A TREATISE OF LOVE Written by IOHN ROGERS Minister of Gods Word in Dedham in Essex God is Loue and he that dwelleth in Loue dwelleth in God and God in him 1 Iohn 4. 16. This is the message that yee heard from the beginning that ye loue one another 1 Iohn 3. 11. And this Commandement haue we of him that he that loueth God should loue his Brother also 1 Iohn 4 21. LONDON Printed by H. Lownes and R. Young for N. Newbery at the signe of the Starre in Popes head Alley 1629. TO MY LOVING Neighbours of Dedham LOuing and good Neighbours the doctrine of Faith being gone forth into the World I thought it not amisse that the Daughter should attend vpon her Mother and therefore to put forth a Treatise of Loue to follow after Faith as they were both handled in your hearing not very many yeares since Now I desire that these things may liue and speake vnto you when I shall be taken from you In which two if you shall profit you cannot but doe well God shal be much honoured and I shall haue my great desire Now this of Loue I dedicate vnto you that as you haue learned in some measure to loue one another so that you doe it still and encrease more and more I found you by the care diligence of my worthy Predecessor in a peaceable state Thus through Gods mercy haue you continued without rents or diuisions sidings or part taking in peace and vnitie these three and twenty yeares of my abode with you wherein both the head and bodie of the Congregation looking one way much ill hath bin hindred and much good done and mainetained And I hope so to leaue you yea my hearts desire is that you may liue in peace and godly loue when I am gone that as you haue done so you may draw altogether as one man So shall nothing be too hard for you nor no force of wickednesse bee able to preuaile against you As a bound Fagot cannot be broken though the band loosed and sticks shattred asunder becomes weake As few or no suits of Law haue bin found amongst you but differences either betweene your selues agreed or by indifferent Neighbours compounded so doe still in the name of God And as I haue euer found you forward in good sort to any deed of Charity wherin you haue bin moued besides the good prouision made for your own poor so I beseech you to continue that you may shew forth the fruit of the Ministry of the Word so long so long continued among you and other townes seeing your well-doing and good order may be prouoked by your example and so God may haue much honour by you and hee take pleasure to dwell among you and be the God of your Posteritie after you from one generation to another Which I beseech him to grant for his mercies and his Christ his sake And you that be young now which God be thanked giue good hope if God let you liue to stand vp in your Predecessours roomes see that you labour to quit your selues as well as they haue done and better will be required as hauing more light euery day their example to make vse of In which hope I take my leaue and commend you all heartily to the grace of God remaining till death Yours in what seruice of Loue I can IOHN ROGERS A TREATISE OF LOVE CHAP. I. HAuing finished the Doctrine of Faith let me adde a few things concerning Loue which were deliuered from the same Text 1 Iohn 3. 23. in my ordinary course one after another This is the commandement of God that wee beleeue in the Name of his Sonne Iesus Christ and loue one another Which seeing the holy Ghost hath ioyned together as two necessary inseparable companions and that the duety of Loue is of so necessary vse in the course of our liues I thought good to adde some things hereof to the former Treatise The holy Ghost hauing had occasion in Verse 22. of that Chapter to speak of the keepers of Gods commandements who are the parties whose prayers God will heare now in this Verse lest any should doubt and aske the question But what be those commandements he therefore names them and orings them all to these two heads Faith in Iesus Christ and Loue to our brethren and these he exhorts vnto to beleeue in Christ Iesus and to loue one another Now in that the Apostle hath reduced to two heads all the commandements of God and our dueties he hath mercifully prouided for our weaknesse and preuented those carnall excuses whereby most men cloake their ignorance and carelesse neglect of heauenly things Oh they be so dull to conceiue and the Scriptures so darke and they haue such ill memories and the Scripture so large as they can make no worke of them which is Adam-like to turne the fault from themselues vpon God As if they should say If God had giuen vs shorter and plainer Scripture and better wits and memories wee would haue done great matters But this is but the wickednesse and falshood of their hearts for they can finde wit and memory enough for the world their profits pleasures or lusts and what they haue a minde to and why should they not serue them for better things if they would bend themselues thereto And God hath mercifully left vs so much of his Word as is necessary to saluation cleare and plaine to euery humble teachable heart that seekes helpe of God by prayer and is willing to be ruled thereby Yea hee hath gathered the whole into short summes As the whole Law and will of God so large and scattered in the Scriptures is referred to ten words Deut. 10. 4. which are the ten commandements deliuered by God Exod. 20. and these ten referred to two Matth. 22. 40. and these two to one Galat. 5. 14. So our whole direction concerning Prayer is in that short plat-forme called the Lords-prayer So hath the Church of God since out of the Apostles writings gathered all the things we are to beleeue vnto eternall life into twelue Articles So hath God prouided in this lightsome and in that respect blessed age of ours abundance of good Books of the points and principles of our Religion some more large some more briefe Catechismes for euery bodies turne that euen the dullest and of worst memory may come to the knowledge of God themselues and their dueties and the things of saluation if they bee not shamefully carelesse So that the ignorance of the people of this Land which yet is fearfully grosse and more than any thinke for but they that try it is affected and wilfull and therefore their condemnation will be as more fearfull than of other Nations so most iust and inexcusable It 's lamentable to see how the precious time is spent with many in sinfull courses and exercises with most in eager pursuit of the world the profits honours and pleasures thereof as if they were the
dwell vpon the face of the earth high low rich poore men women yongue old bond free without or within the Church that eyther are or euer may be the people of God True our loue must begin at those that be neerest vs and must be most to those within the Church especially to the houshold of Faith but it must stretch it selfe farre and wide and ouer all and wee must doe all dueties of Loue to them as occasion shall be offered and we be able For whosoeuer hath or shall haue need of our helpe he is our neighbour whom wee are bound to loue because God hath commanded it and hee is our owne flesh Our prayers as a maine dutie of loue must reach at one time or other to all and doe them what other good we can Wee must pray for the poore Pagans that God would send his light and truth amongst them that they in time may bee brought into the bosome of the Church and the sheepfold of Christ Iesus For the Lords ancient people the Iewes that he would be pleased to make those dry bones to liue and to take the vaile of vnbeleefe from off their hearts that they may at last come to embrace and beleeue in the Lord Iesus Christ to their eternall saluation And that God would in mercie bring in the fulnesse of the Gentiles and to that end that he would hasten the ruine of Anchrists Kingdome that those nations that haue long lyen vnder the bondage of that man of sinne and in the darkenesse of superstition and Idolatry may be set at libertie and haue the light of the glorious Gospell to shine among them to teach them to know and worship the true God aright and to beleeue in Iesus Christ which is life eternall And for those within the Church wee ought to pray to God to continue his mercie towards them and to giue them grace to walke worthy thereof And for those that be falne into their enemies hands and bee in great distresse euerie way wee ought to send vp continuall feruent prayers and strong cryes out of the bowels of compassion towards their miseries vnto Almightie God the father and protector of his Church that though hee hath punished them for their sinnes as pleased him yet that hee would in iudgement remember mercie and humble their hearts vnder his heauie hand pardon their sinnes and restore their former liberties to them againe Yea and as their bodily necessities shall be truely made knowne to vs wee should be readie to reach out our hand to the reliefe thereof Ob. If anie will say They bee strangers to me what haue I doe with them Ans. Let such a one know that yet Gods Image nor his expresse commandement ought not to be strange vnto vs but ought to prouoke vs to this duety Yea they that bee neuer so ignorant prophane vngodly whether rich or poore we must wish well vnto them and seeke their good for as wee must not hate the vices for the persons sake so neyther the person for the vices sake Our loue towards them may bee a meane to winne them to God Vse But alas how few be there that thinke any such thing required of them and therefore no maruell though no conscience be made of the performance thereof for euen in those things that they know to be the will of God and their dueties yet few will be brought to the obedience of them Who so pities the miserable state of those that know not God nor haue any meanes of saluation but be out of the pale of the Church as to pray earnestly to God that hee would in mercie visit them in his due time Alas multitudes pray not for their owne selues and families their neighbours and nation and therefore no maruell they looke not so farre But mee thinkes that fearfull Prayer the Church maketh against such Psalme 79. 6. should strike feare into them to moue them to seeke to auoide the dint and danger of it How sew lay to heart the long and sore afflictions nay the wofull desolations of our brethren in the Palatinate Bohemia and places adioyning and therefore powre out compassionate repenting and feruent prayers to God for them We heare of their vnspeakeable miseries but are not affected with them either to profit by their harmes vnto sound repentance our selues or to put to our helping hand by our instant prayers to seeke their deliuerance Wee talke much of them and would faine see an end of their troubles and a returne of things but few be those that doe pray for them and that so seldome and so coldly as we can haue as little comfort as they haue hitherto found benefit for what fruit can be expected from prayers not ioyned with true repentance for God heares no sinners and let him that cals vpon the Name of the Lord and looks to be heard depart from iniquitie I doubt not but some there are that doe compassionately and feelingly wrestle with God for them from time to time yea do afflict their soules to obtain mercie for them whose prayers are assuredly not shut out or forgorten before God but shall in due time haue blessed effect but these I doubt are but a very few And for other dueties of Loue no maruell if as occasion serues they bee coldly performed to those that be further off when wee are found so faulty towards those wee daily conuerse with What extreme failing in the dueties of forgiuing wrongs and doing good to soules and bodies of those we haue to doe with Of which wee haue spoken already vpon one or two seuerall occasions therefore I now speake no more thereof onely I pray God to giue vs this true Loue that may reach out it selfe to all men as occasion is or shall be offered CHAP. 9. Of Loue to the Saints NOw I come to the loue we owe to the Saints and true people of God and these are to be loued in the greatest degree of all other men and to be had in high price and account Gal. 6. 10. Psalme 15. 4. Thus did Dauid Psalme 16. 3. All his delight was in the Saints Psal. 119. 63. He was their companion Psal. 101. He would haue such to attend vpon him and such only as neare as he could So Cornelius Acts 10. 7. had a souldier that feared God that was at his hand Reasons of this are First the Image of God is most clearly seen in them we are to reuerence and loue the least part of it wheresoeuer we see it euen in wicked men how much more then the brightnesse of it which stands in the graces of the Spirit wisedome holinesse and righteousnesse wherein they most liuely resemble their Maker And the more of this we see the more we ought to loue in children friends neighbours or whomsoeuer This is to be esteemed far aboue wit beauty strength wealth actiuity or any gift of Nature or Art these be toyes to grace Fauour is deceitfull and beauty vanity but one
for that end and not for it selfe Faith is like the bung of the barrell that takes in the beere or wine Loue is like the tap that lets it forth to the benefit of them that neede If a man bee neuer so full of knowledge and other good gifts and haue not this tap others may starue for all that and hee himselfe is but a sounding brasse and a tinkling cymball Wee are not borne for our selues nor our Talents giuen vs to hide but the perfection of all our gifts spirituall and temporall is the well imployment of them for the good of others The vsefull man is the happy man that keepes the best house and most drinke of his cup especially in spirituall things 5 This is the vertue that makes vs most like to God for he is loue and continually exercised in doing good to all euen to the ends of the world yea to his enemies though specially to his children to soules to bodies and euery way and hee is not weary to doe good euen to such vnworthy ones as we are So that when wee be full of loue giuing here lending there forgiuing this wrong and passing by that iniury requiting good for ill hath beene done to vs when wee be instructing counselling admonishing comforting praying for any that need wee are like vnto God in our measure and like to our Lord Iesus Christ who went about doing good Acts 10. 38. So must we walke in loue Ephes. 5. 2. Loue must be our continuall walke and wee must neuer be out of it for then wee are out of our way All our wayes and workes towards our brethren must be in loue and sauour of loue All our life must breathe loue as when wee come in heauen it shall be the common ayre wee shall breathe and draw in So that what is loue but the life and soule of the world and that without which all things else are nothing 1 Cor. 13. Oh that I could so paint out the face of this louely Vertue and set it before you that euery soule that sees it may fall into a deepe loue and liking therewithall But alas how lamentable a thing is it that so excellent and necessary a vertue should bee so scarce and rare to bee found among men as it is and that in these dayes of the Gospell and when the God of peace and loue dwels amongst vs whose people we professe our selues to be Alas it s as it were banisht out of the earth and departed from the sons of men and found but at a few hands and there but scantly But pride and contention oppression deceit malice and reuenge and all contraries to loue haue taken possession of all places of most hearts yea euen among true Christians what cold affection what hollownesse strangenesse hard surmises readinesse to fall out for trifles little power to forgiue to passe by wrongs to ouercome euill with good which yet God doth to vs euery day It s easie to heare reade and pray let 's shew the fruit of them in loue Oh let vs euery one suffer our selues to be prouoked yea and ouercome in this that we labour to bee possest of this grace of Loue in whom it hath not hitherto taken place and they in whom it s begun that they would encrease in it more as 1 Thes 4. 10. Hereby it shall appeare that wee regard Gods commandement wee shall doe much good and strengthen the places where wee liue We shall know we are not of the Deuill but of God 1 Iohn 3. 10. and shall be like vnto him what should we desire so much as to represent our Maker and to haue his Image shining forth in vs And the more loue God hath shewed to vs the more let vs shew to others the more he hath giuen vs of temporall or spirituall gifts giue the more to our brethren Freely ye haue receiued freely giue The more God hath forgiuen vs the more let vs forgiue others the more patient and slowe to wrath he hath beene with vs the more patience see wee shew towards our brethren And here with let vs stay our selues when wee finde readinesse to be prouoked or to renenge and thinke it a most vnreasonable thing that God forgiuing vs a thousand talents wee should catch and hold our neighbour by the throate for an hundred pence If this grace of Loue be in vs and abound wee shall honour God much and our holy profession get a good report and much loue in the Church of God and further our owne account against that day and prouide for the encrease of our glory in the Kingdome of Heauen CHAP. 4. Of the Notes whereby loue to our Neighbour may be knowne NOw to this end that none may deceiue themselues but may try whether they haue in them this grace of Loue or no or in what measure I will set down some of the chiefe acts effects or fruits of it as notes whereby it may well be knowne as a tree by the fruits 1. Loue is not left-handed but interprets and takes things at the best As it commends what is plainly good so it interprets fauourably what is doubtfull vntill it know the contrary speeches or actions of men towards our selues or others if they may be well taken it will not take them ill As the mother when the childe cries saith a pin pricks it it hath the fret or breeds teeth she is loth to say it s nothing but frowardnesse and so to chide or fight When Iosephs brethren out of malice had fold him into Egypt and afterward were affraid he would remember it what construction makes hee of it God sent me hither aforehand to prouide for you As our Sauiour Christ did when his Disciples were so sleepy in the garden though he mildly rebukes them for it yet hee fauourably helpes it saying The spirit is willing but the flesh is weake Yea if a thing be plainly euil yet Loue will make it no worse than it is It will not say it was done deliberately and of set purpose when it was done rashly maliciously when it was done weakly onely and in temptation For one may doe iniury to a bad action and its better to thinke and speak a little better of it than worse than it is Alwaies prouided this be vnderstood not of palpable notorious fowle euils nor of continued courses in sinning for what good or charitable construction can bee made of these When such therefore bee plainly reproued and told their danger and they cry out Oh you may not iudge Why what can Charity it selfe iudge but that you are of the Deuill and in the state of damnation for the present and without sound Repentance for euer It s therefore no property of Loue but a fowle fault and a signe of a corrupt conscience to extenuate and blanch fowle sins in bad persons 2. It will depart from his own right rather than breake peace as our Sauiour Christ Matthew 17. 27. Abraham to Lot Gen.
13. 9. If thou wilt take the left hand I will take c. As it will giue way in conference to one that is stiffe though one know hee hath the truth so it be in small matters After offences it will soone yeeld and seeke reconciliation though it were meet the other should seeke to him It stands not vpon termes it will lay downe the bucklers goe on the lower ground yeeld the way or the wall to those that it were meet should yeeld it to him For why it more prizeth and esteemeth Loue than small matters 3 It doth no hurt it s against the nature of it so to doe neither in life chastity of our neighbour goods or good name See this in the two chiefe patterns of Loue in God towards his and parents towards their children who doe nor can do them no hurt at least parents in their conceit 4 It seekes not her owne things but others as well as is commanded 1 Cor. 10. 24. 5 It prouoketh nor exasperateth not but striues rather to please as far as it may with good conscience As we see in a louing mother toward her childe so also in whomsoeuer it is truely found 6 It s not easily prouoked 1 Cor. 13. 5. but forbeares forgiues puts vp c. which is well seene in God and a naturall mother with her vnquiet childe It will couer naturall infirmities such things as be little weaknesses in our brethren yet not done of set purpose nor growing into extremities but onely naturall defects As some bee a little too quicke some a little too slow some see a fault and bee a little too ready to speake others somewhat too slow to speake or reproue a fault Some be a little too fine some a little too homely and plaine if they were not all so much on either hand it were better Some be somewhat too earnest in their businesse if it were not altogether so much it were better yet not much amisse and it s their nature who bee yet very gracious Some bee a little too negligent some be a little too merry some a little too solemne these and such like Loue will couer or else nothing Loue will not standvpon them rebuke or reproach them or deale hardly with them for these but wisely beare with them and in loue cure them if it can As for example a wife a godly woman good houswife louing duetifull in good measure but somewhat curst and quicke of speech or not so cleanly as were to be desired a good husband in loue will beare with these and bee thankfull for the maine that hee findes in her So a woman hath a husband good in all the substantiall points of the husbands duety but hee is somewhat too glum not so affable and châ—arly as might be or whose nature will not suffer him to vse such complementâ— to his wife as some can doe with facility Loue will reach her to beare with this A seruant is very trusty religious and carefull to please onely somewhat slow the Master or Mistresse must not rebuke him too oft too openly too sharpely for it as a thing they can hardly remedie no perfection to bee expected in any If you can cure it by a louing and priuate admonishion sometimes doe So a Neighbour conferres with his Neighbour and hee is a little too quicke and harsh but loue will not see it but considers it as a naturall infirmitie therefore will not exasperate him or bee put out of patience by him answering him tartly againe but passeth it by and goeth on in kind and friendly manner Loue will also couer and put vp wrongs done vnto it not seeing small ones passing by somewhat greater as considering he himselfe is a man and so subject to offend his Neighbour and so may stand in need of his pardon As also that hee offends God daily and would bee glad to obtaine pardon therefore he must pardon his Neighbour or else can haue small hope or boldnesse to come before him for mercie and this often yea vnto seuentie times seuen times If they bee greater matters yet Loue will easily accept of indifferent conditions of agreement If they be so great as they so endanger our name and estate as they are not to be passed by then its lawfull to flee to the Magistrate and take the benefit of Law yet so as Loue will teach the party to lay away malice and to forgiue the reuenge And in going to Law these two Caueats must be obserued First that it bee not for trifles These should rather bee forgiuen 1 Cor. 6. 7. Why rather suffer yee not wrong Secondly that it bee the last Remedie when all other waies of more peaceable agreement haue beene tryed It must bee as the cutting off a member when it cannot be healed otherwise Hitherto belongs also that Loue will teach vs to hide and couer folkes faults from the world except wee haue a cause and calling to speake thereof but rather of their vertues 7. Lastly Loue is bountifull beneficiall and helpefull not keeping what it hath to it selfe but ready to distribute and communicate to the good of others whether spirituall or temporall gifts Spirituall for loue begins at the soule and doth good to that first of children seruants neighbours It wil communicate any gift it hath to them that need it taking to heart their spirituall wants instructing the ignorant counselling the doubtfull comforting the afflicted admonishing them that be out of the way exhorting theÌ„ that begin to faint or stagger in the way praying for all So for outward things it will cause men to giue to the poorest that are to be holpe by Almes as they be able and lend freely to them that bee a degree aboue the poorest which hauing a Trade and skill and will to follow it yet want stock to employ themselues and their company These a man is as much bound in conscience to lend vnto according to their abilitie and honestie to pay again as to giue a peece of bread or a penny to a poore miserable Creature Mat. 5. 42. Deut. 15. 8. By this shore many a reeling house hath been kept from falling flat to the ground By this helpe many haue liued handsomely and brought vp their families that else must haue come to vttermost misery To the wealthy that haue no neede of vs yet to be neighbourly and friendly in lending or exchanging Courtesies with them To inuite them somtimes to vs to goe to them beeing inuited And in their sickenesse or heauinesse to visit them and comfort them in the best maner we can Vse Now seeing Loue is such a thing and that these bee the fruits of it If we looke abroad among men wee shall be forced to say there is but little loue in the world for where bee these Properties spoken of to be found as may appeare in going ouer them 1. Who takes not things in the worst part hardly construing mens words and actions doubtfull ones it
may be not bad taking them to bee euill those that bee bad making them worse Thus the Iewes mis-interpreted our Sauiour Christ Iohn 2. Destroy this Temple c. which afterward cost him his life 1. Chro. 19. 3. How was Dauids good and louing Action towards Hanun wickedly mis-construed which cost the liues of many thousands Old Eli offended in this 1 Sam. 1. 14. iudging Hannah drunke because she prayed and her voice not heard What more common than to say Men doe that they doe to be seene and to winne credit when yet they doe it syncerely and to please God Or hauing inuited one to our house and he comes not to think or say he doth it out of some splene or want of good will Many a time in a yeare are we forced to recant and with shame say I thought it had been worse meant than now I see it was This is the cause of innumerable contentions and breaches among men 2. For departing from mens right who doth it but stand out stiffely to the vtmost This is an vsuall speech It is my right and I will haue it I aske no more but my right and that I will not lose This is thought but reasonable and he is thought an honest man that will haue but his right But it s an ill speech and resolution whether it be in conference If a man know hee hath the truth though it be but in small matters yet he will hold it out though the other bee neuer so peremptory till they fall flat out whereas in small truths its better to giue in Or in dealings couenants bargaines bonds men will haue their right and yet herein extreame right may bee extreame wrong Alwaies prouided that wee giue not away other folkes right especially Gods Moses would not yeed a hoofe Exod. 10. 9 yet most men stiffe in their owne will yeeld enough of Gods right can cut large thongs out of that They will not let their seruants play one houre on the sixe dayes yet can let them play on the seuenth what they will So are sins against the first Table made small account of in comparison of the breaches of the second 3 Whereas Loue hurts no way whence comes all the hurt and mischiefe that is done among men stabbing killing fighting quarrelling â—rayling reuiling scolding c. all the defilings of mens wiues children and seruants So for bribery theeuery cousenage false weights false wares c slandering defaming backbiting mocking and such like All these abound euery where I am sure Loue doth none of them Loue was not at the doing of these And for seeking others good as well as our owne O Lord where is this But in all mens courses the greatest part yea and among Christians they seeke themselues too much and others too little 4 Also that men will so readily prouoke one another by words and deeds they care not how 5 For being prouoked Lord be mercifull to vs who can beare any thing but taunt for taunt quip for quip hee shall haue as good as he brings If there bee a little trespass done them Oh how men stand vpon it and study reuenge Hence the innumerable suits in this land many thousands in a year for meer trifles that ten times as much is spent in them as is sued for A shame for England to bee so contentious hauing the Gospell of peace amongst vs. Oh mens stomachs be vp straight all their bloud is in their face or else looke as pale as ashes or secretly practising to reuenge Hand on the dagger straight on the top of the house by and by and flie in one anothers faces for trifles so farre off are we from forgiuing till seuenty times as our Master Christ hath commanded So short spirited as wee can beare nothing and that which is worse if we haue taken vp a displeasure once it s not easily laide downe but Sunne after Sunne Moone after Moone yea some yeare after yeare can carry it about with them quickly prouoked but hardly pacified especially truely It may be some will not bee seene to liue in open onmity yet haue hearts vnsound and full of secret grudgings that cause open breakings out vpon euery occasion Men can beare nothing but are straight carried after reuenge 6 And for speaking of our neighbours vertues and hiding their faults without iust cause and calling to the contrary where is that to be found Nay the contrary is most wofully common little of mens vertues spoken except a word or two to make way for a But and to speak of their faults and these we delight to be much in as the Crow that seeks out the carrion the Hogge that delights to lye in the mire rather than vpon the green grasse like the Flie that if there bee but one gall'd platt on the horses backe delights rather to sit on that than on all the whole body besides 7 And for the last where is communicating of spirituall good things Parents bring vp their children braue but how few catechize instruct admonish them pray with them and for them So for seruants their gouernors giue them meate drinke and wages and hold them to worke on the sixe dayes but little care how they spend the Sabbath or for instructing and examining them calling them to reading and praier and what loue call you this but such as you shew to your beasts So for neighbours what Christian conference is there what admonishing them that be out of the way but rather let them run on and talke of them behinde their backes and that oft times with reioycing which is fearfull What consolation is giuen to the heauie who layes their case to heart how few are able to speake a word in season and to comfort fitly but vtter vaine and frothy speeches to them fitter to doe hurt than good And for such as be troubled in conscience for their sinnes alas how few haue any skill of such things nay many will rather deride and make a scoffe at them saying they haue runne to Sermons so long till they will goe out of their wits Who prouokes one another to that that is good but euery man saith Who made mee my brothers keeper Nay men are so farre from these as they seeke all they can to driue others from God and goodnesse by their cursed counsell and wicked example and by all the discouragements they can deuise of threats mockes and taunts And is not this fearfull where is true Loue in the meane time that is a great way off And for outward things how backward are most in giuing to the poore any more than needes must what contentions at making of rates though God hath freed vs from the chargeablenesse of the Legall seruice and hath freed vs from that intolerable burthen of the Rogues that swarmed like Locusts all ouer the Land whose burthen lay on vs very heauie as they that bee of yeares can remember which yet yeelded small comfort the greatest part of them being a