Yet, whilst they =are=, I thankfully would make That use of them, for their CREATOR’S sake, To which hee made them; and, preserve the =Table=, Still, =Faire= and =Full=, as much as I were able, By finishing, (in my alotted place) Those =Workes=, for which, hee fits me by his Grace. And, if a =Wrenne=, a =Wrenn’s= just height shall soare, No =Ægle=, for an =Ægle=, can doe more. If therefore, of my =Labours=, or of MEE, Ought shall remaine, when I remov’d, must be, Let it be that, wherein it may be view’d, My MAKERS =Image=, was in me renew’d: And, so declare, a dutifull intent, To doe the =Worke= I came for, e’re I went; That, I to others, may some =Patterne= be, Of =Doing-well=, as other men to mee, Have beene, whilst I had life: And, let my daies Be summed up, to my =Redeemer’s= praise. So this be gained, I regard it not, Though, all that I am else, be quite forgot._ _By =Knowledge= onely, =Life= wee gaine, All other things to =Death= pertaine._ [Illustration: VIVITVR INGENIO CÆTERA MORTIS ERṼT ILLVSTRATIO I. _Book. 1._] How Fond are they, who spend their pretious Time In still pursuing their deceiving _Pleasures_? And they, that unto ayery _Titles_ clime Or tyre themselves in hoording up of _Treasures_? For, these are _Death’s_, who, when with wearinesse They have acquired most, sweepes all away; And leaves them, for their Labors, to possesse Nought but a raw-bon’d _Carcasse_ lapt in clay. Of twenty hundred thousands, who, this houre Vaunt much, of those _Possessions_ they have got; Of their new purchac’d _Honours_, or, the _Power_, By which, they seeme to have advanc’t their _Lott_: Of this great _Multitude_, there shall not _Three_ Remaine, for any _Future-age_ to know; But perish quite, and quite forgotten bee, As _Beasts_, devoured twice ten yeares agoe. Thou, therefore, who desir’st for aye to live, And to possesse thy _Labors_ maugre _Death_, To needfull _Arts_ and honest _Actions_, give Thy Spanne of _Time_, and thy short blast of _Breath_. In holy _Studies_, exercise thy _Mind_; In workes of _Charity_, thy _Hands_ imploy; That _Knowledge_, and that _Treasure_, seeke to find, Which may enrich thy _Heart_ with perfect _Ioy_. So, though obscured thou appeare, awhile, Despised, poore, or borne to Fortunes low, Thy _Vertue_ shall acquire a nobler stile, Then greatest _Kings_ are able to bestow: And, gaine thee those _Possessions_, which, nor _They_, Nor _Time_, nor _Death_, have power to take away. _The Man that hath true =Wisdome= got, Continues =firme=, and =wavers= not._ [Illustration: SAPIENTIA CONSTANS ILLVSTR. II. _Book. 1._]