University of Virginia Library


7

Sermo Secundus.

To the Right Honorable, William, Lord Powis, and Sir Percie Herbert his Son.

The Argument.

Wee meane to treate of GOD; what shall wee take
For Essence, and a Definition make?
Can he who no waies will be circumscrib'de,
By any termes of Learning be describ'de?
Can he be specifide by words of Art?
When thought cannot imagine the least part
Of his perfections. Yet weele something write
From Gods owne Lucid Lanthorne borrowing light,
For since prophaner Authors Buzzards were,
By this directed, wee our course must steere.
So sacred are our Records, no prophane
Hand must attempt to touch 'em under paine
Of severe chastisement. So Sinais Mount,
Nor man nor beast approach when Moses on't
Receives the Law; and the same Prophet must
Pull off his shooes in reverence of that Dust,
Where God shall show himselfe. He answers well,
Who being commanded by his King to tell
What God was, and desiring still more dayes
The Question to resolve, yet still delayes:
Truely confessing that the Thesis grew
Harder, and harder, and the lesse he knew,

8

Theodectes a Tragike Poet. Aristæas one of the 72 Translators.

The more he studied. Who writ Tragedies,

For his presumption forfeited his eyes.
And Theopompus lost his health, because
One in his Stories, the other Moses Lawes
Durst bring upon the Stage, both are restor'd
To sight, and health; their fault by both deplor'd.
Yet who are humble with a prosperous gaile
In Cephas ship shall through the Ocean saile,
And in the depths behold Gods Attributes,
How this perfection, that negation sutes,
To expresse some thing of a Diety,
(More then created understandings high)
And character as followes. GOD'S a Being,
That ever was, and shall be; a minde seeing,
All in the Mirrour of himselfe, where all
Future things, and possible (though these shall
Nev'r have existence) boast Eternitie,
And in the Godhead all whole sharers be,
GOD every where is present, no where seen,
He filleth the whole world, and had there been
Myriads of worlds, he would them all have rounded,
Himselfe not compast, bounded all not bounded.
Fancy some vast imaginary space,
The Centre, and circumference of that place
Is GOD. Imagine thousand vaster, there
GOD must be'e involved the surrounding Sphere:
All intimate to all things, yet all without
All things; though nothing can be, if God be out.
GOD is an Entitie most simple, yet
Millions of discrepant perfections meete,
As Lines Concentrike in this SIMPLE ONE,
And without all these weele acknowledge none:
For GOD: where all are with a bended knee
Offer our Vowes to that sole Majestie.
Admire his immutability, the same
Still in himselfe, yet changing still the frame
O'th world with various Motions: Can love, hate,
Be pleas'd, displeas'd, yet still keepes the same state.

9

(Exteriors only altred.) Stand amaz'd
When mans and Angels thoughts to'th height are rais'd
By'th light of Glory, yet inferiour far
To penetrate what Mines of Treasures are
Hid in that supreme Nature, Power, and Skill
To make ten thousand worlds, when ere he will,
More beautifull then this, increase the store
Of Angels numberlesse, and make 'em more
Glorious beyond esteeme. Can any Law
Limit his Arme? When this world's but a straw
Compar'd to what he can: turne when he please
To their first Chaos, the Aire, the Land, the Seas.
Dissolve the Heavens, reduce to'th old Abysse,
Of nothing, whence they came, those Bands of his
Owne Court, the Angels, and when this is done,
Be full as happy in himselfe alone.
For GOD did not those glorious spirits create
With purpose to encrease his blessed State:
Who was so copious, as he was before,
Nor doe their Legions multiply his store.
Repute Earth, Angels, Heavens, but a meere story
To speake a Deities more extensive glory:
And when he made this ample fabrike, He
For our good would declare a Majestie
Ineffable; in all expresse a will
Of doing good, a power to doe't, a skill
To doe't in the best manner, as much Art
In the production of each severall part,
As of the whole, (an Artists skill being waigh'd,
Not after what, but how the worke is made.)
A Childe may be begot, brought forth, and cry,
But without more sollicitude must dye.
Gods Providence his Creatures must attend
Els were they made to little, or no end.
Soone would this world to the first nothing fall,
If wisdome should not nurse, and governe all.
The Machine a disordred Ataxie,
Generall confusions, and combustions be.

10

What's Provideence? A faire exteriour Robe
Encompassing, and covering the whole Globe,
And all things comprehended in't: Beside
It is the lining of the worlds inside;
Ordaines, rules, acts, for ends peculiar; yet
This Queene do's not her Majesty forget;
But makes the secondarie causes know
They are her Agents, and obedience owe
To what she lists. Could the intensive heate
O'th flaming Furnace make the children sweate,
This Providence a while suspending fire
From action maugre the fierce Tyrants ire?
Did not she make at Josuahs vowes the teeme
O'th posting Sun a while shoote every beame
From the same Zenith, and in lieu of night,
Mortalls stand gazing at a Noonedayes light?
This prescribes Rules, ordaineth Ends, gives Lawes
Constant to th' universe, makes every cause.
Helpe it's associate: Nothing do's in vaine,
But first disposing sweetly without paine
Brings forth what nature would: Yet most appeares
Where liberty of action domineeres.
And with so deepe a wisdome enterweaves
Humane affaires, that though she freedome leaves
To severall purposes and different ends,
Yet happily effects what she pretends,
Attends to all; yet so to every one,
As if save that, she notice tooke of none.
To dictate, write, reade, heare, all in one houre,
Made Cæsar wondred at, Origen much more.
This world of creatures Gods eye lookes upon,
Governes, provides for; yet for all as one.
Observes as well what's in the Cottage acted.
As what votes are i'th Senate House transacted.
Searches intentions, searcheth hearts and reines,
What's done for publique, what for private gaines.
Has admirable fetches. Did not Gods
Providence make Benadad and Jehu Rods

11

Of Achab, though that an Idolater
Jehu a Jew, yet a false worshipper:
These scourges were of Gods revenging ire,
And vengeance acted, cast, into the fire.
This lets bad men beare swaie some Moneths, or Yeares,
And then excited by the cryes and teares
Of the oppressed, with a potent hand
Frees a distress'd and captivated Land.
So Tribes returne to Palestine againe,
And Portugall shakes off the yoke of Spaine.
How this was done the following lines shall speake,
And how mans Arts to Providence are weake.
No end of Taxes, of Excises none,
How to get money still is thought upon;
Water excis'd, and Spanish Lordans are
So greedy, they would taxe even the free Aire.
True Patriots are supprest, and only they
Advanc'd for Officers, who have the way
To grinde the Land, and out the poore mans throat
Get for Corbona an extorted groat,
Harpies oth' the Commonwealth, who procure hate
To an easie King, and cosen King, and State.
All tattred th' other day, Bancrupts, poore Johns,
Now prance it on their foote-clothes, are great Dons:
These are disperst through the whole Kingdome, and
Their Arbitrary power for Law must stand.
They are seconded at Court, if any take
Exceptions, are so potent, they can make
Him a dangerous Malignant, have him sent
For up, plagu'd in purse or imprisonment.
Thus grones poore Portugall, knowes not to whom
She should addresse her selfe, no helpe from home.
St. Julians Fort is in the Spaniards hands,
All Castles kept by Military Bands.
No Lovers of their Countrey weapon beare,
But sent to Italy, or Flanders, there
A Gods name let 'em fight, the more are slaine,
The more firme is the Monarchy of Spaine.

12

Now steps in Providence, no more quoth she
Of bondage; I will set this Nation free,
And make D' Almeida with the Mello's plot,
And never cease till they have freedome got.
And take that crowne from the third Philips Son,
Which D' ALVAS Armes for Prudent Philip won.
Could humane wit or strength: But sole GODS hand,
And PROVIDENCE (that can events command)
So soone, so easily with no losse of blood
Redeeme a Kingdome from long servitude?
But wee must know the Kings, and Peoples sin
Translates the Natives, and brings strangers in.
So Roderigo'es fault brought Moores to Spaine,
Our Britaine by the Saxon, Norman, Dane,
Subdu'd; the French-mens sins for us have fought,
And what but our owne sins fetch't in the Scot?
So when the Conquerours crimes weigh downe the scale,
They make their Vassailes over them prevaile.
When wise, and just men fall, Fooles, Tyrants rise
On the heavenly disposition with squint eyes
Wee looke, and cry an ERROUR of the Prince,
When rightly 'tis a supreme Providence.
Lets higher goe. Abimelech combin'd
With Sichem, and with Mello, all are joyn'd
To ruine Gedeons house. The Olive Tree,
The Vine, the Fig-tree put off Majesty:
“Tell the Trees plainely; wee'le not lose our ease,
“And for your sakes so much our selves displease.
“Wee shoote, wee spring, wee flourish, bring forth fruite
“Which with the Spring, the Summer, Autumne suite
“Please God, and man: what are great Monarks shares?
“But as their Realmes, so multiply their cares.
Only a Whin, a Bramble will be great,
Takes complacence enthron'd in Royall Seate;
But what's the sequell? Sichemites shall rue
That with their Tyrant Gedeons Race they slewe,
And by such murders chose Abimelek Prince,
Gloried in him: Now steps in Providence.

13

Which Joathan fortold 'em. God shall send
From the darke shades of hell some subtile Fiend,
That shall the Subjects, and the King divide,
Make them hate his Tyranny, him their pride:
They upbraid him with his Brethrens murther, though
They were associates in the murther: (So
Eager on mischeife, wee first rashly doe,
At leasure see how foule the fact's, then rue)
He who was raised by them, rases their Walls,
Destroyes their Towne, and by a woman falls.
(Heavens not permitting such League should last long,
Which for Foundation murther had and wrong.)
Marke Kingdomes, Common-wealths, and private States.
And you'le observe not Fortune nor the Fates,
But GODS transcendent Providence beare sway,
And alwayes sin with shame, or sorrow pay.
As Providence and Power, so his science is
His Bounty, Mercy, Justice, an Abysse
Of infinite Perfections. Weele conceive,
Millions of worlds i'th Divine Essence, leave
Nothing which may adde beauty, give delight
To the understanding, hearing, and the sight,
Angels surmounting sands oth' Ocean shore,
Of populous Nations a far ampler store,
Then should of Atomes be, had this vast Frame
Nothing but distinct Atomes in the same.
Now, what a pleasant Vision wert? If you
Saw all these objects in one simple view.
Millions of Angels, Men, Beasts, Plants, rich Stones
All Minerals, heard all Symphonies at once.
Beheld all Colours, Fields, Woods, Trees, Flowres, Fountaines,
Oceans, Springs, Rivers, Vallies, Plaines, Rocks, Mountaines,
Numberlesse Cityes, Hamlets, Castles, Courts,
All recreations, all delightfull sports.
Is there delight in War? the Seige of Troy,
And sacking oft'? How barbarous Kings destroy
Rome, and Jerusalem: The Punik slights
Of Hannibal, Grecian, and Romane fights:

14

The battailes by our third stout Edward fought
Against the French, and Flower-de Luces got
To adorne our Scutcheons, the renowned story
O'th Field of Agincourt fift Harries glory,
And what with BLOUD not inke should be set downe
Our CIVILL fights, since that at Keinton Towne,
Which so much bloud, and many lives have cost,
That whosoever was gainer, England lost:
Had they been well imploy'd, those Legions might
Have subdu'd France, regain'd the Electorall Right.
The Romane Triumphs, and Olympian Games,
And what soe're Magnificent in Fames
Booke stands registred, is, shall be, hath been,
Are in Gods Essence as a Mirrour seen:
And all these knowne a thousand Myriads more
Of objects may be seen, and yet the store
Never exhausted: GOD alone must be
The Comprehender, of his Infinitie.
Eternally there was duration, though
Nor Yeares, nor Monthes, six thousand yeares agoe,
Nor Dayes, nor Houres, nor minutes did divide
Ages, and Times, and all these specifi'd
By the perpetuall motions of the SUN,
As he shall through his annuall mansions run,
And by the carrying his eternall Light
Make Winter, Summer, Autumne, spring, day, night.
So when the world shall fade, and all these cease,
The tired Earth injoy a constant peace.
No Plough rip up her Bowels: The Glebe-land
Still unmannured, and untilled stand.
No aurigations of the heavenly carres,
No' in certaine motions of the wandring Stars.
Shall not there be DURATION? Sure there shall,
But such an one as comprehendeth all
Ages, and Times, the present, future, past,
And all these vanish'd evermore shall last,
And is the same with God. This never had
Beginning, never shall have end. This made

15

When it pleas'd him the universe: Wee know
How long 'tis since he made it: If wee goe
FURTHER that FURTHER is Eternity,
And will not measur'd, but admired be.
For who conceives some thousand Centuries
Of ages past, and againe multiplies
The same millions, and millions more of time,
Yet cannot this grand Calculator climbe,
Although perpetually he multiply
Unto the Top of GODS eternity.
Who only can his owne DURATION tell,
Above created thoughts ineffable.
These glorious Attributes, and Idioms shew
A mighty GOD, come wee to things below.
As he converses with the sons of men,
Bestowes his gifts, beares with their manners, then
Greater amazement will arise to see
His Bounty, Mercy, Longanimity;
But weele defer to insist upon this Text,
And with Devotion prosecute the next.