Heraclitus: or, Meditations vpon the misery of mankinde, and the vanitie of humane life with the inconstancie of worldly things; as also the wickednesse of this deceitfull age described. Faithfully translated out of the last edition written in French by that learned diuine, Monsieur Du Moulin By Abraham Darcie.

THE MISERY OF MANS FRAILE AND NATVRALL INCLINATION AND Of the Wickednesse and Peruersenesse that now raigneth in this wretched AGE.

COnsidering to my selfe the miseries of Humane condi∣tion, my minde and spirit is so confounded with diuer∣sitie of thoughts, that I enter (as it were) into a Labyrinth of confusion,

whose issue is most difficult. For if I set∣tle my considerations vpon Nature, humane qualities or effects, those three obiects do so obfuscate my powers, that all the knowledge that I can gather, is impossibilitie neuer to attaine to the perfect knowledge of the numberlesse number of those miseries, mis-haps, and vanities affected, as inseparable to hu∣mane kinde; and to that end doe cha∣lenge all the most profound and serious sences of the wisest and most learned men,* 1.1 to effect the definition therof. Let them consider from its source & origi∣nall; yea, euen from the Cradle, where humane nature shall bee found sense∣lesse, depriued from the vsage of all the noblest faculties of the Soule; and so weake, wretched, and capable onely of teares and weepings; expressing there∣by in complaining her miseries, which doe increase faster then she growes in yeeres: She hath no sooner giuen ouer the Milke of her Nurse, but she begins to goe, or rather to fall, sith her going is in danger of sore hurts by a conti∣nuall

experience in falling. Can shee goe? She knowes not whither to goe, but must haue a conduct during the time of her second Infancy: what forme of bringing vp soeuer shee takes vpon her, the first impressions thereof are most costly, in respect of the time, and their labour and trouble which haue the care thereof, which is incredible. For as shee receiues some document of worldly science and discipline, which if it be a true doctrine, will instruct her, that whatsoeuer qualities, sciences, and learning she possesseth, yet she is still ig∣norant, and knowes (in a manner) no∣thing, and all that she knowes not, can neuer bee by her learned or conceiued, although she haue so many liues, as this world abounds with creatures.

And which is more,* 1.2 she hath not so soone escaped, and passed ouer the pe∣rils of her Youth, but she commeth and entreth into those infinite dangers of her ripe age: and that which is most deplorable, and lamentable, is, that in that fiery and burning age, shee vtterly

consumes & wasts her selfe. Or if she e∣scape, & moderates the fury & violence of the heat of that age, it is but for a time for what way so euer she treads Nature, shee still approaches neere vnto death, being alwayes in the ready way to her graue, where by degree, time hunts her vnder the conduct of old age, not with∣out many crosses, sorrowes, and tribula∣tions; for she must passe through cruell and tedious straights of anguish and miseries, no lesse innumerable, then in∣finite; which astonisheth and weares out, euen the most constant, who are in a manner not able to indure them with patience.

If we will see the body of this Tree, we must breake the barke of our condi∣tion: for it is the true portraiture of our selues, and so wee may cleerely appre∣hend it with the very same reason; con∣sidering what an infinite number of mis-haps, miseries, and mischiefes wee are subiect vnto in this transitorie world, that the infinitie of them is im∣possible to be related: for if examples be

vaine to manifest it vnto vs by compa∣rison, our imbecilitie in expressing it a∣lone, may be in some fashion eloquent: for to treate some part thereof, and that wherewith the afflicted are most comforted, is, through the assurance they haue that all men together are sub∣iect to the like miseries, and ill fortunes, except none but those who are not yet borne, or those, who in their Cradle ending their liues, finde their Sepul∣chres: otherwise let the most happy and the most contented man that now liueth on earth gaine-say it, alledging this for his reason, that he knowes not what mis-haps and miseries meane, and that in so sweet ignorance he hath pas∣sed not onely the spring of his Youth, but likewise the Summer, and part of the Winter of his age, that it is well hi∣therto, but it is without consequence, times past can conclude nothing of the future; and though it seemeth to this happy man, that although crosses, trou∣bles, tribulations, and miseries, should as it were assault him in the end of his

race, time should bee wanting to make durable and lasting the griefe of his euils and afflictions: Forasmuch as death doth alwaies and lawfully succeed old age, which should hinder and interrupt the course and proceeding thereof: but to that I will truely answer without many needlesse proofes: for surety that his last day onely is able sufficiently to make him feele and haue tryall of the most cruell and sensiblest griefe & tor∣ments, wherewith any mortall body can be vexed: therefore the most for∣tunate man that is, cannot account him∣selfe happy, but at the end of his racei sith oftentimes before an hauen Town many suffer shipwracke, that haue esca∣ped miraculously many eminent dan∣gers, in the middest of Stormes and Tempests.

But to proceed further,* 1.3 I say, that al∣though there were such a man found in this world, of so happy condition, as to haue alwayes sailed in the ship of his life, in this rough and inconstant Sea of the earth, with the agreeable winds

of his desire, and without the least dan∣gers, but rather continually to haue en∣ioyed a sweet and immutable calme; yet notwithstanding, this kinde of life full of Roses,* 1.4 will proue full of Thornes at his death, in considering, that losse and depriuation of all those pleasures, doe produce and bring forth cruell sorrows and griefes to the possessor thereof, whose minde will bee so extremely vext and tormented, that his paines and sufferings can be rather endured, then expressed: which may easily bee proued by the continuall experience that wee haue in worldly things; by this Max∣ime, the greater the contentments are, the more extreme is the displeasure and anguish in the deprauation of them, euen as gaine and profit produce fee∣lings of ioy; so losse and dammage by different effects, breede sencible tor∣ments and griefes: which moues me to conclude, according to my first Propo∣sitions, that there is no life, although ne∣uer so happy, that can bee free and ex∣empted from sorrowes and miseries:

and to adde my opinion to it, I hold, that the most vnfortunate, are the hap∣piest, considering the conclusion and end of all things; how the calme fol∣lowes still the tempest; the day succeeds the night; faire weather, raine; and ioy is still attended with annoy and sor∣rowes, according to the maxime of Heauen & Earth: all the difference there is, is, that this worlds happinesse and ioyes are temporall, and limited; and in the other World, eternall and infinite.

But to returne to our condition: to make it appeare vnto you all together wretched & miserable; we must consi∣der how time playes with it; somtimes raising vs as it were to prosperity, & in a moment casting vs headlong into aduer∣sitie; it serueth for a Marke to aime and leuell at, and an habitation and lodging of all euils: For hope deceiues our con∣dition; vanity flouts it; ambition mockes it; vices are her beloued chil∣dren, and vertues her greatest enemies: pleasure cheates her; the flesh tempts her; riches commands her, as her So∣ueraigne;

and finally, the Diuell main∣taines a continuall warre with her vntill her end.

Let vs iudge then if pride and arro∣gancy become vs well, considering all these our infirmities and defaults. Wee must not therefore wonder,* 1.5 if Humility bee the Queene of all other vertues, sith Arrogancy hath beene, and is still Princesse of Vices.* 1.6 I hold opinion with that worthy Philosopher, which in one lesson only taught all sorts of Sciences, comprehended & abridged in that ad∣mirable precept and instruction of Cog∣nosce Teipsum; and truely who in that knowledge is not ignorant, and that in knowing himselfe, will auow that hee doth not perfectly know himselfe. The way that we leade to arriue at this blest iourneys end vnto which wee aspire, is most long and tedious. So that it vvere much better for vs to arme our selues with a generous resolution, to forsake the world, before it doth leaue and a∣bandon vs; for the soonest we can, will bee late enough, to execute so glorious

an enterprize: For when I thinke and behold the miserable state of this tran∣sitorie world, and how it is infected with all sorts of execrable sinnes, a trembling horrour vnties my bodies li∣gatures, my very knees beat together, and I could vnfainedly wish my sinno∣wy structure, to be transformed, into a lumpe of snow, that the ardour of my soules vexation, might dissolue it into penitentiall teares: for men do act sinne with an auaritious appetite, and all va∣rieties of abominations are lifted to their Arcticke point. Doth not Satan coyne them so fast, as men would wil∣lingly put them in practize? Did pride euer so strut it vpon the Tiptoes, as now it doth?

Can the Diuell, out of his shape of fashions, lay open more Antike-like formes then are forged on the Anuill of mans inuention? In Court, the No∣bilitie are hardly distinguisht from their followers. In Citie, the Merchant is not knowne from his Factor. In Coun∣trey, the Gentry cannot be descryed or

described from the Rusticke; and in ge∣nerall, the body publike is so ouer∣spred with the Leprosie of that garish Strumpet, Pride, as there is scarce any difference betweene Countesse and Curtezan; Lady, and Chamber-Maid; Mistresse, and greasie Kit∣chin Wench; Gentleman, and Mecha∣nick. As for Knight and Taylor, there goes but a paire of Sheares betwixt them. How many mis-spend and pro∣fusely lauish their fore-noones houres, in the curious pranking of their sinne∣polluted bodies! but how few reserue one poore brace of minutes, wherein to prouide spirituall indewments to houze their naked sinfull soules! Neuer was the Apophthegme of old Byas the Phi∣losopher more verified, then in these our franticke times.

Most men carry their wealth about with them, not as Bias did, in learning and vertue; but vpon their back in gor∣geous apparell. Women doe so com∣monly sophisticate their beauties, that one (though Linceus-sighted) can hardly

iudge, whether they possesse their own faces, or no? and, which is more than most lamentable, euery snowy-headed Matron, euery toothlesse Mumpsimus, that one may see the sun go to bed tho∣row the furrowes of her forehead, must haue her box of odoriferous Pomatum, and glittering Stibium, wherewithall to parget, white-lime, and complectionate her rumpled cheekes, till she lookes as smugge as an hansome painted Close stoole, or rotten poste. But as for them that lap vp their bodies in the pleasant mists of aromaticke perfumes, let them withall swallow this Pill: Within a sweet and ciuet lurking body, often is imprisoned a loathsome stinking soule.

Murther is accounted but manly re∣uenge, and the desperate Stabber cares no more to kill a man, then to cracke a Flea. Vsurie and Extortion are held laudable vocations; Couetousnesse is stiled thrift; Luxury and whoredome are reputed but youthfull trickes: And as for Drunkennesse, why that's a tole∣rable recreation: Doe not men pursue

it with such inordinate affection, that they oft neglect their functions, bid farewell to that domesticke care they ought to entertaine; dislodge that hu∣mane prouidence which should be shut vp in the Cabinet of their reasonable part, and solely prostitute themselues to quotidian carousing, till their breaths smell no sweeter then a Brewers apron, whilest their families are wrung and grip't in the clutches of pouerty, lockt vp, and imprisoned from those necessa∣rie supplements, which should keepe both breath and body together at vni∣on? This is a worthy Fathers opinion: That a man possessed with a Diuell, may be thought to be in a more hopeful state then a Drunkard: for albeit that he be possessed, yet is it compulsiuely, and against his will; but the Drunkard wholly adopts and dedicates himselfe, with all the powerfull faculties of his soule, voluntarily to the seruice of Sa∣tan. S. Augustine likewise describes three fearefull properties in a Drun∣kard: It confounds nature, saith he, lo∣seth

grace, and consequently, incurres Gods wrathfull indignation to be pow∣red out vpon the imbracer thereof.

Swearing, and blaspheming Gods great and glorious Name, is reckoned for a morall vertue, the grace of birth and honour, the cognizance of an high-bred spirit.

What Christian can refraine, (that hath any sparke of Diuine intellect in him) to vnsluce the flood-gate of his eyes, and let his melting heart gush through with teares; when in the streets he shall heare little Children, scarce a∣ble to goe, or speake, to be vnderstood; volley foorth most fearefull oathes, and with such procliuitie, as if they had bin tutored in their mothers wombes; whilest their parents standing by, offer not to check them, with so much as a sowre reproofe; but seeming rather to solace themselues in their Childrens sinnes, and delight in their owne dam∣nations: like those who dye in a Sardi∣nian laughter? If the penall Law of Lo∣dovicus were put in practice; who hea∣ring

one sweare, seared vp his lips with an hot iron) scarce ten, in as many Pa∣rishes, but would be glad to be in league with the Apothicaries lippe-salue. How many miraculous Iudgemēts hath God shot out against the blasphemers of his sacred Name; whose instances would be too prolixious? What sinne can be more damnable, & yet more practised? None can sooner plunge the soule into the implacable gulfe of perdition, and yet no sinne, by intentiue endeuour, more easie to be cropt off, and weeded vp: for that it is no incidentall issue of naturall corruption, but an accidentall monster, inegndred of corrupted cus∣tome. A learned Father confesseth, That at euery other word he once vsed to sweare, but at length, endeuouring to locke vp the doore of his lips, to set watch before his tongue; imploying diuine assistance therein, and entreating moreouer his friends to smite him with the rod of reprehension; in forty daies he vtterly lost the abusiue vse thereof: So that now, saith he, nothing is more

easie to me, then not to sweare at all.

It is recorded, that Lewis the 7. King of France, diuulged an Edict, that who∣soeuer was knowne to warr against hea∣uen with oathes, should be branded in the forehead, as a capitall offender: Should not then euery Christian labour to set a watch before his mouth, & keep the doore of his lips, that no rebellious words salley forth against his Creator? If not for feare of temporall Iustice, yet, lest the God of Iustice should brand his soule with the dreadfull stigme of e∣ternall damnation, which no salue can heale, Haliacmons Floud wash out, nor length of time weare off. O lamentable▪ when the Turkes and Ethnicks out-strip vs in their cloudy and ignorant zeale: they will dispute in the heart of their highest Streets, about their Alcoran, and Mahometish religion, with holy inten∣ded deuotion. But what voice is heard in our Streets? Nought, but the squea∣king out of those obsceane and light Iigges, stuft with loathsome and vn∣heard-of ribauldry, suck't from the poi∣sonous

dugges of sinne-swelled Thea∣ters; controuersall conferences about richest beere, neatest wine, or strongest Tobacho, wherein to drowne their soules, and draw meager diseases vpon their distempered bodies.

And tell them moreouer, that by their nocturnall superfluities, and insatiable quaffings, they set but feathers in Times wings, and (as a worthy home-bred Author saith) spurre but the gallopping horse; hasten on their speedy deaths, and digge their owne vntimely graues.

More haue recourse to playing hou∣ses, then to praying Houses; where they set open their eares and eyes, to sucke vp variety of abominations, be∣witching their minds with extrauagant thoughts, and benumming their soules with insensibility, whereby sinne is be∣come so customary to them, as, that to sinne, with them is deem'd no sinne at all: consonant to that Theologicall Maxime; The custome of sinning, ta∣keth away the very sense and feeling of sinne. And semblable to Pythagoras his

conceipt of the Sphericall harmony: Because (saith he) we euer heare it, wee neuer heare it.

Many set faire out-side colours vpon their professiō of religious honesty, but beeing strictly lookt into by the pene∣trating eye of practise and performance, proue seldome di'de in graine. Some glitter like gold in their conuersation, but put once to the Touch, are found but counterfeit Alcumy. Others will needs seeme a substantiall body in inte∣grity of life; but shaken and sifted with the hand of tryall, become but an Ana∣tomy of bones.

To giue almes, is thought but a phan∣tasticall ceremony, and to refresh the comfortlesse Lazarus, is deem'd but the maintenance of idle and exorbitant va∣gabounds. O where is Charity fled? Is she not whipt & foysted out of great mens Kitchens, glad to keepe Sanctuary in straw-cloath'd Cottages? Are not larger beneuolences often distributed at the doore of one russet-clad Farmer, then at ten mighty mens Gates? The

Magnificoes of this world reare vp sumptuous buildings, onely for shew and ostentation; whiffing more smoke out of their noses then their chimneys; and it begets more wonder to see them shake downe their bounty into the poore mans lap, then to see a Court-Lady vnpainted, or to finde an open∣fisted Lawyer, that without a Bribe will faithfully prosecute his Clients cause. Notwithstanding al this, so parcimoni∣ous are they in their domesticke pro∣uision, that not a Rat of any good edu∣cation, but scornes to keepe house with them.

In those golden times of yore, Cha∣ritie was the rich mans Idoll: for they did emulate each other in supplying the Widdowes want; in comforting the Orphanes misery; and in refreshing the Trauellers wearinesse.

And it was their earthly Summum bo∣num, to be open-hearted and handed to each hungry stranger: This inscripti∣on commonly engraued vpon the front of their gates:

O gate, stand ope to all, be shut to none.

But in these our moderne dayes, they can cunningly transpose the point, and and thus peruert the sense,

Stand open (gate) to none, be shut to all.

Doe not these heauen-tempting Nim∣rods depopulate and leuell vvith the ground whole townes, crowd and iustle many honest and ancient Farmers out of their Demesne, deuastate their Possessions, and expose them with their Wiues, Children and Families, to be Camerades with palefac'd beggery, onely to lay the Basis of their Babel-out-brauing Palaces, abillimented with Punkish out-sides, to cheate the speedy approaching Traueller of his hungry hopes, as Zeuxis did the silly Birds with his liuely-limbed Grapes: as if they be in-lined with quaint garnishing, and costly furniture, & beautified with curi∣ous pencild pieces, wheron thy eye may glut it selfe by gazing, yet perhaps maist thou be chap-faln for want of victuals?

These glittering obiects are the Me∣dusas

that inchant the violent instiga∣tions, that spurre on young luxurious heires to hurle out their Angle to catch their fathers liues, and languishingly to long, till they see their mossie-bearded Sires topple vp their heeles into their graues.

And when their Fathers surrender vp their breathes to him from whom it was first diffused: then doe they mourne (forsooth) though ceremonially, not for that they are dead, but because they died no sooner.

The premisses pre-considered; what can be expected then, but an imminent desolation, or conclusiue dissolution of this foolish doting world, since vniuer∣sally it is but an indigested Chaos of outragious enormities? Religion is made the Canopy to shrowd the putri∣faction of Hypocrisie, and it's growne the highest Maxime in mundane poli∣cies, to seeme (not be) religious: equall-handed Iustice is rush'd aside, by stub∣borne authoritie, and all Morall vertues imbraced in their contraries.

How long then (most milde & more merciful God) wilt thou forget to bee iust! Oh how long wilt thou shut vp the vessels of thy wrath, and protract re∣uenge? Art thou not the powerful God of Iustice? how canst thou then be any thing but thy selfe? What infinities of sinnes are shot vp to Heauen against thee? Yet still and still thou wooest vs with the heauenly breath of thy holy Gospell, vncouering those inexpressible wounds thou receiuedst for our Re∣demption from sinne, and Satan, that we might with pittifull commiseration behold them, and vncessantly crying out vnto vs: How oft (O my deare children, whom I haue bought with the price of my most precious bloud) would I haue gathered you together, euen as the Hen doth her Chickens, and yet, nor yet, you will not be col∣lected!

How oft hath hee thundered and knockt at the doores of our hearts, with the power of his Spirit, to wake from the profound Ecstasm o f soule-killing

sinnes! yet still lye we snorting on the bed of securitie, and cannot be rowzed.

How often, O how often hath hee out-stretched his all-sauing hand, to heaue and helpe vs out of the slimie mudde of our impieties! yet still lye we groueling and ouer-whelmed in the in∣sensible Lethargy of abominable trans∣gressions.

How many warning-pieces hath he discharged vpon vs! How oft hath hee displayed his milke-white Ensignes of peace vnto vs! What deuouring plagues; what fires; what inundations, what vn∣seasonable Seasons, what prodigeous Births, what vnnaturall Meteors, what malevolent Coniunctions, what omi∣nous apparitions, what bloudy assassi∣nations of mighty Kings: what Rapes, what Murthers, what fraudulencies be∣twixt brother and brother? what hor∣rible conspiracies by sonnes against fa∣thers? All these sent as Heralds against vs, yet will wee not come and bee re∣conciled.

These prodigious precursions, or

precursiue prodigies, should deterre each humane creature from spurning a∣gainst his Creator. These pre-moniti∣ons should instruct vs, that Gods dread∣full vengeance waits at our dores & like a staru'd Tiger gapes for our destructi∣on: And notwithstanding he doe for a while fore-slowe to let fall his flaming rod of fierie indignation vpon vs, yet is the Axe already laid to the roote of the tree, and God must and will assuredly come to iudgement; seeing that now not any of those ancient predictions my∣stically pointed out vnto vs, in the soule-sauing Writ by the holy Prophets, re∣maine vnfinished, but onely the finall destruction of that Romish seuen-hea∣ded Monster, together with the recol∣lection of the vagabond Iewes, into the sheepe-fold of Iesus Christ.

Doth not an vncouth terrour seize vpon a man, whē in the depth or noone of night this sudden and vnthought of out-cry of fire, fire, shall fill his affrigh∣ted eares, and chase him out of his soft and quiet slumbers; whereat skipping

from his easefull bed, and distractedly gazing through the Casement, shall be∣hold his owne house o're-spred with a bright-burning flame, and himselfe to∣gether with his Wife and Children, seruants goods and all, most lyable to the deuouring rapacitie of imminent danger? O consider then, wicked man, how thy soule will be beleaguered with anguish and horrour, when in that last and terrible Day thou shalt behold with thy mortall eyes, the Cataracts of hea∣uen, vnsluced, and hushing showres of sulphurious fires disperse themselues through all the corners of the earth and aire: the whole Vniuerse o're-canoped with a remorselesse flame; when thou shalt see the great and glorious Iudge appeare triumphantly in the skies, whi∣lest mighty-winged clouds of deuou∣ring flames fly before him, as Vshers to his powerfull and terrible Maiestie, attended with countlesse multitudes of beautious Angels, golden winged Cherubims, and Seraphims, sounding their Trumpets, whose clamorous

tongues shall affright the empty ayre, and cal & awake the drowzy dead from their darke and duskie cabins, when thou shalt see the dissipated bones of all mortals since the Creation (concatenate and knit in their proper and peculiar form) amazedly start vp, & in numberles troupes flocke together, all turning vp their wondring eyes, to gaze vpon their high and mighty Creator. Then, O then will thy conscience recommemo∣rate afresh thy past committed sinnes, and with the corroding sting of guilt, will stab thorow thy perplexed soule. Then, O then, will it be too late to wish the Mountaines to fall vpon thee; for they themselues for feare would shrinke into their Center. Alas, it cannot then bee auaileable to woo the waters to swallow thee, for they would bee glad to disclaime their liquid substance, and be reduced to a nullity. What will it boote thee then to intreat the earth to entombe thee in her dankish wombe, when shee her selfe will struggle to re∣moue from her locall residence, and to

fly frō the presence of the great Iudge? The aire cānot muffle thee in her foggy vastitie: for that wil be cleerely refin'd: in her will be celestiall flames, before contaminated with humane pollution. In fine, how will thy soule tremblingly howle out, and breake forth into bitter exclamations, when thou shalt heare that definitiue, or rather infinitiue sen∣tence denounced against thee, I know thee not, Depart and goe into euerlast∣ing torment, whilest Legions of diuels, with horrid vociferations muster about thee, like croking Rauens about some dead carkasse waiting to carry thee?

O thou Vsurer, and thou that grindest the faces of the poore, thy gold cannot ransome thee. Then, thou mighty man that rackest the Widdow, and circum∣uentest the Orphane of his successiue right, thy honour cannot priuiledge thee: then, thou murtherer, adulterer, and blasphemer, thy colourable excuses will not purge thee.

Then, O thou vncharitable Churle, who neuer knewest, that a rich man

treasures vp no more of his riches, then that he contributes in Almes.

Thou that neuer imbracedst the counsell of that reuerend Father, who cryes, Feede him that dies for hunger. Whosoeuer thou art that canst preserue, and wilt not, thou standest guilty of fa∣mishing: then I say, in that day shalt thou pine in perdition.

Then, O thou luxurious Epicure, that through the fiue senses, which are the Cinque-Ports, or rather sinner-ports of thy soule, gulpest downe delightfull sinne like water, they will bee to thee like the Angels bookes, sweet in thy mouth, but bitter in thy bowels.

Then O thou gorbellied Mammonist, that pilest vp & congestest huge masses of refulgent earth, purchased by all vn∣conscionable courses, yet carriest no∣thing with thee but a Coffin and a win∣ding sheete! Thy faire pretences will be like Caracters drawne vpon the Sands, or Arrowes shot vp to Heauen-ward, they cannot release thee from Satans in∣expiable seruitude.

Then O thou Canker-worme of Common-wealthes; thou Monster of Man; thou that puttest out the eye of Iustice with Bribes, or so closely shutst it, that the clamorous cry of the poore mans case cannot open it. Thou that makest the Law a nose of Waxe, to turne and fashion it to thine owne pri∣uate end, to the vtter disgrace of con∣scionable Iustice, and to the lamentable subuersion of many an honest and vp∣right cause: thy quirkes, dilatory de∣murres, conueyances and conniuences cannot acquit thee, but thou shalt be re∣moued with a Writ, into the lowest and darkest dungeon of damnation. No, no, the Lord of heauen and earth (who is good in infinitenesse, and infinite in goodnesse,) will winnow, garble and fanne his corne, the choyce wheate he will treasure vp in the garners of eter∣nall felicitie; but the Chaffe and Dar∣nell must bee burnt with vnquenchable fire. There must you languish in tor∣ments vnrelaxable; there must you fry and freeze in one selfe-furnace; there

must you liue in implacable and tene∣brous fire, which, as Austin defines, shall giue no light to comfort you.

Then will you wish (though then too late) that you had beene created loath∣some Toades, or abhorred Serpents, that your miseries might haue clozed vp with your liues: but you must bee dying perpetually, yet neuer dye, and which enuirons mee with a trembling (terrour) when you haue languish't in vnexpressible agonies, tortures, gnash∣ings, and horrid howlings ten thousand millions of yeeres; yet shall you bee as farre from the end of your torments, as you were at the beginning.

A confused modell, and misty figure of hell haue wee conglomerate in our fancy, drowzily dreaming, that it is a place vnder earth vncessantly (Aetna-like) vomiting sulphurious flames: but we neuer pursue the meditation there∣of so close, as to consider what a thing it is to liue there eternally. For this ad∣iunct, Eternall, intimates such infinite∣nesse, as neither thought can attract, or

supposition apprehend. And further, to amplifie it with the words of a worthy Writer, though all the men that euer haue or shall be created, were, Briareus-like, hundred-handed, and should all at once take pens in their hundred hands, and should doe nothing else in ten hun∣dred thousand millions of yeeres, but summe vp in figures as many hundred thousand millions as they could, yet ne∣uer could they reduce to a Totall, or confine within number this Trisillable word, Eternall.

Can any Christian then (vpon due cō∣sideration hereof) forbeare to prostrate himselfe with flexible humility before the glorious Throne of Grace, & there, with flouds of vnfaigned teares, repen∣tantly abiure and disclaine the allure∣ments of carnall corruption, the painted pleasures of the world, and the bitter sweetnesse of sinne, which is the death's wound of his soule? for a Weapon wounds the body, and sinne the soule: For what profits it a man to winne the whole world, and lose his owne soule?

The soundest Method therefore, to pre∣uent our exclusion from the Throane of Gods mercy, is, to imagine, we still see him present in his Iustice, whatsoeuer, or when soeuer we attempt any blacke designe: Let vs but adumbragiously fancy (as one hath it) the Firmament to bee his Face; the all-seeing Sunne, his right Eye; the Moone, his left; the Winds, the breath of his Nostrils; the Lightening and Tempests, the troubled action of his Ire; the Frost and Snow, his Frownes; that the Heauen is his Throne; the Earth his Footstoole: that he is all in all things; that his omnipo∣tence fils all the vacuities of Heauen, Earth, and Sea; that by his power, hee can vngirdle and let loose the Seas im∣petuous waues, to o'rewhelme & bury this lower vniuerse in their vast wombs, in a moment that hee can let drop the blue Canopy (which hath nothing a∣boue it, whereto it is perpendicular∣ly knit) or hurle thunder-bolts tho∣row the tumorous cloudes, to pash vs precipitate through the center, in∣to

the lowest dungeon of Hell.

These allusiue cogitations of Gods omnipotent Maiestie, will curbe in and snaffle vs from rushing into damnable actions, if we vnremoueably seat them in our memories.

Make then a couenant with thine eyes and heart, O man, lest they dote on earthly grasse, surfeit on the sugared Pils of poysonous vanities, and so in∣sensibly hurle downe thy better part into the gulph of irreuocable damnati∣on, if not for thy selfe sake, yet iniure not thy Creatour, who halh drawne thee by his owne patterne, moulded thee in his owne forme; and, to make thee eternally happy, hath infused his owne essence into thee; for thy soule, by the Philosophers confession, is infu∣sion celestiall, no naturall traduction, and in that respect another calls it an arrachment, or cantell, pulld from the celestiall substance which cannot ter∣minate it selfe within a lumpe of flesh: Euen as the beames of the Sunne, though they touch the earth, and giue

life to these inferiour creatures, yet still reside in the body of the Sunne whence they are darted: So thy soule, though it bee seated either within the filme of the braine, or confined in the center of the heart, and conuerseth with the sen∣ces, yet it will still haue beeing whence it hath its beginning.

Remember then thy Creatour in the dayes of thy youth, call vpon him while it is called to day; for as the Poet no lesse sweetely then discreetly sung, Who knowes ore night that hee next morne shall breathe? Then take Da∣uids Early in the morning, not the De∣uils Stay till to morrow: for thou know∣est, God will bring thee to Iudgement, yet thou knowest not when, nor in what yeere, nor in what moneth of the yeere, nor in what weeke of the mo∣neth, nor in what day of the weeke, nor in what houre of the day, nor in what minute of that houre, nor in what mo∣ment of that minute; for hee will come like a thiefe in the night suddenly, be∣fore with a winke thou canst locke vp

thine eye, or in thy braine create the nimblest thought▪ Canst thou then hope to stand iustified in thy Makers presence, when thou hast cramd the deuill with thy sappe of strength, and full gorg'd him with the purest Acorne Mast of thy siowy virility, if at last thou come limping on Times tottering crutches, to present vnto him the off all huskes, and morosity of thy doting de∣crepit age.

What thanke is it to pardon our enemies, when wee cannot hurt them? to giue away our goods, when wee can enioy them no longer? to aban∣don our pleasures, when wee can∣not vse them? to forsake sinne, when it biddes farewell to vs? and at last onely to surcease to offend, when abi∣lity of offending is taken from vs? No, no, hee will then paralell thee with the sluggard, that neuer would acquire foode till hee was first starn'd, and ranke thee with the sottish ideot, that could not know a fish, till hee was al∣ready stung with a Scorpion: thy palsie-shaken

prayers will bee like Cains ob∣lation, vnacceptable to the Lord, and noisome to his nostrils. Thinkest thou to expiate Gods Iustice, when thou hast prodigally swealed out the blazing lampe of thy brightest day in the De∣uils chappell, if at last thou come cree∣ping (when thy breath lies twinkling in the socket of thy nostrils) to set it vp in Gods Sanctuary, hoping then and there to haue it replenish't with his all-sauing grace and mercie? O mocke not thy soule with these deluding phan∣tasma's: for as Alexander seeing one of his souldiers whetting his dart when o∣thers of his fellowes went foorth to fight, casheer'd him, saying, Hee's vn∣fit to beare armes, that hath them to make ready when hee should skirmish: So will God send thee packing (as hee did the foolish Virgins) with this re∣torsion, Thou comest disfurnish't, with no oyle in thy lampe, and thou deser∣uest no mercie, that neuer desiredst it till now in miserie. Gather thy selfe be∣times then within the weapons of

Faith, Hope, Charity, Repentance, and Perseuerance, and let Prayer stand per∣petuall Sentinell: for if the Diuell once get footing within thee, he will hardly bee eiected, so wily is he in peruerting thee, that thou canst not bee too wary in preuenting him; For as Iphicrates an∣swered his Generall, (who asked him why hee surrounded his souldiers with a Wall, when there was no feare of foe-mens approach?) A man cannot be too prouident in preuenting obuious and occurrent dangers. So canst thou not bee too cautelous in repelling the perillous stratagems of the Diuels as∣saults: therefore may I cloze vp the precedencie with that worthy saying of a more worthy Epigrammatist, No man needes feare, that feares before hee needes. O cleanse and purifie thy heart then by earnest prayer and pow∣erfull ciaculations, which is made the loathsome cage of sinne, the silent re∣ceptacle of diabolicall cogitations, and the dismall dungeon of malignant mo∣tions, that the Spirit of grace may

there finde harbour, and take delight to bee thy inmate.

Remember, O thou mighty man, that swelling titles of Honour are but the leaues of vanity.

Remember, O thou rich man, that terrene and transitorie pleasures are like the Bee, though they yeeld honey, yet carry they a sting, and are but as the Lil∣lies of the earth, more delectable in show, then durable in continuance.

Remember, O thou extortioner, thou cruell man, thou Murtherer, thou A∣dulterer, thou deceitfull man; thou vn∣conscionably deteinest the hirelings wages; and thou that actest inexora∣ble villanies secretly in the darke, im∣prisoned from the worlds dull eye, that if the Eagle can discerne, as one hath it, the Hare vnder the Bush, and the Fish vnder the Waues, much more can God, who is the Creator of creatures, pene∣trate the closet of thy heart, with his all-seeing eye, and discerne thy clande∣stine sinful practices before, and in their very conception, and for them hee

will bring thee to iudgement.

Remember, O thou that swayest the Sword of Iustice, to strike or saue, as thou art suggested by thine owne ends, profits, or affections, that though thy couert proiects be not envulgard to the worlds generall eye; yet a day of Re∣uelation will come, when all thy parti∣all and priuate practices shall bee stript, euiscerate, and laid as apparantly open, as the sheepe vpon the Gambrell.

But now with reuerence and Doue∣like humilitie to you (which are Ieho∣uahs Embassadors) the light of the world, and salt of the earth, doe I ad∣dresse my speech, mustered vp in the meanest and mildest ranke of words. O, I could wish that all of you stood without the list of that reprehension of Vices, which once an ancient and ho∣nest Historian twitted the Monkes of Canterbury with. Some rise early in the morning, to see their hounds pursue the prey, but not to pray: some delight to catch Fowles, but not Soules; some take pleasure to cast a Dye well, but not

cast to die well. Doth the wilde▪ Asse bray, saith Iob, when he hath grasse; or loweth the Oxe when he hath fodder? But I dare not say, No more doe some of you preach, when you haue once got a Benefice. If there bee any that enter∣taine Religion with their Lord, preach the praise of their Patrons; preaching in the Pulpit, chatter in their Cham∣bers, suiting their Linsie Wolsey pro∣fessions▪ with their seuerall ends: O let those remember how God met with a mischiefe that notorious Nestorius, who for his temporizing inconstancie, set wormes a worke to eate out his tongue. O let them looke into the Story of one Hecebolus, a Sophister, who accommo∣dating his profession to the fashions of the Emperours, fained himselfe in the dayes of Constantius, to be a most fer∣uent Christian.

But when Iulian the Apostata was Ruler, presently he turned Paynim, and in his Orations proclaimed Iulian a god. And when Iulian was dead in Iouinians time, hee would haue turned

backe to Christianitie. Wherevpon for his mutabilitie and lightnesse in his Re∣ligion, his horrid conscience draue him to the Church gates, and there hurling himselfe flat, cryed and bellowed with a lowd voice, Trample me vnder your feete vnsauoury salt that I am; entirely wishing out of his soules agony, that he had neuer seene the light; or at his con∣ception, his tongue had been riuetted to the roofe of his mouth.

Lastly and indefinitely to all; Re∣member so to liue, as you still may bee prepared for the stroke of Death: then will you desire to be dissolued, and to sleep in peace reclusiuely frō the turbu∣lent sea of earthy carefull miseries, dis∣cerning cleerely by the spirituall eye of vnderstanding, that mans life is a way∣fare, because it is short and a warfare, for that it is sharpe, and that worldly delights are deceitfull, and of no dura∣bilitie; like the water-Serpent, no soo∣ner bred, but dead. Collecting likewise out of humane experience, that the best life is but a weary and tedious pilgri∣mage,

& feeles no touch of true solace, till at the euening of his dayes he lodge at the Inne of death: for death is the path of life, a Gaole-deliuery of the soule, a perfect health, the hauen of hea∣uen, the finall victory of terrestriall troubles, an eternall sleepe, a dissoluti∣on of the body, a terrour to the rich, a desire of the poore, a pilgrimage vncer∣taine, a thiefe of men, a shadow of life, a rest from trauell, an Epilogue to vaine delight, a consumption of idle desires, a scourge for euill, a guerdon for good: it dis-burdens vs of all care, vn∣manacles and frees vs from vexation, solicitude and sorrow.

Of all those numberlesse numbers that are dead, neuer any one returned to complaine of death, but of those few that liue, most complaine of life. On earth euery man grumbles at his best estate.

The very elements, whereby our subsistence or being, as the secondarie cause, is preserued, conspire against vs: the fire burnes vs; the water drownes

vs: the earth annoyes vs; and the aire infects vs; our dayes are laborious, our nights comfortlesse; the heat scorcheth vs; the cold benummes vs; health swels vs with pride; sicknesse empaleth our beauties; friends turne Swallowes; they will sing with vs in the Summer of prosperitie, but in the winter of tryall, they will take wings and be gone. Ene∣mies brand our reputations with depra∣uing imputations; and the enuious man hurleth abroad his gins to ensnare our liues: who would then desire to liue, where there is nothing that begets con∣tent? for this world is a Theater of va∣nities, a Chaos of confusions, an Em∣bassador of mischiefe, a Tyrant to ver∣tue, a breaker of Peace, a Fauorite of Warre, a friend of Vices, a coyner of Lies, an Anuile of Nouelties, a table of Epicurisme, a furnace of Lust, a pit-fall to the rich, a burthen to the poore, a Cell of Pilgrims, a den of Theeues, a calumniator of the good, a renowner of the wicked, a cunning Impostor, and a deceiuer of all.

How is the progresse of poore proud mans life violently agitated (like the ri∣uer Euripus) with contrarious motions? The pleasure of the wyly world thus inueigles him; Come vnto mee, and I will drowne thee in delight. The cor∣ruption of the luxurious flesh thus ingles him; Come vnto me, and I will infect thee; the Diuell he whispers this in his eare, Come vnto mee, and I will cheate and deceiue thee: But our sweet and sacred Sauiour Iesus Christ, with perswasiue inducements thus intreates him; Come vnto me (I pray thee) that art heauy laden, and I will receiue and exonerate thee, and with the mighty arme of my mercy and compassion lift off that vnsupportable loade, which crusheth downe to Hell thy groaning soule.

Study then to liue as dead to the world, that thou maist liue with God: for the iust man is said, neuer to liue till after death. Endeuor thy selfe to march faire through this worlds Labyrinth, not to squander and looke asquint vpon

the Circean allurements thereof. But without turning either to the right or left hand, runne straight on in that Eclipticke line, which will conduct thee to that celestiall Ierusalem, where (with that immaculate Lambe Iesus Christ) thou shalt enioy pleasure without pain; wealth, without want; rest, without la∣bour; ioy without griefe; and immen∣siue felicitie without end.

Moreouer the contempt of the world, born of the loue of God, shall at length grow to hatred of the world, when that besides the vanity and misery of it, he shall contemplate the mischiefe and enmitie against the Almighty vvhich there raigneth; when besides that va∣nity which some doe lay open to the view of all, hee will represent to him∣selfe the iniquities which are closely kept, and the Treasons, Adulteries, Murthers, which are priuately and lur∣kingly committed, when he shall con∣sider the vials of Gods wrath and dis∣pleasure powred generally vpon all man-kinde: for in the consideration of

this world, it behooueth vs to leaue out no part of it, but to obserue all manner of nations and people: amongst which there are many Pagans, which not one∣ly by a consequent, but also by expresse profession, adore the deuill. The East Indies dedicate their temples to him, and reuerence him with all respect. The West Indies are afflicted and tormented ordinarily with euill spirits. In most part of the North, lurking deceits, and assuming strange shapes, are very com∣mon among the Inhabitants. Sorcery is there an ordinary profession, and the Diuell reigneth without contradicti∣on. In that Countrey which did once flourish, where the Apostles had plan∣ted so happily the holy Ghost, the Churches are now changed into Mos∣ques, and Temples of Idolatry. In the West, the head of the visible Church is become an earthly Monarch, and banks are erected in those places, where, in times past was the House of God. A∣mongst those erroneous and enuious people are scattered the Iewes, which

blasphemed against Iesus Christ, and hauing persecuted him in his life, doe iniuriously wrong him after his death. The Countrey from whence came De∣crees and Orders for Religion, hath in it publike Brothel-houses, and Sodomy is there an vsuall custome. Here it is also, where doubts in Religion that con∣cerne a mans faith, are decided in the middest of corruption. There onely remaineth in the world a handfull of people which serue Iesus Christ in truth and verity; and they can scarce receiue breath in this ayre which is so contrary to them; beeing here as fishes without water; as the remainders of great Massacres; as pieces of boords scattered after the breaking of a great vessell; and yet neuerthelesse, among these few that are substracted out of the rest of the world, corruption doth in∣crease as a Canker or Vlcer, Quarrels, Vanity, Superfluity in Apparell, Aua∣rice, Ambition; Sumptuousnesse, which spendeth foolishly, doth infect the one part of this small troupe; for GOD

is ill serued in priuate families, their almes are cold, they pray seldome, and reade neuer: IN briefe, a contagion of vices by conuersing with our aduersa∣ries, doth infect vs, which is the first steppe to superstition; for errour creeps in to vs by vice, and spirituall fornica∣tion by corporall. If therefore where God is most purely knowne, hee bee there ill serued, how much more a∣mongst the rest of the world? If vices doe harbour in the Sanctuary, how much more in the body of the church and habitation of the wicked? There∣fore Christ doth rightly call Satan, The prince of the world; and Peter doth iustly write in the second of the Acts, Saue your selues from that peruerse ge∣neration, for Satan lieth in ambush for vs all. This age is infectious, vices are like vnto glue, temptations strong, our enemies mighty, our selues feeble and ignorant, and the way of saluation nar∣row and full of thornes; And few there bee (saith Christ) that finde it: And those which finde it, doe not alwayes

keepe it; but many hauing knowne the trueth, doe leaue it, and returne to their vomit. Let vs know then a place so dangerous, that wee may passe by as strangers, which doe not onely passe, but also runne from it, flying from the world, to come vnto God, for wee shall neuer haue repose, vnlesse wee rest our selues vpon him. The heauen moueth alwayes, and yet it is the place of our rest. On the contrary, the earth resteth alwayes, and yet it is the place of our motion. The Quadrants and Horolo∣gies imitate the motion of heauen; but the faith of the beleeuers doth imitate the Rest which is aboue all. Vlysses did more esteeme the smoake of his owne house, than the flame of anothers; How much more then would he esteeme the flame of his owne chimney, than the smoake of anothers? Wee are heere strangers, this is not our house: our ha∣bitation is in heauen. Let vs compare the smoake of this strange house, and the darkenesse of the earth, with the beauty and splendor of our owne dwel∣ling,

which is the in Kingdome of hea∣uen: Here is the reigne of Satan, there the Kingdome of God; here is a val∣ley of teares, there the height of mirth; here wee sowe in sorrow, there wee reape in ioy; here wee see the light of the Sunne through two little holes, which are called the eyes; there wee re∣ceiue light from God on euery side, as if wee were all eyes. Therefore, be∣cause God is all in all; to him be ho∣nour and glory in this world, and in the world to come. Amen.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Man borne in misery & most misera∣ble euen frō his Cradle.
• * 1.2

  Mans life assaultod by peril I and eminent dangers.
• * 1.3

  No man free from sorrows & miseries.
• * 1.4

  There is a time pre-or∣dained for euery thing.
• * 1.5

  Humilitie, the Queene of Vertues.
• * 1.6

  Pride, the Princesse of Vice.