image so man as an associate to his glory should make in the generation another body like vnto his And though God hath kept to himselfe the creation of the soule of man as of a great Master peece which cannot be wrought but with his owne hand yet in that he hath also called man euen as to his helpe hauing granted him the institution discipline and polishing of it that hee might bragge in a manner to haue affoorded something to his owne perfection But you must neither say nor think that the authority he hath giuen vnto creatures doth lessen his in any thing he doth not rely vpon their care neither doth he rest vpon their vigilancie contrariwise the greater power he hath giuen them so much the greater need hath he to watch ouer them and the more labourers hee hath at worke so much more necessary it is he should haue not onely the Eye but also the Hand ouer them to amend what they doe amisse contrary to the perfect patterne hee hath proposed vnto them and to guide and direct them in their workes which cannot any wayes stand nor last without his helpe and assistance This will I then say that what great faculties soeuer wee obserue in second causes we ought not to thinke for all this that the first is idle and that the others doe any thing but by his direction and farre lesse beleeue that this order and continuance wee see in all things is the chiefest and vniuersall cause thereof seeing it is but the effect no more then in Musicke the melodie is not the cause but the effect of concords produced by the Musitian his skill and art who gathereth the sounds and ordereth them into good consonance Now as it is Prouidence which by this regularorder that is called Nature bringeth forth and maintaineth euery particular thing according to the generall Law that is appointed for euery one of the same kinde so it is she which besides this regular order called Nature giueth sometimes vnto worldly things qualities and intermingleth accidents which one while are different another while contrary to their nature and then doth bring about the meeting of things amongst them to make them bring foorth the effect she hath ordained so that knitting and gathering vp many different causes she draweth from the connexion and weauing thereof not the ende that is natural or propounded to euery one of them but an euent prescribed by her selfe Insomuch that as Nature is seene especially in the creation production and maintenance of euery thing in it selfe according to its kinde and condition and by an ordinary rule and euer alike Destinie contrariwise appeareth in euents which proceede from the meeting of these things already created which being ordered by a rule vnknown to men produce fore-ordaind effects which seeme incuitable and do not concerne nor accōmodate themselues so much to the nature of euery particular thing as vnto that of the Vniuerse Certainly it should seeme that this Law had not bin needfull in the world if euery thing had kept the first motiō God had giuen vnto it at its creation for hauing infused in euery one the most perfect forme and principle of working that could be desired it followed that if they had continued in that condition their owne Nature had of her selfe directed their actions to good effects one towards another and consequently to the good of all the world and glory of the Creator But either throgh the vice imbecillity of the matter or through the tēdernes of their forme which could not subsist without they should adhere perpetually vnto their Creator they haue beene disfigured and strayed from the way which Nature had traced out vnto them For example Angels and men were created as the most perfect and absolute peeces of the world and God in the Creation had infused in them a liuely and pure light to direct their actions to make good vse of worldly things and consequently to bring foorth workes to his glory But as it falleth out vsually in great Buildings that a rich Wainescot or an artificiall winding Staire wrought with great skill will soonest decay because that the more excellent a peece of worke is so much the weaker it is so those most perfect creatures haue first of all declined from the right way peruerted and violated the end of their Creation Which disorder did not remaine onely in them but for the great power wherewithall they were created they haue caused it to slip into the things they had abused And moreouer it seemes that by their fault other things that were created for them were presently changed either by a secret consent or by a secret iudgement to serue for their punishment Therefore it hath beene needful that this All-seeing-eye which pierceth through ages as the Sunne through the Aire hauing from the beginning foreseene this confusion should euen from that time appoint a remedy to stay the presumptiō both of mē and Angels and let them least they should stretch their ill actions as farre as their ill wills The remedie hath beene this inuiolable Law by the which he hath prouided for all euents and hath ordained that things should happen as we see them fall out not altogether after the ordinary power of causes but as it pleaseth God to make them worke sometimes increasing sometimes lessening their strength and now and then causeth them to worke against their nature and bringeth backe to his will what men thinke to doe at theirs But some one will say that this Law seemes to be contrary to the first God being immutable in his essence should be so likewise in his determinations Ought wee to thinke that hee who knoweth all things from all Eternitie taketh new resolutions The alteration that is in this is not in God but in his workes which being separated from him who is vnchangeable alone could not be like vnto him but subiect to decay and waste away by the defect of the matter whereof they are made And the remedy God hath brought vnto the euill is not a new aduice though it bee put in vse since the corruption of Nature neuerthelesse it was resolued vpon euen before her creation For as a worke man that sets a Clocke to goe foure and twentie houres before he taketh vp the weights and setteth it on going can fore-see that either rust wil stay its course or that some idle fellow will stirre the needle touch the wheeles or remoue the ballance euen then prouides whatsoeuer is necessary to set it in order again restore it to the first point so God that hath foreseene euen before the Creation of the world what would fall out in the gouernment and maintenance thereof did in the same instant appoint remedies for it which though they come not to our sight but after a long time and succession of ages yet they were prepared from all eternitie For as the Poet must haue his Play in a readinesse afore any body comes
our best to reconcile you but we must tell you freely we haue come farre therefore giue vs leaue to sit Then Linus began to tell that he heard a pittifull Historie of a poore woman which for want of Bread to giue her Children hanged her selfe on a Beame in the toppe of the house And I quoth Orpheus did see euen now a poore maid that fell downe starke dead for lacke of foode and a little after I met some poore folkes feeding vpon a dead Dogge all besmeared with bloud that they had broyled and as I auoyded this grieuous Spectacle I met with certaine Women that cryed out and said That the Lanskenets had eaten vp Children hard by a place that is called the Temple which I cannot beleeue Hearing this wee all burst out into sighes whereupon I replyed my cause is gayned since none here could forbeare but needes must vpon recitall of this pittifull Historie expresse how sensible they are of the publike miserie I leaue it then to your consideration to imagine how wee ought to quake and tremble when wee bethinke our selues how many seuerall sorts of Miseries are spred ouer this vaste and populous Citie Alas how many secret Wounds is there that are hidden and couered by shame then how great and fearefull are the Calamities wee fore-see expect and cannot almost auoyd You vpbraid me with my teares Musaeus but you may with better reason obiect vnto me the hardnesse of my heart which is the onely impediment that so sharpe and stinging griefe doth not at one instant end both my life and sorrowes Then turning towards Orpheus and Linus I gaue them to vnderstand what discourses passed betweene Musaeus and my selfe and vpon what points wee differred Which when they heard Our good Fortune quoth Orpheus hath brought vs hither in a very luckie time to heare so learned Disputations but Musaeus since you haue done vs the honour to giue credit to vs giue vs also leaue to make vse of the authoritie you haue granted vs and in stead of discoursing and demonstrating your Propositions apply them and make triall of their vertue vpon vs whereof you boast against this irkesome disease of the minde which is the griefe that we all receiue from the publique miserie you haue a faire and large subiect for I verily beleeue there is not one of vs whose minde is free from this disease I assure my selfe that if Antiquitie hath inuented any medicine for the curing of a troubled minde you are the likest to haue got the best and profitablest receipts But I feare it falleth out here as it doth in your Mathematicall demonstrations wherein you prooue by a thousand faire Propositions what no Artificer can make vse of eyther vpon Wood or Stone Proceede then and make your accompt if you can asswage our minde and free vs from this griefe wherewith we are vexed then your suit is granted for deedes are stronger proofes then words besides if you beguile vs you shall doe vs but a curtesie to rid vs of so great an Euill so I am sure our Land-Lord will be glad to be ouercome for he shall gaine by the losse I will doe my best endeauour to content you quoth Musaeus but let me intreate you to remember that we labour in a common peece of worke therefore if I chance in rehearsall of this matter to forget materiall reasons that you call to minde and supply my wants since that our strife is onely to try Truth out and to the end Reason may ouercome you ought the more to fauour her side in respect the reward of victorie is equall to vs all The chiefest thing to be obserued in the curing of a disease is rightly to know the cause of it wherefore if wee be desirous to free our soule from sorrow and restore it to a quiet estate it is needefull in my opinion to examine from whence proceeds the maladie which torments it The nature of man hath not onely a great proportion and correspondencie with the whole World but also with euerie part and especially me thinkes when it resembles the Royall State they are both almost of like conditions and subiect to like casualties The Soueraigne Prince that is to rule a multitude of men Townes and Prouinces appointeth subordinate Magistrates And to direct and instruct them in the execution of their charge giues them his Lawes to rule their Actions by and besides aduiseth them to referre doubtfull and important matters to him attend his censure Certainly as long as this Order is obserued Subiects obey the Magistrates and Magistrates the Law and Soueraigne Prince the State remaineth in Peace flourisheth and wonderfully prospereth But contrarie when those which iudge and rule vnder the Soueraigne suffer themselues to be ouer-reached by their owne softnesse or bribed by fauour in deciding controuersies and that without respect vnto their Soueraigne they make only vse of their authoritie for the execution of their rash Decrees whereby they bring all things to ruine and confusion In man the highest and most soueraigne facultie of the Soule is Vnderstanding being inthroned in the highest place to guide and conduct all his liues Actions hath appointed and ordained an vnder-facultie that we call Imaginatiue to dispose and iudge by the representation of the Sences the qualitie and condition of things offered with authoritie to rouse and stirre our affections for execution of its iudgement And least that Facultie as it is great and important might doe any thing rashly it hath proposed vnto it as a Law the light of Nature which shineth in all obiects and moreouer hath giuen it meanes in all doubtfull and weightie matters to haue recourse to the discourse reason and counsell of it that commandeth ouer all There is no doubt as long as this Order is kept in the managing of mans life but he is in an exceeding happy estate and that this great and generous creature sheweth himselfe worthy to be the master-peece of that Soueraigne Architect that created him But I know not what ill lucke is the cause man doth not enioy this happinesse for this Facultie that is beneath Vnderstanding aboue the Sences to whom belongeth the censure of things suffereth it selfe for the most part to be corrupted and mis-led and so conceiueth rashly and after it hath so conceiued stirreth and mooueth our affections at randon and leaueth vs full of trouble and vnquietnesse The Sences true Sentinels of the Soule set abroad to view all Obiects are like soft waxe on which is printed not the true and internall Nature but onely the superficiall and externall forme of things they present their Idea's vnto the Soule with fauour and euen with a fore-iudgement of their qualitie according as they appeare seuerally pleasing and gracefull to them and not as they are profitable and necessarie to the vniuersall well-fare of man and moreouer let in with the Idea's the fond opinion of the Vulgar from whence is framed that inconsiderate Opinion we haue of things
in publike and priuate calamities to perswade himselfe that whatsoeuer befalleth him is ordained by that eternall power distributed by that infinite wisedome which gouerneth the world with the same goodnesse and Iustice wherewithall hee created it When this opinion is once rooted in the heart of man I doe not see what windes can shake his constancie For as much as wee ought to beleeue there commeth nothing from that kinde and gracious hand but what is intended for our good Now although this Prouidence which wee may define to bee the perpetuall care God hath in the gouernement of all that Hee hath created doth shine continually in all the parts of the world and appeareth in wonderfull effects neuerthelesse most men turne their eyes and looke awrie vpon it striuing to deceiue themselues to the end they may not bee beholden vnto that wise mistresse who ruleth the birth and conserueth whatsoeuer is seene in this Vniuerse There hath bin truelie verie few that durst bee so impious as flatly to denie it but if there hath bin any I will forget their names and being so vnworthy I will suppose they neuer were There are a number indeed whose opinions I haue heard but alwaies reiected which acknowledging diuine wisedome and power in the first creation of the world haue taken the gouernement thereof from it after it hath bin created some attributing it vnto that order which they call Nature some to a fatall necessitie some others vnto Chance and Fortune wherein they seeme rather to haue changed the name then the power of diuine prouidence for in expounding their opinion they plainely declare that in all worldly accidents they acknowledge some Entitie that is great and diuine the nature whereof is incomprehensible and neuerthelesse by I know not what carelesse presumption they would haue that little which they vnderstand of it to passe currant for sound doctrine and a part for the whole choosing rather to mistake Prouidence then acknowledge their ignorance It falleth out with them as it might doe with three seuerall persons which comming three seuerall wayes should see a farre off a great pyramide of Marble such a one as you might imagine that of the kings of Egypt carued on three sides with many Characters and hieroglyphicall letters euery one marking at first that face which is on his side and comming no nearer iudgeth there is no more but that and goeth backe with an opinion he hath seen all so all of them report sundry tales of one and the selfe same thing each of them maintaining it to bee as he had seen it on his side But had they approched nearer and walked round about it then euery one of them should haue seene all the three faces and haue knowne that all three make but one body would haue beene well enformed of the thing and would agree all together in it When these men are come to contemplate that Soueraigne power which conducteth and gouerneth this Vniuerse and that they haue considered it in its effects euery one of them hath had enough to behold it a farre off and apprehend as much as the first sight affoorded him He that obserued an order and continuall course of regular causes which are brought forth one of another hath called it Nature and hath beleeued this Nature did all He that had seene many things come to passe which had beene fore-seene and fore-told and neuerthelesse could not be auoyded hath called the power that produced them Destinie and fatall necessitie and deemed all to depend from thence The other that had seene an infinite number of casualties whereof they could giue him no reason and which seemed to happen without cause hath named the power from whence such euents did proceede Fortune and hath esteemed all things to be managed on this fashion But if euery one of them had taken the paines to approch neerer vnto truth and report publikely what he had seene in priuate perhaps they might haue knowne truly what was the figure of that first and soueraigne power from whence are deriued all the things and all the accidents of the world and vnderstand that in this Nature in this Destinie in this Fortune gathered all together shineth through humane ignorance that wise and excellent diuine Prouidence known neuertheles more according to the proportion of our weake vnderstanding then according to her incomprehensible greatnesse and Maiestie For I doubt not but in the Creation of this Vniuerse God hath established a rule and a certaine Law whereby all things must be produced disposed of and maintained which if any one will call Nature I will not gainesay so that he makes not of it an Essence separated from God vnto the which hee should thinke hee had committed the gouernment of things created to set himselfe on rest Contrariwise this Nature can bee nothing else but the first Power and Vertue which from the beginning without any separation from him hath printed it felse in the matter and hath giuen vnto it that regular motion by the which things are maintained in their being and bring foorth their effects besides Which Power and Facultie is by him from day to day and houre to houre and moment to moment inspired in the world which as it preserueth it so it doth create it anew againe and repaire it still and euery day makes it vp as it was made in the beginning In such sort that it seemeth God hath built it onely as a shop for him to worke in perpetually and keepe still in action his infinite goodnes which cannot endure but it must communicate it selfe vnto men True it is that like a great Architect he hath many workefolks vnder him which he doth imploy about this great gouernment not so much for any need he hath thereof as for the ornament of this stately worke-house the gracing of its brightnes and magnificence to impart vnto his creatures one of his most high soueraigne faculties cause them to produce create in a manner something as well as he And therefore throgh an admirable wisdom he hath left some part of these low terrestriall things imperfect in some kind to serue vnto man as matter subiect to work vpon hath forthwith giuen him the art to adapt apply them He hath giuen him stones hath not giuen him buildings but the art to make them hee hath giuen him mines and hath not giuen him mony but the art to make it he hath giuen him corne and hath not giuen him bread but the art to make it he hath giuen him wooll and hath not giuen him cloth but the art to make it To be short it seemeth that after hee had created man vnto his likenesse he hath shared with him the honour of the Creation of things yea euen of the Creation of man himselfe his will and pleasure being he should co-operate with him in the generation of his posteritie and that as hee Soueraigne and chiefest Creator had made the soule in his
Townes is still at hand and almost present for from the stirring and motion of that consent springs warres and seditions which bring them to their end But though no diseases doe befall them that is to say violent mischances wherewithall most commonly they perish yet age must make an end of them by the Common Law of the World for they haue their Youth their virility their Olde age like men and though all the rest of their age hath been strong and sound yet Age must consume them Now if we haue fore-seene this why are we vexed at it If we haue not fore-seene it what doe we complaine of but of our imprudencie The condition of Nature is very hard and wretched if she must beare the blame wrong of all such things as are vnkowne to vs when they come to passe Is it her fault we know them not Hath she concealed it from vs Is there euer a nooke in the World where she hath not set it in writing It is wonderfull that we are more iust and righteous to euery one then to Nature which neuerthelesse is more gratious and fauourable to vs then all the rest If we had hyred a House and the Owner were in mind to pull it down because it were olde and must build it vp againe or that he would apply it to his owne vse we would go forth willingly and seeke for another without any more adoe Why it is the Common Law that suffereth him to make vse of his owne in this fashion Would you know who be those which doe grieue when they must remooue that complaine and vexe themselues They be the Children of such as haue Leases for many yeeres because they haue seene their Fathers enioy them still they neuer troubled themselues to looke into the Titles of their House they made account the Fee simple was theirs and sed themselues with that opinion They passed their youth and neuer learned any Trade neuer vsed to worke when as they are growen in yeeres the Lease is expired they must prouide themselues else-where This vnexpected blow astonisheth them they weepe they lament in stead of giuing the Owner thankes for suffering them to enioy it so long at so good a rate they rayle on him But we are yet farre vnwiser and more vniust towards Nature then they are towards their Land-Lords For they perchance haue a chargeable Lease on it they haue perhaps payed a great In-come we are here but Tenants at Will what we haue we hold it by intreatie and onely for a while They haue forborne to giue them warning vntill such a time the Lease was expired but Nature doth declare to vs euery day the Conditions we liue here vpon I pray you tell me when we come into the World doe we enter it or are we brought into it Doe wee come into it to command or to serue to giue the Law or to receiue it I thinke you will answer me in a word that we come into it to obey and follow what we finde alreadie established We must accommodate our selues to Seasons Dayes and Nights to the temperature of countreys briefly vnto all that happeneth in the gouernment of the world Now this Law is milde kinde gracious all that is in it if we consider it wel is meant for our good and fauour And neuerthelesse if there were any hard thing in it the onely way to mitigate necessary seruitude were to obey voluntary Ought not wee to thinke that when we come into the world we do bargaine with Nature and binde our selues to obserue the lawes she hath giuen and published so many ages since in Citties Common-wealths Kingdomes As she is wise prouident and desirous to preserue the beautie of her worke she hath giuen to euery thing as long a continuance as she can but the vice and imperfection of the matter whereof things are created hath beene the cause that of earthly things there can be none immortall and euen of those that are mortall many last not so long as their nature requireth the vice of the matter preuenting the grace of Nature The remedy she hath prouided for this inconuenience is a lasting by succession shee hath giuen vnto things so that loosing one forme they receiue another nothing at all being lost but onely altered shee keepeth the earth in her hands like soft Clay which shee kneadeth and mouldeth ouer againe in sundry fashions giuing it a new face couering the old figure with a fresh one and by those meanes doth imitate in this world immortalitie which she could not altogether affoord it From thence it is that Townes Kingdomes and Empires change in this manner grow out of one anothers ruines The Play is altered still and nothing remaineth sure and firme but the Stage What is there more iust seeing that she is a common Mother to all men then for her to desire to grace all parts of the Earth with a turne of greatnesse magnificence which she hath caused to passe from place to place This turne at last is come to vs and we haue seene in our dayes our Countrey so plentifully stored with Riches Glory Wealth Pleasure that we could wish for no more We are now vpon our returne our good Fortune is fled from vs as out of a house crackt and crazed on all sides we haue stayd behinde looking for its fall some cry out some gaze vpon it some runne away What is there so much to wonder at An old man dyeth an old house falleth what should you cry out for What is there in it but what you see euery day and euery where Fruit doth blossome knot increase ripen rot Hearbes spring vp spread forth wither away Trees grow stand a while and afterwards are dryed vp All liuing Creatures are brought forth liue and at last dye Time it-selfe that wrappeth all the World is in the end wrapped in its owne ruine As it slippeth away so it is consumed it rowleth softly seasons one vpon another and all those that are past are lost Of all those changeable things what would you make constant Of all those mortall things what would you make immortall Will you make me wonder Let me see something permanent in this World But I doe you wrong to entertaine you with such grosse reasons you I say whose laborious studie is as the mirrour of Nature and which may represent to your selues in an instant and draw from the treasure of your memory the face of the world as it hath bin euer since its creation Run I pray you ouer it again and consider what is become of those great and admirable Citties builded vp with so many yeares labour beautified with so many toyles enriched with so many troubles Each of them hath had many ages that haue not beene otherwise imployed but to dispoile the rest of the world to furnish and bedecke them Asia sheweth you Troy the great prowd Babylon stately Ierusalem Africke setteth forth Thebes with a hundred gates mighty Carthage
vpon the Stage and that as soone as the Prologue begins he that is to play the last Act must know well his Quew euen so fareth it with all the things that are come to passe and that shall happen hereafter during so many yeeres in this world whereof the last that must finish the age of the world was knowne and ordained by the Creator afore the first began to be It is that as I thinke Diarchas in Philostratus would intimate when hee sayd God had begot the world all at once as the Beasts do their yong ones notwithstāding that he hath brought it forth by little and little as they doe causing one part to come out first and the other after It is not Time that is the father and authour of things hee is but their Steward and as Tatian shewed vnto the Greekes the Dispencer that bringeth them vpon the Stage Yea but some will say If things were ordained from all eternitie and that this decree cannot be violated what will become of the libertie of our Will must it not be a Bond-slaue vnto this Law and bee such or such good or bad according as it hath appointed No for this Destinie that hath fore-ordained all things hath decreed that our Will shall bee free so that if there bee any necessitie in our will it is this that it is necessarily free And as for that our Wills haue beene foreseen such as they shall bee they haue beene foreseene because they shall be so and are not so because they haue beene foreseene But another will say What auaileth our will seeing that of such things as wee would haue to be done there comes nothing to passe but what God hath ordained and there is almost nothing in our power We cannot almost desire any thing how easie soeuer it bee if it were but in a manner to carry our hand to our mouth that may not be hindered by an infinit number of chances it is that which the Prouerb saith There falleth out many things betweene the Belly and the Lips Though we can do many things that we will and will many things that we can do yet we cannot say that any euent how little soeuer it be depends wholly vpon vs. Notwithstanding out Will remaineth free because it is not the action but the motion vnto action and serueth vs neuerthelesse because that althogh it be not the onely cause yet it co-operates with the rest which are gathered and bound by Destinie into the same knot to bring forth one onely effect When it aimeth at the end which it ought it is backed by Destinie and fauoured by the meeting of other causes and so doing it is conducted vnto its owne purpose or at least to another ende that Prouidence iudgeth to bee good for it When contrariwise it is bent to an ill end it is by the concurrence of other causes and force of Destinie carryed away to a cleane contrarie end from its owne but still for one purpose from the which in spight of it God draweth his glory the good of the Vniuerse For although Destinie most commonly changeth nothing in the nature of causes and suffereth those that are voluntary to worke voluntarily and those that are necessary necessarily and those that are naturall naturally neuerthelesse from the mingling and gathering of them altogether in the point forme wherein he causeth them to meete he bringeth foorth such effects as he listeth drawing oftentimes from the selfe same causes cleane contrary effects as by the transposition of the selfe same letters wee compose words altogether different He is so cunning a worker that he can apply any thing to doe his pleasure yea many times when as wee thinke to withstand his counsels suffring vs to haue our will he carrieth vs where he pleaseth iust like vnto that great Circle in heauen that inuelopeth all the others though he letteth not their naturall course from West to East neuerthelesse he draggeth them all euery day along with him from East to West Whether we run or goe hasten or stay goe right or wrong we come still to our lodging with Destinie we cannot auoyd it we fall vpon it in recoyling from it we finde it when as we flie from it we run vpon it thinking to ouer run it This Destinie comes from too wise a power and too powerfull a wisedome to bee resisted either by force or craft Now such and how great soeuer it be it is but euen as Nature one of the effects of that wise Prouidence which filleth gouerneth all things that is spred ouer all the parts of the world being euen as its soule She ruleth all the parts of it with wife and infallible counsels most certain reasons which often we do not apprehend but very late and sometimes not at al either for that her wisdome is so deep inscrutable that we cannot penetrate into it or that our negligence and stupidity is so great we doe not vouchsafe to open our eyes to consider it from whence it coms that men attribute vnto Fortune the accidents whose causes they comprehend not And frō thence it is come that some being grown so brutish as they obserued no causes of the effects which they saw they deemed all did happen by chance So out of their ignorance and brutalitie they haue made themselues a Goddesse which they call Fortune and paint her out blind-fold turning with a wheele worldly affaires casting al at randome and throwing her presents and fauours by chaunce as they do new money at the first entrance of Kings into a towne according as they stand neere so euery one takes vp what falls vpon him But I could wish that those which would make the world to be gouerned so many ages by this rash and blind foole would but suffer her to gouerne their houses for one yeare they should see fine oeconomie Sillie people they perceiue well enough that a small familie cannot subsist a yeare without great prudence and they would haue this great Vniuerse composed of many different parts to subsist so many thousand yeares vnder the conduct of Chance They would not haue giuen a flocke of sheepe vnto a Shepheard that were ill sighted and they would commit vnto a blinde Temeritie the gouernment of so many legions both of Angels and men O ingratefull kinde of people why do you set vp Altars to your gods if your sacrilegious opinions worship nothing but Fortune Why doe you offer sacrifices after your victories to giue thankes vnto her that saw you not when she saued you and seeth you not when you giue her thankes you thinke perhaps that this Hobgoblin hath better eares then eyes That which filled men with this errour and compelled them to snatch the Rule and the Compasse from the hands of Prouidence to make all things to rush at randome one against another and happen by hazard it hath beene in my opinion for that they would accommodate the greatnesse and power of God
the humilitie of our prayers bend vnto Mercie the rigour of his Iustice and obtaine of him that he will bee more mercifull vnto vs then wee are our selues and that seeing we haue found our owne mischief in what we desired most he will be pleased by his grace to let vs finde our good in that which wee haue most feared Neuerthelesse if his wrath doth continue against vs what Fortune soeuer falles vpon vs wee must beare it patiently and with great reuerence as proceeding from that great and iust Prouidence whose ballance is neuer stirred but by the weight of Reason vnto which therefore wee must submit our will I apprehend well enough what offendeth you in this discourse it is the same thorne which galled me in times past vpon this verie same way You cannot comprehend why good men in such accidents should suffer together with the wicked the innocent with the guiltie If there be Prouidence she is iust if she be iust she ought to reward the good and punish the wicked and not wrap them altogether in the selfe-same affliction But to cleere this doubt of yours I would aske you in what part of the earth haue haue found this innocencie you bemoane so much by what tokens you can know it Our faults and sinnes are committed by our members and visible parts of our bodie but they are bred inwardly within our soule that is the wombe wherein they are conceiued which they pollute no lesse for being not brought forth then if they had really come to light for yet an ill action which we doo is vsually followed with griefe and repentance that doth somwhat purge it but as for ill intentions which we foster in our mind as burning coales vnder ashes we thinke because they are not known they are not ill do not abstain from them If the seate of sinne be in our soule and that we cannot penetrate into it how should wee haue notice of another mans innocencie seeing wee know how often we haue offended God our selues without others could be able to perceiue it But that goeth beyond our reach let vs suffer him to take notice of it that is the onely Iudge of the heart and voluptuousnesse of men and if wee may presume any thing in this let vs follow that coniecture which is most reasonable let vs presume for his iudgement and beleeue that he is iust As truly it is very hard in so corrupted an age that his thunder should fall out on any place where there were not some guiltie Fishes haue that propertie indeede that they are bred and nourished in the Sea without any taste of the saltnesse of it but that men may be nourished and brought vp in the filth and infection of the earth and neuer bee defiled with it if it be not impossible it is verie difficult and hard But I grant you may finde amongst vs a good number of godly and innocent people that are most of all afflicted by the publike calamitie I will maintaine notwithstanding that they haue no cause to complaine rather they are bound to giue thankes to God for it as for a great fauour and reckon those accidents amongst the greatest benefites they receiue from him This medicine seemeth bitter vnto you seeing the manner how you taste it but take it downe and you will feele it sweete and wholesome and will more settle your mind then any remedy you can vse yea I say that that which we call miseries and calamities are gifts of God most precious and profitable To perswade you thereto it might suffice I haue shewed you that they happen for a good cause and proceede from a hand that is perfectly good from whence as from a quicke spring are deriued al the veines of our goods But if they haue a good cause they haue yet a better end and that will I proue easily Neuerthelesse afore I take it in hand I wil answer some obiections that as I reade in your face you haue a minde to alledge against me concerning the meanes that are vsed to attaine vnto this end You will say Are not warres murthers sackings rauishings other plagues wherewith we are afflicted bad things of themselues those that commit them haue they not an intent to hurt vs doe not they desire our harme doe they not endeauour themselues to vndoe vs Can you call our miseries euils but you must accuse the vices of those that are the instruments thereof and defile their hands with so many sacriledges and wicked deeds To cleere this doubt I desire you to make a distinction betweene the afflictions that happen to vs. Some proceede but from natural causes as Famine Dearth Earthquakes Plagues Floods Mortalities and such like in others the Will of man doth co-operate as Tyrannies Warres Murthers Sackings Those questionlesse haue no other intent but our good for they haue no other end then his that ordaineth them these vndoubtedly haue an ill intent for they are managed by the will of the wicked but it is an euill which God turneth to good For though priuate men which God doth vse in such actions are bent to an ill end neuerthelesse the last end where he causeth them to meete together is our good and welfare Euen as the Archer shooteth the Arrow at a marke which the Arrow seeth not so doth hee conduct them to an effect that they neither desire nor vnderstand Which wee ought not to thinke strange in the actions of this All-wise Prouidence seeing that euen in humane affaires to attaine vnto a thing we vse often-times that which is intended for another either different or contrary Behold an Armie of Souldiours going furiously to a Battell some are incited to it by quarrels others induced by a desire of glory others moued by spleen others by hope of bootie but they do all conforme themselues in the end to the intent of the Generall that is the victorie Good and bad are in this world entertained vnder Gods pay and fight for his glory some are chosen instructed others are as bondmen slaues Why wil you say should he vse the wicked he that is still All-good All-mightie hath he no other meanes to worke his will He hath not made the wicked such they are become so of thēselues but seeing they are so he must make vse of thē in somthing A great worke-man ought not to haue any thing vnprofitable in his shop Art can draw from the worst things that are very good wholsome effects I will tell you more that there are many things very beneficiall which could not subsist if there were not some ill thing in thē That famous medicament called Treacle an inuentiō truly diuine against poyson hath for its chiefest ingredient the viper that is one of the most venemous of all serpents Would you argue with God for that in the afflictions he sendeth to vs as a medicament as needfull as wholesome for the purgation of our soules hee mingleth a little of
that they are good or bad profitable or hurtfull to be imitated or to be shunned which certainly is a dangerous guide and rash mistresse to follow and iustly such as our Belleau hath set it forth Opinion that is constant neuer That workes in vaine and striueth euer That builds her selfe a firme assurance Vpon the sands of light inconstance But whosoeuer will carefully obserue her effects shall find her farre worse then he describeth her for she is no sooner bred vp but she without respect or vnderstanding seizeth vpon our Imagination and there as if she were within a Citadell standeth out in defiance against true Reason And like a Tyrant that violently hath seized on a Towne by force setteth vp Wheeles and Gibbets for those that will not readily obey and offereth reward to those who will follow his partie Euen so when she intends to make vs flye from any thing she setteth it forth vnto vs with a horride and dreadfull visage but when she would delight vs she painteth it ouer and giueth it a smyling countenance whereby she slydeth downe into our hearts and stirreth our affections with violent motions of hope and feare sorrow and pleasure and because she would be sure for to disquiet vs she rouzeth vp our passions which are the true disturbers of our Soule But amongst all the other and aboue all the rest this sorrow wherewith I see you possessed which is nothing but a decay of Spirit and drooping bred by the opinion we haue that we are afflicted with great misfortunes is a dangerous Enemie to our rest for it is incredible how much this rust and mouldinesse that is gathered in the Soule by such accidents is contrarie to Nature and doth blemish and disfigure her workemanship it marreth her Faculties dulleth and benummeth her Vertues when contrariwise she should rouze vp her selfe to withstand the mischiefes that threaten vs and letteth into our hearts a deeper cause of our griefe Now since she is hurtfull to vs me thinkes we should beware of her and to the end she may not deceiue vs discouer and diligently view her before she hath got footing in vs withstand her in the verie Frontiers And whereas she would insinuate her selfe vnder the name of Nature let vs obserue that she is an Enemie to her who only maketh a shew as if she would ease our paine But let vs take notice how she encreaseth it as much as she can She seemeth to be deuout and religious let vs bring forth her deceit and impietie when as she would slip in by the fauour of Errour let vs driue her away by the authoritie of Reason and Truth First of all to shew that she cannot be sheltered vnder the name of Nature that she proceedeth not from her and is not a common Affection where with all men be tormented alike doe we not see those things that cause griefe and sorrow to some to breed mirth and delight in others That one Prouince weepeth for what another laugheth That such as come neere them that mourne and lament doe exhort them to be of a good resolution and leaue off their teares Heare the most part of them that are afflicted when you haue spoken with them and they haue taken time and leysure to examine their owne passions they will confesse it is a folly to be vexed and within three houres after will prayse them that haue manfully withstood Fortune in their aduersities and incountered their owne afflictions with a bold and generous courage So that in all this there is neither equalitie nor certaintie as there is in the workes of Nature and thereby it appeareth that men doe not frame their moane to their sorrow but to the opinion of those they liue withall Remember I pray you that publique mourning the Ancients did so much affect What doe you say of them that were hired to weepe and lament in Funerals The teares which came from others eyes that were shed onely to bee seene and were dryed vp as soone as they were not looked on were they naturall or artificiall What was the intent of those that were hired and likewise of those that hired them but onely to submit themselues vnto that tyrannicall opinion forged in those Countreys that in such accidents it behooued vs to weepe and as for them that had no sorrow of their owne were bound to buy it of their Neighbours for readie money Did not such people betray their owne Reason wittingly and purposely prostitute their manlinesse Shall we deeme they did euer learne such bad conditions in the Schoole of Nature But rather in the Schoole of Opinion that teacheth how to peruert Nature to please the Vulgar and which bringeth forth nothing but is counterfeit and painted For proofe of this will you behold with how much vanitie it breedeth feedeth and bringeth vp this sorrow wherewith we are so much tormented I pray obserue in your selfe and in all those that are afflicted whether those things shee setteth forth vnto vs as causes of our griefe doe not vex vs either more or sooner then they ought to doe The chiefest instrument she hath and wherewithall she most disturbeth vs consisteth in euils to come She hath power ouer vs onely by fraud and deceit She knoweth that the crosses we stood in feare of prooue not so heauie when they are come as we did imagine them and are asswaged by vse and custome Therefore she casteth her selfe vpon time to come as into a thicke darkenesse and taketh her opportunity euen as many chuse night to strike men with feare vpon small occasion she doth then represent calamities vnto vs as they doe Robin-good-fellowes vnto little Children They raise abate increase and lessen them at their pleasure because they talke vnto them of things they neuer saw She tormenteth vs with Euils that are not but in regard we deeme them or feare them to be so and which doe not so much offend vs by their nature as by our apprehension how many haue we seene make their calamities true Euils with ouermuch griefe which for feare to be wretched are become so and haue turned their vaine timorousnesse into a certaine miserie Some haue been so frighted with pouertie that they haue fallen sicke vpon 't Others through iealousie of their wiues haue been driuen into a consumption And the like may be said well-neere of all other feares wherein for the most part it serueth vs in no other stead but to make vs finde what we seeke to auoide Let vs feare no more we shall haue no hurt at least we shall not haue it till it comes and let it come when it will it will neuer be so bad as we thought it As for me I beleeue that of all Euils Feare is the most powerfull and troublesome for others are Euils no longer then they last and the paine ceaseth with the cause But Feare is of that which is of that which is not of that which perchance shall neuer be yea many times
of that which cannot be O tyrannicall Passion which to vex man goeth beyond Nature and by our discontents extracteth a griefe out of that which is not and to satisfie the opinion of a fained and imaginarie miserie draweth from vs sharpe and stinging torments Like vnto the Painter Parrhasius who the better to expresse the fabulous torments of Prometheus put his Bond-slaues to the Racke Why should we be so ambitious to our harme and in such hast meete with our euils Let vs take a little patience and suffer it to come neere happily the time which we think will bring vs afflictions will afforde vs comfort How many chances may there fall that may auert the blow we feare A Thunder bolt is turned away with the wind of a Hat and the fortunes of powerfull Kingdomes are altered in a moment a turne of a wheele setteth vp that which was downe and often from whence we expected ruine we receiue safetie There is nothing so easie to be beguiled as humane Prudence what she hopeth for miscarryeth and what she feareth comes to passe and that falleth out she lookes not for God keepeth his counsell by himselfe what man resolueth vpon one way he determineth another Let vs not make our selues vnhappy before the time and it may be we shall not be so at all Future time that deceiueth so many shall as soone deceiue vs in our feares as in our hopes It is one of the chiefest Maximes in Physicke That Predictions are neuer certaine in sharpe diseases If violent motions of heate bereaueth the Physitian of iudgement what wise man dare be so bold as to assure any thing of the successe of our Ciuill dissentions which are apparantly seene to be stirred vp and maintained by a more then human power It is a hard matter to warrant the safetie of our State but it is likewise vncertaine to fore-tell his ruine How many Cities States and Empires haue been shaken and tottered with intestine accidents and such that those which beheld them looked certainly for their fatall period and neuerthelesse haue the better setled themselues and become more puissant and flourishing then euer they were Gainst whom in entring Fortune in hate doth burne On those she often smiles in their returne It is his pleasure those that are cast downe should hope still and shall not we that are but as yet declyning The Romanes which I willingly challenge for witnesses in braue and generous Actions as the renownedst and most couragious people that euer were in the world had great cause to despaire of their affaires after the Gaules had sacked their Towne and with Fire and Sword rooted out the very Ground-plot of their State Notwithstanding they abated neither in their hopes nor affections they boare their Countrey But contrarie aduersity increased their courage and were so confident as to bid another Battaile wherein Fortune was so propitious to them that they drew many braue Triumphs from their owne ruine After the losse of so many Battailes against Hannibal and that they had wasted all the Youth of their City in so many incounters and disasters had they not cause to be sore troubled Contrariwise there were Citizens found which bad Money for the Field whereon Hannibal incamped being still in good hope of the publique well-fare And to passe to the Ciuill warres which are commonly the fatall deadly maladies of great States Who would not haue thought the Roman Common-wealth had been strucke dead at the very heart vnder Marius and Sylla And that the very City herselfe vnder Caesar and Pompey was carried into the Pharsalian Field there to be at the common charge and cost of all men torne and buried by all the Nations of the World And neuerthelesse she was neuer so puissant and tryumphant as after the time of Marius and Sylla And the warres of Caesar and Pompey were but the fits and gripings of bringing forth the greatest fairest and most flourishing Empire of the World But to returne from strange Nations to our selues Who could haue beleeued that our poore State laid leuell on the ground at the comming in of Charles the seuenth hauing almost neither pulse nor breath should haue raysed it selfe againe in so short a space and stretched its Armes ouer all the neighbouring Prouinces as it did soone after vnder his next Successors One may say of the fortunes of Townes and Kingdomes as they doe of mans diseases As long as there is life there is hope Hope remaineth in the body as long as the Soule But well let vs hope for nothing let vs hold our Euils for certaine although they be vncertaine let vs thinke them to bee present though they bee to come Doe you thinke if they did happen they were so irkesome and intollerable as wee imagine them They would come farre short Banishment Pouerty losse of Honours losse of Children wherewithall is composed that Hoast of Euils which so tormenteth vs their number is not so great as we thinke yet whosoeuer will examine them one after another shall find they are but rascall striplings set in battle array to affright vs if we be armed as we ought none of them dare make a shot our very lookes will defeate and scatter them Do you deeme it nothing will you say for a man to lose his countrey and so to be enforced to change his dwelling What do you make of that naturall loue wee owe vnto our country I do but the same which Plato did when he forsooke Athens to go and dwell in Sicill and Egypt I doe but the same as you had done your selfe if there had been an honourable occasion offered to you to go Ambassadour into some forraine countrey for ten or twelue yeeres you had not onely forsooke your cittie but if you will say true had it been needfull you would haue forsooke the land to choose a ship for the place of your aboade and tye your life to the tackling of a Barke Let reason perswade you to that which a little Honour would haue done the Commandement of your Prince that had charged you with it would haue made you like it well Let fate and necessitie vnto whom you owe more obedience doe the same How many men is there euen at this day that voluntarily haue banished thēselues out of Europe to make plantations in the extremest parts of Asia See them they prayse their Fortune as safe and sure and replenished with all manner of happinesse and pittie ours as altogether wretched full of pouertie and troubles It is heauen is the true and common countrey of man from whence they are come and whither they must returne and that is the reason why it is seene sheweth it self to euery one almost whole in all parts of the earth in one day night whereas contrariwise the earth that is but a small point in comparison of it and all which she incompasseth with her Seas and watereth with her Riuers is not the hundreth and sixtieth part of the