Cocker's Morals OR THE MUSES Spring-Garden Adorned with many Sententious Disticks Poems In ALPHABETICAL ORDER Fitted for the Use of all Publick and Private Grammar and Writing Schools for the Scholars of the first to turn into Latin and for those of the other to Transcribe into all their various and curious Hands Omne Bonum Dei Donum By Edward Cocker Practitioner in the Arts of Writing Arithmetick and Engraving and published for the benefit of Learners London Printed for Thomas Drant at the Ship in St. Mary Axe and T. L. at the Golden Lyon near the Meal-Market in Southwark Stationer 1675. To my Honoured FRIEND Mr. ELEAZAR WIGAN That Famous Writing-Master Living at the Hand and Pen on Great Tower-Hill LONDON TO you you rare Commander of the Quill Whose Wit and Worth deep Learning and high Skil Speak you the Honour of Great Tower-Hill How said I Honour of Great Tower-Hill Yea all Great London all the World your Skill Will with excessive admiration fill To You th' ensuing Verses I present Whose great Imployments prudent Management Proclaims your Skill and Conduct Excellent Crown them with Rayes of your auspitious Sight Survey them first then let them take their flight For every Learner's profit and Delight Thus round the World you will Vrania send Thus will her spreading Wings your Fame extend And thus you will endear your real Friend Edward Cocker To the Reader IF here you meet with any worthless Line Humanum est errare Stamps it mine But if you find here any Worthy Line It from a Fountain flows that's more Divine So Read as to commit to Memory All Sentences worthy that Treasury And so remember all as that you may In season practice them and so display Their Influence as Honour may redound To GOD and you may be with profit crown'd AGAIN SOme in compendious Epigrams shew forth With charming Artifice their Wit and Worth Some with rich Lines and Emblems well design'd At once affect the Readers Eye and Mind Some in Soul-pleasing Pastorals do prove How Coridon did Amarillis love Some high flown Brains in lofty Strains indite The amazing terrours of some horrid Fight Some with Satyrick lashes of the Pen Anatomize the vicious Lives of men Some with Historick Lines their Readers please Relating Feats and Fights on Land and Seas Some with high Raptures fitted to the Lyre Ingenious Readers well-pleas'd Souls inspire Some with Heroick Strains of noblest kinds And choicest Theams inflame their Readers Minds Some which beyond the rest deserve the Bays Wisely exalt their great Creators Praise With many more whose varions rare Inventions Delight their own and others Apprehensions But I the last and least strive to teach Youths Good Manners and inrich their Minds with truths Edward Cocker A A Christians noblest Ensign is the Cross And all things to belief in Christ are dross Alas what are the Best of Human Race Till their rude Natures are improv'd by Grace All Arts by powerful Industry are gain'd And by continu'd Exercise retain'd Affection make your Servant Will your Slave Passion your Drudge you 'r then a Prince most brave A love to Learning is th' unfailing Clue That leads us Learnings Rarities to view Advance your Plumes be bold yet humbly wise Thus high you may stand firm and low arise A faithful Friend is as the Phoenix rare And who can find where two such Creatures are Action and Virtue if we separate They both into the Aire evaporate Abhor to Navigate in troubled Seas And hate the Company of Sloath and Ease A good Effect may spring from a bad Cause Both cross to Reasons and to Natures Laws Accept a Courtesie at first Rebound And wait not till a second may be found Arithmetick scorning all Bounds and Bars Transcends Earths Sands in numbers and Heavens Stars As by degrees ill Customes have been taken So by degrees they best may be forsaken Ascend not Honours Alpes the price is small Tempt not the danger of a dreadful Fall Although we know our Steps would lead to Woe We find it hard not in those steps to goe Action thou Queen of Virtues what high Praise What Trophies to thy Honour shall I raise It far transcends Man's skill thy Worth to rate All those who Love not Thee their own Souls hate All famous Monuments beneath the Skie Thy Excellence commend and magnifie A healthful Temper you may best advance By Moderation and wise Temperance At other Mens enjoyments to Repine What augmentation will it prove to thine As Tygres vex'd their Spots more plain appear So Men provok'd their Passions Domineer Amendment of concernment is to all Virtues vast Columnes but for this would fall A Suretie is a sure tie he 's most sure Who is from Bonds and Surety-Ship secure Ambition and Presumption mount Men high But if they fall the more 's their misery Abstain from Creature-Comforts all you can And that 's the way to prove a happy Man Amazing heights fondly aspire not to Fools mount and fall the Wise walk safe below Act nothing but what you may safely own And what you need not blush at being known At smallness of Estate never Repine He that hath less would gladly change for thine Artists invested with rare Skill and worth Scorn that their Tongues the same should trumpet forth Always with Honour Fear and Reverence Meditate on th' Immense Omnipotence Adorn your Place if entertain'd in Trust By being Impartial Diligent and Just All you that in fair Writing would excell How much you write regard not but how Well A Gift with a sweet violence entrance makes And the deceiv'd Receiver Captive takes At Board accept what your Friend 's pleas'd to Carve Observe not hastily your self to serve A man would strange to view the distances Of Promises and their Performances A Tongue that 's now rough as the coursest File Can in a moment be more smooth than Oile Always contend not do not always strive For sometimes to Retreat is to Retrive All Scholars these three Lessons much concern Grace and good Manners with a will to learn A Christian contemplating things Divine Enjoys a Pasgah-Sight of Palestine Assume a noble Resolution strain Your Faculties rare Sciences to gain Amorous Embracements and Adulterous fires Abhor and quench hate all but chast desires Arithmetician make your Art appear Compute your Sins Sum-Total for a Year All rare Projections sink though nobly high Projectors wanting Chink for their supply All our Designs in this vain World should tend To future-Hopes this Life will quickly end Affection with Instruction and Direction Are the Renowned Handmaids of Perfection Against that time when Death and Time must die Resigning all up to Eternitie Most solemnly prepare that you may stand Amongst the ever blest on Christ's right hand All God's Commandments are Divinely pure By keeping them men keep their Souls secure Art rarifies the Mind and various wayes Improves dull Nature to JEHOVA's Praise All things are mutable beneath the Skie And nothing constant but
Inconstancie A lofty Countenance a Soul far more sublime God gave Man Heav'n to view and its vast height to climb All you that would Write fair mind this Design Still to improve in every Word and Line Here hast makes wast of Paper Ink and Time And something in Opinion more Sublime The All-commanding Coin and who would wast All these at once by making too much hast Aim at Arts Altitude aspire ascend Acquire assume accomplish and amend Actions Superlatively Excellent Render their noble Authors Eminent Arithmetick let a Man understand And after that Geometry command Then let him turn Astronomer and prove How many Stars are fix'd how many move Next a Geographer Earths Globe survey The long-sought unfound Longitude Display Apollo's Lyre next let him take in hand And all the high Soul-charming Aires command Yea let him have all Arts all are but Smoke To him that has no mony in his Poke B BY sad Experience this is known to some Who hate Instruction to Destruction come Bad Company as Pestilential Aire You 'd shun did you but know how bad it were Brave and Heroick are the Acts of those Who no man better than themselves suppose Before you undertake consider well And then resolve next in Dispatch excel Be wise betimes and strive in all that 's thine That evermore the Golden Mean may shine By Pen or Pensil who to mortal Eye Can represent Immense Eternity By squeesing Wax and their Names writing some From wealth to want cavete soon have come Brave Virtues Emanations charm the Eyes Of all that are sincerely Good and Wise Best Precepts are Examples for some teach By words what their best Actions cannot reach Yet though like Trumpeters they do not fight They others to the Battail do excite Beware of that sly Sycophant's Dogg-Tricks Who like a Spanniel flatters fawns and licks But small though seeming great will prove the prize That is obtain'd by Falsities and Lies By verbal sounds who makes his small parts famous But proves himself the greater Ignoramus Before Time calls to the dark silent Grave What we can do doth our Attention crave Behave your self neither too low nor high But so as best Suits with your Quality But Thirty and two Points the Sea-man finds Upon his Compass thousands have Mens minds Be good to all Men to the best be best Court Peace with no contentious Men contest Beasts by their Horns or Ears are taken when More to their harm Men by their Tongues take Men. Boast not of Features or a smooth clear skin But make your Gallant mind fair Virtues Inn. Be still a Lover of ingenious Pains For still the working hand the Penny gains Best of Examples with the best Direction Bring Learning-Loving-Learners to perfection Boreas tall Cedars buffets but low Shrubs Secure below defie his furious rubs By all Ingenious Men this is confest The way to Write best is to Read the best Be not like him who so far vainly strays That he 's asham'd to leave his wicked VVays But here and there we find a hopeful Lad That has no Inclination to be bad But here and there grows an Ingenious Plant That minds his Learning knowing Learnings want But what Arithmetician can compute The thousand part of Plants that bear no Fruit Blind Ignorance clear Informations need Let doubtful minds sound confirmations heed Brave Spirits when their Fortunes lowest run Should greatest seem like the declining Sun Baccus his Cheeks with laughing are full blown To see Men to such height of Folly grown By drinking others healths to lose their own But Sure the Great Creator of the Vine Never intended his heart-chearing Wine On purpose to transform Men into Swine Before you Set those brave Examples which The Christal Mirrours of the world appear By imitating Them your Self Inrich And prove another Star in Virtues Sphear This is the way base Vice to trample down And gain those Virtues which may gain Renown By Diligence we gain Intelligence Experience followes Source of Excellence Behold how Fortunes billowes curle and swell Mounting to Heav'n then plunging down to Hell Birth rears Man's Fabrick of Flesh Bones and Skin But Breeding furnishes the House within Beyond the Golden Mean strive not to go His wants are boundless whose desires are so C COunt that day lost whose low-descending Sunne Views from your hand no noble Action done Clear-sighted Reason and Sublimest Sence Submit their Crowns to Wisdoms Influence Contend not with a Man of greater power By Land and Sea the Great the Less devour Crown the Donations of thy Friends with Praise On thy own Donatives no Trophies raise Censure none rashly for not even the best Can humane Nature of her Faults devest Contend with none hotly with none debate But that a short War may long Peace create Compendious Sentences in those may breed To Virtue love who cannot Volumes read Can you believe it Scarce unless you see 't That a man's Tongue should bind his hands and feet Could we our passions and our vain Affections bridle We should not as we are be so extreamly idle Constancy brings forth Custome Custome grows Into a habit from whence Wisdom flows Close Secrecy and wary Subtilty Both Handmaids are to humane Policy Contaminated Minds mind Mundane things But Minds Serene mount with Celestial wings Common it is for men to loose their Reins To pleasures till those pleasures prove their pains Count God's Eternal WORD thy noblest Treasure Which read and practic'd yields Eternal pleasure CHRIST's Rules of Life will your Lifes life improve With Faith Truth Zeal Humilitie and Love Could blind Ambition Honours fate fore-see She would with gladness court a mean Degree Contentment's an Exhaustless Mine of Treasure Which Pens cannot compute no Lines lengths measure Chances and Changes Spring from providence Not from Vtopian Fortunes Influence Content who lives with Competent Estate Needs not to Court mens Love nor fear their hate The Worlds Grandees in higher Sphears do move Yet he 's more safe below than those Above Half what he has may with Contentment Serve While some in mid'st of Store contentless starve Cares seldome prove our Cures care not to care Cares oft prove Introductions to dispaire Clemency diffring Natures reconciles And melts down Grim Morosity with Smiles Courteous Behaviour and Expressions prudent Speak a young Man in Virtues School a Student Columens who cannot raise nor lofty Towers May Somthing build according to their powers Could we behold fair Virtues lovely Face And the Celestial Beauty of true Grace We should be All Enamour'd but we are Blind to all Heavenly Objects and our Care And the main Tendency of our Imployments Is the possession of Earths vain Enjoyments D DElight makes Man so light that he supposes When on sharp thorns he treads he trips on Roses Did Learners know how learning might advance Them they would love it and hate Ignorance Diligence gains Intelligence and they Experience gain to all rare Arts the way Despise not the least peice of
Art that may In usefulness its Excellence display Divine success thy Votaries we are How soon thy smiles resucitate from care Do nothing rashly Rashness nume'rous ways The rash Attempter to Contempt betrays Despair Damnation leads in Chains and brings Thousands of Scorpions with Soul-vexing stings Depressed Virtue like the Palm opprest Raises more high her Heaven saluting Crest Dangers lie dormont oft till circumspection Be lost and then reduce us to subjection Divine Contentment's an exhaustless store He that 's content complains not that he 's poor Despise not Mortals of a mean Estate Since ignorant you are of your own Fate Destruction gapes for those who hate Instruction But love to Learning's Wisdoms Introduction Drink Dice and Drabs three dange'rous Dees do call For a fourth D which fourth is worst of all Depend on others promises with hope When you of Sand can make a Cable Rope Did we but know our nearness to the Grave What Thoughts what Cogitations should we have Defer not till to morrow to Essay What worthy Acts you can perform to day Did all men by consent give Peace her Soveraigntie Such as th' Emperial Heav'n this lower world might be Disdain not such as are with Virtues crown'd They are or shall or ought to be renown'd Dispraise cannot depress nor Commendations Mount wise mens constant Minds above their Stations Directions and Instructions of the wise Beyond fine Gold or choicest Jewels prize Discretion Engines and choice Rules prepares Whereby to regulate your just Affairs Desire is a vast boundless Ocean Which still is boyling still in motion found And all the Lines made since Sol's Race began Spliced into one would prove too short to sound This bottomless and shoreless Sea few here Do Navigate that by the Compass Steere E EXtreams produce Extreams Extreams avoid Extreams without Extreams are not enjoy'd Exalted Notions mounted on Wits wings With florid Strains are acceptable Things But solid Reason and sound Sence the wise Beyond Youth-pleasing Airy Trifles prize Encomiums sweet or fourest Calumnies Alike are to the Virtuous and Wise Embrace all opportunities to day Time Tide and Carriers will for no man stay Even then when Age Death's summons must obey Most greedily the Dust hoards up the Clay Exalted thought on Contemplations Wings Soar up to the Sublimitie of Things Experience is the Clue whereby we may Find thorough Arts puzling Labyrinths the Way Expand your Souls rare Faculties that all May honour their Immense ORIGINAL Earths Quintessence we in contentment find Contentment is a Kingdom to the Mind Easier and sooner Learning 's lost than gain'd If by fresh Applications not maintain'd Every swift-wing'd moment in the day Carries its length of our short Life away Extreamly much that man himself forgets Who by new wrangling thinks to pay old debts Estates to gain men toyle and break their Rest But Competency with Content is Best Endeavour so to live and so to dye As to enjoy a blest Eternity Easie it is to write but to write well Is very hard much harder to Excel Envy and Emulation are two things For Emulation Spurs but Envy Stings Extreams produce Extreams the Brood of Vice Can multiply to Legions in a trice Eumenes would to no man yield the praise Of Valour while his Arm his Sword could raise Endeavour to suppress Domestick Jars For Civil are the most uncivil Wars Envies curst brood their own Tormenters are While those most envy'd still the better fare Endeavour still that your Capacious Mind May with the most Essential parts be lin'd Eternal Happiness is gain'd in Time For when Time's Sand shall totally be run Then will there be no Virtues Hill to climbe Acts of Repentance cannot then be done O therefore All your Strength and Might apply In time to gain a bless'd ETERNITY F FRom God to Adam did choice Knowledge flow Which still descends to all his Sons below For Toys and Trifles we contend and fight And out Concerns far more Substantial Slight For were it better to be ignorant Than to be learned and true Grace to want Fix not your mind on Features Lips or Eyes But only love the Virtuous and Wise Fair Modest Wise let my Beloved be And let me live deserving such a She. Few need restraining Curbs in Virtues Race But most want Spur's to make them mend their pace Friends Books a chearful heart a Conscience cleare Are the most choice Companions we find here From a Foul heart assends to lying Lips A little Demon and from thence he skips From glozing Adulation keep your Tongue A smooth desembler cheats you with a Song Fair Wrighting then to Excellence doth rise Most when the Pen is most in Exercise Fools even at Schools Squander their time away As if they went only to learn to Play Fresh prosp'rous Gales their duty may perform Yet leave us to the mercy of a Storm For Profit and for Pleasure those great Ends The wiser sort delight in Books and Friends Fondly affect not a vain minutes breath But Wisely before Death prepare for Death From Labour Wine gives the hands liberty And sets the head on work most furiously Find Meat and Drink that will all Palates please My Lines shall Please all humours with like ease Fame of the noblest kind springs from these Sources Good Life Behaviour fair discreet Discourses Fierce Disputations Transportations prove And Disputants from sence and Truth remove From Orb to Orb a wise man can remove So cannot Planets which command above For Virtues sake now in your youthful prime Be a good Husband of your precious Time Make Action Mistris of your best Affections Court her She 's beautiful beyond objections She Crowns her Lovers with the best of things And gains them favour with the best of Kings For hopeful Youths that would be happy Men There lies a plenteous Portion in the Pen Which being by ingenious pains drawn forth Will shew to admiration it 's vast worth Pen Ink and Paper therefore soon provide And let them be Ingeniously apply'd Fair Writings Famous Universal Art The Pen 5 the Hand 4 the Eye 3 the Head 2 and Heart 1 Conceives 1 Promotes 2 Views 3 Moves 4 and does Impart5. G GRace with a Heavenly hand tunes Natures Harp And makes that Note a Mean which was a Sharp Gold makes an Adamantine Conscience soft And a soft Conscience turns to Flint as oft Great Debts require the greater care to pay Wise men provide against th' accompting day God in your thoughts retain with Reverence Whose works are all stupendious and Immense Go Run Ride Swim use every honest way Rather than Poverties Commands obey God distributes his Gifts as he sees fit He others gives more Wealth and thee more VVit God Mens desires denies them oft that they May be more happy in his heav'nly way God's Register the Conscience notes down all Our Actions just or unjust great or small God Essence gave to Heav'ns Expansed Frame And still sustaines maintains and rules the same Give him leave or
or your Graver Hath equal'd those strive to produce still braver Thus well resolv'd and keeping constant pace You may prove first in Arts renowned Race In Hells out-courts that wretched Soul appears Who lives a Slave to Jealousies and Fears If worse than we should prove our Generation Abomination will turn Recreation In dubious Matters prudent Counsel chuse This Solomon himself would not refuse If we gain Arts with industry 't is fair But to come see and overcome 't is rare If thy own Country be for thee too small Begin betimes to Travel o're Earth Ball. Imploy your Wisdom all your pow'rs apply In time to gain a blest ETERNITY If thy Friend flinches let that Friend therefore Come to thy Bosomes Cabinet no more Injustice offer not unto the just God will revenge they trust in whom they trust If every idle word requires account To what will Oaths and Blasphemies amount If some Lines want such Wit as you could wish Know we 're not bound to Sauce you every Dish In this Worlds Maze thousands of ways men run With full speed to undo or be undon If other men with Arts and Parts out-vie Strive to transcend them all in Industrie If Elegantly how to Write you 'd know Read such Composures as are written so If men by sinning any Good could win They would not want it for the want of Sin If to be cheated you no Stomach have Mens Deeds not words your best attention crave In hot Disputes men strain Mouthe and rant high Striving for Victory not VERITY In greatest Calms for greatest Storms prepare Wisdom's Grand Admonition is Beware If our Lifes Glass could thousand Ages run Yet at the last those thousands would be don If Portion to thy parts Proportion bears Give Thanks to him who gives to all their Shares In his own presence no man's Praise proclaim Nor In his absence any one defame If your hand works not to procure a Stock 'T is ten to one but it your Mouth will mock If you would conquer your Souls Mortal Foes To armed Vices Virtues arm'd oppose In Choice and Judgment he Extreamly errs Who Strangers before well-known Friends prefers Imployment prove Improvement of our parts And Practice gains Experience in all Arts. Into Arts Labyrinths or Natures Pry Be bold Beneath but not above the Skie Is your State low would you to Riches soar Abandon all those ways that made you Poor If you intend to help a Friend at Need Do it with all Imaginable Speed If by fair Promises you Friends do gain Let fair performances those Friends maintain If Industry produces Excellence VVe multiply't to Quantities Immense It is not for the want of Negligence That many thousands want Arts Excellence If Nature gives Proportion and rare Beauty To match them with good Manners is your Duty If you Proportion want and are not fair Let Grace and Manners their defects repair Ill Will never speaks well curs'd Spleen and Spight VVere never Cordial Friends to Truth and Right If you so nobly cannot Act as you see another man do Boldly bravely quit your self by doing what you can do If the wise Gard'ner lays aside his Knife His Plants will riot in a vitious Life K KEep Company with Virtues true Relations Of uncontaminated Reputations Knowledge that puffs up the Possessor's mind Is evermore of a pernicious kind Knowing the way couragiously advance And shun Converse with Sons of Ignorance Know how to time your Business this Concern Puts thousands to a loss that are to Learn Know thy self first and then begin to Scan The imperfections of another Man Keep Company with Virtues true Relations Of uncontaminated Reputations Know all Mechanicks that for Riches strive To mind your Business is the way to thrive Keep up the Top-sail of your Reputation Let none out-sail you in your Occupation Knew you the worth of the Pens Excellence And how its Lovers it does Recompence And of what high Account Accompts do make Knowing accomptants then you Pains would take Both Night and Day play should aside be thrown To make these profitable Arts your own Knaves commonly for Fools do prove Providers Riches like head-strong Horses throw their Riders Keep Peace in thine own Breast who keeps this Road May bid defiance to all Wars abroad Know you not this vain Worlds Imperious Minion It is that All-commanding Quean Opinion Kindle no Flames of Strife he that loves Strife Hates peace the Comfort of a Christian Life Knaves are the Bane of their own Reputation The Pest and Caterpillers of a Nation Kind hearts are unkind only to themselves Whose Barks oft split on their own Rocks and Shelves Kidds may grow Goats so young Sins may grow old If you with Satans Baits dare be too bold Kick not nor Spurn at Government Inferiors Must live in due obedience to Superiors Keep at a distance from the Sons of Vice Once known endanger not your Souls health twice Knock hard at Mercies Gate and think no pains To hard nor time too long for such bless'd Gains Kindred in Friendships Orb but rarely move So certainly as Strangers linck'd in Love Keels ballasted with Gold from Ophir came To inrich wise Solomon and gild his Fame Kingdoms to Heav'ns Immensitie appear As Birds Neasts small compar'd to Kingdoms here Kill growing Vices for if they Controul They will destroy your Body and your Soul L Lovers of Learning learned soon will prove The half-way house to Learning is their love Let brave examples your prompt mind inspire To imitate what others most admire Learn so to live as not to fear to dye That you may dye to live Eternally Let us not soar too high nor sink too low But every one his proper Station know Let Order Measure and Proportion make All Actions noble which you undertake Labour proves light where true Delight attends Where Love begins Industry bravely ends Let no vain Pleasures your clear Reason blind And hate to seek what you abhor to find Love covers multitudes of Faults but hate Old Faults discovers and does new create Let 's not desirous be to live here long Or once to Act our old Sins o're again As we grow weak Diseases grow more strong And we complain because Complaints in Vain Fly from our troubled Breast O therefore let Us Earth discard and Heav'ns Assurance get Let all wild Worldlings this unto their Sence apply They most themselves enjoy who most themselves deny Love distant Climes unites in this we find It is not where the Man is but the Mind Let Esculape's wise Son who heals thy Wound Be with the Garland of thy Praises Crown'd Life lives in Temperance Intemperance Most of all Sins Death's Standard doth advance Lifes noblest Theory good Precepts are Examples shew Lifes practick part most rare Let Moderation your requests commend By thus demanding yo command your Friend Lines worded well and season'd well with Sence Have on Ingenious Minds great Influence Leave Youths to their own Conscience and then How soon think you
would they prove Learned Men. Learning and the choice Documents of Truth Should be infus'd into us in our Youth Like Tares with Wheat most Mens Expressions be Complements mixt with small Realitie Learning the Learned before Gold prefer Learning not Gold defies the Plunderer Long are we gaining of a small Excellence Which in short time is lost by Negligence Let me be just to all though I sustain Some Loss thereby that Loss will turn to Gain Looseness to Fastness is an Introduction Men Rant and please themselves into Distruction Learn now in your Minoritie those things That may in Age lend your Discretion Wings Let not the choicest Creature Comfort have The Power to denominate thee Slave Lament wild Youth your loss of Blooming Prime Lament your Parents pains their Cost and Care Lament the vain mis-spending of your time Lament th' unhappy State wherein you are Lament Lament because your Lamentation Except you timely turn and that even now Can firmly promise you no Restoration Of these lost Pearls whose price you do not know M MEn that are gen'rous humble just and Wise The Pageantry of the vain World despise Man's mind as Master should right reason have And evermore hold Passion as a Slave Men for this Worlds poor Riches are at strife Neglecting those of everlasting Life Merchants who plow the Foaming Main their main Concerns must mind nor slight the smallest Gain Most who are Rich and Great and can command Command Inferiours with Imperious hand Men Ignorant ascribe that Influence To Fortune which proceeds from Providence Mens promises by their performance measure Like Gypsies Knots they 'r fast or loose at pleasure Men oft at Banquets more advantage gain Than at those Battails where are thousands Slain Misfortunes seldom come alone but have Their followers as Wave rowls after Wave Many have vain Loquacitie lamented But none their prudent Silence have repented Mount mount brave Soul assend above the Spheres Of common reason and inferiour Sence Court Arts improve thy parts till there appears The Quintessence of their prime Excellence Many mean Persons might become Brave Gallants If prudently they would imploy their Talents Men who in verbal Sounds do least abound Are always found to be the most profound Millions of Inconveniences Surprize Us because we are our own Enemies Man's little little World transcends the Greater 'T is strange that this Compendium's the Compleater Man is a thing of nought yet from above There dart upon him such strong Rays of Love Like Sol's refulgent Beams that they refine His Rubbish Nature to a Golden Mine Much Reading much the insight does improve The Ey-sight too much Reading does not Love My Admonitions to my Loving Friend Shall for no End begin and have no End Men fain would be thought Virtuous though they Still Steer their Course the quite contrary way Men promise fair perform not in this Sence Exuberance is turn'd to Indigence Man's greatest Wealth lyes in contempt of Wealth And next to that his greatest Wealth is Health Mars his bold Son is for the Field or Sea An Academy is the Scholar's share The Tradesman in the City loves to stay The Country hath the Husband-mans chief Care The Marriner is for a Ship or Port And the gay Gallant glisters in the Court. Might we assend to Excellence sublime Without a careful management of Time Thousands would then to Excellence attain That are unworthy of one Dram or Grain But Excellence is seated on a Throne Above the reach of every Dunce and Drone Meum Tuum backt with hopes and Fears Have thousands set together by the Ears More confidently none themselves advance Than the unworthy Sons of Ignorance N NAture to Reasons School comes to be taught All the most curious works that can be wrought Nor Gold nor Pearls nor Gems of highest rate Can equalize a Self-conceited Pate Notional knowledge is of slender use That 's best which we to Practice can reduce Nectar Ambrosia and the Thespian Spring May all avant for Mony is the Thing Nor Fume nor Fret nor Stamp at things amiss That 's not the way to mend them Patience is No Rule no Line found out since time began Could Gauge or Fathom the vast heart of Man Nothing can more to my improvement tend Than the reprovement of a loving Friend Never do well that ill may come thereon Never do bad that good may thence accrue Never do ill that ill may thereupon A curs'd Effect from a curs'd Cause ensue But evermore do Good that Good from thence May Spring and Magnifie Heav'ns influence Noblest Examples with good Education Of Virtues Fabrick are the firm Foundation None others more defame or more advance Themselves than the blind Sons of Ignorance Nimble Prevention from a danger flyes But dull delay proves Slave to the Surprize None mourn the loss of transitory things But such as never heard that wealth has Wings No wonder if the best Men sometimes fail Since all are Mortal and their Natures frail Not many Words but few exprest in season Proclaim the Noble strength and force of Reason No kind so unkind to their Kind we find As Man-kind unto Man-kind is unkind No Crosses can so much our Passions move As those that Cross us in the Things we love Nor Bears nor Boars nor Wolves nor Tygres can Be more sharp Foes to Man than Man to Man No Chains so strong hath Fortune as can bind The inclinations of a Noble Mind Now Bend your mind fair Writing to attain Your present pains will prove your future Gain No Charm so powerful was ever known As Love to make anothers heart your own Not Riseing early nor our Working late Will do 't there is in things a secret Fate Not for dull gentle Readers but for those Who Read and practice we these Lines compose O OThers to Virtue Poets do excite By intermixing profit with Delight Of Mischief he shuns many a Rock and shelf Who learns betimes to learn to know himself One thing there is for which all men contest From Age to Age that is Self Interest On this Worlds Stage a wise man would not stay Longer than he can Act his part o' th' Play One moments pleasure brought an Inundation On all mankind of pain and lamentation One minutes Show'r of penetential Brine Transcends the Treasures of a Golden Mine Omission of good Works and the commission Of bad involve Men in a sad Commission One small Dram of good Life excells a Pound Of humane Learning though the most profound Our chearin Sun our Glory and Delight Are soon inveloped in shades of Night Old Friends to trust old Gold to keep old Wine To drink are a solacious good old Trine Only these two Intelligences move True Friendships Sphere Civility and Love On the Worlds Stage so let me act my part That the wise Head of Solomon and Heart Of David may both seem to Crown my Art Opinion is an Empress and Fame says At least three quarters or the World she
the Pole-Star which directs the way To Navigate in this World 's troubled Sea Rare Virtues Emanations far transcend the price Of the West-Indies Gold or the East-Indies Spice Rich men are Poor in covetous Conditions Poor men are Rich in envious Dispositions Refuse to Act to Day what may to morrow Procure your Torment or at least your Sorrow Rage breaks down Reasons bounds keeps no decorum Passions and Rage tumble down all before ' em Remuneration like soft April Showers In Virtues May produces Gallant Flowers Ransack the treasuring Casket of each Rock And keep the Key of that exhaustless Stock Let every Sun still view the more Renown'd Till thou the Worlds Grand Emperour art Crown'd Then take thy Shadows length see how much more Its Mensuration exceeds that before S SEcrets of Art by Industry are found Industrious Pains with noblest Gains are crown'd Such as exalt themselves above the Skies In wise mens Thoughts appear extreamly wise Soul-saving Knowledge make thy grand Inquest What Signifies all Knowledge if not blest Stars Sands and Sins vast Numbers are yet are But Cyphers when God's Mercies we compare Such as delight in others Debts to run Have pleas'd themselves till they have been undon Stars govern Men but God sets Bounds and Bars To glorius Phebus Luna and the Stars Some Lines Embryoder'd are and some more plain Which shews that Mercury does not always reign Soul-plaguing Fears Jealousie and suspition Reduce a man into a strange Condition Small Commendation serves to crown that Friend Who is a Friend for Ends unto the end Sweeter than Civet smells industrious sweat Who takes no pains he should no Panis Eat Suffering for Sin should breed no Discontent Since many have prov'd chast by Chastisement Since every Meeting must a parting have Soul soar to Heaven sink Body to the Grave Since Riches Honours Pleasures All we see Are but Injoyments here pro Tempore Let my poor Soul fix nobler hopes Above Where streams of Glory mix with Light and Love Soar not too high in Sublunary things For fear lest yours should prove Icarian Wings Satan Imploys all Instruments he can To bring to ruin that poor Thing call'd Man Skie-scaling Groans from Contrite hearts ascend In favour to their never-ending End Sloath without armed Armies can Suprize All the Souls powers and noble Faculties Sleep is Death's Picture to the Life drawn forth Who sleeps too much loses both wit and worth Small Friendship less Reality is found Where fawning feighing Complements abound Some by the constant hands of Industry Out-strip the Wings of Ingenuity Sin 's pleasure like a flash is quickly past But who can tell how long the Pain may last Sleep renders Nature brisk and brave and tends To the refreshing of Man's five best Friends Shew me the man that has no Faults and I VVill teach him in the Ayre soon how to fly Some by their Tongues accumulate such wrongs That they could after wish they 'd had no Tongues Sound sence in a short sentence oft we find More than high Raptures to inform the Mind So live in every Station and Relation As that Salvation is your expectation Silver and Gold though best Times scorn'd to own 'em Are of this last worst Age the Summum Bonum Still acquiesce in Providence Divine What 's not to day to Morrow may be thine Sins Sinners minds enslave blind the Souls Eyes But in God's Service perfect Freedom lyes Sleep though a kind of Death Lifes Life appears Revivifies the Brain the Spirits chears Since a close Mouth makes a wise Head do you Hear others talk while you think what to do Some dare not live for fear of Death and some Dye to prevent the Evils that may come Such as their Minds to Curious Arts address Lay Earnest for the Worlds Chief happiness Strive to raise Monuments of lasting Fame And scorn that worthless Works should soyl your name Saying with those but little can perswade Who to believe by seeing can't be made Some think and think so long what they would do That they lose both their thoughts and Actions too Small Pain constrains us to complain but while Contentment Smiles upon us we can Smile So many men so many Minds we find And every mind as fixed as the Wind. Since Words the Minds most noble Cloathing are And Words are best Embroydered with sence And Sence is best that shines with Eloquence And Eloquence is then most Rich and Rare When Tropes and Figures shew its excellence With glitt'ring Metaphors which beam from thence These properties let my Minds Vesture share T TRuth 's lucid Paths the sacred Scriptures shew Who tread not them trace Labyrinths of wo. Time 's but the short duration of a VVink VVhen on Immence Eternity we think The want of sleep which wildest Creatures tames Men to the height of Madness oft inflames The noblest of examples imitate And let contentment crown thy blest Estate To day we laugh and frolick and to morrow VVe Grunt and Groan upon the Bed of sorrow 'T is dangerous to be Great proud Cedars bow VVith Storms which move not humble Shrubs below T' insult or exsult over Misery Shews baseness mixt with inhumanity Those Lines which some may think impertinent By others will be thought most Excellent Time Tide and Carriers with the flying Sun Will stay for no man till their Race is run Think humbly of your self no Commendation Can mount you then above your proper Station Time past who hath forgot neglects the present And fears the future hath lost all things pleasant The Serpents wiles to save your self embrace And others not to harm give the Dove place The sacred Rules of Virtue bear small price With the unbounded sordid Sons of Vice This is an observation true though plain Those who most feast the Belly starve the Brain The Soul 's the Salt which doth the Body season And keep alive and the Soul's Salt is Reason Though God be Omnipresent men dare swear Were the King near them they would then forbare The Life of Nature's given that we might trace The happy foot-steps to the Life of Grace Which Life of Grace will crown those who persever Faithful till Death with Glories Life for ever Then your desires have reason to be crown'd With what you ask when Reason is their Ground 'T is not how many Arts or curious Parts we have But how well we improve the Talent that God gave To none the secret Counsels of your mind Communicate for can you hope to find One that has VVill and Power to do for you What for your self you your self could not do Th' Immaculate Fountain of all holyness Those most who most resemble Him will bless The Pen all curious Instruments transcends And in its usefulness it self commends No need of swelling high Encomiums then To Trumpet forth the praises of the Pen This does like Virtue it s own Trophies raise Sublimely high beyond the reach of praise Times change and we in them both Men and Nations