I24 THE CONCLVSION. 



not knowledge, are fituated in the lowcft, and meaneft ranckeof 

 creatures ; and are in no wife comparable to thofe which know. I 

 fee, there is nopleafureatalhnohappinefle, no felicity, but by 

 knowledge, and in knowledge. Experience teacbeth me, how the 

 purer) and nobler race of mankind, adoreth in their hearts, this 

 idoll of knowledge , and (corneth what ever elfe they feeme to 

 court, and to be fond of. And I fee, that this cxcefTe of tea of know- 

 ledge which is in thce,groweth not by the fucceflion of one thought 

 after another ; but it is like a full fwolne ocean, never ebbing on a* 

 ny coaft, but equally puftYmg at all its bounds, and tumbling out its 

 flowing waves on every fide, and into every creche; fo that every 

 where it maketh high tide. Or like a pure funne, which from all 

 parts of it fhooteth its radiant beames with a like extreamity of vi- 

 olence. And I fee likewise, that this admirable knowledge, is not 

 begotten & con ferved in thee, by the accidentary helpe of defective 

 caufes ; but is rooted in thy felfe$ is fteeped in thy owne eflence, 

 like an vnextinguiftiable fourfe of a perpetually dreaming fire ; or 

 like the living head of an overrunning fpring 5 beholding Co none, 

 out of thy felfe,faving only to thy Almighty Creatour 5 and beg- 

 sing of pone 5 but. being in thy felfe all that of which thou fhouldeft 

 begge. 



This then (my foule) being thy Ibtt; and fuch a hieght of plea- 

 fure being referved for thee ; and fuch an extremity of felicity ,withr 

 in a fhortfpace attending thee; can any. degenerate thought, ever 

 gaine ftrength enough, to (hake the evidence which thefeconfidera- 

 tipns, implant and rivet in thee ? On .any dull oblivion deface this 

 fo lively and fobeautifull image? Or can any .length of time, draw 

 ia thy memory a veyle betweene it, and thy preient attention > Gan 

 any pervcrfity, fo diftort thy ftraight eyes, that thou ftiouldeft not 

 looke alwaies fixed upon this marke ; and levell thy ayme direftly 

 at this white ? How is it poffible, that thousand brooke to live, 

 and not expire prelendy , thereby to in gulfe thy felfe, and bee 

 throughly imbibed with fuch an overflowing blifle ? Why doft^ 

 tbou aot brcake the wallea andthechaynesofthy flefli and bloud , 

 and leapeinto this glorious liberty / Here Stoickes, you are to ufe 

 ypurfwords. Vponthefeconfiderations, you may /uftifie the let- 

 ting out the blood, which by your difcourfes, you feemc fo prodi- 

 gall of. To die upon thefe termes, is not to part with that, which 

 ypu fondly call happie life ; feeding your felves,and flattering your- 



hearts 



