THeLights of Heaven, which are the world's fair eyes,Look down into the world, the world to see;And as they turn, or wander in the skies,Survey all things, that on this Centre be.And yet the Lights which in my Tower do shine,Mine Eyes! (which view all objects, nigh and far)Look not into this little world of mine,Nor see my face, wherein they fixed are.Since Nature fails us in no needful thing;Why want I means, mine inward self to see?Which sight, the Knowledge of Myself might bring;Which, to true wisdom, is the first degree.That Power (which gave me eyes, the world to view)To view myself, infused an Inward Light,Whereby my Soul, as by a Mirror true,Of her own form, may take a perfect sight.But as the sharpest Eye discerneth nought,Except the sunbeams in the air do shine;So the best Soul, with her reflecting thought,Sees not herself, without some light Divine.O LIGHT! (which makest the Light, which makest the Day;Which settest the Eye without, and Mind within)Lighten my spirit, with one clear heavenly ray!Which now to view itself, doth first begin.For her true form, how can my Spark discern?Which dim by Nature, Art did never clear;When the great wits, of whom all skill we learn,Are ignorant, both What She is! and Where!One thinks the Soul is Air, another Fire,Another, Blood diffused about the heart,Another saith, the Elements conspire,And to her Essence, each doth give a part.Musicians think our Souls are Harmonies;Physicians hold that they Complexions be:Epicures make them Swarms of Atomies,Which do, by change, into our bodies flee!Some think one General Soul fills every brain,As the bright sun sheds light in every star;And others think the name of Soul is vain,And that We, only Well-mixed Bodies are.In judgement of her Substance, thus they vary;And thus they vary in judgement of her Seat;For some, her chair up to the Brain do carry,Some thrust it down into the Stomach's heat!Some place it in the root of life, the Heart;Some, in the Liver, fountain of the veins;Some say, "She is all in all, and all in part!"Some say, "She is not contained, but all contains!"Thus these great Clerks their little wisdom show,While with their doctrines, they at hazard play;Tossing their light opinions to and fro,To mock the lewd; as learned in this, as they!For no crazed brain could ever yet propound,Touching the Soul, so vain and fond a thought;But some among these Masters, have been found,Which in their Schools, the selfsame thing have taught.GOD, only-Wise! to punish Pride of Wit,Among men's wits hath this confusion wrought!As the proud Tower, whose points the clouds did hit,By Tongues' Confusion, was to ruin brought.But, Thou! which didst Man's Soul, of nothing make!And when to nothing, it was fallen again;To make it new, the Form of Man didst take,And, GOD with GOD, becam'st a Man with men!Thou! that hast fashioned twice, this Soul of ours,So that She is, by double title, Thine;Thou, only, knowest her nature and her powers,Her subtle form, Thou, only, canst define!To judge herself, She must herself transcend,As greater circles comprehend the less:But She wants power, her own powers to extend,As fettered men cannot their strength express.But Thou, bright morning Star! Thou, rising Sun!Which, in these later times, has brought to lightThose mysteries, that, since the world began,Lay hid in darkness and eternal night!Thou, like the sun, doth with indifferent ray,Into the palace and the cottage shine!And showest the Soul, both to the Clerk and Lay,By the clear Lamp of thy Oracle Divine!This Lamp, through all the regions of my brain,Where my Soul sits, doth spread such beams of grace,As now, methinks! I do distinguish plainEach subtle line of her immortal face.What the Soul is?The Soul, a Substance and a Spirit is,Which GOD Himself doth in the body make,Which makes the Man; for every man, from this,The Nature of a man and Name doth take.And though the Spirit be to the Body knit,As an apt meane her powers to exercise;Which are Life, Motion, Sense, and Will, and Wit:Yet she survives, although the Body dies.That the Soul is a thing subsisting by itself, without the Body.She is a Substance, and a real thing,1. Which hath, itself, an actual working Might,2. Which neither from the Sense's power doth spring,3. Nor from the Body's humours tempered right.She is a Vine, which doth no propping need,To make her spread herself, or spring upright;She is a Star, whose beams do not proceedFrom any sun, but from a native light.That the Soul hath a proper operation, without the Body.For when She sorts things present with the past,And thereby things to come doth oft foresee;When She doth doubt at first, and choose at last:These acts her own, without the Body, be.When of the dew, which the Eye and Ear do take,From flowers abroad, and bring into the brain;She doth, within, both wax and honey make:This work is hers, this is her proper pain!When She from sundry acts, one Skill doth draw;Gathering from divers fights, one Art of War;From many Cases like, one Rule of Law:These, her collections, not the Sense's, are.When in th'Effects, She doth the Causes know;And seeing the stream, thinks where the spring doth rise;And seeing the branch, conceives the root below:These things She views, without the Body's eyes.When She, without a Pegasus, doth flySwifter than lightning's fire, from East to West;About the Centre, and above the Sky:She travels then, although the Body rest.When all her works She formeth first within;Proportions them, and sees their perfect end,Ere She in act, doth any part begin:What instruments doth then, the Body lend?When without hands, She thus doth castles build;Sees without eyes, and without feet doth run;When She digests the world, yet is not filled:By her own power, these miracles are done.When She defines, argues, divides, compounds;Considers Virtue, Vice, and General Things;And marrying diverse principles and grounds,Out of their match, a true conclusion brings:These actions, in her closet, all alone,(Retired within herself) She doth fulfil;Use of her Body's organs, She hath none,When She doth use the powers of Wit and Will.Yet in the Body's prison, so She lies,As through the Body's windows She must look,Her divers powers of Sense to exercise,By gathering notes out of the world's great book.Nor can herself discourse, or judge of ought,But what the Sense collects, and home doth bring,And yet the Power of her discoursing Thought,From these Collections, is a diverse thing.For though our eyes can nought but colours see,Yet colours give them not their Power of Sight;So, though these fruits of Sense, her objects be,Yet She discerns them by her proper light.The workman on his stuff, his skill doth shew,And yet the stuff gives not the man his skill;Kings, their affairs, do, by their servants know,But order them by their own royal will.So though this cunning Mistress, and this QueenDoth, as her instruments, the Senses use,To know all things that are Felt, Heard, or Seen;Yet She herself doth only Judge and Choose:Even as our great wise Empress (that now reignsBy sovereign title over sundry lands)Borrows, in mean affairs, her subjects' pains,Sees by their eyes, and writeth by their hands:But things of weight and consequence indeed,Herself doth in her chamber them debate;Where, all her Councillors she doth exceedAs far in judgement, as she doth in State.Or as the man, whom she doth now advance,Upon her gracious Mercy Seat to sit,Doth common things, of course and circumstance,To the Reports of common men commit:But when the Cause itself must be decreed,Himself in person, in his proper Court,To grave and solemn hearing doth proceed,Of every proof, and every by-report.Then, like God's angel, he pronounceth right,And milk and honey from his tongue do flow:Happy are they, that still are in his sight,To reap the wisdom, which his lips do sow.Right so, the Soul, which is a Lady free,And doth the justice of her State maintain;Because the Senses, ready servants be,Attending nigh about her Court, the Brain;By them, the forms of outward things She learns,For they return unto the Fantasy,Whatever each of them abroad discerns;And there enrol it for the Mind to see.But when She sits to judge the good and ill,And to discern betwixt the false and true;She is not guided by the Senses' skill,But doth each thing in her own mirror view.Then She the Senses checks! which oft do err,And even against their false reports, decrees;And oft She doth condemn, what they prefer,For with a power above the Sense, She sees:Therefore, no Sense, the precious joys conceives,Which in her private contemplations be;For then, the ravished Spirit, the Senses leaves,Hath her own powers, and proper actions free.Her harmonies are sweet and full of skill,When on the Body's instrument She plays:But the proportions of the Wit and Will,Those sweet accords are even the angels' lays.These tunes of Reason areAmphion's lyre,Wherewith he did the Theban city found;These are the notes, wherewith the heavenly Quire,The praise of Him, which spreads the heaven, doth sound.Then her self-being nature shines in this,That She performs her noblest works alone!"The work, the touchstone of the nature is!"And "by their operations, things are known!"2. That the Soul is more than a perfection or reflection of the Sense.Are they not senseless then! that think the SoulNought but a fine perfection of the Sense,Or of the forms which Fancy doth enrol,A quick Resulting, and a Consequence?What is it, then, that doth the Sense accuse,Both of false judgements, and fond appetites?Which makes us do, what Sense doth most refuse?Which oft, in torment of the Sense delights?Sense thinks the planets' spheres not much asunder;What tells us, then, their distance is so far?Sense thinks the lightning born before the thunder,What tells us, then, they both together are?When men seem crows, far off upon a tower;Sense saith, "They are crows!" What makes us think them men?When we, in agues, think all sweet things sour;What makes us know our tongue's false judgements then?What power was that, wherebyMedeasaw,And well approved and praised the better course,When her rebellious Sense did so withdrawHer feeble powers, as she pursued the worst?Did Sense persuadeUlyssesnot to hearThe Mermaid's songs? which so his men did please,As they were all persuaded through the ear,To quit the ship, and leap into the seas.Could any power of Sense the Roman move,To burn his own right hand, with courage stout?Could Sense makeMariussit unbound, and proveThe cruel lancing of the knotty gout?Doubtless in Man, there is a Nature foundBeside the senses, and above them far;Though "most men being in sensual pleasures drowned,It seems their souls but in their senses are."If we had nought but sense, then only theyShould have sound minds, which have their senses sound;But Wisdom grows, when senses do decay,And Folly most, in quickest sense is found.If we had nought but Sense, each living wight,Which we call brute, would be more sharp than we;As having Sense's apprehensive mightIn a more clear and excellent degree.But they do want that quick discoursing Power,Which doth, in us, the erring Sense correct:Therefore the bee did suck the painted flower,And birds, of grapes the cunning shadow peckt.Sense, outsides knows! the Soul, through all things sees,Sense, circumstance! She doth, the substance view;Sense sees the bark! but She, the life of trees;Sense hears the sounds! but She, the concords true.But why do I the Soul and Sense divide?When Sense is but a power, which She extends,Which being in divers parts diversified,The divers Forms of objects apprehends?This power spreads outward; but the root doth growIn th'inward Soul, which only doth perceive;For the Eyes and Ears, no more their objects know,Than glasses know what faces they receive.For if we chance to fix our thoughts elsewhere;Although our eyes be ope, we do not see,And if one Power did not both see and hear,Our sights and sounds would always double be.Then is the Soul a Nature which containsThe power of Sense within a greater power;Which doth employ and use the senses' pains,But sits and rules within her private bower.3. That the Soul is more than the Temperature of the Humours of the body.If She doth then the subtle Sense excel,How gross are they, that drown her in the blood!Or in the Body's humours tempered well,As if in them, such high perfection stood.As if most skill in that musician were,Which had the best and best-tuned instrument;As if the pencil neat, and colours clearHad power to make the painter excellentWhy doth not Beauty then refine the Wit?And good Complexion rectify the Will?Why doth not Health bring Wisdom still with it?Why doth not Sickness make men brutish still?Who can in Memory, or Wit, or Will;Or Air! or Fire! or Earth! or Water find!What alchemist can draw, with all his skill,The Quintessence of these, out of the Mind?If th'Elements (which have, nor Life, nor Sense)Can breed in us so great a power as this!Why give they not themselves, like excellence,Or other things wherein their mixture is?If She were but the Body's qualityThen would She be, with it, sick! maimed! and blind!But we perceive, when these privations be,A healthy, perfect, and sharp-sighted Mind.If She, the Body's nature did partake,Her strength would, with the Body's strength decay;But when the Body's strongest sinews slake,Then is the Soul most active! quick! and gay!If She were but the Body's accident,And her sole Being did in it subsistAs white in snow; She might herself absent!And in the Body's substance not the mist.But it on Her, not She on it depends,For She the Body doth sustain and cherish.Such secret powers of life to it, She lends;That when they fail, then doth the Body perish.Since, then, the Soul works by herself alone,Springs not from Sense, nor Humours well agreeing;Her nature is peculiar, and her own.She is a Substance! and a Perfect Being.That the Soul is a Spirit.But though this Substance be the root of Sense,Sense knows her not! (which doth but bodies know)She is a Spirit, and a heavenly influence;Which from the fountain of GOD's Spirit doth flow.She is a Spirit; yet not like air, or wind,Nor like the spirits about the heart or brain,Nor like those spirits which alchemists do find,When they, in everything, seek gold,in vain.For She, all natures under heaven doth pass;Being like those spirits, which GOD's bright face do see,Or like Himself! whose Image once She was,Though now, alas, She scarce his Shadow be.Yet of the forms, She holds the first degree,That are to gross material bodies knit;Yet She herself is bodiless and free,And, though confined, is almost infinite.That it cannot be a Body.Were She a Body, how could She remainWithin this body, which is less than She?Or how could She, the world's great shape contain;And in our narrow breasts contained be?All bodies are confined within some place;But She all place within herself confines;All bodies have their measure and their space;But who can draw the Soul's dimensive lines?No Body can, at once, two forms admit,Except the one, the other do deface;But in the Soul, ten thousand forms do sit,And none intrudes into her neighbour's place.All bodies are, with other bodies filled,But She receives both heaven and earth together,Nor are their Forms, by rash encounter, spilled,For there they stand, and neither toucheth either.Nor can her wide embracements fillèd be;For they that most and greatest things embrace,Enlarge thereby their mind's capacity,As streams enlarged, enlarge the channel's space.All things received, do such proportion take,As those things have, wherein they are received:So little glasses, little faces make;And narrow webs, on narrow frames be weaved:Then, what vast body must we make the Mind?Wherein are men, beasts, trees, towns, seas, and lands,And yet each thing a proper place doth find,And each thing in the true proportion stands.Doubtless, this could not be, but that She turnsBodies to Spirits, by sublimation strange;As fire converts to fire, the things it burns;As we, our meats into our nature change.From their gross Matter, she abstracts the Forms,And draws a kind of Quintessence from things,Which to her proper nature, She transforms,To bear them light on her celestial wings.This doth She, when from things particular,She doth abstract the universal kinds,Which bodiless and immaterial are,And can be lodged but only in our minds.And thus, from divers accidents and acts,Which do within her observation fall;She, goddesses and Powers Divine abstracts,As Nature, Fortune, and the Virtues all.Again, how can She, several bodies know,If in herself a body's form She bears?How can a mirror sundry faces show,If from all shapes and forms it be not clear?Nor could we by our eyes, all colours learn,Except our eyes were, of all colours void,Nor sundry tastes can any tongue discern,Which is with gross and bitter humours cloyed.Nor may a man, of Passions judge aright,Except his mind be from all Passions free;Nor can a Judge, his office well acquite,If he possest of either party be!If, lastly, this quick power a Body were,Were it as swift, as is the wind or fire,(Whose atomies do, th' one down sideways bear,And make the other, in pyramids aspire);Her nimble body, yet intimemust move,And not in instants through all places slide:But She is nigh! and far! beneath! above!In point of time which thought can not divide.She's sent as soon to China, as to Spain,And thence returns, as soon as She is sent,She measures with one time and with one pain,An ell of silk, and heaven's wide-spreading tent.As then, the Soul a Substance hath aloneBesides the Body, in which She is confined;So hath Shenota body of her own,But is a Spirit and immaterial Mind.That the Soul is created immediately by God.—Zach, xii. x.Since Body and Soul have such diversities;Well, might we muse, how first their match began,But that we learn, that He, that spread the skiesAnd fixed the earth, first formed the Soul in Man.This truePrometheus, first, made man of earth,And shed in him a beam of heavenly fire:Now, in their mother's womb, before their birth,Doth in all sons of men, their souls inspire.And asMinervais, in fables, said,FromJove, without a mother, to proceed;So our trueJove, without a mother's aid,Doth, daily, millions ofMinervasbreed.Erroneous opinions of the creation of souls.Then neither, from Eternity before,Nor from the time, when time's first point began;Made He all souls! which now He keeps in store,Some in the moon, and others in the sun:Nor in the secret cloister doth He keep,These virgin spirits until their marriage day,Nor locks them up in chambers, where they sleep,Till they awake within these beds of clay.Nor did He first a certain number make,Infusing part in beasts, and part in men,And as unwilling farther pains to take,Would make no more, than those He framèd then.So that the widow Soul, her Body dying,Unto the next born Body married was;And so by often changing and supplying,Men's souls to beasts, and beasts' to men did pass.(These thoughts are fond! for since the bodies bornBe more in number far than those that die;Thousands must be abortive, and forlorn,Ere others' deaths, to them their souls supply.)But as GOD's handmaid, Nature, doth createBodies, in time distinct and order due;So GOD gives souls the like successive date,Which Himself makes in bodies formèd new.Which Himself makes, of no material things,For unto angels, He no power hath given,Either to form the shape, or stuff to bring,From air, or Fire, or substance of the heaven.That the Soul is not traduced from the parents.Nor He, in this, doth Nature's service use,For though from bodies she can bodies bring;Yet could she never, souls from souls traduce,As fire from fire, or light from light doth spring.Alas! that some that were great lights of old,And in their hands the Lamp of GOD did bear,Some reverend Fathers did this error hold,Having their eyes dimmed with religious fear."For when," say they, "by rule of faith we find,That every soul unto her body knit,Brings from the mother's womb, the Sin of Kind,The root of all the ill She doth commit.""How can we say, that GOD, the Soul doth make,But we must make Him author of her sin;Then from man's soul, She doth beginning take,Since in man's soul, corruption did begin.""For if GOD make her, first he makes her ill,(Which GOD forbid! our thoughts should yield unto)Or makes the body, her fair form to spill;Which, of itself, it hath no power to do.""Not Adam's Body, but his Soul did sin,And so herself unto corruption brought:But our poor Soul corrupted is within,Ere She hath sinned, either in act or thought";"And yet we see in her such powers divine,As we could gladly think, from GOD she came;Fain would we make Him author of the wine,If for the dregs, we could some other blame."The Answer to the Objection.Thus these good men, with holy zeal were blind,When on the other part the truth did shine,Whereof we do clear demonstrations find,By light of Nature, and by light Divine.None are so gross, as to contend for this,That Souls from Bodies may traducèd be;Between whose natures no proportion is,When root and branch in nature still agree.But many subtle wits have justifiedThat Souls from Souls, spiritually may spring;Which (if the nature of the Soul be tried)Will even, in Nature, prove as gross a thing.Reasons derived from Nature.For all things made, are either made of nought,Or made of stuff that ready made doth stand:Of nought, no creature ever formed ought,For that is proper to th'Almighty's hand.If then the Soul, another soul do make;Because her power is kept within a bound,She must some former stuff or matter take;But in the Soul, there is no matter found.Then if her heavenly Form do not agree,With any matter which the world contains;Then She of nothing must created be,And to Create, to GOD alone, pertains!Again, if Souls do other Souls beget,'Tis by themselves, or by the Body's power!If by themselves! what doth their working let,But they might Souls engender every hour?If by the Body! how can Wit and Will,Join with the body, only in this act?Since when they do their other works fulfil,They from the Body, do themselves abstract!Again, if Souls, of Souls begotten were,Into each other they should change and move;And Change and Motion still corruption bear;How shall we then, the Soul immortal prove?If, lastly, Souls did generation use,Then should they spread incorruptible seed:What then becomes of that which they to lose,When the acts of generation do not speed?And though the Soulcouldcast spiritual seed,YetwouldShe not, because She never dies;For mortal things desire, their like to breed;That so they may their kind immortalise.Therefore the angels, Sons of God are named,And marry not, nor are in marriage given;Their spirits and ours are of one Substance framed,And have one Father, even the Lord of heaven:Who would at first, that in each other thing,The earth and water, living souls should breed;But that Man's Soul (whom He would make their king)Should from Himself immediately proceed.And when He took the woman from man's side,Doubtless Himself inspired her soul alone;For 'tis not said, he did, Man'ssouldivide,But tookflesh of his flesh, bone of his bone.Lastly, GOD, being made Man, for man's own sake,And being like man in all, except in sin:His Body, from the Virgin's womb did take;But all agree,GOD formed His soul within.Then is the Soul from God? So Pagans say,Which saw by Nature's light, her heavenly kind,Naming her "Kin to God!" and "GOD's bright ray,""A citizen of heaven, to earth confined!"But now I feel they pluck me by the ear,(Whom my young Muse so boldly termed blind)And crave more heavenly light; that cloud to clear,Which makes them think GOD doth not make the Mind!Reasons drawn from divinity.GOD doubtless makes her! and doth make her good!And grafts her in a Body, there to spring;Which though it be corrupted, flesh and blood,Can no way to the Soul, corruption bring.And yet this Soul (made good by GOD at first,And not corrupted by the Body's ill)Even in the womb, is sinful and accurst,Ere she can judge by Wit, or choose by Will.Yet is not GOD, the author of her Sin;Though author of her Being, and being there;And if we dare to judge our Judge therein;He can condemn us, and Himself can clear.First, GOD, from infinite eternityDecreed what hath been, is, or shall be done;And was resolved that every man should BeAnd, in his turn, his race of life should run.And so did purpose all the souls to make,That ever have been made, or ever shall;And that their Being, they should only takeIn human bodies, or not Be at all.Was it then fit, that such a weak event(Weakness, itself! the sin and fall of Man)His counsel's execution should prevent?Decreed and fixed before the world began.Or that one penal law, byAdambroke,Should make GOD break His own eternal law;The settled order of the world revoke,And change all forms of things, which He foresaw.CouldEve'sweak hand, extended to the tree,In sunder rent that Adamantine Chain,Whose golden links, Effects and Causes be;And which to GOD's own chair, doth fixt remain?O could we see! how Cause from Cause doth spring!How mutually they linked and folded are!And hear how oft one disagreeing string,The harmony doth rather make, than mar!And view at once, how Death by sin is brought!And how from Death a better Life doth rise;How this, GOD's Justice and his Mercy taught;We, this decree, would praise, as right and wise!But we (that measure times, by First and Last)The sight of things successively do take;When GOD, on all at once, His view doth cast;And of all times, doth but one instant make.All in Himself, as in a glass, He sees,And from Him, by Him, through Him, all things be;His sight is not discursive, by degrees;But seeing the whole, each single part doth see.He looks onAdam, as a root, or well,And on his heirs, as branches, and as streams;He sees all men as one man! though they dwellIn sundry cities, and in sundry realms.And as the root and branch are but one tree,And well and stream do but one river make;So, if the root and well corrupted be;The stream and branch the same corruption takeSo when the root and fountain of Mankind;Did draw corruption, and GOD's curse by sin:This was a charge that all his heirs did bind;And all his offspring grew corrupt therein!And as when th' hand doth strike, the man offends,(For part from whole, Law severs not in this!)SoAdam'ssin to the whole Kind extends,For all their natures are but part of his.Therefore, this sin, of Kind, not personal;But real, and hereditary was:The guilt whereof, and punishment to all,By Course of Nature, and of Law doth pass.For as that easy law was given to all!To ancestor and heir! to first and last!So was the first transgression general;And All did pluck the fruit! and All did taste!Of this, we find some footsteps in our Law,Which doth her root from GOD and Nature take.Ten thousand men she doth together draw,And of them all, one Corporation make!Yet these and their successors are but One;And if they gain or lose their liberties;They harm or profit not themselves alone,But such, as in succeeding time, shall rise!And so the ancestor and all his heirs,(Though they in number pass the stars of heaven)Are still but One! His forfeitures are theirs!And unto them, are his advancements given!His civil acts to bind and bar them all!And as fromAdam, all corruption take;So if the father's crime be capital;In all the blood, Law dothcorruptionmake!Is it, then, just with us, to disinheritThe unborn nephews, for the father's fault?And to advance again, for one man's merit,A thousand heirs that have deserved nought?And is not GOD's decree as just as ours,If He, forAdam'ssins, his sons depriveOf all those native virtues, and those powers;Which He to him, and to his race did give?For what is this contagious Sin of Kind,But a privation of that grace within,And of that great rich dowry of the mind;Which all had had, but for the first man's sin?If then a man, on light conditions, gainA great estate, to him and his, for ever;If wilfully, he forfeit it again:Who doth bemoan his heir? or blame the giver?So, though GOD make the Soul good, rich, and fair;Yet when her form is to the Body knit,Which makes the Man: which Man isAdam'sheir;Justly, forthwith, he takes his grace from it.And then the Soul, being first from nothing brought,When GOD's grace fails her, doth to nothing fall;And thisdeclining Proneness unto nought,Is even that Sin, that we are born withal.Yet not, alone, the first good qualities,Which in the first Soul were, deprivèd are;But in their place the contrary do rise,And real spots of sin, her beauty mar.Nor is it strange thatAdam'sill desert,Should be transferred unto his guilty race;WhenChrist, His grace and justice doth impartTo men unjust! and such as have no grace!Lastly, the Soul were better so to beBorn slave to sin, than not to Be at all!Since, if She do believe, One sets her free,That makes her mount the higher, from her fall.Yet this, the curious Wits will not content!They yet will know (since GOD foresaw this Ill)Why His high providence did not preventThe declination of the first Man's will.If by His word, He had the current stayed,Of Adam's will, which was by nature free;It had been one as if His word had said,"I will, henceforth, that man, no Man shall be!"For what is Man, without a moving Mind;Which hath a judging Wit, and choosing Will?Now, if GOD's power should her election bind;Her motions then would cease, and stand all still.And why did GOD in Man this Soul infuse;But that he should his Maker know and love?Now if love be compelled, and cannot choose;How can it grateful, or thankworthy prove?Love must free hearted be, and voluntary,And not enchanted, or by Fate constrained:Not like that love, which didUlyssescarryToCirce'sisle, with mighty charms enchainedBesides! Were we unchangeable in Will,And of a Wit, that nothing could misdeem;Equal to GOD (whose wisdom shineth still,And never errs) we might ourselves esteem.So that if Man would be unvariable;He must be GOD! or like a rock, or tree!For even the perfect angels were not stable;But had a fall, more desperate than we.Then let us praise that Power, which makes us beMen, as we are! and rest contented so!And knowing man's fall was Curiosity,Admire GOD's counsels! which we cannot know.And let us know that GOD, the Maker isOf all the Souls, in all the men that be:Yet their corruption is no fault of His;But the first man's, that broke GOD's first decreeWhy the Soul is united to the Body.This Substance, and this Spirit, of God's own making,Is in the Body placed, and planted there:That both of GOD, and of the world partaking;Of all that is, Man might the Image bear!GOD, first, made Angels! bodiless pure minds!Then, other things, which mindless bodies be.Last, He made Man, the Horizon 'twixt both kinds,In whom, we do the World's Abridgement see.Besides! This world below did need one wight,Which might thereof, distinguish every part;Make use thereof, and take therein delight;And order things with industry and Art.Which, also, GOD, might (in His works) admire,And here, beneath, yield Him both prayer and praise;As there, above, the holy Angels' QuireDoth spread His glory, with spiritual lays.Lastly, the brute unreasonable wights,Did want a Visible King, on them to reign;And GOD Himself, thus to the world unites,That so the world might endless bliss obtain.In what manner the Soul is united to the Body.But how shall we this Union well express?Nought ties the Soul, her subtility is such:She moves the body, which She doth possess;Yet no part toucheth, but by virtue's touch!Then dwells Shenottherein, as in a tent,Nor as a pilot, in his ship doth sit,Nor as a spider, in her web is pent,Nor as the wax retains the print in it:Nor as a vessel, water doth contain,Nor as one liquor, in another shed,Nor as the heat doth in the fire remain,Nor as a voice, throughout the air is spread.But as the fair and cheerful Morning LightDoth, here and there, her silver beams impart:And, in an instant, doth herself uniteTo the transparent air, in all and part.Still resting whole, when blows, the air divide,Abiding pure, when th'air is most corrupted;Throughout the air, her beams dispersing wide;And, when the air is tost, not interrupted!So doth the piercing Soul, the Body fill,Being all in all, and all in part diffused?Indivisible! incorruptible still!Not forced! encountered! troubled! or confused!And as the Sun above, the light doth bring,Though we behold it in the air below;So from th' Eternal Light, the Soul doth spring,Though in the body, She her powers do show.How the Soul doth exercise her powers in the Body.But as this world's sun doth effects beget,Diverse in divers places, every day,Here, Autumn's temperature! there, Summer's heat!Here, flowery Spring-tide! and there, Winter grey!Here, Even! there, Morn! here, Noon! there, Day! there, Night!Melts wax! dries clay! makes flowers some quick, some dead!Makes the Moor black! and th'European, white!Th'American tawny! and th'East Indian red!So in our little world, this Soul of ours,Being only One, and to one Body tied,Doth use on divers objects, diverse powers,And so are her effects diversified.The Vegetative or Quickening Power.Her Quick'ning Power in every living part,Doth as a Nurse, or as a Mother serve;And doth employ her economic art,And busy care, her household to preserve.Here, She attracts! and there, She doth retain,There, She decocts, and doth the food prepare,There, She distributes it to every vein,There, She expels, what She may fitly spare.This power toMartha, may compared be,Which busy was, the household things to do;Or to a Dryas living in a tree,For even to trees, this power is proper too.And though the Soul may not this power extendOut of the body, but still use it there;She hath a Power, which she abroad doth send,Which views and searcheth all things everywhere.The power of Sense.This Power is Sense, which from abroad doth bring,The Colour, Taste, and Touch, and Scent, and Sound,The Quantity, and shape of everythingWithin th'earth's centre or heaven's circle found.This Power, in parts made fit, fit objects takes,Yet not the Things, but Forms of Things receives:As when a seal in wax impression makes,The print therein, but not itself, it leaves:And though things sensible be numberless,But only five the Sense's organs be;And in those five, All Things their Forms express,Which we can Touch, Taste, Feel, or Hear, or See.These are the Windows, through the which She viewsThe Light of Knowledge, which is Life's Load-star;And yet whiles She, these spectacles doth use,Oft, worldly things seem greater than they are.Sight.First, the two Eyes, which have the Seeing Power,Stand as one Watchman, Spy, or Sentinel,Being placed aloft within the head's high TowerAnd though both see, yet both but one thing tell.These Mirrors take into their little space,The Forms of moon, and sun, and every star;Of every body, and of every place,Which, with the world's wide arms, embracèd are.Yet their best object, and their noblest use,Hereafter in another world will be;When GOD in them, shall heavenly light infuse,That face to face, they may their Maker see.Here are they guides, which do the Body lead,Which else would stumble in eternal night:Here in this world, they do much knowledgeread,And are the Casements, which admit most light.They are her farthest-reaching instrument;Yet they no beams unto their objects send:But all the rays are from their objects sent;And in the Eyes, with pointed angles end.If th'objects be far off, the rays do meetIn a sharp point, and so things seem but small;If they be near, their rays do spread and fleet,And make broad points, that things seem great withal.Lastly. Nine things to Sight requirèd are.The Power to see! the Light! the Visible thing!Being not too small! too thin! too nigh! too far!Clear space! and Time, the Form distinct to bring.Thus see we, how the Soul doth use the Eyes,As instruments of her quick power of sight;Hence do th'Arts Optic, and fair Painting rise.Painting, which doth all gentle minds delight!Hearing.Now let us hear, how She the Ears employs:Their office is the troubled air to take,Which in their mazes, forms a sound or noise;Whereof herself doth true distinction make.These Wickets of the Soul are placed on high,Because all sounds do lightly mount aloft;And that they may not pierce too violently;They are delayed with turns and windings oft.For should the voice directly strike the brain,It would astonish and confuse it much;Therefore these plaits and folds the sound restrain,That it, the Organ may more gently touch!As streams, which, with their winding banks, do play,Stopt by their creeks, run softly through the plain;So in the Ear's labyrinth, the voice doth stray,And doth, with easy motion, touch the brain!It is the slowest, yet the daintiest Sense!For even the ears of such as have no skill,Perceive a discord, and conceive offence,And knowing not what's good, yet find the ill!And though this Sense, first, gentle Music found;Her proper object is the Speech of Man!But that speech chiefly which GOD's heralds sound,When their tongues utter, what his Spirit did pen.Our Eyes have lids, our Ears still ope we see!Quickly to hear, how every tale is proved;Our Eyes still move, our Ears unmoved be!That though we hear quick, we be not quickly moved.Thus by the organs of the Eye and Ear,The Soul with knowledge doth herself endue!Thus She her prison, may with pleasure bear;Having such prospects, all the world to view!These Conduit Pipes of Knowledge feed the Mind:But th'other three attend the Body still;For by their services the Soul doth findWhat things are to the Body, good or ill.Taste.The Body's life, with meats and air is fed,Therefore the Soul doth use the Tasting power!In veins, which through the tongue and palate spread,Distinguish every relish, sweet and sour.This is the Body's Nurse! But since Man's witFound th'art of cookery to delight his Sense:More bodies are consumed and killed with it!Than with the sword, famine, or pestilence.Smell.Next, in the nostrils, She doth use the Smell,As GOD the breath of life in them did give;So makes He, now, His power in them to dwell;To judge all airs, whereby we breath and live.This Sense is also mistress of an Art,Which to soft people, sweet perfumes doth sell;Though this dear Art doth little good impart,Since "they smell best; that do of nothing smell!"And yet good scents do purify the Brain,Awake the Fancy, and the Wits refine.Hence Old Devotion, incense did ordain,To make men's spirits more apt for thoughts divine.Feeling.Lastly, the Feeling power, which is Life's Root,Through every living part itself doth shed;By sinews, which extend from head to foot,And like a net, all o'er the Body spread.Much like a subtle spider, which doth sitIn middle of her web, which spreadeth wide;If ought do touch the utmost thread of it;She feels it, instantly, on every side!By touch; the first pure qualities we learn,Which quicken all things, Hot, Cold, Moist, and Dry!By touch; Hard, Soft, Rough, Smooth, we do discern!By touch; sweet Pleasure, and sharp Pain we try!These are the outward instruments of Sense!These are the Guards, which every thing must pass;Ere it approach the Mind's intelligence!Or touch the Phantasy "Wits Looking Glass!"The Imagination, or Common Sense.And yet these Porters which all things admit,Themselves perceive not, nor discern the things;One Common Power doth in the forehead sit,Which all their proper forms together brings.For all those Nerves, which spirits of Sense do bear,And to those outward organs spreading go,United are as in a centre there!And, there, this power, those sundry forms doth know!Those outward Organs present things receive;This inward Sense doth absent things retain!Yet, straight, transmits all Forms she doth perceive,Unto a higher region of the brain;The Phantasy.Where Phantasy (near handmaid to the Mind!)Sits and beholds, and doth discern them all;Compounds in one, things diverse in their kind,Compares the black and white, the great and small.Besides those single forms, She doth esteem,And in her balance doth their values try;Where some things good, and some things ill do seem,And neutral some in her Phantastic eye.This busy power is working day and night,For when the outward senses rest do take;A thousand dreams, phantastical and light,With fluttering wings, do keep her still awake!The sensitive Memory.Yet, always, all may not afore her be;Successively, she this, and that intends:Therefore such forms as she doth cease to see,To Memory's large volume she commends!The Ledger Book lies in the brain behind,LikeJanus'eye, which in his poll was set;The Layman's Tables! Storehouse of the Mind!Which doth remember much, and much forget.Here, Sense's Apprehensions end doth take;As, when a stone is into water cast,One circle doth another circle make,Till the last circle touch the bank at last!The Passions of Sense.But though the Apprehensive Power do pause,The Motive Virtue then begins to move!Which in the heart below, doth Passions cause,Joy, Grief, and Fear, and Hope, and Hate, and LoveThese Passions have a free commanding might,And divers actions in our life do breed;For all acts done without true Reason's light,Do from the Passion of the Sense proceed.But sith the Brain doth lodge these powers of Sense,How makes it, in the Heart those passions spring?The mutual love, the kind intelligence'Twixt heart and brain, this Sympathy doth bring.From the kind heat, which in the heart doth reign,The spirits of Life do their beginning take!These spirits of Life ascending to the brain,When they come there, the spirits of Sense do makeThese spirits of Sense in Phantasy's high court,Judge of the Forms of Objects, ill or well!And so, they send a good or ill reportDown to the heart, where all Affections dwell.If the report be good; it causeth love!And longing hope! and well assured joy!If it be ill; then doth it hatred move!And trembling fear! and vexing griefs annoy!Yet were these natural affections good(For they which want them, blocks or devils be!);If Reason in her first perfection stood,That she might Nature's Passions rectify.The motion of Life.Besides, another Motive Power doth riseOut of the heart: from whose pure blood do springThe Vital Spirits, which born in arteries,Continual motion to all parts do bring.The local motion.This makes the pulses beat, and lungs respire,This holds the sinews, like a bridle's reins;And makes the body to advance, retire,To turn or stop, as she them slacks or strains!Thus the Soul tunes the Body's instrument;These harmonies She makes with Life and Sense:The organs fit, are by the Body lent;But th'actions flow from the Soul's influence.The Intellectual Powers of the Soul.But now I have a Will, yet want a Wit,To express the workings of the Wit and Will;Which, though their root be to the body knit,Use not the Body, when they use their skill.These powers the nature of the Soul declare,For to Man's Soul, these only proper be!For on the earth, no other wights there are,Which have these heavenly powers, but onlyThe Wit or Understanding.The Wit (the pupil of the Soul's clear eye!And in Man's world, th'only shining star!)Looks in the Mirror of the Phantasy,Where all the gatherings of the senses areFrom thence this Power, the Shapes of things abstracts,And them within herPassivepart receives;Which are enlightened by that part whichActs,And so the Forms of single things perceives.But after, by discoursing to and fro,Anticipating, and comparing things;She doth all universal natures know,And all Effects into their Causes brings.Reason.Understanding.When She rates things, and moves from ground to ground,The name of Reason, She obtains by this!But when, by reasons, She the truth hath found,And standeth fixt, She, Understanding is!Opinion.Judgement.When her assent, She lightly doth inclineTo either part, She is Opinion light!But when She doth by principles defineA certain truth, She hath true Judgement's sight.And as from senses, Reason's work doth spring;So many reasons, Understanding gain:And many understandings, Knowledge bring,And by much knowledge, Wisdom we obtainSo, many stairs we must ascend upright,Ere we attain to Wisdom's high degree:So doth this earth eclipse our Reason's light,Which else (in instants) would like angels see.Yet hath the Soul a dowry natural,And Sparks of Light some common things to see;Not being a blank, where nought is writ at all,But what the writer will, may written be.For Nature, in man's heart her laws doth pen,Prescribing Truth to Wit! and Good to Will!Which do accuse, or else excuse all men,For every thought or practice, good or ill!And yet these sparks grow almost infinite,Making the world and all therein, their food;As fire so spreads, as no place holdeth it,Being nourished still with new supplies of wood.And though these sparks were almost quenched with sin,Yet they, whom that Just One hath justified,Have them increased, with Heavenly Light within!And, like the Widow's oil, still multiplied!The power of Will.And as this Wit should goodness truly know,We have a Wit which that true good should choose!Though Will do oft (when Wit, false Forms doth show)Take Ill, for Good; and Good, for Ill refuse.The relations betwixt Wit and Will.Will puts in practice what the Wit deviseth;The Will ever acts, and Wit contemplates still:And as from Wit the power of Wisdom riseth;All other virtues, daughters are of Will!Will is the Prince! and Wit, the Councillor!Which doth for common good in council sit;And when Wit is resolved; Will lends her powerTo execute what is advised by Wit.Wit is the Mind's Chief Judge! which doth control,Of Fancy's Court, the judgements false and vain!Will holds the royal sceptre in the Soul;And on the Passions of the Heart doth reign!Will is as free as any Emperor,Nought can restrain her gentle liberty;No tyrant, nor no torment hath the powerTo make us will; when we unwilling be!The intellectual Memory.To these high powers, a Storehouse doth pertain;Where they, all Arts and general reasons lay!Which in the Soul (even after death!) remain,And no Lethean flood can wash away!This is the Soul! and those, her virtues be!Which, though they have their sundry proper ends,And one exceeds another in degree;Yet each on other mutually depends.Our Wit is given, Almighty GOD to know!Our Will is given to love Him, being known!But GOD could not beknownto us below,But by His works, which through the Sense are shown.And as the Wit doth reap the fruits of Sense;So doth the Quick'ning Power, the Senses feed!Thus while they do their sundry gifts dispense,The best, the service of the least doth need!Even so, the King, his magistrates do serve;Yet Commons feed both magistrate and King!The Commons' peace, the magistrates preserveBy borrowed power, which from the Prince doth spring.The Quickening Power wouldbe, and so would rest!The Sense would notbeonly, bebe well!But Wit's ambition longeth tobe best!For it desires in endless bliss, to dwell.And these three Powers, three sorts of men do make.For some, like plants, their veins do only fill;And some, like beasts, their senses' pleasure take,And some, like angels, do contemplate still.Therefore the fables turned some men to flowers,And others, did with brutish forms invest;And did of others, make celestial powersLike angels! which still travail, yet still rest!Yet these three Powers are not three Souls but one,As one and two are both contained in three;Three being one number by itself alone.A shadow of the blessed Trinity!An acclamation.O what is Man! (Great Maker of mankind!)That Thou to him so great respect dost bear!That Thou adorn'st him with so bright a Mind!Mak'st him a king! and even an angel's peer!O what a lively life! what heavenly power!What spreading virtue! what a sparkling fire!How great! how plentiful! how rich a dower!Dost Thou, within this dying flesh inspire!Thou leav'st Thy Print in other works of Thine!But Thy whole Image, Thou, in Man hast writ!There cannot be a creature more divine;Except, (like Thee!) it should be infinite.But it exceeds Man's thought, to think how highGOD hath raised Man, since GOD, a man became:The angels do admire this mystery,And are astonished when they view the same!
THeLights of Heaven, which are the world's fair eyes,Look down into the world, the world to see;And as they turn, or wander in the skies,Survey all things, that on this Centre be.And yet the Lights which in my Tower do shine,Mine Eyes! (which view all objects, nigh and far)Look not into this little world of mine,Nor see my face, wherein they fixed are.Since Nature fails us in no needful thing;Why want I means, mine inward self to see?Which sight, the Knowledge of Myself might bring;Which, to true wisdom, is the first degree.That Power (which gave me eyes, the world to view)To view myself, infused an Inward Light,Whereby my Soul, as by a Mirror true,Of her own form, may take a perfect sight.But as the sharpest Eye discerneth nought,Except the sunbeams in the air do shine;So the best Soul, with her reflecting thought,Sees not herself, without some light Divine.O LIGHT! (which makest the Light, which makest the Day;Which settest the Eye without, and Mind within)Lighten my spirit, with one clear heavenly ray!Which now to view itself, doth first begin.For her true form, how can my Spark discern?Which dim by Nature, Art did never clear;When the great wits, of whom all skill we learn,Are ignorant, both What She is! and Where!One thinks the Soul is Air, another Fire,Another, Blood diffused about the heart,Another saith, the Elements conspire,And to her Essence, each doth give a part.Musicians think our Souls are Harmonies;Physicians hold that they Complexions be:Epicures make them Swarms of Atomies,Which do, by change, into our bodies flee!Some think one General Soul fills every brain,As the bright sun sheds light in every star;And others think the name of Soul is vain,And that We, only Well-mixed Bodies are.In judgement of her Substance, thus they vary;And thus they vary in judgement of her Seat;For some, her chair up to the Brain do carry,Some thrust it down into the Stomach's heat!Some place it in the root of life, the Heart;Some, in the Liver, fountain of the veins;Some say, "She is all in all, and all in part!"Some say, "She is not contained, but all contains!"Thus these great Clerks their little wisdom show,While with their doctrines, they at hazard play;Tossing their light opinions to and fro,To mock the lewd; as learned in this, as they!For no crazed brain could ever yet propound,Touching the Soul, so vain and fond a thought;But some among these Masters, have been found,Which in their Schools, the selfsame thing have taught.GOD, only-Wise! to punish Pride of Wit,Among men's wits hath this confusion wrought!As the proud Tower, whose points the clouds did hit,By Tongues' Confusion, was to ruin brought.But, Thou! which didst Man's Soul, of nothing make!And when to nothing, it was fallen again;To make it new, the Form of Man didst take,And, GOD with GOD, becam'st a Man with men!Thou! that hast fashioned twice, this Soul of ours,So that She is, by double title, Thine;Thou, only, knowest her nature and her powers,Her subtle form, Thou, only, canst define!To judge herself, She must herself transcend,As greater circles comprehend the less:But She wants power, her own powers to extend,As fettered men cannot their strength express.But Thou, bright morning Star! Thou, rising Sun!Which, in these later times, has brought to lightThose mysteries, that, since the world began,Lay hid in darkness and eternal night!Thou, like the sun, doth with indifferent ray,Into the palace and the cottage shine!And showest the Soul, both to the Clerk and Lay,By the clear Lamp of thy Oracle Divine!This Lamp, through all the regions of my brain,Where my Soul sits, doth spread such beams of grace,As now, methinks! I do distinguish plainEach subtle line of her immortal face.What the Soul is?The Soul, a Substance and a Spirit is,Which GOD Himself doth in the body make,Which makes the Man; for every man, from this,The Nature of a man and Name doth take.And though the Spirit be to the Body knit,As an apt meane her powers to exercise;Which are Life, Motion, Sense, and Will, and Wit:Yet she survives, although the Body dies.That the Soul is a thing subsisting by itself, without the Body.She is a Substance, and a real thing,1. Which hath, itself, an actual working Might,2. Which neither from the Sense's power doth spring,3. Nor from the Body's humours tempered right.She is a Vine, which doth no propping need,To make her spread herself, or spring upright;She is a Star, whose beams do not proceedFrom any sun, but from a native light.That the Soul hath a proper operation, without the Body.For when She sorts things present with the past,And thereby things to come doth oft foresee;When She doth doubt at first, and choose at last:These acts her own, without the Body, be.When of the dew, which the Eye and Ear do take,From flowers abroad, and bring into the brain;She doth, within, both wax and honey make:This work is hers, this is her proper pain!When She from sundry acts, one Skill doth draw;Gathering from divers fights, one Art of War;From many Cases like, one Rule of Law:These, her collections, not the Sense's, are.When in th'Effects, She doth the Causes know;And seeing the stream, thinks where the spring doth rise;And seeing the branch, conceives the root below:These things She views, without the Body's eyes.When She, without a Pegasus, doth flySwifter than lightning's fire, from East to West;About the Centre, and above the Sky:She travels then, although the Body rest.When all her works She formeth first within;Proportions them, and sees their perfect end,Ere She in act, doth any part begin:What instruments doth then, the Body lend?When without hands, She thus doth castles build;Sees without eyes, and without feet doth run;When She digests the world, yet is not filled:By her own power, these miracles are done.When She defines, argues, divides, compounds;Considers Virtue, Vice, and General Things;And marrying diverse principles and grounds,Out of their match, a true conclusion brings:These actions, in her closet, all alone,(Retired within herself) She doth fulfil;Use of her Body's organs, She hath none,When She doth use the powers of Wit and Will.Yet in the Body's prison, so She lies,As through the Body's windows She must look,Her divers powers of Sense to exercise,By gathering notes out of the world's great book.Nor can herself discourse, or judge of ought,But what the Sense collects, and home doth bring,And yet the Power of her discoursing Thought,From these Collections, is a diverse thing.For though our eyes can nought but colours see,Yet colours give them not their Power of Sight;So, though these fruits of Sense, her objects be,Yet She discerns them by her proper light.The workman on his stuff, his skill doth shew,And yet the stuff gives not the man his skill;Kings, their affairs, do, by their servants know,But order them by their own royal will.So though this cunning Mistress, and this QueenDoth, as her instruments, the Senses use,To know all things that are Felt, Heard, or Seen;Yet She herself doth only Judge and Choose:Even as our great wise Empress (that now reignsBy sovereign title over sundry lands)Borrows, in mean affairs, her subjects' pains,Sees by their eyes, and writeth by their hands:But things of weight and consequence indeed,Herself doth in her chamber them debate;Where, all her Councillors she doth exceedAs far in judgement, as she doth in State.Or as the man, whom she doth now advance,Upon her gracious Mercy Seat to sit,Doth common things, of course and circumstance,To the Reports of common men commit:But when the Cause itself must be decreed,Himself in person, in his proper Court,To grave and solemn hearing doth proceed,Of every proof, and every by-report.Then, like God's angel, he pronounceth right,And milk and honey from his tongue do flow:Happy are they, that still are in his sight,To reap the wisdom, which his lips do sow.Right so, the Soul, which is a Lady free,And doth the justice of her State maintain;Because the Senses, ready servants be,Attending nigh about her Court, the Brain;By them, the forms of outward things She learns,For they return unto the Fantasy,Whatever each of them abroad discerns;And there enrol it for the Mind to see.But when She sits to judge the good and ill,And to discern betwixt the false and true;She is not guided by the Senses' skill,But doth each thing in her own mirror view.Then She the Senses checks! which oft do err,And even against their false reports, decrees;And oft She doth condemn, what they prefer,For with a power above the Sense, She sees:Therefore, no Sense, the precious joys conceives,Which in her private contemplations be;For then, the ravished Spirit, the Senses leaves,Hath her own powers, and proper actions free.Her harmonies are sweet and full of skill,When on the Body's instrument She plays:But the proportions of the Wit and Will,Those sweet accords are even the angels' lays.These tunes of Reason areAmphion's lyre,Wherewith he did the Theban city found;These are the notes, wherewith the heavenly Quire,The praise of Him, which spreads the heaven, doth sound.Then her self-being nature shines in this,That She performs her noblest works alone!"The work, the touchstone of the nature is!"And "by their operations, things are known!"2. That the Soul is more than a perfection or reflection of the Sense.Are they not senseless then! that think the SoulNought but a fine perfection of the Sense,Or of the forms which Fancy doth enrol,A quick Resulting, and a Consequence?What is it, then, that doth the Sense accuse,Both of false judgements, and fond appetites?Which makes us do, what Sense doth most refuse?Which oft, in torment of the Sense delights?Sense thinks the planets' spheres not much asunder;What tells us, then, their distance is so far?Sense thinks the lightning born before the thunder,What tells us, then, they both together are?When men seem crows, far off upon a tower;Sense saith, "They are crows!" What makes us think them men?When we, in agues, think all sweet things sour;What makes us know our tongue's false judgements then?What power was that, wherebyMedeasaw,And well approved and praised the better course,When her rebellious Sense did so withdrawHer feeble powers, as she pursued the worst?Did Sense persuadeUlyssesnot to hearThe Mermaid's songs? which so his men did please,As they were all persuaded through the ear,To quit the ship, and leap into the seas.Could any power of Sense the Roman move,To burn his own right hand, with courage stout?Could Sense makeMariussit unbound, and proveThe cruel lancing of the knotty gout?Doubtless in Man, there is a Nature foundBeside the senses, and above them far;Though "most men being in sensual pleasures drowned,It seems their souls but in their senses are."If we had nought but sense, then only theyShould have sound minds, which have their senses sound;But Wisdom grows, when senses do decay,And Folly most, in quickest sense is found.If we had nought but Sense, each living wight,Which we call brute, would be more sharp than we;As having Sense's apprehensive mightIn a more clear and excellent degree.But they do want that quick discoursing Power,Which doth, in us, the erring Sense correct:Therefore the bee did suck the painted flower,And birds, of grapes the cunning shadow peckt.Sense, outsides knows! the Soul, through all things sees,Sense, circumstance! She doth, the substance view;Sense sees the bark! but She, the life of trees;Sense hears the sounds! but She, the concords true.But why do I the Soul and Sense divide?When Sense is but a power, which She extends,Which being in divers parts diversified,The divers Forms of objects apprehends?This power spreads outward; but the root doth growIn th'inward Soul, which only doth perceive;For the Eyes and Ears, no more their objects know,Than glasses know what faces they receive.For if we chance to fix our thoughts elsewhere;Although our eyes be ope, we do not see,And if one Power did not both see and hear,Our sights and sounds would always double be.Then is the Soul a Nature which containsThe power of Sense within a greater power;Which doth employ and use the senses' pains,But sits and rules within her private bower.3. That the Soul is more than the Temperature of the Humours of the body.If She doth then the subtle Sense excel,How gross are they, that drown her in the blood!Or in the Body's humours tempered well,As if in them, such high perfection stood.As if most skill in that musician were,Which had the best and best-tuned instrument;As if the pencil neat, and colours clearHad power to make the painter excellentWhy doth not Beauty then refine the Wit?And good Complexion rectify the Will?Why doth not Health bring Wisdom still with it?Why doth not Sickness make men brutish still?Who can in Memory, or Wit, or Will;Or Air! or Fire! or Earth! or Water find!What alchemist can draw, with all his skill,The Quintessence of these, out of the Mind?If th'Elements (which have, nor Life, nor Sense)Can breed in us so great a power as this!Why give they not themselves, like excellence,Or other things wherein their mixture is?If She were but the Body's qualityThen would She be, with it, sick! maimed! and blind!But we perceive, when these privations be,A healthy, perfect, and sharp-sighted Mind.If She, the Body's nature did partake,Her strength would, with the Body's strength decay;But when the Body's strongest sinews slake,Then is the Soul most active! quick! and gay!If She were but the Body's accident,And her sole Being did in it subsistAs white in snow; She might herself absent!And in the Body's substance not the mist.But it on Her, not She on it depends,For She the Body doth sustain and cherish.Such secret powers of life to it, She lends;That when they fail, then doth the Body perish.Since, then, the Soul works by herself alone,Springs not from Sense, nor Humours well agreeing;Her nature is peculiar, and her own.She is a Substance! and a Perfect Being.That the Soul is a Spirit.But though this Substance be the root of Sense,Sense knows her not! (which doth but bodies know)She is a Spirit, and a heavenly influence;Which from the fountain of GOD's Spirit doth flow.She is a Spirit; yet not like air, or wind,Nor like the spirits about the heart or brain,Nor like those spirits which alchemists do find,When they, in everything, seek gold,in vain.For She, all natures under heaven doth pass;Being like those spirits, which GOD's bright face do see,Or like Himself! whose Image once She was,Though now, alas, She scarce his Shadow be.Yet of the forms, She holds the first degree,That are to gross material bodies knit;Yet She herself is bodiless and free,And, though confined, is almost infinite.That it cannot be a Body.Were She a Body, how could She remainWithin this body, which is less than She?Or how could She, the world's great shape contain;And in our narrow breasts contained be?All bodies are confined within some place;But She all place within herself confines;All bodies have their measure and their space;But who can draw the Soul's dimensive lines?No Body can, at once, two forms admit,Except the one, the other do deface;But in the Soul, ten thousand forms do sit,And none intrudes into her neighbour's place.All bodies are, with other bodies filled,But She receives both heaven and earth together,Nor are their Forms, by rash encounter, spilled,For there they stand, and neither toucheth either.Nor can her wide embracements fillèd be;For they that most and greatest things embrace,Enlarge thereby their mind's capacity,As streams enlarged, enlarge the channel's space.All things received, do such proportion take,As those things have, wherein they are received:So little glasses, little faces make;And narrow webs, on narrow frames be weaved:Then, what vast body must we make the Mind?Wherein are men, beasts, trees, towns, seas, and lands,And yet each thing a proper place doth find,And each thing in the true proportion stands.Doubtless, this could not be, but that She turnsBodies to Spirits, by sublimation strange;As fire converts to fire, the things it burns;As we, our meats into our nature change.From their gross Matter, she abstracts the Forms,And draws a kind of Quintessence from things,Which to her proper nature, She transforms,To bear them light on her celestial wings.This doth She, when from things particular,She doth abstract the universal kinds,Which bodiless and immaterial are,And can be lodged but only in our minds.And thus, from divers accidents and acts,Which do within her observation fall;She, goddesses and Powers Divine abstracts,As Nature, Fortune, and the Virtues all.Again, how can She, several bodies know,If in herself a body's form She bears?How can a mirror sundry faces show,If from all shapes and forms it be not clear?Nor could we by our eyes, all colours learn,Except our eyes were, of all colours void,Nor sundry tastes can any tongue discern,Which is with gross and bitter humours cloyed.Nor may a man, of Passions judge aright,Except his mind be from all Passions free;Nor can a Judge, his office well acquite,If he possest of either party be!If, lastly, this quick power a Body were,Were it as swift, as is the wind or fire,(Whose atomies do, th' one down sideways bear,And make the other, in pyramids aspire);Her nimble body, yet intimemust move,And not in instants through all places slide:But She is nigh! and far! beneath! above!In point of time which thought can not divide.She's sent as soon to China, as to Spain,And thence returns, as soon as She is sent,She measures with one time and with one pain,An ell of silk, and heaven's wide-spreading tent.As then, the Soul a Substance hath aloneBesides the Body, in which She is confined;So hath Shenota body of her own,But is a Spirit and immaterial Mind.That the Soul is created immediately by God.—Zach, xii. x.Since Body and Soul have such diversities;Well, might we muse, how first their match began,But that we learn, that He, that spread the skiesAnd fixed the earth, first formed the Soul in Man.This truePrometheus, first, made man of earth,And shed in him a beam of heavenly fire:Now, in their mother's womb, before their birth,Doth in all sons of men, their souls inspire.And asMinervais, in fables, said,FromJove, without a mother, to proceed;So our trueJove, without a mother's aid,Doth, daily, millions ofMinervasbreed.Erroneous opinions of the creation of souls.Then neither, from Eternity before,Nor from the time, when time's first point began;Made He all souls! which now He keeps in store,Some in the moon, and others in the sun:Nor in the secret cloister doth He keep,These virgin spirits until their marriage day,Nor locks them up in chambers, where they sleep,Till they awake within these beds of clay.Nor did He first a certain number make,Infusing part in beasts, and part in men,And as unwilling farther pains to take,Would make no more, than those He framèd then.So that the widow Soul, her Body dying,Unto the next born Body married was;And so by often changing and supplying,Men's souls to beasts, and beasts' to men did pass.(These thoughts are fond! for since the bodies bornBe more in number far than those that die;Thousands must be abortive, and forlorn,Ere others' deaths, to them their souls supply.)But as GOD's handmaid, Nature, doth createBodies, in time distinct and order due;So GOD gives souls the like successive date,Which Himself makes in bodies formèd new.Which Himself makes, of no material things,For unto angels, He no power hath given,Either to form the shape, or stuff to bring,From air, or Fire, or substance of the heaven.That the Soul is not traduced from the parents.Nor He, in this, doth Nature's service use,For though from bodies she can bodies bring;Yet could she never, souls from souls traduce,As fire from fire, or light from light doth spring.Alas! that some that were great lights of old,And in their hands the Lamp of GOD did bear,Some reverend Fathers did this error hold,Having their eyes dimmed with religious fear."For when," say they, "by rule of faith we find,That every soul unto her body knit,Brings from the mother's womb, the Sin of Kind,The root of all the ill She doth commit.""How can we say, that GOD, the Soul doth make,But we must make Him author of her sin;Then from man's soul, She doth beginning take,Since in man's soul, corruption did begin.""For if GOD make her, first he makes her ill,(Which GOD forbid! our thoughts should yield unto)Or makes the body, her fair form to spill;Which, of itself, it hath no power to do.""Not Adam's Body, but his Soul did sin,And so herself unto corruption brought:But our poor Soul corrupted is within,Ere She hath sinned, either in act or thought";"And yet we see in her such powers divine,As we could gladly think, from GOD she came;Fain would we make Him author of the wine,If for the dregs, we could some other blame."The Answer to the Objection.Thus these good men, with holy zeal were blind,When on the other part the truth did shine,Whereof we do clear demonstrations find,By light of Nature, and by light Divine.None are so gross, as to contend for this,That Souls from Bodies may traducèd be;Between whose natures no proportion is,When root and branch in nature still agree.But many subtle wits have justifiedThat Souls from Souls, spiritually may spring;Which (if the nature of the Soul be tried)Will even, in Nature, prove as gross a thing.Reasons derived from Nature.For all things made, are either made of nought,Or made of stuff that ready made doth stand:Of nought, no creature ever formed ought,For that is proper to th'Almighty's hand.If then the Soul, another soul do make;Because her power is kept within a bound,She must some former stuff or matter take;But in the Soul, there is no matter found.Then if her heavenly Form do not agree,With any matter which the world contains;Then She of nothing must created be,And to Create, to GOD alone, pertains!Again, if Souls do other Souls beget,'Tis by themselves, or by the Body's power!If by themselves! what doth their working let,But they might Souls engender every hour?If by the Body! how can Wit and Will,Join with the body, only in this act?Since when they do their other works fulfil,They from the Body, do themselves abstract!Again, if Souls, of Souls begotten were,Into each other they should change and move;And Change and Motion still corruption bear;How shall we then, the Soul immortal prove?If, lastly, Souls did generation use,Then should they spread incorruptible seed:What then becomes of that which they to lose,When the acts of generation do not speed?And though the Soulcouldcast spiritual seed,YetwouldShe not, because She never dies;For mortal things desire, their like to breed;That so they may their kind immortalise.Therefore the angels, Sons of God are named,And marry not, nor are in marriage given;Their spirits and ours are of one Substance framed,And have one Father, even the Lord of heaven:Who would at first, that in each other thing,The earth and water, living souls should breed;But that Man's Soul (whom He would make their king)Should from Himself immediately proceed.And when He took the woman from man's side,Doubtless Himself inspired her soul alone;For 'tis not said, he did, Man'ssouldivide,But tookflesh of his flesh, bone of his bone.Lastly, GOD, being made Man, for man's own sake,And being like man in all, except in sin:His Body, from the Virgin's womb did take;But all agree,GOD formed His soul within.Then is the Soul from God? So Pagans say,Which saw by Nature's light, her heavenly kind,Naming her "Kin to God!" and "GOD's bright ray,""A citizen of heaven, to earth confined!"But now I feel they pluck me by the ear,(Whom my young Muse so boldly termed blind)And crave more heavenly light; that cloud to clear,Which makes them think GOD doth not make the Mind!Reasons drawn from divinity.GOD doubtless makes her! and doth make her good!And grafts her in a Body, there to spring;Which though it be corrupted, flesh and blood,Can no way to the Soul, corruption bring.And yet this Soul (made good by GOD at first,And not corrupted by the Body's ill)Even in the womb, is sinful and accurst,Ere she can judge by Wit, or choose by Will.Yet is not GOD, the author of her Sin;Though author of her Being, and being there;And if we dare to judge our Judge therein;He can condemn us, and Himself can clear.First, GOD, from infinite eternityDecreed what hath been, is, or shall be done;And was resolved that every man should BeAnd, in his turn, his race of life should run.And so did purpose all the souls to make,That ever have been made, or ever shall;And that their Being, they should only takeIn human bodies, or not Be at all.Was it then fit, that such a weak event(Weakness, itself! the sin and fall of Man)His counsel's execution should prevent?Decreed and fixed before the world began.Or that one penal law, byAdambroke,Should make GOD break His own eternal law;The settled order of the world revoke,And change all forms of things, which He foresaw.CouldEve'sweak hand, extended to the tree,In sunder rent that Adamantine Chain,Whose golden links, Effects and Causes be;And which to GOD's own chair, doth fixt remain?O could we see! how Cause from Cause doth spring!How mutually they linked and folded are!And hear how oft one disagreeing string,The harmony doth rather make, than mar!And view at once, how Death by sin is brought!And how from Death a better Life doth rise;How this, GOD's Justice and his Mercy taught;We, this decree, would praise, as right and wise!But we (that measure times, by First and Last)The sight of things successively do take;When GOD, on all at once, His view doth cast;And of all times, doth but one instant make.All in Himself, as in a glass, He sees,And from Him, by Him, through Him, all things be;His sight is not discursive, by degrees;But seeing the whole, each single part doth see.He looks onAdam, as a root, or well,And on his heirs, as branches, and as streams;He sees all men as one man! though they dwellIn sundry cities, and in sundry realms.And as the root and branch are but one tree,And well and stream do but one river make;So, if the root and well corrupted be;The stream and branch the same corruption takeSo when the root and fountain of Mankind;Did draw corruption, and GOD's curse by sin:This was a charge that all his heirs did bind;And all his offspring grew corrupt therein!And as when th' hand doth strike, the man offends,(For part from whole, Law severs not in this!)SoAdam'ssin to the whole Kind extends,For all their natures are but part of his.Therefore, this sin, of Kind, not personal;But real, and hereditary was:The guilt whereof, and punishment to all,By Course of Nature, and of Law doth pass.For as that easy law was given to all!To ancestor and heir! to first and last!So was the first transgression general;And All did pluck the fruit! and All did taste!Of this, we find some footsteps in our Law,Which doth her root from GOD and Nature take.Ten thousand men she doth together draw,And of them all, one Corporation make!Yet these and their successors are but One;And if they gain or lose their liberties;They harm or profit not themselves alone,But such, as in succeeding time, shall rise!And so the ancestor and all his heirs,(Though they in number pass the stars of heaven)Are still but One! His forfeitures are theirs!And unto them, are his advancements given!His civil acts to bind and bar them all!And as fromAdam, all corruption take;So if the father's crime be capital;In all the blood, Law dothcorruptionmake!Is it, then, just with us, to disinheritThe unborn nephews, for the father's fault?And to advance again, for one man's merit,A thousand heirs that have deserved nought?And is not GOD's decree as just as ours,If He, forAdam'ssins, his sons depriveOf all those native virtues, and those powers;Which He to him, and to his race did give?For what is this contagious Sin of Kind,But a privation of that grace within,And of that great rich dowry of the mind;Which all had had, but for the first man's sin?If then a man, on light conditions, gainA great estate, to him and his, for ever;If wilfully, he forfeit it again:Who doth bemoan his heir? or blame the giver?So, though GOD make the Soul good, rich, and fair;Yet when her form is to the Body knit,Which makes the Man: which Man isAdam'sheir;Justly, forthwith, he takes his grace from it.And then the Soul, being first from nothing brought,When GOD's grace fails her, doth to nothing fall;And thisdeclining Proneness unto nought,Is even that Sin, that we are born withal.Yet not, alone, the first good qualities,Which in the first Soul were, deprivèd are;But in their place the contrary do rise,And real spots of sin, her beauty mar.Nor is it strange thatAdam'sill desert,Should be transferred unto his guilty race;WhenChrist, His grace and justice doth impartTo men unjust! and such as have no grace!Lastly, the Soul were better so to beBorn slave to sin, than not to Be at all!Since, if She do believe, One sets her free,That makes her mount the higher, from her fall.Yet this, the curious Wits will not content!They yet will know (since GOD foresaw this Ill)Why His high providence did not preventThe declination of the first Man's will.If by His word, He had the current stayed,Of Adam's will, which was by nature free;It had been one as if His word had said,"I will, henceforth, that man, no Man shall be!"For what is Man, without a moving Mind;Which hath a judging Wit, and choosing Will?Now, if GOD's power should her election bind;Her motions then would cease, and stand all still.And why did GOD in Man this Soul infuse;But that he should his Maker know and love?Now if love be compelled, and cannot choose;How can it grateful, or thankworthy prove?Love must free hearted be, and voluntary,And not enchanted, or by Fate constrained:Not like that love, which didUlyssescarryToCirce'sisle, with mighty charms enchainedBesides! Were we unchangeable in Will,And of a Wit, that nothing could misdeem;Equal to GOD (whose wisdom shineth still,And never errs) we might ourselves esteem.So that if Man would be unvariable;He must be GOD! or like a rock, or tree!For even the perfect angels were not stable;But had a fall, more desperate than we.Then let us praise that Power, which makes us beMen, as we are! and rest contented so!And knowing man's fall was Curiosity,Admire GOD's counsels! which we cannot know.And let us know that GOD, the Maker isOf all the Souls, in all the men that be:Yet their corruption is no fault of His;But the first man's, that broke GOD's first decreeWhy the Soul is united to the Body.This Substance, and this Spirit, of God's own making,Is in the Body placed, and planted there:That both of GOD, and of the world partaking;Of all that is, Man might the Image bear!GOD, first, made Angels! bodiless pure minds!Then, other things, which mindless bodies be.Last, He made Man, the Horizon 'twixt both kinds,In whom, we do the World's Abridgement see.Besides! This world below did need one wight,Which might thereof, distinguish every part;Make use thereof, and take therein delight;And order things with industry and Art.Which, also, GOD, might (in His works) admire,And here, beneath, yield Him both prayer and praise;As there, above, the holy Angels' QuireDoth spread His glory, with spiritual lays.Lastly, the brute unreasonable wights,Did want a Visible King, on them to reign;And GOD Himself, thus to the world unites,That so the world might endless bliss obtain.In what manner the Soul is united to the Body.But how shall we this Union well express?Nought ties the Soul, her subtility is such:She moves the body, which She doth possess;Yet no part toucheth, but by virtue's touch!Then dwells Shenottherein, as in a tent,Nor as a pilot, in his ship doth sit,Nor as a spider, in her web is pent,Nor as the wax retains the print in it:Nor as a vessel, water doth contain,Nor as one liquor, in another shed,Nor as the heat doth in the fire remain,Nor as a voice, throughout the air is spread.But as the fair and cheerful Morning LightDoth, here and there, her silver beams impart:And, in an instant, doth herself uniteTo the transparent air, in all and part.Still resting whole, when blows, the air divide,Abiding pure, when th'air is most corrupted;Throughout the air, her beams dispersing wide;And, when the air is tost, not interrupted!So doth the piercing Soul, the Body fill,Being all in all, and all in part diffused?Indivisible! incorruptible still!Not forced! encountered! troubled! or confused!And as the Sun above, the light doth bring,Though we behold it in the air below;So from th' Eternal Light, the Soul doth spring,Though in the body, She her powers do show.How the Soul doth exercise her powers in the Body.But as this world's sun doth effects beget,Diverse in divers places, every day,Here, Autumn's temperature! there, Summer's heat!Here, flowery Spring-tide! and there, Winter grey!Here, Even! there, Morn! here, Noon! there, Day! there, Night!Melts wax! dries clay! makes flowers some quick, some dead!Makes the Moor black! and th'European, white!Th'American tawny! and th'East Indian red!So in our little world, this Soul of ours,Being only One, and to one Body tied,Doth use on divers objects, diverse powers,And so are her effects diversified.The Vegetative or Quickening Power.Her Quick'ning Power in every living part,Doth as a Nurse, or as a Mother serve;And doth employ her economic art,And busy care, her household to preserve.Here, She attracts! and there, She doth retain,There, She decocts, and doth the food prepare,There, She distributes it to every vein,There, She expels, what She may fitly spare.This power toMartha, may compared be,Which busy was, the household things to do;Or to a Dryas living in a tree,For even to trees, this power is proper too.And though the Soul may not this power extendOut of the body, but still use it there;She hath a Power, which she abroad doth send,Which views and searcheth all things everywhere.The power of Sense.This Power is Sense, which from abroad doth bring,The Colour, Taste, and Touch, and Scent, and Sound,The Quantity, and shape of everythingWithin th'earth's centre or heaven's circle found.This Power, in parts made fit, fit objects takes,Yet not the Things, but Forms of Things receives:As when a seal in wax impression makes,The print therein, but not itself, it leaves:And though things sensible be numberless,But only five the Sense's organs be;And in those five, All Things their Forms express,Which we can Touch, Taste, Feel, or Hear, or See.These are the Windows, through the which She viewsThe Light of Knowledge, which is Life's Load-star;And yet whiles She, these spectacles doth use,Oft, worldly things seem greater than they are.Sight.First, the two Eyes, which have the Seeing Power,Stand as one Watchman, Spy, or Sentinel,Being placed aloft within the head's high TowerAnd though both see, yet both but one thing tell.These Mirrors take into their little space,The Forms of moon, and sun, and every star;Of every body, and of every place,Which, with the world's wide arms, embracèd are.Yet their best object, and their noblest use,Hereafter in another world will be;When GOD in them, shall heavenly light infuse,That face to face, they may their Maker see.Here are they guides, which do the Body lead,Which else would stumble in eternal night:Here in this world, they do much knowledgeread,And are the Casements, which admit most light.They are her farthest-reaching instrument;Yet they no beams unto their objects send:But all the rays are from their objects sent;And in the Eyes, with pointed angles end.If th'objects be far off, the rays do meetIn a sharp point, and so things seem but small;If they be near, their rays do spread and fleet,And make broad points, that things seem great withal.Lastly. Nine things to Sight requirèd are.The Power to see! the Light! the Visible thing!Being not too small! too thin! too nigh! too far!Clear space! and Time, the Form distinct to bring.Thus see we, how the Soul doth use the Eyes,As instruments of her quick power of sight;Hence do th'Arts Optic, and fair Painting rise.Painting, which doth all gentle minds delight!Hearing.Now let us hear, how She the Ears employs:Their office is the troubled air to take,Which in their mazes, forms a sound or noise;Whereof herself doth true distinction make.These Wickets of the Soul are placed on high,Because all sounds do lightly mount aloft;And that they may not pierce too violently;They are delayed with turns and windings oft.For should the voice directly strike the brain,It would astonish and confuse it much;Therefore these plaits and folds the sound restrain,That it, the Organ may more gently touch!As streams, which, with their winding banks, do play,Stopt by their creeks, run softly through the plain;So in the Ear's labyrinth, the voice doth stray,And doth, with easy motion, touch the brain!It is the slowest, yet the daintiest Sense!For even the ears of such as have no skill,Perceive a discord, and conceive offence,And knowing not what's good, yet find the ill!And though this Sense, first, gentle Music found;Her proper object is the Speech of Man!But that speech chiefly which GOD's heralds sound,When their tongues utter, what his Spirit did pen.Our Eyes have lids, our Ears still ope we see!Quickly to hear, how every tale is proved;Our Eyes still move, our Ears unmoved be!That though we hear quick, we be not quickly moved.Thus by the organs of the Eye and Ear,The Soul with knowledge doth herself endue!Thus She her prison, may with pleasure bear;Having such prospects, all the world to view!These Conduit Pipes of Knowledge feed the Mind:But th'other three attend the Body still;For by their services the Soul doth findWhat things are to the Body, good or ill.Taste.The Body's life, with meats and air is fed,Therefore the Soul doth use the Tasting power!In veins, which through the tongue and palate spread,Distinguish every relish, sweet and sour.This is the Body's Nurse! But since Man's witFound th'art of cookery to delight his Sense:More bodies are consumed and killed with it!Than with the sword, famine, or pestilence.Smell.Next, in the nostrils, She doth use the Smell,As GOD the breath of life in them did give;So makes He, now, His power in them to dwell;To judge all airs, whereby we breath and live.This Sense is also mistress of an Art,Which to soft people, sweet perfumes doth sell;Though this dear Art doth little good impart,Since "they smell best; that do of nothing smell!"And yet good scents do purify the Brain,Awake the Fancy, and the Wits refine.Hence Old Devotion, incense did ordain,To make men's spirits more apt for thoughts divine.Feeling.Lastly, the Feeling power, which is Life's Root,Through every living part itself doth shed;By sinews, which extend from head to foot,And like a net, all o'er the Body spread.Much like a subtle spider, which doth sitIn middle of her web, which spreadeth wide;If ought do touch the utmost thread of it;She feels it, instantly, on every side!By touch; the first pure qualities we learn,Which quicken all things, Hot, Cold, Moist, and Dry!By touch; Hard, Soft, Rough, Smooth, we do discern!By touch; sweet Pleasure, and sharp Pain we try!These are the outward instruments of Sense!These are the Guards, which every thing must pass;Ere it approach the Mind's intelligence!Or touch the Phantasy "Wits Looking Glass!"The Imagination, or Common Sense.And yet these Porters which all things admit,Themselves perceive not, nor discern the things;One Common Power doth in the forehead sit,Which all their proper forms together brings.For all those Nerves, which spirits of Sense do bear,And to those outward organs spreading go,United are as in a centre there!And, there, this power, those sundry forms doth know!Those outward Organs present things receive;This inward Sense doth absent things retain!Yet, straight, transmits all Forms she doth perceive,Unto a higher region of the brain;The Phantasy.Where Phantasy (near handmaid to the Mind!)Sits and beholds, and doth discern them all;Compounds in one, things diverse in their kind,Compares the black and white, the great and small.Besides those single forms, She doth esteem,And in her balance doth their values try;Where some things good, and some things ill do seem,And neutral some in her Phantastic eye.This busy power is working day and night,For when the outward senses rest do take;A thousand dreams, phantastical and light,With fluttering wings, do keep her still awake!The sensitive Memory.Yet, always, all may not afore her be;Successively, she this, and that intends:Therefore such forms as she doth cease to see,To Memory's large volume she commends!The Ledger Book lies in the brain behind,LikeJanus'eye, which in his poll was set;The Layman's Tables! Storehouse of the Mind!Which doth remember much, and much forget.Here, Sense's Apprehensions end doth take;As, when a stone is into water cast,One circle doth another circle make,Till the last circle touch the bank at last!The Passions of Sense.But though the Apprehensive Power do pause,The Motive Virtue then begins to move!Which in the heart below, doth Passions cause,Joy, Grief, and Fear, and Hope, and Hate, and LoveThese Passions have a free commanding might,And divers actions in our life do breed;For all acts done without true Reason's light,Do from the Passion of the Sense proceed.But sith the Brain doth lodge these powers of Sense,How makes it, in the Heart those passions spring?The mutual love, the kind intelligence'Twixt heart and brain, this Sympathy doth bring.From the kind heat, which in the heart doth reign,The spirits of Life do their beginning take!These spirits of Life ascending to the brain,When they come there, the spirits of Sense do makeThese spirits of Sense in Phantasy's high court,Judge of the Forms of Objects, ill or well!And so, they send a good or ill reportDown to the heart, where all Affections dwell.If the report be good; it causeth love!And longing hope! and well assured joy!If it be ill; then doth it hatred move!And trembling fear! and vexing griefs annoy!Yet were these natural affections good(For they which want them, blocks or devils be!);If Reason in her first perfection stood,That she might Nature's Passions rectify.The motion of Life.Besides, another Motive Power doth riseOut of the heart: from whose pure blood do springThe Vital Spirits, which born in arteries,Continual motion to all parts do bring.The local motion.This makes the pulses beat, and lungs respire,This holds the sinews, like a bridle's reins;And makes the body to advance, retire,To turn or stop, as she them slacks or strains!Thus the Soul tunes the Body's instrument;These harmonies She makes with Life and Sense:The organs fit, are by the Body lent;But th'actions flow from the Soul's influence.The Intellectual Powers of the Soul.But now I have a Will, yet want a Wit,To express the workings of the Wit and Will;Which, though their root be to the body knit,Use not the Body, when they use their skill.These powers the nature of the Soul declare,For to Man's Soul, these only proper be!For on the earth, no other wights there are,Which have these heavenly powers, but onlyThe Wit or Understanding.The Wit (the pupil of the Soul's clear eye!And in Man's world, th'only shining star!)Looks in the Mirror of the Phantasy,Where all the gatherings of the senses areFrom thence this Power, the Shapes of things abstracts,And them within herPassivepart receives;Which are enlightened by that part whichActs,And so the Forms of single things perceives.But after, by discoursing to and fro,Anticipating, and comparing things;She doth all universal natures know,And all Effects into their Causes brings.Reason.Understanding.When She rates things, and moves from ground to ground,The name of Reason, She obtains by this!But when, by reasons, She the truth hath found,And standeth fixt, She, Understanding is!Opinion.Judgement.When her assent, She lightly doth inclineTo either part, She is Opinion light!But when She doth by principles defineA certain truth, She hath true Judgement's sight.And as from senses, Reason's work doth spring;So many reasons, Understanding gain:And many understandings, Knowledge bring,And by much knowledge, Wisdom we obtainSo, many stairs we must ascend upright,Ere we attain to Wisdom's high degree:So doth this earth eclipse our Reason's light,Which else (in instants) would like angels see.Yet hath the Soul a dowry natural,And Sparks of Light some common things to see;Not being a blank, where nought is writ at all,But what the writer will, may written be.For Nature, in man's heart her laws doth pen,Prescribing Truth to Wit! and Good to Will!Which do accuse, or else excuse all men,For every thought or practice, good or ill!And yet these sparks grow almost infinite,Making the world and all therein, their food;As fire so spreads, as no place holdeth it,Being nourished still with new supplies of wood.And though these sparks were almost quenched with sin,Yet they, whom that Just One hath justified,Have them increased, with Heavenly Light within!And, like the Widow's oil, still multiplied!The power of Will.And as this Wit should goodness truly know,We have a Wit which that true good should choose!Though Will do oft (when Wit, false Forms doth show)Take Ill, for Good; and Good, for Ill refuse.The relations betwixt Wit and Will.Will puts in practice what the Wit deviseth;The Will ever acts, and Wit contemplates still:And as from Wit the power of Wisdom riseth;All other virtues, daughters are of Will!Will is the Prince! and Wit, the Councillor!Which doth for common good in council sit;And when Wit is resolved; Will lends her powerTo execute what is advised by Wit.Wit is the Mind's Chief Judge! which doth control,Of Fancy's Court, the judgements false and vain!Will holds the royal sceptre in the Soul;And on the Passions of the Heart doth reign!Will is as free as any Emperor,Nought can restrain her gentle liberty;No tyrant, nor no torment hath the powerTo make us will; when we unwilling be!The intellectual Memory.To these high powers, a Storehouse doth pertain;Where they, all Arts and general reasons lay!Which in the Soul (even after death!) remain,And no Lethean flood can wash away!This is the Soul! and those, her virtues be!Which, though they have their sundry proper ends,And one exceeds another in degree;Yet each on other mutually depends.Our Wit is given, Almighty GOD to know!Our Will is given to love Him, being known!But GOD could not beknownto us below,But by His works, which through the Sense are shown.And as the Wit doth reap the fruits of Sense;So doth the Quick'ning Power, the Senses feed!Thus while they do their sundry gifts dispense,The best, the service of the least doth need!Even so, the King, his magistrates do serve;Yet Commons feed both magistrate and King!The Commons' peace, the magistrates preserveBy borrowed power, which from the Prince doth spring.The Quickening Power wouldbe, and so would rest!The Sense would notbeonly, bebe well!But Wit's ambition longeth tobe best!For it desires in endless bliss, to dwell.And these three Powers, three sorts of men do make.For some, like plants, their veins do only fill;And some, like beasts, their senses' pleasure take,And some, like angels, do contemplate still.Therefore the fables turned some men to flowers,And others, did with brutish forms invest;And did of others, make celestial powersLike angels! which still travail, yet still rest!Yet these three Powers are not three Souls but one,As one and two are both contained in three;Three being one number by itself alone.A shadow of the blessed Trinity!An acclamation.O what is Man! (Great Maker of mankind!)That Thou to him so great respect dost bear!That Thou adorn'st him with so bright a Mind!Mak'st him a king! and even an angel's peer!O what a lively life! what heavenly power!What spreading virtue! what a sparkling fire!How great! how plentiful! how rich a dower!Dost Thou, within this dying flesh inspire!Thou leav'st Thy Print in other works of Thine!But Thy whole Image, Thou, in Man hast writ!There cannot be a creature more divine;Except, (like Thee!) it should be infinite.But it exceeds Man's thought, to think how highGOD hath raised Man, since GOD, a man became:The angels do admire this mystery,And are astonished when they view the same!
THeLights of Heaven, which are the world's fair eyes,Look down into the world, the world to see;And as they turn, or wander in the skies,Survey all things, that on this Centre be.
T
HeLights of Heaven, which are the world's fair eyes,
Look down into the world, the world to see;
And as they turn, or wander in the skies,
Survey all things, that on this Centre be.
And yet the Lights which in my Tower do shine,Mine Eyes! (which view all objects, nigh and far)Look not into this little world of mine,Nor see my face, wherein they fixed are.
And yet the Lights which in my Tower do shine,
Mine Eyes! (which view all objects, nigh and far)
Look not into this little world of mine,
Nor see my face, wherein they fixed are.
Since Nature fails us in no needful thing;Why want I means, mine inward self to see?Which sight, the Knowledge of Myself might bring;Which, to true wisdom, is the first degree.
Since Nature fails us in no needful thing;
Why want I means, mine inward self to see?
Which sight, the Knowledge of Myself might bring;
Which, to true wisdom, is the first degree.
That Power (which gave me eyes, the world to view)To view myself, infused an Inward Light,Whereby my Soul, as by a Mirror true,Of her own form, may take a perfect sight.
That Power (which gave me eyes, the world to view)
To view myself, infused an Inward Light,
Whereby my Soul, as by a Mirror true,
Of her own form, may take a perfect sight.
But as the sharpest Eye discerneth nought,Except the sunbeams in the air do shine;So the best Soul, with her reflecting thought,Sees not herself, without some light Divine.
But as the sharpest Eye discerneth nought,
Except the sunbeams in the air do shine;
So the best Soul, with her reflecting thought,
Sees not herself, without some light Divine.
O LIGHT! (which makest the Light, which makest the Day;Which settest the Eye without, and Mind within)Lighten my spirit, with one clear heavenly ray!Which now to view itself, doth first begin.
O LIGHT! (which makest the Light, which makest the Day;
Which settest the Eye without, and Mind within)
Lighten my spirit, with one clear heavenly ray!
Which now to view itself, doth first begin.
For her true form, how can my Spark discern?Which dim by Nature, Art did never clear;When the great wits, of whom all skill we learn,Are ignorant, both What She is! and Where!
For her true form, how can my Spark discern?
Which dim by Nature, Art did never clear;
When the great wits, of whom all skill we learn,
Are ignorant, both What She is! and Where!
One thinks the Soul is Air, another Fire,Another, Blood diffused about the heart,Another saith, the Elements conspire,And to her Essence, each doth give a part.
One thinks the Soul is Air, another Fire,
Another, Blood diffused about the heart,
Another saith, the Elements conspire,
And to her Essence, each doth give a part.
Musicians think our Souls are Harmonies;Physicians hold that they Complexions be:Epicures make them Swarms of Atomies,Which do, by change, into our bodies flee!
Musicians think our Souls are Harmonies;
Physicians hold that they Complexions be:
Epicures make them Swarms of Atomies,
Which do, by change, into our bodies flee!
Some think one General Soul fills every brain,As the bright sun sheds light in every star;And others think the name of Soul is vain,And that We, only Well-mixed Bodies are.
Some think one General Soul fills every brain,
As the bright sun sheds light in every star;
And others think the name of Soul is vain,
And that We, only Well-mixed Bodies are.
In judgement of her Substance, thus they vary;And thus they vary in judgement of her Seat;For some, her chair up to the Brain do carry,Some thrust it down into the Stomach's heat!
In judgement of her Substance, thus they vary;
And thus they vary in judgement of her Seat;
For some, her chair up to the Brain do carry,
Some thrust it down into the Stomach's heat!
Some place it in the root of life, the Heart;Some, in the Liver, fountain of the veins;Some say, "She is all in all, and all in part!"Some say, "She is not contained, but all contains!"
Some place it in the root of life, the Heart;
Some, in the Liver, fountain of the veins;
Some say, "She is all in all, and all in part!"
Some say, "She is not contained, but all contains!"
Thus these great Clerks their little wisdom show,While with their doctrines, they at hazard play;Tossing their light opinions to and fro,To mock the lewd; as learned in this, as they!
Thus these great Clerks their little wisdom show,
While with their doctrines, they at hazard play;
Tossing their light opinions to and fro,
To mock the lewd; as learned in this, as they!
For no crazed brain could ever yet propound,Touching the Soul, so vain and fond a thought;But some among these Masters, have been found,Which in their Schools, the selfsame thing have taught.
For no crazed brain could ever yet propound,
Touching the Soul, so vain and fond a thought;
But some among these Masters, have been found,
Which in their Schools, the selfsame thing have taught.
GOD, only-Wise! to punish Pride of Wit,Among men's wits hath this confusion wrought!As the proud Tower, whose points the clouds did hit,By Tongues' Confusion, was to ruin brought.
GOD, only-Wise! to punish Pride of Wit,
Among men's wits hath this confusion wrought!
As the proud Tower, whose points the clouds did hit,
By Tongues' Confusion, was to ruin brought.
But, Thou! which didst Man's Soul, of nothing make!And when to nothing, it was fallen again;To make it new, the Form of Man didst take,And, GOD with GOD, becam'st a Man with men!
But, Thou! which didst Man's Soul, of nothing make!
And when to nothing, it was fallen again;
To make it new, the Form of Man didst take,
And, GOD with GOD, becam'st a Man with men!
Thou! that hast fashioned twice, this Soul of ours,So that She is, by double title, Thine;Thou, only, knowest her nature and her powers,Her subtle form, Thou, only, canst define!
Thou! that hast fashioned twice, this Soul of ours,
So that She is, by double title, Thine;
Thou, only, knowest her nature and her powers,
Her subtle form, Thou, only, canst define!
To judge herself, She must herself transcend,As greater circles comprehend the less:But She wants power, her own powers to extend,As fettered men cannot their strength express.
To judge herself, She must herself transcend,
As greater circles comprehend the less:
But She wants power, her own powers to extend,
As fettered men cannot their strength express.
But Thou, bright morning Star! Thou, rising Sun!Which, in these later times, has brought to lightThose mysteries, that, since the world began,Lay hid in darkness and eternal night!
But Thou, bright morning Star! Thou, rising Sun!
Which, in these later times, has brought to light
Those mysteries, that, since the world began,
Lay hid in darkness and eternal night!
Thou, like the sun, doth with indifferent ray,Into the palace and the cottage shine!And showest the Soul, both to the Clerk and Lay,By the clear Lamp of thy Oracle Divine!
Thou, like the sun, doth with indifferent ray,
Into the palace and the cottage shine!
And showest the Soul, both to the Clerk and Lay,
By the clear Lamp of thy Oracle Divine!
This Lamp, through all the regions of my brain,Where my Soul sits, doth spread such beams of grace,As now, methinks! I do distinguish plainEach subtle line of her immortal face.
This Lamp, through all the regions of my brain,
Where my Soul sits, doth spread such beams of grace,
As now, methinks! I do distinguish plain
Each subtle line of her immortal face.
What the Soul is?The Soul, a Substance and a Spirit is,Which GOD Himself doth in the body make,Which makes the Man; for every man, from this,The Nature of a man and Name doth take.
What the Soul is?
The Soul, a Substance and a Spirit is,
Which GOD Himself doth in the body make,
Which makes the Man; for every man, from this,
The Nature of a man and Name doth take.
And though the Spirit be to the Body knit,As an apt meane her powers to exercise;Which are Life, Motion, Sense, and Will, and Wit:Yet she survives, although the Body dies.
And though the Spirit be to the Body knit,
As an apt meane her powers to exercise;
Which are Life, Motion, Sense, and Will, and Wit:
Yet she survives, although the Body dies.
That the Soul is a thing subsisting by itself, without the Body.She is a Substance, and a real thing,1. Which hath, itself, an actual working Might,2. Which neither from the Sense's power doth spring,3. Nor from the Body's humours tempered right.
That the Soul is a thing subsisting by itself, without the Body.
She is a Substance, and a real thing,
1. Which hath, itself, an actual working Might,
2. Which neither from the Sense's power doth spring,
3. Nor from the Body's humours tempered right.
She is a Vine, which doth no propping need,To make her spread herself, or spring upright;She is a Star, whose beams do not proceedFrom any sun, but from a native light.
She is a Vine, which doth no propping need,
To make her spread herself, or spring upright;
She is a Star, whose beams do not proceed
From any sun, but from a native light.
That the Soul hath a proper operation, without the Body.For when She sorts things present with the past,And thereby things to come doth oft foresee;When She doth doubt at first, and choose at last:These acts her own, without the Body, be.
That the Soul hath a proper operation, without the Body.
For when She sorts things present with the past,
And thereby things to come doth oft foresee;
When She doth doubt at first, and choose at last:
These acts her own, without the Body, be.
When of the dew, which the Eye and Ear do take,From flowers abroad, and bring into the brain;She doth, within, both wax and honey make:This work is hers, this is her proper pain!
When of the dew, which the Eye and Ear do take,
From flowers abroad, and bring into the brain;
She doth, within, both wax and honey make:
This work is hers, this is her proper pain!
When She from sundry acts, one Skill doth draw;Gathering from divers fights, one Art of War;From many Cases like, one Rule of Law:These, her collections, not the Sense's, are.
When She from sundry acts, one Skill doth draw;
Gathering from divers fights, one Art of War;
From many Cases like, one Rule of Law:
These, her collections, not the Sense's, are.
When in th'Effects, She doth the Causes know;And seeing the stream, thinks where the spring doth rise;And seeing the branch, conceives the root below:These things She views, without the Body's eyes.
When in th'Effects, She doth the Causes know;
And seeing the stream, thinks where the spring doth rise;
And seeing the branch, conceives the root below:
These things She views, without the Body's eyes.
When She, without a Pegasus, doth flySwifter than lightning's fire, from East to West;About the Centre, and above the Sky:She travels then, although the Body rest.
When She, without a Pegasus, doth fly
Swifter than lightning's fire, from East to West;
About the Centre, and above the Sky:
She travels then, although the Body rest.
When all her works She formeth first within;Proportions them, and sees their perfect end,Ere She in act, doth any part begin:What instruments doth then, the Body lend?
When all her works She formeth first within;
Proportions them, and sees their perfect end,
Ere She in act, doth any part begin:
What instruments doth then, the Body lend?
When without hands, She thus doth castles build;Sees without eyes, and without feet doth run;When She digests the world, yet is not filled:By her own power, these miracles are done.
When without hands, She thus doth castles build;
Sees without eyes, and without feet doth run;
When She digests the world, yet is not filled:
By her own power, these miracles are done.
When She defines, argues, divides, compounds;Considers Virtue, Vice, and General Things;And marrying diverse principles and grounds,Out of their match, a true conclusion brings:
When She defines, argues, divides, compounds;
Considers Virtue, Vice, and General Things;
And marrying diverse principles and grounds,
Out of their match, a true conclusion brings:
These actions, in her closet, all alone,(Retired within herself) She doth fulfil;Use of her Body's organs, She hath none,When She doth use the powers of Wit and Will.
These actions, in her closet, all alone,
(Retired within herself) She doth fulfil;
Use of her Body's organs, She hath none,
When She doth use the powers of Wit and Will.
Yet in the Body's prison, so She lies,As through the Body's windows She must look,Her divers powers of Sense to exercise,By gathering notes out of the world's great book.
Yet in the Body's prison, so She lies,
As through the Body's windows She must look,
Her divers powers of Sense to exercise,
By gathering notes out of the world's great book.
Nor can herself discourse, or judge of ought,But what the Sense collects, and home doth bring,And yet the Power of her discoursing Thought,From these Collections, is a diverse thing.
Nor can herself discourse, or judge of ought,
But what the Sense collects, and home doth bring,
And yet the Power of her discoursing Thought,
From these Collections, is a diverse thing.
For though our eyes can nought but colours see,Yet colours give them not their Power of Sight;So, though these fruits of Sense, her objects be,Yet She discerns them by her proper light.
For though our eyes can nought but colours see,
Yet colours give them not their Power of Sight;
So, though these fruits of Sense, her objects be,
Yet She discerns them by her proper light.
The workman on his stuff, his skill doth shew,And yet the stuff gives not the man his skill;Kings, their affairs, do, by their servants know,But order them by their own royal will.
The workman on his stuff, his skill doth shew,
And yet the stuff gives not the man his skill;
Kings, their affairs, do, by their servants know,
But order them by their own royal will.
So though this cunning Mistress, and this QueenDoth, as her instruments, the Senses use,To know all things that are Felt, Heard, or Seen;Yet She herself doth only Judge and Choose:
So though this cunning Mistress, and this Queen
Doth, as her instruments, the Senses use,
To know all things that are Felt, Heard, or Seen;
Yet She herself doth only Judge and Choose:
Even as our great wise Empress (that now reignsBy sovereign title over sundry lands)Borrows, in mean affairs, her subjects' pains,Sees by their eyes, and writeth by their hands:
Even as our great wise Empress (that now reigns
By sovereign title over sundry lands)
Borrows, in mean affairs, her subjects' pains,
Sees by their eyes, and writeth by their hands:
But things of weight and consequence indeed,Herself doth in her chamber them debate;Where, all her Councillors she doth exceedAs far in judgement, as she doth in State.
But things of weight and consequence indeed,
Herself doth in her chamber them debate;
Where, all her Councillors she doth exceed
As far in judgement, as she doth in State.
Or as the man, whom she doth now advance,Upon her gracious Mercy Seat to sit,Doth common things, of course and circumstance,To the Reports of common men commit:
Or as the man, whom she doth now advance,
Upon her gracious Mercy Seat to sit,
Doth common things, of course and circumstance,
To the Reports of common men commit:
But when the Cause itself must be decreed,Himself in person, in his proper Court,To grave and solemn hearing doth proceed,Of every proof, and every by-report.
But when the Cause itself must be decreed,
Himself in person, in his proper Court,
To grave and solemn hearing doth proceed,
Of every proof, and every by-report.
Then, like God's angel, he pronounceth right,And milk and honey from his tongue do flow:Happy are they, that still are in his sight,To reap the wisdom, which his lips do sow.
Then, like God's angel, he pronounceth right,
And milk and honey from his tongue do flow:
Happy are they, that still are in his sight,
To reap the wisdom, which his lips do sow.
Right so, the Soul, which is a Lady free,And doth the justice of her State maintain;Because the Senses, ready servants be,Attending nigh about her Court, the Brain;
Right so, the Soul, which is a Lady free,
And doth the justice of her State maintain;
Because the Senses, ready servants be,
Attending nigh about her Court, the Brain;
By them, the forms of outward things She learns,For they return unto the Fantasy,Whatever each of them abroad discerns;And there enrol it for the Mind to see.
By them, the forms of outward things She learns,
For they return unto the Fantasy,
Whatever each of them abroad discerns;
And there enrol it for the Mind to see.
But when She sits to judge the good and ill,And to discern betwixt the false and true;She is not guided by the Senses' skill,But doth each thing in her own mirror view.
But when She sits to judge the good and ill,
And to discern betwixt the false and true;
She is not guided by the Senses' skill,
But doth each thing in her own mirror view.
Then She the Senses checks! which oft do err,And even against their false reports, decrees;And oft She doth condemn, what they prefer,For with a power above the Sense, She sees:
Then She the Senses checks! which oft do err,
And even against their false reports, decrees;
And oft She doth condemn, what they prefer,
For with a power above the Sense, She sees:
Therefore, no Sense, the precious joys conceives,Which in her private contemplations be;For then, the ravished Spirit, the Senses leaves,Hath her own powers, and proper actions free.
Therefore, no Sense, the precious joys conceives,
Which in her private contemplations be;
For then, the ravished Spirit, the Senses leaves,
Hath her own powers, and proper actions free.
Her harmonies are sweet and full of skill,When on the Body's instrument She plays:But the proportions of the Wit and Will,Those sweet accords are even the angels' lays.
Her harmonies are sweet and full of skill,
When on the Body's instrument She plays:
But the proportions of the Wit and Will,
Those sweet accords are even the angels' lays.
These tunes of Reason areAmphion's lyre,Wherewith he did the Theban city found;These are the notes, wherewith the heavenly Quire,The praise of Him, which spreads the heaven, doth sound.
These tunes of Reason areAmphion's lyre,
Wherewith he did the Theban city found;
These are the notes, wherewith the heavenly Quire,
The praise of Him, which spreads the heaven, doth sound.
Then her self-being nature shines in this,That She performs her noblest works alone!"The work, the touchstone of the nature is!"And "by their operations, things are known!"
Then her self-being nature shines in this,
That She performs her noblest works alone!
"The work, the touchstone of the nature is!"
And "by their operations, things are known!"
2. That the Soul is more than a perfection or reflection of the Sense.Are they not senseless then! that think the SoulNought but a fine perfection of the Sense,Or of the forms which Fancy doth enrol,A quick Resulting, and a Consequence?
2. That the Soul is more than a perfection or reflection of the Sense.
Are they not senseless then! that think the Soul
Nought but a fine perfection of the Sense,
Or of the forms which Fancy doth enrol,
A quick Resulting, and a Consequence?
What is it, then, that doth the Sense accuse,Both of false judgements, and fond appetites?Which makes us do, what Sense doth most refuse?Which oft, in torment of the Sense delights?
What is it, then, that doth the Sense accuse,
Both of false judgements, and fond appetites?
Which makes us do, what Sense doth most refuse?
Which oft, in torment of the Sense delights?
Sense thinks the planets' spheres not much asunder;What tells us, then, their distance is so far?Sense thinks the lightning born before the thunder,What tells us, then, they both together are?
Sense thinks the planets' spheres not much asunder;
What tells us, then, their distance is so far?
Sense thinks the lightning born before the thunder,
What tells us, then, they both together are?
When men seem crows, far off upon a tower;Sense saith, "They are crows!" What makes us think them men?When we, in agues, think all sweet things sour;What makes us know our tongue's false judgements then?
When men seem crows, far off upon a tower;
Sense saith, "They are crows!" What makes us think them men?
When we, in agues, think all sweet things sour;
What makes us know our tongue's false judgements then?
What power was that, wherebyMedeasaw,And well approved and praised the better course,When her rebellious Sense did so withdrawHer feeble powers, as she pursued the worst?
What power was that, wherebyMedeasaw,
And well approved and praised the better course,
When her rebellious Sense did so withdraw
Her feeble powers, as she pursued the worst?
Did Sense persuadeUlyssesnot to hearThe Mermaid's songs? which so his men did please,As they were all persuaded through the ear,To quit the ship, and leap into the seas.
Did Sense persuadeUlyssesnot to hear
The Mermaid's songs? which so his men did please,
As they were all persuaded through the ear,
To quit the ship, and leap into the seas.
Could any power of Sense the Roman move,To burn his own right hand, with courage stout?Could Sense makeMariussit unbound, and proveThe cruel lancing of the knotty gout?
Could any power of Sense the Roman move,
To burn his own right hand, with courage stout?
Could Sense makeMariussit unbound, and prove
The cruel lancing of the knotty gout?
Doubtless in Man, there is a Nature foundBeside the senses, and above them far;Though "most men being in sensual pleasures drowned,It seems their souls but in their senses are."
Doubtless in Man, there is a Nature found
Beside the senses, and above them far;
Though "most men being in sensual pleasures drowned,
It seems their souls but in their senses are."
If we had nought but sense, then only theyShould have sound minds, which have their senses sound;But Wisdom grows, when senses do decay,And Folly most, in quickest sense is found.
If we had nought but sense, then only they
Should have sound minds, which have their senses sound;
But Wisdom grows, when senses do decay,
And Folly most, in quickest sense is found.
If we had nought but Sense, each living wight,Which we call brute, would be more sharp than we;As having Sense's apprehensive mightIn a more clear and excellent degree.
If we had nought but Sense, each living wight,
Which we call brute, would be more sharp than we;
As having Sense's apprehensive might
In a more clear and excellent degree.
But they do want that quick discoursing Power,Which doth, in us, the erring Sense correct:Therefore the bee did suck the painted flower,And birds, of grapes the cunning shadow peckt.
But they do want that quick discoursing Power,
Which doth, in us, the erring Sense correct:
Therefore the bee did suck the painted flower,
And birds, of grapes the cunning shadow peckt.
Sense, outsides knows! the Soul, through all things sees,Sense, circumstance! She doth, the substance view;Sense sees the bark! but She, the life of trees;Sense hears the sounds! but She, the concords true.
Sense, outsides knows! the Soul, through all things sees,
Sense, circumstance! She doth, the substance view;
Sense sees the bark! but She, the life of trees;
Sense hears the sounds! but She, the concords true.
But why do I the Soul and Sense divide?When Sense is but a power, which She extends,Which being in divers parts diversified,The divers Forms of objects apprehends?
But why do I the Soul and Sense divide?
When Sense is but a power, which She extends,
Which being in divers parts diversified,
The divers Forms of objects apprehends?
This power spreads outward; but the root doth growIn th'inward Soul, which only doth perceive;For the Eyes and Ears, no more their objects know,Than glasses know what faces they receive.
This power spreads outward; but the root doth grow
In th'inward Soul, which only doth perceive;
For the Eyes and Ears, no more their objects know,
Than glasses know what faces they receive.
For if we chance to fix our thoughts elsewhere;Although our eyes be ope, we do not see,And if one Power did not both see and hear,Our sights and sounds would always double be.
For if we chance to fix our thoughts elsewhere;
Although our eyes be ope, we do not see,
And if one Power did not both see and hear,
Our sights and sounds would always double be.
Then is the Soul a Nature which containsThe power of Sense within a greater power;Which doth employ and use the senses' pains,But sits and rules within her private bower.
Then is the Soul a Nature which contains
The power of Sense within a greater power;
Which doth employ and use the senses' pains,
But sits and rules within her private bower.
3. That the Soul is more than the Temperature of the Humours of the body.If She doth then the subtle Sense excel,How gross are they, that drown her in the blood!Or in the Body's humours tempered well,As if in them, such high perfection stood.
3. That the Soul is more than the Temperature of the Humours of the body.
If She doth then the subtle Sense excel,
How gross are they, that drown her in the blood!
Or in the Body's humours tempered well,
As if in them, such high perfection stood.
As if most skill in that musician were,Which had the best and best-tuned instrument;As if the pencil neat, and colours clearHad power to make the painter excellent
As if most skill in that musician were,
Which had the best and best-tuned instrument;
As if the pencil neat, and colours clear
Had power to make the painter excellent
Why doth not Beauty then refine the Wit?And good Complexion rectify the Will?Why doth not Health bring Wisdom still with it?Why doth not Sickness make men brutish still?
Why doth not Beauty then refine the Wit?
And good Complexion rectify the Will?
Why doth not Health bring Wisdom still with it?
Why doth not Sickness make men brutish still?
Who can in Memory, or Wit, or Will;Or Air! or Fire! or Earth! or Water find!What alchemist can draw, with all his skill,The Quintessence of these, out of the Mind?
Who can in Memory, or Wit, or Will;
Or Air! or Fire! or Earth! or Water find!
What alchemist can draw, with all his skill,
The Quintessence of these, out of the Mind?
If th'Elements (which have, nor Life, nor Sense)Can breed in us so great a power as this!Why give they not themselves, like excellence,Or other things wherein their mixture is?
If th'Elements (which have, nor Life, nor Sense)
Can breed in us so great a power as this!
Why give they not themselves, like excellence,
Or other things wherein their mixture is?
If She were but the Body's qualityThen would She be, with it, sick! maimed! and blind!But we perceive, when these privations be,A healthy, perfect, and sharp-sighted Mind.
If She were but the Body's quality
Then would She be, with it, sick! maimed! and blind!
But we perceive, when these privations be,
A healthy, perfect, and sharp-sighted Mind.
If She, the Body's nature did partake,Her strength would, with the Body's strength decay;But when the Body's strongest sinews slake,Then is the Soul most active! quick! and gay!
If She, the Body's nature did partake,
Her strength would, with the Body's strength decay;
But when the Body's strongest sinews slake,
Then is the Soul most active! quick! and gay!
If She were but the Body's accident,And her sole Being did in it subsistAs white in snow; She might herself absent!And in the Body's substance not the mist.
If She were but the Body's accident,
And her sole Being did in it subsist
As white in snow; She might herself absent!
And in the Body's substance not the mist.
But it on Her, not She on it depends,For She the Body doth sustain and cherish.Such secret powers of life to it, She lends;That when they fail, then doth the Body perish.
But it on Her, not She on it depends,
For She the Body doth sustain and cherish.
Such secret powers of life to it, She lends;
That when they fail, then doth the Body perish.
Since, then, the Soul works by herself alone,Springs not from Sense, nor Humours well agreeing;Her nature is peculiar, and her own.She is a Substance! and a Perfect Being.
Since, then, the Soul works by herself alone,
Springs not from Sense, nor Humours well agreeing;
Her nature is peculiar, and her own.
She is a Substance! and a Perfect Being.
That the Soul is a Spirit.But though this Substance be the root of Sense,Sense knows her not! (which doth but bodies know)She is a Spirit, and a heavenly influence;Which from the fountain of GOD's Spirit doth flow.
That the Soul is a Spirit.
But though this Substance be the root of Sense,
Sense knows her not! (which doth but bodies know)
She is a Spirit, and a heavenly influence;
Which from the fountain of GOD's Spirit doth flow.
She is a Spirit; yet not like air, or wind,Nor like the spirits about the heart or brain,Nor like those spirits which alchemists do find,When they, in everything, seek gold,in vain.
She is a Spirit; yet not like air, or wind,
Nor like the spirits about the heart or brain,
Nor like those spirits which alchemists do find,
When they, in everything, seek gold,in vain.
For She, all natures under heaven doth pass;Being like those spirits, which GOD's bright face do see,Or like Himself! whose Image once She was,Though now, alas, She scarce his Shadow be.
For She, all natures under heaven doth pass;
Being like those spirits, which GOD's bright face do see,
Or like Himself! whose Image once She was,
Though now, alas, She scarce his Shadow be.
Yet of the forms, She holds the first degree,That are to gross material bodies knit;Yet She herself is bodiless and free,And, though confined, is almost infinite.
Yet of the forms, She holds the first degree,
That are to gross material bodies knit;
Yet She herself is bodiless and free,
And, though confined, is almost infinite.
That it cannot be a Body.Were She a Body, how could She remainWithin this body, which is less than She?Or how could She, the world's great shape contain;And in our narrow breasts contained be?
That it cannot be a Body.
Were She a Body, how could She remain
Within this body, which is less than She?
Or how could She, the world's great shape contain;
And in our narrow breasts contained be?
All bodies are confined within some place;But She all place within herself confines;All bodies have their measure and their space;But who can draw the Soul's dimensive lines?
All bodies are confined within some place;
But She all place within herself confines;
All bodies have their measure and their space;
But who can draw the Soul's dimensive lines?
No Body can, at once, two forms admit,Except the one, the other do deface;But in the Soul, ten thousand forms do sit,And none intrudes into her neighbour's place.
No Body can, at once, two forms admit,
Except the one, the other do deface;
But in the Soul, ten thousand forms do sit,
And none intrudes into her neighbour's place.
All bodies are, with other bodies filled,But She receives both heaven and earth together,Nor are their Forms, by rash encounter, spilled,For there they stand, and neither toucheth either.
All bodies are, with other bodies filled,
But She receives both heaven and earth together,
Nor are their Forms, by rash encounter, spilled,
For there they stand, and neither toucheth either.
Nor can her wide embracements fillèd be;For they that most and greatest things embrace,Enlarge thereby their mind's capacity,As streams enlarged, enlarge the channel's space.
Nor can her wide embracements fillèd be;
For they that most and greatest things embrace,
Enlarge thereby their mind's capacity,
As streams enlarged, enlarge the channel's space.
All things received, do such proportion take,As those things have, wherein they are received:So little glasses, little faces make;And narrow webs, on narrow frames be weaved:
All things received, do such proportion take,
As those things have, wherein they are received:
So little glasses, little faces make;
And narrow webs, on narrow frames be weaved:
Then, what vast body must we make the Mind?Wherein are men, beasts, trees, towns, seas, and lands,And yet each thing a proper place doth find,And each thing in the true proportion stands.
Then, what vast body must we make the Mind?
Wherein are men, beasts, trees, towns, seas, and lands,
And yet each thing a proper place doth find,
And each thing in the true proportion stands.
Doubtless, this could not be, but that She turnsBodies to Spirits, by sublimation strange;As fire converts to fire, the things it burns;As we, our meats into our nature change.
Doubtless, this could not be, but that She turns
Bodies to Spirits, by sublimation strange;
As fire converts to fire, the things it burns;
As we, our meats into our nature change.
From their gross Matter, she abstracts the Forms,And draws a kind of Quintessence from things,Which to her proper nature, She transforms,To bear them light on her celestial wings.
From their gross Matter, she abstracts the Forms,
And draws a kind of Quintessence from things,
Which to her proper nature, She transforms,
To bear them light on her celestial wings.
This doth She, when from things particular,She doth abstract the universal kinds,Which bodiless and immaterial are,And can be lodged but only in our minds.
This doth She, when from things particular,
She doth abstract the universal kinds,
Which bodiless and immaterial are,
And can be lodged but only in our minds.
And thus, from divers accidents and acts,Which do within her observation fall;She, goddesses and Powers Divine abstracts,As Nature, Fortune, and the Virtues all.
And thus, from divers accidents and acts,
Which do within her observation fall;
She, goddesses and Powers Divine abstracts,
As Nature, Fortune, and the Virtues all.
Again, how can She, several bodies know,If in herself a body's form She bears?How can a mirror sundry faces show,If from all shapes and forms it be not clear?
Again, how can She, several bodies know,
If in herself a body's form She bears?
How can a mirror sundry faces show,
If from all shapes and forms it be not clear?
Nor could we by our eyes, all colours learn,Except our eyes were, of all colours void,Nor sundry tastes can any tongue discern,Which is with gross and bitter humours cloyed.
Nor could we by our eyes, all colours learn,
Except our eyes were, of all colours void,
Nor sundry tastes can any tongue discern,
Which is with gross and bitter humours cloyed.
Nor may a man, of Passions judge aright,Except his mind be from all Passions free;Nor can a Judge, his office well acquite,If he possest of either party be!
Nor may a man, of Passions judge aright,
Except his mind be from all Passions free;
Nor can a Judge, his office well acquite,
If he possest of either party be!
If, lastly, this quick power a Body were,Were it as swift, as is the wind or fire,(Whose atomies do, th' one down sideways bear,And make the other, in pyramids aspire);
If, lastly, this quick power a Body were,
Were it as swift, as is the wind or fire,
(Whose atomies do, th' one down sideways bear,
And make the other, in pyramids aspire);
Her nimble body, yet intimemust move,And not in instants through all places slide:But She is nigh! and far! beneath! above!In point of time which thought can not divide.
Her nimble body, yet intimemust move,
And not in instants through all places slide:
But She is nigh! and far! beneath! above!
In point of time which thought can not divide.
She's sent as soon to China, as to Spain,And thence returns, as soon as She is sent,She measures with one time and with one pain,An ell of silk, and heaven's wide-spreading tent.
She's sent as soon to China, as to Spain,
And thence returns, as soon as She is sent,
She measures with one time and with one pain,
An ell of silk, and heaven's wide-spreading tent.
As then, the Soul a Substance hath aloneBesides the Body, in which She is confined;So hath Shenota body of her own,But is a Spirit and immaterial Mind.
As then, the Soul a Substance hath alone
Besides the Body, in which She is confined;
So hath Shenota body of her own,
But is a Spirit and immaterial Mind.
That the Soul is created immediately by God.—Zach, xii. x.Since Body and Soul have such diversities;Well, might we muse, how first their match began,But that we learn, that He, that spread the skiesAnd fixed the earth, first formed the Soul in Man.
That the Soul is created immediately by God.—Zach, xii. x.
Since Body and Soul have such diversities;
Well, might we muse, how first their match began,
But that we learn, that He, that spread the skies
And fixed the earth, first formed the Soul in Man.
This truePrometheus, first, made man of earth,And shed in him a beam of heavenly fire:Now, in their mother's womb, before their birth,Doth in all sons of men, their souls inspire.
This truePrometheus, first, made man of earth,
And shed in him a beam of heavenly fire:
Now, in their mother's womb, before their birth,
Doth in all sons of men, their souls inspire.
And asMinervais, in fables, said,FromJove, without a mother, to proceed;So our trueJove, without a mother's aid,Doth, daily, millions ofMinervasbreed.
And asMinervais, in fables, said,
FromJove, without a mother, to proceed;
So our trueJove, without a mother's aid,
Doth, daily, millions ofMinervasbreed.
Erroneous opinions of the creation of souls.Then neither, from Eternity before,Nor from the time, when time's first point began;Made He all souls! which now He keeps in store,Some in the moon, and others in the sun:
Erroneous opinions of the creation of souls.
Then neither, from Eternity before,
Nor from the time, when time's first point began;
Made He all souls! which now He keeps in store,
Some in the moon, and others in the sun:
Nor in the secret cloister doth He keep,These virgin spirits until their marriage day,Nor locks them up in chambers, where they sleep,Till they awake within these beds of clay.
Nor in the secret cloister doth He keep,
These virgin spirits until their marriage day,
Nor locks them up in chambers, where they sleep,
Till they awake within these beds of clay.
Nor did He first a certain number make,Infusing part in beasts, and part in men,And as unwilling farther pains to take,Would make no more, than those He framèd then.
Nor did He first a certain number make,
Infusing part in beasts, and part in men,
And as unwilling farther pains to take,
Would make no more, than those He framèd then.
So that the widow Soul, her Body dying,Unto the next born Body married was;And so by often changing and supplying,Men's souls to beasts, and beasts' to men did pass.
So that the widow Soul, her Body dying,
Unto the next born Body married was;
And so by often changing and supplying,
Men's souls to beasts, and beasts' to men did pass.
(These thoughts are fond! for since the bodies bornBe more in number far than those that die;Thousands must be abortive, and forlorn,Ere others' deaths, to them their souls supply.)
(These thoughts are fond! for since the bodies born
Be more in number far than those that die;
Thousands must be abortive, and forlorn,
Ere others' deaths, to them their souls supply.)
But as GOD's handmaid, Nature, doth createBodies, in time distinct and order due;So GOD gives souls the like successive date,Which Himself makes in bodies formèd new.
But as GOD's handmaid, Nature, doth create
Bodies, in time distinct and order due;
So GOD gives souls the like successive date,
Which Himself makes in bodies formèd new.
Which Himself makes, of no material things,For unto angels, He no power hath given,Either to form the shape, or stuff to bring,From air, or Fire, or substance of the heaven.
Which Himself makes, of no material things,
For unto angels, He no power hath given,
Either to form the shape, or stuff to bring,
From air, or Fire, or substance of the heaven.
That the Soul is not traduced from the parents.Nor He, in this, doth Nature's service use,For though from bodies she can bodies bring;Yet could she never, souls from souls traduce,As fire from fire, or light from light doth spring.
That the Soul is not traduced from the parents.
Nor He, in this, doth Nature's service use,
For though from bodies she can bodies bring;
Yet could she never, souls from souls traduce,
As fire from fire, or light from light doth spring.
Alas! that some that were great lights of old,And in their hands the Lamp of GOD did bear,Some reverend Fathers did this error hold,Having their eyes dimmed with religious fear.
Alas! that some that were great lights of old,
And in their hands the Lamp of GOD did bear,
Some reverend Fathers did this error hold,
Having their eyes dimmed with religious fear.
"For when," say they, "by rule of faith we find,That every soul unto her body knit,Brings from the mother's womb, the Sin of Kind,The root of all the ill She doth commit."
"For when," say they, "by rule of faith we find,
That every soul unto her body knit,
Brings from the mother's womb, the Sin of Kind,
The root of all the ill She doth commit."
"How can we say, that GOD, the Soul doth make,But we must make Him author of her sin;Then from man's soul, She doth beginning take,Since in man's soul, corruption did begin."
"How can we say, that GOD, the Soul doth make,
But we must make Him author of her sin;
Then from man's soul, She doth beginning take,
Since in man's soul, corruption did begin."
"For if GOD make her, first he makes her ill,(Which GOD forbid! our thoughts should yield unto)Or makes the body, her fair form to spill;Which, of itself, it hath no power to do."
"For if GOD make her, first he makes her ill,
(Which GOD forbid! our thoughts should yield unto)
Or makes the body, her fair form to spill;
Which, of itself, it hath no power to do."
"Not Adam's Body, but his Soul did sin,And so herself unto corruption brought:But our poor Soul corrupted is within,Ere She hath sinned, either in act or thought";
"Not Adam's Body, but his Soul did sin,
And so herself unto corruption brought:
But our poor Soul corrupted is within,
Ere She hath sinned, either in act or thought";
"And yet we see in her such powers divine,As we could gladly think, from GOD she came;Fain would we make Him author of the wine,If for the dregs, we could some other blame."
"And yet we see in her such powers divine,
As we could gladly think, from GOD she came;
Fain would we make Him author of the wine,
If for the dregs, we could some other blame."
The Answer to the Objection.Thus these good men, with holy zeal were blind,When on the other part the truth did shine,Whereof we do clear demonstrations find,By light of Nature, and by light Divine.
The Answer to the Objection.
Thus these good men, with holy zeal were blind,
When on the other part the truth did shine,
Whereof we do clear demonstrations find,
By light of Nature, and by light Divine.
None are so gross, as to contend for this,That Souls from Bodies may traducèd be;Between whose natures no proportion is,When root and branch in nature still agree.
None are so gross, as to contend for this,
That Souls from Bodies may traducèd be;
Between whose natures no proportion is,
When root and branch in nature still agree.
But many subtle wits have justifiedThat Souls from Souls, spiritually may spring;Which (if the nature of the Soul be tried)Will even, in Nature, prove as gross a thing.
But many subtle wits have justified
That Souls from Souls, spiritually may spring;
Which (if the nature of the Soul be tried)
Will even, in Nature, prove as gross a thing.
Reasons derived from Nature.For all things made, are either made of nought,Or made of stuff that ready made doth stand:Of nought, no creature ever formed ought,For that is proper to th'Almighty's hand.
Reasons derived from Nature.
For all things made, are either made of nought,
Or made of stuff that ready made doth stand:
Of nought, no creature ever formed ought,
For that is proper to th'Almighty's hand.
If then the Soul, another soul do make;Because her power is kept within a bound,She must some former stuff or matter take;But in the Soul, there is no matter found.
If then the Soul, another soul do make;
Because her power is kept within a bound,
She must some former stuff or matter take;
But in the Soul, there is no matter found.
Then if her heavenly Form do not agree,With any matter which the world contains;Then She of nothing must created be,And to Create, to GOD alone, pertains!
Then if her heavenly Form do not agree,
With any matter which the world contains;
Then She of nothing must created be,
And to Create, to GOD alone, pertains!
Again, if Souls do other Souls beget,'Tis by themselves, or by the Body's power!If by themselves! what doth their working let,But they might Souls engender every hour?
Again, if Souls do other Souls beget,
'Tis by themselves, or by the Body's power!
If by themselves! what doth their working let,
But they might Souls engender every hour?
If by the Body! how can Wit and Will,Join with the body, only in this act?Since when they do their other works fulfil,They from the Body, do themselves abstract!
If by the Body! how can Wit and Will,
Join with the body, only in this act?
Since when they do their other works fulfil,
They from the Body, do themselves abstract!
Again, if Souls, of Souls begotten were,Into each other they should change and move;And Change and Motion still corruption bear;How shall we then, the Soul immortal prove?
Again, if Souls, of Souls begotten were,
Into each other they should change and move;
And Change and Motion still corruption bear;
How shall we then, the Soul immortal prove?
If, lastly, Souls did generation use,Then should they spread incorruptible seed:What then becomes of that which they to lose,When the acts of generation do not speed?
If, lastly, Souls did generation use,
Then should they spread incorruptible seed:
What then becomes of that which they to lose,
When the acts of generation do not speed?
And though the Soulcouldcast spiritual seed,YetwouldShe not, because She never dies;For mortal things desire, their like to breed;That so they may their kind immortalise.
And though the Soulcouldcast spiritual seed,
YetwouldShe not, because She never dies;
For mortal things desire, their like to breed;
That so they may their kind immortalise.
Therefore the angels, Sons of God are named,And marry not, nor are in marriage given;Their spirits and ours are of one Substance framed,And have one Father, even the Lord of heaven:
Therefore the angels, Sons of God are named,
And marry not, nor are in marriage given;
Their spirits and ours are of one Substance framed,
And have one Father, even the Lord of heaven:
Who would at first, that in each other thing,The earth and water, living souls should breed;But that Man's Soul (whom He would make their king)Should from Himself immediately proceed.
Who would at first, that in each other thing,
The earth and water, living souls should breed;
But that Man's Soul (whom He would make their king)
Should from Himself immediately proceed.
And when He took the woman from man's side,Doubtless Himself inspired her soul alone;For 'tis not said, he did, Man'ssouldivide,But tookflesh of his flesh, bone of his bone.
And when He took the woman from man's side,
Doubtless Himself inspired her soul alone;
For 'tis not said, he did, Man'ssouldivide,
But tookflesh of his flesh, bone of his bone.
Lastly, GOD, being made Man, for man's own sake,And being like man in all, except in sin:His Body, from the Virgin's womb did take;But all agree,GOD formed His soul within.
Lastly, GOD, being made Man, for man's own sake,
And being like man in all, except in sin:
His Body, from the Virgin's womb did take;
But all agree,GOD formed His soul within.
Then is the Soul from God? So Pagans say,Which saw by Nature's light, her heavenly kind,Naming her "Kin to God!" and "GOD's bright ray,""A citizen of heaven, to earth confined!"
Then is the Soul from God? So Pagans say,
Which saw by Nature's light, her heavenly kind,
Naming her "Kin to God!" and "GOD's bright ray,"
"A citizen of heaven, to earth confined!"
But now I feel they pluck me by the ear,(Whom my young Muse so boldly termed blind)And crave more heavenly light; that cloud to clear,Which makes them think GOD doth not make the Mind!
But now I feel they pluck me by the ear,
(Whom my young Muse so boldly termed blind)
And crave more heavenly light; that cloud to clear,
Which makes them think GOD doth not make the Mind!
Reasons drawn from divinity.GOD doubtless makes her! and doth make her good!And grafts her in a Body, there to spring;Which though it be corrupted, flesh and blood,Can no way to the Soul, corruption bring.
Reasons drawn from divinity.
GOD doubtless makes her! and doth make her good!
And grafts her in a Body, there to spring;
Which though it be corrupted, flesh and blood,
Can no way to the Soul, corruption bring.
And yet this Soul (made good by GOD at first,And not corrupted by the Body's ill)Even in the womb, is sinful and accurst,Ere she can judge by Wit, or choose by Will.
And yet this Soul (made good by GOD at first,
And not corrupted by the Body's ill)
Even in the womb, is sinful and accurst,
Ere she can judge by Wit, or choose by Will.
Yet is not GOD, the author of her Sin;Though author of her Being, and being there;And if we dare to judge our Judge therein;He can condemn us, and Himself can clear.
Yet is not GOD, the author of her Sin;
Though author of her Being, and being there;
And if we dare to judge our Judge therein;
He can condemn us, and Himself can clear.
First, GOD, from infinite eternityDecreed what hath been, is, or shall be done;And was resolved that every man should BeAnd, in his turn, his race of life should run.
First, GOD, from infinite eternity
Decreed what hath been, is, or shall be done;
And was resolved that every man should Be
And, in his turn, his race of life should run.
And so did purpose all the souls to make,That ever have been made, or ever shall;And that their Being, they should only takeIn human bodies, or not Be at all.
And so did purpose all the souls to make,
That ever have been made, or ever shall;
And that their Being, they should only take
In human bodies, or not Be at all.
Was it then fit, that such a weak event(Weakness, itself! the sin and fall of Man)His counsel's execution should prevent?Decreed and fixed before the world began.
Was it then fit, that such a weak event
(Weakness, itself! the sin and fall of Man)
His counsel's execution should prevent?
Decreed and fixed before the world began.
Or that one penal law, byAdambroke,Should make GOD break His own eternal law;The settled order of the world revoke,And change all forms of things, which He foresaw.
Or that one penal law, byAdambroke,
Should make GOD break His own eternal law;
The settled order of the world revoke,
And change all forms of things, which He foresaw.
CouldEve'sweak hand, extended to the tree,In sunder rent that Adamantine Chain,Whose golden links, Effects and Causes be;And which to GOD's own chair, doth fixt remain?
CouldEve'sweak hand, extended to the tree,
In sunder rent that Adamantine Chain,
Whose golden links, Effects and Causes be;
And which to GOD's own chair, doth fixt remain?
O could we see! how Cause from Cause doth spring!How mutually they linked and folded are!And hear how oft one disagreeing string,The harmony doth rather make, than mar!
O could we see! how Cause from Cause doth spring!
How mutually they linked and folded are!
And hear how oft one disagreeing string,
The harmony doth rather make, than mar!
And view at once, how Death by sin is brought!And how from Death a better Life doth rise;How this, GOD's Justice and his Mercy taught;We, this decree, would praise, as right and wise!
And view at once, how Death by sin is brought!
And how from Death a better Life doth rise;
How this, GOD's Justice and his Mercy taught;
We, this decree, would praise, as right and wise!
But we (that measure times, by First and Last)The sight of things successively do take;When GOD, on all at once, His view doth cast;And of all times, doth but one instant make.
But we (that measure times, by First and Last)
The sight of things successively do take;
When GOD, on all at once, His view doth cast;
And of all times, doth but one instant make.
All in Himself, as in a glass, He sees,And from Him, by Him, through Him, all things be;His sight is not discursive, by degrees;But seeing the whole, each single part doth see.
All in Himself, as in a glass, He sees,
And from Him, by Him, through Him, all things be;
His sight is not discursive, by degrees;
But seeing the whole, each single part doth see.
He looks onAdam, as a root, or well,And on his heirs, as branches, and as streams;He sees all men as one man! though they dwellIn sundry cities, and in sundry realms.
He looks onAdam, as a root, or well,
And on his heirs, as branches, and as streams;
He sees all men as one man! though they dwell
In sundry cities, and in sundry realms.
And as the root and branch are but one tree,And well and stream do but one river make;So, if the root and well corrupted be;The stream and branch the same corruption take
And as the root and branch are but one tree,
And well and stream do but one river make;
So, if the root and well corrupted be;
The stream and branch the same corruption take
So when the root and fountain of Mankind;Did draw corruption, and GOD's curse by sin:This was a charge that all his heirs did bind;And all his offspring grew corrupt therein!
So when the root and fountain of Mankind;
Did draw corruption, and GOD's curse by sin:
This was a charge that all his heirs did bind;
And all his offspring grew corrupt therein!
And as when th' hand doth strike, the man offends,(For part from whole, Law severs not in this!)SoAdam'ssin to the whole Kind extends,For all their natures are but part of his.
And as when th' hand doth strike, the man offends,
(For part from whole, Law severs not in this!)
SoAdam'ssin to the whole Kind extends,
For all their natures are but part of his.
Therefore, this sin, of Kind, not personal;But real, and hereditary was:The guilt whereof, and punishment to all,By Course of Nature, and of Law doth pass.
Therefore, this sin, of Kind, not personal;
But real, and hereditary was:
The guilt whereof, and punishment to all,
By Course of Nature, and of Law doth pass.
For as that easy law was given to all!To ancestor and heir! to first and last!So was the first transgression general;And All did pluck the fruit! and All did taste!
For as that easy law was given to all!
To ancestor and heir! to first and last!
So was the first transgression general;
And All did pluck the fruit! and All did taste!
Of this, we find some footsteps in our Law,Which doth her root from GOD and Nature take.Ten thousand men she doth together draw,And of them all, one Corporation make!
Of this, we find some footsteps in our Law,
Which doth her root from GOD and Nature take.
Ten thousand men she doth together draw,
And of them all, one Corporation make!
Yet these and their successors are but One;And if they gain or lose their liberties;They harm or profit not themselves alone,But such, as in succeeding time, shall rise!
Yet these and their successors are but One;
And if they gain or lose their liberties;
They harm or profit not themselves alone,
But such, as in succeeding time, shall rise!
And so the ancestor and all his heirs,(Though they in number pass the stars of heaven)Are still but One! His forfeitures are theirs!And unto them, are his advancements given!
And so the ancestor and all his heirs,
(Though they in number pass the stars of heaven)
Are still but One! His forfeitures are theirs!
And unto them, are his advancements given!
His civil acts to bind and bar them all!And as fromAdam, all corruption take;So if the father's crime be capital;In all the blood, Law dothcorruptionmake!
His civil acts to bind and bar them all!
And as fromAdam, all corruption take;
So if the father's crime be capital;
In all the blood, Law dothcorruptionmake!
Is it, then, just with us, to disinheritThe unborn nephews, for the father's fault?And to advance again, for one man's merit,A thousand heirs that have deserved nought?
Is it, then, just with us, to disinherit
The unborn nephews, for the father's fault?
And to advance again, for one man's merit,
A thousand heirs that have deserved nought?
And is not GOD's decree as just as ours,If He, forAdam'ssins, his sons depriveOf all those native virtues, and those powers;Which He to him, and to his race did give?
And is not GOD's decree as just as ours,
If He, forAdam'ssins, his sons deprive
Of all those native virtues, and those powers;
Which He to him, and to his race did give?
For what is this contagious Sin of Kind,But a privation of that grace within,And of that great rich dowry of the mind;Which all had had, but for the first man's sin?
For what is this contagious Sin of Kind,
But a privation of that grace within,
And of that great rich dowry of the mind;
Which all had had, but for the first man's sin?
If then a man, on light conditions, gainA great estate, to him and his, for ever;If wilfully, he forfeit it again:Who doth bemoan his heir? or blame the giver?
If then a man, on light conditions, gain
A great estate, to him and his, for ever;
If wilfully, he forfeit it again:
Who doth bemoan his heir? or blame the giver?
So, though GOD make the Soul good, rich, and fair;Yet when her form is to the Body knit,Which makes the Man: which Man isAdam'sheir;Justly, forthwith, he takes his grace from it.
So, though GOD make the Soul good, rich, and fair;
Yet when her form is to the Body knit,
Which makes the Man: which Man isAdam'sheir;
Justly, forthwith, he takes his grace from it.
And then the Soul, being first from nothing brought,When GOD's grace fails her, doth to nothing fall;And thisdeclining Proneness unto nought,Is even that Sin, that we are born withal.
And then the Soul, being first from nothing brought,
When GOD's grace fails her, doth to nothing fall;
And thisdeclining Proneness unto nought,
Is even that Sin, that we are born withal.
Yet not, alone, the first good qualities,Which in the first Soul were, deprivèd are;But in their place the contrary do rise,And real spots of sin, her beauty mar.
Yet not, alone, the first good qualities,
Which in the first Soul were, deprivèd are;
But in their place the contrary do rise,
And real spots of sin, her beauty mar.
Nor is it strange thatAdam'sill desert,Should be transferred unto his guilty race;WhenChrist, His grace and justice doth impartTo men unjust! and such as have no grace!
Nor is it strange thatAdam'sill desert,
Should be transferred unto his guilty race;
WhenChrist, His grace and justice doth impart
To men unjust! and such as have no grace!
Lastly, the Soul were better so to beBorn slave to sin, than not to Be at all!Since, if She do believe, One sets her free,That makes her mount the higher, from her fall.
Lastly, the Soul were better so to be
Born slave to sin, than not to Be at all!
Since, if She do believe, One sets her free,
That makes her mount the higher, from her fall.
Yet this, the curious Wits will not content!They yet will know (since GOD foresaw this Ill)Why His high providence did not preventThe declination of the first Man's will.
Yet this, the curious Wits will not content!
They yet will know (since GOD foresaw this Ill)
Why His high providence did not prevent
The declination of the first Man's will.
If by His word, He had the current stayed,Of Adam's will, which was by nature free;It had been one as if His word had said,"I will, henceforth, that man, no Man shall be!"
If by His word, He had the current stayed,
Of Adam's will, which was by nature free;
It had been one as if His word had said,
"I will, henceforth, that man, no Man shall be!"
For what is Man, without a moving Mind;Which hath a judging Wit, and choosing Will?Now, if GOD's power should her election bind;Her motions then would cease, and stand all still.
For what is Man, without a moving Mind;
Which hath a judging Wit, and choosing Will?
Now, if GOD's power should her election bind;
Her motions then would cease, and stand all still.
And why did GOD in Man this Soul infuse;But that he should his Maker know and love?Now if love be compelled, and cannot choose;How can it grateful, or thankworthy prove?
And why did GOD in Man this Soul infuse;
But that he should his Maker know and love?
Now if love be compelled, and cannot choose;
How can it grateful, or thankworthy prove?
Love must free hearted be, and voluntary,And not enchanted, or by Fate constrained:Not like that love, which didUlyssescarryToCirce'sisle, with mighty charms enchained
Love must free hearted be, and voluntary,
And not enchanted, or by Fate constrained:
Not like that love, which didUlyssescarry
ToCirce'sisle, with mighty charms enchained
Besides! Were we unchangeable in Will,And of a Wit, that nothing could misdeem;Equal to GOD (whose wisdom shineth still,And never errs) we might ourselves esteem.
Besides! Were we unchangeable in Will,
And of a Wit, that nothing could misdeem;
Equal to GOD (whose wisdom shineth still,
And never errs) we might ourselves esteem.
So that if Man would be unvariable;He must be GOD! or like a rock, or tree!For even the perfect angels were not stable;But had a fall, more desperate than we.
So that if Man would be unvariable;
He must be GOD! or like a rock, or tree!
For even the perfect angels were not stable;
But had a fall, more desperate than we.
Then let us praise that Power, which makes us beMen, as we are! and rest contented so!And knowing man's fall was Curiosity,Admire GOD's counsels! which we cannot know.
Then let us praise that Power, which makes us be
Men, as we are! and rest contented so!
And knowing man's fall was Curiosity,
Admire GOD's counsels! which we cannot know.
And let us know that GOD, the Maker isOf all the Souls, in all the men that be:Yet their corruption is no fault of His;But the first man's, that broke GOD's first decree
And let us know that GOD, the Maker is
Of all the Souls, in all the men that be:
Yet their corruption is no fault of His;
But the first man's, that broke GOD's first decree
Why the Soul is united to the Body.This Substance, and this Spirit, of God's own making,Is in the Body placed, and planted there:That both of GOD, and of the world partaking;Of all that is, Man might the Image bear!
Why the Soul is united to the Body.
This Substance, and this Spirit, of God's own making,
Is in the Body placed, and planted there:
That both of GOD, and of the world partaking;
Of all that is, Man might the Image bear!
GOD, first, made Angels! bodiless pure minds!Then, other things, which mindless bodies be.Last, He made Man, the Horizon 'twixt both kinds,In whom, we do the World's Abridgement see.
GOD, first, made Angels! bodiless pure minds!
Then, other things, which mindless bodies be.
Last, He made Man, the Horizon 'twixt both kinds,
In whom, we do the World's Abridgement see.
Besides! This world below did need one wight,Which might thereof, distinguish every part;Make use thereof, and take therein delight;And order things with industry and Art.
Besides! This world below did need one wight,
Which might thereof, distinguish every part;
Make use thereof, and take therein delight;
And order things with industry and Art.
Which, also, GOD, might (in His works) admire,And here, beneath, yield Him both prayer and praise;As there, above, the holy Angels' QuireDoth spread His glory, with spiritual lays.
Which, also, GOD, might (in His works) admire,
And here, beneath, yield Him both prayer and praise;
As there, above, the holy Angels' Quire
Doth spread His glory, with spiritual lays.
Lastly, the brute unreasonable wights,Did want a Visible King, on them to reign;And GOD Himself, thus to the world unites,That so the world might endless bliss obtain.
Lastly, the brute unreasonable wights,
Did want a Visible King, on them to reign;
And GOD Himself, thus to the world unites,
That so the world might endless bliss obtain.
In what manner the Soul is united to the Body.But how shall we this Union well express?Nought ties the Soul, her subtility is such:She moves the body, which She doth possess;Yet no part toucheth, but by virtue's touch!
In what manner the Soul is united to the Body.
But how shall we this Union well express?
Nought ties the Soul, her subtility is such:
She moves the body, which She doth possess;
Yet no part toucheth, but by virtue's touch!
Then dwells Shenottherein, as in a tent,Nor as a pilot, in his ship doth sit,Nor as a spider, in her web is pent,Nor as the wax retains the print in it:
Then dwells Shenottherein, as in a tent,
Nor as a pilot, in his ship doth sit,
Nor as a spider, in her web is pent,
Nor as the wax retains the print in it:
Nor as a vessel, water doth contain,Nor as one liquor, in another shed,Nor as the heat doth in the fire remain,Nor as a voice, throughout the air is spread.
Nor as a vessel, water doth contain,
Nor as one liquor, in another shed,
Nor as the heat doth in the fire remain,
Nor as a voice, throughout the air is spread.
But as the fair and cheerful Morning LightDoth, here and there, her silver beams impart:And, in an instant, doth herself uniteTo the transparent air, in all and part.
But as the fair and cheerful Morning Light
Doth, here and there, her silver beams impart:
And, in an instant, doth herself unite
To the transparent air, in all and part.
Still resting whole, when blows, the air divide,Abiding pure, when th'air is most corrupted;Throughout the air, her beams dispersing wide;And, when the air is tost, not interrupted!
Still resting whole, when blows, the air divide,
Abiding pure, when th'air is most corrupted;
Throughout the air, her beams dispersing wide;
And, when the air is tost, not interrupted!
So doth the piercing Soul, the Body fill,Being all in all, and all in part diffused?Indivisible! incorruptible still!Not forced! encountered! troubled! or confused!
So doth the piercing Soul, the Body fill,
Being all in all, and all in part diffused?
Indivisible! incorruptible still!
Not forced! encountered! troubled! or confused!
And as the Sun above, the light doth bring,Though we behold it in the air below;So from th' Eternal Light, the Soul doth spring,Though in the body, She her powers do show.
And as the Sun above, the light doth bring,
Though we behold it in the air below;
So from th' Eternal Light, the Soul doth spring,
Though in the body, She her powers do show.
How the Soul doth exercise her powers in the Body.But as this world's sun doth effects beget,Diverse in divers places, every day,Here, Autumn's temperature! there, Summer's heat!Here, flowery Spring-tide! and there, Winter grey!
How the Soul doth exercise her powers in the Body.
But as this world's sun doth effects beget,
Diverse in divers places, every day,
Here, Autumn's temperature! there, Summer's heat!
Here, flowery Spring-tide! and there, Winter grey!
Here, Even! there, Morn! here, Noon! there, Day! there, Night!Melts wax! dries clay! makes flowers some quick, some dead!Makes the Moor black! and th'European, white!Th'American tawny! and th'East Indian red!
Here, Even! there, Morn! here, Noon! there, Day! there, Night!
Melts wax! dries clay! makes flowers some quick, some dead!
Makes the Moor black! and th'European, white!
Th'American tawny! and th'East Indian red!
So in our little world, this Soul of ours,Being only One, and to one Body tied,Doth use on divers objects, diverse powers,And so are her effects diversified.
So in our little world, this Soul of ours,
Being only One, and to one Body tied,
Doth use on divers objects, diverse powers,
And so are her effects diversified.
The Vegetative or Quickening Power.Her Quick'ning Power in every living part,Doth as a Nurse, or as a Mother serve;And doth employ her economic art,And busy care, her household to preserve.
The Vegetative or Quickening Power.
Her Quick'ning Power in every living part,
Doth as a Nurse, or as a Mother serve;
And doth employ her economic art,
And busy care, her household to preserve.
Here, She attracts! and there, She doth retain,There, She decocts, and doth the food prepare,There, She distributes it to every vein,There, She expels, what She may fitly spare.
Here, She attracts! and there, She doth retain,
There, She decocts, and doth the food prepare,
There, She distributes it to every vein,
There, She expels, what She may fitly spare.
This power toMartha, may compared be,Which busy was, the household things to do;Or to a Dryas living in a tree,For even to trees, this power is proper too.
This power toMartha, may compared be,
Which busy was, the household things to do;
Or to a Dryas living in a tree,
For even to trees, this power is proper too.
And though the Soul may not this power extendOut of the body, but still use it there;She hath a Power, which she abroad doth send,Which views and searcheth all things everywhere.
And though the Soul may not this power extend
Out of the body, but still use it there;
She hath a Power, which she abroad doth send,
Which views and searcheth all things everywhere.
The power of Sense.This Power is Sense, which from abroad doth bring,The Colour, Taste, and Touch, and Scent, and Sound,The Quantity, and shape of everythingWithin th'earth's centre or heaven's circle found.
The power of Sense.
This Power is Sense, which from abroad doth bring,
The Colour, Taste, and Touch, and Scent, and Sound,
The Quantity, and shape of everything
Within th'earth's centre or heaven's circle found.
This Power, in parts made fit, fit objects takes,Yet not the Things, but Forms of Things receives:As when a seal in wax impression makes,The print therein, but not itself, it leaves:
This Power, in parts made fit, fit objects takes,
Yet not the Things, but Forms of Things receives:
As when a seal in wax impression makes,
The print therein, but not itself, it leaves:
And though things sensible be numberless,But only five the Sense's organs be;And in those five, All Things their Forms express,Which we can Touch, Taste, Feel, or Hear, or See.
And though things sensible be numberless,
But only five the Sense's organs be;
And in those five, All Things their Forms express,
Which we can Touch, Taste, Feel, or Hear, or See.
These are the Windows, through the which She viewsThe Light of Knowledge, which is Life's Load-star;And yet whiles She, these spectacles doth use,Oft, worldly things seem greater than they are.
These are the Windows, through the which She views
The Light of Knowledge, which is Life's Load-star;
And yet whiles She, these spectacles doth use,
Oft, worldly things seem greater than they are.
Sight.First, the two Eyes, which have the Seeing Power,Stand as one Watchman, Spy, or Sentinel,Being placed aloft within the head's high TowerAnd though both see, yet both but one thing tell.
Sight.
First, the two Eyes, which have the Seeing Power,
Stand as one Watchman, Spy, or Sentinel,
Being placed aloft within the head's high Tower
And though both see, yet both but one thing tell.
These Mirrors take into their little space,The Forms of moon, and sun, and every star;Of every body, and of every place,Which, with the world's wide arms, embracèd are.
These Mirrors take into their little space,
The Forms of moon, and sun, and every star;
Of every body, and of every place,
Which, with the world's wide arms, embracèd are.
Yet their best object, and their noblest use,Hereafter in another world will be;When GOD in them, shall heavenly light infuse,That face to face, they may their Maker see.
Yet their best object, and their noblest use,
Hereafter in another world will be;
When GOD in them, shall heavenly light infuse,
That face to face, they may their Maker see.
Here are they guides, which do the Body lead,Which else would stumble in eternal night:Here in this world, they do much knowledgeread,And are the Casements, which admit most light.
Here are they guides, which do the Body lead,
Which else would stumble in eternal night:
Here in this world, they do much knowledgeread,
And are the Casements, which admit most light.
They are her farthest-reaching instrument;Yet they no beams unto their objects send:But all the rays are from their objects sent;And in the Eyes, with pointed angles end.
They are her farthest-reaching instrument;
Yet they no beams unto their objects send:
But all the rays are from their objects sent;
And in the Eyes, with pointed angles end.
If th'objects be far off, the rays do meetIn a sharp point, and so things seem but small;If they be near, their rays do spread and fleet,And make broad points, that things seem great withal.
If th'objects be far off, the rays do meet
In a sharp point, and so things seem but small;
If they be near, their rays do spread and fleet,
And make broad points, that things seem great withal.
Lastly. Nine things to Sight requirèd are.The Power to see! the Light! the Visible thing!Being not too small! too thin! too nigh! too far!Clear space! and Time, the Form distinct to bring.
Lastly. Nine things to Sight requirèd are.
The Power to see! the Light! the Visible thing!
Being not too small! too thin! too nigh! too far!
Clear space! and Time, the Form distinct to bring.
Thus see we, how the Soul doth use the Eyes,As instruments of her quick power of sight;Hence do th'Arts Optic, and fair Painting rise.Painting, which doth all gentle minds delight!
Thus see we, how the Soul doth use the Eyes,
As instruments of her quick power of sight;
Hence do th'Arts Optic, and fair Painting rise.
Painting, which doth all gentle minds delight!
Hearing.Now let us hear, how She the Ears employs:Their office is the troubled air to take,Which in their mazes, forms a sound or noise;Whereof herself doth true distinction make.
Hearing.
Now let us hear, how She the Ears employs:
Their office is the troubled air to take,
Which in their mazes, forms a sound or noise;
Whereof herself doth true distinction make.
These Wickets of the Soul are placed on high,Because all sounds do lightly mount aloft;And that they may not pierce too violently;They are delayed with turns and windings oft.
These Wickets of the Soul are placed on high,
Because all sounds do lightly mount aloft;
And that they may not pierce too violently;
They are delayed with turns and windings oft.
For should the voice directly strike the brain,It would astonish and confuse it much;Therefore these plaits and folds the sound restrain,That it, the Organ may more gently touch!
For should the voice directly strike the brain,
It would astonish and confuse it much;
Therefore these plaits and folds the sound restrain,
That it, the Organ may more gently touch!
As streams, which, with their winding banks, do play,Stopt by their creeks, run softly through the plain;So in the Ear's labyrinth, the voice doth stray,And doth, with easy motion, touch the brain!
As streams, which, with their winding banks, do play,
Stopt by their creeks, run softly through the plain;
So in the Ear's labyrinth, the voice doth stray,
And doth, with easy motion, touch the brain!
It is the slowest, yet the daintiest Sense!For even the ears of such as have no skill,Perceive a discord, and conceive offence,And knowing not what's good, yet find the ill!
It is the slowest, yet the daintiest Sense!
For even the ears of such as have no skill,
Perceive a discord, and conceive offence,
And knowing not what's good, yet find the ill!
And though this Sense, first, gentle Music found;Her proper object is the Speech of Man!But that speech chiefly which GOD's heralds sound,When their tongues utter, what his Spirit did pen.
And though this Sense, first, gentle Music found;
Her proper object is the Speech of Man!
But that speech chiefly which GOD's heralds sound,
When their tongues utter, what his Spirit did pen.
Our Eyes have lids, our Ears still ope we see!Quickly to hear, how every tale is proved;Our Eyes still move, our Ears unmoved be!That though we hear quick, we be not quickly moved.
Our Eyes have lids, our Ears still ope we see!
Quickly to hear, how every tale is proved;
Our Eyes still move, our Ears unmoved be!
That though we hear quick, we be not quickly moved.
Thus by the organs of the Eye and Ear,The Soul with knowledge doth herself endue!Thus She her prison, may with pleasure bear;Having such prospects, all the world to view!
Thus by the organs of the Eye and Ear,
The Soul with knowledge doth herself endue!
Thus She her prison, may with pleasure bear;
Having such prospects, all the world to view!
These Conduit Pipes of Knowledge feed the Mind:But th'other three attend the Body still;For by their services the Soul doth findWhat things are to the Body, good or ill.
These Conduit Pipes of Knowledge feed the Mind:
But th'other three attend the Body still;
For by their services the Soul doth find
What things are to the Body, good or ill.
Taste.The Body's life, with meats and air is fed,Therefore the Soul doth use the Tasting power!In veins, which through the tongue and palate spread,Distinguish every relish, sweet and sour.
Taste.
The Body's life, with meats and air is fed,
Therefore the Soul doth use the Tasting power!
In veins, which through the tongue and palate spread,
Distinguish every relish, sweet and sour.
This is the Body's Nurse! But since Man's witFound th'art of cookery to delight his Sense:More bodies are consumed and killed with it!Than with the sword, famine, or pestilence.
This is the Body's Nurse! But since Man's wit
Found th'art of cookery to delight his Sense:
More bodies are consumed and killed with it!
Than with the sword, famine, or pestilence.
Smell.Next, in the nostrils, She doth use the Smell,As GOD the breath of life in them did give;So makes He, now, His power in them to dwell;To judge all airs, whereby we breath and live.
Smell.
Next, in the nostrils, She doth use the Smell,
As GOD the breath of life in them did give;
So makes He, now, His power in them to dwell;
To judge all airs, whereby we breath and live.
This Sense is also mistress of an Art,Which to soft people, sweet perfumes doth sell;Though this dear Art doth little good impart,Since "they smell best; that do of nothing smell!"
This Sense is also mistress of an Art,
Which to soft people, sweet perfumes doth sell;
Though this dear Art doth little good impart,
Since "they smell best; that do of nothing smell!"
And yet good scents do purify the Brain,Awake the Fancy, and the Wits refine.Hence Old Devotion, incense did ordain,To make men's spirits more apt for thoughts divine.
And yet good scents do purify the Brain,
Awake the Fancy, and the Wits refine.
Hence Old Devotion, incense did ordain,
To make men's spirits more apt for thoughts divine.
Feeling.Lastly, the Feeling power, which is Life's Root,Through every living part itself doth shed;By sinews, which extend from head to foot,And like a net, all o'er the Body spread.
Feeling.
Lastly, the Feeling power, which is Life's Root,
Through every living part itself doth shed;
By sinews, which extend from head to foot,
And like a net, all o'er the Body spread.
Much like a subtle spider, which doth sitIn middle of her web, which spreadeth wide;If ought do touch the utmost thread of it;She feels it, instantly, on every side!
Much like a subtle spider, which doth sit
In middle of her web, which spreadeth wide;
If ought do touch the utmost thread of it;
She feels it, instantly, on every side!
By touch; the first pure qualities we learn,Which quicken all things, Hot, Cold, Moist, and Dry!By touch; Hard, Soft, Rough, Smooth, we do discern!By touch; sweet Pleasure, and sharp Pain we try!
By touch; the first pure qualities we learn,
Which quicken all things, Hot, Cold, Moist, and Dry!
By touch; Hard, Soft, Rough, Smooth, we do discern!
By touch; sweet Pleasure, and sharp Pain we try!
These are the outward instruments of Sense!These are the Guards, which every thing must pass;Ere it approach the Mind's intelligence!Or touch the Phantasy "Wits Looking Glass!"
These are the outward instruments of Sense!
These are the Guards, which every thing must pass;
Ere it approach the Mind's intelligence!
Or touch the Phantasy "Wits Looking Glass!"
The Imagination, or Common Sense.And yet these Porters which all things admit,Themselves perceive not, nor discern the things;One Common Power doth in the forehead sit,Which all their proper forms together brings.
The Imagination, or Common Sense.
And yet these Porters which all things admit,
Themselves perceive not, nor discern the things;
One Common Power doth in the forehead sit,
Which all their proper forms together brings.
For all those Nerves, which spirits of Sense do bear,And to those outward organs spreading go,United are as in a centre there!And, there, this power, those sundry forms doth know!
For all those Nerves, which spirits of Sense do bear,
And to those outward organs spreading go,
United are as in a centre there!
And, there, this power, those sundry forms doth know!
Those outward Organs present things receive;This inward Sense doth absent things retain!Yet, straight, transmits all Forms she doth perceive,Unto a higher region of the brain;
Those outward Organs present things receive;
This inward Sense doth absent things retain!
Yet, straight, transmits all Forms she doth perceive,
Unto a higher region of the brain;
The Phantasy.Where Phantasy (near handmaid to the Mind!)Sits and beholds, and doth discern them all;Compounds in one, things diverse in their kind,Compares the black and white, the great and small.
The Phantasy.
Where Phantasy (near handmaid to the Mind!)
Sits and beholds, and doth discern them all;
Compounds in one, things diverse in their kind,
Compares the black and white, the great and small.
Besides those single forms, She doth esteem,And in her balance doth their values try;Where some things good, and some things ill do seem,And neutral some in her Phantastic eye.
Besides those single forms, She doth esteem,
And in her balance doth their values try;
Where some things good, and some things ill do seem,
And neutral some in her Phantastic eye.
This busy power is working day and night,For when the outward senses rest do take;A thousand dreams, phantastical and light,With fluttering wings, do keep her still awake!
This busy power is working day and night,
For when the outward senses rest do take;
A thousand dreams, phantastical and light,
With fluttering wings, do keep her still awake!
The sensitive Memory.Yet, always, all may not afore her be;Successively, she this, and that intends:Therefore such forms as she doth cease to see,To Memory's large volume she commends!
The sensitive Memory.
Yet, always, all may not afore her be;
Successively, she this, and that intends:
Therefore such forms as she doth cease to see,
To Memory's large volume she commends!
The Ledger Book lies in the brain behind,LikeJanus'eye, which in his poll was set;The Layman's Tables! Storehouse of the Mind!Which doth remember much, and much forget.
The Ledger Book lies in the brain behind,
LikeJanus'eye, which in his poll was set;
The Layman's Tables! Storehouse of the Mind!
Which doth remember much, and much forget.
Here, Sense's Apprehensions end doth take;As, when a stone is into water cast,One circle doth another circle make,Till the last circle touch the bank at last!
Here, Sense's Apprehensions end doth take;
As, when a stone is into water cast,
One circle doth another circle make,
Till the last circle touch the bank at last!
The Passions of Sense.But though the Apprehensive Power do pause,The Motive Virtue then begins to move!Which in the heart below, doth Passions cause,Joy, Grief, and Fear, and Hope, and Hate, and Love
The Passions of Sense.
But though the Apprehensive Power do pause,
The Motive Virtue then begins to move!
Which in the heart below, doth Passions cause,
Joy, Grief, and Fear, and Hope, and Hate, and Love
These Passions have a free commanding might,And divers actions in our life do breed;For all acts done without true Reason's light,Do from the Passion of the Sense proceed.
These Passions have a free commanding might,
And divers actions in our life do breed;
For all acts done without true Reason's light,
Do from the Passion of the Sense proceed.
But sith the Brain doth lodge these powers of Sense,How makes it, in the Heart those passions spring?The mutual love, the kind intelligence'Twixt heart and brain, this Sympathy doth bring.
But sith the Brain doth lodge these powers of Sense,
How makes it, in the Heart those passions spring?
The mutual love, the kind intelligence
'Twixt heart and brain, this Sympathy doth bring.
From the kind heat, which in the heart doth reign,The spirits of Life do their beginning take!These spirits of Life ascending to the brain,When they come there, the spirits of Sense do make
From the kind heat, which in the heart doth reign,
The spirits of Life do their beginning take!
These spirits of Life ascending to the brain,
When they come there, the spirits of Sense do make
These spirits of Sense in Phantasy's high court,Judge of the Forms of Objects, ill or well!And so, they send a good or ill reportDown to the heart, where all Affections dwell.
These spirits of Sense in Phantasy's high court,
Judge of the Forms of Objects, ill or well!
And so, they send a good or ill report
Down to the heart, where all Affections dwell.
If the report be good; it causeth love!And longing hope! and well assured joy!If it be ill; then doth it hatred move!And trembling fear! and vexing griefs annoy!
If the report be good; it causeth love!
And longing hope! and well assured joy!
If it be ill; then doth it hatred move!
And trembling fear! and vexing griefs annoy!
Yet were these natural affections good(For they which want them, blocks or devils be!);If Reason in her first perfection stood,That she might Nature's Passions rectify.
Yet were these natural affections good
(For they which want them, blocks or devils be!);
If Reason in her first perfection stood,
That she might Nature's Passions rectify.
The motion of Life.Besides, another Motive Power doth riseOut of the heart: from whose pure blood do springThe Vital Spirits, which born in arteries,Continual motion to all parts do bring.
The motion of Life.
Besides, another Motive Power doth rise
Out of the heart: from whose pure blood do spring
The Vital Spirits, which born in arteries,
Continual motion to all parts do bring.
The local motion.This makes the pulses beat, and lungs respire,This holds the sinews, like a bridle's reins;And makes the body to advance, retire,To turn or stop, as she them slacks or strains!
The local motion.
This makes the pulses beat, and lungs respire,
This holds the sinews, like a bridle's reins;
And makes the body to advance, retire,
To turn or stop, as she them slacks or strains!
Thus the Soul tunes the Body's instrument;These harmonies She makes with Life and Sense:The organs fit, are by the Body lent;But th'actions flow from the Soul's influence.
Thus the Soul tunes the Body's instrument;
These harmonies She makes with Life and Sense:
The organs fit, are by the Body lent;
But th'actions flow from the Soul's influence.
The Intellectual Powers of the Soul.But now I have a Will, yet want a Wit,To express the workings of the Wit and Will;Which, though their root be to the body knit,Use not the Body, when they use their skill.
The Intellectual Powers of the Soul.
But now I have a Will, yet want a Wit,
To express the workings of the Wit and Will;
Which, though their root be to the body knit,
Use not the Body, when they use their skill.
These powers the nature of the Soul declare,For to Man's Soul, these only proper be!For on the earth, no other wights there are,Which have these heavenly powers, but only
These powers the nature of the Soul declare,
For to Man's Soul, these only proper be!
For on the earth, no other wights there are,
Which have these heavenly powers, but only
The Wit or Understanding.The Wit (the pupil of the Soul's clear eye!And in Man's world, th'only shining star!)Looks in the Mirror of the Phantasy,Where all the gatherings of the senses are
The Wit or Understanding.
The Wit (the pupil of the Soul's clear eye!
And in Man's world, th'only shining star!)
Looks in the Mirror of the Phantasy,
Where all the gatherings of the senses are
From thence this Power, the Shapes of things abstracts,And them within herPassivepart receives;Which are enlightened by that part whichActs,And so the Forms of single things perceives.
From thence this Power, the Shapes of things abstracts,
And them within herPassivepart receives;
Which are enlightened by that part whichActs,
And so the Forms of single things perceives.
But after, by discoursing to and fro,Anticipating, and comparing things;She doth all universal natures know,And all Effects into their Causes brings.
But after, by discoursing to and fro,
Anticipating, and comparing things;
She doth all universal natures know,
And all Effects into their Causes brings.
Reason.Understanding.When She rates things, and moves from ground to ground,The name of Reason, She obtains by this!But when, by reasons, She the truth hath found,And standeth fixt, She, Understanding is!
Reason.
Understanding.
When She rates things, and moves from ground to ground,
The name of Reason, She obtains by this!
But when, by reasons, She the truth hath found,
And standeth fixt, She, Understanding is!
Opinion.Judgement.When her assent, She lightly doth inclineTo either part, She is Opinion light!But when She doth by principles defineA certain truth, She hath true Judgement's sight.
Opinion.
Judgement.
When her assent, She lightly doth incline
To either part, She is Opinion light!
But when She doth by principles define
A certain truth, She hath true Judgement's sight.
And as from senses, Reason's work doth spring;So many reasons, Understanding gain:And many understandings, Knowledge bring,And by much knowledge, Wisdom we obtain
And as from senses, Reason's work doth spring;
So many reasons, Understanding gain:
And many understandings, Knowledge bring,
And by much knowledge, Wisdom we obtain
So, many stairs we must ascend upright,Ere we attain to Wisdom's high degree:So doth this earth eclipse our Reason's light,Which else (in instants) would like angels see.
So, many stairs we must ascend upright,
Ere we attain to Wisdom's high degree:
So doth this earth eclipse our Reason's light,
Which else (in instants) would like angels see.
Yet hath the Soul a dowry natural,And Sparks of Light some common things to see;Not being a blank, where nought is writ at all,But what the writer will, may written be.
Yet hath the Soul a dowry natural,
And Sparks of Light some common things to see;
Not being a blank, where nought is writ at all,
But what the writer will, may written be.
For Nature, in man's heart her laws doth pen,Prescribing Truth to Wit! and Good to Will!Which do accuse, or else excuse all men,For every thought or practice, good or ill!
For Nature, in man's heart her laws doth pen,
Prescribing Truth to Wit! and Good to Will!
Which do accuse, or else excuse all men,
For every thought or practice, good or ill!
And yet these sparks grow almost infinite,Making the world and all therein, their food;As fire so spreads, as no place holdeth it,Being nourished still with new supplies of wood.
And yet these sparks grow almost infinite,
Making the world and all therein, their food;
As fire so spreads, as no place holdeth it,
Being nourished still with new supplies of wood.
And though these sparks were almost quenched with sin,Yet they, whom that Just One hath justified,Have them increased, with Heavenly Light within!And, like the Widow's oil, still multiplied!
And though these sparks were almost quenched with sin,
Yet they, whom that Just One hath justified,
Have them increased, with Heavenly Light within!
And, like the Widow's oil, still multiplied!
The power of Will.And as this Wit should goodness truly know,We have a Wit which that true good should choose!Though Will do oft (when Wit, false Forms doth show)Take Ill, for Good; and Good, for Ill refuse.
The power of Will.
And as this Wit should goodness truly know,
We have a Wit which that true good should choose!
Though Will do oft (when Wit, false Forms doth show)
Take Ill, for Good; and Good, for Ill refuse.
The relations betwixt Wit and Will.Will puts in practice what the Wit deviseth;The Will ever acts, and Wit contemplates still:And as from Wit the power of Wisdom riseth;All other virtues, daughters are of Will!
The relations betwixt Wit and Will.
Will puts in practice what the Wit deviseth;
The Will ever acts, and Wit contemplates still:
And as from Wit the power of Wisdom riseth;
All other virtues, daughters are of Will!
Will is the Prince! and Wit, the Councillor!Which doth for common good in council sit;And when Wit is resolved; Will lends her powerTo execute what is advised by Wit.
Will is the Prince! and Wit, the Councillor!
Which doth for common good in council sit;
And when Wit is resolved; Will lends her power
To execute what is advised by Wit.
Wit is the Mind's Chief Judge! which doth control,Of Fancy's Court, the judgements false and vain!Will holds the royal sceptre in the Soul;And on the Passions of the Heart doth reign!
Wit is the Mind's Chief Judge! which doth control,
Of Fancy's Court, the judgements false and vain!
Will holds the royal sceptre in the Soul;
And on the Passions of the Heart doth reign!
Will is as free as any Emperor,Nought can restrain her gentle liberty;No tyrant, nor no torment hath the powerTo make us will; when we unwilling be!
Will is as free as any Emperor,
Nought can restrain her gentle liberty;
No tyrant, nor no torment hath the power
To make us will; when we unwilling be!
The intellectual Memory.To these high powers, a Storehouse doth pertain;Where they, all Arts and general reasons lay!Which in the Soul (even after death!) remain,And no Lethean flood can wash away!
The intellectual Memory.
To these high powers, a Storehouse doth pertain;
Where they, all Arts and general reasons lay!
Which in the Soul (even after death!) remain,
And no Lethean flood can wash away!
This is the Soul! and those, her virtues be!Which, though they have their sundry proper ends,And one exceeds another in degree;Yet each on other mutually depends.
This is the Soul! and those, her virtues be!
Which, though they have their sundry proper ends,
And one exceeds another in degree;
Yet each on other mutually depends.
Our Wit is given, Almighty GOD to know!Our Will is given to love Him, being known!But GOD could not beknownto us below,But by His works, which through the Sense are shown.
Our Wit is given, Almighty GOD to know!
Our Will is given to love Him, being known!
But GOD could not beknownto us below,
But by His works, which through the Sense are shown.
And as the Wit doth reap the fruits of Sense;So doth the Quick'ning Power, the Senses feed!Thus while they do their sundry gifts dispense,The best, the service of the least doth need!
And as the Wit doth reap the fruits of Sense;
So doth the Quick'ning Power, the Senses feed!
Thus while they do their sundry gifts dispense,
The best, the service of the least doth need!
Even so, the King, his magistrates do serve;Yet Commons feed both magistrate and King!The Commons' peace, the magistrates preserveBy borrowed power, which from the Prince doth spring.
Even so, the King, his magistrates do serve;
Yet Commons feed both magistrate and King!
The Commons' peace, the magistrates preserve
By borrowed power, which from the Prince doth spring.
The Quickening Power wouldbe, and so would rest!The Sense would notbeonly, bebe well!But Wit's ambition longeth tobe best!For it desires in endless bliss, to dwell.
The Quickening Power wouldbe, and so would rest!
The Sense would notbeonly, bebe well!
But Wit's ambition longeth tobe best!
For it desires in endless bliss, to dwell.
And these three Powers, three sorts of men do make.For some, like plants, their veins do only fill;And some, like beasts, their senses' pleasure take,And some, like angels, do contemplate still.
And these three Powers, three sorts of men do make.
For some, like plants, their veins do only fill;
And some, like beasts, their senses' pleasure take,
And some, like angels, do contemplate still.
Therefore the fables turned some men to flowers,And others, did with brutish forms invest;And did of others, make celestial powersLike angels! which still travail, yet still rest!
Therefore the fables turned some men to flowers,
And others, did with brutish forms invest;
And did of others, make celestial powers
Like angels! which still travail, yet still rest!
Yet these three Powers are not three Souls but one,As one and two are both contained in three;Three being one number by itself alone.A shadow of the blessed Trinity!
Yet these three Powers are not three Souls but one,
As one and two are both contained in three;
Three being one number by itself alone.
A shadow of the blessed Trinity!
An acclamation.O what is Man! (Great Maker of mankind!)That Thou to him so great respect dost bear!That Thou adorn'st him with so bright a Mind!Mak'st him a king! and even an angel's peer!
An acclamation.
O what is Man! (Great Maker of mankind!)
That Thou to him so great respect dost bear!
That Thou adorn'st him with so bright a Mind!
Mak'st him a king! and even an angel's peer!
O what a lively life! what heavenly power!What spreading virtue! what a sparkling fire!How great! how plentiful! how rich a dower!Dost Thou, within this dying flesh inspire!
O what a lively life! what heavenly power!
What spreading virtue! what a sparkling fire!
How great! how plentiful! how rich a dower!
Dost Thou, within this dying flesh inspire!
Thou leav'st Thy Print in other works of Thine!But Thy whole Image, Thou, in Man hast writ!There cannot be a creature more divine;Except, (like Thee!) it should be infinite.
Thou leav'st Thy Print in other works of Thine!
But Thy whole Image, Thou, in Man hast writ!
There cannot be a creature more divine;
Except, (like Thee!) it should be infinite.
But it exceeds Man's thought, to think how highGOD hath raised Man, since GOD, a man became:The angels do admire this mystery,And are astonished when they view the same!
But it exceeds Man's thought, to think how high
GOD hath raised Man, since GOD, a man became:
The angels do admire this mystery,
And are astonished when they view the same!