Know thy self.
MAn's curious
Nature still contends to know
What's
acting in the heavens, what's done below;
Hee'l number
Stars; unfold what is to come;
Fathom the Seas, bring sand into a summ.
He will maintain he
knows the year, the day
Wherein this glorious Fabrick shall decay.
Hee'l quere his
Creator, and reply
His own Inventions, his own vanity:
Poor man look back, look on thy self, that Book
Will teach enough; man should no further look
Till that be throughly learn'd, 'Tis such a task
The learning of it many an age will ask.
Study thy self, and all thou canst is study,
For all thy actions are but dull and muddy;
Leave off vain questions, meddle not at all
With heavens decrees, 'tis diabolicall:
First know thy self, then shalt thou know the power
That gave this
Knowledge, 'tis the strongest
Tower
Man can repair to;
This being truly known,
Makes man entitled man, and all his own.
But oh
Ambition, how it fools the sence
Of worm-like man! and hurries
reason thence.
How great an influence has vain-glory got
On weak, weak man whom it doth thus besot.
These actings are mens own, and these intrusions
Of fame hereafter, are but meer delusions.
Oh give me moderation, let me live
No longer than I shall forbear to grieve
My
Christian and my
Naturall brethren so!
As to condemn their
Zeal, or urge their wo▪
God is a God of order,
Man below
Should not confound, nor seek Mans overthrow;
I'le neither
envy Man, nor censure passe,
How God shall deal hereaster, for alasse!
Man cannot
Know himself, how can he then
Presume to
Know, what God shall act, or when?
Or how, or where, or by what means, or why?
He that pretends to this presumes too high.
These are to be given away by the Author, at the Sarazens-head within Ald-gate.