Atheism and irreligious Desperation that rears such Principles for when the heart is courted to believe nothing good or bad but what is fortunate or unfortunate then relucts it the Counsels and restraints of Divine Precepts and consciencious checks and flyes only to a fond and blind Chance or Oracle of Contingency accounting every thing that 's prosperous good and that 's dejected naught Faelix faustumque scelus virtus vocatur T was a damnable lewdness of Aruns his wife who to enjoy lustfully her Brother tells him that when a Kingdom is in pursuit small Evills as she called them were not to to be boggled at This leads then upon Designes in themselves rash though sometimes by the permission of God successfull as it did Regilianus the more bold then Judicious Emperour whose spirit being too great to buckle under the Command of power kindled towards an adventure of enlargment either by loss of life or gain of Honour Crowns the Meta ultima of Humane Felicity he judg'd not Profferers of their service to Men irresolute And therefore his Conclusion was to try what Witt and Boldness would offer him as the Trump that should carry the Game into that hand which held it In a Bravado he makes a Banquet and to it invites his Fellow-soldiers There he feeds them high and they to testify their acceptation drink freely In the midst of their mirth One probably appointed by him propounding whence the word Regilianus was derived a Grammarian by chance there was asked of the Company to give the etymologie of Regilianus who replyed Regilianus à Rege nomen ortum habet the Souldiery warmed with good liquor cryed out Meritò itaque Rex eris and so it passed for currant and he was Emperour which was by means not probable to such an end no more then a Cockle-shell is likely to empty the Ocean O Ambition thou art coccle in the goodly Corn of a virtuous mind thou art the wild Vine which bringest death into the pot of fairest hopes thou art the Harlot whom whosoever embraceth goeth down to the Chambers of death thou art the Divel that courtest men up to the pinnacle of the Temple that thence they may be hurled down to irrecoverable ruine They who are deserted by God and applauded by men fall into thy snares Thou hast traps for thine admirers of all sorts all ages in all Countries There is none that thy madnesse precipitates not but he that is kept by the Keeper of Israel who neither slumbreth nor sleepeth And therefore every man should look about him to keep this fury from his elbow as the great exciter to disorder and ruine This put Alexander upon invasion of others Dominions his own bounds were too narrow to limit his emulation Alexander great in the world thought the world a little ease a cage to him This Ambition made Absolom rebel Pompey fire Rome with quarrels Herostratus an obscure fellow that hee might be remembred burn the famous Ephesian Temple nay it endangered a crack in the glorious Eutaxie of Heaven which could not be expiated but by the dejection of Lucifer that first quickned it This is usually the companion of Changes distracted times and alterations produce this Monster Those who think they deserve better then God knows they do and have lesse then they are in their own opinion able to manage make out to the prey and rather will have it as Simeon and Levi had reparations for the indignity offered their Sister by force then not at all To these who would build when God is demolishing and plant when he is eradicating that is applicable which was said to Baruch Seekest thou great things for thy self seek them not It is a mercy to the soul more indicative of Gods indulgence to be restrained from accomplishing swelling Designes then to have Kingdoms Wealth Learning Beauty or what-ever is the darling of this mutable and pompous World It was good counsel which Turktill Abbot of Croyland gave his Monks Keep that fire Let O man of God this holy Lamp of zeale never go out in the Temple of thy soul cherish it with daily supplyes from that Ocean which is never dry but abounds and will increase thee while thou seekest in humility to be enabled to a devout lustre and calefaction of others True and well-ordered zeal will purifie and purge the soul from all restivenesse and stupid indifferencie and inflame it to a revenge on beloved sins On this score Moses abhorrs the golden Calf Abraham quits his Country the Saints and Martyrs their lives nay this to do did our Lord Jesus descend from heaven to earth as he testifies Iohn 18. 37. This is the ballast that keeps the soul from tottering and losing way in its steerage to heaven This keeps it close to old truth and makes it mistrust new as false lights though they glister never so amazingly This carries the soul to Christ with earnest and vehement petitions to be kept safe amidst temptations This will perswade the soul to esteem highly of holy Truths and holy men who speak according to the Law and testimony and to reject whatsoever comes with Nicodemus in the night undiscerned and stealingly upon us not daring to abide the test or the examen of Scripture 't will weigh glorious Nothings the Wens and Excrements of Religion in the balance and if they bee not weight publish them to be light matters of Deceit 'T will separate 'twixt the Sheep and the Goat the Chaffe and the Corn and in all things carry it self gratefully to God whose mercy has onely made the difference for what has it which it hath not received 1 Cor. 4. ver 7. Were this as much in deed as in word amongst us we should not huckster it in Religion as we doe nor could we thus dishonour the nobility of our souls by mean and vulgar regards of them as in the loosenesse of our principles and practices we not onely seem but really shew we do while we prefer our bodies before our souls our corruptible before our incorruptible selves When we are sick in body we send for the most noted learned and experienced Physician we can meet with No Quack no Emperick no barbarous Farrier-like practiser will serve the turn we cry yea and that wisely too Best is best cheap but in Affairs 'twixt God and our souls in the resolution of doubts about heaven and that conversation which must bring us thither through the Mercy of God any one serves the turn Ioane as the Proverb is is as good as my Lady the most rude and illiterate most acceptable rather chuse we the Bramble then the Vine rather those that know nothing but pride and prattle then those Bees of glory the learned Ministers who are laden with honey and would be glad to lodg what they have pluck'd by the assistance of God from the Flowers of Study and Meditation in the hives of humble
wise harted Man in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Sapere est mentis non palati noting a certain knowledg both of Humane and Divine things and therefore the Hebrews called every art and science 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and every artist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Plato acknowledgeth the supremacy of Reason and knowledg to be radically in God while he sayes If you grant any thing to be partaker of Divine knowledg you allow none but God to have supreme knowledg Now this tree of knowledg God never transplanted out of the nursery of his own essence till he created Man then he placed it in Paradise as judging the tree of knowledg emblematical of consortable with him that was the creature of knowledg rational and disquisitive God is called the God of Wisdom and he that giveth understanding by him are secrets revealed and without his ayd and blessing all humane industry is vain and infructiferous yea while the Conglobations of Heaven and Earth dure there will never want instances of his incomparable and matchless Art And certainly from this Divine Architectonick Artist did man first take encouragement to attempt and receive power to perfect parts of art the finger of God in mans Soul pointing at such emanations as were suteable to the proportion of his creation ordering the conception to precede the operations the hand following the formative power of the fancy Thus God making the world for mans spheare of motion in this short and military life propensed his Soul to all those tendencies which chiefly compleat the Harmony of its being and fit it in many things immunity from sin and sorrow possibility of enjoying God face to face and aeternity excepted to a conformity to the upper Region Heaven to which it is a tributary and in which only it shall be perfect and compleat Thus because order is necessary to preservation as is heat to life and some must obey as well as others Rule God so ordered the distribution of his gifts and moral endowments that the Ruler should have proportions transcending others as far as the Sun lesser lights that by clear conviction there might obedience be yielded as a due and yet the persons so Ruled understand their security included in such resignation without which there would be unavoidable confusion for a Ruler should be like Cato universally compleat fit for counsel and conduct Optimus Orator Optimus Imperator Optimus Senator which ternary of complements concludes all And such anciently Rulers were and so ought still personally to have been had they been soli in regimine and taken no assistance in government from other persons to rule alone and perhaps by their own wills being originally their prerogative and office else should they have highly sinned against God and their People by vain and ignorant judgments which sometimes they might have occasioned but since they now do by counsel their great actions and assume others to advise with them their personal errors are drowned in their cathedral abilities which can neither do nor ought to receive wrong Now because Rulers ought to be tam Marte quam Mercurio ex utroque Caesares Men fitted to Peace and War therefore pleased it God to indulge men various different geniuses by which as by silent Oracles and Divine inspirings they should be carried on to works of all Natures proper to the life increase riches tuition and fame of Man To some he gives a heart like Solomon large as the sands on the Sea shoare understanding from the Cedar in Lebanon to the Hysop upon the wall all points of nature great and small as is said 1 Kings 4. v 29 30. fitness to government of all sorts so that whether to formation of Laws punishment of offences remunerations of merit or any other exercise of intellect they infinitely abound to others he hath vouchsafed strange activity of hand and mechanical contrivance to frame things for life and defence for delight and correspondence that thereby amity of mankind may be promoted and one man depend upon another so that all Learning whether Noetick or Manual of book or hand proceeds from God who is as truly parent of the one as of the other But though all Learning be from God yet not all equally honoured by him the double portion of his blessing hath ever followed the birth-right Art is first minted in the mind before exert in the hand and those parts of Learning that are speculative are most sacred and have ever been in esteem where Iohn of Leydens Knipperdollings Hackets Copingers and such turbulent Spirits have not misguided lewd people to the subversion of legal and sober Constitutions and disgrace of warlike and orderly Conquests All good ages have accumulated honours on Learned Philosophers and noble Sages submitting to their Government Laws Prescripts and opposing no humour or pet of their own against their Counsels The Iews in the infancy of time took their written Laws from Moyses who is said to be Learned in all the Learning of the Egyptians This is the Law which Moses set before the Children of Israel and v. 5. These are the testimonies Statutes and Judgments which Moses spake unto the Children of Israel So 2. Chro. 23. c. v. 18. Also Iehojada appointed the Offices of the House of the Lord by the hand of the Priests and Levites c. as it is written in the Law of Moses So 3. Ezra v. 2. As it is written in the Law of Moses the Man of God So 9. Daniel 11. Mal. 4. v. 4. To which add the texts out of the New Testament 2. Luc. 22. When the daies of her purification were come according to the Law of Moses So our Saviour 7. Iohn 19. Did not Moses give you the Law Yea the Iews own testimony ratifie it 8. Iohn 5. Moses in the Law commanded us c. By all which it appears that the Iews took their Laws from Moses the Learned After them the Caldaeans took Laws from their Astrologers and wise Men from whose counsel they also looked for deliverance from all dangers as appears from that of the 47. of Esay v. 13. Where God tells them Thou art wearied in the multitude of they counsels Let now the Astrologers the Star-gazers the Monthly Prognosticators stand up and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee So did the Egyptians from their Magicians and Enchaunters and so did the Indians from their Gymnosophists the Celts and Britains from their Druyds the Greeks from their seven wise Men yea and the Romans from the Greeks So famous did Learning make Men and Places that the ruder World dawning towards the bright noon of literature sought to those that sate in the light for direction how to rule wisely and obey heartily Upon this ground did Faunus King of Italy invite and highly reward Euander the Arcadian his coming into his country and teaching
Wickham Bishop of Winchester about the yeer 1370. Trinity Colledg first founded by Hatfield Bishop of Durham 1370. Lincoln Colledg by Richard Fleming Bishop of Lincoln an 1420. and enlarged by Thomas Rotheram Bishop of that Sea anno 1479. Glocester Colledg built by the Monks of the Order of S. Benet after added to S. Iohn Bapt. Colledg All Souls Colledg begun by Hen. Chichly Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Magdalen Colledg built by William Wainfiet Bishop of Winchester Brasen Nose Colledg built by William Smith Bishop of Lincoln Corpus Christi Colledg by Robert Fox Bishop of Winchester Christ Church her princely Foundation laid by Card. Wolsey Archbishop of York in an 1540. And to sum up all Did not the late Archbish. of Canterb. Dr. William Laud make a Princely addition to S. Iohn Baptist's Colledg of which he was once Master and no lesse august addition to the renowned Common Library 'T is known he did and his Memory will be kept amongst the Learned for it These publick to omit their private charities to their kindred and places of birth to which they have in no age been wanting proclaim them worthy of all good maintenance and of so much of that lustre to boot as may render their Persons more venerable and their Doctrine while according to Scripture more prevalent with the people I say then the Clergie are the great Masters of Learning and the most notable Advancers of it I do not exclude all others from the honour of any Discovery or Bounty they have made or expressed I know we of this Nation have had in all times as learned a Nobility and Gentry as any Isle in the world has or ever had Our Annals tell us of some of the Laity that for their own pleasures have been versed in Books and Writers of Books Constantine the Great wrote many noble Tracts Henry the First sirnamed Beuclark wrote much made many pious and excellent Lawes Henry the Second was a learned Prince and much addicted to regard learned Men Petrus Blesensis sayes of him Illos judicare solebat quos constituit aliorum Iudices Richard Canon for his Learning and Writing grew most deare to King Richard the First and was his Companion to the holy Land Edward the Third not learned onely to his own delight but to others advantage Ralph Glanvile and Henry Bracton very learned Writers in H. the Thirds time and chief Justices Chaucer and Gower Poets the refiners of our Language in anno 1440. Humphrey Duke of Glocester son to H. 4. a learned Prince so commended by Pope Pius the Second Of him our Story saith that he was the Moecenas of all the Learned in England France and Italy neither did any of that degree repairing to him depart unrewarded Fortescue Chancellor to Hen. 6. a learned Man and great Writer Iohn Harding a great Writer in anno 1461. Tiptoft afterwards Earl of Worcester in 1471. Dudley temp Hen. 7. Fitzherbert chief Justice temp H. 8. a grand Writer Sir Iohn Bourchier Governour of Calais temp H. 7. Sir Thomas More Sir Thomas Elliot Anthony Cope Wil. Salisbury Sir Iohn Reyes grand Writers temp H. 8. Io. Leland Sir Walter Raleigh Sir Fr. Bacon Mr. Selden Sir Henry Spelman Sir Edward Cook the incomparably learned King Iames who was thought the Merlin and Phoenix of Regality There are others whose Works are like Maries Spikenard very odoriferous to learned nostrils yet they must have no mention here because of their magnitude But these how many soever we may judg them to be are but one of a City and two of a Tribe a few to the hundreds of Writers of Clergy-men which Iohn Bale Iohn Pits Hollingshed and our other ancient Records mention whole volumes would be filled with the bare mention of who they were and what they wrote Yea if to them wee should adjoyn the elaborate published Labours of the Reverend Bishops such as Babington Andrews King both the Abbots Davenant Prideaux Hall the glory of this last and worst age that aged learned and constantly devout the Arch-bishop of Armagh together with the many orthodox Presbyters who have worthily and learnedly written on arguments of all natures What has been published by the Laity would be but a molehill to their mountain like little David a dwarf to their mighty Goliah of labour and charity to enrich and propagate Religion and Learning And yet though they have by the blessing of God been the instruments of our conversion from darknesse to light from barbarousnesse to civility from obscurity to eminence from disturbance to Order from key-coldnesse to zeal from self-love to charity sympathizing with others the Saints of God in their sorrows There are some nay too many like undutifull children would pay them in their old age with scorn denying them that reverence which the Apostle sayes is due to them for their works sake and that support which is by the law due to them or at least curse their basket and their store which wee ought to bless as Moses did Alas poor Church-man what hast thou done thus to deserve a wound in the house of thy friend Whom hast thou injured that thou art denyed almost a cup of cold water though thou ask it in the name of a Prophet Who was more charitable then thou who lesse scraping then thou who more knowing then thou who more generally beneficent then thou Did ever any intelligent people put out their own eyes let out their life bloud curse their Physicians quarrell with the bountie of Heaven in filling their barns and making their cups run over I trow no. Yet would these return this evill upon the Church-man who is the common life and soul to us all And herein I do protest such men are highly unreasonable as well as impious the Cynick said of the Megarians long ago what I now may say of such of my own Nation Better be their Horse Dogge or Pander then their Minister they will feed and pamper their Stallions and Running Horses and Dogges like Caligula who was so addicted to his Horse Incitātus that he would cause him to feed out of golden vessels and out of such to drink swore to his health and good fortune promising he would make him Consul if he lived long enough or like Nero and Heliogabalus who prized no favourites but Leachers and thought no honour too great for those who after his Master Seneca and Burrus two virtuous men had deserted him were most in his delight These I say men will keep to high food and large allowance but the Minister he must to short Commons nay to live upon nothing they expect Christ should by a Miracle feed his Ministers as once he did the People with five loaves and a few fishes without assistance from them or any contribution to their needs In this truely they are partial and in a sort unjust for they preserve to themselves the fortunes that either their Parents left them
men but also by his preservation of it from those injuries which the malice of Satan and his instruments both secretly hatched and as far as they could expressed against it yea above all that ought to confirm Christian men in a high veneration of Scripture that our Lord Jesus owned the then written part of it quoted it and gave us charge to search the Scriptures for they do testifie of me saith he Ioh. 5. 39. This made the Apostles and their Successors in all ages to give notable testimonies of their zeal to the Scriptures Reverence Tertullian saies I adore the fulnesse of the Scriptures which shew me clearly both the Creator and the Creature And Origen as plainly We must in all doubts take Scripture evidences for without that our senses and enarrations will have no credit 't would be endlesse to summon in the cloud of witnesses which to this purpose are produceable let the Reader peruse learned Zanchy in his Tract de sacra Scriptura and thence he will be abundantly satisfied Now let no man wonder that the Book of God should be so precious in the Churches eyes since God has appointed it to be what ever is useful and comfortable to her in her militant state in this world it hath comfort against her dejection Resolution of her Doubts Arguments against her Opponents 'T is eyes to her when in the dark Counsel to her when in the wildernesse Courage to her when in straights 'T is in a word the via lactea out of which Christ the Sun of righteousnesse is discovered to arise to the soul with healing under his wings Mal. 4. 2. This buckler this Compasse this Pillar of fire this Star the Church is forced to use and follow in its conduct against all those her pestilent enemies that exercise her Graces of Faith Patience and Constancy and did not her Champions take up this sword of the Spirit they could not chase away those beasts of error that they are forced to encounter with in the course of their Ministry after the manner of men They they alas who are the Messengers of God are not ever to meet with hearers ingenuous milde like S. Peter's prick'd at their hearts crying Men and brethren what shall we do but often with Elimasses with the Disputers of this world with Turtullusses subtile and intricate mysteriously couching their deceits which by art the Minister of Christ must detect and from the holy Text arraign and condemn if not there will be great opposition and violent endeavours to hold what Satan has gained Moses could not prevail upon Pharaoh till he had out-feated his Magicians till the patnesse of the Conviction assured them God must be in that Rod which could effect such a Miracle yea had not our Lord Jesus made way for his entertainment by signs and Miracles transcending the power of created being and pointing at a Divine cause which produced such inexpected effects his Ministry had been much eclipsed through the stiffe and deliberated Morosity of the envious Jewes to whom he came and by whom he was refused And if it were so when hee was in Flesh Who spake as never man spake what shall become of the Ministers in his Church now If they take not to them the whole Armour of God if they be not throughly furnished to all good works if they come not as it were in the spirit and power of Elijah if they like Apollos be not mighty in word and in deed they will not onely fall short of their work but also of their Crown For To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Mannah and a white stone and a new name saith Christ Rev. 2. 17. O the wisdom of God who has so well suted his word to the purpose he designed it It is a Net fitted to catch fishes of all sorts and stations Jews Gentiles bond free high low young old There is not more variety in Art and Nature then there is with unspeakable art adumbrated in the holy Scriptures that God might reprove the vanity of all relyances on and all adunations with any thing which seems to stand in competition with his word for our belief and delight There is no Art no Figures no choice of those Rhetoricall Flowers which surprise mortall curiosity into a pleasing vassallage and make it Felo de se but is here amply matched if we were not deaf when this voice of the Charmer approacheth us If we would not shut our eyes against the light that would enlighten us and make us see the mercy of God conducting his Church to heaven by those waters of the Sanctuary which are pleasant and satiating and which make the soul never to thirst after the wisdome of the world because it is enmity against God Tell mee thou who art the most Critick and curious Wit who deeply sinkest down thy plummet to sound the Coast of Knowledg with greatest care and sollidest scruple Where have thine elixerated Brains been more nobly satiated in Plato Tully Seneca Plutarch Aristotle then they might have been in Histories Philosophy Morals Ethicks Logicks Politicks Rhetoricks and Poesies of the Prophets Apostles and holy Pen-men What more Variety Verity Eloquence rare Extasies of Devotion and holy Language in all that vast Continent of Books which men have in all Ages and Arts written then in that little Spot and Jewell of divine Writ It is beyond any mans power to instance any one Directory that may or hath conveyed that light to the Church by which we may infallibly walk and by it be conducted to the light that is eternall as the Book of God doth If then the Text of the Preacher be so various sublime copious it becomes the Preacher to be and shew himself A workman that needeth not to be ashamed Yea well might Saint Paul cry out Who is sufficient for these things without more then ordinary assistance of God The Minister then must be learned that the Golden Censer may not shame the woodden Priest The Word of God that two-edged Sword must not be dispensed by one who cannot distinguish betwixt the Birth-right and a Mess of Pottage yea so knowing ought and must the man of God be so carefully watch that Leah be not put into Iacob's bed in stead of Rachel that false glosses and corrupt Traditions be not obtruded on Beleevers and the verities of God hidden under the bushell of politick designes and carnall conveniences This the Ministers of God must watch against lest the Scriptures be made the objects of every Sophisters cavil and like deserted wayes buryed in the weeds of overgrown Atheism then will the wayes of Zion mourn while Heathens and Hereticks play to the Harp and the Viol then will her adversaries be the chief and her enemies prosper as the mournfull Prophet hath it Lam. 1. 4 5. And as the ruine of Learning will bring ruine on the Church so on the State no
Minds who cry out How beautifull are the feet of those that bring the glad tidings of peace which none can effectually and authoritatively do but those that are sent and set apart to the Ministry as the Apostle shews Rom. 10. 14 15. And if it be so why are we thus thus removed from our ancient stability and commendable Christian curiosity that in stead of adoring God in his gifts of Arts and Languages to Men we cry up only those men who like Egyptian Temples fair without but within full of Cats Serpents Crocodiles and other inglorious Creatures are full of scorns superciliousness and what not which may conclude them to be such as our Saviour approves not though they seem in his Name to prophecie but not cast out Divels no not that of Division by which the Church is spoyled of her Unity Order and External comelinesse yea many discouraged to continue in that Communion in which there is a kind of necessity to be alwaies in dispute or else to be captive to vulgar Errors And VVho in S. Ieroms words can sleep secure that bordereth so upon the Viper who if he sting not surely solicites and endangereth our seduction I know not what the Reason is but both the Church and her Ministry are unnaturally disowned by many who if they live Christian lives here and ever come to heaven may next to the mercy of God thank the Church and her Administrations for their direction and instruction She as the Father saies well carried them long in her womb nourished them bore the Petulancies of their infancie cleansed them from their filth and yet they now cast dirt in that face which hath often kissed them with kisses of love and hugged them in the arms of holy discipline It is a great unnaturalnesse for Christians to disown their spiritual Fathers who have begotten them to God by the Gospel 1 Cor. 4. 15. Whence O whence is this blindnesse fallen upon many of Israel that they prefer Garlick and Onions before Manna Beads and Glassie bables above Gold and Pearls rather will they hear the chatterings of Cranes and clamours of Owls then the sweet notes of Nightingals and birds of Paradise which in their Musick keep time and touch sweetly which speak not words more acceptable then upright words of truth as the Preacher hath it Eccles. the last v. 10. I hear these cracklings of thorns every day bold to perswade men from hearing Ministers to hear men of the Spirit as they call them these say they are taught of God not Heathenishly learned after the rudiments of the world Our Lord Jesus feedeth amongst the Lilies he converses with the poor and humble he despises not the day of small things he hath looked upon the low estate of his servants there is a holy Teaching and Unction say they which the Learned and great ones of the World know not the god of this world hath blinded their eyes that they cannot see Christ through the thickets of prophane Learning and unprofitable speculation thus do they with the Pharisee condemn wisedom which is justified of her children and justifie themselves to be vain deceivers of themselves and others For suppose Christ feeds among the Lilies yet 't is the Lilies of the vallies Cant. 2. 1. What is that to the proud and haughty who cry stand off I am more holy then thou Isai. 65. 5. whose mouthes drop not sweet smelling Myrrh Cant. 5. 13. but utter proud swelling words speaking evil of those dignities which they ought not to think upon without honour Are these the Lilies of the vallies the poor and humble whose hearts are so lifted up in them that they despise their Mother and smite their brethren and fellow servants with reproaches and injurious falshoods boasting of an holy Unction while they prove themselves without natural affection truce-breakers ashamed of the Baptisme and Covenant which was made betwixt God and their Souls by the Ministry which brought as it were God and them together If this be the way of God if this be the path of holinesse which the redeemed of the Lord should walk in then is the learned and holy Ministry of the Church at a losse then is Christ and his glorious manifestations hid from them then are they yet to seek what the good and acceptable will of God is then may they sit down in sackcloth and ashes mourning to God in the Prophets words Thou hast deceived us O Lord and we were deceived But if to preach the words of Truth and sobernesse and not to speak things of nought the deceit of mens hearts be to honour Christ and not to betray him with the Courtship of Hail Master and the civility of a kisse then are the faithful Ministers of Christ secure then may they comfort themselves that their witnesse and reward is in heaven and their labour not in vain what ever their usage here be for as the Father said well Gratias Deo lingua Petiliani non est ventilabrum Dei O my soul mistake not thou thy way by leaning in the least degree on these dangerous though specious fallacies which are strong temptations to those who have no foundation of God in them but stand thou fast in the Truth revealed to thee and listen not to any voice besides the word which saies to thee Lo here is Christ Lo there is Christ for many false Christs shall arise with lying wonders and strong seducements which thou art not to believe or follow be thou studious of thine own duty and thy Makers will according to the discovery of which do thou walk Look unto the rock whence thou art hewn to the hands that instrumentally polished thee to be a stone in Gods spiritual building the Church blesse the womb that bare thee and the paps that gave thee suck and set thou thy seal to the Truth of that Ministry by which thou wer't first admitted into and since confirmed in the Church Look not upon the wandrings of men whom thou lovest and from whom thou hopest to have received assistance in thy Christian course to heaven those that forsake thee while thou keepest close to God are happily parted with Comfort thy self O my soul That greater is he that is in thee then he that is in the world that thy companions the glorious company of the Prophets and Apostles the noble army of Martyrs the holy Church Ministers and Professors who continued steadfast and would not be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ transcends these trifles which are but children of a day and as the Orator saies Ficta omnia celeriter tanquam flosculi decidunt Cicer. 2. Offic. that are ever learning and never come to the knowledge of the truth that will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts heap to themselves teachers having itching ears that turn away their ears from the Truth and are turned to fables and
would have all men do according to their opportunities and places the sword of power in the Magistrates hand is to defend the sword of the Spirit in the mouth of the Ministrie I read of but two swords in Luke 22. 38. which our Lord saies are enough if the people have a third 't is like Melchisedeck without Father or Mother and perhaps they will say to God and the Church as Levi is said to do to his Father Mother and Brethren but in a much worse sense Non novi nos as not seeing nor acknowledging them If the Magistrate be so stressed that he cannot protect those that are pious and peaceable the Lord help I can but mourn for the endangered if not altogether slain of the Daughters of that people And if the Clergy-man grow ridiculous and be rejected then farewel learning farewel peace farewel piety I think they were never in being in the world without their instrumentality The Romans held the extinction of the Vestal fire a signe of the destruction of their City 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be the cause thereof what will Dyonysius Halicarnass lib. 2. p. 128. There was a time when Israel was without a teaching Priest and without the Law and the true God 2 Chron. 15 3. but that time was v. 5. said to be no time of peace but of vexation and nation was destroyed of nation and city of city for God did vex them with all adversity verse 6. It is a strange stupidnesse and ingratitude that many are under they least value those who are most bounteous to them Other Artists study to accumulate wealth and gain estates the Clergy-man may say as Demosthenes did to his Athenians My Councels and carriages are not such as will bring me to riches and greatnesse but such as will make my neighbours and Countrymen thrive such as are often hurtful for me to give not them to receive and imitate Are the clouds ill stewards for the earth when they lodge the vapors attracted from the earth to disgorge them down upon the earth in fruitful and seasonable showrs Truely I think the Clergy-man most an end spent his Tythes where he had them often on those from whom he received them seldom left he a son vastly stated or honourably allied his hand was too often in his purse to keep it full he most an end cares not for to morrow Sufficient for the day are the sorrows thereof Mistake me not I am not a man so transported with love to the Ministry but that I can see and lament the flatteries follies crafts contentions of some Ministers and wonder that they are not ashamed to call him Master who is Peace Truth Wisedom Justice Bounty Unchangeablenesse while some of them are contentious faedifragous vain rash injurious avaritious nay one while this another that and at no time what they should be I have not so subjected my self to them yet nor ever will I by Gods leave as the servants of the Scythians did whose Masters put out their Servants eyes that they might yield better obedience to them I can blush to see the personal Errors of many of them progging up and down and plotting how to lay foundations of outward greatnesse how to strengthen their designs by multiplying friends amongst great men how to make their lives pleasant to them by feeding high affecting gentile fashons coaching it to al quarters while their brethren not lesse worthy nor greater sinners then themselves are in want heavinesse restraint wander about in mean attire with wan looks and empty bellies being destitute afflicted tormented and their own Cures and charges are neglected they Non-resident loving any place rather then their own homes and any businesse beyond that of their calling not considering that of the Apostle No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a souldier nor yet that of the Heathen Men ought rather to attend their duty then their gain and advantage It is one of the great cavils that people make with Ministers That they Preach what they Practice not that they live not lives of Self-denial Patience contempt of the world but trade in the merchandize of Pomp Fury Rigidnesse that they spend their times in Talk Visits Solicitings and not in their Studies not in duties of devotion not in holy watchings over their flocks that they give God that which cost them nought their sudden thoughts immethoded discourses and slovenly Sermocinations that they Preach Repreach the labours of other men new vamped and care not how they run their Ministerial course so they perform what contents their giddy Auditory not answering their own consciences which cannot but check them for doing the work of the Lord negligently Ier. 48. 10. I confesse these dead flyes cause an ill savour in the oyntment of our heavenly Apothecaries who ought so studiously to preserve their Reputations that Envy it self should have nothing to carp at Lights ought to burn clear Salt to keep its savour else the one is fit to be snuffed and the other to be cast on the dunghil A Spiritual man taking thought for to morrow in that forbidden sense Matth. 6. 34. Labouring for the meat that perisheth how he may sit in this world at the right hand of power and greatnesse be clad in purple and fare deliciously seems to me a great Soloecisme or contradiction 'T is a good note of Casiodore The generous mind makes after the loftiest Prey Eagles wind not the wing after Sparrows and flyes nor will he who is in pursuit of a Kingdom descend to think of a petty Coppy-hold Small and wodden stuff are for Swains and Hinds to look after the brave House-keeper looks to his Plate his Coyn his Evidences as those which must keep up his Port and render him conspicuous Those who think of the recompence of Reward of the glorious wages which follows work wel done have no conversation here in vain delights and pleasures dare not encumber themselves lest they lose the one thing necessary they do rather think how to augment heaven and to Enlarge the Empire of God in the Souls of men how to profit the Times in which they live by good counsel holy example earnest prayers multiplied tears then how to enrich themselves or Nobilize their Families The Orator tells us That to be useful to Communities is more noble and generous then to accumulate wealth And truely where ever I see a Church-man carrying the bag and begrutching the duty and charity which God calls for from him towards his flock and the poor God having enabled him to perform them both I shall think of Iudas who thought much of every thing that fell besides his own cup. But let no man be offended though wicked Saul be among the Prophets Christ had one Iudas in his family Noah one Cbam in his Ark the Church may have
were the Persians behind the rest for though Herodotus a noble writer tells us nothing of the Magi in sole command but upon one onely time when they gained it by craft yet Mendoza commends them as accounting nothing in a man so princely as wisedom and learning therefore saith he where ever they found those there they chose though the men were of obscure note and quality poor and fortunelesse of weak bodies young years unbeauteous and those as Governours honoured But above all the Greeks honoured learned men with sole rule in so much that the fame of Greece grew rather from their excellent wisedom then great strength from their wise Sages then potent Souldiers and so did the Romans too and no Nation did the contrary so true is that of Alexander I had rather excell in knowledge then be potent in Armies These civilities and tokens of gratitude did former Ages expresse to learned men not more out of ingenuity and candor then necessity experience telling them that without their care and counsel neither peace nor war could well be managed and therefore them to honour and with them to close was to make a Virtue of Necessitie For who but these have been Lawgivers Counsellors and Rulers at home Ambassadors abroad demanded detained Rights mediated upon breaches made or prevented them that they be not Sollicited Leagues offensive and defensive treated upon effected compacts upon marriages and alliances it would be endless to nominate the good offices they have done for their Countryes what hazards they have undergone what defences they have made what storms they have kept off what gainful adventures they have promoted what staples of trade honour increase they have setled in short they may well be termed the Fathers of their Countries the Sine qua non's without which Realms and Commonwealths would import no more then Polyphemus his Statue which wanted its right Eye and beauty And therfore those that would exclude learned men from Rule and Government should do well first to declare their Project to make a Mutiny in the Universe and put an arrest upon intercourse to disturb the venust Eutaxie of this Globe and design invasion of the Sun Moon and Stars yea of their Maker and to dethrone him which when they effect I will fear the utter ruine of Learning and Learned men but not before The Sun indeed may be darkened and the Moon withdraw her light the Stars of heaven may fall and the foundations of Science may quiver through the Earthquakes that mens sins and passions may occasion but the world Rational and Intellectual is founded upon the abiding Pillars of Gods love and faithfulnesse of his stability and power as well as the world Elementary and the power and policy of men furious as Attila and crafty as Borgia shall never dissolve what God first deserts not Let it be the Learned mans care to honour God and to do good and in well doing to wait upon him and verily he shall inherit the land and be fed Psalm 37. 3. Yea let it be his Emulation to excel men in virtue as well as in Speculation Oratory Craft and Sublimenesse of capacity and there will be no fear but this bow of Ionathan will abide sure Think not O Powers and People that they can despond who know God sitteth upon the Circle of the earth and rideth upon the heaven to his peoples help under whom are his everlasting arms and to whom he is a Refuge who sees the tendencies and tempers of men and things setling them after their tedious and discomposed march through all the points of this Compass in the North point of his Glory can they give over their confidence who know God has appointed them a strong City and Salvation for walls and Bulwarks whose enemies are more Ants for industry then Eagles in power that the wounds they receive are more from the taunts of female and acide tongues then the rebukes of sober and well-stated reason who consider that Revolutions of persons and Governments are usuall and ought to be prepared for and submitted too that time spares not the best men The Patriarchs where are they and the Prophets do they live for ever Zach. 1. 5. Nor the best governments They all wax old as doth a garment by this Canker which frets out their life and lustre all things in this Hemesphere being compound discontinuous lubrick and crying to vengeance Thrust in thy sickle and reap for the time is come for the harvest of the earth is ripe Rev. 14. 15. come to their period That ingenuous Pope Pius the Second from hence fore spoke an end of the Roman Empire which in his time was sick and near unto death so that there was more need to prepare its grave then call for its Physician and therefore weighing these things the learned cannot but resolve with the Church Micha the 7. to bear the indignation of the Lord because they have sinned against him until he plead their cause and execute judgement for them In this God we hope and for this visitation in mercy we will wait though the figtree shall not blossom neither shall fruit be on the Vines though the labour of the Olive should fail and the fields yield no meat the flock be cut off from the field and there shall be no heard in the Stalls as the words are Hab. 3. 17. Know this O Powers and People we of the bookish race are not so vain to trust in a shadow or disquiet our selves in vain we put not our trust in Chariots or Horse-men we will trust in the Name of the Lord and not fear what man can do unto us Quisquis meliora sperat levioribus nunquam frangitur we will with the favour of God persist in our Race through Arts and Sciences and our God pronounce Labour in vain on all those Actions which shall in any degree hinder this honourable and Christian Resolution and be they restrained by God who with Sanballet and Tobiah discourage this endeavour We will not build as Nehemiahs consorts did with swords in our hands they that thus take up the Sword may perish by the Sword holy contests must not be with Swords and staves those were the weapons of Christs apprehenders but with Prayers and Tears the Spiritual weapons of Christians war-fare Non armata patientia sed potentiore patientia and if these will either convince or prostrate our accusers and opposers we will not be wanting to our selves and though with Haman they plot our destruction yet will we not sin against God in ceasing to pray that the iniquitie of their hearts may be forgiven them We will not say despairingly with Esai's Eunuch We are drie trees because we desire to chuse the things that please our God and take hold of his Covenant and therefore hope to have a place in his house and a name better then of Sons and Daughters we
if there be any sorrow like my sorrow We pity the fond zeal of carnal men and giddy professors who begin well but are hindred in their way by wiles of men crafty and by their own lusts regnant in them who have a clamorous Magnificat for Diana and an Hosanna for Christ who are contented with nothing but discontents changes and every thing that fights against the power of godlinesse and proclaim a Treaty with all the infernal Furies the Divel the world and the flesh And in fine we pray for Charity which the Apostle calls the bond of perfection and terms greater then faith or hope because more durable the grace that only accompanies us to heaven there stays with us and the grace that makes us live heavenly upon earth without which all grace is but as sounding brasse or a tinkling cymball yea without which the gifts of Prophecying understanding mysteries and all knowledge faith able to remove mountains distribution of all we have to the poor yea martyrdom it self is nothing 1. Cor. 13. These and other things we professe to concur in with all sound Protestants and if this to believe and thus to do be to be scandalous Popish disaffected we would not be of good report nay we pray we may carry this Crosse of Christ to our graves and account this Reproach great Glory We can comfort our selves in these buffetings revilings contempts as in the sufferings of Christ which are to be fulfilled by us as by the holy men of all ages foregoing members of his body the Church Col. 1. 24. For as S. Ierom saies 'T is a great glory to reach from earth to heaven from dust and ashes to a being of immortality of Servants to be made Sons and of beggars heirs heirs of a Kingdom and that of heaven too the most durable and supream dignity our nature is capable of For we can through the power of Christ wish our selves accursed for his sake and resolve to be and suffer his rebuke without smiting again though we had power and command thereto since thus God hath allowed Religion to be defendedâ—… non saevitiâ sed patientiâ non scelere sed fide and we hope while we thus walk to Sion with our faces thitherward we shall be suffered to passe safe and if we fall with the good man in the Gospel into the hands of men cruel and inhumane shall have Powers like good Samaritans to restore what is unjustly taken from us and pour oyle and wine into our wounds yea we pray though not for preferment not for gain by wording godlinesse yet for permission to worship the God of our Fathers though after the way which some men mis-naÌ„me Superstition Formality Will-worship not thereby intending Rivalry with any other way of worship but desiring to attend upon Gods discovery in the use of that means which we are perswaded is according to the word of God written in the Law and in the Prophets and to which the judgments of many holy Martyrs and men have given testimony and this we trust your favour will permit since to others no more nor no truer Protetestants then we this liberty is indulged as a means to propagate the Gospel and since that of Casiodore ought to be in the mindes of Governours Neminem gravare debet Imperium quod ad utilitatem debet respicere singulorum This O Powers is the sense of those who are well-willers to learning who would not have troubled the world with any taste of their fears and sufferings or defence of their innocency did not their silence amidst the many provocations of bold and defamatory challengers in some sense and in easie peoples opinions though not in Truth confesse them guilty impunitatem consequuntur mali dum modesti tacent yea did not they fear Crowns of thorns preparing if some may have their wills for their captive heads for which Crowns of gold and silver for a memorial in the Temple of the Lord are I hope appointed as the Phrase is Zach. 6. 11. 14. so true is that of the Orator Nihil est tam sanctum quod non aliquando violetaudacia For mine own part I professe before God Angels and men I am moved to this service to the Muses not out of Passion not out of Vain-glory not to gratifie any party I Love or displease any party with whom in principle I coÌ„ply not these would be uningenious motives and receive their defeat and brand to be unproper foundations for so Christian a work that which rouses me up is that glory of God peace on earth and good will to men all which are propagated by Learning and the promise of God to own those that in a right and pious way own him I look upon the primitive Fathers and Christians who thought not so meanly of their faith and art as to forbear owning them for fear they might be lost with their party or lie too open to the worlds knowledge of them I love a sober freedom in a cause that concerns whatever is dear to man his soul his eternity his fame all which are in hazard if Learning and Learned men grow obsolete Our Lord says If the blind lead the blind both shall fall into the ditch There is nothing so great a spur to me next the glory of God as the Presidents of former times and the courage of holy men who were more ready to suffer then deserve so ill requitall of their integrity Synesius tells us nothing is more rhetoricall then sufferings the blood of Martyrs was seed to the Church and made their persecutors turn admirers yea sometimes sufferers it is surely a great distrust of God which makes men faint in a good cause how much more Evangelical and Christian were the minds of Polycarpus Athanasius Cyril Cyprian Iustin Martyr Arnobius Epiphanius Luther Melancthon and all the holy Fathers and Reverend Bishops of the Church who dealt with men like Solinus his Agriophagi who fed upon Panthers and Lions and breathed out nothing but bloud and wounds then are ours while we are to deale with Christian Magistrates well disciplned souldiers and common people who have heard of Christ and seem to cry a daily Hosannah to him Why should we not believe that God will protect and men pardon if not be perswaded to love those who call to them as Ionas did almost out of the Whales belly in the language of the Disciples to their Lord and Master Carest thou not that we perish Who O who knowes the mind of God perhaps God is now dealing with our Governours as with Artaxerxes to contribute to the restoring of the destroyed places of religion and learning It may be not by might nor by power but by his Spirit by a jawbone by rams horns all the rampiers raised against learning may with Iericho's wals fall down and therefore it concerns us all to wait the good pleasure of God and to cast our bread upon the waters to do