A description of an annuall world, or, Briefe meditiations upon all the holy-daies in the yeere with certaine briefe poeticall meditations of the day in generall and all the daies in the weeke / by E.B.

A briefe description of the foure Quarters of the Yeare.

AS in mans body there are foure humours, Sanguine, Choler, Mel••ncholy, and Phlegme; & as all compounded bodies con∣sist of foure elements, Aire, Fire, Ea••th, and Water; so likewise in the yeare agreeable to these are foure seasons; the Spring, Sum∣mer, Harvest, and Winter; or as the Earth is divided into foure parts, Europe, Asia, Africa, and A∣merica: And as in the World are foure corners, commonly called the foure winds, East, West▪ North, and South; so accordingly the yeare is divided into foure parts,

which I terme the foure corners of the outward court of this rough hew'd building, to wit, Ver, Aestas, Autumnus and Hyems.

First, Ver, or the Spring, like a young lively youth, of a sanguine complexion, rosie cheeks, smooth face, of light and nimble motion, casteth a cheerefull and lovely look upon the face of the earth, and with a greene, fragrant, and lightsome mantle, cloathes her grosse body, in variety of whole∣some hearbs, sweet flowers, deli∣cious fruit, and nourishing grain, for the use of Man and all crea¦tures. Now it is that Fowles of the aire couple, beasts of the earth in∣crease, and fish of the water mul∣tiply in abundance, and leave the deepe to live in more shallow pla∣ces. The countrey life is most pleasant, and the aire most pure and wholesome: to which ele∣ment this season is resembled: For as the nature of the aire is hot

and moist, so is the Spring or san∣guine complexion of a cheerefull and comfortable condition. Ther∣fore I conclude this season with a prayer to God, that (as in the spring all vegetative and sensi∣tive creatures begin to grow and increase upon the face of the earth and waters; so) it would please him to sow in my heart such saving seed, that now I may begin to grow and increase in spirituall knowledge, and bring forth the pleasant fruit of a holy life and righteous conversation, to the glory and praise of God, the good of my neighbour, and salvation of my owne soule.

Secondly, Aestas or Summer, like a man of full growth, strong and lusty, in the prime of his strength, with a fierce and fiery a∣spect parcheth & withereth grasse and graine: for now hea•• is at the highest, floods at the lowest, the seas most patient, and the winds

most calme, the earth suted in her richest imbroidery distributeth her bounty to the use of living creatures; flowers are now in their bravery, fruits in their prime, and all creatures in their lustre. The Sun is now in his chiefest strength, and is as hot as fire, which is the Metaphor to which I compare this quarter of the yeare: for as the element of fire is hot and dry, so is the quality of Summer, or hu∣mour of choler. The lesson that I gather from hence is, that as the Summer ripens all grains & fruits, so doe I desire of God to send downe the Son of righteousnesse into my soule, to quicken, inflame, and ripen the graces of his Spirit sowne therein by the seed of his sacred Word, that I may seeme beautifull and lovely as a burning and shining lampe in the midst of a froward generation, that others of greater gifts seeing some little sparke of goodnesse in me, may be

incited thereby far to exceed and excell me, in vertuous qualities and commendable works.

Thirdly, Autumnus or Harvest, like an ancient man with a white head and gray beard, of a ripe age, full of good workes in his youth and strength, performed with an austere, solid, melancho∣ly and sage countenance▪ looking upon the face of the earth with a favourable aspect, renders to the toyling Husband-man the fruits of his former labours: for now grasse is mowne, corne reaped, fruits ga∣thered, leaves fall, flowers fade, and the earth loseth her former beauty; floods increase, springs decrease, and all creatures lose their strength and vigour, and the most part of sensible creatures seeke shelter against the stormy ensuing Winter: and therefore well compared to the earth, being cold and dry, of a solid temper, grosse body, and lumpish disposi∣tion,

(though the naturall quality of this quarter is cold and moist as water.) Now the use that I learn from hence is, to pray to God to send his illuminating Spirit into my heart, that I may seriously consider, and wisely ponder all my former actions, & from thence gather and receive the comforta∣ble fruit of the good God hath enabled me to performe, and tru∣ly, heartily, and unfeinedly re∣pent of those things I have done that I should not, against God, my neighbour, or my selfe: that there∣by I may prepare and labour to make my selfe ready with such strong and approved furniture as may be able to defend me against the blustrous and stormy assaults of the flesh, the world, and the devill, at the winter of pale fac't death.

Fourthly, Hyems or Winter, like an angry old man worne out with cares, perplexed with griefe, and

impatient in suffering, with a was∣pish, fretfull, and phlegmatick countenance, looketh upon the face of the earth: for now the blustring winds break forth, cau∣sing the billowes of the Ocean to swell, threatning to swallow the sea-tost Mariner: floods are up; and the cold aire taketh away the strength and vigour from all crea∣tures. The pores of the earth are shut by the extreame coldnesse of the aire; beasts and cattell seeke for shelters; Monsters, Serpents, and ravenous creatures for dens, fowles betake themselves to the warmest regions, and fishes to the deepest waters: so that whatsoe∣ver the cheerfull Spring, and com∣fortable Summer did bring forth and nourish, this quarter doth de∣stroy and vanish. In nature it is cold and moist as the waters (yet the true naturall quality of this quarter is cold and dry as earth) and well likened thereto, because

of their roaring and turbulent motions; for the Winter is for the most part tempestuous and stor∣my, in mighty winds, slabby rain, thrilling haiel and snow, nipping frost, and chilling cold. Now the use that I draw from hence, is, the consideration of old age; that I having by the enablement of Gods Spirit finished the delightfull and pleasant flower of my age in the growth of piety, the flourishing Summer of my dayes in vertuous and commendable actions, and the fruitfull contemplation and meditation of the good I have per∣formed, may by Faith and Love seeke and provide for my poore soule a safe harbour in the Merits of my blessed Saviour, against the approaching winter of old age, when the sun of naturall heat de∣clineth, the frost of chilling griefs perplex mee, and the blustrous stormes of slanderous tongues backbite me. And so laying and

bequeathing my body quietly and comfortably in the bed of the grave, my soule may with joy and alacrity ascend to receive a new growth in eternall glory, with God and the rest of his chosen vessels.