Three tractates by Jos. Hall, D.D. and B.N.

SECT. IX.

IF Varro said of old, that the * 1.1 world was no other then the great house of little man, I shall be bold to adde what kind of house it is; It is no other then his prison, yea, his dungeon.

Far be it from me to disparage the glorious work of my omni∣potent Creator: I were not worthy to look upon this large, and glittering roof of heaven, nor to see the pleasant varieties of these earthly landskips, if I did not adore that infinite po∣wer, and wisdome which appears in this goodly, and immense fa∣bricke; and confesse the marvel∣lous beauty of that majestick, and transcendent workmanship; Ra∣ther when I see the Moon and the Starres, which thou hast ordained, * 1.2 I say with the Psalmist, Lord what is man?

But, O God, it is no dishonour to thee, that though this be a fair house, yet thou hast one so much better then it, as a Palace is be∣yond a Jayle.

This beauty may please, but that ravisheth my soul: Here is light, but dim, and dusky, in re∣spect of that inaccessible light, wherein thou dwellest: Here is a glorious sun, that illumineth this inferiour world, but thou art the sun who enlightenest that world above: Thou, to whom thy created Sun is but a shadow.

Here we converse with beasts, or at the best, with men; there with blessed soules, and heavenly Angels: Here some frivolous de∣lights are intermixed with a thousand vexations; There in thy presence is the fulnesse of joy: So then, let the sensuall heart mis-place his paradise here in the world, it shall not passe for other with me, then my pri∣son: How can it? Why should

it? for what other terms doe I find here?

What blind light looks in here at these scant loopeholes of my soul? Yea, what darknesse of ig∣norance rather possesses me? what bolts and shackles of heavy crosses doe I beare about me? how am I fed here with the bread of afdiction? how am I watched and beset with evill spirits? how contumeliously traduced? how disdainefully lookt upon? how dragging the same chaine with the worst malefactors? how dis∣abled to all spirituall motions? how restrained from that full li∣berty of injoying my home, and my God in it, which I daily ex∣pect in my dissolution? when therefore, I am released from these walls, I am still imprisoned in larger, and so shall be till the Lord of the spirits of al flesh (who put me here) shal set me free; and all the daies of my appointed time wil I wait, til this my chan∣ging come.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Magna do∣mus homu∣li.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 8. 3, 4.