which he bought for them that were dispos'd to Hang themselves b Plutarch Fabius the Consul was so little for being known that in 70 Years which he lived departed not once from his Village of Regio to go to Messana which was but two Miles off by Water and Apollonius Travel'd o'er three parts of the World to conser with ingenions Men and being returned he gave his Riches to his poor Kindred and lived ever after a Solitary Life Democritus plucked out his Eyes because the pleasures of this World shou'd not draw him from Contemplation St. Bernard got all his knowledge in the Woods and Fields Ierom forsook all the World to live Incognito Croesus after the Death of his Son did the same and so did Hiero a Tyrant of Syracuse Among Even the Mahometans there are many Vetaries they call Dâ—rveeses who relinquish the World and spend all their Days following in solitude and retiredness expecting a Recompence as they say and are very well content to suffer and wait for it in that better Life Those very sharp and very strict Penances which many of this People for the present voluntarily undergo far exceed all those the Romanists boast of for instance there are some who live alone upon the tops of Hills which are clothed or covered with Trees and stand remote from any Company and there spend the whole time of their following lives in Contemplation stirring not at all from the places they first six on but ad requisita naturae crying out continually in these or the like Expressions Alla Achabar c. that is God Almighty look upon me I love thee I love not the World but I love thee and I do all this for thy sake look upon me God Almighty These after they thus retire never suffer the Razor or Scissars to come again upon their Heads and they let their Nails grow like unto Birds Claws as it was written of Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 4. When he was driven out from the society of men This People after their retirement will chuse rather to famish than to stir from their Cells and therefore they are relieved by the Charity of others who take care to send them some very mean Covering for their Bodies for it must be such otherwise they will not accept of it when they stand in need thereof and something for their bodily sustenance which must be of their courser Food otherwise they will not take it and no more of that at one time than what is sufficient for the present support of nature Neither is the Incognito Life of the famous Nostedamus less remarkable than the affected solitude of the Derveeses of which take the following account Some Leagues from Aix says the Author of the Historical Voyages stands a Burrough call'd Sallon where Nostredamus so Famous for his Predictions was Born and interr'd in the Church of the Francisâ—an Grey-Fryers his Tomb being half withithe Church and half without The Monk that shewed it us says this Author told us that Nostredamus himself had ordered it to be Erected after that manner for that finding the World to be so corrupt as it is he was desirous to leave it in singular manner For that having rais'd his Tomb to Mans height he caused himself to be enclos'd therein while he was living after he had made Provision of Oil for his Lamp Pens Ink and Paper and pronounced a Curse upon him that shou'd open it before such a time which by the Calculation of the Fryar was to expire at the beginning of the Eighteenth Age. I cannot tell says this Voyager whether Nostredamus repented or no but I am sure he was in an Ill condition if he let his Lamp goe out before he had finished what he had to write We also read that Hyginus after he was made Bishop took such a Fancy to Live Incognito that he retir'd to a Cave where he hid himself 't was here he writ an Epistle touching God and the Inearation of the Son of God But the Men are not Singular in their Love to a Private life for we find some Ladies too as well as the Men have delighted to live Incognito Elizabeth commonly called Ioan-Cromwel the Wife of Oliver Cromwel chose rather to be a great Person Incognito if you 'l believe the Author of her Life then to live in that State and Degree which her Husbands Grandeur allow'd of 'T is true says this Author she kept one Coach but to avoid Pomp her Coachman served her for Caterer Butler Cup Bearer and Gentleman Usher Her Daughter and She often went alone into the Country and there See a further Account of her private Life in the Book called Elizabeth the Wife of the late Usurper wou'd spend whole Days in riding in a Sequestred Caroach so that she seem'd to affect the Seythian Fashion who dwelt in Carts and Wagons and have no other Habitations She was also the same Recluse in her Habit rather Harnessing her self in the Defence of her Cloaths than allowing her self the loose and open Bravery thereof and her Hood till her Face was seen in her Highnesses Glass was â—apt on like a Head Piece without the Arr of â—nsconcing and entrenching it double and single in Redoubts and Horn works In sine she was Cap-a-pe like a Baggage Lady and was out of her Element in her Vieinity to the Court and City She never caâ—'d to be seen and was never easy but when she liv'd Inoogni'o And even of Animals Some live a Solilitary Life as the Hare the Pelican and the Swan the last of which is Merry at her Death So 〈◊〉 the wisest both of Men and Bruits have still preferr'd a Private Life to a Publick and the reason c See my Irish Conversation P. 365. why a Private Life is preferable to all others is because the first Minister of State hath not so much Business in Publick as a Wise Man hath in Private the one hath but part of the affairs of one Nation the other all the Works of God and Nature under his consideration And therefore 't was Scipio was never less alone than when he had no Company Tully when he was thought to be Idle Studied most And Mison the Philosopher that he might Study himself lived altogether a Solitary Life when one by chance met him laughing to himself and demanding the cause why he laughed having no Company Answer'd Even therefore do I laugh because I have no Company with me I might heap up Instances of this Nature but here 's enough to shew I ben't singular in desiring to live unknown certainly Madam the pleasantest and most profitable condiition of Life is to live Incognito This we find further verified in Charles V. Emperor of Germany for after conquering Four Kingdoms he resign'd up all his Pomp to other Hands and betook himself to his Retirement leaving this Testimony behind him concerning the Life he spent in the little time of his retreat from the World That the
dying and therefore I can't understand Valeria's Policy in not sparing 500 l. out of 6000 l. seeing I do resolve if she will be happy it shall only be with her Husband for I marry'd her for Richer for Poorer and as we embark'd in the same COURT-SHIP so I do assure her we 'll Sink or Swim together But Solomon tell us there 's a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing and therefore tho' the Law is Eloquent and There 's a time to embrace and a time to refrain fromembracing will perswade her to Live with me yet till I see a fair opportunity I shan't turn my Addresses into a Legal-Courtship for I had rather that kind methods should melt her into Love and Tenderness However my Wife is my proper Goods and I 'll Pound that Man whoever he is that offers to steal her from me or that endeavours by any Device or by flattering her Mother My Wife is my proper Goods to defraud me of that which she solemnly promis'd me before marriage for as 't is a Promise in Writing 't is as much a Debt in the Court of Conscience and in the Court of Chancery too as if I had a Bond or Mortgage A promise in writing is a debt in the Court of Conscience and in the Court of Chancery too to secure it to me And as I am able to prove such a Promise in Writing so I can also prove by a letter under her Artornies Hands that she was fully satisfied with my Estate But why shou'd we give Money to promote the Laâ— It wou'd be more like Christians to give it to promote the Gospel Besides if I had Ualeria's Company and a small matter to make me easy I have all I desire and when she sends me the same Message yil run to meet her with open Arms she shall then even Rule me and all I have by her voluntary and ready obedience But the Bags The Attorneys Letter gave satisfaction about my Estate lie so high in her way at present that she can't get over 'em but when she falls to dispersing this gilded Rubbish all misunderstanding will be then remov'd and the same Hour I hear the News the Bells of St. Albans shall Ring as loud for our Reconciliation as ever they did for our first Marriage neither shall the Poor of that Town be forgot that so Heaven may Valeria's Company is all I desire continue us a happy Couple But this is News that I don't expect and therefore I bequeath all my Printed Cases except the Case should be alteâ—'d to my old Friends of St. Albans that by comparing the Truth with those many The Bags lie so high in her way that she can't get over ' em Lyes they have heard they may defend the Cause of an injuâ—'d Stranger who did not come till he was sent for and therefore 't is fit he should have civil Treatment And in the last Place I give to the Dear Valeria my present Wife A Ring with this Inscription Set your Affections on things above The Bells of St. Albans shall ring as loud for our Reconciliation as ever they did for our first Marriage for seeing she talks so much of going to her God instead of giving her Money to Adore and Worship I freely bequeath her to God who gave her 'T is true she has a Rich Mother and I might justly bequeath her to her for the Reasons mentioned in my Printed Case and I have a President for the leaving her Mother such a Legacy as this for we read Endamidas dying Poor left his Aged Mother to Aretaeus and his young Daughter to Charixenus two Rich Friends of his the one to be maintain'd 'till she dyed and the other 'till she Marryed and the Heirs as soon as they heard of this Will came forth and accepted those things that were given in Charge But suppose I had no such President as this to bestow her Daughter upon her yet one wou'd think I cou'd not leave her a better Legacy than her own Child but seeing she won't part with her Bags now she 'll less do it when I am Dead and therefore out of pure Love I chuse rather to bequeath her to God who gave her and tho' I en't like to be Buryed with â—er Legacies her her precious Dust being to Feast the St. Alâ—ns worms in the Abby Church where her Father hes and not the Phanatick-worms of the New-Burying-place yet I hope she 'll there rest in Peace and hearafter meet me in Heaven But if she grows so obliging as to deliver me from my Present Grievance that I may HONESTLY have Issue by her to it I wou'd leave 1 Chron. 28. 9. and I pray God see it executed according to my Will And for her self were she thus kind I wou'd turn her Iointure into a Deed of Gift which would double the value of it and make it the Study of my whole Life to please her Having in these Legacies endeavour'd to satisfie my self my Friends and my dear Spouse It is farther my Will That for the Payment of these Debts and Legacies If my present Wife happen to survive me that The growth of my Woods will Pay all I owe in 5 Years time my Executor Sell my Woods and the Reversion of my Estate as soon as ever I am Buryed but in case I survive her I 'll pay 'em my self in a Weeks time But if neither of our Deaths happen let no Man question his Money for the Growth of my Woods in about five Years Time will pay all I owe what I owe not being the fifteenth Part of what my Estate is worth No Debts in my Shop-Books to be receiv'd c. 'T is farther my VVill that no Debts in any of my Shop-books be receiv'd from any Person that is not fully satisfied he owes me what he is charged with I insert this that no neglects of crossing Accounts tho' I hope there 's none may be an Injury to any Man 'T is also my Will that all the Promises I ever made provided they are My Promises to be all perform'd fully proved be as punctually perform'd by my Executor as if the Persons to whom they were made had 'em under my Hand and Seal So much for my Debts and Legacies My Body not to be Buried till the 7th day after my Decease As to my Funeral and Grave c. 'T is my Will that the 7th Day after my Decease and not before my own Mother coming to Life that Day she was to be Buried my Executor see me nail'd down in an Elm-Coffin such a one as was made for my first Wife My Reverend Father Mr. Iohn Dunton in his last VVill speaking concerning his Funeral My Father's Funeral says 'T is his Desire that his Funeral might not be perform'd 'till seven Days after his Decease which Request was occasion'd as I hinted before by his first Wives lying seemingly
of the Thousand Letters on as many Uncommon Subjects Written by IOHN DUNTON during his Retreat from the World and sent to that Honourable Lady to whom he address'd His Conversation in Ireland With her Ladyships Answer to each Letter To be continued 'till the whole Correspondence is finish'd Man ere he is aware Hath put together a Solemnity And drest his Hearse while he hath Breath As yet to spare Yet Lord instruct us so to die That all these Dyings may be Life in Death Herbert LONDON Printed for the Author and are to be sold by A. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Oxford Arms in Warwick-Lane of whom is to be had the First and Second Parts Price of each 1 s. THE SECOND PART Of the ART of Living Incognito From my Cell April 10. 1700. LETTER VII Of every Thing Madam MY First Part of the Art of living Incognito having met with a kind Reception except from FOPPS who to shew their Wat a See my First Part of the Art of living Incognito p. 2. rail at every thing but the Product of their own Brain This has incourag'd me to Publish a Second Part For seeing ' was Sabina that first inspirâ—d me with the Resolution of living Incognito I now intend to proceed to the writing the Thousand Letters that must go to the perfecting of this ART except your Lady-ship should grow weary of the Correspondence or if you should my Project would be still Incognito for I 'm not so vain as to think that any thing but your Ladyships Remarks cou'd have given my Letters a Reputation in the World and without that tho I shou'd still have studied yet should no longer have Printed the Art of living Incognito But cou'd I doubt of that kind Reception it has met with when your Ladyship was pleased to say b In your Letter dared Ap. 10. That the World is much deluded with Appearances but if you are the Person that has raised their Expectation they 'l not grudge a Shilling to satisfie it but if their Envy is only raised they 'l content themselves with laughing at your presumptuous pretension of writing on a Thousand uncommon Subjects without ever reading it and spend some Wit upon the Lady concerned in it But whoever buyes it with indifference and so reads it will I believe find what 's worth his Money and commend it Soul of my Muse I thank thee and in that A short Poem dedicated to the Honourable Lady I pay the humble Tribute of my Fate How hast thou Crown'd my Head O what Divine Raptures inspir'd beyond the powerful Nine I will not call Rome's Caesars back again To shew their Triumphs one is in my Brain Great as all theirs and circl'd with thy BAYS My thoughts take Empire or'e all Land and Seas 'Gainst subtle Light'ning and fierce Thunder stroke I shall be safer than Augustus OKE With double Guard of Laurel and made free From Age look fresh still as my Daphnian-Tree And Printing still my Son and Heir shall be Criticks shall dread my Looks no Slander dare To approach my Books whilst your Idea's there Great Patroness of Cells I could create New Worlds methinks for thee and in a State As Free as Innocence shame all Poets Wit Could climb no higher than Elyzium yet Where they but build cool Arbors Shades and Groves Teach Brooks to murmur Songs 〈◊〉 please their Loves We will have other Flights erect new Things To call the Envy up of Queens and Kings Museus Homer and the sacred rest VVhom the VVorld thinks in their own Ashes blest Shall live again and only having wrot Our Friendship wish their other Songs forgot And themselves too but that our LETTERS must In spight of Time and Death quicken their Dust What cannot I command VVhat can a Thought Be ambitious of thus wreath'd but shall be brought By Virtue of your Charms I will undo The Year and at our pleasure make one New All Spring is Blooming Paradise but when You List shall with one Frown wither agen Astrologers leave poreing in the Skies Expect all Fate from fair Sabina's Eyes Thus exâ—asy'd with me scorn other Starr Admire and think it Heaven where we two are For he that learns to live Incognito Now lives in Heaven if quitting Earth be so Madam I have dedicated this short Poem to your Ladiship as a Poor Acknowledgment for your generous Remarks on my First Part of the Art of Living Incognito and as a Defiance to all Criticks I was willing the World should know your Opinion of what I A defiance to all Critticks Publish as believing none will presume to dislike what you approve of or if they do I shall not value it soâ— prefer your single Judgment to all others and therefore 't is the Honour of your Friendship is one of those things that I value my self most upon Then seeing the Art of Living Incognito has such an Ingenious and Honourable Lady to Protect and Defend it I shan't doubt but this Second Bart will be as well receiv'd as the FIRST however your consenting to my Printing of it is a sufficient Warrant for its Publication And I don't doubt after treating of every Ching in this Letter but to say something in my next which will be an Essay 〈◊〉 my own Funeral which shall justifie my Resolution to Live and Die in a private Cell Mâ— Resolution to live and die in a private Cell Whilst all the World is in an hurry busied here and there with Vanity and Vexation whilst few or none almost are looking after their Future State whilst most thus mistake their Happiness I shall endeavour to find it in a lonesome Cell which in my next I shall prove an Emblem of Death and I must needs love it as 't is a Place where I have nothing to do but to prepare for Heaven But tho' I live Incognito as I 'm charm'd with a quiet Life and partly as I am oblig'd to Privacy a For the Reasons tention'd 〈◊〉 my last 〈◊〉 Yet I have no such Pique to the World I mean that GREAT WORLD through which I am passing but that I 'm willing to give your Ladyship an Account what I formerly I observ'd in it and I shall think I 'm still advancing in the Art of living Incognito if in this Letter I treat Of every thing I mean every thing that affected me in my Cursory View of the GREAT â—ections 〈◊〉 every â—ing that â—fected me 〈◊〉 my curâ— view of â—e Word WORLD I call it a Cursory View as I hurry'd so fast through it to that private Cell where I now live Perhaps you 'll admire Sabina that the World should now take up my Thoughts when 't is my Happiness and Wish to be freed from it To this I Answer it must be confest That to avoid the Noise and Turbulency of the World the more quietly and undisturb'd to look into our selves has been the Practice of the most Discreet and Eminent Men even the
am every minute going Every Thought I have is a Sand running out of the Glass of Life Then surely he is dead already that does not look for Death How stupid are we to think so little of DYING when not only the DEATH of men but every thing else dies to shew us the Way Sweet Day so cool so calm so bright The â—ridal of the Earth and Skie The Dew shall weep thy fall to Night For thou must die Sweet Rose whose hue angry and brave Bids the rash Gazer wipe his Bye Thy Root is ever in its Grave And thou must die Sweet Spring full of sweet Days and Roses A Box where Sweets compacted lye My Musick shews ye have your Closes And all must die There may be News of my Funeral before I can finish my Essay upon it Only a sweet and Virtuous Soul Like season'd Timber never gives But tho the whole World turn to Coal Then chiefly lives Herbert Besides the warning I have of my own DEATH in the death of every thing I meet abroad that I might want no warning when I go to SLEEP which is a Death in Scripture is compared to Sleep kind of dying too What is my BED but as it were a Passing-bell to remember me every four and twenty Hours of my Mortality and that the Grave must speedily be my Bed a Clod my Pillow and the Mold and Worms my Covering When I put off my Shirt it puts me in mind of my Winding-sheet and last My Night-Prayer c may be resembl'd to making my Will Shroud that must cover me when I sleep under ground Death in Scripture is compared to Sleep Well then may my Night Prayer be resembled to making my Will I will be careful not to die intestate as also not to defer my Will-making 'till I am not compos mentis 'till the Lethargy of drowsiness seizes upon me but being in perfect Memory I bequeath my Soul to God the rather because I am sure the Devil will accuse me when sleeping Oh the advantage of Spirits above Bodies If our Clay Cottage be not cooled with Rest the Roof falls The Devil will accuse me when sleeping a Fire Satan hath no such need The Night is his fittest time Rev. 12. 10. Thus Mans Vacation is the Terms for the Beasts of the Forest they move most whilst he lies quiet in his Bed Lest therefore whilst sleeping I be Out-lawed for want of appearance to Satans Charge I commit my Cause to him who An Appearance to Satan's Charge Lying along is an improper Posture for Piety neither slumbers nor sleeps Answer for me oh my God I wou'd not by this Expression be so understood as if I might defer my Night Prayer 'till I'm in Bed This lying along is an improper posture for Piety Indeed there is no Contrivance of our Body but some good Man in Scripture hath hanfel'd it with Prayer The Publican standing Iob sitting Hezekiah lying on his Bed Elijah with his Face between his Legs but of all Postures give me St. Paul's For this cause I bow my Knees to the Father of my Lord Jesus Christ. Knees when they may they must be hended I have read a Copy of a grant of liberty from Queen Mary to Henry Ratcliff Earl of Sussex giving him leave to wear a Night Cap or Coif in her Majesties presence counted a great Favour because of his Infirmity Job 18. 1 Kings 28. 42. Eph. 3. 14. Weavers Fun. Mon. p. 63. I know in case of necessity God would graciously accept my Devotion bound down in a sick-dressing but now whilst I am in perfect Health it is inexcusable Christ commanded some to take up their Bed in token of their full Recovery my Laziness may suspect least thus my Bed taking me up prove a presage of my ensuing Sickness Then Blessed Lord pardon the former Idleness of my Night-Devotion and I will never more offend thee in the same kind In case of Necessity God will accept my Devotion bound down in a Sick-Dressing And thus my Bed my Sleep and every thing else proclaims Death is on his March towards me And seeing my Sand runs faster than my Ink your Ladyship may have News of my Funeral before I can finish this Essay upon it How soon doth Man decay When Clothes are taken from a Chest of Sweets To swadle Infants whose young Breath Scarce knows the way Those Clouts are little Winding-sheets Which do consign and send them unto Death When Boys go first to Bed They step into their voluntary Graves Sleep binds them fast only their Breath Makes them not dead Successive Nights like rolling Waves Convey them quickly who are bound for Death When Youth is frank and free And calls for Musick while his Veins do swell All Day exchanging Mirth and Breath In Company That Musick summons to the Knel Which shall befriend him at the House of Death When Man grows staid and wise Getting a House and Home where he may move Within the Circle of his Breath Schooling his Eyes That dumb Inclosure maketh Love Unto the COFFIN that attends his death When Age grows loâ— and weak Marking his Grave and thawing ev'ry Year 'Till all do melt and drown his Breath When he wou'd speak A Chair or Litter shews the Bier Which shall convey him to the House of Death Man e're he is aware Hath put together a Solemnity And drest his Herse while he hath Breath I 'm here ringing my own Passing-Bell That 'T is impossible for a man to write of his own Funeral whilst he 's living As yet to spare Yet Lord instruct us so to die That all these Dyings may be life in Death Herbert Or had I not these Warnings of Death in the several Stages of Life yet I have such a Crazy Body as daily puts me in mind of my Grave and I 'm now by writing an Essay upon my own Funeral as 't were ringing my own Passing-Bell But perhaps you 'll say How can you write of your own Funeral when you are yet alive And were you dead you 'd be less able to handle your Pen as much at you love scribling Why Madam I am dead but don't be frighted that I appear again in this White Sheet For tho I 'm dead 'T is thus dead I was born seemingly dead I was born seemingly dead t was thought I was lugg'd out of my natural CELL into my Grave and I could have been content had I had no more than the Register or Sexton to tell the World that I had ever been However I may venture to say that from the first laying of these Mudd-Walls in my conception they have moldred away and the whole course of Life is but an active Death nay every Meal we eat is as it were a Ransom from one Death and lays up for another and while we think The whole Course of Life is but an active Death a Thought we die for the Clock strikes and reckons
a Grave Then what a Wretch is he that won't part with the World when it lies in his way to Heaven for he can neither carry it with him or use above six foot on 't when he is Dead or scarce so much for the Chimistry of Cardan Misers gripe at all the World but it slips thro' their Fingers and leaves nothing but Dust. found but six Dunces of Dust in the Ashes of a Calcin'd Body We brought nothing into this World and can carry nothing out but Worldlings ne'er consider this and therefore like Men that clasp at Spirits they catch nothing but Air they gripe at all the World to satisfie their Avarice but it slips through their Fingers and leaves nothing but Dust. But as great a Vanity as this is we find Covetousness to be the only Sin grows young as Men grow old Old Men have their Coverousness natural to 'em their Blood is cak'd and cold and Nature as it grows again toward Old Men have their Covetousness Natural to 'em Earth is fashion'd for the Iourney dull and heavy The nearer Death we grow in Years the more scraping we are and this Sneaking-Vice Drowns not till we Sink and I don't wonder at it for Dying-men will grasp at all they see while they see any thing but when their Senses fail Covetousness is the only Sin grows Young as Men grow Old then Farewell Riches the World 's too heavy then they let it fall Tho' we were misery all our Days yet when we expire we spread our Palms and let the World slip by but when ev'ry thing else is gone the Grave remains And in this Cell I shall lie hid with Iris till the Resurrection Lie still where thou art John for th' quiet o'th'Nation Nor can'st thou stir more without slat Conjuration Being now laid to sleep with my Dear a Marble-Tomb was to be our Blankets for Tombs are the Cloaths of the Dead but we shall get Iris and Phil. being laid to sleep they want the Marble for their Blankets no Cold if we wait for ' em However as I lived and died in a Cell so to shew I 'd be still Incognito I 'll here Write my Epitaph and then as one expresses it If no Man goes to Bed 'till he Dies nor ' wakes 'till the Resurrection Good-night t' ye here and Good-morrow hereafter Dunton's Epitaph on himself HEre lies his Dust who chiefly aim'd to know Dunton's Epitaph on himself Himself and chose to Live Incognito He was so great a Master of that Art He understands it now in ev'ry Part But tho' 't was Solitude he did so prize He has it least whil'st in this Cell he lies For whil'st depriv'd my dearest Life of thee The World was all an Hermitage to me But mixt with Iris nought can lonesome be My Name inquire not for thou must not know For Phil. desired when he from hence did go That he might allways lie Incognito Thus Man goeth to his long home and the Mourners go about the Man goes to his long home streets Ring the Bells for Dunton is Dead and Buryed that is as Mr. Uincent's Friends make a PULPIT of his Grave for on his Tomb-stone are Ring the Bells for Dunton is Dead and Buried these Words Immortal Souls to benefit and save I thus have made a Pulpit of my Grave So I have endeavour'd to make An Essay on my own Funeral which I have been only burying my self in Effigie being a Representation of what will be done when I 'm Dead whereas I 'm yet alive 't is excusable if I have follow'd their Examples who fill their Maps with Fancies of their own Brains But tho' I have been only burying my self in Effigie yet having a longing desire to be happy with Iris which When I dye in earnest I hope the thoughts of my Death Funeral will be no more terrible to me than 't is now in Speculation I can't be but by dying 't is no matter how soon my Dying Solemnity were over and when I come to dye in earnest I hope the thoughts of my Death and Funeral will be no more terrible to me then 't is now in Speculation 'T was said Philostratus liv'd Seven Years in his own Tomb that he might be acquainted with it That Death may become thus Familiar to me I 'll walk every Day with Ioseph a turn or two in my Garden with Death and with Herbet as often dress out my own Hearse I wou'd be so well acquainted with Death as impatiently to desire it not that I wou'd dye of an Appoplexy by a private Stab or any sudden Death From sudden Philostratus liv'd 7 Years in his Tomb. Death good Lord deliver me for whenever I dye I wou'd have so much notice that I may leave nothing behind me that I shou'd take to Heaven with me not that I wou'd be deliver'd from sudden Death in respect of it self Of sudden Death for I care not how short my passage be so it be safe Never any weary Traveller complain'd that he came too soon to his Journies end but I wou'd not have a sudden Death so as to be surpriz'd beforo I 'm summon'd However The Divine Herbert drest out his own Hearse dye I wou'd and as pleasant a sight as Valeria may think my funeral I did not care how soon she saw it as here describ'd for then she 'll have more I can't say enough of the World and I 'm sick on 't and wou'd fain change I wou'd leave nothing behind me that I shou'd take to Heaven with me it for Heaven 'T is true the Mannour of Sampsil is a fine sight but he that looks up to Heaven will not care for the World Oh how amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts One Day in thy Courts is better than a Thousand I had rather be a Door-keeper in the House of God than live any longer in this vile World there 's nothing in it but Vanity Disappointments and black Ingratitude then oh that I was stript into a naked Spirit and set My Passionate Desire to be stript into a naked Spirit ashore in a better World Why lingrest thou bright Lamp of Heaven Why Do thy Steeds tread so slowly on must I Be forc'd to live when I desire to dye Lash thou those lasie Iades drive with full speed And end my slow pac'd Days that I may feed With Ioy on him for whom my Heart doth Bleed Post blessed Iesus Come Lord flee away And turn this Night into the brightest Day By thine approach come Lord and do not stay Take thou Doves Wings or give Doves Wings to me That I may leave this World and come to thee And ever in thy glorious Presence be I like not this bile World it is meer Dross Thou only art pure Gold then sure 't is loss To be without the Throne t' enjoy a Cross. What tho' I must pass through the Gates of
Death It is to come to thee that gav'st me Breath And thou art better Lord than Dunghil Earth When shall I come Lord tell me tell me when What must I tarry Threestore Years and Ten My thirsty Soul cannot hold out till then Come dearest Saviour come unlock this Cage Of sinful Flesh lovingly stop the Rage Of my Desires and thou my Pilgrimage Thus have I finish'd the Essay on my own Funeral and have prov'd to I have now finish'd the Essay on my Funeral your Ladyship that my Cell being an Emblem of Death is the fittest place to prepare for Heaven To get ready for Death and the Grave is a matter of great Consequence and no place so fit for it as a Cell where there 's no interruption I don't wonder that ev'ry Man commends Timon for his No place so fit to prepare for Death as a Cell hating of Men for we find so much danger in being in Company that even Adam cou'd not live one Day in it and live Innocent the first News we hear of him after Eve was Associate to him was that he had forfeited his Native Purity for having met with a Female she strait seduc'd him Adam cou'd not live one day in Company live innocent And what follows Why now he must return to that ground out of which he was taken Then being born to dye I love my Cell as 't will transmit me to the Darkness and Oblivion of the Grave and remind me of my own Funeral Neither is this describing my own Funeral without a President for we read of several that have Bury'd themselves in Effigie Being born to dye I love my Cell and have learn'd to dye at their own Funerals The Emperour Adrian entr'd into his Empire by the Port of his Tomb he Celebrates himself his own Funerals and is led in Triumph to his Sepuchre Several that have bury'd themselves in Effigie Now wâ— the Peoples Expectation high For wonted Pomp and glittering Chivalry But lo their Emp'rour doth invite 'em all Not to a Shew but to his Funeral This was self Victory and deserveth more Than all the Conquests he had won before The Emperour Adrian Celebrates himself his own Fun'ral Proud Spirits be ye Spectators of this Funeral Pomp which this great Monarch Adrian Celebrates to Day He invites the Heaven and the Earth to his Exequies since in their view he accompanies his Portraid Skeleton unto the Tomb his Body conducts thither its Shadow the Original the painted Figure Charles the 5th Maximilian the Emperour of the East and several others have done the like till a Metamorphosis be made both of one and the other Oh glorious Action where Garlands of Cypress dispute the Preheminence with Laurel and Palm But Adrian is not the only Person that has been buried in Essigie for Charles the Fifth long before the Resignation of his Empire caus'd a Sepulchre to be made him with all its funeral Furniture which was privately carryed about with him wherever he went Maximilian the Emperour did the same and wou'd often follow his Coffin to the Grave in a Solemn Manner We also read that Iohn Patriarch of Alexandria while he was Living and in Health caus'd his Monument to be Built but not to be Finisht for this Reason that upon solemn Days when he performed Divine-Service he might be put in mind by some of the Clergy in these Words Sir your Monument is yet unfinish'd command it to be finisht for to Morrow you 're to Celebrate your own Funeral When the Emperrour of the East was newly chosen no Person had Liberty to speak to him before the Stone-Cutter had shew'd him several sorts of Marble Genebald Bp of Laudanum lay in a Bed made like a Coffin The Study of Vertue is the best Preparation for Death and ask'd him of which his Majesty wou'd be pleas'd to have his Monument made And many others in perfect Health have thus attended their own Funerals Genebald Bp. of Laudanum lay in a Bed made like a Coffin for 7 Years together and â—da a Woman of great Piety long before her Death caus'd her Coffin to be made which twice a Day she filled with Bread and Meat and gave to the Poor And certainly the Study of Vertue is the best Preparation for Death But we need not look into Ancient Times for Persons that have provided for their own funerals when our present Age abounds with so many Instances of this Nature I shall first Instance in the Reverend Mr. Baxter who Dates most of his Books from the Brink of the Grave Being in Mr. Baxter drew up his own Funeral Sermon my Quarters says this Pious Divine far from home but so extreme Languishing by the sudden loss of about a Gallon of Blood and having no Acquaintance about me nor any Book but my Bible and Living in continual Expectation of Death I bent my Thoughts on my everlasting Rest and because my Memory through extreme Weakness was imperfect I took my Pen In his Book called The Saints everlasting Rest. and began to draw up my own funeral Sermon or some Helps for my own Meditations of Heaven to sweeten both the rest of my Life and my Death I cou'd next tell your Ladyship of a Gentleman who Markt all his Plate with a Death's-head My own Mother would often visit that Grave where she desir'd to the Buried Mr. Thorp being in Debt Other late Instances of Pious-men who have kept their Coffins by ' em retreats to the Mint where he falls to Writing a Poem on himself which he calls a Living-Clegy and invites all his Creditors to his Funeral to lament his Death I have no Reason to do this for I have taken that care that if any come to my Funeral that I 'm oblig'd to they may have Cause rather to lament the loss of my Life than any thing they can lose by me Mr. Stephens of Lothbury kept his Coffin by him several Years Mrs. Parry of Monmouth did the same and so did Mrs. Collins 'till Mr. Thorp's Living-Esegy her Husband was Buryed in it I don't pretend to live up to these Examples but I 've already purchast a â—rave and in these Sheets I 'm following my Hearse to it and I hope this Essay on my Funeral will remind Mr. Stephens kept a Memento of Death in his own House me of Death when I 'm most Tempted to forget it but that I may not I shall ev'ry Day my self make funeral Processions I mean visit in Meditation every Hour my Grave There is no fooling with Life when 't is once turn'd beyond Thirty and therefore I wou'd now Dâ—lly Celebrate my own Funeral and invite to my Exequies Ambition Avarice and all other I would now daily Celebrate my own Funeral Passions wherewith I may be attainted to the end that I may be a Conquerour even by my own proper Defeat For when a Man yields to the Meditation of