CHAP. III.
IN this regard, O Asclepius, Man is a great miracle, a Crea∣ture both to be reverenced and honored being after the nature & Image of God, as though he were a God. This the Angels know, for as much as they were created after the same nature, but dis∣dained part of the humane Na∣ture, & relied only on the Divine Nature. O therefore, the more temperate the Nature of man is, and comes nearest to God and to the divinity, the more he despis∣eth that part of his, whereby he becomes earthly; all other things below, with whom he Page 18 must needs be, he knoweth with a Heavenly disposition, and are near unto him in way of Charity, yet his desires are in heaven: so therefore he is happily placed in the middest, that what things are here below him he loveth, and is himself beloved of those things above. He inhabiteth the earth, and by his agility is mixed with the Ele∣ments, yet by the sharpnesse of his understanding he diveth in∣to the depths of the Se•…; all things appear manifest to him neither do the Heavens seem to be above his reach, but as it were near by the quicknesse of his Spirit; no obscurity or darknesse of Air, can disturbe his fan∣tasie, no thicknesse of ground can hinder his endeavour, nor depth of water hinder his eye∣sight; all things are the same with him, even all creatures Page 19 whether they take root from above or below. Things with∣out life, grow upwards from one root into woods and bush∣es; some are nourished with two Elements, some with one; the food is for two parts, the Life and the Body, of which the Ani∣mal consisteth. The soul of the World is alwaies nourished by a continuall and restles agita∣tion. Corporeall things encrease and are nourished by such things which the water and earth affordeth. The Spirit, of which all things are full, is mixt with all things, quickens and inlivens all things, adding sense unto the understanding of man, which fifth part by Di∣vine Inspiration is only gran∣ted to man; and which not to be seen in any other Creatures doth beautifie advance and lift up the understanding of manto the Page 20 knowledge of divine mysteries; but for that I am put in minde to speak of the understanding, I will hereafter expound the reason of it unto you; for it is most holy, excellent, and no lesse than that which belongs to the Divinity it self: but now I will dispatch what I began; for I said in the beginning, that in the nearnesse and conjunction of the Deity onely, men enjoy the favour of God: for whosoever have attained to so much feli∣city, that they perceive that Di∣vine Sense of Understanding, they are nearest unto the Divi∣nity and Wisdom of God, which men onely partake of.
Asclep. O Trismegistus, there is not a like understand∣ing of all men.
Trism. O Asclepius, All men have not attained that true Understanding, but apprehend∣ing Page 21 some false fantasie, and that without any true reason, out of a rash opinion, are meerly de∣ceived, which begets wicked∣nesse in the minde, and trans∣forms the best man into the na∣ture and likenesse of a beast. But of the Understanding and the like, when I come to speak of the Spirit, I will give you the full reason; for man is only of two parts: the one part simple, which the Graecians call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or which we call the Image of God; but the other fourfold, which the Graecians call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and we the earthly substance, or pourtraiture, being •…he body, in which is inclosed that which we have affirmed to be the divine part of man, which is his Soul. In which the pure Divinity of the Soul, with the sense and feel∣ing of a clear conscience, resteth at peace within it self, as within a Castle of Defence.
The COMMENTARY.
This third Chapter extolleth the dignity of man, in which the Authour of so great benefits is chiefly to be acknowledged, and for ever to be praised and la•…ded, who hath honoured man with such excellent gifts; for, as he meaneth, man is made, that he might be like unto Angels, ac∣knowledging them both to be, and that they are born with him, whom he hath to be his Guaraians and Preservers, even from the first beginni•…g of his nativity, con∣sisting of a nature near unto Im∣mortality, marked with the cha∣racter or image of God, com∣pounded of a mortall and immor∣tall, earthly and supernaturall part: but who soareth after di∣vine things, despiseth and under∣values Page 23 these earthly, hath his assi∣stance in immortall and heavenly things, looks up and sighs after Heaven, knowing that to be the place of the better part of him, & of neerest affinity to his Soul: never∣thelesse, he is placed here in the middest of the world, tying other things here below unto him, with whom (by Divine Ordinance) he knows he must needs be in the bond of love and charity, loving so these earthly things, that he may be loved of heavenly. He inhabiteth the earth by his agility, is mixed with the elements, & by the sharp∣nesse of his understanding de∣scends into the de•… All things are manifest to hi•… Heavens seem not to be above his reach: for that by the quicknesse of his Spi∣rit he perceives them to be (as it were) neer unto him. The dark∣nesse of the air can neither con∣found the intention of his minde, Page 24 nor yet the thicknesse of the earth hinder his endeavour, or the depth of the waters obscure his eye-sight, and above all creatures, God hath beautified, advanced, and lifted up the understanding of man, to par∣take of Divine Knowledge; the un∣derstanding being onely the cele∣stiall and immortall part, and challengeth a Divine Essence, and some men have attained to this Di∣vine Knowledge, and therein are happy, bearing alwayes a zealous and religious minde towards God. Others content themselves onely with a shadow of Divine Know∣ledge, which wh•… so followeth, er∣reth and 〈◊〉•…eived; for this mist of a 〈◊〉 of godlinesse, be∣g•…tteth wickednesse in their mindes which are so deceived, and trans∣forms a man (though by nature 〈◊〉 creature good and divine) into the likenesse and condition of a beast.
