JF Ptak Science Books Post 1674
(Thanks to Bibliodyssey for finding this image--you can find the great Bibliodyssey site here.)
And the full image:
And the source: Jeremiah Drexel, Gymnasium Penitentiae, 1630, and translated in 1640 as The School of Patience (the full text here) and the pdf of the Latin original here.)
In the introduction to his work Drexel writes:
"Dame Patience stands in place most eminent,
Teaching her youths a doubJe document.
That learn they must to form a passive right
This pateint life, or else in future night
That Paradise no plurail hath since sport
and ease take pains at last in Pluto's court"
And should the teachings of Dame Patience not be heeded, even on Earth the impatient should suffer from at least these ten forms of torment:
Whatsoever form of punisment, whatsoever kind of affliction or exercise in this world we affect, may be comprised and comprehended in this tenfold order. For God hath in this his School of Patience these following torments:
(1) Rods; (2) Arrows ; (3) Firebrands; (4) Garlands of straw; (5) Cudgels; (6) Snares and Chains; (7) Knotty clubs; (8) Long clones; (9) Scouges or whips; (10) Sacks and bags.
Rods signifie Diseases and Griefs. Diseases are almost innumerable each of which partaketh somewhat of the bitterness of Death. These are our initiation to the santified meditation of Death. We travel to death by diseases.. The sick bed is not without it benefit.
Arrows rcprefent the troubles of the mind: Diftraftions, Solicitudes, Cares, Heaviness, Sadnesses, Fears, Suspicions, Vexations, Anxious prickings, Scruples violent Tentatiohs Snares,Secret Bitings of Confcience, Disttirbdnces, Vices, and Storms of unquietness. The Arrows of the lord are sharp, and all his bows are bent.
Firebrands are the signs of poverty...so here somewhat is dearest snatched away and burned He is burned whose pleasures are torments. Thus by Poverty are men want to be exercised.
Garlands of straw are the signs of Mockings , Scorns and Contempts. Nothing doth in this,School more vex and met the scholars than these and yet they they qare frequent and usual punishments...
Cudgels do shadow out daily miseries such as Hunger, Thirft, Heat, Cold, Inconvenient dwelling, Bad clothes, Unfeemly going, and Vain hopes.
Chains and Snares are the miseries proper to every man's own state and condition. Evrery mans calling bindeth him like a chain though some more strictly then otliers.
Knotty Clubs, or Scorpions,are such calamities as are common to most men such as Heresie, Plagues,Tyrannies, Warres, Fire, Death, Inundations,and Oppressions of the Poore.
Long clones we call those miseries which we bring upon ourselves, Miserably cruciating and tormenting ourselves by our own suspicions and fears. IT is a common thing for men to grub and stuck up their own vineyards and instead to recall and true ones to burden themselves with supposed burdens.
Scourges or whips are those afflictions which proceed from others, especially such as flow from the tongues of slanders, oppressive speeches, detractions, back bitings, upbraidings and all injurious words.
Sacks and bags are for the most part clusters of evils.
Notes:
A portrait of Drexel:
[Image source: very nice collection of portraits from the University at Mannheim.]
Other works by Drexel include
- 1627 Heliotropium or "Conformity of the Human Will with the Divine Will", (Later edition 1634 Cologne).
1620 De æternitate considerationes (Considerations on Eternity). Mun - 1630 Gymnasium Patientae ("The School of Patience")
- 1632 Jeremias Drexel, The Considerations of Drexelius upon Eternitie, Nicholas Alsop (Further editions 1636, 1658, 1661, 1672, 1694).
- 1633 Jeremias Drexel, The Christian Zodiac, John Coustourier, Rouen (Second edition 1647).
- 1633 Jeremias Drexel, Nicetas or the Triumph over Incontinencie, ?Rouen or ?Douai.
- 1641 Daniel, Prophetarum Princeps (print post mortem)
- 1641 Joseph Aegypti Prorex
- 1643 Hieremia Drexel, David Regio Psaltes, Munich
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