be received with the more delightful sweetness and when entred what curious Organs are fashioned within the Drums of the Ear when the Hammer strikes words and articulates them upon the Anvile and sends its lively Mercurian Messengers to the common Sensory That the Oil of a Snake that quick-hearing Animal should cure the deafness and those useful new inventions of the brazen Otacoust and the Stentorian Trumpet should be presented to us by the hand of Providence the one to admit the other to convey voices at a great distance Neither shall I enter the delicious Field of Anatomy in opening the Sense of Smelling Smelling How the little spongious Bones being portions of the Ethmoides do drink up the moisture descending from the Head lest it should be continually dropping from the Nose and serve likewise to fence off dust and impure mixtures in the Air that when the mouth is shut it may be purely distributed both to the Brain and Lungs Nor shall I treat of the Sieve-like Tablet or the Mammillary Processes which being over-moist by defluxions or rainy Seasons impairs the quickness of Sent. Nor may dwell in this Tower of Lebanon Song 7.4 where that watchful Porter has his Lodge over the mouth to give warning by sent that no unwholsome rank or unsavoury Meat may pass within the door of our Lips nor intimate further how the quickness and acuteness of this Sent may be preserved and increased by the smelling of Fragrant Flowers Arnoldus de vill nova p. Should we descend into the mouth and pry into the Instruments of Taste Tasting we might relish much of secret Mercy in the frame of those Organs I shall mention but a few Bartholin p. 365. The Palate has a Coat common to the Gullet and Stomach whence arises a great content between them that so we may preconceive what 's delectable and useful or what 's offensive and inconvenient for nourishment Arnold de vill nov f. 86. b. quod bene sapit nutrit Id. f. 66. a. For it is well observed by Arnoldus Vtiliora sunt quaecunque delect abiliùs recipiuntur That Food is most beneficial which is most delectable if we spice his Aphorism with a grain of Salt it 's true and savory Again the Tongue another Organ of this Sense has a thin porous Coat that savours may descend into its fleshy part which drinks in fumes and vapours from the predominant humours in the body Riolanus an Index to the learned Physician by its roughness whiteness or blackness of vitious and peccant qualities in time of sickness And by the way let 's remember that under the Tongue and another member not to be named Nature hath fram'd a Bridle to mind us of a memorial restraint of walking feeding and other carnal inclinations Besides the many excellent uses of this Sense we may by savors in some measure discern the vertues of vegetables and many concretes both simple and compound to the great pleasure of the expert Herbarist and Student in the Mineral Kingdom And to conclude as this Sense is impaired and mortified by the Palsie and some other offensive Diseases in the Genus nervosum so it may be quickned by hunger Arnoldus p. 16. b. and cured often by Volatile Salts and Spirits Let 's touch a little upon the Sense of Feeling Feeling whose Instrument is the Flesh not the common Spigelius p. 303. so called but that which is soft and replenish'd with nervous Fibres This Sense by the several Conjugations of the Nerves and the fine Spirits gliding through them is dispersed over the whole Body and where ever 't is lost the use of that Member perishes So terrible are those Distempers when the Nerves are obstructed by Viscous and Tartarous matter in knobs wens gouts and the like or contracted by sharp and acid Juices as in Cramps and Convulsions and Side-pains or Stitches or their Tenor relaxed as in Palsies or the Spirits within astonish'd and brought to a sudden sistency without motion as in Frights and Apoplexies which often proceed also from the inordinate use of Tobacco Coffee Henbane seed Opium Mandrake and the like either in Medicine or by negligent Customes So that we have wonderful reason to break forth into the praises of a Gracious God that so often preserves from Thousands of Deaths by his wakeful providence Act. 17.27 that very Heathens might learn to feel after him and find out some portions of the power and wisdom of his Deity To let pass the Mercurian Medicines I mean not the ordinary in Shops but such as Arnoldus Paracelsus and Rhumelius magnifie in these cases to the learned in Physick I shall only take notice of a rare Experiment of the Honourable Boyle about a blind Dutch-man Boyle of Colours p. 44. named John Vermaasen not far from Maestricht who could discern seven several Colours by the touch of his Fingers if he were fasting according to the asperity or smoothness of the surface of the Ribbands But by what means to help those Distempers that impair and obstruct this so useful a Sense I dismiss to the Learned and Experienced in the Art of Physick To proceed a little further in the admiration of God in the curious secret Frame of Humane Bodies but particularly the stupendious operations of the Bowels and the other great Wheels that move continually for the fabrick of Chyle Bloud and Spirits Oh what wonderful Cookery and Housewifery is exercised by that noble Viscus of the Stomach Tiling de fermentatione p. 58. how the Reliques of the last Meal growing acid prepares a ferment or leaven for the next whereby the milky Chyle after the first digestion is concocted and from the bowels conveyed in numerous Veins filled with that white Liquor Perquet experim Anatom 6. and dispersed through the Mesentery into a Cystis or common receptacle and thence carried up along by the Vertebrae till it s poured down into the Heart the true and genuine officine of the bloud which a little above it and before its entrance in dissections of Dogs newly kill'd appears half tinctured as I may compare it to Cream dyed with bruis'd Strawberries Hence it 's communicated to the Lungs and Liver and other parts of the body and after by circulation in the Arteries is reduced into a finer crimson texture Here I might insist to shew how incommodious to the body of Man it is to admit of frequent Phlebotomy by the loss of Bloud Dropsies Consumptions and other formidable Diseases have their Original Helmont as the learned Helmont hath observed when upon much evacuation of bloud for the Cure of Plurisies such dangerous effects have ensued It is not here a season to gather up Arguments from Scripture Deut. 12. Lev. 3.17 10 11 13.14 Gen. 9.4 shewing that the Life of Animals runs in the bloud or to manifest that it is the very Balsam of mans body for the prolongation of life And therefore
Mysteries by light from the Holy Scriptures The Bodies of Saints at that day shall be perfect and intire lacking nothing in that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in that Day of Refreshment Act. 3.21 that Day of the Restitution of all things They shall be as excellent as perfect as Adams created in the vigour of youth as perfect as Christs who suffered and rose in the strength of his years Into that Sarctuary above Rev. 1.6 where all shall be Kings and Priests to the Father no lame nor impotent person Lev. 21.23 no crooked or maimed no blind or deaf no dwarf or child none blemish'd with redundancy or deficiency of limbs shall be admitted to sacrifice the Everlasting Praise But all the Holy Ones of God that dyed under such inconveniencies shall be raised without spot or wrinkle as the Spouse in the Song Thou art all fair Song 4.7 Phil. 3.21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my beloved there 's no spot in thee For the Bodies of our Humiliation shall be like unto his most Glorious Body Blind Isaac shall grope no more and Lame Jaakob shall halt no more Withered David shall need no cherishers and Solomon's Ecclesiastes shall weep no more Elegies over the Hoary head and Palsie Hands and the Trembling Legs of stumbling Age. Then all the inward senses of Fancy Imagination and Memory shall flourish in a perpetual Spring For the Body shall be incorruptible no inequality of temperament but a perennial consistency between the active form and the impressed but scarce passive matter The Peripatetick School fancies the incorruption of the Heavens to arise from its composing Quintessence distinct from the sour Elements But the contrary is evincible by the spots in the Sun by certain nebulous appearances near the South Pole by generation and abolition of Comets above the Moon as that in CassiopeÃa A. 1572 c. Whatever may be determined in these points yet 't is most true of the glorified bodies of the Saints Act. 13.34 that they shall remain incorruptible 1 Cor. 15.42 They shall neither hunger nor thirst more nor be subject to the Influxes of Heavenly Luminaries on digestive matter Rev. 7.16 Here we feed upon and drink in the materials of Corruption But there neither Sun nor any heat shall light upon them which are the great Fomenters of Corruption in purifying subjects For 3dly the Saints shall have glorious bodies The Apostle opposes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 15.43 Glory to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dishonour Want of Beauty renders the Body uncomely or dishonourable Three things make up a perfect Beauty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Symmetry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Genuine Colour and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vivacity when the Spirits fill the Face with a lively vigor and a cheerful brisk Alacrity There will be no more bleak meager fixed Visages no more livid leaden blew and pale no more white wan or greenish Aspects but as the Angels are represented like Young Men with sprightly and orient Countenances Mark 16.5 Some say the Lustre of Adam's Body drew the Creatures in Paradise to gaze upon his Beauty How much more will they admire him hereaster if they shall remain as Spectacles of Divine Wisdom Rom. 8.21 when the Exquisite Joy running like Nectar in his Spirits shall beautifie him with most attracting Aimiableness when he shall play upon his Celestial Harp like an alluring Orpheus and all the Animals of the Woods and Mountains shall tread his Musical measures When the Saints shall shine transparent like Moses from Mount Horeb or as Christ in the Vision to Habakkuk with Horns Hab. 3.5 i. e. with Beams flaming from his Hands Dan. 12.3 or as that glorious Triumvirate in the Mountain of Tabor Then shall all the Senses sparkle in their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or transcendent Vigor to render Heaven most delicious when their Eagle Eyes may pierce into the Centres of all the Luminaries and their quickned Ears shall pleasantly air the Melodious Musick of Legions of Angels Their Bodies likewise shall be wonderfully powerful without the least gravitation as our Blessed Lord's which ascended up from Mount Olivet at his pleasure and appear'd to Stephen and Paul when and where his Heavenly Wisdom thought meet I need not here insist upon the nature of Gravity as a quality existent in heavy Bodies but rather as a force imprest by a Magnetical Attraction of the Earth So that whatever body is without or beyond the Atmosphere of the Earth knows no further gravitation or ponderosity but may walk at liberty in the Etherial Regions so that it is no incongruity to conceive that Luminous Bodies being freed from the dark clogs and impediments of grosser matter as the Saints Bodies being like so many Stars and fit for motion may walk on the Sea in the Air and within the Heavens at pleasure if these concretes shall then abide 2 Pet. 3.13 Neither shall they be touch'd with any weariness more receiving a continual afflux of spirits from the beatifick Vision and shall hence evade to be of immense strength insomuch that some have fancied them to be of ability to transplant Mountains nay the Earth it self without the Engines of Archimedes Like the Celestial Intelligences that do circum agitate the Heavenly Bodies of the Stars Ps 103.10 For they shall be like to Angels who excell in strength The Bodies of the Saints are also styled Spiritual in that they shall yield no reluctancy or renitency to the Agitation of their Spirits They shall need no sustentation or reparation by Meat or Drink no relief by intervals of sleep and rest there will be no night to raise cool vapors for the Brain Ps 104.23 but shall be supported quickned and enlivened by the Emanations and Impressions from the Soul and these Spirits influenced by Everlasting Inundations from the Spirit of Christ the Head of the Mystical Body The Sheaths of their Bodies shall not waste or wear out Dan. 7.15 or be cut in pieces by the two-edged swords of their Spirits We faint and are soon dispirited by continuance even of Heavenly Duties Our strength is not that of stones Job 6.12 nor our flesh of Copper Our Animal Spirits here in the Valley are grosser and more unweildy than our Bodies shall be in the Mount of Glory to motion agility and delight in Spiritual Objects Spiritualia erunt Austin de civ l. 14. c. 22. says Austin non quia corpora esse desistent sed quia spiritu vivificante subsistent Our Bodies shall be Spiritual not that they shall cease to be bodies but shall be sustained by a quickning Spirit And during the persistency of that Spirit which is of immortal Linage they shall continue with an indissoluble Union For the Spirit of God hath declared this future Immortality of the Body 1 Cor. 15.53 which is a degree of excellency beyond incorruption because the external sorce of sword
and fire of water and pressure may destroy that Body which otherwise hath no internal principle of dissolution So that though there were granted such a Noble Balsam of Life as the Adeptists glory of their Elixir yet would it not avail against External Invasions But here our Gracious God hath brought Life and Immortality to light by the Gospel purchase 2 Tim. 1.10 Here 't is appointed for oil once to dye But there Heb. 0.27 Statutum est non mori It 's a statute Law in Heaven Rev. 21.4 there shall be death no more nor sickness or pain those warning Canons those presaging Bells that ring the loud Lectures of Mortality There will be no Titans to raise any Babel Towers against those sublime and solid Mansions When once the Saints have dipp'd their Bodies in the River of Jordan and gone into Canaan they are beyond the story of Achilles invulnerable and impenetrable all over Rev. 22.2 The Leaf of the Tree of Life is tasted as soon as ever they come within the gates of Paradise is Medicine for without as well as within 1 Pet. 5.4 and the Chaplet or Immortal Crown which they wear in Heaven is formed of the Leaves of that blessed and everliving Tree Since we have touch'd a while upon the Harp of the Body let 's take some view of that Divine Musician the Soul who is then ready to sound the Praises of his Blessed Redeemer who will find no ill humour to affect him resulting from the Bodies Temperament or the Copula the connexive medium between them both For cleare serene and joyful Spirits will nimbly circulate through all the Nerves to associate in the Council Chamber of the Brain where the Animal Soul sits as Queen Regent on the Glandula pinealis the Pine Kernel to dispatch her winged Embassadors There will be no inflammations adustions or corruptions of Blood but all perfect sanguine without impure mixture no infected Air no seculent Food to alienate the state of Complexion All the Humours will stand in aequilibrio in exact poise to a Grain No inconvenient objects to surprize irritate or discompose the Spirits to the least alteration The Old Philosophy held nothing to be in the understanding but what was first in Sense which if universally spoken is but a Fable For what are the connate and concreated notions of the Soul urged by the Platonists And what are those spiritual infusions poured into the Hearts of Believers from Heaven Job 32.8 38.36 Eccl 2.28 but clear Evictions that that Soul can act independent from the Body But how much more when they shall be enthroned in Glory 1 Cor. 15.28 when God shall be all in all and the Soul shall be drawn into more immediate contemplation of God Corporeal Species are in vaine to suck and draw in the Marrow of Incorporeal Objects when the Understanding and all its Powers shall equal if not transcend Heaven it self in purity Then all the Faculties of the Soul shall be intended and amplified into a grand and august capacity to entertain more noble conceptions of the Mystical Union of our Redeemer to the Deity and of the Saints themselves to their Beloved Saviour of the sevenfold Luminaries of the Spirit of Christ to the Saints Rev. 3.5 of his Divine Communications and influences into the Soul They shall behold those streams of the Rivers of light They shall be able to discourse with Angels without Interpreters the Language of spirits shall be familiar That Phrase so frequent in the Hebrew Original of Scripture of God's speaking to the Heart Hos 2.14 which is here sometimes sweetly perceived by Saints shall be then explain'd The gentle Voice which Austin heard in the Garden by Milan Confes l. 9. c. 12. that melted him into tears and from whence he dates his Conversion shall be then more audible and more intelligible Then what is now one great portion of misery in our lapsed state that we so little understand the nature of our own Souls that Christians run to Heathen Oracles to know what 's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the first Act of an Organical Body and such Barbarous obscurities shall be hurl'd into the Ocean of Oblivion Then we shall see the Face of our own Souls in Glasses of our own Polishing Here we see 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a Riddle 1 Cor. 13.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hesych in a dark saying and those that would expound the soul confound it more If they had stept with Endymion they had dream'd more pleasantly Butthen the Eye of the Mind shall know no humour but Chrystalline the Retina shall be a capacious Net indeed to cast over the Ocean of the Universe There will arise a most perfect Union between the understanding will and affections and no such Combats about them as some nice Quidditarians assign There will be no inferior Appetite to suggest or abstract from its refined Notions The gracious Habiliments of the Soul shall be more superefluent Gracious habits nay rather activities in perpetual motion springing up to the brim and flowing over God will pour in such an unction of the spirit that shall invigorate the wheels of the soul full of eyes to move by the Spirits instinct conduct like the vision of Cherubims to the Prophet Ezekiel Ez. k. 1. 10. Such a fulness of excellency that swallows up all sinful emulation and envy Saints shall know with better satisfaction what are the Dimensions of the Love of God in Christ Jesus Eph. 3.19 which will so adequately fill the Soul that the Body shall require no sustenance but the Ambrosian Food of Divine Love and Glory Who could have imagin'd the Soul of a Man could have been Hypostatically united to the second person in the Glorious Trinity so that as he is the Son of Man he is said to know the Thoughts of Men Mat. 9.4 6. Act. 17.34 to forgive sins and to judge the world To to glorious an extent can Omnipotent Power exalt the Soul of Man by union to the Deity The Saints moreover shall rise up in some manner to that Excellent Estate of Intuition Luk. 20.36 1 Cor. 13.8 like to the Holy Angels who draw not the Water of Knowledge out of the deep Well of Inferences and long Consequences This manner of gathering Intelligence per discursum shall then probably vanish and perish and be extinguish'd by that Meridian Light of Eternity Here we argue by premisses ex concessis ignota We lay down Maxims Positions and Theorems take some data postulata and deduce mediums from several common places of Arguments As if we would search out the Nature of a Star an Animal a Vegetable or Mineral We argue if we can à priori from its Causes and component Principles or a posteriori from its Effects and Properties For instance in Antimony when we consider its Sulfur its Salt its bloud-red Oil its Phlegm and Vinegar
Virgins chearful and smiling upon each other to teach that kindnesses must flow without fraud with a candid Rom. 12.8 simple and delightful spirit Yea Holy Page recommends it when done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with singleness of heart with a generous frame casting no squint-eye or nourishing any base aim either to elevate the crest of pride or debase others into servile offices And this deportment ingenerâ—tes a sweet temper in the Hearts of Receivers Love is the Cement of the Universe and humanity is twisted into unity by kindness and concord Vertuous Heathens numbred the graces among their Deities noting it for a Species of Sacrilege not to return Favours with an aimiable Gratitude The Dispenser of Love should have a slippery memory but the Recipient should engrave it on Pillars of Marble and Pyramids of Brass The Giver should shut his Eyes when he opens his Hand Dissimulation without blame to chear an unknown person or to hide his knowledge Prov. 19.17 such a one lends to the Lord and makes Heaven his Debtor and surely there is Treasure enough to requite him while he that accepts gratefully makes God his Pay-master by Prayer If by giving we expect returns we fit like Publicans at the Receipt of Custom and give to our selves what we pay to others Self-love is never truly magnificent To pour out benefits upon persons unknown or unable to return shews delight in bounty and the pleasure of Love to see such walk at liberty whose Iron bands we have unloosed incognito A liberal man deviseth liberal things like a Prince Is 32.8 and seeks out Objects to exercise friendship that so great a Grace may never lye idle A brave Spirit judges he receives the kindness which he bestows as M. Antony said Whatever I give that I have The Europaeans purchase whole Territories with a few Beads Knives and Hammers of the naked Indians much more happy who gain an Eternal Inheritance by a few Penies Such a one bestows himself whose Coyn comes warm from the Mint of his Heart and shall be melted into a Crown of Life He that seeks a debtor does but drive a Trade hearkens to the promise because of payment He gives proudly and worships his own ambition and sacrifices to the Drag of Covetousness He deals a Loaf but full of Grits to break the teeth and a Scorpion instead of Fish to sting the Stomach Be kind to such as are hoising sail to the Indies and send precious Cordials to such as swelter under incurable maladies or those that hold out their needy hands in a dusky even Scatter your morsels to them that come from far in a Pilgrims Habit and a transient Staff Heb. 13.2 and so entertain Angels at unawares 'T is the ready way to find Treasure Trove to enjoy plentiful Crops rain'd down from Heaven and Ships blest into the Ports from Storms and Pyrats Others spend their unsanctified returns in vanities while the bowels of Saints almost cleave to their Backs and the next year their credit sinks at Land and their ships at Sea or find the way to the French Harbors while others sail in safe by the breath of Prayer We may stand in need of the meanest before the Sun shines again from the Northern Tropick and those that scrape in dunghills and rake for Nails in Chapels may ride in pomp upon Velvet Sadles before twelve Moons be wained The Old Man of Winchester found it by experience being cast into the depth of poverty by one whom he had opprest in youth Haman may climb the Tree of Justice though planted for Mordecay and blind Sampson may see well enough to pull down a Play-house upon 2000 Philistins Who knows what evil may thunder upon the Earth and where the Bolt may hit A scoffing Noble was trod to death in the Gate of Samaria 2 K. 7.29 who had mock'd a Prophet and jeered at the Windows of Heaven but a day before Cast your Bread upon the sliding waters Eccl. 11.1 which though swallowed in the Sea return through the Caverns of the Earth into the same River after many days A prudent man foresees the evil and flies into the Temple of Charity and there meditates upon both fortunes He reaps at present the plentiful crops of Peace in the Champain of a good Conscience and makes a continual Feast to himself upon the dones let fall to others He that gives to Princes and rich Equalls Prov. 22.16 may come to poverty by out-vying Such as expect returns are like Merchants in the Port Physicians in Cities and Victuallers is in Camps and such as sun their Fancies in the Usurers Walks They are Traffickers and not Benefactors and are often out-witted by Expert Sophisters who are wonderful officious in hopes of gain Like Crows that fit kawing upon an old stump watch dying Cattel with much ceremony and with fawning flatteries hop about them till they pick out their Eyes But whatever be the frame of the Givers Spirit the Receiver must not pry too narrowly into the Patrons Conscience but make his kindness the seed-plot of renown Happy are those Noble Souls who so give as to stir up a sweet memorial before God and man The amiable frame of the Giver out shines the Gift it self and cherishes Gratitude in the leanest Soil Praise is comely for Saints Ps 33.1 2 Sam. 24.23 Mat. 5.45 especially when men with Ornan give like Princes when Jebusites act like Israelites or like God himself whose Sun warms the House of the Evil and his Rain pours down upon the Field of the Wicked It becomes us to let God hear from us when we hear from him and all his Mercies to turn into Sacrifices A thankful Spirit is like a Musical Echo in the Star-chamber of Heaven Man must not only be a Concha but a Canalis Bernard not a Shell to retain but a Chanel to derive mercies Like marble Basons at Fountains when full run over to others and water the parched Plains Our Corn-fields must grow for the Poor and the Levite Deut. 12.18 19.14.27 29.16.11 14. as well as to swell our barns and cram our Garners that others hearts and faces may shine with the Oil of Joy and Thankfulness both to God and us That like the cheared Lark when enlivened by morning warmth mounts up with singing out of our sight towards the Suns Chariot and thanks him with a Sonnet and makes him rejoyce to run his Race We should learn his Lesson and praise the Fountain of Israels mercies at the dawning day Scruple not to leave the Rosy-finger'd Morn abed in Tithonus Arms. Leave the Sun a Sluggard sweating in the watry Embraces of the Eastern Ocean We need not the glittering Lamp of Venus to find out the Palace or knock at the Gate of Heaven The blessing of former the sense of present and the hope of future Mercies should all inflame us Our Souls from experienced observations of former Mercies like expert Astronomers
their Silver Trumpets Glory be to God in the Highest peace upon Earth and good will to Man whose grand imployment should be to study discern and applaud the Infinite Love of God in all his Mercies which in a few words shall close this Period 1. When we taste some sweetness and relish the goodness of God in every Mercy which is that Divine Symploce on David's Harp or an elegant Complication of two figures the Anaphora and Epistrophe together O give thanks to the Lord Ps 136.1 for he is good his Mercy endureth for ever That as the Name of God in our native Tongue is from good so our Souls should spell the nature of his goodness and every passage of his Providence 2. When Mercies return down to us upon the wings of Ejaculations sent up to Heaven when enlargements of heart follow straits in prayer What Divine Benefits shine out suddenly like Stars in a dark night 3. Then mercies come in love when they flow in by sucking at the Breast of a Promise for hence we know that God is in covenant with us For then the Spirit seals our interest when he who penn'd the Promise writes it in our Heart when he that breaths them warms us by them 4. When we feel supporting strength in a dark night when ready to faint feel sudden Cordials when trouble is nigh and God is nigher When the Heart fails and God enlivens Ps 73.26 A Saint may perceive it by the suddenness sweetness soul-calming quietness of a word within consonant to the word without and encourages a Saint to carry every new Emergency upon the memory of former experience in a Chariot of Love to Heaven That no sudden accident knocks at the Door of our Hearts or Houses but we as suddenly knock at the Gate of Heaven If any tentation new motion or weighty affair surprize us at unawares we instantly carry it through the Roof of our Closets into Heaven then our Spirits are in a holy calm as gracious Rebekah found it Gen. 25.22 Prov. 15.24 knowing that the sudden desires as well as the set Prayers of the Righteous shall be granted And now it 's high time to conclude this Chapter with God its whole Scope being to recount some portions of his manifold mercies and to adore him for all his bounteous beneficence to us who is the only first Spring and principal Mover and Conducter of all the Kindnesses we receive from Men being his Instruments Servants and Ordinances CHAP. IX The Anatomy of Mercies FOR the Higher Advancement of Divine Goodness in all our Enjoyments and to learn that excellent Lesson of Godly Contentment in all Estates it were expedient to peruse consider and unbowel every mercy that comes down from Heaven We have little reason to expect any when we remember our inability to merit unskilfulness to improve our ingratitude in slender returns of the least Benefits wherewith we are laden every day It 's meer free grace that showers down Kindnesses upon our barren murmuring and repining Spirits Did we but refresh our memories with the many thousands better than us who are yet below us Ps 37.1 we should never fret at the prosperity of the wicked that are above us In what a pleasant Paradise might our thoughts expatiate did we beautifie our Meditation with the prospect of the Flowry Medows interwoven with Chrystal streams and the gentle rising Hills crowned with lovely Groves more delicious than those of Woodstock when we contemplate the various numbers curious methods amazing circumstances the unexpected ends and surprizing designs in the Lawnes and close Walks of Mercy When we pore upon sins pry too curiously into afflictions grieve too smartly for imbitterments by Relations and toyle our Spirits with the losses and crosses of this Life we disquiet our selves in vaine and are too subject to mutter at every little disappointment and inconvenience We augment our troubles prolong our miseries and run upon the brink of danger to charge a Gracious God foolishly Let us then turn our eyes into the Anatomy-School of Mercies and cut open the Inwards and spend a diligent view on the curious Situations and various turnings and smaller Arteries of every Divine Favour and holding up hands with Holy Jacob Gen. 32.10 proclaim our unworthiness of the least of mercies and while we are musing what might comparatively be esteem'd the least as that we have a Being and Life and draw one Breath of Air the Original conducts us into his Courts with praise and gratefulness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Katonti I am lessened in mine own eyes before every mercy the least of which should humble and lay us low in the sight of God What am I and what is my Fathers House that the great God should cause to great faithfulness and truth to shine before us and lighten our Path to Glory The School of Salerne writes of the Body of Man Ex tricentenis decies sex quinquéque venis That it consists of 365 Veins one for each day of the Year To be sure there is not one particular Mercy but yields matter of Contemplation all the days of our Life We should cut open the Root climb the Branches smell the Flowers and taste the Fruit of Divine Love in every Mercy O rare Imployment when we ride or walk or sit or lye waking in the Night Ps 77.5 to ruminate in the days of Ancient times run over the state of the Church from Genesis to the Revelations and compare our case with any of the Saints of old and work our hearts into praises as David often begins his Psalms with mournful Elegies and concludes with joyful Extasies As the Ancient Church sprang in Aegypt past through Paran to Sinai and at length sat under their Vines in Canaan So every Saint enters his life with a Tragedy but ends in Heaven The first curiosity of each mercy lies hid in the Texture of a minute seed which though exceeding small yet by the influence of Heaven ferments and swells into a mighty Cedar Who would think that the spreading Oaks of Bashan should sleep under the shadow of a small Acorn and the sweet-sented Trees of Lebanon in a petty Berry What vast Crocodiles of Nile break Shell from a small Egg What Rivers of Fire the first little sparks of Sulfur do kindle from the bowels of Aetna What little distaste at first overthrow mighty Empires at last and what great Estates and Dominions start out of little casualties The grand Ottoman Empire arose first out of the Flight of Mahomet and Darius by the neighing of a Horse rode into the Throne of Persia One glance upon a poor captive Maid brought Esther to a Kingdom Haman to the Gallows and Israel to deliverance David brought Cheeses to the Army perhaps in the same Bag wherein he carried stones to fling into the Fore-Head of Goliah and in the same brought back his Head to Saul Nay Saul himself when seeking of Asses
with what care and sedulity the discreet Physician does usually order the letting of bloud what sign what vein what distemper Burgravii Biolich p. 86. what time of the Disease what age of Life what habit and strength of Spirits what quantity what day what hour what cordials what care after it what observations about Women with Child how endeavouring to prevent abortion often cause it especially when near their time as is observ'd by Hippocrates I leave these things to be contested about between the learned Galenist and the experienced Chemist Hippocr Aph. 30. l. 5. And by an Argument from the Cure of many Diseases by the Spirit and essence of humane bloud digested and circulated I might here discuss how studious and sollicitous and wary the learned in medicine should be to prepare the bloud of a Goat against Plurisies and of Sal Prunellae or other Remedies against the Quinsie if possible to prevent the emission of humane bloud since it is the Fountain of those rare Spirits that are distilled in Natures Alembeck of the Head to be the Instruments of Motion Sensation and all vital Actions There are other great wonders in the curious Fabrick of this crazy Tenement of the Soul which pose the most equisite in Anatomy to determine the use of the Spleen whether to secern the Melancholy whether it have a secret meatus or passage into the Stomach to constitute Helmonts duum virate of life and what ferment is elaborated by those 400 Arteries supposed to be in it by that inquirer of Nature Or the Cystis Fellea to drain choler from the bloud and convey that Saline compost by the ductus biliarius into the Bowels to carry off the Excrements which if it be stopt and obstructed produces that yellow Tincture to the body and gives denomination to the Yellow Jaundice The delivery from which Disease is the ground of these Lines of Praise to my gracious Creator and Redeemer Or what a rare Engine of the Cribrum or Sieve of the bloud Nature hath formed in the Kidneys to stop that Liquor and let pass the Amber Urine by the Ureters into the Bladder which if it be corroded or eaten through by acid Tunbridge Waters or other sharp Saline Humours procures a mixture of Bloud with Urine and sometimes so large that life is endangered or if it be obstructed by Gravel and consistent Stones what acute pains succeed woful experience teaches In which case the Aroph Paracelsi which is a Chymical preparation of the essence of Saffron call'd by them the Aroma or Spice of the Philosophers hath wrought efficacious benefits The last and greatest Wonder in Nature are the Seminal Vessels composed for the continuation of Mankind every of which with their Balsam of Life contained in them deserve a double Volume One to describe their Texture connexion and Use with the Remedies to preserve from and cure their Incident Diseases The other full of Hymns to our most glorious Creator But these and the like I dismiss to Spigelius Riolanus de Graef and others of that Learned Nation not omitting that Ingenious Tract of our own Country-man Dr. Smith on the 12th of Ecclesiastes Let us cry out with David I am fearfully and wonderfully made Opere Phrygionico Ps 139.14 with curious needlework of the Divine Hand in the lower parts of the Earth Did we but see and search a little into the admirable frame of Mans Body and upon what slender Golden Wiers and nice Labyrinths in those Wonderful Passages in the Clock-work of our Bodies the continuation of Life did depend we should be astonisn'd at God's Mercy and instead of wondering that we live so long might stand amaz'd at living but one minute For if either the Vessels be disordered or the Liquors contained within them we should soon pass away and be no more Nay if the five External Senses were every way compleat in their Organs and Spirits Fernel de anim facult l. 5. c. 3. yet if the inward Crasis of the Brain be touch'd what becomes of the inward Sensory which is the Center whereinto all the Rays of External Objects are brought there to be judged exercised and acted upon by the Imagination to be laid up as in a Cell or Promptuary by that great Lord Treasurer of the Soul the Memory Whereof Holy Austin cries out with great admiration of God Austin de Confes l. c. 01.17 Magna ista vis memoriae nescio quid horrendum Deus meus profunda infinita multiplicitas c. O the great power of Memory O my God I know not what an horrible thing it is O the profound and infinite variety in it Behold what walks in the Fields what lies hid in the Dens and innumerable Caverns of my Memory c. These and other powers and faculties of the Soul though in themselves of admirably useful delightful yet were it not for the constant influx of divine mercy might soon be impaired and decay that men of the highest pitch and grandeur of parts might soon shrink into mushromes and ideots and prove miserable Objects of scorn and pity But besides their being subject to natural waste what he said of death in general may be applyed to any sense or faculty in particular Mors seni à foribus juveni ab insidiis Death stands before the door to old Men but behind the door with Traps and Gins for Youth This would be very apparent should we enter the Lists of discourse only about the various Poysons which lurk in all things for the destruction of Man without the secret contrivance of such wicked wretches as Pope Alexander the 6th I shall hint but a few Memorials in reference to the 4 Elements so called with which we daily converse Not to mention what pits and delfs lye in ambush for the lives of Travellers in the Tin-works of Cornwall Earth the Mendip of Somerset or the Peak of Darby what quaking bogs in Ex or Dartmore and in the Crags of Carmarthen especially when covered with Snow But this falling under the conduct of accidental providences it 's more expedient to mention the frequent use of Antimony Quick-lime Vitriol Sulfur Steel Alum Bolearmenick Lapis Lazuli Nitre c. appointed for compositions in most Dispensatories which oftentimes by their unskilful preparations prove deadly poyson as might easily appear both by reason and example And especially in the use of Quicksilver which although sublimated into a Mercurius dulcis and counted safe by many and often proves so yet there want not great examples of its mortal Venom that poor Children find by sad experience And this is a certain rule of Helmont about all preparations of Mercury Quamdin resuscitari potest est venenum nec boni viri remedium That so long as it can be revived again by Art it's Poyson and no Medicine for an honest Man to use And how easie it is to revive Mercurius dulcis an ordinary Chymist can determine But I shall not