_When I behold my =Picture=, and perceive, How vaine it is, our =Portraitures= to leave In =Lines=, and =Shadowes=, (which make shewes, to day, Of that which will, to morrow, fade away) And, thinke, what meane =Resemblances= at best, Are by =Mechanike Instruments= exprest; I thought it better, much, to leave behind me, Some =Draught=, in which, my living friends might find me The same I =am=; in =that=, which will remaine, Till all is ruin’d, and repair’d againe: And, which, in absence, will more truely show me, Than, =outward Formes=, to those, who think they know me. For, though my gratious MAKER made me such, That, where I love, belov’d I am, as much As J desire; yet, =Forme=, nor =Features= are, Those =Ornaments=, in which J would appeare To =future Times=; Though they were found in me, Farre better, than I can beleeve they be. Much lesse, affect I =that=, which each man knowes, To be no more, but Counterfeits of those, Wherein, the =Painters=, or the =Gravers= toole, Befriends alike, the =Wiseman=, and the =Foole=: And, (when they please) can give him, by their =Art=, The =fairest-Face=, that had the =falsest-Heart=. A PICTVRE, though with most exactnesse made, Is nothing, but the =Shadow= of a SHADE. For, ev’n our =living Bodies=, (though they seeme To others more, or more in our esteeme) Are but the =shadowes= of that =Reall-being=, Which doth extend beyond the =Fleshly-seeing=; And, cannot be discerned, till we rise =Immortall-Objects=, for =Immortall-eyes=. Our =Everlasting-Substance= lies unseene, Behinde the Fouldings, of a =Carnall-Screene=, Which is, but, =Vapours= thickned into =Blood=, (By due concoction of our daily food) And, still supplied, out of other =Creatures=, To keepe us =living=, by their wasted natures: Renewing, and decaying, ev’ry Day, Vntill that =Vaile= must be remov’d away. For, this lov’d =Flesh=, wherewith, yet cloth’d we go, Is not the same, wee had sev’n yeares ago; But, rather, something which is taken-in, To serve insteed of what hath wasted bin, In =Wounds=, in =Sicknesses=, in =Colds=, and =Heates=, In all =Excrescions=, and in =Fumes=, and =Sweates=. Nor shall, this present =Flesh=, long stay with us: And, wee may well be pleas’d, it should be =Thus=. For, as I view, those Townes, and Fields, that be In Landskip drawne; Even so, me thinks, I see A Glimpes, farre off, (through FAITH’S =Prospective glasse=) Of that, which after =Death=, will come to passe; And, likewise, gained have, such meanes of seeing, Some things, which were, before my =Life= had being, That, in my =Soule=, I should be discontent, If, this my =Body= were, more permanent; Since, =Wee=, and all =God’s= other =Creatures=, here, Are but the =Pictures=, of what shall appeare.