But in their place the contrary doe rise, And reall spots of sinne her beauty marre. Nor is it strange, that Adam's ill desart Lastly, the Soule were better so to bee Borne slaue to sinne, then not to be at all; Yet this the curious wits will not content; They yet will know (sith1 God foresaw this ill) If by His Word He had the current staid For what is Man without a moouing mind, 9 Misprinted in 1622 'sports:' 'spots' from 1599, 1602 and 1608. G. 1 'Since,' as before in 1599 and 1608 editions. G. 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 soule infuse, But that he should his Maker know and loue? Now, if loue be compeld and cannot chuse, How can it gratefull or thankeworthy proue? Loue must free-hearted be, and voluntary, And not enchanted, or by Fate constraind ; Besides, were we vnchangeable in will, And of a wit that nothing could mis-deeme; Equall to God, Whose wisedome shineth still, And neuer erres, we might our selues esteeme. So that if Man would be vnuariable, He must be God, or like a rock or tree; Then let vs praise that Power, which makes vs be Men as we are, and rest contented so; And knowing Man's fall was curiositie, Admire God's counsels, which we cannot know. And let vs know that God the Maker is Of all the Soules, in all the men that be: But the first man's that broke God's first decree. WHY THE SOULE IS UNITED TO THE BODY. THIS substance, and this spirit of God's owne making, Is in the body plact, and planted heere ; "That both of God, and of the world partaking, "Of all that is, Man might the image beare. God first made angels bodilesse, pure minds, Besides, this World below did need one wight, Which also God might in His works admire, And here beneath, yeeld Him both praier and praise; 2 One of Heylin's numerous books is called 'Microcosmus:' a little Description of the great World. Oxon: 1st edn., 1622. The word is met with in other old title-pages and in theological (Puritan) writings. G. As there, aboue, the holy angels quire Lastly, the bruite, unreasonable wights, Did want a visible king on1 them to raigne : IN WHAT MANNER THE SOULE IS UNITED TO THE BODY. BUT how shall we this union well expresse? Nought ties the soule; her subtiltie is such She moues the bodie, which she doth possesse, Then dwels shee not therein as in a tent, Nor as a vessell water doth containe; 3 Davies and Southey, as before, insert 'forth' here. G. 4 Davies and Southey, as before, substitute 'o'er:' but 'on' is the Nor as the heat doth in the fire remaine; But as the faire and cheerfull Morning light, Doth here and there her siluer beames impart, And in an instant doth herselfe vnite To the transparent ayre, in all, and part: Still resting whole, when blowes th' ayre diuide; Abiding pure, when th' ayre is most corrupted; Throughout the ayre, her beams dispersing wide, And when the ayre is tost, not interrupted: So doth the piercing Soule the body fill, Not forc't, encountred, troubled or confus'd. And as the sunne aboue, the light doth bring, So from th' Eternall Light the Soule doth spring, 6 In 1598 and 1608 editions, 'vncorruptible.' G. |