so we may take a further view of the odiousnesse of the same Surely if we looke vp to the first Murtherer that euer was may we not obserue that Enuy prouoked him therevnto because his brothers was accepted and his sacrifice was teiected therefore did Cain saith the Apostle stay his brother Abell that was more righteous then he And was not the pride of his heart the occasion of this enuy because Caine was not respected according to the conceit of his owne worth therefore he enuied his owne brother that was better respected of God then himselfe and so through enuy shed his innocent bloud Was not Ioseph sold through enuy by his brethren Consider we the next Murtherer recorded in the booke of God Was not Lamech an Adulterer and thereupon a murtherer either inflamed thereto by iealousie which is the rage of a man and therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance or enraged thereto by lust which will admit no partner therein Did not Dauids adultery end in murther 2. Sam. 11. Is not lust the firebrand to contentions and murthers Iam. 4. 1. 2. was not lust the cause of that treacherous murther of the Shechemites Did not lust bring a whole Tribe in Israel to this end And what caused Absolon to seeke his fathers life was it not ambition and desire of soueraignty What mooued Ahab to take away Naboths life was it not a couetous desire to enioy his Vineyard was not Iudas blinded by couetousnesse to betray his Master to the death And may we not see all these causes concurring together in those cruell Iewes that murthered the Lord of Life To conclude Is not rage and furie vsually the spurre hereunto Haue not bitter words sometimes ended in bloudy broyles and barbarous murthers And is not drunkennesse an ordinary harnenger to this sinne not onely murthering hereby it master suddenly but also prouoking in his cuppes to spill the blood of others so iust is the Lord to meete with sinners in their kinde that they which make no conscience to abuse and spill the good creatures of God seruing for the encrease of bloud and maintenance of life but haue béene bretheren in such horrible sinnes shall bee giuen vp to shed the bloud of each other and so depriue themselues of that blessing which they haue abused These are some causes and occasions of this grieuous sinne vnto which if we shall adde what may bee collected from the consideration of the subiect formerly deciphered we may conclude that as the want of Gods feare is a speciall cause of falling into this sinne so obstinacy and hardnesse of heart proceeding there-from doth much enflame and harden therein yea an enraged and guilty soule doth oft-times prouoke hereunto out of hellish despaire As touching the Effects of this grieuous sinne let that suffice which hath beene spoken concerning the haynousnesse thereof onely giue mee leaue to adde some cautions herein That though it be a grieuous sinne to shed bloud yet this neither doth debarre the Magistrate and his Instruments from executing of Iustice against Malefactors because they are Deputies vnto the Lord herein and haue authority hereunto from his Word neither doth it priuiledge any Priuate man vpon any instinct whatsoeuer to presume hereunto though some inferiour calling in the Family hath beene wickedly thought by some to warrant the same because the power of life death is in the hands of the Supreame Magistrate and such as are immediately deputed from him thereunto Though aboue all other murthers that of our selues is most vnnaturall and monstrous therefore as wee may not iustifie any such particular sinnes by any example of Sampson or particular instinct So wee must bee meruailous chary and tender in condemning absolutely their estates that through violence of Tentation or such like distempers haue made away themselues because either they were not themselues in that distemper and so it shall not be imputed vnto them or it was done not without some reluctation and so the Lord may haue mercy vpon them onely let vs be carefull not to imitate them herein and so leaue them to the Lord to whom they fall or stand Thus of the Effects and Iudgement of this sinne Proceed we now in the last place to consider such Antidotes as may preuent the same The principall whereof is to maintaine peace with our God because if our wayes do please him he will not only make our enemies to be at peace with vs that we may not feare to be prouoked either by bridling their corruptions as he did sometimes Labans Esaus or turning their hearts towards vs as he hath done the hearts of many persecutors But will also incline our hearts to be at peace with our enemies either by giuing vs wisedome to ouercome their euill with good or affording vs Patience to beare with our enemies or sustaining vs with meeknesse neither to prouoke nor be prouoked by them Now we shall wisely Maintaine peace with God How 1 If we walke closely with him according to his will with all power and diligence not leaning to our owne Wisedome but relying on his reuealed word and not presuming of ought either beyond or short thereof 2 If though we faile and slip daily as who can cleare himselfe therein yet we shall daily iudge our selues and by repentance renue our couenant with the Lord warring daily with our corruptions and maintaining the spirituall combat hereby we may preserue our Peace with God 3 If séeing our best workes are mixed with such corruption that if the Lord should be seuere to marke what is done amisse euen when we doe our best we shall neuer be able to abide it we shall therefore daily deny our best righteousnesse and labour to be found in Christ renuing our right in him hereby we shall renue and Maintaine our Peace with God 4 And yet seeing the grace of God shal be sufficient for vs in what soeuer wants or extreamities may befall if now we can in patience possesse our soules not repining at the dispensation of our God but being contented therewith in all occasions we shall so hunger after what wee want as that we can be thankfull for that which we haue and so husband the same with all vprightnes and diligence to the glory of our God and the generall good this is an excellent meanes to maintaine Peace with God Lastly that we may maintaine Peace with God let vs still nourish enmity against the world because the Amity of the World is Enmity against God so vsing the good therein that we hate the euill thereof and so vsing the good that we trust not therein so enioying the things thereof as that we are still ready to part with them at the Pleasure of the giuer accounting all things as doing that we may win Christ and yet by our wise husbandrie laying vp a good foundation by them against the day of Christ. Thus may we
import no lesse who being an harlot hunts for the precious life of man so her very Name doth portend and glorie therein as being that Apollyon that Child of Perdition ordained of God in his Justice for the plaguing of vnbeléeuers and thereby to ripen her owne destruction yea her very Habite proclaimes the same as being Died bloud-red with the slaughter of the Saints and her End also shall manifest the same when she shall be made drunken with her owne bloud and drowned therein because she hath shed the bloud of the Saints Behold here these the generation of this bloudy sinne Sathan the Arch enemy of Mankind enuying his happinesse and that especially vnder the Time of the Gospell that he might vtterly destroy him both roote and branches head taile soule and body to this end abusing the security and Pride of the Times begdt thereupon the Whore of Babylon that great Enchantresse and deceiuer of the world And that he might by this Bastard execute his malice more fully against the Saints when she came to age began to reuell in Pride and Soueraignty then he begat on her this Monstrous and bloudy sinne whereby as the Viper eateth out the bowels of her Mother so the first aduentures of this Cruel brat were atchieued against it Damme one Pope cruelly making away each other And being thus throughly fleshed and imbrued in her owne bloud Is it any maruaile if she spares not other Is it not iust with God that while she spares not her owne bloud to take away the lines of the annointed of the Lord that the Princes of the Earth should secure themselues in letting out her life bloud and consuming her vtterly with fire that so her Memoriall may perish from the earth Behold the righteous doome of Iehoua against the Whore And obserue we wisely herein the Progeny of this bloudy sinne and issue thereof Shall we now further way this sinne in the Ballance of the Sanctuary that thereby we may discerne the greatnesse thereof so be brought into greater detestation of y e same First then let vs measure it by the obiect against which is committed and heere consider wee these particulars First the Murtherer doth what lies in him to take a way the life of God himselfe in that hee destroyes his Liuely Image in Man not so much that outward frame and substance of the Body as if God were like vnto man in his outward feature as some carnal Capernaites haue dreamed as those Acts of the Diuine soule which it exercised in the bodie these the boudy hands do wholy abolish whereby man in regard of his better part was made after the Image of God yea hereby the life of God his prouidence and other acts of his gouernment is in a manner extinguished in that creature who is thus by cruell hand cut off from that holie regiment 2. The bloody minded man as he thirsts greedily after blood so doth he lie in waite priuily for his pray partlie fearing to attempt vpon equall termes as being through his inward guilt a very dastard and coward and partly hoping hereby to make surer worke when all meanes of preuention shal be forestalled and frustrated And doth he not hereby proue oftimes a murtherer of his brothers soule taking him thus on the suddaine and so preuenting Repentance May we not consider herein the malice of Diasius the Lawyer who in a deadly hatred to his brothers soule first enforced him to deny his faith in Christ and then instantly tooke away his life 3 The Murther in destroying his Brother destroyes himselfe not only in that his brother wasis owne flesh but in that he necessarily exposeth himselfe either to be his owne Butcher though the horror of his conscience as many haue done or else iustly lies open to the sword of the Magistrate who aboue all other sinnes will not suffer this vnreuenged Yea doth not the Murtherer in sinning willingly plotting his cruelty with deliberation and desperatenes doth he not heerein commonly murther his owne soule as excluding himselfe through this wilfulnes the mercy of God What should I speake of those fearefull euents that haue followed the same hath not the Father murthered the sonne comming home as a stranger for lucre of his mony when he came to the notice thereof did he not first murther his wife that procured him thereto and afterward layd violent hands vpon himselfe And did not this accident bring his onely daughter to an vntimely end and so the whole roote and branches were wholly cut off vtterly And if here wee shall consider that hereby many a wife hath beene depriued of her husband many children made Orphanes and so exposed to all extremitie doth not the murtherer make faire worke for the Diuell And is not the common Parents hereby depriued of many a good member doth not the common Mother hereby lament the losse of many a Nursing Father and so is exposed to combustions and desolations Behold heere the haynousnesse of this sinne by the consideration of the Obiect against which it was committed And may wee not hereby also guesse at it greatnesse in regard of the subiect that committeth the same 1 Is not the Murtherer a Traytor in the highest degree both committing treason against God whose Image hee thus defaceth and beeing guilty of treason against his Prince and Countrey whom he depriueth of their guard and glory Is not he a Traytor to his Brother in surprizing him so cruelly Is he not a Traytor against himselfe in betraying his owne life and soule hereby to the graue and destruction Surely if of all other the hypocrite shall be beaten with many stripes then must the Murtherer looke for his ful payment because hee crowcheth and boweth to onsnare his poore Brother he kisseth and betrayeth fawneth and stabbeth saluteth and smiteth speakes peaceably with his tongue when his hand is ready to shed bloud and all this with a breath to take away breath and triumph more securely in his masked wickednesse What should I say the Murtherer is an Atheist If he thought the eye of God were vpon him hee durst not thus wilfully deface the Image of God The Murtherer is an Idolater in defacing the Image of God and setting vp the Idoll of reuenge in his heart which he adores aboue all that is called God either Gods presence the Magistrates sword Gods Image in his brother his life in himselfe In a word as there is not any sinne wherein the Murtherer hath not a share so herein is his case most fearefull and desperate that not sinning of infirmity but of malice and digested hatred as herein horesembles his father the Diuell so hereby he casts himselfe desperately vpon his malice to indure vnquenchable torments for the recompence of his vnsaciable malice Thus by the subiect of this grieuous sinne wee may seeke some farther scantling of the haynousnesse thereof Shall we now proceede to examine this sinne by the causes thereof that
but of the body and that for a time and consider with all that there is another death co come both of body and soule wherein you shall die eternally from-God and yet liue eternall to intollerable torments Consider then I pray you the Terrour of that great day where the fire howsoeuer spirituall yet shall thereby bee the more intollerable and yet the conscience shal be more stinging then the fire tormenting and the euerlasting exclusion from the presence of God shall make vp the measure of those vnsufferable torments If they were but for a hundred or a thousand nay a million of yeares yet there were some hope at length of release but remember that the worme neuer dyeth the fire neuer goet out because the wrath of God like a riuer of Brimstone doth continually maintaine the same Thus you may meditate vpon those endles torments And this by Gods mercy may worke in you that hartie and seasonable sorrow for your present sinnes whereby you may prepare to your present ends and so preuent those endles torments But be not too suddaine in applying mercy when your sinnes haue beene so many For it is not euery one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of heauen Consider also that there can be no comfort in God till there be true sorrow for sinne the best sacrifices were sodden in the sowrest hearbs and the sacrifice best pleasing vnto God is that of a broken and contrite heart Onely bee you wise to try your sorrow There is a sorrow vnto death which is carnall and hypocritical rather greiuing for the punishment then the offence if therefore you will bee sorry in hope of 〈…〉 y you must in 〈…〉 God in your punishment 〈◊〉 〈…〉 ere farre greater and greiua for your sinnes that haue deserued more For your punishment is not great or then your faint but your 〈…〉 t greater then your punishment If you would farther trik the sinceritie of your sorrow examine it then by the fruit thereof Godly sorrow breeds Repentance and true Repentance expresseth it selfe in the hearty confession of sin and true confession is not forced but voluntarie not only of what apparant euidence wrings from vs but what is secret and only knowne to our selues and vnto God And thiâ—â—e it not enough to satisfie the world of what you are now conuicted of vnlesse you also discharge your conscience so farre as possibly you may remember of all that hidden burthen of sin which at the day of iudgement will be certainely layd open and charged vpon you euen to your vtter pressing downe and ouerwhelming for euer And withall lay it to your harts that if you shall fayle to acknowledge what you are now conuicted of as you shall least of all satisfie God who knoweth your harts to shall you not satisfie the world in this your obstinacy which must needs bee conuicted with such apparant euidences as haue bene deliuered and so iustly condemne you in that wherein you seeke to Iustifie your selues Let me heare speak vnto you euen from my very soule and set you in a way for your soules eternall good Do not thinke that euery Psalme of Miserere is sufficient to expiate your fault or to giue you an interest in the pardoÌ„ of your sin no I tell you you must confesse your faults to the world be-before you leaue the world You haue offended God and man as farre as confession may yeeld satisfaction do it care you die Oh feare and remember that saying As the tree falls so it lies If you bee dead while you liue you cannot hope to liue when you are dead If we forget our sinnes God will remember them and if we confesse them God will forget them Remember the good successe of the Prodigall child hee no sooner came home to his Father and confessed his sin but his Father ran to meete him and kissed him killed the fatted calfe for him and cloathed him with the be 〈…〉 〈…〉 yment Euen so our heauenly Eather hath offered his onely sonne as the fatted calfe for the redemption of all penitent sinners he is ready to meete vs if wee bee comming to him by Repentance nay to kisse and embrace vs if we cast of our sinnes and insteed of those theenish raggs you weare to cloath you with that glorious Robe of his perfect righteousnesse This I hope and wish that you may be so happie as to finde And therefore I desire you to embrace the Mercy of God that is now offered vnto you Labour to breake your hard harts with the consideration of his tender compassions and ease your distressed soules by the the acknowledgement of your sinnes Remember that God will not endure a stubborne sinner but they which are heauie laden with the burthen of their sins shal be welcome vnto him And to this end aboue all things take heede of desparing Consider that the mercy of God is aboue all your mysery whatsoeuer and that you shall more offend in disparing of Gods mercy then in shedding of the blood of so many innocents eueÌ„ as Iudas more offended in despayring of the pardon of his sinne then in betraying of that iust one who was the ransome for his sinne and let this last part be the best which is to comfort you Now I commend you with my best affections to the mercy and goodnesse of God wishing you to glorifie God in the confession of your greinous faults remembring that no time can priueledge no place conceale nor Persons beare downe and smother the shedding of blood but God in his due time will discouer the same and make the places of concealement the stages of discouery Yea he will make the Actors themselues to discouer their owne sinnes The blood of Abel shall crie for vengeance from the earth and the blood of these murthered soules hath cried for vengeance from the bottome of the Pond And therefore Iustifie God in this wonderfull discouery And so the Lord giue you wisedome in time to make your Peace with him This was the effect of the reuerend Iudges Exhortation as himselfe pleased to anow the same Which beeing ended their iudgement was pronounced and so respited till Manday for their execution that so in the méan time they might bee prepared by repentance to the comfortable issue thereof And this of the third Scoene of this second part of this Tragedy CHAP. 7. 1 Containing the execution of the Murtherers 2 And such accidents as fell out therein 3 Together with such Vses as may be made thereof VVe are now come to the last Scoene of this Tragedy concerning the Execution of the murtherers And herein we may first behold the singular wisedome of God in disposing thereof according to the diuers condition of the Murtherers For wheras there was two conuicted condemned for this haynous murther namely Land and Worlich Though these both were brought to the Gallowes and knew no more but they should both dye yet such was the prouidence of God guiding
and iust scandall either awaken them to repentance or conuince them to punishment Behold how the Lord takes the wise in their craftines They desire to be senselesse of sin that they may commit it more greedily and the more greedily they commit the same the more they prouoke the world through their scandall and it one danger to awaken them thereout what remedie is now left in carnall wisedome to make vp the breach and lull them a sléepe againe Behold againe the hight of this wisedome in sin and obserue how the Lord takes the wicked in their craftines If Elia will Prophesy no good but euill vnto vs while wee sleepe in sin yet welfare Zidkiah that will warrant good successe therein flattering vs that wee may go vp and prosper because hitherto it hath gone well with vs and though he lie falsely yet he will walke in the spirit that hee may deceiue more effectually yea hee wants not his rough garment of tything mint and comin yea he will not spare herein to humble flesh by voluntary deuotions of Pilgrimage penances and such like trash to the satisfying of the flesh euen in a great shew of wisedome to abase the same And what now shall be spared for the sinne of the soule though it be to the parting with our substance yea our first borne and all yea which is the hight of this delusion shall not a greater sinne be made a price for the lesse shall not the murther of Princes become an expiation for all our personall sinnes Behold here the depth of the Mistery of iniquity and admire with me the Justice of God in taking the whore and her accursed brood in their owne craftines that while they estéeme their owne blood vile that they may murther the Lords annoynted they haue iustly brought the Kings of the earth vpon their heads to secure themselues in subuerting Antichrist whom otherwise they could haue bene contented still to haue made their band for the satisfying of their lusts Oh! the vnsearchable riches of the wisedome and mercy of our God who turnes about the carnall wisedome of man tending only to it present bodily good to be meanes of remouing that great stumbling blocke whereby their soules were ensnared that so they might ascribe vnto him alone the glorie of their true happines so farre aboue and contrary to their corrupt intent Well thus we see how the Lord takes the wise in their craftines That the world may securely reuel in sin the false Prophet must bee a snare vpon Mispah to cry ayme thereto that so the blind leading the blind both may fall into the ditch And is not this prouidence of God very remarkeable in these daungerous dayes of the contempt and peruerting of the word of God that though the Lord feedeth the hungry with good and wholesome food yet the daintie and full stomake is either choaked with chaffe or puffed vp with wind that so seeming that which he is not he may not see what truely he is and thereby be both preuented of sound curing and withall hardened to destruction Behold here then some further light to iustifie the Prouidence of God in the ouer-flowing of sinne amidst so glorious light of the Gospell Not that the word is any true cause thereof but onely a meanes to discouer and conuince the same whereby as through our naturall rebellion the more sinne is conuinced the more it is enraged and so encreased thereby so through carnall wisedome the light being peruerted becomes a broker vnto sinne and thereby proues a further meanes to encrease and ripen the same And yet all this in great Iustice and exceeding Equity The Lord herein giuing the wicked their desires for the accomplishment of his righteous decree in their condemnation in that themselues are their owne caruers in the meanes there vnto And all this executed by his mighty word becomming thus vnto the wicked a sauour of death vnto death whereby as he taketh the wise Papist and Atheist in their Craftines so doth he also iustly confound the Prophane Libertine who while he fathers that vpon the Word which proceeds from his owne corrupt sense and application thereof doth therefore Iustifie the word in his hardening thereby and so is Iudged by the Word while he peruerteth the same to such ends as are contrary thereunto And thus hitherto for the Iustifying of Gods prouidence in disposing of such greuious sinnes as do accompany and preuaile euen in the most glorious light of the Gospell of Iesus Christ. CHAP. 2. Wherein first an entrance is made by way of Application vnto the Particular sinne of Murther being the proper subiect of this Treatise where 2. The Progeny and heynousnesse of this sinne is discouered and enlarged 3. The causes and occasions thereof in generall are explained 4. The Dangerous Effects and consequences thereof are detected And so 5. Such seuerall vses are propounded as both tend to the preuenting of this sinne as also for the wise suppressing and weeding out thereof FRom that which hitherto hath bene discoursed concerning the Prouidence of God in disposing of such multiplicity and encrease of sinne in this glorious light of the Gospell we may gather these Conclusions First that the Gospell is not properly the cause of these euils but onely 1 the ignorance thereof 2 peruerting the light to the iustifying of sinne or else our want of loue and so obedience thereunto 2 That as Ignorance breeding Error and so Disobedience to the truth is the Mother of all that grosse wickednesse that is discouered thereby So in that Popery is the chiefe and onely Patron of ignorance so it becomes also the very Chaos of all errors and delusions and so proues the maine Broker to all grosse and desperate wickednesse 3 That whereas the weapons of Popish warfare are only carnall and diuellish vsing these as her last refuge when her Paper bolts and enchantments will not preuaile to roote out and destroy all her opposits as being that Scarlet-coloured Whore whom nothing will secure and satisfie but the bloud of Saints and all such as shall oppose her Tyranny Therefore howsoeuer all other sinnes are harbored in her bosome as beeing ashamed to haue them knowne to the world Yet this sinne of Murther is her cheife darling and glorious sinne whereof she is so farre from being ashamed as that she raignes only thereby and triumphs therewith not onely vpon her pretended power of the secular sword whereby she arrogates supreme authority ouer life death But especially vpon pretence of the Power of her Keyes whereby presuming ouer the soules as well as the bodies of men she thereby confirmes and iustifies this her vnsatiable thirst of bloud as either seruing for the good of their soules whose bodies she butchered or else by cutting off such supposed Leapers thereby securing the estates of others Thus doth her Progeny declare the same who is of her Father the Diuell that was a murtherer from the beginning So her condition doth
maintaine peace with God A second preseruatiue against this bloody sinne is to maintaine peace with Men I say so farre as possible we may to haue peace with all men This we shall do If we be carefull to giue vnto each his due according to their callings and occasions as comfort to whom comfort belongs tribute to whom tribute c. 2 If we can in all wrongs looke vp to God and so leaue vengeance vnto him as considering wee haue deserued in his Justice a thousand fold more 4 If we be quicke in prouoking to goodnesse and recompensing the same and slow to wrath or any such occasions as may breed discord and such consequences as follow thereupon 5 Being wise not to further them in sinne or smother the same vnlesse it be of infirmity where there is some signe of repentance as knowing that brethren in euill will proue whippes to each other They haue not loued so dearely till their turnes be serued as when they haue their will they wil hate most deadly Witnes Ammon his dealing with Thamar his sister 6 Lastly that wee may keepe peace with men bee wee very wise in ruling our tongues auoyding rash censuring vpbraiding taunting c whereby anger is kindled and reuenge prouoked Thus may we maintaine peace with men A third Preseruatiue against this Monstrous sin is wisedome to auoyd the occasions thereof Which are those before touched As Pride Enuie Lust Ielousie Ambition Couetousnes Rage Bitter speaking Drunkennes and the like Unto which we may adde these that follow 1. Euill company as being a speciall firebrand as to all other sins so this how many murthers haue bene hatched and atchiued by the Oportunity and Benefit hereof 2 Discontent whereby the mind being inwardly at war with it selfe cannot be at peace with any other but hath this onely desperate remedie to ease it owne feuer euen to fall vpon any that stands in it way friend nor foe nothing comes amisse 3 Superstition as bewitching the heart with such vnsatiable loue that it thinkes no cost to deare no losse to great for the satisfying of it will worshippe no though it were to cause their children to passe through the Fire though it were to launch themselues with kniues and offer vp their bodies for the sinne of their soules Math. 6. 5. 6. 4 Vnlawfull recreation or abuse and excesse in lawfull Thus may we preuent this bloody sinne Lastly also take we some good directions how to weede it out and here there are Some instructions for the Magistrate that seeing the sword is put in his hands therefore he beware how hee suffer the Murtherer to escape least he heare that sentence because thou hast suffered a man to escape that was appoynted to death therefore thy life shall go for his life thy people for his people 2 Whereas there hath bene of antient time when trialls of titles depended rather vpon valour then truth an ordinary manner of disciding great differences by single combate betweene two parties this as it is vtterly vnlawfull and so no better then murther because they are not equall meanes to discide controuersies And 2. It falleth out that he is Conquerour before men who is guilty before God therefore the Magistrate must in no wise giue way to these lest he be guilty of the blood that is spilt hereby 3 Much lesse may he tollerate those single combates that rise vpon quarrels and vaine pleas of reputation Valour disgracefull speeches c. because they haue neither any sound warrant from the Word no not in any reason or equity may be endured 4 As for Sanctuaries and Popish Receptacles for Murtherers neither may the Magistrate allow of these because the Lord hath expresly commanded That such an one shall be taked from his Alter and die Exod. 21. 14. according as Ioab was serued in the like case 1. Kings 2. 24. 5 Seeing populous assemblies vnder pretence of Recreations are vsually occasions of Quarrels and so of murthers therefore the Magistrate must be meruailous wise in giuing an Inch lest the People take an Ell rather studying to restrains the vnbridled corruption of the people with such as may humble the flesh then to yeeld them any occasion to turne their liberty into wantonnesse remembring that the pretence of such liberty hath beene the colour to draw vnlawfull assemblies together and so prouoke to Rebellion and great blood shed Consider the blood that was spilt in iest when Ioab and Abner met together with their companies and tell me whether that iest were not in earnest that merriment madnesse Thus for the Magistrate For Priuate men let them wisely obserue those rules deliuered formerly for preuention of this sinne and the same will also enable them to wéede it out And thus hitherto of this bloody sinne together with the Nature Haynousnesse Causes and Meanes to preuent the same It followeth now that wee make some particular application hereof vnto the instance in hand that so wee may discerne the truth of this Description confirmed in this example And therein wonder at the wisedome and prouidence of God in permitting so horrible a wickednesse and after so long concealing thereof in due season discouering the same CHAPTER 3. Of the particular Murther at Halsworth And first of the occasions and causes thereof 2 Of the Actors and Accessaries therein 3 Of the Parties that were Murthered 4 Of the Manner and Circumstances how they were made away 5 Of the Meanes to conceale the Murther beeing committed 6 And diuerse obseruations considerable on either side HAuing thus discoursed of the Nature of Murther in generall It now remaineth that we examine the Particular instance that hath occasioned this Discourse Namely the Murther that was lately discouered and conuicted at the Last Assize at Berry Wherein first offers it selfe to our consideration such circumstances as occasioned and drew out this sinne The Maine Roote and ground whereof was this One M. Norton dwelling in the Towne of Halsworth in high Suffolke being a man though of faire possessions yet of a very foule and euill fauour Both in regard of his Profession as being no better then a Church-Papist the most dangerous subiect the Land hath As also in regard of his practise being sutable to his profession and therefore of necessity debosht and desolate hauing his neighbours vineyard lying by him cast his eye vpon it and hauing got some hold in the Land of his Neighbour Widdow Leeson either beeing morgaged vnto him or forfeited vpon the morgage that he might cléere the land wholly to himselfe from the widow and her Issue First attempted by cunning sleights and secret oppressions yea by feined kindnesses as feeding them with money and to draw the widow and her children to his Lure or else to inwrap them so in his snares that vpon any occasion he might either curbe them or make pray of them To this end when otherwise he could not bring them to his bent vpon a pretended Action he cast the eldest of
them into Prison that so his misery might terrifie the rest where either by some secret stratagem or else as the most credible report is being debarred of necessary sustenance his friends not being suffered to minister vnto him and his Iaylor happily beeing feed to restraine him thereof he pined euen through want and so perished in the Goale This was the first Scoene of this bloudy Tragedy Whereon before we go further let vs pause a little and obserue somewhat thereout for our better instruction both to iustifie the former discourse of Murther as also to preuent the like ends in our selues laying to our hearts such things as may be gathered hence First obserue we the Roote and foundation of this misery and that the rather because it is not our owne conceit but the sensure of the right Honorable and thrice Reuerend Iudge who vpon Nortons appearing at the Barre did so diuinely challenge him that he was the roote of this practise the other that were his instruments therein were but the branches springing vp there-from he was the sword that cut those innocents liues asunder his agents were but the hands to execute therewith This roote thus branded and layd open in his colours Obserue we further therein these Particulars 1 his inward condition as being a Papist in heart and so as making no bones of any sinne so especially lesse sticking at the sinne of blood as being the glory of his Idol and prop to maintaine the same therefore honoured with no lesse then the imputation of merit And yet withall being a Protestant in shew that so hee might the better colour and shuffell vp his sinne and with the harlot wipe his mouth as if he had done no iniquitie whereby 1 wee may take the true scantling of a branded Papist that though hee be humble like the lambe his pretence be saluation yet he speakes like the dragon nothing but blood and fire when he cannot deceiue otherwise he pretendeth like the harlot offerings of peace and payment of vowes yet her wayes go downe to hell and her pathes to destruction And so wee may be aduised to looke for no better at their hands who eate of our bread and go vp into the house of God with vs thē as Dauid complained of such treacherous friends euen to lift vp the heele against vs and if they can doe it finely euen to Poyson vs with the host which they haue consecrated for our welfare And therefore of all other to bee most iealous of such hollow friends 2 From the inward condition of this bitter Roote also proceed we further to his outward estate And that first in regard of his meanes being of faire reuenew sufficient if hee could haue bene content to his bountefull mantenance yet if we cōsider withal his abuse of this large portion by royoting and prodigality wee may easily discerne euen great feare of want in much aboundance and thereby imagine what such feare of want may prouoke vnto euen an vnlawfull desire of what is not our owne as a iust punishment for the abuse of our owne and so as opportunity and power is on our hand such an effecting our desires as by the close conuayance thereof may be free from blame or shame Behold here then the causes and prouocations to this bloody sin Luxurie threatens want and feare of want breeds couetousnesse couetousnesse leads vs blindfold to make pray where we fasten first and opposition begets murther to conceale or Iustifie the same Thus Ahabs prodigality in maintayning Baals Priests prouokes him through diuine iustice to couet his Neighbours vineyard y t so his violation of Gods honor might be iustly auenged by the crie of y e innocent blood which he so cruelly spilled and that hee might cloake and iustifie his deuouring thereof the blood of Naboth must write the deed and pretence of religion and iustce must peale and confirme the same And thus our Ahabs prodigality in maintayning happily such croaking frogges as runne vp and downe the world to make combustions and massacres prouokes him to couet his Neighbour Leesons vinyard that lay pat for his tooth and that he might more securely make pray thereof the blood of her children must confirme the same when otherwise by cunning fairer meanes they will not be brought thereto and pretence of law equity must colour the fact that so it may passe currant with men what is abhominable in the sight of God Whereby we may learne as to walke frugally in that competency which God hath allowed vs least otherwise a great deale may proue too little and that in smallest measure we may be content remember we that our liues consists not in aboundance but in the blessing of God who makes a small thing sufficient where he affords no more labouring with all dilligence to husband that little we haue that so in the hand of the diligent may be plenty whereas the reuenues of the sluggard do soone fade and molter away A thing of very fearefull experience for the most part in our Gentry that as no reuenue will vsually serue their luxurie and excesse so they are so fine fingred that they cannot labour and so high minded they are that they are ashamed to begge and therefore their last refuge is either to turne Cheators in gaming or huntsmen on the high way or Pandors to baudy houses or which is the fayrest Laysie Abby-lubbers I should say Almes-men to be fatted vp in the sty and hardned to destruction Before I passe this first Scoene obserue wee yet one thing more in this bitter roote namely his manner of proceeding in this Bloody Tragedy At the first very Fayre and charitable to the outward shew féeding them with money and feasting them with good cheere sorting them with boone companions to passe the time away mercily but indeede to cheat them of their money and make them secure At the next bout more roughly yet conuayed with great cunning and secrecy vnder pretence of Law casting into prison and if this will not doe the feat then at the last murther confusion iust so dealt Pharaoh with the Israelits and so this bloudy Pharaoh dealt with these Widdowes children and surely such are all the wayes of sinne such and no better is the successe of all sinners though the wine bee pleasant in the cuppe and sweete in the going downe yet in the end it bites like a serpent and kils like a Coskatrice though Iael inuite Sisera into her Tent and lull him asleepe yet in the end shee fastens him with a naile to the ground Looke we therefore to the end of sinne and so the sweete beginning shall not deceiue vs and distrust wee then the wicked most when they most fawne vpon vs because though their lips drop hony yet swords are in their hearts and they may be sheathed in our bowels before wee are aware of them Thus of the first Scoene of this Bloody Tragedy The second followes
more bloody and desperate The next sonne Iohn Leeson laying claime to his Inheritance hath his mouth stopped with a good round summe of money and withall a guard is set vpon him of bloudy and desperate villaines yet masked vnder pretence of good fellowes and acquaintance both to fléece him of his money and make him sure enough from making Hugh-and-cry after them By these hee is encountred and trayned to an Ale-house vp at the Mill-hill a place remote from much cōpany and so fit to doe mischiefe here his head is filled with drinke and his mind secured by sports and gaming from feare of danger here hee is detained by these meanes till the night and then he is knockt on the head and stript of his money and his body is dragd to a great pond not farre off is fastned in the deepest part thereof with a stake and block thereupon that so it might not rise vp to discouer the wickednesse Behold here first the progresse and encrease of sinne if secret oppression will not preuaile if cunning will not carry it then open violence shall if there be no remedy then blood must quench the thirst Thus Dauid when hee had abused Vriah by taking away his wife howsoeuer hee would faine haue spared his seruants life by making him an instrument to conceale his Adultery calling him from the Campe to that end giuing him wine to make him forward to his liberty yet when he saw these meanes would not preuaile then his last refuge was to take away Vriahs life that so in his end his sinne also might séeme to dye which indéede was the onely meanes to make it crye loud for vengeance And let this aduise sinners to preuent the beginnings of sinne lest when they would they cannot stay the rage thereof If yet through carnall wisedome they will still goe forward hoping by one sinne to hide another let them know that their wisedome will prooue their confusion séeing while they thus ripen their sinnes they in the end cry loud in the eares of the Lord for vengeance who will in due time recompence innocent bloud vpon the shedders thereof so Dauids Children re-payd the price of the Blood of his seruants and Nortons blood is like to answer for the bloud of his neighbours children as Lands hath done already Lastly obserue we heere the Iustice of God in making partakers in sinne Instruments to punish each other For to speake a little of those that were conuicted of this murther what were Land Worlish any other then Prophane and loose persons hauing sold them to doe wickednesse euen to any that would hire them thereunto As for Land why he was Nortons Instrument from time to time to serue his Writs and bring any into his snares and cruel clutches nay he was the Diuels Factor to draw fooles from drunkennesse to shame and spoyle as himselfe confessed euen vpon the Gallowes To speake more sparingly of Worlish because the Lord hath yet respited him to repentance in hope that he will further discharge his conscience and satisfie the world in the more full discouery of what yet lies in darkenesse Yet as there is sufficient to condemne him at least as an accessary euen out of his owne mouth as shall héereafter appeare so were he not guilty of this sinne yet as he confessed on the Gallowes his loose and prohane life were sufficient to bring him to that shamefull end Such were these parties that are hitherto conuicted of the murther whereof the one is already executed the other onely respited for his owne and the publick good And what were they that fell into their bloody hands surely fit companions for such Copesmates brethren in euill companions in prophanenesse drunkards and what not and therefore iustly dying in their owne sinnes howsoeuer vniustly in regard of the instruments and manner thereof yet iustly I say by the righteous doome of the Lord who makes brethren in euill instruments of each other punishment that as Land and Worlish were the meanes to bring them to their ends so their deaths hath and will be the ouerthrow of their murtherers Thus of the second Scoene of this cruell Tragedy The third followes yet more fearefull and bloody About two yeares after a third sonne renues the suite for the Land and hauing procured a suppena to bring the Oppresser into the Chancery carries his sister a long with him to serue the same where being discouered hanging the same at Nortons doore because he either could not or durst not meete his person as being through former guilt become more iealous and outragious they were both seased on I hope you may imagine by the former bloody hands and so as the pond hath now discouered being cruely made away were cast thereunto and staked downe therein as their brother was that so the fact might bee buried with them for euer so vnsatiable is the thirst of blood when once the sweet thereof is tasted that still the wicked must bee drinking deeper thereof so desperate is the estate of sinners that they must plunge themselues still more deepely in wickednes so foolish is sinne to mend it selfe by the encrease thereof yea herein most foolish when it seemes to be most wise that while it seekes to preuent most securely it discouery that so it may ease the conscience of the guilt thereof the more it encreaseth the guilt by the secret conuayance of sin euen as the fire the more it is suppressed the more it striueth to breake out yea the more man in wisedome labours the hiding of sin and flatters himselfe in the security thereof the more he prouokes the Lord to discouer his skirts the more he hastens himselfe to righteous vengeance that so the Lord may haue the only glory of his discouery confusion who out of his secret conuayance spares not to chalenge y e prouidence of God as if he saw them not or could not disappoint them Thus while the wicked say peace and safety we haue made all sure then shall a suddaine destruction come vpon them as the trauaile vpon a woman with child and they shall not be able to escape Thus when Babilon saith shee sits as a Queene and shall see no euill then her plagues shall come vpon her in one day so righteous is the Lord that iudgeth the whore Well thus these poore soules are now buried in the pond yea a block is layd vpon them y t they shall not rise againe The murtherers they sing care away and reuell with their spoyle the world is at rest no notice taken of them no missing them by their Freinds who were informed that Ireland had receiued them no seeking them by their enemies who knew well enough where they were If guilt of sinne troubled yet feare of discouery bit it in and policy sought to drown the conscience by surfeiting in sin that so Peace might be at home as all was quiet abroad And so foure yeares are passed ouer in great