doth tender his owne saluation to leaue no meanes vnsought for that might bring it to passe and to be most carefull for the same as that which doth deserue greatest labor if there be any that will say they would willingly do it if they knewe vvich vvay to beginne let * Iohn 5.39 them bring themselues acquainted vvith the vvorde of God vvhich is able to * 2. Tim. 3.16 make them vvise vnto saluation if they vvill say their knowledge is smal and the scriptures are hard to be vnderstoode let them seeke diligently * Mat. 7.7 pray hartily and knocke hard and the Lorde vvill open the doore of knowledge vnto them and giue them right hearts of a good vnderstanding if any vvill say they haue so much to deale in worldly affayres that they cannot spare one hour in the day to read the vvord of God let theÌ„ knovv except all their actions be measured by the lyne of Gods vvorde their labor is lost their time ill spent their hope is vaine their vvroks vnprofitable and * Deut. 28.17 all that they take in hande accursed if there be any that thinke themselues so well spedde that they need no more teaching let them learn to put their knowledge in practise in framing their liues according lest when they know * Luk. 12.56 much doe little their damnation be the greater if there be any that vvill say there are none so vnwise to do that which they know to be vnlawfull let them know that of that number there are too many and although the most part must of necessitie confesse that there is a God whom they ought to serue yet the diuell doth draw many with great force to liue as those that knovve no God such is the corruption of mans nature and so great are the assaultes of our enemie the diuell that vvhen vve knovv our duetie and see the path way that will lead vs vnto eternall lyfe yet through the suggestions of Satan and the deceitfulnesse of sinne we are drawne to tread the steps of death and euerlasting destruction And some there be to excuse this their fooly will defende their life though neuer so vile and that they may haue the bridle of licentiousnesse to tunne at ran done though against their consciences they will not spare to call euill good and good euill darknesse light and light darknes they that may make a faire shew in the worlde and regard not at all how manifestly they lye before the face of almighty God this fault vvas found in * Act. 5.4 Ananias Saphira his vvife for the vvhich they both lost their liues and this vvickednesse doth still remain amongst vs although the punishment be not so euidently seene of this number are so many as know their dutie and lead a life cleane contrary that knovv lying to bee a faulte and yet vvill not sticke to lye for aduantage that knovv it to be sinne to sweare and yet haue their mouthes full of vayne othes that know adultery to be abominable in the sight of God and yet liue in whordome al the dayes of their life that knovv murther to be a breach of the lavve and yet vvish their brothers throates cut that they may haue their good that know couetousnesse to be the roote of all euil and yet thinke lucre to be godlinesse that knovve the rewarde of sinne to be death and yet liue in vvickednesse al the dayes of their life these men knovve it yea and vvith all their hearts they knovv it and vvith shame ynough vvill not sticke to say it and shut vp al with tushe God is mercifull and vvith this cloake they thinke to couer their shame and by that meanes to set God besides his iudgements but vvhen they shall be arraigned before his iudgement seate to aunswere for the breache of his lavves I feare me this cloake of hypocrisie beeing founde on their backes vvill be taken for the liuery of their maister the diuell vvhom as they haue serued in this worlde vvithout any feare of God so shal they dwell vvith him for euer in fire euerlasting vvhich is prepared for him and his Angels These are the faultes of our time and such punishments doe follow such sinnes and the wickednes of the people is so great that we haue good cause to say vvith Dauid that it is * Psal 119. time O Lorde for thee to lay to thine hand But because these thinges are farre from you vvhich doe so ill like of them that you are an enemye to those that vse them you may thinke your self happie and thrise happie vvhom God hath deliuered from so great euils And for my selfe as I am by duety bounde to do you the best seruice that I may and haue receyued more benefites at your handes then euer I deserued I can but vvishe you that vvhich no man can giue you and pray for that vvhich you may obtaine that you may so serue the Lorde of heauen and earth during the time of your pilgrimage in this shorte and transitory vvorlde that vvhen this life shall cease and all vvorldly helpes shall fayle you you may haue God your father Christ your brother the holy Ghost your comforter the Angels your companions your inheritance aboue the Heauens vvith ioyes vnspeakable in a life that shall last for euer Amen Your worships humble seruant I. B. To the godly Reader THe estate of these our dayes is so dangerous the people so vngratious with sin so abounding vertue so little set by of almost al euery where the it may melt a christiaÌ„ hart to meditate thereon such negligence in Magistrates suche rebellion in subiects such carelesnes in fathers mothers and suche disobedience in sonnes daughters that wheras we looke to receiue the fruits of the earth the blessings of heauen powred out vpon vs according so the prourise of the Lorde vnto his children the maruel is great the the sun doth not skorch vs the water drowne vs the earth gape redy to deuour vs for our disobedience and vnthaÌ„kfulnes for the same What blessings are there which we haue not receiued and what sinn is ther but we haue committed what could a father do more for his owne children then to keepe them as the apple of his eye what tokens of â—asterdly impes can there be greater then to liue as vagabounds the regard not their father oh howe wel may this complaint of the Prophet be applied vnto vs that the * Esai 12. Lord hath brought vp children they haue done vnfaithfully against him ah sinfull nation a people laden with iniquitie a seede of the wicked such as haue forsaken the Lord and proudâ—ed the holy one of Israell to anger and as the Prophet Osee said of Israel so may it â—e sayd of England that * Ose 14.41 ther is no truth no mercy no knowledge of god in the land but swearing lying manslaughter theft adultery haue gotten the vpper
they rule them Par. Me thinkes there shoulde not be all these faultes in them that you speake of for there are some of them that are very good fellowes and keep good houses which doth deserue great commendations Gen. In deede there are some of them that loue to fare well and can make their guests good cheere but this is not it M. Parson that they ought onelie to bee carefull for nor it is not such sacrifice that pleaseth God for do you thinke that the Lorde will be bolde with your owne inuentions which the vanitie of your own brains hath brought forth with the keeping of a great house for great men and feeding onlie the bodies of the people when as the Lorde doth chieflie require that the soule which is the principallest part should be best fed or will you giue the fruites of your benefices for the sinne of your soule or doe you thinke that the Lorde hath as greate pleasure in burnt offernings as when his voiyce is obeyed No M. Parson know it and knowe it so well that you neuer forget it that to * 1. Sam. 15.22 obey is better then sacrifice and to harken is better then the fat of Rams for rebellion is as the sinne of witchcraft and stubbernesse is as the wickednesse of idolatrie whose rewarde is an euerlasting life full of continuall miserie Par. I marnaile that other men as wise as you can not see these faultes as well as you if these bee faultes I woulde faine know the cause thereof Gen. Truely I can shewe yon no other cause nor knowe not to what and they giue themselues to the loue of so manie liuings but only for the desire of filthie lucre which doth spring of a conetous minde which is the roote of all euill and now may we take vp againe the complaint of the Prophet * Iere 24.2 like priest like people that * Iere. 6.13 from the lest vnto the most they hang all vpon couetousnesse and from the Prophet vnto the priest they go about falshood and lyes the priestes * Miche 3.11 preache for lucre and the Prophetes prophesie for gaine but * Iud. 11. woe be vnto them for they haue gone the way of Caine and are vtterly giuen ouer to the erroure of Balaam for Iucres sake and without amendment shall perishe in the gainesaying of Cora they are such as Paule speaketh of that can * Rom. 2.22 teach others and not them selues they preach that a man shoulde not steale yet they steale they abhorre Idols and yet commit sacriledge they make their boast of the lawe and yet through breaking of the law they dishonour God and cause his name to be euill spoken of Par. What thinke you of these doctors which are men of great learning and of the number of those whome we speake of howe is it possible they should so be deceiued Gen. I pray you M. Parson can you tell mee what was the cause that all the words which Pharaoh heard from the Lord and all the myracles that were wroughte before him coulde not make him to obeye God but still to constinue in his wickednesse before hee was ouergotten in his sinne Par. I haue hearde that it was because his heart was hardened Gen. You say very true for that * Exod. 14.17 was the onely cause therof and the same disease of hardnesse of heart hath taken such holde in the stomackes of these whom we speake of that it hath made them so sicke that I feare me it hath brought many of them to their graues Par. If it be true that they are deceined I maruel why they seek to bear the names of doctors and to couet such promotion as many of them are in Gen. I know not for my part what to thinke them nor what they meane by these glorious titles and great liuings but that they are such as Christe spake of that * Mat. 23.6 loue the vppermost seats at feasts and to sit in the cheefe places of the Sinagogues and loue greetings in the Market places and to be called of men Rabbi Rabbi Par. What can you see nothing else in them but that then I perceiue I can see more then you for suche as they are that heare the names of doctors are in some credite and estimation amongst the people shal the sooner be beléeued in that they say and the worde that they preach will be the better imbraced Gen. Oh M. Parson you are deceiued in your sight I thinke you lack your spectacles that you can see no better if the worde of God should work more in the people being deliuered of great men and such as are in authoritie I maruel that Christe had not foreseene it which was equall with his father in glorie and yet made himselfe of no reputation during the time of his being vpon the earth when he had alwaies a care to goe about his fathers businesse whiche was to preach the gospell that as many as were ordeined vnto eternallife might haue redemption through him in his hloude and why had he not chosen the great and mightie men of the world and made them his Disciples but chose rather poore Fishers men of no estimation in the worlde to be ministers of his word distributers of his misteries but you are deceiued M. Parson and that is true which Sainte Paule saithe that * 1. Cor. 1.27 God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to consound the wise and the weake things of the worlde to confound the mightie and things of no reputation despised to bring to naught those thinges that are highly essteemed that no flesh should reioice in his sight Par. For all this I cannot yet be perswaded but that it is lawful for a preacher to haue as manie benefices as he can get he that cannot preache maie haue three or four and be verie wel dispensed withal for you see that it is so and if it ought not to be so men are worse then madde to doe that which is not lawfull Gen. In deede it is too true that it is so with the most parte although not with all and therein they shewe their madnesse for amongst a great many of them onelye a fewe ercepted which the Lorde dothe reserue to himselfe and hath giuen better heartes vnto if hee be once a minister hee thinkes by and by that hee is made onelye to get him manie liuinges and if hee bee a Preacher and haue a wife and children he hath a conscience large ynough to wish for as many benefices as he can get but if his greedie desire can not so be satisfied yet if it bee possible he will haue three at the least one for himselfe another for his wife and a thirde for his children and that they maye haue these liuinges to maintaine themselues so that they may goe amongst the Gallants of the worlde that their diet may be of the best their tables traught with all
laid before you what a life you ought to liue Christ him selfe who although now heire of heauen earth when the time was come that he must be a minister of the gospel hee left heauen and the glory thereof and tooke vpon him the shape of the seruant Paul which sometimes was in authoritie beeing an enemie to the Gospell when it pleased God to make him a minister of the Gospell he was contented to forsake suche promotion and * Gal. 6.14 reioice in nothing but in the crosse of Christ Mathewe sitting * Mat. 9.9 at the receite of custome and in the middes of his worldlie affaires when Christ ment to make him a Gospeller hee willingly forsooke all and followed him Peter Andrew Iames and Iohn which got their liuing by fishing and busied about the same some * Mat. 4.18 casting their nets into the sea other meÌ„ding of their nets being brokeÌ„ which did require some hast wheÌ„ Christ came by theÌ„ told theÌ„ that he would make them fishers of men they made no more adoe of the matter but left all and followed him but you as thoughe you had a prerogatiue aboue Christ and his disciples thinke you may be a minister and a Gentleman too that you may bee a Christian and a worldling too that you may serue God and the Diuel too that you may liue at ease and yet beare the name of a painful labourer but he that wil be a minister of the Gospel and a seruaunt to Christ is taken on this condition that if he wil looke to reign with him in his kingdom he must suffer for him a while in this world and deny the vaine titles of a proud Prelate and forsake the vanities of this vaine worlde and to be be a * 1. Tim. 4.12 paterne to the godly in word in conuersation in charitie in faith and in chastety and to giue attendance vnto teaching reading doctrine and exhortation this is the calling that you are called vnto and as for the credit and continuance that you seeke to haue in the world that you may be a companioÌ„ of such as are worldlinges I will tell you Maister parson if you shape not to liue another kind of life you wil one day be found a fit companion for the diuell you must beare with me though I bee somewhat plaine with you and that which I tell you is nothing but trueth and therefore I would wish you the sooner to beleeue me Par. Nay I promise you I will not beleeue you for this matter all the scripture you haue in your belly will not make that sinke into my head that I being a minister should forgoe the calling of a Gentleman for if I had thought so much before I was minister I wold neuer haue taken the ministery vppon mee as long as I had liued what is a minister now a dates without a liuing and what is one benefice for a man to keepe house vpon or how can he bid his friends welcome giue them sufficient entertainment except he haue some other help as well me thinks you being a gentleman haue least cause to complaine of any man for I am sure you your fellows fare neuer the worse for vs of the ministerie especially as many of vs as are vnmarried and haue no man to care for but our selues we spare not to spend vpon good fellowes and gentleman as you are but you may come to our houses at any time when we are resident and be welcome We keepe good houses at Christmas we are merie haue our friendes about vs and many a poore bodie at our gates doe fill their bellies with that which we leaue when our bellies are full Gen. This is an Oration that if it had bene made before the diuell it woulde haue pleased him verye well you are a man for his owne toothe for I perceiue you are al for the bellie and care neither for youre owne soule nor the soules of suche as you shal answere for but your greatest desire is to be in credite fauour with the worlde I dare warrant you M. Parson as long as you behaue you selfe in this order that you speake of you shal haue friendes ynowe in this world and be alowde to haue recourse to the diuel which is the Prince of this worlde * Iosh 2.13 Ephe. 6.21 gouernour of suche as are worldlinges but knowe this withal that his kingdome doth last no longer then this worlde doth endure and that wil haue an ende you knowe not how soone although it be long before that time come yet you shal beare no longer swaye in it then your owne life doth last and that wil bee taken from you it may be very shortly and when your life is gone your work will bee at an ende and you shall haue your wages home with you for the greedy desire you haue had to fill your paunch you shall haue fire brâ—mston your belly full for your * Esay 65.13 Luk. 8.24 mirth merry pastime wherewith you thoughte your selfe neuer satisfied you shall haue more weeping and gnashing of teethe then you would desire and for the friendship you haue had in the worlde you shall haue as much of the wrath of God as you are able to beare and because you haue serued your master the diuell diligently you shal haue a losse in this that shal last for euer Therefore M. Parson if you like not of such an alteration I woulde wish you to lead a life of another fashion for such sweete meate will haue soure sauce and these plagues doth follow such an vngodly life Par. Why is there such vngodlinesse in vsing these thinges that I haue spoken of or is it not commendable to keepe a good house or to be merrie amongst our friends Gen. It is your duetie alwaies to bee a louer of * â— Tim. 3.2 hospitalitie but in that you prefer one time before another as your Christmas which you speake of and such like it may go amongst the number of the rest of your faultes for the same fault did Sainte Paul finde amonst the * Gal. 4.10 Galathâ—ans and was in feare least he had bestowed his labour on them in vaine because they made a difference of daâ—es monethes times and where as you say that the meaâ—e which you leaue when your bellies are full doth feede many poore at your gates you may know that you thruste them out of your gates which ought to be guests at your tables Par. This is more then euer I hearde before therefore I thinke it to be some new order of your owne making Gen. If you thinke it strange or a newe order you may knowe that it was an order set down by our master Christe for a thousand and fiue hundred yeres agone at the least that when wee made our feastes wee shoulde * Luk. 14.13 call the poore the maimed the lame and the blinde and not
you whome God hath drawne from dangerous dealings your happinesse is more then I can expresse you haue by these meanes gotten heauen and earth on your side the Lord himself doth fauor you the Sunn Moone will shew you a cheereful countenauce the earth shall serue for your pleasure the dew in the morning wil giue you a sweet sauor the flowers in the field wil cast you a pleasant smell The stones in the streetes are at league with you neither is there anye thing vnder the heauens that shal hurt you but all are sworne to your safety the Lorde shall send his Angelles to * Psal 34.7 pitch their tents about you so that al your enemies shal doe you no harme but death it selfe shall giue you the victorie when it commeth to playe his part it shall set you free from a greate many of miseries and * Apoc. 14.13 place you in an euerlasting happinesse But as for suche as continue in their wickednesse woe be vnto them it were better for them that they had neuer bene born for their state is accursed and the best of them is but * Mich. 7.4 as a brier or a rotten stake in a thorny hedge and though they florish a while as doth the flower of that field yet shal they wither as doth the grasse and * Esai 51.8 worms shal eate them euen as moths eat cloth and wool Wo be vnto them that through the stubbernesse of their hearts can not repente but heape vp for them selues wrath against the day of wrath and declaration of the righteous indgement of God * Rom. 2.5 which will rewarde euery man according to his workes Par. Then Woe the vnto all Patrons which buie and sell benefices Gen. Yea and happie are such Patrons as bestow them vpon such as are worthie of them and that take no monie for them but seeke onelie the glorie of God and the saluation of their brethren Parl Are there some such Patrons think you that doth so bestow their benefices Gen. Yea no doubt of it there are some such and that manie although because you haue not found them you think the contrarie Elias thought wheÌ„ ther was a slaughter amongest the prophetes of the Lorde that there had bene none left that did serue the true God but himself beacuse he knew them not but the * 3. Kin. 19. â—4 18 Lorde tolde him that there were seuen thousand which he had reserued that did neuer bowe their knees to Bâ—al So no doubt hath he now a remaant whome he doth preserue from that sinne of simmonie and do leaue it as a thing which doth highlie displease the Lorde the which number I beseech him dailie to encrease that the feete of the ministers â—â—aie be * Esai 52.7 Rom. 10.15 beautiful and themselues messâ—ngers that maie bring glad tidings of peace and tidinges of good things Par. I shall bee counted but a foole amongst my felows for playing of his part and they will make it a game to laugh at for dealing in this maner but the best waie is to giue them leaue and abide their skoffs with patience vntil the Lorde roote them out or giue them heartes of repentance Gen. You saie verie well it is our parts to * Psal 27.16 tarrie the Lords leasure and be contented to bear the railinges of our aduersaries for a while these daies will not continue for euer there will come a laughing time for vs when they shal weepe and howle for the miserie that shal come vpon them and shal be faine one day to saie of you this * VVis 3.5 is he whome we somtimes had in dirision we â—ooles thought his life madnesse and his end without honor but lo how he is counted amongest the Sonnes of God and his portion is amongst the saints these words shal the vngodlie saie with griefe of heart when themselues are tormented and you shal be comforted when you shal haue ioies vnspeakable and they shal be cast into vtter darknesse where shal be weeping and gnashing of téeth And nowe that you may set some order concerning your selfe and suche stuffe as you haue at home I wil send two of my men with you that shal deale for you as they woulde for me and in hope that it shal not be long before I see you againe Par. I thanke you sir moste heartelie and I praise God highlie that haue stirred vp such an instrument to cal mee to repentance I will ride to my benefices and discharge my selfe clean of them and with as much speed as I may I wil waite on you in the meane time I pray God blesse you and yours and continue that good mind in you which now you are of that you and I with al our housholde maie so serue God in this transitorie worlde that wee may ioie with him for euer in the world to come Gen. Amen FINIS A godly and necessary prayer into this booke O ETERNALL and euerlasting God which hast made thy dwellings aboue the heauens by the Scepter of thy mighte doest rule all the powers in the world all which should sound to thy praise and redounde to the honour of thy glorious name we most vile wretches whom thou hast made of the dust of the earth throw down our selues here before thy maiesty as vnworthy to be made thy footestoole submitting our selues vnto thee and acknowledging our sinnes we appeal to thee for mercye VVe confesse O Lorde that our wickednesse is great our misdeedes many our sinnes innumerable and thou art iust thy iudgements are ouer all the worlde and the punishments due for our sinnes are intollerable Forgiue them O Lord forgiue theÌ„ mollifie our hard hearts and gyue vs right spirites that we may see our sinne and learn to tremble before thy maiesty fear to offend any longer Oh be thou fauourable vnto vs or els we are lost for euer If thou be angry what may make vs merry if thou be offended how may we be pleased If vve haue lost thy fauour what friendship can help vs If thou withdraw thy grace from vs what good shal our riches do vs If thou be not on our side what shal we do with the help of man If we be whole in body sick in soule rich in substance poore in godlines haue the worlde at will and know not how to vse it If we haue such liberty to do waht vve vvould any yet so sinfull to do nothing as vve shoulde Oh the finne of so corrupt hearts what miserie vvill it bring vs vvhat vvoe will it vvorke vs howe many plagues are there ordeined for so great sinnes and vvhat a continuall paine vvill our vngodly pleasure purchase for vs O Lorde if thou let vs liue heere a vvhile in wealth ease to the end vve shal liue for euer hereafter in misery wo alasse that euer vve were born to see such woâ—ul days oh far be that froÌ„ vs O Lorde and continue thy