withstand the power of Impatience Note I say first of murmuring how many incontieniences doe grow to the Murmurer himselfe and then to other by his meanes and againe how great are the comforts of the contrary Murmuring troubleth the minde disquiets the heart distempereth the bodie and sometime breedes the consumption of the purse it forgetteth reason abuseth nature sheweth disloialty displeaseth a friend and doth purchase an enemie it carrieth vvit from reason Reason from Grace and Nature from her selfe yea sometime man euen from God to the Deuill while patiēce enduring those perplexities that put reason to his best power nature is not distempered reason not abused grace is embraced and God is truely honoured the league of amitie is continued the law of nature is not broken Truth is gratious and the soule is blessed where the body is not distempered nor the mind disturbed the creature is most able to giue glory to his Creator Note then the differences of these two natures Murmuring a horrible vice and patience a heauenly vertue doe but think on the fruit of murmuring and the condition and end of murmurers rages frettings wars death pouertie sicknes and sorrovv vvhile the child is sicke of the father the vvife of the husband the brother of the sister and one friend of another vvhat massacre or murther hath there grovvne but through the inuention of murmuring and the malice of murmurers looke a little if thou bee a murmurer of vvhat kind thou art and vvho thou art and so note the condition of thy nature or nature of thy condition If thou be a man and murmurest against God thou art a Deuill if thou bee a Subiect and murmure against thy King thou art a Rebell if thou bee a Sonne and murmure against thy father thou shewest a bastards nature If thou murmure against thy Brother an vnkind nature if against thy friend an vnthankfull nature if against an honest man an vnhonest nature if against a foole an vnwise nature if against a Christian a hethenish nature if against a man a dogged nature Thus thou seest by murmuring what thou shalt bee esteemed of God and man yea and in thine ovvne conscience of thy selfe either a Foole a Knaue a Heathen a Bastard a Traytor a Dogge of a Deuill and doest thou then see the villanous nature and condition of this qualitie and wilt not leaue it take heede least if thou continue in it that God vvil hate thee for it doe not send thee to the deuill with it who was the first Author and is the continual nourisher of it Againe thinke with thy selfe when another man shall find thee in thy murmuring either by thy discōtentiue countenance or soletarie delight sequestring thy selfe from men to conuerse with the Aire hovv great will be thy shame to heare the skoffings that will fall vpon thy follie Some will say thou art mad other thou art foolish another thou art dogged but noe man that thou art either wise kind or well in thy wits Againe when thou hast reuealed thy folly to the world and fretted thy selfe to the heart with the humor of an euill spirit and yet art neuer the better any way but manie way a greate deale the worse what canst thou thinke of thy selfe but fret that thou didest fret blush at thy shame grieue at thy follie and murmure at thy selfe that thou didst murmure at thy selfe or any other while repentāce which bringeth sorrow is the best fruit of such a frenzie Againe when thou shalt see the patience of another blessed and thy murmuring accursed an others patience enriched and thy impatience impouerished an others patience aduanced thy murmuring disgraced what canst thou thinke of it but a Canker eating into thy Soule worse then any Fistula in thy fleshe pray then to the heauenly Surgeon for a plaster of patience with the oyle of true repentance to cure thee of this disease which in the worlde at least by all the Arte of the Worlde is Incurable wilt thou see a murmurer truely discribed that thou maiest the better hate to bee his image Behold his Eyes like a hogge euer bent downewards as if he were looking into Hell his cheekes like an Anathomie where the fleshe from the bones doth fall with fretting his browes euer wrinckled with frownes to shew the distemper of his vnquiet Braine his lippes euer puld inward as if Enuie would speake and durst not his tongue like the sting of a Serpent which vttereth nothing but poison his voice like the hissing of an Adder which maketh musique but for hell his necke like a weake piller whereon his head stands tottering and readie to fall his breast like an impostume that is ready to burst with corruption his heart the Anuile wheron the deuill frames his fireworke his body a Trunk where Sinne hath layed vp her store his handes like clawes that catch at the world and his feete like vvinges that make hast vnto hell Now doest thou behold this ougly sight and doest not feare to bee such a monster what shall I then say vnto thee but if God haue giuen thee ouer to a reprobate sence there is no reason to be had with thee nor hope of recouery to bee had of thee but hoping a little better in thee let me goe a little further with thee The vvorde of God saith Beati pacifici blessed are the peace makers thinke then it is a vvorke of the Deuill to sovv sedition and being at vvar vvith thy selfe hovv canst thou be at peace vvith the vvorld except it bee the good vvarre betvvixt the spirite and the flesh vvhere the peace of conscience ouercomes the trouble of conceit by patience is the Soule possest vvhich is more vvorth then the vvhole vvorld and by murmuring is the soule lost vvhich gon vvhat is the gaine of the vvorld Is it not strange that all the parts and the members of the bodie can so vvell agree togither and one doe seruice to another and men the parts and members of a common-vvealth should be so at variance among themselues In the body of man if the head ake the heart is not vvell if the Eye be hurt the head is distempered the heart is diseased and all the body is the vvorse if the finger bee hurt the head vvill seeke to help it the heart hath a feeling of it the Eye vvil pittie it and the feete vvill goe for ease for it if the foote bee hurt the Head Heart and Hands will seeke for cure of it while the Eye vvill be carefull to look to the dressing of it If the body bee diseased the head vvith all the members vvill labour for the helpe of it that all parts being in their perfect state the mind or Soule may be at rest if in this priuate body of man all things bee brought vnto this good order vvhat shame is it for a common-vvealth that men should bee so out of order and vvhile all parts of the bodie are at the seruice
rather by vniting of Kingdomes to make a Monarchie of peace to the admiration of the vvorld so profoundly read in the rules of best learning and so vvell Linguist in the most necessary Languages as are gratious in his person and Maiesticall in his place in Religion so zelous in disposition so vertuous in mercie so gracious as both for his presence and his spirit is vvorthy to be honored honorably loued and louingly serued Hovv canst thou be so vile of disposition or senceles of good as to murmure at so great a blessing as God hath giuē thee in his gouernmēt Doest thou murmure at his pleasures and loue the same thy selfe Doeth he hunt and delight in Dogges better to nourish dogs vvho shevv but their natures and vvill bee at their Masters Seruice then to maintain those monsters of men that cōtrary to the nature of men vvill murmure at the welfare of their Master Again hadst thou a King vvithout a Queene thou mightst fear trouble through vvant of Issue but so gracious a Queene and the mother of so blessed Children so Princely a Progenie as may glad the hearts of the vvhole Kingdome Villain to thine owne Soule that vvilt murmure at these Comforts and not be thankefull for these blessings Did he hunt thine heires from their possessiōs their heads from their shoulders thy Preachers from their Churches or thy Cities from their Liberties then hadst thou cause to grieue but hast no vvarrant to murmure but hee that seeketh thy safetie continueth thy peace encreaseth thy plentie and maintayneth thy pleasure is louing to thee reioyceth in thy loue and deserues to be loued of thee What deuill can possesse thee that such a King cānot please thee wouldst thou haue him gouerned by thee vvho gouernes the vvhole Kingdome besides thee thou art foolish vvho being a Subiect vvouldest bee a King and how canst thou thinke to gouerne vvhen thou hast not learned to be gouerned Againe canst thou by thy policie vnite kingdōs as he hath don by his person art thou so wel allied as to link such loue in royall lines No thou art not and if thou vvert yet God hath made thee a Subiect and therefore make not thy selfe a rebell but rather learne hovv to obey his vvill then to murmure at his gouernment be thankefull to God for the much good in him and murmure not at the euill that thou misconceiuest in him least God seeing thy vilenesse bring thy villany to light and vvith a shamefull death giue thee the due of thy desert leaue then to murmure at him and be thankfull for him murmure not at his greatnesse considering his goodnesse nor at his case for thou knovvest not his care nor at his vvealth cōsidering his vvorthinesse nor at his povver considering his vvisdom but loue him serue him honour him and obey him and be thankfull to the Maiesty of the heauens that thou mayest behold such a Maiesty on Earth Murmure not at the tribute thou payest him for all thou hast is too little for his seruice Murmure not at the Seruice thou dost him for thou canst neuer doe him ynough for his vvorthines Murmure not at thy vvant of his bountie least he see more thy greedinesse then good vvil In summe murmure not at him not any thing that may dislike thee in him least God making him see thy vvickednes thy life make ansvver for thy folly vvhile continuing in thy murmuring till thy death it carry thee headlong to the deuill Againe dost thou murmure at the Counsel either for the povver of their authoritie the honour of their place or the State of their possessions Looke backe into thy selfe and bee ashamed of thy sinne Is not the care of the Commonwealth the course of Iustice the quiet of the state and the preseruation of the vvhole Kingdome vnder God and his Maiestie in the hands of those Magistrats vvhose vvisdome deserueth honour vvhose care deserueth praise vvhose labour deferueth vvealth and vvhose vvil deserueth obedience and canst thou sencelesse wretch fretting in melancholy not able to discerne the least part of their perfectiōs offend thy God thy King thy State yea thy selfe and thine owne Soule vvith the wicked humor of Ingratitude vvhich growne out of Ignorance bred in Enuie growes vp in Ambition shall die in Ignominie Fie vpon thy inhumane Nature that abiding nothing that is good doest onely seede vpon Euill vvho being carelesse of order vvouldest haue no Law dissolute in thy vvill vvilt endure no Counsaile fond in thy vvit makest no reckoning of Wisedome and not knowing the labour of Studie vvouldest allow nothing for the Studient Oh vvhat a cōmon vvoe would be in that commonvvealth vvhere thou shouldest haue power to appoint Gouernours but leaue thy murmuring at them reuerence them in their places honor them in their vvisedomes loue them in their vertues serue them in their worthinesse and obey them in their commaunds least finding thy condition they take order vvith thy disposition vvhen to vveede out such a venemous Serpent is necessary for the preseruing of better spirits for Murmurers are like to Mutiners vvhere one cursed villaine may be the ruine of a whole Camp for which if there vvere not Martiall Lawe there vvere no life for the Souldior nor honour in Armes Againe doest thou murmure at the Lawyer oh vvitlesse creature how wouldest thou keepe thy Landes Goods or Houses if there vvere no Law to maintaine thy right How wouldest thou haue thy vvrongs redressed if there vvere no power of Iustice How should the King gouerne and the Subiect bee gouerned but by the course of Lawe And are not the Iudges Counsellors and true Administers of the Law rather to bee honoured for their learning and rewarded for their labours then to bee murmured at for their seruice But liue thou within the limits of the Law and thou vvilt not murmure at their Lawes For vvho hateth the Iudge but the Theefe the Traytor the Cosener or the Consumer and therefore murmure at thy selfe and leaue murmuring at Lawyers Againe doest thou murmure at the vvord of God oh child of the diuell is it not the key of Grace that openeth the gate of heauen and the lamp of Loue that giues light vnto the way of life Is it not the comfort of the heart and the food of the Soule and being a Iewell of such price as all the vvorld cānot purchase a Treasure of that vvorth that all the vvorld cannot value a ioy of that Nature that dooth rauish the Soules of the Elect What shall I say to thee But thou art a Deuill incarnate that so farre from the Spirit of Grace canst bee vngratefull for so gracious a blessing or murmure at so glorious a gift of Mercie for to scorue the tidings of Saluation is to hasten the vvay vnto Damnation Note vvhat it is to murmure and the estate of Murmurers Coran Dathan and Abiram murmured at Moses what became of them The earth swallowed them Pharaoh murmured at the Israelites What vvas his reward
of the head to the great peace of the heart vvhy should not all Subiects ioyne togither in vnity of seruice to their King to the greate and blessed peace of the vvhole Kingdome God made all the parts of the bodie for the Soule and vvith the Soule to serue him and all the Subiects in a Kingdome to serue their King and with their King to serue him If the head of the bodie ake vvill not the heart bee greatly greeued and euerie part feele his part of the paine of it and shall a King in his vvill bee displeased and the hearte of his kingdome the heartes of his Subiects not haue a feeling of it Canne the Eye of the bodie bee hurt or greeued and neither the head heart nor any other member bee touched vvith the paine of it No more can the Counsell the Eye of the common vvealth bee disturbed but the King vvill find it and the Common-vvealth vvill feel it can the hand the Artificer bee hurt but the common-vvealth vvill find the lacke of it the Eye with pittie vvil behold it and the head vvith the eye the King vvith the Counsell take care for the help of it Can the labourer the foote be vvounded but the body of the State vvill feele it the head be carefull the eye searchfull and the hand bee painfull in the cure of it and the common-vvealth the body bee diseased but the King his Counsell and euerie true Subiect vvill put to his hand for the helpe of it hovv then grovves this murmuring at the vvill of God in men vvhile there is such an agreement of the parts in man but only by the vvorke of the deuill in man to bring him from God and the vvorlde to vvorke against himselfe his seruice in the vvorld and as hee taught it first our parēts to bring them out of paradise so he vvil as many as he can of their posterity to lead them into Hell But let mee tell thee it is better that a fevv murmurers perish vvith their murmuring then a vvhole kingdome perish vvith their mallice In the holy vvord I find vvritten If thine Eye offend thee pull it out if thy hand offend thee cut it off better to enter into heauen vvith one hand or one eye then vvith both into hell But all this vvhile there is nothing spokē of the head that must still bee kept on so if a great man or a meane man do offēd cut him off or cut him short that he may do no hurt for better a mēber perish thē the head or the hart should ake then either the King or the common-vvealth should bee diseased but for the King hovvsoeuer hee bee disposed hee must not bee disturbed for it is vvritten Touch not mine annointed and do my Prophets no harme againe transgressiō is as the sin of vvitchcraft and vvhat greater transgression then Rebellion vvhich chiefly hath her breeding in murmuring If thou hast a cruell vvicked King take him for a punishment and pray for his amendment but murmure not at his povver but if thou hast a good King take him as a blessing and hauing a good King be thankful to God for him for his prosperity serue him loue him obey him hate thy selfe to haue a thought of murmuring against him or any thing cōmanded by him looke a little more into thy glasse of murmuring see if at last thou hast the least sparke of Gods grace vvhat thou beholdest God in the heauēs frowning upon thee his angels either murmuring for thee or readie to plague thee his seruants on the Earth hating thee and the deuill vvith his angells readie to distroy thee thy Soule made a Receptacle of sinne thy mind made a torment to thy Soule thy heart made a greefe to thy bodie and euerie part of thy bodie out of temper while being driuen out of the ground of all goodnesse Thou shalt bee left in the maze of al wickednesse where loosing the hope of all cōfort thou shalt liue in the hell of all miserie yet a little look further into thy selfe and into the vilenesse of thy nature if it be touched with that infection If the weather please thee not thou wilt murmure at the heauens if the world goe not with thee thou willt murmure at the vvorlde if thy friend rebuke thee thou vvllt murmure at his care of thee If thine enemy ouercome thee thou wilt murmure at his fortune If thy Father bee aged thou wilt murmure at his life If thy brother be thine elder thou wilt murmure at his Inheritance If thy neighbour grow rich thou wilt murmure at his prosperitie If a Stranger bee fauored thou wilt murmure at his grace if a Begger bee releeued thou wilt murmure at his Almes and if a godly man bee beloued thou wilt murmure at Gods blessing If thou bee a woman or a womanish man then how many things will trouble thee thou wilt murmure at fashions coulors toies tricks words gestures and a world of such idle fancies whē alwaies the other is the best nothing pleaseth but variety hee or shee hath the best face the best eye the best hand the best legge the best body or the best foote speakes best hath the best countenance sings best dances best rides best feeds fineliest goes gaiest hath apparrell the best made and weares it best thus all is best wher there is none good while that which should be best serues God best is not spokē of for indeed who serueth God best will not let his spirit be led away with these idle humors dost thou thē see the follie of this murmuring and the hurt of so great a poyson seeke the cure of it by prayer keep it from thee by patience least if it once get hold of thy heart it breed a cureles woūd in thy Soule If thou be a king keepe thy seate If a Courtier know thy place if a Scholler plie thy booke if a Souldier look to thine honor If a marchāt take thy fortune if a farmer follow thy plough if a beggar fal to prayer but murmur not oh King if thou be not an Emperor nor courtier if thou haue not grace nor Scholler if thou want preferment nor Souldier if thou loose thy day nor Marchāt if thou loose goods nor farmer if thou lose thy labor nor beggar if thou get bare alms but murmuring at Gods wil take heede that thou loose not thine owne soule more precious to thee then the whole world Is it not strange to see the insensible Creatures what a concord there is and among the Creatures of best sence so great a disagreement In musique the Treble is the highest and the base the lowest the Tenor and Counter-Tenor betvveen thē yet though euery one hath his place when they are in their full concord they make the sweetest harmony so in a Kingdome a King is the highest and the labourer the lovvest I leaue out the Beggar as an vnnecessary member but only for the exercise