THis first book , as you may judge by the names therein , was intended for a mere Platonicall description of Universall life , or life that is omnipresent , though not alike omnipresent . As in Noahs Deluge , the water that overflowed the earth was present in every part thereof , but every part of the water was not in every part of the earth , or all in every part ; so the low Spirit of the Universe , though it go quite through the world , yet it is not totally in every part of the world ; Else we should heare our Antipodes , if they did but whisper : Because our lower man is a part of the inferiour Spirit of the Universe .

Ahad , Aeon , and Psyche are all omnipresent in the World , after the most perfect way that humane reason can conceive of . For they are in the world all totally and at once every where .

This is the famous Platonicall Triad : which though they that slight the Christian Trinity do take for a figment ; yet I think it is no contemptible argument , that the Platonists , the best and divinest of Philosophers , and the Christians , the best of all that do professe religion , do both concur that there is a Trinity . In what they differ , I leave to be found out , according to the safe direction of that infallible Rule of Faith , the holy Word .

In the mean time I shall not be blamed by any thing but ignorance and malignity , for being invited to sing of the second Unity of the Platonicall Triad , in a Christian strain and Poeticall scheme , that which the holy Scripture witnesseth of the second Person of the Christian Trinity . As that his patrimony is the possession of the whole earth . For if it be not all one with Christ , according to his Divinity ( although their attributes sute exceeding well : For that second Unity in the Platonicall Triad , is called Filius Boni , The Son of the Good ; The Christian second Person , The Sonne of God ; He , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That , the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the first beauty or lustre ; He , the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that , the first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and sometime 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : As in Trismeg : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He , the Truth ; That , the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or true platform according to which every thing was made and ought to be made : That Aeon ; He , Eternall life : He , the wisdome of God ; That the Intellect : He 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . ) Yet the Platonists placing him in the same order , and giving him the like attributes , with the Person of the Sonne in Christianity , it is nothing harsh for me to take occasion from hence to sing a while the true Christian Autocalon , whose beauty shall adorn the whole Earth in good time ; if we believe the Prophets . For that hath not as yet happened . For Christ is not where ever his name is : * * This opinion , though it have its moments of reason , yet every mans judgement is left free , and will ever be , where there is no demonstration to bind it to assent . but as he is the Truth , so will he be truly displayed upon the face of the whole Earth . For God doth not fill the world with his glory by words and sounds , but by spirit , and life , and realtie .

Now this Eternall life I sing of , even in the midst of my Platonisme : for I cannot conceal from whence I am , viz. of Christ ; but yet acknowledging , that God hath not left the Heathen , Plato especially , without witnesse of himself . Whose doctrine might strike our adulterate Christian professours with shame and astonishment ; their lives falling so exceeding short of the better Heathen . How far short are they then of that admirable and transcendent high mystery of true Christianisme ? To which Plato is a very good subservient Minister ; whose Philosophy I singing here in a full heat , why may it not be free for me to break out into an higher strain , and under it to touch upon some points of Christianitie ; as well as all-approved Spencer sings of Christs under the name of Pan ? Saint Paul also transfers those things that be spoken of Jupiter , to God himself , Arat. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Those latter words he gives to the Christian God , whom he himself preached . I will omit the usual course of the Spirit of God in holy Writ , To take occasion from things that have some resemblance of divine things , under them to speak of the true things themselves .

All this out of a tendernesse of mind , being exceeding loth to give any man offence by my writings . For though knowledge and theory be better then any thing but honesty and true piety , yet it is not so good , as that I should willingly offend my neighbour by it .

Thus much by way of preparation to the first piece of this Poem . I will now leave thee to thine own discretion and judgement .