Section I, Book 2, chapter 3: Of true and false wisdom and philosophy (part 2 of 2)

Touching the harmony of this world, and how every sublunary element, and superlunary sphear, are disposed by an essentiall kind of symphoniacall accord, the whole file of Scripture doth confirm, that it is effected by this wisdom. Again, the wise-man expresseth the wondrous effects of this Spirit, in these words, In se elementa dum convertuntur, sicut in organo qualitatis sonus immutatur & omnia suum sonum custodiunt, &c. Whilst the elements are converted in themselves, as the sonnd is converted in an Organ of quality, and all do keep and observe their proper sound, &c. But the Apostle doth more excellently expresse this, in these words, In Christo condita sunt universa in coelis & in terra, & omnia visibilia & invisibilia per ipsum & in ipso creata sunt. Ipse est ante omnes & omnia in ipso constant. In ipso complacuit omnem plenitudinem divinitatis inhabitare, & per eum reconciliare omnia in ipso, pacificans per san guinem crucis ejus sive quae in coelis sive quae in terris sunt: All things are made in Christ, in heaven and in earth, and all are created by him, and in him, as well visible as invisible, he is before all, and all […]o consist in him, and it pleased all the plenitude of divinity to dwell in him, and to reconcile by him in himself, pacifying by the blood of his cross, all things both in heaven and earth. Lo here the perfect and catholick fountain of all harmony, the taker away of discord both from heaven and earth, and the pure essentiall, and formall love and sympathy of this world; and therefore by the wisest and most mysticall Philosophers he is said to be, Vinculum seu ligamentum elementorum, the band or tie, whereby the discording elements are compelled unto an harmonious accord: After the imitation of whose melodious tunes and concords, all the accords of our externall musick, as well vocall, as instrumentall, are typically framed, which are in respect of the true and essentiall symphony of this spirit, even as a shadow is unto a true subject, or an image unto a reality. I come now unto Arithmetick and Geometry.

As for these two Arts, the wise-man doth include them in these few words, Omnia mensura numeroque & pondere disposuisti seu temperasti; Thou hast disposed or proportioned all things in measure, number, and weight. In which words, by measure is meant, the progresse into longitude, latitude, and profundity, which this Spirit made in his emanation, from the point unto the line, and from the line or root unto the square, and from the square unto the cube. By number is meant, those Arithmeticall dimensions in progression, whereby this Spirit issued out of unity into multitude, as from 1 unto 10, and from 10 unto a 100, and from a hundred unto a 1000; namely, from God, who is the eternall point or unity, unto the first articulated number, which is 10, and it represents the aeviall or angelicall world, which is the first degree of composition, and from 10 unto a 100, which argueth the composition of the temporall world; and from a 100 to a 1000, which pointeth at the compound creature of the Elements. So that hereby each Christian may see, how God is all, and in all, and yet without all; and, as the Text hath it, in heaven, in the seas, in the abysse, and in hell. And for this reason, the Pythagoreans did include all things under these three principles, 1, 2, 3. whereby they attributed 1 unto God, in his abstruse being; 2 unto matter; and 3 unto form, under which, all are contained.

But of this I will declare my minde more copiously, when I speak of the essentiall principles, of Sympathy and Antipathy; namely, in the first Book of the second Section of this present Treatise. And therefore the patient man, in the person of JEHOVAH, saith thus, Ubinam eras quando fundebam terram? A[…]nuntia, si nosti intelligentiam. Quis disposuit mensuras ejus, aut quis extendit super eam lineam? super quo bases ejus defixae sunt? aut quis jecit lapidem ejus angularem: Where wast thou when I did lay the foundat[…]ons of the earth? tell me, if thou hast understanding, Who disposed of the measures thereof? or who did stretch forth upon it a line? upon what were her foundations fastned? or who laid her corner-stone? Whereby he argueth, that by this Spirit, which is the corner-stone, or foundation of everything, (for without it, nothing is made, or can exist, as St. John doth testifie) not onely the earth had his Geometricall dimension, scituation, and position; but also the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, and each thing else, both in heaven and in earth, have assigned them their weight, proportion, magnitude, and limited seat in the world: Yea verily, by it, the aire, by proportion and weight, is carried and framed out into the shapes of Meteors; for the sacred Text hath it, Deus sapientia aptat pondus aeri & appendit aquas in mensura: God by his wisdom doth adapt a weight unto the air, and imparts a mensurable proportion unto the waters or clouds. I will shew now her power in the science of Rhetorick and Oratory, and prove in few words, how she is also the exactest Mistris in those Arts, as also the onely essentiall mover in the spirits of men, to make them truly eloquent and perswasive; and withall, she is the essentiall Magnet in the Oratours voice, which can draw and attract the auditors minds to listen and affect the organ, by whom she is intended to plead by.

Saith Moses in his conference with this divine Spirit, Non sum vir facundus, ne q; unquam anteafui, ne quidem ex quo locutus es cum servo tuo; sed impedito ore, & impeditâ linguâ sum. Tunc dixit Jehovah ad illum, Quis statuit os hominum, aut qui[…] statuere potest surdum aut mutum? Nonne Ego qui sum Jehovah? Nunc itaque ito & ego adero ori […]uo & docebo te quae te loqui convenit. I am not an eloquent man, neither have ever been so, no verily, not from the time that thou hast spoke with thy servant: But I have an impediment in my mouth, and am defective in my tongue. Then said Jehovah unto him, Who hath made the mouth of man? or who can make deaf or dumb? Is it not I who am Jehovah? Now therefore go thy way, and I will be with thy mouth, and I will teach thee what is fit for thee to say, &c. In which file of speech, God teacheth us, that eloquence, and apt disposition of words, sentences, and speech, both in the Rhetorician and Orator are from God; who can give it or take it away at his pleasure. And therefore the Evangelist sayeth in another place, Erunt omnes docibiles Dei; or docti à Deo; All shall be taught of God. And the Prophet hath it Universi filii tui sunt docti à Jehovah; All thy sons are instructed by Jehovah. But Christ expresseth this in fuller terms thus; Spiritus sanctus quem mittet Pater, ille vos docebit omnia & suggeret vobis omnia quaecun q; dixero vobis: The holy Spirit which my Father sendeth, even he shall teach you all things, whatsoever I shall say unto you. Now that this spirit is that eternall wisdome which effecteth and exciteth this Rhetoricall and Oratoricall function, the scriptures testifie in other places, Sapientia (saith Solomon) aperuit os mutorum, & linguas infantum fecit diserias; Wisdome hath opened the mouth of the dumb, and hath made the tongues of children eloquent: And the Sonne of Syrach, Sapiens aperiet os suum in oratione, The wiseman will open his mouth in an oration, And again, Tanquam imbres mittet eloquia Sapientia Sapientis, et in oratione confitebitur Domino. The wisdome of the wiseman will send forth her eloquence like a showre, and in his oration or speech will confesse to the Lord. I could expresse many other examples out of holy Writ, to confirme this more amply; namely that all Rhetoricall eloquence is from this good spirit of wisdome: but for brevities cause I will passe them over that I may proceed unto the Mechanick Arts, and prove unto you that their inventions did originally proceed from the doctrine of this good Spirit, though fouly commaculated by the succession of time through the scarrs of Envy and Ignorance.

As concerning Mechanick arts, we find that the invention and shaping forth or making of Garments was derived from the instruction of this spirit. Loquêris cunctis Sapientibus corde (saith Jehovah to Moses) quos replevi spiritu Sapientiae: ut faciant vestes Aaron, in quibus Sanctificatus ministret mihi, Thou shalt speak unto all the wise in heart, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdome, to make habilements for Aaron, in the which he being sanctified may minister unto me: Also all the inventions of Goldsmiths works, and of the Jewellers artifice, and Carpenters with the Sculpters of wood, did proceed from this fountaine of knowledge; and therefore Jehova saith unto Moses, Ecce vocavi Beseleel & implevi eum cum spiritu Dei, sapientia, intelligentia et Scientia in omni opere, ad excogitandum quicquid fabrefieri potest ex auro & argento & aere, marmore et Gemmis & diversitate Lignorum: Dedique e[…] socium Ooliab & in corde omnis eruditi posui Sapientiam ut faciant cuncta quae praecepi tibi. Behold I have called Beseleel, and I have filled him with the spirit of God, with wisdome understanding and Science in every work, to invent and find out every thing that may be fashioned out of Gold, Silver, and Brasse, of Marble, pretious stones, and variety of woods, and I have given him for a companion Ooliab: and in the heart of every wiseman, I have infused wisdome, that they may effect, what I have commanded them. By which words it is evident that the beginning of every true Mechanick Art, is this spirit of God, in whose only power it is to teach a man all things: but this is confirmed else where more plainly. Moses said unto the children of Israel, Ecce vocaverit dominus Beseleel, implevitque eum spiritu Dei, Sapientia, et intelligentia, et Scientia, et omni Doctrina, ad excogitandum & faciendum opus in auro & argento, & aere, & ferro, sculpendisque lapidibus & opere carpentario: Quicquid fabrè adinveniri potest, dedit in corde ejus; Ooliab quo q; Ambos erudivit sapientia ut facian opera Abietarii Polymitarii, ac Plumarii de hyacintho & purpura, coccoque bis tincto & bysso & texant omnia, &c. Behold the Lord hath called Beseleel, and hath filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, and with science or knowledge, and with all manner of doctrine or skill, to invent and make work in gold, in silver, in brasse, and iron, and in graving of stones, and in the carpenters work of carving. Whatsoever can be invented in workmanship, hath he put into his heart, and into that of Ooliab his companion. He hath instructed both of them by wisdom, to do the works belonging unto the Carpent[…]s art, and unto embroidery, and weaving, and needle-work in blew silk and in purple, and in scarlet, and in fine linnex, even to do all manner of works, and subtle inventions, &c. Moreover by wisdom Noa fuit in Arcae structura instructus: Noah was instructed in the building of the Arke: And therefore the text hath it: Sanavit Sapientia terram, per contemptibile lignum justum gubernans: Wisdom restored the earth, guiding the just man by a contemptible peece of word. By it the Art of Musick was revealed unto Juball: For the words are, Jubal fuit Pater Canentium Citharâ & Organo. He was the Father or beginner of playing on the Harpe, and Organ: And Jubal-Cain was the Inventor of iron and brass works: For it is said, Ipse fuit malleator & faber, in cuncta opera aeris & ferri: He was a Smith or hammerman, being cunning in all works of brass and Iron. Again, Ada Jubal was Father of them who dwelled in Tents, and Prince of Shepheards. To conclude, there is no true Mechanick work, but had its originall from this Spirit, in whom only, and in nothing else, is the gift of teaching all things. I come now to the morall and politick Arts, which do arise from this radicall Spirit.

All Morall Discipline also, hath her root and beginning from this holy Spirit of Discipline, as by the whole file of Scriptures we are taught. And it was the essentiall voice of this Spirit, which did teach the Christian world, by the mouth of Christ Jesus, to embrace and follow goodnesse, and to eschew evill. I will not say much therefore touching this point, but will only in few words speak unto our purpose, with the Wisemans mouth: Sapientiâ servat semitas justitiae, vias sanctorum custodiens: Wisdome doth observe the paths of Justice; keeping the ways of the Saints. Per eam intelliges justitiam, & judicium, aequitatem, & omnem semitam bonam; si intraverit cor tuum, consilium custodiet te, Prudentia servabit te. Per eam eruêris à viamala: Te custodiet à muliere ex tranea. By wisdome (Saith Salomon,) thou shalt understand justice and judgement, equity, and every good and straight way. If she shall enter into thy heart, she will save and preserve thee with prudency: By her thou shalt be drawn from the evill way, she will preserve thee from the strange woman. Also, Sapientiae docet temperantiam, prudentiam, justitiam, & fortitudinem, quibus utilius nihil in vita hominibus: Wisdome teacheth temperance, prudence, justice, fortitude, than the which nothing is more profitable unto the life of man. In another place, Sapientiae est, consilium, aequitas, prudentia, & fortitudo: Counsell, justice, prudence, and fortidtue, is of wisdome. Where is expressed the four Cardinall-vertues, which are the pillars of Morall Phylosophy; For in Counsell, Temperance is considered, and then there is Justice, Wisdome, and Fortitude. Again, the Son of Syrach: In Sapientiâ, est Decor vitae, & qui operantur in ea non peccabunt: In wisdome is the comliness of life, and who so operateth in her, will not sin. Now you know that sin is the breach of the Law, and the Mosaicall Law is grounded as well upon the Morall rules of behaviour, between man and man, as in mans duty unto God. And Salomon, in another place, Cum Sapientia venerunt mihi omnia bona, & innumerabilis honestas per manus illius: With wisdome came unto me all good things, and innumerab[…]e honesty from her hands. To conclude, this is expressed unto us more really and to the quick, in the Text above mentioned, Sapientiae labores magnas habent virtutes; sobrietatem enim & sapientiam, justitiam & virtutem docet, quibus in vita hominibus nihil est utilius: The labours or works of wisdome have great vertues: For she teacheth sobriety and wisdome, justice and vertue, than the which there is nothing more profitable or commodious in this life. By which places, and many more, which I could produce, it is plain, that the Instructrix and foundation of all Morall or Ethicall doctrine, is the Spirit of true wisdome, which descendeth from the Father of Light.

As for the true and sincere Politick Government, which belongeth unto Kings, Princes, and Magistrates of this earth, we finde it warranted by Scriptures, that wisdome is the root from whence it springeth, if it be good: For we find in one place, that Sapientia facit Regem, ut digne regnet in populum: Wisdome maketh a King to govern or raigne over his people worthily. And Salomon, Sapienti[…] Reges regnant & Legum-conditores justa decernunt: By wisdome Kings do raigne, and the Lawmakers do discerne just things. Again, Sapienti[…] Principes imperant, & Potentes decernunt justitiam: By wisdome Princes do govern or command, and powerfull men do decern justice. And elsewhere, Sapientia melior est quam arma bellica: Wisdome is better then armor of war. And Ecclesiasticus: Sapientiam qui audit, judicabit Gentes: He which beareth wisdome hall judge Nations. Sapientia ministrabit in medio magnatorum & in conspectu Praesudis apparebit: Wisdome shall administer in the middle of the Nobility, and shall appear in the sight of the President or Judge. And Salomon, after the manner of a confession, saith: Ob Sapientiam habebam claritatem apud turbas, & honorem apud seniores: juvenis acutus inveniar judicio, in conspectu potentium admirabilis ero. For my wisdom I did shine among the people, and was honoured among the Elders, being but a young man I shall be found sharp in judgment, and in the eyes of the potent I shall appear admirable. Again, Per sapientiam disponam populus, & nationes mihi erunt subditae: By wisdom I will order the people, and nations will be subject unto me. Sapientem timebunt audientes reges horrendi. Ob sapientiam multitudini videbitur bonus, & in bello fortis: sapientia deducit me ut disponam populum tuum justè. Fearfull and dreadfull potentates hearing a wise man, will be afraid. He will appear, by reason of his wisdom, good in the eyes of the multitude, and valiant in war. Wisdom directeth me to dispose of the people justly, &c. By which, and many other places, it appeareth, that the divine wisdom is the onely guide of true government in every Common-wealth; and where her rules are not respected or followed, that government must needs proceed of wordly wisdom, which is terrene, animal, and diabolicall.

Lastly, I will conclude and finish this Chapter, with the miraculous and supernaturall effects it produceth, and the admirable acts which it bringeth to passe, beyond the capacity of mans imagination; so that the man which is partaker of this divine Agent, and can firmly unite it unto his own spirit, may do wonders: Sapientia intravit in animam servi Dei Mosis; & stetit coram reges horrendos in portentis & signis: Transtulit Israelem per mare rubrum & inimicos dimersit. Wisdom entred into the soul of Moses, the servant of God; and he stood before mighty Kings in prodigies and signes. He carried Israel through the red sea, and drowned their enemies. Sapientia mu[…]tiplicem experientiam docet, nam scit illa praeterita, de futuris aestimat, scit versutias sermonum, & solutiones aenigmatum, signa & monstra antequam fiant praesagit, evenius quoque temporum & seculorum. Wisdom teacheth manifold experience, she is acquainted with things that are past, and judgeth of things that are to come. She understandeth the wilinesse of speech, the solutions of aenigma's or riddles, and knoweth signes and prodigies before they appea[…]e, she is also familiar with the Events of times and ages; And the Apostle, Spiritus omnia scrutatur, etiam profunda Dei: The spirit searcheth out all things, even the profund & inscrutable things of God; It was that by the power of which, wine was made of water, five thousand persons were sustained by five […]oaves of bread, by it Chr[…]st did wa[…]k safely upon the waters, did cure one that was blind from his nativity: did raise Lazarus from the dead, did enter into the Chamber where his disciples were (etiam clausis januis,) he doores being shut; did cause an infinity of fishes to be taken; compelled the wind and storme at sea to cease, and be obedient unto his command, did cast out divells from such as we[…]e possessed, So also it was sayed, signa & prodigia in virtute spiritus sancti effecit Christus per Paulum, Christ did effect signes and prodigies by the vertue of the holy spirit by Paul. By this Spirit, Adam had virtutem continendi omnia, the vertue to comprehend all things: And Solomon did by it understand the thoughts of men, and knew all things which were occult and hidden. To conclude, Moses, Joshuah, Gideon, Samuel, Daniel, Elias, Eli[…]ha, with the other Prophets; Judas Maccabaeus, Chri[…]t and his Apostles, which were all the observant disciples unto the true wisdom, did by her secret art and operation, bring to passe all those miracles, which are mentioned in the holy Testament, both New and Old, as each man may find to be true, if he will be pleased to make a due enquiry into that holy story. But all this is most aptly expressed by the Prophet Daniel, in these words; Ipse revelat profun[…]a & abscondita, & novit in tenebris constituta, & lux cum eo est: He is the revealer of things that are profound and hidden, an understandeth the things which lurk in darknesse, for light dwelleth with him. All which being so, it is most apparent, that there is no art or science, whether it be abstruse and mysticall, or manifestly known, be it speculative or practicall, but had his root and beginning from this true wisdom, without the act and vertue whereof, no true and essentiall learning and knowledge can be gotten in this world, but all will prove bastardly or spuriously begotten, having their foundation not upon Christ, the true ground, firm rock, and stable cornerstone, on which all verity is erected, forasmuch as onely in him is the plenitude of divinity; but placing the basis or foundation of their knowledge, upon the prestigious sands of imagination; namely, after the inventions or traditions of men, and according unto the elements of this world, from whence they gather the fruits of their worldly or human wisdom, that is quite opposite in effect unto the true wisdom; namely, the eternall one, which hath his root and originall from God, and not from man. And therefore touching this kind of worldly wise men, or Ethnick Philosophers, we may say with the Apostle, Evanuerunt in imaginationibus suis, They vanished and came to nought in their imaginations.