approach. It is he that puts into man all the wisdom of the world, without speaking a word: which GOD, with all the words of his Law, promises or threats doth infuse. DEATH, which hateth and destroyeth man, is believed: GOD, which made him and loves him, is always deferred. "I have considered," saith SOLOMON, "all the works that are under the sun; and, behold! all is vanity and vexation of spirit:" but who believes it, till DEATH tells it to us?
It was DEATH, that opening the conscience of CHARLES the FIFTH, made him enjoin his son PHILIP to restore Navarre; and King FRANCIS the FIRST of France to command that justice should be done upon the murderers of the Protestants in Merindol and Cabrieres, which till then he had neglected.
It is therefore DEATH alone that can suddenly make man to know himself. He tells the proud and insolent that they are but abjects, and humbles them at the instant: makes them cry, complain and repent; yea, even to hate their forepassed happiness. He takes the account of the rich, and proves him a beggar; a naked beggar, which hath interest in nothing but in the gravel that fills his mouth. He holds a glass before the eyes of the most beautiful, and makes them see therein their deformity and rottenness: and they acknowledge it.
O eloquent, just and mighty DEATH! Whom none could advise, thou hast persuaded! What none have dared, thou hast done! And whom all the world hath flattered, thou only hast cast out of the world and despised! Thou hast drawn together all the far-fetched greatness, all the pride, cruelty and ambition of man: and covered it all over with these two narrow words:
Hic jacet.
THE END OF THE
FIRST VOLUME
OF AN ENGLISH GARNER.
UNWIN BROTHERS, THE GRESHAM PRESS, CHILWORTH AND LONDON.
