Before the _Plowman_ hopefull can be made, His untill’d earth good Hay or Corne will yeeld, He breakes the hillocks downe, with _Plough_ or _Spade_; And, harrowes over, all the cloddie Field. Then, from the _leaveld-ground_, at last, he mowes That Cropp of grasse, which he had hope to gaine; Or, there, doth reape the fruit of what he sowes, With profit, which contents him for his paine. Our _craggie-Nature_ must be tilled, thus, Before it will, for _Herbes of Grace_, be fit. Our _high conceit_, must downe be broke in us; Our heart is proud, and God must humble it. Before good _Seed_, in us will rooting take, _Afflictions_ ploughes and harrowes, must prepare us: And, that the truer _levell_, he may make, When we are _sunck_ too low, _Gods_ hand must reare us. Then, neither stormings of _Adversitie_, Shall drowne the _Seedes of Hope_, which we have sowne; Nor shall the _Sunne-beames_ of _Prosperitie_, Drie up their moisture, ere they ripe are growne. Oh _Lord_, thou know’st the nature of my _minde_; Thou know’st my _bodyes_ tempers what they are; And, by what meanes, they shall be best inclin’de Such _Fruits_ to yeeld, as they were made to beare. My barren _Soule_, therefore, _manure_ thou so; So, _harrow_ it; so _emptie_, and so _fill_; So _raise_ it _up_, and bring it _downe_, so _low_ As best may lay it _levell_ to thy _Will_. In _this Desire_, the worke is well begunne; Say _thou_ the _Word_, and all is fully _done_. _True =Knowledge= is a constant =Friend=, Whose =Friendship=, never shall have end._ [Illustration: SCIENTIA IMMUTABILIS. ILLVSTR. XI. _Book. 3_]