much from Gods glory and omnipotency when we say He doth but giue Satan leaue to do it which is to deride and mocke Gods iustice as that worthy man Master Caluine wrote The Diuell is not at his owne liberty nor can he in the extremest censure otherwise then a hangman act any thing without the restrictiue commandement of the highest Iudge I say his permission must be authentickly ioyned with commission from God He is not in such fauour or grace with our Almighty Lord. Onely his Maiestie permits his spirituall insinuating and ghostly temptations for his glory and our edification in Christ. He permits him as the spirituall instrument of iustice for our hardnesse of heartes to entrap the chiefe part of man the reasonable will and by reason of our negligence in his seruice to accuse and relate our sinnes before him not that God is ignorant of our closest sinnes but perhaps because his Maiestie is pleased to vse ordinary meanes iudiciall formes and legall proceeding to condemne the guiltie Such as the Informer or Promoter is in our worldly Courts such is the Diuell in the heauenly Parliament And such a one will he be at the great iudgement day when our Messias both God and man shall iudge mankind In the meane time let vs perswade our selues that the Diuels meaning is to deceiue vs whether he seemes to appeare in borrowed shapes eyther of himselfe or by the commaund of wicked men Besides this deluding force I know certainly he hath none other With this weapon he was licensed by God in the beginning to sting vs in our heeles that is to tempt vs with legions of sinnes which by degrees brings death and perpetuall darknesse Euen as a man being stung in his heele or legge by reason of that infectious venime which with deadly tumors or swellings creepes vp by little and little into the heart must needs did except his legge that was so stung had beene chopt of in time or cured by an extraordinarie balsame so the variable will of man being seduced by Sathan or by his substitute Sinne which by degrees encreaseth to legions and as it were vncurable and vnrevokeable must needs be condemned to hell together with the soule her deere consort except she were absolued of her sinnes vpon her repentance bathed in Christs bloud and so healed by the balme of grace With this weapon he asâ—aulted Eue with this weapon he wounded Ahabs false Prophets And in this sort shall he goe out to deceiue the people which are in the foure quarters of the world This is he the Dragon that old serpent which is the Diuell and Sathan I say this is he the great red Dragon which deceiueth all the world which fought with Michael and his Angels which makes spirituall warre with the woman cloathed with the Sunne the Church of Christ. This is he which gaue the beast with the seauen heads that is the Church of Rome the seauen hilled Citie by the Tyrrhene Sea his power his throne and great authoritie So that great Babilon is now become an habitation of Dâ—uels the hold of all fowle spirits and a cage of euery vncleane and hatefull bird and as Stigelius writes Imperij quondam sedes nunc turpe lupanar Vix vmbram prisci Roma nitoris habet Rome that was once an Empires seat is now A wolfe-stie scarce of that brightnesse shadow LINEAMENT XIII Aphrismes collected out of the first Fathers of the Primitiue Church concerning the Diuels power IUstine the Martyr in his Apologie for the Christians to the Romane Senate who among other seruples obiected that God would not suffer them to bee persecuted if their doctrine were true answered that the Christians were persecuted for the confirmation of their faith by Gods permission and also by the instinct and incitement of wicked spirits who at all times haue persecuted the louers of vertue as Socrates Heraclitus and Musonius but chiefly they moued persecutions against the Christians The same Martyr speaking of the vertue of the name of Iesus which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 writes At the powerfull name of Iesus Christ crucified vnder Pontius Pilate the Diuels being adiured euen at this day with horrour and trembling doe obey vs Christians The Diuell is most busie against the light of the Gospell he moueth the Infidels to detract Christ with Magicke he prouoketh Hereticke to falsifie the truth according to their owne phantasies Tatianus disputing with the Grecians because they derided and despised the Christian Religion said that the motiues of their derision were the spirituall suggestions of the Diuell which deceiued them by vndertaking cures of diseases and by deluding them with witch craft and Diuinations thereby to withdraw men from the true worship of God Irenaeus the Disciple of Polycarpus who likewise was the Disciple of S. Iohn the Euangelâ—st proued that God was to be worshipped and not the Diuell first because the Diuell could not keepe and obserue any promises which he made for himselfe possessed nothing secondly because that the Diuell hath alwaies beene a lyar and is not to determine of any earthly Kingdomâ—s Origen auerreth that charmes and sorceries are dâ—risions of Diuels the dregs of Idolatry and the besotting of soules Likewise he affirmeth that our conflictand contention with euill spirits is spirituall These be the opinions of the Greeke Fathers which flourished within three hundred yeares after Christ. Tertullian the first Latine Father testifieth that the Diuell is the Authour of sinne euen as God is the Authour of the punishment of sinne That which is counterfeit is the businesse of the Diuell euen as that which is naturall is the worke of God Persecution immediately is sent from God and not from the Diuell Wicked spirits are the Authours of all wickednesse which is committed by man They fill all things with deceits craft and errours They infinuate themselues into mens bodies but they cannot hurt any man 〈◊〉 him whom they haue in their full power They were tâ—â— inuentors of Astrologie Southsaying Oracles Nâ—gromancy and Magicke Their chiefe endeuour is to auert men from the worshippe and knowledge of the Diuine Maiesty God suffereth the Diuell thus to delude mankinde to the entent that the euiil might fight with the good that vices might be opposed to vertue that God might haue some to punish and some to honour him Augustine vtterly denieth the Diuels reall power ouer any of Gods workmanship in these words We must not thinke that this materiall substance of visible things doe obey the Angels which transgressed but that they obey God alone Another reuerend Elder of the Church reasoning about the cause of the desection of the Diuels illusion writeth after this manner Heretofore Diuels in vaine formes did ensuare men with deceits hiding themselues in riuers rockes groues and woods but now-a-dayes since that Gods word hath beene made manifest those deceitfull sights spirits and illusions
the Protestants and hardening of the Papists conferre I say the conformity of the present state with the state past of the Church olde age being another infancy and yee shall see as cleere as at noone-tide the true meaning of darke places which no man that stands vpon his owne high minde and his owne merites can possibly perceiue In like manner doe ye desire to discerne the Antichrist Compare those things which are prophesied of him one with another and yee shall firret him out yee shall finde him cunningly crept into our Christian Church Euen as Christ was a mysterie to the Pharisies so Antichrist is a mysterie to the Papists I say a mystery a mysterie the mysterie of iniquity which cannot distinctly be discerned without the spirituall eyes of faith in the inward man Looke on him with your bodily eyes and this Alcimus will deceiue the very Elect if it were possible In outward shew an Angell of light a sanctimonious Elder but inwardly a sacrilegious Serpent or a Foxe in a Lambes skinne O Antichrist thy Dragon is destroyed by Daniels arte by the bloud of the Lambe thy beast is conquered O false Prophet thy Babylonian whore is become wrinckled her beauty is faded her wich-craft discouered her force decayed her superstitions defaced What remaines Thou art driuen to a narrow straight to thy neerest shifts Post ouer thy title to another Perswade thy subiects that a new Antichrist but no mysticall is euen now borne in Babylon Let Iohn Doleta with all expedition publish this in Print It is a point of policie to temporize and to beare thy credulous Catholikes in hand least suddenly they flinch from thy yoake and of Romanists fall to be Apostolickes By the mysticall allusion of Michea that saw the Lord putting a false and a lying spirit in the mouth of Ahabs Prophets that claymed themselues like the Pharisies and Papists to be within the Church yee shall gather with this and with the Reuelation of S. Iohn that these termes of Decemer salfe Prophet the worker of false miracles which set to sale the bodies and soules of men cannot bee applied more significantly to any other then to him who went out from vs but was not of vs. Would ye answere their obiection which alledge that the Pope cannot be that great Antichrist because his Holinesse denieth not the Father and the Sonne nor exalteth himselfe aboue that which is called God Turne them to the Etymology of these words Iesus Christ that is the Al-sufficient and annointed Saniour of the world and tell them that the entire and whole vertue of the Godhead is wounded it besides him they vse any Mediator to saluation Turne them to S. Paul and reade that the Antichrist must sit in the Temple of God The Pope sits not with Peters humility but with pompe and Maiesty in Peters chaire in the mother Church of the West being now become a cruell stepmother and a common harlot shewing that he hath authority to graunt Indulgences and Pardons to release the paines of Purgaâ—ory peremptorily to aduance his Standard aboue the Church which is to magnifie himselfe aboue the Holy Ghost by whom it is ruled vnder Christ to consecrate beades water crucifixes yea and the glorious body of Christ which is already consecrated in Heauen In which prerogatiues he extolleth himselfe aboue God doing those spirituall offices which are flat contrary to Gods word and law Likewise it is prodigious that such things be sanctified by sinfull man specially since the ceremoniall law and partition wall betwixt the Iewes and vs is broken downe after the resurrection of Christ. It is derogatory I say to his sacred Maiesty that a mortall man vsurpe that Promethean pre-eminence for hee that commits such sacriledge aboue mentioned doth vndoubtedly vsurpe the power of God in a high degree He that vsurpes after this manner detracts from faith only in Christ Iesus and from other gifts of the Holy Ghost He that detracts from these gifts of the Holy Ghost blasphemes and he that blasphemes so high a Maiesty sinnes irremissibly except the Lords mercy left out some other exception vnknowne vnto vs. Thus Christian Reader shalt thou ponder other points of the Bibles mysteries And now seeing I haue sore-armed my soule with sufficient exorcismes and methodically fished out the great Leuiathan let me anathomize the Monsters principall members LINEAMENT IX 1 The Conclusion of this second Circle shewing that the Spirit of Detraction can neuer confound vs while we meditate with saith on Christs passion 2 That we become guilty of his death when we detract from his name or workes 3 The Authors supplication against the spirit of Detractum SHut fast thy mouth from lies and vanity Shoot in thine eyes to loue and verity Thou soule of mine which euery day dost fall Through Sathans web into pollutions thrall Let faith inflame thy will to meditate Vpon that Flame in flesh incorporate To see those wounds which thou hast made so wide With dint of Speare in his bloud gored side Doues build in holes of rocks but thou my Doue In holes of bloudied Rocke must build thy loue For while thou look'st with faith and zealous feare How that his head a thorny crowne did weare How Pilates scourge his holy skinne did teare How his meeke soule both mockes and flouts did beare And how his hands and feete were nailed to the Crosse To ransome thee and to repaire the losse Which Lucifer with Adders sting did cause To thee when Eue first brake her Makers lawes While thou with faith dost view this mystery The fiery Serpent of Mount Caluary No wile no guile no blacke tongues archery Nor selfe-conceit of fancies flattery Can flesh and bloud the world or Sathan worke Against thy life Though Pope conspire with Turke Though Haman with his Counsellors combine Though Machiauell complot with Aretine To blow thee vp vet thy essentiall parts Shall stand vnshak't in spite of all their arts Wherefore yee winds of praise yee wings of pride Packe hence all sinnes which vertues sonnes deride Yee grinning dogs yee grunting hogs away The night is past and wel-come is the day The day is come to day without delay I must contemne such lust vile dust and clay The bell rings out the Drummer sounds Alarme I must rise vp for feare of future harme Teares and prayers are my armes I must pray And speake the truth without all faile to day All haile cleere day long may thy Sun-shine last Without eclipse or cloud or winters blast All haile cleere day through whose reflecting beames Broad waking I do see truths open glcames I see my Lord alas what doe I see My Lord and Sauiour hurt By whom By me By me he lies with thoughts misdecdes and words Wounded as with sharpe thornes or edged swords I crucified my Christ I rent his name I crowned thee with obloquie and shame O Lord of life when I should
resolued once to translate the Papacy to Auinion in France if that a certaine Cardinall wiser then himselfe had not disswaded him The originall cause of all this hatred is iealousie together with a false perswading humor that our Church vsurps his holy power which somtimes he pretends from the Emperour Constantine and some other times from S. Peter Whether this exercising of another mans authority be legitimate or spurious let them who thinke themselues iniured redreste the iniury how they can In the meane time we perceiue the minde of man impatient of vsurpers and Detractors to boile for reuenge as if an euerflaming Torch were set vnder it No maruell then if Princes punish forgery and other detracting crimes He that detracts his Kings Prerogatiue with a malicious purpose to attribute the same to himselfe is Laesae Maiestatis râ—â—s guilty for wounding the Royall Maiesty and to be attainted of high treason Will King IAMES our dread Soueraigne suffer any subiect of his to weare a crowne of golde to deâ— act his royall authority to leuie armes at pleasure to encampe himselfe to hang a man without due course of law or to coine golde No it is against his prerogatiue against his Iurisdiction The world abides not two Sunnes No more can the vnited Empire of great Britaine endure but one supreme Monarch He that sueth into the Court of Rome detracts from the Kingly glory and therefore encuires the danger of Premunire Euen so if a subiect of this Realme bring in a Bull of Excommunication from Rome against another subiect it is by the auncient common law high treason against the King his crowne and dignity as hath beene adiudged in the Raigne of Edward the first For the King of England is the Vicar of the â—â—ghest King In a Constable or any other it is forgery and detraction to write a warrant in a Iustice of Peace his name without his consent Yea and a Justice himselfe was fined in the Star-chamber circa 30. Elizab. Reg. for sending his warrant vpon suspition of felony with a blanke or window to put in ones name which he knew not at his friends request without certainly acquainting him with the matter before What a tedious quarrell continued with vnsheathed swords betweene the Turkish Ottoman and the Persian Sophy about the very colour of the Turbant which both were bound by their ceremonious law to weare Such another friuolous iatre hapned among the Friers touching the colour of their frizen weedes One stood vpon blacke betokening mourning another vpon white the displayed ensigne of innocency This busie body claimed it to be gray that their weeds being like vnto ashes might moue them to repentance That hare-brain'd Scholer proued out of Schoolemen and profound Dunces that all the rest of the Disputants were arrand Heretickes for their sinnes being as redde as Scarlet or as purple they ought not to hold with any other colour Many brawles many factions yea and bloud-sheds arose about these Idly vsurped colours till after diuers commotions decrees and orders on all sides infringed a finall end with much adoe was established by the generall Councell of Christendome There was a dangerous tumult in France very like to chance betwixt a famous Auncestour of mine out of Wales and the Lord Norris concerning their armes Both gaue the Rauen both challenged it from the same house from one Vrian Prince of Rheged otherwise called Carict in Scotland who eyther by conquest or marriage seated himselfe in our countrey of West-Wales My said Auncestour as our Walsh nature relies ouermuch vpon Genealogies and Heraldry and his Walsh company being no lesse then fifteene hundred horsemen and footemen could by no meanes be disswaded from the quarrel vntill the Duke of Norsâ—lke whose daughter sithence Countesse of Bridgewater was married vnto his heire sollicited King Henry the eight then in camp to take vp the Controuersie and order the Lord Norris to giue it flying and the others as he did before If mens mortall feuds conceiued against their emulous concurrents for light occasions and as the Prouerbe termes them for a Goats haire be so heynous hereditary so frequent so customary in all Countreyes why doe we tempt the Lord our God and doubt that his eternall Maiesty in whom there is not the least spot of sinfull perturbation hates Detractours of his euer-shining glory and also them which attribute his miraculous deedes to his creatures or enemies I say why doe we doubt that he detesteth them in a faire higher degree then if they were profested Atheists blinded with ignorance Hee that knowes his Masters will and doth it not is worthy of many stripes Wherefore I constantly auerre that the Lord hateth Antichristians Euchanters Coniurers and Witches for their detractions forgeries delusions and false miracles worse then the Heathen with all their Idolatries To this end that auncient Father affirmeth If any that went afore vs eyther of ignorance or simplicity hath not obserued that which the Lord commanded his simplicity through the Lords indulgence may be pardoned but we whom the Lord hath taught and instructed cannot be pardoned Where the Spirituall Steward lends one talent there he looketh the interest of one againe but where he exposeth out twenty talents there he iustly expecteth the encrease of twenty againe Like as a simple seruant sent out in a darkesome night and misseth his way deserues his pardon more freely then he which purposely gaddes and goes out of his way in the cleare day light preferring his own wanton pleasures before his Masters profite so the ignorant Christian sinning of meere simplicity is farre more tolerable then the enlightned Gospeller which afterwards dissembles and detracts vpon a greedy or gaudic hope of golden mountaines LINEAMENT XII 1 Wherefore God diuerteth his naturall creatures against mankinde 2 That all crosses and misfortunes proceede onely from God 3 That in any wise we must not delay repentance 4 An obiection against sudden death by the spirit of Detraction out of the Letany with a consutation thereof THus the starres haue their ordinary motions the Elements their courses and the Metcors their voluble dispositions except otherwhiles it please their Arch-mouer to diuert some of them as terrible alarums for our admonishment Then euery thing fights against vs Our natiue ayre strangles our wearied winde-pipes Our nourishment through gluttony works our latter end Fire water conspire against vs One dieth by fire another by water Thus armes he nature against nature creature against creature and man against man eyther for his glorie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that mortall men may know his strength and acknowledge their owne weakenesse or for mens tryall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to trie their integrity to mollifie their stony hearts and to shape their inward man to regeneration Others he smites 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 33 vessels of wrath to perpetuall punishment though commonly he lets them flourish in this world like Palme trees reseruing them to damnation
Wherein I haue promiscuously touched the principall branches of this Blaphemous sinne I haue taxed outragious and vaine swearing together with such foule faults as seeme derogatory to Gods titles attributes and workes to the scandal of our Christian liberty which seem also to confirme the reprobate in their hardnesse of heart Now in this present Circle I will proceed to such common vices that concerne our neighbours namely their railing their runnagate reports rash suspicions misconstructions ostentations and false verdicts And specially I will reproue publicke calumnies Aboue all things I exhort the Reformed Catholike that protesteth to fight against the Spirit of Detraction not to giue the least occasion of scandall to Schismatickes whether they be Tapists or Puritanes eyther by frumping speeches or by froward writing Rather pitie their obstinacy and pray for their conuersions specially spare to speake spitefully against these sicke Brethren of ours whom we nick-name Puritanes or holy Separatists as the Ancients vsed to call the impostors of Logicke Sophisters and as we call Papists Catholikes for what knowest thou whether God hath not separated them in their Mothers wombe to be his adopted seruants in their latter dayes notwithstanding their crabbed zeale What knowest thou whether the calme dew which awaiteth on the age of maturitie may by Gods grace coole that ouer-feruent humour of theirs if they suruiue to see that siluer-age of maturitie Or if their peruersnesse be such that they will not then relent to what end serues thy railing passion but to exasperate their peeuish mindes and to confirme them in their errours It is noted that Michael the Archangell in striuing for the body of Moses with the Diuel durst not detract nor dare him by exprobration Gods Spirit is meeke louing patient voide of temeritie and by these holy markes his seruants are discerned which Doctor Whitegift late Archbishop of Canterbury very discreetly obserued against Cartwright vrging thereby the nature of his impatient spirit Which infallible markes Antichrist himselfe out of the heard of swine is forced to confesse as Cardinall Baronius of late yeares verified when hee inuaighed against the petulance and factions of our English Seminaries at Rome They bragge much saith hee of Martyrdome but for ought I see they beare not the signes of Martyrs of obedience mildnesse and humilitie It is the part of a Brother to endeuour his Brothers conuersion into the vnitie of peace by gentle meanes as Abraham did to Lot let there be no strife betwixt thee and mee for wee be brethren Euen so likewise seeing that wee agree together in the pure and indiuisible essence of our Faith let not temporall Accidents disseuer the same which the holy Ghost hath ioyned together let vs not grieue this holy Spirit of God with our litigious speeches or writings in comparing those whom wee name Puritanes with Iesuites Christs members with the members of Antichrist nor let vs broach this late surmised Detraction that these our crazed brethren doe conspire with those of the Dragons Angels like Pilate and Herod reconciled for the coercion and dethroning of Kings for surely such venome neuer issued out of Caluins Schoole except they peruert and depraue the same as Saint Peter speakes of Saint Pauls Epistles Well it may be that some seditious sectaries to flatter their owne ambition during the present time to temporize and to bleare old Iacobs eyes haue dipped Iosephs coate in beasts bloud but I neuer heard that they euer imbrued their hands in Iosephs owne bloud Well it may be that they being flesh and bloud as well as others haue repined fretted and vttered some slanderous speaches in their malecontented moodes against their superiours in authoritie onely about Church-policie not sticking to affirme that notwithstanding their Canonicall constitutions they would still perseuer in their peeuish positions but I neuer heard that they complotted to commit any crying sinne to strangle a mans being in nature But what shall the Puritane then detract at his pleasure without contradiction No God forbid hee must conforme himselfe to the identitie of the Spirit to the vniforme harmony of Heauens Musicke least otherwise in following the self-opinion of his owne vnexperienced braine not gathering with his Maister Christ he scatter and sincke in the midst of his muddy pond To this end I beseech thee deere Christian Brother in the presence of God that gaue his Sonnes body among vs not peremptorily to be slaine againe nor to be diuided into parcels but spiritually heauenly and entire to communicate the same to the poorest as well as to the greatest that thou O diseased soule doe hearken vnto thy Physicians voyce that thou humble thy thoughts and words towards thy Brother in Christ not vsurping to thy selfe alone as a selfe-seeming Saint his vndiuided body which was also crucified for other Penitents God help vs the very best of vs all from the Prince to the Beggar is full of vncleannesse Yea the Angels of heauen are vncleane in his sight and in respect of his perfection The Worme of Conscience tels me that my puritie consists rather in the forgiuenesse of my sinnes then in the puritie of my vertues Submit therefore thy sturdy man vnto thy inward man Subdue thy Golias Calonem illum carnosum thy massie and proud tower of flesh vnto thy little Lord thy spirituall Dauid and then submit both of them in things Apocryphal and indifferent not concerning thy soules saluation vnto the Scepter of mens authoritie Offer vp thy soule vnto God by Faith as an holy priest-hood and a spirituall sacrifice in Iesus Christ. Offer vp thy body in temporall matters in ciuill policie to the Gods of the earth LINEAMENT VII 1 The Spirit of Detraction conuicted for repining at our Christian neighbours of Scotland 2 The said Spirit conuicted for detracting from our Countrey-men of Wales YEe noble Saxon spirites tell me what is the reason that yee beare some secret emulation in the closets of your hearts towardes your Christian brethren borne in the same Iland vnder the same Prince the same faith was it not inough for you to bereaue them of the fertile fieldes of Loegria and to banish them amidst the craggie mountes amidst the horride rockes of this Northren Zone but ye must deride and defame them with your ironicall items your ridiculous girdes Now all coniectures are winded to the bottome The Fatall Chaire of Scotland which your victorious Edward transported to the Abbey of Westminster is restored againe into the possession of a Scottish Prince nay of a Brittish Prince of a right Christian Prince and that with your consent with Gods assent Now there is no cause to reedifie that famous wall from sea to sea which the Romaine Emperour built vpon the frontiers of both kingdomes Applaud yee English this happie vnion Congratulate this luckie lot Henceforth ye need not keepe watch and ward at your posterne gate Detract not therefore from your Christian neighbours for his glorious sake whom the Father
taunt their partiall actions These Allegations I confesse are somewhat sensible yet neuerthelesse Leo non capit Muscam the Lion scornes the Flie with her silly spleene Men of reason must not altogether imitate Creatures without reason chiefly in matters of no import Sometimes wee must whether wee will or no gaze vpon a painted vvall as Paul termed Ananias Sometimes wee must play the Arichmeticians imploying the helpe of Ciphers to make vp our number Sometimes wee must dally with children to still them from whining and weeping And so sometimes must the wisest man conceale his wisedome he must change his speach as Dauid did before the King of Gath he must faigne himselfe mad he must scrabble on the doores and let his spettle fall downe vpon his beard Stultitiam simulare loco prudentia summa est Sometimes we must obey the importunitie of the time yet so that we commit not pernitious euill to the intent that good may ensue thereof Wee must seeme to yeeld at first in the lesser causes vnto this spirit of contradiction that men may yeeld to vs in matters of greater consequence As for example if thou goest about to conuert a Iew thou must not begin with detractions and inuectiues against Circumcision against his weake conscience for abstayning from Swines flesh or blacke Puddings If thou labourest to turne a Papist from his superstitious Heresies rebuke not his Sect for the Diuine vertue of continence for their vow of chastitie for the monasticall or single liues of Hermites Monkes Friers Nunnes and other religious votaries Oppose not thy speach against his abstinence from meates seeing hee that feedes onely on sallets rootes or fruit may be saued and iustified as well as he which onely eateth flesh or fish In fine crosse not his gored minde with carping at the signe of the Crosse or at any things indifferent while they redound not to deadly sinnes against his patient Maiestie Herein some Iesuites deserue to ride in the Chariot of Ouation of a little Triumph namely for their humiliation prudent care in wearing the robes and habites of the Pagan Priests of China whom they terme Bunzies without which no forraigner whatsoeuer might soiourne in that politique Countrey But vnder this venerable and vnsuspected habite Father Riceius and others may certainely reduce many of that populous Nation to the Christian religion as long as they seeke to edifie without idolatrie and not to intermeddle with points of state as they pretend in Europe In like manner thou that grieuest thy selfe for that thy fellowes in office doe hinder thy iust proceedings for countenancing litigious lewd liuers against thee if thou canst not otherwise then by passionate speaches redresse thy wrongs be sure not to gaine-say them in light or in indifferent causes In so doing thy very foes will admire thy patience and perhaps at length they will ioyne vvith thee to suppresse common vices which are such eye-sores vnto thy zealous conscience Doe not we daily see that the peeuishnesse of a few raw and vnexperienced Ministers doe scandalize the state wherein they liue minister an aduantage to the Enemie of insulting and also fall themselues into greater Labyrinthes then they are able to wind themselues out againe Their obstinate standing out against their Elders and Superiours for wearing of the Surplice the outward cognisance or badge of innocence to separate the milke-white Lambs from the rude rough and vnruly Goates what profit haue they reaped by these and such like refractarie murmurs None at all but confusion and opprobrious shame There is nothing more dangerous then to be selfe opinionated against the experimented rules of the Churches reuerend sheepheards vvhose graue and gray lockes haue wonne authentick authoritie and canonicall obedience to their constitutions customes and vvholesome documents There is nothing more discommodious then to build vpon a mans owne knowledge as vpon a Demonstration infallible and to gaine-say an humorous spirit in the time of his fit For these causes O thou whose conscience groanes vnder a Countries waight let thy vertue domineere ouer their luke-warme labours thy patience ouer their passions and thy taciturnitie ouer their Detractions that the world and common voyce may canonize thy well-doing and adiudge them thy inferiours in iustice though they be thine equals in office that whatsoeuer is vprightly done they may ascribe to thee and what is iniuriously done they may imputet their insolent contradictions Is it not then lawfull to beat and beare downe the spirit of Detraction with his owne enuenomed vveapons May not a man repell force with force words with words checks with checks chiding with chiding If they backbite cannot I returne the like It is impossible but that the mildest natured man should become somewhat impatient seeing himselfe punished with obloquies ignominies and reproaches without cause Immerito veniens pana dâ—lenda venit O sick soule how bitter are thy words more bitter then wormewood and gall Canst thou not for a while for a little while attend the Lords leasure Though Toades doe croake in Summer yet they will lie still and silent in the Winter Though these Rhodomontes doe crake this yeare they will be glad to liue at rest the next yeare For those slanders that are purchased for vertues sake can neuer last long or euer blemish a vertuous man nay rather they deserue the title of honour chiefly if they proceed from wicked mouthes Regium est male audire It is a Royall thing to be ill spoken of Howbeit I confesse it is burthensome to the conscience if the slander be deriued by vngodly occasions It is momentarie if it spring by casualtie But it is ioyous and welcome if it comes for Iustice sake All haile then O glorious slander right welcome be thy blazing blast vnto the sonnes of vertue Welcome be thy foot-steps vnto the threshold of Iustice. O necessarie curbe of correction which art purchased at the dearest price For what dearer price can there be then the losse of a good name That which fooles repute an infamie reckon thou for reputation for what nobler reputation can you reape then to resemble the Apostle Saint Paul who being slandred did neuerthelesse reioyce in the testimonie of his owne guiltlesse conscience Thy eares are vexed with the clacking noise of a tickling tongue And doe not often ringing of bels of passing bels sometimes disquiet that sence of thine Thy heart is wounded and stabd with a tormenting tongue But what wound what stab with steele the soule can kill such wounds such stabs can neuer harme but humble thee Marke how the proudest man aliue becomes humbled after that hee receiueth wounds The like benefit comes by Detraction By the stings thereof the haughtinesse of our natures is humbled By the venome thereof as by the speare of that warlike Heros which healed the selfe same wound it gaue our spirituall wounds are cured and abated Through the consideration of these Antidotes against Detractions temper the manifold