George Withers' Emblemes

The }Ainde/houIdbaye afixed Eye
On Objettsjbat areplac don High. 43
ILLVSTR. XLIII. Book. i.
>a\M Heart > which bore the figure ofan Eye
*» Wide open to the Sume^ by fome,was us'd,
When in an Emblem,they would fignifie
A Minde, which on Celeftiall Matters mus'd :
Implying, by the fame, that there is nought
Which in this lower Orbt, our Eyes can fee,
Soiit an Objedt for a manly thought,
Asthofethings, which in Hcav'n above us be.
God, gave Mankinde (above all other Ci caturcs)
A lovely forme, and upward-looking Eye,
(Among the red of his peculiar Features)
Thar he might lift his Countenance on high :
And (having view'd the Beauty, which appcarcs
Within the outward Sights circumference)
* That he might elevate above the Spha?t es,
The piercing Eye,of his Intelligence,
Then, higher, and fill higher (hive to raifc
His Contemplations Eyes, till they afcend
To gaine aglimpfe of thofe eternall Rayes,
To which all undepraved Spiritstend.
For, 'tis the proper nature of the Minde
( Till flefhly Thoughts corrupt if) to defpifc
Thofe Luis whereto rhe Body ftands inclin'd •,
And labo.ir alwayc s, upward to arife.
Some, therefore, thought thofe Gob/ins which appearc
To haunt old Graves and Tombes, are Soules of fuch,
Who tothefe loathfomc places doomed were,
Bccaufe, they doted on the Pbfh too much.
But, (lire we are, well-minded Men fliall goe
To live above, when others bide below.
C %
Thofe