The Wonders of the Lodestone, Chapter 23 – Chapter 33
Chap. 23. That the Iron, though unworthy in it selfe, is ennobled by conjunction with the Loadstone, and that wee wretched men are ennobled by our spiritual union with Christ.
THere are everie where veines of Iron in exceeding great plentie, shops of Iron are open almost in eve…ie village and Countrey-towne; it serves for exceeding many uses of men; but such as are common, and of small estimation among many, divers kindes of Instruments are made of it, but such as are ordinary, as Horse-shooes, Keyes, Lockes, Nailes, Sawes, Mattocks, Plow-shares, to say nothing of Warlike Slings, Guns, Bullets, and such instruments as are so pestilent unto men, all the honour and dignity of the Iron ariseth and accrewes to it, from the Loadstone, which assuredly confers more Noblenesse upon the Iron, than that Egyptian King, did upon gold when he made of his Chamber pots, Graven Images for the gods, which he constrained his Noble-men to worship; for Iron being stirred up by the Loadstone, it can hardly be exprest, how many and what great Commodities it brings unto men. So that your Alchymists are vaine in this, when they dreame that nature would perfect all other Metalls, by changing them into Gold; for who doth not perceive, that wee owe more to those Needles used in Navigation and the Art of Dialling, than to all the gold and precious Stones, that are any where to be found? as by whose helpe and benefit we procure all these, and other wares of all sorts; So that it should not seeme strange unto us, that the Iron doth so much desire, goe about, or seeke for to compasse this honourable match with the Loadstone, that having seene it, as it were, it flies to it with speedy pace, as that by whose complying, and communicating with it, it becomes so full of wonders and strength. Now to make some use of this; who is so blockish and dull, that beholding and deepely considering these things, doth not with a sorrowfull remembrance, call to minde that former wretched estate and condition in which we were borne, as that in which we were vessels of wrath and dishonour, Slaves of the world, of Satan, of our owne filthy lust▪ whose god was their belly, whose glory their shame, and whose end was damnation? who is so hard and flinty hearted, who can so moderate himselfe, as to abstaine from teares, when he cals to minde how unserviceable he is in performing all duties which are due both to God and man? how unapt for any thing, unlesse it be to consume and devoure Gods good creatures, the fruits of the earth, to imploy good houres amisse to fulfill the lusts of the flesh, to treasure up wrath against the day of wrath? Who is so frozen and Icy cold, that when seriously, though overlate, he thinkes upon, and weighes these things with himselfe that is not enflamed and wholly burnes vvith desire of that heavenly Wedlock vvith Christ, vvhereby he may obtaine t…is favour not only to be c…lled, but also to be the Son of God, Cohei…e vvith Christ, a Citizen and free Denizon of Heaven? What soule is so brutish and so base, that it had rather vvallovv, as yet in flesh and blood, than by the inspiration of Gods holy Spirit, to be raised and lifted up, and be made quicke and fit to undergoe Spirituall and Angelicall duties, vvhereby it may save both it selfe, and also others, and perform those good vvorks by vvhichwhich it may attaine everlasting Salvation & the Kingdome of heaven? Who is so deafe and disobedient, that vvill not open his Immortall Gates, through vvhichwhich the King of Life and Glory may enter in, by vvhose entring in, and dvvelling vvith him, he may be encouraged and strengthened to accomplish all Duties?
Chap. 24. A Comparison betweene the Loadstone and other precious Stones, in respect of vertue and beauty.
GOld hath a Sun-like shining; The Silver a Moon-light brightnesse; Brasse and Copper have a sightly yellovvish colour; Tin and Lead have a clearnesse, like that of Quicksilver; Pearles have their Candour and lightsome smoothnesse, the Diamond hath a sparkling and shining cleare colour, as also other precious stones have a colour that is most pleasing and lightsome, wherewith they draw unto them, and bewitch the eyes of the beholders; But the aspect of the Loadstone, is like that of rusty Iron, blewish, sad, pale and darke, which notwithstanding the Lord of Nature hath enricht and endowed with a marvellous inward vertue: in the meane while for other Stones, he would have their outward beauty to serve their turnes, besides which, he bestowed nothing upon them, whereby they might procure estimation and honour with men; and surely this order is most excellent▪ this ordinance most just, which in distributing his Gifts, he hath prescribed to himselfe to bee constantly observed, not conferring upon any, either all his gifts, or many of them, in a superaboundant manner; but he imparteth se…rall endowments to sever…ll things, so that every one of them may have some thing singular, wherein they may be em…nt without either injury or envy of the rest, you may discerne a notable proof and patterne of this ordering of things, as in stones, so likewise in men; for in both of them it is rare to find a conjunction and concord of outward beauty and inward vertue; It is not altogether usuall to have beauty and strength inherent in one and the same party: It is difficult to finde a man that excels in strength of body and prudence of minde; Now beauty and splendour is such an endowment, as doth not lye hid, but is forth with outwardly manifest, and presents it selfe to the eyes of the beholders; but prudence & strength do not disclose and declare themselves without many Arts and exercises: you shall meet with many in Histories, that surpassed in beauty, yet were not famous for any excellent Art, for beauty doth effeminate the possessors of it, perswades them to be idle, and to take their pleasure, as not wanting any other glory.Tertull. de resur. On the contrary, Christ our Lord was a man of sorrowes, acquainted with gri…fe, by reason of his suffrings, there was no beauty or bravery in him, that we should desire him, he was a worme and no man, one who the people made no account of: But as touching the fulnesse of his Spirit, he was above the Sons of men, upon whom rested the spirit of wisedome and counsell, in whom were all the treasures of wisedome, who by the smell of his good oyntments, did provoke and draw men to come unto him; whose good examples let us alwaies follow; If we have beauty, let us not much regard it, if we have it not, let us not be sorry for it, nor envy others that have it; let us rather rejoyce for our inward vertues and good workes; Let us cloathe our selves with the silke of honesty, with the fine cloath of Sanctity, with the Purple of Chastity, being so adorned, & trimly set forth, we shall have God for our Paramour, holy people for our Imitators or followers,Tertull. de cultu faeminarum. The Angels for our Spectators and praisers.
Chap. 25. That God useth to be more admired in little Loadstones, and weake Christians, than in great ones.
THere is as much difference betweene Loadstone and Loadstone, as there is betweene man and man. Among those of humane race, the first difference is in vigour, in which respect some are male, some are female: The second difference is in greatnesse, in which respect some are Gyants, some Dwarffs: So likewise there are some stones, great in quantity, but weake in strength; such as scarcely, & verie hardly lift up a weight that is but equall to themselves: Some again are small and little, not exceeding the quantitie of a Filberd, that lift up their weight threescore times, nay, an hundred times multiplyed. God useth to be of greater power in small, than in great things. It is said there is greater life in Emmets than in Elephants, in Dwarffs than in Gyants. If there were some great Loadstone, that could lift up its owne weight fiftie times multiplyed; there were some danger lest it should be adored as an Idoll: Among poore people that have but slender possessions, and small abilities, you may see many that …xcel, and are very famous for godlinesse and holinesse of life, that if any such should be met withall among the Nobles, among the learned and mightie of this world, hee should be counted a rare wonder; and it were to be feared, lest the common people should imagine him to have some Deitie within him, and so worship him, as if he were some halfe God. Further, there are manifest tokens, by which the stronger and more lively stones are differenced from the weak and sluggish. First, that they do finish their taske with more expedition, that they tu…ne more speedily towa…ds the Poles, that they draw more strongly, & more hardly let goe. Secondly, that they lift heavier burdens with more ease, that they can hold up more nailes and rings. Thirdly, that they have a larger spheare of activitie; That they can extend their vertue to an object more remote and and distant; There are likewise just as many signes, whereby noble and heroical Christians are discerned from those that are luke-warme and vulgar. They are more quick spirited and nimble to performe good works, they goe not about holy duties, groaning and lamenting, with an ill will, like those kine that drew the Ark, which lowed on the way as they went. Secondly, they can endure the crosse more couragiously, and beare those temptations that are more grievous than ordinary, like Samson, who without much ado took up the brazen gates on his shoulders. Lastly, they do endevor to win and draw, not one, or two, or a few; but many soules unto Christ: for so it is mentioned of Barnabas, that hee was a good man, and that many were converted unto God by his meanes.
Chap. 26. All the Circles are found in the least Loadstone, although not in the same largen…sse; and all the habits, though not the same degrees of graces in the least Christians.
THough a Loadstone, which is strong, doth surpasse a weake one in vertue, by many degrees, yet all of them, both strong and weake, doe agree in this; That the two polar points, and so many Tropicall Circles, and one Aequinoctiall are seen in each of them, as they are seen in the Globe of Heaven and Earth. So if you cut some great Loadinto a thousand peeces, there will be none of them so small; but that you may find in it all the forenamed Mathematicall Circles; So likewise, there is not any Christian of so little faith, of so small stature in Christianitie, but that hee hath received from the fulnesse of Christ, grace for grace, although all of them have not the same measure, and degree of severall graces; yet they have the same number, the same seed-plot of all vertues, no otherwise than as the severall members & lineaments of the parents, may be clearely seene in an infant but one day old.
Chap. 27. One Loadstone helps another, that is conveniently, or fitly placed by it; but hurts it, if otherwise: the like happeneth in the familiar entercourses, both good and bad, that men have one with another.
IF you gather a thousand flints into an heap, one flint will neither receive damage, or profit by another: The case is far otherwise with Loadstones, of which, if you place one by another, or if you cast many of them confusedly into one heap, the one must needs draw either some losse and impediment, or some vertue or benefit from that which is next unto it; for if they doe accord in respect of the Magnetick rules, and meet in tearms or points convenient, for each ones natures; so that the Southerne point of the one, be disposed toward the Northerne point of the other, the weake shall be drawne, and cherished, & strengthe…ed by the strong; But if it be placed in contrarie, and inconvenient tearmes, it shall be driven away, and much weakened. There happens in the friendship and societie of men, something that is like unto this; some good doth alwayes befall to a man by meanes of a good neighbour, and some evill by meanes of an ill neighbour; for wicked…communications corrupt good manners; but good communications correct & confirme whatsoever is amisse: the wicked will fasten upon us some vice or another; but the good and vertuous will infuse into us some vertue; There was a little cloud in the forme of a pillar, which was in the midst betweene the Egyptians and the Israelites, as they travelled in the wildernesse; the hindermost thereof, which was dark and mistie, the Egyptians followed after; but the formost, which was lightsome and bright, the Israelites beheld▪ Whatsoever thing wee have in us, that is spotted and worthy of dispraise, they which are the children of darknesse doe imitate that; but whatsoever is excellent and praiseworthy, that they doe follow, which are the children of light, and led by the Spirit of God.
Wherefore wee must not only take heed with whom we converse, but upon what tearmes and conditions, with a great deale of care in the choyse of our friends, and diligent circumspectnesse; unlesse that we be willing to endure thereby a dangerous corruption of manners.
Chap. 28. As the Poles of the Loadstone have their strength in divers regions, so good and bad men have their regiment or rule in divers ages.
THere is as much difference betweene the Poles of the Loadstone, as is between the right hand and the left; for they have a different power in different regions of the earth: In t…e Northerne parts of …he world, there is a manifest difference of the Northerne point; for it lifts up a greater piece of Iron, than the Southerne Pole can doe in the same parts.
In this world the flesh prevailes against the spirit, the body doth here presse downe the soule: The sons of Belial dominere in this life, every one hath his place, his government assigned him by God.
Chap. 29. Christ doth diligently purge his floore in that sort, as Goldsmiths doe their Tables.
GOldsmiths have an admirable cunning to cleanse their tables, upon which small dust of Iron is everie where mingled with golden dust, which fall from their files and hammers, as they polish those things which they make: For they carry about on the Table a Loadstone. of great vertue within a fingers distance, which readily separates, without any damage, the small pieces of Iron f…om those of gold; when passing by, and leaving the golden, it drawes those of Iron unto it. After the very same manner the Lord shall purge his floore in that great day of judgement; for when two shall be together in one bed, one shall be taken, and the other shall be left; when two shall be grinding in one mill, one shall be taken, the other left; for the Lord knoweth those that are his, he shall separate the Goats from the Sheep, and shal winnow the chaffe from the wheat. Neither ought it to seem more difficult, or wonderfull unto us, That the severall members, and small parts of the deceased, should returne againe to their bodies, than that severall Bees in the hive doe know their cels; that severall young Lambs in a flock doe distinctly knew their owne Dams, and that severall peeces of Iron should flye towards the Loadstone.
Chap. 30. The Loadstone, and Christ together, with their vertue, do impart gravitie, or weight, to those persons and things that are drawne by them.
FUrther, wee may be pleased to note by the way; That the Loadstone, together with the vertues observed, doth infuse and put a certaine weightinesse into the Iron: For that point of the Needle, which is touched and stirred up, doth plainly out-weigh that which is untoucht, and is enclined towards the earth: So likewise doth Christ adde gravitie to those vertues, wherewith hee is pleased to endow his Servants: and surely it is no lesse profitable and necessary to the soule of man, than ballasting is to a ship. And although Gravitie is not numbred by Philosophers among the vertues, yet it is the ornament and defence of them all. Now a grave man is hee which is stedfast in his purpose, is firmely fixt upon his intent, as a statu… or image upon the base thereof, and without variation doth alwayes persist in the same mind; neither is hee carried away with every popular wind of applause, nor chang'd into new forms, by any new doctrine or example; as other light vaine men are used to be.
Chap. 31. The Loadstone, for love of the earth, turnes aside from the poles of heaven; as wee also being moved by the authoritie of men, doe of…en times turne aside from the truth of God.
WHeresoever the Loadstone doth enjoy a free and naturall motion, there it lookes streight towards bo…h the Poles, the North…rn and Southerne, and departs not a whit from the Meridian; but it happeneth in many places, both of land and sea, that it turnes aside, and goes out of the way, towards some point of the Horizon which is neere to the true Meridian, and departs from the Poles point towards the East & West, which is distant by some degrees. This irregularite is by the Mariners called Variation, it ariseth, and is caused by large, high, and strong Continents of the land, unto which the Loadstone enclines, whilst that it turnes it selfe to the eminent parts of its mother, the Earth: and forsakes the Celestiall Poles, for love of them, which Variation breeds a troublesom uncertaintie among the Mariners: Not unlike to that which befals the Pastors and Christian flock, in discussing and determining Divinitie controversies; in which as long as they observe the rule of the Scripture, and are not moved from the unmoveable foundation, and infallible Canon of the Prophets and Apostles, so long do they retain verity▪ & unitie, and peace in the Church; but as soone as they are divided, and earnestly bend their mindes to maintaine particular factions, and doe joyne themselves to that company, or Sect of learned men, which excell (as they suppose) in authority and knowledge, and attribute more to their judgements and opinions, than to the undoubted Oracles of God. Hereupon grow so many schismes, so many here…ies, and so many more than civill wars in the Church. Against which mischiefes, no better remedy can bee thought upon, or desired, than that they should admit the voyce of Christ, that speaks in the Scripture; for the true and living rule, both of faith and life of manners and doctrine, and for the Supreame J…dge of all doubts: Then they walking according to this rule, there shall be peace in the Israel of God.
Chap. 32. Men are deceived in the estimation of Stones, and other things, while they est…eme of them not according to their use, but according to their outward appearance.
IF those things be true which the Romane Ce…our suppos'd concerning the valuation of things: That whatsoever is not profitable for mankind, is too deare, though you pay but the least piece of money for it; That whatsoever is unserviceable, is of no worth, and that which is of no use, is of no estimation; Then surely shall they be guilty of the greatest vanity, that are unequall prizers of things, who with the losse of their patrimonies and large possessions, do purchase to themselves Gemms and precious Stone…, which bring them no substantiall advantage, and can profit them nothing, unlesse it be for superfluous splendour, and outward adorning, whereby no benefit comes, either to body or soule; when in the meane while, they make no great account of the Loadstone, and suppose it worth little, though it be remarkable for so many vertues, and ordayned by nature for so many uses, and serviceable for so many necessary occasions of men: Now if we believe Raimundus, it belongs unto God alone, who cannot encrease within, who wants no inward augmentation and accomplishment, to seeke an estimation of himself in mens hearts; a name and praise by their tongues; and finally that honour & glory which is outward. But that man who only wants inward perfection and the increase of reall good things, the more he seeks that honour which is placed in the brest of others, the more he pursues after vanity, emptinesse, unprofitablenesse, and is by so much more wretched and poore; more remote from solid perfection and blisse; which things if they be examined according to the rule of truth, peradventure they may seeme too harsh and to savour of Cynicall a…d Stoicall rigour▪ for it is lawfull and allowed unto men by God himselfe, to se…ke in a moderate way, those things that pertaine unto outward ornament; yet profusely to spend such huge sums of mony, for to procure them, to put upon them such an excesse of price, beyond all measure, despising and contemning those things that are of greater use, and enricht with more indowments: I do not see but that it is extreame folly, if I may not say madnesse.
Chap. 33. Of that Emulation and desire to excel one another, which is among Loadstones and likewise among Christians.
THere is not any where such manifest concord or discord, no such vehement and irreconciliable envying, either in vegetative or sensitive, nor scarcely in things endued with reason, as there is among Loadstones; they doe so greedily desire the polar point, and goe about to enjoy it wholly every one to it selfe, after the fashion of Rivalls, that for the obtaining thereof, they doe expresse either wonderfull friendship or hatred among themselves; for if you hang two long pieces of Iron, and sharpe pointed over the Poles of the earth or Loadstone, they forthwith concurre and accord in their lowest points, but in their highest points, they avoyd and drive one another away: On the contrary, if they be short and blunt, they will turne one from the other in their lowest points, and as it were mutually kisse and imbrace one another in the highest. So likewise in humane things, the least gaine is such an Apple of contention, or occasion of strife among the covetous, that because of this, one meane man is ready to hate another: A common whore is an occasion of contention among the lascivious; That these wretched Miscreants do mutually wound and …ab one another: Principality and favour of Princes, is an occasion of contention among the ambitious, for which Courtiers doe strive by treacheries and poysoning one of another: In the meane time true Christians spend all their love of honour, love of pleasure, and love of money another way that they m…y enjoy Christ, serve him and please him. Peter and Iohn having received newes of Christs Resurrection, contended among themselves, and ran forte together, but the beloved Disciple out ran Peter, and came before him unto the Sepulcher, and modestly concealing his name, he did write the History of this holy Emulation: The like fit of contention wa… betweene Paul and Barnabas, and it m…y be for the like cause, foreign, Such contention is profitable for mortall men. Iacob, that he might take away from Esau the blessing and birth-right, supplanted him by his own craft and his mothers helpe.