ther in your strong and spacious folds, that they may be at once safe, and ye glorious! SECT. XXIII. LASTLY, for those, whom necessary occasions draw forth of their own coasts, that we may have done with those which like foolish Papists go on pilgrimage to see another block better dressed than that at home, let me say to them, as Simeon that prophetical monk said to the pillars which he whipped before the earthquake, "Stand fast, for ye shall be shaken." And, therefore, as the crane, when she is to fly against a high wind, doth balance herself with stones in her bill, that she may cut the air with more steadiness; so let them carefully fore-instruct and poise themselves with the sound knowledge of the principles of religion, that they may not be carried about with every wind of doctrine. Whereto if they add but those lessons, which they are taught by the State in their letters of passage, there may be hope they shall bring back the same souls they carried. It was at least an inclination to a fall, that Eve took boldness to hold chat with the Serpent. And, as subtle lawyers desire no more advantage in the quarrel, which they would pick at conveyances, than many words; so neither do our adversaries. While our ears are open and our tongues free, they will hope well of our very denials. Error is crafty; and, out of the power of his rhetorical insinuations, ofttimes carries away probability from truth. I remember in that famous embassy of the three philosophers, which Athens sent to Rome, Critolaus, Diogenes, and Carneades, there falling out many occasions of discourse, wise Cato persuaded the Senate to a speedy dismission of those, otherwise welcome guests: "Because," said he, "while Carneades disputes, scarce any man can discern which is the truth." There is more danger of these spiritual sophisters, by how much the business is more important, and their subtlety greater. Let our passenger, therefore, as that wise Grecian served his fellows, stop up his ears with wax against these Syrens. Our Saviour would not give Satan audience, even while he spake true; because he knew that truth was but to countenance error. There is ever true corn strewed under a pitfall: those ears are full and weighty, which we dress with lime to deceive the poor birds in a snow: no fisher lets down an empty hook, but cloathed with a proper and pleasing bait. These impostors have no other errand but deceit. If he love himself, let him be afraid of their favours; and think their frowns safer than their smiles.. K 2 And if, at any time, as no fly is more importunate, they thrust themselves into his conversation, let him, as those which must necessarily pass by a carrion in the way, hold his breath, and hasten to be out of their air. And, if they yet follow him in his flight, let him turn back to them with the angel's farewell, Increpet te Dominus. VIRGIDEMIARUM LIBRI SEX. SIX BOOKS OF SATIRES, BY JOSEPH HALL, OF EMMANUEL COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, AFTERWARDS BISHOP OF EXETER AND OF NORWICH. WITH THE ILLUSTRATIONS OF THOMAS WARTON, AND NOTES BY SEVERAL COMMENTATORS. 1839. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR, NOTICE of Bishop Hall and his Satires, from Whalley's Inquiry into the Learning of Shakspeare, 137 140 : 142 REMARKS On Bishop Hall and his Satires, from Warton's History of . THE THREE FIRST BOOKS, OF TOOTHLESS SATIRES: 1. POETICAL. 2. ACADEMICAL. 3. MORAL. SAT. I. Fashionable modes of writing, and object of the Author in composing his Satires, 157 SAT. II. SAT. III. Indelicacy of popular poetry in the reign of Elizabeth, 159 161 |