JOSEPH HALL (1574-1656)

Characters of Vertues and Vices.

In two Bookes. By Joseph Hall. London... 1608. 8vo.

[7 editions in England in the seventeenth century, 3 in the nineteenth, all except the first two of 1608, included in collections of Hall's works. The 1621 edition is the first to contain the Happie Man.'] French editions in 1610, 1619, 1634.

26 characters.

The Vertues, which include the 'Good Magistrate,' are in the main vague and theoretical, if regarded as characters, but contain much that is finely said if they are thought of as belonging to Hall's sermons. The Vices are very different in effect, chiefly because Hall has here been able to imitate Theophrastus.

The first French edition of the characters, beautifully printed in Paris in 1610, describes itself as 'La première traduction de l'Anglois jamais imprimée en aucun vulgaire.' Sir Sidney Lee confirms this so far as France and England were concerned, for he calls it 'the first English book of literary interest which is known to have appeared in a French translation.' (Bibliog. Soc. Trans. viii. 1907.)

He is an Happie Man

THAT hath learn'd to reade himself more than all Books; and hath so taken out this Lesson, that he can never forget it; That knowes the World, and cares not for it; That after many traverses of thoughts, is growne to know what he may trust to, and stands now equally armed for al events: That hath got the masterie at home, so as hee can crosse his will without a mutinie, and so please it, that hee makes it not a Wanton: That in earthly things

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wishes no more than nature; in spirituall, is ever graciously ambitious: That for his condition, stands on his owne feete, not needing to leane upon the great; and can so frame his thoughts to his estate, that when he hath least, hee cannot want, because hee is as free from desire, as superfluitie: That hath seasonably broked the head-strong restinesse of prosperitie, and can now menage it at pleasure: Upon whom, all smaller crosses light as haile-stones upon a roofe; and for the greater calamities, he can take them as Tributes of life, and tokens of love; and if his Ship bee tossed, yet hee is sure his Anchor is fast. If all the World were his, he could be no other than he is; no whit gladder of himselfe, no whit higher in his carriage, because he knowes, contentment lyes not in the things he hath, but in the minde that values them. The powers of his resolution can either multiply, or subtract at pleasure. Hee can make his Cottage a Mannor, or a Palace when hee lists; and his Home-close, a large Dominion, his staind-cloth, Arras; his Earth, Plate, and can see State in the attendance of one Servant; as one that hath learned, a mans greatnesse or basenesse is in himselfe; and in this hee may even contest with the proud, that he thinkes his owne the best. Or if he must be outwardly great, he can but turne the other end of the Glasse, and make his stately Mannor a low and strait Cottage; and in all his costly furniture hee can see not richnesse, but use; hee can see drosse in the best mettall, and Earth thorow the best clothes, & in all his troupe, hee can see himselfe his owne Servant. Hee lives quietly at home, out of the noyse of the World,

and loves to enjoy himselfe alwayes, and sometimes his friend, and hath as full scope to his thoughts as to his eyes. He walkes ever even, in the midway betwixt hopes and feares, resolved to feare nothing but God, to hope for nothing but that which hee must have. Hee hath a wise and vertuous minde in a serviceable bodie; which that better part affects as a present Servant, and a future companion; so cherishing his flesh, as one that would scorne to bee all flesh. He hath no enemies, not for that all love him, but because hee knowes to make a gaine of malice. Hee is not so ingaged to any earthly thing, that they two cannot part on even tearmes; there is neither laughter in their meeting, nor in their shaking of hands, teares. He keepes ever the best companie, the God of Spirits, & the Spirits of that God; whom he entertaynes continually in an awful familiaritie, not being hindred, either with too much light, or with none at all. His conscience and his hands are friends, and (what Devill soever tempt him) will not fall out. That divine part goes ever uprightly and freely, not stooping under the burden of a willing sin, not fettered with the Gyves of unjust scruples. He would not, if he could, runne away from himselfe, or from God; not caring from whom hee lyes hid, so hee may looke these two in the face. Censures and applauses are Passengers to him, not ghests; his eare is their thorow-fare, not their harbour; he hath learned to fetch both his counsell, and his sentence from his owne brest. Hee doth not lay weight upon his own shoulders, as one that loves to torment himselfe with the honour of much imployment; but as hee makes worke his game, so doth

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he not list to make himselfe worke. His strife is ever to redeeme, and not to spend time. It is his trade to doe good; and to thinke of it, his recreation. Hee hath hands enow for himselfe, and others, which are ever stretched forth for beneficence; not for need. He walkes cheerefully in the way that God hath chalked, and never wishes it more wide, or more smooth. Those very tentations whereby he is foyled, strengthen him; hee comes forth crowned, and triumphing out of the spirituall Battels, and those skarres he hath, make him beautifull. His soule is every day dilated to receive that God, in whom he is; and hath attayned to love himselfe for God, and God for his owne sake. His eyes sticke so fast in Heaven, that no earthly object can remove them; yea, his whole selfe is there before his time, and sees with Steven, and heares with Paul, and enjoyes with Lazarus, the glorie that he shall have; and takes possession before-hand of his room amongst the Saints: and these heavenly contentments have so taken him up, that now hee lookes downe displeasedly upon the Earth, as the Region of his sorrow and banishment; yet joying more in hope, then troubled with the sense of evils; he holds it no great matter to live, and his greatest businesse to dye; and is so well acquainted with his last Ghest, that hee feares no unkindnesse from him: neither makes hee any other of dying, then of walking home when he is abroad, or of going to bed when hee is wearie of the day. Hee is well provided for both Worlds, and is sure of peace here, of glory hereafter; and therefore hath a light heart, and a cheereful face. All his fellow-creatures rejoyce to serve him; his

betters, the Angels, love to observe him; God himselfe takes pleasure to converse with him, and hath Sainted him afore his death, and in his death crowned him.

The Hypocrite

AN Hypocrite is the worst kinde of player, by so much as he acts the better part; which hath alwayes two faces, oft times two hearts: That can compose his forhead to sadnesse and gravitie, while hee bids his heart be wanton and carelesse within, and (in the meane time) laughs within himselfe, to think how smoothly he hath couzened the beholder. In whose silent face are written the characters of Religion, which his tongue & gestures pronounce, but his hands recant. That hath a cleane face and garment, with a foule soule; whose mouth belies his heart, and his fingers belie his mouth. Walking early up into the Citie, he turnes into the great Church, and salutes one of the pillars on one knee, worshipping that God which at home hee cares not for; while his eye is fixed on some window, on some passenger, and his heart knowes not whither his lips goe. He rises, and looking about, with admiration, complains of our frozen charitie, commends the ancient. At Church hee will ever sit where hee may bee seene best, and in the midst of the Sermon pulles out his Tables in haste, as if he feared to leese that note; when hee writes either his forgotten errand or nothing: then he turnes his Bible with a noise, to seeke an omitted quotation; and foldes the leafe, as if he had found it; and askes aloud the name of the Preacher, and repeats it; whom hee publikely salutes, thanks,