VECAV.JL friends: The moO: are friendly in fight, ferviceable in expectation, hollow in love, A trullldfe in experience, Yet now Bflchimki, fee and conftlfe thou haft found one friend, which bath made thee many: on whom whilethou be0:01>eedft much favour, thou haO: loll none. I cannot butthioke how welcome, Liberty(which though late, yet now at laO: bath lookr back upon him) lhall be to the Cell ofhis aflliction; when fmiling upon him, lhe lhalllead himby the hJnd,and(like another Angel!) open the iron gates ofhis miferable captivity, and (from rhofe hard Preftavet and favage Chrifliam) carry him by the haire of the head, into this paradife ofGod. In the meane time, I have written tO'him as I could,in a knowne language,with an unknown hand; that my pMr< Letters ofgrarularion might ferveas humble attendants to greater. For your WOfk, I wilh it but fuch glad entertainment, as the profit, yea the delight ofit deferves; and feare nothing, but that this long delay ofpublication will make it B ftarce newes.We are all growne Alhtnians,and accoun"" {!range report like to a fi{h and agueft. Thofe eyes and hands !bid it, which might doe it bell:. I cannbe blame you, ifyou think it more honoured by the llay of his gracious peruf:tll, then it could be by the early acceprarion of the world. Even rbe caO: garments of Princes arc precious.Orhers have in part prevented you;whofe labours ro ou","rebutas an Ecch•to a long period: by whom, weheare the !aft found of rhefc ft~rres, ignoramof the beginning. They give us bur a rafte in their hand : you lead us ro the open foun• raine. Letthe Reader give you but as muchthank, as you give lmn farisfatlion; you fhall defire no more. Finally, Godgive us much good ufe,'as knowledge ofhis judgements; the world, hdpe ofyour labours; your fdfe, incouragemenr; B•chintki, liberry. C ~~!~~ll!!ll!lll!!l!!l!!ll!l.!!~lllllll!ll~lll~~llt!ll ~I&I!DiKaal!il!ii!Uo~ .. ~~:a:liilZII~~~~ To StaiJijlaru 'Buchin1ki, late Secretary to Vemetrim Emp. of ~ufiia • . ·. E P r s T. VII. Oflhmmforl •f lmprifonmenl. THe knowledge, that the eye gives ofthe face alone,is £hallow,uncettaine, im. perfect. For what is it,tofee rheurmoft skin,or favour ofthe vifage; changeable with difeafe, changtablc with pallion ~The eare (me thinks) doth both moll clearly d1fclofe rhe mindsoforhers,and knit them fallerro ours: which, as it is 0 the lenfeofdifcipline, fo offriendlhip, commanding it even rothe abfenr, and in the prefent cherifhing it. This thing we have lardy proved in your felfe,moft noble Slani.fla"' : neereregampleswe might have had; better we could nor, How many, how cxcdlenr things have we heard ofyou,from ?Ur common frieod,though moll your~, which have ealily won our beleefe;our alfechons !How oft, how honourable menuon bath he made ofyour name! How frequently, how fervently have we wilhr you both fafety and libwy!And now,loe where lhe comes,as the Greeks fay, J«l "'X"''• and vifits hcr forlorne Client. Although I would not doubt to fay,that this outward durance ofthe body bath fermed more harlh to the bcholdcrs, then to your felfe,a wife man,(which is more) a Chrillian; whofe free foule, in the greateft llrairs of the outward man, flies over Seas and Lands whither it lilkrh; neither can, by ony di- E fiance ofplace, nor fwelling of\yaves,nor height ofmouniain<s,nor violence of enemies,nor llrong barres, nor walls,nor guards, be reil:rained from what place ir felfe bath chofen. Loe,thatcnjoyes God,enjoyesit felfand his friends; and fo feeds it felf with the pleafure of enjoying them, that it ealily either forgers or contemne& all othcrthings. Iris no Paradox,ro fay,rhat A wift Chrifli•• cannDiht impri(ontd,&An»DI 6t6,nifhed .- He is ever ar nome, ever free.For,both his liberty is within him, and his hon'e is univerfall. And what is it,I befeecb you (for you have tryed) that makes • prifon~ls it llrairnes of walls~ Then you have as many fellowes,as there are men.For how isthe foule of every man pent within thele day walls ofthe body,more clofc, more obfcme! whence l11e may looke ofr, thorow the gmes ofher bufiethoughts\ bur,
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