The Hartlib Papers

[top left margin, Hartlib:]     Ian. 20. 58.

Deares Sir/

By my last which was about a fortnight since you will I beleeve discerne I was deliberate in [word deleted] those offers & Tenders I made to you, in which purposes I hope through the Lords grace I shall still remaine

For our friend Mr Potter I take his Intimations to me, of his busynesse kindely yea very kindely & so pray acquaint him and that he may the more see I do so I have written the enclosed to him which when you have perused you may please to seale & give him./ What is there written I am pretty sure is true; and I hope the Lord hath given him wisedome ynough to vnderstand it and vnto the Lord I principally leave it yet if he will take please to take our advice in the thing I hope we shall be faithfull. to him. If he have a minde h to hope for the favour of great men you know the words of the Psalmest All men are vanity great men a Lye. And I confesse I am only concerned for him least he should gett in with some of our Parlaiment who will perhap be forward ynough to speake kindely to him. Though I doubt his spirit will receive litle Trust from them. All which I speake the rather, because there was one of my Acquaintance in this Countrey, who now serves in Parlaiment for this place who I know would be glad of such an opportunity to renew his acquaintance <againe> with Mr Potter <& perhap by your meanes> And [yet page edge] if I mistake not would thinke a man much a foole that would serve any man beside himselfe or otherwise then in order to himselfe being a wisedome comen to this world. And that honest man you have so often taken an occasion to mention <& desire my Resolution of>; is doubtlesse such a wise man and so as in that wisedome all his whole security is placed. And to all such It is a <as> reall a Gospell saying as it is a law saying De non Apparentibus & non existentibus eadem est Ratio. But the Apostle tells vs a better Rule when he tells vs Faith is the evidence of things not seene./ And the Lord will be honored if not of others yet of them that know him./

For that of the malt=drying, heere They do steepe it about 24 howres they spread it thyn in the drying of it having <vpper> floores to lay it w. upon through which the winde freely passeth if there be any stirring./   They dry it indifferently at any season though in the most temperate season they can dry most at a time. But they do it well ynough all the wynter./

[left margin:] Pray present my service to Mr Boyle and tell him I am truly his servant <yet> I have not writt to him partly in expectation weekely that I should receive those papers from white Hall which are not yet come partly by reason of a Crisis some affaires of mine here are vnder which hath lately ingaged & will for a while take up more of my time/    

That which our worthy friend did whysper in your eare concerning the raising of wine vpon [word deleted] barren mountaines I would be glad to heare more of And indeed you are in my debt some other comunications of that nature which you promised me from him./

Your comunications about the Clepsydra & about your new invention of scales were very wellcome and therefore I hope they will not dye so.

I am heartily sorry for poore Mr. Ashmole his distraction being one of the greatest Calamityes I thinke a man of his spirit Temper & Condition is capable of. I having heard of him as of a most worthy person./ And indeed in poynt of naturall learning especially chymicall & Astrologicall <I did> expect much from him./

If Mr Sparrow answer not our honest kinde ingenuus Intentions to him we have at least done our d duty to move him Although I rather impute it to many busynesses then to any other thing as beleeving him to be a Civil person & a man of honest christian principles. Your friendly favour or presents of sweetmeates as you well called them. I meane Lux in Tenebris, with our choyce friends holy Key, I received the last weeke./ Christinas <Poniatovia> Visions I have read all over, & would have beene glad we had her hystory. The preface <imediately> before Kotters visions I read with much savour, being done by a person (whosoever he was) that had both Iudgement & learning. some of Drabicius seeme to be dreames rather then visions and the style & matter of some of them do rayse a doubt in me, whether they were any other then such dreames & Impressions in sleepe as are Ordinary <& naturall>. Although if this were granted there is no necessity I suppose othat it should preiudice the Creditt of others that seeme to be more extraordinary. But I know you do not expect a Judgment in perticular so soone from me. In generall.

That the Gyft of Prophecy & all extraordinary & divine Revelation did so cease & determine in the Apostles times as <that> there was not (<or> or is not) to be any in the Church here after <That> [word deleted?] expected. / hath no sollid ground or colour

This Gyft of Prophecy seemeth not now but in all Ages to have <beene of> a double consideration/ One wholly sacred and more extraordinary as Relating <in the maine scope of it> to the person mystery and office and Kingdome or Gospell of [word deleted] Christ. In In which sense it is sayd all the Prophetts Prophecyed vntill John. The consummation of all which was made by the great Prophett himselfe and his wittnesses the blessed Apostles. And he is the Alpha & Omega of the whole, the begining and the end of this great Prophecy [letter deleted] The summe subiect & content of all these blessed Oracles of God./ And as as his is thus the adequate subiect of <all> those sacred writings, and as they all poynt to him so nothing is hereafter to be added, nor any thing altered or diminished.   And as they are the lively character of him and his Image, As he is of the Image & face of God. so if any man or an Angell preach another Gospell he is not to be beleeved and therfore we must alwaies hold of this fountaine and head./ But as <the gyft of> Prophecy is more strict not relating so much to the great way & mystery of salvation for the church throughout all Ages; As to <Temporary dispensations or to the> privatt or perticular Providences; as I may call them <relating> or to the fate <or event> of perticular Kindomes or Kings Princes great . men, Armyes Actions <present & perticular> or the like so why we should contest against . <all such Prophecies> much lesse why we should wholly deny it .. <them> or attribute it <them> to dæmoniacy or delusion I know not nor any Reason for it

And although for the reasons afore mentioned Because there can be but one Christ, & Because the scripture we now have is the compleat hystory, and Image of that christ and of the mystery of salvation & Redemption <of God> in him and by him. I say though I should for these Reasons wholly scorne despise & Reiect any vision, dreame Extasy Revelation or prophesy, that would pretend to shew vs another way or mystery <of God> then what is shewed vs already by the great Prophett & sonne of his <God and who only knew the> Bosom & will & minde of God in his Grace & election of poore man.

Yet when a dreame Prophecy vision Trance or extasy comes forth in the spirit of humblenesse, [hotos?] of the head, beares wittnesse in all things of the scripture & Truth submitts it selfe to be iudged by the Prophecies of it. I say a vision

But lett <all> those men know <to their Amazement> and I dare <to> speake it any where for the Lord hath in some measure lett me see it, and assured me of it/   That these <alasse> are but the very small and young dawnings, The <thyn> scattering Prodromi The leane <leane> visions, the weake and inglorious appearings of him, In comparison of that great spirit of glory & power & wisedome & excellency from on high that he is about to powre down vpon his church and to cause to Beet vpon his people <& saints> when they shall be one <flocke> and his name one among <them>   Then will God make a separation that shall be distinguisheable, betwene the wheate & the chaffe. betweene his people, and the hypocrite, when he shall appeare in his mighty power & spirit.

And thefore my deare father & friend, if you thinke you do discerne the brightnings & Risings of great things both in Nature, Art, & Grace, do not be transported <with them> nor do not (lett me begg you) thinke them very greate./ For if you do not, but keepe your minde wayting vpon him and his goodnesse, he will yet shew you greater & perhap <more> be of the Travell of your soule <then you now are aware of>   Therfore wayte only in him and thinke nothing Great, at least be sure you thinke [left margin:] no Instrument Great nor man great and so warne <all> your best friends for this is a Time wherein the Lord calls for watching & waking and hearkening more then ordinary (for that is to be wise) but not for admiring <as> yet, (for that is to be as chyldren in faith) nor for despising (for that is to be among the scorners and fooles.) Fare well. the Lord be with your spirit

I am

  yor affectionate

   sonne & servant

                   B Worsley./