THE MOTHERS BLESSING OR The godly counsaile of a Gentle-woman not long since deceased left behind her for her CHILDREN Containing many good exhortations and godly admonitions profitable for all Parents to leaue as a Legacy to their Children but especially for those who by reason of their young yeeres stand most in need of Instruction By M ris DOROTHY LEIGH PROVERB 1.8 My sonne heare the instruction of thy father and forsake not the lawe of thy mother Printed at London for Iohn Budge and are to be sold at the great South-dore of Paules and at Brittaines Burse 1616. TO THE HIGH and excellent Princesse the Lady ELIZABETH her Grace daughter to the high and mightie King of great Brittaine and Wife to the illustrious Prince the Count Palatine of the Rhine D. L. VVisheth all grace and prosperity here and glory in the world to come MOst worthy renovvned Princess I beeing troubled and wearied with feare lest my children should not find the right way to heauen thought with my selfe that I could doe no lesse for them then euerie man will doe for his friend which vvas to write them the right way that I had truely obserued out of the written word of GOD lest for vvant of vvarning they might fall where I stumbled and then I should think my selfe in the fault who knew there were such downe-falls in the world that they could hardly climbe the hill to heauen without helpe and yet had not told them thereof Wherefore I writ them the right and ready way to Heauen wel waranted by the scriptures of the olde and new Testament which is the true word of God and tolde them how many false paths they should finde how they should finde them and what care they should haue to shunne them if they tooke a false way what a trouble they should haue in turning againe what danger if they went on and of many doubts which the world would make without a cause and how silent it would bee in danger Thus when I had writtē vnto them of these things I was at much peace quiet and contentment But as no contentment in the world continueth long so sodainly there arose a new care in my minde how this scroule should bee kept for my children for they were too young to receiue it my selfe too old to keepe it men too wise to direct it to the world too wicked to endure it Then in great griefe I looked vp to heauen from whence I knew commeth al comfort and looking vp I saw a most Angelicall throne of Princely Peeres and peerelesse Princes prepared for heauen and yet by the appointment of God were heere to comfort vs on the earth then I perceiued that this Throne was the ioy of England then I considered that the highest blud had the lowest mind then I sawe humility looking downe-ward while the sweet slips of her vertue grew vpward then euen then Princely Lady I beheld your mild and courteous coūtenance which shewed your heart was bent to doe good to all wherefore without feare and with much faith I aduentured to make your Grace the protectresse of this my Booke knowing that if you would but suffer your name to bee seene in it Wisedome would allow it and all the wicked winde in the world could not blow it away The Lord multiply his graces more and more on you and vouchsafe vnto you a numerous posterity in whom your Grace may receiue much ioy and comfort and GODS Church and true Religion continuall defence and propagation Your Graces in all humble and obseruant duty D. L. TO MY BELOued sonnes GEORGE IOHN and WILLIAM LEIGH all things pertaining to life and godlinesse MY Children God hauing taken your Father out of this vale of teares to his euerlasting mercy in CHRIST my selfe not onely knowing what a care hee had in his life time that you should be brought vp godlily but also at his death being charged in his will by the loue and duty which I bare him to see you well instructed and brought vp in knowledge I could not chuse but seeke according as I was by duty bound to fulfill his will in all things desiring no greater comfort in the World then to see you grow in godlinesse that so you might meet your Father in heauen where I am sure hee is my selfe being a witnesse of his Faith in Christ. And seeing my selfe going out of the world and you but comming in I know not how to performe this duty so well as to leaue you these few lines which will shew you as well the great desire your Father had both of your spirituall and temporal good as the care I had to fulfill his will in this knowing it was the last duty I should performe vnto him But when I had written these things vnto you and had as I thought something fulfilled your Fathers request yet I could not see to what purpose it should tend vnlesse it were sent abroad to you for should it be left with the eldest it is likely the youngest should haue but little part in it Wherefore setting aside all feare I haue aduentured to shew my imperfections to the view of the World not regarding what censure shall for this bee laid vpon mee so that heerein I may shew my selfe a louing Mother and a dutifull Wife and thus I leaue you to the protection of him that made you And rest till death Your fearefull faithfull and carefull Mother D. L. Counsell to my Children MY Sonnes the readers of this book I doe you not intreate To beare with each misplaced word for why my paine 's as great To write this little booke to you the world may thinke indeed As it will be at any time for you the same to read But this I much and oft desire that you would doe for mee To gather hony of each flowre as doth the labourous Bee Shee lookes not who did place the Plant nor how the flowre did grow VVhether so stately vp aloft or neere the ground below But where she findes it there she workes and gets the wholsome food And beares it home and layes it vp to doe her Country good And for to serue her selfe at need when winter doth begin VVhen storm and tempest is without then she doth find within A sweet and pleasant wholsome food a house to keepe her warme A place where softly she may rest and be kept from all harme Except the Bee that idle is and seekes too soone for rest Before she filled hath her house whereby her state is blest And then as she did rest too soone too soone she sorrow knowes VVhen stormes and tempests are without then she her selfe beshrowes She looketh out and seeth death ready her to deuoure Then doth she wish that she had got more of the wholsome flowre For why within her store is spent before the winter's past And she by no meanes can endure the stormy winters blast Shee looketh out and seeth death and findes no lesse within
forsake me whereas if you haue vviues that you loue not I am sure I will forsake you Do not your selues that wrong as to marry a woman that you cannot loue shew not so much childishnesse in your sexe as to say you loued her once and now your mind is changed if thou canst not loue her for the goodnesse that is in her yet let the grace that is in thy selfe moue thee to do it and so I leaue thee to the Lord whom I pray to guide both thee and her with his grace and grount that you may chuse godlily and liue happily and dye comfortably through faith in IESVS Christ. CHAP. 14. How to deale with seruants YEt one thing I am to desire you to doe at my request and for my sake and though it bee some trouble to you to performe it yet I assure my selfe you will doe it If God shall at any time giue you or any of you a seruant or seruants you shall aske them if they can reade If they cannot you shall at my request teach them or cause them to be taught till they can reade the tenne Commaundements of almightie God And then you shall perswade them to practise by themselues and to spend al their idle time in reading that so they may come the better to know the will of God written in his Word Remember your seruants are Gods seruants as well as yours if they be not say as Dauid sayd There shall not an vngodly person dwell in my house he that loueth or maketh lyes shal depart out of my sight It is not for you by any meanes to keep any vngodly profane or wicked person in your house for they bring a curse vpon the place wherein they are and not a blessing neither will they bee taught any goodnesse but you must keepe those that bee tractable and willing to serue God that hee may blesse you and your houshold For God doth not delight in that Master that will suffer his seruant to blaspheme his name or to mis-spend his Sabbaoths for God commaunded the master that he should see his seruants to keepe holy the Sabbaoth day and if hee keepe that day holy he will learne to spend all the other dayes in the weeke well in following the duties of his calling I pray you keep the seruants of God and then remember they are your brethren vse them wel and bee as ready to doe them good as to haue their seruice Be not chiding for euery trifle for that wil hinder good liuing and nothing enrich you Be carefull that they be godly for Godlinesse hath the promise of this present life and of the life to come godlinesse is great riches if a man be contented with that hee hath for wee brought nothing with vs into this world neither shall we carry any thing out of the world if wee haue food and rayment let vs therewith be contented CHAP. 15. Patience is necessary for Gouernours of families LIue godlily and patiently in your house if you cannot bee patient neuer think to liue godlily for if Sathan see you of a froward mind he wil soon finde matter enough to set you on worke Pray faithfully with your seruants twice a day and liue so godlily that you may be an example to them to follow you Pray often priuately faithfully and zealously vnto GOD in the name of Christ so as may bee well warranted by his Word for that is a true marke of the childe of God Many heare the Word as our Sauiour witnesseth but few follow it Many pray openly as the Pharises did to bee seene of men but Christ sayth they haue their reward This was not because Christ misliked publike prayer but because he sawe their hearts and so knew that they praied more to be seene of men then for any true faith they had in him Christ sayth When two or three be gathered together in my name I will be with them And this mercifull promise is enough to make any man pray for though hee doe it very weakely and coldly yet he sheweth his humility and obedience to God and confesseth his owne weakenesse and calleth to God for his assistance and grace to serue him One is also helped by the prayer of another and the weaker is made partaker of the praiers of the stronger for Christ taught vs to pray one for another Forgiue vs our trespasses When Christ sayth If two or three be gath'red together in my name I will be with them he doth not say With some of them but I will be with them that is with all of them that are ioined together in my name Though some bee weaker and some bee stronger yet they all shew their obedient hearts and God will accept them in Christ. And this is a great means to stir vp their hearts to praier for it is the hardest thing that is for any man to performe rightly truely and faithfully CHAP. 16. Meanes to further priuate prayer NOw all things are to bee vsed that are meanes to stirre vs vp to priuate prayer and all things are to bee shunned that hinder vs from it Those things that may further vs to it are hearing the Word reading it praying publikely and being in company with others when they pray for all these help to increase and strengthen faith and without faith it is impossible to pray aright either publikely or priuately or to take hold of the promises of God in Christ beleeuing that our prayers shall be accepted and granted so far forth as shall bee to Gods glory and our good and the true seruant of God will neuer desire more then hee knoweth by faith in Christ which hee hath learned by the promises of the Gospell that he shall haue CHAP. 17. Le ts THere bee many things that will hinder both man and woman from this duetie The diuell will doe what hee can to hinder vs the world is our hindrance continually and a mans owne friends are oftentimes hindrances too yea a mans owne nature will neuer bee willing to talke with God for by nature wee run away from him with Adam and rather hide our selues with figge-leaues and excuses then come to God and fall downe before him on our faces confesse our sinnes acknowledge our vnworthinesse craue pardon for Christs sake of God for all of our transgressions Yet Adam had more cause to runne away then we haue and wee haue more cause a great deale to come to God then hee had for hee knew not then that God would call him backe againe and giue him his pardon in Christ who should tread downe the head of the Serpent which beguiled him but we know that GOD hath called Adam and all his posterity giuen them pardon in Christ if they wil come and ask it in faith and repentance Hee therefore that doth not often and priuately fall downe and humble himselfe before God and confesse his owne sinnes crauing pardon in Christ by faith
Now hee will shew thee the figure of that euerlasting rest which hee will bring thee to through Christ. Now if thou beest not very ready and diligent to attend vpon him the seuenth day thou shewest that all thy labour on the six daies was for thine own pleasure or profit more then for thy obedience toward the Lord thy God for if thou wouldest haue obeyed him in thy labour in the six dayes thou wouldest haue obeyed him in thy rest the seventh day also This shal be a witnes to thine own conscience least that thou bee deceiued as many bee who thinke that they labour all the weeke to please God when indeede they labour to please themselues because that commandement pleaseth their humour better then to keepe holy the Sabbath and they will bee willing to take one houre from the Lord in the morning and another in the afternoone or two it may be which sheweth that their mindes and affections are more on the world then on the true seruice and obedience they owe to God CHAP. 41. Prodigality set out SOme think that the prodigal man taketh too little care for the world but I say he is a wicked man and taketh too much care for the world and too little care to please GOD. Hee is an idle man and will not labour 6. dayes Hee is a disobedient man and wil not keepe holy the seuenth day He is a wast full man he wil spend wastfully for the vaine-glory of the world which somesay they care not for he leaueth those things w ch God hath giuen him and his family without care Yea he is a couetous man for he will borrow of others and spend it wastfully and neuer pay it againe He breaketh the cōmandement which saith Owe nothing to any man but this that you love one another for the holy Ghost saith The vngodly borroweth and paieth not againe but the mercifull man is liberall and lendeth Some will say they would pay if they had it but indeede they will not haue it because they will not obey God and liue as hee hath appointed them They are proud and will spend so far beyond their calling that they haue nothing to lend to the poore children of God because they spend either vpon the wicked or in excesse when there is no neede or vppon those that haue as little or lesse neede then thēselues Such a person is worse then an Infidel because be prouideth not for his owne houshold God doth not say Because hee taketh not care for his owne houshold for all his care should bee to please God but hee careth not to please God neither doth he obey God to labor 6. daies and to see his houshold labour for whilest he is idle or vsing some vaine pastime out of his calling his children seruants dissobey GOD and mispend their time and weaken his estate and all through his owne carelesnesse to please God Hee sheweth himselfe no good Christian for a good Christian life is a carefull life not carefull of the world but carefull least the world should hinder him any way frō seruing of God either in being too negligent in his calling and so prouide not for his houshold become worse then an Infidel or lest hee should bee couetous and become the man whom God abhorreth And yet there bee some so ignorant that they will say The prodigall man beareth a noble mind But hee beares a wicked mind they know not what a noble minde is that say so Our Peeres and Princes are called Noble men because they beare noble mindes that is they are vertuous and temperate discreet gouerning the Cōmon-wealth according to their calling regarding the vertuous keeping vnder the vicious holding in the prodigall who would run away with a whole kingdom if they might haue it nay no kingdome is able to satisfie prodigal persons for their disobedient humour wil neuer be satisfied because they doe not labour to keepe the commandement of God Some are more infected w th this sin then others but all that are not infected with prodigalitie haue a disobedient humour they are vndiscreet because they cannot spend whē they should and spare with discretion when the time is They are vnthankful because they do not heartily thank God for his blessings but wish they were more Neither wil they bee thankefull to the King nor a worthy noble Prince or Peere for if they spend a little prodigally in their seruice they will thinke they are indebted to thē though all of it were by the Prince liberally bestowed on them but indeede such are not to be about Princes or Peeres no more then the couetous Some wise and learned men haue disputed whether the couetous or the prodigal be the worst member in the Common-wealth but I pray God you nor yours be none of both but here what the holy Ghost saith The couetous is the man whom God abhorreth The prodigall is worse then an infidell And thus I leaue them and pray to God for Christs sake they and wee may leaue both those and al other sins and take hold of Christ by faith and liue through him with God for euer and euer CHAP. 42. Difference betweene an act habite of sinning NOw you must know this that the deare children of God for want of discretion doe sometime an act w ch may be called couetous yet not vpon a couetous humor and an act that may be called prodigall and yet not vpon a prodigall humour but for want of discretion at that time for there is none so discreet at all times that is not somewhat infected with either of these sins for wee are infected with all sins and therefore God in great mercy to man made the Sabbath or Lords day so that if a man did in sixe dayes ouerslip himselfe as indeed we all do and did not reconcile himselfe to God euery night as we ought to do yet on the Sabbath day the Lord calleth him to him and sheweth him his faults and wisheth him to bee reconciled vnto him through Christ and breatheth into his face the breath of life again and renueth in him the image of God again that was decayed by his sin and so he goeth home a renued man And therfore I say say truly that all the writers in the world cannot expresse what hurt that man woman or childe doeth himselfe that doth not attend on the Lord on the Sabbath day neither can any man or woman doe their seruants more hurt thē to keepe them frō the Lords house that day The Lord hath charged thee that thou if thou hast any vnder thee shalt see thē come and come thy selfe as thou wilt answere it for the Lord himselfe is now there prepared to teach thee and thine and therfore go to him and go prepared clense thy heart of all earthly things know that hee is there to see thine heart and all thine affection and behauior Some wil say I would
theron it doth the soule no more good then meate and drink doth the body being seene and felt and neuer fed vpon for as the body will dye although in see meate euen so will the soule for all the hearing reading of the word if that ye doe not meditate vpon it and gather faith and strengthen it and get hold of Christ which if ye doe Christ will bring you to the kingdome of his Father to which you can come by no meanes but by faith in him CHAP. 8. The sixt cause is to perswade them to teach their children THe sixt reason is to entreate and desire you in some sort to commaund you that all your children be they Males or Females may in their youth learne to read the Bible in their owne mother tongue for I know it is a great helpe to true godlinesse And let none of you plead pouerty against this for I know that if you bee neither couetous prodigall nor idle either of which sins will let no vertue growe where they come that you need not faile in this but if you will follow the commaundement of the Lord and labour sixe dayes and keepe the seuenth holy to the Lord and loue him with all your heart soule and strength you will not onely be willing but also able to see them all brought vp to read the Bible Salomon that was wise by the Spirit of God sayd Remember thy Creatour in the dayes of thy youth And ye are also commanded to write it vpon the walls of your houses and to teach it your childern I know sayth God that Abraham will teach his children and his childrens children to walke in thy commandements Also I further desire you because I wish all well and would be glad you should do as much good as could be in the wildernesse of this world that if any shal at any time desire you to be a Witnesse to the baptizing of their childe that then you shal desire the person so desiring to giue you his faithfull word that the child shall bee taught to read so soone as it can conueniently learne and that it shall so continue till it can read the Bible If this will not be granted you shall refuse to answer for the child otherwise doe not refuse to be a witnesse to any for it is a good Christian duety Moreouer forget not whether you answere for the child or no to pray that the child baptized may receiue the holy Ghost with all other children of the faithfull especially vvhen you are where a child is baptized for it is your duty to pray for the increase of the Church of God Pray for the peace of Ierusalem saith the Psalmist let them prosper that loue thee CHAP. 9 The seuenth cause is that they should giue their children good names THE seauenth cause is to entreate you that though I do not liue to be a witnesse to the baptizing of any of your children yet you would giue me leaue to giue names to them all For though I doe not thinke any holinesse to be in the name but know that God hath his in euery place and of euery name yet I see in the Bible it was obserued by GOD himselfe to giue choyse names to his children which had some good signification I thinke it good therefore to name your children after the names of the Saints of God which may bee a meanes to put them in mind of some vertues which those Saints vsed especially when they shal read of them in the Bible and seeing many are desirous to name both their owne children and others after their owne names this will be a meanes to increase the names of the Saints in the Church and so none shall haue occasion to mislike his name since hee beareth the name of such a Saint as hath left a witnesse to the world that hee liued and dyed in the true faith of IESVS Christ. The names I haue chosen you are these Philip Elizabeth Iames Anna Iohn and Susanna The vertues of them that bore those names and the causes why I chose them I let passe and only meane to write of the last name Susan famoused through the world for chastity a vertue which alwaies hath been and is of great account not onely amongst the Christians and people of God but euen among the Heathen and Infidels insomuch that some of them haue written that a woman that is truly chaste is a great partaker of all other vertues and contrariwise that the woman that is not truely chaste hath no vertue in her The which saying may well be warranted by the Scripture for who so is truly chaste is free from idlenesse and from all vaine delights full of humility and all good Christian vertues who so is chaste is not giuen to pride in apparell nor any vanity but is alwaies either reading meditating or practising some good thing which she hath learned in the Scripture But she which is vnchaste is giuen to be idle or if she do any thing it is for a vaine glory and for the prayse of men more then for any humble louing and obedient heart that shee beareth vnto God and his Word who sayd Sixe dayes thou shalt labour and so left no time for idlenesse pride or vanity for in none of these is there any holinesse The vnchaste woman is proud and alwayes decking her selfe with vanity and delights to heare the vaine words of men in which there is not only vanity but also so much wickednesse that the vain words of men and womens vainenesse in hearing them hath brought many women to much sorrow and vexation as wofull experience hath and wil make many of them confesse But some wil say Had they onely lent an eare to their words they had done well enough To answere which I would haue euery one know that one sinne begetteth another The vaine words of the man and the idle cares of the woman beget vnchaste thoughts oftentimes in the one which may bring forth much wickednesse in them both Man sayd once The woman which thou gauest mee beguiled me and I did eate But wee women may now say that men lye in waite euery where to deceiue vs as the Elders did to deceiue Susanna Wherefore let vs bee as she was chaest watchfull and wary keeping company with maides Once Iudas betrayed his Master with a kisse repented it but now men like Iudas betray their Mistresses with a kisse repent it not but laugh and reioyce that they haue brought sinne and shame to her that trusted them The only way to auoid al which is to be chaste with Susanna and being women to imbrace that vertue which being placed in a woman is most commendable An vnchaste woman destroyeth both the body and the soule of him shee seemeth most to loue and it is almost impossible to set down the mischiefes which haue come through vnchast women Salomon sayth that her steppes lead to hell
else they will none but hee was one that left an example to the whole Church of God to be thankefull and patient CHAP. 25. How to reade with profit I Pray reade the story of Iob and not onely reade but gather some fruite out of it and euer when you begin to read any part of the scripture lift vp your harts soules and mindes vnto God and pray priuately or publikely but of priuate prayer neuer faile and desire God for Christs sake to inlighten your vnderstandings to sanctifie your hearts and to make them fit to receiue the good seede of his word and to giue you grace to bring forth fruite to Gods glory for Christ saith In this is my father glorified that you bring forth much fruite and be made my Disciples And againe he sayeth Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good workes and glorifie your father which is in heauen Here you may see you must glorifie God and you must leaue an example to the Church that you serue and loue God this did Iob and I pray God for Christs sake that you may doe the like and that you may doe it you must pray to God continually yea and in priuate for his grace and assistance CHAP. 26. The preheminence of priuate prayer THis is the most excellent vertue and happinesse that belongeth to priuate prayer no man by any meanes can depriue a man of it Some haue had their Bibles taken away that they could not reade Preachers haue beene banished that could not heare they haue beene separated from company that they could not haue publike prayer yet priuate prayer went with them thereby they talked with God and made all their miseries knowne vnto him and craued his assistance in all their troubles And this is the greatest comfort that all good Christians haue that no man can bar them from priuate conferēce with God Then take heede you doe not barre your selues from it since none else can doe it and you know not what need you shall haue of it nor what accident may happen to you in your liues nor what need you shall haue of it in the houre of death Therefore if you would alwaies haue it you must alwaies vse it and then you shall see what profit will come by it and then you will bee humbly faithfully familiarly acquainted with God CHAP. 27. The benefit of acquaintance with God OH heauenly and happy acquaintance for the longer thou vsest it the stronger will be thy faith the humbler thy heart the earnester thy zeale the holier thy life and this makes God accept you in Christ and then thou art hee that Christ speaketh vnto when he saith Aske what you will and it shall bee done vnto you Thy faith will be the stronger because thou shalt see that God heareth thy prayers and granteth thy request The more humble will thy heart be because thou seest thine owne miserie and corruption and that all grace and goodnes comes to thee from God and this will make thee more earnest and zealous in prayer and thy earnest and faithfull prayer will moue God according to his promise to giue thee grace and faith for the Apostles prayed and said Lord increase our faith And this grace and faith will worke in thee holinesse of life and then shalt thou be able to fulfil Christs saying Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good workes and glorifie your father which is in heauen CHAP. 28. How long wee haue neede of priuate prayer NOw that you and euerie one of you shall haue neede of priuate praier from the very beginning of your life to the verie last houre of your daies my owne experience teacheth mee and the word of God a true witnesse affirmeth that we are wholly corrupted by the fall of Adam with sin and therefore continually wee ought to suspect our selues and to call vpon God without ceasing for his helpe grace and assistance in all our actions for wee know that our owne flesh is our owne enemie and that it is made of the earth and is so heauie and earthly-minded that it can neuer seeke for heauenly things without the especiall grace of God and the diuell hath made an entrance into this earthly bodie by reason that our owne parents Adam and Eue did take of the fruite of disobedience at his hands and did eate at his appointment so that now he claimeth such an interest in vs that none but Christ can keepe him out and therefore we haue no way but to call continually on the name of God in Christ to assist vs with his gracious spirit which will keepe away the diuell ouercome the world and conquer our owne flesh for vs. CHAP. 29. Who pray priuately THis is certain that there are none godly but those that pray priuately and truely to God according to his word and there is no vngodly person no swearer no prophaner of the sabbaoth no drunkard no adulterer no couetous person no prophane person nor none that is of a false religion not warranted by the word of God that doth pray priuately truely and faithfully By these considerations you shal find out the true markes of the children of God for the wicked can heare the word reade come into publike assemblies of praier the hypocrite wil talke of faith as if he had come presently from heauen but to goe into a priuate place and lay open his heart before God confesse his own imperfections and pray that hee may not be an hypocrite hee is farre inough from it The swearer the adulterer the couetous the idolater nor no vncleane person dare come to God in the name of Christ except they leaue their wicked waies and without they bring Christ with them they cannot come to God and Christ delighteth not to goe with those that are continually breakers of his fathers commandements for Christ himselfe telleth them that he that keepeth the commandements and teacheth men so to doe hee shall bee great in the kingdome of heauen and to him that ordereth his conuersation aright will I shew the saluation of God saith God by the Psalmist Moreouer Christ saith Hee that will follow mee let him forsake himselfe and take vp his crosse and follow me As if he should say I am gone to heauen and if you meane to follow mee thither you must forsake your selues I know this will bee a crosse vnto you but you must take it vp and follow me or else you may not come there CHAP. 30. The way to rule our corruptions Againe when the children of God who would faine be with their father see that they cannot rule their owne flesh then with humble hearts they goe to God and crie and call to him for helpe that he would helpe to bridle their vnruly affections euen but for that day and at night they will waite vpon his maiestie a gaine and thus they will neuer leaue
anie of you should aske me if it were not as euill in another man as in a Preacher I answer no for it is a very dangerous and indeede a damnable estate to loue the world I know what I say I doe not say to be couetous or desire to bee rich wherby one is moued to vse vnlawfull meanes to get goods but I say to loue lawfull goods which God hath giuen thee and to neglect the seruice of God about them if it be but in thinking of them and to bee at anie time more loth to lose thy lawfull goods then to go to law to the hurt of thy brother whom Christ died for it is a wicked sin in anie man To set a rent or price of any of thy lawful goods or lands more then thou in such a case wouldest bee willing to giue it is a wicked sin To let or sell any thing to any man for sinister respects that thou doest not thinke to be the true and faithfull seruant of God if thou maist let it well to those that are is a sin But to let a Farme to anie that thou doest not think to bee the true seruant of God but because he is richer or is better able to pay thee or wil giue thee more for it is a great sin For the earth is the Lords and all that is therein he hath set thee as a steward ouer some part of it and thou art by his appointment to let it to his children seruants that loue him and because many things haue many prices he bids thee deale in all his businesse as thou wouldest bee dealt withall in such a case Hee biddes thee deale liberally with thy brother that his soule may blesse thee yet thou wilt neglect thy brother whō thou seest carefull to serue God in Christ let it to one that hath little or no Religion in him because thou seest that hee can deale more warily in the world or more wisely as the world cals it though indeed it bee more wickedly before God yet because thou seest he is more able to pay thee thy rent thou wilt let it to him who is indeed Gods enemy and for whō God neuer made it for God made these things for his children and seruants he doth neither loue God as his Father nor obey him as a seruāt neither will be more becom obedient to God seruiceable to his Church if thou let him a good peniworth whereas if he thriue not of it he will raile on thee and on thy religion which is indeede against God for he knoweth not that it is God that giueth power to get goods and that it is God again that keepeth men short althogh sometimes with his mouth he speaketh it yet the true knowledge of it dwels not in his heart and if he grow rich vpon it he will not bee liberal to the poore children of God considering their wants as if they were his owne for he hath no naturall affection towards them because they are not his brethren Loe heere thou seest what to do with thine own or as somesay Gods and thine owne or as the truth is Gods and not thine own and therefore thou maist offend God in it for thou art but a tenant at the wil of the Lord and art to depart at an instant yet thou hast a great title vnder God for thy time and thy title is good lawfully thou maist inioy them yet the loue that thou bearest vnto them is vtterly vnlawfull for it is the loue that thou bearest to these worldly goods that maketh thee to let them to such a tenant as wil neither serue God nor doe good to the poore seruants of God The man to whome thou lettest it may be a ciuill honest man in the world for among the heathen yea among the Iewes that would kil Christ again if they had him hate the children of God there are such as in the world wil deale ciuilly and pay at their day perhaps better then some Christian. But if thou beest the true childe of God thou must haue a discerning eye of faith w ch euery one hath not and know the childe of God from a ciuill man neither maist thou iudge the other for all that but pray for him and hope that though he be not the true seruant of God now yet in good time by Gods grace he may bee Thou maiest not impart the benefits of God as neere as thou canst but to those whō thou knowest to be the lords true seruants and thou must do it for the loue thou bearest to God Why shouldest thou not loue Gods childrē much more then any goods thou hast There is great reason to doe it able to perswade any man if his heart be not of stone For GOD made vs most excellēt creatures according to his owne image Satan came by stelth and subtiltie through enuy stole away that excellent image from vs and made vs most ougly persons deformed diuels so that we were ashamed of our selues ran away and hid our selues and wee were good for nothing but euil for all things fit for nothing but firebrands of hell into the which we were ready euery houre to fall God had said that if we suffered the diuel to deceiue vs hell should bee our portion the diuel stood gaping to receiue vs wert thou not in a miserable case then I tell thee we were all in this miserable case And I tell thee true I am sorry at the heart when I see any that doth not consider the case wherein he was and I am afraide lest any of you should forget the state wherein ye were and so become vnthankefull and fall into it againe Oh the danger is great But tell me wouldest thou not loue him that would come and make thee like a God againe and wash away al thy filthy poyson and deliuer thee frō the slauery of the diuell from the fire of hel and set thee in Paradice againe yea in such a Paradice as the diuell can neuer haue power to deceiue thee and for thy better assurance bids thee hold thee by him and thou shalt neuer need to feare If thou shouldest not loue him and al his thou wert greatly to blame But I know now in thy distresse thou dost not make so much question whether thou shouldest loue him or no for thou thinkest it vnpossible but that thou shouldest loue him and all his do whatsoeuer he would bid thee If thou wert once in Gods fauour againe thou wouldest not disobey him for all the diuels and worlds that euer were But ôn the misery heere is the thing how is it possible that thou shouldest be helped God is thine enemy the diuell is thine enemy the world can doe thee no good nor make thee cleane for al the bloud within thy veines is corrupted thy hart bloud is becom most filthy poyson thou art become most vgly deformed like the diuell and thou art a
leaue my Lands Lordships and Tenements with you in trust till I come again let thē to my friends let thē such pennyworths that they may well liue vpon them let your owne friends some part of them deale so in it as at my cōming home I may finde you faithfull Now if this seruant should neglect his charge neglect his owne friends and his masters and go for a little more rent which his master cared not a whit for let his lands and tenements to his vtter enemies who growing rich with the Lands and goods of this noble Lord would bee ready to bidde him battle at his returne home to strike at him with his owne sword iudge you would not this Lord think he had dealt very euill with him nay would not euery honest man that should but heare of it thinke say that he had dealt most vildly with so good a Lord and Master and that he were neuer meete to come in the company of an honest man againe Thus hath Christ dealt with vs When our wicked father and vngodly mother Adam and Eue cast vs into the puddle of sin ran away left vs there where we should neuer haue beene able to haue gotten out Iesus Christ the onely Son of the high and mighty God our mercifull Lord and Sauiour came by and washed vs and brought vs vp at his own cost charges and we haue nothing but frō him he taught vs himselfe in all good doctrine and being gone to ouercome the enemy of his King and Country he hath left his goods with thee bids thee to deale well with his seruants and let them good penny-worths and deale not with his enemies neither make any mariage with thē yet thou for a little money wilt buy and sell marry and giue in marriage with them yea thinkest because thou findest thē more rich in the world they are better for thee to deale withall yet they are the vtter enemies of thy Lord and will bee ready at his comming to bid him battle and strike at him with his owne sword CHAP. 45. The right use of goods HEere thou seest what cause thou hast to loue Christ and his seruants and how thou oughtest not to loue thine own but to vse it as the Lord hath appointed thee whose indeede it is If thou dealest not with thy Lords goods and lands as he hath appointed thee art thou not in a great fault Surely thou hast nothing to say for thy selfe saue to appeale to his mercy confesse thy sinnes amend thy life But if a Preacher whō God hath enlightned to see what he was out of Christ what he is in Christ and hath willed him to tell the people from his mouth how he and they should now behaue themselues inwardly in their hearts outwardly in their goods and substance if he I say Whom God hath set vpon a hill to giue light to many if he I say whom God hath giuen much vnto and of whom much shall bee re-required if he I say whom the sunne of vnderstanding should arise vpon nay if he I say in whose heart the glorious Sonne of God should shine will darken his glorie with the thicke clouds or rather thicke clods of this earthen world his sin is great but what did I say darken their light nay they darken the light of the Gospell that all should see to goe by nay they darken the glorious light of the Son of God ecclipse his glory wheras they should draw many vnto Christ by thier liberalitie and true preaching they driue many from Christ by loue of their owne as they say by their idlenes negligence in preaching as I say I say this loue of their own as they call it is a thousand times worse in them doth a multitude more of hurt then in other ordinarie men who loue the world as well as they but there are not so manie that looke on them and God hath not set them for a light as hee hath done the Preachers And the reason why the Preachers are many times ouercom is this because the enemie doth bend all his forces against them not vnlike the enemy to the Israelites vvho sayd Fight neither against more nor lesse but against the King of Israel So doth our enemy the Diuell hee fighteth neither against more nor lesse but against the Captaines of the Church namely the Preachers for he knoweth that if they bee once ouercome then the whole armie will soone bee confounded and brought to nought Bee you all vpholders of them which by no meanes can bee done but by prayer for as our preachers should pray for al so all should send vp their praiers to Almightie God in the name of his Sonne to send his holie Spirit into the hearts of the Preachers to sanctifie them throughout that they maybe holy in bodie minde following the exāple of our Sauior Christ vvho said to Peter his Apostle whom he had appointed to be chiefe Preacher to the Church of the Iewes Peter Peter Sathan hath sought to winnow thee like wheat but I haue praied that thy faith faile not Againe S. Paul appointed by the Son of God to bee cheefe Preacher to the Church of the Gentils vvitnesseth of himselfe saying The messenger of Sathan was sent to buffet me but I besought the Lord Iesus that hee might depart from mee Now in these tvvo great combates made betvveen the diuell the deare children of God ye see that praier is the vveapon vvhereby the Tempter is ouercome Wherefore I earnestlie entreat you let your praiers alvvaies be sent vp to God through Christ for the Preachers all such as are in high places that so they continuing firme and stedfast your faith may by thē be more confirmed And the blessing of God Almightie the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost be with you all from this time euen to the worlds end Amen FINIS 1. Tim. 5.8 Mat. 6 33. Num. 11.3 Ioh. 6.27 Gal. 4.4 Math. 4.23 Rom. 4.25 Heb. 2.14 Ioh. 17.24 Es. 49. 15. Gal. 4. 19. Rom. 9. 3. Ioh. 6. 27 Mat. 20. 6. Reu. 14. 13 Ioh. 5. 35 Ioh. 12.8 Math. 19. 24. Iam. 5.1 1. Tim. 6. 10. Math. 16. 26. Ioh. 11.25 26. Psal. 1. 2. Rom. 14.8 Eccl. 12.1 Deut. 11. 19.20 Gen. 18.19 Psal. 122.6 * The story of Susanna though it be not canonicall nor to be equalled to those books that are yet it may bee true and of good vse as many other histories written by men are Exod. 20. 9. Gen. 3 12. Prou. 2.18 Gen. 3.15 Ioh. 6. 53 Gen. 3.6 1. Sam. 19. 12. 1. Sam. 25. 3. Gen. 29.17 1. Sam. 1. 10.11 Pro. 22.6 Gen. 2.18 Gen. 6.2.3 1. King 11.4 1. Ioh. 2. 15. 2. Cor. 6 14. 1. Pet. 3.7 Gen. 2.24 Psa. 101.7 Ex. 20.10 1. Tim. 4.8 1. Tim. 6 6.7.8 Matt. 22.14 Mat. 6.16 Mat. 18.20 Mat. 6.12 Luke 18. 13. Mat. 11.28 Num. 11.5 Es. 48.22 Psa. 3. 5. Mat. 28.26 Iohn 21. 25. 1. Thes. 5. 17.18 Mat. 7.7 Iob. 1.9 Iob 1.9 Ioh. 15.8 Mat. 5.16 Ioh. 16.23 Luk. 6.25 Mat. 5.16 Math. 5.19 Psa. 50.23 Mat. 16 24 1 Cor. 1.4.15 Mat. 6.9 Mat. 6.6.7 Ioh. 16.23 Mat. 7.7 Mat. 7.9 10.11 Iohn 16.13 Iohn 15.26 Mat. 11.27 Mat. 11.28 2. CO. 12.7 2. CO. 12.9 Iohn 14. 26. Iam. 4.6 1. Cor. 6. 18. 19. 2. Thes. 3. 10 Eph. 6.16 Mat. 7.7 Mat. 6.6 Therewards of Christs seruice are heauenly Hab. 2.6 The danger of breaking promise Matth. 16. 17. Luk. 18.10 Luk. 18.2 Matth. 11. 28. Matth. 26 41. Iam. 4.7 Iam. 4.14 Lu. 12.20 Exo. 20.9 Ro. 14.23 Ephe. 516 1. Cor. 3. 6. Psal. 56. 12. Matth. 19. 24. Ioh. 6.27 1. Tim. 4. 8. 1. Tim. 6.6 Mat. 6.33 Mat 6.34 Psal. 37.5 Matth. 12. 20. Mat. 16.24 Ro. 8.32 Iam. 1.15 Ro. 7. 24. 1. Sam. 17 34. 35. Lu. 12.20 Psal. 39.6 Prou. 1.7 Matth. 6. 28. 29. Ro. 10.17 Heb. 11.6 Mat. 27.5 1 Cor. 6. 13. Luk. 21.34 Mat 6.31 32. 1 Ioh. 2. 15. Matth. 12. 36. 1. Sam. 15. 22. Ro. 13.8 Psa. 37.21 1. Ti. 5.8 Iam 4.8 Mat. 18.20 Prou. 29. 18. Matth. 9. 37. 38. Phil. 2.21 1. Cor. 9. 16. Esay 56. 10. 11. Ioh. 17.9 Col. 3.1 The danger of dealing with wicked men Iob 31.29 Mat. 26.27 Gen. 6.12 Mat. 26.26 Eph. 3.18 19. Gal. 3.13 Iohn 14.7 Iohn 8.36 Eccl. 7.29 Iohn 3.16 Ioh. 11.25 Mar. 16.16 Mat. 11.27 Ioh. 19 12 Ro. 14.23 2. Cor. 6.14 Tit. 2.1 Mat. 5.14 Luk. 12.48 1. Tim. 4. 16. 1. King 22 31. Luk. 22.31 2. Cor. 12. 7.8