Errs more in their Rebellion for the Greatest Tyrant that ever was was never so Destroying or Cruel as a Rebellion or Civil Warr for this makes a Dissolution whereas the other makes but some Interruptions but now we have found our Errors we shall mend our Faults I in Governing You in Obeying and I Pray the Gods to Bless us with Industry and Uniformity Unity and Love Plenty and Tranquillity that this Kingdome and People may Flourish in all Ages and have a Glorious Fame throughout the World A Generals Oration to his Chief Commanders Fellow Souldiers and Gallant Commanders I Have Required your Assembly at this time to Perswade you to Practise both Riding and Fencing when you have Spare time from Fighting for it is impossible you should Atchieve any Brave or Extraordinary Actions by your Single Persons in the day of Battel unless you be Excellent and Skilfull in the Manage of your Horses and in the Use of your Swords for your Horses well Managed and well Rid shall not only Overthrow your Opposites as Man and Horse that are Ignorant in the Art but any One of you will be able to Disorder an Enemies Troop 'T is true an Ignorant HorseCommander hath less Assurance than a FootCommander besides it is a Double Labour and Requires a Double Art as to Manage a Horse and to Use a Sword Skilfully at one time but then he hath a Double Advantage if he can Ride well and hath a good Managed Horse that Obeyes well the Hand and the Heel that can tell how to Turn or to stop on the Hanches or to go Forward or Side-wayes and the like The truth is a good Horse-man although not so well Skill'd in the Use of the Sword shall have Advantage of an Ignorant Horse-man although well Skill'd in the Use of the Sword but to Know both Arts is best for a good HorseSouldier As for Foot Commanders they must Chiefly if not only Practise the Use of the Sword for it is the Sword that makes the greatest Execution for though neither Horse nor Sword is either Defensive or Offensive against Canon Bullets yet they are both Usefull against Bodies of men for all sorts of Bullets either from Canons Muskets or Pistols will Miss ten times for Hitting once whereas an Army when Joyning so Close as to Fight Hand to Hand the Sword is the Chief and Prime Executor insomuch that a Sword Skilfully or Artificially Used hath the Advantage over the Strength of Clowns or their Clubs or the But-ends of their Muskets Wherefore a Compleat Souldier should be as Knowing and well Practised in the Use of the Sword and the Management of his Horse as in Drawing up a Body of Men and Setting or Pitching an Army in Battel Aray for by the fore-mentioned Arts you will make a great Slaughter and a Quicker Dispatch to Victory and Gain a great Renown or Fame to each Particular Person that are so well Bred or Taught to be Horse-men and Sword-men SCHOLASTICAL ORATIONS PART XV. A Sleepy Speech to Students Fellow Students WHo Study to Think and Think to Dream As there are three Sorts of Worlds so there are three Kinds or Sorts of Life viz. the Material Poetical and Drowsie World and the Dreaming Contemplating and Active Life but of all these three Worlds and three Lives the Drowsie World and Dreaming Life is most Wonderfull for it is as a Life in Death and a Death in Life and this Drowsie World and Dreaming Life is a Type of an Unknown World and an Unknown Life for Sleep is a Type of Death and Dreaming is a Type of the Rewards and Punishments in the other World Good Dreams are like as the Rewards for the Blessed and Bad Dreams are like as Punishments for the Wicked the One Receives Pleasure and Joy the Other Fear and Torments and these Joys Pleasures Fears and Torments are as Sensible to the Senses and as Apparent to the Understanding and Knowledge as when Awake also Memory and Remembrance and the same Appetites and Satisfactions are as Perfect in Dreams as when Awake the Passions of the Mind as Forcible the Dispositions and Humours of the Nature as Various the Will as Obstinate the Judgement as Deep the VVit as Quick the Observation as Serious Reason as Rational Conception as Subtil Courage as Daring Justice as Upright Prudence as VVary Temperance as Sparing Anger as Violent Love as Kind Fear as Great Hopes and Doubts as Many Joys as Full Hate as Deadly Faith as Strong Charity as Pitifull and Devotion as Zealous in Perfect Dreams as Awake also they are as Uncharitable VVicked Foolish Cowardly Base Deboist Furious and the like in Perfect Dreams as Awake but Dreams in Sleeping Senses are Shorter than the Actions of VVaking Senses and not so Permanent for they Suddenly Fade and their Sudden Fading Oftentimes makes a Confusion and more Disorder than in the VVaking and Active Life But to Speak of the Sleeping Senses Generally and Particularly have we not the same Appetites and Satisfactions are not we Sensible of Dying Living Suffering Injoying Mourning Weeping Rejoycing Laughing are we not as Sensible of Pain and Ease of Accidents Misfortunes Dangers and Escapes in Dreams as in Active Life for if we Dream of Thieves and Murderers are not we Sensible of the Loss of our Goods and of our Bonds and Wounds do we not See our Loss Feel our Bonds and the Smarts and Pains of our Wounds as much as if we Saw and Suffered Awake and do not we Indeavour to Help our Selves and do not we Beg for Life Call for Help and Strive with Resistance as much in Dreams as Awake though not Vocally Verbally Locally nor Materially yet Spiritually for it is the Sensitive Spirits and not the Senses Gross Bodies or Parts that Travel into Forein Countries and Unknown Lands and make Voyages by Sea in Dreams do not we Hear and See in Dreams Lightning Thunder Wind Storms and Tempest Seas Billows Waves Ships Ship-wracks and are not we Drown'd in Dreams and do not we see Huge Precipices Barren Deserts Wide Forests and VVild Beasts and Serpents and other hurtfull Creatures and Indeavour to Escape and Avoid the Danger do not we feel Stinging Serpents and Flies Striking Tearing Clawing Biting Beasts as Sensibly in Dreams as Awake do not we see Flowry Meddows Low Vallies High Hills Corn-fields Green Meddows Grazing Pastures and Beasts Clear Springs Fruitfull Orchards and Small Villages Labouring Husbandmen Great Cities and Many People do not we see Light Colours Sun Moon Stars Clouds Rain Frost Snow Hail Shade Dawning Mornings and Closing Evenings in Dreams as Awake do not we see Fish Swim Birds Fly Beasts Run VVorms Creep in Dreams as Awake do not we see our Friends Living and our Friends Dying and those that be Dead in Dreams as Awake do not we feel Drought VVetness Heat Cold Itching Scratching Smarting Aking Biting Sickness in Dreams as Awake do not we hear all Warring Sounds and see all Warring Actions and feel all Warring
Peace and Plenty as they have done with Me to whom I leave You and Him to you Farewell A Daughters Dying Speech to her Father FAther Farewell and may that Life that Issues from My young and tender Years be added to Your Age may all your Grief be Buried in my Grave and may the Joys Pleasures and Delights that did attend my Life be Servants unto Yours may Comfort Dry your Eyes God Cease your Sorrows that though I Die you may Live Happily Why do you mourn that Death must be your Son-in-Law since he is a Better Husband than any you could Choose me or I could Choose my Self it is a Match that Nature and the Fates have made Wherefore be Content for it is not in your Power to alter the Decrees of Fate for Destiny cannot be Opposed but if you could you would Rob me of the Happiness the Gods intend me for though my Body shall dwell with Death my Soul shall dwell in Heaven and Holy Angels that are my Marriage Guests will Conduct it to that Glory for which you have cause to Joy and not to Grieve for all Creatures Live but to Die but those that are Blessed Die to Live and so do I. Farewell A Souldiers Dying Speech to his Friends Dear Friends YOu are come to see me Die but I am sorry you shall see me Die in the Bed of Sloth and not in the Field of Action for now I shall Die like a Coward whereas had I Died in the Field of Warr I should have Died as a Valiant man indeed the Field of Warr is the Bed of Honour wherein all Valiant and Gallant men should Die but Fortune hath denied me that Honour she hath spar'd my Life to my Loss for those that Die in the Warrs have Greater Renowns and Gloriouser Fame than those that Die in Chambers of Peace for whatsoever Heroick Acts men have done for the most part Die if they Out-live them for such Actions Live by the Deaths of the Actors I do not say Alwaies but for the Most part which makes me fear the Service I have done my King and Country will Die with me and be Buried in Oblivions Grave yet should the Service I have done be quite Forgotten I should not Repent my Actions for Honourable persons and Gallant men should do what they Ought to do although they were certain Never to be Rewarded for though few men are Rewarded according to their Merits and many have Favour that did Never Merit a Reward so Unjust is the World Fortune and Fame yet their Injustice must not make men Unworthy but I have done my Part and Death will do His. Farewell A Dying Speech of a Loving Mistress to her Beloved Servant SErvant This day I should have been your Wife and so Your Servant as you have been Mine but Death hath Robbed Hymen of his Rights and now he Fights with Life which he will Overcome for Death is Conquerour of All and Triumphs in his Spoils Yet Death by taking my Life Prisoner will set your Person Free to choose an other Mistress to make a Wife in whose Imbraces I shall be Buried and utterly Forgotten I speak not this in Envy to Her Happiness nor Yours for Envy dwells with Life and not with Death nor am I Loth to Die nor Grieve to be Forgotten no not by those that I Loved most and equal with my Soul for those I Love I would not have them Mourn in Melancholy thoughts and Sad remembrance of my Death I only wish that She that you Love next may return Love again with as much Truth Constancy and Purity as I have Loved you and may she be the Glory of her Sex and Honour of her Husband and may you Live to Love each Other and Love to Live for One an others Sake may Nature Time Fortune Fate and the Gods joyn in your Happiness Farewell A Forein Travellers Dying Speech Dear Friends I Have Travelled Farr and have seen Much of the World and have gone Round about the World but now I shall Travel Out of the World from which I shall bring no News I shall not come back to Relate my Journies or to tell you what Strange Creatures there are in the Other World or what Dangers I escap'd or what Adventures I have made or what several Countries there are and which is good for Plantation or what Commodities there are or what Traffick there is or may be for though all Creatures are Transported yet no Returns are Sent back in Lieu of them unless we believe New-born Creatures are sent out of the Other World into This but that is not Probable because they are Made in this World and of the same Substances of the World But howsoever those that are Sent thither as by Sickness Casualties Fortune and Age Return no more wherefore I must take my Last leave of you for though I have been at the Confines of Death and am Return'd to my Friends again yet I never was in the Region of Death a place I never was Ambitious or Desirous to go to for though I had the Curiosity to see the several Countries Kingdomes and Places in the several parts of the World yet I never had the Curiosity to Travel into Death's Kingdome no nor to see the Mansions of the Gods which may be Accounted a Sin Indeed Travellers are accounted Atheistical but if they were yet when they come to Die they would change those Atheistical Opinions and as Bad as they are thought to be yet they are not Afraid of Death for then they would not Venture their Lives so Often as they do indeed Travellers have as Great Courage as Souldiers have and 't is believed as Little Religion but not so much Hate Envy Malice Revenge nor Covetousness unless they be Merchants nor they are not Robbers and Murderers they do not Take away mens Lives nor Goods as Souldiers do but of all men Travellers have most reason to Adore and Worship God Best for they see Most of his Wonderfull works which shew his Power Might Wisdome and Majesty the which makes his Creatures Admire him Praise him Fear him Love him and Pray to him as the Great Omnipotent Infinite Eternal Incomprehensible and Everlasting God to whom I Resign my Soul and Leave my Body to Death Farewell A Lovers Dying Speech to his Beloved Mistress Dear Mistress THough I must Die I leave my Life to Live with You for You are the Life of my Love and the Love of my Life you are the Palace of my Soul wherein it Lives and will Remain though Death doth take my Body hence for Souls Live though Bodies Die yet do not Drown my Soul in Tears nor Cloud it with your Sorrows but give it Light of Joy and Please it with your Kind remembrance But O my Jealous thoughts do Torture more my Mind than Pains of Death do Torture my Weak Body lest you should Banish the Love of Me to Entertain a Stranger which if you do the Gods
Eat and Eat more than you have Appetite you are like Misers in your Feeding stuffing your Stomacks with Meat as they do their Trunks and Baggs with Money and the Superfluity of meat Destroyes the Gluttonous Eater with Surfeits Thirdly your Adorning or rather Deforming your selves in Antick Fashions and Toyish Vanities which sheweth your Heads to be Brainless and sometimes your Purses to be Moneyless for Spending so much on your Backs you cannot Keep any thing in your Coffers nor for your Necessary use Fourthly your Idle Visits and Unprofitable Discourses wherein is more Words than Wit and more Time lost than Knowledge gain'd for you become more Ignorant with Talking than Learned with Contemplating for Brains are not Manured with Foolish Discourses but Wise Considerations Lastly your Numerous Trains which are Unprofitable Servants being maintain'd for Shew and not for Use they Spending much and doing little Service is the Cause not only of great Disorders but the Ruine of many Noble Families The Short is you Drink to be Drunk Eat to be Sick Live to be Idle Spend to be Poor and Talk to be Fools Thus you Lose Time Waste your Estate Trouble your Minds and Shorten your Lives Living with more Cost than Worship and more Worship than Pleasure for you are Stewards for your Servants Hosts for your Guests and Slaves to your Vain Humours An Oration Contradicting the Former Noble Citizens THe Former Oration was against the Lawfull Delights and Pleasures of our Citizens nay of all Mankind which Expresses the Orator either to be so Poor of Means as he Cannot Attain to such Delights and Pleasures or that his Senses are Imperfect as not Capable to Receive them or that he is of so Evil a Disposition as to Desire all men to be Miserable or that he is a Fool as not Knowing how to Speak or Live wisely whereas had he Spoken against Hurtfull and Destroying Vices he had Spoken as a Good man ought to do for Vices are Vices no otherwise but that they are Hurtfull or Destructive to Mankind which makes them Vices for the Gods Forbid them because of the Evil Effects as Drunkenness which Disorders the Reason Distempers the Brain and Obstructs the Senses making men Senseless or to be as Mad and causes oftentimes Quarrels Wounds and Death at least Breaks Peace and makes Enemies of Friends besides Drunkenness makes men Sick and is apt to Shorten their Lives all which makes it a Vice and so a Sin But did Drunkenness cause no Evil Effect it ought not to be Forbidden nor could it be accounted a Crime The like I may say for Gluttony for would men Eat only to Please them and not so much as to Disease them it would be no Fault to Eat well or to Please their Palate but it is the Surfeits Sickness and oftentimes Untimely Death that makes Gluttony a Vice and for Adultery it would be so far from a Crime as it would be a Virtue in the Increase of Mankind were it not for the Loss of Propriety in that no man would Know his Own Child nor be sure to Injoy his Own Wife or that Woman he makes Choice of As for Theft and Murder they are not of that Sort to be named Vices only but Damnable Sins wherein can neither be Society Safety nor Security of Life for Thieves and Murderers indeavour an Utter Destruction without Mercy or Remorse Wherefore since Vices and Sins are Vices and Sins for their Hurt and Evil Effects those things that are call'd Vanities which produce Pleasure and Delight without Death and Destruction ought not to be Spoken against for Vanities are Profitable to the Poor and not Hurtfull to the Rich But yet Moralists and Divines Plead Preach and Write Rail and Exclame against all Honest Harmless Delights and Pleasures as if they were Sins to God and Nature as if Nature and the God of Nature should make Senses and Appetites in Vain or only to the Hurt and Dislike of the Creature and not for their Good and Pleasure as to make a Body for Pain and Sickness and not for Health and Ease and to make a Mind for Trouble and Discontent and not for Peace and Tranqullity to make Desires but not Fruitions Indeed Nature and the God of Nature is more Just to Mankind for as they have made Eyes and Seeing so they have made Light Splendour and Beauty to be Seen and as they have made Ears to Hear so they have made Harmony to be Heard and as they have made Nostrils to Smell so they have made Perfumes to be Smelt and as they have made Taste so they have made Relishes and as they have made Hunger so they have made Food and as they have made Appetites so they have given Satisfaction or Satiety Thus we may perceive that every Particular Sense is Fitted or Matched to Particular Pleasures but because Nature hath made some Aversion therefore Moralists and Divines would not have men Injoy the Pleasure in Nature whereas the most Rational men perceive that Aversions were only made to Highten and Re-double the Pleasures and Delights both of Body and Mind but these Men are so Rigid in their Doctrine I will not say in their own particular Practice as they would have men Choose the Worst part and Refuse the Better and would have all Mankind Struggle Strive and Oppose all Nature's Delights and Benefits the truth is they seem to Desire a Perpetual Warr between the Senses and the Objects as also between the Mind and the Body as between the Reason and Sense but in my opinion their Doctrine hath neither Sense nor Reason and their Authors would have as Little if they should Practise what they Preach Wherefore Noble Citizens my Advise is that you Take your Pleasures yet so as you may Injoy them Long as to Warm your Selves not to Burn your Selves to View the Light but not to Gaze out your Sight to Bathe your Selves but not to Drown your Selves to Please your Selves but not to Destroy your Selves with Excess An Oration against Usurers and Money-Horders Noble Citizens VVE have some Citizens amongst us that are Rich and yet Miserable they Covet Much yet Injoy but Little for they Hord up their Wealth and Starve Themselves and if they did Starve None but Themselves it were no great matter being fitter for Death than Life but their Hords impoverish the Common-wealth and so Starve the Poor for there cannot be a Greater Evil in a Common-wealth set a-side Warr than to have many Rich Usurers as Covetous Getters and Spare Spenders for their Great Wealth is like as a Great Dunghill which whilst it lies on a Heap together doth no Good but Hurt whereas if it were Dispersed and Spread upon the Barren Lands it would Inrich much Ground producing Increase and Plenty The like should Money or such sort of Riches be Spread equally to make a Common-wealth Live Happily Indeed a Prodigal is more Beneficial and Profitable to a Common-wealth than a Usurer for a