Flovvres of Sion. By VVilliam Drummond of Hawthorne-denne. To which is adioyned his cypresse groue Drummond, William, 1585-1649. 1623 Approx. 126 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 42 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2004-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A20871 STC 7247 ESTC S105397 99841126 99841126 5686 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A20871) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 5686) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1629:7) Flovvres of Sion. By VVilliam Drummond of Hawthorne-denne. To which is adioyned his cypresse groue Drummond, William, 1585-1649. [2], 80 p. Printed [by the heirs of Andro Hart], [Edinburgh] : 1623. Partly in verse. Printers identified by STC. "A cypresse groue" has separate divisional title; pagination and register are continuous. Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Death -- Early works to 1800. 2002-12 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-01 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-02 Judith Siefring Sampled and proofread 2003-05 Aptara Rekeyed and resubmitted 2003-10 Judith Siefring Sampled and proofread 2003-10 Judith Siefring Text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-12 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion FLOVVRES OF SION . BY WILLIAM DRVMMOND of Hawthorne-denne . TO WHICH IS ADIOYNED HIS CYPRESSE GROVE . Printed 1623. FLOWRES OF SION : OR SPIRITVALL POEMS , BY W. D. TRiumphant Arches , Statues crown'd with Bayes , Proud Obeliskes , Tombes of the vastest Frame , Colosses brasen Atlases of Fame , Phanes vainely builded to vaine Deities praise : States which vnsatiate Mindes in blood doe raise , From the Crosse-starres vnto the Articke Teame , Alas ! and what wee write to keepe our Name , Like Spiders Caules are made the sport of Dayes ; All onely constant is in constant Change , What done is , is vndone , and when vndone , Into some other figure doth it range , Thus rolles the restlesse World beneath the Moone : Wherefore ( my Minde ) aboue Time , Motion , Place , Thee raise , and Steppes not reach'd by Nature , trace . A Good that neuer satisfies the Minde , A Beautie fading like the Aprile flowres , A Sweete with floods of Gall that runnes combind , A Pleasure passing ere in thought made ours , A Honour that more fickle is than winde , A Glorie at Opinions frowne that lowres , A Treasurie which banckrupt Time deuoures , A Knowledge than graue Ignorance more blinde ▪ A vaine Delight our equalles to command , A Stile of greatnesse , in effect a Dreame , A fabling Thought of holding Sea and Land , A seruile Lot , deckt with a pompous Name : Are the strange Endes we toyle for heere below , Till wisest Death make vs our errores know . LIfe a right shadow is , For if it long appeare , Then is it spent , and Deathes long Night drawes neare ; Shadowes are mouing , light , And is there ought so mouing as is this ? When it is most in Sight , It steales away , and none can tell how , where , So neere our Cradles to our Coffines are . LOoke how the Flowre which lingringly doth fade , The Mornings Darling late , the Summers Queene , Spoyl'd of that Iuice which kept it fresh and greene , As high as it did raise bowes low the head : Right so my Life Contentments being dead , Or in their Contraries but onely seene , With swifter speed declines than earst it spred , And ( blasted ) scarce now showes what it hath beene . Therefore , as doth the Pilgrime , whom the Night Hastes darkely to imprison on his way , Thinke on thy Home ( my Soule ) and thinke aright , Of what yet restes thee of Lifes wasting Day , Thy Sunne postes Westward , passed is thy Morne , And twice it is not giuen thee to be borne . THe wearie Mariner so fast not flies An howling Tempest , Harbour to attaine , Nor Sheepheard hastes when frayes of Wolues arise So fast to Fold to saue his bleeting traine , As I ( wing'd with Contempt and just Disdaine ) Now flie the World , and what it most doth prize , And Sanctuarie seeke free to remaine From wounds of abject Times , and Enuies eyes ; To mee this World did once seeme sweete and faire , Whiles Senses light , Mindes Prospectiue kept blinde , Now like imagin'd Landskip in the Aire , And weeping Raine-bowes , her best Ioyes I finde : Or if ought heere is had that praise should haue ▪ It is a Life obscure , and silent Graue ▪ TOo long I followed haue on fond Desire , And too long painted on deluding Streames , Too long refreshment sought midst burning Fire , Runne after Ioyes which to my Soule were Blames ; Ah! when I had what most I did admire , And prou'd of Lifes Delights the last extreames , I found all but a Rose , hedg'd with a Bryer , A nought , a thought , a show of golden Dreames . Henceforth on thee ( mine onely Good ) I 'll thinke , For onely thou canst grant what I doe craue ; Thy Nailes my Pennes shall be , thy Blood my Inke , Thy Winding-sheet my Paper , Study Graue : And till that Soule from Body parted be , No Hope I 'll haue but onely onely Thee . OF this faire Volumne which wee World doe name , If wee the sheetes and leaues could turne with care , Of him who it corrects , and did it frame , Wee cleare might read the Art and Wisedome ●are ? Finde out his Power which wildest Pow'rs doth tame , His Prouidence extending euery-where , His Iustice which proud Rebels doth not spare , In euery Page , no , Period of the same : But ●illie wee like foolish Children rest , Well pleas'd with colour'd Velumne , Leaues of Gold , Faire dangling Ribbones , leauing what is best , On the great Writers sense nee'r taking hold ; Or if by chance we stay our Mindes on ought , It is some Picture on the Margine wrought . THe Griefe was common , common were the Cryes , Teares , Sobbes , and Groanes of that afflicted Traine , Which of Gods chosen did the Summe containe , And Earth rebounded with them , pierc'd were Skies ; All good had left the World , each Vice did raigne In the most monstrous sorts Hell could deuise , And all Degrees , and each Estate did staine , Nor further had to goe , whom to surprise ; The World beneath , the Prince of Darknesse lay , In euerie Phan who had himselfe install'd , Was sacrifiz'd vnto , by Prayers call'd , Responses gaue , which ( fooles ) they did obey : When ( pittying Man ) God of a Virgines wombe Was borne , and those false Deities strooke dombe . RUnne ( Sheepheards ) run , where Bethleme blest appeares ▪ Wee bring the best of Newes , bee not dismay'd , A Sauiour there is borne , more olde than yeares , Amidst the rolling Heauen this Earth who stay'd ; In a poore Cotage inn'd , a Virgine Maide , A weakeling did him beare who all vpbeares , There he is swadl'd in Cloathes ▪ in Manger lay'd , To who● too narrow Swadlings are our Spheares . Runne ( Sheepheards ) runne and solemnize his Birth , This is that Night , no , Day growne great with Blisse , In which the Power of Satan broken is , In Heauen be Glorie , Peace vnto the Earth . Thus singing through the Aire the Angels swame , And Cope of Starres re-echood the same . O Than the fairest day , thrice fairer Night , Night to best Dayes ▪ in which a Sunne doth rife , Of which that golden Eye which cleares the Skies , Is but a sparkling Ray , a Shadow light ; And blessed yee ( in sillie Pastors sight ) Milde Creatures in whose warme Crib now lyes , That Heauen-sent Yongling , holy-Maide-borne Wight , Midst , end , beginning of our Prophesies : Blest Cotage that hath Flowres in Winter spred , Though withered blessed Gra●se , that hath the grace To decke and be a Carpet to that Place : Thus sang vnto the soundes of oa●en Reed Before the Babe , the Sheepheards bow'd on knees , And Springs ranne Nectar , Hony dropt from Trees . TO spread the azure Canopie of Heauen , And make it twinkle with those spangs of Gold , To stay the pondrous Globe of Earth so euen , That it should all , and nought should it vphold ; To giue strange motions to the Planets seuen , Or Ioue to make so meeke , or Mars so bolde , To temper what is mo●st , dry , hote , and colde , Of all their Iarres that sweet accords are giuen : LORD , to thy Wisedome's nought ▪ nought to thy Might , But that thou shouldst ( thy Glorie laide aside ) Come meanelie in mortalitie to bide , And die for those deseru'd eternall plight , A wonder is so farre aboue our wit , That Angels stand amaz'd to muse on it . THe last and greatest Herauld of Heauens King , Girt with rough Skinnes , hyes to the Desarts wilde , Among that sauage brood the Woods forth bring , Which he than Man more harmlesse found and milde ; His food was Locusts , and what there doth spring , With Hony that from virgine Hi●es distill'd , Parcht Bodie , hollow Eyes , some vncouth thing Made him appeare , long since from Earth exilde , There burst he foorth , All yee whose Hopes relye On GOD , with mee amidst these Desarts 〈◊〉 Repent , repent , and from olde errours tu●ne ▪ Who listned to his voyce , obey'd his cry ? Onely the Ecchoes which hee made relent , Rung from their flintie Caues , repent repent ▪ THese Eyes ( deare Lord ) once Brandons of Desire , Fraile Scoutes betraying what they had to keepe , Which their owne heart , then others set on fire , Their traitrous blacke before thee heere out weepe ; These Lockes of blushing deeds , the gilt attire , Waues curling , wrackefull shelfes to shadow deepe , Rings wedding Soules to Sinnes lethargicke sleepe , To touch thy sacred Feet doe now aspire . In Seas of care behold a sinking Barke , By windes of sharpe Remorse vnto thee driuen , O let me not expos'd be Ruines marke , My faults confest ( LORD ) say they are forgiuen . Thus sigh'd to TESVS the Bethanian faire , His teare-wet Feet still drying with her Haire . I Countries chang'd , new pleasures out to finde , But ah ! for pleasure new I sound new paine , Enchanting Pleasure so did Reason blind , That Fathers loue and words I scorn'd as vaine : For Tables rich , for bed , for following traine Of carefull seruants to obserue my Minde , These Heards I keepe , my fellowes are assign'd , Rocke is my Bed , and Herbes my Life sustaine . Now while I famine feele , feare worser harmes , Father and Lord I turne , thy Loue ( yet great ) My faults will pardon , pittie mine estate . This where an aged Oake had spred its Armes Thought the lost Childe , while as the Heardes he led , Not farre off on the ackornes wilde them fed . IF that the World doth in amaze remaine , To heare in what a sad deploring mood , The Pelican powres from her brest her Blood , To bring to life her yonglings backe againe ? How should wee wonder of that soueraigne Good , Who from that Serpents sting ( that had vs slaine ) To saue our lifes , shed his Lifes purple flood , And turn'd in endlesse Ioy our endlesse Paine ? Vngratefull Soule , that charm'd with false Delight , Hast long long wander'd in Sinnes flowrie Path , And didst not thinke at all , or thoughtst not right On this thy Pelicanes great Loue and Death , Heere pause , and let ( though Earth it scorne ) Heauen see Thee powre foorth teares to him powr'd Blood for thee . IF vhen farre in the East yee doe behold , Forth from his Christall Bed the Sunne to rise , With rosie Robes and Crowne of flaming Gold ? If gazing on that Empresse of the Skies That takes so many formes , and those faire Brands Which blaze in Heauens high Vault , Nights watchfull eyes ? If seeing how the Seas tumultuous Bands Of bellowing Billowes haue their course confin'd ? How vnsustain'd the Earth still steadfast stands ? Poore mortall Wights , yee e're found in your Minde A thought , that some great King did sit aboue , Who had such Lawes and Rites to them assign'd ? A King who fix'd the Poles , made Spheares to moue , All Wisedome , Purenesse , Excellencie , Might , All Goodnesse , Greatnesse , Iustice , Beautie , Loue ; With feare and wonder hither turne your Sight , See , see ( alas ) Him now , not in that State Thought could fore-cast Him into Reasons light . Now Eyes with teares , now Hearts with griefe make great , Bemoane this cruell Death and drearie case , If euer Plaints iust W●e could aggrauate ? From Sinne and Hell to saue vs humaine Race , See this great King naill'd to an abiect Tree , An obiect of reproach and sad disgrace . O vnheard Pittie ! Loue in strange degree ! Hee his owne Life doth giue , his Blood doth shed , ●or Wormelings base such Worthinesse to see . Poore Wights , behold His Visage pale as Lead , His Head bow'd to His Brest , Lockes sadlie rent , Like a cropt Rose that languishing doth fade . Weake Nature weepe , astonish'd World lament , Lam●nt , you Windes , you Heauen that all containes , And thou ( my Soule ) let nought thy Griefes relent . Those Hands , those sacred Hands which hold the r●ines Of this great All , and kept from mutuall warres The Elements , beare rent for thee their Vaines : Those Feete which once must trade on golden Starres , For thee with Nailes would bee pierc'd through and ●orne , For thee Heauens King from Heauen himselfe ●ebarres : This great heart-quaking Dolour waile and mourne , Yee that long since Him saw by might of Faith , Yee now that are , and yee yet to bee borne . Not to behold his great Creators Death , The Sunne from sinfull eyes hath vail'd his light , And faintlie●journeyes vp Hea●ens saphyre Path : And cutting from her Browes her Tresses bright , The Moone doth keepe her Lords sad Obseq●ies , Impearling with her Teares this Robe of Night . All staggering and lazie lowre the Skies , The Earth and elementall Stages quake , The long since dead from bursted Graues arise . And can things wanting sense yet sorrow take , And beare a Part with him who all them wrought ? And Man ( though borne with cryes ) shall pittie lacke ? Thinke what had beene your state , had hee not brought To these sharpe Pangs himselfe , and priz'd so hie Your Soules , that with his Life them life hee bought . What woes doe you attend ? if still yee lye Plung'd in your wonted ordures ? wre●ched Brood , Shall for your sake againe GOD euer die ? O leaue deluding shewes , embrace true good , Hee on you calles , forgoe Sinnes shamefull trade , With Prayers now seeke Heauen , and not with Blood. Let not the Lambes more from their Dames bee had , Nor Al●●rs blush for sinne , liue euery thing , That long time long'd for sacrifice is made . All that is from you crau'd by this great King Is to beleeue , a pure Heart Incense is What gift ( alas ) can wee him meaner bring ? Haste sinne-sicke Soules , this season doe doe not misse , Now while remorselesse Time doth grant you space , And GOD invites you to your onlie Blisse : Hee w●● you calles will not denie you Grace , But low-deepe burrie faults ▪ so yee repent , His Armes ( loe ) stretched are you to embrace . When Dayes are done , and Lifes small sparke is spent , So yee accept what freelie heere is giuen , Like brood of Angels deathlesse , all-content , Yee shall for euer liue with him in Heauen . COme forth , come forth yee blest triumphing Bands , Faire Citizens of that immortall Towne , Come see that King which all this All commands , Now ( ouercharg'd with Loue ) die for his owne ; Looke on those Nailes which pierce his Feete and Hands , What a sharpe Diademe his Browes doth crowne ? Behold his pallid Face , his Eyes which sowne , And what a throng of Theeues him mocking stands . Come forth yee empyrean Troupes , come forth , Preserue this sacred Blood that Earth adornes , Gather those liquid Roses off his Thornes , O! to bee loost they bee of too much worth : For Streams 1 , Iuice 2 , Balm 3 they are , which quēch 1 , kils 2 , charms 3 , Of GOD 1 , Death 2 , Hell 3 , the wrath 1 , the life 2 , the harmes3. SOule , which to Hell wast thrall , Hee , Hee for thine offence , Did suffer Death , who could not die at all ▪ O soueraigne Excellence , O life of all that liues , Eternall Bountie which each good thing giues , How could Death mounte so hie ? No wit this Point can reach , Faith onely doth vs teach , For vs Hee dyed at all who could not dye ▪ LIfe to giue life , depriued is of Life , And Death display'd hath Ensigne against Death , So violent the Rigour was of Death , That nought could daunte it but the Life of Life : No Power had Pow'r to thrall Lifes Pow'rs to Death , But willinglie Life downe hath layed Life , Loue gaue the wound which wrought this worke of Death , His Bow and Shafts were of the Tree of Life . Now quakes the Author of eternall Death , To finde that they whom earst he re●t of Life , Shall fill his Roome aboue the listes of Death , Now all rejoyce in Death who hope for Life . Dead IESVS lyes who Death hath kill'd by Death , No Tombe his Tombe is , but new Source of Life . RIse from those fragrant Climes , thee now embrace , Vnto this World of ours O haste thy Race , Faire Sunne , and though contrarie wayes all yeare Thou hold thy course , now with the highest Spheare , Ioyne thy blew Wheeles to hasten Time that lowres , And lazie Minutes turne in perfect Houres ; The Night and Death too long a league haue made , To stow the World in Horrors vglie shade : Shake from thy Lockes a Day with saffron rayes So faire , that it out-shine all other dayes ; And yet doe not presume ( great Eye of light ) To be that which this Day must make so bright , See , an eternall Sunne hastes to arise , Not from the Easterne blushing Seas or Skies , Or any stranger Worlds Heauens Concaues haue , But from the Darknes of an hollow Graue : And this is that all-powerfull Sunne aboue , That crown'd thy Browes with Rayes , first made thee moue . Lights Trumpetters , yee need not from your Bowres Proclaime this Day , this the angelicke Powres Haue done for you ; But now an opall hew Bepaintes Heauens Christall , to the longing view Earths late hid Colours glance , Light doth adorne The World , and ( weeping Ioy ) forth comes the Morne ; And with her , as from a Lethargicke Transe Breath ( com'd againe ) that Bodie doth aduance , Which two sad Nights in rocke lay coffin'd dead , And with au iron Guard invironed , Life out of Death , Light out of Darkness● springs , From a base Iaile forth comes the King of kings ; What late was mortall , thrall'd to euerie woe , That lackeyes life or vpon sense doth grow , Immortall is , of an eternall Stampe , Farre brighter beaming than the morning Lampe . So from a blacke Ecclipse out●peares the Sunne : Such [ when a huge of Dayes haue on her runne , In a farre Forest in the pearlie East , And shee her selfe hath burnt and spicie Nest ] The lonlie Bird with youthfull Pennes and Combe , Doth soare from out her Cradle and her Tombe : So a small seed that in the Earth lies hidde And dies , revi●ing burstes her cloddie Side , Adorn'd with yellow Lockes , of new is borne , And doth become a Mother great with Corne , Of Graines brings hundreths with it , which when old , Enrich the Furrowes with a Sea of Gold. Haile holie Victor , greatest Victor haile , That Hell dost ra●sacke , against Death preuaile , O how thou long'd for comes ! with Iubeling cries The all-triumphing Palladines of Skies Salute thy rising , Earth would Ioyes no more Beare , if thou rising didst them not restore : A sillie Tombe should not his Flesh enclose , Who did Heauens trembling Tarasses dispose , No Monument should such a Iewell hold , No Rocke , though Rubye , Diamond , and Gold. Thou onelie pittie didst vs humane Race , Bestowing on vs of thy free●giuen Grace More than wee forfaited and loosed first , In Edens Rebell when wee were accurst . Then Earth our portion was , Earths Ioyes but giuen , Earth and Earths Blisse thou hast exchang'd with Heauen . O what a hight of good vpon vs streames From the great splendor of thy Bounties Beames ? When we deseru'd shame , horrour , flames of wrath , Thou bled our wounds , and suffer didst our Death , But Fathers Iustice pleas'd , Hell , Death o'rcome , In triumph now thou risest from thy Tombe , With Glories which past Sorrowes contervaile , Haile holy Victor , greatest Victor haile . Hence humble sense , and hence yee Guides of sense , Wee now reach Heauen , your weake intelligence And searching Pow'rs , were in a flash made dim , To learne from all eternitie , that him The Father bred , then that hee heere did come ( His Bearers Parent ) in a Virgins Wombe ; But then when sold , betray'd , crown'd , scourg'd with Thorne , Naill'd to a Tree , all breathlcsse , bloodlesse , torne , Entomb'd , him risen from a Graue to finde , Confounds your Cunning , turnes like Moles you blinde . Death , theu that heeretofore still barren wast , Nay , didst each other Birth eate vp and waste , Imperious , hatefull , pittilesse , vniust , Vnpartiall equaller of all with dust , Sterne Executioner of heau●nlie doome , Made fruitfull , now Lifes Mother art become , A sweete reliefe of Cares the Soule molest An Harbenger to Glorie , Peace and Rest , Put off thy mourning Weedes , yeeld all thy Gall To daylie sinning Life , proud of thy fall , Assemble thy Captiues , bide all haste to rise , And euerie Corse in earth-quakes where it lies , Sound from each flowrie Graue , and rockie Iaile , Haile holy Victor , greatest Victor haile . The World that wa●ning late and faint did lie , Applauding to our Ioyes , thy Victorie , To a yong Prime essayes to turne againe , And as ere soyl'd with Sinne yet to remaine , Her chilling Ag●es shee beginnes to misse , All Blisse returning with the LORD of Blisse . With greater light Heauens Temples opened shine , Mornes smiling rise , Euens blushing doe decline , Cloudes dappled glister , boistrous Windes are calme , Soft Zephyres doe the Fields with sighes embalme , In ammell blew the Sea hath ●usht his R●ares , And with enamour'd Curles doth kisse the Shoares : All-bearing Earth , like a new-married Queene , Her Beauties hightenes , in a Gowne of Greene Perfumes the Aire , her Meades are wrought with Flowres , In colours various , figures , smelling , powres , Trees wantone in the Groues with leauie Lockes ▪ Her Hilles empampred stand , The Vales , the Rockes Ring peales of Ioy , her Floods and pratling Brookes , ( Starres liquid Mirrors ) with serpinting Crookes , And whispering murmures , sound vnto the Maine , That Worlds pure Age returned is againe . The honnye People leaue their golden B●wres , And innocentlie pray on budding Flowres , In gloomie Shades pearcht on the tender Sprayes The painted Singers fill the Aire with Layes : Seas , Floods , Earth , Aire , all diuerslie doe sound , Yet all their diuerse Notes hath but one ground , Re-echoed heeredowne from Heauens azure Vaile , Haile holy Victor , greatest Victor haile . O Day on which Deathes Adamantine Chaine The LORD did breake , ransacking Satans Raigne , And in triumphing Pompe his Trophees rear'd , Be thou blest euer , henceforth still endear'd With Name of his owne Day , the Law to Grace , Types to their substance yeeld , to thee giue place The old New-Moones , with all festiuall Dayes , And what aboue the rest deserueth praise The reuerend Saboath , what could else they bee Than golden Heraulds , telling what by thee Wee should enjoy ? shades past , now shine thou cleare , And henceforth be thou Empresse of the yeare , This Glorie of thy Sisters sexe to winne , From worke on thee , as other Dayes from Sinne , That Mankind shall forbeare , in euerie place The Prince of Planets warmeth in his race ; And farre beyond his pathes in frozen Climes ; And may thou be so blest to out●date Times , That when Heauens Quire shall balze in accents lowd The many Mercies of their soueraigne Good , How hee on thee did Sinne , Death , Hell destroy , It may bee aye the Burthen of their Ioy. BEneath a sable vaile , and Shadowes deepe , Of vnaccessible and dimming light , In Silence ebane cloudes more blacke than Night , The Worlds great Minde his secrets hidde doth keepe : Through those thicke Mists when any mortall Wight Aspires , with halting pace , and Eyes that weepe To prye , and in his Misteries to creepe , With Thunders hee and Lightnings blastes their Sight . O Sunne invisible , that dost abide Within thy bright abysmes , most faire , most darke , Where with thy proper Rayes thou dost thee hide , O euer-shining , neuer full seene marke , To guide mee in Lifes Night , thy light mee show , The more I search of thee , the lesse I know . IF with such passing Beautie , choise Delights , The Architect of this great Round did frame , This Pallace visible , short listes of Fame , And sillie Mansion but of dying Wights ? How many Wonders , what amazing lights Must that triumphing Seat of Glorie clame ? That doth transcend all this great All 's vaste hights , Of whose bright Sunne ours heere is but a beame . O blest abode ! O happie dwelling place ! Where visiblie th' Invisible doth raigne , Blest People which doe see true Beauties Face , With whose farre Shadowes scarce he Earth doth daigne : All Ioy is but Annoy , all Concord Strife , Match'd with your endlesse Blisse and happie life . LOue which is heere a care , That Wit and Will doth marre , Vncertaine Truce , and a most certaine Warre , A shrill tempestuous Winde , Which doth disturbe the Minde , And like wilde Waues our designes all commo●e ; Among those Powres aboue , Which see their Makers Face , It a contentment is , a quiet Peace , A Pleasure voide of Griefe , a constant rest , Eternall Ioy , which nothing can molest . THat space where raging Waues doe now diuide From the great Continent our happie Isle , Was sometime Land , and now where Shippes doe glide , Once with laborious Art the Plough did tyle : Once those faire Bounds stretcht out so farre and wide , Where Townes , no , Shires enwall'd , endeare each mile , Were all ignoble Sea and marish vile , Where Proteus Flockes danc'd measures to the Tyde . So Age transforming all still forward runnes , No wonder though the Earth doth change her Face , New Manners , Pleasures new , turne with new Sunnes , Lockes now like Gold grow to an hoarie grace ; Nay , Mindes rare shape doth change , that lies despis'd , Which was so deare of late and highlie pris'd . THis World a Hunting is , The Prey poore Man , the Nimrod fierce is Death , His speedie Gray●ounds are , Lust , Sicknesse , Enuie , Care , Strife that neere falles amisse , With all those ills which haunt vs while wee breath . Now , if by chance wee flie Of these the eager chase , Old Age with stealing pace Castes vp his Nets , and there wee panting die , WHy ( Worldlings ) do ye trust fraile Honours dreames ? And leane to guilted Glories which decay ? Why doe yee toyle to registrate your Names On ycie Pillars , which soone melt away ? True Honour is not heere , that place it clames Where blacke-brow'd Night doth not exile the Day , Nor no farre-shining lamp diues in the Sea , But an eternall Sunne spreades lasting Beames : There , it attendeth you , where spotlesse Bands Of Sprits , stand gazing on their soueraigne Blisse , Where yeeres not hold it in their canckring hands , But who once noble euer noble is . Looke home , lest hee your weakned Wit make thrall , Who Edens foolish Gardner earst made fall . AS are those Apples , pleasant to the Eye , But full of smoake within , which vse to grow Neere that strange Lake where God powr'd from the Skie Huge showres of flames , worse flames to ouer-throw : Such are their workes that with a glaring Show Of humble holinesse , in Vertues dye Would coloure mischiefe , while within they glow With coales of Sinne , though none the Smoake descrie . Ill is that Angell that earst fell from Heauen , But not more ill than hee , nor in worse case Who hides a traitrous Minde with smiling face , And with a Doues white feathers maskes a Rauen : Each Sinne some colour hath it to adorne , Hypocrisie All-mightie God doth scorne . NEw doth the Sunne appeare , The Mountaines Snowes decay , Crown'd with fraile flowres forth comes the babye yeare , My Soule , Time postes away , And thou yet in that frost Which Flowre and fruite hath lost , As if all heere immortall were dost stay : For shame thy Powres awake Looke to that Heauen which neuer Night makes blacke , And there at that immortall Sunnes bright Rayes , Decke thee with Flowres which feare not rage of Dayes . THrice happie hee who by some shadie Groue , Farre from the clamorous World , doth liue his owne , Though solitarie , who is not alone , But doth , conuerse with that Eternall Loue : O how more sweet is Birdes harmonious Moane , Or the hoarse Sobbings of the widow'd Doue ? Than those smooth whisperings neere a Princes Throne , Which Good make doubtfull do the euill approue ? O how more sweet is Zephyres wholesome Breath , And Sighes embalm'd , which new-borne Flowres vnfold , Than that applause vaine Honour doth bequeath ? How sweet are Streames to Poison drunke in Gold ? The World is full of Horrours , Troubles , Slights , Woods harmlesse Shades haue only true Delights . SWeet Bird , that sing'st away the earlie Houres , Of Winters past or comming voide of Care , Well pleased with Delights which present are , Faire Seasones , budding Sprayes , sweet-smelling Flowres : To Rockes , to Springs , to Rills , from leauie Bowres : Thou thy Creators Goodnesse dost declare , And what deare Gifts on thee he did not spare , A Staine to humane sense in Sinne that lowres . What Soule can be so sicke , which by thy Songs ( Attir'd in swee●nesse ) sweetlie is not driuen Quite to forget Earthes turmoiles , spights , and wrongs ? And lift a reuerend Eye and Thought to Heauen ? Sweet Artlesse Songstarre , thou my Minde dost raise To Ayres of Spheares , yes , and to Angels Layes . AS when it hapneth that some louelie Towne Unto a barbarous Besieger falles , Who there by Sword and Flame himselfe enstalles , And ( shamelesse ) it in Teares and Blood doth drowne ; Her Beautie spoil'd , her Citizens made Thralles , His spight yet can not so her all throw downe , But that some Statue , Arch , Phan of renowne , Yet lurkes vnmaym'd within her weeping walles : So after all the Spoyle , Disgrace and Wracke , That Time , the World , and Death could bring combind , Amidst that Masse of Ruines they did make , Safe and all scarre●lesse yet remaines my Minde : From this so high tran●cending Rapture springs , That I , all else defac'd , not enuie Kings . LEt vs each day enure our selues to dye , If this ( and not our feares ) be truelie Death , Aboue the Circles both of Hope and Faith With faire immortall Pinniones to flie ? If this be Death our best Part to vntye ( By ruining the Iaile ) from Lust and Wrath , And euerie drowsie languor heere beneath , It turning deniz'd Citizen of Skie ? To haue more knowledge than all Bookes containe , All Pleasures euen surmounting wishing Powre , The fellowship of Gods immortall Traine , And these that Time nor force shall e're deuoure ? If this be Death ? what Ioy , what golden care Of Life , can with Deathes ouglinesse compare ? AMidst the azure cleare Of Iordans sacred Streames , Iordan of Libanon the off-spring deare , When Zephires flowres vnclose , And Sunne shines with new Beames , With graue and statelie grace a Nymphe arose . Vpon her Head shee ware Of Amaranthes a Crowne , Her left hand Palmes , her right a Brand●n bare , Vnvail'd Skinnes whitenesse lay , Gold haires in Curles hang downe , Eyes sparkled Ioy , more bright than starre of Day . The Flood a Throne her rear'd Of Waues , most like that Heauen Where beaming Starres in Glorie turne ensphear'd , The Aire stood calme and cleare , No Sigh by Windes was giuen , Birdes left to sing , Heards feed , her voice to heare . World-wandring sorrie Wights , Whom no thing can content VVithin these varying li●ts of Dayes nad Nights , VVhose life ( ere knowne amisse ) In glittering Griefes is spent , Come learne ( said shee ) what is your choisest Blisse ▪ From Toyle and pressing Cares How yee may respit finde , A Sanctuarie from Soule-thralling Snares , A Port to harboure sure In spight of waues and winde , VVhich shall when Times Houre-glasse is runne endure . Not happie is that Life Which yee as happie hold , No , but a Sea of feares , a field of strife , Charg'd on a Throne to sit With Diademes of Gold , Preseru'd by Force , and still obseru'd by Wit ; Huge Treasures to enjoy , Of all her Gemmes spoyle Inde , All Seres silke in Garments to imploy , Deliciouslie to feed , The Phoenix plumes to finde To rest vpon , or decke your purple Bed. Fraile Beautie to abuse , And ( wanton Sybarites ) On past or present touch of sense to muse ; Neuer to heare of Noise But what the Eare delites , Sweet Musicks charmes , or charming flatterers voice . Nor can it Blisse you bring , Hidde Natures Depthes to know , Why matter changeth , whence each forme doth spring , Nor that your Fame should range , And after-Worlds it blow From Tānāis to Nile , from Nile to Gange . All these haue not the Powre To free the Minde from feares , Nor hiddeous horror can allay one howre , When Death in steale doth glance , In Sicknesse lurke or yeares , And wakes the Soule from out her mortall Trance . No , but blest life is this , With chaste and pure Desire ▪ To turne vnto the load-starre of all Blisse , On GOD the Minde to rest , Burnt vp with sacred Fire , Possessing him to bee by him possest . When to the baulmie East Sunne doth his light imparte , Or when hee diueth in the lowlie West , And rauisheth the Day , With spotlesse Hands and Hart Him chearefullie to praise and to him pray . To heed each action so , As euer in his sight , More fearing doing ill than passiue woe ▪ Not to seeme other thing Than what yee are aright , Neuer to doe what may Repentance bring : Not to bee blowne with Pride , Nor mou'd at Glories breath , Which Shadow-like on wings of Time doth glide ; So Malice to disarme , And conquere hastie Wrath , As to doe good to those that worke your harme : To hatch no base Desires Or Gold or Land to gaine , Well pleas'd with what by Vertue one acquires , To haue the Wit and Will Consorting in one Straine , Than what is good to haue no higher skill . Neuer on Neighbours well , With Cocatrices Eye To looke , nor make an others Heauen your Hell ; Not to be Beauties Thrall , All fruitlesse Loue to flie ▪ Yet louing still a Loue transcending all : A Loue which while it burnes The Soule with fairest Beames , In that vncreatde Sunne the Soule it turnes , And makes such Beautie proue , That ( if Sense saw her Gleames ? ) All lookers on would pine and die for loue . VVho such a life doth liue , Yee happie euen may call Ere ruthlesse Death a whished end him giue , And after then when giuen , More happie by his fall , For Humanes , Earth , enioying Angels , Heauen . Swift is your mortall Race , And glassie is the Field , Vaste are Desires not limited by Grace , Life a weake Tapper is , Then while it light doth yeeld Leaue flying Ioyes , embrace this lasting Blisse , This when the Nymph had said , Shee diu'd within the Flood , VVhose Face with smyling Curles long after staid , Then Sighes did Zephyres presse , Birdes sang from euerie VVood , And Ecchoes rang , this was true Happinesse . AN HYMNE OF THE FAIREST FAIRE . I Feele my Bosome glow with wontlesse Fires , Rais'd from the vulgar preasse my Mind aspires ( Wing'd with high Thoughis ) vnto his praise to clime , From deepe Eternitie who call'd forth Time , That Essence which not mou'd makes each thing moue , Vncreatde Beautie all-creating Loue ; But by so great an obiect , radiant light , My Heart appall'd , enfeebled restes my Sight , Thicke Cloudes benighte my labouring Ingine , And at my high attempts my Wits repine : If thou in mee this sacred Rapture wrought , My Knowledge sharpen , Sarcells lend my Thought ? Grant mee ( Times Father , world-containing King ) A Pow'r of thee in pow'rfull Layes to sing , That as thy Beautie in Earth liues , Heauen shines , It dawning may or shadow in my Lines . As farre beyond the starrie walles of Heauen , As is the loftiest of the Planets seuen Sequestred from this Earth , in purest light Out-shining ours , as ours doth sable Night , Thou all-sufficient , Omnipotent , Thou euer-glorious , most excellent , GOD various in Names , in Essence one , High art enstalled on a golden Throne , Out-reaching , Heauens wide Vastes , the Bounds of nought , Transcending all the Circles of our Thought , With diamantine Scepter in thy Hand , There thou giu'st Lawes , and dost this World command , This World of Concords raisde vnliklie sweet , Which like a Ball lies prostrate to thy Feet . If so wee may well say ( and what wee say Heere wrapt in flesh , led by dimme Reasones ray , To show by earthlie Beauties which wee see That spirituall Excellence that shines in thee , Good Lord forgiue ) not farre from thy right Side , With curled Lockes Youth euer doth abide , Rose-checked Youth who garlanded with Flowres , Still blooming , ceasleslie vnto thee powres Immortall Nectar in a cuppe of Gold , That by no darts of Ages thou grow old , And as ends and beginnings thee not clame , Successionlesse that thou be still the same . Neare to thy other side resistlesse Might , From Head to Foot in burnisht Armour dight , That ringes about him , with a wa●ing Brand , And watchfull Eye , great Sentinell doth stand , That neither Time nor force in ought impaire Thy Workmanshippe , nor harme thine Empire faire , Soone to giue Death to all againe that would Sterne Discord raise which thou destroide of old , Discord that foe to order , Nurse of Warre , By which the noblest things dimolisht are , But ( catife ) shee no Treason doth deuise , When Might to nought doth bring her enterprise , Thy all-vpholding Might her Malice raines , And her in Hell throwes bound in iron Chaines . With Lockes in waues of Gold that ebbe and flow On y●orie necke , in Robes more white than Snow , Truth steadfastlie before thee holdes a Glasse , Indent'd with Gemmes , where shineth all that was , That is , or shall bee , heere ere ought was wrought . Thou knew all that thy Pow'r with time forth brought , And more , things number lesse which thou couldst make , That actuallie shall neuer being take , Heere thou beholdst thy selfe , and ( strange ) dost proue At once the Beautie , Louer and the Loue. With Faces two ( like Sisters ) sweetlie faire , VVhose Blossomes no rough Autumne can impaire , Stands Prouidence , and doth her lookes disperse . Through euerie Corner of this Vniuerse , Thy Prouidence , at once which generall things And singulare doth rule , as Empires Kings , VVithout whose care this world ( lost ) would remaine , As Shippe without a Maister in the Maine , As Chariot alone , as Bodies proue Depriu'd of Soules , whereby they be , li●e , moue . But who are they which shine thy Throne so neare ? With sacred countenance , and looke seuere , This in one hand a pondrous Sword doth hold , Her left stayes charg'd with Ballances of Gold , That with , Browes girt with Bayes , sweet-smiling Face , Doth beare a Brandon , with a babish grace Two milke-white VVings him easilie doe moue , O shee thy Iustice is , and this thy Loue ! By this thou brought this Engine great to light , By that it fram'd in Number , Measure , VVeight , That destine doth reward to ill and good ; But Sway of Iustice is by Loue with-stood , VVhich did it not relent and mildlie stay , This World ere now had had its funerall Day . What Bands ( enclustred ) neare to these abide , Which into vaste Infinitie them hide ? Infinitie that neither doth admit , Place , Time , nor Number to encroach on it : Heere Bountie sparkleth , heere doth Beautie shine , Simplicitie , more white than Gelsomine , Mercie with open winges , ay-varied Blisse , Glorie , and Ioy , that Blisses darling is . Ineffable , all-pow'rfull GOD , all-free , Thou onlie liu'st , and each thing liues by thee , No Ioy , no , nor Perfection to thee came By the contriuing of this Worlds great Frame , Ere Sunne , Moone , Starres beganne their restlesse race , Ere paint'd with purple light was heauens round Face , Ere Aire had Cloudes , ere Cloudes weept downe their showres , Ere Sea embraced Earth , ere Earth bare Flowres , Thou happie liu'd ; World nought to thee supply'd , All in thy selfe thy selfe thou satisfy'd : Of Good no slender Shadow doth appeare , No age-worne tracke , which shin'd in thee not cleare , Perfestions Summe , prime●cause of euerie Cause , Midst , end , beginning , where all good doth pa●se : Hence of thy Substance , differing in nought Thou in Eternitie thy Sonne forth brought , The onlie Birth of thy vnchanging Minde , Thine Image , Patterne-like that euer shin'd , Light out of Light , begotten not by Will But Nature , all and that same Essence still Which thou thy selfe , for thou dost nought possesse Which hee hath not , in ought nor is hee lesse Than Thee his great Begetter ; of this Light , Eternall , double , kindled was thy Spright Eternallie , who is with thee the same , All-holie Gift , Embassadour , Knot , Flame : Most sacred Triade , O most holie One , Vnprocreatde Father , euer-procreatde Sonne , Ghost breath'd from both , you were , are ▪ aye shall be , ( Most blessed ) Three in One , and One in Three , Vncomprehensible by reachlesse Hight , And vnperceaued by excessiae Light. So in our Soules three and yet one are still , The Vnderstanding , Memorie , and Will ; So ( though vnlike ) the Planet of the Dayes So soone as hee was made begate his Rayes , Which are his Off-spring , and from both was hurld , The rosie Light which comforte doth the World , And none fore-went an other : so the Spring , The Well-head , and the Streame which they forth bring , Are but one selfe-same Essence , nor in ought Doe differ , saue in order , and our Thought No chime of Time discernes in them to fall , But Three distinctlie bide one Essence all . But these expresse not Thee , who can declare Thy being ? Men and Angelles dazel'd are , Who force this Eden would with wit or sense A Cherubin shall finde to barre him thence . All 's Architect , Lord of this Vniverse , Ingulph'd is Wit would in thy Greatnesse pierce , Ah! as a Pilgrime who the Alpes doth passe , Or Atlas Temples crown'd with winter glasse , The ayrie Caucasus , the Apennine , Pyrenes clifts where Sunne doth neuer shine , When hee some heapes of Hilles hath ouer-went , Beginnes to thinke on rest , his Iourney spent , Till mounting some tall Mountaine hee doe find , More hights before him than hee left behinde : With halting pace so while I would me raise To the vnbounded Circuits of thy Praise , Some part of way I thought to haue o're-runne , But now I see how scarce I haue begunne , With Wonders new my Spirits range possest , And wandring waylesse in a maze them rest . In these vaste Fields of Light , eth●riall Plaines , Thou art attended by immortall Traines Of Intellectuall Pow'rs , which thou brought forth To praise thy Goodnesse , and admire thy Worth , In numbers passing other Creatures farre , Since Creatures ●●st noble maniest are , Which doe in knowledge vs no lesse out-runne Than Moone in light doth Starres , or Moone the Sunne , Vnlike , in Orders rang'd and manie ● Band ( If Beautie in Disparitie doth stand ? ) Arch-angells ▪ Angells , Cherubes , Seraphines , And what with name of Thrones amongst them shines , Large-ruling Princes , Dominations , Po●res , All-acting Vertues of those fl●ming To●res ; These fred of Vmbrage , these of Labour free , Rest rauished with still beholding Thee , Inflamde with Beames which sparkle from thy Face , They can no more desire , farre lesse embrace . Low vnder them , with slow and staggering pace Thy Hand-maide Nature thy great Steppes doth trace , The Source of second Causes , golden Chaine That linkes this Frame as thou it doth ordaine , Nature gaz'd on with such a curious Eye That Earthlings oft her deem'd a Deitye . By Nature led those Bodies faire and greate Which faint not in their Course , nor change their State , Vnintermixt , which no disorder proue , Though aye and contrarie they alwayes moue , The Organes of thy Prouidence diuine , Bookes euer open , Signes that clearlie shine , Times purpled Maskers , then doe them aduance , As by sweet Musicke in a measur'd dance ; Starres , Hoste of Heauen , yee Firmaments bright Flowres , Cleare Lampes which ouer-hang this Stage of ours , Yee turne not there to decke the Weeds of Night , Nor Pageant-like to please the vulgare Sight , Great Causes sure yee must bring great Effects , But who can discant right your graue Aspects ? Hee onlie who You made deciphere can Your Notes , Heauens Eyes yee blinde the Eyes of Man. Amidst these Saphire farre-extending Hights , The neuer-twinkling euer-wondring Lights Their fixed Motions keepe , one drye and cold , Deep-Leaden colour'd , slowlie there is roll'd , With Rule and Line for Times steppes meating euen In twice three Lustres hee but turnes his Heauen . With temperate qualities and Countenance faire , Still mildlie smiling sweetlie debonnaire , An other cheares the World , and way doth make In twice sixe Autumnes through the Zodiacke . But hote and drye with flaming Lockes and Browes Enrag'd , this in his red Pauillion glowest : Together running with like speed if space , Two equallie in hands atchieue their race , With blushing Face this oft doth bring the Day , And vsheres oft to statelie Starres the way , That various in vertue , changing , light , With his small flame impearles the vaile of Night . Prince of this Court , the Sunne in triumph rides , With the Yeare Snake-like in her selfe that glides , Times Dispensator , faire life-giuing Source , Through Skies twelue Postes as he doth runne his course , Heart of this All , of what is knowne to sence The likest to his Makers excellence , In whose diurnall motion doth appeare A Shadow , no , true pourtrait of the Yeare . The Moone moues lowest , siluer Sunne of Night , Dispersing through the World her borrow'd light , Who in three formes her head abroad doth range , And onlie constant is in constant Change. Sad Queene of Silence , I neere see thy Face , To waxe , or waine , or shine with a full grace , But straighi ( amaz'd ) on Man I thinke , each Day His state who changeth , or if hee find Stay , It is in drearie anguish , cares , and paines , And of his Labours Death is all the Gaines ? Immortall Monarch , can so fond a Thought Lodge in my Brest ? as to trust thou first brought Heere in Earths shadie Cloister wretched Man , To sucke the Aire of Woe , to spend Lifes span Midst Sighes and Plaints , a Stranger vnto Mirth , To giue himselfe his Death rebucking Birth ? By sense and wit of Creatures made King , By sense and wit to liue their Vnderling ? And what is worst , haue Eaglets eyes to see His owne disgrace , and know an high degree Of Blisse , the Place , if hee might thereto clime , Aud not liue thralled to imperious Time ? Or ( dotard ) shall I so from Reason swerue , To deeme those Lights which to our vse doe serue , ( For thou dost not them need ) more noblie fram'd Than vs , that know their course , and haue them nam'd ? No , I nee're thinke but wee did them surpasse As farre , as they doe Asterismes of Glasse , When thou vs made , by Treason high defil'd , Thrust from our first estate we liue ex●●d Wandring this Earth , which is of Death the Lot , Where he doth vse the Pow'r which he hath got , Indifferent Vmpire vnto Clownes and Kings , The supreame Monarch of all mortall things . When first this flowrie Orbe was to vs giuen , It but in place disvalu'd was to Heauen , These Creatures which now our Soueraignes are , And as to Rebelles doe denounce vs warre , Then were our Vasselles , no tumultuous Storme , No Thunders , Quakings , did her Forme deforme , The Seas in tumbling Mountaines did not roare , But like moist Christall whispered on the Shoare , No Snake did met her Meads , nor ambusht lowre In azure Curles beneath the sweet-Spring Flowre ; The Night-shade , Henbane , Napell , Aconite , Her Bowelles then not bare , with Death to smite Her guiltlesse Brood ; thy Messengers of Grace , As their high Rounds did haunte this lower Place ; O Ioy of Ioyes ! with our first Parents Thou To commune then didst daigne , as Friends doe now : Against thee wee rebell'd , and justlie thus , Each Creature rebelled against vs , Earth , reft of what did chiefe in her excell , To all became a Iaile , to most a Hell , In Times full Terme vntill thy Sonne was giuen , Who Man with Thee , Earth reconcil'd with Heauen . Whole and entiere all in thy Selfe thou art , All-where diffusd , yet of this All no part , For infinite , in making this faire Frame ( Great without quantitie ) in all thou came , And filling all , how can thy State admit , Or Place or Substance to be voide of it ? Were Worlds as many , as the Rayes which streame From Dayes bright lamp , or madding Wits do dreame , They would not reele in nought , nor wandring stray , But draw to Thee , who could their Centers stay ; Were but one houre this World disioyn'd from thee , It in one houre to nought reduc'd should bee , For it thy Shadow is , and can they last , If seuer'd from the Substances them cast ? O onlie blest , and Author of all Blisse , No , Blisse it selfe , that all-where wished is , Efficient , exemplarie , finall Good , Of thine owne Selfe but onlie vnderstood ; Light is thy Curtaine , thou art Light of Light , An euer-waking Eye still shining bright , In-looking all , exempt of passiue Powre , And change , in change since Deaths pale shade doth lowre : All Times to thee are one , that which hath runne , And that which is not brought yet by the Sunne , To thee are present , who dost alwayss see In present act , what past is , or to bee ; Day-li●ers wee rememberance doe losse Of Ages worne , so Miseries vs tosse ( Blinde and lethargicke of thy heauenlie Grace , Which Sinne in our first Parents did deface , And euen while Embryones curst by justest doome ) That wee neglect what gone is , or to come , But thou in thy great Archiues scrolled hast In partes and whole , what euer yet hath past , Since first the marble Wheeles of Time were roll'd , As euer liuing , neuer waxing old , Still is the same thy Day and Yesterday , An vndiuided Now , a constant Ay. O King whose Greatnesse none can comprehend , Whose boundlesse Goodnesse doth to all extend , Light of all Beautie , Ocean without ground , That standing flowest , giuing dost abound , Rich Pallace , and Endvveller euer blest , Neuer not vvorking euer yet in Rest ; What vvit can not conceiue , words say of Thee , Heere where wee as but in a Mirrour see , Shadowes of shadowes , Atomes of thy Might , Still owlie eyed when staring on thy Light , Grant that released from this earthlie Iaile , And fred of Cloudes which heere our Knowledge vaile , In Heauens high Temples where thy Praises ring , I may in sweeter Notes heare Angelles sing . GReat GOD , whom wee with humbled Thoughts adore , Eternall , Infinite , Almightie King , Whose Dwellings Heauen transcend , whose Throne before Archangells serue , and Seraphines doe sing ; Of nought who wrought all that with wondring Eies Wee doe behold within this various Round , Who makes the Rockes to rocke , to stand the Skies , At whose command Cloudes peales of Thunder sound : Ah! spare vs Wormes , weigh not how wee alas ( Euill to our selues ) against thy Lawes rebell , Wash off those spots which still in Conscience Glasse ( Though wee be loath to looke ) wee see too well ▪ Deseru'd Reuenge of doe not doe not take , If thou reuenge vvhat shall abide thy Blovv ? Passe shall this World , this VVorld vvhich tho● didst make , Which should not perish till thy Trumpet blovv , What Soule is found vvhom Parents Crime not staines ? Or vvhat vvith its ovvne Sinnes defyl'd is not ? Though Iustice Rigor threaten ( ah ) her Raines Let Mercie guide , and neuer bee forgot . Lesse are our Faults farre farre than is thy Loue , O vvhat can better seeme thy Grace diuine , Than they that plagues deserue thy Bounti● proue , And where thou shovvre mayst Vengeance , there to shine ? Then looke and pittye , pittying forgiue Vs guiltie Slaues , or Seruants novv in thrall , Slaues , if alas thou looke hovv vve doe liue , Or doing ill , or doing nought at all ? Of an vngratefull Minde a foule Effect , But if thy Giftes vvhich largelie heeretofore Thou hast vpon vs povvr'd thou doe respect , VVee are thy Seruants , nay , than Ser●ants more , Thy Children , yes , and Children de●relie bought , But vvhat strange Chance vs of this Lot 〈◊〉 ? Po●re vvorthles VVights hovv lovvlie are vvee brought , VVhom Grace once Children made , Sinne hath made Slaues ? Sinne hath made Slaues , but let those Bands Grace breake , That in our vvrongs thy Mercies may appeare , Thy VVisdome not so meane is , Povv'r so vveake , But thousand vvayes they can make VVorlds thee feare . O VVisdome boundlesse ! O 〈◊〉 Grace ! Grace , VVisedome vvhich make 〈◊〉 dimme Reasons Eye , And could Heauens King bring from his placelesse Place , On this ignoble Stage of Care to dye : To dye our Death , and vvith the sacred Strea●●e Of Bloud and VVater gushing from his Side , To make vs cleane of that contagio●● Blame , First on vs brought by our first Parents Pride . Thus thy great Loue and Pitye ( heauenlie King ) Loue , Pittye vvhich so vvell our Losse preuent , Of Euill it selfe ( loe ) could all Goodnesse bring , And sad beginning cheare vvith glad euent . O Loue and Pitye ! ill knovvne of these Times , O Loue and Pitye ! carefull of our need , O Bounties ! vvhich our horride Acts and Crimes ( Grovvne numberlesse ) contend neare to exceed . Make this excessiue ardour of thy loue , So vvarme our Coldnesse , so our Lifes renevv , That vvee from Sinne , Sinne may from vs remoue , Wit may our Will , Faith may our Wit subdue . Let thy pure Loue burne vp all worldlie Lust , Hells candi'd Poison killing our best part , Which makes vs ioye in Toyes , adore fraile Dust In stead of Thee , in Temple of our Heart . Grant when at last our Soules these Bodies leaue , Their loathsome Shops of sinne and Mansions blinde , And Doome before thy royall Seat receaue , They may a Sauiour , not a Iudge thee finde . A CYPRESSE GROVE , BY W. D. A CYPRESSE GROVE . THough it hath beene doubted if there be in the Soule such imperious and superexcellent Power , as that it can by the vehement & earnest working of it , deliuer knowledge to another without bodily Organes , & by the onely Conceptions and Ideas of it produce reall Effects ; yet it hath beene euer and of all held as infallible and most certaine , that it often ( either by outward inspiration , or some secret motion in it selfe ) is augure of its owne Misfortunes , and hath Shadowes of approching dangers presented vnto it before they fall forth . Hence so many strange apparitions and signes , true Visions , vncouth heauinesse , and causelesse vncomfortable languishings : of which to seeke a reason , vnlesse from the sparkling of GOD in the Soule , or from the God-like sparkles of the Soule , were to make Reason vnreasonable , by reasoning of things transcending her reach . Hauing often and diuerse times , when I had giuen my selfe to rest in the quiet solitarinesse of the Night , found my Imagination troubled with a confused feare , no , sorrow , or horror , which interrupting Sleepe did astonish my senses , and rowse me all appalled , and transported in a suddaine agonie and amazednesse ; of such an vnaccustomed perturbation , not knowing , nor being able to diue into any apparent Cause , carried away with the streame of my ( then doubting ) Thoughts , I beganne to ascribe it to that secret fore-knowledge and presaging Power of the Propheticke Minde , and to interpret such an Agonie to be to the Spirit as a faintnesse and vniversall wearinesse vseth to be to the Body , a signe of following sicknesse , or as winter Lightnings or Earth-quakes are to Commonwealthes and great Cities-Herbingers of more wretched euents . Heereupon not thinking it strange if whatsoeuer is humaine should befall mee , knowing how Prouidence ouercomes Griefe , and discountenances Crosses ; and that as we should not despaire of Euils which may happen vs , wee should not bee too confident , nor leane much to those Goods wee enjoy : I beganne to turne ouer in my remembrance all that could afflict miserable Mortalitie , and to forecast euery thing that with a Maske of horror could show it sel●e to humaine Eyes : Till in the end , as by Unities and Points , Mathematicians are brought to great numbers , and huge greatnesse , after many fantasticall glances of the VVoes of Mankinde , and those incombrances which follow vpon Life , I was brought to thinke , and with amazement , on the last of humaine Terrors , or ( as one termed it ) the last of all dreadfull and terrible Euils , Death . For to easie censure it would appeare , that the Soule , if it fore-see that divorcement which it is to haue from the Body , should not without great reason be thus ouer-grieued , and plunged in inconsolable and vnaccustomed Sorrow : considering their neare Vnion , long familiaritie and loue , with the great change , Paine , Vglinesse , which are apprehended to be the inseparable attendants of Death . They had their being together , Parts they are of one reasonable Creature , the harming of the one , is the weakning of the working of the other ; what sweete contentments doth the Soule enjoy by the senses ? They are the Gates and VVindowes of its Knowledge , the Organes of its Delight . If it be tedious to an excellent Player on the Lute , to abide but a few Monthes the want of one , how much more must the being without such noble Tooles and Engines bee plaintfull to the Soule ? And if two Pilgrimes which haue wandred some few miles together , haue a hearts-griefe when they are neare to part , what must the Sorrow be at the parting of two so louing Friends and neuer-loathing Louers as are the Body and Soule ? Death is the violent estranger of acquaintance , the eternal Diuorcer of Mariage , the Rauisher of the Children ●rom the Parents , the Stealer of Parents from their Children , the interrer of Fame , the sole cause of forgetfulnesse , by which the Liuing talke of those gone away as of so many Shadowes or age ▪ worne Stories : all Strength by it is enfeebled , Beautie turned into deformitie & rottennesse , Honor in contempt , Glorie into basenesse . It is the reasonlesse breaker off of all Actions , by which we enjoy no more the sweet Pleasures of Earth , nor gaze vpon the ●●a●elie revolutions of the Heauens , Sunne perpetuallie setteth ; Star●es neuer rise vnto vs , It in one moment robbeth vs of what with so great toyle and care in many yeares wee haue heaped together : By this are Successions of Linages cut short , Kingdomes left heirelesse , and greatest States orphaned : it is not ouercome by Pride , smoothed by Flatterie , diuerted by Time , Wisedome saue this can preuent and helpe euery thing . By Death wee are exiled from this faire Citty of the World , it is no more a World vnto vs , nor we any more people into it . The ruines of Phanes , Palaces , and other magnificent Frames , yeeld a sad prospect to the Soule , and how should it without horrour view the wracke of such a wonderfull Maister-piece as is the Body ? That Death naturally is torrible and to be abhorred , it can not well and altogether be denied , it beeing a priuation of Life , and a not-being , and euery priuation being abhorred of Nature , and euill in it selfe , the feare of it too being ingenerate vniversallie in all Creatures ; yet I haue often thought that euen naturally to a Minde by onely Nature resolued and prepared , it is more terrible in Conceit than in Verity , and at the first Glance , than when well pryed into , and that rather by the weaknesse of our Fantasie , than by what is in it , and that the marble colours , of Obsequies , Weeping , and funerall Pompe ( which wee our selues cast ouer it ) did adde much more Gastlinesse vnto it than otherwayes it hath . To averre which conclusion , when I had gathered my wandring Thoughts , I beganne thus with my Selfe . If on the great Theater of this Earth amongst the numberlesse number of men , To die were onely proper to thee and thine , then vndoubtedlie thou hadst reason to repine at so seuere and partiall a Law ? But since it is a necessitie , from the which neuer an Age by-pa●● hath beene exempted , and vnto which they which bee , and so many as are to come , are thralled ( no consequent of Life being more common and familiar ) Why shouldst thou with vnprofitable , and nought availing stubbornnesse , oppose to so vneuitable and necessarie a Condition ? this is the high-way of Mortalitie , our generall home , behold what Millions haue trod it before thee , what Multitudes shall after thee , with them which at that same instant runne . In so vniversall a calamitie ( if Death be one ) priuate Complaints cannot bee heard , with so many royall Palaces , it is no losse to see thy poore Caban burne . Shall the Heauens stay their euer-rolling Wheeles ( for what is the motion of them , but the motion of a swift and euer-whirling Wheele , which twineth forth , and againe vprolleth our life ? ) and hold still time , to prolong thy miserable dayes , as if the highest of their working were to doe homage vnto thee ? Thy death is a peece of the order of this All , a part of the Life of this World , for while the World is the World , some Creatures must dye , & others take life . Eternall things are raised far aboue this Spheare of Generation & Corruption , where the first Matter , like an euer-flowing & ebbing Sea , with diuerse waues , but the same water , keepeth a restles and neuer-tyring current ; what is below , in the vniuersalitie of the kind , not in it selfe doth abide , Man a long line of years hath continued , This Man euerie hundreth is swept away . This Globe enuironed with aire , is the sole Region of Death , the Graue where euerie thing that taketh Life must rotte , the Stage of Fortune and Change , onelie glorious in the vnconstancie and varying alterations of it , which though manie seeme yet to abide one , and being a certaine entire one , are euer many . The neuer-agreeing bodies of the elementall Brethren turne one in another , the Earth changeth her countenance with the Seasons , some-times looking colde , and naked , other times , hote and flowrie : Nay , I cannot tell how , but euen the lowest of those celestiall bodies , that mother of monthes , and Empresse of seas and moisture , as if shee were a Mirror of our constant mutabiltie appeareth ( by her too great nearnesse vnto vs ) to participate of our changes , neuer seeing vs twice with that same Face , now looking blacke , then pale and wanne , some-times againe in the perfection and fulnesse of her beautie shining ouer vs. Death no lesse than Life doth heere act a part , the taking away of what is old , beeing the making a way for what is young . They which fore-went vs did leaue a Roome for vs , and should we grieue to doe the same to those which should come after vs ? who beeing suffered to see the exquisite rarities of an Antiquaries Cabinet is grieued that the curtaine bee drawne & to giue place to new Pilgrimes ? and when the Lord of this Vniuerse hath shewed vs the amazing wonders of his various frame , should wee take it to heart , when hee thinketh time , to dislodge ? This is , His vnalterable and vneuitable Decree , as wee had no part of our will in our entrance into this Life , wee should not persume of anie in our leauing it , but soberlie learne to will that which hee wills , whose verie willing giueth beeing to all that it wills , and reuerencing the Orderer , not repine at the order and Lawes , which all-where and all-wayes are so perfectlie establi●hed , that who would essay to correct and amend any of them , should either make them worse , or desire thinges beyond the Leuell of Possibilitie . If thou dost complaine that there shall bee a time in the which thou shalt not bee , why dost thou not too grieue that there was a time in the which thou wast not ? and so that thou are not as old , as that enlifening Planet of time ? for not to haue beene a thousand yeares before this moment , is as much to bee deplored , as not to be a thousand after it , the effect of them both beeing one : that will bee after vs which long long ere wee were , was . Our childrens children haue that same reason to murmure that they were not yong men in our dayes , which wee haue to complaine that wee shall not bee old in theirs . The Violets haue their time , though they empurple not the Winter , and the Roses keepe their season though they disclose not their beautie in the Spring . Empires , States , Kingdomes , haue by the doome of the supreame prouidence their fatall Periods , great Cities lie ●adlie buried in their dust , Arts and Sciences haue not onelie their Eclipses , but their wainings and deaths , the gastlie wonders of the world , raised by the ambition of ages are ouer-throwne and trampled , some Lights aboue , not idlie intitled Starres , are loosed and neuer more seene of vs : The excellent Fabrike of this Uniuerse it selfe shall one day suffer ruine , or a change like a ruine , and poore Earthlings thus to bee handled complaine . But is this Life so great a good , that the lose of it should bee so deare vnto Man ? if it bee ? the meanest Creatures of Nature thus bee happie , for they liue no lesse than hee ; If it bee so great a felicitie , how is it esteemed of Man himselfe at so small a rate , that for so poore gaines , nay , one disgracefull word , hee will not stand to loose it ? what excellencie is there in it , for the which hee should desire it perpetuall , and repine to bee at rest , and returne to his old Grand-mother Dust ? of what moment are the labours and actions of it , that the interruption and leauing off of them should bee to him so distastfull , and with such grudging lamentations receiued ? Is not the entring into Life weaknesse ? the continuing sorrow ? in the one hee is exposed to all the injuries of the Elements , and like a condemned trespasser ( as if it were a fault to come to the light ) no sooner borne than manacled and bound ; in the other hee is restlesly like a Ball tossed in the Tenis-court of this world , when he is in the brightest Meridian of his glorie , there mistereth nothing to destroy him , but to let him fall his owne hight , a reflex of the Sunne , a blast of wind , nay , the glance of an eye , is sufficient to vndoe him : How can that bee any great matter , which so small instruments and slender actions are maisters of ? His Bodie is but a masse of discording humors boyled together by the conspiring influences of superior Lights ▪ which though agreeing for a trace of time , yet can neuer bee made vniforme , and keept in a just proportion . To what sicknesse is it subject vnto , beyond those of the other Creatures ? No part of it beeing which is not particularlie infected and afflicted by some one , nay , euerie part with many ? so that the Life of diuerse of the meanest creatures of Nature hath with great reason , by the most wise , beene preferred to the naturall life of man : And we should rather wonder how so fragill a matter should so long endure , than how so soone decay . Are the actions of the most part of men , much differing from the exercise of the Spider ? that pitcheth toyles and is tapist , to pray on the smaller creatures , and for the weauing of a scornfull web eviscerateth it selfe many dayes , which when with much industrie finished , a tempestuous puffe of wind carrieth away both the worke and the worker ? or are they not like the playes of Children ? or ( to hold them at their highest rate ) as is a May-Game , or what is more earnest , some studie at Chesse ? euerie day wee rise and lie downe , apparell and disapparrell our selues , wearie our bodies and refresh them , which is a circle of idle trauells , and labours ( like Penelopes taske ) vnprofitablie renewed . Some time wee are in a chase after a fading Beautie , now wee seeke to enlarge our bounds , increase our treasure , feeding poorelie , to purchase what wee must leaue to those wee neuer saw , or ( happilie ) to a Foole , or a Prodigall heire : raised with the wind of Ambition , wee court that idle name of Honour , not considering how they mounted aloft in the highest ascendant of earthlie Glorie , are but like tortured Ghosts wandering with golden fetters in glistring Prisons , hauing feare & danger their vnseperable executioners , in the midst of multitudes rather garded than regarded . They whom opake imaginations and inward melancholie , haue made wearie of the worlds eye , though they haue withdrawn themselues from the course of vulgare affaires , by vaine contemplations , curious searches , are more diquieted , and liue a life worse than others , their wit beeing too sharpe to giue them a true taste of their present infelicitie , and to increase their woes ; while they of a more shallow and simple conceit , haue want of knowledge , and ignorance of themselues , for a remedie and antidote against all the calamities of life . What Cameli●n , what E●ripe , what Moone doth change so oft as man ? hee seemeth not the same person , in one and the same day , what pleaseth him in the morning is in the euening vnto him distastfull . Young hee scornes his childish Conceits , & wading deeper in yeares ( for yeares are a Sea into which hee wadeth vntill hee drowne ) hee esteemeth his Youth vnconstancie , Rashnesse , Follie ; Old he beginnes to pitie himselfe , plaining , because he is changed that the world is changed , like those in a Ship , which when they launch from the Shore , are brought to thinke the Shore doth flie from them . When hee is fred of euill in his owne estate , hee grudges and vexes him selfe at the happinesse and fortunes of others , hee is pressed with care for what is present , with sorrow for what is past , with feare for what is to come , nay , for what will neuer come , and as in the Eye one teare forceth out another , so makes he one sorrow follow vpon a former , and euerie day laye vp stuffe of griefe for the next . The Aire , the Sea , the Fire , the Beastes , bee cruell executioners of Man , yet Beastes , Fire , Sea , and Aire , are pitifull to Man in comparison of Man , for moe men are destroyed by men , than by them all . What scornes , wrongs , contumelies , imprisonments , torments , poysons , receiueth man of man ? What engynes and new workes of death are daylie found forth by man against man ? What Lawes to thrall his libertie ? fantasies and scarbugs , to inveigle his reason ? Amongst the Beastes is there anie that hath so seruile a lot in anothers behalfe as Man ? yet neither is content , nor hee who raigneth , nor hee who serueth . The halfe of our life is spent in Sleepe , which hath such a resemblance to Death , that often it seperats as it were the Soule from the bodie , and teacheth it a sort of being aboue it , making it soare beyond the Spheare of sensuall delights , and attaine Knowledge vnto which while the body did awake it could scarce aspire . And who would not , rather than abide chained in his loathsome Galley of the world sleepe euer ( that is dye ) hauing all thinges at one Stay bee free from those vexations , misaduenters , contempts , indignities , and many many anguishes , vnto which , this life is inuasseled and subdued ? and well looked vnto our greatest contentment and happinesse heere , seemeth rather to consist in the beeing released from miserie , than in the enjoying of anie great good . What haue the most eminent of mortalls to glorie in ? Is it Greatnesse ? Who can bee great on so small a Round as is this Earth , and bounded with so short a course of time ? How like is that to Castells or imaginarie Cities raised in the Skie by chance-meeting Cloudes ? Or to Gyants modelled ( for a sport ) of Snow , which at the hoter lookes of the Sunne melt away , and lie drowned in their owne moisture ? such an impetuous vicissitude towseth the estates of this World. Is it Knowledge ? But wee haue not yet attained to a perfect Vnderstanding of the smallest Flower , and why the Grasse should rather bee greene than red . The Element of Fire is quite put out , the Aire is but Water rarified , the Earth moueth , and is no more the Center of the Uniuerse , is turned into a Magnes ; Starres are not fixed , but swimme in the eth●riall spaces , Comets are mounted aboue the Planets , some affirme there is an other world of men and creatures , with Cities and Towers in the Moone , the Sunne is lost , for it is but a cleft in the lower heauens , through which the light of the highest shines : Thus Sciences by the diuerse motions of this Globe of the braine of man are become opinions . What is all wee know , compared with what wee know not ? Wee haue not yet agreed about the chiefe good and felicitie . It is ( perhaps ) artificiall Cunning , howe many curiosities bee framed by the least Creatures of Nature , vnto which the industrie of the most curious Artizanes doth not attaine ? Is it Riches ? What are they but the casting out of Friends , the snares of libertie , bands to such as haue them , possessing rather , than possest , Mettalls which Nature hath hidde ( fore-seeing the great harme they should occasion ) and the onelie opinion of man hath brought in estimation ? like Thornes which laid on an open hand , may bee blowne away , and on a closing and hard gripping , wound it , Prodigalles misspend them , Wretches miskeepe them : when wee haue gathered the greatest aboundance , wee our selues can enjoye no more thereof , than so much as belonges to one man : What great and rich men doe by others , the meaner sort doe themselues . Will some talke of our Pleasures ? It is not ( though in the fables ) told out of purpose , that Pleasure in hast beeing called vp to Heauen , did heere forget her apparell , which Sorrow thereafter finding ( to deceiue the world ) attired her selfe with : And if wee would say the trueth of most of our Ioyes , wee must confesse that they are but disguised sorrowes ; the drames of their Honney are sowred in pounds of Gall , Remorse euer enseweth them , and neuer doe they existe but by their opposite sadnesse , nay , in some they haue no effect at all if some wakning griefe hath not preceeded and forewent them . Will some Ladies vaunt of their beautie ? that is but skinne-deepe , of two senses onelie knowne , short euen of Marble-Statues , and Pictures , not the same to all eyes , dangerous to the beholder , and hurtfull to the possessor , an enemie to Chastitie , a thing made to delight others , more than those which haue it , a superficiall luster hiding bones and the braines , thinges fearfull to bee looked vpon : growth in yeares doth blaste it , or Sicknesse , or Sorrow preuenting them . Our strength matched with that of the vnreasonable Creatures , is but weaknesse : all wee can set our eyes on , in these intricate mazes of life , is but vaine perspectiue and deceiuing shadowes , appearing farre other wayes a farre off , than when enjoyed and gazed vpon in a neare distance . If Death bee good , why should it bee feared ? And if it bee the worke of Nature , how should it not bee good ? For Nature is an ordinance and rule , which GOD hath established in the creating this Vniuerse ( as is the Law of a King ) which can not erre : For how should the Maker of that ordinance erre ? sith in him there is no impotencie and weaknesse , by the which hee might bring forth what is vnperfect , no peruersenesse of will , of which might proceed any vicious action , no ignorance by the which he might goe wrong in working , beeing most powerfull , most good , most wise , nay , all-wise , all-good , all-powrefull ; He is the first orderer , and marshalleth euery other order , the highest Essence , giuing essence to all other thinges ; of all causes the cause , Hee worketh powerfullie , bonteou●lie , wiselie , and maketh ( his artificiall Organ ) Nature doe the same . How is not Death of Nature ? sith what is naturallie generate , is subject to corruption , and such an harmonie ( which is Life ) rising from the mixture of the foure Elements , which are the Ingredients of our bodie , can not euer endure ; The contraritie of their qualities ( as a consuming Rust in the baser Metalles ) beeing an inward cause of a necessarie dissolution . Againe , how is not Death good ? sith it is the thaw of all those vanities which the frost of Life bindeth together . If there bee a facietie in Life , then must there bee a sweetnesse in Death ? The Earth were not ample enough to containe her of-spring if none dyed : in two or three Ages ( without Death ) what an vnpleasant and lamentable Spectacle , were the most flourishing Cities ? for what should there bee to bee seene in them , saue bodies languishing and cou●bing againe into the Earth ? pale disfigured faces , Skelitons in stead of men ? and what to bee heard , but the exclamations of the young , complaintes of the olde , with the pittifull cryes of sicke and pining persons ? there is almost no infirmitie worse than age . If there bee any euill in death , it would appeare to bee that paine and torment , which we apprehend to arise from the breaking of those strait bands which keepe the Soule and body together ; which , sith not without great struggling and motion , seemes to proue it selfe vehement and most extreame . The senses are the onely cause of paine , but before the last Trances of death , they are so brought vnder that they haue no ( or verie little ) strength , and their strength lessening , the strength of paine too must be lessened . How should wee doubt , but the weaknesse of senselesseneth paine , Sith we know that weakened and maimed parts which receiue not nurishment , are a great deale lesse sensible , than the other partes of the bodie ; And see , that old decrepit persons leaue this world almost without paine , as in a sleepe ? If bodies of the most sound and wholesome constitution bee these which most vehemently feele paine ? it must then follow , that they of a distemperate and crasie constitution , haue least feeling of paine , and by this reason , all weake and sicke bodies should not much feele paine , for if they were not distempered and euill complexioned , they would not be sicke . That the Sight , Hearing , Taste , Smelling leaue vs without paine , and vnawares , we are vndoubtedlie assured , and why should wee not thinke the same of the Feeling ? That which is capable of feeling , are the vitall spirits , which in a man in a perfite health are spred and extended through the whole bodie , and hence is it that the whole body is capable of paine : But in dying bodies we see that by pauses and degrees the partes which are furthest remoued from the heart , become cold , and being depriued of naturall heat , all the paine which they feele , is that they doe feele no paine . Now , euen as ere the sicke be aware , the vitall spirits haue with drawne themselues from the whole extension of the bodie , to succour the heart ( like distressed Citizens which finding their walls battered down , flye to the defence of their Cittadell ) so doe they abandone the heart without any sensible touch : As the flame , the oyle failing , leaueth the wicke , or as light the Aire which it doeth inuest . As to the shrinking motions , and convulsions of sinewes and members , which appeare to witnesse great paine , let one represent to himselfe the strings of an high-tuned Lut , which breaking , retire to their naturall windings , or a piece of Yce , that without any out-ward violence , cracketh at a Thawe : No otherwise doe the sinewes of the bodie , finding themselues slacke and vnbended from the braine , and their wonted labours and motions cease , struggle , and seeme to stirre themselues , but without either , paine or sense . Sowning is a true pourtrait of death , or rather it is the same , beeing a cessation from all action , motion , and function of sense and life : But in Sowning there is no paine , but a silent rest , and so deepe and sound a sleepe that the naturall is nothing in comparison of it ; What great paine then can there bee in Death , which is but a continued Sowning , and a neuer againe returning to the workes and dolorous felicitie of life ? Now although Death were an extreame paine , sith it is in an instant , what can it bee ? why should wee feare it ? for while wee are , it commeth not , and it beeing come we are no more . Nay , though it were most painfull , long continuing , and terrible , vglie why should wee feare it ? Sith feare is a foolish passion but where it may preserue ; but it can not preserue vs from Death , yea rather the feare of it , banishing the comfortes of present contentmentes , makes Death to aduance and approach the more neare vnto vs. That is euer terrible which is vnknowne , so doe litle children feare to goe in the darke , and their feare is increased with tales . But that ( perhaps ) which anguisheth thee most , is to haue this glorious pageant of the World , remoued from thee , in the Spring and most delicious season of thy life ; for , though to dye bee vsuall , to dye young may appeare extraordinarie . If the present fruition of these things bee vnprofitable and vaine , what can a long continuance of them bee ? Stranger and new Halcyon , why wouldst thou longer nestle amidst these vnconstant and stormie waues ? Hast thou not alreddy suffred enough of this World , but thou must yet endure more ? To liue long , is it not to be long troubled ? But number thy yeares , which are now ( ) and thou shalt find , that where as ten haue ouer-liued thee , thousands haue not attained this age . One yeare is sufficient to behold all the magnificence of Nature , nay , euen one day and night , for more is but the same brought againe : This Sunne , that Moone , these Starres , the varying dance of the Spring , Summer , Antumne , Winter , is that verie same which the golden Age did see . They which haue the longest time lent them to liue in , haue almost no part of it at all , measuring it either by that space of time which is past , when they were not , or by that which is to come : Why shouldst thou then care , whether thy dayes be manie or few , which when prolonged to the vttermost , proue , paralel'd with eternitie , as a Teare is to the Oeea● ? To dye young , is to doe that soone , and in some fewer dayes , which once thou must doe ; it is but the giuing ouer of a Game that , after neuer so many hazardes , must be lost . When thou hast liued to that age thou desirest , or one of Platos yeares , so soone as the last of thy dayes riseth aboue thy Horizon , thou wilt then as now , demand longer respit , and exspect more to come : It is Hope of long life , that maketh life seeme short . Who will behold , and with the eyes of aduice behold , the many changes depending on humane affaires , with the after-claps of Fortune , shall neuer lament to dye young . Who knowes what alterations and sudden disasters , in outward estate or inward contentments , in this wildernesse of the world , might haue befallen him who dyeth young , if hee had liued to be old ? Heauen fore-knowing imminent harmes , taketh those which it loues to it selfe before they fall forth . Pure and ( if we may so say ) Virgine Soules , carrie their bodies with no small agonies , and delight not to remaine long in the dregs of humane corruption , still burning with a desire to turne backe to the place of their rest , for this world is their Inne and not their Home . That which may fall foorth euerie houre , cannot fall out of time . Life is a Iourney in a dustie way , the furthest Rest is Death , in this some goe more heauilie burthened , than others : swift and actiue Pilgrimes come to the end of it in the Morning , or at Noone , which Tortoyse-paced Wretches , clogged with the fragmentarie rubbidge of this world , scarce with great trauell crawle vnto at Midnight . Dayes are not to be esteemed after the number of them , but after the goodnesse : more Compasse maketh not a Spheare more compleat , but as round is a little as a large Ring ; nor is that Musician most praise worthie who hath longest played , but hee in measured accents who hath made sweetest Melodie , to liue long hath often beene a let to liue well . Muse not how many yeares thou mightst haue enjoyed life , but howe sooner thou mightst haue lossed it , neither grudge so much that it is no better , as comfort thy selfe that it hath beene no worse : let it suffice that thou hast liued till this day , and ( after the course of this world ) not for nought , thou hast had some smiles of of Fortune , fauours of the worthiest , some friendes , and thou hast neuer beene disfauoured of the Heauen . Though not for Life it selfe , yet that to after-worlds thou mightst leaue some monument that once thou wast , happilie in the cleare light of reason , it would appeare that life were earnestlie to bee desired : for sith it is denyed vs to liue euer ( said one ) let vs leaue some worthie Remembrance of our once heere beeing , and draw out this Spanne of life to the greatest length , and so farre as is possible . O poore Ambition ! to what I pray thee mayst thou concreded it ? Arches and statelie Temples , which one age doth raise , doth not another raze , Tombes and adopted Pillars , lye buried with those which were in them buried : Hath not Auarice defaced , what Religion did make glorious ? all that the hand of man can vpreare , is either ouer-turned by the hand of man , or at length by standing & continuing consumed : as if there were a secret opposition in fate ( the vneuitable decree of the Eternall ) to controule our in dustrie , & conter-checke all our deuices & proposing . Possessions are not enduring , Children lose their names , Families glorying ( like Marigolds in the Sun ) on the highest top of Wealth and Honour ( no better than they which are not yet borne ) leauing off to bee : So doth Heauen confound what wee endeuour by labour and art to distinguish . That renowne by Papers , which is thought to make men immortall , and which nearest doth approach the life of these eternall Bodies aboue , how slender it is , the verie word of Paper doth import , and what is it when obtained , but a multitude of words , which comming Tymes may scorne ; How many millions neuer heare the names of the most famous Writers , and amongst them to whom they are known how few turne ouer their Pages , and of such as doe , how many sport at their conceits , taking the veritie for a fable , and oft a fable for veritie , or ( as we doe pleasants ) vse all for recreation ? Then the arising of more famous , doth darken , and turne ignoble the glorie of the former , beeing held as Garments worne out of fashion . Now , when thou hast attained what praise thou couldst desire , and thy fame is emblazoned in many Stories , it is but an Eccho , a meere Sound , a Glow-worme , which seene a far , casteth some cold beames , but approached is found nothing , an imaginarie happinesse , whose good depends on the oppinion of others : Desert and Vertue for the most part want Monuments and Memorie , seldome are recorded in the Volummes of admiration , while Statues & Torphees , are erected to those , whose names should haue beene buried in their dust , and folded vp in the darkest clowds of obliuion : So doe the rancke Weeds in this Garden of the World choacke and ouer-runne the swetest Flowres . Applause whilst thou liuest , serueth but to make thee that faire marke against which Enuie and Malice direct their Arrows , at the best is like that Syracusians Sphear of Chirstall , as fraile as faire : and borne after thy death , it may as well be ascribed , to some of those were in the Troj●n Horse , or to such as are yet to bee borne an hundreth yeares heereafter , as to thee , who nothing knowes , and is of all vnknowne . What can it auaile thee to bee talked of , whilst thou art not ? Consider in what bounds our fame is confined , how narrow the lists are of humane Glorie , and the furthest she can stretch her winges . This Globe of the Earth which seemeth huge to vs , in respect of the Vniuerse , & compared with that wide wide pauillon of Heauen , is lesse than little , of no sensible quantitie , and but as a point : for the Horizon which boundeth our sight , diuideth the Heauen as in two halfes , hauing alwayes sixe of the Zodiacke Signes aboue , and as many vnder it , which if the Earth had any quantitie compared to it , it could not doe . More if the Earth were not as a point , the Starres could not still in all parts of it appeare to vs of a like greatnesse ; for where the Earth raised it selfe in Mountaines , wee beeing more neare to Heauen , they would appeare to vs of a greater quantitie , and where it is humbled in Vallies , we being further distant , they would seeme vnto vs l●sse : But the Star●●s in all parts of the Earth appearing of a like greatnesse , and to euery part of it the Heauen imparting to our sight the halfe of its inside , we must auouch it to be but as a point . Well did one compare it to an Ant-hill , and men ( the Inhabitants ) to so manie Pismires , and Grashoppers , in the toyle and varietie of their diuersified studies . Now of this small indiuisible thing , thus compared , how much is couered with Waters ? how much not at all discouered ? how much vnhabited and desart ? and how many millions of millions are they , which share the remnant amongst them , in languages , custumes , diuine rites differing , and all almost to others vnknowne ? But let it bee granted that Glorie and Fame are some great matter , and can reach Heauen it selfe , sith they are oft buried with the honoured , and passe away in so fleet a reuolution of tyme , what great good can they haue in them ? How is not Glorie temporall , if it increase with yeares and depend on time ? Then imagine me ( for what cannot Imagination reach vnto ? ) one could be famous in all times to come , and ouer the whole World present , yet shall hee be for euer Obscure and ignoble to those mightie Ones , which were onelie heeretofore esteemed famous amongst the Assyrians , Persians , Romans . Againe the vaine affectation of man is so suppressed , that though his workes abide some space , the worker is vnknowne : the huge Egyptian Pyramides , and that Grot in Pa●silipo , though they haue wrestled with tyme , and worne vpon the waste of dayes , yet are their authors no more knowne , than it is knowne by what strange Earth-quackes , and deluges , Yles were diuided from the Continent , or Hills bursted forth of the Vallies . Dayes , Monthes , and Yeares , are swallowed vp in the great Gulfe of Tyme ( which puts out the eyes of all their Glorie ) and onely a fattall obliuion remaines : of so many Ages past , wee may well figure to our selues some liklie apparances , but can affirme litle certaintie . But ( my Soule ) what ailes thee , to bee thus backward and astonished , at the remembrance of Death , sith it doth not reach thee , more than darknesse doth those farre-shinning Lampes aboue ? Rowse thy selfe for shame , why shouldst thou feare to bee without a bodie , ●ith thy maker and the spirituall and supercelestiall Inhabitants haue no bodies ? Hast thou euer seene any Prisoner , who when the Iaile Gates were broken vp , & he enfranchised & set loose , would rather plaine and sit still on his Fetters , than seeke his freedome ? or any Mariner , who in the midst of Stormes arriuing neare the Shore , would launch forth againe vnto the Maine , rather than stricke Saile and joyfully enter the leas of a saue Harbour ? If thou rightlie know thy selfe , thou hast but small cause of anguish ; for if there be any resemblance , of that which is infinite , in what is finit ( which yet by an infinit imperfection is from it distant ) if thou be not an Image , thou art a shadow of that vnsearchable Trinitie , in thy three essentiall powers , Vnderstanding , Will , Memorie ; which though three , are in thee but one , and abiding one , are distinctlie three : But in nothing more comest thou neare that Soueraigne Good , than by thy perpetuitie , which who striue to improue , by that same doe it proue : Like those that by arguing themselues to bee without all reason , by the verie arguing , shewe how they haue some . For , how can what is wholly mortall , more know what is immortall , than the eye can know sounds , or the eare questione about colours ; if none had eyes , who would euer descant of light or shadow ? To thee nothing in this visible World is comparable ; thou art so wonderfull a beautie and so beautifull a wonder , that if but once thou couldst bee gazed vpon by bodilie eyes , euery heart would bee inflamed with thy loue , and rauished from all seruile basenesse and earthly desires . Thy beeing depends not on matter , hence by thine Vnderstanding , dost thou dyue into the being of euery other thing ; and therein art so pregnant , that nothing by place , similitude , subject , tyme , is so conjoyned , which thou canst not separate ; as what neither is , nor any wayes can exist , thou canst faine , and giue an abstract beeing vnto . Thou seemest a World in thy selfe , containing Heauen , Starres , Seas , Earth , Floods , Mountaines , Forrests , and all that liueth : Yet restes thou not satiate with what is in thy selfe , nor with all in the wide Vniuerse , vntill thou raise thy selfe , to the contemplation of that first illuminating Intelligence , farre aboue Tyme , and euen reaching Eternitie it selfe , into which thou art transformed , for , by receiuing thou ( beyond all other things ) art made that which thou recceiuest . The more thou knowest , the more apt thou art to know , not beeing amated with any object that excelleth in predominance , as Sense by objects sensible . Thy Will is vncompellable , resisting force , daunting Necessitie , despising Danger , triumphing ouer Afliction , vnmoued by Pittie , and not constrained by all the toyles and disasters of Life . What the Airts-master of this Vniuerse is in gouerning this Vniuerse , thou art in the body ; and as hee is whollie in euerie part of it , so art thou whollie in euerie part of the bodie . By thee man is that Hymen of eternall and mortall things , that Chaine together binding vnbodied and bodily substances , without which the goodlie Fabricke of this World were vnperfect . Thou hast not thy beginning from the fecunditie , power , nor action of the elementall qualities , beeing an immediate maister-piece of that great Maker : Hence hast thou the formes and figures of all thinges imprinted in thee from thy first originall . Thou only at once art capable of contraries , of the three parts of Tyme , thou makest but one . Thou knowest thy selfe so separate , absol●●e and diuerse an essence from thy bodie , that thou disposest of it as it pleaseth thee , for in thee there is no passion so weake which maistereth not the feare of leauing it . Thou shouldst bee so farre from repining at this separation , that it should bee the chiefe of thy desires ; sith it is the passage and meanes to attaine thy perfection and happinesse . Thou art heere but as in an infected and leprous Inne , plunged in a floud of humors , oppressed with cares , suppres●ed with ignorance , defiled and destained with vice , retrograde in the course of vertue ; small things seeme heere great vnto thee , and great things small , Follie appeareth Wisedome , and Wisedome Follie. Fred of thy fleshlie care , thou shalt rightlie discerne the beautie of thy selfe , and haue perfect fruition of that all-sufficient and all-suffizing Happinesse , which is GOD himselfe ; to whom thou owest thy being , to Him thou owest thy well being , He and Happinesse are the same . For , if GOD had not Happinesse , Hee were not GOD , because Happinesse is the highest and greatest Good : If then GOD haue Happinesse , it can not bee a a thing differing from Him ; for , if there were any thing in Him , differing from Him , Hee should bee an essence composed and not simple , more what is differing in any thing , is either an accident or a part of it selfe ; In GOD Happinesse can not bee an accident , because Hee is not subject to anie accidents , if it were a part of Him ( since the part is before the whole ) wee should bee forced to grant , that some thing was before GOD. Bedded and bathed in these earthlie ordures , thou canst not come neare this soueraigne Good , nor haue any glimpse of the farre-off dawning of his vncessable brightnesse , no , not so much as the eyes of the Birds of the night haue of the Sunne . Thinke then by Death , that thy shell is broken , and thou then but euen hatched , that thou art a Pearle , raised from thy Mother , to bee enchaced in Gold , and that the death-day of thy body , is thy birth-day to Eternitie . Why shouldst thou bee feare-stroken , and discomforted ▪ for thy parting from this mortall Bride thy bodie , sith it is but for a tyme , and such a time , as shee shall not care for , nor feele any thing in , nor thou haue much neede of her ? Nay , sith thou shalt receiue her againe , more goodly and beautifull , than when in her fullest perfection thou enjoyed her ; beeing by her absence made like vnto that Indian Christall , which after some reuolutions of Ages , is turned into purest Diamond . If the Soule bee the forme of the Bodie , and the forme separated from the matter of it , can not euer so continue , but is inclined and disposed to be reunited thereinto : What can let and hinder this desire , but that some time it bee accomplished , and obtaining the exspected end , rejoyne it selfe againe vnto the bodie ? The Soule separate hath a desire , because it hath a will , and knowes it shall by this reunion receiue perfection : too , as the matter is disposed , and inclineth to its forme when it is without it , so would it seeme that the Forme should be towards its matter in the absence of it . How , is not the Soule the forme of the bodie , fith by it , it is , and is the beginning and cause of all the actions and functions of it : For , though in excellencie it passe euerie other forme , yet doth not that excellencie take from it the nature of a forme ? If the abiding of the Soule from the bodie be violent , then can it not bee euerlasting , but haue a regresse : How is not such an estate of beeing and abiding not violent to the Soule , if it bee naturall to it , to be in matter , and ( separate ) after a strange manner , many of the powers and faculties of it ( which neuer leaue it ) are not duelie exercised ? This Vnion seemeth not aboue the Horizon of naturall reason , farre lesse imposible to bee done by GOD , and though Reason can not euidentlie heere demonstrate , yet hath shee a mistie and groping notice . If the bodie shall not arise , how can the onelie & Soueraigne Good , be perfectlie and infinitlie good ? For , how shall hee bee just , nay , haue so much justice as Man , if Hee suffer the euill and vicious , to haue a more prosperous and happie life , than the followers of Religion and Vertue ; which ordinarlie vseth to fall forth in this life ? For , the most wicked are Lords and Gods of this Earth , sleeping in the lee port of honour , as if the spacious habitation of the World had beene made onelie for them ; and the Vertuous and good , are but forlorne cast-awayes , floting in the surges of distresse , seeming heere either of the eye of prouidence not pityed , or not regarded : beeing subject to all dishonours , wronges , wrackes , in their best estate , passing away their dayes ( like the D●zies in the Field ) in silence and contempt . Sith then hee is most good , must just , of necessitie , there must bee appointed by him an other time and place of 〈◊〉 , in the which there shall bee a reward for leauing well , and a punishment for doing euill , with a life whereinto both shall receiue their due ; and not onelie in their Soules di●●●ted , for , ●ith both the parts of man did act a part in the right or wrong , it carrieth great reason with it , that they both bee araigned before that high Iustice , to receiue their owne : Man is not a Soule onelie , but a Soule and Bodie , to which either guerdon or punishment is due . This seemeth to be the voice of Nature in almost all the Religions of the World ; this is that generall testimonie , charactered in the minds of the most barbarous and sauage people ; for , all haue had some rouing gesses at Ages to come , and a dimme du●kish light of another life , all appealing to one generall Iudgement Throne . To what else could serue so many expiations , sacrifices , prayers , solemnities , and misticall ceremonies ? To what such sumptuous Temples , and care of the dead : to what all Religion ? If not to showe , that they expected a more excellent manner of beeing , after the nauigation of this life did take an end . And who doth denie it , must denie that there is a Prouidence , a GOD , confesse that his worship , and all studie and reason of vertue are vaine ; and not beleeue that there is a World , are creatures , and that Hee Himselfe is not what Hee is . But it is not of Death ( perhaps ) that we complaine , but of Tyme , vnder the fatall shadow of whose ●inges , all things decay and wether : This is that Tyrant , which executing against vs his diamantine lawes , altereth the harmonious constitution of our bodies , benumning the Organes of our knowledge , turneth our best Senses senslesse ; makes vs loathsome to others , and a burthen to our selues : Of which euills Death releiueth vs. So that if wee could bee transported ( O happie colonie ! ) to a place exempted from the lawes and conditions of Tyme , where neither change , motion , nor other affection of materiall and corruptible things were ; but an immortall , vnchangeable , impassible , all-sufficient kind of life , it were the last of things wishible , the tearme and center of all our de●ires . Death maketh this transplantation ; for the last instant of corruption , or leauing off of any thing to bee what it was , is the first of generation , or beeing of that which succeedeth ; Death then beeing the end of this miserable transitory life , of necessitie must bee the beginning of that other all excellent and eternall : And so causleslie of a vertuous Soule it is either feared or complained on . As those Images were pourtraited in my minde ( the morning Starre now almost arising in the East ) I found my thoughts in a mild and quiet calme ; and not long after , my Senses one by one forgetting their vses , beganne to giue themselues ouer to rest , leauing mee in a still and peaceable sleepe ; if sleepe it may bee called , where the mind awaking is carried with free wings from out fleshlie bondage ? For , heauie lids , had not long couered their lights , when I thought , nay , sure I was where I might discerne all in this great All ; the large compasse of the rolling Circles , the brightnesse and continuall motion of those Rubies of the Night , which ( by their distance ) heere below can not be perceiued ; the ●iluer countenance of the wandring Moone , shining by anothers light , the hanging of the Earth as ( e●uironed with a girdle of Christall ) the Sunne enthronized in the midst of the Planets , eye of the Heauens , Gemme of this precious Ring the World. But whilst with wonder and amazement I gazed on those celestiall Splendors , and the beaming Lampes of that glorious Temple ( like a poore Countrie-man brought from his solitarie mountaines and flockes , to behold the magnificence of some great Citie ) There was presented to my fight a Man , as in the spring of his yeares , with that selfe same grace , comely feature , Majesticke looke which the late ( ) was wont to haue : on whom I had no sooner set mine eyes , when ( like one Planet-stroken ) I became amazed : But hee with a ●ild demeanour , and voyce surpassing all Humane sweetnesse , appeared ( mee thought ) to say , What is it doth thus anguish and trouble thee ? Is it the remembrance of Death , the last Period of wretchednesse , and entrie to these happie places ; the Lanterne which lightneth men to see the misterie of the blessednesse of Spirites , and that glorie which transcendeth the Courtaine of things visible ? Is thy Fortune below on that darke Globe ( which scarce by the smalnes of it appeareth heere ) so great , that thou art heart-broken and dejected to leaue it ? What if thou wert to leaue behind thee a ( ) so glorious in the eye of the World ( yet but a mote of dust encircled with a Pond ) as that of mine , so louing ( ) such great hopes , these had beene apparant occasions of lamenting , and but apparent ? Dost thou thinke thou leauest Life too soone ? Death is best young ; things faire and excellent , are not of long endurance vpon Earth . Who liueth well , liueth long ; Soules most beloued of their Maker , are soonest releeued from the bleeding cares of Life , and most swiftlie wa●ted through the Surges of Humane miseries . Opinion that great enchantresse and peiser of things , not as they are , but as they seeme , hath not in any thing more , than in the conceit of Death abused Man : Who must not measure himselfe , and esteeme his estate , after his earthlie being , which is but as a dreame : For , though hee bee borne on the Earth , hee is not borne for the Earth , more than the Embryon for the mothers wombe . It plaineth to bee relieued of its bands , and to come to the light of this World , and Man wailleth to bee loosed from the Chaines with which he is fettered in that valey of vanities : It nothing knoweth whither it is to goe , nor ought of the beautie of the visible workes of GOD , neither doth Man of the magnificence of the intellectuall World aboue , vnto which ( as by a Mid-wife ) hee is directed by Death . Fooles , which thinke that this faire and admirable Frame , so variouslie disposed , so rightlie marshalled , so stronglie maintained , enriched with so many excellencies , not only for necessitie , but for ornament and delight , was by that Supreame Wisedome brought forth , that all things in a circularie course , should bee and not bee , arise and dissolue , and thus continue : as if they were so many Shadowes cast out and caused by the encountring of these Superior Celestiall Bodies , changing onelie their fashion and shape , or fantasticall Imageries , or printes of faces into Christall . No no , the Eternall Wisedome hath made Man an excellent Creature , though hee faine would vnma●●e himselfe , and returne to nothing : And though he seeke his felicity among the reasonlesse Wights , he hath fixed it aboue . Looke how some Prince or great King on the Earth , when hee hath raised any statelie Citie , the worke being atchi●●ed , is wont to set his Image in the midst of it , to bee admired and gazed vpon : No otherwise did the Soueraigne of this All , the Fabricke of it perfected , place Man ( a great Miracle ) formed to his owne patterne , in the midst of this spacious and admirable Citie . GOD containeth all in Him as the beginning of all , Man containeth all in him , as the midst of all ; inferiour thinges bee in Man more noble than they exist , superiour thinges more meanlie , Celestiall things fauour him , earthly things are vassaled vnto him , hee is the band of both ; neither is it possible but that both of them haue peace with him , if he haue peace with him , who made the Couenant betweene them and him ? Hee was made that hee might in the Glasse of the World behold the infinite Goodnesse , Power , and glorie of his Maker , and beholding know , and knowing Loue , and louing enjoye , and to hold the Earth of him as of his Lord Paramount ; neuer ceasing to remember and praise Him. It exceedeth the compasse of conceit , to thinke that that Wisedome which made euerie thing so orderly in the parts , should make a confusion in the whole , and the cheife Maister-peece ; how bringing forth so many excellencies for Man , it should bring forth Man for basenesse and miserie . And no lesse strange were it , that so long life should be giuen to Trees , Beastes , and the Birds of the Aire , Creatures inferior to Man , which haue lesse vse of it , and which can not judge of this goodlie Fabricke , and that it should bee denyed to Man : Vnlesse there were another manner of liuing prepared for him , in a place more noble and excellent . But alas ! ( said I ) had it not beene better that for the good of his natiue Cou●trie a ( ) endued with so manie peerlesse gifts , had yet liued ? How long will yee ( replyed hee ) like the Ants , thinke there are no fairer Palaces , than their Hills ; or like to poreblind Moles , no greater light , than that little which they shunne ? As if the maister of a Campe , knew when to remoue a Sentinell , and Hee who placeth Man on the Earth , knew ●ot how long he had need of Him ? Euerie one commeth there to act his part of this Tragicomedi● called Life , which done , the Courtaine is drawne , and hee remouing is said to dye . That Prouidence which prescriueth Causes to euerie euent hath not onelie determined a definit and certaine number of dayes , but of actions to all men , which they cannot goe beyond . Most ( ) then ( answered I ) Death is not such an euill and paine , as it is of the Vulgare esteemed ? Death ( said hee ) nor painefull is , nor euill ( except in contemplation of the cause ) beeing of it selfe as indifferent as Birth : Yet can it not bee denyed , but amidst those dreames of earthly pleasures , the vncouthnesse of it , with the wrong apprehension of what is vnknowne in it , are noysome , But the Soule sustained by its Maker , resolued , and calmlie retired in it selfe , doth find that Death ( ●ith it is in a moment of Time ) is but a short , nay , sweete sigh ; and is not worthie the remembrance compared with the smallest dramme of the infinite Felicitie of this Place . Heere is the Palace Royall of the Almighty KING , in which the vncomprehensible comprehensiblie manifesteth Himselfe ; in Place highest , in substance not subject to any corruption or change , for it is aboue all motion , and solid turneth not ; in quantitie greatest , for , if one Starre , one Spheare bee so vast , how large , how hudge in exceeding demensions , must those bounds bee , which doe them all containe ? In quantitie most pure and orient , Heauen heere is all but a Sunne , or the Sunne all but a Heauen . If to Earthlings the Foote-stoole of GOD , and that Stage which Hee raised for a small course of Time , seemeth so Glorious and Magnificent ; What estimation would they make ( if they could see ) of His eternall Habitation and Throne ? and if these bee so wonderfull , what is the sight of Him , for whom , and by whom all was created ; of whose Glorie to behold the thousand thousand part , the most pure Intellegences are fullie satiate , and with wonder and delight rest amazed ; for the Beautie of His light and the Light of His Beautie are vncomprehensible ? Heere doth that earnest appetite of the Vnderstanding content it selfe , not seeking to know any more ; For it seeth before it , in the vision of the Diuine essence ( a Miroi● in the which not Images or shadowes , but the true and perfect Essence of euerie thing created , is more cleare and conspicuous , than in it selfe ) all that may bee knowne or vnderstood . Heere doth the Will pause it selfe , as in the center of its Eternall rest , glowing with a firie affection of that infinite and all-sufficient Good ; which beeing fullie knowne , cannnot ( for the infinit motiues and causes of loue which are in Him ) but bee fullie and perfectlie loued : As Hee is onelie true and essentiall Bountie , so is Hee the onelie essentiall and true Beautie , deseruing alone all loue and admiration , by which the Creatures are onelie in so much faire and excellent , as they participate of His Beautie and excelling Excellencies . Heere is a blessed Companie , euerie one joying as much in anothers Felicitie , as in that which is proper , because each seeth another equ●llie loued of GOD ; Thus their distinct joyes are no fewer , than the copartners of the joye : And as the Assemblie is in number answerable to the large capacitie of the Place , so are the joyes answerable to the numberlesse number of the Ass●mblie . No poore and pittifull mortall , confined on the Globe of Earth , who hath neuer seene but sorrow , or interchangeablie some painted superficiall pleasures , can rightlie thinke on , or bee sufficient to conceaue the tearmelesse Delightes of this Place . So manie Feathers moue not on Birds , so many Birds dint not the Aire , so manie leaues tremble not on Trees , so manie Trees grow not in the solitarie Forests , so manie Waues turne not in the Ocean , and so manie graines of Sand limit not those Waues : As this triumphant Court hath varietie of Delights , and Ioyes exempted from all comparison . Happinesse at once heere is fullie knowne and fullie enjoyed , and as infinit in continuance as extent . Heere is flourishing and neuer-fading youth without Age , Strength without Weaknesse , Beautie neuer blasting , Knowledge without Learning , Aboundance without Lothing , Peace without Disturbance , Participation without Enuy , Rest without Labour , Light without rising or setting Sunne , Perpetuitie without moments , for Time ( which is the measure of endurance ) did neuer enter in this shining Eternitie . Ambition , Disdaine , Malice , difference of Opinions , can not approach this Place , resembling those foggie mists , which couer those Lists of sublunarie thinges . All Pleasure paragon'd with what is heere is paine , all Mirth mourning , all Beautie deformitie : Heere one dayes abyding , is aboue the continuing in the most fortunate estate on the Earth manie yeeres , and sufficient to conteruaile the extreamest torments of Life . But , although this Blisse of Soules bee great , and their joyes many , yet shall they admit addition , and bee more full and perfect , at that long wished and generall meeting with their Bodies . Amongst all the wonders of the great Creator , not one appeareth to bee more wonderfull ( replyed I ) than that our Bodies should arise , hauing suffered so many changes , and Nature denying a returne from Priuation to a Habit. Such power ( said hee ) beeing aboue all that the Vnderstanding of Man can conceaue , may well worke such wonders ; For , if Mans Vnderstanding could comprehend all the secretes and counsells of that Eternall Majestie , it must of necessitie bee equall vnto it . The Author of Nature is not thralled to the lawes of Nature , but worketh with them , or contrarie to them , as it pleaseth Him : What Hee hath a will to doe , Hee hath a power to performe . To that power which brought all this All from nought , to bring againe in one instant any substance which euer was into it , vnto what it was once , should not be thought impossible ; For , who can doe more , can doe lesse , and His power is no lesse , after that which was by Him brought forth is decayed and vanished , than it was before it was produced ; beeing neither restrained to certaine limits , or instruments , or to any determinate & definit manner of working : where the power is without restraint , the workeadmitteth no other limits , than the workers will. This World is as a Cabinet to GOD , in which the small things ( how euer to vs hidde and secret ) are nothing lesse keeped , than the great . For , as Hee was wise and powerfull to create , so doth His Knowledge comprehend His own Creation ; yea , euery change and varietie in it , of which it is the verie Source . Not any Atome of the scattered Dust of mankind though daylie flowing vnder new Formes , is to Him vnknowne : and His Knowledge doth distinguish and discerne , what once His power shall waken and raise vp . Why may not the Arts-master of the World , like a Molder , what he hath framed in diuerse shapes , confound in one masse , and then seuerally fashion them out of the same ? Can the Spargiricke by his Arte restore for a space to the dry and withered Rose , the naturall Purple and Blush : And can not the Almightie raise and refine the bodie of Man , after neuer so many alterations on the Earth ? Reason her selfe finds it more possible for infinit power to cast out from it selfe a finit world , and restore any thing in it , though decayed and dissolued , to what it was first ; than for Man a finit piece of reasonable miserie , to change the forme of matter made to his hand : the power of GOD neuer brought forth all that It can , for then were it bounded , and no more infinit . That Time doth approach ( O haste yee Times away ) in which the Dead shall liue , and the Liuing bee changed , and of all actions the Guerdon is at hand ; Then shall there be an end without an end , Time shall finish , and Place shall be altered , Motion yeelding vnto rest , and another World of an Age eternall and vnchangable shall arise : Which when Hee had said ( me thought ) He vanished ▪ and I● all astonished did awake . On the Report of the Death of the Author . IF that were true which whispered is by Fame , That Damōs light no more on Earth doth burne , His Patron Phoebus physicke would disclame , And cloth'd in clowds as earst for Phaetō mourn ▪ Yea , Fame by this had got so deepe a Wound , That scarce shee could haue power to tell his Death , Her Wings cutt short ; who could her Trumpet sound , Whose Blaze of late was nurc'd but by His Breath ? That Spirit of His which most with mine was free , By mutuall trafficke enterchanging Store , If chac'd from Him it would haue com'd to mee , Where it so oft familiare was before . Some secret Griefe distempring first my Minde , Had ( though not knowing ) made mee feele this losse : A Sympathie had so our Soules combind , That such a parting both at once would : tosse . Though such Reports to others terrour giue , Thy heauenlie Vertues who did neuer spie , I know Thou , that canst make the dead to liue , Immortall art , and needes not feare to die . Sir WILLIAM ALEXANDER . To S. W. A. THough I haue twice beene at the Doores of Death , And twice found shoote those Gates which euer mourne , This but a lightning is , Truce tane to Breath , For late-borne Sorrowes augurre fleet returne . Amidst thy sacred Cares , and courtlie Toyles , Alexis , when thou shalt heare wandring Fame Tell , Death hath triumph'd o're my mortall Spoiles , And that on Earth I am but a sad Name ; If thou e're held mee deare ? by all our Loue , By all that Blisse , those Ioyes Heauen heere vs gaue , I conju●e Thee , and by the Maides of Ioue , To graue this short Remembrance on my Graue . Heere Damon lyes , whose Songes did some time● grace The murmuring Eske , may Roses shade the place . To the Memorie of the most excellent Ladie , IANE Countesse of Perth . THis Beautie which pale Death in Dust did turne , And clos'd so soone within a Coffin sad , Did , passe like Lightning , like to Thunder burne ; So little Life , so much of Worth it had . Heauens but to show their Might heere made it shine , And when admir'd , then in the Worlds Disdaine ( O Teares , O Griefe ! ) did call it backe againe , Lest Earth should vaunt Shee kept what was Diuine . What can wee hope for more ? what more enjoy ? Sith fairest Things thus soonest haue their End , And , as on Bodies Shadowes doe attend , Sith all our Blisse is follow'd with Annoy ? Yet She 's not dead , She liues where She did loue , Her Memorie on Earth , Her Soule aboue .