Curiofine and temperance are the fourthSonday in Lent. Ser.31i Iä11 at variance within vs. fade to eat,for toTiue;for ïfour naturali heatdid not find fon tithing whereupon towork andÇpcndit's force, our lifewould quickely beat anend.but asthe ha- uing recouríèto this necefliry,is tweet to the fence ofourTaft;foit alludeth,that thismaintenance is the medicine of hunger, andthat to the Sicke we arenot to giue phyfickeby ounces, who hathagoodf±omacke,and is continuallyhungry: and for that what we-eat muff neceffarilypaffe through the Taff , our delight preffeth it felfeforward,importuning forthe Tafts fakc,that fomethingmorebe done,than that which is dueto necellitie : and becaufe neçeffitie will be fatisfied witha little andmuch will not íùffice our Tait, Facile fumquaflio. The like pleapaffethwith theeyes ; I place them vpon colours, vpon the beautie of Floures andRofes, upon thecurious Pieces ofthefamoufeft Painters, and vpon thofe more liuely Pictures which God bath painted ; prefently there growcs in nie acontention,betwixt Curiofitie and Temperance: for Curiofitie doth fo flatter & booth vp the eyes,that it makes them oft-times to flip awrie,Periculofa, :Ikcebrofa dulcedme 5 This befalling memany timesbefore euer I doe fo much as once dreameor rhinke vpon it , hapningas it were vnawares, which is one of tirgreateft miferies, and the moft to be pittied either in myne owne, or any other mans life : For I know not how farremy paffionsmay trefpaffe vpon me, they hauing taken poffetlionof my heart,and liuing (like Inne-mates) within the doores of myneowne houfe. Nay rather euen thenwhen I think my felfe to be freeft from thcm,and molt fecure,as iftheyhad roufed themfelues from fome heauiefleepe, they rifevp with greater force, and eagerly fer vpon me,to that I am at perpetual queftion, andat continuall odder with myfelfe from top to toe, from the crowne of my head to the foleof my foot. And therefore infodan- gerous a doubting, it isfit (ô Lord) that thy Light fhould bee a guide veto my feet,that I mayknow what,and how much I ought tominifter tomy neceffities, andto my fences. Plutarch reportethof the Whale, That hee hath a verie little Fifh that ferues as his Gentleman-Vther, and as aguide to lead hi m through the perills and dangers ofthe Deepc ; andhefheweth himfelfe fo thankefull,that when this little Fifhenters with others into his maw, bee acknowledgeth his kindneffe, and becomeshis Guard or Sentinell whileft he fleepes. The Wife- man fendstheSluggard to learn ofthe Piflemire; fo maywe fend the blind man to Jeanne of the Whale : for, farce greater are the dangers of' the'feaofthis life ; theway ismoredanke, andtherfore walkenot withouta Guide,&c. Butfhallhaue thelight of life . The fauóurable influenceofLight,is a profpe- rous Prognofticationof life. WhenAlexander was borne,theHiftorians report, That he had theSunne foi his Afccndent. Pieria lets downe for a fymbole of Life, a Sunne witha Starre in the midit ofit, which arifeth from out the fayd Sunne. Etch,a2madechoiceof theSunne fora pledge and token ofhis life : and as thebenigne afpeét of the Sunnedoth fauour and further our life, fo the rigorousafpeet thereofdoth threaten deathanddeflrudion. Cyrusdid d came, That he had theSunne betwÈene his hands ; Whence the Aftrologers did di- nine, That hefhould he fhort hued. Sambucnv did put for an Embleme ofthe Pettilence, many dead perlons; and ouer thema Sun which didborne and con fume them. But more fauourable is the influence of the Sunne ofRighteouf- neiï'e, who is theLight of life. Saint7ohn painting forth inhis Apocalyps that fu- perexcellent Citie oftheceleftiall lerufalem, faith, That there is no need of Sun nor Moone, ,ialucernatimeefi Agnue, The light which illuminatethit ,iic the Lambe, that Light of Life. The candle when it Burnes, we fry it is Vela wino ; but this is an improprietie, forthe flame isnot it's Soule. Your Glow-wormes may bee X x 3 termed The glorieof theSunne.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=