A dissection of the braine. A sermon preached at the assises in Lincoln Anno 1640. / By Michael Wigmore Rector of Thoresway in Lincolnshire, and sometimes fellow of Oriel-Colledge in Oxenford.

A DISSECTION OF THE BRAINE. A Sermon Preached at LINCOLN-Aſſiſes. ESAY 9. 15. The Ancient and Honourable, He is the head.

RIght Honourable▪ &c. If I be not miſtaken in mine▪ apprehenſion, I am here to be your ghoſtly Father, That before you give the Charge to the Country from our Soveraign Lord the King, I ſhould give you your Charge from him that's King of Kings, and Lord of Lords; And now we as Ambaſſadors for Chriſt, as 2 Cor. 5. 20. though God did beſeech you by us wee pray you in Chriſts ſtead, that ye be reconciled unto God.

Yet ſo, that as the pretious oyntment, which being powredPſal. 13▪ 2. upon the head, it may runne downe unto the beard, and ſo along to the skirts of the garment▪ we being all the members of that Body, whoſe Leggs and Thighes are of iron andDan. 2. 31. braſſe for patience and induſtry in labour and travaile, whoſe Sides of ſilver for ſincerity and loyalty, whoſe Head of gold for perfection and purity; within the circumference of whoſe preheminence are the Braines, the Councellours of Juſtice, and Judgement, which onely doe reflect upon this preſent occaſion, as The Ancient and Honourable Hee is the Head. But before we aſcend that ſtately Pharus, or doe diſcoverDiviſion. thoſe inward Cells, we muſt firſt take a generall view of the Body, Then help on with thoſe Robes of gravity as they lie folded up in thoſe two pleats, the one of Age, and the other of Honour, and ſo lead you through thoſe cooler vaults and regions; And firſt of the firſt in the Body politick.

After that God had made the whole world, inſo manyFirſt part. Of the Body politick. different and repugnant natures, Then like a curious and exquiſite workman, that's moſt admired in his leaſt peeces, and ſhewes his greateſt Art in the ſmalleſt bulk, he doth contract them into one little modell, and doth unite them all in man: In whoſe ſoule he hath ſeated his owne image in a Trinity of Faculties, and an Unity of Eſſence, which beautiſies the Head with two greater lights, and a many other, to diſcerne of more Objects, then is the number of the ſtarres in the firmament; His bones lie covered over with their fleſh, as rocks lie hidden in the bowells of their earth, about his liver is a ſea of blood, diſperſed over all this little world, with a many flexible veines and rivers: Hee hath growth, and ſenſe, and underſtanding, The lives of Plants, of Beaſts, of Angels; And if we doe but look into his heart, there ſhall wee finde, as ſleeping in their dennes, the roaring Lion, and the ſubtill Fox, the ravening Wolfe, the Goat, the Swine, with all the Town-heard of the beasts of Epheſus, which being1 Cor. 15. 32. rowſed, doe break forth in paſſion: As in the Creation the whole world was in man, ſo in the Redemption the whole world was one man: Et omnis in Chriſto unus homo, Knit together by joynts and bands, and like that multitudeCol. 2. 19. Acts 4. 32. in the fourth of the Acts, That had but one heart, and one ſoule.

Plato would have the Univerſe the World to be Dei ſtatua, the portrature of God, and Saint Gregory would have a Chriſtian Common-wealth, to be Corpus unitum compage membrorum; ſo to grow up into him in all things, which is the Head, even Chriſt.

Then, as it is in the naturall body, if one part ſuffered, the 1 Cor. 12. 26. reſt would grieve with it, And if the leaſt finger were but out of joynt, the Eye would be ready to ſhed a teare, the Heart would ake, the Head be ſorrie, the Tongue to complaine, the Legs and Feet to runne for help: Then would we Gal. 6. 2. beare one anothers burthens, as every ſtone in a materiall building, et portat, et portatur ab altero; Then would each one keepe Court at home where every Senſe ſhould be an Agent, and every Faculty ſhould be an officer; Patience his Councellour, Truth his Attourney, Peace his Solicitor, Senſus Communis his Common-pleas, a Tender-conſcience his Court of Chauncerie, whoſe Judge ſhould be Charity, whoſe Seale of Office, the Holy-Ghoſt in the likeneſſe of a Dove.

This were to bring a Vine out of Egypt, to make herPſal. 8. 8 &c. boughes like the goodly Cedars, and they that ſhould devoure it, ſhould root up that plant, who ſaith unto us, you are the branches; This were to flouriſh like the Tree in Daniel, Dan. 4. the heighth whereof did reach unto the Heavens, And hee that ſhould but lop a limb from off it, ſhould heare a voyce crying unto him as Aeneas once, Polydorus ego, when He pluckt a bough from the Myrtle tree, I am Jeſus whom Act. 9. 5. thou perſecuteſt, parce pias ſcelerare manus.

He that united the earth and the heavens, and all other creatures to make them one world; He that contracted all contrarieties, and did compoſe them all in one man; Hee that hath ſquared us as living ſtones to grow up into one holy Temple, The King of Salem, the King of Peace, would have us all as a Citie of Unity, as the boughes of one ſtock, as the branches of one Vine, as the members of one body, under one Head, which is Chriſt Jeſus.

But as it was with Abraham and Lot affluxerunt divitiae Diſeaſes of this body. Ch • yſoſt. & diſcinditur concordia, as Wealth encreaſed, Amity decreaſed, and wee are here fallen all in peeces, as if wee had beene but cimented together, with ſome fuſile and melting matter, now diſſolved by the fire of Contention.

S. Auguſtine tells us of a brutiſh cuſtome in Caeſaria of Mauritania, that on certaine dayes of the yeare, the people gathered themſelves together, and (as if they had beene all enrag'd with madneſſe) Fathers, and Children, and neighbours with others, threw ſtones with ſuch violence, one againſt another, as that not a few were murthered with it: A fit reſemblance of this Campus Martius in theſe dog-dayes of ſtrife and contention; When we ſhall finde five in one houſe, L •• 12 52. 53. three againſt two, and two againſt three, the Father divided againſt the Sonne, and the Mother againſt the Daughter, their hearts reaking with paſſion within them, as if they had ſuckt the Dragons in the Deſert; and like that vaſt and untamed Element foaming out their owne ſhame. Some come hither 〈◊〉 13. l • ke the Mermayd and the Dolphin, who take their paſtime in troubled waters, and with Abner call fighting ſport, let 2 Sam. 2. 14. the young men ariſe and play before us: Others, for as ſmall provocations as Jonas had to be angry with his God, onelyIonah 4. 6. 8. a blaſt of winde, a ſhadow, like thoſe that runne to Chirurgions and Phyſicians, for every trifle, a Pimple or a Wart, whereas the Phyſician and the Lawyer ſhould bee for neceſſity, and not for wantonneſſe. Envie comes ſwelling hither like a Toad, waiting a time to diſgorge it ſelfe, and goes a way again like the Waſp, which leaves his ſting, and his ſtrength behinde him; The proud man ſtriving with a ſtronger then himſelfe, as Milo rending an Oake in ſunder, is caught ſo faſt in the cleſt by the fingers, that he becomes a prey to his Enemie; But loudeſt of all is the crie of Oppreſſion, who comes in like Nero in the Tragedy, Fortuna noſtra cuncta permittit mihi, And where the Foxes doth prove too ſcanty, hee'll inch it out with the Lions skinne, to grind the faces of the poore, to devoure the widdowes houſes, and that peradventure with as much equity, as he that layd claime to Tullies learning, becauſe he married his Executrix.

Saint Paul would have ſuch Harmony betweene us, as1 Cor. 12. is amongſt the members of the body; and Saint Auguſtine would have every man to be as a ſeverall letter in the ſame ſentence, Quilibet (inquit) in Civitate ſit una litera in Sermone; Were this accord kept in humane Societie, Then each foule word would be a Barbariſme, and he that ſhould but wrong his neighbour, ſhould be as one that is ſick of a phrenſie, biting and wounding his owne fleſh; But here we finde ſuch diſcord and diſſention, ſuch ſcratching and tearing one of another, as if we would chooſe the Bramble for our King, to put our truſt under his ſhadow. Jud. 9. 15.

It was a cuſtome amongſt the Perſians (to make them feele the ſmart of Anarchie) that at the death of every Emperour their lawes did ſleep for five dayes, and every man in that interſtitium did what was good in his owne eyes; whether would the ſwinge of our paſſions fling us, were we not bounded with Authority, which limiteth our turbulent perturbations? (as God once ſpake unto the Sea) hither unto ſhalt thou goe and no further: But the rapacityJob 38. 11. of theſe Orbes are ſlacked by the courſe of the higher Sphaeres, Nature never yet framed an heart, but where there was a braine to coole it; and the Ancient and Honourable He is the Head, which beckens mee unto my ſecond Cloſe, the Torſe, that wreath of Or and Argent, in thoſe Appellatives of Age and Honour.

It was an inviolable cuſtome with the Romans, neverThe ſecond part: 1. Of the Ancient. 1. Their Gravity. to give ſentence but ſitting, in token that Judgment ought to proceed from a ſtay'd and well ſetled minde; And tis an obſervation in Philoſophie, That nimius calor agitationem efficit, cognitio quietem & ſtabilitatem requirit: The Braine that muſt diſperſe thoſe former ſumes had need to be of a ſtrong conſtitution, Et tunc mentis oculi vident perſpicatius, cum corporis oculi defloreſcunt: Greateſt Atchivements are not managed ſo much by ſtrength as they are by wiſedome; whence the Sanhedrim amongſt theNumb. 11. 16. Jewes was of the Elders of the people, as the Senate with the Romans had it's nomination a Senio from Old-age.

It's often found, that the luſtre of the minde looking forth through the countenance of Man, doth dart ſuch a terrour upon the Beholder, that the Heads-man let his ſword drop from his hand, when Hee beheld the face of Marius; And in the hotteſt eommotions of the People, Even then when ſedition hath been ſtaring mad, the grave aſpect of ſome reverend Perſonage hath ſo becalmed, and allayed the furie, as that Madneſſe • ath beene turned into ſhame

Tum pietate Gravem, ac meritis ſi fortè virum quem Conſpexere, ſilent, arrectiſque auribus adſtant, Ille regit dictis animos & pectora mulcet.

If ſo, then well may the wrinkled brow become the ſeat of Command and Power, whoſe furrowes have beene ſowen with the ſeeds of Vertue—Et Seges est ubi Troia fuit; Whoſe deſpiſed Characters of Age doe beare the Eſcuchions, and fore-fronts of wiſ • dome, which onely waxeth young and freſh with yeares; And in whoſe viſage onely doth appeare a Transfiguration o • Feare andExod 34 30. Reverence, as Moſes after his Conference with God, the people were afraid to look upon him.

As Authority dazeleth with its ſplendour, being a Medall2 Their Maturity. Dan. 7 9. Ecclus. 25. 6. caſt in his mold, who beares the name of the Ancient of Dayes, ſo is Experience the Crowne of Old men, which ripens the underſtanding of the Aged, And makes them ſpeak as the Oracles of God; No man when hee hath taſted Luk. 5. 39. Old wine deſireth new, for the Old is better, and Certiora ſunt judicia ſenum, qui d •• res eaſdem cogitarunt, & ſurſum ac deorſum volutarunt. The prerogative of Infancie, is Innocencie; of childhood, wantonneſſe; of manhood, valour; of old-age, diſcretion: Roſes that are freſh are more pleaſant in the flower, yet being dry give a ſweeter ſent, And it was Antigonus his judgement of Pyrrhus, Magnum futurum ſi ſeneſceret; The Spring indeed is lovely for it's hopes, B • t the Autumne onely is for fruit, which bringeth that maturity with it, as maketh wiſedome a skilfull Pilot; The hoarie Head is a Crowne of glory, if it be found Prov. 16. 31. in the way of truth.

And where ſhould wee ſeeke for Righteouſneſſe and 3.Their ſincerity. Judgement, if not under theſe Winter colours? 'Tis true that the gift blindeth the wiſe, and perverteth the wo • ds of the Exod 23. 8. righteous; But when our forces begin to languiſh, when our ſenſes wax dull and dimme, when the ruinous Cottage of our feeble fleſh is decayed, and threatneth a finall fall, then when like Aaron in the Camp o • Iſrael, wee ſtand betweene the living and the dead; Then when the Eccles. 12. 3. Keepers of the houſe doe tremble, and the ſtrong men doe bow themſelves; Then to lade our ſelves with thick lay; Potest Hab. 2. 6. quicquam eſſe abſurdius, quàm quo minus vitae reſtat, eo pl •• viatici quaerere?

In the 13 of Geneſis at the ſecond verſe, where it is ſaid that Abraham was rich, the Hebrew gives it that he was heavie, which ſhewes that Riches are but a Burth • n, and like thoſe Mathematicall ſhowers, which in the twylight ſeeme to be gold, yet when the light comes prove lime and ſand: But a wiſe mans eyes ar • in his head; AndEccles. 2 14. maledictus quitran • f •• t terminos, Curſed is the ſtate of that man, that removeth the Bounders of Nature; that when time hath filed from him the better part of his vitall powers, ſtill feeds himſelfe with the Hope of life, and puts the Day of his death farre from him. And thus much of my firſt Epethite; Thus much in honour of the Aged.

Yet let not the rigid cenſure of any ſo eſteem of wiſdomSecondly, Of the honorable. and policie, as • f thoſe gifts might not be ſhrowded under the ſhadowes of freſher colours: The Romans did admit of a Senator, at the Age of twenty and five, and of a Conſull at forty three, Daniel but young, yet judged the people, and Ioſeph a man of tender age, was made a Father to Pharaoh and his family,

—Tempora quippe virtutem non prima negant, non ultima donant.

When Frederick the third refuſed to give Audience to 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉 two young men Ambaſſadours from Venice, If (ſaid they) the State had knowne, that Caeſar had regarded of wiſedome by the gray head, and the long beard, they ſhould have ſent him a couple of Goats; For Honourable Age is not that which ſtandeth in the length of time, nor that is meaſured by number of yeares, but wiſedome is the gray haire unto man, and an unſpotted life is Old age. Wiſd. 489.

So that as the workman in the Buckler of Minerva wrought in his owne Name, with ſuch dexterity as that it could not be taken out, without the diſſolution of the whole frame, ſuch is Prudence to Age and Honour. What is a ſcarlet Robe without it, but like rich Hangings in a dark blinde roome, where there is neither light nor life to ſhew them? The ſhadowes of the faireſt Ornaments doe caſt as black as the mourning weed; And the diſgrace that attendeth baſeneſſo is the ſelfe-ſame in the Peere and the Peſant; but that (as the Ape) the higher hee climeth, by ſo much the more conſpicuous is his ſhame. The ſcandalous proceedings of men in Authority, which would have beene covered in a common crowd, are then made eminent and blazing, like the Comet that's gazed at by every eye, yet knowes not it ſelfe to be ſeene of any.

Honour is a ſigne to ſhew where Vertue dwelleth, and their minds are too narrow for a publick-weale, who think they are advanced for themſelves, where He that is Luk. 22. 26. greateſt ſhould be leaſt, and He that is Chiefeſt as him that ſerveth. And then where Age, Maturity, Sincerity, and Honour, is attended by diſcretion, where there is this Conjunction and Aſpect, Iupiter is Lord in that Aſcent; that Body's governed by a lucky Planet, where the Ancient and Honourable Hee is the Head; and ſo much for the ſecond ſtraine; ſo much of the Garland and outward Ornament.

I muſt now lead you about Mount Cephalon, there toThe third part, Of the Head or Braine. behold the ſeats of Judgement; within whoſe Arches you ſhall finde the Braine foſtered by two mothers, like Salomons Harlots, Dura Mater, and Pia Mater, the one1 Kings 3. ſevere to puniſh and correct, the other tender with the Bowells of Compaſſion; As the ſcarlet Robe that's fac'd with white doth ſignifie ruborem in ſontes & ſcelestos, & candorem in innocentes; And firſt of the firſt, the Dura Mater.

As Diſeaſes are bred in the Body, ſo are Corruptions1. Dura Mater. in the ſtate. Thoſe which at firſt were not diſcerned, or might have beene holpen with a gentle purg • , being neglected, doe grow to that heighth, as not to be cured but by loſſe of blood, and then (as Livie ſpeakes of old Rome) Nec vitia noſtra, nec remedia ferre poſſumus: For the prevention of which Malady we muſt deale with tranſgreſſions as men doe with Serpents, Hee that findes a young Snake which never did hurt, yet kills it for the very Kind, nor ſhall thine eye take pitty upon any to juſtifie the Deut. 19. 21. evill doer.

The leaſt treſpaſſe in the law Leviticall, were it but aLevit. 4. ſlip of Ignorance, yet was not purged without fire and blood, and in the Goſpell, where Mercie aboundeth, Hee that looks upon a woman, Hee that calleth thou Foole, not a word, not a look, that ſhall paſſe unpuniſhed; Fruſtra moritur Nero, ſi Otho vivit, In vaine it were to cut off the great Theeves, and to preſerve the little ones for breed.

There's not the leaſt offence we can commit that can be leſſe then the point of a thorne; yet not the leaſt thorn in the Crowne of Chriſt, which did not coſt him a drop of blood, and as the ſmalleſt Coine, the Widowes Mite, is not without it's valuation, but may be multiplied into a Talent, ſo in the great and generall Aſſiſes (the prototype of Juſtice and Judgement) we muſt not looke to come ſorth Math. 5. 26. of priſon untill wee have payd the uttermoſt farthing: upon good grounds then doth that one word Noxa ſignifie et culpam et paenam, ſince ſinne and puniſhment muſt goe together. Authority the Prop of Government, Majeſtas Imperij, ſalutis tutela, the ſtrength and fortreſſe of a Common-wealth muſt be maintained with feare and ſeverity, whereas Facility breeds Impunity, the Mother of Preſumption and Contempt, and then, as a multitude of ſmaller drops ſwells up a Flood to over-flow the Banks; ſo doth Indulgence and too much lenitie breed ſuch a generall Apoſteme in mens minds, that, being nouriſh'd by Licentiouſneſſe, It bounds to the heighth of all Impiety; Chriſt that was the Prince of Peace, choſe as well ſome to be Sonnes of thunder, Eſa 9. 6. Mar. 3. 17. Act. 4. 36 as He had others for Conſolation▪ and ſometimes ſharply to reprove and correct, is as a favour done to many, which like a Thunder bolt that ſtrikes but one, yet fills with Horror the Hearts of All men.

The World is now in its decrepid age, and were it not ſupported by thoſe Crutches, the Staffe of Beauty▪ and theZach. 11. 10. Staffe of Bonds, It would even ſink with its own Burthen. All the groſſe humors of former times are fallen downe into the leggs; And where the Bonds of Love and Duty faile, there muſt the Staffe of Government ſupply, yet ſo, that as Ʋalentinian the Emperour, firſt being married to Severa, and after that, enamoured on Iuſtina, ma • cht with Her too, and kept them both at once; So muſt it be with Severity and Iuſtice; Dura muſt remember that ſhe's Mater, and that her ſiſter Pia muſt dwell with her, as Rachel and Lea the wives of Iacob, as Mary and Martha under one roofe, as Mercy and Truth that met together, as Righteouſneſſe Pſal 85. 10. and Peace that kiſt each other; like Abraham going to Sacrifice his Sonne with the Sword of Juſtice in the one hand, and the fire of Charity in the other.

When God appeared to Elias in Mount Horeb, Hee was 2 P • a Mater. 1 King. 19. 12. not in the winde that did rend the Mountaines, nor in the Earthquake, nor in the fire, but came unto him in a ſtill ſoft voyce; when He chaſtiſed Adam in Paradiſe, it was in the Gen. 3. 8. Evening, in the coole of the Day, and the Sunne was but riſen Gen. 19. 23. 24. upon the Earth, when the Lord rained upon Sodome and Gomorrha Brimſton & Fire from the Lord out of Heaven: for who ſhall be able to ſtand before him walking like a Grant in his full ſtrength?

Amongſt thoſe thirteen divine Attributes, Exod. 34. 6. there was but one that named his power, but onely two that concern'd his Iustice, and All the reſt were of Mercie Exod. 25. 40. and Goodneſſe: As God ſpake to Moſes in the Mount, Fac ad ſimilitudinem & exemplar, So muſt it be the charge of thoſe that beare his Image and Superſcription, looke that thou doe after thy paterne. Hee that made the wholeIoſ. 6. world in ſix-dayes, tooke ſeaven dayes to deſtroy one Citie, and they that are his ſtamp and character, muſt not ſeek to be like unto him, either in the Arme of his power and ſtrength, or in the Finger of his Miracles & Wonders, or in the Braines of his infinite Wiſdome, but in his Bowels of Pittie and Compaſſion.

Exact and ſtrict were the Rabbins of the Jewes; in obſerving the properties of their Judges, as that they ſhould be free from all blemiſh of Body, that they ſhould be skild in the ſeventy languages, that they ſhould not be too farre ſtriken in yeares, that they ſhould be men of Wiſedome and Knowledge, amongſt others, they would not admit of an Eu • uch, becauſe that ſuch men were commonly cruell, nor of any but ſuch as were Fathers of Children, which they thought to be a motive to Mercy.

Men in Authority ſhould be like the Planets quò altiores eo ſedatiores, and not like Ariſtides that was too juſt. Phaeton the ſonne of the Sunne, riding in the Chariot of his Father, is a Mythologie of all ſuch, as ſit in the Throne of him who ſaith, Vengeance is mine, and I will repay it, Rom 12. 19. Mal. 4. 2. Pſal. Chriſt, he is the Sunne of Righteouſneſſe, The Chariots of the Lord are twenty thouſand, and they that rule them are Gods on earth, called the Children of the moſt high, ſtiled with the title of the ſonnes of God; And good luck have Pſal. 45. 5. they with their honour, according to their worſhip and renowne, to ride on becauſe of the word of Truth: but not to be too buſie with the ſpurre, rather to make uſe of the reines then of the Whip, not to turn to the right hand or the left, not to ſtray from the path of the juſt, and in their Progreſſe to keepe the Rode, not to miſtake Plaeentia for Verona.

Sylla that was ſurnamed Foelix, thought himſelfe to be the more happy for the friendſhip that hee held with Metellus named Pius., ſo let it be their Crowne, their Glory; to remember thoſe that are in Bonds, with theHeb. 13 3. Col. 3 12 Bowels of Piety, Kindneſſe, Meekneſſe; To be as their Father in Heaven is, Mercifull; To look upon the wounded and afflicted, and to pittie the friendleſſe and oppreſſed; Yet not to reſpect the perſon of the poore, nor yet to honour the Levit. 19 15. perſon of the Mighty; But in righteouſneſſe ſhalt thou judge thy Neighbour. And thus as Papyrius at the Gate of the Senate, I have ſet up the Image of Mercy, with another of Iuſtice ſtanding by it.

Senſus Communis is the next that doth preſent it ſelfe3. Senſus communis. unto your view, ſitting as a Judge in the Gates of the Citie, and taking the Appeales from all outward objects; yet (as being in the ſubſtance of the Braine) it is deprived of all ſenſe and feeling. Nec unquam apprehendit objectum ſub ratione jucundi vel moleſti. Which bids Authority to be the like; and as it was the manner of the Thebans to portrait their Princes blinde, and their Iudges aſſiſting without hands; So not to cenſure by an outward appearance, nor yet to be corrupted in their wayes.

Nerva was wont to ſay of himſelfe, Se nihil fec iſſe quò minus poſſit imperio depoſito privatus tuto vivere. Princes Examples are ſpeaking lawes, bidding (as Abime • ech ſomtimes) what yee ſee one doe, doe yee likewiſe.

Thoſe heretofore that ſate at Sterne, and rul'd the Rudder of the Common-wealth • had while they were in the ſeat of Iudgement, their ſolemne Habits to be furr'd with Ermins, which little Creature in the Hunting, finding the Mouth of it's Cave to bee bedirted, doth rather yeeld it ſelfe to be a prey, then to pollute it's skinne with filth and mud; An Emblem calling unto them in thoſe words, Mallem mori quàm 〈◊〉 , as Adams skinn • he wore declared his fall.

Rewards and gifts are like an Incubus, which overlayes the judgement of the wiſe, whilſt Avarice (an envious Philiſtim) comes with his earth to choak up Iſaaks Gen 26. 1 • . 20. 21. Well, and leaves us to the Springs of Eſeck and Sitnah, none but the waters of ſtrife and contention. This done, you ſhall have them (like Aethiopians that uſually doe paint their Angels black in favour of their owne complexion) to runne point-blank the Courſe of Equity, to damme up the paſſages of right and reaſon, and ſo to betake them to new quirks and quaeries, with thoſe Aſtrologers that make good their motions by finding out ſtrange Notions and Intentions, Eccentricks, Epicicles, and the like.

The Lord our God is a God of Gods, a Great, Almighty,Deut 10. 7. and a terrible, regarding neither Perſons nor Rewards, and thoſe that are Minores Dij, when they paſſe ſentence upon others, ought to be like Mathematicians, onely converſing in Abſtractions: Not to weare on them the Robes of Iuſtice as dead-mens Coffins are beſtrewed with flowers, not to be ſpeechleſſe in the poore mans cauſe, as if neceſſity ſhould have no law; not to be like the Idols of the Heathen, with eyes and eares that neither heare nor ſee; nor like the Griffin to floare their neſts with gold, and then to cenſure for the Mighty, as if in caſe pro formâ pauperis, Bos in linguâ (as it is in the Proverb:) their tongues were hung up to the roofe of their mouthes, and their ſoules poſſeſſed with a dumb devill: Surdaſter erat Marcus Craſſus, ſed illud pejus quod male audiebat: And tis the memoriall of the just that ſhall be bleſſed when the name of the wicked ſhall r • t. It is a Criticiſme amongſt the Gramarians, that Falſus in the paſſive, and not Fallens, doth ſignifie a double and deceitfull man, for that the miſchiefe of his owne lips doth at laſt fall upon his owne pate, and 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉 whilſt bee ſaith with himſelfe. None ſees me; but God Hee ſtandeth in the Congregation of the Prince, and He will be a Iudge amongſt the Gods, who layes his eare unto their whiſperings in their moſt ſecret conſultations; Beſides, Suſpition like a well-drawn Picture ſeemes to look after them where ere they goe. and not a ſervant, if a Favorite, but's thought to be a Poſterne for a Bribe. Laſtly, they are deceived in their Hopes, with him who in his vaine opinion Corpus putat eſſe quod umbra est, and proſtitutes Deſire to a Dreame. When the Prophet in the ſixth of Zacha▪ ſaw the Viſion of the foure Emperies, He asked of the Angell, Qui ſunt iſti? who told him, Iſti ſunt quatuor 〈◊〉 . 6. 5. venti, To ſhew that all the Worlds pomp and glory is but a puffe, a blaſt, a breath. Corruption for a time may be concealed, and folded up in the large pleats of Honour; Great men may ſhine on high like glorious lights, as long as greatneſſe is obſerved with feare; Yet at the laſt, when Death ſhall blow them out, their farewell ſhall be naſtie, noyſome, loathſome, like an ill ſavouring and ſtinking ſnuffe, that gives offence to all that are about it. Let Foelix Act 24. 26. hope that money ſhould be given, Juſtus will be aAct. 18. 17. man that worſhips God, whoſe houſe was joyned to the Synagogue.

Having thus brought you through the firſt Region, in4. Phantaſie. the next roome doth Phantaſie ſit to judge each Species, where Imagination transformes them like unto Ixions cloud, and runs them through a thouſand ſeverall ſhapes, that ſo they might avoyd the embracements of Error; which doth inferre that ſaying in the Schooles, Apprehenſio objecti ab intellectu ſemper est ſub ratione veri: And yet all wiſedome commeth from the Lord (as Pallas was borneEcclus. 1. 1. of the Brain of Jupiter) and as ſhee was clad in compleat Armour, ſo Hee that puts on the whole Armour of God, Eph. 6. 11. Wiſd 5. 18. Job 31. 20. muſt put on Righteouſneſſe as a Breſt-plate, and true Iudgement in ſtead of an Helmet: ſo ſhall the loynes of the naked bleſſe him, the Tongues of the Poore be trumpets of his praiſe, and the Hearts of All men Honour him.

When the King of Mexico comes firſt to the Crowne, He taketh with it a ſolemne Oath, Iudicium ſe adminiſtraturum, effecturum ut Sol curſum teneat, Nubes pluant, rivi currant, terra producat fructus, &c. Meaning that Iuſtice Pſal 45. 14 15. like the Kings daughter, attended by thoſe Virgins that be her followers, is never ſeene alone without her traine,Deut. 27. Bleſſings in the Citie, and Bleſſings in the field, Bleſſings in the fruits, and Bleſſings in the flocks, Bleſſings within dores, and Bleſſings without; all theſe Bleſſings ſhall overtake her, when like an exquiſite and cunning Organiſt ſhè toucheth truly, and according unto Art, when the Spirit of God ſhall be the blaſt that giveth Breath unto the Inſtrument,

—Iuſtitiae ſoror Incorrupta fides nudaque veritas,

And every one ſhould be unto a Iudge as Tacitus ſpeaks of Tiberius and Claudius, Nec Beneficio, uec injuria cognit • , Whence Cleon, being made a publike Magiſtrate, and having aſſembled his acquaintance, diſclaimed in the preſence of them all, all former intereſt, all future friendſhip, and bid's adieu to all inward Amity as moſt incompatible with his charge; For Hee puts off the perſon of a friend that undergoes that other of a Iudge. And if it be ſo in the Tents of Meſech, what muſt be done in the Dwellings of Jacob. Lucian obſerves it in Stage-players, that if a man miſact a Servants part, it is a ſlip not worth the talking of; But if in Jupiter or Hercules, the fault is foule and doth diſgrace the Scene. How much more then is his reproach and ſhame, that doth 〈◊〉 , not an earthly Prince, but Him that is the King of Heaven and Earth, For the Judgement is Gods, ſaith Moſes his ſervant, Deut. 1. 17.

And though hee be neere unto Malefactors, about theirPſal. 139. 2. pathes, and about their beds, and underſtandeth the thoughts of their hearts, yet in the Crie of Sodom • and Gomorrha (to leave us an Example of his Iuſtice) I will goe down (ſaith he) and ſee whether it be altogether ſo or no; Gen. 18 21. Ecclus. 11. 7. Then blame not before thou hast examined, underſtand firſt and then rebuke.

Qui ſtat • it aliquid parte in audita altera, Aequum licet ſtat • erit, haud aequus fuit.

In the Solemnities of former times, Linguas ultimam ſacrificiorum partem in ſacros ignes conijciebant, the Tongue was the laſt that made up the Sacrifice; Be yee likewiſe ſwift to heare, ſlow to ſpeake, ſlow to wrath. Iam 1. 19.

It is a conceit that's grounded upon reaſon, That if God ſhould aſſume a viſible ſhape, hee would take Light to be his Body, and Truth ſhould be in ſtead of his Soule. Et dominus (as ſaith Tertull.) Non ſe conſuetudinem, ſed veritatem cognominavit; Hee then that beares the Image 1 Cor. 15. • 9. of the Earthy, muſt alſo beare the Image of the Heavenly: And give thou ſentence with them O God, ſend out thy light, Pſal. 43. 3. and thy Truth to lead them.

Now as Joachim the high Prieſt charged the Inhabitants5. The five ſenſes. of Bethulia to gard the paſſages of the Mountaines: ſo for the ſafegard of this Citadell, wee muſt fortifie the Cinque-Ports of the ſenſes, for there lyes the way to the ſeat of Iudgement.

Firſt, for the Sight, the Opticks doe require, ut medium 1. The Sight ſit recte diſpoſitum & ut Organon ſit benè ordinatum. If the glaſſe in the ſpectacles be painted yellow, each object will appeare in the ſame colour; and if the Eye be ſick of the • aundiſe, it infects all that look upon it; Counſell, Iurie, Witneſſes, Officers, Corruption, like a Plague, will taint them all, and ſearch like oyle into every joynt, till poyſon cramp the powers of the Soule, till Reaſon plead without Law or Equity, till Conſcience be charm'd into a deadly ſleepe, and till Religion connive it ſelfe ſtark blind, like the people Arimaſpi in Sythia, that wink, and wink, ſo long with one eye, untill at laſt they have winkt it out, and then no mervaile, when their Eye is evill, if Math. 6. 23. their whole Body be full of Darkneſſe.

For the Hearing, it is obſerved by Saint Origen, that the2. The Hearing. Levit. 14. 14. right eare, in the clenſing of the Leper, was the firſt that was touched with the blood of the Sacrifice, as a meanes to purifie the reſt of his actions, Auris prima mortis Ianua, prima aperiatur & vitae, And Nature (after the faſhion of the head) hath likewiſe planted two eares in the Heart, that whatſoever enters at the one, might alſo be received by the other, Then hee that hath eares to heare let him Math. 13. 9. heare.

For the ſmelling, ſuavis odor lucri, Yet as Plinie of the3. The Smelling herbe Ariana, though it be of an excellent ſent, it hath in every leafe a little Serpent, whoſe ſting brings preſent Death to all that touch it. Hee that plucketh up the bounders of the Law, Hee that breaketh an Hedge a Serpent Eccle • . 10. 8. ſhall bite him.

The Heart is ſeated in the Centre of the Breſt, with a45. Of Touching and Taſting. curious net of Nerves and Veines, ſpred from thence over all the Body; And as the Spider in the middeſt of her web, feeling the leaſt touch that ſhakes her work: So ſhould the Soule ſhrink, and retire, at the leaſt tast, and touch of ſinne, Abſtaine from all appearance of evill. 1 Theſ. 5. 22.

I have done with the ſenſes externall, and internall, there now remaines no more to be ſeene, but onely the retentive ſtrength of the Memory, which lies in the hindermoſt Region of the Braine, and in the laſt part of my diſcourſe.

Memoria eſt Aerarium anima, It is the Storehouſe 6. Memoria. and Chequer of the ſoule: And albeit Humility and Charity, with the Aſpect of ſuch a light appearing at this time, in this Meridian, tells me that is but needleſſe labour, Yet let not my Lords be angry, If with the poore Widow in theGen. 18. Goſpell I caſt my mites into the Treaſurie.

To remember you in the words of Salomon, that the eyes Prov. 15. 3. of the Lord are in every place to behold the evill and the good; could we take Darkneſſe for a Mask, and the Night for a covering to our ſecrets; could wee clime up into the top of Carmel, or dive into the bottome of the Sea, could we digg downe into the neithermoſt Hell, and hide our actions in the aſhes of Tophet, yet all our thoughts, our words, our wayes, our reines, our bones, our mothers wombs, All things are naked in his ſight; then think (with trembling) what a madneſſe it is, to ſhunne the ſight of a ſilly man, and not to feare the preſence of the Lord, Et quis fur auderet furari, ſi ſciret à Judice ſ • videri.

To remember you that you ſhall die like men, That the Pſal 82. 7. Dan. 2. golden head hath a foot of clay, That the faire colours of pomp and power, ſhall in a ſhort time ſtarve and vaniſh.

To remember you of that unconſolable Night, in the which you ſhall lie ſtrugling with Death, not able to remove a little fleame t • at's ready to choak up your vitall ſpirits; when all your ſenſes ſhall be agaſt, your phantaſie aff • ighted, your thoughts amazed, and your ſelves ſlighted by your Deareſt Friends, in ſtrongeſt conſultation for the ſpoile, when you moſt need their help & comfort.

To remember you that mighty men ſhall likewiſe be mightily Wiſd. 6. 6. tormented, gored with the • ing of a wounded conſcience, and call'd to account for every Soule that hath been murthered, perjured, poyſoned with miſinterpretation of the Law.

To remember you of that great white Throne, fromRev. 20. 11. 12. whoſe preſence the Heavens and the Earth did ſeeke and could not find a place to hide them.

To remember you of that gastly Dragon, and that huge gulph of Fire and Brimſtone, of that full flood of the wrath of the Lord, A fire which as nothing doth feed it: ſo it conſumeth nothing that it burneth. A place affording nothing but Horror, Tormenting Devils, burning Soules, Roring and lamenting with woe, and alas, weeping, and howling, an gnaſhing of teeth.

And now in the Name of him that is able to reach the ſtrongeſt by the meaneſt, & ſend wiſe Salomon to Schoole the Raven, that I may conclude in the words of Saint Paul, I charge you before God and our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and 1 Tim. 5. 21. before all his Elected Angels, That yee obſerve and doe theſe things without preferring one before another, and doing nothing by partiality.

That ſo unto him who can keepe you from falling, toJude 24. 26. preſent you faultleſſe before his preſence, All Glory, and Majeſtie, Dominion, and Power, be given both now and for evermore, AMEN.

FINIS.