Royall exchange To suche worshipfull Citezins Marchants Gentlemen and other occupiers of the contrey as resorte therunto Try to retaine Or send back agayne The contents ys after the Preface Sene and allowed here AT HARLEM Printed wth Gylis Romaen M.D.XCVII To the worshipful and grave Cittizin of London Mr. A. T. wth others of my lovinge acquayntans in the Royall Exchange grace and peace wyshed to be compfortablie felt bothe in lyfe and at the instant of deathe through Iesus Christ our Lord accordinge to Moyses the Psalmes and the Prophetts Amen NEyther sea particion nor distans of plase cann be anye lawfull excuse to be so silent here as absent there but rather the bonde of love considered wth remembrans of your gentle favour I dare no longer refrayne my penn but as to sum I wrote the last Septēber so thus printed to you and the rest of my freynds this December Whervnto as I am sturred by dent of Christian dutie and the fullfillinge of the oulde proverbe Better to late then never so I trust your approved curtesies wyl requite that sayenge wth a nother as auncient foone ynoughe yf well ynoughe Knowinge that you accept aswell the playne and wel meaninge as of eyther gloriouse words or eloquent writinge Otherwise I conceyve not how this small valure to yours over valuynge can eyther be soone ynoughe or well ynoughe By whose acceptation God grant bothe the many wryters and the few readers of this age no less to abhor the ticklinge and erringe pēne the ytchinge eare and flatteringe tounge for glori or gayne then to be only gladd vnder assurans the searcher of thoughts dothe se so clerely the depthe and intent of harts whether guyded by devyne grace or moved by corrupted nature Wherfore seinge every good gyft as preachinge writinge edifying speches or the woreks of charptie procedinge from learned or vnlearned cōmes from the Lorde I wyshe suche good instrumēts possessing honest lyfe wth there rare gyfts to reioyce and be gratefull for beinge the mowthe or hand of God so mercifully chusinge theme to be vessells for his glorie furtherouse to his churche and profitable membres for the commune welthe And greate reason they should do so seinge good teachers and famouse writers on the one syde labor to wynn Disciples to Iesus Christ and not to theme selves vndergoinge there greate paynes throw love and good conscyens to beneficte many and not for the expect of any vayne glorye And on the other syde the godly rytche to reioyce for that by the visible word and invisible grace they be taught to add St. Iames worcks wth St. Pauls faythe cōcording theme to gethers by there words and practys as vnseperable companions in steade the greater forte by there cowld charitie and careles lyves seme to rent theme a sunder the wch in dede ys more vnpossible then to devyde heate from the sonne or shaddow from the bodie For as the one iustifiethe before men here on yerthe so dothe the other before Gods trybunall seate in heaven the wch worcks of Gods children of what qualitie or quātitie soever are to be considered as the effects from the cause whether the hand in gevinge the toung in speakyng the pēn in writinge or the hart in longinge to do more or better all wch as obedyent daughters do wayte and attend in there degrees on there mother faythe the very apprehēdinge instrumēt of Iesus Christ God and man and the hyddē roote gevinge ioyce and sapp to the manifould brāches of the lords trees farr or nere or whether more or less as the provident God hathe appoynted And yet the least portion of this faythe dyscearned by her effects ys ynouhe to attaine to the endless crowne of glory So graciouse ys our God in acceptinge the readines of willinge where wantethe the habilitie of doinge My worsipfull bretherne you know there be many goodlye trees now a dayes in the wyde orchard of this worlde eyther out or but only in and not of Christ his lyttle garden who beare grene leaves and fayre blossomes but alack eyther smale fruict or none at all and that by a wronge vnderstandinge of the compfortable article of iustification of faythe presuminge there by to be that they are not to have that they want and to obtayne that they shall not vnlest they do better reconsyle St. Paules faythe and St. Iames worcks to gether wherby to reiect there sauls hope for to be saved vp there naked and bare faythe wch the Apostle compares to a deade corps wthout the spirit more fytt for the low grave then for the vpper grownd But blessed ys that tree planted by the watersyde of Gods spirit and word wch bringeth for the her fructe in due season As though fruicts out of season be rather vnsavery then pleasāt or sauery as they are in dede not only the worcks of our present Papists and Aunabaptists the one wthout faythe and the other as voyde of the true Christ but suche persons as be neyther of bothe that is neglecters of the worde absenters from the Sermons followers of there pleasures prorogers of charitable and compassionat duties vntill there death when they are de prived of the vse of there goods And yet I grant to sum yt ys a seasonable tyme by suche as were so exercised in there life and wthout superstitiouse meanyng at there decease Otherwise question leff it ys out of season For now ys the tyme vnder lyfe to help one another by praper cowncell gevinge or lendinge but when soule or breathe ys gon neyther angells nor Apostles can geve any help or remidie The poore may say to sum ritche in these dayes aswell as in former tymes by funerall aulmes gathamercy deathe as the hostes reckonyng wth her gest less willinge to lodge in her how 's then his tyred horse made low curtesy in the mornynge to the beaste and seyde gathamercy horse foryf thow haddest not bene tyred thy Mt. had not brought me this money Luke as these prorogers of wel doinge having wherwth are here iustly reproved so the right vsers of Gods blessinghs in tyme oportune are to be cōmended and God for there liberall hand to be praysed and magnified Wherfore fyrst let Stuards of larger portions make proufe to theme selves ād to others of there savinge faythe worckinge by charitie and that in due tyme whether yt be in gevinge therefully or by lendinge to the godly poore in the pinche of extremetie or by doore aulmes to the commune miserable and hungerie without this coulde and vsuall forewell God help you Next let men of meaner degre spare sum excess and vn necessarie expences for to follow the good example of there betters And lastly the meanest of all wantinge corporall habilitie let theme lykewyse approve there faythe to be moving and justifieng by the works of the spirit as true love and zeale to Gods glorie earnest affectiō to Gods worde and veritie pitifull and mercifull harts the thyrst and hunger of well doinge
haue you now ād then conveniēt leysure to talke and cōferr betwene those pillers of the omnipotent ād allseinge God of religiō and good lyfe so necessarie at all seasons but in especial now whē the sweerde of Gods iustis semes to be shaken over you there aswell as vs here threatnyng direfull warrs famyne confusion of good order and strange sycknesses by wch the lōg suffering God will haue his hand to be selt when his gentle voyce cannot be hearde wherby bothe prowd and dissolute flesh to stowpe and to stād in dreade of hym so wilfully refusinge to serve ād obey hym The screptures geves no libertie nor exēptethe persō nor plase to be silēt of Godād his glorie moche less to be prophanly occupied but rather byndethe sum devine exercise in convenient measure every where As whether you eate or drinck or what soever you do etc. Lykewise in all tymes and places the texts you know wel ynouge for knowlege is rife the lord grant grace and vertu therwth to habownde To come now to perticulers Aldermen and first to begyn wth the right worshipfull Aldermen of the citie repayringe thether wth there fellow bretherne aswell on cittie causes as for there private To the wch the blessinge of compforthe and happie succeff ys due if God to those ends be first craved ād his deserved glory advanced by reyellinge of inturiouse sutes ād defēdinge the poore innocēts Then are they two fowld rytche and happie wthin and wthout and most worthy of dowble honor as ys required of the elders of the churche that lyve and governe well But no more of that whose grave and worshipfull persons as they do no less dignifie that plase and greate companie then dutifullie procure the reverens of all evenso they addinge there religiouse affections wth there fatherly indevers to better there well doyngs in due season yt shall wynn general love and lovinge harts besydes Gods perpetuall blessinge and favoure and when they are gon as generall prayses to hym for there Iustis pietie and equitie and for there redress of that wch ys contrarie The wch ys farr more of valure then all gyfts and bequests they leave behynde theme Salomon sayeth better ys a good name then moche rytches the wch St. Paul estemeth as dunge in respect to wynn Iesus Christ whyle he ys to bewonne that ys to daye and therfore he willeth to do good while time ys For if there predecessors in the dayes of suche ignorans were so diligent to draw credit to there popishe mass ād idolatrouse trashe how moche more wthout cōparison ought those worshipfull elders beget love and credite in this brightnes of the gospel first to Gods truthe professed by theme and next to there caullings and persons And seing the remembrans of deathe dothe moche further the reforminge of lyfe I wyshe bothe the exchange cytie and contrey to think often on the waddē horse or foure foted bere so sodaynly comminge from other mens doores to theires wthout gevinge of fore knowlege and to carie thē a waye for ever and ever on four mēs shoulders from there warme and lightsome habitations to the cowld and clapeshe māsions and from there pleasant cōpanie of wife childrē and familie to the fellowship of gredie ād crawlinge wormes inobscuritie next to bethinck on the wayters and attenders on there immortall soules at the departure from there carnall coffyns to a better or worce place beinge either the angells of light or the ministers of darckenes as yt fell out on Lazarus ād dives to cōducte theme to incogitable pleasure or to tearmless terror The remembrans of this tragedie will verylie instructe the faythful reader to watche and praye to be oft ner at fructeful Sermons wth purpose of practis to abate pryde and superfluitie to bestow the more where there ys necessitie to be as warie of the world as of a familier traytor breifly to regard better the worcks of mercie in due season seinge yt is written iudgement wthout mercie shal be to theme that will shew no mercie And here I wyshe you bannishe from your tables suche Atheists and machivells as be the Devills scicophants and trencher slaves to make men laughe at there tushinge and scoffinge of religiouse matters beinge so emptie of the grace of wepinge for there intollerable synnes Wherfore as your worshipfull tables be for a better companie so let your doores and portalls in lyfe tyme and not the churche porche after death be your almeries and sede grownd for the increase of yerthly and celestiall fructe and let your gates be knowen the place where you lend to the lord that trustie pay maister and moste highest threasurer who repayeth more then tenn thowsand for the hundred and vouchsafe to loke to the poore howshould of faythe in a nother place and after a better sorte for that they be a shamed in there nede to come to your doores or to begg in the strete whose prayers and prayses is more odoriferouse and acceptable before the lorde then all sumpteouse funeralls how gloriouse soever coveringe rotten bones and wthout any avayle to there departed soules Neyther condembninge here nor prevelie checkinge worshipfull and semely order then accordinge to the degrees of persons but the excess and wastefull spendinge of Gods creatures bothe in lyfe and deathe the wch beinge not yours absolutely to bestow theme as you list but the lords and that lent you his constituted bayliffes for your selves and others you shall surely answere and make accowmpte for the lavess and msspendinge of your maysters goods as the vnrighteouse Stuard was put out of office for the same faulte This abuse amended vp the vertu of Gods grace herevnto a nexed then by your workinge faythe ye provide after deathe to haue an heavenly habitacion as that worldly wyse Stuard providid for an earthly when he should be cast out for the wch providens to instruct others the lord commended hym accordinge to the maner of men and not his vnrighteouse dealinge Thus doinge you prove religiouse and profess religion for religion sake and not for sum other thinge as sum persons do the ministerie more for the lyvinge sake them for Gods glorie then are you right Royall exchangers changed from an ould into a new nature and from followinge your owne wylls to obeye the wyll of the lord your God And for the spedier practys of suche desyred duties I wyshe the preachers in cyttie and contrey to forbeare for a tyme St. Paul his swete doctrine of iustification of faythe and a nother while to take in hande S. Iames and his iustification of worcks so rarely seene who never the less asmoche confirmethe his fellow Apostles doctrine in that heavenly article proper to the greved and humbled soule as he terrifiethe the presumpteouse and careles liver whose fayth he compares to the faythe of tremblinge devills as appereth by there destitution of zeale to Gods glorie or brotherly love and compassion and yet thinck theme stlves
Christians good ynoughe for there presens in the congregations for there thrustinge to the communion or for there bare taulke of the scriptures God bless vs from suche an hypocriticall faythe The possessors wher of stand in more nede of the terror of the law as fyrst a hammer to beate theme downe then of de gentle voyce and hand of the gospell to lyft theme vp The second cumpanie be marchant venturers and marchant retaylers who most rightly beare the name of changers in that reputable exchange changinge wares for money and money for wares Marchants And therfore our soueraigne Ladie in abolishing the fyrst title Buss and imposinge a new as ther by she had prudent consideration to tearme yt the exchange accordinge to the nature of that marchantlike trade so in greate favour she bare to it and the whole Cittie she added thereto a regall title and then tearmed it the Royall exchange God preserve and bless her Princely hart wth his grace and spirit for the further and more ample advancement of his glorie bothe in England and her wonted helpe for other troubled contreys a bowt her And the lord chāge there harts or cutt of ther bodies from the yerthe that wyshe or practys the contrarie to the pleasinge of Gogg the Pope and his Catholike kinge wth his spanishe mynes the horne of his strengthe Now that your traffyke ys hyndered navigation restrayned and your former gaynes greatly Impayred I wyshe you fyrst to acknowlege the finger of God in all this for synn and next to wey and consider of the spirituall marchantdise mencioned of in the gospell wth the hydden threasure not fownd wthout paynfull digginge and of the good marchant buyeng the preciouse pearle Implieng therby that devine rytches cannot be obtayned wthout zeale and earnest affection wthout searche and diligent sekinge and vnlest they be redemed wth the best things you affect and to esteme all other marchantdise but trifles whether from Turckie or Denice in comparison of that devine threasure And marck that no adventurers nor the secure or careless can fynd the sayde hydden threasure The Kyngdom of God must be sought ere yt can befownde therfore let the name marchant teacht all to make singuler accowmpt of spirituall and sacred things and of the gospell Sacraments readinge hearing prayeng Psalmes and songs from the hart O that we could love and regarde these preciouse pearles the supernaturall threasure hyd from the worldly hart and the gospell of Christ as they are to be estemed wch ys the gladdest news and ioyfullest tydings the light of the churche and every soule therof the preservative of the Prince and the pyller of her Kyngdom the wch beinge taken a way despised or lothed as manna was of the lothinge Iscalites yt must nedes fall out wth vs as it did on that full gorged people when the ark of God was taken from theme namely bloddie warrs hunger famine pestilences and confusions before and behynde Iff you dyd but sum tymes wey and consider this then would you be as desirouse of the continuans of the gospell by due estimation of suehe a threasure for to save and defend you from Gods wrathe as the elders of Israell coveted the presēs of the lords ark the figure therof to save theme from the Philistines who in there miserie crped out sayeng wherfore hathe the lord smitten vs let vs bringe againe the ark of Gods covenant a mongest vs that when it commeth it may save vs from the hands of our enemies And then as dagon could not stand but fall downe and breake his neck at the presens of Gods arck so can neyther the second spanishe flete the power of papists wth the indian gould be able to stand but rather flee and consume from the Quene of England and her religiouse subiects when they put this Evangelicall arck in reverēt and hartie maner betwene theme and there adversaries otherwise then the wch love and reverens yt wil be as meake a buckler at the fierce assaulte as the arck of God was to the Isralites when they there Kinge and preist were all over chrowen Secondly remember that you must be changed you know not when from your ritches from this vitall lijfe and the whole worlde vnto a nother place paynefull or Ioyfull none otherwise then the sayde preciouse pearle and hydd threasure is of price and valure wth you for the present tyme. Thinck of this and on hym that exhortethe to be changed and renewed in the inward man carefully studienge to change the owld life for a new even as you tender the changinge of this mortalitie to Immortalitie of this drudgerie beneathe to the felicitie above seing yt is written that suche as shal be burgeses there they must be so enfranchised here as to be made Kings and preists to overcom and to offer no less then Prophetts to instruct theme selves and there familie and al to shew forthe the vertues of hym that hathe caulled theme out of darckues into his marvelouse light Evill Marchants And further vnderstand that as there be honest and Godlie men of your trade so the very contrarie are bothe knowen and felt who yet marche vnder the ensigne of honest marchants and would appere as religiouse as they be covetouse or impiouse beinge as greate a scandale to that worshipfull companie as corrupt lyvers and teachers do greyve the Godlie learned in the ministerie These marchants deceyve moche by there paynted faulshode and lipp religion wherby they endamage others to inritche there estate Suche ys the choyce that these make of duplicitie and hypocrisie when they affect so little the grace of truthe and simplicitie These fellows wyll brave yt out how slender so ever they be wthin and prease to be eyther equall or higher then there betters fleinge the meane estate wch is the happiest and steale credit by other mens valure vntill they become eyther breakers or banckerers God in mercie geve suche repentans for borrowinge and dealinge wth many and to kepe towche wth few Exceptinge here nevertheles suche honest men as come to decaye neyther by the pryde of there backs wyfe nor table but by shipwrack on the sea or by trustinge the vntrustie that borrow moche and repay eyther little or nothinge But God that never chastiseth wthout cause dyd se yt tyme to correct for eyther beinge over gredie to aspire or by covetouse desyre of excessive gaynes dyd rather chuse to write there bad creditors names in there bookes then to take present pay in there purses of honest customers or otherwyse the Lord saw cowldnes and backwardnes in religion by nuszlinge to depely in the world wherby at lengthe to borrow of three and scarce to paye one Seinge then that God so sharplie correcteth suche professors as by toyles and cares retire from there religiouse affections yt ys good to pray for a contented mynde to norrishe your first love and zeale to God by all due meanes and not to suffer the
here beneathe seinge there ys suche confusions and distractions in the world so manyfould hurly burlies and vnspeakable iniuries by one man to another wthout redress the worce disposed doinge all outrage in A florishinge and pleasant estate and suche as be estemed Godly to be most miserable oppressed vexed and sett nought by all wch should not be if there were any suche provideÌ„s For brevitie sake I must silence the answere who might aswell say how cowld there be of God and his providens in former tymes seinge not only Abel and Iohn the Baptist Gods speciall servants were so sharply rewarded for there holynes and righteousenes but the Prophetts Apostles and Christ hym self All this were as moche as if the presidents and so many thowsand martyrs were starck fooles to suffer suche torments and tortures vnlest they had parfect knowlege of Gods providens wth a right felinge and hope of the last resurrection wthout wch the vildest men in the world were in the libertie of the fleshe in farr better state then we These new Saduces wth there staggeringe disciples seke to compreheÌ„d by there pudled reason that wch is incoÌ„prehencible to humayne wisdom and do marvell how the bodies so long tyme putrified in the grownd mangled by swerds and weapoÌ„s burnt to ashes torne and eateÌ„ of wilde beasts aÌ„d devowred of sea fisches how aÌ„d after what maner all these should rise by againe wth the same bodies and bodilie members Who he lyke the vnbelevinge Corynthes tearmed fooles by the Apostle and therfore disputed wth only by the similitude of corne and naturall reason These quaking questioners labor to throw downe faythe beneathe reason and to attayne by reason that wch is proper to the office of faythe To whome so ever the wch faythe ys not geven vnder so longe tyme of the gospell yt is no marvell they dowte and stagger and become rather curiouse inquisiters then Godlie learners and so might demande how the lorde cowld make Adam of claye and Eve of his ribb or how they thre parsons caÌ„n be one God and one to be three so daringe to meddle wth the mistery of all misteries lyke the Anabaptists no less quisitive in effect to wete how cowld the Devinitie of Christ assume his fleshe of hers that was so stayned by originall gilt Let the Royall Exchange Cittie and contrey beware of these perilouse people avoydinge there dowtes and devillishe questions exhortinge there wth that they be frequent hearers and readers of Gods holie worde for to be daylie strengthned in there faythe and hope wth better regard to the articles of the Christian faythe especiallie two of theme so moche oppugned by multiplienge adversaries bothe here and there namely the anabaptists Englishe and dutche denyeng the two natures of Christ in one gloriouse parsoÌ„ wth 6. more horrible opinions and the sayde dowters of the resurrection Now let all right belebers in the true Christ from Mopses the Psalmes and de Prophetts reioyce and be of good comforth vnder what cross or distress soever For assure as he hathe taken our fleshe sanctifienge and glorifiengc yt so surely shall we be glorified wth hym seingâ—he our heade the fyrst fructs of theme that slept ys risen agayne assended wth our substans the sede of David and hathe dignifyed yt on the right hand of his father as he toke yt and sanctified yt here beneathe As certainely shall we his members flesh and boane of his ryse agayne to be partakers of his Ioyes as we have bene partakers of his blessings here and suffrnigs That yf the husbandman hopeth the corne sowen by his hand vnder clodds and stones shall rise againe new fresh and wth greate in crease moche more ought we to hope that our bodies shall rise againe by Gods omnipoteÌ„cie as sede sowen wth his owne hand whether in the grave in the fyer in these a or in the feilde renewed and clarified with vnspeakeable increasings and that wth no more difficultie then wheÌ„ he made the whole frame of this world without substans or matter by his very worde St. Paul would vs to remember that as the corne must fyrst be sowen and dye in the yerthe before yt receyve a new bodye a grene blade and ripe eare so must we be the lords sedenes before the happie harvest namely sowen deade buried and rotten before we have a gloriouse and Immortall bodie even the same in substants thoughe in qualitie yt shal be changed and then to be caulled spirituall bodies differinge in suche sorte from that they were before as the celestiall bodies the sonn moone and starrs do differ one from another in glorie At wch tyme our harts eyes and eares shal feele se and heare suche a marveylouse thang of the vse they were here as neyther toungs nor all the pennes in the world are able to Express And therfore happie be the penitents for there synnes the studiers for Godlines and the lovers of God and blessed are they that in faithe do meditate and in hope do reioyce sum tymes on this Ioyfull daye Concludinge then that as there ys two deathes the fyrst and second in yerth and in hell so there vs a fyrst and second resurrection that ys from synne and from the grave the partakinge of the one ys the confirmation of the other And when our soules do invisiblie go from the bodies then that spirituall and Immortall part goethe vnto the heaven of heavens and not downe to the grave to slepe there wth the corps vntyll the resurrection as oure anabaptists of Harlem and the rest do miserablie howld wth the purtenances Sixtly the worshipfull Gentlemen of all quarters of the land are by occasion sum tymes wthin that pleasant Edifice wth whome I must be breyffer then I thought to have bene Gentlemen Presuminge lykewyse that they in curtesie wyll esteme of this poore pamphlett thoughe wthout fynenes of methode or pullishe of art You then of the better sorte tearmed gentle as gentlemen deryved from gentle condisions remember I pray you that as by the word of healthe you once felt and I trust do yet feele spirituall motions the very inward caullinge from the Lorde to the love and zeale of his truthe so to geve all diligens that you be no changelings but dutifully the same what cownterbuffs so ever do come in your way to the contrarie Affectinge the good and dislikinge the evell And let your fortitude be in sylens and hope wth prayer and paciens thoughe sum paradventure on eache syde of your habitacions do eyther hault or be key could or gonn back from that they were wth you or as starrs faullen there light vnder a bushell other sum choked wth the world and sum of a looser lyfe then ever you looked for yet as Helias continued the servant of God thoughe he saw none to be left wth hym but all gonn and Iob the worthy servant of God in so evill a tyme wherin moche vngodlynes was in the world yet stode
ys of a tyrant or a condemned theyfe of the Iudge but as of a graciouse childe in feare and love to obey that ys in beynge lothe to offend our good father and lastinge lover and also in feare of his rodd So myxinge hope and feare to gethers as to feele an humble reuerens in our harts to the God of correction and of merry beinge Ioyfull and thanckfull when by grace we cease to do evyll and to do the good and sory and fearefull yea pemtent and tearefull when by weakenes we be drawen to the contrary And as every Christian ought to crave and covet this singuler vertue so to lament to se suche turpitudes and myscheyfs aboute vs in the world throw the want of this feare Let vs then feare and serve the Lorde wth all our harts as many as intend to be partakers of his glory I speake to theme vnto whome God hathe geven right eares to heare Agayne sum tymes the prowde and loftie do walke there to be sene in there beyght and braverie aswell as others of good degre bothe men and wemen spend an hower there for necessitie of recreation Prowd And therfore they walkinge and wearinge in that common place agreable to there caullinge and state are not to be adiudged amonge suche prowd and loftie so over stately lokinge Wyshinge all infected parsons wth that greate and capitall synn changinge angells into devills hastely to discerne that infection wherbie in tyme to seke and fynd the remedie and to esteme there hawtie hart as a certame dronckennes be witchinge or dullinge the same so as neyther precept from God nor dutie to mā ys regarded and yt procedeth from the aucthor of pryde and by a fauls imagination of theme selves the possessors whereof can neyther pray rightly to God nor effectually heare the word nor lyve quietlie and familierly wth there neighbors moche less to guyde there harts and tounges charitablie and orderly God grant you then to hate and abhor pryde and to laugh yt to skorn seinge there ys nothing more agaynst true Godlynes and your salvation then the same by reason yt besotteth men and wemen thrustinge theme to rashenes vnrulines and to take overmoche heade and bridle And here let the best regenerat kepe in mynde that this pryde will incrediblie lurck and be hydd in theme to there hurt wthout good hede and watche for that yt ys hard to be knowen in all things and at all tymes I for beare to speake moche of this subtill sinn but only towch suche dreggs and remnants therof as remayne in Gods children to kepe theme in battle to stryue and wrestle agaynst yt being to theme suche a stinge as yt prycketh and pyncheth wowndeth and healeth where the sayde health by grace must consequently follow lyke fyer expellinge fyer or one synn healing another as poyson geves remedie to poyson Wherfore the better to know sum subtiltie of that lurcking syun even in the Godly whosoever ys so styffly opiniated as to stande in there owne conceite or lothe to be iustly and freindly reproved for there fault or trusteth more in there owne wayes then ruled vy advice and cowncell or that glorie excessively for there well doinge or that contend more for victorie in disputacion or resoninge then to yelde to the playne truthe they vndowtedly are stayned wth this pryde and had nede wth the aucthor to pray for a contrite humble and lowlie hart We shall never hate and shunn pryde love and imbrase humilitie to practis yt before men narrowly visite and ransike there owne harts wherby the better to know theme selves At wch tyme behowldinge the storehows and heape of synn wthin vs we shall the soner stowpe and abase our gap plumes and check downe the prowde hart so previlie sckinge to mownt a lofte and crie o dust and ashes cum back stay thy self and clymbe no hygher by wch consideration we will at lengthe confess that as pryde is the Capitall and heade vice in wycked men so humilitie ys the chifest vertu in the Godly wthout wch fowndation all other vertues be blowen a waye wth the blast of vayneglorie as dust or fethers wth the wynde of the ayre But as for the gross and common prowde who as Iob sayeth loke vp to the sonne so prowde as the pecock and as stowt as the lyon exaltinge your selves and castinge downe others the Prophet Esaye cryeth against you sayenge the day of the Lorde shal be on suche as be lyfted vp in there harts vpon the highe Cedars of Liban and on the greate okes of Basan Downe therfore and be thinck that as waters stand not on highe mownt aynes but sekes downe to the low valleyes so the graces of Gods spirit abydeth not in the loftie hart but goeth into the humble and lowlie The wch God in merrie grant to the writer and reader to teachers and learners The poore though they be neyther walkers nor dealers amōgst you yet they pass to and fro through the Exchange bothe the Godly poore and prophane poore the one vnder Gods blessing and favour the other vnder his frowne and displeasure who thoughe they be rude and lewd and as voyde of disposition to learne as of common knowlege amongest men Poore yet as the creatures of God they are not alone to be corrected and forced to labor but to be pittied releved ād helped especially the syck lame and aged amonge that sort assuringe your selves that we are none otherwyse the children of God then by doing good to such as be vnworthie therof by Gods owne example causinge the sonn and rayne to shew there nedefull efferts vpon bothe iust and vniust For where the Apostle byndeth a speciall good to be donn to the nedie in Gods how 's he excludeth not but commandeth the lyke to those miserable people notwthstandinge they wth others seme to beginne there hell here vntill the Lorde towche there harts wth repētans and conversion yet in the meane tyme we are to shew theme pittie and compassion Moste worthie examples of this dutifull regard to all sorts of poore I se in this towne of Harlem even multitudes provided for every Lords daye besides hospitalls for men wemen and children wth sick howses for the diseased never none sene to dye in the strete or starve vnder stall The other kynd of poore be in and of the churche our bretherne and susters aswell by the second as the syrst byrthe gevinge your selves to prayer to labor and travell as you may for your mayntenans and are ashamed to be sene beggynge or cravinge in strete or doore there vp your selves howld out and parsist to the end wth paciens vnder Gods cross wthout eyther envyenge the ritche or grudgiuge agaynst the Lorde consideringe Iesus Christ hathe sanctifyed the povertie of his poore in that for there sake he became poore hym self But se that you fele the inward povertie of the spirit to be ioyned wth the outward wherby to haue the blessinge pronownced
changers Cytezins and contrey to stande on there garde seinge this mercyless lyon vnder Angelical shew lyeth in previe wayt to catch and intrapp at every turne But thow tremblinge and fearefull Christian throwen downe by the felinge of thy synne no less desirouse to be freed from the burden therof then afrayed to offend the Lord thy God be thow of good chere wthout tormenting of thy felinge consciens forasmoche as by fayth and grace Sathan hathe no part nor portion in the hating and shunninge synne but rather on theme that love and frequent synne seinge Iesus Christ wthout all stayne of synn became synn for the that ys toke on hym thy sinnfull deserts even vndergoinge the torments of hell and deathe in his blessed body and soule for thy sake and thy moste happie deliverans from bothe therfore be not only daylie and hartilie thanckfull for this expiation of thy sinn but butifully watche and pray agaynst the dreggs and remnants of sinn lefte in the for to stryve and fyght to the end Although the strengthe and forte therof was broken I saye by Christ and fastned to his cross to the everlastinge compforthe of all suche as love and feare the Lord and be lothe to offend hym by there synne Husbands and wyves of all sorts lykewyse have there pleasurable walkinge there at convenient tymes whose honorable estate so dignified by the Sonne of God I must not forgette but put you in mynd of that famouse vnion ordayned of hym that is two in one fleshe and therefore to be of one mynde in the Lorde and for theme selves Mariage And generally yt must putt all the faythfull in remembrans of the more happie vnion and moste blessed mariage betwene Iesus Christ and his churche and every soule of his electe therein beinge an vnseparable bonde and knytt faster then all bonds amonge men and a love beyond all loves for so gloriouse and Princely a spowze to take and imbrase so poore and meane an espowzes even the highest to abase hym self to the lowest O memorable love and humilitie deservinge all prayse and obedyens in all faythfull parsons bothe maryed and vnmaried And as neyther water nor any flodds are able to quenche or to drowne this love so let neyther carnall love in the one nor love of the world in the other be ever able to quenche or to drowne there love and lovely harts to this our true lover the fowntayne of all love St Iohn sayeth he that loveth not knowth not God for as the ignorans of God is the cause why he ys not loved so the knowledge of God producethe love to hym and therfore so farr do we love God as we know God whereby yt ys playne that they who seke not to know God can neyther truely nor rightly love hym And I have noted sum tymes in men and wemen who never opened booke that the love of God was more shed abrode in there harts then in many that are puffed vp wth wynde knowledge Hartilie wishinge maryed folkes no less to mark and disgest then to reade the words of the Apostle in caullinge on man and wyfe to love one a nother by example of Christ his incomparable love to his churche in that he gave hym self for yt clensed and sanctifyed yt Then would yt in crease there affections and abate there discentions and generally make bothe theme the better to love one another and all others of that mysticall bodie to reioyce and be tenfowld more thanckfull for that spirituall coniunction namely that beggers bratts of no reputacion to be maryed and cowpled to suche a heavenly husband whome the 45. Psa tearmeth a Quene sayenge vpon thy right hand ys the Quene in a vesture of gould and the canticles speaking of Christ his love to his churche and people sayeth his lefte hand ys vnder my heade and his right hand dothe imbrase me wch mariageable tearmes by the holy Ghoste teacheth all but more specially husbands and wyves to be so lyncked in love as to lyve and love to gethers most affectionatly and lovingly wthout eyther seperation of bodies disiunction of mynds or to lyve vnder iarrs and contencions to gethers to the seperation of God and Christ from sum suche harts and howses in London as my self and others have bene weryed and greved in laboringe for peace But you Christian yokefellows of a contrary disposition I wyshe you by discreation and good watche to beware of suche fearefull discords doinge your best to love styll and to increase in love For as love ys the capitall affection in men and wemen so the effects therof ys most vehemēt as ys confirmed by Christ his words where a mans threasure ys there is his hart that is yf God be our heavenly threasure then ys our love a bove wth hym yf maried folkes be corporal threasures one to the other then the love and affection spreadeth accordingly as we se perthly mynded men have there love on yerthly things You that be maryed parsons Iplie as that tytle by the holy Ghoste ys tearmed honorable so let your love yeace and vnitie to gethers honor and dignifie that lawdable estate For as Christ cowld not chuse any creature more apt to express our spirituall mandutation of his fleshe and blod then breade and wyne so the holy Ghoste could not fynde a more apte similitude to express the spirituall bonde betwene Christ and every faythfull soule then the coniunction of two parsons by the knott of matrymonie Wherfore as mariage ys a moste compfortable and blessed estate to theme who are graced to vse yt well so ys yt a moste bitter and tormentuouse estate to such as love not to gethers and as crave not for grace rightly to vse yt Now bothe worshipfull and commun assemblie ordinarie and extraordinarie changers in that Ropall how 's I beseche you to remember that as your lyfe here is vncertayne and never in one staye but lyke to the moone subiect to chang and alteration and in the end to death evenso think that you must shortlie chāg this lyfe for a nother lyke your predecessors walking wth you as yesterday and now gonn and forgotten wch must put you in mynde to be so changed in affection and conversation as when the Lords change bell ys runge to make spedie change of the place where you are to a nother wthout any nayt that so you may fynde the happie and better Exchange for this miserable and worce throw the same Iesus Christ here after descrybed by a learned father worthie of marchinge in this tyme of fauls Christs Yt ys nedefull sayethe he to vnderstand how God was borne and how God dyed according as the toung of the scripture dothe vse to speake God-man wch speche of Christ ys dybersly before and after his incarnation For since that happie and miraculouse conception by the holy Ghoste we must remember that in this vnitie of parson by the wch the sonn of God is also the sonn of Marie
there hatred to herysie and Hypocrisie or by gevinge of sownd and good cowncell and by leavinge a religiouse and vertuouse conversation to the magnifieng of God and there holy profession These also be acceptable worcks to the lorde who in mercy will crowne theme as his owne gyfts and not as theres The regard of wch promised crowne sette before the eyes of your mynds will no less mitigate your greifes eyther in ward or ontwarde then kyndle spirituall ioye wth the longinge of your libertie from this terrestiall tabernacle wherby your noble soules to enioy the heavenly inheritans wth the invisible and tryumphant churche now singinge as the Isralitishe Virgins sang the song of Moyses for there delyverans out of Egipt and Pharo his bondage evenso the soules in Heaven do sing to the Lord everlastinge prayses for delyveringe them from the boude of sathan and there worldlie miseries and lykewyse do singe the songe of the Lambe wherby the vertue of Christ and his redemption ys continuallie magnified For as the oulde fathers eatinge the paschal Lambe made a iubilie and gave the Lord thancks so those enfranchised spirits felinge the light and libertie of Gods kingdom geve thancks to Christ the Lambe to the sytter on the throne and to the spirit procedinge from bothe Opraye for a fore tasie and sum sippinge of this greate supper where wth a farr of to be sum what acquaynted for the better certificate of a more fullnes to ensue by wch to increase your earnest longinge upwards and to decrease all overlyking here beneathe that so the more felingly you may saye wth David I shalve satisffied when thy glorie appereth wch wil be a greater sight to behowld then that wch Peter and Iohn saw at Christ his trāsfiguration on mowne Thabor even the fullnes of the incōprehensible dietie the essens of the gloriouse persons inscrutablie one God Let vs then be myndfull to saye wth the Prophett my soule ys a thirst for God o when shall I appere before his presons Iff you Mr. A. do still move and scur love and lyve to the Lorde then I mosie hartilie salute you and the rest so affected but if otherwise the spirit in heavē and the bodie in the grave ere this be aryved then God grant vs behynd in the battell to geve glory and thancks to hym for his contynuing grace and finall mercies here beneathe to his and for his everlastinge compforthes a bove to the soules of his servants restinge wth hym in peace and iope That so the Lorde havinge his spirit I may the bowlder to that coniecture set that oulde father as a glass for Lōdon professors to looke in not alone in his zeale to the gospell wth his frequent presens at Sermons and wth good further ans to suche instruments but to the poore presoners in and abowt London presons he was knowen to be bowntiful and mercifull Agayne how ofte and willingly hathe be Imployed his money for commune profict as well as for privat what paynes and travell hathe he takē to make peace and to end controversies how many men of worship and members of the lower how 's in most parlamēt tymes haue bene worshipfullie entertayned at his table for there zeale to religion how many poore schollers and students in the arts hath he no less perely thē liberally geven vnto besydes his large distributions to Godly and desolate widdowes And wch ys more how manie in the contrey of worr are bownd to prayse God for his outstretched hand so farr from London wherein he procured the knowlege of God for greate ignorans beinge suche a shew tokē to patrons of benefices as whē he franckly gave so good a lyvinge to a learned preacher he reserved neither legg nor arme of that lyvinge to hym self as all covetous patrons do God grant yt be accordingly perfourmed by labor and life as it was of hym first and last intended For as gyfts blynde the eyes of sum Iudges so fatt lyvings coole the fyrst zeale of manie persons and vicars For inward alterations do ofte follow the stayne of strange titles Now whether this was a tree bringing forthe fructe in due season or out of season iudge you besydes the erection of a schole as I remember in worr And there fore as St. Paul would hym self to be imitated non otherwise then he did Christ even so I wishe the Lords Stewards of better degre in that exchange to follow this theire fellow mēver as he followed Christ and the worthier examples of his predecessors Trustinge you will thinck this report to procede more for desire of imitation then of anie intent to tyckle hym wth adulation being peradventure gon or at least of suche distans a sunder To conclude bothe hearing and seinge suche evident practys of good worcks in this towne of Harlem so farr short of our monarchall government by sownde professors and others of erroniouse opinious I was drivē the rather to this presumptiō as one sory to behoulde suche blynd opiniates so farr to outrun very many professors in my natyve contrey in the outward worcks of charitie and by hearinge that the ignorants are so affected vnto theme for yt wher by the rather there might be a quycknyng wth a godly emulation on our syde ere the axe come to the roote of the tree 1597. By your worships vnfayned wellwyller Iohn Payne The contents of the Booke fyrst the preface for all as for one Next to severall degrees of persons Aldermen Marchants of three sortes Stranger Marchants Saduceans of this age Gentlemen three sortes Warnyng to avoyde new Englysche Anabaptists There seven opinions and fauls martyrdome An exhortation to theme Tyme to be well spent and why Hypocrites of sundry sortes Gross pryde wth the dreggs therof in Gods children Poore of two sortes Prynters of two sortes Shipinaysters and maryners Mariage corporall and spirituall How Christ is Godman and mangod Captaynes and souldyers To the Englyshe Anabaptist in norwith Preson Warrs ys lawfull and why Spirituall warrs Musers on Gods longanimitie and providens Ministers of England exhorted Curiouse medlers wth impertinent matters A deceyver in the exchange The Nordeners exhorted Now Gentle Reader LYke as the greate resorte to that famouse Edifice are of sundrie titles and degrees so the complete nomber walkinge and taulkinge there be as contrarie in mynd and disposition as of trade and caullinge A plase where God truth and Equitie wth there direct contraries are sum tymes spoken of to Gods glorie and to the service of Sathan For as amonge diseased and infectiouse persons all be not takē wth that sicknes but sum do escape and be scottfre so I partly know the lyke fredome frō spirituall infection by Gods mercie in sum members of that populouse assemblie The Lord multiply that nomber ād increase his begōn graces in theme and also convert or confownde all perniciouse lurckers preasinge thether so contrarie mynded As you take tyme and space to make your lawful bargaines ād cōtracts so