A collection of emblemes, ancient and moderne quickened vvith metricall illustrations, both morall and divine: and disposed into lotteries, that instruction, and good counsell, may bee furthered by an honest and pleasant recreation. By George VVither. The first booke.

ILLVSTR. XXVIII. Book. 1.

SOme Trees, when Men oppresse their Aged Heads, (With waighty Stones) they fructifie the more; And, when upon some Herbs, the Gard'ner treads, They thrive and prosper, better then before: So, when the Kings of Aegypt did oppresse The Sonnes of Iacob, through their Tyrannies; Their Numbers, every day, did more encrease, Till they grew greater then their Enemies. So, when the Iewes and Gentiles, joyn'd their Powre The Lord, and his Annoynted, to withstand; (With raging Furie, lab'ring to devoure And roote the Gospel, out of ev'ry Land) The more they rag'd, conspired, and envy'd, The more they slander'd, scorn'd, and murthered; The more, the Faithfull, still, were multiply'd: And, still, the further, their Profession spred. Yea, so it spred, that quite it overthrew Ev'n Tyranny it selfe; that, at the last, The Patience of the Saints, most pow'rfull grew, And Persecutions force, to ground was cast. The selfe-same Pow'r, true Patience, yet retaines, And (though a thousand Suff••rings wound the same) She still hath Hope enough to ease her paynes; That Hope, which keepeth off, all Feare and Shame: For, 'tis not Hunger, Cold, nor Fire, nor Steele, Nor all the Scornes or Slanders, we can heare, Nor any Torment, which our Flesh can feele, That conquers us; but, our owne Trayt'rous Feare. Where, Honest Mindes, and Patient Hearts, are Mares; They grow victorious, in their Hardest-Fates.