not but blush at the reading of it But the Writings of this precious Man are irrefragable Arguments of my own shall I say or Yorkshires Loss nay of the whole Kingdoms Loss in the Death of so Orthodox a Divine in such sad times But I will no longer detain thee from the perusal of this his last Work Reviewed and Corrected by himself Wishing thee much spiritual Benefit thereby and subscribing my self Thine EDWARD LEIGH To the READER READER THe name of the Reverend and Learned Authour prefixed to this Treatise with those other works of his published by himself in his life-time might save the Labour of any Epistle or Preface thereunto as being sufficient to recommend it unto the Church of God But because Editions of Books are lyable to prejudice and disadvantage in their entertainment it was judged not unnecessary that something of this nature should lead forth this Book into the world which service at the desire of a Friend I have readily undertaken that so I might express that true respect I always had unto the Author in bearing his Book after him And first let me assure thee That these ensuing Sermons on the fifteenth Psalm are the genuine issue of him whose name they bear being by himself prepared for the Press and wholly printed before his death And this those that knew him will believe for the very works sake which is a true resemblance of the Author learned and plain critical and practical There are indeed other Pictures of his for Books may be fitly so termed as his learned Annotations on Genesis and Exodus his Polemical Rejoynder to the Marquess of Worcester But this Piece as I conceive renders him more to the life then any of the rest for he lived this Treatise as well as wrote it In this Age wherein so many are offended it 's possible that some may stumble at the divine Zeal of the Authors matter and Method but let such consider that it was intended for a High-way to the heavenly Jerusalem the Holy Hill If any be weary of its plainness there are difficulties in the Margent to refresh him He that brings me good tydings let him with Ahimaaz Run the way of the plain I shall have them so much the sooner For my own part I look upon this work as a religiously-learned seasonable Call from disputes to duties from libertine wandrings to regular walkings and if there were no more in it then the producing and applying so much Scripture upon the account of Truth and Holiness it were sufficient to recommend it unto a right-spirited Christian who rejoyces in the word as one that findeth great spoyl But there is much more as thou wilt finde in the perusal to which with a blessing I leave thee and remain Thine EDWARD BOWLES York June 22. A brief and true account of the Authour and of his Work IN this Age of so many monstrous Editions of Books he that publisheth an Author ought to be a true friend to Piety faithful and honest to the memory of the Deceased more especially if as good men we consider how Popery and Heresie prophaness and carnal mindedness by many unworthy Obtruders on the Press have crept into the World for the Churches sake these spiritual Aides should be communicated but not against the Church so that it will appear To be excellent Wisdom in Christians that bear a true Zeal to Religion to consider how men have lived as well as how they have writ The learned Author of this ensuing Commentary was descended from honest and Religious Parents born in the Parish of Saint Michaels the Belfrank called Belfrers within the City of York he was baptized the first day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and two his Education was under painful Schoolmasters from whom being accomplisht for the University of Cambridge there he was fellow of Peter-house and took his Degrees and remained there about fifteen years behaving himself so regularly that he purchased honour and respect from the most learned men in his time and when that he was called to any publick exercise he commanded the Emulation if not the Admiration of all his Auditors After some removes as the transactions of our lives are various his preaching of the Word at Cambridge Staffordshire and York for the space of thirty years in the last of which places for his happy settlement it pleased the divine Providence to continue this fruitful Plant of the Lord Jesus a painful pastor in the Church of Saint Martins in the City of York where for many years he discharged his blessed employment from heaven with such Pious Integrity and learned Elocution that his death at this time is bewailed of all good men as the greatest loss that hath for many years befallen that County I must not forget what Doctor Collins spoke prophetically of him in respect of his early proficiency in the Oriental Tongues That if it pleased God to bless him with years he would be an incomparable Ornament to the Nation which hath been verified in his since printed Works his Exposition of the Creed his Electa Thargumica Rabbinica Annotations on Genesis as also on Exodus with other Works of his which at this time are extant both in Latine and English And that the true love he bore to learning and the honour of his Country might not to be forgotten he inlarged himself according to his ability for the publishing of the large Bible in the Languages lately printed It pleased God to bless him with life to finish this Commentary the Sheets whereof he constantly received from the Press and corrected them with his own hands When after ten weeks more violent sickness of a Consumption death seized him he was gathered to his Fathers at six and fifty the Climacterical year as he called it of his Age. He lies buried in the Church of St. Martins where he continued so long in his Ministry That learned and religious Servant of Jesus Christ Mr Edward Bowles preacht his funeral Sermon which was attentively heard and drew tears from most of the Auditors he gave an honourable account of the deceased he took his Text out of the second of Timothy the fourth Chapter the seventh and eighth verses I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not unto me onely but unto them also that love his appearing Amongst other admirable expressions in his Sermon he touched on three things which he desired himself and his Brethren might imitate him in his Sobriety his Industry and the plainness of his preaching for though he had read more Books then many of of us have heard of yet he did not crowd his Sermons so much with Quotations of Authors as not to prefer the blessed Scripture infinitely before them and further alluding to the words of
against his brother in your heart But they refused to hearken and pulled away the shoulder and stopped their ears that they should not heare Yea they made their hearts as an adamant-stone lest they should hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his Spirit by the former Prophets this was the aggravation of their sin therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts c. Zach. 7.10 11 12. 4. Such as have been convinced of the evil which they have unjustly done unto others and confessed it promising to do so no more and yet do it Thus Saul was convinced of his injurious dealing with David he did confesse it and promise that he would desist from it This we finde 1 Sam. 24.16 c. Yet when he saw his opportunity he fell to persecute David as much as ever 1 Sam. 26.1 2. And though again he confessed his fault and promised amendment saying I have sinned returne my son David for I will no more do thee harme c. 1 Sam. 26.21 yet the Scripture intimates that Saul would still have persecuted David but that David fled into another country and so got him out of Sauls reach And it was told Saul That David was fled to Gath and he sought no more for him 1 Sam. 27 4. Because he saw he had no hope to find him otherwise he would have sought him still his heart was still malitiously bent against him 2. Evil is aggravated in respect of the persons to whom it is done As 1. If it be done to parents He that smiteth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death Exod 21.15 And he that curseth his father or his mother shall surely be put to death vers 17. 2. If evil be done to Magistrates When David had Saul at advantage and some perswaded him to lay hold on the opportunity and to free himself from ever being molested by him any more The Lord forbid said he that I should do this thing unto my Master the Lords anointed to stretch forth mine hand against him seeing he is the anointed of the Lord 1 Sam. 24.6 And again when upon the like advantage Abishai desired David to let him smite Saul David would not give way to it saying Destroy him not for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lords anointed and be guiltless 1 Sam. 26.9 Curse not the king no not in thy thought saith Salomon Eccles 10.20 Curse not any but not him especially 3. It is an aggravation of the evil that is done if it be done to Ministers Doe my Prophets no harme saith God Psal 105.15 Do none harme but especially not them Moses before his death blessing the several tribes when he comes to the tribe of Levi he saith thus Blesse Lord his substance and accept the work of his hands smite thorough the loines of them that rise against him and of them that hate him that they rise not again Deut. 33.11 When king Jeroboam being offended with the Prophet that came and spake against the altar that he had set up put forth his hand to lay hold on him the Lord was so offended with him for it that immediately he made his hand to drie up so that he could not pull it in again unto him 1 King 13.4 R. Salomon upon the place observes that God shewed more zeale in revenging the injurie done to the Prophet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 R. Sal. in 1 Reg. 13. 4. then in revenging the injury done immediately to himself For when Jeroboam burnt incense in an idolatrous manner his hand did not drie up but when he offered to doe violence to the Prophet then it dried up So when the people of the Jews mocked the messengers of God and misused his Prophets then the wrath of the Lord arose against them till there was no remedy Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees c. 2 Chron. 36.16 17. c O Jerusalem Jerusalem said our Saviour thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not Behold your house is left unto you desolate Matt. 23. verses 37 38. 4. So when evil is done to Masters Judas ought not to have betrayed any but especially not his Master What a faithful servant was Jacob unto Laban though he had a very hard Master of him Ye know said he to Labans daughters that with all my power I have served your father Gen. 31.6 And pleading with Laban himself These twenty years said he have I beene with thee thy ewes and thy shee-goates have not cast their young and the rams of thy flocke have I not eaten That which was torne of beasts I brought not unto thee I bare the losse of it of mine hand didst thou require it whether stolne by day or stolne by night Thus I was in the dâ—y the drought consumed me and the frost by night and my sleep departed from mine eyes Gen. 31.38 39 40. So the Apostle requires that servants be obedient into their Masters and please them well in all things not answering again Not purloyning but shewing all good fidelity Tit. 2.9 10. 5. The evil also that is done to others is aggravated if it be done to those that are professours of the true religion such as have special relation unto God and in a peculiar manner belong unto him Why do ye not rather take wrong why do ye not rather suffer your selves to be defrauded Nay ye do wrong and defraud and that your brethren 1 Cor. 6.7 8. Though they were Jews or Turks or whatsoever they were yet they were not to be wronged or defrauded much lesse are brethren Christians such as professe the true God and Jesus Christ to be so used How grievous then is their sin who the more any appeare to be religious and godly the more they seek to do them hurt such especially shew themselves to be of their father the devil who is the professed enemy of God Plus possidetur à diabolo qui non solum ipse malus est verum etiam gratis odit servientes Deo Aug. and of those that have any thing of God in them Cain was of the wicked one that is the devil and slew his brother and wherefore slew he him because his own works were evil and his brothers righteous 1 John 3.12 How God is provoked against such as do evil to his people may appeare by his dealing with Amalek for this very cause Because when the Israelites were travelling towards Canaan Amalek came and fought against them God commanded Moses saying Write this for a memorial in a booke and rehearse it in the eares of Joshua for I will utterly put out the name of Amalek from under heaven Exod. 17.8 14. And vers 16. The Lord hath sworne that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to
generation And Moses a little before his death put the people in minde of this Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way when ye were come forth out of Egypt How he met thee by the way and smote the hindmost of thee even all that were feeble behinde thee when thou wast faint and weary and he feared not God Therefore shall it be when the Lord thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possesse it that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven thou shalt not forget it Deut. 25.17 18 19. And though God did long even 400. years deferre to execute vengeance upon the Amalekites yet he did not forget the injury which they did unto his people but when Saul was king he sent Samuel unto him charging him to goe and utterly destroy them for it I remember said he that which Amalek did to Israel though Amalek it is likely had forgotten it yet the Lord did remember it how he laid wait for him in the way when he came up from Egypt Now go and smite Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have and spare them not but slay both man and woman infant and suckling oxe and sheep camel and asse 1 Sam. 15.2 3. And because Saul did not so fully execute this judgment as he should have done but spared Agag the king of the Amalekites and the best of the cattel therefore God would not spare him but cast him off and transferred the kingdom to another 6. If any do evil to those that have done no evil to them this also is an aggravation of the evil and makes the sin the greater Indeed though other have done evil to us yet we ought not therefore to doe evil unto them Say not I will do so to him he hath done to me I will render to the man according to his deeds Pro. 24.29 Recompense no man evil for evil Dearly beloved avenge not your selves but rather give place to wrath for it is written Vengeance is mine I will repay saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger feed him if he thirst give him drink For in so doing thou shalt heap coales of fire on his head Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good Rom. 12.17 19 20 21. Our Saviour would not do evil for evil When he was reviled he reviled not again and when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously 1 Pet. 2.23 So that man after Gods own heart David though Saul did hunt his soul to take it yet he would not avenge himself on him when he had opportunity but said The Lord judge between me and thee and the Lord avenge me on thee but mine hand shall not be upon thee As saith the proverbe of the ancients Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked but mine hand shall not be upon thee 1 Sam. 24.12 13. But a far greater sin it is if we do them evil who have done us none They devise deceitfull matters saith David against them that are quiet in the land such as neither meddle nor make with them as we say Psal 35.20 Wo unto thee that spoilest and thou wast not spoiled and dealest treacherously and they dealt not treacherously with thee Isai 33.1 7. Much worse yet it is if any do evil to those who have done good to them Thus Jonathan pleaded with his father Saul in the behalfe of David when he perceived that Saul intended evil against him Let not the king said he sin against his servant against David Because he hath not sinned against thee and not only so but and because his works have been to theeward very good For he did put his life in his hand and slew the Philistine and the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel thou sawest it and didst rejoyce wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood to slay David without a cause 1 Sam. 19. vers 4 5. This David complaines sore of They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul Psal 35. vers 12. This made Jeremie cry out Shall evil be recompensed for good for they have digged a pit for my soul remember that I stood before thee to speake good for them and to turne away thy wrath from them Jer. 18.20 Thus Christ did aggravate the sin of Judas saying He that eateth bread with me he whom I have so respected so honoured as to make him sit with me at mine own table hath lift up his heele against me Plato called Aristotle a colt which having sucked the damme lifts up the heele and kicks her Aelian histor l. 4. c. 9. John 13.18 8. It is an aggravation of evil when it is done to those that are least able to beare it Thou shalt neither vex a stranger nor oppresse him Exod. 22.21 And vers 22. Ye shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child It is a sin to afflict vex and oppresse any but such especially So Deut. 24.14 Thou shalt not oppresse an hired servant that is poore and needy The Prophet Ezekiel complaining of the people of the Jews The people of the land saith he have used oppression and exercised robbery and have vexed the poore and needy yea they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully Ezek. 22.29 SERM. XII SERM. 12 Psal 15.3 Nor doth evil to his neighbour I Have shewed how the evil that any do to others is agravated 1. In respect of the persons by whom it is done 2. In respect of the persons to whom it is done Now to proceed the evil that is done is also aggravated 3. in respect of the time when it is done None ought to doe evil to others at any time yet it is worse if they do it at some time then if they do it an another When Gehazi had run after Naaman and by forging a lie had gotten gifts of him Elisha aggravated his sin in respect of the time when it was committed Is it a time said he to receive money and to receive garments and olive-yards and vineyards and sheep and oxen and men-servants and maid-servants 2 King 5.26 Surely there was no time for Gehazi or any other to receive gifts in that manner as he did but least of all was it to be done at that time when he did it For now Naaman of a heathenish idolater was newly become a proselyte he was newly converted to the Jewish religion professing that thenceforth he would offer neither burnt-offering nor sacrifice unto other gods but unto the Lord 2 King 5.17 For Gehazi therefore now at this time to defraud and cheat Namaan as he did might have been enough both to alienate Naaman from his newly embraced religion and also to make it odious unto others whom otherwise Naaman and the cure wrought upon him might have been a meanes to convert unto it Thus also the Prophet Esay taxeth some not only
Judges eminent Lawyers and great Conveyancers both ancient and modern whereunto is added a Concordance from K. Rich. 3. to this present 79. Themis Aurea The Daws of the Fraternity of the Rosie Cross in which the occult secrets of their Philosophical Notions are brought to light written by Count Mayerus and now Englished by T.H. 80. The Iron Rod put into the Lord Protectors hands a prophetical Treatise 81. Medicina Magica tamen Physica Magical but natural Physick containing the general cures of infirmities and diseases belonging to the bodies of men as also to other animals and domestick creatures by way of Transplantion with a description of the most excellent Cordial out of Gold by Samuel Boulton of Salop. 82. I. Tradiscan's Rarities published by himself 83. The proceeding of the high Court of Justice against the late King Charles with his Speech upon the Scaffold and other proceedings Jan. 30. 1648. 84. The prefect Cook a right Method in the Art of Cookery whether for Pastery or all other manner of All-a-Mode Kickshaws with the most refined ways of dressing of Flesh Fowl or Fish making of the most poinant Sawces whether after the French or English manner together with fifty five ways of dressing of Eggs by M.M. Admirable Useful Treatises newly Printed 85. The Expert Doctours Dispensatory the whole Art of Physick restored to Practice the Apothecaries Shop and Chyrurgeous Closet opened with a Survey as also a Correction of most Dispensatories now extant with a Judicious Censure of their defects and a supply of what they are deficient in together with a learned account of the virtues and quantities and uses of Simples and Compounds with the Symptomes of Diseases as also prescriptions for their several cures by that renowned P. Morellus Physician to the King of France a work for the order usefulness and plainness of the Method not to be parallel'd by any Dispensatory in what language soever 86. Cabinet of Jewels Mans Misery Gods Mercy Christs Treasury c. In eight Sermons with an Appendix of the nature of Tythes under the Gospel with the expediency of Marriage in publick Assemblies by I. Crag Minister of the Gospel 87. Natures Secrets or the admirable and wonderful History of the generation of Meteors describing the Temperatures of the Elements the hights magnitudes and influences of Stars the causes of Comets Earthquakes Deluges Epidemical Diseases and Prodigies of precedent times with presages of the weather and descriptions of the Weather-glass by T. Wilsford 88. The Mysteries of Love and Eloquence or the Arts of Wooing and Complementing as they are managed in the Sping Garden Hide-Park the new Exchange and other Eminent places A work in which are drawn to the Life the Deportments of the most Accomplisht Persons the Mode of their Courtly Entertainments Treatment of their Ladies at Balls their accustomed Sports Drolls and Fancies the Witchcrafts of their perswasive language in their approaches or other more secret dispatches c. by E.P. 89. Helmont disguised or the vulgar errours of imperical and unskilful practicers of Physick confuted more especially as they concern the cures of Feavers the Stone the Plague and some other diseases by way of Dialogue in which the chief rarities of Physick are admirably discoursed of by I.T. Books in the Press and Ready for Printing 1. THe Scales of Commerce and Trade by T. Wilsford 2. Geometry demonstrated by Lines and Numbers from thence Astronomy Cosmography and Navigation proved and delineated by the Doctrine of Plain and Spherical Triangles by T. Wilsford 3. The English Annals from the Invasion made by Julius Caesar to these times by T. Wilsford 4. The Fool transformed a Comedy 5. The History of Lewis the eleventh King of France a Tragi-Comedy 6. The chaste Woman against her will a Comedy 7. The Tooth-drawer a Comedy 8. Honour in the end a Comedy 9. Tell-Tale a Comedy 10. The History of Don Quixot or the Knight of the illfavoured face a Comedy 11. The fair Spanish Captive a Tragi-Comedy 12. Sir Kenelâ— Digby and other persons of Honour their rare incomparable secrets of Physick Chyrurgery Cookery Preserving Conserving Candying distilling of Waters extraction of Oyls compounding of the costliest Perfumes with other admirable Invehtions and select Experiments as they offered themselves to their Observations whether her or in forreign Countries 13. The Soul 's Cordial in two Treatises the First teaching how to be eased of the guilt of sin Second discovering advantages by Christs ascention by that faithful labour in the Lords Vineyard Mr. Christophe Love late Parson of Laurence Jury the third Volume 14. The Saints Tomb-stone or the Remains of the blessed A plain Narrative of some remarkable passages in the holy Life and happy Death of Mistress Dorothy Shaw wife of Mr. Iohn Shaw Preacher of the Gospel at Kingston on Hull collected by her dearest friends especially for her sorrowful husband and six daughters consolation and imitation 15. The accomplisht Cook the Mystery of the whole Art of Cookery revealed in a more easie and perfect method than hath been publisht in any languge Expert and ready ways for the dressing of flesh fowl and fish the raising of pastes the best directions for all manner of Kickshaws and the most poinant Sauces with the terms of Carving and Sewing the Bills of fare an exact account of all dishes for the season with other Al-a-mode curiosities together with the lively illustrations of such necessary figures as are referred to practise approved by the many years experience and careful industry of Robert May in the time of his attendance on several persons of honour 16. The exquisite letters of Mr. Robert Loveday the late admired Translator of the volumes of the famed Romance Cleopatra for the perpetuating this memory publisht by his dear Brother Mr. A.L. 17. The so long expected work the New World of English words or a general Dictionary containing the Terms Etymologies Definitions and perfect Interpretations of the proper significations of hard English words throughout the Arts and Sciences liberal or Mechanick as also other subjects that are useful or appertain to the language of our Nation to which is added the signification of proper names Mythology and Poetical fictions Historical relations Geographical Descriptions of the Countries and Cities of the World especially of these three Nations wherein their chiefest Antiquities Battles and other most memorable passages are mentioned A work very necessary for strangers as well as our own Country-men for all persons that would rightly understand what they discourse write or read Collected and published by E.P. For the greater honour of those learned Gentlemen and Artists that have been assistant in the most Practical Sciences their names are prefixed before the book 18. The so much desired and deeply learned Commentary on Psalm the fifteenth by that Reverend and Eminent Divine Mr. Christopher Cartwright Minister of the Gospel in York to which is prefixed a brief account of the Authours life and of his work by R. Bolton 19. The way to bliss in three books being a learned Treatise of the Philosophers stone made publick by Elias Ashmole Esquire 20. Wit restored in several Select Poems not formerly publisht by Sr. Iohn Mennis Mr. Smith and others 21. The Judges charge delivered in a Sermon before Mr. Iustice Hale and Mr. Sergeant Crook Judges of the Assize at St. May Overies in Southwark by R. Parre M.A. Pastor of Camerwell in the County of Surry a Sermon worthy of the perusal of all such persons as endeavour to be honest and just Practitioners in the Law 23. The modern Assurancer the Clerks Directory containing the practick part of the Law in the exact Forms and Draughts of all manner of Presidents for Bargains and Sales Grants Feoffements Bonds Bills Condititions Covenants Jointures Indentures to lead the use of Fines and Recoveries with good Provisoes and Covenants to seized Charter parties for Ships Leases Releases Surrenders c. And all other Instruments and Assurances now in use intended for all young Students and Practicers of the Law by Iohn Herne 24. Moors Arithmetick the second Edition much refined and diligently cleared from the former mistakes of the Press A work containing the whole Art of Arithmâ—tick as well in Numbers as Species Together with many Additions by the Authour to come forth at Michaelmas Term. Likewise 25. Exercitatio Elleiptica Nova or a new Mathematical Contemplation on the Oval figure called an Elleipsis together with the two first book of Mydorgius his Conicks Analized and made so plain that the Doctrine of Conical Sections may 〈…〉 understood a work much desired and never before publisht in the English tongue by Jonas Moor Survey or General of the great Level of the Fennes 26. Naps upon Parnassus A sleepy Muse Nipt and Pincht though not awakened such voluntary and Jovial Copies of Verses as were Lately received from some of the Wits of the Universities in a frolick dedicated to Gondiberts Mistress by Capt. Jones and others whereunto is added for demonstration of the Authours Prosaick Excellencies his Epistle to one of the Universities with the Answer together with two Satyrical Characters of his own of a Temporizer and an Antiquary with Marginal Notes by a friend to the Reader Printed by express order form the Wits 27. America Painted to the Life a true History of the Original undertakings of the advancement of Plantations into those parts with a perfect relation of our English Discoveries shewing their Beginning Progess and Continuance from the year 1628 to 1658 declaring the forms of their Government Policies Religions Manners Custumes Military Discipline Wars with the Indians the Commodities of their Countries a description of their Towns and Havens the increase of their trading with the names of their Governors and Magistrates by Ferdinando Gorges Knight For the Readers 〈◊〉 understanding of the Countries they are Lively described in a compleat and exquisite Map 28. The Joyes of Heaven the Saints support in Gods promises on earth Christs Sermons on the Beatitudes An exposition of the fifth Chapter of St. Matthew delivered in several Sermons by Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs the last Sermons he preacht a little before his death at St. Giles Cripple-gate London FINIS
there is unexpressible elegancie by a double paranomasia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Instead of mispach judgement there was mispach oppression and instead of tsedakah righteousness there was tseakah a cry for righteousness but behold a cry Isai 5.7 The Prophet Habakkuk first inveigheth against Nebucadnezzar for his oppression and then foretelleth his doome shewing what wrath and vengeance should come upon him for it Who enlargeth saith he his desire as hell and is as death and cannot be satisfied but gathered unto him all nations and heapeth unto him all people Shall not all these take up a parable against him and a taunting proverbe against him and say Wo to him that increaseth that which is not his how long and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee and awake that shall vex thee and thou shalt be for booties unto them Because thou hast spoiled many nations all the remnant of the people shall spoile thee because of mâ—â—s blood and for the violence of the land of the city and of all that dwell therein Wo to him that coveteth an evill covetousness to his house that he may set his nest on high that he may be delivered from the power of evill Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people and hast sinned against thy soule For the stone shall cry out of the wall and the beame out of the timber shall answer it Hab. 2.5 11. 3. By usury but this if God permit is to be handled hereafter in the following part of the Psalme 4. By fraud and deceit in buying selling and bargaining When Abraham was to buy a place to burie in how careful was he to give the full worth of it If it be your minde said he to the Hittites that I shall bury my dead out of my sight hear me and intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar That he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he hath which is in the end of his field for as much money as it is worth c. Gen. 23.8 9. And when Ephron told him that the land was worth 400. shekels of silver but yet he would freely bestow it upon him Abraham presently weighed as the manner then was to Ephron the money which he had named even 400. shekels of silver currant money with the merchant vers 15 16. Few such buyers or purchasers in these times but rather they will use all the craft and cunning they can to get the purchase or commodity as cheap as may be It is naught it is naught saith the buyer but when he is gone he boasteth Prov. 20.14 Whiles he is about a thing bargaining for it he will vilifie it as if it were little worth but when he hath gotten it then he will boast of the good bargaine that he hath made And usually there is more deceit in the seller then in the buyer Laudat venales qui vult extrudere merces It is ordinary with him to over-praise his commodities that so he may the better over-prize them and get more for them then they are worth Some also sell that for sound and good which is corrupt and naught They sell the refusfe of the wheat Amos 8.6 And some falsifie weights and measures making the Ephah the measure they sell with small and the shekel the weight whereby they receive their money great and falsifying the balances by deceit Amos 8.5 But as Solomon tels us divers weights and divers measures oth of them are alike abomination to the Lord Prov. 20.10 And so also are all they who go beyond and defraud their brother in any matter 1 Thess 4.6 5. By borrowing and not paying again The Apostle bids Render to all their due Rom. 13.7 And vers 8. Owe nothing to any man but to love one another that is such a debt as can never be so paid but it will still be due But all the thought that some take is how to get into debt they take no thought at all how to pay it as if all were their own Ita nunc sunt mores cum quis quid reddit magna habenda est gratia Terâ—nt which they have once borrowed The words of the son of Sirach are sound but over-true Many when a thing is lent them reckon it to be found and put them to trouble that helped them Till he hath received he will kisse a mans hand and for his neighbours monie he will speake submissely but when he should repay he will prolong the time and returne words of grief and complaine of the time If he prevaile he shall receive the half and he will count as if he had found it if not he hath deprived him of his money and he hath gotten him an enemy without cause he payeth him with cursings and railings and for honour he will pay him disgrace Eccles 29.4 5 6. But David tels us who they be that are of this disposition and deale thus with their neighbour The wicked saith he borroweth and payeth â—ot again Psal 37.21 that is hath no care to doe it For otherwise the godly may be in such an exigent as not to be able to repay what they borrowed but yet when they borrow they really intend to repay and afterwards carefully indeavour to doe it and it is their grief if they be disabled that they cannot doe it When one of the young Prophets had borrowed an axe wherewith to cut down wood and as he was felling a beame the axe-head fell into the water he cryed to Elisha saying Alas Master for it was borrowed 2 King 6.5 So much was he troubled lest he should not restore that which he had borrowed and rather then that should happen the Prophet Elisha miraculously made the iron to swim above the water vers 6. So the same Prophet having in a miraculous manner multiplied the poore widowes oil bade her first goe and pay her debt and then maintayn herself and her children with the rest 1 Kin. 4 7. Such as have no care to repay what they borrowed are injurious not only to those of whom they did borrow but also to others who have need to borrow For as the son of Sirach also well observes many therefore have refused to lend for other mens ill dealing fearing to be defrauded Eccles 29.7 6. By begging when there is no just cause for it As when they pretend want that have none There is that maketh himself poor yet hath great riches Pro. 13.7 So when they live by begging who are able to take pains and work for their living When we were with you saith Paul to the Thessalonians this we commanded you that if any would not work neither should he eat For we hear that there are some among you that walk disorderly not working at all but are busy-bodies Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ that with quietness they work and eat their own
bread 2 Thess 3.10 11 12. They that doe not work when they are able to maintayn themselves but live on the labour of others as many young lusty beggers doe they do not eat their own bread they get that which they eat unjustly they have no true right to it Such wrong not only those of whom they receive relief but also those that are poore indeed and either are not able to work or have so great a charge that they are not able to maintayn it by their work that which is due unto such as these the other intercept Honour widowes that are widowes indeed saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 5.3 So relieve the poore that are poor indeed If any man or woman saith he that beleeveth have widowes let them relieve them and let not the Church be charged that it may relieve them that are widowes indeed vers 16. Such as are either able to maintayn themselves or have friends able to maintayn them ought not to be chargeable unto others 7. By gaming as carding dicing and the like Though I doe not hold all gaming not such as wherein a lot is used simply unlawful yee it is not lawful for any to venture more that way then they may lose without prejudice to themselves and those that are to be maintained by them For if any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own family he hath denied the faith and is worse then an infidel 1 Tim. 5.8 Consequently therefore it must needs be unlawful for any to get mens goods from them by such meanes 8. By causing any to spend and wast their estate by drinking rioting c. As they who draw others to tavernes and alehouses and they who keepe tavernes and alehouses and allure their ghests to exceed the bounds of temperance and sobriety or any way inveigle them to make them spend more then is meet Such gain is dishonest gain at which God will smite his hand he will shew his displeasure and indignation against it Ezek. 22.13 SERM. XI SERM. 11 Psal 15.3 Nor doth evil to his neighbour I Have shewed how some are guilty of doing evil to others 1. In respect of their name credit and reputation 2. In respect of their goods and estate and that many wayes Now to proceed 3. Some doe evil to others in respect of their body as 1. By smiting wounding killing See what a severe law God made in this respect If any mischief follow then thou shalt give life for life Eye for eye tooth for tooth hand for hand foot for foot burning for burning wound for wound stripe for stripe And if a man smite the eye of his servant or the eye of his maid that it perish he shall let them go free for their eyes sake And if he smite out his man-servants tooth or his maid-servants tooth he shall let him go free for his tooths sake Exod. 21.23 24 25 26 27. Where also note that God would not suffer the least bodily harme to be done to any but that abundant satisfaction to the party injured should be made for it 2. By abusing and defiling through the lust of uncleanness By the lust of uncleanness men not only dishonour their own bodies Rom. 1.24 and sin against their own bodies 1 Cor. 6.18 But also they dishonour and sin against the bodies of those with whom they commit uncleanness The Apostle speaking of doing evil to others mentions this evil in the first place even before killing Thou shalt not commit adultery thou shalt not kill Rom. 13.9 And history shewes that some having been abused in this kinde laid violent hands on themselves as not enduring to live any longer when once their chasâ—ity was violated and taken from them Lucretia a Roman Matron is famous in this respect And it is recorded of some Christian women Sed quaedam inquiunt sancte foeminae tempore persecutionis ut insectatoâ—es suae pudicitiae devitarent in raptu um atque neceturum se flumen projecerunt eoquo modo defunctae sunt Aug de Civ Dei lib. 1. cap. 26. Si adultera cur laudata si pudica cur occisa Aug. de Lucret. ibid. cap 19. Quae se occiderunt ne quicquam hujusmodo paterentur quis humanus affectus eis nolit ignosci Et quae se occidâ—re noluerunt ne suo facinore alienum flagitium dâ—vitarent quisquis eis hoc crimini dederit ipse crimine insipientiae non carebit Aug. ibid. cap. 16. De his nil temere audeo judicare Quid si enim hoc fecerunt non humanitùs deceptae sed divinitus jussae nec errantes sed obedientes sicut de Sampsone aliud nobis fas non est credere Aug. ibid. cap. 26. N fas est profecto se occidere Non itaque vobis o fideles Christi sit â—â—dio vita vestra si ludibrio fuit hostibus castitas vestra Habetu magnam vâ—ramque consolatiâ—n m si fidam conscientiam retinâ—â—â—s non vos concensisse peccatis â—orum qui in vos peccare permissi sunt Aug. ib. cap. 27. that rather then they would suffer their bodies to be defiled by their heathenish persecutours they cast themselves into a river and so were drowned Indeed this is no lawful course for any to take For if we must not doe evil that good may come as the Apostle teacheth Rom. 3.8 then surely we may not do evil that evil may not come We may not hurt our selves that so we may prevent others lest they should hurt us Austine therefore knew not well what to say of those Christian woman that drowned themselves rather then they would be defiled He saith that perhaps they did it by some special instinct from God as Sampson is supposed to have killed himself after that manner He concludes that it is not lawful to wit regularly without extraordinarie warrant from God for it for any to kill themselves either to prevent the violation of their chastity or for any other cause whatsoever But yet such examples namely of those who have killed themselves either because they have been or lest they should be defiled such examples I say shew what an horrible injury they do others who abuse them in that manner When Amnon would needs force Thamar to lie with him Nay my brother said she do not force me for no such thing ought to be done in Israel do not thou this folly And I whither shall I cause my shame to goe 2 Sam. 13.12 13. And if this be done not by violence and constraint but by perswasion and inticement then the injury is farre greater in that evil is done not only to the body but to the soul also which particular is in the next place to be touched 4. Some do evil to others in respect of their soule by drawing them into sin These are most injurious of all and the most mischievous The Apostle magnifying the grace of God in Christ towards him saith that he had been injurious 1 Tim. 1.12