the Ruler of the land Esai 16. 1. I think it not amiss to offer this humble Petition to you That you in your judgements distinguish between those that sin of malicious wickednesse and those who offend ignorantly that you remember much hath been forgiven you therefore you ought to forgive much that you in al deliberations think upon that great day that just judge the sinful life and the sorrowful death of the best of men who hath not greater mercy shewed him then he can shew to others Alas the greatest offence against thee O man how high soever is but against a mortal man whose breath is in his nostrils but the least sin thou committest against God is infinite not to be satisfied for with the sorrow of thy soul to all eternity yet behold thy Saviour hath satisfied for that and if he hath not rejected the confessing thief nor the penitent sinner nor the humble Canaanitesse nor the woman taken in adultery nor the disciple at the seat of custom if he cast not away the devout publican the denying disciple nay not his very persecutors as S. Bâ—…rn sweetly then do not ye reject any offer of doing receiving good at any time or to any person or thing which God offers you a season to take hold of considering that of the Prophet Blessed are ye that sow besides all waters Esai 32. 20. And this I humbly move ye to out of charity rather to your own souls then to offenders For our Lord Jesus tels us That if ye forgive not men their offences neither will your Father in Heaven forgive you your offences Matth. 6. 15. This well becomes a sober and Christian man to offer to you and you to accept from him for there is nothing that more dishonoureth Governours then to misreceive moderate addresses which tend by good and grave counsell to emendation What ever makes men like God is most worthy welcome They who would have Christ for their reward must follow him in his race of charity meeknesse moderation easinesse to be intreated He God blessed for ever hath a returne for the wandering Shulamite a kisse for the home-come Prodigall an Euge for the servant who hath been faithfull in a little he values the mite which a poor humble soul offers to him more then the rich oblations devout observations proud boasts and external breadths of the Pharisee He is not pleased with the Pageantries of politick Composures and appearances of sanctity when there is under that mask a designe to devour widowes houses and under that sugured tongue poyson of asps vox in choro mens in foro virtutem non colere sed colorare God is not always in the whirlwind nor in the Earthquake nor in the fire of humane power but in the stil voice of gentle perswasion Turtures amat Deus non vultures And those that wil be his must not be unlike him in goodness in pardons and praeteritions of provocations St Bernard hath a good note Where O holy Souls consists your wisedom if not in the teachings of Christ whence your righteousnesse if not in the mercy of Christ what temperance like that which is taught you from the life of Christ for then are services acceptable to God when they come from a pure heart and faith unfained the Philosopher when he heard a sword praised that was taken by an unskilfull man from his friend replyed The sword is good but the hand naught and unworthy to handle so noble a weapon So when I see one as unholy as Saul offering a peace-offering to God I cannot but think of that speech of his who cried O heaven while he pointed downwards There is nothing O Powers next to sincerity a greater honour to men in place then moderaration noble natures are more afraid to be unthankfull then ruined and chuse rather to provoke power then goodnesse Will not Abraham beg for Ishmael the son of the bond-woman though cast out and forced to flye because united to him by the bond of nature and Israel pray for the peace of Babylon in their captivity because in the peace thereof they had peace Believe me no policy to that of candor and liberality The Throne of Christ which endureth for ever and the Scepter of whose Kingdome is a righteous one shall be established by mercy Isai. 16. 5. To forgive is the greatest conquest because of our selves as well as others It was a noble speech of the Emperour Adrian to one who before he got the Empire was his professed enemy Be of good chear since I am Emperour I have contemned the thought of abusing power to revenge my selfe on thee and no lesse was that of Philip of Macedon to whom when the Athenians sent a sawey message by Democrates the King answered only Say what I can do acceptable to the Athenians the Varlet Democrates replyed touchily Nothing better then to hang thy selfe The standers by ruffling at the intemperance and madnesse of the reply Philip caused silence to be made and cooly said Go tell the Athenians what patience Philip hath expressed in suffering himselfe to be dishonoured and his favours refused And whoso reads the clemency of Caesar to Rufus Porsenna to Scaevola Antigonus to his souldiers Cato Socrates and Antisthenes the Scythian King to those that smote them cannot but wonder that such grapes of Canaan should grow upon the crabstocks of nature or our wals of mud and clay nourish so delicious and pleasing Summer fruit These are strong inducements towards pardon and unanswerable disswasions from frequent punishing to exhaereditation and losse of life Debellare hostes fortunae est refocillare victos verè regium but there is an higher principle for Christians to walk by a more illustrious President for them to follow Christ the King of Saints forgave his enemies and prayed for them the nails of his crosse piercing his flesh did not so torment him as the sins of his persecutors and the judgment that impended the Nation for crying him to death who was innocent yea he took not down the vinegar and gall that was given him Matth. 27. 34. that no man should think him the Prince of peace a harbourer of any bitternesse against his enemies his soule was affectionately expended in prayer that they might be forgiven since they knew not what they did And those onely shal sit with Christ on thrones who follow him in doing works of charity and who forgive as they desire to be forgiven This is the way to honour by this is preparation here made against the evill day Fortune is mutable and those onely can hope for friends in their adversity who have in their day of power not despised the small things of civility and pity Nil habet fortuna melius quà m ut possit nec natura melius quam ut velit servare he deserves not to be owned
though O my soul it suits with thy holy Calling to be cautious that thou erre not rather then curious in overlooking others yet joyn thou the wisedom of the Serpent with the simplicity of the Dove and be diligent to mark those well who despise government and have forsaken the right way who are wells without water and clouds that are carried with a tempests least with them thou receive the reward of unrighteousnesse and it had been better for thee not to have known the way of righteousnesse then to turn from the holy commandment Yea O my soul remember the love of Christ ought to constrain thee to love him and his which thou canst not more unfainedly do and evidence then by proclaiming to all the world that his Spouse the Church Militant and that part of it in this Nation and in Communion with it is fair and lovely yea her Ordinances more fragrant then all spices Cant. 4. 10. And though some may Carp at her and say to thee What is this beloved of thine above other beloveds do thou reply As the Lilie among thorns so is my beloved among the daughters for it becomes thee in S. Ieroms words Not to be offended with her who consecrates thee to Christ a chaste virgine Truely it is a great Corrosive to me to hear the blasphemies and bitternesse that are uttered against this once Renowned Church which because she was gloriously decked with the jewels of her Espousals richly clad in the Tissues of Learning and frankly Endowered is traduced for a pompous Harlot who more seeks to corrupt men and make them drunk with the wine of her fornication Revel 19. 2. then to commend the bounty of her Maker and Husband who took her vile Garments from her and covered her with the rich robes of his holinesse merit mercy Ah Lord that such thoughts of heart such evill speaking should be in Christians that the gold of the Temple should be thought to prophane the Temple that the Tongue of the Learned which our Lord Jesus saies he received from his Father Isai. 50. 4. should be undervalued in the Members of Christ which are by him set in the Church to gather his Elect that any should be offended with Ministers because great Clerks profound Artists versed in books skilled in Tongues sure none can justly be pettish at these but such to whom Christ Jesus himself is become a stumbling block and rock of offence and his Ordinances much adorned by wel used abilities the savour of death to death I am not of that belief that Christ can be against himself that he who gave gifts to men and those of Arts and Tongues will disown the plant which he himself planteth or say That spot such many men count it is no spot of his people I know that God looks not alwaies upon Eliab's the fairest and highest stature great parts ill used are so far from pleasing him that he by them is provoked to curse them as he did Coniah Write these parts childlesse this wit unprosperous to bring it self to heaven let this ear never be open to hear the voice behind it This is the way walk in it But this is no argument that parts and learning qua such are rejected or that a man is in favour with God because he is letterless and unarted He that refused the blinde and lame and sick for Sacrifice because not fit to be offered to a Governour much lesse to his Highnsse will sure take greater offence at the mindes deformity and say to those that offer strange fire in the Censers of their own presumption Num. 3. 4. Who required these things at your hands Esai 1. 12. It was Ieroboams sin and shame to Consecrate Priests of the lowest of the people nay whosoever pleased to be a Priest was consecrated 1 Kings 13. 33. But the Holy Ghost tells us there was a sad issue followed this his prophanenesse This thing became sin to the house of Ieroboam even to cut it off and to destroy it from off the face of the earth And I pray God it be not an evil from the punishment whereof neither power nor policy shall relieve us that we are no more zealous for this Ordinance of God against those that endeavor wholly to bear it down though it be of divine institution It is not so easie a matter to be a man fitted to the work of the Ministry as people imagine there is much variety many ingredients which ought to go to the making up of this holy compound there are Arts to be gained before we can be fitted to instruct and reprove Philo the Jew notes well We cannot expect issue by virtue unlesse we first gain consent of her Handmaid and the Handmaid of virtue is Art in which we are liberally to be brought up for as grand houses have their through-fares before we come to the rooms of State and great Cities have suburbs before we approach the high streets so are the Liberal Arts to be attained before we can attain virtue for indeed they are the way to vertue and the paths appointed to lead us to those Paradises yea and there are Calls to be obtained and Church-Gifts and Power without which there is no authoritie to preach whatever their abilities may be to teach and instruct in private And I clearly believe no learned man in the world dare so defie his own knowledge and conviction as to arrogate the Office and Honour of Preaching without the Call of the Church and the power of Mission expressed upon him for as the Heathen said Quis est tant â confidentiâ qui Sacerdotem audeat violare I do not deny the modest and perhaps useful exercise of the gifts of God in men nay I professedly approve them so they jussle not out things of higher concernment I would not have Hagar extrude Sarah nor the son of the bond-woman inherit with the son of the free-woman Ishmael must give way to Isaac because he is the son of the Promise I can bear with the humble and modest exercisings of persons godly and knowing so it be in private places on fit daies and in fit manner and draw no disrespect upon Churches Sabbaths Ministers all which by unseasonablenesse and insobrietie of such things may be endangered and provided that mens pride in their abilities do not besot them to a vituperation of what ever bears not their image and superscription It is not mens Elaborate prayers and expoundings that are excepted against holy Exercises are in themselves commendable and to be encouraged Moses will not forbid the Prophesie of Eldad and Medad but wishes that all the Lords people were Prophets and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them Numb 9. 29. The Church of God has no power that I know of to forbid such fire in a sacred breast from flaming out in fruits of honour to God and good to men This onely is to be condemned
wandring Flocks the impoverished Clergie and to mourn for the false doctrine and heresie hardnesse of heart and contempt of Gods Word and Commandments which every day increaseth amongst us that so God may in mercy restore us to our wonted beauty and that promise be fulfilled to us In stead of the Thorn shall come up the Fir tree and in stead of the Brier shall come up the Mirtle tree and it shall be to the Lord for a Name for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off I have now little to do but to apologize for this Apologie Isocrates prepates me to endure Censures and various opinions of men I write for Truth and Learning not for error and ignorance and in Saint Ieroms words Sicuti pedem offendimus sapienti Lectori frivolum esse videatur quod scripsimus culpam in Authorem refert I know the Argument would require a Chrysostome a Tully nay a Bacon's second thoughts yea a combination of Wits to do it to the life but wo is us the antique spirits of Christians and learned men is lost Our fathers have eaten sowr grapes and their childrens teeth are set on edg This once glorious Church of England may say in the Prophets words There is none to guide her of all the sons she hath brought forth neither is there any one that taketh her by the hand of all the sons shee hath brought up Amara prius in nece Martyrum amarior post in conflictu Haereticorum amarissima nunc in moribus domesticorum as Saint Bernard of his time Fear hath so possess'd us that we flye from the shadows of men and desert our Colours as if the Muses were Gibeonited and to stand for them were a ready way to ruine I am not more bound to beleeve times are bad then that men are fondly fearfull Did Athanasius forbear owning Truth because the Arians accused him and had the Emperors ear to suggest their pleasures against him Or did the three children desist from worshipping of God because a decree way past by Nebuchadnezzar to worship the golden Image And why should we pretend fear to displease by using a sober freedom not to cloak malice but own Truth when no law forbids No Governors for ought we know frown upon freedom of this nature where it is not grossely abusive and scandalous If men that rave and rage like him in Lactantius Qui lucem vivis terram mortuis denegabat take liberty to speak and write their opinions though to the scandal of Government and dishonour of our Religion why may not a sober Apologer be permitted who brings with Aspar his burthen to cool the Conflagrations of fiery Wits who love to see all in Confusion and Combustion and think nothing Eloquent or handsom but what is minted in the Bedlam of their Rages My study is to do good by gentleness and to convince men by the soft and gentle musick of Love to see whence they are fallen and to do their first works of order and piety I love that Genius of Marcus Aurelius who was in all things most moderate In deterring men from evil in exhorting them to good in rewarding virtues in forgiving wrongs making men of bad good and of good best As I approve not any Reformation which produces like that Craccvian woman in Wolphius a live Serpent and a dead Infant almost eaten a pieces by it so not any man or way which seems pleasing and pretends fair but carries the embracer into Errors and makes him eccentrick to civility and a stranger to that Church in which he was bred I shall never be wanting to pray for the usefull and united Lamps of Religion and Learning nor fear their Extinction in this Sphere till God give us over to a Reprobate sense to work iniquity with greedinesse and to hate the light because it discovers what darknesse we admire when that of Camerarius the Jesuit shall be true here which he writes after the death of Iames the 5. of Scotland That there was neither Lay nor Clergy-man that durst adventure to own the Catholick Truth Then will I account it a dangerous time and think to do God better service in suffering then in publishing mine opinion when as the Prophet saith The prudent shall keep silence in that time for it is an evil time But while Powers are in any degree moderate while they are as it were engaged by office and Education to stand for Learning it seems rather to be a matter of Honour then Hazard to contest for Learning and confront those whom we may call as he in Minutius did Lucifugam nationem latebrosam And if Antonius Caracalla in behalf of his Tutor Chilo cryed out to those that were destroying him Do not injurize my Tutor There is reason why good men should call upon Powers to see Learning have fair quarter and Religion be not passed away in the crowd of Contentions and he that loves his own ease better then general good may consider what S. Gregory says What saith he will he do at the stake or on the wrack who is afraid to own Truth for fear of evill tongues For mine own self I have this to professe That I had rather fall with Learning then survive it accounting it greater honour as did the Jews to perish with their Temple then to have a fortunate condition accompanied with brutishnesse I hope never to see the Ruine of my Country Navi fractâ multi incolumes evaserunt ex naufragio patriae nemo salvus esse potest therefore pray I for the Church as the Anchor that keeps all together as that which carries us into Gods blessings and preserves us in the warm Sun of his favour and protection if God once pick his darlings from amongst us and bid his Embassadors depart then sad will be the condition of this Nation Gods wrath is not to be opposed by Armys Navies Councels and Senates but it may be averted by humiliations and powerfull invocations of him Moses his hand lifted up makes Israel prevail against Amaleck and procures God to look down with favour on his people Let men dispute what they will and believe as they list I must not approve any thing of dishonour to the Truth Nor would I knowingly and willingly shave off the beards and curtail the garments of the heavenly Ambassadours no not for all the Riâ—…hes of the Indies the withering of Ieroboams hand may be a warning to all that maliciously harm the Ministry I dread nothing more then touching Gods annoynted and doing his Prophets hâ—…m Their tears like Abels blood cry aloud continually successefully Nec vacui gemitus quthus è coelo misericorditer respondetur propter miseriam inopum gemitum pauperum nunc exurgam as S. Bernard sweetly Certainly he that for his Prophets sakes reproved Kings will not let passe unpunished the Reproaches and injuries done