the soule of the diligent shall be made fatt As it is a fearfull thing to commit ones selfe to Gods mercy Lord Lord and yet fit still the while so is it dangerous to commit ones selfe to Gods providence and indeavour nothing I never heard of any mans will but it bequeath'd his soule to God let the living man be carefull to prove his will in his life time by double diligence as by two sure witnesses For certainly as the sluggard hath lost his meate so will he venture his legacie I am now lapping up that which was last said as closse together as I can and let the Child hearken even every one who is a child in understanding Thou must trust God with the blessing he trusts thee with the meanes if thou art not a wise steweard in the one thou dost foolishly expect the other Againe when thou seest thy way walke in it and goe down unto Gods providence by meanes as by stepps and staires so maist thou lay thy selfe downe upon it as upon a bed of Camamile safely Againe dost thou perceive no way art thou in a wildernesse and canst discerne no path in a strait and see'st no meanes yet grope not for them in the darke by any meà nes but reach forth thy hand unto the Lord willingly as Abraham did he obeyed and went out not knowing whither The Lord can lead thee whose property it is to shew his mercy then greatest when nearest to be utterly despaired off to doe the greatest things by contraries To deale with men as he did with Pauls passengers to break the ship on which they bottome themselves yet to bring them to land Thou had questioned the Churches being before Luther in another letter thou art answered but because thou art never likely to see it marke this one thing more which I shall now tell thee touching Gods providence in answer to that rotten question God hath and doth doe great things by Ashur he layes wast and cuts downe not a few But the Lord will never doe a great thing for Ashur What is that The Lord will never make his Arme bare for Ashur he will never shew himselfe in the Mount to Ashur he will never strike off his charet wheels and yet bring him safe to shore when they goe heavily he sinkes like a stone This giving an issue this opening the waters this paving a path in the wildernesse is Abrahams prerogative royall I meane the Churches portion for ever Ancient dayes can speake this the following shall declare it Consider this thou lookest beyond Luther It cleares our eyes too Iacob is small his hands hang downe Iacobs ship is almost broke he will sinke sure No this doeth but unbottome him see him rouling himselfe upon Gods providence and there resting till the Lord make bare his Arme in all the peoples sight so carrying him to the place where he would be as upon the wings of an Eagle Thus Abraham as dying lives by faith whose propertie it is to rest on God most when it sees least to relie on God above meanes against meanes Now but one word to thee Reader before I leave the Churches treasure Gods providence Thou art yet in no strait That is a wonder Doth the fire claspe the house and is thy chamber in safety doth it not smell of the smoke then God is exceeding patient towards thee as appeareth this day yet canst thou not discerne the wind which way it beares the flame If thou thinkst not thou maist be in a strait shortly thou considerest nothing and if thou considerest it thou wilt be never the sooner io it but the further from it In the meane time thou hast heard with thy eares and Iobs messengers have told thee that there is one at this day in a strait and sees no meanes thou maist be sure it is the Church in a wildernesse can discerne no path What doe we man for hir what shall we doe for our selves what We know not what to doe our eyes are onely to thee O Lord then it went well with Iehosophat I have done with this mans casting away his goods and then himselfe upon the Churches treasure We must iudge nothing before the time he that iudgeth is the Lord who will bring to light the hidden things of darknesse 1 Cor. 4. I haue yet more to say unto my child to bring him out of liking with this mans bodily exercise will worship his assumed not commanded services not onely shewes and shaddowes but such as hold the heart contented without the trueth for what can Please the heart better then some things of his owne chusing which shall not be so sharpe I warrant thee but that he may keep upon the lees and detaine his old sent still O my child let but thy heart once go a whoring this way it is strange how it will dote upon these things as a harlot upon hir lovers no cost shall be thought too much rivers of oyle shall goe no travell too long a thousand miles on pilgrimage if you will No paynes too hard no pennance too paienfull the the heart will as easily turne in unto these things as the Israelits were perswaded to returne into Aegypt or Sisera persued by Barak intreated to returne into Iaels tent Alas child any tent will serue the turne for a time to take a little milke in and so to bring it a sleepe when like a wearied child it is willing to rest Or like a persued Sisera it would faine be at quiet A Cloister may serue the turne a Scelb a Crucifix a stripe a pilgrimage a little holy water a diridge an Ave-Marie let the heart but haue a Saint one its litle or a pardon about its neck and what can hurt him O child why dost thou gaze one these things what is this But for thee to make lyes thy refuge and under falshood to seeke to hide thy selfe for what are these Or any of these or ought else of these assumed seruices but like the Harlots wiping hir mouth or Pilats washing his hands Good child fall not a sleep here or if thou hast in these Iaels Tents taken of the milke and it's pleasant unto thee yet for thy soul◠sake keep thy eyes waking For behold a stronger then Barak pursues thee Iudgment will he also lay to the line and righteousnes to the plummet and the haile shall sweep away the refuge of lyes and the water shall overflow these hiding places and thou shalt not stand when the overflowing scourge shall passe over thou wilt be trodden downe by it for the bed is shorter then that a man can stretch himselfe on it and the cover narrower then that he can wrap himselfe in it Good Child sleepe not How willingly would a poore mother keep her child waking when if he sleepe his sleep would proue and iron sleepe he will never wake againe How shall I indure the death of my Sonne O harke unto thy mother child that would faine keep
done Why he was no more able to hurt then a dead dog could bite and therefore art thou O Lord my King and thou also Abner alive at this time and your eyes may behold both the speare and pott that was so nigh thy Masters Pillovv and my Master Saul may heare too and now I hope both my Lord and Abner from this very day will be able to discerne truth and innocency from wickednesse which ever proceedeth from the wicked man and be able to point at it too with the finger saying there it is behold Child Saul doth it he knowes the voice of David and it melts him into teares and see what he saith thou art more righteous then I thou hast rewarded me good when I rewarded thee evill and now my Child rhou hast seene truths guize and hir childrens carriage how meeke how harmlesse Thou maist likewise discerne the Beasts mark and from whence wickednesse doth proceed I know no motive in the world except the secret working of Gods Spirit more prevalent to cause thee to come away unlesse thou hast not a Sauls discerning But because I know thou art blind folded and hast no light but what comes in by chaunes and crevises I will contract what hath been sayd concerning these two Mothers into an Embleme one or two which thou maist perceiue by the least glimmering Then I will turne thee to two places of Scriptures from which thou shalt make thine owne collection The first Emblem shall bee of the holy Mother and a Mother shall be it An Hecuba in travell with a fire brand and forth it comes rushing into the Bush of the Church Or a Iezabell plotting the death of poore Naboth because he will not part with the Vinyard the inheritance of his Fathers She must not keep it for all her painting downe she must be cast like a milstone The Doggs did eate the flesh of Iezabel Take the Embleme of hir eldest sonnes and sonnes shall be it Samsons three hundred foxes running about the field with firebrands at their tailes see what hurt they doe the shockâ— are burnt Or for variety sake look upon the Gadarens heard of swine but not running into the lake though an evill spirit be in them The day of recompence for Sions controversie is not yet yet the enemy is not brought to the valley of Iehosophat to bee iudged there we must looke on them running into the vineyard that must be more wâ—st we leave them rooting there But here is the coÌ„fort Is it wast is Sharon a wildernes now I will up saith the Lord I will give to Israel the opening of the month in the midst of them and they shall know that I am the Lord. Ezech. 29. 21. Take the Embleme of she true Mother and that is made to our hands you heard hir begging of the Childs life Take the Embleme of hir Children David cursed and pelted at by Shimes and praying the while Steven stoning and even then saying Lord lay not this ot their charge We have done with the Emblemes wee turne to the Scriptures the first is 1 Kings 19. 11. There came a great strong wind but the Lord was not in the wind nor in the earth-quake nor in the fire There came a still and soft voice there the Lord was Make thy collection now here are two both would be Mothers both would speake in the evidence of the same spirits which of these comes like a wind renting as it goes like an earth-quake opening graves as it goes like a fire scorching as it goes or in a still and soft voice instructing perswading blessing praying as it goes with whom the soft voice is there the Lord is Answer this unto him who understands thy thoughts long before I have done with that Scripture we find the other 2 Sam. 7. compared with 1 Chron. 22. 8. where is something will hold us from our purpose a little for the Readers sake We find David sitting in his house and in peace yet not confined to his owne particular interest and looking no further one eye is on his house the other on the Arke and he sees no correspondency And yet he that hath Davids observation may observe a greater disproportion betwixt his conveniences the Arks now then was betwixt Davids and the Arkes then he sitts in his house of hewed stone he heares no complaining in the streetes Gods footstepps drop fatnesse towards him there are his conveniences What are the Arkes The enemy hath raised a mighty storme and the Arke hath scarce curtaines to keep it off I know well on the glory there iâ— a defence but I speak of that covering the outward eye may discerne Certainly if the consideration of David be this mans precept the practise of David will be his patterne whose mind was presently on worke how he might build an house for the Arke too Yet Nathan must stay his hand that must not be put to the worke We came purposely hither to enquire the reason of that but I desire the Reader would marke one thing by the way Though it were taken out of the power of Davids hand to build an house for the Arke yet the Lord tells him thou didst well in that it was in thy heart 2 Chro. 6. 8. A mans hand may be kept from the Arke every one cannot visibly worke the securitie of it nor bring it within Cedars Nay though the Arke shake every hand is not worthy to hold it up A man must looke to his warrant specially when he goes about the busines of the Arke But marke this they shall prosper that loue thee We wish you prosperitie in the name of the Lord O it is a gratious thing even when the hand can doe nothing But Mâ—roz with the inhabitants were cursâ— bitterly Iudg 5. 23. And the men of Sâ—câ—oth were taught that iâ— the word by briers and thâ—râ—â—â— Iudg. 8. 16. That was a sore teaching but who can help it They that will not be taught by instruction must be taught by paine 2. Esd 9. 12. It is Apocryphâ— thou maist keep it in thy Bible when it â—out of thy Creed and let it teach thee when thou look'st upon thy house of Ceder I meane thy many many conveniences many positrue many privatiue to haue the Arke in thy heart for this is to remember the Chareâ—â— of Israel and the horse men thereof that is the Church The glory of Israel that is the Gospell The Paules in prison and she Iaseps in affliction for this glorie for thy sake are we killed all the day long now what thou doest for these or any of these they â—â—e so like thou canst not distinguish them thou doest it to Christ and thou shewest mercy to thy owe soule For these will pray that thy mercy may be returned to thee thine in the tempestivitie of time The Lord â—â—ew mercy to Onesiphorus in that day Nor is that all the Lord shew mercy to the whole house of Onesiphorus Now to
extraordinarie occasion Following generations should speake of the one so should they of the other A box of Oyntment of Spikenard very pretious may be powred forth at some times and yet there was no waste A man may poure out a trifle in comparison at another time and yet there may be much wast Circumstances must guide me or else I walke as a foole Againe grant All parted with their possessions what poyson can bee sucked thence therefore they lived in voluntary poverty It followes not For though all parted with their possessions yet All parted not with All. The text cleares it They sold their possessions and parted them as every one had need Certainly they were so wise so to help others that they might not need themselves Look we on the 34. verse of the 4 Chapter Neither was there any among them that lacked I conclude hence that the liberality of the rich supplied the wants of the poore they lacked not And the wants of the poore did not exhaust or sucke drie the liberality of the rich there was no lacke It is a madnes could an heathen say to destroy thy liberality by liliberality Wee may bring the wise mans similitude hither though it may be in a more proper place where it is Drinke the waters of thine owne Cisterne let thy fountaines bee dispersed abroad rivers of waters in the streets let them be onely thine owne and not strangers with thee I pray you take the reddition in my owne meaning Let the streames of thy liberality runne about the streets like the gutters after a sodaine flood of raine it is a hard time Nay rather like a hie tide let them runne into houses too there are many dry soules water them but keep the fountaine within thine owne doores Looke to that let it be thine thine onely Thus Reader for I still speake to two whereof one is my Child so thou must be else I can give thee no instruction I have rubbed over those knotts which lay in my way as strongly as I could And I professe unto thee that it was my chiefest worke to enquire into these Scriptures from which corruption might guild over this voluntary povertie and I find them to be those Scriptures which I have named unto thee and onely them as farre as I could find whereunto Piscator upon Mathew gave me much light so did Calvin the one is large in it the other more briefe both excellent helpes Yet let my teares entreat this thing of thee that thou wouldest read the text diligently comparing scripture with scripture and thou shalt find that scripture answers it selfe then it is soundly answered It is a notable helpe and it is made as common unto thee as the booke of nature neither can be out of thine eye let thy eye carry them to thy heart if through thy neglect both doe not helpe to teach thee to the aggravating thy punishment both will helpe to condemne thee Now goe on with me but consider first whether this voluntary poverty notwithstanding Bellurmines art in guilding be any thing else then splendidum peccatum a poyson guilded over like Apples of Sodome which seeme faire to the eye but if you handle them they moulder to nothing Therefore I conclude against my Sonne yet to informe him that we have no such counsell no such custome nor the Churches of God But because we live in an Iron age wherein we have Naballs churlishly keeping as if they said soules ye may take your rest though the fire be round about which should tell the buyer he should not rejoyce and the seller he should not mourne Because I say wee have such yea prodigalls too who spend that in a day which might serve them and the poore with them a moneth together we will cut a middle way betwixt these two and thou shalt see that they who doe not take for doctrines the precepts of men goe as it were by a threâ—â— neither churlishly keeping all till like a butlers boxe they are broken nor foolishly casting away all that they may seeme some body Call these Iacobs or the Israel of God The Lord say they hath had mercie on us and therefore woe have these and these things lands houses possessions we may call them what we will so we call them not their trensure that makes a main difference for that is cast away their affections are taken off the Moone is under their feet so then they can readily part with them that so farre as they can helpe there be no lacke but yet wisely considering circumstances where when to whom and what they give they are not Solomons fooles they know the way to the Citty he that walkes uprightly walkes safely saith Iob they goe by their warrant for they are stewards And this they have not by any extraordinary way but by ordinarie Is it possible that he who is in trust with much and hath the bowells of mercy too should detaine it for want of his masters order See here mournes the widdow there cries the fatherlesse this backe is naked that belly pinched looke yonder steward there are many families in caves and rockes the sword of the enemie drave them they are not in want and that vvillingly now they will draw forth their soules they must be mercifull as their heavenly father is mercifull much is forgiven they will loue much Have they much They see the waters they cast their bread they give the portion to seven and also to eight The rich woman mindeth hir husband of that man of God who treadeth forth the Corne and perhaps his mouth muzled he shall have his table his stoole his conveniences Have they but little the two mites shall go their extream poverty shall abound unto a rich liberalitie Can a poore man be liberall an heathen said yes the Scripture puts it out of question he can he is The poore widow that thinks there is but one way is fetching some water for the prophet she must bring a morsell of bread as hard as it is she shall not die nor shall hir Child though hir want be greater then that of the Apostles nor shall she begg he that brings into a strait can bring backe againe If thou draw forth thy soule to the hungry c. then shall thy light shine in obscuritie end thy darkenesse as the noone day Isaiah 58. Israell knowes it and as they haue an eye to the precept so have they to the recompence of reward They know there is that scattereth and yet increaseth there is that withholdeth more then is meet but it tendeth to poverty The liberall soule shall bee made fatt and hee that watereth shall be watered againe Proverbs 11. These stewards doe not question their masters sufficiency they will distribute and give to the poore they will be mercifull and they will lend with such sacrifices God is well pleased Then they know there must bee salt they must measure their affaires by judgement as becommeth
the wisedome of the Saints They know that charitie must have an eye within doores all must not goe forth They know full well that he who biddeth them part with their coat gives them leave to keepe one for themselves he that chargeth them to helpe others doth give them that wisedome as not to leave themselves helplesse He that hath given them wherewithall to shew mercy to others gives them that care as that they doe not come to crave mercy from others Since their master hath intrusted them as stewards in his house to give every one their portion they will carefully doe it knowing withall that the same master alloweth them meate and drinke and cloath I meane a Iacobs competency Let the children stand aside a little it may be your Hermit is not one of that number and therefore he dares not keepe his goods we will suppose him but as a servant in the house waiting upon the children yet when the children have done he may sit downe if it please him it is his good masters bargaine and it shall be his shame if when his Master allowes him it he will refuse it or sit downe naked Marke Child that thou maist not admire this voluntary beggery I say the Lord his Master gave that Hermite whom now thou admirest because he hath thrown away his goods a right unto the creatures at least as a servant in the house and hee should have beene well advised not onely how he used them and kept them for there was not all the danger but how he parted with them too there lieth as much I have giuen you the hearâ— of the field saith the Lord Movnt Seir I have given to the children of Esau for a possession let his brother Iacobs posteritie take heed they meddle not with a foote of it what they have they must have for their money If Esau will part with it for nothing or give away all in hope his mercifull brother will relieve him he may but let him looke to it Seest thou then my Child this Hermit call him by what name thou wilt hath he cast away his goods Let him looke to it they were his masters who gave him them to use and he must come to his account Servant what hast thou gained I have cast them away Sir they were combersome I cast them at my heeles so drowning them that they might not drowne me The Holy Father is the better his fire burnes the clearer so iâ— the Holy Mother the one will faint me the other will helpe me with her prayers Give a man this as the Proverbe is and throw him into the middest of the sea he shall not sinke unlesse his owne vvaight presse him downe Hast thou not perceived by what hath beene said that these are lying vvords and that in these sacrifices there is no salt But his goods are sacrificed doth he novv thinke he hath denyed himselfe because he hath denied himselfe these they are gon Why Child his sinnes may be as closse as ever they were his goods were neither his right hand nor his right eye I warrant thee If so they had not beene so easily parted with Alas a little money is easily turned over board when the Philosopher keeps his treasure that vvhich is nearer then his skirt or skin so doth that Hermit too it is a venture else but I judge no mans heart only I vvould have thee to knovv and make use of it too that there is great difference betwixt the emptying of a purse and the emptying of the heart The one will empty whether thou wilt or no the other will not be emptied doe what thou canst The one hath money in it thou maist keepe it if thou wilt at least if thou canst it is not a straw matter the other hath a treasure in it thou must not keep it thy soule lyeth upon it Empty the one this day as the case may be thou canst not fill it to morrow let a man empty the other as well as he may it will fill of itselfe without hands I conclude hence that though the emptying of the purse to ones hands may help to the emptying of the heart yet therefore the worke is not done perhaps in no forwardnesse For the purse may be emptied yet the heart may be full but when the heart is emptied the purse will not be kept full We proceede looke yet better upon this Hermit I will tell thee what thou maist discover by thine eye thou see'st the cell or hole he lies buried in I tell thee he may as well deny himselfe that nay the earth he stands on the ayre he breathes in the light he sees with surely he might as well as that liberty hee might enjoy yea and is bound to improve too or those other necessaries which like a proud servant he would not take when his rich Master offered them But thou my Child fly these things and learne the wisdome of the Saints they eat their bread with ioy and drinke their drinke with a merry heart for God accepteth their work How should they pinch where the Lord hath not pinched how should they scant themselves where the Lord hath not scanted Are then the creatures before thee and me Through our Masterâ— bounty and rich liberality they are so we may eate of the fat and we may drinke the sweet and cloth our selves with the wooll so the use of them is ours our Masters pleasure is so are we but as servants and shall not abide in the house for ever the abuse of them whether in not sanctifying them by the word prayer or not sending portions unto them for whom nothing is provided or in not using our liberty so as we give no occasion to the flesh or in what kind soever is ours and is set upon our score and without repentance shall in the end make for our great convincement I have done these and these things for thee wherefore hast thou despised the commandement of the Lord to doe evill in his sight Here is a convincement indeed let us looke to it if Gods daily renewed mercies lead us not to repentance causing us to renew our obedience they wil in the day of our reckoning make us speechlesse if they be not as loadstones to draw our iron hearts unto God they will prove in the great day of the Lord as a heavy weight to crush us in pieces This deserves our care let us looke to it lest our meate and drinke make us uncleane and our owne cloaths filthy Thus my Child I think thou knowest now how to judge of voluntary beggery It is Bellarmines word the Monks are proud of it I have done with that but not with the beggar He must be examined upon two things first for that he doth not A Beggars life is a lazie life then for what he doth hee committs himselfe to Gods providence But here is a strait I am to examine a man I cannot speake with therfore we cannot take
thee waking that so discovering thy danger thou maist get forth of thy Iaels Tent and take sanctuarie at the rocks the mightie God of this Salvation I tell you child a thousand stripes on thy body cannot deface the print of one sinne that is write with a pen of a Diamond As many knockeâ— one thy breasts will not soften thy hard heart which is as an adamant All your holy water not sprinckled but powrâ—d till the challice be dry will not wash away one sin Is is as the spot of a Leopard or as â—rimson of deepe dyâ— in the wooll in the cloath The Harlots wiping hir mouth will not serue hir nor Pilats washing his hands nor Elishas staffe a man may be at great coast hee may part with rivers of oyle and yet his countenance looke never a whit more chearefull in the day of the Lord. He may kneele till the strong men are wearie yet may the heart continue still stiffe He may go one pilgrimage to this Saint and the other relique yea and bare foote till he pinch his feete and pricke them too yet may he be never the nearer heaven his heart may remaine untouched still nay it is certaine child that nothing is a greater enemy to true mortification then the counterfeits nothing holds a man off more from the power then loue with the forme nothing more prevalent then these Iaels Tents to rocke thy heart in securitie and to keepe it in it's owne hardnesse till a dart strikes through the liver and a naile the temples the Harlot will never cleanse the heart if shee thinkâ— to mae all cleane by wiping her lips Pilat shall stand gulitie of innocent blod for ever because he thinkes he is cleare of it now that he hath washed his hands the blood stickes neerer then so the Prophet will never be sent for if his staffe will serue the turne but when a man lookes one his sinnes as those that put to death the Lord of glory or as that speare which perced his sides and is so pricked at the heart and receives the sentence of death within himself this man now looks upon the true crucifix his sinnes are alway before him What is this man doing now He troubleth not himselfe with empty questions and vaine genealogies wherein thou didst foolishly busie thy selfe some moneths before thou transgressedst the bounds namely whether Peter was at Rome or the Pope be his successor Peter might be at Rome and Rome never the better but much the worse for then another Apostle was there whose doctrine Rome followes not This man hath other worke in hand he goes upon certainties Peter is in heaven there is no question in that How came he thither Peter confessed with his mouth on that the Church was built Peter beleeved with his heart thereby he was tyed unto it as fast as the branch unto the vine Now marke this mans enquirie Can I confesse with my mouth the Lord Iesus Can I beleeve with my heart that God raised him from the dead Rom. 10. 10. Then I shall be saved but soft he is uppon an hard taske this is not a work of a day or two If he get faith he must know how he got it This man is upon this businesse still And what difficulties doth he meet with by the way amongst which this is not the least that Iael stands at the entry of her tent and the Harlott at her doore beckning to this babe in Christ come in to mee come in to mee these be false Christs and there be many of them within and without But he heares a voyce behind him saying walke in the way turne not aside we will suppose this man now troubled and bowed downe greatly I would aske your Priests what would ye do to him will ye put on him all your Saules Armour Alas it is but combersorne hee must march on in that strength wherein David came against Goliah not by might but by my spirit saith the Lord. Zech. 4. Will yee give him some of your balme your holy water your oyle your daubinges you are phisitians of no vallue All his money is spent upon trifles already and yet the bloody issue remaineth Will your Pope now freely give him his pardon since all his money is spent Alas he knowes he shall go forth from thence ashamed and with his hands upon his head the Lord will reiect those confidences Ier. 2. 36. 37. What would this man have I marvaile what seekes he after A ransome sure a pardon And if he get it he must have it without money or money worth the must bee brought to a kind of beggery in himselfe to a kind of nothing What should a sound man do with a Phisitian An whole man with plaister An uncondemned man a pardon He is now emptied indeed of his treasure of one of his greatest enemies himselfe he leaneth unto nothing within him nor to any earthly thing without him Now compare the pennance of your Capucino Franciscan or Dominican who will not part with his hole for as much land as the little bird flyeth over nay he hopes that his contendednesse in so little a place on earth shall procure him a large mantion in heaven I say compare his voluntary religion his humblenesse of mind his not sparing the body all his bodily exercise Coloss 2. 18. 23. with this mans pennance if I may call it so and it will be no more like unto it then the Harlots wipinge the mouth is to the clensiing the heart thâ—n Pilats washing his hands to the purging his conscience I say no more like it then Elishaes staffe is to Elisha himselfe then Solomons needle worke to the little Lilly I meane then art unto nature There is but imitation in the one art is but natures ape there is life in the other all the power in the world cannot produce it And observe it the effects of that mans pennance this mans sorrow are as different the one seeks after trifles and bables such as never pleased any but children and fooles empty things lies and vanities for as the wound is such is the remedy the heart was never touched The other labours after the one thing which is necessary which that he may obtaine he goeth downe by stepps of the flockes into the garden of spices and there he feedes on greene and cleane pasture regarding no more the stepps of Popes and Cardinalls Friars and Monkes then the crawling of a louse or the skipp of a flea he hangs upon the mouth of his beloved and observeth what they say who testify of him he waiteth upon God in his ordinance and he hath long patience nothing shall content him till his mouth be filled as with marrow and fatnes till the Lord hath reached forth his hand of mercy unto him and thereby inabled him to reach back his to the Lord whereby he receiveth blood to justify him and water to sanctify him for the hand of faith doth not only
receive but also purgeth the heart from all dead workes it doth not only take but it doth also worke by love behold now the joy and peace of this man at what ease doth he now lie If we looke upon him we would set up a Tabernacle by him nay certainly we should continue with him for ever He finds his bed large enough for his wearied body to rest upon the plaister great enough to the wound the covering large enough to wrap himselfe in and now heare him what he saith Lord unto me thou wilt ordaine peace for thou hast wrought all my workes Isai 26. 12. Thou hast commanded deliverance for Iacob In thee I will boast all the day long The righteous shall heare of it and shall wait upon thee for this thing For I declare to the world that they who observe lying vanities forsake their own mercies Ionah 2. They shall sinke upon them as a man upon quick-sand The sarrowes of them who offer unto other Gods shall be multiplied their offerings I will not offer nor make mention of their names within my lipps but I will remember thee only and thy name thou art the portion of my inheritance and of my cup thou maintainest my let the liues have fallen to me in pleasant places yea I have a goodly heritage I will blesse thee O Lord who hast given me this counsell for now my heart is glad my glory reioyceth my flesh also shall rest in hope for thou hast not left my soule in Hell thou hast showen me the path of life in thy presence is fulnesse of ioy and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore Thou hast heard in this one the Church speaking I have brought hir in upon another occasion and upon more deliberation clearing hir oft ecclipsed light as farre beyond Luther as the rising of the Sunne is from his fall and thence fetching his race as the Sunne in his strength though many times hid under a cloud And this she proves out of the Scripture where is no other spirit then what speakes in the hearts of hir children first from what the Lord hath done for her and then what she hath teturned to the Lord. Secondly from what her enemies in all ages haue done against her and then what she hath done for them Thirdly from those many deliverances past present though they be slaine all the day long and to come Wherein the Lord hath doth will make bare his Arme. Thou hast only the first here but briefly and in another forme of words as be fits the present but hast thou not discerned what a building this is I would ravish thy thoughts if any shall try to pluck a stone from this building it shall be unto him a burdensome stone If any shall march against it the horse shall be smitt with astonishment and his Rider with madnes If any shall attempt to burne it it shall be unto them as a firy torch in a sheaffe If to devoure it it shall be unto them as a cup of trembling the Lord hath said this Zach. 12. He hath he will he doth make it good Come away come away it is much to be under the shadow of it cast off all those dead works which thou dost eye too much and learne what the Lord requyres at thy hands surely not thowsands of Rames nor ten thousand rivers of oyle nor the sonne of thy body for the sinne of thy soule but to feare the Lord and to serue him in sinceritie and truth Iosh 24. 14. not mentioning the names of other gods nor bowing thy selfe unto them Iosh 23. 6. but to breake off thy sinns by repentanceâ— amd that there be an healing of thine errour to do iustly and to loue mercy and to walke humblie with thy God approuing thy selfe as the child of God not by these assumed services which will not hold weight when righteousnes is put to the scale but as the Saints doe by purenes by knowledge by long sufferings by kindnes by the holy Ghost by loue unfained by the word of truth by the power of God by the armour of righteousnes one the right hand and one the left Oh my bowels doe yearne upon my child my heart is inlarged Thou art not kept straite in me but I am kept straite in thee Thou maiest plainely conclude by what is said see how dearely my mother loues yea and the Lord knoweth too who is truth it selfe that my desire of thy returne hath no lesse loue in it then it hath safetie too for I wish aboue all things that thou maiest prosper as thy soule may prosper Once more if there bee any consolation in Christ if any comfort of loue if any fellowship of the spirit if any bowels of mercy fullfill my ioy and come away And that thou maist make hast for a Mothers affection thinks the shortest time long I will quit thy argument which thou thoughtest so fit for my capacity indeed it was so with another as fit for thine for thou art but a child yet and knowest nothing as thou oughtest to doe And I know it shall fall as right as thine did but then with a different effect Thine did but foile the forme of godlinesse that was amongst us the power was not touched the truth remains the truth still and will be justified of hir children mine shall take away the truth and power you seeme to have and shall tell thee plainely there is none indeed harken while this argument smits your holy Mothet this once I will not smite her the second time for I shall labour to drive the naile to the head fasten hir to the ground with it that she rise not againe and all this in a deare affection to thee that so I may get thee out of her Tent and free my selfe from the feare thy selfe from the danger of having that other nayle in thy Temples Nearken then while the wiles and deceits of this Harlot are discovered unto thee these are playne by what hath ben saide by her name by her practise I shall not paralel this holy mother with hers in the 3 Proverbs it would proue her an Harlot but it would be taken in scorne neither will I tell you how shee hath filled forth the Cup of her fornications that wold prove as much but some would deny it Nor will search into the chamber of hir Imagery I cannot see into that I will take hir owne Argument and if I can by that prove hir to be cruell in commanding the Child to be divided I will by helpe of that Scripture turne it like a weapon against hir and sheath it in hir bowells for that Scripture makes cruelty the inseperable marke of an Harlott and when that is done the holy Mother is killed the Harlot is reserved to a longer day hir punishment sleepeth not The holy Mothers Argument against the Church hath beene drawne from the block fire sword persecution interdiction and the like there is
cruelty I think The Children of the Church have answered this Argument with teares prayers martyrdome there is patience I thinke I have two paths to track they lie neare together the one iâ— dyed with blood the other be dewed with teares both lead us through the streets before Israell and before the Sunne and meet at the stake there is cruelty there is patience We track the holy Mother first we can not misse her which way soever shee goes hir footstepps drop blood Looke upon that little booke of Martyrâ— Heb. 11. What bloody footsteps are there But that you will say was shed by Ethnick Rome It s true But Christian Rome hath justified hir sister For aske the later times they shall teach thee that Christian Rome hath risen up a cruell generation in hir sisters stead so filling up that measure of blood which must be visited upon hir Aske I say and they will tell thee not only what Christian Rome hath done in the Citty of Orange or of that in Roane or that in Deipe but they will tell thee of that horrible massacre in Paris where this mothers instruments went forth like a destroying Angell and within the space of three dayes or little more cruelly murthered above ten thousand and all this after a marriage feast Act. et Mon. 1948. Could here be truth could this be a true Mother A Divell she was for like a beare robbed of hir whelpes she went about seeking whom she might destroy I assure thee she hath killed the Mother upon the Child witneâ— that lamentable Tragedy acted in Garnsey where the infant bursting from the Mothers wombe in the midst of the flame and taken from hir was by instruments sacrificed againe to the flame there to receive its baptisme Acts. Mon. 1764. Cursed be their wrath for it was fierce and their rage for it was cruell into their secret let not my Sonnes soule come nor let thy glory be ioyned with their assemblies for in their wrath they have slaine millions and the instruments of death were in their habitations Wilt thou looke nearer into thine owne Country then see our Marian dayes I know my Childs eyes will stand with teares what prisons empty what racking what tearing what whipping what scourging what burning whar bone fires were made of the bones of the Saints Was this a Mother Certainly that very sword which did not divide the Mother from the Child was a sure meanes to divide the Mother from the Harlot You have heard them pleading in that text let us heare them pleading againe Nor will we put downe theâ—â— names their words shall difference them to the meanest capacity for this name Mother is the sweetest name under the Sunne and as she is such are hir words Oh let the Child live he is stubborne he vvill not worship that which Longs wife hath made and the holy Priest hath consecrated he calls it Bread because it appeares so to the eye not considering how miraculously God can worke nor will hee bend unto that the workman hath made as a devout representation he calls that no better then a block but he shall to the block forit I will bow him or breake him A hard Argument yet let the Child live For he can take God to record upon his soule that he doth not this in a stubbornesse but for pure conscience sake he doth acknowledge an unlimited power in God and it is his crutch his pillar to hold him up when the nations take counsell against the Lord and his annointed ones he knowes God can turne bread into flesh he doth it daily and the commonnesse abates the sense of that power But now in that his eye and tast tells him the Accidents remaine he eates it as true bread with the teeth of his body and yet cheweth the living Bread Christ and his benefitts with the faith of his heart and so doth truly eat the flesh drinke the blood of the sonne of man and yet as benefitts a sacrament spiritually my words saith Christ are spirit and trath Hee doth in that ordinance truly enjoy his welbeloved his welbeloved looking upon him and he upon his welbeloved and yet as through a Lattice And for that representation he knows it is inferiour to the workman he must worship the Lord his God and him only He is a stubborne Child It is not proved but grant he be If that be all yet doe not blow his body up into the ayre he cannot mend in the passage Doe not turne his body into a coal he cannot mend then When once the breath is out all passages are stopt there is no comming in there is no going forth Now speak unto him he can heare you now give him his booke he can read it evidence his stubbornesse to him from a true and infallible testimony which cannot erre Looke to your witnesses when they passe upon life and death for when you haue kindled the flame about his eares you haue defaced that sacred Image stampt upon him which made him little inferiour to the Angels Consider of it a heathen could say demorte hominis nulla est cunctatio longa ye cannot consider too much nor can ye consult too long when in giving up your sentence ye giue away a mans life too You haue heard the pleading and for ought was proved against the child he might have lived to this day but there was an Argument produced from the Stake which he could not answer but by suffering So blood was spilt by whose Law for they said we haue a Law the holy mothers A holy Harlot curssed be her rage for it was feirce like the rage of him who cast the man into the fire into the water we know who it was or like that possessed man who was so feirce that none might passe that way Come a little nearer child yet perhaps thou thou maist discerne thy owne preservation though then in thy cradle hast thou not heard of our fift of November I know thou hast I must now take a little leaue I assure thee I thought that after that very day the name of a Papist would presently haue rotted and that the stinke and stentch of it would have gone over all the earth and surely it did and doth so and it is unsavory in the nostrils of the very heathen and would be so unto all but that these Iaels Tents afford so much sweet milke where with to bring the heart a sleepe in securitie But my child thou doest remember this day doest thou not thou doest why then thou standest amazed at the beastly crueltie of the mother and of her children and at the exceeding loue and super-aboundant mercy words are too scantie at the admirable kindnes of our God Tell me for thou shalt be iudge was not our Land at that time compacted as into a compendious body which was to sit in Parliament as the representation of the whole Land and now had it but one neck had not the whore
thee thou maist to us how am I straightened till thou commest as long as thou art there thou art liable to hir plagues and how great will they be Why thou seest plainly that in hir is found the blood of Prophetts and of Saints and of all that are slaine upon the earth and the â—â—p she hath filled to others must bee filled to hir double how great will hir plagues be Come forth from hir my Child my sweet Child come forth for living there thou must partake of hir sinns and then must thou receive of hir plagues and how canst thou stand in that everlasting burning Thou art now in danger indeed thou art now in hazard and hovv am I straightened the sentence is passed upon the great vvhore the execution hasteneth and though it be deferred it is at the dores for can the soules under the Altar cry aloud and not be heard O come forth of hir vvhy dost thou linger man wilt thou first know that Aegypt is destroyed come avvay even before the day breake come avvay even before the dovv be leavened and if thou vvilt in the other sense before the vvhole lump be sovvred there is no lingring for Gods sake for thy soules sake come avvay vvhy dost thou linger my deare Child consider other sins speak blood cries and here is not Abâ—lls blood alone he vvas but one here iâ— the voice of bloods even all vvhich vvere slaine for the vvord of God and the testimony vvhich they held vvhat a thundering voice is here Certainly the vvidovveâ— cry to the unjust judge that he vvould avenge hir of hir adversaries vvas not so loud and yet see though he lieth still for a while up saith he I vvill arise and aveng this troublesome bavvling vvidovv I love my rest vvell but behold there is no remedy I see she is resolved to vveary me I vvill up that I may be quiet for though I regard neither God nor man yet have I a great respect unto my ovvne rest and I vvill up and right hir Now Child I have done with thee my words haue an end and how loth am I to leave thee or to cease intreating thee how doe my bowells yearne how am I straightened but the Lord hath heard my controversy and who knoweth whether he may not look on the affliction of his Servant and bring thee againe if not I am before him let him do with me what seemeth good in his eyes But yet before I leave thee one thing I begg of thee and since the Sonne will have the old Mother crouch and bend to him why see a Mother will not stand upon hir points she will doe any thing to have hir Son again I do begg one thing of thee and I begg it on my knees it is this that thou wouldest rouse up thy selfe for there is a great matter in hand What is that Why the great God of heaven and earth is at this instant speaking to thee and so slow is man of hearing that it is possible for God to speak once and againe and yet man may not perceive it alas what is mans speaking now Yet since thou hast notice of it for thy souls sake rouse vp thy selfe it is the Lord which brings home the example of the unjust judg unto thee in his owne vvords rouse up thy selfe the Lord speaks unto thee and he that speakes beare the care that thou maist have an hearing care Heare what the uniust Iudge saith shall not God avenge his owne Elect which cry day night unto him though he hear them long I tell you he will avenge them speedily Luk. 18. There remaineth now but a little season untill their fellow servants also their brethren that should be killed as they were shall be fulfilled Revel 6. This the bloudy whore will dispatch as soone as she may she is about it thus she treasureth up wrath against the day of wrath fillith up the measure of hir iudgement which shall be given to hir double O come avvay from hir my deare Child come hastily linger not throvv thy dovv upon thy shoulders theris no time to leaven it and â—â—udge avvay the Lord vvhich can persvvade Iaphet to dvvell in the Tents of Shem and if Loth vvill prolong his time in so imminent a danger cnast in mercy to him cause him to come out of Sodome before the brimestone and the fire shall fall extend thy mercy unto thy servant seeke him out who is gone astray and cause him to returne to thee who art the Shepheard and Bishop of his soule so shall I ever praise thy name who hast given me my Sonne againe in whom I may have comfort here and through thy mercy joy with him hereafter FINIS Prov. 6. 5. Deliver thy selfe as a Bird from the hand of the hunter as a Bird from the hand of the fowler Prover 19. 26. He that destroyeth his father or chaseth away his mother is a lewd and shamefull Child I know Reader you have found many faults sometimes words misplaced sometimes letters most times stopps I wish it better but it would not be for want of dâ—e attendance as the Presse and for that the Copy was part printed part written the Composer was mistaken putting iâ— six lines pag. 136. lin 6. From Hearken to the end of the period which should have beene out A word or two also there is which corruptes the sense Pag. 54. lin 29. read subsistances Pag. 103. lin 6. read understanding Pag. 140 lin 3. read befitts Other literall faults there are many aâ— pag. 118. i for y in a Greek word Pag. 130. t for s in a Latine Sed quid exempta juvat spinis de pluribus una Let mee have thy love and greater faults then these will be covered
built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Iesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe corner stone in whom all the building coupled together groweth to a holy Temple in the Lord Ephes 2. 20. HARLOT Why But all this while you are but upon the sand no true foundation nor infallibilitie of supporting Will you haue a Sonnes soule hazarded upon sand MOTHER Hazard my childs soule Harlot Oh pretious thing O rich Iewell an inestimable treasure it is amidst the thinges of the world like Dauid amonge the people worth ten thousand of them and much more of all the thinges in the world my deare child runne not the hazard of that Hazard a foote thou maist and yet thou wilt not thou hast another a legge thou hast another an hand thou hast an other an arme thou hast an other an eye thou hast an other Here are no pairs loose one and loose all O vnvaluable losse and unrecoverable the redemption thereof must cease for ever What would not a parent now doe to put a childs soule out of hazard Then heare me my Sonne Sonne of my bowels harken Is that soule in danger that is in the Arke made by Gods owne appointment both for the matter and manner directed to him by that morning Starr from which it hath a certaine course Listen my child child of my bowels listen Is that corner-stone a sandy foundation can the waight of men and Angels presse it can the gates of hell remoue it Indeed if that stone fall upon thee or me we are crushed in peices Math. 21. 44. So are wee if we fall upon it heedlesly carelesly presumptuously but come unto it in the whole obedience of thy heart sticke cleaue unto it as Ruth to Naomie be not intreated to leaue it or to depart from it and thou canst not miscary Harken my Sonne Sonne of my bowels harken can the blowing of the winde can the beating of the storme remoue that house which the wise builder hath founded upon a Rocke Thou doest my Sonne beleeue Christs words I know thou doest beleeue them Then harken my Sonne this once Sonne of my bowels harken He that layeth a foundation diggeth deepe certainely so did this wise builder beyond all humane traditions here was no setling Beyond all will-worship a counterfeite ground Beyond all satisfaction of his owne this was not solid Beyond the intercession of Saints and Angells this was not safe Beyond the righteousnesse of his best workes here he would faine stay but it would not hold the waight still he diggs further for the soule that seeketh the Lord is not satisfied untill he find him Where have yee laid my Lord saith Mary let mee finde him or all is nothing Hee digges deeper even as hee that seekes a treasure or as a thirsty man after a spring of water or like those three mighty he will through the whole hoast of the Philistimes but hee will digg through those sandy bottomes and get to the rocke And now upon it he is and by it supported and from it refreshed for behold here is strength to hold him up here are waters living waters to comfort him for this rocke is Christ It is good being here here will he set up his rest here will hee abide for ever If the Rocke faile not he cannot faile blessed is the man that hath this foundation thrice blessed is he that hath this water to drinke he will ever dig it in broken pits Can the raine or haile fall now upon this man as upon a wildernesse to whom that man for so Christ the Rocke is called and observe the number will be as a hiding place from the wind as a refuge from the tempest as rivers of water in a dry place and as the shadow of a great rocke in a wearie land Isa 32. 1 2. Now the raine may fall and the floods come and the winds blow and beate upon this house behold it stands for it is grounded upon a rocke Matth. 7. 25. See a mount Sion now which stands for ever and the blast of the mighty shall be as a storme against the wall Oh my child though my eyes be shutt up yet am I as it were in Balaams rapture who can rell the strength of this man for as the Rocke is such is his strength as the strength of an Vnicorne no poyson shall hurt him no sorcery shall make against him hee hath a refuge from the storme a shaddow from the heat a strength in distresse what can daunt this man now can evill tydings whereof the world is full and are to be expected daily like Iobs messengers No then being well able to judge of the times his heart would be shaken like a leafâ— with the wind but he is no reâ—d whose foundation is myre and durt The Lord iâ— his confidence Proverb 3. 24. He hath laid himselfe downe in peace and taketh his rest his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord Psal 112. Can the judgement when it doth come quaile him No for of all the houres of the day hee was inquisitive with his beloved where he should rest at noone he knew that would be an hot time His beloved told him and ever since he rests assured that the nature of the judgement be it what it will be shall be changed it shall give but a gentle correction a fatherly chastisement a sower sweet meat shall come forth of the eater Iudges 14. 14. What will the King of feares doe What lay him upon his earth sure and there it will keepe him till the graves give up their dead But now it is sense that goes no further The body returnes to its earth the soule to him that gave it The sting of death is sin and the strength of sinne is the law but thankes be to God who hath given us victorie through Iesus Christ So then this mighty King who hath with stood his power will do the very same to this man which the Angell did to Paul Silas and as Pharaoh to Ioseph It will open to him the Prison doores knock off his fetters take off his Prison cloathes Let those feare to whom Christ is not both in life and death advantage This man cannot feare but rejoice rather For though the grave for a time must be his house and the wormes his companions Yet putting death on the one side and immortalitie on the other wormes on the one side and Angells on the other Rottennesse on the one side and Christ Iesus on the other he is bold and loves rather to remove and so for ever to bee with the Lord where he shall toile no more he shall weepe no more he shall sigh no more hee shal hunger no more he shall thirst no more Râ—st is come all teares are wiped away his Sunne shall no more goe downe neither shall the Moone withdraw it selfe for the Lord shall be his everlasting light and the dayes of his mourning shall be ended Isaiah 60. 20. Who can tell
the joyes of this Iacob or number the fourth part of the comforts of this Israell The sure mercies of David are his The word of God his for his instruction The righteousnesse of God his for his justification Gods spirit his for his sanctification Gods power his for his protection Gods glory his for his happinesse All things are his he is Christs and Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3. 23. Let my strength be as this mans strength and my last end shall be like his Oh but why doth Balaam wish and sit still the while Iudge with thy selfe whether such comforts can be drawne with ease This is a worke not an easie one Why is there a price in the hand of a foole and he hath no heart unto it Prov. 17. 16. Digg man digg deepe deeper yet to it againe thou must through all these sandy bottomes Why judge within your selfe whether any thing but onely the rocke the rocke onely can hold a building thus stedfast that the world nay the gates of hell cannot prevaile against it Oh to it againe there must be a low foundation on which so glorious a building must be rooted built and stablished that must stand like mount Sion fast for evermore Then yet deeper and faint not forasmuch as you know your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. Deare Child I as an affectionate Mother to my owne bowells by my sorrowes in thy first birth by those since wherewith I travell with thee till Christ be formed in thee by that solemne vow thou mad'st to God in Baptisme by that strong bond of nature deare name of a Mother I doe desire thee nay she that might command doth beseech thee if there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort in love if any fellowship of the spirit if any bowells of mercies to consider by what hath beene said and the Lord make it profitable whether my requests that thou wouldest returne bee unreasonable or unnaturall whether my reasons for it are any way dangerous or hazardous or rather whether the one be not pious the other safe certaine directing thee unto that Church which is guided by a certaine course it may float it cannot sinke setting thee upon a sure foundation it may shake it cannot fall no more then the corner-stone which cannot be removed Intreating thee to put away those lyes which are in thy right hand all those Idolls which cannot helpe all those sparkes with which you may compasse your selfe and yet lie downe in sorrow Isai 50. 11. perswading thee to put away all those vanities they are too long to name which weighed in the ballance will bee found too light and also to digg to the Rocke which cannot faile Oh my Child consider It is not for any of your good workes that you are condemned yet I know thou wilt consider that there are many circumstances belonging to every action from which the worke ever receives its true estimat Thou may'st heare somewhat more of this anon because thou doest not walke uprightly according to the truth and purity of the Gospell I would drive this naile to the head now consider whether your rocke be as our rocke even our enemies being iudges what will become of their gods their rocke in which they trusted let them rise up and helpe you and be your protection Deut. 31. ver 31. 37. c. But see my child this rocke is hee which I have pointed out unto thee there is none with him onely Christ onely Christ Can here be hazard my Child can here be danger canst thou thirst at the fountaine canst thou sinke upon the rocke In thine owne righteousnesse thou mai'st the intercessions of Saints and Angells may deceive thee Baall may be busied peradventure he may be sleeping Abraham may be ignorant of thee and Israell may not acknowledge thee I say but it may be though the Scripture puts it out of all question for albeit the Saints in heaven doe in generall remember their fellowes whose warfare is not yet accomplished and so performe that never failing act of charity to pray for them as they farre divided on earth doe one for another yet particularly they know not our hearts nor the desires nor sighs nor groanes of our hearts for thou only saith Salomon knowest the hearts of the Children of men 2 Chro. 6. 30. thou only therfor not Abraham not Israel Yet I say but that it may be that thou maist see plainly how at the best here is a venture here â—s a hazard but he that keepeth Israell neither slumbreth nor sleepeth and this is hee which I point out unto thee there can be no hazard here this rocke is a mighty redeemer hee will sustaine thee alone hee must have no helper whom wilt thou joyne vvith him whose name is everlasting I tell thee this for the summ of all there is nothing though never so lovely in thine eyes which can mak thee the righteousnes of God but that which was made sinne for thee Tell me then were any of these things crucified for thee how long shall vaine thoughts which seperate from God lodge within thee returne then my Sonne returne or in case thou doest halt betweene two opinions surely the Lord the jealous God who will not give his honour to another nor suffer Dagon to stand by him will have this controversie against thee and what Saint or Angell shall plead for thee thou hast committed two great evills thou hast forsaken the fountaine of living waters hewed thy selfe out Cisterns broken Cisternes that can hold no water Return then my Sonne returne for why shouldest thou be as a Cake halfe baked neither hott â—or cold almost a Christian Thou must â—â—ke straight steppse and cast off that which kings on so fast lest that which is halting be turned out of the way The Lord calls for thy heart give it him my Sonne and follow him wholly or else thou shalt nevâ—r with Caleb and Ioshuah come into that good Land Oâ— my bowells doe yerne upon my Sonne the Harlot shall rather have him then I will have him divided Come away from hir Son come away SONNE Yee have wolues amongst you who pray not for you but prey upon you Besids the liues of your Ministers and professours are very scandalous you have but the carcasse of the Ministry amongst you and you do not cover it with a seemely cloath Doe not the Ministers some of them like stage players only anâ— barely act talke and practise nothing They will tell you of Christs passion his hunger his thrist so of the Apostles too But which of your Ministers or Laity will follow his Saviour in those his passions Who amongst you doe allow of fastings or watching or voluntary Poverty c. Now looke upon ours their practise will preach you a Sermon they are rather doers then talkers They fast hard pray much suffer continually By this their practise you may knowe their doctrine there is your Sermon Now I