cast him down into the horrid abyss of sorrow and misery Who cannot but admire at the audacious confidence of Man in the resistance of his Lord to whom all other creatures Heaven Earth Sea Stars Planets all the Elements Beasts Angels Devils obey The end of the First Book Heraclitus Christianus OR THE MAN OF SORROW THE SECOND BOOK CHAP I. Of Man's misery in his conception in the Womb. WE have compared Man in this our first Book with those creatures whom we call irrational and therein shewed That he ought to be so far from glorying in and exalting himself in respect of his excellency and dignity that he hath the greatest arguments imaginable every thing considered to the contrary Having therefore laid this slight foundation and drawn some rude lines of human misery it remains now to go on forward in the continuation of our tragical discourse of Mans life First Insisting on his generation and production and so proceeding till we have at last brought him to his Grave which is the end and period of all things In the first place considering the matter of his generation which what is it but corruption and putrefaction as also the place of his birth which is nothing else but a vile and loathsom Prison How long is he in the womb of his Mother without form or resemblance to any thing save an insensible mass of flesh For when the Matrix hath taken in and retained the two seeds and warmed them by its natural heat there is concreted a little thin skin like unto that which we see is on the top of an Egg and after some days the spirit and blood mingling together they begin to boil so that there riseth up Three little Bladders as the bubbles which rise up in a troubled water which are the places where are formed the three most noble parts of thiâ— lofty Animal the Liver the Heart and the Brain which is the most excellent part of the work it being the seat of all the functions the true fountain of sence and magnificent palace of understanding and memory the true arch and support as it were of Reason Most wonderful also will it appear to us if we consider likewise particularly the creation of all the other parts the manner and fashion of their formation and how the Infant being in the womb of its Mother beginneth to Urine through the passage of the Navel the Urine running in a little membrance separate from the Child ordained by nature to this office having not as yet the ejections by the fundament by reason that it receiveth not its nourishment by the mouth the ventricle or stomach also not as yet performing its office so that not any thing is transported to the entrails being for Six days as Milk the Nine following Blood the other Twelve Flesh and the Eighteen following the spirit of Life and Motion is infused There 's scarce any heart though never so hard and stony which is not moved and ravished as it were with great admiration and astonishment considering a thing so strange and wonderful But what we have now said is but little in comparison of those things which follow For who marvelleth not considering the manner of the Infants being nourished in the womb seeing he receiveth nothing by his mouth his nature is also so frail and tender that if the Mother hath but the least shock or disaster or scenteth but the snuff of a Candle her fruit dieth immediately CHAP. II. Of Mans miserable birth and entrance into the World AFter having been long nourished as before mentioned and being now formed and grown bigger and having need of greater sustenance he setteth himself with great impetuosity to search for more which is the cause he so moveth himself that he breaketh the Fibers wherewith he hath been all this while retained so that the Matrix feeling it self concerned will no longer sustain him but forceth it self to put him out wherefore it openeth and by that opening the Child feeling the Air enter pursueth it and draweth more and more to the Orifice of the Matrix and entreth into the light of this World not without great and violent dolours and hurt to his tender body but during the Nine months time how much pain and sorrow doth he cause to his Mother that bears him not to take notice of some who whilst they are big with Child lose their appetite and are desirous to eat of human flesh so that we read in History That their poor Husbands have been constrained to fly and absent themselves others have desired to eat Ashes burning Coals or other things like thereunto according to the corrupt and depraved humours abounding in their bodies moreover what anguish and sorrow have their Mothers to bring them into the World in what danger are they when they are in Travel Some their Arms come out first of all some the Feet others the Knees some double but that which is most cruel and which we cannot apprehend without horror They are forced sometimes instead of the Midwives to call the Surgeon to dismember the infant and tear it in pieces sometimes the Mother must be cut open alive and anatomiz'd that they may come at the Child Some Children are born so prodigious and deformed that they resemble not Men but Monsters some are born with Two Heads some with Four Leggs as hath been known in Paris and at the time when I was making this Book Polydorus writeth That before Marcellus was chased by Hannibal that a Woman brought forth a Child having the Head of an Elephant another having four feet as a Beast The modern Histories make mention of a Roman Courtizan that was brought to Bed of a Child who was half a Dog They who have writ the Histories of the Indies do assure us That even at this present there are found them there who are half men and half Beasts occasioned by the execrable bruitishness of their Parents others are born blind others deaf others mute others more infirm and defective in their members for which their Friends are sorry their Mothers infamous and their Fathers shamed so that if we consider attentively all the misery of our Nativity we shall find the ancient saying true That we are conceived in uncleanness born and brought into the World with pain and sorrow and nourished and brought up with anguish and labour CHAP. III. Mans misery considered in the nurture of his Infancy HEre then is the first Act of the Tragedy of human Life during the time of his imprisonment in his Mothers Womb and being now got out of his maternal dungeon let us contemplate a little what he is being on the Earth And what is he else but like to a poor worm creeping thereon With what Garment is he covered making his magnificent entrance into the Palace of this World but Blood wherewith he is all over besmeared which is no other than the representation of sin which in the Scripture is signified unto us by Blood O
HERACLITUS Heraclitus weeps well he may Since ffate Hath chain'd poor Man to such a mournfull State Where Crosses Croud to fill his life with pain And all prevention he can use is Vain I. Oliver Sculp Heraclitus Christianus OR THE MAN OF Sorrow BEING A REFLECTION ON ALL States and Conditions OF HUMAN LIFE In Three Books Summum hominis bonum bonus ex hac vita exitus LONDON Printed by A. M. and R. R. for Brabazon Aylmer at the three Pigeons over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhil 1677. TO THE READER FOR an Author to court the Reader by an Epistle into good humour is as customary and every whit as essential a concomitant of writing as shadows to Bodies or Envy to Virtue For I am not insensible that by the exposing of this Book I shall expose myself too to the censure of those who take measure of every thing by their petulant humours and have no other way to set off their own barren inventions but by perpetual invectives against the multitude of Books which appear every day in the world whereas indeed the mischiefs which they complain of have proceeded not from their number but quality For should every man write an exact Narrative of the various experiences and circumstances of his Life comprehending as well his Vices as Vertues and them with simplicity related how useful would this prove to the Publick though it would much encrease the number But this so impartial an account may rather be wished for than expected since men have ever preferred their own private Reputation before the real good of themselves and others The Book here offered to perusal though it be none of those before-named in particular yet is it a true Representation of Man in General and having found no less Profit than Pleasure in the Reading of it my self I could not be detained by a thousand imperfections which I am sensible it labours under as well in words as matter from offering it to those who are willing to make the improvement which might be made by a Prospect of Humane Misery THE CONTENTS OF THE FIRST BOOK CHAP. I. OF the strange Humour of Timon and many others in their Resentments of Humane Misery Page 1 CHAP. II. That Man in respect of many natural advantages is inferior to the Beasts and Inanimate Creatures 10 CHAP. III. The Beasts and Irrational Creatures advantages over us further considered in respect of those many Diseases wherewith Man is Afflicted partly by Nature and partly by his own Intemperance 13 CHAP. IV. The advantages of Beasts and other Animals over us in respect of natural instinct whereby they have recourse to proper Remedies for their particular infirmities and distempers 19 CHAP. V. That Man hath been instructed in several useful Arts and Inventions as also in sundry points of Morality and Philosophy by Birds Beasts and Fishes 22 CHAP. VI. That Man is more miserable than other Animals by reason of his repugnancy to the Laws of his Creator in obedience to which liveth all other Creaturs 37 THE CONTENTS OF THE SECOND BOOK CHAP. I. OF Man's Misery in his Conception in the Womb. 41 CHAP. II. Of Man's miserable Birth and entrance into the World 45 CHAP. III. Man's misery considered in the Nurture of his Infancy 48 CHAP. IV. Man's misery further considered in the course and Education of his Youth 58 CHAP. V. Of the misery attending the State of Manhood 63 CHAP. VI. Man's misery more particularly considered and first of the miserable life of Mariners 65 CHAP. VII Of the misery attending the life of Husbandmen 67 CHAP. VIII The miserable life of Merchants considered 69 CHAP. IX Of the miserable life of the Soldier 73 CHAP. X. The miseries of Courtiers considered 79 CHAP. XI Of the miseries attending the life of Kings and Emperours 84 CHAP. XII The miseries incident to Popes and Prelates 92 CHAP. XIII Of the miseries which attend them who Administer in Publick Affairs 95 CHAP. XIV Of the miseries of Marriage 100 THE CONTENTS OF THE THIRD BOOK CHAP. I. OF the misery arising to Man from the Diversity of Religions 109 CHAP. II. Of divers Plagues wherewith men have been afflicted 113 CHAP. III. Of the miseries which Mankind have suffered by Famine and many other Plagues 119 CHAP. IV. Of divers other Distempers and Phrensies wherewith men have been affected 129 CHAP. V. Of Poysons 132 CHAP. VI. Of the great Calamities which Men have suffered by the overflowing of Water 135 CHAP. VII Of Fire and the mischiefs which Men have receiv'd by it 137 CHAP. VIII Of Earth-quakes 139 CHAP. IX Of Avarice 146 CHAP. X. Of Envy 151 CHAP. XI Of Love 155 CHAP. XII Of the misery of Old Age. 165 CHAP. XIII Of Death 167 CHAP XIV Of the Final Judgment 171 Licensed and Entred according to Order Heraclitus Christianus OR THE MAN OF SORROW THE FIRST BOOK CHAP. I. Of the strange Humor of Timon and many others in their Resentments of Human Misery MANY of the Ancient Philosophers upon exact consideration and curious inquisition into the Nature and Manner of Living of all Creatures whatsoever have joyntly cry'd out That amongst all those which breathe upon the face of the Earth there 's none more Miserable than Man Others more rigorous censurers of the works of Nature have began to Blaspheme against her calling her a Step-dame rather than a tender and indulgent Mother Some there have been that have deplored all their life-time the Calamities whereunto we are subject And such a one was Heraclitus who perswaded himself that whatsoever we could contemplate under the Cope of Heaven was nothing else but a real Theatre of Sorrow and Misery and worthy of nothing but continued Lamentation and Pity Others there have been who have testified their passion by an excessive Laughing And such a one was Democritus who should he come again upon the Earth and should behold the disorders and confusions wherein lieth our Christian World he would have just cause to heighten and redouble his Laughter There has been another kind also of Philosophers but of a humor more strange than the former who were not contented to murmur against Nature and her effects but by a particular hatred and animosity have set themselves against Man their fellow Creature imagining that Nature had set him as a mark against which she would let fly all her Arrows of rage and fury Amongst which was Timon the Athenian Philosopher who hath been the most affectionate Patriarch of his Sect and who declared himself an open and Capital Enemy of all Men and witnessed the same in the presence of every one and in all places wherever he came and indeed effectually confirmed it for he would not be conversant with any man but dwelt all his life time with brute Beasts in a Desart neither did it suffice him to have men in hatred and detestation and to avoid their company but as if they were some wild and furious Beasts he sought all means that might
Sin of whom was punished by his Children who were so irregular that one of them violated his own natural Sister Tamar and conspired the death of his own Father and drove him out of his Kingdom For the Rule of the ancient Philosophers has always proved true that man committeth many faults in this world the punishment of which God reserveth in the other but this sin of not well Educating our Children he usually punisheth in this for the Father in begetting his Sons gives them nothing but mortality and weakness but by good Education Fame and everlasting Renown We will conclude then that if the Children have been in great peril and misery oftentimes by the corrupt milk of their Nurses yet nevertheless the danger is double in respect of them who ought to instruct them for as much as that the nutriment of the body is of far less consequence than that of the mind But seeing that we have not as yet mentioned Plato who hath Divinely Philosophiz'd on Human Calamities and so lively represented the miseries of this life that many of his Disciples reading his Books have cast themselves down headlong from the tops of Rocks and Mountains into Rivers that so cutting the thread of their Calamitous life they might have the enjoyments of the next This great Philosopher Plato in a Dialogue that he hath made concerning Death and contempt of this life introduceth Socrates who deduceth by an admirable Eloquence the miseries and frailties of Human condition as followeth Knowest thou not saith He that Human life is nothing but a peregrination which the wise perform and pass in joy singing with gladness when that by necessity they approach unto the end of it Dost thou not well know that man consisteth of spirit which is enclosed in his body as in a Tabernacle which Nature has bestowed upon him not without great vexation and though she does bequeath some small benefits to us yet are they nevertheless hid and of a short durance and consumed in sorrow and trouble by reason of which the soul resenting the dolour cometh to desire the Coelestial Habitation and wisheth for the Fruition of heavenly pleasures Consider that the going out of this world is no other thing than a mutation and exchange of evil for good and what evil saith He and misery doth not man endure from his birth to his Sepulchre What kind of sorrow is there that he hath not experienced be it of heat of cold of torments in his body as also of his mind What other messenger or more certain forerunner can he have of his misery than his tears sighings and groanings But after he hath born so many evils and come to the 7th year of his age he must have Guardians and Tutors for his instruction in Learning moreover growing and coming into his youth he had need of Correctors who with rigor must observe his actions to tame and accustom him to labour CHAP. V. Of the Misery attending the state of Manhood HIS youth being past over hair begins to cover his chin and then he grows man and then is the time that he entreth into greater anxiety and vexation of spirit he must then frequent publick places keep up a conversation in company if he be of a Noble and Illustrious Extraction he is forced to undertake a thousand warlike stratagems and enterprises and expose himself to an infinite of perils and hazard his life and spill his blood that he may dye in the bed of honour or else he shall be looked on as of a cowardly mean and dastardly spirit If he be of a low condition and ordinary Fortune and be called to the exercise of mechanick Arts that hindreth him not from enduring a thousand vexations infinite labour and travel as well of body as mind he must work night and day must sweat blood and water for to get that which is necessary for the maintenance and suppor of his life and what labour or diligence soever he useth he can scarcely procure himself that which is necessary It is not therefore without cause that Marc. Aurel. considering the miserable condition of Human life was accustomed to say I thought in my self whether there could be found any State any Age any Land any Kingdom in which there could be found a man who durst vaunt that he never tasted in his life what was adverse Fortune this would be such a monster that both the living and dead would have desire to see him and then he concludes in the end I have found my reckoning saith he that he that was yesterday rich is to day poor he that was yesterday whole is to day sick he that laugh'd yesterday to day I saw cry he that I saw yesterday in prosperity I saw to day in adversity he that I saw yesterday amongst the living I see him now amongst the dead CHAP. IV. Mans Misery more particularly considered and first of the miserable life of Mariners REturn we then to our Subject deducing things in particular and who is he among men who hath betaken himself to any State or Trade and way of living that has not at last complained and been weary of it And that this may more evidently appear consider we the principal states in particular Begin we then at them who swim on the water and who gain their livings on the Sea and in how many perils are they night and day What is their habitation but a nasty and stinking prison the same is their diet What are their garments but as it were a Sponge of water They are always as vagabonds and in continual exile without any rest agitated by the Winds Rain Hail Snow at the mercy of Pyrats and Rovers Rocks and Tempests in continual hazard of being intomb'd in the bellies of fishes Wherefore Byas that Sage Grecian Philosopher knew not whether he should reckon these sort of people amongst the Terrestrial creatures or Aquatils and doubted whether he ought to number them amongst the living or the dead And another called Anacharsis said That they were no farther distant from the dead than the breadth of two or three fingers as much as the timber contained in thickness upon which they swam CHAP. VII Of the Misery attending the life of Husbandmen AND if the manner of living of Mariners seemeth terrible to us what greater sweetness think we to find in Agriculture and Rustical labour which at first look seemeth sweet happy quiet simple and innocent and that which many Patriarchs and Prophets have chosen as that in which there was the least of fraud and cousenage and that for which many Roman Emperours have forsaken their Palaces Theatres and other Pompous and Resplendant Edifices that they may retire themselves into the fields and cultivate their Lands with their hands and enjoy that innocent pleasure which they imagined might be found in a Country life but to them who would consider every thing more exactly it will appear that these Roses are not without their thorns and