C. o' . vt'i - “ . »#

Who have thei? urine [l opr.
Swellings of the ?roins not toherepicjfed.
Whence pah: of the Nerves.
tio.
i 2 6 Of th of e that are barren & unfruitful], & hoa? that comes to pajf. Book II. - - - - : _ _ _ — — . _
pains. The Durch call this difealc in their language, Pockenrnet de Lempten : becaufe all the parts arc rent and pierced with cruell pains, and the fymptoms that accompany the difeafe, and come from thcfiercencfle ofir, caufe as great anguilli as the difeafe it felf. For they are not racked with one kind of pain onely, but with many kinds of torments, that rend and tear and prick the Thofe that have nervous parts that are of moft exquifite fenfe and motion, as if they frJsTf^aLs!1 were wounded with bodkins, pincers, and other Inftruments. And fince they wander all over the body, and poficfleall parts none excepted, from the continual pain without any Intermiffion, our Country-men call this difeafe de Mieren, a name that fignifies an Ant, that is an a&ive and unquiet Creature, that runs continually to new places, and from that the Phy fitians call one kind of pulfe. The Ant'puife. the Ant pulfe, for the (lender motion of it, when the forces are fpent and caft down, fo that a man hath but a little of life left a wom-cm- when fuch a pulfe is felt : like to this is the worm-creeping pulfe, ping-pui fe. becaufe it moves as a worm doth, and this promifeth but little what difeafe is hopes of recovery. And as there is a difeafe, where men feem to Veminatio.and be rent as it were, and eaten with worms 5 fo is there a difeafe » bat forme a- wherein men feem to be (lung with Ants, for the body is defor¬ med outwardly with filthy bloches, and pufhes, and inwardly they feel as it were Ants that bite them, and vex them, fo that they are (fill forced to fcratch and rub to find fome eafe : So thofe that have the French Pox, can be no where at reft, but muft alwaies ferubthemfeives.
Wherefore our Country-men do fitly apply Formication to this difeafed body, not that this difeafe fhould be fo called, but be¬ caufe it affects the body, as that difeafe doth. Flence Plautw, be¬ caufe many in that time were polluted with moft foul difeafes, as filthy running fores on the face, fcabs, Ieprofie, and many more, that ihew themfclves in the moft comely part of the body, calls Ant-bitten men fuch Ant-bitten, mouldy, Iither, putrid, ulcerated men, and thefe as our Country men fay, if you do but fhake them they will come in pieces, and their flefh will part from their bones, and they commonly deride them with this jeer, V'anden grate Schudden. The comparifon is taken from (linking fifh, and rotten fait fifh, that with the lead fhaking will fall off from the back bone. Where¬ fore they that have contract'd pocky fwellings about their fecrets and groins, either from venerous copulation, or by keeping com¬ pany with one that hath the Pox, and lay in bed with him (for of former times this contagion was eafily taken from others, either ‘conta^nnofdi- from their breath, or eating or drinking in the fame cup with feafes. them, though now it grows feeble by degrees.) Iadvife fuch firft
to wafh their privities with fharp Wine or Vineger, and all parts near, putting a little fait thereto, then if it be requiftte, bring the fwelling or apoftume to maturity, and when the corrupt matter The cun of js Come forth, to wafh the hollow ulcer with abftergent remedies,
groin™** before they clofe it up. And as for the biting of a mad dog, that
is fometimes more gentle than to be bit with a whore, men keep , : . ? the
Fornication Commingupoti the Feencb- Fox.
The common proverb comes from (linking Fifh.
Chap. 24. when men are fick they grow tall though they eat lejfe,. 1 2.7.
the wound along time open, lead the virulent nutter kept with¬ in the difeafe fhould increafe again, and grow worle : yet before you open the Impoitume you muft purge the body well: and for this uleEpichym, Fumitory, Polypod, Sena, and Confcbtio Ha- Afforttunof mech are good : or becaufe their urin muff be.qualified, Benedi&a the Pox' Laxativa, is good with the deco&ion of Guaicum, which I hold to be a fort of Ebony. And unlefle care be had to help the body with fuch remedies, the humours will flatter overall, and the Pox will infeft the whole body. For thefe two difeafes are of kin and near one to the other, as a Cancer and the Lcprofie. For what a Cancer is in one part of the body, that is the Leprofy over all. So that contagious affedtion when it is in all the body, and fpread into all parts, caufech that fowl difeafe, which men call the French Pox, home the Pox of Naples, or that thofe difgraceful names may be laid afide in favour of luch famous countries, let it be called the fowl or contagious Pox. But that which is in the groin and fccrets may be called pudendagra. But fince it is the nature of man to be fhamelefleand reproachfull in refipeft of other mens miflries, and will infolently infult over thofe that are opprefl fed with fuch calamities, the common people when this difeafe is A pyover(, upo.. fpread all over the body, call it the Mothers Pox, but if it be but thofe that are in one part they call it the daughters Pox. And becaufe one grows P^ofthePox. from the other, they fpeakin a common jeer, that, that comely The comv.on Husband, or rather fowl and filthy, hath married the motherland ieer a^ainP her two daughters, when as befides the fwellings of the groins, the body is full of ulcers and boyls. Groin .
CHAP. XXIV.
\ .• . v f
when men are fick they grow tall though they eat lej] e3 but they
lofe in breadth.
* : • » . ; • iJ'i " - wo*i m2
YOung people that cat much, do not grow up fo comely, and Whathinden fo call and handfome as they fhould, as we find by daily ex- tallneJJ'e» perience. For the natural heat is choked and overwhelmed with too much moyfiure, that the bodies cannot grow decently tall.
But fuch as feed moderately, and fparingly, and keep a fet time and form of diet, donor grow exceeding far, nor doth their, fat orflelh increafe * but the bones grow long and augment.
So we fee that young people and children in long and chronical difeafes, do grow more llender and lean, but they (hoot forth in ZnlandoJhm length and talnefle. Which I fhould think comes to pafle by rea- bro^d, fon of drinefle. For the bones are dry, and are nourilhed by fuch like nutriment. For fince the humours, and aliments fick people take in, grow drie by the heat and drinefle of the body : the bones • wax long, and by rcafon of dry nutriment they (hoot forth in length, especially when a man is in that age, when his body is ASimiiefrevt moyftand du&illikcclay, and may be drawn forth in length. Yet bath due-
every
when men Are fick they grow tall though they eat lejje . Book II.
every one hath a certain bounds of his growth, and the limits are let for our juft ftature, and the means and ways whereby by degrees we fccrctly grow to be handfomcly tall, or ill favour’d : and that
tionv long time force ofgrowing in length is feldome extended beyond twenty five
Whence it is that teeth ftruck out will not come again after that date of years, nor will bones broken, and cartilages consolidate, becaufe they are made of the feed of the Parents. But to grow fatandgrofle is not limited to certain times, but as we eat or drink in abundance. Which may be done when a man is in his (landing or declining age. For though a man eat abundantly he
One force c feth taiineffe , ty that nourifheth the body, and another that augments it: For another breM ttiac confifts in the plenty of of nutriment : but that about the fo- lid part of the body, namely thebones, nerves, cartilages, &c. Which if they increafc and grow long, the body increafeth alfo, though it conlume and waft away.
Wherefore nature in producing of bones, whence length comes
ufeth the force of heat, whereby (he dries the humours a little, and fits the aliments to feed the bones. For augmentation cannot be made without plenty of nutriment. For when a Creature is ge¬ nerated it requires to be augmented till it comes to its full growth, and to fpread in length and breadth.
Then, to make it continue and laft the reft of its life to come, nutrition doth its office, that what dccayes may be reftored, and what the qualities of the ambient Ayrc confume may be repaired, yet the body growing nothing bigger thereby, or longer. Wherefore the augmenting faculty is that that draws forth the bones of men in Feavers like Wax, by the heat and vertue of the feminal excremenr, which in the vigour of years is very forcible and effe&uall to do this. But if children and young men ufe to cat milk from their Cradles, and to ufe exer-
wb at things cife, they grow longer, and more perfonable* For by ufing to make the bodj drink tbe bones are fej3 becaufe it is very like to feed, and
good blood well conco&ed : by the ufe of fruits* the Nerves ; of water, the fielTi * as we may fee in Oxen that grow fat where much water is, and in moift grounds they augment and grow
greater. •
And again, in the Low-Countries, cfpecially thofe of Holland who become fo fat by their natural beer, that their chins will lye upon their breafts.
P r sat, , , Their bellies fat, afoot and half flick out ,
(
j :
CHAP.
Chap. 2 5 . whether it is left to open a vein when one is faffing.
I2p
CHAP. XXV.
whether it is beff to open a lrein when one is faffing, or after meat 5 and whether it be law full to fleep prefently after blood¬ letting.
ITisnecdlefl'eto relatehere what profit it is to man to have i vein opened, and whir good, men find by it in health or fick- ndfe,and whomuftbclecbloud,and when. For every one may learn this from a faithful and honcft Phyfitian; not from that common and triviall cuftomc that fome trilling feilows have in¬ vented, who too rigidly obferve the Stars more than the humours.
But fince there ufetobe infinite queftions moved concerning this matter, I fhall determine all in a tew words ^ whether it is expe¬ dient to open a vein, When nien are farting or full. For fince I fee many tremble and fear when a vein muft be opened, left they (hould fwound or faint, I think it fit to give them fome meat, and a little ftrong wine. For 1 have often obferved fome frequently to fall down in a fwound, and not to move, and could hardly with .
frriels and pulling them be recovered. Add to this that blood Mcatanldmii^ runs not together, and plentifully when people are fading, but tied the fpirits. faintly and by degrees, and fometimes it will not come forth. Bc- caufe nature greedily keeps back the tfeafureof life, and will not eafily let it go, becaufe that fife finds the gfeateft force of fpirits to be in it .* which being exhaufled the vtfliole body pines away, and the works of nature are performed worfe than they were. But , when fome nutriment is given, and the blood is excited to run Meattobeoffe - by a moderate moving of the body, it will run forth more readi- ndbtfm blood ly. For the fpirits are quickned by eating, and much cheered letllK- by drinking and moderate exercife, and the blood runs all over the body , and makes it more ruddy and well colour’d. But it is ^ & a queftion whether it be fit to fleep prefently after bloud-lecting. may flee? after I, unlefteone beufed to it, or be weary with heat and long travell a vein opened. do not think it fit or good for ones health in the lpring and fum- mer to fleep at noon , nor do I think it good for to fleep prefently after opening a vein, cfpecially if ones belly be full, or his body fat. For fome of thefe are of opinion that after blood-letting they fhould reftore their rtrength by cramming themfelvcs with meat rati. and drink. Who become fleepy and dro wfy,.and fall afleep with no fmall Ioffe to their health, and danger: For their brains arc fo filled with thick vapours, and the veins do fofwell thereby oft- times, that the orifice opens, and the blood runs forth again to the great inconvenience of their health. I remember that this fell out upo 1 one of our Magiftrates, who in the Ides of May, when An example of prayers unto God, and abftaining from Labour are commanded for three daves, he had a vein opened at that time, and as the cu- ftome is, at dinner he cat green gatlick, and drank wine plentiful¬ ly: about noon his head being fill’d with fumes? he firft fl'ept,
• " V chan
How to look into the Nature and manners of men. Book II*
then died. Wherefore ne cnac would do belt tor his healthy die day a vein is opened, fhouldliveon a fparing diet, and abftain from deep To long as he can, but if it coine upon him againft his will, and he cannot hold open his eyes ; yet let him keep from lleeping fo long, till the force and motion of the bioud be fetled ; which is done after one hour and half. Then he may quietly re- pofehimfelf, and taking care not to hurt that part of his body that was cut, let him lye half down, and lean his head on a pillow, if he cannot lleep upright in a chair. But if lie fleep above two hours, he muft be pulled that he may awake, left che fpirits fhould grow dull, and the body fhouid be oppreffed by a general dark vapour, whereby the party falls to vomiting, and loathing, and can hardly fhake off his yawning.
CHAP. XXVI.
Phyfognomj) that is, the reaf on hotp to look into the Nature and manners of men, and with which lythe marks and ftgns of the body we may judge of the motion and propenfon of the mind , is not to be dijliked . More¬
over l jhall prove by Tejtimony of Scripture what is moft convenient to be olferved hereby .
the counte¬ nance and eyes are the Tables of the wind.
Gen. 4.
Gen. 40.
Cap. 3.
A place of E- laias explained.
SOme Arts are held unlawful I and not fit to be ufed, becaufe they are near of kin to falfe Impofture, and becaufe they havefome itirious and neat obfervations. But Phyfiognomy, which by the lace, eyes, countenance , lineaments, and the whole habit dilcovers the propenfion of the mind and body, is in no pare of it to be ref erred to unla wfull arts , for the moft exccllenr men were very ftudiousin it , andcarefull to adorn it. But fincc there is no part of the body, chough never fo fmall, bafe, and ignoble., that offords not fome argument of the imbred nature, and to what the mind is inclined , yet the chief marks and tokens appeare in the face and countenance , and which is the moft certain difeove- rer of the mind, m the volubility and afpe them do £hine, hate, anger, Indignation, fear, hope, joy, mode- fty, arrogance, jealoufy, covctoufnefle , emulation, and all inter- nall affe&ions of the mind, in the outward habit of the body. So when God faw Cain fad , and his countenance caft down 5 he faid unro him, Why art rhou fad ? and why is thy countenance fallen ? Alfo Jofeph when he faw,hisfcllowPrifoners fad,hc asked them, why is your face more fad than ordinary ? for he obferved that there was fome ill apprehenfion in their minds , and the certain notes ofic were fecn in their Countenance. To which appertains that of If at as , The jhew of their Countenance cloth witnefe againft them.
Whereby he fhews, that wicked men may be caught by their looks. For their countenance fhews what malice they are fill’d with, what they meditate , what they delire to undertake, and whither their wicked intentions are bent. There are many things
Cli . 2 6. How to look into the natures and manners of men. 1 3 I
to prove this, that we may read in 'David and Solomons, lives, P/*/- 34. whereby they do condemn the wickednefic of fome men, and ex- prefle it by their forehead, eyebrows, eyes rolling yp and down, . biting of their lips, their nollrils wrinkled, their cheeks fwoln, their proud gate, unfeemly behaviour, their nodding and fierce countenance. Whence faith the Wife man ; A wicked and • un- vrov. g. godly man goeth with a proud lock , he winketh with his eyes ,• fpeak'eth with his feet, teach Ah with his fihgers, frewardnefle is in bis heart , he devi- feth mifehief and continually foweth dif cord. But in thole that are of a pleafing and mild fpirit, all things appear well in their counte¬ nances. Their Handing, going, lying down, their countenance^ eyes, hands, motion, ferve all to exprefie an honeft and comely mind 5 as alfo in the face, wifdome, honour, honefty and other vertues appear.
But though all things do not exadly anfwerthe preedidions of this art, and many things fall out contrary to the marks that are outwardly on the body, and that either by reafon of education, or the Industry of Parents, orelfe by the grace of God * yet for the molt part they are true, and the event is certain. For in fuch as NoteS 0f the are marked with fome vifible note. Art finds out the truth. For body (hew the where there is anerrour about fome principal parr, there the mind c^lfon °^thc partakes of fome inconvenience, and cannot perfedly perform her offices. So they that are deformed with a bunch-back, fo ic be a natural Infirmity, and not accidental, nor come by. any fall or blow, are commonly wicked an^l malicious j becaufe the de¬ pravation is communicated to the heart, that is the fountain and beginning of life. Next to thefe arefquint, blind, blear-ey’d people, and fuch as have rolling eyes, and fuch as caff their eyes afide; becaufc Nature failed about the brains. But deaf, muce, fluttering, Hammering people, and fuch as cannot fpeak plain by reafon of the weakneffe of the nerves and mufcles, are not free from vice, yet they do not deferve to be much blamed for it. For the lefle noble and generous the partis, that is fubjed to errour, the principle parts are the lefle affeded thereby. But if any de* rhe hem and fault of the body be near the heart or the brain, and partake with brain anAf~ them, fome errour is communicated thereby to the mind and rea- f*&cdbj the fon ; fo that they are not found in all their perfedions, and fome- remtcPaf,u times the rule of Judgment fails and is carried obliquely 5 fo that the animal faculties cannot perform their fundions and offices as they fhould. Yet it is not alwaics neceflary, nor doth ic follow, that the condition of mans nature, his manners, ftudies, put poles, propenfions of his mind and agitation thereof fhould be fitted to the outward marks, and to be meafur’d by the external lineaments and figns of his body. For men do ad and medirate,and conceive many things in their minds,and perform the fame in their adions, whereof there is no print or note at all to be feen on their bodies, orany thing to conjcdure by. Fora man may be deformed in his body and his limbs Hand awry, and yet he may be upright and inclined to noble arts. • V 2 very
1 3 2 How to look into the Nature and manners of men . Book II.
very comely body , and yec be of wicked manners, and lead a tremuflnot vicious life. Wherefore we muft nocinfult over any man’s fail-
imurmtmS in§s tha* are natural> neither bunch-backr, nor fquint-ey’d, nor lame, orfuch as have crooked legs, are to be reproached or feorned : when they defire ithat thefe errours of Nature were rectified, and that their bodies had been better formed; yec there Marked syce- are fomc of thefe that urge men to fpeak ill of them : for fbme of fkants. them are cunning Impohors, falfe, deceitful, and not onely given to obfcenc jeft s,* but are abundantly provided with biting and cut- ting taunts and feoffs : as almoft all thofe are that have their ner¬ vous and mufculous parts ill formed. So that from thence the brain that is the beginning of fenfeand motion, and the heart which is the fountain of life and fpirits are diverfly affe&ed by confentj for the external defaults change the internal faculties, and frame and guide them to divers aftions that are naught.
From thefe therefore that are marked with any outward mark,
7V^c heed of came the Proverb, Take heed of thofe that Nature hath marked, Where- marked. * by fuch as are skilful in humane affairs, do note unto us, that we muft avoid the company and fociety of wicked people ; becaufe they find by daily experience and pra^tife, that fuch people are deceicfull, and full of crafty and cunning pra& ifes. But that lame people are extream letcherous, and have their fecrets exceeding
f he Proverb, f 8reat’ the Pr0vcrb from thence declares. A lame man is the mo(t tame people. 1 l^herm. For all the nutriment that fhould fupport the weak foot, ftaies about the generativ.jp parts, and is converted into feed, the force and plenty whereof caufeth creation, and caufeth the obfcenc parts to be allwaies itching.
GHAP. XXVII.
whether it be more whole fome to fleep with open mouthy or with the. mouth and Ups \ hut rtof ?.
MAny think it is befk to fleep with their mouths wide open ;
For fo the fumes and fuliginous vapours can breathe forth the better, and that the breath can more freely pafie out and in, and will not fmell fo ftrong; for they that fleep with their mouthes fhut, havean ill fented and (linking breath. But I am other wife perfwaded. For as lying on the back is hurtfull to the Lungs and midriff, fo that they will fwell with humours powred on them ; fo to fleep with open mouth is naught for ones health. For the Lungs being full of holes, draw in abundantly by the vo- call artery, the obvious Ayre5 which in the night is commonly impure and troubled : wherewith the paffages of breathing be- Meretohoie- mg fluffed, makes the voice hoarfe or blunt. But when the mouth
wUh^muth LS ^ut’tbc brcatb outward Ayre, comes in and goes out not Pm. by h5aps but by degrees by the windings of the noftrills, and by a
turning revolution, and fo paffech to the kings, and tempers the
heat
Chap.i8. The Parents ill wifhes to their children [ometimes take efjeft. 133
heat of the heart. And hence it is that fuch as fl'ecp with their mouths fhut are not io thirfty. . For they that deep with their Jaws extended, by reafon oftheir breath, and the Ayrc totted to and fro, have their tongues and palates dry, and dcfire to be moift- ned by drinking in the night. But fince this opinion may be con¬ firmed by many folid rcaions, yet there is none more prevalent, than that the concoction in the ttomach is far better performed by it, if any man deep with his mouth fhut : for the natural heat is more preferved and conco&s more ftrongly. For as pots and ket¬ tles that are to boyl meat in, will fooner boyl it, if they be cover¬ ed, becaufe no heat of vapour comes forth : fo heat in mans body kept in and covered will fooner digeft the meat. Wherefore fuch as have weak and feeble ftomacks, I would advife them to fhut their mouths, and hold their breath, and fuch alfoas are troubled with coughs and hickops. For thus heat is ftirred up, and thedi- feafe is dilcufled. But when they have dept all night with their mouths fhut, and their meat is digefted, than 1 counfell them that they fmack with their mouths, and hem aloud to purge away the fuliginous vapours that ftickin the paflages.
whence comes tbh (l in the mbt.
A finite t*{tn from the K«- cbix.
Breath ctvcred helps digejlitn.
CHAP. XXVIII.
That the ettrfes of Parents and the ill wifhes that they wifh againfi tbeit Children , and ban them with all, do [ometimes take efieft and fall out fo 5 and their good wifhes whereby they defire all good to happen to them 9 are a means to make them prof per, and to obtain what their Parents de¬ fined might happen to them*
T He Nature of mortall men is fallen into fo great cruelty, all humanity being laid afide, that they are not oncly barbarous to Grangers, but they arc cruell to their own children, to whom they (hould wifh all prolperity. For who doth not hear daily in the ftreets and villages their terrible and execrable curfcs : where¬ by they mod inhumanely curfc their children to the pic of hell, and pray for all jnifehiefs to fall upon them : and I remember that many of them have taken cffeCt, and come to a miferable and la¬ mentable end. Wherefore Plato thinks nothing more dangerous jl7 Jeter. than for Parents to curfe their children. For children when they fee their Parents thus enraged, and to heap fuch horrid wifhes children not u upon them, they are amazed, tremble, and are troubled, and be- beexafperat$d ing fhaken with terrour and fear, they fall either into convulfions or epilepfies, or fail into rage and fury, and are changed both m* their minds and intentions. For fd great a concourfe and agitati¬ on of the humours and fpirits are made in fuch bodies, and fuch a diftemper that the inftruments of thefenfes fall into convulfions, and all the faculties of the foul are inverted. Whereby it comes to pafle, that not oncly young children, but fuch as are of riper years, which reverence and honour their Parents, are fhaken with
fuddeu
134
Gen. c. 4 9- Children mu (l be taught by the Parents.
No man is bet - ter after a di- fcafe.
Math. xi. Dottrine infpi- ved by God , Wafas the be(i manners *
The heavenly word is the food of OUT fouls .
Scarce any man returns belter from long travels. Book II
iadden tear and fudden confirmation, of mind, as with thunder, and fuffer great damage in their reafon and undemanding, and no Ioffe mif'chief in their bodies. Wherefore me thinks the old Hebrewes had an excellent way of teaching their children that were'indeed exceeding well bred 4 For the/ were wont to pray and wi(h all good luck and happineffe to their children, both at home and abroad, not from fortune, but from God. Alfo their children were wont with great devotion and godlinefie to obey and honour their Parents, and with their beft intreaties, obfervan- ces, and well-befeeming words, to procure from them their blef- fings,and profperous wifhes. For thus they thought they fhould be freed from future dangers, and by the help of the great God, to whom both they and their Parents made their vows, they believed they fhould efcape the cafualties and inconveniencies of humane affairs, and live fecurely and happily all their daies.
CHAP. XXIX.
How comes it , that according to the common Proverb , fcarce any man returns better from his long travels^ or from a long dtfeafe , and to lead a better life afterwards.
THere is an upinion that is of long continuance, and a perfwa- fion in the Low-Countries, that is commonly objeded againft fuch as recover of a long difeafe. That no man is made better for a dangerous difeafe,or a long journey. And it common¬ ly falls out fo. Forfuch is the nature of mortal 1 men, that though they be vexed with long difeafes, and are tolled with dangerous and hazardous voyages both by Sea and Land, and wandring up and down, when they chance to efcape, they foon forget all, and they begin to live more loofely and licentioufly, that they are worfe than they were before, and the time paft was better than what comes after. This I fuppofe happens becaufe the mind of man is much ncgledcd,and the inward man is not manured as ic fhould be, for good education would root out imbred errours and vicious aftedions, namely the love and confidence in God, and the knowledge of his word, unto which the will and reafon are made fubjed, and fo all his adions are framed by that rule. For thefe things would effed and bring to paffe, that we fhould forfakethofe fins, which when we were fick and in danger, w'e fo much re¬ nounced ; othervvife all the fair promifes we made, and our pur¬ poses of amendment of life, and many more vows that we then made, become void and ©f no moment. For when we are reftored to our former flrength, nature falls back to her damnable cuftoms, and will not alter. Wherefore an honeft courfe of life and a pur- pofe of doing as we fhould, that we had in our minds, can by no other means be brought to perfedion, but by the word of God, and the influence of his fpirit* which if when the difeafe is goo, it
Chap. 29 . S cane any man returns better from his long travels.
*35
flay faft in our minds, vvc (hall not catily fall away from our pur- pole of amendment Of life, which pain extorted from us not with¬ out fome fecrec infpiration : but wc (hall hick conftancly unto it, though many things do lollicitcus to tall from ir. There is a fa¬ mous Epiftle extant of Pliny the younger, wherein he faith he was L 7- advcrtiled by the ficknetfe of a friend 5 that we are beft when we are faftned by difeafes to our beds. For he that is fick, if he be tempted by Iuft or covetoufnefle, he will not be amorous or cove¬ tous, he negleCts honours and riches, he is lowly and not fo fierce, and laftly,herefolvestolcadaharmleflehappy honeft fober life, Tf>at the p«r- if he chance to efcape. Wherefore he took occafion from hence pofe f lhe to admonifh both his friend and himfelf, that when they are well happy?™ they ihould perfevtre to be fuch, as they promifed to be when they /«•
werefkk. This exhortation was good and commendable. But
he knew not, nor could he (hew, by whofe condudf help and infpi- rationthis was to be effected. Forunldfe we are fultained by cue power of God and his word, upon every light occafion we fhall fallback to our former errours, and the fioud of humane affairs will carry us another way, and not to an honeft & innocent life, and good and unblameable manners. For it was the infirmity of rr},v • • , man that wrefted from us the promifes of leading a better life, and JmemmMt not faith or any folid doCtrinc founded on Gods word. But if belter» any man ask for a natural reafon, there is none chdt feems to me more probable, than that when men recover of their difeafe ma¬ ny witty merry companions come to fee them, and they invite them torejoyce, and make merry, and to fall into all kinds of Luxury and deceitfulnefle of pleafures and dalliances.
Hence they car, and drink healths one after another round about, and fo they gratiiy them that are reftored to their former health ; and commonly there they fing bawdy fongs 5 and fuch things, that are nor fit to be feen or heard, are reprefented. Thefe things and many fuch like do eafily draw a fick and dubious mind that hath quickly forgot its deliverance, to embrace what is worfe. To this 1 add thedelicate and voluptuous meats, which the humours be¬ ing augmented by, do ftimulate and prick theobfeene parts with, Delicate meats and caufe erection. Hence it is that they return to luxury and glut- f°wentiu(i . tony, and profufe luffs, and whorings,and unbridled pleafures $ fo,
Unchanged nature without delay* „ „ -
■11 r J juven.SatM »
mil (till return the jame way i
For fo great is the inclination and pronenefle of rhans nature to that which is wor ft, that unlefle God were very defirous of our falvation, and did continually warn us, and fend us fome great afflictions, all would run to utter oblivion. So as it is in Efaios , chap. if. onely trouble gives fo much under fanding to the ear. That is, no man but when troubles come near, and calamities arife, doth awake and give attention • nor doth a man ever think to live frugally and moderately, or thinks of leading a better life, but when he is af¬ flicted, or when we chance to be fick of feavers and other cruel difeafes, and are tormented with rnoft terrible pains. Now there is nothing that turns a man more from God, and alienarcs him ■ from
i
13 6
Prof periiy ma\e% us (lug- gifh and negli¬ gent.
chap 4. and 9. Chap. z.
Uievem • 5-
Alexander rtoundsd, con -?
he ra as mortal.
Vfalm 88.
God correfts us to Hia\e us better^
trov, r.
Scar ce any wan returns better from hzs long travel lsr Book Ijf
from his maker, than prolperous fucccfte and abundance of all things: oncly alHiclion calls us ro repentance and mourning, and' to a purpofeof a better life. And no man can be perfwaded that God isdifpleafed with his way of living or that his manners and cuflocncsand ftudies are not approved by him,unlcffc his mind b6 afif bted with feme grief and iadneffe, and his body with fome cii kales. For the mind is fo deaf to all wholefome admonitions and counfels, and the underffanding is fo hardned with the cu- ftome of fin, that it will either rejed milder corredions, or not be much moved by them, and there appears no hopes of amendment unleffe more (harp remedies be applied. Hence was it that God threatens by Efatas, because this people returns not to him that fmiteg them, therefore ts not his fury turned away, but his hand is ftretebed out fltlf and lifted up again to fmite them. The like is fa id in Jeremiah and complained of: In vain have / / mitten your children , and the ] have not received injlrublion. Again, 1 f mote them and they lamented not, I bruifed them but they refufed to.be inftruBed $ they made their fa¬ ces harder than a {lone, and they would not return , they are grown rich great , and fat , and they foulely pajfed over my words . Wherefore God fometimes chaftifeth us more bitterly, to recall us to an honeft and more pious life. So Alexander King of Macedo , who fuffei'd men to honour him as a God, when he was wounded with an arrow and when he faw the blood run out abundantly, he forthwith re- membred that he was but a man, and laid afide all his cruelty and Arrogancy. To which may be referred that of the Pfalmift, Thou haft humbled the proud as one that is wounded, thou haft broken all his ft length. Wherefore when things are at the heioht of profperity, and all goes according to our minds, and as we would have it : let no man too much elevated by his good fuccefle, pride himfelf too much, or bray immoderately, but let every man duly confider himfelf, and think on adverfities, Ioffes, erodes, dangers9 calamities, difeafes, mijfhaps that hang continually over our heads \ and that God fometimes fends thefe upon man, fora remedy a^nd* cure to correa his errours and caufe him to repent, and may have a certain confidence of his falvation, elevating his heart unto God which God would have every man to know and obferve diligent¬ ly, when he faith ; If his Ions offend and obey not my lawsf and keep not my Commandcmems, I will vifiuheir iniquities with the rod, and their fins with feeurges, but I will not take my mercy from them, nor fuffer my truths to fail, whereby he openly de¬ clares, that he correas us for our amendment, and not for our de¬ ft ru a ion. That foour carnal defires being fubdued, andourlicen- tjpufneffe in finning reftuined, every man might turn to lead an honeft and innocent life, andtofober and good manners. For it is Godscorrcaionon us which proceeds from his fatherly affeai- on, a great argument of his exceeding love, and a Teftimony of his good will towards us. For whom the Lord loves, them he chaftcnctb,and correaeth them as a man doth the fon whom he lo- veth. But fuch as God buffers to wander licentioufty, and to live
loofly,
I
C hap. *9 . Sc wee any man returns better from hu long travel Is. 137
loofly, and to be involved in all corruptions, and doth not by his He fecretfpirit call them back from their errours, it is becaufe God hath given them over, and foriaken them. I will noqfaicb he,vific Mofea a, nor correct your fons and daughters when they commie fornicati¬ on, nor your wives when they pollute thcml'elves wjth adulteries : as there are fomc women, whereof our age can fhew examples, that have layn with other men, before they lay with their hus- Aduiterk bands to whom they were before con traced, fo that another man ted * had their Maiden-head, before the nuptial feaft w^s ended, and chat they came to bed to their husbands. So God, provoked by the continuance of fin and daily cuftome pf doing wickedly, holds back his hand from firming them, and fiiffcrs them'to fall, and run to all difgrace, infamy, reproach, and to obey their lufts. By which erroneous life, they firft get a troublefomeand rcftlefle mind, than which nothing can befall a man more lamentable and, miferable, then befides their unhappy end and bitter death, wherein they have nothing to fupporcthem, they pafle to eternall punilhment,and in- • tollerable torments.
When therefore God gives a-man abundance of all things, as ri¬ ches. Gold, Silver, gallant houfes, (lately furniture, brave gar- „ ,,
ments, in a large meafure, we lliould never forget that God by thLtfuii to ' whofe bounty we have obtained all this abundance freely. For God. there is no vice in magnificent houfes, and Manners, in money, beS an Lands, pofleffions, if we look howto ufe and employ them well, iu, but the a- Laftly, if, what is the principali and is chiefly required at our bufeoftbenu ; bands, we have a thankfull heart to\vards God, and are bountifull to our neighbours and poor people. Mofes the Law-giver amongft Dcut' 8* the Jews by the Commandment of God, and by what he received from God, did admonifh them of this matter, and often inculcated it unto them, that no man fhould ever forget him, -to whom vve owe our felves and all we have, when (faith he) thou haft eaten and art full, and haft built goodly houfes , and when thy beards and thy. flocks , thy Silver and thy Gold are multiplyed, and all that thou haft , take heed that thine heart be not then lifted upy and thou forget the Lord thy God the giver of all thefe things . And leaf! that fhould be objected to them for their ingratitude and forgecfulnefle, that God gave them butter from the heard, and milk of {beep, with the fat , of Lambs and Rams, with the flower of Wheat, and delicate Wines in abun-. n
dance, but when Ifrael was fat and full, he kicked backwards, and ^
forgot the Lord that made him, and was unchankfnll to the Au.- thour of his falvation. Wherefore to fuch backfliders Mofes threat- neth terrible threatningsand punifhments, and lays it down that inany fad and miferable calamities fhall befall them ; whereby.
Let their pofterity learn and be warned , as God fpeaks in Jeremias • If DeuL they continue in the fame fault, what a [ad and bitter thing it is to forfake chap. i'% the Lord our God, and not to fear and reverence him , who is the Lord God ifhofts .
C H A p;
x:
i38
Of the vert ue of Stones or Jewels,