downe about his eares he answered with mildnesse and prayers I pray you brethren do not so n Gen. 19.7 wickedly Yet the dishonours of God he tooke deepely to heart and feared not to declare how much he was vexed with the filthy conuersation of the wicked For that righteous man dwelling among them in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soule from day to day with their vnlawfull o 2. Pet. 2.7.8 deeds He that could contemne all iniuries done to himselfe could not digest any that was done to his God When Moses was personally abused in a high degree not onely by the skumme of the Congregation but by his owne Brother p Num. 12. Sister he was not stirred a whit The holy Ghost notes of him euen at that very time that he was very meeke aboue all the men that were vpon the face of the q Ibid. ver 3. earth Howbeit when God was abused he could then send forth great flames of sire Witnesse his zeale in the matter of the r Exod 32.19 Calfe and after in the businesse of Corah Å¿ Num. 16.15 He that before could neglect his honour to retaine his meeknesse now forgets his meeknesse to shew his zeale for the Lord. Let it not seeme tedious that I adde the example of our Lord himselfe Neuer any suffered so many and such contradictions of t Heb. 12.3 sinners yet at priuate wrongs he was neuer troubled When he was reuiled he reuiled not againe when he suffered he threatened u 1. Pet. 2.23 not Nay not so much as opened his * Isai 53.7 mouth Neuerthelesse when he saw the Temple prophaned Gods worship polluted whereby the honour of God was layd in the dust so great a fire was kindled within him that the flame was readie to wast and eate himselfe x Ioh. 2.17 vp And as zeale is not stirred with the apprehension of iniuries offered no more is it blowne vp by the bellowes of profit expected He that was so zealous that no man was in labours so abundant vnder stripes so much in prisons so frequent in deaths so often in iourneyes so painefull in perils of waters of robbers by his owne Country men by the heathens in the Citie in the wildernesse in the sea among false brethren c. in zeale so much exceeding others that when they were but offended he burned y 2 Cor. 11. not counting his life deare vnto himselfe so that he might finish his course with ioy and the Ministrie which he had receiued of the Lord Iesus to testifie the Gospell of the grace of z Acts 20.24 God he I say that aduentured and endured so much vndertooke none of all this for his priuate aduantage To the Ephesians he appealed that he had coueted none of their siluer or gold or apparell but they well knew his owne hands had ministred to his necessities and to them that were with a Ibid. ver 33.34 him To the Corinthians he protesteth that he sought not his owne profit but the profit of many that they might be b 1. Cor. 10.33 saued And when he was so iealous ouer them with godly c 2. Cor. 11.2 iealousie it was not for feare he should loose their exhibition for he preached vnto them the Gospell of God d Ibid. ver 7. freely He sought not theirs but e 2. Cor. 12.14 them All this did abundantly demonstrate his zeale to ayme at the glorie of God Now then Triall if men can see God dishonoured and their brethren abused yet lie still and be as quiet as Lambes till some personall wrongs arouze and enrage them and then play the Bedlams and Tygers vnder a pretence of zeale this is certainly no fire from heauen nor kindled for God The heate of Simeon and Leui was great for the defiling of Dinah their f Gen 34.7 Sister but because it was not the consideration of sinne against God but the apprehension of an indignitie put vpon themselues it was iustly censured and accursed by their owne father for no better then cruell g Gen. 49.7 wrath though ShecheÌ„ could not be excused If men make zeale a meanes to discharge their gaule against such as are faithfull in the Land and to be as Gun-shot to reuenge their priuate quarrells vpon the Seruants of Christ making a man a transgressor for a word picking quarrells for trifles and taking malitious aduantage from the omission of of some small thing for which they care as little as for the dust of their feet yet to make this for want of a better the cudgell to giue him whom they hate the Bastinado If all this I say or any of this may passe for zeale towards God then bloudy Doeg glad of an opportunity to murther the Priests of the Lord h 1. Sam. 22. and the Butcherly Iewes who persecuted to death the Lord of life may be accounted good Zealots Yea the Diuell himselfe would put in for a roome among Zealots as high as the best of them all So also if men shall make zeale their drudging Asse to bring in gaine to themselues make deuotion the cummin to towle customers to their shops and profession a painted cloth to cozen them with a false light when they haue gotten them thither and in all these pretend zeale and the glory of God they exceedingly gull deceiue themselues This is with Ziba to accuse Mephiheshâ—th to Saul in hope of his estate It is like Iezabels Fast for Naboths Vineyard like Iudas his Sermon for the cramming of his bag like Felix his hearing in hope of money from Paul like Demetrius his practise to keepe vp his trade like the zeale of Iehu to obtaine the kingdome and like the preaching of the Diuell to perswade our Sauiour to swallow his baite 3. 3. Rule zeale makes no difference betweene friends and foes True zeale is as violent against sin in the dearest friend as in the greatest enemy It sets against euery one that setteth against God It takes them for enemies that are enemies to God be they father brothers sisters or any others neuer so i Ambros in Psal 119. zeluÌ„ Dei qui habent omnes sibi inimicos putant qui sunt hostes Dei quamuis patrem fratres sorores c. neare Do not I hate them saith a zealous sparke that hate thee and am not I grieued with those that rise vp against thee I hate them with a perfect hatred I count them mine k Psal 139.21.22 enemies In this case and sense our Sauiour speaketh If any man come to me and hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters yea and his owne life also he cannot be my l Luke 14.26 disciple It was Leui his commendation in reuenge of Gods m Exod. 32.27 28. quarrell to know neither father nor mother brethren nor children so as to pittie or spare when God bad kill n Deut
33.9 them Memorable also is that of good King Asa who for Idolatrie deposed his owne mother Mâ—acha his mother Euen her saith the text he remoued from being Queene because she had made an Idoll o That obscene Idoll Priapus in a groue p 1 Kings 15 13. afterwards he cut downe her Idol and stampt it and burnt it at the brooke q 2 Chron. 15.16 Kidron that the very place of execution might further expresse his heate and hatred against that sinne and disgrace that fact of his mother the more And left any should thinke this a worke of superirrogation let him obserue that iniunction in the case of false r Zach 13.3 Prophecie When any shall prophecie falsly or without commission then his father and mother that begat him shall say vnto him thou shalt not liue for thou speakest lies in the name of the Lord and his father and mother that begate him marke how hee purposely repeates the relation shall thrust him through when he prophecieth No combination so neare must smoother the zeale we ought to expresse against such as offend against God in so high a degree When a man therefore is like a Lion awaked out of sleepe Triall if his enemie do but looke or set a foote awry and seeme in his passion deepely affected with the wrong offered to God and with those hypocriticall Malice-Pits cry away with such a fellow from the earth But on the other side no such taking on when a friend doth as bad or worse by tearing Gods name in his mouth prophaning the Lords day keeping of whores delighting in drunkennesse taking a pride in boasting of his filthinesse c. This is but franticke passion in the one and partiall affection in the other both differing as farre from zeale as kitchin fire from the Celestiall Loue is blind they say It appeares in nothing so much as in this It cannot see any faults in our speciall friends till God finde them out and leade vs vnto them by the markes of his vengeance How many parents and husbands now adayes thinke euery thing done or spoken by wiues or children to be prettie and wittie which they condemne in others as bold and scurrilous and others in them Dauid had cause to rue this in Adoniah and let all doting parents that can be so indulgent to children whiles they are curst enough too much to their seruants remember what bitter fruites both Dauid and Ely reapt of their cockering folly How many are there that can terme that thrift in a friend which they would call couetousnesse in an enemie call that handsomnesse in one they affect which they would condemne for pride in another esteeme that salt and smartnesse of wit in him whom they loue which they would call rayling in him they hate call that but a tricke of youth in their companions which they would make another stand in a white sheete for Let all such be admonished that true zeale ayming at Gods glorie as it loueth goodnesse in an enemie as well as a friend so it hateth vice as much in a friend as in an enemie It affecteth euery one as they affect God It cannot but loue pietie in a professed enemie It cannot but set fire on sin in the bosome of the dearest friend It offers violence to the heart as powder to the bullet that the heart cannot but offer violence to sinne where euer it be found 4. 4. Rule zeale equally set vpon rich poore True zeale opposeth sinne in the rich as well as the poore in great persons as well as in meane Celestiall fire catcheth in the highest turrets rather then in the lowest houels melteth the hardest mettle rather then more yeelding matter zeale telleth them their owne that if they be so diuellishly minded may bee able to do vs a mischiefe as well as it is plaine with such as we are sure can do vs no harme Fire will burne the houses of rich men as well as of beggers Zeale so long as it keepes within those bounds which God hath set downe feares not the proudest Hee that can swell in his passions as big as Behâ—moth who thinketh to drinke vp Å¿ Iob 40.23 Iordan at a draught or that can cast fire out of his mouth towers of smoake at his nostrels enough to darken the heauens as fast as t Iob 41.19 Leuiathan himselfe If greatnesse attempt to ring Cour-feu to zeale at mid-day and to couer it with the ashes of thunder when God would haue it to flame Zeale will not so be kept in but rather flie in their faces that seeke to suppresse it Ieroboams presence shall not hinder the man of God from prophecying against his Idolatrous Alter and of the ruines of those that offered * 1 King 13.2 thereon Let Ahab resolue to chop Eliah into gobbets the Prophet will not be afraid to look him in the face and roundly to tell him that Hee is the troubler of u 1 Kin. 18. Israel Micaiah will not baulke him a whit though he know too well the hatred of the Tyrant and be sure to kisse the iayle for his x 1. Kin. 22. labour The Nobles of Iudah shall not escape Nehemiahs check no more then the rest that trod in the steps of their godlesse example in the breach of the y Neh. 13.17 Sabbath What cared the three children for great Nebuchadnezzers wrath burning 7. times hotter then his seauen-fold hot fierie z Dan. 3. fornace Proud Agag shall speede no better in a Samuels hands then the basest 1. Sam. 15 33. Amalakite The great Iewish Sanedrim shall not go without reproofe of Peter and Iohn The Sanedrim was their great Iudiciarie Councel consisting of 72. persons if they shall forbid them the seruice of b Acts 4.19.20 God And why not Is the great God of heauen and earth whose seruice zeale vndertaketh a respecter of Persons If great men offend must they not know that there is a greater then they who will trample on the necks of Kings that dare trample on his word Are not they worthy of so many deaths ouer and c Greg. Mag. lib. 3. Pastâ— 1 admon 5. Scire etenim praelau debent quia si pâ—ruâ—â—sâ—â—nquam perpetrant tot moâ—tibus digni sunt quot aâ— suâ— ditos â—uoâ— p rditioâ—is eâ—eâ—pla transmitiunt ouer as they giue leud examples to subiects that are more apt to imitate the euils of bad Princes then the vertues of good It is not a more thanklesse then perillous taske to performe but the danger of this is nothing to that of letting it alone To do it may offend men that shall die but to omit it when God calleth vs to it is to run vpon the rocks of his displeasure who is Lord both of vs and them and can cast both into hell Better suffer on earth for doing our dutie then frie in hell for fearing the faces of men Triall If then
our courage go no higher then the beating of curres not daring to looke a Lion in the face If our zeale do loue to runne vpon the ground and dares not fasten vpon the high places of sinne if we set our foote vpon silly wormes that if they turne againe can do vs no hurt but are afraid so much as to touch the hole of the Aspe and to put our hand on the cockatrice den this is as farre from zeale for the glorie of God as cowardise from the noblest valour None so tyrannicall ouer inferiors as the basest Cowards True valour counts nothing so base as medling with such as are not very well able if they list to resist 5. True zeale not beaten downe but more inflamed by difficulties 5 Rule Zeale is inflamed by difficulties It deuoureth the briars and thornes prick they neuer so sharply It kindles in the thickets of the forrest bee they neuer so greene and sappie to quench it It will not onely burne when it hath authoritie to countenance it but blazeth aloft when greatnesse it selfe seekes to bucket it out Wee may see it in Nehemiah counselled by Shemaiah to leaue worke and take Sanctuarie for feare of Sanballet conspiring to surprize and slay him in the night Should such a man as I flee and who is there that being as I am would goe into the Temple to saue his life d Neh. 6.11 I will not go in saith that burning Lampe As fire leapeth from one house to another burning the ayre as it goes so Zeale from one duty to another notwithstanding all oppositions and it causeth a Christian to be among difficulties as a man made of fire walking in stubble Much puddle water may be cast vpon it but fire from heauen not bee so quenched Yea as water causeth the fire in the forge to flame the higher so difficulties increase the feruor of Zeale Paul being disswaded from going to Ierusalem because of the dangers waiting him there grew into a passion which made him more hot on the iourney not without anger at them who out of the heate of their entire affection desired to e Act. 21.13 preserue him in peace Luther feares not his Enimies at Wormes though hee haue timely intelligence of their conspiracy to cut him off The news rather animates then abates his resolution and thither hee will though he were sure to meet with as many Deuils in that place as there are tyles on the houses Yea in very Horses that haue mettle we may discerne most courage to the Battle when the Instruments of Warre sound loudest in the enemies Campe. Let difficulties daunt Fooles that neuer expect them nor know how to breake through them A true zealot hath fire-balles enough to fire the strongest Fort of the Enimy Hee knowes the Kingdome of heauen suffers violence and there is no taking of it but by force Nothing befalls him which he looked not for Seneca's enemies could not faster learne to raile then he to contemne it Will the Christian Zealot then bee to seeke how to keepe off the boyish squibbs of scorne and disgrace Nay if any man will hurt Gods faithfull witnesses that vexe those that dwel on the earth they haue fire enough in their mouthes to deuoure f Reu. 11.5 them Nay Antichrist himselfe with all his forces Armies cannot stand before them for Zeale in them is that g Reu. 20.9 fire if Saint Augustine mistake h De ciuit Dei lib. 20. cap. 12. per totum not that came down from heauen and consumed them all that compassed the Campe of the Saints aboue and the beloued Citie Such Zeale then as goes out by euery drop of water cast on it by a flouting Sanballat or a gybeing Tobiah and by euery glimmering Sun-shine of persecution arising such as make a great blaze when prosperity credit peace and preferment are bellowes to blow it but are so carried about as hay in a whirle-wind with the blast of the Time that they will bee ready to fire that which before they maintained if the wind turne neuer so little about and through feares or hopes will bee of any Religion and temper that the strongest Faction imbraceth resoluing to goe no further then a faire wind weather and a calme tide will carry them and and if any storme arise presently to make to the shore to preuent perill of life and goods Such Zealots I say as these neuer had any coale from the Alter to kindle their Sacrifices they neuer knew what it was to ayme at the Glory of God If they did they would not like sheepes-heads fall a running at the sight of euery dog that offereth to put his nose ouer the hedge They would not bee such cowardly cuâ—res as to runne in at doores so oft as they see one stoope for a stone If their Zeale were true they would make all time seruing-Monkies afraid to play with their fires or to come neere them and the world should soone know that it were better to anger all the Waspes in the Countrey all the Witches in the world all the Deuils in hell then one of these Sparkes by sin against God The right Zealot dreads no weather feares no colors he takes Christs Crosse on his shoulders a fagot in his armes and his life in his hand and so resolues to goe through fire and water prison and sword or any thing else that stands in his way vnto God Reproaches for Christ hee laies vp as his Treasures The greatest difficulties opposing are not so much as vnwelcome to this Herculean Christian Ioshua will not loose Canaan for the Iebusites Towre euen the children of Anak are but i Num. 14.9 bread for his teeth 6. Rule Zeale is most sharp against a mans owne corruptions 6. True Zeale Prosecutes not sinne in any so much as in our selues wee are so well acquainted with our owne corruptions that impartiall Zeale cannot finde so much cause of fury against others as our selues nor will it allow vs that liberty which wee denie k Chrisost hom 18. in Matth. vnto others When Paul was a Saul who but hee against others with neglect of himselfe binding and deliuering into Prisons both men and women for Christ and persecuting this way to the death l Act. 22.4 But when Saul was a Paul then he laies the traine to his owne heart and giues fire cheefly to the Canon planted against himselfe iudging himselfe the greatest of sinners m 1 Tim. 1.15 and the least n Ephes 3.8 of Saints Zeale will make a man tie himselfe to as much or more strictnesse then hee requires of another Paul did not enioyne Timothy to beate downe his body while himselfe drunk wine but allowed Timothy the o 1 Tim. 5.23 wine and tooke the blowes p 1 Cor. 9.27 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Triall himselfe If then we can be like Bedlams at other mens sinnes and defend or suffer the same or as bad
2 15. These things speake and exhort and rebuke with all t Tit. 2.15 authoritie that is saith u Ansel ibid. in Tit id est impâ—riosa authoritate imperij nomine non dominationem potentiae sed authoritatem sua dei vitae Anselme with imperious authoritie not out of a desire of dominering but of necessarie power to presse men to good life And so x De past cur par 2. cap. 6. Gregory If any obstinate sinners should long to haue these Precepts of reprouing and rebuking pulld out of the Bible as Puritanicall As poore y Aristoph de Nub. Strepsiades who would hire a Witch to pull the Moone out of heauen that so the Vsurers moneths might neuer come about for my part let them so he repeale the Statutes who did first enact them But vntill then we that are Gods Ministers are bound to execute all Lawes within Gods Statute Booke If any man do well he need not be afraid we will do no more but praise and comfort him But if ill then feare for we beare not the Spirituall sword in vaine We also are the Ministers of God Reuengers to execute wrath vpon him that doth z Hos 6.5 euill The a 2. Cor. 10.4 5.6 weapons of our warfare are not carnall but mighty through God to the pulling downe of strong holds casting downe imaginations with euery high thing that exalteth it selfe against the knowledge of God and bringing into captiuitie euery thought to the obedience of Christ and hauing in readinesse to reuenge all disobedience Wee must sometimes wound deepe where we loue dearely yea wound them not with the wounds of an enemie because wee loue them although for our loue they become our enemies yea though our enemies should be they of our owne houshold If any should attempt to beate the sword about our eares who beare it because without mercie we hew and wound their sinnes to death we must beare that too rather then smite one blow the lesse So long as wee are in Commission we must endure afflictions if any come doe the worke of Euangelists and make full proofe of the b 2. Tim 4.5 ministerie But yet let all men know when Christs seruants are abused he himselfe accounts himselfe despised also If Saul persecute the Bodie here on earth the Head will crie out in heauen Why persecutest thou c Act. 9. me The foote cannot be pricked but the head complaines And if Kings make it Treason to abuse or hinder Iustices in their place and doing their d 23 Edw. 3 cap. 2. offices The King of heauen will count it more then Pettie-larcenie to abuse his seruants for execution of their place and office which he sets them in Gods Prophets though they be Oliue e Reu. 11.4 trees that haue no corroding qualitie if yet they be his faithfull f Ibid 3. witnesses they shall be thought Tormentors of them that dwell in the g Ibid. ver 10 earth And it is no maruell euen oyle smarts in a â—aw angry wound Therefore the world will neuer be quiet so long as any of that packe remaine but will be making warre vpon them till they haue ouercome and killed them This done they that dwell on the earth will reioyce ouer them and make merrie and send gifts one to another because those Prophets are now gone that did vexe them that dwell on the earth Howbeit the end of that mirth will be bitter griese the shot will come to more then they can pay with ease If any man will hurt the faithfull witnesses fire proceedeth out of their mouthes and deuoureth their h Ibid. ver 5. enemies What fire but that of the i Ier. 23.29 Word This fire wil enter into their soules not as it did into Ieremies bones onely to come forth with greater force againe without doing any hurt within but a fire that doth deuoure them saith the Text. Happily it doth not make such speede although Celestiall as the fire from heauen which lickt vp Ahabs Captaines and their fifties two companies one after another when they came to attach Eliah to carrie him before enraged k 2. Kin. 1. Ahab Or as it did Ananias and l Act. 5. Saphira but most vsually as it did m Act. 8. Symon Magus who at first made some profession of Religion When he discouered himselfe by seeking a Patent to make a Mart of the holy Ghost that so the Diuell might haue the buying and selling of God Almightie then Peter cast a fire-ball at him that entred scorched and quite dried vp all radicall moysture of his seeming graces and set all on fire From that time forth hee began to waste he left off all profession set abroach heresies n Epiphan haeres 20. liued leudly kept a strumpet persecuted good men and because belike he kept the countrey in awe by coniuring sought to be worshipped as a God at Rome other places And at length he receiued the wages of his iniquitâ—e Thus is it with many who abuse the Prophets If any man will hurt them he may feare in this manner to bee o Reu. 11.5 killed Though they may yet liue and laugh sure they will neuer be fat I meane in soule It is a poore comfort that they are aliue The Bucke may stand a while with the arrow in his side and while he is hote not feele it much but yet ere long if he be wounded and well hunted hee will surely fall If there be a fire that hath taken the inside of the house what gets the owner by keeping downe the flame that others may not see it yet These men are no better then walking fire-brands if yet the wood be greene the fire will dry vp the sap at last and then it must burne them vp as well as others They neuer go but with a fire about them they burne though they do not complaine It is a poore choyse to him that must die to choose Saint Anthonies fire rather then gun-powder though this hath more terror that hath longer smart and prooueth more loathsome and kils as surely though not on such a sudden How farre a minister mâ—y go in reprouing If any aske how farre may a Minister go with warrant in publicke reprouing I will not answer much but some thing must bee said to make the worke compleate And because my yeares and parts may rather learne then teach I will take my Rules from graue Antiquitie and shew you what the Fathers and some others speake to this point Publicke sinnes may bee publickly particularized by the names of the sins but not by the name or any personall circumstances of the sinner If it come to handy-gripes with his person this is a fault He is thus onely to be rebuked alone vnlesse Law passed on him do otherwise authorize the reprouer The person of the sinner must be spared in publicke lest being there thus shamed hee become desperate and leaue
nurture and admonition of the g Ephes 6 4. Lord. Seruants must also walke in the same trade and way Both these offending must abide rebuke from him who is aboue them as a father or as a maister because he is a Gouernor equally to both If a brother offending must be reproued a child and a seruant must not think to scape These are not onely vnder the tongue but the hand of correction too Withhold not correction from the child for if thou beatest him with the rod he shall not die Thou shalt beate him with the rod and deliuer his soule from h Prou 23.13 14. hell Nor is this hatred and want of naturall affection but cockering is He that spareth the rod hateth his sonne but he that loueth him chasteneth him i Prou. 13.24 betimes Zeale therefore must set vpon this irkesome office although the father be as vnwilling to it as euer Zippora to circumcise her sonne Foolishnesse is bound in the heart of a k Prou 22.15 child and the rod of correction is the onely Bezoar to driue it out Nor must he be let alone till he bee growne vp or till he will accept it without an out-crie Weeds will easily come vp if they be taken yong but let them grow a while and wee know what followes Therefore as this worke must bee done so it requires hast Chasten thy sonne while there is hope and let not thy soule spare for his l Prou. 19.18 crying The mother also may do this worke although the father hath the charge immediatly giuen him That God bids him do it and not the mother is not to forbid her but to double his diligence If all were left to her she would do too little The father is or should be wiser of the two therefore fittest to take the charge vppon him The mothers tendernesse may bee too much the fathers wisedome must supply that failing And though he may forbeare the execution when the mothers moderation will serue the turne yet when she bestowes too little his dutie is with more seueritie to make it vp Seruants are vnder the yoke as much as children yea more vnlesse they will bee men of * Vnyoked Belial Their stubbornes and leudnesse is not to be endured if it were but for the bad example Children learne more euill from their ill carriage then they will get good from their parents goodnesse Fodder a wand and a burden are for the Asse and bread correction and worke for a m Eccl. 33.24 seruant Not that all need all these but onely euill seruants Let not them thinke this counsell to be onely Apocryphall The sacred Canon will allow a rod for the backes of fooles Nor doth this allow maisters to be tyrants as oft they be Many maisters thinke they may do any thing vnto a seruant but Paul saith no. As maisters looke for seruice and obedience so they must giue loue as well as wages forbearing n Ephes 6.9 that is to say moderating o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 threatnings knowing that they also haue a maister in heauen neither is there respect of persons with him When thy seruant worketh truly entreate him not euill nor the hireling that bestoweth himselfe wholly vpon thee let thy soule loue a good seruant and defraud him not of p Ecclus. 7.20.21 libertie Make him not a slaue but giue him some encouragement if he do not abuse it And euen in his failings he must not be too much lookt after if they be but failings of an honest heart As a maister must not make a seruant his fellow for this is the way to let him at length to become his q Prou. 29.21 sonne that is to wrong his sonne in carrying away that which should be the sonnes inheritance So he must not stand and hearken at euery doore corner to tyrannize ouer a faithfull seruant and to take notice of euery word that is spoken lest he get a curse for his labour Although God hath giuen the maister power to correct the seruant when hee hath made a wilfull fault yet he must know that if hee wrong his seruant God will set it vp in skore and he himselfe will auenge the seruant on his maister for r Col. 3.25 him Men must not fight nor women neither for euery fault of infirmitie when wee take seruants we do not take Angels but men and women as bad our selues and that for the most part is bad enough Do wee looke God should beare with vs for all faults euen of the highest nature and yet thinke that vnder pretence of zeale wee should beare with no faults at all in a seruant I dare boldly say no man hath more sinnes vpon the skore then a dogged maister or curst mistresse They will forgiue nothing if they do they will nose a poore seruant that maketh more faults out of feare then purpose with their mercy a weeke after Now can they looke to speed better at the hands of God Christ ſ Mat. 18.35 I am sure said that his Father hath another purpose Not that I meane to restraine iust seueritie but onely tyrannie and that Gouernours should wisely consider and distinguish betweene fault and fault seruant and seruant I know some seruants make shew of much religion but looke vpon them better and you shall find that this is taken vp to become more saucie to get vnto themselues a greater libertie and to serue as a buckler to beare off all blowes and all reproofes As if Religion brought some priuiledge to seruants not onely to bee indocible for they must be taught nothing crost in nothing but incorrigible for they must not haue a blow or a sharpe word offered to them Such Religion would bee brusht off the coate and some better beaten into the heart in stead of that which onely hung without Such seruants are of all others the worst to be endured and most dangerous in any familie For a while they will bee deuout in a religious house for none else will fit them but giue them libertie and they often put all their Religion into a Babie I did not vrge the former moderation to pleade the cause of such proud selfe-willed hypocrites who haue nothing to boast of but a demure looke and carrying of a Bible being otherwise neither good seruants nor willing to bee better no more then I would teach prophane scoffers and persecuting Ishmaels to call good euill and light darknesse I know there be many gracious and worthy men and maids that bring in more blessings to the familie then all the house besides * Gen. 39.5 Ioseph was diligent in his maisters seruice but his hands were nothing to his heart his labour nothing to his grace for the aduancement of his maisters gaine Such a seruant would be intreated as a t Ecclus 33.31 brother loued aboue gold and praised to the heauens and for nothing so much as for his Religion expressed in his
diligence and humble dutie But some may take aduantage from my former words and make his conclusion larger then my premisses And when they see a seruant zealous in Religion begin to say Here is one of those hypocrites I read of the other day you are so bookish so holy and so pure that I doubt all will prooue starke naught ere long c. To stop their mouthes I must enforme them that Religion is not to blame if hypocrites abuse it The wine is not in fault because the drunkard reeles Therefore beware how you blaspheme religion and religious duties If he that seemes religious will yet be idle false vndutifull and stubborne raile at Ceremonies Bishops and Common Prayer disdaine to be corrected and maintaine his faults that man or woman will neuer haue any true Religion in him till with a cudgell all these counterfeits be beaten off But if he reade and pray fall into good discourses to his fellowes talke of what he reades and heares to edifie himselfe and others And to this deuotion and humble diligence and care to please this man or woman is a precious Iewell What though he sometimes fault was it with his will did he study for it and now it is made doth he mâ—intaine himselfe or it doth he not confesse it doth he not bewaile it doth hee not submit to checkes and blowes if they be giuen doth he not endeauour to do better doth not his former fault make him to double his future diligence Let no man thinke Religion can keepe backe all faults that none shall passe her bay but this she doth those that by force leape through her hands she fetcheth backe againe If thus they do He is a true Israelite in whom there is no guile Blessed that family who doth enioy him Blessed that Master that hath such a Treasure If such a Iacob meet with a hoggish Laban hee hath a hard condition but Laban shall haue a harder if Iacob goe away And though Laban cannot frame his tongue to giue him one good word yet he were better mend his wages then loose his seruant since he cannot but learne by experience that the Lord hath blest him for that Seruants u Gen. 30.27 sake So then if men delight in fighting it must not bee with those that seeke to please although they sometimes faile but those that seeke to sinne although they sometimes please And yet with these Zeale must not bee a Bedlam alwaies Though they prouoke his passion his passion must not fight His wisedome must doe this when that is ouer And execution daies must haue their euenings and their prorogations If thou hast a bad Seruant said a wise man set him to worke that is fit for him if hee be not obedient put on more heauy fetters But be not excessiue towards any and without discretion doe x Ecclus 33.28.29 nothing The Magistrate must put in mercy to his song as well as y Psal 101.2 iudgement and thou much more There is a kind of sowernes in some fathers and maisters which makes them vnable to frame themselues to kindnesse euen when their children and seruants do deserue it Such a soure peece was Laban vnto Iacob such are many now who thinke their frowning browes and lookes as sowre as meale a weeke in leauen should be interpreted their grauity and fatherly authoritie but this the world expounds another way and they must mend their looke or looke for little loue They may be feared because they will enforce it but neuer loued because they loue to feare There is another wind-gaule worse then this and that is Nabals boysterous-furious chiding roaring tone Nabal himselfe may count his loudnesse zeale but none about him are of his opinion Hee may make a shift to charme his tongue abroad because if hee neglect it others would do it for him But aske his seruants how they would describe him and they with readinesse will giue him this description z 1. Sam. 25 17. He is such a sonne of Belial that a man cannot speake to him If we shall doubt his seruants were partiall to themselues and spake in passion what he deserued not yet let the holy Ghost himselfe bee heard to speake and he will giue this censure of him The man was churlish and euill in his a 1. Sam 25.3 doings Therefore euill because churlish Find me a bedlam furious man that is alwaies chiding skoulding finding fault or fighting and proue that man to be no wicked person and hee may well bee called the wonder of his age Neuer tell me thy people are too bad and that with all thy stirre thou canst not make them good this I will beleeue without thy telling and tell thee backe againe if they were good thou wouldst but make them bad He was no foole that said Be not as a Lion in thine house nor franticke among thy b Ecclus 4.30 seruants therefore take his counsell and be assured He that troubleth his owne house shall inherit the c Prou 11 29 wind How can hee looke for more who blowes so strongly euery time hee breathes that with his very breath hee blowes the rest away His rage is such as sets his wife on fire and if she be not moued his rage is much the more Let children and seruants do what they can to tame him by their musicke their best reward from him is but the Fidlers liuerie which hee may claime by d Rogues 39. Elizab. cap. 4 Statute But now me thinkes the Grumbol comes to parle Why what would you haue me do I cannot turne my backe but all is out of order children and seruants are so idle and so false that I cannot trust them with a straw One lies a bed another runneth to the Ale-house a third keepes idle company a fourth spends my estate and shee that should looke to them cares for nothing but to helpe wast my goods to maintaine the rest in all their villanie What should not a man speake Should hee not giue his children due correction Doth not God himselfe require him to vse seueritie when gentle meanes suffice not Why then do you taxe me as if I did amisse And is this so indeed Then search the cause when this is found I will helpe thee to some remedy Do children and seruants thus abuse thee when thou turnest thy backe What then dost thou make from them Hast thou a calling here and will no place hold thee but some Ale-bench Tauerne Bowling-alley Cock-pit or worse then all these And dost thou wonder that others looke not to thy businesse when thou thy selfe so often leauest all Thou wilt runne abroad and spend a moneths reuenue in an afternoone or by occasion of some Vsurers lime-twig set to catch the Gallant bring thy selfe in snares that none but fooles go into and hazard the greatest part of thine estate by thine owne Act and deed at halfe an houres warning And when thou feelest the gin begin to gird