13. 1. Tim. 2. 9. Fifthly Prattling and gadding abroad Pro. 7. 11. Sixthly Scoulding and babling Ecclesiasticus 26. 28. Seuenthly contention and brawling Prou. 21. 19. Eighthly Iealousie Ninthly contempt of her husbands kinsfolkes Duties of Magistrates towards their Subiects First hee must reade in the booke of God continually that hee may learne to feare God and keepe his Lawes Deut. 17. 18. 19. 20. Secondly to maintaine and confirme the true worship of God 1. Tim. 2. 2. Thirdly to roote out Idolatry and false worship to his vttermost power 2. King 18. cap. 23. Fourthly by his wisedome strength and goods to promote the Ministery of the Word Esay 49. 23. Fifthly to do iustice and iudgement which standeth 1 In punishing of euill doers 2 In protecting and rewarding the godly 3 In deliuering the afflicted from his enemies 4 In relieuing and succouring the Orphanes and helpelesse 5 In defending the good cause of the poore 6 In preseruing and maintaining peace 7 In protecting the Church Common-wealth by force of Armes if need require 8 In punishing the breakers of Gods Law without respect of persons 9 In making good lawes for the establishing and preseruing of religion and peace 10 In reforming corrupt members and taking away the causes of corruption as Stewes houses of filthinesse disordered Ale-houses Tauernes c. Iob 29. 30. 1. King 15. 8. 11 In cutting off dead members that will not be reformed The contrary is forbidden Duties of Subiects First inward reuerence and outward obedience Rom. 13. Tit. 3. 1. Secondly submission to their power in vnlawfull commandements but not obedience Actes 4. 19. Dan. 3. 16. 17. Dan. 6. 13. Thirdly payment of their dues willingly and without discontentment Rom. 13. 7. Math. 21. 22. The contrary is forbidden Duties of Ministers to their Parishioners First to Preach the word of God sincerely and that without respect of persons Iam. 2. 1. 3. 4. 5. 1. Tim. 5. 21. 1. King 22. 13. 14. Pro. 28. 21. Rom. 10. 12. 13. Actes 10. 34. 1. Sam. 16. 7. Iob 34. 19. Deut. 10. 17. Secondly to vse all dilligence in Catechizing and Preaching Pro. 27. 23. 1. Pet. 5. 2. Ezech. 33. 2. 3. c. 2. Tim. 4. 2. 1. Tim. 4. 13. Thirdly to teach exhort rebuke with all authoritie as the Embassadors of God Tit. 2. 15. 1. Tim. 1. 20. Tit. 1. 13. Fourthly to set forth the authority and power of God ouer mens consciences not their owne 1. Pet. 4. 11. 1. Pet. 5. 3. 2. Cor. 4. 4. Ezech. 3. 1. 17. Luke 12. 42. 45. Fifthly to bee constant bold and fearelesse in the discharge of their Calling Reu. 2. 3 Ephe. 6. 19. 2. Cor. 5. 6. Ier. 1. 17. 18. Sixthly to beate downe the pride of sinners to raise vp the humble that sorrow for sinne to comfort the afflicted in mind and to beare with the weake Ier. 1. 10. 2. Cor. 10. 4. 5. 6. Heb. 4. 12. Esay 61. 1. 2. 3. Rom. 15. 1. 1. Thess 5. 14. 1. Cor. 9. 22. 1. Cor. 8. 9. 10. 11. Seuenthly to approue themselues to God in the sincere and vnpartiall application of his Word 2. Tim. 2. 15. 1. Cor. 9. 22. Acts 20. 20. 21. 22. 26. 27. Eighthly to giue ensample of Christian conuersation to their Flocke 1. Cor. 11. 1. 2. Thess 11. 9. 1. Tim. 4. 12. 2. Tim. 12. 22. 1. Tim. 3. 2. to 8. Ninthly to pray feruently to make humble confession and to giue hearty thankes to God for himselfe and his people 1. Sam. 7. 8. 9. 1. Tim. 2. 1. 2. 1. Sam. 12. 23. Rom. 1. 9. Epes 1. 16. to 20. chap. 3. 14. to 21. 1. Thess 3. 12. 13. Phil. 1. 9. 10. 11. Coloss 1. 9. to 13 2. Thess 2. 16. 17. 1. Thess 5. 23. Phil. 1. 4. Duties of Parishioners to their Ministers First to maintaine him to their power according to his calling 1. Cor. 9. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 2. Cor. 9. 6. 7. Phil. 4. 10. 16. 18. 2. Cor. 8. 2. 3. 4. 1. Tim. 5. 17. Gal. 6. 6. Luke 8. 3. Actes 4. 34. 35. Gal. 4. 15. Secondly to honour him according to his Calling that is as an Embassadour of God for their good 1. Tim. 5. 17. 1. Cor. 4. 1. Gal. 4. 14. Reu. 2. 1. 1. Tim. 3. 1. Ephes 6. 20. Thirdly to be obedient to them as to their spirituall Captaines and Fathers in Christ Heb. 13. 17. Ecclesiasticus 23. 2. 1. Thess 5. 12. 13. 1. Cor. 16. 16. 2. Cor. â— 9. 2. Cor. 7. 15. 1. Cor. 4. 15. 16. 1. Cor. 3. 2. 2. Ioh. 5. 21. Phil. 10. Gal. 4. 19. 2. King 2. 12. 2. King 13. 14. Math. 2. 6. 1. Thess 1. 6. chap. 2. 11. Fourthly to pray for him Col. 4. 3. 2. Thess 3. â— Ephes 6. 19. 2. Cor. 1. 11. Fifthly to maintaine him against the wrongs of wicked men Rom. 16. 3. 4. 2. Tim. 4. 16. 1. King 18. 4. Vices of Ministers forbidden First to admire mens persons that is to esteeme according to their wisedome riches honour dignity not according to their vertue and feare of God Iud. 16. 1. King 22. Iam. 2. 1. Amos 7. 12. 13. Secondly to make Marchandize of the word of God Amos 3. 11. Esay 56. 11. 2. Pet. 2. 14. Tit. 1. 7. 2. Cor. 2. 17. Rom. 16. 18. Act. 8. 18. 19. Thirdly to flatter men in sin for hope of reward or for feare of ill will Rom. 16. 18. 2. Pet. 2. 18. Lamen 2. 18. Ezech. 22. 25. Esay 23. 31. Ier. 6. 14. Mica 2. 11. 1. King 22. 14. 1. King 18. 18. Actes 1. 18. 9. Actes 7. 51. 52. Fourthly not to labour in the Lords haruest but to liue idlely Esay 56. 10. Fifthly to preach of pride and vaine-glory as the false Apostles did at Corinth which vsed eloquence of speech and mans wisedome to encrease pride and contention but not to edifie Vices of Parishioners First not to giue their Minister sufficient maintenance according to their abilities Gal. 6. 6. Secondly Church-robbery which is to vse deceit fraud and concealement in Tithes paying Mal. 3. 8. 9. 10. 11. Thirdly to despise them for their calling either openly or couertly which is to despise Christ himselfe Math. 10. 22. 40. 2. Tim. 1. 16. Esay 28. 14. 2. Chron. 33. 10. Amos 5. 10. Fourthly to scorne despise ieast at or to neglect their admonitions reproofes and exhortations Math. 7. 6. Prou. 15. 12. Ezech. 33. 30. 31. 32. Esay 5. 19. 1. Thess 4. 8. Math. 5. 22. Actes 2. 13. Ioh. 7. 20. 2. Sam. 6. 16. Act. 26. 24. 25. Gen. 19. 14. Fifthly to deuise and to do euill against them 2. Tim. 4. 14. Ier. 18. 18. Ier. 11. 18. 19. Math. 22. 17. 18. Psal 105. 15. Math. 26. 59. 60. c. Actes 6. 11. Actes 13. 50. 2. Tim. 4. 16. 10. Sixthly to count their labour in the destruction of the Kingdome of sin and sathan and in the building vp of the Kingdome of Grace contention Ier. 15. 10. Duties of Equals First to study to bee quiet
THE TREE OF GOOD AND EVILL OR A Profitable and Familiar Exposition of the Commandements directing vs in the whole course of our life according to the Rule of Gods Word whereby we must bee iudged at the last day By THOMSS GRANGER Preacher of Gods Word DEVT. 30. 19. I call heauen and earth to record this day against you that I haue set before you life and death blessing and cursing therefore chuse life that both thou and thy seed may liue LONDON Printed by N. O. for SAMVEL MAN and are to bee sold at his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at the Signe of the Ball. 1616. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL SIR IOHN LEVENTHORP KNIGHT and to the most wise and vertuous Lady IOANE his wife Grace and Peace from God the Father and our Lord Iesus Christ bee multiplied MANY causes there were Right Worshipfull that moued mee to penne this Exposition on the Commandements but especially these following The first cause was the hindering at least of Satans busie working euen in our reformed Church who as in the times of darknesse hee murthered multitudes of soules through Idolatrous Deuotions and the false imagination of meritorious workes euen so doth hee now in the cleere light of the Gospell slay a great number through a liuelesse faith and outward empty profession Yet in both times hath there been a certaine number whose workes were faithfull and whose faith is fruitfull Therefore to the end that they who through selfe-loue and ignorance of Gods lawes seeme to bee somewhat may see what sinnes they daily commit and what vertues they continually omit that they I say who seeme to themselues beautifull and rich enough may see themselues to bee but wretched miserable poore blind and naked Reu. 3. 17. For their benefite and good I first attempted this short Treatise A second reason was because I saw very many yet so ignorant as that they thinke they can keepe the whole Law grossely and Pharisaically examining themselues by the outward letter of the tenne Words or Commandements euen which notwithstanding they make small conscience continually to breake because God is mercifull so that with them as with carnall Gospellers the commandements are quite growne out of request A third reason like to this was because that many euen on their death-beds doe comfort themselues onely in their owne righteousnesse which standeth in this that they haue alwaies paid euery man his owne That they neuer hurt their neighbour by word or deed That they haue euer carryed a good meaning whatsoeuer they said or did That they haue giuen almes to the poore whereupon some being exhorted by their Minister to repent and to call vpon God for mercy in Iesus Christ haue answered that they knew no sinne they had Others againe being more then wontedly sick haue maruelled that God should so vndeseruedly punish them A fourth reason was because that many not willing to buy a larger Exposition partly for the cost partly for the length thereof as they thinke who are cumbred with Martha about many things might bee induced and allured to buy and reade this short Exposition both for the little price for the plainenesse and for the many proofes and breuitie thereof A fifth reason was that children and yong folkes hauing learned by heart the Principles of Christian Religion might be instructed further in the Law which is the end of vertuous and godly life both that they may vnderstand Sermons the better when they heare that whereof they haue already a fundamentall knowledge which must needes stirre vp in them a desire to heare and know further therein whereof commeth dilligent attention and also that knowing when they do well and when they do ill not onely in deed but in word and thought they may bee brought to make conscience of euery sinne which the ignorant cannot do that their mindes and consciences being possessed with the lawes of God in euery particular in their yong age the head of sinne may be suppressed and kept vnder that they may truely repent of their sinnes which they that know not sinne cannot do and that they may know to what commandement euery vertue and sinne is referred And lastly the reasons why I was bold to offer so small a present to your Worship of whom I haue receiued so many kindnesses and am indeed for sundry respects for euer obliged vnto you are First because I haue alwaies knowne you to be a sincere louer of learning simply for it selfe without by-respects which plainely appeareth in this that you haue not onely beene alwaies a speciall fauorer and Patron of the learned but also separating your selfe from the world as much as your place and calling will permit haue euer deuoted your selfe to all good learning Moreouer the inward and sincere loue and affection in the Lord that I haue alwaies heeretofore at this present and euer shall beare vnto you and your good Lady for these excellent and most amiable vertues wisedome truth vprightnesse kindnesse compassion tender-heartednesse haue enforced mee to shew forth my hid and smothered loue wherein I am able and wherein it could finde passage Therefore I desire your Worships both in one whom coniugall and Christian loue and vnanimity haue made one to accept this little gift which I am bold to cast into the treasury of Gods Church vnder your Worships protection The Lord continue still his fauourable kindnesse goodnesse and mercy towards you in powring downe still his manifold blessings vpon your ancient and honoured Family from generation to generation for euer Botterwike in Holland neere Bosten in Lincoln 1616. Your Worships In all duties to command THOMAS GRANGER To the Reader COurteous Reader the Lord forbad our first Parents to eate of the Tree of Knowledge of good and euill with denunciation of an euerlasting curse vpon their disobedience Againe the same Lord commandeth vs to eate of the Tree of good and euill as a preparatiue to an euerlasting and perfect remedy For as the eating thereof was the beginning of all euill so the eating thereof is the beginning of all good For as the desire of the knowledge of good and euill brought ignorance and death euen so the knowledge of good and euill maketh wise vnto life But heerein wee shew out of what root wee are growne and out of what rocke wee are hewne namely to be alwaies against the Lord. For as our first parents being forbidden to eate of that one Tree did first of all eate of that Tree so wee being commanded to eate of this one Tree of the Garden with promise of blessing had rather eate of any other Tree of the Forrest though the fruits thereof be present death which obseruation of our froward hearts caused the Heathen Poet to say Nitimur in vetitum semper cupimusque negata Englished thus To things forbidden wee chiefly doe aspire And things denyed wee most of all desire Now seeing that the onely good and wise God hath turned this curse into a blessing that both the
Sam 25. Pro. 27. 20. 3 Neglect of holy duties the whole man being taken vp with worldly cares and businesses Ps 4. 6. 4 The couetous man trusteth in his goods as though his life were vpheld by them therefore in the losse of them he is ouerwhelmed with griefe and sorrow and oftentimes maketh away himselfe in despaire Luke 12. 15. 19. 5 A cold affection and dead heart to the word of God Luke 8. 14. 6 They are for the most part priuy mockers or open scorners of zealous Ministers and religious people Luke 16. 14. 7 Their talke is of worldly things alway wherein they can say much but in heauenly things nothing or little and that formally and hystorically Psal 4. 6. 2. Tim. 4. 10. 8 He is like a beare or some vgly beast going through the stréetes hauing all mouthes and eyes of man and beast set against him Hab. 2. 6. 7. 9 He wants the inward peace of conscience Esay 57. 17. 10 He is broken with cares sorrowes feares fretting and chafing falling into diuers temptations and snares of the deuill 1. Tim. 6. 9. 10. 11 He will not let to doe much hurt to gaine himselfe a little 12 He will not loose a peny to gaine his friend a thousand 1. Sam. 25. 13 He is cruell and tyrannous where he can ouermatch otherwise he loues no doubtfull suites 14 He hates prodigall and dissolute persones because he thinkes they hate him and loue him as Lyons do their prey 15 He loues a poore man that is driuen through néed to make vnprofitable bargaines but he cannot abide a beggar Luk. 16. 20. 21. 1. Sam. 25. 10. 11. 16 He is an idolatour for he giues his body and soule with all the members and faculties thereof night and day to wordly goods Ephe. 5. 5. 1. Tim. 6. 17. Coloss 3. 5. Hereof the Apostle warneth all Churches 1. Cor. 6. 9. 10. Gal. 5. 19. 20. 21. Ephes 5. 5. Phil. 3. 10. Coloss 3. 5. 1. Thess 2. 5. 1. Tim. 6. 7. 8. 17. 17 He is base and proud 1. Sam. 25. 10. 18 Hee enuies both others and himselfe Eccles 2. 26. chap. 6. 2. 19 He neuer doth good willingly Eccl. 14. 7. 20 God diuideth him and scattereth him abroad that is his goods to others his body to the graue and that often in the midst of his daies and his soule to hell Ier. 17. 11. 13. Psal 37. 10. Psal 73. 17. 18. Luke 12. 19. 20. III. All fraud in selling to sell the bad for good Amos 8. 4. 6. IIII. To vse deceitfull words in buying by discommending a thing against our knowledge and conscience Pro. 20. 14. V. All deceit in false weights measures colours shadowes lights Deut. 25. 13. 14. 15. 16. Pro. 20. 23. Leut. 35. 36. VI. All secret practises of Ingrossers and Monopolists viz. such as store vp all goods of one kind to sell the same at what rate they list Neh. 5. 7. 8. VII All fraud and vnmercifulnesse in letting house land beasts as by racking rents and ouer-prizing euery thing to raise and increase the hire without compassion on the poore Esay 3. 15. 16. Amos 8. 6. Mica 3. 2. 3. VIII Engrossing of Grounds or Farmes which is to hire them of the owners and to let the same vnmercifully to their neighbours Neh. 5. 7. 8. Amos 8. IX To with hold the sale of corne till the poorer sort bee spent that they may sell the deerer This is the common théenish conspiracy of churles against the poore Amos 8. X. All cunning and secret practises to enhaunce the price of things XI To hire vp all from the poore to make them our seruants and slaues Neh. 5. XII Concealement of lands and abilities that the poore may bee ouerburthened in all manner of charges which our selues might easily beare XIII Wastefull spending and prodigall giuing away of our patrimony or substance without respect in what measure to whom and when Psal 112. 5. XIIII To bee liberall on the purses and goods of other men to keepe countenance and credite to get sauour and to séeme bountifull Ephes 4. 28. XV. Mixt Sessements viz to ioyne a necessary and a voluntary sessement together that the meaner sort may be compelled to pay for the profite and lust of some few A wicked theft lately come in vse XVI All kinds of cousenage and dissimulation in bargaining Pro. 21. 6. XVII To oppresse our neighbour so in bargaining as that he can neither gaine nor saue by vs. XVIII To cause our neighbour to pay for his necessity besides the worth of the thing which is to tread on him that fals whereas we should relieue and help him This is a most biting vsury XIX Not to giue a man the worth of a thing because néed compelleth him to sell it Many secret théeues lie in waite for such preyes The poore must buy deere of and sell cheap to the Churle but the Churle will sell deere to and buy cheap of the poore XX. Lending of mony or any thing else without regard to the estate quality or good of the borrower vpon bond to repay the principall with some aduantage which is properly called vsury Rules for lending 1 That which we may spare we must lend freely to any that néed our helpe for they deserue more at our hands then wee doe at Gods Luke 6. 35. Eccles 11. 1. yet with discretion and iudgement Psal 112. 5. Pro. 17. 8. chap. 20. 16. 2 Wee must lend freely to the poore that which we can hardly spare without respect to their desart Luke 21 4. 3 Wee must lend and giue to the godly and religious beyond our ability in their necessity and that freely 1. King 17. 15. 2. Cor. 8. 3. 4. 4 If lending bée to our owne hinderance and for the furtherance of the borrower wee may require the principall with reasonable aduantage being of equall or better ability XXI To borrow on vsury not for néed so much as from a couetous desire of purchasing and buying vp all commodities XXII To borrow on vsury to conceale our wealth and that others may not borrow of vs. XXIII To borrow at all on vsury Ier. 15. 10. XXIIII Peruerting of iustice in Courts for filthy lucre Deut. 16. 18. Pro. 21. 7. Esay 1. 23. XXV Respect of persons more then of the cause in iudgement Deut. 16. 18. Ex. 23. 6. Esay 1. 23. XXVI To patronize a knowne euill cause for filthy lucre Ex. 23. 8. Esay 1. 23. XXVII Delaies in Courts of Iustice to the impouerishing of our neighbour XXVIII Vnaduised suretiship Pro. 27. 13. Pro. 20. 16. XXIX All secret foule nests of disordered people the liue by idle vaine vnseemely sports and games in play-houses dicing dancing tabling-houses cockpits beare-baiting places such for the most part maintaine this kind of life by vnlawfull meanes Gen. 3. 19. Eph. 4. 28. Pro. 21. 17. XXX To liue by magicall Arts sorcery iugling ignorant profession of Phisicke and Chirurgery for gaine XXXI To become bankrupt that thou maist bee