of some that have risen from the Dead put them many times into such agonies that they would be glad to be assured of their Annihilation after this Life When they venture to think seriously which they dare but seldom doe they have such an unacceptable remembrance of what they have been and so much assurance that if there be any happiness afterward they shall have no share in it that to comfort themselves they vote That there is nothing after this Life These suffrages signifie indeed their strong desires but are no Arguments of a true Opinion concerning the Future state but that uneasie Temper of Soul which makes them wish so proves what I assert That they are not happy at present It may be this is true replied Apronaeus and if it be I confess that those whom you call Wicked are very unhappy yet it seems still a kind of slur to that Government you speak of that if they deserve that Punishment they have it not sooner It is something which you say of the former sorts of Tormeut which you have mention'd but they are invisible and so little notice is taken of them by others but if they were hurried to Execution as soon as they sin it would strike a Terrour upon By-standers but since Vengeance is so long in coming they are incourag'd to sin by delay Good mens Hopes are weaken'd and they are ready to say If God neglect his servants why should they worship him Justice is blasphem'd and the Force of Law enervated If some happen to be struck sooner it is but as Thunderbolts fall by chance And who can imagine but they do for they often cleave a gallant Oak and sometimes tear an useful Sail or kill a harmless Traveller when those which sin boldly arrive at gray Haires without any considerable Misfortune and in appearance die peaceably Poor Apronaeus said the Prince smiling what slight devices art thou constrain'd to use to support a false plea Must there be no Providence unless those which sin be presently Condemn'd and immediately Executed Those which sin are alwayes Condemn'd and God is so merciful that he thinks it punishment enough that for a while they carry their heavy crosses to which you would have them presently nail'd He is 〈◊〉 Gracious that he doth usually respite their irreversible Doom in expectation of Amendment and so both saves sinners and teacheth those which look on to imitate his merciful Example Those which have deserved the blow fear that he will strike too soon and shall any be weary of the Divine Patience which comforts others because they love to see sinners fall I must also tell you Apronaeus that he is not so gentle as to neglect Justice God doth make Examples enough in every Age to let all the World see their danger and though some be spar'd that deserve present Punishment it is both a Glory to his Forgiveness that some of those which escape Repent and if he let many go in 〈◊〉 of their Emendation may he not as well and much better doe it then a General decimate his Regiments for a Mutiny of which they are all guilty God is not endamag'd by delay those which continue their Rebellion can never get out of his reach he is not willing to dispeople the Earth by sudden Executions But because men are apt by long Impunity to imagine that either they are not obnoxious or that none regards what they doe God many times is forc'd to confute their Imaginations by Great Plagues Pining Famine Cruel Wars to unburthen the Earth of its wicked Load and takes away such as had too long oppress'd Vertue and supported Wickedness with the most vile Examples by which means he shews both how unreasonable Sinners are whom no forbearance will reclaim and how just he is when he useth severity because those which suffer it sinn'd so long against one that was loath to punish and by his Punishments asserts his Providence By some words which you have deliver'd you seem to be willing to think Apronaeus that God doth not manage his Justice with Prudence because he doth not inflict all Mulcts upon the persons of sinners But must this piece of his Goodness also be made an Argument against his Providence and shall we think he doth punish by chance because he is mercifully Just Was it not esteem'd a Favour to the Persians when their Emperour commanded only their Turbans to be beaten Did the World use to grumble at the Charge of their Sacrifices when God requir'd only a Beast for a Man But I spare to urge this any further because those which are ready to sink must be permitted to catch at Reeds Here Apronaeus made such a pause as signified that he had no mind to proceed any further but Diaporon craving leave to continue the Discourse added I have so great satisfaction most Excellent Prince in your Answers to the Objections which Apronaeus hath made that I have nothing to renew a Reply yet other things which he hath not quoted disturb my belief in this Point For if God be Almightily Good and Rule this World by an unerring Prudence how came this Unlucky thing Sin which 〈◊〉 so much trouble into it You say it is Evil and assert that nothing but Good comes from God whence is it then What did some envious Anti-God put this flaw upon his Work There is no Question replied the Prince but Sin is Evil for nothing else doth properly deserve that name and it is as indubitable that the most good God is not the Author of it and yet to defend his Honour we need not run to that old Fable of Oromasdes and Arimanius whom the Ancients not knowing how otherwise to answer the Question concerning the Original of Evil set up as two Gods and made one the Author of Good and the other of Evil for this matter is determinable by ascribing Evil to its proper Cause which will clear the doubt and reflect no disparagement upon the all-All-Good God Men brought in Evil by the foolish abuse of that Free-will which God had given them It is the Glory of the Creatour that he could make such a Noble Automaton as Man who moves spontaneously and according to an innate Liberty of Election determines himself to his Actions He put this Liberty into the hands of an Intelligent Creature whom he both made able to know that which is Good and fitted his Nature to the Love of it He made it so much his Interest to be Obedient that he promis'd him great Rewards for doing small Duties unto the performance of which he gave him sufficient Assistance He told him wherein Evil consisted forewarn'd him of its mischievous Nature forbad him to introduce it and by a most rightful Authority threaten'd him severely if he transgress'd the Orders which he had receiv'd But Man by a perverse abuse of his Freedom chuseth that which is worse will not take pains to distinguish that which is truly Good from that which is
where I am too much concern'd for not only this dayes Intentions but the rest of my Misfortunes began in a Step-mother My own Mother having departed this World not many yeares after she had brought into it my self and a Sister my Father in a short space marryed a young Woman of competent Beauty and reported for Vertuous more then our Observation can make good by whom he had divers Children She being as most of them are very covetous endeavoured what she could to advance their Estate above ours and finding that taske something hard unlesse she could remove us out of the way she resolv'd to try what might be done as to that She soon dispatch'd my Sister partly with the abuses of evil Servants which were so far acceptable to her as they were offensive to my Sister and partly by framing malicious Representations of her to my Father by which means she was often reprov'd for no other cause but that my Mother-in-Law hop'd that it would help to break her heart When she was gone there was but one more to dispose of and that was my self Of this Design she made small show by any of her actions which lay open to common Censure her publick Carriage was as affectionate as the naturall love of Mothers useth to put on and something more that the overplus of Appearance might shade the defect of Reality and though she tryed by all means which she thought available to disaffect my Father towards me yet her more publick speeches seem'd wholly to be directed to procure and maintain a very good opinion of me in his mind But she had Servants tutor'd to make him believe that I was a scorner of his Choice and a hater of his Marriage and they made me the Author of Reports against her which he knew to be false that he might believe every thing to be true which was said against me To be short the disaffections which they had planted in him towards me by their incessant improving them with fresh arguments of their reasonablenesse grew to that height that I was disinherited which though it was most afflictive arising from such groundless causes and brought on by a most hatefull person yet upon consideration of my Fathers Innocence abus'd and the relation by which I was taught indispensable Obedience I made a shift to swallow it and having been for a good while accustom'd to such Diet I began more easily to digest it My Adversary enrag'd to see every envenom'd Dart cast in vain by the forementioned hands resolv'd to take another course fearing lest her Plot should be discovered since it was so long before she could put it in act and therefore as I now perceive to dispatch the businesse she had by poysonous insinuations endeavour'd to make this Innocent Gentleman thirsty for my guiltless blood They made a fine Tale indeed of my being his Rival in affections to a Lady with whom I never talk'd privately in my life and indeed by reason of the discouragements which I apprehended from being disinherited I abandon'd all thoughts of Love to her or any else Misokalon to procure this unhappy Meeting invited me to a private Hunting in this place and perceiving this Gentleman whom they had abus'd not come in whose courage it seems they trusted more then their own they pretended to go to a Gentlemans House to hasten his coming and to fetch away the Doggs desiring me to entertain my self in the Valley where from some Stand which they had they had no sooner espied me engag'd but they came in with dishonorable assistance not to help this Gentleman but to ruine me and satisfie my Wicked Mother And was I said the wofull Abulus the only Instrument which this Devilish Woman could single out for her last act of Villany All-knowing Power which art Witnesse of my Innocence take not Vengeance of my Ignorance forgive my Rashnesse and grant me with more sober Prudence to guide my future undertakings And for the wrong which I have through indiscretion done to you said he turning his speech to the Gentleman I offer besides the hearty repentance of my Error such other satisfaction as you shall require Nothing else replyed he but that for the future you would continue to love one whom you would not have hated but for Misinformation I do also beseech you said he to Bentivolio of whom I know nothing but Courage and Pity to accompany me to the Town which is not far off that you may be a means to procure me that Justice which I doubt not may be had easily through the assistance of your Testimonies both because my Father is of so good a Nature that he loves Truth and hath so much reason left as to understand it when it is aptly revealed to him and because the Judge who is lately sent hither is such a true lover of Justice that he will spare no Offender for any Personall Considerations His coming was occasion'd by the removall of his Predecessor who was so over-aw'd by the Interest of a great Courtier call'd 〈◊〉 that no Cause was ever heard till he knew his Opinion of it or if it was and the Evidence never so clear yet they could get no Sentence against Forzario's friends by which means poor men crucified with Expectation car'd not what became of their Causes since they could bring them to no conclusion notwithstanding their most constant endeavours But when his Patron Forzario was gone the wrong'd people procured a Punishment to be appointed for him with some resemblance of his Sin for he was hung up alive with a line run through the Ankles of both his Feet to be tormented between Life and Death as others had been by his means between Hope and Doubt When they were come to the City they went directly to the President accompanied with multitudes of people who were astonish'd at the lamentable sight of persons besprinkled with bloud and the Fellow with his hands cut off The President seeing Bentivolio with the rest received him in most courteous manner as well remembring what kind of Person he had discovered himself in Erotocleus business but he desiring the President to omit all Ceremonies concerning himself pray'd him to take cognisance of an eminent piece of Wickednesse which would require a most severe Castigation So having produced Abulus who related all that he knew and Doulogynes who was willing to say any thing which might help to put him out of his pain having accused Antimater for contriving the businesse and hiring them to do it she was forthwith sent for the people being much startled that one esteem'd very Vertuous should appear by her Actions so contrary to the general opinion Gynicaeus the Gentlemans Father who was present was equally troubled with the Perfidiousnesse of his Wife and the Innocence of his Son Antimater vext with the ill successe of her Design which she now gave for lost took a glasse of Poyson which she had kept as her last remedy for her
thy Footstool Earth the Sea Some drops from thy great Spring The chearful Day Glances from thy bright Eyes the Starry Night Takes from the Spangles of thy Vest its Light All Orders of Created Being say With different tongues thy praises as they may Whatever is or growes or useth Sense Reason embodied pure Intelligence Whatever swimms or creeps or goes or flies Doth when we blesse Thee eccho to the skies us be Thy Works will praise Thee whilst Thou makst At once we find our selves Great God and Thee Men And we poor Men through whose great fault the World Vnhing'd by sin was into Ruines hurl'd Curst because sinners have more cause then you Blest Angels as we can this work to do The Son of God made Man for us forlorn That we might live disdain'd not to be born And when our Staines requir'd a Holy flood He saw our need and wash'd us in His Blood Heaven is new open'd He hath made a Dore For all that do repent and sin no more He by his Love ended the dismall strife Hell's hope is frustrate Death 's the way to Life Which growes Immortall from the hallow'd Grave How can we chuse but sing when God will save For since He designs the ruin'd World to raise It is but just it should fall down in Praise Angells All Heavenly Powers do in Thy Praises meet Archangels throw their Crowns before Thy feet Men Old Patriarchs and Prophets bow before Thee Apostles and the Holy Church adore Thee Angells We offer praise because we kept our Place Men Because we are Restor'd we thank thy Grace Angells 'T is One great Sun whose Glory shines so bright In Heaven Men. And fills this lower world with Both By Thy blest Influence O Holy Dove Light Men Men are inspir'd Ang. And Angels taught to love CHORUS We blesse Thee God the Father of us all And celebrate the Worlds Originall The Heavens and Earth made and restor'd by Thee Joyne Praises in a gratefull Harmony Accept our thankfull Hymne though such poor laies Fall infinitely short of worthy Praise And since Great sourse of Being we can never Praise Thee enough we 'l sing and praise Thee ever After the Song was ended they spent the rest of the Afternoon in the spacious walks of a fair Garden and by various discourse made Theosebes bring forth those rich Treasuries of Divine Knowledg which he had laid into his Soul by frequent Meditations in the same place When the Evening began to spread her duskish wings they hasten'd to Phronesia's house and took Theosebes along with them When Supper was ended Nicomachus desired leave that he might propound two or three Questions to Theosebes which being chearfully granted he begun thus I have been told quoth he in Vanasembla that if one do but desire and entertain a purpose to go into your Country that he shall be carried thither immediately without any more adoe No quoth Theosebes all Forreigners must take the paines to travaile or else their Wishes and Resolutions will never bring them hither If I be not misinform'd your Experience will witness what I have said to be true you found not the passage free from all difficulty But the Borderers especially one call'd Hemicalus who though he dwells near unto us would never come among us hath rais'd many ridiculous and false tales concerning Theoprepia Others quoth Nicomachus say that you live a very Melancholick life in Eusebia They were never there which told you that quoth Theosebes you have seen the contrary They are unreasonable people who condemn such as they do not know We do not live discontentedly for then we should be miserable neither do we abandon Joy for so we should become Stones if we would live without the sense of humane things we should be forc'd to pull our Hearts out of our Bodies But we know that there is a sort of Masculine Pleasure which doth recreate and ennoble the Soul and we dare not sink our selves in the Voluptuousnesse of Sense lest we should stick fast in Mire as we have understood that they all do who will know no reasons or Delight but such as are derived from brutish Rellishes and dull correspondencies with the Worse part You take great paines for Knowledg quoth Nicomachus Is Wisdom so difficult or must you needs know every thing why do you do it Because we believe quoth Theosebes that God will not accept of Ignorance for a good Plea But they say quoth Nicomachus that your labour is never at an end There is good reason for that quoth Theosebes for our state consists in habitual Goodnesse and that is not to be attain'd without many Acts and besides this we seek a noble prize of our diligence Eternal Blessednesse Is that then quoth Nicomachus the great End of all your Industry Yes quoth Theosebes But methinks we need not doubt said Nicomachus but God will give us that although we should not strive so much for it because he knows that we are weak No said Theosebes we have no hope to make Imbecillity the refuge of Idlenesse since we find God is ready to help us to do all things that he requires of us But what need you be so careful every day said Nicomachus Because quoth Theosebes we shall be judg'd for every day But what need you do this more then others said Nicomachus Many do not trouble themselves so much Because we see said Theosebes that many are stupid and mind not their concernments and we have no such esteem of those whom we pity for their Errours as to make them exemplary to our selves Why quoth Nicomachus do you often vilifie the Interests of this world as they say you do Because quoth Theosebes we see them desert those who have courted them with most servile affections Since you have attain'd a great Perfection quoth Nicomachus why do you trouble your self any further Some think you are more burdensome to your self then you need to be To this Theosebes replied They which do but imperfectly understand their own condition cannot so well pronounce concerning others but I am assured that if I should slack my endeavours to grow better I should wax worse and so fall into a doubtful hope of Happiness and after that into a certain fear of Misery Those which resolve to sit down upon the Hill side will never reach the Top and if they fall asleep there peradventure they may tumble down again I despair of obtaining my End which I have told you but by Perseverance and I have no hope of that but by vigilant Care and constant Progressions There Nicomachus broke off his discourse praying pardon of the Company that he had continued it so long and by his speech occasion'd their silence and since it begun to be late Phronesia acquainted the Company that if they pleas'd she would waite upon them the next morning to the healthful Plaines of Sophrosyne and desired Theosebes to make them one more with his company The Noble Travailers