The COMMENTARY.

This sixth Chapter discourseth that God is the first God absolute∣ly, the World the second, not abso∣lutely but by participation God, as which is the first Image of an absolutely deity; man, the third God by participation of the divini∣ty, and the second Image of God: but God is not an Image, but the truth of all Images, that man may ascend up into heaven by his soul, by his understanding, by his spirit, by his reason, as it were by the Supe∣rior Elements. But wherein he is made of fire, of air, of water, and earth, he is subject to death, and to dote upon all wordly things, de∣prived of that divine part; That the measure after which a man ought to live, is religion which goodnesse follows, and which seems Page  43 to be perfit, when being armed with Vertue it despiseth the co∣veting of other mens goods or any thing hurtfull to it, as possessions, the body it self, and all those things we lust after, even the very sense of appetite. For so far he ought to be called a man, whiles that this opinion is led only by reason, and that in contemplation of the divini∣ty he contemneth and despiseth that part of him which is mortall; more then may serve for the pre∣servation of his life.

Asclepius divineth that of the succeeding Aegyptians, that there shall be none after them to attain to the pure Philosophy of the knowledge of God. Now Hermes asketh, to what end man ought to learn the dimensions of the earth, that is Geometry, the qualities, quanti∣ties, the depth of the Sea, and the nature of fire, and the effects of all these, that is the Universall Phi∣losophy Page  44 of numbers, celestiall globes, and naturall things, cer∣tainly to admire, adore, and praise, the Art, excellent Invention and Workman of all these for this is pure Philosophy and only depending upon divine religion; this is Musick, this is harmony, to know the or∣der of all things, which all divini∣ty partaketh of, and which artifi∣cially pitched upon one generall, will make in divine melody, a cer∣tain well tun'd and most sweet har∣mony and that is Philosophy, which is corrupted by no unfit curiosity of the minde, which with a pure soul and mind doth worship the diety, and honour his works, as also to give thanks for the will of God, which is so full of goodnesse, and confirmeth the Prophecy of Ascle∣pius.