ESSAIES VPON THE FIVE SENSES with a pithie one vpon DETRACTION Continued VVith sundry Christian Resolues full of passion and deuotion purposely composed for the zealously-disposed By RICH BRATHWAYT Esquire Mallem me esse quà m viuere mortuum LONDON Printed by E G for Richard Whittaker and are to be sold at his shop at the Kings head in Paules Church-yard 1620. TO THE RIGHT EMINENT FAVOVRER and furtherer of all noble and free-borne studies Sr HENRY YELUERTON Atturney Generall accomplished happinesse SIR I Haue long sought the expressioÌ„ of my thoughts which haue euer with all sinceritie tendred them yours but how infirme is conceit without further demonstration Loue is a deepe effect of the soule which vndiscouer'd struggles yea strangles herselfe till shee be deliuer'd I haue many times purposed to offer some vowes next to him whose diurnall prouidence if nought else should induce and his Maiestie whose Halcyon-raigne makes vs happy vnto your Selfe to giue argument of my loue the exquisite Idea of humane life and now haue I seconded what I intended though not in that perfection as my intirest wishes aymed It is a great defect and I haue noted it not in will but worke nor in purpose but power to see so many extended desires limit their issue to leane effects which fareth vsually to best-affected dispositions where affectionatest thoughts are buried in silence for want of a tongue to discouer them I will say nothing for much speech rather argues affectation than intimacie of affection here be certaine Essaies or Obseruations or what you will dilating vpon the fiue Senses whereto as to their proper Obiects and Subiects they are limited where you shall finde as questionlesse you haue found in your selfe the eares choicest harmonie to be Gods glory the eyes cleerest vision his contemplation the noses sweetest posie the odours of his mercy the tastes delightfull'st fullnes meditation of his goodnesse the Touches mouingst action the feeling of his Passion Many subiects I confesse excellently composed whose Title deriues their essence from Essaies but few restrained to these Obiects which the devout Father termes those windowes which open to all vnbounded libertie organs of weale or woe happy if rightly tempered sinister if without limit For in what erre wee and take not the occasion as primitiue source from one of these The fable of the Syrens had allusion to the eare of Ixion to the eye of Atalanta to the taste of Mirrha to the smell of Semele to the touch where the eare not temperately restrained was soone inchanted the eye lightly affected was to misery exposed the taste for want of due relishing foyled her that was vanquishing the smell too rankly breathing brought it selfe to perishing the touch too highly aspiring through her ambition fell to ruine These were excellent types and not vnbeseeming the purest and piercingst eye now it rests that I draw in my sailes least my gate be too great for my worke onely thus much I may confidently say If my Presumption err my thoughts replie It is my loue that errs it is not I. may I euer so direct my subiect as to render you content whose deseruing parts make me honour you more then that title of honour which is conferred on you vowing to rest Yours in duest obseruance Rich Brathwaite An aduertisement to the devout Reader vpon the vse of the fiue SENSES LEnd here thine eare of zealous attenâ—ion fixe here thine eye of inward contemplation that following the sauour of thy Sauiours oyntments and tasting how sweet he is in goodnes thou may vnfainedly be touched with remorse of conscience Farewell THESES OR Generall rules drawne by Art from the line of Nature tried by the touchstone of infallible experience and applied as obseruances to these present times hauing reference to the fiue Sences proper subiects to which they are restrained Of Seeing 1. ESSAY THough the eye of my bodie allude to the eye of my soule yet is the eye of my soule darkned by the eye of my bodie where sence inclines to concupiscence affection to affectation and that part the curious modell of the eye which ought of it selfe to be a directrice to all other Sences becomes the principall organ of error to the affections there is a motiue of thankfulnes in the eye of man more than in the eye of any other creature a muscle which lifteth the eye vpward whereas others be more depressed bending downeward Why should man then fix the eye of his delight on the creature hauing his eye made to looke vp to his Creator The eye of our bodie is like the orbe of the world it moueth in the head as the Sunne in the firmament take away the Sunne and there is darknes by the depriuation of the eye there ensueth blindnes Conceits by nature ripest are euer wandringst and the eye of all parts most eminent is to obiects of all kindes most extended though I gaze till mine eye be dazled yet is the desire of mine eye neuer satisfied as the eye of all other Sences is most needfull so of all others it is most hurtfull it findes an obiect of affection pretending Loue when her ayme is cleane contrary peruerted by lust there is no passage more easie for the entry of vice than by the cranie of the eye there shee hath first acceptance facilest entrance and assuredst continuance She hath first acceptance because by the eye first entertained facilest entrance because of all others easiest to be induced and assuredst continuance because once perswaded not to be by any motiue afterwards restrained There is nothing so litle that hath such diuersitie of operations attending it being moued by the obiect that it lookes vpon to loue or hate Passions of the minde receiue their greatest impression by the eye of the bodie and soonest are they allayed when the eye is most temperate If the eye chance to be restrained and want an obiect outwardly it makes it self a mirror represented inwardly and sometimes Narcissus-like doates for want of a substance on an imaginarie shadow it is iealous and that is the cause it is euer prying into others secrets He is a wise man that carries his eyes in his head making them his Sentinels but he is foolish that sends them out like spies to betray his soule to the obiects of vanitie I haue heard some wish that some space before their death they might be depriued of their sight inferring that the motions of the Soule were aptest for inward contemplation when the eye of the bodie was least conuersant in outward delectations It is true but why should the principallst motiue and organ of thanks-giuing be an occasion to the minde of erring I haue eyes to direct me by obiects outwardly mouing to the affections of the soule inwardly working It is against reason that the greater light should be extinguished by the lesser the eye of the soule by the eye of the bodie A candle burnes the darkest when the Sun beames shut out the brightest so
there shall I learne how to liue how to die for my Creator while she how to loue how to dye her colour different from what was giuen her by her Maker Hee that seeks to preuent that which cannot be auoyded flies into Adams groue to sconce himselfe from Gods iudgment I finde this approued when I labour to be exempted from the stroke of Death which can by no meanes be preuented whose doome as it is certaine so is his date vncertaine knocke he will but at what time I know not I will therefore so set all things in order before he come that he may finde me prouided when he comes I would be loth to be taken napping I will therefore so addresse my selfe euery houre that I may cheerfully embrace death in my last houre receiuing him not with feare as a guest that will be of necessitie harboured but with a friendly wellcome as one by whom I shall be to a secure harbour conducted Death as he is importunate so is he iminent fearefull to the rich but cheerefull to the poore for affliction breeds a loathing in liuing an accomplished content in dying knowing that there is an end of miserie apportioned by Death which was not granted to man during life I wish so to liue that my life may be an argument that I did liue sith life without employment the essence of mans life hath more affinitie with death than life As my God is Alpha and Omega being my Alpha begun in the kingdome of grace so he will be my Omega accomplished in the kingdom of glory the last day of my liuing the first day of my raigning the houre of my bodies discention into earth the houre of my soules ascention into heauen FINIS The heauenly Exercise of the fiue Sences couched in a diuine Poem LEt eye eare touch tast smell let euery Sence Employ it selfe to praise his prouidence Who gaue an eye to see but why was 't giuen To guide our feet on earth our soules to heauen An Eare to heare but what not iests o' th' time Vaine or prophane but melodie diuine A touch to feele but what griefes of our brother And t' haue a fellow feeling one of other A tast to relish what mans soueraigne blisse Come taste and see the Lord how sweet he is A smell to breath and what flowers that afford All choice content the odours of his word If our fiue Sences thus employed be We may our Sauiour smell tast touch heare see Vpon his Resolues MAy I resolue so my resolues expresse That th' world may see I am what I profess May Earth be my least care my heart on him Whose crosse's my crowne whose Sonne did salue my sin THE AVTHORS OPINION OF MARRIAGE Deliuered in a satisfying Character to his friend SIR as I am no Timon so am I no marriage-affecting Libertine I will labour therefore to satisfie your demands exactly making experience my directresse whose late familiaritie hath instructed me in this positiue Doctrine As it repenteth me not to know it now so it litle repenteth me not to haue knowne it before now for as the present estate adds to my content so my former want perhaps kept me from discontent I perceiue no such thing as bondage in marriage onely a restraint from Batchler-sensualitie which merits not the name of seruitude but libertie Vpon consideration had of two estates I account mariage concurring neerer with perfection and I ground my opinion vpon no worse probabilitie than the Arithmeticians maxime Numbers haue their beginning but not perfection from vnities yet exclude I not these two indiuidually vnited from that incomparable effect of marriage vnitie Content I finde more accomplished where mindes are consorting for singlenesse includes rather the condition of an Anchorite than of one affecting societie This better for procreation That for contemplation There is no felicitie if earth may be said to enioy it like a fellow-helper no fellow-helper equall to a faithfull bosom-friend I am neither for committing secrets nor concealing them till I finde an aptnesse to conceale or faith to reserue I finde Mysogenes opinion grosse and erroneous touching the secrecie of a woman a faithfull wife cannot chuse but be a good Secretarie Shee makes her husbands reputation her principall subiect and chuseth rather to dye than it should dye Her acquaintance is not popular nor craues shee rather to be seene what she weares than to be knowne what shee is Vertue is her best habit and her garnish is beholden more to Nature than Art shee affects no colours doing well without pretence of glory affecting what is good without desire of applause I haue bin in a strange error and it much repents me of it where imagination suggested to me wedlocke could not be without some aspersion of lust for I perceiue the sanctitie and puritie of the rite adds more to content than the outward delight it relisheth more of the Spirit than the flesh he that feeles an other effect in marriage he is more brutish than reasonable The best purchase is a good wife and the worst is her contrary I haue commended Arminius opinion and haue long embraced it whose conceit was so much remoued from the affection of marriage as he censured him dead to earths-comforts that tooke himselfe to any other bed-fellow than his owne minde to converse with but I exclaime now vpon that heresie I finde my minde strengthned by conference and that proceeds with best grace and consonance from a faithfull mate I will not trust her with my bodie whom I dare not make partner of my minde and though the excellencie of the one surpasse the frailtie of the other yet will I not commend the one where I dare not commit the other For frailtie of Sexes I conceiue how apt man is to iudge sinisterly of the weaker vessell and I impute it either to a want of Braines in that they cannot diue into the excellencie of so pure and exquisite a composition or some hard hap they haue had in making choice of such infirme creatures I haue found one though weake by condition yet firme in her affection making her resolues so vndoubtedly approued by him she loues as she hath vowed to engrosse her loue to none saue him she onely loues her content is so setled as she scornes to haue it diuided for she knowes that a heart diuided cānot liue She professeth her selfe to be not where shee liues but where she loues and the Adamant which drawes her to affection is the perswaded ground she intertaines of her husbands disposition which is too choice to be popular and too relenting not to be wonne as meere protestations were not of force to winne her so flatterie was too palpable a suter to woe her Content is worth a kingdome and my kingdome is my owne familie where I make euery day my account casting vp in the euening what I did in the day I thinke my day well bestowed if employed in the seruice of
God of Sion hath prescribed mee a forme to be angry for the zeale of Gods house wherin is no sin The Concupiscible is as the rest of it selfe indifferent and as a line in a circle equally tending to either part of good or euill yet so depraued is man become that Medea-like he is euer more prompt to take the worse rather than the better here the couetous miser couets to engrosse an huge estate to himselfe making his purse the diuels mouth and with his hydroptick conscience though euer purchasing yet euer coueting Here the ambitious man displaies his own humor to the eye of the world of whom I may say as was once said of one puffed vp with the like spirit Quod habere non vult est valde bonum quod esse non vult hoc est bonū that is good which he desires not to haue that is good which he would not haue come to passe so exorbitant is the desire of the ambitious as what he desires is nothing lesse then vertuous here the Merchant aymes at an exceeding gaine in trafficke he sliceth the seas opposeth himselfe to all dangers all distempratures of winde and weather euer vsing this concupiscible part desiring a happy fraught for his aduenture Here the Warriours desire is confined to gaine by the spoile of an other euen the basest mechanicke offices be conuersant in this facultie ayming at some especiall end whereto their labors be directed To couet things temporarie planting our affections on them is discrepant from the right vse of this excellent facultie there is a good couetousnes and it is heauenly there is a good theft and it is heauenly there is a good ambition and it is heauenly The good and godly couetous couet not with Demas nor Magus nor Demetrius they couet righteousnes sobrietie temperance yea all vertues which confer to humane perfection there is but one pearle of esteeme and to purchase it they sell all that they haue this is a happy couetousnesse a glorious merchandise the good and godly thiefe cares not for embezling earthly treasure for he knowes mothes will corrupt it rust will consume it and continuance of time will deface it it is that immortall treasure which he would steale for he obserues how it is subiect to no alteration but continues in the same state euer Againe he reads the kingdom of heauen suffers violence and rather then he will loose it with all violence he meanes to pursue it The good and godly ambitious ayme not at worldly honour but as a subiect incomparably aboue all externall seeming happinesse for they consider how it is better to be a doore-keeper in the Lords house than to be conversant with Princes Happy theefe whose theft is heauen blessed couetousnesse to couet heauen glorious ambition to aspire to heauen may this Theft be my soules discipline this Couetousnesse her exercise this Ambition her prize so like the good Theefe may shee be crowned with the godly-couetous Zacheus rewarded and with the heauenly-aspiring soule exalted How happy shall I be in this Sence the life of humane essence if by vsing these three faculties of my soule sincerely I shall at last attaine to the state of glory yet how much is this Sence especially conuersant in these three subiects perverted and violently wrested from her own nature where such as desire to touch the Arke make this Sence the instrument of their fall others Gehezai-like whose beating pulse will not forgo the touch of gold though they purchase it by a leprosie O how many fall by this Sence of life making it their sence of death Sodoms apples were but touched and to dust and ashes they were reduced the fairest of all our vanities be but Sodoms apples they cannot endure the touch for they are painted and adulterate Far be my Sence estranged from so prophane a subiect Vertue as it needs no colour to garnish it so can it endure the Touch and neere be changed It is shee that shall attend my Sence so as touching her intellectually my soule by so sweet an apprehension may be incorporate in her indiuidually Here is my liuing Sence well satisfied and in this harbour planted she will neuer desire to be remoued for affliction is ended discontent cheered and a perfect rest without interruption by her that is the true essence of delight proposed Of Tasting 4. ESSAY THis Sence makes mee weeppe ere I speake of her sith hence came our greefe hence our miserie when I represent her before my eyes my eyes become blinded with weeping remembring my grandame Eue how soone she was induced to taste that shee ought not Hence doe I imagine imagination is the end of man how pure I had bin if this one Sence had not corrupted my pristine innocencie apples are suspicious to me being the first that depraued me I will rather distaste mine owne palate to giue true rellish to my soules appetite than by satisfying the first corrupt the puritie of the latter By the ministerie of this Sence I apprehend the vniuersal delights of this world and as in the Palate so finde I in them a distinct operation Many things hot in the mouth are cold in the stomacke such are wordly pleasures hot they are in the first pursuite or assault and eagerly are they followed but in the stomacke that is when digested and rightly pondered how cold are those Pleasures being attended on by remorse and obserued by repentance Againe hence doe I gather the frailty and breuity of all earthly pleasures Whatsoeuer ministers singular'st content vnto our appetite is no longer satisfieing then in the palate for after going into the stomach that content is done So delights momentany and limitarie to an instant may for the present yeild a satisfaction but how soone be these ioyes extinguished how soone forgotten This Sence cautions me of two Sects the Epicure and Pithagorist the first by too much exceeding the latter by too much restraining the Epicure puts his mony in his belly as the Miser doth his belly in his purse but the Pithagorist neither cares for belly nor purse scrupulously abstayning from that which was ordained for his vse The fiue Sences saith one be our greatest sleepers yet I may affirme that this Sence neuer sleepeth for there is nothing seemingly-sencelesse which she apprehends not either with free taste or distaste Of all others this Sence produceth the diuerst qualities whence it is we say Like lips like lettice where this facultie either by an indisposition of the bodie or a distinct operation in the subiect showes this pleasing and acceptable to one which is noysome and different to an other This Sence must haue the bodie and minde prepared before shee can rightly show her owne power she admits of no distemper suffers no restraint whence it is that we finde by experience where the bodie is not equally disposed this facultie hath much of her operation impaired The best taste is to distaste sin and the worst taste is to
affect that which confers to the soulea distaste of all tastes inherent in all subiects none lesse distinguishing than the hungry-mans taste which may appeare in those miserable famines of Samaria and Ierusalem ratts mice weasels and scorpions were no common mens iunkets where motherly loue renounced her name and became the ruine of that shee should cherish as the Matron Myriam who constrained for her liues supportance though shee had but one sonne killed and rosted him Hence comes it that necessitie hath no law nor hunger needs no sawce Let my Taste be directed by reason and not by sence Reason may enlighten her and make her distinguish of desires but Sence perplexeth her and subiects the better part to a slauish appetite Many haue exceeded in the vse of this Sence but few restrained their desires with moderation More Cleopatra's than Cornelia's more Vitellij than Vticae more Sileni than Salustij ancient and moderne replenish vs with stories of this nature where violent ends euer attended the immoderation of Princes but healthfull liues and ioyfull periods summ'd vp the dayes of the temperate The Venetians giue vs instance of these in themselues amongst which there appeares one more memorable Domenico Syluio his Duchesse was so delicate a woman as she would haue dew gathered to make her Baine withall with many other curious perfumes and tricks yet before her death her flesh did rot so as no creature could come neere her May my Taste be seasoned with no such delicacie let my affection rather disclaime herselfe than vndo my soule by intemperate subiects I will not care so much to taste what I loue as what I hate for I know my selfe more subiect to surfet in the one than in the other I haue tasted most of inferior delights yet in a generall suruey of all my pleasures I cannot chuse but weepe to remember how those delights which I affected produce no other fruit but Repentance The taste of vice to a mortified affection is like sweet meats to him that is in an ague shee is distastfull and becomes more odious in that shee cloaths delight with an habit of wantonnesse I will chuse with holy Hierome to build me a cell in the desart to liue out of the heat of concupiscence rather than by liuing in the eye of the world enthral my reasonable part to the appetite of Sence Taste ingenders delight I will not taste euery thing I like lest late repentance force me to distaste that which I liked I will fore-see the end ere I approue of the means that grounding on a golden meane I may attaine a glorious end No tempting delight shall feede my appetite for as preuention is the life of policie so temptation if consented to is the passage to miserie Fowles of the ayre though neuer so empty-stomackt flie not for foode into open pit-falls Quae nimis apparent retia vitat avis My soule shall imitate the bird that she may escape like the bird out of the hand of the Fowler How happy were I if I would taste nothing but what ministers content to the minde sustayning nature but not oppressing her feeding but not pampering her cheering but not cramming her I haue tasted many liquors yet none like the brinie current of mine eyes teares are best extinguishers of sin preparatiues to remorce motiues to true contrition precious Elixir may thou euer be my drinke in the time of my pilgrimage and quench my thirst of sin with a desire of an heauenly inheritance As the Nurse layeth wormwood or aloes on her pap to waine her childe from sucking so will I sprinkle some bitter thing vpon such things as I affect that my delight may be restrained How full of comfort am I when my taste is directed to a right end and how directed when it is besotted with vanities How far better were it to liue temperate taste all things as indifferent and conclude our dayes in quiet than to haue Diues doom Nabals doale or Balthazar 's fall how far better were it to liue like the Hermit in the desert then like the sensuall Libertine in the world so dissolute what is it to feed lusciously fare daintely tast all things with full satiety when our fare shal be reduced to famine our luscious feeding to Soule-staruing and our Satiety here on earth to our penury for euer in hell it is better to distribute to those that craue vse temperance in what we haue make our posteritie true heyres of what we leaue than to cry in midst of an eternall flame for one small drop to quench our thirst and not be heard for one crum and not be satisfied for one minutes ease and not released Taste may my soule no such dainties as may starue her delighted be my soule but with no such vanities as may corrupt her reioyce may my soule but in no other subiect no other obiect yea her only maker Soe in the tast of this life shall I remember my yeres with bitternesse of heart that my life which is reckned not by yeres but Howres not how many but how good may be as the Tast of sweete smelling odors in the nose-thrills of her Sauiour there is no odour like it no perfume to be compared to it it is a saving sauour a pretious odour and the Saints honour Happy Sence that is thus saincted comfortable taste that is thus renewed and blessed soule that is thus invited Taste and see how sweet the Lord is sweet in his mercies sweet in his promises and sweet in his performance And such is the spirituall sweetnes which euery devout soule conceiueth in the contemplation of eternitie whose ioy is not in the tents of Kedar but in the bowels of her Sauiour not with the inhabitants of Moloc but the glorious seed of Isaac these haue their taste in the greene and flourishing pastures of Gods word distasting the slesh-pots of Aegypt and relishing onely the manna of heauenly Canaan Pleasures which are earthly they neither long for in expecting nor loue when enioying They haue found obstruction in the Sences corporall but free passage in the Sences spirituall They compare worldly-tasting men to those wilde asses which snift the winde their desires extend onely to be thought good dis-esteeming the excellencie of reall goodnesse which maketh man truly happy They obserue foure sorts of men in the world discouered by the eye of wisdome Some are wise but seeme not so some seeme so but are not so some neither are nor seeme some both are and seeme the last these onely partake for as their essence concurrs with their appearance so scorne they to expresse more in semblance than they are in essence if there were no God yet these men would be good and for sin though they wist to vse Seneca's words that neither God nor man knew it yet would they hate it O my taste be thus seasoned my palate thus relished my affections thus marshalled my whole pilgrim-course thus managed that my Taste may
distaste earth rellish heauen after her dissolution from earth enioy her mansion in heauen Of Smelling 5. ESSAY SO prouident hath that great workeman bin of all his creatures as no delight euen in this Tabernacle of earth is wanting to make him more accomplished and though the fiue Sences as that deuout Barnard obserueth be those fiue gates by which the world doth besiege vs the Deuill doth tempt vs and the flesh ensnare vs yet in euery one of these if rightly employed is there a peculiar good and benefit redounding to the comfort of the soule no lesse than to the auaile and vtilitie of the bodie For euen by the Smell as by the conduit by which is conveyed vnto vs the dilated fountaine of Gods mercie doe we apprehend all varieties of flowers sootes sweetes which moued the Philosopher to terme this Sence the Harbinger of the Spring Some are of opinion that this peculiar Sence is an occasion of more danger to the body than benefit in that it receiues crude and vnholesome vapours foggie and corrupt exhalations being subiect to any infection it is true but what especiall delights confers it for one of these inconveniences cheering the whole bodie with the sweetest odours giuing libertie to the vitall powers which otherwise would be imprisoned delight to her fellow-Sences which else would be dulled and the sweet breathing ayre which by her is reciued all these as so many arguments of consequence bring vs to a more exact acknowledgment of this Sences excellencie The Smelling is termed the vnnecessariest of all other Sences yet may it be employed in cases of necessitie witnesse Democritus who against the celebration of the feast Buthysia fasted nine dayes sustayning nature onely with the smell of hot bread This Sence of mine shall not be subiected to outward delicacies Let the Courtier smell of perfumes the sleeke-fac'd Lady of her paintings I will follow the smell of my Sauiours oyntments how should I be induced following the direction of reason by such soule-bewitching vanities which rather peruert the refined lustre of the minde than adde the least of perfection to so excellent an essence No let Pigmalion dote on his owne picture Narcissus on his shape Niobe on her numerous progenie my Taste shall be to taste how sweet the Lord is my Touch the apprehension of his loue my sight the contemplation of his glory my eare to accent his praise my smell to repose in the faire and pleasant pastures of his word O comfort truly styled one in that my soule transported aboue herselfe vnites her selfe to be ioyned to her Redeemer The Gardens of the Hesperides warded and guarded by those three daughters of Atlas were pleasant the Gardens of Lucullus fragrant the Groue of Ida eminent yet not comparable to those exquisite pleasures which the diuine pastures comprehend there is that hedged Garden that sealed Well that Bethesda that Eden that Syloe here may the delight of euery Sence be renewed the thirstie satisfied the hungry filled the sicke cured the labourer cheered and the exquisite mirrour of all perfection torrent of euer-flowing bounties Iessaes branch Aarons rod and that flowrie garden of Engaddi represented There is mel in ore melos in aure iubilus in corde honie to the taste melodie to the eare and harmonie to the heart honie which breedes no loathing melodie which is neuer discording harmonie euer agreeing This it is to be ioyned to an heau'nly spouse sending from Paradice pomgranats with the fruits of apples Cypresse Nard Nard and Saffron Fistula and Cinnamon with all the woods of Libanon Mirrh and Aloës with the best oyntments What excellent delights be here proposed what exquisite comforts ministred it is sufficient for me to admire them in this pilgrimage enioying them by contemplation which after many pilgrim dayes I shall possesse in fruition There is no Pomander to smell at like the oyntment of my Sauiour he is all sweet all comfort all delight sweet in his mercy comfortable in his promise and delightfull in his presence in his mercy a father in his comfort a redeemer and in his delight a replenisher from his mercy and compassion is deriued abundantly fulnes of consolation from his comfort or promise an assured expectation and from his delight of himselfe a plenarie possession O would to God with happy Ioseph I had taken downe my Sauiour from the crosse embalmed him in the spices or graces of my soule had layen him in the new sepulchre of my heart that at least attending or following my IESVS my obedience might haue ministred something to so heauenly obsequies For how should I think but by the smell of his oyntments my sin-sicke and soule soiled conscience should be cured who had power to raise dead Lazarus stinking in his graue hauing bene foure dayes buried O that I might goe to the mountaine of Myrrh to the hill of Frankincense to be ioyned to him whose oyntments are aboue all spices how should I want any thing being so enriched how should I feare any thing being so armed or how wish any thing hauing whatsoeuer I desired Sweet-smelling perfume of selected vertues pure streame of diuine graces and amiable beauty neuer blemished no delight shall withhold me no affection seduce me no inordinate pleasure entice me no sweet smell draw me I haue tyed my selfe to my spouse in all my Sences being He that ministers refreshment to all my Sences If I eye any thing it shall be my Sauiours crosse if I heare any thing it shall be my Sauiours praise if I touch any thing it shall be my Sauiours wounds if I taste any thing it shall be my Sauiours comforts if I smell any thing it shall be my Sauiours oyntments Blessed eye that hath such an obiect blessed eare that heares such a concord blessed touch that hath such a subiect blessed taste to haue such a rellish blessed smell to haue such a sweetnesse As the Nose is the conduit by which wee receiue breath so should it be the conduit by which we receiue grace by it we breath may wee rather not breath then employ it not in breathing praise to our maker As the Taste and Smell haue two distinct offices yet by an affinitie vnited for the obstruction of the one is the annoyance of the other so may they be linked in one consort in the contemplation of their Creator that as the one is to be employed to taste and see how sweet the Lord is so the other by following the smell of her Sauiours oyntments may at last attaine to the mountaine of eternal spices FINIS ORNATISSIMO ET LECTISSIMO VIRO I. B. de L EQVITI AVRATO PVBLICAE PACIS IVRISQVE STVDIOSISSIMO Pariterque H. B. FILIO INTER SVPERSTITES ORTV MAXIMO TALI PATRE NATO DIGNISSIMO INDOLIS OPTIMAE SPEI AMPLISSIMAE MENTIS TENACISSIMAE RICHARD BRATHWAYT HANC DETRACTIONIS NARRATIVN CVLAM IN GRATAM ANIMI MEMORIAM INVITA QUORUNDAM INVIDIA candide condite intime integre D. D.
should the eye of the bodie subiect her light to the soules beauty that as the Sunne cheeres and renewes by his milde aspect cleeres and purifies by his more piercing reflex so the eye of the soule might cheere the bodie if deiected renew her if decayed and purifie her maleuolent affections if corrupted Lastly as the eye is the bodies guide it should not be made a blinde guide it should lead vs and not in our straitings leaue vs as it chalkes vs out our way here vpon earth so it should cheere vs in our convoy vnto heauen Of Hearing 2. ESSAY HEARING is the organ of vnderstanding by it we conceiue by the memorie we conserue and by our iudgement wee revolue as maine riuers haue their confluence by small streames so knowledg her essence by the accent of the eare As our eare can best iudge of sounds so hath it a distinct power to sound into the centre of the heart It is open to receiue ministring matter sufficient for the minde to digest some things it relisheth pleasantly apprehending them with a kinde of enforced delight some things it distastes and those it either egesteth as friuolous or as a subiect of merriment meerly ridiculous In affaires conferring delight the voluptuous man hath an excellent eare in matters of profit the worldly-minded man is attentiue and in state-deportments the Politician is retentiue The eare is best delighted when any thing is treated on which the minde fancieth and it is as soone cloyed when the minde is not satisfied with the subiect whereof it treateth As a salue faithfully applied oportunately ministred and successiuely continued affords comfort to the Patient so good instructions deliuered by the mouth receiued by the eare and applyed to the heart will in time proue motiues to the most impoenitent They say the obiect of the eare to wit Melodie is the soueraing'st preseruatiue against Melancholy which opinion is true if grounded on the melodie of the heart for externally sounding accents though they allay the passion for an instant the note leaues such an impression as the succeeding discontent takes away the mirth that was conceiued for the present The eare is an edifying sence conveying the fruit of either morall or diuine discourse to the imagination and conferring with iudgment whether that which it hath heard seeme to deserue approbation A judicious and impartiall eare obserues not so much who speakes as what is spoken it admires not the externall habit with the garish vulgar but the force of reasons with what likelyhood produced If Herod speake hauing a garment glittering like the sunne the light-headed multitude will reuerence Herod and make him a deitie not so much for his speech for that is common as for his apparell to them an especiall motiue of admiration Such as these the common sort I meane haue their eares in their eyes whatsoeuer they heare spoken if they approue not of the person it skils not such a neere affinitie haue the eare and the eye in the vulgar A discreet eare seasons the vnderstanding marshals the rest of the sences wandring renewes the minde preparing her to all difficulties cheeres the affections fortifying them against all oppositions those be the best Forts and impregnablest whose seats most opposed to danger stand in resistance against all hostile incursions brauely bearing themselues with honour in the imminencie of danger Such be the eares they are planted in the high-rode-street and exposed to a world of incursions Scandall than which nothing more swift nothing more frequent shoots her arrowes detracting by aspersion from the excellentest modell of perfection yet a resolued eare like an other Antomedon tempers the heat of her passion by recourse had to herselfe and the sinceritie of her owne reputation There is no discord so harsh to a good eare as the discord of the affections when they mutine one against another for shee heares how a kingdome diuided cannot stand I heare many things I would not heare yet being enforced to heare them I meane to make this vse of them that hearing what moueth detestation to me in an other I may be cautioned not to represent that to an other in my selfe As the Martin will not build but in faire houses so a good eare will not entertaine any thing with an approued iudgment but what is faire in it selfe and confers an equall benefit vnto others As of all vertues none more eminent than Iustice so no sence of all others more accommodate than Hearing vnto Iustice. It is an excellent commendation which the Historian giueth to that princely Monarch and father to the worlds sole Monarch Philip of Macedon that after hearing of the Plaintffe he would euer keepe one eare open for the Defendant a prerogatiue princely and worthy the management of her affaires that is princesse of all vertues But as best things peruerted proue the worst so fares it in Attention many haue eares who Mydas-like are depressed to earths obiects erect them how can they hauing their attention fixed on the basest of subiects with how prepared an eare come these to the prediction of a scarce Summer how apt these be to heare report of a young scape-thrift ready to vnstrip himselfe of a faire inheritance vpon any termes how vnworthy tidings these be for so diuine an Herald The Eare is one of the actiuest laborioust faculties of the soule pitty then it is that the soule should be by her intangled or by her meanes to such base subiects enthralled being for the succour of the soule principally ordained I haue thought long time with my selfe how I should imploy this Sence best for my soules aduantage wherein I tooke a suruey of all those subiects to which this peculiar sence of Hearing was especiallest extended and I found the Eare much delighted with Musicke but finding it but an aërie accent breathed and expired in one instant I thought there was no abiding for my attentiue Sence fitter to be employed in a delight more permanent Presently I made recourse to the acts of Princes and gaue my Eare to the discourse of fore-past exploits Subiects I found well deseruing my attention mouing me to imitation and eying my own weaknesse with their puissance forcing me to admiration But retyring to my selfe with this expostulatorie discourse Where be those eminent and memorable Heroës whose acts I haue heard recounted where those victorious Princes whose names yet remaine to posteritie recorded and hearing no other answer saue that they once were and now are not I wayned my eare from such a subiect as onely had power to giue vnto the memorable a name but no essentiall being From hence trauersing my ground I descended a descent I may terme it being a studie of lesse height though of more profit to the discourse of the Lawes where I found many things in their owne nature worthily approued by the Prescription of time and Proscription of conscience to be strangely depraued here me thought I saw the Poets Arachne spinning webs
of so different a warpe that great Flies might easily breake out while litle ones suffered strange vnctions able to cast Iustice on an Euphuus slumber motions made to moue commotions twixt party and party Here was no employment for my Sence desiring rather a direction in her way to eternitie than to haue partiall-guilt corruption her best Solicitor in this vale of misery Whilest I was thus roving seeking for a Pylot to giue free and safe waftage to my vnharbored Sence at last after many tempestuous occurrences my afflicted mindes perturbations I fixt anchor and by the direction of Reason got what I sought for a quiet harbour And where may I limit or how confine the straying circle of many perplexed and confused thoughts wherewith I am surprized within so blest a period Not by the appetite for that slaues the best of man to vnworthiest ends nor by the obedience of my owne proper will for that I found perverted by ayming at indirect obiects nor by ambition which alwaies as Pindarus defined her was accompanied with danger in assaying impatience in prosecuting and an opposition of expectance in atchieuing nor by the Vsurers Calender for there is Auarice that decrepit infirmitie of old age haling many a poore-prodigall Wittall cursing and an inward corasiue worse than any outward affliction tormenting Nor by the Courtiers fawning where times be obserued fashions imitated good-cloths admired and the onely-generous qualitie is to be phantasticall-idle Nor by the country-Farmers engrossing where many a poore Orphans teare accusing many a desolate widowes complaint contesting and the hunger staru'd soule witnessing make him of all others most wretched in that his Nabal-securitie makes him obdurate These are not guides to lead my directing Sence to her harbour she is not for earth her Musicke is mixt with too many discords The worlds harmonie to a good Christian eare may be compared to that of Archabius the trumpeter who had more giuen him to cease than to sound so harsh is the sound of this world in the eare of a diuinely-affected soule A good eare will not say as the powerfull auditor or incorrigible sinner saith to his Preacher Speake to vs pleasing things speake to vs pleasing things for these must haue Orphuus melodie whom the Cyconian women tore in peeces because with his musicke he corrupted and effeminated their men These are not like those Deuils whereof Guydo reporteth that cannot abide Musicke these are contrary Deuils for they delight in nothing but the musicke of Flatterie These obiects are not made to harbour me my pitch is higher my thoughts more vnbounded my eare more arrected and the consideration of mine owne imbecillitie more apparent it is heauen she aymes at the Angels with which shee would consort and that melodie of the superior powers which yeeldeth to her eare the absolutest concord shee shall sound forth therefore tuning her voyce by her eare the vnworthinesse of earths affections compared to that excellencie of reall delights planted aboue First shall be that delight which depriued the first Angell of his eternall delight to wit Pride whereby we become like Cinnamon-tree whose rinde is better than all the bodie Hence is it we desire to reforme the workmanship of God becomming polishers of nature garnishers of corruption and proud of our shame And how should we thinke that God will respect vs who haue disfigured his owne similitude and so disguised our selues as he can hardly know vs There is no workman that regardeth or esteemeth his owne workmanship after it is translated and transposed by others and wee becomming creatures of our owne making shadowing natiue modestie with a dissembling blush seeme to translate that amiable forme and proportion which was giuen vs by our Creator to an vgly and promiscuous habit extracted like Flaccus crow from the phantasticke invention of all countries The ancient law obserued that such as had a yellow locke vpon their leprous parts were not to consort with other people though we want that yellow locke the apparent token of leprosie yet we haue a yellow band and other running sores of vanitie Far be this vice from the mansion of my soule lest her speedy surprisall depriue me of all and euer may the consideration of my owne weaknesse restraine me from the least conceit of aspiring arrogance Next of pleasure shall be sensuall delights the vaine obeying of our owne affections the soules bane the bodies vlcer and the Deuils watch bell We are rocked asleepe and sit dandled on the knee of an impudent strumpet as Babels subversion proceeded from the height of her sinne so this linke of impietie by which death and ruine is haled along to vs promiseth subuersion to the possessor the best reward her serpentine embraces adulterate affections and obsequious delights can propose to her attendants Shall my eare be intangled with her soules staine or prostitute her attention to so odious a subiect shall my Sence of Direction tend to my subversion or the bodies instructresse like a blinde guide throw her headlong to confusion No I will not engage so excellent an hostage as my soule for the bitter-sweet of a repenting pleasure Reason tells me that pleasure merits onely that title when it is relished with vertue nor can sensualitie satiate the delight of the intellectuall part when it is confined to immerited respects This I will make my position in the bent of my resolution I meane onely so far to obey my delights as the after-hope of my soule may not be abridged the future ioy in the expectance of soueraigne happinesse impayred but that my Sence to reason subiected may in the sweet concord of an inward contemplation drawne from her creator apprehend an exceeding pleasure to haue done any thing pleasing to her maker Can I finde in rich coffers the misers idols any true obiect to plant this excellent organ ô no the corruption of coine is the generation of an vsurer or a lowsie begger For the first I loue my soule too wel for so meane base a traffick to hazard a gem so incomparable heau'n is the Tabernacle I desire to dwell in but so far is that Mansion from the conceit of our English Iew or oppressing Vsurer as he chuseth rather to liue in the tents of Kedar with the depraued issue of Dathan than by hauing Lazarus scrip to be carried after to Abrahams bosome Rightly was his experience grounded who said that the multitude of Physicians and Lawyers are the signes of a distempered state but the number of Vsurers and their factors is the argument of a fatall disease raigning For the second to wit Beggery I know not what to thinke on 't It is a beneficiall trade where impudence marshals it but a shamefast beggar saith Homer neuer yet could liue on his profession I could wish a more temperate harbour neither too rich lest the fulnes of my estate make me insolent nor too poore lest the consideration of my want force me to some course exorbitant
Pauperis est saith the Poet numerare pecus but boni est saith Dauid numerare dies it shall be my arithmeticke my golden number But stay let me reduce my thoghts and in the consideration of my distempred and indisposed affections propound to my selfe a forme which I may obserue a line by which I may direct my course and a centre where I may end my distance than a Caueat which may restraine me an obseruance to conduct me and a reason drawne from an inconvenience to divert me and thus I expostulate why would I not be rich why no extortioner why no oppressor why no biting vsurer Rich I would not be lest I should admire my owne fortunes and after admiration fall to idolatrize and then where should I plant my future expectance it is hard for a Cammell to goe through the eye of a needle and more difficult for a gold-adoring Mammonist to enter heauen Extort I would not for I know there be vialls of wrath ready to be powred downe on the Extortioner and though the wicked for a while flourish like the greene Bay-tree time will come when his place is not to be found Oppresse I cannot when I heare the Orphans teare the widdowes curse the poore mans prayer the hunger-strau'd soule for I know the orphans teares will be botled the widdowes curse effected the poore mans praier receiued the hunger-staru'd soule reuenged Vse my money but vsure it I will not ten at hundred shall not depriue mee of ten hundred times more glory to purchase here a litle treasure subiect to corruption and transitorie Quòd foenorari est hominē occidere to play Vsurer is to play the murtherer saith the Orator Cicero which may appeare if euer euen in the ruines of this time where Hospitalitie which was the glory of England is vanished and Seruing-men who by reason of their education and number were the strength of the I le to suppresse the barbarous tumults of all turbulent heads are turned to a few garded pages coloured like so many Butter-flies Our Ancestors established by their lawes that the Theefe should be censured to make restitution two-fold but the Vsurer foure-fold so odious was this trade to ancient times when onely the light of nature shone vpon them Yea an Vsurer by an old Canon was denied christian buriall and more prophane than allowed was his opinion who concluded in his owne behalfe that no profession merited more exemption than Vsurie his reason was it was impartiall and respected no degrees his conclusion was true but his inference erroneous for it taketh fast hold of Cities Villages Ports and obscure Hamlets and laies vnhallowed fist on persons of all qualitie euen from the Pere to the poore oyster-crying-wife Hence must I draw my caution not to touch pitch lest I be defiled their conversation is infectious their conscience a very gulph or charuell-house to swallow and consume devoure and exhaust all at once The Indian Anthrophagoi are not halfe so rauenous I will walke in a more modest path both to cheere my affections with a satisfying desire of competence and to blesse my selfe from such canker-wormes as prune the vertuous blossoms of others to feede a posteritie of prodigall rake-hels my eare must be tuned to another note that my edifying Sence may discharge her peculiar office not to affect nouelties or chuse varieties but to dedicate her inward operation to the mindes comfort to wit the Melodie of heauen Of Touching 3. ESSAY THis facultie of all others is most indiuiduate it inheres in the subsistence of man and cannot be separated or taken away without the detriment or vtter decay rather of the subiect wherein it is it may therefore be called the liuing Sence though in diuers diseases occurrences also oft-times befalling the subiect wherin it is may be depriued of it as we read of Athenagoras of Argus who neuer felt any paine when stung by a Scorpion This Sence hath a certaine affinitie with the essence of man and therefore should be employed in such things as confer to the glory of that Essence many abuse it who belulled with the lethargie of sin and securitie neuer turne their eye to a serious contemplation of the supreme glory or a consideration of their owne frailtie they know not how Gods deferring is the more to infer how hells torments were no torments if invention might conceit them These are they that are depriued of the spirituall vse of this Sence crying with the sluggard yet a litle and yet a litle turning in their bed like a dore on her hinges their Delay like a pulley draweth on them vengance like a mighty engine razeth downe the fortresse of their soule and like a consuming winde or violent tempest breaketh downe that faire Cedar which was planted for the heauenly Libanon When neither the white flagg nor the red which Tamberlaine aduanced at the siege of any Citie would be accepted of the blacke flagg was set vp which signified there was no mercy to be looked for It is strange that man endewed with reason the ornament of the minde should become so blinded with a terrestriall rest which indeed is no rest but a torment as to forget his owne composition being made of no better temper than clay and as a vessell in the hand of the Potter Far more wisely did Agathocles that prince of Sicilie who commanded his Image to be made with the head armes and bodie of brasse but the leggs of earth to intimate of how weake and infirme a ground his imperiall person subsisted Weake indeed and of as weake accomplishment for what can man doe wherein he may glory or attribute the least of so exquisite a worke to his cunning if we glory in any thing it is our shame which is no glory but a reproch for who but such as haue a fore-head glazed with impudencie will triumph in their owne defects or boast of their owne imperfections doth the Peacocke glory in his foule feete doth he not hang downe the taile when he lookes vpon them doth the Bucke hauing befiltht himselfe with the female lift vp his horns walke proudly to the lawnes ô no he so hateth himselfe by reason of the stench of his commixture that all drooping and languishing into some solitary ditch he with drawes himselfe and takes soile and batheth till such time as there fall a great shower of raine when being throughly washed and cleansed he posteth backe to his foode If such apprehension of shame appeare in brute beasts what should his be that is made Lord and gouernour of all beasts is this liuinge sence this vitall faculty this indiuiduate propertie made a rubb in our way to immortality Doth that by which we liue cut from vs all means of liuing hereafter miserable then is our Sence when without all sence of sinne we become depriued of the sence of glory This Sence of Touch may be reduced to those three obiects wherein our vnderstanding is
summarily emploied the Intelligible the Irascible and the Concupiscible The Intelligible whereby we apprehend the end of our creation whereby we iudge of causes and events touching with the apprehensiue hand of iudgement what may concerne vs and the state wherein we are interested The Irascible when stirred vp with ire or indignation we prosecute reuenge not suffering the least disgrace without an intended requitall The Concupiscible when in an ambitious desire of honour or estate or lustfull satisfaction of our owne illimited affections we couet this or that ardent in pursuing and least contented when obteining that we haue pursued the vnderstanding if rightly seated like a wise Pylot steres the ship saues her from splitting mannaging all things with a prouident respect had of what may come after No Syren can tempt this wise and subtile Vlisses though the sea looke neuer so faire this wise and temperate mariner is suspicious of it knowing Where the Sea lookes the whitest oftimes the periloust rocks and ineuitablest shelfs are seated She sinks plumms and tryes the shaldes whether apt for nauigation or noe in briefe she doth nought without serious premeditation fore-thinks of the meane ere she attaine the end She affects not curiosity either in words habit or manners yet vertuously curious how to expresse herselfe truely honourable in all deportments without aspersion of scandall She will not disguise herselfe in an vnhonest couer but affecting Plainenesse teacheth the same rule and precept to her followers which Iesu the sonne of Syrach taught Ne accipias faciem aduersus faciem tuam not to be dooble faced but with sincere plainenesse such as thou art such do thou seeme A rule far more accomodate to the course of vertue and more directly leading to the seate of glory then all the pollicies which euer Machauell yet inuented or the dissembling appearances of all obseruing Timists Though Numa Pompilius in Rome kept the people in awe and subiected them to what tirannous lawes he pleased vnder pretence of conference with Aegeria Minos in Athens vnder colour he was inspired in a certaine hollow caue by Iupiter and Pallas in a counterfeite habit deceaued Claudius in the adoption of Nero. This deuine essence of the soule the vnderstanding part will assume no other forme then as she is knowing her perfection cannot be made more accomplished by anie borrowed colours She vnderstands her selfe to be composed of a more deuine element then to subiect her will to vnworthy ends for she knowes that as the Sence is conuersant in outward things she is seated in inward things not directed by the eye of the Body which is many times deceued but by the eie of the Soule which alwaies aimeth at one certaine scope to wit immortality She considereth the ends which mortality aimes at honour ample territories great possessions popular respect and long life to enioy these without disturbance and she makes vse of these with a penetrating iudgment apprehending wherto the ends of these externallie-seeming goods confer Honour saith she is quickly fading and an aspiring spirit like the loftie Cedar is euer subiect to most danger when like iacks in a virginall or nailes in a wheele the fall of one is the rising of another ample teritories and great possessions saith she are more then nature requireth she is content with a competent and that competency reduced to a very narrow scantling when of all our drosse estate tresure and possessions going downe into the earth nothing shall you take with you you shall carrie no more hence Nisi parua quod vrna capit but a coffin and a winding sheete When Saladine that puissant emperor of Persia with many victorious and successiue battails had extended the limits of his Empire and through the happinesse of his warrs being neuer in any one pitcht field vanquished become the sole terror of the Easterne part at last fell mortally sicke and perceiuing how there was no way but one with him called his Chiefetaine and commanded him hauing bin chiefe Leader in all those prosperous warres which the Emperor had atchieued to take his shrowding-sheet and to hang it vpon a staffe in manner of a banneret and with it to proclaime in the streets of Damascus This is all that Saladine the Emperor of Persia hath left of his many conquests this is all he hath left of all his victories Long life saith shee is not worth desiring since it giues but increase to a multitude of sorrowes she prefers a good life before a long life and esteemes that life best beyond all comparison which is exercised in the vse of her creation Shee concludes with the Philosopher Optimum est aut non omnino nasci aut quà m cito mori making life the Theatre of shame if abused but the eminent passage from a pilgrimage to a permanent Citie if rightly employed To be briefe she meditates of nought affecteth nought entertaineth nought with a free will and a pure consecrated desire but what tastes of the spirit hauing her eare barracadoed against the insinuating desires of euery seducing appetite shee is not of the world though in the world nor can shee loue any thing within the worlds circumference in regard the world hath her limits but shee not to be confined The Irascible is attended alwaies vpon by Reuenge for the obiect of the wrathfull facultie is honour and aduantage and if this cease straight-waies courage and stomach decay so as the least argument of distast like another Silla stirrs her blood and makes vp a Centaures banquet This Facultie is alwaies as ready to apprehend an occasion of punishing yea before it is offered as to obserue the meanes of executing when the occasion is ministred She will not say with that noble Venetian Duke It is sufiicient for a discreet Prince to haue power to reuenge that his enemies may haue cause to feare him No meditation vpon reuenge is the onely prayer-booke that this vnbounded passion vseth Yet may this part rightly tempered include in it an excellent good for Anger is not alwaies vnto sinne whence it is said Be angry but sinne not Wee may be angry through zeale and the feruencie we beare to the Gospell Christ was angry when he whipped the buyers and sellers out of the Temple he was angry when his Disciples contended for prioritie he was angry at the incredulitie of the Gentiles the obduracie of the Iewes yea he was angry at the barren fig-tree when it brought out no fruit and therefore cursed it shadowing thereby the fruitlesse synagogue O may my soule if euer shee be angry feele this passion in the feruent loue shee beares to her Creator may her anger be against her selfe in the wofull remembrance of her sins that her anger may breed a detestation detestation a reconciliation to her Sauiour But for such as with the Beare cannot drinke but they must bite the water far may my soule be diuided from their dwelling I will be angry but commit no sin for the