those Posts in the the land of Ephraim Manasseth and Zabulom Salt Some laughed them to scorne and mocked them and some submitted themselues and came to Ierusalem Chap. And what did they of Iudea Salt The hand of God was in Iudah so that he gaue them one heart to do the commandement of the King and of the Ruler according to the word of the Lord and when it shall please the same God that gaue them one heart to giue vs in this land one heart also wee shall doe the Commandement of our King and Rulers according to the word of the Lord for if wee had all that heart if there were vnity then as they in Iudea came into the house of the Lord to serue him and to kéepe the Passouer vnto him so should all wee in this land go to the Church serue God and in communicating shew forth the death of our Sauiour with thankes-giuing vntill hee come 1. Cor. 11.26 Wee should not be some in the Church and some in the chamber Some doing that which Christ commanded to bee done in remembrance of him some knéeling before some worke of Mans hand Luke 22 1◠Some hearkening to the preaching of Christ crucified some contenting themselues with hearing a Masse and looking on a Crucifixe Some through faith féeding in Christ which is aboue sitting as Paul saith at the right hand of God Col. 3.1 Heb. 1.3.8 Ca. 8.5.1 which to the Hebrues is called the right hand of Maiesty in the highest places and other some after certaine words spoken and grossely vnderstood séeking for him in forme of bread as if our Sauiour when hee said This is my body had either two bodies or else one and the same body at one and the same time seene and heard at the Table and hid and silent in the bread Chap. I wonder that they holding a bodily presence will themselues bee bodily absent Salt They absent themselues from our Church not only in body but also in Spirit they haue no minde to vs nor to our congregations Chap. It may be they thinke there be as many things that need clensing as needed clensing in Ierusalem when Hezechiah began to reigne at which time as I haue heard there were many things amisse Salt Indéed that godly King found high places images and groues all which hee tooke away and when hee had brought the Priests and Leuites into the east stréet hee said vnto them Heare me you Leuits sanctifie your selues 2 King 18 4 3. Cro. 29.5 and sanctifie the house of the Lord God of your Fathers and carry forth the filthinesse out of the Sanctuary For our Fathers haue trespassed and done euill in the eyes of the Lord our God and haue forsaken him and turned away their faces from the Tabernacle of the Lord and turned their backes 7 The haue also shut the doores of the porch and quenched the Lampes and haue neither burnt Incense nor offered burnt offerings in the Sanctuary vnto the God of Israel Chap. I thinke our Recusants haue Lamps and Incense still Salt They haue or would haue and Images too but they forget that those lamps and those offerings were signes of our Sauiour Christ which is called the light of the world and was once offered to take away the sinnes of many Heb. 9.28 as they may reade in the Epistle to the Hebrues where also they shall finde that the Priests Heb. 8.4 according to the Law offered guifts which serue vnto the Patterne of heauenly things Reu. 8.3 And in the Reuelation they may reade of an Angel that had a golden Censer much odours were giuen vnto him that hee should offer with the praiers of all Saints vpon the golden Altar c. Whereby wee are giuen to vnderstand that euen the prayers of the faithfull are no other waies accepted then through the sweete smelling merits of our Sauiour Christ who hauing brought the light of the Gospell giuen himselfe to death for vs and finished whatsoeuer in the Law was figured Lamps incense and burnt offerings and such like must now cease Chap. May not the Preachers of the truth be called Lamps and Lights Salt Yes so long as they leade vs to Christ which is the true light of the world and many such Lampes were put out not quenched with water but consumed with fire in the Bonerian daies God grant all Princes to take héed how they put out such lamps as shew the way to life eternall The same Spirit that said Touch not mine annoynted said also Do my Prophets no harme Psa 105.5 the learned know who are meant by annoynted in that place Chap. Doe not you thinke that many of the superstitious Catholickes for by that word I distinguish them from such Catholickes as are sincere did not murmure in the daies of our late Soueraigne when they saw the pictures of Lions Dragōs painted where they were wont to see such pictures as bare the names of Christ Mary and Iohn Salt I know not whether they did or no but if they did they had no reason for it sith the Armes of Princes which professe the Gospell with the supporters whether they be Lyons Dragons or Vnicornes being painted in Churches do signifie that the Prince whose Armes those are is a defender of the faith and of the pure worship of the liuing God and that hee is supreme Gouernour in all causes and ouer all persons not onely Ciuill but also Ecclesiasticall next and immediately vnder Christ in his owne Dominions who knowes not the simple people are more easily drawne to make Idols of the pictures of Saints then of beasts and therefore the remouing of their pictures and the placing of Arms in their roome is no sufficient cause to kéepe them from Church as if Christian Princes were to be reckoned amongst those that set vp their banners for tokens Psal 74.4 Chap. Sure I thinke some of them could frame themselues to come to Church notwithstanding the want of Images but that they haue beene away so long Salt This is no good excuse for a man to say I cannot doe this or that because I haue not done it in a great time for then Israel and Iudah might haue made that excuse for not comming to Ierusalem to keepe the Passeouer in the second Moneth for that it is said they had not done it in a great time as it was written 2 Chro. 30 Chap. I will trouble you no more about this matter Salt My good friend talke not of troubling mee it is the King and those that gouerne vnder his Maiesty that are troubled they see there be sundry opinions and that the fauourers of each would bee tollerated to haue their owne way which if it should be granted then the land though it haue a godly King should appeare as if it had none But wise and godly Kings which make much of them that are knowne to feare the Lord suffer not euery man especially
Moses Dauid and those Shepheards to whom the Angell of the Lord on a time brought tidings of great ioy The first of these Gen. 30.29 to witte Iacob sayth thus to Laban his Wines Father Thou knowest what seruice I haue done thee and in what taking thy Cattle haue beene vnder me for the little that thou hadest before I came is increased vnto a multitude and the Lord hath blessed thee by my comming c. This twenty yeeres haue I beene with thee Gen 31.38.39.40 thine Ewes and thy Goates haue not cast their young and the Rammes of thy Flockes haue I not eaten c. I was in the day consumed with heate and with frost in the night and my sleepe departed from mine eyes Moses â—â—od 2 17. â—1 after he had succoured the seuen Daughters of the Priest of Midian defending them from the downish and clubbish Shepheards that would not suffer them to mater their Fathers Sheepe at the Troughs which they themselues had â—â—iled marryed one of those Sisters and hauing agreed with Iethro his Father in law to look to his Sheepe he did not to the ende he might follow his owne pleasure or prosâ—ite committe them to a carelesse and vnskilfull Ladde but followed them himselfe through the desert and that a long time enduring many stormes no doubt eare he came to the mountaine of God Exod 31. Horeb. Chap. And what say you of Dauid Sal. He sayth of himselfe to King Saule Thy Seruant kept his Fathers Sheepe 1. Sam. 17.34 and theâ—e came a Lyon and likewise a Beare and tooke a Sheepe out of the flocke and I went out after him smote him tooke it out of his mouth when he arose against me I caught him by the beard and smote him and slew him So thy Seruant slew both the Lyon and the Beare Chap. It should seeme that this Dauid was a couragious and a carefull Shepheard Sal. The Seruants of Saule sayd He was strong valient and a Man of warre wise in matters and a comely person and that the Lord was with him Chap. Was it his trusting to his strength then that made him leaue his sheepe with a Keeper and goe within the compasse of the Host Sal. I did not say he trusted to his strength though he were strong yet he was the least of his Brethren And Saule in comparison of Goliah thought him but a Boy He left not his Sheepe as he himselfe sayd without a cause for his Father sent him the Lord no doubt had decreed that he though vnllkely in mans iudgement should kill that great man of warre 1. Sam. 17.46 47. that all men might know that Israell had a God Psal 78.70 and that the battle is the Lords This is that Dauid of whom it is sayd in the Psalme that God Tooke him from the Shepe-foldes euen from behind the Ewes with young brought he him to feede his People in Iacob and his inheritance in Ifraell so he fed them according to the simplicitie of his heart and guided them by the discretion of his hands Cha. This was a great prefermeÌ„t to come from feding of sheepe to gouerne Israell a greater blessing of God that he had wit will to guide theÌ„ so well But what haue you to say of those other Shepheards to whome the Angell brought such ioyfull tydings Sal. Saint Luke sayth Luk. 2.8 They abode in the field and kept watch by night because of theire flocke Cha. I promise you these Shepheards were worthie to be wel rewarded whom neither the night which is vncomfortable nor the Beare which roareth nor the Lyon which deuoureth could driue froÌ„ their flocks We of our town would be glad if our shepheard were halfe so painefull and couragious Sal. It is meruaile if he want paine being lame but what may I call the Towne where you dwell Chap. It is called Little-taught a pretty Towne if it were well taught Sal. If it had neuerso much teaching it were neuer the better except there be following Chap. True but rather the worse because it should be beaten with more stripes but I pray you let me haue some sharpe Salt that may stirre vp our Sepheards to feede vs and I doubt not if God blesse his labours you shall finde vs in better plight when you come this way againe Sal. What will you doe with the Salt when you haue it Chap. I will carry it to him and pray him to lay it to his eyes or if any of this kinde hath beene layed to them heeretofore that he would now at length lay it to his heart Sal. On yâ— conditioÌ„ the you wil do the like wheÌ„ he shall wish you I will serue you presently Chap. I hope I shall Sal. Hold then as I deliuer it with good-will so do you carry it which goodwill I pray god to stir vp your shepheard according vnto that which shall be measured vnto him to feed you with goodwill Chap. Amen Sal. Thus sayth the Lord God vnto the Shepheards Ezek. 34. â— Woe be to the Shepheards of Israell that feede themselues should not the Shepheards feede the flockes Yea eate the Fatte and ye cloath you with the Wollâ— yea kill them that are fed 3 but ye feede not the sheepe The weake haue ye not strengthned the sicke haue ye not healed neyther haue you bound vp the broken 4 nor brought againe that which was driuen away neither haue sought that which was lost but with crueltie and rigor haue you ruled them 5 And they were scattered without a Shepheard and when they were dispearsed they were deuoured of all the Beasts of the field Chap. I perceiue a shepheard hath work enough to keepe him from idlenesse he had not neede be lame or lasy that must feede strenghthen heale bind vp the broken bring againe sheepe that bee driuen away and seeke about for such as be gone astray but if I should desire to know who they be that feede and cloth themselues and do not that which is here required would you not do so much as tell me Salt If other Chapmen will stay so long you shall heare not what I say but what I find in a booke that beareth the name of an ancient and famous shepheard Aug. dâ— pastoribus that liued in Africa more then twelue hundred yeares ago how say you my Maisters are you conent to stay while I shew what I finde here Other Chap. Yes if you stay not too long as one forgetting that wee come for that which is Canonicall Salt If I bring any that agréeeth not with that you may leaue it where you find it In the first chapter of that booke hee asketh this question Aug. de Pastoribus cap. Where are they which feede themselues and answereth All that seeke their owne and not the things that are of Iesus Christ for we saith he whom the Lord according to his vouchsafing and not according to our
of his most precious bloud hath purchased for all them that repent and through a liuely saith bring forth fruites of true repentance cleaue stedfastly to him vnto the end Chap. Freind Salt-man you forget your selfe Sal. Why my good Chapman Chap. I came not to heare you Preach but to haue some Canonical Salt fit for the men you wot of Salt If you had not interrupted mee you had beene gone ere this take now the rest of the Salt say nothing till you haue sufficient What haue I to do with the multitude of your sacrifices 〈…〉 saith the Lord I am full of the burnt-offerings of Rarâ—s and of the fat of fed beasts and I desire not the bloud of Bullocks nor of Lambs nor of Goates 12 When you come to appeare before mee who required this of your hands to tread in my Courts 13 Bring no more oblations in vaine Incense is an abhomination vnto me I cannot suffer your new Moones nor Sabboths nor solemne dayes it is iniquity nor solemne Assemblies 14 My soule hateth your new Moones and your appointed Feasts they are a burthen to me I am weary to beare them â—â— And when you shall stretch out your hand I will hide myne eyes from you and though you make many prayers I will not heare for your hands are full of bloud 16 Wash you make you cleane take away the euill of your workes from before mine eyes cease to do euill 17 Learne to do well speake iudgement relieue the oppressed iudge the fatherlesse and defend the widdow 18 Come now and let vs reason together saith the Lord though your sinnes were as crimson they shall be made white as snow though they were red like skarlet they shall be as wooll 19 If yee consent and obey yee shall eate the good things of the land 20 But if yee refuse and bee rebellious yee shall bee deuoured with the sword for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it See also Esai 58. what Fast pleaseth God see also Ieremy 7.9.10 against stealing murder c. and such men standing in Gods-house and Ier. 22.15 Did not your fathers c. Whosoeuer then heareth of mee these words and doth the same saith our Sauiour I liken him to a wise-man Mat. 7.24 which hath builded his house on a rock 25 and the rayne tell and the flouds came and the windes blew and beate vpon that house and it fell not for it was grounded on a rocke 26 But whosoeuer heareth these my words and doth them not shal be likened to a foolish man which hath builded his house vpon the sand and the raine fell the flouds came 27 the winds blew and beate vpon that house and it fell and the fall thereof was great Then beganne hee to vbraide the Citties wherein most of his great workes were done Mat. â—â— â—â— 21 Woe bee to thee Corazin woe bee to thee Bethsaida for if the great workes which were done in you had bene done in Tirus Sidon they had repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes c. O Hypocrites 〈◊〉 â—9 7 Esaias prophycied well of you saying This people draweth neere vnto me with their mouth 〈◊〉 29 1â— and honoureth mee with their â—ippes â—ath â—â— 3 but their hearts is farre from mee Bee ye doers of the word and not hearers onely 〈◊〉 â— â—2 Pure religion and vndefiled before God euen the Father is this to visite the fatherlesse and widdowes in their aduersity to keepe himselfe vnspotted of the world Chap. This shall suffice for this time but I pray you tell me why doth the Lord reiect â—hose oblations and say their feasts were a burthen vnto him were they not appointed by the Law Salt Yes but the Lord doth hate this pleasing of our selues with outward shews and ceremoniall seruice for when there is no inward reformation The sacrifice of the wicked is an abhomination Prou 27 21. Therefore I may well say To kill an harmelesse beast and nourish hurtfull sinne To keepe a solemne feast and no sound saith within To come with fat of Rams and make the poore look leane To offer vp yong Lambs with bloudy hands vncleane In sight to fast and pray and make the Tenant cry To heare the word all day and put the widdowes by Such incense hath a smell like brimstone burnt in hell Chap. I would aske you one question more if I might Salt What is that Chap. Why doth the Lord say wash you make you cleane can we cleanse our selues Act. 2.40 Salt Saint Peter saith to some in the Acts of the Apostles Saue your selues from this froward generation And Saint Paul after he had exhorted Timothy to take héed vnto himselfe 1. Tim. 4.10 and vnto learning and to continue therein saith For in doing this thou shalt both saue thy selfe and them that heare thee By which places we are giuen to vnderstand that as such as teach if in their calling they labour to bring men to Christ their Sauiour may assure themselues to bee in the way to saluation if they beléeue and haue a care to follow that word of God which they set before others So if others also which bee exhorted to wash and saue themselues shall after such exhortations through the grace of God by which as the Apostle saith we are made safe reason thus with theÌ„selues 〈…〉 wee vse to wash that which is soule and cleause places that are filthy surely whatsoeuer cleaueth to mee that the Lord which is onely perfectly pure and holy hath forbidden in his word and in iustice from time to time punished threatning eternall death and destruction to such as dy vncleansed that must needes bee foule and filthy in his sight till it be washed away but he hath forbidden threatned and punished idolatry witchery blasphemy periury contempt of the Sabboths treason resisting authority wilfull-muether filthy fornication adultery incest theft fraude wrong lying couetousnes such like therfore these with all their branches and rootes are most foule filthy in Gods sight If thus I say they reason with theÌ„selues being pricked in their hearts through the féeling of their owne filthinesse humbly fall downe before the Almighty iudging coÌ„demning themselues confessing the to theÌ„ belongeth shame confusion death and damnation for that they haue sinned against heauen and earth and shall therewithall pray to God to haue mercy on theÌ„ according to his louing kindnesse and according to the multitude of his mercies to do away theiriniquities to wash and cleanse them thorougly from them in the bloud of his Sonne to create in them a new heart and to renew a right spirit within them hauing therewithall a stedfast purpose to walke in newnesse of life thus if they do they may be said after a sort to wash themselues because as people earnestly defiring to serue God from hence-forth in newnesse of life they haue vsed the means
snátch away their goods to maintaine their owne diet and rayment that they kill the fat when they lay heinous matters and capitall crimes to the charge of the richer sort that so they may come by their substance that they feede not the flock by example of good life with the word of sound doctrine that they strengthned not the weake when they laboured not to hinder those which are prone apt to vice the they healed not the sicke when they did reuoke call backe such as were accustomed to euil the they bound not vp such as were broken through impatiency wheÌ„ they did not kindly comfort them that they caused not such as went astray to returne when they brought not againe to the true worshipping of God that which was driuen away from it by idolatry that they sought not that which was lost when they did not raise vp such as despared by promising them parâ—on through the mercy of God that they ruled them with cruelty when they laid such burthens vpon them as they were not able to beare that the Shéep were dispersed without a Shepheard when they were scattered through diuers vices wanting good gouernment teaching that they were deuoured of all the beasts of the field when they became a prey for diuels cruell aduersaries such as were the Assirians and Chaldeans Chap. I see diuers men haue diuers expositions Salt They may so and all profitable so long as they swerue not from the Analogy of that faith and doctrine which is taught in holy writ but if you will haue any more 〈◊〉 Ezechiels salt here it is Thus saith the Lord God Eze. 34.10 Behold I come against the Sheepheards and will require the sheepe at their hand and cause them to cease from feeding the sheepe Chap. Stay salter stay Salt Why so Chap. Tell mee I pray thee why doth the Lord say hee will cause them to cease from feeding if they feede themselues and not the flocke they need not be stayed but rather spurred Salt If one should take vpon him to make you a watch which when you haue tryed it you finde to bee starke nought would not you say this man shall make me no more watches Chap. Yes Sal. But your meaning is hee should marre you no more for though he tooke vpon him to make a good one yet hee made 〈◊〉 had one and that is marring Chap. True Salt So many stand in the place of watchmen which winke when they should wake and many in the roome of féeders which rather serue then féede the meaning therfore of the Lord is this he wil not suffer them to féede his Shéepe in such sort any longer Chap. Answere 〈◊〉 to one question more then I wil trouble you with no more questions In the foresaid Chapter as I remember the Lord saith And yee my sheep the sheepe of my pasture are men are all men the Lords sheep Salt Hearken what hee himselfe hath said by the mouth of his onely Sonne Io 10 27 28 My sheepe heare my voyce and I know them and they follow me Chap. No doubt but it shall go wel with such sheepe Salt Marke what followeth And I will giue vnto them eternall life and they shall neuer perish neither shall any man plucke them out of my hand Chap. I see then if one will bee a true member of Christ and enioy life euerlasting he must heare Christ his voyce and follow him But what if some Iudas preach must I follow him Salt Sée you forget your selfe you told mee you would trouble mee with no more questions take heed you be not one of those that are more forward in asking questions then obeying precepts They which heard Iudas were not to follow him in treason Math. 10.4 Mat 14.17 he wrought to his owne condemnation but in the doctrine he taught for their saluation for he was sent 〈◊〉 â—â—ch as well as Peter Math. 6.16 who was not to be followed when hee cursed and sware that hee knew not the man but in confessing Christ to be the sonne of the liuing God Chap. If Peter bee not to bee followed when he did euill why should wee follow any man that is a Deputy for the Diuill If any man dispensed with this late pestilent practise with powder hee deserueth rather to be called a searcher for salt-peter then a successor of Peter and not a Vicar of Christ but an aid to Antichrist but let these Salt-peter-men goe or rather shut them vp lest they worke our woe and let me haue some more of that salt for which I came Salt You shall I will giue you pastors according to mine heart Iet 3 15 they shall féede you with knowledge and vnderstanding happy are they friend Chapman that haue such Pastors These are not like those watchmen and Pastors which are pictured by the Prophet Isaiah Isai 56 10. where hee saith their Watchmen are all blinde 11 they haue no knowledge they are all dumbe dogges they cannot barke they lye and sléepe and delight in sléeâ—ing and these gréedy dogges can neuer haue inough and these Shepheards cannot vnderstand for they all looke to their owne way euery one for his aduantage and for his owne purpose Chap. If any man in the feare of God in a charitable sort should cast this salt vpon any to season them being drowsie dumbe and too greedy ought any man in anger to call him barking dogge and to reckon him in the number of those whom the Apostle meaneth when he saith Beware of Dogges Salt To this I answere that I feare me there is too much doggishnesse euery where For God for his tender mercies sake giue vs more charitable hearts one towards another Loue which is the badge of Christianity is lost wee had néed make haste to séeke it lest the anger of God take vs away before we can finde it Chap. You say well but let mee haue a little more Salt Take heede therefore vnto your selues Act. 10 2â— and to all the flocke whereof the holy Ghost hath made you ouerseers to seede the Church of God which he hath purchased with his owne bloud Let no man despise thy youth but be vnto theÌ„ that beleeue an example in word 1. Tim. 4 1â— in Conuersation in Life in Spirit in Faith and in purenesse Till I come giue attendance to reading to exhortation to doctrine take héede vnto thy selfe vnto learning continue therein for in so doing thou shalt saue thy selfe and them that heare thee Chap. If it bee so it is good for a Pastour to bee painefull and carefull to bring men to Christ which saueth but go on Salt I charge thee therefore before God and before Iesus Christ 2. Tim. 4. â— which shall iudge the quicke and the dead at his appearing and in his Kingdome Preach the word be instant in season to the willing saith the former booke de Pastoribus and out of season that is to
fellow euen as I had pitty on thee So his maister was wroth and deliuered him to the Iaylors till hee should pay all that was due to him So likewise shall my heauenly Father do to you Note except you forgiue from your hearts each one to his brother their trespasses Blessed bee the mercifull Math. 5.7 for they shall obtaine mercy Be ye courteous one towards another Eph. 4 3â— tender hearted forgiuing one another euen as God for Christs sake forgaue you Whatsoeuer you would that men should doe vnto you euen so doe yee to them for this is the Law and the Prophets If you doe forgiue men their trespasses your heauenly father will also forgiue you your trespasses Math. 6 14 â—â— But if you do not forgiue men their trespasses no more will your father forgiue you your trespasses Now therefore as the elect of God â—ol 3.11 holy and beloued put on tender mercy kindnesse humblenesse of minde meeknesse long suffering Forbearing one another and forgiuing one another 1â— if any man haue a quarrell to another euen as Christ forgaue euen so doe yee â—4 And aboue all things put on loue which is the bond of perfectnesse The twelfth Chapman NOW come I. Salt For whom Chap. For one that is very curious in washing his hands and in cleansing the outsides of all his vessels but if one looke into the inside of them he shall finde them so foule and filthy that it would loath a man to eate any thing that commeth out of them Salt I haue some for you besides that which I deliuered to the eight Chapman that is this Woe bee to you Scribes and Pharisies Mat. â—3 25 hypocrites for yee make cleane the vtter side of the cup and platter but within they are full of bribery and excesse 26 Thou blind Pharisie cleanse first the inside of the cup and platter that the outside of them may be cleane also Wo be to you Scribes and Pharisies 27 hypocrites for you are like vnto whited tombes which appeare beautifull outward but are within full of dead-mens bones 28 of all filthinesse so are yee also for outward yee appeare righteous vnto men but within ye are full of hypocrisie and iniquity yee lay the commandements of God apart and obserue the traditions of men Mark 7.28 Chap. This is somewhat a byting Salt Salt It is such as is fit for the men you come for therefore if you like it take it and giue place to another Chap. I like it well but I would haue some more of it for such men cannot haue too much of this kind of Salt Sal. Then you make a great difference betwixt this Salt and that which is commonly set on the Table the which although it be commodious and necessary for many things yet S. Augustine saith thus of it Salem immoderatius acceptum De moribus Manicheorum cap. 8. quis non venenus esse clamauerit who cryeth not that salt immoderately taken is poyson Chap. But store of Canonicall Salt well giuen and well taken doth not poyson but season therfore I pray you let me haue some more Salt Euery one will deceiue his friend Ier. 5.4 and will not speake the truth for they haue taught their tongues to speake lies and take great paines to do wickedly c. Therefore thus saith the Lord of Hosts behold I will melt them 7 and try them c. 8 Their tongue is as an arrow shut out and speaketh deceit one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth but in his heart he layeth waite for him 9 Shall I not visite for these things saith the Lord or shal not my soule be aduenged on such a nation as this Chap. Past grace bee they that make light of this Salt but I will giue place The thirteenth Chapman I am glad I haue his roome Sal. You would bee more glad if you had all Rome Chap. What it hath bene in times past I know not but since I can remember I can see no such good come from thence as should moue any wise-man to bee in loue with it I cannot bee perswaded that superstition idolatry gazing on babies roarinig Buls conspiracies vndermining of states monstruous cruelty c. come from Peters chaire such Babylons cannot but fall and come to confusion the English pillars of it begin to totter already thanks bee to God God grant that the Preachers and professors of the Gospell may loue one another and that euery one may keepe his standing as contented in his place to helpe what hee may to beare vp the roofe of so much of the Lords house as is here amongst vs. Salt Chapman I will bee your Clarke this once and say Amen to your praier but tell me now what you come for Chap. I would haue Salt to season one that trusteth to his riches and is so carryed away with couetousnesse that he thinketh corne is neuer deere enough Salt Take this Iam. 3 24. The Lord is my portion saith my soule therefore I will hope in him 25 The Lord is good to them that trusteth him and to the soule that seeketh him 26 It is good both to trust and to waite for the saluation of the Lord. If riches increase set not your hearts vpon them Psal 62 10 Doublesse man walketh in a shadow Psal 39.6 and disquieteth himselfe in vaine he heapeth vp riches and cannot tell who shall gather them And hee that receiueth the seed among thornes Mat. 1â— 22 is he that heareth the word but the care of this world and the deceitfulnesse of riches choake the word and he is made vnfiuitfull Children Mark 10.24 how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the Kingdome of God Riches auaile not in the day of wrath Pâ—ou 11.4 but righteousnesse deliuereth from death The liberall person shall haue plenty 〈◊〉 â—â— 25. and he that watereth shall also haue raine Hee that withdraweth the corne the people will cursse him Prou. but blessing shall bee vpon the head of him that selleth corne The graue and destruction can neuer be full 22.9 so the eyes of men can neuer bee satisfied He that hath a good eye he shall be blessed for he giueth of his bread to the poore 27.20 Heare this ye that swallow vp the poore Amos. 8.4 that ye make the needy of the land to faile Saying 5 when will the new moneth beginne that we may sell corne And the Sabboth that wee may set forth wheate and make the Ephah that is the measure small and the Shekell that is the price great and falsefy the waights of deceite That wee may buy the poore for siluer 6 and the needy for shewes yet sell the refuse of the wheate The Lord hath sworne by the excellency of Iacob surely 7 I will neuer forget any of their workes Shall not
of the Lord waxe whotte against you to destroy thee sodainely And Ahab the sonne of Omri did worse in the sight of the Lord then all that were before him for was it a light thing for him to walke in the sinnes of Ieroboam the son of Nebat except hee tooke Iesabell also the daughter of Ethbaal King of the Sidonians to wife and went and serued Baal and worshipped him Chap. If the youth haue any wit or any care of himselfe this may serue to make him take heed whom hee matcheth The fifteenth Chapman THen you may depart that I may haue your place Salt What lacke you Chap. I would haue some Salt to season certaine seruants which are negligent froward vntrusty and â—arelesse in their maisters businesse especially in their Maisters absence when they ought to bee most diligent and carefull Salt These are fowle faults much hurt hath bene done in this land by negligence though not so much as was intended by diuellish diligence and likely to haue béene effected had not our good God by their own letters reuealed it seruants and other haue béene too carelesse in looking to their fire and candle Chap. Indeede as you say there hath beene a diuellish diligence of Popish pyoners and bloudy vnder-miners in their lurking working more then monstrous mischiefe their words smoother then Oyle Charity Charity but their deedes sharper then swords Crucifie Crucifie pleasant names Catholicke Catholicke piercing natures Caine-like Caine-like but God turne their hearts But whereas you sayd much hurt hath beene done in this land by such as haue beene so carelesse in looking to their fire and candle many haue found it too true Some sticke their candle vpon a wall and so fall asleepe before they put it out some goe to seeke this or that where there is straw flaxe or powder and because they more minde the thing they looke then the candle they looke with on a soddaine marre all some laying a heape of straw in the Kitchin making fire vnder a pan being called away in haste make great waste in that they forget to make all sure before they goe others being drowsie standing by vndo their maisters and many others Salt If they had water it would little auayle if they haue so little wit that they put by the haire-cloth thinking by their so doing to saue a little malt for the flame flyeth vp to the thacke which not being lined with lath and lime is soone set on fire Chap. There is also much hurt done by carrying fire in wispes of straw or dishes not couered especially when the winde is busie some Stewards which haue kept Courts haue set downe penaltties for such negligence it were well if all would doe so Salt Wel whatsoeuer faults the Seruants haue it shall be good for them to taste of this which now I deliuer vnto you A discreete seruant shall haue rule ouer a lewd sonne Prou. 17.2 and hee shall diuide the heritage among the brethren Who then is a faithfull seruant and wise whom his maister hath made ruler ouer his houshold Mat. 24 4â— to giue them meat in due season blessed is that seruant whom his Maister when he commeth shall finde so doing 46 Verily I say vnto you hee shall make him ruler ouer all his goods Chap. This may seeme to encourage a discreete and diligent seruant to continue in well doing I would haue salt to season such as bee not so quicke and diligent for if they were they should not need quickening for that horse which of himselfe will stirre needes not bee quickened with the spurre Salt Why then take this apply it where néed requireth But if that euill seruant shall say in his heart Mat. 24.48 My Maister doth deferre his comming and begin to smite his fellowes 49 and to eate and drinke with the drunken That seruants maister will come in a day when hee looketh not for him 51 and in an houre that hee is not ware of and will cut him off and giue his portion with hypocrites there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Seruants be obedient vnto them that are your maisters according to the flesh Eph. 6 5. with feare and trembling in singlenesse of heart 6 as vnto Christ not with seruice to the eye as men-pleasers but as the seruants of Christ doing the will of God froÌ„ the heart 7 with good will seruing the Lord and not men And know yee that whatsoeuer good any man doth that same shall hee receiue of the Lord 8 whether hee bee bond or free Let seruants be subiect to their maisters and please them in all things Titus 2 9. not answering againe neither pickers but that they shew all good faithfulnesse that they may adorne the Doctrine of God our Sauiour in alll things Chap. This is a good lesson for our country seruants which bee euer gadding to games and wandring to wakes and that on the Lords day where either they play away their money at Nine-holes or else cudgell one another so long till some of them go home with broken pates or losse of an eye and then if their Maisters find fault with them and tell them that they spoyle their horses by letting them stand so long without water and meate they will giue a snappish answere and at Midsommer giue them warning to prouide themselues of another against Michaelmas and how little care they haue to adorne the doctrine of God appeareth both by this that they will be couered in the Church as if they were aged or sickly and also by this that of all places by their good will or rather bad will they would not dwell where there is Catechising Salt If may be when their owne rodde or cudgell hath well beaten them they will become better and in the meane time stand more in awe if Minister Maister Constable or Church-wardens do their duties and so you may depart The sixteenth Chapman GLad am I. Salt And tell me why Chap. Because I haue stayed a good while I am weary with standing so long heere was no place to sit Salt Come you for your selfe or for others Chap. I come not for my selfe but for Traytors Salt I haue not for you you must go to the Tower Chap. I haue heard indeed that there is good rough Salt it will search into the bones and through the bones but that Salt is cast vpon them that be conuicted vnlesse there bee some pardon vpon vnfaigned repentance I would haue some Salt as is good to preserue men from becomming such vnsauory monsters as stinke of gunpowder weresoeuer they goe Salt I thinke I haue some heere fit for that purpose if it bee well mingled with herbe-grace Cursse not the King no not in thy thought Eccle. 10.20 neither cursse the rich in thy bed-chamber for the foule of the heauen shall carry the voyce and that which hath wings shall declare the matter Chap. The Lord cause one of the chiefest
Rom. 9.20 shall the thing formed say vnto him that formed it why hast thou made mee thus for the Potter hath power ouer the clay of the same lumpe to make one vessell to honour and another to dishonour But aske him which said No man commeth to me except my father which sent me draw him And all take not this word but they to whom it is giuen Mat 10. Mat â—3 Mat. 11 And to you it is giuen to know the Kingdome of God but to others it is not giuen And no man knoweth the Sonne but the Father and hee to whom the Sonne will reueale him Rom. I cannot tell what to say to those words of Saint Augustine but if hee were heere now I would aske him what were true Religion that I might embrace it Guid. When he was here he said Est enim vera religio qua se vnâ— Deo anima Aug. de animae quantitatâ—â—â— 36 vnde se peccato velut abruperat reconciliatione religat For that is true Religion saith he by which the soule doth by reconciliation binde herselfe againe to God from whom shee had as it were broken off her selfe by sinne In his 8. booke and 17. chapter De Ciuitate Dei hee sheweth how true Religion forbiddeth those things which the Diuâ—ls loue And in the end of the Chapter he saith that the summe of Religion is to imitate him whom thou doest worship Sith then the Religion which we professe is not to draw you to the seruice or worship of any Angels nor of any creatures that sometimes liued heere much lesse to the worship of things that neuer had life as Images and crosses but bindeth vs to the worship of one true liuing eternall God from whom we are fallen by sin the which God our religion requireth vs to follow with the Apostle which saith Be ye followers of God as deare children I see no reason why you should mislike the religion here maintained Tract Whatsoeuer your religion is this is certaine that England had the Christian Faith from Rome Guid. If it were so which yet is denyed of some which to omit others cite Nicephorus who saith Simon Zelotes doctrinam Euangelij ad occidentem insulasque Britanicas praefert Simon Zelotes carrieth the doctrine of the Gospell to the West Ocean sea and so to the Istands of Britanie yet it doth no mere follow that they of Rome should now for that cause be more frée then we from errour then it followeth that the Iewes doe more steadfastly cleaue vnto Christ then we because their Fathers had Moses and the Prophets which testified of him hundreds of yeares ere wee heard of them Though it bee fit a daughter should be ruled by her mother being sober in her right mind yet there is no more reason she should be ruled by her when she is besides her selfe then for you to send for fire to your neighbours house when it is infected because you did so heretofore when it was cleare Rome is not now as she hath béene Many learned men not onely Professors of the Gospell but such also as durst not but séeme to fauour them haue set downe so many bad things found as they say in this new Rome and charged her so often with ambition pride whooredom couetousnes cruelty superstition heresie idolatry that in respect of most of these I know not to whom I may better compare her then to that ancient Tyrus to whom the Lord by the Prophet saith thus Because thine heart is exalted and thou hast said Ezek. 28.2 I am a God I sit in the seate of God in the middest of the sea Yet thou art but a man and not GOD though thou diddest thinke in thine heart that thou wast equall with God Thou wast perfect in thy wayes from the day thou wast created 15 till iniquity was fouÌ„d in thee By the multitude of thy Merchandize they haue filled the middest of thee with cruelty and thou hast sinned 16 therefore I will cast thee as prophane out of the mountaine of God and I will destroy thee couering Cherub from the middest of the stones of fire Thine heart was lifted vp because of thy beauty 1 and thou hast corrupted thy wisedome by reason of thy brightnesse I will cast thee to the ground I will lay thee before Kings that they may beholde thee Thou hast defiled thy Sanctification by the multitude of thine iniquities 18 and by the iniquity of thy Merchandise Therefore will I bring a fire from the middest of thee which shall deuoure thee and I will bring thee to ashes vpon the earth in the sight of all them that shall beholde thee All they that know thee among the people shall bee astonished at thee thou shalt be a terrour and neuer shalt thou bee any more Tract God forbid the Mother Church should haue such a fearefull fall as is there threatned to Tirus for if she should then might we well say she is that Babilon spoken of in the Reuelation and then would such Kings of the earth as had committed fornication and liued in pleasure with her lament for her and standing a farre off for feare of her torment say alasse alasse the great Cittie Babilon the mighty Citty for in one hower is thy iudgement come the Marchants of the Earth would weepe and waile ouer her because no man would buy their wares any more Rom. Harke in your eare Couzen is any of the Marchants wares named there Tract Yes much of it Rom. Is there any mention of Frankensence and Oyle Tract Yes in the thirteenth verse Rom. I meruaile at that Tract Why so Rom. Because these things are vsed in our Churches and not among the Protestants Guid. Speake out Neighbour Romana that we may heare you Rom. If you fauoured Rome I would but I thinke you would be glad to see her fall Guid. If she be that Babilon that is spoken of in that Chapter Heauen it selfe with the holy Apostles and Prophets Re. 18.20 must reioyce when her iudgement is come Rom. Cannot you find in your heart to pray heartily with vs that if it be the will of God Rome may neuer haue such a dredfull downefall Guid. Truly I pray God from my heart to amend all that is amisse wheresoeuer You knowe wee in the Church of England pray God to haue mercy vpon all men by which words as I thinke men of all Nations and of all degrees are vnderstood Rom. I know not for I neuer came there The cause is this you do not hold the Pope to be Christs Vicar generall you say he may erre you charge some of them with grieuous crimes your translations are mislyked besides this such as dame Cathera here can not abide to see one of the poore countrey Fellowes that drudge and droyle all the yeere to shake their Bells a little at Whitsontide wee Catholikes though we fast and pray in Lent yet we loue to be merry at