Works of Joseph Hall, Section 21 – Section 22
SECT. XXI.
FRom the danger of corruption in iudgement, let vsus turne our eyes to the deprauation of manners; which not ſeldome goes before: Apples therefore fall from the tree, becauſe they be worme-eaten; they are not worm-eaten becauſe they fall; and, as vſually followes, Satan like the Rauen firſt ſeizes vponupon the eye of vnderſtanding, and then preyes freely vponupon the other carkaſe. We may be bad enough at home, certainly we are the worſe for our neighbours. Old Rome vvas not more iealous of the Grecian and African manners, then we hauehave reaſon to be of the Roman. It were well if wee knew our owne faſhions, better if we could keepe them.
What miſchiefe hauehave we amongſt vsus that we hauehave not borrowed? To begin at our skin; vvho knowes not whence we had the varietie of our vaine diſguiſes? As if vvee had not wit enough to be fooliſh, vnleſſe we were taught it. Theſe dreſſes being conſtant in their mutabilitie, ſhew vsus our maſters. What is it that we hauehave not learned of our neighbours, ſaue onelyonly to be proud good cheape? vvhom would it not vex to ſee how that other ſexe hath learned to make Antiks and monſters of themſelues? Whence came their hips to the ſhoulders, and their breſts to the nauill; but the one from ſome ill-ſhap't Dames of France, and the other from the worſe minded Curtizans of Italy? Whence elſe learned they to dawbe theſe mud-wals vvith Apothecaries morter; and thoſe high waſhes, which are ſo cunningly lickt on, that the vvet napkin of Phryne ſhould be deceiued? Whence the friſled and poudred buſhes of their borrowed excrement? as if they were aſhamed of the head of Gods making, and proud of the Tire-womans? Where learned we that deuilliſh Art and practice of Duell, vvherein men ſeek honour in blood, and are taught the ambition of being glorious butchers of men? Where had vve that luxurious delicacie in our feaſts, in vvhichwhich the noſe is no leſſe pleaſed, then the palate; and the eye no leſſe then either? wherein the piles of diſhes make barricadoes againſt the appetite, and with a pleaſing encombrance trouble an hungry gheſt? Where thoſe formes of ceremonious quaffing, in which men hauehave learned to make Gods of others, and beaſts of themſelues: and loſe their reaſon, whiles they pretend to do reaſon? where the lawleſneſſe (miſ-called freedome) of a wilde tongue, that runnes with reines in the necke, thorow the bed-chamber of Princes, their Cloſets, their Counſell-Tables, and ſpares not the very Cabinet of their breſts, much leſſe can be barr'd out of the moſt retired ſecrecie of inferiour greatneſſe? Where the change of noble attendance, and hoſpitalitie, into foure wheeles, and ſome few butterflies? Where the Art of diſhoneſtie in practicall Machiaueliſme, in falſe equiuocations? Where the ſlight account of that filthineſſe, which is but condemned as veniall, and tolerated as not vnneceſſarie? Where the skill of ciuill and honourable hypocriſie, in thoſe formall complements, which doe neither expect beleefe from others, nor carie any from our ſelues? Where that vnnaturall villany, vvhichwhich though it vvere burnt with fire and brimſton from heauen, and the aſhes of it drowned in the dead ſea, yet hath made ſhift to reuiue, and cals for new vengeance vponupon the actors? Where that cloſe A…heiſme, vvhichwhich ſecretly laughs God in the face, and thinkes it weakeneſſe to beleeue, wiſdom to profeſſe any religion? Where the bloody and tragicall ſcience of King killing; the new diuinity of diſobedience and rebellion; with too many other euils, vvherewith foraine conuerſation hath indangered the infection of our peace? Lo here, deare Countrymen, the fruit of your idle gaddings: Better perhaps might be had; but he was neuer acquainted at home, that knowes not our nature to be like vntounto fire, vvhichwhich if there be any infection in the roome, drawes it ſtraight to it ſelfe: Or like vntounto iet, which omitting all precious obiects, gathers vp ſtrawes and duſt. Ilanders hauehave beene euer in an ill name. Wherefore? ſaue onelyonly for the confluence of forainers, vvhichwhich neuer come without the fraight of their nationall wickedneſſe. The experience whereof hath moued ſome witty Nations, both ancient and preſent, to ſhut themſelues vp within their owne bounds, and to barre the intercourſe of ſtrangers, as thoſe that thought beſt to content themſelues with their owne faults. A corrupt diſpoſition, out of a naturall fertilitie, can both beget and conceiue euill alone; but if it be ſeconded by examples, by precepts, by incouragements, the Ocean it ſelfe hath not ſo much ſpawne, as it: in all which regards, hee hath eſcaped well, that returnes but what he caried; but hee is worthy of memory, that returnes either more good, or leſſe euill. Some hauehave come home perhaps more ſparing, others more ſuttle, others more outwardly courteous, others more capricious, ſome more tongue-free, few euer better. And if themſelues be not ſenſible of their alterations, yet their Countrey and the Church of God feeles and rues them.
SECT. XXII.
LEt me therefore hauehave leaue to ſhut vp this diſcourſe with a double ſute, one to our Gentry, the other to ſupreme authoritie; both which ſhal come from the bottome of an heart vnfainedly ſacrificed to the common good: neither ſpeake I words, but my very ſoule vntounto both. To the former my ſute is, that they would bee happy at home: God hath giuen vsus a world of our owne, wherein there is nothing wanting to earthly contentment, Whither goe ye then, worthy Country-men, or what ſeeke yee? Here growes that wealth, which yee goe but to ſpend abroad: Here is that ſweet peace which the reſt of the world admires and enuies: Here is that gracious and well-tempered gouernment, which no Nation vnderunder heauen may dare once offer to parallel: Here all liberall Arts raigne and triumph: And for pleaſure, either our earth, or our ſea yeelds vsus all thoſe dainties, which their natiue Regions enioy but ſingle, Laſtly, here Heauen ſtands open, which to many other parts is barred on the outſide with ignorance or miſ-beliefe. And ſhall our wantonneſſe contemne all this bounty of God, and carie vsus to ſeeke that, which we ſhall finde no where but behinde vsus, but within vsus? Shall the affectation of ſome friuolous toyes draw vsus away from the fruition of thoſe ſolid comforts, which are offered vsus within our own dores? How many of ours, whom their iuſt offence hath caſt out of the boſome of their Country, compare their exile with death, and can ſcarce abide to bid that breath welcome, which they are forced to draw in a foraine aire; and though freedome of conſcience entertaine them neuer ſo liberally abroad, yet reſolue either to liue or die at home; and doe wee ſuffer our folly to baniſh vsus from thoſe contentments, which they are glad to redeeme with the hazard of their blood? are we ſo little in our owne bookes, that wee can be content to purchaſe outlandiſh ſuperfluities, with the miſ-cariage of our foules, with the danger of miſ-cariage, with the likelihood of danger? Are we ſo fooliſh, that whiles we may ſweetly enioy the ſetled eſtate of our Primogeniture, wee will needs bring vponupon our ſelues the curſe of Ruben, to runne abroad like water; whoſe qualitie it is, not eaſily to be kept within the proper bounds; yea the curſe of Cain, to put our ſelues from the ſide of Eden, into the land of Nod, that is, of demigration? None of the leaſt imprecations, which Dauid, makes againſt Gods enemies, is, Make them like vntounto a wheele, O Lord. Motion is euer accompanied vvith vnquietneſſe; and both argues, and cauſes imperfection, whereas the happy eſtate of heauen is deſcribed by reſt; whoſe glorious ſpheres in the meane time, doe ſo perpetually moue, that they are neuer remoued from their places. It is not the leaſt part either of wiſdome, or happineſſe, to know when wee are well. Shall we not be ſhameleſſely vnthankfull, if we cannot ſing the note of that great Chorieſter of God, My lot is falne to mee in a good ground? Hath not the munificence of God made this Iland as it were an abridgement of his whole earth, in which he hath contriued (though in a leſſe letter) all the maine and materiall commodities of the greater vvorld; and doe we make a priſon where God meant a Paradiſe? Enioy therefore (happy Countrymen) enioy freely God and your ſelues; enrich your ſelues with your owne mines, improue thoſe bleſſed opportunities which God hath giuen you, to your mutuall aduantage; and care not to be like any but your ſelues.