CENTRE
for
REFORMATION
and
RENAISSANCE
STUDIES
VICTORIA
UNIVERSITY
TORONTO
THE FIRST VOLUME OF THE
CONTAINING THE REMAINS OF THAT
SWEET SINGER OF THE
TEMPLE
He pleafed God, and was beloved of him : fo that
whereas he lived among finners, he tranflated him.
Pl'ifdom, iv. o.
THE WORKS OF
IN PROSE AND VERSE
VOL. I.
[OllbOll
WILLIAM PICKERING
846.
l'ff. & REN.
vi PREF.,dCE.
one Oration and a few Letters have been added
which had not before been difcovered.
Notwithftanding the care which has been
taken to colle& all that is known, one Letter by
Herbert addreffed to Bifhop ndrewes, written in
Greek, has eluded the Editor's fearch; yet
there is little doubt of its exiftence, and it may
hereafter be difcovered in rome public or private
library. For the Letters of Herbert contained
in the Orator's book at Cambridge, the Publifher
is indebted to the kindnefs of the Rev. Dr.
tham, Provoft of St. ohn's, late Public Orator.
This Volume contains the xvhole of Herbert's
Profe Writings; alfo his Life by V/alton, and
that by his firft biographer Barnabas Oley. The
other Volume contains his Temple and other
Poems, which, together, comprife all the Works
known to be extant.
Concerning Herbert's exemplary chara&er
ll/alton's Life of Herbert, p. xxvi.
PREF4CE. vii
and life nothing need be added, as the pages
which follow form the belt teftimony. But to
conclude, no words can be more expre(five than
thole of Cotton to his friend ltalton, in which
the fweetnefs and piety of Herbert's difpofition
are detribed with the admiration they deferve :
Like a fweetfwan, he warbles as he dies
His Maker's lraib, amt his own obJg'uies.
THE
Life of Mr. George Herbert,
WRITTEN BY
IZAAK WALTON.
He pleafed God, and xvas beloved of him : fo that
whereas he lived among finners, he tranflated hin.
WISDOM OF SOLOMON, iv. io.
13
To his very worthy and much honoured Friend
Mr. Izaak Walton,
Upon his excellent Life of e[r. George Herbert.
EAVEN'S youngett Son, its Benjamin,
Divinity's next Brother, Sacred Poefie,
No longer fhall a Virgin reckoned be,
(Whate'er with others 'tis) by me,
A Female Mule, as were the Nine;
But (full of Vigour Mafculine)
An Effence Male, with Angels his Companions rhine,
With Angels firtt the heavenly youth was bred;
And, when a Child, inttru&ed them to ring
The Praifes of th' Immortal King
Who Lucifer in Triumph led:
For, as in Chains the Montter lank to Hell,
And tumbling headlong down the precipice fell,
By him firtt taught, How art thou fallen, thou orning
flar.t they laid,
Too fondly then, we have fancy'd him a Maid:
We, the vain Brethren of the rhyming Trade;
A female Angel lefs would Urbin's* tkill upbraid.
* Raphael Urbin, the famous Painter.
4 VERSES TO
Iio
Thus 'twas in Heaven : This, Poefy's Sex and Age ;
And, when he thence t'our lower World came down,
He chore a Form more like his own,
And .e's youngef Son infpir'd with holy rage.
The fprightly Shepherd felt unufual fire,
And up he took his tunefid Lyre ;
He took it up, and ttruck't, and his own fort touches
did admire,
Thou, Poefy, on him didtt bettow
Thy choicer gift, an honour fhew'd before to none ;
And, to prepare his way to th' Hebrew Throne,
Gay'it him thy Empire and Dominion ;
Uhe happy Land of l/'erfe, where flow
Rivers of Milk, and Woods of Laurel grow ;
rherewith thou didlt adorn his brow,
And mad'it his firt}, more flourifhing, and triumphant
crown.
Affilt me thy great Prophet's praife to ring,
David, the Poet's, and bleff'd Ifrael's King ;
And with the dancing Echo, let the Mountains ring!
Then on the wings of rome aufpicious wind,
Let his great name from earth be raif'd on high,
And in the ttarry volume of the Sky
A laffing Record find:
Be with his mighty Pfaltery join'd;
Which, taken long fince up into the air,
And call'd the Harp, makes a bright Conttellation there.
IlI.
Worthy it was to be tranated hence,
And there, in view of all, exalted hang:
To which fo oft the Princely Prophet fang,
6 FERSES 0
Ego Choicum vas terreas faces olens,
Tu (fola namque Urania tibi ex muffs placet)
Nil tale fpiras ; fed fapis cclum et Deum,
Omnique vita, libri et omni, line :
Templfimque tecum ubique circumfers tuum :
Domi-porta coeli, cui domus propria, optima:
Ubi Rex, ibi Roma, Imperil Sedes; ubi
Tu, fan&e Vates, templum ibi, et ccelum, et Deus.
Tu quale nobis intuendum clericis
Speculum Sacerdotale, tu qualem piis
Paftoris ideam et libro et vit tu
Tu quale San&itatis elementis bona,
Morumque nobis tradis exemplum ac typum !
Typum,* Magiftro nempe proximum Tuo,
Exemplar illud grande qui folus fuit.
Canonizet erg6 quos velit Dominus Papa;
Sibique fan&os, quos facit, fervit fuos
Coltque ; fan&e Herberte, tu San&us meus;
Oraque pro me, dicerem, ff fas, tibi.
Sed hos honores par nec eft fan&is dari;
Velis nec ipfe ; recolo te, fed non colo.
Talis legenda eft vita San&i, concio
Ad promovendum qum potens et efficax !
Per talia exempla eft breve ad ccelos iter.
IUaltone, ma&e, perge vitas fcribere,
Et penicillo, quo Vales, infigni adhuc
San&orum imagines coloribus fuis
Plures reprafentare ; quod tu dum facis
Vitamque et illis et tibi das Pofthumam,
Le&oris aternaeque vita confulis.
Urge erg6 penfum ; et interim fcias velim,
Sic Cbriflum folens vocavit quoties ejus mentionem fecit.
MR. IZAAK WAL'ON.
Plutarchus alter fis licit Biogrephus,
Herberto, Amice, vix Parallelum dabis.
Liceat Libro addere hanc coronidem tuo;
Vir, an Poeta, Orator an mellor fuit,
Meliorne amlcus, t'pont's, an Pator Gregis,
Herbertus, incertum ; et quis hoc facil fciat,
Melior ubi ille, qui fuit ubique optimus.
JACOB DUPOKTS.T.P.
Decanus Pert.
7
The Introduction.
lVa late Retreat from the briners of this
lUorht, and thb many little Cares with
I.fi'll into a Contemplation me 'th Hto-
rDal qges that are recorded in Sacred Story,
and more artDular what had pqffbd betwixt
our Bleffed Saviour, and that wonder lKomen,
and Sinners, and Mourners, Saint Mary Mag-
dalen. I caff her Saint, becat I did not then,
ith ven Dils ; not as when her wanton Eyes,
and dzevelled Hair, were dgned and managed
to charm and eare amorous Beholders : But, I
did then, and do now coder her, as er #e had
fpenitential tears as did a, and that Hair had
wipt, andre m paffanate k theet hers,
and our blqd Jefus. nd I do now cader, that
beca, 4 e /oe# much, not on much asr-
THE INR 0 D UC TIO N.
evit]out qx,]ic], many t]ings that concerned tlem,
,znd fome t/tings t/at concerned tle lge in wMclt
tlwy lived, would be leans perfect and loa8 to pof-
terity.
For t]efe Rea.ns I/ave undertaken it, and if
I ave prevented any abler perJbn, I beg pardon of
him, and my Readw.
4 THE LIFE OF
and died Ocers in that employment. C/mrles
was the fourth, and died Fellow of New Col-
lege in OxfOrd. Henry was the fixth, who be-
came a menial fervant to the Crown, in the
days of King ames, and hath continued to be
fo for fifty years; during all which time he
hath been Mafter of the Revels; a place that
requires a diligent wifdom, with which God
hath bleffed him. The feventh Son was T0-
mas, who being made Captain of a Ship in that
Fleet with which Sir Rol3ert Wlanfi'll was lent
againft llgiers, did there fhew a fortunate and
true Englilh valour. Of the three Sifters I
need not lay more, than that they were all
married to perfons of worth, and plentiful for-
tunes; aud lived to be examples of virtue, and
to do good in their Generations.
I now come to give my intended account of
George, xvho was the fifth of thole feven Bro-
thers.
George Herbert fpent much of his Childhood
in a fweet content under the eye and care of his
prudent Mother, and the tuition of a Chaplain
or Tutor to hhn, and two of his Brothers, in
her own Family (for ihe was then a Widow),
where he continued till about the Age of Twelve
years ; and being at that time well inftru&ed in
the Rules of Grammar, he was not long after
commended to the care of Dr. Neale, who was
then Dean of IKeflminfler; and by him to the
i6 THE LIFE OF
I have told her Birth, her Marriage, and the
Number of her Children, and have given fome
flaort account of them; I flaall next tell the
Reader, that her Hufband died when our George
xvas about the Age of four years: I am next to
tell that flae continued twelve years a Widow;
that flae then married happily to a Noble Gentle-
man, " the Brother and Heir of the Lord Dan-
vers, Earl of Danby, who did highly value both
her perfon and the moft excellent endowments
of her mind.
In this time of her Widowhood, the being
detirous to give Edward, her elder fon, fuch
advantages of Learning and other education as
might fifit his birth and fortune, and thereby
make him the more fit for the fervice of his
Country, did at his being of a fit age remove
from Montgomery CajTle xvith him, and rome of
her younger fons, to Oaford; and having entered
Edward into teen's College, and provided him
a fit qeutor, flae commended him to his care;
yet fhe continued there with him, and Rill
kept him in a moderate awe of herfelf, and fo
much under her own eye, as to fee and converfe
with him daily: but fhe managed this power
over him without any fuch rigid fournefs, as
might make her company a torment to her
Sir ohn Danvers.
GEORGE HERBERT. 7
Child, but with fuch a fweetnefs and compliance
with the recreations and pleafures of youth, as
did incline him willingly to fpend much of his
time in the company of his dear and careful
Mother; which was to her great content: for
fle would often fay, '" That as our Bodies take
"" a nouriflment fuitable to the meat on which
"" we feed; t)our Souls do as infenfibly take in
'" Vice by the Example or Converfation with
'" wicked Company :" and would therefore as
often fay, "" That ignorance of Vice was the
"" bet prefervation of Virtue; and That the
"" very knowledge of Wickednefs was as tinder
" to inflame and kindle fin, and to keep it
"" burning." For there reafons ihe endeared
him to her own company, and continued with
him in Oxford four years; in which time her
great and harmlefi wit, her cheerful gravity, and
her obliging hehaviour gained her an acquaint-
ance and friendflfip with molt of any eminent
worth or learning that were at that time in or
near that Univerfity ; and particularly with Mr.
John Donne, who then came accidentally to that
place in this time of her being there. It xvas
that John Donne who was after Dr. Donne, and
Dean of St. Paul's, London ; and he, at his leav-
ing Oxford, writ and left there, in verfe, a
Chara&er of the beauties of her body and mind :
Of the firft he lays,
C
GEORGE HERBERT.
23
Poets to turn it to another ufe.
Roles and Lilies fpeak thee ; and to make
1 pair of Cheeks of them is thy abufe.
147by fiould I Women's eyes for Cryflal take ?
Such poor invention burns in their low mind
Whofe flre is wild, and doth not upward go
To praife, an on thee, Lord, rome Ink beflow.
In the heft face but filth; when, Lord, in thee
The beauty lies, in the difcovery. G.H.
This was his refolution at the fending this
Letter to his dear Mother; about which time,
he was in the Seventeenth year of his Age;
and as he grew older, fo he grew in learning,
and more and more in favour both with God
and man; infomuch, that in this morning of
that flmrt day of his life, he feemed to be
mark'd out for virtue, and to become the care
of Heaven; for God frill kept his foul in fo
holy a frame, that he may and ought to be a
pattern of virtue to all pofterity, and efpecially
to his Brethren of the Clergy, of which the
Reader may expec"t a more exa& account in
what will follow.
I need not declare that he xvas a lri& Stu-
dent, becaufe, that he was fo, there will be
many telimonies in the future part of his life.
I flaall therefore only tell, that he was made
Bachelor ofIrts in the year 1611 ; Major Fellow
GEORGE HERBER'T. 3
To there, I might add the long and entire
friendfhip betwixt him and Sir Henry lUotton,
and Dr. Donne, but I have promifed to contra&
myfelf, and flaall therefore only add one teti-
mo W to what is alfo mentioned in the Life of
Dr. Donne; namely, that a little before his
death, he caufed many Seals to be made, and
in them to be engraven the figure of Chrifl
crucijqed on an tnchor (the emblem of hope),
and of which Dr. Donne would often lay, Crux
mihi anchora. There Seals he -_
gave or lent to moil of thot \
friends on which he put a "
value- and, at Mr. Herbert's
death, there Verfes were found wrapt up with
that real which was by the Do&or given to
him :
lVhen my dear Friend could write no more,
He gave this Seal and fo gave o'er."
Anchor keeps my faith, that me 'cure."
At this time of being Orator, he had learnt
to underiland the Italian, Spanijh, and French
Tongues very perfe&ly; hoping, that as his
Predeceffors, fo he might in time attain the
place of a Secretary q'State, he being at that time
very high in the King's favour ; and not meanly
valued and loved by the moil eminent and moil
3 2 THE LIFE OF
powerful of the Court Nobility : This, and the
love ofa Court-converfation mixed with a laud-
able ambition to be fomething more than he
then was, drexv him often from Cambridge to
attend the King, wherefoever the Court was,
who then gave him a S&ecure, which fell into
his Majetty's difpofal, I think, by the death of
the Biflaop of St. filph.mlt xvas the fame that
QEeen Elizabeth had formerly given to her
Favourite Sir Philip Sidney; and valued to be
xvorth a hundred and twenty pounds per annum.
With this, and his Annuity, and the advantage
of his College, and of his Oratorfhip, he en-
joyed his genteel humour for clothes, and Court-
like company, and feldom looked towards Cam-
bridge, unlefs the King xvere there, but then he
never failed; and, at other times, left the ma-
nage of his Orator's place to his learned friend
lIr. Herbert Thorndike, xvho is noxv Prebendary
of llZejhnier.
I may not omit to tell, that he had often
defigned to leave the Univerfity, and decline all
Study, which, he thought, did impair his health :
for he had a body apt to a Confimption, and to
Fevers, and other infirmities, which he judged
were increafed by his ttudies; for he would
often fay, " He had too thoughtful a Wit: a
" Wit, like a Pen-knife in too narrow a theath,
" too tharp for his Body." But his Mother
would by no means allow him to leave the
GEORGE HERBERF. 33
Univerfity or to travel : and though he inclined
very much to both, yet he would by no means
fatisfy his oxvn defires at fo dear a rate, as to
prove an undutiful Son to fo affe&ionate a
Mother; but did always fubmit to her wifdom.
And what I have noxv faid may partly appear
in a Copy of Verfes in his printed Poems; it is
one of thole that bear the title ofzqicTion ; and
it appears to be a pious retie&ion on God's provi-
dence, and fome paffages of his life, in which
he fays :
Hereas my birth and fpirit rather took
Whe way that takes the Town :
Thou didjt betray me to a ling'ring Book,
And wrap me in a Gown :
I was entangled in a ltTorld ofjqrif,,,
Before I had the power to change my life.
2et, for I threatened oft the Siege to to;f e,
Not flmp'ring all mine age ;
7 hou often didfl with Academic praife
Melt and diolve my rage :
I took thefweeten'd Pill, till I came where
I could not go away, nor perfevere.
let left perchance, Iould too happy be
In my unhappinefs,
Wurning my purge to food, thou throwefl me
Into more flckneflbs.
D
GEORGE HERBERT. 37
with no fuccefs, till Mr. Herbert undertook it;
and he by his own and the contribution of many
of his Kindred, and other noble Friends, under-
took the Re-edification of it, and made it fo
much his whole bulinefs, that he became rell-
lefs till he faw it finifhed as it now llands:
being for the workmanfhip a collly Mofaic :
for the form an exact CroJ ; and for the de-
cency and beauty, I am affured, it is the molt
remarkable Parifl Church that this Nation
affords. He lived to fee it fo wainfcotted, as to
be exceeded by none; and, by his order, the
Reading Pew and Pulpit were a little dillant
from each other, and both of an equal height:
for he would often fay, " They flould neither
" have a precedency or priority of the other;
" but that Prayer and Preachhlg, being equally
" ufeful, might agree like Brethren, and have
" an equal honour and ellimation."
Before I proceed farther, I mutt look back
to the time of Mr. Herbert's being made Pre-
bendary, and tell the Reader, that not long
after, his Mother being informed of his inten-
tions to rebuild that church, and apprehending
the great trouble and charge that he was likely
to draw upon himfelf, his Relations, and Friends,
before it could be finifled, fent for him from
London to Chelfea (where floe then dwelt), and
at his coming laid, " George, I fent for you, to
" perfuade you to commit Simony, by giving
GEORGE HERBERT. 39
but before I proceed farther I will give this
fhort account of Mr. h'tht:r loodnot :
He was a man that had confidered overgrown
Eftates do often require more care and watch-
fulnefs to preferve than get them; and con-
fidered that there be many Difcontents that
Riches cure not; and did therefore fet limits
to himfelfas to defire of wealth: And having
attained fo much as to be able to fhow fome
mercy to the Poor, and preferve a competence
for himfelf, he dedicated the remaining part of
his life to the fervice of God; and to be ufeful
for his Friends : and he proved to be fo to Mr.
Herbert ; for, betide his own bounty, he col-
le&ed and returned molt of the money that was
paid for the Rebuilding of that Church; he
kept all the account of the charges, and would
often go down to ftate them, and fee all the
Workmen paid. When I have faid, that this
good man was an ufeful Friend to Mr. Herbert's
Father, and to his Mother, and continued to be
fo to him, till he clofed his eyes on his Death-
bed; I will forbear to fay more, till I have the
next fair occafion to mention the holy friend-
fhip that was betwixt him and Mr. Herbert.
From whom Mr. ltToodnot carried to his Mother
this following Letter, and delivered it to her in
a ficknefs, which was not long before that which
proved to be her laft.
GEORGE HERBER7 . 45
owner of it then was the Lord Danvers,* Earl
of Danby, who loved Mr. Herbert fo very much,
that he allowed him fuch an apartment in it as
might belt fnit with his accommodation and
liking. And in this place, by a fpare Diet,
declining all perplexing Studies, moderate exerc',
and a cheerful converJ;ztion, his hcalth was appa-
rently improved to a good degree of trength
and cheerfulnefs: And then he declared his
refolution both to marry, and to enter into the
Sacred Orders of Priefthood. There had long
been the defire of his Mother and his other
Relations; but fhe lived not to fee either, for
fide died in the year x6z 7. And though he
was difobedient to her about Layton Church,
yet in conformity to her will, he kept his
* Henry Danvers, created Baron of Dauntfey by King
Tames, and Earl of Danby by Charles I. He was Knight
of the Bath, and died unmarried, Jan. o, I673.
On Lord Danvers.
Sacred marble, fafoly keep
His duff, who under thee muff fleep,
Until the years again reflore
Their dead, and time Jhall be no more.
Mean while, if he (which all things wears)
Does ruin thee, or if thy tears
re ea for him dlve thy frame,
Thou art requited : for hls fame,
His virtue, and his worth Jhall be
Atnother monument to thee.--G. HERBERT.
48 THE LIFE OF
indeed fo happy, that there never was any oppo-
fition betwixt them, unlefs it were a Contett
which fhould molt incline to a compliance with
the other's defires. And though this begot,
and continued in them, fuch a mutual love, and
joy, and content, as was no way defeCtive; yet
this mutual content, and love, and joy, did receive
a daily augmentation, by fuch daily obligingnefs
to each other, as frill added fuch new affluences
to the former fulnefs of there divine Souls, as
was only improvable in Heaven, where they
now enjoy it.
About three months after his marriage, Dr.
Cttrle, who xvas then ReCtor of Bemerton in
IKiltjhire, was made Biflaop of Bath and lUelly,
and not long after tranflated to lUinchefler, and
by that lneans the prefentation of a Clerk to
Bemerton did not fall to the Earl of Pembroke
(who was the undoubted Patron of it) but to
the King, by reafon of Dr. Curle's advance-
ment: But Philip, then Earl of Pembroke (for
1Yilliam was lately dead), requetted the King to
bettow it upon his kinfman George Herbert;
and the King laid, Mo willingly to Mr. Her-
bert, /t be worth his acceptance : And the Earl
as willingly and fuddenly lent it him without
reeking : But though Mr. Herbert had formerly
put on a refolution for the .Clergy; yet, at
receiving this prefentation, the apprehenfion of
the latt great Account, that he was to make for
5 2 THE LIFE OF
well, becaufe t/be virtuous life of a Clergynlan is
t/be ,no.//powerful eloquence to perfuade all t/bat fee
it to reveren:e and love, an t at leafl to deflre to
live like/bim. And t/his I will do, becaufe I know
we live in an Age that hath more need of good
examples than precepts. lnd I befeec/b t/bat
God, ,/bo /bat/b /bonoured me fo muc/b as to call me
to f'rve /bim at /bis lltar, t/bat as by his Jecial
grace he/bat/b put into nff /beart th good dres
and r/utions ; he will, by h# aing grace,
give me gh rength to bring the me to good
ckaritable (i? may]b in upon otkers, as to $ring
glory to my JESUS, whom I have this day taken
to be my Maer and Governor: andlam
and obey, and do kis IFill ; and always call kim
Jefus my Maer, and I will alays contemn my
irtk, or any title or ignity tkat can be corre
uon me, ken Izall compare tem 'Hk n title
q" being a Prie, and fi','ving at the Altar ff
Jefus my roarer.
And that he did fo may appear in many parts
of his Book of Sacred Poems ; efpecially in that
which he calls Te Odour. In which he feems
to rejoice in the thoughts of that word, us,
and fay, that the adding thefe words n Mer,
to it, and the often repetition of them feemed to
perfume his mind, and leave an oriental fragrancy
in his very breath. And for his unforced choic
54 THE LIFE OF
And flae was fo meek a Wife as to are h& it
was no vexi**g News to her, and that he flzould fee
her ohrve it with a cheerful willingefs. And,
indeed, her unforced humility, that humility
that was in her fo original, as to be born with
her, made her fo happy as to do fo; and her
doing fo, begot her an unfeigned love, and a
ferviceable refpe from all that converfed with
her; and this love followed her in all places
as iufeparably as lhadows follow fubftances in
fimllfine.
It was not many days before he returned
back to Bemerto,, to view the Church, and re-
pair the Chancel ; and indeed to rebuild almoft
three parts of his houfe, which xvas fallen down,
or decayed, by reafon of his Predeceffor's living
at a better parfonage-houfe, namely, at Mbal,
fixteen or twenty miles from this place. At
xvhich time of Mr. Herbert's coming alone to
Bemerton, there came to him a poor old Woman,
with an intent to acquaint him with her necef-
fitous condition, as alfo with rome troubles of
her mind; but after flae had fpoke rome few
words to him, lhe was furprifed with a fear,
and that begot a thortnefs of breath, fo that her
fpirits and fpeech failed her; which he per-
ceiving, did fo compaflionate her, and was fo
humble, that he took her by the hand, and
laid, Speak, good Mother, be not afraid to fpeak
to me ; for I am a man that will hear you with
60 THE LIFE OF
fore an acceptable Sacrifice to God; as namely,
that we begin with Confeion of ourfelves to he
vile miferahlenners ; and that we begin fo be-
caufe till we have confeffed ourfelves to be fuch,
we are not capable of that mercy which we ac-
knowledge xve need and pray for : but having,
in the prayer of our Lord, begged pardon for
thofe tins which we have confeffed : And hoping,
that as the Pri, fl hath declared our Abfolution,
fo by our public Confeffion, and real Repent-
ance, we have obtained that pardon; then we
dare and do proceed to beg of the Lord, to
open our lips, that our mouths may flzow forth
praife ; for, till then, we are neither able nor
xvorthy to praife him. But this being fuppofed,
we are then fit to fay, Glory he to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghoj7 ; and fit to
proceed to a further fervice of our God, in the
ColleCTs, and PJhhns, and Lauds, that follow in
the Service.
And as to there Pfalms and Lauds, he pro-
ceeded to inform them, why they were fo often,
and fome of them daily, repeated in our Church-
firvice ; namely, the Pfalms every Month, be-
caufe they be an HijTorical and thankful repe-
tition of mercies paf; and fuch a compofition
of prayers and praifes as ought to be repeated
often and publicly, for with fich facrifices God
is honoured amt wellpleafi',t. This for the
Pfalms.
64 UHE LIFE OF
then, not only becaufe it was compofed and
commanded by our ejTs that made it, but as a
perle& pattern for our lefs perle& Forms of
prayer, and therefore fittef to rum up and con-
clude all our imperfe& Petitions.
tie infh'u&ed them alfo that as by the fecond
Commandment we are required not to bow
down or worflfip an Idol or falfe God; fo, by
the contrary Rule, we are to bow doxvn and
kneel, or ftand up and worjTlip the true God.
And he inftruced them why the Church re-
quired the Congregation to tand up at the re-
petition of the Creeds; namely, becaufe they
did thereby declare both their obedience to the
Church, and an affent to that faith into which
they had been baptized. And he taught them,
that in that thorter Creed or Doxology fo often
repeated daily, they alfo ftood up to tetify their
belief to be, that the God that they trzed in was
one God amt three perfons ; the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Ghofl, to whom they and the Pri,Jt
gave glory. And becaufe there had been Here-
tics that had denied rome of thole three per-
fons to be God; therefore the Congregation
ftood up and honoured him, by confetting and
laying, It was fo in the beginning, is now f o, and
all ever be fo lKorld without end. And all gave
their affent to this belief, by ftanding up and
laying, 4men.
He inftru&ed them alfo xvhat benefit they
GEORGE HERBERT . 6 7
bleflings which we do, or might receive by thole
holy Commemorations.
He made them know alfo why the Church
hath appointed Ember-weeks ; and to know the
reafon why the Commandments, and the EpijTles
and Gofpels were to be read at the zt/tar or
Communion Uaale : why the Prief was to pray
the Litany kneeling; and why to pray fame
CdlecTs f[anding ; and he gave them many other
obfervations fit for his plain Congregation, but
not fit for me now to mention, for I tour let
limits to my Pen, and not make that a Treatife
which I intended to be a much thorter account
than I have made it :--But I have done, when
I have told the Reader that he was contant in
Catechiflng every Sunday in the Afternoon, and
that his Catechifing was after his fecond leffon,
and in the Pulpit; and that he never exceeded
his half hour, and was always fo happy as to
have an obedient and a full Congregation.
And to this I mut add, that if he were at
any time too zealous in his Sermons, it was in
reproving the indecencies of the people's be-
haviour in the time of Divine Service; and of
thole Miniflcers that huddled up the Church-
prayers without a vifible reverence and affec-
tion ;namely, fucb as fiemed to fay the Lard's
Prayer or Colle?7 in a areath ; but for himfelf,
his cuRom was to fop betwixt every Colle&,
and give the people time to confider what they
68 THE LIFE OF
had prayed, and to force their defires affecetion -
ately to God before he engaged them into new
Petitions.
And by this account of his diligence to make
his Pariflfioners underftand what they prayed,
and why they praifed and adored their Creator,
I hope I flaall the more eafily obtain the Reader's
belief to the following account of Mr. Herbert's
own prac2ice, which was to appear conftantly
with his Wife and three Nieces (the daughters
of a deceafed Sifter) and his whole Fa,nily
twice every day at the Church-prayers, in the
Chapel which does ahnoft join to his Parfonage-
houfe. And for the time of his appearing, it
was ftricCtly at the Canonical hours of ten and
four; and then and there he lifted up pure and
charitable hands to God in the midft of the
Congregation. And he would joy to have fpent
that time in that place where the honour of his
Mailer efus dwelleth; and there, by that in-
ward devotion which he teftified conftantly by
an humble behaviour and vifible adoration, he,
like )oolTua, brought not only his own houfehdd
thu, tofirve the Lord, but brought moft of his
pariflfioners and many Gentlemen in the Neigh-
bourhood, conftantly to make a part of his Con-
gregation twice a day : And rome of the meaner
fort of his Pari(h did fo love and reverence Mr.
Heraert, that they would let their Plough reft
when Mr. Herbert's Saint's-bell rung to Prayers,
GEORGE HERBERY. 6 9
that they might alfo offer their devotions to
God with him; and would then return back to
their Plough. And his molt holy life was fuch,
that it begot fuch reverence to God, and to him,
that they thought themfelves the happier when
they carried Mr. Herbert's bleffing back with
them to their labour. Thus powerful was his
reafon and example, to perfuade others to a
praCtical piety and devotion.
And his confront public prayers did never
make him to neglec"t his own private devotions,
nor thole prayers that he thought himfelf bound
to perform with his Family, which alxvays were
a Set-form and not long; and he did always
conclude them with that ColleCt which the
Church hath appointed for the day or week.--
that Kingdom where hn]surity cannot enter.
His chiefe recreation was Mufic, in which
heavenly Art he was a mo excellent Marker,
and did himfelfcompofe many divine Hymns and
lnthems, which he let and lung to his Lute or
Viol: And though he was a lover of retired-
hers, yet his love to Mtc was fuch, that he
went ufually twice every week on certain ap-
pointed days, to the Cathedral Church in Salif-
bury ; and at his return would fay, What his
time fpent in Prayer, and Cathedral Mtc, elevated
his Soul, and was his Heaven upon Earth. But
before his return thence to Bemerton, he would
GEORGE HERBERT.
7 1
name of Mr. George Herbert with veneration,
and t'till praifeth God for the occafion of know-
ing him.
In another of his Salifiury walks, he met
with a Neighbour Minifter, and after rome
friendly difcourfe betwixt them, and rome Con-
dolement for the decay of Piety, and too general
Contempt of the Clergy, Mr. Herbert took
occafion to fay, One Cure for there Diflempers
would be for the Ckrgy themfelves to keep the
Ember-Weeks J/ricT/y, and beg of their ParijT-
loners to join with them in Fat'ting and Prayers
for a more Religious Clergy.
And another cure would be for themfelves to
r,flore the great and negleCTed duty of Catechiting,
on wich the falvation of fo many of the poor and
ignorant Lay-people does depend; but principally
that the Clergy themfdves would be lure to live
unblamably; and that the dignified Clergy efpe-
cially, which preach Temperance, would avoid
s.Witi.g, t ke a# occ o, s to
humility and charity in their lives ; for this would
force a love and an imitation, and an unfeigned
reverence from all that knew them to be fuch.
(And for proof of this, we need no other tefti-
mony than the life and death of Dr. Lake, late
Lord Biflaop of Bath and ll/'ells.) This, laid
Mr. Herbert, would be a cure for the wickednefs
and growing Itheifin of our Ige. Ind, my dear
brother, till this be done by us, and done in earnefl,
74 'THE LIFE OF
And for his own, he let no limits to it; nor
did ever turn his face from any that he law in
want, but would relieve them, efpecially his
poor Neighbours: to the meanePt of whole
Houfes he would go and inform himfelf of
their wants, and relieve them cheerfully if they
were in diftrefs ; and would always praife God,
as much for being willing, as for being able to
do it. And when he was advifed by a friend
to be more frugal, becaufe he might have Chil-
dren, his anfwer was, He would not fee the dan-
ger of want fifar ff; but being the fcripture
does fo commend Charity, as to tell us, that Charity
is the top of Chrijtian virtues, the covering of flns,
the fulTling of the Law, the life of Faith: and
that Charity hath a promife of the bleings of this
life, and of a reward in that life which is to come ;
being theft and ,,,ore excellent things are in Scrip-
ture fpoken of thee, 0 Charity! and,hat being all
my tithes and church-dues are a deodate from
thee, 0 my God, make me, 0 my God, fo far to
trufl thy promife, as to return then, back to thee !
to .y of thy poor i.o,.bers that are i,. &r4. or
do but bear the image of Jefus my Mafter. Sir,
t'aid he to his friend, my I/Fife hath a comDetent
maintenance fecured her after my death, and there-
fore as this i nV prayer, fo this ,ny rlution
jhall, by God's grace, be unalterable.
This may be rome account of the excellencies
GEORGE HERBERT. 75
of the a&ive part of his life; and thus he con-
tinued, till a Confumption fo weakened him,
as to confine him to his Houfe, or to the Chapel,
which does almoft oin to it; in which he con-
tinued to read Prayers conftantly twice every
day, though he xvere very weak: in one of
which times of his reading his Wife obferved
him to read in pain, and told him fo, and that
it wafted his fpirits, and weakened him; and
he confeffed it did, but faid, His life couM not
be better fpent than in the fervice of his Mafter
Jefus, who had done and figered fo much for hi,,,:
But, laid he, I will not be wi/ful; for though my
fpirit be willing, yet I flnd my fl is weak ; and
therefore Mr. Boftock jhall be appointed to read
Prayers for me to-morrow, and I will now be only
a hearer of them, till this mortaljTall put on im-
mortality. And Mr. Boflock did the next day
undertake and continue this happy employment,
till Mr. Herbert's death. This Mr. Boflock xvas
a learned and virtuous man, an old friend of Mr.
Herbert's and then his Curate to the Church of
Fulflon, which is a mile from Bemerton, to which
church Bemerton is but a Chapel of e ale. And
this Mr. Boflock did alfo conftantly fupply the
Church-fervice for Mr. Herbert in that Chapel,
when the Mufic-meeting at SaliJbury caufed his
abfence fiom it.
About one month before his death, his friend
Mr. Ferrar (for an account of whom I am by
GEORGE HERBERT.
Thus did Mr. Ferrar and his happy Family
ferve God day and night :--Thus did they
always behave themfelves, as in his prefence.
And they did always eat and drink by the
Rriceft rules of Temperance; eat and drink fo
as to be ready to rife at Midnight, or at the call
of a Watch-bell, and perform their devotions to
God.--And it is fit to tell the Reader, that
many of the Clergy that were more inclined to
pradticalpiety and devotion, than to doubtfifl and
needlers Difputations, did often come to Ghht,'n
Hall, and make themfelves a part of that happy
Society, and Ray a week or more, and then .join
with Mr. Ferrar, and the Family in there De-
votions, and affift and eafe him or them in the
Watchby Night. And there various Devotions
had never lefs than two of the Domettic Family
in the Night" and the Watch was always kept
in the Church or Oratory, unlefs in extreme
cold Winter nights, and then it was maintained
in a Parlour which had a fire in it, and the
Parlour was fitted for that purpofe. And this
courfe of Piety, and great liberality to his poor
Neighbours, Mr. Ferrar maintained till his
death, which was in the year 1639.
Mr. Ferrar's and Mr. Herbert's devout lives
were both fo noted, that the general report of
their fangtity gave them occation to renew that
flight acquaintance which was begun at their
being Contemporaries in Cambridge; and this
G
GEORGE HERBERT. 8 3
till they two might have a fecond opportunity of
a friendly Difcourfe; which Fald,o promifed
to do.
In the mean time, the Emperor appoints
privately a day for him and Falde.o to meet
again, and after a pious and fiee difcourfe, they
both agreed on a certain day to receive the
bleffed Sacrament publicly, and appointed an
eloquent and devout Friar to preach a Sermon
of contemDt of the lCorld, and of the happinefs
and benefit of a quiet and contemplative life,
which the Friar did mof affegtionately. After
which Sermon, the Emperor took occafion to
declare openly, That the Preacher had egot hz
him a refo/ution to lay down his Dignities, and to
forfake the lUorld, and betake hi,,y'to a Mbnajtic
/./. And he pretended he had perfuaded Joan
Faldeo to do the like; but this is mof certain,
that after the Emperor had called his fon Philip
out of England, and refigned to him all his
Kingdoms, that then the Emperor and John lal-
db did perform their refolutions.
This account of 7ohn 17alde.o I received from
a Friend, that had it from the mouth of Mr.
Ferrar : And the Reader may note, that in this
retirement ohn Valdeflb wrote his Hundred and
Ten Confiderations, and many other Treatifes
of worth, which want a fecond blr. Ferrar to
procure and Tranflate them.
After this account of Mr. Ferrar and yohn
GEORGE HERBERT.
let him burn it ; fir I and it are lefs than the
leaft of God's mercies.--Thus meanly did this
humble man think of this excellent book, which
now bears the name of The TEMPLE ; Or,
Sacred Poems, and Private Ejaculations; of
which Mr. Ferrar would fay, There was in it
the picture of a divine Soul in every page ; and
that the whole Book was fitch a harmony of holy
paflions, as wouM enrich the lUorM with pleafure
andpkty. And it appears to have done fo ; for
there have been more than Twenty thoutnd of
them fold fince the firft hnpreflion.
And this ought to be noted, that when Mr.
Ferrar lent this Book to Cambridge to be Li-
cenfed for the Prefs, the Iice-Chancellor would by
no means allow the two fo much noted verfes...
Rdigion flands a Tip-toe in our Land,
Ready to pail to the American Stran,t,
to be printed; and Mr. Ferrar vould by no
means allow the Book to be printed and want
them; but after fome time, and fome argu-
ments for and againft their being made public,
the Yice-Chancellor faid, I knew Mr. Herbert
well, and know that he had many heavenly Specu-
lations, and was a Divine Poet ; but I hope the
World ill not take him to be an infpired Prophet,
and therefore I Licenfe the whole Book. So that
it came to be printed without the diminution or
addition of a fyllable, fince it was delivered into
GEORGE HERBERT. 8 9
row, and an unwillingnefs to lore the fight of
him whom they could not hope to fee much
longer. As they lqood thus beholding him, his
Wife obferved him to breathe faintly, and with
much trouble; and obferved him to fall into a
fudden Agony, which fo furprifed her, that
fle fell into a fudden paffion, and required of
him to know how he did ? to which his anfwer
was, That he had pa.bd a Conflict with his la d
Enemy, and had overcome him, by the merits of his
Mer s. After which anfver he looked
up and law his Wife and Nieces weeping to an
extremity, and charged them, they loved him,
to withdraw into the next Room, and there pray
every one alone r him ;.r nothing but their
lamentations couM make his death uncomfortable.
To which requeR their fighs and tears would
not fuffer them to make any reply, but they
yielded him a fad obedience, leaving only xvith
him Mr. Woodnot and Mr. Bqtock. Immedi-
ately after they had left him, he laid to Mr.
Bock, Pray, Sir, open that door, then look into
ill, and give # into n hand: which being
done, Mr. Herbert delivered it into the hand of
Mr. Woodnot, and laid, My oM Fr#nd, 1 here
&liver you n la Will, in wh%h you will flnd
that I have ma& you my fi# Executor fir the
good n W and Nieces ; and I dre you to
flew kindn to them, as thq fla# need # : I do
GEORGE HERBER'T. 9 1
Mr. Herbert's virtu:us 1I ; a part
wkfi I will endeavour to p,, by a very
account tile re,,minder q" Aer l, wAicA all
Se continued Ah donlate lYidow about
years, bemoaning e@ and complaining, That
fl,e had lo the delight of her eyes ; but more,
that fle had lo the fpiritual guide for her poor
foul; and wouM q/?en , 0 that I had, like
holy Mary, the Mother of Jeths, treafured up
all his fayings in my heart; but fince I have
not been able to do that, I will labour to live
like him, that where he now is, I may be altb.
A,de would en (as the Prophet David
r h#n Abfalon) 0 that I had died for him
Thus e continued mourning, till time and con-
ve@tion had moderated her rrows, that e
became the happy Sir Robert Cook,
Highnam, in the county Glouceer, KSdght :
nd though he put a high value on the excellent
accon,plments Aer mind and o+, and was
like Mr. Herbert, as not to govern like a er,
but as an ionate Hzand; yet :e woul, L
even to im, en take occon to mention te
name Mr. George Herbert, and , That
name mu live in her memory, till fle put off
mortality.By Sir Robert fle Aad on one
92 THE LIFE OF HERBERT.
Child, a Daughter, whofe parts and plentiful
e_flate make her happy in this world, and her well
u.ring of them give a fair teflimony that Jhe will be
fo in that which is to come.
Mrs. Herbert wa the Wife of Sir Robert eight
years, and lived his lUidow about fifteen ; a#
which tbne jTae took a pleafitre in mentioning and
commending the excellencies of Mr. George Her-
bert. She died in the year x663, and lies buried
at Highnam; Mr. Herbert in his own Church,
under the wlltar, amt covered with a GraveAtone
without any infcription.
This Lady Cook had preferred many of Mr.
Herbert's private lUritings, aia fie intended to
make public, but they and Highnam hot were
burnt together, by the late Rebels, and fo loft to
poflerity.
I.W.
.,4PPENDIX.
95
Crucify nature then ; and then implore
4ll grace from him, cruclfy'd there before.
II/'hen all is Crofs, and that Crofs 4nchor grown,
This feal's a Catechifm, not a feal alone.
Under that little feal great gifts I fend,
Both works and prayers, pawns and fruits of a friend.
Oh may that Saint that rides on our great Seal,
To you that bear his name large bounty deal.
John Donne.
In Sacram lnchoram Pifcatoris,
George Herbert.
ubd Crux nequibat fixa clavique additi,
Tenere Chriflum fcilicet ne afienderet,
Tuive Chriflum ......
41though the Crofs could not Chrifl here detain,
lI/'hen nail'd unto't, but he afcends again ;
Nor yet thy eloquence here keep him flill,
But only whil fl thou fpeak'fl, this 4nchor will:
Nor canfl thou be content, unlefs thou to
7"his certain nchor add a real, and fo
The water and the earth, both unto thee
Do owe the Symbol of their certainty.
Let the world reel, we and all ours fland fure,
This Holy Cable's from all florms fecure.
George Herbert.
In the Complete lngler. Chap. L
But, Sir, left this difcourfe may feem tedious, I thall give it
a fweet conclufion out of that holy poet, Mr. George Herbert,
his divine contemplations on God's providence.
Lord. t who hath praife enough, &c.*
Poems, p. 134.
GEORGE HERBERT. 99
judgment, but the fcorpions of his heavy dif-
pleafure, fierce wrath, and fore Indignation.
Not only from the fmoking of God's jealoufy,
or the fparks of his Anger, but the flames of his
furnace, (heat feven tilnes more than ever,)yea,
even from the Furioufnefs of the wrath of God.
Pfalm lxxviii. 5 o.
God's finking the Gates, his detroying the
walls, his flighting the trong holds of Zion;
his polluting the Kingdom, his fwallowing the
Palaces, his cutting off the Horn of It?ael:
God's hating our Feat, s, his abominating our
Sabbaths, his loathing our folemnities, Efiz. i.
God's forgetting his Foottool, his abhorring
his Sanuary, his catting off his Altar, are (to
me) figns that the glory of God is departed to
the Mountain, Ezek. xi. 23. That God hath
in the indignation of his anger detitbd the
King and the Pri, Lain. ii. It naut be ac-
knowledged fure that the hand of God hath
gone out againt us, more than againt others
of our Rank at other times; at leat, that God
hath not retrained violence againt us, lb as he
did that againt thole of our Profeon in the
days of old : Uhe portion the Egyptian Prints
{that rved the Ox, the pe, and the Onion,J
apeale in time the Famine. Learned yu-
nius (in his Academia, chap. iv.) lays, that the
Philines fpared the Schools the Prophets in
their Wars w#b Iael : and that the Phn&ians,
GEORGE HERBERT. xo 3
braided that to him ? or this to the ingenuous
learned Cajetan? his humble and feafonable
Confeflion upon lafting record in his Co,n-
ments on the x3th verfe of the 5th chapter of
Saint Matthew's Gofpel : /'e zre the fair--if the
falt have loft, &c. The French Army had taken
Rome, when he was about that Text, and offered
great abufe to the Clergy there. Which he
Chrittianly Relenting, inferts this paffage,
Prelates of the Church of Rome do at this time
find this truth verified on us, in a fpecial Mea-
lure; Being by the juft judgment of God be-
come a fpoil, and a Prey, and Captives, not to
Infidel,, but to Chriftians ; beca we, who were
chofen to be the Salt of the earth, Evanuimus,
were become light perfons, and mtvoury, good
for nothing but outward Ceremonies, and Ex-
terna Bona, the Revenues Temporal. Hence it
is, that both IFe and this City be t/odden under
foot thb Jixth of May, I 5z 7. And that excel-
lent CUAZes the Fifth is Honourable for no
one thing ,nore, than for acknowledging the
Hand of God upon him, both at that pinch
which made him pant out am me ab omnibus
defertum video : And upon a leffer occafion than
that, namely, when his Domeftics had left him
all alone late at night, and he would needs hold
the candle to Seldius, (thewing him the way
down the ftairs, and up to God,)he laid; Whine
eyes have feen me environed w#b great _/lrmies ;
GEORGE HERBERT. o 7
more. I have heard him fay, valuing (not
relenting his own) fufferings in this kind, That
to fry a Faggot, was not more martyrdom than
continual obloquy. He was torn afunder as with
mad horfes, or cruflaed betwixt the upper and
under millftone of contrary reports; that he
was a Papift, and that he was a Puritan. What
is, if this be not, to be lawn afunder as Efay,
ttoned as eremy, made a Drum,or Tympanifed,
as other Saints of God were ? and after his death,
when by injunc'-tion (which he laid upon Iris
friends when he lay on his death bed) a great
company of Comedies, Tragedies, Love Hymns,
Heroical poems, &c. were burnt upon his grave,
as utter Enemies to Chriftian Principles and
pra&ices (that was his brand), rome poor people
laid, He was a Conjuror.
And for our Author (the fweet fl,,ger of the
Temple) though he was one of the moft prudent
and accomplifled men of his time, I have heard
fober men cenfure him as a man that did not
manage his brave parts to his be([ advantage
and preferment, but loft himfelf in an humble
way ; That was the phrafe, I well remember it.
The fecond thing wherein all Three agreed,
was a fingular fincerity in Embracing, and
tranfcendent Dexterity in Defending the Pro-
teftant Religion eftablithed in the Church of
England. I fpeak it in the prefence of God, I
have not read fo hearty, vigorous a Champion
GEORGE HERBERT. 1 5
Men and Angels, and the Lord J efus Chrif[,
His Mailer ; For tb (to quicken himfelf in Du-
ties, and to cut off all depending on man, whole
breath is in his noftrils)he utd Ordinarily to
call our Saviour.
I forget not where I left him : He did thrive
fo well there, that he was firft chotn fellow of
the college, and afterward Orator of the Uni-
verfity. The Memorials of him left in the
Orator's Book, fhew how he difcharged the
Place: and himfelf intimates, That whereas
his Birth and Spirit prompted him to ]Martial
Achievements, he way that takes the own ;
and not to fit fimpering over a Book ; God did
often melt hisfpirit, and entice him with Aca-
demic Honour, to be content to wear, and wr,/,
up hinlfin a gown, fo long, till he durtt not
put it off, nor retire to any other calling. I |ow-
ever, probably he might, I have heard (as other
Orators), have had a Secretary of State's place.
But the good man, like a genuine fon of LevL
(I had like to have laid Melcb,dek) balked all
fecular ways, law neither father nor mother,
child nor Brother, birth nor friends (lave in
Chritt Jefus), chore the Lord for his portion,
and his fervice for employment. And he knew
full well what he did when he received holy
orders, as appears by every page in this Book,
and by the Poems called Prieflhood, and/laron :
and by this unparalleled vigilancy which he ufed
118 OF 'HE LIFE OF
Paradox) which I learned from Him (and Mr.
Ferrar) in the Managery of their molt cordial and
Clriflian FriendJhip. That this may be main-
tained in vigour and height without the Cere-
monies of Vifits and Compliments; yea, without
any Trade of fecular courtefies, merely in order
to fpiritual Edification of one another in love.
I know they loved each other molt entirely,
and their ve T fouls cleaved together molt inti-
mately, and drove a large Rock of Chriftian
Intelligence together long before their deaths;
yet tZaw they not each other in many years, I
think, fcarce ever, but as Members of one Uni-
verfity, in their whole lives.
There is one thing more may be learned
from there Two (I may fay, there Three) alfo:
Namely, That Chrijtian Charity will keep Unity
of fouls, amidft great differences of Gifts and
Opinions. There was variation confiderable in
their Endowments: Doc"tor ackfon had in his
youth (as if he then had underftood God's call-
ing) laid his grounds carefully in Arithmetic,
Grammar, Philology, Geometry, Rhetoric,
Logic, Philofophy, Oriental Languages, Hif-
tories, &c. (yea, he had Infight in Heraldry
and Hieroglyphics) he made all there ferve
either as Rubbifh under the Foundation, or as
drudges and day labourers to Theology. He
was copious and definitive in Controverfies of
all forts. Mailer Ferrar was Mafter of th.e
GEORGE HERBERT.
II 9
Weftern Tongues; yet cared not for Criticifms
and Curiofities. He was alfo very modelt in
points of controverfy, and would fcarce venture
to opine, even in the points wherein the world
cenfured him poffeffed. Our author was of a
middle Temper betwixt, or a Compound of
both thefe; yet having rather more of Mailer
Ferrar in him: _And to what he had of him,
he added the Art of Divine Poefy, and other
polite learning, which fo commended him to
perfons molt Eminent in their time, that Door
Donne infcribed to him a paper of Latin verfes
in print; and the Lord Bacon having trantlated
rome Pfahns into Englifh metre, lent them with
a Dedication prefixed, To his very Good Friend,
Mailer GrORGE HRBrRr, thinking that he
had kept a true decorum in chooting one fo fit
for the Argument, in refpe& of Divinity and
Poefy (the one as the Matter, the other as the
Style) that a better choice he could not make.
In fum, To diltinguifh them by better Re-
femblances out of the Old and New Teiament,
and antiquity : Methinks Dr. e. has fomewhat
like the fpirit of fferemy, Saint flames, and Sal-
vian. Malter Herbert, like David, and other
Pfalm-men, Saint ffohn, and Prudentius. Maf-
ter F. like Efay, Saint Luke, and Saint Chryfof-
tom; yet in this diverfity had they fuch a
Harmony of fouls as was admirable. For in-
france, in one who differed in rome points from
GEORGE HERBERT.
of fuch Parerts, as by Faing and Prayers, be-
ing like Ifaac, and Jacob, and Samuel; molt
likely to become Children of the Promife,
Wreftlers with God, and fitte to wear a linen
Ephod. And with this Failing he imped his
prayers both private and public: His private
muff be left to God, who fav them in fecret ;
his public were the Morning and Evening Sacrifice
f tle Clmrcl Liturgy, which he ufed vith con-
fcientious devotion, not of Cuom, but ferious
Judgment; knoving, i. That the 8ophitin ufed
to make people hate them, was a folid reafon to
make men ofunderftanding love them ; Namely,
becaufe taken out of the blafs Book: Taken
out, but as gold from drofs, the precious from
the vile. The wife Reformers, knew Rome
would cry Schifin, fclifm, and therefore they
kept all they could lawfully keep, being loth to
give offence; as our blefl'ed Saviour, being loth
to offend the ews at the great Reformation,
kept divers old Elements, and made them new
Sacraments and Services, as their frequent
Wafhings he turned into one Baptifin; rome
fervice of the Paffover into the Lord's Supper.
2. That tle homelinefs and coarfenfi, which alfo
was objeCted, was a great commendation. The
Lambs poor of the flock are forty, for one
grounded ChriRian; proportionable tour be
the care of the Church to provide milk; that
is, plain and eafy nourifhment for them: and
GEORGE HERBERT. 12 3
fallen out of his confumed hands, it was by the
Executioners thrown into the fire and burnt as
a Heretical Book.
He was moreover fo great a Lover of Church-
Mufic, that he ufually called it Heaven upon
earth, and attended it a few days before his
death. But above all, his chief delight was in
the Holy Scriptures, One leaf whereof he pro-
feffed he would not part with, though he might
have the whole world in exchange. That was
his wifdom, his cofort, his joy, out of that he
took his Motto, LEss ThAN ThE JEAS" O"
ALL God's MERCIES. In that he found that
fubance, Chrift, and in Chrift Remiton of
fins, yea, in his blood he placed the goodnefs of
his good works. It is a good lt/'ork, (faid he of
Building a Church,) it be fprinkled with the
Blood of Chrifl.
This high efteem of the lYord of life, as it
wrought in himfelf a wondrous expret]ion of
high Reverence, whenever he either read it
himfelf, or heard others read it, fo it made him
eually wonder, that thole which pretended fuch
extraordinary love to Chr fief us, as many did,
could poflibly give fuch leave and liberty to
themfelves as to hear that word (that flaall
judge us at the laft day,) without any the leaft
expreion of that holy fear and trembling, which
they ought to charge upon their fouls in pri-
vate, and in public to imprint upon others.
CHRISUIzlN REDER. 2 9
o(" them, who be now admitted into Holy Orders, and
indu&ed into Livings, were not born before The
Troubles broke forth, (which was about the year
1638 ). Thefe men therefore (hall do well to acquaint
them(elves with the mof exa and impartial HiPcories
of the la pal forty years, wherein, there have been
the rmage Revolutions that ever happened in Eng-
l:nd in fuch a (pace of time. This is requifite to
enable them to teach the people of this Land (where
all things are forgotten) what ufe they ought to make,
of God's mercies before, of his judgments in the Wars,
and after them alfo; Of the great Plague in the year
x665; of the Dutch War in the fame year, and in
the year I672, &c. ; and of his contending by Fire
with the Nation, when London (the Reprefentative of
the whole Kingdom) was burnt in the year x666.
And Secondly, To tell them, what he that has but half
an eye may eafily forefee, 77zat the eft'co7 ofpublifhing
this Book, will be in no Mediocrity. It will do either ex-
ceeding great Good to the Clergy, or exceeding much
prejudice. Much Good, if it work fo upon the Clergy,
as effe&ually to perfuade them to conform to that Holy
Chara&er delineated in the Book; Otherwife, it will
produce much prejudice, by framingjb perfect an Idea
of a Curate of Souls, in the Minds of the Laity, and
by ere&ing fuch a great expe&ation and defire, that
He, who takes Care of theirs, be exa&ly fuch an One
as this Book has defcribed; that if herein they be fruf-
trated, all will be forty, rome will murmur and rage,
others will perhaps forfake their Parifla-Church, if not
the Englifla : Deus avertat.
The portraiture of virtue in General difplayed by
Eloquence, is very Amiable. But PerfecCtions proper
to any of the Three Grand Iocations, (efpecially, that
K
CHRISTIIN REIDER. I3I
are out of Parochial Cures, and to thofe that having
Benefices, Conform with duplicity of mind, and do as
little as they can. I beg leave to tell Them (and
defire them to believe that I do it in all fincere Hu-
mility and Charity)--
Firf, That all the Clergy of mine Acquaintance,
and I verily believe, All the old Clergy of the Nation,
as well as my poor felf, and many of the Younger, do
long to fee ourfelves and our Younger Brethren con-
form to that Idea of a Clerk which the Noble Holy
Herbert hath portrayed in this Book.
Secondly, That what diffimilitude is found in the
Younger Clergy, is partly occafioned by that diurb-
ance which the late Wars made in the Univerfities.
Thirdly, They therefore have the greatef Reafon
imaginable to come in with fpeed, and join cordially
in Helping to Repair thofe Breaches in the Church
(which they firf made) at which, fwarms of Se&aries
have entered in amongf us, and too many others have
eloped out into the Church of Rome.
I do verily believe, that the bef amongf them
would think it a rich Bleffing to fee both Church and
State in fuch condition as they were in before them-
felves moved towards a Change. And if all the
Pre/byterians would firf ferioufly retie& upon the
iffues of Their Attempts; The Death of the King,
The Bef of Princes, of the Archbifhop of Canterbury,
of the Lords Stratford and Montrofe, Four perfons
mof worthy to live (as 7ofephus fays of thofe Jews
whom the Zealots flew in erufalem ;) and all the
blood fpilt, and treafure fpent in the Wars :
Secondly, Upon the fudden total difappointment of
their whole defign :
Thirdly, Upon the manifefed falfenefs of that
3 6 _/1 PREF_/1CE TO THE
nefs become Tradition. And therefore wife men make
a Confcience of making Rehearfal of witty Applica-
tions that wrong the Text.
. Whether the Event have not over-reached your
Intent. The pretence of your Book was, to flaow the
Occafions ; your Book is become an Occafion of the
Contempt of God's Minifters.
3- What fervice you have done, and what thanks
you may expe& from God, the Church, and State, if
your Book flaall (by Accident only) deter but one In-
genuous youth, one Hopeful Gentleman, one Noble
man of good and great Endowments, from Entering
into Holy Orders; the Expedient appointed by God
for laving fouls.
But blefld be God! who hath fecured the Honour
of the Fun6tion from being difparaged by the mifde-
meanours of men that Officiate in it; or by the ma-
lignity of fuch as obferve their Failings, with defign to
revile them.
Though the vulgar ordinarily do not, yet the No-
bility and Gentry do diftinguifla and abftra& the
Errors of the man, from the Holy Calling, and not
think their dear Relations degraded by Receiving Holy
Orders.
He that would fee a Fair Catalogue of Ancient
Nobles, who were Confecrated Biflaops (well toward
the primitive Times of Chriftianity) let him Read the
Epittle Dedicatory of the Rev. Dr. Cave, his Book
intituled Primitive Chriflianity. And for our late
and prefent Times, accept of That which here fol-
loweth.
I have read that Henry the 8th was by his Father
defigned to the Arch-Biflaopric of Canterbury, if his
Brother, Prince rthur, had lived to fucceed in the
Crown.
CHRISTIAIN RE/IDER. 137
Dr. Montague, who was Bifhop of IUinchefler, (when
I was young) was Uncle to the Lord Chamberlain
that ]aft died, or at leaft nigh of Kindred to his Fa-
ther, who after he paft through many Honourable
Offices, died Prefident of the King's moft Honourable
Privy Council.
The old Earl of IUeflmoreland did Dedicate one of
his Sons to God's Service in the San&uary: and he
became a good Example of Gravity and Piety to thofe
of that Calling: and, for any thing I know, is fo till
this day.
So did the old Lord Cameron, (Father to Ferdi-
nando, Lord Fairfax,) a Son of His; who was firft
a Regular and Sober Fellow of Trinity College, in
Cambridge, and afterward Re&or of Bolton Pero' , in
Torkire, where he was fequeftered (we may well con-
clude) for his Good affe&ion to God and the King, if
his Brother or Nephew could not fecure Him.
There was a Brother of the Lord Gray's, of IUark,
in Cambridge, in my Time, who was very Studious
and Virtuous, and after that Entered into I Ioly Orders,
and took a charge of Souls upon Him, and difcharged
it as became Him.
The Rev. Dr. Gray, Re&or of Burbidge, in the
County of Leicefler, was Earl of Kent, about the year
of God 164o.
There be divers Perfons of Noble Extra&ion, which
have lately entered into Holy Orders, and are moft
worthily Dignified and promoted in this Church.
One is, The Right Rev. Dr. Henry Compton, now
Lord Bifhop of Oxon, Brother to the Right Hon. Earl
of Northampton, that now is, and Son to That valiant
Earl, who was flain in the high places of the Field,
fighting for his God and for his King, in the year
I643.
CHRISTIIN RESIDER. 4
of Abilities and Faculties of mind fit for that Service :
and there allowed for fuch, by men of exquifite Judg-
ment ; Seafoned in his Infancy, at Home, with Piety ;
at School, with Arts ; accomplifhed with Sciences and
Degrees at the Univerfity ; Prepared for Holy Orders
by Prayer and Reading, (St. Chryfoflom de 8acerdotio,
St. Gregory's Pafloral, and fuch other Books as Learned
men fhall dire6t.) Called by a Bifhop, or excited by
a Marker of a College, or rome Grave Divine to re-
ceive Holy Orders. And when he is Entered, he
governs himfelf by the Canons of the Church, and
bef Examples of the Age. In rum, He imitates the
Author of fhe femple, and of This Book, fhe Priefl
to the femple, The Holy Mr. George IIerbert. f o
whom, GOD affimilate The Clergy, and amongf Them,
fhe moil uworthy
Barnabas Oley.
An Advertifement to the Reader.
HE Firit Edition of This Book came out in Sad
Times, (tnno Domini 165=,) when violence had
gotten the upper hand : what here next follows, was
then thought meet, to be the Preface to it. Now the
Almighty, who changeth Times and Seafons, himfelf
abiding unchangeable, having (for his own name's
fake, and their fakes to whom the former Preface was
dedicated, who many of them, were Fervent inter-
ceffors for the fame) wrought a wonderful deliverance ;
it is thought fit that it fhould withdraw, and fiand
here behind the Curtain, Refigning that place to ano-
ther, that may move the Reader to Thankfulnefs for
that Rupendous mercy; and to exprefs it, as by all
other poffible Teitifications, fo by making a right ufe
of This Book.
A Prier to the Temple;
OR THE COUNTRY PARSON HIS CHARACTER
AND RULE OF HOLY LIFE.
[FIRST PRINTED IN x65z. ]
A Prieft to the Temple.
CHAPTER TIlE FIRST.
Of a Parlor.
.l PASTOR is the Deputy of Chrift
for the reducing of Man to the Obe-
dience of God. This definition is
evident, and contains the dire& fteps
of Paftoral Duty and Authority. For firft, Man
fell from God by Difobedience. Secondly,
Chrift is the glorious inftrument of God for
the revoking of Man. Thirdly, Chrift being
not to continue on earth, but after he had ful-
filled the work of Reconciliation, to be received
up into heaven, he conftituted Deputies in his
place, and there are PrieRs. And therefore
St. Paul in the beginning of his Epiftles, pro-
feffeth this: and in the firft to the Coloans
plainly avoucheth that he fills up that which is
behind of the aiFtions of Cbr in his jqejqa, Jar
his Body's fake, which is the church, wherein is
L
i46 1 PRIEST TO
contained the complete definition of a MiniRer.
Out of this Charter of the PrieRhood may be
plainly gathered both the Dignity thereof, and
the Duty: The Dignity, in that a Priett may
do that which Chritt did, and by his authority,
and as his Vicegerent. The Duty, in that a
Prieft is to do that xvhich ChriR did, and after
his lnanner, both for Dodtrine and Life.
F Pators (intending mine own Nation
only, and alf therein letting afide the
Reverend Prelates of the Church, to
whom this dilkourfe arifeth not) rome live in
the univerfities, rome in Noble houfes, rome in
Pariflaes refiding on their Cures. Of thole that
live in the Univerfities, rome live there in oce,
whole rule is that of the Apoffle : Romans xii. 6.
Having gs dring according to the grace that
k given to us, whether prophecy, kt us proph
according to the proportion fa#h ; or minry,
let us a# on our minering ; or he that teacbetb,
on teaching, &c. he that ruleth let him do # with
diligence, &c. Some in a preparatory way, whole
aim and labour tour be not only to get know-
I48 .,,'1 PRIEST TO
lord, do much forget their heavenly; they wrong
the Priefhood, negle& their duty, and fhall be
fo far from that which they feek with their
over-fubmiflivenefs, and cringing, that they
fhall ever be defpifed. They who for the hope
of promotion negle& any neceffary admonition,
or reproof, fell (with eudas) their Lord and
Mailer.
CHAPTER III.
if'he Parfon's Life.
HE Country Parfon is exceeding exa&
in his Life, being holy, jull, prudent,
temperate, bold, grave, in all his ways.
And becaufe the two higheft points of Life,
wherein a Chrillian is moll feen, are Patience,
and Mortification; Patience in regard of afflic-
tions, Mortification in regard of lulls and affec-
tions, and the llupifying and deading of all the
clamorous powers of the foul, therefore he hath
thoroughly lludied thefe, that he may be an
abfolute Mailer and Commander of himfelf,
for all the purpofes which God hath ordained
him. Yet in thefe points he labours moll in
thofe things which are moll apt to fcandalize
his Parifla. And firll, becaufe Country people
live hardly, and therefore as feeling their own
THE 7EMPLE. 49
fweat, and confequently knowing the price of
money, are offended much with any, who by
hard ufage increafe their travail, the Country
Parfon is very circumfpe& in avoiding all covet-
oufnefs, neither being greedy to get, nor nig-
gardly to keep, nor troubled to lore any worldly
wealth; but in all his words and a&ions flight-
ing, and difeoteeming it, even to a wondering,
that the world flould fo much value wealth,
which in the day of wrath hath not one dram
of comfort for us. Secondly, becaufe Luxury
is a very vifible fin, the Parfon is very careful
to avoid all the kinds thereof, but etiecially
that of drinking, becaufe it is the moOt popular
vice ; into which if he come, he proflitutes bim-
Jk/fboth to fhame, and fin, and by havingf, llow-
jbip with the unfruitful works of darkmfs, he
difableth himfelf of authority to reprove them :
For fins make all equal, whom they find to-
gether; and then they are worfl, who ought to
be beOt. Neither is it for the fervant of ChriOt
to haunt Inns, or Taverns, or Alehoufes, to the
diJbonour of his Perfon and O.]ffce. The Parfon
doth not fo, but orders his Life in fuch a
fafhion, that when death takes him, as the
Jews and udas did ChriOt, he may fay as He
did, I fat daily with you teaching in the 7emple.
Thirdly, becaufe Country people (as indeed all
honeOt men) do much eOteem their word, it
being the Life of buying and felling, and deal-
I52 ..,xl PRIEST
with the coherence thereof, touching what goes
before, and what follows after, as alfo the fcope
of the Holy Ghopt. When the Apoptles would
have called down fire from Heaven, they were
reproved, as ignorant of what fpirit they were.
For the Law required one thing, and the Gofpel
another: yet as diverfe, not as repugnant:
therefore the fpirit of both is to be confidered,
and weighed. The fourth means are Corn-
reenters and Fathers, who have handled the
places controverted, which the Parfon by no
means refutth. As he doth not fo Ptudy others,
as to neglec"t the grace of God in himfelf, and
what tile Holy Spirit teacheth him ; fo doth he
affure himtlf, that God in all ages hath had
his Servants, to whom he hath revealed his
Truth, as well as to him; and that as one
Country doth not bear all things, that there
may be a Commerce; fo neither hath God
opened, or will open all to one, that there may
be a traffic in knowledge between the fervants
of God, for the planting both of love and
humility. Wherefore he hath one Comment
at leaPt upon every Book of Scripture, and
ploughing with this, and his own meditations,
he enters into the fecrets of God treafured i-n
the holy Scripture.
THE TEMPLE. 53
CHAPTER V.
The Parfon's #Icceffory Knowledges.
HE Country Parfon hath read the Fa-
thers alfo, and the Schoolmen, and the
later Writers, or a good proportion of
all, out of all which he hath compiled a Book,
and Body of Divinity, which is the ltorehoufe
of his Sermons, and which he preacheth all his
Life; but diverfely clothed, illultrated, and en-
larged. For though the world is fidl of fuch
compofures, yet every man's own is fittelt,
readiefl, and molt favoury to him. Betides,
this being to be done in his younger and pre-
paratory times, it is an honelt joy ever after to
look upon his well-fpent hours. This Body he
made by way of expounding the Church Cate-
chitin, to which all Divinity may eafily be
reduced. For it being indifferent in itfelf to
choofe any Method, that is belt to be chofen,
of which there is likelielt to be molt ufe. Now
Catechizing being a work of fingular and ad-
mirable benefit to the Church of God, and a
thing required under Canonical obedience, the
expounding of our Catechifm mult needs be
the molt ufeful form. Yet hath the Parfon,
i56 A PRIEST TO
and die between fpeaking, but with a grave
livelinefs, between fear and zeal, paufing yet
preffing, he performs his duty. Betides his
example, he having often infru&ed his people
how to carry themfelves in divine fervice, exa&s
of them all poffible reverence, by no means en-
during either talking, or fleeping, or gazing,
or leaning, or half-kneeling, or any undutiful
behaviour in them, but caufing them, when
they fit, or fand, or kneel, to do all in a fraight,
and feady pofure, as attending to what is done
in the Church, and every one, man and child,
anfwering aloud both Amen, and all other an-
fwers, which are on the Clerk's and People's
part to antver; which anfwers alfo are to be
done not in a huddling, or flubbering fafhion,
gaping, or fcratching the head, or fpitting even
in the midflt of their anfwer, but gently and
paufably, thinking what they fay ; fo that while
they anfxver, ls it was in the beginning, &c.
they meditate as they fpeak, that God hath
ever had his people, that have glorified him as
well as now, and that he flaall have fo for ever.
And the like in other anfwers. This is that
which the Apofle calls a reafonable fervice,
Romans xii., when we fpeak not as Parrots,
without reafon, or offer up fuch facrifices as
they did of old, which was of beafs devoid of
reafon ; but when we ufe our reafon, and apply
our powers to the fervice of Him, that gives
158
may be heard at his return more attentively.
When he intermits, he is ever very well fup-
plied by fome able man, who treads in his Reps,
and will not throw down what he hath built;
whom altb he entreats to prefs fome point, that
he himfelf hath often urged with no great fuc-
cefs, that fo, in the mouth of two or three
witneffes the truth may be more eRablifhed.
When he preacheth, he procures attention by
all poflible art, both by earneRncfs of fpeech, it
being natural to men to think, that where is
much earneRnefs, there is fomewhat worth
hearing" and by a diligent and bury car of his
eye on his auditors, with letting them knoxv
that he obferves who marks, and who not;
and with particularizing of his fpeech now to
the younger fort, then to the elder, now to the
poor, and now to the rich. This is for you,
and This is for you ; for particulars ever touch,
and awake more than generals. Herein alfo
he ferves himfelf of the judgments of God, as
of thole of ancient times, fo efpecially of the
late ones; and thole moR, which are nearer to
his Parifla ; for people are very attentive at fuch
difcourt?s, and think it behoves them to be fo,
when God is fo near them, and even over their
heads. Sometimes he tells them Rories, and
fayings of others, according as his text invites
him; for them alfo men heed, and remember
better than exhortations ; which though earneR,
62
PRIEST TO
not an hour in preaching, becaufe all ages have
thought that a competency, and he that profits
not in that time, will lefs afterwards, the fame
affe&ion which made him not profit before,
making him then weary, and fo he grows from
not reliflaing, to loathing.
CHAPTER VIII.
The Patron on Sundays.
HE Country Parfon, as loon as he awakes
on Sunday morning, prefently falls to
work, and feems to himfelf fo as a
Market-man is, when the Market-day comes,
or a flaopkeeper, when cullomers ufed to come
in. His thoughts are full of making the bell
of the day, and contriving it to his belt gains.
To this end, betides his ordinary prayers, he
makes a peculiar one for a bleffing on the exer-
cifes of the day. That nothing befall him un-
worthy of that Majelly, before which he is to
prefent him/elf, but that all may be done with
reverence to his glory, and with edification to
his flock, humbly befeeching his Mailer, that
how or whenever he punifla him, it be not in
his MiniRry: then he turns to requell for his
people, that the Lord would be pleafed to
THE TEMPLE. 6 5
where he may have occafion to converfe with
women, and that among fufpicious men, and
other like circumstances cofidered, he is rather
married, than unmarried. Let him communi-
cate the thing often by prayer unto God, and as
his grace fhall dire& him, fo let him proceed.
If he be unmarried, and keep houfe, he hath
not a woman in his houfe, but finds opportuni-
ties of having his meat dreffed and other fervices
done by men-fervants at home, and his linen
waffled abroad. If he be unmarried, and fojourn,
he never talks with any woman alone, but in the
audience of others, and that feldom, and then alfo
in a ferious manner, never jeingly, or fportfiflly.
He is very circufpe in all companies, both q" his
behaviour, fpeech, and ery looks, knowing hb, f'ff"
f in kk heart, having no necity, but hath
power over his on will, nd hath decreed D,
his heart, that he will keep hin a Virgin, he
Godr the g continency, knowh that it can
which at fl # was obtained. He therre thinks
it not enough fir him to o@rve the failing d, W
the Church, and the dai rayers enjoined Dim by
uthority, which he obfirveth out bumble con-
firmity and obedience; but adds to them, out "
choice and devotion,time other days fir f ing, and
hoursAr prayers ; and by th he keeps ha body
166 .ZI PRIESg' 7"0
vent, ative, young, and lufly as an eagle. He
often readeth the Lives of the Primitive Monks,
Hermits, and virgins, and wonderetb not fo much
at tl, eir pat#ntjjering, and cheeul +ing under
pe'cuting Emperors, (though that indeed Se
ad, nirab& as at their dai temperance, abfii-
nence, watcbis, and coant rcers, and mor-
o put on the prund humility, and the exa
t,,, (u o yN,, it ot -
e, nplary virtues thatrt, and to keep them on
to be as necry, and as dcult at le, as to
dotted it peW ptience and Cianti-
a,tvety. He keepetb his watch and ward, night
and day ainfl the roer andeculiar temptations
Two, Spiritual pride, and Impurity of heart :
keeps the imagination from roving, puts on the
and conceit.] Other temptations be atb,
which like mortal enemies, may metimes duiet
,t i ,,tiuty, i# u out
i68 A PRIEST TO
much his own, as that he may be unjut unto
it. Therefore he gives her refpec"t both afore
her fervants, and others, and half at leat of the
government of the houfe, referving fo much of
the affairs, as ferve for a diverfion for him; yet
never fo giving over the reins, but that he fome-
times looks how things go, demanding an ac-
count, but not by the way of an account. And
this muft be done the oftener, or the feldomer,
according as he is fatisfied of his Wife's dif-
cretion.
CHAPTER X.
The Parn in his Hoz.
HE Parfon is very exa& in the govern-
ing of his Houfe, making it a Copy
and model for his Parilh. He knows
the temper and pulfe of every perfon in his
houfe, and accordingly either meets with their
vices, or advanceth their virtues. His wife is
either religious, or night and day he is winning
her to it. Intead of the qualities of the world,
he requires only three of her; Firfl, a training
up of her children and maids in the fear of God,
with prayers, and catechizing, and all religious
duties. Secondly, a curing and healing of all
wounds and fores with her own hands; which
THE TEMPLE. 6 9
fkill either fhe brought with her, or he takes
care flae fhall learn it of rome religious neigh-
hour. Thirdly, a providing for her family in
fuch fort, as that neither they want a compe-
tent futientation, nor her hufband be brought
in debt. His children he firft makes Chriftians,
and then Commonwealth's men ; the one he
owes to his heavenly Country, the other to his
earthly, having no title to either, except he do
good to both. Therefore having feafoned them
with all piety, not only of words in praying,
and reading; but in ac'-tions, in viliting other
tick children, and tending their wounds, and
fending his charity by them to the poor, and
fometimes giving them a little money to do it
of themfelves, that they get a delight in it, and
enter favour with God, who weighs even chil-
dren's a&ions. I Kbzg8 xiv. 12, 1 3. He after-
wards turns his care to fit all their difpofitions
with fome calling, not fparing the eldeR, but
giving him the prerogative of his father's pro-
feflion, which happily for his other children he
is not able to do. Yet in binding them Ap-
prentices (in cafe he think fit to do fo) he takes
care not to put them into vain trades, and unbe-
fitting the reverence of their Father's calling,
fuch as are Taverns for men, and Lace-making
for women; becaufe thofe trades, for the mott
part, ferve but the vices and vanities of the
world, which he is to deny and not augment.
I7O 1 PRIEST TO
However, he refolves with himfelf never to
omit any prefent good deed of charity, in con-
fideration of providing a fock for his children;
but affures himfelf, that money thus lent to
God, is placed lurer for his children's advantage,
than if it were given to the Chamber of London.
Good deeds, and good breeding, are his two
great focks for his children; if God give any
thing above thole, and not fpent in them, he
bleffeth God, and lays it out as he fees caufe.
His fervants are all religious, and were it not
his duty to have them fo, it were his profit, for
none are fo well ferved, as by religious fervants,
both becaufe they do bef, and becaufe what they
do, is bleffed and profpers. After religion, he
teacheth them, that Three things make a complete
fervant, Truth, and Diligence, and Neatnefs,
or Cleanlinefs. Thole that can read, are allowed
times for it, and thole that cannot, are taught;
for all in his houfe are either teachers or learners,
or both, fo that his family is a School of Reli-
gion, and they all account, that to teach the
ignorant is the greatef alms. Even the walls
are not idle, but fomething is written, or painted
there, which may excite the reader to a thought
of piety ; efpecially the I o I t' .I.IH/, which is
expreffed in a fair table, as being the Rule of a
Family. And when they go abroad, his wife
among her neighbours is the beginner of good
difcourfes, his children among children, his fer-
7 _ .,4 PRIEST TO
it. His fare is plain, and common, but whole-
rome, what he hath, is little, but very good ; it
confifteth moft of mutton, beef, and veal ; if he
adds any thing for a great day, or a ftranger,
his garden or orchard fupplies it, or his barn,
and yard: he goes no filrther for any entertain-
ment, left he go into the world, efteeming it
abfurd, that he flould exceed, who teacheth
others temperance. But thofe which his home
produceth, he refufeth not, as coming cheap,
and eafy, and arifing from the improvement of
things, which otherwife would be loft. Where-
in he admires and imitates the wonderful pro-
vidence and thrift of the great Houfeholder of
the world : for there being two things, which
as they are, are unufeful to man, the one for
finallnefs, as crumbs, and fcattered corn, and the
like; the other for the foulnefs, as wafla, and
dirt, and things thereinto fallen; God hath
provided Creatures for both; for the firft,
Poultry, for the fecond, Swine. There fare
man the labour, and doing that which either he
could not do, or was not fit for him to do, by
taking both forts of food into them, do as it
xvere drefs and prepare both for man in them-
felves, by growing themfelves fit for his table.
The Partbn in his houfe ob1rves rafting days:
and particularly, as Sunday is his day of joy, fo
Friday his day of Humiliation, which he cele-
brates not only with abftinence of diet, but alfo
THE TE MP L E. 7 3
of company, recreation, and all outward con-
tentments ; and betides, with confeflion of fins,
and all a&s of mortification. Now Failing days
contain a treble obligation ; Firjt, of eating lefs
that day, than on other days; Secondly, of eat-
ing no pleating, or over-nourithing things, as
the Ifraelites did eat four herbs: Thirdly, of
eating no eth, which is but the determination
of the fecond rule by Authority to this parti-
cular. The two former obligations are much
more effential to a true raft, than the third and
laft; and fafting days were fiflly performed by
keeping of the two former, had not Authority
interpofed : fo that to eat little, and that un-
pleafant, is the natural rule of farting, although
it be flefh. For fince Failing in Scripture lan-
guage is an affi ting of o,,r rids, if a piece of
dry flefh at nay table be more unpleafant to me,
than rome fifh there, certainly to eat the flefh,
and not the fifla, is to keep the Farting day na-
turally. And it is obfervable, that the prohi-
biting of Flefh came from hot Countries, where
both flefh alone, and much more with wine,
is apt to nourifh more than in cold regions, and
where flel'h may be much better fpared, and
with more fafety than elfewhere, where both
the people and the drink being cold and phleg-
matic, the eating of flel'h is an antidote to both.
For it is certain, that a weak ftomach being
prepoffeffed with flefh, thall much better brook
i74 .,4 PRIEST TO
and bear a draught of beer, than if it had taken
before either fifla or roots, or fuch things ; which
will difcover itfelf by fpitting, and rheum, or
phlegm. To conclude, the Parfon, if he be in
full health, keeps the three obligations, eating
fifla, or roots, and that for quantity little, for
quality unpleafant. If his body be weak and
obttru&ed, as mott Students are, he cannot keep
the latt obligation, nor fuffer others in his houfe
that are fo, to keep it; but only the two for-
mer, which alfo in difeafes of exinanition (as
confumptions) mutt be broken: for meat was
made for man, not man for meat. To all this
may be added, not for emboldening the unruly,
but for the comfort of the weak, that not only
ficknefs breaks there obligations of faring, but
ficklinefs alfo. For it is as unnatural to do any
thing, that leads me to a ficknefs, to which I
am inclined, as not to get out of that ficknet,
when I am in it, by any diet. One thing is
evident, that an Englifla Body, and a Student's
Body, are two great obttrued veffels, and
there is nothing that is food, and not phyfic,
which doth lefs obttru&, than flefla moderately
taken; as being immoderately taken, it is ex-
ceeding obttruive. And obttruions are the
caufe of mott difeafes.
i76 t PRIESU UO
are fuch conceits, there is no room for his doc-
trine to enter. Yet doth he oftenet invite
thole whom he fees take bet courfes, that fo
both they may be encouraged to perfevere, and
others fpurred to do well, that they may enjoy
the like courtefy. For though he defire, that
all fhould live well and virtuoufly, not for any
reward of his, but for virtue's fake; yet that
will not be fo: and therefore as God, although
we fhould love him only for his own fake, yet
out of his infinite pity hath let forth heaven for
a reward to draw men to Piety, and is content,
if at leaPt fo, they will become good. So the
Country Patron, who is a diligent obferver, and
tracker of God's ways, lets up as many encou-
ragements to goodnefs as he can, both in honour
and profit, and fame; that he may, if not the
bet way, yet any way, make his Parith good.
HE Country Parfon is full of Charity;
it is his predominant element. For
many and wonderful things are fpoken
of thee, thou great Virtue. To Charity is
given the covering of fins, x Pet. iv. 8 ; and the
THE TEMPLE.
179
falfified, yet confidering that the Law allows
there in care they be true, but allows by no
means to give without teftimony, as he obeys
authority in the one, fo that being once fatisfied,
he allows his charity tbme blindnet in the
other; efpecially, fince of the two commands,
we are more enjoined to be charitable, than
wife. But evident mitries have a natural pri-
vilege, and exemption from all law. When-
ever he gives any thing, and fees them labour
in thanking of him, he exa&s of them to let
him alone, and fay rather, God be praifed, God
be glorified; that fo the thanks may go the
right way, and thither only, where they are
only due. So doth he alfo before giving make
them fay their Prayers firtt, or the Creed, and
ten Commandments, and as he finds them per-
re&, rewards them the more. For other givings
are lay, and fecular, but this is to give like a
priett.
CHAPTER XIII.
The Patron's Church.
HE Country Parfon hath a fpecial care
of his Church, that all things there be
decent, and befitting his Name, by
which it is called. Therefore, Fir, fl, he takes
x8z A PRIES7 70
ployed, fo he forms his difcourfe. Thole that
he finds religioufly employed, he both com-
mends them much, and furthers them when he
is gone, in their employment; as if he finds
them reading, he furnit'heth them with good
Books ; if curing poor people, he fupplies them
with Receipts, and inftruc'-ts them further in
that /kill, flaowing them how acceptable fuch
works are to God, and wil'hing them ever to
do the Cures with their own hands, and not to
put them over to fervants. Thole that he finds
bury in the works of their calling, he com-
mendeth them alfo : for it is a good andjuj7 thing
for every one to do their own buflnefs. But then
he admonitheth them of two things ; firft that
they dive not too deep into worldly affairs,
plunging themfelves over head and ears into
corking and caring; but that they fo labour,
as neither to labour anxioufly, nor diJtruflfully,
nor profanely. Then they labour anxioufly,
when they overdo it, to the 1ors of their quiet
and health: then diflruflfully, when they doubt
God's providence, thinking that their own la-
bour is the caufe of their thriving, as if it were
in their own hands to thrive or not to thrive.
7 he, they labour profanely, when they the,,,.-
felves to work like brute beajqs, never rang their
thoughts to God, nor fanaTiJ)ing their labour with
daily prayer ; when on the Lord's day they do un-
PRIEST TO
Saviour's rule, and to take my brother afide,
and reprove him; fo when the offence is pub-
lic, and againft God, I am then to follow the
apoftle's rule, Timothy v. 9_0, and to rebuke
openly that which is done openly. Betides there
occafional difcourfes, the Parfon queftions what
order is kept in the boule, as about prayers,
morning and evening, on their knees, reading
of Scripture, catechizing, tinging of Pfalms at
their work, and on Holy days: who can read,
who not ; and fometimes he hears the children
read himfelf, and bleffeth, encouraging alfo the
fervants to learn to read, and offering to have
them taught on Holidays by his fervants. If
the Parfon were afhamed of particularizing in
there things, he were not fit to be a parfon ; but
he holds the Rule, that Nothing is little in God's
fervice : If it once have the honour of that
Name, it grows great inftantly. Wherefore
neither difdaineth he to enter into the poorett
Cottage, though he even creep into it, and
though it fmell never fo loathfomely. For both
God is there alfo, and thole for whom God
died: and fo much the rather doth he fo, as
his accefs to the poor is more comfortable, than
to the rich ; and in regard of himfelf, it is more
humiliation. There are the Parfon's general
aims in his Circuit; but with there he mingles
other difcourfes for converfation fake, and to
make his higher purpofes flip the more eafily.
THE TEMPLE. 8 5
CHAPTER XVo
7nle Parfon Comforting.
HE Country Parfon, when any of his
Cure is tick, or afflicted with lofs of
friend, or eltate, or any ways diltreffed,
fails not to afford his belt comforts, and rather
goes to them, than fends for the aflqicted, though
they can, and otherwife ought to come to him.
To this end he hath thoroughly digelted all the
points of confolation, as having continual ufe
of them, fuch as are from God's general provi-
dence extended even to Lilies; from his parti-
cular, to his Church; from his promifes, from
the examples of all Saints, that ever were;
fiom Chrilt himfelf, perfecting our Redemption
no other way than by forrow ; from the Benefit
of affliction, which foftens and works the ltub-
born heart of man; from the certainty both of
deliverance, and reward, if we faint not; from
the miferable comparifon of the moment of
griefs here with the weight of joys hereafter.
Betides this, in his viflting the tick, or otlwrwife
in perfuading them to particular co,fiZffion; la-
bouring to make them umlc,jtand the great good
THE TEMPLE. 9 I
things faithfully according to that end. Secondly,
he carries himfelf very ret]_e&ively, as to all the
Fathers of the Church, fo efpecially to his
Diocetn, honouring him both in word and
behaviour, and retbrting unto him in any di-
culty, either in his ftudies or in his parilh. He
obtrves Vifitations, and being there, makes
due ufe of them, as of Clergy Councils, for the
benefit of the Diocet. And therefore before
he comes, having obferved fome defe&s in the
Miniftry, he then either in fermon, if he preach,
or at fome other time of the day, propounds
among his Brethren what were fitting to be
done. Thirdly, he keeps good Correfpondence
with all the neighbouring Paftors round about
him, performing for them a,ay Minifterial
Office, which is not to the prejudice of his
own Parifla. Likewife he welcomes to his
houfe any Minifter, how poor or mean foever,
with as joyful a countenance, as if he were to
entertain rome great Lord. Fourthly, he fulfils
the duty, and debt of neigh,bourhood to all the
parifhes which are near him. For the apoftle's
rule, Philip. iv. being admirable, and large, that
we ould do wbatfoever things are honejq, or j,
or pure, or lovely, or of good report, if there e
any virtue, or any praifi'. And Neighbourhood
being ever reputed, even among the Heathen,
as an obligation to do good, rather than to thole
that are further, where things are otherwife
THE TEMPLE. 93
CHAPTER XX.
The Parfon in God's flead.
HE Country Parfon is in God's flead to
his Pari.lh, and difchargeth God what
he can of his promifes. Wherefore
there is nothing done either well or ill, whereof
he is not the rewarder, or puniflaer. If he
chance to find any reading in another's Bible,
he provides him one of his own. If he find
another giving a poor man a penny, he gives
him a tefter for it, if the giver be fit to receive
it; or if he be of a condition above fuch gifts,
he fends him a good Book, or eafeth him in his
tithes, telling him when he hath forgotten it,
This I do, becaufe at fuch and fuch a time you
were charitable. This is in fome fort / d-
charging of God; as concerning this life, who
hath promifed, that Godlinefs fhall be gainful:
but in the other God is his own immediate
paymafter, rewarding all good deeds to their
full proportion. "" The p'arfon's puniflfing of
" fin and vice is rather by withdrawing his
"' bounty and courtefy from the parties offend-
" ing, or by private or public reproof, as the
" care requires, than by caufing them to be
94 A PRIEST 7"0
" prefented, or otherwife complained of. And
" yet, as the malice of the perfon, or heinouf-
"" nefs of the crime may be, he is careful to fee
'" condign punifhment infli&ed, and with truly
"" godly zeal, without hatred to the perfon,
" hungreth and thirfeth after righteous punifla-
"ment of unrighteoufnefs. Thus both in re-
" warding virtue, and in punifhing vice, the
"' Parfon endeavoureth to be in God's fead,
" knowing that Country people are drawn or
" led by fenfe, more than by faith, by prefent
" rewards or punifhments, more than by fu-
" ture."
CHAPTER XXI.
he Parfon Catecldflng.
HE Country Parfon values Catechizing
highly: For there being Three points
of his Duty ; The one, to infufe a com-
petent knowledge of falvation in every one of
his flock; The other, to multiply, and build up
this knowledge to a fpiritual Temple; The
third, to inflame this knowledge, to prefs, and
drive it to pra&ice, turning it to reformation of
life, by pithy and lively exhortations; Cate-
chizing is the firPc point, and but by Cate-
chizing, the other cannot be attained. Betides,
i96 ./1 PRIESq
grown in the knowledge of Religion, may ex-
amine their grounds, renew their vows, and by
occafion of both, enlarge their meditations.
When once all have learned the xvords of the
Catechifin, he thinks it the mott ufeful way
that a Pattor can take, to go over the fame, but
in other words: for many fay the Catechifm
by rote, as Parrots, without ever piercing into
the fenfe of it. In this courfe the order of the
Catechifin would be kept, but the rett varied :
as thus, in the Creed: How came this world to
be as it is ? liras it made, or came it by chance
limbo made it ? Did you fee God make it ? 7hen
are there fame things to be believed that are not
J'en ? Is this the nature oJ'belief ? ls not ChriJ L
tianity full oJ'tch things, as are not to be feen,
but believed? lou laid, God made the WorM;
llrho is God? And fo forward, requiring Anfwers
to all there, and helping and cherifhing the An-
fwerer, by making the Q.p_eftions very plain
with comparifons, and making much even of a
word of truth from him. This order being
ufed to one, would be a little varied to another.
And this is an admirable way of teaching,
wherein the Catechized will at length find
delight, and by which the Catechizer, if he
once get the fkill of it, will draw out of igno-
rant and filly fouls, even the dark and deep
points of Religion. Socrates did thus in Phi-
lofophy, who held that the feeds of all truths
198 A PRIEST TO
would haPte out of it as faPt as he could. Then
he proceeded to ark, whether he could get out of
the ditch alone, or whether he needed a helper, and
who was that helper. This is the tkill, and
doubtlefs the Holy Scripture intends thus much,
when it condefcends to the naming of a plough,
a hatchet, a buflael, leaven, boys piping and
dancing; flaewing that things of ordinary ufe
are not only to ferve in the way of drudgery,
but to be wathed and cleanfed, and ferve for
lights even of Heavenly Truths. This is the
Prac'-tice which the Parfon fo much commends
to all his fellow-labourers ; the fecret of whole
good contiPts in this; that at Sermons and
Prayers men may fleep, or wander ; but when
one is atked a quePtion, he ,nuPt ditover what
he is. This praaTice exceeds even Sermons in
teaching: But there being two things in Ser-
mons, the one Informing, the other Inflaming;
as Sermons come fhort of queffions in the one,
fo they far exceed them in the other. For
queffions cannot inflame or ravifh, that muf
be done by a let, and laboured, and continued
fpeech.
200
that it is no complimental or light thing to
fultain that place, but a great honour, and no
lefs burden, as being done both in the prefence
of God, and his Saints, and by way of under-
taking for a Chriltian foul. He advifeth all to
call to mind their Baptifm often; for if wife
men have thought it the belt way of preferring
a State to reduce it to its principles by which
it grew great; certainly it is the fafelt courfe
for Chriflians alfo to meditate on their Baptifm
often (being the firft ltep into their great and
glorious calling) and upon what terms, and
with what vows they were Baptized. At the
times of the Holy Communion, he Firfl takes
order with the Church-Wardens, that the ele-
ments be of the belt, not cheap, or coarfe,
much lefs ill-talted, or unwholefome. Secondly,
he confiders and looks into the ignorance or
carelefliaefs of his flock, and accordingly applies
himfelf vith Catechizings and lively exhorta-
tions, not on the Sunday of the Communion
only (for then it is too late) but the Sunday, or
Sundays before the Communion, or on the
Eves of all thole days. If there be any, who
having not received yet, is to enter into this
great Work, he takes the more pains with
them, that he may lay the foundation of future
Bleffings. The time of every one's firlt receiv-
ing is not fo much by years, as by underltanding:
particularly the Rule may be this: lJ/hen azy
2o6 A PRIEST TO
prefer home-bred things before them, but con-
demns them for vanities, and fo flauts them out
of his Family, etteeming that there is no Spice
comparable, for Herbs, to Rofemary, Thyme,
Savory, Mints; and for Seeds, to Fennel, and
Caraway feeds. Accordingly for Salves, his
Wife leeks not the City, but prefers her Gar-
den and Fields, before all Outlandifla Gums.
And furely Hyffop, Valerian, Mercury, Adder's
tongue, Verrow, Melilot, and St. )eohn's-wort
made into a Salve ; and Elder, Camomile, Mal-
lows, Comphrey and Smallage made into a
Poultice, have done great and rare Cures. In
curing of any, the Parfon and his Family ufe
to premife prayers, for this is to cure like a
Parfon, and this raifeth the a&ion from the
fhop, to the church. But though the Patron
lets forward all charitable deeds, yet he looks
not in this point of curing beyond his own
parifh, except the perfon be fo poor, that he is
not able to reward the Phyfician : for as he is
charitable, fo he is jut alfo. Now it is a juf-
tice and debt to the Commonwealth he lives
in, not to encroach on others' Profeflions, but
to live on his own. And juftice is the ground
of Charity.
THE TEMPLE.
CHAPTER XXV.
The Parfin Puni.fl)ing.
HENSOEVER the Country Parfon
proceeds fo far as to call in Authority,
and to do fuch things of legal oppofi-
tion either in the prefenting or puniflfing of
any, as the vulgar ever conttrues for figns of ill
will; he forbears not in any wife to ufe the
delinquent as before, in his behaviour and car-
riage towards him, not avoiding his company,
or doing any thing of averfenefs, fare in the
very a& of punithment : neither doth he efteem
him for an enemy, but as a brother frill, except
rome fmall and temporary ettranging may cor-
roborate the puni(hment to a better fubduing
and humbling of the delinquent; which if it
happily take effe&, he then comes on the falter,
and makes fo much the more of him, as before
he alienated himfelf; doubling his regards, and
(hewing by all means, that the delinquent's re-
turn is to his advantage.
PRIEST T0
CHAPTER XXVI.
HE Country Parfon at fpare times from
aion, ftanding on a Hill, and confi-
dering his Flock, difcovers two forts of
vices, and two forts of vicious perfons. There
are rome vices, whole natures are always clear,
and evident, as Adultery, Murder, Hatred,
Lying, &c. There are other vices, whole na-
tures, at leaO: in the beginning, are dark and
obfcure; as Covetoufnefs, and Gluttony. So
likewife there are rome perfons, who abtq:ain
not even from known fins; there are others,
who when they know a fin evidently, they
commit it not. It is true, indeed, they are
long a knowing it, being partial to themfelves,
and witty to others who fhall reprove them for
it. A man may be both Covetous, and Intem-
perate, and yet hear Sermons againO: both, and
himfelf condemn both in good earneft : and the
reafon hereof is, becaufe the natures of thet"e
vices being not evidently difcuffed, or known
commonly, the beginnings of them are not
eafily obfervable : and the beginnings of them
are not obt"erved, becaufe of the fudden pat'ring
THE TEMPLE. 2 5
as I feel myt'elf, either I take my wonted pro-
portion, or diminith of it. Yet Phyficians bid
thole that would live in health, not keep a uni-
form diet, but to feed varioufly, now more,
now lefs : and Ge;/bn, a fpiritual man, wifleth
all to incline rather to too much, than to too
little; his reafon is, becaufe difeafes of exina-
nition are more dangerous than difeafes of re-
pletion. But the Parfon diltingui(heth accord-
ing to his double ailn, either of Abflinence a
Moral virtue, or Mortification a Divine. When
he deals with any that is heavy and carnal, he
gives him thole freer rules ; but when he meets
with a refined, and heavenly difpofition, he
carries them higher, even fometimes to a for-
getting of themfelves, knowing that there is
One, who when they forget, remembers for
them; As when the people hungered and
thirtted after our Saviour's Do&rine, and tarried
fo long at it, that they would have fainted had
they returned empty, he fuffered it not; but
rather made food miraculoutly, than fuffered fo
good defires to mifcarry.
THE TEMPLE. 219
ter; and being in the world as he was, hath
this undoubted pledge of his falvation. Thefe
are the.five fldelds, wherewith the godly receive
the darts of the wicked; leaving anger, and
retorting, and revenge to the children of the
world, whom another's ill maftereth, and lead-
eth captive without any refiftance, even in re-
fiftance, to the fame deftru&ion. For while
they rejf fl the perfon that reviles, they rejf fl not the
evil which takes hoM of them, and is far the worjt
eneiily .
CIAv-rv.R XXIX.
The Parfon with his Church-llrardens.
HE Country Parfon doth often, both
publickly and privately, infru& his
Church-Wardens, what a great Charge
lies upon them, and that indeed the whole
order and difcipline of the parifh is put into
their hands. If himfelf reform any thing, it is
out of the overflowing of his Confcience, where-
as they are to do it by Command, and by Oath.
Neither hath the place its dignity from the
Ecclefiaical Laws only, fince even by the
Common Statute-Law, they are taken for a
kind of Corporation, as being perfons enabled
by that Name to take moveable goods, or chat-
THE TEMPLE.
CHAPTER XXX.
The Parfon's Con.fideration of Providence.
HE Country Parfon, confidering the
great aptnefs, Country people have to
think that all things come by a kind of
natural courfe; and that if they low and foil
their grounds, they mutt have corn; if they
keep and fodder well their cattle, they muff
have milk, and Calves ; labours to reduce them
to fee God's hand in all things, and to believe,
that things are not let in thch an inevitable
order, but that God often changeth it according
as he fees fit, either for reward or punifhment.
To this end he reprefents to his flock, that God
hath, and exercifeth a threefold Power in every
thing which concerns man. The Firj't is a fif-
taining power; the Second, a governing power ;
the Third, a fpiritual power. By his fuflaining
power he preferves and ac2uates every thing in
his being ; fo that corn doth not grow by any
other virtue, than by that which he continually
fupplies, as the corn needs it; without which
fupply the corn would inttantl dry up, as a
river would, if the fountain were ttopped. And
it is obfervable, that if any thing could prefume
224 .,4 PRIEST TO
CHAPTER XXXI.
The Parfon in Liberty.
HE Country Parfon obferving the mani-
fold wiles of Satan (who plays his part
fometimes in drawing God's Servants
from him, fometimes in perplexing them in the
fervice of God) ttands raft in the Liberty where-
with Chrift hath made us free. This liberty he
compaffeth by one DiflimWon, and that is, of
what is Necehry, and what is .ddditionary. As
for example : It is neceffary that all Chriftians
flaould pray twice a day, every day of the week,
and four times on Sunday, if they be well.
This is fo neceffary, and effential to a Chriftian,
that he cannot without this maintain himfelf in
a Chriftian ftate. Betides this, the Godly have
ever added rome hours of prayer, as at nine, or
at three, or at midnight, or as they think fit,
and fee caufe, or rather as God's fpirit leads
them. But there prayers are not Neceary,
but zldditionary. Now it fo happens, that the
godly petitioner upon rome emergent interrup-
tion in the day, or by overfleeping himfelf at
night, omits his additionary prayer. Upon this
his mind begins to be perplexed, and troubled,
226 .Z1 PRIEST TO
out of fuperltition, but of reverence to God's
houfe, refolves whenever he enters into a Church,
to kneel down and pray, either bleffing God,
that he will be pleafed to dwell anaong men;
or befeeching him, that whenever he repairs to
his boule, he may behave himfelf fo as befits fo
great a pretence; and this briefly. But it hap-
pens that near the place where he is to pray,
he fpies rome fcofling ruffian, who is likely to
deride him for his pains: if he now, fhall
either for fear or thame, break his cultom, he
flaall do pat]]ng ill: fo much the rather ought
he to proceed, as that by this he may take into
his Prayer humiliation altb. On the other fide,
if I am to vifit the tick in hafte, and my nearelt
way lie through the Church, I will not doubt
to go without ltaying to pray there (but only,
as I pals, in nay heart) becaufe this kind of
Prayer is additionary, not nece.ffary, and the other
duty overweighs it : So that if any fcruple arife,
I will throw it away, and be molt confident,
that God is not difpleafed. This diltincCtion
may run through all Chriltian duties, and it is
a great ltay and fettling to religious fouls.
228 _/1 PRIEST TO
much more out of Paradife, when the evils
which he is now fubje& unto, may be pre-
vented, or diverted by reafonable employment.
Betides, every gift or akility is a talent to 3e
accounted for, and to be improved to our Mafter's
Advantage. Yet it is alfo a de3t to our country
to have a Calling ; and it concerns the Common-
wealth, that none flaould be idle, but all buried.
Laftly, riches are the blefling of God, and the
great inftrument of doing admirable good;
therefore all are to procure them honeftly and
feafonably when they are not better employed.
Now this reafon croffeth not our Saviour's pre-
cept of felling what we have, becaufe when
we have fold all, and given it to the poor, we
muff not be idle, but labour to get more, that
we may give more, according to St. Paul's rule,
Ephefians iv. 28, Thehlonians iv. , 2. So
that our Saviour's felling is fo far from croffing
Saint Paul's working, that it rather eftabliflaeth
it, fince they that have nothing, are fitteft to
work. Now becaufe the only oppofer to this
DoCtrine is the Gallant, who is witty enough
to abufe both others, and himfelf, and who is
ready to ark, if he flaall mend thoes, or what
he flmll do? Therefore the Patron unmoved,
flaeweth, that ingenuous and fit employment is
never wanting to thole that leek it. But if it
fhould be, the Affertion Rands thus: All are
either to have a Calling, or prepare for it : He
232 #1 PRIEST TO
he furveys piece-meal. When there is a Par-
liament, he is to endeavour by all means to be
a Knight or Burgers there; for there is no
School to a Parliament. And when he is there,
he muff not only be a morning man, but at
Committees alfo; for there the particulars are
exaCtly difcuffed, which are brought from thence
to the Houfe but in general. When none of
there occafions call him abroad, every morning
that he is at home he muff either ride the
Great Horfe, or exercife rome of his Military
Poftures. For all Gentlemen, that are now
weakened, and difarmed with fedentary lives,
are to know the ufe of their _Arms: and as the
Hufbandman labours for them, fo muff they
fight for, and defend then,'when occafion calls.
This is the duty of each to other, which they
ought to fulfil: _And the Patron is a lover and
exciter to juftice in all things, even as obn the
Baltifl fquared out to every one (even to fol-
diers) what to do. _As for younger Brothers,
thole whom the Patron finds loofe, and not en-
gaged in rome Profeffion by their Parents, whole
negleCt in this point is intolerable, and a flaame-
ful wrong both to the Commonwealth, and their
own Houfe : To them, after he hath fhewed
the unlawfulnefs of fpending the day in dreff-
ing, complimenting, vifiting, and fporting, he
firft commends the ftudy of the Civil Law, as
a brave, and wife knowledge, the Profeffors
THE TEMPLE. 233
whereof"were much employed by .deen Eliza-
beth, becaufe it is the key of" Commerce, and dig
covers the rules of" foreign Nations. Secondly,
he commends the Mathematics, as the only
wonder-working knowledge, and theref-ore re-
quiring the belt fpirits. After the feveral know-
ledge of there, he advitth to infift and dwell
chiefly on the two noble branches thereof, of
Fortification, and Navigation; The one being
ufeful to all Countries, and the other efpecially
to Iflands. But if the young Gallant think there
Courfes dull, and phlegmatic, where can he bury
himtlf better than in thole new Plantations,
and difcoveries, which are not only a noble,
but altb as they may be handled, a religious
employment? Or let him travel into Germany
and France, and obferving the Artifices, and
Manufactures there, trantialant them hither, as
divers have done lately, to our Country's advan-
tage.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
The Parfon's Library.
HE Country Parfon's Library is a holy
Life: f"or betides the blefling that that
brings upon it, there being a promit,
that if the Kingdom of God be firtt tbught, all
234
../1 PRIESU UO
other things (hall be added, even itfelf is a Ser-
mon. For the temptations with which a good
man is beret, and the ways which he ufed to
overcome them, being told to another, whether
in private conference, or in the Church, are a
Sermon. He that hath confidered how to carry
himfelf at Table about his appetite, if he tell
this to another, preacheth; and much more
feelingly, and judicioufly, than he writes his
rules of temperance out of Books. So that the
Patron having ftudied and maftered all his lutts
and affe&ions within, and the whole Army of
Temptations without, hath ever fo many Ser-
mons ready penned, as he hath vi&ories. And
it fares in this as it doth in Phyfic: He that
hath been tick of a Confumption, and knows
what recovered him, is a Phyfician, fo far as he
meets with the fame difeafe, and temper: and
can much better, and particularly do it, than he
that is generally learned, and was never tick.
And if the fame perfon had been tick of all
difeafes, and were recovered of all, by things
that he knew, there were no fuch Phyfician as
he, both for tkill and tendernefs. Juft fo it is
in Divinity, and that not without manifett rea-
fon : for though the temptations may be diverfe
in divers Chriftians, yet the vi&ory is alike in
all, being by the fell-fame Spirit. Neither is
this true only in the military ttate of a Chrittian
life, but even in the peaceable alfo; when the
-3 6 ..4 PRIESTTO
the body may join in the grief, as it did in the
fin; but that, fo the other acCts be, that is not
neceffary : fo that he as truly repents who per-
forms the other a6ts of repentance, when he
cannot more, as he that weeps a flood of tears.
This inftru&ion and comfort the Parfon getting
for himfelf, when he tells it to others, becomes
a fermon. The like he doth in other Chriftian
virtues, as of Faith, and Love, and the Cafes of
Confcience belonging thereto, wherein (as St.
Paul implies that he ought, Romans ii.) he firtt
preacheth to himfclf, and then to others.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
The Patron's Dexterity in applying of Remedies.
HE Country Parfon knows, that there
is a double flate of a Chrian, even in
this life, the one military, the other
peaceable. The military is, when we are af-
faulted with temptations either from within or
from without. The Peaceable is, when the
Devil for a time leaves us, as he did our Saviour,
and the Angels minifter to us their own food,
even joy, and peace, and comfort in the Holy
Ghoft. There two ftates were in our Saviour,
not only in the beginning of his preaching, but
THE TE MP L E. 237
afterwards alfo, as Matth. xxii. 35, He was
tempted: And Luke x. 2, He rejoiced in
Spirit: And they muff be likewife in all that
are his. Now the Patron having a Spiritual
judgment, according as he ditovers any of his
Flock to be in one or the other ftate, fo he ap-
plies himfelf to them. Thole that he finds in
the peaceable flate, he advifeth to be very vigi-
lant, and not to let go the rdns as foon as the borfe
goes earl. Particularly, he counfelleth them to
two things : Firth, to take heed, let their quiet
betray them (as it is apt to do) to a coldnefs,
and careleffnefs in their devotions, but to labour
Rill to be as fervent in ChriPdan duties, as they
remember themfelves were, when affliction did
blow the coals. Secondly, not to take the full
compafs and liberty of their Peace : not to eat
of all thole difhes at table, which even their
prefent health otherwife admits; nor to tore
their boule with all thole furnitures, which
even their prefent plenty of wealth otherwife
admits; nor when they are among them that
are merry, to extend themfelves to all that
mirth, which the prefent occafion of wit and
company otherwife admits; but to put bounds
and hoops to their joys: fo will they laPc the
longer, and when they depart, return the fooner.
If we would judge ourfelves, we ould not be
judged ; and if we would bound ourfelves, we
fhould not be bounded. But if they fhall fear,
240 .,4 PRIEST TO
in their Country. And it is obfervable, that
this very thing was intended by God, that the
Jews flaould be his proof, and witneffes, as he
calls them, Ifaiah xliii. 12. And their very
difperfion in all Lands, xvas intended not only
for a punifhment to them ; but for an exciting
of others by their fight, to the acknowledging
of God and his power, Pfalm lix. Ix. And,
therefore, this kind of punithment was chofen
rather than any other. Thirdly, For Grace.
Betides the continual fucceflion (fince the Gof-
pel) of Holy men, who have borne withers to
the truth, (there being no reafon why any fhould
diftruft St. Luke, or Tertullian, or ChryjTojTom,
more than Tully, Yirgil, or Livy ;) There are
two Prophecies in the Gofpel, which evidently
argue Chrift's Divinity by their fuccefs: the
one concerning the woman that fpent the oint-
ment on our Saviour, for which he told, that
it fhould never be forgotten, but with the
Gofpel itfelf be preached to all ages, Matthew
xxvi. 13- The other concerning the deftruc'-tion
of erufalem ; of which our Saviour faid, that
that generation flaould not pafs, till all were
fulfilled, Luke xxi. 3 2. Which ofephus's Hif-
tory confirmeth, and the continuance of which
Verdi& is yet evident. To thefe might be added
the Preaching of the Gofpel in all Nations,
Matthew xxiv. 14, which we fee even miracu-
loufly effec"ted in there new difcoveries, God
4 A PRIEST TO
three witneffes every word may be eftablifhed ;
the one in his Being, the other in hisflful Be-
ing : and this as the more faulty in him, fo the
nmre glorious in God. And all may certainly
conclude, that God loves them, till either they
defpife that love ; or defpair of his mercy : not
any tin elfe, but is within his love; but the de-
fpifing of love muff needs be without it. The
thrufting away of his arm makes us only not
embraced.
CJnvxr XXXV.
The ParJbn's Condefcending.
HE Country Parfon is a Lover of old
Cuftoms, if they be good and harmlefs ;
and the rather, becaufe Country people
are much addi&ed to them, fo that to favour
them therein is to vin their hearts, and to op-
pole them therein is to deje&
be any ill in the cufom, that
from the good, he pares the
them the clean to feed on.
them. If there
may be fevered
apple, and gives
Particularly he
loves Proceflion, and maintains it, becaufe there
are contained thereinj'bur manifeft advantages :
Firfl, A bleffing of God for the fruits of the
field: Secondly, Juftice in the Prefervation of
THE TEMPL E. 245
nay, which our Saviour himfelf ufed, Mark x.
6, cannot be vain and filperfluous. But this
was not proper to Chrift, or the apoftles only,
no more than to be a fpiritual Father was ap-
propriated to them. _And if temporal Fathers
blefs their children, how much more may, and
ought Spiritual Fathers ? Betides, the Priejqs
of the Old Tejqament were commaided to B/eft the
people, and the form thereof is prefcribed, Num-
aers vi. Now as the Apo0.1e argues in another
care; if the Minittration of condenmation did
biers, how fhall not the Miniflcration of the
Spirit exceed in blefling ? The fruit of this
blefling good Hannah found, and received with
great joy, Samuel i. 8, though it came from
a man difallowed by God" for it was not the
perfon, but Priefthood, that bleffed; fo that
even ill Prietts may blefs. Neither have the
Minifters power of Blefling only, but alfo of
Cuffing. So in the Old Tefl:ament, Eli,/ha
curled the children, 2 Kings ii. 24, which
though our Saviour reproved as unfitting for
his particular, who was to flaow all humility
before his Paffion, yet he allows it in his Apof-
tles. And therefore, St. Peter ufed that fearful
imprecation to Simon Magus, lcqs viii., Why
money periJh with thee : and the event confirmed
it- fo did St. Paul, 2 Timothy iv. x4, and x
Timothy i. 2o. Speaking of llexander the cop-
perfmith, who had withftood his preaching,
THE TEMPLE. 47
when the other gives him juft opportunity, by
fpeaking any good, this unufual form begets a
reverence, and makes him efteemed according
to his profeffion. The fame is to be obtrved
in writing Letters alfo. To conclude, if all
men are to blefs upon occafion, as appears
Romans xii. 4, how much more thole who are
fpiritual Fathers ?
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Concerning DetraCtion.
HE Country Parfon perceiving, that
motif, when they are at leifure, make
others' faults their entertainment and
difcourfe, and that even rome good men think,
fo they fpeak truth, they may difclofe another's
fault, finds it fomewhat difficult hoxv to proceed
in this point. For if he abfolutely thut up
men's mouths, and forbid all difclofing of faults,
many an evil may not only be, but alfo fpread
in his Parifh, xvithout any remedy (which can-
not be applied without notice) to the difhonour
of God, and the infecCtion of his flock, and the
difcomfort, difcredit and hindrance of the Pattor.
On the other fide, if it be unlawful to open
faults, no benefit or advantage can make it
248 A PRIEST TO
lawful; for we mt not do evil that good may
come of it. Now the Parfon taking this point
to talk, which is fo exceeding ufeful, and hath
taken fo deep root, that it feems the very life
and fubftance of Converfation, hath proceeded
thus far in the difcuffing of it. Faults are
either notorious or private. Again, notorious
faults are either fuch as are made known by
common fame (and of there, thole that know
them may talk, fo they do it not with fport,
but commiferation ;) or elfe fuch as have paffed
judgment, and been corre&ed either by whip-
ping, or imprifoning, or the like. Of thefe
altb men may talk, and more, they may dif-
cover them to thole that know them not ; be-
caufe infa,,ff is a part of the fentence agaitJt
malefaNors, which the Law intends, as is evi-
dent by thole which are branded for rogues,
that they may be known, or put into the flocks,
that they may be looked upon. But rome may
fay, though the Law allow this, the Gofpel
doth not, which hath fo much advanced Cha-
rity, and ranked backbiters among the genera-
tion of the wicked, Romans i. 3 o. But this is
eafily anfwered : as the executioner is not un-
charitable, that takes away the life of the con-
demned, except, betides his office, he add a
tin&ure of private malice, in the joy and hatte
of a&ing his part ; fo neither is he that defames
him whom the Law would have defamed, ex-
THE TEMPLE. v-49
cept he alfo do it out of rancour. For in in-
famy, all are executioners, and the Law gives
a malefa&or to all to be defamed. And as
malefa&ors may lofe and forfeit their goods or
life, fo may they their good name, and the pof-
feffion thereof, which before their offence and
Judgment they had in all men's breafs; for
all are honer till the contrary be proved. Be-
tides, it concerns the Common-Wealth that
Rogues flaould be known, and Charity to the
public hath the precedence of private Charity.
So that it is fo far from being a fault to difcover
fuch offenders, that it is a duty rather; which
may do much good, and fave much harm.
Neverthelefs, if the punifhed Delinquent flmll
be much troubled for his fins, and turn quite
another man, doubtlefs then alfo men's affe&ions
and words mutk turn, and forbear to fpeak of
that which even God himfelf hath forgotten.
The Author's Prayer before Sermon.
ILMIGHff' and ever living Lord
God .t Majefly, and Power, and Bright-
nefs, and Glory .t How all we dare to
appear before thy face, who are contrary to thee,
in all we call thee ? for we are darknefs, and
weaknefs, andJilthinefs, and fhame. Mife,'y and
250 A PRIEST TO
fin fill our days ; yet art thou our Creator, and
we thy work. Thy hands both made us, and alfo
made us lords of all thy creatures ; giving us one
world in ourfelves, and another to ferve us : then
didjt thou place us in Paradife, and wert pro-
ceedingjtill on in tby favours, untilwe interrupted
thy cou@ls, d ppointed tby pu,-p s, a, d
our God, our glorious, our gracious God for an
apple. 0 write it ! 0 brand it in our foreheads
Jbr ever: for an apple once we ]off our God, and
flil] lofe him for no more ; for money,for tneat,for
diet : But thou, Lord, art patience, and pity, and
fweetmfi, and love ; therefore we fins of ,nen are
not' confumed. Thou haft exalted thy mercy above
all things, and haft made our falvation, not our
punifl, ment, thy glory: fo that then where fin
abounded, not death, but grace fitperabounded ; ac-
cordingly when we bad finned beyond any help in
heaven or earth, then thou faidjt, Lo, I come !
then did the Lord of life, unable hinlf to die,
contrive to do it. He took 3qe, he wept, he died;
for his enemies he died; even for thofe that derided
many waters could not quench thy love, nor no pit
overwhdm it .t But though the flreams of thy blood
were current through darknefs, grave, and hell,
yet by thy confis, and feemingly hazards,
didjt thou arife trkmiphant, and therein madefl us
victorious.
Neither doth thy love yet flay here .t for this
word of thy rich peace and reconciliation thou haft
P R E FIC E. 5 5
ordering our life, about mortijqcation, and obfi'r-
vation of God's kingdom within us, and the work-
ing thereoJ; of which he was a very diligezt
obferver. There three things are very eminent in
the luthor, and overweigh the defeTs, as I con-
cede, towards the publi./hing thereof.
From Bemmerton, near Salifbury,
Septcmb. 29, I632.
258 NOTES TO THE DIFINE
Rill ufed, and God's work within us Rill ob-
ferved, who works by his word, and ever in the
reading of it. As for that text, They fltall be
all taught of God, it being Scripture, cannot be
fpoken to the difparagement of Scripture; but
the meaning is this that God in the days of the
Gofpel will not give an outward law of cere-
monies as of old, but fuch a one as flaall Rill
have the aRance of the Holy Spirit applying
it to our hearts, and ever outrunning the teacher,
as it did when Peter taught Cornelius. There
the cat is plain: Cornelius had revelation, yet
Peter was to be lent for; and thole that have
infpirations mutt Rill ufe Peter, God's word : if
we make another fenfe of the Text, we all
overthrow all means lave Catechizing, and let
up enthufiafins.
In the Scriptures are
Do&rines, there ever teach more and more.
Promifes, there ever comfort more and more.
Rom. xv. 4-
In this note Herbert jufl o&s to a very
quaint and far-tched com?arn wh#h the au-
thor draws between the Books ho Scripture
and the hnages the Roman Catholic Church.
As the unlearned are nd q" placing piorial
images in derent fltuations, kz order that the
objects (their belie'might never be abnt from
their minds, the leawed &light to b,vp &
cop#s q[" the ho Scriptures, w#h notes, corn-
CONSIDER.4TIONS. 26
doing, nor rewarded for well doing or living,
for all the point lies in believing or not believ-
ing. And with this expofition the Chapter is
clear enough; but the truth of the doc'trine
would be examined, however it may pals for
his opinion, in the Church of God there is one
fundamental, but elfe variety. The Author's
good meaning in this will better appear by his
98th Confideration of faith and good works.
he arguments te uthor in this place on
te " Crian Liberty" may e corre ealained
as Herbert has in tMs note eaadned them. It
may, however, be qutioned whether hk language-
is not a litt# too oafi'ure, much , indeed, that
a ay per@l eft tae capter ,,,(<ht #ad ta',
wao were predpd to fiwa an i}rence, to bna-
gine taat Valdeffo had )hllen into te grievous
her which once led fi many men affray in our
own country, that even fins might ae committed
with impunity, and were not in faa fld, when
a man was once a member f t& invffib# Church
CAr , and) ed by faith.
PAGE I 55"
He meaneth (I fuppofe) that a man prefimae
,lot to merit, that is, to oblige God, or juftify
himfelf before God, by any ac'-ts or exercifes of
Religion ; but that he ought to pray God affec-
tionately and fervently, to fend him the light of
CONSIDERATIONS. 263
tions are much more frequent to the godly than
inviting motions, becaufe the Scripture .invites
enough, for it invites us to all good. According
to that fingular place, Phil. iv. 8, a man is to
embrace all good; but becaufe he cannot do
all, God often choofeth which he fhall do, and
that by reflcraining him from what he would
not have him do.
The Author in this place is fpeaking of ,notions
communicated by the Spirit, either to do or to
refrain from doing certain actions. Herbert's
note explains his fentiments on that fubjecT.
PAC;E I77.
This do&rine, howfoever it is true in fub-
ttance, yet it requireth difcreet and wary ex-
plaining.
The doctrine that bad men, fuch as Pharaoh,
Judas, and other veffels of wrath, only fuelled
parts appointed to them by God, and could not be
otherwi than what they were.
Pace 199-
By renouncing the help of human learning in
the flcudying to underflcand holy Scripture, he
meaneth that we fhould not ufe it as the only
or as the principal means, becaufe the anointing
which we have received and abideth in us
teacheth us. I ohn ii. 27.
264 NOgES 0 UHE
Uhe author flOeaks of human learning as
cicnt to. guide a man to the knowledge of the truth.
Herbert's note extlains itfelf.
PAGE 2 1 7"
This Chapter is confiderable. The intent of
it, that the world pierceth not godly men's
a&ions no mo,e than God's, is in fome fort
true, becaufe they are fpiritually difcerned;
I 'or. ii. 4- So likewife are the godly in
fo,ue fort exempt fro,n laws, for the law is not
made for a righteous man; t if'ira, i. 9" But
when he enlargeth he goes too far: for firft,
concerning traham and Sarah, I ever took
that for a weaknefs in the great Patriarch, and
that the bel of God's fervants flould have weak-
neffes, is no way repugnant to the way of God's
fpirit in them, or to the Scriptures, or to them-
felves, being frill men, though godly men.
Nay, they are purpofely recorded in Holy Writ.
Wherefore, as David's adultery cannot be ex-
cufed, fo need not traham's equivocation, nor
Paul's neither, when he profeffed himfelf a
Pharifee, which fri&ly he was not, though in
the point of Refurre&ion he agreed with them
and they with him. The reviling alfo of /na-
nias feems by his own recalling, an overfight;
yet I remember the Fathers forbid us to .judge
of the doubtful a&ions of Saints in Scripture,
CONSIDERtTIONS. 265
xvhich is a modeft admonition. But it is one
thing not to judge, another to defend them.
Secondly, when he ufeth the word jurifdi(tion,
allowing no jurifdi(tion over the godly, this
cannot ftand, and it is ill do&rine in a Com-
monwealth. The godly are punithable as others
when they do amirs, and they are to be .judged
according to the outward ta(t, unlefs it be evi-
dent to others as well as to themtlves that God
moved them ; for otherwi fe any malef'aCtor may
pretend motions, which is inthfferable in a
Commonwealth. Neither do I doubt but if
/lbraham had lived in our kingdom under go-
vernment, and had killed his fon [faac, but he
might juftly have been put to death for it by
the Magiftrate, unlefs he could have made it
appear that it was done by God's immediate
precept. He had done juftly, and yet had been
puniflaed juftly, that is, In humano foro, &c.
jcundum prefionptionem legalem: according to
the common and legal proceedings among men.
So may a war be juft on both tides, and was ju
in the Canaanites and Ifraelites both. How the
godly are exempt from laws is a known point
among Divines; but when he lays they are
equally exempt with God, that is dangerous
and too far. The bef falve for the whole
Chapter is to diinguith judgment. There is a
judgment of authority (upon a fa&), and there
is a judgment of the learned; for as a Magit-
CONSIDERATIONS. 27I
brew piety," and in no other way refers to the text
0f Valdeffo.
PAGE 355"
This is true only of the Popifla CajT, s of Con-
fcience, which depend almofl wholly on their
Canon law and Decretals, knots of their oxvn
tying and untying; but there are other C's of
Confcience, grounded on Piety and Morality,
and the difficulty of applying their general rules
to particular a&ions, which are a mope noble
ftudy.
Herbert here qualifies another flatement of Val-
deffo, which would feem to confound the cafes of
confcknce, which the Romanifls were fo fond of
framing, with others which often arife in the
bofoms of good men, and are founded on a regard
to piety and morality.
A Treatife of Temperance and
Sobriety.
llTrittcn by Lud. Cornarus, Tranflated into
Engli./7 by Mr. George Herbert.
AVING obferved in nay time many
of my friends, of excellent wit and
noble difpofition, overthrown and
undone by Intemperance; who, if
they had lived, would have been an ornament
to the world, and a comfort to their friends: I
thought fit to difcover in a fhort Treatife, that
Intemperance was not fuch an evil, but it might
eafily be remedied ; which I undertake the more
xvillingly, becaufe divers worthy young men
have obliged me unto it. For when they law
their parents and kindred fnatched away in the
midft of their days, and me, contrariwife, at the
age of eighty and one, ftrong and lufty; they
had a great defire to know the way of my life,
and how I came to be fo. Wherefore, that I
may fatisfy their honer defire, and withal help
OF SOBRIETY'. 73
many others, who will take this into confide-
ration, I will declare the caufes which moved
me to forfake Intemperance, and live a fober
life, expreffing alfo the means which I have
ufed therein. I fay therefore, that the infirmi-
ties, which did not only begin, but had already
gone far in me, firf caufed me to leave Intem-
perance, to which I was much addi&ed: For
by it, and nay ill confitution (having a mog
cold and moif fomach), I fell into divers dif-
eafes, to wit, into the pain of the fomach, and
often of the fide, and the beginning of the Gout,
with almof a continual fever and thirf.
From this ill temper there remained little
elfe to be expe&ed of me, than that after many
troubles and griefs I flaould quickly come to an
end; whereas my life feemed as far from it by
Nature, as it was near it by Intemperance.
When therefore I was thus affe&ed from the
thirty-fifth year of my age to the fortieth,having
tried all remedies fruitlefsly, the Phyficians told
me that yet there was one help for me, if I
could confantly purfue it, to wit, 4fober and
orderly life : for this had every way great force
for the recovering and preferving of Health, as
a diforderly life to the overthrowing of it; as I
too well by experience found. For Temper-
ance preferves even old men and fickly men
found : But Intemperance defroys mof healthy
and flourifhing conffitutions: For contrary caufes
T
AND SOBRIEqe.
275
was exceedingly helped, and by continuance
thereof, within lefs than one year (although it
may feem to rome incredible), I was perfectly
cured of all my infirmities.
Being now found and well, I began to con-
fider the force of Temperance, and to think
thus with myfelf: If Temperance had fo much
power as to bring me health : how much more
to preferve it! Wherefore I began to fearch out
naof: diligently what meats were agreeable unto
me, and what ditZagreeable : and I purpofed to
try, whether thole that pleafed nay taflce brought
me commodity or difcommodity ; and whether
that Proverb, wherewith Gluttons ufed to defend
themfelves, to wit, That ,hich favours, is good
andnourifheth, be confonant to truth. This upon
trial I found mot falt: for frong and very
cool wines pleafed nay taflce befit, as alfo melons,
and other fruit; in like manner, raw lettuce,
fifh, pork, faufages, pulfe, and cake and pie-
cruflc, and the like: and yet all there I found
hurtful.
Therefore truffing on experience, I forfook
all thefe kind of meats and drinks, and chofe
that wine that fitted nay tomach, and in fuch
meafure, as eafily might be digeflced : above all,
taking care never to rife with a full tomach,
but fo as I might well both eat and drink more.
By this means, within lefs than a year I was not
only freed from all thole evils which had fo long
276 OF TEMPERANCE
beret me, and were almoft become incurable;
but alfo afterwards I fell not into that yearly
difeafe, whereinto I was wont, when I pleafed
my Senfe and Appetite. Which benefits alfo
(till continue, becaufe from the time that I was
made whole, I never fince departed from my
fettled courfe of Sobriety, xvhofe admirable power
caufeth that the meat and drink that is taken in
fit meafure, gives true ftrength to the body, all
fuperfluities pafling away without difficulty,
and no ill humours being engendered in the
body.
Yet with this diet I avoided other hurtful
things alfo, as too much heat and cold, weari-
hers, watching, ill air, overmuch ufe of the
benefit of marriage. For although the power
of health confiRs moR in the proportion of meat
and drink, yet there forenamed things have alfo
their force. I preferved me alfo, as much as I
could, from hatred and melancholy, and other
perturbations of the mind, which have a great
power over our conRitutions. Yet could I not
fo avoid all there, but that now and then I fell
into them, which gained me this experience,
that I perceived that they had no great power
to hurt thole bodies which were kept in good
order by a moderate Diet : So that I can truly
fay, That they who in there two things that
enter in at the mouth keep a fit proportion,/hall
receive little hurt from other exceffes.
IND SOBRIETY. 9_77
This Galen confirms, when he lays, that i,n-
moderate heats and colds, and winds and labours,
did little hurt him, becaufe in his meats and
drinks he kept a due moderation, and therefore
never was tick by any of there inconveniences,
except it were for one only day. But mine own
experience confirmeth this more, as all that
know me can tetify : For having endured many
heats and colds, and other like difcommodities
of the body and troubles of the mind, all there
did hurt me little, whereas they hurt them very
much who live intemperately. For vhen nay
brother and others of my kindred law rome great
powerful men pick quarrels again me, fearing
le I flaould be overthrown, they were poffeffed
with a deep Melancholy (a thing ufual to dill
orderly lives), which increafed fo much in them,
that it brought them to a fudden end; but I,
whom that matter ought to have affe&ed moR,
received no inconvenience thereby, becaufe that
humour abounded not in me.
Nay, I began to perfuade myfelf, that this
fuit and contention was railed by the Divine
Providence, that I might know what great
power a fober and temperate life hath over our
bodies and minds, and that at length I flaould
be a conqueror, as alfo a little after it came to
pals: For in the end I got the vi&ory, to nay
great honour and no lefs profit, whereupon alfo
I joyed exceedingly, which excels of joy neither
IND SOBRIEffel ". 279
perate life can receive little hurt from other in-
conveniences.
But my experience taught me another thing
alfo, to wit, that an orderly and regular life
can hardly be altered without exceeding great
danger.
About four years fince, I was led, by the
advice of Phyficians, and the daily importunity
of my friends, to add fomething to lny ufual
ftint and meafure. Divers reafons they brought,
as, that old age could not be fuftained with fo
little meat and drink ; which yet needs not only
to be fuftained, but alfo to gather ftrength, which
could not be but by meat and drink. On the
other fide, I argued that Nature was contented
with a little, and that I had for many years con-
tinued in good health with that little meafure ;
that Cuftom was turned into Nature, and there-
fore it was agreeable to reafon, that my years
increafing and ftrength decreafing, my ftint of
meat and drink (hould be diminifled rather
than increafed, that the patient might be pro-
portionable to the agent, and efpecially fince the
power of my ftomach every day decreafed. To
this agreed two Italian Proverbs,the one whereof
was, *He that will eat much, let him eat little ;
* Mangier pih chi manco mangia.
Chi pih mangia, manco mangia.
Poco rive chi troppo fparechia.
Ed e' contrario,
I1 fenfo
28o OF TEMPER#INCE
becaufe by eating little he prolongs his life.
The other Proverb was, * The meat which re-
maineth profits more than that which is eaten ; by
which is intimated, that the hurt of too much
meat is greater than the commodity of meat
taken in a moderate proportion.
But all there things could not defend me
againff their importunities. Therefore, to avoid
obftinacy and gratify nay friends, at length I
yielded, and permitted the quantity of meat to
be increafed, yet but two ounces only: for
whereas before, the meafure of my whole day's
meat, viz. of my bread, and eggs, and flefla, and
broth, was txvelve ounces exa6tly weighed, I
increafed it to the quantity of two ounces more ;
and the meafure of my drink, which before was
fourteen ounces, I made now fixteen.
This addition, after ten days, wrought fo
much upon me, that of a cheerful and lnerry
man I became melancholy and choleric, fo that
all things were troublefome to me; neither did
I know well what I did or laid. On the twelfth
day, a pain of the tide took me, which held me
two and twenty hours. Upon the neck of it
came a terrible fever, which continued thirty-
five days and nights, although after the fifteenth
day it grew lefs and lefs ; betides all this I could
* Fa pi) pro quel' che fi lafcia ful' tondo, che
Quel' che fi mette nel ventre.
AND SOBRIEF'. 281
not fleep, no, not a quarter of an hour, where-
upon all gave me for dead.
Neverthelefs I, by the grace of God, cured
myfelf only with returning to my former courfe
of Diet, although I was now feventy:-eight years
old, and my body fpent with extreme leannefs,
and the feafon of the year was winter, and mo
cold air; and I am confident that, under God,
nothing holp me, but that exa& rule which I
had fo long continued ; in all which time I felt
no grief, fave now and then a little indil]ofition
for a day or two.
For the Temperance of fo many years fpent
all ill humours, and fuffered not any new of that
kind to arife, neither the good hulnours to be
corrupted or contra& any ill quality, as ufually
happens in old men's bodies, which live with-
out rule; for there is no malignity of old age
in the humours of my body, which commonly
kills men, and that new one which I contra&ed
by breaking my diet, although it was a fore evil,
yet had no power to kill me.
By this it may clearly be perceived how great
is the power of order and diforder ; whereof the
one kept me well for many years, the other,
though it was but a little excefs, in a few days
had fo foon overthrown me. If the world con-
flit of order, if our corporal life depend on the
harmony of humours and elements, it is no
wonder that order fhould preferve, and diforder
AND SOBRIETY. z8 3
flaould help it, or that cinnamon fhould heat
me more than pepper ? What Phyfician could
have difcovered there hidden qualities to me, if
I had not found them out by long experience ?
Wherefore one to another cannot be a perfeCt
Phytician. Whereupon I conclude, tince none
can have a better Phyfician than himfelf, nor
better Phyfic than a Temperate life, Temper-
ance by all means is to be embraced.
Neverthelefs, I deny not but that Phyficians
are necetl'ary, and greatly to be eflceemed for the
knowing and curing of difeafes, into xvhich they
often fall who live diforderly : For if a friend
who vifits thee in thy ficknefs, and only com-
forts and condoles, doth perform an acceptable
thing to thee, how much more dearly thould a
Phyfician be eflceemed, who not only as a friend
doth vifit thee, but help thee!
But that a man may preferve himfelf in
health, I advife, that inflcead of a Phyfician a
regular life is to be embraced, which, as is
manifePt by experience, is a natural Phyfic moPt
agreeable to us, and alfo doth preferve even ill
tempers in good health, and procure that they
prolong their life even to a hundred years and
more, and that at length they flaut up their days
like a Lamp, only by a pure confumption of
the radical moiflture, without grief or pertur-
bation of humours. Many have thought that
this could be done by Aurum potabile, or the
.AND SOBRIEUIC 287
Let no man here ob.je& unto me, That there
are many, who though they live diforderly, yet
continue in health to their lives' end: Becaufe,
fince this is at the belt but uncertain, dangerous,
and very rare, the prefuming upon it ought not
to lead us to a diforderly life.
It is not the part of a wife man to expofe him-
fell to fo many dangers of difeafes and death,
only upon a hope of a happy ifl'ue, which yet
befalls very few. An old man of an ill con-
ltitution, but living orderly, is more lure of life
than the molt ltrong young man who lives dif-
orderly.
But rome, too much given to Appetite, ob-
je, That a long life is no fuch defirable thing,
becaufe that after one is once fixty-five years
old, all the time we live after is rather death
than life: But there err greatly, as I xvill thow
by myfelf, recounting the delights and pleafures
in this age of eighty-three, which now I take,
and which are fuch as that men generally account
me happy.
I am continually in health, and I am fo nimble,
that I can eafily get on horfeback without the
advantage of the ground, and fometimes I go up
high ltairs and hills on foot. Then, I am ever
cheerful, merry, and well-contented, free from
all troubles and troublefome thoughts ; in whole
place joy and peace have taken up their ltanding
in my heart. I am not weary of life, which I
290 OF TEMPERANCE
well and quietly any where, and nay dreams
are fair and pleafant. But this chiefly delights
me, that nay advice hath taken effec"t in the
reducing of nany rude and untoiled places in
my country, to cultivation and good hufbandry.
I was one of thole that was deputed for the
managing of that work, and abode in thole
fenny places two whole months in the heat of
fimmaer, (which in Italy is very great) receiving
not any hurt or inconvenience thereby : So great
is the power and efficacy of that Temperance
which ever accompanied me.
There are the delights and folaces of nay old
age, vhich is altogether to be preferred before
others' youth: Becaufe that by tem[erance and
the Grace of God I feel not thole perturbations
of body and mind, wherewith infinite both
young and old are affti6ted.
Moreover, by this alfo, in what eftate I am,
may be difcovered, becaufe at there years (viz.
eighty-three) I have made a molt pleafant
comedy, full of honett wit and merriment:
which kind of Poems ufeth to be the child of
Youth, which it molt fuits withal for variety
and pleafantnefs ; as a Tragedy with old Age, by
reafon of the fad events which it contains. And
if a Greek poet of old was praifed, that at the age
of feventy-three years he writ a Tragedy, why
flaould I be accounted lefs happy, or lefs myfelf,
vho being ten years older have made a Comedy ?
AND SOBRIETI:'. 29i
Now lef[ there flould be any delight wanting
to my old age, I daily behold a kind of immor-
tality in the ficceftion of my pofterity. For
when I come home, I find eleven grand chil-
dren of mine, all the fons of one father and
mother, all in perfe& health; all as far as I
can conje&ure, very apt and well given both for
learning and behaviour. I am delighted with
their mufic and faihion, and I myfelf alfo ring
often ; becaufe I have now a clearer voice, than
ever I had in my life.
By which it is evident, That the life which
I live at this age, is not a dead, dumpiih, and
four life; but cheerful, lively, and pleafant:
Neither if I had my with, would I change age
and conftitution with them who follow their
youthful appetites, although they be of a molt
ftrong temper: Becaufe fuch are daily expofed
to a thoufand dangers and deaths, as daily ex-
perience fhoweth, and I alfo, when I was a
young man, too well found. I know how in-
confiderate that age is, and, though fubje& to
death, yet continually afraid of it: for death to all
young men is a terrible thing, as alfo to thofe that
live in fin, and follow their appetites; whereas
I by the experience offo many years have learned
to give way to Reafon : whence it feems to me,
not only a flameful thing to fear that which
cannot be avoided; but alfo I hope, when I
flxall come to that point, I flxall find no little
Jacula Prudentum ;
OR, OUTLANDISH PROVERBS, SENTENCES,
ETC.
SELECTED BY MR. GEORGE HERBERT LATE
ORATOR OF THE UNIVERSITY
OF CAMBRIDGE.
FIRST PRINTED IN i64o.
THOSE WITHIN R,CKETS WERE ADDED IN THE SCO'D
EDITION, I65.
Jacula Prudentum.
LD men go to Death, Death comes to
]1 young men.]
kr g M,, propofeth, God difpofeth.
t He begins to die, that quits his
defires.
A handful of good life is better than a buflel
of Learning.
He that ftudies his content, wants it.
Every day brings its bread with it.
Humble hearts have humble defires.
He that fl:umbles and falls not, mends his
pace.
The houfe flaows the owner.
He that gets out of debt, grows rich.
All is well with him who is beloved of his
neighbours.
Building and marrying of Children are great
wafters.
A good bargain is a pick-purfe.
The fcalded dog fears cold water.
Pleating ware is half fold.
.9 6 ACULA PRUDENTUM.
Light burdens, long borne, grow heavy.
The Wolf knows what the ill heart thinks.
Who hath none to frill him, may weep out
his eyes.
When all fins grow old, covetoufnefs is young.
If ye would know a knave, give him a ttaff.
You cannot know wine by the barrel.
A cool mouth, and warm feet, live long.
A horfe made, and a man to make.
Look not for mutk in a dog's kennel.
Not a long day, but a good heart rids work.
He pulls with a long rope, that waits for
another's death.
Great fltrokes make not fweet mufic.
A cafk and an ill cufltom mutt be broken.
A fat houfekeeper makes lean executors.
Empty chambers make fooliih maids.
The gentle Hawk half roans herfelf.
The Devil is not always at one door.
When a friend arks, there is no to-morrow.
God fends cold according to clothes.
One found blow will ferve to undo us all.
He lofeth nothing, that lofeth not God.
The German's wit is in his fingers.
At dinner my man appears.
Who gives to all, denies all.
Qck believers need broad flmulders.
Who remove tones, bruife their fingers.
[Benefits pleafe like flowers while they are
frelh.]
298 ,,/I C U L ,,/I P R U D E N ff" U M.
If all fools had bawbles, we flaould want fuel.
Virtue never grovs old.
Evening words are not like to morning.
Were there no fools, bad ware would not pafs.
Never had ill workman good tools.
He Rands not furely that never flips.
Were there no hearers, there would be no
backbiters.
Everything is of ufe to a houfekeeper.
When prayers are done, my Lady is ready.
[Cities tldom change Religion only.]
At length the Fox turns Monk.
Flies are buffer about lean horfes.
Hearken to reafon, or flae will be heard.
The bird loves her nell
Every thing new is fine.
When a dog is a drowning, every one offers
him drink.
Better a bare foot than none.
Who is fo deaf as he that will not hear ?
He that is warn thinks all fo.
At length the Fox is brought to the Furrier.
He that goes bare-foot muf not plant thorns.
They that are booted are not always ready.
He that will learn to pray, let him go to Sea.
In fpending lies the advantage.
He that lives well, is learned enough.
Ill veffels feldom mifcarry.
A full belly neither fights nor flies well.
All truths are not to be told.
ACULA PR UDENUUM. 3o
The Fox, when he cannot reach the grapes,
lays, They are not ripe.
Water trotted is as good as oats.
Though the MaOciff be gentle, yet bite him
not by the lip.
Though a lie be well drape, it is ever over-
coma.
Though old and wife, yet ttill advife.
Three helping one another, bear the burthen
of fix.
[Slander is a flfipwreck by a dry TempefL]
Old wine and an old friend are good pro-
vifions.
Happy is he that chaPcens himfelf.
Well may he fmell fire, whole gown burns.
The wrongs of a Hu/band or Marker are not
reproached.
Welcome evil, if thou comef alone.
Love your neighbour, yet pull not down your
hedge.
The bit that one eats, no friend makes.
A drunkard's purfe is a bottle.
She fpins well that breeds her children.
Good is the mora that makes all fure.
Play with a fool at home, and he will play
with you in the market.
Every one retcheth his legs according to his
coverlet.
Autumnal Agues are long or mortal.
ACULA PR UDENTUM. 3o7
What your glafs tells you, will not be told by
Counfel.
There are more men threatened than Rricken.
A fool knows more in his houfe, than a wife
man in another's.
I had rather ride on an afs that carries me,
than a horfe that throws me.
The hard gives more than he that hath no-
thing.
The bear that goes always, never wants blows.
Good cheap is dear.
It coRs more to do ill than to do well.
Good words quench more than a bucket of
water.
An ill agreement is better than a good judg-
ment.
There is more talk than trouble.
Better fpare to have of thine own, than atk
of other men.
Better good afar off, than evil at hand.
Fear keeps the garden better than the gar-
dener.
I had rather atk of my fire brown bread, than
borrow of my neighbour white.
Your pot broken feems better than nay whole
one.
Let an ill man lie in thy Rraw, and he looks
to be thy heir.
By l'uppers more have been killed than Galen
ever cured.
308 .7./1C U L ./1
While the difcreet advife, the
bufinefs.
A mountain and a river are
ours.
Goflips are frogs, they drink and talk.
Much fpends the traveller more than the
abider.
Prayers and provender hinder no journey.
A well-bred youth neither fpeaks of himfelf,
nor, being fpoken to, is filent.
A journeying woman fpeaks much of all, and
all of her.
The Fox knows much, but more he that
catcheth him.
Many friends in general, one in fpecial.
The fool afks much, but he is more fool that
grants it.
Many kifs the hand they wifh cht off.
Neither bribe, nor lore thy right.
In the world who knows not to fwim, goes
to the bottom.
Choofe not a houfe near an Inn (viz. for
noife) ; or in a corner (for filth).
He is a fool that thinks not that another thinks.
Neither eyes on letters, nor hands in coffers.
The lion is not fo fierce as they paint him.
Go not for every grief to the Phyfician, nor
for every quarrel to the Lawyer, nor for every
thirft to the pot.
Good fcrvice is a great enchantment.
PR UDENUUM.
fool doth his
good neigh-
ACULA PR UDENTUM. 3o9
There would be no great ones, if there were
no little ones.
It is no lure rule to fifh with a crofs-bow.
There were no ill language, if it were not ill
taken.
The groundfel fpeaks not, fare what it heard
at the hinges.
The belt mirror is an old friend.
Say no ill of the year till it be pat1.
A man's difcontent is his wortt evil.
Fear nothing but fin.
The child fays nothing, but what it heard by
the fire.
Call me not an olive, till thou fee me ga-
thered.
That is not good language which all under-
Rand not.
He that burns his houfe, warms himfelf for
once.
He will burn his houfe to warm his hands.
He will fpend a whole year's rent at one
meal's meat.
All is not gold that glifters.
A bluffering night, a fair day.
Be not idle, and you fhall not be longing.
He is not poor that hath little, but he that
defireth much.
Let none fay, I will not drink water.
He wrongs not an old man that fteals his
fupper from him.
.,4CUL.,4 PRUDENUM. 313
The fault is as great as he that is faulty.
If folly were grief, every houfe would weep.
He that would be well old, muff: be old be-
times.
Sit in your place, and none can make you
rife.
If you could run as you drink, you might
catch a hare.
Would you know what money is, Go borrow
'O ITI e.
The morning Sun never laPcs a day.
Thou haPc death in thy houfe, and doff: be-
wail another's.
All griefs with bread are lefs.
All things require fkill, but an appetite.
All things have their place, knew we how to
place them.
Little pitchers have wide ears.
We are fools one to another.
This world is nothing except it tend to an-
other.
There are three ways, the Univerfities, the
Sea, the Court.
God comes to fee without a bell.
Life without a friend, is death without a
witnefs.
Clothe thee in war, arm thee in peace.
The horfe thinks one thing, and he that
faddles him another.
Mills and wives ever want.
34 .,4CUL.,4 PRUDENff'UM.
The dog that licks aflaes, trufl not with meal.
The buyer needs a hundred eyes, the feller
not one.
He carries well, to whom it weighs not.
The comforter's head never aches.
Step after ftep the ladder is afcended.
Who likes not the drink, God deprives him
of bread.
To a crazy fhip all winds are contrary.
Juftice pleafeth few in their own houfe.
In time comes he, whom God fends.
Water afar off quencheth not fire.
In fports and journeys men are known.
An old fiiend is a new boule.
Love is not found in the market.
Dry feet, warm head, bring fare to bed.
He is rich enough that wants nothing.
One father is enough to govern one hundred
fons, but not a hundred fons one father.
Far l'hooting never killed bird.
An upbraided morfel never choked any.
Dearths forefeen come not.
An ill labourer quarrels with his tools.
He that falls into the dirt, the longer he frays
there the fouler he is.
He that blames, would buy.
He that tings on Friday, will weep on Sun-
day.
The charges of building, and making of gar-
dens are unknown.
ACULA PR UDENTUM.
My boule, my boule, though thou art fiaaall,
thou art to me the Efcurial.
A hundred load of thought will not pay one
of debts.
He that comes of a hen muft fcrape.
He that feeks trouble never miffes.
He that once deceives, is ever fufpeCced.
Being on fea, fail; being on land, fettle.
Who doth his own bufinefs, fouls not his
hands.
He
peace.
He
that makes a good war, makes a good
that works after Iris own lnanner, his
head aches not at the lnatter.
Who hath bitter in his mouth, fpits not all
fweet.
He that hath children, all his morfels are not
his own.
He that hath the fpice, may feafon as he lift.
He that hath a head of wax, muft not walk
in the fun.
He that hath love in his breaft, hath fpurs in
his tides.
He that refpe&s not, is not refpe&ed.
He that hath a fox for his mate, hath need of
a net at his girdle.
He that hath right, fears; he that hath
wrong, hopes.
He that hath patience, hath fat thruthes for
a farthing.
316 .TACULA PRUDENTUM.
Never was Rrumpet fair.
He that meafures not himfelf is meafured.
He that hath one hog, makes him fat; and
he that hath one fon, makes him a fool.
Who lets his Wife go to every feaR, and his
horfe drink at every water, fhall neither have
good wife nor good horfe.
He that fpeaks fows, and he that holds his
peace gathers.
He that hath little is the lefs dirty.
He that lives ,nor dies moR.
He that hath one foot in the Rraw hath an-
other in the fpittle.
He that is fed at another's hand, may Ray
long ere he be full.
He that makes a thing too fine, breaks it.
He that bewails himfelf hath the cure in his
hands.
He that would be well, needs not go from his
own houfe.
Counfel breaks not the head.
Fly the pleafure that bites to-morrow.
tie that knows what ,nay be gained in a day,
never Reals.
Money refufed lofeth its brightnefs.
Health and money go far.
Where your will is ready, your feet are light.
A great fhip afl{s deep waters.
Woe to the houfe where there is no chiding.
Take heed of the vinegar of fweet wine.
.1%,/I C UL-,/I P R UD E NUUM.
Love a/ks faith, and faith firmnefs.
A fceptre is one thing, and a ladle another.
Great trees are good for nothing but flaade.
He commands enough that obeys a xvife man.
Fair words make me look to nay purfe.
Though the fox run, the chicken hath wings.
He plays well that wins.
You muff: ff:rike in meafure, when there are
many to flcrike on one anvil.
The thorteff: anfwer is doing.
It is a poor ff:ake that cannot if:and one year
in the ground.
He that commits a fault, thinks every one
fpeaks of it.
He that is foolifl in the fault, let him be wife
in the puniflxment.
The blind eats many a fly.
He that can make a fire well, can end a
quarrel.
The tooth-ache is more eafe than to deal with
ill people.
He that would have what he hath not, fhould
do what he doth not.
He that hath no good trade, it is to his lofs.
The offender never pardons.
He that lives not well one year, forrows feven
after.
He that hopes not for good, fears not evil.
He that is angry at a feaff:, is rude.
He that mocks a cripple, ought to be whole.
322 ]./1CUL.,4 PR UDENTUM.
When the tree is fallen, all go with their
hatchet.
He that hath horns in his bofom, let him not
put them on his head.
He that burns molt, fhines mope.
He that truPcs in a lie, flaall perifla in truth.
He that blows in the dupe, fills his eyes with
it.
Bells call others, but themfelves
into the Church.
Of fair things, the Autumn is fair.
Giving is dead, reftoring very tick.
enter not
A gift much expe&ed is paid, not given.
Two ill meals make the third a glutton.
The Royal Crown cures not the head-ache.
'Tis hard to be xvretched, but worfe to be
known lb.
A feather in hand is better than a bird in
the air.
It is better to be the head of a Lizard than
the tail of a Lion.
Good and quickly feldom meet.
Folly grows without watering.
Happier are the hands compaffed with iron,
than a heart xvith thoughts.
If the Raft be crooked, the flaadow cannot be
ftraight.
To take the nuts from the fire with the dog's
foot.
He is a fool that makes a wedge of his ripe.
ACULA PRUDENTUM. 323
Valour that parleys, is near yielding.
Thurfday come, and the week is gone.
A flatterer's throat is an open fel, ulchre.
There is great force hidden in a fweet com-
mand.
The command of cuOcom is great.
To have money is a fear, not to have it a
grief.
The Cat fees not the moufe ever.
Little dogs fl:art the hare, the great get her.
Willows are weak, yet they bind other wood.
A good payer is maOcer of another's purfe.
The thread breaks where it is weakefl:.
Old men, when they fcorn young, make much
of death.
God is at the end, when we think he is fur-
theft: off it.
A good Judge conceives quickly, judges
flowly.
Rivers need a fpring.
He that contemplates, hath a day without
night.
Give lofers leave to talk.
Lofs embraceth fhame.
Gaming, Women, and Wine, while they
laugh, they make men pine.
The fat man knoweth not what the lean
thinketh.
Wood half burnt is eafily kindled.
The fifla adores the bait.
ACULA PRUDENTUM. 39_7
You cannot make a windmill go with a pair
of bellows.
Pardon all but thyfelf.
Every one is weary, the poor in reeking, the
rich in keeping, the good in learning.
The efcaped moufe ever feels the tafte of the
bait.
A little wind kindles, much puts out the fire.
Dry bread at home is better than roaft meat
abroad.
More have repented fpeech than filence.
The covetous fpends more than the liberal.
Divine afhes are better than earthly meal.
Beauty dravs more than oxen.
One father is more than a hundred School-
matters.
One eye of the mafter's fees more than ten
of the fervant's.
When God will punifh, he vill firft take
away the underftanding.
A little labour, much health.
When it thunders the thief becomes honeft.
The tree that God plants, no wind hurts it.
Knowledge is no burthen.
It is a bold moufe that neftles in the cat's
ear.
Long jefting was never good.
If a good man thrive, all thrive with him.
If the mother had not been in the oven, flae
had never fought her daughter there.
He that
He that
He that
He that
He that
He that
enemy.
.,4CUL.,4 PRUDENTUM. 33 I
One foot is better than two crutches.
Better fuffer ill, than do ill.
Neither praife nor difpraife thyfelf, thy a&ions
ferve the turn.
Soft and fair goes far.
The conftancy of the benefit of the year in
their feafons argues a Deity.
Praife none too much, for all are fickle.
It is abfurd to warm one in his armour.
Lawfuits confume time, and money, and ref[,
and friends.
Nature draws more than ten teams.
He that hath a wife and children, wants not
bufinefs.
A (hip and a woman are ever repairing.
He that fears death, lives not.
He that pities another, remembers himfelf.
He that doth what he fhould not, (hall feel
what he would no.
marries for wealth, fells his liberty.
once hits, is ever bending.
ferves, muf ferve.
lends, gives.
preacheth, giveth alms.
cockers his child, provides for his
A pitiful look arks enough.
Who will fell the cow, muff fay the word.
Service is no inheritance.
The faulty ftands on his guard.
33 z .,,'tCUL.,4 PR UDENTUM.
A kinfman, a friend, or whom you entreat,
take not to ferve you, if you will be ferved
neatly.
At Court, every one for himfelf.
To a crafty man, a crafty and a half.
He that is thrown, would ever wref[le.
He that ferves well, needs not atk his wages.
Fair language grates not the tongue.
A good heart cannot lie.
Good fxvimmers at length are drowned.
Good land, evil way.
In doing we learn.
It is good xvalking with a horfe in one's
hand.
God, and Parents, and our Maf[er, can never
be requited.
An ill deed cannot bring honour.
A fmall heart hath fmall defires.
All are not merry that daiace lightly.
Courtefy on one fide only laf[s not long.
Wine-Counfels feldom profper.
Weening is not meafure.
The bef[ of the fport is to do the deed, and
fay nothing.
If thou thyfelf canf[ do it, attend no other's
help or hand.
Of a little thing, a little difpleafeth.
He warms too near that burns.
God keep me from four houfes, a Ufurer's, a
Tavern, a Spital, and a Prifon.
.,4CUL.,4 PRUDENHUM. 333
In a hundred ells of contention, there is not
an inch of love.
Do what thou oughteft, and come what come
can.
Hunger makes dinners, paffime fuppers.
In a long journey fraw weighs.
Women laugh when they can, and weep when
they will,
War is death's feaff.
Set good again evil.
He that brings good news knocks hard.
Beat the Dog before the Lion.
Hate comes not alone.
You muf lore a fly to catch a trout.
Better a fnotty child than his nofe wiped off.
He is not free that draws his chain.
He g6es not out of his way that goes to a
good inn.
There comes nought out of the lack, but
what was there.
A little given feafonably, excufes a great gift.
He looks not well to himfelf that looks not
ever.
He thinks not well, that thinks not again.
Religion, Credit, and the Eye are not to be
touched.
The tongue is not feel, yet it cuts.
A white wall is the paper of a fool.
They talk of Chrifmas fo long, that it comes.
That is gold which is worth gold.
CUL PR UDENTUM. 335
The rich knows not who is his friend.
A morning Sun, and a Wine-bred child, and
a Latin-bred woman feldom end well.
To a clofe fhorn flaeep, God gives wind by
meafure.
A pleafure long expeCted, is dear enough fold.
A poor man's cow dies a rich man's child.
The cow knows not what her tail is worth till
fhe have lo it.
Choofe a horfe made, and a wife to make.
It is an ill air where we gain nothing.
He hath not lived, that lives not after death.
So many men in court, and fo many rangers.
He quits his place well, that leaves his friend
here.
That which fufficeth is not little.
Good news may be told at any time, but ill in
the morning.
He that would be a Gentleman, let him go
to an affault.
Who pays the Phyfician, does the cure.
None knows the weight of another's burthen.
Every one hath a fool in his fleeve.
One hour's fleep before midnight is worth
three after.
In a retreat the lame are foremott.
It is more pain to do nothing than fomething.
Amongff good men two men thffice.
There needs a long time to know the world's
pulfe.
336 ,3'ACULA PR UDENTUM.
The offspring of thofe that are very young, or
very old, lats not.
A tyrant is molt tyrant to himfelf.
Too much taking heed is lofs.
Craft againt craft, makes no living.
The Reverend are ever before.
France is a meadowy that cuts thrice a year.
It is eafier to build two chimneys, than to
maintain one.
The Court hath no Ahnanack.
He that will enter into Paradife, muff have a
good key.
When you enter into a houfe, leave the anger
ever at the door.
He hath no leifure who ufeth it not.
It is a wicked thing to make a dearth one's
garner.
He that deals in the world needs four fieves.
Take heed of an ox before, of a horfe behind,
of a monk on all tides.
The year doth nothing elfe but open and
flaut.
The ignorant hath an Eagle's wings and an
Owl's eyes.
There are more Phyficians in health than
drunkards.
The wife is the key of the houfe.
The Law is not the fame at morning and at
night.
War and Phyfic are governed by the eye.
338 ACULA PR UDENTUM.
Wine is a turn-coat (firit a friend, then an
enemy).
Wine ever pays for his lodging.
Wine makes all forts of creatures at table.
Wine that coit nothing is digeited before it
be drunk.
Trees eat but once.
Armour is light at table.
Good horfes make flmrt miles.
Cattles are Foreits of ttones.
The dainties of the great are the tears of the
poor.
Parfons are fouls' waggoners.
Children when they are little make parents
fools, when they are great they make them
mad.
The Mafer abfent, and the houfe dead.
Dogs are fine in the field.
Sins are not known till they be a&ed.
Thorns whiten, yet do nothing.
All are prefumed good till they are found in
a fault.
The great put the little on the hook.
The great would have none great, and the
little all little.
The Italians are wife before the deed, the
Germans in the deed, the French after the deed.
Every. mile is two in winter.
Spe&acles are death's Arquebufe.
Lawyers' houfes are built on the heads of fools.
ACULA PRUDENff'UM. 339
The houfe is a fine houfe when good folks
are within.
The bef[ bred have the bef[ portion.
The firf and laf[ frof[s are the worf[.
Gifts enter every where without a wimble.
Princes have no way.
Knowledge makes one laugh, but wealth
makes one dance.
The Citizen is at his bufinefs before he rife.
The eyes have one language every where.
It is better to have wings than horns.
Better be a fool than a knave.
Count not four, except you have them in a
wallet.
To live peaceably with all, breeds good blood.
You may be on land, yet not in a garden.
You cannot make the fire fo low, but it will
get out.
We know not who lives or dies.
An ox is taken by the horns, and a man by
the tongue.
Many things are lof[ for want of afking.
No Church-yard is fo handfome, that a man
would defire f[raight to be buried there.
Cities are taken by the ears.
Once a year a man may fay, On his con-
fcience.
We leave more to do when we die, than we
have done.
With cufoms we live well, but laws undo us.
.ACULA PRUDENTUM. 34 I
He a beait doth die, that hath done no good
to his country.
He that follows the Lord, hopes to go before.
He that dies without the company of good
men, puts not himfelf into a good way.
Who hath no head, needs no heart.
Who hath no hafte in his bufinefs, mountains
to him feem valleys.
Speak not of my debts, unlefs you mean to
pay them.
He that is not in the wars, is not out of
danger.
He that gives me fmall gifts, would have me
live.
He that is his own Counfellor, knows no-
thing fure but what he hath laid out.
He that hath lands, hath quarrels.
He that goes to bed thirPcy, rifeth healthy.
Who will make a door of gold, muff knock
a nail every day.
A trade is better than fervice.
He that lives in hope, danceth without mufic.
To review one's ftore is to mow twice.
Saint Luie was a Saint and a Phyfician, yet
is dead.
Without bufinefs, debauchery.
Without danger we cannot get beyond dan-
ger.
Health and ficknefs furely are men's double
enemies.
e#ICUL.,4 PR UDENTUM. 347
What one day gives us, another takes away
froln us.
To leek in a Sheep five feet when there are
but four.
A fcabbed horfe cannot abide the cotnb.
God frikes with his finger, and not with all
his arm.
God gives his wrath by weight, and without
weight his mercy.
Of a new Prince, new bondage.
New things are fair.
Fortune to one is Mother, to another is Step-
mother.
There is no man, though never fo little, but
fometimes he can hurt.
The horfe that draws after him his halter, is
not altogether efcaped.
We muff recoil a little, to the end we may
leap the better.
No love is foul, nor prifon fair.
No day fo clear, but hath dark clouds.
No hair fo fmall, but hath his fladow.
A wolf will never make war againff another
wolf.
We muff love, as looking one day to hate.
It is good to have rome friends both in hea-
ven and hell.
It is very hard to fhave an egg.
It is good to hold the afs by the bridle.
The healthful man can give counfel to the tick.
348 ]ACULA PR UDENTUM.
The death of a young wolf doth never come
too loon.
The rage of a wild boar is able to fpoil more
than one wood.
Virtue flies fi'om the heart of a Mercenary
man o
The wolf eats oft of the (heep that have been
warned.
The moufe that hath but one hole is quickly
taken.
To play at Chefs when the houfe is on
fire.
The itch of difputing is the fcab of the
Church.
Follow not truth too near the heels, left it
dafh out thy teeth.
Either wealth is much increafed, or mode-
ration is much decayed.
Say to pleafure, Gentle Eve, I will none of
your apple.
When war begins, then hell openeth.
There is a remedy for every thing, could
men find it.
There is an hour wherein a man might be
happy all his life could he find it.
Great Fortune brings with it Great misfor-
tune.
A fair day in winter is the mother of a ftorm.
Woe be to him that reads but one book.
Tithe, and be rich.
ACULA PRUDENTUM. 35 I
There is nobody will go to hell for company.
Much money makes a Country poor, for it
fets a dearer price on every thing.
The virtue of a coward is fufpicion.
A man's definy is always dark.
Every man's cenfure is firflc moulded in his
own nature.
Money wants no followers.
Your thoughts clofe, and your countenance
loofe.
Whatever is made by the hand of man, by
the hand of man may be overturned.
Letters of George Herbert.
I. From George Herbert to Mr. H. Herbert.
I618.
BROTHER,
HE difeafe which I am troubled with
now is the (hortnefs of time, for it
hath been nay fortune of late to have
fuch fudden warning, that I have
not leifure to impart unto you rome of thole
obfervations which I have framed to myfelf in
converfation; and whereof I would not have
you ignorant. As I (hall find occafion, you
* Henry Herbert was the fixth fon of Richard Herbert,
efq. and Magdalen Newport, daughter of Sir Richard Newport,
and born A. IS. 1660. His Brother, Lord Herbert of Chef-
bury, in his curious hiory of his own Life, has made the fol-
lowing mention of Henry : " Henry, after he had been brought
up in learning, as the other brothers were, was lent by his
friends into France, where he attained the language of that
country in perfeeCtion, after which he came to Court, and
was made Gentleman of the King's Privy Chamber, and
Maer of the Revels ; by which means, as alfo by a good
marriage, he attained to great fortunes, for himfelf and his
poerity to enjoy. He alfo hath given feveral proofs of his
courage in duels, and otherwife, being no lefs dextrous in the
ways of the Court, as having gotten much by it."
356 LET7ERS OF
knew none but one who could be no company
to them. Therefore I confidered that if one
only came, the comfort intended would prove
a difcomfort. Since that I have feen the fruit
of my obfervation, for they have lived fo lov-
ingly, lying, eating, walking, praying, work-
ing, frill together, that I take a comfort therein ;
and would not have to part them yet, till I take
fome opportunity to let them know your love,
for which both they flall, and I do thank you.
It is true there is a third Sifter, whom to re-
ceive were the greatefi charity of all, for fle is
younget, and leat looked unto; having none
to do it but her School-mifrefs, and you know
what thofe mercenary creatures are. Neither
hath fle any to repair unto at good times, as
Chrijlmas, &c. which you know is the encou-
ragement of learning all the year after, except
my Coufin Bett take pity of her, which yet at
that difance is fome difficulty. If you could
think of taking her, as once you did, furely it
were a great good deed, and I would have her
conveyed to you. But I judge you not: Do
that which God flaall put into your heart, and
the Lord blefs all your purpofes to his Glory.
Yet, truly, if you take her not, I am thinking
to do it, even beyond nay frength; efpecially
at this time, being more beggarly now than I
have been thefe many years, as having fpent
two hundred pounds in building ; which to me
GEORGE HERBERT. 357
that have nothing yet, is very much. But
though I both confider this, and your obfcrva-
tion, alfo, of the unthankfulnefs of kindred
bred up, (which generally is very true,) yet I
care not; I forget all things, fo I may do them
good who want it. So I do my part to thena,
let them think of me what they will or can. I
have another Judge, to whom I ftand or fall.
If I flaould regard fuch things, it were in an-
other's power to defeat nay charity, and evil
fhould be ftronger than good: But dit-ficulties
are fo far from cooling Chriftians, that they
whet them. Truly it grieves ne to think of
the child, how deftitute flae is, and that in this
neceffary time of education. For the time of
breeding is the time of doing children good:
and not as many who think they have done
fairly, if they leave them a good portion after
their deceafe. But take this rule, and it is an
outlandifla one, which I commend to you as
being now a Father, The be.fl-bred child hath
the be.fl portion. Well ; the good God blefs you
more and more ; and all yours ; and make your
Family a Houfeful of God's Servants. So prays
your ever loving Brother,
G. HErBEra .
My Wife's and Nieces' fervice.
To my very dear Brother,
Sir Henry Herbert, at Court.
358 LETTERS OF
Letters written at Cambridge.
From the Appendix to If'alton's Life.
V. For my dear.tick Sifter.
MOST DEAR SISTER,
HINK not nay filence forgetfulnefs; or
that nay love is as dumb as my papers;
though butinefs may ftop my hand, yet
nay heart, a much better mcmber, is alxvays xvith
you: and which is more, with our good and
gracious God, inceffantly begging rome eafe of
your pains, with that earneftnefs, that becomes
your griefs, and nay love. God who knows and
fees this Writing, knows alfo that my foliciting
him has been much, and my tears many for
you ; judge me then by thole waters, and not by
my ink, and then you flaall juftly value your
molt truly, molt heartily, affe6tionate Brother
and Servant,
GEORGE HERBERT.
Trinity College, December 6, I62o.
* Elizabeth, wife of Sir Hemy ones. The latter part of
her life, we are told by her Brother, Lord Herbert, was mof
fickly and miferable; fhe pined away to fi'in and bones, for
nearly fourteen years, and at lafl: died in London, worn out by
paiq and affli&ion.
GEORGE HERBERT. 363
and Sifter to pardon me, for my Cambridge ne-
ceflities are ftronger to tie me here, than yours
to London : If I could poflibly have come, none
fhould have done my meffage to Sir Fr: Nether-
Jb/e for me ; he and I are ancient acquaintance,
and I have a ftrong opinion of him, that if he
can do me a courtefy, he will of himfelf; yet
your appearing in it, affe&s me rangely. I
have lent you here enclofed a Letter from our
Mafter on nay behalf, which if you can lbnd to
Sir Francis before his departure, it will do well,
for it expreffeth the Univerfity's inclination to
me; yet if you cannot fend it with much con-
venience, it is no matter, for the Gentleman
needs no incitation to love me.
The Orator's place (that you may underand
what it is) is the fineft place in the Univeriity,
though not the gainfulleft; yet that will be
about 3ol. per annum, but the commodiouthefs
is beyond the Revenue; for the Orator writes
all the Univerfity Letters, makes all the Orations,
be it to King, Prince, or whatever comes to the
Univerfity; to requite there pains, he takes
place next the Do&ors, is at all their Affemblies
and Meetings, and fits above the Pro&ors, is
Regent, or Non-regent at his pleafure, and fuch
like Gayneffes, which will pleafe, a young man
well.
I long to hear from Sir Francis, I pray Sir,
fend the Letter you receive from him to me as
GEORGE HERBERT. 365
feafonable, my Pen is ready. Concerning the
Orator's place all goes well yet, the next Friday
it is tried, and accordingly you flaall hear. I
have forty bufineffes in nay hands : your Cour-
tefy will pardon the hafte of your humbleft
Servant,
GEORGE HERBERT.
Trinity College, January 19, x6x 9.
Xa
SIR,
UNDERSTAND by Sir Francis
therfole's Letter, that he fears I have
not fully refolved of the matter, fince
this place being civil may divert me too much
from Divinity, at which, not without caufe, he
thinks I aim: but, I have wrote him back, that
this dignity hath no fuch earthinefs in it, but it
may very well be joined with Heaven : or if it
had to others, yet to me it fhould not, for aught
I yet knew; and therefore I defire him to fend
me a dire& anfwer in his next Letter. I pray
Sir, therefore, caufe this enclofed to be carried to
his brother's houfe of his own name (as I think)
at the fign of the Pedler and the Pack on Lon-
don-bridge, for there he affigns me. I cannot
yet find leifure to write to my Lord, or Sir
Benjamin Ruddyard; but I hope I fhall fhortly,
GEORGE HERBERT. 367
my Annuity now, upon condition that I flaould
furceafe from all title to it, after I entered into
a Benefice, I fhould be mof glad to entertain
it, and both pay for the furplufage of thefe
Books, and for ever after ceafe nay clamorous
and greedy bookith requeRs. It is high time
now that I flaould be no more a burden to you,
fince I can never anfver what I have already
received; for your favours are fo ancient, that
they prevent my memory, and yet frill grow
upon your Humbleft Servant,
Gv.oRc
I remember nay moil humble duty to my Mother,
Ihave wrote to my dearjqck Ser thisweek already,
and therefore now I hope may he excufed.
I ray, Sir, pardon n
brother's Letter in yours,r it was becat I know
your Lodging, ut not
XII. U0 the Right Hon. the Lady Anne, Counters
of Pembroke and Montgomery, at Court.
HI'Ta trouble hath your Goodnefs brought
on you, by admitth our oor rvices
now they creep hz a Fbl 'Metheglin,
and fiill they will be printing or ,ing to e,
at length they may find out mething not
37 2 L Eq'TERS OF
IV. Gratu&tio de Marchionatu ad Bucking. C.
A. D. I6a 9.
ILLUSTRISSIME DOMINr,
CQUID inter tot gloria: titulos caput undique
munientes meminiffi magifrum Te effe Ar-
tium ? an inter lauros principis hedera: nof-
tra: ambitiofa: locus ef ? hunc quidem gradum pignus
habes amoris nofri, ha:c ef anfa qu prehendimus Te,
et tanquam aquilam inter novas honorum nubes e
confpe&u nof[ro fugientem revocamus. Tu viciffim
abund compenfas nos, gratitlimoque Almam Matrem
profequeris animo : proin ut Fluvii quas aquas a Fonte
accipiunt non retinent ipfi, fed in mare dimittunt; Sic
Tu etiam dignitates ab optimo Rege defumptas in
tmiverfam Rempublicam diffundis: per Te illucet
nobis acobus holier. Tu aperis ilium populo et cure
ipfe fis in fumm arbore, alter manu prehendis Regem,
alteram nobis ad radices ha:rentibus porrigis: Qare,
meritiffime Marchio, Tuam gloriam cenfemus nor[ram
et in honoribus Tuis nof[ro bono gratulamur; quan-
quam quem alium fru&um potuimus expe&are ab Eo
in quem favor Regius, nof[ra vota virtutes tanta: con-
fluxerunt: inter qua: etiam certamen oritur et pia con-
tentio, utrum gratia Principis virtutes tuas, aut nofra
vota gratiam Principis, aut Tua: virtutes et vota nofra
et Principis gratiam fuperarent. Nimirum ut linea:
quamvis diverfa via, omnes tamen ad centrum prope-
rant. Sic difparata: fcelicitates hinc a populo illinc a
Principe in Te conveniunt, et confabulantur. Qare
quomodo alii molem hanc la:titia: fua: exprimant, ipfi
GEORGE HERBERT. 377
IX.
Gratulatio ad Heath, Sollicitor.
Procurator. 9 Jan. I6O.
VIR DIGNISSIME
IC a natura comparatum eft, ignis et virtus
femper afcendunt, utriufque enim fplendor et
claritas humilia loca deprecantur. Q.are op-
time fecit Rex Sereniflimus, qui virtutes tuas magnis
negotiis et pares provexit, noluitque ut minori Sphaer3.
quam pro latitudine meritorum tuorum circumfcribe-
reris. Nos ver6 de hoc tuo progreffu non minus
Reipublicae gratulamur quam tibi, rogamufque ut
quando beneficia tua pervagantur ngliam, nos etiam
i,wifant : ita excipiemus ilia, ut benignius hofpitium, et
erga te propenfius, haud ufqum forfitan reperias.
[Jacobo Regi] Gratiw de Scriptis
fuis ./Icademice donatis.
18 Maii, 16 o.
SERENISSIME DOMINE NOSTER,
J.COB INVlCTISSlME.
CQ..UID inter tantas mundi trepidationes no-
bis et Muffs vacas ? 0 prudentiam incom-
parabilem, que eodem vultu et moderatur
mundum et nos refpicit. Circumfpice, fi placer, ter-
rarum reges, mutus e mundus univerfus, vesta folflm
dextra (quamvis fcriptione terreftribufque ittis fubli-
GEORGE HERBER'T. 387
tern aut reperilTcm aut fecilTem. Neque qu6d ignotior
eram, retundebatur unquam impetus: quippe, qui tic
colligebam; fi tam abje&us tim, ut laboribus meis
plurimis atque aflidu obfcrvanti, ramenta quapiam
ex tanta Humanitatis malta, qua apud te vifitur,
abfcindere non poflim, abfque mole(, aliorum ac
frigid, commendatione, fi huc reciderit omnis f[udio-
rum fpes fru&ufque :
Cur ego laborem notus effe tam pravk ?
Cure flare gratis cure filentio
Qo.d tamen hac omnia fuccedant ex voto, quod re-
clufe tint fores, receptufque tim in aliquem apud H. T.
locum, magis id adeo fa&um effe manfuetudine tu
incomparabili, quam meis meritis ullis, femper luben-
tiffimque agnofcam: im6 precabor enix, me turn
privari tam communi h.c luce, quam tu, cure id
agnofcere unquam definam. Qanquam, cure gravi-
bus duobus muneribus fungar apud meos, Rhetoris in
hunc annum, et in plures Oratoris, permitte, pater,
hoc impetrem, ut cedam aliquantifper expe&ationi
hominum, rarifafque paul6 fodiam in l/intonienfi agro,
dum Rhetorici fatagam: quamvis enim fexcenta hu-
jusmodi pradiola tub gratiS, permutare nolim; majus
tamen piaculum reor, deeffe publico muneri, quam
privato, latiufque manare injuftitia: peccatum, quam
negligentia:. Illic conffringor debito: hic etiam te-
neor, fed laxioribus vinculis, quaque amor fape remit-
tit: illud neceffarium magis fa&u, hoc vero longd
jucundius, nobiliufque : ut quod Philofophus de ta&u
et vifu, id appofit admodum huc transferatur. Ap-
petit tempus, cure excuffo altero jugo, dimidi.que
Oratio qua Aufpicatiflimum Se-
reniffimi Principis Caroli
Reditum ex Hifpaniis celebravit Georgius
Herbert Academie Cantabri-
gienfis Orator.
VENERANDA CAPITA, VIRI GRAVI$$IMI,
PtSBES LECTISSlM,.
OLYCRATES c6m annulum fibi dilec"tum
in mare dimififfet, eundemque retuliffet
captus pifcis, fceliciffimus mortalium ha-
bitus efL Qanto fceliciores nos omnes,
Corona Mufica, qui optimum Principem fpe nuptiarum
marl nuper tradentes, et ipfum accepimus falvum et an-
nulum, annulum Conjugalem, nunc denu6 noftrum,
atque ubivis terrarum pro judicio prudentiflimi Regis,
et in rebus humanis divinifque exercitatiflimi, de integro
difponendum. Rediit, rediit Carolus, et cum eo vita
noftra atque calor, longo animi deliquio fugitivus ac
defertor. Qvid ja,Stas mihi aromata Orientis ? Qid
Theriacas peregrinas ? afferunt Medici unamquamque
regionem fuam fibi fufficere, neque externis indigere
* Ex officina Cantrelli Legge, Aime Matris Cantabrigiw
typographi, 623, fin. 4to.
terra, qu arbores. Apud Juris-confultos,
fequitur ventrem: quibus accedunt Poetm,
393
partus
Nam ut educationem liberorum mittam, qu-a in re
celebris eR Gracchorum mater, ingenium ipfum atque
indoles (veluti Conclufio fequitur infirmiorem partem)
plerumque matriffat: hinc contigiffe arbitror apud
Romanos, quod nonnullm familim femper mites effent,
uti 17alerii, alim contr,, femper pertinaces ac tribuniti,
uti ppii. are noluit Princeps optimus, in dele&u
uxoris, re un omnium graviflim alienis oculis judi-
cioque inniti ; Ipfe, ipfe profe&us e, ut ingenti labore
fuo et periculo confuleret, et prfenti Reipublicm et
futur ; neque unius feculi Princeps, fed et omnium,
qu ventura funt, haberetur. Neque in hifce Nuptiis
poeritati tantfim profpexit fimvimus Princeps, ve-
rfim etiam prmfenti feculo, dum pacem, qu tot jam
nis impun fruimur, hoc pa&o fundatam cupit et
perpetuam ; quod quidem ubi gentium fi non ab H-
pano fperandum "Orev voO e7eOov guve
[9v. Scio Belli nomen fplendidum effe et glorio-
fim, dum animus grandis, fuique impos, iumphos et
vi&orias, quaff frmna ferox fpumantia mandit, juvat
micare gladio et mucronem intueri.
am nunc minaci murmure cornuum
Stringuntur aures : jam #tui flrepunt,
yam fulgor armorum fugaces
Terret equos equitumque vu#us.
Cum tamen fplendida plerumque vitrea tint, claritatem
ORAUIO. 397
effent animalia, fed tigres aut urfi. Qamobrem op-
tim confuluit gentibus natura, cure paupertatem darer
tanquam catenam, qu diffitas nationes ac fuperbas
conffringeret. Porro fi Politicos audiamus, Salus reg-
norum pendet vicinis, quorum confilia, apparatus,
foedera, munitiones, equ ac noffra fpe&ari debent:
incumbant fibi invicem imperia, tanquam ligna obliqua,
aliter magna hec mundi domus corrueret : hinc Reges
Legatos habent fatarios ac refides, quem locum Noffer
fuaviffimus implevit, ipfe egit oratorem, ut et ego ali-
quantulum hoc nomine glorier.
Neque alienas tant6m ex hoc itinere cognovit Ref-
publica fed quod plus elf, fuam ; abfenti magis qu/tm
prefenti. Nunc enim exploratos habet noffros in fe
affe(tus, timores, fufpiria, expofulationes, iras, amorem
rurfus. Deus bone ? qui turn rumores ? quae audi-
tiones ? qui fufurri ? Heus, abiitn Noffer ? miferos
nos; nunquam fi-igidiorem aeffatena fenfimus; at quo
tandem ? Madritum ? hui! iter bene longum : O4jid
autem illic? ferilem aiunt regionem: Falleris, nuf-
quam plura bona, cure etiam mala illic tint aurea:
nihil inaudiffi de Tago, Pac7olo ? apud nos agri tantum
runt fertiles, illic etiam arenae. Dii te perdant, cure
malls tuis et aren fine calce; at ego Principem vel-
lem, Carolum, Carolum ; ficcin abiiffi folus ? cur non
nos omnes tecum ? cur non ut elephanti turres, ita tu
patriam tecum portaffi ? Sic tunc omnes ffrepebant;
hujufmodi lamentis et quiritationibus plena erant fora,
nundine, conciliabula, angiportus, M, eandri. Dicam
vobis, Academici; ego tunc temporis liberior eram,
hfic illfic pro libitu circumcurfitans: infpexi facies
hominum ac vultus curiofiths tanquam emptor, ita me
ametis omnes, ut ego nihil ufpiam Ioetum, nihil candi-
0 R ./IUIO. 40 I
paniam, fi opus fit, fuperabit ; prefertim chin amico fi-
dere periculofius fit, qum hofem fitperare. Protagoras
cCm elegant& admodm caudices ligni fafciculo vinx-
iffet, cure grandi atque impedito onere facillim ince-
dens, occurrit ei Democritus, et ingenium admirans,
domum fecum duxit, et erudivit artibus; qui inde
bajulo evafit Philofophus, eodem ingenio ufus in lignis
et literis: quis fcit an et amoris onus fcit vin&um
ligatumque et per tot milliaria facil tranfmiffum; men-
tern majorum capacem indicet ? Florent apud nos
artes omnes, inter quas et Mathematica:, que
verfentur in figuris defcribendis, quibus nihil imperito
vanius inutiliufv videatur, ubi tamen ad ufum tralat:e
fuerint, machinas conficiunt ad defenfionem Reipublica:
mirabiles : Sic idem animus, qui nuper verfatus ef in
form et figuris vultus, ubi res pofulat, regnum tue-
bitur: imo in univerfum, fi quis de Principe aliquo,
quis fit futurus aut qualis, re& divinaret, non refpiciat
materiam a&ionum, fed quo fpiritu, qu arte, quanto
impetu atque vigore res aggrediatur: quemadmodum
in Comete prefagio, non refpicitur, qua: materia
fit, cceleffis an fublunaris, fed qua: figna, quo motu
tranfeat.
Verfim mittamus invidos et invidiam, que femper fe
devorat primm, uti vermis nucleum, quo nafcitur ;
non ef tanti refpondere latratibus malevolorum; lic&
celebres tint canes Britannici, et plus jufto celebres,
cure leunculum et dominum fuum contra naturam
adoriantur: in Geoponicis dicitur, Koovrpov-" ov'' r-
quanto citibs fugient calumnia, fi fpeculum Invidia
oftendas, quo deformitatem fuam intueatur. Nos verb,
flores Parnaffi, gaudia prefolantur, que jamdudum
D D
406
O R A'TIO N.
what could have happened more pleating to us, than
the accefs of the Officers of the Catholic King ? whole
exceeding glory is equally round with the world itfelf:
who tying, as with a knot, both Indies to his Spain,
knows no limits of his praife, no, not, as in parle ages,
thole Pillars of tIercules. Long fince, all we and our
whole Kingdom exult with joy, to be united with that
blood which ufeth to infufe fo great and worthy
Spirits. And that vhich firflc deferveth our obfer-
ration, to the end, we might the more by love grow
on, both the Spanifl and Britifh Nation ferve and wor-
fhip ".ames. ".ames is the prote&ing Saint unto us
both, that you may xvell conceive your Excellencies to
be more dear unto us, in that you are of the fame
order and habit, of which we all in this Kingdom glory
to be. The praifes alfo and virtues of the moflc re-
nowned Princefs If abel, pafling daily our neighbouring
Sea, wondroufly found through all our Coats and
ears. And neceffarily mut the felicity of fo great
Princes redound alfo to thole fervants, in the choice of
whom their judgment doth even now appear. Where-
fore moil Excellent, moil illutrious Lords, fince you
are fo great both in your princes, and yourfelves, we
jutly fear that there is nothing here anfwerable to the
greatnefs of your prefence. For amongt us what
glorious fhew is there, either of garments or of any
thing elfe ? what fplendour ? furely, fince there is a
twofold brightnefs which dazzleth the eyes of men,
we have as much failed as your Excellencies do excel
in both. But yet the Arts in quietnefs and filence
here are reverenced : here is tranquillity, repofe, peace
xvith all but Book worms, perpetual poverty, but
xvhen your Excellencies appear. Yet do not ye con-
Letters of Dr. Donne
To his Mother the Lady Margaret Herbert.
From the Ippcndix to IP'alton's Life.
I. o the worthiefl Lady, Irs. Mag-
dalen Herbert.
MAI3AM,
VERY excufe hath in it fomewhat of
accufation ; and fince I am innocent,
and yet mut excufe, how/hall I do
for that part of accufing. By my
troth, as defperate and perplexed men grow
from thence bold; fo muff I take the boldnefs
of accufing you, who would draw fo dark a
Curtain betwixt me and your purpofes, as that
I had no glimmering, either of your goings, nor
the way which nay Letters might haunt. Yet,
I have given this Licence to Travel, but I know
not whither, nor it. It is therefore rather a
Pinnace to difcover; and the entire Colony of
Letters, of Hundreds and Fifties, muff follow;
whole employment is more honourable than
that xvhich our State meditates to Virginia, be-
LETTERS OF DR. DONNE. 4o9
caufe you are worthier than all that Country, of
which that is a wretched inch; for you have
better treafure and a harmlefliefs. If this found
like a flattery, tear it out. I am to my Letters
as rigid a Puritan, as Cefar was to his Wife. I
can as ill endure a fufpicious and mifinterpret-
able word as a Fault; but remember, that nothing
is flattery which the Speaker believes; and of
the groffett flatteries there is this good ufe, that
they tell us what we flaould be. But, Madam,
you are beyond inttruc"tion, and therefore there
can belong to you only praife ; of which though
you be no good hearer, yet allow all my Letters
leave to have in them one part of it, which is
thankfulnefs towards you. Your unworthieft
thrvant, except your accepting have mended
him,
Micham, July , , 6o 7.
JOHN DONNE.
II. To the l/Uorthie Lady, Mrs. Mag-
dalen Herbert.
MADAM,
HIS is my fecond Letter, in which,
though I cannot tell you what is good,
yet this is the worIt, that I muIt be a
great part of it ; yet to me, that is recompenfed,
becaufe you muIt be mingled. After I knew
you were gone (for I muIt, little lefs than ac-
4o LETTERS OF
cufingly tell you, I knew not you would go) I
fent my firft Letter, like a Bevis of Hampton, to
feek Adventures. This day I came to Town,
and to the belt part of it, your Houfe ; for your
memory is a State-cloth and Prefence ; which I
reverence though you be away; though I need
not feek that there which I have about and
within me. There, though I found my accu-
ration, yet any thing to which your hand is, is a
pardon ; yet I would not burn my firft Letter,
becaufe, as in great deftiny, no fmall paffage can
be omitted or fruftrated, fo in my refolution of
writing al,noR daily to you, I would have no link
of the Chain broke by me, both becaufe my
Letters interpret one another, and becaufe only
their number can give them weight : If I had
your Commiflion and Inftru&ions to do you the
fervice of a Legier Ambaffador here, I could fay
fomething of the Countefs of Devon : of the
States, and fuch things. But fince to you, who
are not only a vorld alone, but the Monarchy
of the World yourfelf, nothing can be added,
efpecially by ,he; I will fuftain myfelf with
the honour of being your fervant extraordinary,
and vithout place,
Jo. Dow.
London, Jt,ly 23, i6o 7.
A Prayer by Nicholas Ferrar of
Little Gidding, for his Friend G/ORCE
HERBERT in his Sicknefs. *
_M)-. Mapletoft brought us word that Mr. Her-
bert was faid to be paJt hope of recovery, which
was very grievous news to us, and fo much the
more fo, being altogether unexpected. We pre-
fently therefore made our publick fipplication
.r his health in the words and manner follow-
MOST mighty God, and mercifull
Father, we moft humbly befeech
thee, if it be thy good pleafure, to
continue to us that tingular benefit
vhich thou haft given us in the friendfliip of
thy fervant, our dear brother, who now lieth on
the bed of ficknefs. Let him abide with us
yet awhile, for the furtherance of our faith.
We have indeed deferved by our ingratitude, not
only the lofs of him, but whatever other oppor-
tunities thou haft given us for the attainment
* Life of'Nicholas Ferrar, by Peckhard, 8vo. 179 o, p. 3 I4"
See lP'alton's Life of Herbert, p. lxix. and Oley's Ltfi, p. cvi.
CHI$'ICK : C. WHITTINGHAM.
846.
