not to obtaine then not to maintaine Forwardnesse to haue is folly and misery without ability to vphold As Friends so Familâ—es are casier in the purchase then the preseruation Him will I reckon as an Infidell whole laudable care extends not to his owne prouision him worse where it is wanting to his own and those of his houshold Thus is the Troth plight the knot knit betwixt Isaac and Rebekah Both are Marryed â—nâ—e Loued He Comforted Marriage without Loue Gen. 24.67 is vnquieâ—nesseâ— Loue without Comfort is Barrennesse but all thus annexed make Happinesse I would wish mine enemy no heauier bondage then vnder the seauen Withes of Sampson and Dalilah my Neighbour as my selfe no easier freedome then within this threefold Cord of Isaac and Râ—bekah Marriage Lâ—ue and Comfort I will so expect the first as by Gods blessing to communicate the second to participate the last The Monodie OR Soliloquie IT is not good for man to be alone Both World and Church should so want propagation Hee 's either God or Beast that thus is one And not a man whose end and ayme's a Nation My soule takes him for brute and sauage elfe That being borne is borne but for himselfe A Father old once blessed in a Sonne Would not alone ingrosse such happy state But still consults what 's fittest to be done To make both Sonnes and Blisse continuate My Soule though Enuy would alone be blest Yet would not Loue be so without therest As fittest helpe vnto such blissefull life He strait resolues vpon mature decree Vnto his onely Sonne to take a Wife That in more Sonnes he may more happy be My soule if ayming at each state of blisse Thou faile in meanes the end well mayst thou misse The Father takes't as due to make the choyce The Sonne in duty yeelds obeysance to it Thâ—ones verdit stands not saue with th 'others voyce Mutuall consent is requisite to doe it My soule had rather bide her owne diuulsion Then such free act should suffer hard compulsion The neighbouring Daughters noble rich and fayre Are not with inward Graces qualified And so not found fit matches for his Heyre ' Cause these they want themselues are here deny'd My soule such Parents are but rare to finde That value lesse the Body to the Minde But wearied steps are spent to seeke fit Spouse By trusty seruant who his way to blesse Solicites oft with prayers and with vowes The Power diuine which answers with successe My Soule with ease thou Nature mayst imbrace Thy trauell must combine 'twixt thee and Grace Now while he hath scarce breathed from his prayer As heart could wish to haue with speed obtain'd A Damosell yong chast vertuous and fayre At once is seene and knowne and woo'd gain'd My soule ne're knew the man ere could complaine He did beginne in God and end in vaine Ere long blest Groome he meets with chosen Bride Ioyfull espouâ—als knit both hearts and hands Loue is with loue replyd on either side Both comfort haue in such their blissefull bands My soule as longing Spouse fame would be wed Vnto tâ—â— well beloued Christ her Head PRACTIQVE THEORIES OR Votiue Speculations VPON Iohn Baptists Natiuity or Birth Decollation or Beheading By IOHN GAVLE LONDON Printed by Thomas Harper for Robert Allot and are to be sold at his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Blacke Beare 1630. Practique Theories OR Votiue Speculations VPON Iohn Baptists Natiuity or Birth THe same Angell foretold the same Scripture records the same Church celebrates the Birth of Christ and the Baptist Captaine and Souldier Lord and Friend Master and Seruant Sauiour and Fore-runner God will that one Herauld shall in like manner fore-summon and proclaime them both God honours his Saints as himself reseruing his Propertyes he communicates his Priuiledges and vouchsafes them likewise what to him pertaines alone How the shadow is suffered to resemble the substance The Forerunner hath likewise his Forerunner He that bare witnesse witnesse was also borne of him He that was borne for the good of the Church the Church hath thought good to commemorate his Birth Wee may liken the Saints with their Sauiour so we lessen not the Sauiour by his Saints Iohn Baptist was sanctified in his mothers wombe Christ was so and more not sanctifyed there but euen sinlesse altogether The Matrons wombe was hallowed but the Virgins vndefiled her Babe was endowed but hers conceâ—ued by the Holy Ghost Iohn Baptist was borne of a woman old and barren and Christ of a woman free and vntouched He borne beyond natures order but He without natures Act. Iohn was borne of a barren wombe where nature was desperate but Christ of a Virgins wombe where Nature was amazed It is not vsuall for many more to be borne as was the Baptist but not possible for any other to be borne as Christ was Many reioyced at the Birth of the Baptist but Christs Birth was the glad tidings of great ioy vnto all They reioyced at Iohns birth that then were but Christs was the ioy of all both before and after Iohns name was foretold and much of his life and many of his parts but Christs Name and Person and office and all were foretold The Angell that forespaâ—e of Iohn commenced him but adored Christ of whom he forespake It is mans honour that Christ in many things may be compared but that he should not in euery thing be preferred were Gods dishonour We are but a drop of that goodnesse whereof hee is the sea but a sparkle of that Glory whereof he is the fire We may be holy as he is holy but not as holy we may be perfect so as he is perfect but not so perfect It is not for the Sonnes of men to paralell but resemble the Sonne of God I would wish but to be the shadow to this substance the drop to this sea the sparkle to this fire Oh let my soule but haue the likenesse whereof my Sauiour is the perfection The Saints Funerals the Church counts their Natalitials cals their Death-dayes their birth-dayes and not once mentioning the day they were borne in a World commemorates the day they were borne for Heauen Other Saints S. Peter S. Stephen c. We commemorate their death wee celebrate the birth onely of this Saint S. Iohn the Baptist Beside the Baptist no Saint was borne into the Church of Christ therefore the Church celebrates the birth of no Saint beside the Baptist All else were borne of flesh and bloud before they were borne of Water and of the Spirit but he borne of the Spirit before he was borne of flesh and bloud He was made a member of the Church in his mothers wombe the Church then could not chuse but take notice of his birth Our births are soule and to be forgotten hallowed was his Birth and to be remembred We are borne in sinne he was sanctified from the wombe We many of vs both load and shame our Mothers his he
would rather then admit any neglect all Our age I call it and inhospitable wherein euery man is grudging of his owne and enuious of anothers No man is now inuited but to his owne cost none entertained but to his much reproach Mens hearts and harbours are so cold makes Angels keepe at home God is rather refused in a stranger then a stranger receiued for Gods sake O all ye mercilesse men looke whom ye neglect nay despise rather in the Stranger Traueller Poore and Needy You now thrust him from you with rebukes that shall once tell you to your shame Mat. 25.43 I was a a stranger and ye tooke me not in He shall then iustly barre heauen gates against you whose bowels of compassion were so cruelly shut against your Brethren Yet taking a narrow view of these his wished and welcome Guests he not onely beginnes somewhat to perceiue that his men are no worse then Angels but also one of his Angels no lesse then God It was He came now in the shadow that after was to come in the substance of the flesh Abraham now saw him somewhat with a fleshly whom hee wholly saw with a ghostly eye He said it certainely of this day more then others and next to that Day indeed Abraham reioyced to see my day Ioh. 8.56 and saw it and was glad Abraham ranne toward Three he worshipped but one Three he saw and but one hee called his Lord. The high and holy Trinity is here well assimalated but I thinke little intented may hence be intimated but cannot be here presented The good Guests were modest it was therefore Abraham was so earnest Because they were bashfull ought hee to bee obsequious and therefore to bow in the offer lest they might blush in the acceptation That they might not blush to be beholden hee confesses himselfe fauoured Gen. 18.3 If I haue found fauour in thy sight passe not away I pray thee from thy Seruant It is many times a fauour to take as to doe a kindenesse Nor at all times lyes the fauour in the office but interpretation The hospitable thinke them fauoured when they may but fauour and conceit they giue not but receiue For indeed he hath the benefit himselfe that doth it to the deseruing I will confesse my God fauours mee that hee will but daine to accept my duty It is not good to be proud in doing good See what an hearty not haughty inuitation he salutes reuâ—rently and inuitâ—s with humility My Lord passe not away I pray thee from thy seruant To haue done it as they vse in a pride or humour had beene enough to haue made them not onely refuse but distast his kindenesse But if I haue found fauour in thy sight sayes hee as if the whole were but their vouchsafement and as if himselfe did no more but his duty Gen. 18 5. he sayes Therefore are yee come vnto your seruant True patterne is he of hospitality with what expedition reuerence cheerefulnesse doth hee meete salute inuite And yet Free-heart makes hee cold complements the least part of good entertainement How he takes himselfe highly fauoured in the acceptation of his so humbly proffered seruice Wee haue no worth before God but goe all by fauour This is to finde fauour in his sight that our duties are accepted before him It is a great blessing of God where Grace is vouchsafed a daily guest for there is a continuall feast Her entertainement is euery mans grace and fauour was neuer any mans disaduantage or dishonour I will therfore sweep mine house dresse my meate draw my wine spreade my table decke my chamber and accordingly seeke and sue vnto her If I haue found fauour in thy sight passe not away I pray thee from thy seruant How faine and fairely hee would insinuate with them Any wayes to perswade them to take his kindenesse Gen. 18.4.5 Let a little water I pray you be brought and wash your feete and rest your selues vnder the tree And I will bring a morsell of bread that you may comfort your hearts afterward yee shall goe your wayes Trauellers he knew were both hungry and hasty Some refreshment he intimates vnto them is not onely requisite but ready for them he promises them they shall not stay long for a little and since they came but to him by the way hee will not so stay them but that they may goe their way The Angels came purposely to fire Sodome yet all agree to feast with Abraham by the way God is ready at once to fauour the good and plague the bad can together heape iudgements vpon the vngodly and shew mercy vnto his Saints Mercy and iudgement are in his right hand and in his left Lord let my Soules be not the Geates but the Sheepes Seate and Lot The mans modesty offers his Guests a pittance a little water a morsell of bread but his bounty performes it with abundance Cakes and butter and milke and the Calfe tender and good He inuites them onely to a modicum that his guests might not gather by him they should bee chargeable but rather welcome to him A good man will say well and doe better and is one that alwayes intends more good then he vtters Humility instructeth to thinke the worst of what we are and so modesty to speake the least of what wee haue Discretion offers courtesies with the least albeit shee intends them with the most But alas vice is vertues ape Complement the worlds Fashion-monger is growne into fauour Her guise is also to mince out her inuitations to a morsell when she places her Guests to a superfluity of messes Were my seate at her table I know not whether I could rather commend her courtesie or complaine of her curiosity seeing I discerne not whether it be after her owne prodigality or for my welcome The rude and churlish refusall of a well profered courtesie argues plainely either ignorance or immodesty Abraham requests his vnexpected and scarce yet perceiued great strangers no lesse would hee haue done had he found them as yet he thought them meaner to be pleased to wash rest and cate with him for each purpose offering them Water a Tree and Bread And all this not offered ere accepted Gen. 28.5 So doe as thou best said How ready is Gods Spirit to imbrace the good motions of our hearts entertainement He that stands at the doore and knockes ere wee are ready to open will doubtlesse when wee willingly set ope our gates to receiue him not refuse to enter O be thou open thou euerlasting doore of my heart that the King of glory may come in Abraham himselfe was now but a stranger and yet he entertaines strangers Hee that had not an house wherein to lay his owne head affords his Guests a Tree to rest vnder God loues a cheerefull giuer though but according to what he hath The Widdowes Mite he esteemes a Talent And measures what we doe oft times by what wee would as
Act. 22.20 I stood by and consented to his death But By-standers may be accessory to the same fault and offence Nor yet yeelds the man as he sayes but helpes to doe mischiefe For not to forbid sinne is to further it Either was his degree aboue the office of an Executioner or his age was vnder it yet if he may not be a Partner in euill will he be a Witnesse yea and a Witnesse of the witnesses Act. 7.58 The Witnesses layd downe their cloathes at a yong mans feet named Saul No Age is innocent there is an euill peculiar to euery Age. The Childe vaine the Youth riotous the Man euery way iniurious and the Old-man alway couetous According to which common course of Age and Euill who would not haue thought the Young man should haue beene reioycing in his youth When he is now enuying the truth In stead of being vaine in pleasures he is violent in persecution Hâ— is â— monster of sin◠〈…〉 more ill then old A very prodigie of iniquity is it when our sinnes doe forestall our yeares Is there not force enough in a yong manâ— hand to cast a stone at a Martyr there is malice enough in his heart to hold their cloathes that cast them What gaine soeuer they get hereby hee 'le looke they they haue no losse Hee is willing to stand still and keepe their cloathes that they might the rather busie themselues to cast with more frequency and greater violence To haue an hand in all their cruelties so held he all their cloathes Had all hands there stoned Steuen but Sauls yet his heart stoned him with them all Saul so stones Steuen in all their hands as if his owne hands onely were not enough to stone him and does him farre more violence by stirring vp others then if himselfe had stoned him Pilats hands were somewhat cleaner from the bloud of Christ then Sauls of Steuen Hee but yeelded to what he vrged Nay I guesse Saul not much freer from Steuens then Iezabel from Naboths stoning Iustice hath well learned to measure and repay action with intention accordingly Whether hands shall I iudge the cleaner These are actually imbrued Those keepe a loofe off yet either by command counsell consent or concealement are polluted I take consent in anothers euill especially to bee worse then the commission For as much as to commit euill is but to execute it to consent vnto it is to approoue it For thee Steuen thou man of passions and patience a Deacon thou wast the least in order yet art thou of Disciples the first in Passion a Master in Martyrdome though not a Disciple in Degree Hast thou lost thy bloud for him that shed his owne for thee it was recompenced ere rendred Expires the Witnesse vnder a shower of stones so did the Sauiour within a hedge of thornes Not a stone cast at thee deare Saint fals to the ground The coursest flint in thy Crosse is a pretious gemme in thy Crowne Prayedst thou so for thine enemies loe they returne into thine owne bosome Yea and O the effectuall feruent prayer of a faithfull man hence is it that Saul now thy foe becomes afterward Paul thy fellow Seruant That he that was once a Persecutor and against thee on earth is now a partner with thee in heauen His stones but sent thee from earth to heauen thy prayers brought him to an heauen vpon earth Great pitty had it beene the Church should haue wanted his Person or thy Prayers Another would haue now neglected his friends yet prayest thou for thine enemies There is no charity to that of Christians who are taught to loue their enemies to blesse them that curse them to doe good to them that hate them to pray for them that persecute them And of all Christians no charity to that of Martyrs which haue so willingly and chearefully both done and suffered as they haue beene taught Thou breathest milde words for them while they breake hard stones against thee Why prayest thou so for Persecutors but as irkeing their impieties more then thine owne sufferings grieuing rather for their sinnes wounding their owne soules then their stones thy body Rest now patient soule in the Lord from all thy labours Thy momentany bitternesse is eternally seasoned and sweetened vnto thee As thy Name importeth so thy soule inioyeth Martyrdomes most blessed Crowne That I were but worthy to suffer any thing for the Name of the Lord Iesus It shall be my prayer howeuer according to diuine wisedome be the euent Lord let me dye the death of the righteous and with their meed may my last end bee repayed The bloud of Abel cryed for vengeance vpon Caine So had the bloud of Steuen opened as wide a mouth against Saul but that the bloud of Christ spake better things for Saul then the bloud of Steuen Yea and farre vnlike to Abels the very Martyrs bloud cryed not so fast for iustice against them as did his mouth for mercy vpon them Lord Act. 7.60 lay not this sinne to their charge If Steuen amonst the rest had not here prayed for Saul the Church sayes one might haue wanted a Paul Rather then the Church shall want vs Lord let vs not want the prayers of the Church Heare me my God for my Brother heare my Brother for me heare vs one for another heare vs all for Christ Saul was so well fleshed in the gore of Christs Protomartyr that by this time hee is become a mighty hunter before the Lord. The flesh of Stâ—uen yet stickes in this Wolfes teeth Nor is it the dâ—uouring and sharing the life of one silly Lambe can satiate the bloudy appetite of this one greedy Wolfe Nay that hee got a snatch at one sheepe makes him bolder euen to seize vpon the whole Flocke His hands are scarce either dry or cold from the dye of luke-warme bloud and yet it seemes oh sinfull insatiacy the bloud of Steuen doth but water his mouth to a full carouse in the bloud of Saints Why Saul was it not enough for thee to yeeld to destroy a Saint but dost thou also seeke to dissolue a communion of Saints Could neither the consideration of the miracles he did nor the words he spake nor yet the prayers hee made admonish thee how thou didst further meddle with his Fellowes Alas alas no consideration can once forbid an vnconuerted heart from sinning or make it forbeare againe to sinne Sinne if at the first time it may but creepe on to consent the next time such is the vnhappy growth of this ill weede it makes bold to runne on to commission and after that euen to iteration He who erewhiles would scarce seeme to lay hands on a single Saint now stickes not to make hauocke of an whole Church Saul was but potentially agreeing to the death of Steuen but in the hauocke of the Church is personally imployed Of a Spectatour formerly he is now become an Actour and is so much the worse as he acts his