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Their mad expence with many a cursed lye,Nor from false perjury will they refrain:Thus they allure fools by flattery,To trust their dotage for the hope of gain,This last so long, till in the suds they both remain.Then Covetousness wrangles with Deceit,And curses him for all his lewd expence:The other being conscious of his cheat,With subtle words doth make a sly defence.But what is past can never be recall’d,This grieves the Churl, who vows for that offenceHe’l have the Jugglers future pranks forestall’d,Lays him in Gaol, O monstrous change! From thenceThe great Stone-maker through a Grate doth beg for pence.But he who will a studious Searcher beOf truth, let him such Sophisters eschew,And if he will but be advis’d by me,Of false ways I’le him warn, and shew him true.Beg humbly of thy God to be thy guide,For thou must pass through hidden ways, by fewTraced; and that thy suit be not deny’d,Intreat of him thy heart to renew,Thus qualifi’d thou mayst thy Journey never rue.Next learn to know the different Kingdoms three,In which all sublunary things are wrought,Unveil the hidden Bodies, whose degreeIs noble, though their place full low be sought;In which respect they bear the Planets names,And they to such a Virtue may be brought,Which answer may the painful Chymist’s aims,And it perform, which will surpass the thoughtOf the rude Vulgar, who by only sense are taught.The Wise mens Books with diligence peruse,From which, if diligent, thou mayst discernWhat substance ‘tis they for their matter chuse,Also their hidden Agent thou mayst learn.They tell thee eke what things thou shouldst refuse,And of erroneous Works they will thee warn;Their counsel take, so shalt thou never lose60