The Wonders of the Lodestone, Chapter 9 – Chapter 16
CHAP. IX. Concerning the Load-stones neglecting of Silver & Gold, but uniting Iron unto it selfe, compared with Christ passing by the Angels, as not regarding them, but electing men.
GOld and Silver, what are they else, but the Monarchs of this Sublunary world, commanding the rest of all the Mettalls after the fashion of King and Queene, whose companions and Peeres, are those Stones which are called precious? Brasse and Tynne are of an inferiour Ranke, as it were of the order of Knight-hood. But Lead and Iron are the meere vulgar sort. With that an unreasonable love of Gold and Silver doe men burne? And how much are precious stones esteemed with Princes and great ones? Gemmes and Peares, in what honour and estimation are they held? For they have their Splendour as the rest of the Mettals, whereby they may allure the eyes of beholders and bewitch their minds. Iron, in the meane time, because it hath noe bright Colour, and is of little estimation, is disregarded by all in comparison of all other Metalls, and is every where sold for litle, it is troden in every place almost under feet, and hath but the lowest place and rank, amongst all those Metalls all which notwithstanding, the Load-sto…e altogether despising and counting as nothing, the other Mettals which are so bright and excellent in their owne nature, hath made choise of the Iron above them all; which it drawes unto it with a violent and greedy affection, which it imbraceth with a strait bond of love, whose company and union it onelyonly desires, of whose friendship and neighbour-hood, it is wondrously glad, of whose fellow-ship and service it doth perpetually make use, and as counting it an honour, would be term'd by the name of Siderites which is deriv'd from the Iron.
You which admire this excellent sympathie, cast your eyes, upon the love of God towards man, and upon our Election: the Angels that fell likewise, if they be compared to us poore men, what wonderfully glorious creatures are they, what noble Spirits, whose knowledge how many degrees goes it beyond our blindnesse? whose power, …ow fa…re doth it exceed our weakenes? whose honour & dignity, how much doth it surpasse our obscurity and meannes: But Christ our Lord, did not take on him the nature of th…se, but passing by them, as they lay in the Lake of sulphure & prison of hell, Hee elected us poore vvormes, even dust and ashes, H…e lov'd us vvretched creatures. He vvas made o… a vvoman, bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh, Hee carryed up the human… nature above the Cherubins & Seraphins, and made it to sit in the heavenly places, to be adored of Angels and Archangels. Hee hath adopted us, and made us the sonnes of God, that we should be …eires, yea coheires vvith him. Hee hath made us partakers of the Divine Nature, of grace and glorie. Who would not here crie out vvith Saint Chrysostome foreign &c. Behold the love of our Lord toward mankind, doe not thinke this to be a thing of small moment or value, it being indeed a thing to be wondred at, and full of astonish, And I taking this often into my consideration, do… conceive and imagine great m…tters, as touching mankind. Doe you also my brethren, see your calling, how that not many vvise and mighty according to the flesh,1 Cor. 1.26. not many sprung of illustrious Progeny, but God hath chosen the base and foolish things of the world, that he might confound the wise.
CHAP. X. Of the Loadstones indifferency, and of a Christians not respecting of persons.
BEhold …urther the indifferency and the not respecting of persons, vvhichwhich may be seene both in the L…adstone, and every true Christian; for the Loadstone doth acknowledge and draw Iron unto it, as well vvhen it is shut up in a vvooden chest, as in a golden casket, in a leaden sheath as in a silken scabberd. It is the Iron on…ly which it respects, it regards not the ornament, and cloathing of Iron, whatsoever it be. It is the Iron that it seekes, that it imbraceth, not the golden trappings or gilding with vvhichwhich it is covered about, wherefore brethren, let us be ashamed to have the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons, so that if one come into your company, having a gold ring, or gorgeous attire, and there come in a poore man in vile …ayment, and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay cloathing, and shall say to him, sit thou here in a good place, and say to the poore, stand thou there, or sit here under my footstoole, are ye not become Judges that determine perversly? are ye not partiall in your selves? are ye not become Judges of evill thoughts, and make a wrongfull difference? Hath not God chosen the poore of this world, that they might be rich in faith and heires of the Kingdome, which he hath promised to them that love him? wherefore, beholding rather, and considering this difference, and not respecting of persons, both in the Lord, and in the Load-stone, be sure to follow both, and preferre before the worldly wise and wealthy, such Christians as are counted ignoble, idiots, poore, and such as are despised of the great ones of this world, choose them onelyonly for your companions, your friends and yoake fellowes in the Lord, love them, and hold friendship with them upon earth with vvhom ye are to live everlastingly in heaven, for this is wel-pleasing and acceptable to the Lord our God, with whom there is neither male nor female, neither Barbarian nor Grecian, but a new creature in Christ, is all in all.
CHAP. XI. That the Loadstone, drawes a great… and heavier weight then Jet.
HEE that once saw a Loadstone vvith admiration drawing to it, not onelyonly small remnants and pieces of iron, but also taking up easily, and lifting up from the ground a great and weighty burthen thereof; as for example, an Anchour weighing twenty pounds: with what, contempt will hee behold Jet or Amber drawing strawes unto them, or little motes, and that after they have beene heated by much rubbing; As great, yea a farre greater difference, is to be seene betweene the soules of wise men and fooles, of holy and carnall men, whereof these onelyonly care for, and meditate upon these things which are of great moment, that pertaine to the Kingdome of God, and their everlasting salvation; but these seeke after the vanities and trisles of this world. Surely there is no lesse difference betweene them, then there is betweene Merchants that buy wares of great value, and tri…e-selling Pedlers, which carry about gewgawes, Pinnes, and Rattles, for children to play withall. Then there is betweene Spiders that catch Flies, and Eagles that pursue after Hares and Heron, then there is betweene fowlers that shoote at Pigeons, and children that follow after Butterflies.
CHAP. XII. Of that cleannesse which the Loadstone and the Spirit of Christ require in their object….
HOwever the Loadstone hath a desire and inclination to iron, yet will it not draw it, unlesse it be cleane and pollished, and it vvonderfully loves and affects cleannesse, but hates and loathes filthinesse very much, vvhereupon it comes to passe, that if you doe apply it, to the rusty side of an Anchour, or that which is besprinkled with dust, either it will not at all put forth and exercise upon it the vertue thereof, or very unwillingly and weakely, but if you apply the same Loadstone to a cleane and well polished side, it will greedily draw it with all the power it hath, and will strongly lift it up, most like in this, to the Dove-like holy Spirit, which dwels onelyonly in pure hearts, and cleane roofes, abstaines and flies from them, that are uncleane and foule. The Royall Prophet knew this to his great losse and griefe, who after he had polluted his body with adultery, his soule with murder, and both with blood, obtained not the returne and reentry of that Spirit, before that he had cleansed and purged them both with teares and repentance.
Chap. 13. Of the Irons first motions to the Loadstone, as also of the slownes of mens souls in their first comming to Christ, and their readinesse to follow him afterwards.
THere is a great and manifest difference betweene the first motions of the Iron to the Magnetick Poles, and all the latter that arise from the first. For at the first touching and drawing, the Iron is rather a Patient than an Agent; the Iron indeed is drawne, being untoucht, but approacheth softly and slowly, unwillingly, as it were by violence. Before the contract, either no friendship at all passeth betweene the Iron and the Loadstone, no respective verticity, or pronenesse to turne to the Poles, or it is so weake, and as it were so soundly asleepe, that it can scarce be perceived by the senses; which being once stirred up and awakened by the Loadstones, coupling with it, and breathing upon it, runs of its owne accord, and very speedily, at the command, and as it were at the least call of the Loadstone. A greater and more manifest difference there is, betweene those Arts and motions which go before, and accompany our conversion, and those which follow it, as the fruits and effects thereof; for in those precedent Arts, our will behaves it selfe in an hostile and passive manner: all familiarity with God is not only laid asleepe in us, but also quite dead; neither were we only estranged from him, but also altogether averse, and his enemies, hatefull, and hating God; but in these slips and sins which are committed after our conversion, some like things happens to us, as doth to the dust of Iron, long burnt in the fire, or defiled with filth, or corrupted with rust; for the clammy inward moisture of the Iron is corrupted by these, and the strength of it diminished, which as in a sicke body is with more difficulty raised up by the Loadstone; such Iron is hardly drawne by it, neither can it be done in such a distance, nor with such a speedy pace: Now the very same thing happens to Apostata's, those that sin unto death, and against the holy Ghost, as to the same Iron dust strongly and vehemently burnt in a close Furnace of reverberation, where the flame is beaten backe, and so is turn'd into Crocus Martis, as some call it, or calcin'd in red powder, whose inclination to turne, is renewed by no power of the Loadstone, nor can be revoked by any Inchantments, as being wholly and utterly deformed; So it is impossible that those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them againe to repentance.
Chap. 14. Of the Irons slow motion to the Loadstone, when it is far off, and the speed it makes when it approacheth towards it.
Iron in the adverse part of a vessell remov'd somewhat far from the Loadstone, turnes to it more slowly, and goes toward it with a softer motion, but by how much the nearer it approacheth, by so much the more it hastens its pace, and flies to it more speedily; for the vertue increaseth more and more, and so their comming together is hastened: No otherwise was the condition of those Fathers who lived before the Deluge, and after, about the time of Moses, who saw before hand the comming of Christ in the flesh, which was to be many ages after; for they desired his comming in a more lukewarme & languishing manner: but such as lived some few yeares before his Nativity, as Zacharias and Simeon, and saw the same, as it were, now ready to rise; They were carried towards him with the whole bent of their affections, as it were with full Sailes: The same fervent minde, and ardent desire should be in us, who are fallen upon the ends of the world, towards his second comming to Judgement, which is now at the dores: The same minde should be in Christians well stricken in age, whose salvation and glory is nearer than when they were newly converted and beleeved at first; no otherwise than as the streame and violence of Rivolets is much more swift neare the Ocean, than hard by the Fountaine; it is now time (saith aged Zanchius to Sturmius, another decrepite old man) that we should hasten from earth unto Christ, to the Starry sky, knowing that we shalbe there very shortly with the Lord.
Chap. 15. Of Needles not returning to the Loadstone, and of soules not returning to Christ, without trembling, after departure from either of them.
IF you place a Loadstone in a round woodden vessell, as a Mariner in a boat, so that it may freely float here and there at pleasure upon the surface of the water in a tunnell, or any large vessell, it will forthwith oftentimes turn it selfe round about together with the vessell, nor will it rest, untill it hath lookt just toward both the Celestiall Poles; from which, if you remove it with force of hands, it will whirle about, as in a circle, with reiterated turnings, nor will it put an end to this trembling motion, untill it hath found againe the same Poles; the like you may see in a Needle toucht with the Loadstone, which if you shake off from the polar points, will flye about unquietly thorow the severall corners of the Compasse, and of the world; nor will it stand toward the Poles without some kind of trembling before. God hath put the same condition upon our soules, after that by sinning we have broken away from him, then as Exiles with Cain we wander up & down, here and there, wee are tost with troublesome removals in the land of Nod, that is to say, of disquietnesse; wee passe away our time unprofitably, wee build, wee pluck downe; wee are inconstant, like sick men, wee tumble in our beds on everie side; or, as Salomon, wee vex our spirits with innumerable vanities, not knowing whither to turne our selves, untill at length being perfectly taught, by the Dove-like spirit, we return to the Arkof Noah, that is to say, of rest, wee cast our selves downe trembling, with the Jaylor, at the feet of our Ministers, and learne the song of David? Why doest thou cast downe thy self, why doest thou trouble thy selfe, my poore, wandring, wretch…d soule? why doest thou murmur? why art thou so disquieted within me? put thy trust in God, cast thy burden upon thy Saviour, take his light burthen upon thy shoulders, and thou shalt find everlasting rest:
Per motus varios, & per discrimina mille,
Tendimus in requiem, quo mens lassata quiescat,
Hanc solam praestat Christus, pax unica nobis,
Sola quies alibi, nullam sperare quietem,
Pax alibi bellmm est, pacem te poscimus omnes
Omnem qui captum superas, & mentis acumen.
Through divers troubles, and through dangers, we
Do aime at rest, where soules at quiet be;
Our onelyonly peace, our Christ gives only this,
'Tis quietnesse to seeke no other blisse,
Else peace is war, we seeke for peace, and it,
Which passeth all capacitie and wit.
Chap. 16. Concerning the thicknesse of a Medium interposed, or a substance placed in the midst betweene the Object and the Loadstone; not hindring the drawing of it.
OF all the Loadstones miraculous operations, there is none that makes the eyes of the beholders more astonisht, than that the vertue thereof penetrates and passeth thorow thick boords, vessels of clay, marble, and other metals; so that there is nothing so thick or solid, no not gold, which goeth beyond other metals in thicknesse; nor wals, nor Brick-chimneyes (beleeve mee that have experience of it) nor the body of the fattest man: There is nothing, I say, the interposition wherof may so fence the way, and stop the efficacie, and hinder the vertue of this stone, that it shall not move a peece of Iron, or the Needle of the Compasle, and drive it where it pleaseth, and draw it from whence it listeth: neither can plates of brasse, silver, or tin, though verie thick, hinder and retard, or make slow the attraction of it; That is beyond beleefe,Aug. de Ci…t. Dei, lib. 21. c. 4. saith St. Austine, which I have learnt of my br…ther and fellow Bishop, Severus Milevita…us, concerning this stone; for he related, that he himselfe saw Bathanarius, a Count of Africk, when this Bishop feasted with him, bringing forth the same stone, placing it under silver, and putting Iron upon the Silver; then as hee moved his hand, wherein hee held the stone, under these presently the Iron was moved from above, the Silver being in the midst, and suffering nothing; beneath, the stone was speedily drawne by the man; above, the Iron was drawne by the Stone; I have declared, saith he, that which I heard from him, whom I beleeved, as if I had seene it my selfe. Doe thou also, O Reader, if thou pleasest, beleeve mee without taking an oath, who have seene often before sufficient witnesses; yea, now as I write these things, do see a Loadstone with these eyes of mine; which, under a table six inches thick, on the other side of a Brickwall, doth speedily turne here and there the Needle of a Compasse upon a table, as also in a little vessell of water, which when I see with mine eyes, and consider with my mind, I doe altogether cease to wonder, that no perils were so terrible, no kind of torment so cruell; no, not prisons, fire, or wracks, which could separate the Saints and the faithfull from the love of Christ, or hinder them any way, that they should not follow the Lamb whithersoever hee went, nor cause that they should forsake the profession of his Name, or defence of his faith; neither doe these things a little increase and corroborate, or strengthen our faith about the Article of the resurrection, nor do they suffer us so much as to doubt a little, whether the Monuments and Sepulchers, whether the depth of sea and land may be an impediment to them that are dead in the faith of Christ, that they may not heare the voice of Christ, and the noise of the Angelicall Trumpet, that they may not rise againe to life, and be speedily gathered together as Eagles are to the Carkase: And this is the end and scope which that holy Father p…opounded to himselfe in relating these wondrous t…ings, that by sense he might informe the understanding, and so by a visible mir…cle, make the Article of the resurrection to be credible.