meet Natures Perfection is an Holie Man And the best Good that Shee exhibite can For what hath Earth more perfect than that Spright In Sanctitie that serues his GOD aright Yet Nature perfects no such Peace alone But Grace and Fayth their working there-vpon The Holy Man is only hee that 's wyse For only Heav'n hee holds before his Eyes And what is heere Below and Earthly hee That vses only for Necessitie And so as that they finde him and afford To serue his Needs while that hee serues his LORD His Senses so hee tempreth and commands That they t' obey his Spirit readie stands Which in an Orbe Aethereall doth moue Stirr'd by a Strength and Power from Aboue And by observing Natures Course and Lawes The Arte of Reason hee acquires and knawes And Treads on the th' Earth and trav'ling doth remaine While hee turne Earth and bee trod on againe Altho his Soule inlarg'd from Carnall Stryfe Doe liue in Heav'n that gaue his Senses Lyfe Vntill the Resurrection of the Flesh That from the Earth shall ryse refynd and fresh When all the World is waltring vp-syde-downe When Fortune fawnes or when the Fates doe frowne Hee happie doth his Sprite possesse in Peace Because supported with the Power of Grace His Charitie and librall Handes declare Of Others Want his kynde and Christian Care Hee gladlie giues of what his GOD hath given Which shall to him redoubled bee in Heaven To liue to GOD his Practise all doth proue Heaven is through Fayth his Hope the LORD his Loue. His Exercise is Prayer his Studies bee Into the Volumes of Divinitie And There hee meditates admiring most Th'Vnit ' of the FATHER SONNE and Holie GHOST VVhich nev'r in all the numbers of his Dayes Enough can hee admire extoll and prayse His Heart to watch his Eye hee ordaines it And to his Mouth a Doore hee makes his Wit And both hee ordaines ev'r and doth direct His Sprite from sinfull Pleasure to protect Hee liues not lyke a VVorldlie VVorme that does For Permanent Things perishing heere choose No no his Loue is set on Thinges vnseene And ravished with VVares that are Divine His Loue is Heavenlie Holie and doth hold No Holie Dayes with Loue of Mundane Mold VVherefore hee 's lyable to manie Losses And oft incurres and combred is with Crosses Yet Heavenlie Helps and Hope vp-holds him so That Losse no Losse nor Crosse hee counteth no. An Olde Man 49. THe Instance of a Tract of Tyme of Yeares VVhere-in declyning Natures Power appeares VVhen by Defect of Senses see wee may The vse of Reason both restraind and stay Bot yet his Knowledge with his Tyme conferre And hee shall prooue Experience Kalendar Tho in the power of Action hee is not As 't were a Blanke extracted from a Lot Hee is a Subject bot of Sicknesse now And VVeaknesse Agent that the Backe most bow Crost with the Coagh and a corrupted Breath And so Praecursor to approaching Death An Olde Man â—…s bot halfe a Man and twyse Hee turnes to bee a Bairne and childish lyes Hee 's bot the living Picture of a Man And is a verie dying Creature than Beholde him well and in effect you 'll finde Him bot a Bladder blowne and stuft with VVinde Hee 's lyke a withred Tree and arride Root That buds not flowrisheth nor beares no Fruit. And lyke a VVeather-worne and Tyme-torne House Decaying fast and falling ruinous Tho in his dying and declyning Grouth Yet is hee Pepper in the Eyes of Youth Hee is the jest of Loue and for Infirmitie Hee may the Mirrour bee of Miserie Yet Aged Lockes and Silver Haires deserue That Youth should reverence regard and serue For Honour often tymes and VVisdome both Into an Olde Mans Gowne and Garment go'th Ag'd Gravitie and great Experience Doth challenge both Respect and Reverence His wyse Advyse his Counsell true and sage By Practise long oft proov'd from Youth to Age Should with all States and Persons bee respected And not in Honourable Age neglected His Wordes are Oracles they should bee Noted In Kalendars for Common vse and Quoted His Actions should bee imitate and choosed To bee there-after for Exemples vsed But as the Tyme and Torch of Waxe doth waste So liue hee nere so long hee dies at last A Young Man 50. THe Spring of Time when Nature mindes to vent Her Pride and best of Beauties excellent And to the Worlde show and exhibite will Her Arte Divine in-Imitable Skill Hee is the Loue and the Delight of th' Eye And well considred singular to see His Flesh and Sprite are at a Iust and Iarring And hee is all in Making or in Marring His Wit and Will stands at intestene Stryfe If This or That shall Lord and leade his Life His Vertues bee in Waxing or in Waining And all his Good in losing or in Gaining His Thrift is as hee guydes him and begins If Tentlesse sure hee tynes if Wisel ' hee wins His Credit is what ever bee his Calling And Honour in the Mounting or the Falling His Life is in th' Increasing or Decay And hee walks in the VVyde or Narrow VVay Hee is a Bloome that 's blasted in the Bud Or growes to bee a Fruite that 's faire and good Hee 's like a Bird that dies ere Nature brings Her to make vse and venture to her Wings Or like a Colt that is Fensce-fed and Ydle And None can breake without a Stryping Brydle Or Falcon-like must bee well Mann'd and Fram'd Els hee can nev'r or hardly bee reclam'd Hee is Dames Natures Darling and her Io And cheefest Charge of Reason is also His Exercise is Studie in his Youth Or it is Action in his elder Grouth His Studies are vnto his Pleasures most Or vpon Knowledge is bestow'd his Cost The Disposition marked of his Mynde Declares him Iade-lyke or of Iennet kynde His Carrâ—…age is a Trying Table or Touch. That proues him Gentle or degenred much For Youth is lyke to Lumpes of Lead or Waxe That at the Workers Will th' Impression takes Which being hardned and becomming cold Th' Indented Dints and forme it hath doth hold The Qualit of his Birth frames him perforce In his Vpbringing better bee or worse And while Experience fine and Reason fit His Vnderstanding hee 's no Man as yet No rather bot a Chylde and I may say With Flatterie to bee deprav'd a Prey And doth consist and stand in such a Case As eyther hee is in the Way of Grace To proue a Sainct or walking in his Evill And Path of Sinne shall doubtlesse grow a Devill FINIS
Commanding and Obedience To keepe the Crowne on the Head of the Prince And safelie and sure of the Subject al 's To hold on the Head vnhewne from the Hals The worthie Iudge is feared bot of Fooles Curst bot of Knaues and hated bot of Snools Hee 's honour'd of Wise of Prudent approv'd Gratefull to the Good of the Godly belov'd Hee judges all Right revenges all Wrong And doing these both hee 's steadfast and strong His word is the Law his Power is Grace His Merit Honour and his Labour Peace An vnworthie Iudge 13. IS IVSTICE griefe in judging when Hee erres And partiallie the Wrong to Right preferres And when through Ignorance Wrath or Envy Th'Innocents Life vpon his Lip doth ly His Handes are full of Brybes defyl'd with Blood The guiltlesse Gore it fatts him most of Food His Heart is full of Hypocriticke Hate His Tongue of Treason Vntrueth and Deceit His face is feign'd and Smooth as smoothest Oyle Politickly more to oppresse and spoyle Hee is a Man more morall than divynd Iudicious more than to bee just enclynd His Mercie mercinarie is and solde His kyndest countenance vncoft is colde His Lips doe lavish Legendes of the Lawes Yet giues colde comfort to the Poore mans cause The weightie Angell doth over-weigh his Grace And turnes him Devill on his Tribunall place Altho the liverie of the Law hee weares His Processe all vnlawfull led appeares His holinesse is superficiall And seemeth to bee so and that is all Into the preached word hee hath no Pleasure And for the Worlde to heare it hath no leasure His appetites as they his Mynde doe moue Is the Religion that hee best doth loue His goods they are his Glorie and his Gaine And hee impure doth bot his place profane While Iustice sacred Seat hee makes to bee By his abuse nought bot a Boucherie A worthie Knight 14. A Worthie Knight is hee that doth inherit The proper Vertues of a perfect Sperit Whom Power can not appall nor Crosse foot chance Oppos'd depresse nor prosprous veles advance True worthinesse is eminent in him That saâ—…elie in most dangerous deeps can swim Hee is a Magnanime and worthie Knight Into the Worlds vp-roars that walks vpright And not with Fortunes Change nor Griefe of Minde Confounded nor perplext in Sprite wee find Hee worthie is that wisâ—…lie giues his word And keepes it too th'vnsheathing of his Sword And not with light Escapes or bastard bracks As Some snuffe Pepper soone exceptions takes Hee worthie is that bitter Things can beare And ov'r his Stresses Patience Tropheas reare True Magnanimitie his Sword and Horse Convoy and hewes his passages perforce And th'onlie Paradise into his Eye Are Fields defeat Tryumphs and Victorie To pardon the Submissiue and Distrest Relieue his Glorie is and conquest best Hee will bee free from everie Blott and Blame That may imply Dishonour to his Name His pardon granting to his prostrate Foes Most rich and famous him in Mercie shoes Hee 's voyde of Spight and not with Hate defylde In Spirit stout and in his Nature mylde Hee is not One with Loue and Hate that 's mixt Nor wavers as One fast and loose betwixt Bot hee is Constant true and Bellicall Heroick like and honorable with all Bot worthie Knights Note this in Number are In vnities and now bee singulare And like th' Arabian Bird doth bot abound For They with vs as there these Fowls are found An vnworthie Knight 15. THe foule Refuse and the defect of Nature To Fortitude and Honour true a Traytor When to advance his Valour it occurs His Blade is blunt and hee wants ravell'd Spurres A Cypher in Court a Sheepe in the Campe Yet lyke TYTIDES in the streetes will stampe Hee is amongst Men lyke Owles amongst Birds Shaming the Sword to his side that hee girds Hee counts for no Promise nor Honour nor Fayth Gaine once hee his point that hee plighted hath A Friend or a Foe hee finely can faine Grace thee even now and gloome on thee againe Hee 's worshipt for his Wealth not for his Wit Neyther was Valour the worker of it Where Courage for Honour doth enterpryse Th'vnworthie Knight lyke to a Lubbard lyes When Magnanimitie with Courage strong Through Perill passes to repare a Wrong Hee faintly feares and Couragelesse hee quakes And to heare these Attempts such Terrour takes That all his Sprites they post from him apace And Lead-lyke Liue-lesse hee lookes in the Face Hee is the Chylde of Pryde that doth despise The truelie Worthie that through Vertue ryse Hee 's Follies Fav'rite full of Ostentation And onlie mightie in Imagination In Honours Court yet there bee no such Apes Knights bot in Cloathes and Cavelliers in Shapes Vnto the Mould whereon they moue bot Masses And God forbid our Countrey breed such Asses A worthie Gentleman 16. HEE is a bearing Branch of Honours Tree And Gentle Germen of Genuitie Whose Fruites for to be Vertues Actions fall As pleasing to the Eye of Iudgement all As truely Rellishing and Smelling sweet Vnto the Soule and vnderstanding Sprite The Deâ—…ds and Actions fitting him to doe Hee is not forc'd nor is compeld there-to Except they bee Things naughtie ill and bad Where-to in Heart hee nere Intention had Bot eyther doth vnwittinglie such Acts Or forc'd vnwillinglie vnto those Facts Most effable and in his Nature kynde And flexible yet with a Genrose Mynde In his Alleadgeance is and Loue most Loyall Vnto th' Authoritie and Power Royall Religious hot and fyrie in his Zeale Most kyndlie carefull for the Common-weale And what is his hee heedfullie regards And bount'fullie bestoweth his Rewards Hee 's Confident resolved and Enteare From Foeminine from Base and Bairnlie Feare Hee 's not compos'd nor come of Curâ—…ish kynd Bot cast in Vertues Mould pure polisht fyn'd And by the Sprite of Wisdome drest and squar'd In Honours House for to bee plac'd prepar'd Hee in Apparell doth more comelie goe Than costlie for a Pharasaicke sho More healthsome is his Fare and daylie Dyet Than Exceffiue Profuse and given to Ryot Hee Exercise for Pleasure more doâ—…h loue Than that the same should to him painfull proue His Studies all are for Instruction more Than Ostentation Pryde or worldlie Glore His I oues not wanton no nor fâ—…itting are Bot faythfull vertuous chaste and regulare Hee is no Niggard no nor Prodigall But treades the Temprates steps the best of all His Carriage is not Carledge nor austere Nor Apishly doth hee his Bodie beare His Pedegree Descent and gentle Blood By courteous Carriage hee doth make them good And by the vertuous Course and Lyfe hee liues H'example good to his Succession giues An vnworthie Gentleman 17. IS the Derision and the Scoffe of Wit True Honours Scorne and the ydle Ape of it Where Wealth much more than Worth and Wit wee see Is vainly worshipt with Simplicitie Hee 's One of Vices Varlets that delights In Vanities excessiue Dayes and Nights And one that all doth prodigallie spend
compasse of the Laws Of GOD a Good Man is th' Idea and A Lord ore all Hee create to Command To worship Him and serue Him holy made Tho from Sinceritie to Sinne hee slade With Reason borne to know Things Naturall Inspir'de by Grace for Metaphysicall Hee hath a Face that vp to Heaven doth bende A Soule to Sense that all the Life doth lende And to the Worlde is a Stranger given While of his Sprite the Home is onlie Heaven His Life a Time of Toyle is strangely strest His Death againe the Walke and Way to Rest. His Studie is into the Word of Trouth Which carefullie hee keepeth in his Mouth And in his Life to practise it doth proue For his Delight is in the Law of Loue. Hee doth provide bot for Necessitie And casts his Care in th' vse of Charitie Hee doth converse with divine Prophets more Than worldly Profits to increase his Store In the Law of the LORD is all his pleasure And in His Knowledge all his Wealth and Treasure His Bosome thus the best of Wit inclouds And thus hee 's rich into the best of Goods Heaven of his Eye it is th'Extent and Scope And Life through CHRIST there-in his highest Hope Humilitie the Scale it is where-by Hee having Pride deprest doth mount on hy His Patience is Procurer of his Peace That guyded is with Vertue Wit and Grace Hee is the Seede of Loue and by th' effect Of Grace hee 's Heire of Heaven and Life Elect. For all that hee doth care for craue and claime Is for that Heavenlie High IERVSALEM A bad Man or Atheist 27. WIth GOD with Man the World himselfe at Warre And what not all hee to Damnation dare In Nature like a Dog in Wit an Asse And Beast-like hee doth in his Passion passe Into his Actions which are alwayes evill Hee is a Corporall Incarnate Devill Hee maketh Sinne a Mocke the BYBLE a Bable GODS Grace an Humour and His Trueth a Fable And calles it Cowardice for to keepe Peace For troubled Tymes hee holds his Happinesse His Castle hee doth call his Sword and Pride The Horse where-on this Hell-hound haunts to ryde His Purchase Pyckrie is his Language Lyes His Longing Lust his Puncke his Paradise And with a Whore and a polluted Punke His Glorie is to bee debosht and drunke Hee is the Patron of Impietie And deadly Danger of Societie Hee Vertue loathes and loveth Vanitie And is the Horrour of Humanitie In Bawdrie and in Barratrie h'abounds Till Bodie Soule and Fame hee all confounds Hee boasts the Good and hee vpbraids them broadly And spights at all the Gracious and Godly His Paunch is his Prince the Taverne his Towre Mahound his Master his Mistres a Whore Oathes are his Graces and Woundes are his Badges Rebell and Rogue and Picke-purse his Pages Hee knowes not GOD nor goes where Grace doth dwell Bot walks through the World like a Devill to Hell Hee Treachrous is and a Truethlesse Detractor The Fellon the Foole the Fiends Benefactor Vntymely Begotten and backwardly borne Vnworthilie waxes and liveth forlorne A Monster to Men a Foole to the Wise In doubting Despare and damned hee dyes A wise Man 28. IS Like vnto a Clocke that nev'r doth chyme Bot at the Houre and striketh still in Tyme Or as a Dyall just set with the Sunne Or Glasse that well doth keepe and restlesse runnâ—… So will hee never ware a Word bot whan To speake pertains vnto a Prudent Man Hee measures Time and all in Season does Hee tempreth Nature and doth Reason vse Sense hee commands and Will hee keepeth vnder And all with Knowledge hee doth pose and ponder None can his Eares with Charmes blow vp and batter For fast They are when Parasites doe flatter Closse is his Mouth vnto detracting Tongues And no false Imputations hee impungs An humble Heart an open Hand and free Hee hath to Want and vnto Pietie To Observation aye his Labours tende And wise Experience is his Ayme and Ende To Contemplation and to meditate His Thoughts are oft devote and dedicate The Divine VVord made Man his VVill his Law Is all that hee doth call for cares to knaw Swolne Pride hee knowes noâ—… of Prosperitie Nor yet the Misâ—…rie of Adversitie Bot takes the one as if the Day or Light And th' other as the Darknesse and the Night Hee knowes not Fortune and no Fate hee feares Bot builds and all on Providence hee reares And through the hope of Fayth that Grace hath given Hee reaches high and doth lay hold on Heaven His Workes are good and Godly as his Mynde His Words and Thoughts to Honour all inclynde For hee in Loue th ' Elect is of the LORD A Master to the Worlde that cares not for 't And tho heere borne a Stranger bot on Earth In Heav'n a Burger by a second Birth A Foole. 29. A Foole hee is the'Abortiue Birth of Wit And the vnfashiond Embrio of it Where Nature had more Power than Reason Vse The Fruit of Imperfection to produce His Actions all are almost all Extreames Of Meanes nor Endes hee never doubts nor dreames Nature taught Fooles to Eate to Worke and Sleepe Tho they there-in no Time nor Measure keepe Fooles haue no feare of GOD respect to Men And voyde of Reason they no Duetie ken Bot as their Passion and their braine-sicke Wits Transport them they doe play their foolish Fits His Exercise it is foure folde alway H'eats drinks and sleepes or then is laughing aye Fyue thinges doe humor him and much doe moue And not bot these can hee thinke of nor loue And what are they a Bauble a Bell and bot A pupped Pudding or a pyed Coat His Wordes want Wit and Reasonlesse his Will For it resolv'd doth neither good nor ill Hee Wisdome and Instruction doth despise Since hee can nought or hee will not bee wyse His Front his Index is and doth expresse His Mindes distemprature and giddinesse His foolish Fits neyther the Bad doe please Nor can the Good bee seene content with these Hee out of Measure is in Motion ever And bot when hee doth sleepe hee resteth never Hee is vnhappily begotten and borne Tho not his fault Reason and Wisdomes Scorne A Shame to 's Syre a Blott vnto his Brother A Curse to 's Kin a Mischiefe to his Mother Hee liues a Beast and doth no better die But Wit and Reason Natures Infamie A plaine honest Man 30. LIke IACOB is and dwelleth into Tents Not full of Congiâ—…s and Court Complements Bot hee is faithfull efauld free and plaine And so but change immobile doth remaine Like to a Coat that is so well prepar'd To fit the Wearer plaine but Welt or Gard. When as the Stuffe where-of the same is made Nor is the forme in more request is had So th' honest Heart but Fraude that breedes Offence The Credit keeps of a good Conscience Fred from infernall Brands of Infamie From Scandall and deserved Obloquie His works are vert'ous and his Words are Trueth