Abuses stript, and whipt. Or Satirical essayes. By George Wyther. Diuided into two bookes

OF MAN.

MOunted aloft on Contemplations wings, And noting with my selfe the state of things, I plainely did perceiue as on a stage, The confus'd actions of this present age, I view'd the World, and I saw my fill, Because, that all I saw therein was ill. I weigh'd it well and found it was the Scoene, Of Villany, of Lust, and all vncleane And loath'd corruption. Seeing which my Mind, (That by some inspiration ganne to find The place was not in fault for this) search't on, To find the cause of this confusion. And noting euery Creature, there I found, That only Man was the chiefe spring and ground Of all this vproare; Yea I soone did see, He there was all in all, and none but he; Then being also willing for to know, What thing man was, I did begin to grow Yet more inquisitiue. An old Record At last I hapt vpon which did afford Much sacred light. It shewed Man was a Creature, First made by God, Iust, and vpright by nature, In his owne Likenesse. That he was compounded Of soule and body: That this last was founded

Of earth: The first infus'd by inspiration, And that the finall cause of his creation, Was to set forth the glory of his maker, And with him to be made a ioynt-partaker Of enldes happines. Growne much amazd, To read this of him for a time I paus'd, And finding now in man no marke or signe, That ere he was a Creature so deuine, I knew not what to thinke, vnlesse the same, Meant any other Creature of that name: But prying further on I there found out, The resolution of my present doubt, I saw the cause of's fall: How with free-will He fell from his first goodnes vnto ill: I saw how he from happines did slide, Through disobedience and vnthankfull pride: Yea and I found, how by that cursed fall, He was bereaued and quite stript of all That so adornd him; his first holinesse, Was chang'd to a corrupted filthinesse Then he began to draw a paineful breath, And was a slaue, made captiue vnto Death; His body was expos'd to labour, sweate, And much disquieting: He got his meat With sorrow, care, and many perturbations, And then his soule grew subiect vnto Passions And strange distemperatures. More-ouer he, So perfect miserable grew to be, That if he had not a Re-generation; Nothing was left him but meere desperation.

Hauing seene this, I made no question than, But this was spoken of the Creature Man Which I sought after: Serching further yet, On some Ap••criphall Records I hit, The workes of wise Philosophers; from whence, I haue receiued more intelligence Concerning him, for there they do vnfold, Each part about his body, and haue told Secrets of Nature very rare to finde, Besides they haue considered of the Mind: The vnderstanding part, and do relate The Nature of his soule, and her estate: Deepe misteries indeed: But cause that I Cannot diue into that Philosophy, So farre as these. And since I shall but tell, Those things which no men can explane so well As they themselues, I leaue you to their bookes, In which he that with good aduisement lookes, Shal find it largely handled: As for me, I meane to speake but what I know and see By tri'd experience, which perhaps may giue, (Although I haue but now begun to liue) Some profitable notes. First I avow, What euer Man hath beene, that he is now, A Reasonable liuing Creature: who Consisteth of a soule and body toe. His Bodye's flesh and blood, subiect to sinning, Corrupting euen in his first beginning, And ful of al vncleannesse: Then his soule, Is a pure lasting substance yet made foule

Through th' others filthines: much supprest By diuers hurtful passions which molest And hinder hir proceedings; yea hee's this, A Creature that exceeding wretched is, And that he may be sure no fault to want, Vaine, Fickle, Weake, and wondrous Arogazt. And though his nature heretofore were pure, Now nothing is more fading or vnsure. But Ile omit at this time to relate, The curses Iu'e obseru'd in's outward state, For though the body, that before the fall Susteind no sorrow, were it ner'e so small: Doth now feele hunger, with heat, thirst and cold, A feeble birth, defects in being old, With thousands more; and though each gaspe of breath, In misery he draw vntil his death. Yet al this outward change which I do find, Is nothing when I do behold the mind: For there (as I haue said) abused passion, Keepes Vmpire, and hath got predomination. Vertues depos'd thence, and Vice rule obtaines; Yea Vice from Vice there by succession raignes: Thrusting out those that Vertues presence grac't And in their steeds these hurtful monsters plac't Fond Loue, and Lust, Ambition, Emnity, Foolish Compassion, Ioy and Iealousie: Feare, Hope, Despaire, and Sadnesse, with the Vic•• Cal'd Hate, Reuenge, and greedy Auarice, Choller and Cruelty: which I perceiud, To be the only causes man's bereau'd

Of quietnesse and rest. And these I found To be the principall, and only ground Of all pernitious mischeefes that do rage, Or haue disturbed him in any age, And therefore I do heere entend to show, Ere I goe farther, what ill humors flow From these fore-named; yea I will declare, To what abuses most men subiect are Throgh any of them: For when as I tooke view, Although I saw not all, I found a few; And for because I wil not order breake, I will assunder of each passion speake.