What in this _Emblem_, that mans meanings were, Who made it first, I neither know nor care; For, whatsoere, he purposed, or thought, To serve my _purpose_, now it shall be taught; Who, many times, before this Taske is ended, Must picke out _Moralls_, where was none intended. This knot of _Moones_ (or _Crescents_) crowned thus, Illustrate may a Mystery to us, Of pious use (and, peradventure, such, As from old _Hieroglyphicks_, erres not much) _Old-times_, upon the _Moone_, three _names_ bestow’d; Because, three diverse wayes, her selfe she show’d: And, in the _sacred-bookes_, it may be showne, That _holy-Church_, was figur’d by the _Moone_. Then, these three _Moones in one_, may intimate The _holy-Churches_ threefold blest estate. The _Moone_, still, biding in our _Hemisphære_, May typifie the _Church_, consisting, here, Of men, yet living: when she shewes her light Among us here, _in portions of the night_; The _Church_ it figures, as consist she may Of _them_, whose _bodies_ in the _Grave_ doe stay; And, whose blest _spirits_, are ascended thither, Where _Soule_ and _Body_ meet, at last, together. But, when the _Moone_ is hidden from our eyes, The _Church-triumphant_, then, she signifies; Which, is a _Crescent_ yet, that, some, and some, Must grow, till all her parts together come: And, then, this _Moone_ shall beames, at full, display; LORD, _hasten this great_ Coronation-day. _True =Vertue= is a =Coat of Maile=, 'Gainst which, no =Weapons= can prevaile._ [Illustration: VIRTVS LORICA FIDELIS ILLVSTR. L. _Book. 2_]