~ ¥H·.E ; .o - ~ - ~ H Ap Pl N .e s! :..' . ( • ._ '"J · . fThe fir!\ fearchtth out the hap ... Confil pine!fe of man. fling of The fecond, pardcularlydifco... th,. ee · C: • · uers and apn-roues 1t-, parts, . cwh~reof . Thethhd~fhewcth_ the tneanc$ . : _ .. l to attayneand h1crcafe it. ~ . • ·, By Fit A·.Nc I s R 0 Vs • . 'B_t!.wmaPhilofophia eft, qu~ t'-"tjejirit fummum Bo11N~. . ·I M3ns d1iefeft wifedome-is, To findoutbis · _. d1iefeand foueraigne Gcod, . . . ' . . --~--------------------~----- .. ,• I. L 0 N D-0 N ' - ·Pri'nted hy W._§t.anJ6] for /oh" Park!~~ · ~ ~ , and ~r~ to be"fo'Id at.his -fhop in P~!4/s f Churc h-yml at the figncofthe . , ·-l ~BalJ. -1 6 i 9• 1' ' '·c ·-
I ·' ~~~w~~~ ~~i;~~J~:~~~~~ ' ~~~ ~~I " . l TO HIS ,. 1 1\1VCH H ·Q.I NORE.D FATHI!R,I sr. ANTHONY R.ovs ' ofHaltpn in C~rlfwa/1, Knight. S I R, F the Author and the work bee confide· .I.~~ red, it is no ~~~~ hard matter -:o findel to whou1 the Au– thor fhould firft ofall offer ~ his worke. Afonne cannor " A 2 pre· I j -
THE E!'ISTLE I ~relent l!ts labours more .fitiy_ then to a Father'. e· .. . . fpectally when they bnng · · \\dth . them fo excellent a thing as 'Ble!fcdneffe. And althougl1 I kno\V you haue beene an ancient Trauailer in the path ofFelidtie, fo that the commendationof your pofl:eritie fhall bee to follow your fl:eps~ y~t I am afTured, it cannot but bee a comfort toyou, to fee fon1e ,~ increafe from aboue, where your careful edu~~nionharh .I..- . planted &w·atcred belo.w; in which you haue fi1r_re ex– ce.cded thevfuall prouidece of Fathers, that ordinarily I l Iookes no f~rther then the bodie, pride, andearti!· . I COfeife,the outward fiKW{ S of
/ DEDICATOR! E. ------r-------1---1 of this world had fo farre tranfporred me-, that I was veryvnlikdy to hauemade · this kinde of Matter the maine bufinesofmy Time, bur I tooke lhip to goe tQ Tal,(j}u, , euen ro forra1ne Coun'tries , and in 1nin·e owne beganne the fiudie of 1 ~the. L~w, vntill a fl:orn1e from. beauen chafed mee a– way to the ftudie of Et er~ nitie·, wherein I haue found fo much comfort and ~ffifiance from ~boue, that the incouragement thereof is to mee in fiead of·a voice fpeaking inmineeare;This ,is the \vay, walke in it : And in this way1defire to walke as··fl:edfafily, as bodi– ly infirmitie, andthe nece~~ \ . A 3. £1r1e
' THE BrisTLE, &c. . ----------------~ !arie difiratl:ions of this life will permit,vntill myTime lhaH bee no more, that fo I m4y paff~ immediately from the contemplation o Felicitie, vnto thefruition. - This felici~ie I .l ikewifewifh vnto you with mofl: humpleand heartie pr~yer, and .that this worke following may giue fome ·(though fmall) aduancemcnt to it, that fo you may reape a little, whereyouhaue fown much~ Fr1m f»J .hot{t il'l , LaNrAke, .April/ 29. ' I • Your fanne in all du.. tie andobfcruanc~· T FaANClS B.ovs.
' ' I To MAN.' · 'e~~~A v 1 N a eaii mine eyes fJfJ the ftame , if thiJTJ!or/J, & fomwhat particularly con/idcred the ._crks whichareWYfJIIght Vnaer th,t Sunne ; I he_hetdU'U~Zn,p/4ctd M.the, top anrl chiefeef thu C1t4turel, 11na I fa~ in Man thtf}arkJ~An tKee_Ut»lJoule, which mightfttm~ to iujlifie. . thu hupreetnine»ce:hut with. AU ht~ui»g flAr&h(a tht Jepth andhredthoftht lift ofMaw, ·tofit whAt great afl~on1 thu ,A 4 , EmiJ ' , , . \ '
• l' · To MAN. Emtntnt thing pr1duced, Dr wh:Jt txtraordinAric happines 11e t»ioyeth fotahle to bil ex. ce/knce; I find~gt'IJtrAily,that 'this Head of the World doth vfoa!lyjjund himftlft inbife rvorksof·v,nitie, L~bonr,and Wickedneffi; And u him.felje f}ent awayhy Mijerie,Sicknes a11d1Je11th. Hu aBions areei– ther no ablitins tJt aU, hut idle, fooli(h, 4ndfopeif/ncHJ recrett· tions; or meerela~6nrsfor his owne !Jody,tbat heemaybee to morrow, not better, hut tlie.J fame that hewM todayiorth4t hem4Jbetterhu eft ate byma– kinghimfetft_werfe., ·euenhy the lo.!fe ·or Jimi"nut.ion ,of_hiJ owne'tsnoJneffi ,; · ·. t~nt1y.et- ~t lafl, this ejiatewhichhee hat~ hought with hi11ifelft , ~ill tur11e
_____T __ o_· _Nl __ A_N_·----------~1 · tufn( him out ?nofl vnkindly AndvnthankfoUyftomtolflf: jing it. t..Ana 4J for vUans . happine(fe, mofl commonly'he fends it hefore him, /;y propo- (ing high and rem~te oh1etis to his defires; wbtciJ either he neuer oHerta~es,tJr if hedo~.it .dPth ·often varJJfo into ZV}- thing, tU being m:ule ofmetre · lmagination;or if it will needs jeeme[o1nething beingAttayned,yet it uat/aft digejled in· /(}perfill 7'(tJthi11g, when th4t and tne .btvner thereof, ~rt bot/, deutlnreti ·bJ 1~e widu ' mouth ofD~4th,that tdtetvp !iU the thoughts ilt~d ~orkts of _p(rifoing Mankind. But· be- - fore ~nArriues to thil p()i1Jt of Jijfoltttio!' ,_ ·,by wiJich bee~ .:, ·;~ . cf)mts to hte riiJ of his vainc L?> ·~ . ·A ) · ~ '. liap ..
I ~ ' ' ' . fo M".N· happineJ!t; miftrie,jickn~ffo, 4ndrnut11al/ 'llcxation (c_jj,(an to JW.1'11 ·being tt c,oJititJtull Hangman 4nd TtJrmentor) hy fm.arting anti fliU-returning ftripes, mofl oftencut his little h.~pfi»tjfe to le/forpieces, and ouercome the_fllg"ht and_(len– der fwtetncfft thereof, with the inter-mingledgall of fo– lidtanafo~flttnlitl!J griifc. ' ~ow thisbting theflate of Things, rti_hat iJ aUJhat ~tfee, tJ.nd to what pt~rpoft il #?Art P'Ct here me(toget1il:r ~"'~play· · . the Ulretches anJ F~olts ? Is thu iur t~ppBiJ~teel t~Uke to lt~hourfor Yt~nitit r a·ndto·he j. · mAginari'ly pleafod, and rtJy ., fermented l or to tAke gre4t care andpayn_es fl&ometo No, · thing f Is thil thefruit ofthu ·. huge · <.: ~ ..
To MA.N. huge m1.(/e of Creatures, and ifgloriotuM4n, theprmci– pa!lofthtm ? Surely, if wee foould lyt Jowne ·in this spi· . nion, .wemight slfo lye J,wne inamazement,r:tJondringwhat . we make here., 4nd why r..)J{an W!Utreatedvnf() fo gretJt fol. · . ly tffla m!fo,ry.ftt'c might right– lycryout.,that inrtgt~rd1{thu ~ lVorld, theday if Death iJ het~ · ter then the day of Birth, ,.,,d th1-t not to bee at at/,.is 61tttr then themboth. But here wee I may n1t re/i, (Dr .then ,all the · CreAtures, which wefte,r:P!JN/d · rife vpagairifl vs likefoman7 · A.dtJerfori~s, a1Jd ohielliows.'. \For it ~ere agre4t iniurie to theCreator,tofee ·t~ndAc.know· lulge (-hi&h ·ack~awledgmeNI : iJ extorted tNtn .fom meere . tnaturtt!l : I ) r I\
/ ·To MAN. naturaJ/ men) t~ gre11t ·w!fo· rlome i11 theM•tler~&nJ Forme of the Cre4tNres, And not ,tiJ ackntJwledge agre1-t wifodome likewi(e in the End of the--> Crt4turu ; that be which11Jade euery thing fo orderly in hu parts, jh&!J/dma~e. a c~nfufion , i11 the whole; a·ndthat he rvho hath made fo excellent things -~ for MA11 , Jhoultl ~Ake M4n for hiftnef!e, vanitie, andmi– forie• .Therefore 1 t~ought it mofllikely and fo/t, to heleeue that. the Cre4/pr hadn11 fiy-– led in hiJCre~Jiion,but that the cre4ttwt had erred ftom the . c#urflandfccpe of hiJ Creotti· _ on,andthat M1.n bJfomefault ~rhis owne) w114 zone out () . the rGay,_hoth _in regard if im- .plr;yment·andhappine s; which two ,
To MA N. two, in .u prebttl11litie,foiJuld ~efot~nJ i1' onepath , it hting ,mof/ dgreeA.hle t~ wi(ed'"Je, tb4t aCret,tNre !hor1ld then be · in the _hefl And happyift _cdfi, wiJ.tll bee Joth the worke ~ppointed him !Jy hu Creator. .Tht114lfo it ftcmed nueffirie to inq,.ire what W?U that right ~a)', fPm which fY,fsn b4d Jirayed; euen toft~rcbwha.t . w& the tnJeend~fMans ac1i– on;, and ,the true [cope of his defires; hu dtSetie at~4 bti fi– licitiua - wh4t I batJemetwith, in 1 ·tku fottrch, I haue htre difto- ' · 'uered; avd /,ecaufi there Are ·. thrteforts of m~n, 'flJhich ejje- ~ ci&UJ doe erre.in the malter~f . A \ h4ppine!fc, for thtfe~l]eciaOy · h~tuc I fitted the parts ofthu · . . Dif I ' r
I I I . <. . I ' ' .- · ' To M A N. Dijc1ur[t. OtujJrt oftbef<-J 4re they, 1 ht~t ~omehlindein– to theworld,.And fo giJt 1Nl, neither knfJWing, n~r&Ari11g, ·· nor asking, whatthty h•ue to. doe here, ntJr wh4t is ehirfty g~ot1fer them r»h;/e t~ey bet here,norwhoher thtre .bet~.ny tJthtrplaeefor tiJem a; hen they depart hence. Theft j1rthu f~!Dft f4YI alt wh&t thtJ fee_; dQne, or what their D-a~llt IMjls l~iO haut done , And fo haNing (Pent their time nctording. to Cpjlome and Concupi/ee»ee, t htJliue 11 flo purpoft, 411d tlie to no enJ, for ()ught theJ k•ow. J fteond fort . uD/ , .them, That tbinke thert M4 ·;: h4ppi111fi, •nd a 'IJ ~t1 ltl it ; / .znd whuh iJ :more~they t.hinke·. eheJh~Neit;.Jtl all tbe while · · · 1ke~
T 0 M A N. they goe wtthout it , ene11 jor thil rtafon,hec~uft theythinke theyhaue it. For,not hauing it; 6y their heliife tht4t theJ bane it, they ce~feftom fteking,and fo from ftnding ofth~tf'bieh md_Y onlJ 6e founJ6yfeeking. · L,/1 thirJfort is, of foch tU • thi~kt it enou ..(hto C(}'f~Jt rtJ~thin thertatiJDj'h4ppinejfl , l111t c1.re nDt much 11 faflen it or to · incrtaje it, but pleA[e tbem– ftiMes in /ooki~Jg&Nit, fir 111e/yi»4little IAjit Djit. Jl UgD~d to hehappy, thty thinke,but it unotgood tohe tstJ hA!PJlllitl · .tfltrefore they will gl~dfy traf ftak~ fo»le (Npetflu~m h4ppi ndfe,for A littlefoUy andva– :nitie,. To·-A thtje (wh;th ttre ·. slTnoj} aU) 4Yt the chie(t parts . .·if.thu,Treatife dtrt8tJ, 44 _ ~a7les ·' . /
-. _ ..... Z.·lA]lts.t1 Jrit~c 1111 N4ylts, t· Nen r~lts ofLight •nJ Bliffi, 11 driueout thevfoaBAnJ.re· ceiued rules 1[ darkntffi and miferie; And to fl•nd {4}1 in theirroome. ofth([tandthe like aireflions let wretched and ·ign1rant m1nkinde lay hold, t6J vponBooras(}- Majls · in this great jhipwr A eke ~~ Nllt_ur~. Let them by fo'h helps lift vp theirheAdsaboue the element of BAflneffe and Van/tie, whereis the fonnts · of cor~·upted And Jegenerate N4ture, !tke Fijhes dpe fwim And liMe~ ana die. JnJ /et them m1u1# vp i11to · thdt higher Regio11, ! .herein ont– ly true ~nd·vtry UWen AYU · .to bee foi4nd, tht refl beiTJg · b~J:t the rcfimblanees efMew, and : 4$ ... - «Jab £( CS£ :if 4 __., i - err-~
To MAN~ - And in fubftArJ&e the ,true -· . compt~tJioN~ 'f brute ''!J viJ.retjtJnable \ ! , .., I ~ J. ' • - creatures. ' ~ '"· ':'- I I . . ~ . - - A Seeker of Happi- ' I neffe for himfelfe ' ' :apd th~ei ' ' ,. . F . Rovs. . - ~ . .~ • . '•'" ' . -· -- ' .... T HE ' ' ' . . .. ., '
' ~HE AR.TE OF HA pp IN E s. , · The ftrft 'P4r1. Which is a fearch of Mans Happiacffe. ·CHA_P. J.' .· Th4t the Seeker 1jHAppintjfe mtJft pr6poft A11 ~~~J, 1111ti. it mufl be the bejJ End~ . ' ' I ~F.?lHofoeuerw,ill , better and ad– fti!A~•. uance·himfelf (which is na; turaUy cuery mans defire). · he ' \ ., ' ' I I I f
' I . he muft fi;ndeout~nd pro· pofe -~o :~hi~felfe . an End which is gpod; and toward this End mufl: fo firiue, that hee may continually draw ·neerer to it, vntill hee haue attayned it ; and bee mufr grovv in the degrees of en... .ioying' .when hee h:atb at– tayned. He that propofeth. no Marke, not· mayne End to him(dfe, can neu_er in· creafe himfelfe , but 'is a man loft, and comes to no– thing; fuch a one is like a · ~ipdiat ay~~.t.hat ·t\o~arbour,and-thereforecannot make·any·voyageofaduan· tage. He that propofeth an ,End, 'yet fucb a- one as is ~u.t tranfitorily or narrowIy:goo~> he can receiue.but .. a·
OF HAPPfNES. a tr,.an fitorie and narrow acluancement.He that pro· pofethforanEnd,a feeming gondJ but a reall etiill, may by attaynirig, puffe vp his imagination, but fi1all fub– flantia1ly le1fen and ruine himfelfe. But bee that fets before himaMarke&: .End true1y.and perfetlly good, by atrayning it, {hall make himfelfe trrily and perfect· ly happy, and the more happy in degree_s , as in more degr-ees hee doth en– iov it. Bur, amidft the infi- .nite changes of things {ee· - mingly good , how !hall man finde out that ane t-hing which is truely and ' perfecrlygood~ It is indeed an in1preffion of Me1ns na- . ture, 3 ' Jl .....
4 THE Ak.T.E tun:, to feeke for good, but thecorruption of the fame · nature is fuch,that it makes euery thi~g feeme g od to it felf, ~hicb it felfe(though falfl y) apprehendeth to be good . And fo hence it comes , that many men run an vrtfatisfi.ed courfe s through diu'ers changes of thingsfeeminglygood,and · mofi men choofe the ldfe good for the better good; yea, the moft euill for,the. · moft good. But he that will Terioufly inquire for true · happineife, mufi in his in· quirie lay afide his bodie and the doctrines thereof; :tnd bee mufi retire into his innermofi, and mofl: fecret ~ . ' 1 dof~tofLightand Rea1on, ' and . '
0 F HA pp iN E ,S. and there aske ofhis Soule– aifured t}uthsand refolutions, concerning his cbiefe and foueraigne Good.Yea, becaufe the darkneffe of :t heauie·and fenfuall bodie, fince the faJl,fubietl:to cor– ruption, hath much dim· . n1ed the light of ~he Soule; lhe hath need to returne to that vppermoft Light , by whichat firtl: fue waskindled, thence ·to receiue a fe" cond inlightning, .that by an addition of the highefl: Light, .lheemay finde .out her highefl: & chiefefl: bappineffeeThe foules thus re• tlified, Jabour,and in fome meafureattayne to behold . things in their truth , as alfo to fee the difference of s / , 1. t, f~ things ·--~~~~~- ~~~$-·~~~-a----~~~- . ' '
.' ' • / ~ things confounded or mif- , ordered- by the ignorance ofcorrupt~on, and to place each thing in his due ranke, and con(equently tb~ chief ·and foueraigne good~ farre aboueall; as indeed to the eye of wifedorne it !hines in a notable and manifefi fuperem'inence. And as lhe _giuesdueackno\vledgment - to this good,being difcoue· red,to fhe calls aloud to the will and affeCtions to llriue towards it, being kn.owne 'andacknowledged, £he ad– uifeth them to fet vp their reO: vpon it, toaduentureal for lr, and neuer to leau~Ja. bouring, · vntiH the fou1e ~nd bappineife bee ioyned together. , , · CHAP.
OF HAPPINES. 7 ' cHAP. I I. H()W that mttilheconditioned r~hich uthe enddnd happi– - neffi of Man. mowifwithfuchwife m Searchers of felici– tie wee fhall make the like enquiry,exan1ining • all things in their weight and worth; we muft needs meete inone Truth,'Truth being but one, euen a com– mon Center , in which- , all rectified vndetftandings meet. The morewifeaman . is, the more polfeflion hath · he of this trurh; and there~ fore whofoeuer can chal– . lenge to hin1felfe to be the wifeft of Men , he.mufl: al. fo be the largcfi difcouerer .- B · of I / '
I ' ,----------------~--~---, 8 THR A.itTE ofhappineife,and with him efpeciaUy fball .other wife.. domes meete' eucn of ne– ceflitie. Now that wee firmely ground our difcouerie, let vs firft inquirewhat condi– tions that thing mufl: haue which lhalJ be the happines of Man. That which ,{hall I makeMan happy,muft firft bee able to bcftow onMan an abfence ofmiferie: for Happineffe &Miferiecan– not dwell toget~1er in one ·fubiect.Againe,it muft giU& aman a reall poffeffion and enioying of t.he chiefeft good, and .that in perpetui– tie &euerlafiingnetTe. Man mufl: poffeffe the foueraign Good; for hecan neuer bee ..hap•
0 F HA p p I NE s. ,.__ 9__, happy by inioying imper- · fecHon,but that o~lywhich is·perfectlygood, can~ake a·man perfectlyhappy. He mufi alfo inioy this foueraigne Good in a perpetuitie, elfe the feare of Jofing happine~e, muflnceds lofe part .ofit before ·it be·loll:; and if hot [o, yet he cannot bet~rn1e~ happy,~ho !hall baue a ttmewhen·bee lliall bewithout happindie.And furely, ifwee fincle afoue.. raigne Good which is eu~rlafiing,it will befiowit feJfe on vs in it owne nature, e– uen euerlafii,ngly. Lafily, the beatificall obieet of Man, mufi bee the moil: a~ gre~abte obieel: of his moft ex~ellent part. Now> Mans ' B .2 · chiefefi
IO . (' THE AarE chiefeft part is a lightfome, reafonable, andvnderftan– dingfpirit. ·Therefore that fromwhich can iffue vnro Man 'thegreatefi ioy, muft beamoft wife, reafonable, ·and lightfome fpirit ; like– nelfe, agreeablene~e, and harmonic, being the foun- . dations--of pl~afure ; and confequent1y) the moft ex· cellent Like, powring into his inferiour Like, the moft: conforn1able, naturall, and kindly ioyes; fi·om which arifeth an inioying, euen in perfection, contentment)& reft. Hauing thus foundout fome conditions of Mans foueraigne good,let vs now feeke .out tbat thing which beareth thefe ·conditions : to ~-----------------------
OF HAPPINES. II __ , _______ , ___ to this purpofe let vs fearcb the length and breadth, the height and depth ofE.ffen- .ces and Beings, which ifwe draw into a fumme,we !hal fin de to bee no other, then ·theCreatureand the Crea– tor, God and the \Vorld. Let vs therefore inquire , whichof t.hefe is qualified with the abilities of perfe<ft felicitic. CH ·Ar. I-Ir. tf/hether theWorld, dr part of it,he Mans hAppinejfe. And ftrjl, of H~nour. [~F wee would begin . ~with the Wor1d, & · firft aske ofit, whe· B 3 ther ~ I'
' / 12 THE AR.TE ther it bee able to giue vs happineffe ; furely, it pre– uents our askingmofi corn .. monly, and teacheth vsby blowes, and not by words, that it is ourmiferierather then our happ~netTe: euen a great t~eafurie ,ofimperfec– tions, infirmities, griefes, cares, oppreffions, wicked· neffe, tranfitorinelfe, and vanitie. There is in it no .fit obietl: for the foule, no full and ftable happineffe for fhe body. _ ThebeO:things in it that concerneMan,are of a goodneife mixt or vn· continuing. It isfull of.con· fuGon; all things comtning alike to all, and not the befi to the befi FoJly fits.very often in iudgement vpon Wifc-
Wifedome , or which is · worfe then Folly, Wicked– neffe; andWifedome, and itighteoufneffe are as often r condemned: yea, Wicked- ·' neife bath the reward of Righteoufi1e£fe. To con– clude, etll things are full of change , the vV orld ftill ·changeth her owners, and , one generation driueth out 'an9ther. Euen thefe with whom the vVorld makes moft dalliance , the fam,e World turnes out offauor and being; asmany Princes doe their Fauourites.B'ut if , generalities, by reafon of their hugeneife , may not eafilyenter into t'henarrow capacities of men : Let vs ~xamine fome chiefe parti- " B 4 ·_ culars f I ' .
14 \T RE A lt T E culars and Maftcrwpieces of the world, andfo triewhe· tber.any part c~n beebetter then the whole;or whether anypart can bee free from that Law vnder which the whole is concluded. And fure1y, ifthe bert parts of theworld beingexamined, be found to bevanitie, and theirail1es nothing; the in– feriour parts mufl)fit were poflible, bee an extremcr kinde of nothing. ·And though many Volumes handling thefe things, haue almofl: preuented thefe lat– ter ages ofany new matter, truth in the fame thing, be– ing frill the fame; yet, he· caufe truth is infinite in la- , . ticude and largeneffe, and , all
OF HAPPINES. - all mankind is not an equall match to the breadth there.. of: Let eueryman fearch for tnore truthes·, and if he cannot finde them, bemay doe well yet to ratiiieand con firme the old.And firft, let Vi lookevponHonor, a chiefe flowre ofthis worlds flight and falfe happineiTe, and wee fuall finde it hatb iufily beene:difc.ouered to borrow valuation from o· · pinion, &opinion it fdfe is of all other amofl: ground- ·Iefre, mutable, vaine, and · witleffe thing • · It is the thought ofadarke·&blind multitude, whichcatcheth at things like mad Dogs, · fuddenly, rafhly, and vn– confiderately; not fi~ying · B ) for
16 • • for reafon, or at mofl:,one]y for a lhcwof reafon. But if thy honour haue a better ground ihyownmerit.)and the efHiriation of wife and good \men, I confeffe, ·it is then a fweere oyntmen.t which pleafeth and deligh– teth the iudgement, but · doth not fill ~nd fatisfie it. It is not food frrong inough forthefoule ofa wifeman, nor for thebody of a hun– grie man: the mind of man ftill reacheth beyond it,and cryes,it is f:1rre from being the true refl: of the fou!e.. I-Iow many ficke men,how many fad, yea but wifely feuere men baue looked vpon it, and examined it when they had it) and be-- came
~ OF HAP 'PIN:Es. ·came merrie or angrie, that they found no rpore in it! But I need not much trou· ble my felfe with exami- . ning this kin de of honour; for the World little trou· bles it felfe with feekingor findi.ng it. But that \-vhich 'chiefly pleafeth them' , is a vizzard of honour , which makes them honourable-to the eyes and opinions of men , no wifer nor better then themfelues. But if Fooles rideon hode-ba~ke with this kinde of honour, and Princes for wifedome-· goe on foote without it; 'vVhat maci good thing is .· this , which fets vpfolly S · boue wifedome? Of this I need to C:1y the lelfe: fo.r,the · ve r.y ', . ' ' : ~·
r8 ""fHE ART! - . ~ very Huntfmenofth~s honor ha.ue bitterlycomplaynedon it; they fay,it lcades them into many pits and downe.falls , ouer many - myres and dangerous precipices; themindbath ma- . nie !lrong counter- buffes . and affronts , the confcience is forced tomake wide fieps for it , and to leape ouer manyblocks offtum- ' bling andoffence. Againe, :theycomplain that it keeps the heart from refi and inioying; bein~ attayned , it is digged at byEnuie , a_nd makes this often appeare, that it hath clymed for ' ruine. Finally, one degree _ of honour attayned , is but · ' :rdegree,not ahoundoftJ1e de- - . c
0 F HA pp IN E s. 19 defires ; and a farther ho· nour defired and not atray- . .ned, takes away the fauour ofwhatfoeuer honour is al– readie gotten • Hence it plainlyappeares, that there is in it little fubftance or fo· · ..}ide fatisfaction , fince that pleafeth mof.l:, which wee - haue not,thar little, and lefi: which we haue• . CHAP. IIII. Ofpleafores and riches, th4t : they 're n~t c.JU4ns happi~ ; n~~. . ~Vt ifneglettingbo· 1 ~ nour, wee looke on \ pleafures , to finde 1· happindfe in them ; ·How ,· . doe :
30 THE .AllTE doe pleafures die in inioy– •ng'?Their end .deuoureth their beginning:their back– lide is more lothfome then rheirfaceis pleafant. They chat arepaft, haue not fatis– fi.de; they that are to come, will beebut-the .Ia.me, and lhall not fatisfie. 'There is nothing left.of the former, neither fhall there beofthe latter, but·all arc bounded within one and the fam~ v:~nitie. Againe, pJeafures neuer fiand f}iH, but while theyb~e, theybee letTening &going to nothing.There– fore of laughter it may bee faid, Thou art ~ad, andof pleafure, What is it that thou doefl:? And furely , if ,·we could obtayne a co.nti... · nued
OF HAP.PINES· 21 nued courfe of pleafures, through thera~e ofawhole life, yet this only or chiefly concernes the body , but the foule bath no obiett , thewhiles to giue her any full pleafureor delight. Ai the body tafieth not fpiriruall ioyes, fo tbe foule tafteth not bodily plcafures. Yea earnall pleafures baue . this venom ordinarily in them, that r their heighth growetb, or continueth,by the diminilhing or fuppref· " fiori ofthe rcafc>nablefoule; . and con1moPly the excel~ lent foule is vfed but as a flaue to li1pply the Jufts of the body with b~fe fatisfa.. tl:ion, whilesher felfegoes .awaywithout anywages of · pleafure I , ' ' '
22 THE A.&. T E pleafure or aduantage;yea, illee ~gt·ones vnder the bur.. den offo vile a bondage ; , then efpecially finking,fuffering, a~d rctyririg, when t!1e body enioyes his chie-- fefi pleafures. But iffober toward pleafitres, ,wee yet A-and in reuc:rence of pro.. fit, after which the greateft _part of t~e wodd runnes a whoring; let vs turne our eyes from Multitude vnto Truth, which vfua11y by Multitude is mofl: forfaken. ' There is a fure faying, that a competent portion, fit to defend vs from hunger and nakedndfe (that is, a mea.. fure able to ferue and fatis- - fie our naturall vfes) bath ' att~yned the fulne!fe ofthe fub- .
OF HAPPJNES. fubflantiall goodnes there-.. of. .Wee are trauayling rhrugh thiswol"ld to death; if we haue enough tobeate our neceifarie charges by the way, how is not fuper.. fluity rather a burthen then , a comfort to a trauayler ? whatfoeuer is beyond our V fe , wee can but behold , withoureies,orput avaine confidence in it , which of- • ten hath deceiued thofe that trufted in it; for euen that which they haae put their truft in, hathbeen the fame thing .that bath be– trayed them. Therefore it ·is fit thilt care and feare (as commonlytheydo)lliould · accompanie Abundance,as · vtell as ·Pride and Confi- · denee. ·1 I ' . ' '
. . 24 t ------------------1 ' dencc. And ·if fo , then what a motley and ' ming- ; gled happines arifeth from a,doubtfullandcarefull fu– pedluitie?Arid furely,very commonly and very iuftly the O\vners of this excc:lfe, are called miferable~ For, befides that it oft~en deli .. uers them vpinto thehands of miferie, it makes them mo£1: wretched in them– fdues, becaufe moft wret· ched to themfelues. There is a beafHy kinred betweene the heart ofman &money, and this kinred begetsfuch a loue , that the heart will goe neere to fiarue it felfc before it wi11 part from its - moft bdoued obietl. Yea, n1oney begets the loue of money,
'\ - OF HAr .PINEs. 25 1 money, and fiir.s vp theaffection in fuch a vehemencie towards it , that pof. feffion cloth inflame the de- ' fire , and not fatisfie it. , ·Nowwhat can giue reft to fuch a miferable Soule? when obtayning , which in other things giues fome (though lliort) fatisfaction> yet to thisman it giuesnew appetite , farther moti?n , _ &a longer bufines?Y't this aboundance thus brought forth by the Mid-wiferie oftormen,tandperplexitie, many times fiyes away like an Eagle by the following generations, Folly or Lu·x.. urie; and this certainly is a great vanity and wretched– neife of riches, that they are (
are fo often left to a foolifh fonne, who is letfe ktn toa truewifeman, then an ho– nefi firanger;that fomtimes theyare left to afonne,that isno fonne, and fometin1es left, and there. is not are~ cond to enioy them. How.. foeuer, left they mufl: bee, euen all thi!Jgswherin thou · hail: fhewed thy felfe wife and induftrious, and that to fome who laboured not in rhem, to fome whom thou knowefl: not, after two or threegenerations; &there– fore knowefl: not, whether 'chey lhalbe wife or foolilh, whether they fha] 1perform thy purpofes and defires with thy fubfhtnce; yea, I whether they fhall turne it - into -----.~
OF 'HAPPfNES. into the price ofa Whore or aDogge,which both arc an abomination in the fight ofW-ifedome.But ifriches might, efcape all this luc– ceeding miferie; yet is not the prefent poffetTor of themhappy. The common miferie ofman laies claim€ to all , and will not bee bought out" by Riches. Therefore the Rich man fhall meete with croifes, & JofTes, in friends or efiate; · he !hall be ficke inminde, and ficke inbody, yea ful– ne!fe it felfe iliall make him ftcke in both. ·And ifbee . might efcape all this, yet : riches, \vhich are the Ser-· uants of his body, cannot l mak~his foul happy)whic_h lS ..
2S T a£ A 1l TB is better then the bodie: for farre be i from the foule to finde her bappineffe in her feruants feruant; efpeciallv fuch afugitiuevagabond & vncertaine feruant. Theft: maffte and groffi: riches are too courfe an obietl:, for a pure andfpirituall Elfenc~; they carry no likeneffe or,' proportion vnto it , and thereforecangiue thefoule no additionofher naturall pleafure or profit, much I le lfe of her perfect: happi ~ neffe, wherein ~ee mufl: haue a part, fo farreg,rearer ~ .. then the body, as lhee is more excellent then it. I CHAP.
0 F H A 1) p .\ N f: s. 2 9 cHAP. v.. I, ' .Of . KrJ~'a'le;?gu. 11 , V T fome morall vVizzard will tell n1ee , that Know– led-ge hatb fome high priui· ledge aboue Miferie, and fuch aone as can giueHap– pine!fejo this ( in fpigbt of · it) vnhappy life. Indeede, knowledge is a dim light, , which is better then very I darkne1fe. It bathanexcel· ' , .lency, as dawning aboue night, but though it be bet· · ter,it is not that,chiefe good · which can make vs happy. It may indeede bee vfed as · an infirun1ent for the difco.. ueryofhappineiTe, though ··felqome it bee put to that ~ vfe. I .
~~-------------------- THE AR.TE vfe. But in it felfe neither in any thing 'createdlhall it euer be able todifcouer it. · Yea ra~her it·!hall fin de in it felfe and in all things of this world,man1 imperfec– tions, and faylings ofrhofe iuft conditions., abfolutely necelfarie to bee found in Mans fouer~ign good.Our knowledge is but ofa fhort reach j the· things beyond it, are infi~itely more then the things on this fide ofit, Therforewhen knowledge is come to a fuppofed per· feCl:ion , a fpeciall qoalitic of it is,to know it felfe to be imperfetl::euen thofe things which are within the com· pafTe ofit, it fearcheth by piece-meale, part after part, .as
OFHA P_PINEs. 31 as one that reades a great . Volume in the darke with a I Glow-worm; \Vhich thews him but letter after letter : fo.agreat deale of trouble , 1 goes to a very l]ttle profit.· Hence are our Sciences, but many littles pieced to1 gether while the great body I I .oftruth&wifedome ftands · beyond our fi ght; and by 1 the incomprehenfibleneife l thereofaccufeth our know· l ' ledge, cuen to it felfe , of weakeneife , as the glorie ! ofthe Sunnedothour eies, · l by dazeling tb~m. And I this magnified littleknow.. j Jedge 'whicb we haue, what I extraordinarievaragedoth it bring vnto1v1an?Surely, \ it often beft:o,ves vexation l_ · ·=- . C . on
THE ArtTE on the owners ot it, andby increafing, increafeth for– row ; for to the greateft . knowledge, the vanitiean~ miferie ofman cloth prefent it felfe in a moft full appa· ranee ; yea, great know– ledges vfually take vp a· fore-hand euils to come, and make -them prefent. ence it is that tnany lear– nedPhilofophershaoe vex– ed their liues with the con– fideration of their deaths, which many ignorant and fiurdyClowns without pre– tneditation haue vnder-ta– ken,with mot:e eafe, as mif– fing the troubles of antici· pation; &haue difpatched with leife bufineffe and lvraiHing, as being hood· \Vi nfcd • I
OF HAPPINES. 33 winked with a blinde con... . tenrment, to doe as their fathers haue done betore . them. For this caufe alfo fome of our greateft know- · ers bauc winked againft · knowledge, and haue deft· · red that ignorance lhould coozcn themof theirgriefs, to which knowledgewould . continually and lowdly a- . 1 wake thetn. Surely, \"'hen the knowledge ofman hath 1 · difcouered throughout this frame of the world' an ex– cellent wifdome and order, when1t fees that there is an exceHent beautiein the t1ce ofGoodneffe, yea,fome ex- :cellenc~ in knowledge _it .felfe; ho\v, muft not this needes torment the heart C 'l of \
. ' ~4 I TJrit: .. A.R.TE of the knower, while the . fame knowledge feerh alfo . - .the actions of mankinde to runne fo madly andconfi1- ' fedly, whiles it fees lufiice, or at lesft Power, treading vpon the f.1ce ofgoodneffe, · and exalting wickednelfe, I while it fees an vndifiirguifhing ehance to .come vntoall; and finally ).while knowledge feeth know.. ]edge defpifed , andyet not .able to helpe it felfe, nor anyof thofe euils which it fees. Certainly thefe things are a vexationofminde tothe menofknowledge, and ' make them lothe theworks ' that are wrought vnder the Sunne, euen to hate life it .fclfe. And as this miferie I I ·I comes ' .
0 F H. A pp IN E s. 35 comes ofknowledge being go~ten , fo euen the getting ·of knowledge i.s it felfe a miferie; for vfually itis ac· quired by two meanes.The one is a vehement and con– tinualllabouroftheminde,. · · which takes vp one halfe of the life, to inftrutl the o· rh er halfe; yea, many times knowledge is a funeral ga~ - · mcnt, al the1i fe ~n w·orking, --....... & worne but the Iaft iour· neyto thegraue. A fecond . meanes, is an extraordina... ric infl:run1ent of the foule, which is called the drie beame; by which the i{)ule. · feeth mofi c1eerly & fwifc– ly, and will dicourfequt of a preCent apprehenfion , as foundly as fome \Vill doe I c 3 by ;,t: ..-.. -_...;...----.:!..--~~..___:
·. J 36 THE ART E - , __ I I • bymuch fiudie and preme· · ditation~but \vemutt kn·ow. that in this· caf~ ' the win- . dolV of the foule is vfually enlargedby the flaw of the body , ~nd the body and minde doe often{uffer fome indifpofidon, when thefe beames of the foule 2reo· uer-atl:iue. Hence may we truly gheffe,that ft_.tch great.. ·neffe of \Vlt hath co'mmon· ly to accompanie it fome couchof madneffe or fick· neiTe. 'And now, that wee 1nay giue a conclufion to the poore knowledge of man, as before it was con– qinced to be afpy for griefe, "vhile it beholds theconfu~ fion, miferie, andvanitie of this world :-{({ -in'ay wee · trudy ----~
OF HAPPlNRS. 37 --------------1-~- truely fay, that it can neuer be an Intelligencer of hap... pineiTe,while it furuaies the beautie and g1orie of this world , and fends vs ne~es ofthcn1alone. For among the varieties of this worlds befi &mofi excellent parts, knowledge eau neuer finde any obiccl: worthy of the · foule ofman; nothing that n1aygiue it the true bappi– neffe of a foule, nor any . thing that may lift vp n1~u1 .· · · abouemiftrie, ti1ere ro giue htm arefi of .C1fetie and pcr– petuitie ,.yea, much rather it fees the fou1e n1ade a -drudge to the bodie , and trudging in the errands of corruption, wkkednelfe& . variitie; and if fometimes C 4 G1ce \
I 38 T H E A F.. T E I fhee delight her felfe in her owne light, that light ii bur as the lh0oting of a fiar, for maneft-foones fi1ls . downe into his old fiation r ofgrofneife&miferie. And I though fometimes it giues a man fome ea fe in leffcr c– ui1s and troubles, yet is knowledge it feife vfually afronifhed with fudden en· counters)euen in Jin1e mat- .ters, and commonly o.uer- . borne \vich migbtie tem– pefls of greatly-fenft.ble e-~ uils . Therefore wee may:· . conclude, that knowledge rather fuewes man that hee is ill, then makes him tobe well, & it feen1es that fome . 1 ~reat knowledge hath fub1 tet1:ed man to an vnre!ifi– . able
- 0 :f H A f pI N E s. 39 able reuolurion ofmiferie, from whichall,1e~erknow- · ledges can neuer fr~e him, . _without the helpe of the greater.. - .CH- A r. v r. The vniucr.fo/1vanitie if tile . fVorld. . ·mvt·if in all this; 1 . ~ had t1id nothing, · . but that ftil in fpite . of all that hathbeene hlid, . thefc and the· like mafier– pieces of the world, would · of force befiow fotne hap- : ·pinelfe on Man, yet herein · I cannot choofe but to I:1y ' · fomething; t~at is, when :' \ dead!yG ckndfe , either ea· : C 5 fuall h · l
- ;.~ .. _:. .::...."~ .. - . . ._ ...r , ( A t . .r , - H · E n: ·R. T E Y ' 0 t-·---- - - I - ru.Jl or n:uuraU' commeth ! vpon vs; ,fV.hen the gr~n~, · ders are weake;d1e keep~rs •' tren1ble·; ~ :ttid the ·too·kets out by the windowes; yea by the \vindow.es of the foule, growdarke; \Vhat canhonor,riches;pleafures ~r knowJedge then ·confer vnto Man thus buryed in bimfelfe, and vncapable of any outward comfort? vp· on this confideration, tblat old Man did 'vifely, who . refufed the pleafures of the · Court , being inuited to them; becaufe his eare did n9 longer tafle the fwcet- , neffe .of Muftke, nor his .palate did any longer rel– lith the fauourincffe of meate. Thegates of Man' are
are lhut vp, by which the trade bet\veene the Soule and the \Vorld, dotbpaffe· to and fro , and therefore : ~1an cannot traffick any longer with his old cpfio– mers of ·this outward and vHible world. But now the dregs oflife are co·me to the fpcnding,wherin thou lhalt :·. confeiTe that there is np· thing but labour and for- - row. And ifyet I had in this faid Nothing, becaufc fome Philofophers inuen– ted a \vay to preucnt this· : · miferie, by ridding them· · felues of themfdues ,. ·yet · this·muft needes bee Come– thing) th~r Death,thethaw . ofall cold and frozen totn· forts J diiTolueth both thee and . I ·- I
and all thy imaginarie feli- · cities into nothing, euen in– to that which fuch felicities · do nothingconcerne. Sure– ly, whatfoeuer titles thou ball inioyed , wbatfoeuer pleafures thou hall: tailed I) whatfoeuer riches thou hafi: 'poffeffed,\Vhatfoeuer plots or inuentions thou haft co– triued or~onceiued, Death , cuts them wholly from thee, or thee from them ; there is no more relation betweene you, n~ither doe they any longer concerne thee. Th~refore in regard of 'all outward things, bath · - there beene a iuft out-crie: Wh2t ren1ayneth to Man of all his works vnder the Sunne ?The dufi of ~1an harh
- 44 THE A.ttTE - tbeothers. For, ifprefent I ,eafe and pl~afure fw~eten , · a11 former .grtefe and bttter· I · ~eife, but prefent griefeand I bitterneffe doth giue. a dif._. ' tafleto al former pleafures; then thefe to wkom eafe; and p1eafure are prefent·in . the lafi plac-e,haue a recom- · pence and counterpoife to. 1their forrowes: and they to· whom_ griefe and vexation are la_ft of aU prefent, fee1e ' an extinguilhment oftheir for'mer pleafi.1res:and hen.ce . it feemes themiferable goe henc-e· in fome degree of ' :happinefTe, thevolupruo,us '/ .in a great' degree of wretcbedndTe. Howfoeucr, bee · what thou wilt, 0 \vorld-· 'ling, doe 1vhat thou W'iit, . thou .
--.-...--··--=-----.....--- Q ··t; --H A"' P ~ l :N ' E s., ;q_) .- ··;,_ ·- .- -- .. c~ou lhalt goe :int(fcmpti: · neff~ and va:llitie) thou and t~}t i ~hdugl1ts -fuall petfHh) ahd ~~hat· vlhich-remaynes oftheeirt the - \vorld~ ,{halbe . of an e-qu_all condition to that mould \Vherein it is in· ·clofed. ;-and the \vorld 'fllaH :confeH,Ie :thy duO: no-more then · it -doth thy fe11ow~ I duft, which Jyethnext vnto ·, h ' ' t ee. . - · . t I I , ' ; \ I ' c H A P, "~I Irvhat rtm.ryn,es ~(N~cejiitie fli : . he the htJppinejfo of lvftU1o , ·l , r. ' I HJ:Ow, t;he w;rld he- I ·liii ingtHusfhutvpand ! · · . bounded with vani· : tie, there· remayn~s onely ·;! that · . ·- ! I ' I
46 T -HE A a. T E ~·~ chat highefi E-ffence , the Caufe_and fo;unt~yneofall cJ1ipgs, in \f;hom Manmay feeke-his happineffe,Man is inforced eo clime vp -aboue this world of vanitie , to reach his true fe1icitie·. His 1 foule mufi fet vp the ladder ofcontempl•tti~n, -~there· on {bee muft afcend vp to her !v1aker, -to feekein him ,a remedie of hermiferie,an ·obiett of bleiredndfe, of :perpetuitie. And furely, 'whither can fhee more fitly ,repaire, then to the Source of her being , there to re· .ceiue areparation of herill .being, and an erernitie of ·well being ? For hee that ~ made Man, is inall ·proba- · ~ bilitie. mofi: able ._ to amend ·- ··n Man
OF HAPPINEs. : Man when he is mard, yea, there is none,but he, can do it. Againe , God,being the F~tber ofSpirits, what can more reioyce them then t~eir Father & Fountayne, by continu.all fi1pplyes of life and ioy ! Now, that God is amofi bleifed Spirit the -true heatificall obiett ofSpirirs bleifed , his fu,– premitie in Excellence , .wifedome, and power, doe .fironglyperfwade: and firfi for excellence, euen in our · vulgar eft)mati~n, gro!fe things ar~ bafe things, and puritie is accounted excel· lencie. Glaife is preferred before Clay, and Crifiall before GJaffe, and the Dia– mond before Crifiall. "Among.. 47
4~ I T H E A R. T E mong Men, the beauie and earthly mindes are moft conternned, and they that are of the quickefi &il1ar- / peft fpirits, are held tnofl: noble and generous:lfthen we will frame any concep:. tion of a tranfcendent and vppennofi excelkncie; ·we muft al-fo conceiue a mofi abfolutcpuride. Therefore if God bee rnofl: exceHenr, ·be is alfo mofi pure. Now what is to be thought more pure then aglorious,fingle·, vn-compou_ndeq Effeoce, fuch as-aSpirit is , and that Spirit moll,,which is the · Caufe,and Fountayne,and Father of Spirits? __ And no ldfe doth a fpiriruall Ef– fence11t befi'withwifdorn; I ' For
0 p H A p p 1 N E s. 49 .For wifedome.beiog a mofi pure _and ·piercing thing, l\vhichby:the -(harpneffe & ~ifbtiltie thereof can pierce into the,moft- hidden and fecret profundities , what Effence fitteth wifedome 1 better, then a'pure, fubtiH, and piercing EiTence, fuch as is that ofa Spirit ! vVife.. dome is a light,and we find . ' .the bighet' any thing is.fu b.. : limated,and refined, and as · it were vnbodied, themore · • capable it is of light. So ~ · .Earth, whi~h isa_lumpe of : 'darkneffe,:; by fire lifted vp : and Clarified i·ftto the pure– neife of Glatfe, becomes– cfpedallycapable of l-ight. kl\ndfurely,ifwe fearch but . ,alittledepth intowifdon1e: ~ ,. \ it ' - -··-·· - ---
so \ THE Aa.TE . / ( . it wil appeare to our vnder· ,, ftandings to bee the child, conc~i~ement, and ilfueo~ :l a Sptrlt; euen ofa deer'b · pure, and fingle effence, which in their models our owne foules doe .reprefent ' vnto vs, and teachbypat- ~ terne. ~birdly)in regard of Power,as the Creator ofall . things mufi excelJ al things in power ; fo Power hath · ·his refidcnce moft fitly and efpecially in a Spirit. Ac- . cordingly wee fee indaily : experienc~, that theheauie :and.maffie thin.gs are mo- / ued and commanded by thingsvn.. corporeall &vn- - feene. ThehugeSea is mo- . ued to and fro in her Tides, 'by an in.uifible ·and ynbo· · ., dily '
- dily Power. ·There is no hand chat toucheth ir, no :trme that holdeth it backc, or thrufl:eth it forward. In lining things, euen thofe that liue but agrowing life, · the maffie pare is moued in · growing by a power vnui· fi ble and vnperceiuab1e. In Beafis, the pureft and mofi incorporeall part of them is that which mooueth, in.. creafeth,anddirecteth their . grofne1Te and greatnetfe. The Wind is a thing inui– fib1e &ofagreat thinneiTe and fubtiltie. Yet inEarth· quakes it teares Rocks a– funder, ·& remoues Moun· taynes ; · in Te~pefis it bririgs ·the Sea vpon . fhe Land, andequals Towres . _·_ with
Sl . THE A R. T E 'w.ith their owne founda·tf. ons•.Surely, Power is tben moft pure &:abfolur~,when , it is leafi clogged \vith weight;-and maffines doth ' lode it, rather. then increafe it. And as ·i~ 'is of it felfe cleereand vncorporealJ, fo it cannot but ,proceed from a cleere, and pure Effenc;e, .things eue_r proceeding fro their like: and \V hat purer rhen a Soi rit? And to {but & vp - an in an cxperimentall .conclufion: We find in our telues an ex~e!lenteiTence, intelligent, vn-corporeall, inuiqbJe ·, vn-touchnble , (which are. theexpreffions ofa Spiri~) . wh~rebymany great works ar,~ performed, . an.d ther~by giue cuidenr · tefti·
OF HAPPfN _Es. 53 tefrimonies therof lfthere· tore therebefiJch aneifence in vs, wee tnay imagine the Creator to bee purer then his worke; and then:fore he muf.t be n1ore fpiritual than we, or more then fpiricu·all, but cannot be leiTe. But be I' rbat graunted which wee - feeke, that God is 2 Spirit, mofi.wife ,-moft powerfulJ, that can both fi:ee vs from miferie, and giuevs the true and naturaU happinelfe of Spirits; Whatauailc:th it vs chat God is able to doe it, except it be.done? There: rnufl: bee a communication I of:rhis abilitie vnto Iv1a?, i el~ Man onely kn.owes :where he might be happy, · I : but ktll'ow~s ~not that bee·. t ' iball I .-
- 54 THE ARTE fi1all behappy. P~nd without rhis knowledge, the lite of Man is but a continuall feare and bondage.Wherefore it concernes vs tomake a new furuayofall Nations and all Dotl:rines ofhappi.. , nes,inquiringamong them, whether any 9f them -can ' ' tell vs the glad tydings of a communion ~nd encer• courfe betweene God and Man. Leevs diligently exa. mine the vniuerfall Teachers of-knowledges 1 &aske ·whether there hath beene anyaCl:ofthe Creator, per- ' formed for the reparation of miferablemankind,and the deliuedice ofhim from this prifon of wretchednes &vanitie, into the glorious libertit
OF HAPPINEs. 55 libettic of bleffed Spirits. , . Formypart (as (ueryman . is bounded with his owne knowledge ) ·I haue heard or read ofone alone; and that is fo f~lly medicinable to Mans miferie, fo fully fufficient togiue Man per– feel: felicity;That.this is the very doctrine of happi.nes1 · or eife Man mufl: frill reI mainc a fenfuall,wretch~d, I '· ~nd vnprofitable creature, 1 1 which to fay, were a blaflphemie againft the wifdom l of creation.In this doctrine I isGod difcouered to be the I !repayrer of his owne falne creature. And the remcdie is euery ·way equalJ , yea, . preualent to the difeafe, fo that it well becon1es the D high· . ' ' ! I l E i .I . . i I I I
,. I THE AR.TE highefi God to bee the Au.. thour thereo£ And though the manner of it be n<;>t fet· chedfrommans vaine· glo· rious. imaginations , nor grounded vpon Nature (Go o being able equally to be anjmtnediateFather of Mans reparation, as of his creation of grace as of nature) yet contay~·leth this doctrine no vnreafonable ' . . 12· cotHrartettes, or repugnances, but onely thingshigh abouecornon reafon ,' fuch as well befit a Dei tie,- high· er by farre then his o\vne · creature. Andnot\vithfian.. ding this height, yet they that duely conuerfe. in this doctrine, .andbymeditati– on en·ter. into the ruyfteric · ,. , . tbrreof, ·- ---.- ----- --------- ----..,....._-~------~
OF HAPPINES.. 57 thereof, they , I fay , fhalJ find an excellent harmonic &correfpondence between it a~d Mans prefent efhue, and betweene all the parts of it felfe. For the fore of ~ / lvlan is fo iufily couered withari anfwe1·ab1eplaifrer: - I'hat it mufi needs be con– feffed, that he who framed the remedie,mufi bee hee a– lone that know·eth the fe– crets of theheart, eaen the depth and roote ofour ma. fadie. Philt>fophie hath in– deuourcd rocure the Gan.. grene of !vlans corruption, bycuttingofftb~verypa.rts corrupted, which mufi bee vpon thematter,bycutting 1\ off Man from himfelfe, as indeed fo1).1e hauc done) by · D 2 ] ( a ~ )
ss I 1... JiiE AR. T E I leauing him as a meere . trunke without feeling, and without affection. But this ~ dotl:rine leaueth the parts whole, but mainly oppo.. feth thecorruptio,it leaues ~man tobeas much aman as ' hewas, but onely it to· purI ' geth him, that hee .is not fo much euil,nor fo muchmiferable as he was ;yea, that at length he (hall be neither euiU nor miferable. And this is fo fi rongly fealed into the heart ofMan, that it leaues an euiden-t proofe of . ..___ a diuine power, accompa· nying and iuflifji_ng it. For I none but the Creator can pierce into the hart ofman, and bind his wilJ and affections, ,euen againfi his wjJJ I :1nri '
OF HAPPINEs. 59 and affettions,. with fuch powerfull and mightie chaines , that neither the wit of Man , which bath beene fi·uitfull in-inuentions of torment , nor the power of Emperors,which .. bath ruined mightie King- · domes, could change oralter them. · Concerning this Arteof Arts, what Ihaue receiued., I purpofe to ·deliuer to o– thers , through his he1pe, wbo is the Author thereof: and fure1y, this knowledge . is onlyworthyofaman~o– ther knowledges , except - .they /ferue thi~, they are · but wearineffe and vanitie: · for man i$ asmiferable,and fometimes more , when he D i hath
' I · 6o l ., 'THE AR.TE hattl gotten -their perfecti– ons, as when he cntred in– tq their beginnings. And becaufeit giu~sa great light ro tvlans reparation , to know how he came to haue . neede of it, and becaufe it concernes the glorie of the Creator , to fhew that at firfl: he created not miferie andcorruption: Therefore l moO: fitly doth this Doe.. trine beginnewith the firfl .eG:ate ofm:.~n , and the loffe thereof: euen·a createdper– fection , and a purchafed corrup ~ ion ; A ·learning, which all Philofophycould neuer re:1cb. For fhe is the child ofman,and therefore , cannot tell the beginning of her O\vne Father.. For \ ,man. ------~-----------~--~ ' '
------r-------1---~ man was before iliee was, yea man was loft , ,before fhee was found:and fo ,lhee which w·as fince corrupti· on , cannot tell how that corruptioncatnewhichwas before-her, much.lefTe can. lhe fpeake of that perfecti· ·on which was 2-gainebefore this corruption. But the truth is, had fhe findes vs, andnot knowing thecaufe, {hecanneuer find the cur~; and therefore as lhe found vs, fo lhec leaues vs .miferable. , \. ,. . .
I ' I /
M~M~~~~ THE · ARTE OF - H 'A p .p I N E s. The flcond Part• • Which particularly fets forth the happine!fe of Man , and the rdloring of it when it was loft. . 1 c· H A r. I. _ · ·ofthecreatQr and the Crea– tion)4nd"the purpoft ofthf Crtllt~r in the Creation. ~-~~HeCreator is ~'liP'~ the beginning ..._.... of all things, ~· and therefore LIIL.oo1~ mufl: he needs be without beginning. Fe>r · · D 5 · · from ~-
I . THE A'R. T E fronl the th_ings which baue .their beginningofhim, him fdfe canno~ take beginning, neither can he be his Q\Vne begin.ning ~for that were to fty, he w;ts b~fore he \iVas. But God is an ctcrnaH Ef. fence, ~bat by himfel :e vp– holdeth himfdfe, and all 1 things, elfee For ,all orben rh ings haue no ~eing ofi their ownc , but they bor-1 ro ·wtheir being from h~n1; I · Jndjn him iS' their founda-1 don ~ and for this caufe may he alone rightly ., be– caufe alone originally,/fay, · I jm, And as he is the foun– taine and beginning from 1 / .which all things flow, fo · · :is he the end to lvhich all things ,reti.trne ; ·either by / their . ,.
their owne wills confor– med to ,his will, or by the o~er-ruling of his power, which fubdueth thevnwil.:. ling to his v1ill. ~And thus mufr it needes be; for the Creatgr is his owneend in his Creation, and doth all ,thingsfor himfelfe. If wee , . allow not a Creator , nre . confeffc no Author of the · things.wel! fee; but either \Vee make them Eternall, ·· which is to make meaner .·gods,and ,ro denie themore excellent)orwefranle fome · imagination of our owne to be theirbeginning,,vhich lhall neuer fit w·ith themfo , _w~ll, as awife, pow~rfi11J, and eternall Spirit ; an~lafily , we rob mansfoule , ~ of f I
66 T H E A R. T E . '-· of a true refl: &happineffe. For ift·he Spirit ofman had no_t fome foueraigneSpirir, .. to· giue it-eternall Bliff~, then were miferable man lhut vp vnto this prefent life, as vnto-his foueraigne good, into which a wife & good man wouldneuer re– enter, ifhe were oncewell difcharged ofit.Letvs then feeke a G o o higher then thefe vifible things , and a happines higher then·thefe miferable things; and let vs not reafon with the brutilh - Senfualifl:s; I-Iee is not a Godwhom wee cannot fee with our eyes;but let vs fay ·with the Soulesinlightned; ' Hee is fittefi to bee a God, whof~ .pureneffe doth ex- . , · ceU
0 l' H .A p p I N E s. cell the groffe capacitie of bodily fences. For thepu· · rer the Effence is; the more fit to bee a God , and the morepure, the more inui– fib-le toagroffe and carnall fight. Let vs therefore be– leeuethe Creator to bee a mofi cleere, lightfome, and glorious Spirit, and to bee feene onely bySpirits and bodies, fublimated into a fpirituall kinde ofbeing. This glorious &eternalJ Spirit, n1anifeflethhimfelfe to our apprehenfions in ·th_ree Perfons1theprint and impreffion of each pcrfon I I being found in euery crea- .ture, and there being·an ab– folute neceflitie, that euery I one of the three fbould con- -· \
I • / 68 THE AK. T E J / cdncurre in all Creation. _"fbe firft,in orde,rofConfi– deration, thot;~gh there bee no firH: in order of Time, is rh'e great.and infinite Mind or Vnderfianding , which begetteth a great Wifdotn, . T_hought, or 'Nord; ·eueA the firfi: and ~adicall ~ight, the a!mightie Begetter of the fecond Light; and this perfon is calleq Go o the Father. The fecond, is the . begottell &. fecond Light; euen the.\Vif1onle &Con– ceiuement of the minde or vnderflanding;an In1age & dfue thereof, and this per- . fen is called Go n the Son. The third, is the'\lertue & Power, "vhith breatheth or floweth from theGodhead, - where;..
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