 to choak the fruits of Piety. Ttiey are a kind of Rank Earthy which 
 fo faft puts out weeds, that any fine feed of virtue becom; s ftifled 
 and robbed ere it can get Root. Yet Induflry and pirpctual Attention 
 might perhaps prevent fome of thcfe Inconveniences. But there is 
 one thing in wealth which fascinates beyond all thefe : 'Tis ape to 
 fcduce a man into ^fal[e opinion ot rvifdom in himfcU. And it may 
 be it was from hence. That when Simonides W2i'i asked, Which was 
 beft for a man, yvealth or mfdom ? He made fouiic doubt how he 
 (Viould refolve the Bujinefs. The /Ji'^/cs was, he faid, Hchadoltcn 
 obfervcd wife men to wait and attend at Rich mens Houfes. And how 
 cafie is it for a Man to think himfelf fyife, when he fliall find he 
 hath a rvife man as his Servant humoring him ? Nor is he o.ily charm- 
 ed to thefe erroneous ways ot Pleajure-, and ftroaked along by the 
 Court(hip of thofe that ftoop low to creep under his fjade, and ga- 
 ther of his fallings : But if he be in a way ot mifcarriagc, his rveaUh 
 keeps him not only from being r«/4//wV, but trom knowing wherein 
 he fails. Men arc often wary how ihcy hazard zhc'iv intercrt by Re- 
 prehenjion. A poor man like clay (being (o'tncd by his Low fitua- 
 tion-, and the /^ww/W/} of w^^r that lights upf)nhim) is apt to be 
 calily moulded into any Forrn : But the Rich, (iiincd upon by the fun 
 of profperity.^ fct on the promoted Hill, and in the l^aring light ot 
 GrratnefSf are hardned into a Brittlenejs fcarfe admitting any fliapc but 
 that by chance you hnd them in : Like yenice-glajjes any ho: liquor ol 
 Admonition makes them crack and tly in pieces prctcntly. And indeed 
 I it is no fmall unhappinefs to be fet iafuch a ftatton as will not admit a 
 ! friend to be free with him. He is open \o flattery, but fericd againll 
 \ Admonition. He that by the Eivijne of a w«.f(|y wealth is craned up 
 
 abovt 
 
 :ent. II.
 
 io6 
 
 Cent. 11- 
 
 ^ESOLFES. 
 
 above the Rebuke of friends, had need of a Nol'le ftature and a virtue ! 
 ftrongly corded, clfe he fhall quickly flule to the loweft fcale of ^t'ce. 
 Certainly, there is none fo mfe as that he never errs : But he is wcH 
 onward in the way to be wife, that can bear a Reproof, and mend by] 
 it. I doubt not but there are that be vfealthy and wife, that arc Rich 
 and "I^lfgieui ; and as they are extraordinarily happy in thcmfclves, 
 that can efcape the trains that their Jffluency lays tor them, and make 
 ufe of thofc brave Sn^peditAmcnts, that a great Eftatc allows them co 
 do good wiihal : So tbcy ought to be magnified by all that arc 
 Spettators of fo Nei>le a Conjunclion. As a Rich Tynrtt is the worft 
 of all vfiild Bea/Is ; (o z Rich Chrijlian is one oi Cnxii\swc;sders . Ni- 
 hil honeftiui magmjiceritiusque, qukm pecuniM (^contemner e, ji non ha- 
 beas) fi hubcasy ad Benejicentiam, Libert it emque conferre. Senec. It 
 we have no wealth, 'cis /'o/?^/? and Princely woi to \>c fondQ\\\: But 
 far more Heroick (if we have it) to fow it into ch/trity and Benefi- 
 cence. Like fire in a chimney, a Ti^ch man good is Regttlar, "Bright, 
 and Refreffjing lo all that come wittiin the ^//?4«ff ot his beams. He 
 lights the blindly dark, ^ndguildes the room he fliincs in. And whofo- 
 ever comes into it, like it : It will draw their eyes upon him,as if there 
 were fome Divinity in him, that invited all to pay a kind of Adoration 
 to himjtor the Bounty and the Benefits thatf 4/f has made Vivwfieveardoi. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 ^^ahift being proud by being Qommendcd. 
 
 I 
 
 THereisfucha kind of graceful Tickling to the mind of man, 
 in being commended, That though we many times know 
 thofe praifcs that are given us are not due, yet we arc not Angry at the 
 abtiflng Author. Though fuvcly he that is commended for what he 
 doth not defervc, ought in jujlice to leclifie the Auditory, cllb he 
 grows accef^ary to a cheat upon the Hearers, by a combination of an 
 untruth; fo leads them into an Srror. It was, I confcfs, ingenuottt 
 in Pofe John the 20th, what his fuccciVor z^neoi Sylvius lels us of 
 him : when one had praifed him much more than he knew he dejerved, 
 he turns to the Company and tells them. Though the Man hach ta- 
 il ered many bra^'e things upon me whereot I am not guilty, yet 1 
 do confcfs I no way am difplcafed that he hath pleas' d to praije me. 
 Perhaps he might pardon him the fooner if he believed he told of 
 what he ough to do, though yet he had not done it. So apprehended 
 Praifes mayaseafily be ^//^f;?/'^ withal, as handfomcly made />/«' of. 
 They are but admonitions, ribbanded and trick' t to a more pleaflng 
 (bape, which perhaps, without fuch fpots and pendants, would never 
 win upon a fantajlique Brain. In Treble minds \[s certainly a [purr, 
 if not reward, to Virtue. The generous Spartans bttore they went to ! 
 Warr^ they uCd to offer Vtclims to the Mufis ; That what they afted 1 
 _^ _f^i^»tly
 
 
 y^ E S L J/ E S. 
 
 207 
 
 Vduntly^ iniwht be elegantly and trtdy recorded. He that dcfpifcs to Cent II. 
 be well reported of, wants of that living fire in his ^t^w/, which docs L/'VNJ 
 type out (and runs into) Eternity. And he on the other fide that 
 (hews himfcif eUtei, by it , gives proof he is but fome light ftuff ; 
 that, as a BtMle by a Boy^ can be blown from his lliell, till the very 
 air alone can blurt him again into fpittle. Praife hath fcveral cpe- 
 rations according to the minci it meets with. It makes a ^if,^ man | 
 modeHi but a Fool more arrogant. It extends him to fuch a height^ 
 that it turns his veeak brain giddy till he falls ; fiame have plac't ic 
 in the rank with contempt, and have therefore warned. That to a Mans 
 face, we lliould neither praije too Uvijhly^ nor yet Reprove too 
 (harply. Indeed to a fpirit rightly generous., a Face-commendation will 
 fooncr beget a blufhing flight, than the Rebuke that boldly awd open- 
 ly flics upon him. Hence therefore, 'tis only allowable at tnnerals 
 for men to be hyperbolical in praifing. Any thing may then be of- 
 fered when blows cannot be felt : otherwifc a Riotous tongue will fever 
 modeft bloud. Since leaftof all he values /"r^Jz/Jr, that moftof all de- 
 ferves it. He that is an intimate Servant to that glorious Virtue^ will 
 be content in filence to enjoy her <jr4fd'j without thofe hollow Ecchoes 
 of the Tongue. I like not praifing when 'tis too loud. A little is as 
 (liadowings to a well-limb'd piece •, it fets it off better ; but when 
 it is too deep^ it duls the native life, and unpleafants the air it car- 
 ries. But for a man to grow proud by being commended, is of all 
 ufes the word we can make of it. Every good thing a good man 
 fpcaks of another, like the blajl of a Trmnpet in war, fliould incite 
 and incourage the perfon commended to a clofcr pursuit of a Nobler 
 and move generofti Firtue. But to be proud of Trappings calls a Man* 
 Humanity in queftion. Though he be a Bucephalui,[z fliews him. but a 
 Beaft : and any one may judge how like tlie Afs it was, firft to miftakc 
 the Reverence to be his, that was done to the Goddefs ; next that he 
 could be proud of it, if he had been fi>. To contemn a jujl com- 
 mendation, is to kick at kindness : To be proud on't is to take in 
 fo much, until it docs intoxicate. Though another mans praifc can- 
 not in my fclf make mc better than I am ; yet (with my help) it 
 may make me much worfc. The be(t is to labour an improvement. 
 If any, one fpeaks well, I would be glad, I could Act better. I Hiall 
 like it better, it my deeds may go beyond his Tongue. 1 had rather in 
 this cafe men lliould fee more than they do expe^, than look for 
 more than they can find. 
 
 Of
 
 20S 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 U''■v^J 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 XXIII. 
 Of Secrejie. 
 
 THe Hooting Fowler feldom takes much game. When a man hath 
 the proje6^ of a courfc in his mind digcfted and fixt by Conjide- 
 ration, 'tis good vpifdem to refolve of Secrefie^ till the time our Ve- 
 figns arrive at their Difpatch and Perfe^iion : He fliall be allowed to 
 have enough of ihe umdvifed, that brags much either of what he will 
 do : Or, of what he fliall have. For, if what he fpeaks of, falls no: 
 out accordingly ; In ftead of appUnfe-, a mock and fcorne fhall ftrike 
 him. They feidom thrive in hnjinefs that cannot but proclaim their 
 Intentions. They fpeak themfelves tobe w^y/^^^; and it they have 
 ought worth the taking, they are fetters to their own Robbery. Even 
 water will forbear to rife where the Tipe^ through which it is to 
 pafs, hath z jlive in'r. The projcds of men are a kind of chymtftry : 
 Keeping them clofe, they may profper. But the glafs once crack't, 
 and utir admitted in, the produft then will "vani/h out in Fume. 
 When QuintHS AfeteUm could not compafs his Conquejls in Spmn^ he 
 feems to negle(5i: the principal City., and with a Rovuling <^rmy flics 
 to oiher parts. And when in regard of fo wild a War his Friend did 
 ask him, what thereby he intendeds His anfwer was, lfhis(hirt knew 
 bis mind, he would have commanded it to he burrid^ immediately. We 
 fee that which carries on, even evil adlions to their profpeiity, and 
 is indeed, the main of their fuccefs, and without which, they would 
 certainly come to nothing, is their fecrecy, and cUndepne creeping 
 along. 'Tis the invifibility of fpirits that performs their rvitchcraft. 
 And it was in the dark and night, that the envious TowM his Tares. 
 And if Secrecy can fo promote thofe Dejigns that arc to be abherrd, 
 why is it not as well advantagectu to what we intend for goedl 
 Nature for her own Preservation has taught wild Bcaffs to dwell in 
 holes zx^^ dens. The Fz/Z't'j bed in mud. And ^/Wj build not in open 
 fields, but in the fhaded woods, and folitary Thickets. How many 
 have undone themfelves by their <'/?f/rA/f/j- .' He ftrumpets all his Bu- 
 finefs, that does difclofe his fecrets. 
 
 Candmles loft both Kingdom, Life, and irife, by only fhewing of 
 her Beauty Naked. Nor was that fabled Ring of Gyges more, than 
 his great lYifdom guiding his Affairs : whereby he knew what other 
 Princes didj hwiioreferv'dhimfelf, that he ro them rcmain'd ftiil 
 undifcovered. Stratagems are like iJM.iftrf(?es, they arc deflowrd when 
 known : and then they feldom live to be married by being effected. 
 By divulging, we feem to tempt others to prevent us. He that before 
 lay ftill, and did not mind it, when he fees another running for z prize, 
 will poft away to out- Jpeed him. And indeed, he is not like to fpeed 
 tveU, that cannot keep his own few^/f/. The Philofophers check will 
 juffly fall upon him ; That 'tis pitty, of thofe he learned to [peak, 
 
 he
 
 11 E S L V E S. 
 
 209 
 
 jhc was not as well iiiltruiflcd to be Jt!e»t. 'Tis a nuferablc'/?«jc, when Cent. II, 
 ji man hath ■3. fioud oi rvords^ zx\6.\i\x\. ^ drop oi [ml. To fuch people j ., ' V~\J 
 ufually, all the Phyfuk they can take to liop it, operates tlic wrong 
 way. That mind which cannot keep its own dttcraiinatiors /r;V<?/^0 
 is not to be truflcd either with his <?ir;?, or others bufwcfs. He lets 
 in fo much light, as will nor furfer his defigns to ^Iccp ; ll> they come 
 to be diflurbed, while they HiouU ^acher Itrcngth, by repofe. If the 
 hitfiKefs be of what is yet to come, 'tis vanity to boaft: of it; 'tis all 
 one with the Almanack, to r.oz/f at what weather will happen. W'e 
 boAJl of tliac, which not being in our porver^ is none ot our orv». 
 The Bird that Jlies, I may as well call miite. He digs in /and, and 
 lays his beams in water, that builds upon events, which no man 
 can be ^j\A.afler of'. What can he Uiew but his own Intemperance ? 
 bcwrayin^ even a kind of greedinefs, while he catches at tiiat which 
 is not yet in his reach ; which Iccms to untold but an unampaBed 
 mnd, that is not fo wife as to fabjifi we// with what it hath in pre- 
 [ent. Such men, it we come to dijfe^ them, we fliall find like cha- 
 mxlcons, that have not x\\c fo/id entrai/s of other creatures, but are 
 till'd with o\\\^ lungs. And then, it alter our /"c^/?/;?^, wc come to 
 be disappointed, the «^f/^^^ is made more z'////'/<?; and we turn'd out, 
 to herd with thofe that muft be laughed at. Nor yet can I offer 
 ought to the world atter this, but it will come forth upon fomc 
 di\'idvantAge. If 1 boafl of any thin^, I teach others to expeci, and 
 then they look for Swans, or Quails, though it be in a mldernefs ; 
 where, adnait it be fair, it fliall not be thought fo : becaufe their 
 hopes arc poileft with Rarity. Secrefie is a moll nccclTary parr, not 
 only of Po/icie, but Prudence. Things untold, are as things undone. 
 If they fuccced well, they arc gratefuller for being fodain : it ill, 
 they may be dt/penc'dwith, as tor ought any knows, they beirg no 
 other than cafual ; fo not it a.\\ in intention. I obferve the fig-tree, 
 wUok fruit is pleafant, docs not blojfom at all ; whereas the Sallow that 
 hath ^ono\ispalms, is continuajly found barren. 1 would firlt be fo 
 wife, as to be my own Coimjellor ; next fo fecret, as to be my own 
 comfcl-keeper. 
 
 w 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 A Chrijlian's threefold Qond'it'ton. 
 
 Ho is't can be fo fanguine, as to be always conflant in a ful 
 
 
 blown ]olUty ? 'Tis the glorious iun alone, that in himfelt is^ 
 ever bodyed, tuU of light and hrigbtnejs. But as in the AUon wc fee a 
 threefold condition, that gives her an alternate face •, her wane, her in- 
 creafe, htr full : So 1 fee the fame refembled in a Chrijlian, three ctVi- 
 cient caufcs working them ; Stn, Repentance, Faith. When after fin,z \ 
 chri(lia?i once coniidcrs, he finds a (ludow drawn upon his light. The 
 
 E c fteps \
 
 210 I IjESOLVES. 
 
 Cent. II. ^eps of night ftay printed in his foul: his fljine grows lean within him, j 
 L/'V'^O and makes him Uke tnc Afooa in her dechninfr rv^f?e, oblcuring and di- j 
 minilbinff that clear»c[s ot the Sfirit which lately jhincd with fuch 
 brightnefs in him. It dims the ^^<««f7 of the luminons foul: like the 
 fenfihle fUnt-i when xho: hand o\ Jlefj d^oQS touch i:-, flic flirinks in all 
 hcxlenves: or elfc flic, \{V.Q.x.hQ humble one ^ tails yZ^/, and lankly //'« 
 upon the earth. Nay, fomctimcs (as the Moon \\\ our lofk _^/;/ of 
 her) he feems quite gone^ and vanifht : refting for a time like a dif- 
 exfed man in a trance -^ as a winter-tree, ox Jire that's buried in con- 
 cealing embers ; without oi fenfe, or jhorv^ ot either light or heat. But 
 then comes Repentance^ and cafts n'<t/-fr in his tace, ^f^fn'j him with 
 tears, packs the fpirits back again to the heart, till that be rows'd 
 up by them ; rubs up his bcnumd foul, that tb.cre is to be feen feme 
 tokens both of life and recovery. Repentance is the key, that unlocks the 
 gate wherein (in docs keep man prifoner. Who is't can be fo bUck and 
 dead a coal, that this Lacrymal water, witli the breath of the Holy Spi- 
 rit cannot blow up into a glevcing light} This makes him fprtng, 
 caufes him to begin to ^rt.-^ again ; unrowls his wrapt-up beauty, and 
 by little and little, it not at once, recolleBs his decayed ftrengtli of the 
 apprehenjion of Gods Spirit • fo fets him in the way to joy and renewed 
 couries. Repentance is Tenelope's night, which undoes that which the 
 day o{ Jin did rveave. 'Tis indeed the only ^5'«^-T'/>.e to fetch again 
 xht fainting foul: And it might jutlly therefore caufe the Emperor The- 
 odojim to wonder at the effect. That living man fhould die, he faw was 
 ordinary and familiar : But it was from God alone. That man being 
 dead in Jin, fliould live again by Repentance. 
 
 But laftly, Faith appears, and perfeds what Repentance begun and 
 could not jinifb : fhc cheers up his drooping hopes, brings him again to 
 his wonted folace, fprcads out his leaves, envigours his fhrunk nerves, 
 and to a hvighijiame blows his dying jire : That like the Moon in her 
 full glory, he becomes indued with a plenteous /m/«» of iho, pre - 
 fence of the Almighty. Thus, while he Jins, he rvanes himfclf to dark- 
 nefs and obfcurity. When he repents, he begins to recover light ; and 
 when his faith (hincs clear, he then -t/f^^rj at full; yet in all thefe, 
 while he lives here, he is not only charged wiih Comcfpots, but is fub- 
 jeft to the vic/ffitudes oi change : Somctim.cs he is froliqu'd with a 
 fea/l within him : fometimes he is flirinking in a fiarved condition, and 
 fometimcs dull with darknefs of defertion ; yet, in all, he lives : 
 though in fome rveakly, and in fome infenfibly ^ yet, never without 
 one found confutation in the worit of thefe fad variations. As the Pla- 
 net Mercury, though errattque and mojix'd, yet never wanders far from 
 the Sun : Or, as the Moon, when fhe is leafi vifible, is as well a Moon 
 as when we fee her in her full proportion: Only the Sun looks not on 
 her with fo large an afpeEi ; and (he reflefts no more than flie receives 
 from him : fo a chriftian in his lowell ebb o'iforrovp, is an Heir of Sal- 
 vation, as well as when he is in the highejl flovp of comfort', only 
 the Sun of Righteoufnefs darts not the beams of his love fo plentifully: 
 
 and
 
 1{ES0Ll^ES. 
 
 and he llicws no more, than Gtd by (hining gives liim. When the 
 Holy Spirit holds in his heams-, frail man then needs muft langut^. 'Tis 
 deprivation that creates a i/f//; tor where God is z?*'/, there 'tis that 
 Hell is. When ere tl lis tyde runs out^ there's nought bu t mud and ineeds 
 that's \Q.\i behind. When GWfliall hide his f^ce^ in vain elfcwhcre we 
 fcek for 2l fnbfiftence. He is the airy without which is no life. His^ 
 vpith-drawings arc our miseries ; ins presence is _/cy , and revivement . ' 
 'Tis only fin that can efZ/ySp this light. Tis the intcrpopire of this grofs 
 opacous ^0^3') that AAjc/'i the clfe ^r/gArj^«/; This is that CPrf^/^A'jf- 
 ander, which keeps the light from this /'^'^r Diogenes in his TV/^ of 
 Mortality: And this, fometimcs, muft be cxpcded, while we are 
 here below. Even time confillis ot night and day ^ the year-, oi variom 
 feafons. He that cxpc As z conjlancy here, does look for that which 
 this world cannot ^Wi", ' Tis only above the 5»«, that there is no Moon 
 to change. 
 
 • XXV. 
 
 For Ordering of Expences, 
 
 IT is very hard for an open and cafie nature to keep within the 
 compafs of his fortune j either (Ijame to be obferv'd behind others, 
 or el(c 51 vain glorious itching to o«/-is^(J them, leaks away ^//, till 
 the vejfel be (fw/"// or /ou? ; lo that nothing involves a man to more 
 unhappinefs than an hccdlefs letting go in an imprudence of mifpend- 
 ing. It alters quite the frame and temper of the wiW. When w^^/ 
 comes, he that was projufe^ docs eafily grow rapacious. It is ex- 
 treme unhappincfs to be thus compos'd of Extremes. To be impati- 
 ent both ot plenty and want. 'Tis a kind of Monjler-vice, wherein 
 coveteufnefs and prodigality, mingled, dwell together, and one of 
 them is always gnawing. It puts a man upon ihcjfretch, and will not 
 fuffcr him to lie at eafe. Like the Sftridge, he feeds on Iron^ and puts 
 it out in fethers. He runs any hazard to get, and when he hath it, 
 he jkunts it away in curls and airy vanities. On the other fide, a for- 
 did par/imony, -lays a man open to contempt. Who will care for him, 
 that cares for nobody but himfclf ? Or, who will cxped any thing ot 
 \Javour or friendjjjip from him, that makes it his matter-piece to [crape 
 I from all that fall within his gripe, or reach ^ The enforcijeg ot the 
 .forged Tejiament ot Minutitu, lolt Crajfus and Hortenfitu more honour 
 jwith /'£'j^'?m/r, than all their wealth and authority could rcpurchafc 
 Nor is he lefs a fcom to others, than ^ pHni(hment to himfelf. He pulls 
 from others, as if he would make all hisoww ; and when he hath it, 
 ihc keeps it, as if it were another mans. In expences, I would be nci- 
 jther pinching., nor prodigal: yet, if my means allow it not, rather 
 I thought too [paring jX.[\zw a Wttk profufe. Saving inclines to judgment -^bm 
 lavifl} expences, to levity and inconjideratenefs. With the wife, 'tis no 
 i E e 2 difgracc ) 
 
 211 
 Cent II-
 
 ! 212 
 
 i 
 
 Cent. 11 
 
 1 L^-V^nJ 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 difgrace to make a mans ahility\\is compafs ot [ail^ and line to voalk 
 by : and to exceed it, for them that are not rvife ; is to be fure to ex- 
 ceed them, as well in foUy as expence. He is equally ridiculous, that' 
 'will i^»ryi out his Taper while '.he Sun doth jJyiffe ; and he that will go' 
 to M in tlic d,irky tofave his expence of light. It is my part to know 
 what 1 may do ; while others only look at ihQ flream^ but are not con- ' 
 cern'd how the Fountammz^ frff^y ^t- Though they look to what I 
 Jpend as graceful to them ; yet, 1 ought to care for what may be con- \ 
 'venient lor me. He tliat (pends to his prcpnrtion , is as brave as a ! 
 Prince ; and a Prince exceeding that^\^a. Proiii^al: There is no Gallantry ' 
 beyond what's Jit and decent. A comely beauty is better than a painted] 
 one . unfeemly bounty., is waftc both of xvealth awA rvit. He, rhat when \ 
 he lliould not, ff>ends too much, flnall when he would not, have too\ 
 little to fpend. It was a witty rcafon o[ Diogenes, why he asked but a ; 
 half-peny of the Thrifty man, and a/'w/Wof the Prodigal. The firfl, he ; 
 faid, mv^Mgive him often ; but, the other, ere long, would have no- ! 
 thing to give. To f^are in weighty caufcs, is the worft and moft un- ' 
 happy part o^ thrift that can be : Liberality, like a warm iTiciwr, moL 
 lifies the hardejl Earthy and prepares it for fertility : ■ But he that is/^- 
 mtrioui, \.^vi\-\<i\\\.'iIriends'\.\vio Enemies, and hardens that which him.- 
 fclf dcfircs tofini/'.to?. Who can cxped ro reap, that never /i»»''^ j 
 his feed ; or in a drought, who will not look to have his harvefl poort i 
 Doubtlefs, there is no: any worfe husbandry, than the being too neer., 
 and fordidly rKijerable ; and there is no man but at the long-run lofes] 
 by't.Whcn the bujh is known to be //wzV,they are ilmple Birds that will i 
 be drawn to/'frc//or,'t. Nor on the other fide, can we find, that to, 
 Jj>end -vainly, even in a plentiful fortune, hath any Warrant from ei- i 
 thcr Prudence or Religion. 'Tis a kind of fcandal to the wife, to fee a i 
 Riotous tvafte, made of wealth, that might be imployed to many more i 
 pretiom ups. If we have z fuperfluity, the poor have an Interejl in it : i 
 but furely none is due to Qhhi:v4Va/ie,ov wantennefs. Wcalch fooliflily •' 
 conjitfnd is vvinc upon the pavement da/ht -^ which was by Providence \ 
 dtlLn'd tohave c/;f(??-Wthc Z^^'^r/-. If the thing h^dhQ^wcondc/nnabUy. 
 or his intention vearrantable ^ it was not phras'd amifs , when "^udas 
 grumbled at the Oiinments expence ; Ad^uidperditiohsc ? Certainly, ' 
 here is better ufe to be made ot our Talents, than to caji them away in j 
 pyajl. If God gave us them not, to lie idly by us, we cannot think he! 
 fliould be pleafed, when either loolly we confume them , or lewdly! 
 wemifpcnd them. 'Tis the improving,not the waflc or hoording, that j 
 the Mailer does commend j and this lliotild be with rnoderativ:-/ : clfc ! 
 the glofs and grace of all is dull. 
 
 NuHus Araento Color cfi , aviri"- 
 Abdit£ terris inimice Lxmnx, 
 Cfi/ps Salujii, niji-temperato ' 
 
 Splendeat ufu. 
 
 Dear
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 215 
 
 Dear Saltijl^ thou that fcorn'il the Oar, 
 With Earth from Mijers covcr'd or'e, 
 'Tis neither fiJvcrnor looks Ipruce 
 
 But's bright, by lobcr ufc. 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 XXVI. 
 Of a Chrijiiam /ettlednefs in his Saviot4r. 
 
 DQubtlcfs there are fome vvhofe Faith mounts them above all the 
 pleafures and inconveniences of Life. We fee a carnal Teaaty 
 can fo take up all inc faculties of fome weak Souls ^ as they can defpife 
 all dorms that crufs them in their ryay to their defignedcnd. They ride 
 triumphing overall they nscct.) nothing can weigh asraintt their iix'd af- 
 fcftion, like fprings that burit out in remoter places, ihtix windings tend 
 but to pour them into the Sea. 
 
 Andifthisbefogreat and prevalent as to mate and maftcr all the 
 other pa0ionsofMan J certainly ic may be allowed a chrijiaa to be 
 wholly poileft with the radiance of Divine Tieiititude., bcuia; by Faith 
 fetlcd upon the perfedions of his Heavenly Saviour. The beauty 
 rightly confidered is far aiorc raviflung tlun all that we can appre- 
 hend bcfides ; And the ble^ednejs that he is Robed with, v;annot but be 
 far more confentaneous to the foul than all the f.ck and fmuttea plea- 
 fures of cMortaray. Let hihi circuit about with never fo many ambi- 
 guous turnings ; yet Y\kca.diftmted £lemeKty he is never at a quiet 
 repofe, till he makes up to thx; Center oi h'lsfo/tl, his God. As the 
 Needle in a Diald[[iurh'd and fliakcn from liis point does never leave 
 his quivering motio/'i, till it fix and lleeps upon his Artickpole : So tares 
 it with a Chriftian in this World: nothing c^x\ io charm ox [cat ter 
 him, but ftill the laft refult of all dpes Anchor \\m\ m \v.s Saviours 
 Arms. All that put him out of the (\\xc\koi Heaven arc but Incerpo- 
 furcs, diverfions, and diflurbances. The Soul char once is truly touch'd 
 with the magnetique force of Diving Love, can never rcililli any thing 
 here fo pleafingly, as that entirely flie can I'clt upon it. Thinigh the 
 Pleafures, "Profits, z\-\^ Honors oi i\\\s Life may fomerime fliuiilc him 
 outof his«/K4/c«<//^; Yet he wavers up and down in trouble, runs 
 to and fro ; like qujck-filver, and is never quiet within, till he return? 
 toUlsrvonted Joy a.nd inward happinefs. There it is Uh Center points, 
 and there his Circle's bounded. Which though unfeen and unpcr- 
 ceivcd by others, are fuch to him .as noticing can buy troai uim. 
 Compared with thefc, the gaudicft glittcriiigs of the fawning world 
 arc but as \)iuMcd fienes upon ^ fa^e chat thange with cvciy Adl, 
 and ne've lall: longer with us than w'i;ile tlK vV-ij'ot this fwift ///d* con- 
 tinnes : To the Pipus A-faa, they arc but as may -games to a Prince :. lit- 
 ter for children (i^^w t\\Q Royalty oi aCrew/f, ov the cxpc^atloft o't him 
 chat looks to Inherit perpetuity. And.for this (if by<hc M'td.RiJleoi 
 
 Judgment
 
 214 
 
 II. 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 judgment vjQ^ fhall nieafure things) we (hall find Redfon ■, not to be 
 contradiiflcd. For in God,as in the Root, are the Gaufcs of all Felicity. 
 All the oriental luQres of the richeftgems j All the imhanting Beauties 
 of Exterior (hapes j the exquifitenefs of figures ', the lovelinefs of co- 
 lours, l\\Q harmony o^ founds ■, the light and Clarity o{ (\^t enlivening 
 Sun ; The Rav/Jbing form and order of all. All the heroick virtues of 
 the hravefi minds^ with the purity and quickncfs of the higheft Intel- 
 lects , are all but emanations irom the Supream Deity. The ways the 
 wife Thilofcpher had to find out God will plainly flicvv us, that he is 
 all PctkCtion, Caufaticn, Negation, and the way of Eminency. For the 
 firff: it leads us through thcfcale oi motions by fteps,till we afcerrd to a 
 Deity ; In the laft mover, we tnuik period all ourfearch. For the fccond 
 it tells us, Whatfoever is frail, corruptive, impure, or impotent ; we 
 may conclude, it cannot be in him. And tor the third : if wc find any 
 thingintheCr<'4/«r^ that is but /^/^//^rfzwM^/f and taking, we maybe 
 fure in God to find it in immenfe pirfection. Abfolom's Beauty,Jonatha»'s 
 Love, David's Valour, Solomon's mfdom, Vlyffes his Policy, Augujita his 
 Prudence, C^fars Fortune, Cicero's Eloquence, with whatfoever clfe we 
 moft admire. The Purity of Ftrgins, the Fragrancy of l^ature, the in- 
 t exigence of all, with all the Ctmpltcency that either Reaftn or our fenfes 
 can prefent us with. Neer this comes the Eloquent 'Boetim when fpeak- 
 ing of God, he fays : 
 
 Tu Requies tranquilla pits : Te ceraere. Finis ^ 
 Principium, Ve^or, Dux, Semita, Terminus idem. 
 
 Thou art the ju/i mans Peace : Beginning, End, 
 Means, Condud, Way, do all to Thee extend. 
 And when all thefe Inherent Radiations fliall by the Soul be found in 
 the jilmighty ; It is no wonder that ihe llfiould befurprized with De- 
 leciation. And it is as Tittle wonder that the brittle, weak, and lliort- 
 liv'd pleafures of this world fliould at all once take her ; who, zsFire 
 flics upwards, is naturallyyr<«w'^ to afcend to a Beatitude in her own 
 great Cr^x/cr. Hcthatis fetled and well-pleas'd here, gives caufe to 
 fufpeci he docs not look up higher. It fliould not more greive me to 
 live in a continued forrow , than it fhall 77 me to find a fecret diffatif- 
 f Action in the world's choifeft folaces. A full delight in earthly things 
 argues a neglcft oi Heavenly. For trufting here, there will be caufe to 
 diftruftmy fclfof too much trufting where is nojlabiltty. 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 L 
 
 Of fading Authors, 
 
 THe Comparifon was very apt in the excellent Plutarch, That we 
 ought to regard Books as we would do Sweet-meats ; not 
 wholly to aim at the plcafanteft, but chiefly to refpedt the wholefom- 
 
 nefs
 
 "!{ E S L V E S. 
 
 nefs : not forbi(.ldin_J cither, bac approving tiic Jatcer moll. Buc tu 
 fpcak clearly, though the j^roptablcne'iS may be much more in fome Au- 
 thors than tiicre is in others, yet 'tis very rare that the Ingenious can 
 be ill. He that hath wit to make \^\<ipen plea^mt^ will have much ado 
 lojeparate it from being fomcthing propt/ibe. A tftd Levity will not 
 cake. A Tiich 5rt/> requires good (hiffe , as well as to be imfel'd out 
 with Lace and Ribbands, And certainly, Wit is very ncer a kin to ivif- 
 dom. If it be to take in general, or to laft \ we may find, it ought to be 
 cnterwovin with (omc heaittifid flowers o[ Rhetorigue-, with ct,c grate- 
 ful /^»///:g herbs ot Rcafcu., and Phtlofophy, as well as with the Simples 
 q\. Science ^ox Phyfical P but s, and the ever green fcntcnces of Piety and 
 Profoundness, Evt-n the loofer Poets have lomc Divine Tr^ceptions. 
 Though 1 canno: but ttunk A/arfia/'s wit was much clearer than his 
 pen, vet he is fometimes Grave ai vv. 11 as Gamejvme. And 1 do not tuid 
 but deep and folid maiter, where 'tis underflood, takes better, than the 
 light iialhes and skipping C?/>frj of Fancy. VVho is it will not be as 
 much delishted with the weighty ai.d fubllantial lines of the Seneca s-y 
 and Plutarch , the crifpcd Salnjl^ the politick Tacitus , and the wcll- 
 breatli'd Cicero^ as with ^\it frisks and dancings ot the jocund and the 
 airy Poets. Thofe abilities that Renowned Authors fucnilh the world 
 with,bcget a kind oiDeifical Reverence in their future Readeri.lL\\o\\<^-\, 
 even in the unpartialnefs of war, Alphonfm wanted Stones to carry on 
 his Siege of Cajeta, and none could be fo conveniently had , as from 
 TuUies ytUa Fermiana that was neat it ; yet, for the noble regard Jie 
 bore to his long pafs'd Eloquence , he commanded his Souldiers that 
 they fhould not ///>?/'(fw. Compofuresrhzidinw at iv/> alone, like tlie 
 Fountains and ivater-rvcrks in Gardens.) arc but ofufc for recreation-^zhi^r 
 the travails and toils of more ferious imployments and fludies.'XViQ Palace 
 and the con(\ant(^nr///>?^isftfwz/'tfyf^ofrolidandmorc durable c^Mar- 
 bles, that rcprefcnt toalter-y^fj the Ingenuity and Magnificence ot the 
 Architect. And as the Houfe alone is no compleat habitation, without 
 thefe decorations for delight ; no more is the work of the brAin on all 
 fides furniflicd without ioixic Jprightly conceits i\\z.iw\drj\ic intcrmixt 
 to pleaje. 
 
 Nee placeat fades, citi Gelajinm abe[i. 
 
 No "Beauty has I'azx. face. 
 Which wants a natural ^race. 
 
 o 
 
 Thofe Romances arc the belt, that, bcfi Jcs the contexture for taking the 
 Fancy in their various accidents, give us the belt Idea's of ij^ortality, 
 with the cxprellive Emanations o(rvifdom, and divine knowledge, Thofe 
 that are light, and have only the (j4«flfm« o( mt, are but for youth and 
 greener years to toy withal. When we grow to riper age, we begin to 
 leave C\ich[\iK\ks as /ports ind pa/limes, that we out -grow by more 
 maturity. Of this Age Horace was, when he dcdar'd, 
 
 Cent. 11.
 
 ii6 
 
 Cent. 11 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 Nunc itaq; cr I'crfas, S" ccrWra ludicra pom : 
 
 Quid verHm,/ttq; decens^cHre,0' yogo^f^ omnii in hoc film : . \ 
 
 Condo, cr C^npom^ qtix »iox depremerepojfum. \ 
 
 Now Rimes^ and childifli Fancies^ quite arc gone : 
 The graceful Truth 1 fexrch ; that reft upon, 
 And well digejied^ gravely put icon. 
 
 Joc!fUrJlr.iifis, they ^rc hut Sprifsg-Jlotvers ', which though they plcafe 
 the f)'^,they yield butflcnder nourijbmeKt : They are the Autumn fruits, 
 that we muft thrive and live by ; the Sagefiyings^ tlic rare Exarnples^ 
 the Noble Enterprifes, the hxndfom Co»triv/ifices,t\\e fuccefs of good and 
 bad anions, the Elevations of the Deitj, the motives and incitements to 
 Virtue^ and the like ; are thofe that muft build us up to the Gallantr]/ 
 and Perfection of Jidan. I do not find, but it may well become aman to ! 
 purfue both t!x one-, and the other ^ to precept himfclf into the practice of; 
 rirtue ; and to fafbion both his To/i0tlknd Pen^ into the cxercife of 
 handfom and Ggnificant vcords. He th^t foand.itions not hiinfelfwith the 
 Arts^w'iW hardly be fit to go out Doctor either to himfeU, or others. In 
 reading I will be careful tor both, though not equally. The one ferves 
 to inftruCl the mind , the other enables her to teU what fhe hath 
 learn d-^ the one without the other, is lan7e. What benefit yielsJiVf, if 
 ftill rak'd up in a(fjes ? though///?^ may bear aflame in't : yet, we/r/cf 
 it but a //^//f ,becaufe we cannot gh. it forth without knocking. He that 
 hath vferth ia him, and cannot exprefs it, is a chejt oiveood perhaps con- 
 taining a 5^f)Vf/,but,V\'ho fhall be Letter for't, when the key is lefi^. A 
 ^podjlyle doesfometime take him, that good matter would heat arv*y : 
 'Tis the guilding, that makes the wholefom Pill hefrvallorved. Elegance 
 either in Tongue^ or Pen, fliews a man hath minded fomething beiides [ 
 fports and vice. 'X\% graceful to (^eak, or to vprite proper ; i.or is it eafic 
 to fcparatc Eloquence ■zr\A Sapience ; for the firft leads to the other, and 
 is at leaft, the Anticourt to the Palace oi n'ifdom. A good///?, with 
 good matter, confecrates a rvork to Memory ; and fometimes while a 
 man fceks but one, he is caught to be a fcrvant to the other. The Prin- 
 cipal end of r^^^//;?^, is to inrich the mind; the next, to impr.ve the 
 Pen and Tongue. 'Tis much more gentile and futable, when they fliall 
 appear ailoi z piece. Doubtlefs, that is the beji veork, where the graces 
 and Mufes meet. 
 
 y XXVIII. 
 
 Oftht Variation of Men in themfehes, 
 
 IT is rot only in refpedt of Tertune., but of the Mind alfo,That Soloris 
 faying may be held as Oracle^ Ante ohitum,drc. No man is to be ac- 
 counted happy, till he hath efcaped all things that may poffibly make 
 
 him
 
 "I^ESOLVES. 
 
 217 
 
 nim unhaffy. Not a day, nor an hour, but give lomc examples of the Ce-nt"! 
 milt ability oi all Humnne ajj'atrs. And though the Mutatien of the L<'''V^v 
 Mind be not fo frequent : yet, i^c accidents o'i zhcworldi the vari- 
 ation ot condition^ the dirfercnce of -^ges-t the change ot better to 
 rverfe, and rvorfe 10 better, outward /^/<r/j- and intVArd difeafes, have | 
 fliovvn us the fame psrlons diftinguillit into contrary men. And truly ' 
 the Imhantment that the veorld works on us, when fnc either laughs \ 
 loud, or frcrcns deep., is fo ftrong- that 'tis juftly matter of amaze- \ 
 ment, for a man in the leaf of the one , or in the tumble of either of 
 thefe, xo ret aim Vi\\x\d^ unaltered-^ yet, are not all men c/'<««^^^ alike. 
 The fame-Ctf;'<^«/ thatfwrw oneiiian, may, by meeting a divers hu- 
 mor, diftravl o'[ killzwi\.\\cx. /'t'y^ww/ cftcfts arc variable, as the A^<«- 
 tttres that Hie works upon, tveallh is as the wine of life: fomc it puts 
 into a delightful mirth, that gratifies all the company ; while it makes 
 others tyrannom ^x\A quarrelfvme., that no man keeps himfclt in fa/ety, 
 but he that has the wit to be abfent. Where it lights upon tveak minds, 
 it ufually changes them into worfe • they have not wherewithal to 
 bear thejlrefs that ^ gre.it Eflate will put them to. And when they can- 
 not bear it out by voit and reaj'on-, they iTy to authority and porver, which 
 cnadls fubmijjton; but will not be accountable tor any kind of merit that 
 may induce it, laving only potendy. And' certainly, though it be true, 
 which is. commonly believed. That for the mort part, where God dc- 
 figns a Governour, he qualifies him w^rh parts proportionable for his im- 
 ployment. Yet, doubtlefs, the very condition of /'flJVf^', a.nd Greatnefs, 
 naturally eflatcs a man in another temper, than what he was in without 
 n.Noble fouls fo elevated,hccon\c like bodies planted above the vaporous 
 Orb oiAir, that then reft there in quiet, without propcnfion ot dejcent, 
 OK falling Awd though Inferior fouls may wondcr,how they can live nv- 
 dc: [\ich clouds oi bujinefs, is dayly bieik upon them: yet,as when Philo 
 fanfied, That when Mofes liv'd forty days in the Mmnt, without food, 
 that he was nourirtit by the £iir,and fed upon the yJ/«/?fi' ot the Spheres, 
 which then he heard : So, there is no doubt, but the application and 
 the applaufe o^ oihe:s,x.hc humKiings o\ fame, and t\\c ecchoings oi Ho- 
 w*r,rclicvc him agauifl the gratings of a [\omzd\ ^jarpned wuh offend- 
 ing numours. The Alufick ol Honour does drown the noife ot tlic throng. 
 How calic is it for him to be at eafe, and [land, when every one lliall 
 extend a A/JW^ to his fufentation'^. The wheel oi Honour muft needs 
 turn cheer fully, ind difpatch nwich grifi too,vvlicn 'tis continually driven 
 about by ihc fond oi preferment . But indeed, a man fliews hiiiifclf 
 in Authority, according as he was inwardly principled before he came 
 to it : forjmany times the difpojition appears not in the non-ageoi Potv- 
 er, no more than Reafoa in a child, the Organs are not fitted to di(co\ c : 
 it. Thus ManliU'sTorquatui in his youth, was ot fo dull and lumpifli 
 a fpirit. That his Fattier holding hmi untit tor matters of State, de- 
 |fign'd him \o z C^'^ntrey Farm: yet, afterwards by fever al ^/^'r/ow-f 
 Ucts he obliged both \\\.s Father lindhisCoimtrey , even to the merit 
 of a Triumph: fo tliat it falls out to be mol\ frequently true, That b^ 
 I 1' f prcfer- 
 
 TT.
 
 2l8 
 
 Cekt.I1. 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 frefermenty'^ooA men are made better ^ buc ill men worfe : as the Drum 
 chat beats a Tiger into madnefs •, but a man, into courage and valoMr. It 
 therefore much concerns Princes^ where their ^ww// bcftows frefer- 
 rtient : and the more, becaufc their /»^jVJ?j have an wterejl in them as 
 well as themfclves. 'Tistruc, nothing can be certain, as to the futu- 
 rity of temper. Good or /-rf^ lodging in the ^f^r/, cannot by man be ef- 
 pyed. Neither was t*hc youth of the Noble Scipio untainted with vice, or 
 the beginnings of the Monjier-Nero-, without fome figns Oi good. The 
 {cum rifes not, till the nvater boyls ; nor is the Oyl gathered till the liquor 
 be heat. Let no man therefore defpair too much of the bad,nor prejume 
 too much of the good-^ the lafl:, like a rich plant in a lean foyl, may 
 degenerate into r>?i/dnefs ; and the other, though finglejlikc fioch in ma- 
 nured bedsy may come \x^ Jiript and double. If there be vDtt, there is 
 ground for hope the fiyl is not defperate. Reafon upon r^fif/}, will fliew 
 him how much he is to detejl himfelf : but, he that hath not voifdom 
 to judge, will very feldom have the luck to reclaim. 
 
 XXIX. 
 A Cayeat in choofin^ Friends. 
 
 T Hough no man, branded with a fignal vice, be fit for a wife man 
 to make a Friend of ; yet, there be two forts of men that efpe- 
 cially we ought to avoid : For, bcfides the learning of their vices -, 
 they are not tyte enough to truft with a fecret ; 1\\q Angry man, and 
 the 'Drunkard. The prudent man would be glad to enjoy himfelf in 
 peace, without being haled into the jujlling throng, where is nothing to 
 be got but di/bonour, blows, and clamour. To be but only a Jhefutor 
 is not to be out oi danger. If a Granado he f red, all within the buKfizzt 
 in hazard: It either of thefe 'Bears hieakloofe, you fliall be fure to be 
 either frighted,foikd, or hurt ; and, whether you will or no, be made 
 partaker either of iome ridiculous quirrel,(ow\e unfober ryot, ox by both 
 together be lapp'd in fome drunken fray : for the furies ever bear a part 
 in Bacchus his Orgies. The firft in his fury is mcerly mad. choler is as dufl 
 flur'd up into the eyes of Reafon, ih3.t blinds or dazels the Jlght of the m- 
 derfianding ; where it burns in the heart like f re under a pot : Whenfo- 
 ever itjiames,it makes the tongue boylover ; and where it falls, it fcalds. 
 Words come not then digefted and mathematiqu'd out h^ judgement, 
 fenfe, ind reafon, butflaflVi and tumulttiated by fy^^wV, by rage and 
 brutifh paffion ; not upon premeditated terms, but whatfoever the memo- 
 ry on the (odiit\ catches, that \io\em paffion thruffeth out, though be- 
 fore it lay never (o deeply hidden and immurd. Confefjion's fealis broken 
 by this picklock ; and in a brawl that oft is blabb'd about, which with 
 all the bftrrs of filence fhould have ftill ftood firmly riveted. Men 
 throw about in fury, what, once appeaS'd, they tremble to remember. 
 Anger is the Fever of the Soul, which makes the Tongue talk idlely : 
 
 nor*
 
 ^ E S L F E S. 
 
 I 
 
 HOC coaie words clothed as at ochcr ciniies,but now as headed Arro\Ms,i[\ 
 abroad, tvords dipt in gail zndpoyfoKy leap al>oury as i>»liets chewd, they 
 rankk where they e»U'r ; and, like lead melccd, h/ifier where they hght. 
 Excited tM.ilicc then exceeds her Teh. When the Prophet David rclls us 
 of his Enemies ra^e, nor Shears, x\ox Arrows , nor a naked Sveord will 
 fervc liiin to exprtfs it ; but, that Srvord mult he ^jarpned too, that it 
 may cut the keener. It i?, certainly, a deviation from man. In c\c:yjify 
 t'.ic imnjiies out : and wiicn he grows calm,hc returns to himfelf. Seneca 
 puts no difference between thefuriotfi and theiW4^; tor the mad-mnn's 
 alw^ysfuriouj, and the /«rw«^ ever w.:^. Then tell me, Who it is, 
 that being in his w///j w,ould make choice ofhisyr;VW out oi Bed- 
 lam. W'hen Solomon iclh MS oi the I'ritw/ifig woman, who is no other 
 but a she-aogrjf-mau, he hath three Itrange expreifions to decipher 
 her ; one is, t^iat 'T« l^etter to dwell in a corner of the houfe-top, than 
 with a contention womau : Another, that 'ti-s better to dwell m the Unu 
 oftheDefert'i than with her. A third is, that (he is a continual dropping 
 tn Ruin. All which lumm'd together, will amount to thus much; 
 That you had better beexpofed to all the Tempejls ot the Heavens, as 
 Thunder iwd. Lightning-, Cold, Heat, Rain, Snow, with Storms that h/ow, 
 and the rage ot all the Skies whole Armory -, or, to live banijh'd from all 
 Humane Converfation ; and, in want ot all things left a prey to the fero- 
 city ot ravenous Eeajls ; or clfe without the leaft interrnijjien of reft, 
 endure a perpetual dropping (which were your heart ot Marhle^ yet 
 will it wearit out at laft)than to live with a quarrel fom,contentious,unJa- 
 tijjied angry per fon. Ihoi'c that arc fuchjlike houfcs hiunted withjpirits, 
 they are not fafe tor any man to harbour in. When you think your felt 
 fecurely quiet anA in a calm ferenity, on a Codain, ere you arc aware, a 
 hideous notfe is heard, or clfe a Brick-bat files abouD your ears, and you 
 mutt run fort, or be black and blew'd allover. If by chance you knocl- 
 but againll a nail, by that (luaW Jpark it ftrikes , the Gun-powder blows 
 you up. It makes a man a Turn-pike,t\\at will be fure to prick you, which 
 fide focvcr you come on : So,it not only offends, but puts you ott from 
 remedy ; It ruffleth Co through all thtfhrowds that Reaforis never heard, 
 liW this rough wind allays. The .i^Mrfoftops the £.<r, that a man can- 
 not hear what 'tis that Counfel (peaks. 'Tis a raging Sea, atroubled wa- 
 ter fo mudded with thc/i'//ot Pajjion, that it cannot be wholfom for the 
 ujeo[ any. And ifit be true that Hippocrates tells us. That thofe dif- 
 eafes are molt dangerous, that alter molt the habit of the Patient's coun- 
 tenance ; this needs muft be molt perillous, that voice, colour, counte- 
 nance ^garb^ x^dpace. fo chaiioes, as it I'ury difpolTcffing Reafon, had by 
 an OnJUught lurc'd a new Garrifon upon the Cittadel of Man. And 
 furcly, this he knew, and well undcrltood , that Proverb'd it into 
 Command : Neither make thou FricndfJ/ip with the Angry, mr con- 
 verge with the Furious ; left thou learn his ways, and beget a fnare to thy 
 foul. 
 
 The other hath L<t[a Memoria while he is in his cups, and if he drinks 
 on, he hath none. The abundance of fvine does drown up that 
 
 F f 2 Noble 
 
 219 
 Cent. IL
 
 Z10 
 Cent II. 
 
 li^ E S LU E S. 
 
 Noble Recorder. And while Eacchm is his chief God, Aftllo never 
 keeps him Company. Friends and Foes, Familiars and Sfrangers^ arej 
 then all of an equal eftcem. And he forgetfully fpeaks of that in his 
 C/K/'jjwhich, if he were foberjthe Rack ihould not wreft out from him. 
 Firft, he fpeaks he knows not what- nor after, can he remember, 
 what that was he fpakc. He fpeaks that he Qiould torget ; and for- 
 gets that which he did fpeak, Drunkennejt is the FufseraloiaW InteUi- 
 gible Man ; which only iime , and abjUneme , can Refitfciiate. A 
 Drunkards mind and ftomach are alike ; neither, can retain, what they 
 do receive. The Wine that is mingled with the bloud andjj>irits^ like 
 MuJI, will vent, or elfc it breaks the CMk. He's gone from home, 
 and not to be found in himfelf, Abfentem Udit , qui cum ebrio Ittigat. 
 Who quarrels one that's ^r«»X-, is as a fool lo fight Wii\\ him that's 
 abfent. He is not fit to keep anothers/'r/x'4f/>i-, that knows not how 
 to clolet up his own deep thoughts. We lay not Treafures where 
 they may be wafh'd away by inundations, iftor caft them into com- 
 mon Jlreams where every fublique Angle hooks them out. Ebrietat 
 fittltA promit, mult a prodit. The Drunkard hath a Fools Tongue , and 
 a Traitors Heart. When the floud is high, the dams are all broken 
 down. Wine is the T^eferation of the Soul and Thoughis. The ac- 
 carfed cham of life , that lays open even our Sacr^ and Parental 
 Nakednefs to the World. To rfie zr\\.\tx\x. Roman reomtn, the ufe of 
 Wine was wholly unknown. And the Reafon is given, Ne in aliquod 
 dedecui prolaberentur • Left thereby overcharged they might recoil 
 into fome di(T:ionour ; As believing Bacchus could not but make Venm 
 wanton, and relax thofe bajhful guards, that modeft Nature left that 
 Noble fex. Though the Mufh-room was fufpefted, yet was it mne 
 wherein Claudius nrft took his fojffon : for being (JMaudline cupp'd, 
 he grew to lament the Defliny of his marriages , which he faid 
 were ordain'd to be all umhafl, yet fhould not pafs ttnpunijbed ; and 
 this being undcrftood by Agrippina,\>yj fecuring himjlTie provided to fc- 
 cure her felf. Nor is the diltemper'd with drink, any truer to rSufinefs 
 than he is to the5«r^f heistrufted with. For befides his want of 
 memory to retain or carry on any thing of that Nature ; men of this 
 complexion, asmoorifli grounds that lie low and under-water, are 
 ufually boggy and rotten; or of (ocold and fodded a temper ; as they 
 yield not fruit like Earth of another condition, that is not drown'd 
 I and floudded. 
 
 Either of thefe in way of a companion fhall be fure to give a Man 
 trouble enough^ Either vexation or impertinency a man fhall never 
 want. One vomits Ga\l • the other fo//y,and Surfeits. And 'tis not eafie 
 to fay,which of them befpatters moft. Together Horace cou^l^i them. 
 
 Arcanum neque tu fcrutaberit uUius unquam, 
 Commijfumve teges ^ vino tertui, & ira. 
 
 To learn man's fecrcts never vainly think. 
 
 Or to conceal ih^m ; torn with Rage, or Drink. 
 
 No
 
 1{ES0Ll/ES, 
 
 >Jo man can expedl to find a friend vvithouc faults, nor can he propofe 
 hinifclf to be fo to another. But in the Rccifroation of both , without 
 w/ij/w/} and /(fw/'d'r.tw? there can be no continuance. Every man for 
 his friend will have fomething todo- and fomething to bear with, in 
 him: thefoberman only can do thefirrt, and for the latter there is 
 patience required. 'Tisbcttcr for a Mm to depend on himfclfthan to \ 
 be annoyed with either a Ma^ mm or a Tool. ClytM^dL% flain by a ' 
 Maftcr in drink. The Theffalomans maifacrcd by an Angry Emperour: '. 
 and the deaths of either, lamented by the Authors. j 
 
 221 
 
 Cent II - 
 
 X X X. 
 of the danger of Liberty. 
 
 IN Man that is intellc(5lual,as well as in Creatures only fenfitive, 'tis 
 eafily experimented that Liberty xmYcs Ltcentiom. When the Rehs 
 are held 4:00 loofcly the Affc6li6ns run wildly on without a guide, to 
 rRuine. He that admits a FcoUo play with him at home , will find he 
 will do the fame when he comes into the Market. Liberty , which 
 feems to be fo highly priz'd , and is the only cry'd-up thing in the 
 world ; As 'tis the moft eagerly purfued : fo once enjoy'd, it is ot 
 all the feeming goods of 'JMan , the moft dangcrpus and tempting : 
 Not being able to guide our own mad Appetites, we quickly betray our 
 felves to the fame fad flavery, that but now we did oppofe. Even in 
 Cover nme»ts t\\Q\oo^G?iZrQ oi leafl Continuance. VViiat Churcn ever 
 laftcd long, that kept not up by difcipltne ? It was wnilc men dcpt that 
 the Tares were fown. When there is none to watch, but men arc Ictt 
 to the Liberty of their own Opinions, then is the tin\e lofovp Hereftes. 
 Not o\^\y Germany, but £»^/<iW is able to make out this, That fincc 
 the Field-keepers have been remov'd, we have had more cockle and 
 darnel^ than 1 think any age fincc Religion appear'd in the World, And 
 'tis no wonder if we negleftour wholfom wheat, or feed on't with 
 thefe weeds mingled with it, that we grow giddy with unwholfom va- 
 pours, or [q dim-Jlghted in the rvays ol Truth and Antiquity, that all 
 men may conclude us in the number of thofc that do lolio vi6litarc. In- 
 dulgence and floth arc the fillers of Freedom. Men that may, will fa- 
 vour thcmfclvcs ; and that partiality, will make them Lazy. Where is 
 there Icfs Indttftry or more Scnfuality than abounds among the Sa- 
 vages ; where Nature is left to herownfway, without the Cultiva- 
 tion o'i wholfom L,iws and Regiment^ What is't that makes war fo 
 horrid, but the Ltvplefs Liberty that Souldtcrs loofcly take ? And where 
 there is impunity, what villany rcfls unattempted? Rapes, Murthers, 
 Thefts, Oaths, Inceji, Cruelties, with all the fluttifli broods of blacked 
 Vices, follow in the train ot Armies. And what caufc can be rcndrcd ? 
 /but, firft,the difpenfiog with Gods Commandements of not kiUin^, and 
 \jlealing • and then the Licence that in Catups they take, by rcafon they 
 \ are
 
 Ii2 
 
 T 
 
 Cent. II 
 
 IjESOLVES. 
 
 are cither lefc to themfclves, or cannot be come by to bcpunilhed. 
 We arc all like Bovpls running down the HiU ; it once upon the turn, 
 our own weight hurries us to thcjlfik and lorvej} bottom. What Affius 
 cUndius obfcrv'd of the Roman people., doth hold as true of all the reft 
 of the V\'orld, That they arc better trulkd with buhnefs and imploy- 
 mcnt,than with Enfe and Liberty. In the hrft they im^rovd their Ftrtues; 
 by the laft, they tumbled into 'vice and [urqnedry. Nothiug makes us 
 more unfortunately wretched than our own «;«f«r^f<i Wih. A loofe 
 pall^on puifu'd and fulfilled, hales and haftcns us to certain deftrufti- 
 on-Hath not ajjumed Liberty and a lafcivicm Succefs thrown thofc gr»nd 
 Ajfemblics into hate and abhorrency, that in their modcft limits were 
 the (jaze and Envyoi the Chriftian ivorld ? VN'hat hath fo vcounded the 
 Honour of fome ot our Gentry and Nobility., as this ; That by teing per- 
 mitted to do what they would, they have left to do what they ought, 
 and have done what they ought not to have thought upon ? How grand 
 a difference have we fccn between a Family fcattcr'd into Riot by Li- 
 cencioufnefs ; and another rcflrain'd and marfliaird in the civilnefs of 
 ^.graceful Order 'i AForeft beaft is uncontrolled Man. A Jiear with- 
 out a Ring is wicked Nature left without a Rule. It is for God alone, 
 whofe bleired Eirence is wholly uncapable of ill, to be deijied with a 
 Power of doing whatever he pleafeth, yet never to do anything bc- 
 lowperfeilion's height. But when frail man is truikd with that Free- 
 donty hceafily^d^^f/, till he lofc himfelf. Soft water fuing through 
 the fmallefl chink, negledcd wears a widenefs for zjlream ; and, break- 
 ing banks, docs deluge all th<: fields. What was it, made the Emperour 
 Caracalli ftrikc up that Incejluoui marriage, but the impudence of a 
 Mother in Law in telling him. An Emperour \sdiS to give whatZ4Trj 
 he plcas'd : but was not himfelf to take any from others ? Acti- 
 ons wandring eye, not checqu't, left him a prey to his ownrvild affe- \ 
 Siions, thofe Metaphorical Hounds that feiz'd and tore their headlefs 
 and Invigilant Mafier. 
 
 Jnpejor* datur^fuadetque Licentia luxum. 
 
 To worfc, and Riot ; Licence ever leads. 
 
 The "Boundary oi Man{% Moderation. When once we pafs that pale, 
 our^«4;d'w;»^/z^(r/quits his charge of keeping us : For we are not in 
 our ways; and then, at every ftep, we dafh againft fome Stone, till fre- 
 quent "Bruifes bring us to deftrudion. He that would be prefervcd in 
 fafcty, had need keep Sentinel upon his Liberty. 'Tis a Wanton child 
 that will be apt to run upon dangers : if there be not a Keeper to lead 
 and look to it. Upon a ferious fcrutiny, I find not why men fhould haul 
 fo loud for Liberty. A wife man's always free : juji, and right^, is that 
 which 15 his jy/tf, and againft his mil he ads not. For if he find not 
 Reafen to do it, he cannot be cempeltdto't. The government of the 
 if ate, if free from Tyranny, is not the worfc for being7?r;V? ; and that ! 
 of the C>>^rch, while it keeps to what is Orthodox, is the better for the i 
 _ difcipline.
 
 RESOLVES, 
 
 213 
 
 difiipline. It fhall never oSfcnd me to live under any Government tha^ 
 may make mc better, and reftrain mc from wandring. When I have 
 mo(t freedom, 1 fliall moft fufpcdt my felt. He that is turn'd incp the 
 Sen^ had need to look to have his Ftlct along. He that may do more 
 than is F/>, isupon his w^rr^todo more tiianisZ.4Jv/i</. It we once 
 exceed the meafurc, as cafily vee grow to exceed the manner. V^ice is 
 a PeripAteticki always in ^rogreffion. 
 
 XXXI. 
 In thefiri^ejl Friendp?i^,fome Secrets may he refer Vd, 
 
 T Hough a Fricnd5indced, be but the duplicate of a mans fclf : yet 
 there may often happen Secrets to one that may not be coDvcni- 
 ent to impart to the other. If they be fuch as the knowledge thereof 
 Oiali not only, not benefit ; but fliall bring a grief to my Friend: \ 
 cannot think it an AiSt oi friefudfljip to impart them. He that grieves 
 his Friend when he needs not, is his Enemy, or at leaft lefs his Friend 
 than he might be. Certainly, even in cafe of Confcience as well as in 
 Common Morality, it had been better for Oedipta he tiad never knowo 
 that he had flain his Father, and married his Mother, than to have it 
 told him when it was too late to prevent it. When the things were 
 done, the knowledge could not remedy them ; and his Ignorance gave 
 him (as to the things)akind of innocencc,whercby he might have paflV 
 cd away his life incruciated without the fcnfc of (o fital miifortunes •; 
 And after that was finiflicd, it had been Of <///>«* thefon of Polyhit44 oH 
 Corinth, and not of Lains of Thebes, that had done the deeds To blackly 
 grim and horrid. Some fecrets may happen to be fuch, as may beget 
 ijealeujie-^ and thofe, as the ga^ And fretting of friend/hip,^ are for 
 ever to be avoided : Where jealoufie begins to live , friendpip begins 
 iodie. And albeit, Scipio found much fault with the fayinj; of "Bi*!, 
 That we ought fi to love, as, if there fjould be caufe , Vfe afterwards 
 might hate : Yet, doubtlefs, confidering the frailty and incertainty of 
 the minds of men j it is prudence fo to look upon men, as, though chcy 
 be now Friends, they may yet live to become our Enemies. Stability 
 is semipermanent in the unjlabk heart o[min ; and thercfptc we are not 
 oblig'd totrufl them with that, which may deliver us into \.\\e\x power 
 to ruine us, if after they fliall once fall off'. How often do we fee de$r 
 Friends, decline into detejled Enemies ? N^y, they are the greater , for 
 that they have been Friends : Even ihcferce/i and moft enUrged en- 
 mities, have fprung from the Jl net ejl leagues oifrtcndlhip. Wliac lU'gi' 
 on then can yield us Truth and Covjiancy f It' farmcmo prove fdfe to 
 -r^/fjcWr;-, who is't can then be trufledl and it Parmeuio were wyi 
 falfe,whoii'tCAnthcnhctruJ}ed, (tncc Alexander was the man thatj 
 flew him. As I will not care tor ^ friend full ot Inquififions, (for Per- ' 
 
 Icontator garrulus, Inquifiters arc Tatlers) : fo I will not be importit 
 I III ■ ■ ■!■ ■ ■ ' 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 natc I
 
 2^4 
 
 Cent II. 
 
 ^ESOLFES. 
 
 \ 
 
 nate upon my friends [ecrets. I have known fomc have eagerly fiflfd 
 for that, which when thty havener, hath been together the i^ane both 
 o'i friendfhip and life. By fuch a5fio»Sy men do as fome ignorant per- 
 fons that are hitten with mad Dogs, they think when they have fuch 
 the l>l0ud from the rvcund, they may (pit it <>«/ without danger. When 
 by that a£i it catches the brain, and Mj. A nocent fecrct opened.^ doth 
 otten ;^/// both giver and receiver : or , fometimcs only the receiver 
 dies • for, being trtijled too farr with what cannot be recalled, no Jafety 
 can be builded on5but by dejlroying thofe that are entruJled.W\'hen Jupi- 
 ter had made Metis his witejand flie by him conceived ; before flic was 
 deliveredyhc devours both her a.r\ifjer concept ii)n,^nA prefcntly after out 
 of his own brain, he became delivered of an armed PaUas ; which may 
 well reprefent unto us, l^fecret dtfcovered unto ifriend,t\ui after, being 
 repented of, was reaffumdhy devouring i\\aifyiend,to prevent a further 
 difcovery j and then we grow vpifer by ftanding on our^w^r*^, and de- 
 fending our felves either from the mifchief, that is already abroad, 
 or from being over-taken again by committing any more fuch folly ; 
 which may well be fignified by his bringing forth Pallas Arm'd. To 
 /&W1V too much, «»^(?f/ us with ouryr;V»^. He is not rvifi, that will 
 traftallhis veealth'mio znoihsxs cujlody. Vim^ friend impart ought 
 freely, I fljall endeavour faithfully ioferve him, as far as I may. But 
 if in fome things he be referv'd,l{[ia.]\ fuppofe 'tis for his ownfafety,iS 
 vfcWismyeafe. I will be willing to know Sis far as he would have 
 me, witfiout extradling j^/r/'/j, or crufliing more than will r«»with 
 eafe. If he be one to be valued, I ought not to rvrong him fo much as 
 to jvre/i that from him, that fhould caufe him afterwards to repent, 
 or fear. If he be not to be valued,\ will never engage my felffo much, 
 as to be made confcicut of his concealments. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 that 'tU no Di[honour fomttime to ^traSl a Turfuit. 
 
 IT was queftionlefs meant of things vertuous and commendable, Quic- 
 quidagis, age pro viribm ; otherwife we arc advifed to be diligent 
 in///, in the ^^^ as well as the ^W. This were tobeprofaiier than the 
 Heathen that gave the Precept. Sutable to this, is that of Ecclefiaftes, 
 A^ that thine hand (hall find to do, doit with all thypoveer. The Chal- 
 dee reftrain it to too narrow afenfe, for they limit it only to i^ms. 
 As, rvhatfoever thy hand fhall meet rvith rvhenput into thy pur fe, let that 
 come out and give it freely. And though to make it extenjive. to all 
 our a[iions , is a ft nfe far more amifs ; yet, I fee not , but many 
 times, not only the vigour is to be abated-^ but even the ref»lution of 
 purfuing is to be wholly retraced, 'Tis better fometimes to yJi^^^a 
 retreat, and (o draw of , than 'tisto y^^/in the/^/^and conquer-, be- 
 caufe, it may fo fall our, that the prize we fliould vein, will be no 
 _, ^ way
 
 3? E S L V E S. 
 
 way able to countervail the lofs that by that war we fhall ftcftain. 
 WhajLiS it to die like Samfen } Or, who can call that Vi^ory^ where, 
 with my Enemies grave ^ 1 muft alfo dtg my own ? I do not care to con- 
 quer in a Lutzan field: though his p.nt)i prevail^ "tie frcrificeth-iW his 
 Victories-, that makes hiiufelt uncapable ol more^ or enjoying what he 
 hath got. He that is imbarqu^d upon difadz^antage, fliajl find it niorc 
 /'f'wowr to retire, than to ^/^^ unto the endol his x'<y^^<r. He is fimplc, 
 that, only bccaufe he hath hegnn^ will purfue what is unprofitable. 
 There is no dijgrace in -^i'w^ that which is for the bej}. They that 
 pretend to be the grcateft "Umpires of Honour and Renoven^ do think it 
 no impeachment to their judgement to r.«y> tkat -Si^/^f, that is not 
 likely to he prevalent, "ihc further in any action a mzngoes, aiVurcdly, 
 he may fee the more : And it a man hath bin zfcol in the begining^ he 
 is not bound to be fo to the f»i^. If there fliall be caufe.^ the [ooncr 
 a man comes off ^ the better. It is far more pardonable to frrthrough 
 inconfiiderAtion^ than rvilfulnefs : the one is rv^^^- by accident ; the 
 other (jw^ of eleclion. Siiall it be no /&/iw<f to have' begun ill^ and 
 rtiall it be a /Z>4w^, prudent ially todeftft ? I fee, among moll:, a zwrf- 
 
 T/^r^ and to over-come, is both a plenfing, and a vulgar error : wc 
 arc oftncr led by Pnde^ Ob/Iinacy, or Tartialttj ; than by the riffht 
 and folid Rules ot Reajon. He that ^^-^ri it w/^ in a ^-t^ bufinefs, lliews 
 rather the ferocity ot fome brutifjj Mature, than the Conduct that be- 
 comes a /!/-«;/. for 'tis better to manifeft that we are overcome by 'i^M- 
 fon, than that we can overcome againft it. In all things, let me n-eigh 
 the conclufion-, and balance my reckning ; and then examine which is 
 better-, to proceed or <^^/5/?. If my ^/f in the f«i, fliall exceed my 
 
 ^^w, I but run into the dmc filly, that Angufius ufed to fay they did, 
 that for trivial tfjatters, would prcfently break out into war : They 
 
 fiJJydw'ah A golden hook, to carch nfi/b of i farthing, they expos'd to 
 hazard a tackli/ig ot a pound: If chcy lofi: ir, they gain repentance afd 
 
 forrow ; it they do not, they yiiuff owe it more to luck than to wit ; and 
 then Fortune claims the praife, not they : And it in temporal matters 
 alone, fuch a cartiage cannot be cxcufable ; what apology can wc frame 
 for our felvcs in fpirituals ? V\'iicii mcerly to fatislie a prcfent fcnfual 
 appetite, we run tlie hazard oipcrijhing a Soul to Eternity. Tliat Lover 
 is w^i:/ indeed, thu will give up all that he hath for A glance. Wc, 
 
 t buy affliction with /»// we have that is preciotti : and by a riijht fcan- 
 
 I ning of our actions, by fucli as fliall not pirtializc, wc muft be 
 judged to be more taken with pumflmient thsn pleafurc -^ as if in 
 
 \ torment we plac'd our felicity : like the Ruffian wives, who thini; 
 
 I their /yw^'tW/ do not /('zr, unlcTs they Ion. etimesf«.{i;y(? them. Let 
 
 , us never laugh at the filly Indian, who lets us have his Gold for 
 
 ; Beads and Rattles ; when we our felvcs are inlinitely limplicr, that 
 
 ifor toys and triffles fell Heaven and Felicity. Our Saviour indeed, 
 putting all the nw/^ in the /f.i/c, docstind it tar too li^ht for m.ins 
 
 1 Deifick foul; w'ncn he asks, What it will advantao^e to gain the firjl, 
 a.id loje the /-</? ? Wh.creby we may hope, he had better thoughts 
 
 _. ^ ^.__}± 
 
 22^ 
 Cent. II.
 
 ' Z76 
 
 Cent II. 
 
 u^■v^J 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 of Man than to defcend him into fo thin i{hallovenefs,zs that he fliou W 
 make it away for worfe than veinity^ vexatton, and undoing. He thinks 
 not any will be foftupidly wild, asfora^r^j^ oi air, an f/c;& of ho- 
 nour, an heat of hJoudy a flea fare that has no hemg, but in opinion onlvj 
 to lay by ficred peace, and /^7?/»^ happinefs : But if he fnuft /oje that 
 precious fpark of 'Deity, 'tis the w/'c^ vporld, and not any /"^r? of it that 
 is put in the frppofition. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 To have ^^ard to Means ^ hut not to Defpair Tijithout. 
 
 WE can never be fo /ew, as to be at a iofs, if we can but look up 
 unto God. He that hopes, proclaims his Divinity ; and, to 
 fpeak according to /'«w4w()'j credits Gad: But, he that defpair s, de- 
 grades his Deity ; and, fccming to intimate, that he is infiiffident^ox not 
 juft on his word, in vain hath read both the Scriptures, the world, and 
 Man. Three ways wc read our Saviour healed difeafes : mth means, 
 as the Leper, in the %. of St. Mattheve ; without means, as the ten 
 Lepers, in the 17. of St. Luke: yigainjl means, as the blind man, in the 
 9. of Sc. John. His working ^^ means is more ordinary,and fuits better 
 with the Tveaknefs ot our faith, and the dimnefs of our understanding, 
 where we /«■ it not, we are apt to jink and yi//: Can God prepare* 
 Table in the mlderkefs ? was the bold ignorance ot Infidel and Incor- 
 rigible //rrff/j who wanting ''vings, fl:ill ^r^r^'/i- on the ground, and 
 nere will clime to Heaven, widiouc a /lair to lead him. Means makes 
 us confident, and with xk\\.% (laff \Nt leap. When we are prefcribed 
 what's proper for our cure, our remedy is ahnort by demonjlration; and 
 there to doubt, is to turn Heretick to Providence. Nay, if the Appli- 
 cation be right in all, wc cannot mifs without a little ^JZ/Vrff/f; For, 
 Nature, that is ever fedulous and conftant in the faculties flie is cre- 
 ated with, mud vary from her felf, or by a drowfie (loth be rendrcd 
 inftgnificant, which yet flic never docs without a Supericur hand to 
 rein her out of her rode. It is as natural for means to cure 5 as 'tis for 
 rvinds to cool, or fire to warm, when /'o^r;' winter blows her fc/(^ about 
 us. To Tvw/' without means, I know fccms hard to A<fan, and to 
 the inapprehenlivencfs of his Human Reafon. Bur, that this is as cafie 
 to God as the other, there is nothing we can look on, but evinces it. 
 The whole Creation \v2i% without all /^f/^, there was not fo much as 
 the ajjtjlance of Matter, a naked Fiat did it ^ a rvord alone, the 
 cafieft ot exprejfions. And, though lame Philofophy will not allow 
 any thing to be producible out of nothing : Yet, certainly, whatfo- 
 evcr is not God, cither was immediately (rani d oi nothing, or out 
 of that, which tirtt of all was nothing : for, to afcribe a ccetaneou4 
 being of the Jvcr/n' with Gc)^, is to make h God, by giving it Eternity. 
 And, as 'tis fafer for man to believe ic created out of nothing by 
 
 Divine
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 — t 
 
 2Z7 
 
 Divine cmnipotenu, than to btframdoi Jtoms, by Chance, or by CeNT^II. 
 Necejfity^ by holding of any ot which, he mui\ fink in abfurdicy : 
 So, ic is more honour to God.) by affigning him a Potency tor fo ftu- 
 pcndious 2, Machination. Nor is the other, mthcutme*nsio Godot 
 greater difficulty. A Miracle, when he pleafcs, is to him as cafic a$ a 
 NAturd eaufe. For, it was at firlt by Miracle^ that even that C4/(/^ 
 was Natural. And all the Alir.ules that we have heard of in the 
 lyorld, arc kfs a MuacU than the ffc;-/^ ic felt. He that knows and or- 
 ders all the things that ever were, or lliall be, in whom their 'Being 
 r.i.dicdly is, can cafily go a^w^/f iv^;, that to us may fccm to lead 
 contrary quite to what we a^jfrehend. Nor need we wonder that we 
 cannot tr.tce him. It requires a Mir*cle to make us capable of under- 
 Handing one. We cannot reach above our own extenjion. But, when 
 by dayly demonllraiion, we fee f fd-w/j tranfcending all our reaches; 
 VVhat is't tliould make us doubt lo great Omnifotemy'i It is as cafie 
 to God to work without means as with them. It is the famc,'Sf clean^ 
 and., Go wafh. And againft means is equal to either. Nay to him thefe 
 latter are the nearer ways . To go by his povper and omniscience^ is far 
 a quicker way than by the circumfleciions of Nature and fecond C*t*- 
 fes : Though he hath been pleaf'd (unlcfs in extraordinaries) to leave 
 'Njture to her injliniiive oferatioH in her wonted Propenjions. That 
 eight-times Martyr'' d Mother in iho. Maccabees when fhe would ad- 
 hort her Son to a paflive Fortitude againft the exacuated Tortures of 
 Antiochm^ iTiie dcfircs him to look upon the Heavens y the Earth., and 
 all in them contained j and to confider that God made them of things 
 that were not ; and to mankind, likewifc. Doubtlcfs though in A^*- 
 ture and Reajon there be no ground left for defpair (for without lelten- 
 ing God to the PufilUty of Man it cannot be fram'd in the mind)-^ yet 
 we ought never fo to depend on his mil and Power hidden, as to neg- 1 
 left his declared fleafure. He that neglefts what he finds commanded 
 hath little rcafon to expcdt what he finds not promif'd. Upon means 
 it is fit welliouldilepcnd : without mtans, we may hope. Againft 
 means, we fliould not defpair. But, as to difrcgard Gods appointed 
 means is a Supine contempt ; So to depend too much on things unap- 
 prehendable, is rather a badg of rafh prefumeing, than any Notable 
 courage of Faith. I may look Qp to Gods ways ; but I ought to look 
 down to my own. He that walks according to means, travails with a 
 Convoy and may fee his way bctorc him. But he that journcics with- 
 out them, is in a Wildernefs, where he may fooncr be loft, than wan* 
 der out when he knows not his way. 
 
 The]
 
 2Z8 
 
 Cekt. II. 
 
 ^ E SOLVES. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 T)>e 3^iifery of being Old and Ignorant. 
 
 Since Old Age is not only a Congregation of difcafcs, but even a 
 difcafc it fclf^ and,That,(in regard of the Decree which Providence 
 hath pafs'd upon man) incurable fave by death. The bcft thing next to 
 a Remedy is a diverlion or an Abatemefit ot the Malady. When Infir- 
 mities are grown habitual and remedilejs.i all we can do is to give them 
 (oaiQ Refftte^ and a little Allevatton^ that we may be lefs ienfible of i 
 the fmart and lling they fmite us with. The cold Corelim cannot change | 
 \\\% clime: but yet by furrs and fires he can prcfcrve himfelt, and 
 ftove out winter arm'd with Ice ^v^^ wind. The T>rum 2LnA Fife can 
 drown the Battails nbife, though many times there is rio room to | 
 efcapc it. The little Pifmire can {\\[\xMdigreat Mah, that (winter com- 
 ing) ftorc fliould be provided. And what thing is tlicrc in the fathom 
 of tndiifirious man-, that can fo qualifie him againlt the breaches and de- 
 cays that ^^c? makes on him i as kmvpUdg^ zs/tudy, and mediution^ 
 with this he can teaft at home alone, and in his Clofef put himfelt into 
 whatever Company that bcft iTiall pleafe him, with roufhs Figour^Ages 
 grAvityy Beauties pleafint/jefSfWiih Peace or fvar, zshcYiYcs. It abates 
 the tedioufncfs oi decrepit Agi, and by the divine raptures of Contem- 
 fUtion it beguiles the wearincfs of the Pillorv and Chair. It makes him 
 not unplcafing to the Tonng^ reverenc'd by age, and beloved of all. A 
 gray head'^'ww a vei^e »?/»2cnricht by Learning is a Treafury of GrAve 
 Precepts^'Ezperience, and ivifdom. 'Tis an Oracle to which the Icffer- 
 wife refort to know their Fate ; He that can read and meditate , need 
 not think the Evening long, or Life tedious ; 'Tis at all times imploy- 
 ment fit for a man : Like David's harp it cures the evil fpirit of this 
 5(1*/ that is naturally tejly^ [reward^ and complaining. Though perhaps 
 there was a Vivacity more than Ordinary ; Yet 1 do'ubt not but it was 
 this that in the main from Corg//?^ produc'd that memorable anfwcr. 
 Being a hundred and [even years of Age, One ask'd him, Why he liv'd 
 fo long ? He replies bccaufc he yet found nothing in eld Age to com- 
 phm of. And that this is probable, he was Matter to Ijecrates, had 
 gotfuch vpealth by teaching Rhetorique, that he bequeathed his Jlatue 
 in Gold, to Apollo's Temple ; and to any Theme was able well to fpeak 
 ex tempore^ and certainly. If any thing \\%'^por(very'i\.sVirtue and Knorv- 
 ledge thit an ran fom us from i\\t Infirmities and Reproaches oi Age. 
 Without thisj an <»/^/w4» is but the lame fliadow of that which once 
 he was. They honour him too far that fay he is twice a child'. There 
 is fomething in Children that carries a becoming prettinefs, which is 
 pleafant and of grateful relifli, But ignorant Old age is the worft: pi- 
 dure that Time can draw of Man. 'Tiszbarren Fine in Autumn., a 
 leaky VclTel ready to drop in pieces at every remove, amap ot yJ</;f»- 
 tal^nd Corporeal >NtA\x\^k; not plcafing to others, but a Burthen to 
 
 himfelf.
 
 "l^ E S L V E S, 
 
 himlclt. His Ignorance and Imbecilitty condtinns him to JAleneji ; 
 which to the a6tivc Soul is more irkfom than any iniployment. Wluc 
 can he do wlien ftrcngth ot limbs fliall fail ; and the giift ot plcafuic 
 which hclp'd him to milpcnd his youth, through time and Lan^tdd 
 Age fliall be blunted and dn^ 1 Abroad he cannot liir to partake the 
 VarUtton of the World ; nor will others be tond of coming to him, 
 when they fliall find nothing but a cadaverous m'an, compofcd o^ Dif- 
 eafes and Complaints, that for want ot knowlcdg hath not Difcourfe to 
 keep Reafon company. Like the Cuccovp he may be left to his own 
 monltring'iw (oiwc Hollovced Cell : but fincc the voice of his Sprint is 
 eone (which yet was all the Note he had to take us with) he's now not 
 liftncd after: So tiie bloudlefs Tur/w/^, in his melanc/jollj/ /jole, lazeth 
 his life away. Doubtlefs were it for nothing elfc, even foe this is 
 Learning to be highly valued, Tuat it makes a man his own Compa- 
 nion without either the Charge or the Cumber of Company. He needs, 
 neither be oblig'd to humour, nor cngag'd to flatter. He may hear 
 his o/«//;crfpcakasfaras helikcs, and leave him when he doih not 
 pleafe, nor fliall he be angry though he be not of his Opinion. It is the 
 cnide oifeuth, to cA4.«nhood a Companion^ and to old Age a Cordial and 
 an Antidote. It 1 die to morrow, my Life to day will be fomcwhat 
 the Jjveeter iov Knorvledg. , The anfwer "was good, which Antijlhenes 
 gave when he was asked. What fruit he had reaped of all hisjludies ? 
 By them (faith he) 1 have learned, both to live, and difcourfe with 
 my felf. * 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 A twofoldn^aji to Honour. 
 
 TO tr/ie Honour there is certainly but one right way , and that is 
 by Vtrtue and Ju/lice. But to that which the World calls Ha- 
 noitr, wliich is Command-, Aathority-, andT^iv^r, though there be thou- 
 fand petty windings, yet all may be reduced in the mxin to two ways 
 only. One when God calls, Another when man fecks it without the 
 Lords warrant. He that goes the firft, defervcs it, but fecks it not ; 
 when he is at the top, he mull take no more than becomes an Honcjl 
 man', and who then is it, that yy'pow feriom ConfiderAtton will put him- 
 felf into Inch a Condition as very hardly admits him to be fa without 
 tlie downfall both ot him, and hts ? Tlie unrealonablencfs of men will 
 not be [aiiified with all that Reafon can be able to do. And therefore 
 though the Callh^ tv Arrant able, yet 1 find it hath fometimcs bctfn 
 vfaved tn<k refufeA: ^tf<ir«m« would not accept the ^;w/';r^, though 
 chofen to it upon 'Baffianta C^racall's death. And though our Country- 
 man Cardtnahlool be by lome Condemned, as fooling hunfclt out ot the 
 Vatacy by a jhxin ot too much CMtdeJly, yet, take his Reafons candtJly 
 according to his own cxprcilion (which we ougiit to believe, it nothing 
 .. ■■ ' be 
 
 ■ r ■ . _ H ■ ■ .. ^ ^rt- n ' ■ i ■ . : ■; ■ ' ■ .. ■ ' ' ■ ■ ' -* — -— . -J 
 
 Cent. 1L
 
 230 
 
 Cent. 11. 
 
 LVVVJ 
 
 ^E S 
 
 LVES. 
 
 be dtfcovered ro the C0ntra.ry),mdi the rcafon of his non-acceptance was 
 piou4 and pruilent. Legitimate actions c^n ftay tor the day and endure 
 it. They arc ufually unwhc/fem Tapours ih^i x[[c up in the night and 
 darknejs: and truly, to/f4/ into fuch a chair c^/far;'/)' while men are 
 ^//^r^?/", thoughitmaybe_/^r/c»;//, is not/ffw/y. Even the Dogs will take 
 him for a Thief ind hark at him, that fcidks in the Ni;::^ht, although he 
 be Hone ft and True. He pulls upon \\\n\i<:\{ fulpidon-, that hath not 
 wItnelTes o\ his acftngcleerly and apertly. But oi all the examples o{ 
 this Nature, that ot Frederick Duke ot Saxony is moft to be Honour- 
 ed. His Firtues were fo great that unanimoujly the Electors chofe him 
 for Emperour, while he as earneftly did rctufc : nor did they,likc tickly 
 Italians, pet at this and put another in his room : but, for the reve- 
 rence th'cy bore him, -when he would not accept it himfclf, they would 
 yet have one that he fliould recommend, which was Charles the fifth : 
 Who out of his ^r^ri/Wf for putting him to that place, fenthim a 
 Prefent of 30000 Florins. But he, that could not be tempted by the 
 Imperial Crown, ftood proof againll the hlaze oi gold : And when the 
 Embajfadonrs could faftcn none upon him. they defircd buthis permif- 
 fion to leave 1 0000 among his fervants; to which he anfwered, Tbey 
 Tffight take it if they would, hut he that took but a piece from Charls, 
 (heuldhe fure not to flay a day with Frederick. A mind truly heroick, 
 e\ideni\y fuperlative, by defpifing what wasgrcateft ; not temptablc 
 with either Ambition^ or Avarice : far greater than an Emperonr, by rc- 
 fufing to be one. We rcadin the Scriptures of an ^^Z/i/f, a Fig, and a 
 Fine, that would not leave their enjoyments to be Kings ; but, here 
 was a man that exampled both the Teflaments : for Adam even in In- 
 nocencj was tempted, as (he fimply thought) to eat, and be like a God : 
 and two of the ^^pejlles the Tons of zebedee afpired to be Lording it ; 
 while a third for money, hetrafd not only his Creating , but Redeeming 
 Cod: Doubtlefs, he that wsuld be enabled to -4^, mufl have Cem- 
 mijjion, andht Xa'^isiXVj Delegated \ \A\tCatS%v«ife maH,\s&W\\\ flay 
 till he ht called; he will not underminingly fjtfuphimfelf, butwill 
 be really by other fought for. They are weeds that grow up from the 
 earth of thcmfelves, whereas wholfom herbs require a hand to plant 
 them. If he he good, he will not by an ill way compafs Dominion. From 
 him men may hopeforj«y?/V^and ^^wr/'^r^wt', who, to^<i/»it, would 
 never tranfgrefs. He is not likely to do amifs in the Throne , when the 
 Throne it felt could not tempt him before he had it : For, fince <^m^i- 
 tion is cun^is affeBibm Flagrantior, more inftant and fcorching than any 
 other^j^c^bcfide^ he hath ("hcw'd a noble temper, that hath with- 
 ftood t\\tftimulations that his Nature geads him with. He that would 
 not do rtirong to get it, 'tis not like he will afterward do wrong to keep 
 it. i^>'^«^mayfoonerbelegitimatedinthe^f/^/;J|^ of an £«(/'//•(.*, than 
 in the exercife. And perfed Honour, like the Diamond, Iparkles brio^ht- 
 eft, when the light is moft. So, that if there be ax\y freedom for man 
 upon Earth (which may be highly doubted of) 'tis when a juft man 
 juftly gets and holds a Government. 
 
 And
 
 1{ E S L 1/ E S, 
 
 251 
 
 And on the other fide muft ncccffariJy be the contrary. Who un' 
 juftly feizcth a Government., tells us, that he can difpcnfe with any 
 thing that he may obtain his ends. Such acquificions can never be 
 either for the Authors fafety^ or the Peoples benefit : Not Jafe tor the 
 Author • his ways not being rvarrantable, he hath abandoned that which 
 fliould protein him : Thieves ot Honour fcldome find joy in their pur- 
 chafes, liability never. God cannot endure that afpiring fpirit, that 
 climes the Hill oi Preferment wkhont his \c3i\c. He intrudes himfelf 
 into the fociety of the Gods, that is not good enough to converfe with 
 men. So, though he may be a Typhon for a while, and raife for him- 
 felf a Mountain to command on : yet the anger of the Gods at laft will 
 through fome d/^tna on him, to confume him. Every evilrvay carries 
 his own curfe along, and God hath pronounc't an inprofperityto wicked- 
 ftefs. Ambition is a circumvention,when men circle about by deceit to 
 over-reach the refl : and it argues their ways not right, when they are 
 put to woyi' under-hand ; the attainment being bad, the fame Arts 
 muft keep it, that did at Hxtkprocnre it. It it comes hy fraud, it will 
 not without fraud be prefer v'd. Who draws his Sword to get it, 
 does feldome put it up again. And certainly, in force and fraud, there 
 is equally hazard and danger '^ one di^^xgn failing, the total Fabrick 
 falls. The fnbfiflence of either of thefc is at belt, but the Game of 
 fortune, wherein are more crofs Cards, than Trumps thu can command. 
 Cur tiffs, from the very Tolitieks of Nature, without the Perfpeclive oi 
 Religion, could eafily find, and tell us ; That, Nulla quxfita fcekre 
 PotentiA diutnrna eft ; No Power unjujily gained, can be permanent. 
 Who ever wrongfully afccnds a "throne, is ncceiTitated to a Govern- 
 ment fuitablc. Injuftice fpawns Jnjuflice, and by Injuflice mult it be 
 defended. Right can never keep up wrong. And this muft needs be as 
 ///for the people. The Hiftorian gives it fully. Nemo Jmperinm flagi' 
 tio quitjitum bonis artibws exercuit. Never expcft that he fliould Reign 
 juflly, that did unjuflly take the reins in his hand. Good men will com- 
 plain; and then they muft be fw/w/^j; but, ^^^, hy complying, fluill 
 be put into Office, and then, as Government fettles, fo does Opprejfion-^ 
 for the heavieft yoke is the hardeft to cafi off. And when once a People 
 by their own votes, fliall lock themfelvcs to \.\\cpoft, their "Beadle may 
 the more (\ilcly whip them when lie plcafeth. it cannot be but bcft 
 on all hands, when a/'r/>/cf is plac'd by a Aiw/ft/ rj//. Wis Commijfion 
 will defend him, and the hand thii promoted him, will not only protefl, 
 but furmftj him mi\\ parts proportionable. If Mofes be flow of fpeech, 
 he fliall have an .^.jr^i* given him. If the Mafler of the Honfe bring 
 him in at the door ; the f'ervants will refpeH him • but, he that breaks 
 in at the window, is like to be cafl out for a Thief 
 
 Of 
 
 Cent II.
 
 232 
 
 Cent. II 
 
 3^ E SOLVE S, 
 
 XXXVI. 
 Of Superftition, 
 
 T Hough Profanenefs be much worfe in fonie refpctfl than Superjli- 
 tiofi^ yet, this in divers perfons is a fad difcompofure of that life, 
 which without it might htfmooth and fleafant. He that is profane, fets 
 up a God to -«^«y^ him : as Dipnyft/*ii when he took away <L>Efm/apius, 
 \\\s golden heard-, faid, 'Tvpaiajfjume te fee the fon fo grave, when the 
 Father was ever rvithont one. He feems to know there is., a Ged, but dif- 
 claims to pay him homage as he is one : Or, what he hath impropriated 
 iohimfelf, and rvorfljip, contcmptnouiiy he dehafes to fecular and com- 
 mon ufes: and fomcfimcs wof/:/ at that, which tor its relation to the 
 Deity, and its fervice, Aiould never but with reverence- be look'd up- 
 on : fo that, though both be /-/^/wf^^/f, yet, Superflition is the Icfs 
 complainable. h. Religion mifguided only'infomecircumjlance, is better 
 far, than to have nc»e at all. And a man fliall lefs offend by fearing God 
 toomnch, than wickedly to jf/? at, and dejpifehxm. An open flighting 
 of fo immenfe a goednejs and a Creatnefs as Cod is ; is worfe than 
 miftaking him to be too feverezndjlricl. To exceed this way , pro- 
 duces fometimes z.good effect ; it makes a man careful not to offend : 
 And a we injure not CW by making him y^z'^r^r than he isj or, by 
 placing more in Accidents , and the Creature, than Religion allows 
 chat we lliould^ix'^', we cannot be too wary in offending. Two things 
 there arc, wliich commonly abufe men into Super fittion ; Fear and 
 Ignorance : Fear prcfcnts as well what is not, as what is. Terror hor- j 
 :ids ihe apprreherf ion, and gweszhtdeous vizard, to a handfem face:\ 
 It fees, as did the new recover'd Hind man in the Gcfpd, That which is | 
 a man, appears a //-^f. It creates evils that never were, and thofe 
 chat/;^, like the Magnifying-glafs,^ when a Face is no bigger than I 
 an Apfky it tlicws it as Iirgeas a Bufljel. But that which \^ good, 
 it dwindles to nothing : and believes, or fuge^ci^s , that God cannot 
 help at need ; fo diflionours him into imbecillity, Iclkning his Geodnefs 
 and his Tower, and afpcrfing both with defeU- And this for the moft 
 part, is begotten out o\ guilt : For, Courage and Innocence ufually 
 dwell together. 
 
 Nor is Ignorance behind hand in helping to incrcafe the fcruple : Not 
 feeing either the chain of Providence, or the Arm ot Power, we are apt 
 to faint, and ^ff/z/^unjuftly that whicii, [[we knew, we fliould /i^pr^ 
 and re fl upon. And z^fear is begot out o\ guilt, fo , is ignorance out! 
 o\floth, and through the want ot indufiry. And this furcly, is the 1 
 reafon, why we find Superfliticn more in women 3.nd foft natures , than ' 
 in the more audacious conflitution of man. And where wc do find! 
 it in men, 'tis commonly in fuch as arc low in their parts, either natu- 
 ral, or through negleB. A memorable Example hcreof,we find in the j 
 firftot the Annals. When the three Legions in Hungaria and Auflria, \ 
 
 that' 
 
 1
 
 ^ E S L F E S, 
 
 thac were under Jumn-s Tiefus, were in the rrtffe of their mW mutiny^ 
 had menaced, the Guards, (ioned Lentulftt^ and upbrdided Drufus that 
 was fcnt from Rome by Tiberiui to appeafe them ; on a fodaiii, their 
 SHperfihicn made them /^wf , and Creft-fdlen : For, in a clear nightj 
 the Moott being eclipfed, and before the £c//^/^ was fully fpenr, the 
 5/7 covered with Clouds ; he'ins, igftorant of tlic l^tural caufe, and 
 fftfpicious of their own mi[-hehavieiiri they thought the Goddefs frown d 
 upon them for their rvickednefs, and that it prefagred their troubles 
 fliould never have end. By which fx/w^/ Accident and unskilful opinion, 
 they were again reduced to Or^fr and the Difctpline of ytfrzwj-. What 
 conpernatien have 1 fcen in iomc at Jpilling of the 54/x againrt them ? 
 Their bloud has deeper dfd their frighted face ; a trembling fear has 
 ftruck them through tl"e Af4/t, as it from fomc incens'd Triumvir 
 they had receiv'd a Profcriptiea ; all which, I take to be only Ignorance 
 of what at firft made it held to be ominous : and hach fince by a long 
 SucccfTion continued tlie vanity to us. 
 
 Salt among the Antients was accounted as the Symbol oi Friendjjjip, 
 bccaufc it both prefcrves from for^w/'///?^, and unites into more foli- 
 dity : and, being ufcd to feafon all things, it was not only ^r^fet up- 
 on the Table ; but was held a kind of Confecration of it : Sacras facite 
 Afenfas ■faltfinriim appojitu, Hallow the Tables with the Sale on them. 
 And meerly from this eltimation of Salt^ it was held ominous if i: 
 fhould be fpilt • as if it had prcfagcd [omc Jar or breach of friend- 
 (}jip among fonie of the guefls or company-^ (o that, in truth, the iin- 
 Ittckinefs of it, is but a con/lrucf ion midc by our fclvcs without a c.tufe. 
 For, otherwifc, feeing the old Egyptians, did fo abominate it, that even 
 in bread it was abandoned by them : For, they (aledling the purity 
 of //t/i«g)held it as the Incitator of /«y?, and the veeakener o\ carnality. 
 Why then i"hould it not as well from this, be avoided., as from the 
 other find a Sacration ? But, only blind cuflom^ as in other thing?, fo in 
 this, lath led us along in the Error. Wliile the Star-chamber was in 
 I being, at a Dinner there, I remember, the ^rivtr over-turned the Sclt, 
 j againll a Pcrfon oi Honour ^ v/hofartled, fputter'd, and blufbt, as if one 
 had given him a /l.tb^ concluding it a Prodigy, and Ominous ^ to which 
 Edward F.arl of Dorfct (of a nobler frame and genius) lundfomly rc- 
 plvcd : That for the Salt to be thrown down, was mt (Irange at all ; />«/, 
 if it fjoiild not have fain, when it was thrown down, had been a Prodis y 
 indeed. To make Obfcrvation of accidents for our own inftrncf ion with- 
 out either dijhonour to God., or difliirb.wce to our [elves, 1 hold to be 
 awifenianspirt : But, to fear d'<iA?^fr where none is 5 ox.xohe fecure^ 
 where danger may be, is to change properties with one of thofe (impic 
 Birds, that eitb.er Jioop at a Bam-Aore-^ or thrttfitng his head into a hole., 
 thinks none of the reti ot his body can be vifble. 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 Hh 
 
 oj
 
 234 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 ^ ESQ L V £_5. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 
 A S an Emnency of Ceurage makes the ovenfr grateful to all gcod 
 l\ company : fo the defecl renders him the dtfdam and fctrtf ol all 
 that but p'-ctcnd to honour. There is nothing that dijveorths a man 
 like Cowardice and a bafc fear of danger. It makes the fmooth way 
 difficulty and the difficulty inacceffihle . 'Tis a f/<g upon Jnduflry^ and like 
 puddle water ^ quenches the ^r^ ot all our brave attempts : The Coward 
 is an HNpnifljt man ; or/jnc which A^rf/«rf hath made IdiSithan others : 
 like Salt that hath loft its favour, his fertnejs and his^«y?is ^fl^. As 
 fomc great But oxHtgsheadiwWoii liquor, he may carry z hulk and 
 be ponderous like other men ; but, if you coinc to peirce him, that 
 which is within, is but the vappa oi Humanity ; 'tis fiat and dead^ and 
 the fptrits are decay d and /<»/?. Plutarch compares him to the Sw(ird-Ji(fj, 
 that bears fomcthing like a weapon.^ but there wants a heart ; yet could 
 he be content to walk offquictly, he might often pafs u/jdifcovered. But 
 the niiftry is ; lor the niofk part, thofc that are leaf in heart, arc 
 Icwdeft in tongue. And indeed, having nothing cllc to fct them forth, 
 they can v.<:po:ir higher, than the valiant man. Like the Drum they 
 rc.tr, and make a ^oi/f, but within are nothing but 4;V and emptinefs, 
 being the word ware, they require the grcateft /r/>»/w/;?j, when once 
 imhricd, their y^««i is difpleafjng : yet, lef^ they fhould be thought as 
 ti-icy are, they otc dtfguife it with an out-fide Iravit.g • which in the 
 end brings tliem to that which they would avoid -^ and having the mif- \ 
 fortune, by the vanity of their ^My?;»^, tul^ir up more gfa-irrf/f than j 
 othet men, they nccelTarily /^/Z cither into more dangers, or more | 
 Atfgrace. Men vi'iW fc or nihciw, lor that they mw tliciryZ'^^r, but do j 
 not own their courage : and for Women to avoid ihcm, is as namral, as I 
 in ^houfc CO run Irom ^rottenroof^ which would cruflt them to de- 
 finition., when it ought to be their fafe-gnard iud proteflion. 'Fear, 
 like a whip, will make this Beafl empty hifnfelf, chougii lie kept it in his 
 very bowels. He is neither fit to be a friend, nor an uMpire in any 
 afair. A little menacing makes him faulty in both ; He is rx)t to be ; 
 trtifled with anothcrs Refutation, that hath not courage to defend his j 
 own: So, he is not move unfortunate io others, than lohimjilf: hisj 
 danger- is more than other w^/?j. The Enemy is fierce ft to him dva.[fiies j 
 <2>v.«7. A Cor\^srds fear can make a Coward valiant. Who dares not ' 
 ^%-i!'/ when he is refified, will moft //////// when he Ices anothcry^t;////; ' 
 who fifes, forfakes his help, and gives his ^./fi(- to bloivj, wherein iC; 
 carries neither eyes nor hands to defend him. The timorous Deer will 
 
 />«/?' the feeble irom their /fifW. Even //jrcj )vi]l have a conceit of| 
 courage, when they fliall, for fear of them, fee Frogs leap into water. \ 
 Soideipitablc a thing aoiv^r;^ is, thit fpoils from Cowards won the 
 
 iSpartans fcornd to *^r to their gcds. 
 
 I .„____^ Degeneres
 
 ^l E S L 1/ E S, 
 
 Degeneres amnios Timer arguif ; 
 Fear I'hcws a vtorthlefs mind, 
 
 was Firgil'i long ago. He owns not that Melior Natura , that does 
 incourage man. Ana then how lovo a thing is he, when he has nothing 
 but his own ^«//£/ir^/' about him ? It u be but by /ff«/?, ih^i man 
 is lo aci Wis part, 'tis yt-4r that puts an -^^»f in his tongue, and often 
 leaves him cither in an amazed dijlraction, or quite elingtted. For, the 
 too ferious apprehenjions oi 3. pojjiole fljame , make \\m\ forget what 
 fl\ould /'f//' him againlUt ; 1 mean, z valiant confidence ht(\\\e.3ii\\\x\^ 
 a diluted freedom to all faculties and [enfes : which with fear are put 
 into a Trepidation, that unlike a quaver on an Inflrument, it is not there 
 z grace, but a _/<«r in Mnfick. And this Socrates found in Alcibiades, 
 when firft he began to decUme^ which he cur'd with asking him, //^ 
 /?r^ feared, a Coblcr and a common Cryer^ an Vpholfter, or, jhme other 
 Trade/men "i for, of fuch he told him, the Athenians, to whom he 
 fpake, confined. He that hath aOtv^rrf^in his bofom, fliall never do 
 any thing rvell. Mercury and Apollo may be in his matter, but, the 
 Graces will never be fccn in the manner. If not thus : Out ot too much 
 care to do rvf//, it drives a man into affectation ; and that, like exttique 
 and mifhappen attire does mar thc^e^w^^of a well limb'd body: Na- 
 ture's never comely, when diftorted with the rack ; wlicn ii\c is fet too 
 high, flic proves untunable, and inftcad oiifrveet cloze, yields a crack j 
 flie ever ^oes hcjl in her own free pace. Knorvledg, Innocence, Confidence, 
 and Experience conftitute a faliant man. Wlicn fear is beyond cir- 
 cumfpeBion, it lays too much hold upon us. All fear is out of defect, 
 and in fomething gives fufftcion of guilt. 1 know not what Divine 
 could have given us more, than the almoft chrijlian Seneca ; Tutijjima 
 res eft ml timer e ^rxter Deum. Timidum non facit ammum, nifirepre- 
 hcnfibilis vitJi confcientia mala. The [afeft of all, is to fear nothing but 
 \^od. 'X'ls o\]\y ihc galling Confcience o[ zn ill led l/fe, that can (hake 
 I us into 2ifear. It is better in all things, but in ill, to be confidently bold, 
 'than fooli/hly timerous. He that in every thing /2'4n to do ry^//, will at 
 length do/// in 4//. 
 
 Cent II. 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 Of Hijlory. 
 
 TO an ingenuous fpirit, 'tis not cafie to tell which is greater 
 the pleafure or the profit of Reading Htflory : For, befidcs the 
 beguiling ot tediotis hours, and the ^wfr^c« it gives from \.\\Qtrouble- 
 fome and vexatious affairs, and the preferving the frailty of man 
 from flipping into i.;« through rvantonnefs\s\x\\ leifure , It enriches 
 the dAUnd with Obfervatitn ; and by fetting us upon an open and 
 H h 2 adjtcent
 
 236 
 
 Cent. 11- 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 adjacent Scaffold, it gives us a veirv of the aclions^ the contrivAnces^ 
 and the ever -ruling Providences that have fway'd the affairs of the 
 ^ur/i^. It is the RefurreBion ot the Ages pajl: It gives iis the Scenes 
 of Humane Ufe^ that, by their aBings, wc may learn to cerreB and 
 improve. What can bemore/r^^if^/'/i? to W4», than by an cafie <rW^^, 
 and a delightful entertainment -^ to make hinifclf w/f by the imitation 
 of Heroick virtues, or by the evitation of detefied vices ? V\'here the 
 glorious actions of the worthicrt treadcrs 00 the Worlds Stage, fhall 
 become our guid and conduct-, and the Errors that the rr^^jt ha.vcfa/n 
 into fhall be mark'd out to us, as ^c^/'j that we ought to avoid. 'Tis 
 learning vcifdcm at the coft of others : and, which is rare, it makes a 
 man better by hcm^g f leas'' d. In my opinion, among all i\\z Jndujlries 
 of men, there is none that merits more thanks, than that \Vhich hath 
 with Prudence, Truth, and Impartiality related thofe Tranfaclions, 
 which like main Hinges have fjitt and opened the (J^/w of the 
 World, If cM.ofes had not given us the Hi^ory of the Creation, 
 How ^//»^/yhad we W4//Win the world ? It the Trophets had not 
 given us the Stories of the Jervs, How much had we -wanted, 
 which now does lead us in the way of uprightnefs ? Certainly, 
 men owe their Civility as much to Hijhry, as Education. And we 
 find neither Greece nor /?(*«?? were civilized, till they came to be 
 learned. 
 
 And indeed in thofe that fliall rightly, and well, relate the Occur- 
 rences ot States and King-doms ; there is required much more than 
 makes up an ordinary man : They oaght to be iuperlativcly Intelligent^ 
 diligently Jndujhious, and uncorruptedly Sincere, neither driven by 
 fear, nor led by flattery. Nor is it eafie to have it rpell done by any, 
 but by fuch as have been Aclors in the affairs thcnifelv^s ; and have 
 had fomc iniiglit to t\\Q. turnings o\. the i,iward wheels ot the work. 
 He that wi:itcs by ^<r/d//t)» and ^.f/cr/, may eaiily err, and often mifs 
 the Truth. Rumors are but like Thimdrings in the Air ; we have a con- 
 fufed noife, but the particular caufe that makes it, wc do but guefs 
 at. Uncertain Report being certainly (as tlie Majelf y of King James 
 obferved) the Authw ot all Lies. 
 
 Who wmcs 3. Hiflory, his principjl aim fliould he Truth, and to 
 relate efpccially the extraordin/cries both oi good and ill 5 Oigood, that- 
 men, taken with the Honour they find done them in ftory, they may be 
 incouraged lo perform ihc like; Of i//,that whenmen fee the /^?/ri»z)'ihat 
 they are branded with,they may leap trom all that fliould make them 
 fo ftigmatical. To thefc ; Obfervations that fliall naturally arife from 
 a Rational Collection arc not to be denyed, as the Imhellifljment of 
 a wellprais'd work. He that writes things fal[^e tells a Lie in the 
 face ot the world : with which he docs abule Pofierity. He is the 
 worfk of i^ Limners ; tor he draws the Mind amifs. Some interweave 
 their Relations with Fancies of their own : but a work fo furniflit, 
 may be allowed a Romance, but not a Hijlory. Yet let no man 
 that reads, be too fcrupulous in expcding always a cleer licht ox a 
 
 full
 
 ^E SOLVES. 
 
 ^57 
 
 ^full and perfect Narration. For befidcs chat they arc Men, that write ; Cent. II. 
 
 I It is not polfible that in all things the Truth oi Jffairs lliould be ever 
 arrived at. Politicians pretend one thing to the People, but refervc the 
 clean contrary in their hearts, and private Intentions. Their poyj'onings 
 arc clandejline, and the making away of Enemies and Rivals is otten- 
 cimes by Braves hired in darknefs : whofc deeds arc lockt up in Eter- 
 nal night. So that none but an Omnifcient God is able in all to trace 
 the winding of thcfe Serpents. It Hiflory be writ in the life-time of the 
 Alters, It ufually over-rates Ftrtues, and daAies out vice , or palli- 
 ates. To dream arnifs of the Prince, hath been accounted Treafon : 
 to rvrite, would be much mere. Princes iu their dsfpleafure being of the 
 Nature both of Nxttles and Thorns : If you but touch them they Jli«gj 
 ii you Comprefs them :hLy pierce \imol>loud. If an ////?<'rj' be writ after 
 Death ; it may be more impartial^ but lefs True : fome things will be 
 forgot, others covered with the duji ot Time, and either jpleen or /i- 
 z'our \'di:y the celcur which naked Nature gave. And though he that 
 jvr//ir^ be an ^(f?cr himfeltj yet we are very rarely to expeft that all 
 fhould be Sound and Currant. He that is in 7?4?/^/ him felt docs oft not 
 know the turn aniprogrcfs ot it. He can undertake but for himfelfaud 
 where he ftf, what is bcfide him may be unkmrvnovdifguis^d. Even 
 Princes are deceived by thciu they moft do tritfi : And it a man be 
 known to be about fuch a rvori:,hc fliall fooner be put to record things 
 Honourable ihsinjujl. And though of all others he that writes om of 
 his own Knotvledg by imployment, may be neerer Truth ; yet a Man 
 will be nice in ^Z^;:;//?^ his own irrors ; and where lie is concern'dj 
 fclf-lovc will incline him to lean to himfelf. If he he good, he would z^- 
 pciv l^etter: It he be 5.i^, he will not be fond that the world fliould 
 read it in ihe A-fonu/^unt oi Story, when he is gone. The dying Spani- 
 ard did but fpcak Humanity ; Thac l^eg'd he might not be [Iript when 
 he was dead, though the defeil were only that he wanted zfljtrt. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 of free Vtfpofitiom. 
 
 Diogenes fp.ikc to Plato iot a.g/afso( mne; and he prcfently fcnt 
 him a Gallon : when next Diogenes met him, his thanks were, / 
 isked yon, hove many w^ts two and two ; and you have anfirered , twenty 
 There are indeed (omc ot lo NoUci Di(j>o(ttion, that like trees ot ripe 
 fruit, by degrees they drop away all that they have, They would even 
 out- do the demands of all ihcir friends, and would give, as it they were 
 Gods chat could not be exh.tu/led ; They look not fo mu^h either at the 
 Merit ot others, or their own Ahility, as by tl.eir Bcunty the facisfadi- 
 onof themfclvcs. I tind not a higher G^»//*/ this way than flowed in 
 the Vi6torious yf/t'A^Wi';-. He;/'.i>7v^asit he coveted all; ;x\\i\ gave 
 yiway, as it he cared for Nothing j You would think he did not Conquer 
 
 for
 
 2^8 
 
 'ent II. 
 
 ^ E S L F E S. 
 
 {ox himfe If \i\ix.\\\s friends, and that he took only that he mi^ht havej 
 wherewith logive. So that one might well conclude the ivcrld it felf 
 was too little for cither his Ambition or his Bounty. When PeriUus 
 beg'd that he would be pleafed to give him a portion for his Daugh- 
 /^rj, he prcfently commanded him £(/"(>' T^/fw/i. The modell beggar 
 io\A\\im.i Ten rvctdd be enough. To which the Prince replies, Though 
 they might be enough for him to receive, yet they vtere not enough for him- 
 self to bejlovf. 
 
 Boubtlefs all will conclude, a, Mind, fo vaft, 'isaNoblenefs to be 
 ador'd and magnified. Their Bounty tails like Rain, Audfertils all that's 
 under them. The rulgar, (a.s to Gods) will ere^ ihen\ Altars^ and 
 they will have all the Terbal plaudits that are owing to the large^ 
 Tenefa^ors. 
 
 rivit extento Precideim avo, 
 Notus in fratres animi paterni ; 
 Ilium aget penna metuente folvi 
 Fumti fuperjies. 
 
 The Ntble Love to Brothers fliow'd 
 By Troculeim, fliall found lowd 
 Vc^Furnes fliriU Trump ; there mount iohigh 
 That it Qiall never die. 
 
 All thole benefits thit a. man does place upon others while he lives 
 are as fo many Trophies, raifcd to prefcrve his Memory when he is 
 dead. Man's Lxfiing Marbles are his o\SK\good works', and like a living 
 Monmncnt \.\\Q-^ zxciovpl'd about wherever Men \\zsz Tongues. Yet 1 
 often find the men that thus arc Boundlefs in their 'Bounty, and like the 
 Air breath nothing h\xi freedom upon all they meet with j though their 
 dtfpofitions, as the Gods, are open , and they bcft to others that have 
 front io grafp ii'iWx.hir.cznhQ fjtten: Vet being hwi Men, and fo 
 i\\Q.\x Alaterials limit ted, they fcldom \)XO'^thi\i unfortunate to them- 
 fclvcs. For hcixi^exhaujled by the impudence and necelTities o^ others, 
 and their unnolilc working on a free Nature ; ^wnnrvelcome want at 
 once undoes them, and the goodnefs of their dijpofition. Being ealie to 
 good, they will be (o (much more) to ill, when they are prefs'd 
 to't. 
 
 Every man we meet, maybe made an O^jf^ either o{ charity or 
 Bounty : But they arc very few, that will enable m to m-untaiu where- 
 withal to continue them. When Zenocrates told Alexander he had no 
 need of his Fifty Talents, he rcply'd, though he had no need of them 
 himfelt, yet he might have sccajion for them tor \\is friends : fince furc 
 he was, all the 7>^4///^r he ha.d Conquered irom Daritts, would fcarfe 
 ferve him tor his. Should Neptnnes Sea be e.\Q\ flowing out, he would 
 Wint;f'(i/^^rtor Yiis o'^n inhabitants. The /W whofe wj/? lets out more 
 than his (prings fupply ; will foon be fijaUow, if not wholly dry. To 
 fpend like 3. Princej and receive like aprivateman, muft needs beget 
 
 fuch
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 f'ucliahcot" vomiting or ioofnejs as c^mcily \\i\[tMpair zM health. And 
 though they be belt to others^ yc: it is but toluch as are gnuing and 
 given loincroach. For to the Generous minclthcj are often times kjs 
 acceptable, than other more rejerved Men. He that would be 
 entire to himfclf, cannot well converfe with him, without hcin^y fet- 
 ter'd by fonic kindnefs : fo he lofcs his Freedom-^ which is the Felicity 
 and Glory oi his Life. Every extraordinary A'/W»f/} I receive, I look 
 upon as ahelptop/wc^wf. It is Nobler to deferve a. favour than re 
 ceive it, and to keep discreetly ., than to Uvifl} and rvant all thins^s but a 
 vain and empty JppUufe. He that loves his Neighbour as himfelf is at 
 the extent ot the Commandement. He tliat does more breaks ir. I would 
 foyi-r^r others, as I might not //«/V^.uiy felt : but Corny fe/f, as 1 
 might be helpful to others. 
 
 XL. 
 The danger o[crice>ddmUt'mga Sin. 
 
 THouwh every thing we know not, be a Riddle at firft : Yet once 
 nntied-, there nothing is more ^a/ii'. And is no feat of A ^ivity 
 is fo difticulr, but bcinii once done a Mau ventures on it more freely the 
 fecondtimc: So there is noyj» at firft fo W^/«/, but being once com- 
 mitted -ivillingly, a man is made more prune to a Re- iteration. There is 
 more dcfire ot a Known pleajure, than of that which our ears have only 
 heard Report cf. Even Ignorance is (o far good., that in a Calmh keeps 
 the mind from Di/lrJcf ion : And Ka/orvledg, as it breeds de/ire in all 
 j things fcemingly Good-^ So doth it ferve us with beguiling Sin. He 
 ! that ads an offence., not only freaks , but Recites his own forvl Story : 
 j And as it makes it more Z,';p/i^/^toochcrs, fo it deeper jinks inh'is 
 ^ own Mind, and A fcmory, tor the being ch.irncired by his difplaying 
 ; hand. It lies within him like a /!j/:V-ff«'j?r^jwhich,but uncover d, o loves 
 it f(. It into a lively /'«/'. Tiic (j/.if} that once is fr.if/v, with every {a- 
 tk/halce is apt :o fall in pieces. He breaks his Hedge ot Grace that ad- 
 mits o; a [cindtL'its fm. When once a weighty fin hach trodden down 
 thefV»a', cich petty r/V<f will ealilytlicn /lep over. A breach once 
 made, tiic City is in danger to be lojl. To think wc lliall be n-tfcr by. 
 ; being wickeder^ is the fimplc mijhike ot man. Ignorance herein is- bct- 
 ' ter than Knowledg , and 'cis tar better ci) want dijcourfe thun gjult. 
 i Alas we know not what rich "^oys we lofe when firft wc Uftj into a new 
 ' offence. The World caiinot Rc-purchAfe us our priftinc clcer Integrity. 
 '• The ALtiden-headoi the Sonlisgone. 'Dijhonoitr iinlns ns into dtfcontent, 
 ' we thereby flip our held oUCjracc, which without many tears wc never 
 can recover. Perhaps we itch but once to try how plialing fin will 
 ^ be : But at Marns price wc buy ihh p^ttnted Aj^plc. And thereby chiefly 
 we difcover but our own n'ant nnd Nakedncfs : and lute the P.ir.i- 
 ' dtfe ot Innocence^ that bctorc this .-lof we enj )y'd. The chiefeft Know 
 
 L_. .... /^^^ 
 
 2^9 
 
 Cent. II,
 
 240 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 Ij E S L V E S, 
 
 ledg ihniwc gft^ is that of our thereby ^«//^ and mifirj. Nor Ice any 
 man vainly believe he Qiall he lefs ABuated by the importunity of a 
 fcandalotufin, for having once committed it : For though it may feem 
 IS poyfoft eoldy before wc come to ?4/?/f ; yet, once let in, it boils us 
 up toJ?/i/<://»^ all our Scn[es. That which wc thought was w/7/6 to 
 quench^ "pxasaoillo injlame. '\\\Q-pAUte o[\\\c Soulyh-^ tsJiingiVQn is 
 vitiated: and that which before was Curiofity .^ does now turn into 
 Concttpifceftce and the impetuous longing after ^xzCd'i6.pUa[ures, Surely 
 he that would be fleafedly innocent ■> mu(t refrain from the tajl of 
 offence. Though the imperious Tribunes condemned the Triumvirs.^ 
 only beca'jfc they came not foon enough to quench the fire, broke out 
 in tlie rta Sacra. Yet doubtlefs every Aclivt fin, is aflame to burn up 
 Piety: which we ought if we can to/rfrz'f/?/; it not, tomakehafteto 
 extifiguiP), Icfl it quite confume our Religion. To death did the Lacede- 
 monians ccnfurc that Souldier, that, mccrly out of a boyifli vanity, 
 bore but a little fear let -fanjie in his fijield-^ left it fliould tempt the 
 Army to a fortin Luxury. 
 
 Even fnull off^ences, are but the little Thieves , that (entred) let in 
 'greater: But where they are /c^Wd/cw, the Dominion totally is given 
 up into their hands. I would not purchafe Knowkdg by buying Sla- 
 very and Ccntamination. An innocent Ignorance is to be preferred be- 
 fore a necent Knowledg. Let me rather have others think me DeJeclivCi 
 than that I Hiould know my felf to be Levfd. 
 
 XL I. 
 
 Of Gratitude^ and Gods accepting the Will for the Deed. 
 
 fN Love and Thanks there is no man ncceflltatcd to become a Tank' 
 rupt. For both are things wherein 'tis in a Mans own power to be 
 exjneffible : And there is noman fo /'tfcr/y provided [or, but he may 
 calily find he hath many things for which he ought to be thankful. 
 Either he enjoys 5c;«'<'_^/j that he could not challenge ^so^ debt, (even 
 a JBeif/g, Life, Humanity, the apprehenfun and exfeclation o\ felicity and 
 eternity , arc no way of our orvn , but Gods ; they are blcjjings 
 cliat we never could have given our fclves ) : Or clfe, he is exempted 
 from many hard Calamities, that might have ^^-/^//t';? him, if he were 
 not d.tily guarded by a GrAcious Providence. To requite fo great 
 "Benefits as man does daily receive from the goodnefs of Ccd^ 'Tis 
 no way in the power oi frail ^Mortality ; but to be ever thankful, 
 is the bcft fupply for that defeifl of Tower : A grateful mind is the 
 bcft Repofitory wherein to lay up Benefits : like Abfolom's pillar it 
 keeps alive the memory of the Donour, and like a mirrour aptly plac'd 
 prefcnts the view of all that is behind you. Gratitude does guild 
 the Soul, and it the Ironoi it be but jmooth diwAfiled, ttiough it be 
 not Gold, it flicws it as if it were: and even in the ^/;/ of Cp^^ 'tis 
 , ' beautiful.
 
 5^ E S L V E S. 
 
 heautijitl. And it man lives no day witiiouc a Renerved Favanr, 'tis the 
 Icalt he can do, daily to Refierv his Tha;ih. Nor would this be any 
 thing if we had not a God of fuch -vaji goodf/efs, that, by accepting for 
 the Deed the tvill, did dignifie our /^r^^^/c/^j by being plcalcd With 
 them : And as the Reafofz of Gods beftowing his Benejits is not the 
 Merit or Defert of Man ; but the infimte goodi^efs of his excellent ejfence 
 that takes delight in doing good and obliging : So the efficacy of our 
 thanks could nocliing f>rofit either him or us, but that he is plcafd for 
 our Avail to fet a value on them, and by accepting the meaning for the 
 ^(f? reward us as it ^^ requite d\\w\\. Douhtlcis then the belt way ot 
 'Retribution that is in maiijis to fhew his thanks by conlelllng the Receipt 
 and Favour. He th:ii h i thankful Dekor not only acknowlcdgcth his 
 Bond and Want, but declareth what he would do, if he were able. 
 Since then all 1 have is Bt>untj,kt my endeavour be to be always thank- 
 ful. Though 1 cannot cxprefs that, without agrace to make mc fo; 
 yet that is more mine than any thing elfe bcfide. 
 
 Receive favours, I ever mu(\ : Kcquite them, I never can: To 
 remember them I always ought. In i letter fenfe, .kt n\s fay with 
 the Poet; 
 
 Semper inoilita repetam tux munera mente ; 
 Ft mea mc tehis audiet efje tuum. 
 
 Thy Mercies always, through my Heart \\n\\jJjine j 
 And all the Earth (}j41 knorv that I am thine. 
 
 \ 
 
 XLIL 
 
 Of D'tjlrujl and Credulity. 
 
 TO dijlrujl zW.^ 2iwA believe zW, is equally bad and erroneous: 
 of the two the fafeft is, to dijhnfl. For Fear, if it be not immo- 
 derate.^ puts a Guard about us that docs ivatch and defend m. But Cre- 
 dulity keeps us naked., and lays us open to all the (lie allaults ot \\\in- 
 tending men: It was a Virtue when Man was in his Innocence: but 
 fincc his fall., it abufes thofc that own it. Yet too much diffidences^ 
 it argues, it not always gnilt., yet for the mot^ part defeci : So it be- 
 ijcts us Enemies that without it liad no: been fo. Caufckfs fap/tion 
 not only injures others by a mif-apprehcn/ion, but it puts our tllvci 
 into trouble., we have fear and di/lurbance that we need nor. 'lis 
 the Jaundice ol the Mind, that is not only )'f//(?)v it lelf, but makes 
 every thing clfc appear fo. It turnfs rirtue into Fice, and many 
 times prompts the Innocent to become indeed what he wrongfully 
 was fufpeclcd for. Surely it was a precept horn a Prejidiota Mind 
 at firlV, that bids us think all Knaves we deal with, I am furc it 
 is againft the Rule of R«yal chanty, which in all doubtful fenfes; 
 lays hold on that which is the befi , and fhews men to be 
 I i good 
 
 241 
 
 CENt. II
 
 242. 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 good in themjelves, whereby they are induced to think fo vpcU oi others. 
 Whereas Suffttion is as oft begot out ot co»fciouf»efs in our [elves 
 either of what we havcW*»ff or would/'ntc7//f, as it is from the [enfe 
 ot other mens failings. It we know men [potted with deceit or crimes 
 to others, then indeed, not to m'Jlruft is a breach of charity : vvc arc 
 not careful for our tclvcs, where it behoves our care to begin. He that 
 deals with a Fex^ may be held very iimplc, if he expcd not his 1/4- 
 frous tricks. We truft not a Horfe without a 'Sitt to guide him, but 
 the well-train'd5/'4;?;f/we let range at plcaliire, bccaufewe know we 
 have him mnan'd to command. Phocion told the Athenians^ They oucrht 
 not to blame \he Byzantians^ for mjjlrujlwg their Captain chares; 
 but, their Captains that gave them caufc to be miftrujled. He throws 
 his Ifitereft into a Gnlph, that /r/z/^j it in fuch hands as have been for- 
 merly thtShipvorack of others. 
 
 Infelix, quern n«n aliena pericuU cautum. 
 
 When the deceit ful man hath ihew'd to others what he ^, Why fhould 
 I cake him iox other, than what his 4^?/^/?j have declared him? If he 
 fiiews himfelf to be /'//, I do him then no injury, to judge him what 
 he is. He firft does judge himfclt, and teaches me how to judoe him. 
 If I run upon a known Boggt and yet will take it 'lox firm ground-, my 
 falling in may beget /^//^//^i-rjbut never />//?' with impartial people. With 
 known diffemhlers,Votii will not trade, and Martial 1% the Inftance. 
 
 Vecipies alits verhii-i'vultuq:, benigno: 
 Nam rnihi jam notm DiJJimulator eris. 
 
 Go cheat elfewhcre with rvordsy andfmiling eyes : 
 I know th' z.nfalfe, and all thy Arts dejpijc. 
 
 Indeed, where too much Vrofeffion is, there is caufe lofufpect. Reali- 
 ty cares not to be trickt up with too taking an out-fide 5 and "Deceit, 
 where Aie intends to cefen-, ftudies difguife. Birds of prey., difcover not 
 their tallons, wliilc thty fly and fcek about for food. He fialks behind 
 the Horfe, that means to fhcot and kill. The weeping Crocodile tirft hum- 
 bles his furprife in tears. And Icaft of all Ihould we be taken with 
 frvearing affeverations. Truth needs not the varnifli of an Oath to 
 make her plainncfs credited. Wlien among the Romans , upon Aver- 
 ment, men \xiQd 10 fveear, ox avouch \Nh\f Execrations ; they prefently 
 fveere that they would no: believe them. Bur, where there is no for- 
 mer brand, to flicw he hath been fr/;«/»4/, 'tis breach o{ charity, to 
 concludc,rhat he will he falfe. I will rather think all hexe/l li (Irancrers, 
 for fo I am fare they fiiould be ; only, let me remember, that tiicy arc 
 but men: fo, nor always proof againft tlic ajfaults of frailty and 
 corruption'^ otherwifc, though they want Religion, l^ture implants a 
 Moral Jufiice , which, tinperverted, will deal fquare. 'Tis obfer- 
 vablc, that before our Saviour gave the Rule, even Cicero had preached 
 the fame to the world. Quod tibi fieri non vis, alteri ne feceris. 
 
 Bo
 
 I^ESOL^ES, 
 
 24? 
 
 Do iwto others^ as yon veould they jhould de unto you: Certainly, (o I 
 cxprefs a charity to my fcU, by providing, that 1 be not at the ruercy 
 of an other's undoing me j I can never be too duritalpU in my opnioa 
 and belief of others. 
 
 XLIII. 
 ^onceakd Qrttd^es^ the DeJlruBion of Fnendp?ip, 
 
 With fomc difpojitions nothing can preferve a man fafc. Jealoujlc 
 mifcolonrs thole actions which in thcmfclvcs arc not capable of 
 fltiin. Not having the prcCpicacity and clearnefs of Reafgn^ what is 
 done in Jincerity is mifconjlrued to crafty neglect-, or fomc other ftnifier 
 end. But, among uncaptioLis and candid A^^/wrfj, /-/^/^w/} and /rff- 
 dom are ihe preferve s of amity ; they not only take away prcfcnt mif- 
 Apprehenfiorts^ but they lay a foundxtion of confidence, that renders us. 
 more fecure in futurity ; whereas Reservation gives caufc oi fear, by 
 putting us into a c/oW, which may as well harbour a y?i^rw or tempefi, 
 as a gentle and refre(l}ing (Ijower . There is nothing cats out friendfhip 
 fooner, than concealed grudges. When mif- guided ^(r4/^» hath once 
 produced Opinion, even Opinion then doth foon feducc our Reafon. 
 Conceits oi unkindncfs-, harbour'd, and believed, will work o!f even 
 a lon^ grovtn love. The Egg of prejudice once Uid^ the clofc fitting 
 hatches it into ///^ ; and, ihc (bell ox\qc hroke, it ^/^j about, or, like 
 the LapTping^runs, not ^4/?^ tobe/i'/'-c^f^on. Rejirved difpoJitions,KhoU2}y 
 they may be apt to retain fccrets'^ ycr, they are not fofic to produce 
 love. The free and open brcjl, both propigates, and continues ajfeSiion 
 bcft. Phil/p of Macedtn fct a Prifoncr ac liber ty^ becaufc he did but tell 
 him that 1 is Garment hung a little uncomely. It wis 3. freedom in a 
 Captive, wl ich his Courtiers durlt not venture to tell him o'. Between 
 entireil//7V«ij, it ca:inot be but fometimcs \hi\i: peeks o' coldnefs may 
 appear j ihoU;j;^h not inrciidcil by a willing commiffion, yet, perhaps 
 fo taken by a wrong fufpecL And thefe fmother'd m file nee, grow 
 and breed toa!/;xaci.r dill.ij}. r,ut, revealed o\ycc \x\ a friendly man- 
 ner, H.cy oft meet with thit [.it is fall ion., which does in the dtf 
 c/off/re baiiiili them. Rrgrct is n Serpent that, warm'd in the bofom., 
 flings. Vnkindnefs like a tumor in tb.e Hclli, docs r.tge and fjjoct with 
 heat, and making n.uchoi; but, once let out, both eafe and health 
 do lollow. 'lis a fulphurous v.ipoar in a c/(;«^ iir.prifon'd, that roars 
 and rumbles wliile it is Ihut up : But, if at flrll, uy Lightning it /7/W 
 our, the noife is prevcmed, and tlie Air is thereby clarified. And in- 
 deed, how can we make a judvment, when we do not fee the bottom ? 
 Sometimes /// tongues by falfe tales Cow di [cord bviWLxn two Lovers ; 
 fonietimcs miflakcs k-iihc mind in a, falfe appnhcfion ; (onictimcsjV/*- 
 loufiesy that like ^;v^^ aril'e from even boyling love, [mpnnt fufp:tlen 
 ■in the thoughts. All which, may find eafe in the uttering, (o th.cir 
 I i 2 dlfcoz'ery 
 
 Cent.il
 
 Cent. 11- 
 
 L/'"v'^J 
 
 ^ E S L V E S. 
 
 difcovery ht'mmildfiefs : otherwife, choler dims i\\t minds bright eye- 
 and when it inio;hc fecc/f.ir, it 'ffn(ls\x. with afccndin^ fumes. Taffi- 
 ofjMe Natures^ \\V& flints, may be quiet alone ; but when they knock 
 co^cthcr, fire it felt breaks from them ; whereas calm difcullions do 
 fo card <j^d?/c»-f into one another, that many times they never alter 
 can bc/'.tr/i?^or/>«Kf<^arunder. 
 
 If, between friends:, there mnft uKkimz/cfsCpnug, 'tis beft prcfcntly 
 to tell, and reconcile. Perhaps, the jtifpected, that appear'd a little 
 [mittted on his out-fide, unfolded, may be clear tvithm; and then hav- 
 ing more integrity, he will draw more love. If he fliould be guilty, 
 he may repent, and by his error, become warned to -prevention, and 
 for that lie hath offended, he fhall be more obfequioa^. Pififlrattts did 
 not ill, when fomej97t'»^J had y^r/4/(r» him, to follow and catchup 
 n^(tncloakes: who demanding his intcnfion, he tells them. It vpas,:f 
 he could, to verfvca.de them to return ; if not, ''tveas refolv'd, that he vpould 
 abide reith them. However, let- them that defire to continue /r/>Wf, 
 be fure lopart lo : ^jar at farerveli'^ a contradiBion. They that part 
 in unkindnejs, fcldom meet in love. The laft draught leaves the reUiJh, 
 which, after it is paft, does <^Trf// upon the /'^/4/-<r, while the gtijl oi 
 the former with this is veafli d ttway . Therefore \vc ought to provide \ 
 that this may he pleafant : nor ought we to fiart afide at every flone 
 that ihall be caji in our rvay. To pafs by offences, is rvifdom ; but 
 to fall from a fricnc.fhip, levity : Even in thofe that have been 
 til contracted, Catos advice is good, They are rather to be unfewed 
 than cut. 
 
 XLIV. 
 
 'Tis tieithcr a great EftatCj nor great Honours that can 
 make a man truly Ha^py, 
 
 {Have fomctim^c had the vanity to think, a vaf"l Ejlate, and fomc high 
 feat of Honour, to be a gay and glorious thing. And indeed, to 
 look upon the fuperticics of it at the firil glance of the catching Fan- 
 cy, there may be perhaps a pleafing and entiling fplendor. Man has na- 
 turally fo much of the Deity within htiii, that he loves to be ador'd tnd 
 magnified. Among the Romans, Triumphs were fo coveted, that the 
 refufal of them ro aipiring Cxfar, begot the change and ruine of the 
 prcfcnt State. Tliough to have the reeling Alultitude ('like a Vool of 
 Reeds, waved with the wandring wind) bowing up and down in ado- 
 ration of the Conquerour, does l"kcave and lift up tumours and exalt- 
 ing minds, and fuch as have the Mercury of youth about them : Yer, 
 wlicn the grave refpafian came to fnail it, and be Icaver'd in the 
 throngs floWjmarch nc began to chide himfclfjas being juftly punilVt, 
 at his yearSj for admitting fuch popular Jpplauje, and Pageantry. 'And 
 certainly, if we examine the true and moll clTential felicities of man, 
 
 we
 
 \ E S L V E S. 
 
 24'5 
 
 vvc iVialKwd that 'cis not ivealth or Poivcr, not agreat Ejfate, nor great Cent^ II. 
 Ccmmand-y that c^in render us in our fclvcs more happy than other men : 
 All that* really man is here made capable of, muft be either benefits to 
 his mind, or to his body. For the mind j fti rely, A.'/;?^j' never found fo 
 great contents as have liv'd with mean Philofophers. A Crown of goU's 
 too heavy to be worn with eafe. Their fears,' their hopes, their juys, 
 their griefs, their, loves, their hates, with all their train ot Pailions are 
 more phantailick, more difl:ra£ted, and more torturinsz; . than thofe 
 that wait upon an obfcurer mxn^ who like a C<«/^,without making a noife, 
 can fl:eal unheeded i\\xo\v^\\.\\^ worlds confujion. Without z guards 
 they cannot deep ; and with one,they do not. A Martial wAtch dillefts 
 the night with noifes ^ a mid-night Council {\.a:ts their broken reft ; and 
 zKcals arc ftutf'd with frights, or with fufpicion. He that Comrmnds the 
 a\o{\,enjoys himfclt the lead : His Imltnation is turmoil'd and fretted ; 
 thrullone way, pulled another ; haled on this fide, forc'd on that ; 
 driven and ftroak't together. Whois'tcan gucfs at thofe Jncef^ant 
 cares ^ that go to bed with Princes but. to keep them waking ? Enemies 
 abroad, Treacheries at home. Emulations at neighbours, di^atisfxclion of 
 friends, jV/i/^w^c ot moft, and/^^jr of all. A bufinefi fo troublefom, 
 that Otho (though iic were ioheloz'edoi his Souldicrs , that many of 
 them did put thcmfclvcs to death.^ bccaufc he would not live) chofe 
 rather to ki^ himfclf than endure it, and to hazard fo many of his No- 
 ble dependences. His Title fare was as good as that of Vitehus : yet, 
 where there hath been none, we have liv'd to fee, there hath been alfo 
 no fuch confidcration. And, which is more in Great Perfons, their de- 
 licacy, a.nd tendernejs, like nice plants, make them more fubjcdt to dc- 
 rtrudion, more fcnfible of affronts, more impatient of labour and care, 
 than fuch as, through habituated cuftom, are hardncd to endure the 
 froft, the hfat, and the vcindoiajjairs. Plainly it appears, He is more 
 in the way to be happy, that lives in a kind of retreat from the world.'In 
 whom all men have an interc[l,\\{: furely has Icai'c in himftlf. And , if 
 retircdnejs be not more delicious tlian affluence and popularity, How 
 comes it, that men of great imployment do fo often lock up themfclvcs I 
 from the croud and flux o\ affairs. As the happicjl part of their ///i*, 
 chcy (leal ti)emf(.-Kcs into a Calm, and rejoice that they can cozen 
 their importuning Clients : do they not hereby fcem to ti.ll us , that 
 chcy can never enjoy thcmfclvcs, and ftand at cafe, or cool, but when 
 chcy have laid bv tiie Pendants and Caparifons of State , which heat, 
 and lo.id, and weary more than all the pUafare that they bring com- 
 penfaces ? True nv/i^(!;;?,which proceeds from Piety and ]nn(cence,i\)<:\j 
 have not leifurc as they lliould, to profecutc. 1 lie thorns of Jitthority 
 hinder the yira'/ of the other from profpcring. Infonuicli, that fomc 
 have held it for no Paradox, That a '/rMCi? who grows ingoodnejs, 
 will come to defcend in his State : Examples hereof, arc not hard to 
 find, where, by the vices and infultation of others, the Innocent and 
 C/wm.i/'/c have fared worfc, than, the not extrcamly harjh and tyran- 
 nical. Certainly, \.\\k: greatejl plcajhre tiiat tliC mind is capable of in 
 
 this
 
 ■L\6 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 K 
 
 E S L f/ E S. 
 
 this life, is in the contemplation oiGod and Nature^ the experimental 
 fwcecnctrcsofTw/o/tf/'^/, and the difcourfivencfs ot Reafon. And all 
 thefe have their/'Zf.t///rf in rctircdnefs, and uncrowded from the ftings 
 ot bujinefs. Nay, admit an afflnency of all tilings were, indeed , better 
 than the moderate ufc of the pleajures of this life : Yet, with perpetual 
 ufe the fcnfc of thc/>/^<«^«r(f is loft. Whofe every wm/ is ^-jw^-rtf;, has 
 not any. Continual /f4y?j are burthenfom , beyond the intermediate 
 pleafingncfs of a craving apptite. He knows not the dear delight oilife 
 in any kind, that never liv'd but in the fulnefs oi dl. 'Tis vfAtching and 
 labour^ that voluptuates repfe zx\^jieef. As he that is ever taking To- 
 b&ccc, jofcs that Phyficai ule on't, which others find, that do but feldom 
 ulc it ; {o^ he lofcs \k\Qgu^, ot what rtiould be delightful^ that fo perpe- 
 tually docs cloy him'elf, that he leaves not fpace to meet \\\%food with 
 defire. One wholfom dijb with hunger for theyiwcf, with purer health, 
 with greater cafe, with as much plcafuremay be had and tafted, as all 
 tholl- coftly fUnds Riot and ProdigAlity invented for either the Table of 
 FitelliM.^or the Kitchin of Lttcnllus. Nay, Pleafures are not truly tafte 
 *ble^ butin thcfober tra<f^sof Tcw/'^'riwf ; rhcy then. have that clear 
 rellifjj that Nature firft indued them with : which certainly, is fweeter 
 than what is ftrain'd and forc'd by Jrt. When the thirft is quench'd, 
 the plcafure is not then fo much in drinks as company. Nor can the fuil- 
 cram'd perfon have his Senl'es and Intellcciuds clear. Where there is 
 much ProviJioK drcfs'd, the Kitchin will be black't and darkred with 
 [moke and reek. The empty mermng^ and the wafted night fees further 
 into J<;:wn'/f^, than the mid-day Sun ^ when undlious meals fliall tu- 
 mult all the fenfes. Nor can the like health attend the abounding Board, 
 that does the temperate and convenient Table, 
 
 fides, ut pall id US a run is 
 
 Ccena Aefurgat dubta • qnin ccrfiis onuftum 
 Hefternii "oitiis, Animum qneq\ pr.egravat una, 
 Ate^ne affigit Hnmo divine farticulam Aurje. 
 
 ■ Sec but how pale they reel. 
 
 From their dcftruftive Suppers., how they feel 
 Their late tanc Surfeits, Wiiich weigh down the Soul, 
 And to dull Earth, pins the f^^leJlialTole. 
 
 hiktBottles fiU'd with W7W,tliat is not fin'd,rhcir own Fumes crack them 
 till they flie in pieces. He only finds the clean and politer plcafure, that 
 feeds, a.s l^ture hvccds, found men -^ where there is Temferamentum 
 adpondus. Like Filliin Cryftal ftreams, untainted with difcafe, they 
 fmcothly glide through all the fott Currents ot Life. Spicurus was 
 not tar trom risht , to make Plcafure even the Summum Bonum. 
 But he meant it of the mind which was terfe and clean , what is it 
 that we can fay more ? Or how can we imagine greater, than to be 
 participant and enjoying ot the Divine Nature ; of the Great and Imma- 
 culate God ? Doubtlefs in a great E'latc, 'tis very hard to tind time 
 
 for
 
 ^lESOLI/ES. 
 
 for thfjCt Sec/tefiofis. lihc Kchtion oi Ac^uaintamei and Friends, and 
 Miances ; The Avocation of BuJtKefs, both Contingent and Neteffary ; 
 The Application of others not to be avoided ; The incitation to plea- 
 fures that more moderate Fortunes want, with the Jrmy of temptati- 
 ons that abundance olicrs, may inrtrud us neither to envy thofe that 
 fail in fuch full Seas, nor yet to be fagacioujl^ licortjb after thcfe more 
 palatable than vpholfem fweet meats. A great Eltatc without a mind that 
 is greater than it, is a Snure: Nor are there examples wanting of ma- 
 ny that have ^o/'o/2/<?^ their y^jt/cw Fortunes, to take up mean Conve- 
 nience ; Atttlim defccnded from the Triumph to the Plough : and we 
 need not doubt but Mcnenius K^grippa liv'd both pleas'd and honor'd, 
 thouf^h he left not Ca^ to difcharge his Funeral. The mind of a middle 
 fortun'd man, is as much at Liberty as bis that is compafs'd round 
 with plenty; and the body of this latter is not capable of more than the 
 other can atford to hi?. Three eVLs oi Holland he can ufe for a fhirt, and 
 more a Prince cannot put in without trouble : perhaps a mean man 
 has not a Garment with fo long a Train, but then he can conveniently 
 carry it himfelf, and needcth not the cumber or the charge to have one 
 bear it after him. 
 
 XLV. 
 
 THcre is tliC fame difference between Biligence and Negletl , that 
 there is between a Garden curioufly kept , and the Sluggards 
 field, that k\\ under Solomon^ profpcdf j when it was all over-grown 
 with Tattles and Thorns. The one is cloth'd with Beauty , and the 
 gracious amiablencfs of Content, and cheering Loveliness \ While the 
 other hath nothing \iwi^\^\zx\\.\.\X\: ^m.trting pungencies^ ok elfc fuch 
 tranlpiercings as rankle the j?^yZ> within : Negligence \% x.\\c Ru/l oi the 
 Soul, that corrodes through all her maflTieft Rcfolutions^ and, 
 with admittance only, flakes away more of Wijleel and hardriefs^ than 
 all the iiackingsol a violent hand can pcriorm. The excretions ot the 
 'Body ^row bin in fcnfibly^ yet, unkfs they be daily taken away, they 
 difguife a Afan to a monjler : as Nebuchadnezzar^ hairs were like 
 £.11^ /cj feathers, and his A't/'A like //'/Wi claws, inhisfcven years ^rj- 
 fttality. What Nature made for "Jfc^ ior Strenoth , for Ornament ; 
 Negleft alone converts to trouble-, weaLncfs, and to loath' d Deformity. 
 We need no more but fit ftill, and^//^'j/« will arife only tor want o'. 
 Exercife. 
 
 How fair an-d frcfh focver the Soul be, yet in o.ur flcjh it lives in 
 ffnoak, and dufl ; and it it daily be not bruflit, and cleaiis'd, by Care., 
 and Tenitcnce , it quickly di [colour s , i\\i\ (oils. Take the ii'eeders 
 from the Flordium, and a very little time will change it to a /*'//- 
 dernefs. And then 'tis an //.i^;/-rf^/(?« ioiyermine, that was Before a 
 
 Recreation 
 
 ^47 
 
 Cent. II
 
 248 
 
 I^ES L F E S, 
 
 Cent. II. Recreation {ox Men. Om Life [si warfare, and men ufe not in it to 
 flccp without a Centinel, nor inarch without a Scout -, He that wantcth 
 cither ot/y&(?/^ , expofcs himfclf to furprizc and the becoming a frey 
 to the dil'gence and Uboriouffiefs ot his '^d-verfary. \\c have known 
 many that [■\i\t rvafted goodly f.ttrimoniesy who have been handfomly 
 »^///rW and free from ^'iffj or any fignal remark at all, for which wc 
 could give no other Reafon but only a general incurioufKefs and negleft 
 of timcjy wfpeBion into their own aftairs. Thus Honerius patled away 
 his Empire to his Sifter PUiidta. : And Nero's other vices were not more 
 contributing to his Rnine, than his fui>tne neglect when the Legions be- 
 gan to rife. The mounds of Life and rirtue, as well as thofe of pa- 
 Itures, will decay, 'tis but forbearing to repair them, that all the 
 Z'eajls of the^f/.;/ may enter and /^^r up whatfoever'is good in us and 
 grows. Certainly Religion teaches, to be exact and curicus. The Law 
 is fuch a Rulers every aberration from it, is an eye- fore. Wc fcefome- 
 timcs how fmall a fcruple can difturb the minds fair peace. Macariiu 
 gave himfclf/'if»//4;;c(f for but killing a Gnat in Anger : Like the Jewifh 
 loucho'i z\\iuo;s unclean y the meaneft /nifcarriage vecimres a. Purifica- 
 tion. V\'ho does not therefore guard himfclf, ncglccls hisgreate/l Ene- 
 my. Man is like a n'atch ; If evenir.g and morning he be not wound 
 up whh Prayer ![nd Circiimfpeffion, he either is unprofitable, or falfc: 
 He cicher goes not to dircdt, or ferves to miflead. And as the flendcr- 
 efthair, tie leaft grain of fand, ortheminuteft Atonic, makes it ei- 
 ther a trouble.^ or deceit : fo the leafi neglcB does fteal us into imfrofi- 
 cicncy :ir\A offence : which dcgrceingly will weigh us down to extre- 
 mity. If the Injlrtiinent o{ Living be iiot truly /f/, all that w^ play up- 
 on't will be harfli andout of tune. The diapafon dies, where every 
 fir/ng does not confer its part. Surely, without an union to God , wc 
 cannot he fecure, or well. Can he be fjappy, that from happinefs is divi- 
 ded ? And God is fo exaft, fo fmooth, fo f^raight, fo perfcdly pcrled 
 fn all, that 'tis not polTible {ox man to be join'd to him, Mx\\t(s propor- 
 tionably he be fo too. The fmooth and rugged, never made 2po^ joint ; 
 the ft:raight and crooked will never he brought to cAi/c' ; Unlcfsour 
 knots and excrefcencies be taken off, and fhot into direclnefs, they hin- 
 der //W(>», and thruft us off from P^'//. No glevy will hold us clofc,; 
 when wc rtiall fwell into unevcnelfcs, by the neglect of not planing our | 
 fclves intorirtue and P/etj. Diligence alone is a good Patrimony, but | 
 neglect wafles a fair Fortune : one preferves and gathers ; the other, 
 like Death, is the dillolution of all. The Induflrious Bee by her fedulity | 
 in Summer, dwells in, and lives on Wi^wj all the Winter. 'But, the i 
 Dr<)w (which, according to i'//»>', is an impcrfeft 'Bee., and begot in 1 
 decay, when the Bee is wafted and paft labour), is not only caft outjbut 
 beaten and punifli'd. 
 
 Of\
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 14,9 
 
 Of Injury. 
 
 X L V I. 
 
 Njury h p:opQx\y thcwlllina; doing of /nj »/! ice to hlra that is un- 
 willing to receive it. And 'tis as well by charging /»//(/, as de- 
 tracting »W«/y. He that ^ccufesmc of the //i I did not, and he that 
 allows mc not the goedi have done : who puts fiolft goods upon me , 
 and who fieals away what is truly mine, huh very \iu\c Heraldry to 
 diftinguilli thcrvroKg he docs. Only, in the firft he begins with A^«r- 
 ther : and ends with Theft : In the later, he begins with Theft, and 
 ends with Afurther. One ^/V^/ before he Wj&^ ; the other ^^ritjfirft, 
 and /-//^j afterward. Ccrcainly, all the mifchief in the world pro- 
 ceeds either from the actings , or the apprehending of rvrengj from 
 men originally «»/«/? , or ignorantlyy»j^/«o/«. Were ^/?A/ and J«- 
 /lice prcfcrv'd in exadncfs , £'arth would be a Heaven to live in, and 
 the life of Men would be like that of Angels , where MAJores fine 
 elaiifve pr^funt J (^ mmores fine vitio [ubjtmt . f^/;;://?' would dwell 
 with men , which now like \^flr£X , is fled from the Region of 
 E.irth. How many Attendances , how many Journeys, how much 
 Trealare might be favcd ? Ho crowded throngs need fill our Larv-tri- 
 l^una/s ; x\ox arrncd Troops unpzze our fruitful fields. Every Injwy 
 is a petty war, and a breach at lead of a pair of God's grand Com- 
 irjandcmcnts ; Killings and Stealing. And, though perhaps it iiiay 
 fccm to projper a little while, till the wheel of Providence walks its 
 round ; yet, doubtlcfs, 'tis (i\ozi-liv'd, and drags with it an Inf'eEii- 
 on ^ that docs taint the fpirits, and confound the fenfes. hjufios fe- 
 quitur nltor a tcrgo Deuj. 'lis one of Gods peculiar Attiibu;es,That 
 ne IS ii.i '■Avenger of ff'rong. There are but two parts of a Chrillian 
 mans life : To abftain from doing wrong, and to endeavour to do 
 good. And though the firtt in a bad world,' be a good prcgrefs in a 
 CurilliariS voyage to Heaven ; yet, it is in truth, but a dead and tor- 
 pid Ftrtue. A negative 7'/^'/'/, tliac indeed, icaclKsnot to the civili- 
 ty of ncighhonrhood. Neither the Priefl-, nor the Levite were Neighbours 
 to tumtiiat fell among T/'/^x'^j. yet, neither of them did him any 
 Injury. And 'tis not unwortliy our ObfcrvatioiijThat of all Profcilions 
 o'mcn, itieilout, that it wasa Pr/V/?, and a LrxvV^, thuwcrc thus 
 ji^othing concern'd with the wounded' s calamity. Tl.ev, that l;kc 'Bchws, 
 :oulj inkindic the jfrf of Ch.xnty in others, had nothing in thcm- 
 lelvcs, but a flertle coding breathy derived from the common and 
 tranfient -4/>. Tliey, who to others fecmedy?<2;jyrf,v/ in their tcngues^\'3Ld 
 Ice congealed in thc'ix frozen hearts : whiciinced ni>: p.u us to tiic 
 wonder, when we find thi:'\x pr attic k zeal hW many degrees below 
 ihclx filming harangfics. 1 hough vvc are commanded to be inofjtn- 
 (ive ; yet, th^t IS Hot all we arc commanded unto. Things IcnI'ckTs and 
 'uanimatc, forbear the doing Injury: but, the atflivcnefs w good ■, is 
 
 Cent. II* 
 
 Kk 
 
 tnat
 
 250 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 5? E SOLVES. 
 
 that which promotes to/^/ia/'^. Efchewevily and de good ^ is but one; 
 conjuridive Precept. He is but the lefTcr pirt of his way, that for- j 
 bears the Aoxw]^ injnry. yet, even this is a myftcry, thar, but very 
 few attain unto. Either we mif-apprehcnd it ; or, blinded with be- 
 lief of our o\vVi perfe^ions , we Aide over this, and yet pretend to be ' 
 picus, But 1 can never think him ^offi, that is but tempcralljt good to 
 himfcif. How can behave z good confaeHce cither torvards Ged , or 
 towArds mm., thiz ckhev frAudu/e»t/ji or violently \.d.\{:s away what 
 is anothcrs j//// prcpnety^ I am yet to underftand. Some Callings 
 arc fuch, as 'tis nard to bcjujl, and hold them. And we may obfcrve 
 our Saviour was Co far from allowing not only wrong, hm force even 
 in Souldiers and Merchants, (whoyet, if any, arc difpcnftd with) 
 that he binds up their ProfcfTion in fuch limits, as 'tis hardly polTi- 
 blc to be a ^Cft/^/rr, and a Chri/iian ; we tranflace it, Ojfer 'violexcc to 
 no min. And is not Plunder f\ich, or taking array any thing that is 
 a.iothers ? Which being never fo clandeftinely done, without either 
 noifc, or the owners knowledge, under the cover oldarknefs, or the 
 lilcncc oiihcgr-ive: yet, by the Law, 'tis taken to be aded vi (^ 
 armis. If /('?r^ can give a Title, all that I can f.:?^/' and .^ff/>, is mine. 
 It ^tifiice and Propriety be not prcfervcd , no man hath more than 
 w.iat he cinkcep by his own cr.tft, or anothers cmrtcfie. It was St. 
 Aujiin that ftarted the qucftio;! ; Rcmot.i 'jnjiitij. , c^md fimt Regna 
 nifi mA'^nx Latrocinix ? Take J-uflice 1 ence, and what are Kingdoms 
 elfc, but fields of w^r and r4//w ? But the word is properly, T<rrr//5i? 
 no man ; which intimates, they ought not to come fo near taking 
 away any mans '4'/^/, as toput them inroa/r/ir. VVhat Z^w and ^i- { 
 vil Right docs give a man juft Title to, I ought not to deprive him j 
 o^ T^x-y are jSf.*/?/ ar.u ^/Wi- o'.prey.^ or clle "jor.tcieus fpjes in the 
 wilder Ocean, that live and b^itren on the /^w/r of others. 
 
 Man by all the Laws of Cr<?.f/;V«, /'<?/;!;;', and Religion is tycd up, 
 with his own fair Inditjlry to live on wiiat is JHJliy /jts; and 
 tlicn lie hath a promifc of a bkjping with it. But, he that rovels aud 
 ruffles in his Neighhours hcld:^ hith wo prot:ctioa but his own frail arm, 1 
 or elfc his fraudulent head ; 'g.iinfl which the Prophet hath pro- ,' 
 nounc't a vcoe. Even a natural light will fliew us the blacknefs of i 
 vereng , and then fwhat ever men pretend), certainly, Religionl 
 fliines but very diwly.^ where that can be digeftcd and not feen. The 
 OtTiccs of the Orator will tell us ; Qui non defendit-, ncc obji- 
 flit fi peteH injur i.e , tarn efl ini'itioqiuim fiTarentes ^ aut Patriam^ 
 iut Socios defer at. He that docs not hinder, or defend a rvrong when 
 'tis in his povetr , is in the fame rank of ///, with thofe that bafely j 
 iliall defert their Countrey, their Parents., or thicir neer A^ociates , I 
 Surely, right-born Nature is noblf-r than a half ard Piety, He was J 
 not aj<?n', but a Samaritan that parted with his Oy/ and W/?f, and j 
 \t\x. provifion for his cure ^ that, in the fore-mentioned Parable, />// 
 among Thieves , which we cannot think to be other , than the JfJV/, 
 tor he went but down the Hill from Jernfulemio'Jericho , whc0 he 
 
 was
 
 I^ESOLl/ES. 
 
 was fee upon. They wound Religion io the inmojl heart , that flicw 
 her to the world with fuch mUgafJjes^ and aditlterate-f}ots-) as arc, 
 the offering , or incouraging ot verong. The 'Tagxn Tribune is to 
 be preferr'd before fome cbrijliuft Conventions , that have appcar'd 
 in the world. 
 
 Cn. 'Domititti, the Tribune, funimon'd Prince Ssxurtts before the 
 Peoples Tribunal, Scauru-s his fervant, hearing ot it, repairs to Domiti- 
 «/, and informs him, that, if he wmtcd mattery he could turnifh him 
 with fufficient for his Lords Condemnation: For which the Noble Tri- 
 bune well rewarded him ; but, 'twas by cropping oft his Ears-, fealing up 
 his ///J", and fending him foto his Lord. 1 think, it needs no Grand In- 
 qucft to Hnd in what Region the Nobler Religion did dwell ; whether 
 with them that pumih Treachery, PerJjdiou(»efs , and Her i^cide with 
 fmart and Ignominy :or, fuch as draw it out with Oaths-, invite it Y\*ith 
 Preferments, and appoint to Slaves and Villains the rewards that arc 
 due to the only brave arid honefi. Doubtlefs,to a very Enemy, a Chri- 
 ftian dares not offer wrong. Religion from above, is pure and peacea- 
 ble-^ but wro/z^, is thefcwel of »v4r J and, by doing that, we help our 
 Adverfary., and war againft our felves. We engage God on his party , 
 and by our injujiice diiadvantagc our caufe : Nor may we do it, that 
 good may come of it ; Ju/lice^ needs not Injury to help it to a Ki^o- 
 ry. Though in the way of H«Jlility the pra(^ice is far n\oxc com- 
 mon than commendable ; yet , by juji and gaUant per font , it hath 
 ever been dijdaind and abhorrd. And thofe that hate fo contemned 
 it, have for it by all fuccceding times, been feated with fuch as 
 have afccnded to the higheft Towers in the ftatcly Palace of Fame. 
 Themiftocles advifcd to fire the Spartans Navy privately , as it 
 lay in the Harbour. Arijlides did contcfs 'a profitable y but, be- 
 caufc he could not be fatistied , that it was ju/i , or honourable, 
 the projcd; was decrycd , and Themiftocles cnjuyn'd to dcfilh And 
 when Alphinfus was offered by fomc , that they would entrap and 
 cut off his Enemy, the Duke of An]ou: He protcllcd , if they did 
 any fuch thing , he would proceed againft them , as he would a- 
 eainfl apackoi Parricides , declaring to allj That the tvar he un- 
 dertook, confiffed not o^ Fraud and Treachery:^ but, of Firtue -, of 
 Valour, and of no\>\^ Fortitude. He that can allow himfelfto do In- 
 jury , makes hisfoviurs to be fufpected as fnares. He is fo tar from 
 being a Propitious Star , that the malevolence of Comets harbours in 
 him. He is much dilfanc'tfrom do\\\2^good , that is not principlc'd 
 to forbear a wrong. He is next xo chanty , that abl\ains from In- 
 jury, but he is at OppreJJlons threjhtld, that can difpenfe with it. 
 Let no man think , he can purchafc favour with cither God or Men-, 
 by the formality or cxtcriours of Religion, if he lets himfclf loofe 
 unto injury. Oqc unjujl and unworthy a£lion hurts not alone the 
 man that does it : but, it transfers the fcxndal to the Religion he 
 profeffcs, which for his fake groans , and grows fufpefted , it not 
 contemned. Of the two, my opinion is with Stcrates, 'Tis better 
 
 K k 2 to 
 
 21 
 
 Qent.1I.
 
 Cent. 11- 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 to fufter vcrongy than do it. He may be geo^^ iksiifuffers it \ he niuft 
 
 be bad) t\\ii offers ix.. An /«wff«; may be- ktlled-^ but, he that mttr- 
 
 cannot be ionocent^ either in prefent, or the fequel. For ufu- 
 
 thers 
 
 ally, the Hid commitmeat of a rvrong ^ puts a man upon a thouftnd 
 vprongs^ perhaps, to maintain that (»»f : And, 'cis more than proba- 
 ble, the /«^r^r will decline into ncro^^ at laft. /*;»r;\vith hjury is 
 defended j and with commicting^>-<r4/-^?", wc are drawn to keep up the 
 lefs. A i^f begets t /^(r, till they come to_^f»^j'4//<»«/. Who is once a 
 Rebely hardens his own heart , cngageth his/;7r«^J,opprclVc5 his f el- 
 Urvs, involves his relations, murthers the loyal ; and like a Torre»t,\crs 
 in all that can tend to confujion. As the Powder once would have done 
 the trvo Honfes ; fo, he at once blows up both the Tables.'&y loofing from 
 ground-, he lanches into the5c4 that hath no boftom,bcing thereby en- 
 forced to the ^rMf/> o{ the vebole Decalogue:, both in i-w/ir and br/tnchesy 
 by himfelfiind his guHtJ' Adherents. 
 
 XLVII. 
 Of Faith and good Works. 
 
 I Find not a greater Teeming Contradiction in the whole ^ofpely than 
 that which relates to Frf^/'Z' and WjrZ'/ : The A poftle Saint Pj*/ ar- 
 gues high for Faith, and St. James as high for jrorks. One faics A- 
 braham and Rahab wezc juflijied hy Faith. The other, that Abraham 
 and Rahab were ju/iijied by irorks. One Taies, By the rrorks of the Law-, 
 fbaji no fie(h living bejufiified. The other faies, That ye fee then how 
 that by works aCManis jufiified, and not by Faith only. Nay, St. Paul 
 may fccm to contradift himfclf, when in one place he faies. The do- 
 ers of the Law (ball be jufitfied. And in another that we know a man « 
 not jufilfied by the works of the Law. And that no man u jnjl/jied by 
 the Law in the fight of Cody it is evident. Surely, though thcle feem 
 to be Co^tradicitons., yet rightly underfiood., they are not fo. For , to 
 leave the Niceties oH thofefharp difpites that arc on either fidej I 
 look upon it as a Rule, That where the fcripture feems to run intot 
 Contrarieties ^ there certainly is a «»/^<^/p way between both, which 
 we oVi'^iio (eek ostt and/ii//ojr ; and that the <'jcrr^4«*/ on cither fide 
 are forbidden, and \k\tVnion and In{epar ability of both are enjoyned. 
 I do therefore humbly conceive, That the infilling upon ^ujlijicati- 
 on by works , and the infifting upon Jufiificatien by Faith alone , 
 might, with much more profit to the Church of God, be left to be 
 fo (irenuouHy tugg'd for, by the differing Parties. It would more fafc- 
 ly be evinced from thefe two fceming discrepancies , That no Man can 
 ^c j'(fl{fied without degrees of both ^ and that to depend folely upon 
 <?»(? is dangerous, for doubtlefs ^o//* are meant. And therefore when 
 atone time the people came to our Saviour andaskcdhim-, trhatjhall 
 we do-, That we might work the works of Godt He anfwered, This is the 
 
 work
 
 1^ E S L V E S. 
 
 ^53 
 
 work of God that ye believe on him vehom he hath fenf. Declaring Cent. 11. 
 thereby, Faith to be even the whole rvork of the EvAngelicd Law. 
 And when the young man in the Gofpel asked him at anothec time, 
 what he Hiouki to inherit Eternal Life ? His anfwcr to him waj. That 
 he fljmld keep the Comnnndemcnts. Neither of which are to be taken 
 exclufivcly , but both ^cww/iW^is^ : fo, both to be equally fraclifed. 
 Works without Faith, are at beft but K^novps l1iot at Rindnne : 
 No man can afTurethat they Oiall ever ^;/ the «»4r^. And tor Faith, 
 St. Jtmts tells us, that without rvorks it is dead. And then , what is 
 it that the dead cz^ do} Faith indeed glorifies God in private, be- 
 tween htmfelf and our Souls. 'Tis the Monaftiqiic part of Religion , 
 which ads all within the C^// of our own bofomes. But Works glo- 
 rifie him before the n^orldzw^ Men. Faith without Works is but a 
 wither dtreey there wants both leaves ind fruit. And Works with- 
 out Faith, is one that hath no Root to g\.\'e itfapand verdure. Faith 
 is as the mcafiin^y and Works are the ^jf/r^j^fj^ of the mind. Faith 
 is the pin that fajlens the Soul to the Chariot of Eternity , while 
 works arc as the Harnefs and the 7>4/'//a'^/ whereby it is drawn along, 
 and without which all her operations elfc are ufelefs. Works with- 
 out Faith are like a Salamander without Fire, or a Fifb without iva- 
 ter-j The Element which they fhouldlive in , is not there : and 
 though there may fecm to be fome quick ASiions of life and fymp- 
 tonas oi Agility :^ Yet they are indeed but fore-runners of their end, 
 and the very prefages of Di*-*//^. Faith again without works is like 
 a 'Bird without w/'/ag/ , who though (lie may hop with her Compa- 
 nions here upon Earth, yetif ftie lives till the Worlds end, flice'l 
 hardly esex jly to Heaven ^ becaufe llie wants her Feathers. But 
 when both arc join'd together, then does the foul mount to the Hill 
 oi eternal refi. Thcfe conjoin'd can bravely raifo licr to her higheft 
 Zenith ; and by a Noble Elevatim fix her there for ever j taking avv.iy 
 both the w/7/ that did betray her, and the /"#"/'//./>' thac might. Tlic 
 former witliout the X^txexf^^icW cozenage -^ the Ull, without the (oi- 
 mer, is meet Hypocrific ; together, the excellency oi Religion. Faith 
 is t\\cT{ock y while every good aftion is as a (tone- laid. One is the 
 Foundation y the other is the Structure. The foundation without the 
 walls is oijlcnder value: The building without the Ba^is cannot 
 ftand. They arc fo infeparable, as their coniunclion makes them good: 
 whofoever docs believe InQoA aright, believes him to be a RewarA 
 deroi goody a God that requires what is j///? and equ.xly that laves, 
 to fnagnife\\\\\i(c\i\[\ his mercy, in his doing good to liis Creatures, 
 and in his infinite zwii unbounded Beneficence , And that he is a puni- 
 (her of evil, a detelter of /^jw/Z/f^" , yet one that delights not in af- 
 flifting to tticir Torrm-nt il,e works of his hands. Therefore luch 
 as would pcrfwadc us thefe believe , and pra6lifc the Contrary oil 
 thcfe ; thefe Chriftians are of fuch a New Edition as nothing ot them ; 
 can be found m scripture ox <.yi»tiquity. They arc \>^tinjidel-Ch:ijli-\ 
 
 I ins , whofc Faith and works are at war againft each other. Faith that !
 
 2^^ 4 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 f{ E S L V E S. 
 
 is right, can no more forbear good works, than can the Sun to l"hed a- 
 broad his gtoriofu heams j or a Body of perfumes to difpcrfc ^ grate- 
 ful odor : Works may be withoat Faith, they may rife from other 
 ends, and 'tis no news to fee //)^9cr;7?<? decking her fclf with thcyj-/;*- 
 ges and /fwr/j of the trueji Religion. But faith will not be fatisfied, if 
 Hie have not works attending her. A SoUfidean-Chrifiian is a Ntdlijide- 
 An-Faga»^ and confutes his r(7»^»(f with his /ja»d. Iwifl firft labour 
 for 2 good Fouadatioff, faving Faith : And equally will I feck iozjircng 
 wdls^ good works. For as man judgcth the Houfe by the Edijice\ 
 more than hy the Feuftdarion : fo not according to his f4//;&, but ac- 
 cording to his Works, fhall God judge man : Nor is it unworthy of 
 our OlpfervatioK ^'Xhzz when Saint y^wfj parallels faitk and rvorks 
 to the l^ody and Soul ; He compares Faith but to the 'JBodjf, while works 
 he likens to the 5(3///, that gives it motion, life, and animation. I fhall 
 forbear to make ti^c Inference, but leave it to the Readers f0i'er C«nfi- 
 deratien. Sec James the z.%6. 
 
 XLVIII. 
 Of the danger of a fruitlefi Hurer, 
 
 T Hough Preaching in it's elscutive part be but the conception of 
 Man, and differs as xh^gifts and abilities oivacn give it luftre 
 or dcpreffion ; and many Hearers tor their knowledg are able to in- 
 Jlrtiii their 'ieachers : Yet, as it puts us in mind of our duties, that 
 may perhaps be out of our thoughts ;znd as it is the Ordinance of God, 
 and may quicken and enliven our Converfation , wcoweit both our 
 Reverence and Attention. And though we may think our educatioa and 
 tarts have fetus in a higher form than it hath done him that does af- 
 cend the Pulpit ; yet without a derogation to our own Endowments (as 
 in other Arts fo in that of Di-vinity) 'we may well conceive, He that 
 makes it his trade and calling flwuld better underftand it, and is like- 
 ly to be more perfect in it, than he that hath inffeCiicn therein but by 
 the byiwdiohvioHjly. Arts, perfeft arc by exercife and indujlry. As 
 man is born a childyind does by tendence and improving time,creep up 
 to full Maturity ; So Arts at firft are infant-things, tilljf/<^, andtgarnifit, 
 they burnifliout in perfecliox. Even in matter of fad:; they have ea- 
 fier &nd nearer w^/^j to do things , who with afliduity and pra£lice 
 are ftill intent upon them j than can by thofe be thought on, that are 
 Jlrangers to the profeffion. And thcfe Confiderations may certainly con- 
 tent us to hear fometimes the meaner-parted preach. The Apoftic 
 allows it the foolillinefs of preaching , yet it was the way that peopled 
 all the world with Chriftianity. It bruifed the y?4*f^ Philofpher, and 
 brought the wilful Pagan oH irom n\\ his idols. It topp'd the foaring 
 Eagle with tlie crcjfe , and bowed the loftjf Conquerour to his knee 
 and Tears. And, what know wc but fometimes our Corruptions may 
 
 be
 
 ?? E S L F E S, 
 
 be Jcc out by a puor brafs pin, as vvcJl as by che dextrous handzhu 
 guides a filver Laimcc(}HQ chat is our fpiritual Pbyficmn is no: canfin'd 
 to any certain inftrumenc chat he will ulc to cure us with. And if we out 
 of Copper^ Lead^oi Pewter-preaching , can cxcrad pure Gold y 1 take 
 'cis no impeachment to our vfije Philosophy. Surely chey are not right, 
 that becaufe they can not hear fuch as they would^will therefore come 
 At none. 1 will ^f^r a good one, iflf^^j but rather ^f^r an f^/z? one 
 than not to hear at all. He al/a»defis his cure, thatrcfufes to come 
 at his Cbirurgion. 
 
 That Cloth can never be pvhitexhii lies where (j/^ivj do never fall 
 upon it. lobfcrve chofc that leave the Ohm cu-ajfemb lies (fo they be 
 not Heretical) do grow a: hfl to leave Religion too. The Righteous 
 man, hy the unwifc anions of others, does grow wifer. Even out of 
 rveaknefs he can gather y?/f»^//'. Now the great King of Heaven en- 
 tcrtains not fools for his followers : If they be not wife before they 
 come , yet they arc wife in coming ; and then, for that, he makes them 
 fo for ever after. 'Tis a prerogative belongs to his Servants ; thofc 
 that pay him their obedience , he does reward with mfdome and Vn- 
 derflandingM was by keeping his Commandements that Davids rvifedome 
 did exceed his 7V4f/;^r/. He that hath wifedome to he truly Religious , 
 cannot be condemnedly a Fool. Every precept oi chrijiianity, isa Maxmi 
 oi prof eundefi prudence. 'Tis the Gofpels work to reduce man to the 
 
 principli's o'i \\is fir ft Creation \ that is, cobc both^o<)^and Jv/'/f. Our 
 Ancejlors it fccms were clear ofchis Opinion. He tliac vJispious andjw/? 
 was iCQ\.or\cA\rightCDUs Man. Godli/iefs ind Inte^jity wxs ca.\\\\ and 
 coi\mcd Righteouf»efs. And in their old Saxon Sngl/fh, Righteous w/is 
 Rightwife, and Righteouf/jefswas originally Right-wtjenefs. 'Tis the fear 
 of God that is the beginning of {■Vifi'dome : And all that feek it have a 
 
 \gco.l under jlandwg. It is lo be prcfum'dj the Mcichant that fold all 
 to buy the /'C4;-/, was z^^eWiVife z,% Rich. Thofc chcrciore that with- 
 draw {xoi\\\X\e means altogether, (which, in ordinary, is preaching) 
 
 .or are lo ig livers undtric uaprofitably, by degrees grow y/MArofri to 
 
 I ir, and difake ic. 'Tis MApho/ifm in Phyfick , That tliey wuo in 
 the bcgni::ing of difcafts eat much and mend not , fall at lall to a 
 general loathtng of Food. The oMoral is as true in Divinity. He 
 that hath a fick Conjcicnce and lives a Hearer under z fruitful Mi- 
 niftry , if he grows not {'ound he will learn co defpife the n'ord. VVhcn 
 /<io^ converts not into Nourifijmef.t , 'twill not be long belore 
 the Body languijheth. Bleiimgs ncgicfted in the Fun do troep in 
 cuifcs in the Rear and fennel; but, when contemned, Vengeance. 
 Who ncgleds \\\e good he may have, fliall find the evil that he 
 would rfw^a. jurtly he fits in darknefs , that would not light his 74- 
 /■fr when the Tire burn'd clearly. Offers oi Mercy (Icightcd , prepare 
 the wayiorjudo^mrnts. VVcdccp^-r charge our IcKcs. Yet a:e wc 
 more uncapabU ot clc aring our accounts. He that needs Counfeli\]d will 
 not daign to lend a l/flning ear , delUnes himfelt to mifery,and is the 
 willin^i Author of his own fad woe. Continue at a llav we cannot: 
 
 (corruption 
 
 255 
 
 Cent. IL
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 ^ E S L F E S. 
 
 Corruption neither mends itfclf, nor leaves to be fo till it bring de- 
 (Iruftion. The fire followed Lots negleftcd freachiftg.Cxpernanm's 
 fate was heavyer for her miracles. Dcfperate is his cftacc, that 
 hates the thing fhould help him. If ever you fee a iroroning man 
 rclufe help, conclude him a veilful Murtherer. When God offers more 
 than hec's oblig'd to, we ought by all the waies we can to meet {oglo- 
 riom dMenmho the burying of fuchTreafurcs, there belongs a C»r/f; 
 To their mifpending, Tnni^mtnt and dnfufion. 
 
 XLIX. 
 Of Soliturhiefs and Com j^ anion fhl^, 
 
 THe Bat and the Orvl are both Reclafes : Yet they are not coun- 
 ted in the Number of the wifeft Birds. Retirement from the 
 world is propereft when it is in a Temfeft : but if it fhall be in our 
 power to a)lAy it, wc ought even then to immerje our private in , 
 \\\t ptblique fjfety. He may indeed htrvife tohimfelf, that can flccp 
 away a/?(»rw in a Cahb'me. 'Tis a kind o'ihoNcfi cheating of an Agues 
 fit, by "li^pcfd. Mod men will define to be /'wz/ci;/ when Li^ht»i^g and 
 Thunder fiy znd rowl abroad. Otherwife, for amanto/«r» flicl-fifn 
 and crawl but in his own dark hou^e, flicws him but a dull and earthjf 
 thing. They are "Sm/?/ of /J^/'/w, or of cxtrcam timidity, that hide 
 chc mfclvcs in liens, and lurk out day in Thickets. Whereas thofc that 
 are Cr(f,'Z/«r(rJo^fervice are tame,jociMe, and do not fly from Comfviy: 
 1 deny not but a man may be good in %e tir erne fit \ efpccially when 
 the World io fwarms with Vice, One wouli not trxvail but upon Ne- 
 cejjtty, when he muft be cither wetted wit!i tlic rain o[ (lander, or bat- 
 tcr'd with the hail of Injury. It were too great uncharitablencfs to 
 condemn in general all tiic Monafiiq/tes t\\it have cloylter'd up f|-cin- 
 ftlvcs from the World : Nor ii'.Jced arc they purely to be reckoi.'d 
 aaioi g fuch as arc fliut out from Commerce : They arc not alone that 
 iuve liooks and Company wiil.'m thc'i: own f J 'alls. He is properly and 
 p/ttiedly to be counted alone that is illiterate, and una^ively lives. 
 hamletted income untr.vvairdvjUageoi the duller C'/z^/'r^. Ycrwcfee 
 in the general election ot men, a Companionable Life is prcierr'd before 
 rhofe Cf/jthat gi\C themr/fp and Leifure. It is not one of miliious 
 th?.t Habits himfclf for a Monk out ot choice and natural liking ; 
 aid if wc look at thofc that do it , upanan eafie ycr«m/j' , we fliall 
 iind 'tis not fo much Elccfion , that bath bowed them againft the 
 ^raini\\cy grev to: Either rvunt or fexation, crejfes oz contingenc'es, 
 ]"cnd them unto places Nature never meant them born unto. The 
 Soul o; Man is as well Aclivc, is ContempUtive. The Divine iV^- 
 ?«rf rcfls not only in i\\i: fpeculation ot his great Creations : But is cvgr 1 
 bufie in preferring, in ordering, in governing and difpejing by pro- 
 vidence the various and infinite ^.^fjairs of the tvorld. For man to 
 
 , give
 
 1{ES0LVES. 
 
 give himfcit loeafe qnd MJelefs leifure, is to contraft a rtifi by lying 
 itill : To be becalm d is vvoric, than foinctimcs tofling with a fiirrinq 
 gate. Certain]y,an operative reji is acceptable to a mansy^'^ancl otherr. 
 But, an incifcdual lazmefs is the fcminary both of rice and Infamy : 
 It clouds the metal'd «iz/W, it mirts the rvity and choaks up all the 
 Sciences : and, at laft, trafmits a man to the darknefs and ebUziioa of 
 the grave. \A'hcn Domifian was 4/<7»(?, he catch'd but F/ies. But, o! 
 Align ftus (a wife and prudent Prince) we have it recorded that he Jlepf 
 but ////A", and was (o far from loving to be aUne.) that he had a/fer- 
 nate watchers to difcourfe liim in the night when he wikcd. Was nor 
 Scipio more glorious, fighting in Jfr/ca, than Servilius yacia flf cping 
 in his noifelefs Countrcy ? Certainly, the /ncuU»reoUhcfror/d would 
 perilli it into a mlderncfs^ fliould not the aciivenefs of Commerce 
 make it an univcrfal City. Solitude indeed may keep a mind in temper-) 
 as not being tempted with the frequencies of rice^ or, the fplcndour 
 of iVealth and Creatnefs. And 'tis true, the with-drawn from fociety, 
 may have more leifure to ftudy Virtue .^ and to think on Heaven. But, ' 
 when Manfhall be ovcr-fwayed by the pondure of his own corrupti- 
 ons, may not time adminifter thoughts that are evil^ alloon as thofe 
 that he good 1 The caution furc was feafonable, that cleanthes gave 
 to him, that he found /j/flw, and talking to himfelf: Take heed {{z^% 
 he) you f^eak not veith an evil man. No man hath commended Timon^ 
 for that he hated company. He may laugh alone^zvA that, bccaufe he is 
 alone : Eur, it hath not fo plcafd others, as that they have approv'd 
 on't. And having at his death left this his own mad Epitaph, you will 
 not think him mended by his Jolitude. 
 
 Hie [um po/l vitam mifi;ramque inopemque fepultui ; 
 Momcn non qitxra^ ; Dii, Leclor, te maleperdant. 
 
 Life wretched, poor : this Earth doth now furround mc. 
 Nc'rc ask my Name : Reader, The Gods confound thee. 
 
 There is this to be faid againft [olitude ; Temptations may approach 
 mor-c freely to him that is alone., and be that thus is tempted, may more 
 freely fin. He hath not the benefit ot a ompanion that may give him 
 check., or by his presence loofe him from orf the hook he hanfis upon. 
 Whereas in cernp^ny^ if a man will do^i^'W, \\(ii\\a.\\hcincourag'd-^ if 
 had, he may be hindred. V\'e are not (are the Serpent had prcvaild up- 
 on Eve, if he had not catch'd her alone, and ffragling from her fJuf. 
 band. A man had need be a great maffer ol'his affeiiiens., that will live 
 feqncflrcd Irom the world and company. Neither Fools nor Madmen arc 
 ever to be left to themfclvcs. And albeit, a man may upon retiredncj) 
 make good ufc of his leifure: yet, furely, thofe that being abrcai 
 communicate a general g^ood., do purchalc to thcmlllves a nobler 
 Palm, than can grow up out of private recefs. If a man ]»c good, he 
 ought not to obfcure himfelf. The world hach a fliare in him,as well as 
 he in himll^". He robs his Friends and Coimtrey, that, being of ufe to 
 
 L 1 both 
 
 CENt. II
 
 258 
 
 Cent. 1I» 
 
 ^K 
 
 E S LV E S. 
 
 both, Ao^hjlesl himfelf out of the vporld. And if he be bad,\\Q will hard- 
 ly mend by being aloae. The Mafiiff grows xx\ox& fierce by being ^nt 
 up, oityed; and H(?r/^i grow more wi/^ by their not feeing comfany. 
 That A^or hath too xiiuch trouble, that is never otT the Stage j and he's 
 as' little iZfrf/'/^/'/^, that does never quit the tinng-roont. But he that 
 can help, when need requires, in the Senate^ or the Field-^ and, when 
 he hath leifure^ can make a happy «/^ on't,and give himfelf iiuployment 
 to b^isbenefit ; hath doubtlefS;,.the grcatcft plcafurc, and husbands his 
 life to the beft pf ufes. For, by being abroad^ he fuifcrs others to reaf 
 the advantage of his /'4r^jand/'/>/7;And,by looking fomcLimes inward^ 
 he enjoys lllmfeJf With eafe and contentment. 
 
 L. 
 
 Of the ufe of (Pleafure. 
 
 WHo adaures not the wifdom of Demojlhenes^ in the anfwcr he 
 returned to i\\c Corinthian LaU : Pcenitere tanti non emo. He 
 would not buy Repentance at fo dear a rate ? Surely, Pleasure is lawful, 
 and God at firft did ordain it for ufc : and if we take it as ic was at firft 
 provided for us, we take it without lifting. But, when in the meafure 
 or the manner we exceed, we pollute the purer Jireams, or tlk, like 
 Beafts in heat-^ we drink to our defirHotion ; and the beft we can expcd, 
 is, ckhcv to he fie L'l ot: votnit. Andif it be but 'r'i7w////z^, which, like 
 Repentance-, brings n »p again, even that is aficknefs too. All our 
 dijhonefi actons are but earnefis laid down for grief. Vice is an infal 
 lible fore-runner of vpretchednefs : on the belt conditions it brings 
 repentance -y but, wizhont repentance, torment and repentance too. I 
 like thofe fleafitres weW, that are on all fides /fg/Z/'w^/t-^ by the boun- 
 ty oi Heaven: after which no private gripe, nor fancycd Goblin 
 comes to upbraid my fenfe for ufing them : But, fuch as may with 
 equal pleafure be again dream'd over , and not difturb my flccp. 
 This is to take off the parchings of the Summ'er Snn^>^ bathing in ^pure 
 and chriftd Fountain. But, ne chat plunges himfelf in a puddle, does 
 but ingagc himfclt to an after-wajhing to get his filth away : And,who 
 would feafl with that, which he knows will make him fick if he eats 
 it } Unlawful pleafures, though they be a differing Pafs-over from that 
 which Mofes inftituced , yet, they never can be eaten without fower 
 herbs attending them. Like the worfer fort of Mufiiromes, though 
 from the Sulphur of an Earthy mind, they (Ijoot up in a night, and 
 look both vchite and fair to the eye ; yet , give them what gufl 
 you can, there will ^iWavenemous quality ftay with them, to be 
 rid of which, if you but tafie, you muft cither purge, or hepoyfoned. 
 Certainly, the counfcl of the Preacher is the beft rule for all the 
 pleafures we enjoy in this life, Ecclcf. ii. 9- Rejoyce, O young man in 
 thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of youth, and walk 
 in the ways of thine heart, and in the fight of thine eyes : But, know 
 
 that
 
 I^ESOLl/ES, 
 
 that for all the[e things, God will bmig thee to judgement. Which by 
 fomc, 1 find to be taken for (erious, and not an Irony, as moft do inter- 
 pret it : And, I hope, 1 fliall not o.lend, it"! incline to their opinion 
 that fo think it, and for which I fliall prcfunie to give my rcafons. 
 
 Firft, it fuits with feveral places bclore in the fame Book. Ca^.z.io. 
 when Solomon had wiven himfclf a latitude in his dellres : he tells us, 
 Hii heart rejoyccd m all hit labours, and it veai his portion ; nor do we find 
 his youth reprehended tor them, his tailing being rather in his age,than 
 it. And in the 24. vcrfc of the fame Chapter, he fays. There is nothing 
 better for a man,th.tn that he (heuld eat and drink -^and that be (bould make 
 his foul enjoy good in his labour • and this he faw, that it was trom the 
 hand of God. Cap. 5. zz. He perceives that there ts nothing better, 
 than that a man [Jjould rejoyce in his own works-, for that U his portion. 
 Cap. 5.18. he repeats it with a xen\A:V,'Behold that winch I have feen, 
 It is good and comely for one to eat, and to drink, und to enjoy the good of 
 all his labour, that he taketh under the Sun all the days of his life rvhich 
 God giveth htm : for it is his portion. And in Chap. 9. v. 9. he exhorts 
 again to joyful living : and the reafon that he gives for ic,is, Becaiife it is 
 hii portion in this life : So that, one place expounding another, and being 
 alike, either all ma^ be thought Iro.ucal,or none. The former places 1 
 find not fo interpreted by any, and this by fomc,otherwHc, that is,to be 
 ferious ; as if he fliould fay, Rejoyce and cheer thy felt in all chat God 
 gives thee tor /'/^4/«r£' J but,yct doit with that »W<'/-ij^/«'», with that 
 prudence., and that rearrantablenefs, that thou mayft be able to give 3ix\ 
 account to thy God, that in bounty hath given them to tliee, whenfoever 
 thou flialt be called to judgment, as doubtlcfs, thou fnalt be for all 
 that palTes thy hand. Suitable to i\'\vs, Loriniu, that cites the feveral In- 
 terpretations of this place, {x^%,Vel amara Ironia contra '•joluptuofHm,vel 
 eft mitiui confilium. Sic hilar): fruatitr prxjentibm boni4, ut meminerit 
 reddendie rationis Deo. Either a Sarcafinus againil: the voluptuous ; or 
 elfe, 'tis a inildcr counfcl, That we fo enjoy the prcfent good, that we 
 may remember to give account to God for ufing it- That we Ihould 
 laxc our fi-lvcs in all the corrupt and millaken pleafures of life, was 
 never liccnfcd by any of the wifer Heathen. Pleafure that impairs our 
 abilities, that brings detriment, or forrow atrerward, v/as laughed at 
 by Epicurus himfelf : but a lawful /'/i?4///;r, lawfully ufed, doubtlefs, is 
 an Emanation oi the goodnefs ot the Deity to Man. 
 
 A fccond Reafon 1 take tobc thisi The whole Book of £cfAy?.t//t';, 
 is a ferious Tract, a kind of Penitential Defcant and judgment given 
 of all that does belong to M.in , a fobcr Colleftion of what his wif- 
 dom iiad obferved trom all thofe varicnis puhs of worldly adairs, that 
 he had trod, in the courfe ot his lite. And in the whole Itream, 1 find 
 not any thing that bears the afped ot being light and Ironical : Some 
 will have it, Solomons Repentance ; and argument the writing of it, to 
 be the proof of liis Salvation,x$ it,btingdarkned withfmoke and black- 
 ncfs, while he wandred and tumbled lupleafure, he now, by the ligiit 
 of Divine Grace, faw through thofc clouds that did before enwrap 
 
 Liz liim, 
 
 ^^9 
 
 Cent. II
 
 i6o 
 
 Cent. 11. 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 him, and wind him off from that^^rcatw/pfff/w that at firft was given 
 him. And fure, if this Text be Ironical, it differs from the fcope of all ; 
 the Text befide, there being not one place more, that I find to be com- j 
 mcnted with the like fcnfe. ! 
 
 A third Rcafon is. That God would never have inftindled the appc- , 
 tition oifleafurc, and the faculties of enjoying it, fo ftrongly in the { 
 conipofure of Man, if he had not meant, that iw decency he fliouldl 
 make ufe of them : Moft »AtHrd*liions in themfelves, are not unUrv- 
 ftdy but as they arc circumfcnb'd and hedg'd about by circumftancc. 
 The Apoftle fays, All things rvere lawful for him, but all things rvere not 
 exfedient : That is, all things that in themfelves were purely as natu- 
 ral a£is, and weremecrly Adia^hora^ inditferent, wtxiX^ti good nor had in 
 themfelves,but as they were attended by other adventitions,that fall in 
 with their ufc.Thcfe in themfelves were larvfuljhut being chafed about, 
 and pounc'd with the fettings off, and powdcrings of^» , they were 
 x\o\. expedient for him. And this he feems to explain in the laft part of 
 the verfe, iCor.d.iz. All things are law ful for me -^ huty Imllnothe 
 brought under the povper of any ; That is, All the a£ls of men as natural, 
 are lanful i'or mc to do : But, feeing there is fo much corruption ad- 
 hereing to their ufe,bv my exceeding the meafure^miftaking the man- 
 ner,mifplacing, or mif timing them (In any of which, if I err the leaftji 
 1 come under the guilt and bondage of them) : Therefore ,though they 
 he lawful for me in themfelves : yet, I hold them, if circumftanc'd 
 amifs, not to he expedient for me ; nor will I put my fcif under the 
 power of any ^ that is, to be condemned for them, when I lliall be cal- 
 led to account for //^.«!^ them, ^isncither a/w, to be honcftly rich-^ 
 nor a vice, chaltly to enjov the Rites of Marriage. Unlicenfcd/'/r4/«;rj', 
 are thofe that leave afmart. The drinking rvater fometimcs is a Julip ; 
 but to take it in a Fever, is deJiruBive. 
 
 A fourth Reafon is. From the feveral varieties of delight and compku. 
 cency, which God created in the world : which fu rely, he would not} 
 have done ; if it wholly had been iinlavrful iov man to ufe them. All the 
 feveral ta/les o{ food, were meant lo plea fe the palate, as well as mcerly ' 
 to content our hunger. Ot all the Fruits and beauties plac'd in Paradife, ! 
 there was but one Tree only that was then forbidden him. If God had, 
 not intended deHght,zs well as bare fupply ; furejone kind only, might 
 in every fenfc, have terminated appetite. 
 
 I conceive therefore, I lliall not be far from Truth, If I think with 
 Solomon, for man to enjoy himfelf in thofe felicities oi mind and body, 
 (which God out of his Immcnfe Liberality hath given him), be his 
 portion. Only we ought fo to ufe them, as we may not be inthralled in 
 thQiv guilt ; but, may be able to acquit our felves upon account for 
 ufing them. Though queftionlefs, it 5o/^wc»,who had a particular fpi- 
 rit, and a far larger mcafure of wifdom given him,than we can ere pre- 
 tend to, or promifc to our felves , could not efcape being foyled by 
 them ; we ought much more to beware in their ufe. A wife man will 
 not venture on that for a little prefcnt pleafure,'^\\\Q\\ muft involve him 
 
 into
 
 I 
 
 \E S L V E S. 
 
 
 into future danger ; no way compenfable by the l"hort delight he takes. 
 Whatever we do, we oughc before we aft, to examine the fequel : If 
 that be clear, the prcfent enjoyment will be eafe and c«»teftt. But, to 
 rufli inconfiderately uipon pleafurey that mull end in ftdnefs , futes not 
 with the prudence we ought to be indued withal. 'Tis a folly of a big- 
 ger bulk than ordinary, that makes a man over-rate bis pkafure , and 
 nndtt-^ilut his fexat/ofi. They arc Beafts, that will be catch'd in a 
 f>fare by their appetite. I will endeavour to be content , to n>a;it that 
 willingly i which I cannot enjoy without a future diftate. 
 
 x6i 
 
 Cemt. II. 
 
 LI. 
 
 Of Ubtliing. 
 
 ITfeems rice is (o naturally A^f^^of all,that every mans finger itches 
 to be giving of it a hlow. So though they be tyed up by Fetr , by 
 Power i and 'Ke flections upon their own particular interefl , while the 
 offender keeps in Command^ and hath the Vafcei at his difpofe i yet, as 
 loon as ever he is uncollcr'd from thefc chains,or the latter be laid by, 
 and the hand oipreteciiM taken off: As at a Fox that is courfcd through 
 a ftrcct5every thing that can but bark^\N[\\ be opening upon him : And 
 though they never loft a Lamb themfclves, or had a feather of their 
 Poultry ruHied, yet,like whelps fet on by the bawling of others,they are 
 as fierce againft them, asiftheiriF4w///whad been ruin'd by them: 
 when, it may be, all that they charge him with, is, that he hath merited 
 more ihw others ; or, out of duty, hath become the skreen for keeping 
 off the vulgar heats from fcorching of his Prince or Patron. Indeed 'tis 
 hard in changes to efcapc the flying Pafquil. And 'tis as hard to avoid 
 ■xchange. For the Humours of men arc variable ; and Difpleafitre., as of- 
 ten rifcs out of pjiHcy, as u^ouju/lcaufe. And though a man by all the 
 Innocence, 1 e can mufler up in his whole Life, cannot promifc himfclf 
 to be ever out of the reach of this vpinged Dragon:Ycx^\.\\Qxc is no doubt, 
 but z prudent integrity is the rcadiclf way to it. virtue does but rarely 
 bear thofe (Iroxks that arc due to the back of Fice. The I'urics fel- 
 dom lafli k^mgutltyjouls. Fur the moll part, tb.ey nxc dunghils whc:c 
 thefc Scarabces do both breed and light. An infamous life makes 
 work for a ganlifigpen. Yer,a Libeller^ is but the beadle of Fatne ; or the 
 iron tl;at brands liim tor his rice^ and Roguery : and though he writes 
 Truth, he hach bat an Executioners office^ and alter the man is condemn- 
 ed-y is but the //l^w^-w^wj^ipy/t to drag him to the Cemoni^. Libels are 
 ulually conipofeii of the deepefl,and the blueflgall ; being like fire pent, 
 whcntliey get a vent, tiicy break forth far mure eagerly; than being 
 regiflred bv lYxipen and print, like ftrokes in O//, they hardly arc wafli't 
 ott, with inc.- ^r^rf.i/'i?/? and mtiiVpainful r//^/-///^ you can ufe. Like the 
 Frf«f/; Tw^^i/i", it you let fhcni live, they /?//7^ ; if you kill them, yet 
 Awyflink. .You may heal tlie/wr, but not &n:fcar : And though per- 
 I ■' ...haps
 
 i6i 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 ^ESOLFES. 
 
 haps there may be rvit infome of them;yet,ts that put off with fomuch 
 Spleen and Cowardize, that duly examin'd, they ever-/ha^ow a\\ ■ the 
 jfhine that's in them. The rvifer Gover»me»tshive ever been fevere a- 
 'gainft them. 'L'i^^/^w tells us of a Law, that makes the Pcrfon convidtof 
 libelling to be IntefiMis j that is, he lliall neither be capable of making 
 a m]l hinifclf, or of being witnefs of any made by others. And Tacit m 
 relates, that L'tbelling (by Aitgujifn) was brought within the compafs of 
 the Law againft Treafin. Certainly, 'tis an ungenerous thing, lo puhliflj 
 that to 4//,that we dare not own to any : 'Tis an unnoble Corvardice^thit 
 ftrikes a man in the dark^ and like a Serpent bites him by the heel, and 
 then glides into his hole, for want oi courage to abet his *£lktjs: Be it 
 true,or falfc,noman gets reputation by compofing a Libel; for it tends 
 lodifgrace, enkindles /w4//cf, ufliers in y<f^'f/z^^, and difclofcth /^/e-^/?. 
 The moft generous, I obferve, are the leaft concerned at them. Why 
 fliould any man keep himfclf ^w^/'^that he may hear thcfe Night-Birds 
 calif. It t$ not for a wile man to be troubled at that, which no body living 
 will own. A Libel.) is Filitu Pofuli, that having no certain father, ought 
 not to inherit belief. As 'tis hard, to find any man free from all that may 
 merit reproef; fo, 'tis aseafie,in the bcft,to find fomething that we may 
 reprehend. Yet, Cure I am, cA<«r/>;' will rather abate the J^or^, than in- 
 flame the r^-f/lrow*^. He that Libels^ tranfgrcires againft the common 
 rule of Morality and Religion : he does not do, as he would be done by. 
 We ought rather to bemone the unfortunate, than unworthily to infult 
 againft him, that is not now in 2i condition for his own vindicatioM. 'Tis 
 a difpofition quite «wAr//?/rf», that we ftiewinfiich^4^/ic7/^/?j, being 
 wholly contrary to that intermutual amity z.\\<^ friendlmefs that fliould 
 be in the vporld. We rcjoyce in others crojfes^as it they were bleffings to 
 us. And 'tis all one, as if we werefo prepoftcroU5,as tebe dancing and 
 frolick at Funerals. If men were heavenly., they would be enkindled 
 with a warming fire o{love and charity to eondcle dyfafters, or offences; 
 if but humane, yet Nature, never meant to Man a mind fo cruel, as to 
 add vpeight to an over-charged beam.Wc that falls into zfublick dijgrace, 
 hath enough to bear of his own, there will be no need of anothers hand 
 io loadY\{m. ^o envenom a Name by Libels , that already is openly 
 tainted, is to add/iripes with an Iron rod, to liim who before is broke, 
 oxfieyd with whipping : and is, fure, in a mind well tcmper'd, look'd 
 upon with dtfdain and ablwrency. 
 
 LI I. 
 
 Of Jppdrei 
 
 T Hough we hear not of it,till/» fent Afan to fcek for'c : yct,fincc 
 it is Si covering for (hame, there is fomething of decency in it , it 
 being begot like good Laws out of evil and ctrrufted Manners j and 
 furely
 
 1{ E S L 1/ E S. 
 
 furely, righdy conlidered, wc tl-tercby do declare our ^«///, and the 
 {lender ejieem rhat is to be fc: upon us, when wc chule rather to ap- 
 pear in the fpoils and excretions ot other infcriour creatures, than to 
 ilicw our limbs and parts as Nature liath bcftow'd and lurniflic them. 
 It may, indeed, be thought a modefty in Nature, to cover thofcexcre- 
 mcntivc parts, which, left umcverd.^ perhaps might orfer offence. In 
 Birds^ they are wholly C(Jw,?iiW by their /f/^fi^/, in Sftf/^i-, by ^t tail 
 they are produced with. 'Tis generally fuppofed, it y^a'.w/ hadnot/^/^, 
 he had had no need of Garments : iiis Innocence was his clothing ^ and 
 iox ctveringoiVi'^jJjatne, he then, indeed, had needed none. But, why 
 Man (indued with loniany Prerogatives ^ above all other Creatures) 
 fliould be expyfcd to more inconveniences than any that were elfe 
 in the world; either we muft think him worfe provided for by his 
 Maker^ or clfc, that P^tradife tliould have ever been in fuch a Co*- 
 lefiial ferenitj^ that there would have been no need ot any thing to 
 defend him aorainft the hard and fliarp, the heat and cold, of the 
 /4tr and changing Seafin. It is not probable, when all Creatures elfe 
 have cither shels^oi Scaks,Hair^ wool, or jF«r, or fomc kind or o:her 
 of Natural Tegument to guard them againft outward injuries, that 
 Alan alone without a fence fliould be cxpofcd naked to all thofe ad- 
 ventitiout affaults that are incident, to gall and vex fuch weaknefs. As 
 it is my belief, that Manw^s created mortal before he Jinned ; ,fo, 1 
 could incline to believe,hc might have come to C7<z^«»<?»/;, although he 
 hid not fain. It's true, it was atter his/i//, but before he was turn'd 
 out of Paradife,ihsit he made himfelt his Fig-leaf-Circumplexton: which, 
 being rough and fretting, was but a kind of gentler Curruombe. And 
 whether lighted on by accident, as next and rtadicft ; or, taken for a 
 a prcfcnt necelllty, not knowing better ; or, defign'd fo out ot choice, 
 as a Hair-(birt lopennance him tor his folly in offending^ I fliall not dif- 
 pute : but, furely, God himfclf faw that io uneafic and unfitting, 
 ihatout outot pitty toh\s crreature, he put him uito/'c///, agciuler, 
 eaiicr, more foft and pliable, more durable,morc warm,and more de- 
 feniive clothing than that his own nerv-wretchednefs had lighted on. 
 Lucretius would have us think, it was after fome craft of time, that he 
 arrived at his clothing in sktfis : but the Text is a tci\imoiiy a'^ainll 
 him. Though it ma'y be from Adam's htdtng hinifelt amor.g the Trees 
 of thz Garden, he aught be glimpfcd to relate, as wc find in the Poem 
 ot his 5". Eptcuri. 
 
 Nee dum res igni fcihant traclare^ neque nti jL 
 
 Pellihtis, cr Ipoliis corpus veflire (erarum ; • ' 
 
 Sed NcMora^ato^ue cxvos A-fontcs^ fylvaj'quc colcbant, 
 Et fruticcs inter condebant Jqualida membra., 
 Verberx ventorum vitare, imbre^qnc coaUi. 
 
 When fird men knew not how to vcork with Fire, 
 Nor in Hcajis skins, ox Jpoils themfelves t' atttre ; 
 For troods and Groves, and hollow Rocks th' inquire 
 
 25^ 
 
 Cent. II 
 
 And
 
 2^4 
 
 HjES L V E S. 
 
 Cent. II. And forc'd 'mong kaves, t\\dx jluttijh limbs they 'ftow, 
 
 lVV^^u T' avoid the rAtn, and raging vpinds that blow. 
 
 Certain it is; Mans own invention, went but to the Fig-tree- liaves : 
 perhaps, his ixd\\-\)(imigNorance could not on the fodain find out o- 
 ther: Or, having found fo fad an effcft of tranfgrefling one Commandjht 
 durft not prcfently rufh upon the -vioUtien of an other. His limit for 
 iiet was,to Fruits and Herbs. Not being commifiion'd to feed on Fle(h-y 
 he could not come at thc/^t//;, till his companionate //4;&^r licens'd 
 him to kill the f ^rf ^/e for the f^/i? alone. For, we do not find in the 
 Text, that he had any commifTion to eatp[h^ till after the world had 
 been rvajht with the Floud. But, to wear Apparel-, we find it natural ; 
 there being no Nation, or People, fo deeply lavage, but, that their ve- 
 renda at Icaft, have becnyZ'.^^if.afby them. Nor can, in rearon,thc great- 
 el^ Critick, complain, of Providence, for fending man naked into the 
 world : For, feeing he was Lord of all, and had wit to make ufe of 
 all, there was no need of inducing him <:/i!'//6<'<^ upon the Stage of the 
 World, as other creatures, who had no ;«^///(>' -to help themfelvcs, 
 beyond thofe Feils that Primitive Nature op z them. The Vniverfe to 
 A4an, was a larger fnrnt[ytjhop ; every fit material was hhjlujfe and 
 m>/;/»/;?^,produc'd and hid before him for his Garment. He was only 
 left to be his own poor Taylor,:o make them up and drefs himfclf as he 
 thought mofl convenient : And therefore, Fafjton, which is left at li- 
 berty; among wife men is not CO be tax'd, unlefsit he inconvenient , 
 or ridiculous. Every mzns palate may as well be confin'd to one kind 
 o^ Cookery, as his fancy pcgg'd up to one kind o^fa/hisn. It is not only 
 kwful for a man to vary, but even to plcafc himfelf in that variety,' 
 fince in it felt one is as lawful as the other;a little skirt is as legitimate I 
 as a great one; and comparatively, is colour, ore is not worfc than I 
 another . The Athenian Atigiflrate reproved Crates, for wearing a fine ' 
 linen Garment, who to julTihe himfclf, told him, he could lliew i 
 him that great Philofophcr Tbeophraftt^s cUthed'm the fame ; and, to | 
 prove ir, carries him to the Barbers, where Thecphraftus face to bci 
 crimm'd with the like cluth cart about him : Ncrv (fays \\€)yotffce how 
 impertinently Scrupulous you are ; for , rvere it ill in it felf, it rvere j 
 not in Jhops to be ufed. The fober Scipio was ftatued in the Capi- 
 tol in an Exotiquc Habit: And Sylla being Empercur , confin'd not 
 always to the Roman Gravity. \\c read , how God himfelf com- 
 manded lus High-Pricfts Garments, that they l"hould be glorious and 
 bea»ti/ul,not only rich in7?«^,and curious in veorkmanfljip^^i orient in 
 celours, and refulgent with Jewels. And whether by this, it wercl 
 learned from the J^jvj, or, was naturally fcedcd among the Jf<f4//;i'», ! 
 fure it is,their Triejls and Flamens were more rcfplendent in their robes, | 
 than others of a larger cenfc : which may ledon us to this, That even 
 
 CO Heaven it fclf, good clothes are not difplcafing. \Vc find notj 
 ault with the Peacock^ s (hining train, though other 5/r«^/ be not fo 
 
 gay as he. As a Saddle and Trappings to a Horfe, is Apparel to a Alan j i 
 
 choush ■
 
 \ E S L V E S, 
 
 i6% 
 
 hough abadge oi fervitude, yec withal an OmAtnent : And as a poor Cent. II. 
 one difgraccs a rveli-/Jjaf'd Ceitrjer-i io a rich one is futable to the Tieali ^-^y'XJ 
 that xi/iately and handjeme. Ncvcrthelcls, in ^^pfarel, cfpecially, tor 
 conftant ufe , the Pofitivc is the beft degree : Good is better than the 
 "Beji. He is not right, that is in them cither /'tjor, o\ gaudy -^ the one ar- 
 gues [ordtdnefi^finguUrity-t or Avarice ; tlie other, pride and levity : 
 yet, as the world is, a man lofes not by being rather above his rank, 
 than under it. It is as old as St. James^ That ^gold Rin» and fu///ptu- 
 oui Affarel hid more rcfpcct, than the man that was mcmly arrayed. 
 It we be to fet a ^ewel^ we give it the beft advantage we can think op. ; ' 
 and the w/xfr 'tis, the a^orc care we takcto^r4ff it in the luflre. 
 Though F^/r^«e' be aD/(j«z(7Wfo prctious, that'cis richeji when plain 
 [et-^ yctjwe think not either the cut, or ihcwater^ can male it fparkle 
 too much. Certainly, it is neccllarily convenient, that upon occafion, 
 we be fomctimes braver than ordinary at great Soktnnities ; upon ap- 
 proach to Per fens ot extraordinary Honour , upon caulcs of common 
 Rejoycirngs , and revivifies. Socrates himfelf, wlien he went to a Fea/l , 
 was content to be fmugg'd up andeffenc'd in his Pantophles : And be- ' 
 ing demanded, how he came to be CoJim^Kis anfwer was, Vt Tulcher 
 earn ad Pulchrum ;' That he might 3.p^Q3.r: handjome to thofe that were 
 (o. "ihoiigh J ofeph were fcnt for in haft out ot Prifon , fo as the Text 
 faycs , he was torced to ;«;« j y ei he fhavdfjimfelfy and changed his 
 rayment,hdorc he would appear before Pharaoh. It is an incongruity to 
 mingle Rags and Sili-. Though all be Pearls ; we match not round and 
 orient -iWiiiMhoieiiiitivcdtfcolou/d and uneven. A man ought in his 
 clothes to ftf/^/orzu fomething to thofe that he converfes withj to the 
 cujiom ot the Nation., and the fafljion that is decent and general, to the 
 occafion., and his own condition : For, that is bcilt , that bcl\ 
 fuitcs with ones Calling , and that ran.^ he lives in. And feeing 
 all men arc not Ocdipnjfes to read tlic riddle ot another mans in- 
 Tide; and moftmcn judge by apparencies ; It behoves a man to 
 barter tor a good cftcem even trom his cjotl cs and outllJe. W'e guefs 
 the goodncfsot the pafiure by the mantle that we fee it wears. The 
 bcllique Ce/^r, as 5«f/o«/V« tells us, was no:ed lor (Ingularity in his 
 Appanel, .ind did not content himfelf without adding fDmct'iiing t i his 
 Senators Purple Reb^. If tlicrc were not a 'Decorum and a Latitude 
 according t(» mens ranks, and qualities, what ufe would be o{ (tlk\ 
 and foficr i^nw/z/ ? In vain had T)rian feas tl eir ixeedy purples\ 
 bred. The Ajjyrimi worm fhould w;ift her felt in vain. The coRly lur, ] 
 the tincrflax, would all let go their values, and inflcad of ifwfjf/ be- 
 come a Burthen to t\x full-ltor'd n'orld. Atcil que Garments have 
 dicii proper ult. ThePontique Z^ri/fr and C<i/ii/'m»nW, ir.c bri^b.- 
 tcr Ermine ard tlie darker Sables., find jiilUy rvcarcrs whom they well 
 become. Yet in Jpparcl ., auianly carelefncls is beyond a feminine 
 Art; Toogrcaca tricking tells die W'oild we dvv>.ll too much on 
 outfides. There are three good ufes wc may lavvlully make of o^;- 
 parel , to hidcfjame, to preferve from cold, and to adorn the body; 
 
 M m the
 
 255 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 I jES L V E S. 
 
 tV\e worft taske we can put it to , is to engenier Pride ; when we think ; 
 the Logg is precious, becaufe the bark is AromAtique and terfum'd. i 
 When P^wo»4j:faw the Fool in j9«^-«/'/'<<r<f/, and by rcalbn thereof 
 CO wear as well as it an outward /»/o/f»ff, he hearks him iu the Ear 
 with this; That tine- wrought tvcs/ that you ^Sir) are fo proud of, 
 was worn by a BesLJl before 'xwas worn by you : And yet that Beafi 
 doth 'i!i\\\^bet^fl continue. I do not fee in the general but that the 
 man becomes the ^pparelmhcx than the Jpparehhc man^for fomc are 
 ot fo homely a ^^r4 that no clothing can hide them from the Fofi 
 or Clorvfi : While others give a grace to any thing is cart upon them. 
 And that may Tcttlc us in this Rejo/utio/i, that comely Apparel is bet- 
 rer far than either cojlly ^ o': conceited. He that is phamajiiqne in his 
 clothes hangs them on as a Sign to tell the World that a Puppet dwels 
 within. VVhciiC/i/g«Zi's/'r/^f and/i'//>'rendrcd himfo ridiculom^ that 
 he would cry up himfcif to be fometimes "^upiter^ fometimes Juno, o- 
 therwife Di.tnx, often Ventu ; and fo change his Habit ^ futable to thofe 
 various lliapcs the fabling Poets had beftowcd upon thofe foppilli Dei- 
 ties ; Dion hath this Note upon him, Quidvis potiui quam homo vid'eri 
 cupiens j He had rather fcem any thing than what he was or iliould be, 
 A man. He that will be fingularinhis Apparel had need have fome- 
 thing fuperlative to balance that affe<Sation. As EliMf John the Tap- 
 tijl, and "DionPrufim who had been a ftrange fight appearing mant- 
 led in a Lyons skin-, if his parts had not advanced him to the Chariot of 
 the Emperour Trajan. Commonly that is moft comly that mofl like of, 
 and is liked by ones felt : A man may have Liberty to pleafe his Eamy 
 in his Habit., fo it does not difparage his judgment. 
 
 LIU. 
 
 T/;e good ufe of an Enemy. 
 
 THE Skiltul phypcian, outofnoyfomc plants and poyfonous 
 bcalfs, can fometimes gather and confed his cure for foul dif- 
 eafes. As bryars and thorns, though they be pungent and imtraBable: 
 yet in a fence they hold the Beaft from vcandring into wider danger : 
 fo though an Ewrwy be no way grateful to the common fenfc of Hn- 
 manity, yet furely by the prudent he may be made a A/ithridatei and, 
 as a guard upon our Actions^ to keep them that they flray not beyond 
 Difcretion ind Convenience, It was the opinion of Diogenes -^ That 
 our lite had need of either faithful friend? , or yZi.^r/* and fevere Ene- 
 mies •, And many times our Enemies do us more good than rhofe we | 
 eftccm our friends. For whereas a Friend will often pafs over or-j 
 dinary failings ^wd ontoi Refpecl, Connivence, Relation^ or felfinte-] 
 rejl , fpcak only what fliall be either grateful or not difplcajing. An | 
 Enemy will catch at every Error , and fcts himfelf as a [py upon' 
 all our AclioKs , whereby as by a Tj^wz-Governour we are kept 
 
 impaled 
 
 I
 
 ~^ E S L F E S. 
 
 impaled within the bounds of Virtue and Prudence^ beyond whole li- 
 mits if we dare CO wander, by him we prefcntly are whtft into the 
 cirtk oi Discretion. Like the ^tr^V^w/ of a band in Armies -^ ifwc be 
 outof rank lie checks us again into the /'/4f<r and^<r appointed us. 
 To a tool he is the Bellows oiptijjiort , but to a Wife man he may be 
 made a School-nafter ot Virtue. The grcateft glory Rome did e're ar- 
 rive at, in part did from hct potent Enemtesrtfe. They taaght her all 
 the avtso^fVar mdGoverfimeut', till fhe mounted to a Fame whofe 
 fplendorwas fo bright that like thc5«;* it deaded all the IclTcr fires 
 belorc or fince in the World. Was l"he not beholding to her Ene- 
 mies for all her 350 feveral Triumphs,and in them for her Conquerors 
 impalmed Turfles-^ and their lanreCd Temples in their Turricular Cha- 
 riots } And certainly as licr glory was the highcft , fo thofc Triumphs 
 were the highefl: pieces oi magmjicence and fplendor that the Sun e're 
 gaz'd on. For therein were the Arms, the wealth, the garments, (jems, 
 ^x\dpretious Vtenfils Q^2\\&[Q.ie\cxa\ Nations oii\\Q.£arth-, zx\d-, in Ef- 
 figie, Towers, Cities, Forts, and 'Battatls as they won them. All rarities 
 ot creatures extant through the world. Whole droves of Oxen for 
 the y^//4r drcfs'd wkhguilded Horns, and fiorvrj Garlands ctown'dtmih 
 their Af/w//n in fliiniag Silks, wkh Golden Ve^elsiov then ufe in 54- 
 crijice ; Mufick, Perfumes, Feajls, and thefumm'd up Excellencies of all 
 I that could be thought on ; and (after all thcfe ftatcly fights , and the 
 roab'd Senate coming out to meet them) Kings, Princes, 1)akes , their 
 wives, their Kindred, children, and AQyes, the captiv'dSouldier, and the 
 tam'd CVzw»/4W^rj with hands behind them bound, fadly and (lowly 
 moving to uflier the approach of the Vigor's leifurely proceeding Cha- 
 riot. Certainly, the higheft Virtues, the greateft Fortitude, the Domini- 
 on and Wealth of the VVorld they got by having Enemies. And at lart, 
 with their Enemies, ihe^^ coiiquer'd their own Virtues too : For, no foo- 
 ncr were they freed from thofc, but the eafe and ruft of Teace did 
 Canker all their brightnefs.' Metellus profclfcd he knew not , wi.ether 
 his T/cT/or)' did Rome moxc harm, ox good. And when one was applau- 
 ding i\\Q hai>pinef( and fecurity o{ Rome, hzvin^^arved Greece, and fab 
 diied the Carthaginians ; the wile Scipio conceived her molUn danger , 
 while llic had noncto/r.ir, and keep up in her the growth of Forti- 
 tude, and Diligence. A man with anEnemy,\s like a City beJitged:\\'\{i\Q 
 Hannibal'xs atthe^^4^f, ic is nottor him lobecarelefs and licentious. Vox 
 Enemies [ike R.i'i.ens , though thcy/wf// not theytJwW ; ytt, they can 
 fent corrupted w.j»A?r;j- picfcntly. So, that as Appita Claitdiui obicxvcd 
 ot Rome, and we may find it confirmed in our Ncighhouti of the 
 lower Germar/y , tbiCir Enemies have added to tl.cir Fame and /n- 
 dufiry. From them we often find more truth i\\an fliincs among/^- 
 miliars ; they boldly fpcak their undil^uif'd opinion ; they prevent 
 our riinnin'^ into Vice and Error ; and if any adt, mif-befccming Vir- 
 tue, lliall but unawircs efcapc us, they will be fure to fxnglt it out of 
 che Co/'/'w wherein 'twas lodged, into the open Plain, by every un- 
 der Wood-man, to be helet and ^ot at. So , that if a man by his 
 
 M m X Friends 
 
 Z67 
 
 Cent. II.
 
 i6i 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 "IjES L V E S. 
 
 fr/>»if cannot know wherein he offends ;h.is Enemies in that will put 
 on Frieadfhifs office, and fhew him where he fails. And, fo 1 know 
 the thifigi what matter is it , whether it be IfUvpn me in z petty nvhirl- 
 rvmd , or vehifperd'm a aimer air ? By either, if i plcafe, 1 may take 
 occafion to mend. The Air, wc fee, is cUanfed as oft by ruffling 
 i-vinds : as by the gentle and more graceful raycs of the warming 5«». 
 Nor does an Eaemy only hinder the growth and progrefs of our ri- 
 ces: But he enkindles, exercifes ■, and exalts our Virtues. Onv Pat/, 
 ence is improved by bearing calmly the /W/^wf/^J he rtrivcs to load 
 us with. Our C^^r/^enfiamed by doing gtod for ///, by taking the 
 better handle of his aCtions , by pardoning and forgiving the injuries 
 he does u?. Our Prudence is incrcafcd by wifely managing our felves 
 incur demeanors ^ kW wta.y\y ordered , we give him opportunity to 
 rvmydus. Our Fortitudeis ftrengthcned by a ftout r^/'tli/^g- of fcorns^ 
 and an undaunted courage ihew'd in all our aBions. Our Induftry is 
 ripened and habituated by watching all his O/?-/"^//, and his y^?«f/; 
 and by beft contriving how we may acquit \is\x\ all our contc Rations. 
 And, queftionlefs, fometimes we ought to be thankful for an £«c«!?y. 
 He gives us occafion to flicw the world our Parts, and Piety^ which 
 clfe perhaps in our dark Graves would flccp and moulder with us 
 quire unknown ; or, could not ocherwife well be fcen without the 
 vanity ot a light and an oftentous mind. MiUiades had mifs'd his 
 Trophy, if he had mifs'd an fwwr in the Marathcnian^idds. Hora- 
 •:tns Codes , and Mutim Scavola had never gain'd iuch fame^ by cither 
 oi tuem furmounting the oppofition of an Element, the lall oi Fire, 
 and the firft'of fVater, if they had not both been put to it by the Etru- 
 rian Porfena. And though the Uft line alone ot Martial's Epigram 
 might prove this, yet, bccaufe he hath fo elegantly, in little, limb'd 
 in the Story of the latter, 1 base prcfum'd to give you the whole. 
 
 Dum peteret Regem, decepta Satellite, dextra^ 
 
 Injecit facrisfe pcriturafocps: 
 Sed tarn ^itvapitu mirasula non tulit Hofiis j 
 
 Ft raptnm flAmmis jajjtt abire lirum, 
 Vrere qaampotuit contempto Mutms igne, 
 
 Hanc fpeilare rnanum Porfena non pot mt. 
 Major deceptji fama ejl dr gloria dextr^t; 
 
 Si non erajfct,feceratilla minus. 
 
 When his r/^^f /wWmiftookthe A7>^ (his Pri:::^) 
 
 Inrag'd to th' Jire he gav't tor Sacrifice. 
 
 But the [eft King amaz'd at fuch k\\ fights. 
 
 Snatches it thence, and fo the Man acquites. 
 
 That handwhich( (cotmu^ flames) llout Mutius hrn'd, 
 
 Porfena durfl notyf"**, but from it turn'd. 
 
 Miflake became his glorious Fames excefs ; 
 
 Without mijlaking, h&hzA aBedlefs. 
 
 And 
 
 1
 
 2? E S L V E S. 
 
 76q 
 
 And, alter all this, we iiiay be deceived by our friends, and vvcICent. 11- 
 may deceive om fehes. But, an fwwy cannot be unfiithftil , or de-\ 
 ceiveViS'y becaulc we know him fo well, that we do not come to', 
 trtifl him, but keep him out at a ^//?<rwf, and clearly out of the capa- 
 city oicozeniitg ; fo that, though afriendmiy pleafe more, yet an E- 
 nemy vmy frojit as much. The Confideration whereof may very well 
 facilitate unto us thofe Icemin^ hard Commandeinentsof our Savi- 
 our and Chriflianity ; ^o forgive on: E»emies, lo pray for them that 
 perfecute us, to do^gopi to them that hurtns-, and even to love our£- 
 Mcmies : For albeit , they love not us ; yet, fince they are occafion of 
 (b much benefit to us, as to promote our Virtues^ and reprefs our Er- 
 rors ; if we can be but wife for our fclves, we ll:iall find ic but an Aci 
 of Rexjon and ex3.dQ(\i^uJIice-, to afford them our Affeclieris 5 not only 
 as they are our jSr^/Z/r^/? , and pieces of the fame hnxgery with our 
 fclves, but even out of the Kales of C/w//^/^ znd^ Nature. If, but by 
 accident-^ though unwillingly, a man do us a curtefie, yet we ufc, and 
 it becomes us, to be //'4»/(:/«/, bccaufc, without him we had not been 
 (of}*f>pj; every Injlriiment that brings us^W, wc are beholding to. 
 And certainly, as we ought to be thankful to God for ovlx ajflicHonsy 
 that are fen t by him to<»»s!(fWus, foour Enemies zit to be reckon'd 
 in the number of thofe by which we may be refined , if we will. As 
 the hardefifione is propercll for a Bafis ; fo, there is not a better Te- 
 deftdio raifea7>c/'/&yof ourrir^ww upon, than an eutivard £»emy , 
 if we can but keep our felvestrom invpard Enemies, our vices, our 
 rveakmjfes , and our own difarayments. 
 
 LIV. 
 Of Gifts and their ToliDer, 
 
 T TT 7Here Love and Gr-f^z/z/Jr? ^^r^iiv in the heart, it will not only 
 V V bloffom in ihc tongucjhux. slUo fruclfie in the hand by aH/on 
 znd expreffion. And indeed, 10 (::<ptdi or receive favours, and not to 
 think of requital , is, like the ^Beafl, to rake bread from the hand, and 
 thcn^allop away tor /iur of being made to do fervice. Certainly , 
 there is a orearcr /c;winj»///^,tnanufually men think o^.; they con- 
 quer both die wife and foolifli. With^///J both Gods and Men are ta- 
 ken, and prevail'd with. Fron\ //f// to Heaven, the order is in .ill to 
 offer: VVicha /iy? even CfrZ'irw is quieted. And, in regard W\s gifts 
 becalm'd fo much their minds, 'twas faid of Philip, that his Gold, and 
 not \\{sIroN, allGrrff/rfhad fubducd. And when the Cods wcrceit'icr 
 begw'd to, to: belliowing favours , or fough t to fov their Angers bc- 
 inv appeased , the yVZ/^r/ fmbak'd with Offerings , as being believ'd 
 the way thelooncrto incline them to Beneficence. He that hath b.-fi- 
 nefs, and fpKes his hand in prejenting, angles witnouc a bait ^ and ott- 
 timcs renders him that he would have his Friend, his Enemy. A ktnd- 
 i ncfs
 
 CENT.ir 
 
 "!{ E S L V E S. 
 
 nefs unrewarded, turns into negleli, as if we flighted both the mm and \ 
 clic matter. 'Tis true, in Admimflrations oij^ujlice, where men like j 
 (7(>^j ought uncorruptedly to adorn their %^ Tribmals , where the! 
 Publique is concern'd, and men, befides ^(^w/c/^^cc, arc bound up by! 
 the (olemncfs of Oaths , It is a Sin to accent • and,doubtlefs, no Vir- , 
 tue for any at all to offer : As 'tis the modeji Virgins , fo 'tis the xjvla- ! 
 gifirate's part, when tempted, to refufe : And, as 'tis falfly faid, 'cis the j 
 mans part to offer ^ fo queftionlefs, he cannot be /riff from ccrr«/'//o», 
 that would lay any thing that tlnoald look like a ///r^ before the eyes 
 oi JuJfice. 'Tis like fomcD/tZ/M/ wanton eye -, though it makes no 
 bargain , yet it temps, hgift thus Oifcr'd,is no other than an ille- 
 gitimate philtre-, endeavouring to adulterate y^f?/(7« from that £r/Wie 
 to whom they fiand already betrothed ; and, though we contralt notj 
 is not better in the aim than a bribe. In which, 1 fee not, why the offe- 
 rer fhould not be as highly funijhable as the receiver. 1 do not thinlt 
 the 2)<'T'// was better than Eve. "Xhe .Luther oi the mifchief is more 
 criminal, than he that weakly is /^^«c'^ to follow him: who laics a 
 fnare to take vac, though I y£-.?/»^ it, is not wholly Innocent, What 
 can be faid in excufe, is chiefly this, The Client is not fworn , not to 
 offer ',h\xt the Jw^^e is bound, not to take. Certainly, who ever o^r^ 
 it oMtoi finijler ends to himfelf, with but the Icaft thought oi per- 
 verting y«/?;cf, and, who ever takes it out of the defirc of ^4;;;, inten- 
 ding thereby to be partial, come both within the guilt oi bribery ; 
 which,as Jt'^ tells us, will bcgec a /irf that flaall confumc their Ta- 
 bernacle. And 'tis from the grcatncfsof the influence that Giftshixe 
 upon men, that the Laws have been fo fevere againft them. Indeed, 
 it is not fit a corrupt man, fliould ever come to know the potver that 
 gifts carry over minds : They gently bow them trom their own in- 
 tention from the grounds of right mdjnjlice. They bring a granger 
 iwto affinity, an Enemy into a Friend, 'ihey art charms u^on the diJpO', 
 fiticn ; and, like the bUndiflments of the Jlrange women, they kifs men 
 into kmdnefs they intended not. Bclidcs the blinding of the eyes of the 
 vftfe, Solomon teWs u?, A gift is a beloved Jewel, a Stone oi Grace, (as 
 the Original hath it) andicprofperswhithcrfoever it turns. It blunts 
 the keen edg'd Stvord, and breaks the /-r /!;::(•» W'^i/, A tnans gift makes 
 room for him, it throws open doors, puts out the Watch-mans light, 
 andbrings him to the Great mans prefi'nce,ViOM . 17.8. ^i%,\6. 'Tis the 
 Abfolom oi Ifrael that flcals away the heart {romjuf ice, that is and 
 fliould be A'/>7^. And bate them but this Felony, and doubtlcfs, then 
 a wife man will not be wanting in them. Beiote favours received, 
 theyfccmto Cpeak affe^ion znd regard-, akerwavds, gratitude and^c- 
 knowledgment . It is not good to be conftant in gifts at fet and fixed 
 times ; for Cuflom, as in other things, fo in this, does ufualjy run in- 
 to Law. Expectation willdiminilli the value of a Free-will- offering y 
 and it will quickly become as an obliged ^^cri/ffir ; and, if we omit, 
 we dilpkale. This was fccn in New years- Gifts, which being at firft 
 only aufpicious and iionorary , grew to that pafsin the time oiAa- 
 
 , g^ftf^y
 
 1{ E S L V E S. 
 
 guftta ^ that every man brought them to tlic Capitol, and there Ictt 
 them, thou_^h Auguftm was not there : And CaliguU by an Edidl or- 
 dered them then to be brought him.'Tis bcfl when we givey to do it fo 
 as it may be fure to flicvv to either love, refpcdt, or thanklulnefs. And 
 sreat Prefents arc not fo much to be commended , as thofc that take 
 the fancy, that fquarc with a prcfcnt occalion, and may be of often 
 u(c in the Eye, whereby we may be retain'd in remembrance. Tl;c 
 Bottle o^ foul water \v\-\\.c\\ Teribarzanes had irom the Countrcy fel- 
 low, was fo grateful to Artuxerxes , when he was thirfty, that he 
 protcficd he never drank of a plcafantcr pyi»e in his life-time; and 
 tile Peafa/it it was had from, he would notfufter to depart, till he 
 had lifted him from his Poverty, to be a perfon of vyealth. A Noble 
 heart wears fetters whcu he is beholding, and fometimes rather than 
 be overcome, will wane himfelt tolefs iv\\)\% Eftate ; as chufing ra- 
 ther to be lefs , than lagging to requite a benefit. Among the Ro- 
 mans , Donations of Efiates-betwcen marryed couples were forbidden, 
 unlcfs to purchafe Honour with : perhaps, becaufe they would have; 
 Love fo pure and natural between them , as that notliing of Art 
 fliould intervene: That ZcJir might have no other ground h\xi Leve 
 and genuine liking. Otherwife, between remoter Relations , they 
 held them as the Cement of affeflion and friendlhip. And they had 
 their CuftomarySeafons forfuch Intermutual exprclfions of regard 
 by Trejents, as on the firft of December at their Saturnalian Feajls ; 
 on the firft of J4»«.zy7 for their Neve-years-gifts \ o\\x}m\x Biith-days-^ 
 and on the Calends of March, in memory of the fcrvice done by the 
 Sabine women, the green VmbrelU and tat Amber were to women 
 fcnt. xAnd, in all times, fuch Gifts is were mcerly out of alfcdtion 
 and benignity, that were amiable and honorary, were never at all 
 forbidden: for, having no ends but thefe, tlicy were reprehcndablc , 
 if not done; but, much commended, if they were performed. Men- 
 dicatory or fifliing Gifts that like lines are caft into the' water , bai- 
 ted witli afmalllny, in hope to catch aFilli of a greater growth , 
 the generous have ever difdained. 'Tis but a begging out of the com- 
 pafs of the Statute; which, though it be more fafc, Ifcarfehold 
 lo ingenuous, as a down right craving of <^lms. Amanmay^/Tr 
 for Love, for Merit, for Gratitude, for Honour , to cn^jasc a law- 
 ful favour, or prevent a menacing (form : but never to betray, to 
 entice to injuflice, or to make a gain, by begging with a little, great- 
 er. For, though the prctcnfc be Love md Honour , zhc aim is /nteref' 
 and Lucre. And it it be a Bribe, it never hatha p^cvalency , but, 
 when two Knaves mccty and agree to cofcn a thirds that both of them 
 have caufc to think honcfter than thcmfelvcs. 
 
 oy 
 
 Cent. II.
 
 272 
 
 Cent. 11" 
 
 ^ E S L V E S. 
 
 LV. 
 
 of the inconvenience of negleB'mg Grayer. 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 TIs Comerfition chiefly that begets both Faith and Love. Af- 
 feBatien cannot but covet to have the objeB thJt it loves be 
 neer. He that never comes at mc, allows me not much of his kind- 
 nefs : If my /r^VW withdraws himlcU fiommy ^(?w^rf»/, Imayjuft- 
 ly fufpeft 1 am wamng \n\\\^ wonted ejleem. ¥or, a^fence is a wind 
 that by degrees blows oi ihok fruits that grow upon the Tree of 
 Friendjhip. It difrobcs her of all thofe plcafing Ornaments and Con- 
 tentments that are bv FamiltArity and Co/iverfatio»cr\joycd. And as 
 it fareth between two that have been rf^f/^/z^/yFrfw/Zwr, yet dwelling 
 afunder, the inferiour out of a care/efs neglect omits or minds not his 
 ufual duty of vtJitxtio» ^ and this fo lon^, that at the laft he forbears 
 to go at all : So, ihcvz Loves that by frequent //?/f/'fc«r/e'j were heat- 
 ful and alive between them, by difcontinuance only, drop into decay 
 and llirink away 10 nothing. There needcth nothing more but a lingring 
 ^f^fw^ to divert him ot all thofe folaces and comforts that ufually 
 enrich the noble and contentfval Region oi Friendfljip. By lying rtill he 
 lazes out his intereft,and dif-arrayes himfelfinto an uriacquaintcd/rd^- 
 ger : That, at laft, if he would return., rtiame and the fenfe of his w^- 
 leci, forbids or hinders his reverting to his former intimacy. As water 
 fct abroad, it airs away to nothing by only ftanding dill. 
 
 And 'tis not otherwife between the 5o«/ and Cc-a; : Not to/'r^y, not 
 \.omeditate,K\oi to have himinour //;o«gi'/j, dif-vvontcth us, and cllran- 
 gcs him. And when in foddain plunges we more particiilarlyflial.come 
 loneedhimy our fliame does then enervate our weak Faith, and with 
 defpair doQS (cud o\ir I'urning 1>IuPjcs down into our Boforne. With' 
 what confidence can we run to him in ^^rd"^, whom in our plenty we 
 have quite negleBed ? How can wc bc£ as Friends., as Children, as Belo- 
 ved.,\^\\Qn wc have ma '.c our Rlvcs as Hrangeas RenegadoesVYvs a moft 
 unl appy ftate to be at a dijfance with God ; Man needs no greater Infe- 
 licity than to be ]e(t by him to himfcU. A breach once made by Neg.^ 
 ligence , like that by water worn, though it be by fo foft an Element , 
 yet by time it breaks it fclf into a Sc a. Though France and Ttitain fup- 
 pofcdiy once were o«<r, yet wc fee the traBs of Age have made them [e- 
 veral Regiens. 'Tis lav irom prudent policy to admit oi^ I/iterpofures. If 
 we would he prevalent and cfleemable, wc ought with all our care to 
 prcferve that interejl , which never can, but by our own negleft, be 
 lof. Though Princes bcjuft, yet they arc not familiar with fubjeds 
 ac adiitance. They are Privadoes that have daily rccourfe to Ma- 
 ji.fty , that have power by their neernefs to help themfelvcs and o- 
 thcrs. Thofe birds wc breed up tame, that follow us with their fprea- 
 ding wings, char often chirp their pretty confidences to ui, that pcarch 
 upon our inoulders, and nejlle in our warmer Eefomes ; To thde 
 
 we
 
 ^ E S L 1/ E S. 
 
 we daily do diftribute food, and with our tender care provide them ftill 
 ptotCiSlion. But thofe that wildly fly about and fhun us, we never are 
 foticitetu to care for. The advice was divine in the every way accom- 
 plifli'c Xenofhon, That we fliould in Profferity be furc frequently to 
 tvtrfhip and adore the Gods 3 that whenfoevcr we had a more peculiar 
 need of their aJJljUme^^Nc: might with greater confidence approach them 
 at their Altars. He that would keep his friend muft make him often 
 vijits^ and ever and anon have fomething in a readinefs to exercife his 
 ftock of /JT'^, and keep affeif ion faming. And furcly, 'tis from hence 
 the t^poftle bids us pray without intermijjion, for it keeps us mindful 
 of our own inherent duty-, and God is always put in mind of us 5 and, 
 to incourage our Mdrejfes, blelles us. When a man neglefts his pray- 
 ing and his praifing ot his Maker, it makes a chafm betwixt him and 
 his own felicity. If he does fee God at all, 'tis but as Dives af- 
 ter death faw Lazarus, a great way off, with a large ^w^fixt between. 
 And though it is not required that we (hould be always tedder'd to a 
 formal folemn praying j yet by our mental meditations and our ejacu- 
 latory emijjlons ot the heart and mind we may go far to the complcating 
 the Apoftlcs counfel. There is in the lives of the Fathers a ftory of one 
 Abbot Lucim^ that being vifited by fomc young Probationers., he de- 
 manded of them, it they did not imploy themiclvcs in the pradice of 
 fonic manual Labour ? They told him,No,they fpent there time accor- 
 ding to the precept perpetually in praying. He asked them then, If 
 they did not eat cinA jleep ? They faid, both thcle they did. Then fays 
 the Father Who prays for you the while ? But they not knowing what 
 well to reply to this, he thus rcturneth to them : Well (fays he) I 
 perceive you do not do, as you fay : But I can tell you how you may 
 pray continually. lam not alliamcd to labour with my hands. Of the 
 Date-tree leaves at times of leifurc 1 make up little lines, or perhaps 
 fomc otuc-r matters. And while I work, 1 fend forth ftill between, 
 fome fliort petitions to my graciom God. Whcnl have fome little quan- 
 tity ot finifhc work 1 fell it perhaps for ten pence or a lliilling, about 
 a third thereof 1 give away to the poor : the reft I fpcnd my fclf. So 
 that when 1 cat or ilccp, thcfe poor men praying (o\: mc, they perform 
 my part, and fo I pray perpetually. Certainly the breatliing and erfufi- 
 ons of a devout Soul turn prayer into a chain, that linking Hill together 
 tyesus/i/?to(jo^:But intcrmilTion breaks it,and when wearefoloofc, 
 with every rub we cafily are overthrorvn^f^nA. doubtlefs we fliallfind it 
 far \c\s difficult to prcfcrvc a Friend once madc,than 'tis to recover him 
 when once he fliall be loft. 
 
 Cekt. II 
 
 LVI. 
 Of Envy. 
 
 TIS a vice would pofe a man to tell, what it fliould be liked for. 
 Other vices we allume, for that we falfely fuppofc they bring us 
 
 N n cither
 
 ^74 
 
 9{ES L V E S. 
 
 Cent. II. either Pleafure, Profit j or Honour. But, out of E?fvj>) who is it can find 
 any of thefe ? Inftead oi pleafure ., we vex and gall our felves. Like 
 cankcrd Brafs it only cats it fclf ; nay, difcolours and renders it mif^me. ^ 
 When fonie told yigis, That thofe of his neighbours family did envy 1 
 hihi ; Why then, fays he, they have a double vexation : Ofie, with '• 
 their own evil-^ the other:, 2t my profferity. Like a Corroding Plafler, 
 it lies gnawing at the heart ; and, indeed, is founded in grief '^ That 
 being the objeci of it, either in himfeU, or others, through all the con- 
 ditions that are. Either \\e grieves in himfclf, when another is happy^ 
 or elfe, if ever he does rejoyce, 'tis certainly becaufc another docs fuffer. 
 So calarKity fccms the center that he points unto. As a Defert-beaft, 
 the days brightuefs drives hiai to the dulr.cfs of a mclancholly Cave, 
 while darknefs only prefcnts him v/ith the prey that pleafes him : As 
 a Negro born of white Parents ; 'Tis a fordid fadnefs, begot at another 
 mans joy. And becaufc he hath no infelicity of his own, as is brought, 
 and is concomitancous, with moft ot other vices ; the envious man 
 creates his own difiurbanceSionx the profperous fuccelTcs of others. So- 
 crates call'd it, the faw ot the foul, that pricks and cuts the vital blond, 
 and tears the fletli but into larser atoms, lion^ feeing a fpiteful{t\\o\N 
 look fad^ was not able to fay, whether fome dtfajier had befallen him- 
 felf or ionxQ good luck fonic other. He is a man ot a ftrange conjlitution, 
 whole Jicknefs is bred of anothers health ; and feems never in health, 
 but when fome other {% fick-^ as if nature had fram'd him an Antipa- , 
 thitc to Virtue : And lo indeed tis equal, that he docs become at length 
 his own fad fcourge and beadle. 
 
 Jitjlisii Invidia nihil ejl, quxprotwmipfum 
 Author em rodit Excrftciatq; fuiim. 
 
 No vice fo juft as envy-, that alone 
 
 Doth gall and vex the mind that doth it own. 
 
 Trcjit can never by this be acquired: for, he is an enemy to him that 
 is able to help him ^ and, him that is mifcrablc and cannot,he delights 
 in. The iwine is pleafed with wallowing in his mire ; the D02, by | 
 tumbling in his loathfom carrion ; but c^z^y is no: pleafure, but the! 
 maceration of the body. It fowrs the countenance, gives the lips a trem- \ 
 blmg ; the eyes an uncoclcflial and declining /(?i)j&, and all theyitf a mea- 
 ger wafting palenefs. 'Tis the green Jicknefs of tb-c fouly that feeding 
 upon coals and puling rupbifii, impallids all the body to an He^ 
 0iqnelcannefs. There is no pleafantncfs in his convcrfation, that fliould 
 invite us to affed his company : Nor is \:\s honctly fuch, as to make us 
 covetous of fo crabbed a Compinio!i,whcrcby wc lliould be drawn to 
 conkx favour, or bcftow rewards. Flittery is often recompcnccd with 
 bounty ; Injufiice finds a bribe ; Prodigality obligcth many ; Avarice 
 accumulates all : but who did ever give to one for being Envious ? or 
 what is it but outward hate, or inward torment, that the envious gets ? 
 Honour by itjl'me furcjcan nerc be compafs'd. For tis fo perpetually 
 
 found 
 
 flil '
 
 l( F.^ SOLVES. 
 
 found in weak mindcs, that it ftamps the Fool upon the Maftcr for trou- 
 bling liinifclf, not only with things without him, and that concern not 
 his own veell or ill Being ; but that he refolvcs to be miferable, as long 
 as he fees another man to be ha^py. 'Twas a handfomc wifli of Seneca.., 
 That the eyes of the enz'iotu might behold all the felicities of every fe- 
 veral Citizen : for their own vexations would rife and fwell, accor- 
 ding to the floud of ]oys that appeared in other pcrfons. It proclaims 
 us further to be low and infcriour to others, for we never envy him 
 chat is beneath us ; to tliat it cheats our own intention. Him, whom 
 we would blaft with the dark vapour of difgrace and obloquy-, by our 
 envying of him, wc point out for excellent, and ftick a r^y oi glory up- 
 on his dcferving forehead, that all the world may note him. It taints 
 tfec bloud, and docs infc6t the fpirits. And if it be true, that Philo- 
 fophy would inform us of, it turns into a man a Witch, and leaves 
 him not, till it leads him into the very condition of Devils, to be de- 
 truded Heaven for hismeerly/nV/c and malice. The afpelt of his eye 
 alone, docs fometimcs become not only vulnerary, but mortal. They 
 prove a fafcinatien by the eye, when the fpirits are corrupted 5 from 
 the experience of a Looking-glafs, that at certain feafons, by fome bo- 
 dies gazed on, becomes ^(^/^^f^andTF^/^^^ from their only intuit ion;{oi 
 •they fay, Certain fpirits virulcnted from the inward humor, darted on 
 the objcdt, convey a Venom where they point and fix : and thofe noy- 
 fome vapours centred on the cye,whicn is much more impreffiblc than 
 the hardned glafsjthey arc taken by the eye of the afpcded,and through 
 it ftrike the very heart and intrails. Nor is it to be wondred at, fince 
 wc daily find, in way ol love, the eye can with an amorous glance be- 
 witch the heart, and fire the j^/r//'/ till they burn our bofpme. If one 
 way the eye can at a difliance charm, then why not by another ? Invc- 
 nom'd fpirits throw tlxir flames about ; and doubclcfs,wound the un- 
 prcpar'dthcy light on. Excited poyfon, rifcs into fprcading and dif- 
 perlcd infcciion. The air becomes inteded by the noyfome breath, and 
 he that comes within the dint on't,dics. The very Shepherd could con- 
 ceive that pointed malice wrought upon his flock, 
 
 T^fcio quii teneros oculits mihi f^fcinat Agnos I 
 Some fpiceful eye furc has my Lambs bcwitchr. 
 
 It may be tis from hence, as well as from the implacability oi the vice, 
 'Mil Solomon n:\sns, Anger 14 cruel, and Wr ath ii raging, but vho^can 
 (land before Envy ? Yea, hence tis,not unlikely, that twice the Apolllc 
 joyns it with Aiurther, Rom. i- 29. &: Gal. 5.21. as if he that con- 
 verfedw'ah the envtom, went in danger of his life •, as indeed he docs, 
 being fubjeiSt to all the difadvantages that unfortunate man can live un- 
 der : whitfoever he docswftf, is prefently detracted from, till it be 
 lejfencd and fyn.tUvhad into nothing. 
 
 At a Feaft in Spain, tlie meritorious Difcovcry o^ America by Colum- 
 bus was difcourlcd on ; the honejler fort did highly praife the En- 
 
 N n 2 tcrprife; 
 
 275 
 
 Cent. 11.:
 
 Cent.II. 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 terprife ; but,fome haughty Spa»iardsy en'vioui at fo great ^glory, flight- 
 ingjyfaid, The thing was no fuch wonder, fincea plain Navigation 
 could not well avoid it ; and doubtlefs there were many Spaniards that 
 could have difcovcrcd thofc, and other unknown Lands, without the 
 help or afiiilance of an Italian. Columbiis was by, and filently heard the 
 pa(ragc,whercupon he leaves the Rooni,ind immediately returns with 
 an Egg in his hand, and to this effeft bcfpeaks themjGentlemen,Which 
 of you can make this Egg ftand upright upon oneendj? they try'd, and 
 could not, fo concluded it was not to be done ; But, Columbus l"haking 
 it', and giving it a gentle crack, ftraight way fet it up in their fight : At 
 this they jcer'd as a thing fo trivial, that it was no Myllery, but this 
 way It might be done by any body : Yet, replies Columbiis^wonQ of you 
 coulddoittillfirft 1 Aicw'd you theway. And fuch was my Difco- 
 vevy ohhc f-^ej}- Indies , till 1 had made it, none of you could dp it: 
 and now I have don't , you boaft howeafily you could find out that, 
 which I have found out tor you. 
 
 Of all the (pies that a:c.,Envy is the mofl cbjervant and prying. When 
 the Phyficians to Frederick were relating what moft would lliarpcn the 
 fight, and fome were for Fennel, and fome tor GlalTes, and others for 
 other matters ; the Noble y;/^/*/ did allure them, there was nothing 
 that would do it like Envy. Whatfoevcr a man does ;//, by it is mag- 
 niJiedywA r/mltiplicd-j his failings all are watcht,drawnour, and blaz'd 
 to the World, and under the pretence o\go$d^ he ott is led to the ex- 
 trcmeftilTuc ot evil. Like Oil that's powr'd upon the roots of Trees, 
 which foftens it, deftroy?, and withers all the branches. And being 
 oncccatched, with/fcr;? heis infulted on. Vox, Snvy'is fo unnoble a 
 Devil, that it ever tyrannizeth moft upon a flip or low proftracion , at 
 wliich time gallant minds do mol^ dijdain to triumph. 
 
 The Envious is more unhappy than the Serpent : for though he hath 
 poifon within him,ind can catt it upon others;yct to his proper bofom 
 'tis not burdcnfom, as is the Rancour that ihc envietti keeps : but this 
 moft plainly is the Plague, as it infctSs others, fo it fevers him that hath 
 it, till he dies. Nor is it more noxious to the owner than Fatal ind ^f- 
 mw^»/^/i/to all the world befide. 'Twasf»z{.)'lirft unmade the Angels 
 and created D(?z'//j. 'Twis Envy firft that ///r«V man out oi Paradife 
 and with the bloud of the innocent firft died the untainted earth. 'Twas 
 Envy fold c\\3&^ofcph ^% ^Bondman, and unto Crucijixien gave the 
 only Son ot God. He walks among burning coals that convcrTcs with 
 thofc that are f»Tww. He that would avoid it in himfelf muft have 
 worth enough to be /'«?»^/e and ;^fA?^ff/?^ But he that would avoid 
 the danger ot it from others muft abandon their company. We are for- 
 bidden to eat with him that hath an evil eyc,left wc vomit up the mor- 
 fels we have cacen and lofe our (wcet words ; That is, le(t we get a 
 /icknefs indcad oinntrimentf and have to do with thofe that, like En- 
 chanters^ with fmooth language will charm us to deJlrHSiim. 
 
 why
 
 ^ESOLf/ES, 
 
 LVII. » 
 
 Why men chufe honej} Ad^trjtty before undue Trojperity. 
 
 Since Pleafitre and Complacency^ with Glory and AppUufr either true, 
 _ or miftaken,is the general aim of Man : and the avoiding Pain^'Dif- 
 'irace, and Trouble, the Shelf that wc would not touch at ; It is to be 
 confidered, from whence it comes to pafs, that wife men, and moftly 
 luchjfliouldchufe Goodnefs and Firtue with affliction, and the burthens 
 ot unplcafing accidents; rather than F/V^ garlanded with all the foft 
 Jemulfions ot a prcfent contentmsnt. Even among the <t^gyptians^r,\\Q 
 Mid- wives would rather incur the danger ofTharaoh's angry and arm- 
 id power, than commit thofe murthcrs that would have brought them 
 preicrment. Mofes when he was grown up,that is, was full forty years 
 old,(the time of Judgment's ripenefs) He chofe advcrfity and affliefion, 
 which he might have avoided, before the pomp and (plendouroi Phara- 
 c//s Court, and theSon-fhipofthePrincefs his Daughter. Socrates 
 being committed by Publikc Authority (though unjuftly), would nei- 
 ther break his Priion,nor violate Jurtice,topurcharc Life and Liberty. 
 Hath not our own Age feen Him who hath abandon'd both his Life 
 and Crown,rathcr than betray his Honour, and his Peoples Liberties ; 
 returning to the Offer (asmy Author fays) this Hcroical and truly 
 Regal anfwer, Mille mortes mihi fubire potitu ertt-, quam fie matm Hono- 
 rem, (ic Populi Libcrtates proflituere-^ 1 fliall fooner undergo a Thoufand 
 deaths^th^n fo my HcnourSo my Peoples Freedoms proffitutc'Certainly, 
 the Appetition of Happinefs,Md that {Primtts omnium Motor) Love and 
 Carcoi our felves,cven in this fecming contrariety of choicc,holds (liil, 
 and leads us to this bold Eleftion. Life Man, in the moff ferious Exi- 
 gents of his lifcjWcre his own falfe cheat, and led by a Genius that in his 
 mofl: extremity would cozen him. It would cafl deceit upon Providence^ 
 that if wc did not do forthcbefi in chufing thefc Indurances, woulA de- 
 lude us with vain beliefs, and running into Nothings. Seeming would be 
 better than Being^znA Fal(fjoodi\\oVi\A be pretcrr'd before Truth-^ which 
 being contrary toReafon, and Nature, cannot be admitted by Man. If 
 therefore wc did not believe, Truth m^ Honour and J-nJlice were to be 
 prcfcrr'd before ihis prefent life, and all thofe clincant fparklings, that 
 dance and dangle in the Rays and jubilations of it, fnre we iliould not 
 be fofottifli,c^s to chufc the firft,and let the latter (lip away difdained. 
 Among fomc other lefs weighty, thefc following reafons may tor this 
 be given ; one is the Alajefty and Excellency that Firtue hath in her felt ; 
 which is not only Beautiful, but Eternal • fo,that tlicre is a power in her 
 to attraft our adherence to her before all the tranficnt and skin-deep 
 pleafiires that wc fondly fmack after in this portage ol life in this world. 
 The Philolophcr faid, and truly too. That Virtue was the beauty of the 
 Soul^Vice ^c\(^ deformity. Virtue hath a flavor, that, when thcdrauglit is 
 part, leaves a gratefulg/^ and fume,^\\\&i makes us love 8<: covet after 
 morc.5oc;'rf/w. taught every where, that the jufl man and the happy were 
 
 all \ 
 
 277 
 
 Cent. II
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 all one. The Seuloi Man like a tree in a fruitful foyl at firft, was plant- 
 ed in the Element of r/>/«f, and while 'tis nourillit by it, it fpreads 
 and thrives with fruit and fair viridity. But every Ftcf is a Worm, or 
 froft, or blaft, that checks the fap, that nips the tender branches, and 
 Cankers the whole body it felf. 
 
 A fccond Reafon is, becaufe the Soul is ImmortAl, of which this to 
 me appears a potent argument. If it were not to be any more, why 
 (hould it not pvekx fruition, and the exercifes of life, before a diffolu- 
 tion znd privation ? Were a man furc, that all would end with life,we 
 iliould be fimple to provide beyond it : But, becaufe it does not, 
 'Providence-, which in the general, leaves none unfurniflit with that 
 which is fit for him, hath given him this profpcft and apprchenfion of 
 futurity, and out-living life, and his journying through this world, 
 ^ocr^/e-j when he was condemned, told his Judges, tha Melitus and 
 Antics mi'2}n caufe him to die, but they could not do him mifchiefox. 
 incommodate him. 
 
 A third Reafon is. That doubtlcfs, there is an Eternal J uflice, of| 
 which God gives us both the fcnfe and notion, that when hereafter ] 
 Man lliall find z^unijhment for hhjins and vices, he cannot plead thfi j 
 want of Proclamation,fincc 'cismore than whifper'd to his Spirit with- 1 
 in him, and fo charadered in his Soul, that 'tis one of the diftinftivc 
 properties of Man from Beaft,thac he can rcflcft upon himfclf,and ap- 
 prehend Eternity : which as it will jaftly condef/tn us, fo it will leave 
 our great Creator without blame, and our lelves without excafe. It is 
 the opinion of Plato in his Ph^edon, that the Souls Osgood men are after 
 death in a happy condition, united unto God in fomc place InacceJJible: 
 but thofe of W, in fomc convenient room condignly tn^Qx punifljment. 
 Bcfides thcfc, i\itxQ'].%(oxx.'ac\\ go»d[\\ affliction, and the confcquents 
 of it, That, as the wife Creator knows it the Phyfick of our frailty; 
 (o wife men arc the leaft offended at it. He that by the Oracle was ap- 
 proved for the nv/f/?, confdfed, though he knew before he married 
 her, that his Xantippe was a fcold unfuHcrablc ; yet , he wittingly did 
 marry her, to exercife his patience, that by the pradice of enduring her 
 Hirewilli heats, he might be able to brook all companies ; the brawls, 
 the fcorns,the fophifms,and the pctulanciesof rude and unskilful men; 
 the frc ttings, the thvvartings, and the excruciations of life ; and fo go' 
 out a more pcrfed and an cxad Philofophcr. Firtue is not learned per- 
 fedly, without a fevercr Tutor, That by the 'Hodoi Difcipline, and the 
 Fire of Affliction, can fconr us from our drofs, and burn of all our ruft. 
 k good man like an Asbcfline Garment, as well as a Tobacco-pipe, when 
 foul, is clenfcd by burning. The faithful hereby learn all their excellent 
 virtues, Patience, charity. Temperance, fortitude, Humility, zxid Content- 
 ment, with the whole Train of other glorious graces that crown the 
 moff defcrving. By this, God forms his fcrvan'ts into fplendour : He 
 brullcs off their duft,wallics away their If ains,confumes their dregs, & 
 builds them up into Saints. Nor is it to be doubted,but it is a Mark of 
 favour ro be bred up thus like '?r/ww,under the Tuition of fo grave an 
 
 In-
 
 ^ESOLFES. 
 
 Inltrudtor, in the rudiments ot Piety and Goodnefs. The Apoftle Eajlar- 
 iltzeth chofc that [uffer mt. It is a (ign of Son^jtp^ to be chajliz^'d. We 
 arc the objc6ts ot our Heavenly Father's care, while we are Iciron'd in 
 the Arts oi r/rtue, while we are chcqu'd and bounded and impal'd 
 ■from offence. It therefore is no wonder, that the devout Climachm 
 
 liould pcrfwadc nicn,That pcrfevcring under fcorns and reproaches, they 
 
 iiould drink them oft. As they would do Milk and Honey. The Soul- 
 Jier is not expert, without palling through feveral perils. Iron is but a 
 dull thins;, till it be torg'd and anvil'd, vic't'and filed, into fliape and 
 bri^xhtncfs ; but thcn,and not before 'tis fit to take its guilding. We moft 
 approve that Horfc, that hath bcft been manag'd to the Bit and Spur, 
 without which he were an untamcablc danger. The workman boyls his 
 iilvcr,beforc it can be ready for burnilliing.Without quarrelling /{owf, 
 we can allow this Purgatory, to putrific and cleanfc us, that we may be 
 the better candidatcd for the Court of Heave» and G/orj. He that isfo 
 hcad-ftrong as to caft away DifiiplifK^xs in danger,to have the next thing 
 he throws away to be Virtuei^e correct where we would amendjwhere 
 
 .iCre is no hopc,wc do not trouble our felvcsfo much as to reprehend. 
 Mor docs Corredion fo much rcfped what is paft, as that which is to 
 come. NerKopridc/Jsf unit, quia fcceatum eft,fed ne peccetur; A wife man 
 docs not puniflifo much the ill we have done, as to prevent, that we 
 may do none hereafter. 'Tis Seneca s^ and may infhud us to believe. 
 That though we be notateafcjyet wcmaynotbc unfortunate. As bodies 
 that arc crookcd,difdain not to be brac'd in ftcel,that they may become 
 ilraight : So the Mind thzi is warping to F/f(?,lliould not think much to 
 
 c kept upright by the curbings and xhcjlroaks of Adverjity. 
 
 L V II I. 
 Of Tlay and Gamhig. 
 
 ^"1p He Olympick and tb.c reft of the Games of Greece, were inftitutcd 
 
 firft niccrly (or Honour and Excrcifc : and though they wanted 
 
 iiWc.ilth, yet their rewards were not in Money and Trcafiircs, but 
 
 >nly in Wreaciis and Garlands, of fuch flight Plants aswcrccafie to 
 
 come by, and common among them. Chieiiyjthey had but four kinds 
 
 of Plays ; for being Ficiors in which, they were. 
 
 With Pincy with Apple, Olive, Parjley crown'*?. 
 Serta qnibns, Pintts, Mains, Oliva, Apium, 
 
 As-^«/('»/«j informs us. Though afterwards with hi^Iicr Plaudits and 
 -cclamations-.they came to have Pcnfions and Provifions from the Pub- 
 lique for lifc.But thefe, and fuch like, arc not much to be faulted : For, 
 ci.cir Inftitution was handfom,a;id their end and aim was good.T) c Pl.ty 
 that's moft complainablc, is the inordinate Gaming for Mony-^ which 
 he that firft invented, was ccrtainlv, cithc u very idle, or clfc extreme- 
 
 \ . !i 
 
 27P 
 
 Cent. II
 
 zSo 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 ^v 
 
 E S Lf/ E S. 
 
 ly covetous. Albeit in the fequel it cheats the Intention in both:for,who 
 fo bufie as they that arc intent at Dice ? Their /<»«/ and fenfes run along 
 with them, and fcldom 'tis, that they give men leave to be moderate. 
 And inftcad of gaming it waftcs even what we had without it. Some 
 inform us, they were tirft invented by Patamedes in the Trojan War, in 
 that ten years Siege to keep his Souldiers from idlencfs : And the 
 truth is, it may fute better with their Calling,than with that of other 
 mens. He that makes it his Trade to kill.will blanch but little at fteal- 1 
 ing; and whatfoever hecomesby, if the War be not highly juft, he 
 hath as good a plea to, as to that he gains by dicing. He was not much 
 out of the way that being asked what dilfcrencc there was betwecn-^- 
 leator, and Tejferarum Lufor ? anfwcrcd readily, The fame that there is 
 betwixt f«r and Latro. And indeed to//*; for gain, and by unlawful 
 means to draw away meny from another,tohis«^^/r/w^»f;in the opinion 
 ofDivines is but permitted Thievery, worfcned with commixcionot 
 Mtirther. And to fee fome men,when they have plaid their mony, their 
 voatches, their horfes ind clothes^ would one judg lefs than that they had 
 fallen among Tbieves,ind had been plundered of all chat they had?Nay, 
 they are not only rob'd themfelvcSjbut they themfelvcs rab others : fo 
 his dependents and friends have intcreft in what he hath. How often 
 does the lavifhCamefter fquandcr away a large left Patrimony; and, in- 
 ftead of P/f^ryjCntails a want and beggery to his UrucPl do not remem- 
 ber that we read the name of either Dice or Gaming in the traft of cl- 
 ihav Scripture^ to fliewus the profanenefsof the Trade is fuch that it 
 comes not at all fo much as under a Text.]iy the Laws Cornelia and Ti- 
 tia, It was among the Romans punilliable. In the 79 Canon of the Prc- 
 f incial Council hci'S 2ix. Sliheris, Dw;?^ was torbiddcn to the Faithful 
 under the penalty of being kept from the Communion a year if he did 
 nor give over.But in the 50 ot the General Council at Conftantino^le un- 
 der Jujlinian^ it was forbidden to all, and puniilu-d with Excommuni- 
 cation. Certainly there was caufe, why fo grave AlTcmblies did fo fe- 
 vcrely punifli it. And indeed if we cxamircjwc fhall find it not only as a 
 Serpent in ic felf, but rvaitednn by a troop ot other Scorpions, zhat hite 
 3i\Afting\^\ib.c<\\X2\foif«n2iX\d venom. Two things are mod precio/is 
 here to the Life and }Ve\L-being of Man,Time and Treajitre : and of both 
 thefe, does the following ot Gaming rob us. They that arc bewitched 
 with an humour of play cannot be quiet without it ; 'Tis a malus genius 
 that eggs and urges them to their own deftruBion. 'Tis in many men 
 as importunate as Fate^ that affords neither reji nor rejiflence ; but with 
 a pleaf'd y^W/'/y hurries them on to that which in the end they would 
 not find. He that is a lover of /'/4>', like thcloverofa W^r/^r, he does 
 mind that fo much that he neglecJs,a\\ other occaftons. Bujinejjes, friends 
 repofe, Religion-^ and Relations, arc all laid by when once he is fet upon 
 pky. Night is by flaming tapers turn'd to dayjand day worn out within 
 the pen of wals, as if conjtn'd or Prifoner to his /ports. As the Rtmans 
 did with drink ; we do ^\.\k\play ; We play down the evening ftar and 
 play up the morning fiar : The Sun may round the World before 
 
 one
 
 ^ E S L / E S. 
 
 iSi 
 
 — I 
 
 one Rfipm can be relifiqui/Jjt hy us. One would rhirk, fome new/"/;/- Cent* U. 
 'lofoph^ had found out tor Gamdlcrs this unknown Sitmmum l^enunt, ^ V'Vj 
 I which exacting all their time makes Nature more beholding to Ne- 
 \cejfity A\z\-\ 'indm.ition^ iov either Jlef/^ or foo<i. Surely a gamcltcr can 
 i never exped to be knowing , or approv'd tor either his orv» , his 
 Ifriextds^ or his Countries Jervice. Tlie time he fliould lay out in fitting 
 ofhimfeltfor thcfc, runs «'<»/?? at this Brack of />/<?/, which arts him 
 in nothing but how to deceive and gain : though well wcigh'd even in 
 gaining lie comes to be deceivd ac lalh It iic docs win, it wantons him 
 'with over-flw^ and enters him into new ways ot expence j which ha- 
 bits him at lal\ to l.ivifhnefs^ and that delivers over to an aged pover- 
 ty. Belldcs, he cannot be quiet with his purchafe ; they that he won 
 it from will //«^ and cc^m-zr Revenge. And he is nwt fuffer'd to be 
 at fence in Victory j for the moft pirt, whatfocver is gotten by pUy is 
 either vainly wafted, or but borrorvcd to repay \Nii\\ Interefi. It leads 
 men to^jiv^y>, that without it would be quite rfi^M^^r^. It they win, 
 they fpare no cofl^bni luxuriate into Riot.li they lofe,they muft be at /;, 
 to keep up their^Wf^ and their ^'(f>3<:(r^y^/r;/J: in both, a man is cx- 
 pofed as a prey to Rooks and Dams-, impudent and indigent companys 
 ihit fatter, juck^ and perpetually />/U?^i' trom him. 'lis the Mine 
 that carryed clofe in dark zn^ private trenches through hollow and 
 crooked caverns, blows up at once his Fcrtuney Family , Fame and 
 Contentment^ and in the end through diforder and furfets leaves him 
 to go off a Sot : Certainly it cannot be the picafure of the aciton that 
 fo Itrongly can inchant men. What pleafure can it be, cue of a 
 dead Box \.ovx\x^\z Bones Z.% dead -^ tofecafquarc run round \ or to 
 fee his £/?4/^ red uc'd into ^Lottery-, to try whether he Aiall hold it! 
 any longer or no ? Surely, it mull be Covetoufncjs and the inordinate' 
 dctirc of getting, which prevailing once upon us, wchccomc pojfejs'd^ 
 and by it are carried as well to the Graves and Sepulchres of the dead, 
 as the Cities ot the livif^g by this ill fpirit leading us. I cannot con- 
 ceive how It \\Mn\]d fuit whh^ Noh/e mind , to play cither much or 
 deep. It defrauds \\n\\oi\\\s better imploymrnt, and links him into lefsj 
 than he is. It he wins, he knows no: whether the other nmy Jpare it or | 
 no. It he cannor, the generous vvill fcorn to take Irom him mat wants,. 
 and hates to make another futfer meerly for his {ake. It he can fp.irc 
 it, he will yet disdain to be fupply'd by the bounty o[ him that is his 
 equal OK infcriour. If he lofe:h and caniiotfpari it himfel', it proclaims 
 hull to be //«nvjt' to put himlclt upon exigents [o: will a;id hu>nour ; , 
 |and not honejly for he injures all about him. He that plays ior . more ' 
 than he can fpare, makes up liis flake of his Heart and Patrimony-, his 
 Peace, hh Privilcdg, his bo firm d ;;'//? and his extended Son ; even the 
 £^r//y he holds Hoats from him with this f/'/'/^^^ z/^^'. 15c he rich orj 
 poor, he cannot phy his own. He hold snot wealth to walle it thus in i 
 wantonnefs where there is plenty -^ befidcs a mans Relations, the Com- ^ 
 mon-wealth and Poor\\7i\e. fome fhare due to them. /\nd he cannot 
 but vet acknowledir h,e might \\ise imphydlt better. It sains liim ; 
 
 J a 3 j -' 3 1 
 
 O o neither !
 
 Cent. II, 
 
 1{ES0Lf/ES. 
 
 neither hofiC'tr nor thanks, but under the others Cloak perhaps is clofe- 
 ly/augl/dAi: as eafie and tmskilfulThaks, having put SoIo» into a padion 
 for the fuppofed death ot his So», faid, it was tor that and fuch like /»- 
 conve?7iences he thought not fit to/w^rry. And he that fees into what 
 heats^ what/i'^r/,what dijlempers and diforders, what madftefs and ^'^JC•4- 
 //o«jr, acrolle-hand at play /w/'/«»?f/romcmen in, will never hazard 
 his own peace of mind, with bidding by play for fuch Fhrenz,ies fuch 
 Bedlam Jits and dijlortions of the whole frame of w^;?, which fomctime 
 never leave their /'4^/(f/^^j,till they drive tl.ciii into Despair and a Halter. 
 What is it provokes to y4«^<fr,likeic?And ^;i?^fr ullners in black Oaths, 
 prodigious Cur fes, fenjlefs Imprecations, horrid Rage, and blacker Elafphe- 
 my, wth quarrels, injur ies,reproaches,w0nnds,^wdi de.tth.?ir\d which is not 
 thcmcancrtof theills attending gaming : He that is addifted toplay 
 and loves ir,is fo limed by cuftom to it, that if he would (fir his wings 
 to fly away, he cannot. Therefore Plato was in the right when he/harp- 
 ly reprevd die 'Boy he found at play, and the "Bsy told him he wondred 
 how he could be fo ar^ry tor fo fmall a matter, Plato reply'd again,that 
 cuftom was no {maW matter. 'Tisnot dcnyed, but labours and cares 
 may have their Relaxes and Recreations. Though Aleynmim objcftcd 
 to C^to his nightly y/jj' and Jollity, yet Cicero cxcufcd it with in- 
 ftancing his perpetual daily toi/iov the bublique. But we muft be- 
 ware left wc make a trade of [port, and never to pliy for more than 
 we may lofe with content, and without tiie/'r^/W/f^ of our fclvcs or 
 others. 
 
 LIX. 
 Trayer mofl netdjul in the mormng. 
 
 THcre is no doubt but Prayer is needful daily, ever profitable, and 
 at all times commcniable. It it be tor our fclvcs alone, 'tis ne- 
 cciTtiry : and 'tis charitable, when it is tor others. At night it is- our 
 Covering; In the morning it is our Armour : fo at all times it defends 
 us from the malice of Sathan, our own fubordinacions and betrayings, 
 the unequal weather,that the world atlaults us witli, and prefervcs us 
 in the favour a.nd e/leem oi Heaveff : We are dependents upon the 
 Court, while we arc but Petitioners there ; fo till wc be denyed and 
 difmifs' d,\\'t have the proted ion thereof: which certainly is a privileda 
 that a flranger cannot claim. And alccit prayer fliould be the key of the- 
 day, -and the lock of the night ; yet I hold it of the two more neediul 
 in ^<c morning-, than when in tlie evening wc commit our fclves to Re- 
 pofe. 'Tis true we have enough to induce us to it then : the day could 
 not but prefent us with fomething either worthy our thanks, or that 
 needed our hegging a.nd pardon, for removing or continuing fomethina: 
 and though we be immur'd with walb, and darkncfs, yet are wc not 
 exempted Co kom Perils, but that without our Gods affiftancc, we, 
 arc left a Prey to all that is at enmity with man. Befidcs, Sleep is the 
 ^ ^ image
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 image or (hadoxv ot Death, and wnen the fhadoiv is fo neer, the fub- 
 ftance cannot be far remote. The dying Gergiai being in a flumber, and 
 asked hy a friend how he did ? He anfwercd Pretty well -^ only S/eep 
 is recommending me up ro his Brother. Some, wc knowjin hea/th have 
 gone to re/l eternal: and without thinking of the other world, have 
 tane their leave ot this ^ uot knowing themfclves that they were on 
 their way, till they had fully difpatched their Journey. But notvvith- 
 ftanding all this, a man at reft in his Chamber (like alliecpimpenn'd 
 in the fold) is fubjcot only to unufual events, and fuch as rarely hap- 
 cn; to the cmiflions ofthemore immediate, and unavoidable hand 
 of God. Danger feems fhut out of dores ; we arc fecured from the 
 injury of the Elements, and guarded with a fence of Iron, againft the 
 force ot fuch as would mvade. We are rcmov'd from the worlds 
 buftle, and the crowd of occafions that juftle againft us as we walk 
 abroad. He that is harrd upin his houfe, is in his Garrifoa with his 
 Guard about him, and not fo foon attacqued by his Enemy, as he that 
 roaves in the open and uiiflieltcr'd field. Who knows nor, the Ship to 
 bcjafer in the Baj or Harbour -^ than tofs'd and beaten in the boiling Oce- 
 anl Tietirednefs is move (i^'cxh^inbufinefs. W^c are withdrawn when 
 the vail of night and reft enwraps us in their dark and Jilent Cabinet. 
 But with the Snn, we do difclofe and are difcovered to our prying 
 Enemies: Wc go abroad to mecr,what at home docs not look after us. 
 He that walks through a Fair of Beafts is in hazard to be ^crV, or kkkt, 
 or bruiid^ or beaten : W' c pafs through "Bryars and Thorns and Nettles, 
 that will ^>vc/' and /fr^rcA and y?i^?p-. We are in tlicday as travailing 
 through a mldernefs, where wild and favage Creatures are, as Well as 
 tamer Animals. All the world is Africa ; where heat and dronght\ve»- 
 om, or fomcthing new, docs ftill d'tjlmb us. The air^^ihejire, thC earth, 
 and water arc apccr all to wound us. The frays, the trains , tiie incite- 
 ments, the opportunity, the occafions of oifencc, the lures and temp- 
 tin^s from abroad, and the bufmciTcs and accidents of Z-//^, deny us 
 ■iuyfafcty, but what wc have from the favour of protective Trovidence. 
 Bd\<\cs,Praycr docs facrc all our Achons. ' Tis the priming of the Soul, 
 that laying us in the 0//of Grace prcfcrvcs us from the ft^'orm and fvea- 
 ther. When the mind in the morning opens to God as the eye to rhc 
 Suns cicer li'jht , by tbx- Radixnce of tiie divine beams we become 
 enlicrhtned inwardly all the day. He is lifted in Gods fervice andpro- 
 teciio/ty that makes it his tirit workto be inrollcdby/'r4>rr under t: c 
 ftindard o\ t\\c ^^Imightv. It was from hence (urc , that Det'otion 
 fprungof Cliriftians crolling themfclves at their cntring upon bn(i- 
 nefs. All thriving States have ever fought the Gods iu'their tirft infan- 
 cy. The morning to the day is as youth to the lite of a Man : Ifth.it be 
 well feafon'd, 'tis likely that his Age niay anfwer it, and he ^rogreffive 
 in the path ot rirtue : To live well every day is thcgreate/l and luoll 
 important bufinefs of man, and being unable for it of himfcit alonic, he 
 needs the more to gain Divine ajjifience. In works of moment , even 
 Heathen never vcntur'd without their fceking tirft fuch Deities as they 
 belicv'd might help them. O o z • — No- 
 
 28^ 
 Cent. II.
 
 i84 
 
 Cent. 11 
 
 1{ E S L V E S. 
 
 -Nothing's well done 
 
 But what at firll is with the Gods begun. 
 
 He carries an afTiftant Angel with him for his help that begs his i 
 Benedidion from above ; and, without h, he is lame and unarmed. ' 
 VVc do not find that SmI's devotion ever was fuperlative ; yet, he was : 
 troubled for fear the P/«///?;w fhould catch him before he had faidi 
 his prajfers:, i Sam. 1 5. 11. And becaufc he had neoledled this he Hum- 
 bled up iu offering , thinking that way to fupply it. He that com- 
 mences vjhhheaveff, goes out in all a cataphracf. But if any thing hap- 
 pen ill, he walks upon his own hearts checque, if God were not ta- 
 ken along. 
 
 LX. 
 To htlfan of being furpr't^d, 
 
 AS fodain Ttfjions are moft 'violent ; [ofiiUin eccajienf efjw, are 
 molt dangcroui. They are fraps that catch us while we think 
 \i\''ac fccure •jWhilc we think we are born alott, and apprehend no 
 hazz,ird, the failing floor (inks under us, and with it we dcfcend to 
 ruinc,. There isa pr^fr«4//c» in ajfattlts unlookt for. When dtfars 
 friends were ftabbing him, his Robe did hide his face, while he lay 
 dowuro die. Amazement quails the heart, till it becomes, with the 
 prcfs.ot its own vitals, drown'd ; when the fenfes arc fct upon by un- 1 
 thought- of objeEis^ Reafcn wants time to call a council to determine how 
 cortfktthc ajfault. He that thinks rocofabufincfs, a;id iso'th'fodain' 
 call'd upon, is as to that aflecp, and at firft waking ftarts, but knows \ 
 not wliere, nor yet with whom, he is. Surely hcn^ivpifeman that is{ 
 not caught by the fodainnefs ot unlook't for accidents. Like darted lights • 
 th.it fwiftly break \^pon yxs^ ihcy hlinionnveikned jtght ^ and at bed 1 
 they. leave us but to fArfwt', whether we iViall come oft with glory o\.\ 
 with {b*me. Alexander clouded his three great riff cries , with the 
 ratli and violent mw of his three chict friends. Vlyffes had the re- 
 putation of being crafty as well as lyz/c-^ yet, by the Jodainnefs o'i PaU- 
 ruedes laying his Son in the furrow , where he was madly fowing Salt, 
 he difcovered himfelf to hefober, that would have appear'd dijiraffed. 
 And he that could fmooth over the crofitft chances ot Humanity, and 
 bear them with a Noble Fortitude, and by the (Iceknefs ot his temper, 
 wind himfclfbcyond the common reach ; was yet by the unexped- 
 ed death ot a Dogthat he lov'd, put to more trouble, and llicwed 
 more rveaknefs^ than cither other weightier matters could impofe, 
 or than befitted a wife man to be taken with. Like Gunpowder 
 in a jock, it blows open all our wards, itraQ-sesope the curtain of 
 the mind. Asa fir'd Petnrr when the City is walled about, this 
 ^i.vcs an entrance through the inattcr'd gates. When Phryne knew 
 ngchowcobc furc of Praxiteles his bcft piece of Limming, which 
 o^ ■ - . he
 
 2J E SO L V E S. 
 
 285 
 
 he Cin Love) had promifcd her ; flic makes one, breathlcfs, to brin^ Cekt. 
 him news that with afodain violent fire, his houfcvvas almoft burn'd. 
 down. At which he cries out prcfently. Is ^w/zW and the Satyr e fav'd ? 
 by which fhe knew, that was the bcIV, then told him, all was well, 
 but C«|p/^and the Satyre hirs. V\ e (c.c^Love that is kindled zxfirfi fight, 
 hathott an eag'erjiercenefs with ir^bcyond that which is leifurely i^uilt 
 up by time and coKverfation.'Tis Lightning melts the Sword5which clfc 
 is proot 'gainft all thcftroaksofthchand upon the Anvil. Smdyjob 
 confidered how apt he might be to he furpris'd, when he made that Co- 
 z'enant with his 9'i?j-againft^f4»(;'. For want ot which, T>avid \n2l% 
 cutch'd by the Accide»tal{tc\v\<g of but 'Buthfljeba. bathe at a diftance.'Tis 
 oit the booty that makes the un-wtendwg thief '^ tor that 'ai^fieals the 
 man, before the nun fiea/s it. Opportunity creates a finncr ; af leaft, it 
 calls himouttoa6l; and, like the warmingSun, invites the flecping 
 Serpent from his holes. We are like Flax that's drcfs'd,and dry'd, and 
 kemm'd • it the IcaftTpark but fall upon us, wc cannot chufe but burn. 
 And though the Telagianso^oldi would underftand oViV praying agaiftjl 
 temptation, but a. defire to he protechd iwn\ the accidents znd chances 
 oi humane life 'y yet, doubtlefs, our Saviour knowing the pronenefs o'i 
 our nature to fin, and how cafily we were to be fiirprijed^ind how hard- 
 'ly we could efcape, it once temptations did hixt glance upon us • taught 
 us to p:2y, that we might not come into temptation ; left by it, wc lliould 
 be overcome and periili. vVho commits himfelt to the Sea, is every 
 minure waving towards death -^ and {odain gufis indanger more the 
 Vcffcl, than the conflantgale that drives the Bark before it. Like Acute 
 difcafcs, they fooncr dcllroy life, than the leifurely progreifions of a 
 long collecting lickncfs. It is one of the wcighticft, and mofl material 
 parts o\ Prudence, to prepare and arm our felves to encounter Accidents. 
 Wit as well as ivi^dom is required to this bufuiefs ; for, a man furprifid, 
 is even in reafon more t\\^n half beaten ; being taken at a diJkdvantJgef 
 from which he hath no way to e-jc-w/w.!/-? himfcU, but by the ^t'.v- 
 trtujhcjs ot his ingenuity. 'Tis a fright that flirinks tliefoul into a cor- 
 ncr,out of which it dares not peep to look abroad tor help j fo in ftcai 
 ot aUemedy it runs todcfpair. Tlic unexpc6lcd fight ot flying Thys- 
 be's garments, without examining, parted both the Lovers to a£t their 
 own fad Tragedies. Had not the richncfs of the Babylonifb garment, | 
 and the weignty wedge ot gold tempted the inclining Achan , lie hadlj 
 not been feduccd to trouble //rjr/. 'Twas D/;»4^'s itch to fee new fa- 
 fliions, that expoledher to a Kavifliiuent. To avctdoccafions , and toj 
 be above accidents-, is one of the srt ^I'tlt maftcrics ot Mm. How like 
 naked beggars wc fee the weak foul skip under the lafli of every fo- 
 daindyfalter-, while the Magnanimous and compofed mind, by pre- 
 paring and forethinking, meets nothing new to bring him to amaze- 
 ment ? He that forefces an Inconvenience, though he cannot always a- 
 void it- yet he may be ever fitted to bear it better. It we catt before] 
 hand,we may avoid being put to the atcer-Game. And the edge of tlicj 
 evil is abated, it we but lee the Bow that is bent againft us. ' ! 
 
 oj l 
 
 — I — . I ' . — .1 ■ . 1 . i. — •<. '■
 
 286 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 "RES LV E S. 
 
 LXI. 
 Of Jm^roVtng by good Examples, 
 
 1'^Here is no man, but for his orvn intereji, hath an ebligatioft to be 
 Honeji. There may be fometinics temptations to be otherwife ; 
 but, all Cards caft up, he (hall find it the grcateft cafe , the higheft 
 profit, the beft pleafiire, the nioft fafcty, and the Noblcft Fame, to 
 hold the horns of this Altar, which, in all alTays, can in himfelf pro- 
 tefthim. Andthougjhin the march of humane lite, over the Stage of 
 this world, a man fhail find prefented fometimes examples of thriving 
 Vice, and feveral opportunities to invite him upon a Iccming 4^x'^«- 
 tage to clofe with unhandfome practices : yet, every man ought fo 
 to improve his progrefs in what isjuft and right^is to be able to difcern 
 the fraud and failed pleafurdbleaejs of the i'ad, and to chufe and io]- 
 low win: is good iLndiv.irraKtal^le. If any man lliall objeCt, that the 
 world is far more l^ad than^^c^^, fo that the^Wman fhall be fure to 
 be over powred by the evil : the cafe is long fince refolved by ^n- 
 tifthenes^ That 'cis better with a few good men, t-o fight againit an Army 
 oi l>ad; ihinwlih fwarms md (hoa/s oi I^ad men, to have a few good, 
 men his Enemies. And furely this was it which raifcd up DAvtd to 
 that bravery of j^/>/> which made him prolcfs, That though an Hoji 
 were pitched again [i him-^ yet fhould not hii heart be afraid. He that is 
 intirely and genuinely Honejl, is thcj^wr^ and reprefentation of the Dei- 
 ly^ which will draw down zVroteclion upon ic againitall the injuries 
 of any that fliall dare to abufcir. There is a kind of lalifmanical in- j 
 fitieme'Wi the foul of fuch. A more immediate imprefs oi the Divinity \ 
 is printed on the fpirits of thefe, than all the (catcercd Heard of loofcr 
 minds are capable of. The rays ot heaven do more perpendicular ly \ 
 ftrike upon the minds of chcfc, whereby they have both affimilation to '• 
 God, ^ropenfity to good, and defence againft injury. And it not only ob- \ 
 ligcth men nut to do wrong ; but, to make amends if wrtng be done : { 
 and to difperTc with benefits to our fclves , it in the leaft they fhall 
 bring detriment to others. So that a man ought not only to reftore what 
 s unduly ^()r/f», or unawares let flip by others ; but to feck out ho'-v ! 
 wc may do right. Thus if I find a Treafure,and know not him that loft j 
 it, I owe my endeavour to fearch and find him out , that it may be | 
 again reftor'd. It is truly faid by St. Angufiine, Quod invenifli ^ uon 
 reddidifti, rafuifli. He ftcals the thing he finds, that labours not to re- 
 ftore it. If he does not reftore it, 'tiscriongh, that he does not doit, 
 only bccaufe he cannot. 
 
 And although no man he priviledged to ftverve from what is Honefl ; 
 yet, fomc men have, by much, more obligation to be fo than others. 
 They have tafted of higher difpenfat ions ^ been more deterred by Judg- 
 ments, more gained upon by Mercies, or are illuminated with more 
 radiant knowledge, whereby they better undcrftand than others, 
 wherein to be lo. And, indeed, without knowledge 'tis impoffible to 
 
 under-
 
 I 
 
 3^ E S L y E S. 
 
 Underftand wherein to do righr. Though chc bcft knowlcg a man hath, 
 be a light fo dimly burning, that it hardly fliews him to fee clearly all 
 the cobivehs and foul corners in his auTairs : Yet hnorance is an cpacotts 
 thing, and il not a tot.d dark/iefs, yet fuch an eclipfe, as makes us apt c.o 
 ftumble, and puts us to grope out our way. 
 
 And befidcs all thefc, there are fomc that have more reafo» to be 
 ffonefi than others, as having found dealings from others, that, like fire 
 broughti-iearcr,warmes their confcience more. And not only would 
 be evidence and convidion againft them if they did tvrong, but (tirs 
 them up lo do right. 
 
 And truly, I ihall not blufli to tell my Reader, that in the Number 
 of thefc, I look upon my felt as concerned. Should I fail of being Ho- 
 nejl-, when advantage {\vm\d be in my hand, Ifhould not only be up- 
 braided but coW(?»ii«^^ by twoerpecialpaltagcs that happened to my 
 felf ; which for the Rarity may beget my pardon, that here I fct them 
 down to be known. One was : 
 
 An unknown Porter brings to me, to my Lodging, A Box feald up, 
 and on the outfide dircded to my felf. I enquiredyr'^w whom he had it: 
 He told me A Gentleman that wm a, fir anger to him^ and xvhofe Name 
 or rejidence he knevp not ^ gave it him in thefireetj and gave him 6. d. to 
 deliver it fafcly\ which now he had donc,and havin^ difchargcd his part, 
 he could give me no further account. I opened tl^Box, where the firft 
 thing 1 met with was a Note written in a hand iTcnew no[,without any 
 Name fubfcribed, in thcfe very following words : 
 
 Mr. Owen f elrham,// was my hap infome dealing with yoii to wrong 
 yon of five pounds, which I do now repay double^ humbly intr eat- 
 ing you to forgive me that great wron^^ and to pray the Lord to 
 forgive me this^ and the refi of my fins. 
 
 And under this Note,folded in another Paper in the fame Box,wcrc 
 Ten Tiventy-JJj.'ll/ng-pieccs in Gold. I cannot call to mind : .that ever I 
 wa-: deceived ot fuch a fum as 5. /. in any kind of dealing, nor to this 
 hour can I.fo much asguefs at the pcrfon from whom it came. But 1 
 believe, he did it to disburthen a Confcience. And fyrcly, if i.kncw 
 him, 1 fliould return him an cffccm fuiiable to tlie merit of fo pious 
 an aftion. And iince he would not let me know his Name to value him 
 as he deferv'd, 1 have prtfum'd to recite tlie thing, that others from 
 the fenfc of it may learn to be hone/l and himfelf reap the benefit^ that 
 may happen hy (o good au example. 
 
 This perhaps might be from fomc one, that no: only pro'ciTed, but 
 pra£tifed /'/>//,and the rules oihoncft Living. And though 1 could not 
 exped fo much lliould be found among thofe that pretend not fo high 
 in Religion ; yet, to flicw,that even in loofer Callings,and as well now, 
 as in our Saviours time,fi)me (reckoned among l^ublicans and Sinners^ 
 may go to Heaven before the captious and the critical Cenforift ; (1' 
 we fliall judge by exterioi demeanor ,as the Rule that's given us;l ("hall 
 beg leave to give my Reader this fecond Story ,which vvas thus. 
 \ Going 
 
 Cent.it. 
 
 I
 
 Cent. 11. 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 Going vvithfomc Gentlewomen :o a Play at Salubury Court, I caft 
 into the WomansBox who fate at the Dore to receive the Pay ( as 1 
 thought) fo many lliillin^s as we were pcrfons in number; fo we pafs'd 
 away, went in, and fate out the Play. Returning out the fame way, the 
 Woman that held the Box as we went in, was there again, as we went 
 out ; neither I, nor any ot my company knew her, or flic us ; but, as 
 flie had obferved us going in, fne addrelles to me, and fays, 5/>, Do you 
 remember what Mony yougxve fne when yon vcent in ? Sure (faid 1), at 
 I take It ^ I^aveyon twelve pence a piece for my felf^ and thefe of my 
 Company, '^-fy Sir (replies ihe) that you did, andfimething more -^ for 
 here is an Eleven f hilling Piece ef Gold that you gave me in Jlead of a 
 aShiRtng ; and if you plea) e to give me twelve pence for it .^ U is as much 
 ss I can demand. Here had been, if the woman had been fo minded 
 ("though a little) yet a {ccm<ipriz.e. But, as many do probably conje- 
 cture, that Zachem^ who made Reflitution to the fliamc of the obdu- 
 rate Je-nv, was a Gentile as well as a P»blican : So this, from one of a 
 Callings indif-reputc, and fufpefted, may not only inftruit the more 
 precilc ot Garb, and form ot Honefty^ but fliew us that in any rocation, 
 'a man may take occailon to he jujl md faithful. And let no man won- 
 der, that a perfon thus dealt withal, and lelfon'd into his duty by the ; 
 Practice ot others to him ; joyn'd with his other obligations to good- j 
 nefs ; be hereby prevaild upon to a greater care of his owaVprightnefs i 
 and Integrity, than perhaps without finding thefe, might have been. I 
 will not have the vanity, to lay,Thefe pillages have rendred me better : i 
 Nor am 1 aihamed to confefs, that 1 have iomctimc rcmembred them { 
 w'ah profit. Sure I am, they ought not to loofc their Influence^ nor to 
 pafs unheeded ; when they lliall reflcft on our fclvcs. He that means 
 to be a good Limmcr , w.ll be furc to draw atter tt.e moft excellent ' 
 Copies, and guide every llroke ot his Pencil by the better pattern that I 
 he lays before him : So, he that dcfircs that the "fahle of his Life may ! 
 be fair, will le caretul to propofe the beji Examples ; and will never 
 be content, till he equals, or excels them. 
 
 LXII. 
 
 Of Hatred. 
 
 THcre is a Civil Hatred, when men in general dete^ whatfocver is 
 rice. And the Prophet David fpeaking of the wicked, fays, He 
 hated themwith a per feci hatred j to flicw US, that Hatred is then Per- 
 fect, when the Objcrt is only Sin. For we ought not as a Creature to 
 hate any thing that Go J hath made. All that he fram'd wis good, ex- 
 cellently good, and merited both love and admiration. But Sin and rice, 
 being things that God never created, we ought to arbandon and abhor 
 them, as being derogatory to his Glory and V\'ifdom, and deftruftive 
 to the bcins of that which he was pleas'd to make for the fatisfaction of j 
 his own free will and plcafure.And hitherto A^/;-!?^ is good.But of /;4/(r, I 
 
 as-'
 
 HI E S L 1/ E S. 
 
 'as ar/V(f,cichcr in ourfelvcs towards o:hers,or from others to us, there 
 
 'is rcafon to be careful, thar, even with both hands, wc thruft them 
 
 'both away. IlAtred in our felvcs againft othc*rs,is but perpetuated and 
 
 'lono;-liv'd Anger-, which ought never to laft longer than the declining 
 
 ;Sun; but continued, like heady Wine, it intoxicates the Brain and 
 
 Scnfcs. He that nouriflies Hate in himfclt againll any other perfon 
 
 whatfoeverjfows weeds in his own Gardenythat will quickly choke thofe 
 
 Florvers,that elfc he might take plcafurc in. At firft,it does but fimper, 
 
 yet time will boil it up to height and rage. As Pifmircs towards Au- 
 
 guftt though they did but creep before, yet, now they will begin to fly. 
 
 Thcbcginmng tor the moft part is but mean and poor •, yet, 'lisjire-, 
 
 and from a iliaving, or ncglecled rufli, itcafily can fometimes whole 
 
 Ciiies turn to Cinders. The Feuds of Families bubbled up at firft from 
 
 little weeping Springs^ that any child with cafe might trample over, 
 
 that (hew'd all clear, and feem'd to tell no danger : but gathering as 
 
 they creep and curl about, they rife to ^x-f-r^ paft our foording over. 
 
 Tz/wu^jthac at Hrll allow'd himfelf to^4r<? but only bsd, grew at laft, to 
 
 hate whatever he found was Man. 'Tis Envies Eldeft Daughter, that, 
 
 befides being Coheir with Infaltation upon Adverjity^ troubled at Pro- 
 
 ;^fr//y,Back-bitingandloud-tongucdD(f/r4cr//(?/?; inherits all the mif- 
 
 chict that can arifc from Malice. No man drcnch'c in Hate,c^w promifc 
 
 to himfeli the candidnefs of an upright Jtdge ; his hate will partialize 
 
 his Opinion. He that is ^known to hate a man, fliall never be believed 
 
 in fpeakingot him ; no, in neither /r«/^, wot f.il(haod. If he fpeak well, 
 
 he fhall be thought to diffemble ^ if ill, it will be taken as from malice^ 
 
 and the prejudice that he is byafs't with. So, while he carries the heart 
 
 ot a Murtherer^hc fliall be fure to have i\\Q.fate ot a Lyar:noi to be he- 
 
 itev'i-, though he does fpeak what is true. 
 
 And though this in our fclvesbc fatally enough deftrudive, yet, 'tis 
 much more dangerous when it flies upon us from others, A Wife man 
 will be wary ot purchafing the hate ot any .Thofc which Prudence might 
 ^makc his Guard, as Cadmushis Teeth he fows into Serpents, that lie in 
 wait to ftinj. Againft the Hatredo^z Multitude there is no fence, but, 
 what mult come by Miracle. Nor Wealth, norVX'ir, nor Bands of 
 armed men, can keep them fafc, that have made thcmfclves the hate of 
 an inr aged multitude. 'Tis Thunder, Lightning, Storm and Hail, toge- 
 ther. How many /w/'m/i/ Heads did the Populacy ot the Romans ixczA 
 upon ? Let no man flight the fc^rns and hate ot the people. When 'tis 
 unjuft, 'tisa;^!?//- but, when'tisjuft, a £);-.ig<j». Though the Tyrant 
 featcd high, does think he may contemn their malice : yet, he may re- 
 member, they have many /'rfWj-, while he hath but one «ff/& only. If 
 he, being finglc, be dangerous to many ; thofe many will to him alone 
 be dangerous in their ^-«/f. The Sands of ^/"r/f^, though they be but 
 barren duft, and lightnefs ; yet, angcr'd bj the \^'inds,thcy bury both 
 theHorfcand Travailer alive. With any weapon that comes next, it 
 can both fight and kill. Quern quljque odit, Periilfe expetit ; His hated 
 Enemy he experts flionld perifli. And when he hath neither wealth nor 
 
 289 
 Cent. II. 
 
 p 
 
 ftrcngth,
 
 290 
 
 Cent. II 
 
 ^ESOLFES. 
 
 ftrength, he watches Occafion, and attends both Time and Foriune.j. 
 There be four things that more particularly do generate Hate ; Pridej 
 CovetoufKefs, Perfidioufnefs^ and Cruelty. 
 
 The/'y^x/ij/man is the (\x\i]t&. oi contempt . And 'tis no wonder to 
 find Man againft him ; when we find upon Record,that God doth re- 
 fift him. Pride is the eldert of the fevcn deadly Sins ; Arid becaufc, that I 
 would domineer over all, 'tis juft, that all fliould feck ro pull it down. 
 It it did caft Angels out ot Heaven from Earth, it well may throw of- 
 fending \M.iin. "Wxt proud Mxn would have us believe him to be ^<^cd-^ 
 he would rule all , he would be thought to exccll all : he would be 
 Tapal, and Infallible , when others know him to be l"hort of a dMafty a 
 Bond-man tofomc pitiful luft, and quite millcad and erring. And 'tis, 
 for this. That though fome out o^fear, or intereji, may bow to him j 
 yet, the generous and wife raoft abhor to have him their Ruler ■,x\\m can- 
 not rule himfelf : Ufually,thoU2h he be high, he is barren. Like Mount 
 Gilboa^he has neither dew nor rain, hs 10 Sejan/fs his Goddefs, For- 
 tune, wc o^ev Incenfe a.nd /'^r/ww^j-, till we find fhe turns awayj and 
 then (as he) wc kick her, and break her to pieces. Even Heaven , to 
 proud ones, does deny its Influence. Let no man therefore think to get 
 to Heaven and ftability by that, with which the Angels there could 
 not be permitted to ftay. 
 
 Secondly, Cox/ifr^Jw/^f/J-.This isfo greedy to catch at all, that it pulls 
 even hate along, A fordidnefs fo cleaves to it, that difdaia and fcorn at- 
 tends it. 'Tis the inlet of thofe fins, that grate, and fcratch, and gall, 
 Thefts, Rapes, and Plunders, Perjuries, and oppreiiivc Murthcrs ; and 
 makes a man not only a Thief, but a Jay lor too : For , whatever the 
 Covetous carchesjhe keeps it up a Prifoncr • fo that neither himfelf will, 
 nor any other can make ufeot it. Hatredis as properly due to the Co- 
 vetous^ as Affection to the Bountiful. And we may as well love the Rat 
 that drags our EwWifwi? into his hole, and eats it, as wc may the crar 
 ving and rapacious perfon. He empties all tl'.e veins, and fucks the hearts 
 life- bloud;for,he drains away Money;and that,the o\d,Comcdian\.Qh us, 
 Anima et fanguis eft iMortalibus ; 'Tis the common Peoples Soul. The 
 enjoyment of Propriety, is that which preferves men in peace ; but, he 
 that rapines upon that, as a Robber, Qiall find Swords and Staves taken 
 up againft him to defend iuSeptimius Severtu had not venturd to march 
 to Rome^ in queft of the Empire ; if he had not known his Souldiers all 
 paid, and Julianus hated of the people for his Covctoufnefs .Marcus Craf- 
 yiwbeinga ^tfw<i» General, had ne're been us'd fo hardly by the Par- 
 thians , as to have melted Gold pour'd.down his Throat, if his Ava- 
 rice and Rapine turning the publick calamities to his private bene^thsL<^ 
 not made him h'ated. 
 
 PoJ/idtatquantumrapHit Nero-y Alontibus Aurum 
 Ex<£quet, nee ante t que nquam^ nee ameturah uUo. 
 
 ^0/1:^ more than cMountains , or then iVi'^^feiz'd, 
 
 Can never make him plcafing, or well pleas'd. A
 
 ^ESOL^ES. 
 
 ^9 
 
 1 
 
 /-•lA third ail J main procurer oi Hate, is Faljhood and Terfidioufnefs ' 
 'Tis the highcft C/^f-i/ in Humanity, k deceived Truft exafpcraces af- 
 fection inco ail Enemy , and cancels all the Bonds of Nature- When we 
 profccutc a deceiver and a violator ot Faith, we undertake the caufc of 
 all Mankind. For every one isconccrn'd, that a Traytor and an Imfofior 
 1 be baniflicd out of the world ^ for, he that premcditately cozxns one , 
 docs not fci:;if« all, but only, becaufc he cannot. And , when a Man 
 grows once to be noted for a pcrfon ot/4^W,and a y«^/(?^,cvery man 
 will avoid him as a Trap that is fet only to give Wounds and Death. 
 As with a jadiili Horfe, if we will be fafe, wc muft be fure not to 
 come within the reach ot his heels : who is it that will not hate him, 
 with whom it is not fafc to live ? If a man be once a Fox, he ows his 
 prcfervation to his craft ^\\.\ nothing to the good will ot his neighbours. 
 He comes then to be in the Catalogue ot thofe,that "Teter Ramus fpeaks 
 of, Quidam verfantur in dolts , (^ eii quxlibet adverfantur. Every 
 thing is enemy to him that is deceitful. Pattfanias was but fufpedcd to 
 betray Ly/iW^rin thebattail; and the people would not reft till he 
 was baniflit [io\i\ among them. Dftf//'/- isaThiefin the night, which 
 ftealsupon us in the^-ir^j when wc think our felves j^cwrf" , and at;c 
 not awareof ehher his ^J^/yor his Time, which makes us flecp as it 
 were in Armour guarded abouc with bars againft him, and with majlijfs 
 to dcftroy him. 
 
 The next Monfler that calls up Hate againft us, is Cruelty ; which c- 
 ver is uflier'd on W\.t\\ fever it y and rigor, Man is a frail thing and fliould 
 he be put to expiate every otlencc with the extremity of Tunijhmott^^s. 
 muft have many lives, or elfe have his Torments cndlcfs. We cxpe6t a 
 Fathers pardon, and know the Gods do not alwaics/'«»//Z'to the height. 
 He that hath not mercy to mitigate CorreBion, excludes himfclf Irom 
 favour when he fails. To be alwaicsftricl and fcrupulous is not conver- 
 [aticnioiiWM-j It prcfcntly defccndshim into cruelty, which makes 
 him as awildbcaft tliunn'd. He that cannot kill him, will avoid him 
 ifhccan: 'TisnotinNaturc that ever he lliould be lov'd. 'Tis with 
 cruelty as 'cis with choler. It is kindled with meeting it's like : ^% flints 
 that knock togct!,er, (ire flics irom both. No man can love his Tormen- 
 tor, or him that would deftroy his being. Ferinaijla rabies eji, fanguini 
 gaudere et vulneribuJ,et,abjcflo homine,in fylvejlre animal t ran fire. That 
 rage is wholly bcftial that fmacks the lips wi-th bloud and bleeding 
 Wounds,and caftingol HumXmty lic paiTes into fierce and favagc. '^ero, 
 Caliaula, Vitellins, and many more, atford us fad examples of the end ot 
 cruelty ; and above all, the unfortunate Andronicus;\N\\o met with more 
 by the torrent of a popular hate than one would think humanity could 
 cither fuffer or invent ; All things that men met with, were inftru- 
 mcnts oifury^ and every "Boy and Girle became an Executioner. 
 
 To prevent the hate ofothcrs,is, not to love our fclves too much. 
 He that docs fo , becomes unrival'd in afleition , and at laft docs 
 love alone what all men elfe do hatc.Thcbcft is, not to prefer our pri- 
 vate before a generality ; and rather to pafs over trivial5,than be angry 
 I P p 2 at 
 
 Cent. II.
 
 292 
 
 Cent. 11. 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 at funliilios.Ws. that minds his own with moderation, and but fcldomc 
 intrudes on the concernments ot otliers, ll^all furely find Icfs caufc to 
 hate, or to be hated ; and may at laft con^e to live like the Adonis o' 
 the Tea, that ofi/w^fpeaks ofjin perfcdl: tranquillity among all the ra- 
 pacious fil'hcs of the Ocenn. 
 
 LXIII. 
 Of hardnefs of Heart. 
 
 '' I ■'His is not fo much when a man is carelefs and unfenfiblc ofa- 
 X. nothers condition, as when a maw by the pradice and cuftom 
 of fin is grown obdurate , and fcar'd up fo, as nothing can work upon 
 him to mollifie him that he may be medicinable. Origen<g\.\'ts ahand- 
 fomc Charader of it,Or durum eft, cum mens humane velut ccra.-^ fi^g"^^ 
 iniquitatis obfirtEtx^fignxQulum Imaginis divinx non reciptf ; Then is the 
 hart hardned when the mind of man like wax becomes fo pctrifi'd with | 
 the coldbcnummingsoffin, that the imprelfion of the Divine image I 
 cannot be made in it. So that other finncrs are palling on the way, but | 
 the hard-hearted is come within the confines ot a final dcftru»flion. He | 
 not only marches faft from God, but hcbniUs a wall at his back,' 
 that he cannot retire to the Camp where he might be fafc. He, 
 is pad'd over the Sea o! Iniquity ^ and then, as the Prime ot Orange at 
 the battail of l^wport, he fends away the iliipping , that he may rot 
 have amind to return. Hcputshimfclfoutofthe power of perfwafionj 
 like a Itubborn mctall, once ill caft, he leaves noway to be mended 
 but by breaking; fo much he is his own dire Enemy ^ that without a 
 Rape upon him he will not find Salvation. Tis not the diftilling fliowr 
 nor the gently tanning air, nor the ruiiiing wind, nor the rowling Thun- 
 der, that can work upon him. 'Tis only Lightning that can pierce thel 
 pores and melt the (keeled heart within thefcabbard, that mutt either 
 doe the bufincfs or leave him quite undor.c forever. For whatfocvcrl 
 happens to him to mend him, makes him worfe. | 
 
 Adverfity, that is the Academy of Lite to intiruft and breed up man 
 in all the waies of Virtue and Knowkdoe^ to him it's but like the Gaol 
 where he learns to fljift and cheat ■, till at lafl he grows incorrigible and 
 defperate. Profperityuins him to a harder temper. Elation leads in 
 difdain, which fpurns away the hand that oSers but tolitthim up. 
 Benefits fcldomfink into obdurate minds ; They take them to be Duty 
 in others, but merit and defert in thcmfclves. 'Tis the foft and gentle 
 Nature that is fooneft taken with a courtefie, there it tinks as clTcncc 
 does in cotton till all becomes a Fragrancy ; And therefore as 
 they are moft unhappy tothemfclvcs in the end, fo they arc worfe for 
 others to converfe with in the way. For as nothing but compuljlon can 
 make them be tndurable^ fo 'tis liot a little trouble to the inge- 
 nious to be put upon waies of conftraint. The generous nature likes 
 himfelf then the wortt, when he mull appear a pedagogue with a Rod 
 or Ferula even in his hand, the good inclination is loonetl: won by 
 
 fair
 
 1{ E S L V E S. 
 
 \ 
 
 tair and civil dealings. Buc ill difpfiotions being led by pajjlon and a 
 fenfual appetite grow dangerous when not awed by Forces nor yet are 
 they much the better hy funijjjment or faring worfe. The unruly horfc 
 that's fpurr'd is more lo tor his fpurring. Like the fteel both by fre 
 and rvater toojit is hiVrdned-^Pharaoh was not bectcr'd by all the plagues 
 brought over him. Nor were the "jevos by his example mended ei- 
 ther in the radiance otthcGofpel, or the raging of their fcdition in 
 Jerufalem. Neither was their obduration, or their obcutcation lefs. Judg- 
 ments that are thc/e^-rtJarj and the turners of the [educed Soul -^ that 
 hath but humanity in it ; upon the obdinate they do not work at all. 
 E'uhcz they reverberate them back before they pierce; as a wall of 
 fteel docs a blunt-headed arrow ; or if they do perhaps a little while 
 ■find entrance , like the Elephant with the Couvulfion of his nerves, 
 and his yodies contmliion, he cafts out the fliatt that flicks within him: 
 fo he clones in his ovon Corruption-, which elfe might find vent at the 
 vpounds. 'Tis a fatal Notion under which the Apofile renders it, The 
 hardness of thy Heart that cannot repent. As if by a Barr put upon it, 
 'it were fcaled up to ruine. He is chained and pnnion'd and prepat'd 
 for Execution , that he cannot repent. 'Tis like being born a/o(j/.VVhen 
 ■Nature has doom'd him among the imafmom and filly -^ 'tis not in 
 the power of corrcdion or inffrudion, or in all the arts, to cure him. 
 The peftel and the morter cannot do it , nor can the hardned Soul 
 by any thin^ be mollify' d, being indeed fit only for deJlruSiion. He is 
 neither meet to govern, nortobcgovern'dby others. AsT^^w^when 
 finking lo con fujion, nee lihertatem, nee fervitutem potejl tolerare.^^ci- 
 thcr Obedience or Commands can beindur'dor manag'd. And this 
 does cafily come to palTc when men arc once habituated in Vice. As 
 conftant labour fears the painful hand to hardned yrawn^and a callou* 
 in[enfibility : io the continued pradtice of Vice does hinder the minds 
 clear fenie, and leaves it in a way incorrigible., Dejinit ejje remedio lo- 
 cus^ uhi, qu£ fuerant vitia , mores fiant , Wlicn Vices habit themfelves 
 into cuftomc and manners, there then wants room to take in what 
 lliould Kemedy. If frailty therefore cafls us into Vice, let no ^mans 
 obfttnacy lo faftcn the nail in his Sod-, that it cannot without tearing 
 all iw picccs,bc puU'd out. He that commits an errour docs too much : 
 but he that perfifts in it, grows an Heretique., lliuts himfelt out of the 
 Verge of the Church ; lu is not qualified to claim jalvatioa. 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 LXIV. 
 
 Of ^vengc, 
 
 THcrc is no man that feeks Revenge^ but 'tis becaufe he conceives 
 he hath had injury done him. And though there be a fecming 
 ]uff ice in the requital ; yet, for the mofl part it is done by doing inju- 
 ry to him that firft offered it to us ; which in the a^or cannot but be 
 evil-, fince to offer injury, upon any fcorc, is unju/l. Anothcrs doing in- 
 jury to me, cannot legitimate my doing rvrong to him. So though it be
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 a thing both eafic and ufual,ancl, as the world thinks , favouring] of 
 fonic Noblcncfs, to repay a rvrt^ig with rvroag ; Yet Religion fpeaks the 
 fc^/rrfry, and tels us, ' Tis better to »f^/f(f? it than requite it. When 
 rvrofig is done us, that which we have to do, is to remove it. We arc 
 not commilHon'd to return it ; But doing rorong again, does no way do 
 the thing : What will it eafe me when 1 am vext, that I may vex a- 
 nother ? Can anothers fufferin^ fain, take oft trom my own fmart'i 'Tis 
 but a purer folly to make another w^-f/", becaufe 1 have that which 
 grieves n^e.' Nay well examin'd,'tis a kindof Frenzy, and fomething 
 Irrational, becaufe another hath done us a w//f^/(r/i therefore we will 
 hurt our felves, that fruitlefly we may do him one ; perhaps it may be 
 it was from hcnce,that Poets feign'd,thar Nemejis was by Jnpiter tran- 
 form'd into a Goofc, afiUy Creature, to fct out unco us x\\q foUy oi Re- 
 venge ; for, at bcft, 'tis in us, but returning eviliox evtl'^ and that, in 
 the tavourablefl appellation, we cannot call Icfs then frailty, which is 
 indeed an Inquination. Suppofc a mad Dog bites mc, fliall I be mad and 
 bite that Dog again ? If I do Mhim, 'tis not fo much to help my fcU, 
 as 'tis to keep others from harm. My intercft is to feek a prcfent Reme- 
 dy, while purfuing the Cur, 1 may at once both lofc my Wit and my 
 Cure. If a W^afpftingme, I purfuc not the winged Infeft, through 
 the air, but ftrcight apply to draw the venom forth. 
 
 And, in Revenge, though the rancour, Hiould be tolerable ; yet the 
 afurpation never ca.nhc jufilfied. The rig/jt oi vengeance rciXs in Coda- 
 lone, and he that takes it out ot his hand, he fo far does dethrone him, 
 as to put himfclf in his place. And while we throw a petty vengeance 
 ' on the head of our offending brother, we boldly pull the Almighties on 
 o«r ejv».Thcmind of man in peace and calm- warm charity, isthe TVwz- 
 />/£■ and the Palace oh\\c Holy Gho[l ; but. Revenge is a raging flame 
 that burns thisHoufc ofGod inthcLind. Like Hercjlratus, he gains 
 but a miftaken and polluted iame , that burns this rtaccly Strud;urc 
 of theGoddcfs. Through his own fwclld heart, he ftrikcs a lea- 
 rning fword , that he may , t.) plcafe his malice, but pierce his 
 enemies garment. Diogenes, fure, was much in tlie tighter way , 
 when to one that ask'd him, How he might take the bejl Revenge of 
 his Enemy} his anfwcr was. By jhevcing himfelfan hone [i and upright 
 man. St. Auguftine yet goes further, and fays. The revengeful man 
 makes himself the ^udge , and God his Executioner ; and, rvhen he 
 vpijhes God to plague that wicked Enemy of hU : 'Tis juft with God 
 
 to ask which rvicked one he means, iince both the be(l is bad , and 
 Revenge it felf is Injury. Nor is it only againft the laws of 'Divini- 
 ty, but againft the laws ot Reafon ; for a man in his orvn concern, to 
 make himfelf "^udge, and Accuser, and Executioner too. 'Tis like our 
 late mifnam'd High Court of Jujlice, to which the Loyal and the No- 
 ble , the Honejl and the Brave were violencd by Ambition and Malice, 
 and facrijiced to the r><«wc/2Jof mifguided Rage and Pajjion. Surely, 
 the beft return of /zy'wry is to do good, the next is to overlook it as 
 a thing below us. If it be injury , our revenge is in the Adors 
 
 bofome i
 
 SOLVES. 
 
 ofomc • What need vvc do that which his own nihid within him will 
 do for us ? If it be not in'pry^ wc ought not then to be ingry at all ; .o 
 if we have adirpofuion to do a (^/j^/^^/wrr , upon our felves the Re 
 veuge is to be pratdtiz'd, for that we have let owx pajjion boyl beyond the 
 temper that it oughr to hold. 'Twas a hii^h Imperial adt in Cot^rxde the 
 tirft, who having had a fliarp war with Hir»;7 Duke oi Saxeny , and 
 having had his Army by him newly overthrown, and his Brother bea- 
 ten out of the (ield ; yet being fick, and believing he lliouldfhortlydi'e, 
 he fends lor all the the Princes of the Empire, and there, though his 
 Brother were ftill alive, he recommends to 'em this his,^nemy,as the 
 htteftmantorule the Empire after him. Thus we fee, great minds do 
 fometimcs light on Adions fuitablc, and learn by comiwanding others 
 at laft to command tl.emfelves in the hight offeething bloud, to the 
 wonder and inftrudling, by example, fuch as God hath fei to come af- 
 ter : and to Okw us,that as in God,ro in thofe that in their power draw 
 neareft to him • there is a Greatnefs greater than Revenge^ while mea- 
 ner and klTcr Powers are wholly fwallowed by it. It fhews our want 
 offlrength,when we let thisP^^c/^Malferus. If we would fee what 
 kind of things they be,wc may learn from Aiartials friend that they arcj 
 
 -IndoBi-y quorum frxcordia nullts 
 
 Inter durn ant lev'tbus vidcM flagrantU caufis: 
 Qmntulacnna[-^ adeo eft occajio, Juffictt Irx. 
 Chryjippm mn dicit idem, nee mite Thaletii 
 Ingeniiim • dtikiq'^ Senex ■vicinns Hymetto^ 
 Qui partem accepts f<tva inter 'vinc'U cicutx 
 Accufatori nollet dare. • 
 
 Unlettcr'd fouls, whofe glowing hearts will hifs 
 With nothing,^ or what next to nothing is; 
 Each petty chance for pafTion ("hall futfice. 
 Though fo ^i^^///'^»i taught not, nor the wife 
 Cool Thdes : nor old Socrates^who would 
 In chains not part his Hemlock to the bold 
 Accufer 'gainit his life. ■ 
 
 If ever Revenge be fit to be taken, it is when all our paffions are be 
 calm'd;and then 'tis but as Phyhck to be us'd more to prevent a future 
 fit, than facisfic our craving appetite. AllT^^^gf isakindofWar, 
 and any eafic Peace is to be put before it;for,whcn we are once inga^'d, 
 wc know not when torecoyl. A finglc child may fire a populous City, 
 when all the wife men in it may perhaps be pos'd to quench it. If wc 
 confider rightly ; for themoft part, the Remedy is beyond the Dtfeafe; 
 and 'tis not a wife mans part, tochufc what is mofi: mifchicvous. He 
 that docs but deter it, gains time : and then vvc may look about and fee 
 our way more clear ; fo with fafcty we may make that Pufti/hmept , 
 which aftcd \npaJfion would be ^Revenge. 
 
 LXV. That 
 
 295 
 
 Cent.
 
 296 
 
 iCent.II. 
 
 3?^ E S LV E S. 
 
 h; 
 
 LXV. 
 
 That mofi men ha\e their Ti^eaknejfes, by which they may he taken. 
 
 THoush it be not ncceffary to lal^our for a flowiftg rtealth^ yet tis 
 fit we have fo much, as we nced^and not tor the veant ot veealth, 
 expofeour felvcs tobe »ifCi?/J/ftf/(?^to ///. As a man would willingly 
 "have wherewithal 10 do good; fo he may be happier to be in fuch zcon- 
 dition-) as not ^be obliged to inconvcmence^ through defcft, nor endan- 
 ger'd by Tlenty to be froud and fetuUnt. The Poor are fo fettered 
 by their ^wf/'/)', that they may cafily be taken by the Allault of any 
 that will but pretend their Relief. The Rick are taken by their own 
 ambition-^ by their faffton^ or their a^fetite^ their liberty^ or vpxntonne^s: 
 That 'tis no cafic matter in the extreme oi either tortunc, to refift a 
 fierce temptation when 'tis offered. And bcfides all thefe, inanyeftatc 
 our own Inclinations are the powerfulleft motive-Trains to lead us. 
 Whofoever fhcws ^ faffim or an Avidity to any thing ; he thereby tels 
 his Enemy where he is weak, and in what Mufe we may fet a fnare to 
 take him. And 'tis a rare thing to find any man fo fortify'd on all 
 fides,that he can reft ftanch agalnft all the baits thit arc caft out to catch 
 ^ him. Every man hath fomething whereby he may be taken ; and, 'tis 
 I rare to find that fillithatat fometimeor other will not bite ^ if the 
 I bdt be fuch as likes him. Even AtigttJ}us\\di>i his Mecxn.is-, and AUx- 
 under \\\% He fh^Jl ion. And 'tis well, if we be drawn at all , that we 
 happen to be led by a Noble Condiicl. Though 'tis beft when a man 
 can be his own Solomon., and his own hone ft H/ffhai , to fupport him- 
 felf, and overthrow the dcfigns ofhis Enemies; yet, he is next to 
 beft, that being in ^o»/'/,will take -sr^T'/ci? from the Oracle, rather than 
 the cheating K^ugur. 
 
 iut vitiou-i iw^», or fuch as 'are not baalnc'd by true Honour y have 
 not only fome peculiar f/zi'rzw//')'; but, they have every thing that is 
 lenfual tocnflave them. Andfomctimc even the mcancft and the moft 
 petty thing,a5 a chain, can lead them any where. If they be but Paper* 
 Kites, even a little boy withaflender thred can pull them where he 
 pleafeth, and draw them down from Heaven unto Earth ; A Horfc, a 
 Dog, a Landfcape, or fome lighter thing. Fiteliius and Apicitu were for 
 Gormandizing and Gluttony : refpa/ian and Didiuj ^ulianui were for 
 Profit;-A'^;-fl might be catch'd with a Song, and Vemitian with a Fly. 
 Claudius had his beloved Afufjrome^ and Craffus wept for the death 
 ofhis dear <JM.ur^na. Norisit/i?xr alone, but /'.t/Tt'aswcll asic, that 
 places us in the Difadvantage. A known Antipathy gives our Enemy 
 helptofubdueus. Even J5<f4/?^ that r^-^/liw w4»;-, have yet the fen fe to 
 make their advantage oi it. TheFox, that knows the Badger hateth 
 fluttiflinefs, by fowling ©f his entrance drives him out ot his Earth, 
 j And 'tis a vaft Prerogative , that man hath over the reft of the 
 1 Creatures , by only knowing their Inclinations and Abhorrencics. 
 
 He
 
 ^ E S L F E S. 
 
 He knows both with what l^/iits to incite tlieni, and with what fhewsls 
 to drive into the Net and Toyl : By knowing this,and appropriating:; to 
 their appetites and tears, he becomes a Malkr of thofe, that by his 
 Power and the Corporeal endowments of Nature,hc never would be 
 able to conquer. \\'hat force could Tcirc the uncontrolled Lyon, if it 
 were not tempted by the Lamb upon the port, or terrified l>y the fire 
 that he hates and trembles at ? What fwiltnefs could overtake or draw 
 the mounting Falcon from the Clouds, if the Pigeon on the Lure, 
 iliould not ftoop her to the fmall reward on the extended fift ? . 
 
 Doubtlcfs,Hc that hath the fewefl: fancies, that is free from the fting 
 of pointed and pricking rvant-, that is not tumor'd with the too much 
 barm of vtcalth^ that can moft conceal or mafter thofe ticklings and 
 afperities that he hath in himfclf, is the neareft to a contentful enjoyTnent 
 at home, and an unenvyd ^eril from abroad. I have never read of any 
 ' Ifland fo Impregnable, but Nature had left in it fome place or other, 
 by which it might be Vanquilliable : So it is more rare to find out any 
 perfon fo at all points Arm'd, but there is fome way left whereby he 
 may be fometime furprizcd. This PafTion, that Affeftion, this Friend, 
 or,that Kinfmanjthis or that delight, or inclination. He is thcjlrongejl 
 that hath feweft accclles. But, as thofe places are the weakefi that lye 
 open to every Invader ; fo certainly, he is the moft fubject to be over- 
 come, whofe eafinefs expofes him to be prevailed upon, by every, feeble 
 attempt. And however, by Nature, he may be fertile, and of a good 
 foyi ; yet, if he lies unmounded, he fliall be fure to be always low. At 
 leaft, a man would have a Fence, and a Gate, and not let every Beaft 
 that hath but craft or impudence, tograzeor dung upon him. In any 
 Efiate, it is mofl conducing to freedom, not to be behind hand. He that 
 puts himfclf into a needy condition^hc walks with manacles on his hands-^ 
 and to every one he deals with, gives power to lock them on. Necef- 
 fity is ftronger than cither mne, or Women j and if a Man be taken in 
 thatjhc is but as a ivyth in the hand of a Gyant : he can neither buy nor 
 fe^L like other men ; but,wearing his o\s\\chxins, is at the mercy of him 
 that will lead him. 
 
 LXVI. 
 
 Thai SptritHal thinp are hetter^ and temporal t^orje^ 
 than they Jeem. 
 
 IT is almoft univerfally true, that which Seneca faid of Joy, Omnes 
 tendunt ad Gaudittm jfed, ufide magnum (jr (labile confequantur, igno- 
 rant. Every man woul^i arrive at "Joy and Contentment, but how to 
 come by fuch as may hcgreat and lafting, there arc but few that know 
 Wc are quite miftaken in moi\ of what we grafp at. The Pjogrefs o! 
 Man is but like fome lofty Tower, crcdfed in the bottom of a Valley: 
 We climb up high, in hope to fee fVonders,and when we arc at the top, 
 our Profpedt is nothing the better. The Hills encompalTing, terminate 
 
 Q q our 
 
 ^97 
 
 Cent. 1
 
 198 
 
 Cent. II- 
 
 1{ E S L V E S. 
 
 our Eye, and we fee after all our piins, but larger piles of Earth, that 
 interpofe betwixt us and Heaven. Tht great ejl flea fure we had, was, 
 wh'i'n we were getting up : 'Beliefo'i better^ litts our eafie fteps ^ but, 
 mounted once, we find a cheated FAithi Which drew wife Bias to con- 
 clude, that , Nothing was to Man more fwect than Hofe. Even all 
 Earthly delights 1 find fweeter in expeiiatien^ than injoyment : But, all 
 Sptritml pleafures more in fruition, than expeSintion. Thefe Carnal con- 
 tentments that here we ]oy in, are fhcw'd us through a Profped^ivc 
 Glafs,which makes them feem both grcaterjclearerjand nigher at hand. 
 When the Devti took our Saviour to the Mountain. He fljewed him aU 
 the KingdomSy and glory of them j but never mentions the troubles, the 
 dangers, the cares, the fears, the vexations and the vigilancies, which 
 are as it were the Thorns and Mantlings wherewith a Crovpn is lined. 
 He held a full blown Rofe, but mention'd not the prickles fhadcd un- 
 derneath. I fomething doubt, whether to get wealth with fomc labour, 
 be not more/'/f/t/«ri?,than wantonly to fpend it. 'Tls a queftion, whe- 
 t'iier to expert a Cr(?iv/»benotmore««/f»f, than to wear one ? And 
 lurely, were not their Perfons Sacred, that is, by the Laws of God 
 and Man, untouchable as to prejudice j and fo, protected againft the 
 malice, the envy, the fury, and the rabidnefs of felf ended Man : It 
 would not be an eafie matter to Conjure him into that Enchanting 
 Circle, \Ahatfoever7V«»ptfr<?/yr/?f//^ we apprehend, we cull out the 
 pieafureSy and over-prize them ; thc^m//and moleftations we chhet 
 not fec,or are content to wink at. We gaze upon the face, and are be- 
 witched with the tempting fmilcs, while, under pleafing looks, a fad 
 Infedion, even the vitals taint. Like T>'»/f, they appear with a /ox-^/) 
 bujb before ; but, behind, are pik'd and baltd. It is but Mercmaid-joy, 
 that this frail world bequeaths us. 
 
 • — Turpiter atrnm 
 Dejinit in pifcem mtilier formofa fitperne. 
 
 ' That beaHteotts face in fliow. 
 
 Waves into lomefad jcitrvy jijh below. 
 
 And that thefe Sublunaries have their greateft frellincfs pl.ic'd in only 
 Hepe, it is a convidlion undeniable ; that, upon enjoyment all our ]oys 
 do vanifli. The fkafare 1 ifts not Ignger than we get it : and if it did 
 not leave a weft behind ; yet, being fo fleeting, it is not worth the leap- 
 ing of our pulfe to meet it. 
 
 But, when again, we look at what is Spiritual: like thofe that pra- 
 dife to beguile themfelves, we turn the Glalles t'other end about, and 
 give a narrowing figure to all thofe fair proportions that vvould pro- 
 pofc themfelves to our eye; we believe them lefs, and more remoted 
 from us. Our Senfes do with us, as Philo Jndjetu fays, the Sun does deal 
 with Heaven : Itfeals up the Globe of Heaven, and opens tlie Globe 
 of Earth: So the Senfe does obfcure things that are fpiritual and hea- 
 ve»ly : bur, reveals and augments what are terrene and temporal. 
 
 Tlie
 
 I^ESOLl/ES. 
 
 Tlie Sphere of ^^ir/^Wr^i/T^j is higher than our Scnfc can reach: but, 
 as wc moun r, our Profpedt ftill is nearer. Mquiripotejl, ajlimari ion 
 potefl; Obciin'd it may bcjbut rightly valucd,never. Who atfirftblnfli 
 (if Humanity may be Judge), would choofc the Attflerities of a Regular 
 and Confcientiofd life ? Our Saviour at firft, f by reafon of the Ignorance 
 and Infidelity of Man) gave his Church the power oi Miracles, to con- 
 vince men to the belict of finding a felicity [w godlinefs . For albeitjit be 
 moft true, that is memorably fpokcn by i/Eneas Silvim ; that admit- 
 ting chrifiianity had not by our Saviour and his Apoftlcs been confir- 
 med by Miracles \ yet, it would in time have been taken up, and enter- 
 tained and rooted in mens hearts for the very honejly and integrity oi'iv. 
 yet,by the but meanly wife and common duftions of bcmifted Nature, 
 it would have been no very powerful Oratory, to perfwade the taking 
 up of our Crofs to follow him. But, when men afterwards came to fee, 
 how in the lownefs of difgrace and poverty, and in the height of piin 
 and torment, chrifiixns became irradiated with Internal J oycs ; then 
 Profelytes came in in rwarms,and by the Spirit were taught to wade over 
 all thofe (hallovfis which Iflanded that Country o{ felicity, in which the 
 truly pious perfon dwells. A man that hath not experienced the Con- 
 tentments ot Innocentive Piety,i[\Q fwcetncircs that dew the Seulby the 
 Influcncics of the Spirit, and the RaviHiin^s that fometime from above 
 do flioot abroad in the Irnvard Man, will hardly believe there are filch 
 Obleftations that can be hid in godlinefs. They are the Reprejentations 
 of the ^oyes hereafter, which arc fij high, that like God the Author of 
 them, we may fooner apprehend them by Negatives, than Affirmati- 
 ons. Wc may know what is not there ; but, wc never can come to 
 know what is there, till by a pleafed fruition we can find them. Let 
 no man then be difirouragcd with the pallidncfs of Piety at firft, nor 
 captivated with the fceming frGllincfs ot Terrenity : both will change. 
 And though we may be deceivedin both ; we fliall be fure to be cheated 
 but in one. 
 
 LXVII. 
 
 OfBufinefs. 
 
 THcrc are fome men that have fo great an averfion to Bupnefs, that 
 you may as foon perfwade a Cat into v(>ater,ox an Ape to put his 
 fingers [mo fire, as to get thcni to enter upon any thing that may prove 
 trouble, or beget attendance. But thefc, for the moll parr, arc perfons, 
 that have pafs'd their youth undifciplin'd, and liavc been bred up in 
 ;hat delicacy and tcndcrncfs,that they know no other Bufimfs but their 
 Pleajures;and are impatien tof any thing that looks but like a hinderancc 
 of that: yet, this in the end, does many times produce cfTects, that 
 prove ungrateful and dcflrudtivc. For hereby the management o{ affairs 
 do often fall into inferiour hands, that through Covetoufnefs and Ambi- 
 tion, and for want of skill, put all the wheels of Government out ot \ 
 
 der ; i 
 
 Cent.it 
 
 Q^ 
 
 ore
 
 500 
 
 P,ES L V E S. 
 
 Cent. II. it>rder ; till they run both thcmfclvcs and the Sfau into ruin. Like un- 
 Praftiz'd and ignorant Apothecaries, theydofo difproportion their 
 Ingredients, that inftcad of favingPhyfick, they miniftcr but difcafe 
 and poyfon. There are another fort of men quite contrary to thtfe, 
 whom cuftom and quotidian prafticc has made fo much in love with 
 ABiofi^ that if they once come to be put by their Imflcyment^ even life 
 it fclf fccms tedious and an irkfomc thing ; and, like a Spaniel ty'd up 
 from his hunting, they flccp away their time in fadncfs and a melan- 
 choly. Certainly, as the world is more beholding to men of BuJiKefs, 
 than to men of I'leAfiire • fo the men of Pleafttre muff be content to be 
 govern'd by thofc of Im^kyment. However they are contemned by the 
 vanity of thofe that look after nothing but Jollity : yet, the Regiment 
 of the world is in their hands ; and they are the men that give Laws to 
 the fenfual and voluptuous. Therefore, that man is but of the lower 
 part ot the world, tliat is not brought up to bnfjnefs and aff.iirs. And, 
 though there be, that may think it a little tooferious for tlie capering 
 bloud and fprightly vigour of Youth : yet upon experience, they fliall 
 find it a more contcntive life than idlenefs^ or perpetual joviality. He 
 that walks conlfantly in a fmooth andalcvel'dpath, fliall be foontr 
 tyr'd, than he that beats the rifing and defccnding ground. A calm at 
 Sea is more troublcfomc,than the gale that fwells the Waves. If a man ; 
 with a Sythe flrould Mow the empty Air, he fooncr would be weary 
 than he that fweats with toyl to cut the {landing Corn, imjinefs is the ' 
 Salt of Life, that not only gives a grateful fmack to it, but it dries up 
 thofe crudities that would offend, prelervcs from putrcfadtion, and 
 drives o:l all thofc blowing Flies, that, without it, would corrupt it. I 
 And that this may appear more calic, there arc rcquilitc to be had in 
 BnJjKcfsy both KnoTvledge^ Tempn, and Tiw^. j 
 
 Without a man KNcyvs what he goes about, he lliall be fubjeft to go 
 aftray, or to lofc much time in finding out the right. And it will be : 
 fure to fecm more tedious, than it would if he kficrv the Road. J 
 
 And ii he want Temper ^ he lliall-befure not to want, trouble. Even j 
 all the Stars arc fecn in night, when there is a clear fcrenity. but tern- ( 
 pefts riling, darken all thc^sky,and rake thofc little guids of light away. 
 >io ftorm can fliakc the Edijice of that Mifd that is built upon the Bafe 
 of Temperance. It placech a man out of the reach of others, but 
 bringeth others to be within his own. 'Tis the temper of the Sword that ; 
 makes it keen to cur, and not be (uckt by others flriking on it. 'Tis the ■ 
 Oyl that makes the joynt turn fmoothj and opens the dore without 
 noife. C^jar with a word appcas'd a daring Muti/.y , by calling of his [ 
 Army Romans^^ndi not his Fe/Zorv-fou/diers. And witli as fmall a matter , 
 Pfamueticus^Av^A the Saccagcof a City. Cyru^s had r.ewly taken one o( 
 his, and the Souldicrs in a hurry running up and down, Pfam»eticus 
 with himjasked what vcas the matter ? Cyrus anfrt'er'd; They dejfroy and 
 plunder yoHr City. Pfamneticm replycd,// is mt Korv,Sir, mine-, hut yours. ^ 
 ^nd upon that conlidcration, they were prcfcntly call'd oil" from the,' 
 Ipoyl. 
 
 The
 
 ^ E S L F E S, 
 
 The ncxc is ctic apdy timing ot aHairs tor which there can be no par- 
 ticular precept, but it mull be left to judgment to difccrn when the fca- 
 fon is proper. Men do not reap in feed- tunc, x\oi fow in Marveft. phy- 
 ficiinsg\.\t not Purges till they have prepared the humours. The Smith 
 may llrike in vain and tyre his Ubouring armj\i firft with fire his iron be 
 not moUiJi'd. Circumftanccs are many times more than that which is 
 the main, and thofe mull; be left to be laid hold on, as they otfer thcm- 
 fclves to occafion. Men may fit their ^4//j and cart their w//, and, as 
 the Jpofilesy firti all night and catch mthwg, if they take not the fea- 
 fonswhen the Jhoa/s do move upon thofe Coafis they trade in. And let 
 a man be furc to drive his :S«^»(?p , rather than let that drive him. 
 When a man is brought but once to be »eceffifatedy he is then become 
 zvaffail zo his affairs -^ tht^ mafierhxm, that fhould by him be com- 
 manded. And like a blind man wanting fight for his way , he is led a- 
 bout by his Dog. Any thing ported off till the laft, like a SmrobaL rowls 
 and gathers, and is by far a greater Giant than it was before it grew to 
 Age. As Exhalations once condens'd and gather'd,they break not then 
 but with Thunder. In the laft A(fts of Plays, the end of bujinefs com- 
 monly is a huddle : The Scenes do then grow thick-, and quick', zudfuU. 
 As Rivers though they run fmooth through Icngthncd Trails oi Earth-, 
 vet when they come near the Sea, they fwel/, and roar^, and foam. Bu- 
 jinefs is like the Devil, it ever rageth mort when the time it hach is 
 tliortcft. And 'tis hard to fay which ot t!.c tveo is worfe ^ Too nice a 
 Scrupulojity, or clfc too raili a Confidence. He is as mad that thinks 
 himfelfan Vrinal, and will not ftir at all for fear oi cracking -, as he 
 that believes himfelf to be /Z'<'/-/rf^, and fo will run among the hailoi 
 a battanl. And furcly,it conduces infinitely to the eafe (^bufinefsywhcn 
 we have to deal with honefi and with upright men. Facile impe*ium in 
 boms ; The good and wife do make the Empire ^■\(\q. Reafon,ind Right, 
 give the fooncrt difpatch. All the intanglemctus that we meet withal, 
 are by the Irrationabiltties arifing from our fclvcs or others. With an 
 lionert man and wife, a bufincfs foon is ended , but with a Fool or 
 Knave there is no conclufion, but never to begin. Though they feem 
 tame beafts., and may admit awhile to be plaid with ; yet on the" fo- 
 dain, and wbcnwc think not on't, they will return to their natural de- 
 ceit and Ferocity, ' Tis not enough that the Sea is fomctime calm and 
 fmooth, but we had need be fure there be wo She he s nor Quick- fands 
 under that ftill water. 
 
 LXVIII. 
 
 Of Nohiitty. 
 
 THom.ts Sarfanneshc'wg asked, what kind of Prelate he thought 
 Eugenim the 4th, would prove ? Hisanfwer.was : you may ea- 
 fily gucfs at that, if you know but the ftock he coraes off : for fuch as 
 is his Family, fuch a/'r/w^rflull youfind him. 'Tis true, by his own 
 I ' virtues 
 
 901 
 Cent. I
 
 301 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 "F^ESOLVES. 
 
 'Virtues or 'vices a man does often difler/roni his Progenitors. But ufual- 
 ly through fucccllive generations the bloud does hold its Tiwdure. And 
 mz Noble Family for the nioft part the ftream does? ftill hold l^ble. 
 Which by wife States hath been fomctimcs fo prefumcd upon, that 
 they have fct marks of Honour upon them ; not only out of refpcd to 
 their ^nceflors, hm out of hope to find the Succeffor not to deoeneratc. 
 It was a Law among the ^owiZ^/j that if there hapned contentions in 
 their elcdions for the fonfulfhip, Thofe that were defcended of the 
 Sylvians, Torqmtieins^ and fahitians, fhould in the firft place be pre- 
 ferr'd. And we fee it common among PrinceSyThn offices of tru{t,and 
 places of command, are fctledon the Heirs offonx^ deferving Fami- 
 liesy as prcfuming they will merit to keep what their Jncejlors at firft 
 by their merit did acquire. Certainly,it is to be belicv'd that he which 
 out of nothing, or a mean beginning, is the fivft founder of a Hou[e and 
 Fortune-, had fomething in him beyond the Standard of an ordinary 
 man. And 'tis likewife to be believ'd that where the fpirits arc fo by 
 Virtue and Induftry rarifi'd and refin'd ; even in the generation of po- 
 fterity they do tranlmit themfelvcs, and are propagated to fucceeding 
 .^ges. Some Families are obfervable for peculiar eminences in the cur- 
 rent of fuccclTions. The /J0ZW4WJ- had not a Family ot more merit than 
 the Scipios. And it is not unworthy our obfcrving that even the firfl 
 founders oi that Family, were eminent for their piety to the Gods and 
 their Parents. The firfk whcreof,whcn his Father was b!ind,as his ftarf, 
 he was his Guide,and led him about in his way;from whence he took 
 his Name. The next being a Child did every day in private fee out 
 fome time for the Temple ', Aud at ly years of age brought oif his 
 reetmded Father^cncom^ih^^ii by the Enemy. And indeed he that dif- 
 charges hisduty to thcfe twojcannotbut be eminent in all the reft of 
 his convcrfation.Thc foundation o^ Honour and Greatnefs is laid in obe- 
 dience and rcfpeft to thcfc : But the neglect thereof, or the lewd pra- 
 6lice of the conrraryj puts a man out ot favour with Natures genius '. 
 and leaves him to be ravin'd upon, by all the Infedls of his own fmall 
 Appctitcsjas well as the greater ragingsof his intemperate paffionsXwQ^ 
 that are bred under the government ot fuch as are thus wife, have 
 infinitely the advantage of a Plebeian Race. Tncy are fcafon'd with the 
 Maxims of Honour.^ and by their education lilted above thofe groller 
 vapours that they are fubjcd to, that have their being in the lower Re- 
 gionofmen. Andif but one in an age fteps up to do this, heleavesit 
 as example ; and puts poftcrity in the way of continuing it. And not to 
 fpeak of the helps of Fortune,which (unabus'd) are infinite. They are 
 prefidented 'v:\x.o Virtue and Honour-, and they are dcterr'd from poor 
 and skulking conveyances, by theorientnefs-of that lame which their 
 Fare-fathers left them : fo that, doubtlefs, earth cannot prelent us any 
 thing that is rwoxc glorious \k\-:iW3iX\\\GX\t Nobility., when it isillufiratcd 
 by the rays of Virtue. And though to be a King in Virtue and if'ijdom is 
 ' the brighteft Jewel that fparklcs in a Regal Crown (as Solomon" <, rvifdom 
 renowned him more than his being Monarch of the whole twelve 
 
 Tribes •
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 \ 
 
 5°5 
 
 :Trii>es) ;yQc furcly,as in a beautiful "Body the temper dnd tranfcendency CeifT. 11. 
 of the fpirit is more grateful, To is Virtue dfomore lujirotu Mdjhtaing 
 in tiie (km oi/tntient and ennobled bloud, than in the ntwnefsof a rifino 
 Houj'e, Each may be marble in the Quarry where it licsjand not of that 
 courfe rag that common pits aftord. But it muft be art and induftry 
 and the diligence of the laborious hand that gives it gltfs and jmooth- 
 nefs ; before the ftrcaks and taking veins can be difcern'd in it. If there 
 were not fomethin'g more than ordinary that lay coucht in this bed of 
 Honour , fure Nature never would {o have framed the mind of man, 
 as to have planted in it an appetition of it in generous and enlarged 
 Souls. -4/i?Jc<?W^r would needs derive tromT«/'//'fr^ the ^<»w<2w from 
 Hercules^ from f'^»/^,from e>fi»f/«f,and the like. And how many Nati- 
 ons have thought it their honour to draw their Defcents from the Tro- 
 jans ? as it was an honour to be a Gr^ecian, where virtue and the arts 
 were learned : fo it was held a Itain^nd he was branded with the name 
 ol 3. Barbarian, that was of another Nation. It was objefted to ^»r/- 
 Jlhenes as a difgrace, that but his Mother was a PhrygUn ; had he not 
 well v/ipcd it oif,by replying that Tbrygix was the Mother of the Gods. 
 But however it be, it is Virtue and true Noblenefs that is the Crown of 
 Honour. It enamels and enchafeth what is Gold, anditguilds what is 
 poc, that it makes it like it. They that arc of the higheft merit in them- 
 fclvcsjrric lead infift upon their Ancefiry: for they well know Aliem 
 budat„ qui genus jaci at juum^ Who boafts his Stock, commends but 
 wnac'^ . mothers. The beft ufe they can make of glorious Anions by 
 ;hem well atchicv'd, is to endeavour that they may outgo them. Or at 
 Icaft CO beware, they darken not, by their own declination, the fplendor 
 that they liv'd in,The bcft way to keep their Anceftors great afts in me- 
 mory, is to refrcflithem with new oncs^ot their own. And let them be 
 fare t.j remember, they grewupto that brightnefsby degrees. Even 
 hrc it fclfjthcquickeft of the Elements, mult be kindlctl and blown up 
 by degrees, betorc it Amines it felf into a flame : when it breaks out on a 
 foJain, it is ufuallv both ominous and harmful. The Sun docs rife in- 
 fenfibly to his Meridian glory -^ but the very light of Lightning burns. He 
 that ac thelirft- leap jumps into, the height of all his ^^ncefters^y had 
 need be (trong and well winded ; left he loofe his Race before he gets 
 ro the port, lie leaves himfcU no room for cafual accidents,nor can he 
 give a loofe, if he be put to ftrein in his Race. Of the two it is better to 
 be the f w/ot the Family, than the Unthrift. Another Generation may 
 prove wifi; : but the l^otoui and indifcrcctly/ro^^/^^/ after he hath wa- 
 tted all the fruit , he digs up the Tree by the root,that it can bear no 
 more. And inftead of hoped applaufe, he departs the world with in- 
 famy, and dwells among the curfes of pofterity . A degenerate Son of a 
 Noble Family, is a worm at the Root, that would make a Jonas angry j 
 lor it takes away the fliade from all thatlliall come after. A Spend- 
 thrift like an Earthquake docs lliakc the houfe To long, that at latt it 
 either falls in pieces, or is fwallowed up in Ruine. He pilTcs on his Fa- 
 ithers Honourable ajhes, that by his Vices makes them Itir, and ruffles 
 
 them
 
 304 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 "IjES L V E S. 
 
 them in his urn. In ftead ot warming Suns; they are the bearded comets 
 of a ^**/>,that threaten nothing but portentous horrors. And when they 
 have nothing of their own,but their Fore-fathers /»m/.f,thcy fublift but 
 like to Felofts, by the protedion of that Altar, from whence if puU'd, 
 they fall to eie4th znd Jh^ime. Who would not rather have died over all 
 chofe deaths that Tyrants have invented ; than being the Son of the el- 
 det Seipio appear a CMdidateio befmeared with vice, as to be fin'd by 
 the Cenfors, to be turn'd out of the Stmte, and have the Signet (with 
 the head of his GlorioM Fither graven on't) torn from otf his finger: Or 
 as Qutittm Fahitu MAXtmm^ for his horrid Luxury to be forbidden by 
 iheTrrf/or, formedling with his Fathers goods, and not one in all 
 Rornes City to be forty for it ? He is not like to be prevalent in Bat- 
 cailjthatjwithout his own ftout fighting, thinks it is enoygh for him, to 
 be covered with the fhields of his Ancejiors. 
 
 , Qjds entm Generofum dixerit hum^ Qui 
 Indignw genere dr proclaro nomine tantum 
 Infignis ? NuMum cujufdam Atlanta. ^'ocAmm ; 
 tyEthiepent^ cygnum ; yayvam extortamque pHeUim 
 £uropen : cantbtu figris fcabieque vetnjia 
 Lttvibui^ dr ftcc<e lambentlbfu or a lucerne, 
 Nomen erit Fxrdm, Tygris-, Leo^ fi quid adhkc eji 
 Quod fr emit in t err is violentim. ErgocAvalit 
 Et metues, ne tu Jis Cretict*s aut CAmerimu. 
 
 Who w'le count him Noble that univorthy lives 
 Of his great flock ; and by that only thrives ? 
 We may as well fome dwarf zx\ o/^/^icall; 
 A More^ a SvpAn ; fome low crook'd Girl, the tall 
 Eurofa ; 'Tis but as we names beftow 
 Ot Leopard^ Tyg'^i Lion-^ or what now, 
 'smore fierce on earth, to mangy Curs that lick 
 The nafly nozelofforac Candleflick. 
 Beware and fear, then, left thou prove in fine, 
 A Cretim falfe, or prophane Camerine. 
 
 LXIX. 
 Of three th'w^s to he conjideredin S^en, 
 
 TN every man that we meet with, there be three things that incountcr 
 our Conjideration. The tjMind^ the Behaviour, and the Perfon. As 
 3 beautjt in any of thefe,commends the party to our liking; fo a blemijh 
 in any of thcfe, flicks fome difgrace on the unhappy owner. The moft 
 beautiful and the moft lafting ot thcfe, is that which to the eye is not 
 vijible; and, though it take not thatyi"/!!/?; yet, it cads abroad fuch 
 Rays^ as draw out the/ox'f and ///t/'^^ot thofe, that come to find the 
 goednefsy or the parts^ that it is furnillit with. How graceful docs the 
 
 _^ ingenuity 
 
 1
 
 "l^ E S L V E S. 
 
 ingenuity of foiue men make them ? 'Tis a wealth by which chcy livcj 
 and many times having none of their own, they are, lor the handfome- 
 nefs of their difpofttien^ taken inio a partfter/hip ot Smpire, with thofc 
 that hi\eal^H»daKce. S\xc[\\s2ls Ariftifpfn, being at firlt iorc'd to read 
 Philosophy to get a living, by the greatetulnefs of his wit and parts, 
 grew high in the favour with Dionyjius : And when he had been fliip- 
 wrackt at Sea,and ca(t upon Rhodes ; it got him fuch friends thcrc,thac 
 when all his Companions return'd, he was tempted by the favour of 
 the Citizens to ftay from his owiT Country among ftrangcrs j with 
 whom he had no Intereft, but what his parts had won him. You may 
 take him in the Charader that Horace hath left of him. 
 
 Omnii Arijlippum decuit Statw, (^ Color ^ (jr Res. 
 In all the wiles of Fortune he was lovely. 
 
 Surely, 'tis the Nobleft wealth, and with moft eafc is carried every 
 where. *Tis kept without a forein Guard, and is of prcfent ufc where- 
 foe' re a man is thrown. Like the Philofophers ftonc, it creates a man 
 gold, that had none of his own. It turns the coorfer Metal into ufc- 
 ful Coin, and is fuch as cannot be lol\ without our health or hei/ig. 
 And truly, the beauty and comlinefs of the body-^ does oft-times do the 
 like ; nay, with mean capacities, it does a great deal more ; for, it 
 fuits to their miKdia.nd is more obviom to their fenfes.,:ha.t fee no deeper 
 than the grounds of Corporal Beauty, and the emanations ot apleapng 
 JJpeci. Yet, certainly, 'tis a form that pleafeth all, as well the vetje 
 in mind^ as the rveak in apprehenjion. Xenophon was of more than ordi- 
 nary lovelinefs ; and being a youth, by chance was met by Socrates 
 in a narrow Ally at Athens; Socrates \i]i.mgh[s afpeB, held out his 
 ftaffe to ftop him in his way, and queition'd him, rvhere fuch and fuch 
 {Merchandizes veere fold't which A?w/'/'(?/? prcfcndy told him? Tnen 
 he ask'd him, if he knew, vpheremen werernade better-, to this he 
 faid, He could ntt tell. '\\\Qn(^^% Socrates, Go with me, and I yvii fhexv 
 you. Upon this he became his Scholar, and afterward grew a favorite 
 to Cyrtai^nd for Arts and Arms, left his memory famous to even this 
 very day. 
 
 The next is a handfome Behaviour. He that demeans himfelf W'.'// is 
 ever ufher^d in by a. friend, that recommends him to the Company 
 that knew him not. 'Tis not difficult by the behaviour to gucfs at 
 the Man. This is a motive Beauty, which waits upon the whole body, 
 as the other docs upon the /iff and ftf/»/'/<?vV/<';;. Saptenti viro tnceffus 
 moiejlior convenit. A fobcr Garb becomes the wifcr man. The Em- 
 peror Trajan was fo winning this way. That his friends would have 
 thought it too much, had lie not fatisficd with this Anfwcr, That 
 he defred to be fuch a Prince to others, as he dejired an other Prince 
 fjould be to him, if he were a SubjeCl . There is a grace waits upon 
 [» noble TH^, that cxa6ts a liking, it not a love from all that do behold 
 It. The grave and civil perfons flock't about Ltvia at the Thcarcr, 
 I 11 r while 
 
 Cent. II.
 
 job 
 
 Cent. 11- 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 while Julidi like the five, by her ridling up and down»had fliak'd up all 
 the charfy ware about her. 
 
 As thefe, being well cemflexicned, procure favour and let us into i 
 mens afedions •, fo a Itain in any ot them, fets us like the Owle among 
 iBirdsj if there be but light, we fhall be fure to be chatter'd at, or: 
 ftruck at. A mind that's fill'd with igmrAme^ or the j>erver]hefs of a ' 
 frorvarddifpofition-i hath ma ly enemies and no friends. As upon the Sea , 
 iw a ftorm , men may look without horror at a diftance, but never i 
 will covet to come upon it j where, it we efcapc drowning, wc can- 1 
 not being frighted and wet. He that is of a bad difpefttioa, wants no- 
 thinw of being a Tyrant , but Foveer ; and wants not jv///, but mcms 
 to do mischief. 
 
 He that is a Cloxvn in behaviour, {cWs people, that itjloxvsfroma rude 
 mind. Diogenes, though he had vf>it,hy his currijhnefs got him the name 
 of Dog ; and coming once to a fcal\, the Company call'd him fo, and 
 threw him bones : And,tomake good the appellation that they ftyl'd 
 him with, as they fate at the Table, like a Dog, he pirt on their backs- 
 The Vices that wc harbour inwardly, are divulg'd by our outward 
 fafhion. £.v minimis poterk cogmfcere impudicum ; ^- Incef^m ofiendit^ 
 (jf mantts mota-, ^ inter dum Refponfum^ ^ relit m ad caput digit us.^ (^ 
 flexui oculorum. Improbum (jr infanum rijw., VHltttSy Habitufq', demon- 
 ftrat. Even petty things the wanton do difcover, the gate, the mo- 
 tion of the hand, fometimes the anfwcr, holding up the finger to the 
 head, or the verycaftoi the eyes docs do it. Laughter, the Coun- 
 tenance, or the habit difcovers us to the wicked and the wild. And 
 though fometimes, under an unpleafing Afpeft, the goddnefs of a 
 wcll-difciplin'd infidc may be cover'd •, yet, ufually, the dcform'd arc 
 Envious and Difdaining ; and they had need excel others in the mind, 
 being muldlcd by Nature with a corporal deformity. t^/;/>, with all 
 the Morality of his handlom Fables , could not wipe of this coorf- 
 nefs of his outfidc ; which, doubtlcfs, as a chain held him ever in the 
 condition of a ilave : who elfcby the fublimity of his Fancy might 
 have mounted to higher preferment. 
 
 The bell remedies for thefe are Divinity., Morality, Phyjtck. Reli- 
 gion can convert and'adorne that mind, which naturally was ill. It is 
 the Reafon of a Deity, which doubtlcfs can do more than al! that is in- 
 fus'd from man; and, comprehending the univerfal duty of man, as 
 to God, the World, and himfeh, it rauft needs excel in this, all that 
 can be gained from man. They that are truly adled from the infpirations 
 of heaven, have all that can be got from below, with the excellencies 
 of what is above. 
 
 Though to mQni\ out Converfation, Philofophy can go far, as5*- 
 crates did confcfs to Zopirus, when he taxed him ot feveral Vices ; yet 
 it's etfeds are allowable rather in cutward Morality, than in the m- 
 trinfick integrities o'i the foul. And certainly, when that is prevalent 
 within, the outward demeanor is both acquired and dircfted by it 
 
 a. ' ' 
 
 A wife man ought not in his carriage to commit 
 
 ^^olecifm againft: 
 VVifdom.
 
 ^{ESOLVES. 
 
 Wifdom. For there may be many outward geftures that are not in 
 themfclvcs «»/4n?/«/; yet, highly arc undccent. It was obferved by 
 theJfWJ, i\\zt^ cum di^tto loquitur Jiult as -^ the pointing finger enfigns 
 out a Fool : though the hand may dired to the text, yet it dwells but 
 in a blank margcnt. It was one of Salons Adagies, In via non^rovemn- 
 dum ; To run upon a Joiarney, is either neceflity or folly. And the 
 Cringes of fomc are fuch, as one would take them to be Dancers or 
 Tumblers, rather than pcrfons of ftav'd and fober Callings. Men are 
 like Wine, not good before the lees of Clownifhnefs be fettled • nor 
 wiicn lis coo windy, and will fiy out of the Bottle ; nor when tis too 
 aufterc and fowre to be tafted. In a midling clarity and quickncfs it is 
 beft : And fo is man in his carriage and comportment^ when he is neither 
 dull nov vapouring^ nor too ^/?rr and /i^T'^ri? in his way. He that can 
 prcfervc himfelt m this temper, fhall preferve Yivsbody in health the 
 better ; and fo corre6t the inconveniences chat may by want of that 
 render him lefs grateful to the company. As 'tis not neceffary for every 
 man to be a Dodor in thefe Arts : fo it will be convenient, he have 
 fo much of theiu as may not only keep him from contempt ^\xi procure 
 him approbxtion abroad. 
 
 LXX. 
 
 Of Dancing, 
 
 DOubtlcfs, it was out of the jollity of Nature, that the Art of this 
 was firft invented and taken up among men. Bate but the Fiddle; 
 the Colts, the Calves, and the Lambs of the held, do the fame. So 
 that the thing in it fclf fccms to mc to be natural and innocent, begot 
 and born at fir(I out of the fprightly and innocuous Activity and Rare- 
 lication of the bloud and jpirits, excited by the youthful heat that 
 flows and flowers within the fwelling Skeins. We need therefore the 
 lefs wonder, that fome of the Ancient Grecians lliould fo much extol it, 
 deriving it not only from the Amantty and Floridnefs of the warm and 
 fpiritcd bloud-^ but, deducing it from heaven it felf, as being pradiz'd 
 there by the Stars, the Conjuniiions, Oppofitions, the Af^etis and Re- 
 volutions, the J»grej[es, and the Egrejfes, and the like ; making fuch 
 a Harmony and Confent, as there (ttva^ z we^- ordered dance ^\\\or\^^ 
 them. 
 
 And we fliall find it not only pradiz'd by the Generality of al- 
 moft all the Nations of the Earth ; but by many of them, andthofe 
 the moft Generous and Civiliz'd, brought into the Solemnities of 
 their Religion. As the Mr/^ww^ had their Ccr^^^/zff.r. The Cretians, 
 their Curetes dancing in Armour. In Delos , nothing [acred fcarfe 
 ere done without it. The Indian Brackmans, morning and evening 
 dancing did adore the Sun. The <tyEgyptians, t/Ethiopians, the ru- 
 der Scythian, and the learnedcr Greek, fcarfe entred upon any thing 
 that folemn was, without it. The Romans had their Salii, their 
 
 K r 2 dozen 
 
 3^7 
 
 Cent. II.
 
 o? 
 
 Cent. II- 
 
 ^ E S L F E S. 
 
 dozen o(Priefis to Afars ; who in pycd Coats, with Swords by therr | 
 fides, a Javelin . in one hand , and a Shield in the other , daaid 
 about the City. Socrates that was owned to be the wifeft among all 
 the Greeks difdaln'd not in his Age to learn to "Dance, and after to 
 commend the Exercife. And Se»eca tells us of the Meritorious 5f/^/o, 
 that he was not afliamedj ut anttqutillifirifoUbant, inter lufum, (^ 
 fejia. tempera, Z'irtlem in modum trtfndUre, as the Antients then had 
 wont, at Plays and Solemn Fettivals, in a manly wife to trip it up and 
 down. Even among the ^ervs, where the Oracles of God were extanr, 
 we find it ufed among the Rites and Excrcifcs of their Religion, and 
 upon occafionsot extraordinary joy, 
 
 MirUm led the Maids their dance, with her Timbercl in her hand. 
 "^ephtas, daughter met her Father with a d,xnce. And David did it be- 
 fore tlie Ark-, his pious zeal, tranfporting him to this corporal exultati- 
 on. 'Tis like, he danced alone ; elie .W/t^/ would have laugh'd at more 
 than him. But yet, it it were not mixt, it was next it ; being,as all that 
 we read of, in the fight and view of both fexes. 
 
 When the Prophet Jeremiah, foretold the return df the Jews from 
 captivity, Jer. 31. and begins to reckon up the joys that fliould enfue >, 
 Among the reft, he tells ihcmThe rir^ins (fjallrejoyceintbe Dance: the 
 Latin hath it in choro ; and doubtlefs, that did oftentimes confift both 
 of men and women together ; as well as Virgins comprehend both 
 fexes. And if P/?w//z^ were unlawful , neither would God allow of 
 being ferved by it ; nor would Solomon have told us, There is a time to 
 Dance-, as veell as there is to mourn. So that 'tis not the matter and the 
 thing that is condemned, but the manner and corrupt abufc. I find not 
 that Saluft twitted Semfronia, meerly for her dancing ; but, for doin2 
 it more artificially than an honelt woman needed : And 'tis for this 
 that Gabiniiu and dtlius too, are reproached. Cato, I know, accufcd 
 Lucitti Mur^na, {o^: dancing m^Jta; and Cicero, that undertook to 
 delend him, faid, He durft not maintain it to be well done in rcfpcd 
 of the circumftances ; but, fure he was, he did not do it conftant- 
 ly ; as if the ufing of it but fometimcs, were a kind of juftification. 
 And in this fenf was his faying. Nemo faltat fobrius. The fober man 
 does feldom aft in capers ; taking it to be allowed dodrine, That 
 Jliqando dulce cji infanire in loco; 'Tis plcafant to be froliquc in 
 feafon. 
 
 Ludovicus Vivet tells us of fome Ajians that coming into Spain, and 
 feeing the people dance, did run away a^rightcd ; as thinking them 
 poiteft with fome ill fpirit, or clfe that they were out of their wits. 
 And indeed one would think there were fome Sorcery in it, that the 
 tickling of a Sheeps-gut with Hair and a little Rofen, fliould make a ' 
 wife man leap up and down like mad. Nor did the wife o//- 
 phonfns deem that woman lefs, whom he faw fo wildly dancing, 
 that he concluded, Surely, 'twould not be long before that Sibyl 
 would declare her Oracle • though he himfclf a little after, with 
 the ^n\^txoMi Frederick, and his Emprcfs, was content to make 
 
 one
 
 ^ E S L l^ E S, 
 
 ^09 
 
 One ac the fport. To cltme too cxquiliccJy is fo laborious a vanity, chat 
 a man would be afliaiiied to let any body fee, by his dexterity in it, 
 that he hath fpent Co much ume in learning; fuch a trifle. And to be 
 totally ignorant of it, and ot the garh and comportmefft that by learn • 
 iiigit, islcarn'd; fliews a man cither ^/wVj/ or h\it meanly bred, and 
 not inur'd to conz'crjation. The beft is a kind ot carelefsHtfs as if 
 'twere rather nAtural motion, \.\\^x\ curious 2Ln^ artificial fraciizin?. 
 
 That there have been fe-veral offences occafioned by it, is not to me 
 an Argument agaiinl it, in it felt. Even at Sermons^ I have read, that 
 fcenes ot lu(l have been lay'd. I would not patronize it for the leaft 
 (Oifcnce that is in it. But if it conduces to the bettering of Behaviour, 
 and the handfomc Carriage of a mans pcrfon among rtrangers ; if it 
 bcfor aHarmlefs Exercifc, for a Recreation meerly j or, to exprefs 
 inoffenfivcly a juftifiable jay ; 1 fee not why it fliould be condemn'd. 
 It is goad for a man fo to Dance^ as not to put his friends, that fhall 
 behold him, out of coimtenxnce ; or, that he need be afhamed, if his 
 enemy fhould {land by. Some men have an averjaefs to it, and thefe 
 it feldom becomes. 
 
 Frederick the Third, us'd often to fay. He had rather be fick of a 
 Feaver, than endeavour to Vance. And moft-Martial men are rather 
 lor the Drum ^nd Trumpet, than the Lute and Viol. If it were ab- 
 folutcly ill in it felf, or it the ill that feems to adhere, were in it felf 
 infcparable from it ; 1: were better all were gone, than for the greateft 
 pleafure to keep the leaft of mijchief. But I cannot think that all muft 
 ilin, if they come but once to humour an Inftrument ; or, that there 
 {cannot be dancing without a danger to Chaftity. I had rather hold with 
 ; x^rijlippui. 
 
 Cent. II 
 
 In Libert fatris facris 
 
 Mcns,qH£ pudica ej},nefciet cerrtimpier. 
 
 • The truly modcft Will, 
 
 In Tacchus Orgies can be modcft (fill. 
 
 
 And albeit fome of the Fathers have declaimed high againft this 
 
 jRccrcation ; yet, 1 take it to be, as it was rudely and lafcivioully 
 
 '.ufcd bv the Vulvar, and with the intcftive Pagans of thofe times. 
 
 jBut furcly, as folcmn Entertainments are among great perfons ; and, 
 
 imcetings of Love and Fricndrtiip among perfons of Quality j There 
 
 is nothing more Modcft, more Decent, or more Civil. Where even 
 
 the kaft inclination to wanionnefs is held a mark ofUudencfs. And 
 
 having (o many eyes upon them, any Place or Time, indeed, were 
 
 fitter for fuch piirpofes, than thefe. To conclude upon this Theme, I 
 
 take it to be like Ufury • fomcthing difficult to be kept in the mean ; 
 
 cafie to be kc into excels : and almolt by all Nations at once decreed 
 
 \Z[k\ praciiz'd. 
 
 ! of\
 
 3io 
 
 Cekt. II. 
 
 'IjES LV E S. 
 
 LXXI. 
 Of the VoUy of Stn, 
 
 IT was ihc Foci that faid, There u no god ; for certainly, no fVife nan 
 ever thought it. And yet, the foo/ had fomuch wit, as not to frate 
 otit : It was but in hti heart he faid it. Impudence was not fo great, 
 nor inward ConviHion (ojireng, as that he could with Conjidenc: de- 
 clare it by his Tongue. Nor did he ferioufly think it in his heart : fo 
 that it proceeded no further, than a bare and lazy wifli, becaufe he 
 would be glad it were fo. But, doubtlefs, he could no more believe 
 there was no Soul ohhisviii f^f^'orldy than that there was no ^ir it to 
 adtuate his W7 ; Or, that a Watch could tell us Timc,and motion all 
 its Wheels, without a Spring or Balance. If we believe and fce,That 
 the Mind with eafe, with plcafure, and without trouble, difpofes and 
 commands every motion, and member ; every Mulclc, and Nerve ; 
 every referve, and pofture of our Corporal Frame : we may as well 
 copceivcj that Injinite and IncempreheMfible Spirit, may as eafily dif- 
 pofc and order every particle and accident of this Great and Circumfe- 
 rentiahvorld. And then, it cannot but follow, That this Great Soul oi 
 \\\, muft be Infinitely wife. Infinitely Ju/l, Omnipotent, 2lx\A Omnifiient, 
 with all thofe other glorious y^/mWf J that go to the making up of 
 God. And liCod be, and be thus, as Senfc and Keafon by Demonftrati- 
 on makes evident ; Can there be any gxc^icx felLy in the world,than to 
 incur the 4«^^r of this Almighty zn<^ A\l-rvifi Godt Sin is fo purely 
 FoBy, that it is in the main, aiiuredly, never Icfs than an Averfion from 
 crue Wifdom. Sin can no more be without Folly, thznfire without dri- 
 nefs, or, water without moijlure. 'Tis FoUy that opens the dore,and lets 
 it into the heart ; that hugs it, and retains it there, as the Kidney docs 
 cheStone,till it cats and grates out that which gave it birth and breed- 
 ing. It was well laid of Stobam, Malorum omnium Stnltitia efi Mater 
 Of all thai'a ill, 'tis tolly is the Mother. 
 
 When a Man is under a Prince that he knows is cxa(fl in his J '([lice, 
 will he be fo unwife as before his face to violate his mod equal Law ? 
 5//J is fo deeply a/(>//y, that it fees a man againft himfeU, and tranf- 
 ports him clean contrary to his true and proper Intereft. If there be 
 any man more Fool than the wicked, let him take the Singling Scepter, 
 and iY.tpydCoat, if he can- Even l^jture teaches all things a felf-pre- 
 fervation. But thc7?«wr is more ^r«///i& than the !2f^ of the field. He 
 deft roys himfelf, and locks his own legs in the (locks, Suppofe a man 
 raifed by a Noble Trince, from the poverty and fubjedion of a Cottage, 
 to the plenty and command of a Province, and withal hath promifc of 
 ^L glorious Crown hereafter : One would think it were this imns Interefi 
 to honour and obferve this Prince,io be true and faithful to him, to have 
 no compliance with his Enemies, not to let them have any thing of his 
 fervice or attendance. And would not all the world condemn him for 
 a Fool that fhould for trifles anger him ? That lliould play with Boys, 
 
 con-
 
 3^ E S 6 L V E S. 
 
 P' 
 
 [convcrfc with Beggars, confort with Thcivcs and Traitorsjgreac offcn- Cekt. 11. 
 "jers, and allchcloofcrrorcof thelilJy andthebafc; and not concent 
 I alone wirh this, would be fure to frolick it with his Prices gnndtH 
 I Enemy, and be ready to obey him in all chat he fliould command ? Yet, 
 I this is the cafe ot every one that is wicked. It was among x\\<t [impU 
 \o»es that Solmhm fiw x!m young man as a/w/ going to the verreElien of 
 they?('f/fi', tb.roU'/Ji his incontinence, 'Tisihz fool that uttcvsjlanders, 
 I'cis the yW that [poxts in mifrhief, 'cis ihcfool that rages and. is conji- 
 clent, 'cis the fool that defpifeth injlru^iien, though from z fathers love-^ 
 ^tis the fools lip that enters into contention, 'cis the fool that will be med- 
 ling, 'cis the/Wthac holds his fjunds \x\jloth j 'tis tUcfoo/ that tntfteth 
 in his o^nfrailhenrt-j 'cis the/oo/that makes a mock at fin. And the Pro- 
 phet Jeremy will cell us, He th.it gets v:edth rvrongftdyy though he may 
 run we\l,at his end hefiall be a Fool. Nor indeed is ic che want of parts, 
 or an inability ot Nacarc, that {o much undoes a man, as the turpitude 
 and ftain of ^». Even a Fool and an Innocent may be fomctime of fimi- 
 lary fcnfc. And we read not, that a man iTnall be plagued for a fool by 
 chedcfed of ordinary comprchenfion. But the Pfalmift will tell us, 
 That Fools, becaitfe of their TrAnfgreJjion and Iniquities, are afflicted. And 
 queftioulefs, there is a great deal of rcafon for this, A man is not con- 
 demned for being a natural ,/««cir^;?/ i it is not ever his fault : The 
 children that our Saviour received, were fuch. But 'cis the fin, that 
 exposes us to punijjjment. AW the fufferings in che world, are not in 
 chemfclvcs To ///, as is che fmalieft Jin, '1 hcfe a man may indure, and 
 prcfcrvc his own uprighcnefs, and be endeared toijis Maker for them- 
 [l\xt,fin docs make us culpable. We break Gods blelTed Larv, and fo 
 by g«/7^ grow fowl, and become abhorr'd before him ; (o that all the 
 pretended pollutions ot natural things, are not like the Jiain o{ a rvilling 
 and ^ knowing fin. Therefore rarely fpoke the excellent and admired 
 Seneca, Licet [cirem homines igmratnros, ^ Denm ignofciturum, tamen 
 peccare nollem,ob peccatitnrpitudinem. Though I were furenicn fliould 
 never know it, and that God would certainly pardon it ^ ycc, 1 would 
 not commit ^fin for the foulnefs and dijhonejly ot the fin in ic fclf. This 
 therefore being the only thing that in all che world we fliould (trivc to 
 ivoid, Can tiierc be a more furious madnofs, a blacker phrenllc, a 
 deeper fimplicity, or a more leaden ftupidity , than to rufli our felvcs 
 wto this Pool oi putrefaclion'i For it not only drenches us in the Le- 
 rJjcanLake, but it rowls us intothe 5^4 oftf^fwfj, and debilitates us 
 in che progrefs o\good. If we would be moving towards Beaven, like 
 a chain about a Prifoncrs leg, our own fad guilt docs twitch us back, 
 ind keeps us (till mfiavcry. As creatures, that arc odious to hunMnity, 
 hide thcmfelves in the blackncfs of the nighc,chac neither the Sun laor o- 
 cher Creatures may look upon their dciormity : So ic is with the de- 
 praved jinner, th^t is too foul for this light. Yet,(ins being the works of 
 darL'Kefs, wc preter che inconfolable darknefs before the plcafure of 
 the btii'htcfi '^y. As in Gen. 1 5:. when Abraham fell aflccp, an horror 
 o^ great darknefs tell upon him : fo, when we arc invigilaiit, and care- 
 Ids
 
 911 1{ES0LVES. 
 
 Cent. II- lefs of our felvcs, the blinding durknejs of our fins furprizctb us. 
 
 L<'''V^-' Tell me; ifinall tbefliopoliVrf/«y^, agreater Feolczn be found, 
 than he that having aFricnd and Father, that loves and will not leave 
 him, till he hachfix'dhim inEternalHappinefs : yet, will giddily, 
 wilfully, ignorantly, and wantonly, run from him to crouch, and 
 creep, and become a flave to him, that he knows will ufe him with all 
 the Infultacion of Tyranny and Torment that Vengeance can invent ?<, 
 ,Nor is this in the grofs, but in each particular offence. Are not men \ 
 out of their wits, that will play away Elf ates of Plenty, when after 
 they muft live to (tarve ? That by their Luft and Lafcivioufnefs, will 
 make themfelvesLazars and Cripples? That by their Ambition, be- 
 get themfelves trouble and ruinc ? That by their Covetoufnefs, pur- 
 chafe contempt and curfes, and enjoy nothing themfelves, but greater 
 fear and guile ? That by their rafli Angcr,throw themfelves into quar- 
 rels and deftru6lion ? That by Drunkenncfs make themfelves Sots, 
 and get Vizards inftead of Faces? That by their Riot and Gluttony, 
 fend all their Riches down the Common-Sewer ; and at Jaft, as Lucul- 
 Im^ grown ft upid, they muft live under the Tutelage of another ! Can 
 a child be jim^ler^ when it is dandled into any thing we mind to put 
 upon it ? or for a Gaud or Rattle be made to part with all that can be 
 of benefit to it ? Docs not \k\Qjinner do worfe andfooii/her, when for a 
 toy, a conceit, a licorifli defire, an humor or fancy, he fhalldifmifs 
 himfelf of Felicity , and all thofe faving Graces that can render him 
 happy for ever ? Are we not content to be entic'd and gull'd, (like 
 Children ftoln by Spirits)with pretended kindnefs and painted baubles, 
 till we be put under Hatches, and carried as eternal Exiles from our 
 Native Country, Heaven, to lead the life of flaves In fliackles under 
 Tyranny ? When Lyjtm/tchus in Thracia, had delivered up himfelf and 
 his Army to Dc»i/>M/» for want of water; and, after a draught, confi- 
 dered what he had done : He then does to the Gods exclaim,That he 
 fhouldbe fomad, forthe pleafureofadifhof water to turn himfelf 
 out of Kingfliip into a Slave. We traffique gold for durt,whcn we pur- 
 chafe ought h^Jinniptg. Let a man be never fo great a PolitiGian,yet,if 
 he be &fin»er^ he will appear to hsjimple at laft. And though he may 
 think. By injury to gain upon others ; yet, let him remember. That 
 no man can do an injury to anoiher,but witha],he does injure himfelf; 
 and fo,though he thinks tofhew himfelf of a deeper reach,and a higher 
 ftandard of wit than his neighbour j yet,in the end, he will come forth 
 a fcoL 
 
 LXXII. 
 That the S^ind only makes Content, 
 
 WE fee it is neither eafe^nov labour, nor rvealtk, nor vpant, that 
 feats a man in either PUafitre or Discontent. Some men 
 mt^yUberty^ leifure^ flenty, andrt/f, have kCs fatuft^ion than thofe 
 ) that
 
 r 
 
 ^E SOLVES. 
 
 3«3 
 
 that toil in (viQ.zi\n<^ pains ^'Cidi labour. And others even in //(P-t/z/r^r do Cent. 11 
 
 rhatj which would wear out all rhe happinefs of him thar is not that 
 
 way affe<5icd. Rcpofc to an active ?»/»^ is a tedious and an irkfom 
 
 thing. And therefore to him that hath not bufincfs, Play is taken up 
 
 intteadon't; and even that, after a little time, does tire as much as 
 
 bufinefs j and, in the fcquel, ufually galleth more. We fee in thofe 
 
 that have plenty top/eafe themfelves in all they can imagine ; that by 
 
 their wealth may make Summer and winter at will, and that feem to 
 
 others to command all the vodh in Paradife, and the Birds to warble 
 
 what they lliall but bid them ; yet, this high/bine^ but makes them 
 
 nice and wanton, that for want of other divertifements, they quarrel 
 
 with their own felicity, and ftrangle by their curioufnefs even all that 
 
 frovideme intended fliould hcpleajing : As,full and queafie ftomachs 
 
 do often coy at that, which the hungry would accept of for delicious. 
 
 When Apicifts found but One hundred Thoufand Scfterties was all at 
 
 laft was left him, with fliame, in fcorn,he quaft his poyfon'd draught, 
 
 and dy'd. 
 
 Quidemm majore cachinao 
 
 Excipitur Topult, qtiAm pander Apiciui ? 
 
 For, what can People jeer at more. 
 
 Than one to hear, Apicim is grown poor ? 
 
 Even 0«/f;;;' turns to i/<fjf4//£»», and we are weary with having no- 
 thing to weary us. All the winds in theCompafs , cannot blow one 
 gale that fome men iTiall he pleas' d with. A frovpard mind makes all the 
 AJufes^ furies 5 like bodies over-fat, they are burthen'd with their own 
 lov'd load. Nor can men fo attempered, injoy themfelves in ail the 
 [miles oi Fortune. The Lilly fcems too pale, and the Rofcs fmell is 
 tulfom. Some men arc fo call together oty^<i/o«^f. Envy, Trtde, and 
 Choler-, that, like favage Beads, they are ready to tear, not only thofc 
 that feek to ty them up ; but fuch as loofc their chains.and bring them 
 food to live with. Tell them what is diftaflfid, or tell them what is 
 plealing^r.\-\c^ fliall carp at both alike. As kindling Charcolc, they lliall 
 throw out fparksjand crackle- though you fliall not blow them. Con- 
 tradict them, they fliall twit ; fay as they, they fliall blurt and fnarl. 
 As Wafps, difturb'd, or let alone, they buzze, and angry make a noife 
 about you : Bciag of a nice and tender fpirit- nor heat, nor cold, 
 can be indurcd by them. As Arrows whofe feathers are not even fet •, 
 draw them never Co home, and llioot tb.cm from what Bow you 
 will, they fliall never fly to the right mark. Their own difpojitions 
 make but a milder and more terrene Hell. What a pitiful little peek 
 took Haman from all his content t On the other lidc , where the 
 Uvlind d.oi:s incline, acd is pleased to gratitie the fmooth'd Affections ; 
 all things fccm to have a fcrenc afpetSt. As through a Strangut the Air 
 is a.\\ delightful.) and all the colours that do enrich i\\e Rainbow make 
 lit beautiful. Do we not even with wonder often fee, how there are 
 S f many
 
 3'4 
 
 Cent. II' 
 
 
 'I{ E S L V E S. 
 
 many that take pleafure in toil ? They can out-rife the Sun, out- watch 
 the Moon, and out-run the fields wild Beaft. Meerly out of fancy and 
 delectation, they can find out mirth, in Vociferation ; and Mufick, in 
 the barking ot Dogs ; andhc content to be led about the Earth, over 
 hedges and through {loughs, by the windings and the fliifts of a poor 
 affrighted Verminc : yet, after all, come oft, as Mejfalma from her 
 wantonnefs, tyr'd, and not fatisficd with all that the Brutes can do. 
 But, were a man injoyn'd to this, that did not like it,how tedious,and 
 how punifliable to him would it prove ? Since in it fclf it differs not 
 from riding poft • or, putting a wife man from following and humour- 
 ing the motions of a child, or fimple animal. Let no man t^herefore 
 Wonder at the feveral Conteatntenti of men ; For, unlefs the defires of 
 men be bounded with Prudence and Moderation, the Appetite of the 
 Mifid is various, as the Palate of the Body, for which no man can 
 give a rcafon. As he is like to be moft at eafe in his Journey, that likes 
 the pace of the Beaft he rides »n : So is he that can bring his A<find to 
 approve of that condition God hath fet him in. And fince the Mind 
 alone is j/tdge oip/eafure, 'tis not what others apprehend, but what the 
 pitty fancies to himfelf, ihzi fxtiifes. 
 
 LXXIII.i 
 Of Ceremonies. 
 
 AMong all the varieties that liberal Nature does bcftow upon us ; 
 How few things are there, that we take and do make ufe of, as 
 nakedly they were produc'd at firft, but that with circumjlance and 
 trimming we ftrive to improve and beautijie ? The rareft and moft preti- 
 pus materials, we think noi Jplendid, till we have refia'dihcm. VVe cnt 
 indpolifh Diamonds. \We h/trnijh gold and fi/ver. O'JlZ jilks we fcour, 
 and give them^/c/f and dye. Our JVeol wc card and mingle ^ wc wear not 
 cloth till drefsd and dyd, and then with lace and fancy work it up lor 
 wearing. We eat not foody but cook'd with fawce and arted tor the pa- 
 late. Even the Cow (?4;j not her Mother Earths bva.^c fallad, all and 
 only green. Providence hull enamel' d a,\l wiih l>eauty in the orient co- 
 lours fprinkled in her Mantle, that by the ejes being pleas' d, the appetite 
 may be more enticed out,and the medly become confection ^^itti for Na- 
 tures fuftenancc. We do not rudely heap our wood and ftone together 
 for our dwellings, but we hew and fit them into decent order ; we are 
 folicitous to contrive them /iately without, and beautiful aud cowveni- 
 f»/ within ; fo that we make them by adorning them, and by the rules 
 of Architedurc, rather a Falace than a Vrifon. Every Casing hath his 
 ^adge and Ornament. The Souldier lliines in Steel, the Lady in her J^w- 
 ^•//jthe Courtier in his Silks. The Lavt> and Phyjick,\\zvc their proper ha- 
 bits, fitted to their Yno'^nProfefJlons. And in all Religions, Jewi[h, 
 Heathen, Mahumetan, and C^riftian ; I never found, but their Priefis 
 in their Garments were diftinguillit from the Laick flock. Only we 
 
 have
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 have found ot latter years a race of ruder men, that under the pretence 
 of Piet)/) have taken upa^^^r^boch rottiili and difdainful ; that are 
 afraid to be known by their /jal^Jts to be Priefis of the living God ; they 
 can wear a Ciprefs or a Rihbond iox.^ friend-^ but, not a Scarf or Girdle^ 
 for the church or State. Surely, a Gown or Surplice may in thcnifelves 
 as well be worn, as cither a shirt, or Band, or fUake : and they can 
 hardly,to unbyalTcd nien,give a reafon for declining them, unlefs it be 
 bccaufe ^«//'<;r//>' commands them. As if becaufc the Apoftle com- 
 mands. That things be done decently, and in order , therefore it were 
 fufficicnt ground tor men to be crofs, and rude, and common, and flo- 
 vcnly . What would have become of thefe mcn,had they been enjoyn- 
 cd to have been attyred as Aaren^y in light awA flaming colours ■y\N'a\\ Bells 
 tinkling, and Pomgranates dangling, round about their skirts? How 
 would they have brook'd a linen Miter of fixteen cubits long, that 
 will rather lofe a Living, and the opportunity oifaving fouls., and the 
 honour ot being an agent tor Heaven, than own a fimplc Surplice ? As 
 if white were not a colour as lawful as blacky or, ihcthredoiihcfiax 
 as warrantable, as the ivool we cut from off the dumb sheeps back : or, 
 that zGown were not as legitimate to be worn in a church, as for them 
 to fit wrapt with, in their own warm houfe oxftudy. 1 find to the Jevfs 
 by God himfclt, there were twelve peculiar habits appointed to the 
 Levites. And furcly, (not being torbidden) why may not his church 
 without oficnce injoyn fomc ? which are fo far trom being unlawful 
 in themfelvcs, as wc fee, they would be worn, if they were not in- 
 joyned. And are worn in eadem fpecie, though not in eadem forma. 
 'Tis granted by Chemnitim, and 1 think, by moft of the reformed Di- 
 vines, That la ritibus Adiaphoris habet Ecclefia Poteflatem, In things 
 indifferent the Church wants not authority. He that is Lieutenant of a 
 Province, though in the main he be tyed to govern by the Laves, from 
 which he may not deviate: yet, he is never lo bound up, but that 
 in Circumflances he hath a latitude left to difcretion. And if (although 
 j in it felf indifferent) it be once by the Church injoy?i'd, it becomes 
 I then fo far a Divine Law, as 'tis Divine, in Licitis, to obey the Su- 
 I preme Governour, and Legijlative Power . And then, Where will be the 
 j ditference in retuling an Innocent Ceremony Authoritatively impofed,and 
 alluming a praiiice of one difputablc, and not impofcd ? As Vrbim 
 did in Falling on the Lords Day; tor which St. ^«^/</?;»f tells him. 
 That Tot.u 1-xclefias turbaret (^ damnaret. He would dillurb and con- 
 demn the Univcrfiil Church. It is not poffible to perform a Horfbip 
 without fomc natural or inftitutcd Cfr^w£);;>'; and while they are not 
 contradiSiive to the Canon, I caniu^t think, God will be angry with me 
 for obeying them ; or, that being an Anathema, it I hear not the Church, 
 1 lliould come to be fo, when 1 do obey her. While they are not de- 
 clared Effentials of that tvorjJjip, arc not crofs to the Sacred Text, arc 
 ordained only for difiinciion, order, decency, and helps to Piety and 
 'Devotion ; 1 fee nor, why it may not be in the prudence ot a Chi*^<^h, 
 moderately to injoyn them ; and become tlic liety and Humility ot the 
 
 S(% bert, 
 
 V^ 
 
 Cent. IL
 
 3i6 
 
 Cent. 11- 
 
 ^{ESOLVES. 
 
 b eft, to fuhmit to what fliall be ir/joyxd ? I remember a palTagc of a 
 ^rave Divine upon this Subje(5t,wbich was this ; A Ceremony (faith he) 
 /;; the judgement of all, u in it [elf a. thifig indifferent : To preach the 
 lyord.ya, thing j>recef ted and of necejjity. Now,l would have men ky the 
 thing indifferent in one fcalc, and the thing neceffary in the other ^ and 
 then let them cell mc, if it be notbctrcr xofreaRow a Ceremony., than to | 
 rendz Church. Obedience and ZJmty tend to Teace ; and Peace is the 
 rporlds jiaurtjh • h^M^dtviJion and dijobedience are as the trains leading to 
 the /l//^<r', that blows up all. It iht Ceremony 6\di2L^m\\.zdifpute-^ yet, 
 being fervants to the ^Wf^,it would not wholly light upon them that 
 obey'd ; and it may well be believed, their j/^^w/^it'^ woiild be more 
 acceptable than either their cavii, or their eriticifm. The Ceremonies of 
 State, though the wife man knows tfeey be not ot the finevps o{ Govern- 
 ment, yet, they are the air, and of the countenance thereof ; fo, beget 
 in common people a kind of awful reverence both oi the Perfen and 
 the Funciion. Tnere is no doubt, but the pradice of decent and feemly 
 Ceremonies docs help to preferve a Church not only in fixation, but in 
 efieern. And is a rail to keep off x\[Q prephane Julians, who elfe might 
 do as he did, />//} upon the T^/-/?. Nor do I find, butalToon as the 
 church arrived at any ftate of power, but Oic took upon her to be as 
 well formally as materially a Church ; and befidcs the rites of fVcr/bif. 
 by her prefcribed, Fefiiz'a/s, and Liturgies, her fplendor was fuch, 
 that with fome emulation, it not envy, her Enemies began to cry out,; 
 £» qttalibw t'ofis MaridtTilio adminiflrant \ See but with what coftly 
 Veilels they officiate to the Son of Mary ! Thecd. lib,^. cap. 1 2. Though 
 the bark of a Tree be no part of ihe.Timbcr, fruits, or leaves ; yet we 
 fee, if that be ffript away, the Tree it felt will die. So, a naked church. 
 is no more laflingor comely, than the body of a Man without cloaths 
 is feemly or fecure. 
 
 LXXIV. 
 
 of the contentment after the oyercomhig of a firmg 
 Temptation. 
 
 EVery Temptation is a fnarc, and they that overcome are as Birds 
 efcaped; whom Nature futfers not to hold from rejoycing but, as 1 
 foon as they are got loofc they chirp and ling out a ^oy to chemfelves. 
 Surely it a man would choofe out a happy condition to lt\c in, he could 
 not fancy to himfelt a better than when he is come oft a Conqiterour ol 
 a great and llrong 7Vw^/4//V». Vidory is fo pleafant a thing, that it 
 leaves a man nothing to fear, unlefs it be that which he fcareth not • 
 The foul put by from God returns in the end with comforc,and fwcct- 
 ly clofeth with its Maker, whofc goodncfs Hie knows it is to 
 make her fo Vidttriota. Divided triencis when once they come to 
 meet, like Iron and the Loadffore, they do not march but leap to one 
 anothers bofom. They know th' are ever under the lliade of Gods 
 
 divine
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 317 
 
 divine protetftioa, but how they fly into the -<^/»w/^A//<rj arms, and reft Cent. IL 
 fecurc within his fate Embraces. When Spurtan-yottths had overcome 
 an Enemy, they were brought home with G«.rlxnd.s crorvfid, with f»it 
 Jjck and rejoicing. The grcatcft exultations that we read of, were the 
 Triumphs x\\Sii were conterr'd on Conqtterours. And 'tis worthy our ob- 
 servation what hi^h and fplcndid Priviledges the Scripture does alfign 
 to him that overcometh. He fhall eat ot the Tree oi Life, and ot tlie 
 \\\.diAQn Manna, Comforts and Infpirations kntixom Heaven as the 
 bod of the foul, Hidden becaufe only known to himfelf. And the 
 white Stone with the new name infcribed alluding to the Acquittals 
 and Donations oi fupream Princes, beftowcd on luch as had the //«- 
 nocence and blejfmg to light upon them; which were lo high to the 
 enjoyers of them, that they were not able to make any other ever un- 
 derftand them. He fliall be made a Villar in the Temple of Goi^^nd fliall 
 go out no more, and fliall at laft be permitted to fit in the Throne with' 
 Heavens great Maker, and tbefupremcGc^of ^(^-a'^. Itfurniflics him 
 with cxperienceof the crafts and wiles and policies oflliarpeft Ene- 
 mies, and the Aids, Ajjiftances^ and uncpefted Providences of an Al- 
 mighty Guardian and Defender ; and by the exercife of their Faith and 
 Patience, and their other ftock of r/7'?«w,animates and increafes them ; 
 whereby by overcoming once we learn to overcome again, and 
 majler^and triumph o\/cT all thofe fubtiltics that are lifted up againft us. 
 'Tis one of a General's ftrongcft Arguments to incite his men to Cc«- 
 rage^ To put them in mind, how oft they have been victors. It does 
 enkindle induftry and add a force to f ormWf, while being overcome 
 declines the rii'ing head and debafes all the fpirits to a dull and low 
 lerrenity. The air is after Vidory more whokfom,than it was before. 
 Ti^e concuOion of Arms, and the ftirring of the Element docs rarific 
 and purge it, and the Co«^«tfrw/y breaths treelicr than he did beforc.He 
 is not clicckt by oppofition. The prefcnt Region is his own to reft 
 and flccp in,whcre, and when he pleafeth. The mind is lightncd both of 
 Fear and Care. And he looks upon his own Happincfs as both afccnding 
 higher and latting longer for his lace hard Conquejl. VN'hich is not only 
 intimated by the Antients in making the Palm-tree the Symbol of Vt- 
 ciorj, as difdaining to be incurvatcd by weight, but alfo being an ever- 
 green with plcafant fruit and of continuance longer than moft of other 
 Trees. In which the Holy chofl is not wholly unafpedive to the cuftom 
 1 that was ufcd among men, fince we find the Trinmphers in the Revela- 
 tion (as badges of Vidory) carried their Palms in their hands. And thej 
 Text, a little after, tells us that ihcfc were of thofe that-had come out 1 
 of great Tribulation. For their noble fuflerancc, their undaunted va- 
 lour in not yielding, their ovcr-towring Faith,and their coming off with 
 Majtcry, againtf all the AlVaults of fiercel\ foes, and Tempters ; thcfc 
 were now remunerated, witli the fifion and Fruition of the Almighty ; 
 and for ever after, ftood exempted from forrow, or any other ot the 
 difturbing paffions ot man. And certainly to overcome a Temptati- 
 on that hath been battering hard upon us, dilates the pleafed foul, 
 
 and
 
 3i8 
 
 Cekt. II. 
 
 IjES L V E S. 
 
 and, lifting it up to God, does place it in a calm rejoycing. Though it 
 were materially true, yet myftically it was not fo : tor the lliadow of 
 Alexander was longer after his Conqneft^ than it was before. Ic arofc up 
 higher in the eftimation of men : and extended a protection iurther to 
 fuch as had their provmce to live under his fpreading lliadc. oUAvian \ 
 and Augujim were not the fame in one man. A youth at firR defpis'd 
 and flighted by the experience and haughtincfs of his Jealous EmuU- 
 tors; but after bowed and kneeled tOjby all that drew breath under the 
 wing of the Romane Sagle. And more than this,it ftiews the world our 
 parts, which clfc would ftcal unfeen, from off the (lage. It is with vir- 
 tuous men,as it is with Spices and fome kind of fragrant Herbs. Their 
 brufing, by conteft, tells all about how rich their oder is. 
 
 vUi ego '^(lH it AS met a face crefiere fiammas : 
 Et vidi nuh concutlente mm. 
 
 How have I feen, the braKdifljt Terch blaze high ; 
 While that un{lirr'd,by flanding ftill, docs die ? 
 
 As gold is the better for being in the fire, and fo is more eftccm'd by 
 men when purified : So is man, got off from Temptation, not only bet- j 
 ter lik'd by thofe of this world, but he is more endeared to the Betty ! 
 he ferves, for appearing ot a trfd Fidelity 
 
 LXXV. 
 Of QVtlity, 
 
 UNlefs they be impaflionatc, the greateft fpirits, and thofe of the 
 bcft and nobleft breeding, are ever the moft rcfpcftivc and ob- 
 fcqmious in their Garb, and themoftobfervant and sratcful in their 
 Language to all.Thcy know, rudencfs is fo courfe a gobbet that it can- 
 no tbe digefted by a healthful ftomach;nor Terms uncivil heard without 
 gall or quarrel. And therefore to prevent the lactcrjthey arc careful to 
 j avoid the firft. This wc may build upon : The moil: (ta:d judgments 
 are pcrfons of the Highejl Civility. They think, to difpleafc is none of 
 the proper intercfts of Man ; Nature made him Co-mmtmicable and Soci- 
 able. To be rude or foolifli is the badg of a iveak mind^ and ot one de- 
 ficient in the converfwe quality of Man. The Nobleji Creatures are the 
 more univerfally^W. The fire retufes not, as well to warm the 'Beg- 
 gar as the Prime. The water bears as well the Carrick as the Cork. 
 The earth to all allows her bearing bofime. The equal air as equally 
 fervcth all. And the bright Sun, without dittinftion lliines. To occa- 
 tion a quarrel is a thing o^ Reproach. And if a wife man hath unawares 
 provok'd one. It lies in the mind, as mercury does in the Body, ccafes 
 not working till it quite be got out. It is not tor one Gentleman to 
 fpcak to another what fball beget either j^^w^ ok anger, ox call upeithcr 
 a blu^ or freran. And if there be a neceflicy to difplcafe, yet we ought 
 
 to
 
 I^ESOLf^ES. 
 
 to do ic as wtrfes do with Children wheu they iire to give them what is 
 bictcfj fmcar it in Hony or rowl it in Sugar, that even the palate (if 
 pofTiblc) may be held iw content. 'Tis a handfome ftory of the dyin^ 
 Ariftotle when he was fought to by his Scholars to declare his SucceP 
 fofj among which tl^rc were two cfpccially of more eminent merit 
 than the rcll, Theophrajim a Lesbian^ and Menedemns a Rhodtan. Ari- 
 (lotlc calls for Wine ot both thofe places, pretending to drink his laft 
 larwcl with his Scholars before he dyed. He taftes the Wine of Rhedes 
 and commends it both for found and pleafant. Then tafting that of 
 Lesbos, he commendeth both for excellent good, but that of Lesbos to 
 be the more delicious; by which they underftood, he meant Theo- 
 fhraftifs fliould hold the fucceflion. So by commending bothjhe tacite- 
 ly prefet'd the one without the leaft difparagement to the other. And 
 in Religion.) this will hold as well as in morality and the common Con- 
 verfation of the World. For that was never found to be a toe to goed 
 mannerSy but that it allowed of a civil refped both in behaviour and 
 vpords ; by paying obfervance in the one, and giving Titles in the other, 
 according to the degree and quality of the perfon we have to deal with. 
 ^acob we know to have been a perfon cleft and in Grace with God him- 
 felfj and though Efau were a prophane perfon and jhad fold his Birth- 
 right to his younger Brother,\v\\QiQhj the priviledges of frimogeniture 
 were lofl, and his right in the Sacred Covenant difputable, if not va- 
 cated ; yet when "^acob intended to meet him, becaufe he was a great 
 nun ana in the Nature ok ^fetty Prince and in fome kind a General -^ for 
 he had a Band of 400 men : He firlt fends him a noble prefent of many 
 numerous Bcafts. And commanded his fervants, when Sfan inquired 
 whofe they were, they fliould fay, They were a yrefent for my Lord 
 Efau fent him from his fcrvant Jacob. And when he himfclt came ncer 
 1 him, he bowed himfclt feven times to the^rw/Wupon his approach to 
 his Brother. Nay all his retinue after him, the handmaids and their 
 Children, Leah and her Children, J^/e^A and /?4f/^(?/,all of them bowed 
 thcmfelvcs ; and after that, in difcourfe he complements him feveral 
 times with, Let me find Grace in the pght of my Lord; and therefore 
 have I fecn thyface,\<i, though 1 had fecn the tacc of God. D4w</,though 
 he were anointed and dejigned King ; yet when he met Prince Jonathan, 
 he fell o!i his face three times, and bowed himfclf to th.e ground. The 
 Shunamite fell at the Prupl.et Elia^s feet, and bowed her felf to the 
 ground. The fVidow of Teha told David, As an K^ngel of (jod, fo 
 is my Lord the King. Though Darius were a Pagan Prince , and 
 had (though unwillingly) yet unjutlly, permitted Daniel to the Li- 
 tnsDen: Yet asfoon as he was out, his Language was : O King, liv« 
 for ever. In the New tefiamcnt St. Paul begins his Complement with, 
 King A^rifpa. And when Tcjlm charg'd liim wrongfully with be- 
 ing mad; His return was not Reviling, nor Recrimination : but, 1 
 am noxmad, n\o?i Noble Fejlus. Certainly, in thofe Eaftcrn parts of 
 the W^orld, though they ufed not to uncover the head, yet the or- 
 dinary bowing ot the body was equivalent to the putting otf the 
 
 Hat 
 
 Cent. II.
 
 310 
 
 .Cent. 11- 
 
 \ 'jf{ E S L V E S. ; 
 
 Hat with us : but bowing down to the groundj with all thofe Reite- 1 
 rattens^ was far beyond our prafticc ot uncoverwg ; and defcendcd i 
 well neer to a Sdcred. Feneration. And the Rhetorical CoUaHdatio/is^wkh 
 the HonoHrable Epithets given to their pcrfons, were far beyond the', 
 \jtve\latiOHS that are ufcd in our days, yet are we commanded to ufe i 
 to every man the refpeds that are due to \\{sflace, and quality. God j 
 himfelf calls men to Hoxiourahle places:zr\d doubtlefs where he is pleas'd 
 to bcftow it, we ought not to deny it. Render to all their dues^Homur 
 to whom Honour belongs. When our blelTed Saviour that took upon 
 him the form of a Servant^ was living among the Jevos, though they 
 hated his Doctrine, and at lad condemn'd his Perfon, yet their com- 
 mon faluiation was, Rabbi, Rabboni, Mafter • And when in Honour to 
 his Defcene as allycd to the Cr^rvn, he was called the Son of David, he ] 
 gave no checks to the Title, but John the 1 3 he tells them, You call 
 me Majler^ind you fay well. So that fafely we may conclude, that Be- 
 haviour rude and clorvmfl?,zx\A indeed uncnriftian, in keeping on the hat 
 htioic Nobles, Magiftrates,KingSi zx^dSttj/eriours (viiih that vituteri- 
 otu thou-ing men, and not owning their Titles) comes not from Scrip- 
 ture or any example of the people of Cc^, but from fome blacker fiend 
 that under the pretence of Tiety and the Spirit^ walks contrary to all 
 the practice ot the Faithful. The Apoftle commands us to fubmit our 
 felves to every ordinance of man for the Lords- fake as yielding com- 
 plyance not fo much tor our own ends but purely out of Confcience, as 
 being a conftitution ordained by God himfelf; whofc wifdomz^z\i\\.\)M 
 the World not only in the larger frame where oacurally every thing 
 fubfides to what is fuperiour, but even in every Province, and cacti 
 particular, where Government and O^/i^/f^ff perpetuates the Harmovy 
 of all. 
 
 LXXVI. 
 That the prefent Times are not 'i>orfe than the Former. 
 
 IT is the Preachers precept that aman fliould not fay; Why is ir,that 
 the former days were better than thefc ? For thou doft not inquire 
 wifely of thcfe tilings. Some have reduc'd this to thofe only that fmart 
 under prcfent troubles ; Sopaffion rather than Reafon begets the Com- 
 plaint. Others limit it to the comparing the Larv with the Gofpel; 
 and then, there is no doubt, li any be judg betides the Jf iv, He mutl 
 be condemn'd of Folly, that would go about to prefer the times of 
 Mtfes under the load of Ceremoniout (ha doves, before thofe fince 
 Ghrifl:, wherein the yoak is taken off, and the cloud irradiated with the 
 fliine ot Evangelical truth. So that we may confidently acknowledge 
 that memorable faying of z^neas Sylvius, that although the Chri- 
 ftian Religion bad never been contirm'd by miracles, yet it deferved 
 and would have been taken up by men, for the very Honcfty that 
 it carries with it. But lince this was writ in ScLmons time, fo long \ 
 
 before
 
 ^ E S L [^ E S. 
 
 before the coming of our blelled Saviour among us, we may believe 
 he iViCain it more univcrfally both ot the precedent and fuccdlu'c 
 courfes of the World. And furcly it we cxanaine all things in ajudid- 
 oiis feale^\sc (liall find indeed,wc do not vvifcly,when we vent the Com- 
 plaint and ccnfare. Humane -l^tHre is more fenfible of fmart in futfcr- 
 in_CT, than ot plcaiurc in rcj;jycinci, and the prcfcnt indurances cafily 
 take up our thoughts. \Vt cry out for a little pain, when we do but 
 fiiiile for a great deal of Contentment. And from this we blame the 
 prefcnt for a little prej[/ire, when we pafs over all xhoCcfcft and fmooth 
 demulcent ions that infcnilbly do ftroke us in our^/?W//ig- /^. Nor in- 
 deed arc the pungencies of former times in the comprelienfion of our 
 -z-'/Vw, but at diftance, and by fomc ^f«r<^/ that have pickt out only 
 what are extraordinary. So like Tromonts at Sea they look high at a 
 diftance as if all the Country were an elevated mountain^ which when 
 we come to land we find but of the fame Altitude with the other parts 
 of the World we have fcen. And the mind of man runs with more Cele- 
 rity to y^*. It's true,fometimcs there are intervals of virtue and Vice^ 
 inclinations to wars and Fropenfions to peace. The Sybarites had a vein 
 oi delicacy-. The Spartans zi\:cinoi Arms : Athenth^dhcr Arts and 
 Learning ; and Scythia s fame was 'Sarbarifm. A.nd in the fame Country, 
 One age runs upon one ti)ing, and another does decline what by for- 
 mer times hath been f(?«r/'t'^ by the Inhabitants of the fclf-fame Cli- 
 mate. But thcfe being but in parts, it the whole be fumm'd up toge- 
 ther, we fliall find the proportion of all to be much about the fame 
 fathom of what the World was at before. If the prefent age exceed 
 in fome imbrac'd /'4r//f w/^rj, we fliall read ot former, that in other 
 exceeded tM. It wc have inventions ot wirfrd'^/'^ with us, They cer- 
 tainly had others that now to us are loft. And it we fi.irvey the yices 
 of precedent times, they will appear more 'Barbarous and more Epi- 
 demical than fuch as now flame in the World. We look upon it as the 
 wonder of Fice to this day, That a ftranger could not come to Sodom., 
 but the more than brutifi Citizens muft burn \w fordid Lu/l, which was 
 fo foul that nothing but Fire and Brimftone could purge the ftench of it 
 from the world. It was a City o^Txdicators and Catamites-So wickedly 
 bent that it coft a miracle to prcferve the Angels from their Fury ; a Fice 
 fo neve and fo inhumane, that neither before, nor fincc , could the 
 World find any other name for ir, but what was dcriv'd from that of 
 the City it fclf. After this, among the iiyEgyptians was that of x.\\q [Irarv- 
 lejs Tax. The Grecians under wifcl\ Law-givers approv'd ot cun- 
 ning Theevery. And drinking was fo wild ^Fice among them. That 
 even the Grammar loft it's Icnfe by their debauchery ; Pergrxcari 
 founding to be mad with Drink. Hive we any fo vain as Xerxes, that 
 would think to whip the Sea to calmness ; or fo prodigal as was Alex- 
 ander, that, as Plutarch tells us, fpcnt twelve millions of Talents upon 
 Hephafiions Funeral} A funi fo incredible, that 'tis a qucftion whether 
 at that time the Kevencw of theWorld could atiord it? Among the "^evps, 
 I that by their T^ligion^xQ tended to more prccifencfs,wc find Inceft,Fra- 
 
 T t ^ tricide. 
 
 921 
 
 CENt. II.
 
 Cent, 11- 
 
 3? 
 
 E S L V E S. 
 
 tricUe, Parricide-,indi Treafin ; OfpreJJion^Teremptory and Imperims Cru- \ 
 elty to the cutting men with Saws,and killing one anothcr,was play and j 
 Tport for Princes. AlffoUfi,^ younger Son to a Prince of a petty Province, 
 nad yet his fifty Footmen dafliing by his Chariot fide. Lucim Flortux 
 tells us of the German Womcn,that,in their Battails,made their Chil- i 
 dren their weapons,and would fling their own naked fprawling Infants j 
 in the face of ihofe they fought with ; that the horror of the thing might j 
 daunt the Ronan courage. Under TitM-i that was, for the fwcetnefs 
 of his difpofition, cry'd up by them of Rome^ for the worids delicious 
 jewel, There was yet the number of 500 pcrfons, every day while the 
 Siege was flrift, crucify 'd before the walls of 'Jerufalem^ till they 
 wanted not only CrolTes, but Room to fct them in. Tiiere was Eleven 
 hundred thoufandllain, Nine hundred fcventy thoufand Captives, and 
 many alive ript up with bloudy hands, iw hope to find among the Or- 
 dure of the body,tlie gold they fo much coveced. Was there ever fince 
 then, any thing like the Ten Perfecittioni ? Was there any thing but 
 Nero's Luxury, equal to Nero's Crueltyl and yet, DomitUn in one par- 
 ticular out-went him ^ He loved to feed his eyes, and fee thofc Tor- 
 tures Nero but commanded. Where have we now a Licinius LhcuUm, 
 that at once put 20000 of the Cauc^ei to the Sword, contrary to the 
 Articles of their Rendition ? or, like the famous Jugujiui, who at one 
 time in Perufia, facrificed 500 of the principal Citizens at the Altar of 
 his Uncle ^«//»^ : Jnwhok Triumvirate the Machine of the world 
 was danc'd ; and he that was but fent to, or profcrib'd, he prefently 
 knceld and fent his head for a prefcnt. Sylla took 4 Legions 24000 men 
 of the Conquer'd part to mercy : but not willing to truft them, while 
 the Senate fatCjand in their hearing,he cut tl em all in pieces. Tiberiui 
 would make men to be fill'd with Wine,thcn tic them up from Urine, 
 that their torment might fwell with their bodies. Sueteniiu records it 
 of Caligula, That it was ordinary with him to brand with marks of 
 Infamy the moft Honoured and dcferving perfons, then to condemn 
 them to the Mines, Hiut them up in Cages, expofc them to bcafts, 
 or faw them through the middle. 
 
 The Covetoufnejs of //'<'j<'?/»?fj' were as great as their Cruelties. It 
 was crime enough to pollcfs a wealth with virtue. Accufations were 
 not for Offences, though they were for Confilcations. Men, Towns, 
 and Temples,efcaped not in their gripe and rifling them of all: yet this, 
 oh pradam^ non ob delirium -^ to enrich the Court with Coin, but not 
 to empty the Common-wealth of Vice. Marcm Antonim in one year, 
 from the lefTer Afia only, raifed 200000 Talents. For their Luxury 
 their Drinking, and their Feafting, who reads their ftorics lliall 
 find they have outgon belief; continuing fometiraes ^6 hours at a 
 meal, with the interventions only of Lufl and Vomiting. Their 
 K^pfarel fometimes only Tiffeny , inverting Natures inftitution , 
 who meaning it tohidefliame, they us'd it now to llicw it. 
 Seneca fpeaks it of their matrons, Ne Adulterii quidem plus fui in 
 Cubiculo, quam in publico ojlendunt , They fhcw as much to the 
 _______^_ people
 
 <IlESOLl/ES. 
 
 'people abroad,as they do to their Adulterers in their retired Bed-cham- 
 j bers. They had nothing ot weight about them but their Jirvels. Eve ry 
 \joy/it oi e\cry Ji/Jger was particularly defign'd his ioad. They had their 
 mnter and Summer Rings-^ fo that by the light of their hand, you might 
 pick out the feafon, though you felt neither /-'i?^/ nor «/<:/. Hoitenfitu 
 a great Orator, fucd liis fellow CommifTioner for difordering a plait 
 in his Robe. And they had their Dinner and their Supper Garments : 
 So curious they were in compofing tkcir Hair ; fo coftly in their Ap- 
 parel, Dyet, servants, Houlhold-ftuff, and all belonging to them ; 
 that if we compare the Excejfes o^ thofe times vi/hh the (in refpeft ot 
 them) petty vanities of ours, there will appear the difference between 
 a. Court and Cottage, and the i//»/? fJf/^^«//c» of their enlarged Smpire^ 
 and the [mail circumference of our fingle-moated /Jlanci. Every Na- 
 tion hath its Zenith and its T>eclinatio». As they rife in Empire, they 
 enlarge both in Virtue and Vice ; and when they decline, they fink in 
 thefc, as they do decline in Dominion. And though as to ihemfelves 
 one time may be cither better or worfe than another : Yet take the 
 World in grofs, and jumbled together, and there is nothing now 
 tobecomplain'd ofinthcmain ; but what hath been as highor high- 
 er heretofore. Every Nation hath endured Opprcflion, hath felt of 
 Tyranny, hath admitted Treafon, and hath trod the Mazes of Vice. 
 Only as lllanders are ufually the moft Nefarious j we have in one thing 
 out-adtcd all the Lands the Sun did ever iliine upon : A Prince no Icfs 
 by virtue and glorious farts, than by right of Inheritance and decent 
 of Anceflry^ under the pretence o^ ahufed J ujiice whh the formality oi 
 mif-interpreted Lavfi, hath hccn fentenc' d (by his fjvorn SubjeBs turn'd 
 mto Rebels) to z Decapitation -^ and, as a Tyrant, ^\xt to deaths indeed 
 becaufc he ever abhorred to be fo. Creation never yet faw any thing, 
 to equal it. For tvpo pieces of Treafon, we have digged lower to- 
 wards Hell, than ever yet did any other people. The Torvder, and the 
 pretended- Par liamental Treafon: As if to revenge the attempt of the 
 one-, we h^\ Jlrained to gratijie the authors of it, by out-doing them 
 in the other. 'Tis apparent in other particulars, other times have had 
 blacker crimes than ours ; but doubtlcfs, in the general, the }Vorld is 
 rather better than rvorfeih^wit hath been. ivars^Rapine^ Murther, Tre.t- 
 fon. Pride, znd Lufl, have ever been fince Man was Man. But, ia re- 
 gard of the influence of Chriflian Religion^ which corrects the cogita- 
 tion and intention of all, as well as the outward aiSt ; I believe it hath 
 fo wrought upon the general Genitts of the world, as it is not fo auda- 
 cioufly and epedemically facinorous, as it was in times of Paganifm, who 
 were taught by their gods to be loofe and lefs thmmen. And furely, 
 die confederations of the like to thefc may fo far prevail upon the cpini- 
 ens of mi^n ; as though they may be forty the florid is not better ; yet, 
 compar'd with what hath formerly been, they need not wonder that 
 CIS now fo ill. 
 
 32? 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 T t 2 
 
 of]
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 ^ ^ ^ES PL V E S, 
 
 LXXVII. 
 Of Three things "libe oMgk fo ^«ol>. 
 
 TWO of them are in our felves, the ether is without us ; yctjof fo 
 great nece^lty^ that, without -it, of the hefl of creatures made for 
 this veorld^ we become the vcorjl and the w^ unhappy. We ought to 
 underjiattd our civ» Altfery^Gods Love^ and our <»w» thank fuL obedience'. 
 Our ow« Misery., how deep and fatally extreme ^ and, to us, the 
 much more disconsolate, by being fo j«/? : So intolerable that we cannot 
 hmcomplain j yct5foj/</?,ihat of none we can f(;«!i//4/»,butof our felves. 
 Ifwe came not into the World wrapt in Corruptions garments -^ yet, 
 are we furc here to live with fuch as are fo ; and, lying near, like wood 
 in fire, with them wc flame and burn. Wc were /tfy?,beforc the World 
 t'te found ns. And yet, we have fo much of ^i/fr/, as, for the moft 
 parr, we have the ^^i/tTj to purfue it ; orelfe, like people dying, we 
 droop under fo general a wcaknefs, as we are not fenfible of any that 
 lies upon us. And in this, as in them, our danger is the greater. The 
 harms torcfeen or felt by prudence, we may Jlrivt' againft and Jhun : 
 But, when they lurk in jhades o^fileni night, beiore we know wc fall in- 
 to the pit. And, which is worft, our mifchiefis lo dcjperate, that nei- 
 ther vpe, nor all iXic frame oi creatures can relieve us. Nay, Time, that 
 triumphs over all, lies down with wearied wings, but cannot give 
 us remedy. Eternity is only like it fclf, and being beyond every thing. 
 can be compar'd to nothing. 
 
 Nor is gods Love lefs infinite, or Icfs incomprehenfxble. V\'hat had 
 vvc that we defervd to be created at firft ? And what had we not, 
 which might have condemned us when made. He h.ith Uv'd us, not on- 
 ly o[ his own making, but of our own mxrring. V\'hcn we would die 
 and fpurnoff Doftor fromus, He pou/d in Cordials 'gainft our own 
 confent-^ and then, without our own />'<ri^, made us live. God deals 
 with us, as wc with our brute beafts ; it no: tfd up and fore d,w^ have 
 not Tvit to take the thing fliould help us : And though, as Cate,wt did 
 tear out fe/f made^rvounds, to widen deaths fad entrance ; Yet, with- 
 out our tvifbes , and againft our rrils, when we lay g^/ping in the 
 Road to ruine, by the mercy ot this great Samaritan , we were again 
 bound up [o]: life, and fov the joys of "Being. So Bats and Owls, thit 
 hate the Suns gay light , are yet by the influence of its gracious 
 beams, from their dark holes drawn out to fly and live. VVc have 
 Being upon Being given us ; To Be, and to Be rveH , are both large 
 ads of bounty ; only the latter is a double creation, or at lead a Difcre- 
 <itioH and Creation too. God^ the friend, has courted us his Enemies , and 
 hath liimfclf, not only been our Redeemer ^wt hath given us inflrucHon, 
 and<found us out iv/yj whereby we may ftill he preferved. So that 
 the conjideration o\' Gods love,wU\ bcjas that of God himfclt was to the 
 Grave Simomdes, the more thought on, the lefs to be comprehended. 
 
 And
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 And chis bein^ f»Jimtefy above all our apprehe/iftonSj wc cannot in 
 reafon give Icfs than all om gratitude : And yet, of that, how fmall a 
 part is all ? When aitwc can pay, is (ojimfle a little of what vitytftly 
 owe ; wc lliould immeafnrably be uniujl-, it we returned not 4// in our 
 ability. Though we have not to requite^ wt may have what wiUpleafe, 
 when we give him up his own, and offer up his Offering for us ; when 
 we yet remember what we cannot return. The beft repojitory of a ke- 
 nejit-y is a mind\}:m. will perpetually ackmrvledge it. We ought to ftudy 
 whatwiU/'/f/i/fjWe ought to^^yfrom what is offence And when wc have 
 done all wc can, wc flill are fliort alive, of what the dead Earth does. 
 That yields our feed with multiply'd incrcafe ; but, /A« quick earth 
 of ours, does dwindle what is caliin't.So though w& meditate our omn 
 Mifery, and God's free grace and Bounty ; yet, the great bufinefs of our 
 life is Gratitude. For that in all it's dimenfiens and concomitants , will 
 take up all we can poflibly do, and yet, at laft of all, will leave us (till 
 to rvijh and pray. 
 
 LXXVIII. 
 Of the uncertmty of Fame. 
 
 A Good Fame, is as the beams about the Sun, or the glory about a 
 holy Pidure that fliews it to be a Saint.Though it be no effentul 
 Part, it arifes from the body of that virtue, which cannot chufc but 
 (hine and give a light through all the clouds of Error and Diftraftion. 
 And though fometimcs the Mifts and Vapours of the lower earth im- 
 pede the light it gives ; yet there will be apparent Rays , that ihevv 
 there is Dfj^rZ-unfccn, which yields thofc gleams of hrightnefs to the 
 whole Hozrion, that it moves and fliincs in. The Philolbphcr Bion was 
 pleas'd to call good Fame, The Mother of years j for that it gives a 
 kind oi perpetuity-, when all of us clfe is gone. And indeed, it may as 
 well be the 'Daughter of years ; for that it is not gotten but by tlie con- 
 tinued fuccclTion of noble actions. However among all the externals 
 of life, we may obfcrvc it, as one of the bcji, io one of the brittJeft 
 and moft fading ^/o^»^i". 'Tis the hardcft both toget and keep; like 
 aGlafs of curious VVorkmanfliip, long a making, and broke in a 
 moment. That which is not gain'd, but by a fettled habit of eminent 
 Virtues ^ by one (\\oxi-jitifiu-s action, may be loft for ever. The ivfuc 
 cefs of an affair, the mutability oi Fortune, the elevaticn of a Failion, or 
 defreffieno\ ^ Party, the w({/?.j/r of a Matter, or t\\Q. craft o\ ifrtbtilc 
 Jugler, how it alters quite the /w/W that Fames lorvd Trumpet makes ? 
 Like a Beauty, drawn by fomc great Artills hand ^ one dalli from a 
 rude Pencil, turns it to a Gorgon. Nay, it it only would in this fort 
 vaniflijit would than by many be kept untainted. If it could not be lojl, 
 but upon certainties ; If it were in our own keeping ^ or, if not in our 
 I orvn-^in the hands of the wife and honeJl:Wo\v polfiblc were it xopreferve 
 
 1^ 
 
 Csnt. ]
 
 926 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 ^ESOLFES. 
 
 '\tpure> But the mifery is, that it refts upon /'roi'.z^/7///>/ ; which as 
 they are heard to difprcve^ fo they are cafie to perfwade ; That it is in 
 the ha/tds of ethers, not o\irfehes ; in the cujiedy, not of the difcreet 
 and good only, but alfo of thejifftple,t\\t (unmng, and the vile : VVho 
 though they cannot make us jvcr/? to our fehes ; yet, how foul and 
 fHdyedmiy they render us to o/^^r^lWith hadjweget a /rf;«/ chat fpoils 
 our rvhitejl innocence : with cnnning men, we arc not what we are, but 
 by fuch lights are fecn, as they will pleafe to fliew us ; and with the 
 jimple, naked we are left, that men may fee our fliame. Some are 
 gilded over, that the world are cheated in them. Some are gold with- 
 in, and by the ignorant and unskilful, arc tane for Brafs or Copper. 
 Quidam omni tempore venantur famam Jcculi, cf omni tempore fitnt 
 Infames; They ever are upon the haunt of Famey and yet we fee for 
 ever they are JnfamoHi. To vindicate us from the ftain of thefc, there 
 is no remedy but a conjiant careful difcretion. We arc in the world, as 
 men in a Town bcfieged ; if we be not always upon our guard, we 
 have fo many enemies, we foon may be furprifed. A cArelefs cratch 
 invites the vigilant Foe ; and by our orvnremifnefs, we contribute to 
 our own defamation. We muff be wary as well of votrds as Anions. 
 Sometimes a fhort Laconick ftabbing fpcech, dcl\roys the Fabrick of a 
 well-built Fame. It was the advice ot the fober Epi^etui, That they 
 vfhich diddefire to hear rvell, jbould fir ft learn well to [peak : tor lis our 
 fpeech as well as deeds,thzi charm the ^-«rj-,and lead the hearts of others. 
 Even all the Art Tiberius e're was mafter of,could never fo difguife his 
 inward rancor, but through his own expreffions, ott it would break out. 
 Nor muft we be onlY^tfM,but we muft nor.feem to be ill. Appearance 
 alone, which ingood is too little, is in evilmnch too much. He ftabs 
 his own fair Fame, that willingly appears in that /// a^ he did not. 
 It isnotenough tobe wf////x''d, butTv<r//to convcrfe, and fo be voell 
 reported. As well we ought to care we may be honefi deemed, as to 
 our {elves to be fo. 0\iv friends may knorv us by the things they fee,bni 
 Jlr angers judge us by the things they hear. As that is moft likely to be 
 truth, wherein all the d\'i^nx\gp*rties do agree : fo, that Fame is like- 
 lieft to laft, and to be real,wherein Friends and Enemies, Strangers and 
 familiars,{hz\\joyn and concur; and wherein words and anions khall not 
 crofs and run counter: T^hc one is as z healthful habit zud a good com- 
 plexion ; the other, as Z handfome carriage and apleajing countenance. 
 The firft beft way to a good Fame, is z good life ; the next is, good d'tf- 
 ceurfe and behaviour. Though when all is done, being a thing without 
 us, we arc at the mercy of others, whether we lliall enjoy it or no. It 
 will therefore be but a fond thing to be too greedy of that which,wheD 
 we haye gotten, muft be kept and allowed us by others. 
 
 II 
 
 Of
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 LXXIX. 
 Of Jims, 
 
 3^7 
 
 Cent, 11" 
 
 IT is not neceltary they (Viould always come out of a Sack. A man 
 may be charitable^ though he hath not an expanding Plenty. A little 
 piirfe contain'd that mite, which once pnt in, was the greatefi gift in 
 the Treafury. Nay, fonictimes a vpilling mind (when we want our 
 felvcs j is acceptable. God being the creator of the rpill, is fomctimes 
 as well pleas'd, when that extendeth towards him, as with the dead 
 collocations of foiiie in fen fate Treafure. So there arc few that may plead 
 Poverty as a total exemption -^ for, if they have but a rich mind, there 
 return may be as great as his that with wealth did venture a great deal 
 more. But furcly, where there isplenty, charity this way is a duty^ 
 not a curte/te. "tis a Tribute impofed by Heaven upon us. And he is 
 no good Subjcft that does refufc to pay it. It God hach caufcd many 
 Rivers to run into our Sea: we ought in a mutual return of Tide, to 
 water all thofe low and thirfly places that our waves may reach at. 
 Something Nature feems to fpeak this way. For qucftionlefs, the 
 earth with the benefits it produces, was at the firft intended for the ufe 
 of mankind in the general ; and no man ought fo to grafp at all, but 
 that another may have a fhare as well as he. If he be not fo fortunate 
 in acquiring it, yet, as a humane creature., he hath a right of Common, 
 though he may not be admitted to break into anothers Inclofure. Su- 
 tablc to this, we fee Godinhis yJ/fr^/if^^jv, injoyns us, t« love our 
 Neighbour J4 our pelves : and in the Political Lanes o( the Old Tefta- 
 mentjmcn are commanded (though there were a Civil Right to thtm- 
 fclves) to leave in the field, and after Vintage, gleanings and remains for 
 the poor. And we cannot but take notice, that there arc frequenter Pre- 
 cepts, higher Promifes, andgreater Efficacy, fct upon the Grace oi giving 
 Alms, than there is almoft upon any other /^«w<i«^^/^^«^. The Pre- 
 cepts for this arc every where fo obvious, as there needs no mention 
 ot particulars of them j we can no where read to mifs them. The 
 Promifes ufually are anncx'd to the Preccps ; and thcfc contain all 
 that we can cxpcd either in this world, or hereafter. But the efficacy 
 fct upon this Charity, would make one incline at firft vie w to think it 
 had a kind of inherent merit wth'n. In Daniel, Nebucad^iecx.ar is id- 
 vifcd, to break ofj his fins by ri^hteoufnefs, and his iniquities by (hewing 
 mercy to the poor. As if x\-\c practice of thcfe could waj}} oft ofences j or,! 
 like a CceUfiial FuHers-earth, could take out the fpotsioi flefh from the 
 foul. VVc find ic rank'd with ^/g/'/ro«/»/'/f, and by the Sacred Text, 
 'tis made almod equivalent. Our mol\ Learned and Laborious Anno- 
 cator on the New Tcftaraent, informcs us, and examples it upon the 
 Fifth oio^atth. that Alms and Right eoufnefs, are, in the h»ly Scrip- 
 ture ^promifcuoujly fifed the one for the other. And thi5,pcrhaps,might put 
 Job into the greater amazement, That his wj{f?/(?/w«^fliouldbctal him, 
 
 when
 
 9z8 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 ^ES L V E S. 
 
 when\\chidi s.\w3.yshccn(o merciful fo the poor , as in the 30 and 31 
 Chapter of his Book he expo/iulates. But, above all, is that place ot 
 St. Luke the 1 1 . and 41.. where our Saviour, after he had told the Ph.t- 
 rifees of their ^/jf^/j and Hypocrfic^ fays. Nevertheless-, give Ahns^ 
 And aU things (hAllhc clean unto yott.ks, if an Jims could expiate ayj;y,and 
 difcharge a Jcarlet into innocent [now ; unlefs it may be taken,in aforr, 
 as fome Ironical Tax upon them, for thinking, Though they cofend 
 never fo much, did never fo little rights, and aded never fo much 
 ftupendious rvrong ', vet, if they gave but Alms, they thought it would 
 Ircc them from all. But, however they did, or did not, put condig- 
 nity of merit upon them ; yet, certainly, in regard of the command 
 and encouragement going along, they carry fuch a Promijfery merit with 
 them, that one would wonder any thing Chrtjlian fhould neglc6t their 
 oft performance. 
 
 Nor are the Fathers behind hand in their Elegies and Harangues 
 hereupon. St. o^Jv^/^z/j^" tells us, Eleemefyna mundat peccata^ ^ ipfa 
 interpellat pro nobis. Alms-deeds clcanfe us trom our fins, and intcrpoi'e 
 in Qur behalf to God. Sr. Chryfoflome Ipeaking of Alms., hath left 
 us thefe inviting palfages, rmcula peccatorum tpfa di/^olvit, fugat Tenc- 
 bras^ extiuguit Ignem • and a little after, Virgo eji^ habens alas aureas^ 
 circumscripta per emnia venujiate,fed fuccinfla., vultum habens candidum 
 At que man fue turn ; pennatx ejl cy levis-^ (^ fcmper ante Solium Regale 
 cenfijlit ; It dillolves the finncrs chains, puts darknefs trom our fouls, 
 and quenches Hell's fmart fire. — 'A Virgin 'tis, encompafs'd all with 
 Graces, ever ready to appear and plead Tor us, with clear and curte- 
 ous looks; fhe's light and fit to mount, and always waits at the 
 Cosleftial Thrtne. Surely, it is the part of a good Steward, to fee that 
 all the Family be provided for. And the poor of this world being 
 part of Gods, we difcharge not our parts, unlefs we take care for 
 them. He that does, (if there were no reward) hath certainly a fairer 
 account to give, than fuch as have expended only on Thcmfelvcs, on >' 
 Pride, on Luft, on Ryot and on Wantonnefs. He that docs fupply the 1 
 poor, hath a Warrant from Heaven for what he fo expends. But he; 
 that lays out by the By on vanities, at beft, he fpends but on his own 
 account,and 'tis not likely,all will be allowed him,when his laft Audit 
 comes. 'Tis true, there be many poor, that indeed dcferve not cha- 
 rity^ if we look at their vices, and the mifpcnding of what they have 
 given them. And therefore (though the Impotent, the indigent, and 
 the Innocent deferve moft, yet) the reward of charity is not in the re- 
 ceiver fo much, as in him that beftows. If I do my part well, I lliall 
 not lofe the benefit, becaufe another makes ill ufe on't. When one 
 blam'd Arijletle for giving to a dillolute fellow, his anfwer was. He 
 gave not to the Manners .^ but to the Alan. That is properly the beft 
 Alms that is ^/■'L'f^ of ones own, in obedience to the Laws ot Chanty. 
 And the readiness adds vigour to the benefit. When the [ecd is long 
 in ripening up to Alms^ itihcwsihc air oi chanty is cold; and, if 
 the feafon be once pa/}, we forp our grains in w/W, but cannot exped 
 
 that
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 ] 
 
 that thty il^ould grow up to i»creafe. If Heaven be our Country, and 
 wc intend to dwell there, 'tis bcl^ to make over what we have, to be 
 ready acrainft our arrival. The poor are our Credentials that will help 
 us to treafure in Henvcfi. What we leuve behinAyVJt Iofe,is never after 
 being likely to make ufe c»'t. But this way bejlorved^ we both carry 
 it with us, and leave it alfo here. The Generations of the Merciful fljalL 
 be blef^ed^and find it . Like Porcelane■^^x:^^■^ we may fo bury our reealth 
 in thea;round of Poverty .^ that our children and Tofterity may gather it 
 when we are gone. And,though we be turn'd to duft 5 yet, by the mer • 
 cy of our Father above, owx good deeds\\Qtfi below may bourgeon and 
 be fruitful. 
 
 LXXX. 
 
 Of Troimfes and hepin^ ones Word. 
 
 IT was but a falfe Maxim of Domitian, when he faid,f/^ that vrettld 
 gam the People of Rome, mufl promife all things-, and perform no- 
 thing. For, when a man is known to h^ falfe ot his word., inftead of a 
 Column that he might be tor others to rf/?upon by keeping it, he grows 
 a Reed-, that no man will vouchfafe to lean upon. As a floating Illand, 
 when wc come next day to fcek him, he is carryed from his place we 
 left him in, and inftead of Earth to build upon, we find noihing but 
 inconftant and deceiving Waves. For a man to hcjuji in his word^ he 
 makes himfell Canonical,^\-\ii\[o becomesP/t//w;having the honour, that 
 not a tittle oiv]\\Zi he fays lliall fall to the ground. He is the Anchor of 
 his Friends and Neighbours ; the Altar that they fly to,and rely ow. And 
 certainly, ingreat Perfons'tisoneof thcfupremeft both excellencies 
 and advantages that they can be endued withal, to be fuch as wilH'<f(f/» 
 their word. Henry the fourth o'i France wasfo juft this way,thac he was 
 called The King of Faith. And to the Eternal Renown of tlie late Prince 
 oiParma^xn all tlieTranfadions of \^'ar,it could never be charged upon 
 him, that he left one y^r/zc/i- of what he undcvtook, unperformed. A 
 faithful promife fis a /htcld and Buckler : A^«4r^ in both the Rear and 
 ran, by which wc march in fafety againft the pi(]ucerings and ambullies 
 of fuch as are our Adverfaries. lladtr the cover ot a gracious fpeech., 
 wc think ourfelvcs fccurer than in bur own tuition : 'Tis the "Brtdgchy 
 [which wc pafs over the R^ver 5 'tis the ship that carries us fate upon I 
 |the Ocean, and amidft the tcvcral winds ot bufincfs and aftairs. 'Tisi 
 indeed the Patron of the other virtues, that make men cry'd up in the 
 world. He that is j«// will Icorn to^^^rax-^ ; 'tis below the'lottinefs 
 hat dwells in Noble Minds, and they Cooncv c:{n do any thing, than 
 wrong. Truth and Fidelity arc the Pillars of the Temple of the World. 
 If any blind Sampfon break but thefcjthe Fabrick falls and cruflics all to 
 pieces. Nay, if we be not Intidels to Scripture,this J«/?/f(f docs unlock 
 the gates of Heaven,a.nd. lets us into Paradife : For 5vvnen the qucftion is, 
 
 U u pyh« 
 
 9^9 
 
 Cent. II.
 
 99Q 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 RESOLVES, 
 
 yyho jball inhabit Gods holy Hill ? t;he anfwer is, He that pajfes his fVord 
 to his Neighbour -yAnd does not difappsint him-,tho(igh it jhotild redound to his 
 lofs. What may he not do, that hath the reputation o\ ^jujl man ? It 
 fpares hiui the trouble of Sureties, he is his own both Pawn and Se- 
 curity. What others have is his,as well as what he owns himfelf. He 
 make's himfelf the Maftcc of the World, and, if he can but Prcfnife, 
 others will not fear to 7V//(/?.The Prophet tells us, The Jujl (hall live by 
 Faith : that is, not only by the dependence on the Providence and Pro- 
 mifes that God hathplcafed to communicate to Man ; bur, being j«/?, 
 hcfliall live by the credit, the eftcem, and truft that others put upon 
 him : And, though he hath not wherewithal ot his own; yet,the Repu- 
 tation of his j///?/f^f!iall give him the command of what others do pof- 
 fefs. For,no man will deny to afford him what ever he fliall engage, and 
 undertake for : Though Ariftides by Themifiodes was prevail'd againft, 
 and ten years fpace was baniflit : yet, when Xerxes-, like a raging Sea, 
 came rowling againft his Countrcyi they were glad to call him home, 
 and be prore<^ted by his mfdsm and '^ujlice. And though he were a 
 Beggar (for,he had not wherewith to bury him) ;yet,heliv'd a Prince, 
 and was his Countreys Angela for he did both gtard and gover;i it. 
 There was but one in the world, that durft own the Burial, and was 
 admitted to the honour of embalming our bleifed Savfour-and the Text 
 dcfcribes him to be 2igood man and a ]ufi. Nor does a Prince lofe by 
 being j«/? : When men are under the rule of one that is fo, they will 
 be fure to defend him againft all his Enemies ; becaufe they are all con- 
 cern'd in their own particular, as having a Governour that abhors to 
 do them injury, and will protcS: them from their fuftering wrong ; fo 
 they fight for their own Interejl, as well as for his fafety. But, even 
 Allegiance fits loofe, when Injujlice ("hakes the Tenant, A man that 
 breaks his rvord^i by his example teaches to be falfe ; and doubtlefs, 
 leaves men angry by their being deceived: but, with himfelf the P^anK 
 and hate will dwell. When Alcibiades met Socrates at a Feaft, he con- 
 fefs'd,he could not but inwardly blufli to fee him ; becaufe he had not 
 performed what he promised him. Inftead of a blelTing, which our 
 Clycnts cxpeft, by performance of what wcpromife, vvc throw, by the 
 breach of it, a curfe and fcorn upon them. And perhaps, when they 
 defcrve it not, the fate pronounc'd againft the Hypocrite and Unjuft, 
 our falfity flings upon them. Their hopes by us arc quite cut oS and 
 perifhed. Solomon aiTures us,that Hope but defer dmaketh the heart jick: 
 But, when Ws frttftrate^ oft we find it kills. And in this fenfe,fure it is-, 
 that Job compares the failing o^ Hope to the gi'ving up of the Chofl, 
 Many times a mans whole ftock of comfort is laid upon the Hope of a 
 Prcmife, which when it breaks., his Anchor-hold is gone, and he is left 
 ^prey to the unfafe vpaves^^ or, the unconftant winds. It takes a man off 
 from the Plaufibilities and Benignities of life, and thrufts him down to 
 the horrors of a fad defeat, which makes him defperate, and fo dange- 
 rous.Heldoth not wifely confult his own fafety that is prevail'd upon to 
 be falfe of his rvord. That frieud that will put me upon the violation of 
 I , my
 
 2? E S L r E S, 
 
 my rvordf^oQi rob met ogccher ot m'^llfitegrityd.xx^ my Hoacur-^zwd. whar 
 acarkafs then is Man, when thcfc two arc once gon ? They are the 
 RoyAl Enjigns oi Hisn^anity '^ there will be ^f^rr^«f<f paid, while thcfc 
 keep up about us : but, when we once difrobc our felvcs of thefc, like 
 naked or difguiz'd, we meet fc»/<'w/'/ from all. 'Tis on the Rock of 
 Promifes that brave men build their Hopes -^ when thefe do fail, Foun- 
 dations fnrink, and all the firncfure reels. When I /"^yf my ivord, 1 
 proffer to niy friend ihe food oi Hope-^ but, when 1 fail, Ifeedhim. with 
 a Lie, which gives him the Maligniries both oi Saturn and cMars con- 
 joyn'd. So, it noi only works a man up to difdain and fplcen of the 
 diffontented and deceived, but, it puts us out ot favour with Heaven. 
 When Nehemiah ingascd the Jeves-^to Oiew them what the ilTuc would 
 be if i\\cy fail' d, he /hakes his /a/>, tkat they might fee. Who did not 
 keep their words, fliould fo hcfhaken out of their houfes, and emptied 
 from among the people. When Tiffaphernes had broke the Truce lie had 
 made with King Jgeftlaus, ^^r/z/^/^/fends Embalfadors to him, to 
 give him thanks, that by breaking his Promifc he had made the Uods 
 his Enemies. Nor is it a wonder, that ihe failing of a Promife ffiould 
 fo ftartlc us ; for, all the ftrcfs of lite lies on it. For almoft 4000 years. 
 What had the world to live on, but the Tromifes of the Mejfiat And 
 fince then, What is't we have for Heaven, but the Tromife upon Faith 
 to be admit:cd in him : So that the weight of all depends upon a Tro- 
 mife. And, if that fliould fail^ wc have no other Refuge but muil fall 
 to mifery. Certainly, the (amc equity is in ^Wjnjl Promifes, though not 
 of fo great concern : So that we ought to be as careful to keep our rvord 
 as we wo\\\d he 10 preferve om happinefs . And a great deal rather be 
 Jlow in makings than i>ackrvard in performing what we promife. It is no 
 llrjamc with rcafon to d^ny • but 'tis a lliamc once promts' d, not to make 
 good. He cheats his friends,deftroys himfclf,and gratifies his Enemies, 
 that loofely promifes, and is negligent in performing. Promifes may get 
 friends, bni' as performance that m\i{\*nurfe and keep them. 
 
 LXXXI. 
 Of Loye and Likenefs, 
 
 I Know not whether is more true. That Likenefs is the caufc of Love 
 or Love the caufe of Likenefs. In agrccing-difpotitions the firll is 
 certain. In thofc that are not, the latter often comes to pafs. The firll 
 is the eafier Love ; the othcr,thc more voluntary, and fo the more nobJc 
 and obliging. One obliges tiie Z-f^-y^r ; the other, the ^t7<;r^i/. He that 
 for likenefs is beloved^ invites his friend to love him ; (o th;it,uponthe 
 matter, he loves but his dilated felt. 'Tis the atfciflion oi Nardffus, 
 when wc are plcas'd with the reflex of our fclves.And this is the rcafon 
 why flatterers arc received into grace and favour when plain fpcaking 
 fliuts out himfelf from acceptation. We love thofc that fmooth us, as 
 U u z we 
 
 Gent, II.
 
 3?^ 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 ^ES L V E S. 
 
 we love our Looking-glafs, becaufe it fliews us our own face. And> 
 though in truth it ott diirembles and prefents us belter than we are, yet 
 l\ill we like iijbecaufe wc think ir true. The Nature of man is taken with 
 /imf/itudes.Vs/hen wc fee one meny it begets in us a laugfjter.SNhen we 
 fee another in tears^we with him are ready to rveep. The Souldier loves 
 the Martial men. 'T\\t Scholar is for an Academy. The Tradfema» for the 
 City. The Husband-mam Court is the Country.^ Port-torvn fits the Mar- 
 riner^ and the GaUafit,m the Court in thrones his own felicity. And in all 
 thefe, wc follow but the inftinft of Providence, That by joyning like to 
 like,wt increafe a mutual itrength, and keep up one another. And, there 
 is another love^ that as well as this, refleds upon our felves : and that 
 is,when we love for eminence oi parts in either mind or body. We love 
 beauty ■) becaufe iipleafeth-^ and, we hve good parts, becaufe they are 
 likewife acceptable ; and we promife to our felves either pleafure or pro- 
 fit by enjoying them : So that ftill in thefe, 'the Fountain out of which 
 Love fprings,arifcs out of fe If love ji'ox that wc think by them to gain to 
 our felves tome benefit. Thus man does love^ becaufe he loves himfelf ; 
 and is incited by what is without him, to love himfelf within. But with 
 God, the motive is not from us,but purely from his goodnefs j we can- 
 not yield him profit by all we can perform, nor hath he need, that we 
 Hiould/tf-yf, orbe beloved oi him. Nor are we /«x''^ becaufe \Nezvc like 
 him ; bur, that by loving us lor our own good, he may make us fo. That 
 furely,is the nobler Love,ihi: rifeth like Creatio»,ouc ofnothing^or elfe 
 like a Chaos finds us, and by fliedding the beams ot love upon us,trames 
 us into the beauty of a VVorld.VVhat can we account wc had,that God 
 fliould be induc'd to look upon us ? Or, what did we want, that might 
 not have put him off. Surely, fince he loved us when we were not Hie 
 him,we ought to labour that we may be like him.VVe ought to be like 
 him being our Friend, that was pleas'd to love us, being his f enemies. 
 Though we did not love him firll-, becaufe he was not like us : yet, we 
 ought now to be like him,becaufe he firft did love us. Socrates co\l\d tell 
 usjThat fince God of all things is the mod happy and bleired,he which 
 can be likejl him is neereft true felicity. And cercainly,if wc be not like 
 him, we may conclude wc love him not; for queftionlefs, Love is like 
 the Elements,they labour to convert every thing they meet with into 
 chemfelves. Fire turns all to fire that it does fcize upon. Earth doth to 
 Earth reduce what fhe imbracesjThe Air calls out all to it felf; and the 
 Water into Water rcfolves. If the lo(ve of God be in us, it cannot but 
 conform us to him : Whereas in diJJimtUries, there is a kind ot natural 
 conteft that hinders all Profperity. A free and quiet fpirit will be gall'd 
 to a Confumption,by being forc'd to live with turbulent and contenti- 
 ous humorifts. The Pious and Prophanc will never peaceably be made 
 cohabitants. Even in Vegetable Nature we often find Antipathies. The 
 Colewort does not only hinder drunkennefs,taken inwardly^but^plant- 
 ed nere the Vine, it checks its growth and flourifliing. And 'tis no lefs a 
 wonder,that the Learned and Induftrious54/z«»^/^ on PaneiroUits tells us, 
 Let a Drum be headed at one end with a VVolfs skin; and at the other, 
 
 » covered
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 covered with a Shecps skin : if you beat the Wolfs skin, the Sheeps 
 skin head will break. Nayjhe (ticks not to inform us, that further yet 
 the antipathy extends^as if the fear and enmity between thefe creatures 
 outlafted all the bounds ot life,and could create a fenfe in matters quite 
 inanimate. Cover two (everal Drums,one with a Wolfs skin,thc other 
 with a Sheeps ^ Let them both be beaten at once, and that with Sheeps 
 skin cover'd fhall not found. So Feathers of the Dove with Eagles mixt 
 will eafily be conlum'd. 
 
 Surely, between the Immaculate and moft Holy God, and between 
 corrupt and contaminated Man, there is a great averfion. And in our 
 Reafon, little reafon can by us be found, why this Great God fhould 
 iove us, while we deverfifie our felves from him : we fight againft his 
 /o've, and arc fo much the further from our own Salvation. 1 1 is happy, 
 that we are the Creatures of a Being and a Power fo iramenfe and 
 good, that with his Goodnefs all our ill o'recomes;that with his Pow- 
 er matters all our ftruglings : That tranfcends us fo in Excellency ,that 
 he overpowers all our faults,and /<n/es us into liki»^ and cenformity. So 
 great an Agent will have power over us, and ought to have the more, 
 bccaufe his love is free. If heUve us, it will be found our duty to 
 love and to ferve him. Though wc cannot ferve him as we fliould ; 
 we fhall ferve him much the better, if we love him. And both thelc 
 are our Intereft. 
 
 LXXXII. 
 Of LflTb* 
 
 IT is the ^riMe of the Humane Beaft, wereby he is held from JJArt'mg 
 and from Jiumbling in the rvay. It is the Hedge on cither fide the 
 Road, which hinders from breaking into other mens propriety. A man 
 had as good Uvc in t^Egypt among all the ten Plagues, as in the world 
 among the wicked without Law to defend him. 'Tis every mans Civil 
 \ Armour^ that guards him from the gripes of Rapine. And indeed, 'tis 
 for this chiefly, that Lavps are of ulc among men : For the vpife and 
 good do not need them as zguide, but as afhield j They can live civilly 
 and orderly, though there were no Larv in the world. And though 
 wife and good men invented Larvs : yet, they were fools and tvicked that 
 put them upon the Itudy. Being to rule luch wild Cartel as ramp up 
 and down on the earth, there needed both the judgement and the wit of 
 the beft and ableft, to find out ways to trammel them,and keep them 
 in a bounded order. And bccaufe, they fore-faw that they were like 
 enough to be flighted by the ignorant and fcornful, To put the more 
 regard and countenance upon their Larvs, and the obfcrvancc of them, 
 they pretcadcd to receive them from fome more raifed Deity,of whom 
 men were in aw, and feared to offend, tor prcferving of themfclvcs 
 from punifliment. So Minos among the Creftans, affirmed he had dif- 
 
 courfe 
 
 333 
 
 Cent. XL
 
 994 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 I^ES L V E s. 
 
 courfc with Jupiter ^ and Lycurgm to have taken his, from Afe^o ; 
 NumiL from the Goddcfs Egeria, ; Muhomet from his Vigeon whifpering 
 him into an Extafic, as coming from fome facred Spirit. And uMcfis 
 declares the two Tables received from God himfelt in Mount Sinai. 
 Andftsrcly, it adds vigour to our complyance with Chrittianity, that 
 we know our Blelled Saviour to be the Son of the molt High, and to be 
 God as well as Man. Yea, and thereby to put the higher Authority,and 
 the more efteem upon tlicir Kings that arc to rule over them, our 
 neighbours oiFmnce would have us believe that their Vial of Undlion 
 was received from the hands of an Angel. Thefe things doubtlefs, are 
 all of them fo far true, as it is moft certain, the original of Laves is 
 divine. And though at firft creation, God gave not Man a literal and 
 prefcripted Law : yet, he gave him a Lave Parole ; and infiribed k in his 
 heart, that by thofe mvcard dictates, he might be guided and bounded 
 in the courfc ot his Life. 
 
 Among the antient Drnides, It was abfolutely forbidden to Regifler 
 their Laves in writing. And dej'ar, in his Gallique PFars, gives us two 
 reafonsfor it. One that their Myfteries might not come to be proj/han'd 
 and encommon'dhy the Vulgar : an other, that not being written they 
 might be more careful ever to carry them in their thoughts and me- 
 mory. Though doirbclefs it was as well to prcfcrve their own Autho- 
 rityt to keep the people to a rccourfe to them, and to a reverence and 
 ejlecmoi ihdr judgements. Befides, it oft falls out that what is writ- 
 ten, though it were a ^Wz,rfn' when made; ya by zhQ^emergencie of 
 affairs, and the condition of men and times, it happens to be bad and 
 alterable. And we find it to be evidently true^ Tliat, as where are ma- 
 ny Phyjlcians there are many difeafes ^ So where there are many Laws, 
 there are likewile many £»flr?»//;>/. Tint Nation that fwarms with! 
 Larv, and Li^Tj^fr/- Certainly abounds with rice and Cerruption.V^hefel 
 you find much fowl refort ; you may be fure there is no want of either 
 frater. Mud, or iveeds. 
 
 In the beginnings of thriving Siatcs, whcH they are more Indujlri- 
 oiis and innocent, they have thcii the tewtll Laves. Rome it felf had at 
 tirftbut iz Tables. But a!ter,hovv infinitely did their number oi Larvs 
 increafe ? Old States like old Bodies will be fure to contract difeafes. 
 And where the Law-makers are many, the Laves will never be few. 
 That Nation is in befteftate, that hath the feweftZ<«iv/,and thofe good. 
 Variety does but multiply fnares. If every Bu/h be limed, there is no 
 Bird can efcape with all hisy?.i//'<frj'/rf(f. And many times when the 
 Law did not intend it, men are made guilty by the pleaders Oratory ; 
 either to exprefs his eloquence, to advance his praBice, or out of 
 maiftery to carry his Canfe : like ^garment pounc'd with dajl, the bufi- 
 nefs is fo fmear'd and tangled that without a GaliUus his glafs, you 
 can never come to difcern thefpots of this changeable moon. Sometime 
 to gratifie a powerful party, Juftice is made blind through Corrup- 
 tion, as well as out o{ impartiality. That indeed, by rcafon of the 
 non-integrity of men. To go to LaWp is, for two to contrive the kind-
 
 ^ E S^O L ^E S. 
 
 lm£^of A Fire a: their own coft, to warm others^ and findgc thcnifelves 
 to Cynders. Bccaufc they cannot agree to what is Truth and Eqaity-timy 
 will both agree. to />/»«?(? themfelves J that others may be ituck wich 
 their Feathers. 
 
 The Apoftle throws the brand of Simple among them that would 
 by ftriving this way confnme both their Peace, their Treafure, and their 
 time^ as if it were of the fW, to expofc a Game to i\\^ packing and the 
 (Ijuffling of others, when we might foberly cut and deal the Cards our I 
 felves.ls there none wife enough to compound Eujifiejjes without calling 
 in the Crafty, and the Cunning ? Or is there none fo wife as to mode- 
 rate a little, that he may fave a great deal more ? 
 
 Laws is like a Building, we caft up the charge in grofs and under- 
 value it : but being in, we are train'd along through feveral Items^txW 
 we can neither bear the account, nor give olf, though we have a mind 
 to't. The troubles^ the attendance, the hazard-^ the checques^ the ve- 
 \ xatious dclaySfihc furreptitiotts advantages againlt us, the defeats of hope, 
 I the lalfenefs of pretending friends., the interefi of parties^ the negU- 
 ^ pence of Agents, and the designs of Riiine upon us, do put us upon a 
 Combat againft all that can plague poor ?nan ^ or elfc we muft lye down, 
 be trodden on, be kickt ?i\\(i dye. And is it not much better to part 
 with a little at firft, and lofe a lock of hair -^ ov 3. frtperftmrn nail ; then 
 tobcleakt out till the Ciflernho. quite dry, or like ritfli upon a fpit 
 have all our fat drop't from us, by being turn"d with — before a con- 
 fuming fire} Doutblefs, the advice of our Saviour was not only Religi- 
 ons but Political and Prudential too ; If any man fue thee at Law, and 
 will take away thy Coat,kt him have thy Cloak alfo : A fmall lofs is ra- 
 ther to be chofcn, then by Contention^r^^/^fr inconvenience. 
 
 If men could coolcly have difpatch-, and 'Bujinefs be rightly judg'd ; 
 no doubt,in things of wcight,the Decifon would be profitable. And 
 this docs fometimes happen. For qucllionlcfs, tlierc arc ot this pro- 
 feflion that are the light and wonder of the age. They have knowlcdg, 
 and integrity i^ and by being vers'd in 'Sct'^'j- and Men-, in the Noble 
 lartsof Jwy^/Vf, ^nAoi Prudence:, x[-\i:y s.xc'atiQxioz judgment and the 
 Regiment of the mrld, then any men clfe that live. And there Honefly 
 truly wcigh'd is ^^^ gallant efi engine that they can ufc and thrive 
 withal. A /<i^V^/'«^wf'«/^ can never fit without Clients. Nor do I 
 believe, That man could lofe by't in the clofc, that would not under- 
 take a caufc, he knew not honejl. A Gold fmith may gain an Eltate as 
 well as he that tiades in every coorfcr metal. An Advocate is a limb of 
 fricisdfbip ; and further than the ^/Air, he is not bound to go. And 
 'tts obllrv'd, of as Famom a Lawyer as 1 think was then in the World, 
 the Roman Cicero-^ That he was T^'i/^ by one he had defended,, when 
 accus'd for the murther of his Father. Certainly he tliac defends an in- 
 jury, is next to him that ctmmits it. And this is recorded, not only as 
 tin example of i/)gratittide : but as Tipumflnnent., for patronifing an /// 
 caufe. Y'AzViplcadings,, Foul language, AialUce, Impertinence, and Re- 
 criminations, are ever to be avoided. The caufe, more than tbe man, 
 
 J51_ 
 
 Gent.il 
 
 I
 
 _31^ 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 1{ES0LFES. 
 
 IS to he coavi»c'd. Ovcr-powring Ortf/*)^^ is not ever to be pr^icfis^d; 
 Torrents ot Words, do often bear down even Trophies of Tr«//rwhich 
 docs lo fret and anger the party over- born, that the Refort is no more , 
 to paper, iv\d pkadifi^s : hut to powder, and Jleel. 
 
 It is not good to be too fevere, or to inforrcc too rigoreufly, the ob- 
 fervation of tscxy petty Mdj^e»al Law : In Charity, there is fomcthing 
 to be allowed to ^»cr4/7f^, indcujlome. Bloud and Treafurc ought 
 to be but fparingly taken : Thofe Lawyers that are fcdulous to prefs 
 Penalties, they arc but purfe Beadles : and Lallies upon that and a 
 nuans fame, enrage the Patient againft thofe that arc inftrumental to 
 afViift them. Cicero might have cfcaped the Sword, had not his Philip- 
 picksh\o\Nr\ up ttQ.{^\QCX\oi Anthony, to a flame unquenchable but, 
 with Death or Retraciion. V\'hen Varus his three Legions were dcftroy- 
 ed, the infultation of the 'Barharom was more againft the Lawyers, 
 than againft the Soldiers that did wound and kill them. They pluck't 
 out the eyes ot fomc, and cut oft the hands of others. One had his 
 Tongue cut out, avA his lipps fiicht up; and while the Enemy grafpt 
 
 the Tongue in his hand, he reviles it with Horv now Serpent ; 'T*f 
 
 •well you' I leave Hijfing at la ft ? 
 
 So far is Law to be place in the fcale\m\h War, as it is to be the 
 laft Refuge, never to be ufed but when all means elfe do fail. And 
 then the Tleaders ought to hold themfelves to that. Who vindicates 
 the Law, docs noman wrong : But he that digrelfeth to impertinences, 
 or the perfonal ftains of men, is rather a ^ that buzzes and fucks the 
 fore, than a champion for Truth, or a helmet to keep the head of jujlice 
 whole. 
 
 LXXXIII. 
 Of Confcmice, 
 
 IT is theblufliing part of the Soul, that will colour and kick at eve- 
 ry little crum that goes awry againft it's fwallow. And we can 
 neither cozen it, nor be ridd orit. 'Tis a kind of inward Deity.* It 
 will be with us whcrefoever we are, and will fee us whatever we do. 
 It can 2Ji\t ns Reft iw unjuft fiiffcrings, and can rvhip us in the midft 
 of unjult K^pplaufes. Tis the guard that God hath left us to pre- 
 fcrve us from the darts of Jin. And 'tis the Bead/e that correds 
 us, if yet we will beginning. And though it be cry'd up for impar- 
 tial and unhriheaUe, yet I do not fee but in many 'tis erroneous, mu- 
 table, and uncertain. We often find it pleaded by the fame men for 
 very contrary things. How many are there that for intercft can dif- 
 pcnfe with it, and allow of that in themfelves, which in others thev 
 fevcrcly condemn. That ufe it for an ^y/^r^ that they may deceive 
 more handfomely ; that can contrad it, and dilate it, as beft may ferve 
 their turn. 
 
 In
 
 1( E S L F E S. 
 
 .In the ftridnefs of the word, It is the knowledg and the judging ot 
 oar own ways and manners. While it relates to us, 'tis Confcicnce ; 
 when it reaches unto others and without us, 'tis but Science. Doubt- 
 kfs, if it be rightly informed and regulated according to thcprece/^ts ot 
 true Divinity,we ought to fuffer any thing rather than in the leaft admit 
 a violation al it. But that which moft men pretend to be Conjctence is 
 at beft but a Prefent perfwafion-, Opimon, Intereft^ cAptived and corrupted 
 ]Hdgment. How many have we known that have held it a hainous of- 
 fence to eat rielli in a Lent or upon prohibited days, that afterward 
 have been brought without a checque ot Confcieme familiarly to do it ? 
 Cuftom wears it quite out, 7Vrr<7- frights it, Kmvpledge d.\iQi% it, In- 
 ttrefl fways it. So that indeed the main force of it rel.ts in a right un- 
 deritanding, and Integrity. 
 
 If it be of weight in any thing, I conceive it may be in relation to a 
 Sacrament^ and the propagating o'i^true Religion ; yet wc fee St. Pmly 
 that thought it one while good Confcicnce to pcrfecute chrifiimity^d^\A 
 live to think it better to promote it. He took Timothy-^ and had him 
 circumcifed. He bred up Titns^ and prcferv'd him from it ; And did 
 not ftick to difpenfc with many things to the "^ervs to win them, and 
 fome to thofc of the Chriftianity to engage them : and ingenioully 
 confeffesj it was becaufc of falfe Brethren, who attended as Spies, ra- 
 ther than 2i% fincere chri(li.xns to be rightly inftrufted, <^[is 21. 26. 
 Gd. X. 1, 4. So that it leems to appear, when a greater good to Gods 
 Glory, or the propxgation of true Religion-^ comes in the way, IciVer 
 things, that are not limply fin, and fo declared, may be for the fe dif- 
 penced with. While things remain in a difputc, and by rcafon ot their 
 intricacy, cannot clcerly be determined, furely the fatcft Poft to lean 
 upon, is Anti^uity^ and the Authority under which our God hath 
 placed us ; It wc fhould be cnjoyned to that, which fhould afterward 
 appear to be wrong, I quelUon whether our Obedience^ where wc owe 
 fubmiffion, would not better bear us out, then the Adh^fion and Tena- 
 city to our own conceited Truth • whereby wc caufe an eddy in the Ttde 
 of Government .i which is fafer running fmooth, than in cither Curls 
 of whirk-pools . But certainly, A plain fin , we no way ought to 
 venture on. 
 
 I fee every peevi(I} and Ignorant Action of fomc fimple people is in- 
 titled to the faerednefs oi Confcicnce. And lying under that guard they 
 think to cfcape, and mate both the Royal an<\ the Reverend power. Have 
 wc not fome that will not admit the Holy Table to be communicated on 
 but in the Body of the churchy as if it were an offence againlt Confci- 
 encey to do it in the Chancely though they have the churches Authority^ 
 and their own precedent practice to invite them to it ? that will not 
 Chriften, but at their Readtng-pue, though Antiquity plac't the Font 
 next the door, as relating to the Sacrament ot Entrance and Initia- 
 tion ? It it be out of Confcicnce, Why is it not pleaded ? If it be not, 
 Why is it done ? A Simple Quaker cannot be civil to his Superiours, 
 norfwcar in judgment, cither to afccrtain Faith, or to fatisfic Law, or 
 
 X X to 
 
 CfiKTi II.
 
 338 
 
 Cent, ir 
 
 ^ESOLFES. 
 
 to dermine a ControverGe ; But thefe fhall all be Confcience^ when in- 
 deed they are igmrame,zvidi mlfuhefs : Forjwhat juftifiable either Text 
 or ReAfen, can tor thefe be given ? Where is it made a fin to Put oft 
 our Hats to our betters ? Or judicially to fwear before a LiVfful Mtgt- 
 (Irate > Let any thing be proved a fin, and I hold with them, that 
 would fooner dye than defile their upright Souls : but till irfo be mani- 
 fefted, or probably conceived fo, 1 doubt not but 'tis better far to dif- 
 penfe with fuch Natural.) or Political^oi Civil Rites, and to give up our 
 felves to the deliberate Sanations of fuch as we ought to obej^ than by 
 the ftiffe maintaining them, take all the hazard on our Iclvcs, and di- 
 fturb and fcandal others- I would know (in a Gefture not determined 
 by Scripture) whether he docs not better that kneels at the Sacrament^ 
 and hath the Authority of the church to back him,thin he that will take 
 it only flandifigi and hath nothing but his orvn opinion to fupport him ? 
 And though Cmfcieme in it felf, be out ot the reach of Compuljion ; yet 
 we are beholding to thofe5that inforce us to do, what in Co^fcience we 
 ought. 'Tis therefore t\\^x. power is given to the Magiftrate that he may 
 bend the Refra£loryi and reduce the vcilful, and the unveife wanderer : { 
 I doubt not but they could have pleaded Confcience, that refus'd to [ 
 come to the 5«/'/'(frin St. Luke; for they were rooted and grown iaji 
 unothct Religion : yet the command is to the fervant, that he Ibould 
 compel them to come in. 
 
 If we allow Confcience on our own fide,by the equal rules of Juftice, 
 we ought to allow it on the other. And then the Turk and Jerv muft 
 be born with, as well as the grounded profelTors of chrifiianity. I re- 
 member David George^ that juftly fuffered as an Heretique in the Low- 
 Countries, after fiercefl Tortures dyed perfifting in his falfe Opinion, 
 That he himfelfwas c/'r//?. Inter excandefcentes forcipes conticuit., He 
 {hrunk not for the burning pincers, as I meet with in Bucholcerw . Sure; 
 ly, all would have condcmn'd it as an error in State, if they fhould have 
 let him alone, and under the plea of Confcience have fuffered him to 
 have gone onjtofeduce the ignorant to his horrid black opinion. Though 
 it be not in the power of man to force the Confcience^ becaufe it is 
 internal and fpiritual: Yet it is in the power of Government, to pu- 
 niib thofe that will maintain a y^//f c»f, and fcduced. The mofl that 
 can be pleaded is, Whofliall be Judg, whether, becaufe fome have 
 been on my fide, I fliall take upon me to hefupreme and tenappellablet 
 Or,whcther I fballbc content (to the more learned, and more power- 
 ful, and fuch as tor their Authority God hach taken into his own rank, 
 and called Gods with himfclf) to give up my Cauje and Ccntroverjie ? 
 Doublefs, fhould that be tolerable in private lar^nlies^ which is plea- 
 ded and pradiz'd in the Oeconomy of Government .^ no man tliould be 
 tM<«/!?<fy or have order inhis ownhoufc. If we would not admit of 
 an Independant there., there is the fame Rcafon not to allow him in the 
 State. It'is a kind of Solecism in Government:, for me To put my felf 
 under the /'r<'/ff?/(j» and /?f^«/rf^/<7» of that P//»fr, whofc Lavfs\ think 
 not fit to o^f^. Quid iniquius quam velle fibi obtem^erari aminoribtts^ ^ 
 
 nolles
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 ; ftolUs ebtetnperare niajortbits ? What can be more unjult than for mc to 
 cxad obedience from my inferiours-^ when 1 my fell will not obey my 
 ■ fuperiours ? The Laws ot God and Man, in things not plainly ytf?-^;W- 
 , den by the Word of God, injoyns and cxpeds my ebedience : But, if 
 i I rcfufc to sbey-, I fet up my felt z% Supreme, and make my mV' my 
 Prijices Mafter. Cicero I conceive in the righr, when he tells us, Imbe- 
 dienttA eji ex duritie mentis obflinaU ; Difibediettce is out of the hard- 
 nefs of an vbjiifjafe mind. He dillolvcs the Bonds of Government^ 
 that fpurns at Pnbliqne EdiBs : 'tis refrsCterinefs that ufhers in 
 conftijioxt : Not to ob.y, is to refift ; and to rejift^ does cry up open 
 Wir. Though ^^nt/y^w in humanity could not juftifie tht facrificing 
 of his fon ; yet, bcctiufe he implicitely gave up himfelf to the obedi- 
 ence ot his Superior, God j he is highly commended, for being but rea- 
 dy to do it. 
 
 LXXXIV. 
 
 Of Teace. 
 
 IF men knew rightly, how to value Peace ; as is the Smferid HeA- 
 njen-, this lovger world might be. Where all the motions of the com- 
 prehending Orbs, all the feveral ConflelUtions, and the various Poftti- 
 «n of the Stars., and Planets-, produce a beautuous Corm, and a Harmo- 
 ny truly ravifhing. As health to the boiy., fo peace is to the /#*/. 
 What is rvealth., or rvit, or honour, when want of health lliall ravifh 
 from us all of pleafure in them > And what are all the cnrichings, the 
 cmbcllifliings, and the Imbrockadoings ot Fortune to us, when ivar 
 (hall tear thefe otf and trample on our Glories > The richeft tvines, the 
 choifcft riands,hyjicl'nefs prove injipid. T^hejilk does lofc his foftnefs, 
 the filver his bright hue^ and xhcgoldhis pkiCmgyeHorv. As the fenfe 
 oi feeling is the ground of all the refl, and a£}ive life docs ccafc when 
 that is loll : So is health the foundation of felicities, and the want of 
 it joys privation : yet is it Peace that gives them taft and reltjfj, and af- 
 fords tiie frvect enjoyment ot all that can be procured. 
 
 Though the other Attributes ot God,are nodoubt.bcyondour com- 
 prehcnfion ; yet, this more emphatically is faid to pafs all our undcr- 
 ftanding. Next his own Glory^ 'twas the eftablifliing this, invited God 
 from Heaven. The tirft branch of that CeletHal Proclamation jWasjC/o- 
 rybe to Godonhigh ; the next was, On Earth Peace. This is the cement 
 between the ^w/and Deity., between Earth and Heaven. It leads us 
 fofdy up the milkey rvay-, and ufliers us with Mnjick to the Prefcnfe ot 
 Divinity, where all her Rarities arc hcap'd and ftrew'd about us. The 
 enjoyment of Friends, the improvement of Arts, the fwcctncfs ot Na- 
 tures delicacies, the tragrancy ot Fruits and Flowers, the flourifliing 
 Nations, and thofc pleating contcncations, that ftrcam out themfelvcs 
 from all Heroick rtrtues^iXQ all brought in, ind glorified by Peace. 
 
 X X 2 ' The 
 
 3^9 
 
 Cent. II.
 
 34' 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 The Drum and Truffipet that in ff^ar found ffrror and iflpnifbrneatj 
 in Pf<»c^ they only eccho mirth and jolitty. Peace helps the weak and in- 
 digent ; And hcahh and foundnefs too, to the fick endeavours. It takes 
 hence only the unfound and lan^uifning, and yet gives leave to them to 
 place their wf^/^/^ where they firftplac'd their /wf/; That by it they 
 grdtfjie ihtix friends, and (lip from all thofc fmartings that 'vex them. 
 ButjW^^r kil/i men in hcdUh, preys only on the joftndejl • and, like the fa- 
 vage Lyon, docs fcize the vaUtut fooneft, as thinking the eld and impo- 
 tent too mean to be his qitarry. And though in War fometimes we wear 
 the Fi£iors tereAth^ yet, that is often purchafed at much too dear a ratc^ 
 and many times the CoHa[Herors Garland crowns the (aptives head. In 
 the fame Battail //4/?«/^/i/contefs'd, though hefirft was Coxqueror, ycty^ 
 he at lart did come oft over-come. He had broke Mtnutitts his Ferces ; 
 but,was by Fabim torc'd to give up all his Palms. Nor is it often better 
 with thofc that are dependents on chat Gcncral,that yet commands the 
 field, ricforyuot fcldome docs iuln Sever itji. The HaHghtinefs oi xht 
 Conqueror is often to his ov«n, Icfs tolerable than the Triumphs of the 
 Enemy. Success does flame the bloud to^r/Wf and boldned injolence -^ 
 and as oltcn kindles nerv as it docs conclude old^Fars. One world fuf- j 
 fieed not Alexander. Nor could all the Roman Territories fet bounds to | 
 Cji^ars limitlc fs ambition. For, when we once put off from the ^ore of j 
 Peace, we lanch into the Sen that's bottomlcfs. Wc fK>im on angry 1 
 vfaves, and arc carried then as the vindoi Fortune drives us. j 
 
 The entrance into w«r,is like to that of Hell,'m gaping wide for any j 
 fool to enter at. But, it will require a Hercules with all his labours to j 
 redeem one once ingag'd in't. They know not what they part withal, 
 that wanton hence a J^BY/founvaluable. For indeed, itweconfiderj 
 it, What price can be too dear to purchafe it ? wc buy off all the open) 
 force, and fly defigns of malice, and we intitle our felves to all thcjgW| 
 thatever was for Man intended. 1 
 
 When God would declare, how he would reward and blefs ihcgttd ! 
 man^ he finds out that which mo{\ may crown his happinefs. He tells | 
 us, He rpillntake his Enemies at peace rvith him. Securely he enjoys him- 
 fclfand friends, whofe ///f is ^»W^*;i' with the w//> oi F.nemies. The 
 Pallace of the veorld flands open to him that hath no foes. 
 
 If any may will fee in little (for what is an Ifland or two, to the 
 world ? ) Let him but well confidcr, the havock that a few years njade 
 among us. The vtajle Q{vpealth,i\\c wreck oiworth,ihe [id fate lighting 
 onihe great and gofd, the virtuous left tofcorn^ the Loyal us'd as once 
 the Reman Parricides : as thofc in Jacks, (o thefc l\iut under Decks with 
 Cccks and Serpents, defpcrate and malitious perfons left to rule and vex 
 them; w-r///' proftituted to the /'f^^<<;-/)' and the ^4«f ; Pi*i/4f« plun- 
 dered and pulled downj Temples pTophzr\'d;Antiauities raz'd; Religion 
 rivuled into petty Illucs running thick corruption. "then let men confider, 
 after a little Kevolution,how little have the y^*/i'«r/ gained. Who would 
 take peace from others, themfelves have mifs'd it in their hollovt graves-^ I 
 the Earth they tore,bath fled them from her b»fom and her Bonveh, with 
 
 nought ■
 
 's( E S'O L r E s. 
 
 'H' 
 
 nought i'th Icalt coniidcrabic co thccxpenceof ^/eW and ?rr/i/»rr.' Cekt. II 
 Then alio, let men fee, how the Sacred rvheei of Providence hath rcfur- 
 redion'd all ourjoyj. How the C/wrc/^ recovers her late 'befniearcd 
 beauties-^ How the T/^<? ot TrAdexz\.\XK\\%'^\\o^ bright ned Srverds have 
 now 3. peaceful flitter -^ How Glory^wealth, and Honour ^ with Loyalty, is 
 rcturn'd j How ^jouts ot '^oy have drown'd the Cannons Roar ; that till 
 men tome in Heaven^ fiich jo; on Earth can ne're again be cxpcded to 
 be fccn. Three TsJ^^.tions looking for a [xwXfiroke^ at once repnevd from 
 Jlavery and rmne.Si) have I known foiue generous fourfer ii?ind,tremble 
 and ^uake under both rvhip and fpur ; but, once turn'd loofe into the 
 open fields, he neighs., curvets, XAd prances forth his joy ; and, gladded 
 now with eafe and liberty, he fills himfelf with plcafure, and all thofe 
 high contents that boUntcous ;V4///rf meant him. 
 
 Certainly,'tis Peace that makes the world a Paradife-^ while /K4r,like, 
 Sin^ does turn it all to ivildernefs ; and with wild Bea(ls, Mans eonver- 
 fation makes.In tvar, the vexed Earth abortives all her fruit fulnefs : but, 
 in an unftirr'd Culture, ripens all her bounties : that now with Cafaubon's 
 Tranflation o^ Euripides, we cannot but approve his much commended 
 Rapture. 
 
 O Pax alma ! datrix cpum, 
 O Plucherrima Calitum ! 
 Qnam te mens Jit it ? 6 Aloram ! 
 Obrefat metuo mihi 
 i^tas ne mala : te prim 
 Suavem b quam tuear diem ; 
 Tlauffti Hndique cum jlrepanty 
 Cantufque (^ Chori,Amicaque , 
 Commeffatio Floribus ! 
 
 Hail lovely Peace i thou Spring of wealth. 
 Heavens faireft ilTuc, this worlds health. 
 O how my Soul does court thy fight ? 
 More pretious, than the plcafing' Light. 
 Let never blacker day appear. 
 But dwell, and fliine, for ever, here. 
 Let fhouts of Joy flill, Hill, refound : 
 While Songs, and Dances walk the round, 
 Ac Fcafts of Friends, with Garlands crown'd. 
 
 
 LXXXV. 
 Of Divine Providence. 
 
 EVery thing that Man can look upon, is both a Miracle (at the 
 Creation of it ; and a fVonder for the apt contrivance, in fitting 
 It to its parts and province, wherein it is fet to move. So that the 
 
 H^orld
 
 94^ 
 
 Cent.II. 
 
 1 
 
 'JlE S LV E S. 
 
 yforld is but Gods great Cubimt of Rarities j which he hath opened to 
 aftonifh Man, that (hall but well confider them. If Man fliall refiedl 
 upon hinifelf,hc Aiall cafily find how Infinitely wondcrlul he is made, ' 
 beyond all the other world of Creatures. How none but he, by refle- : 
 £ttve A6ts of Underftanding, is able to argue, to confider, and to judg 
 of himfcU. Who is't but he,can hope or fear the future? that can curb, 
 incouragc,accure,or commend himfelt ? or that can apprehend, or reve- 
 rence either Pwiy, or Eternity ? 
 
 And to magnifie the goodnefs of this great Creator, we fhall find that j 
 every n^itural a^ion that Man is capable of doins ; affords him pUafure \ 
 in the execution. To cat, to drink, to llcep, to faTt,ro wake, to forbear ; ! 
 to fpcak, to be filent ; to move,to reft ; to be warm, and to be cool j to 
 be in compiny,and to retire : They all in themfelves are ^leafing a^s ; 
 whereas the things tliat vex-, and trouble^ either come from veithout^ or 
 happen by our own diforder. So that a man may live at etfe if he will ; 
 and if he does not, 'tis by his own default, that it happens. In his Bo- 
 dies frAme-, not to delcned to all particulars,which are full of admira- 
 tion. How exquifitc, and how fitted are they for all occafions, that at 
 any time may befal him ! In his Ears and Nofthrils, the one relating to 
 the Head, the other to the Litngs ; thofe flcnder Hairs are not in vain 
 plac'd there, bur, as nets to catch the dull and moats, which with our 
 breath we fliould clfe draw in, and tabid all our Lungs, the engines of 
 life ; or, mix'd with wax, fliould as pellets, flop oar fcnfe of hearing. 
 In the world, what we complain of for inconvenient, if rightly we ex- 
 amine, we rtiall find it highly commendable. The unevennefs of the 
 Earth is clearly Providence. For fince it is not any fix'd fedation, but a 
 floating mild variety, that pleafeth ; The fJilis and Falleys in it, have all 
 their fpecial ufe. One helps in »vf/,and foaking innndations, the other 
 aids in droughts, in heats, ^n^-fiorching feafons. And the feet and legs 
 of men, having nerves indJjnervs,to rife and to defcend, to recede and 
 proceed ; they are better fitted by the unevennefs of the £<<r/A,whereby 
 both are interchangeably cxcrcilcd and refrcllied, than if it were all a 
 levelled rva/i, and held a couWznt evennefs. That lyeeds wkhoni a Til- 
 lage voluntarily fpringjfiarc hath a double benefit. One, that Man may 
 have fomething wherewith tocxercifc his /«^«/?r>',which clfe with eafe 
 would fettle into corruption. Another, that by thefe the Earth it fclf, 
 docs breed its own manure ; and Beafis, and Birds, by them have tables 
 ready fprcad. Even venemom Creatures have their proper ufe ; not on- 
 ly to gather what to Man might be noyfgm, but to qualifie other Crea- 
 tures, that they may be phyfical 3,x\d falutiferom to the fcvgral conflitu- 
 tionso\men. SviXc\y,\.hai'Beafts axe dumb^^wdwinx. underfianding, is 
 a benefit great unto Man : If they were intelligible, it could not be, 
 that iheix Jlrength coyxld ever be kept fubjeded to thefervice of Man ; 
 whofe cruel ufage, nothing rational could ever long endure. Would the 
 Horfe be c«r^'^,and brought to champ ox\jleel'i would he fuffer his Ufie 
 Rider to bcftride his patient back, with his hands and rvhip to vpaU his 
 flejh, and with his heels to dig into his hungry borvels ? would he be \ 
 
 ^ brought
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 343 
 
 b'covi^i m hempen chai/tSy to be made draiv beyond his breath, and! Cew[T. II. 
 flrength ? would he be tyed uf/ to the fraved tvood, or walk the round 
 all day in vow\in<g ponderous fipnes "i or, wear his ///f away under tlie 
 prelTure of a heavy burthen ? 
 
 If they could Deak,\\o\v would Replying to the rage and infolence of 
 cruel Man, enkindle verath, and Ice in death to both ? We fee it full 
 as necellary, that there iliould as well be poor as rich j for neither 
 could live without both. We fee both fruits and wines will keep with 
 guj}, and beatttj, until the new appear. God having in his Providence 
 made them to laft, till he docs provide us more ; and, yet, no: longer 
 that we might not be idle, or, trufting to our hiVmg fiore, grow wan- 
 ton, and forget the Author, and our [elves. Thofc things ot com- 
 mon ufe, we common have among us : what we need, and will not 
 laftj in our own Climate grows ; Our Spice and Drugs that we muft 
 fetch from far, are freed fo. from corruption^ that they feveral years 
 indure. 
 
 In common Ctfr;z,what wonders may we find ? how one fmall^r/?i» 
 fprings up to feveral hundreds ; how it gives 2l [ujlentation by his fe- 
 veral parts, both unto Man and Beajl ; and, becaufe fo ufeful, fee but 
 how carefully i\7'4;«r£' does preferve ic. It grows up in sl Corfelet , an 
 inward coat^thai does from dews defend it : and on theoutlide a Stand 
 o^ Pikes in bearded ranges upright, do appear, to fence it from the 
 Birds, and catch the falling rain, fo by degrees to lead and hold it in to 
 thcgrains within : but, when 'tis ripe, that moifture is not ufeful • it 
 downward turns its loaded head, that as before it helped to fwell and 
 ripen it, fo now, it gently draws it oS, that it may not hurt, or rot it : 
 and becaufe, (being weak), if from one ^i^m;?, one lingle ftalk a.\onc 
 fhould llioot, and grow, each eafie wind would break it to unfruiclul- 
 nefs, there fprings up many from every feveral kernel, that getting 
 ■ftrength by multitude,ic may withftand the alTaults of ftorm and rain. 
 And whereas othcv fruits from Trees, and fuch large Plants , laft but 
 their year about, or notfo long ; this, as more ufeful, feveral Winters, 
 keeps from all decay, that when there is zplenty (as once in <i/Rgypt), 
 to help 'gainft dearth, it may be kept in (tore. Even the enemity of 
 Cr^4/«rrj one againft another, is io\- the advantage oi Aifan ; in fear ot 
 one another, they are kept from trcfpallmg on him, and by the (t«///>.t- 
 r^/ofoneagainft the other, wemakcufeot one, to take the other; 
 
 Ifoferve our fejvcs ot both. 
 By thcfe, and millions of others, and indeed by all , we can fee 
 or comprehend, we may conclude as does thePfalmift, O Lord, how 
 wonderful are thy works, in wifdom haft thou made them all ! And if we 
 Hiould complain, as fometime profanely did Jlphonfus, That God might 
 have ordered many things better in the Creation of the world, than he hath 
 done-y^^mvj well return that grave and fobcr anfwcrofSr. Augufline, 
 In Crcaturis f quid erratum cogitamus^inde eft quod noH incongruisfedibHS, 
 eaqujerimus, Ir we complain of defeat in the works of Creation, 'tis 
 becaufe we do' n't confidcr them in their proper fphcrcs and ufcs. 
 _______ Surely,
 
 344 
 
 Cent. U- 
 
 RESOLVES. 
 
 Surely, the apprehenfion of the ordermg of aVi things fo infinitely ! 
 wifely, by fo Supreme a Providence^ might Tutor us to be Icfs \x\^xJli- , 
 on, at any thing that happens. It was an excellent fancy of the wife j 
 Philofophcr, in difcourling ot this matter, when he faid, if aU the\ 
 misfortunes of all the men in the v(>orld,were crowded together in one Man-^ '■ 
 tnd then^ every msn out of this heap^ were to take, hut an equal jhare : i 
 He did helieve, every man would rather refumehti own, than after a pro- [ 
 portionate Rate take what (hould then befalhim. Why then fliould any 
 8;rumble at their difpleas d condition ? Who wifely made the world> as 
 wifely does peferve and govern it. And he that flicw'd his Power and 
 fFifdem intMcty fVorm^in evcvy Fl^3 and fmaller yf/^^w that he did at 
 firfl create 'y does in his Providence defcend lo order , and dijpofe of. 
 every little/'4r//f/(f of this great Main^\\\t tverld. Who makes a pvatch, 
 does look as well to every /»//» and nick in every wheel-^^s to the Spring 
 itfelfj that guides and fleers the whole. As 'tis Maxim'd of the Ele- 
 ment Sy that, ISltiUum in fuo Uco ponderofum^ There's none are heavy in 
 their proper places : So nothing is a burthen as God did firftdefign it. 
 And thus, as by contemplation oihisglorious works, we never can want 
 canfc to admire his Trovidence, to magnijiehis ffifdcm^ to adcre his 
 GoodnefSf and find a reft for all our warring thoughts : So by our weak 
 complaining, we unhand our W<^irom "Deity that ftays us, we proclaim 
 our own defeSls^ and detrad from what is due to his Great Glory. 
 
 SOME-
 
 SOMETHING UPON 
 Ecdes. 2. I J. 
 
 ! 
 
 M is Vanity andvexation of Spirit^ and there 
 is nothing of 'value under the Sun, 
 
 LL Is Vanity! Surely this is a bold Cer.fure ; 
 Yet we fee the wifeft that was only Man , dares 
 both avow and juftific't. Nay, that is vain which 
 is not commodious, though it hurt not. But all 
 is not only vanity but Vexation ; that, not of the 
 Body only, but the Spirit : 'Tis unprofitable, 
 'tismifchicvous. Yet further, it might afBid in fomcthing, and folace 
 in others, but there is nothing of value: 'Tis unprofitable, 'tismif- 
 chicvous, 'tis good for nothing. Here is the reckoning of the world 
 caft up, the particulars are all before, Honour, Pleafurc, Profit ; and 
 VVifdomc added to advance the fum : but what amount they to ? 
 Alas! the Vcrfes end has totall'd them, V^anity, Vexation, Nothing. 
 This isafcalding breath, fatal as the Bird of night, a killing damp, 
 or Mandrakes grones. Sec, all the beauty of the Globe is blaftcd : 
 That which the wife Inquifitors of Nature, did for the decency call 
 Beauties fcl.f, the Grecians and Latines, is this now become a thing fo 
 contemptible, fo falling and fo dying in its Fame ? 
 
 But isthc Accomptant one of credit? May he not fail in his Arith- 
 metick, and by an injurious Total vilifie fo large a Trcafurc ? Alasftis 
 this that gives the wound, the authority of the Man marrs all. Had 
 fome immur'd Anchoiicc,fome celled HermitCjfome fccludcd Monk 
 fpokethis, it hadbccnnodifparagcment ; nay, had it been but fome 
 Mceandring Sophifter, or fome junior Philofopher, that had but gazed 
 Nature in the face, and fo gucfs'd 1 cr difpofition, it might have met 
 fome Cavil :Nay, had it been fome fowr Cynick , or fome Hccring 
 Lucian-, a blind Homer ^ or the more ftrious and knowing K^rtfietle , 
 thatnotonly courted Nature as a Miftrcfs , but bedded her as a 
 Bride, faw her uncloathed,and left her alniofl: naked to t) e wide worlds 
 view, wc might have doubted Hercfie in the Text : But when he that 
 fpeaks it, fliall be Man fumm'd up in the excellency of all his parts , 
 
 Y V Pcrfcdior 
 
 345
 
 I 346 
 
 Eccles. 2. II. 
 
 Perfedion centcr'd and epitomiz'd : when ir fliall be , as HugoViQo- 
 rinusizsS'i SententUhominit hominem excedentis^ The judgaicnt ot a 
 Man exceeding all Mankind ; when it fliall be one that was fo wife 
 at Twelve, as of himfelfto chufeWifdom before all that the world 
 had J one that knew the world, and was able to judge it; one that 
 had the world within him , and knew by his Pen to diircct his parts, 
 and knowingly to read upon every Limb every particular, from the 
 Hjffof at the Walls low foot, to the lofty Cedxr that docs llnadow 
 LebunoH : One that had King'd it trom his youth, that knew the Mines 
 and Trains of State, the Fawnings and the Wiles of Court, the Rid- 
 dles and the Twilight-fliows of Policy : One that was skilful too in 
 Trade, and cxpcrienc'd in the belayings,the ingroilings, the circum- 
 ventions of Merchandizing : One that was Prince of Kings, and King 
 of Philofophers ; whofe Wit was elegantly Poetical, whole Wildom 
 wasfolidly Proverbial, whofc judgment was Oraculous; W'chave 
 nothing left to ground an expectation upon. 
 
 Nor did he fpeak this at random, as a flafliing wit cenfures a judi- 
 cious Author, erehcfcarce hadread aPase^ nor as a prejudicatcd 
 Judge, that fentenccs Delinquents, when yet he has not heard the 
 caufe : But after a ftrift examination of all, after he had cut up every 
 fublunary, and ledur'd on the Anatomy ; not by a Thcorical and 
 barely empty fpcculation , but by a pradick experience, traverfing 
 not only the vaiier Continent, but even every Creek and Angle of the 
 World : and when he had try 'd and Lymbcck'd all, the fpirit and 
 Extraft comes f<Mih.,raf?ity-, Vexation, nothing of contimimce. 
 
 But perhaps this may be but general, and lie may mean as when 'tis 
 faid, The whole City went out 5 whereby we underftand the greater 
 part, and not precifely all. No, they are induced fcverally, and fcn- 
 tenc'd together, JikeMalefadlorscali'ddillinCily to the Bar, but by 
 one Law found guilty all alike. 
 
 But what is Vanity ? Who knows but that it may be pleafin^ ? 
 I'm fure we hunt it as we would a purchafe,as the fatiating of a long- 
 ing bloud, as Children do their Gawdesand Rattles, with cryings 
 and impatience: And when we have got it, we have but grafpedthe 
 Air ; or, like Ixion., prefs'd a Cloud tor J««^, whercout fomc Mon- 
 fter, like the Ce/uaur, fprings : yet flill like him we boaft the enjoy- 
 ment of J^x/^V Queen folong, thatjullly at laft we ftand condem- 
 ned to the reftlefs wheel. 
 
 I find divers definitions of Vanity. There arc that fay every muta- 
 bility which argues a defedl is vain ; And thus Angels and our Souls 
 maybefo. Ncxt,'whatevcr is deilroyable and dilloluble, and thus 
 the Elements and vifible Heavens. Saint chryfcjlom fayes that is vain , 
 which has no profit in it: a name without a thing. Some ever take it 
 for the cvill part, and tend it to the naturalncffe of the creature, re- 
 ducible to an Annihilation: to the Temporality of the good , the 
 Perfonality of offenders jand the Criminality of works. Others fay 
 that is vain which is to no end or purpofe , as courfing the Wind and 
 
 Combating
 
 3{ E S L V E S. 
 
 Combating lliadovvs. And certainly in rcfpcd ot that fupreoie, and 
 eternal felicicy, which the foul docs fecm to make unto, fuch is all 
 chat the Sun looks upon : They arc produc'd and pcriQi tos^cthcr : 
 Or if a while they leave a faint glimmering in the mind, 'Tis but as 
 waters fceth removed from the fire, which exprefs a laiiguilliing play 
 after all the heads gone. 
 
 VVifdome and knowledge arc the primeft goods of man, For they 
 arc Judges of all bolides. They are the Elevation of the fcale of man, 
 which while a dull Harthincs flags the rc(\ of the Creatures, mounts 
 him like a Nobler fire to the Honour of the company and being 
 friend unto God. Neither arc they fo cafual (like Honour, Plcafure, 
 and Profit, the other temporary goods of man) as to fall upon the in- 
 diligcnt and undeferving, nor yet fo catily ravillit from him by the 
 fpleen of others , or the frown of fortunes mcn'acings. But as they are 
 harder in their acqui(ition,fo are they more imperdiblc and ftcddy in 
 their ftay. All the other three are (compared with thefe) but like Cra- 
 -dlcs to rock Children aflcep with. But thefe arc fweet as the wcakned 
 mufings of delightful thoughcs,which not only dew the mind with Per- 
 fumes that ever refrcfli us, but raifc us to the Mountain that gives us 
 view ofC(t»rf<i»jandrhews usraycsand glimpfcs of the glory thatfliall 
 after crown us. Yet is it the objeft only that makes theie good unto 
 man, when God is the Ocean that all his ftrcams make way unto : o- 
 therwife, as Nets do birds, they catch us and intangle ; and, like the 
 Sc(5t of the Aciidemkks , conclude not any thing, but That nothing cm 
 be concluded on. K'^iowledge in many things but delivers us to doubts , 
 and doubts involve us in dirtrailion. Ttie Gall of fm is broke, and has 
 imbittcr'd all the inwards of man. 
 
 It was the Appctition of Knowledge that cafl man from Paradife : 
 Ignorance, not total, may be better than uncertain Science. To know 
 good was part of mans tirft boalted happincfs; but when he needs 
 would know more than was good for him to know, he lolt that gooJ 
 he had. And Plato fays, One Theutm Ca certain Devil envious to man) 
 firl^ fliewcd him of the Sciences.. What divcrfuy ot Opinions , oi 
 Thoughts? Not two in the world that have eyes ot conceit in all things 
 feeing alike. Thisfchoolmagnifics what another condemns, and that 
 Scd takes any thing rather than what the other tau'i,ht: And how often 
 is the Garland given to Paliliood, while Truth obfcured mourns ? The 
 plain right down Plod oft findcth Heaven and happincfs, while Wits 
 deep fubtlcties failing,nnk*to Hell. The greatelt Hcrtfics from grcatcft 
 Learning fpring; and the Holy Ght)lf,lik.c the bird of its icprcfcntarion, 
 (the DDve)\\{\xA\^ lights upon the humble ground,but feldom perches 
 on the tall-grown Tree. Though 1 totally fubmit to Seneca^ where he 
 (ays-^Hoc fcio neminem pojfe bene vivcrc,fed nee tolcr.ibi/iler qui eft fine fa- 
 pientuJhidio.liWis I am fare of,Nonc c in live wcll,no not in any tolera- 
 ble fafluon, without tl.cliudy of V\ifdom : Yet we find neither his 
 Philofophy, nor his Wealth, nor his Honours, nor that which he pre- 
 lerred before all thefe, and recommended to his trienis at his death, 
 
 Y V z (His 
 
 ?47 
 
 Ceht. I
 
 348 
 
 Cent. II. 
 
 ^ES L V E S. 
 
 (His Precepts, and the Pattern of his well-led Life) could guard him 
 from the peoples envy, otNeroes malice, or prcferve his Veins un- 
 cut. Nay, how often does our Knowledge increafe our forrow ? It 
 elatesour minds, it attradts envy , and gives us to fee further into 
 forrow than the unskilled foul. What one thing of moment by all 
 our knowledge can we truly conquer? The Seas alternate fluxes 
 pafius, the Loadftoncs hidden qualities arc beyond our reach, nor 
 can we truly judge of what our very fenfes meet with. All agree,the 
 Dog in fcenr, the Ape in taftc, acuter are then we ; yet we fee the one 
 in Carrion tumbles as his beft Perfume, and the other leaving all our 
 Delicates,checklcs when he meets the Dainties of a Spider. Our wif- 
 dome is but in finding more ot our lolly, and when we think we have 
 progrefs'd far in the un- ending Circles oUaborious Science, we only 
 at lalt with fruitlcfs fweat attach our own learn'd Ignorance. But 
 admit we may know more than can the flothtul man ; the greateit 
 Talent obliges to the grcateit toy 1, and negle(5led , to the greateft pu- 
 nifliment. Knowledge without pradice but enlarges ourfcorc, and 
 isaTreafury of future (Iripes : And alTuredly when Juftice at the 
 laftlliall clear her own Integrity, it will go far better with an ho- 
 neft unaffected Ignorance, than with the cunning fpcculations of ncg- 
 Icftivc Knowledge. 
 
 But let us fee whether there licnot fomething of more efleem in 
 outwards. There arc many Plants that carry medicine in their Barks 
 when all their bulk is only food for fire. Alas .' if the Prince be poor, | 
 where is the wealth of (laves ? Ifwelookat Honour, that of Kingsl 
 is the higheft pitch. Andnot tofpeak otthc common frailty atten- 
 ding them as men, even their ncceltary incumbrances are as the falt- 
 nefsof the Sea harlliing quite through the whole. I believe not him 
 that faid, if Crowns were rightly viewed , there would be more 
 Kingdoms than Kings: For Nature rifes to Sovereignty, and there 
 is a blaze of honour guilding the Bryers and incicing the mind: yet 
 is not this without its Thorns and falebrofity. If he bs good, he is 
 a general Servant : if bad, his own perpetual terror. If all men ought 
 to care for him, 'tis his part to take care for all : and 'tis far lefs W 
 many to care for one, than for one to provide for all. And this invi- 
 ted y^«/w^«j- when Scipio hid Conqner'd away fomeofhis borders; 
 to fend thanks lo the RemAKs, foreaiing himofpartof his cares, to 
 which he is not allowed the liberty that inferiours have. When ^»- 
 tigc/f/Ui Ciw his Son loofein his Carriage towards his Subjeds, he 
 checks him with, Sok, So», remembir our Smfireis a Noble Tondage. 
 Theymuit livefevere to thcmfelves, but aftable and free to others: 
 which made Alexander anfwer his Father Philip , who wifht him to 
 fhew his adivenefs and fpeed at the Olympian Kace-^ Thatfohevpcnld, 
 if he had Kings to run reithal. As fport, fo friendrhipfure is fwee- 
 teft among equals; and even in this, a King is fure unhappy , that 
 whole Kingdoms atford not him one Companion to make a friend I 
 of. Certainly, he may live moft at eafc that has leaft to do in the - 
 
 World i
 
 1{ES0Ll^ES. 
 
 World. A kind ot calm reclulcncls is like rclt to the ovcrhbour'd 
 man, but a multitude is not plcalin^ : 'Tis but BsAUm in a hrgcr 
 building. W'iio would be content to lead all his lite in a crowd ? or 
 to flandup as the common mark whcreout every one drives to draw 
 his own peculiar intcrcft ? Let the private man pleafe but two or 
 three of his own Parifli or fome Neighbouring-Villase) and 'tis all 
 the bufinefs that he has to do. And furcly this is no hard matter 
 while he adls not the dccifivc part , in things that fit clofcr to men, 
 as Honour, Liberty, Life, Eftatc, and the like ^ in all contentions 
 concerning which, one lldc will think it fclf too hardly born upon , 
 and fo fall olt in difcontcnt, it not rage. Nor Oracles, nor Equity, can 
 contrive out a liking to all. Even he that Judges right, muft needs 
 have onefide hate. S'tmul iftx Mtmdi Rector Deus pofuit Odium atq ; 
 Regnum -J The God and guide ot all the World, has cftablillit theft 
 together; 111 will and Empire. \S\\(^\\FyUdes a Roman Aftor was 
 to rcprefcnt Agamemnon, he appeared as one in a maze, folicitous , 
 as prelled both with thoughts and cares ; And fuch are Kings and Go- 
 vernors. To live at eafe is to lofe : and to prcfervc is pains ? It he 
 be good to the Rcpublique the trouble is his own, but the fruit lli-all 
 his fuccelTors reap. Nay, I fee not but that it is undoubtedly true, 
 that even the pooreft vallal, not groaning under a fcnfiblefmart, has 
 all his lite long a greater Comforter, than the Monarch heaved on th.e 
 top of ftate. For he that is low not having tar to fall has little to 
 fear. Qui yxcet interram , (^c. But on whatfoever he looks abroad, 
 there is liope , and that like a /i/(f//WjV.4/«r4 heartens andchcarshim 
 againftall his ditlik'd dcprcfTions : though he be in darknefs, it llicws 
 him light; 'Tis the fmile of life, and like the pillar of fire, leads us 
 through the dark and defirts in our conceit i6 plenty. But with 
 Kings It is quite the contrary ; they have as little to hope tor as the 
 other has to fear ; and whatfoevcr this looks on with hope, with tear 
 do Kings behold it : Above them there is noplace, and beneath them 
 all is lofs. Fortune leads on Kings with perpetual Alarums, but 
 intcriours by propofing prifcs. Anddoubtkls fuch Conlldcrations 
 as thefc did make the Trag.edian fettle in this Rcfolve : 
 
 Stet quicnnqti-^ volet-, ptens, 
 AhU cnlmine liibrico : 
 Me ditlcis faturet quics. 
 Ohfcuro pojitui loco, 
 Lcni perfruar otto. 
 Niillis not^t Quiritibus 
 i^ttti per tacit urn fiunt. 
 Sic cum tranfierwt met 
 1S(jillo cum jlrepitu dies, 
 Plebeim mortar fenex. 
 
 I 
 
 Let who's will in Icy State, 
 Courts gay lullres emulate : 
 Private peace fliall fatiate mc, 
 Wlicre retired 1 may be 
 Stor'd with gentle cafe, and free ; 
 Where no greedy Courtier knows 
 How my peaceful patTage flows : 
 So when (noifelefs gliding by) 
 All my daicsarepait, theni 
 May a harmlcfs old man dye. 
 
 ///; 
 
 Cent. II.
 
 95 
 
 o 
 
 Cent. 11 
 
 q{ E S L l^ E S. 
 
 /lit mors gravu mcubat^\ He that to all too much is (hown, \ 
 
 Qui^mtus mmii ommbm:, Dyes to himfelf tb,e moft unknown, 
 Igmtui montur jibi. And death with greateft grief docs own. 
 
 Is PIcafurc then any other ? Or can the jollities of life emerge us \ 
 from this fpreading 'Sea ? Certainly, Antijihenes meant it not as Cha- . 
 rity, when he prayed his Enemies children might be brought upini 
 pleafure. And /'/ft/^rf/' tells us, when the Babj/lo?iians had revolted,' 
 and were againby X(frJc^j-rcduc'dto obedience, in ftead of wearing 
 arms he commanded them to carry pipes to fport and fing, to dance 
 and revel, that foftned and unman'd by pleafiare they might not a- 
 gain attempt a detcdion. As winds do lighter (ubftaRces, it bears us. 
 up a while infmootherair : but 1^11 as that begins to lie, with it we 
 fall to Earth, to Mire, to Mud, and torpid dulnefs. It nibbles away 
 the virtues of the foul, and becalms us into Ruine. The Noble Sun 
 they fay is fed from the Sea that is fait : but the Moon from the plea- 
 fant Springs attradingall her changes- Pleafure and Dcftruftion are 
 clofc and near akin, and it it be inordinate, the lye is then of Brother- ; 
 hood • if Pleafure be the Elder, yet dcftruftion reigns after his de- j 
 ceafe , and then as a Tyrant repeals his Laws. Even the extreme of| 
 joy is fadncfs. It clouds the underftanding , and for the moft part 
 leaves us more Caufes of Repentance than Remembrance. He that 
 fubmits himfelf to pleafure , lies down atlaftto Labour, to Griet, 
 Difgrace, and Wane. And therefore y^rz/c/Z^counfcls us not to look 
 upon Pleafures in their approach but at their farewel, fo by a rebu- 
 king Judgment we may be faved from their fting and future Fafcina- 
 tions, otherwifc they enervate the bravery of the mind , enflave the 
 gallant Genius of Man, and but like Garlands Crown us for Vi<ftims 
 to fcverer fate. Another Vanity of Pleafure is that it is never fatisfied, 
 this will St. .<4»7^r^/^wicncfs. Nihil i)rodig£ fatis eft Foliiptati : Sem-\ 
 ferque famcm patttitr fui ^ qui Alimcntis pcrpetnis nefcit impkri ; No-1 
 thingcan fatiacc riotous Pleafure, he muft needs be unfortunate byj 
 perpetual famine that with continued food cannot be fill'd. AUVo- 
 luptuoufncfs is a kind of mental Dropfic, the dryer for often drink- 
 ing. It haunts us with a dog-like Appetite, and renders us ravenous 
 and greedy; but uncontented (till : Forfliadow-likewe falling on't, 
 'tis gone ; fled fuoner than enjoy'd. Like Solomons Wine , it may 
 fparkle in the Cup, but in the end it like a Serpent bites. And to 
 give it the truth of all , 'tis of fo airy a nature, as all the fweet it has 
 is only in expe(ilation. And futable to this did the grave Boeiius fing , 
 
 Habet cmnii hoc folnptoi-i 
 Stimiilis agit fruentes; 
 Apmmq; pur I'okntnmy 
 Vbt gratA melU ftidit, 
 Fugit-, & nimis t enact 
 Ferit tela, cor da, morfu. 
 
 All Voluptuoufnefs has this, 
 Twinging till our joyes we kifs ; 
 But like Bees that range abroad, 
 Scattering once their long hug'd load ; 
 Hence it vapours, then ii'h heart 
 Sticks its deadly wounding Dart. 
 
 Nor
 
 Eccles. 2. n. 
 
 Nor is wealth of any better condicioii than thcfc, 'tis not a food 
 fine enough tor traiifccndent and alpiring fouls to Iced upon. Yet ro 
 llicw that Mortality lublifteth by a mortal prop , 'tis now become 
 the Eitcncc and the laud of Nations. As water is to Fiflies , fo this 
 to man is Element, Food, Favour, and almighty Life ; Yet bred out 
 of Sulphur and Qiiickfilvcr, as if allycd to the materials ofa rcftlcfs 
 Hell. Hear but what Epithets the Learned i^grijjpx gives it, Omms 
 peennia levts , fugax-) Ub'tlis^ AnguilUrttm ^^ jerpentiim mjlar lubrica, , 
 Vain, fwift of flight, as flime of Eels 6r Serpents glidings, flippery. 
 When riches wing away, they leave us then forrow ; and while they 
 ftay , entice us to Intemperance. What wanted among the RomaKs, 
 till wealth as a Deluge came flowing upon them? jufticc , Tempe- 
 rance, Vertue, and Tryumphs crown'd them, while they were 
 not fwcll'd with Riches : But plenty once let in, like ///7//j his Inun- 
 dation, it left them mudded with the flimc and prodigies of Vice , 
 and made them ftranger monflers than ere that fl:reamgave harbour 
 to. If not this, they either increafe our Care in keeping them, or elfc 
 our thirft in getting them ; and arc fo far from quieting the mind , 
 that the more we have, the more we ftill do covet them; and ex- 
 treme defircs are never without their torment. Attain'd, or never got, 
 they vex J loft, or ever kept, they vex. They may fometimes ward a 
 blow from the malice ot Fortunes hand, but they arc of fo fad a 
 weight to wear continually , that wife men do by them as the valiant 
 oft by Arms , rather expofe their lives to the hazard ofa Battail , 
 then be cumbrcd with the burthen of Armour. Death makes all, 
 rich and poor alike : fo he that is moft rich, is but mofl in debt ; for 
 he borrovfed all from Fortune, which when he goes he mult repay 
 tothclaftMite, and perhaps with much moregricf than he that had 
 little to leave. Befidcs all this, they have one badge which furely 
 fticks them with unnoblcft things. They failaraanin deepeftnecd: 
 They can neither redeem from Death, nor deliver from wrath, but 
 eve^in thefummonsto thefe, unworthily abandon thofe that moft 
 have courted them. 
 
 Non domns aut fundus , non aris acervus (jr aun 
 oSgreto domini deduxit corpore febres-^ 
 Nof* inimo cur as. 
 
 Mor Houfc, nor Land, nor heaps of Trcafurc can 
 Extrad the Fever from diftempcr'd Man, 
 Nor Cares from out the mind. 
 
 Nay, they are not onlyfalfc but fatal : As the fccnt in bcafts of 
 Game, they betray us to the fearch of Tyranny, as purfuc in a ftruck- 
 en Deer, they fall from us like bloud , and make us to be hun- 
 ted to death. Where the ground is barren or yields nothing rare, it 
 lies unftir'd and reftful ; but if a mine be in it , the World is mad 
 
 with 
 
 95
 
 3^^ 
 
 Eccles, 2. ir. 
 
 with inrtruments to dig and wcmnd it. Yet after all this, they are fo 
 vain that if we ufe them, we lofc them, if wc only keep them, we 
 have them not. 
 
 Learning, Honour, Pleafure, Wealth, they are aH but Confonants 
 without a Vowel, which fecm to dictate in the Worlds great Vo- 
 lume, but when wc feekfor matter in the pages, all put together the 
 fum is Nothing. Fanity-y Fexatioa, Nothing. 
 
 Agreeable to this is that which Lipfins left and begg'd his friends 
 would fix upon his Grave. 
 
 Vii alt tore i-occ me tecum loqni ? 
 
 CunEiA Humana,.^ Ftimns-, Vmbra,-, Vanitas, 
 
 See 17 A ^ Imago : ^ verbo ut abfohamj Nihil. 
 
 Shall I fpeak truly, what I now fee below ? 
 
 The W' orld is all a Carkafs, Smoak, and Vanityj 
 
 The Shadow of a Shadow, a Play;and in one word jufl Tithing. 
 
 Yet were it but Vanity only,we might fail away life without ftorms, 
 and complying Vanity with Vanity, make life a plea(ingHoly-day,and 
 boas innocently wanton as Birds in Spring-time, or Fielded Beafts in 
 tJM.ay. So we might like Atomes in the Suns bright beams , dance 
 ourlliortday away. But — Vexation dogs this Vanity, is the black 
 fhadow to that painted body, the ill-favour that attends the extingui- 
 fliingofthe poor melting tapers of all Worldly Felicity. 
 
 Several Interpretations are extant of this Word , our vulgar has 
 it Vexation, fomehavercndred it by Pafiio, an eating and devou- 
 ring Ulcer that gnaws the foul tolanguilbmcnt, gangrening ever by 
 gradual frettings the mirth and pertnefsof the opprelfed mind. The 
 Chaldee has it, the Confradion of the fpirits grating them with a 
 galling Jar, rubbing upon the fpirits, as woollen on a place that is 
 raw. All agree in this, to make an unfatislicd perturbation the una- 
 voidable Inheritance of Man. And indeed it we look to the firft foun- 
 ded State of lapfed Man, Solomons ccnfUrc is but a free Confcffion of a 
 former doom, the Decree was pafs'd in gen.i\\c 2.17,18,19. Jnforrorv 
 fljalt thou eat all the daies of thy life.^ Thorns and Thijlles (Jj a II the Sarth 
 bring forth. No doubt, but the Almighty Providence as caiily could 
 have made it offer him Corn, and Wine, and Oyl, in a fpontaneous 
 flowing ; Fruit, Spice and Medicinals, without inforc'd Plantations. 
 But the other are things that prick, and are for offence, Anfwerablc 
 to thefe was that other next Omenoi his firfl Apparel The Fig- 
 leaves, which having neither ftrength nor durance, have yetallth'in- 
 fide rugged as true prcfagements of his felf-woven Fate. And albeit 
 all things before Man fell, came forth as the refined gold from the 
 Mint with a r'.j/j/^ ^0.^4 ftampt upon tt.em : yet fin, -as a Contagious 
 Fog infcded the very air of all. The highcft contentments that the 
 1 World can yield, become to us like the Country Qmntanes ^ while} 
 I we
 
 Cedes. 2i II. 
 
 353 
 
 we ran upu;i v.Kin vvich a hafty fpced ; if we poll no-c faitcr oil, than 
 wc ac Hill came on, the bag ot fimd ftrikcs us in chc neck, and leaves 
 usnothinn buc the blcwnefsof our wounds to boall on. At beft the 
 Univerfe IS but a King of Changes 5 a marchof Auciques in a paper- 
 lanthorn. A Dance of Creatures evcrinjthcir Motion, in their Sweat, 
 andHurrying, Shuffle, Pacing, Turning, Sliifcing CO each others place. 
 'Tisthe Tfra^e-Comcdy of Errors. The Scenes change, the Adors 
 vary, the Plot alters, andatlaft the Stage fliall flame while nothing 
 of the Play remains. 
 
 To wade in Knowledge, is to found a Sea that is fathomlefs. To reft 
 upon Honour, is to ftay upon the rate that other men will fet us at. 
 When they dedud their Eftimation, our Creft falls, and wc are nea- 
 rer to any thing than what wc thought our fclves. To wealth at lon-j 
 geftwearc but Tenants for life: And what wc have is any Tyrants 
 chat by force or fraud can maftcr us. He that intends his Pleafurc too 
 much, oiinds all things clfe too little j and even that it felfincreafes,] 
 and fails together. The World with all his parts, cannot afpirefo high! 
 ;is to becomeof worth to fatisfie afoul. That isofa nobler nature,] 
 than to reft full pleafcd with things that are fo pcrifliing : So that ' 
 now, it would be a wonder to fee one dote on tranficnts and tempo- 
 als ; Though all the ridiculous gods of Rome were made [o by Man 
 chat was not God, yet in fJHartia/ the Rcfolvc was fcnfual ; 
 
 j4d ccc^ixtfi ft me divcrfa vocaret in njlrat 
 
 nine invitator C^far/s, i»iic Jovis. 
 
 Aftra licet fropius., PaUUa loytgim e^ent^ 
 
 Refpo;ifi adfuperos hxc refennAn d,trem. 
 
 Qu^rite qui malit fieri conviva. Tonantis, 
 
 Me, meui in t err is ^npiter^ ecce^ tenet. ' ' ■ 
 
 Should Jove (end for mc'mong the Stars to fup, 
 And C-«//?r then invite mcto his cup; 
 Though Heaven were nccr, and Cdtjars Courts far off, 
 i with this Anfwer Would the Gods put orf : 
 Sftek fuch as long to tafte the Thunderers Fcaft, 
 Me, my "Jove here, Domitian makes his gucll. 
 
 He had a Wit, worthy of a better refolution, nbr is there any thing 
 to excufc him but the un-commcndable liccntioufncfs ot Poetry : For 
 elfc 'tis not polTible that upon true grounds, a wife man can be fond 
 of the world. All is either empty or troublcfome, and comparativc-j 
 ly without doubt either cvill or not good. So chat now it mull be cer- 
 tain. There is no profit under the Sun. 
 
 To prpcure an un-intermitcing joy ; To draw life into perpetuity ; 
 To keep back the EclipfingfadnelTesot the mind: To take away the 
 naufcoufncfs of the imprifon'd foul, or to give the World a conftan- 
 cy in his own frail parts ; This is beyond a Solomon. All tilings drop[ 
 away as fruits from lliaken trees, which a Spring renews and Autumn L 
 again dcftroys. Z ?. Andf__
 
 354 
 
 Sales, 2. ir. 
 
 And cherefore I find this place read by foroe. Nihil fermanere fu^ 
 Sole^ Nothing cndureth under the Sun ; and this no: enduring, if there 
 were no more, is enough to confirm that all is Vanity : when any thing 
 comes to nought we fay it vaniihes, which in plainer Englilln is, it 
 growethinto Vanity 5 and fhall not one day all the World do this? 
 Though tiK* Earth be faid to remain for ever, that ever is but Compa- 
 ratively, and thefenfeis, that it fhall not decay fo foon as, the other 
 Creatures that depend upon it. But this, depending on the Suns en- 
 livening influence, may in courfe of Nature be capable of change, and 
 when we need ir, fail us. What then fiiall we do ? Or whither turn to 
 find a Repofe for the Soul ? All the Mafs of Creatures put together 
 is too narrow a Palace to contain the Soul of Man.lt flics in a moment 
 to the deeps and Oceans Springs, not only to the roots of Mountains , 
 but in a moment pierces quite through the Earths condenfed Globe , 
 to the Stars, and higheft Convex of the bounding Sky : So far as the 
 Creature reaches it goes and finds no reft. God only is capacious, in 
 him d© all its vaft extenfions reft; unlimitted thoughts in him a limit 
 find ; and when wc do lofe the Creature, ftill we do find him. Beyond 
 ihebowedexpanfionsofthe Firmament, where we cannot guefs what 
 may be, there we are fure this God incorruptible dwels. He isfarthe 
 oflfihanthe Soul can reach: yet nearer than it can avoid. All things 
 elfe are Sea, and Storm ; nor is there any Haven but here. Hither muft 
 we mount, beyond the Suns rais'd eye. In the Courts of the Father of 
 this Sun, dwells Truth, and Joy, and Conftancy. While 1 live here, I 
 Oiuft look for Tydes and Ebbs, Waves and Sands,and Rocks and more 
 crofs winds than knows the Say lots Compafs. Nor may I hope for 
 fafety but by Anchoring above the Sun ; Even in his Mercies who is 
 this Suns Sun, who is the Life, andLight, and Soulofall. If I can fix 
 here, I will think 1 have made an cfcape from Earth: and by his no- 
 ble attra6tion,having a mind rais'd glorioufly high, may ftand as a 
 well-built ftrufture, though outwardly foiled and clouded with the 
 fume of Terrene things, yet by the gratious fhine of the Almighty, 
 bright within, and above the Goncukations of the World. 
 
 SOME-
 
 35? 
 
 SOMETHING UPON 
 
 St. Luke 14. 20, 
 
 And another faid^ 1 haye married a ^f^ife^ and 
 therefore 1 cannot come, 
 
 ND another ftid ; It fcenis there were moce of the 
 Pack : Natural averfenefs to fpiritual things is not 
 in one but all. They that feveral ways adhered to 
 the world, do all agree together to ncgleft the 
 God of that world, and them. The Jervs were all 
 Recufants, and they rather chufe to kill the Lamb 
 than come to his Supper. That God had Pent, might have been enough 
 to give a Cripple fwiftncfs, and to have ftruck up Age again with 
 Youths enlivening fires. And that it was to a Feaft of Salvation (which 
 was the rc-building of the ruins of man, and the re-implanting him 
 in abetter Paradife than at firfi: he loft J might, one would have 
 thought, begot a noble contempt of anything that could have hin- 
 dred: but dull fouls find out dull exculcs. They ftill appear of the 
 fame frovvard race, whereof their PrcdecelTors were, that to the mi- 
 racles of a Journey both night and day cngarded by a Deity, dare 
 befottedly prefer theGarlick andtheOnyons of ^gypt. So prota- 
 ner Sfauhid rather fup his Brothjthanfave his Birth-right. By earth- 
 ly minds a grain of droflic Silver is prifed above all the precious Balms 
 of Gilcad. The orhdi: two, though they came not, did modeftly refufcj 
 and though none returned fo much as thanks, yet they bcgg'd to be 
 held cxcus'd ; Lcfs uncivil Clowns j though they had not grace to 
 come , they had fo much Ruflick manners as to beg a pardon j and 
 fottifli'.y thought a "Farm and Yokes of Oxen, might in judgment hold 
 a Plea againft all the fpiritual folaces of Heavens. Let a Pcfant have 
 his wirii, and either aneafieUent, Barns well fiU'd, or a greater Herd 
 of Cattle Hi all be fo much coveted, as the righily wife fiiallfec, that 
 the dirfcrcncc betwixt his beads and him is only in his ruder fpcech. 
 Thus the two former. But in Ingratitude they all agree ^ fucha kind 
 of Hog-carriage, that while they arc greedily fwilling in their own 
 draff, all the Excellencies of the world bcfides arc unmindcd ; much 
 more the Author that lliall offer them. Like the deaf Adder ^ they 
 ' . . tz % reft
 
 356 
 
 Si.Ltike 14. Qo. 
 
 rclt unftirrM by the mod powerful charm of the world- -Courtcfie. 
 it I Aiiill train by birgaining,equa!icY o^Trallique prcfcrves me in my li- 
 berty. If 1 receive for dcfercjthat which is done to me is paid,not given. 
 But a noble Courtefic falling like rain in due feafon, enflaves a man 
 more than a Market fale among tJAloors : for it conquers the uncom- 
 pellable mind, and dif-intcretts Man of himfelf. To be unthankful, 
 is tobeaBaftard to Nature: with how many fold does the grateful 
 Earth return her fcattet'd grain ? It the Rivers pay their Tribute to 
 the Ocean, in publickTydes and private Springs, a retribution's 
 made. If the Earth exhales but Vapours to the Heaven, in requiting 
 Dews it doth again diftill them : Only the difputed Element of 
 Fire is barren, and therefore has not the honour to be mentioned in 
 the Creation. 
 
 Here was nothing akin to gratitude : Love there was ["hewed fo 
 fervent , that even all Creation could not find a Simile {oi\. The be- 
 nefit to man fo great, that the Bowels of both the /W/V/ are not as a 
 grain toir. Yetall thisfodifvalucd by ftupidity, that none of them 
 efteemed it worthy the Tongues Icaft motion to produce a thanks ; 
 which proves that Truthjwhich by the noble Seneca was long fince told 
 us, NegAmus quenqfum [eire gratiam rcferre^ niji fapientem;Houe but a 
 wife man knows how to be thankful.Yet any fool might have blundcr'd 
 ouiyPray thank him • — who could fend Icfs to him that invites to a fcaft? 
 Ingratitude does then fink deep, when it gets not up to the Tongue; 
 When it is not aftive, it has a Palfie ; but when fpecchlcfs, dead. King 
 Philip did not mourn fo much for the death of his friend Hipparchtu , 
 ( tor he left the world an old man) but becaufc he died before he had 
 requited him. And 5;»f /#;?//« tells us, JhitAugufius Cafar defccnded 
 from his Throne, and as a common Advocate pleaded the caufe of a 
 private Souldier,who had fought for him at v4^/««?,becaufc he would 
 not be thought ungrateful. Yet here by thefe men, from him (who de- 
 fcended from his Throne of glory , to fuffer all contempt and torment 
 for them) it is notfo much as taken kindly. Nor did it extenuate their 
 Inhumanity, that they did not accept of the Invitation j For that<?xcel- 
 lent Oratorjwho had far lefsof Divine light than was offer'd them,has 
 
 inftru6ted us, That NonfilumgrAtus debet effe qui accepit benejiciitm^ 
 
 vernmetiam ii cuipotejlas ascipiendi fuit;Hc ought as well to be thankful 
 that may, as he that does receive a benefit. 
 
 But above them all, this Marryed man was the worft, here was 
 neither Wit nor Manners. He not only aefwers churliflily in a 
 blunt carelefnefs, — Icaniitctme, but injarioufly on Wedlock lays 
 the Neceflity of his abfence, / hxve Marryed a wife, and therefore I 
 cannot come. 
 
 What? were the pleafuresofthe bcdfo taking that he refolves 
 for them to abandon Heaven ? Or could he be fo prejudicial , as to 
 believe Heaven would not admit him if he brought a Woman a- 
 long? Or was hefo jealous of her Chaftity, as he would not beab- 
 fcnc from her, left his Heir fliould not prove of his own gcrcing? 
 
 Are
 
 St. Luke 14.20. 
 
 357. 
 
 Are all the Daughters of Eve like their Mocher , ftill tempting Man 
 to dcfcrtliis Maker? Cannot Man take a Companion tor his litcjbut 
 (lie muft have fomethinw of t\\cJez,iiht-H[\ her? Muft he cither fruit- 
 lefs (like the barren Eunucii) long; and dye ; oreife like Jo^, be tcmp:- 
 cd to curfc God , and fo dye? Oris ilie either {o fliarp, or tond, 
 that he either dares not vex, or will not leave her ? Oris it of Nc- 
 celTity that he muft leave Religion to provide lor her ? Surely he 
 takes the Text in tooJarge afenfe, that becaufe it lays, <« Mm /hall 
 leave all and cleave to his ^Vife-, that therefore he lliall leave God ; 'tis 
 but the Father and Mother on Earth, and not the Father of Heaven 
 that for her we may for fake. Mifcrably ishemarryed to his Wife, 
 that muft for her be divorc't from all befide ; from Recreations,Kin- 
 dred, Friends, the noble ArtSjNaturejand the Gods above. 
 
 Surely there isjfomething more then we are aware of in this fime 
 Creature, VVoman. If there be any Charm to overcome Man and 
 all his Virile Vcrtues, 'cis flie tliac ftands up in ir. She is the Remora of 
 the Soul, that flicking to the Keel of Man,arrefts his progrefs to Hea- 
 ven. What might it be which made againft them, even the Fathers 
 fofull of fire, and poynant ? St. Ambroje calls her, "l/anua Diabolic 
 via ImqititatiitScorpionis percujjio ; The Pbrtof Hell, the Rode of Ini- 
 quity, and the Scorpions fting ; and then a little after proceeds, Si 
 ium viris fcemm<x. habitant-, vifcarium non deerit Dtabolt j If Women 
 dwell with Men, the Devil hath his lime-twigs there. St- Au- 
 gitftine tails upon their fingingjwhcrcof he rays,T(3/fr<!^/7//^f/?if«^/rf 
 BaJiIifcumJibilU»tem;Tis fatcr hearing the killing Bafilisk Hifs. Elfc- 
 whcre he makes them in a manner paft Religions cure , for Qnanto 
 Reltgiofiorest tantocitiuiallicmnt ; The more Religious, the more inti- 
 cing arc they. St. Jf row allows x\oi"Ru(iicus to fee his Mother, tor 
 fear of her Maids, and tells him, AncillnUs qu^ illi in obfequio funt tibi 
 fcias ejfe in inJidifs;He muft know thofe Maids which arc to her tor fer- 
 vice, to him are Wiles and Trcafon. S:. chyfojlom cxchims., O Ma- 
 lum fummum cr Acutiffimum Diaboli telum Mulicr ; The Devils fliarpcft 
 arrow, and mifchiefs primeft height is Woman. A thing of fuch pol- 
 lution, that the fuperftition of former times, would not allow her to 
 betouch'd by her own husband of three days before he received the 
 Communion, as may be found in the Council ot Eliberis. And by 
 Ttbullushis Caution it lliould fecm the like pradife was in ufc even 
 among the Heathen. 
 
 Difcedat ab Arii 
 
 Cut tnlit hcjiernagaudta no[ie Venu*. 
 
 From ih' Altars lit him keep 
 
 That in his Miftrefs Arms l-ift night did deep. 
 Another fcrupulous nicety I find in the Council of Auxcrre , 
 where in the 36. Canonit is enjoyn'd,that no Woman fliall receive 
 the Sacrament in her bare hand: for which purpofe the 39. Canon 
 of the fame ordains — Thatifllie hath not a clean linnen glove to 
 take it in, flie muft for the time be put by. Nay, the fevere Cato 
 
 Zz J Vt'cnfu 
 
 »
 
 3^8 
 
 _ , ; __ 
 
 St, Ltil^e 14. 20. 
 
 Vtice»fis fays-, • — Siahfyue fceminA effet ^M-undm , Converfatio mftra. 
 non ejjet abfqne Biis., Were VVomen out o'thc VS'orld , with us the 
 Gods would Converfation hold. 
 
 Againftthcm the Poets have dcclauncd in Folio, they write no- 
 thing but Rapiers and Ponyards, with all the weapons ot wrath, that 
 even the bittereft /4»?^/f/('/ can contain. But moft ot them were fo 
 loofe in their lives, that they wanted the honour to be in good Wo- 
 mens company ; and therefore I will only tell you what the Comi- 
 cal pUuttii thought : 
 
 Qui poteft muliercs 'vit^re^ vitet : nt quetidie 
 {Pridie caveat) ne fact At qmdftgedt ^oflridie. 
 
 £fet him that can, defend himfclf from Women : But he who would 
 not do that today, whereof hemul\ repent to morrow, mufl 
 avoid them the day before. 
 
 Thefe Opinions are auflcrcandlliarp; yet certainly fome of them 
 the mature Cenfures of a reverend Age, ftrift Sanftity, and wealthy 
 Knowledge. Only we may hope they meant not thefe of the gene rar, 
 but of the depraved of that Sex ; wlio like hurt Deer (by their own 
 Herd) would be pullit out to certain dellrudion. 
 
 Surely in themfclvcs they are not thus unbcjundcdly ill; But foft 
 and eafie Natures, as they iooner bend towards Vcrtuc, fo they foo- 
 nerflidcinto Vice; but cannot ufually be (o rcfolutc in either, as 
 the more folid and compadcd fpirit of man. Therefore of this pow- 
 er with Man there is without doubt a twofold Caufc ; one in tliem- 
 feIves5oneinman. 
 
 That in themfelves is the excellency of their Creation, wherein Na- 
 ture has fwectned their Countenance beyond theftcr.incfs of a Male 
 afpe<5l. They have purer Mixtures of Elements in their Compofitions, 
 from whence arifcsfuch a virgin calmnefs, as growing near to Inno- 
 cence,makes man love them as akin to God. And doubtlcfs hence it 
 is, that Nature intrufts Woman rather than Man with the Conception, 
 Nouriflimcnt, Produdlion, and Education of all PoQcrity , partly 
 beforc,and partly after the birth. And even through all docs this fine- 
 nefs of temper hold : We find both in Birds and Bcafts the flcfn of 
 the Female to our tafte is pleafanter, more tender, and lefs infipid , 
 than that of the Male: They are not naturally ot (o rank an Earth. 
 Cornelius AgripfA tells us of aftrangc Experiment to prove this ; Let 
 a woman wafliher hands once fair, and after wafli never fo often, yet, 
 fhall not the water be foiled at all : But let a man wafh never fo clean, j 
 and never fo often, yet every time fliall the water receive a foil. Nay, 
 if they be both alike in danger of drowning, the woman, as more rari- 
 fied,fhall fwim longer above ; while the man, as more fasculcnt and 
 droflie, fliall fooner fink to the bottom. As ftrange is that which tU- 
 ny tells us. That a man being drowned floats with his face upwards, 
 
 l>Uf
 
 St^ Lu^e 14.20. 
 
 359 
 
 but of women he fays, — PronajlintAnt^qmfiearum pudori parcente Na- 
 /■«r4,Thcy float wiciithcir laces downwards. Nature being careful to 
 prcfervc their nioJeny.And whereas it is faidj/n*/// make an Helpmeet 
 \for man ^ inftcad 01 y^,^Wor/'rtw the ch.tldee\\^.%'\.x. Sttjlentactdmn ^ as a 
 J prop and upholder ot the ftate of man. And this (efpccially it we re- 
 Ifpcil the Conception) is true andfLuablc ; which may be fome rea- 
 fon, why that firli blefling pronounc'd from God upon man by con- 
 junftion with her, was never yet impeached by the Fall: But the 
 Marriage, which was made in Innocence, even after his expulfion ne- 
 ver came to qucllion ; h\\\^'\'\tIncreA{e and. multiply ^\A\ endure as 
 long as the world. ' ris probable the Devils envy ot Eve's haudfom- 
 nefs made him attempt to tempt her firft. And in the offence we find 
 not the breach ot the Commandment cafk upon her, \)^x.Adam-^ and 
 in the Curfc, for that flie was beguiled and out of ignorance deceived, 
 (he is curled but in her fclf and Sex : But for Adam , that did it more 
 againft the light of Knowledge, in a wilful tranfgreflrion, we fee the U- 
 niverfc does fmart, and all tlic frame of Nature fufters in his punifli- 
 mcnt. But in the treeing of Mankind from this, he is in part behol- 
 ding to the woman for it ; tiie honour is given ta her Sex ; the Pro- 
 mife made is, That The feed of the woman fjjall britfe the Serpents 
 head. And in performance we fee, that all the liefh our Saviour had 
 was Female, without any contribution at all from Man : a Grace cer- 
 tainly furmountingall thefwcUing^boaftsot Man, and a comfort that 
 may beforevcr afupportto that oex, That when Man ftood convi- 
 dfedor the guilt and Infamy of the Fall, (according to Nature) God 
 alfordedthc glory of his Kcdemption to the feed ot tlie Woman a- 
 lone; to whom Man (without any thing from himfclf) muft ever 
 owe a favour fo received, as he can never pay. Andwhy may wcnot 
 believe that 'tis from hence, that Nature has inftrufted man to be a.- 
 viller and more rcfpedVivc to that.S'ex, than we hnd he is to his own-, 
 A Woman well qualified, like the Ambailadorof a Prince, is held a 
 pcrfon Sacred : What he difdains from men to bear , from her he 
 thinks it an honour to fuffer ; and though it be to the hazard ot him- 
 felfin imminent danger, 'tis his glory, if he can,tofcrvc her. Andc- 
 venin wars, that hand which (hikes a woman, the noble heart does 
 fcorn as barbarous and favagc. She is not fo unfociablc as not to be 
 a friendjbut yet l>,e is fo high as not to be an enemy. Since Circumciti- 
 on was as well a Sacrament of the Purification, as of the Covenant and 
 admilTion into the Ciiurch,and that the Males only were circumci- 
 fed; wc may well conceive the great judge of all did not cfpy fo 
 much pollution in her as he did in man. Who, though prefcrt'J by 
 Arijlotky and woman made but Animal occajionatum, a kind of Chance- 
 creature , yet Piety and Mercy he confeltes more appropriate unto 
 them than man. And queliionlcfs to llicw the excellency of that Sex, 
 wc fliallfind it in theperfon of the blelled Virgin Mary, exalted by 
 God above all that ever was but only humane. 
 
 The
 
 ^6o 
 
 St. Lu\e 14. 20. 
 
 The other caufc which is in Man , isfure his own inordinate love, 
 and can he be blamed for loving, when both God and Nature did 
 prcfcnt her to him as the fiticft and nobleft objed of Creation for 
 him? A Man may love a Friend as a Brother, as an alter Idem-, but 
 hcfhould love his Wife as Wis idem idem: Creation, Nature, Reli- 
 gion, Law and Policy, makes them landividedly one. Andfo long as 
 we crofs not upon Religion, I doubt not but our loves may flow. But 
 alas we ftay not here, love has neither Bit nor Reyns. 
 
 Nox (^ Amor-i Vimimc^ue., nihil Moderahile fuxdent^ 
 lUa Pudore vacAt-, Liber Amorqtie Metu. 
 
 Night, Love, and Wine, no Moderation bear. 
 Night knows no Shame, and Wine and Love no Fear. 
 
 Often in our Love to her, our Love to God is fwaliowed and poft- 
 pofited. For indeed, Man Loves Woman as he ought to Love God ; 
 mth all his heart, with ali his foit/, and rvith a/i his (Irength. Whether 
 it be from the fecret fweetncrfes that gratifie and indulciatc all his fpi- 
 rits at once in his Convcrfation with her ; whether it be from the 
 fcnfe ofthe fruition and poffeifion of fo excellent , andfo rational a 
 Creature without himfclf^ or whether it be from tlic Honour he re- 
 ceives from her by her help ot propagation, whereby even his body 
 weak and corruptible by lengthned fuccefl'ions, draws out toward Im- 
 mortality ;or whether it be from the padtj of Natural Union,nic being 
 formed at firft oftheribof Man, wherein the Schools obferve, there 
 was both bone, and flclli, and bloud, and nerves ; fo that if rtie be not 
 Idem^ ("he is at leaft aliqiiid ipji»i, a fomething oi that very fame,though 
 not the fame it felf. And then fince all Love Ifridly examined arifes 
 out ofLove to our felves, 'tis no wonder that we mwft Love her, that 
 is thus Confubftantiate with us. Had this Man, in the Text, been but 
 Morally good, or which is more, Religious, he ought to have lov'd his 
 Wife, though not equally or above God, yet next him. But being pre- 
 dominantly Carnal,the prefcnt objed of his Senfes choak'tup hisfouls 
 apprehenfion of Eternity, rather than lofe a long'd for dallyance, he 
 would quit even all the Saints, Angels, and the Heavens above. 
 Their argument inclines too much to lightnefs, that take him for a 
 SpANiard^ who would leave his Saviour for a Mayden-head. But for 
 ought we know, his Bride might be both young and handfome ; and 
 then,how many gallants have we that would have done as much? 
 Beauty is the wit of Nature put intoaFrontifpiecc : 'tis the fpiritual 
 foul in Figure, that ravifhes each admiring beholder. The influences 
 of the Stars are in it , which by an Adamantine Law hurl us againll all 
 ourRefolves; 'tis Natures Prerogative, and is fo purely the gift of 
 God alone, as all the Arts and Sciences of the Earth cannot place it 
 any where, but where the hand of Heaven has planted it. Diogenes xo 
 handfome Courtezans gave alwaies the Title of Queens, for few he 
 I ^ faid
 
 
 St. Lul^e 14. 20. 
 
 faid but obey 'd their commands. Kr\^ Arifiotk\.o\di one who asked, 
 whence it was that all men were Covetous ot Converfation with beau- 
 tiful pcrfons, that it was but a blind mans qucftion. 'Tisan Empire 
 without a Militia: fornecding neither Guards nor Arms, itimpofes 
 whatever does pleafc. Experience can tell us it has flatted all the 
 ftrengthsof the World. ItisMiftrefs of all that is not God; and 
 when it rifes to be of Holinefs, it amounts to be indiron'd with him. 
 In Woman plac'd alone it has done wonders, and taking the Worlds 
 Conquerors by the Cask, has rifled them of all their hard-earn'd 
 wreaths and Laurel. K^dams original Innocence was r.oi Armour fuf- 
 ficient to rcfift her Forces. Sampfoas Gyant ftrength by her was chea- 
 ted into bondage and fervility. Dxvids right-heartcdncfs became in- 
 flex'd and crooked. And this, grave incomparable Selomon^ though 
 he could precept the erring World againft all the feducing Crafts 
 of Women , yet we fee he could not fave himfelf from being intan- 
 gled by their demulceations. With this Man,the Devil went his old 
 politick way, for his plot being to gain the Man, he fets upon riim by 
 his Miftrcfs firft : when an Officer is to be corrupted , there is a She- 
 fupreme that has a leading hand. No doubt but he which bought the 
 Farm had a Team, and the other had five yoke of Oxen ; yet could 
 not all thefe draw fo much, as a Wife ; fhe is a perpetual inchant- 
 ment thsi hangs upon all the retirements of Man. She is the Privado 
 of his fenfes, that with familiar blanditliments can ftrokc him into 
 more than all the intermitted Rhetorick of a Mafculine friend. 
 She is the high Chamberlain of the Court of Man, that with the key 
 of Love wherewith he hath intruded her, has free accefs to all his pri- 
 vate lodgings; and though his foul be as a Labyrinth full ofmyftick 
 windings, yet a beloved Wife holds the Clew in her hand that can 
 guide her tohisinmoftroom, and that very firft warm bloud which 
 in his heart is Clofctted. 
 
 But where is the fault now ? Shall Woman be condemn'd for Ex- 
 cellency ? Let fore eyes fooncr brand the Sun for brightnefs. Is it 
 not proof enough of Mans weakncfs to be overcome , but when he is 
 Captiv'd he mull revile his Conquerefs ? What fool will fay the Ho- 
 ney is naught, becaufe the Bear is mad at the fmcll on't ? No the fla- 
 vcry is within us. Didnotour own bofome nurfe the Traytor, out- 
 ward objct^s would be a wife mans lathing. 'Tis not the fire, but 
 the negled that's blameablc, when ere the Houfc is burn'd. Tliofe 
 Creatures that arc not fcaldcd with the like additions, can undiltcm- 
 per'd gaze their trimmeft drcfs. Nor can all their arttul lures make 
 any beaft but Man in love with them. Nay Man himfelf, when 'Age 
 like froft has hoar'd his hairs, and all his fires arc out , can unftirr'd 
 play with her flames and rayes. Mans own Inclination is his Charm 
 that fetters him. 'Tis not a Wife or Woman, that can bind us irom 
 going to He av A , unlcfs we firft lye down and m^uiaclc our felves. 
 Though .(4^*;^ at firft, for his poor cxcufc, faid,the Woman gave it 
 him; yet all conclude, that anfwerrais'd his Crime. And albeit his 
 
 lofs 
 
 ^6t
 
 962 
 
 1 
 
 ^St. Luke 14. 20. 
 
 lofs without Gods mercy was unballanceably irrecoverable : yet we 
 after never find he twitted her as Authrefs of his fall. Will any man 
 accufe the ftream for wetting him, when he fell in by fleeping on the 
 bank? From Charcoals blown I know fparks leap apace, but though 
 ftrawhoufcs may enkindle by them ; yet upon folid coverings they 
 without danger dye ; or if at moft they leave a Mote behind, it is bu 
 dead, and with the next fair wind unblcmifliing blows away. 
 
 Doubtlefs Marriage is honourable among all, and 'tis the Devils 
 Dodrine only that forbids it. We fee the Ifraehtes after they had 
 deftroyed Be»ja.mln^x.z.i\\tx than keep thofe that were k fc, from Mar- 
 iriage, they were content to wink at Felony, and mince Perjury : Nay 
 under-hand to contrive the Rape and Theft ; and only before men to 
 elude that Oath which (though raflily) yet they had made to God. 
 Even our Saviour himrelf,though he would be born of a Virgin ; yet 
 •he would not have that birth, till honefted by marriage; though he 
 would not have a man his Father, yet he would not have a Mother till 
 fhe was a W^ifc. 
 
 'Tis true,in times of Trouble,Marriage incumbers man to the worldj 
 i and as a Proverb it has run along, That marriage f copies the Sarth^ 
 but Virginity Hea'ven-^ yet withall it is as true that St. Auguftine 
 fpeaks, Conji^ium hum'ile melim ejl rirginitate Superha, ; Even a very 
 mean Wedlock is better than a fumptuous Chaftity. He that is mar- 
 . ryed has the advantage of others that are not : for he is hereby made 
 a double man, hehastwobodys which one united foul does guide; 
 and to prove this the moft perfeft Union of the World; it is fuffici- 
 ent that the Marryr'd couple only envy not one another; when one 
 is fad, then both are griev'd : and in the joy and the honour of one, 
 the other does partake : without a Wife, man is a kind of defolate 
 thing, he wants the moft Cordial folace of life; and therefore he 
 which refufed to marry vv^en he fitly might, by the wife Law-givers 
 ;of the World, was looked upon as a wilful delertor, not only of the 
 Common-wealth, but of Law, Religion, and of Humane Nature; by 
 Lycurgus , in Summer driven from all fports, in Winter naked led a- 
 boutand fcorn'd. P/<j/^ made him incapable both of Honour and pub- 
 lick Office, but taxable in a deeper fcnfc. Augnflus, and divers others 
 have given Immunities to marryed pcrfons, fo as no Time, no Nation, 
 *no Condition of men, but have honoured Marriage by their approba- 
 .-tion. And the time and place of the inftitution ; the blelfing accompa- 
 nying it; the morality, and natural inftinftofit in man; the fuccef- 
 five perpetuity of it, even from Creations Infancy, where £^f at firft 
 was not fram'dfor Virginity, but Marriage, ^became a 'Wife at firft 
 fight, was prefented to Man by God himfclf, and at her very firft peep 
 into the World was born a Bride, may be enough to vindicate it from 
 all the Circumftantial ftains that can be caft upon it. 
 
 And therefore for this Uxorious Man, to plead he Iwd marryed a 
 Wife, and. therefore he could net come^ was allone> as if a Drunkard 
 fhould plead, becaufe he had found good W^inc, he could not get 
 I from
 
 St. Luke 14.20. 
 
 9<^9 
 
 trom the Tavern j yer furcly none would blame che wine, buc the man. 
 Marriage is Crcacions pcr'cdnefs, barren Virginity is but uncomple- 
 ted Man. Marriage is the way to benefit the world for cveri but Vir- 
 ginity in future ruins it; and after che narrow limits of one Age, ex- 
 pires. He that is wife, and marries, and leaves a child well educated , 
 does make Mankind his debtotjand departs a Bentfa^tor to the world : 
 For when he is atom'd into flying dull , he has prepat'd his Subftitutc 
 to adminirtcr his part being gone. The married man is like the'Sf^, 
 that fixes his Hive, augments the worid,beDefitsihct\cpublick, and by 
 a daily diligence, without wronging any, profits all. But he which 
 contemns VVedlock, (tor the moft part ) like a fF4j^c, wanders an of- 
 fence in the world, lives upon fpoil and rapine, difturbs peace, fteals 
 fwects that arc none oi his own, and by robbing the Hives of others , 
 either meets mifcry as his due reward, or at bell (leaving none to per- 
 petuate his memory ) at laft he dyes, and dyes. 
 
 This was therefore an unjuft Plea : But that our blelTed Saviour 
 ►meant here to fbcw us, how upon any vain pretence, even all meerly 
 worldly men prefer fond and fleecing Temporals , beyond the lafting 
 joycs of Eternity. And in this man more clpecially than in the relf:; 
 lorina more peremptory way heisrefolved rather to renounce his 
 Salvation, than to leave (though but for a Supper wliilic) that perpe- 
 tual trifie Woman. 
 
 In the three Rcfufers are fet out to us the vain and falfe trinity of 
 Worldlings, Thclnflofthefiejfj:,thelitftofthe Eye^ afid the Pride of 
 Life -J Luxury, Avarice and Ambition. St. ^w^ro/^' his myftick Inter- 
 pretation of Gentiles-t 7^»'/, and Hereticks , I find entertain'd by few. 
 By this married man, I take to be undcrffood the N'oluptuous j and 
 qucftionlefs 'tis true, that Pleafure more infatuates than either Honour 
 or Wealth J for in this, man is foak'd andcharm'dby allhis fenfesat' 
 once. Honour and Profit bcfiege but fome principal Quarters of thej 
 'City of Man., but Pleafure does at every part at once allault. This isj 
 that o^vlfrfz/r/fj Pipe that charmcth allourcys aflccp : 'tis the fwing- 
 ofthe Souljthat giddiesautiati at laflintip a,aull fecuricy, and raifcs: 
 up of every fenfe an Idof taking place of God : Like a Bach it fupplesj 
 and enfeebles all. W'liofocver wholly dedicates himfelt to pleafure ^i 
 he walks upon the waves as St. Peter did, where if the miracle of a Je--, 
 /«i favc him nor, ho finks into the Sea he treads upon. Ambition an4 
 Covetoufncfs may be fonietimes accompanied with eminent vertues^ 
 '^idim C<efar and refi.ifa» had either of them parts of excellent merits ' 
 But voluptuous men (bcfidcs the Infacdations of Scnfuality) arc ufuall 
 ly both proud and covetous alfo. A'rrc, wefind, defiled molt in thi 
 fouleft mires of Luxury, and where do we find any fo elatedly proudj 
 or founjulUy rapacious as was he ? for indeed Covetoufncfs is thq 
 daughter of Luxury. So for ought wc know tliis man might be hindrcdl' 
 by both the other vices •' who can tell but he might take Pet that hi^ 
 |Wife was not invited as well as he ? and thus perhaps his Pride mighcj 
 liinderhim. Or it may be he durft not leave his Family, left he mighq 
 
 in
 
 J^4 
 
 St. LhI^ 14.20. 
 
 in his abfence be cozened at home by his Servants ; and fo his Covc- 
 toufncfs might be the caufe of his ftay . Or if fhe were but fair and in- 
 clining to . be wanton, fufpicion of her Chaftity might ftop his going 
 abroad : Jealoufies and Fears (among Peafants) are as ancient as this 
 Parable: and indeed that which is coveted by many, is never kept 
 without hazard. Btfides, he that violently dotes upon one thing,feems 
 to tell the world that he may do fo by another : yea, that in fotne mea- 
 fure he muft. He that is flaved by his affeftion to a Miftrefs , muft be 
 proud to fight for her, muft be prodigal to fpend for her, muft be co- 
 vetous to fcrape for her. He is an objeft of much pity that over-affe6ts 
 any Temporal things whatfocver. For (beyond what is fpoken alrea- 
 dy ) it agonies his mind perpetually, and throws him on z double 
 mifchief. It docs fix his truft on that which cannot but deceive him ; 
 andiiadverfaries himwith Juftice, which muftpunifh, and would 
 (if trufted) never fail to fave him. Nay, it flings a kind of fcorn on 
 God, and as much as in man lies, difgraces him below his Creature. 
 He is happy that can wean himfelf from the breaft of the world , that 
 he farfeit not with her lufcious, but unwholefome milk. But if he 
 muft endure among the Pleafures, the Profits and the Honours there- 
 of; let him live therein,as the Bee does in her honey, who though her j 
 Hive be never fo full, yet with it (he never entangles her wings. 
 
 .wsii \ 
 
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 •'\^VM.O 
 
 
 'J 
 
 (■ 
 
 —4 'VT3 VVA l*!* u 
 
 \i \ 

 
 LUS 
 
 True Hapfmefs, 
 
 'iM^^^^ Oiig have 1 fouoht the vviHi of all 
 l^ffS'^^ To lind : and what it is men call 
 |r^^^^ True Happincfsj bur cannot fee 
 ¥&y^ ^{ The world has ic, which k can be. 
 
 S^ 
 
 Or with it Hold afympathy. 
 
 He that en joycs, what here below 
 Frail Elements have to bcftow. 
 Shall find moft fwcct, bare hopes at firfl: j 
 Fruition, by fruition 's burft : 
 Sea-water fo allayes your thirft. 
 
 Whos'ever would be happy then, 
 
 Muft be fo to himfelf : For when 
 
 Judges are taken from without, 
 
 To judge what we { fenc'd clofe about ) 
 
 Arc : they judge not, but guelfe and doubts 
 
 4. 
 He muft have reafon ftore, to fpy 
 Natures hid waycs, tofatisfic 
 His judgment. So he may be fafc 
 From the vain fret : For fools will chafe 
 At that, which makes a wife man lau^h. 
 
 5. 
 
 If'bove the mean his mind be pitcht, 
 Or with unruly Paflions twicht, 
 A ftorm is there : But he fails mod 
 Secure, whofe Bark in any Coaft 
 Can neither be bccalm'd nor toft.
 
 LUS 1{I J. 
 
 6. 
 
 A chearful, but an upright heart 
 Is mufick wherefoe're thou art : 
 And where God plcafeth to confer fr, 
 Man can no greater good inherit. 
 Than is a clear and tcmperare fpirit. 
 
 7. 
 Wealth to keep want away, and Fear 
 Of it : Not more : fome Friends, (till near. 
 And chofen well : nor muft he trifs 
 A Calling : yet, fome fuch as is 
 Imployment j not a Bufinefs. 
 
 8. 
 His foul muft hug no private fin, 
 For that's a thorne hid by the skin. 
 But Innocence, where fhe is nurs'd. 
 Plants valiant Peace. So CatodmH 
 Be God-Jike good, when Rome was worft. 
 
 God built he muft be in his mind 5 
 That is, part God ; whofe faith no wind 
 Can iTiake. When boldly he relies 
 On one lo noble s he out flies 
 Low chance, andfateof Deftinies. 
 
 10. 
 Life as a middle way, immur'd 
 With Joy and Grief, to be indur'd, 
 Notfpurn'd, norwanton'd hence, heknovvs^ 
 In crooked banks, a fpring fo flows 
 O're ftone, mud, weeds: yet ftill deer goes. 
 
 II. 
 And as fprings reft not, till they lead 
 Meandring high, as their firft head : 
 So fouls reft not, till man has trod 
 Deaths height. Then by that period, 
 They reft too, rais'd as high as God. 
 
 12. 
 
 Summe all ! he happieft is, that can 
 In this worlds jarr be Honcft Man. 
 For fince Perfedion is fo high. 
 Beyond lifes reach, he that would try 
 True happinefs indeed, muft dye. 
 
 X
 
 LUS 1{\ A. 
 
 5 
 
 IL 
 
 To thz Lady D. S. 
 
 Af ADAM, 
 
 T Would but praifc, not flatter : yet 
 What flattcri others, docs your praifebut fit. 
 I would have lliun'd all Verfe too : but I knew 
 He muft write mcafurc, that would write of You. 
 So Geometrical has Nature tram'd 
 That, which can now no ctherwile be nam'd, 
 Buc as a rule for all : each fevcral part 
 Is all vvhole Axiome, to dirc(fl an Art. 
 That now, men skilful, doubt, to which is due. 
 More to thofc noble Sciences, or You. 
 
 An J thus 1 was created ! for who can 
 Licearth'd i'th' dull rhoU;fhts of a common man. 
 When you fhall iliinc ; and wich your fymctry 
 Shew like the fpi ings neCv Genius -, while your eye 
 Kindles each noble ialoud wich fuch chafte fire, 
 Ascaufes Flame, and yet forbids Dcfue ? 
 And when your skye of vein iliall gently flow, 
 Branchincr through both your Hcmifpheres of (now, 
 When crimfon Tulips, and the Rofc o'th' bulTi, 
 Shall draw their tindure from your lip, and blulli ; 
 When that mild breath, which even the calmeft Weft 
 Fannes from the Pink and Violet; from yourbreft 
 Shall have its derivation j then you may 
 Confcfs your felf, our Morning and our Day. 
 And thefe might make you glorious : yet I dare 
 (Madam) tell you, that thefe but fading are, 
 Muft bed i'th' lliade, and ceafe : and that I tell 
 This, lliews there's fomcthing that doth more excell. 
 Remaining in you : elfe the name Decay 
 1 know would hight a Lady into clay. 
 And but to hear, ihe muft be old and dye, 
 Would make her wet p till Hie had nc'rc an eye. 
 But that which makes me daring thus, I find 
 Is that pure lliineof Deity, your Mind, 
 So fill'd with fvvcctncfs, that whofoe'rc fhall fec't, 
 Strcight thinks of Virgin Nature,at whofc feet 
 Stand all the Scds of old Philofophy, 
 Paying their admiration by their eye. 
 So you amaze all knowledj;e, iliat even they 
 Which can but name and know you, do adde day 
 
 Vlnto
 
 LUS 1{1 A. 
 
 Unto their own Life here. To prove this, 1 
 Shall find this honour crown my memory. 
 By writing but of You, the world ftiall fee, 
 I am the firft drew truth to Poetry. 
 
 ^ III. 
 
 The Sun and iVhid. 
 
 WHy think'ftthou (fool) thy Beauties rayes, 
 Should flame my colder heart j 
 When thy difdain fliall fevcral wayes. 
 Such piercing blafts impart ? 
 
 Seeft not thofe beams that guild the day, 
 
 Though they be hot and fierce, 
 Yet have not heat nor power to ftay. 
 
 When winds their ftrcngth difpcrfc. 
 
 So though thy Sun heats my dcfirc, 
 
 Yet know thy coy difdain 
 Falls like a ftorm on that young fire. 
 
 So blowes me cool again. 
 
 IV. 
 
 On the Duke of Buckingham fJain hy Felcon^ 
 the 33. ^u^. 162S. 
 
 SOoner I may fome fixed Statue be. 
 Than prove forgetful of thy death or thee ! 
 Canft thou be gone fo quickly ? Can a knife 
 Let out fo many Titles and a life ? 
 
 Now rie mourn thee ! Oh that fo huge a pile 
 Of State fliould pafh thus in fo fmall a while 1 
 Let the rude Ce/iiu} of the giddy Train, 
 Brag in a fury that they have ftabb'd Spain, 
 Au/lria, and theskipping French} : yea, all 
 Thofe home-bred Papifts that would fell our fall : 
 Th' Eclipfc of two wife Princes judgments : more. 
 The waft, whereby our Land was ftill kept poor, 
 rie pity yet, at Icaft thy fatal end. 
 Shot like a Lightning from a violent hand. 
 Taking thee hence unfumm'd. Thou art to me 
 The great Example of Mortality. 
 And when the times to come iTiallwant a Name 
 To ftartle Greatnefs, here is BUC KINGH AM 
 
 Fain
 
 L US 0%\ A, 
 
 7 
 
 Fain like a Meteor : and 'tis hard to lay 
 Whether it was that went the llrancrcr way, 
 Thou or the hand that flew thee : tioy Eftatc 
 Was higjh, and lie was refolutc above that. 
 Yet fincc 1 hold of none ingag'd to thee. 
 Death and that liberty lliall ni.vke mc flee. 
 Thy mills I knew not: if thou haft a fault, 
 My charity ("hall leave it in the Vault, 
 There tor thine own accounting; 'lis undue 
 To fpcakiil of the Dead though it b. true. 
 And this even thofe that envy'dthecconfefs, 
 Thou hadft a Mind, a flowin:^ Noblcncfs, 
 A Fortune, Friends, and fuch proportion. 
 As call for forrow, to be thus undone. 
 
 Yet fliould I fpeak the Vulgar, I fliuuld boaft 
 Thy bold AfiaflTuiatc, and willi almoil 
 He were no Chriftian, that I upmiglit ftanJ, 
 To praife th'intcr.tof his mif-guidcd hmd. 
 And fure when all the Patriots in the lliaJe 
 Shall rank, and their full muflers there be made, 
 He fhall fit next to Brutus^ and receive 
 SuchBayes as Hcath'nifh ignorance can give. 
 But then the Chriftian CpoiUng that j ilull fay, 
 Though he did good, he did it the wrong way. 
 They oft decline into the worft of ill. 
 That ail the Peoples Willi without Laws will. 
 
 V. 
 
 TYrant Caftd ! I'lc appealc 
 From thcc, to all the publick weale 
 Of gods in Parliament. 
 They all iliall know thy mock, 
 How thou madeft mc love a rock, 
 That knew not to relent. 
 
 Didft thou not by thy art. 
 Make me give her an heart, 
 
 Tiiat had none of her own ? 
 So Hic to pleafe thy pride. 
 By me muft be fupply'd, 
 
 And I muft live with none. 
 
 Nay,
 
 LllS O'F^l A. 
 
 Nay, when 1 ferious was, 
 To beg but one poor grace, 
 
 I could not that obtain : 
 While he that lefs did love. 
 When he no fuit did move, 
 
 Did two unasked gain. 
 
 Judge all you gods if thefe 
 Be not deep injuries : 
 
 Then if you quit this Elf, 
 Set me again but free. 
 And all the world fhall fee, 
 
 rie whip the boy my felf. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Elegit on Henry Earl of Oxford-. 
 
 WHcn thou didft live and ftiine, thy Name was then 
 Like a Fremaheus giving fire to men. . 
 Now thy brave Soul advanced is and free. 
 But to write Oxford is an Elegie 
 Sad as the grave thou ly'ft in, whence if we 
 Could raife thy worth, we better might fpare thee;!! 
 But That and Thou are loft, and we have none 
 To keep us now, for our TAlUdi%m\ gone j 
 Gone as a Pearl droptin the Main j to get 
 Which we may fink, but not recover vi. 
 
 Why wtn thou gone fofoon ? dull Holland why 
 Muft thou find war, and we fend men to dye ? 
 But oh ! thou gain'ft by't, having none but ill. 
 And fuch as fcarce are good enough to kill 
 That are thy own. Th'hall offered him to Fate, 
 Whofe every Limb was worth more than thy State. 
 I know the gods are pleas'd with't, but 'tis wc 
 That feel the lofs. not they, nor you, nor he. 
 Heaven joycs in his acccfs, and he in that : 
 And you thought fo much good might expiate 
 Your blackcft fins: not thinking we fliould be 
 Like low Orbcs wanting Primum Mebile. 
 
 But 'twas thy gain : as when Perfumes arefpil'd, 
 The Air is mixr, and with their odor fill'd : 
 So where his breath expir'd, the Earth and Air 
 Are Antidotes 'gainft Cowardice and fear. 
 Thus 'twas when Sydney dy'd : and 'tis from hence 
 Thy Clime has had fuch noble fpirits fince. 
 
 Great
 
 r 
 
 L.USO'RIA. 
 
 Great Vcrtues tiavc this Granr, chcy never dye, 
 But like Time live to kifle Eternity. 
 And now men doubt which Name can cite a tear. 
 Or make a Souldicr firft, Sidnq or V(re. 
 
 Yet in this lafk that dy'd. Tie tell thee how 
 Thou haft deceiv'd thy felf : Know in him thou 
 Haft (lain a Tutelar god ; and to prove this. 
 Think but the time when Breda fwaliowed is. 
 Oh fincc he dy'd with thee, why wcre't not fworn 
 To favc his bloud in fome mc morial Urne, 
 To which men lliouldhave come for Valour, juft 
 As fick men to the S^a for health, in truft 
 There to have been fupply'd : But now that he 
 And that is loft, for thee and thine hear me ; 
 Let not the place be known, left when men fee 
 His worth, and come to know he dy'd for thee. 
 They curfe thee lower than thy ftapic, Pifli -, 
 Thy own Beer -drinkers, or the Spaniards wifh. 
 But if by curious fenrch it muft be known. 
 Write by it thus. Here Bclgia iv.z/ undone. 
 
 V II. 
 On a Jt'i^d ^iVen at parting- 
 
 WHcn cruel time enforced me 
 Subfcribe to a dividing, 
 A Heart all Faith and Loyalty 
 1 left youfrcllily bleeding. 
 
 You in requital gave a ftoi-e. 
 
 Not calic to be broken -, 
 An Embieme fure that of your own 
 
 Hearts hardncfs was a token. 
 
 O Fate, what Jufticc is in this. 
 That I a heart muft tender : 
 
 And youfo cold incourtefics. 
 As but a iione to render. 
 
 Either your ftonc turn to a heart. 
 That love may find requiting : 
 
 Or elfc my heart to ftone convert, 
 'I hat mav not ted your llis^htin^. 
 
 Upon
 
 lO 
 
 LUS ^I J. 
 
 VIII. 
 Upon my Fathers Tomb at 'B&hram in Cambridge- p/ife. 
 
 ■^. Jf. ^ ^. Memoria Pofterifque Sacrum. 
 Ex 
 .Suffolciae ortw Comhatu 
 THOMAS FELLTHAM3 
 f^ir frobits^ Generefus^jcienSy 
 Ubique colendus. 
 BoniSy 
 Malis^ 
 ^djuter , obftes • 
 Arr.icififue fide I if. 
 Bene vivens, merienspie, 
 Filios tres, totidernqri^ Natas, 
 
 Sufcrjlites relinquens, 
 
 11, MariiijSalutis Anno 1^31. 
 
 Sed militU fux 62. 
 
 Per na:u F'dium minorem , 
 
 Hic^ 
 
 In vitam i>eaiior(m 
 
 Ad Refitrgendumt 
 
 Pcfnui. 
 
 IX. 
 
 The Caufe. 
 
 THink not, CUriffa, I love thee 
 For thy mccr outlide, though it be 
 A Heaven more clear than that men cioudlefs fee. 
 
 Thine Eyes fo pure and Chryftalline, 
 Once dead are worth no more than mine. 
 Nor can do greater wonders with their (hine. 
 
 No 'tis thy foul, we may mix there^ 
 
 Like two Perfumes in the foft air, 
 
 And as chaft Incenfe play above the. fpherc. 
 
 So fliall we on in progrefs move 
 To clearer heights, and by this love 
 Grow ftill Afccntive till we centre Jffr. 
 
 There dial! men gaze our bleft aboad, 
 And fcarce miftaking voice't abroad. 
 That two fouls purely mingled make a God, 
 
 For
 
 LtlS 1{l A, I, 
 
 For when two fouls lliall towre fo high, 
 Without their flcfli their rayes fliall flye. 
 Like Emanations from a Deity. 
 
 X. 
 
 Tbs Vo'io-breado. 
 
 WHcn thy bold eye Hiail enter here, and fee 
 Nought bur the Ebon'd night incurcain me, 
 Curfc not a womans lightnefs: Oiiely fay. 
 Here it lies veiled from eternal day. 
 This will be charity: but if thou then 
 Call back remembrance with her light agen, 
 Know thou art cruel : For thofc rayes to mc 
 (Like fiailKS wherewithal the Damned fee 
 Their plaguesj become another Hell. And ihou 
 Shale fraart for this hereafter, as I now. 
 For my whole Sex, when they fliall find their flume 
 Told in my Vow breach by thy fatal name ; 
 Their fpleen l"hall all in one eye pointed be. 
 And then like Lightning darted all on thee. 
 
 XL 
 
 Ihe Sympathy* 
 
 C Oul of my foul ! it cannot be, 
 [j' That you ilaould weep, and Ifrom tears be free. 
 All the vaft room between both Poles, 
 Can never dull the fcnfe of fouls. 
 
 Knit in fo faft a knot. 
 Oh ! can you grieve, and think that I 
 Can feel nofmart, becaufe not nigh, 
 Or that I know it not ? 
 
 Th'arc heretick thoughts. Two Lutes arc ftrung, 
 And on a Table tun'd alike for fong 5 
 
 Strike one, and that which none did touch, 
 Shall fympathizing found as much, 
 As that which toucht you fee. 
 Think then this world f which Heaven inroulcs) - 
 Is but a Table round, and fouls 
 More apprchcnfivc be. 
 
 Know they that in their groffeft parts, 
 Mix by their hallowed loves intwined hearts, 
 
 b 2 This 
 
 'm ' ■! ^0t^^w^
 
 It 
 
 LllS 1{i A. 
 
 This privilege boaft, that no remove 
 Can e'rc infringe their fcnie of love. 
 
 judge hence then our cftate , 
 -SinccLwhcn we lov'd there was not put 
 Two earthen hearts in one breft, but 
 Two fouls Co-animate. 
 
 XII. 
 
 The ^concilcment. 
 
 C"^- Orac now my fair one,let me iove thee new, 
 ^ Since thou art new created. For 'tis true 
 Wi^en fcxils diftain'd by loofeand wandrin^ fears. 
 Once purge themfelvcs by penitential tears. 
 They gain a fccond birth, and fcorn to flye 
 At any rhark but Nobleft purity. 
 Then who can tell that c're there was offence, 
 Cortdritton docs as miuch as Innocence. 
 Black lines in Tablets once expung'd,they are 
 Clear to each eye, and like their firft age, fair, 
 V^ hen Colours are difcharg'd, and after dy'd 
 — rrcfn by the Artift, can it then be (py'd 
 V\ here the foil was ? So Convert Magdalen 
 Excell'd more after her Converfion, then 
 Tefore flie had offended : flips that be 
 'Twixt friends from frailty, are but as you fee 
 Sad abfcncc to ftrong lovers j when they meet, 
 It makes their warm imbraces far more fweet. 
 
 Come then, and let us like two ftreams fwell'd high,. 
 Meet, and with foft and gentle ftruglings try. 
 How like their curling waves we mingle may. 
 Till both be made one floud ; then who can fay 
 4. Which this way flow'd, which that: For there will be 
 Still water 5 clofe united Extafie. 
 That when we next lliall but of motion dream. 
 We both fhall Aide one way, both make one Itream. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 J farai>ell. 
 
 WWcn by fad fate from hence I fummon'd am. 
 Call it not Abfence, that's too mild a name. 
 Eelieve it, deareft Soul, I cannot part, 
 For who can live two Regions from his heart ? 
 
 Unlefs
 
 LUSOT^IJ, 
 
 n 
 
 Unlets as Itarsdirediour humane Icnfc, 
 I live by your more powerful influence. 
 No ; fay I am diffolv'd; tor as a Cloud 
 By the Suns vigour melted is, and tlrow'd 
 On the Earths face, to be cxhal'd again 
 To the fame beams that rurn'd it into rain. 
 So abfent think me but as fcatrcr'd dew, 
 Till re-exhai*d again to Vcrtre ; You. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 FllNEBRE V E N ETI A NU M. 
 
 On the Lady Venetia Digby,/o«;/^ dead in her bed, 
 
 leaning her bead on her hand, 
 
 FAili Ccnfure ftay : nor he, nor llie that's gone 
 Mufl be condcmn'd : unlefs to ^eve alone 
 Fate's folded up : So Lightnings fubt'lclt flame 
 Melts thccas'd ?i.Q(.\, to which, which way it came 
 No piercing eye can fee : As well we may 
 Trace yonder filh which way iTic fwam at Sea, 
 rind th' Arrows flight,or by diffcdion tell 
 Fancies that in that living brain did dwell. 
 Yet ilie is gone j gone as the Dove which laft 
 Tofs'd Noah fent from his op'd Ark to tafte 
 Freedom at large ; but never to return, 
 Till next a flood of tire the world tliall burn. 
 So prifoncd Peter , whom SerccZ/frtf^ kept, 
 Th'Angel iiilargcs, while the dull Guard tlept. 
 So while the body \n a fujieral flame 
 Crumbles to du(t,from whence at firft it cattle, 
 In a dark odour fadning brighteft day, 
 Th'imagin'd foul, the Eagle, ftealsaway. 
 
 Yet there are thofe, flriving to falvc their own 
 Deep want of skill, have in a fury thrown 
 Scandal on her, and fay fhc wanted brain. 
 Botchers of Nature ! your eternal ttain 
 This judgment is. Can you believe that flic 
 Whofe great perfc<Sion was, that fhc was flie, 
 Thatllic who was all Charm, whofe frail parts 
 Could captivate by troups even nobletl hearts, 
 And from wife men, with flowing grace conquer 
 More than they had, untill they met with her ? 
 Can you believe a Brain, the common tyc 
 Of each flat Sex, could ever towre (o high, 
 As to fway her, from whofe afpe(5t did pafs 
 Life, death and happincfs to men ? This was 
 
 So
 
 LilS %l A. 
 
 So far beyond your bare no more than fenfcj 
 That you ne'r thought of that Intelligence 
 Which did move her. Yet you may come to rail 
 At the CcIeflialOrbcs when theirs llialJfail, 
 'Caufc they (liould fo (land ftill. And this was ir 
 Which made death mannerly, and ftrive to fit 
 Himfelf with reverence to her ; that now 
 He came not like a Tyrant, on whofe brow 
 _ A pompous tcrrour hung •, but in a drain 
 Lovely and calm, as in the J««f ferain. 
 T hat now, who mod abhor him can but fay. 
 Gently he did imbrace her into clay : 
 And her, as Monument for time to come , 
 Left her own ftatue, pcrfed for her tomb. 
 As a rough Satyr, tam'd with love, efpies 
 Whcr-e his dear Nymph fweetly repofed lies. 
 Softly doth ftcal akifle, then flirinks away. 
 Left he awake his fouls foul : fo we may 
 Think death did here : So the pale amorous Moon 
 On ^aimos kifs'd llecping Endjmion 
 In Mufick, wine and (lumbers, fo he try'd, 
 Courted and won her : That henceforth the Bride, 
 Frefli Youth, and Qj-ieens, fliall in their braveft trim. 
 The Bridegroom-Sports and Scepters, leave for him» 
 This more lliall follow, no Stagyrian brain 
 Shall ever call him terrible asain ; 
 Nor yet name Death, but when he fliall come to't^^ 
 He fhall bue only wink, and that fliall do't. 
 
 XV. 
 
 An Epitaph on Robert Lord Spencer, 
 
 Ere much lamented lies four wonders : One 
 .Old Hofpitality, in this Age gone. 
 A Spencer I Frc e, lov'd for his bounteous mind, 
 2 . He fpent his means, yet kept it ; Left behind 
 
 A ftate increas'd with honour. And the third 
 5. Was, m him dy'da good man and a Lord. 
 4. The laft, Thefe loft, yet not the world undone i 
 Since all ftilJ hope them living in his Son, 
 
 rhe
 
 LtlS 1{l A. 
 
 i> 
 
 X V I. 
 
 Ihe Sj^ring in the ^ck. 
 
 HArlli Maid ! fuppofc not this clear Sprincr 
 Can boyl thus cold by Natures courlc. 
 No, 'tis a miracle, a thing 
 
 That may thy hard hearts melting force. 
 Know this cold Spring thou now doft fee ' 
 Was like me once : The Rock like thee. 
 
 This Spring was once a Lover true, 
 
 Turn'd all to Ice by coy difdain ; 
 Till pitying gods his woes that knew, 
 
 Melted him thus to life again. 
 But love which alwaycs racks the will, 
 Rcillcfs thus makes him bubble ftill. 
 
 Nor did rtie fcape the gods juft doom, 
 She Rock was made and could not ftir : 
 
 So he that living could no room 
 
 Obtain, by death now dwells \n her. 
 
 Oh take heed then, repent and know 
 
 They that chang'd her can alccr you. 
 
 XVII. 
 Ihe Amci7::e}m)it. 
 
 FOoi, why doft wonder that thou art 
 A ftatuc turn'd, as if a dart 
 Tranfpicrc'd thy brcfl: when thou doft her behold? 
 When yet before thou fccft her face, 
 Thou doft believe with feeling grace. 
 Thou canft the ftory of thy Love unfold. 
 Ala":, bold wits th;;t great appear , 
 And can inchanteach Vulgar ear, 
 BIulli when their tale to Princes muft be told. 
 
 See the Rofes being blown, 
 
 Shed their leaves and fall alone. 
 As (hamcd by a purer red of hers. 
 
 Sec the Clouds that caft tiieir fnow. 
 
 Which melts as foon as 'tis below. 
 When but a whiter white of her appears. 
 
 See the Silk-worm h.ow Hie weaves 
 
 Her fclf to death among her kavcs. 
 As broke with envv of her finer hairs. 
 
 >cc 
 
 I I
 
 LUS 0^1 A. 
 
 See the Sun that guides the day, 
 Yet every Evening ftcals away, 
 
 And comes next morning bluHiing at his rife ; 
 Nor is it for the fad milliap, 
 That he muft leave his Thetis lap, 
 
 But that he isout-fliin'd by her fair eyesw 
 If then the Creatures in their pride 
 Withdraw themfelves, let wonder Aide 
 
 Each high Afpcd the Scnfes ftupifies. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 •/« Epitaph on the Lady Mary Farmor. 
 
 C'^Haftely to live, one husband wed, he gone, 
 V Gravely to fpcnd a V^'idowhood alone. 
 Full feventeen tedious years in memory 
 Of that dear worth which dy'd when he did dye : 
 To make life one long ad of goodnefs, gain 
 More love than the worlds malice e're could ftain. 
 Then calmly pafs with fighs of every friend, 
 Were thofe brave wayes which her fo much commend^ 
 That 'tis no ftrong Line, but a Truth, to fix. 
 Here Iks the (>e(i Example ff her Sex. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 On a hopeful Yotuh, 
 
 STay Paffenger, and lend a tear. 
 Youth and Vertucboth lie here. 
 Reading this know thou haft feen 
 Vertue tomb'd at but Fifteen, 
 And if after thou flialt fee 
 Any young and good as he^ 
 Think his vertues are reviving 
 For Examples of thy living. 
 Praftife thofe and then thou may'ft 
 Fearlcfs dye where now thou ftay'ft. 
 
 Jin
 
 I^tlSO^lJ, 
 
 17 
 
 xx; 
 
 Jn AnJ-^er to the Ode of, Come leave the loathed Staae^crc. 
 
 C: 
 
 >Ome leave this faucy way 
 , of baiting thofe that pay 
 Dear for the fight of your declining wic: . 
 
 'Tis known it is not fir. 
 That a falc Poet, juft contempt once thrown. 
 Should cry up thus his own. 
 I wonder by what Dowrc 
 Or Patent yon had power 
 From all to rap't a judgment. Lct't fufficc, 
 • Had you been modcft, y'had been granted wife. 
 
 'Tis known you can do well. 
 
 And tiiat you do excel! 
 As a Trauflator : But when things require 
 
 h^enii4s and fire, 
 t^ot kindled heretofore by others pains ; 
 
 As oft y'havc wanted brains 
 
 And art to ftrike the White, 
 
 As you have levell'd riglu : 
 Yet if men vouch northings Apocryphal, 
 You bellow, rave and 1 patter round your gall. 
 
 ^ug. Pierce, Peel; Fly, and all 
 Your Jefts to nominal, 
 Are things (o far beneath an able Brain, 
 
 At 
 
 As they do throw a fliain 
 Through all th'unliktly p'ot, and do difplcafe 
 As deep as Pet ides ^ 
 Where yet there is not laid 
 Before a Chamber- ma:d 
 Difcourfc fo wcigh'J, as might have ferv'd of old 
 For Schools, when they of Love and Valour told. 
 
 Why Rngc then ? when the Hiow 
 
 Should Judgment be and Know- 
 ledge, that there arc in Plulli who fcorn to drudge, 
 
 For Stages yet can judge 
 Not only Poets loofcr lives but wits, 
 
 And all their Perquilits. 
 
 A gift as rich as high 
 
 Is noble Poefic : 
 Yet though in fport it be for Kings a play, 
 'Tis next Mcchanick when it works for pay. 
 
 Alctt 
 
 U4
 
 i8 1 
 
 LU^^Q Ijld. 
 
 Alcxus Lute hadiToac, 
 - ^ J|Ior loofe Anacreon > '? ,,\^ ; . -^ '.^ ^^^^ ,. 
 E're tau^fi't fo bold affuming of the Ba'yes, ' ^ ' ^ 
 
 When they defcrv{'4:flQ/praire3 
 To rail men into approbation .: i : ' ^ 
 
 Is new is yours alone;, ,i 
 
 And profpers not ; For know 
 Fame is as coy as you 
 Can be difdainful '■, and who dares to prove 
 A rape on her^ (hall gather fcorn, not love. 
 
 Leave then this humour vain. 
 
 And this more humorous ftraio. 
 Where felf- conceit and choler of the blood 
 Eclipfe what elfe is good : 
 Then if you pleafe thofe raptures high to touch, 
 Whereof you boaft lb much j 
 
 And but forbear your Crown 
 
 Till the world puts it on : 
 No dobt from all you may amazement draw. 
 Since braver Theme no Phcebus ever faw. 
 
 XXL 
 
 To Thryfie. 
 
 WHcn thou thy youth flialt view 
 Fum'd out, and hate thy glafs for telling true, 
 
 When thy face fhall be feen 
 Like to an Eafter Apple gathered green : 
 
 When thy whole body fliall 
 Be one foul wrinkle, lame and fhrivell'd alJ, 
 
 So deep that men therein 
 May find a grave to bury (hame and fin : 
 
 When no clafpt youth (hall be 
 Pouring thy bones into his lap and thee : 
 
 When thy own wanton fires 
 Shall leave to bubble up thy loofe defires : 
 
 Then wilt thou fighing lye. 
 Repent and fmart, and fo by two deaths dye. 
 
 Te
 
 LUSO^IJ, 
 
 XXII. 
 To A/r. Dover on his Cotf^old Games. 
 
 SUmmon'd by Fame Tbrave Dsver) I can now 
 Tell what it was old Poets meant to Hiow 
 In the feign'd ftories of their Pegafus^ 
 Mttfes and Mount ^ which they have left to us. 
 Nor need we wonder fuch a flow of years 
 Should roul away, when yet no light appears. 
 .Since Prophefies and Fates predictions 
 Come to be known, and are fulfiU'd at once. 
 So Delpfjcs fpakc, and in a myftick fold 
 Hid that, at once which adcd was and told. 
 What then was typ'd by Pegnfm, but that 
 Proud Troup of fiery Courfcrs, muftcr'd at 
 Thy Cotjwo/d ? where like rapid fpheres they hurld 
 Strain for a fait, the fcafoningof the world. 
 Then the fagacious Hound, at lolTes mure 
 Alone, ("hews Natures Logick in purfuit. 
 But at thy other meeting, he is blind 
 That cannot Mufes and tlieir mufick find : 
 Shewing that plcafure would be cold and dye, 
 Without converfe and noble harmony. 
 The Ladies Mufcs arc, there may you chufe 
 A Patronefsj each Miftrefs is a Mufc. 
 Nor does Apollo % Harp e're found more high. 
 Than when 'tis vigour'd from a Ladies eye. 
 Now to complete the ftory, I do fee 
 How future times will learn to title thee 
 That Toutlid Afollo : So Mount Helicon 
 Will Cot [wold prove, which fliall be fam'd alone. 
 And facrcd all unto thy happy Name, 
 That long iTnll dwell in the fair voice of Fame. 
 For prcatthou muft be: and as firft, have prize. 
 Or elfe, as i\\Esit of the old Prophefies. 
 
 19 
 
 XXIII. 
 On Sue Rowland Cotton ^fjmotn for Letters and other parts. 
 
 TS Cotiofi dead ? Then we may live to fee 
 Wonder and Truth kifs in an lilegie : 
 Nor lli.ijl the chaffy Vulgar dare to lauj^h, 
 Finding no flattery in an Epitaph. 
 
 c 2 All
 
 20 
 
 LUS 1^1 A. 
 
 All that here Art could fpeak would credit have, 
 
 ('Unlefs it be that he has found a Gravej 
 
 Not as Lay- Catholicks, which do conclude 
 
 Sins vertuous, 'caufe Superiours do obtrude 
 
 Penal belief upon them: But as things 
 
 To which Mankind fad atteftation brings. 
 
 For in what devious corner draws he breath, 
 
 That hearing fluinks not at brave Cettons death ? 
 
 For whofe dear fake great Nature feems to grone 
 
 And throb, as if an Element were gone. 
 
 At leaft he was her Index, wherein we 
 
 Her Quadripartite Treafury might fee, 
 
 Veiwing in brief her Jems : For fure he knew 
 
 More Tongues than were at BabehbmXdmg new: 
 
 And in fo many Languages could write , 
 
 That he'slcarn'd now, that can but name them right. 
 
 That Rtihrick Sea of Learning which do's drown 
 
 Niks rafh Impoftors with their puft-up Crown, 
 
 Fled before him checking her waves, and there 
 
 To his fharp judgment left her bottom bare. 
 
 Thefe fhew'd his greatnefs, that he did converfe 
 
 Not with fome Nations, but the Univerfe. 
 
 So in his life from ail extra<5ting Art, 
 
 They all in his fad lofs muft bear a part. 
 
 And though thofe hands, which had fo adive been 
 
 To out-do Nations, drew their vigour in, 
 
 'Twas not through want of any noble fire. 
 
 But as great Princes indifpos'd retire. 
 
 Thus the not ufing feet of fo rich price, 
 
 Shcw'd how he grew a bird of Paradife, 
 
 Scorning the flag of man , till he became 
 
 Volant above in a Ccleftial flame ; 
 
 Whofe lofs we all now mourn. Yet that we might 
 
 Find fair concordance 'twixi his race and flight. 
 
 Having prefented rich and ftately Scenes, 
 
 He fcorn'd an Exithy the common means. 
 
 As Mefes pray'd he dy'd, Aaron and Hur 
 
 Lifting thofe hands that wearyed could not ilir. 
 
 Or elfe, when he had warr'd andconquer'd all. 
 
 That fubtle Schools abftrufe and craggy call, 
 
 Triumph'd o're Arts, Vertues, the world and wit. 
 
 Strength, Natures weaknefs, and the clogs in it. 
 
 His own two Chaplains fto his height now grown) 
 
 Scem'd to conduift him to receive his Crown. 
 
 On
 
 LUS O'lll A. 
 
 21 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 On a Gentlewoman, ^hofe Ts^ofc tpas pitted ^ith 
 the Small Pox. 
 
 WHy (foul Difeafe j in check or eye 
 Duift not thy fmall Impreflions lye ? 
 Or why afpir'd'ft thou to that place. 
 The graceful Prottiont of her face ? 
 Alas ! we fee the Rofe and Snow 
 In one thou couldft not overthrow : 
 And where the other did but pleafc 
 To look and Aiine , they kill'd difeafe. 
 Then as fome fulphurous fpirit fcnt 
 By the tome Airs di(}cmpcrment, 
 To a rich Palace •, finds within 
 5omc Sainted Maid or Shcba Qiieen ; 
 And, not of power for her offence , 
 Rifles the Chimney going hence. 
 So thou too feeble to controul 
 Tf.e Gueft within, hrr purer foul, 
 Hafl out of fplecn to things of grace, 
 Left thy funk footfteps in the place. 
 Yet fear not Maid, fince fo much fair 
 Is left, that thcfe can thofe impair. 
 Face-fears do not difgrace, but thew 
 Valour well freed from a bold foe. 
 Like J-Acohi lamenefs, this iTiall be 
 Honour and Palme to Time and Thee. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 E/r^Je ow Mr. Fra. Leigh, who dyed of the ^la^ue^ 
 
 May. day J 16>'37. 
 
 WHat means this folemn damp quite through the Strand 
 To TVeflminfler ? Oh ! fee how fad they (tand ! 
 Sorrow invadeth all ; as when a Prince 
 Lov'd, is in pomp of funeral waited hence. 
 The Town is ladned, and the Tfmples mourn. 
 As having lofl what never can return, 
 Tl.c greedy Lawyer, and his pioud pert Clark, 
 Lets fall his pleading and his pen, to mark 
 What 'tis amazes the litigious Hall, 
 When lo ! the fatal murmur reaches all ; 
 And through the llnifHing throng the news is fpred 
 In a faint whifpcr. Hopeful Let^h is dead ! 
 
 Dead
 
 22 
 
 LUS O'f^l A, 
 
 Dead of the Plague ! dead in his early Youth ! 
 
 Leaving quire widowed Handfomnel's and Truth. 
 
 His fhape was womans envy, and her flain j 
 
 His mind all fwcet, his Converfation gain 
 
 To all, to whom he did the honour grant 
 
 T'enjoy thofe parts, which Nobles boaft, yet want. 
 
 If he had errors, they were fuch as ne'r 
 
 Could grow to faults, but the next riper year 
 
 Would clean have chac'd away. For as from fire 
 
 At the firft kindling fome fmoak will afpire -, 
 
 So youth muft be allow'd his vapours, which 
 
 Maturity and time will turn to rich 
 
 And brightning flames, whereby the world may prove. 
 
 Though Man derive from Earth, he mounts to ^ve. 
 
 Scorning his foul fhould any other food 
 
 Purfue, but that which is fupremely good. 
 
 Thus he alTur'd. yet thcfe in him with grief 
 
 Wc find cut off by fate without relief. 
 
 Nor was this all : the Plague which humbly fed, 
 
 And only th'unfann'd Vulgar harrafled ; 
 
 Perhaps in pity, for to them a Grave 
 
 Is far more bleft than that poor life they have % 
 
 Now is exalted grown, and fliews more grim. 
 
 Boding a flroke at Gentry thorough him : 
 
 And though already thoufands be extinft. 
 
 Yet they iTiall be recorded but as linkt 
 
 In one dull mafs together ; In whofe fall 
 
 There (ball no Plague be nam'd : but they that fliall 
 
 Mention this time, their Annal thus fhall run. 
 
 This year the firft of Maj the Plague begun. 
 
 And for his fake all our Succeffors fliall 
 
 This day thefecend evil May-day call. 
 
 1 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 s N g. 
 
 C"^ O, cruel Maid, reftore again 
 J Thy fnovv and rubied lip^ 
 Thy orbed Suns, thy skye of Vein, 
 
 Thy blu 111 and jcwell'd Tip. 
 I dare be fworn no Power Divine 
 E're meant them for that heart of thine. 
 
 I know, when th'Influence of the Pole 
 
 Fram'd thy cold heart of Ice, 
 Thou ftol'ft thefe from fome kinder foul. 
 
 To blind the peoples eyes : 
 
 J
 
 L US O^I^IJ, 
 
 2^ 
 
 It could not be eU'e thou Ihouldft thus 
 Slight one whofe love's Idolatrous. 
 
 The Chtyftal Heaven that fpher(^ about. 
 Though it be fair to fee ; ■ -jcn ol : : 
 
 Unlefs it fends his tnoift Pearls out. 
 
 The world would ruiii'd be : , ; 
 
 So beauty mixt with coy difdain, 
 
 Is but Heaven mark'd with miirthers ftain. 
 
 Wliat though rhbu niaift with thine eyes- wink. . 
 
 Check the prefuming Sun ; ; lit -j;.' 
 
 They arc but Tyrants that can think j ai'a : 
 
 T'have all that may be done. 
 Gods, Kings and Milircffcs,. fliould they 
 Do all they might, this All would all decay. 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 (^unemaJl'iK, . - 
 
 Commend a Womas mercy ? 'Tis to fay 
 Tygers are kind, to mif-call night for day. 
 To fay there's vertue in a Witches will. 
 Is truer far : their mercy's but to kill : 
 Nay, if they did that foon enough, I'de fwcar 
 They creatures all compact of pity were. . 
 But they delight in Jingring cruelty, 
 To fee men fry in flames, and piece-meal dye. 
 
 Oh they arc things, that Nature fvext with men) 
 Ordaiu'd for vengeance ! and to plague them, then 
 When flie her felf bluflit atthofe cruel things 
 She meant in them to pradilc. Like thofe Kings 
 That fmiling to carouic in bloud, appoint 
 Inferior Executioners, to dif-joynt 
 Men doom'd for murther ; while thcmfclvcs relent 
 To be but leers of the puniflimenr. 
 So Nature turning Tyrant , woman made 
 Mens fpirits fcourge •, inftruding her to trade 
 In racking of their fouls, to flame their hearts. 
 And to diffedl them in a ihoufmd parts. 
 
 Their looks indeed fpcak pity, but they arc 
 Like Fowlers fhraps, pleafing but to infnare 5 
 That men being thrall'd once in ihei^i^ody, 
 They may delight to fee how fad t^cjBpi 
 Caft tliy fcU proltrate at their mercy gate, 
 There fuc for pity : Ah, 'tis to throw thy fate ^ 
 
 And
 
 74 
 
 LUS 1{i A. 
 
 US to give 
 
 And liberty to Pirats : 
 Life unto thofe that will not let thee live. 
 'Tisto commit the blelfings to the wave 
 Of rugged Seas, in hope that That will fave. 
 Oh ! have but fo much Faith as to believe. 
 They are the moft obdurate things that live ! 
 
 Tell them what plagues, what tortures and what wo. 
 What hell exceeding pains you undergo 
 For them -, it is all one as if you told 
 A tale to Flint, Images, or Marble cold. 
 Their fongs, their fmilcs, their glancings, fcemings glad, 
 Are all but deaths in feveral Liveries clad. 
 If e're they feem to pity, 'tis to know 
 Your fouls clofe fecrcts, then to laugh at you. 
 Or elfe like Butchers, let their favours fall 
 To fat you for their flaughter and the Stall. 
 Or like the Fltmmtng^ that the Turk difpatches. 
 Fills him with Cau^, to fling him over hatches. 
 
 Live among women ! ah, thou more lafely may'ft 
 Sleep in a bed with Snakes, with Scorpions jeft : 
 They fting th.c body, and it dyes ; but tb.efe 
 Infeft the foul with fuch a fad difeafe, 
 Whofe plague lives everlaftingly, and gives 
 Nor reft, nor intermiffion, "while thou liv'fl. 
 Their eyes falfe glafles are j that while the foul 
 Wings her fair courfe up to the ftarry Pole, 
 They f like a Lark with daring) pull it down, 
 And then for ever thrall it to their frown. 
 Their tongues are S-jrens notes, which ftill do train 
 Th'hearers to death, which before they find, they gain. 
 Their faces are th'extradted beauties of 
 The world in one, which Nature made in feoff 
 Of all elfe Excellencies : but therein 
 She hid more treafon than the world had fin. 
 For well fhe knew thofe ills that would betide them. 
 Would fhew too foul, without a Veil to hide them. 
 So that man rnight be lur'd, and not defcry 
 In Angels iTiape, fhe clad black mifery. 
 
 Envious Nature ! fincethou needs wouldft make 
 Torture for man, thou might'ft have given afha^>e 
 That fhould have lliew'd it like an enemy : fo 
 Before he felt, he might have fecn his wo : 
 And not have trod pits (trew'd with forged green. 
 Whereby as men take beafts,fo they take him. 
 Before fhe was created , this world was 
 Still as the Cafpian Sea, quiet, a glafs 
 
 Of
 
 LUS01{1 A. 
 
 2^ 
 
 Of firm contentment ^ wherein man might be 
 
 Irrolick fome years, and not curfe Deftiny. 
 
 But being made, the firft ad llic did try 
 
 Seduc'd Mankind, inletted policy. 
 
 Taught him a way (which then he did not know) 
 
 To carry murther in a fmiling brow. 
 
 Hence Filliers learn'd to angle, Huntfmcn here 
 
 To pitch their Toyls, hence Fowlers to infnare 
 
 With cozening lures, hence Lawyers to esg on. 
 
 And undo Clients with pcr(vvafion. 
 
 Flatterers to kill; hence, Tradefmen to deceive, 
 
 Phyficians hence to gild tlie Pils they give. 
 
 That now the world fccms but one Hiop to be 
 
 Of Stratagems, of Fraud and Roguery. 
 
 She's mifchicfs powder-plot ! that at one blow . 
 Gave Man and all the world an Overthrow. 
 So primitively illj that Hie nc'r cou'd 
 Yet tell the fcnfe of honefty or good. 
 And therefore at the firft was forc'd to creep 
 Into the world while man was dead afleep : 
 Then in her young Creation wrought fuch fmart. 
 As tore the Rib out that lay next hi^ heart : 
 For had he wak'd, and had but half iiis fenfc, 
 He fooncr would have cop'd with Peftilcncc, 
 Then joyn'd with her : who fo of joy bereft him. 
 That ere night came, llie for the Devil left him. 
 And if it had not been to damn him too, 
 Sh'had nc'r return'd, flie lik'd his company io. 
 The Serpent furc that tempted her could be 
 But a meer Type of one more fubtile, flic 
 Or clfc her own ill difpofition 
 The Serpent was, by which fh'was fctupon. 
 Haft thou a friend thou wiflxfc free from fcorn. 
 From Hell within him ? wifli when he was born 
 A fea-deep grave his mother did intcrre, 
 And that the world of women dy'd with her. 
 So if he never knew what woman was, 
 He may in mirth and quiet his time pafs. 
 But he that after a worlds joy dodi come 
 But to fpell Woman, is undone ! undone ! 
 Her name is ExorcifmCy and the moft fair 
 Inchantrcffes the worft of witches are. 
 Elfe how could they infatuate the fouls 
 Of wifcft men, and fooneft fuch ? when fools, 
 Not having noble room enough to hold 
 Unbounded Love, arc free by being cold. 
 
 Oh
 
 z6 
 
 LUS 1{I J, 
 
 oh you Cclertial Powers ! why did you lend 
 Accurfed man a foul, to be impenn'd 
 In womcns brcafts ; whoufe it with defpice, 
 When damning of their own can but requite ? 
 Yet that they may appear in feme good (train, 
 In pities name they'Iwrap up their difdain. 
 So murther you with tears ;ind kindncfs; when 
 They only weep that you are not the Man. 
 And will you call this pity, when it is 
 Spirit of torture, foul of miferies ? 
 Who's plagu'd thus, boldly may dare Nature to 
 Find fuch another plague, man fo t'undo. 
 For they that love, and do not meet with it, 
 Aregnawn with burning Furies vVhich do (it 
 Whipping their anguiflit fouls in them, while they 
 Are mad to dye, and cannot find the way. 
 
 Paflion and Fury pulls that from my pen 
 I never thought of: For they are to men 
 (When they arc loving) things fo precious, 
 That man out of their fight is ruinous. 
 W'hatevcr large Philofophy could find 
 Of Vertucjhad J<ieA from their mind. 
 Whatever Jems, Stars, Flowers or Metals fliow 
 Of Beauty, dees advanc't in Women flow. 
 A Temple for the Deity fo fit. 
 As Gods great Son left Heaven to dwell in it. 
 From whence (when man was forfeit to the Law^ 
 He chofe life and immortal fle(h to draw. 
 Nor can the world, with all that is below, 
 A fccond fhape fo brave as Woman fliow. 
 And I have heard, when Heaven and Nature did 
 Study what ble{fings to pour on mans head. 
 It was agreed (his ruincs to repair^ 
 He lliould enjoy a Woman good, kind, fair. 
 So if they tax tliee for thy pens amifs, 
 TcH'em thou mean'ft they fhould readonly this. 
 Though all but Hie, that this converted hath, 
 Are ten degrees below a Poets wrath. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 To the fainter taking the TiSlure of the Lady 
 Penelope Ceuatefs ef Peterburgh. 
 
 FOrbear ! This face, if taken true, 
 Ruines thine Art : For when men view 
 So new a model of a Face, 
 So chafte, fo fweet, 'twill quite difgrace 
 
 All
 
 LUSO'I^IJ. 
 
 7 
 
 All thy old Rules : buc it thy will 
 Prefumc to limb new laws for skill. 
 Upon thy Pallat rfram'd by Art 
 O'th' fplintcr of fome conquer'd heart) 
 Temper the Elements, be furc 
 They be all four moftcalm and pure : 
 From thefe perhaps thou may 'ft defcry 
 Her ev'n complexions harmony. 
 For either Cheel?, when you begin, 
 Draw me afmiling Cherubin. 
 For lips thou may'll the Gemini t^ack 
 Of fome high \\o\y-diy Zedijck : 
 For Brow and eyes thou {"halt difplay 
 The Ev'n and Morn, Creations day : 
 It muft be fuch a dawn and iliade 
 As that day caft, wherein was made 
 The Sun before mans damning Fall 
 Threw a fogg'd guilt upon this All. 
 Over this Figure raife me high 
 Figures for ftars i'th' convex'd skye ; 
 Hut give no colour, they will rife 
 Bright from her efficacious eyes. 
 Lart, draw thy fclf and Pencil thrown 
 Beneath her feet: For 'twill be known 
 She's miftrcfs of far braver Arts, 
 Thou Faces tak'ft^ but flie takes Hearts. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 Uj^on a breach of ^romife, 
 
 SONG. 
 
 J Am confirm'd in my belief. 
 No Womjn ha^h a (oul : 
 They but delude, that is the chief 
 To which their Fancies roul. 
 
 Elfc how could bright Aurelii fail, 
 When (lie her faith had given \ 
 
 Since Vows that others cars affail. 
 Recorded are in heaven. 
 
 But as the Alch'mifts flattering fires 
 Swell up his hopes of prile •, 
 
 Till the crackt Spirit quite expires^ 
 And with his Fortune dies, 
 d z 
 
 So
 
 28 
 
 LUS ^IJ. 
 
 So though they feem to cheer, and fpcak 
 Thofe things we tnoft implore , 
 
 They do but flame us up to break. 
 Then never mind us more. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 To this 'Hfritten by a Qentkwoman , 
 the Anfwer underneath was given. 
 
 BElieve not him whom Love hath left fo wife. 
 As to have power his own tale to tell ; 
 For Childrens griefs do yield the loudcft cryes. 
 
 And cold defircs may be cxprefled well. 
 In well told Love moft often falfhood lyes. 
 But pity him that only fighs and Dyes. 
 
 His Anfmer. 
 
 Yet truft him that a fad talc tells. 
 With fighs and tears in's eyes : 
 For Love with torture often dwells, 
 And can make Ideots wife : 
 Racks make the ftrongeft roar, Love fticks no dart 
 But tips the tongue as well as wounds the heart. 
 
 Who loves, and dyes, and makes no lliow. 
 
 Hath heart and paffion weak j^ 
 Since paflions that are deep, we know. 
 Can make the dumb to fpeak. 
 Then never pity him whom death can cure. 
 But pity him that lives and muft endure. 
 
 XX XL } 
 SONG. 
 
 C^Upi J and Venus ! who are thefe? 
 J A Boy and common Tit, 
 Two lyes that Poets made in eafe. 
 
 Or in fome drunken fit. 
 Away, away, for I can prove 
 That Ft*ican only is the god of Love, 
 
 He throws his fire xn our veins, 
 The Baftards iTiafts he headeth ; 
 
 Mars and Loves Mother caught in chains, 
 He as his Prifoner leadetn. 
 
 And
 
 LUS d^l J, 
 
 -^9 
 
 And now 1 know the Jighc that flyes, 
 
 Is his bright Flame calm'd by cUriffas eyes. 
 
 
 His locks and bolts can keep us out, 
 
 And to our bliflfe convey usj 
 He can fecurc us round about , 
 
 And then he can betray us. 
 He keeps me from my happinefs, and he 
 Does prove great Ctt^id when he lends his key. 
 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 Ihis enfulng Copy the late Printer hath heen pleafed to 
 
 honour^ bj mijlAkingit among the fe of the moftingenious 
 
 dnd (CO early bfl, Sir John Suckling. 
 
 
 'ff X 7 Hen, Deareft, I but think on thee, 
 V V Me thinks all things that lovely be 
 
 Are prefentjand my foul delighted : 
 For beauties that from worth arife> 
 Are lile the grace of Deities, 
 
 Still prefent with us, though unfighted. 
 
 
 Thus while I fit and figh the day, 
 With all his fpreading lights away. 
 
 Till nights black wings do overtake me : 
 Thinking on thee, thy beauties then , 
 As fudden lights do fleeping men. 
 
 So they by their bright rayes awake me. 
 
 
 Thus abfence dyes , and dying proves 
 No abfence can confi(\ with Loves, 
 
 That do partake of fair perfedion : 
 Since in the darkeft night they may 
 By their quick motion find a way 
 
 To fee each other by refledion. 
 
 
 The waving Sea can with fuch flood, 
 Bath fome high Palace that hath ftood 
 .._Far from the Main up in the River : 
 Oh think not then but love can do 
 As much, for that's an Ocean lOOy 
 That flows not every day, but ever. 
 
 
 SONG. 

 
 9 
 
 o 
 
 L.US 0^1 A, 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 s n G, 
 
 ^l Ow ( as 1 live ) I love thee much, 
 J And fain would love thee more, 
 Did I but know thy temper fuch. 
 As could give o're. 
 
 But to ingage thy Virgin-heart, 
 
 Then leave it in diftrefs, 
 Were to betray thy brave defert. 
 And make it lefs. 
 
 Were all the Eaftern Treafures mine, 
 
 rde pour them at thy feet ; 
 But to invite a Prince to dine 
 With air, 'snot meet. 
 
 No, let me rather pine alone, 
 Then if my fate prove coy, 
 I can difpence with grief my own. 
 While thou haft joy. 
 
 But if through my too niggard Fate 
 
 Thou lliouidft unhappy prove, 
 
 I fliould grow mad and defperate 
 
 Through grief and love. 
 
 Since then though more I cannot love 
 
 Without thy injury ^ 
 As Saints that to an Altar move. 
 My thoughts ftiall be. 
 
 And think not that the flame is lefs, 
 
 For 'tis upon this fcore, 
 Were't not a love beyond excefs. 
 It might be more. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 Wpo« a rare Voice. 
 
 WHen I but hear her fing, I fare 
 Like one that raifcd, holds his ear 
 To fome bright ftar in the fupremeft Round ; 
 
 Through
 
 LUS 01{l A, 
 
 Through which, bcftdes the Jight that's fecn, 
 There may be heard, from Heaven within. 
 The Refts of Anthems, that the Angels found. 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 Confidcrations of one defignd for a "Nunnery, 
 
 'Tis to be thought upon, 
 
 WHc thcr i'th'bud and prime of blooming Youth 
 fWhcii each (maWfy'tre of the Soul llnoots forth, 
 Warm'd by that Vernal Sun, which then invites it) 
 I lliail my i'clf and future life give up, 
 Immur'd, a facrifice to Avarice 
 AndOpinon: For if it be not futh, 
 What can my being thus a cold Rcclufe 
 Be to th'advantase of mv Parents fouls? 
 My Cliarity fliall be my own, not theirs? 
 Korean my Vigils or abftemious froft , 
 Or cool or expiate, the (malleft fume 
 01 their intemperate heat •, but it will on. 
 Not minding me, or my pale Orifons. 
 Nay, had they mued up thus themfelves, I had 
 No being had at all, to argue this. 
 Why then being come into the world by Providence, 
 May not I take that turn the gods have given me, 
 Vv iih^ ut fas foou as entred, like a thing 
 Impcrfedl made ) to be turn'd out again, 
 A? quite unworthy thofe great bounteous favors. 
 Heaven and free Nature had defign'd me to ? 
 
 oh but the benefits^ 
 
 To avoid the thraldom of imperious Love, 
 
 The hazards of contempt, and calumny, 
 
 The heats and Hedicks both of Fear, and Love, 
 
 The qualms, and throws of Marryed life, the frets 
 
 And cumbers, humming 'bout the Hcards of famijies : 
 
 To ride fccurc out of the reach of Fortune, 
 
 O're looking all thofe rouling tides of Fate, 
 
 Which worldling* ftill are hurrycd with; and then 
 
 To be wrapt up in Innocence, a Privado 
 
 Dear, and familiar to the Deity, 
 
 Is furcly a condition to be catcht at, 
 
 Wirli all th'cxpanfions both of mind, and bodyj 
 
 But then again to weigh the Cancelling 
 
 Of wliac I'm born to, tuzging all my life 
 
 Againft 
 
 ;i
 
 5i 
 
 LUS 0^1 A. 
 
 Againft the Tyde ; ftill ftreining up the hill : 
 
 The Plains and pleafant Vallies ever hidden. 
 
 What is it lefs then the bold undertaking 
 
 Of a perpetual war with Nature ? which how well 
 
 1 can come off with, is to me unknown. 
 
 Though, being in^ 1 muft go on, whatever 
 
 Stops I meet : Vows lock U5 up for ever, 
 
 Without their leaving of a key to loofe us. 
 
 Muft I not then, in fpight of all Reluftance, 
 
 Wade on, however the deep Current drives me ? 
 
 But does not Nature in her general courfe, 
 
 Defign all Creatures to their fixed end ? 
 
 Did rhe wife God of Nature give me Sex 
 
 Only to caft it off? were all our flames 
 
 Rais'd, to be kept but in ptrpetual fmotber ? 
 
 Muft we have fire ftill iiilowinc under us. 
 
 Only that we with conttar.t Lading may 
 
 Keep our felvcs cool, and check our boylincr fervor ? 
 
 Our Paflions, our Aftedions and Dcfires, 
 
 We are injoyn'd to regulate, not dcpofite quite. 
 
 Why were their Objcds lent us, fet before 
 
 Our open eyes, and we forbid to view them ? 
 
 Our joyes, our hopes, the feathers of the foul, 
 
 Were never meant us to become our torment. 
 
 I cannot think fo meanly of the Deity, 
 
 That it fliould fill our fails with pregnant gales, 
 
 And yet forbid us touch thofe plcafing Coafts, 
 
 That thereby we are driven to. Vile difguife 
 
 Is Impotency's child, and noble Nature fcorns, 
 
 (Looking ftreighton) but once to glance afide 
 
 In all the Elements. What one creature is there 
 
 That is not aded by the flames of Love ? 
 
 The Mole, that wears no window for the Sun, 
 
 Finds yet a light that leads to genial Love. 
 
 Thofe birds, that yearly fleep a Winters death, 
 
 Each fpring to mighty Love refufcitate. 
 
 The filh that freezeih under floors of Ice, 
 
 In his fet feafon thaws and Kippers love. 
 
 Who taught cold v/orms from their dark holes to meet, 
 
 And in an amorous clofe to glue themfelves 
 
 Till Natures work be done ? If Love be fire, 
 
 As 'tis the blaze of life, it then muft have 
 
 Fuel to feed oh. All fpiritual is 
 
 Tco fine for fle(h to live by ; and too grofle 
 
 Is foo4 corporeal ail : As man is mixt, 
 
 So his affedions objeiSl muft. Love temper'd right 
 
 ^^ ll .^j p ... i Rtf ill g ' ■ ». , ' J?ii ff
 
 L U S "ll I J, 
 
 ^^ 
 
 Is chaUe as cold Virginity. And iince 
 He merits more, thar means unbound to pay, 
 Than he that is ty'd up to ftridl Conditions : 
 rie rather chufe to keep my ii:\Vm that 
 Eftate ray wife Creator did appoint me. 
 Then to miftruft his Grace, and out of fear 
 Lock up in forced chains my free-born Soul. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 
 In Gidkhnt Laud , Archiepifcopi Cantuarienfis, 
 Decollationcm , Jan. lo. 1^43. 
 
 Stupe fee Ft at or '. dr Miranda Fati lege. 
 Ex flcbeia flirpe^qnem ad^ummtim frovexit C^far 
 Confervarc ncquit. 
 Subditorum ufttrpata Potejlas, 
 Jtipa Regiiw^majer nuncirrepta ejl. 
 Jn[ons autenjy ergo & Int/epidtis cccidit. 
 Ac voftqtmm Scoiorum lUecebray diu fa^t^j 
 Sine Lege, 
 Legis Libamcn exciderit ; 
 Ordinatione/»^/'/V;<iM cJ* tcmfararini 
 Vita ( nur.ijuam rcdimend.t ) 
 
 In perpettfHm dempta ejl. 
 
 Magna Aitfui imprejpcre. 
 
 Par ah at Odiitrtt. 
 
 CKued noxium, dum incapitalcm pronunciat, 
 
 Prscanum tamen Capite truncatum 'voluit : 
 
 Et per (juadriennium, cum cau(a ttgre invefligata. 
 
 Rabies Civium, Livor PopuJi, 
 C omit ior urn arhitraria libido ( ("ffulta gladio ) 
 Tandem prcpalarunt. 
 Tanta mttndanorum omnium Jjfh^rijleria, 
 Ut dum Antijles patitur, 
 Antiftes c^ fapplicti extat. 
 ^ocum Majefliis Principum, Procerum Tutela, 
 Ecdefix Pa'.rimeniunt, 
 Liber t/ts Subjeliiy 
 El Britanntci or bis immiinitas, 
 Simulpro tempore Tumulai^tur. 
 Abi Viator, Luge ; ut mortem conculcares^ 
 Vivito bene. 
 
 On
 
 34 
 
 LUS %l A, 
 
 XXKVII. 
 
 0« Thomas horA Coventry , Lari IQeper 
 cf the Great Sal <?f England, who djed 
 Decemb. \6\o, 
 
 WE need not fearch for penitent finner^; tears. 
 For Blacks - the widow or wrong'd Orphan wcars^ 
 For fighs from Kings depofed, or for grief 
 From iliipwreckt Merchants, banillit all relief. 
 Nor need we here Laments t'cmbalm this Herfe, 
 That flattering Potts ftrain from bleeding Verfe, 
 Here petty ftreams not only Currents pay, 
 But all the Ocean flouds each dryeft way. 
 'Tisnot an Angle, Province, that or this 
 That weeps : The general Kingdom Mourner is. 
 Nor is't a Plank or prop that's loft by Fate, 
 But 'tis a Capital Column of the State. 
 Which here fo fummons grief, that all men good 
 Approach, and bring fad Tribute to the fioud: 
 That now this Ifle not only fecms to be 
 Inviron'd round with waves, but waves to be. 
 Our London is turn'd Venice, and our gay 
 Pallaces peer, as plac'd in a fait Bay. 
 Where Tydcs of lorrow make us think we meet 
 Not men on Land, but Rowers in the ftrcet. 
 And when we hence a ftage or two fliall pafs, 
 We ihall fee clearer what our laft Scene was. 
 Who is't hereafter that (hall dare to draw 
 A Line to part Prerogative and Law ? 
 And lliew from each - Man may, by fair Acquift^ 
 Be both a Patriot and a Royalift. 
 W'ho can difpatch fo much fo well, fo free 
 From Fear, from Favour, ftain or Bribery ? 
 Who fhall difcover now thofe flourillit fleights. 
 The Lawyers offer for pretended rights ? 
 When all their Pleadings, Oratory, Law, 
 Is but the Judge to judge amifs, to draw. 
 Who fliall at firft relation hear, and fpy 
 The knot ? and that not cut but well untye ? 
 Who ihall like Virgo in the Zodiack (fit) 
 Between bold Leo and juft Libra fit, 
 Stern Juftice to pronounce ? which they that lofe 
 Muft praifc, becaufe they have not power tochufe, 
 Unlefs they forfeit Confcience firft : and then 
 'Tis not in gods to give content to men. 
 
 Who
 
 LUS Ol^l J. 
 
 ^5 
 
 Who ftiall fpring up his heir of Brain ? lb keen. 
 So folid and fo ftrong, as had he been 
 The livino Volume of the Law , he cou'd 
 Not have done more, or more diffufive good. 
 
 Th'unfriendcd's Patron, the opprefled's fliield 5 
 The Tort of Truth, untaught by charms to yield : 
 That knew his right of Place, and durft 'gainft all 
 Maintain't', whilft none durft it in queftion call. 
 The Subjcds Anchor ; yet in's juft intent 
 His Royal Princes nobleft inftrumenr. 
 Strong proof 'gainft all corruption ; and 'gainft all 
 Malice could vent from her invenom'd Gall 
 He was triumphant ftill: not the Icaft ftain 
 But did glide off, as from oyl'd Satten rain. 
 
 Advanc'd on Judgments Throne, he did not rife 
 T'ore-look himfclf, or others to dcfpife. 
 For well he knew, ev'n Kings are not exempt, 
 Put if they fow Difdain, they reap Contempt. 
 His were not Courts alone, but Readings ; there 
 The Bar was throng'd rather to learn than hear. 
 Nor were men check'd or jefted from their right. 
 Council he did but reftifie, not bite. 
 Not empty, fweli'd with State 5 as if his word 
 Could kfs with rcafon awe, than with My Lord. 
 No payments with Court- frowns 5 or fuch fowre looks 
 As could blot debts from fome poor Tradcfmens books. 
 No itch, nor yet contempt of Fame j which flyes 
 Yet moft to thofe who merit more, than prize. 
 Notcholcrickoutof greatnefs: Such i'th' skye 
 Of Honour, drawn up by the Suns heat high. 
 Hang fir'd and fparklc, threat fome dire event 
 To fright the world with s but their (lime once fpent. 
 They then, not in vaft Seas or Royal Thames^ 
 But in fome puddle quench their Bearded Flames. 
 
 In midft of Tcmpefts calm ! He had command 
 In paffions ftrain'd Career to make a ftand. 
 So Armies bravely difciplin'd, exalt 
 In winged Marches, and then make an Air. 
 Not hurrycd into rage by weaknefs •, Wit 
 And JudL'ment never with wild Fury fit. 
 TheSunin's temperate Zone does gently turn 
 The Spring : In Torrid, does not warm but burn. 
 True wifdoms God is never found in noife ^ 
 But that God was found in the cool (oft voice. 
 
 A Life in all fo bkmiftilefs, that wc 
 Enoch\ return may fooner hope, than he 
 
 e 2 
 
 Should
 
 il 
 
 LUSO 1{IJ. 
 
 Should be outfliin'd by any. Mere'% learned wit. 
 Nor Bacons miracl'd Fancy e'rc can fit 
 Loftier in Fames high Tower, than what we fee 
 Flows from his lafting Names integrity. 
 Nor is this Fancy^ catcht report, or guefs, 
 For all have feen what all thefe lines profefs. 
 So though the Poet be left out, yet 1 
 From Truth and Him may reach Eternity. 
 
 Thefe fhadows were ; he that would do him right, 
 Muft Hiftory, and not a Poem write. 
 He muft draw Cdte, Solon^ Cicero^ 
 Even all the Sages, and our own Laws too. 
 For in that Hiftory he muft devife 
 To paint out all Philofophy calls wife. 
 He muft defcribe the gods oljtfip/ti, where 
 Honours beft Exercifes a<5ted were. 
 Whofe Bafe was firm and fruitful, but we find 
 His calm top dwelt above or Clouds or Wind. 
 He muft limb fpirits never tir'd •, fuch parts 
 As had of equal rule all the beft Arts. 
 He muft two wonders tell ; in him f both eas'd ) 
 The Prince and People fifteen years well pleas'd. 
 The other ^ All his wayes fo ballanc'd were^ 
 As no bafe wit in Libel durft appear. 
 Then he muft dye, to make the world confefs 
 A wife man only is then one God lefs. 
 Laft, let there be a generous Odor fann'd 
 By foft perfumed winds through all the Land : 
 Then like rich clfence in the locks of Fame \ 
 
 If r ftick and laft for ever, that's his Name. . \ 
 
 XXXVIU. 
 
 Uimt AhoUflnng the Feaft of the 2^atiVtty of our 
 ble^ed Saviour^ Anno 1^45. 
 
 SHall Bloud and Ruine find a day 
 To feaft and play ? 
 Shall we go on in rage, and ftill 
 Rejoyce when Brothers Brothers kill ? 
 Shall we each year the growing State 
 Of our great Senate celebrate ? 
 Shall annual Rights and heightned mirth 
 Frolick each petty Princes Birth ? 
 And (hall, the Lord of Life's bleft day 
 Be thrown away ? 
 
 Dear
 
 LUS 0^1 A. 
 
 ^7 
 
 Dear Day 1 thy memory to mc 
 Shall precious be. 
 Since God at firft his ftamp did fer. 
 And man till now continued itt 
 rie rtiew my joy and thanks: Suppofc 
 That very day no Mortal knows , 
 Yet fince juft power does one command. 
 That one to me as well i"hall ftand. 
 As leaving Egjft 5 which in one. 
 Yet was not done. 
 
 No day fincc the Creation yet 
 Was grac'd like it : 
 Croudcd with miracles it came 
 Into the world : the Heavens proclaim 
 By new created light, the Thing 5 
 While th'Hofts of Goddefcend and fing, 
 Tlie joy to Shepherds th' Angel brings. 
 And a bright Star docs fummon Kings, 
 
 To all mankind glad tydings flyes. 
 To th'weak and wife. 
 
 And where the Prince docs not forbid. 
 The Sub jea's ty'd 
 T'obey himin his Vice-Roy: So 
 Where God my Father fayes not No, 
 There my bleft Mother, his chaftc Spoufe, 
 The Church, as Miftrefs, rules the Houfc. 
 No Steward of a private Farme 
 Shall there my jult Obedience charme. 
 
 Jews may rcjed the day, but I 
 WillChriftian dye. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 On \!Mr. MynfliuU. 
 
 Mlftakc not this, 'tis not his Monument ; 
 That worth is poor can in a Tomb be pent. 
 Imagine Man unfaln ! conftant to Truth: 
 Thereby you may colled what was his Youth, 
 Pro[X)fe the Schools in pradticc, marry the Arts 
 To fwcetnefs,till they prove a charm for hearts : 
 Ercft a Centre, where the fervent Love 
 Of Lord and Labourer together move 
 
 And!
 
 38 
 
 LtlS 1{I J. 
 
 And meet : till there be made by it agen 
 
 Atonement 'twixt the worlds frail gods and men. 
 
 Think that brave Name which fcorns to have an end, 
 
 Th'unfound/^f4ofa perfect friend. 
 
 Let him live lov'd as Women, th'Spring or Health 
 
 By Fevcr'd men, or as by th'Ufurer wealch. 
 
 And when he dyes, let all that Intercft have 
 
 In goodncfs, payfad Tribute to his grave. 
 
 When thou haft fcann'd all this, thou then may'ft fee 
 
 What 'tis thcfc poor Materials would tell thee. 
 
 For 'tis the Trophy of thofe Breafts that grieve, 
 
 Ihat MjnPittll being all this, does not ftill live. 
 
 XL. 
 
 j1 N EPITAPH 
 
 To the Eternal Memory of C H a r l e s rk Ftrjl^ 
 
 King of Great Britain , France , ayiA Ireland , ^c. 
 
 Jnhmndnely murthered by a fer^dietu Party of 
 
 His prevalent Subje^s, Jan. 30. 1548. 
 
 WHen He had fliewn the world, that He was King 
 Of all thofe Vertucs that can Honour bring 5 
 And by His Princely Graces made it known. 
 That Rule was fo inherently His Own, 
 That His great Parts might juftly Him prefer 
 Not to two Ifles , but the worlds Emperor. 
 When His large Soul in fufferings had out-fhin'd 
 All ^ebsvaH Patience : and in His clear Mind 
 Had rivall'd Solomons Wifdom, but out gone 
 His Temperance, in his moft tempting Throne. 
 When by a Noble Chriftian Fortitude, 
 He had fcrencly tryumph'd o're all rude 
 And barbarous Indignities that men 
 (Infpir'd from Hell) could aft by hand or pen. 
 When He to fave the Church had fhed His blood, 
 And dy'd for being (only) Wife and Good : 
 When His three Kingdoms in a well-weigh'd fenfe 
 He'd rather lofe, than a good Confcience : 
 As knowing, 'twas a far more glorious thing 
 To dye a itf^^rri?, than to live a KING. 
 When He had copy'd out in every Line, 
 Our Saviours PaCfion (bating the Divine j 
 Nay, even His Prayers and Gofpel, if we look 
 Impartially upon His peerlefs Book j
 
 LtlS O'l^l A 
 
 ^9 
 
 A Book fo rarely good, we read in one 
 
 The Pfalms and Proverbs, David-Sobmon ; 
 
 With all that high-born Charity, which fliines 
 
 Quite through the great Apoftlcsfacrcd lines; 
 
 That, fpight of rage, next future Ages flnall 
 
 Hold it (with Reverence ftamp'dj Canonical. 
 
 When Hered^Judits^ rilatt, and the ^avs, 
 
 Scot!, Cromrve/I, B>'idP)aiv^ and the lliag-haird Ncjvi 
 
 Had quite out-a6lcd, and by their damn'd Cry 
 
 Of inJLir'd Jufticc, Icficned Crucifie; 
 
 When He had prov'd, that fince the world bei^an; 
 
 So many Tears were never fhed for Man : 
 
 Since fo belov'd he fell, that with pure grief 
 
 His Subjects dy'dj'caufe he was reft of Life: 
 
 When to convince the Hcretick worlds bafe thouo^ht. 
 
 His Royal Bloud true miracles had wrought : 
 
 When it appear'd. He to this world was fent, 
 
 The Glory oi KINGS, but Shame oi PARLIAMENT: 
 
 The ftain ofth' Engli{h that can never dye ; 
 
 The Protellants perpetual Infamy : 
 
 When He had rofe thus, Truths great Sacrifice, 
 
 Here CHARLES the Fir/l, and CHRIST the fecond Ijes, 
 
 XL I. 
 
 On the Lady E. M. 
 
 HEr Prudence, Wit and Memory being told, 
 Death fciz'd her ftreight ; miftook her to be old. 
 A Hicet of Bacon's catch'd at more, wc know. 
 Than all fad Fox, long Holinjheadot Stew. 
 She was but Eight ; yet judgment had fuch ftore, 
 Upon a juft Compute flie dy'd Thrccfcore. 
 Ladies, take heed how to be wife you try, 
 For 'tis refolv'd, who will be wife muft dye. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^cno wv^^WS^ t^^A/ \,i^Z^ ^^ A '../?.m^ Q^i^ «j (Oi^U^Wv^ ^ 
 
 •^cnr- ovt_ l^oj-tf Sn^kQ^f-r— JiyLoJr*- X>r ^ 
 \ ■ < ( 
 
 JOT>l/VL 
 3 WM_ 
 
 oW- 
 
 I t L700
 
 A BRIEF 
 
 CHARACTER 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Low-Countries 
 
 Ul^DE^ THE 
 
 STATES. 
 
 VVrkten long fince. 
 Being three Weeks Obfervation of the Vices 
 
 and Virtues of the 
 
 ■Now Ser'ta jemper. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for ts^. Seile , Jnno T>om, i c> 7 o. 
 
 , , .1
 
 .'J' 
 
 10 \ 
 
 M n 
 
 T'} ^'V 
 
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 WMmmmmmmmmmmkmm 
 
 THE 
 
 PRINTER 
 
 TO THE 
 
 R E A D E R. 
 
 S I Ihe^ Cjentkmen^ lam ama^d 
 Imv any ^Piece coiM he made ^ 
 JHch mined meat as this hath 
 been by a tl^ice -printed Copy ^ 
 y)phich I find fiying abroad to a- 
 bnfe the Author^ ^vho long fince travelling for 
 companies-fake TPith a Friend into the Low- 
 Countries, Would needs for his oWn recreation 
 yi^rite this Rffay of them iis he then found them : 
 I am fare as far from ever thinking to ha^e it 
 pubiick,^ ^1^ he )V./i from any private fpleen to 
 the 3\C at ion J or any per f on in it; for I have 
 moved him often to print it^ but could never 
 get his confent , his modefy ever ejleeming it 
 among his piierilia, and (as he f aid) a ^Piece 
 (00 light for a prudential man topubl/fj : The 
 truth is^ it Jl^asmeerly occa/ional in his f'outh^ 
 amtthetimefo little that he had for obfervation 
 ( his fay there not being above three IFeeks ) 
 tl^at it could not y\?ell be expecledhelhouldfay 
 more; and though the former part be jcculary 
 
 fi and 
 
 4^
 
 44 
 
 To the Reader. 
 
 andjportiye^yet thejerioujnefs of the later part 
 renders the Character no tPay injurioHs to the 
 people. And noyt? jindingfome ruffled feathers 
 only prefented for the whole bird^ and haying 
 a perfect Copy by me ^ I haye prefumted to 
 trefpafs fo much upon the Author , as to giye 
 it you ( in yindication of him ) fo as I am con- 
 fident it Tpas dre/fedbyhisoTPn ¥ en. And after 
 I have bes^ged his pardon for expojing it ivithout 
 his'pparrant^ Ifloall leave you to judge by com- 
 parin^this and the former Impre^ ions ^whether 
 or no he hath not been abufed fufficiently. 
 
 Three
 
 <^, <^> W, ^, i^.' ;i5^ M i^( ^< i^t M ^; ^ ' M :x^ t!^: W, ^' ••5S ^. % ^. .?v. ^ 3, ^, 
 
 ■■i^ i.i>' <^> -:^.- i^-' 'i^^ >ii>' -^jtv vi-s- \^i? >i>-' .'•:. • ••'■. ; • i^y ^:- ^i^ '<,^- -j;> '-i^ ^j^ ;iy> i^.:- v^v. ;■. v 4^ '^ 
 
 Three V^eei^ Objenations 
 
 or THE 
 
 LOW-COUNTRIES: 
 
 ESPECIALLY 
 
 H L L J 3^T>. 
 
 Hc-y are a general Sea land : the great Bog of 
 Europe. There is not fuch another Marfli in tlie 
 world, that's flat. They are an univerfal Qtiaj^- 
 mirej Epitomiz'd, A green Cheefe in fickle. 
 There is in them an zALquilibrum of mud and 
 water. A ft rong Earth quake would iliake them 
 to a chaos , from which the fucccflive force of 
 
 4'> 
 
 the SuHj rather than Creation, hath a little amended them. They 
 
 are the Ingredients of a Black-pudding , and want only ftirring 
 together : Marry, 'tis beft making on't in a dry Summer, elfe you 
 will have more blood than grift; and then have you no way to make 
 it ferve for any thing, but to fpread under it Z07Ja. Torrida^ and lo dry 
 it for Turfs. 
 
 Sayes one, it affords the pcopJe one commodity beyoud all the 
 other Regionsi If they dye in perdition, they are lb low, that they 
 have atliorter cut to Hell than the reft of their Neighbors. And for 
 thiscaufe perhaps all ftrange Religions throng thither, as naturally 
 inclining towards their centre. Belidcs, their Riches fhew them to 
 be o( Pluto's Region, and you nil know what part that was which the 
 Poets did of old alfignhim. Here is Styx^ Acheron, Co^ytui^ and the 
 reft of thofe muddy Streams, that have made matter for the Fablers. 
 Almoftevery oneisa C/wr^'w here, and if you have but a Nanlum to 
 give, you cannot want or Boat or Pilot. To confirme all , let but 
 Tome of our Separatifts be asked, and they lliall fwcar thaj: the Eli- 
 ziart Fields are there. 
 
 It is an excellent Country for adefpairing Lover, for every corner 
 affords him Willow to make a Garland of-, but if Juftice doom iiim 
 cube hang'd on any other Tree, he may in fpight of the SentcJice 
 live long and confident. If he had rather quench his fpirits than fut- 
 
 locate
 
 4<J 
 
 (^ brief CharaBer 
 
 focate ihem, fo rather chufe to feed Lobfters than Crows ; 'tis but 
 leaping from his window and he lights in a River or Sea j for moft 
 of their dwellings ftand like Privies in Moted houfes, hanging flill 
 over the water. If noneofthefe cure him, keep him but a Winter 
 in a houfe without a Stove, and that fliall cool him. 
 
 The Soyl is all fat, though wanting tlie colour to lliew it fo i fcr 
 indeed it is the Buttock of the world, full of veins and blood, but no 
 bones in't. Had Saint Steven been condemn'd to fulfcr lure, he 
 might have been alive at this day ; for unlefs it be in their paved 
 Cities, Gold is a great deal more plentiful di.in Hones j except it be 
 living ones, and then for their heavinefs you may take in almoft all 
 the Nation. 
 
 'Tis a fingular place to fat Monkies in ; there are Spiders as big as 
 Shrimp?, and I think as many. Their Gardens being moift, abound 
 with thefc. No Creatures-, for fure they were bred, not made: 
 Were they but as venemcus as rank, to gather herbs were to hazard 
 Martyrdom. They are fo large, that you would almoft believe the 
 Htfpcridcs were here, and thefe the Dragons that did guard them. 
 
 You may travail the Countrey though you have not a Guide j 
 for you cannot baulk your Rode vvithout the hazard of drowning : 
 there is not there any ufe of an Harbinger : whercfoevcr men go, 
 the way is made before them. Had they Cities large as their walls, 
 Rome would be efteemed a bauble : Twenty miles in length is no- 
 thing for a Waggon to be hurryed on one of them , where if your 
 Fore-man be fobtr, youmay travail in fafety, otherwife you mull 
 have ftronger Faith than /"f/fr had, elfe you fink immediately. A 
 rtarting horfe endangers you to two deaths at once, breaking of your 
 neck, and drowning. 
 
 If your way be not thus, it hangs in the water, and at the approach 
 of your Waggon lliall fhake as it were Ague-ftrucken. Duke 
 D' Alvas taxing of the tenth penny frighted it into a Palfey, which 
 all the Mountebanks they have bred fince could never tell how to 
 cure. 
 
 'Tis indeed but a bridge of fwimming earth , or a flag fomcwhat 
 thicker than ordinal y •, if the ftrings crack your courleis fliortned, 
 you can neither hope for Heaven nor fear Hell, you fhall be fure to 
 ftick faft between them. Marry, if your Faith flow Purgatory- 
 height, you may pray if you will for that to clenfe you from the Mud 
 lliallfoylyou. 
 
 'Tis a Green fodin water, where if the German J?4^/<r dares to 
 bathe himfelf, he's glad again to pearch that he may dry his wings. 
 
 Some things they do that fccm woeders: 'Tis ordinary to fee 
 them filhfor fire in water, which they catch in Nets and tranfport to 
 Land in their Boats, where they fpread it more fmoothly than a 
 Mercy doth his Velvet, when he would hook in an heir upon his 
 coming to age. Thus lying in a field you would think you faw a 
 Cantle of grcea Chcefe fpread over with black Butter. 
 
 \ If 

 
 of the LoJ^p-io/mtries, 
 
 If e^f»4be Hells mourh or l^orc-gatc. Cure here is found the Pc-| 
 ftcrn. 'Tis the Port-Ejquiltnc of die world, where the full earth doth 
 vent her crude black gore, which the Inhabitants ftrapc away for 
 fuel, as men with Spoons do excrements from Civit-cats. 
 
 Their ordinary Pack-horfes are all of vvood, carry their Bridles in 
 their tails, and their burdens in their bellies. A Itrong Tyde and a 
 ftiff Gale arc the fpurs that make them fpeedy: when they travail 
 they touch no ground, and when they ftand ftill they ride, and are 
 never in danger but when they drink up too much of their way. 
 
 There is a Province among them, where every woman carries a 
 Cony in a Lamb-skin. 'lis a cuftom, and not one that travels ever 
 leaves it behind her. Now guefs if you can, what bcaftxhat is^ which 
 is clad in a Fur both of hair and wool. '^} ^'- "'■; 
 
 They drefs their meat in a(]ua Ccelejli^ for it fprings not as ours 
 from the Earth, but comes to them H'iMannaio the ifraclitts^ fal- 
 ling from Heaven. This they keep under ground till it (links , and 
 then they pump it out again for ufe : So when you wafh your face 
 vvith one hand, you had need hold your nofe with the other j for 
 though it be not cordial, 'tis certainly a llrong water. 
 
 The Elements are here at variance, the fubtile overfwaying the 
 groffer j the Fire confumes the Earth, and the Air the Water : they 
 burn Turfs, and drein their grounds with Wind-miHs ; as if the Cho- 
 lick were a remedy for the Stone , and they would prove againft Phi- 
 lofophy the worlds Conflagration to be natural, even fhewing there- 
 by that the very Element of Earth is combuftibic. 
 
 The Land that they have, they keep as neatly as a Courtier docs 
 his Beard ; they have a method in Mowing : 'tis fo intervein'd with 
 water and rivers , that it is impofliblc to make a Common among 
 them. Even the 5reTy«//?j are hcrcat a ftand, only they hold their 
 priJe in wrangling for that which they never will ftnde. Our Jufti- 
 ces would be much at eafc, although our EngUp) Poor were ftill a- 
 mong them ? for whatfoevcr they do, they can break no hedges. Sure 
 had the wife men of Gotham lived here, they would have ftudied 
 fome other death for their Cuckoe. 
 
 Their Ditches they frame as they lift, and diftinguilli them into 
 nooks, as my Lord Mayors Cook doth his Cuftards. Cleanfe them 
 they do often •, but 'tis as Phyficians give their Potions,morc to catch 
 the fidi than caft the mud out. 
 
 Though their Countrcy be part of a main Land, yet every houfe 
 almoft (lands in an Ifland : and that, though a Boor dwell in It , 
 looks as fmug as a Lady that hath newly loclct up her Colours, and 
 laid by her Irons. A gallant Mafquing Suit (its not more com- 
 plete than a Coat of Thatch, though of many years wear- 
 
 47- 
 
 ing 
 
 if it ftand dry, 'tis imbraced by Vines, as if it were againft the na- 
 ture of a Dutch-man not to have Bacchus his Neighbour. If you find 
 it lower fcatcd, 'tis only a clofc Arbor in a plumpof Jf/V/owJ and 
 
 Alderi ;
 
 48 
 
 (^_A brief Characler 
 
 "Aiders-:, plcafanc enough while the Dog-daycs laft, but tho(c paft 
 once, you muft pradifc wading, or be prifoncr till the next Spring. 
 Only a hard frolt with the help ot a Sledge may rclcafe you. 
 
 The Bridge to this is an outlandilli Plank, with a box of ftones to 
 poife it withal, which with the leaft help turns round, like the Exe- 
 cutioner when he whips off a head. That when the Maftcr is ovcr^ 
 ftands drawn, and then he is in his Caftle, 
 
 'Tis fure his fear that renders him fufpicious: Thathc may there- 
 fore certainly fee who enters, you lliall ever find his Window made 
 over his door. But it may be that is to flitw you his Pedigree , for 
 though his Anceftors were never known , tlieir Arms are there \ 
 which Cin fpight of Heraldry ) fliall bear their Atchievement witii a 
 Helmet for a Baron at lea{V. Marry, the Field perhaps lliall be char- 
 ged with there Bafquets, to fhew what Trade his father was. 
 
 Efcutcheons areas plentiful as Gentry is Icarcc. Every man there 
 is his own Herald, and he that has but wit enough to invent a Coat, 
 may challenge it as his own. 
 
 When you are entred thehoufe, the firft thing you encounter is a 
 Looking-glafs : No queftion but a true Embleme of politick hofpi- 
 tality 5 for though it refled your felf in your ©wn figure, 'tis yet no 
 longer than while you are there before it : when you are gone once, 
 it flatters the next comer, without the leaft remembrance that you 
 e're were there. 
 
 The next are the Vcffels of the houfe, marfhalled about the room 
 like Watchmen : AH as neat as if you were in a Citizens wives Ca- 
 binet J forunlefs it be themfelves, they let none of Gods creatures 
 lofe any thing of their native beauty. 
 
 Their houfe5,efpecially ia their Cities are the bcft eye beauties of 
 their Countrey : for coft and fight they far exceed our Engltfl), but 
 they want their magnificence. Their Lining is yet more rich than 
 their out-fide, not in Hangings but Pidures, which even the pooreft 
 are there furniflit with : Not a Cobler but has his toycs for ornament. 
 Were the knacks of all their houfes fet together, there would not be 
 fuch another Bartholomew F air in Europe. 
 
 Their Artifts for ihefe are as rare as thought, for they can paint you 
 a fat Hen in her feathers j and if you want the Language, you may 
 learn a great deal of Dmch by their Signs, for what they are they 
 ever write under them. So by this device hang up more honefty than 
 they keep. 
 
 Coaches arc as rare as Comets : and thofe that live loofely need 
 not fear one punilliment which often vexes fuch with us ; they may 
 be fure, though they be difcovered, they fliall not be carted. 
 
 All their Merchandife they draw through the ftrectson Sledges; 
 or as we on Hurdles do traitors to execution. 
 
 Their rooms are but feveral land- boxes : if fo, you mufl either go 
 out to fpit, or blufli when you fee the Map brought. 
 
 Their beds are no other than land-cabines, high enough to need a 
 
 ladder
 
 of the Lo't^-Comtries, 
 
 49 
 
 ladder or ftairs. Up once, you arc walled in with Wainfcot, and 
 thac is good difcretion to avoid the trouble of making your Will e- 
 very nia;ht, for once falling out clfe would break your neck perfedt- 
 ly. But if you die in it, this comfort you (liall leave your friends^that 
 you dy'd in clean liiintn. 
 
 Whatfoevcr their eftates be, their houfcs muft be fair.Therefore 
 from /i mficr dam tUcy have banifht Sea-cole, left it foil their build- 
 ings, of which the ftatelicr fort are fometimesfenteniious, and in the 
 front carry fome conceit of the Owner. As to give you a tafte in thefe 
 
 Chrl/iVs ADIW tor MeVs; 
 
 Hoc abdicaio Pgrenne Sluxro j 
 
 //IC MfDb iWtWs ItVr, 
 
 Every door fccms ftudded with Diamonds, The nails and hinges 
 hold a conftant brightncfs, asifruft there were not a quality inci- 
 dent to Iron. Their houfcs they keep cleaner than their bodies;their 
 bodies than their fouls. Go to one, you (hall find the Andirons {hut 
 up in net-work. Atafecond, the Warming-pan muffled in Itali- 
 an Cut -work. Ata third, the Sconce clad in Cambrick, and like 
 a Crown advanced in the middle of thehoufe, for the woman 
 there is the head of the husband , fo takes the horn to her own 
 charge, which flic fomctimes multiplies, and beftowstheincreafe 
 on her Man. 
 
 'Tis true, they are not fo ready at this play as the EngUfh^ for nei- 
 ther are they fo generally bred to't, nor are their men fuch linnen- 
 liftcrs. Idlenefs and Courtfhip has not banifli'i honefty. They 
 fpeak more, and do lefs j yet doth their bloud boylhigh and their 
 veins are full, which argues ftrongly that when they will they may 
 take up the cuftome of entertaining ftrangers: And having once done 
 it, I believe they will be notable ; for I have heard they trade more 
 for love than money, but 'tis of the fport, not the man, and therefore 
 when they like the paftime they will reward the Gamcfter •, other- 
 wife their grofs feed and clownifh breeding hath fpoiled them for 
 being nobly minded. And if you once inpublick difcover her pri- 
 vate favours, or pretend to more than is civil, flie falls off like Fairy 
 wealth difclofed, and turns like Beer with lightniiv^ to a fowrencfs, 
 which neither Art nor labour can ever make fweet again. 
 
 But this 1 muft givcyouon reportonly 5 experience herein hath 
 neither made me fool nor wife. 
 
 The people are generally Boorifli, yet none but may be bred to a 
 States mill, they having all this gift, not to be fo nicc-confcicnccd, 
 but that they can turn out Religion to let in Policy. 
 
 Their Countrcy is the god they worfliip, war is their Heaven , 
 peace is their Hell, and the 5;>4«//jr^ is the Devil they hate. Cuftom 
 is their Law, and their will, rcafon. 
 
 You may fooner convert a yfjv,than make an ordinary Butch-man 
 g yield
 
 •JO 
 
 (ayf brief Character 
 
 yield to Arguments that -crofs him : An old Baud iseafilier turned 
 Pttrttan, than a Waggoner perfwaded not to bait thrice in nine miles; 
 And when hcdoth, his horfes muft not ftir, but have their Manger 
 brought them into the way, where in a top-fwcat they eat their 
 grafs, and drink their water, and prefcntly after I ^urry away ; for 
 they ever drive as if they were ail the fons ofNimfht, and were furi- 
 oufly either purfuing an enemy, or flying him. 
 
 Hisfpirits are generated from the Englijh Beer, and that makes 
 him head-ftrong : His body is built of Pickled- Hcrnng , and they 
 render himtefty: Thefe with a little Butter, Onyons and /fs-/i'>«di'- 
 Cheefe , are the Ingredients of an ordinary Dmch-man --i whxb a 
 Voyage to the Eaft-Jndies^ with the heat of the v/EqninoSiUl^con- 
 folidates. 
 
 If you fee him fat, he hath been rooting in a Cabbage-grcmid, 
 and that bladdcred him. Viewing him naked, you will pray him 
 to pull off his Mafque and Gloves, or willi him to hide his face, that 
 hemay appear more lovely. For that,and his hands are e^^i^y/»/, how- 
 ever his body be Europe. He hath expofcd thtm fo much to the 
 Sun and Water , as he is now his own difguife, and without a Vi- 
 zor may ferve in any Anti-MaJ^ue you put him in. 
 
 For their condition they are Churlilh as their breeder Neptune 5 
 and without doubt very ancient, for they were bred before Manners 
 were in fafhion. Yet all they have nor, they account fupcrfluity . 
 which they fay mcndeth fome, and marreth many. 
 
 They ("bould make good juftices, for theyrcfped neither per- 
 fons Bor apparel : A Boor in his iiquor'd Slop, iTiall have as much 
 good ufage as a Courtier in his bravery,nay more, for he that is but 
 Courtly or gentile, is among them like a Merlin after Micbaclmat in 
 the field with Crows. They wonder at and envy, but worfliip no 
 fuch Images. Marry, with a Silver hook you fhall catch thefe Gud- 
 geons prefently : the love of gain being to them as natural as water 
 |to a Goofe, or Carrion to any Kite that flycs. 
 ! ■ They are feldome deceived, for they truft no body j fo by confe- 
 quence are better to hold a Fort than win it ; yet they can do both. 
 Truft them you muft if you travel ? for to ask a Billof particulars,is 
 to purre in a Wafps neft : you muft pay what they ask, as fure as if 
 it were thealfeffement of a Subfidy. 
 
 Complement is an idlencfs they were never train'd up in, and 
 *tis their happinefs that Court-vanities have not ftole away their 
 minds from bufinefs. 
 
 Their being Sailors and Souldiers have marred two parts already 
 if they bathe once in Court oylc they are painted Trap-doors. And 
 fliall then let the ^ervs build a City where Harlem Mere is, and after 
 cozen 'cm on't. 
 
 They fhall abufe a ftranger for nothing,and after a few bafe terms 
 fcotch one another to a Carbonado ; or as they do their Roches when 
 they fry them. 
 
 Nothine
 
 of the LotP-Conntnes. 
 
 5' 
 
 Nothing can quicc them but money and liberty, ycc when they 
 have them, they abufc both \ but it you tell them fo, you awake their 
 fury, and you may fooncr calm the Sea than conjure that into com- 
 pafs again. Their anger hach no eyes, and their judgment doih not 
 flow fo much from rcafon as paflion and partiality. 
 
 They arc in a manner all Aifuatilcs^ and therefore the Spaniard 
 calls them Wa-ter-dogs. To this though you need not condefcend, 
 yet withall you may think they can catch you a Duck as fooii. Sea- 
 gulls do not fwim more rtadi\y,nov More-hens from their neft run 
 Tooner to the water. Every thing is fo made to fwim among them, 
 as it is aqueftion ifElizeus his Axe were now floating thcre,it would 
 be taken for a miracle. 
 
 They love none but thofe that do for them, and when they leave 
 off they negled them. They have no friends but their Kindred, 
 which at every Wedding, feaft among themfelves like Tribes. 
 
 All that help them not they hold Popilh, and take it for an argu- 
 ment of nauch honefty, to rail bitterly againft the King of Spaif$, 
 And certainly this is the badge of am ill nature, when they have once 
 caft off the yoke, to be moft virulent againft thofe to whom of right 
 they owe refped and fervicc. Grateful difpofitions , though by 
 their Lords they be exempt from fervice, will yet be paying reve- 
 rence and affcdlion. I am confident, that had they not been once the 
 Subjects of Spain, they would have loved the Nation better : But 
 now out of dying duties afhes all the blazes of hoftility and flame. 
 And 'tis fufficicnt to continue their eternal hate,to know the world re- 
 members, they were once the Subjcd^s of that moft Catholick 
 Crown. 
 
 Their fhtpping is the Babcl which they boaft on (ot the glory of 
 their Nation : 'tis indeed a wonder, and they will have it fo. But we 
 may well hope they will never be fo mighty by Land, left they fbew 
 us how doggedly they can infult where they get the maftery. 
 
 'Tis their own Chronicle bufinefs, which can tell you, that at the 
 Siege of Le)dcn^ a Fort being held by the SpanifJi^ by the Dutch was 
 after taken by Aflaulf, the Defendants were put to the Sword, 
 where one of the Butch in t'.-.e fury of theflanghter ripi up the Cap- 
 tains body, and with a barbarous hand tore out the yet living heart, 
 panting among the reeking bowels, then with his teeth rent itftill 
 warm with blood into gobbets, which he fpittedovcr the Battlements 
 in defiance to the reft of the Army. 
 
 Oh Tigers breed ! the Scythian Bear could ne're have been more 
 favage : To be neccffitated into cruelty , is a misfortune to the 
 ftrongly tempted to it j but to let fpleen rave and mad it inreUft- 
 Icfs blood, n^cws nature ftcep'd i'th livid gall of paffion, and beyond 
 all brutiflinefs difplaycs the un-noblc tyranny of a prevailing 
 Coward. 
 
 Their Navies are the whip of Spain^ot the Arme wherewith they 
 pull away his Indies. Nature hath not bred them fo ai^ive for the 
 
 g 2 land
 
 (oyf brief CharaBer 
 
 land asfome others ; but at Sea they are water- devils, to attempt 
 things incredible. 
 
 In Fleets they can fight clofe, and rather hazard all than fave 
 fomc, while others peril'h : but finglc they will flag and fear like birds 
 in a buftij when theSf/arrorv-ffaivks bells are heard. 
 
 A Turkijh Man-of-war is as dreadful to them as a F4c0n to a 3/4/- 
 Urd; from whom their bcft remedy is to ileal away : But if they 
 fall to blowSjthcy want the valiant ftoutnefs of the Englifh, who will 
 rather expire bravely in a bold refiftancc, than yield to the lafting 
 flavery of becoming captives to fo barbarous an Enemy. And this 
 Hiews they have not yet learned even Pagan Philofophy, which e- 
 jver preferred an honourable death betorc a life thralled to perpetual 
 flavery. 
 
 Their Ships lye like high Woods in Winter j and if you view 
 them on the North fide you frieze without hope, for they ride fo 
 ithick, that you can through them fee no Sun to warm you with. 
 ' Sailers among them are as common as Beggars with us : they can 
 drink, rail, fwear, niggle, ftcal, and be lowfic alike 5 but examining 
 ^heir ufe, a mefs of their Knaves are worth a million of ours: for they 
 in a boifterous rudenefs can workjand Iive,and toyl, whereas ours will 
 tather laze themfelves to poverty ; and like Cabages left out in 
 VVinter, rot away in the loathfomncfs of a naufeous floth. 
 
 Almoft all among them are Seamen born, and like Frogs can live 
 both on land and water. Not a Countrey Vrieftcr but can handle 
 an Oar, fteer a Boat, raife a Maft, and bear you out in the roughcft 
 jftraits you come in. The Ship rtie avouches much better for fleep 
 than abed. Being full of humours that is her Cradle which lulls 
 and rocks her to a dull phlegmatickncfs, mod: of them looking like 
 a full grown Oyfter boil'd. Slime, humid air, water and wet dyet, 
 have fo bagg'd their cheeks, that fome woiild take their paunches to 
 be gotten above their chin. 
 
 ; The Countrcys government is a Demecracy, and there had need 
 be many to rule fuch a Rabble of rude ones. Tell them of a King, 
 knd they could cut your throat in earneft ; the very name carries fer- 
 vitude in it, and they hate it more than a Jerv doth Images, a wo- 
 jman old age, or a Non-conformift a Surplice. 
 
 None among them hath Authority by inheritance, that were the 
 way in time to parcel out their Countrey to Families. They are 
 chofen all as our Kings chufe Sheriffs for the Counties; not for their 
 fin of wit, but for the wealth they have to bear irout vvithallj which 
 Ithcy fo over-affcd, that My » H^frr fliall walk the ftrects as Ufurers 
 'goto Baudy-houfes all alone and melancholy : And if they may be 
 had cheap, he will daub his faced Cloke with two penny-worth of 
 Pickled herrings, which himfelflhall carry home in a firing. A com- 
 mon voice hath given him preeminence, and he lofes it by living as 
 he did when he was a Boor. But if you pardon what is paft, they 
 are about thinking it time to learn more civility. 
 __i Their
 
 of the Loyt>-CoHntries. 
 
 59 
 
 Their jullicc is Itrid it it crols not policy : Luc rather than hinder 
 Tratfiquc, tolerates any thing. 
 
 There is not under heaven fnch a Den of fevcral Serpents as Am- 
 fierdam is, you may be what Devil you will, foyou pufh not the 
 State with your horns. 
 
 'Tis anUniverfuy of all Religions, which grow here confufcdly 
 (like (locks inaNurfery) without either order or pruning. If you be 
 unfetledin your Rcligion,you may here try all, and take ac lall what 
 jfou like beft. If you fancy none,you have a pattern to follow of two 
 that would be a Church by themfclves. 
 
 'Tis the Fair of all the Se6ls, where all the Pedlers of Religion 
 have leave to vent their toycs, their Ribbands, and Phanatick Rat- 
 tles. And fliould it be true, it were a cruel brand which Rcmifis ftick 
 upon them ^ for (fay they j as the ChAmeleon changes into all colours 
 but whitCjfo they admit of all Religions but the true : For the Papft 
 only may not cKercife his in publick ; yet his reftraint they plead is 
 not in hatred but juftice, becaufe the Spaniard abridges the Prote- 
 (la»t: and they had rather fliew a little fpleen, than not cry cjuit 
 with their enemy. His aft is their warrant,which they retaliate juft- 
 ly. And for this reafon, rather than the Dunkirks they take (hall not 
 dye, Amflerdam having none of their own, (hall borrow a Hangman 
 from Harlem, 
 
 Now albeit the Papijis do them wrong herein, yet can it not ex- 
 cufe their boundlefs Toleration, which fhews they place their Re- 
 publiek in a higher cfteem than Heaven it (elf ; and had rather crofs 
 upon God than it. For whofoever dilturbs the Civil Government 
 is lyable to puniflimcnt '■, but the Decrees of Heaven and Sandic-ns 
 of the Deity, any one may break uncheck'd, by profcfifing what falfe 
 Religion he plcafe. So Conjularj Rome of old brought all the ftrag- 
 linggodsof other Nations to the City, where blinded Superftition 
 paid an Adoration to them. 
 
 In their Families they all are equals, and you have no way to know 
 the Maftcr and Millrcfs, but by taking them in bed together : It may 
 be thofe are they ; othcrwifc Malk) can prate as much, laugh as loud, 
 be as bold, and fit as well as her Mi(tre(s. 
 
 Had Loj^:cia»s lived here firll. Father and Son had never paffed fo' 
 long for Relatives. They are here Individuals, for no Dcmonftrance 
 of Duty or Authority can diftinguifh them, as if they were created 
 together, and not born fucceKivcly. And as for your Mother,bidding 
 her goodnight, and kilTiiig her, is punftual bklBng. 
 
 Your man lliall be faucy, and you mu(t not ftrike •, if you do, he 
 Ihall complain to the Schoui, and hcrhaps have recompencc. 'Tis 
 a dainty place to picfac boycs iu : for your Father fliall bargain with 
 your School -maimer not to whip you : if lie doth, he fliall revenge it 
 with his knife, and have Law for it. 
 
 Their apparel is civil enough, and good enough, but very un- 
 comely i and hath ufually more (luff than ihape. Only their Hujkes 
 
 arc 
 
 , >
 
 V 
 
 54 
 
 ^j( brief Characier 
 
 are commodious in winter : but 'tis to be lamented^ that tlxy have 
 not wit enough to lay them by when Summer comes. 
 
 Their Women would have good faces if they did not mar them 
 with making. Their Ear-wyres have fo nipt in their Cheaks, that 
 you would think fome Fayry to do them a mifchief, had pincht them 
 behind with Tongs. Thefe they drefsjas if they would lliew you all 
 their wit lay behind, and they needs would cover it. And thus or- 
 dered, they have much more forehead than face. 
 
 They love the Englifh Ce»trj well 5 and when Souldiers come o* 
 ver to be billetted among them, they are Entttloui in chufing oftheir 
 gueft, who fares much the better for being liked by his Hoftefs. 
 
 Men and Women are there/4rfW/(?^/<'tp,that if they once grow 
 old, you would verily believe you faw Winter walking up to the 
 neck in a Barrel of /«^/^<» : And therefore they rail at £»g/d»4 for 
 fpending no more Blewmg. 
 
 Your man among them is elfe clad tolerably, unlefs he inclines 
 to the Sea-fafhion : and then are his breeches yawning at the knees, 
 as if they were about to fwallow his legs unmercifully. 
 
 They are far there from going naked, for of a whole woman you 
 can fee but half a face. As for her hand, that l"hews her a fore La- 
 bourer 5 which you fhall ever find as it were in recompence loaden 
 with Rings to the cracking of her fingers. If you look lower. She's 
 a Monkey chain'd about the middle, and had rather want it in dyet, 
 than not have filver-links to hang her keyes in. 
 
 Their Gowns are fit to hide great Bellies, but they make them 
 fhew fo unhandfomc that men do not care for getting them. Marry 
 this you fhall find to their commendation^their fmocks are ever whi- 
 ter than their skin. 
 
 Where the Woman lyes in, the Ringle of the door docs penance, 
 and is lapped about with linncn s either to fliew you that loud 
 knocking may wake the child -, or elfc that for a moncth the Ring 
 is not to be run at. But if the childe be dead, there is thruft out a 
 Nofegay tyed to a fticks end ; Perhaps for an emblem of the life of 
 man, which may wither as foon as born •, or elfe to let you know, 
 that though thefe fade upon their gathering, yet from the fameftock 
 the next year a new fhoot may fpring. 
 
 You may rail at us for often changin;:^^ but I aflure you with them, 
 is a great deal more following the talliion, which they will plead for 
 as the ignorant Laity of their Faith ; they will keep it bccaufc their 
 Anceftors lived in it. Thus they will rather keep an old fault,though 
 they difcovcr errors in it, than in an eafie change to meet a certain 
 remedy. 
 
 For their dyet,they eat much and fpend little : When they fet out 
 a Fleet to the Indies^ it fliall live three moncths on the Offals, which 
 we hear fear would furfcit our Swine j yet they feed on't^and are ftill 
 the fame Dutch-men. 
 
 In their houfcs, Roots and Stock- fifli areftap! 
 
 commodities : If 
 
 thev 
 
 » «.
 
 of the LoTf -Countries. 
 
 55 
 
 they make a tcaft , and add iieili, they have art to kcc-p k hot more 
 days than a Pigs head in Pfc-corner. Salt meats and fowre Crem 
 they hold him a fool that loves not, only the laft they corrcdt with 
 Sugar, and are not half fo well pleafed with having it fweetat firft,as 
 with letting it fowre that chcy may fweetcn it again ; asif a woman 
 were not half fo plcafing being eafily won, as after a fcolding fit flic 
 comes by man to be calmed again. 
 
 Fifli indeed they have brave and plentiful 5 and herein pra(flice 
 hath made them Cooks as good as e're LticuUm his later Kitchin had, 
 which is fome recompence for their wilfulnefs, for you can neither 
 pray nor buy them to alter their own Cookery. 
 
 To a feaftthey come readily, but being fet once you muft have 
 patience : they arc longer eating meat than we preparing it. If it be 
 to fupper, youconcludeiimely, when you ect away by day break. 
 They drink down the Evening-ftar, and drink up the Morning-ftar. 
 At thofe times it goes hard with a ftranger, all in courtefie will be 
 drinking to him, and all that do fo he muft pledge s till he doth, the 
 ftU'd Cups circle round his Trencher, from whence they are not ta- 
 ken away till emptied : for though they give you day for payment , 
 yet they will not abate of the fumme. Tfhey fit not there as we in 
 EfigUnd, men together , and women firft ; but ever intermingled 
 with a manbetween:and inftcad of March- panes and fuch Juncates, 
 ,'tis good manners f if any be therej to carry away a piece of Apple- 
 pie in your pocket. 
 
 The time they there fpend, is in eating well, in drinking much, 
 and prating moft : For the truth is, the completeft drinker in Eu- 
 rope is your Englifli Gallant: There is no fuch confumer of liquor 
 as the quaffing off of his Healths. Time was, the Dutch had the bet- 
 ter of it, but of late he hath loft it by prating too long over his pot : 
 He fips, and laughs, and tells his tale, and in a Tavern is more pro- 
 digal of his Time than his Wine : He drinks as if he were fliort- 
 winded, and as it were eats his drink by morfels , rather beficging 
 his brains than affaulting them. But the Engiip) man charges home 
 on the fudden fwallowsit whole, and likeahafty Tyde, fills and 
 flows himfelf, till the mad brain fwims and toffes on the hafty fume. 
 Asif his Liver were burning out his ftomach, and he ftrivingto 
 quench it, drowns it. So the one is drunk former, and the other lon- 
 ger ; as if ftriving to recover the wager, the Dutchman would ft ill be 
 the perfedeft Soaker. 
 
 In this Prfigrrjs you have feen fome of their Vices, notv z-ierp 4 
 
 fairer Ob j eft. 
 
 Solomon
 
 5^ 
 
 (^ brief Characier 
 
 Solomon tells of four things that are fmalland\ 
 full of wifdom, the Pifmire , the Grafs- 
 hopper, the Coney,, and the Spider. 
 
 FOr Providence they are the PJfmires of the world, and having 
 nothing but whatgrals affords them, are yet , for almoft all 
 provifions, the Store houfe of whole Chriflendcme. What is 
 it which there may not be found in plenty ? they making by their 
 induftry all the fruits of the vaft Earth their own. What Land can 
 boafta priviledge that they do not partake of? They have not of 
 their own enough materials to compile one fhip, yet how many Na- 
 tions do they fur nilh ? The remoter angels ofthc world do by their 
 pains deliver them their fweets^ and being of themfelves in want, 
 their diligence hath made them both Indies nearer home. 
 
 They are frugal to the faving of Egge-fliells, and maintain it for a 
 Maxim, that a thing lafts longer mended than new. 
 
 Their Cities are their Mole-hills ; their Schutes and Fly-boats 
 creep and return with their ftore for Winter. Everyone is bufie, 
 and carries his grain 5 as if every City were a feveral HivCy and the 
 Bees not permitting a Drone to inhabit ; for idle perfons muft find 
 fome other manfion. And left neceffity bereave men of means to 
 fet them on work, there are publick Banks, that (without ufe) lend 
 upon pawns to all the poor that want. 
 
 There is a feafon when the Pifmires ^ye ', and fo each Summer 
 they likewife fwarm abroad with their Armies. 
 
 i he Ant, faycs one, is a wife creature, but a ll'ircwd thing in a 
 Garden or Orchard. And truly fo are they 5 for they look upon o- 
 therstoo little, and upon themfeWcs too much .• And wherefoever 
 they light inapleafant or richfoyl, like fuckers and lower plants, 
 they rob from the root of that Tree which gives them lliade and 
 protcdion ; fo their wifdom is not indeed Heroick or Numinal, as 
 courting an univerfal good , but rather narrow and reftri(5tive , as 
 being a wifdom but for themfelves. Which, tofpeak plainly, is 
 defcending into Craft •, andisbutthe finifter partofthat which is 
 really Noble and Coeleftial. 
 
 Nay in all they hold fo true a proportion with the Emmet ^asyoa 
 fball not find they want fo much as the fting. 
 
 For dwelling in Rocks they are Conies. And while the Sjtanijh 
 tumbler plaies about them, they reft fecure in their own inaccef- 
 fible Berries. Where have you under Heaven, fuch impregnable 
 Fortifications? Where Art beautifies Nature, and Nature makes 
 Art invincible; Herein indeed they differ ; The Conies find Rocks, 
 and they make them. And as they would invert the miracle of Mo- 
 fes. They raife them in the bofom of the waves : where within 
 
 thefc i
 
 of the LoTP-Countr/es. 
 
 thele cwcnty years , {hips furrowed in the pathlels Occanjthe peace- 
 ful plough now unbowcls the fertile earth, whicliat night is carryed 
 home to the farreil Manfions in Holland, 
 
 E\ ery Town hath liis Garrifon j and the keycs of the Gates in 
 the nighttime are not trultcd but in the Statc-houfe. From thefe 
 hiOlds they bolt abroad for provifions, and then return to their faft- 
 neffes repleniflied. 
 
 For war tiicy are Grafle- hoppers, and without a Kinp^, go forth 
 in bands to conquer Kings. They have not only defended thcm- 
 felves at their own home, but have braved the ^^-«»/4r^ at his. In 
 yinfio i<ypi), under the command of r4«^fj)<'f J , was the Grand 
 Canary taken. Thechief City fackt ; the King of Spain's Enligns 
 taken dovn , and the colours of his Excellency ict up in their room. 
 In the year 1600 the battel of Newport was a gallant piece, when 
 with the lofsofathoufand or littlemore, they Hew 7000 of their 
 enemies, took above «oo Enfigns, the Admiralof^^rr^j^ow a prifo- 
 ner. The very furniture of the Arch-Duke's own Chamber, and 
 Cabinet , vca the linnet that belonged to his hand. 
 
 In I 607. they afiailcd the Armado of Spain in the Bay of Gibral- 
 tar^ under covert of the Caftle and Towns Ordnance , and with the 
 lofle of 150. flew above 2000. and ruined the wi.ole Fleet. Cer- 
 tainly a bolder attcnjpt hath ever fear ce been done. The Indian 
 Maftiff never was' more fierce againlt the angry Lion. Nor can the 
 Cock in his crowing valour , become more prodigal of his bloud 
 than they. 
 
 There hardly is upon earth fuchafchool of Martial Difciplinc. 
 'Tij the Chriftian worlds Academy for Arms s whither all the neigh- 
 bour-Nations rcfort to be intruded ; where they may obferve how 
 unrcfiftabie a blow many (mall grains of powder will make, be- 
 ing heaped together, which yet if you feparatCjCan do nothing but 
 fparkle and die. 
 
 Their recreation is the prad^ife of Arms 5 And they learn to be 
 fouldiers fooner than men. Nay, as if tlicy placed a Religion in 
 Arms, every Sunday is concluded with theTrain'd-Bands marching 
 through their Cities. 
 
 For induflry, they are Spiders, and are in the Palaces of Kings. Of 
 I old they were the guard of the pt i Ion of the Roman Emperor-, And by 
 the Remans thcmfelvcs declared to be their friends and companions. 
 There is none have the like intelligence j Their Merchants arc at this 
 day the grcatef\ of the Univerfe. What Nation is it where they 
 have not infinuatcd ? Nay, which they have not alnwtl anatomized, 
 and even difcovered the very intrinfick veins on't ? 
 
 Even among us, they fhame us with their indultry, which makes 
 them fccm as if they had A faculty from the worlds Creation, out of 
 water to make dry land appear. They win our drowned grounds 
 which we cannot recover, and chafe back JVf^rww^ to his own old 
 Banks. 
 
 h AU 
 
 57
 
 58 
 
 <^ brief Character 
 
 All that they do is by fuch labour as it fecms cxtradcd ouc of 
 their own bowels. And in their wary thrift, they hang by fuch a 
 flender fuftentation of life, that one would think their own wei^^ht 
 fhould be enough to crack it. 
 ' Want of idlenefs keeps them from want. And 'tis their Diligence 
 makes them Rich. 
 
 A fruitful Soil encreafeth the Harveft. A plentiful Sun augment-' 
 eth the Store ; and feafonablelTiowres drop fatnefs on the Crop wc 
 reap : But no Rain frudifies more than the dew of Swear. 
 
 You would think being with them you were in old Jjrael.for you 
 find not a beggar among them. Nor arc they mindful of their own 
 alone? but ftrangersalfo partake of their Care and Bounty. If they 
 will depart, they have nvoney for their Convoy. If they Hay, they 
 have work provided. If unable, they find an Hofpical. Their Pro^/i- 
 dence extends even from the Prince to the catching of flics. And 
 left you loofe an afternoon by fruftlefs mourningjby twoot theclock 
 all Burials muft end. Wherein to prevent the vvall of ground, they 
 pile Coffin upon Coffin till the Sepulchre be full. 
 
 In all their Manufadurcs they hold a truth and conftancy.-for they 
 are astruits from rrces,the fame every year that they are at firft^Nor 
 Apples one year and Crabs the next -^and fo for ever after. In the fale 
 of thefe they alio are at a word, they will gain ri^ther than exai5l,and 
 have not that way whereby our Ctitizens abufc the wife, and cozen the 
 ignorant 5 and by their infinite over-asking for commodities, pro- 
 claim to the world that they would cheat all if it werejn their power. 
 
 The Deprivation of Manners they punilli with Contempt , but 
 the defeds of nature they favour with Charity. Even their Bedlam 
 is a place fo curious , that a Lord might live in it; Their Hofpiial 
 might lodge a Lady: Sothatfafeiy you may conclude, amongft 
 them even Poverty and Madncfs do both inhabit handfomcly. And 
 though Vice makes every thing turn fordid, yet the State will have 
 the very correiiion of it to be neat , as if they would fhew that 
 though obedience fail, yet Government muft be ftill it felf, and 
 I decent. To prove this, they that do but view their Bridewei will 
 ! think it ma\ receive a Gentleman though a Gallant. And fo their 
 prifon a wealthy Citizen. But for a poor man it is his beft policy to 
 be laid there, for he thatcaft him in muft maintain him. 
 
 Their language, though it differ from the higher Germany , yet 
 hath it the fame ground, and is as old as 54^f/. And albeit harrti ; 
 vetfo lofty and full a Tongue, as made Gorofitts Becanus maintain it 
 for the fpeech o^Ad/im in his Paradifc. And furely if there were not 
 other realons agaipift it, the fignificancy of the Antient Teutonick 
 might carry it from the primeft Dialed:. Stezicn of Bruges reckons 
 upiiyo.Monafillables, which being compounded, how richly do 
 they grace a Tongue? A Tongue that for the general profeffion is 
 extended further than any that I know. Through both the Germ a- 
 nies^ Denmark^ Norway^ Sweden^ and fometimes TrAnce^ England^ 
 Spain.
 
 of the LoW-Countries. 
 
 Spain. And Itill among us all our old words are'Dutcht with yet lo 
 little change, that certainly it is in a manner the fame that it was 
 2O0O years ago, without the too much minglejdj::s?i;r§>yfipgs ofttieir 
 neighbour-Nations. :v.'n->r{\o' ■ r<- 
 
 The German! are a people that more than all the world I think 
 may boaft fincerity, as being for fome thoufand of years a pure and 
 unmixed people. And furely I fee not but their tondudion by, Tnijco 
 from the building o^Bahel, may pal's as unconfuted Story, they yet 
 retaining the Appellation from his Name. 
 
 They are a large and numerous people , having ever kept their 
 own, and tranfported Colonies into other Nations. In Italy were the 
 Lengobards j In Spain the Gothes and Vandals •, In France tht Franks 
 or Franconiam ; In England the Saxons : having in all thefe left re- 
 verend Steps of their Antiquity and Langua.ic. 
 
 It is a noble Teftimony that fograve'an Hiftorian asTachu* hath 
 left ftill extant ofthem,and written above 1500 years ago, Dif//^fr4»; 
 dumjingere -■.vfciunt- Conftituunt dum err are won po(f»nt .They delibe- 
 rate when they cannot diffemble:and refolve when they cannot errc. 
 Two hundred and ten years he reckons the Romans were in con- 
 quering them. In which fpaceon either fide were the loffes fad and 
 fatal. So as neither the SamniteSy the Carthaginians , the Spaniards^ 
 the Gaulesy no nor the Parthians ever troubled them like the Cer- 
 mans. They flew and took prifoners feveral Commanders of the 
 higheft rank, as Carbo^ CaJ?iu4, S. Caurtts Aurelias, Cervilias Cepio, 
 and M. Manliu4. They defeated five Confularj Armies^ and Varus 
 with three Legions, yet after all this he concludes, Triumphanii ma- 
 gis quam viHtfitnt. They were rather Triumphed over than conque- 
 red. To confirm this, the keeping of their own Language is an argu- 
 ment unanfwerable. The change whereof ever follows upon the ful- 
 ly vanquiflied, as wc may fee it did in Italy, France, Spain, England. 
 And this he fpcaks of the Nation in general:nor was the opinion 
 of the J?^wj«f lefs worthy in particular concerning thefe lower Pro- 
 vinces, which made them for their valour and warlike minds, ftyle 
 them by the name of GaU/a Belgica.and efpecially of t!ic Satavians, 
 which were the Hcllanders and psirc of the Guelder s. You may hear 
 in what I lonourablc terms he mentions them, vvherc fpeaking of the 
 feveral ; -ople of Germany he fay es. Omnium harum gentii4m virtute 
 pr<€cipui Batavi : Nam nrc tridutis contemnufitur^ nee puhlicanus atte- 
 rit .-exempti oncribus (^ coUationibus^ (^tantum in ujumprteliorumfe- 
 poftti, veliit tela atq; arma bellis rejernjaniur. Of all thefe Nations 
 the principal in valiant vertuc are the Satavians : for neither are 
 they become defpicable by paying of Tribute , nor oppreffcd too 
 much by the Farmer of publick Revenues, but free from Taxes and 
 Contributions of fervility, they are fpecially fei apart for the fight , 
 as Armor and Weapons only referved for war. 
 
 All this, even at this day they feem to make good : For of all the 
 world they are the people that thrive and grow rich by war, like the 
 h a Percpifce, 
 
 f*
 
 6o 
 
 <^ brief CharaEier 
 
 Porcpfce J that playes in the ftorm , but at other times keeps fober 
 under the water. 
 
 War, which is the worlds ruine, and ravins upon the beauty of aU 
 is to them profperity and Ditation. And furcly the reafon of this is 
 their ftrength in (hipping, the open Sea, their many fortified Towns, 
 and theCountrey, by reafon of its lownefs and Irriguation,becom 
 ing unpaflable for an Army when the Winter but approaches. Other- 
 wife it is hardly poflible , that fofmall a parcel of Mankind fhould 
 brave the moft potent Monarch in Chriftendom, who in his own 
 hands holds the Mines of the wars finews , Money ; and hath now 
 got a command fo wide, that out of his Dominions the Sun can nei- 
 ther rife nor fct. 
 
 The whole feventeen Provinces are not above a thoufand EngUfl) 
 miles in circuit, and in the States hands there is not (even of thofe : 
 yet have they in the field fometimes ^oooo. Souldiers , befides 
 thofe which they alwayes keep in Garrifon, which cannot be but a 
 confidcrable number, near 30000. more. There being in the whole 
 Countries above two hundred wall'd Towns and Cities ; fo that if 
 they have people for the war, one would wonder where they fhould 
 get money to pay them, they being when they have an Army in the 
 field, at a thoufand pound a day charge extraordinary. 
 
 To maintain this, their Excife is anunwafted Mine, which with 
 the infinitenefs of their Traffique, and their untired indnftry, is by 
 every part of the world in fomething or other contributed to. 
 
 The Sea yields them but two forts of Fifli only, ^frr/;5^y and C^^^, 
 fixty thoufand pounds />fr4«»«z«, for which they goe out fometimes 
 feven or eight hundred boats at once, and for greater (hips, they are 
 able to fet out double the number. 
 
 Their Merchandifc amounted in GHicciardines time to fourteen 
 Millions fer Annum. Whereas England, which is in compafs almoft 
 as large again, and hath the Ocean as a Ring about her, made not a- 
 bove fix Millions yearly : fo fedulousare thefe Bees to labour and 
 enrich their Hive. 
 
 As they on the Sea, fo the women are bufie on Land in weaving 
 of Nets, and helping to add to the heap. And though a husbands 
 long abfence might tempt them to lafcivious wayes : yet they hate 
 adultery, and are refolutein Matrimonial chaftity. I do not remem- 
 berthat everlread in Story, ofany great Lady of that nation, that 
 hath been tax'd with loofnefs. And queftionlefs, 'tis their ever being 
 bufie makes them not have lei fure for luft. 
 
 'Tisidlenefs xhsitis Cufids Nurfe; but bufinefs breaks his Bow,i 
 and makes his Arrows ufelefs. j 
 
 They are both Merchants and Farmers. And there A6t parts ; 
 which men can but difcharge with us. As if they would fhew that 
 the Soul in all is mafculine, and not varied into weaker fex as are 
 the bodies that they wear about them. 
 
 Whether
 
 of the Lo'^-Comtries. 
 
 Whether this be from the nature of their Country, in which if 
 they be not laborious they cannot live j or from an Innate Genius 
 of the people by aSuperiour Providence ad-apted to them of fucha 
 fituatioH 5 from their own inclination addided to parfimonyjfrom 
 cuftom in their way of breeding j from any Tranfcendency of aftive 
 parts more than other Nations 5or from being in their Country ,likc 
 people in a City beficged, whereby their own vertues do more 
 compad and fortifie I will not determine. But certainly in general 
 they are the mofl: painful and diligent people on earth : And of all 
 other the moll truly of VefpAftans opinion, to think, that Ex re qua- 
 libii bonus odor lacri-^ Be it raifed from what ic will, the fmell of gain 
 is pleafant. 
 
 Yet they are in fome fort Gods, for they let bounds to the Sea, 
 and when they lift let it pafs them. Even their dwelling is a- miracle; 
 They live lower than the fillies in the very lap of the floods , and 
 incirclcd in their watry Arms. They arc the ifraelites pafling through 
 the Red-Sea. The waters wall them in, and if they fct ope their 
 fluces ihall drown up their enemies. ./ . \ 
 
 They have ftruglcd long with Spains Pharaoh, and they have at 
 length inforced him to let them go. They area C7/'«'(f<>;7^ Army' upon 
 the march again. They are the /«</*'<«» Rat, gnawing the bovvels of 
 the Spa^ijh CrocadiUj to which they gotwhenhe gap'd tofwallow 
 them. They are a Serpent wreathed about the legs of that Elephant. 
 They arc the litt'c fword-firti pricking the belly ofthe Whale. They 
 are the wane of that Empire,which increas'd in ifahella^and in Charls 
 the fifth was at full. 
 
 They are a glafs wherein Kings may fee , that though they be 
 Soveraignsover lives and goods, yet when they ufurp upon Gods 
 part, and will be Kings over confcience too, they arc fometimes pu- 
 nilht with lofs of that which lawfully is their own. That Religion 
 too fiercely urg'd,is toftretch a firing till it not only jars but cracks, 
 and in the breaking whips fperhapsj theftreiners eye out. 
 
 That an cKtreme Taxation is to takeaway the honey while the 
 Bees keeps the Hive ; whereas he that would take that, (hould firfl 
 either burn them or drive them out. That Tyrants in their Govern- 
 ment, arc the grcateft Traitors to their own Eftates. That a defire of 
 being too abfolute, is to walk upon Pinacles and the tops of Pjra 
 miiies, where not only the footing is full of haiard,butevcn the fliarp- 
 nefs of that they tread on may run into their foot and wound them. 
 That toomuch to regrate on the patience of but tickle Subjcds , is 
 to prefs a Thorn till it prick your finger. That nothing makes a more 
 defpcrate Rebel than a Prerogative inforced too far. 
 
 That liberty in man is as the skin to the body, not to be put off, 
 but together with life. That they which will command more than i 
 they ought, lliall not at laft command fo much as is fit. 
 
 That moderate Princes fit fafter in their Regalities, thanfuchas 
 being but men, wouldyet have their power over their Subje<3s, as 
 
 the
 
 62 
 
 (3v/ bvi^f Characier 
 
 the gods, unlimited. That OpprefTion is an Iron heat till it burns 
 the hand. That to debar tome States of Ancient Priviledgcs, is for 
 a Falcon to undertake to beat a flock of wild Geefe out ot the Fens. 
 That to go about to compel a fuUen rcafon to fubmit to a wilful 
 peremptorinefs, isfo long to beat a chain'dMaftiff into his Kennel, 
 till at laft he turns and flyesatyour throat. That unjuft policy is to 
 fhoot as they did at fiend, into the mouth of a charged Cannon, to 
 have two Bullets returned for one. That he doth but endanger 
 himfelfj that riding with too weak a bit provokes a headllrong horfe 
 with a fpur. That 'tis fafer to meet a valiant man wcapoillefs,than 
 almoft a Coward in Armor. That even a weak caufe with a ftrong 
 Caftle, will boyl fait bloud to a rebellious Itch. That 'tis better 
 keeping a crafie body in an equal temper, than to anger humours by 
 too iliarp a Phyfick. 
 
 That admonitions from a dying man are too fcrious to be negle? 
 6ted. That there is nothing certain that is not impoffible. That a 
 Cobler oi Vlufhing was one of the greateft enemies that the King of 
 Spain ever had. 
 
 To conclude, the Countrey it felf is a moted Caftle , keeping a 
 Garnifh of the richcft Jewels of the world in't, the Queen oiBehe 
 mia and her Princely Children. 
 
 The people in it are Jews of the New Teftament, that have ex- 
 changed nothing butihe Lawfor theGofpel: and this they rather 
 profefsthan pradife. Together, a man of war riding at Anchor In 
 the Downs of Cermanj. 
 
 Forforreign Princes to help them, iswife felf- policy: when they 
 have made them able to defend themfelves againft SfAtn , they are 
 at the Pale-, if they enable them to offend others , they go beyond 
 it. For queftionlefs were this thorn out of the 5p4;;;/»y^/y fide, he 
 might be feared too foon to grafp his long intended Monarchy. 
 And were the SpantArd but poifeffed Lord of the Low- Countries, 
 or had the States but the wealth and power oi Spain, the reft of£»- 
 rope might be like people at Sea in a lliip on fire 5 that could only 
 chufe whether they would drown or burn. Now,their waris the 
 peace of their Neighbours : So Rome when bufied in her civil broils, 
 the Parihians lived at reft j but thofe concluded once by defar, next 
 are they defign'd for conqueft. 
 
 If any man wonder at thefe Contraries, let him lookinhisown 
 Body for fo many feveral humours, in his own Brain for as many 
 different fancies, in his own Heart for as various paffions j and from 
 all thefe he may learn, That 
 
 Tkre is mt in all the World [uch another Beafi as MAN. 
 
 FIS^IS.
 
 ."Jf 5r r3f "^ ST ^ 19f 1?" TT" T" z^ —T- ^■ 
 ■^v" ""fc^ "-'i>^ '-*^ ""^' W-^ "^r "^'-^ -'•'^ ^■'Ik ^i'' ■•*■■* ■■* ' 
 
 v.^ ij^ 'ug^ v,^. v.^- v^ -^vp -^ <^ -:,;>' ^i,; > <t^ ^ 
 
 LETTERS. 
 
 I. 
 
 ^ Letter to his Friendj ^erfwading him to a Ti?ife, 
 
 O LI R Letter with much joy , your News without 
 foirovv I received. For, as I think, he wants good 
 nature that is not glad to hear from his friends ; fo 1 
 liold him over tender, that for a ftranger, or one that 
 was no friend, can be palTionate. iome men have 
 more brains than they can be quiet with ; and the death of fuch, if 
 not a triumph, yet is a repofe to thcmfelvcs, and who were their 
 acquaintance : And therefore though I know not how to rejoyce at 
 the death of any, yet I would not be guilty of raifing the little man 
 from a peaceable grave, to the troublcfomc life he led here in the 
 world. And now if I were fure it might not offend, I would tell you 
 what a fair opportunity you are prefented with, of doing a work (in 
 my opinion) meritorious: However lam confident it would be 
 grateful to your own heart, for that I am fure every vertuous and 
 brave avflion leaves fuch an odour in the mind , as ever after, like a 
 rich perfume, breaths fweetncfs and contentment to the thoughts of 
 the Author. 
 
 And this is, if you make my Excellent Coufin your Wife ; how 
 good a one Hie vvill prove I need not tell ; your own experience of 
 her fweetncfs of Converiafoi cannot but tell you : if I Hiould praife 
 her extremely , lier merit '.vould make all that I Qiould fpeak a 
 Truth.; Since thofc that dclire to be good in the height , though 
 thcv may be praifed , cannot be flattered j for whatever good you 
 fpeak of them, they have, albeit not in action, yet in intention 
 doubtlefs. A Difpofition there is, whofe affability may fweeten 
 life, andbanilh vexation. Ingenuity , that even to a man well part- 
 ed, may make her cap.ible of being a wife a friend -, without which 
 for my part, I fliould hold marriage a voke and prefluve ; and if at all 
 a Sacrament, even a Sacrament of diilike and fadnefs. I like not a 
 wife for the night alone •, they arc dark pieces that cannot pleafc by 
 day-light : She is provifion but for the worfer part of our life, ifllic 
 
 cannot
 
 64 
 
 (^ brief Character 
 
 cannot but offend awake out of bed. Of a wife fhould a man make 
 his choice as he would do of his Armour 5 if tootliick and heavy, it 
 loads and wearies ere his march be done , begets complaint , and 
 help his Foes to conquer: if too light and thin , it may be a little 
 pleafant, butnotfafc; 'twill trouble and betray him. So when a 
 man takes a wife, if (he be dull and fottinijflie may indeed keep the 
 houfe, but Ihe is to her husband coming home but like aPalTion pi- 
 fture, prefenting ever fadnefs and melancholy. Iftlicbc light and 
 petulant, flie is then the dillioiTOur of him that chofc her, apt with 
 every puff to be blown off ; and perhaps may flike a Plcafure-Boatj 
 ferve in fliallows for a Summer voyage, but in Winter , or when 
 ftorms ar ife in Deeps, (he is then of no other ufe , but only to in- 
 danger him to the hazard of wreck. 
 
 If God had not made Woman with a mind to fute with Adanis, 
 any of the Beafts he made would as well have fert^cd for Qiienchas 
 flie. It -is more pleafure, tliat a man may with a fiirc affiance, pour 
 out his retired thoughts in a faithful and wife wives bofom,than by 
 only a skin-deep beauty have the vanifhing Itches of a Frailty find 
 allay. Nor will I ever believe, but 'tis more happinefs to lye with 
 a beautiful foul than a beautiful body. 
 
 But here if you go on you have both \ for he that will ' not allow 
 her perfon handfom, muft either want eyes, or el(e hath liv'd among 
 the Moors ^ where for beauty, deformity is millaken. 
 
 Her years are fuch as cannot be found fault withall, from which 
 you may cxped rather comfort than diftafte: and when you fhalj 
 approach to Davids Seventy, like another Shun Arm te fhc may adde 
 new warmth to the then decayes of Nature. 
 
 All you can except againft is matter of Eftate , which to you that 
 have fo fair a one, is none at all. He that (having fufficient) wcd- 
 deth for wealth, is rather covetous than wife ; neither (where there 
 is no want) can money be a caufc con fider able for 1 breach. Fitnefs 
 and a competency is beyond abundance alone. When 4dam had the 
 world, God did not give him another with Eve^ii was fufficient that 
 He had for both. If it be but in managing of your houfe, and like a 
 faithful Steward looking to your Family and affairs, it will more 
 than rccompence die cliarge that fhe can bring yoH. Then wherefo- 
 ever ycur occafions lead you, you may be fure of fidelity at home 5 
 and by taking delight to be at home, find a profit, which perhaps by 
 abfence now you loofe. Let me give you a ftory of a Fathcr,that on 
 his death-bed told his Sons, That though he had no wealth to 
 leave them for the.prcfcnt, yet there lay buried in his Vineyard a 
 great Treafure , where if they digg'd they ihould be fure to find it. 
 When he was dead they fell to work, but found none ; yet by their 
 '^'»&'"n> the Vines that year became fo fruitful, as the increafe to 
 them did provea mafs of riches. The Application is, that though 
 you find no prefent Fortune, yet fair intentions and your diligences 
 joyn'd, may become a wealth above your expectation. Befides, 
 whereas i
 
 LETT E1{S. 
 
 65 
 
 whereas now you want an Heir to your wealth , it may pleafe God 
 by this march to give you children, that may rejoyce in the good 
 you lliall leave, and to your honour perpetuate your name to all po- 
 ftcrity. But he that wilfully makes himfclf fruitlcfs, falls like a dry 
 Tree, which for want of fruit, the Gof pel docs adjudge to fire: 
 whereas in Deut. 20. 19. even in war, the Trees that did bear fruit 
 were forbidden to be dellroyed. 
 
 Tell me, if it be not a Content of die higheft nature, when you 
 fhall have been abroad, cither wearied with bufincfs, or delighted 
 with News, you may to a vcrtuouswite tell your difcontents, and 
 have them leflened ; but your joyes, and have them more increa- 
 fed ? For Grief difclos'd <iividcs , but Joy imparted multiplies. 
 When as he that has ahoufe, and not a wife to govern it, comes to 
 his Home but as a Traveller to his Innc, being brought thither by 
 neceffity, and carried off for want of company that may be fuitable. 
 For neighbours do not dwell there; and Servants , though they be 
 as fafe rooms to lock up groffer wares in, yet they are not as a wife, 
 a Cabinet for privacies : Bcfides, not being ty'd to their Mafters 
 Fortunes, they fometimes ftudy themfelves to his lofs •■, but a Wife 
 has her aim for her husbands good, as knowing flie is brightned by 
 his Honour, but muft be darlcned if he fuffer Eclipfe, 
 
 Nor can 1 believe, but that even in your Reputation you ("hall do 
 your felf a right, and by this Match confirm to all , Your Conver- 
 fation has been more out of true rtfped; to Vertue, than any other 
 finiftcr ends. Ochcrwife,what can men judge of his intents,who pro- 
 feffing a rcfpcd while flie wasanothers, falls off when lawfully he 
 may make her his own : And beyond all thcfe,you know how fhe has 
 fuffcrcdfor you ; foas you fhall not only do an Aifl of Jufticc, and 
 bravely recompcncc all her Induranccs ; but alfo do a Courtefic to 
 your felf, m Cancelling thofe Obligations that are on you. For 
 though I know you hauc not been in this way lliort, yet he is likeft 
 God, that fcorning to be a Debtor to any, by a Noble and Bcncvo 
 lent hand unties his own ingagcmcnts,and by ihowring down favours 
 puts chains and bonds upon others. It was butacavill againft Wo- 
 men, of him that faid, though a Man marries, and his VVifc be fair, 
 yet lliall he have but a little beauty, and a great deal of ill. Nor did 
 i<?o-4:(5 any other then play the Cj»/V^, when he anfwcrcd to one 
 that asked him.wlxthcr it were bcft for him to Marry or live fingle ? 
 That which foever he did, hclliould be furc to repent. Marriage, as 
 ic ought to be,is the Completion of Love ; and Love, as it ought, is the 
 Completion of tlie Law. However it is a tye of the noblcft affedion 
 in Man , and which even the Scripture prefers before all die Obliga- 
 tions of the World bcfides : For Parents, and the ncarell: bloud mul\ 
 all lor this be laid by and fepofitcd. 1 Ic that hadi a Wife which 
 lovci him hath two felfcs, andpofl'cfl'es all his faculties double : So 
 cvcnin abfcnce his defence is left. And his hand, his eye, and mind 
 it felf, he can at once leave faithful at home , and carry faithful a- 
 
 i broad.
 
 ^6 
 
 LE TT E ^S. 
 
 broad. With this Ordinance was the wife Gate (o much taken as 
 ae did not ftick to maintain, that it was more honour to be a good 
 husband than a great Senator. 
 
 Pardon me that I am thus long, and free ; my true rcfpeds to you 
 both, hath made me thus bufie in wifhing : It you like it 1 have (aid 
 enough, if you do not, too much. Though I am confident it cannot 
 much difplcafe, feeing I am not capable of having any other aim in 
 it, than a future happinefs to you both. Therefore when you have 
 rcmembred my beft willies to her ; I have only this to fay more. If 
 you go on you hold me for ever in bonds, if not, 1 will lUll beheld 
 fo : For 1 am refolved not to reft upon any terms without being J 
 
 Tour meji faithful fritnd tojer'vejou. 
 
 II. 
 
 To Oli'v.i. 
 
 P'Ince Men (as Bdfac tells us j did ever pay a Reverence to Vertue, 
 ' though they found it but in aRomanccjOr long hncecarrycd in- 
 to another World. You are no whit beholding to me for the A dmira- 
 tion that I pay yoii , as a living example ot that Judgment and 
 Goodnefs which oft is feign'd in ftory. Who falls in love with the 
 Pidure only, proftratcs all that he is Mailer of, when the fubftance 
 once appears. Befides, fomuch you have engaged mc by your fa- 
 vours, that I hold it ncceflary for mc to become like fome Moun- 
 rains after Winter , that are covered with huge fnows j wlio when 
 they cannot pour down all their moifture at once, diftill daily in a 
 graceful watering of their Neighbour- plains. I Qiall endeavour not 
 fo imitate, but exceed the beft patterns, and fhall never eftcem my 
 felfonce dutiful, unlets I be alwaies j 
 
 Jour mofl obedient Son. 
 
 III. 
 
 To Meliodoriis. 
 
 SI R, 
 
 WHat ever part of the World I reft in^it feems 1 amdcftin'd to 
 be your difturber. Merit is a Load-ftone that operates at a 
 Region diftance, and this makes me now not only to intrcat your fa- 
 vour, in prefenting thefe to the better part of my fell. Where I have 
 treafur'd up all the felicity I exped in this World : but alfo that you 
 will accept of my thanks for thofe large Teftimonials of fricndlhip 
 andaffedion, which from the very Infancy of my acquaintance with 
 you, you have heaped on me 5 for which aflurcdiy I lliould quarrel 
 my own difpofition, did I not find them entirely prevailing to Con 
 ftitute mc, 
 
 Ahfelutel^ and for ever yours. 
 
 IV. To\ 
 
 \*
 
 L ETT E1{S. 
 
 IV. 
 
 To Clariffa. 
 
 HOvv coOld I arraign the vanity of Poets, that tell us of the 
 Plagues of Love ? Since I find fo many Solaces in the affurance 
 of your affection, that like the Swan I could be finging in the midft 
 of waves. Certainly, the invention of thofe pleafant iliadcs below, 
 fprung from the Genius of a Lovers breft. Whether it be your own 
 excelling fwectnefs, that charmcs me to be alwayes with you , e- 
 ven at this diftance : Or whether it be the clcarnefs of my own Paf- 
 fions, aiming at nothing but Honour and your Felicity,! difpute not : 
 but fure I am , the Zeal I bear, not all the Phrenfies this Nation is 
 now giddy with, can alter. And though it be debar'd the prefent Hap- 
 pinefs of your Converfation ; yet upon your leaft command is it ever 
 ready to take wing and flie unto your bofom. A Sanduary which 
 being once attain'd. I {hall difclaim the thought of being any thing 
 but. Dear, 
 
 Tour faithful Serv4nt. 
 
 V. 
 
 jTo Meliodorus, 
 
 THave tyr'd you. Sir, lb often with my trivial Letters, that I fear 
 you may reckon me as one of your fcourges, among the common 
 Calamities of thefe times. But indeed I differ from either Faftion, 
 in that 1 have no defign, but io approve my felf your Servant. Can 
 the Sun ihine, and the dew fall, and not the Earth return her Ger- 
 minations ? and you may not be difpleafed then, that my thanks for 
 all your favours are not withering, but rather of the Nature of thofe 
 Plants, that even with Snow upon their tops retain perpetual grecn- 
 nefs. For furcly fuch you fliall ever find the endeavours of him, who 
 begs your alfiftance in prefenting thefe inclofed, and then that you 
 will believe, 1 am ever and every where, as well as in this paper,Sir, 
 
 Tour meji ajfe&ie»ate Servant. 
 
 VI. 
 
 ^ To Clarijfa. 
 
 C"^UarJcd by your better Genius, like a Partridge dredg'd and 
 Jroafted, 1 have pafs'd the heat andduft of the way to my own 
 Habitation ; where without your prefence (which to me can make a 
 Cottage beautiful) I find every room a Cell, and my felf turning 
 Hermite s who (wanting youj can like of nought but mclancholly. 
 
 i 2 But
 
 68 
 
 LETTERS. 
 
 But as the Angels ( befides their obedience to their Makers Com- 
 mands ) in their difpatches, can endure Earth a little fcafon, out of 
 their apprehenfions that they (hall fpeedily again return to Heaven : 
 So all my Comfort is, that the time of my privation is but fhort, and 
 in my ever bufie thoughts, I at this diftance dwell with you , to 
 whom nothing in myabfence will flhope ) prcfiime to bring the 
 leaft of trouble. To this end you ought for my inteiell fake, now to 
 be kind to your own Goodnefs, and to fuffer nothing that is not calm 
 and mild as it, to come near it. Dear, fail not to prcfciKmyliUmble 
 duty to my honoured Father, and beft Mother, nor to make much of 
 your felf, as you tender the Happinefs and Contentment of him, who 
 is for ever 
 
 Jll and onlj feurs. 
 
 VII. 
 
 To Oliya. 
 
 WHat is it that fin appearance) a little Rill can Contribute to 
 the Sea ? Though all the acknowledgments I can make.can 
 never be fuitable to the Obligations that I owe you : yet I fliould 
 hold it a very ill Argument, that becaufe I cannot pay what I would, 
 I therefore (hould not pay what I can. Is he worthy of a favour,that 
 becaufe he cannot be thanlcfnl as hp fhould, refolves to be totally 
 dumb ? Such Divinity would quickly turn the whole World A- 
 theiftjextinguilh all Morality, and truly, would leave me in a habi- 
 tation darkned with perpetual blufhes : Nay, if I had been frighted 
 with merit in others, or want of dcfert in my felf, 1 had never ar- 
 riv'd to that happinefs, which fthrough your Condud) by the frui- 
 tion of your Daughters Converfation, I now enjoy without envy- 
 ing, even allthofe Pleafures that a bounteous Spring can give. Like 
 fpiritual Bleffings I find them more in Poffeffion than Expedlation. 
 So that I verily believe to Cure all the hcrefies and prejudices that 
 have been taken up againft Marriage, there needs but to propofe 
 my felf, that I might convince the World of the Felicities that are 
 in it. Nay, I am confidently of opinion, if all men that havemarry- 
 ed had been as happy as I believe my felf, even in the Romilli 
 Church, there never had been Eredion of Monaftery or Nunnery : 
 were the wives in Spain of (uch difpofitions, the State might favc 
 their Matrimonial priviledges , wherewith now they are glad to 
 encourage men to Martyrdom, left their Country prove unpeopled. 
 But dear Mother though this be truth j yet I pray print it not ; though 
 I hug my own opinion,! am not bound to impofe it on the World , 
 wherein none lives more in health than your Daughter,! think with- 
 out any ill opinion of Me or my Country : if there be any Infelicity 
 attends us, 'tis that we are depriv'd the Honour of your Company, 
 which whcrefoereitbeftows it felf, can both Civilize and Sandific : 
 ^o\
 
 LETT E'R S. 
 
 So is Prerogativ'd at once to Crcaic both a City and Church. And 
 to whom I liad fooncr prcfcntcd my ever thankful duty , had there 
 not been a fupply from that hand , which was content to give a 
 heart to 
 
 Tour ever rnofi obedient Son. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 To a QcntlctJian^ that haVingafalr and Vertuous Wife of his ownj 
 jet rvonld needs take a f^ncy toKitchin-rvenches and Drudges, 
 
 ANd prethee, Roj^er^ why this dirty fancy, Tiiat when a Venice- 
 glafs is fct before thee , thou lon^'ft to drink only out of 
 Black-jacks and the Bedlams Horn ? What a mad thirft haft thou 
 got, that nothing can quench it but puddle water ? Like the Duck 
 that fwims in the clear ftream, yet feeds on Frogs among the wseds , 
 the flime and mud : And when thou haft a gallant Herifordjhire way 
 to travel in, nothing will content thee, but thou muft leap hedges 
 to ride in Moors, in Suffolk Lanes, and £^ex Hundreds. Wouldft 
 thou not thy felf pull off the head of that Hawk , that having Par- 
 tridge upon wing, will continually turn tail, yea, go out at Crotvs and 
 quarry there? What a Dog-trick is this now come uponihec, that 
 thou leaveft thy own clean ftraw and pleafant green Sweard, to tum- 
 ble up and down in Carrion ? Doft thou think Nature is not fome- 
 thing miftaken in thee, and would make thee believe, that Kitchin- j 
 ftuff has the fmell of Musk ? or art thou fure thou art truly 
 bred , for I durft be h-'ng'd if any right Spaniel would ever be 
 brought to touch thefc Fowles, though cook'd up and fauc'd hand- 
 fomly ? Will not at all the world take thee for one of the worft fort of 
 worms, tliat thus affcdl'ft corruption, delighting to feed and craule 
 there ? Surely that hand cxpofes it felf to even unpitied hazard , that 
 will needs by by its own fair Glove, and eagerly pull on that pollu- 
 ted one it finds upon a Dunghill. Who would not naufeate to dip 
 buthis finger in that difh of water, where the Male and Female 
 Scullions have lately rins'd off their mingled foory fweat and grcafe ? 
 To have for thy difcafe a wholcfome remedy ofthy own at hand,and 
 yet to feck out nafty and forbidden Cures, is a Phrenfie that would 
 deferve more than a chain and a darkroom. Is not thy own Ven/ts 
 the greater part of all the excellency in woman ? what lias the whole 
 Sex rrnrc dianonc alone that is handfom ? 
 
 Faith Roger, (liall I tell thee, for a married man at all to range after 
 forreigngame, is but buying of a ftock at deck-, he layes out, and 
 bids high, in hope to find aTib there, and when all is done, he hath 
 f rthcmoft part better Cards in hisown hand. How wouldft thou 
 blufh throu^^halltbc darkncfsthac thou finn'ft in, to be difcovcrcd 
 trafficking withfuch niglitandoyl ? 
 
 What 
 
 6<^
 
 70 
 
 LEI T E*I{S, 
 
 VVhat would Solemoii have cenfur'd of this humor of thine, when 
 even of the trick'd-upCurtezanhefayes, Among the -j our) g men he 
 (aw a Fool that was taken with herheatitj 5 as if he would tell us,ihat 
 to makeup one Incontinent there goes a twofold wcakncfs. Youth 
 and Folly. A Whore is a deep Ditch, and he whom God is angry 
 withjfhall fall therein. Is not this enough, but thou rcfolv eft to have 
 it foul too, — to go to the Devil in a Slough ? 
 
 'Slid, like the Great Turk, I would fooner have a Trade, and 
 make Horn-rings, than humour the leifure of fuch a fordid Cupid; 
 for bufinefs fby beingdiverfionj isaprefervative. And for a man 
 to be a flave to fuch a paflion, asfluU throw off that Reputation and 
 Gallantry, which is bred in him as a Gentleman and a Man j is to 
 degrade his Creation into the fcale of that with Bcafts, who are hur- 
 ried only by their brutifh fenfe and appetite, with cxclufion both of 
 judgment and reafon. 
 
 I remember three wayesthe Ancients had to Antidote themfelves 
 againftthe Syrens : Thefirft wastoftop their cars>arid furely though 
 this was prelcribcd to the Vulgar whofe dull fpirics have not fortitude 
 to fee and forbear ; yet the prefcription is good,becaufe a pleafura- 
 ble Vice is too prevalent upon Humanity : and the braveft conftitu- 
 tion in a Gentleman differs from a Clown, but as a Garden from the 
 common Field, who being of the fame earth, would be overgrown 
 wich the fame Weeds and Bufhes , were he not daily kept clean by 
 dreffing, pruning, and with induftry. 
 
 A fecond was, with Uljlfes, to tye themfelves to the Maft : and this 
 was for the nobler fort, yet morally wife and politick-, who by the 
 ftrength of theirownrefolution could hear, and ftand bound by their 
 conftancy from yielding to their pleafing charms. 
 
 But the third and moft fublimc was that of Orpheus, who by his 
 CelcftialMufickand his fongsofthegods, drowned the very found 
 of their loudeft and moft enticing Notes. And certainly the con- 
 templation of Religion, the Deity, and thofe incorruptible ElTcnces, 
 thatfo purely rnount upon the pinions of the wings of Reafon, will 
 bear up the exalted Soul out of the air, and reach, of thefe low and 
 fubterraneous paffions, though appropriated to fuch fliapes as moft 
 do take the fenfes : and will in the end by degrees inthrone the mind 
 in fuch a delight in themjas fhe (hall therein truly find more folid and 
 more ravifbing folaces,than in all thofe momentaneous blandilhments 
 that the flefh can bubble up. But if thou beeft not hardned in this, 
 think but how thou couldft digcft a Grooms admiflion by thy wife, 
 and do but call to mind the folemn Ingagement that thou mad'ft at 
 Marriage , againft which Incontinence is not the leaft offence, fince 
 God, his Churchjthe Congregation, and R ecord,will be ever ready as 
 witneffes to fentence and condemn thy perjury. Which in thofe that 
 are wedded is fo great, that the loofnefs (though highly criminal) is 
 loft in the very name of the fault : It being ftyled alone Advewtry^ as 
 contrary to that facred Vow attefted by fuch Evidence. 
 _ Laftly,
 
 LETT E'J{S, 
 
 71 
 
 Lallly , remember but how thou I ikell thy felt when thou com'lt 
 off, and then if thou wilt continue Indian and worlliip thefe Demons 
 ftilij I know nothing that can fooner cool this Devotion, than a 
 deeper place in the Pool than either Huntfmen or Falkoners found •, 
 and though it would be fomc trouble to fee my friend there, yet it 
 would be belter than the Gueldins-block, or wafting like a Deer 
 after Rutting time, which is much feared by 
 
 ' Thy Friend y Philander. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Withforne of his ToemSjand the CharaEler of the Low Countries^ 
 
 [Cannot fo forfeit Judgement as to make you Patronefs to thefe 
 light Trifles, they are wealthier Fancies that would be dignified 
 by your Name. When I have lookt on things of this nature, I 
 have never done it without fomething of Severe in my Thoughts, 
 having ever held of Poetry as the Cjnick did of Love, that 'tis but the 
 idle Man's bufinefs : And luch fliort compofures as are thefe at 
 btft J are but as Fire-works at Tryumphs. They crackle, fliine and 
 offer at Heaven it felf, but in a moment they fall and are cxtind un- 
 profitably. As I now prefent them you are at liberty to cenfure 
 without Obligation ot defence *, and if you pleafe to take me favou- 
 rably, I have only prcfumed to obey : Which fin my Confcicnce 
 will perfwade me to be more Venial, if your Ladyfhip, with your 
 pardon permit me to in joy the much coveted Honour of remaining 
 ( Madam ; 
 
 Tour mcjl obedifnt Servant. 
 
 X. 
 
 To a VcElor ofThyfick. 
 
 Since the weather is like to freeze your Phyfick, I may prcfume 
 to find you at home at Icif ure to read this running Letter, which 
 purpofely hafts to tell you, that by this weeks Carrier you lliall re- 
 ceive the Module of the VVorld in a Box, 
 
 For fincc the great bufinefs of Kingdoms and Common -wealths 
 Cif clearly viewed^ according to the obfervation oiSixtu* ^tintm^ 
 are often managed by the fame weak grounds , and cafic dcceipts 
 that Children guide their play with : Why may they not be repre- 
 fented by what I now have fent you. 
 
 And therefore if at firft you take them for the Pope and his Con- 
 clave, it cannot be much out of the way, (incc the Learned play of 
 
 Goofe
 
 7i__l 
 
 LEI T E'l? S. 
 
 Goofe was ^ravely there invented. And though by their j)olkirc 
 and pecking toward that great noddle , you would fwear them to 
 be a Houfe of Commons and their Speaker-, Ycf confidcring how 
 filently and clofely they carry thuigs , you will incline rather 
 to believe them aCouncelof State and th.e Prcfident. Efpcciaily 
 when reafon tells you, the Goofe cannot keep fwcet in the j?!acc- 
 above a month at moft. 
 
 Well, when 1 fee their Ruffs and gravity, mcthinks the Lord 
 Mayor and the Court of Aldermoi are before mc, unlefs you will 
 take in the Common-Councel too, for the more wifely ordering 
 their Militia and their Priviledges. 
 
 But by the Lark being there, who fings and foars high, as iffhc 
 meant tolliow us Heaven and Reformation it fliould be the late Af 
 fembly of Divines and their Prolocutor. For if you obferve when 
 fhe is mounted to her highe(\ pitch, flie falls at once and beds in tb.e 
 earth the bafeft of the Efcments. 
 
 Becaufe fhe is a water fowl, fome perhaps miy take them for the 
 Admiral and his Mariners. But furely he was nearer truth that 
 cry'd them up for a Committee and the Chair-man. They fir as 
 clofe as if all were withdrawn and they at their Vote jand this doubt 
 lefs had been the right meaning, but that there is never a Rook or 
 Bird ofprey among them. 
 
 If you remember how you have feen the falacious and devouring 
 Sparrow beat out the harmleG Marten from his ncft , that he may 
 Chirp it where he never built ? You will be politive, they are Coun- 
 try- Sequeftrators, if not Habcrdafhers-Hall. 
 
 By their order and attention , who would not take them for an 
 Indefendent and his Congregation, yet I confefs the crcdting of their 
 Bills look" fo like hands lifted up at the Covenant, tliat ic could not 
 but mind meofthe fliort-liv'd frfi^j'fr^f-, But then obfcrving the 
 Plover there, who like the Hypocrite ufes to cry here 'tis, here 'tis, 
 as if it would fhow us fome new light j though the defign is only 
 to fool you further off from her own haunt. I never doubt but 'tis a 
 Conventicle, and fome Lay-brother teaching them. 
 
 Oh! But beholding the long- Bills, I durft do no other but allow 
 it for an Army and their General, and efpying a Diver with a black 
 head-piece among them, 1 was the more confirm'd in't , he was fo 
 like a Jefuiie. 
 
 By the Partridge lagging behind , methought it appcar'dlike a 
 Country-Seffions with both the juries about it lillning to the 
 Charge , where undignifi'd birds perch it on the Hench, while the 
 Gentry (if any at all) are fain to fneak but in the train or taile. 
 
 When the writing quality of the Goofe comes to mind, I ftraight 
 think oftbe Univerfity and her Chancellour. 
 
 But indeed after all, v^hen I lookupon them with their heads off,' 
 am refol ved they were of the Royal party 5 fo muft be cither the Bi- 
 fhop and his Diocefe, or the larc Houfe of Lords with their Keener 
 . ^ TtiU'
 
 LETT E^S. 
 
 7? 
 
 Thus you fee they may fit all Societies you lliall plcale to apply 
 them to, even from the Emperour and his Nobles to the mcancft 
 Mafter and his Family s and you will bclceve this the truer , when 
 you know that in aPye as part of my thanks, there is an inthron'd 
 Goofe, attended with Woodcoks,Plovers, Wild- fowle, Partridge, 
 Larks and Sparrows, Venifon is fo wild, as 'tis run out of our Coun- 
 try. Being a Princely dilli, it was ncccffary it lliould fall with its Ma- 
 fter, This, though a dead commodity, hopes to be made welcome 
 in London. Citizens arc ever kind to their kindred, and for this rea- 
 fon perhaps neither you nor they will be angry with me, who it may 
 be am the grcateft fool of all for writing thus, though in earneft 
 
 Tour affectionate Servant, 
 
 xr. 
 
 To theLorJ C. J. R. 
 
 My LO R D, 
 
 BEing put upon aTryal for vindicating the right of the Antient In- 
 heritance of my Family, gained from me by a Vcrdid lall Af- 
 lizes, by what means I fliall forbear to fpcak : I cannot but think my 
 fclf very happy to have it heard before your Lordfliip,wl-iofc know- 
 ledgeinthe Laws and unalterable Integrity are fo Confpicuoufly e- 
 minent , that as the unjuft cannot hope, fo the juft can never fear a 
 partiality, God knows 1 am fo far from taking away anothers right, 
 as I would not do revenge to prcfcrvc my own. I rtiall therefore fay 
 nothing at all of the Caufc, but lubmit it wholly and freely to your 
 Lordrtiips upright Judgment, as upon a full hearing it fhall appear 
 before you. Only I though it might very well become me ffor the 
 juft fame of your Merit in this Common -wealth, J to manifcft not 
 only this, but the defire I have to be cftcemed 
 
 ronr Lordfhifs affcCfhnate Servant. 
 
 ' XIL 
 
 To ^milia. 
 
 ft u ynu alonr (^{'d-im, 
 
 WHo I think have that gracious Prerogative of Convincing Ig- 
 norance with delight. For you have made fo much of me, 
 and afforded me fomuchexcellency ofConverfationby your good- 
 nefs and Fricndlliip, thati do confefs ( befidcs the infinite Obliga- 
 tion that lies on me by your Favours ) I find my fclf deceived even 
 beyond my owncxpedation. For 1 thought I had known you fo 
 long , that I had been thoroughly acquainted with thofe excellent 
 endowment"!, which even from your youth have grown up with you. 
 But 1 fee vcrtue is a perpetual Spring, ever budding forth fome freih 
 k beauty
 
 74 
 
 LETT E1{S. 
 
 beauty or other to take the apprehenfion of the beholder. Thus 
 the longer I know, the more I admire 5 as if you had a faculty be- 
 yond the condition of your own frail Sex, to honour your years 
 with the luftre of new graces. Like fome rare Plants that content 
 not themfelves with one fingle Flower, though excellent : but glory 
 ftill in the fucceflion of varieties, through which you have the advan- 
 tage of the ordinary fort of Ladies ; who while in a fliort time their 
 whole ftock of goodnefs may be eafily found , yours bordering on 
 Heaven does thereby grow eternal : So Jewels ot tranfcendent value 
 fcarcc ever come to be terminated by the eye , but the more we 
 gaze the greater Radiance do we find ; and when we think we have 
 viewed all,fome new Ray is darted which ftill keeps upour wonder. 
 Certainly jhad the World of Women been thus qualified, Man would 
 have thought he had been ftill in Paradifc, or at haft that he had 
 met with this life but as an carneft oi the happier to come. Thus 
 you hold me ftill with you in my thoughts, and they cannot but owe 
 you my beft thanks and my beft prayers too, That you may conti- 
 nue to be happy till you arrive at that wherein you ftiall continue 
 ever, and I hope be attended by CMadam ) 
 
 Teur ever faithfully devoted Servant, 
 
 XIII. 
 
 To a Terjon of Honour. 
 
 A-fy Lord, 
 
 TIs certain that every day was St. Srviihns, till your Letter like 
 the Dove lliewcd the abatement of the Waters, and dry 'd up 
 thofe flouds that dwelt in our cyes:So welcome was the news of your 
 own wifhed health and the Generals high civility. Certainly, your 
 Family muft eredt fome Statue to his Name,for you are as much ob- 
 liged to his Courtefic as the Nation to his Courage and Condud , 
 which fhews how Vidorious he can be without his Arms. And that 
 there are other waics to clear the Complexion, bcfides thofe of blows 
 and bloud letting ;fince by fuch foft waies of Peace he can caft fuch e- 
 verlafting chains upon others. And however his favours may lead to a 
 profpcrous fuccefs in your affairs,yct I am confident they will retain 
 no diminution of their Luftre by any the leaft Injuftice in your 
 friends proceedings. 
 
 In that of the Lady fV. I have drawn up what is to be confidered, 
 and what to be urged ; which may lliow the grounds that thofe with 
 you are to Limbe the piece upon,and will be much better from the li- 
 ving voice,than the dead Paper. Of your friends in C. I hear no found 
 at all. If I fliall fliortly get to London^ I fhall then enquire, and pre- 
 fentlytranfmit the account thereof to your Lord/hip, fince in any 
 bufinefs that relates to your concernments Khali find the content of 
 declaring my felf 
 
 Tour Lordjhips mofi^ humble Servant. 
 
 XW To
 
 LETTERS, 
 
 xrv. 
 
 To Mr. S. T. 
 
 SIR. 
 
 BEing laft week at D. where I met your affeiflionatc Letter , I 
 have been forced to let theanfwering of it lye upon my fcore till 
 now ; though even the Horfcs and the Groom now fcnt, be it felf 
 an anfwer to part ofvvbat you advifed. Your Intelligence was well 
 received at D. which tliough it hath recourfe to Lc»dcn, yet is fo 
 between the Acadcmus^ as 'tis rather the centre of both than parta- 
 ker of either. 1 lliall not defire to give you the trouble of relating in 
 writing the Excommunication of the two Women at £xf/fr,but if 
 you plcafe to let Mr. W^. know of it, I (liall hear it from him. D./Zty- 
 Ihs book Re[for!det fctrtu 1 have ; 'tis a Pen from which every thing 
 doesufually drop readily and handlomly, and I am confident in an 
 Age capable of enduring Truth, it fhall merit much commendation. 
 But 'tis a hard matter for a particular Truth to combate againft a ge- 
 neral Errour , or to bear up againft Arguments and Aflertions back'd 
 with edges ; efpccially when they have been fo long infeminated in a 
 loomy and tenacious Earth, that they can hardly be weeded up, with- 
 out pulling up the roots and earth together. The Papal Presbyte- 
 rian is as unconfutable as his Holincfs in his Chair j who muft never 
 admit to be in any one Errour , left thereby it be concluded that he 
 may be guilty of more. They put me in mind of what Pliny faid of 
 him that firft invented to faw ftones, Fuit quidamimfertttni ingemi-, 
 who though they would make us believe that it were the fliarpnefs 
 of their Engine •, yet if ever they cut thorough any thing, 'tis not fo 
 much itj as the tumbling to and fro of the Sand, that by a perpetual 
 grating difpatches their work for them. For the other book you 
 write oi^Hell-T've quenched^ I have heard of it, but have not yet feen 
 it 5 it is to be had j I (ball take it for a favour to receive it from you 
 by Mr. W. who will pay for it. 1 would fee what Arguments can be 
 ufed for the prodigious debafing of man, and deftroying not only 
 Chriftian, but all Religions elfe: How he can out-go the honeft 
 Heathen, whofc Rcafon fcund a future compenCation after this life, 
 to be ncccfTary for vindicating the Juftice of their gods. 
 
 From London we hear for certain jthc Lady £. C. hath undone the 
 Cavalier party by dying on Trldi'j laft *, perhaps by Providence fcn- 
 tenced thereto for Felony, flic by her civility having ftoln the peo- 
 ples love from all the reft of her Tribe. A Lady fo well cut out by 
 Nature, that flie might have pafs'd for a Jewel of the iarger-fiz'd e- 
 fteem, had flic not been fet in a Medal, that never could enduie the 
 Touch. 
 
 1% 
 
 k 2 
 
 XV. -To
 
 LETTE'IIS. 
 
 XV. 
 To Sir C. F. 
 
 Tvft have Sir, 
 
 SO feafon'd me with your freedom and favours, that I muft take 
 time to wean my fclf from ihofe contents I had in your compa- 
 ny : Thus wooden Veflels fill'd with precious liquor, retain a long 
 timeafter both their fccnt and fragrancy., Whercfoever 1 am, G. 
 and Sir F, are ftill in my thought : and I can do any thing fooner 
 than not remember tl cm. So you need not wonder that I give you 
 this trouble, fince indeed I am adcd by a Genius that compells me 
 to't } unlefs I would take up a war with my fclf, and attempt to 
 fmother thofe inclinations within me, which are at once both plea- 
 fing and juft. There wants yec one thing to make up my Obligati 
 on full, and I iball notbe fetledtomy liking till you pleafe to grant 
 itme-. That ifyou have it not already (as 1 hope you may) you will 
 difcover fome way wliercby I may declare , that there is neither 
 pains, nor any faculty 1 am a Mafter of, or can afpire unto, but ii is 
 wholly deftin'd to your fervice. Serioufly Sir, 1 am fo charmed by 
 your goodnefs.your flowing freenefs,your readinefs to aflift me, the 
 pertinency and gratefulnefsofyour difcourfe, that I do not know I e- 
 ver yet left any company with more unwillingnefSjOr injoy'd it with 
 more content. And if after this Fit 1 be lefs m love with the futurity 
 of my .own life,l muft blame my own Province that hath afforded me 
 fo little of fo delightful a converfation. I am now getting a while to 
 Load, which appears to this Region as the heart to the body,through 
 which its bufinefs as the ftirring bloud hath all his circulation , if 
 you have not in the Countrcy , you may have fomething to do 
 there. While I ftay you cannot want an Agent that will glory in 
 your imployment, and with much earneftnefs beg that you will ac- 
 cept of all the thariks I am capable of giving , for all thofe noble ex- 
 prcfllonsof friendlhip, that at my being withyou,you were pleafed 
 to confer upon 
 
 7our faithful and humble Servant. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 To his much reJpeBed LoVm^ Friend^ Si^r. Owen Felkham 
 
 Gent, Author of the Refolves, he thefe delivered at 
 
 London. 
 
 Pv? ^hifii& ver.t fides, drc. 
 
 T X TOrthy Gentleman, your witty, grave and fententious Book, 
 
 V V the gift of a Friend, I read greedily, taking delight in your 
 
 pithy difcourfes, admiring your grave and fententious conceitsjun- 
 
 till I came to the i6. Refehe, of the choice of Religion j where I find 
 
 it
 
 L ETT EU{ S, 
 
 icto be true that which you grant in your Preface, That \oi.i do not 
 profefs your fclf aSchollar : at Icaft here you lliewyour felfno \)[ 
 ^'me^ blottino; the ptrfcdion of your former difcourlCjVvith the black 
 fpotoferrour and ignorance in true Divinity. Remember you fay . 
 Thdt this f)Ot knotvm^, makfS iti not able to jit^^e ; why then do you 
 prefume to judge andcondtmnfo rallily the Roman Church and Re- 
 ligion, which you know not, and whofe grounds and Doctrine you 
 undtrftand not ? But I wonder nor. You confefs, T/jjt Ixf^^re jou 
 could difcern the true R !i2,ien,jott were brought up in Here fie ^ fucking 
 Here fie with jour milk -, and that even at m^ns age you did not examint 
 the fouridnefs (;f it, hut retained it as the Fai:b of jour P.ircnts. V\'hat 
 marvell then that you condemn the true Roman Faith, whofe Soli- 
 dity and Truth you never examincd,bcing brought up in errour,with 
 an avcrfionofit ? I'ut alas ! why do you neglect that upon which 
 depends an Eternity of Torments or Joyes ? Is it fitthatluchawor 
 chy wit, as yours is, ill mlJ build your falvation upon the weak and 
 falfc Opinion of weak and unlearr.ed Miniftcrs, defpihngthe infal 
 lible Authority of the Catholiquc Church ? Ia,ip..'al to your felfin 
 this {X)int, you Pnall be judge. You fay , The Religion of the Church 
 of England U the be(l : your reafo'i is, Ih.it it r/f.ikes mofl forGvds 
 ■^lery and mans qui t. But here you arc deceived and deceive: Is it 
 glorieto God to deprive his Church ot five Sacraments , as Prote 
 Itan s do ? Doth it mike for Gods glory to deny his Lovc,Wifdom 
 and Power, asProfeftantsdo , denying his rcalprefi-^nce iathe Eu- 
 charift or blcffed Sacrament of our Lords Supper ? Do not Prote 
 l\ant5 derogate from Gods glory, making him the Author of fin , 
 and tliat he predeUinates men to eternal death by his only Will, 
 without any fault ? Isit not againft Go.isglory to teach Dodrine 
 exprefly againftthc Scripture, and to make Apocryphal and deny 
 divine Authority to the two Books of A/./rtMiYfX,7'(?^)', F.Jlher, Be- 
 cleft,tJiicui^lVifd>my drc. as Prorelknts do, and the book I fend you 
 will demonftra c ? Isir not again(t Gods glory to deny the honou 
 of an Intcrccflbur to his Mother the b!effed Virgin, and to the reft of 
 his Saints, as Prote ft .in ts do? Is it not againft Gods glory to difo 
 bey his Church, persecuting her, and perverting her by teaching He- 
 rclies, as Proteftants do ? Finally, what glory is it to God, to deny 
 him the holy Sacrifice of the Mafs , andforfakc the ancient Roman 
 Religion, the A[)oftles preached to the world, and God hath prefer 
 ved inviolable from error ? And what f^iiet to man, that holds that 
 his Church mayerrc, and hath no infallible Authority nor power to 
 unburthen his Confcience, nor abfolvc him from his fin, as Prote- 
 ftants hold ? Wherefore Proteftant Religion cannot be the true 
 Faith, which dcnicth the glory to God, and peace to men; which 
 the Roman Church and Religion grants. Yea, but fay you , The 
 ^dpifls detra^ f'om God^fnintinghim as an o!d man, and hi this means 
 dffdeifie him : Oh, how doth palTion wrap your great wit in the veil 
 of ignorance ! Sir, we dctrajfl not from God, to whom we give all 
 
 Honour, 
 
 Calvli lik I. 
 in tuitt. cv. 
 
 18 Stit I. }. 
 
 c~ '-I eft. 4. lih. 
 
 ;.f.n. 1 1. Sect 
 , !. &CJp. J 
 
 s.a I.
 
 78 
 
 John i^. 
 
 LEtTE^S, 
 
 Honour, Glory and Praife •, acknowledging his Deity and Trinity, 
 one Deity and Nature in three Perfons, yet not three but one God. 
 It is true, we paint him as an dd man, not rcprefenting by that Pi- 
 cture the Divine Eflence it felf •, tor feeing God is invihhle , incom- 
 prehenfible, without members great , without colours fair, without 
 parts meafurablc j no lineaments of body, no luftre of Art, no pro- 
 portion of fhape can falhion or defcribc him : The rcfemblances of 
 God the Father in the form of an old Man, of the Holy Ghoft in the 
 form of a Dove , are but Explications of the Hiltories recorded in 
 Scripture, or remembrances of the fliapc in which they appeared. 
 And why may not God be expreffed without detrafting from his 
 Deity, in the fame form and manner wlicrcin he hath manifeftcd 
 himfelf to mortal eyes ? as to the Prophet ifaiah, chap. 6. and to Da- 
 niel^ chap. 7. 'ver. 9. So that you calumniate the Church, when you 
 affirm us by Images to dif-deifie Almighty God, 
 
 Neither do we derogate from his Royalty and Glory, interpofing 
 our Merits as you falfcly impute. For as St. J'ohn faith, Chrijl it the 
 Fine, tve nre Branches. Now as it no ways detradtcth from the 
 Glory of the Vine, that the Branches be fruitful-, but rather aug- 
 tnenteth the fame : So doth it neither diminilli the Glory of Chrift, 
 but rather addcth thereunto ; if his Servants through Faith, Charity 
 and other Vertucs infplred and given by him, do produce fuch works 
 as are truly Juft and Meritorious. Neither are the Merits of Man 
 rcquifue for any infufficiency of the Merits of Chrifl, but rather for 
 proof of their great vertue and efficacy. For the works of Chrift, 
 not only merited with God our Eternal Salvation , but alfo that we 
 might obtain the fame through his Grace and Merits by our own 
 Merits. To give light to the World by the Sun, or to give heat 
 thereto by fire doth not derogate from the power of God , but ra- 
 ther more proveth his Omnipotcncy, whereby he could work thofe 
 things not only Himfelf, but likewife could give to his Creatures 
 the power of working. This is the Dodrine of the Catholick 
 Church, and it is infolent Madnefs , and intolerable Pride, not to 
 believe her being direfted and governed by the Holy Ghoft. 
 
 You further yet charge us with abfurd and wicked Tenets , as to 
 hate our enemies to death, to judge it no fin to revenge inju- 
 ries. To think it Meritorious to kill anHeretick. That no faith or 
 fidelity is to be kept with him. Is it poffiblc that fuch a Worthy Ju- 
 dicious Gentleman as your felf, (hould be fo far over-whelm'd with 
 hatred to our Religion, that you could harbour in your Judgement 
 fuch a wicked opinion of the Catholick Church, where Wif- 
 dom,Learning and Sandity flourifheth in the higheft degree ? Pardon 
 me Sir, you were much too blame, and amongft Catholicks loft a 
 great deal of Credit by publifhing to the World fuch abfurd Do' 
 drine for ours, which we deteft and hate as much as you your felf 
 What you were ignorant of you ihould Reverently admire, and not 
 Calumniate, nor fet for our Tenets, the errours our Adverfaries im- 
 pofc
 
 L ETT EUi S, 
 
 pofc upon us. What fatufadion can you give for the injury done to 
 Gods Church, unlcfs by a Recantation and Corrcdion of your 
 Books ? What account will you give to Chrift, whea you are fum- 
 moned at his Tribunal feat for the Calumniations you laid upon his 
 Church , by which many fouls were deceived and withheld from 
 embracing the true Anticnt Roman Religion ? 
 
 What RanfotHc can you give for thofe deceived fouls which 
 giving Credit to your Book , perfiftcd till death in the Proteflant 
 Religion, and were danined for their Hcrefie ? What Rccompcncc 
 for the Bloud oi Chrijl Jefits fpillcd and loft in their damnation 
 which will cry louder than tlie bloud of ^bel for Rcvcnize again(\ 
 you ? If you dclirc therefore to give a good account and fave your 
 foul, read this book , follow the Dotftrinc it teacheth you. Take 
 once a good Ilefolution to live and die a Romano Catholick, then 
 do Penance for your fins. Recall and corredl the errours of your 
 Book by the help of fome Catholick Divine : There arc others that 
 muft be corroded in your Rcfolvc of the choice of Religion. Coun- 
 celi the Roman Faith which ftands more for Gods Glory, and the 
 quiet and Eternal good of the foi»li and without this there is no 
 hope of Salvation. Believe me Sir, 1 love your pcrfon, but hate your 
 errours, and the zeal of your Salvation moved my Pen far inferior 
 to yours iw Eloquence to write thele rude lines. If my counfell 
 take effed, I fliall think my fclf happy 5 if not, I lliall juftifie Gods 
 Caufe, do my duty to which my eftate, & Charitas Cbrifli nrget nos 
 I befeech Almighty God of his mercy, to give you light that you 
 may fee the errors of your new Religion, the Truth of ours j That en- 
 tring here into the Militant Roman Church, you may dcferve here- 
 after to be a Member of the Triumphant in Heaven: Soexpcding 
 your anfwer,! reft, committing you to the Procedion of fwect Jcfus, 
 
 From Cadiz and the C el ledge of the 
 Society 0/ Jcfus the 23. Decemb. 
 
 Your affured Friend and 
 
 Servant in Chrifi-, 
 William Johnson. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 THE ANSWER. 
 For JMr. William John(bn of the CoUedge of the Society of 
 
 Jefus in Cadiz thtje. 
 
 To my H'ondf (Sir,) 
 
 A Bout /fugu^ laft I received your Letter, where I find you ad- 
 mire my Wit, and taxe my Hontfty : and truly 1 think arc de- 
 ceived in both. For as I may not allow your Praife of the one, fol 
 muft not endure the Condemnation of the odior •, Since Flattery and 
 Difpraife (though their looks be contrary) are fonearally'd, as they 
 
 both
 
 So 
 
 H-b. 11. 
 
 1,1 Mr. 1 1. 
 
 LETT Eli S. 
 
 both agree in men ingenuous to raife the rebuking bluili. And had 
 your Letter been as full of Truth as it pretends Charity , I (hould 
 have met that Candor in it, which now I muft complain it wants. 
 Nor is it the property of Love (which you feem to profefs) to take 
 a worfe fenfe where a better is more probable, as even in the begin- 
 ning you are pleas'd to fall upon. That 1 [ay I do not profefs my jelf a 
 Scholar^ you objeft as matter of Ignorance, forgetting that to any un- 
 partial underftanding, it will be conceived a Scholars life is not my 
 profcflion. For I have liv'd in fuch a courfc, as my books have been 
 my delight and recreation , but not my Trade : though perhaps 1 
 could wifl] they had. The next you bid me remember that I fay, I 
 This not knowing makes m not able to Judge : And 'tis true I fay fo, 
 and am ftill of that opinion. I tell you Religions arc in feme things 
 fet in heights beyond our reafons reach. What think you of faith ? St. 
 PWwill tell you 'tis the evidence of things unfcen, and fo unknown. 
 Let me a little bold to a:?k you, it your rcafon can track the Mi- 
 raculous Conception of our bleffed Saviour ? Can your rcafon fatis 
 fie you In the Hypoftatical Union ot his Divine and Humane Na- 
 ture, or in the Nlylkry of the T»inity, the Rcfurrcdlion aiul Immor- 
 tality of the Soul ? In thcfc and many others I do confcfs my weak- 
 nefs, but does this therefore concIuJe that 1 know not the Roman 
 Church nor Religion ? How come you to know that I know it not ? 
 I'm fure 1 never'told you fo. Next you faylconfefs that before I 
 could difcern the true Religion, i was brought up in Hcrefie, fuck- 
 ing in Hercfie with my milk j and that even at Mans Age 1 did not 
 examine the foundncfs oi it , but retained it as the Faith of my 
 Parents. 
 
 Certainly.if Idid this Ifcarcedefcrv'd your Charity. 'Tis a de- 
 gree of impiety I have not heard of, that any did continre to live in 
 that Religion which his own Confcience did tell him was falfc, and 
 he fo told the World. When you think what an unpardonable fin 
 you accufe me of, I am confident you will repent your Charge. 
 For to my apprehenfion, it may be the fin againft the Holy Ghoft ^ 
 if there be but Malice (which you cannot fee) and 1 wifli all Chri- 
 ftians fret from. 
 
 But (Mr) can you or any man juflly from my writings infer this ? 
 Go again to your own breft and fee whether I fpcak as ex Confe(fo of 
 my felf, or as a complaint, that 'tis a mifery to which mankind is in- 
 cident ; and therefore the very next words are. What a lamentable 
 weakne[s is this in Man ? Accompanied with fo many complaints 
 againd it , as 1 think it is not polfible any thing of rcafon can con- 
 clude, I mean my felf. What think you of this in St.AuguJline ? — 
 SimpUces CT Indo£ttR(gmim Ccelorum rapinnt,& nes cum Uteris noflris 
 ad hifernum defcendimus : The fimple and unlearned get up to Hea- 
 ven, while we with our knowledge fink down into Hell. As I take 
 it the manner of fpcech is the fame: yet, I hope you will not cut of 
 this conclude that St. Aifguflme confeifes himfelf to be damned. Ifj 
 
 vou i
 
 LETTERS. 
 
 you would have wriCj you ihould have otfcr'd Grain, noc Chaff^this 
 fhamesyour Pen. 
 
 After this you charge the Pro'eftants of being prtjadicial to Gods 
 glory by robbing his Church ot five Sacraments. I deny not but 
 fome ofthofe may in fomc fenfe be fo called % and are fo termed by 
 fome of the Fathers. But we Itave not like Authority from Scri- 
 pture or Primitive pradife, as we have for the other two. Nor do 
 any of the Ancient Fathers certainly define the number feven. Nor 
 do they all fo much as in words acknowledge all.In our two alJ agree 
 and ever have agreed. For them we have warrant from our Saviour, 
 ite Saptizate^ &c. Hoc factte^ c^c. Go and Baptizc&c.DothiSj&cc. 
 
 For the real prefcnce fas you hold it) I take it for the Monfter of 
 your Church.ln Religionthcre may be things above rcafon-buicrof- 
 iing and overthrowing plainly the Fundamentals of Nature and Rea- 
 fon, I believe there arc not. Whether you grant your Tranfubftdntia- 
 lion by conierfien as the Domink!dns,ox hyfucefion as the Francefcans 
 yet in the Mam you acknowledge a Miracle, elle 'tis not Tranfubfidn- 
 tiate. Now if in any Author Divine or HHmane you can tell me of a 
 Miracle wrought, and yet no Miracle appear, as 'tis in this where 
 you will have Flefh and Bloud under the Species of Bread and Wine, 
 then I have done and lliall recant my error. When Chrift turned the 
 water into Wine^ it appear'd Wine. When he told the people 
 ^airm daughter was not dead butafleep, they laughed him to fcornj 
 becaufe to their fenfe they fawit othcrwife. And if he had brought 
 her out rtill dead, and told them fhe was alive, would they have be- 
 liev'dhim, or would they not have laughed much more? Iffhehad 
 not appear'd alive, where had been hvi Miracle, or their belief? Rea- 
 fon, Nature, and Senfe cannot in this kind be deluded with either 
 words or fallncies. But for mc to believe that to be Flelli, which 1 
 fee and tafte Bread, is to turn Mad man , and for an unwarrantable 
 Faith forfeit both myReafon and Senfe. 
 
 For Prcdeftination you urge Calvin. But fSir) the Church ot 
 £»^/<i»^ is not bound to iiis Tenets, nor do 1 hold my Faith from 
 him, but from my bkffed Saviour and his A poflles. Let it fuffice, 
 I hold man fain to be the fubjedof Predeftination.l believe no man 
 faved but by Gods Mercy : No man damned but by his own de- 
 fault. 
 
 The books wliich arc Canonical, T hold to be ihofe which were 
 fo held by the ^iws, cited and owned by Chrift and his Apoftles , 
 and the Primitive Church. And this I take for good Authority, fur- 
 ther I dare not go unlcfs 1 could fee better grounds. 
 
 Nor do 1 deny the IntcrcclTion of the blcflcd Virgin and the reft 
 ofthe Saints, by praying for the Church in general. But Invocation 
 is out of my Rode, 1 ufc to pray to notViing that I do not fee , but 
 what I know Omnipotent, Omnilcient, and Ubiquitary. 
 
 Gods Church though it be not Roman, 1 obey without teaching 
 Hercfies. 
 
 I In 
 
 8i 
 
 Mic.i8.i9. 
 I Cor,ii.i4, 
 
 M'lk f. jj, 
 40, &c.
 
 8: 
 
 "Ads. 4 19. 
 
 L E TTE 3^ S. 
 
 In the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, we do not wholly deny a 
 Sacrifice. But a proper propitiatory Sacrifice as you hold , \\c deny 
 juftly. If it be proper, ll^.evv us the Body and the Immolation? if 
 that be Invilible, how is it proper ? 
 
 Surely, the true Ancient Roman Religion, which Chrift and his. 
 Aportles taught, we hold, and you do not : having fuper-ftrufted fo 
 many Additions and DeviacLons, that the right old Roman Religion 
 and the now profclTed Roman are two Religions. 
 
 And certainly , ifthe Judgesmay be indifferent, wehave much 
 the advantage of you : For we have the facrcd Scriptures,our blef- 
 fed Saviour, his Apoftles, and the purer Primitive Times, and the 
 late Reformation, or Rcvivement rather,all on our fide; And you 
 have only the intervention of 800. years, for fomc things it may be 
 more, and for others much lefs j and thcfe either groundlefs or a- 
 gainft grounds. 
 
 As for Gods Church, we believe that it agreeing with Scripture 
 cannot erre, I believe before the Scriptures were written, the 
 Churches power was abfolute and Arbitrary, guided by the Spirit 
 of God : But they being written by Divine Infpiration, and fhe ac- 
 cepting them from her Rulej became tycd to them, which {he did 
 confirm, not make. If you urge things warrantable by thefe , or 
 not againftthem, we obey ; if crofling thcfe , th&Anfweris with 
 the Apoftles, Whether it is better to cbey Coder Man^ juJge you. 
 
 Every man has liberty allowed him by our Church to disburthen 
 his ownConfcience, to v^^ich (though not compelled j he is exhor- 
 ted ; and if he does, the Pricft has Authority to abfolve him. And 
 this in thefe things I underftand for the Dodlrineofour Church: 
 which are fo well vindicated by men fo infinitely above my abili- 
 ties, as in my reafon I am fo well fatiified, as I defire not to be fur- 
 ther Controverfial. 
 
 I deny rot but fome pri^^arte men, by the too much liberty of the 
 Prcfs, (which I acknowledge a fault ) may perhaps have publifh'd; 
 fome things not fo Orthodox; but 'what are thcfe to me , while 
 they wander from Foundations ? I am fieither Zuinglian^ nor Lu- 
 theran , nor Cahi»ifi, nor Papi/i^ but Chrift tan 5 for I build not on 
 men, but on God and his Church agreeing. His Church I believe 
 may errc, I mean a pvirticular Church*, which yet may be a true 
 Church, -and fohis : Butthis of his univerfal Church lawfully con- 
 gregated and free, in matters of Faith, I aver re, nor. 
 
 Well, you are uow come tocharge me with impofing Tenets on 
 your Church, whicli you fay'die holcis nor. But in this Charge you 
 charge me widi more than ever I put upon you, as To hatejcur St.e- 
 mies to death. To jud^e itnofn to revenue ///;«r/Vjithefe.if you resd 
 again, you will find I charge on the ^e^vs^ not you ; to clear which 
 you have ky-That he deferves netthe name of a Rabbi, r^^t hntes not 
 his enemies to death, I confefs they are put promifcuoufly, but fo as 
 any that would not willingly miftake, may diftinguilh them. And 
 
 - , . _ '. AWU 
 
 : ^ I ^nii-i -i^ii ii-*M» ■ . _ . , - b I. . (
 
 L ETT E'I{ S. 
 
 8? 
 
 you may as well fay, I charge you with Jurctjme as wich thclc judd 
 ifmes for all are fpoken alike. 
 
 No (Sir J they are only four things I charge you with ; Two, I 
 fuppofe you will not deny ; and the other two , I think, I may 
 prove. 
 
 The Firft is that you derogate from God the Father by pourtray- 
 ing him as an old man ; and riiis I cannot believe but you do. You 
 fay, they are but EKplications in J f.tiah and Daniel -^ in ij-iiah I find 
 him not defcribed after this manner,but Sittin<T on a Throm with (ucb 
 a glory, as filled the whole Earth 5 and at the htghtnefs ofwhofeprejence 
 even the Angels ("as not able to endure itj covered their facts wxh 
 their celejlial wi»gs. If you could paint fuch a Glory, I could fay 
 fomcthing in exculc : Surely 'tis a vain attempt in man, when in the 
 mod elevated fpeculations of his mind he cannot comprehend a 
 Deity, that he will yet prcfume by a Painters dull hand and deader 
 colours to decipher him. In Daniel I find him called the Ancient of 
 duyes, and his hair as pure Weol: But what Authority is this to iliapc 
 all his parts like man ? In cither Vilion there is fomething not dclidc- 
 able 5 in ifaiah the Lintels of the door moved at the Voice, and in 
 Daniel the Books were opened : Or if he did thus out of fpecial fa- 
 vour to his beloved Prophets, affumc a fliape to comply with their 
 Capacities, who yet knew to them he was not in himfelf contem- 
 plablci fliall we dare to obtrude him flatted by a Pencil, to the 
 gaze of fuch as judge but what they fee ? If vve were to paint Man, 
 I we could not give him lefs ; and fliall we fo limn God, as not to give 
 him more ? Thefe were Vifions extraordinary, wliich vve have not 
 warrant to draw into ordinary pradice. Gods Commandments are 
 to be followed by us, but all his adions draw not into example ; ef- 
 pecially fuch as thefe whereof we find no encouragement , but in fe- 
 veral places abfolute prohibitions} as— All Nations are to him as no- 
 thing, Icjs than nothing and vanity ; to whom then rvillye liken God ? 
 or whatfimiliiude will jefet up unto him ? and this repeated in the 25. 
 Vcrfe. And a little after God fayes, Ue will not give his praifc to 
 Images. Yea, and in Deut. Mofes delivers it with a - Cavete valde -, 
 for ye (aw no jimililude in the d.iy that the Lordjpake unto yoit in Horcb, 
 out cf themidjt of the fire. Methinks for this you might take Gods 
 own word to Mofes,— Thou canfl not fee mj facejor there fhall no man 
 fee me and live — . How then can vve reprefent that which yet we ne- 
 ver could, and God himfelf fayes vve cannot fee? By his glorious 
 Attributes God is known, but no corporeal fliape could ever yet cx- 
 prcfs him. What dimenfions will you give to him diat has none? 
 He that will paint himfelf a God, gucffes out an Idol-, and even his 
 Back-parts (as they are called) were fo bright,as by Mofcs they were 
 undefcribable : His convcrfation vvith God in the Mount (licking 
 fuch a glory upon him, as the People were not ,ablc to look on. 
 How dctcftable it was to the J'-cws I need not tell •, nor do I believe 
 in the primitive Times that you can. find a Vathcr pleading for't .' 
 . ' '' '' I 2 The 
 
 1.1 40. 17, 
 
 E-cjd 
 
 J3
 
 84 
 
 1 
 
 Can. jtf. 
 
 ln?fal. ii8 
 
 L'b. I, fuptr 
 Luc. 
 
 Z.ii.4/«f 15. 
 
 quxji 1. 
 
 Pun 5. qiiiejl. 
 ij.dit. J. 
 
 han. 
 
 Miaut. Tm'ly. 
 
 Pfil. 53.11. 
 
 LETT Eil{S. 
 
 The Council of Either is fayes, — Placmt pHuras in Eccleft* e(fe nen 
 debere, nt quod colitur^aut aderatttryin farietihui depif3gatur:'We con- 
 ceive there ought to be no pidures in the Church , left that which 
 ought to be adored and worfliipped, be painted upon the walls. 
 Saint Ambrofe was not of your opinion when he f aid, — Invifihilis 
 Dei Imago nen in eo eji quod videturjed in es utiq^quod non videtur, 
 The invifible Image of God is not in that which is to be fecn , but 
 in that which is not feen. And again^-Neccorporalihn eculii Deui 
 ^U£rftur^ nee circutnfcribitur i>ifa,nec tailu tevetur : God is not to be 
 lought with coporaleyes, neither is he circumfcrib'd by fight, nor 
 can he be retained by any corporal feeling. How then can fuch be 
 fet in Figure ? Inftfienttd fumma eft, & impetatis^ fignrare quoddi- 
 linum efi : It is the higheft folly and the greateft Impiety,to make a- 
 ny draught of that which is Divine. Saith Damajcene^ to which alfo 
 Dut and does accord, -Fattirim ejt imagines facere ad reprefentan 
 dum Veum : It is a fottifli thing to make any Image wherewith God 
 maybe rcprtfented. /^ndyour Aquinas , 500. years afrcr hinj, 
 has it pofitively thus, — -Jpfi autem veroDee ^cum fnincoyporeui^nul- 
 la Imago corf oralis poti(l pent : For the true God, fince he is incorpo- 
 real, there ought no corporal Image to be made. Saint Auguftine 
 comes home to your own phrafe of Explication, Nefcio quid in nobis 
 (piritualiier (jr corporaliter facit Deui:q»ed nee [onus fit quipercutidt^ 
 nee color qui oculis difcernatur^ nee odor qui naribus capiatur^necjapor 
 qui faucibus indieetur^ nc durum &moUe quod tangendo fentiatur:^ 
 tamen aliquid ejl, quod [entire facile, explicare non pofibile ; 1 know 
 not how it is, that both fpiritually and corporally God ftill worketh 
 in us •, fince he is neither a found that is audible, nor any colour dif- 
 cernable by fight, nor any fcent that is taken by the Noftrils nor,any 
 rafte that is guftable by the Palate -, he is neither hard nor foft, nor 
 to be perceived by feeling : and yet he is fomething to difcern^but not 
 poflibly unfold or explicate. Yea, even before the Gofpel it feems it 
 was the opinion of the wifer fort of Philofophers, — Zenophon for- 
 mam Dei "verinegat 'viders poffe^&ideo qu£ri non eportere. — ^^em 
 colimus Dtum^ nee ojlendimns nee videmos ; imo ex hoc Deum credi- 
 mus., quod cum [entire pe(fumtts, videre non pcffumus : Zenophon de- 
 nied that ever the form ofthe true God could be feen, and therefore 
 we ought never to be in queft of it. — The God that we worftiip we 
 neither il^ow nor can fee j and even fromthis we know him to be 
 God, That though we can perceive him, yet with corporal eyes we 
 never can behold him, Sayes the eloquent Lawyer, 
 
 If there were no more but the evil confequence, it were enough 
 to deter all Chriftians from it. For , however your more learned j 
 know he is not pourtrayed, yet the poor and uncapacious Vulgar 
 think him to be fuch as they fee : Whereby the Fools Jeer in the 
 Pfalme falls upon them,— T^&oa thougbtejl I was e^en fttch as thy felf^ 
 hut I will repr I've thee, &Ci And fure in fo many Fathers of Trent, it 
 may appear a kind of Soloecifme in judgment, that they would teach 
 
 one
 
 L ETT E'Ji S. 
 
 8^ 
 
 Ofiechin^ by Example , and yet give the contrary in precept -, a^ to 
 allow tile illuftration ofthe Divinity by Figures, and yet teach the 
 people that the Divinity cannot be figured. Befidesall this that it 
 does among the ruder Chriftians , it infinitely fcandalscur Religion 
 and God among ftrangcrs : If the ignorant Indian ox remote Ameri- 
 can rtiall find the Chriftians God an old man, and fometimcs with 
 three faces to one body, as I have feen the lewd Idol ofthe Trinity > 
 and fomeiimes two bodies and a Dove ; or an old Man, a Lamb and 
 a Pigeon : They have no reafon but to think as well of their own 
 proper Idols •, and ofthe two, Heathen Jupiter may as well be lik'd; 
 for he was figur'd as man in his ftrcngth, naked, and with Lightning 
 u\ his hand : But yours is in decrepit age, weaponlefs, and wrap'd 
 in Furs, as if he needed warmth. A nd for the other, the old Roman 
 Trivia may as well be rcckon'd en, 
 
 Thefe are not only guilty of dif-dcifying him, but they turn God 
 into a prodigy, and confirm luch as are yet no Chriftians more ftrong- 
 
 ly in their own Idolatry, Sic dceelo dear fumgrav ant; & a X)eo 
 
 verg ad mat en as avocant : Thus grofty they fink down from Heaven, 
 and from the true God unto dull materials lead their Profelytes, 
 Thus from being a moft pure, omnipotent and incomprehcnfible fpi- 
 ritual Eflcnce (and by being fo conceived, aweth the inquifitive and 
 rcvolutive Soul of man) he is hereby degraded, and thruft down in- 
 to thefcaleof the finful, weak, corruptible creature, which needs 
 muft load him with contempt. 
 
 To my apprehenfion the Apoftles is even a home TaK to this , 
 
 Whenthej j)rofe([edtbemfetves to he wife thej became fools: Ts^ 
 
 thef turned the glory of the incorruptible God to the fimilitude of theJ- 
 mage of a corruptible Man. Queftionlefs it was to avoid this •, that God 
 in all his Colloquies and Appearances to man,did ever come in fomc- 
 thing that was ihadow ; as if he would be fo invelopcd as man fliould 
 not know how to pencil him \ fuch was the Burning Bufh, the Pillar 
 of fire, the Cloudy the thick Darknefs, the Whirlwind, the [mall jliH 
 Voice, and the like. 
 
 And even to this may be added that which Saint ^mbro[e fayes , 
 after he had wholly condemned the dcfcribing God in a bodily 
 fhape, when God Ihewed himfelfin any outward Figure, Non Fit- 
 ter inteHigitur, fed Filius : The Son, and not the Father, is under- 
 ftood. 
 
 For the figuring ofthe Holy Ghoft by a Dove, it may be plead- 
 ed that the appearance was more open, as being fub ^/<j,in_the clear 
 day, and witneffcd by many ; whereas the other were Vilions, and 
 not perfpicablc with corporal but mental eyes. Ot this I find two 
 Opinions-, one that it was a real Dove that appeared, thus Tertulli- 
 an, Sa.\nt ^''gu/line, and your Maldon ate : Ifthisbetruc, how muft 
 the Holy Ghoft be alwaies put in this form ? You may with the 
 fame reafon for the Devil paint a Herd of Swine, becaufe with our 
 Saviours leave he entred and precipitated them into the Sea. The 
 
 other 
 
 ^efltii 9. de In 
 VUC.T.- Sait^o- 
 ■ um, &c. 
 
 1 1 ilifite fe- 
 '.Hiulum ufum 
 •cciif. Siiiim, 
 Im'^i . I jio. 
 
 \limit. Tailx. 
 
 K.o:n. 1.11,13. 
 
 Mi'diut. 
 Mil. J.
 
 8<5 
 
 6 Covc'U, Cm- 
 
 (ItathopolitM. 
 
 CM. il. 
 
 De Jujl. llb.'i . 
 17- 
 
 difp.itz. £.3. 
 
 Sef.6.cip.i6. 
 
 CM. 3 1. 
 
 Aug.Bpijl. 19. 
 
 « 
 
 I Cor. 13. 
 
 LETT E I^S. 
 
 other opinion is, that it was an aflumed fliape ; not that it was a 
 Dove indeed, but appeared fo to the Beholders : and this fecms to 
 fute with the words of the Text, which {ayes it was ejuafi Columba, 
 as if it had been a Dove : And it it were but like, it could not be the 
 thing really, fo not the ftiape of the Holy Ghoft upon every occafi- 
 on to be put upon it, fince at other times it varied. So that though 
 perhaps the hillorical ufe reftraincd to that {lory only, may not be 
 totally unlawful ; yet in regard no hurt can come by omitting it , 
 and there may beharna by the rcprefcntation, (for which we have 
 no Authority from Scripture ) I think it were better forborn. And 
 becaufe the Canon forbids the exprefTing Chriit by the form of a 
 Lamb, CAranzA from the fame reafon concludes, — ■ i'rehibtierunt 
 Spiritum SanBum (ub Columba fgtirArt : They forbad the Holy Ghofls 
 being reprefented in the form of a Dove. 
 
 The fecond is that I charge you with intcrpofing of Merits •, 'tis 
 confefs'd I do {o ; and I perfwade my felf molt juftly : You will not 
 deny but your works through grace are meritorious; Thus BclUr- 
 mine. Opera bena jttflerum abfo/iite cdemeritortA viu aterna txceri' 
 digno : The good works of ju{t men abfolutely, and out of condigni- 
 ty do deferve eternal life. And Vafques plainly in a manner excludes 
 the merits of Chri{t •, he hath it thus, — - — Cum opera jufti condign} 
 TfiereaKtur vitam xtervam, tariqttam dijualem mercedem ^ pramiiim^ 
 non opus efi interzentu alierius mcr.ti condigtii ^ cjttale eft meritum 
 Cbrifii, ut its reddatur vitA sterna .♦ Since the works of the juft do 
 worthily merit eternal life as an equivalent reward and rccompence, 
 there is no need of the intervention of any others merit of condigni- 
 ty ^as is the merit of Chri{\ j whereby eternal life may be obtained. 
 And the Council oiTrent bluilers cut u4»athen!a, Accuncd, to thofc 
 who do not hold it, 'Tis true, in a regenerate man I believe the ef- 
 fence of the work is geod, becaufe Grace is the primus motor ^ Firft 
 mover : but in all men thcfe works are {lained both privacivcly and 
 
 pofuively : Privatively, by want of perfect Charity, Ptenijfima 
 
 ihaitas efi m nerriine , dlud autim quod minus eft (juam e[fe debet , ex 
 vitio efi % ex quo vitio non (ftjuftus in terra : Pcrfed charity is not in 
 any body, and that which is lefs than it ought to be, is from defc*51: 
 and {in ; and by this means there is not any man jufl in this world. 
 Can you think your charity, while you have your flcfh about you , 
 can bear that noble flame it ought ? Can you love God as you 
 ought, and that without diflraftion ? Can you heighten It to that 
 clear brightnefs which the Apoitle gives it ? Certainly, if I ("hould 
 think fo, though my Faith were very flrong, I lliould have caufe to 
 doubt my own falvation : Nay, the itronger it were,the more I were 
 in danger^ becaufeat laft I fhould findit mifplaccd^ and my Faith 
 would be in works, and not in Chrift that faveth. 
 
 Secondly, There is in all mans works a politive ilh and this is 
 Concupifcence. Surely you will not deny but that Saint ¥aul was 
 a regenerate man when he wrote his Epittleto the Romans^ yet he is 
 
 plain
 
 LETT E'Ji S. 
 
 plain in this cale and laycs, 7 iuu when he tvuuU dugood^ he iS ihnf yo- 
 ked, th.it evil is prejent with htm. And atccr he has found a delive- 
 rance from this by Chrift, left he might in himfcif be thought with- 
 out fin, he conc'uJcs thus, 7 hen I my (elf i?) mind (erve the L.uv of 
 God, iiit in fnj fle{l) the Law of fir?. 2>4^';«'of himfelfwill not own 
 any fuch pcrfcdion, but makes God the God of his righteoufnefi. 
 The forcnamcd Apoftle held on in the fame fteps, and faycs , By the 
 ^race of God lam that I am : and Left this fpcech mi^ht be taken of 
 his Vocation, in the fame Vcrfc he fpeaks the fame of his works, 
 / Ub 'tired more al/ii/idantly thju fhey alt^ yet not I, bttt the grace of 
 God TV hie bis in me. 
 
 Job J ofallweread, was the moft confident of his own In'cgri 
 ty, (which indeed was rare and gloriaWc To men he bo ifted loud, 
 and thought it fuch, that he began to brave the Almighty : But 
 alas! when God came to argue, — Who k this that darkens coanjel 
 by wards rvi:!iOnt knowledge ? — Then ^'''^ fl-igs, and falls, and cries 
 out, heisvi'e', will in humble filencc with his own hand clofe his 
 mouth , and at laft abhor himfelf, and repent in duft andafhes.Me- 
 rit in your fenle ! why fure a Subjed, though he fp>;nd his Eftatc, 
 his Life, his Fame , and all he has , for the fervice of his natural 
 Prince ; yet he cannot call that fervice Merit : For all ( if need re- 
 quire) by the Laws of God and Mm is in duty owing to him. And 
 will you yet believe you can defcrve from God, from whom that 
 you had at all a being, or that Chrift was ever fcnt, wasmeerly mer- 
 cy i-Jfe are jftjiified freely by Grace J and (which muft needs be after 
 it in timej — Eternal life is the gift of God. 
 
 And even in that Commandment, whicti is fo oft left out among 
 you, (the Second) in the end God fayes, — He will fitem mercy unto 
 thoufands cf them that keep his Commandments. If he calls that Mer- 
 cy which he Qiews to thofe that do obfcrve them, who (liall dare to 
 ftyle it Merit, exading reward mccrly for the works fake ? Oh vain 
 andcmpcy boafting ! That Man, who cannot but be daily conlcious 
 to hirafelfofhisown Impcrfc6tions,fhouldyet dareto conteft with 
 God, and challenge Heaven as debt for the worth of the work he 
 hath wrought ? 
 
 It cannot be called Merit in your acceptation, without fuch a bal- 
 lance of worth as to over- weigh, or at leaft fully to countcrpoifc,the 
 thing that it obtains. And in this way towards merit Man cannot 
 go higher than in Martyrdom •, but how much inferior all the works, 
 all the PerpcflionsofManareCof whichGodhasnoneed)incompa- 
 ^ifoSl of Eternal Life, and the unchangeable felicity of the Saints, be 
 you but judge; or do but remember how the ApofUe Heights them 
 with a Re^r minine pares, &c. 1 think them not fit to be com- 
 pared. 
 
 Further, it is not in ihc power of any Creature, by it felf to raifc 
 it fclfto a higher pcrfedion, than in its firft creation it was kt in : 
 Now the height of mans per feftion was a- -roffe non ptccari^Vcx^t he 
 
 might 
 
 87 
 
 I Cor. 
 
 IJ 
 
 10 
 
 (ub 38. 
 41 3 
 
 Rom. }. 
 6. 
 
 18. 
 
 Ronv 8. iS.
 
 ss \ 
 
 LEI T E'l^ S, 
 
 AiTM \l9l- 
 
 BertrMci.d'AT- 
 ge>ic.HiJt 'is 
 Brct.Ub.-i- CJp- 
 
 Aug.dt P'i\ 
 Hijt-dc ptufu 
 ma'jO'h de Bret 
 
 Alonfo Upcxj 
 in Subiliaiici 
 p.irt. I . 
 
 P. Mtth. ii 
 Summ. Coafi. 
 Coi. Pii. J. 
 
 might not have fiiincd ; and there he might haveftood: Bur now 
 in his glorification he attains to a ~ Non pc(fe feci:are ,lh^t he can- 
 not fin ; to which by himfclf or his own nature he could never rife , 
 but as he is carried by his merits that was more than man. ' T is Chriih 
 Magnetick force which draws the faithful after bim ; who touch'd 
 by him J though they have the adhering quality, ye like Needles 
 as they hang they quiver, when all the aitraftion is in the Load- 
 ftone only. 
 
 You may plcafeto confider befides, That whatfocvcr is God> 
 own peculiarly, the creature cannot have an Intercftin, but by hi= 
 free donation. Joycs unfpcakablc and glorious are Gods alone : 
 their fountain is in him. Man may do good works, adions brave and 
 fplendid ; and God maybeftowthofcin recompcnce of thefc: yet 
 had they all the perfedions Humanity can be capable of , I fee not 
 how they can merit that from God, which but mcerly by his mercy 
 he is not bound to part withall. Let a Subjc6t do his Prince never 
 fo great, never fo gi'odly fcrvicc *, 'tis true, 1 believe the Prigce both 
 may and will reward him fas is ufual) widioneor other Tile of 
 Honour : But though he does, even that which we do call reward, 
 is in him an aft of bounty, which if he did no' do he did no wrong, 
 becaufe the root ot Honour is in himfelf, and freely 'tis in his owa 
 choice, whether he will impart it or no. Good works to be rewar- 
 dable we acknowledge as well as you ; nay more, we believe God 
 has bound himfelf to reward them , but 'tis by his mcerly graci- 
 ous mercy, and his free voluntary promifej and noway for the value 
 of the work done. 
 
 And it fcems to me, that the Princes of this world, as led by the 
 fameinftinft, and jealous of their own Prerogatives; though they 
 have highly rewarded their Favourites with Honours, yet they have 
 cared for the moft part to have thofc rewards expreffcd as the a£ls 
 of their own free grace and bounty. Thus Philip le Beau of France. 
 creating John the fecond Duke of Btittiign into the title of a Peer 
 of the Realm, after enumeration of many Services, the Patent runs 
 thus, — Iffum de gratia nojlra promovetnus in J'arem &c.Oi out fa- 
 vour we advance him to the degree of a Peer, &c, 
 
 ^fjno 1433. the SucGcffor of the fatd Duke made ^ean de Beau- 
 maneire Lord of Bois,(^c. and the Patent hath it thus,— /*<»»/• f*rte 
 de remuneration de noftregrace^—avons donne,&c. In part of recom- 
 pence of our grace and favour we have given, &c. And Spanifh Pa- 
 tents I have (cen having ix, —EfatisfAciion delos dichos jervicies de 
 mi propria motu, &c. In fatisfadion of the faid fer vices of my proper 
 motion, &c. In £»^/4»^ anciently they faid, — Sciatis quod nos de 
 gratia riofirafpecialt,(!r meromotu no^ris, — cencefferimus^&c. Know 
 ye. That of our fpecial grace and our free motion we have gran- 
 ted, &c. In the Bull of Pim the fifth, whereby he created Cofmo dt 
 Medicis^ Magnum Etritrix Ducem^ Great Duke of Tufcanj or Flo- 
 renct-^Khc words are thefe,- Mdtu propria — & tnera Uberalitate neftris 
 --creamus.
 
 L ETT E'J{S, 
 
 — creawusj Ot our proper mocion— and our mccr bouncy-- we ere-, 
 ate, &CC. And though fometimcs perhaps they call'd thofe fervi- 
 ccs Merits ^as comparatively I deny not but they might) yet they 
 never held them fuch as could cxad reward, but as their bounties 
 prompted them. 
 
 It feems that the Fathers of former times had no fuch haughty 
 conceits. The opinion of St. C7;-^^<?r^ concerning merit?, is of ano- 
 ther ftrain, when he affiims,- Omfie virtntuncfirte mtruum effe viti- 
 w, cmncm humanam Jiiftiiiam cffe injuftitiamyfi deftrUii jttdicetttr : 
 If it come to be prccifely judged of, all the Merit of our Vertue is 
 Vice, all humane Jufticeis Injuftice. For which he had Authority 
 fullicicnr, /'/</. 145. 2. Job 9.20. P/zi/. 130. 3. St. Bernard isas 
 Orchodox where he faics, — 'Hoc tot urn hominii merttum/i tetarn fpem 
 fit am fotiat in eo qui tolum falvttm fecit. Sufficit admeritumfcire quod 
 nsn hdcmus merit a. All the merit of man is to put his whole truft 'w\ 
 him that can wholly favc us. It fufficeth for our merit, to know that 
 we have none. That of St. Chrjfoflome fuits with this Dodrine.— £/- 
 fi milles moriamur, eifi omncs -virtutis animi exfleamm, nihil dignum 
 ^erimui ad ca qtut ipji a Deo percepimtu .Should We dye loeo. deaths, 
 ftiould we complete all mental vcrtues 5 yet could we do notliing 
 worthy of thofe things that Gcd bcftows upon us. And in one of his 
 
 Homilies he is yet plainer Si toium temptu vita hujus occupant 
 
 ohfc/jaiajaudts tcneantur^gratiariim a£tioncs infjlant, nonpoteris pen- 
 (a'C quod debet : Should our whole life time be fpent in obedienc* in 
 tinging Praifes and Giving Thanks ; yet could we never repay what 
 we moft juftly owe. St. A^ibrofe cries ovx-Unde mlhi tantum meriti 
 cut indiilgtntia pro corona ffl : How fliould I come by any thing of 
 merit, when indulgence is the only Crown 1 havepin the Council of 
 Aurangeithas rightly {aid,--Debetur mtrces bonis operibusfi fuit,fsd 
 Gratia qnx non debetnr precedit tn fidnt. Neminem nifi Dcs rmferante 
 fjlvari—^^mtdtain homine bono fiant, qua non facit homo, Nulla ve- 
 rofacit homo bona qua non Den's pr.nfiet ut facial, heme. There is a Re- 
 ward due to good Works when they are done, but grace that is not 
 due precedes them that dicy may be done -, without mercy from 
 God there is r.ot any manth.it can be faved— and, there arc many 
 good things done by man which man does not do : But yet docs man 
 do nothing tiiat is good 3 but what God firfl: does work inhim,that 
 thereby lie m.iy be able to do it. 
 
 But fay you,Clirift merited that we might obtain Salvation by our 
 own merits. The plenitude of Chrifts merits we acknowledge, but 
 any properly our own, unlefs Ex paflo — By Covenant, by Geds 
 free Mercy and Promifc we deny •• 'Tis true,Chrift merited for us , 
 and by the application of his merits dirough Faith w, are favcd : But 
 whe re are any our own from the dignity ot works , but in the late 
 wri tings of fonic of your fide ? I fay fome, for all are not of this opi- 
 nion. But fuppofc your own pofition lliould be granted f which wc 
 do not ) yet fince you cannot merit but by vertue of Chrifts merit , 
 
 m ^wh y 
 
 89 
 
 '. Hath, in 
 Siimm.Chrifl. 
 Con. Pii. y, 
 
 (4.. 
 
 CJp. 
 
 9crm 5 J. 
 DC ComfunCl. 
 
 cordis. 
 
 Exlo-iat, ad 
 I'' I i lines. 
 Can. 18. & 10.
 
 go 
 
 LE TT E ^5". 
 
 I 
 
 Ivoni. 9. 
 
 \6. 
 
 Bell.:r. 
 
 Idem. 
 
 de Nil Ji. 
 litr. Tom. 
 
 (her, 
 ■ Bul- 
 I. 
 
 why will you rather call this your own merit than his? Since the 
 effed muft be ever in deb: to the Caufe. And even to come to your 
 owninftancc, though the branches be fruitful, yet men do not attri- 
 bute their fruitfulnefs to themfelves^but to the Vine, without which 
 they could not be at all. If they could be fruitful of thcmfclves cut 
 off from the Vine, it then were theirs peculiarly : But when they 
 muft owe it to another.— The Donor isdilTionored^when the Donee 
 is intitled to more than can be his due.// is nar in him that rviUeih^fior 
 in him that runneth., hut in God that {\)ex9€th Mercy. And he it is that 
 worketh in usbeth the Will And the Deed even of his good fleiifitre. 
 
 For my part, for man to lean againft the rotten wall of his own 
 works, I hold to be prefumptioii and a hazard. To plant ail my ex 
 peftation in my blefled Saviour can be neither -jhis merits are furftci 
 cntfor mc,and I cannot over-honour him by tru(ling:Andfurely your 
 Cardinal faw as much, when he became fo ingenious as to acknow 
 ledge his Ttttiffimrtm, &c. I am refolved to abandon my felf, and am 
 confident 1 ilia! 1 fare the better with GoJ becaufe I depend n'pon 
 him alone. Befides Sir, I dare not venture to live in that Faith , 
 wherein thofe of your fide dare not adventure to dye. I believe you 
 can hardly tellmc of any one underftanding Papill: that ever dy'd 
 confiding in hisovvn merits for his Salvation. Then I'm furethcy flye 
 to Chrift : So whofoever pleads moft for humane merits in his life , 
 his Death becomes a Rctradation,and he is then glad to let go this 
 Reed of t^gjpt, to catch at the Staff of Life indeed, Chriji ^t[ns. 
 
 Thus your Champion Cardinal (whofe Learning and Life you 
 have not many to equal ) in his laft will bequeaths his Soul to God. 
 as a giver of mercies , not as a rewardcr of merits. And here among 
 us a moft noble and meritorious Lord of the Roman Faith, w'ro 
 truly cannot be too much honoured for his parts and piety, is yet fo 
 far from this over-ftrainedcrrour, that he gives it for his Motto to 
 his Arms, En Grace affc. Nay , thofe of yo'Jr fide do not only, not 
 dye in it, but they do not live in it. For however forae licentious 
 pens have vented it of the Regenerate in general , I could never 
 yet meet with any that would pcrfonally fpcak it of himfclf in parti- 
 cular. Which feems to me to argue,that either none of you are Re- 
 generate j or elfe, that though it be voted in the grofs , yet you do 
 not believe that it will hold in fpecial, Ifitbetrue, why do you not 
 own it ? If not true, why do you teach it ? 
 
 It is as ftrange that thofe of your fide ihould aver that the good 
 works of thofe that are renate, fhould out of Condignity merit Hea- 
 en (which is far beyond all that this World can Adminiftcr)and yetj 
 give it under their own hands, that thev are not worthy Govern- 
 ments Terrene and Finite,as you may find it in the Bull oiLeo the X. 
 that conferred the Title of Df/^wp^ Fidei , on our Henrf the VIII. 
 which is fubfcribed by himfclf and 27. Cardinals of that time, and 
 fpcaks thus,— Ex fuperna Difptfiaonis Arbitris^ licet imfarihus meri- 
 tis Univcrfdis EcclefiA Regiminiprtftdentes, &c. We thePrefident 
 
 for
 
 LETT EJ^ S. 9, 
 
 for the Government ot the Univcrlal Church by the Dilpofure of 
 the Heavenly Will, though with merit no way anfwcrablc to the fa- 
 vour. Away, Away ! If his Holmefs anJ all hisConclavfe who pre- 
 tend to the Treafury of ihefupcr-abundant merits of rJi the Saints , 
 dare not challenge out of merit tobc Biiliopof /Ji^wf : Let no man 
 ever hereafter have the front to think by his own defert to become 
 an Heir to Heaven. 
 
 Alas ! . though man does fomctimes fomething that is partly 
 good, what a fod of ill adheres? Evil with his thoughts is mixt , as 
 with corrupted air, Intention •, and then hoA- advantagious is that a- 
 gainft gcodnefs ? It was obferved of Jhemiflocles, That after he de- 
 nied Fortune a fliare in his Victories, attributing all to himfclf, he 
 then became unprofpcrous ; And lurely fincc your Church has thus 
 aflfumcd Merit for the value of the work it fclf, you lliall find it has 
 not flourilVd as it did before. He that docs afcribe his goodnefs 
 to himfelf, does render to the world even all his good fufpev5fcd, by 
 ufurping what is not his own. 
 
 Now, Sir, I am come to the other two ; That it is miritorious to 
 kill an Herttick, with whom no Faith is to he kep. Which Cnot to 
 fwell a Letter too big j depending one upon another, I will link to- 
 gether. Thefe you deny valiantly, and I ll:iouldbegIadyou did it 
 as juftly : I know, well enough fome of your fide are alliamed to 
 own this Doftrinc unvizorded, and therefore they feek to evade it 
 with the Council of Ctf«/?4«ff, where this King killing is covertly 
 condemned, but tacitly implied j for it fayes, /; is not lawful ar.dmc- <;ciftg , j. 
 ntorioui for tverj p Articular perfon to kill a Tyrant )iw withall ic adds, '^^'"^- Confian 
 Nan exptclaiafenicntia vcl mandatojttdicis cttjtifcKfjqiti'-.Wkhout cx- '""^"' 
 pe(5ling the feinence or command otfome Judge, ^o that for ought 
 is there faid, if the Pope or any General of an Ordcr/entcncc him or 
 command, it may be both lawful and meritorious. 
 
 I know alio there is a pretended private condemnation o^Maria- 
 \na's book, De R^ge & Rrgis Injhtutione, Of Kinijsand Kingly Inlli- 
 tution : 13ut if it be ferions, why is it not publilli'd ? Or how comes 
 it to pafs, that when this book lliould have been lufpendcd by his 
 Holinefs, he was pleafed to mittake another of the fame Authors, 
 not pertinent to the bufinefs, and let this go unrcprehendcd ? But 
 howfoever tliefe Oufts are offered to dazle weak infptdions, the 
 fadts are fo notorious to the world, and the approbation ot thofc 
 fads manifefted in fuch capital letters, as 1 mull needs think, either 
 you have read very little of your own (Idc, or clfe that you carry fo 
 much confidence about you , as is refolvtd not to bluili at any thing 
 that can f:ill fiomyour pen. 
 
 The fird Taft I vvill {\M:ak of,is the murthcr of the Prince oiOren^e 
 by Gerard,w\\o at his Arraignint nt confeffed he had imparted his in- 
 tention of tiiurther to 6Vr)f, Warden ot the Trycrs at Tour»fjyj\\o en- 
 couraged him, gave him his blclTing, and promiled to pray for him : 
 He conftfTcd alf^othathc had acquainted a jefuite of Treves with 
 
 m ^ the
 
 P2 
 
 Franclfeui ve- 
 roitu Conflan ■ 
 tiltws. par. 1, 
 cap. r, 
 
 Idem. 
 
 Ami 1589. 
 
 li Amphhb. 
 Honofu. c 
 
 15 
 
 LE TT E9{S, 
 
 the matter, and the jGfuiteaflurcdhim,if he dy'd in the attcmpt,he 
 fhould be reckoned in the number of Martyrs. And the Apologift 
 for John Chafiell fayes, the faid Gerard did that deed — Pour le hien 
 de U Venue. But for this perhaps you may plead the King c(S pains 
 perfcription, and his being a Subjcft ; which how far he may be ac- 
 counted fo, that has Soveraign power, may be difputablc: Howfoc- 
 ver I am fure 'tis far enough from Chriftian charity , at once fas 
 much as in thcmlyes) to deftroy both body and foul, by infidiating 
 an unfumm'd life. 
 
 The next is the murther of Henry the third of France , and the 
 fame Authorcommcnds this murther of J/JWfj Clement, as being 
 Centra hofiem fiiblictim (^jutidice condcmnatum^ Againft a publick 
 enemy, and one legally condemn'd. Nay , he goes fo farr as in 
 plain terms to juftifie Regicide to the world in defiance of the fore- 
 named Conciliary Decree, his words are thefc, -iVtf« chfiante De- 
 cretojupradiBi Concihi CeKJianiienfis , frivatii & ftngulislicitum fit 
 Reges ^ Prhici^es H^rcfeos & Tyranmdis cor/demnaios ecctdere:Not- 
 withftanding the Decree of the forefaid Council of Ccnjiance , iris 
 lawful for a private perfon, or for any man to take away the lives of 
 Heretical Princes, and fuch as arc condemn'd of Tyranny. If this 
 pafsnot with you, Ihopeybu will give credit tohis Holinefs ^/x/aij 
 ^inttti, who in an Oration in full Confiftory at Rome^ was not aflia- 
 medto aflimilate theAffaflination by thisC/f«8f»?, with the myfte- 
 ries of the Incarnation and Refurrcftion, and the ads o'i^udeth and 
 Eleaz&r j the King was (lain the firft oiAngufl, this fpeech was fpo- 
 ken the eleventh oi September , and printed at Faru about two Mo- 
 neths after. 
 
 The Third Fad is the attempt of ^ohn Chaftell on Henry the 
 Fourth oi France , for whom the aforefaid AuthorF^-j^.r^r^.Ct^w- 
 //4»/. has written a particular Apology j And at the Arraignment of 
 the faid ^oh» ChafteUJohn Cnignard was alfo arreftcd,and upon evi- 
 dence under his own hand, That he approved of the murther of Hen- 
 ry the Third, and perfwaded the murther of i?f«r)f the Fourth, he 
 was alfo executed. And yet this Guignard with Mariana and his 
 works is highly extolled by C/rfM/J 5(7«4r//»/, or Carolus Scribanus 
 which you pleafe. 
 
 A Fourth Fad is the horrid Powder Treafon Anno 1605. which 
 Garnet confeflcd he knew and concealed, and vvithall faid, Ittvas tt 
 be reckoned iim on g thofe works ^tvhich were nottobe commended tid den\ 
 In defence of this Garn(t\\2L% Andreas Ead£mon^ Joannes Cydonius 
 written largely, and confellerh, That not long before the difcovery 
 of the Plot in his publick prayers — Monet omnes^cjui adfolennem Ec- 
 cle(ia catum ccnveneram^Ht obnixe orent Deum frofcelici fucc((fu gra- 
 fjfim^ ctijttfdajn ret, in catifa Catholicorum jub iniiium Comiiieram: 
 He admonilhes all that came to the folemn Affcmbly of the Church, 
 That they fliould earneftly pray to God for the happy fuccefs of a 
 certain weighty matter concerning the Catholicks about the begin 
 
 ningl
 
 LETT E'JiS. 
 
 ning of the Parliamenc. And in (evcral places it jultifies this un-, 
 heard-ofpradtice in many other particulars 5 the work it felf beingi 
 approv'd by the General of the Order of the jefuits , and others of 
 that Society. And no wonder, fince 'tis now by fo many pens di- 
 fperfed, that Heretical Princes (and whofoever the Pope fayes is fo,! 
 muft fo be taken how untrue foever it be) ought not to be tolcra 
 ted :1hm Bellarmine, — Non licert Chrijlianii tolUrarc R-^em here ! 
 ticumjfiille cenetur Subdites ad fudmh<ercfin fcrtrahere .-It is not law-' 
 fulfor Chriftians to indure an Heretical Kin^, if he endeavours to, 
 perfwade his Subjcdlstohis Herelie- The like fayes Piufons , and' 
 that he ought to be made away, — id^ue ante prolatam Papde (enten- 
 tiamy Before the publication of the Popes fcntence againft him. 
 Of the fame futable Opinion is Emanuel Sa in Afhorijmi Cofifejfar. 
 i» -y^r^a Tyrannus. Suares de cefifurisdifput. 15. />«??. 6. Boucher de 
 ju(la ahdicaiioneHenrki Tertiilih. ■^. and many others. Nay, this 
 Garnet and his fellow oldcer^e are by the faid Bcllarntini for this gal- 
 lant Enterprife ftyledby the name of Martyrs ; yea, and for fuch, 
 are put in the Jefuits Catalogue of Martyrs printed at Rome. A 
 glory we l"hall never envy you, to have your Martyrs multiplied 
 by them we know for Traytors. Now I would demand, Whe- 
 ther or no the requiting Murthcrers and Sicariots with the crown 
 of Martyrdome, be not in your fenfe to make the aft meritori- 
 ous ? 
 
 And for the matter of not keeping Faith with them , I fliall not 
 need examples, the World is every where fo full. How many Em- 
 perors, Kings, and Princes has the Papacy (not only for that which 
 you call Herefic, but even upon difpleafure for (light matters and; 
 meer humane ends) dcpofcd? abfolvingall their Subjcds from their 
 fwornobedicDce,giving their bodies as Slaves, and their goods as a 
 prey to any that will tajce them. We need go no further than our 
 own //if »A-^ the VIII, by the Bull oi Paul the third, which yet 
 wrought no other cffeft but heaping of fcandal and fcorn on the See 
 oi R»me. 
 
 Among many Vouchers of this Dodrine let the bold alTcvcrati- 
 on oiCretz^er fpeak for a\\^—Tamtimidi ^ trepidi non lumus,ut a(fe- 
 rere palam vereamur Romanum Poniificem, pc^e , fi necf(fitas exigat^ 
 fubditos CatholicQsfolvere ^uramento Fiielit.Mts ft Princeps lyranniee 
 illos traffet, we arc not fo timerous and cowardly as that we lliouki 
 fear publickly toaffert, thatthe Billiopof Rome ( if neceflity put 
 him upon it) may and can abfolve any Catholick fubjcfts trom their 
 Oath of Allegiance, if their Prince lliail Tyrannically treat them •• 
 So that it will be true enough , if once a fentence brands them out 
 for Hereticks, thefwornSubje6l>, muchlefs others, need not keep 
 faith with them. Surely 'tis a rare gift his Holinefs has in making 
 Knaves and Subjcfts pcrjur'd j that even whole Kingdoms of 
 faithfull Subjefts, he can againlt the Law of Nations , Nature and 
 
 m 
 
 Religion, lliake into Traytors and Rebells 
 
 againft 
 
 De Pomif Ro 
 m.hto. 5. 7, 
 
 "hila\>At. 
 
 reiico- "(itiiifM. 
 f- > $ 9- 
 
 
 their lawful 
 Soveraignc: \
 
 94 
 
 Rom, 13. I. 
 
 Le V/edalogue 
 d'Armes cap.i^. 
 
 Idem CAp. 9. 
 
 let: r E^s, 
 
 Bift. Councel of 
 Trent Itb. i . 
 
 Idem lib. f . 
 
 Soveraigne: As if he would moxaXizt Ailxons Fable, and turn 
 the wild Hounds loofe to rend and tear their Matter j and 
 prove againft Saint /4«/, That there are Powers not ordained of 
 God. 
 
 Father Emond gives it us in right down words, and would make 
 us believe, That no man^ hew potent foever he bc^ cancontraH rvnh 
 an Infidel^ crone that hath revolted from his Ccnfcience. And after 
 this he perfwades the Prince that has Hcretick Subjc6ts ^ to de- 
 ftroy them, even againft his own Edids which granted them li 
 berty, faying, Though a mw hat committed one fault a^ainjl his 
 will J by the ha>dn'jfi of the Times^ yet there is no reafen he pjould 
 commit two. 
 
 Nay, I have reafonto think this violation of Faith with fuch 
 as you call Hereticks, to be the Tenet of your general Clergy. 
 Did not the Coujicil oiConflancc condemn ^ohn Bus and Jerome 
 of Prague , contrary to that fafe Condu(5t that was given 
 them ? And the like would the Ecclefiafticks have put m pradice 
 againft Luther at Worries, if the Emperour would have given vvay 
 to it , and the Eledor Palatine had not ftoutly oppofed it , fay- 
 ins. That itw^uld be a thin? that weuld brand the German Nam\ 
 with the mark of ferfetual Infamy : And exprt fling with dif- 
 dain , That it was miollerable for the fervice of Piiefts , that Gcx- 
 ar.anyfhi:ild draw upon it ft If the Infamy of Not keeping the publick 
 Faith. 
 
 But it is no marvel the Members (liould be thus difeafcd , 
 when even the Head is tainted. Paul the Fourth was fworne at 
 his Eledion to the Papacy to make but four Cardinals, which 
 Oath he prefently broke , in open Confiftory maintaining it as an 
 Article of Faith , That the Pope cannot be bound ^ much lefs can 
 bind hiwf elf; and 10 fay otherwfe was a manifcfl Herefie : to con- 
 tradm which if any perfifled^ be would cjtife the Jnquifition to fro 
 
 ceed againfl them. A brave Merchant no douU to deal with ! 
 In a Jugler , faftandloofc is tolerable; but in a Prelate, fure to 
 be abhorr'd. Iftoarme the Subjed againft the Prince, the Fa- 
 ther againft the Sonne, the. Servant againl\ the Mafter , and to 
 violate Words, Promifes, Oaths ; voluntarily, deliberately , ju- 
 ridically taken, )which are the facred Sandions of all mundane 
 Commerce) be to purfue the benediiflion and Legacy of our blcflfcd 
 Saviour, Peace ; then Sir, is your Religion right, and I will think 
 no more of taking it for Prophefie, Te take too much upoa jou ye 
 Sons ef Levi. 
 
 But whence is this Power deriv'd ? as I take it 'tis pretended all 
 from Chrift as being his Vicar on Earth. But affuredly Chiift ne- 
 ver owned either Murther or Depofuion of lawful Monarks ■■.. or 
 difpenfationof oaths lawfully taken. Nay, he refufcd not only 
 to be a King , but at all to be a fecular Judge, and in plain and ma- 
 nifeft terms tells us, his Kin^dome is not ef this Iforld. I read that 
 hel
 
 LETT E'I{S, 
 
 he commanded Si.Fetemox. to ufc his Sword ; but never that lie 
 qave him any temporal one That which he had he bids him put 
 l:p, with a menace if he does ufe it, and areafon why he did not 
 need it. If he had done but half as much as the Pepe^ the letvs had 
 not been cozened, for he had then reftor'd the Kingdom to Ijrael 
 St. Peter indeed commands us, tob^fuhieit io every Ordinance cf 
 Man for the Lords fake: butrvithall to Kings as Supreme, And even 
 in rcafon, that which does include muft needs be the major. Now 
 the Church fubfifteth in the Common-wealth. For although 
 they be fo nearly link'd , as for the moft part they flourilli and fall 
 together-, yet 'tis pofTible there may be a State without a Churchj 
 but not the face of a Church without a Civil Stare. Shall the 
 Eternal Son of God acknowledge a Power from God, even in a 
 Heathen Magiilrate , and under,that under one, fubmit himfclf to 
 the Igncminious death of the Crofs ? And now a thing of frailty 
 and of errors, which nc'rc had name in Sacred Scripture muft infult 
 it over Crowns and Monarchs , to which his PredecelTors ( who 
 had as much Privilcdgc as he ) have been fubmiflivc and obedient. 
 Shall the Papacy , which (had it not been for the bounty of Em- 
 perours and other Princes) had not at this day been Mafter of 
 one foot of habitable Earth, now lift it felf to ruine thofe that 
 rais'd the See ? This is to play the Serpent in the Fable, to fting 
 the bofomthat gave it warmth and life. Remarkable is the ac- 
 knowledgment of Rodnlph Duke of Swevia , who inftigated by 
 Gregory the VII. (the firft Autlior of this proud Ufurpation over 
 Kings; to take up Arms againft Henry the IV. in a Battle a- 
 gainft him received a wound on his right hand , whereof he 
 dye J, 
 
 His complaint to his Friends was thi<;. — Toti fee how my right- 
 hand is wounded. It is the Hand rvhsrcb) I [wore to Henry my Lord 
 md MaHcr^ that I would never anncy him. Bttt the Popes Coru- 
 
 mands brought me to this., to bre^k my Oath. Let them who 
 
 have incited m ja to do., confider in what manner they urged m , for 
 fear left we be brought to Eternal Damnation. 
 
 The Troop of unconfutable Writers againft the Baftard Pre- 
 rogative of the Sec oi Rome ovcv Kings, and the Abfolution from 
 Oaths folcmnly taken before God and the World is fo great , 
 and the Arguments againft it fo prevalent, that I will fay no more, 
 but conclude all with the words of a Bifliop of Paris 'in a Cafe 
 a-kin to this ; Who when Boniface the VIII. had excommuni- 
 cated PhUap the Fair, and challenged the Realm o^ France as a Be- 
 nefice belonging to the Papacy , fayes juftly , That though the 
 impudence of the Pope was wonderful to doit^ yet he thought them the 
 greater Fools that did difpnte the Bujinefs. 
 
 Thift (Sir) you fee I had rcafon enough to fay what I did; I 
 do proteft before God if I thought I had done your fide any 
 I would moft willingly recant it. For 1 have ever held 
 
 it 
 
 9'^ 
 
 Pc 
 
 c- 1. 
 
 wrong , 
 
 Ch 0,1. SI an. 
 cip. ij. 
 
 Joimei Til': us 
 Ch.o.An. 1101.
 
 96 
 
 LE TT E1( S. 
 
 3 
 
 ic a Woblenefs befeeming the very beft bravery ot a Chriltiaii , 
 rather to fubmit in a wrong even to publick acknowledgement, 
 than by any Oratory , though never fo potent, to miintain ir. 
 Put my Confcience and Rcalon tell me 1 have dealt fairly. And 
 if you confider the many other Enormities of Rome , you- muft 
 confefs me modeft , to touch you with fo foft a liand. In part 
 I will follow your Counfell, for with Gods Grace, I refolve to 
 live and dye a true Chriftian Catholicl<. But a Rom^n Cacho- 
 lick I underftand nomore than you would me, if I lliould call 
 a Council National , Oecumenical , or General , particular. 1 
 have writ this becaufe 1 would be Civiil, and fooncr you fliuuld 
 have had it 5 if 1 had been at Icifure, and had not dcferr'd it 
 in expeiflation of your Book you mention to have fent me , 
 which yet I never met with, nor with your Letter till the time- 
 before fpecified. The love which you profcfs my perfon I 
 fhall be ready to requite , which had taken me much more 
 if the many miftakes wherewith youflander me , had not thrown 
 ftain and (candal on your Charity. For your Hatred to m/Er- 
 rours , 'tis neither in ray power nor thoughts t« help it: And 
 fince you needs will call them fo, you muft pardon me that ladd 
 another to them, which is to think them none. 
 
 If you have any other matter that may be Civil Comm'crce, 
 I fliallnot be adverfe to your Lines. But for my Religion, I 
 believe my felf to be upon too good grounds to be moved 
 by your pen. And to argue more were fruitlcfs, fince even the 
 means of Reconcilement your fide has taken away. For you 
 allow no Judge but the Pope, whom ycu cry up for infallible , 
 and befides our denying that, we know by him we are already 
 
 P''ejug'd. ' .„ , • 
 
 And does it not incline to partial, when you will admit no 
 Judge but your own ? Abate but that, and the Policy and Intcrefts 
 of either fide , the Cavils and the Niceties , the Obftinacy and 
 Pcevillinefs of men , their ftudy on either fide rather to main- 
 tain opinion and come of with Viftory, than to find out and fub- 
 mit to Truth ; and then that mans opinion will not look fo hor- 
 ridly monftrous as fome would have it deemed : That even a 
 Pious, Difcreet, Moderate, Learned Papift, and a Pious, Difcreet, 
 Moderate, Learned Proteftant may be very near to be both of 
 one Religion. I am fure they have both the fame Foundation to 
 build upon, and bothwillown Chriftand the Gofpels Heavenly 
 Dodrine. So that the Frailties of both, I hope upon Repentance 
 and begging forgivenefs m.ay receive a pardon, and they in the 
 end meet together as well as at firft together they began. I am 
 not convinc'dbut that both may be Gold, only one may have 
 fomething more of Allay, and fobe fomething courfer tlran the 
 other. Two Clocks may be made by one VVorkmanshand, and 
 either of them fometimes may go falfc j Yet I would not have them 
 j broke
 
 LETTEljS. 
 
 broke bccaule chey dilagree, each may be mended and go right at 
 laft ; but their own fpring and ftring it is muft guide them. 
 
 I lliall therefore take it for a favour, it you pleafe to let mc injoy 
 my Religion in Peace : Then fhall I fo far go along w.tli your 
 wi(bes, as to pray for dircdtion in the right j making it further my 
 Petition to God, that he will vouchfafe to build up his Church in 
 Truth and Unity j and to make us both fo Members of it here, as we 
 may avoid the Errors which exclude from that above, where 1 {hall 
 not dcfpair but that you nlay be met — by 
 
 SIR 
 
 Tour Servant 
 
 Owen Felltham. 
 
 XVIII. 
 To S, H. C. 
 
 <^ I R, 
 
 AFter this Week you may take your Repofetill after the Term j 
 and you may re Joyce in't. \A hen I come up, though you may 
 have as much trouble, yet your Hand and I en will have cafe. 'Tis 
 fad that the Noble Duke hath been forced to abandon this vile Nation 
 and World : Since he could not die when his Prince and Kindfman 
 was martyred, k feems he was refolved to vex Life with Sicknefs 
 till he did dye ; fo that upon the matter he hath continued but a 
 longer Mourner, and would not live to fee the Ruine of thofe of 
 the Kings Friends, who now are under purfuir. Every thing hath 
 its end: And perhaps thefc Armatory F.xcurfions, thus fuddenly 
 fecondcd by#0_yfr and TfrOT/«^r, may make way for the Efcapc of 
 our Friend in the Tcrvr. Ptccadillo's are drowned in Capitals: 
 When the Covie is let flyc at, then all the Currs purfue the larger 
 Quarry: A finglc Bird may ftcalfrom out a Hedge unfccn. Nor 
 hath the State any caufc to be angry, that thus tl.cy are Alarum'd to 
 Armes : When an lnfurrc(Sion is once quiiHi'd, the Initiators ought 
 to be rewarded, not puniflicd 5 they enrich the Commander, and 
 arc a kind of Fermcntarion that conduces very much to the projedion 
 and Multiplication of Gold. And I commend your grave Citizens 
 that are fo wife^ as never to venture but where there is hope of gain. 
 But I am confident ifthey had not talen their Religion ex Traduce^ 
 they fcarce would ever have ventur'd at C.hriftianity. They would 
 have though it a kind ot impolitick intcreft, to have ador'd a Cruci- 
 fy 'd God. If their Deity be P/«/o, they will not be dilhirbcd at any 
 fubtcrranean Region he lliall chufe. The Ftfmire's never troubled at 
 
 n the 
 
 91
 
 98 
 
 LET T El( S. 
 
 the Changeof his Land-lord io he may keep buc his Mole-hill Hill, 
 and may hoard and breed in quiet. If the Tree give the Swine iliade, 
 they will manure the root on't,and like the Bore and Bcaft whet their 
 tusks, and harden their attires at the ftemon't, that they may there- 
 with deftroy his Enemies. But thebcft is, they have nottheobftinacy 
 to dye Martyrs, fo they may change when they have a mind to't, and 
 be as zealous to import, as they have been mad to export and expel. 
 And then they will fee that no condition is free from the Rotation of 
 humanity, for I believe the Nation will be fo good natur'd as they 
 will not be wanting to commend and forgive. And though there can 
 be nothing in me to incourage you to the firft, yet I know you want 
 not Charity to afford the latter to 
 
 Tour ever Servant. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 To the Lady B. T. 
 
 /1/.7T it ple^fe i«« Af.d.-r?ty 
 
 A S good Wits out of (lender Events do fometimcs Compile both 
 ^ Large and Excellent Stories 5 So (Madam) hath your Noble 
 Opinion been pleas'd to deal with thofe weak and inconfiderable 
 Propenfions that 1 find in my felfto your fervice •, if they have been 
 Capable of airy Value, 'tis only by the Impreflfion they have of your 
 acceptance. Whereby ( Madam) it will appear to the World, there 
 can.hardly be any Merit in others, but fuch as takes rife and being 
 from the Luftre of your own Creation. To the humble acknowledg-, 
 ment whereof, Iconfefs no man can be more obliged than my felf 
 to your LadyQiip, which (hall not only make it my endeavour faith- 
 fully to difcharge whatever you (hall think fit to impofe ; but to 
 manifeft that 1 hold your efteem and Confidence of me to be an Ho- 
 nour of fo great a Magnitude, that it muft ever have a durance of 
 gratitude in me equal with the well-being of (Madam) 
 
 TOftr mfft obedient and 
 
 faithful Servant. 
 
 Quod
 
 99 
 
 Quod in vSepulchrum volui, 
 
 Tojlquam yidtffet rotantem Mmdum^ 
 
 Imaq; fummis jhpernatantia , 
 
 ^rojpermi Tyrio fcelus imhutum^ 
 
 Dnm Pirm fordida [qnaUet in Aula^ 
 
 Secmiq; cerVicem prdibtiit : 
 
 InjHJia tamen Hominum 
 
 In jHJliffima dijponente Deo ; 
 
 Dum ^ednx Casfar 3\(jibila pellit^ 
 
 (jloYtamq-^ Cjentts tollit in ahum : 
 
 Tandem eyadens Term, 
 
 Ex My i as hie reliqmt Felltham. 
 
 Fl3\Ci ^'
 
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