AN APOLOGIE OF THE POWER AND PROVIDENCE OF GOD IN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD .

OR AN EXAMINATION AND CENSVRE OF THE COMMON ERROVR TOVCHING NATVRES PERPETVALL AND VNIVERSALL DECAY , DIVIDED INTO FOVRE BOOKES : WHEREOF The first treates of this pretended decay in generall , together with some preparatiues thereunto . The second of the pretended decay of the Heauens and Elements , together with that of the Elementary bodies , man only excepted . The third of the pretended decay of mankinde in regard of age and duration , of strength and stature , of arts and wits . The fourth of this pretended decay in matter of manners , together with a large proofe of the future consummation of the World from the testimony of the Gentiles , and the vses which we are to draw from the consideration thereof .

By G. H. D. D.

OXFORD , Printed by IOHN LICHFIELD and WILLIAM TVRNER , Printers to the famous Vniversity . Anno Dom. 1627.

WERE I destitute of all other arguments to demonstrate the providence of God in the preservation of the World , and to proue that it doth not vniversally and perpetually decline , this one mightfully suffice for all , that thou , my Venerable Mother , though thou waxe old in regard of yeares , yet in this latter age in regard of strength and beauty , waxest young againe . Within the compasse of this last Centenarie and lesse , thou hast brought forth such a number of worthie Sonnes for piety , for learning , for wisdome ; and for buildings hast bin so inlarged and inriched , that he who shall compare thee with thy selfe , will easily finde , that though thou be truly accounted one of the most auncient Vniversities in the World yet so farre art thou from withering and wrinkles , that thou art rather become fairer and fresher , and in thine issue no lesse happy then heretofore .

The three last Cardinals that this Nation had were thine , if that can adde any thing to thine honour . Those thine vnnaturall Sonnes , who of late dayes forsooke thee , & fledde to thine Enemies campe , Harding , Stapleton , Saunders , Raynolds , Martyn , Bristow , Campian , Parsons , euen in their fighting against thee , shewed the fruitfulnes of thy wombe , and the efficacie of that milke which they drew from thy breasts . What one Colledge euer yeelded at one time and from one Countrey three such Divines as Iewell , Raynolds , and Hooker , or two such great wits & Heroicall spirits as Sir Thomas Bodley , and Sir Henry Sauill . How renowned in forraine parts are thy Moore , thy Sidney , thy Cambden ? what rare Lights in the Church were Humfreyes , Foxe , Bilson , Field , Abbot ? What pillars those fiue sonnes of thine who at one time lately possessed the fiue principall Sees in the Kingdome ? So as if I should in this point , touching the Worlds pretended decay be cast by the votes of others , yet my hope is that by reflecting vpon thy selfe , I shall be cleared and acquitted by thine .

And in confidence heereof I haue to thy censu●… submitted this ensuing Apologie , which perchaunce to the Vulgar may seeme somewhat strange , because their eares haue bin so long inured vnto , and consequently their fancies fore-stalled with the contrary opinion . But to thee I trust , who judgest not vpon report , but vpon tryall , neither art swayed by number and lowdnes of voyces , but by weight of argument , it will appeare not onely just and reasonable in that it vindicates the glory of the Creator , and a trueth as large and wide as the world it selfe , but profitable and vsefull for the raising vp of mens mindes to an endeavour of equalling , yea and surpassing their noble and worthy Predecessours in knowledge and vertue ; it being certaine that the best Patternes which wee haue in them both , either extant at this present , or recorded in monuments of auncienter times , had neuer beene , had they conceiued that there was alwayes an inevitable declination as well in the Arts as matter of Manners , and that it was impossible to surmount those that went before them .

I doe not beleeue that all Regions of the World , or all ages in the same Region afford wits alwayes alike : but this I think , neither is it my opinion alone , but of Scaliger , Vives , Budaeus , Bodine , and other great Clearkes , that the witts of these latter ages being manured by industry , directed by precepts , regulated by methode , tempered by dyet , refreshed by exercise , and incouraged by rewardes , may bee as capable of deepe speculations , and produce as masculine and lasting birthes , as any of the ancienter times haue done . But if we conceiue them to be Gyants , & our selues Dwarfes , if we imagine all Sciences already to haue receiued their vtmost perfection , so as wee need not but translate and comment vpon that which they haue done , if we so admire and dote vpon Antiquitie as wee emulate and envy , nay scorne and trample vnder foot whatsoeuer the present age affords , if wee spend our best time and thoughts in clyming to honour , in gathering of riches , in following our pleasures , and in turning the edge of our wits one against another , surely there is little hope that wee shall euer come neare them , much lesse match them . The first step to inable a man to the atchieuing of great designes is to be perswaded that by endeavour he is able to atchieue it , the next not to bee perswaded that whatsoeuer hath not yet beene done , cannot therefore be done . Not any one man , or nation , or age , but rather mankinde is it which in latitude of capacity answeres to the vniversality of things to be knowne . And truely had our Fathers thought so reverently of their predecessours , and withall of themselues so basely , that neither any thing of moment was left for them to be done , nor in case there had beene , were they qualified for the doing thereof ; wee had wanted many helpes in learning , which by their travell wee now injoy . By meanes whereof I see not but wee might also advaunce , improue and inlarge our patrimony , as they left it inlarged to vs : And thereunto the Arts of Printing and Navigation , the frequency of goodly Libraries , and liberality of Benefactours , are such inducements & furtherances , that if wee excell not all ages that haue gone before vs , it is only because we are wanting to our selues .

And as our helpes are more & greater for knowledge & learning , so likewise for goodnes & vertue , I meane , since the beames of Christian Religion displayed themselues to the World , which for the rooting out of vice & planting of vertue no Christian , I hope , will deny to be incomparably more effectuall then any other Religion that euer yet was heard of in the World : Or if others should chance to make a doubt of the certainty of this truth , yet cannot you who preach it , & publish it to others . Doubtlesse being rightly applyed without apish superstition on the one side , or peevish singularity on the other , it workes vpon the Conscience more forceably , & consequently hath a greater power of making men not outwardly & formally , but really & inwardly vertuous . And if we should look back into Histories , & compare time with time , we shall easily finde that where this Profession spred it selfe , men haue generally beene more accomplished in all kind of morall & civill vertues then before it took place .

It is true indeed that in processe of time , thorow the ambition , covetousnes , luxury , idlenesse , & ignorance of them who should haue bin lights in the Church , it too much degenerated from its Originall purity , & therevpon manners ( being formed by it ) were generally tainted , this corruption like a leprosie diffusing it selfe from the head into all the body : But together with the reviving of the Arts & Languages , which for sundry ages lay buried in barbarisme , the rust of superstition was likewise in many places scowred off from Religion , which by degrees had crept vpon it , & fretted deepe into the face of it , and the Arts being thus refined , & Religion restored to its primitiue brightnes , manners were likewise reformed euen among them , at least in part & in shew , who as yet admit not a full reformation in matter of Religion . A foule shame then it were for vs who professe a thorow reformation in matter of doctrine , to be thought to grow worse in matter of manners , GOD forbid it should be so , I hope it is not so , I am sure it should not be so : That grace of God which hath appeared more clearely to vs then to our fore-fathers , teaching vs to adorne our profession with a gracious and vertuous conversation , to deny vngodlinesse and worldly lusts , and to liue soberly , and righteously , and godly in this present world : soberly in regard of our selues , righteously in regard of others , and godly in regard of religious exercises .

If then we come short of our Auncestors in knowledge , let vs not cast it vpon the deficiencie of our wits in regard of the Worlds decay , but vpon our own sloth ; if we come short of them in vertue , let vs not impute it to the declination of the World , but to the malice and faintnesse of our owne wills ; if we feele the scourges of God vpon our Land by mortality , famine , vnseasonable weather , or the like , let vs not teach the people that they are occasioned by the Worlds old age , and thereby call into question the prouidence , or power , or wisedome , or iustice , or goodnes of the Maker thereof ; but by their and our sins , which is doubtles both the truer & more profitable doctrine , & withall more consonant to the Sermons of Christ & his Apostles , & the Prophets of God in like cases . And withall let vs freely acknowledge that Almighty God hath bestowed many blessings vpon these latter ages , which to the former he denyed , as in sending vs vertuous and gracious Princes , and by them the maintenance of piety , & peace , & plenty , & the like . Lest thorow our ingratitude he withdraw them from vs , and make vs know their worth by wanting them , which by injoying them wee vnderstood not .

But I will not presume to advise where I should learne , only I will vnfainedly wish and heartily pray , that at leastwise your practise may still make good mine opinion , maintained in this Booke , & refute the contrary & common errour opposed therein , that you may still grow in knowledge and grace , and that your vertues may alwaies rise & increase together with your buildings . These latter without the former , being but as a body without a soule .

Yours to doe you service to the vtmost of his poore abilitie

G. H.

TRuth it is , that this ensuing Treatise was long since in my younger yeares begunne by me for mine owne private exercise and satisfaction , but afterward considering not onely the rarity of the subject , and variety of the matter , but withall that it made for the redeeming of a captivated truth , the vindicating of Gods glory , the advancement of learning , & the honour of the Christian & reformed Religion , by the advise and with the approbation and incouragement of such speciall friends , whose piety , learning , and wisedome I well know , and much reverence , I resolved ( permissu superiorum and none otherwise ) to make it publique for the publique good , and the encountring of a publique errour , which may in some sort be equalled , if not preferred before the quelling of some great monster . Neither doe I take it to lye out of my profession , the principall marke which I ayme at throughout the whole body of the Discourse , being an Apologeticall defence of the power & providence of God , his wisedome , his truth , his justice , his goodnes & mercy , and besides , a great part of the booke it selfe is spent in pressing Theologicall reasons , in clearing doubts arising from thence , in producing frequent testimonies from Scriptures , Fathers , Schoolemen , and moderne Divines , in proving that Antichrist is already come from the writings of the Romanists themselues , in confirming the article of our faith touching the Worlds future and totall consummation by fire , and a day of finall judgement from discourse of reason and the writings of the Gentiles , and lastly by concluding the whole worke with a pious meditation touching the vses which we may and should make of the consideration thereof , seruing for a terrour to some , for comfort to others , for admonition to all And how other men may stand affected in reading , I know not , sure I am that in writing , it often lifted vp my soule in admiring and praysing the infinite wisedome and bounty of the Crator in maintaining and managing his owne worke , in the gouernment and preservation of the Vniverse , which in truth is nothing else but ( as the Schooles speake ) continuata productio , a continuated production : & often did it call to my mind those holy raptures of the Psalmist ; O Lord our governour , how excellent is thy Name in all the world ? Thou Lord hast made me glad through thy workes , & I will reioyce Psal. 8. 1. Psal. 92. 4. 5. 6. in giuing praise for the operations of thy hands , O Lord , how glorious are thy workes , & thy thoughts are very deepe . An vnwise man doth not well consider this , & a foole doth not well vnderstand it . And againe , The 111. 2. 3. workes of the Lord are great , sought out of all them that haue pleasure therein , His worke is worthy to be praised & had in honour , & his righteousnes endureth for euer .

And though whiles I haue laboured to free the world from old age , I feele it creeping vpon my selfe , yet if it shall so please the same great and gratious Lord , I intend by his assistance spating mee life & health hereafter to write Another Apologie of his power & providence in the government of his Church , which perchaunce by some may be thought both more proper for mee , and for these times more necessary , though he that shall narrowly obserue the prints of the Almighties footsteppes , traced throughout this ensuing discourse , may not vnjustly from thence collect , both comfort and assurance , that as the Heauens remaine vnchangeable , so doth the Church triumphant in Heauen , & as all things vnder the cope of heauen vary and change , so doth the militant heere on earth ; it hath its times and turnes , sometimes flowing and againe ebbing with the sea , sometimes waxing , and againe waning with the Moone , which great light , it seemes , the Almighty therefore set the lowest in the heavens , and nearest the Earth , that it might dayly put vs in minde of the constancy of the one , and inconstancy of the other , her selfe in some sort partaking of both , though in a different manner ; of the one in her substance , of the other in her visage .

And if the Moone thus change , and all things vnder the Moone , why should we wonder at the chaunge of Monarchies and Kingdomes ? much lesse petty states and private families : they rise , and fall , and rise again , and fall againe , that no man might either too confidently presume , because they are subject to continuall alteration , or cast away all hope , and fall to despaire , because they haue their seasons and appointed times of returning againe .

I must confesse that sometimes looking stedfastly vpon the present face of things both at home and abroad , I haue beene often put to a stand , and staggered in mine opinion , whither I were in the right or no ; and perchaunce the state of my body , and present condition , in regard of those faire hopes I sometimes had , served as false perspectiue glasses to looke through , but when againe I abstracted and raised my thoughts to an higher pitch , and as from a vantage ground tooke a larger view , comparing time with time , and thing with thing , and place with place , and considered my selfe as a member of the Vniverse , and a Citizen of the World , I found that what was lost to one part , was gained to another ; and what was lost in one time , was to the same part recouered in another ; and so the ballance by the divine providence over-ruling all , kept vpright . But comonly it fares with men in this case , as with one who lookes onely vpon some libbet , or end of a peece of Arras , he happily conceiues an hand or head which he sees , to be very vnartificially made ; but vnfolding the whole , soone findes that it carries a due and just proportion to the body ; so , qui de pauca resp●…cit , de facili pronuntiat ( saith Aristotle ) he that is so narrow eyed as he lockes onely to his owne person or family to his owne corporation or nation , or the age wherein himselfe liues , will peradventure quickly conceiue , and as some pronounce , that all things decay and goe backward , which makes men murmure and repine against Ged , vnder the names of Fortune and Destinie , whereas he that as a part of mankinde in generall , takes a view of the vniversall , compares person with person , family with family , corporation with corporation , nation with nation , age with age ; suspends his judgement , and vpon examination clearely findes , that all things worke together Rom. 8. 28. for the best to them that loue God : and that though some members suffer , yet the whole is no way thereby indammaged at any time ; and at other times those same members are againe relieued , as the Sunne when it sets to vs , it rises to our Antipodes , and when it remooues from the Northerne parts of the world , it cherishes the Southerne , yet stayes not there , but returnes againe with his comfortable beames to those very parts which for a time it seemed to haue forsaken : O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodnesse , and declare the wonders that he hath done for the children of men ! or at leastwise cry out in admiration with the Apostle , O the depth of the riches both of the wisdome and knowledge Rom. 11. 33. of our God , how vnsearchable are his pathes , and his wayes past finding out !

Yet the next way , in some measure to finde them out , ( so farre as is possible for vs poore wormes heere crawling in a mist vpon the face of the Earth ) is , next the sacred Oracles of supernatutall and revealed Truth ; to study the great Volume of the Creature , and the Histories not onely of our owne , but of forraigne Countreyes , and those not onely of the present , but more auncient times . Enquire I pray thee of the former age , and prepare thy selfe to the search of their Fathers , for wee Iob. 8. 8 are but of yesterday , and know nothing , because our dayes vpon earth are but a shadow . If then to make my party good , and to waite vpon Divinity , I haue called in subsidiary aydes , from Philosophers , Historiographers , Mathematitians , Grammarians , Logicians , Poets , Oratours , Souldiers , Travellers , Lawyers , Physitians , and if I haue in imitation of Tertullian , Cyprian , Eusebius , Augustine , Lactantius , Arnobius , Minutius , endeavoured to cut the throates of the Paynims with their owne swords , and pierced them with their owne quills , I hope no learned man , or louer of Learning will censure me for this . Philosophie and the Arts I must account a part of mine owne profession ; and for Physicke and the Lawes , I haue therein consulted the chiefe , as well in this Vniversity , as out of it , of mine owne acquaintance ; nay in History , the Mathematiques and Divinity it selfe , I haue not onely had the approbation of the publique professours therein ; for the maine points in my booke , which concerne their severall professions , but some peeces I must acknowledge as receiued from them , which I haue made bold to insert into the body of my discourse ; let no man think then that I maintaine a paradoxe for ostentation of wit , or haue written out of spleene , to gall any man in particular , nor yet to humour the present times ; the times themselues , mine indisposition that way , and resolution to sit downe content with my present fortunes ; if they serue not to giue others satisfaction therein , yet doe they fully to cleare mee to my selfe , from any such aspersion : yet thus much , I hope , I safely may say without suspition of flattery , that by the goodnesse of GOD , and our gratious Soveraigne vnder GOD , wee yet enjoy many great blessings which former ages did not , and were wee thankfull for these as we ought , and truely penitent for our excesse in all kinde of monstrous sinnes ( which aboue all , threatens our ruine ) I nothing doubt but vpon our returne to our God by humiliation and newnesse of life , he would soone dissolue the cloud which hangs ouer vs , and returne vnto vs with the comfortable beames of his favour , and make vs to returne each to other with mutuall imbracements of affection and duety , and our Armies and Fleetes to returne with spoyle and victory , and reduce againe as golden and happy times , as euer wee or our fore-fathers saw : but if we still goe on with an high hand , and a stiffe necke in our prophanesse , our pride , our luxury , our vncharitablenesse , our vnnaturall divisions in Church and Common-wealth , there needes no propheticall spirit to divine what will shortly become of vs ; Turne vs ; O turne vs againe O Lord God of hostes , shew the light of thy Countenance and wee shall bee whole ; shew the light of thy Countenance and wee shall be provident in counsell , successefull in warre , sober in peace , a terrour to our enemies , and a comfort to our allies and confederates . Turne thee againe thou God of hostes , looke downe from heaven , behold & visite this vine and the place of the vineyard that thy right hand hath planted : and the branch that thou madest so strong for thy selfe .

We need goe no farther then the nation of the Iewes for a notable instance in this kinde ; who at times more zealous then they in the worship of God & the exercises of Religion ? and who againe at other times more rebellious ? It is said of them in the Psalme , then beleeued they his words ; but presently it followes in the very next verse , they soone forgot his works : & according to their obedience or rebellion , so were they either prosperous or vnfortunate in the course of their affaires ; during their faith & fidelity towards God , every man of them was in warre as a thousand strong , & as much as a great Senate for counsel in peaceable deliberations ; contrarywise , if they swerued ( as often they did ) their wonted courage and magnanimity forsooke them vtterly ; their souldiers and military men trembled at the sight of the naked sword ; when they entred into mutuall conference , and sate in counsell for their owne good ; that which children might haue seene , their gravest Senatou●…s could not discerne , their Prophets saw darkenesse in steed of visions , and the wise and prudent were as men bewitcht .

If then wee come short of that courage and valour , which made our Auncestours so renowned by sea and land , not onely in France , and Spaine , and the Netherlands , but in Palaestina it selfe ; sure it is not , because the World declines , but because our luxury increases , the most evident symptome of a declining state ; for as all Empires haue risen to their greatnesse by vertue , and specially by sobrietie and frugalitie ; so is it cleare that by vice , and specially by luxury , which of necessity drawes on softnes and cowardise ) they haue all againe declined and come to nothing ; and out of their ashes haue others sprung vp , which likewise within a while ( such a circulation there is in all things ) haue bin turned into ashes againe .

And lastly the Romanes themselues as by vertue and piety , in their superstitious way they wanne , and mightily inlarged their Empire , so being come to the top , they lost it againe by vice and irreligion : so true is that of the Comicall Poet.

With whom accords the Tragicall

Who so is wise then will ponder these things , and they shall vnderstand the loving kindnesse of the Lord .

Againe , for matter of learning and knowledge if we come short of the Ancients ; we need not impute it to natures decay ; our owne riot , our idlenesse and negligence in regard of them , will sufficiently discharge nature , and justly cast backe the blame vpon our selues . Falsa est enim atque inepta illa quorundam similitudo , quam multi tanquam acutissimam atque appositissimam excipiunt , nos ad priores collatos , esse vt nanos L. Vives de 〈◊〉 . corrupt . 〈◊〉 . lib: 1. in humeris gigantum : non est ita , nec nos sumus nani , nec illi homines gigantes , sed omnes ejusdem staturae , & quidem nos altius evecti eorum beneficio : maeneat modo in nobis , quod in illis , studium , attentio animi , vigilantia , & amor veri : quae si absint , jam non nani sumus , nec in gigantum humeris sedemus , sed homines iustae magnitudinis humi prostrati . For a false and fond similitude it is of some , which they take vp as a most witty and proper one , that wee being compared to the Ancients , are as Dwarfes vpon the shoulders of Giants : it is not so , neither are we Dwarfes , nor they Giants , but wee are all of one stature , saue that wee are lifted vp somewhat higher by their meanes , conditionally there be found in vs the same studiousnesse , watchfulnesse and loue of trueth , as was in them : which if they be wanting , then are we not dwarfs , nor set on the shoulders of giants , but men of a competent stature groueling on the earth .

We wonder ( as well wee may ) at Aristotles wit expressed in his voluminous workes , but his indefatigable paines in study , we consider not , holding in his hand when he layde him downe to rest , a ball of brasse , which as soone as sleepe overtooke him , fell into a basin of brasse , purposely set vnder , that so being awakened with the noyse thereof , he might againe returne to his booke ▪ and though he were , as witnesseth Censorinus , of so crasie a body , ( that it is more strange hee should liue to his Climactericall yeare , then that he then died ) yet by the invincible strength of his minde , did he wade through a world of difficulties , and hath thereby left such fruites thereof to the world , as hath deservedly wonne him immortall honour . Seneca a man of an admirable vivacity of spirit , writes of himselfe , that one day he heard Epist. 108. Attalus the Philosopher in his publique Lectures , commend a bedde which yeelded not to the body , and therevpon addes , tali vtor etiam senex , in qua vestigium apparere non possit ; such a one doe I now vse , though well stricken in yeares , in which my body leaues no print behinde it : hee likewise by the perswasion of the same Attalus abstained from Oisters , from wine , from bathings , he fed sometimes vpon a crust of drye bread , sometimes vpon wilde fruit , taken from the hedge , and quenched his thirst with faire running water , and this hee did for loue of knowledge , in a most luxurious age , liuing in the court it selfe , abounding in riches and honour , and hauing all kindes of pleasures at commaund . The like doth Plinius Caec●…us in his Epistle to Marcus , write of his vncle Tutour to the Emperour Vespasian , as was Seneca to Nero : to his rare naturall endowments , hee added incessant watchfulnesse , and labour in reading and writing , his diet was sparing and thinne , his sleepe short and little , in so much that his Nephew Caecilius freely confesseth of himselfe : soleo ridere cum me quidam studiosum vocant , qui , si comparer illi , sum desidiosissimus : I am wont to smile when they tearme me a hard student who being compared with him , am in truth a very truant . But to come neerer home , King Alfred thought to be founder or restorer of the Vniversity of Oxford is reported to haue cast the naturall day , consisting of 24 houres , into three parts ; whereof the one he spent in affaires of state , a second in the service of his body , and the residue in prayer , study , and writing , which spaces of time , hauing then none other engine for that purpose , he measured by a great waxe light divided into so many parts , receiving notice by the keeper thereof , as the seuerall houres passed in burning .

Such examples as these of the Auncients wee admire , wee commend , wee willingly reade and recite , but follow the fashion of our owne times .

The common complaint is , that we want time , but the trueth is , Non parum habemus temporis , sed multum perdimus , we doe not so much want Seneca . Idem . as waste it , either malè agendo , or nihil agendo , or aliud agendo , either in doing naughtines , or nothing , or impertinencies ; we doe bonas horas malè collocare , trifle out our pretious houres in eating & drinking , & sleeping , and sporting , and gaming , and dressing our bodies , and then giue out & perswade our selues , that Nature forsooth is decayed , that our bodies cannot endure that study which our Predecessours did : and truely I thinke many justly complaine of weake and crasie bodies , but withall that more haue made them so , by intemperance then study , or found them so by nature ; let vs then lay the fault where it is , and accuse our selues , not Nature , or rather God vnder that name . And yet what the bodies of men euen in these latter ages being throughly put to it , are able to endure , the extant workes of Tostatus , Erasmus , Gesner , Calvin , Luther , Baronius , Bellarmine , and others sufficiently testifie ; it is to this effect a true speech of Arnoldus Clapmarus in his nobile triennium , incredibile est quantum brevissimo tempore humana possit assequi industria , it is incredible what the industry of man in a very short time may attaine vnto . Master Foxe in his Latine Epistle to the Reader , prefixed before his Acts and Monuments , reports of himself , that having but a sickly body , in lesse then eighteene moneths space he read authours , conferred copies , searched records , gathered matters , digested it into order , revised it , &c. for that great worke , and this to bee true , saith he , noverunt ij qui testes adfuerunt & temporis conscij , & laboris socij , they know full well who were present as witnesses , being both privie to my time , and companions of my labo●… ▪ And Ioseph Scaliger in the life of his father Iulius tels vs likewise of himselfe , that when he began first with the Greeke tongue in one & twenty dayes he learned over all Homer with the comment , and within foure moneths ( to vse his owne words ) he devoured all the rest of the Greeke Poets They were doubtlesse great matters , which Peter Ramus went through in a short time , as appeares in his life ; yet not so much by the quickenesse and strength of wit ( though therein he excelled ) as by his assiduity and temperance , which was such that he would drinke no wine , till by his Physitians he was injoyned so to doe ; and from his youth to his dying day never vsed by his good will any other bedding then straw , and in his studies so watchfull hee was , that if he heard in the morning the smiths or carpenters , or other artisans at worke before he were stirring , hee would blame himselfe of negligence and sloathfulnes , that they should prevent him , and be more diligent in their mechanicall trades , then he in the studie of the liberall sciences : And ( to adde one more ) of our rare Iewell , Doctour Humphreyes testifies , that he was , & studiosorum calcar , et studiorum norma , et indefessae diligentiae singulare specimen , a spur to students , a rule of studies , and a singular president of vnwearied studiousnesse ; and againe , victus nimis scholasticus et simplex fuit , corpus macilentum et perimbecillum , vt mireris tot laboribus exhauriendis potuisse sufficere : his diet was very sparing , and somewhat too scholer-like , his bodie thinne and very weake , so as a man might justly wonder , how it could indure and bring about such and so many labours .

And certaine it is ( what ever our wits pretend to the contrarie ) that never any became excellent in any profession , or was famous for any notable worke , who was not abstemious or industrious .

And I verily thinke did the students in our Vniversities , carefully and constantly obserue those houres for prayer ( especially in the morning ) which our wise and godly founders by their locall statutes require in our severall Colledges , we should soone by Gods blessing find a change both in manners and learning ; and thereby stop the mouthes of such both at home and abroad , as cry out that wee haue lost our ancient reputation , and that the Iesuites by the strictnes of their discipline haue gotten the start of vs , and wonne the spurres from vs . Antiquitùs strictissime Pi●…seus Relat. Hist. tom. 1 c. 9 de Acad. Oxon. fuit observatum vt exceptis graduatis , nemo animi , vel etiam negotij cujusquam sui causa è Collegio suo sine superioris perita et obtenta licentia , ( socio etiam assignato ) egredi posset ; ingredi civium domos , prandium aut coenam apud eos sumere , non nisi maxima vrgente causa , & quasi ex speciali indulto , cuiquam licuit : popinas autem intrare , & in hospitijs publicis convivari , vel in aedibus alicujus civis pernoctare piaculum erat , nam in his si quis deliquisset , ex Academia nisi magna aliqua ratio subfuisset cum dedecore eijciebatur . I neede not English it , but wish it practised . And conclude this point with that of Quintilian , Orat. 2. 5. which cannot too often bee remembred ; Non enim nos tarditatis natura damnavit , sed vltra nobis quod oportebat indulsimus , ita non tam ingenio nos illi superarunt , quam proposito . Nature hath not made vs more vncapable then our Auncestours , but we haue beene too indulgent to our selues , by which meanes it comes to passe that they surmount vs not so much by the goodnes of wits , as studiousnesse and endeavour .

Now for the worke it selfe I am well assured ( as all other Bookes and actions ) it will be diversly censu●…d as men stand diversly affected : if but three guests meet at a feast , they will hardly accord in one dish ; & truely I thinke that as mens fancies ( could they be seene ) would bee found to differ more then their faces ; so are their judgments more different then their tastes : but this common courtesie ( due by the Lawes of civility and humanity ) I shall craue ( which I hope no ingenuous mind will deny mee ) that I bee not condemned before I bee vnderstood .

Legant & postea despiciant , ne videantur non ex judicio , sed ex odij praesumptione Hieronymus ignorata damnare : first read , and then despise lest thou seeme to condemne that which thou knowest not , rather out of malitious prejudice , then advised judgment , and if vpon a serious perusall and ballancing of mine arguments any shall yet vary from mee , I quarrell him not , but hope wee may both injoy our opinions without any breach of faith or charity ; onely I say that the question is surely noble , and worthy to be discussed by a more learned penne , as being a disquisition touching the shippe wherein wee all sayle whether it bee staunch or no , and heerein will be the tryall , Opinionum commenta dies delet , naturae iudicia confirmat ; time weares out dreames of fancy , but strengthens the dictates of Nature and Trueth ; as the Sunne beames being imp●…isoned , as it were , for a time , worke thorough a thicke mist , though with some difficulty , but being once broken through , and the mist dispelled , they shine out and continue cleare .

I haue walked ( I confesse ) in an vntroden path , neither can I trace the prints of any footsteppes that haue gone before mee , but onely as it led them to some other way , thwarting , and vpon the by , not directly : some parts belonging to this discourse , some haue slightly handled , none throughly considered of the whole : which I speake not to derogate from their worth ( it being puerilis jactantiae accusando Hieronymus . illustres viros suo nomini famam quaerere ; a childish kinde of bragging to hunt after applause by contradicting famous men ) but onely to shew that whiles they intended another thing , they might happily in this bee carried away with the common streame : for surely such a sweete harmony there is betweene all the members of this body , such a cohaerence and mutuall dependance betwixt all the linkes of this chaine , that hee who takes a view of the whole , will easily graunt that hee might bee deceiued by looking vpon some parts thereof .

Yet some perchaunce will conceiue , I might haue delivered my minde with lesse expence of w●…des and time , and truely I must acknowledge that in multiloquio non deerit peccatum ; it cannot bee but in speaking so much , somewhat should bee spoken amisse . Yet withall it must bee remembred , that being to grapple with such a Giantlike monster , I could not thinke him dead till I had his head off : and that which to some may seeme superfluous or impertinent , will happ●…ly by others bee thought not vnprofitable or vnpleasant , the paines is mine , and if it bee over-done , done I am sure it is ; if I haue sayde more then enough , enough is said to serue the turne .

And if any shall haue a minde to publish any thing against that I haue written , I shall desire it may bee done fairely , not by sucking of the soares , and flying over the sound parts , nor by nibbling vpon the twigges , and vtmost braunches , but by striking at the roote or body of the tree , or at leastwise some of the principall limbes thereof ; and in the meane season , I say with Saint Augustine , Quisquis haec legit vbi pariter certus est , pergat mecum ; vbi pariter haesitat quaerat mecum ; Lib. 1. decri . c. 3 vbi errorem suum cognoscit , redeat ad me ; vbi meum , revocet me : whosoeuer thou art that reads this discourse , where thou art assured go on with me , where thou art in doubt , search with me ; where thou dost acknowledge thine errour , returne to me ; where thou findest mine , recall me ; and conclude with Lactantius : Etiamsi nulli alij , nobis certè proderit , delectabit ) se conscientia , gaudebitque mens in veritatis se luce versàri , quod est animae pabulum incredibili quâdam jucunditate perfusum : if this Treatise profite none else , yet shall it mee , my conscience shall comfort it selfe , and my minde bee refreshed in the light of Trueth , which is the foode of the soule , mixed with delight incredible .