Distractions, or The holy madnesse Feruently (not furiously) inraged against euill men; or against their euills. Wherein the naughty are discouered to themselues, and others: and may here see at once, who they are; what they doe; and how they ought. Somewhat delightfull, but fruitfull altogether: as ordered to please a little; but aymed to profit much. By Iohn Gaule, vtrusque olim Academiæ.

DISTRACTIONS , OR The Holy Madnesse . Feruently ( not Furiously ) inraged against Euill Men ; or against their Euills . Wherein the Naughty are discouered to Themselues , and Others : and may here see at once , Who they Are ; What they Doe ▪ And How they Ought . Somewhat Delightfull , but Fruitfull altogether : as Ordered to please a little ; but Aymed to profit much .

By IOHN GAVLE , Vtriusque olim Academiae .

LONDON , ¶ Printed by Iohn Haviland , for Robert Allot . 1629.

TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE BAPTIST Lord HICKS , Baron of Ilmington , Vicount Camden ; Health , Honour , Happinesse , both in this , and a better Life . My Honourable good Lord ,

I THVS ( as I am bound ) bethink me . Whose ought Mine to be , but whose I am my selfe ? To accept the Parent , is ( I presume ) not to refuse the Brood . It is but my Duty , to beget any thing to your seruice : and shall bee your Goodnesse , to vouchsafe it entertainment . I must confesse , it had bin better , this windy Egge should haue beene pasht in the Shell ; than been hatcht vnder your Lordships Wings . It is a common Fault ; and some beside me , bewaile I together with me : Ah that such our worthlesse Brats , so wontedly creep into so honourable Bosomes ! What ouer-insolence is it of ours ; that we dare to shroud vs there , where wee ought rather feare to bee detected ? This is more than Boldnesse , that I presume now a Patron for my Worke : It shall be but Duty , that I endeuour once a Worke for my Patron . What haue I here set before you ; but what your selfe ( before me ) haue not onely noted , but hated also ; Mens Vanities , and Euils ? Oh pardon , that I present your Lordship with what you like not to behold : I shall so be tied to make amends with what ( I know ) you loue to embrace .

To Praise you ( as they vse ) for your Pietie , Grauitie , Bountie , Clemencie ; would be thought to flatter you : To haue named you is ( in all these ) to haue praised you . Yet will I ( maugre all such their imputation , or exception ) pray for you . May your Lordship liue long dayes , and good : yea , hauing now attained to a good age ; let it yet be added to your dayes . May your iustest Honour ( maugre the mutability of these rolling Globes , & Times ) neuer be destitute of Continuance with Enlargement . May you lastly , for Honour terrestriall , and fading ; enioy an Happinesse celestiall , and with eternity . So praies , and vowes

Your Honours deuoted and dutifull Chaplaine , IOHN GAVLE .

TO THE WISE , and Good , a few Words before-hand ; and they in their owne Words , the Words of Sobernesse and Truth .

YOV , the recouered Sons of a once-Fallen Father ; yea , the recounted Sonnes of a Father euer-liuing : whose Soules hee hath so Gratiously inlightned , so inflamed ; and so made you , as J said ( in your Manner , and Measure ) both Wise , and Good . You are ( J beleeue no lesse , and as much reioyce ) as fresh Fish , in this salt Sea ; as tried Gold , to this cankred Drosse ; as purging Fires amidst these noysome Dunghills . You are indeed pickt out for Fish ; yet is there ( you know , and grieue ) much Soyle beside you : You are sowne for Wheat ; and ( alas ! ) what Tares come vp among you ? Woe , woe ! There will bee Goats ; though you be mark't for Sheepe . To you I come ( so please you bid me , for you need me not ) in the Spirit of Meeknesse : The Rod only is laid vpon the Backs it was made for ; the Backs of Fooles . Nor to those come J thus only ; but euen otherwise , as I see occasion . The Physitian of the Body vseth not the same Meanes to heale all : Nor , with that other , and better of the Soule , is there one way to winne all . To yeeld to Some , is ( by that m●anes ) to gaine them to our selues . That J come to Men in their owne Words ; is to bring Men to your Minds . T is but my Bait I haue somewhat ordered to their Appetite : you see how my Hook is , it hangs vpon . Let my aiming excuse me ; and not my Saying , or Seeming only censure mee before you . Neuer was it but allowed , by none but lauded euer ; so to stoope to others , as thereby to raise them vp . Our Holy Lord vouchsafed himselfe to be made like vs ; so to make vs like vnto himselfe : would take vpon him our silly Offices ; so to bring vs to his holy Mysteries . What said that Great Doctor of himselfe ? To the weake became I as weake , that I might gaine the weake : I am made all things to all men , that I might by all means saue some . What should J say of ancient Authors , of holy Fathers ; that haue writ of weake things , of graue things weakly ; and both to instruct the Weake ? Besides their loue to Goodnesse and Truth ; it was some Art of theirs : so to bend themselues to others , as to draw on others to themselues . To hit a man home a little in his own humour ; hath oft beene the way to stoop to his Capacitie , to touch his Affections . Let it then be at leastwise excusable , so to let a Man vnderstand what he is ; as thereby to bring him to what he ought to be . Let no man iudge mee light , by my Lookes ; my Face ( J meane ) and Forefront : A more weighty , and profounder Title of a Booke , the Subiect and Stile accordingly ; J obserue ( for J haue already been so occasioned ) haue soone tired , nay quite deterred a Common Reader : Let not the Better bee against me , sith I thus would winne on the Worse . What euer the Most may mutter against mee ; my hope is , the Best will say somewhat for mee ; against whom J ought , J can say nothing : J know ( through the impossibilitie of pleasing all ) I cannot but displease some . Who can say so well , and warily , which all will approue of ; nay which many will not euen mislike ? Let no reuerend Father , no louing Brother ( whom J humbly obserue , whom heartily I embrace ) say me malecontent ; and therefore moued : ( as haue also beene many in this Minde , and Mood . ) Against or besides our State , and Church ; nor haue J read , haue J obserued ; doe I iudge , doe J acknowledge any ; so iustly Humane , so religiously Diuine . Accept my Words vpon my Faith ; J labour to looke to , and satisfie mee with my selfe : J enuy no Man , J inueigh against no more . Nor shall the Forraine Cauiller vpbraid vs with our selues : J say not so of this our Land alone . No : I am a better Bird than so ; to defile mine owne Nest my selfe , by saying it so foule . I dare say , other Nations , and their Manners ; doe ( in a manner ) instifie vs , and ours . Yea and our Publican Sins ( J perswade me ) in this our Church , shall rise vp in Iudgement against the Pharisaicall Righteousnesse of that other , of theirs . Yet are not wee the Better ; that they are the Worse : Nor are wee the lesse to be blamed ; though they be the more to be abhorred . Let me then disclose to them their Abominations , in our Infirmities . Wee may together shame Others , and blame our Selues . And now , you againe the Wise ones and Good ! if J shall doe ( in any whit ) well , and worthy you ; afford it your Fauour : if otherwise , be pleased yet to Pardon it . So J leaue you , whom J humbly craue ; and come to those , whom J rightly challenge to be my Readers .

A PREFACE APOLOGETICALL to his Readers , touching Himselfe ; yea and somewhat Satyricall to the Readers it toucheth : Where the Man so Distraught , tells them all together ; the Manner , Motiue , Maine end , and Method of his Madnesse . My Readers .

ME thinkes I heare each of you aske with ACHISH ; Haue J need of mad men ? Not one inferres with FESTVS ; Much Learning doth make thee mad . Whether you haue need of the Former ; Sure I am , I haue need of the Other , and to no other end . I tell you true , I want Wit to be out of my Wits . It is other than Folly , and Rage , is required to an Holy Madnesse . Nay but I may take those Two vnto me ; for I am Mad outright . I had as good say it , as heare it . They haue likewise said , of Other , and better than I. Haue I need of mad men , that yee haue brought this Fellow , to play the Mad man in my presence ? said the gabbling King of GATH , of One that wisely assumed such Behauiour for his better Safety . Wherefore came this Mad Fellow to thee ? said the Seruants to IEHV , touching the Prophet , that came about a businesse of Weight and Worth : This Mad Fellow ( say they ) and wherefore came hee ? Though ( as it was told them ) they knew both the Man , and his Communication . PAVL ! Thou art beside thy selfe : said a new Succeeding , and ( perhaps ) a new Gaping Gouernour ; to One that well answered for himselfe : I am not mad ; but speake forth the words of Truth , & Sobernesse . And ( which I abhorre to repeat ) the worst in this wise , was said of Him , that was the best of All : Hee hath a Deuill , and is mad . Wicked men , and witlesse ; iudge of Others , and Betters , by themselues . Themselues are Gracelesse ; and the rest ( they thinke ) are Reasonlesse . The Wisdome they apprehend not , they say , is Folly . Hee does Foolishly , that does beside their Drift . Hee talkes Nonsense , that speakes beyond their Conceit . The Feruent ( with them ) are Furious : They count of Zeale , but as Rage : And the Saints Earnestnesse , they call his Madnesse . HANNAH is Deuout ; and is so thought DRVNKEN : And They were said to bee Full of new Wine ; that were filled with the Holy Ghost . Be a man Deuout or Zealous ; the world will deeme him either Drunke , or Mad. ; Are ye so Mad ; to think and say so madly of vs ? yours ( if any ) is the Madnesse : Why nure yee others with your owne Brand ? Marke but who hath marked you : I will smite thee with Madnesse . The Wise Man said it of wicked men ; Madnesse is in their heart , while they liue . Take now your Tongues from vs ; turne them against your selues . You had as good yeeld to confesse at first ; as you shall bee constrained at last : We Fooles counted his life Madnesse . Themselues are Mad ; and they call vs so : that are not Mad , saue mad at them . Shall I moane mee with him in the COMEDIAN ? Ay me ! they say I am Mad ; when none so mad , as they . No. As the PSALMIST rather : J said vnto the Fooles , deale not so madly : Then doubtlesse they would not make me Mad. I enioy their Madnesse , while I seeke to shunne it : Let them care to heed it , and they may doe so by mine .

But ( as I tell you ) I haue taken vpon mee , to play the Mad man . Though not with Him , that did so , for his owne safeguard : but so to saue others , haue I done it . As was said of their Ignorance , and Delusion : so let mee say according to my Knowledge , and Zeale : The Prophet is a Foole , the Spirituall Man is Mad ; for the multitude of thine Iniquity , and the great Hatred . In my sense ; a Foole , and Mad am I : for the great Hatred I haue to thine Iniquitie . My Aime is , and therefore my hope is , I may here say with Him : Whether wee bee besides our selues , it is to God : or whether we be Sober , it is for your Cause . I am indifferent what I seeme to be , so it be for Gods glory , and his Childrens Good . The truth then is ; I am ( as I ought ) thus distraught : For I am both Warranted , and Vrged to it .

Warranted . The Prophets , and Holy men , ( as they were commanded ) haue gone vp and downe , some Naked , some Chained , some Loaded , some Wounded : One in a passion , le ts fall the Tables , Another on purpose breakes his Bottles . One will needs haue another to smite him , Another cannot but must needs smite another . They haue bedusted their Heads , besmeared their Faces , beslauered their Beards : They scrabbled with their Fingers , tore their Haires , rent their Cloathes ; and ( like Mad Men ) threw dust into the aire . The Saints of God haue beene sometimes possessed with a Diuine Fury . Our strangest Motions , & Gestures ( such as men commonly mocke , and irke ) God oft times both bids , and likes . Euen the Vncouthnesse and Abruptnesse , of our both Passions , and Actions , serue to discouer our Zeale , our Indignation , our Deuotion . The Prophet tooke him a TILE , pourtrayed the CITY , laid a SIEGE , built a FORT , cast a MOVNT , and set a CAMPE against it . He likewise CVT OFF his Haire , WEIGHED his Haire , DIVIDED his Haire : BVRNT a part in the Fire , SMOTE a part with a Knife , SCATTERED a part in the Wind ; and BOVND a Remuant in his Skirts . This was ( may I say ) a mysticall kind of Madnesse . To haue seene him thus writing vpon a Tile ; thus busied about his Haire : who would not haue thought him mad , that knew not what hee meant ? Hee that hath made the Foolish things of this world to confute the Wise ; hath his good Purposes , in the idle Acts , and ( as wee would thinke ) but vncouth and abrupt Behauiours of men . In the Foolishnesse of our Doings , as of our Preachings , hath God his wise Art , and Ends. God hath stirred vp weake Actions in his Saints and Seruants ; so to stirre vp the weake . Those Practices of theirs that haue borne shew of Weaknesse in their Working ; were not without Worth in their Meaning ; and haue had Weight in their Effect .

Vrged . None but Stocks , but may be moued : Especially , how ought wee to be vrged against Iniquities ? I haue cause enough to make mee mad : Nay , should I be so , so oft as I haue cause ; I should neuer be but mad . How vnquiet shall he be ( yea euen vncessantly so ) the motion of whose owne Affections must depend vpon others Euils ? What moment shall it be , in which there will not be to moue him ? Besides himselfe ; euen all are alwayes ready to prouoke him . Vnhappy he ! when so many mad him . I could ( with Others ) haue been Sad , and Merry ; but I haue chosen ( by my Selfe ) to bee Mad at Euills . While Iehu comes vp against Iezabel ; what should he but Driue Furiously ? but ( as there ) march on in Madnesse ? There is a mad Knot of Euills in the World ; and they aske a mad Wedge to sunder them . I will ( and spare not ) both Launce , and Seare : Nor shal the Diseased howle , and bawle at mee ; but rather thanke himselfe . An intemperate Patient , and obstinate , makes , and needs a Physitian both hard and harsh . I am sorry for Heraclitus ; that was so Sad himselfe : because others ( hee saw ) were Bad. Shall euery Bad man , make mee a Sad man ? When ( I maruell ) shall hee be Merry ; whom others Euill may afflict ? This were to hurt my selfe , and doe them no good . Alas too tender Philosopher ! himselfe was to be wept for ; that so wept for others . I laugh ( in like manner ) at Democritus , that mocking Philosopher ; that made such lests at mens Earnests . How should I thinke him serious ; that thought all ridiculous ? I rather like ( with Lampsacus ) to mix both , and fall a Madding : to put vpon mee the very Face of a Fury : and ( as a Spie come from Hell ) to giue the Deuils notice of mens mischieuousnesse . There are Euils in the world , to be Sad at , Merry at , Mad at . Wee cannot but waile at mens Miseries , but smile at their Vanities , but rage at their Iniquities . Errours may prouoke vs ; but Impieties will inrage .

Aske now no more with Achish ; I answer you at once ; You haue all need of Mad men . The Diuine Fury is ready against you ; The Furies of Hell are ready for you ; a yelling Fury of your owne is within you : Oh suffer another Fury , & shun the other ; an Holy Fury ! An Holy Fury , to spie out your Euils in your Hearts ; to tel them to your Teeth ; to curse them before your Faces ; to rend them from your Soules ; to damne them to their Hell . Neuer more need of Mad men , than now adayes . No Fiercenesse of men can be enough to curse , and damne the now Sinnes of men : No Fury vnder Heauen ; none aboue Hell , is enough to plague them . I will as disorderly reckon the Disorders of our dayes .

Now are the Euill Dayes ; the Perillous Times : for now , The whole world lieth in wickednesse . Since the World was , neuer was the World so wicked as now . It was once the Wickednesse of a World ; but is now a World of Wickednesse . The Wickednesse that once was , was concluded in a Garden : but the whole World cannot containe the Wickednesse that now is . Nay , the Wickednesse that now is , can containe a whole World : For so he sayes , The whole World lieth in wickednesse : And not Wickednesse only in a World . The World was a Seat of Wickednesse ; but Wickednesse is become a Continent of the World . Quite against the Rule of Reason , the Accident is the receptacle for the Subiect . Wee are now the worst Generation of Men : Euen they vpon whom the Euill Dayes are come indeed . Our Fathers haue left their Faults behind them : which of Euils in them at first ; are become Examples to vs after them . Wickednesse is now not onely Done , but Taught . Vngodlinesse is growne to a Fashion : Iniquitie and Euill is so generally , customarily , publikely taken vp : that to be Wicked now , is not onely made pardonable , but thought commendable amongst vs . Wee haue exceeded our Forefathers Euill : and ( for our Time ) haue set vp Sinne at so high a Pitch ; that it were impossible to thinke how Posterity should adde vnto our Iniquities . And this is the woe of all ; that Men are irrecouerably Euill . Their corruption hath brought them to a custome ; their custome to an Obstinacy ; their Obstinacie to a Necessitie of being Euill : and that Necessity of being Euill , to an impossibility of being otherwise . As a Diuine Philosopher to his Friend ; When thou shalt see ( said hee ) a Multitude in a Market , Theatre , or like frequented place ; thinke with thy selfe , there are as many Vices , as Men. I say besides ; in a Play-house , Exchange , Hall , Court , and Church ; there is euer a greater throng of Sinnes , than Men. For , amongst the throngs of Men , euery Man hath his throng of Sinnes . Not to the Heads of Men only , but to the Haires of their heads , may their Sinnes bee numbred . Men were neuer so many , but one man might reckon all the rest : But the Sins of one man , are more than he can count ; much more , than for which he can giue account . What say we of men , and their Sins ? You cannot reckon more Nations , than you may Abhominations . Besides the Barbarous People , whose Religion it is , to doe Deuils worship ; whose Law , to doe Men Wrong : Wee speake of these more Ciuill , more Christian Parts . Loe here ! Euery Nation ( as I said , and I cannot say more fitly ) his Abhomination . The Germane Gluttonous , the Italian Irefull , the Spaniard Proud , the Frenchman Effeminate , the Dutchman Deceitfull , the Irishman Idle , the Scottish-man Soothing , and the Englishman ( alas the Englishman ! ) Euil . Obserue all manner of Men , and their Manners . Turks are Barbarous , Iewes Malicious , and Christians ( ah Christians ! ) Hypocriticall . ;

I may say of Any , or of All. Iniquity abounds in all both Nations , Persons , Actions : In all which Innocence is not onely rare , but none at all . Hee spake but too true of these Times , and Crimes of ours : In the last dayes , perillous Times shall come . For men shall bee louers of their owne selues , Couetous , Boasters , Proud , Blasphemers , Disobedient to Parents , Vnthankfull , Vnholy , without naturall Affection , Truce-breakers , false Accusers , Jncontinent , Fierce , Despisers of those that are Good , Traitours , Heady , High minded , Louers of Pleasures , more than louers of God , Hauing a forme of Godlinesse , but denying the Power thereof . In these Dayes , Men are Borne , Liue , and Die vnto themselues : And are become such strange Louers of themselues ; that beside themselues , loue they neither God , nor Man . Their owne Lusts only loue they as their liues . Those vices of theirs that please them , they maintaine : Will out-face , rather than acknowledge them : rather approue , than forsake them . Euery man now for himselfe : Nay , euery man now one against another . All wilde and sauage Ismaels , His hand against euery Man , and euery mans hand against him . His Brothers Knife , at his Brothers Throat : his Brothers Sword , in his Brothers side . Stranger is not safe with Stranger : Nor is Kinne secure with Kinne : And louing Brethren are as Blacke Swans . The Godly man most of all , is ( in this world of wickedones ) as a Lilly amongst Thornes ; as a Sheepe in the midst of Wolues : With IOB , a Brother to Dragons ; and with EZEKIEL , a Neighbour to Scorpions : A LOT in Sodome ; a IOSEPH in Egypt ; an ISRAEL in Babylon . Must either be drawn to doe Euill ; or forced to endure it . All that is in this World , is either Snares , or Preyes : There is no way for vs to escape our selues ; but by seeking to intrap others . The world is come to such a passe ; that wee must either doe Wrong , or take Wrong ; Kill , or be Killed , Deceiue , or be Deceiued . ; ;

Religion ( it is manifest ) is but taken vp vnder hand : while Pietie , and Honesty lie so vnder foot . They make some Profession , that so they may wrong with losse Suspition . Men walke like Foxes in Lambes skins , that they may the rather deceiue : and come like Wolues in Sheeps Cloathing , that so they may the sooner deuoure . Pharisee like , Cleane Outsides , painted Sepulchers , whited Walls ; they deuoure Widowes Houses , vnder pretence of long Prayers . And what more foule Iniquitie , than this so fained Sanctity ? How horribly doe men belie their Vices ? Their Pride , they call Gracefulnesse , their Flattering , Courtesie ; their Tyranny , Iustice ; their Auarice , Thrift ; their Lewdnesse , Pleasantnesse ; their Profusenesse , Bounty ; and their Craft and Subtilty , call they Policy , and Discretion . It was neuer good World since Vice went in Vertues Name , and Habit.

The Manners of Men haue now brought Lawes themselues into their Subiection . Neuer more Lawes ; none more Lawlesse , than now adaies . What Offences are done daily before the Barre of Iustice ? Right is but little Defended , euen where Right seemes to bee most Reserued . Lawes are bought , and sold : And he commonly hath the best Penny-worth of Law ; that hath the worst Cause . Lawes are so many , and so abused ; that they are made to discourse , and dispute Truth , and Right : Whereas were they fewer , and well executed ; they would easily and readily determine , and command them both . Nor doth a Common wealth labour so in the multitude of Lawes , as of Lawyers . ( I speake not of iust Iudges , and equall Officers of the Law . ) But of cunning Catchpoles , and hungry Pettifoggers ; that ( like swarmes of Flies ) pester , and infest a land . These ( if you knew all ) haue robbed many a Church , wronged many a Widow , starued many an Orphan , and vndone many an honest Man . In foule stirres , and Contentions of Men , these thrust in for more filthy Aduocates . Of these I say ; Many Lawyers , many Wranglers . Else , how should these men liue , that are raised by others ruines ; did they not make worke for themselues . These Seminaries of Dissention , haue a Cauill , or a Quirke , to make the Law it selfe ( which indeed is a Rule of Peace ) set Men at oddes and keep them so . As when you send your Water to a needy Empiricke , you must resolue to take Physicke : so declare your case to one of these greedie Catchpoles , and you must needs goe to Law . Nay , hee tells you what wrong you haue done your selfe hitherto : and all to bring you ( by his meanes ) to doe your selfe , and others Wrong . You ( like silly sheepe ) take this Bryar-Bush to shelter you ; and hee all to tatters your Fleece : you two must tugge together ere you part . His is the Gaine only in the end , yours ( perhaps ) both the Losse , and Shame .

This is also a sore euill vnder the Sunne : Vertue is set after Wealth Wealth gets vp a Cocke-horse ; while Vertue but holds the Stirrop . Learning is made but a Page to Riches . The Golden Asse is worshipped ; the Ragged Philosopher is contemned . Let a man be Religious , Vertuous , Learned , Wise ; yet this thing is thought to preiudice his best Parts ; that hee is Poore : But let him bee Impious , Vicious , Clownish , Foolish ; yet that he is Rich , makes amends for all the Rest . A Man without Money , is abhorred like a Monster : but adored as a Goddesse , is Money without a Man . This same Goddesse Wealth , bewitches vs all to her Worship . For her wee plot , and pray ; and ride , and run ; and digge , and begge . For base Lucres sake , wee are ready to embrace an Enemy , and fall at ods with a Friend . So ours be the Gaine , wee respect not whose is the Losse ; yea though the Losse proue our Soules at last .

The World turns round in a Topsie-Turuy ; and euery Thing goes the wrong way to worke . The Asse is got to a Harpe ; Phaeton will be climbing ; and Icarus must goe flie . Euery man irkes his owne Lot : is weary of his present Condition : Nothing is more tedious to him , than himselfe . Nor can he containe him within the pale of his proper Calling . Art hath got a tricke to force Nature . Euery Man considers what he Aimes at ; not what he is Apt for . Mercury is made out of euery Logge . Dunses goe for Scholars ; Wretches are prest for Souldiers ; Idiots vsurpe Authoritie ; and Knaues creepe into Offices : Taylors take Orders ; and Weauers will bee Priests . Frogs professe Physicke . Wherein is a Mans least Skill ; that is his whole Profession . Men trauell in vntimely Births , labour in vnapt Actions : Like Channels without a Conduit ; turne Teachers , when they yet both might , and ought to Learne . They vsually come armed to the Church ; goe naked to the Campe : sing at a Funerall ; mourne at a Wedding : study hard in a Play-house ; sit fidling in a Senate-house : earnest in a May-Game ; and slacke vpon their Seruice . One takes vpon him to swim ouer Hellespont on a Horse ; Another aymes to ascend Athos in a Ship : One lies him downe to sleepe in a Waggon ; Another will goe a iourney on his Bed . One takes butterd Pease on his Knife point ; Another eats Eggs with Spoones . Bid him speake , & he is mute : say Whisht , and he babbles . He writes Politicks , ere he yet come into a Common-wealth ; Commands peremptorily , where he hath small Authoritie ; flatly Determines , what he least conceiues . Who knoweth himselfe ? who hath himselfe ? who enters into himselfe ? who keepes within himselfe ? who seekes not himselfe without ? No man measures himselfe by his owne Feet ; by his owne Parts is no man measured . Asses preferre Straw , to Gold : and Dunghill Birds a Barly Corne , to a pretious Pearle . Baser things are esteemed , and frequented : Better things they neither know how to prize , nor vse . Fooles and Idiots , let fall Substances , to catch at Shadowes : let the Bird goe out of hand , and keepe a beating about the Bush . Vncertainties are the most certaine Purchase . All turne Merchant Aduenturers , ( for Places , Offices , Dignities ; Temporall , Ecclesiasticall ) and buy long Hopes , with a large Price . How many fondly both aduenture , and vndoe themselues , to be well spoken of ? Speake him but faire to his Face , and you may haue his Heart out . His Table furnishes him with Friends ; and they likewise his Table : And now the Cloth scarce taken vp , but they are ready to rise . Men are all for the Present : And for that , so as it be commodious . What hath formerly beene , is now forgotten . There is indeed a quicke Apprehension , but no good Memory of one anothers Acts , and Offices . If he cannot so doe , as he hath done ; he shall not be so thought , as he was . Former things are Frosted . An old Dogge shall bee hanged ; an old Seruing-Man discarded ; and an old Friend neglected : notwithstanding they haue beene formerly so Vsefull , Painfull , Beneficiall . A man cannot tell whom to trust to ; nor how to beleeue him . Beside what his Heart imagines , and Tongue vtters ; his very Face betokens Falshood . Hee 'll blow hot , and cold both with a wind : Say , and vnsay , nay gainsay with a Breath . Will promise Mountaines , and performe Mole-hills : and tell you of more in a Minute , than you shall finde in a Yeare . Nay ( which is worst ) will both Say well , and Doe well in Deceit . As , many a man hath had a Good Turne done him : not altogether to benefit , but to blinde , and bewitch him rather . A Man speakes a good word for his Friend , and two for himselfe : And commonly so aduises him , as to bring his owne ends about . Two men contend together , and a Third arbitrates to eithers losse . Like Dogges , they snarle at one another , till the Bone bee snatcht away from both Great men easily take occasion to wrong Inferiours with authority . And the Poore man hath offended enough ; in that hee is not able to defend himselfe . The Poore man must part with his owne Right ; or else hee giues not the great Lord his Due . Rich mens Superfluities are growne enuious 〈◊〉 Poore mens Necessities . Like Dogges in Mangers ; they haue no need of it , they haue no will to it ; and yet they keepe the poore Cattell from their Fodder . If a Man bee once downe the Hill ; euery Man is apt to depresse him further . Once gored in the Body of his Estate , how many Hounds pursue him , and trace him still by the bloud of his Wound ? He is soone made more miserable ; that is once so . None hath lesse paid him , than he , to whom most is due . Whom his Piety doth most commend ; him doth their Charitie least reward . It is both the Rule and Practice , to repell Force with Force : and repay Craft with Craft . So are wee wont to doe to others , as we see they haue done ; not as we would they should doe , to vs . Doe a Man Good ; and this is thankes enough , that hee doth thee no Hurt . How many are ready to reward Euill for Good : and to wrong him most , of whom he best deserued ? What Spiders Webbes are here in the World ? Turbulent Waspes burst through ; while Impotent Gnats are intangled . The Gallowes groanes for great Theeues ; and small Theeues only groane vpon the Gallowes . What one Man doth , is a Fault , and Punished : What so many doe , is thought well , though worse . T is strange , that the Greatnesse , and Generality of a Crime ; should make it seeme lesse mischieuous , lesse miserable , lesse punishable . That belike is Lawfull , which comes once to be Common And ( which is last , and worst ) Men liue , at Mens lusts : So also , Men perish , at Mens pleasures . And to Kill ; is both Courage , and Skill . Murder is made a Mans Art : and t is his Credit , to haue handsomely done the Deed. Besides those that are euill to others ; how many are so vnto themselues ? How many Giants are there ; how many Gulfes of their Estates ? They carrie all vpon their Backes ; These put all into their Bellies : these feed finely , and rot at a deare rate : They goe gayly , till they bee worth not aboue their wearings . He makes a God of his Belly ; Hee a Channell of his Throat ; He a Sinke of his Heart ; He a Lyer of his Tongue ; Hee a Theefe of his Fingers ; He a Harlot of his Members . Yet ( Oh desperate ! Oh damnable ! ) say the Theefe , Drunkard , Blasphemer , Fornicator ; their Thefts , Riots , Oaths , Lusts ; are all ( if sins ) but Veniall Sinnes . No sinne is so great ; but is lessened in his Opinion , by whose Mischiefe it is committed . Goodnesse and Truth haue not more Precepts , than Aduersaries thereunto . The Couetous man shrinks and shrugs , at a Lesson of Liberality : It irkes a Prodigall , to tell of Thriftinesse : The Proud man endures not to heare of Humblenesse : The Irefull hath no Patience , no not so much as to listen thereunto : The Theefe stops his eares at the Charge of Iustice : The desperate Cut-throat is ready to dispatch him first , that would disswade him from the Fact : T is tedious to talke of Chastenesse before the Lustfull : And Sobernesse to a Drunkard , is but as a Tale of a Tubbe . These men will euery one sooner marre the Rule , than mend their Fault . Wicked men will rather abhorre the Precepts , than forsake their Offences . Precepts will doe no Good against them ; and Iudgements but make them Worse I will leaue them therefore to the Angels Iudgement ; but indeed the Deuills Precept : He that is filthy , let him bee filthy still .

Mad ? nay and Mad ; and Mad againe . Who burnes not , starts not , frets not ? Whose Eares tingle not , Eyes sparkle not , Ioynts tremble not ? Oppression maketh a Wise man mad ; said the Wise Man : Iniquitie ( say all Good men ) will make a Good Man Mad. To heare , and see as I haue said ; is enough to make Wife , or Good Men Melancholy , Moued , Mad. It would make a Horse breake his Halter ; to see what Fidling , Piping , Morrice-dancing , Hobby-horsing in a May-game : but to repeat the Vanities , and Euills of Men ; is able to fret a Man out of his Wits . It is not possible to looke here vpon others ; and yet be our Selues .

Whether it come of a Melancholy , a Bloud , a Choler ; it makes me Sad-mad , Merry-Mad , Mad-Mad . See me sometimes bemoaning , deriding , and execrating their Iniquities . Any wayes in the world , to tell Men how I lament , scorn , abhor their Euils . While I bewaile the Weak , smile at the Vaine , detest the Wicked ; am I so Sad , & Merry , & Mad.

Sad-Mad . Our Sauiour ( pardon to the comparison ! ) was ANGRY and GRIEVED together . The holy Prophets haue laid Ashes on their Heads , put Sackcloth on their Loynes ; smote their Thighes , and set their Eyes open , as flowing Fountaines , to gush out riuers of Teares ; and all because of others Iniquities . This is one of our Perfections , to be touched with others Euils , as our owne . Better to bee grieued at , than guilty of another Mans Sinne. Not to irke anothers Euill ; is as much , as to make it our owne . I shall doe no Man Wrong to bewaile his Wickednesse . I need aske him neither Leaue , nor Pardon , to be sorry for him . It is a good fault ; to afflict our selues , for others Faults .

Merry-mad . God but mockt the Man ; Behold , the Man is become as one of Vs : And the Prophet , those Idolaters ; Cry aloud , for he is a God &c. So the Wise-Man , the young Wanton ; Reioyce , O young man , in thy youth , &c. And the Sauiour , the Traitour ; Friend , wherefore art thou come ? And so the picture of Patience , his Cauilling Companions ; No doubt but yee are the People ; and wisdome shall die with you . An Ironie is not vnbeseeming Diuinitie . It hath pleased the HOLY GHOST , to be thus faire pleasant in Speech : as to haue the Words of Holy Writ Seasoned with Salt ; that so they might Administer Grace vnto the Hearers : And especially , by a witty kind of deriding Rhetoricke . ; Moreouer , Holy Men , and Learned ; haue in Weighty Matters , both Answered , and Censured ; with a witty kinde of Mockage , and pleasant Disdaine . One askt Augustine , what God did , before he made Heauen , and Earth ? He answered well & wittily ; He made Hell , for such curious Inquisitors as himselfe . When Iulian the Apostate , demanded arrogantly , what the Carpenters Sonne was doing ? The Christians answered aptly , and elegantly ; He was making a Coffin for Iulian. Erasmus ( when he was askt what Offence Luther did ? ) prettily replied ; Hee tooke away from the Pope , his Head ; and from the Monkes , their Bellies . More might be said of Holy Fathers ; much more of Wise Philosophers . One told a King , that he had his Eares in his Feet : sith hee heard not his Petition , till he had there prostrated himselfe . Another answered a Physitian ; Hee kept . his Health , because he vsed him not . Another bade a Bastard ( throwing stones amongst a Throng ) take heed hee did not hit his Father Not almost an Apothegme of theirs ; but thus both witty , and weighty . Nor doe after-Wits come short of the other . One call'd the Pope a Participle ; because hee takes part of the Clergy , and part of the Laity , without Mood and Tense ; meaning , beyond Time , and Measure . Another askt the Pope , if euer he said the Lords Prayer , and those words therein ; Our Father , and Forgiue vs our Trespasses : Which if hee did , then was hee neither Holy Father , nor Father How many might hee said of this fort ? Wise men , and Good , haue wontedly said all against Euils ; in this Gracefull kinde of Reproaching . Mens Euils haue beene more easily , and profitably Derided , than Confuted . Euen these pleasant Disdaines , haue oft prou'd weighty Arguments against Iniquities . Now , say me not Light ; If I would haue beene Delightfull . I would not in words bee Churlish , nor Clownish : Nor haue I beene Scurrile , nor Illiberall . Haue I iested at Lawes , or Religion ? at the Persons , or Miseries of Men ? Except against their Vanities , so ridiculous indeed ; what haue I said , but soberly ? To haue beene aptly Facetious ; hath added to the Grauity , and Seuerity of Speech . Whether in some Appellations , Descriptions , Transitions ; what hath beene said , not so seriously : said I it only to make thee laugh ? I were more than Mad , so to make thee laugh ; as to make my selfe thy laughing-Stock . Where my Words may shew some Lightnesse ; my Aime there hath this Weight : My sober Derision , my iust Disdaine ; thy smoother Reprehension , thy liberall Delight .

Mad-mad . I haue here said enough , not only to excuse mee for it : but ( me thinkes ) to incourage mee to it . Three speake Truth ; one of which is the Mad-man . Thou maist say me Mad : but I speake the words of Sobernesse , and Truth . The Truth is ; I loue to strip , and whip Mens bosome-Harlots before them : and let them plainly know themselues to bee no better , than they are . What should I parable it ; with the Woman ? J am a Widow , mine Husband is dead , My Sonnes stroue together , &c. These were but farre Fetches : I had rather point it , with the Prophet ; Thou art the Man : this is plaine to the purpose . If I must speake against Vice ; the vicious shall not teach mee what to say . I should not say , as they were : should I say no other , than as they would . I will not aske counsell of them , to bewray their Counsels : but will make bold , after mine owne minde , to tell Men their Minds . Away with the fawning Curres , and toothlesse ; with the buzzing Beetles , and stinglesse : Giue mee the Dogge that will bite home ; and the Waspe that will sting indeed . Take away the Tartnesse ( said a Bold-Speaker , for the Freedome of his Speech ) and Bitternesse from Wormewood ; and it loseth both the Nature , and Name : Take away my Name too ; if you barre me of my Bitternesse . Let your speech ( said He ) bee seasoned with Salt ; tempered ( he meant ) with Discretion : Yea and ( after him , say I ) my Speech shall be seasoned with Salt ; powdred ( I meane ) with Seueritie . Abstract the Acrimonie ; and ( in my Construction ) The Salt hath lost the Sauour .

Loe ! ( thou saist ) a very Lamia : The mad Hagge hath Eyes to put in , and plucke out at will . Hee puts his Eyes ( as one of those ) in his Head , while he walkes Abroad : but keepes them in a Box , when he stayes at Home . So are we wont indeed , to haue Lyncean Eyes to Others : but are as blinde as Moles toward our Selues . True , and t is the property of an Eye , to see all , but it selfe . I confesse ; Wee can sooner finde out others Faults ; than mend our owne . But if I blame thee , with what my selfe am also Guilty of ; Thou shalt not need vpbraid mee with it : I shall now bee enough to reproach my selfe . If I be no other , than I say thou art : what my Tongue tels to thee , my Heart will not hide from me . What I but call thee once , will it tell mee twice . Double is his both Guilt , and Blame ; when the Fault rebuked by him , doth also redound vnto him . I suppose ( with Him ) thou maist say , and slander me ; Physitian , heale thy Selfe : I abhorre to heare from Him ; Thou which teachest Another ; teachest thou not thy selfe ?

But ( after mine owne Cure ) I here am thy Physitian : and haue so dealt with Iniquities ; as doe such with Maladies . See here thou maist , the Parues Affections , and their Affected Parts : together with their seuerall Signes , Grounds , Fruits , Causes , Cures . I haue taken but Three Patients here in hand at once : and they more than I looke for Profit by ; more ( I feare me ) than I shall get Credit by . But Three , to the Three Furies , or Madnesses ; whom I meane to match against them . Three shall bee all at once ; since Three once were all : All that is in the World ( is but Three ) the lust of the Flesh , the lust of the Eyes , and the Pride of Life .

One thing is ; & I would thee note it : I haue applyed it as a soueraign Remedy , against whatsoeuer Malady : Concluding still with a Meditation of Mortalitie , and Death . Nothing makes a Man more irke his Euill ; than to thinke on his End . He that thinkes what he shall then be ; will bee wary what hee now doth . Sinne was the only meanes , that brought a Man to Death : but Death is thus the only meanes , to keepe a Man from Sin . He aimd aright ; Remember the End , ( said he ) and thou shalt neuer doe amisse . To meditate on Death , is as a Curbe against all sinfull Courses : and a Spurre pricking on to pious Duties Pricke the wandring Snaile but with the MEMENTO of Deaths Dart ; and hee straight retires into his Shell : Let the Pilot sit close in the End of the Ship ; and hee now gouernes it aright . To haue Death before his Eyes ; is the ready way , to haue God before his Eyes . He easily contemnes what is Present , and Passing away : that considers what is Euerlasting , and to Come .

I haue no more ( nor needed I so much ) to say for my Selfe : Only , against Thee ( if thou be of them ) haue I yet more . All the Cursed Crue ; Men of the World , Sons of Belial , Children of Darknesse , Impes of Confusion , Limbes of Satan , Firebrands of Hell : I le tell them All my minde , as I meet them . I le take them , where I finde them : And say no more to thee ; till I see thee there .

I 'M Mad , say Most ; That most are mad , and worse ; I say mee so ; 'Cause I see them no other . They make mee Moane , Sigh , Smile , Scorne , Rage , and Curse . Nor I my Feruour ; Nor their Faults can smother . How can I helpe it ; That am made so Mad ? T is Thou must mend it ; That hast beene so Bad. BOth Wise , and Good , Will warrant mee my Madnesse ; Themselues haue likewise More than moued bin : Will either such ( Wise , Good ) be for thy Badnesse ? E●en they that worke ill , Will speake ill of Smne . How can I helpe it ; That am made so Mad ? T is Thou must mend it ; That hast beene so Bad. THy sore Mishaps I Moane ; I Sigh , so see Such Errours Fraile ; Smile , to behold thy Fashions Both sond , and vaine ; Scorne thy Iniquitie ; Rage , at thy Rudenesse ; Curse thy Abhominations . How can I helpe it ; That am made so Mad ? T is Thou must mend it ; That hast beene so Bad.

The Proud .

GOe to then ; and what s He ? I haue seene the Man but of late ; and how suddenly is he altered ? True Embleme of his owne Mutabilitie ! Hee shewes it , but he heeds it not . To Day hath chang'd him from Yesterday , both in Face , and Fashion : Nor shall you see him the Same to Morrow , that he is to Day . The Man seemes but as he is ; a very Changeling . Nay he so adapts his Humour also to his Habit ; that you shall neuer take him , but in as many Minds , as Suits . How he grudges at the stinted Course of Nature , as but niggardly ; that at first allotted him but one Face and Skinne , and Bulke , and Shape : but admires the Liberall Inuention of Art ; that can still so trimly , and newly proportion him . He thinkes himselfe ( I warrant him ) a farre comelyer Creature of a Taylors shaping , than of Gods making . As the one therefore he shames to be seene : but as the other , hee glories to shew himselfe . He is one of ADAMS owne Sonnes , and hath it by Kinde to blush at his bare Selfe . Ah! we could not thus irke our selues , were not our selues conscious of some thing other than good : Wee see some vglinesse , which wee would haue none to se● . Had we not defaced the Image of God in vs , we had neuer bin ashamed to let it haue bin seene . Truth desires to beseene naked , as she is : And the Purest things abhor to be couered , or coloured . Painted Wals , painted Sepulchres , you conceiue what they are beside their Painting .

Oh but ( I see ) he hath quite altered the Fashion ; and hath made him a new kinde of Catchcredit , of his old Couer-shame . His sightly Ornament , hee counts it ; which was once but his Fore-Fathers beggarly Shift . Ah! that Men can now glory in that Superfluity ; whose very Necessitie was but the Badge and Liuery of their Shame . We know , t was ADAMS Shame , that he was so driuen to haue them : And wee thinke it our shame , when we are so driuen , that we haue them not . He is not ( I see by him ) a little proud of himselfe : now beclad in a varnisht Excrement ; & so bedawbd in a glittering Rubbish . Who thinkes himselfe the better Man , for what he is glad to borrow of Beasts , and Earth ? Is hee the more Man , for what they ( before him ) were not the lesse Bruits , & Dung ? See see ! A Sheepe in a golden Fleece : Howsoeuer hee thinkes of his Fleece ; I will thinke him but a Sheepe . Hee prances most statelily in his gay Trappings . But I would be loth to buy , or vse an Horse , that is only so valued . It is for him to prize a faire Outside ; that knowes , nor hath nothing within , worthy more esteeme . How curiously hee glances vpon himselfe ? Hee thinkes , hee is for other eyes than his owne , to be so broadly gazed at . Why cringes he so to his Coat ? vnlesse he would in good earnest , which the Philosopher did in iest ; Honour that , that honours him . Bucephalus is now royally trapt , and flings at all but Alexander himselfe : disbarbe but the Iade , and euery Stable-Groome may bestride him . Many Men as Proud to seeme what they are not : It only debases them to be seene , and knowne what they are . The Asse carries painted and polished Isis vpon his backe ; and ( Lord ! ) how the Vulgar Worship him ? A wise man will iudge of the Tree , by the Fruit , or Bulke : he is a Foole that doth value it by the Barke , or Huske .

A proper Squire hee seemes neere at hand ; and ( you marke him ) well dight vp . Beside a spruce shape , and gay Glosse hee hath about him ; see what a lofty Port , and Gesture hee carries with him . Hee stalkes on in state : I should say , he marches most maiestickly . All his Pace is Measures ; and his Hands accordingly keepe Time , to the Tune of his Feet . His Beuer cocks , Feather waggs , Locks houer , and Beard stands in print : his Band spreading ( like a Net ) about his necke , his Cloake displayd ( as a Flagge ) vpon his arme , his Doublet hanging by Gimmers vpon his shoulders , and his Breeches button'd about him : His Boots ruffle , Spurrs gingle , and his long Rapier ( which he is often tied to ) confronts him at the hilt ; and toward the point , answers his heeles with a grace . What a supercilious Looke he hath ? I warrant you , the very blast or sound of his Speech , would make you start . How he reares in the Necke , struts at the Stomacke , and traces with his Armes a kemboll : he trips with his Toes on the Earth , & waues his Hand , as hee would touch the heauens with his Finger . He hath one part and propertie of a Man , which is , to looke vpwards . Hee thinks this same doth preferre him with Reasonables , when we know it doth but distinguish him from Bruits . Hee le set his Leggs vpon the Last , rather than lose an inch of his height : I will say one good word for him ; and t is the best I know by him : Than this Man in his way , no man walkes more vprightly . Marke how he heaues , as though hee almost scorn'd to tread : Hee casts vp his Nose into the Wind , looks beyond the Clouds , mantles against the Moone , and busies himselfe wholly to build Castles in the Aire . What an Aldermans pace hee comes ? Hee prolongs the Pageant for the Beholders take ; and hurries nor on too hastily , lest most Eyes finde no leisure to looke vpon him . See see ! he stops and turnes in the mid way , at but the apprehension of a lost labour . Oh doe him not the wrong to looke beside him : for if you see him not , hee comes by to no purpose . The Proud man is not more haughty in his owne , than ridiculous in a wise mans eyes : whereas others looke at him , hee lookes thorow him ; and sees plainly the vanitie of his Minde , in that bodily shaping : Hee but smiles at that Carriage of his , which others learne : And thinkes , what Folly there is in Pride , that faines to it selfe , as it would ; and flatters it selfe , as it hath fained . Hee tels her , his eyes are purer , than her painted glory can dazle : nor are they stinted to behold that only , which shee would haue him see . Hee cals her the Ape of Nations , and Fashion-monger of the World : and tels her plainly , shee hath more Followers of her Fashions , than are either Wise , or Good .

Doe you heare Sir ? Surely his eares are taken vp to listen only to his owne fantasticke Suggestions . Hee is wholly busied about himselfe : and heeds not others , while he thinkes others cannot choose but heed him . At him once more : I pray you Sir — Now he squints at mee ouer the left shoulder , as though he deemd mee at a glance , scarce worth the most carelesse peece of his notice . Perhaps hee likes not the fashion of my phrase , t is too homely for his quaint rellish , and sounds not correspondent to the scraping of his whole acquaintance . I am not wonted to the fine Flourishes of his Fashionall Rhetoricke . Hee would haue heard mee sooner , had I bespoke him in his owne Dialect ; which hee heeds most , and best vnderstands . I had forgot to thinke on some curious Complement , and refined Salute : which himselfe hath so often cond , that he hath them at his Tongues end , and there only . Now I remember me , I haue a whole Method of them lying by me ; which he gathered but by Fragments , and so he vtters them . Saue you noble Sir ; How fares your Body ? You are fortunately met ; I congratulate your happy Fortunes ; Sir I honour you ; Would I might doe you any Office ; I thinke me happy in your Noble Society ; I desire your more Acquaintance ; I embrace your loue with both armes ; I kisse your hands ; I adore your worth , I reuerence your shadow ; Sweet Sir rauish me with your Presence ; blesse me ( kinde Sir ) by your Fauour . Oh Sir your Seruant ; Pray Sir command mee ; That I were but worthy to obserue you , Would I might haue enioyed your good company ; Happinesse attend you ; my Seruice wait vpon you . Vaine Verbalists ! whose words are but wind , vttered , and ended in themselues : Lightly occasioned , and as little intended . God gaue you your Tongues , to vse them seriously , not to dally with so deceitfully . Nature hath taught you the faculty of Speech , to tell euch others your minds , and hearts : But you haue coyn'd , and con'd your words of Art , to discourse , and dissemble with . Your words of Course , and Complement ; gaine you as little Heed , and Repose from others : as they haue Truth , or Intention in your selues . You thinke you haue learnt to speake with a grace ; and talke in a certaine royalty of Speech : When ( alas ) it is the Vanity onely that is openly heard , and secretly smiled at .

I am your poore Friend Sir , doe you know mee ? Not ? Hee hath but said , as I thought . A proud Man remembers not another ; because he hath forgotten himselfe . Yet ( if I mistake him not ) hee so loues himselfe , whom he knowes not ; that he almost hates all others , whom he knowes . He enuies his Superiour , neglects his Equalls , despises his Inferiour . And for these last , hee neither endures to take notice of them ; nor that they should make acquaintance with him Hee hath heard , Familiaritie brings Contempt : he therefore contemnes all kinde of Familiarity . So does hee glory in what hee is ; that than of what hee was , hee is of nothing more ashamed . Hee thinks himselfe a goodly Branch , and noble ; but irkes to thinke on the vile and base Stocke he grew vpon . Nothing can more disgrace him , than if his poore Father should meet him , and owne him in the Streets : And he blushes sooner at the meanenesse of his Kinsfolks , than at their Misdemeanours . Who so Proud as hee , than whom none more base ? The Begger on horsebacke , is altogether for the lofty pace . Wretches alwayes wax most insolent , Cowards rigorous , and Peasants haughty . If he get once to thinke better of himselfe , hee therefore thinkes worse of all : He concerts others vnder him ; because hee is now rapt aboue himselfe .

T is true I tell you . You know not mee whom you scome ; you I both know , and pity Your Name ( I take it ) is Sir Haughty-Heart , A man of an High Descent : Your Great Grand Father ( I remember ) came tumbling downe from Heauen . He ( let me say by the way ) fell iustly , that was too Proud , to stand vprightly . And you his Generation , like Monsters , you fling Mountains vpon heaps ; Yea like Fooles in a Confusion , you build you Babels so high ; as though you would reach , and dare Him ; against whom your first Father once aspired . I easily obserue , The Proud Man and the Deuill conspire in one presumptuous Fault : it therefore is , hee hazards with him the like desperate Fall .

Nay scowle not , stare not , stampe not , sweare not ; keep in your threatning Words , & Weapon . Galled Consciences kicke ( like Iades ) when their Sores are touched : Giue me leaue a little . My Challenge is to another , and better Fray : where the Conquerour and Vanquished may part friendly , with Safety and Glory on both sides . Nor is it a single Duell I summon and prouoke thee to ; but a set Battell . I can both number thy Forces ; and order mine owne . Disdaine prouokes your Warre , and selfe-conceit maintains it ; Rashnesse musters vp , and pride leads out your Bands ; Vain-glory blowes your Trumpet , and Insolence is not vpon the Skirmish . But , Humility giues me the safer Ground , Grauity rancks my Troopes , Modesty beats vp my Drumme , Meeknesse receiues the Onse● , and Patience gets the Victory . We yeeld a while , and you forth with sound an Alarum . Your feather-flanting Brauadoes are at length but a blast before our Weather-beaten Souldiers : and who now sounds Retrait ? Pride is vnhorst by Humility , Grauity hath giuen Rashnesse the foyle , Modesty hath stopt the mouth of Vain-glory , Meeknesse hath coold the courage of Disdaine , Insolence is pinioned by Patience , and Selfe-conceit hath taken heels and is runne away from thee . Thy Souldiers are thus put to sword , and flight : and loe ( as I said ) safety , and glory on both sides ! Of a base Commander thou art now become an honourable Captiue : Nor are we otherwise proud of the conquest ; than that thou art humbled in the Foyle . We haue spoiled thy Forces , because they were thine ; thee haue we spared , because thou now art ours : March on with vs to the fairest Marke in our Field , true Peace and Liberty . Had thine been the day ; we could but haue died honestly : thou maist liue honourably , now it is ours . To embrace an happy , and lasting league , is needfull for thee , and for vs expedient : sith thou hast the Benefit , and we the Credit of the victory . Only thou shalt confesse , and reioyce ; the Warre was most iustly begunne , and as happily ended . Happy is hee , whom Veriue hauing conquered , hath made her Captiue , Tributary , Subiect , Seruant . There is no shame where she foyles ; where she spoyles there is nolosse : She striues not with vs , but for our good ; nor are wee hurt , but in her repulse .

How answerest thou my Challenge ? Enter Lists accordingly , and thou shalt finde I haue prophesied the number , order , and euent of a Mysticall Pfeuchomachie . What needs all this ( thou saift ) betwixt vs ? Thou hast euer profest thee a Friend to those on my side ; nor hast thou entertained the other to thee . In plaine tearmes ( so easily thou canst excuse it ) Thou neuer knew'st what Pride was ; nor yet canst thou tell how to be Proud . No Man hath beene so vicious , but that he hath made Vertue his profession . Euen the most dissolute will not owne their Vices : but will yet vsurpe a name from the former , howeuer the latter bee their practice . Neuer man was so proud , as to thinke himselfe so : That Pride were more abbominable than was Lucifers , that could be proud of it selfe . But listen , and I le teach thee how to know thy selfe : Giue eare awhile to thy selfe ; I 'le describe thee a Man so like thee in all points and proportions : as that hee that sees you together , must put on his Spectacles , and view all things double , that takes you for two .

A Proud Man is one that climbes the wrong way to ascend thither ; from whence his Father fell . Is his owne NARCISSVS , and all Mens TIMON : hating others , and enamoured of himselfe . One that esteemes himselfe in a Contempt of others : or contemnes others in his owne Esteeme ; you cannot say whether first , or more . Many a thing doth hee contemne in another , and yet admites it in himselfe . He wonders at what hee hath , & boasts of more . He reckons his Chickens before they bee hatcht ; and all his Geese are Swans . He growes as bigge as a Mountaine , though he bring forth , but a Mouse : and as soone as he hath laid , he Cackles . He boasts of those parts of his ; wherein many Beasts excell him , and say nothing . The little he hath so dazles him , that he sees not what a deale he wants . His vices he puts in the backe part , but his Vertues in the fore part of the Wallet . Them he soone forgets , these hee oft repeats . Swan-like , he carries a stiffe necke ouer his white Feathers , but sees not that his feet are blacke . Others Faults , and his owne Parts are still before him : and thus while he compares , he cannot but preferre himselfe . Because he is somewhat better than the worst ; he thinkes him now as good as the best . Hee hath so many Inferiours , that he thinkes no man his Superiour . Whereas others are to others ; this Man is an Hypocrite to himselfe : For he seemes to himselfe , what hee is not ; and if he be any thing so , yet he thinkes him more than he is . He promises such things to himselfe , which neither are , nor are like to bee : and busies , yea pleases himselfe ( for the while ) in his fained Conceit , as in the reall Fruition . Touching himselfe , he subiects , his Opinions to no Mans : and in anothers Censure , he yeelds to none before himselfe . His Matter , or anothers ; he examines it in the ballance of his owne Iudgement ; and is as impatient to remit it , as to haue it contradicted . He takes Chalke , and a Coale in hand : and his White , or Blacke must stand . The Good Deeds he doth ( as the Wrongs that are done him ) he still remembers He casts to meet the benefited Party in the Street , or a Throng ; and there lookes for acknowledgement : And if it be so old , or were so slender , that he hath now forgot it ; he yet takes occasion by the by , to put him in mind of it . He smiles to heare his owne praise in anothers mouth ; and yet so minces thereat , as though he would seem to blush : But at length is content to yeeld to others Sooth-sayings , before the Testimony of his owne Conscience : and casily perswades him to bee as they say ; though they say nothing so as he is . All Men are Lyers ; and the Proud man most of all : for ( at once ) hee transgresses the bounds of Modesty , and Truth : For while his owne Suggestion makes him talke so largely ; your owne Suspicion cannot thinke he sayes truly . There s not an ill man hates his Fellow , this Man only excepted . A Drunkard accompanies a Drunkard ; a Whoremonger embraces a Whoremonger ; a Theefe shakes hands with a Theefe : one Proud man only abides not another : One Tree is not taken notice of , where the whole Wood reaches to the same height and growth . The Proud Man should not be notorious himselfe , could he suffer others to be as himselfe . Loue and Kings ( they say ) will no Corriuals : nor can Pride ( which is the Loue of a mans selfe , and King of other euils ) endure an equall . POMPEY will no Mate , CAESAR will no Master . That Euill must needs exceed all , that cannot endure another should match it . Hee steps first into the Roome , and sits him in the vpper Chaire ; and ( after some pausing , and gazing ) roles his Head vpon his Elbow ; and conceits with what a grace hee nods toward you , speakes to you , whispers with you , smiles vpon you . Not a Motion of his , not a Faculty , which smels not of Affectation . Nor so much but he Sirs , and Spits with a grace ; and so he Walks , and Talks . He speakes neuer but with a noise ; and alwayes laughs with a kind of Derision : Commands also with Arrogance , and rebukes with Disdaine . He talkes all with Interrogations ; as though his words were of Authority to question euery thing . That you enter his Threshold , is more than a common courtesie ; but that you approach his Presence , is a great vouchsafement . What shall I call him ? A THRASO , a POLYPHEMVS ? To whom shall I liken him ? To MAXIMINVS , that made his Senatours kisse his feet ? to DOMITIAN , that would be stiled a God ? or to those diuers POPES , that were guilty of both ? or to LVCIFER , the Father of them all ? To what shall I compare him ? But to a Cocke , that claps , and crowes vpon his owne Dunghill ; a Peacocke that ruffles in his owne Feathers ; a Toad that swels with his owne poison ; an Asse that hath gotten on a Lions skinne , and now he is a Companion for none , but such as he seemes ; an Ape that is enamoured of his own and vgly Puppets : a Chameleon that gapes after the Aire ; a Bladder full of Wind ; a shallow Riuer , and bubbling ; an empty Caske , and sounding ; an addle Egge , and swimming ; a Thinne Eare , and blasted , that out-tops the fat and full Corne ; a Cypresse Tree , that hath faire Leaues , but no fruit ; a Wine-Bush , that neuer betokened good liquor ; a disordered Member , swoln so bigge through its owne Corruption . Haue I now pourtrayed thee in thy proper colours ? This Glasse reflects on none beside thee : T is ( me thinkes ) thy liuely resemblance ; looke here how thou lik'st thy selfe . For me , I would be loth ( like the Painter ) to fall in loue with thee , by the draught of thy picture .

Tush ! I know thee , and all thy Kinne ; and haue been but too much acquainted with all of thine acquaintance . That old Gripe-good , that por'd so long in the Dunghill ; was the first that rais'd you al thence , and snow made you looke so high . He vndervalued himselfe to that , which now makes you ouervalue your selues . It was he , left you that which made you Lords : and you haue purchas 't this , to thinke you so . But I le tell thee ; thou hast a faire House , and thinkst it a very Heauen to many Houells : step but from thine owne Gates , and see how others build more and greater , BABELS for their Honour . Thou canst walke so farre and wide on thine owne Ground , that thou thinkst euery Passenger must needs trespasse vpon thee : Take but the Map , and shew me in what part of the World thy Land lyes . Thy Bagges strut with a refined and imprinted Earth , and that so swels thee : so did it not the Earth , that might haue said before thee , these are Mine . These Things make thee seeme a Great Man within thy selfe : Silly Grigge ! come out of thy Pond and Mud ; and thou shalt meet with ouergrowne Congers in the Sea . Pride is called the Worme of Riches : It is the ranknesse of this Weed , to produce such a Vermine . If a Man can but once get to bee Wealthy , he soone learnes to be Haughty : So hard it is for him not to be puffed vp , that is so crambed vp . He knew the difficulty , that gaue the Caueat : Charge them that are rich in this World , that they be not high minded .

Not know my Lady Goe-gay , the sprucest Dame in City , or Court ? Her father was frugall , forgetting he was Caesar : but shee flaunts it out , remembring she is Caesars daughter . Me thinkes I now see her , as I saw her last ; how trimly deckt in her purple and fine linnen . Shee ware vpon her backe , to what shee neuer laid her hands . Earth , and Wormes , and Beasts , and Nations , these are , and liue , and labour , for what she soyles , and teares , and spends : Their Excrement , and Sweat , take care to proude her , what shee scarce takes paines to put on . The good Huswife and applauded , seeketh Wooll , and Flax ; she layeth her hands to the Spindle , and her hands touch the Distaffe : and so cloaths both her , and her houshold . Out vpon these home-spunne Threeds ! These signe like Habit , like Condition : Farre fetcht , and deare bought are for our Ladies . One Country and Nation must breed , another kemb , another spinne , another weaue , another dresse , another shape out , and another trim vp their wearings . Alas weake Creatures ! they see not their Beggery in these sundry Borrowings : nor mind how fraile a Carkasse and vile , is shrouded vnder so gorgeous Happings . Womens supplimentall Art , does but the rather bewray Natures Defects . Perfuming , Painting , Starching , Decking , these make some Annoyance , and Vncomelinesse , though lesse apparant , yet more suspected . Wee gaze with greedinesse and delight vpon a curious and glorious Sepulchre ; and yet notwithstanding we conceiue and abhorre what is within . Me thought she bare her Selfe so nicely and demurely , as though her Body had beene starcht & gumm'd according to her Cloaths . Perhaps ( shee carries them so answerably ) shee tooke aime by her Glasse at once , to set both her Vesture , and Gesture in the right Fashion . Ah their silly Folly ! that Metamorphize Nature into Art : and carry themselues more like Pictures , than like Creatures . Oh blot not out the louely Image of God ; in faining , and framing so vaine a shaping to your selues ! How she glittered ( Forehead , Eares , Bosome , Wrists , and Fingers ) in her Gems , Iewels , Bracelets , and Rings ? She likened her Lustre to the Moone , and Stars ; and thought her lesse clay , when so bedaubed with a polished Rubbish . Who might then prize her Worth , that bare many Good Mens Estates vpon her little Finger ? Shee little considered , how many Fingers were worne , and wearied ; to make that one Finger shine . This is not only one of our Vanities , but one of our Superstitions ; That we can ( against our Reason , and Knowledge ) beleeue that the whole substance of a great Patrimony , may be valuably transubstantiated into the Quantity of a little Stone . Gemmes , what are they , but Gums ; or the accretions , or congelations of brighter Water and Earth ? They come but from a more subtile compacted Sulphur and Mercury : and yet we thinke the very Heauens concurred with the Earth to their commixtion ; and so the Sunne left part of his shining in them . Meere notionall is their value ; which is in the Opinion , not in the Thing : They are worth nothing , only if you can but thinke them so . The Merchants Aduenture hath transported them , the Lapidaries Craft hath polished them , the vaine Mans Credulity hath esteemed them , and the Rich Mans Superfluitie hath enhaunced them . These be but rich Mens gawdy Trifles ; as the painted Gew-gawes bee for their children . CHRIST is not put on with these Toyes , and Ragges . It is for such as wax wanton against CHRIST ; to fashion themselues according to this World : For Godly Matrons , the old Fashion is best ; Modest apparell , with shamefastnesse and Sobrietie ; not with broidered haire , or gold , or pearles , or costly aray . ;

Who , Sir Lofty-lookes the Courtier ? I saw him tother day in his golden Fetters : and heard him make great boast of ( me thought ) but a glorious Miserie . Hee hath gotten ( he thinkes ) to bee more happie than he was ; and hath quite forgotten what he was . Fortune hath exalted him , and how he exalts himselfe ? Cleane contrary to the Rule ; the Man thinkes his Place hath graced him : and looks chiefly to be obserued according to his place . He is growne to be better clad than his Master ; yea and beares an higher minde . It is hard to be chaste in company with a Woman , to bee sober at a Banquet , to be patient in a Fray : as hard to be humble in the midst of new heaped Honours , & Preferments . How rarely doth he stoope so low ; that so suddenly is rapt so high ? Like a Moth , or Rat of the Palace ; hee hath oft and much inquired after this mans Life , that mans Office , the other mans Estate : and ( after long , and earnest gaping ) some , or all these are fallen into his mouth . And now hee hath climb'd so high on a sudden , that you would wonder hee wrought not himselfe out of breath . To say all of such an one , in summe : Many hee scornes , his Inferiours ; Hee enuies Many , his Fellowes : One he soothes , his Lord ; One he loues , Himselfe .

But what of Captaine Scape-skarre ? How hee stalkes vp and downe the streets in his Shamoyse , and a Truncheon ; that neuer ware an Harnesse , nor scarce can wield a Sword . O but take heed how you wrong him ! Hee hath more Badges of his Art and Valour about him ; then a side Belt , or a Buffe Coat . Haue you not heard of his Wounds and Skarres , so many haue beene told of ? He bids you see the Gash he gat in his Forehead ; and feele the Bullet , that lies in his Calfe : and you must now thinke how hee then hazarded ; whereas ( perhaps ) hee gat the one as he look't backe , the other as hee ran away . It is a maruell he tells you not , how he stood like a Giant amidst the Pigmies : how with the blast of his first Volley , he made the Enemy quake like leaues ; made them flie like Feathers ; and scattered them like dust before the Wind. And you must now beleeue him ; or else you doe him the dishonour , as if you should either gainsay , or disproue him . He tels you what a monstrous leape he tooke when he was last in Rhodes : and if you will be pleased ( for experience sake ) to suppose the Place where he is , to be Rhodes ; he will also giue you leaue to suppose the Leape . Souldiers ( bee they the most valiant and fortunate , that euer lifted hand or foot , for God , and their Country ) lose so much of their glory ; by how much their owne mouths are the Trumpets of their Victorie . Modesty is not lesse noble in a Warriour , than is valour . If he haue taken the City , let his works praise him in the Gate ; not his words only , when hee hath now got the Towne vpon his backe . He hath wonne the Field ; perhaps with a greater losse : and why boasts hee of a Prize , when all is too little to make amends ? How sayes he , his Enemie is vanquished ; when his owne are not recouered ? The Day is his ; it might haue beene the Aduersaries : and why insults he , where he might haue couched ? With what Glory can he boast , where he might haue complained with shame enough ?

Ah but there s One of you ( beleeue me , I could both loue , and honour him ; did he not saue me that labour , in doing the Office to himselfe ) No matter for his Name ; You may think he is a noted Man . The Man hath good Parts and Gifts in him ; you need not tell him so , he knowes it well enough : you should take him for a Beast , should you thinke him ignorant of his owne Strength : He can doe well ; yea , and he thinks as well of what he can doe . As it was not ill for MOSES that his Face shone , and the People saw it , though himselfe knew it not : So were it well for vs , did our light so shine before Men , that they might see our good workes , and we our selues ignorant to boast it . The Harpe sounds no lesse sweetly , though it hear not it selfe : Our good Parts would bee no lesse laudable , though our selues tooke no notice of them . It is both safe and profitable vnto vs , that our selues haue beene ignorant of our Gifts . How vsuall is it , to forestall our best Parts , with a fore Conceit ? Many men might in time haue beene both Good , and Wise ; had they not as yet thought them so . This hinders the Perfection of Good Parts , when we thinke we haue attained them so soone . God , and Nature haue done faire for him , and hee s now not a little proud of himselfe . This hath God done for him , he hath wrought Good out of Euill : this hath he done vnto himselfe , he hath wrought Euill out of Good . T is strange how Vice here buds from Vertue . Whereas other Vices are in the Euill ; our Pride only is in the Good we haue : Other Euils openly shew the Worst ; this Euill trecherously spoyles the Best we doe . This is the craft and subtilty of the Deuill , that when be cannot at first preuent our Good Deeds , and Duties ; hee seekes to preuent them afterwards , by making vs Proud of what we haue done . The Vertues that destroy their seuerall Vices ; he makes in generall to nourish this Vice : Prudence , Iustice , Fortitude , Temperance ; which banish and abandon Folly , Wrong , Faintnesse , Riot : These neuerthelesse ( and such others ) occasion Pride , and cherish it . Of all our Vertues , this is the chiefest ; not to be Proud of our Vertues . Hee built a Schoole , Colledge , Hospitall ; and I read his name in euery Window . Tush ! he hath erected him an euerlasting Monument of Letters : in whose very Frontispeece , you may read at once both his Name , and Works : And you must conceiue , these were not set so neere together for nothing : his Name does authorize his Workes ; and his Workes immortalize his Name . Hee smiles to thinke , how his Name is published , in the inquiry of his Works ; and how his Workes are graced , in the mention of his Name . He hath long learn't to exhaust others , like a Bee : and now at length hath got the Are to euiscerate himselfe , like a Spider . Others Brood he commonly wraps in his owne Clouts ; with here and there a new-fangled Brat , much what like himselfe : and yet he hugges them aboue therest ; and sayes of his owne inuentions ; O deepe Notions , and mysterious ! Orare , and pious Thoughts ! Oh how it tickles him to re-repeat the Line , and Saying , hee hath couched so Emphatically ! when as ( perhaps ) you can scarce conceiue it to be so much as sensibly digested . Iust like a fantasticke Musician , he chiefly pleases himselfe ; while hee leaues the Grounds , to run vpon his Voluntaries . How readily , and rashly , doe we broach our owne Opinions ? how largely paraphrase vpon our owne Fancies ? yea , wee make them ours also ; which be no other , than haue beene said , or thought , saue somewhat otherwise . That we haue made a bare shift to clad , or cloake another ; this is enough to owne it to our selues . The Authour boasts what curious Threed he hath so cunningly wouen from out himselfe , nor ( for his Matter , or Method ) hath he the least hint from another . The Translatour tels you , t is farre more tedious to confine his wits to construction , than to enlarge them to Inuention . He bragges of the Forrainers Learning , and Deuotion ; together with his narrow inquiry of his Words , and minde : and now hee compares his Turn'd Coat ( though in many places thred-bare , moth-eaten , fusty ; ) to any fresh , and faire , spotlesse , yea seamelesse Garment . Briefly , bee it in things of our owne , or others ; If our knowledge be a little beside others ; euen they must know it , whose knowledge is farre beyond our owne . Nay , but he is now of another Minde ; he is not so Prodigall , as Niggardly of what hee knowes . Away ( sayes he ) with these shallow Cestornes , with these empty Channels ; that hold so little , and powre out so fast : Giue me only the Gulfe of Learning , and a Deuourer of Bookes . I cannot tell what you would say he may be ; but he will not ( he sayes ) bee a Foole in Print . He vpbraids him with Folly , that thinkes himselfe knowes nothing , vnlesse others know what he knowes : and thinks it his owne Discretion , not to communicate his knowledge vnto Fooles . No ; As Learning ( he thinkes ) began : ganue : so hee 'le haue it end in himselfe : For ( so he perswades him ) he knowes so much ; that in him knowledge both liues , and dies . The knowledge that this man hath , he will not vent it out : no maruell then it be found in this man , as is said ; Knowledge puffeth vp .

But of all your lofty Crue ; haue you heard of him , that is proud of this ; That he is not proud ? One that glories vainly , euen in the Contempt of Vaine-glory . You haue many of his Sect , and Sort : He seemes lowly , but he grudges to be despised ; He cares not to bepoore , but he is loth to want : He goes barely , fares hardly , lies coldly ; an holy Man ( I wis ) and mortifi'd ! but that he boasts as much of this , as you could of the Contrary . A fained Humility , puffes vp more , then a noted Pride : and is so much the more euill and edious , as it seemes to bee otherwise . Tush man ! ( be he as thou wouldst thinke , another to thy selfe ) I can as well see his Proud Heart through his torne Coat ; as thine through thy slasht Doublet . Thou proudly abhorrest his sordid ragges ; he also spurnes and tramples thy gay Garments ; and with another kinde of Pride . Thy Ambition vrges thee to giue ; and he refuses thy Gift , for he also hath his Ambition . Boast thou before him ; Thou art Alexander the King : and hee 'le bragge with thee ; Hee 's Diogenes the Dogge . Pride is not alwayes from endowments within ; nor yet from outward Accruments . A proud Heart oft goes together with a Beggers Purse and Coat .

I le now tell thee of One thou knowest not : Heed him well ; thou yet knowest not him whom thou seest . I tell thee ( chuse thee whether thou thinke me so ; my ayme is , that thou be so thy selfe ) I am not Proud : And good reason why ; I haue nothing , I know nothing to be Proud of . Riches , what are they ; but a spreading , a mouing , a glittering Earth ? Hardly , and euilly gotten ; doubtfull to keepe , and dangerous ; soone , and sorrowfully lost . Honour , what is it ; but an imposed , rather a supposed Hight , and Deeme ? a meere nothing in it selfe ; but only is more , or lesse , as others reckon it . Men are like Counters , all of the same mould , & stampe : only when we cast vp their account , we number them from a Farthing , to a Pound . What is Beauty , but a Superficies of Colour , and Proportion ; or a shadowed Shape , and Hue ? a red clay mingled with Snow : A Flower , which ( ere it yet flourishes ) is prone to fade : Crop it vntimely , and it lowres while you looke vpon it ; Let it stand a while , and it withers vpon the stalke : The Frost of a Feuer makes it droope downwards ; and an aged Winter makes it quite wither away . What is Strength & Stoutnesse , but a stiffer Compact , or more solide Couchednesse of the Ioynts , and Bloud ? which ( say Art , nor Might can yet subdue ) Sicknesse , Age , or Death will once enfeeble . I haue seene a Feather and a Wall more beauteous than a Woman : and know an Oxe , or an Oake , to be stronger than a Man . A Lion will outstand a Man , a Tigre out-run him , a Stagge out-leap him , a Dolphin out-swimme him : It is great Folly , to be Proud of those Parts of ours ; which the very Beasts haue not only with vs , but before vs . And for Learning and Knowledge , what is it , but an insight of our Ignorance ; letting vs know only , that we know nothing ? I will aske him , that knowes the most , and applies it to the best ; Who knowes all Things ? Who is wise at all Times ? The most he knowes , is not the least of that he knowes not . And can we be Proud of these things of ours , which either are not ours , or are not ? These best things of Nature , Industry , Fortune , how can we cal them ours , and kisse our owne Hands for them ; when as they can neither get , nor keepe them to vs ? What we here arrogate to our selues , wee steale from God . Oh wretched Man , and thanklesse ! What hast thou , thou canst call thine owne , but Euill ? God giues thee all that thou art , and hast besides : Let the Giuer haue the glory of his Gifts . Why is thy heart so puffed vp within thee , and thy Brother so despised in thine Eyes ? Who maketh thee to differ from another ? and what hast thou , that thou didst not receiue ? Now if thou didst receiue it ; why dost thou glory , as if thou hadst not receiued it ? Thou art more Rich , Great , Faire , Strong , Wise , and Holy , than he ; yea , but hee is more humble . God thinks better of an humble Sinner , than of a Iust man proud . Be he neuer so Good ; God thinkes the worse of him , for that he thinks the beteer of himselfe .

It skarres me quite for climbing so high ; when I consider , that he who first ventered himselfe , and now vrges others , fell so low . He now and then spurs me on to come after him : but ( by his leaue , or rather in his despite ) I hold it easier and safer to sit still ; than to rise vp and fall . He hazards that climbes vp the Hill ; he that couches in the Dale , hath not whence to fall . It is for Goats to clammer vp the Mountaines ; I am a Sheepe , and can content me to graze in the Vallies . Yet am I not so sheepish , to losh into the Ditch , because the Bell-Weather hath ventured : Shall I rush after him , as though I did only mind his Going , but not vnderstand his Drowning ? Let Satan Keepe his poison to himselfe ; or drinke his draught to Fiends , not Men. Shall I pledge him in his Cup , whereof ( I know ) he at first tasted , and perished ? The Deuill ( I perceiue ) was well enough if hee could haue kept him so : He once was ( as it were ) enthroned on high ; hee now is imprisoned below : was once not an Angell only , but the Prince of Angels ; is now both a Deuill , and the Prince of Deuils : Was once more faire than the Sunne , is now as blacke as Hell : Was once a Spirit true , and pure ; is now a lying , and vncleane Spirit . I will not pity , but scorne him rather : How art thou fallen from Heauen ( O Lucifer ) Sonne of the Morning ? And will reioyce to heare , and belecue the Witnesse of his Destruction : I beheld Satan , as Lightning , fall from Heauen . If I may giue the Deuill his Doome ; He is worthily throwne lower , that would haue attempted higher than can be imagined : An Hell is too good for him , that would haue vsurped an Heauen : He merits to be confounded to Nothing that so insulted against All things . Did he ( thinke you ) so ambitiously affect a Diety ? Certainly , Diabolisme was too little for him . Surely , No finite Creature can be capable of so infinite an Euill ; as to arrogate and attempt Diuine Maiesty to it selfe . I rather thinke ( then he enuyed the Maiesty to the Creatour ) be enuyed the Perfection to the Creature ; and gloried in his owne . He saw he was a goodly Thing , and mighty ; & thought he was so of himselfe , and none was so beside him : Others he deemed subiect , and himselfe onely independant . He ought at first to haue acknowledged his maker ; but he then gloried in himselfe . The height then of Satans Am●…tion , was not so much a rebellious attempt to bee like God ; as a Stubborne neglect rather , to bee thankfull to God , for what he was . And what higher Contempt could he haue imagined , then so Proud a Neglect ? This therefore exiled him his blessed and perfect Seat , and State : and made him ( of all Creatures ) the most euill and accursed . His Pride threw Satan out of Heauen , and made him a Deuill of an Angell : Our Pride also will presse vs downe to Hell , and make vs Fiends of Men. Hee that endured not Pride in Angels ; how shall hee suffer it in Men ? How shall Dust and Ashes bee lifted vp , without Consusion : sith this Principality gloried not , but to his Shame ?

Of all Sinnes , God hates , and plagues Pride ; as the Pride of Sinnes . There was no Sinne before Pride ; no Sinne now without it : Since euery Sinne is a proud rebellion against the Will of God . What can be more Proud , than to liue against his Will , by whose will we liue ? What more vnthankfull , than to despise his commands ; which commands , not onely that he may be knowne to rule , but rather that he may take occasion to reward ? Nothing opposeth God more than Pride ; GOD therefore ( of all ) Resisteth the Proud . This made him set his Face against all his Creatures , for enill . He therefore cast LVCIFER our of Heauen , ADAM out of Paradise , the Builders out of BABEL , HAGAR out of his Masters house , IEZABEL out of the Window , SAVL out of his Kingdome , NEBVCHADNEZZAR out of his Condition , HEROD out of his Life : He therefore cast CORE and his Company into the Earth , HAMAN into the Aire , PHARAOH and his Host into the Water , and the SODOMITES into the Fire : He therefore cast IEZABEL to the Dogges , the BETHEL Children to the Beares , and the enuious Lords vnto the Lions . All Gods Creatures fight for him , when he sets himselfe to resist the Proud . God is Lord ouer Man , more than Man is Lord ouer the Creatures : Nor are the Creatures bound to serue Man , longer than Man serues God : If he will be so proud , as to kicke against him that is his Maker ; they will bee so bold as to striue against him that should be their Master . The bigge and lofty Creatures ; Buildings , Trees , Mountaines , Rocks ; these all are obnoxious to euery Tempest , and Thundering : while the low and little shrimps and Shrubs , shroud and stand secure : These are dasht , and These incouraged by him ; that putteth downe the Mighty from their Seat , and exalteth them of low degree . Pride ( we say ) will haue a Fall : This is but the Ladder by which Men climbe to Ruine : This but lifts men vp , to cast them down the more violently & desperately . When you see a Proud Man neare , thinke Iudgement not farre off . Where there is Pride in the heart , there is certainly a plague at his heeles : Yet a little while , and the Flourishing Bay is gone . Bigge Trees stand seldome till they wither ; but are rather blowne or hewen downe before .

Yea but I am humble ; Nor is it thanks-worthy , that I am little in mine own eyes . since One greater than I made himselfe of no account . How can we make vs low enough ; since He whose shooe latchet we are not worthy to vnloose , humbled himselfe at our Feet ? How can vilenesse be puffed vp ; since He that was Great beyond estimation , made himselfe of no esteeme ? It is humilitie enough with vs , that we subiect vs to our Superiours , and preferre vs not before our Equals ; but too much ( we count ) to subiect vs to our Equals , and not preferre vs fore our Inferiours : But ( O wondrous Humility ! ) He subiected him to Inferiours , who among Men and Angels had no Equals . He bowed the Heauens , when he humbled himselfe to our Life ; Hee bowed the Head , when he humbled himselfe to our Death . Odious was our Pride , the Pride of the Sonnes of Men : That could not be cleansed , not be healed , but by so rare Humility , the Humility of the Sonne of God . Why are we puffed ; for whom our Sauiour was so emptied , why so lifted , for whom he became so prostrate ? What Worme of Earth can be lifted vp , when the God of Heauen was brought so low ? We that are base , to what can we be abased ; when Hee was humbled that was so high ? Oh Dust and Ashes ! learne to contemne thy selfe ; for whom the God of Spirits was despised . Learne of him that was humbled , not onely for thy Pride ; but to make thee humble . Oh learne of him , that saith ; Learne of me ; for J am meeke and lowly in heart .

I wonder not that the Deuill was so proud ; for he was an Angell bright , and perfect : But it makes me start and gaze , to see Man so ; that is but Dung , vile & vanishing away . The Deuill had more to be proud of than hath Man : yet Man will be as proud as the Deuill . What is Man , thus to forget , thus to transgresse his owne Condition ? Did he seriously consider himselfe , this would make him keepe warily within himselfe ; at least , not step so lauishly beyond himselfe . Why liftest thou vp thy selfe ( O Man ! ) when thy selfe is enough to pull thee down ? Art thou not wretched , mortall , euill ? Thy blacke Feet will bow thy stiffe necke , notwithstanding thy white Feathers . What art thou but a Shadow , a Sepulcher , a Statue , a Glasse , a Bubble , a Blast , Dung , Dust , and Ashes , Wormes-meat ; a crazy Body , and full of Corruption , a cankred Soule , and Fraught with euill : whose Being , no Being ; whose Life , no Life ; whose Life is gone , or going ; whose Death is comming , and will come . And now ( Earth and Ashes ! ) how art thou puffed vp ; whose Nature , and Lot it is to settle , and sinke ? What should a Giant doe in a Dwarfe ; or so high a minde in so vile a carkasse ? The Sergeant , Purseuant , Catch-poll of the Great King ; that knocketh at the doore of Young and Old , high and low , rich and poore , that equals Scepters and Spades , Iron and Straw , Bookes and Babbles : She turns Beauty into Blacknesse , Strength into weaknesse , Wisdome into Folly , and layes Honour in the Dust . Digge vp the Beggers Graue , open the Princes Tombe ; view well both their Skuls , and see how like they looke : compare their Dust , and thou shalt finde no difference . Why doth Man ( in his life ) so proudly preferre himselfe to the Most , and Best : whom Death shall once equall to the Least , and Last ? No man is proud , but he that is ignorant of himselfe . Know then ( O Man ) at once , and contemne thy selfe : Know whence thou wert , what thou art , and whither thou must : Whence thou wert , from a muddy Slime ; What thou art , a rotten Dung ; Whither thou must , to the place of Dust and Wormes . In all that was , or is , or is to come ; here s nothing to be proud of . How can he be proud of himselfe ; whose Birth is a pollution , whose life is a Desolation , whose Death is a Corruption ? our Life is but a step to Death ; or many Deaths to one Death : Youth is the death of Infancie ; why then are we proud in the Toyes of our Infancie ? Manhood is the Death of Youth ; why then are we proud in the pleasures of our Youth ? Age is the Death of Manhood ; why then are we proud in the strength ofour Manhood ? Decrepitnesse is the Death of Age ; why then are we proud in the wisdome of our Age ? Lastly , Death is the Death of all , why then are we proud of any ?

Tush ! what of all this ? Thou now thinkest neuer the worse of thy selfe , for what thou shalt be . Tell thee ( thou faist ) not what thou wert , or must be ; but what thou art . It s all one for that : what thou hast , thou mean'st to make much of it , while thou hast it . Goe to Great-Heart ; thou wilt ( ere long ) be lessened . Bee proud yet awhile of thy selfe : where shall once be thy Selfe , or Pride ? Doe , doe ; Out-gaze Heauen till Earth gape for thee : and spurne Men , till Men tread vpon thee . Then shall they perceiue thee to be as vile ; as thou couldst conceiue of them . Yea , when thine Honour , Wisdome , Beauty , Strength ; shall be sowne in Weaknesse , Horrour , Folly , and Dishonour : Thus shall they entombe and intitle thee at once .

GOod Reader know , That commest nigh ; Here lies he low , That look't so high . Both poore , and nak't ; That was gay cloath'd : Of all forsak't , Who others loath'd . He once thought all Enui'd his Worth : Nor Great , nor Small , Now grudge his Turfe . The Heauenly Cope Was his Ambition : Three Cubits scope Is his Fruition . He was aboue all ; God aboue him : He did not lone all ; Nor God loue him . He that him taught , First to aspire : Now hath him caught , And payes his hire .

The Jrefull , OR Angrie .

BVt whither Sir Hotspur ? what , al in haste ? A word ( I pray ) and you will ; yet not ( as you vse ) a word and a blow . Come prethee , let me walke thee a while , to coole thee . Spur not on too fast ; thou l't either jade , or stable thy selfe . I conceiue thee , and can prescribe . Perhaps , thou hast not the wit to reckon the Greeke letters ; not the Grace ( perhaps ) to repeate the Lords Prayer : yet ( may be ) the leasure to take a Turne . In good sadnes , thou art angry ; something now ayleth thee . Something ? The Foole ( sure ) hath more wit , than to be angry for nothing . One ( thou sayest ) hath wronged , and vrged thee : Harke a while , and thou shalt heare him say no lesse of thee ; than thou now of him . Men are wont to accuse others , when themselues are in fault . The Angry man ( especially ) is seldome but guilty of his own allegations , and Complaints : and oft times wrongs another , in What he sayes , in that he sayes , another hath wronged him .

Nought but a glance , a puffe , a snuffe , a frown , a shoulder , a spurne ? and ( beside these flouts and scornes ) neither stay , nor speake ? Thus are our Passions hot vpon their bent pursuit : thus disdainfull at their least opposition : thus carelesse of the best aduice . Bid him stay , and be aduised . You had as good say nothing : He is resolutely bent vpon his rules ( I know ) which he as ill vnderstands , as followes : That he ought not to be wronged : That he ought to be satisfied for the wrong .

Surely the man is lost , or lacking ; and is wholly bent and busied , to seeke and ouertake himselfe . Or rather , is so taken vp with himselfe on a sudden ; that he yet hath no leasure to take vp himselfe . He driues on very furiously , and most stiffely bestirres his stumpes : and yet ( I warrant him ) cha●es as fast , as he postes ; because his feet are so sluggish and vnweildy , that they make no more haste to bring many his other members into action . His spleene which cannot so soone burst out against another , now boyles and bubbles within himselfe . Out vgly Hagges , and Bell-dame Witches of our Minds , and Soules ! rebells to Reason , and enemies to Sense How doe ye possesse , and mishape vs ? With what sophisticating dregges of Exorbitancy doe ye skarre vs from our selues : and hurry vs headlong to that inconuenience , which we seldome warily recouer ; but which we rather shamefully repent too late ? If these Tempests hoyse and tosse vs , we rarely recouer our harbour ; but our Ship is either swallowed of gulfes , buryed in the waues , or split vpon the rocks . Our Affections ( for they haue their Office in vs , without their Fault ) become chaste Hand-maids to our Minds , while carefully and discreetly curb'd and awed : but giue them leaue , and Liberty , and they turne inordinate Prostitutes to our lusts . Sit close to the Sterne , and let these only apply their owne Oares ; and the Ship sayles with a merry gale , and prosperous : But let loose the Reines , and ( as vntamed Horses ) they hurry along ; and at last they throw their Rider . Fire is a good Seruant , but a bad Master ; vsefull vpon the hearth , but hurtfull beyond the bounds : Such are our fiery Affections also : we are not Tyrants , but must be masters ouer them : we cannot root them , we must restraine them . Let HAGAR sit about SARAH , and shee le stirre contention in the whole House of ABRAHAM . That these Bond Huswiues ( our Affections ) vsurpe ouer Reason , that Free Matron , is enough to disturbe and distract the whole Man . These are the troubled waters , in which we cannot see our faces , and shapes : nay , in which we wallow purposely , that we may not see them . These are the dusky Clouds , that obscure the Sunne of our little world , our Reason . If these boysterous Winds get head against vs ; they trouble our Sea , perplex our Pilot , split our Ship , and driue vs all to wrack . But I say no more to my Selfe . We may bewayle our Selues in Others ; it is in vaine , that we warne Others within our Selues . Haue after the Haslting ; nay , haue at him with an encounter as resolute , as speedy .

But soft ; not too neare him . The man turnes bigge , and sower vpon me . He seem'd Impatient at the first ; and now growes Furious at a next affront . Anger is wont to resistand assault those it meets with , as those it aymes at : and growes as short against the meane occurrences , as against the maine Opposite . See , see ! Hee 's all on a froth and fume . Looke on him well , and like him worse . His Head startles , Haires bristle , Browes wrinkle , Eyes sparkle , Teeth chatter , Tongue stammers , lips quauer , Ioynts tremble , Hands clap , Fingers twitter , Feet wander : His Bloud rises , Stomacke fills , veines swell ; His Heart burnes , Breast boyles , Breath shortens , and his Colour goes and comes : Now red as fire , now pale as a clout ; now rashly hot and flaming , now fearefully wanne and chill . What vncouth alterations of Mind ? Did you euer see such franticke anticke gestures of Body ? In this Glasse ( I warne you all ) behold , and abhorre yourselues . Did he here also see himselfe , he would scarce know himselfe ; yet scarce that , ere loath himselfe . The Man quite marres a good Face of his owne . How vncomely and loathsome is his Mind now ( could you marke it ) that workes these distempers , and distractions in his Body ? He seemes ( me thinkes ) as vgly , as outragious : and his Feature not more vnseemely , than his Feats . Marke him now : Now he stands , now starts , now stampes , now Stares , now shrugges , now scratches , now snuffes , now grinnes , now gapes , now wrings . Such Apish tricks , such Bedlam prancks ; as you would iudge him ( in his Fitt ) either a Foole , or or madman : And who will thinke you other in his case ? Anger is a short madnesse . Ah peeuish passion , that thus distempers and distracts vs ! of all our hard and aduerse Affections , the most harsh and churlish . The rest haue some easement ; this only will no mitigation . Feare hath some Boldnesse ; Sorrow some Ioy ; Despayre some Hope ; this Fury only hath no mercy . They moue vs , but this inrages : They disturbe , but this confounds our quiet .

Yet more tricks with this angry Ape ? Come a loft Iack : Sirrah ? How doe your fellow Brutes startle and bestirre them in a moued mood ? See the Sport : He now rampes like a Lion , bristles like a Boare , fomes like a Beare , kicks like a Horse , stampes like a Bull , pushes like a Ram , grinnes like a Dogge , scratches like a Cat , swels like a Toad , hisses like a Snake , bills like a Cocke , tugges like a Goose , buzzes like a Beetle , stings like a Waspe , and now mumpes and mowes like himselfe . Nay about Iacke . He now bends his browes , gnashes his teeth , scratches his head , teares his haire , beats his breast , wrings his hands , smites the post with his fist , and spurns the dust before him with his feet . The angry Ape said I ? I should haue said the Ape of Anger . There is no sauagenesse of Beasts , which he here imitates not , if not exceeds . Nay , hee 'le follow the very Fiends in his fury . Man is in nothing more Brutish ( I yet say not Deuillish ) than in his Anger . He is well compared , to what he so well resembles . I shall thinke him neither better , nor other than a Beast ; that suffers his senslesse passion to blinde and sway the Reason of a Man . No better than a Beast ? Much worse . A Beast knowes not how to be angry : Anger is the Anger of a man . Mans is the sin ; a Beasts is but the shadow , and shape of Anger : A Beast oft shewes the violence ; a Man only hath the vice thereof : Such ( perhaps ) seize , wound , kill ; roare , and bray , bellow and bleat : yet forthwith ( for all the Anger , or Sorrow ) fall to Feed , or Sleepe : He only hath this Ground , and Grudge within him . And hereupon , no Man but prone , no Beast but loth to be prouoked : It striues still to shunne , what he oft thirsts to iucurre .

My Friend , be faire condition'd ; t is best for you to know , and loue your selfe . Nay my haughty Haire-braines , t is no pishing , tushing , laughing , scowling , scoffing , scorning matter . Scorne thou my Pity , while I pity thy Scorne . Another hath wronged thee ; alas ! and alas that thou therefore wrongst thy selfe : Thou needs must vex thy selfe , because another hath vexed thee . I had thought ( howeuer ) that thou couldst not so haue hated Another , as not to loue thy Selfe . But what carest thou , how thou hazards thee , to hurt him . A Bee hath stung thee , and thou 'lt pull the whole Hiue about thy eares : yea ( silly Bee ! ) thy selfe wilt also sting , though in the losse of thy Sting , thou lose thy Life . Thou 'lt throw thy Dare howeuer , though more by that meanes light vpon thee . It is nothing , if thou perish in his ruine . Ah silly Fencer ! but naked , and yet spightfull in thy Frayes ; that lookest only where to hit the the other , not where to guard thy selfe . An angry Man is his owne worst enemy ; and offends none more than himselfe : Hee is often more crucified in the Thirst ; than the other damnified in the Execution of Reuenge . Anger is a Fury , that rightly haunts the heart , that harbours it : a Viper that worthily gnawes the wombe , that doth conceiue it . It is but iust , that an inordinate Mind and froward , should be a Plague , a Torment , a Danger , a Destruction to it selfe .

I haue cast thy Water : I le tell thee what thou feeles , which ( because thou feeles ) thou canst not tell . Thy Disease is the spice of an Ague ; commonly called the Physicians Shame ; which euery Man is here to himselfe . The Ground is a cholericke Humour , the Seat a naughty Stomack , the Cause a bad Digestion , of hard meats especially ; the Signe a Burning , a Shaking Fit ; the Effects a Distemper of the Body , and a Distraction of the Mind : the Cure is , to be let bloud in a Wilde Veine , to purge gently for Choler , to abstaine from sharpe and bitter Prouocations , and apply thy stomacke only with pleasant and easie Leniments . Nay if you take it not in time , before the third Fit at the furthest ; it growes to more Diseases , than I can either Cure , or Count. Then is it the Inflaming of the Bloud , the Swimming of the Braine , the Blearing of the Eyes , the Burning of the Heart , the Belching of the Stomacke , the Shaking of the Hands : Strifes Inflammation , and loues Oppilation ; the Dropsie of Indignities , and Consumption of all Humanity . The Minds Extasie , casting Reason in a trance : the Bodies Lethargie , lulling the sense asleepe . Name me any thing that s bad ; and it is no better . A roaring Lion , a rauening Wolfe , a sauage Tigre , a wilde Boare , a she Beare , an vntamed Beast , an vnbrideled Horse , an vnyoked Oxe , an vntaught Ape : a Cloud , a Wind , a Showre , a Storme , a Sea , a Waue , a Gulfe , a Rocke , a Wracke ; a Racke , a Pit , a Hell . All the Elements out of their element . A consuming Fire , a pestilent Ayre , a troubled Water , and a quaking Earth . Thus can I call it all that s bad ; and what shall I say to thee ? A foule euill is Anger , and egregious . There s no Euill , which it either causes not , or matches not . What Euils to Strifes , Enuies , Murders ? and whence are they ? What Euills doe men beyond it : and amongst vs Men , What Euils are done beside it ?

Thou knowst ( perhaps ) nor it , nor thy selfe , by these Names of mine : or lou'st rather not to heare on 't in harsh tearmes . I now come to thee ; thus mince it with thee . It is forsooth ( as you commonly call it ) an Hasty nature : So ; it s thus knowne in all : but how call you it each in other ? Oh , t is the Souldiers Stoutnesse , the Ministers Earnestnesse , the Womans Pettishnesse , the Sicke-mans Peeuishnes , the Young-mans Rashnesse , the Old-mans Testinesse , the Priuate-mans Choler , and the Great mans Displeasure . Be it so in the Seueralls ; what is it yet in the Summe : Euery man in his Humour ; and yet but one Humour in euery Man . Are Sinnes lesse , for the varietie of Names , and Subiects ? Anger may be more impotent in one than other ; yet is it not lesse euill . We all haue not our Might answerable to our Mood . It is with more Rancour , than Power , that the very Waspe stings , and Worme turnes againe .

But it s good ( and it be but to sharpen a mans wits ) to be angry a little , now and then . Why not better , to be alwayes more ? A Good thing is not Ill , because it is more . The Thing is meerely euill , whose Increase may make it worse . Vertues onely know a meane : Vices haue a more or lesse . A lesse Euill hath not more Benefit , but lesse Danger : A lesse Anger , is a lesse Euill ; it therefore Profits not more , but hurts lesse .

Who I angry at thee ? at thy Anger rather : Nor angry at thy Anger I. It is not fitting a Fault should take vpon it , to correct a Fault . Yet let me say ; Zeale , and Iustice , reprehend and punish , with earnestnesse , with seuerity ; not rage , not cruelty The Philosopher would not smite his Seruant , because he was angry : nor ( were I so ) would I chide thee . We are not angry at him , to whom we would the Amendment of euill , together with the punishment . Is the Law therefore angry , because it conuicts , the Iudge because hee condemnes , the Officer because hee executes the Malefactor ? It is Pietie that moues here , not Infirmitie . The sword of Iustice is not put into a Mad mans hand . Authoritie requires not a rash , a lawlesse rigour ; to what a graue , and iust seuerity can execute . Are Magistrates set for Posts , and Cyphers ; idle , and immoueable ? It is the Spurre of their Office , that now moues them : They are angry at Enormities ; the very Cause is enough , to exempt it from that Name : It is not perturbation now , but indignation . Take away this spirit and life of the Common Wealth ; and each ciuill Society faints in dulnesse and heartlesnesse ; yea groanes vnder disorder , confusednesse and ruine . These may sin , in being not angry : These may bee angry and sinne not : Thou both art angry , and sinnest .

True , true ; The Ant ( I know ) hath her gall , the Flie her spleene , and the Worme will turne againe . Nature ( I haue learned ) hath giuen to all Creatures a desire and endeuour to preserue them selues in their proper Being : and hence it is they so resist , or auoid whatsoeuer may oppose , or endanger it . Euen vilest Creatures wax offended , at what may molest their peace and safety : How much rather then is the noblest Creature displeased at iniuries , at indignities ? A Man is worthily moued at his Friends Wrong , and his owne : and a Christian ( aboue all ) at his Gods Dishonour . But what a Man is he , that will wrangle with a Worme ; that will fight with a Flie ; that a Mouse can moue him ? We haue such a sort of touchy Spirits ; whose Tinder hearts , apt to receiue the least Sparke of a Flinty offence ; kindle forthwith the Match of Contention . Like Thunder and Lightning , a Cracke and a Flash , a Word and a Blow , The Deuill ( I thinke . ) at first extracted . Salt-Peter from their moulds and ashes : Their very Nature is Gunpowder ; you can no sooner touch it , than it flies in your face . There s a Sparke , all Fire and Tow ; euery blast of breath is the Bellowes to kindle him : and euery . Blocke in his way , is Fewell for his Fire . He is too forward in his Frowardnesse , that fals out with euery Thing , vpon euery Occasion . Say no Occasion be giuen him ; hee le rather faine it , than want it . Say no thing oppose him hee 'le yet be at oddes with himselfe . Anger is oft impatient , euen of Obseruance : and longs to be croft , that so it may get to vent it selfe . Say still as he sayes , to sooth him ; yet hee 'le hastily bid you ( as Caelius the Senatour bade his yeelding Client ) say somewhat against him ; that so you may be knowne to be one beside him . Hee 'le wrangle with you for Goats haire , and stand against you for a Straw . Pinnes , and Points , are enough to set Boyes together by the eares . He takes it in high disdaine , you so carelesly bedasht his Doublet ; and vowes to be euen with you , since you hapt to tread vpon his Toes . You haue either taken the Wall , or not pledg'd the Health ; and he must needs fight with you . He frets and fumes at his Fortune ; Curses and conjures the Deuill , and the Witch ; bites , and burnes Cards and Dice , and now he is satisfied in a silly reuenge . There is no Trifle , which a Wise man cannot laugh at ; or a Foole be angry at . Rather than his iniuries shall be vnreuenged ; hee 'le pursue the Waspe that stung him , bawle with the Dogge that barks at him , beat the Wind that blowes in his face , fight with the Post that withstands him , and spurne the very Stone he stumbles at . Creatures all as insensible of his Anger and Reuenge ; as himselfe is of the Euill and Indiscretion . I haue seene a Childe , that fallen , full Angerly would beat the Ground : Somewhat had offended it , and it did not know what to be reuenged of . Children are moued with but appearances of hurt and wrong : and likewise are appeased but with fained strokes and teares . How Babish are we men in our Passions ? We are easily angry , but at what we know not : Something seemes to wrong vs , and we haue some desire of reuenge . It is a shadow of Offence , that moues vs ; and a shadow of Amends , will still vs . A but counterfeited Appeasement , is enough to a but conceited Indignation .

Bid BALAAM hold his hands ; and smiteno Asse , but himselfe . Can he neither see , nor feele ; to strike so at himselfe through her sides ? Poore Asse ! she had too much of his Load ; though he had spar'd his strokes . But hee will needs stab her for stumbling . I haue knowne such Bedlam Balaams , as would wrathfully reuile and curse , furiously smite and slay their silly Beast , for but failing or falling vnder them ; when ( alas ) already wearied or maimed by them . How shall I thinke him other than Brutish ; that will match and measure his indignation to a Beast ? NAAMAN snuffes , because his Physitian would cure him another , and better way , than hee thought . He look't he should heale him by the Sound of a word , by the Touch of a finger : had he not better Wash , and be healed by himselfe ? Hee thought this was not so good ; because he thought not of it . Reason would haue esteemed that , which was the best : his Rashnesse would haue that best , which hee had esteemed . The Reason of ● Man alwayes thinkes what is fittest to be done : his Rashnesse only hastens him to doe , what hee ●hinkes . This Euill hath Anger also , that it will not be aduised . It ( while it opposes euery thing ) endures not any thing should oppose it . It iudges after its owne Fancie , and does accordingly ; and will by no meanes bee drawne from it selfe . The Truth is but a Tale , that gaine-sayes : and the Right does it Wrong , that oppugnes it . No mans Anger seemes vniust to himselfe . Howeuer , it thinks better of Obstinacie , than Repentance : and will repeat rather , than recant the Euill : yea , will the rather seeme to iustifie it , because it would not seem to accuse it selfe . NAAMAN therefore distasted the Waters of IORDAN ; because he was only enamoured of the Riuers of DAMASOVS . Many men rashly kicke at , and peeuishly interpret at the worst , what is Said , or Done for the best ; only because it thwarts and crosses their peruerse and Obstinate Humour .

BALAAM stomacks his Asse ; and IONAS pets for his Gourd . There s no such Impatience of Men , no such Indiscretion ; as to be moued at Trifles , to murmure for them . It is but Childish ( you will say ) to whine for Puppets . What shall I say of these ? The Mind is but base like them , that son values them , to be so angry for them . A generous Horse will scorne to meddle with a bawling Curre . The vilest Natures are the most querulous and contentious : much more in vilest Things . A Foole , a Childe , a Woman , a Sicke man , and hee that s twice a Childe , ( they of the feeblest Condition , Sex , and Age ) name me one beside them , so easily and vnaduisedly moued . Be not thou one of them , and let them be all One. So he wisely Counsels thee . Bee not hasty in thy spirit to be angry : for anger resteth in the bosome of Fooles .

Haue I rak't vp your Subble ; soone in , soone out ; soone hot , soone cold ? I must hammer your Wedge too , that s so long in heating , and burnes so sore . The yelping Curre did but snarle and snatch , and I shooke him off : this sullen Dogge will fasten hard , and bite sore ( I feare me ) he lookes so grimme . But I le now doe my best to staue him . Ha! The Mad-man and his sword are ill met : It were safer that the curst Cowes horns were shorter . Anger is so wretched of it selfe , and impotent ; that it thunders it , when it hath now gotten authority and power . Take heed of him ; hee hath drawne his blade , and vowes , not to put it vp , till he be reuenged : His Life ( he sweares ) shall answer for the Wrong . Oh how hee 'le hacke him , and hew him , the next hee meets him . Doe you heare him ? Hee 'le cleaue his Coxcombe , bumbaste his hide , rattle his bones , split his heart , let out his puddings about his heeles , and garter him in his guts . His bloud is vp ; and will not settle , but in bloud . Outragious and bloudy villaine ! irefull Hell-hound , sauage Tigre , Monster of Men , and Deuill of Monsters . Thou goest about to reuenge one , and a petty Indignitie ; and so offerest another , and more hatefull Iniurie . Anger ( Oh this Anger ) is not an vnreasonable only , but an vnruly Passion . It knowes neither Ground , nor Bound ; while it is both Causlesse , and Extreme . Cursed CAIN ! looke vpon thy Brother , he is thy Makers Image also ; as fearefully and wonderfully made , as thy selfe : his bones , and haires are as strictly numbred , and his bloud more precious in his Markers Eyes . What Fury of Hell prouokes thee to destroy that Image ; which no art , no ability of thine can repaire ; no amends can acquit ? Tush ! what s a Death to a Dishonour ? His Life shall but pay for thy Disgrace : Ah! nor thy Confusion , but for his Life .

The LAW ( when it was vsed at the most , and interpreted at the worst ) allowed no more , than an Eye for an Eye , a Tooth for a Tooth , a Hand for a Hand , a Foot for a Foot : Stripe for Stripe , Wound for Wound ; but Bloud answered not but for Bloud ; nor but for Life , was Life required . Do I instance ( think'st thou ) for thy priuate Retaliation of wrongs ? rather against that ouerplus of Euill , whereby thy reuenge tyrannizes so farre beyond the Offence . HE , that knew best how farre that LAW did stretch , and how long it should last ; now tells thee otherwise : Yee haue heard that it hath beene said , an eye for an eye , and a tooth for a tooth : But J say vnto you , that ye resist not Euill . The Talion Law ( when it was ) was for publike Iustice , not for priuate Reuenge : Especially , sith the Reuenge of a man knowes no Order , holds no Equalitie , in his owne wrong : So that commonly there is more wrong in the Reuenge done , than in the Wrong receiued . Hee hath endammaged thy Goods ; must thou therfore assault his Person ? He hath torne thy Coat ; must thou therefore teare his Flesh ? He pluckes thee by the Haire ; wilt thou therfore pull him by the Throat ? He hath blemished thy Name ; and must thou therefore spoile his Life ? While thou wilt be thus satisfied , for the wrong hee hath done thee : what satisfaction wilt thou make him , for the wrong thou hast done ? Hee is the more Offender himselfe , that seekes to auenge him about the Offence . Let it not be pleaded , whether hath first , or last : it shall be iudged , whether hath most offended . Besides the Ground , and Occasion thereof ; this euill hath Anger in the End , and Execution ; that it is vniust . His Wrath is iust alone , that shall once render to euery one according to his Workes . Thou wicked SERVANT , and mercilesse ! wilt thou pull thy Fellow by the throat ; and hale him to Prison , for a few Farthing Trespasses ? Thy LORD shall once binde thee hand and foot , and cast thee into Vtter Darknesse for many Talent Offences .

Anger is but the Deuils Wrath ; and the angry Man but his Weapon : A Weapon wherewith hee kills double , or two at once ; ones Soule together with anothers Body . Hellish Instruments of Fury are they all , to set a World in combustion ; and bring themselues to confusion . What a spite is this ? Thus the Deuill vses Mans hand , for Mans destruction . Thus laughs the Aduersary , that euery mans Sword is in his Fellowes side : thus glories , that Man is his owne , and others ruine . God made Man Mans God : but the Deuill thus makes Man Mans Deuill . Shall I turne Actor in this balefull . Tragedie of Men , and Dayes ; and inueigh against this Fury of the World ? Direfull Miscreant , and hatefull Monster of Hell ! impatient of our Being , irefull at our Quiet , hurtfull to our Safetie , and dismall through all our Dayes ! Who but SATAN did first enwombe thee ? Woe , and alas ! that Man did euer enbosome thee . Thy rage hath vndone more Liues , than the force of Death hath dissolued . Thou Plague of Mankind ●hat hast cost them such measurelesse , such numberlesse , Bloud and Wounds . Not Tigres , not Dogges , not Vipers , but Men , ah Men are growne the impatient , the froward , and stubborne Generation : thus vntowardly doe they degenerate from themselues . The Lion , the Beare , the Wolfe ; feed on the Hart , the Asse , the Sheepe : but Man thirsteth after Mans bloud , and the greedy Canniball gluts himselfe with Mans flesh . Aske why he is so hengry ? It is because he is so angry at his Fare : It is his Fury that prouokes him to that Dogged Appetite ; and gets him such a Stomack to it . Reuenge is but the Executioner of all those Cruelties , whereof Anger is the first Inuentor : That but the Practitioner , this the Engineere . Whence come Stabblings , Stranglings , Poysonings , and rufull Maceratings ? This first taught , and vrged , to digge out a mans Eyes , to slit his Nose , to cut out his Tongue , to hew off his hands , to carbonate his Flesh , and shiuer his Bones . Yet more , and worse ; Because it will not doe a Man the Fauour to dispatch him : it studies to put him to as many Deaths , as Wounds : and thinkes that if be perish other , or sooner than it would ; that he hath as good as escaped , in comparison to what it meant him . Diuers hath this Euill diuersly surpriz'd and ruin'd . One in his Bed , another at his Table , another on his Way , another in the Church . Not Time , Place , Persons , Occasions , can forbid Angers rash and raging attempts . Widowes and Orphans , Young and Old , lament and curse this Euill ; since it vntimely tooke away the Husband from the Wife of his bosome , the Parent from the tender Infants head , the staffe of his age from the aged Father . What say I thus of some ? This Firebrand of the World , hath set all Nations together by the eares , hath dilapidated whole Cities , depopulated whole countries : hath made mountaines of Carkasses , Riuers of Bloud , and Mists of gasping Breaths : Outragious Hagge , and odious ! had the World but one Head ; she ( with Caligula ) would strike it off at a blow : So she might see the whole Fabricke in a flame ; shee ( Nero-like ) would not grudge her ashes to a second Chaos . This euill hath Anger thought , and done ; and would yet do more : It neuer but had a desire , aboue the power ; a thirst , beyond the practice of reuenge . Yet it thunders , though it now can dart no more : hauing done the vtmost spite and rage , it yet will threaten worse . Thus ( as followeth ) haue the Furious vowed and sworne against the liues of their Aduersaries : To giue their Carkasses to the Beasts of the field , to the Fowles of the aire ; to strow their ashes vpon the Sea ; to make them they shall neither know , nor say who hurt them ; not to leaue so much as one , to carry newes of the rest : That hee 'le make them eat their owne dung , and drinke their owne stale ; that not their God shall deliuer them out of his hands : That he meanes to ply them with Powder and Pellets , as thicke as mist and haile ; that hee 'le tread their Gray-haires to their well nigh returned dust ; strangle the Infant in the Parents eye , and arme ; spoile their Virgins , rip vp their Bigge , bereaue their Mothers ; Make their Men to draw in his Waggons , to grinde in his Mills , to dig in his Mines : Their Princes necks shall bee but his Footstooles ; and their Young-mens backes but the Asses for his loads : Thus roare the Lions , thus hisse the Serpents , thus barke the Dogges . Nought but spue out their rancour , but breath out reuenge . These haue ( I marke ) most commonly gone together ( I would like Fellowes to the Gallowes ) the Angry , and the bloudy minded . Murder was the first fruits of Anger , CAIN rose vp in a Fury against his Brother , and slew him . So , the Brethren in iniquitie : What of them ? Fearefull ! and to bee detested : In their Anger they slew a man : And therefore ( may such other , fare no better ) Cursed be their Anger , for it was fierce ; and their Wrath , for it was Cruell . As for me , ( and so sayes euery harmlesse Spirit ) O my soule ! come not thou into their secret : vnto their assembly ( mine Honour ! ) be not thou vnited .

There s yet an old Beare to bait : I would he were blinde , or toothlesse ; it would be good sport to whip him . What must hee such haling to the stake ? As loth as hee is to come thither ; I would bee loth to trust him there . That bubbling Brooke was more turbulent : but this still and standing Lake is more violent ; Old Anger ( I meane ) which makes vp the slownesse , in the weight of Ire . A Monster of a tedious breeding , of an vnfortunate birth ; a Serpent of a Difficult hatch , and dangerous ; an ill Liquour that being kept too long , hath tarted and tainted the Caske ; a Poole that hath formerly beene stirred , and yet can finde no time to settle : a Lion that long couches , and slumbers sullenly ; yet rouzes him in the end , and roares hideously : a Fire that hauing long laine smothered , breaks out at last into a fierce and furious flame : a mote at first , that offends ; a Beame at last , that blinds the eye . Comparisons are not here more odious , than is the Vice . Liken ( and you will ) the growth of this ill Weed , to any thing that waxeth worse .

Marke how to stint , and stop it . Crush the Cockatrice in the Egge , push the Scorpion in the shell , hunt the Young Foxes , while they are yet but petty Cubs ; take the Small Brat , and dash his head against a stone . Anger is a disease , with more ease , and honesty , preuented ; than recouered . This Fury doth , as doe many wilde Beasts , and Serpents , namely , change their Names , as they grow in bignesse , and yeares . In the infancy , they call it Haste , and Passion ; in the Youth , Anger and Choler ; in the Growth , Ire , and Wrath ; in the Old Age , Hatred and Malice . Thus doe I distinguish the Age ; wilt thou I also determine it ; Anger is then Old , when it liues aboue a Day . It then liues too long , when it suruiues the Ephemeron : which ( they say ) liues no longer ; than I said Anger ought to liue . He that bids You Let not the Sun goe downe vpon thy Wrath ; forbids withall , you should let the Sun ( gone downe ) to rise vpon it . Two Suns are too many for an Angry man to see . Accession of dayes addes vnto this Euill . Haste is so turn'd batred ; For so is it defined . Hatred is anaged , and strengthened Anger : and Anger doubled by dayes , and degrees . Hatred ( for so I now call it ) hauing taken long and deepe root in the hearts of Men , is not readily & easily weeded thence . A mans loue oft turnes to hate ; his Hate seldome returnes to Loue . Implacable man , and impious ! His euill lasts with his Life : Nay , when he is dead , it will be a Question ( as was of Sylla ) whether Hee , or his Anger died soonest ? They story Some to haue hated so while they liued ; that dead , and burned together , their flame notwithstanding was diuided : And Others , who slaine together , their bloud refused to be mingled . The Sinne of a Man out-liues himselfe : this Sinne especially . A Good mans Anger ( they say ) is soone dead : but a bad Man ( I see ) is sooner dead , than his Anger .

How cam'st thou ( prethee ) to be so cholericke ? The Man ( I know well ) hath it by Kinne , it cost him nought . I was saying , the Hate and Ire of Men liu'd , when Men were dead . I cannot say , their Hate liues with the Dead : I haue noted , the Dead haue deriued their hatred to the Liuing ( I speake not of Enmitie betwixt Nation and Nation ; so mutuall , so continuall . ) The Man hates , the Sonne hates : and why ? his Friend , or Father hated formerly . Hee but euilly succeeds , that will be heire also to his Fathers euills . There is obserued a naturall Antipathie , an hidden Enmitie , or inbred Auersenesse betwixt Trees and Trees ; as betwixt the Oke and the Oliue , the Vine and the Cole-wort : betwixt Beasts and Beasts ; as betwixt the Elephant and the Dragon , the Panther and Hyaena : betwixt Serpent and Serpent , the Spider and the Toad : Bird and Bird ; the Eagle & the Wren , the Owle and other Birds : Fishes & Fishes ; the Lamprey and the Conger , and the two great Fishes call Orca and Balana . No such innate and contrary Qualities are obserued betwixt Man and Man : though indeed , the succession of Hatred would giue to note ( as it were ) a naturall Antipathie betwixt them . Wee know , and say it is their Vice , howeuer they would make vs beleeue it is their Nature that sets them at so cominuall odds . Harke , O Man ? thou that at once proceedest from thy Fathers Flesh , and Frowardnesse : that this kest thou dageneratest from his Stocke , if from his Vice : There was neuer but one Enmitie worthy , yea necessary the propagating ; euen that , which God ( at first ) prouoked , and proclaimed irreconcileable : J will put Enmitie betweene thee , and the Woman ; and betweene thy Seed , and her Seed . Ah thou Traitor to thy God , and Foe to thine owne Soule ! why makest thou a Couenant with thine , and thy forefathers Aduersary ? That mortall iarre was only to be deriued to Succession . How many Sonnes haue vindicated their Fathers wrongs to the full ? Euen successions of Families haue continued the Strife and Debate , their forefathers began betwixt their Houses . Alas ! that an ISRAELITE grudges at , and striues with an ISRAELITE ( a Man with a Man , a Christian with a Christian ) And yet rather suffers any Iniury , and Slauery ; than breake an hard Couenant , a seared Peace with PHARAOH , the Deuill . O all yee cankred Sonnes of ADAM ! Impes together of his Loynes , and Lusts : How is it ye haue forgotten the Old Quarrell , which though it began in your First Father ; yet it equally concernes your Selues ? You haue an Aduersary to you all ; why wrangle , and struggle yee , one with a nother ? Were you not ioyned to him ; you could not thus be diuided against your selues !

Me thinks , I should ( by this ) make thee angry at nothing but thine Anger . If Anger ( as I haue said ) be a Passion so inordinate , vnseemly , Brutish , Pusillanimous , Enuious and mischieuous ; if it haue neither Ground , nor End ; if neither Delight , nor Gaine ; if it obscure Reason , and exclude Grace ; if it bee detestable to God , Distastefull to Man , and Preiudiciall to himselfe ; What Wise man , and Good , will now be anger ; Had Anger either Pleasure , or Profit in it ; there were some enticement to it : But Anger is an Euill , euery wayes so euill ; that it carries no colour for its entertainment . It is by a shew of profit , or Delight ; that other Sinnes insinuate : this sinne of Anger only , intrudes vpon a Man , with palpable vexation , and losse .

Yea , but thou canst temper thy selfe , and take vp thine Anger in time ; and checke it , ere it rush into these rash , and rigorous Exorbitances . Tell mee ; hadst thou not better quite exclude it ; than ( hauing admitted it ) now busie , and trouble thy selfe , to guide it ? It is safer to keepe out , than get out of a Fray : and better not to hazzard the Disease , than presume vpon the Remedy . The Courser ( by your leaue ) is not so soone taken vp ; when now on his race , now in his speed : The Rocke is steepe , and thou art heady ; how readily , and easily , dost thou now fall past recouery ? Thy Sea is troubled , thy Ship is tossed , Anger sits Pilot ; and ( ere thou thinkst on an Anchor , an Harbour ) behold a Wracke . A man may with more ease forbid his Anger ; than hee can command it : with more safety may hee preuent it , than recall it . The Entrance of many things are in our hands , but not their Issue . While yet it is not , Anger is the power of the Man : when it now is , the Man is in the power of his Anger Set Anger once on foot , and it runnes , not so farre as you will let it ; but will hale you rather as farre as it list . I cannot but smile , thou 'lt needs account thee Captaine , and This thy common Souldier ; to fight vnder thee , for thee : Lead him warily on , hee le scarce come fairely off . While thou 'lt sit Iudge , to passe the Sentence ; and make it thy Cryer , to put thee in mind , and mood : be wise ; thou maist soone condemne thy selfe .

How Man ? Call and account thee a Coward , an Asse , an Idiot , a Blocke , a Stoicke , a Stocke ? And why ? because thou wantest an Heart , a Spirit , the Valour , the Courage , to be angry at them ; to check and curbe in thy Fury , the Indignities they doe thee . Tell them ( and thou wilt ) from me ; They only are so ; that so say ; so thinke . What a Madnesse of Men is this , and Folly of theirs ? Are we therefore senslesse , because not impatient of our Wrongs ? Base minds ! thus to play vpon not Patience . It is for Fooles , and Peasants , to iudge them sottish ; whom they finde not peeuish : For Knaues , and Villaines , to doe him the next Wrong ; because he so calmly put vp the first . I tell thee , ( and so say ) the Best , and Wisest ) Anger addes Courage to no Man , that is not so without it ; But rather , basely inthralls him to anothers Power , and Mercy ; while hee is not in his owne . Than the Peeuish , none more Slauish : So base an Affection , lurkes not but in basest brest . Vilest wretches are the rather moued ; because they would , but cannot be reuenged . What thinkst thou of the Body , that yelpes and yexes , at any small push , at euery sudden motion ? is it not too too crazy ? To cry out you hurt it , when you scarce touch it . Verily , the Minde is as corrupted and cankred , as the Body vlcerous ; to shrinke and shrike , at euery push and pricke . To stumble , and wrangle at euery Offence ; argues but the Minde wretched , and infirme . I neuer saw any Man in this case ; whom I iudged not Boyish , Womanish , Foolish , Sickish , or ( at least ) Old and Peeuish . Now on the contrary : None so magnanimous ( in my minde ) as he that forgetteth iniuries . Nor am I of another minde , than the Wise Man : Jt is the glory of a Man , to passe ouer a Transgression . It must needs be a right noble minde he beares ; that he can , but scornes to be reuenged . A Man is a Lord in his Fauour : in his Anger is Man but a Slaue . He hath fought a stout , and stately Fight ; that hath subdued his Affections . I will euer thinke the best of such an one , and speake no worse . Bold Heart , and Braue ! that hath already curbed his Passions , and cured them to a skarre : hauing only remaining in himselfe , but as it were the Shadowes , and Suspitions of his Affections . But a Coward is he ( will I be bold to tell him ) and base ! that ( could hee winne a World ) cannot here conquer himselfe .

Thus much I of Thee ; and ( vnlesse better ) too much . Now heare mee of my Selfe . Credit mee ; I either so am , or ( at least ) would be so ; as I now will shew mee to thee , though so I boast mee not . It is Honestie , and but Modestie , that wee would so set forth our selues ; as willing Patternes , for others to imitate : and not as idle Pictures only , to be gazed at .

I am not ( Feather-like ) stirred and tossed at euery puffe and blast of Discontentment : but striue rather to stand stedfast ( as a Pillar ) maugre the winds and stormes of iniurie , and offences . I set mee like a stayed Rocke , to repell their surging , vrging Waues : and ( like a Wall of Marble ) retort their angry darts into their owne faces and throats . Men shall see my Contempt , in a no notice of theirs . Though he would acknowledge his Offence ; I will ( with Cato ) not so much as acknowledge mee offended . This is a stayednesse , is an Happinesse of our Minds ; that we daine not to answer Fooles in their Folly . You aske mee , why I doe not requite the Wrong ? I answer , because I feele it not . No wrong ( as I take it ) is done to him , that will not take it to himselfe . I take Wrong , as Honour : Honour is not in him , that is honoured ; but in him that honours : nor is Wrong in him that hath , but in him that doth the Wrong . Me thinks , A mans Reuenge is but the Confession , or the complaint of his owne vexation . Mine then would but tell them , how they haue troubled me . And vile Minds ( I know ) will the rather doe it , when they know how to vex me . It is enough to me ; I may , but will not quit the euill . Hee that will still doe all he can ; it were better he sometimes could doe nothing .

Shall I ( like my Dogge ) barke and bawle at the first push or rush ; not knowing whether it be my Friend or Foe that knocks at my doore ? There s no greater Folly , than to be angry at we know not whom ; and for wee know not what . Or , will I bawle with the Dogge that barkes at me ? There s no folly , to the enterchange of spightfull speeches . The Tongue ( I know ) prouokes more than the Hand : and Men are apt to stomack rather what is Said , than what is done against them . I will not blow the coales of Ire with bitter Words : my soft Answer shall rather striue to appease his Wrath. Nor ( when it is past ) shall he boast how he awed me , in my present yeeldance : sith I so guided him ; that had neither the wit nor power , to rule himselfe . It is not Awe , but Discretion to forbeare a Foole.

I smile at BALAAM , that could be so angry at his Asse : and thinke , whether was more brutish , her Condition , or his Affection ? He is but a Brute himselfe , that thus will match himselfe against a Brute . I laugh to read the angry Letter Xerxes wrote against the Mountaine Athos : threatning it that ( vnlesse it would make way to his Forces , and Designes ) he would hew it downe , digge it vp , and cast it into the Sea . Was not hee a bold champion , that durst menace , and make vnto himselfe , so huge an Antagonist ? It still moues my Diaphragme , what once mou'd the spleene of Cyrus ; that he vowed in a rage , ( and accordingly atchieued ) to drean the profound Riuer Gyndes , so that Women and Children might goe drie-shod in it : and all was , because the base and vnmannerly Billowes presumed to beat in the Kings face ; and spared not to drowne one of his Maiesties Coach-horses . While he thus laboured to make it not a Riuer ; I would thus haue iudged , he made himselfe not a Man . It is a ridiculous Folly of Men , to wreake their Anger vpon such Things ; as neither can feele it , nor doe deserue it . I shall thinke that Man out of his right minde , that is angry at that thing , which neuer had a minde to offend him ; no nor had a Minde . Brute Things and inanimate , may haue the Hap to hurt vs ; they haue no Will to wrong vs . Ha , ha ; will a man be no wiser than his Dogge , to snarle and snatch at the stone , because it is flung at him ? I abhor the vnequall Ire of Pollio , that condemned his Slaue to be deuoured of his Lampreyes ; for but the casuall breach of a Crystall Glasse : and applaud withall the iust displeasure of Augustus , that therefore caused all his glasses to be broken , and his Deuourers to be stifled . It was good the vilest Dust should choke them , whom the noblest Flesh should but haue satisfied . Ah the lightnesse of such Men ! whom such light things , and occasions can prouoke . The glimmering of a Colour wil prouoke a Bull , the wagging of a Shadow will moue an Aspe , the wapping of a Towell will vrge a Beare , the squeezing of Grapes will incense an Elephant : And what is a Man vnlike these ; whom a Feather , a Straw , a Toy , a Trifle can thus incense , vrge , moue , prouoke ? This is the Folly of Mans Anger ; when the Passion is more , than the Cause .

I am summoned , challenged , yea cowarded with indignities : and yet I lothly enter the lists of Strife ; or rather enter not . Shall I there hazard me , where to be conquered is grieuous , to conquer is but inglorious ? Will I raue and trample the Dung and Dirt , whereby ( the more I bestirre me , yea howeuer I behaue me ) I am but the rather annoyed , but defiled . The pursuit of Anger is as a Suit in Law : the Plaintiffe , the Defendant , both are losers in the end . To contend thus with my Superiour , were dangerous ; with my Equall , were doubtfull ; with my Inferiour , were base . ( Anger is but a wretched euill , and forlorne ; that is authorized , is patronized in no Degrees of Men. ) With my Superiour will I feare , with my Equall will I blush , with my Inferiour will I scorne to contest . Hath one or other offended me ? if he be vnder me , I will be so Good , as sauour him : if aboue me , I will be so Wise , as sauour my selfe . I will winke at the Childe , and Old man , for the weaknesse of their Age ; at the Woman , for her Sex ; at the Foole , and Mad-man , for their Condition . Yet so , as to let them know , it was not well done , but rather taken so . This is a Mans both quiet , and renowne ; that he can forbeare . His Mildnesse shall pacifie his Aduersaries , while they cannot but wonder at it ; shall proeure him Friends , while they needs must affect it .

My Affections are in my Custodie , and shall keepe within my Compasse . I will so hold the reines , as that I can curbe , or loose them ; not so much when it is my pleasure , but when I see my time . We must leaue our liues , if we will auoid Offences : And of these , though many ( when they come ) may be borne with ; yet are not all to be neglected . We cannot ( oft times ) but be moued at the Euill of things . I that must loue my neighbour as my Selfe : may notwithstanding so hate his Vices , as mine owne . An vnreasonable Patience , is little better than an inordinate Anger . This kind of Dulnesse would not only incourage the Bad , but euen incite the Good , to doe euill . The Zeale of a Man is enamoured of the Vertuous ; nor can it be but displeased at the Vicious Displeased , not at the Party , but his Vice : Displeased at the Euill he hath done ; not so much because hee hath now so done , but rather that hee may doe so no more . I now can be angry ; yet so , as my Anger be not a worse Fault , than the Fault I am angry at . I can be thus angry ; to resist , to checke , to punish : yet not because I am now prouoked , but because I now ought so to be . If ( while I dispute against Anger ) a saucy Fellow should spit in my Face , purposely to prouoke mee : I would not now doubt ( with Diogenes ) whether I ought so to be ? but let him truly and iustly know , and feele , I am angry ; for so I ought .

But if this Passion ( as it is wont in most ) proue exorbitant , and fall to range ( yea and rage ) beyond her Pale ; prouoking mee still to hurt the other , and vex my selfe : What remedy now but Patience ? I turne mee aside ( with Plato ) and now forget him whom I was angry at ; and minde rather to reuenge mee vpon my angry selfe . I now draw mee apart , take some time to bethinke mee in , let Reason breathe awhile ; and the Fitt is past . Pause then an houre , disturbe not thy stomacke ; and the Hard-meats are digested . This Disease of Anger ( contrary to many ) is soonest helpt by Delayes . I take the counsell of Athenodorus to Augustus ; count my Letters : or rather that of S. Ambrose to Theodosius ; say my Prayers . And while my Deuotion warmes , my Passion cooles . Thus is it awhile delayed , thus allayed at the last . Withdraw but the Fewell of Rashnesse from this Passion , and the Fire is abated : Let but the Sun of Reason shine vpon it , and the Mist is vanished . Ah the Frowardnesse of a Man ! that his Ire can glow and burne , a Moneth , a Yeare , a Life throughout : which a Weeke , a Day , an Houre , might ( if not extinguish ) otherwise asswage . It is strange to thinke , how Anger one way deferred , languishes : although another way prolonged , it is the rather enraged . Architas , Socrates , Plato ; these were but Heathens , yet would not so much as beat their Seruants in their Anger : Shall I that am a Christian , rise now against my Brother ? Shall my Stomacke serue others one way , as I ( another way ) would serue my Stomacke : onely eat when I am hungry ; only beat when I am angry ? By no meanes . I am wiser , than to launch forth in a storme : If he haue offended mee , if prouoked mee ; the offence will notwithstanding remaine , when the Prouocation shall bee past . There s no hurt to take another , and better time , to punish , or admonish : I shall so shew me the Wiser ; and ( perhaps ) make him the Better . Oh doe nothing in your Anger ! for then you will doe any thing . What profit haue you ? What credit ? to commit that suddenly , which you may repent at leisure . Many a Man because hee hath beene so causelesly angry at Another ; hath had cause enough ( after ) to be angry at Himselfe . The End of sudden Anger , was alwayes the Beginning of late Repentance .

Another hath done mee wrong ; I might haue done no lesse to him : His might likewise haue been the Sorrow , & the Euill mine . Wee are all offensiue each to other ; and may need each others Pardon . Hee is liuelesse ( they say ) that is faultlesse : And whose turne ( can you tell ) shall it next be , to craue mercy for his Fault ? Should wee not winke at our mutuall Offences ; there would be no end of Strifes , & Plagues , betwixt Man and Man , yea betwixt God and them both . Doe wee looke to finde others inexorable ; sith our selues are so implacable ? Full oft hath a Man beene driuen to begge Forgiuenesse of him , to whom he denied it : and now to kneele to him for Grace , whom hee sometimes spurned in disdaine . I will deale with mine Aduersary , as to tell him how I am dealt withall : so to teach him how hee should deale with mee .

My Brother hath offended mee : Alas ! and I my God . My Brother me once , and in one thing : I my God alwayes , and in all . If Iupiter ( said He ) should thunder downe his Darts , so oft as Men prouoke him ; he should soone leaue himselfe Weaponlesse , and Men Liuelesse : If my God ( thinke I ) should haue beene angry with mee , so oft as I haue offended him ; I should not haue yet beene , whom my Brother might now offend . Hee is one , and the same Clay with mee ; that now lifteth vp the hand against mee : I that am a vile Worme , haue kitked the heele against the God of Maiestie . With what face , can I begge pardon of my Lord , and Master ; when I haue denied it to my Fellow-Seruant ? One Man ( saith a WISE MAN ) beareth Hatred against another ; and doth he seeke pardon from the Lord ? He sheweth no mercy to a Man , which is like himselfe : and doth he aske forgiuenesse of his owne Sinnes ? How doth the mercifull Lord checke the mercilesse Seruant ? Shouldest not thou also haue had compassion on thy Fellow Seruant , euen as J had pitty on thee ? Oh that Men would therefore Doe , as they Pray ! Forgiue vs our Trespasses ; as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs . I will doe to another , as I would another , yea as I would my God should doe to mee : Ouercome euill with Good . My Sauiour stood as a Sheepe before the Shearers ; they smote him on the one cheeke , and hee gaue the other : they reuiled him , and in his mouth were no reproofes . And is the Seruant aboue his Lord ? What Losse , or Shame is it for mee to suffer , as CHRIST suffered ? What Profit , or Credit will it be for mine Enemy , to doe as IVDAS did ? Oh call but thy Sauiours Sufferings to mind ( the Wrong , and Scorne he tooke ) and what can be too hard for thee to beare ?

And I , and mine Enemy ; Who are wee , and what ? Men both , and Mortall : Men mortall in our Nature , immortall only in our Anger . Ah that we would be each against other euerlastingly ; that are for our selues but a while . Nothing will more work vpon this our fierce Affection ; than to thinke vpon this our fraile Condition . The Man is mortall , as hee ought ; why should his Anger ( as it ought not ) be immortall ? This is also a great Euill vnder the Sunne , Vexation of Spirit : That a Man will adde Vnquietnesse to the Shortnesse of his Dayes ; and so make them still not onely Few but Euill .

But Thou strengthenest thee in this inhumane Fiercenesse ; vnmindfull altogether of thy humane Weaknesse . Thou now thinkest to acquit thee , ere such a time : Alas ! that thou thinkst not , that Time ( perhaps ) may be beyond thine owne . Thou wouldest the Death of thine Enemy : Oh wish it not , attempt it not : Yet a little while , and Death her selfe will doe it ; without thy Trouble , and Sinne. The Mouse and the Frogge fought so long , till the Kite came and tare them both to peeces . Oh striue not so long , till Death come and part the Fray ; and so take you both away , him Wounded , and thee Blemished . When thou art now gone with , or after him : thy Name shall yet suruiue a while , as odious as thy Life . When Death shall haue cooled thy courage , weakned thy hands , stopt thy mouth ; Men shall thus write vpon thy Graue :

HEre lies a Fury , hight Sir Ire ; That bred , and earn'd immortall Fire . He 'gan to wrangle from the wombe ; And was a Wrangler to his Tombe . A Peeuish , and a Foolish Elfe : Foe to his God , his Saints , his Selfe . He hated Men ; Men did not loue him : No Euill , but his owne , might moue him . He Was ; and was Earths Load , and Care : He Is ; and is Hels Brand , and Share .

The Couetous .

IS it you ( & be naught ) old Pouch-penny ? Me thought , t was some such Scrapeling ; he came so sneaking on . It is many an honest Mans lucke ( more than mine ) to stumble vpon such Blocks in euery street . I would none beside mee , had more need , or vse of such ; saue onely to know them with me : They should not seeke him long ; I soone could spie him out . A Couetous Man is easily inquired , and determined , by him that is not so : But he that sees him , and is like him ; can no more discouer the other , than expresse himselfe . Pouch-penny did I call him ? But hee 's not so known to euery one . Hee hath more Names , than euer he was Christned with . The Best call him no better , than you would call a Wretch ; Silly , Needy , Cark , Snig , Gripe , Sharke , Droyle , and Plod : And for the Most , they call him no more , than you would call a Dogge ; Snap , Catch , Pinch , Holdfast , and the like . Wee may iustly , and modestly ( and then iustly , when modestly ) call the Naughty , no better than they are . Call mee a Spade , a Spade ; a Wretch , a Wretch ; a Knaue , a Knaue : Neuer goe behinde his backe , and so beslander him with the Truth . Tell a Man his Euill to his teeth : yet so , as not to reuile him ; but reprehend him rather .

Wearish Wretch ; so like a Flea-biter hee lookes . Say as you see ; is he not mostly Wry-Neckt , crompe-shouldred , pale-fac't , Thin-cheekt , Hollow-eyed , Hooke-nos'd , Beetle-brow'd , Purse-lipt , Gaunt-belly'd , Rake-backt , Buckle-hamm'd , Stump-legg'd , Splay-footed , Dry-fisted , and Crooke-fingered : with a learing Looke , slow Breath , stealing Pace , squeaking Voice : His tall Hat , and tatterd Cloake , Threed-bare Buskins , and cobbled Shooes ; a swagging Pouch , and a Spadle-staffe : And if you reckon him onely by his Coat , and Carcasse ; one would scarce bestow the hanging of him , to haue them both . They say commonly , ill Humours , ill Manners : but here certainly ill Manners , ill Members . For ( could you see into him ) he is not more ill-fauoured , than ill-conditioned : There s certainly more vglinesse in him , than appeares by him : A mind more mishapen , than can be figured in a Carcasse neuer so disfigured . How monstrous a Vice is Auarice , and odious ? It distorts the Body , and distracts the Soule : Is Natures very Enormity , and an vtter Anomie to Grace ; here quite sweruing , there farre out of frame . It makes a Man looke vgly , and to be loathed ; but odious inwardly , and to be abhorred : makes him seeme a Monster on the outside ; but makes him a very Deuill within .

Flocke here my pretty Birds ; here s an ill fac't Owle , will finde you all worke to wonder at . See how stridling hee stands ; hee couches and crouches vpon his Staffe ; nor lookes he at you , but vnder his elbow : and say what you will ; he neuer speakes but when his mouth is open . Come on then , looke and laugh , and hollow , and whoot , and whistle , and hisse ; gibe and jest , frumpe and flour , point and play : here s a broad Butt to hit , and an Asses backe to beare all . It were good sport , to laugh and scorne him out of his skinne , for his Coyne . Loe the Couerous Carle ! what a needy Niggard it is ? Oh t is a scraping Churle ! Out on him greedy Gripe ! A very Gut-head , he hath Asses Eares direct ; a Forehead & it were to set his Leekes on ; He sees well , and his Eyes were vncast ; I wonder he is not ring'd for rooting ; you may see your face in his so transparant Cheekes ; a Head he hath like a Moule , and his nailes were growne ; and a Foot to shouell the Street before him . Hatefull Misereant ! how hath he worne and wrested himselfe from Gods good Making ? His steeple Hat hath harboured many a Thousand ; and his woollen Cap scrues to keepe warme his Wits . His weather-beaten Cloake he had by Inheritance ; and hee meanes to make it in his Will. He hath forgot the Making of his Doublet ; but it puls him ( euer and anon ) in minde of repairing . His Breeches are in the Fashion , not so much for pride , as to saue Cloth . But how bare soeuer be his Backe , and belly thinne ; his Bagge is well lin'd , and he keeps it warme . There s not a hole in his Hose , and yet not a place where there hath not beene a hole . His shooes haue cost him more the maintaining , than would prouide him Shooes . He keepes a free house ; you may as soone breake your Necke , as your Fast : and a cleane withall ; you may as readily wet your Shoos , as your Lips . The Man is oft-times so melancholy at Home ; that he is glad when he may cheare vp himselfe at his Neighbours Boord : And ( vpon many occasions ) growes so desperate , that hee cares not what becomes of him ; only he is loth to be at the charges of making himselfe away . What chattering about a Night-Bird ? and who can keepe Countenance at so absurd an Obiect ? Couetousnesse is as well worthy Scorne , as Hatred : and the Folly thereof as much to be laughed at , as the Iniquity to be abborred . God , and Men , haue thought Vice not odious only ; but ridiculous . Whom God hath abhorred , them also hath he laughed to scorne . The Couetous especially , haue beene oftner counted , and called Fooles , than Fiends . Ironies are an approued Rhetoricke , and an earnest Argument against Impieties . And some Euils are more profitably derided , than reprehended .

In good sooth ( for all this ) he lookes but sparing on 't . Whatsoeuer he lacks of the Spirit ; You would iudge him a mortified Man according to the Flesh . He forbeares oft-times to feed so full as Nature requires ; Though Grace was neuer in his mouth or minde , either before meat , or after . Hee seldome cats but sparingly ; though temperately neuer . Thereason of all is , because he so eats , not to subdue his Bodie ; but to saue his Meat . Like Tantalus , he stands vp in Water to the chinne , and Apples hang by closters hard at his Lips ; and yet hee pinches and pines in the midst of meat and drinke . An artificiall Chymicke ; he hath true Mydasses Touch : all that he should eat and drinke , he turnes into Gold : I would hee had Mydasses Eares withall , it would make him more knowne , and laughed at . Like one that sold a Ratt for two hundred Pence , and dyed of Hunger himselfe : so will he oft times starue his carcasse , to crambe his Pouch . A Couetous Mans Mind is a slaue to his Mony ; and his Body a staue-to his Mind : He will not satisfie the Appetite of the one ; because the other hath an Appetite wil not be satisfied . Oh basenesse of Men ! to vnder-value their Affections to base Drosse ; and their Liues to base Affections . Ah their Folly and Wretchednes ! to haue the Creatures of God , and vse them not ; which they therefore haue , to vse : to preferre their Wealth to their Health , their Gettings to their Beings , their Mony to their Body ; their Gold to their God , their Siluer to their Soule ; and rather possesse it , than enioy themselues .

Suppose him now set at anothers Table : His Knife ( answerable to his Stomacke ) is the first drawne , and not the last in the Dish . Now not a word with him : Aske him any thing ; and he answers all with Yea , and No ; not aboue a monosyllable at the most . Looke how hee loads a Borrowed Trencher ? His Cheekes strut , Teeth walke , and Chaps plie apace : And lest you might hap to cut him , not where he likes not , but not enough ; hee saues you the labour of a Carner . He now feeds full vpon Free-Cost : and sayes with Diogenes , That Wine is best , and most pleasant to him , which he payes not for . Now makes hee a full amends to his whining Stomacke , and his Guts leaue grumbling : But as the Wolfe eats one good Meale for three Dayes : so though hee feast his Body now abroad ; hee will make the poore Carcasse pay triple for it at Home . Yea and ( all this while ) if his Host be beholden to him for more than his Company ; he eats double : out eats him , and eats him out . The Couetous is one of a rauenous Generation : A very Harpy , Tigre , Wolfe , Beare , Dogge , Deuill , Pit , Gulfe , and Hell . A Cormorant begat him ; The Daughter of the Horsleach bare him : and he like a cursed Caterpiller , is continually gnawing : Deuouring Widowes houses , and sucking the very Bloud from the hearts of the Fatherlesse . Oh all ye damned Deuourers ! that eat vp Gods people , as if it were Bread , Bloud-suckers of BELIAL ! Surfeit yet a while in your hellish Insaciacie : Ye shall once spue out your Bowels ; and empty your selues into a Pit as bottomlesse , as euer were your desires .

But I will home with him , and see what an House he keeps . Let me tell you , he keepes an open House : but you may vnderstand , it is the Roofe vnthatcht , or Windowes vntrellessed ; for the Doore is neuer vnbolted . The Grasse growes greene vpon his Threshold ; and his Dog is as good as a Porter , to keepe Beggars from his Doore . His Chimney smokes but seldome , and Dawes make nests in euery corner . You cannot come to visit his Beere , but you shall finde it at a very low rate , low estate , if not dead outright : And for his Bread , Age and Experience haue brought it to an hoary head . He is now at his owne Finding , and marke how his Boord is furnished : His stall and Garnor furnisht the Market , and that his Coffers : his Garden-plot only fills his Table , & that fils his Belly . Roots and Herbs he cals his First , and Second Course : and three hungry Sallets supply the places of so many hearty Seruices . He cuts vp a Carrot , and pickes out a dainty bit in a Turnep : Beets are his best Fare ; and he thinks how he riots amongst his Leekes and Lettice ? He shiues out his Bread by weight or measure ; an Ounce , or an Inch ; and at euery Cutting obserues the Loafe . You would thinke he humbred his Morsels : Hee goes so farre , and no further ; not because he would eat no more , but would no more should be eaten . He eats the more Pottage on purpose , to spare the Flesh . He seldome eats like an Epicure , to please his Palate ; neuer like a Man , to nourish his Body ; but commonly like a Hogge , to fill his Belly . A belly full is a belly full , and it be of Buttermilke . He may eat Gold ; and yet hee feeds but grossely . Like a Tradesman , that sells off his best wares at a good rate ; and keepes the worst for his owne vse : Or like him , that sells out the good Liquour ; and reserues the Dregges for his owne drinking : Like an Idiot , he hath the best to chuse on , and makes choice only of the worst ; Leaues the good for others , and takes the bad vnto himselfe : Or like That Asse , that carried dainty Cates vpon his backe ; and notwithstanding fill'd his belly with Hay , and Straw . But if he be a Worshipfull Miser , and of ancient standing ; Not the Cognisance only , but the Coat also is the selfe same , his Great Grand-sire gaue before him . He must doe , as his Father before him ; or else how should he vphold the House ? Now hath be more Dogges , than Men to wait vpon him : and his Table fills more Eares , than Bellies ; and more fils Eares , than Bellies . He now quarters a Capon , and roasts halfe a Rabbet : and tels you an old Tale of an Hare , and another of a Pigge , that was proportion'd to three seuerall Spits , Fires , Dayes , Dishes , Meales : But an approued Story , how that the Loyne of a Cocke was once a Seruice for a King . His Taylour hath not halfe so many wayes to turne his Breeches , as his Cooke to dresse his Dishes : he sends vp the same Dish seuen dayes together , disguised only in seuen seuerall Sauces . And for the cold Pie , it is so long since it came hot out of the Ouen ; that it hath got on a Freize coat to keep it warme : and at last is faine to flit from his Table , to his Trough . He grudges to bestow any thing vpon himselfe ; and brawles with Wife and Children , as the daily meanes of his vndoing : And when he must needs dispend , he shrugges it out , and kisses euery Peece he parts from . How should a Couetous Man be good to any ? since he is not so to himselfe . Will he feed the hungry ; whose owne Stomacke still complaines ? Will he cloath the naked ; that only shrouds himselfe in shreds ? Will hee giue to the Poore ; that cannot be perswaded himselfe is rich ? Well he releeue others Necessities ; that thinks there is nothing beside him , which he wants not himselfe ? Vnprofitable Earth-load is he ; borne to doe good to none , no not himselfe . Neither and Wife , Children , Friends , Neighbours the better for him : And for himselfe ; he is , but liues not ; because he is to no purpose : he hath , but inioyes not ; because be vses not what he hath .

T is bed time by this ; and ( not once minding , or mentioning his God ) hee commends himselfe to the keeping of his Bolts and Barres . Wife , Children , Friends , Seruants , he askes them all once , and againe , if they haue made all sure ? and being accordingly answered , he yet rises at last to resolue himselfe . Than the Couetous Man , none more distrustfull . His Wife hee thinkes is false vnto him ; and his Children cosen him : His Seruants he accounts no better than Theeues . If they be his Friends , they come to sharke vpon him if Strangers , to steale from him : His Superiour he suspects of extorting , his Equall of defrauding , and his Inferiour of purloyning : Yea , he is oft-times anxious of himselfe ; nay , and will trust his God no further than he sees him . Now is the Gate shut , Bridge drawne , Doore barr'd , and Trunke lockt ; and now he lyes him downe to wake ; for why , he cannot , or else he dares not sleepe . The Wise Man knew his disease , and tells the Cause : The Abundance of the Rich will not suffer him to sleepe . Thoughts are entred into his head , and Sleep is departed from his eyes . It is his Care to get more , will not let him rest with what he hath . He now lyes imagining mischiefe on his Bed ; and takes counsell of his Pillow how to deceiue , and wrong . How to adde his neighbours House , and Field vnto his owne ? How to double his Talent by the safest meanes , and in the shortest time ? How to take vp , and put off at the best hand ? How to let out Mony with good Security , and for the most Aduantage ? How to bring about such a Bargaine ? How to forestall such a Market ? How to ingrosse , how to inhance such a Commoditie ? How to purchase such a Liuing ? How to inueigle such an Estate ? No euill can be thought , which Couetousnesse doth not both thinke and plot . It cares not to deceiue the simple ; nor makes a Conscience to oppresse the poore : Neither regards it the Widowes Teares , the Bloud of the Fatherlesse , nor the Labourers Sweat . It takes no notice of Father or Mother , spares not his owne Brother , and affords not the least Fauour to his best Friend . It measures Honesty by Profit ; and thinks nothing not lawfull to it selfe , which may make for its owne aduantage : and so it goe away with the Gaine ; it cares not who liues by the losse . Oh cursed Auarice ! the Metropolis of all Euils , and Charibdis of Iniquity : Through its euill instigation ; did EVE take , and taste the forbidden Fruit ; LABAN grudged the goods of IACOB , His Brethren sold IOSEPH to the ISMAELITES ; BALAAM tooke paines to curse ISRAEL ; ACHAN inueigled the exercrable Wedge ; DALILAH deliuered her Husband into the hands of his Enemies ; AHAB massacred NABOTH ; GEHAZI belyed his Master ; and IVDAS betrayed CHRIST . Hee rightly said ; Couetousnesse is the root of all euill : that fully considered , what Euills come by Couetousnesse . It neither feares God , nor reuerences Man : Profanes the Temple , forestalls the Market , corrupts the Court ; swayes Authoritie , impugnes Iustice , violates Lawes ; Defraudes the Innocent , oppresses the Poore ; blindes the Eyes from beholding Equity , stops the Eares from hearing the Truth , hires the Tongue to ratifie Falshood with an Oath , sets the Hands to worke wickednesse , and makes the Feet runne to shed Bloud . What Euill hath Hell inuented , hath the Deuill suggested : which Couetousnesse hath not entertained , not put in execution ?

Yet tumbling and tossing ; but as yet no folding of the hands to sleepe . No , no , alas ; his Braines are too busied , to be setled on a sudden . He hath a World in his Head , and it makes him study how to get a Country into his Hands . Such a Field ( he thinkes ) lies commodiously for him ; such an House is pleasantly seated ; is of a safe and free Tenure , and may be had at a reasonable rate : Such a Commodity is both rare , and saleable ; thus and thus may he ingrosse a good parcell of it ; thus and thus inhaunce the price . These and these sealed Bagges are in such a Chest ; and these and these Bonds and Bills in such another . And thus lyes he counting all the night long . And if you were brought into his Bed-Chamber at midnight ; ( as was Mycillus the Cobler , into Grypheus the vsurers ) you should euen then finde him waking : Nay , if the Deuill should come about that time to fetch him ; he should hardly take him napping . The Riches of the Couetous trouble and torment him on euery part ; whether of Body , or Minde : He Conscience hath no peace , his Knowledge finds no truth , his Desire gets no appeasment ; His Belly wants food , his backe rayment , his Heart wants ease , his Eyes sleepe , and his Bones want rest . Sigismundus the Emperour , when he could not sleepe the night throughout , for taking thought , what hee should doe with all his Gold , was newly sent him : the next day hee dealt it amongst his Captaines and Connsellours ; and could say afterwards , Now I am rid of a Tormentour ; I shall now sleepe in quiet . I would a Many should not so sleepe , till they had done likewise . Gape , and yawne , and turne , and tosse , and muse , and moane , and sigh , and quake yee restlesse Wretches ! I will not pirty you ; since you may ease your selues , if you will .

But if ( thus tired with Thoughts ) he fall at last into some faint Slumber ; Oh how short it is how vnquiet ? Hee dreames all the while he is posting to a Faire , crouded in a Market ; either Buying , Selling , Chopping , Changing , Hiring , Letting , Writing , Sealing , Counting : His Mind still runs vpon Mony , Wares , Chapmen , Cheatours , Theeues , or Deuills . Harke , harke ; his Dog barks at Moon-shine ; & he now wakes & starts at the apprehension of Theeues and Robbers : It is the Winde whiskes by his Window ; and he imagines he heares them whisper : He hears but the Doore creake ; and he thinks they now are breaking in . Vp he gets , and loudly calls vpon lusty Dicke , and Robbin , and Ralfe ; when there is no more but little Iacke to heare him : Bids bring the Pistoll , Musket , Sword , and Speare ; when his whole munition is a Spirit , or a Pitchforke . His Colour changes , Haire stands vpright , Heart pants , Breast throbs , Ioynts quake ; and all this while hee suffers so much through his Feare , as he feares to suffer . Who would trouble themselues to get Riches ; that thus trouble them that haue them ? Trouble to get them , trouble to keep them , and trouble to lea●…e or lose them : Here plodding and toyling ; there Watching and caring ; and sighing and groaning there : Making a Man here sollicitous , anxious there , and there againe forlorne . Molesting the Man , that his Goods are not increased ; and againe molesting , lest his Goods should be diminished : It both vexes him , that he hath no more ; and vexes him , that he may haue lesse . It troubled AHAB , to adde NABOTHS Vineyard vnto his owne : It troubled the RICH-MAN , to conserue , & enlarge his Possesions : It troubled the YOVNG-MAN , to part with his Goods vnto the Poore . HE knew well how restlesse a thing was Riches , who likened them to THORNES : Like Thornes in the sides , they suffer not a Man to sit still : Like Thornes in the Fingers , they hinder a Man from labouring with his hands : Like Thornes in the Eyes , they blinde a Man from beholding the Truth : Like Thrones in the Heart , they barre a Man from embracing the Right : Like Thornes in the Feet , they let a Man for going about any thing that is Good . To what shall I now liken the Riches of the World ; but to all the infesting plagues of AEGYPT ? Their Riuers were turned into Bloud ; and these haue made euen Riuers of Bloud : Frogs came into mens Bed-chambers ; and these creepe into mens Bosomes : The Dust of the Land became Lice ; and this Dust of the Earth is turned to such like Tormentours : Swarmes of Flies infested Aegypt ; and these corrupt the Land : The Murraine slue the Beasts of the Land ; This ( what with toyling , ryoting , spoyling ) hath slaine them the whole Earth thorowout : The Men could not stand at ease , by reason of Boyles and Botches ; nor doe these suffer men to sit at rest : The Haile destroyed the Beasts and Trees ; and these haue done the like destructions : Locusts were brought into the Land ; and these cause many a Caterpiller : Darknesse was ouer AEGYPT so thicke that it might be felt ; and these while they are grop't and felt with the hand , they blind the eyes : All the first borne were slaine at Mid-night ; and these haue torne the prime Youngling from the Mohers Belly , Breast , and Bed . Who is now the Rich man of the World , that is not richer in Plagues , than he is in Possessions : That abounds not in Restlesnesse , more than in Reuenues . It was a Wise reuenge of One , alwayes to inrich his Enemies , and Offenders : affirming , it was punishment enough to make them rich : meaning , Wealth can want no Woe ; and he that hath great Riches , hath little Rest withall . But ( say the Couetous Carles of our dayes ) punish them so , and hurt them sore . Silly Asses ! they are burdened most , and yet they thinke they are most rewarded : They take it for a Blessing , not knowing that it proues a Snare . In the Worlds eye , he is the Happy Man that hath House by House , Field by Field , Flocke by Flocke , Bagge by Bagge , and Chest by Chest . He goes cloathed in purple and fine Linnen , and fares deliciously euery day : Fine fed , and gay clad ; His Cates and Raiments both farre fetcht , and deare bought : and the Substance and Matter of neither are thought good enough for him ; but both are made better , if Cost and Art can make them so . One Backe and Belly of his , how many doth it exercise and employ , thus to clad , and feed ? Besides , all men seeke to him ; serue , honour , and applaud him . O happy be ! He hath an Heauen vpon Earth ; that thus hath the World at will . Fooles ! that conceit those happy , whose Miseries they conceiue not . They view the Painting , but not the Rottennesse : See the best by them , but know not the worst is within them . You behold laughter in the Face ; but you now consider not the Heart is heauy : You reckon what Pleasures , Profits , Honours ; but thinke not what Feares , Cares , Discontents . An honest poore Man would not haue the rich Gluttons Estate , to haue his Mind . The one hath little , and wants little ; the other wants as much as he hath : The one could eat , and he had it ; the other hath it , and cannot eat : There s health and hunger ; here s plenty and paine : This is alway timorous , that other still secure : This is Free , the other Bond : This sleepes , while the other wakes . Many a poore Man hath made merry with a belly full of Bread and Water ; and after slept soundly vpon an hard Cratch : while many a Rich man hath sighed bitterly at a Banquet of Wine ; and waked carefully vpon a Bed of Downe .

Alas poore man , and perplexed ! his last Nights ill rest hath made him an early riser : He is soone vp , and full sore at hisDeuotion . A man indeed is he of a daily deuotion , but of no Religion : for he scarce comes to Church aboue once a Quarter . What need he trauell to sacrifice ; or come abroad to worship ? hee hath a Chappell in his Chest , and a God of his owne , his MAMMON . Each Part of his Body , and Power of his Soule ; hath he commanded , ( as did that King his Subiects ) that they forthwith fall downe , and worship the GOIDEN-IMAGE . Hee scornes and contemnes blinde , and sluggish : BAAL , Asse-headed AN A MELECH ; DAGON the deceitfull ; and the vnmercifull MOLECH : calls BAAL-ZEBVB but a Flie-catcher ; and thinks BELL and DRAGON but Gluttons both . He cals none Good , but God : and of Gods , none more than MAMMON , the God of Goods . Other Gods are either chargeable , or not beneficiall ; but as for him ( to make good the Deuills words ) hee serues not his God for nought : Only he is oft times perplexe ; lest ( with LABAN ) he might at any time lose his God : His God ( he knowes ) is Currant ; and therefore t is his greatest care to keepe it . Yea and his Gods are so many of the same Matter and Mould ; that all his Seruice is to number them . Hee makes much of his Mony , for the Figures sake , more than for the Vse : and thinks he hath it to ingrosse , rather than to imploy . Euery New Peece is a new Picture of his Worship : which at first he examines by the Balance of his best Beleefe ; and after admits it as an Image of his Adoration . HE well saw his Superstition , who called the Couetous Man an IDOLATOVR . Why did God oppose himselfe to MAMMON ? but for that they who serue MAMMON , oppose themselues to God : He therefore told them truly ; Ye cannot serue God , and Mammon . Of all others then , none sothwartly idolatrous , as the Couetous . Others haue worshipped the Creatures of Gods making ; but these the Works of their owne hands : Now by how much the Workes of God are more worthy , than the handy Workes of Men ; by so much is this kinde of Idolatry more euill and odious , than the other . Nor is the Couetous Man more spiritually Idolatrous ; than ciuilly Slauish . The Drosse is but base ; but the Couetous Mans affections are baser than the Drosse : Else , how could he vnder-value himselfe to it ? vnlesse he saw somewhat in it , more worthy than himselfe . They call him the Mony-Master ; butyou may call it the Master-Money : For which he toyles Night and Day ; bides Heat and Cold ; runnes through Fire and Water ; hazards Body and Soule . Silly Slaue ! thus to become a Drudge to his Seruant : As not possessing , but possessed rather ; not vsing it , but imployed himselfe : not daring to dispend it , as a Master ouer it ; but faine to guard it , as a Seruant to it : whereof he hath the trouble only of the Custody ; but no profit of the Inioyment .

All the day long ; and yet neither idle , nor well imployed . Yet makes he Time very pretious to him : For he ( together with his Coyne ) lets time also out to Interest . His Mony flies out ( like Stales , or Quoyes ) to fetch in more : And ( cleane contrary to Natures rule , or practice ) hee makes euen senslesse things to generate their like . What a Monster now is a Mony-breeder , that brings forth thus against Nature ? The Greekes not vnaptly call Vsury by the name of a Birth : because there a Penny begets a Penny , and a Pound brings forth a Pound . Now what need Gods Creatures increase and multiply for the vse of Man : since Man can make these Creatures of his owne , increase thus beside God , to inrich himselfe ? An Vsurer thus accuses both God and Nature , of ignorance and improuidence ; in that he hath found out more waies of aduantage , than euer they ordained . Of tame Beasts , take heed of an Vsurer ; he is an old Ape , a subtle Fox , and rauens more than a Tigre , Lion , Wolfe or Beare . Marke what hurt hee does you , when you are the most beholden to him . What an Vsurer lets out , he parts with but for a time ; but the other must quite part with , what comes in againe . Doe you not know , you may haue another mans Mony so long in your hands ; till you come to haue none of your owne ? You so may soon conuert your whole Estate into Debt . It is a Rule more experienced , than obserued ; All that an Vsurer hath , is in other Mens hands : till all that other Men haue , be in his . Take an Vsurers Mony into your hands ; and you take a Serpent into your bosome : It stings like an Aspe , makes you sleepe insensibly , and you neuer after awake your owne Man : It eats like a Canker , euery sound Part : and burns like a Fire , while any Fewell lasts . But notwithstanding , what a sort of Idiots daily seeke , and sue to him , to vndoe themselues ? Nay they thinke , prmise , witnesse themselues beholden to him , for their owne vndoing . The plaine Country Fellow comes in with a couple of Capons ; the Gentle Man with a goodly Gelding ; the Grazier with a fat Oxe ; and the Great Man with a brace of Bucks. And hee takes these now , with Condition of what he must haue hereafter . They must first freely take his Seruant by the hand , after , as kindly salute his Wife ; and so they make way to whisper himselfe in the eare . He now takes them apart ; pleasures them with the Presse-mony of engagement and thraldome to a Churle ; charmes them with a Number , and set Forme of words ; binds them with their owne Hands ; and ( perhaps ) at last hires others hands to lay hold vpon them . Oh damned Vsury , and detested ! Whether Vsury directly , or indirectly ; yet directly damned . What is it at the best , but a necessary Euill ; like a Woman , which a Man can neither well haue , nor want : but an vndoing Benefit ; like an ill Seruant , that eats more , than he earnes : but a tolerated Theft ; Like a Sore , that is suffered , only to preuent a worse Disease : But as it is made ; what it is , but the Spoyle , and Shipwracke of Estates , and States ? Of Estates ; for how Many haue beene thus impouerisht , to inrich One ? Of States ; for how should a Priuate Wealth , but hurt the Common-Wealth .

But ( thinke you ) is an Vsurer all he is ? Tush Man ! hee 's any thing for Aduantage . Any Gaine is good , how are it be got . Emperour-like , hee smells Gaine well from Pisse and Stale : nay Pope-like , imbraces it sweetly from the Stewes . He takes vp all Trades to thriue on : Now a Labourer , now a Farmer , now an Artificer , now a Merchant , now an Officer : now an Ingrosser , and sells all by whole sale ; now an Haberdasher of small wares , and sells all by retale . Nay worse than these ; An Informer , Promoter , Petty-fogger , a Pillager , Poller , Toller , a Monopolizer , Market-monger , Corne-hoorder , Huckster , Broker , Regratour , a Mountebanke , Catchpole , Cutpurse , Carder , Cheater ; and many such more than good : Of such like Trade , or rather Craft ; which turne the Industry of Nature , and Inuention of Art , into no better but Deceit , and Wrong . There are many wayes for a Man to inrich himselfe , without his Euill . A due Time , and good Meanes , will bring in Gaine enough , to no Mans losse . That only is well got , for which no Man is the worse . A Man ought both to labour in , and liue by his Calling . And may ( doubtlesse ) so wisely , and iustly contriue his Affaires , as to doe himselfe good thereby , and no body hurt . And therefore are vocations of Men well inuented : Men only abuse them , when they make ill Inuentions , their Vocations . When Men will not labour , for that is painfull ; when Men will not venter , for that is doubtfull : But will rather defraud and circumuent , taking it to be easily and certainly gainfull : Hauing neither the Patience , nor Honesty to expect , till Time , and industry may aduantage them ; But hauing a reach beyond both , to rise of a Sudden : And so they be hastily , they care not how vniustly rich .

Nay but I now come neere the Man , that is so neare himselfe . Why ( God be thanked ) Man , thou hast enough . Enough ? No , no ; Fortune hath giuen to him ( as she hath to Many ) too much : but hath not giuen him ( as shee hath to None ) Enough . Enough 3 There s two of the Enoughs ( hee sayes ) and his ( hee thinkes ) is little Enough . It mattereth not , how much hee hath with another ; sith it seemes but small vnto himselfe . Little , or Much , it skilleth not ; Little would haue no lesse , and Much would still haue more . And therefore , his Hooke hangs continually , and all is Fish , that comes to his Net : He hath a Plow in euery Mans Field ; an Iron in euery mans Fire ; and an Oare in euery mans Boat . Like a hungry Dogge , he gapes at euety Bit , and snatches at euery Bone : Like a greedy Kite , ere hee haue yet quite swallowed the first gobbet ; he gapes and creekes for another : At once puls one Hand vnto him , with what he hath gotten , and keeps close his Fist ; and opens the other Hand , and holds it out for more . He labours of a Disease , the remedy whereof does rather increase the malady : a Feuer , a Dropsie , a Doggish Appetite . Meat makes him but hungry ; and the more he drinks , the dryer he is ; and all you can apply , addes but Fewell to augment his Fire . The Serpent Situla hath stung him , and ( doe what you can ) hee le die of an vnquenchable Thirst . Powre in while you will , his Mouth is like a Sieue , or Tunnell ; still open and empty : and all that is put in , doth rather stretch out , than fill vp his Belly . All other Desires of men , rest satisfied in their accomplishment : This hungry desire of Hauing only , the more it is fulfilled , it is enlarged . The Beasts can forthwith suffice their Appetites , only this beastly Appetite of Man will not bee satisfi'd What shall I call this Couetousnesse ? a Ditch , a Graue , a Gulfe , a Whore , a Hell : infinite all , and insatiate altogether . The Daughter of the Horseleach still cries ; Giue , Giue : but neuer saith , Jt is Enough . He that loueth Siluer , is doomed not to bee satisfied with Siluer . For , Couetousnesse is the Hunger of the Soule ; and Mony is but a corporall Sustenance : It may well then fill his Purse ; but shall neuer suffice his Mind . The Couetous Man that loueth abundance , shall not be satisfi'd with Increase : Because the loue of his riches increaseth together with the Heape . A Poore man hath little , and wants little : a Rich man hath much , and wants more than he hath . The One rests content with what he hath ; and thus is hee filled with good Things : The Other coueteth to haue more ; and so is he sent empty away . How much better is it , to bee Full with little ; than Empty in the midst of much ? And how are they Riches ; which once increasing , Pouerty is increased also ? That Man is Rich , not that hath much ; but that wants little : And he wants the lesse , that hath the least . He that hath but little , esteemes well of a little Profit : but he that hath much , sets light by a small Gaine ; because he lookes for more . The Man that desires many things , to him a Many things seeme a Few : but he that is content with few things , to him doe euen a Few things seeme a Many . A Beggar thinkes him rich with a Penny ; a Rich man scarce thinkes him so with a Pound . Many a Man hath thought such a Thing too much for him , before hee had it : which when hee hath , hee now thinkes it not enough . The Reason is , because he so seekes to haue , as that he sees not what he hath . Hee sees not , how he hath , what others want : but thinks he wants , what another hath . What another hath , he wants ; yea and wants what he hath himselfe . But , he that will haue what he hath , and haue enough ; Let him not get more , but craue lesse : For the only way to make a Man Rich , is not to augment his Substance ; but rather lessen his Desire . He that eats much , and is not filled ; that drinkes oft , and is not slaked : Expletion but increases the Malady ; and there is no way to cure him , but by Purgation . A Man cannot haue all that he will ; this he may , he may nill what he hath not . He that would but a little , may soone haue all he would . I will desire no more , when I would be sure to haue my Desire .

What ( I maruell ) would the Man doe with more ? Hee hath more already than is well bestowed , or than he well knowes how to bestow . It is his Goods Increase he minds only , not their Vse . How vnworthy is be of the Talent , that binds it in a Napkin , and hides it in the Ground ? What is he better to haue a thing and vse it not , which is nothing but the vse ? What then would the Man with more Wealth ? What ? I 'le answer for him ; prouide for an hard Winter , and keepe in store against a deare Yeare : ( yea it is the thought of an hard Winter , makes him he dare not inioy the Summer . ) He will therefore ( he sayes ) so dine , as he may sup ; and so goe to day , as he may to morrow . Yea ( Oh misery , and folly of Men ! ) therefore will he certainly scant himselfe , lest perhaps he may be scanted : and want that alwayes , which he feares he may sometimes want . But would you know why he yet so scrapes and heapes ? His most end is ; He therfore would haue more , that others might haue lesse : Otherwise , he is not satisfied , while there is any thing beside him . Hee aduises himselfe in this case ( as a Tyrant did his Officers ) to consider how many things he wants ; and to lee that no other haue any thing but he . What he hath , doth himselfe no good , doth others hurt : for he hath it purpolely to keepe it from others , rather than keepe it for himselfe . Like the Dragon that kept the Golden Apples ; and that other than kept the Golden Fleece : Like the Griffins in the Hyperborean Mountaines , that had no vse of the Gold and precious Stones were there ; yet would suffer none to take them thence . Or ( to compare him with what hee 's acquainted with ) like a Dogge on a Hay-Mow , he lies there not to eat himselfe , but to keepe the Cattle from their Meat : Yea like a Daw , hides Mony , not that he hath need of it , but that others might not find it . A Couetous Man doth good to none , no not himselfe : doth hurt to himselfe , and all . Wife , nor Children are the better for him ; for whom Neighbours , and Strangers are the worse . He counts it an indignitie , to haue Equals neere him ; and a miserie to haue Neighbours by him : And could wish there were no more men in the World but he : that so he might haue a World vnto himselfe . ADAM ( hee thinkes ) was well blest , when there was no more to inhabit a whole Earth but hee : but now ( hee sayes ) the World is waxt so populous , that men haue much adoe to liue one by another . His endlesse coueting hath made his Possessions boundlesse : And yet ( hee thinkes ) he scarce hath enough ; when hee now knowes not what he hath . I will now say to him , and all ; and so as my words are warranted : Goe to now ye rich Men ( ye that ioyne House to House , and Field to Field ; till there be no roome left for the Poore ) weepe , and howle for your miseries that shall come vpon you ; your riches are corrupted , and your garments moth-eaten : your Gold and Siluer is cankered , and the rust thereof shall be a witnesse against you , and shall eat your flesh as it were Fire : you haue heaped vp treasures together for the last dayes . Vnhappy Wealth , and euill ! that doth no good to those that haue it not ; and doth hurt to those that haue it : Troubling their Liues , blotting their Consciences , damning their Soules : and from a hell they made vnto themselues : bringing them to the Hell prepared for them .

Oh cry him mercy ! he disclaimes him that can claime any thing of him ; that can say What , or Whom he hath Oppressed , vndermined , polled , ingrated , spoyled , cheated , circumuented , or extorted . Whose House hath he hired from ouer his head , or Field from vnder his hands ; or snatcht his meat from out his mouth , or pull'd his Raiment from off his backe : Hath hee beene a carelesse executour , an vnequall Arbitratour , an vniust Guardian ? Whose Wages hath hee with-held ? Whose Estate hath he intangled ? Whose Feofment hath hee imbezilled ? Whose Pledge hath he not restored ? What Promise hath he not performed ? and what Debt hath he not discharged ? Or who can say , this was his , or is , or so ought to be ? He defies a World ; what he hath , he came honestly by , and it is his owne . His Neighbour ( for what he euer wrought , or thought against him ) hath yet both House , Wife , Child , Sernant , Oxe , Asse , and euery thing that is his . Excellent Pharisee ! He hath kept the Commandements : But one thing is lacking ; let him goe and sell all that he hath , and giue vnto the Poore . He is iustifi'd ( he thinkes ) because he hath done no man Wrong : Not knowing he is guilty , for that he hath done good to none . Others did he neuer injure ; and so he is free ( he perswades him ) not considering he is bound to succour others . Call him Couetous ; and he tells you , he neuer held others from their owne : But I tell him , he is Couetous ; because he holds his owne from others . Not only he that greedily inuades anothers , but he that niggardly detaines his owne , he also is Couetous . He hath slaine , that saues not ; he hath hurt , that helpes not ; he hath spoyled , that rewards not ; he hath starued , that cherishes not ; he hath stript , that cloaths not : and he that hath not giuen , euen he hath taken away . The Fault is no lesse his , that bestowes not on him that hath not ; than his , that exacts from him that hath . The Corne which thou hoordest , is the Bread of the hungry ; the Wooll and Flax which thou transportest , is the Cloth of the naked ; the Gold and Siluer which thou dost so heap and hide , is the Price of the Poore : He that wisely gaue it thee for them ; shall once ( in their behalfe ) as seuerely require it of thee , and thy like : J was an hungred , and ye gaue me no meat ; J was thirsty , and ye gaue me no drinke ; I was a Stranger , and yee tooke mee not in ; Naked , and yee cloathed mee not ; sicke , and in Prison , and yee visited me not .

Nay and you talke of Giuing , he is gone : This is ( he sayes ) no World to Giue ; himselfe is ( as others are ) on the Taking hand . Quite of another mind from the Scripture ; It is a more blessed thing ( he sayes ) to Receiue , than to Giue : And ( cleane contrary to the Prince , that thought that day lost , in which he had giuen nothing ) he thinkes it all lost , in that day that he giues . You cannot beat Bounty into his Braines with a Beetle . A very Truant is he ( and you examine him ) at a lesson of Liberality : and if you take in hand to tutour him ; he makes any excuse , takes any occasion to busie him otherwise , than about his Booke . You would not thinke how hee delayes the Dole to the Poore ; and what Shifts he hath to shun a Beggar . If he but suspect there sits a needy Crauer neare to such a Corner ; he there either turnes another way , or lookes another way : He either mends his Pace , chats to his Companion , or makes himselfe musing on some hasty Matter : Now listens he to the other side , and the Poore-man is on his deafe eare . It is not the first , and a faint asking will auaile him any thing ; hee must dogge him to it , for what he does . But if you once come so neare him , and follow him so fane , that hee must needes take notice though not of Your Want , yet of your Noyse : he neuer stands Iesuitically to equiuocate with you ; I haue it not that is ( he meanes ) not for you : but tels you blunt out at once ; I haue not for you . Aske him a Farthing , and he sayes a Farthing is too little for him to giue ; aske a Shilling , and hee replies , a Shilling is too much for you to receiue : Aske more , or lesse ; he minds to serue you with a matter of nothing . Tell him you 'l pray for him , if hee 'l be pleased to giue ; and he tells you , hee can haue Prayers better cheape : Say you 'le pray for him , whether hee 'le giue or no ; and hee 'le trust you ( he sayes ) for once . ( A poore Cauill is it , to flout out anothers Necessitie . ) And yet he thinkes , he hath thus put you off with as good a Grace , and as much Credit ; as another could haue pleasured you . But if hee be drawne to Giue , he giues so difficultly , so frowningly , with such vpbraidings and reuilings ; that he giues you a Fish , and a Serpent at once ; and together with Bread , he puts a Stone into your Poke . You had better bee without his Gift ; it is not so sweet in the hauing , as bitter in the receiuing . Salute him with a Suit ; and hee stampes that he cannot stay to heare you : Hee now turnes , and talkes to euery one that comes by him : and cries , I come Sir , to any one that but opens the casement toward him . Present him with your Petition , and he puts you to petition the second time for an answer to the first : Hee le put on his considering Cap , and bids you come againe for an answer : and so you must spend more Time , Labour , Cost , for ( perhaps ) a further Delay ; or ( more likely ) a flat Deniall . The Churle hates to be Poore ; nor would he willingly be thought Rich: verifying the Saying ; He had rather be rich indeed , than so accounted . ( Contrary to many wauering Credit-mongers , that seeke to be so accounted ; hauing scarce wherewith to make vp their accounts . ) Especially , how little doth hee set by himselfe at a Leuie , Sessment , Loane , Tax , or Subsidie ? And all is because hee would doe as little good as hee could , to King , Church , and Poore . He abhors to be charged with an Office of Charge : will Fine for a City Sheriffe ; and will be ready to cut his owne throat , to be made Sheriffe of a Shire . He hates Papistrie for one Point especially , because they teach , A Man may merit Saluation by his Works : He heares it , but he cannot beleeue it ; No , no , his Hope is , Faith will come to saue him , though Charity be away . Ah Charity , Charity ! thou faire Fruit of the Faithfull ; and laudable witnesse of a Soule Sanctifi'd : Oh thou that art the Greatest of all Graces for Abiding ; where dost thou now abide ? O Loue ! O Doue ! to whither hast thou taken thy Wings ? How art thou flown out of the Arke of a wretched World ? how art thou gone out from vs , not to returne vnto vs ? Alas ! how is thy beauty stained , Strength weakned , light darkned , and Heat cooled ? Helpe , Oh helpe ! come once againe vnto vs , and do some good amongst vs : Now thou art gone , there s no good to be done . The Hungry pine , while there is none to feed them ; the Naked starue , while there is none to cloath them ; The Sicke languish , while there is none to visit them ; the Captiues call and cry , while there is none to deliuer them ; the Poore complaine , while there is none to right , or pitty them . No man remembreth the Afflictions of IOSEPH . Neuer more need of an ANGEL to conuay Sustenance to him prisoned in the Den ; or of a RAVEN to fetch Food for him banished in the Wildernesse : For , LABAN diminishes the Wages of IACOB ; NABAL will not part with a crumme of Bread , or a drop of water to the Son of ISHAI ; and DIVES denyes LAZARVS to dine with his Dogges . Who releeues him with a Penny , whom CHRIST redeemed with his Blood ? Who thrusts not out CHRIST in a stranger , rather than takes in a Stranger for CHRIST his sake ? As the swinish GERGASENES thrust CHRIST out of their Coasts : So with a many hoggish Churles , away with the Begger ( the sturdy I meane not , but the needy ) to the next Constable , Stocks , House of Correction . Their care is but to be rid of them ; they care not to releeue them . ;

Oh ho , now I haue him . Could you not thinke all this while , to what end he is so great a gatherer ? You must not thinke What onely , but Whom he is to leaue behind him . Hee hath laid vp ( with the Glutton in the Gospell ) for many Yeares : Yea and ( beyond him too ) for more Yeares than his owne . Iust one of them , that Haue their Portion in this Life , and leaue the rest of their Substance for their Babes . It is a Fatherly affection that vrges him thus to scrape and heap : A Father ( he thinkes ) does not halfe loue his Children as he ought ; that plots not by all meanes to make them rich . To beget Children , and bestow them , is ( thinks he ) a Fathers Whole : and to endow them largely is the only Education . Better not beget , than beget to Beggery ; is an Apothegme of his owne : but the old Rule he remembers not ; Better vnborne , than vntaught . No matter for Instruction , they shall haue Wealth enough . Goods are more than Goodnesse : What cares he whether they learne to liue well ; his care is to leaue them well to liue . It is all one to be such an ones Hogge , Horse , Dogge ; as his : Sonne : Nay , his Hogges shall haue a Swineheard , his Horse a Rider , his Dogges a Futerer ; but no Tutor for his Child . He will haue a Shepheard in his Field , a Bayly in his yard ; but scarce a Minister in his parish : A Clarke for his Bonds , a Steward ouer his lands ; but no Schoolemaster to his Sonnes . He will looke that his land be well manured ; but respects not though he that must haue it , be neuer so ill mannered . What an Idiot it is , thus to decke and dresse the Seruant ; whose master notwithstanding must be but a Slouen . Oh their basenesse , and folly ! Lesse Culture shall be bestowed vpon the Owner ; then vpon his Possessions Sonnes , or Daughters ; No matter what they are , but what they haue : Be shee blacke , shee 's Penny white ; be she crooked , her Wealth will make her stract ; be she neuer so bad , her Goods are enough to make her Good Be he base , hee 's Gold Noble ; Be he sheepish , he hath a Golden Fleece , be his Demeanour neuer so foule , he hath a faire Demeanes . What Vncomelinesse or Euill will not Wealth make a man winke at ? O Fooles ! Whether is better , and to be preferred ; Wealth , or Instruction ? the one a grosse Heape , the other a rare Endowment ; the one as vile to the other ; as is the Body to the Minde . And whether is worse , and rather to be despised ; a Begger , or a Foole ? the one hath no Mony , the other hath no Wit : and what the one wants of a Rich man , the other wants of a Man .

And is it He , for whom thou dost so toyle , and plod ? Like thy Oxe and Asse then , thou art not for thy selfe . Thou art but the Conduit-Pipe , and he the Cesterne : It comes thorow thine hands , but is laid vp for him . Thou therefore makest thee poore , to make him rich . And what good will it doe thee when thou art gone , that thou left'st a rich Heyre behind ? Yea , more Rich ( perhaps ) than Good . Thou hast gained for him , and so hast lost thine owne Soule . Did it DIVES any good , that his Brethren ( after him ) liued merrily ; and ( great-like ) of his Goods ? Say they dranke Wine in Bowles ; yet neuerthelesse his Tongue was tormented in that Flame . When thou diest miserably , what art thou the better that thy Children liue neuer so brauely ? What is it , that they beget iollity to them , and horrour to thy Selfe ? Hereby haue they Pleasure perhaps , but it but short : but thou hast torment both certaine , and endlesse . A wealthy Sonne profiteth not a guilty Father : No , though he would giue all he left him , for Masses , Dirges , Pardons , and Prayers ; it could not ( what ere Men faine ) redeeme his Soule from Hell . Indeed , Happy ( they say ) is he , whose Father is in Hell . For ( say they againe ) A rich man is either a bad man , or a bad mans Heire . If himselfe be bad , it will once goe worse with him : but if he only be heire to a bad man ; he is happier himselfe , in that his Father is gone to the Deuill for him . Yet further ; What faist thou , but another after thee may proue as lauish , as thou hast beene scraping ; as riotous , as thou sparing ; and may scatter that in a Yeare , which tooke thee a Life to gather : and what profit hast thou , that thou hast laboured for the Wind ? T is true , and iust ; both said , and Found : After a great Getter , there commonly comes a Spender . Goods ill gotten , are ill spent : The First Heire may haue them , and a Second perhaps ; all which a Third scarce comes to heare of .

Nay but ( I now bethinke me ) thou hast neuer an Heire : For whom is it now thou dost so toyle , and irke , yea and damne thy selfe ? Thou knowest , thou must not haue them ; and who must haue them , thou knowest not . Perhaps , one that neuer knew thee , or will neuer thanke thee . HE puts thee in minde of such thy Frailty , and Folly at once : Man Walketh in a vaine Shadow , and disquieteth himselfe in vaine : he heapeth vp riches , and cannot tell who shall gather them . Tush ! why tell you him ? If no Body will lay claime to it ; let it fall to the King , Church , Commons , Poore of the Parish . But for feare of such a Forfeit , thou hast chosen thee an Heire vnto thy selfe : One that thou louest well ; yea better it seemes than thine owne Soule . One that loues thee well ; and well he may , and it be but for the loue hee hath to thine . He cannot chuse but loue thee horribly , while he loues Thine so impatiently : That is , he could wish Thee , and Thine at once , both hang'd , and had : yea , to haue Thine , what cares he to curse Thee to Hell ? He is one of the same Name ( I am sure ) though not one of the Kinne . So , so ; Keepe the House howsoeuer in the same Name ; belike the Line was not worthy of it . ABSOLON hath no Childe for his Name to liue in ; shall he rot therefore out of remembrance ? no , not while ABSOLONS Pillar stands . If he haue no Monument of his Loynes ; he can haue a Pillar of his Name : and that s enough to vphold his House . This is one of the last , but not the least follies of Men , to let a Title carry it , before the Right : To make Kinsmen Strangers , and a Kinsman of a Stranger : With the whole Price of an Heiredome , to buy the Name of an Heire ; or an Heire of the Name : To purchase a lying Affinity with a costly kinde of Adoption . Nay but the Heire that must be , is a Poore Sisters Sonne : The poore rag'd Knaue ( I can tell you ) is like to be Lord of all . He shall one day owne all that is his Vncles ; though his Vncle now scarce will owne him . Not a Farthing will he allow him to educate , and maintaine him ; though leaue him all at last , to waste perhaps , or else ingrosse . You shall finde him set the first in his Will ; which neuer was suffered to sit the last at his Table . It is the manner of the Couetous , to part with nothing while they liue ; no not to those , to whom they mind to leaue all at their Death . While he liues , all is too little for himselfe ; but let him take all to him , when he dies . His Heire is now beholden to him , not for what he hath bestowed ; but for what he could not keepe : And will therefore thanke him , when he shall not heare him ; will pray for him when it shall doe him no good . Thou now liest gasping , and thine Heire is gaping : Euery looke he lets vpon thee , accuses the slownesse of thy Death : For he thinkes it his Wrong and Hurt that thou liuest . Hee sighs and wailes before thee , not that he cares for thy losse ; but hopes for thy Gaine : How he howles and blubbers , while thy hands quake , Teeth guash , Eyes close , Breath stops , Heart choaks , and Soule flits ; & all , not so much that thou art now dead , as that thou diedst not ere this . No Mans Death is more desired , than the Couetous Mans : It is alwayes expected , plotted often , yea and sometimes vntimely effected . All therefore wish him dead ; because ( like the Hog in the Pot ) he doth good to none , but after his Death .

Well , thou 'lt therefore shake off these Shadowes ; and mind'st ( I heare ) to build some Hospitall , Schoole , Colledge ; or doe some charitable Deed withall . Sayes he so ? The Man liues poore ( I perceiue ) with purpose to die rich : and dies rich , to doe good after his Death . Yea , then doe Good , when he can doe no longer hurt . He hath robbed Peter all his Life ; and will now pay Paul at his Death . That is no Liberalitie to giue , when he can no longer haue : no Charitie to releeue one , with what he hath wrested from another : no Pietie to doe Euill , that Good may come thereof : and no Equitie to get ill , with a purpose to bestow it well . I would not wish thee to goe to Hell all thy Life , with an intent to win Heauen after thy Death . Dost thou offend still , with purpose to make amends ? Wealths well bestowing , is not enough for the Fault in the getting . Satisfaction may appease the Hurt ; it cannot wipe away the Guilt of Fraud , or Oppression . But if thou wilt doe Good withall ; I would aduise thee to doe it , while thou hast it in thine hand to doe . Doe well with it , while it is yet thine : What thanks is it to thee , what Good is done with it , when thou hast left it . Doe then resigne it , before thou must needs bequeath it . thou hadst as good doe Good by thy selfe , as others . Euen now feed and cloath the Poore , that their Loynes and Bowels may blesse thee , before thou diest . He is but a silly Traueller , that so orders for his Iourney , as to haue his Prouision sent after him , when himselfe is already gone so farre before : He may well want it , ere it ouertake him . Good Workes goe merrily with , or before vs : they follow but slowly afterwards .

I dreame but too well of him ; there s no such matter he meanes . He meanes ( as Hermocrates ) to make himselfe his owne Heire : and wishes still that his Goods might fall by succession to himselfe . Or else ( with Another ) will he deuoure his Gold before his Death ; and so bury it in him : Or ( with such Another ) sow it in his Sleeue , and appoint it to be buried with him . Ah this bewitching Wealth ! ha this Gold , this Gold ! how it ties Mens Hearts vnto it ? Once Couetous , and alwayes so . Auarice is commonly the Vice of old Age : Whereas other vices then fade , this grows afresh . And as it begins with Age , so it ends not but with Life . A Couetous Man growes the fonder of his Gold , the sooner he must forgoe it : Yea , when it must needs Leaue him ; euen then is he loth to leaue it .

I haue now said so much of thee , that I had almost forgotten my selfe . Who ( thinkst thou ) am I ? Euen no better than I would ; no other than thou oughtst to be . Will I ( like thee ) abase mine Affections vnto Earth ; when I am bound to ayme at nothing vnder Heauen ? To what can I stoope to in a World , that am aboue a World ? I am more worthy , than to welcome base Pelfe vnto me , so as to worship it : My Minde came from Heauen ; My Gold comes but from Earth : I doe not meane to set Earth aboue Heauen , in letting my Gold ouerrule my Minde . If it will dwell with me , it shall be my Seruant ; I intend to bee no Slaue vnto it . Riches can I contemne , and not desire , and vse : can vse the World , as though I vsed it not ; can passe by this present Life ; because I am to passe through it to another , to a better Life . Yea , can content me with a present Scantnesse , for hope of the Fulnesse I am to haue hereafter . It is not an Earth that I would ; nor can an Earth suffice and appease my Will. My Heart is a true framed Triangle , a coyned Circle cannot fill it . Nothing can satisfie my Soule , but All things : He only is enough vnto it , in whom it is . Nothing lesse than God , can suffice the Soule that is capable of God . Euery Creature is but vile to him , that knowes but his Creator . A whole Earth is too strait for him , that lookes as wide as Heauen . The whole Ocean of the World is but as a drop to a thirstie Soule ; to whom one drop of the riuer of Paradise is plenteous refreshment . Hee counts Mammon but base , that prizes God : And the wise Merchant cares not to part with all , to purchase the pretious Pearle vnto him . Did my Will embrace a World , it would still aske more ; A World is not enough to my Will : What then should I desire , but what onely and fully can answer , and appease my Desire ?

I haue but little , t is true ; and the best is , I want but little . I haue but little , yet enough : and that can neuer be little , that is enough ; and what is not enough , when it is at the most , is not much . I lacke but little ; I haue chosen the better part than so , to be carefull for many things , when one thing is necessary . Godlinesse with Contentment is great Gaine ; said One , that for his Knowledge , knew both how to want , and how to abound : and for his Experience , Hauing nothing , yet possessed all things . Godlinesse with Contentment saies he ? Why that s enough for Man or Christian : Nature inuites the one , to be content with a little : and Grace aduises the other , Hauing food and Raiment , therewith to be content . A Man will Content him with Natures lot and limit : so will a Christian bee content with what measure God hath mett out vnto him . Content is all : The least Portion is enough , the lowest Condition happy , with the aequanimitie of the Bearer . The Man is likest to God , that lacks the least ; whose propertie it is , to haue need of Nothing ; and to be sufficed with himselfe . The Contented Man is rich in the midst of Pouertie : whereas the Couetous is poore in the midst of Riches . He that can be content with what he hath ; wants not , what he hath not : he that is not so , wants what he hath . The Patriarch cared for no more , but Bread to eat , and Raiment to put on : The Wise Man craued neither Pouertie , nor Riches ; but Conuenience onely . I will make that enough to mee , which God hath giuen mee with a sparing hand . God saw no more was good for mee , he therfore gaue mee no more Whether God giues little , or much , he giues for the best . Better is a little with the Feare of the Lord ; than great Treasure , and trouble therewith . ; Or say my Estate be not enough to my Will ; I can make my Will enough to mine Estate : Namely , while it answers not mee accordingly ; I can accordingly apply my selfe to it . Hee that cannot make his owne enough ; will neuer haue enough , though all were his owne .

Mee thinks I yet see how Crates threw his Gold into the Sea : And heare how Phocion told Alexander , that himselfe was richer , who needed not his great Gift ; than was hee who gaue it : And thinke how Fabricius thought it a Kingdome , to contemne the Wealth of a King . These knew Gold and Siluer was but an elaborate Dust ; Wealth was but a toylsome Heape ; and all manner of Riches , not such as their owne Worth , but the Errours of men had prized , and brought into request . This vnnecessary Trash ( they knew , & proued ) was but an impediment to Vertue ; and an inticement to Euill : They therefore ( whose best Vertues , were but the best Vices ) despised that for Vertues sake , which they knew to be the matter and meanes to Vice . Did the Nations abhorre , and doth Israel adore the Golden Idoll ? Is Mony lesse Earth and Drosse , than it was of old , or are Mens Affections now become more vile and earthy ? Haue Christians more neede of Wealth , than had Pagans ? Nay haue they not a nearer , safer , fuller Prouidence within ; than haue they that were , and are without ? How is it now , they preferre the things of this Life before them , that had neither the Knowledge , nor Hope of another and better Life ? To leaue and contemne the Wealth of the World , is an ordinary Lesson of Philosophie : To heape and adore them then , can be no good Diuinitie . If Nature could teach Them to neglect them ; because they did them no Good : Grace ( mee thinkes ) should the rather instruct mee not to regard them , because they doe mee hurt .

Yea ( as I fay ) doe me hurt : and more hurt , then for which a World can make amends . Both staine my Soule , and damne my Soule : and can a World now both wipe , and quit , this both Guilt , and Losse ? What shall it profit a Man , if hee shall gaine the whole World ; and lose his owne Soule ? ( saith HE , that doth as much as quite deny , what hee doth thus demand ) or what shall a man giue in exchange for his Soule ? An whole World ( belike ) is not worth a Soule . I were vnwise then to hazard my Soule , though it were for a world . I will tell the Worldling what I know , and what hee finds . Riches staine the Soule : For a Man doth not lightly and easily become rich , without his Euill and Sinne. Why doth he call it the Vnrighteous Mammon ? but because Riches and Righteousnesse seldome goe together : But it is common to haue Wealth and Wickednesse at once . How gets a Man his Wealth , but by Fraud and Oppression ? how spends a Man his Wealth , but vpon his Pride and Lusts ? That must needs be bad outright ; which is purchased by bad meanes , and imployed to bad Ends Riches are but base in their Nature ; but are euen bad in their Effects . He might haue beene Poore and Innocent together ; that is now growne both Guilty , and Rich. Is a man to more good for his Goods ? I will neuer thinke : Man the better for his Meanes ; since ( I see ) it is the meanes to make him worse . But I must tell him withall , what I feare , and what hee would loth to finde : Riches damne the Soule . It is ( woe , ah woe ! ) too true . Before he beginne his Gaine , he hath quite lost himselfe : yet considers not , how he loses all in the losse of himself . The acquisition of his Pelfe was at the first sealed with the damnation of his Soule . Who but THEY ( the Deuill and his Angels ) were to fetch away the Rich mans Soule ? He bids you vnderstand how headlong he hurries downe to Hell ; that tells you how hardly he gets vp into Heauen : Saying : Jt is easier for a Camell to goe thorow the eye of a needle ; than for a Rich man to enter into the Kingdome of God . Briefly , He tells plainely of their Blemish and Vengeance together : They that will be rich fall into temptation , and a Snare ; and into many foolish , and hurtfull Lusts , which drowne men in destruction , and perdition .

Ah but t is a miserie ( me thinkes ) to bee poore : And there is ( we say ) No Woe , to Want . The Parenthesis was well put in , both for the pith , and Truth of the Saying . Pouerty is a Misery , but it is to them that so make it , because they take it so . Pouertie is no burden to him , that can beare it out : None feeles the weight of it , but he that feares to vndergoe it . Not trouble some is it to him that beares it ; but to him that will not beare it . Nothing is hard to a willing Mind : to an vnwilling is nothing easie . Pouerty is grieuous to no man ; but rather many a Man is so to it . This is the misery of it , that a man will needs make it so to himselfe . I am worthily wretched , when I will not be otherwise perswaded , but that I am so . In my Minde , Hee 's not poore , that would not be rich : and hee lacks nothing , that craues not many things . Tush , tush : No man is poore indeed : and ( but in conceit ) is no Man rich . He is Poore indeed , that cares to be rich : Hee 's rich enough , that feares not to be Poore . Reach indeed to the Opinion of Men , and who is Rich ? But stoope to the Condition of Men , and who is Poore ? Nature hath limited a Man to liue with little : And shall a Man thinke him Poore when he hath not wherewithall to transgresse Natures Bounds ? There is a kinde of Meannesse , and Scantnesse to many a Man : It is their pecuishnesse to call it Basenesse , and Beggery : and to reproach it so , and abhor it . Men doe miscall , what they know not how to esteeme . And as Children are skarred at Bugge-beares , and fabled or fained Hobgoblins : so Fooles flie this Ghostly and gastly appearing Pouerty by Fire and Water , Sea and Land . Let others thinke Pouerty a wofull misery ; I will deeme it ( as I well proue it ) an happy Security . The Poore Man , he does no hurt ; he feares no hurt : Hee is not enuied , not hated , not cursed ; incures not the treacherous Enmities of Men : He sings , and dances before the Theefe ; sleepes safe and sound vnder euery Hedge . Nothing hath he , he feares to lose ; and lies so low , as whence he cannot fall . I should therefore like Pouerty the better , because it is lesse obnoxious to Feare , and Losse ; Who would still trouble him to possesse Riches ; that must once be more troubled in their Losse ? It is safer a great deale , not to Haue , than to Lose : And hee farre merrier , whom Fortune neuer respected ; than whom she hath now forsaken . The Lesser I am ; I am Greater , than whom Change , or Chance may indammage .

But say Pouerty were worse than it is ; and I poorer than I am : I am ot other than Others , yea and my Betters haue likewise beene . What should I tell of poore Kings , Prophets , Apostles , Fathers , Saints ? CHRIST himselfe was Poore : borne of a poore Woman , brought forth in a poore Stable , lapt in poore Clouts , laid in a poore Manger , liued a poore Life : HE , euen he hungred , he wanted ; he had not wherewith to pay the Due ; he had not whereon to lay his Head . Now Worme of Earth , how is it thou couetest so to be rich ; sith the God of Heauen and Earth , was so willing to be Poore . What was there in the World , was worthy of God ? What cared he then for the worth of a World ? Why would hee want these Things of ours ? but to tell vs , that we our selues might well bee without them : Why contemne them ? but to teach vs not to desire them . My SAVIOVR cared not to bee rich , feared not to bee Poore : to bid me not trouble my selfe with so needlesse Feares , and Cares .

One thing is , ( let the World goe the worst with me ) I cannot liue poorer , than I was Borne ; and so must Die. Naked ( said the Poore man ) came J out of my Mothers Wombe ; and naked shall I returne thither . And the wise man ; As hee came forth of his mothers wombe , naked shall he returne to goe as he came : and shall take nothing of his Labour , which bee may carry away in his hand : Jn all points as he came , so shall hee goe ; and what profit hath he , that hath laboured for the Wind ? Come naked , Goe naked ; Bring nothing , Carry nothing : To what purpose then doe Men get and gather those things which they once had not ; and once must not haue ? These things of ours ; here only we haue them ; and wee leaue them here . Said I of Ours ? How are they Ours , which at first were not so ; and at last shall not so be ? That is ours , which we bring with vs ; but that anothers , which we get vnto vs : That is Ours , which we keepe with vs ; but that anothers , which wee leaue behind vs . That is a mans Owne , which is not added to a Man ; which is not taken from a Man ; which is not one mans more than anothers . A Mans Soule is a mans owne : Riches are not so . Oh hazzard not your owne , to haue the Things that are not yours ! He fitly called them vncertaine Riches : They vncertaine to vs ; and we likewise to them . They Vncertaine : Now ours , now others ; now gotten , now gone . Nothing is Certaine in Riches , but vncertainty . So He expresly ; Riches Certainly make themselues Wings , They fly away , as an Eagle towards Heauen . An Eagle flies suddenly , flies swiftly : So are Riches gone instantly , gone irrecouerably . These things of ours , they goe from vs by more wayes than one . Either thy Fade of themselues ; or we Consume them ; or others Depriue vs of them . Our Food is subiect to putrefaction ; our Garments to the Moth , and fretting ; our Gold and Siluer to the rust and canker ; our Lands to barenesse and barrennesse ; and our Houses to rottennesse and ruine . Fire may deuoure them , Water swallow them , Enemies spoile them , or Theeues purloyne them . O vaine Man ! How is it thou now trustest in a Thing so vaine ? Trust not in vncertaine Riches : Set not thine eyes vpon the Thing that is not : Yea , let mee say to One , and All of you : Lay not vp for your selues Treasures vpon Earth , where Moth and Rust doth corrupt ; and where Theeues breake thorow and steale : But lay vp for your selues Treasures in Heauen , where neither Moth and Rust doth corrupt , and where Theeues do not break thorow and steale . We also are vncertaine : . Did not Riches leaue vs ; yet must we leaue them at last . Death is not drawne to partialitie ; nor can she be corrupted : Gold and Siluer will not hire her to winke at the Wealthy . As dieth the Poore Man : so dieth the Rich. Shee knocks as readily , and equally at the Kings , as at the Beggers Doore . Death ( when she comes ) comes not to take his Wealth from the Rich man ; but rather the Rich man from his Wealth . That Rich Glutton had laid vp enough in store for many yeares : but that Night They ( Death and the Deuill ) they fetcht away his Soule . His Goods were yet laid vp ; but his Soule now was fetcht away . Trustlesse , yea and Witlesse Wretch he was ! Trustlesse , in that ( denying the Prouidence of God ) he laid vp for so many yeares : Witlesse , not considering how ( for his owne Frailty ) he could not promise that Night vnto himselfe . To what end should I lay vp for many Yeares ; when I am not sure , my yeares shall bee many ? Why should I so greedily get That to me ; which I know not how readily I may be fetcht from , or it from me ? Wherefore should I prouide for so long , when my Iourny is not farre ? The little I haue , may ( for what I know ) out-last my Life . I haue ( I know ) but a little way Home ; and I doe not meane to make a Burthen of my Prouision . I would haue my Shooe but fitted to my Foot : a Cloake too large or long , would but tire mee to trauell in . It is to Liue , as to Swimme ; easiest for him that is the lightest . So I haue sufficient for to Day ; let to Morrow take care for it selfe . Why should my Care be for the Morrow ; when I am not sure the Morrow shall be mine ? He that likes not my Resolution , let him read my Warrant , and vnderstand it . Take no thought for the Morrow ; for the Morrow shall take thought for the Things of it selfe . Sufficient vnto the Day is the Euill thereof : I doe not meane to make it the worse to me , by adding mine owne vnto it . Neither will I riot and waste , because I may die to Morrow : nor yet Couet and scrape , because to Morrow may be mine to liue . He that so spends the Things of the World , as if he were to Die now ; so spares , as if he wert to Liue yet : the same vses the World , as if he vsed it not : And is richer in the Inioyment of a small Portion ; than is the other in the Keeping of the largest Heape .

Churlish Death ! ( thou saist ) and the rather so ; to threaten a Separation betwixt Thee & Thine : than betwixt Thee and thy selfe . Thou irkest lesse ( I know ) thy Body and Soules finall Dissolution ; than thy Mind & Monies least Diuision . Thou art married to thy MAMMON : ty'd in a Knot vnto it , which Death onely must vndoe . Thou art one with thy Wealth : and ere thou wilt not be couetous , thou wilt not Be. Hugge thy Heapes yet a while ; and kisse euery Face of thy Coyne : Where thy Treasure is , there let thy Heart yet be : Death shall scatter thy Treasure , when she hits thy Heart . While thou thinkst on what thou hast laid vp ; that Night ( thou thinkst not on ) shall come . Then shall their Heape stay behind thee ; and their Guilt onely shall goe with thee : And thy Money moreouer shall merit thee this Memoriall :

BEneath this Stone , There lieth One ; No matter for his Name . But base by Birth ; He once kept Earth : And now Earth keepes the same . For all his Store , He was but Poore ; Euen wanting what he had : Making himselfe A Slaue to Pelfe ; No Slaue so base , so bad . His Thoughts were caring , Carcase sparing ; To pamper vp his Purse : He liu'd a Hogge ; Di'd like a Dogge : And 's gone with many a Curse . HIs Mind was Gold ; His Corps is Mould ; Which now lies rotting here : This , with the Dust , That , and the Rust , Shall once againe appeare . God , Friends , and Health , Were all to Wealth Neglected , and Contemned : Wherefore to Deuils ; Foes , Woes , and Euills ; Hee 's iustly now Condemned .