poyson do outspue Or have an ugly shape and foule presence That deadly poison and that direfull hue From this Nocturnall spright these uggly creaturâ—◠〈◊〉 27 This is the seat of Gods eternall ire When unmixt vengeance he doth fully powre Upon foul souls fit for consuming fire Fierce storms and tempests strongly doth he show Upon their heads His rage doth still devoure The never dying soul Here Satanas Hath his full swing to torture every houre The grisly ghosts of men when they have passe From this mid world to that most direfull dismall place 28 Did Nature but compile one mighty sphere Of this dark Stygian spright and close collect Its scatter'd being that it might appear Aloft in the wide heaven it would project Dark powerfull beams that solar life ycheckt With these dull choking rayes all things would die Infernall poyson the earth would infect Incessant showrs of pitchie shafts let flie Against the Sun with darknesse would involve the skie 29 Nor is my Muse wox mad that thus gives life To Night or Darknesse sith all things do live But Night is nothing straight I 'll end that strife Doth nought impressions to the sense derive If without prejudice you 'll deigne to dive Into the matter as much realty To darknesse as to coldnesse you will give Certes both night and coldnesse active be Both strike the sense they both have reall entity 30 Again 't is plain that that nocturall spright Sends forth black eben-beams and mirksome rayes Because her darknesse as the Sunne his light More clearly doth reflect on solid place As when a wall a shade empighten has Upon it sure that shade farre darker is Then is the aire that lies in the mid space What is the reason but that rayes emisse From centrall Night the walls reflexion multiplies 31 The light 's more light that strikes upon the wall And much more strongly there affects the eye Then what 's spread in the space aereall So 't is with shadows that amid do lie In the slight air there scarce we them descrie But when they fall upon the wall or ground They gain a perfect sensibilitie Scarce ought in outgone light is to be found But this Nocturnall ray's with like indowments crown'd 32 But why doth my half-wearied mind pursue Dim sculking darknesse a fleet nimble shade If Moses and wise Solomon speak true What we assert may safely well be said Did not a palpable thick Night invade The Land of Egypt such as men might feel And handle with their hands That darknesse ray'd From nether Hell and silently did steal On th' enemies of God as Scripture doth reveal 33 The womb of Night then fully flowred out For that all-swaying endlesse Majestie Which penetrateth those wide worlds throughout This thin spread darknesse that dispers'd doth lie Summon'd by his drad voice and strong decree Much therefore of that spirit close unite Into one place did strike the troubled eye With horrid blacknesse and the hand did smite With a clam pitchie ray shot from that Centrall Night 34 This Centrall Night or Universall spright Of wo of want of balefull bitternesse Of hatred envy wrath and fell despight Of lust of care wasting disquietnesse Of warre contention and bloud-thirstinesse Of zeal of vengeance of suspicion Of hovering horrour and sad pensivenesse This Stygian stream through all the world doth run And many wicked souls unto it self hath wonne 35 Lo here 's the portion of the Hypocrite That serveth God but in an outward show But his drad doom must passe upon his sprite Where it propends there surely must he go Due vengeance neither sleepeth nor is slow Hell will suck in by a strong sympathie What 's like unto it self So down they flow Devouring anguish and anxietie Do vex their souls in piteous pains alas they lie 36 Thus with live Hell be they concorporate United close with that self-gnawing sprite And this I wot will breed no sleeping state Who here descends finds one long restlesse Night May this the dreaming Psychopannychite Awake and make him seriously prepare And purge his heart lest this infernall might Suck in his soul 'fore he be well aware Kill but the seeds of sinne then are you past this fear 37 Thus have I prov'd by the souls union With heaven and hell that she will be awake When she from this mid Nature is ygone But still more curious task to undertake And spenden time to speak of Lethe lake And whether at least some souls fall not asleep Which if they do of Hell they do partake Whether who liv'd like plant or grazing sheep Who of nought else but sloth and growth doth taken keep 38 Whose drooping phansie never flowred out Who relish'd nought but this grosse bodies food Who never entertaind an active thought But like down-looking beasts was onely mov'd To feed themselves whither this drousie mood So drench the lowring soul and inly steep That she lies senselesse drownd in Lethe floud Who will let dive into this mysterie deep Into such narrow subtilties I list not creep 39 But well I wote that wicked crueltie Hate envie malice and ambition Bloud-sucking zeal and lawlesse tyrannie In that Nocturnall sprite shall have their wonne Which like this world admits distinction But like will like unto it strongly draw So every soul shall have a righteous doom According to our deeds God will bestow Rewards Unto the cruell he 'll no mercy show 40 Where 's Nimrod now and dreadfull Hannibal Where 's that ambitious pert Pellean lad Whose pride sweld bigger then this earthly ball Where 's cruell Nero with the rest that had Command and vex'd the world with usage bad They 're all sunk down into this nether hell Who erst upon the Nations stoutly strad Are now the Devils footstool His drad spell Those vassals doth command though they with fury swell 41 Consuming anguish styptick bitternesse Doth now so strangle their imperious will That in perpetuall disquietnesse They roll and rave and roar and rage their fill Like a mad bull that the slie hunters skill Hath caught in a strong net But more they strive The more they kindle that tormenting ill Wo's me in what great miserie they live Yet wote I not what may these wretched thralls relieve 42 The safest way for us that still survive Is this even our own lust to mortifie So Gods own Will will certainly revive Thus shall we gain a perfect libertie And everlasting life But if so be We seek our selves with ardent hot desire From that Infornall Night we are not free But living Hell will kindle a fierce fire And with uncessant pains our vexed soul will tire 43 Then the wild phanfie from her horrid wombe Will senden forth foul shapes O dreadfull sight Overgrown toads fierce serpents thence will come Red-scaled Dragons with deep burning light In their hollow eyeâ—pits With these she must fight Then thinks her self ill wounded sorely stung Old fulsome Hags with scabs and skurf bedight Foul tarry
no not the acutenesse of Reason nor yet a strong if naked conceit that we have the Spirit of God can excuse a man from being in any better condition then in the Land of Brutes or in the mere animal nature Which conclusion I thought worth my labour to set off with such Artifice and Circumstance as I have the gullery and deceit therein if not avoided being of so great and evil consequence For if we can but once entitle our opinions and mistakes to Religion and Gods Spirit it is like running quick-silver in the back of a sword and will enable us to strike to utter destruction and ruine But it would prevent a great deal of bloud and bitternesse in the Christian world if we reserved the flower and strength of our zeal for the undoubted Truth of God and his immutable Righteousnesse and were more mildly and moderately affected concerning the Traditions and determinations of the Elders Furthermore I have added Notes for the better understanding not onely of my Psychozoia but of the Principles of Plato's Philosophy In both which I would be so understood as a Representer of the Wisdome of the Ancients rather then a warranter of the same Contemplations concerning the dry essence of the Diety are very consuming and unsatisfactory 'T is better to drink of the bloud of the grape then bite the root of the vine to smell of the rose then chew the stalk And blessed be God the meanest of men are capable of the former very few successefull in the latter And the lesse because the reports of them that have busied themselves that way have not onely seem'd strange to the vulgar but even repugnant with one another But I should in charity referre this to the nature of the pigeons neck rather then to mistake or contradiction One and the same Object in Nature affords many and different 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And God is as infinitely various as simple Like a circle indifferent whether you suppose it of one Uniform line or an infinite number of Angles Wherefore it is more safe to admit all possible perfections in God then rashly to deny what appears not to us in our particular posture I have also adjoyned some few scattering notes to the second part of the Song of the Soul Where I have also beside some subtil considerations concerning ATOMS and QVANTITY set out very plainly the Hypothesis of Pythagoras or Copernicus concerning the MOTION of the EARTH as also opened the mystery of the FLVX and REFLVX of the SEA Which two contemplations are not inferiour to any for either pleasantnesse in themselves or conduciblenesse for the finding out of the right frame of Nature Finally I have cast into this second Edition severall smaller Poems of which together with all the rest that I have published I would give this generall Advertisement Est pictura Poesis Every poem is an Idyllium And a Poet no more sings himself then a Painter draws his own picture Nor can I by these assume to my self the honour of being a Platonist no more then Virgil incurre the suspicion of being an Epicurean by his Silenus whom notwithstanding Alexander Severus thought good to style poetarum Plato As for a more determinate decision of those many speculations which I have set on foot in these writings though I made some kind of promise that way in my first I must crave leave a while to deferre it till I find the thing it self of more consequence and my self at better leisure However without that there is so great accession made to this second Edition that I easily hope that of as many as I was received favourably before that I shall now be received with much more favour As for others whom sensuall immersion or the deadnesse of Melancholy have more deeply seiz'd upon I must acknowledge that in my own judgement I can seem no better to them then a piece of highly inacted folly they obstinately preferring that sad ground of incredulity before any thing lesse then a Demonstration For whose satisfaction Mounsieur des Chartes hath attempted bravely but yet methinks on this side of Mathematicall evidence He and that learned Knight our own Countryman had done a great deal more if they had promised lesse So high confidence might become the heat and scheme of Poetry much better then sober Philosophy Yet has he not done nothing though not so much as he raiseth mens expectations to And if he had performed lesse it had been enough to souls that have well recovered that divine sagacity and quick sent of their own Interest If this sweet ethereall gale of divine breathing do not quicken and enliven the sent and relish of such arguments as Reason Nature and story will afford they will all prove weak and uselesse Especially to exercised Wits that have so writhen and wrested their phansies that they can imagine or disimagine any thing so weakened it that it is born down aswel with the smallest as greatest weight so crusted and made hard their inward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by overmuch and triviall wearing it that that delicate discrimination and divine touch of the soul is even lost in so much that it would be safer to ask the judgement of young lads or Countrey idiots concerning the force of Arguments for Gods existence or the Souls immortality then those lubricous Wits and overworn Philosophers And surely if we will but admit of Providence and her eye to be placed upon man and this world to be his instruction together with the undistorted suggestions of his own heart these easie hints and pointings will be found no fallacious directions And true opinion is as faithfull a Guide as Necessity and Demonstration That obvious conceit of the nature of light and colours though perhaps false in it self yet is an easie and safe conductour to that grand Truth of the divine Hypostases held up by the whole Christian world for these many hundred years and by more then have acknowledged themselves Christians How naturally are we invited from the appearing of men deceased to think the soul survives the body though we may perversly suppose that those Apparitions are but our own imaginations or that some sportfull or over officious spirit puts himself in the form and fashion of the deceased party But what was the first and most easie suggestion is such a truth as all Ages and Nations without intermission have embraced it Nor yet will this be for a Demonstration and winne undoubted assent with austere and melancholick tempers Nor is reason unback'd with better principles mathematically satisfiable in matters of this kind Nor am I offended that it is not For would it not be an overproportionated engine to the again endangering of Cleombrotus neck or too forcibly driving men to obedience if they had their immortality as demonstrable as That the three angles in a triangle are equall to two right angles Besides it would prevent that fitting triall of the soul how she would be
PHILOSOPHICAL POEMS BY HENRY MORE Master of Arts and Fellow of CHRISTS COLLEDGE IN CAMBRIDGE Avia Pieridum peragro loca nullius antè Trita solo juvat integros accedere fontes Lucr. CAMBRIDGE Printed by ROGER DANIEL Printer to the UNIVERSITY 1647. To his dear Father ALEXANDER MORE ESQUIRE SIR I Know at first sight you 'll judge me a Novice in the affairs of the World in not pitching upon some other Patron and unacquainted with the Courtship of the times that holds it more commendable to toy and complement with a stranger then speak truth of a known friend But I am meditating no Stage-play of ordinary Apish Civility but sober Truth Nor intend this an act of worldly discretion and advantage but of Justice and Gratitude For I cannot hope that ever any man shall deserve so well of me as your self has done Besides what hath hitherto commended you to all that know you your Faithfulnesse Uprightnesse Sedulity for the publick Welfare of the place wherein you live your generous Opennesse and Veracity Nor can ever that thick cloud you are now enveloped with of melancholized old Age and undeserved Adversity either dark the remembrance of your pristine Lustre or hide from me the sight of your present Worth Sir I could wish my self a stranger to your bloud that I might with the better decorum set out the noblenesse of your spirit But to speak modestly You deserve the Patronage of better Poems then these though you may lay a more proper claim to these then to any You having from my childhood tuned mine ears to Spencers rhymes entertaining us on winter nights with that incomparable Peice of his The Fairy Queen a Poem as richly fraught with divine Morality as Phansy Your early Encomiums also of Learning and Philosophy did so fire my credulous Youth with the desire of the knowledge of things that your After-advertisements how contemptible Learning would prove without Riches and what a piece of Unmannerlinesse and Incivility it would be held to seem wiser then them that are more wealthy and powerfull could never yet restrain my mind from her first pursuit nor quicken my attention to the affairs of the World But this bookish disease let it make me as much poor as it will it shall never make me the lesse just Nor will you I hope esteem me the lesse dutyfull that without your cognoscence I become thus thankfull For I never held my self bound to ask leave of any man to exercise an act of Virtue And yet am I conscious to my self there may have some juvenile Extravagancies passed my pen which your judgement and gray hairs will more slowly allow of and my self may happily dislike by that time I arrive to half your years But let it be my excuse that that which was to be made common for all could not be so exactly fitted for any one Age or Person I am not indeed much solicitous how every particle of these Poems may please you In the mean time I am sure I please my self in the main which is The embalming of his name to Immortality that next under God is the Authour of my Life and Being Your affectionate Sonne HENRY MORE A PLATONICK SONG of the SOUL Treating Of The Life of the Soul Her Immortalitie The Sleep of the Soul The Vnitie of Souls and Memorie after Death Nullam majorem afferre solet ignaris inscitia voluptatem quà m expeditum fastidiosumque contemptum Scal. CAMBRIDGE Printed by ROGER DANIEL Printer to the Universitie 1647. TO THE READER Upon this second Edition Reader IF I seem too bold in presenting my self again so suddenly to publick view let it excuse me at least in part that there is not so much boldnesse in this as in my first adventure For whereas I had then no encouragement but mine own well meaning and carelessenesse of the opinions of men I have now beside that resolv'd neglect of mens hasty censures the experience though unexpected of the favourable acceptance of the bravest and best improved spirits For whose sakes and as many else as are at leasure a while to lay aside the pleasure or trouble of the world and entertain their minds with thoughts of a greater compasse then the fetching in of a little wealth or honour I have taken the pains to peruse these Poems of the soul and to lick them into some more tolerable form and smoothnesse For I must confesse such was the present haste heat that I was then hurried in dispatching them in fewer moneths then some cold-pated-Gentlemen have conceited me to have spent years about them and letting them slip from me so suddenly while I was so immerse in the inward sense and representation of things that it was even necessary to forget the oeconomie of words and leave them behind me aloft to float and run together at randome like chaff and straws on the surface of the water that it could not but send them out in so uneven and rude a dresse Nor yet can I I professe ever hope to find leasure or patience so exquisitely to polish them as fully to answer mine own curiosity if I would be also humorous or the delicacy of some Lady-wits that can like nothing that is not as compos'd as their own hair or as smooth as their Mistresses Looking-glasse But may these emendations prove but acceptable to the more generous and manly Genius I shall please my self enough if I prove but tolerable to those female phansies But as I would not industriously neglect these so I hope I have more solidly gratifi'd the other by the enlargement of this Poem For besides the Canto of the INFINITY of WORLDS I have also added another of the PRAEEXISTENCY of the SOUL where I have set out the nature of SPIRITS and given an account of APPARITITIONS and WITCH-CRAFT very answerable I conceive to experience and story invited to that talk by the frequent discoveries of this very Age. Which if they were publickly recorded and that course continued in euery Parish it would prove one of the best Antidotes against that earthly and cold disease of Sadducisme and Atheisme which may easily grow upon us if not prevented to the hazard of all Religion and the best kinds of Philosophy I have also enlarged the second Canto of PSYCHOZOIA and have added that I might avoid all suspicion of partiality to Psittaco and Pithecus diverse other persons Pico Corvino Graculo and Glaucis but am so sensible of that sober precept in Josephus which he affirms to be out of Moses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that I would be very loth to be so farre mistaken as to be thought a Censurer or Contemner of other mens Religions or Opinions if they serve God in them in the simplicity and sincerity of their hearts and have some more precious substratum within then inveterate custome or naturall complexion All that I mean is this That neither eager promoting of Opinion or Ceremony nor the earnest opposing of the same
affected if there were nothing to come whence she would not be able so sensibly to discover to her self her own Hypocrisie or sinceritie Lastly that loving adherence and affectionate cleaving to God by Faith and divine sense would be forestall'd by such undeniable evidence of Reason and Nature Which though it would very much gratifie the naturall man yet it would not prove so profitable to us as in things appertaining to God For seeing our most palpable evidence of the souls immortality is from an inward sense and this inward sense is kept alive the best by devotion and purity by freedome from worldly care and sorrow and the grosser pleasures of the body otherwise her ethereall vehicle will drink in so much of earthy and mortall dregs that the sense of the soul will be changed being outvoted as it were by the overswaying number of terrene particles which that ethereal nature hath so plentifully imbib'd and incorporated with she will become in a manner corporeall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Jamblichus speaks and in the extremity of this weaknesse and dotage will be easily drawn off to pronounce her self such as the body is dissolvable and mortall therefore it is better for us that we become doubtfull of our immortall condition when we stray from that virgin-purity and unspottednesse that we may withdraw our feet from these paths of death then that Demonstration and Infallibility should permit us to proceed so farre that our immortality would prove an heavy disadvantage But this is meant onely to them that are lovers of God and their own souls For they that are at enmity with him desire no such instructions but rather embrace all means of laying asleep that disquieting truth that they bear about with them so precious a charge as an immortall Spirit To the Reader REader sith it is the fashion To bestow some salutation I greet thee give free leave to look And nearly view my opened Book But see then that thine eyes be clear If ought thou wouldst discover there Expect from me no Teian strain No light wanton Lesbian vein Though well I wot the vulgar spright Such Harmony doth more strongly smite Silent Secesse wast Solitude Deep searching thoughts often renew'd Stiffe conflict 'gainst importunate vice That daily doth the Soul entice From her high throne of circuling light To plunge her in infernall Night Collection of the mind from stroke Of this worlds Magick that doth choke Her with foul smothering mists and stench And in Lethaean waves her drench A daily Death drad Agony Privation dry Sterility Who is well entred in those wayes Fitt'st man to read my lofty layes But whom lust wrath and fear controule Scarce know their body from their soul If any such chance hear my verse Dark numerous Nothings I rehearse To them measure out an idle sound In which no inward sense is found Thus sing I to cragg'd clifts and hils To sighing winds to murmuring rills To wastefull woods to empty groves Such things as my dear mind most loves But they heed not my heavenly passion Fast fixt on their own operation On chalky rocks hard by the Sea Safe guided by fair Cynthia I strike my silver-sounded lyre First struck my self by some strong fire And all the while her wavering ray Reflected from fluid glasse doth play On the white banks But all are deaf Vnto my Muse that is most lief To mine own self So they nor blame My pleasant notes nor praise the same Nor do thou Reader rashly brand My rhythmes 'fore thou them understand H. M. PSYCHOZOIA OR The first part of the Song of the SOUL Containing A Christiano-Platonicall display of LIFE By H. M. Master of Arts and Fellow of Christs Colledge in Cambridge Tot vitae gradus cognoscimus quot in nobismetipsis expedimus Mars Ficin CAMBRIDGE Printed by Roger Daniel Printer to the Universitie 1647. TO THE READER Upon the first Canto of PSYCHOZOIA THis first Canto as you may judge by the names therein was intended for a mere Platonicall description of Universall life or life that is omnipresent though not alike omnipresent As in Noahs Deluge the water that overflowed the earth was present in every part thereof but every part of the water was not in every part of the earth or all in every part so the low Spirit of the Universe though it go quite through the world yet it is not totally in every part of the world Else we should heare our Antipodes if they did but whisper Because our lower man is a part of the inferiour Spirit of the Universe Ahad Aeon and Psyche are all omnipresent in the World after the most perfect way that humane reason can conceive of For they are in the world all totally and at once every where This is the famous Platonicall Triad which though they that slight the Christian Trinity do take for a figment yet I think it is no contemptible argument that the Platonists the best and divinest of Philosophers and the Christians the best of all that do professe religion do both concur that there is a Trinity In what they differ I leave to be found out according to the safe direction of that infallible Rule of Faith the holy Word In the mean time I shall not be blamed by any thing but ignorance and malignity for being invited to sing of the second Unity of the Platonicall Triad in a Christian and Poeticall scheme that which the holy Scripture witnesseth of the second Person of the Christian Trinity As that his patrimony is the possession of the whole earth For if it be not all one with Christ according to his Divinity yet the Platonists placing him in the same order and giving him the like attributes with the Person of the Sonne in Christianity it is nothing harsh for me to take occasion from hence to sing a while the true Christian Autocalon whose beauty shall adorn the whole Earth in good time if we believe the Prophets For that hath not as yet happened For Christ is not where ever his Name is but as he is the Truth so will he be truely displayed upon the face of the whole Earth For God doth not fill the World with his Glory by words and sounds but by Spirit and Life and Reality Now this Eternall life I sing of even in the middest of Platonisme for I cannot conceal from whence I am viz. of Christ but yet acknowledging that God hath not left the Heathen Plato especially without witnesse of himself Whose doctrine might strike our adulterate Christian Professors with shame astonishment their lives falling so exceeding short of the better Heathen How far short are they then of that admirable and transcendent high mystery of true Christianisme To which Plato is a very good subservient Minister whose Philosophy I singing here in a full heat why may it not be free for me to break out into an higher strain and under it to touch upon some points of Christianity as well as
like but few can see Thy worth so night-birds flie the glorious morn Thou art a beam shot from the Deitie And nearest art ally'd to Christianitie 21 But they be sprung of sturdie Giants race Ally'd to Night and the foul Earthy clay Love of the carcase Envie Spight Disgrace Contention Pride that unto th' highest doth bray Rash labour a Titanicall assay To pluck down wisdome from her radiant seat With mirie arms to bear her quite away But thy dear mother Thorough-cleansing virtue hight Here will true wisdome lodge here will she deigne to light 22 Come Gentle Virgin take me by the hand To yonder grove with speedie pace we 'll hie It s not farre off from Alethea land Swift as the levin from the sneezing skie So swift we 'll go before an envious eye Can reach us There I 'll purge out the strong steem Of prepossessing prejudice that I Perhaps may have contract in common stream And warie well wash out my old conceived dream 23 And when I 've breath'd awhile in that free air And clear'd my self from tinctures took before Then deigne thou to thy novice to declare Thy secret skill and hid mysterious lore And I due thanks shall plenteously down poure But well I wote thou 'lt not envassall me That law were rudenesse I may not adore Ought but the lasting spotlesse veritie Well thewed minds the mind do alwayes setten free 24 Free to that inward awfull Majestie Hight Logos whom they term great sonne of God Who fram'd the world by his deep sciency The greater world Al 's ' makes his near abode In the lesse world so he can trace the trod Of that hid ancient path when as he made This stately Fabrick of the world so broad He plainly doth unfold his skilfull trade When he doth harmlesse hearts by his good spright invade 25 O thou eternall Spright cleave ope the skie And take thy flight into my feeble breast Enlarge my thoughts enlight my dimmer eye That wisely of that burthen closely prest In my straight mind I may be dispossest My Muse must sing of things of mickle weight The souls eternity is my great quest Do thou me guide that art the souls sure light Grant that I never erre but ever wend aright The Argument of PSYCHATHANASIA Or The Immortality of the Soul BOOK I. CANT II. What a soul is here I define After I have compared All powers of life That stamp divine Show that brutes never shared 1 NOw I 'll addresse me to my mighty task So mighty task that makes my heart to shrink While I compute the labour it will ask And on my own frail weaknesse I gin think Like tender Lad that on the rivers brink That fain would wash him while the Evening keen With sharper air doth make his pores to wink Shakes all his body nips his naked skin At first makes some delay but after skippeth in 2 So I upon a wary due debate With my perplexed mind after perswade My softer heart I need no longer wait Lo now new strength my vitals doth invade And rear again that carst began to fade My life my light my senses all revive That fearfull doubts before had ill apaid Leap in my soul and strongly 'fore thee drive The fleeting waves and when thee list to th' bottome dive 3 For thou canst dive full well and flote aloft Dive down as deep as the old Hyle's shade Through that slight darknesse glid'st thou sly and soft Through pitchy cumbring fogs strongly canst wade Nor in thy flight could'st thou be ever staid If in thy flight thou flewest not from him That for himself thine excellent might hath made Contract desire repulse strong Magick steem Then even in foul Cocytus thou mayest fearlesse swim 4 Like that strange uncouth fish Lucerna hight Whose wonne is in the brackish Seas yet fire She eas'ly carries and clear native light In her close mouth and the more to admire In darkest night when she lists to aspire To th' utmost surface of the wat'ry Main And opes her jawes that light doth not expire But lively shines till she shut up again Nor liquid Sea nor moistned Aire this light restrain 5 Or like a lamp arm'd with pellucid horn Which ruffling winds about do rudely tosse And felly lash with injury and scorn But her mild light they cannot easily crosse She shines to her own foes withouten losse Even so the soul into her self collected Or in her native hew withouten drosse In midst of bitter storms is not dejected Nor her eternall state is any whit suspected 6 As Cynthia in her stouping Perigee That deeper wades in the earths duskish Cone yet safely wallows through in silency Till she again her filver face hath shown And tells the world that she 's the self-same Moon Not now more listlesse then I was whileare When I was hid in my Apogeon For I my self alike do alwayes bear â—n every circling race blind ignorance breeds fear 7 Nor being hid after my monthly wane Long keppen back from your expecting sight Dull damps and darknesse do my beauty stain When none I show then have I the most light Nearer to Phoebus more I am bedight With his fair rayes And better to confute All vain suspicion of my worser plight Mark aye my face after my close salute With that sharp-witted God seem I not more acute 8 This is the state of th' evermoving soul Whirling about upon her circling wheel Certes to sight she vatiously doth roll And as men deem full dangerously doth reel But oft when men fear most her self doth feel In happiest plight conjoy'nd with that great Sun Of lasting blisse that doth himself reveal More fully then by that close union Though men that misse her here do think her quite undone 9 But lest we rashly wander out too farre And be yblown about with wanton wind Withouten stern or card or Polar starre In its round little list so close confin'd Let the souls nature first be well defin'd Then we 'll proceeâ— But all the while I crave When e're I speak cording to Plato's mind That you my faultlesse drift do not deprave For I the free-born soul to no sect would inslave 10 Divers conceits the wizards of old time Have had concerning that we here inquire And would set forth in an eternall rhyme But we list not our dainty Muse to tire In such foul wayes and plunge her in the mire Strange dreams their drowsie scholars they have taught The heart the heart-bloud brains fleet aire hot fire To be the thing that they so presly sought Some have defin'd some temper some atomes some nought 11 But I must needs decline this wandring path For well I wote errour is infinite But be that simple truth once reached hath Needs not with every single shade to fight One stroke will put all falsities to flight So soon as Sol his fiery head doth rear Above the Eastern waves his glowing sight As angry darknesse so long rule did bear
grasp of vast Eternitie Longs not to beings simply vegetive Nor yet to creatures merely sensitive Reason alone cannot arrive to it Onely souls Deiform intellective Unto that height of happinesse can get Yet immortalitie with other souls may fit 48 No force of Nature can their strength annoy For they be subtiler then the silken air Which fatall fire from heaven cannot destroy All grossensse its devouring teeth may shear And present state of visibles empare But the fine curtains of the lasting skie Though not of love yet it perforce must spare If they could burn each spark from flint would trie And a bright broad-spread flame to either Pole would hie 49 But if all souls survive their bulks decay Another difficultie will straight arise Concerning their estate when they 're away Flit from this grosser world Shall Paradise Receive the sprights of beasts or wants it trees That their sweet verdant souls should thither take Who shall conduct those stragling colonies Or be they straightway drench'd in Lethe lake So that cold sleep their shriveld life from work doth slake 50 Or if that all or some of them awake What is their miserie what their delight How come they that refined state forsake Or had they their first being in our sight Whither to serve what is the usefull might Of these spirituall trees doth fearfull hare Flie the pursuing dog doth soaring kite Prey upon silly chickins is there jarre Or be those sprights agreed none to other contraire 51 If some contraire then tell me how 's their fight What is the spoil what the stout victors meed No flesh no bloud whereon to spend their spight Or whereupon these hungry souls may feed Or doth the stronger suck the aiery weed Wherewith the other did it self invest And so more freshly deck it self at need An aierie prey for aierie spright is best Or â—o they want no food but be still full and rest 52 Die they again draw they in any breath Or be they sterill or bring forth their young Beat their light feet on the soft aierie heath Expresse they joy or sorrow with their tongue Enough who ere thou art that thus dost throng My tender Muse with rough objections stout Give me but leave to tell thee thou art wrong If being of a thing thou call'st in doubt Cause its more hid conditions shine not clearly out 53 Who questions but there is a quantitie Of things corporeall a trinall dimension Of solid bodies yet to satisfie All doubts that may be made about extension Would plunge the wisest Clerk I 'll onely mention That quaere of what parts it doth consist Whether of Atoms or what strange retention Still keepeth so much back that if God list He could not count the parts of a small linear twist 54 For his division never could exhaust The particles say they of quantitie O daring wit of man that thus doth boast It self and in pursuit of sciencie Forget the reverend laws of pietie What thing is hid from that all-seeing light What thing not done by his all-potencie He can discern by his clear-piercing might The close-couch'd number of each bignesse comes in sight 55 And so can count them out even part by part In number measure weight he all things made Each unite he dissevers by his Art But here this searching reason to evade Each quantum's infinite straight will be said That 's against sense If it be infinite Of parts then tell me be those parts out-spread Or not extent if extended ouâ—right Each flie in summer-Even is higher then Heavens height 56 If not extended then that quantum's nought Some be extended others not extent Already answers a vain shifting thought But those potentiall parts how be they meint With those that now be actually distent Even thus you grant that those that actuall be Be plainly finite against your intent Grant me but that and we shall well agree So must sleight Atoms be sole parts of quantitie 57 But if 't consist of points then a Scalene I 'll prove all one with an Isosceles With as much ease I 'll evince clear and clean That the crosse lines of a Rhomboides That from their meeting to all angles presse Be of one length though one from earth to heaven Would reach and that the other were much lesse Then a small digit of the lowest of seven So as she ' pears to us yet I could prove them even 58 And that the moon though her circumference Be farre more strait then is the earthie ball Sometime the earth illumineth at once And with her grasping rayes enlights it all And that the Sunnes great body sphericall Greater then th' earth farre greater then the moon Even at midday illumines not at all This earthy globe in his Apogeon So that we in deep darknesse sit though at high noon 59 Of will of motion of divine foresight Here might I treat with like perplexitie But it 's already clear that 't is not right To reason down the firm subsistencie Of things from ignorance of their propertie Therefore not requisite for to determ The hid conditions of vitalitie Or shrunk or sever'd onely I 'll affirm It is which my next song shall further yet confirm The Argument of PSYCHATHANASIA OR The Immortality of the Soul Book 1. Cant. 3. Ore whelm'd with grief and pitious wo For fading lifes decayes How no souls die from Lunar bow A Nymph to me displayes 1 IN silent night when mortalls be at rest And bathe their molten limbs in slothfull sleep My troubled ghost strange cares did straight molest And plung'd my heavie soul in sorrow deep Large floods of tears my moistned cheeks did steep My heart was wounded with compassionate love Of all the creatures sadly out I creep From mens close mansions the more to improve My mournfull plight so softly on I forward move 2 Aye me said I within my wearied breast And sighed sad wherefore did God erect This stage of misery thrice foure times blest Whom churlish Nature never did eject From her dark womb and cruelly object By sense and life unto such balefull smart Every slight entrance into joy is checkt By that soure step dames threats and visage tart Our pleasure of our pain is not the thousandth part 3 Thus vex'd I was ' cause of mortality Her curst remembrance cast me in this plight That I grew sick of the worlds vanity Ne ought recomfort could my sunken spright What so I hate may do me no delight Few things alas I hate the more my wo The things I love by mine own sad foresight Make me the greater torments undergo Because I know at last they 're gone like idle show 4 Each goodly sight my sense doth captivate When vernall flowers their silken leaves display And ope their fragrant bosomes I that state Would not have changed but indure for aye Nor care to mind that that fatall decay Is still recured by faithfull succession But why should ought that 's good thus fade away Should
is needlesse all in vain Each centrall form its rayes with ease can well up-stayen 8 What holds the earth in the thin fluid aire Can matter void of fix'd solidity But she like kindly nurse her forms doth chear What can be suck'd from her dark dugges drie Nor warmth nor moistnesse nor fast density Belong to her Therefore I 'll nurse I ween She 'll make that neither hath to satisfie Young-craving life nor firmnesse to sustein The burden that upon her arms should safely lean 9 Therefore an uselesse super fluity It is to make Hyle substantiall Onely let 's term 't the possibility Of all created beings Lives centrall Can frame themselves a right compositall While as they sitten soft in the sweet rayes Or vitall vest of the lives generall As those that out of the earths covert raise Themselves fairly provok'd by warmth of sunny dayes 10 And thus all accidents will prove the beams Of inward forms their flowing energy And quantity th' extension of such streams That goes along even with each qualitie Thus have we div'd to the profundity Of darkest matter and have found it nought But all this worlds bare Possibility Nought therefore ' gainst lifes durance can be brought From Hyles pit that quenchen may that pleasant thought The Argument of PSYCHATHANASIA Or The Immortalitie of the Soul BOOK II. CANT 1. Mans soul with beasts and plants I here Compare Tell my chief end His immortality's to clear Show whence grosse errours wend. 1 BUt hitherto I have with fluttering wings But lightly hover'd in the generall And taught the lasting durance of all springs Of hidden life That life hight seminall Doth issue forth from its deep root centrall One onely form entire and no'te advert What steals from it Beasts life Phantasticall Lets out more forms and eke themselves convert To view the various frie from their dark wombs exert 2 But mans vast soul the image of her Maker Like God that made her with her mighty sway And in ward Fiat if he nould forsake her Can turn sad darknesse into lightsome day And the whole creature 'fore her self display Bid them come forth and stand before her sight They straight flush out and her drad voice obey Each shape each life doth leapen out full light And at her beck return into their usuall Night 3 Oft God himself here listeth to appear Though not perforce yet of his own frank will Sheds his sweet life dispreads his beauty clear And like the Sun this lesser world doth fill And like the Sun doth the foul Pythou kill With his bright darts but cheareth each good spright This is the soul that I with presser quill Must now pursue and fall upon down-right Not to destroy but prove her of immortall might 4 Nor let blind Momus dare my Muse backbite As wanton or superfluously wise For what is past She is but justly quit With Lucrece who all souls doth mortalize Wherefore she did them all immortalize Besides in beasts and men th' affinity Doth seem so great that without prejudice To many proofs for th'immortality Of humane Souls the same to beasts we no'te deny 5 But I herein no longer list contend The two first kinds of souls I 'll quite omit And ' cording as at first I did intend Bestirre me stifly force my feeble wit To rescue humane souls from deaths deep pit Which I shall do with reasons as subtile As I can find slight proofs cannot well fit In so great cause nor phansies florid wile I 'll win no mans assent by a false specious guile 6 I onely wish that arguments exile May not seem nought unto the duller eye Nor that the fatter phansie my lean style Do blame it 's fittest for philosophy And give me leave from any energie That springs from humane soul my cause to prove And in that order as they list to flie Of their own selves so let them freely rove That naturally doth come doth oft the stronger move 7 Self-motion and centrall stability I have already urg'd in generall Al 's ' did right presly to our soul apply Those properties who list it to recall Unto their minds but now we 'll let it fall As needlesse Onely that vitality That doth extend this great Univervall And move th' inert Materiality Of great and little worlds that keep in memory 8 And how the mixture of their rayes may breed Th' opinion of uncertain quality When they from certain roots of life do spreed But their pure beams must needs ychanged be When that those rayes or not be setten free Thinly dispers'd or else be closely meint With other beams of plain diversity That causeth oft a strong impediment So doth this bodies life to the souls high intent 9 The lower man is nought but a fair plant Whose grosser matter is from the base ground The Plastick might thus finely did him paint And fill'd him with the life that doth abound In all the places of the world around This spirit of life is in each shapen'd thing Suck'd in and changed and strangely confound As we conceive This is the nourishing Of all but spermall form the certain shapening 10 This is that strange-form'd statue magicall That hovering souls unto it can allure When it 's right fitted down those spirits fall Like Eagle to her prey and so endure While that low life is in good temperature That a dead body without vitall spright And friendly temper should a guest procure Of so great worth without the dear delight Of joyous sympathy no man can reckon right 11 But here unlucky Souls do waxen sick Of an ill furfeit from the poison'd bait Of this sweet tree yet here perforce they stick In weak condition in a languid state Many through ignorance do fondly hate To be releas'd from this imprisonment And grieve the walls be so nigh ruinate They be bewitch'd so with the blandishment Of that fresh strumpet when in love they first were ment 12 Others disdain this so near unity So farre they be from thinking they be born Of such low parentage so base degree And fleshes foul attraction they do scorn They be th'outgoings of the Eastern morn Alli'd unto th' eternall Deity And pray to their first spring that thus forlorn And left in mud that he would set them free And them again possesse of pristine purity 13 But seemeth not my Muse too hastily To soar aloft that better by degrees Unto the vulgar mans capacity Mought show the souls so high excellencies And softly from all corporeities It heaven up unto its proper seat When we have drove away grosse falsities That do assault the weaker mens conceit And free the simple mind from phansies foul deceit 14 The drooping soul so strongly's coloured With the long commerce of corporeals That she from her own self awide is led Knows not her self but by salfe name she calls Her own high being and what ere befalls Her grosser bodie she that misery Doth deem her own for she her self miscalls
low'st do make us subject to disturbing fate 15 But low'st gins first to work the soul doth frame This bodies shape imploy'd in one long thought So wholy taken up that she the same Observeth not till she it quite hath wrought So men asleep some work to end have brought Not knowing of it yet have found it done Or we may say the matter that she raught And suck'd unto her self to work upon Is of one warmth with her own spright feels as one 16 And thus the body being the souls work From her own centre so entirely made Seated i' th' heart for there this spright doth lurk It is no wonder 't is so easly sway'd At her command But when this work shall fade The soul dismisseth it as an old thought 'T is but one form but many be display'd Amid her higher rayes dismist and brought Back as she list many come that ne're were sought 17 The soul by making this strange edifice Makes way unto herself to exercise Functions of life and still more waked is The more she has perfected her fine devise Hath wrought her self into sure sympathies With this great world Her ears like hollow caves Resound to her own spright the energies Of the worlds spright If it ought suffered have Then presentifick circles to her straight notice gave 18 We know this world because our soul hath made Our bodie of this sensible worlds spright And body Therefore in the glassie shade Of our own eyes they having the same might That glasse or water hath we have the sight Of what the Mundane spirit suffereth By colours figures or inherent light Sun stars and all on earth it hurrieth To each point of it self so far as 't circuleth 19 And where he lighteth on advantages His circulings grow sensible So hills That hollow be do audible voices Resound The soul doth imitate that skill In framing of the eare that sounds may swell In that concavitie The crystall springs Reflect the light of heaven if they be still And clear the soul doth imitate and bring The eye to such a temper in her shapening 20 So eyes and ears be not mere perforations But a due temper of the Mundane spright And ours together else the circulations Of sounds would be well known by outward sight And th' eare would colours know figures light So that it 's plain that when this bodie 's gone This world to us is clos'd in darknesse quite And all to us is in dead silence drown Thus in one point of time is this worlds glory flown 21 But if 't be so how doth Psyche hear or see That hath nor eyes nor eares She sees more clear Then we that see but secondarily We see at distance by a circular Diffusion of that spright of this great sphear Of th' Universe Her sight is tactuall The Sun and all the starres that do appear She feels them in herself can distance all For she is at each one purely presentiall 22 To us what doth diffusion circular And our pure shadowed eyes bright crystalline But vigorously our spright particular Affect while things in it so clearly shine That 's done continually in the heavens sheen The Sun the Moon the Earth blew-glimmering Hel Scorch'd Aetna's bowels each shape you 'l divine To be in Nature every dern cell With fire-eyed dragons or what else therein doth dwel 23 These be all parts of the wide worlds excesse They be all seated in the Mundane spright And shew just as they are in their bignesse To her But circulation shews not right The magnitude of things for distant site Makes a deficience in these circulings But all things lie opeâ—right unto the sight Of heavens great eye their thin shot shadowings And lightned sides All this we find in Natures springs 24 The worlds great soul knows by Protopathie All what befalls this lower sprite but we Can onely know 't by Deuteropathie At least in sight and hearing She doth see In our own eyes by the close unitie Of ours and the worlds life our passion Plainly perceives our Idiopathie As we do hers by the same union But we cannot see hers in that perfection 25 Fresh varnish'd groves tall hills and gilded clouds Arching an eyelid for the gloring Morn Fair clustred buildings which our sight so crouds At distance with high spires to heaven yborn Vast plains with lowly cottages forlorn Rounded about with the low wavering skie Cragg'd vapours like to ragged rocks ytorn She views those prospects in our distant eye These and such like be the first centres mysterie 26 Or if you will the first low energie Of that one centre which the soul is hight Which knows this world by the close unitie Concorporation with the Mundane sprite Unloos'd from this she wants a certain light Unlesse by true regeneration She be incorporate with God unite With his own spright so a new mansion Sh' has got oft saught with deepest suspiration 27 But robb'd of her first clothing by hard fate If she fall short of this wo's me what pains She undergoes when this lost former state So kindled hath lifes thirst that still remains Thus her eternitie her nothing gains But hungry flames raging voracitie Feeding on its own self The heavens she stains With execrations and foul blasphemie Thus in fell discontent and smoth'ring fire they frie. 28 Vain man that striv'st to have all things at will What wilt thou do in this sterilitie Whom canst thou then command or what shall fill Thy gaping soul O depth of miserie Prepare thy self by deep humilitie Destroy that fretting fire while thou art here Forsake this worlds bewitching vanitie Nor death nor hell then shalt thou need to fear Kill and cast down thy self to heaven God shall thee rear 29 This middle centrall essence of the soul Is that which still survives asleep or waking The life she shed in this grosse earthly moul Is quite shrunk up lost in the bodies breaking Now with slight phantasms of her own fond making She 's clad so is her life drie and jejune But all flit souls be not in the same taking That state this lifes proportion doth tune So as thou livest here such measure must ensuen 30 But they whose souls deiform summitie Is waken'd in this life and so to God Are nearly joyn'd in a firm Unitie This outward bodie is but earthie clod Digested having life transfus'd abroad The worlds life and our lower vitalitie Unite in one their souls have their aboad In Christs own body are eternally One with our God by true and strong communitie 31 When we are clothed with this outward world Feel the soft air behold the glorious Sunne All this we have from meat that 's daily hurld Into these mouthes But first of all we wonne This priviledge by our first union With this worlds body and diffused spright I' th' higher world there 's such communion Christ is the sunne that by his chearing might Awakes our higher rayes to joyn with his pure
light 32 And when he hath that life elicited He gives his own dear body and his bloud To drink and eat Thus dayly we are fed Unto eternall life Thus do we bud True heavenly plants suck in our lasting food From the first spring of life incorporate Into the higher world as erst I show'd Our lower rayes the soul to subjugate To this low world we fearlesse sit above all fate 33 Safely that kingdomes glory contemplate O'reflow with joy by a full sympathie With that worlds sprite and blesse our own estate Praising the fount of all felicitie The lovely light of the blest Deitie Vain mortals think on this and raise your mind Above the bodies life strike through the skie With piercing throbs and sighs that you may find His face Base-fleshly fumes your drowsie eyes thus blind 34 So hath my Muse according to her skill Discovered the soul in all her rayes The lowest may occasionate much ill But is indifferent Who may dispraise Dame Natures work But yet you ought to raise Your selves to higher state Eternitie Is the souls rest and everlasting dayes Aspire to this and hope for victorie I further yet shall prove her immortalitie The Argument of PSYCHATHANASIA Or The Immortality of the Soul BOOK III. CANT 2. From many arguments we show The independencie Of humane souls That all Lives flow From a free Deitie 1 THree apprehensions do my mind divide Concerning the souls preexistencie Before into this outward world she glide So hath my Muse with much uncertaintie Exprest her self so as her phantasie Strongly inacted guides her easie pen I nought obtrude with sow'r anxietie But freely offer hints to wiser men The wise from rash assent in darksome things abstein 2 Or souls be well awake but hovering Not fixt to ought but by a Magick might Drawable here and there and so their wing Struck with the steem of this low Mundane sprite May lower flag and take its stooping flight Into some plantall man new edified By his own plastick point Or else deep Night Drawn on by drooping phansie she doth slide Into this world and by her self that skill is tried 3 Makes to her self this fleshly habitation For this worlds spirit hath provok'd these rayes Then drown in sleep she works that efformation Of her own body all its parts displayes As doth the senselesse plant The two next wayes Are these A reall tricentreitie First centre ever wakes unmoved stayes Hight Intellect The next in sleep doth lie Till the last centre burst into this open skie 4 And then the middle wakes But the last way Makes but one centre which doth sleep likewise Till its low life hath reach'd this worlds glad day A fourth we 'll adde that we may all comprise Take quite away all preexistencies Of humane souls and grant they 're then first made When they begin this bodies edifice And actually this outward world invade None of these wayes do show that they must ever fade 5 The first way might be well occasioned By what the soul in her self feels and tries She works sometime as though she quite had fled All commerce with these low carnalities Yet falls she down at last and lowly lies In this base mansion is so close contract That sleep doth seise her actualities Retains no memory of that strange fact Nor of her self that soar'd in that high heavenly tract 6 The second way that makes the soul tricentrall The highest awake the other with sleep drownd May spring from hence None would vouchsafe the entrall Into this life if they were but once bound To that vast centre where all things are found Hight Intellect The lowest is not awake Therefore the midst lies close in sleep upwound Three centres made that souls may quite forsake This baser world when union with the lowest they break 7 Again because this bodie 's fashioned Without our knowledge reason doth suggest That it could no wise be thus figured From our own centre and yet we not prest To any adversion Therefore we are drest With this grosse clothing by some plantall spright Centred in Nature So that glorious vest The Deiform intellect by our own might's Not made But we have rayes which each of these will fit 8 Ardent desire strong breathing after God At length may work us to that better place Body or clothing that high sure aboad That searching weather nor time can deface But to go on in our proposed race The third and fourth way have the same foundation Not multiplying beings to surpasse Their use What needs that numerous clos'd centration Like wastefull sand ytost with boisterous inundation 9 Let wiser Clerks the truth dare to define I leave it loose for men to muse upon View at their leasure But yet this call mine Though we should grant the souls condition Before her deep incorporation Into dull matter to be nothing more But bare potentiality yet none Can prove from thence that she must fade therefore When to its earth this earth the trusty fates restore 10 For though she and her body be at once Yet of her body she doth not depend But it of her she doth its members branch Pierce bind digest and after makes it wend At her own will when she hath brought to end Her curious work and hath consolidate Its tender limbs which earst did feebly bend Through weaknesse then this world she contemplates And life still blazing higher seeks an heavenly state 11 Breaths after the first fountain of all life Her sweet Creatour thither doth aspire Would see his face nor will she cease this strife Till he fulfill her thirsty fierce desire Nothing can quench this so deep rooted fire But his own presence So he gins despise This bodies pleasures ceaseth to admire Ought fair or comely to these outward eyes Or if she do from hence she higher doth arise 12 But can she higher rise then her own head Therefore her spring is God thence doth she pend Thence did she flow thither again she 's fled When she this life hath lost and made an end Of this low earthly course she doth ascend Unto her circles ancient Apogle Lifted aloft not again to descend Nor stoups not sets that Sunne but standeth free On never shaken pillars of Aeternitie 13 But still this truth more clearly to evince Remember how all things are from one light It shall thy reason forceably convince That nought but God destroyes a centrall spright If he sucks in his beams eternall night Seiseth upon that life that it no'te flow In actuall efflux hath no being quite But Gods own power He lets his breath out go The self-same things again so eas'ly doth he show 14 Let be Noon day the welkin clear the Moon I' th' nether world reflecting the Suns rayes To cheer the irksome night Well! That being done Call out some wondrous might that listlesse stayes In slower phansies Bid't break all delayes Surround with solid dark opacity The utmost beams that Phoebus light displayes Softly steal on
stream be alwayes homogeneall 32 But the high heaven-born soul sprung out from Jove Ever is clashing with the foolery Of this dull body which the sense doth love And erring phansie It were long to try In every thing O how 't would magnifie The hight of pleasures that fall under sense This well describ'd would prove its Deity A vast round body cloth'd with th' excellence Of glorious glistring light through the wide aire extense 33 Bravely adorn'd with diverse colours gay Even infinite varieties that shine With wondrous brightnesse varnish'd with the ray Of that clear light with motion circuline Let turn about and stir up sounds divine That sweetly may affect th' attentive ear Adde fragrant odours waft with gentle wind Adde pleasant taste soft touch to Venus dear This is the bodies God this is its highest sphear 34 But from far higher place and brighter light Our reason checks us for this vanity Calls to us warns us that that empty sight Lead not our soul unto Idolatry Make us not rest in easie falsity If thou be stirred up by working fire To search out god to find the Deity Take to thy self not what thine eyes admire Or any outward sense or what sense can desire 35 Behold a light far brighter then the Sun The Sun 's a shadow if you them compare Or grosse Cimmerian mist the fairest Noon Exceeds not the meridian night so far As that light doth the Sun So perfect clear So perfect pure it is that outward eye Cannot behold this inward subtile starre But indisperst is this bright Majesty Yet every where out shining in infinitie 36 Unplac'd unparted one close Unity Yet omnipresent all things yet but one Not streâ—k'd with gaudy multiplicity Pure light without discolouration Stable without circumvolution Eternall rest joy without passing sound What sound is made without collision Smell taste and touch make God a grosse compound Yet truth of all that 's good is perfectly here found 37 This is a riddle unto outward sense And heavie phansie that can rise no higher Then outward senses knows no excellence But what those Five do faithfully inspire From their great God this world nor do desire More then they know wherefore to consopite Or quench this false light of bold phansies fire Surely must be an act contrary quite Unto this bodies life and its low groveling spright 38 Wherefore the body 's not Originall Of humane soul when she doth thus resist That principle which still more clearly shall Be proved Oft when either drowsie mists Provoke to sleep or worst of senses lists To ease his swelling veins or stomach craves His wonted food that he too long hath mist Or our dry lungs cool liquor fain would have Or when in warre our heart suggests the fear of grave 39 Yet high desire of truth and deep insight Into Gods mystery makes us command These low attractions and our countries right Bids march on bravely stout and stifly stand In bloudy fight and try 't by strength of hand Thus truth and honesty so sway our will That we no longer doubt to break the band Of lower Nature and this body kill Or vex so we the Laws of reason may fulfill 40 This proves the soul to sit at liberty Not wedg'd into this masse of earth but free Unloos'd from any strong necessity To do the bodies dictates while we see Clear reason shining in serenity Calling above unto us pointing to What 's right and decent what doth best agree With those sweet lovely Ideas that do show Some glimps of their pure light So Sol through clouds doth flow 41 How oft do we neglect this bodies life And outward comely plight for to adorn Our soul with virtuous ornaments and strive To fat our mind with truth while it 's forlorn Squalid half-nasty pallid wan deform Can this desire from the base body spring No sure such brave atchievements be yborn Within the soul tend to her perfecting See th' independent mind in her self circuling 42 Best plight of body hinders such like acts How doth she then upon the body pend To do those subtle high pure heavenly facts What doth the Sun his rayes that he out-sends Smother or choke though clouds that upward wend May raised be by him yet of those clouds That he doth congregate he no'te depend Nor doth the soul that in this flesh doth croud Her self rely on that thick vapour where she 's shroud 43 But still to prove it clearer If the mind Without the bodyes help can operate Of her own self then nothing can we find To scruple at but that souls separate Safely exist not subject unto fate Nothing depending on their carcases That they should fade when those be ruinate But first perpend well both their properties That we may better see their independencies 44 The living body where the soul doth ' bide These functions hath phansie sense memory How into sense these outward forms do glide I have already told and did descry How presentifick circularity Is spread through all there is one Mundane spright And body vitall corporality We have from hence Our souls be coâ—unite With the worlds spright and body with these herself she has dight 45 Our body struck by evolution Of outward forms spread in the worlds vast spright Our listning mind by its adversion Doth notice take but nothing is empight In it Of old Gods hand did all forms write In humane souls which waken at the knock Of Mundane shapes If they were naked quite Of innate forms though heaven and earth should rock With roring winds they 'd hear no more then senselesse stock 46 Phansy's th' impression of those forms that flit In this low life They oft continue long When as our spright more potently is hit By their incursions and appulses strong Like heated water though a while but hung On fiercer fire an hot impression Long time retains so forms more stoutly flung Against our spright make deep insculption Long time it is till their clear abolition 47 Hence springeth that which men call memory When outward object doth characterize Our inward common spright or when that we From our own soul stir up clear phantasies Which be our own elicited Idees Springing from our own centrall life by might Of our strong Fiat as oft as we please With these we seal that under grosser spright Make that our note-book there our choifest notions write 48 But sith it is not any part of us But longeth unto the great world it must Be chang'd for course of Time voraginous With rapid force is violently just Makes each thing pay with what it was in trust The common life sucks back the common spright The body backward falls into the dust It doth it by degrees Hence phancie sight And memory in age do not their functions right 49 Often disease or some hard casualtie Doth hurt this spirit that a man doth lose The use of sense wit phansie memory That hence rash men our souls mortall suppose Through
in whom's your confidence Or your own reason and experience In those same arts you find those things are true That utterly oppugne our outward sense Then are you forc'd to sense to bid adieu Not what your sense gainsayes to holden straight untrue 6 Though contraire unto sense though it be new But sooth to sayen th' earths motion is of tri'd Antiquitie as I above did shew In Philolaus and in Heraclide Those subtile thoughts of old did close reside Yet reason ought to bear away the bell But irefull ignorance cannot abide To be outtopd reprochfully she 'll yell Call's mad when her own self doth with foul furie swell 7 But let them bark like band-dogs at the Moon That mindlesse passeth on in silencie I 'll take my flight above this outward sunne Regardlesse of such fond malignitie Lift my self up in the Theologie Of heavenly Plato There I 'll contemplate The Archtype of this sunne that bright Idee Of steddie Good that doth his beams dilate Through all the worlds all lives and beings propagate 8 But yet in words to trifle I will deigne A while They may our mind fitly prepare For higher flight we larger breath may gain By a low hovering These words they are All found in that old Oracle of Clare That heavenly power which Iao hight The highest of all the Gods thou mayst declare In spring named Zeus in summer Helios bright In autumn call'd Jao Aides in brumall night 9 These names do plainly denotate the sunne In Spring call'd Zeus from life or kindly heat In winter ' cause the day 's so quickly done He Aides hight he is not long in sight In Summer cause he strongly doth us smite With his hot darts then Helios we him name From Eloim or Eloah so hight In Autumn Jao Jehovah is the same So is the word deprav'd by an uncertain fame 10 So great similitude twixt Phoebus light And God that God himself the Nations deem The sunne The learned Seventy 've boldly pight A tent therein for the true Eloim The sensible Deity you 'll reckon him If Hermes words bear with you any sway Or if you Christian Clerks do ought esteem In Davids odes they make Gods Christ a day His father 's then the sunne from whence this light doth ray 11 Then by all the wide worlds acknowledgement The sunne's a type of that eternall light Which we call God a fair delineament Of that which Good in Plato's school is hight His T'agathon with beauteous rayes bedight Let 's now consult with their Theologie And that Idea with our inward sight Behold casheering sensibility Then in clear reason view this correspondency 12 One steddy Good centre of essencies Unmoved Monad that Apollo hight The Intellectuall sunne whose energies Are all things that appear in vitall light Whose brightnesse passeth every creatures sight Yet round about him stird with gentle fire All things do dance their being action might They thither do direct with strong desire To embosome him with close embracements they aspire 13 Unseen incomprehensible He moves About himself each seeking entity That never yet shall find that which it loves No finite thing shall reach infinity No thing dispers'd comprehend that Unity Yet in their ranks they seemly foot it round Trip it with joy at the worlds harmony Struck with the pleasure of an amorous stound So dance they with fair flowers from unknown root ycrownd 14 Still falling short they never fail to seek Nor find they nothing by their diligence They find repast their lively longings eâ—k Rekindled still by timely influence Thus all things in distinct circumference Move about Him that satisfies them all Nor be they thus stird up by wary sense Or foresight or election rationall But blindly reel about the leart of Lives centrall 15 So doth the Earth one of the erring Seven Wheel round the fixed sunne that is the shade Of steddy Good shining in this Out-heaven With the rest of those starres that God hath made Of baser matter all which be array'd With his far-shining light They sing for joy They frisque about in circulings unstay'd Dance through the liquid air and nimbly toy While Sol keeps clear their sprite consumes what may accloy 16 Better the indigent be mov'd then he That wanteth nought He fills all things with light And kindly heat through his fecundity Peoples the world by his exciting sprite Wakens the plants calls them out of deep night They thrust themselves into his fostring rayes Stretch themselves forth stird by his quickning might And all the while their merry roundelayes As lightsome phansies deem each Planet spritely playes 17 But sooth to say that sound so subtile is Made by percussion of th'ethereall fire Against our air if it be not transmisse By its exility that none ought admire That we no'te hear what well we mought desire Heavens harmony ' Cording to others lear The sound 's so big that it cannot retire Into the windings of a mortall ear No more than Egypt can Niles Catadupa bear 18 There ought to be certain proportion Betwixt the object and the outward sense Rash man that dost inferre negation From thy dead ear or non-experience Then let them dance and sing raise iufluence From lively motion that preserves their sprite From foul corruption motion 's the best sense To keep off filth in children of cold Night Whose life is in dull matter but the sunne's all Light 19 Therefore full safely he may steddy stond Unmov'd at least not remov'd out of place I 'll not deny but that he may turn round On his own centre So the steps we 'll trace Of Essence Plato's On which steddy stayes And moves at once that same Iao hight In that old Clarian Oracle that sayes It is the sunne This answer will aright To Jove or Plato's On as done those schools descry't 20 That same first Being Beauty Intellect Turns to his father of whom he was born In a brief instant But who can detect Such hidden mysteries back mine eyes I 'll turn Lest in this light like fluttering moth I burn Enough is shown of correspondency Twixt this worlds sunne and centre of hid Morn The radiant light of the deep Deity Thus have I fairly prov'd the sunnes stability 21 Then must the earth turn round or we want day Or never be in night Now I 'll descend Cloth'd with this truth As wrathfull dogs do bay At spectres solemn Cynthia doth send So now I backward to the senses wend They 'll bark at th' shape of my disguised mind As stranger wights they wrathfully will rend This uncouth habit They no such thing find ' Mongst their domestick forms to whom they are more kind 22 And weaker reason which they wont misguide Will deem all this nothing mysterious But my strong-winged Muse feeble to slide Into false thoughts and dreams vertiginous And plainly judge us woxen furious Thus in our rage to shake the stable earth Whirling her round with turns prodigious For she doth
fluid Sea with unexpected sway Long time it were this mystery fully to display 57 Wherefore I 'll let it passse my self betake Unto some reasons Astronomicall To which if 't please the nimble mind t' awake And shake off prejudice that wont forestall The ablest wit I fear not but he 'll fall Into the same opinion magnifie That subtile spirit that hath made this All And hath half-hid his work from mortall eye To sport and play with souls in sweet philosophie 58 But with crabb'd mind wisdome will nere consort Make her abode with a sowr ingenie That harmlesse spright her self will nere disport With bloudy zeal currish malignitie With wrathfull ignorance grave hypocrisie Mirth and Free mindednesse Simplicitie Patience Discreetnesse and Benignitie Faithfulnesse heart-struck Teneritie These be the lovely playemates of pure veritie 59 The Eternall Son of God who Logos hight Made all things in a fit proportion Wherefore I wote no man that judgeth right In Heaven will make such a confusion That courses of unlike extension Vastly unlike in like time shall be run By â—he flight stars Such huge distension Of place shews that their time is not all one Saturn his ring no'te finish as quick as the Moon 60 Yet if the Earth stand stupid and unmov'd This needs must come to passe For they go round In every twise twelve houres as is prov'd By dayly experience But it would confound The worlds right order if 't were surely found A reall motion Wherefore let it be In them but seeming but a reall round In th' Earth it self The world so 's setten free From that untoward disproportionalitie 61 For so the courses of the erring Seven With their own orbs will fitly well agree Their Annuall periods in the liquid Heaven They onely finish then which as they be Or lesse or greater so the time they flie In their own circlings hath its difference The Moon a moneth Saturn years ten times three Those have the least and bigg'st circumference So all their times and oâ—bs have mutuall reference 62 Next light 's the Planets dark opacitie Which long time hath been found in the low Moon Hills Valleys and such like asperitie Through optick glasses thence have plainly shone By the same trick it hath been clearly shown That Venus Moon-like grows corniculate What time her face with flusher light is blown Some such like things others have contemplate In Mercurie about the Sunne both circulate 63 When Venus is the furthest off from us Then is she in her full When in her full She seemeth least which proves she's exterous Beyond the Sunne and further off doth roll But when her circling nearer down doth pull Then gins she swell and waxen bug with horn But loose her light parts clad with darknesse dull She shows to us She and Mercury ne're born Farre from the Sunne proves that about him both do turn 64 They both opake as also is the Moon That turns about the Earth so turn those foure 'Bout Jupiter tend him as he doth run His annuall course That Tellus so may scoure Th'Ethereall Plain and have the self same power To run her circuits in the liquid skie About the Sunne the mind that doth not lour Drooping in earthy dregs will not deny Sith we so well have prov'd the starres opacitie 65 About the great the lesser lamps do dance The Medicean foure reel about Jove Two round old Saturn without Nominance Luna about the earth doth nimbly move Then all as it doth seemly well behove About the bigg'st of all great Phoebus hight With joy and jollitie needs round must rove Tickled with pleasure of his heat and light What tumbling tricks they play in his farre-piercing sight 66 Next argument could I it well expresse With Poets pen it hath so mighty force That an ingenious man 't would stoutly presse To give assent unto the Annuall course Of this our earth But prejudice the nurse Of ignorance stoppeth all free confession Al 's keeps the way that souls have not recourse To purer reason chok'd with that oppression This argument is drawn from the stars retrocession 67 Planets go back stand still and forward flie With unexpected swiftnesse What 's the cause That they thus stagger in the plain-pay'd skie Or stupid stand as if some dull repose Did numb their spirits and their sinews lose Here 'gins the wheel-work of the Epicycle Thus patch they Heaven more botch'dly then old cloths This pretty sport doth make my heart to tickle With laughter and mine eyes with merry tears to trickle 68 O daring phansie that dost thus compile The Heavens from hasty thoughts such as fall next Wary Philosophers cannot but smile At such feat gear at thy rude rash context An heap of Orbs disorderly perplext Thrust in on every hint of motion Must be the wondrous art of Nature next Here working under God Thus thus vain man Intitles alwayes God to his opinion 69 Thinks every thing is done as he conceives Would bind all men to his religion All the world else of freedome he bereaves He and his God must have Dominion The truth must have her propagation That is his thought which he hath made a God That furious hot inust impression Doth so disturb his veins that all abroad With rage he roves and all gainsayers down hath trod 70 But to return from whence my Muse hath flown All this disordred superfluity Of Epicycles or what else is shown To salve the strange absurd enormity Of staggering motions in the azure skie Both Epicycles and those turns enorm Would all prove nought if you would but let flie The earth in the Ecliptick line yborn As I could well describe in Mathematick form 71 So could I that 's another argument From this same principle most clearly prove In regresse and in progresse different Of the free Planets Why Saturn should rove With shorter startings give back lesse then Jove Jove lesse then Mars why Venus flincheth out More then Mercurius why Saturn moves Ofter in those back jets then Jove doth shoot But Mercury more oft then Venus and Mars stout 72 And why the Sunne escap'd an Epicycle When as th' old prodigall Astronomie On th' other six bestowed that needlesse cycle Why Saturn Jove and Mars be very nigh Unto the Earth show bigger in our eye At Eventide when they rise Acronicall Why far remov'd with so vast distancy When they go down with setting Cronicall All these will plain appear from th' earths course Annuall 73 Many other reasons from those heauenly motions Might well be drawn but with exility Of subtile Mathematicks obscure notions A Poets pen so fitly no'te agree And curious men will judge't a vagrancy To start thus from my scope My pitched end Was for to prove the immortality Of humane souls But if you well attend My ship to the right port by this bow'd course did bend 74 For I have clearly show'd that stout resistence Of the pure soul against the Mundane spright And body
God who is th' Originall of all Who being everywhere doth multiplie His own broad shade that endlesse throughout all doth lie 11 He from the last projection of light Ycleep'd Shamajim which is liquid fire It Aether eke and centrall Tasis hight Hath made each shining globe and clumperd mire Of dimmer Orbs. For Nature doth inspire Spermatick life but of a different kind Hence those congenit splendour doth attire And lively heat these darknesse dead doth bind And without borrowed rayes they be both cold and blind 12 All these be knots of th' universall stole Of sacred Psyche which at first was fine Pure thin and pervious till hid powers did pull Together in severall points and did encline The nearer parts in one clod to combine Those centrall spirits that the parts did draw The measure of each globe did then define Made things impenetrable here below Gave colour figure motion and each usuall law 13 And what is done in this Terrestriall starre The same is done in every Orb beside Each flaming Circle that we see from farre Is but a knot in Psyches garment tide From that lax shadow cast throughout the wide And endlesse world that low'st projection Of universall life each thing 's deriv'd What er'e appeareth in corporeall fashion For body's but this spirit fixt grosse by conspissation 14 And that which doth conpissate active is Wherefore not matter but some living sprite Of nimble nature which this lower mist And immense field of Atoms doth excite And wake into such life as best doth fit With his own self As we change phantafies The essence of our soul not chang'd a whit So do these Atomes change their energies Themselves unchanged into new Centreities 15 And as our soul 's not superficially Colourd by phantasms nor doth them reflect As doth a looking-glasse such imag'rie As it to the beholder doth detect No more are these lightly or smear'd or deckt With form or motion which in them we see But from their inmost Centre they project Their vitall rayes not merely passive be But by occasion wak'd rouse up themselves on high 16 So that they 're life form sprite not matter pure For matter pure is a pure nullitie What nought can act is nothing I am sure And if all act that is they 'll not denie But all that is is form so easily By what is true and by what they embrace For truth their feigned Corporalitie Will vanish into smoke But on I 'll passe More fully we have sung this in another place 17 Wherefore more boldly now to represent The nature of the world how first things were How now they are This endlesse large Extent Of lowest life which I styled whileere The Cuspis of the Cone that 's every where Was first all dark till in this spacious Hall Hideous through silent horrour torches clear And lamping lights bright shining over all Were set up in due distances proportionall 18 Innumerable numbers of fair Lamps Were rightly ranged in this hollow hole To warm the world and chace the shady damps Of immense darknesse rend her pitchie stole Into short rags more dustie dimme then coal Which pieces then in severall were cast Abhorred relicks of that vesture foul Upon the Globes that round those torches trac'd Which still fast on them stick for all they run so fast 19 Such an one is that which mortall men call Night A little shted of that unbounded shade And such a Globe is that which Earth is hight By witlesse Wizzards the sole centre made Of all the world and on strong pillars staid And such a lamp or light is this our Sun Whose fiery beams the scorched Earth invade But infinite such as he in heaven won And more then infinite Earths about those Suns do run 20 And to speak out though I detest the sect Of Epicurus for their manners vile Yet what is true I may not well reject Truth 's incorruptible ne can the style Of vitious pen her sacred worth defile If we no more of truth should deign t' embrace Then what unworthy mouths did never soyle No truths at all ' mongst men would finden place But make them speedy wings and back to Heaven apace 21 I will not say our world is infinite But that infinity of worlds there be The Centre of our world 's the lively light Of the warm sunne the visible Deity Of this externall Temple Mercurie Next plac'd and warm'd more throughly by his rayes Right nimbly 'bout his golden head doth fly Then Venus nothing slow about him strayes And next our Earth though seeming sad full sprightly playes 22 And after her Mars rangeth in a round With fiery locks and angry flaming eye And next to him mild Jupiter is found But Saturn cold wons in our outmost sky The skirts of his large Kingdome surely ly Near to the confines of some other worlds Whose Centres are the fixed starres on high 'Bout which as their own proper Suns are hurld Joves Earths and Saturns round on their own axes twurld 23 Little or nothing are those starres to us Which in the azure Evening gay appear I mean for influence but judicious Nature and carefull Providence her dear And matchlesse work did so contrive whileere That th' Hearts or Centres in the wide world pight Should such a distance each to other bear That the dull Planets with collated light By neighbour suns might cheared be in dampish night 24 And as the Planets in our world of which The sun 's the heart and kernell do receive Their nightly light from suns that do enrich Their sable mantle with bright gemmes and give A goodly splendour and sad men relieve With their fair twinkling rayes so our worlds sunne Becomes a starre elsewhere and doth derive Joynt light with others cheareth all that won In those dim duskish Orbs round other suns that run 25 This is the parergon of each noble fire Of neighbour worlds to be the nightly starre But their main work is vitall heat t' inspire Into the frigid spheres that 'bout them fare Which of themselves quite dead and barren are But by the wakening warmth of kindly dayes And the sweet dewie nights they well declare Their seminall virtue in due courses raise Long hidden shapes and life to their great Makers praise 26 These with their suns I severall worlds do call Whereof the number I deem infinite Else infinite darknesse were in this great Hall Of th' endlesse Universe For nothing finite Could put that immense shadow unto flight But if that infinite Suns we shall admit Then infinite worlds follow in reason right For every Sun with Planets must be fit And have some mark for his farre-shining shafts to hit 27 But if he shine all solitarie alone What mark is left what aimed scope or end Of his existence wherefore every one Hath a due number of dim Orbs that wend Around their centrall fire But wrath will rend This strange composure back'd with reason stout And rasher tongues right speedily
have gone They still descry eas'ly they do inferre Without all check of reason were they down Never so deep like substance would appear Ne dream of any hollow horrour there My mind with like uncurb'd facility Concludes from what by sight is seen so clear That ther 's no barren wast vacuity Above the worlds we see but still new worlds therely 64 And still and still even to infinity Which point since I so fitly have propos'd Abating well the inconsistency Of harsh infinitu de therein suppos'd And prov'd by reasons never to be loos'd That infinite space and infinite worlds there be This load laid down I 'm freely now dispos'd A while to sing of times infinity May infinite Time afford me but his smallest fee. 65 For smallest fee of time will serve my turn This part for to dispatch sith endlesse space Whose perplext nature well mans brains might turn And weary wits disorder and misplace I have already passed for like case Is in them both He that can well untie The knots that in those infinite worlds found place May easily answer each perplexity Of these worlds infinite matters endlesse durancie 66 The Cuspis and the Basis of the Cone Were both at once dispersed every where But the pure Basis that is God alone Else would remotest sights as big appear Unto our eyes as if we stood them near And if an Harper harped in the Moon His silver sound would touch our tickled ear Or if one hollowed from highest Heaven aboven In sweet still Evening-tide his voice would hither roame 67 This all would be if the Cuspe of the Cone Were very God Wherefore I rightly 't deem Onely a Creaturall projection Which flowing yet from God hath ever been Fill'd the vast empty space with its large streem But yet it is not totall every where As was even now by reason rightly seen Wherefore not God whose nature doth appear Entirely omnipresent weigh'd with judgement clear 68 A reall infinite matter distinct And yet proceeding from the Deitie Although with different form as then untinct Has ever been from all Eternity Now what delay can we suppose to be Since matter alway was at hand prepar'd Before the filling of the boundlesse sky With framed Worlds for nought at all debar'd Nor was His strength ungrown nor was His strength empair'd 69 How long would God be forming of a fly Or the small wandring moats that play in th' sun Least moment well will serve none can deny His Fiat spoke and streight the thing is done And cannot He make all the World as soon For in each Atom of the matter wide The totall Deity doth entirely won His infinite presence doth therein reside And in this presence infinite powers do ever abide 70 VVherefore at once from all eternity The infinite number of these VVorlds He made And will conserve to all infinitie And still drive on their ever moving trade And steddy hold what ever must be staid Ne must one mite be minish'd of the summe Ne must the smallest atom ever fade But still remain though it may change its room This truth abideth strong from everlasting doom 71 Ne fear I what hard sequel after-wit Will draw upon me that the number 's one Of years moneths dayes houres and of minutes fleet Which from eternitie have still run on I plainly did confesse awhile agone That be it what it will that 's infinite More infinites will follow thereupon But that all infinites do justly fit And equall be my reason did not yet admit 72 But as my emboldened mind I know not how In empty Space and pregnant Deitie Endlesse infinitude dares to allow Though it begets the like perplexitie So now my soul drunk with Diuinitie And born away above her usuall bounds With confidence concludes infinitie Of Time of Worlds of firie flaming Rounds Which sight in sober mood my spirits quite confounds 73 And now I do awhile but interspire A torrent of objections ' gainst me beat My boldnesse to represse and strength to tire But I will wipe them off like summer sweat And make their streams streight back again retreat If that these worlds say they were ever made From infinite time how comes't to passe that yet Art is not perfected nor metalls fade Nor mines of grimie coal low-hid in griefly shade 74 But the remembrance of the ancient Floud With ease will wash such arguments away Wherefore with greater might I am withstood The strongest stroke wherewith they can assay To vanquish me is this The Date or Day Of the created World which all admit Nor may my modest Muse this truth gainsay In holy Oracles so plainly writ Wherefore the Worlds continuance is not infinite 75 Now lend me Origen a little wit This sturdy stroke right fairly to avoid Lest that my rasher rhymes while they ill fit With Moses pen men justly may deride And well accuse of ignorance or pride But thou O holy Sage with piercing sight Who readst those sacred rolls and hast well tride With searching eye thereto what fitteth right Thy self of former Worlds right learnedly dost write 76 To weet that long ago there Earths have been Peopled with men and beasts before this Earth And after this shall others be again And other beasts and other humane birth Which once admit no strength that reason bear'th Of this worlds Date and Adams efformation Another Adam once received breath And still another in endlesse repedation And this must perish once by finall conflagration 77 Witnesse ye Heavens if what I say's not true Ye flaming Comets wandering on high And new fixt starres found in that Circle blue The one espide in glittering Cassiopie The other near to Ophiuchus thigh Both bigger then the biggest starres that are And yet as farre remov'd from mortall eye As are the furthest so those Arts declare Unto whose reaching sight Heavens mysteries lie bare 78 Wherefore these new-seen lights were greater once By many thousand times then this our sphear Wherein we live 'twixt good and evil chance Which to my musing mind doth strange appear If those large bodies then first shaped were For should so goodly things so soon decay Neither did last the full space of two year Wherefore I cannot deem that their first day Of being when to us they sent out shining ray 79 But that they were created both of old And each in his due time did fair display Themselves in radiant locks more bright then gold Or silver sheen purg'd from all drossie clay But how they could themselves in this array Expose to humane sight who did before Lie hid is that which well amazen may The wisest man and puzzle evermore Yet my unwearied thoughts this search could not give o're 80 Which when I 'd exercis'd in long pursuit To finden out what might the best agree With wary reason at last I did conclude That there 's no better probability Can be produc'd of that strange prodigie But that some mighty Planet that doth run About some
corpse doth rot the spirit wide is spread And with the Mundane life fallen into one So then the soul from these quite being fled Unmov'd of ought must lie sunk in deep drowsihead 18 Nought then she hath whereon to contemplate Her ancient phantasms melt and glide away Her spright suck'd back by all-devouring fate And spread abroad those forms must needs decay That were therein imprinted If they stay Yet sith the soul from them is disunite Into her knowledge they can never ray So wants she objects the mind to excite Wherefore asleep she lies wrapt in eternall Night 19 To which I answer though she corporate With no world yet by a just Nemesis Kept off from all yet she thus separate May oft be struck with potent rayes transmisse From divers worlds that with such mockeries Kindling an hungry fire and eager will They do the wretched soul but Tantalize And with fierce choking flames and fury fill So vext that if she could in rage herself she 'd kill 20 If any doubt of this perplexitie And think so subtil thing can suffer nought What 's gnawing conscience from impietie By highest parts of humane soul ywrought For so our very soul with pain is fraught The body being in an easie plight Through all the senses when you 've pressly sought In none of them you 'll find this sting empight So may we deem this dart the soul it self to hit 21 Again when all the senses be ybound In sluggish sloth the soul doth oft create So mighty pain so cruelly doth wound Herself with tearing tortures as that state No man awake could ever tolerate Which must be in herself for once return'd Unto her body new resuscitate From sleep remembring well how erst she mourn'd Marvels how all so soon to peace and ease is turn'd 22 Wherefore the soul it self receiveth pain From her own self withouten sympathie With something else whose misery must constrain To deep compassion So if struck she be VVith secret ray or some strong energie Of any world or Lives that there remain She 's kept awake Besides fecunditie Of her own nature surely doth contain Innate Idees This truth more fully I 'll explain 23 Strong forward bearing will or appetite A never wearied importunitie Is the first life of this deep centrall spright Thus thrusts she forth before her some Idee Whereby herself now actuall she doth see Her mighty Fiat doth command each form T' appear As did that ancient Majestie This world of old by his drad VVord efform And made the soul of man thus divine Deiform 24 Thus in a manner th' humane soul creates The image of her will when from her centre Her pregnant mind she fairly explicates By actuall forms and so doth safely enter To knowledge of her self Flush light she sendeth forth and live Idee's Those be the glasse whereby the soul doth paint her Sweet centrall love sends out such forms as please But centrall hate or fear foul shapes with evil ease 25 The manner of her life on earth may cause Diversity of those cruptions For will desire or custome do dispose The soul to such like figurations Propension brings imaginations Unto their birth And oft the soul le ts flie Such unexpected eructations That she her self cannot devisen why Unlesse she do ascribe it to her pregnancy 26 It is an argument of her forms innate Which blazen out perchance when none descry This light is lost sense doth so radiate With Mundane life till this poor carcase die As when a lamp that men do sitten by In some wide hall in a clear winter night Being blown out or wasted utterly Unwares they find a sly still silver light The moon the wall or pavement with mild rayes hath dight 27 So when the oyl of this low life is spent Which like a burning lamp doth waste away Or if blown out by fate more violent The soul may find an unexpected ray Of light not from full faced Cynthia But her own fulnesse and quick pregnancy Unthought of life her Nature may display Unto her self not by forc'd industry But naturally it sprouts from her fecundity 28 Now sith adversion is a property So deeply essentiall to the rationall soul This light or life from her doth not so fly But she goes with it as it out doth roll All spirits that around their raies extoll Possesse each point of their circumference Presentially Wherefore the soul so full Of life when it raies out with presse presence Oretakes each outgone beam apprends it by advertence 29 Thus plainly we perceive th' activity Of the departed soul if we could find Strong reason to confirm th' innate idee Essentiall forms created with the mind But things obscure no'te easly be defin'd Yet some few reasons I will venture at To show that God's so liberall and kind As when as humane soul he doth create To fill it with hid forms and deep idees innate 30 Well sang the wise Empedocles of old That earth by earth and sea by sea we see And heaven by heaven and fire more bright than gold By flaming fire so gentle love descry By love and hate by hate And all agree That like is known by like Hence they confesse That some externall species strikes the eye Like to its object in the self-same dresse But my first argument hence I 'll begin to presse 31 If like be known by like then must the mind Innate idolums in it self contain To judge the forms she doth imprinted find Upon occasions If she doth not ken These shapes that flow from distant objects then How can she know those objects a dead glasse That light and various forms do gaily stain Set out in open streets shapes as they passe As well may see Lutes hear each soaming diapase 32 But if she know those species out sent From distant objects tell me how she knows These species By some other You nere ment To answer so For straight the question goes Unto another and still forward flows Even to infinity Doth th' object serve Its image to the mind for to disclose This answer hath as little sense or nerve Now reel you in a circle if you well observe 33 Wherefore no ascititious form alone Can make us see or hear but when this spright That is one with the Mundane's hit upon Sith all forms in our soul be counite And centrally lie there she doth beget Like shapes in her own self that energie By her own centrall self who forth it let Is view'd Her centrall omniformity Thus easly keepeth off needlesse infinity 34 For the quick soul by 't self doth all things know And sith withouten apt similitude Nought's known upon her we must needs bestow Essentiall centrall forms that thus endew'd With universall likenesse ever transmew'd Into a representing energie Of this or that she may have each thing view'd By her own centrall self-vitality Which is her self-essentiall omniformity 35 If plantall souls in their own selves contain That vitall formative fecundity
That they a tree with different colour stain And divers shapes smoothnesse asperity Straightnesse acutenesse and rotundity A golden yellow or a crimson red A varnish'd green with such like gallantry How dull then is the sensitive how dead If forms from its own centre it can never spread 36 Again an Universall notion What object ever did that form impresse Upon the soul What makes us venture on So rash a matter as ere to confesse Ought generally true when neverthelesse We cannot e're runne through all singulars Wherefore in our own souls we do possesse Free forms and immateriall characters Hence 't is the soul so boldly generall truth declares 37 What man that is not dull or mad would doubt Whether that truth for which Pythagoras When he by subtile study found it out Unto the Muses for their helping grace An Hecatomb did sacrifice may passe In all such figures wheresoever they be Yet all Rectangle Triangles none has Viewed as yet none all shall ever see Wherefore this free assent is from th' innate Ides 38 Adde unto these incorporeity Apprehended by the soul when sense nere saw Ought incorporeall Wherefore must she From her own self such subtile Idols draw Again this truth more clearly still to know Let 's turn again to our Geometry What body ever yet could figure show Perfectly perfect as rotundity Exactly round or blamelesse angularity 39 Yet doth the soul of such like forms discourse And finden fault at this deficiency And rightly term this better and that worse Wherefore the measure is our own Idee Which th' humane soul in her own self doth see And sooth to sayen when ever she doth strive To find pure truth her own profundity She enters in her self doth deeply dive From thence attempts each essence rightly to descrive 40 Last argument which yet is not the least Wise Socrates dispute with Theaetete Concerning learning fitly doth suggest A midwifes sonne ycleeped Phenarete He calls himself Then makes a quaint conceit That he his mothers trade did exercise All witlesse his own self yet well did weet By his fit questions to make others wise A midwife that no'te bear anothers birth unties 41 Thus jestingly he flung out what was true That humane souls be swoln with pregnancy Of hidden knowledge if with usage due They were well handled they each verity Would bringen forth from their fecunditie Wise framed questions would facilitate This precious birth stirre up th' inward Idee And make it streme with light from forms innate Thus may a skilfull man hid truth elicitate 42 What doth the teacher in his action But put slight hints into his scholars mind Which breed a solemn contemplation Whether such things be so but he doth find The truth himself But if truth be not sign'd In his own Soul before and the right measure Of things propos'd in vain the youth doth wind Into himself and all that anxious leasure In answering proves uselesse without that hid treasure 43 Nor is his masters knowledge from him flit Into his scholars head for so his brain In time would be exhaust and void of wit So would the sory man but little gain Though richly paid Nor is' t more safe to sam As fire breeds fire art art doth generate The soul with Corporeity't would stain Such qualities outwardly operate The soul within her acts there closely circulate 44 Wherefore the soul it self by her Idee Which is her self doth every thing discover By her own Centrall Omniformity Brings forth in her own self when ought doth move her Till mov'd a dark indifferency doth hover But fierce desire and a strong piercing will Makes her those hidden characters uncover Wherefore when death this lower life shall spill Or fear or love the soul with actuall forms shall fill The Argument of ANTIPSYCHOPANNYCHIA OR The Confutation of the Sleep of the Soul Cant. 3. Departed souls by living Night Suckt in for pinching wo No'te sleep or if with God unite For joyes with which they flow 1 MY hardest task is gone which was to prove That when the soul dy death 's cut off from all Yet she within her self might live and move Be her own world by life imaginall But sooth to sain 't seems not so naturall For though a starre part of the Mundane spright Shine out with rayes circumferentiall So long as with this world it is unite Yet what 't would do cut off so well we cannot weet 2 But sith our soul with God himself may meet Inacted by His life I cannot see What scruple then remains that moven might Least doubt but that she wakes with open eye When Fate her from this body doth untie Wherefore her choisest forms do then arise Rowz'd up by union and large sympathy With Gods own spright she plainly then descries Such plenitude of life as she could nere devise 3 If God even on this body operate And shakes this Temple when he doth descend Or with sweet vigour doth irradiate And lovely light and heavenly beauty lend Such rayes from Moses face did once extend Themselves on Sinai hill where he did get Those laws from Gods own mouth mans life to mend And from Messias on mount Saron set Farre greater beauty shone in his disciples sight 4 Al 's Socrates when his large Intellect Being fill'd with streaming light from God above To that fair sight his soul did close collect That inward lustre though the body drove Bright beams of beauty These examples prove That our low being the great Deity Invades and powerfully doth change and move Which if you grant the souls divinity More fitly doth receive so high a Majesty 5 And that God doth illuminate the mind Is well approv'd by all antiquity With them Philosophers and Priests we find All one or else at least Philosophy Link'd with Gods worship and pure piety Witnesse Pythagoras Aglaophemus Zoroaster thrice-mighty Mercury Wise Socrates nothing injurious Religious Plato and vice-taming Orpheus 6 All these addicted to religion Acknowledg'd God the fount of verity From whence flows out illumination Upon purg'd souls But now O misery To seek to God is held a phantasie But men hug close their loved lust and vice And deem that thraldome a sweet liberty Wherefore reproch and shame they do devise Against the braver souls that better things emprise 7 But lo a proof more strong and manifest Few men but will confesse that prophesie Proceeds from God when as our soul 's possest By his All-seeing spright al 's ecstasie Wherein the soul snatch'd by the Deity And for a time into high heaven hent Doth contemplate that blest Divinity So Paul and John that into Patmos went Heard and saw things inestimably excellent 8 Such things as these men joyntly do confesse To spring from Gods own spirit immediately But if that God ought on the soul impresse Before it be at perfect liberty Quite rent from this base body when that she Is utterly releast she 'll be more fit To be inform'd by that
divine Idee Hight Logos that doth every man enlight That enters into life as speaks the sacred Writ 9 Behold a fit resemblance of this truth The Sun begetteth both colours and sight Each living thing with life his heat indew'th He kindles into act each plastick spright Thus he the world with various forms doth dight And when his vigour hath fram'd out an eye In any living wight he fills with light That Organ which can plainly then descry The forms that under his far-shining beams do ly 10 Even so it is with th' intellectuall sunne Fountain of life and all-discovering light He frames our souls by his creation Al 's he indews them with internall sight Then shines into them by his lucid spright But corporall life doth so obnubilate Our inward eyes that they be nothing bright While in this muddy world incarcerate They lie and with blind passions be intoxicate 11 Fear anger hope fierce vengeance and swoln hate Tumultuous joy envie and discontent Self-love vain-glory strife and fell debate Unsatiate covetise desire impotent Low-sinking grief pleasure lust violent Fond emulation all these dim the mind That with foul filth the inward eye yblent That light that is so near it cannot find So shines the Sunne unseen on a trees rugged rind 12 But the clean soul by virtue purifi'd Collecting her own self from the foul steem Of earthly life is often dignifi'd With that pure pleasure that from God doth streem Often's enlightn'd by that radiant beam That issues forth from his divinity Then feelingly immortall she doth deem Her self conjoynd by so near unity With God and nothing doubts of her eternitie 13 Nor death nor sleep nor any dismall shade Of low contracting life she then doth fear No troubled thoughts her settled mind invade Th' immortall root of life she seeth clear Wisheth she were for ever grafted here No cloud no darknesse no deficiency In this high heavenly life doth ere appear Redundant fulnesse and free liberty Easie flowing knowledge never weary energy 14 Broad open sight eternall wakefulnesse Withouten labour or consuming pain The soul all these in God must needs possesse When there deep-rooted life she doth obtain As I in a few words shall maken plain This bodies life by powerfull sympathy The soul to sleep and labour doth constrain To grief to wearinesse and anxiety In fine to hideous sense of dread mortality 15 But sith no such things in the Deity Are to be found Shee once incorporate With that quick essence she is setten free From ought that may her life obnubilate What then can her contract or maken strait For ever mov'd by lively sympathy With Gods own spright an ever-waking state She doth obtain Doth heavens bright blazing eye Ever close ywrapt in sleep and dead obscurity 16 But now how full and strong a sympathy Is caused by the souls conjunction With the high God I 'll to you thus descry All men will grant that spread dispersion Must be some hinderance to close union Al 's must confesse that closer unity More certainly doth breed compassion Not that there 's passion in the Deity But something like to what all men call Sympathy 17 Now sith the soul is of such subtlety And close collectednesse in dispersion Full by her centrall omniformity Pregnant and big without distension She once drawn in by strong attraction Should be more perfectly there counite In this her high and holy union Then with the body where dispersion's pight But such hard things I leave to some more learned wight 18 The first pure Being's perfect Unity And therefore must all things more strongly bind Then Lives corporeall which dispersed be He also the first Goodnesse is defin'd Wherefore the soul most powerfully's inclin'd And strongly drawn to God But life that 's here When into it the soul doth closely wind Is often sneep'd by anguish and by fear With vexing pain and rage that she no'te easly bear 19 Farre otherwise it fares in that pure life That doth result in the souls Unity With God For there the faster she doth strive To tie her selfe the greater liberty And freer welcome brighter purity She finds and more enlargement joy and pleasure O'reflowing yet without satietie Sight without end and love withouten measure This needs must close unite the heart to that hid treasure 20 This plainly's seen in that mysterious Cone Which I above did fairly stell descrive Their freenesse and incarceration Were plainly setten forth What down doth dive Into the straitned Cuspis needs must strive With stringent bitternesse vexation Anxious unrest in this ill plight they live But they that do ascend to th' top yflown Be free yet fast unite to that fair vision 21 Thus purged souls be close conjoyn'd to God And closer union surer sympathy Wherefore so long as they make their abode In Him incorp'rate by due Unitie They liven in eternall energie For Israels God nor slumbers nor doth sleep Nor Israel lost in dull lethargie Must list lesse ly while numbing streams do steep His heavy head overwhelmed in oblivion deep 22 But here more curious men will straight enquire Whither after death the wicked soul doth go That long hath wallowed in the sinfull mire Before this question I shall answer to Again the nature of the soul I 'll show She all things in her self doth centrally Contain what ever she doth feel or know She feels or knows it by th' innate Idee She 's all proportion'd by her omniformity 23 God heaven this middle world deep glimmering hell With all the lives and shapes that there remain The forms of all in humane souls do dwell She likewise all proportions doth contain That fits her for all sprights So they constrain By a strong pulling sympathy to come And straight possesse that fitting vitall vein That 'longs unto her so her proper room She takes as mighty Nemesis doth give the doom 24 Now which I would you presly should observe Though oft I have with tongue balbutient Prattled to th' weaker ear lest I should sterve My stile with too much subtilty I nere ment To grant that there 's any such thing existent As a mere body For all 's life all spright Though lives and sprights be very different Three generall sprights there be Eternall Light Is one the next our World the last Infernall Night 25 This last lies next unto old Nothingnesse Hight Hyle whom I term'd point of the Cone Her daughter Night is full of bitternesse And strait constraint and pent privation Her sturdy ray's scarce conquer'd by the moon The earths great shade breaks out from this hid spright And active is so soon the Sun is gone Doth repossesse the aire shotten forth right From its hid centrall life ycleep'd Infernall Night 26 In this drad world is scorching Phlegethon Hot without flame burning the vexed sense There hatefull Styx and sad Cocytus run And silent Acheron All drink from hence From this damn'd spright receiven influence That in our world or
Mela. Cleanthes Cl. MEla my dear why been thy looks so sad As if thy gentle heart were sunk with care Impart thy case for be it good or bad Friendship in either will bear equall share Mel. Not so Cleanthes for if bad it be My self must bleed afresh by wounding thee But what it is my slow uncertain wit Cannot well judge But thou shalt sentence give How manfully of late my self I quit When with that lordly lad by chance I strive Cl. Of friendship Mela let 's that story hear Mel. Sit down Cleanthes then and lend thine ear Upon a day as best did please my mind Walking abroad amidst the verdant field Scattering my carefull thoughts i' th' wanton wind The pleasure of my path so farre had till'd My feeble feet that without timely rest Uneath it were to reach my wonted nest In secret shade farre moved from mortalls sight In lowly dale my wandring limbs I laid On the cool grasse where Natures pregnant wit A goodly Bower of thickest trees had made Amongst the leaves the chearfull Birds did fare And sweetly carol'd to the echoing Air. Hard at my feet ran down a crystall spring Which did the cumbrous pebbles hoarsly chide For standing in the way Though murmuring The broken stream his course did rightly guide And strongly pressing forward with disdain The grassie flore divided into twain The place a while did feed my foolish eye As being new and eke mine idle ear Did listen oft to that wild harmonie And oft my curious phansie would compare How well agreed the Brooks low muttering Base With the birds trebbles pearch'd on higher place But senses objects soon do glut the soul Or rather weary with their emptinesse So I all heedlesse how the waters roll And mindlesse of the mirth the birds expresse Into my self 'gin softly to retire After hid heavenly pleasures to enquire While I this enterprize do entertain Lo on the other side in thickest bushes A mighty noise with that a naked swain With blew and purple wings streight rudely rushes He leaps down light upon the flowry green Like sight before mine eyes had never seen At 's snowy back the boy a quiver wore Right fairly wrought and gilded all with gold A silver bow in his left hand he bore And in his right a ready shaft did hold Thus armed stood he and betwixt us tway The labouring brook did break its toilsome way The wanton lad whose sport is others pain Did charge his bended bow with deadly dart And drawing to the head with might and main With fell intent he aim'd to hit my heart But ever as he shot his arrows still In their mid course dropt down into the rill Of wondrous virtues that in waters been Is needlesse to rehearse all books do ring Of those strange rarities But ne're was seen Such virtue as resided in this spring The noveltie did make me much admire But stirr'd the hasty youth to ragefull ire As heed lesse fowls that take their per'lous flight Over that bane of birds Avernâ— lake Do drop down dead so dead his shafts did light Amid the stream which presently did slake Their fiery points and all their feathers wet Which made the youngster Godling inly fret Thus lustfull Love this was that love I ween Was wholly changed to consuming ire And eath it was sith they 're so near a kin They be both born of one rebellious fire But he supprest his wrath and by and by For feathered darts he winged words let flie Vain man said he and would thou wer'st not vain That hid'st thy self in solitary shade And spil'st thy precious youth in sad disdain Hating this lifes delight Hath God thee made Part of this world and wilt not thou partake Of this worlds pleasure for its makers sake Unthankfull wretch Gods gifts thus to reject And maken nought of Natures goodly dower That milders still away through thy neglect And dying fades like unregarded flower This life is good what 's good thou must improve The highest improvement of this life is love Had I but O that envious Destinie Or Stygian vow or thrice accursed charm Should in this place free passage thus denie Unto my shafts as messengers of harm Had I but once transfixt thy froward breast How would'st thou then I staid not for the rest But thus half angry to the boy replide How would'st thou then my soul of sense bereave I blinded thee more blind should choose my guide How would'st thou then my muddied mind deceive With fading shows that in my errour vile Base lust I love should tearm vice virtue stile How should my wicked rhymes then idolize Thy wretched power and with impious wit Impute thy base born passions to the skies And my souls sicknesse count an heavenly fit My weaknesse strength my wisdome to be caught My bane my blisse mine ease to be o'rewraught How often through my fondly feigning mind And frantick phansie in my Mistris eye Should I a thousand fluttering Cupids find Bathing their busis wings How oft espie Under the shadow of her eye-brows fair Ten thousand Graces sit all naked bare Thus haunted should I be with such feat fiends A pretty madnesse were my portion due Foolish my self I would not hear my friends Should deem the true for false the false for true My way all dark more slippery then ice My attendants anger pride and jealousies Unthankfull then to God I should neglect All the whole world for one poore sorry wight Whose pestilent eye into my heart project Would burn like poysonous Comet in my spright Aye me how dismall then would prove that day Whose onely light sprang from so fatall ray Who seeks for pleasure in this mortall life By diving deep into the body base Shall loose true pleasure But who gainly strive Their sinking soul above this bulk to place Enlarg'd delight they certainly shall find Unbounded joyes to fill their boundlesse mind When I my self from mine own self do quit And each thing else then an all-spreaden love To the vast Universe my soul doth fit Makes me half equall to All-seeing Jove My mightie wings high stretch'd then clapping light I brush the starres and make them shine more bright Then all the works of God with close embrace I dearly hug in my enlarged arms All the hid paths of heavenly Love I trace And boldly listen to his secret charms Then clearly view-I where true light doth rise And where eternall Night low-pressed lies Thus lose I not by leaving small delight But gain more joy while I my self suspend From this and that for then with all unite I all enjoy and love that love commends That all is more then loves the partiall soul Whose petty love th' impartiall fates controll Ah son said he and laughed very loud That trickst thy tongue with uncouth strange disguize Extolling highly that with speeches proud To mortall men that humane state denies And rashly blaming what thou never knew Let men experienc'd speak if they 'll
speak true Had I once lanc'd thy froward flinty heart And cruddled bloud had thawn with living fire And prickt thy drousie sprite with gentle smart How wouldst thou wake to kindle sweet desire Thy soul fill'd up with overflowing pleasures Would dew thy lips with honey dtopping measures Then would thou caroll loud and sweetly sing In honour of my sacred Deity That all the woods and hollow hills would ring Reechoning thy heavenly harmony And eke the hardy rocks withfull rebounds Would faithfully return thy silver sounds Next unto me would be thy Mistresse fair Whom thou might setten out with goodly skill Her peerlesse beauty and her virtues rare That all would wonder at thy gracefull quill And lastly in us both thy self shouldst raise And crown thy temples with immortall bayes But now thy riddles all men do neglect Thy rugged lines of all do ly forlorn Unwelcome rhymes that rudely do detect The Readers ignorance Men holden scorn To be so often non-plus'd or to spell And on one stanza a whole age to dwell Besides this harsh and hard obscurity Of the hid sense thy words are barbarous And strangely new and yet too frequently Return as usuall plain and obvious So that the show of the new thick-set patch Marres all the old with which it ill doth match But if thy haughty mind forsooth would deign To stoop so low as t' hearken to my lore Then wouldst thou with trim lovers not disdeign To adorn th' outside set the best before Nor rub nor wrinkle would thy verses spoil Thy rhymes should run as glib and smooth as oyl If that be all said I thy reasons slight Can never move my well establish'd mind Full well I wote alwayes the present sprite Or life that doth possesse the soul doth blind Shutting the windows ' gainst broad open day Lest fairer sights its uglinesse bewray The soul then loves that disposition best Because no better comes unto her view The drunkard drunkennesse the sluggard rest Th' Ambitious honour and obeysance due So all the rest do love their vices base ' Cause virtues beauty comes not into place And looser love ' gainst Chastity divine Would shut the door that he might sit alone Then wholly should my mind to him incline And woxen strait since larger love was gone That paultry spirit of low contracting lust VVould fit my soul as if 't were made for 't just Then should I with my fellow bird or brute So strangely metamorphiz'd either ney Or bellow loud or if 't may better sute Chirp out my joy pearch'd upon higher spray My passions fond with impudence rehearse Immortalize my madnesse in a verse This is the summe of thy deceiving boast That I vain ludenesse highly should admire When I the sense of better things have lost And chang'd my heavenly heat for hellish fire Passion is blind but virtues piercing eye Approching danger can from farre espie And what thou dost Pedantickly object Concerning my rude rugged uncouth style As childish toy I manfully neglect And at thy hidden snares do inly smile How ill alas with wisdome it accords To sell my living sense for livelesse words My thought 's the fittest measure of my tongue Wherefore I 'll use what 's most significant And rather then my inward meaning wrong Or my full-shining notion trimly skant I 'll conjure up old words out of their grave Or call fresh forrein force in if need crave And these attending on my moving mind Shall duly usher in the fitting sense As oft as meet occasion I find Unusuall words oft used give lesse offence Nor will the old contexture dim or marre For often us'd they 're next to old thred-bare And if the old seem in too rusty hew Then frequent rubbing makes them shine like gold And glister all with colour gayly new Wherefore to use them both we will be bold Thus lists me fondly with fond folk to toy And answer fools with equall foolery The meaner mind works with more nicetie As Spiders wont to weave their idle web But braver spirits do all things gallantly Of lesser failings nought at all affred So Natures carelesse pencill dipt in light With sprinkled starres hath spattered the Night And if my notions clear though rudely thrown And loosely scattered in my poesie May lend men light till the dead Night be gone And Morning fresh with roses strew the sky It is enough I meant no trimmer frame Nor by nice needle-work to seek a name Vain man that seekest name ' mongst earthly men Devoid of God and all good virtuous lere Who groping in the dark do nothing ken But mad with griping care their souls do tear Or Burst with hatred or with envie pine Or burn with rage or melt out at their eyne Thrice happy he whose name is writ above And doeth good though gaining infamy Requiteth evil turns with hearty love And recks not what befalls him outwardly Whose worth is in himself and onely blisse In his pure conscience that doth nought amisse Who placeth pleasure in his purged soul And virtuous life his treasure doth esteem Who can his passions master and controll And that true lordly manlinesse doth deem Who from this world himself hath clearly quit Counts nought his own but what lives in his sprite So when his spright from this vain world shall flit It bears all with it whatsoever was dear Unto it self passing in easie fit As kindly ripen'd corn comes out of th' ear Thus mindlesse of what idle men will say He takes his own and stilly goes his way But the Retinue of proud Lucifer Those blustering Poets that fly after fame And deck themselves like the bright Morning-starre Alas it is but all a crakling flame For death will strip them of that glorious plume That airie blisse will vanish into fume For can their carefull ghosts from Limbo Lake Return or listen from the bowed skie To heare how well their learned lines do take Or if they could is Heavens felicitie So small as by mans praise to be encreas'd Hells pain no greater then hence to be eas'd Therefore once dead in vain shall I transmit My shadow to gâ—zing Posterity Cast farre behind me I shall never see 't On Heavens fair Sunne having fast fixt mine eye Nor while I live heed I what man doth praise Or underprize mine unaffected layes What moves thee then said he to take the pains And spenden time if thou contemn'st the fruit Sweet fruit of fame that fills the Poets brains With high conceit and feeds his fainting wit How pleasant 't is in honour here to live And dead thy name for ever to survive Or is thy abject mind so basely bent As of thy Muse to maken Merchandize And well I wote this is no strange intent The hopefull glimps of gold from chattering Pies From Daws and Crows and Parots oft hath wrung An unexpected Pegaseian song Foul shame on him quoth I that shamefull thought Doth entertain within his dunghill breast Both God and Nature hath my
quit the place The skie did rattle with his wings ytorn Like to rent silk ' But I in the mean space Sent after him this message by the wind Be 't so I 'm mad yet sure I am thou' rt blind By this the out-stretch'd shadows of the trees Pointed me home-ward and with one consent Foretold the dayes descent So straight I rise Gathering my limbs from off the green pavement Behind me leaving then the slooping Light Gl. And now let 's up Vesper brings on the Night Fides Fluctuans O Deus aeterno lucis qui absconditus Orbe Humanos fugis aspectus da cernere verum Da magnum spectare diem non mobilis Aevi Da contemplari nullius in infera noctis Lapsurum solem Spissas caliginis umbras Adventu dispelle tuo Pernicibus alis Ocyus advolitans animam tu siste solutam Mobilitate sua rapidae quam cursus aquai Deturbat secum atque in caeco gurgite condit Sed tamen ex fluxu hoc rerum miseroque tumultu En vultus attollo meos tu porrige dextram Exime ut excelso figam vestigia saxo O Deus O Centrum rerum te percita motu Arcano circumvolitant cuncta atque requirunt Nequicquam quoniam aeterna te contegis umbra Attamen insano exerces mea pectora amore Et suspirantem volupe est tibi ludere mentem Ignibus occultis Non talibus aestuat Aetna Intima cùm accensas eructet flamma favillas Pleniùs lato spargat sua viscera campo Omnia solicita mecum quae mente revolvi Somnia sunt stultéque animi satagentis inane Figmentum spes nostra perit radicitùs omnis Expectata diu vacuas vita exit in auras Hei mihi quam immensae involvor caligine noctis Subsido pereo repeto jam materiaï Infensas tenebras ahenae vincula mortis Quae me intemperies agitat Rescindito coelos Summe Deûm tantósque animi componito fluctus Resolution WHere 's now the objects of thy fears Needlesse sighs and fruitlesse tears They be all gone like idle dream Suggested from the bodies steam O Cave of horrour black as pitch Dark Den of Spectres that bewitch The weakned phansy sore affright With the grim shades of grisely Night What 's Plague and Prison Losse of friends Warre Dearth and Death that all things ends Mere Bug-bears for the childish mind Pure Panick terrours of the blind Collect thy soul into one sphear Of light and 'bove the earth it rear Those wild scattered thoughts that erst Lay losely in the World disperst Call in thy spirit thus knit in one Fair lucid orb those fears be gone Like vain impostures of the Night That fly before the Morning bright Then with pure eyes thou shalt behold How the first Goodnesse doth infold All things in loving tender armes That deemed mischiefs are no harms But sovereign salves and skilfull cures Of greater woes the world endures That mans stout soul may win a state Far rais'd above the reach of fate Then wilt thou say God rules the World Though mountain over mountain hurl'd Be pitch'd amid the foaming Maine Which busie winds to wrath constrain His fall doth make the billowes start And backward skip from every part Quite sunk then over his senselesse side The waves in triumph proudly ride Though inward tempests fiercely rock The tottering Earth that with the shock High spires and heavie rocks fall down With their own weight drove into ground Though pitchy blasts from Hell up-born Stop the outgoings of the Morn And Nature play her fiery games In this forc'd Night with fulgurant flames Baring by fits for more affright The pale dead visages ghastly sight Of men astonish'd at the stoure Of Heavens great rage the rattling showers Of hail the hoarse bellowing of thunder Their own loud shreekes made mad with wonder All this confusion cannot move The purged mind freed from the love Of commerce with her body dear Cell of sad thoughts sole spring of fear What ere I feel or heare or see Threats but these parts that mortall be Nought can the honest heart dismay Unlesse the love of living clay And long acquaintance with the light Of this Outworld and what to sight Those two officious beams discover Of forms that round about us hover Power Wisedome Goodnesse sure did fra This Universe and still guide the same But thoughts from passions sprung decei◠Vain mortalls No man can contrive A better course then what 's been run Since the first circuit of the Sun He that beholds all from on high Knowes better what to do then I. I 'm not mine own should I repine If he dispose of what 's not mine Purge but thy soul of blind self-will Thou streight shalt see God doth no ill The world He fills with the bright rayes Of his free goodnesse He displayes Himself throughout Like common aire That spirit of life through all doth fare Suck'd in by them as vitall breath That willingly embrace not death But those that with that living Law Be unacquainted cares do gnaw Mistrust of Gods good providence Doth daily vex their wearied sense Now place me on the Libyan soil With scorching sun and sands to toil Far from the view of spring or tree Where neither man nor house I see Place me by the fabulous streams Of Hydaspes In the Realms Where Caucasus his lofty back Doth raise in wreaths and endlesse tract Commit me at my next remove To icy Hyperborean Jove Confine me to the Arctick Pole Where the numbd heavens do slowly roll To lands where cold raw heavie mist Sols kindly warmth and light resists Where louring clouds full fraught with snow Do sternly scoul where winds do blow With bitter blasts and pierce the skin Forcing the vitall spirits in Which leave the body thus ill bested In this chill plight at least half dead Yet by an Antiperistasis My inward heat more kindled is And while this flesh her breath expires My spirit shall suck celestiall fires By deep-fetchd sighs and pure devotion Thus waxen hot with holy motion A◠once I 'll break forth in a flame Above this world and worthlesse fame I 'll take my flight carelesse that men Know not how where I die or when Yea though the Soul should mortall prove So be Gods life but in me move To my last breath I 'm satisfide A lonesome mortall God t' have dide Devotion GOod God! when thou thy inward grace dost shower Into my brest How full of light and lively power Is then my soul How am I blest How can I then all difficulties devour Thy might Thy spright With ease my combrous enemy controll If thou once turn away thy face and hide Thy chearfull look My feeble flesh may not abide That dreadfull stound I cannot brook Thy absence My heart with care and grief then gride Doth fail Doth quail My life steals from me at that hidden wound My phansie's then a burden to my mind Mine anxious thought Betrayes my reason makes me blind Near
dangers drad Make me distraught Surpriz'd with fear my senses all I find In hell I dwell Opprest with horrour pain and sorrow sad My former Resolutions all are fled Slip't over my tongue My Faith my Hope and Joy are dead Assist my heart Rather then my song My God! my Saviour when I 'm ill bested Stand by And I Shall bear with courage undeserved smart Aphroditus Synes hymn 2. 3. Macrob. Saturnal lib. 3. cap. 8. SUmme Pater rerum fixa inconcussáque sedes Omnia qui fulcis mundo non fictus Adonis Fundamen coelorum immobile Sustentamen Telluris magnûmque quies secura Deorum Omniparens Amor In dias tu luminis oras Omnia producis vastus quae continet orbis Innumera tu prole tua terrasque feraces Aerá que immensum comples camposque natantes Saeclorum Pater es Mater pia sedula Nutrix Te circum quoniam ludunt humana propago Quos nisi tu sistis nutricis more patenti In gremio circumjectis tutare lacertis Protinus heu pereunt priscas repetendo tenebras Submersosque suo claudit Styx lurida fundo Lurida Styx summi quam oderunt tangere Olympi Incolae inextinctum spirantes semper amorem Hujus enim horrendas nemo quisquam petet umbras Fluminis accensus lucenti pectora ab igni Nos tamen intereà charis dum amplecteris ulnis Materno sistisque genu te cernere contrà Vix cupimus blandosve tuos advertere vultus Sed veluti lactens infantulus ubera matris Quaeritat cunctas complet vagitibus aedeis Ni sedet mollem sibi nudam veste mamillam Exhibet Haec igitur properat saevumque tyrannum Demulcet dictis atque oscula dulcia figit Ille autem non dicta moratur nec pia matris Oscula non hilares oculos vultumque serenum Attendit pulchros neque amantum rete capillos Nulla mora est quò caeca fames vocat instat in uber Involat niveum sitienti fauce liquorem Haurit alterno jactans sua cruscula motu Maternum refricat gremium dulcedine sensûs Exultans tenerum succo feriente palatum Sic nos magna Parens quorum provectior aetas Sic tua sic avidis premimus sacra ubera labris Sed formam vultumve tuum quis conspicit Omneis Caecus amor quò tractat expectata voluptas Auferimur plenoque unà devolvimur alveo Verùm ego si possim neque enim deprendere possum Divinam speciem nimio tua pignora lusu Namque soles lassare gratam avertere formam At cùm conatu longo defessus ocellos Adduco facilis vineit mea tempora somnus Tu tamen intereà vigilas membra sopore Dulci extensa vides amico lumine mulces Haec Venus alma animus nebulas noctemque malignam Somniat obfusus neque enim poti ' cernere quicquam est Sed furit caeco rerum perculsus amore Evomit insanum turbato pectore carmen Out of the Anthologie a Distick 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In English thus WHen the strong Fates with Gigantean force Bear thee in iron arms without remorse Bear and be born But if with pievish struggle Thou writhe and wrest thy corse thou dost but double Thy present pain and spend thy restlesse spright Nor thou more heavie art nor they more light Or thus If Chance thee change be chang'd and change thou it To better by thy well complying wit If thou repine thou dost but pain and grieve Thy self and Chance will change thee without leeve RIght well I wot my rhymes seem rudely drest In the nice judgement of thy shallow mind That mark'st expressions more then what 's exprest Busily billing the rough outward rinde But reaching not the pith Such surface skill's Unmeet to measure the profounder quill Yea I alas my self too often feel Thy indispos'dnesse when my weakened soul Unstedfast into this Outworld doth reel And lyes immerse in my low vitall mold For then my mind from th' inward spright estrang'd My Muse into an uncouth hew hath chang'd A rude confused heap of ashes dead My verses seem when that caelestiall flame That sacred spirit of life 's extinguished In my cold brest Then gin I rashly blame My rugged lines This word is obsolete That boldly coynd a third too oft doth beat Mine humourous ears Thus fondly curious Is the faint Reader that doth want that fire And inward vigour heavenly furious That made my enrag'd spirit in strong desire Break through such tender cob-web niceties That oft intangle these blind buzzing flies Possest with living sense I inly rave Carelesse how outward words do from me flow So be the image of my mind they have Truly exprest and do my visage show As doth each river deckt with Phebus beams Fairly reflect the viewer of his streams Who can discern the Moons asperity From of this earth or could this earths discover If from the earth he raised were on high Among the starrs and in the sky did hover The Hills and Valleyes would together flow And the rough Earth one smooth-fac'd Round would show Nor can the lofty soul snatch'd into Heven Busied above in th' Intellectuall world At such a distance see my lines uneven At such a distance was my spirit hurld And to my trembling quill thence did endite What he from thence must reade who would read right Fair Fields and rich Enclosures shady Woods Large populous Towns with strong and stately Towers Long crawling Rivers far distended Flouds What ever 's great its shape these eyes of ours And due proportions from high distance see The best And Paro such my Rhyme's to thee Thy groveling mind and moping poreblind eye That to move up unmeet this to see farre The worth or weaknesse never can descry Of my large winged Muse But not to spare Till thou canst well disprove proves well enough Thou art rash and rude how ere my rhymes are rough Necessitas Triumphata Seu Humanam voluntatem ad unum necessariò non determinari O Dea quae clavum manibus cuneúmque superbis Gestas stricta liquidi compagine plumbi Cuncta premis duramque soles imponere legem Usque adeone tuo indulges saevissima rerum Imperio astringas trist◠tibi ut omnia nodo Terra tua est quos sub verno tempore flores Proruit quicquid tenebrosa in viscera condit Amnes quò tu cunque vocas salsaeque lacunae Pergunt lati palantia sydera mundi Aer sub ditione tua est nimbique ruentes Quaeque boant rauco metuenda tonitrua caelo Et nimis angustum si forte haec omnia regnum Infernas moderare umbras sedesque silentûm Horrificosque suis ructantem è faucibus aestus Tartaron His addas brutum genus omne animantûm Innumeras pecorum species atque Altivolantûm Mancipium Natura tuum est sen tristior illa Quam Nox ima premit caeca in caligine sive Quam matutinis radiis
this sensible world of it self can make us know things at distance though Plotinus seem inclinable to that Opinion See Psychathan lib. 3. Cant. 1. STANZ 55. All Sense doth in proportion consist Something 's are so light that the weight is indiscernable to some as the Flie that sat upon the Bulls horns and apologized for her self as having wearied him as it is in the Arabian fable some smells too weak to strike the nostrills of others and some objects too obscure to be seen of the eyes of othersome But Arachne is proportioned to all whatsoever is any way sensible to any because Psyche doth inact this All or Universe as a particular Soul doth the body Vers 9. All life of Sense is in great Haphe's lift It must needs be so For no living soul is sensible of ought in this out-World but by being joyned in a living manner to it Therefore Psyche being joyned to it all must needs perceive all forms and motions in it that are presented to any particular soul For these representations be made in some particular body which is but a part of the whole a knot as it were of Psyches outward stole but the universall body of the World is one undivided peece wherefore nor Owl nor Bat nor Cat nor any thing else can possibly see but Psyche seeth ipso facto for 't is part of her body that hath those representations in it wherefore man is transfixt through and through by the rayes of the divine Light besides that more incomprehensible way of omnisciency in God STANZ 5.6 Sense and Consent c. As Psyche sees all naturall things so she doth allow of them For contrariety of Spirits is onely betwixt particulars and uglinesse and ill-favourednesse are but such to some kinds nor is poyson poyson to all else would the Spider be her own death and all venomous monsters would save man the labour of encounter STANZ 57. Rich Semele display Till we come to Psyches self motion and mutabilitie have place But in Aeon and Ahad is steddy and unalterable rest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And there hath Psyche the one eye plac'd as well as the other below beholding all things and that which is above all things as also the shadows and projections of all things without distraction at once as easily as our eyes discern many colours at once in one thing STANZ 59. The mother of each Semele How she is the mother of them see the second Canto of this book at the 23. Stanz Vers 3. But she grasps all The Mundane spirit of which every body hath its part inacted by Psyche if any particular soul exert any imaginative act needs must for a time at least be coloured as it were or stained with that impression so that Psyche must needs perceive it sith it affects her own spirit See Psychath lib. 3. Cant. 2. Stanz 46.47 Besides this euery particular soul as all things else depending so intimately on Psyche as being effluxes from her it is inconceivable that the least motions of the mind or stillest thought should escape her But if any man be puzled how the phantasie of a mans soul should make an impression upon any part of the universall spirit of the world and Semele should not let him consider that the imaginative operations of Psyche are more high more hovering and suspense from immersion into the grosser spirits of this body which is little or nothing conscious of what 's done so farre above and so not receiving the impresse of so high acts it ordinarily happens even in the exaltation of our own phansie that memory fails And besides this as the vigour of sense debilitates or quite extinguisheth the ordinary imaginations of the soul so doth her ordinary imaginations or sense or both hinder the animadversion of the impresses of Semele But particular imaginations and the vigour of sense weakened or extinct in sleep or near death the energies of the soul of the world are then more perceptible probably even in the very spirit of our body as well as in the naked soul hence come prophetick dreams and true predictions before death But to go back to the apprehensions of Psyche Every sensible object and every sensitive and imaginative act appear before her and whatsoever is in her sight is also in the sight of Aeon Because the union betwixt Aeon and Psyche is much more near then between Psyche and the Mundane spirit And whatsoever is represented in Aeon is also clearly in the view of Ahad by reason of the unexpresseable close unity of these two so that Ahad knowes every individuall thing and motion as clearly nay more clearly then any mortall eye can view any one thing let it look never so steddily on it Thus the thoughts of all mens minds and motions of heart arise up into the sight and presence of the all-comprehending Divinity as necessarily and naturally as reek or fume of frankincense rouls up into the open air For the spirit of the Lord fills all the world and that which conteineth all things hath knowledge of the voyce yea of the outward shape gestures and thoughts too Wisd 1 7. Nor is Eternity changed or obscured by the projection of these low shadows For infinite animad version can discern all things unmixtly and undisturbedly not at all loosing it self though gaining nothing by the sight of inferiour things Nor can I assent to that passage in Plotin taken in one sense nor is it I think necessary to take it in that sense the words are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is But that such a kind of inclining himself to himself being as it were his energie and abode in himself makes him to be what he is the contrary supposed doth argue For if he should incline to that which is without him he would lose that being which he is But this is to be considered that God being infinitely infinite without stooping or inclining can produce all things and view alwayes his work keeping his own seat that is himself for so saith the Philosopher in another place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is That Intellect or On or the Intellectuall world is the first energie of God is the first substance from him he abiding in himself See Plotin Ennead 6. lib. 8. cap. 16. also Ennead 1. lib. 8. c. 2. But now to take a short view of what I have runne through in my notes on this Canto Ahad Aeon Psyche the Platonick Triad is rather the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Divinity rather then the Deity For God is but one indivisible unmovable self-born Unity and his first born creature is Wisdome Intellect Aeon On or Autocalon or in a word the Intellectuall world whose measure himself is that is simple and perfect Goodnesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is For he is without need self-sufficient wanting nothing the measure and term of all things yielding out of himself Intellect or On and Psyche And speaking
self-sensednesse See Plotin Ennead 5. lib. 1. cap. 1. where he saith the first cause of evil to the soul was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they would be their own or of themselves So delighted with this liberty they were more and more estranged till at last like children taken away young from their parents they in processe of time grew ignorant both of themselves and of their parents SANZ 29. Duessa first invented Magick lore Duessa is the naturall life of the body or the naturall spirit that whereby we are lyable to Magick assaults which are but the sympathies and antipathies of nature such as are in the spirit of the world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The true Magick saith he is nothing else but the concord and discord in the Universe and he viz. the the world is the first Magician and Enchanter others do but learn of him by imitation wherefore they that are established in a principle above the world and are strong in God which are the true and perfect Israel are exempt from the danger of this Enchantment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For neither Astrall spirit nor Angel can prevail against one ray of the Deity as Aesculapius writes to King Ammon Plotinus soul was come to that high and noble temper that he did not onely keep off Magicall assaults from himself but retorted them upon his enemy Olympius which Olympius himself who practised against him did confesse to be from the exalted power of his soul Porphyr de Vita Plot. STANZ 30. Ten times ten times ten The number of ten among the ancients called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is an emblem of perfection for it comprehends all numbers sith we are fain to come back again to one two c. when we are past it So that ten may go for perfection of parts in the holy life but the raising of it into a cube by multiplication perfection of degrees in a solid and unshaken manner STANZ 33 Amoritish ground 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Philo interprets 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and it is indeed from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dixit the Land of talkers STANZ 34. Psittacusa land id est the land of talkers or Parots See Don Psittaco Intepret Gen. STANZ 35. Ther 's no Society c. This Stanza briefly sets out the Beironites condition as concerning their Society and friendship the bond whereof and exercise is either feasting and tippling or a complacency in the well-favourednesse of this mortall body or some astrall concordance or hidden harmony of spirits which also often knits in wedlock those that are farre enough from beauty Vers 2. But beastlike grazing c. Aristotle defines very well and like a Philosopher the genuine society that should be among men viz. in the communication of reason and discourse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For that in men is right society and not as in beasts to graze in the same pasture Moral Nicom lib. 9. cap. 8. How unlike to these Beironites was the divine communialty of Pythagoras followers as Iamblicus describes it de vita Pythag. lib. 1. cap. 33. not onely supplying friendly one another in the necessities of life but mutually cherishing in one another the divine life of the soul and maintaining an inviolable concord in the best things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For they often admonished one another not to dissipate the Deity in them Wherefore their friendship wholly in words and works seemed to aim at a kind of commixtion and union with God and communion with the divine Intellect and Soul STANZ 136. The swelling hatefull toad This Stanza sets out the nature of each Beironite singly considered by himself which is referable to some bird or beast who are sometime lightly shadowed out even in their very countenances STANZ 137. None in Beiron virtuously do live True virtue I make account is founded in true knowledge of God in obedience and self-deniall without which those seeming virtuous dispositions are but mockvirtues no other then are found in some measure among the brutes Vers 9. If outward form you pierce For as Cicero from Plato saith Mens cujusque is est quisque The soul is the man not the outward shape If she live therefore but the life of a Brute if her vitall operation her vigorous will and complacency be that which a Beast likes I cannot see that she is any more then a living Brute or a dead Man or a Beast clad in mans cloths See the 48. Stanza of this Canto STANZ 138 139. From the 34. Stanz to the 138. are the Religion Polity Freindship or familiar Society and single natures of the Beironites set out Here now begins the discovery of the way of escape from this bruitish condition which is by obedience Now obedience consists in these two Self-deniall Autaparnes and Patience Hypomone Obedience discovers to us the doore of passage out of this pure brutality viz. Humility For it is self-conceit and high presumption that we are all well and wise already that keeps us in this base condition STANZ 144. The young mans speech caus'd sad perplexity c. That a man in confuso or in generall is more easily drawn to entertain obedience but when it is more punctually discovered to him in self-denyall and patience it is nothing so welcome STANZ 146. For understanding of this Stanza see Autaparnes in the Interpr Gen. as also in the 64 65 66 67. Stanz of the third Canto of this book STANZ 147. Into Atuvus life doth melt Ice so long as it is is a thing distinct suppose from the Ocean but once melt by the warmth of the Sunne it becomes one with the rest of the sea so that no man can say at least not perceive it is different from the sea This state of union with God Plotinus as all things else describes excellently well 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wherefore then the mind neither sees nor seeing discerns nor phansies too but as it were become another not her self nor her own is there and becoming His is one with Him as it were joyning centre with centre Ennead 6. lib. 9. cap. 10. And that this may not seem a Chimoera I will annex what the noble Philosopher writes of his own experience Ennead 4. lib. 8. cap. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. I often awaking out of the body into my self and being without all things but within my self do then behold an admirable beauty and become confident of my better condition having then so excellent a life and being made one with the Deity in which I being placed do set my self above all other Intellectuall beings But after this my station and rest in God descending out of Intellect into reason I am perplext to think both how I now descend and how at first my soul entred this body she being such as she appeared to be by her self although being in the body Such an union as this that Plotinus professeth himself to have been acquainted with though it be the thing
are gallant lights and a noble spirit moves in those Philosophers vains and so near-Christianisme if a man will look on them favourably that one would think they are baptized already not onely with water but the holy Ghost But I not seeing humility and self-denyall and acknowledgement of their own unworthinesse of such things as they aimed at nor mortification not of the body for that 's sufficiently insisted upon but of the more spiritual arrogative life of the soul that subtill ascribing that to our selves that is Gods for all is Gods I say I not seeing those things so frequently and of purpose inculcated in their writings thought I might fitly make their Philosophy or rather the life that it doth point at for that 's the subject of this Poem a Type of that life which is very near to perfection but as yet imperfect having still a smack of arrogation and self-seeking But believe it a man shall often meet with frequent Testimonies of their charity and universall love of meeknesse and tranquillity of mind of common care of men of hearty forgivenesse of offences Temperance Justice and contempt of death are obvious and triviall also their Prayer to God and belief that he helps both in finding out of Truth and improvement of Virtue So that I reserve as the true and adequate Character of Christianisme the most profound and spirituall humility that any man can have experience of and a perfect self-deadnesse which is the begetter indeed of the former For where selfenesse is extinguished all manner of arrogation must of necessity be extinct and this is the passage through the valley of Ain So that it must be acknowledged that though there have been many brave and generous lights risen upon the Earth yet none so plainly perfect so purely amiable and lovely as that sweet life of the Messias to whom the possession of the World is promised STANZ 59. Vers 7 8 9. True fortitude that truest foes doth aw Justice and abstinence from sweetest ill And wisedome like the Sunne doth all with light orespill This ravishing beauty and love is lively set out by Plotinus lib. 6. cap. 5. Ennead 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And when you behold your selves beautifull within How are you affected How are you moved and ravished and gathering your selves from your bodies desire more nearly and closely to embrace your naked selves For thus are they affected that are truely amorous when they either contemplate in themselves or behold in others that gallantry and greatnesse of soul that constant garb of Justice pure and undefiled Temperance manly and awfull-eyed Fortitude Gravity and Modesty gently mooving in all peaceable stillnesse and steddy Tranquillity and a god-like Understanding watering and varnishing all these Virtues as it were with golden showers of lustre and light STANZ 63. But Autaparnes wox more wan and wo c. See Autaparn Interpr Gen. STANZ 66. This dale hight Ain c. This valley of Ain is nothing else but self deadnesse or rather self-nothingnesse wherefore the fume rising thence must needs be Anautesthesie that is self-senslesnesse no more feeling or relishing a mans self as concerning himself then if he were not at all STANZ 67. Here Autaparnes c. See Autaparn Interpr Gen. Notes upon Psychathanasia Lib. 1. Canto 1. STANZ 10. Like men new made contriv'd into a Cave SEE Jamblich Protrept cap. 15. STANZ 12. Vers 4. Calling thin shaddows c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Merc. Trismeg 6. STANZ 16. This Errors den The condition of the soul in this life is so disadvantagious to her that the Philosopher in the 3. Chapter of the 8 Book of his 4. Ennead falleth into these expressions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That the body is but a prison and sepulchre to the soul and this World a Den and Cave Vers 6. As deep as Hyles Hell The Materia prima such as the schools ordinarily describe Else where Hyle signifieth mere potentiality STANZ 17. That loves the body c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jambliâ—h Protrept cap. 3. pag. 80. Also Plat. Phaed. STANZ 18. Th' unthankefull Stagirite There is notorious testimony of Aristotles pride conceitednesse and unthankfulnesse towards Plato Aelian Var. Histor lib. 3. cap. 19. as also lib. 4. cap. 9. The Title of that Chapter is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of Plato's humility and Aristotles ingratitude Vers 3. Most men prefer 'fore holy Py thagore See Jamblich De Vita Pythag. where the purity and holinesse of his spirit is sufficiently evidenced from the Character of his manners cap. 2. pag. 30. where it is said that what ever he did or spake he did it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with inimitable serenity and sedarenesse of mind never surpriz'd with anger laughter zeal contention or any other precipitancy or perturbation STANZ 21. Love of the Carcas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wherefore the love of Mortality is the Mother of Ignorance especially in divine things for we cannot cleave to both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mercur. Trismeg 4. pag. 21. Vers 9. Here will true wisedome lodge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Paemandr pag. 7. Cant. 2. STANZ 5. Or like a Lamp c See Plotin ' Ennead 4. lib. 1. cap. 8. 12. STANZ 24. Withouten body having energie 'T is the opinion of Plotinus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ennead 4. lib. 1. STANZ 57. But if 't consist of points then a Scalene I 'll prove all one with an Isosceles c. If quantity consists of Indivisibles or Atoms it will follow that a Scalenum is all one with an Isosceles c. Before I prove this and the following conclusions it will be necessary to set down some few Axioms and Definitions Axioms 1. That a Line hath but two ends 2. That Lines that consist of an equall number of Atoms are equall 3. That it is indifferent where we pitch upon the first Line in a superficies so that we fill the whole Area with Lines parallell to what first we choose 4. That no Motion goeth on lesse then an Atom at a time or the breadth of a Mathematicall Line Definitions 1. An Isosceles is a Triangle having two equall sides 2. A Scalenum is a Triangle having all sides unequall Theorem 1. That a Scalenum and an Isosceles be all one Let ABC be a Scalenum The same ABC is also an Isosceles For fill the whole Area ABC with Lines parrallell to AC by the 3. Axiom There is then as many points in BA as in BC by the 1. Axiom and therefore by the second BA is equall to BC. and consequently by the 1. Definition ABC is an Isosceles Appendices The same reason will prove 1. That every Triangle is an Isopleuron or equilaterall Trirngle 2. That the Diametre of a Quadrangle is equall to any of its sides 3. That the Chord of a segment of a Circle is equall to the Ark c. Vers 4. That the crosse Lines of a Rhomboids That from their meeting to all corners presse be
inward single thought or apprehension is any thing but matter and matter is nothing Lower man The lower man is our enquickned body into which our soul comes it being fully prepared for the receiving of such a guest The manner of the production of souls or rather their non-production is admirably well set down in Plotinus See Ennead 6. l. 4. c. 14.15 Lypon from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sorrow M MAgicall that is attractive or commanding by force of sympathy with the life of this naturall world Melampronoea the black side of providence Memory Mundane memory Is that memory that is seated in the Mundane spirit of man by a strong impression or inustion of any phantasme or outward sensible object upon that spirit But there is a memory more subtill and abstract in the soul it self without the help of this spirit which she also carries away with her having left the body Michael who like unto God from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 similitudinis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deus Moment Sometimes signifies an instant as indivisible as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which in motion answers to an instant in time or a point in a line Arist. Phys In this sense I use it Psychathan lib. 3. cant 2. stanz 2.16 But in a moment Sol doth ray But Cant. 3. stanz 45. vers 2. I understand as also doth Lansbergius by a moment one second of a minute In Antipsych Cant. 2. stanz 10. vers 2. by a moment I understand a minute or indefinitely any small time Monad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Unitas the principle of all numbers an embleme of the Deity And the Pythagoreans call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God It is from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stable and immovable a firme Cube of it self One time one time one remains still one See Ahad Monocordia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Single-heartednesse Mundane Mundane spirit is that which is the spirit of the world or Universe I mean by it not an Intellectuall spirit but a fine unfixt attenuate subtill ethereall substance the immediate vehicle of plasticall or sensitive life Myrmecopolis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the city or polity of Pismires N NEurospast 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Puppet or any Machina that's mov'd by an unseen string or nerve O OGdoas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 numerus octonarius the number of eight Omniformity the omniformity of the soul is the having in her nature all forms latent at least and power of awaking them into act upon occasion On 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The being Orb. Orb Intellectuall is nothing else but Aeon or the Intellectuall world The Orbs generall mentioned Psychathan lib. 1. cant 3. stanz 23. vers 2. I understand by them but so many universall orders of being if I may so terme them all for Hyle hath little or nothing of being Out-World and Out Heaven The sensible World the visible Heaven P PAndemoniothen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all from the devill viz. all false perswasions and ill effects from them Panoply 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Armour for the whole body Pantheothen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All from God Which is true in one sense false in another You 'll easily discern the sense in the place you find the word This passage of Pantheothen contains a very savory and hearty reproof of all be they what they will that do make use of that intricate mystery of fate and infirmity safely to guard themselves from the due reprehensions and just expostulations of the earnest messengers of God who would rouse them out of this sleep of sin and stir them up seriously to seek after the might and spirit of Christ that may work wonderfully in their souls to a glorious conquest and triumph against the devill death and corruption Parallax 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the difference betwixt the true and seeming place of a star proceeding from the sensible difference of the centre and the height of the superficies of the earth in reference to the star and from the stars declining from the Zenith Parelies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are rorid clouds which bear the image of the Sunne Parturient See Vaticinant Penia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Want or poverty Perigee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is that absis or ark of a Planets circle in which it comes nearer to the earth Periphere Peripheria it is the line that terminates a circle Phantasie Lower phantasie is that which resides in the Mundane spirit of a man See Memory Phantasme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 any thing that the soul conceives in it self without any present externall object Philosomatus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a lover of his body Phobon from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fear Phrenition anger impatiency fury from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 phrensie or madnesse Ira furor brevis est Physis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nature vegetative Pithecus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Ape Pithecusa the land of Apes Plastick 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is that efformative might in the seed that shapes the body in its growth Protopathy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is a suffering or being affected at first that is without circulation If any man strike me I feel immediately because my soul is united with this body that is struck and this is protopathy If the air be struck aloof of I am sensible also of that but by circulation or propagation of that impression into my eare and this is deuteropathy See Deuteropathy Proteus Vertumnus changeab lenesse Psittaco Don Psittaco from Psittacus a Parot a bird that speak significant words whose sense notwithstanding it self is ignorant of The Dialogue betwixt this Parot and Mnemon sets out the vanity o◠superficiall conceited Theologasters that have but the surface and thin imagination of divinity but truly devoid of the spirit and inward power of Christ the living well-spring of knowledge and virtue and yet do pride themselves in prattling and discoursing of the most hidden and abstruse mysteries of God and take all occasions to shew forth their goodly skill and wonderfull insight into holy truth when as they have indeeed scarce licked the outside of the glasse wherein it lies Psittacusa the land of Parots Psychania the land of Souls Psyche 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Soul or spirit Psychicall Though 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be a generall name and belongs to the souls of beasts and plants yet I understand by life Psychicall such centrall life as is capable of Aeon and Ahad Pteroessa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the land of winged souls from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a wing Q QUadrate A figure with foure equall sides and foure right angles The rightnesse of the angles is a plain embleme of erectnesse or uprightnesse of mind The number of the sides as also of the angles being pariter par that is equall divisible to the
utmost unities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is in Aristotle intimates equity or justice The sides are equall one with another and so are the angles and the number of the sides and angles equall one with another Both the numbers put together are a number pariter par again and constitute the first cube which is eight That adds steddinesse and persevererance in true justice and uprightnesse toward God and man Hypomone bears all this that is all that dolour and vexation that comes from the keeping our perverse heart to so strait and streight a rule Quantitative Forms quantitative are such sensible energies as arise from the complexion of many natures together at whose discretion they vanish That 's the seventh orb of things though broken and not filling all as the other do But if you take it for the whole sensible world it is intire and is the same that Tasis in Psychozoia But the centre of Tasis viz. the multiplication of the reall Cuspis of the Cone for Hyle that is set for the most contract point of the Cuspis is scarce to be reckoned among realities that immense diffusion of atoms is to be referred to Psyche as an internall vegetative act and so belongs to Physis the lowest order of life For as that warmth that the soul doth afford the body is not rationall sensitive or imaginative but vegetative So this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is liquid fire which Psyche sends out and is the outmost last and lowest operation from her self is also vegetative R RAyes. The rayes of an essence is its energie See Energie Reason I understand by Reason the deduction of one thing from another which I conceive proceeds from a kind of continuity of phantasmes and is something like the moveing of a cord at one end the parts next it rise with it And by this concatenation of phantasms I conceive that both brutes and men are moved in reasonable wayes and methods in their ordinary externall actions Reduplicative That is reduplicative which is not onely in this point but also in another having a kind of circumscribed ubiquity viz. in its own sphear And this is either by being in that sphear omnipresent it self as the soul is said to be in the body tota in toto tota in qualibet parte or else at least by propagation of rayes which is the image of it self and so are divers sensible objects Reduplicative as light colours sounds And I make account either of these wayes justly denominate any thing spiritual Though the former is most properly at least more eminently spirituall And whether any thing be after that way spirituall saving the Divinity there is reason to doubt For what is intirely omnipresent in a sphear whose diametre is but three foot I see not why that in the circumference being as fresh and intire as that in the centre it should stop there and not proceed even in infinitum if the circumference be still as fresh and entire as the centre But I define nothing Rhomboides is a parallelogrammicall figure with unequall sides and oblique angles S SCalen a triangle with all sides unequall Self reduplicative See Reduplicative Semele Imagination from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imago Simon intimates obedience from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 obedivit Solyma or Salem from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peace Soul when I speak of mans soul I understand that which Moses saith was inspired into the body fitted out and made of Earth by God Gen. 2. which is not that impeccable spirit that cannot sinne but the very same that the Platonists call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a middle essence betwixt that which they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and we would in the Christian language call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the life of the body which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a kind of an umbratil vitalitie that the soul imparts to the body in the enlivening of it That and the body together we Christians call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the suggestions of it especially in its corrupt estate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And that that which God inspired into Adam was no more then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the soul not the spirit though it be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spiraculum vitae is plain out of the text because it made man but become a living soul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But you will say he was a dead soul before and this was the spirit of life ye the spirit of God the life of the soul that was breathed into him But if 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imply such a life and spirit you must acknowledge the same to be also in the most stupid of all living creatures even the fishes whose soul is as but salt to keep them from stinking as Philo speaks for they are said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chap. 1. v. 20.21 See 1. Cor. chap. 15. v. 45 46. In breif therefore that which in Platonisme is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is in Scripture 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the brute or beast in the other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same in both Sperm It signifies ordinarily seed I put it for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the ratio seminalis or the invisible plasticall form that shapes every visible creature Spermaticall It belongs properly to Plants but is tranferred also to the Plasticall power in Animalls I enlarge it to all magnetick power whatsoever that doth immediately rule and actuate any body For all magnetick power is founded in Physis and in reference to her this world is but one Plant one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 giving it shape and corporeall life as in reference to Psyche one happy and holy Animall Spirit Sometimes it signifieth the soul othersometime the naturall spirits in a mans body which are Vinculum animae corporis and the souls vehicle Sometimes life See Reduplicative T TAgathon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Good the same with Hattove Tasis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 extension Tricentreity Centre is put for essence so Tricentreity must imply a Trinity of essence See Centre and Energie V VAticinant The soul is said to be in a vaticinant or parturient condition when she hath some kind of sense and hovering knowledge of a thing but yet cannot distinctly and fully and commandingly represent it to herself cannot plainly apprehend much lesse comprehend the matter The phrase is borrowed of Proclus who describing the incomprehensiblenesse of God and the desire of all things toward him speaks thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theolog. Platon lib. 1. cap. 21. See Psychathan lib. 3. cant 3. stanz 12. 14. Vranore The light or beauty of heaven from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pulchritudo Z ZAphon Aquilo The North. Zeus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jupiter from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 serveo or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
vivo THus have I run through the more obscure terms in the preceding Poems But for the many points a man may meet withall therein though I did heretofore make some sleight promise of speaking more determinately of them I hope I may without offence decline the performance as yet till I abound more with leasure and judgement For as I am certain I have little enough of the one so I can not but doubt Nature having lavished so much upon all men else even to the infallible Determining of mutuall contradictions whether I have got any share at all of the other But yet I hope without breach of modesty I may presume to understand the purpose of my own writings Which as I have heretofore signified was no other then this to stirre men up to take into their thoughts these two main considerations The heartie good will of God to mankind even in the life of this world made of the commixture of light and darknesse that he will through his power rescue those souls that are faithfull in this their triall and preferre the light before the dark that he will I say deliver them from the power of living Death and Hell by that strong arm of their salvation Jesus Christ the living God enthron'd in the heart of man to whom all the Genii of the Universe be they never so goodly and glorious shall serve They and all their curious devices and inventions shall be a spoil prey and a possession to Him that is most just and shall govern the nations in righteousnesse and equity And that beside this happinesse on earth every holy soul hereafter shall enjoy a never-fading felicity in the invisible and eternall Heaven the Intellectuall world Which if it be not true I must needs confesse it seems almost indifferent whether any creature be or no. For what is it to have lived suppose 70 years wherein we have been dead or worse above two third parts of them Sleep youth age and diseases with a number of poor and contemptible employments swallow up at least so great a portion that as good if not better is he that never was then he is that hath but such a glance or glimpse of passing life to mock him And although the succession of righteousnesse upon earth may rightly seem a goodly great and full spread thing and a matter that may bear an ample correspondencie even to the larger thoughts of a good and upright man yet to say the truth no man is capable of any large inheritance whose life and existence is so scant that he shall not be able so much as to dream of the least happinesse once seised on by death But there are continually on earth such numbers of men alive that if they liv'd well it would be an Heaven or Paradise But still a scant one to every particular man whose dayes are even as nothing So that the work of God seems not considerable in the making of this world if humane souls be extinguished when they go out of it You will say that those small particles of time that is thus scattered and lost among men in their successions are comprehended and collected in God who is a continuall witnesse of all things But alas what doth the perpetuall repetition of the same life or deiform Image throughout all ages adde to Him that is at once infinitely himself viz. good and happy So that there is nothing considerable in the creation if the rationall creature be mortall For neither is God at all profited by it nor man considerably And were not the Angels a great deal better employed in the beholding the worth of their Creatour then to deminish their own happinesse by attending those whom nothing can make happy looking on this troubled passing stream of the perishing generations of men to as little purpose almost as idle boyes do on dancing blebs and bubbles in the water What designe therefore can there be in God in the making of this world that will prove 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worthy of so excellent a goodnesse and wisdome but the triall of the immortall spirit of man It seems the deepest reach of his counsell in the creation and the life of this world but a prelude to one of longer durance and larger circumference hereafter And surely it is nothing else but the heavy load of this body that keeps down our mind from the reaching to those so high hopes that I may not say from a certain sense and feeling of that undisturbd state of immortality And thus much I have ventured to speak boldly without Scepticisme in Faith and Sense that the first Principle of all things is living Goodnesse armd with Wisdome all-powerfull Love But if a mans soul be once sunk by evil fate or desert from the sense of this high and heavenly truth into that cold conceit that the Originall of things doth lie either in shuffling Chance or in that stark root of unknowing Nature and brute Necessity all the subtile cords of Reason without the timely recovery of that divine touch within the hidden spirit of man will 〈…〉 â—ack out of that abhorred pit of Atheisme and Infidelity So much better is Innocency and Piety then subtile Argument and earnest and sincere Devotion then curious Dispute FINIS Errata Pag. Stanz lin Pro Lege 12 43 9 Hiddenly Hiddeâ— lie 15 56 1 censent concent 22 20 2 weight wight 22 20 5 Can make Can wake 37 79 7 Countrey-speech Counterspeech 46 125 9 preceed proceed 58 21 5 There lives There lies 81 3 1 eanst canst 97 11 8 wild mild 126 17 8 truths truth 's 142 11 6 So he gins so she 'gins 145 24 4 Nor part Not part 153 57 6 Wrapt Rapt 162 30 7 binds It binds 175 5 8 for 't is for 'ts 194 14 1 conpissate conspissate 199 33 3 possession position 203 48 9 debare debarre 212 84 1 these their 242 4 4 though through 246 20 2 stell well 260 19 9 night wight 260 20 3 over oft overmost 264 36 7 of thy to thy 286 6 4 tosse touze 314  33 two efficious too officious 318  21 Haec Venus Haec Venus 322  17 vivica vivifica 340  32 Stanz 5. Stanz 15. 341  26 Stanz Vers 346  18 Stanz 59. Stanz 49. 368  4 Stanz 28. Stanz 38. 369  3 Stanz 50. Stanz 51. 383  24 Stanz Stanz 2. 388  8 Stanz 84. Stanz 48. 412  17 Omnipotency Omnipraesency