upon him the office of a Pastor and yet not Feede his people that depend upon him To be a Watchman and yet not give the people Warning of ensuing Danger To be a Leader and yet not Instruct GODS people in the spirituall Warfare To be an Ambassador and yet not Declare GODS Message to the people To be their Physitian and yet not See to the peoples Health Doth he not make himselfe Guilty of their Miscarriage and Betray the Trust which was committed to him It cannot be denied Neither is there much difference betweene the Shepheards destroying the Sheepe with his owne hands or leaving them to the mercy of the Wolse Or of a Captaines giving up a Castle or not defending it against the enemy when it is besieged But I have farre Worse then these viz. Vnpreaching Ministers to acquaint you with and must therefore goe forward Secondly Vnpreaching Ministers doe Edifie to Damnation and by their scandalous living or by their Serpentine preaching do pull downe and destroy more then GODS Faithfull Preachers build up 1. Great are the Number even of those that preach well whose Lives are most Vicious and Abominable Though one of them were enough to stagger a whole Nation considering how conversant they are in and about those Divine and Heavenly Mysteries contained in the Word That their whole trade and profession is holinesse That they are his Ambassadors and represent his person who in Scripture is call'd The Holy-One yea Thrice Holy Holy Holy is the LORD of Hosts Esay 6. 3. whose Law is Holy whose Spirit is Holy whose Will is Holy whose Word is Holy who is Righteous in all his wayes and Holy in all his workes Psal 145. 17. making us also which are his servants an Holy people Deut. 7. 6. An Holy Priesthood 1 Pet. 2 5. His Holy Temples 1 Cor. 6. 19. Yea when they are appointed Patterns of Holinesse and have undertaken by their holy conversation and zealous exhortation to draw others to Holinesse and yet no whit partake of holinesse themselves but remaine without the least tincture thereof in their hearts and lives what can men thinke of it There was a Woman much spoken of in some parts of this land that lived in a professed doubt of the Deiâ—y Yea even after illumination and repentance she could hardly be restored or comforted Shee often profest that the vicious and offensive life of a great learned man in the towne where she dwelt did occasion those damned doubts in her mind How may it then stagger poore Christians that heare of an hundred such yea when they shall perceive them so much the worse by how much the more they are conversant in the word when the very meanes of their reformation for want of a good and honest heart becomes the Fuell of their wickednesse when they shall verifie and fulfill that Spanish proverbe Come Sancto cagá Diabolo They have eaten downe Saints and voyd forth Devills As that Viper is the deadliest which feeds the sweetest It was the saying of a Bishops Cook That all the Noble mens houses that he had ever lived in were ranke Puritans to his masters I wish we could not apply it to hundreds of the Ministry who justifie that proverbe The nearer the Church the further from God As it fared among the Jewes the nearer they were to the Sanctuary the further they were from Sanctity Or as one gives testimony of the Romane Clergy That Of all Christians Italians are the worst Of all Italians the Romans Of all Romans the Priests Of all Priests the Cardinalls and commonly the most leud Cardinall is chosen Pope Not that the word of GOD which is holy and just and good Rom. 7. 12. is the proper cause of their being the worse no more than the Sun shining upon a Dunghill is the cause of greater stinke or its heat reflecting upon venemous and banefull objects the bâ—eeder of horrid Serpents Well may it prove an occasion thereof or at least make manifest that which lay hid in the heart before as a furious Mastiffe dog is the madder for his chaine because it is so powerfull and operative that it will either quicken or kill either prove the sweet savour of life unto life or become the savour of death unto death 2 Cor. 2. 16. 2 Pet 3. 16. For none ever heard it but they were either the better or the worse by it It is like a fructifying Dew or raine which fals not upon any ground in vaine but will produce either the Herbs Flowers and fruites of Faith and good Workes Or the weeds and bryers of impiety and prophanenesse And still the more of this raine falling upon Clay the dirtier it will be Briefly as a Cholericke stomach will convert all meates into Choler and as Spiders will sucke poyson from the most fragrant flowers So a wicked heart will make a Temptation of every thing and the frequency of distempers will weaken the vertue of any receit He that shall eate but a Graine of Opium and increase the quantity every day shall be able at length to devoure it as Bread and digest that which would kill twenty others Againe Take the dead carkasse of a man and cloath it with a thousand garments you shall never make it warme because it wants the naturall heat within which those adventitious helpes might cherish So if a soule be dead to goodnesse though you feed it with a thousand precepts till it become a quick Library of learning a Magazeen of knowledge yet you cannot put the heat of holinesse into it because the living Principle is wanting Grace divine But let that sparke be first in it and then all these helpes will blow it into a flame as experience proves abundantly blessed be GOD For although these degenerate yet the story of GOD makes other Ministers no lesse good than wise But which is the misery one of the former will doe more harme and give more deadly wounds to the Church by his scandalous life and wicked example than twenty of the latter can doe good or heale againe by their conscionable Preaching and pious example Indeed they may seeme to build up no lesse with their good Preaching for those who in their acts are fooles may in their words be Philosophers then they pull downe by their ungodly living But it is otherwise For First Who will regard the words of a knowne dissembler that shrowd an Egyptian heart under the habit of an Israelite who like Ethiopians are white in teeth only every way else cole-blacke when resembling the Devill in Samuels mantle they are Christians in skin Atheists at Coare Have Jacobs voice Esaus hands and head GOD in their mouthes and Satan in their hearts whose life and profession is a continuall incongruity and his workes Antipodes to his words when his hand and tongue give each other the lye like some foolish minstrell that sings one thing with his mouth and harps another with his finger When they shall speake like Angels in
formality and stirres them up with great zeale to raile against all that are better informed which is the onely marke at which those Sophisters aime 5. Others there are that preach nothing to their people what ever their auditory be but Controversie that onely pleaseth themselves and some itching eares Therefore if it please not others they may turne the buckle of their girdle For to preach against sin and ignorance to discover Satans stratagems and the like were to thwart the bent of their peoples wils and their owne studies I blame not the preaching of it but the preaching of it onely But what is the effect of this their preaching Their simple hearers so lust after fruitlesse knowledge for so it is comparatively that they seldome finde any roome for that which they should know as Repentance Regeneration Faith and the like Yea in busying their heads about the highest matters their aspiring wits mount so high that they fall againe like Babel and runne into Doubts whiles they seeke for Resolutions reeling from Religion to Religion like a drunken man from wall to wall they go to and fro seeking and seeking which is the true Church like them which sought after Elias his body and found it not or like those blind Sodomites which wearied themselves to find Lots doore yet could not find it As I know some who have spent all their time in reading of Controversie yet have at this houre their Religion to chuse 6. Another sort of Men-pleasers are such as preferring Abana and Pharpar before the River of Iordan chuse rather to feed their people with he Onions and Melons of humane speculations then with the spirituall Manna of GODS Word Which is the cause their hearers have such leane and hunger starved soules There be a world of unhallowed Divines that being sent to sue for GOD wooe for themselves For all their aime and end is To set out their Learning and Reading and to breed admiration of their wit and worth Whence their Sermons are so richly compounded of all Arts and Daplod so full of Authorities from Poets Orators and Philosophers and so stuft with rich magnificent pompous and painted words well-couched phrases Oratory Figures and Patheticall Metaphors For they runne all upon Metaphors and by their good wils speake not without a Figure Together with Hebrew Greeke and Latin Sentences That no Roome can be afforded for Scripture Yea they Scorne the Grave Elequence the Stately Plainnesse the Rich Poverty that Humble Majesty that shines in the Simplicity of the Scripture The Contemptible Coursnesse of Scripture-Phrase grates their Delicate Eares and offends their Queasie stomachs For they are not able to Peise and so not to Praise how in Fewnesse of words there is Fulnesse of Matter That they are Thick and Short Pithy and Patheticall Briefe and yet Full Concise and yet Cleare Carelesse and yet Accurate Which men if they cannot instruct GOD how to deliver his mind better yet they are not so Well-pleased with the SPIRITS way of Expression as with their Owne when delivering their Words by Weight and Drawing their Notions into Knots and Borders placing them like Checquer or Fret-worke driving their Clauses to so Even a Cadency that they fall in a Iust-measure and sound And to give them their Due Their Discourses are so Curiously Couch'd so Neatly Starch'd and set Their Words so Ranked and meetly Marshall'd as if they were a Kinne to Him whose Name is Six-Hundred-Sixty-Six And yet excell they never so much in wit learning order elegancy and phrase Admit they deliver their words in Waxe with a Soring-sublimity of high Straines and Choice Composures Though it move Great Delectation of affection Suppose they transport their hearers with the wind of words and flouds of eloquence yet they are but Frothy and Vaine Preachers yea they preach no more in reality then Harpocrates the Egyptian who was alwayes painted with his finger in his mouth For as every sound is not Musick so every Sermon is not Preaching A maine end of Preaching is Converting as the end of Fishing is Catching But their Sermons tend to no such end Well may these Cobwebs of wit and learning be curious and admirable for their finenesse of thread and worke but they are of no substance or profit to the soule As for their converting of a sinner or building up of a Christian they know not what it meanes As let me appeale to their own Consciences whether in all their lives they have so much as Civilized or Philosophized one drunken debauched and vitious liver by this their manner of preaching Or can any one of their Applauders say Such a man hath made me an Hater of vice and a Lover of vertue No for their Sermons doe not more please the eare then they starve the soule being like that Golden Banket which Caligula set before his guests which onely delighted the eye but neither pleased the palat nor satisfied the stomach So that to speak rightly They Cosen the world with Copper for Gold with Glasse for Pearle with Seeming for substance and sell us breath for the bread of life to strengthen us and froth in stead of Cordiall and Celestiall water to comfort us The Prophet that hath my word let him speake my word faithfully What is the Chaffe to the Wheat saith the LORD Jer. 23. 28. Or if the hungry soule finds any thing in their Sermons to feed upon it is but like a meale of Crafish where is much picking very little meate or as a banket of Kickshawes which neither makes good bloud nor begets spirits neither strengthens the sinewes nor increaseth the marrow but onely procures lust makes the belly flatuous and swels the body I need not stand to amplifie it You finde in your owne observation and experience a great difference betweene these Speculative Preachers and experimentall Divines As heare the one that speakes spirituall things in spirituall words with spirituall devotion and zeale and you will be ready to say with those Disciples going to Emmaus Did not our hearts burne within us whiles he spake Luke 24. 32. Or with those Matth. 7. 29. He speakes with authority and not as the Scribes Or with him the Apostle speakes of 1 Cor. 14. 24 25. who hearing the secrets of his heart made manifest being convinced fals down and worshippeth saying God is in him of a truth Whereas heare one of these Speculative Divines preach perhaps like a discourse of Philosophy read the Invention the Eloquence and the Pertinency doth presently move you and tickle your spirit But there is nothing moveth or pricketh your Conscience For it is not to it they speak I know nothing pleaseth the carnall eare more then variety And that stomachs which within one moneth are weary of Manna set more by Sallats and Sauces and Kickshawes flashes of wit then Substantiall food the Word of GOD. And let such a Corinthian Preacher speake the Abortive sigments of his owne braine yet their superstitious applause shall
AN ABSTRACT of some late CHARACTERS OR How the principall means appointed for our Reformation is become the maine fuell of our Wickednes Laid downe in Sundry Characters of L. Bishops Dumb Dogs Non-Residenciaries Men-Pleasers Unpreaching Ministers that Edify to damnation By their Scandalous Living False wresting The Scripture Mis-applying The Scripture So turning the Truth of GOD into a Lye that they may Discourage the Godly Incourage the Wicked In which the Blind world may see to their shame how Satan guls them with a multitude of Misprisions and false surmises against the Godly That so he may Barricado their hearts against all Good Necessary to be knowne in these times of Discovery LONDON Printed for James Crumpe and are to be sold at his house in Little Bartholomews in Well-yard 1643. 1 For L. B. WOe unto you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites For ye shut up the Kingdome of heaven against men For ye neither goe in your selves neither suffer ye them that are entring to goe in Ye have taken away the key of knowledge c. Luk. 11. 52. Mat. 23. 13. See more v. 4 5 6 7. 23 24 25. 27 28. to 36. Joh. 11. 47 48. 53. and 12. 10 11. 3 Joh. 9. 10. 2 For D. D. Her watchmen are blind They are Shepherds that cannot understand They are all ignorant They are all Dumb-Dogs they cannot barke They are greedy dogs that can never have enough Isa 56. 10 11. See more Heb. 13 17. Ezek. 3. 17 to 22. and 33. 6 7. and 34. 10. Luk. 16. 2. 10. to 16. 1 Pet. 5. 2 3 4. 3 For. N. R. Woe be to the Shepherds of Israel that doe feed themselves should not the Shepherds feed the flockes ye eat the fat and ye cloath you with the wooll ye kill them that are fed but ye feed not the flocke The diseased have ye not strengthened neither have ye healed that which was sicke neither have ye bound up that which was broken nor brought againe that which was driven away nor sought that which was lost But with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them They were scattered because there was no Shepherd They became meat c. Ezek. 34. 2. to 2â— See more Prov. 27. 23. Ezek. 3. 17. to 22. and 33. 6 7. and 34. 10. Mat. 13. 25. Luk. 16 2. 10. to 16. Joh. 10. 1. 3 4 5. 10 12 13. Act. 20. 28. Heb. 13. 17. 1 Pet. 5. 2 3 4. 4 For M. P. Prophecy no more at Bethel for it is the Kings Chappell and it is the Kings Court c. Amos 7. 13. We preach not our selves but CHRIST JESVS the LORD c. 2 Cor. 4. 5. My speech and my preaching was not with the inticing words of mans wisdome but in demonstration of the Spirit and of Power That your faith should not stand in the wisdome of men but in the power of GOD 1 Cor. 2. 4 5. See more 2 Cor. 2. 17. and 4. 2. and 10. 4 5. Joh. 5. 43. Phil. 1. 15 16. 1 King 22. 13. 5 For S. M. Thou which teachest another teachest thou not thy selfe Thou that preachest a man should not steale dost thou steale Thou that saist a man should not commit adultery dost thou commit adultery c. Rom. 2. 21 10 25. From the Prophets of Jerusalem is prophanenesse gone forth into all the Land Jerem. 23. 15. Looke Levit. 10. 3. Psal 50. 16 17. 6 For U. M. They justify the wicked for reward and take away the righteousnesse of the righteous from them Isai 5. 23. Ye slay the soules that should not dye and save the soules alive that should not live by your lying to my people that heare your lies With your lies you have made the hearts of the righteous sad whom I have not made sad and strengthened the hands of the wicked that hee should not returne from his wicked way by promising him life Ezek. 13. 19. 22. The leaders of my people cause them to erre and they that are led by them are destroyed Isai 9. 16. Looke more 1 King 22. 23. Jer. 5. 31. and 8. 10. 11. and 9. 3. and 14. 14. and 23. 2 3. 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 21 22. 26 27 28 29. 32 36. Act. 20. 29 30. 7 For the People Beleeve not every Spirit but try the Spirits whether they are of GOD. Because many false Prophets are gone out into the world 1 Joh. 4. 1. Beware lest any man spoyle you through Philosophy and vaine deceit after the Tradition of men after the Rudiments of the world and not after CHRIST Colos 2. 8. See more Joh. 5. 43. and 7. 17. Mat. 24. 11. 24. Rom. 16. 17 18. 1 Joh. 4. 5 6. Characters of L. Bishops Dum Dogs Non-residenciaries Men-pleasers Unpreaching Ministers c. IT is the Abstract of Religion To imitate him whom we worship Neither are we worthy to be called Christians except we imitate CHRIST and square our lives according to the Rule of his Word Whence Linacre reading upon the New Testament the 5 6 and 7. Chapters of Saint Matthews Gospel and comparing those rules with Christians lives hee threw downe the Booke and burst forth into this Protestation Either this is not GODS Gospel Or we are not Christians And certainly if the Tith of us be Christians who call our selves so there are abundance of Christians in Hell For what eyes can but run over to see for the most part what lives men lead Now what should be the reason of this For it may move wonder to astonishment since we cannot be ignorant of what GOD requires in his Word For every house hath a Bible which plainely shewes that we need no other ground of our last and heavyest doome then Ye have not given ye have not visited c. Mat. 25. 41. to 46. And CHRIST hath continued his Gospel among us now above fourescore yeares with such supply of Able Ministers that no Nation under heaven may compare with us Having often and seriously thought of it I find that the onely cause why so few are Reformed is The many advantages which Satans instruments have in tempting to leudnesse above GODS servants in perswading to holinesse Some whereof are these which I can but name being injoyned to contract a large Volume within the compasse of a sheet or two of Paper Oh! that we could minde them so much as they concerne us First Satans instruments are farre more in number For whereas few have the courage to exhort others unto holinesse Satan who is stiled in Scripture The God of this world The Prince that ruleth in the aire and that Spirit which worketh in all the children of disobedience Ephes 2. 2. hath his tempters in every corner As Where shall a man come and not find seducers namely Drunkards ot Swearers or Adulterers or Idolaters or Sabbath breakers or scoffers at Religion or persecuters of the godly and the like who seduce both by voyce and by example and are set on worke by Satan as Apprentises
of my people with sweet words saying Peace Peace when there is no Peace Jer. 8. 11. Yee have wearied me with your words In that yee say Every one that doeth evill is good in the sight of the LORD and he delighteth in them c. Mal. 2. 17. They prophesie out of their owne hearts and follow their owne spirits having seene nothing from the LORD they seduced the people by sewing pillowes under their armes and rocking them asleepe with promising them Peace when there was No Peace And that as one of them built up a wall so others Daubed it with untempered morter Whom he compares to the Foxes in the Deserts not onely for their Craft but also for their Number For there were many of them that could see visions of peace for the people when the LORD pronounced a curse Ezek. 13. And likewise for their Diligence For saith the LORD I have not sent these Prophets yet they ranne I have not spoken to them yet they prophesied Jer. 23. 21. And then complaines That From the Prophets of Jerusalem was profanenesse gone forth into all the Land vers 13. 14 15. Whereas saith GOD If they had stood in my Counsell and had caused my people to heare my word Then they should have turned them from their evill way and from the evill of their doings vers 21. 22. 2. And as they Incouraged the Wicked So they did what they could to Discourage the Godly And of this the LORD complaines saying to the Foolish Prophets that prophesied out of their owne hearts and followed their owne spirits having seene nothing from the LORD Woe unto you for yee pollute me among my people for handfuls of Barly and for peeces of Bread yee hunt the soules of my people to make them flee with your lies Yee have made the hearts of the righteous sad whom I have not made sad and strengthned the hands of the wicked Ezek. 13. 22. Yee slay the soules that should not die and save the soules alive that should not live by your lying to my people that heare your lies verse 18. 19. And by Isaiah he complaines That they called Evill Good and Good Evill put Darknesse for Light and Light for Darknesse Bitter for Sweet and Sweet for Bitter Isa 5. 20. 23. That They justified the wicked for a reward and tooke away the righteousnesse of the righteous from them c. Where their doome is also pronounced For therefore saith the LORD As the fire devoureth the stubble and the flame consumeth the chaffe So their roote shall be rottennesse and their blossome shall goe up as the dust because c. vers 24. And the like by Malachi the Prophet who complaines That Their words were stout against the LORD of Hosts saying It was in vaine to serve GOD and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinances and that we have walked mournfully before him Calling the Proud happy Because they that wrought wickednesse were set up and they that tempted GOD were delivered Mal. 3. 13. to the end Thus they were so farre from discerning betweene the righteous and the wicked betweene him that serveth GOD and him that serveth him not That either they made the Good and Bad in one Condition as if there were no profit in serving the LORD Or else they justified the wicked and condemned the just as Solomon hath it Prov. 17. 15. And who doth not see That this kind of false Prophet is every where among us As mark well their resemblance 1. For Incouraging the wicked Doth not wickednesse every where abound most horribly And when the godly Ministers doe vehemently threaten vengeance unlesse men returne Are there not by and by others that step up and finde fault That men should be threatned with GODS judgements saying GOD is Mercifull we must preach the Gospel Or thus in effect You may goe to the Alehouse and drink and be merry together You may Dance and Play at Cards Bowles and other Pastimes upon the Sabbath-day You may keepe your Wakes have your May-Poles and recreate your selves You have Freedome in CHRIST Thus they flatter the people in their sinnes yea thus they seduce and bewitch mens soules unto destruction And is not this To strengthen the hands of the wicked that they should not turne from their wickednesse to beate them in hand That they be Good Christians and shall doe well enough For under a colour of preaching the Gospel That All are Sinners and shall be Saved by CHRIST they doe utterly abolish Sanctification For so they say They Beleeve in CHRIST It is enough Howsoever they live in blindnesse and all kind of ungodlinesse their consciences must not be troubled But if this be so what meanes our Saviour who willeth men To enter in at the strait gate shewing that Few shall finde it For if a man may follow his lusts and walk in the blindnesse of his heart all his life And then a Little Calling upon GOD at the last would serve what hardnesse were in it But the truth is They overthrow all the Doctrine of Regeneration and all the Precepts which CHRIST and his Apostles give for Walking worthy the Gospel But you may guesse why they teach thus They are commonly of a loose and dissolte life themselves and therefore they beare with the wickednesse of the people that the people may beare with them It is GODS expresse charge to every one whom he sends That they tell the people of their sinnes and waâ—ne them of the danger they are in by reason of them As heare what himselfe saith Ezek. 3. Son of man I have made thee a Watchman unto the house of Israel Therefore heare the word at my mouth and give them warning from me When I shall say unto the wicked Thou shalt surely die and thou givest him not warning nor speakest to admonish the wicked of his wicked way that he may live The same wicked man shall die in his iniquity But his bloud will I require at thine hands c. ver 17. 18. 19. And as this is an Everlasting rule for all So it hath beene the constant practise of all GODS faithfull Ambassadours and CHRIST himselfe as the whole current of Scripture shewes If I were permitted to inlarge my selfe Nor can there be a more worthy improvement of love and faithfulnesse then a servent opposition to the sinnes of those whom we pretend care of Whereas no Enemy can be so mortall to us as those officious Guardians whose flattery sooths us up in wickednesse For these are Traytors to the soule and by a pleasing violence kill the best part eternally All which laid together The Command of GOD The Constant Practise of all his faithfull Ambassadours and the Great Evill that comes of omitting the same shewes the Desperatenesse of these Preachers whom Martin Luther Vrsine and many others bitterly reprehend justly complain of For whiles they lay bolsters of Down under mens elbows Sooth and smooth them up in their faults
the wicked So no lesse in discouraging the Godly whether 1 Ministers or 2. People 1. They use their utmost to discourage all godly Ministers both by flighting their Sermons and slandering their persons 1. Touching their Sermons A godly Minister especially if he be a zealous and powerfull Preacher any whit famous or much followed as many had beene more secure if they had beene more obscure He shall not be able to Pray or Preach upon any point of Doctrine but they will being disposed to cavill find some thing to carpe at at least as they will wrest his words And then cut his thtoate with his owne knife As the Fowler in the Fable wounded the Eagle with that shaft which was feathered with her owne quill And its easie to censure or contradict a truth for truth is but one seeming truths are many Besides judgements are from every tongue a severall No man can thinke that the Prophets Apostles and CHRIST himselfe delivered false Doctrine For they were moved by the HOLY-GHOST and spake as the SPIRIT gave them utterance Act. 2. 4. Yet wee know the Baalites continually busied themselves in finding fault with Elijahs Doctrine 1 King 22. 11. Zidkiah and the rest of those 400. false Prophets most fiercely opposed Micayahs preaching Neither could out Saviour CHRIST be able to deliver the truth so safely but the Pharisees will finde fault with him and except against many particulars If Philip labour to convert the Samaritans by preaching the Gospell there will be a Simon-Magus as earnest in bewitching them with sorceries Act. 8. And lastly where a zealous Paul is there will be false Apostles malicious Priests Epipicurean and Stoick Philosophers Elymas the Sorcerer Alexander the Copper-Smith and eloquent Tertullus to oppose him whereof some mocke him Others say He is a Babler a Preacher of Sedition and Schisme and a setter forth of strange Gods now Doctrins c. doing him much evill and withstanding his preaching sore on purpose to turne away his hearers from the faith Act. 13. 7 8. and 17 18. to 21. and 24. 5. 2 Tim. 4. 14 15. In like manner a zealous Minister of CHRIST cannot so preach as to escape the forked tongues of venemous detraction nor so deliver the truth but it shall meet with exceeding opposition from these false teachers foretold of by CHRIST and his Apostles That what the right hand of the LORD doth raise the left hand of Satan may destroy That wicked one the Devill will ever be sowing Tares in the field of the Church among the Wheat as it is Matth 13. 24. 25. Against which sowers the Minister may well take up those words of Paul to Elymas Act. 13. 10 O full of all subtilty and all mischiefe The child of the Devill and enemy of all righteousnesse wilt thou not cease to pervert the streight wayes of the LORD And those other words to Alexander the Copper-Smith 2 Tim. 4. 14. 2. Their next stratageme is to slander their persons For as the malicious Priests and false Prophets slandered Jeremiah of telling lies to the people Jer. 26. 8 9. and 18. 18. and 36. Chapt. Or as the Priests and Pharisees slandered John Baptist our Saviour CHRIST Saint Paul and all the Apostles Matth 9. 34. Luke 11. 15. Or lastly as those of the Synagogue Act. 6. slandered Steven who when they were not able to resist the wisedome and the Spirit by which he spake affirmed he had spoken blasphemous words against Moses against GOD and his Law Vers 11. 13. So deales Satans Ministers at this day with CHRISTS messengers As let any knowing man take notice of the severall foule slanders which Baals Priests have raised upon most of the godly Ministers of note about London now these discovering times and he cannot but wonder that the Devill himselfe should be so impudent as to broach them there being no colour of truth in any one of them I have my selfe offered to many of the reporters ten pounds for twelve pence if they were able to make proofe of any one word which they affirmed upon their own knowledge to be true And have used my best indeavour to sift things out whether there were any ground or pretence for the rise of such a report and in the upshot found them like that which the foule mouth'd Watermen for these twelve yeares have mocked a godly discreet neighbour of mine with viz. That he kild his Cat and knockt out the head of his Kilderkin on a Munday The one for killing of a mouse the other for working upon the Sunday before Saying O leud Cat O prophane Beere Without once taking notice that the first Deviser of this Jeere did both rot and stinke and die in a most fearefull and unusuall manner as if GOD intended the party for a dreadfull spectacle of his wrath and vengeance to make all scoffers and slanderers beware of abusing his poore servants because they faithfully serve him The remembrance whereof one would thinke should strike their hearts and soules with terrour and amazement But wicked men are flint unto GOD wax to the Devill And which is the mischiefe true or false the common people that ignorant Fry or Superstitious swarme for in respect of their aptnesse to beleeve and tell lies I cannot give them a terme odious enough will not once question it and few are so wise as not to suspect the men whereby their Ministery becomes almost ineffectuall For thousands hereby are either hindred in good or hardned in evill As lop off the arme of a tree and it bringeth downe a great number of small branches with it To which slanders they alwayes adde that they are ignorant sots no scholars not worthy top each in a Pulpit Who may answer them as John Barbevile did some Friers that cald him ignorant Asse Admit wee were so yet shall our preaching witnesse against such Balaams as you are Neither doe some of them speake more falsely then others write for its strange to see how these un preaching-Ministers sharpen their pens and how deepe they dip them in the gall of the Red Dragon that they may write bitter things against the faithfull Ambassadors of JESUS CHRIST not forbearing to name them Which were not sufferable were the accusations true For he who hates not the person but the sinne cares onely to mention the sinne not the person And though it is justice to prosecute the vice yet it is mercy in this case to spare the offender Thus they deale by the primest men As Timocreon a Rhodian Poet did by noble Themistocles who at the request of the Athenians that envied him for his vernies made report in his verses That he was a covetous person a violater of his faith and no keeper of Hospirality Yea out of malice and to please great ones they will doe as Vlpian the Lawyer did by the Christians of his time Who wrote a booke to instruct the Emperors how they should Torment and Punish them As Lactantius hath Now if you
their Bitter Pils with Sugar that they may be taken with Delight Though with nothing so honest a Guile And that the Word of GOD may seeme guilty of their invectives and not the Serpents Enmity These White Devils in their Sermons will so fit Scriptures to their purpose and make them so suite with their passion that Malice it selfe shall Vnsuspected raile in the very Phrases of the Holy GHOST And they will beat their enemies though GODS friends with Divinity And think they may speak what they will so it be in the words of Scripture though falsely wrested and applied Let them have a Seeming opposition of Vice though indeed it be a Vertue They care not how they rage Their reproofes shall be no other then Libels and their Sermons then Philippicks So the Abuse of Divinity shall be maintained by Divinity and she miserably forced to justifie and continue her owne wrongs and GOD forced to speak for Baal the SPIRIT for the flesh Even fathering lies on the Father of Truth and teaching the Bastards of their own braine to call the Wisdome of Heaven Father Indeed some that have not observed this deepnesse of Satan will hardly think it possible they should alleadge the Word of GOD so as to serve their turnes in this their way of preaching But they have learned in the Colledge of Cardinals and in the Vniversity of Rome no lesse then Eight Severall waies of corrupting the Word of GOD and deluding the world Which I out of my Slender Abilities and small reading can trace them in As will appeare when these Characters shall come forth at large which I cannot stand to amplifie in this Abstract I confesse the most common and usuall way that these prophane Belshazzers have to Drinke Carnall Carouses in the Spirituall Vessels of the Temple is by Mis-Application For if they cite not a Text with Mutilation nor with Distortion the Beginning without the End or the End without the Beginning by wronging the words nor wresting the sense by maiming nor perverting it Yet by Mis-applying it they will turne the Truth of GOD into a Lie As put the case they preach against Straining out Gnats and Swallowing Camels Or Making a Glorious Profession without Practise Against Singularity Censoriousnesse and Rash-judging Or such as are Pure in their owne eyes Crafty and unjust in their dealings Against Rebellion and Disobedience to Magistrates c. Or if their humour lead them to Extoll Sincerity Humility Charity peace patience Brotherly-love and Fellowship GODS Mercy and the like As these if you marke it are the usuall theames they make choyce of except they cry up Praying and praise Diligence in our Callings that they may cry downe Preaching and condemne so much Hearing and busying our selves so much about Religion And wherein they most excell whether in praising or dispraising It is strange to see how they will lay load upon the Religious under some disgracefuâ—l name or other applying the Excesse or Defect to none but them whose onely care indeed is if they were rightly considered without prejudice to live as if there were no Gospel and to die as if there were no Law When indeed if they did apply them to the right parties that are most guilty in committing those sinnes or omitting those duties namely All Carnall and Vnhallowed Divines who professe themselves Ministers of CHRIST and GODS mouth to the people yea who professe Holinesse and Innocency in their very Vestures profane people and ignorant persons As I could both easily and fully prove If I might stand to answer these and the like their Serpentine Subtilties in particular They could not but confesse as once David to Nathan that They and They onely are The men Guilty of those crimes which they so severely condemne in others But if they were not cunning Plaisterers how should they be fit to Daub with untempered mortar Ezek. 13. 10. Onely hence we may note who are False Apostles And that in Personall Application great heed must be taken For otherwise a man may be a False Prophet in speaking the truth if it be not a truth to the Person to whom he speaketh it It was a truth which Jobs Three Friends spake to him being considered apart from the Person and Case But as they spake it to him and applied it it was Vtterly False And GOD detested it in them One mans meat may be another mans bane And so I have given you some instances how these Juglers in Divinity wrest and pervert the Scriptures and make Truth it selfe maintaine and justifie their Falshood The time and my memory would saile me if I should undertake to set downe all that I have heard and read in this kind For there is not a Text in the Bible but Ministers that I could name will draw Inferences from it either to Discourage the Godly or Incourage the Wicked Whom I cannot enough admire though I honour them not at all In deed For the most part you shall find if you mark it that all the testimonies which they alleadge for their owne ends are either Tropes or Figures or Allegories or Parables or Allusions or Dark speeches which when they presume to expound without conference of other Scriptures they wander and stray from the mark For if they did not wrest and pervert the word it 's impossible the Truth should maintaine Error Therefore we see that Eve never erred untill she corrupted the Text Gen. 3. 3. And upon this file hang all those Dusty Cobwebs of Rome as Purgatory the Real-Presence the Doctrine of Merit in Blowing up States and Murdering of Princes c. Wherein they catch soules like Flies and prey upon them with their poysonous breath But as we should not draw more from them then there is in them So every place of Scripture is so to be expounded as it may agree with all and crosse none Besides it is an Axiome received in their owne Schooles That we may not fetch an Argument in Divinity from Allegories and Metaphors unlesse we can elsewhere shew that the same thing is taught in a Literall sense True There is not a Leafe in the Sacred Volume that makes either for Voluptuousnesse or against Holinesse and Purity For to Please Flesh and Bloud is the Doctrine of Devils Yea as it is well observed There is not One Obscene word in all the Hebrew tongue which is one reason why it is cald The Holy Language Neither will these Eagles plumes brooke the blending with common feathers This heavenly gold scornes the mixture of base and sophisticate metals Yet these men will make it a nose of waxe and with their wicked hearts decoct the very Goodnesse of GOD to Venome By these few instances you may see how that under the colour of alleadging Scripture they delude the people as the Egyptian Juglers by counterfeiting Moses miracles deceived Pharaoh That when they alleadge it saying with those False Prophets Ezek 22. 28. Thus saith the LORD It is other of otherwise
be deceived by these Hornes of the Lamb. For there is no temptation so dangerous as that which comes shrouded under a Vaile of Holinesse and pretends Authority from GOD. The Holy Prophet himselfe was deceived by Such a Devil under another Prophets vizard 1 King 13. 18. to 24. Yea Satan made no doubt but he should Cousen CHRIST himselfe when he came to him with a Scriptum est It is written Matt. 4. If Hushai had not said I am for Absolom And whom Israel chuseth his will I be he had not disappointed the counsell of Achitophel which was then like the Oracle of GOD nor re-established David in his Kingdome 2 Sam. 16 18. So if these false Doctors should not say We are for CHRIST they could not withstand the True Ministers that deliver the words of GOD nor enthrone Anti-Christ in the Seat of CHRIST But besides Alleadging of Scripture and mixing Truth with Falshood they have other Great Advantages as 3. These Preachers are usually men of Extraordinary Parts being for the most part Exceeding witty subtile and eloquent did they imploy these gifts accordingly And still the Better their wit the Worse As the Earth the more fruitfull it is the more and more Pestilent are the Weeds in it if it be not sowen with good seed The sweetest Wine turnes to the sharpest Vineger The fairer the Stone is in the Toads head the more pestilent is the Poyson in her Bowels And it is commonly seene that a wicked man indowed with wit and learning is like a Spider and her Web wherein is more Venome then Aâ—â— as these verify For what Desperate advisements doe they give us in a Fine-filed Phrase And with what Powerfull and Partinent Expressions How doe they by their Elequence or Ornament of the tongue spread Sweet Snares and allure the hearts of men For they winne not by Battery but by Vndermining which is as secret as wicked So that what is wanting in the Goodnesse of the cause is supplied not onely in the Greatnesse of the Fees as I shewed before But also by the cunning of the Advocate And what they cannot performe by the Evidence of truth they seeke to attaine by the Eloquence of Aâ—â— which they improve to the utmost knowing that false things have need of foistings and filthy and foule things of ornaments and coverings In the meane time we have the same cause that Job had to say Our Enemies speake Eloquently against us But â—â—â—â—yâ—s â—ouâ—e oâ—â— tâ—ares unto God Job 16. 20. Not that we need be discouraged For more likely to be the Truth and we GODS Chosen because the wits of the world dispute against it and us Wit and Learning is like the Vnicorns horne which being in a skilfull mans hand is very precious and of admirable use But when in the Beasts head no lesse hurtfull and pernicious As the Church hath alwayes sound to her griefe How many learned and witty Hereticks doe we read of who were admired for their Fine Conceits and Elegant Expressions which fell from them whiles their Opinions and secretly-couched Doctrines were Dangerous and Mortall So that we may say of their Doctrines as Esâ—p said of his Tongues or Jeremy of his Figs Ier. 24. 3. Then the good and true nothing can be spoken better Then the bad and false nothing more perilous and vile Such an one was Balaam where he spake well never any Prophet spake more Divinely where he spake ill there was never any Devill spake more Desperatly He could not make Israel cursed by his Prophesie therefore he tries to effect it by his Policy He sends a Troop of Meabitish Whores among thom that so they might be tempted to offend GOD and GOD might cease to defend them He had confest before Numb 23. 23 That there could be no Inchantment nor Witchcraft against Israel No Devils but those Shee-Devils could doe it Numb 25. 4. As they are men of Extraordinary parts So they have Extraordinary Assistance from Satan which is another Prime Advantage That Satan is their Tutor to prompt and assist them to speake in and by them no man can doubt that beleeves Micajah the Prophet who relates before Ahab that there Came forth a Spirit and stood before the LORD saying I will goe forth and be a false Spirit in the mouths of all his Prophets To whom the LORD answered Thou shalt perswade Ahab and also prevaile Goe forth and doe so 1 King 22. 20. 21. 1 Chron. 18. 18. to 23. Or that Scripture Matth. 13. 25. where speaking of the Envious man sowing Tares among the Wheat Our Saviour tels them plainly That the said Envious man was the Devil v. 39. Or lastly Our Saviours words to Peter Matt. 16. 23 Get thee behind me Satan But their Practise sufficiently proves it For needs must that be a Serpentine Exposition which Gnaweth ouâ— the Bowels of the Text. Now if it be Satans Heart in their lips and that he doth prompt and assist them it must likewise be granted that he hath more knowledge learning and experience then any man alive Yea put all the wits in the world together and then adde Satans thereunto The last like figures in Arithmetick will more improve the same then all that went before it So that whatsoever a mans owne Mother-wit is he that hath Satans wit superadded is able to doe more mischiefe then many other men And it may be said of such an one as it was of Caesar There were in him Ten such as Marius Yea If it be true as it 's reported That a Serpent having swallowed a Serpent becomes a Dragon what must his Subtilty be that hath the Subtilty of this old Serpent infused into him We have known possessed men speak languages they were never taught and we have had experience that Maâ—iâ—ians through the permission of GOD were able to doe whatsoever the Devil himselfe could doe So that as an Ape is like a Baboone onely a Baboone is Bigger So these Little Seducers are like the Great Seducer onely he is the Elder and more experienc'd having used this Art now neere upon Six Thousand Yeares No marvell then that Falshood hath more wit to devise then Truth For He must needs goe that is Devil-driven As when any one goes about an Evill Businesse It is strange to see how ready the Devil is to set him forwards how carefull that he should want no furtherances So that if any man would but be Leudly-witty he shall be sure to be furnisht with store of profane jests jeeres and scoffs wherein a loose heart hath double advantage of the conscionable But more especially doth he assist his Clergy by whom and in whom he speakes as sometimes Clients doe by their Advocates When David had heard the Subtile woman of Tekâ—a how cunningly she had contrived her speech touching Absolom he presently perceived that Joab had an hand iâ— it The which she ingenuously confesseth saying Thy servant Joab bade me speak this And he put all these words into
which like Ariadnes thread to Theseus directs and keeps them both from error and danger And as Beleevers being expert in the Word are not easily taken with their false doctrine So they will much lesse be flowted out of their saith by their preaching The righteous will hold on his way and he whose hands are pure shall increase his strength Joh. 17. 9. The Taunts of Ismael shall never make an Isaac out of love with his Inheritance Eliab could not Frump David out of his Zeale He persists in his forwardnesse untill he was brought to Saul and had killed the Philistin Sanballat and Tobiah thought to scoffe Nehemiah and the Iewes our of their Building But the Barking of those Dogges could not hinder them from walking on their way Nehemiah shakes off their impotent malice and goes on chearfully How doâ—h it concerne us then to Have the Word â—f GOD dwell in us Richly in all Wisdome Col. 3. 16. since without it we can neither know what to chuse or refuse nor he able to hold fast that which is good He that toucheth Gold and doth not weigh it Or he that weigheth it and doth not touch it may perchance be deceived in his receiving it Wherfore as we Taste our meat before we Eat it and Try our Gold before we Treasure it So let us lay each Doctrine to the Rule before we Entertaine it And then as CHRIST Tasted the Vineger but would not Drinke So when we Taste False Doctrine let us Reject it leâ—t whiles we follow our Guides we lose our selves Object But what if all the Parish like and commend his preaching Answ It should make us more carefull as to Discerne so to be Confirmed in the Truth Not more Credulous of Error as it made Erasmus more Studious by seeing the Monkâ— such Illiterate Dunces Or as the good knife is made sharpe by the Dull Whetstone The Christian will be wise and devout like Daniel though Alone Object But CHRIST alleadgeth Scripture and the Devil Alleadgeth it What shall we doe which way soever we take it it may be wrong Answ Not as some that lie downe like Isachar betweene both the burdens and Sue out a Writ of Ease for their consciences thinking it best To let all alone Nor yet with the Seduced Prophet 1 King 13. 18. Take a private Spirits Counsell before the expresse Word of GOD which may easily be knowne For that onely is the Truest and Best way of Expounding which so interpeteth the Scriptures that one Scripture may agree with another and crosse none For One Absurdity being granted Infinite will follow Eph. 5. 6 Gal. 1. 8. Indeed they that will understand to purpose and rightly know Whether a Minister speaks from GOD or Of Himselfe must become Spirituall For the Naturall man perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of GOD But He that is Spirituall understands all things 1 Cor. 2. 14. 15. He must resolve to Practise what he knowes and not be like Lepidus who Lay in Harvest under the Coole shade saying O that this were to worke If any will doe GODS will saith our Saviour He shall know the Doctrine whether it be of GOD or whether I speak of my selfe John 7 17. The feare of the LORD is the beginning of wisdome Prov. 1. 7 9. 10. And A good understanding have all they that keepe his Commandements Psalme 111. 10. And so much to prove That they ought not to be heard Especially by such as are not able by their acquaintance with the word to spy out their Serpentine subtilty Where note by the way How they befoole themselves The Principall End why they Preach thus is To get Applause and Credit as I shewed before Or to Redeeme that Credit they have formerly lost But it fares with them as it did with the Builders of Babel who striving to Get them a Name Lost their Reputation and their Language too Gen. 11. Or as it fared with Seriphus that Old Drudg in Naples who coveting to mend his Bleered eye Put it out Or as it usually fares with Gamesters who to Repaire their Losses lose more So casting the Helve after the Hatchet as the saying is For though in their Sermons they seeme Glorious and Brave in their owne and Ignorant mens eyes Yet to the more Judicious they appeare most Mishapen and Ridiculous And none that beare any good will to the truth but account them the very Basest of men Whereby that Scripture is fulfilled A Backbiter is like the waves of the Sea which fometh out her owne shame And againe Prov. 24. 24. He that saith to the wicked Thou art Righteous Him shall the people curse and the multitude shall abher him I grant They keepe up their credit with Satan as well as with his Servants For the more creditlesse the more fit and ready they are for his service As Cyrus said that his Poore Souldiers were his Best Souldiers For they had nothing to Lose but there was something they hoped to gaine which may be applied also to our Cavaliers Or if these have a little Credit a small losse is easily recovered If Codrus his house burne he even warmes his hands at the flame The losse never troubles him Because in two dayes he can build himselfe another as good Besides Malice doth much mitigate their losse The Bee will lose her sting to mischiefe another though she remaine a Drone ever after So they are willing to discredit themselves to discredit others As Thamar defiled her selfe to be Revenged of her Father-in-Law Judah I acknowledge there may be more in it then All this Peradventure they Hope for no Pardon And therefore they care not what mischiefe they doe As a Desperate Malefactor that feares not to multiply villanous acts because he knowes he shall be hanged whensoever he is taken However They have small cause to hope except they amend For their End is Destruction whose Glory is their shame Phil. 3. 19. But to forbeare hearing them is not all For they should not be suffered to Preach Are they to be permitted Physitians who in stead of administring proper physick to Cure their Patients give them poyson to Kill them Were it not a grievous thing That in Each Countrey there should be Twenty or Thirty Allowed Midwives who were Suboâ—â—ed to Destroy those Children whom they are hired to bring forth That they whose office is to help the Birth should murther iâ— Was it not a Devilish plot when in the yeare 1320. Certain Lepers covenanted with the Jewes To lay poyson in the Wels Springs and Pits that so they might destroy all the Christians in Europe For which there were many burnt The Case is the same or rather in this comparison there is no comparison For they had but Killed Bodies whereas these murther Soules You understand me I need not further apply it It is hardly yeares since there was great care and paines taken To silence and suppresse Ministers And they did it to purpose No lesse then
thirty or forty in a Shire were put out of their ministry at a time But who and what were they Dum-Dogs Or Non Residenciaries Or Men-Pleasers Or Scandalous Ministers Or these Serpentine-Preacherst No. Not One of them But such as were too Zealous and painfull That Preached twice upon a Sabbath day That had Tender-Consciences and would not Read and Allow of sporting upon the LORDS-day That were more Obedient to GODS Lawes then to the Bishops Canons Preferring an innocent and Holy Life before a White Surplice Such as were Flockt after As I have heard a Bishop at the High-Commission-Board Chafe at the Chaplaines in these and the like words Is it fit that such a one should be suffered to preach when all the Towne followes him He meant When so many soules were converted by him As who did feele the smart of their Censures so much as those Ministers who by their faithfull and powerfull preaching made their Heaâ—ers of Naturall men to become Christians Indeed such Courts were appointed for the Correction of Vices But now they Cherished Vice and corrected Vertue I may now blessed be GOD call A Spade a Spade Foure yeares since this Gall was so impatient of spurring that a Minister could not Speake the Truth without Hazarding the Pillory Whipping Post Losse of Eares slitting of Nostrils and Branding in the face The case of Doctor Layton for a Book that if wise men may be beleeved hath a world of worth in it As for Mr. Prynne Dr. Bastwicke and Mr. Burton they are fresh in memory And having silenc'd these Whom did they place in their roomes But such most of them that Even the Devill himselfe if he did make and send forth Ministers Could not finde worse upon the earth For if he would have worse he must bring them from hell The Synod of Constantinople out of experience did find that in those times among fifty Catholike Priests hardly one could be found that was not a Notorious Fornicator And that there was great want of Ministers onely for the Prohibition of Matrimony Which made Pius the second a Learned Pope contrary to his former practise leave this behind him in writing There is great cause why the Clergy should be deprived of Marriage But greater cause why they should be suffered to marry And doe not we in these times find by experience That among fifty of these Bishops-Priests hardly one can be found that is not a bitter Malignant to Holinesse and a Despiser of them that be good If he be not also a Rank-Whoremasteâ— or a Common Drunkard And that by this meanes there is great want of Good Ministers As hath beene plentifully proved to This Parliament and may be found upon Record Even such that if Holy David were now alive he would not admit A Man of them to be his Chaplaine I grant their wicked hearts help them to Pâ—â—tences that carry a Faire shew why they Silence so many Precisians and put in so many profane ones But their Consciences cannot but tell them of more and weightier Reasons why these should rather be Cashired and the Number of the other increased The Godly cherished and the profane curbed and utterly restrained But because they want honesty and ingenuity to confesse what they thinke I will declare them unto you 1. They ought to be Silenc'd First Because as I have shewne They are false Prophets and teach Lies in CHRISTS name Now if a man be opinionated against the Truth it is not Answerable Si quis docuerit But if a man teach such a Doctrine It is Abominable Or if they Preach not false Doctrine they will so sophisticate the Truth with the Leaven of maliciousnesse that there shall be no difference Like as if they should break the bread of life to the people and throw in Crooked Pins to Choak them Or we may say of them as Luther of the Popes They hold us out Bread on the point of a Sword And when we come nigh they beat us with the Hilt Or lastly If they deliver nothing but the wholesome Truth They will Turne it into a lie by misapplication And he is not worthy to be a Physitian who giveth Vomits in place of Cordials And Cordials in stead of Vomits 2. Because they infect almost all that heare their Sermons and make them as Bitter Malignants to Religion and scoffers at Holinesse as themselves as I have shewen And so in stead of becomming Instruments of their peoples Salvation they become as farre as in them lies Authors of their Damnation Now if one Breake the Law that 's a Personall-sin But if he Teach so that 's a Pestilent sinne 3. For that tâ—e Gospel and the Name of GOD is Blasphemed and an Evill scandall raised upon the Godly by reason of their slandring them and disgracing Goodnesse in their Sermons And how unsufferable this is in such as are GODS Ambassadors and have the charge of soules may be seene in the example of Eli's sons 1 Sam. 3. 4. chap. And in GODS dealing with Nadab and Abihu when he sent out Fire and devoured them for offering strange fire upon his Altar Giving no other â—eason but this I will be sanctified of them that draw neare me Levit. 10. 2. 3. Are such fit to succeed the LORD Jesus and have the charge of soules who preach lies in his Name even forcing GOD to speak for Baal the Spirit for the Flesh Or if they be connived at How fearfull shall their Reckoning be when they shall be summon'd to appeare before That High Judge at the great day of Accounts 4. Because so long as he supplies the Roome of a Minister he keeps out another that would Preach better and perhaps save those poore soules whom he destroyes An ill man in the Church is but like some Shrubby-Tree in a Garden whose shade not onely keeps better plants from growing but drawes away the nourishment from the rest that would beare us fruit Or as a great Oak in a Greve which not onely pines all the underwoods near it but spoyles the Grasse that should feed the Cattell So that it were better for the Perish to have no Minister at all then such a one For though it be miserable to want food for the soule yet better nothing then onely poyson A Blank doth farre better in a Roome then an ill filling 5. It is most just equall and proper That having so much abused their tongues they should in some sort lose the use of them We read That when Tiberius the Emperour past sentence at the barre upon a Great Talker and Railer with his Tongue he commanded that for part of his punishment he should not speak a word for the space of one whole yeare after but ponder upon what he had formerly spoken and study better how to speak when it came againe to his turne True Our Worthies in Parliament have Blessed be GOD taken the like course with many of them And I hope their many Eyes will find out