WERE it not , but that I know ; the sweetest wine may soonest be turned into the sharpest vineger ; I should more wonder so good a Confessour , as Saint Peter , could ever have been changed into so bad a Counsellour , as the Tempter . And yet , I find , so it was : even that our Saviour , who before had afforded him all due praises , inverts his commendations , into a condemnation . How unhappily is his stile changed ! alas ! that he who had before exclaimed ; Blessed Math . 16. 17. art thou , Simon Bar-jona , for flesh and bloud have not revealed it unto thee ; but my Father which is in heaven : Should , as it were with one and the same breath , disclaime his undutifull proceedings ; and say : Get thee behind me Satan , for thou Math . 8. 33. savourest not the things that are of God . And yet ( I reade ) it was so . Saint Peter would needs ( as it were ) play the physitian , and ordaine Christ a remedy , worse then his disease : which our Saviour finding out , he refuseth : and had rather die , than incur the danger of losing his life , in hope to save it . Even as many , that feare more the death of their bodyes : than that which is of their soules . Vnto whom heare what it is the truth it Iohn . 14. 6. Marke 8. 35. selfe , avoucheth here : Whosoever will save his life shall lose it , even Eternity , for a moment : that everlasting life , for this transitory , so saved . Who then had not much better , as a wise Merchant at sea , cast away all ; than himselfe , be cast away ? were Luke 9. 25. our Saviour lesse plaine , I might be lesse peremptory .

A text , were I to name , me thinkes , I might most properly ; Gods valuation of mans soule . For the better understanding of which , observe with me two generalls : Formam et Materiam , or , if you will , a fourefold question in this one , wherein are remarkeable , 1. The manner of speech Christ here useth ? 2. What we are to understand by the world ? 3. What by the soule ? 4. And lastly what it is for a man to loose his soule ?

And of these in their order , and first of the former ; what is that manner of speech Christ here useth ? Even a most piercing , a most patheticall interrogation : as a nayle not onely fastened , but driven ( even to the head ) by the Masters Eccles . 12. 11. of the assemblies . It is not quantum , but quid : not how much , but how little , or rather indeed , nothing at all will it profit any . So is it , I reade , Saint Chrysostome renders , and expounds , that of Psal . 130. 3. the Prophet : O Lord if thou markest injquities , there is none would bee able to stand . May we not as fitly then determine , of our Saviours question ; and conclude , as if he had spoken Mat . 5. 17 , 18. affirmatively , ( as he was wont ) and said ; verily verily it cannot possiblie any thing profit any man to gaine the world . And that ( as you may remember ) a second question to be resolved , even what it is we are here to understand by the world . For , as it is of a most capatious figure , according to Philosophy ; so is it not uncapable of manifold acceptations , according to Divinitie , then is orbis interior , exterior and superior : then is mundus continens , such as is the whole fabricke of Iohn 1. 10. Heb . 11. 3. heaven and earth : and there is mundus contentus ; and of this there is both Flos et Fex ; as it were , Rom. 5. 12. in meale , both floure and branne : as are Angells 2 Cor . 5. 19. 1 Iohn 5. 19. both good and bad : and of men , whether alive or dead , both Elect and Reprobate : together with all those other , commonly called Goods of this world , as are honours , pleasures , and profits of what nature soever . And howsoever , I finde Interpretors , as it were , swimme in one streame this way , yet is it observeable ( me thinkes ) our Saviour saith not onely , what will it profit a man to gaine the world but ( as the Originall hath it ) {αβγδ} ; even this whole world .

So that , we may easily conceive of our Saviours minde , by his words : which are , of a larger extent , than that they should intend any thing lesse than he spake , whereas he spake as much as if he Isay 1. 18. had said : Come and let us reason together . Is it not so , that he gaines nothing , that gaines this whole world : whether continent or contained , whether heaven or earth , Angells or men , honours , pleasures , or profits ? For I may suppose , thou mightest have heaven and earth , and yet not bee possessour ; otherwise thē is an usurper of a Kingdome , the King himselfe will soone drive out : as a strong man the theefe that comes to spoile him Luk . 11. 21. &c. of his goods , except it were possible a man might be stronger than his Maker ; or an earthen vessell , able to resist the potter : or if you will , I may suppose thou mightest have Heaven and earth , even as madd men have Empires ; or that franticke fancy , had all shippes at sea , by imagination onely . But suppose thou hadst indeed , those ten times ten thousands of Angells ( that attend Gods Throne ) as so many Squires of thy body : that thou hadst on thy side , the very God of this world ; 2 Cor . 4. 4. and together with him , that numberlesse number of Legions he hath under his command : even Mark . 5. 9 Principalities and powers , rulers of the darknesse of this world , spirituall wickednesses in high places , Suppose , Ephes . 6. 12. Noah , Daniel , and Iob , were willing to pray Ezech . 14. 14. for thee ; or that thou couldest procure letters recommendatory , from all persons , in all parts , of this world . Suppose , thou wert as great and gracious in all Princes eyes , as ever was Ioseph in Gen. 41. Esther . 3. the sight of Pharoah ; or Haman in the favour of Ahasuerus : or that thou thy selfe , wert invested with imperiall robes , and ( out of thine owne soveraigne authority ) couldest command the Sun to stand stil , the Moone to be changed into bloud , the powers of heaven to shake , the sta●s to set themselves in array to fight for thee , the birds of the ayre to come , and they should come ; the fishes in the ▪ sea to goe , and they should goe ; the beasts of the field to do what thou lustest , and they should doe it ; even mountaines to be removed , and they should be so . Suppose , thou hadst gardens and orchards , Men-singers and Maydens , as Eccles . 2. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , &c. many concubines to cherish thee , as had Salomon ; in one word , a full draught of all those manifold pleasures his soule tasted of : that thou hadst , as Iob ( whose latter substance was more then his Iob 42. 12. beginning ) even foureteene thousand sheepe , sixe thousand camells , one thousand yoke of oxen , one thousand shee-asses , together with a very great houshold , hadst thou , rivers of rivers of Micah 6. 7. wine , tenne thousand rivers of oyle ; thy barnes built greater , and all of them ful , of the choisest wheat , or , not onely thy baggs , but , thy coffers , as full of the finest gold , the purest gold of Ophyre . Yet 1 King . 9. 18. 1 Chro . 29. 4. alas ! for as much as all these things , ( saith Parisiensis ) Nec plenitudinem , continenti conferre possunt , nec fulcimentum innitenti , nec fructum laboranti ; woe , woe unto thee for all this whole world , when as death shal be sent post , on that pale-horse , Revel . 6. 8. to summon thee unto iudgement : if so be then , the righteous Iudge of all the world shall deliver up thy soule , unto the officer ; and he cast thee into that prison , whence , there is no hope thou shouldest Mat . 5. 25 , 26. ever get forth , untill thou have paid the utmost farthing . Et illud donec nunquam , that untill will be never ( as St. Chrysostome consents ) howsoever the Pope of Rome wil not : but presums his Habeas Animam ( a writt never heard of before ) may fetch thee out , but ( by his prophanesse leave ) Christ , it is not likely , would then have beene so peremptory , as , without all exceptions , to assure us Nothing could any thing profit , any man , if hee should lose his owne soule . Which , as it was a third terme , I propounded to be explicated ; so am I now come to expound it . I confesse , it is promiscuously taken in scripture , some times for Psal . 7. 2. Math . 10. 28. our naturall life , sometimes even for that which is the life of our life , a supernaturall spirit : or , as one sings ,

Now though it be true , he gaines nothing , that gaines this whole world , and loseth his life : for asmuch as , what can all the world doe a dead man good ? Yet am I willing to take this word here , as Moses useth it , to signifie the breath of our lives , that invisible Essence , and spirituall Gen. 2. 7. substance : Divines most commonly call the Soule : we may , our selves . Even , for that not mens Philosophy teacheth us , that animus cuiusque is est quisque : but even Saint Luke himselfe , expounds as it were this text , when as hee renders it , as if Christ ( in so many words ) had said ▪ what will it ? or , it can nothing at all advantage any Luk . 9. 25. man to gaine the world if he lose himselfe . Even as a Marchant that perisheth at sea , whilst he is going to the Indies , for gold ; or , as a man that hath lost himselfe ( as we say ) when as any hath lost his way , or is out of the right way : So is it a Christian may lose his soule and himselfe , being out of that way to life ; as are all such , as cry , Lord Lord but doe not the will of God : all such , as Math . 7. 21. professe but practise not : if any such there bee here , let me assure them : in the words of him who was , both the Way , the Life , and the Truth : Iohn 14. 6. it will nothing profit them , though they gaine the world , yet if they forfeit ( as it were their soule by sinne . And of this ( as a quintessentiall truth arising from our determination of those foure former questions ) it is I must now treate .

I must now treate , and not onely propound but approve unto you ,

He must needs be a looser by the bargin ( whosoever hee be ) that for to gaine the world , selleth away himselfe ( like Ahab ) to worke wickednesse in the sight of the Lord : even for as much , as so doing , he loseth his owne soule . Which if once it be lost how should we ever be saved ? ( for as St. Chrysostome well ) howsoever a man have two eyes , two eares , two armes , two hands , two legges , two feete , yet hath he but one soule . So that as Abraham , after his onely sons death , might have iustly dispaired of an heyre had it not beene for Gods All-sufficiency : so might a Christian of salvation after every sinne ( which is as Nazianzen truly the death of the soule ) were there any thing too hard for the All mightie ? For as the Psalmist , absolutely ; There is none ( saith hee ) can by any meanes give God a ransome : Psal . 49. 7 , 8. The redemption of the soule is precious and it ceaseth for ever . And if so bee , that the purchase but of a longer life in this world , be so hard a bargaine , as that it can never be bought ; aut prece aut pretio ( as Lyranus worthily ) neither for price , nor prayers : is it not lesse wonder our Saviour should be so resolute ? Or what ( saith hee ) shall a Math . 16. 26. man give in exchange for his soule ? shal he the lust of the flesh ? shal he the lust of the eies ? shal he the pride of life ? it is true , Haec tria sunt omnia : these are the three parts , into which St. Iohn divides the whole world : and yet ( as the same Apostle in the same place ) This world passeth away and the 1 Ioh . 2. 16 , 17. lust thereof . And if so , then cannot it probably be worth that , which is much more durable than either gold , or pearles , or any of those many stones , we esteeme most precious : and why ? except for their invincible durity .

To proceed : give me leave , in an equall ballance as it were , to way before you this worlds vanity , together with our soules excellencie , and then ( I speake unto such as have understanding ) iudge you : whether he must not needs be a loser , by the bargaine , that parts with so excellent a thing , as is the soule ; for the purchasing of so vaine a nothing , as is this whole world , which if ever any man knew the worth of , it was hee that gave his heart to seeke and to search it out Eccles . 1. 13. by wisedome . But , alas ! what saith hee ? Vanity Eccles . 1. 2. of Vanityes : yea ( with ingemination ) Vanity of vanities , are all things under Heauen : saith Ecclesiastes . And yet not onely so ( but as the same Preacher else-where ) not onely vanity but vexation Vers . 14. of spirit are they . So as that , we may not unfitly resemble this world ; as unto a Reede , that will of it selfe faile a man , and give him a fall if he doe but leane upon it : so unto a Thorne : that will not onely pricke his hand but even peirce through his heart also . For , as Ecclesiastes : of all things under the Sunne ; They are so full of labours Eccles . 1. 8. there is no man can utter it : and if so , what then are those things , all or most men magnifie so much ? what are riches ? what are honours ? but even vanity of vanities & vexation of vaine spirits ? And yee I may suspect ( and not be uncharitable ) these are two as great Idolls , and as gracious in the estimation Acts 19. 28. of most men as ever was Diana unto the Ephesians . Two Idols , I had almost said it were hard to suppose there might be found so many men in the world as have not bowed the knee unto one of them as there was ( amongst Israel ) Rom. 11. 4. that had not worshipped , that dominering Baal . And yet , alas ! what are riches ? but ( as it were ) the excrements of nature , the bowels of the earth washed cleane , good of themselves for nothing , except as dung , to be spread abroad . Have they not wings , flie they not away often ? and then , alas ! what vexation ? as much griefe in the losing , as ever there was either labour before , in the getting ; or anxiety and care in the keeping . I am ashamed , Canaans curse should now adayes bee thought no curse , when as so many make themselves Servants of servants : even are more devoted slaves , unto their Kings coine ; than Gen 9. 25. otherwise subject , unto his Crowne . I am ashamed , we should speake , as we doe : when as commonly wee say of a man that hath lost his meanes , alas ! he is undone : as if they made St. Iohn indeed 1 Ep. 3. 17. calls them the worlds goods him . I am ashamed any should esteeme those Goods , which ( as Saint Austine urgeth ) make many men worse , few or none better . As Iobs freinds , are they not miserable comforters : since it is not in the power of a purple gowne , to preserue any mans backe from a-like-spotted-feaver : no more than can a crowne of gold , cure the head-ach : or a Noble Garter , prevent the gout . And are Honours a lesse vanity , thinke you , or a lesse vexation ? How ordinarily may wee see , the greatest Favorites sometimes vp , and somtimes downe , tossed , as it were bals at Tennis ? Even when as they are at the highest , how are they faine to borrow other mens imaginations , to thinke themselves happie ? Many might I recount , and speake of : whose Moone hath beene eclypsed at the full , and their Sunne set at Nooneday . But of all , memorable ( me thinkes ) is the storie of Haman : who sets , and feasts to day with the King and the Queene : yet to morrow is hee hung vp , for food ( as it were ) unto the fowles of the ayre . Not to speake of Iacob , or what it is , we may reade of him : how it was he beheld Labans countenance : and it was not towards him as the day before . Why trouble Gen. 31. 2. wee our selves . It is certaine , there is no Masters , no Vncles , no Fathers , any mans Favour , but may be lost in one day , wee see . So that , as are Riches , so are Honours ; even a d●gree more vaine : for that , honor in honorante , our honours are alwayes in other mens hands who may withdraw , or withhold , them as they please ▪ may wee not then conclude this our Survay of the world ; and say of it : not as the Divell , all this power of the world , but , as Solomon more Luke 4. 6. Eccles . 12. 8. truely ; Vanity of Vanities , all is Vanity , even Vanity of Vanityes is this whole world compared unto mans Soule .

Which , if there be any desire to know , what it is : I must needs answere such a man , as one did him ; who would needs know , what God was give me time , and I will tell thee : and when hee asked him againe and againe ; still , give me time , and I will tell thee . For , no more , then the eye of man can see it selfe ; no more is it possible our understanding should ever understand it selfe . And yet if it may suffice , to describe that , I may not define ; The Soule it is a substance , invisible A Description of mans soule . and spirituall indivisible and incorporeall , incomprehensible and eternall — plena Deo , similisque Creanti : saith Prudentius . St. Bernard , doubts not to say ; It is not so much a heavenly Substance , as heaven it selfe , in substance . And St. Austin , he compares it , to that blessed Trinity ; for as there are three in one , and one in three : so are there in the Soule of man three Faculties and yet but one Soule : Three in one and one in three : though , I must confesse , betwixt the former , and this latter ; God and our Soules , there is an incomprehensible distance of glory . Very Heathen have acknowledged it a Particle of Divine Breath , a branch of the Deity , not to be compared with any thing ( as Cicero thinks ) except God himselfe . But of all , me thinkes , a moderne writer of our owne , most emphatically calls it ; a Riverling of that divine Spring , who brake not his selfe-essence or Triple-vnity , yet afforded us this portion : even breathed into man these pure qualities . Of which before we speake , forasmuch as the worke is oftentimes esteemed the more , for the workemans sake : give me leave , to put you in minde , the Authour of them was God . Gen. 2. 7. And was not hee the creatour of the world also ? True : but after a different manner , matter , modell , made he man . For it is observable ; God spake the word , and the very heavens they were Psal . 33. 6. made : he commanded and they were created : he Gen. 1. 3. sayed but , let there be light , and there was light . I will not trouble you , with that perplexed controversie of the Schoole : whether by light wee are to understand the Angells , yea or no ? sufficient it may bee , that if so : then were the Angells themselves created , by the speaking of one word : & that word was ( as Divines say ) but a thought of the Deity . Which being about to make man , Gen. 1. 26. how doth it goe about ( as it were ) to call a councell : Let us make man , yea and in our image , after our likenesse . So created God man in his own Image ( saith Moses ) in the Image of God created he him . The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground , and breathed into his nostrills the breath of life , and man became a living Soule . Gen. 2. 7. now who knowes not , it is the glory of an earthly King ; not to stampe with his Image or environe with his superscription any peece , but of the choisest mettalls , as are siluer and golde : and if so , what thinke we of our Soules , Gods owne Image , Gods owne superscription ? had wee no other , it were , argument sufficient to procure mans excellency above all other creatures . Especially if St. Austins opinion , be true , that a fly , forasmuch as it hath life , farre exceeds , in dignity of nature , the very sunne it selfe . And if so , what is man ? how surpassing excellent is hee , that hath a reasonable soule : understanding , memory , will and affections : each of them more worth then a world . Oh then , give me leave , to unfold this curious peece of Tapistrie : or , as it were , take asunder this watch : even that so yee may the better perceive the rarity of this worke , by viewing ( as it were ) each wheele by it selfe .

As if the understanding alone were ( as the whole soule ) All in all , and All in every part , not onely of the body , but even of the world , it is admirable to consider how , mounted on the wings of contemplation , it approves a Godhead , and proves there are Angells : It discourseth of their Hierarchies : as also , of those highest spheares and their motions : of the sunne , the moone , and the starres ; their number , distances , and differing paces , together with their influence : of the original of Windes , Lightning , Thunder Haile , Snow , Raine , Ice , Blazing-starres , Pestilences , even as if it had had the heading of such like Gods arrowes , or the charging of suchlike his murdering peeces . And is not understanding alone then , worth a world , that is thus able to discourse of of more , then Ptolomy , Plato , Pliny , Plutarh , even 1 Kings 4. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. &c. Salomon himselfe ever spake : and yet is understanding but one part of mans Soule : which , I will not now controvert , whether it lodge in heart or in the braine chiefly . Wee are wont to to admire in great houses , at the multitude of lodgings : and if so , what thinke we of the memory of man , copped up ( as it were ) in so small a roome , as is the conceavity of mans skull ? & yet how many whole volmues doth it containe : how many histories of things done before , and even since Noahs floud ? how many different languages ? what a numberlesse number of words ? not to speake of Methridates , as famous for his memory as his medecines : nor how Seneca was able to repeate . Pyrrhus , Cyrus , Caesar are to this day remembered for their memories : as also is hee that could easily salute every man in Rome by his own name . And is not memory alone then worth a world ? and yet , is memory , but one part of mans Soule .

What should I say , of the will of man ? what of the power of his affections ? It were idle to discourse ( as Poets ) of love : and as for the wrath of man ( we know , it ) worketh not the righteousnesse of God . I will not therefore of naturall but spirituall affections . Oh the power of divine Iames 1. 20. Love ! shew mee such a peece , if you can , as the Canticles of Salomon . What are not , affections sanctified , able to doe ? a greater victory than for a man to overcome himselfe there cannot be . Any man may sooner hate father , and mother , give all hee hath to the poore , yeeld up his body to be burnt , and suffer any thing , rather then deny Math . 10 37. 1 Cor . 3. 13. Luke 9. 23. 1 Thessal . 5. 15 &c. himselfe : and yet a sanctified will , can not only doe this , but all things else ; impossible to flesh and bloud : even not render evill for evill unto any man , but ever follow that which is good . Rejoycing evermore ; praying without ceasing : In every thing , giving thankes ; quenching not the Spirit , despising not Prophecyings , abstaining from all appearance of evill . And may wee not then , as devout St. Bernard , exclaime ; admiring at such a Creature : O Dei imagine insignita , decorata similitudine , redempta sanguine , desponsat a fide , dotata Spiritu , deputata cum Angelis . I would english it , but that I may not : I am affrayed these things are too glorious for tender eyes . And if so , yet may wee behold the Sunne by reflection ; even our selves in a glasse , as it were , by observing the operations of our Soules ; and those sundry transcendent inventions of their wit . Their wit , I sayed ; for , alas ! the body of it selfe what is it , but , a massilumpe Gen. 3. 19. Eccles . 3. 20. Chap. 12. 7. of flesh , a conglutination of dust , than which haud viliusster quilnium : saith St. Bernard . All purer Exhalations , they are breathed out by this blast ; at first breathed in , by God and his Spirit Gen. 2. 27. of wisedome . Whereby were men moved to search after those hidden treasures of knowledge , both of all arts and sciences . Not to speake of those many things Polydor Virgill hath written so largely . Who hath not read of , Iabel , Gen. 4. 20 , 21 , 22. Iubel , Tubal-Cain , and their exquisite workemanshippe that built Salomons Temple ? who hath 1 King . 5 , &c. not heard of Myrons mare ? Zeuxis shoales of birds ? Apelles Venus ? Archimides Sphaere ? Archytas flying pigeon made of wood ? Regimontanus admired inuention of an Eagle attending the Emperour unto Noremberg ? that King of Persiah's heaven of glasse ? Ferdinands heavens of silver , alwayes moving ? Not to speake of Briareus burning glasse ; or that Clock at Straesboug : or Cannons imitating so neere Gods voyce of Thunder , Indians wonder not more at Episteling , than I at the art of Printing . Not to speake of any , of our many Catheralls , so admired . I have seene , a Perpetuum mobile , made of a round glasse full of water , ebbing and flowing as the sea : a payre of Virginalls that would have played , if but a hot hand had beene held over them . Others I have heard tell , of two hundred standing cuppes in one pepper corne . And may wee not ( among rarest inventions ) remember our Prospectives , triangulary , and multiplying glasses ? Not to speake particularly of liberall Arts. Is any science so admirable ? What is that Soule then that invented it ? But , as one well , in pretio pretium nunc est : as King Arthur of olde , so are most men unto this day wont to esteeme of things according to their prices : as if such were onely best , as cost most . And if so , I can assure you our soules , are much more worth than the world . Of which , ye may reade when it was lost in the Deluge ; Gen. 8. 1. God onely remembred Noah , and the waters they returned into their severall channells . But otherwise was it our soules being lost . If I may so speake , Gods word ( as it were ) could not bee taken ; but himselfe , must come from heaven upon earth , and bee imprisoned , as it were , one thirty yeares in the flesh : and yet not onely so , but in truth pay a ransome too : for the redemption of soules . A ransome , not of silver or gold , and yet are these two ( like the sunne and the moone in the firmament ) two such great Lights , as that , with their exceeding lustre , they are able to dazzle most mens eyes in the world . And yet were not silver or gold , any ransome that could bee acceped for a soule : forasmuch 1 Epist. 1. 18 , 19 as Corruptible , saith St. Peter . Wherefore also were you not redeemed , with them , but by blood , even precious or honorable blood , blood of Christ : Blood of God , saith St. Paul . And Acts 20. 28. yet was not a drop of this bloud ( as a man would have thought ) sufficient : otherwise had Christ beene too prodigall in shedding it so often : even six severall time , for the redeeming of our soules : as first at his circumcision , that bloudy sacrament Luke 2. 21. ( for which Zippora called Moses a bloudy husband ) Exod . 4. 25. there was bloud shed once , for the redemption of Soules . Secondly , in his Agony in the Luk . 22. 44. garden ; when , though it were in the garden an open ayre , though it were in the night the coolest season , and at such a time of the yeare ( as that wee reade St. Peter warmed himselfe ) our Saviour Math . 14. 54. sweats ; and that not water , but bloud : nor yet blouldy drops , but drops of bloud : there was bloud , precious and honorable bloud , shed a second time for the redemption of soules . Thirdly , in the Pretorian Hall : when his skin was so torne Reade the Evang . of Christ passion . Matth . 27. Mark ▪ 15. Luke 22. Iohn 18. with scourges , as that there was scarce flesh enough left to distinguish one lash , one gash from another : oh ! there was bloud , precious and honorable bloud , bloud of Christ shed ( a third third time ) for the redemption of Soules . Fourthly , whenas that crowne of thornes was fastened to his scull . Fifthly , when as his hands and his feete they were nayled to the crosse . Sixtly and lastly , when ( through that channell the Soldiours speare had made in his side ) then issued forth water and bloud : or ( as Anatomizers observe ) his very hearts bloud . Oh! there was bloud indeed , bloud of Christ , as of a lambe without spot , and without blemish , shed 1 Pet . 1. 19. a sixt time for the redemption of Soules . And yet skin for skin , bloud for bloud , what will not a Iob . 2. 4. man give for his life ? O but Christ dyed , to redeeme our soules . And , as before hee was imprisoned in the flesh , so is hee afterwards in the grave ( three dayes ) and all for the redemption of soules .