they rule them Par. Me thinkes there shoulde not be all these faultes in them that you speake of for there are some of them that are very good fellowes and keep good houses which doth deserue great commendations Gen. In deede there are some of them that loue to fare well and can make their guests good cheere but this is not it M. Parson that they ought onelie to bee carefull for nor it is not such sacrifice that pleaseth God for do you thinke that the Lorde will be bolde with your owne inuentions which the vanitie of your own brains hath brought forth with the keeping of a great house for great men and feeding onlie the bodies of the people when as the Lorde doth chieflie require that the soule which is the principallest part should be best fed or will you giue the fruites of your benefices for the sinne of your soule or doe you thinke that the Lorde hath as greate pleasure in burnt offernings as when his voiyce is obeyed No M. Parson know it and knowe it so well that you neuer forget it that to * 1. Sam. 15.22 obey is better then sacrifice and to harken is better then the fat of Rams for rebellion is as the sinne of witchcraft and stubbernesse is as the wickednesse of idolatrie whose rewarde is an euerlasting life full of continuall miserie Par. I marnaile that other men as wise as you can not see these faultes as well as you if these bee faultes I woulde faine know the cause thereof Gen. Truely I can shewe yon no other cause nor knowe not to what and they giue themselues to the loue of so manie liuings but only for the desire of filthie lucre which doth spring of a conetous minde which is the roote of all euill and now may we take vp againe the complaint of the Prophet * Iere 24.2 like priest like people that * Iere. 6.13 from the lest vnto the most they hang all vpon couetousnesse and from the Prophet vnto the priest they go about falshood and lyes the priestes * Miche 3.11 preache for lucre and the Prophetes prophesie for gaine but * Iud. 11. woe be vnto them for they haue gone the way of Caine and are vtterly giuen ouer to the erroure of Balaam for Iucres sake and without amendment shall perishe in the gainesaying of Cora they are such as Paule speaketh of that can * Rom. 2.22 teach others and not them selues they preach that a man shoulde not steale yet they steale they abhorre Idols and yet commit sacriledge they make their boast of the lawe and yet through breaking of the law they dishonour God and cause his name to be euill spoken of Par. What thinke you of these doctors which are men of great learning and of the number of those whome we speake of howe is it possible they should so be deceiued Gen. I pray you M. Parson can you tell mee what was the cause that all the words which Pharaoh heard from the Lord and all the myracles that were wroughte before him coulde not make him to obeye God but still to constinue in his wickednesse before hee was ouergotten in his sinne Par. I haue hearde that it was because his heart was hardened Gen. You say very true for that * Exod. 14.17 was the onely cause therof and the same disease of hardnesse of heart hath taken such holde in the stomackes of these whom we speake of that it hath made them so sicke that I feare me it hath brought many of them to their graues Par. If it be true that they are deceined I maruel why they seek to bear the names of doctors and to couet such promotion as many of them are in Gen. I know not for my part what to thinke them nor what they meane by these glorious titles and great liuings but that they are such as Christe spake of that * Mat. 23.6 loue the vppermost seats at feasts and to sit in the cheefe places of the Sinagogues and loue greetings in the Market places and to be called of men Rabbi Rabbi Par. What can you see nothing else in them but that then I perceiue I can see more then you for suche as they are that heare the names of doctors are in some credite and estimation amongst the people shal the sooner be beléeued in that they say and the worde that they preach will be the better imbraced Gen. Oh M. Parson you are deceiued in your sight I thinke you lack your spectacles that you can see no better if the worde of God should work more in the people being deliuered of great men and such as are in authoritie I maruel that Christe had not foreseene it which was equall with his father in glorie and yet made himselfe of no reputation during the time of his being vpon the earth when he had alwaies a care to goe about his fathers businesse whiche was to preach the gospell that as many as were ordeined vnto eternallife might haue redemption through him in his hloude and why had he not chosen the great and mightie men of the world and made them his Disciples but chose rather poore Fishers men of no estimation in the worlde to be ministers of his word distributers of his misteries but you are deceiued M. Parson and that is true which Sainte Paule saithe that * 1. Cor. 1.27 God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to consound the wise and the weake things of the worlde to confound the mightie and things of no reputation despised to bring to naught those thinges that are highly essteemed that no flesh should reioice in his sight Par. For all this I cannot yet be perswaded but that it is lawful for a preacher to haue as manie benefices as he can get he that cannot preache maie haue three or four and be verie wel dispensed withal for you see that it is so and if it ought not to be so men are worse then madde to doe that which is not lawfull Gen. In deede it is too true that it is so with the most parte although not with all and therein they shewe their madnesse for amongst a great many of them onelye a fewe ercepted which the Lorde dothe reserue to himselfe and hath giuen better heartes vnto if hee be once a minister hee thinkes by and by that hee is made onelye to get him manie liuinges and if hee bee a Preacher and haue a wife and children he hath a conscience large ynough to wish for as many benefices as he can get but if his greedie desire can not so be satisfied yet if it bee possible he will haue three at the least one for himselfe another for his wife and a thirde for his children and that they maye haue these liuinges to maintaine themselues so that they may goe amongst the Gallants of the worlde that their diet may be of the best their tables traught with all
this be sarr from you and the name of shepheard be only to be found you are a Wolfe cloathed in a Sheepes skinne and shall haue your portion with the vngodly in that lake of fire and Brimstone which shall not bee quenched for euer Par. Truely sir it is a harde matter to finde all this in one man and although I haue not this in me yet I trust I shal haue no parte in that fierie lake whereof you speake nor there is no such daunger in the matter Gen. That you may not thinke it to be an vntruth or any inuention of mine own making marke what the scripture sayth which cannot lye Wo * Iere. 48.10 be vnto him that doth the worke of the Lord negligently Againe * Ezek. 34.2 Wo be vnto the Shepheardes that feed themselues shoulde not a Shepheard feede his flocke Paule cryed * Cor. 9.16 Wo vnto him selfe if hee preache not the Gospell and you shall one day cry Wo vnto your selfe if you preache not the Gospel * Ezeck 23.3 Wo vnto the foolishe Prophetes that followe their owne braines * Iere. 23.1 Wo vnto the Shepheardes that destroy and scatter my flocke saith the Lorde and so thruste them out that they once looke not vppon them therfore will I one day visite the wickednes of their vaine imaginations here you haue heard a great many of Woes and al these and a great many more shall fall on you if in time you seeke not some meanes to auoide them Par. In deede Syr I must needes saye you haue told me of many woes and yet I trust what so euer you say there shal none of them light on me Gen. Truely I haue sayde nothing of my selfe but that which I haue tolde you are the reportes of other men which vsed not to lye Par. And doe you thinke in deede that all these woes are pronounced against such ministers as preach not the Gospell and the if they continue in that state they shal haue them in their portion Gen. I pray you master Parson let me first aske you this question do you thinke that the Prophets and Apostles haue spoken any thing in vaine Par. I doe not thinke so but peraduenture it may be true Gen. Nay I will tell you without peraduenture that which they haue spokē is so true * Math. 5.18 that heauen and earth shal fal before that one iot that they haue said shal perish Par. I doe not deny but that the worde of God must needes stand but if you will so conster the scriptures that all ministers that preach not the Gospell shall be cryed Woe vnto you will make a mad peece of worke and sende most of the ministers in these dayes to the deuil Gen. I go not about to send any man to the deuill but I doe what in me lieth to drawe them vnto God and therefore I would wish you and your fellowes to looke to this geare in time vnlesse you repent hereafter when it will bee too late for if your dueties be neglected and this great charge can not be answeared when it shall be examined you and your fellowes shal be sure to smart for it Par. Why what would you haue me to do that you find such fault in vs. Gen. Truly I would wish you to deale no longer in the matter you haue taken vpon you and are not able to go throgh with it out repent for that which is past and amend that is to come and let it not be long a doing but take the councell of the Prophet that would haue vs to * Esay 55.6 seek the Lord while he may be found and call vppon him while he may be heard let the vngodly mā saith he forsake his owne waies and the wicked his vain imaginations and return vnto the Lorde so shall he be mercifull vnto him and vnto our God for he is ready to forgiue Oh refuse not this offer master parson as you loue your owne soule for if you take it not while you may haue it hereafter you may chance to seeke it with teares and goe without it for nowe is the acceptable time and euery tree that bringeth not foorth good fruite the * Math. 13.10 axe is layd to his roote that it may be cut downe and cast into the fire therefore be not leaue off from sinn which without shame you haue greedily committed be no longer amongst the number of thoss whome Paul spcaketh of that they are the enemies of the * Phi. 3.10 crosse of Christe whose end is damnation whose God is their belly glory to their shame which are worldly minded let no longer the loue of this world draw you frō the loue of God but * Iam 4.7 draw neere vnto him and he wil drawe neere vnto you resist the deuill and hee will fly from you purge your handes and clense your heart humble your selfe in the sight of the Lorde and hee shall lift you vp Let the same mind be in you which was in Moses who when hee was great * Heb. 11.2 refused to be called the sonne of Pharaobs daughter and chose rather to suffer aduersity with the children of God then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season esteeming the rebuke of Christe more riches then al the treasure of Egypt And with Sainte Paul saye that you * Phil. 3.8 account al the world but dung that you may win Christ giue ouer your liuings vnlawfully possed in this short and transitory world that you may liue for euer in the world to come Par. What do you mean by al this talk that I shuld giue ouer my benefices so you may chaunce to beginne a peece of worke which you shal neuer finish for I had as leeue loose my life as loose my liuing and I haue not had them this long to forgo thē at last therefore gentleman I shal desirs you to haue me excussd for this matter and I wil here you in any thing saue this ther is no man so vnwise I thinke to forsake his liuing and become a begger when it is in his choise to vse it at his pleasure Gen. In deed master Parson I thinke few men be so wise to doe that which may be best for them Par. What doe you account that wisedome I am sure there are many wise men of the ministerie as you know as well as I that haue more liuings then I haue and yet I thinke you can not tel me of one that doth loue the Gospell so wel that he would depart with any of his benefices to discharge his conscience Gen. In deed as you say a man shall hardly finde one amongest so many double beneficed men that will preferre the truth before their benefices or loue the Lord better then them selues but such deserue not the name of wise men for if their be any wisdome in them it is such as the prophet speaketh of that * Iere. 4.22 are
kinde of dainties and that they may not be behind hand but in their apparel as braue as the proudest themselues in their silkes their wiues in their trench hoodes and their children parinted like puppets that they may a while enioy this geare and liue at ease in this worlde they care neither what shal become of themselues their wiues and their children in the world to come but are contented flock and al shal go to the Diuel for any farther care they take for them Is this to * Iohn 21.15 feede feede feede as Christe said vnto Peter Nay this is rater to kill kil kil as the Sheepe that are led to the slaughter I thinke if the Prophet Ieremy were now liuing and did see the lamentable estate of our time be woulde say for vs as he did for the people in his time that he could finde in his heart to * Iere. 9.1 weepe daie and night for the slaughter of the people Oh that their hearts were circumcised and the vilens of their eies taken from them that they might once see vnderstand the to haue so great a charge that some must needes perishe for wante of looking vnto and to shere the sheepe and not to feede the flocke is to * Iohn 10.10 spoile murther and destroye therefore what euer he bee or by what title so euer he be called whether he be a doctour by name a Parson of manie benefices or Sir Iohn Lacklatin that can saie nothing if hee haue no more regarde but to satisfie his owne greedie desire and is carelesse for the safetie of such as doe paie him for a better worke let him think of himselfe as wel as he list yet these are the titiles that hee doth best deserue doctor Spoiles Parson Theefe and Sir Iohn Murtherer for in taking awaie of the goodes from their Parishioners without doing of their dutie is before the maiestie of God no better then theft and to let their soules perish for want of foode is to be a murtherer and spoiler of the soules of them which Christe did shâ—d his bloude for Par. But mee thinkes you mighte vse milder speeches for ther are manie of these I tel you that are of good wisedome and beare some countenance and therefore wil take it as an offence to haue these names at your hands Gen. Are they ashamed to bear the names and doe they take no shame to deserue the names doe they set more by the countenance of the worlde then by the fauoure of God haue they a more desire to please men then they haue to serue Christe can they with brasen brows commit such faultes in open places are they not ashamed so to offend before the Lorde and his Angels doe they rather chuse to liue at ease a while in this transitorie worlde then to line for euer in the world that neuer should haue endâ—or wil they persecute Christ in his members and yet saie stil they are good Christians If it be true they shew their vnsdome that it is nothing but follie and if they 〈◊〉 to bee offended with him that giueth them these names let them looke in the tenth of Ihon and there they shal find that he that regardeth not his flocke is * Iohn 10. a theefe commeth for nothing but to spoile kil and destroie he that spake the words is Christ himselfe and if because they cannot touch him they wil be offended with mee that haue saide it after him they shal be sure to make a wrong matche for in so good cause I knowe Christ wil take my parte and hauing him on my side I care not though al the worlde were set against me for if the Lord himslef take the matter in hand mark howe his enimies are like to speed he can fight with them form heauen * Iosua 10.11 with hailstones as hee did for his seruant Iosua He can send them as much * Gen. 19.24 fire and Brimston that shal consume them al as he did the Sodomites He can cause the earth to open and * Num. 16.32 swallowe them vp quicke as hee did Corah Dathan and Abiram with theire wicked companions if they thinke themselues so strong so manie in â—nmber that their aduersaries are not able to withstand them God is able in steede of other help to cause one of theÌ„ to kil * Iud. 7.22 another as it fel out amongst the Madianites and if there be any that doe escape the sword and flie vnto houses for succoure God is able to throwe downe the * 3. Kin. 20.30 walles vpon them as he did vpon the Sirians which at one time slewe seuen and twentie thousand if such as are left wil continue stil deriding the seruaunts of God he is able to send as maine shee * 4. Kin. 2.24 Beares oute of the woodes as shal deuour them al as he did for such as mocked his seruant Eliseus and if this bee not ynough there is no mischeefe that they would wish to fal vpon others but God is able to make it fal on theÌ„ selues this can the Lorde doe and greater thinges then these for what is it but that is possible with him but although he doeth with patience endure the wickednesse of his enemies for a while yet he can and wil at length plague them through lie to their vtter destruction and for his owne seruants althoughe theire enemies rage as doe the waues of the sea yet shal they not goe beyonde the boundes that the Lorde hath set them if they would cast them into prisous thinking by that means to vse theÌ„ at their pleasure God is able to send his * Act. 5.16 Angel to open the doores vnto them as he did for his Apostles by the meanes set them at liberty If they wold thrust theÌ„ into the fierie ouen thinking that waie to consume them God is able ynough to keepe them from * Dan. 3.25 burning as he did Sidrach Misach and Abednega If they woulde cast them amongst the Lions thinking that way to destroy them God is able to stop * Dan. 6.22 their mouthes the they shall not hurt them as he did for Daniel If they woulde keepo them from meate that they might kil them with hunger God is able to cause the * 3. Kin. 17.9 Kauens to feede them as he did for Elias If they woulde make a Gallowes to dispatche others God can cause them to bee hanged thereon themselues as it fel oute betweene wicked * Ester 7.9 Haman and good Mardocheus all this can the Lorde doe for suche as serue him faithfully but although he suffer them to be persecuted for a while yet he can and wil at length deliuer them oute of their enemies hands though they were as many in number as al the people in the worlde and as terrible to looke on as al the Diuelles in Hell yet shal they once haue the victory and al their foes
new man if he loue Christ and his Gospel so wel * Luk. 14.26 that he can be contented to loose his life for the same If you finde this in a man knowe him to be a Protestant as wel in deed as in name for this is required of him that wil be a professour of the gospel and bear the name of a Protestant Par. What are there no Protestaunts but such as haue al this in them then I think there be not manie Protestauntes amongest a great number of professors Gen. In deede I knowe Christes flocke is a litle flocke that it is an easier matter to bee called a Protestaunt then prooued a Protestant but yet some there are and that manie more then we knowe which do worship God in spirite and trueth and are appointed to be heires of the kingdome of heauen Of the which number M. Parson I long to finde you one and if you will once turn vnto Christ he wil be be merciful vnto you and there wil bee more ioie of so penitent a sinner then of * Luk. 15.7 ninety and nine iust persons If you did know the rewarde you should haue for following of Christe you would make haste to goe after him If you did knowe the ioies that God hath prepared for those that loue him were such as the * 1 Cor. 2.9 eye hath not seene the eare hath not hard nether the hart of man hath euer conceiued you woulde thirste after them as the Hart doth for the water brooks If you did knowe howe * Psal 84.1 amiable are the dwellinges of the Lorde of Hostes your soule woulde haue a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the Lorde yea your heart and your fleshe would reioice in the liuing God If you did know that in his presence is the * Psal 16.12 fulnes of ioy that at his right hand there are pleasures for euermore you wil chuse rather to be a * Psal 84.11 doore keeper in the house of youre God then to dwel in the tentes of the vngodlie If you did know the glorie they shal haue in his kingdome that suffer for his sake in this world you would set more by the * â—eb 11.16 rebuke of Christe then by al the treasures of Egipt Beware of that subtil serpent the Diuel which goeth aboute like a * â— Pet. 5.8 roaring Lion readie to deuour you it is his persuasions the makes you in loue with this world and if it lay in him he would saie vnto you as he did vnto Christ that he * Mat. 4.8 woulde giue you al the kingdomes in the worlde to fal downe worship him for riches and other vanities of the world being vnlawfully possessed are nothing but baites of that subtile Serpent to intrap such as be not warie of him Therefore as you loue the safetie of your self depart from that which is euil remember * Rom. 6.23 that euerlasting life is the gift of God and the reward of sinne is euerlasting damnation and know that one sweete loost from Christes cheekes is better then al the faire countenances of the world and an angrie countenaunce from his face is able to crush al their enimies in peeces Therfore auoid his displeasure beware of his wrath get into his fauor and continue in his fear and you shal stand though the earth fal and shal be sure of the victorie though al the world were set against you Par. For your good councel I most heartelie thank you with your gentle persuasions you haue greatlie moued me therefore I mean to take another order with my self which I trust shal like you wel enough Gen. I pray you M. Parson let me hear that order Par. Thus I doe determine to lay my plot because it is a feareful thing to fall into the handes of the liuing God and greate dangers are like to befal those that coÌ„tinue in their sinne I wil take such a order that I wil not spende much but liue sparingly a while vntil I haue gotten a good peece of mony in my purse that may maintaine me during my life and then I wil departe from my liuings and repent for al matters halfe a dozen yeares hence Gen. But what if you should chauuce to dye M. Parson before these yeares come out Par. In deede that is the worst I neuer thought on that Gen. Oh in any wise haue care of that for death commeth manye times vnlooked for and you are not sure of your life one houre and if death should ouertake you in your sinnes you are lost for euer Therefore I wold wish you not to delay the time any longer but deale wisely for your selfe while you may for if you be once gone * Psal 50.22 no man may deliuer you nor make agreement vnto God for you Par. Truely Gentleman you say honestly your persuasions are verie strong and if I might be sure to obteine the fauor of God and inherite the kingdome of heauen by suche meanes as you haue shewed me and that there were no doubte of it I could be contented to yeeld vnto you but I must tel you plain my benefices are swéete and if I should forsake them all and go to the diuel at last it would grieue me Gen. To put you oute of doubte for that matter heare what Christe himselfe saith which is the dore whereby you must enter into heauen whosoeuer * Mar. 19.29 saith he forsaketh house or brethren father or mother wife or children goodes or landes for my names sake shal receiue an hundred folde in this world and in the world to come life euerlasting Par. What is ment by that hundred fold that if I put awaie my benefices I shall haue them againe and manie more then I care not how soone I depart with them Gen. No M. Par. you must not thinke so but this knowe that God is able to giue you a thousande times more as you maie see by the example of * Iob. 42.10 Iob but the meaning is this that you shal in this whorlde haue such peace of conscience which the vngodlie are without that you shal saie with Paule you are as * 2. Cor. 6.10 hauing nothing and yet possessing all things and in the world to come ioies vnspeakable in a life that shal last for euer Therefore M. Parson think no time so happie as that which you bestow in procuring of your self that which wil stick by you for euer Par. Oh this comfort is great and these wordes haue stroken me to the heart Gen. How doe you M. Par me thinkes your collour doth begin to change Par. Oh oh oh Gen. What are you not wel that you looke so ill Par. Oh sicke sicke Gen. I woulde we had some Ginger for you or a little Aquauitie Par. Oh I am sicke I am sicke Gen. Wil you ride to some towne and we will send your water to some phisition Par. Oh no