Divine Optics, Title page – Table of contents
Divine Opticks. OR, A Treatise of the EYE, Discovering The Vices and Virtues thereof; as also How that Organ may be Tuned.
Chiefly grounded on PSAL. 119.37.
By ROBERT DINGLEY, M. A. and Minister of Gods Word at Brixton, alias Brison, in the Isle of Wight; formerly Fellow of Mag. Col. Oxon.
Prov. 23.5.
Wilt thou cause thine eyes to fly upon that which is not?
Psal. 123.2.
Our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
Non debet intueri quod non licet concupisci.
Greg.
Oculi id circo dati sunt corpori, ut per eos intueamur creaturam, ac per hujusmodi Mirabilem Harmoniam agnoscamus Opificem.
Athanat. contra Gentes.
London, Printed by J. M. for H. Cripps, and L. Lloyd, and are to be sold at their shop in Popes-head Alley. 1655.
To the truely Religious, and my Honoured Friend, Mistress MARY PALMER.
AMongst my other Dedications, I held my self bound to present this poor unpolisht Treatise to your view; The Lord hath given you a very discerning Spirit; you have a choice unction from Heaven: yet humility eminently crowning all your other Graces, I know she will not disdaine, but highly prize the labour of those that are faithful. I have formerly received encouragement from you in my work, and you did not despise my youth: This therefore is to shew, that neither time, nor distance of place, can blot out those characters which the Memory of your Graces, and singular Favours, have imprinted on my heart. The Laws of Persia, Macedonia, and Athens, condemned the ungrateful to death; and unthankfulness may well be stiled the Epitome of vices: 'Tis as oblivious as Messala Corvinus, that forgat his own name. Some that are forgetful of benefits, are tenacious of injuries; the former they write in dust, the latter on marble: But I know your Modesty wishes an end to this discourse. I here lay before you a Treatise of spiritual Opticks, discovering the infirmities of the eye by Nature, with its excellencies attainable by Grace. 'Tis a Subject rarely written of; And I never yet could see any Treatise, opening at large, as distinctly, what I here undertake: If I have mingled divine with humane Observations, the Righteous God knoweth it is; that the latter may (with vulgar Readers) be as sauce to the former, to make them relish the better: So praying for your daily improvement in Grace; that at last I may see you glister in Eternity, (where our Communion will be renewed) I rest
Madam, Yours, and the Churches Servant in the things of Christ. ROBERT DINGLEY.
THE TABLE.
OF the 119 Psalm: And the Coherence and Division of the 37 verse, Turn away mine eyes from vanity.
From thence three Observations are raised: viz.
Doct. 1. That all earthly things are no better then vanity. Where it is shewed,
1. What the word Vanity contains?
Ans. 1. Inutile, 2. Falsum. 3. Imperitia. Ʋnprofitable, False, and Foolish.
2. How it may be proved that the World is a Map of all vanity?
Ans. 1. By descending to particulars. 2. Nothing but God in Christ can satisfie the heart. 3. All earthly things are vanishing and uncertain?
Use 1. See the folly and madness of our spirits, in fixing our hearts, or eyes on sublunary things.
Use 2. Mistake not with Monks and Hermits, who court the other extream.
Use 3. Most men have the Theory, few the Practical Part of this Truth.
Use 4. Pray the Lord to avert your eyes from vanity.
Use 5. Expect not rest or satisfaction on this side Heaven.
Doct. 2. The eye of man is the chief in-let of all vanity and mischief. Proved by eight Arguments. 1. This is oft exprest in the word. 2. Experienc'd in the world. 3. The eye is a nimble and active Broker for sin. 4. There lye every where many baits and snares for the eye. 5. Men's affections are like their eyes, and resemble that which they see. 6. The eye lets in a floud of unquietness and dissatisfaction into the mind. 7. The eye discovers much of the heart, and so gives occasion for sutable tentations; There it is shewed, that the Scripture speaks much of an evil eye: viz. 1. A proud eye. 2. Wanton. 3. Theevish. 4. Idolatrous. 5. Timerous. 6. Furious. 7. Envious. 8. Suspitious. 9. Bribed. 10. Winking. viz. 1. As mocking. 2. As given to immoderate sleep, where there is and gression of visions and dreams. The eight and last Argument, is; That our eye doth not only injure our selves, but others; and the eyes of others, us.
Use 1. Lamentation; That so excellent an Organ should be now out of tune by reason of mans sin: Where something is said,
1. Of the eyes wonderful and rare Frame.
2. Of his Necessity. 3. Its Benefit. 4. Its being an Ornament to the body.
Use 2. Admonition in two Branches.
1 Branch. Be very watchful over this wandering sence.
The Motives and Means.
1. The Motives, which are eight. 1 Gods eye is upon us; we cannot look or think awry but he sees it. 2. We are commanded to watch over that sence. 3. The Lord hath made a promise to circumsoection over our eyes. 4. That which had a blemish in the eye, was not to be offered under the Law. 5. A spark in the eye is more easisily quenched, then a flame in the heart. 6. The Saints have been very careful in this thing. 7. Meer Heathens have done somewhat in this work. 8. And lastly, The Lord will most certainly punish unbridled eyes. 1. Temporally. 2. Spiritually. 3. Eternally: where it is shewed how the eye shall be tormented in hell fire with the most gastly spectacles.
2. The Means or Helps which are four.
1. Watch over the heart, and then the eye is safe.
2. Baulk needless occasions of beholding vanity and evil.
Where it is askt, 1. If we may see an Idolatrous Worship? Or 2. Be present at Stage-plays, and Masks? 3. Implore help and aid from the Lord. 4. Fix not the eye too long on any Object, which may probably draw out our corruption, or strike fire into the tinder of our affections.
2. Branch of Admonition, To endeavour to make the eyes happy in-lets of grace and comfort.
The Scripture qualifications of a sanctified eye. 1. There is a Pitiful eye. 2. Penitent, weeping for sin. 3. Pure. 4. Liberal. 5. Zealous. 6. A Praying eye, in three respects. 7. A waiting eye of Hope. 8. A Thanksgiving eye. 9. An Eye much in reading Gods word. 10. And lastly, Beholding Gods Works, both of Creation and Providence.
Whereof the choycest of Gods visible works, The SAINTS: That our eyes must be upon their Graces and Footsteps.
Caution: We may not cast a loving eye upon persons of heretical and unsound principles.
Two comforting Considerations for the Saints, whose eyes are thus made the In-lets of Grace.
1. The Lords eyes are upon them for good here on earth.
2. Their bodily eyes shall be on Christ, in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Where four things are mentioned touching the eyes happiness in Glory.
1. Thine eye shall be ravished with the sight and survey of thine own personal happiness; and the glory that will be poured upon thy body.
2. With viewing the bodies of all the glorified Saints.
3. With beholding the Real and Glorified Body of Christ Jesus; to which the Sun is but a dark Globe.
4. With observing the Palace of the Great King, and the glittering Glory of the New Jerusalem.
And all this without Twinkling, Astonishment, Weariness, or Period.
Doct. 3. Prayer is the best means to chaine up and sanctifie our wandering eyes.
1 Enq. What the Expression means; Can our eyes be turned from seeing any vanity?
Ans. 1. There is a necessary and lawful Vision, which is transient. 2. A laudable and excellent Vision, which is contemning. 3. A sinful and dangerous sight of vanity, which is approving, admiring, and idolizing.
2 Enq. How Prayer becomes so useful, and chaining to this sense?
Ans. 1. By Diversion. 2. Confession. 3. Supplication. 4. Resolution, and vowing it to God.
The Use. Imitate holy David, and humbly intreat the Lord to turn away thy eyes from beholding vanity; especially at five times.
1. In the time of Publick Worship. lest we be distracted.
2. Of Private Meditation. lest we be distracted.
3. In a time when most vanity is presented unto us; as in our youth, and in time of tentation.
4. In the time of old age, when many re-act their sins by contemplative villany.
5. At the hour of death; that thou mayst be willing to leave this world for a better.