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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50263	A very useful manual, or, The young mans companion containing plain and easy directions for spelling, reading, and uniting English, with easy rules, for their attaining to writing, and arithmetick, and the Englishing of the Latin Bible without a tutor, likewise the plotting and measuring of land, globes, steeples, walls, barrels, timber, stone, boards, glass, &c. ... : and several other considerable and necessary matters, intended for the good of all, and for promoting love to one another : as by the table annexed particularly appears / collected by William Mather.	Mather, W. (William), fl. 1695.	1681 (1681)	Wing M1286; ESTC R36919	124,932	462

continually thou wilt hunger and thirst after Righteousness and will alwaies in thy heart give thanks unto God at the receiving of meat and drink and all other of Gods Mercies though thou dost not express it in words except God shall require it of thee for the edification of others Matth. 5.6 1 Tim. 2.8 Eph. 6.18 Answer Truly when my mind is still and out of earthly thoughts I find inclination● to pray alwaies and also a hungering and thirsting after Righteousness Christ Jesus hath said all such are blessed and as God said unto Cain if thou do well shalt thou not be excepted and if thou dost not well sin lieth at thy door Gen. 4.7 Question Let me hear our Lords Prayes Answer OUr Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy name thy Kingdom come thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven give us this day our daily Bread and forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil Amen A few words to those that are minded to impose upon Conscience Question DOth not the old Serpent move in People to persecute for Religion Heb. 10.29.2 Cor. 4.4 Rev. 12.14 Answer Yes He works in many that are of a self interest that cannot rest from compelling others more Righteous than they to some outward observation ceremony or opinion before others see it their duty so to do John 15.20 Question Then is it not the same Spirit that put the Martyrs to Death as at this day that seeks to force others to their opinions Exodus 23.2 Rev 12.11.17 Answer Yes it is the same Spirit that forceth for the true Christians only persuade in the love of God Romans 14.4 13. 1 John 4.20 Question Are all true Christians that chiefly mind the Grace of God in their hearts though they do not practise the Ceremonies of Men Col. 2.8 Phil. 3.5 Answer Yes for all People of every Nation that fears God and works Righteousness it is by this Grace that they perform good things and such do find acceptance with God neither can such seek to enforce others to their faith any more than Christ Jesus did his Brethren after the flesh to believe in him John 7.5 Acts 10.35 Question Are not most people in this day striving by one way or other to enforce others into their faith by what means shall People come to be of one heart Jer. 32.39 Answer Only by every ones keeping to their own measure of Grace in themselves and none to exalt themselves above their measure received of God and none to be drawn from the obedience thereof by any mans words or actions lest their portion be with the young Prophet whom the old deceived 1 Kings 13.18 Jere. 9.4 Question May we by an outward force seek to deliver our selves from imposition Rom. 8.31 Rom. 12.19 Answer No all true Christians will love their Imposers and obey the Magistrate in all things that are due to Caesar Matthew 22.21 Acts 4.19 The true worship of God stands not in any outward observation of time or place or any bodily exercise therein but in doing the will of God bowing in his Spirit and obeying the voice thereof W. S. page 43. Question Doth God accept of the several Religious performances of People in these days John 4.24 Answer Those that wait not to f eel Gods Spirit leading them into those performances or duties find no more acceptance with God than the offerings of the lame and the blind did in the first Covenant Jude 30. Rom. 8.26 Question What is the work of the true Ministers Acts 28.18 Answer To remind People to take heed unto their only Teacher Gods Grace in their hearts and such will not desire People to follow them any further than they follow Christ and their holy Conversation wins more to God than their Preachings Job 36.22 1 Cor. 11.1 2 Peter 1.9 Heb. 8.11 A Cloud of Witnesses might be produced to prove that no force ought to be used to drive People into this or the other Religious opinion before the Lord by his Grace in their hearts manifesteth to them that it is their duty to conform For what is not of Faith is sin Rom. 14.5 23. A few Witnesses here follow Jeremiah Taylor once Chaplain to King Charles the first said I being most of all troubled that men should be persecuted and afflicted for disagreeing in such opinions which they cannot with sufficient grounds obtrude upon others necessarily because they cannot propound them infallibly Dr. Stilling fleet once Chaplain to King Charles the second in a Sermon before the King Anno 1674 5 saith To be a Christian was not to fight for the faith but to live by it not to quarrel for good works but to practise them in short to be a Christian was to depart from iniquity and to do good to be meek and humble and patient and peaceable towards all men to be charitable and kind to be sober and temperate in all things to be holy sincere and innocent in his actions towards God and Man Lucernus said he that commandeth any thing wherewith he bindeth the conscience this is an Antichrist Inde Benuse disp fol. 71. Calvin said that the Apostle gave to understand that to exercise Authority over ones faith was in no wise just nor tolerable yea said he it is Tyranny in the Church for faith ought to be free from all subjection of men Luther upon 1 Kings 5. In the building of the Temple their was no sound of Iron heard to signify that Christ will have in his Church a free and a willing People not compelled and constrained by Laws c. Stephanus King of Poland said it belongeth not to me to reform the conscience I have alwaies gladly given that over to God which belongeth to him and so shall I do now and also for the future I will suffer the Weeds to grow until the time of Harvest for I know that the number of Believers are but small therefore said he when some were proceeding to Persecution Ego sum Rex Populorum non Conscientiarum that is I am the King of the People not of their Consciences he also affirmed that Religion was not to be planted with fire and Sword Chron. van de Rel. Vriih 2 deel Ellis Hooks said in a Book of Martyrs Paul the Apostle taught that the Servant of the Lord must not strive but must be gentle towards all men suffering the evil men instructing them with meekness that are contrary minded c. 2 Tim. 2.4.2 If any Man shall pretend that the Scriptures judge according to his conceptions or conscience for other men and that they must take their religious measures by the line of his direction such a Person makes himself greater than either Church Scripture or Conscience W. P. Add to Prov. 148. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them fur this is the Law and

His plainness in Apparel Singularity His proper Speech Rudeness His Scripture-Language Canting His Sobriety a cheat for Custom His being at a Word a decoy for Trade His Industry Worldly-mindedness His Hospitality Flesh-pleasingness In short such true Christians have been imprisoned because they cannot take up Arms and also for fear they should and if they answer their Adversaries they say it's Nonsense or Equivocation so that his Virtues are accounted Vice by such Professors as delight only in the form of Godliness more than the power thereof After this manner the Papist used to disapprove of the Sobriety of the Waldenses of whom Reinerius a Popish Author so writeth Now the Protestants of the National Church make use of the name of these suffering Waldenses to help to plead for their antiquity equal with the Papists that is from the Apo●●●s time which makes them never the truer●●ristians considering the great Apostasie that first spoiled the simplicity of Truth and keeping up the Heathenish Learning and Traditions of men Col. 2.8 20. Yet did God here and there raise Witnesses for the Truth in all this dark night who for the most part were persecuted by them that upheld the shell of Religion or outward Ceremonies and neglected the substance God's spirits teaching in their hearts as at this day So that if this good Spirit of God was but truly obeyed it would lead people to be Witnesses in measure of the Saints condition recorded in the holy Scripture experimentally for imitation of the Saints practices before God's Spirit lead in each heart has been and is the door of Apostasie Man in his own Strength and Wisdom hath been too apt to do and act as to Worship that which God doth not require or command him Deut. 5.32 Isa 1.12 That the Lord said Matth. 15.9 But in vain they do worship me teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of men Now Reader if thy desire is to be truly led to build upon no other Foundation besides the Rock Christ Jesus mark well these Scriptures following and the Lord give thee an obedient Heart viz. For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unri●●teousness of men who hold the Truth in unrighteousness Because that which may be known in God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them But unto every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ for as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lye and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide We have also a more sure Word of Prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the Day-Star arise in your hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 Rom. 1.18 19.8.14.10.6 7 8. Heb. 8.10 12. Eph. 4.7 At that time Jesus answered and said I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes Matth. 11.25 1 Cor. 1.27 29. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the World to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the World to confound the things which are mighty That no flesh should glory in his presence 1 Cor. 4.18 19. Let no man deceive himself If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world let him become a fool that he may be wise For the Wisdom of this World is foolishness with God c. These things are as a sealed Book to all the Wit Learning Study and mans reason until he come to bow his mind to the measure ●●●e Spirit or Grace of God in his own heart ●●om whence these Scriptures with others were given forth For the Scripture is given by Inspiration of God c. 2 Tim. 3.16 For what knoweth the things of a man save the Spirit of a man which is in him even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God But he that is spiritual discerneth all things c. 1 Cor. 2.11 14 15. For to be carnally minded is Death but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace Rom. 8.6 Gal. 5.16.6.5 This I say then walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the Lusts of the Flesh For every man shall bear his own burthen James 4.17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doth it not to him it is sin Prov. 18.10 The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower the Righteous runneth into it and is safe Veritati adhaereto Stick to the Truth Vniformity in Religion how attainable according to true Christianity and also something of the fruits of Imposition upon Conscience for religious Opinions Humbly submitted to the consideration of Superiours By William Mather WHereas it is professed by all the Professors of Christianity at this day that the way and manner of their Religions or Opinions is according and not contrary to the Scripture of Truth Now to create peace amongst all the Churches and to unite in harmless Love that they may all build only upon the Rock Christ Jesus Mat. 7.25 If it shall please God so to open the Eyes of the Magistrates in every place by his Grace in their hearts the sure foundation Eph. 2.8 to so order it That the Minister or Teacher in each Congregation for Worship shall read the holy Scriptures only unto their hearers all waiting upon God in his fear to worship him in Spirit and in Truth John 4.24 So that if any thing be revealed by Gods Spirit by way of Interpretation Edification or Prayer to another that sitteth by let the first hold his peace 1 Cor. 14.30 31 32. So will God be in the midst of those that are thus gathered together in his Name Matth. 18.20 so as none in Man's Wisdom speak but only as God's Spirit shall give utterance though it be through the least Member accounted of in the Church 1 Pet. 4.10 ●or what confusion and b●●●shed hath come upon the World for several ages by reason of mans setting up ways of Worship Articles of faith c. when our Saviour hath already done it Matth. the 5 6 and 7. Ch. c. For when an Arch-bishop required Joh. Fox the Author of the Book of Martyrs to subscribe to Articles of Faith he pulled out his Greek Testament saying I will subscribe unto nothing but this So that none except Jews and Atheists but will subscribe to God's Book according to the primitive practice of the Saints to worship God in Spirit And for this Liberty of prophesying and Interpretation of the Scriptures only by the same Spirit that gave them forth the ancient Fathers so called have pleaded for as Jacobus Acontius After I have alledged saith

say do not this or that to day These words are used Gen. 30.27 I have learned Experience saith Laban that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake Again Gen. 44.5 Is not this the Cup in which my Lord drinketh and whereby he divineth That is proveth or maketh trial or experience what manner of men ye are The Heathen people were very superstitious in these observations some days they counted unlucky others lucky as our Astrologers do now some unfortunate to begin Battle and some days unfortunate to marry and as they were superstitious in observing unlucky signs as they called them so likewise in the means used to avert the evil portended The means were either words or deads thus if an unlucky bird so called or such like came in their way they would fling stones at it And of this sort is the scratching of a suspected Witch which at this day amongst the simpler sort of people is thought to be a means to cure Witchcraft By words also they thought to prevent the evil signified by such signs when they say This evil light on thine own head Vid. apud Theophrast Character D. Kinchien radic My people ask Counsel at their stocks and their Staff teacheth them for the Spirit of Fornication hath caused them to err and they have gone a whoring from under their God Hos 4.12 Ezek. 21.21 Lev. 18.26 31. Eccles 24.5 6 7. The manner of the Moons Eclipse THe word Eclipse is as much as to say as to want light and to be darkned or in part hidden from our sight When the Sun and Moon are opposite one to the other diametrically and the Earth in the very midst between both that is when a right line drawn from the center of the Sun to the center of the Moon passing through the Center of the Earth for the Body of the Earth and water being thick and not transparent casting his shadow to that point which is opposite to the place of the Sun will not suffer the Moon to receive any light from the Sun from whence she borroweth her light as the Astronomers write And note that every time she is at the full she is opposite to the Sun and yet the Earth is not at every such full diametrically betwixt her and the Sun for then she should be Eclipsed at every full which indeed cannot be unless she be either in the head or tail of the Dragon so called being two opposite places in the Skies or Heavens Now the Moon is Eclipsed in part when the Sun the Earth and the Moon be met in one self diametral line but the Moon is declining either on the one side or the other But note that the Eclipses of the Moon may be universal because the Earth is far bigger than the Moon and thereby able to shadow the whole Body The manner of the Suns Eclipse THe Eclipse of the Sun is when the Moon is betwixt the Sun and the Earth which chanceth in a conjunction or new of the Moon and yet not in every con●unction but when it falleth in one of the two opposite parts of Heaven called the head or tail of the Dragon which may chance as is said before either totally or in part totally in respect of those parts of the Earth whereon the Shadow directly falleth for seeing the Moon is far less than the Earth she cannot shadow all the Earth and therefore the Eclipse of the Sun cannot be universal but yet to some part of the Earth it may be total or dark to some partly and to others nothing at all A Tide Table shewing the time of full Sea in the principal Havens in England or near thereunto Names of Havens H. M. Points of the Compass Quinborow Southhampton Portsmouth 0 0 South North Redban Aberden 0 45 s w by w n e by e Gravesend Downs 1 30 s s w n n e Dundee St. Andrews Scilly 2 15 s w by s n e by n London Tinmouth Hartelpoole 3 0 s west n East Barwick Ostendfount 2 45 s w by w n e by n Frith Leith Dunbar Narbe 4 30 w s w e n e Foymouth Gernsey Lizard 5 15 w by s e by n Foy Lin Humber Way Dartmouth or Plimouth Antwerp 6 0 East West Bristol Lanion Foulness 6 45 e by s w by n Bridgewater Texel Milford 7 30 e by e w n w Portland Peterport Hague 8 15 s e by e n w by n Orkney Pool Orwel Shelens 9 0 s East n w Deep Lux Lenoyes Needles 9 45 s e by s n w by n Bolyn Dover Harwich Yarmouth 10 30 s s e n n w Callis Rye Winchelsey Calsho 11 15 s by e e by w The Vse of this Table Add the Hours and Minutes right against each Haven to the Moons coming to the South and the whole result will be the time of the Tide or high water By this Table you may see what point of the compass the Moon is in at the time of the Tide or full Sea The Moons coming to the South is found in an Almanack The Characters of the seven Planets Saturn ♄ Jupiter ♃ Mars ♂ Sol ☉ Venus ♀ Mercury ☿ Luna ☽ The Characters of the 12 Signs Aries ♈ Taurus ♉ Gemini ♊ Cancer ♋ Leo ♌ Virgo ♍ Libra ♎ Scorpio ♏ Sagitarius ♐ Capricornus ♑ Aquarius ♒ Pisces ♓ To find what sign the Sun or Moon is in What sign is the Sun in the 6th day of September 1681. First find the day of the month by an Almanack and right against it is 24 d. 0 m. in ♍ the Moon at the same time is in 17 d. 25 m. in ♏ Do so another time Circles of the Sphere Note that the aforesaid 12 signs in the Zodiack so called are only as a supposed Circle or Circles divided into 12 equal parts in the Firmament whose breadth is about 23 d. 30. m. on each side of the equinoctial Line towards the two Pole Stars the whole Circumference or round the World of this Circle is 360 Degrees and every Degree upon the Earth is 60 miles Secondly Every one of these 12 Signs are divided into 30 Degrees and every Degree into 60 Minutes c. Thirdly The outmost side of this Circle or Circles towards the North Pole is called the Tropick of Cancer one of the said 12 signs the which when the Sun is in about the 11th of June the days are at the longest Fourthly And the other side of this Circle next the South Pole is called the Tropick of Capricorn the which when the Sun is in about the 11 of December the days are at the shortest Fifthly In the middle of this Circle or Circles or Zodiack may be said to be the equinoctial Line into which when the Sun cometh about the 10 of March and the 10th of September the days and nights are equal throughout the World Lastly The Sun is a whole year in passing through all these signs and the Moon in one Month and that neither of them come so near

the two Pole Stars as 60 Degrees which makes that the Earth is so very cold against them as in Greenland so called where there is Ice all the year being only inhabited by wild Beasts and Fowls in abundance Signs of Rain 1. SUn rising seems bigger 2. Sun rising with a Circle 3. Setting in a black Cloud 4. Sun or Moon looking pale 5. Sky red in the morning 6. Often change of the Wind. 7. No dew morning or night 8. Many small Clouds North West at Evening 9. Wind long in the South 10. Few Stars seen 11. Moons Horns thick at rising 12. Stars seem bigger 13. Many Stars and Wind East in Summer Signs of fair Weather 1. The Sun looks bright 2. Mists in the Water 3. Rain-Bow after Rain Signs of Frost 1. Many Stars and the Wind East Signs of Wind. 1. Sun and Moon look red 2. Sky red in the morning 3. Murmuring of Wind in the woods 4. Shooting of Stars 5. A Circle about the Moon at the Full. These Signs of the Weather are not so fallible as Astrological Predictions And People sometimes are saying we want Rain and sometimes fair weather all signs fail Oh! But the greatest want is the want of Obedience to the Talent or measure of Gods Grace in every heart that would lead People into Temperance in all things in fruitful seasons and out of that mind that seldom thinks that they have Apparel Meat Drink and Furniture good enough and that makes waste of any of Gods good Creatures as too many do when the poor wants * Jacob vowed that if God will be with him and will keep him in the way that he goes and will give him bread to eat and raiment to put on he will give the tenth unto the Lord Gen. 28.20 22. Even ●o will the seed of Jacob at this day give the Tenths or more if need be of the increase of God● Bl●ssings upon their outward Estate unto the Lord that is unto the poor and Fatherless and Widdows that wants relief Mat. 25.40 2 Cor. 9.7 So that now if it shall please God to cause a Famine it is but just upon many who regard not nor lay to heart the many warnings and threatning Judgments that hangs over our heads which God hath shewed to many in the midst of many Mercies yet but few regard with their whole heart to seek after Righteousness by departing from iniquity in the fear of the Lord because Sin is the chief cause of sorrow that comes upon Man and Beast and makes the Earth to mourn Oh that People should still resist the strivings of Gods good Spirit as in every Age Gen. 6.3 that would lead them out of all evil into favour with God Deut. 28.2 3 4 5. Are people willing to forget that the sins of the people have in all ages brought Gods Judgments upon them Which makes the Righteous rejoyce because many will learn Righteousness when Gods Judgments are in the Earth Isa 26.9 Though the Righteous in some outward things bear a share of the Judgment yet have they true Content Peace and Joy being redeemed from the Earth and all vis●ble things so as to set their hearts upon them 1 Kin. 8.35 36 37. Zeph. 1.3 Deut. 28.47.32.4 Jer. 30.15 Psal 5.12.38.25 Prov. 11.10 An Image called The Rood of Grace IN the beginning of the Reformation in King Henry 8th's time one Cromwel was greatly in favour with the King and was made one of his Privy Council c. He brought to light and suppressed many Popish Idolatrous Images and other superstitions of the Church of Rome for which they sought his death which the King afterwards lamented c. One Rood of Grace or Image wherein a man stood inclosed with a hundred Wires within the Rood to make the Image goggle its Eyes nod its head hang the Lip move and shake its Jaws according to the value of the gift offered if it were a small piece of Silver then would he hang a frowning Lip if it were a piece of Gold then should his Jaws go merrily Thus were poor peoples Souls seduced and their Pockets pick'd by these Idolatrous forgers until Cromwel caused the said Image to be carried publickly to Pauls in London where the People tore it in pieces Then in Queen Maries time Daughter to the said King Henry the 8th Bishop Bonner put out a Mandate to the Priests within his Diocess commanding that comely Roods or Images should be again set up in all Churches c. the same injunction was published in other Diocesses for at Cockram in Lancashire the Parishioners and Wardens had agreed with a Carver to make them a Rood to set up in their Church at a certain price which the Carver did but the Rood being made of an ugly grim Countenance they disliked it and refused to pay the Workman that made it whereupon by Warrant he brought them before the Mayor of Lancaster who was a favourer of the Protestants and a man against Idols when they came before the Mayor he asked them why they did not pay the man according to their agreement they replied they did not like the grimness of its Visage saying they had a man formerly with a handsome Face and they would have had such another now Well said the Mayor though you like not the Rood the poor mans labour has been never the less and it's pitty he should lose but I tell you what you shall do pay him the Money you promised him and if it will not serve you for a God you may make a Devil of it at which they laughed and so departed How pleasant Pictures become Idols in the Heart AN Image or Idol saith Paul 1 Cor. 8.4 is nothing c. that is it is nothing to thee but if thou set it in thy Heart and affectionate it or any other Picture thou bows to it and this is Idolatry Thou shalt make thee no graven Image saith God neither any similitude of things that are in Heaven above neither that are in the Earth beneath nor that are in the Waters under the Earth thou shalt not bow down to them c. Exod. 20.4 5. Though we make them say some people we do not bow to them or worship them Answer If thou art covetous after them and hast inordinate affection to them thou hast set them in thy heart and this is Idolatry Ezek. 14.2 Col. 3.5 And worships and serves the Creatures more than the Creator c. Rom. 1.25 Set your affections on things above not on things on the Earth Col. 3.2 My Son give me thine heart and let thine eyes observe my ways Prov. 23.26 So that he that has given his heart to God his affections will not be set upon liknesses for so his mind may be drawn from God who is to have the whole heart We may read that the Heathens did wonderfully adore the likenesses of things c. yet being no example to a Christian whose heart and Treasure is only in God and

three pound of Hony is one quart 33. Melt the Wax in water and press it out strongly then melt it in fair water and skim it clean then cover it with cloaths till it is cold that the Wax Cake crack not Common-ground the Poors Right more than the Rich. IT is a sad age in which we live that rich earthly minded men should seek to keep the poor people always very poor The Cattle upon the thousands of Hills are mine saith the Lord which God intended for the poor as well as others even for a general good And besides the large Common-grounds in England the Rich keep from the Poor in a great measure which properly is their right or so much thereof to keep their Families from want but not to live in idleness for some Christian spirited people did in former ages give Land as common unto the Poor but we too often see how that Rich men by force take it from them That many Lords of Towns so called and other rich Commoners had rather hinder themselves in some things that they may lord it over the poor and hinder a general Improvement of Land than to benefit the poor by letting them enclose a small part of a Common to maintain their Families though the poor may have friends raised to give the value of it in Mony but are rather for having a Law to maintain them very poorly by collections whenas the Poor might improve Common-ground for a general good and pay taxes Such oppression on the poor is no fruit of a Christian Spirit which is to do unto the poor as they would be dealt with if they were in the poors condition The Nation being big enough to maintain ten times as many people I suppose as are now in it by a Christian Industry and the Laws put in execution against Drunkenness and other the abuses of good things the which is of the greatest concern that the Magistrats ought to look after And the Poor as well as others ought to learn the Apostle Paul's Lesson that is to be content in all conditions which Paul said he had learned Philip. 4.11 Then will none of the poor in a contentious angry Spirit strive to get in ground enclosed from the Common but rather patiently wait upon God until he shall be pleased to open the hearts of men in outward Power to grant them their Birth-right and to become sharers with them of the Earth that all may seek a General Good and not so much for a private Interest then will there be a Blessing upon all their Labours so as none covet to have more than is needful to spend it upon their Lusts and pleasures for which Sin the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth doth and will more and more send his Judgments upon the Inhabitants of the Earth except they speedily repent by yielding obedience to the Grace of God in their hearts which will not consent to one Sin Exod. 23.6 Prov. 22.22.23.16.29.14 Rob not the poor because he is poor neither oppress the afflicted in Judgment for the Lord will defend their cause and spoil the Soul of those that spoil them Thou shalt not overthrow the right of the poor in his sute A King that judgeth the poor in truth his Throne shall be established for ever There are multitudes of Examples to be given that shew the wonderful Mercy and Love of God to such as have been assistant to the Poor which hard hearted men take little notice of but for brevities sake I shall but mention one remarkable passage as I found it in Richard Burton's Historical Remarques p. 63. Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in Exchange-Alley London In the Reign of K. Henry the Third was a great famine in England about the year 1245 whereby the Poor miserably perished for want of Bread The Authors of those times relate this story very credibly to shew how displeasing Unmercifulness and want of Charity is in the sight of God several poor People plucked the Ears of Corn while they were green in the Common fields meerly to keep themselves from starving at which the owners being much offended desired the Priest of the Parish to curse and excommunicate them all the next Sunday But one of the Company adjured the Priest in the name of God to exempt his Corn from the Sentence saying That it pleased him well that the poor being pinched with Famine had taken his Corn and so commended what was left to the blessing of God The Priest being compelled by the importunity of others had no sooner begun the Sentence but a sudden Tempest of Thunder Lightning Wind Hail and Rain interrupted him whereby all the Corn fields thereabout were laid waste and destroyed as if they had been trodden under Foot with Cart and Horses yea no kind of Fowl nor Beast would feed upon it But this honest tender hearted man found all his Corn and Ground though mingled among others altogether untouched and without the least harm Prov. 14.31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor Those may be said to rob the poor as throw down Cottages by taking the Commons from them making great Parks to keep Deer and other Cattle c. laying house to house and field to field that neither work nor place may be left for the poor Isa 5.8 And enclosing whole Parishes in England in these few years whereby the poor have been forced to remove and lose their right but many such Great men have come to want for so doing God having blasted their Estates and have felt God's Judgments for the same I shall forbear to name the Persons The same blasting hath also come upon many that have bought up corn in times of scarcity to withold it from the poor by great prices which is well known to many in this year 1681. as in ages past And do not they also rob the poor that take away the Gleanings of the Grain in the common fields from the poor whether it be by the Farmer or such others as are not really poor But some may say Who are the poor that thou writes of I Answer He or she that hath nothing but wearing Apparel and he that hath a Wife or a Wife and Children and works hard for 8 d. or 10 d. a day and hath not above 60 l. value in Land or Money Lev. 19.9 10. When ye reap the harvest of your Land saith the Lord ye shall not reap every corner of your field neither shalt thou gather the Gleanings of thy harvest But thou shalt leave them for the poor and Fatherless and Stranger I am the Lord your God Matth. 5.3 Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven saith our Saviour Christ Therefore whosoever first seeks the Kingdom of Heaven all other things shall be added Matth. 6.33 Psal 37.16 and 25. I have been young saith David and now am old yet I have not seen the