for the worst he is slain 75. His life he makes example where he please To give his spirit which is to forgive What can the flesh assume it self in these Since reason dies before his faith can live Who knows Gods pow'r but where he sin removes What should restrain the Almighty where he loves 76. Besides who marks Gods course from our Creation Down unto Christ shall by succession see Bliss of the goodness evils condemnation Establisht by unchanging destiny The Word is cleer and needs no explanation Onely the Council is a Mystery Why God commanded more then Man could do Being all things that he will and Wisdom too 77. Why came our Saviour if flesh could fulfill The Law enjoyn'd or if it must transgress Whence took that Justice this unequal Will To bind them more to whom he giveth less Here Pow'r indeed to wisdom must direct Else Light saves few and many doth detect 78. Strive not then wit corrupt and disobeying To fetch from Popes stools Pow'rs commanding Thrones Doctrines of Might that suffer no denying Yet divers as Earths Tempers in her Zones Since Christs own heard him faw him live and dye Yet till he rose knew not the mistery 79. Pray then and think Faith hath her mediation Ask for thy self that spirit which may judge Wait the degrees of thy Regeneration Count not without thy God nor do thou grudge Limits and bounds of thine illumination But give account of that which God hath given Since Grace not Merit with the Law makes even 80. And if thou seek'st more Light to cleer thy mind Search not Gods councils in himself contracted But search his written word where thou shalt find That Adams fall was breach of Law enacted By which in stained womb the chosen seed Together with the reprobate did breed 81. The one shew'd forth the Light which he receiv'd Fashion'd within him by the infinite The other serv'd the evil was deceiv'd And in that which condemn'd him took delight Both States partakers of Eternity In Life or death as good or ill they be 82. Both had one School one form and Education Each knew one God but onely one obey'd Where in the odds was spiritual adoration And outward Rites which ever have betray'd Abel sought God alone Cain would have more Which Pride was in the Angels judg'd before 83. Thus when Creation was a fresh Tradition And miracle the proper ground of faith Guiding the sin unto her true Physitian Yet then we see sin multiplyed death For him that made them men would not obey Idols and Sects ne'r had any other way 84. Men would be Gods or earthly Giants rather Number their strength and strength their number is Their Doctrine sin which as it spreads doth gather This present world Flesh seeks no other bliss As God by goodness saves those souls he chooseth So Hell condemns those wicked souls it useth 85. Now while both Churches lived thus together Patted by Grace by miracles united The outward worship common was to either And both alike by benefits invited Yet murmure and obedience prov'd them two For while both knew yet onely one would doe 86. Thus though by life the Spirit Spirits trieth So as Gods goodness is by his exprest Which goodness in the devils ever dieth Yet God hath here more latitude imprest For unto those who only bear his name He gave such Gentiles as deny'd the same 87. But when with idols they prophan'd the Land Which he gave them for seeming to adore him When they that held by form even brake that Band And Israel in the outward fail'd before him Then came captivity that earthly Hell Planting the Gentiles where his did dwell 88. In this times womb this uttermost defection Of fleshly Israel came the Virgins seed That rightfulness which wrought Gods own election And in the flesh fulfill'd the Law indeed When Doctrine Miracles benefits prov'd vain Then was this Lamb ordained to be slain 89. Thus by defection from obedience Successively both Sin and Sects have grown Religion is a miracle to sence The new man of the old is never known And to those hearts where gross sins do not die Gods Testaments are meer Philosophy 90. What Latitude this to the world allows Those souls in whom Gods image was decay'd Then know when they perform such spiritual vows As underneath our Saviours Cross are laid They that receive his wages bear his Arms Know onely what avails us and what harms 91. Wherein to take Thrones first as chief in Might Davids we wish of Salomons find some Not in those wisdoms of the infinite But in the rest which bide more doubtful doom Thrones are the worlds how they stand wel with heaven Those pow'rs can iudge to whom such grace is given 92. Next that High Priesthood which the spirit fall'n Jew So prized and erroneously maintain'd Ceased in him whose sacrifice was due To all the world by her defections stain'd Small hopes this gives to our Cathedral Chairs The spirit onely choosing spiritual Heirs 93. Again for such as strive to undermine The vanity of Romes ore-built foundation With sins ambition under words Divine Hoping to raise Sects from her declination O let them know God is to both alike The one he hath the other he will strike 94. And in the world where pow'r confirms opinion Advantage disadvantage as they stand Rome hath the odds in Age and in Dominion By which the Devils all things understand The Superstition is too worn a womb To raise a new Church now to equal Rome 95. Last for our selves which of that Church would be Which though invisible yet was is shall For ever be the State and Treasurie Of Gods elect which cannot from him fall Arks now we look for none nor signes to part AEgypt from Israel all rests in the heart 96. Our three Crown'd Miters are but works of Spirit Faith Key and Scepter our Ambition Love Built upon Grace we are and thence inherit Temptation which in us doth purge and prove Mortifie regenerate sanctify and raise Our old fall'n Adam to new Adams ways 97. This word of life then let not fleshly Man Corrupt and unregenerate expound As well the Mortal judge the immortal can Or deafness find the discords out of sound Or Creatures their Creator comprehend Which they presume that judge before they mend 98. Mixe not in Functions God and Earth together The wisdom of the world and his are two One Latitude can well agree to neither In each men have their beings as they do The world doth build without our God within He trafficks Goodness and she trafficks sin 99. Schools have their Limits wherein Man prescribes What Credit hopes Truth there which contradicts States have their Laws all Churches have their Tribes Where sin is ever strongest and inflicts For Man is judge and force still wisdom there How can God thence expect a spiritual Heir 100. But Gods elect still humbly pass by these Make Love their School and scale of righteousness
Counterpeaze Of humours temper'd happily to please 125. But their best help indeed is happy choice Of under Ministers of every kind By whom discreetly Thrones may judge the voice Of Images projected to their mind And so by weak but wakeful jealousie The true of false scope of propounders see 126. Whence mark how that young unexperienc'd spirit Alexander who was after nam'd Severe During his youth did of his people merit By help of Council uncorrupt to bear The practice of his publick government Under good Laws which gave good men content 127. Now though pow'r hardly can fit spirits to place Which must want Judgement wanting industry And so as rarely well dispose of Grace Having but Chance no true Nobility Yet kinless Fame helps weakness what to judge Till from an eccho she become a drudge 128. For as the Painter curious in his Art Extream ill features easily represents And by deformity in every part Express the life and likeness to content As he in â—atures good proportions shews That in her pride Art equal with her goes 129. So Fame this Quintescence of humane spirit Brings unto light the divers states of men And seldome to unworthiness gives merit Or lets Perfection languish in a Den But on her wings alike brings either forth The one as good the other nothing worth 130. Thus may Fames many Eyes Heads Wings and Heart Instruct weak pow'r to keep her state upright And as to rule these is a Masters Art So to rule by these is one way of Might Wherein the Crown can feel no great distress And for the People they must sure find less 131. Besides the help of Fame weak Thrones shall find The wit of Time and selfness in mens hearts Will teach how one man many men may bind And raise the head by counterpoize of parts All having charge and subaltern degree To ease the audits of Authority 132. Where else weak hands in mighty works must fail And all transform'd be to Usurpers passion Thrones then reserve your selves choice and appeal Greatness her way must with some labor fashion With many Eyes he must see wrong and Right That Finite being would rule Infinite 133. Or if Pow'rs tender thoughts will needs make pleasure The end of Crowns which God made publick good Yet give your seconds scope in such a measure As may for Chiefs still make you understood Which one poor priviledge you may reserve By thinking more then one can well deserve 134. For as in bodies living though decay'd If all parts equally chance to be stain'd The whole is by an AEquilibrium sway'd As where no odds can easily be gain'd And so Mortality adjourn'd as far Oft as in those all whose parts sounder are 135. So these weak Pow'rs in whom States are diseas'd By equal disproportion in each part May scape great fits and happily be eas'd Keeping her tottering Ballance up by Art In making Faction which destroys the strong By peazing weak Pow'rs to preserve them long 136. What had become of Romes vast Monarchy When Galienus buried was in Lust Sloth Riot and Excess of vanity Even while the Barbars swarm'd like barren dust Had not the Thirty Rivals to each other From one Mans Tyranny preserv'd their Mother 137. Let Place then Rule let Favor raign not Merit And each in his Predicament be King Do of a head use neither pow'r nor spirit To audit question or judge any thing Onely let Faction multiply her seed Two bodies headless seldom danger breed 138. For equals soon each other will oppose And both in Thrones as suddenly unite To it they pray they travel they disclose Creation only ballanceth their Might Reserve distribute that in jealous measure Then Crowns may stand and Kings may take their pleasure 139. These partial wits which Faction works withal Though fatal Judges yet good Sisters be Which while they strive each other to enthral Cleer up the dimme lights of authority And shew weak Crowns what weight of hope or fear The State or mind of every man can bear 140. Besides Thrones have all moulds of their forefathers Safe under-buildings of the wisdoms dead Exchequers that Revenues Judge and gather Courts that examine Treason to the head Parliaments Councel-seats Tripods of Law Engines of pow'r to keep desire in awe 141. For forain practice they have spies of time And place to which intelligence is due For Church inferior functions and sublime To teach men God and take a spiritual view Of Schisme in Doctrine and in life of sin That neither Sect nor scandal enter in 142. Onely let not weak pow'rs lay new foundations Who cannot judge how time works on the old But keep the ancient forms in reputation To which Mans freedom is already sold Since Order over-worn is yet a frame Wherein Confusion rarely weavs her name 143. Thus much for weakness in that Royal part Which doth concern Justice that is supreme Whose Golden Links though forg'd by powers Art Safe Circles are to compass every Realm And keep out all thoughts of irreverence As bearing in it every mans defence 144. Where frailty else ever unfortunate Wanting true cales between Place Wit and Heart Scatters the strength and honour of a State By suffering more to play one Tyrants part And blows the people ike louds here and there As till exhausted objects of their fear 145. Lastly if these mild Cautions fail to stay These frailties which disease-like turn and toss And so for that change every where make way Which Change unguided still begetteth loss Then he who cannot take must taken be Such sharp points hath frail mans Supremacy Of Strong Tyrants SECT V 146. NOw from the setting of this evening Star Ascends that morning Planets influence Which both in Light and Glory passeth far These Comets of strong pow'r in feeble sence And who from inequality of state Strive to make all for one unfortunate 147. I mean such confident imperious Spirits As over act with restless Scepter-wit Thinking the world inferior to their merits And brook no other bounds or laws in it Then to make all their own thoughts words and deeds Receiv'd of people not as Rules but Creeds 148. Which souls thus over-swoln with windy vice Must wisely be allay'd and moulded be Lest Torrent-like they with the prejudice Of People wast their own transcendency And thus by cutting real grounds too thin Have their ambitions ever to begin 149. For though Throne-vice be publick like her State And therefore must of force wound many ways Yet some move scorn some faults men wonder at Others harm not so many as they please Ill chosen vices vanish in despair Well chosen still leave somthing after fair 150. Vitellius vertueless in Life and Raign Yet by a gluttons familiarity The German Armies did so finely gain As against Otho he had victory Brake the Praetorian forces and in vain Vespatian had aspir'd his Monarchy But that each vice fits not all times and states For what one age affects another hates 151.
the Christians misled Miter-throne Become a very rack of Tiranny Their spirits united eating men like food And making ill ends with strong Armies good 205. Religions fair name by insinuation Secretly seiseth all pow'rs of the mind In understanding raiseth admiration Worship in Will which native sweet links bind The soul of Man and having got possession Give pow'rfull Will an ordinate progression 206. Forming in Conscience lines of equity To temper Laws and without force infuse A home-born practice of civility Currant with that which all the world doth use Whereby divided Kingdoms may unite If not in truth at least in outward rite 207. Therefore I say Pow'r should be provident In judging this chief strength of Tyranny With caution that the Clergy Government Give not the Miter Crown-supremacy Making the Sultan and the Caliph one To Tyrannize both Cair and Babylon 208. The Churches proper Arms be Tears and Prayers Peters true Keys to open Earth and Sky Which if the Priest out of his prides despair Will into Tybris cast and Pauls sword try Gods sacred word he therein doth abandon And runs with fleshly confidence at random 209. Mild people therefore honour you your King Reverence your Priests but never under one Frail Creature both your soul and body bring But keep the better part to God alone The soul his Image is and onely he Knows what it is and what it ought to be 210. Lest else by some idolatrous conceit You give them that at sin can cast no stone Meâ—ns to pluck down the Godhead by deceit And upon Mans inventions raise a Throne Besides where sword and Canons do unite The peoples bondage there proves infinite 211. Princes again wake and be well advis'd How suddenly in Man Kings pow'r is drown'd The Miter rais'd the Scepter prejudic'd If you leave all rights Superstition bound For then as souls more dear then bodies are So these Church-visions may strain nature far 212. Kings therefore that fear superstitious Might Must cross their courses in their infancy By which the Druids with their shadow'd light Got Goods from them that took their words to be Treble rewarded in the life to come And works not Paradice the same for Rome 213. For with such mystical dexterity Racking the living Souls through rage of sin And dying souls with horrors mystery Did not the Miter from the Scepter win The third part of the world till Luther came Who fhak't the Doctrine of that double frame 214. Lie not France Poland Italy and Spain Still as the Snow doth when it threatens more Like Engines fitted to draw back again Those that the true light severed before And was not Venice excommunicate For curbing such false purchases of late 215. Which endless thirst of sacred Avarice If in the infancy it be not bounded Will hardly by prosperity grow wise For as this Church is on apparence founded So besides Schools and Cells which vail her shame Hath she not Armies to extend her name 216. Pow'r for a Pensil Conscience for a Table To write opinion in of any fashion With Wits distinctions ever Merchantable Between a Princes Throne and Peoples Passion Upon which Texts she raiseth or puls down All but those objects which advance her Crown 217. Pow'r therefore be she needy or ambitious Dispos'd to peace or unto war enclin'd Whether religious in her life or vicious Must not to Miters so enthral Mankind As above Truth and Force Moncks may prevail On their false visions Crown-Rights to entail 218. Again let not her Clerks by Simons ways Lay wast endowments of devoted spirits And so pull down what their forefathers raisd With honour in their actions if not merit Least as by pride they once got up too high Their baseness feel the next extremity 219. For first besides the scandal and contempt Which those base courses on their Doctrine cast The stately monuments are not exempt Because without means no time-works can last And from high pomp a desperate descent Shews both in State and Church misgovernment 220. Whereof let her take heed since when Estates From such a greatness do begin to fall Descent is unto them precipitate For as one Gangren'd member ruines all So what the modesty of one time leaves The time succeeding certainly bereaves 221. Therefore must Thrones as Gods of forms exterior Cast up this Earthly mettal in good mould And when men to professions prove superior Restrain proud thoughts from doing what they would Guiding the weak and strong to such extension As may to order sacrifice invention 222. And hereby work that formal unity Which brooks no new or irreligious Sects To nurse up Faction or Impiety Change ever teaching people to neglect But raise the painful learned and devout To plant obeying conscience thorowout 223. Veyling her Doctrine with Antiquity Whence and where although contradicting Sects Strive to derive and prove their pedigree As safest humane levels to direct Into what mould opinion should be cast To make her true at least like truth to last 224. Or if their times will not permit a Truce In wrangling questions which break natures peace And therein offer God and Man abuse Let pow'r yet wisely make their practice cease In Church or Courts and bind them to the Schools As business for idle witty fools 225. Ordering that people from the Pulpit hear Nothing but that which seems mans life to mend As shadows of eternal hope and fear Which do contract the ill and good extend Not idle Theorick to tickle wit Empty of goodness much more nice then fit 226. To which refining end it may seem just That in the Church the supream Magistrates Should ancient be ere they be put in trust Since aged wit best tempers and abates These heady and exorbitant affections Which are of blind proud youth the imperfections 227. The Roman Laws for Magistrates admit None that had not pass'd the meridian line Of youth and humours incident to it And shall it not in functions Divine Be more absurd to let that youth appear And teach what wise men think scarce fit to hear 228. Besides chaste life years easilier may observe Which temper in Cathedral Dignity Though Wives be lawful yet doth well deserve As to their functions leaving them more free Instance their Learned works that liv'd alone Where married Bishops left us few or none 229. And if men shall object that this restraint Of lawful Marriage will encrease the sin And so the beauty of the Church attaint By bringing scandal through mans frailty in I say mans fall is sins not Churches shame Ordain'd by censure to enlarge her Fame 230. Censure the life of Discipline which bears Pow'rs spiritual Standard fit to govern all Opinions Actions Humours Hopes and Fears Spread knowledge make obedience general Whence Man instructed well and kept in awe If not the inward yet keeps outward Law 231. Which form is all that Tyranny expects I mean to win to change and yet unite Where a true King in his
all without Of which within it lives and dies in doubt 24. The other branch is meer Hypocrisie The worlds Religion born of Wit and Lust All which like hunters follow things that flie And still beyond things found find somthing must As God is boundless endless infinite So seem these Idols to the Hypocrite 25. Wit there is Priest who sacrisice doth make Of all in Heaven and Earth to his desire For from this Wit God and Religion take As many shapes as many strange attires As there be in the World degrees of change Which upon humours time occasion range 26. This teacheth all ambitious Magistrates On sins unquiet humors how to build Idols of Pow'r to alter natures rates And by false fears and hopes make people yield Their hearts for Temples unto Tyrants Laws Which Zeal divine to humane Homage draws 27. And when spiritual Lights which Truth expound Once to the traffick of Mans Will descend With chains of Truth Mankind no more is bound Whereby their hearts should up to Heaven ascend But vainly link't unto their tongues which draw Religion to a fleshly outward awe 28. And though this Fear a Holiness in shew Such as no Eye of Man can pierce the veil But least Gods houshold to contempt should grow Or this Hypocrisie not still prevail To raisâ— them reverence above their worth Blood Inquisition Question they bring forth 29. They draw the sword of Pow'r against her own Or else stir people up to war their Kings Both must be theirs or both be overthrown They bind Man unto words God binds to things For these false heads of holy Mother see Scepters to Miters there inferior be 30. Among our selves likewise there many be That make Religion nothing else but Art To master others of their own degree Enthral the simple well believing heart These have opposers scorn obedient fools Affecting Raign by educations tools 31. And though they serve Ambitious Princes use While they protect them like a nursing Father And while this common traffick of abuse Mutually helpeth either side to gather Yet mark the end of false combined trust It will divide and smart the people must 32. For sure in all kinds of Hypocrisie No bodies yet are found of constant being No uniforme no stable Mistery No inward Nature but an outward seeming No solid Truth no Vertue Holiness But types of these which Time makes more or less 33. And from these Springs strange inundations flow To drown the Sea-marks of Humanity With Massacres Conspiracy Treason Woe By Sects and Schisms prophaning Deity Besides with Furies Fiends Earth Air and Hell They fit and teach Confusion to rebell 34. But as their lives a true God in the Heaven So is there true Religion here on earth By nature No by Grace not got but given Inspir'd not taught from God a second Birth God dwelleth neer about us even within Working the goodness censuring the sin 35. Such as we are to him to us is he Without God there was no man ever good Divine the Author and the matter be Where goodness must be wrought in flesh and blood Religion stands not in corrupted things But vertues that descend have Heavenly wings 36. Not heathen vertue which they do define To be a state of mind by Custome wrought Where sublime Religion seems to refine Affection perturbation every thought Uunto a Mens Adepta which work spent Half of the days to humane Hermes lent 37. For in his work Man still rests Slave to Fame To inward Caution outward form and pride With curious watch to guard a rotten frame Safe undiscovet'd from the piercing ey'd Assiduous caution tyrannizing there To make frail thoughts seem other then they are 38. Under this Mask besides no vice is dead But passion with her counter-passion peaz'd The evil with it self both starv'd and fed And in her woes with her vain glories eas'd The work and tools alike vain flesh and blood The labour great the harvest never good 39. For in this painted Tomb let Mans own spirit Really judge what that estate can be Which he begetting in himself inherits Other then DESERTS of Hypocrisie Within the darkning shadows of his wit Hiding his stains from all the world but it 40. And if the habits of Hypocrisie With such attention must be kept and wrought If to mask vice be such a mistery As must with her captivity be sought If to be nothing and yet seem to be So nicely be contriv'd and dearly bought As vanity must in a Phaenix fire Smother her self to hatch her false desire 41. Then Judge poor Man Gods Image once 't is true Though now the Devils be thine own defection Judge Man I say to make this Image new And cleanse thy flesh from this deep dy'd infection What miracles must needs be wrought in you That thus stand lost in all things but election What living death what strange illumination Must be inspir'd to this Regeneration 42. Must not the Grace be supernatural Which in forgiving gives sanctification And from this second Chaos of his fall Forms in Mans little world a new Creation And must not then this twice born Child of Heaven Bring forth in life this new perfection giv'n 43. Then Man pray and obtain believe and have Omnipotence and goodness ready be To raise us with our Saviour from the Grave Whence Enoch and Elias lived free He made all good yet suffred sin and death To Raign and be exil'd again by faith 44. Then till thou find this Heavenly change in thee Of Pride to Meekness Atheisme to Zeal Lust to Continence Anger to Charity Thou feel'st of thy election no true seal But knowledge only that poor infancy Of this new Creature which must thence appeal Unto the father for obedience Judging his hopes or condemnation thence 45. For what else is Religion in Mankind But raising of Gods Image there decay'd No habit but a hallowed state of Mind Working in us that he may be obey'd As God by it with us Communicates So we by Duties must with all estates 46. With our Creator by sincere devotion With Creatures by observance and affection Superiors by respect of their promotion Inferiors with the nature of protection With all by using all things of our own For others good not to our selves alone 47. And ev'n this sacred band this Heavenly Breath In Man his understanding knowledge is Obedience in his Will in Conscience Faith Affections Love in death itself a bliss In body Temp'rance life Humility Pledge to the mortal of Eternity 48. Pure onely where God makes the Spirits pure It perfect grows as imperfection dies Built on the rock of truth that shall endure A Spirit of God that needs must multiply He shews his Glory cleerly to the best Appears in Clouds and Horror to the rest 49. Such was the soul in our first Sires Creation When Man knew God and goodness not the evil Far greater in the Godheads incarnation Where Truth subdu'd the sin that made the devil She
still is Gods and God for ever one Both unbeliev'd in flesh and both unknown 50. Then Man learn by thy fall to judge of neither Our flesh cannot this spirit comprehend Death and new birth in us must joyn together Before our nature where it was ascend Where man presumes on more then he obeys There straight Religion to opinion strays 51. Then since 't is true we onely here possess These Treasures but in veslels made of slime Religion we by consequence confess Here to be mixt of base things and sublime Of native evil supernatural good Truth born of God and error of our blood 52. Yet Gold we have though much allay'd with dross Refining never perfect in this life Still in our journey meeting gain and loss Rest in our deaths and until then a strife And as our days are Want Temptation Error So is our Zeal War Prayers Remorse and Terror 53. Such is the state of Infants in new birth Fed first with Milk too weak for stronger food Who learn at once to know and doe in earth both enemy and impotent in good Must feel that our Christ can of his loose none Which unto us makes Grace and Merit one 54. These be true Antidotes against despair Cradles for weakness stories for corruption To read how faith begins to make her fair By cleansing sensual sinks of interruption Whereby the throws of many thoughts bring forth Light onely shewing Man is nothing worth 55. For this word Faith implies a state of Mind Is both our woing and our Marriage Ring The first we meet and last but Love we find A given hand that feeleth Heavenly things And who believe indeed God Heav'n and Hell Have past in that chief letts of doing well 56. Then let not man too rashly judge this Light Nor censure God by his own imperfections What can give limit to the infinite When he by works will witness our election Degrees I grant there be of Will and Might Some to beget some onely to inherit Yet still the Conscience must obey the Spirit 57. Yea though God call his Labourers every hour And pay the Last and First with Heavenly gain Though he give faith beyond the Law and Pow'r Yet is Gods nature where he is to raign His word is Life the Letter all mens fall That it without the Spirit measure shall 58. This Sacred word is that Eternal Glass Where all mens souls behold the face they bring Each sees as much as life hath brought to pass The Letter can shew Life no other thing The hearts Grace works to know what they obey All else prophane God and the World betray 59. This work is Gods even his that works all wonder His Arm not shorned and his goodness one Whose Presence breaks sins middle wall in sunder And doth in flesh deface the evils throne He is all gives all hath all where he is And in his absence never soul finds bliss 60. His AEgypt wonders here he doth exceed For there he mixt with Winds Rain Natures line Now by his spirit he doth blast our weeds Immediate Grace true miracles Divine Guides not by Fires and Meteors night and day His wandring people how to move or stay 61. But into sinners hearts shadows of death The saving light of truth he doth inspire Fitteth our humane Lungs with Heavenly breath Our mortal Natures with immortal fire He draws the Camel through the Needles eye And makes the chosen flesh die ere they die 62. Yet keeps one course with Israel and us The flesh still knew his Pow'r but not his Grace All outward Churhes ever know him thus They bear his name but never run his race They know enough for their self-condemnation His doing know him to their ownsalvation 63. His Church invisible are few and good The visible erroneous evil many Of his the Life and Letter understood Of these nor Life nor Letter dwell in any These make his word Sect Scisme Phisosophy And those from Fifhers call'd Apostles be 64. They do in praying and still pray in doing Faith and obedience are their contemplation Like Lovers still admiring ever woing Their God that gives this Heavenly constellation They war that Finite Infinite of sin All Arts and Pomps the error wanders in 65. God is their strength in him his are not weak That Spirit Divine which Life Pow'r wisdome is Works in these new born Babes a life to speak Things which the world still understands amiss The Lye hath many tongues Truth only one And who sees blindness till the sin be gone 66. Fools to the world these seem and yet obey Princes oppressions whereat fools repine They know these Crowns these Theaters of Clay Derive their earthly pow'r from pow'r Divine Their sufferings are like all things else they do Conscience to God with men a wisdom too 67. Book-Learning Arts yea School Divinity New types of old Law-munging Pharisies Which curst in bondage of the Letter be They know they pitty and would fain advise The goodness moves them yet the wisdom stays From sowing Heavenly seed in stony ways 68. To you they cry O you that hold the shrine As sent by God yet Priests of chance and gain Your charge is to distribute things Divine O do not lie for God and sin in vain Reveal his word his misteries expound Else what he works you travel to confound 69. You should be keys to let his Will pass out Bind sin and free repentance by his word Fear those that scorn and comfort them that doubt What drowned Pharaoh still is Israels forde Wisdome above the truth was Adams sin That veyle which Christ rent off will you walk in 70. Observe Faiths nature in these hallow'd shrines Both of the old and perfect Testament Works be her fruits her nature is Divine Infus'd by him that is omnipotent Doe we believe on him on whom we stay not Can we believe on him whom we obey not 71. His Pen left two examples it is true First of his chosen how he grosly fell Then of the Thief born instantly anew Vice rais'd to Heaven perfection fall'n to hell And of each nature therefore left not many Lest hope or fear should over-work in any 72. Is it not then by warrant from above That who gives faith gives true obedience What other Medium hath our flesh to prove That sin with God keeps no intelligence Takes this from Man the fruits of Christ his death No it translates him into it by faith 73. For though God gave such measure of his Grace As might in flesh fulfill the second Table Yet sin against the first did quite deface Gods Image and to raise that who is able Between the Flesh and Grace that spiritual Fight Needs Father Son and their proceeding Might 74. Nay let us grant God would enable Man After his calling to accomplish all From Adams sin who yet redeem him can Or Pauls transgression cleer before his call But Christ that comes to none of Gods in vain The justest need him
Imprimatur W. MORICE THE REMAINS OF Sir FULK GREVILL Lord Brooke BEING POEMS OF MONARCHY AND RELIGION Never before Printed LONDON Printed by T. N. for Henry Herringman at the sign of the Blew Anchor in the Lower Walk of the New Exchange 1670. AN ADVERTISEMENT THe Author having dedicated all his Monuments to the Memory of Sir Philip Sidney whose Life he did write as an intended Preface to these it will not be fit to add any other then a brief Advertisement to acquaint the Reader he was that Sir Fulk Grevill whose Noble Line by Matches with the Honourable Families of Nevil Beauchamp and Willoughby Lord Brooke make good the observation of Hereditary advantages of Mind as well as Body by Descents purely derived from Noble Ancestors the Excellency of his Qualities rendring him an eminent Courtier in Queen Elizabeths Raign and in King James's time under whom he had the Honourable emploiments of Chancellour of the Exchequer and Privy Counceller and was by Letters Patent of that King in consideration of services done to the Crown made Lord Brooke to the Title of which Barony by Descent from Willoughby he had right and having always lived a Batchelor which was no small advantage to the freedom of his mind He died in the Seventy fourth year of his Age Ann. Dom. 1628. having been also Counsellor of State for about Three years to King CHARLES the First When he grew old he revised the Poems and Treatises he had writ long before and at his death committed them to his friend Mr. Michael Malet an aged Gentleman in whom he most confided who intended what the Author purposed to have had them Printed altogether but by Copies of some parts of them which happened into other hands some of them came first abroad each of his Works having had their fate as they singly merit particular esteem so to come into the World at several times he to whom they were first delivered being dead the trust of these remaining pieces devolved on Sir J. M. who hath given me the Licensed Coppy of them and that the Reader may be more fully informed of the Author and his Writings and how they are related to each other we must refer to that wherein besides his friend Sidneys Life he gives account of his own and of what he had written H. H. A TREATISE OF MONARCHY By Sir FULK GREVILL Lord BROOK Of the beginning of Monarchie SECT I. 1. THere was a time before the times of Story When Nature raign'd instead of Laws or Arts And mortal Gods with Men made up the Glory Of one Republick by united Hearts Earth was the common seat their Conversation In saving Love and ours in Adoration 2. For in those Golden days with Natures Chains Both King and People seem'd conjoyn'd in one Both nurst alike with mutual feeding veins Transcendency of either side unknown Princes with Men using no other Arts But by good dealing to obtain good hearts 3. Power then maintaind it self even by those Arts By which it grew as Justice Labor Love Reserved sweetness did it self impart Even unto Slaves yet kept it self above And by a meek descending to the least Enviless swayd and govern'd all the rest 4. Order there equal was Time Courts ordain'd To hear to judge to execute and make Few and good Rules for all griefs that complain'd Such care did Princes of their people take Before this Art of Power allay'd the Truth So Glorious of Mans greatness is the Youth 5. What wonder was it then if those Thrones found Thanks as exorbitant as was their Merit Wit to give highest Tributes being bound And wound up by a Princely ruling Spirit To worship them for their Gods after death Who in their life exceeded humane faith 6. And shall it Error nay Impiety In Heathen Souls be thought to recompence The Absent with immortal Memory Goodness with Praise and Benefit with Sence Or rather such a Golden natur'd vein As in the World might Golden days maintain 7. For where should thankful Ingenuity Think the Fear-thundring Scepter fit to rest With Knowledge Vertue and Felicity But in mild Jupiter's well-doing brest Or where but in Olympus Heaven to be Which was his dwelling place in Thessaly 8. And if departed souls must rise again Severely to become examined And bide the Judgement of Reward or Pain What Chancelors seem fitter for the dead Then Rhadamanthus and stern Minos were True Types of Justice while they lived here 9. Thus Kings may see while greatness did descend And Care as far spread as Authority Grace did restrain and disgrace did amend The Vice was hateful and the Majesty Of Justice held up for a common good A work by Kings and Men well understood 10. Kings creatures then were no vain Favorites But Guardians of the poor Eyes of the Crown Lest height of place should oversee the right And help the proud to pull the humble down All Laws like Cobwebs catching little Flies But never great ones without Princes Eyes 11. Under Euristus that brave Prince of Greece No Pallas no Narcissus delicate Were minions whose Lusts did the people Fleece Nor could sufficed be with Midas State And whose effeminate unactivevness To make themselves great still made Scepters less 12. But Hercules a brave laborious Spirit Who having freed Greece from home-Tyranny As born of more then his own soyl to merit Was sent to purge the Earths iniquity Egypt of Busyre Diomedes of Thrace Italy of Cacus Spain of Gerions Race 13. Nor could a Goddess spite which Juno veils Under emploiments specious pretences Change Nature or make true worth strike her sails One God appeasing other Gods offences When she that by his Labour sought his doom There made him Trophies where she meant his Tomb. 14. Yet did he raise no Pyramis for pain But his Republick's good his Masters Fame As thinking selfness but a trivial gain To him that builds an universal frame No Trophies fit for worth but Love and Praise Which shadow-like still follow active Rays 15. Jason again who serv'd Thessalia's King What else did he affect from dangers past When he the Pleece of Colchos home did bring Then in the Rolls of large time to be plac't For undertaking passages unknown Through which the wealth of many states have grown 16. Now whilst pow'r did thus really proceed Not on advantage Humor Slight or Will Her Zeal with Honour mixt peaz'd every deed Time did not yet encline to mask her ill Words grew in hearts Mens hearts were large free Bondage had then not brought in Flattery 17. But by decree of Fate this Corporation Is alter'd since and Earths fair Globe miscarried Mans Craft above these Gods in estimation And by it wisdomes constant Standard varied Whereby the sway of many years are gone Since any Godhead rul'd an earthly Throne 18. Whether it were Mans false Pygmean wit Captiving Envy or the Giants pride Which forc't these Worthies to abandon it I know not but some disproportion'd Tyde Of Times
alliance not with Truth but Will And to confirm this strives to pull all down That limit the excesses of a Crown DECLINATION OF MONARCHY To Violence SECT II. 46. NOw though the World on the Excentricks be Fashion'd to move and ballance her own weight Not much enclining to obliquity Yet is her Ruler Man through self-conceit Violence of Pride fate of corruption Apt to give all her best works interruption 47. For since Religions name not Nature came To Rule those ancient forming pow'rs gave place The stile of Conscience over-weighing Fame And Reason yielding up her Soveraign Mace Unto those lively Pictures which produce Unactive apparitions of no use 48. Which Change straight wrought but was not straight-ways found Pow'r was so veil'd with formal laws and baits Under which still the infinite lay bound And Man bewitcht with wits confufed sleights To make pow'rs Throne the Idol of his heart Transforming Zeal and Nature into Art 49. So that without the guide of Cloud or Fire Man since sails fatal straights of hope and fear In Ebbs and Flouds of travelling desires Where what we have to us is never dear Pow'r making men vainly by off'ring more Hope to redeem that state they had before 50. Hence falls it out that silly people loose Still by these thin webs of Authority Which they that spin yet therefore cannot use Because these threds no more inherent be within themselves but so transcrib'd to Crowns As they raise Pow'r by pulling freedom down 51. Thus by a credulous obedience Mankind gave Might a ground to build up more Cooling and kindling his desire with sence Even of such things as were his own before Disease and Error meeting both in this That many follow where one rooted is 52. For thus imbas'd we since want pow'r to tie Others to us or us unto our own Our many passions serve to bind us by And our distractions keep our strengths unknown One holding that which others give away The Base whereon all Tyranny doth stay 53. Hence came these false Monarchal Councils in And instruments of Tyrants States apart Which to their private from the publick win While Man becomes the Matter Pow'r the Art Making obedience too indefinite As taxt with all the vanities of Might 54. The Tenure chang'd Nature straight chang'd the use For all the active spirits follow Might Ignorance baseness Negligence abuse Inconstancy disunion oversight By Crowns to people so intail'd are they As no subjection can put these away 55. Whence neither makers now nor Members held Men are but Blanks where Pow'r doth write her Lust A spriteless Mass which for it cannot weld It self at others pleasure languish must Resolve to suffer and let pow'r do all Weakness in Men in Children natural 56. From which Cras'd womb of frailty was brought forth A Giant Creature in excess of Might To work in all with every pow'r but worth Who to be sure that never shall have right Takes not God as he is but makes him new Like to his ends large narrow false or true 57. Religion Honour Natures Laws and Nations All moulds derived from that gift transcendent These Monsters stampt or gave disestimation As they did find them theirs or undependent Left nothing certain here on earth but Will And that yet never constant for t is ill 58. Instance proud Mahomet when he propos'd The Empire of this world to his ambition Under Gods name were not his acts dispos'd To change Mans faith and freedom of condition The sacred Dove whisp'ring into his Ear That what his Will impos'd the World must fear 59. Unto Cambyses all his sages vow'd That in their reading they of no Law wist Which Marriage with his Sister had allow'd But that their Monarch might do what he list Licet si libet and what be these other Then hellish words of Caracalla's Mother 60. And doth not our great Capitolian Lord Use the same compass in each course he steers Are not those Acts which all Estates discord As Kings assasinate mutiny of Peers Stirr d up by him under pretence Divine To force those Scepters he cannot encline 61. Nay hath he not a higher pitch attain'd A more compendious power of perswasion Having since Phoebus and Cybele Raign'd Made himself such a Trypode by occasion As may not be examin'd or withstood But with a Godhead equally made good 62. Which Errors like the Hectick Feavers be Easie to cure while they are hard to know But when they once obtain Supremacy Then easily seen but hard to overthrow So that where Pow'r prevents not this excess Miters grow great by making Scepters less 63. Therefore did these proud Tyrants live awake Careful to Cancel all inferior Rights And in Creations still keep pow'r to make To fit each Instruments and fashion Spirits That as the Head Ideas rule the Heart So pow'r might print her Will in every part 64. For active Rulers seldom fail of means Occasion Colour and Advantage too To bind by Force by Wit by Customes chains And make th' oppessed souls content to woe Fear suffering much for fear to suffer more As still by smart made greater then before 65. Knowing that Men alike touch't never were That divers sence works diversly in woe The nimblest Wits being still kept down by fear Dull wits not feeling neighbors overthrow The wise mistrust the weak and strive to bear Thrones being strong because men think them so Yet mark at length how Error runs in rounds And ever what it raiseth up confounds 66. For when this pow'r transcendent grows secure Flattering it self that all is made for one Then Will which nothing but it self endure And Pow'r that thinks it stands and works alone With an unsatiate pride and wanton ease Surfets it self with other mens disease 67. Hence Laws grow tedious and the very names Of God and Truth whose Natures died before A heavy burthen to these racking Frames That with a word would wrest up all and more Assemblies of Estate disparagements be Taxe Custome Fear and Labor onely free 68. Hence Thrones grew Idols Man their Sacrifice And from the Earth as to the Sun above Tributes of Dew and exhalations rise So humane Nature yields up all but Love Having this strange transcendency of Might As Child of no mean vice but Infinite 6 Whereby these strengths which did before concurre To build invent examine and conclude Now turn disease bring question and demur Oppose dissolve prevaricate delude And with opinions give the State unwrest To make the new still undermine the best 70. Caesar was slain by those that objects were Of Grace and Engines of his Tyranny Brutus and Cassius work shall witness bear Even to the Comfort of posterity That proud aspirers never had good end Nor yet excess of Might a constant friend 71. So that although this Tyrant usurpation Stood peaz'd by humours from a present fall Thoughts being all forc't up to adoration Of wit and pow'r which such Thrones work withal Yet both the Head and
not from one voice well but many laid 313. Much less ought Pulpit Doctrine still'd above Thorough Cathedral Chairs or Scepter Might Short or beyond th' Almighties tenure move Varying her shape as humors vary light Lest when men see God shrin'd in humane Law Thrones find the immortal chang'd to mortal awe 314. And to descend from visions of the best Both place and person from her shadows must Be so upheld as all may subject rest To pow'r supream not absolute in trust So to raise fees beyond reward or merit As if they might both Taxe and disinherit 315. Which to avoid as pow'rs chief Mystery Birth Education may give Princes light Yea in each Art the Master-peeces be Help to select among the infinite No work of Chance as from Pandora's Tunne But happy choice by Fames cleer Eye-sight wonne 316. Again though use of taking from mans youth Be but a doubtful way of discipline To work a habit in the Love of Truth Though instrumental practice do refine The serving not the judging pow'rs of wit And for uprightness so the more unfit 317. Yet in the liberty of Advocates Which are of Judges now the nursery Fame is a Glass where Governours of States May see what good or ill proportions be In every heart fram'd to do wrong or right Against temptations both of Gain and Might 318. Nor ends this work when Men are chosen well Since place corrupts them as it shews them forth Some humours rais'd some humbled do excel Security is no true nurse of worth Therefore that spirit of Fame which made the choice Must still in ears of Princes keep a voice 319. And whence hath Pow'r more safe intelligence Since Fame doth serve them at her proper cost And is not thrall to grace or to offence Though sometime clouded very seldom lost And where she lies by evil information She thinks retreat no loss of reputation 320. Now since these rules for Laws do even like Laws Equally serve the Tyrant and the King This to good uses for the publick cause That all mens freedoms under Will to bring One Spider-like the other like the Bee Drawing to help or hurt humanity 321. If I without distinction do set down These humble precepts in a common stile Their difference being not placed in the Crown But Craft or Truth to govern or beguile Let him that reads in this and in the rest Each crudity to his fair end digest Of Nobility SECT VIII 322. WHen wise Prometheus had his fine Clay drest To fashion Man he nothing more did shun Then Natures uniformity in Beasts Of which by Art there can be nothing won Whence in these creatures frame he did comprize Many both strong and strange varieties 323. That as there divers kinds be of complexions So in them there might be preheminence Divers of spirit vigor and affections To keep up which degrees of difference Reason of Life the Guardian was ordain'd As Conscience to Religion was chain'd 324. And to confirm this inequality Have not the feigned Gods in Orbs above Gloriously plac'd that specious Hierarchy Whose influence doth inferior spirits move And in slack or swift courses high or low The divers honours of each being show 325. So that of force he must a stranger be To their Republick that will not confess The supream Synods of this Deity To be compos'd of differing Nobleness And partially who can be placed there Where they that cleerest shine most honor bear 326. By birth and worth that Hercules high-priz'd Shines he not over Cassiopea's head Justice she being onely Canoniz'd For Perseus sake who did her Daughter wed And he that for anothers sake doth rise His merit not in worth but favour lies 327. Would it not be an aukeward consequence To see that Virgin frail Erigone Who by compassion got preheminence Adored by our Mariners to be Far above those two brothers saving light Whose Twinn-like Glory makes the Zodiack bright 328. Doth not Orion worthily deserve A higher place even for the constant Love Wherewith he did the chaste Diana serve Then frail Bootes who was plac'd above Onely because the Gods did else foresee He should the Murtherer of his Mother be 329. Let therefore no man mutine when they see Pow'r borrow patterns of creating Art Out of these Thrones wherein the Majesty Of Nature is maintain'd through every part By their well-laid distinctions of degree Which grow confus'd again by parity 330. For as the Harmony which sence admires Of discords yet according is compounded And as each creature really aspires Unto that Unity which all things founded So must the Throne and People both affect Discording Tones united with respect 331. By which consent of disagreeing movers There will spring up Aspects of reverence Equals and betters quarrelling like Lovers Yet all confessing one omnipotence And therein each estate to be no more Then instruments out of their Makers store 332. From whence Nobility doth of Creation A secret prove to Kings and Tyranny For as the the stamp gives Bullion valuation So these fair shadows of authority Are marks for people to look up unto And see what Princes with our Earth can do 333. In whom it is great wisdom to reward Unequal worth with inequality Since it doth breed a prosperous regard Aswel to Princes as to Tyranny When People shall see those men set above That more with worth then fortune seem in Love 334. Yet must this brave magnificence be us'd Not really to dispossess the Crown Either of Pow'r or Wealth but so infus'd As it may rather raise then pull it down Which frugal Majesty in growing Rome Gave her above all States a lasting doom 335. For fhe discern'd although her wealth were vast Yet People and desire did far exceed it So as what spread too far could never last And for a State to give away and need it Shadows for bodies she saw were to choose Which must both strength and reputation loose 336. The way she therefore did observe to prise Well doing subjects and encourage merit Were Titles Trophies which she did devise Costless and yet of force to quicken spirits Thus unto Africanus Scipio's name Hannibals and Carthage eccho'd were by Fame 337. His Brothers Sirname Asiaticus The Story was of Asia subdued Perseus captiv'd by Macedonicus To Iugurth straight Numidicus ensued By which course as each conquest brought forth more So they by giving still encreast their store 338. Besides proud Princes must in their Creations Of Form Worth Number keep a providence For if too many that wains reputation Bought worth or none le ts fall their reverence With men that think hability to do The scope creating-pow'r is bound unto 339. For farewel publick Stiles and Dignity When Nero's dark thoughts shall communicate Unto his fellow Minstrels levity Triumphal Statues offices of State Or honour to such spirits as though in age Never serv'd Mars nor Muse but on a stage 340. Nor must this specious body rise so high As it short shadows may