becomes wise and warie after miscrie or as our English prouerbe teacheth The burnt childe will take heede of the fire Let the precedent examples of other mens falles and follies exhort you to remember your Christian dueties and specially now at this instant since that yee are called and sworn as precise Patriots as chosen vessels of honour of an honourable corporation to edifie to doe your best endeuour towards the repairing of the Lords Temple though it were but by tempering of Lime whereto the Noblest is vnfit by transferring of stones by carrying of clay sand haire wooll or rather then nothing in conuaying of Oyster-shels so that ye be industrious in your charge it sufficeth for your discharge But how is it possible for you to performe any such seruice without presumption when as ye sacrilegiously conceale your Countreyes cockle your darnell your droanes your drunkards and your Detractours How is it possible for you to build vp Solymi Rudera clara soli the ruinous wals of the Church Militant when as ye offend the Arch-builder of the world with disloyall thoughts words and workes with exercising Spiritualem nequitiam in coelestibus Spirituall wickednes in heauenly matters with committing spirituall fornication against the Maiestie of Gods spirit How is it possible for you to escape vnpunished or not to be principall partakers of their faults and fines of their finnes and penalties whom ye wantonly spare for worldly respects Alas It is pitie you say to present poore silly wretches who transgresse of meere necessity It is more noble to giue then to take away to spare then to spill And sor the great Ones ye pretend that your cobweb is too thin to cub them in Foolish Pitie Marres the Citie It is a saying not so olde as true Beloued Christians beware of this Alchymie beware of this sophistry for beleeue it as an Article of your Creede that sinne is damnable vnder what colour soeuer it be shrowded Whether it be couered with clouts and ragges or with a golden robe let the Moâ—ster be vnstript let Achan be accused for his theft let Ioab be endicted for his shedding of innocent bloud yea though hee haue taken Sanctuarie and caught hold on the hornes of the Altar Let Semei be brought coram nobis for his â—ayling and reuiling Let Barrabas be found as a notorious felon Enquire whether Bigthan and There 's haue committed treason against the Lords Annointed and whether the sonne of Salomith the sonne of Dibry hath committed the like heynous crimo against the Lord himselfe in blaspheming his hallowed name And of what nature soeuer the billes are that men preferre vnto you follow your euidence and find out the guilty though they be proportioned as huge as Gyants let not their high nor huge statures dismay and defile your vndefiled consciences The cause is none of yours The iudgement is none of yours But both belong vnto him that made you Ye can doe no lesse then â—ndorce BILLA VERA vpon euident misdemeanures albeit with outward teares and inward bleeding griefes For if Saul an Annointed King for sparing of Agag a prisoner Prince had his Kingdome of Israell rent from his posteritie for euer euen by the Lords owne verdict what shall be the guerdon of your indulgence of your cunning concealement The reward of sinne is death and the reward of bloudy or blasphemous sinne such as periury is can be no other then perpetuall death Non est bonum ludere cum Sanctis There is no iesting with oathes no dalliance with detracting from Gods word It is not Equiuocation or mentall reseruation Iurani Imguâ mentem iniura tam gero I swore an oath by tongue but I beare a minde vnsworne as that young man Hyppolitus in Euripedes protested It is not the Popes pardon or his detracting dispensation it is not Indian golde it is not a selfe flattering suggestion nor all this worlds commodity which can iustifie the cursed blot of blasphemie or rectifie the cancred blossomes of blasphemous concealements There is a sinne veniall which we call trespasse and there is a sinne vnto death a sinne not to be forgiuen Such is the wilfull and presumptuous sin of a mans owne witting conscience against the open face and illumination of the holy Ghost And what if the sinne of Periurie fals out to be this horrible and heauie sinne In what a plight are partiall Iuries Therefore my Masters I could wish that ye deliberate with Diuine discretion before ye determine your verdicts rashly in heat of flesh and bloud And to speake more plainely to the purpose I could wish as long as yee enioy this waightie place in examining the defects and defaults of your Countrey that ye proceed not as many now-a-dayes do to censure presently after drinking or Tobacco taking but rather that ye beginne continue and conclude your proceedings soberly grauely and aduisedly without temerity timerousnesse or affection But what man quoth the spirit of Detraction can be so voyde of passion or affection Then farewel kindred farewel loue nay farewell life it selfe if I cannot helpe my friend in necessity or hurt my foe in oportunitie The Lord rebuke thee thou foule spirit that goest about to make Christians worse then Pagans in whose bookes it is written that Iustice hath neither father nor mother Shall we regenerated Christians that know Iustice to be one of the chiefest Attributes of the Godhead and so highly regarded of his sacred Maiestie that he spared not his holy One his owne eternall Word but gaue him ouer for a while to cruell death in reuenge of olde Adams sinnes shall we respect flesh and bloud more then Gods Attribute Shall we forfeit both our eyes to saue one of theirs Shall wee lose our owne soules and bodies to ransome other mens corruptible bodies or temporary fortunes Better it is to cut off one member then that the whole body boile in hot scalding leade He that loues his father and mother aboue me is not worthy of me saith our Sauiour Christ. Shall we being put in trust deceiue the trust that is reposed in vs Shall we become our owne caruers and vnder colour of Iustice iniury the innocent Vengeance is Gods and he will requite It is better O reuengfull Spirit to conceale the guilty then to condemne the guiltlesse But ye beloued of the Lord I hope will so iudiciously behaue your selues in an equall ballance without enclining to the left hand or to the right hand that the Right shall still take place that the expectation of your Iudges conceiued of your fidelity and integrity shall not be voyde and frustrate Ye will demeane your selues I hope so zealously so sincerely in your proceedings that the matter and not the man shall be the obiect of your internall eyes your eyes of vnderstanding which I pray God to enlighten with his knowledge to inspire with the sparkes of his spirit wherby yee may discerne gold from copper truth from periury sincerity from vanity the sonnes
his mercie may dispell thy darkesome scurfe of Leprosie dispence with thy Bayards boldnes Behold theÌ„ most mighty Monarch thy poore Publican afraid of thine anger ashamed of his ignorance conuerts himselfe vnto thee Correct by the inspiration of thy Spirit this aspiring enterprise of mine which I intend for the discerning of Spirits and disabling of the maleuolent Spirit of Detraction O Lord of incomprehensible goodnes graunt me my suit because I am a mâ—n of vncircumcised polluted lips let one of thy glorious winged Seraphines touch my mouth that being purified I may vtter nothing but truth The way of man is not in himselfe neither is it in man to walke and to direct his steps Measure thou my steps o heauenly Spirit mortifie my â—oâ—uptuous thoughts of flesh and blood lighten mine internall eyes that I may lift my lumpish spirit to spirituall cogitations and apply my misty minde to thine eternall influence which cannot be seene at all with mortal sight but onely with most pure intellectuall minds as thy seruant Augustine confessed Trinitas Diuiâ—arum personaruÌ„ non nisi purgatissimis mentiê° cernitur The eye of sense and the eye of reason are both too dimme for discerning thee O illuminate my soule with the eye of faith so that my flesh being yoaked to my soule my soule vnto reason my reason vnto saith I may couragiously conquere and coniure downe the Scrich-Owle of darkenesse into the dungeon of hell Purge me with thy precious pilles lest in reprehending the Spirit of Detraction in others my selfe do fall into the same traines by the she suggestions of that Euill one who watcheth hourely like a wily wolfe to circumuent thy silly sheepe And thou my soule praemonita praemunita fore-warned fore-armed do thy best to charme this spitefull Spirit with charitable Characters of deepe Diuinity when he ascended vp on high he led captiuity captiue and gaue gifts vnto men By vertue of these glorious gifts the gifts of the Spirit by the crosse of our Sauiour Christ coniure him vp and downe that his cousenages and cheating craft may appeare to his clawbacke Clients To all other charmes the Adder is deafe hee stoppeth his eares and will not obey charme we neuer so wisely Iesus he knowes and Paul he knowes but who are we It is impossible for any kingdome to continue long which is at iarre and warre within it selfe To what purpose then stands Medaeas Magicke in firreting out of Fiends To what end seekest thou O Sibill to coniure downe Cerberus the hel-hound of darkenesse What auailes your cunning O Circe and Calypso Can Degon stand before the Arke of God No certainly Therefore in vaine doe Medaea Circe Calypso and Sibilla labour to exercise their exorcismes and shallow sorceries within the Circle nay within sight of that fielde where one graine offaith is sowne In vaine serue Witches wreathes where God is worshipped In vaine sings he Bacchare frontem Cingite ne vati noceat mala lingua future With Bacchar binde the Poets brow Lest wicked tongues him ouerthrow Though men speake neuer so precisely neuer so pregnantly though they speake the wordes of Angels yet if their speeches be not filed within the Circle of Diuine wisdome nor link't within the chain of Christian charity the Church of God will neuer repute so catholike and so potent a Spirit as this of Detraction quite coniured conuicted For as that Roman Criticke girded a vicious Senator saying Who can abide to heare thee iudge like graue Cato whom the world knowes to be as greedy as Crassus and as gluttonous as Lucullus Truely for my part I cannot more fitly compare such glozing Scholers then to a kind of glow-wormes which because they gliue shine in the nights the weaker sort of people haue mistaken for Sprites and Bugs They therefore that will rightly ouerthrow their spirituall foes must not shoot outwardly into painted ceremonies but into the source and spring of Goodnes Descend then yee fierie pillars of faith and quicken our incomposed Chaos Disperse away our Egyptian darkenes that we may passe on our iourney by night as wel as day not only through the red Seas of Detractions but also through the dangerous deserts of this world into the land of promise the land that flowes with milke and honey of eternall life where our consciences shall for euer rest secured from all future furies LINEAMENT II. 1. That the true meanes to conuict the Spirit of Detraction is the Meditation on Heauenly mysteries and on the operation of goodnes 2. Mans curiosity in prying into Gods nature stinted by a non vltra 3. The description of some of Gods attributes 4. That his description is too excellent â—or mans apprehension 5. That Good or Euill cannot come to mankinde without his will BEfore I sound out the poysonous power of the Spirit of Detraction it is necessary first that I begin with my homely talent to discourse somewhat of his immensiue glory who is Prima veritas in essendo dicendo primus omnium motor the first verity in being and speaking and the first mouer of all and so by degrees to descend into the numbers and attributes both of the good Spirits which attend their Creator and likewise of the bad spirits which beleaguer vs with their spiritual suggestions out of darknesse In the meane time I adiure and coniure thee thou false spirit of Detraction to be silent and not to interrupt my consecrated speech Auoyd Satan auaunt taunting Tempter Auoyd I charge thee In the name of the great Iehouah Auaunt againe and againe I charge thee By the omnipotent Spirit of the Word Incarnate by all the names and meanes which are warranted vnto vs in holy Writ O blessed names O blessed means which preuaile against the gates of Hell O blessed Vicar of Christs Church Gods Register of charitable Charters which inrols within the booke of my soule I meane within my conscience this warrant of faith that serious speculation on heauenly mysteries and on the operation of goodnesse and that with admiration rather then with affectation treades downe the head of that olde Enchanter and quite tramples vnder foote his false faculties whose spirituall spite sophisticate with subtle spels with Sardonicall sports and Siren-like songs I doubt more then all the Papists palpable Spirits and reall Diuels deuised for the most part to gull the simpler sort O Father of al things visible and inuisible if I presumptuously prie into the maze of thy mysticall nature as somtimes did a Philosopher of Greece the more I muse the more I stand amazed I finde those auncient Characters of Non vltra somtimes engrauen on Hercules his pillars firmely imprinted in my curious braine My soule sees no other obiects then infinite Entity Eternity Immensity Immutability Impassibility Immortality all life all motion all goodnes all truth all vnity all perfection O my Soueraigne God if I contemplate thine vnderstanding my poore
of his Kingdome that he is possessed with the gifts of the holy Ghost The reasons that thus moue me to conceiue so wonderfully of his worth are these first the obseruation of his life vnblemished by generall report and free from suspicion of vnseemely actes Then the consideration of his faith wisedome and milde spirit made vulgarly manifest by his learned Bookes and Speeches in the Parliament house whereof some are extant in Print settles my knowledge of his excellency of spirit Vt iâ—rem calaâ—â—o fulgur inesse suo That I would sweare his pen did lightning flash To these I adde his miraculous preseruation continually from his cradle he being the onely childe of his Parents in such tumultuous times vntill this golden time of the Gospell And to omit many garboiles of ciuill incendiaries for the subuersion of his life and state I will onely content my meditation at this time with the consideration of two principall Treasons inuented by Sathan against his annointed person The former Earle Gowry entended to effect The latter the Papists purposed to perfect In the former God suffered Sathan to lead him for a moment into his castle of calamity but presently he sent his Angell to deliuer him as Peter out of Herods prison In the latter God suffered Sathan to plot plant and place his Ordinance in order for the vtter suppressing and supplanting of his whole estate but suddenly the worlds great Watchman confounded his Boutefeux as the builders of Babeil In both I obserue that the Diuine Maiesty respects this innocent Prince in his loue vnto him vnexpectedly rips vp the very bowels of Treason euen when Sathan assures himselfe of his fatall haruest and is ready to reape his Hemlockes almost ripe then God prepares a feruent East winde in one night to destroy his poysonfull weedes like vnto Ionas his gourd O mighty God who can prie into the treasury of thy counsels What man purposeth thou disposest Thou reuealest the deepe and secret things Thou knowest the thing that lieth in darkenesse for the light dwelleth with thee We thanke thee we praise thee O thou God of our Fathers that hast giuen our King wisdome and strength and hast shewed him the thing that he desired of thee Thou hast declared his matter vnto him When his wisest Counsel ors missed to expound Tressams intricate letter more intricate then Sphynx his Riddle the Holy Ghost lent the King himselfe the key of knowledge the key on which millions of liues depended wherewith he vnlockt the memorable morall of the aenigmaticall letter memorable indeed vnto all posterities All which circumstances doe certainely argue the profoundnesse of his capacity and assuredly ascertaine my soule that the faculties of his soule are effectually inuested with some attributes of the Deity for the glory of God After the like manner let vs comprehend the knowledge of God who is our spirituall King and King of Kings for what signifieth this word God but an omnipotent spirituall King Creator of all things and we shall spiritually attaine to his Diuine knowledge though we see him not with our bodily eyes Let vs grope after him and we shall finde him for he is not farre from euery one of vs in him wee liue wee moue and haue our being When we endeauour with all our hearts and humble soules to keepe his commandements we may boldly say that we do know him When our mindes are sanctified through stedfast saith intentiuely on Iesus Christ as the diseased Israelites became healthfull with regarding the brasen Serpent we may assuredly affirme that we do know him Most happy are they which neuer saw Christ and yet beleeue in him Neyther doe we want other cuident meanes and motiues to stirre vs vp to the knowledge of the Godhead or spirituall power first naturall reason sheweth that some glorious soule full of perfection and power created the world and the creatures thereof for they could neuer make themselues which the Prophet Dauid confessed in these wordes The heauens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy worke Next his Church or faithfull congregation of Adam Abell Seth Henock Noah Abraham and others transferred by successiue tradition his knowledge to their posterities Thirdly his knowledge hath beene reuealed by the Holy Ghost to Moyses Samuel the Prophets and lastly by the Messias himselfe through apparitions miracles lawes ceremonies and temporall blessings Fourthly to draw neerer vnto mans capacitie which depends most vpon sensible obiects mention is made by Moyses how God caused him to stand in the caue of a Rocke and putting his hand vpon him he did shew him his hinder parts not suffring him to see his face Whereby the secuced Saduces collect the Godhead to be corporall But the naturall man perceiues not the things of the spirit of God For by his hinder parts aâ— the picture of his spirituall substance is shadowed the glimpse of his glorious influence By his hand is figured his al-puissant power By his face the fulnesse of his sunny glory And where Eyes are ascribed vnto him what other sense is meant then his prouidence and knowledge Thus God sometimes speakes naturally according to our naturall apprehension In conclusion let it suffice our curious braines that God is a powerfull Spirit not to be felt palpably with mens hands nor seene with mens eyes I speake not of Christs glorified body being humane which Thomas Dydimus felt after his refurrection by reason that the light of his Spirit is too conspicuous glorious and ouer-bright for such weake terrestriall and brittle senses Neuerthelesse it pleased him to appeare vnto Ezechael in the similitude of fire from his loynes downewards and of brightnesse like vnto Amber from his loynes vpwards S. Iohn in the Iland of Pathmos on the Lords day rauished in spirit saw one like the Sonne of man with his head and haires as white as woolor snow with his eyes as flames of fire His feete were like vnto fire brasse burning in a fornace and his voice as the sound of many waters His face shone as bright as the Sunne in his strength Whereby we may gather that God is a spirit not able to be seene of dust and ashes vntill the same be better purified or purged from worldly concupiscence for flesh and bloud cannot enter into heauen and vntill our soules become refined and regenerated not with Purgatory flames but with the spirit of God the fiery Comfirter This is the reason that the Elect of God doe stoutly maintaine that his Diuine Maiesty being a spirit cannot rightly be worshipped but in spirite and minde which in truth fals out most rightly when the spirit through faith becomes eminent and when the body through fasting lieth vanquished LINEAMENT VII 1 The description of some of the good spirits which attend on their Creator in heauen 2 Their Offices 3 Names 4 Greatnesse LEauing aside Dionysius Areopagitaes nine orders of Heauenly Hierarchies which he
drinking The like laudable custome did our present King impose by consent of his Parliament vpon our lourdanes or disguised trauellers which resorted to tauernes namely that they should not drinke aboue a quart at a meale nor stay aboue an houre in these infamous houses But as those lawes which concerne many are commonly neglected of many so notwithstanding his Maiesties wholesome lawes people now adaies through licentiousnesse hauing almost gotten a habite of disobedience few or none aduenture to execute the same Or if perhaps any one more forward then the rest fearing the shipwracke of his conscience for waxing slouthfull in his charge against these Centaurs or for winking at such enormities of these his Countries Cyclops should chance to extend the rod of his authoritie in suppressing them presently Sathan suggesteth some of his darlings detracting Barretours to countenance these lewde liuers and rather then faile he subornes them to molest those zealous magistrates by hooke or by crooke to the Starre Chamber or to some other principall Court two or three hundred miles off for trifling matters not worth the speaking and all to the entent to terrifie and tire them with tedious trauelling too and fro so that few officers dare put in execution what the law requireth them being loth to hazard their goods and persons in so wearisome a iourney in so cumbersome a suite These these bulbeggars I say be the onely obstacles that Iustice is not executed against the malefactors of our countrey Herehence it comes to passe that Iustices of milde and moderate spirits do swallow downe many a bit of bitter iniuries rather then they will aduenture their fortunes in law vpon such vile vermine Yet notwithstanding these crosses which ouerthwart your honest purposes it behoues you my Masters whom his Maiestic or his Chauncellor hath commissioned by Iethroes counsell as Rulers ouer hundreds ouer fifties to lay aside your panicke feares to looke vnto your places and not to preferre your priuate weale before the publike in intending so neerely the temporall goods of blind fortune whereof the Eye of iustice in reuenge of your remissenesse and periuries will sodainly bereaue you with a heauier scourge For this cause I could wish that this golden saying were firmely ingrauen in your thoughts Qui non impedit facinus cum possit facinori consentit He that hinders not a sinne when he may hinder it consents vnto the sinne For no doubt but this saying is alreadie verified in many of vs whom God forgiue specially when we spare Gods enemies of what nature soeuer they be eyther for indulgence importunate friendship or for feare of the Diuell or of his detracting followers Therefore be ye stout as Lyons fighting the Lords battailes The cause is the Lords the iudgement is the Lords and the Lord will be with you in the cause and iudgement Now shew your selues whose champions ye are and with your vnpartiall hands subscribe to pull and put downe these licentious Brothelries downe with these Tauernes downe with these Seminaries of corruption downe with the cause and downe with the effects if ye haue any sparke of Gods Spirit shining in you The prodigious effects hatched and fostered in these drunken Cottages as I said before is licentiousnesse the diabolicall dame of detractions periuries blasphemies and of a number of other base brats LINEAMENT III. That the Spirit of Detraction is sooner conuicted through the bright light and testimonie of the Scripture then through mens reall sorce or worldly deuices EVen as Aarons rod in Pharaoh his presence consumed all the Magicians rods that were put before it so words grounded vpon the touchstone of Truth do at the last consume to nothing all the bubling dregs of babling Detraction For by how much that Michael the Archangel is more mightie then the detracting Dragon by so much doth the speech of Truth beare a greater sway ouer the mishapen monsters of falshood which like foolish Apes by their vaine and vncharitable chattering would faine obtaine the Christian sirname of Truth But the word of life the light of vnderstanding will not abide such derogations and detractions And therefore he hath of his speciall and superabundant grace sent forth the spirit of his mouth the brightnesse of his comming to consute these hidious heresies and peremptory paradoxes which with the Antichrist were conceiued and begotten among vs. Out of this light or lightsome word out of the right resembling Image of the Fathers eternall vertues as his pledge to the Catholike Church issued his written image the sacred Scripture whose efficacy is so excellent that the testimonies thereof suffice to coniure downe all the spirits of hell into their owne bottomlesse home Being an armie of armed men against the spirit of Detraction and he will intreate them woâ—se then that possessed person did the seuen sonnes of Scaeua the Iew against whom he ranne and preuailed that they were forced to flie out of the house naked and wounded Besprinkle him with whole buckets full of holy water chant millions of masses vnto him his spirituall substance cares not for wetting and for your masses Surdo canis he will not heare them for your good but gladly heares them for your hurt and hindrance Onely a few materiall sentences extracted out of the heauenly booke and giuen in euidence by an humble-minded Christian with prayer and contrition doe certainly coniure conuince and confound all his dartes stings and forces To this end I will repeate some prouerbiall lessons selected by me out of that Booke of Life with hope that their energy and viuacitie will conuert my countrymen that are any thing towardly enclined to follow truth and integritie to become vertuously forward and not viciously froward And first I will briefly rebuke and refute the vse of idle speeches before I descend to the reprehension of deeper Detractions Wherein I will follow the example of expert Physicians who are wont at first to prescribe gentle preparatiues to attenuate and mollifie the stubborne and inueterate humours of their patients bodie before they attempt to purge the same substantially LINEAMENT IIII. The Spirit of Detraction coniured and conuicted by the Prophet Dauids Testimony THey talke of vanity euery one with his neighbour they doe but flatter with their lippes and dissemble with their heart But the Lord shall roote out all deceitfull lips the tongue that speaketh proude things which haue said with our tongue we will preuaile we are they that ought to speake who is Lord ouer vs Their throate is an open Scpulchre with their tongues haue they deceiued the poyson of Aspes is vnder their lips Their mouth is full of cursing and bitternesse Lord who shall dwell in thy Tabernacle Or who shall rest vpon thy holy hill Euen he that leadeth an incorrupt life and doth the thing that is right and speaketh the truth from his heart He that hath vsed no deceit in his tongue nor done euill to his neighbour and hath not
Lord my Sauiour O men of little faith nay rather of no faith your difference and distrust in spirituall matters wrought and brought in all these fables and foolish fopperies The more wicked ye be the more ye feare and the more ye feare the more phantasies run to your headlesse braines Your guilty consciences seared with the scorching fire of your iniquities become so appalled that ye quake and shake like aspen leaues ye feare the moone-shine in the water ye feare your owne shadowes and tremble with the Maiestie of Gods iudgements as malefactors going to execution or as that Gentleman of Padua who ouer night hearing that he should be put to death the next morning after tooke such an inward conceit though this was but a false alarme that the next morning his youthfull haire was sodainly committed into a siluer colour Spirituall courage descendes from heauen spirituall cowardize springs from flesh and bloud corrupted with blacke melancholy the Diuels breath thickned to a pestilent exhalation Wherehence weake men begat that venefique verse Flectere si nequcam superos Acheront a mouebe If heauen heares me not I 'le downe to hell LINEAMENT III. Proued out of the Booke of Wisedome that mens guiltie consciences caused them at first to feare Bugs and Spirits TO confirme the premisses I will lay downe before you the opinion of that wise man which wrote the booke of Wisedome which likewise proues that feare was the chiefest inuenter of the Diuels miracles and strange sights VVhile they thought to be hid in the darknesse of their sinnes they were scattered abroad in the very middest of the darke couering of forgetfulnesse put to horrible feare and wonderously vexed For the corner where they lay hid might not keepe them from feare because sounds came round about them and vexed them yea many terrible and strange visions appeared vnto them They were sometimes chased with monstrous apparitions and sometimes they swoooned as their owne soules had betrayed them for an hastie feare and that was not looked for came vpon them They were all bound with one chaine of darknesse whether it were a blasing wind or a sweete song of the birds among the thicke branches of the trees or the vehemencie of hasty running water or great noyse of the falling downe of stones or the running of playing beasts which they saw not or the mighty noyse of roring wild beasts or the sound that answered againe in the hollownesse of the mountaines which we call Eccho these terrible things made them swooone for very feare LINEAMENT II II. How mens guiltie consciences made them to mistake the truth and to become afraid of things meerely naturall SOmetimes naturall things because they are vnusuall and seldome seene doe affright and astonish our weake consciences as if we had seene a Spirit specially if they happen in the night time when we sit darkling or if we passe by any Churchyard or where any man was lately killed or hanged Sometime the very sudden talking about such strange apparitions in the nights doth produce a sudden alteration in our vnsetled minds and the rather if we know our selues guiltie of some deadly sinne as of adultery malice or such like Yea Papists by reason of their superstitious legends which their Confessours and graue Fathers haue so firmely euen with their nurses milke imprinted in their thoughts I say these credulous people by Gods iustice are confounded with ridiculous toyes otherwhiles with their owne conceit according to that They feared where no feare was Because they stop their eares from hearing the Gospell and shut their eyes from reading the truth therefore doth God send such light things to terrifie their vnrighteous hearts When we pray vnto our Creator they pray vnto Creatures When we craue to be holpen by the onely helper and Sauiour of the world Iesus Christ they pray vnto them that sometimes were sinners here on earth trusting in Beads Crucifixes and other stocks or Idols reiecting spirituall light and spirituall comfort As for example I remember about eight yeares ago in passing ouer the Pyrences betwixt France and Spayne when I and others then in company hauing lost our way and also being benighted and fearing to be assaulted by wild beasts began to draw out our weapons for feare of the worst a certaine Seminary scholer newly come from Doway armed himselfe with his Beades putting them about his necke and saying vnto vs that he cared not for all the Beares of the world as long as he had those Beads about him which as he alledged were consecrated by the Popes owne handes Whereby a man may note to what superstition and follies this sect is drawne that from the Spirit of God they betake themselues to earthly hopes No maruell then that they are also blindfolded in attributing such beleefe to Goblins and Sprights The simpler sort when they behold but a firedrake a flaming meteor the shooting of the starres or candles about dead mens sepulchers which indeed are no other then sulphureous exhalations Presently they giue out that they saw Sprights or Diuels And if they had not sodainly crossed themselues they had beene taken tarde and slaine Others haue beene put to great feare by looking on shining worms on bones of newland fish or on a kind of rotten wood which shine very bright in the night time Some againe haue trembled in their beds at the sudden rumbling and noyse which Cats Rats or Mice haue made in searching for their prey or at the stirre and coile which disguised sprights haue caused Many pageants haue beene practised with the benefit of the night to the great terrour of them that were not very wise some haue wrought wonders by walking on the water vpon stilts I meane vpon deepe waters as others haue walked with large soles of corke I haue likewise heard of some Conicatchers that went currant for Coniurers who to gaine themselues estimation among fooles haue purposely in the fields placed in a darke night creuises or tortoises aliue with burning candles on their backs onely to make them beleeue that they were creeping Diuels Some haue taken Echoes for Sprights as he of whom it is reported that a Goblin had welnigh caused him to be drowned whereas indeed it was no other then the rebounding or reflecting backe of his owne voyce For when he asked a farre off Can I passe ouer the Echo answered passe ouer Many men haue beene abused by meanes of knaues voyces entonneled in long reeds or canes which altered the tune of their voyces If our iudgement vnderstanding and sences being sound and whole be thus deceiued and deluded with such a deepe apprehension of feare much more must we thinke that they will enduce vs to blabbe out prodigies and monstrous wonders if they were depraued and hurt in their Organs specially in their braines LINEAMENT V. A merry story borrowed out of Peter de Loiers booke of specters shewing how a Traueller war frighted in passing by a gallowes IN the
composed and complotted this Circle Whereby the world may conceiue charitably of those runnagate rumors which lately by Satans long reeds not vnlike to those of Midas his barber haue passed pierced into their Asses eares which being remote from the Meridian of the climate wherein I liue doe beleeue nothing more certainly then that the Diuell in his reall person hath reuelled among vs. These newes exposed abroad with a smokie gloze haue bene so vented by the Inuentor of false newes that our Aleknights Alchymists Tobacconists and such like taunting spirits with generall applause doe magnifie the Diuels maiesty in their daily detractions and want but little of canonizing and consecrating him for their God his adherents for their Saints Which blasting blasphemie because I haue almost extinguished in the former Circle with diuine deaw I will proceede in this present Circle to the conuiction of other partiall paralogismes wherein his earthly Agents our doating doltes with both hands do extoll dumbe creatures to the very skies not much vnlike to those idolatrous Indians who adore the Orient Sunne the Moone and other visible Starres So when our ignorant countreimen heare but the clap of a thunder or see but a flash of lightning they arme theÌ„selues forthwith with outward showes with crossing their profane bodies Others againe more wise in their owne conceits beleeue that God predestinates no man to perish by such heauenly meanes sauing wicked wretches wherein they limit his prouidence wisedome and glory which otherwiles he manifesteth by such glorious accidents for our trials or for some other notable effect Some wade yet further in attributing a powerfull prerogatiue to such meteorie signes namely that they can harme a man of themselues without Gods extraordinarie ordinance For say they he made an end of all his workes in sixe daies and left order that euerie Starre should moue in his place and bring forth sutable qualities according to mens complexions and constellations All which prodigies of opinions together with other contagious conceits of mens busie braines I will confound with the Sunne-shine of truth interfusing discipline mutually with doctrine and both of them with Gods miracles so that the right hand reciprocally supporting the left hand they may contune and continue together as it were in a Diapazon and afterwards serue for bridling presidents to loose and lauish tongues As for the substance of the subiect I dare submit the same to the learnedst Lydian touch whose criticke carping I countermine with that Epigramme Cum tua non aedas carpis mea opuscula Mome Carpere vel noli nostra vel aede tua Thou put'st not out thy workes yet carp'st at mine Leaue off to carpe at mine or put out thine LINEAMENT II. 1 How the Spirit of Detraction goeth about to ouerthrow Predestination in attributing our misfortunes immediately to the Planets thâ—nders lightnings or other naturall creatures where the Author excuseth himselfe for writing of such deepe mysteries 2 How God made the second causes and all other things in this world for mans sake OVr taunting Troianes finding no waighty shifts to restore and repaire vp the Diuels ruinated reputation reall strength doe in their steede entertaine other Hydraes of opinions that the Planets thunders lightnings or some other naturall creatures immediatly occasioned our ill fortunes our sodaine losses or deaths violence Whereby these detracting busibodies go about to ouerthrow predestination to abolish from nature the light of nature and to subiect the first cause vnto his second causes the Creator to his creature after the example of vnnaturall Iupiter which droue out his owne Father Saturne from his kingdome of Creet Oh vnhappy men that ascribe such prerogatiues to weake and wounded nature Is there not in the Lords hand a cup and the wine red Are not our haires numbred But to confute this absurditie I will briefely runne ouer the springs of Predostination And first I will search with submissiue thoughts vnder the accustomed patience of my most patient Lord the onely Creator of the world what were the patternes of his workes before the creation and how he conferred his power vpon the second meanes Which ouer curious search I do willingly vndertake for the better satisfaction of busie brains In this Labyrinth I humbly desire his heauenly highnesse to dispence with my haughty purpose for certainly if it were possible men should not question of such profound matters but rather they should be drawne backe to the humility of not thinking once thereon lest that chance vnto them which chanced to the presumptuous Angels or lest the answere of that ancient Father iumpe iust vpon their phantasticall pates who being asked by a curious-headed fellow what God did before this worlds creation gaue him this choaking answer he made quoth he Hell for such curious persons as you are An humble ignorance I confesse in such waighty mysteries is no way preiudiciall but the peremptory deniall of any one of them is blame worthy This world is a miraculous map or a table booke wherein the mysteries of Gods nature are deciphered so that it is impossible for any man to know the particularities thereof Therefore we must content our selues with admiration which is a thing most acceptable to the Spirit To verifie this looke O mortall man vpon the azured skie and tell me what thou seest Admiration Descend into the earth and take thy iourney from the East vnto the West from the North vnto the South and after all thy trauels after all thy trials tell me what thou sayest nay what thou sawest Admiration Well seeing that the vastnesse of this worlds circuite doth so confound thy weake and wearied senses that the more thou musest the more thou maruellest then enter into thy little world into thy self and comprehend thy thoughts within a certaine circle O quà m durus est hic sermo This is a heauier taske At the least and last looke downe vpon the little Ants and learne what moues them to toyle and take more care to liue by their own labours then many a man Surely thou canst not but admire And why because this world and all the workes therein are the Idea the modell the mappe the booke wherein the nature of the incomprehensible Godhead is written with capitall letters of Admiration In euery thing both great and little how little and light soeuer it be his Diuine Maiesty hath imprinted his wisedome goodnesse and power And euen as in his substance he is all so in his workes he doth all And now to declare what God did before the creation of the world it is certaine that his purpose was to haue a society of men as well as of Angels and those good and euill Angels that the one might serue as monuments of his mercy the other as monuments of his iustice and that both together might serue as instruments of his glory for his power is no lesse glorified in the one then in the other After the determination of his purpose for
conuersion then that this lightning Accident hath enlightned both our soules Thine it preferred into Paradise mine it prepareth for Paradise thy soule as a type of zeales flame it purified actually secundum passionem mine it purifieth potentially secundum propassionem Thus both of vs do stand as monuments to the Church here on earth the one as a relicke richer then Mausolus his Tombe the other as a publicke notarie reserued to sound out the wonders of the great God and to transcribe vnto after-ages thy extraordinarie end If the Spirit of Detraction reply that I intend a needlesse labour to embalme a dead carkasse with such costly oyntment saying what needed this waste Loe I returne his enuious demand this vnparalel'd answere of our Sauiour I did it to bury her It is to performe the last obsequies of her funerall that wheresoeuer the Gospell is sincerely preached throughout this Land there also these Circles of mine vvhereof her memory next vnder God was the motiue may be read as a mirrour of Gods miracles as a memoriall of her liuing vertues and as a monument towards her of my kinde affection It is the last solemnitie the last precious oyntment which I can poure vpon her head the last Adieu the last office of good will which I can accomplish for her sake This kind of Epitaphes in honour of the dead an holy Father highly commendeth It is pietie saith he to publish the deceaseds vertues yea it is a meanes to encrease grace in our owne selues Therefore let no man blame me because I erect these paper-statues to the glory of my deceased wife seeing that many others of nobler endowments haue endeuoured to illustrate their dead friends It is not long since that famous Gentleman Phillip Mornay Lord of Plessis mourned in the like manner for the death of his onely sonne who of late was slaine with a musket-shot at the siege of the Citie Geldre vnder Graue Maurice which dolefull Catastrophe hee set out in a little booke called Du Plessis teares written to his wife Charlotte Baliste why then should I feare thy shadowie prickles O spitefull Spirit In praysing her from whom haue I detracted Downe therefore downe vvith thy malicious stings and interrupt me not in my zealous offices while I betake my selfe to the mournfull accents of a voice almost stopt vvith throbs of griefe while also I sacrifice my last gratuities vnto her sacred spirit interrupt me not Adieu thou seruant of Christ thou patterne of piety Adieu thou map of Gods miracles Adieu my loue my ioy my comfort Adieu and rest thee henceforth among the heauenly roses rest in peace for euer free from the thornes of malice Adieu againe and againe Adieu Elizabeth my wife for a while and welcome sweet Iesus my Sauiour for euer THE SEAVENTH CIRCLE OF THE SPIRIT OF DETRACTION CONIVRED AND CONVICTED LINEAMENT I. 1 That the spirit of Detraction can neuer annoy vs while the Maiestie of Iustice shines vpon vs. 2 The Authours supplication to the Lord Chancellour of England the Lord President of Wales and to all other his Maiestics Iudges of Record within this Monarchy of Great Brittaine for the extirping out of notorious Blasphemics 3 The Spirit of Detractions craft in molesting his Maiesties inferiour Officers 4 His diabolicall craft in wronging of priuate persons 5 The Authours Conclusion to the aboue-sayd Lords for reformation of the said abuses HOW amiable shewes thy face O Queene of Uertues when the light of Maiestie shines vpon thee Euen as amiable shewes thy face as the face of an Angell as the face of Moses which he was faine to vaile by reason of his bright-shining beautie after hee had seene a glimpse of Gods glory When thou sittest equally in thy throne of state with the ballance in one hand and the sword in the other hand how worthy then to beadored being so adorned so transfigured in glory with the three Apostles on Mount Tabor While this ballance lasteth euen the Lambe may dwell with the Wolfe without dread or doubt While this sword of Iustice hangs ouer Caines head as it sometimes hung ouer Damocles his head by a slender threed his yonger brother Abell may walke innocent in his vocation and cheerefully sacrifice his oblation of thanksgiuing sounding out this dittie of the princely Psalmist I will sing of Mercy and Iudgement vnto thee O Lord will I sing The carefull Magistrate need not feare the sword of Ismael which is a reuiling tongue Iacob after his three apprentiships vnder Laban may trauell vpon the Kings high-way towards his natiue home secured from his eldest brother Esaus sword Moses may exercise his office with alacritie and courage notwithstanding the rebellious muttering of Corah Dathan and Abiram In this golden age of Iustice ' Dauid may manifest his zeale and ioyfully dance before the Lords Arke for all the scornefull flouts of Michol or the scolding speeches of Semci Now hee cares not for his emulous and enuious aduersaries who to some out the dregs of their mindes subborned false witnesses laying to his charge those things which he neuer knew In this flourishing time Mephibosheth triumphes ouer his seruant Zibaes scandalous accusation While this thy ballance O sacred Iustice or this thy sword the one as a cause indented to leade the vse of thy fine the other as a finall concomitance or statute staple to establish thy euer-stable Iudgements or vvhile both of them together as Causa Causatum two friendly Correlatiues doe follow the strict contents of their Commission of Oier and Terminer the iniurious imputations of Potiphars wife can neuer impeach chast Ioseph nor can the snarling and doggish letter R redoubled out of Doegs nostrils impaire the credite of Abimelech Neither can Iezabels letter produce seduced testimonie against Naboth nor can the Rulers of Babilon worke the ruine of Daniel Reioyce thou daughter of Israel renowned Susanna for the Elders which accused thee are ouertaken in their owne snares they are found in contrarie tales While this seate of Iustice stands sincere without staine without sicklenesse Stephen may boldly reproue the sinnes of our lawlesse Libertines without feare of forged witnesses or clamorous suggestions that hee blasphemed God and Moses So full of efficacie is the influence of Iustice vvhen her bright beauteous body is countenanced with the glorious aspects of Prudence and Magnanimitie the attributes of the Eternall Maiestie that presently the Spirit of Detraction with all his blacke Guard of sinne will disperse themselues to nothing as a companie of bragging Waspes at the violence of Northren winde There flocked sometimes out of this fluttering swarme innumerable to beare downe the reputation of Ionathas with his Prince but what became of them and of their runnagate slanders as soone as they heard the sound of King Alexanders Trumpet proclaiming Ionathas to be the Kings friend and him for this cause to be cloathed in purple and to weare a collar of gold they vanished away like Waspes or