escaped vengeance yet his hoar-head was not suffered to go down to the grave without blood 1 King 2.5 6. How justly doth he scourge Whoremongers and Adulterers with the not and canker even in those parts wherein they offend do we not ever and anon hear of some notorious drunkards drowned in ditches and puddles or taken away by some sudden disaster in the midst of their disorder when they have neither wit not will to repent nor to cry so much as Lord have mercy upon us I have read of a Thief strangled and so executed by the sheep that he stole tying it by the legges and carrying it on his head and sitting down to rest upon a great stone by the way the sheep strugling pulled him over the stone and choaked him so that he was found dead in the morning and the sheep alive at Ailton in Huntingtonshire Dr. Beard Judg. pag. 570. So he doth punish those with disobedient children who have been disobedient to their Parents Erasmus writeth of one that did beat his own Father and being reproved as guilty of so vile a fact he answered when he was as I am he did beat his Father and I make no doubt but there stands one pointing to his Son then a childe who will hereafter do the like to mee Therefore by the nature of our punishment we may know the nature of our sin for commonly the same measure is returned that we have measured Do we finde men ungrateful to us let us search have not we been ungrateful to our God if so no marvel if men be so to us By this means Alphonsus King of Arragon came to see his sin I have said he advanced many to honour and preferments and heaped great favours upon them and yet I still finde them to be ungrateful but searching mine own heart I do not much wonder at it for I finde that I my self being advanced by God and having received great blessings from him have been unthankful to his heavenly Majesty and it is but just that men should make such a return to me as I have made to my God Are we punished with the loss of our worldly goods and substance Is it not because we have set our hearts too much upon them or with sickness did not health make us wanton and forgetful of our frail condition Let us thus by the kind of punishment search out our sin that repenting we may obtain pardon Thus have I shewed that God doth sometimes use martial Law against the wicked by remarkable stroaks of his Justice upon them in this world because otherwise men would think there were no God or at least that he were not Just but these examples are but now and then if he should punish all in this world men would think there were no Judgement to come but that all were dispatched here and after this life no more ado therefore he defers the main execution of his Justice till the end of the world and then he will do right to every man he will as St. Paul saith render to every man according to his works Rom. 2.6 both secundum qualitatem secundum quantitatem according to the quality and according to the quantity thereof First He will judge us according to the quality of our works he will render good for good and evil for evil not evil for good not good for evil To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality he will give eternal life But unto them that are contentious and do not obey the Truth but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil of the Jew first and also of the Greek Rom. 2.7 8 9. The good Tree that bringeth forth good fruit shall be cherished and preserved The evil Tree that bringeth forth evil fruit shall be cut down and burned O the vanity and folly of many worldlings who go on in all sin and wickedness and yet hope to have a reward in Heaven as well as the best I but God is an upright Judge as he will not requite good with evil so he will not reward evil with good Do men gather Grapes of Thorns or Figs of Thistles If a man sow Tares can he expect a crop of Wheat or if he sow Cockle can he look for a harvest of Barley Be not deceived saith the Apostle God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting Gal. 6.7 8. Secondly He will judge us according to the quantity of our works they that have most sins shall be adjudged to most torments they that have most good works to most glory The sentence is past already on the Whore of Babylon quantum in diliciis fuit for so much pleasure give her so much pain so much for so much a most righteous Judge The ignorant servant shall be adjudged to few stripes the negligent servant to many stripes Luk. 12.47 48. Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites for ye devour Widdows houses and for a pretence make long prayers therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation Mat. 23.14 So that some shall have greater damnation than others See here the pittiful folly of some desperate wretches who being given over to a reprobate sense to commit all filthiness with greediness and being reproved and admonished to run better courses and shewed the danger of their waies how they will bring bitterness at last sollace themselves with this miserable comfort oh we know the worst of it we can be but damned Alas alas they know not consider not what it is to be damned an horrid hideous unexpressible irrecoverable mischief to be damned and how there are degrees of damnation too the more sins the more stripes and how that those who sin against light knowledge and conscience careless and wicked Christians shall be thrust deeper into Hell and scorched in hotter flames than Infidels and Pagans for our Lord assures us in the Gospel That it shall be easier for Tyrus and Sydon than for Bethsaida and Corazin at the day of doom and that sinful Sodom shall speed better than proud Capernaum at the last day Doubtless Tyrus and Sydon and Sodom shall be damned and have most dreadful punishments in Hell in that lake which never shall be quenched where the worm dieth not and the fire never goeth out But Bethsaida Corazin Capernaum shall have more dreadful punishments more fearful torments why because Bethsaida Corazin Capernaum had means of salvation heard Christ and saw Christ heard his Doctrine and saw his miracles and yet repented not believed not whereas Tyrus Sydon Sodom had no such means therefore their punishment shall be lighter the others heavier He will also reward our good works according to their quantity so much for so much though he will not reward us to speak properly propter opera for our works yet
secundum opera according to our works as a Father saith though not for the meer merit of them yet according to the meet measure of them our good works shall be the rule by which he will proportion out the heavenly reward the more good works of grace we have the more abundant will be our reward of glory Every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour 1 Cor. 3.8 He that useth five Talents well shall be Ruler over five Cities he that useth ten Talents well shall be Ruler over ten Cities Luk. 19.17.19 They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament but they that turn many unto righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever Dan. 12.3 And as our Lord saith tune fulgebunt Justi tanquam Sol Then shall the Just shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father Mat. 13.43 In Heaven among the Saints there shall be degrees of glory as there is difference now among the stars of Heaven in beauty One star differeth from another star in glory saith the Apostle There is one glory the Sun another of the Moon another of the Stars so shall it be with the Saints in the Kingdom of Heaven every Saint shall have glory enough yet some more some less according to the proportion of their faith and good works As all behold the Sun yet not according to the same perfect brightness but some more some less according to the diversity of their sight so the Saints in Heaven shall all have the beatifical Vision of God yet some in more perfect manner than other according to the measure of their graces here Or as if a man cast divers Bottles into the Sea of several capacities some greater some less every one will be filled yet the greatest will receive most So though all the Saints shall be filled with glory and every one have as much as he can contain yet those who do most abound in faith and good works shall have most glory 1. This may admonish us how careful we ought to be of our works to be practical and working Christians to add to our faith good works as Saint Peter exhorteth Believers 2 Pet. 1.5 Giving all diligence add to your faith vertue c. godliness brotherly kindness charity Though we allow not the merit of works yet we teach the necessity of good works as consequences fruits and evidences of true faith and because the reward of glory shall be proportioned out according to our works look what our works be such shall be the verdict that shall pass upon us at the great day Therefore saith James cap. 2. Shew me thy faith by thy works Thou sayest thou hast faith and talkest much of it but let it appear by the fruits evidence a right faith by a righteous life It is said Luk. 5.20 That Christ saw their faith and healed the man of the Palsie he saw not only with the eye of his Divinity but by their works by the effects and fruits of it he saw their faith for they laid the sick man on a bed brought him after Christ and when they could not come near him for the multitude they opened the roof and let him down in his Couch before him when Christ saw their faith by these not able works he healed the sick man If thou wilt have Christ to heal thee to save thee thou must let him see thy faith by thy works We read Gen. 27.21.22 That old Isaac would not bless Jacob by his speech or voice only but feels and handles him first Come near I pray thee that I may feel thee my Son whether thou be my very Son Esau or not and when he found they were Esau's hands he blessed him So Christ will not pronounce his blessing upon us by out voice or words only Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which is in Heaven He will handle and seel us and if he finde working hands that we have been open-handed to his poor Saints he will bless us and give us the inheritance of his heavenly Kingdom How should the remembrance of this stir us up to the practice of good deeds to be alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord for it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to our practice that Christ will reward us at the last day So it is in the Evangelist Mat. 16. 27. The word is for the most part taken in a good sense and noteth an acting after the precepts of good manners as a learned Critick noteth Keck in Ethic. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to our works So it is in Paul Rom. 2.6 Therefore I will conclude with the same Apostle 1 Tim. 6. 18 19. Do good and be rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come and that ye may lay hold on eternal life 2. Let the consideration of this also turn our worldly ambition into an holy ambition our earthly covetousness into heavenly covetousness we do contend and cover who shall be chief here on earth who shall sit highest at our Feasts and have the chief place in the Synagogue who shall out-strip others in gay Apparel and who shall have most wealth and riches and who shall have the stateliest houses Oh then let us be as covetous contentious and ambitious for heavenly glory who shall have the highest seat the chiefest place there the fairest Mansion there for there be many Mansions In my Fathers house are many Mansions there be upper rooms and there be lower rooms there be higher seats and there be lower seats there is greater glory and there is lesser glory Let us therefore strive who shall be most zealous of Gods glory here so shall we be sure to have the more glorious reward here after For God is a most just Judge he will give to every man his right he will render to every man according to his works Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right Let me crave your honourable patience to add a few words for application and I have done you have heard how we must all appear before this Almighty Judge where wrong shall be righted and right rewarded Let this move us all in our several Callings and stations to keep a good Conscience and take heed to the thing that is right which will bring peace at last for if any man do wrong he shall receive for the wrong he hath done and there is no respect of persons with God In the first place reverend and honourable Sages ye who now sit on the Throne of Judgement to judge others remember the day will quickly come when ye must appear before a Judgement seat to be judged your selves have that great Judge still before your eyes his fear
then shall lay any thing to their charge It is God that Justifieth saith St. Paul who then shall Condemn It is Christ that Judgeth there is therefore no Condemnation to them that are his 2. And this also shall strike confusion to his enemies They shall see him coming in the Clouds of Heaven and sitting on the Throne of Glory whom they pierced Whom they pierced with their bands with their sins with their tongues with their oaths with their blasphemies and impieties he whom they despised whose call they neglected whose Gospel they rejected whose Word they contemned whose Mercy they abused whose Ministers they slighted whose Ambassadours they wronged he shall be their Judge For he is of such omnipotency that he shall force his enemies and all to appear before his Tribunal And thus having briefly discussed the first quaerie Quis who this Judge shall be I pass to the second Quos whom hee shall Judge All the Earth A very large Circuit other Judges are Judges of but some small Circuit or corner of the Earth Judges of earth and Judges who when their breath goeth forth must fall to the earth and turn to a little lump of earth as well as others but this is the Judge of all the Earth Judex totius mundi the Judge of all the world All the world yea all the men of the world must appear before his Tribunal We must all appear before the Judgement seat of Christ 2 Cor. 5.10 Before him shall be gathered all Nations Mat. 25.32 All Nations and Countries all People and Languages all men of what estate or condition soever The King that Ruleth the Judge that Judgeth the Lawyer that pleadeth the Client that sueth the witness that sweareth the Jury that censureth the Pastour that speaketh the people that heareth high and low rich and poor young and old we must all appear before this mighty Judge He is Judex vivorum mortuorum Judge of the living and the dead Those who are found alive at his coming shall in a moment be changed those that dyed before shall in a moment be raised all shall appear All that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they shall conse forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of life and they that have done evil to the Resurrection of condemnation John 5.28 29. All that are in the Graves yea and more than all that are in the Graves all that have dyed since the beginning of the world though they have been drowned in the Sea and devoured by fishes though they have been burned in the fire and consumed to Ashes though their flesh hath been made a banquet to the beasts of the field and fowls of the Air yet at the Trumpet of the Arch-Angel at the voice of the Son of God they shal all revive the Trump shall sound and the dead shall rise and come to judgement There shall not miss one man woman or childe from the beginning of the Creation All shall appear every one propria persona in his own proper person no Proxie no Atrourney shall serve the turne at that day Thus much St. John affirmeth Rev. 20.12 Where was revealed to him the Majesty of this mighty Judge and the manner of this grand Assize I saw a great white Throne and one who sate upon it from whose Face fled away both the earth and the Heaven and I saw the dead both great and small stand before God for the Sea gave up her dead which were in her and death and Hell delivered up the dead that were in them and they were judged every man according to their works But some may say shall all be judged as well the Godly as the Godless as well the faithful as the faithless have we not the Judges own Word and Warrant for the contrary confirmed with a double Seal that the faithful who hear and obey his Word and believe in him shall not bee judged Amen amen dico vobis c. Verily verily I say unto you hee that heareth my word and believeth in him that sent me hath everlasting Life and shall not come into Judgement but passeth from death unto life Joh. 5.24 To which I answer That the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which properly signifieth judgement is sometimes taken for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth condemnation as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Judge for to condemn often in the Scripture So that when Christ saith the faithful shall not come 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into judgement the meaning is into condemnation as St. Austin well noteth on the place There is saith he Judicium absolutionis Judicium condemnationis the Judgement of absolution and the Judgement of condemnation Or as Aquinas aptly distinguisheth in the last Judgement are two things discussio peccatorum retributio praemiorum a discussion of sins and a retribution of rewards All shall appear both the faithful and the faithless though to a different judgement The faithful to the judgement of absolution ad retributionem praemioruns to partake of the reward the wicked to the judgement of condemnation ad discussionem peccatorum to answer for their sins Their sins shall be discussed searched and sifted most narrowly their most secret sins shall be laid open to the view of the whole world before that great assembly both of Men and Angels and not onely laid open but laid to their charge the Book of Conscience shall be opened and accuse them more than a thousand witnesses and according to their sins shall a fearful doom be pronounced an everlasting separation from that most beatifical Vision of the Deity to a terrible Habitation and association with wicked Devils Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Mat. 25. But as for the Godly and Faithful who are reconciled to their Heavenly Father by the blood of Jesus Christ his blessed Son though they appear also at this great Assize yet it shall be to the Judgement of absolution to be acquitted pardoned saved There shal no discussio peccatorum pass upon them their sins shall not be laid open nor laid to their charge nor hamed nor mentioned nor brought forth at that day so much as to accuse them or grieve or shame them much less to condemn them but they shall all be washed away in the blood of the Lamb blotted out forgotten and forgiven as if they had never been For I will forgive their iniquities and I will remember their sin no more Jer. 31.34 and again Jer 50.20 In those dates and at that time saith the Lord the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for and there shall be none and the sins of Judah and they shall not be found for I will pardon them whom I reserve So shall the Prophesie of Balaam be fulfilled He shall see none Iniquity in Jacob nor transgression in Israel Numb 23.21 Their sins indeed shall be sought for
Satan that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most envious enemie of humane happiness shall labour to accuse them to bring forth their sins against them and lay them to their Charge but the true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the lover of men will not suffer him he will throw them all into the bottom of the Sea cast them behinde his back nail them to the Cross bury them in the grave of his Son drown them in his blood and remove them further than the East is from the West that they shall not be found nor remembred nor brought forth against his faithful people at that day So that though they appear it shall not be ad discussionem peccatorum to have their sins discussed sifted examined censured like the wicked but ad retributionem praemiorum to have their labours and good works rewarded yea to have the works of Christ which are now appropriate to them and made theirs by imputation Crowned with a Diadem of Glory and Immortality in the Kingdome of Heaven If any shall demand with the Disciples 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but tell us when shall these things be I answer Here ye pose me indeed These things shall so come to pass I am sure but when or how soon I cannot tell It is the next quaerie to be discussed Quando When he shall Judge noted in the future sign shall the time is to come at the end of the World That there shall be such a day is most certain most uncertain when it shall be we have the Word of God to confirm the certainty of it Our God shall come and shall not keep silence there shall go before him a consuming fire Psal 50.3 The Lord Jesus shall show himself from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire to render vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the Gospel 2 Thes 1. We have his promise for it Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give to every man according as his work shall be Rev. 22.12 We have his Oath for it The Mighty Angel lift up his hand to Heaven and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever who Created Heaven and the things that are therein and the Earth and the things that are therein and the Sea and the things which are therin that time should be no more Rev. 10.6 We have the Justice of God to confirm it it stands with his Justice that there should be such a day God is most just he wil shew mercy to the Godly and judgement to the wicked he will as Sr. Paul saith reward every man according to his works but he doth not alwaies so in this life for the wicked enjoy as many outward blessings as the Godly All things come alike to all and the same condition is to the Just and to the unjust to him that Sacrifizeth and to him that Sacrifizeth not c. saith the Preacher Yea the wicked in this world for the most part enjoy more felicity than Gods Children they laugh when these weep they sing when these sigh they prosper when these are persecuted they flourish when these are afflicted they are in pompe and jollity when these are in want and misery sic fuit a principio from the beginning it hath been so Abel righteous Abel lies dead at the feet of his wretched Brother Cain Chaste Joseph is fettered in the Dungeon while his lewd Lady flourisheth in her braverie the Hebrews groan under their heavy burthens sweat in the Brick-Kills while the Aegyptians live at ease domineering over them Elias fainteth in the Desart while Jezabel painteth in her Closet Daniel quaketh in the den of Lyons but the proud King Belshazzer quaffeth among his boon Companions The holy Prophets of God are mocked scourged sawn asunder slain with the Sword while their cruel Persecutors swell and sway and triumph in their sorrows John's head lies bleeding in the Platter while Herod is smiling at his Revels and Dancing among his Damsels Lazarus Famisheth while Dives Feasteth Therefore there must needs be a general day of Judgement when God will give to every man his right when good men shall be rewarded according to their sufferings and wicked men punished according to their deservings If we do but hear two or three Malefactors receive their doom from the Judge and see them led forth to Execution we may thence conclude that there shall be an universal doom for it is not to be thought saith St. Chrysostome that seeing we have all one God who is an upright Judge that he would punish some men for their sins in this world and let others escape which have offended as much or more than they unless he had reserved certain punishment for them also in the future World at the day of judgement and this is that which the Apostle hinteth to us 1. Tim. 5.24 Some mens sins are open before hand and go before unto judgement but some mens follow after The sins of some are known and manifest to the world they are brought to Judgement and they suffer for them here their bodies are punished that their souls may be saved but the sins of some are close secret unknown to the world yet there will come a time when they shall be revealed when they shall be punished their sins are upon the score and kept in store till the great day of reckoning though they escape the judgement of this world yet they shall not escape the judgement of the world to come their sins shall follow after them they shall accompany them to judgement Now as it is most certain such a day shall come so most uncertain when it shall come Some have rashly and presumptuously undertaken to guess at the time and define when it shall be as though they had been in the bosome of God and were the Secretaries of Heaven To whom it may be said as the Cynick to an ignorant and arrogant fellow prating of Heavenly matters beyond his capacity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pray sir how lately came you from Heaven that you know these things so well or as St. Austin telleth of one who answered that busie Inquisitor who would know what God did before he made the world fecit Infernum curiosa scrutantibus he made Hell to punish those who are too curious in prying into his secrets Our Saviour tells us that when that day shall be no man knoweth no not the Angels of Heaven which have farre more excellent knowledge than we no not he himself that is as man he was ignorant of it or had no commission then to reveal it or as Aquinas Dicitur nescire quia non facit scire he is said not to know because he will not make us to know Therefore let no man presume above his reach secret things belong to the Lord revealed things to us and to our Children onely this we are sure of the time cannot be farre off it is even at hand It was near in the Apostles time much more
in your hearts as I doubt not but ye alwaies have and let all your Actions be such that ye may stand before him without fear with joy and comfort at that day Let not friends nor favour passion nor affection cause you to decline to the right hand or to the left remember the judgement is the Lords in whose place ye sit whose vice-gerents ye are on earth let his example be the square of all your proceedings your judgement like his secundum norman Justitiae according to the rule of Justice equity and right your charge is great being well discharged your reward 's the greater As St. Paul said the Elders that Rule well so the Judges that judge well are worthy of double honour they deserve it in this world they shall be sure to have it in the future world this impartial Judge will do right and recompence them according to their works In the next place worshipful and worthy Commissioners ye which now sit Assistants on the Bench let your actions be such that ye may also sit assistants with this Heavenly Judge at the last day and be in the number of the Saints which the Lord in mercy grant St. Austin laid it to the charge of the old Romans that they were more tender of their own honour than of the honour of their Gods if any one had wrong'd a Senator but in a word he was sure to smoak for it but they suffered their Poets to quip and whip their Gods and never questioned them for it I hope you are free from any such imputation of being more forward in revenging your own wrongs than Gods wrongs Yet give me leave humbly to put a case to you If Drunkards Blasphemers Swearers Adulterers Riotous Debauched Atheistical prophane persons who forget the God that made them and deny the Lord that bought them who kick at his Word and worship who scorne at holiness and scoffe away Religion and jest away holy Scripture or directly cry it down daring to Blaspheme and say it is the voice of man and not of God as in truth it is I Thes 2.13 whose madness is manifest enough to all and deserves a severe check who swear away our mercies and curse away our blessings and drink away their healths by drinking healths and do what in them lies to damne their precious souls having God damne me more often than Lord have mercy in their mouthes who shew their sins like Sodom and commit them with an Harlots face without shame or blushing by whom God is more dishonoured than by any other shall swarme in your several Divisions perhaps in some of your Families and yet be seldome or never questioned censured or punished at least by some of you Are ye not too slack in vindicating Gods honour I appeal to your own hearts Surely a heavy clog will at last lye upon their Souls and Consciences by whose connivence sin is nurtured and increased when it is in their hand to restrain it If ye will not do justice on them the time is coming when the great Lord-Chief-Justice of the world will do justice both on you and them on them for sinning and on you for suffering them For Shall not the Judge of all the World do right A sad thing it is and sorry I am I must speak this to our shame That a greater restraint should be put upon sin and foul enormities under the usurped powers than under the true just and lawful powers Will ye so requite the Lord O foolish people and unwise Is not he thy Father that hath bought or redeemed and established thee said Moses to Israel Deut. 22.6 And shall we thus requite the Lord for the signal mercies the great things the wonders he hath done for us in the blessed restauration of our King our Religion Laws and liberties God forbid For this the mouth of the Adversary is open against us though they see not their own sins of stubbornness disobedience murmuring Schism Heresie as vile in Gods sight though not so visible to the world Yea I fear the Lord hath a Controversie with our Land for this for this his fierce anger is not turned away but his hand is stretched out still For this gird thee with sackcloath O England weep and howl and let thine eyes run down with tears night and day and let them not cease This is a lamentation and shall be for a lamentation till it be reformed But do ye desire to redress these abuses as I hope you do then let me humbly commend to you two or three directions 1. Put in Execution the good laws more duely 2. give good example your selves more sincerely sincerely 3. Lessen the occasions thereof more effectually by taking away clandestine blinde and superfluous Ale-houses the Pest-houses of the Nation Let them not be like the head of Hydra when one is cut off two to start up in the place thereof I have read of a certain street in Rome called Vicus Sobrius the sober street perhaps because there was never a tippling-house in it which is hard to be said of any street in England but surely both our Towns Streets and Villages would be more sober if the number of these needless houses were diminished The King of Meth sometime in Ireland asked one how certain noisome birds that came flying into his Realm and bred there might be destroyed who answered nidos eorum ubique destruendos that the only way to rid them out of the Land was to destroy and pull down their nests Do you desire to lessen the number of those noisome birds and unclean beasts that defile our Land your best way is to pull down the nests where they are brooded the dens where they are harboured blind and base Ale-houses which are the nests and Nurseries of all vices There quarrels are bred murthers occasioned oaths coyned robberies plotted thieves harboured whoredomes committed and to conclude they are the very dens and cages of all uncleanness Let me add one Word to Gamaliel the learned of the Law and all who relate to it remember the hour is coming wherein they who plead for others shall not plead for themselves where unless they now work the Judge to be their friend by keeping faith and a good conscience they shall have none to plead for them I say not to you as our Saviour to those in his time Woe be to you Lawyers I hope better things of you and such as accompany salvation Only give me leave to make a supposition if there bee any which blow up the coals of dissention among neighbours to warm their own fingers at the fire who tell their Client his Cause is good when in their conscience they know it to be stark naught who say good is evil and evil good who put light for darkness and darkness for light sweet for bitter and bitter for sweet who make truth falshood and falshood truth whose tongues cannot move nimbly and so by silence smother the poor mans right because