[ 1433] God the onely searcher of the Heart of Man.
THe Poets feign,* 1.1 That when Iupiter had made Man, and was delighted with his own beauteous Fabrick, he asked Momus, What fault he could espy in that curious Piece? what out of square or worthy blame? Momus commended the proportion,* 1.2 the complexion, the disposition of the lineaments, the correspondence and dependance of the parts; and in a word, the symme∣try and harmony of the whole; He would see him go, and liked the motion; He would hear him speak, and praised his voice and expression: But at last, he spyed a fault, and asked Iupiter, whereabout his Heart lay? He told him, within a secret Chamber like a Queen in her privy lodging,* 1.3 whither they that come must first passe the great Chamber and the Presence, there being a Court of guard, Forces and Fortifications to save it, shadows to hide it, that it might not be visi∣ble; Th••re then is the fault, (saith Momus) thou hast forgotten to make a Window in∣to this Chamber, that Men might look in and see what the Heart is a doing, and whether her Recorder, the Tongue, do agree with her meaning: Thus Man is the Master∣piece of Gods Creation, exquisitely and wonderfully made, but his Heart is close and deceitful above all things,* 1.4 Had he but pectus Fenestratum, a glasse-window in his heart, How would the black devices which are contrived in tenebris, appear pal∣pably odious? How would the coals of festring Malice blister the tongues, and scald the lips of them that imagine mischief in their hearts?* 1.5 Then it would be seen, how they pack and shufflle, and cut, and deal too; but it is a poor game to the Innocent: In the mean time, let all such know, that the privy Chamber of the Heart hath a window to Gods,* 1.6 though not to Man's or Angels inspection.