THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 77 



tation, with too sudden haste desist from that they 

 began, and with precipitancy returning to their 

 former experiments, are reconciled to them again. 



The state of man, in respect of arts, and such 

 things as concern the intellect, being now described, 

 the parable passeth to religion : for, after the plant 

 ing of arts, follows the setting of divine principles, 

 which hypocrisy hath overspread and polluted. By 

 that twofold sacrifice therefore is elegantly shadowed 

 out the persons of a true religious man and an hy 

 pocrite. In the one is contained fatness, which, by 

 reason of the inflammation and fumes thereof, is 

 called the portion of God, by which his affection 

 and zeal, tending to God s glory, and ascending to 

 wards heaven, is signified. In him also are con 

 tained the bowels of charity, and in him is found that 

 good and wholesome flesh ; whereas in the other 

 there is nothing but dry and naked bones, which 

 nevertheless do stuff up the hide, and make it appear 

 like a fair and goodly sacrifice : by this may be well 

 meant those external and vain rites, and empty ce 

 remonies, by which men do oppress and fill up the 

 sincere worship of God; things composed rather for 

 ostentation than any way conducing to true piety. 

 Neither do they hold it sufficient to offer such mock- 

 sacrifices unto God; except they also lay them be 

 fore him, as if he had chosen and bespoke them. 

 Certainly the prophet, in the person of God, doth thus 

 expostulate concerning this choice : Esa. Iviii. 5. 

 &quot; Num tandem hoc est illud jejunium, quod ELEGI, 

 &quot; ut homo animam suam in diem unum affligat, et 



