A VERY GODly, learned, and fruit full Sermon against the bad spirits of Malignity, Malice, and unmercifulness.  
Publicly preached by Thomas Banks, Master of Arts, and preacher of the word.  
Seen and allowed.  
LONDON Printed by john Wolf, dwelling in Distaff Lane, near the sign of the Castle. 1586.   

To the most reverend Father 〈…〉 God his singular good Lord, john 〈…〉 the providence of God Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of all England, & Metropolitan, Thomas Banks wisheth and prayeth for continual increase of God's manifold graces.  
MY very good Lord, may it please your Grace to recognise, that as Cato the Censor, when he was asked why he would not have his picture solemnly erected (as others had) said, He would rather that men should marvel why he wanted that monument, then murmur because he had it. So likewise have I myself replied in this case, as most unwilling to condescend to the Press. Notwithstanding, the sad importunity of some learned wellwillers which took a liking of this Sermon, & the causeless impatience of other some captious persons, which did both stomach it, & other such sermons of mine, as overfraught with too too much eloquence (forsooth) have finally won me to surrender up the copy hereof out of mine own custody. The one instant cause (well I wot) argueth no less but that my obsequious affection hath overweighed my discretion, in that I have tendered my friends desire more than mine own credit, by publishing this so slender a treatise: & the other cause that moved me, importeth no more but that I do rather securely insult over, then seriously stick at the waspish indignation of the adversaries, especially having now a fresh recommended this thing to their eyes with boldness, which their ears afore could hardly brook with christian patience, and all because I rolled too much in any rhetoric, (say they) as though the nature of the sacred scriptures ●ould in no wise admit the serviceable 〈…〉 e of profane sciences, no, not for 〈…〉 eir better perspicuity sake. This 〈…〉 e thinks) should be reputed as a paradox amongst the best learned, & 〈…〉 t is it canonised as a resolute truth 〈…〉 the general decree of the inferior 〈…〉 t, which for the supply of some Art ●●d faculty they want, smoothly pre●●nd a petty zeal, and modestly with ●he Fox say, they will eat no grapes. These be they, which when they preach the word, (as oftentimes they do unpremeditate) haply catch mostraines by stooping too low, than others do by looking too high. As for me, whom they partly dislike & disfavour in this case, I appeal to themselves for their further indifferent sentence, touching this my Sermon preached, and now unworthily under your most gracious protection published. Which albeit untimely it seem in respect of the author thereof, and somewhat homely perchance in regard of the matter therein: yet being affianced under your good Lordship's wings, and perused over without partiality, or prejudice, it may at times afford the readers such seasonable and wholesome lessons, as shallbe both easy for them to learn, & behoveful enough to live thereafter. For neither is it in phrase so lofty, but that all through out may perceive it, nor yet in matter so defective, but that some, I hope, amongst all may select and single out some good thing which they have either not heard, forgotten or else neglected: The rifer knowledge, remembrance, and more lively practice whereof may happily make for the 〈…〉 ancement of God's kingdom, and 〈…〉 it eternal salvation, which 'em 〈…〉 ce it accordingly with a good con〈…〉 nce. For herein (so far forth 〈…〉 my poor Talon would extend) 〈…〉 I assayed to supplant such foul 〈…〉 rfections, as do now a days oh 〈…〉 hrow and deface the whole body 〈…〉 beauty of Christian innocency: 〈…〉 ch enormities namely are these, 〈…〉 star curiossitie in judging, Ser 〈…〉 ne poison in malice bearing, and 〈…〉 rlish illiberality in Alms gi' 〈…〉. And these three malignant, 〈…〉 full, and merciless spirits, though 〈…〉 ave sought to conjure them by one 〈…〉 d one: yet do they commonly 〈…〉 epe company, and concur all in ●●e subject. For wheresoever the 〈…〉 estilent spirits of malice & malignity do enrage, even there at hand ●ttendeth always the unsavoury spirit of unmercifulness, insomuch as if we peaceably harbour one of these, the other two without nay say, will press in after: and if on the other side we put one to flight, the other two incontinent will bid us farewell. Having therefore (I say) at the instance of some for the behoof of all, penned this Sermon as a means to suppress and abolish these three noisome spirits: my humble suit and confident hope is, that it may and shallbe both favourably protected under your Grace's name, & fruitfully perused of so many as fear God, love me, and favour themselves aright. Which fortunate success I commit over unto the Almighty, who as he hath largely enriched your Lordship with many singular graces, & hath eke advanced you on high in this his Church & common weal: so still do I pray him graciousle to multiply the same in you, with a long ●●d prosperous preservation of your ●erson and calling, and all for the better preferment of his name, and propagation of his glorious Gospel.  
Your Grace's most humble in the Lord. Thomas Banks.   

THE TEXT. Luke. 6.  
37 judge not, and ye shall not be judged: Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: Forgive and ye shall be forgiven.  
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you: a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, shall men give into your bosom: for with what measure ye meet, with the same shall men meet to you again.   

〈…〉 ie godly, learned, and 〈…〉 ll Sermon against the bad spi 〈…〉 malignity, malice, and unmer 〈…〉 es. Publicly preached by though 〈…〉 as Banks Master of Arts and Preacher of the word.  〈…〉 dge not, and ye shall not be judged: 〈…〉demne not, and ye shall not be con〈…〉 mned. 
OUr Saviour seeking throughout, by virtue of this his Sermon, to turn the people's leaden nature into the golden metal of grace, and 〈…〉 ecause nature did properly hale 〈…〉 on to deal as they were, and not 〈…〉 ey would be dealt withal in way 〈…〉 engeance: and grace forced them to 〈…〉 s they would be & not as they were 〈…〉 e to in way of benevolence: Albeit 〈…〉 say) for the speedier conversion & ex 〈…〉 ange sake of their corrupt nature into 〈…〉 ure regenerate substance, the Lord in 〈…〉 s own person had immediately before 〈…〉 this chapter, laid hard to their charge: yet nevertheless doth he now afres 〈…〉 (as it were) knock upon his Discip 〈…〉 breasts, and roundly now again ru 〈…〉 the memories of the residue of his au 〈…〉tors, charging them straightly with th' 〈…〉 three special branches of Christianit 〈…〉 The first concerneth the abandoning 〈…〉 curious and rash judgement, The sec 〈…〉 cutteth off all malice & private revenge 〈…〉 and the third is altogether conversant 〈…〉 bout the extending of alms: And the 〈…〉 three several precepts have each of the 〈…〉 appendent to him, his kindly promise 〈…〉 recompense. So that (as we see) this i 〈…〉 stant treatise standeth jointly througho 〈…〉 of bare propositions and confirmations, yea, upon mere precepts and promises● Well then, touching the first proposition, sounding in manner of a proclamation against lavish judgement, we must well think, that Christ's meaning thereby is not, to shorten the arms of civil judges, according to the fantastical construction of the anabaptists: yea, the Lord is so far off from dashing or putting to silence this same serviceable sort of Magistrates, that by his own ordinance and appointment they do hold their standing 〈…〉 heir pre-eminence, and temporal 〈…〉 ment seat in justice, as may appear 〈…〉 se sundry places of Testament. 〈…〉 10. judges & officers shalt thou 
Deut. 16.  〈…〉 thee in all thy cities, throughout 〈…〉 bes. isaiah. 1. judge the fatherless, 
isaiah. 1. Zach. 7.  〈…〉 and the widow. Zach. 7. Execute 〈…〉 udgement, and show mercy and 〈…〉 assion every one to his brother. 〈…〉. By the controlment of wrong 〈…〉 oat righteous judgement common 〈…〉 thus, How long will ye judge un 〈…〉 
psal. 82.  & accept the people of the wic 〈…〉 So then hereby we learn, the civil 〈…〉 racie beautified with upright judge 〈…〉 doth go for as singular good pai 〈…〉 with the Lord as may be Neither 〈…〉 this commandement any whit at 〈…〉 isable or cut short ecclesiastical per 〈…〉 from judgement & sentence giving in 〈…〉 causes, as properly appertain to 〈…〉 vocation & jurisdiction. For as afore 〈…〉 e in the days of Moses, the Priests were 〈…〉 thorized to judge of the lepry: so now in 〈…〉 r age, the Church likewise is by office 〈…〉 joined to judge, & for a season to put a 〈…〉 art the reckless and notorious evil 〈…〉 verse: and this in the Apostles time was allowed off, as appeareth when 〈…〉 Paul commanded that such a one 〈…〉 kept his father's wife, Should be delivered up unto Satan for the destruction 〈…〉 
1. Cor. 5.  his flesh, that his spirit might be save 〈…〉 in the day of the Lord jesus. Yea, such judgement of ours (I say) is not prohibited here, as hath it warrant from manifest and infallible proofs, but that we may with john the Baptist, term the Phrases and Sadduces, A generation of vipers, and say unto the Scribes as Christ did. How can ye speak any thing that good is, when ye yourselves 
Math. 3.  are evil? Yea, we may with the Apostle 
1. Cor. 6.  thunder out eternal condemnation against such as defile themselves with fornication, theft, wantonness, adultery drunkenness, idolatry, & such like. Touching these most profane & gross impieties, which can in no wise possible proceed from a mean good mind, we may without all danger sears, & set Satan's mark upon them, in token of their overthrow, which pollute themselves therewithal unless that by repentance they take up in time, and turn over a new leaf. For as the bad tree by the evil 〈…〉 t may be accordingly judged of: so 〈…〉 y they which through evil conversa 〈…〉, without remorse of conscience op 〈…〉 themselves against the will of God. 〈…〉 reputed & judged off what they are. 〈…〉 sides, the Lord, who (as S. Jerome 〈…〉 h) doth not here forbidden, but teacheth 〈…〉 judge: dehorteth us not from iud 〈…〉 ourselves, but that we may after 〈…〉 ostles advise judge ourselves, that 
1. Cor. 11.  〈…〉 e not judged of the Lord. Thus 〈…〉 ée, what sorts of judgement are privi 〈…〉 d, untouched, & exempted here: Now 〈…〉 s behold a little, what judgement our 〈…〉 iour Christ aimeth at, and seeketh to 〈…〉 off in this place, as a most pestilent 〈…〉 noious enemy against all true Chri 〈…〉 nitie, and brotherly consent whatsoe 〈…〉. And this it is (my brethren) when 〈…〉 en of sinister judgement do curiously 〈…〉 t out the enormities, or openly blaze 〈…〉 discover the nakedness of others, whose 〈…〉 ults perhaps are fewer in number be 〈…〉 g truly told, and lighter in weight be 〈…〉 g rightly balanced, than their own 〈…〉 e. Touching such peevish and busibo●ies, which for reproach and not for reformation sake, roundly reprove, and disdainfully carp at other men: th'apostle Paul doth disappoint & wipe them of all excuse, where he saith, Therefore thou 
Rom. 2.  art inexcusable (O man) whosoever thou art that judgest. For this cause the same Apostle else where warneth the Corinthians, that they should in no wise judge any thing, until the coming of the Lord. Againd, Who art thou (quoth he) that 
〈◊〉 Cor. 4.  codemnest an other man's servant? For such like rash and roving condemnation, our saviour Christ rebuked the Scribes, as thus, Wherefore think ye evil things 
Mat. 9  in your hearts? This he said, when falsely within themselves in a mutiny, they charged him as a blasphemer. S. james likewise giveth us this watch word, Speak not evil one of an other, brethren. 
●am. 4.  He that speaketh evil of his brother, or he that condemneth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and condemneth the law. And if thou condemnest the law, thou art no observer of the law, but a judge. That we should not upon superficial and slender evidence judge our neighbours: that place in the book of Moses is of great force to persuade us, where the Lord said, 〈…〉 me on, let us go down & there con 〈…〉 and 
Gen. 10.  their language. Which words 〈…〉 our imitation sake, do very signify 〈…〉tly import, what leisure & advise the 〈…〉 rd took, afore he would dash the buil 〈…〉 s with confusion: For he said he would 〈…〉 go down, & then do it. In the evan 〈…〉 st Luke we read, that the rich man 
Luk. 16.  〈…〉 d needs confer, and call his steward 〈…〉 him, afore he did dimisse him. In 〈…〉 gospel of the Evangelist john we 〈…〉 owe sparing our Saviour Christ was 〈…〉 udging the jews, who because they 〈…〉 a little before sought to stone him, his 〈…〉 ciples gave him counsel that he should 〈…〉 no more among them: and yet he 〈…〉 l not hear on that side, so lightly to 〈…〉 them over, but madly made reply as 〈…〉, Are there not twelve hours in 
joh. 12.  〈…〉 day? As if he should have said, Be it 〈…〉 that heretofore they intended mischief 〈…〉ainst us, yet now perhaps their ma 〈…〉 e is worn out, and they will no more 〈…〉 eale thus roughly with us. These are 〈…〉 xamples to teach us, & the other afore 〈…〉re places of testimony for to assure us 〈…〉 he rather, that the Lord can in no wise 〈…〉 rook such impudent & unruly persons, as are too rash and headlong in judging other men, by means whereof they bewray themselves with shame enough to be both exceeding presumptuous, and no less hypocritical. Presumptuous, for that they take upon them as Masters, being unworthy the name of Disciples, For that (I say) they go about to reach that a far off, which they are too short armed to apprehend and reach hard at hand: I mean, for that they assay to judge others, being altogether unable to judge aright of themselves, (unless happily they do surpass both Peter and Paul, the one whereof was deceived in himself, when without fail he purposed, yea, and stoutly protested, that though he 
〈…〉. 26.  should die with Christ, he would in no wise deny him, and yet when it came to the push, he both denied him, and forswore him bitterly: and the other for his share confessed, that he was altogether 
〈…〉. 4.  unmeet accordingly to judge himself, and that because he knew nothing by himself.) That such men also as do curiously judge others, are themselves wonderful hypocritical, 〈…〉 case is most plain and evident: 〈…〉 the kindly property of an hypo 〈…〉 te, is, to see the sliding of an other 〈…〉 an, but not the downfall of himself: 〈…〉 point at other men's blemishes, be 〈…〉 y never so little, but to overpass 〈…〉 own deformities, be they never so 〈…〉 at. And therefore well said the 〈…〉 e man, An hypocrite with his 
prou. 11.  〈…〉 gue hurteth his neighbour: whose 〈…〉 sight and partiality in deed is such, 〈…〉 t the least moat in his fellows 〈…〉 seemeth a more sensible object, then 〈…〉 greatest beam in his own. And 〈…〉 was the cause that moved Christ 〈…〉 to say to one of that leaden 〈…〉 pe, as also to all the rest of that Pharisaical complexion, Thou hy〈…〉rite rite, 
Math. 7.  first cast out the beam out 〈…〉 thine own eye, and then shalt 〈…〉 ou see clearly to cast the mote 〈…〉 t of thy brother's eye. But this 〈…〉 e of the hypocrite (I fear me) and this 〈…〉 eme are as hard to part a sunder, 〈…〉 s the bird Acalanthis and the thistles 〈…〉 herein she breeds, or the grasshopper and the grass whereof thee springs, which naturally rather choose to die, then depart thence. Thus doubtless did Thales think, who being asked what thing of all other he took to be most hard and difficile in performance: returned this answer, For a man to know himself, (saith he.) And again being asked what thing of all other he thought to be easiest: For a man, (saith he) to admonish or curiously to carp at others. For so vile in deed is the disposition naturally of us all, that we blush not one whit to measure other men's doings by the crooked line of our own imagination: yea, we are not ashamed to pack up our own faults in the wallets end that hangeth behind us, where they may lie always unseen and out of remembrance: but other men's we truss up in the wallettes end that is before us, where they come always in sight and handling. We glance at our own imperfections, as through a net or lattice: but other men's we view and look at with open Eagles eyes. We account our own suspicion a sufficient proof against others: but when they again justly condemn us, we scarcely take it for an accusation against ourselves. We can sooner grant 〈…〉 o men's good wine for to be shire 〈…〉ter, then confess our own unsave 〈…〉 water not to be wine: yea, so close 〈…〉re we pinned to our own sleeves, 〈…〉 so devoutly addicted to our own o 〈…〉 on's: that we will peevishly con 〈…〉 ne others which are to be justified, 〈…〉 arciallie justify ourselves, which 〈…〉 ht are to be condemned. What 〈…〉ke ye) made Cicero to say, Fit 〈…〉 io quo pacto) ut magis in aliis cerna 〈…〉 quid delinquitur, quàm in nobismet 〈…〉 It happeneth (saith he,) (I know 〈…〉 w) that we can sooner espy out a 〈…〉 in others then in ourselves. Or 〈…〉. (I pray you) moved Horace to 〈…〉  tua pervideas etc. But only 〈…〉 that they both of them did see this 〈…〉 nation generally inherent to flesh 〈…〉 blood, with the Hen to scrape 〈…〉 of the dunghill other men's rotten 〈…〉 ges, with the Puttock to sit sad 〈…〉 upon other men's sores, and with 〈…〉 Pharisie to post over their own 〈…〉 ltes, ripping and ransacking up to 〈…〉 e bottom other men's enormities? If 〈…〉 ease two Heathen men were alive in this time, the one might spend all his rhetoric hereabouts, and prevail little in persuading: and the other all his Poetry, and yet (I fear me) leave much unsaide in the discourse, so large is the breach which this sin hath made into man's heart, and so manifold are the ways whereby she doth work & wind herself in. For some men there are too too subtle and hollowminded, which having their tongues made of one flesh, and their hearts of an other: bark not, but pinch before warning. And these deal as the Butcher doth, which claweth the Ox with his hand that he may the better come to lay his beetle on his head: Or as the Bee, which stingeth us most, when she is fullest of honey. Some there are again of a currish kind, which though they want teeth to bite us, yet have they tongues to babble, and open mouths to bark at us: and these (as God would have it) being Dwarves and Flies in force, though Giants and Elephants in malice, are like to a kind of Serpents, which albeit full of poison 〈…〉 be, yet because they be toothless. 〈…〉 hurt none but themselves. Yea, 〈…〉 e Viper which caught Paul by the 
Act. 18.  〈…〉 e, could not harm him, but fell 〈…〉 the fire and there perished: And 〈…〉 ee which smote jason on the breast 〈…〉 ding to kill him, broke his impo 〈…〉 e, whereby he cured him and made 〈…〉 s sound as a box: so likewise fa 〈…〉 t somewhiles with these evil dog's 〈…〉 bark at their own fellows, 〈…〉 these unkindly birds which be 〈…〉 heir own nests, that where they 〈…〉 do harm, they do good in re 〈…〉 of the parties against whom they 〈…〉 do it: but to do that harm, that 〈…〉 good may come of it, is for them (in 〈…〉 inion) a very indirect way to come 〈…〉ation. And therefore well saith 〈…〉 st who is both the way, the truth, 
Math. 7.  〈…〉 the life, judge not: that is, Call 〈…〉 his name into suspense and que 〈…〉 n, who giveth thee very little or no 〈…〉 se at all, For some actions in out 〈…〉 ard appearance are of such indifferens 〈…〉, that whether way to take them, it 〈…〉 a very hard matter to determine. Touching these we may not (I say) unadvisedly pass our verdict, but rather must we suspend our judgement, breathing often upon our pillow. And for this end serveth that admonition of a learned Father, Seest thou a man, saith he, that doth fast often? Praise him not too much for it, because thou kndwest not whether for devotion or ambition sake he doth it. Again, seest thou a Magistrate that doth severely punish? Deem him not evil for it, because he may as well do it charitably for public weal sake, as upon stomach for private revenge. Concerning these and such like, we ought either not to judge at all, or if we do, our part is to construe them the best way, and that because it is more sufferable and Christianlike, for us to be deluded on the right hand, by reputing the bad to be good, then to be deceived on the left hand, by accounting the good to be bad. And why? We ought one to take another's part, because we are all men of Gods making: we ought one to conceal another's faults and frailties, because we are all fell 〈…〉 servants: and we ought one to 〈…〉 e with an others weakness the ra 〈…〉 because all of us have our infirmi 〈…〉 for ill may one thief give sentence against an other: and ill may one sinful 〈…〉 condemn an other of sin. But 〈…〉 is our giddy rashness, that we will 〈…〉 utely give sentence upon every 〈…〉 similitude and resemblance, no, we 〈…〉 not stick to judge a man's conver 〈…〉 n by a blush of his countenance, 〈…〉 h rule often proveth false: a Horse 〈…〉 s furniture, which argument sell 〈…〉 proveth true: and the people by 〈…〉rish Church, wherein we can not 〈…〉 lie but judge amiss. So that if 〈…〉 st and his Apostle Paul were now 〈…〉 ngst us, & the one should say to the 〈…〉 e of the palsy, Son thy sins be 
Mat. 9 Act. 28.  〈…〉 rgiven thee, he would quickly be con 〈…〉 mned for a blasphemer: and the other, 〈…〉 he were seen to have a Viper on his 〈…〉 and: he would now surely be appre 〈…〉 ended, as he was then but judged for a 〈…〉 urderer. But they are gone, and have left behind them many honest men & godly successors in their place, which are daily choked with the like sour sauce, & will be still, (I fear me) till the table be drawn, & all turned upside down: after which riddance, dissolution, & breaking up of all, these our saucy enemies shallbe turned over into satans commons at a dish of sour sops, when we on the other side, shall be dieted with the Angels in heaven, & have all things at hearts desire. This shall be our portion for good, & that shallbe their punishment for evil. What good then have they? or what harm have we by this? if when we are liberal, they judge us ambitious: if when we are sparing, they esteem us covetous: if when we are silent, they take us as fools: or if when we are joyful and merry in the Lord, they account us as dissolute and licentious persons? Surely, we are so greatly hurt, that we never feel it, & therefore have no cause to complain. For as a guilty conscience doth somewhile with anguish accuse itself, though it be no way spoken against: so the man which knoweth himself to be free from those enormities, wherewithal others do burden & charge him, doth take such heart at grass & comfort in his own unguiltiness, that he weigheth it not a 〈…〉 n, but shaketh it off with Paul, 〈…〉 being rashly judged off, & wrong 〈…〉 discountenanced, said, As for me I 
1. Cor. 4.  〈…〉 little to be judged of you, or of 〈…〉 s judgement. And yet surely a kind 〈…〉sse & punishment it is, for a man to 〈…〉 viled & hardly judged off, for there 〈…〉 man, unless he be past grace and 〈…〉 eyes, but he tendereth his own good 〈…〉 about all things else. Which as Sa 〈…〉 n saith, being a thing much more 
pto. 22.  〈…〉ous than riches, it must needs fol 〈…〉 that they which rack the same upon 〈…〉 nters, & do all they can to tear it 〈…〉 es, are much more faulty & iniuris 〈…〉 hen they which rob & spoil men of 〈…〉 ure & goods: for this cometh nothing 〈…〉 gh the quick as tother. Let us not 〈…〉 (my brethren) like unruly & untamed 〈…〉 ses, leap thus brutishly upon the backs 〈…〉 others, but rather let us contain, keep 〈…〉 ithin compass, & cease to judge one an 〈…〉 there any more. And to the end we may 〈…〉 better perform this, we must first of all 〈…〉 ut out the three sinews, whereby this evil eye is fed: bruise & break the shoulders by the which this monstrous head is born up: & remove the roots from whence this unkindly Imp hath her sap: which namely are these three: self-love, envy, 
self-love.  and our own native wickedness, which being bred in the bones, will hardly out of the flesh. The first of these made way for the Pharisee to condemn the poor Publican, pointing at him with prejudice, as thus, God, I thank 
Luke. 18.  thee that I am not as this Publican is. The second gave matter enough to 
Envy.  the jews for to condemn our Saviour to death: Pilate knew that of envy they 
Mat. 97.  had delivered him. This was the broker or solicitor that made joseph to be sold, jacob troubled, Abel slain, and David persecuted. The third thing, 
Our own native wickedness.  which is a man's own native corruption, wrought also this slander against Christ out of the jewish people: Thou hast a devil (say they) and that because 
joh. 8.  in deed they themselves were throughlie polluted and pestered with devils. For to remedy the first infirmity, which is Pharisaical self-love, we must learn to eye and admire those goodly parts, & gracious gifts of other men, wherein we ourselves are no way their coequals: and again, we must often upbraid our 〈…〉 with those our own imperfecti 〈…〉 ich we neither know nor suspect 〈…〉 others. Whom, though we nei 〈…〉re nor see any good by them, 〈…〉 e we no warrant, rovingly to 〈…〉 vil of them. For to fear up the 〈…〉 ad sinnow, which is jewish en 〈…〉 malice, we must at Paul's bid 〈…〉 upon us as the elect of God, the 〈…〉 of love and peace. And in so 
Colos. 3.  〈…〉 other man's eyesalve, shall no 〈…〉 se our eye sore, an other man's 〈…〉 p, shall no way become our mis 〈…〉, as it fareth with the envious, 〈…〉 e it was very fitly said, Quid 〈…〉 idè? tuumnè bonum, an alienum 〈…〉 O thou envious man, what do 〈…〉 seek for? thine own good, or 〈…〉 ghbors' evil? For both these two 〈…〉 one with the envious men: whose 〈…〉 e is so perverse, yea, so owlish (as I 〈…〉 earme it) because as the Owl can 〈…〉 bide the sunshine, so no more can 〈…〉 men away with other men's gliste 〈…〉 beams and goodly parts, that if 〈…〉ng Samson were alive, they would 〈…〉 ely judge him a weakling: rich Crae 〈…〉, a bankrupt or beggars brat: aged Enoch and Elias, short livers: fair A 〈…〉 solon, a deformed fellow: mighty O 〈…〉 vian, a man of no power: yea and with 〈…〉 Solomon, if he were landed and alive 〈…〉 this day, I think surely they would no● stick to beg him for a stark fool. This sinnow than must be seared up (as I say) or else, I fear me, all willbe ma●red. Lastly, for the curing and recovering of the third sore, which is our ow●● inward corruption & wickedness: we●● must seek for to have ourselves cast into a new mould after the Apostles aduise● who willeth us for to be renewed in 
1. Thes. 4.  spirit. And so when we ourselves are godly and single hearted, we shall hardly deem others to be worse than we ourselves are, even as afore when we were bad, we could not possibly repute others to be better: resembling Aesop's mole, who because she was blind herself, she could in no wise be persuaded that any other beast could see. And thus we note, how that by themselves men commonly measure others. If they be good themselves, they account others to be no worse: if they be bad, they reckon others to be no better. The former sort 〈…〉 e be convert that juice into ho● 〈…〉 ch the latter sort with the Spi 〈…〉 e into mere poison. Let us 〈…〉 e cast away this naughty eye 〈…〉 these three sinews, and so shall 〈…〉 aright: this drooping head with 〈…〉 ree shoulders, and so shall we 〈…〉 ight: this unkindly imp, with 〈…〉 ee roots, and so shall we taste 〈…〉 Whereas on the other side if we 〈…〉 'em still, our eyesight will be so 〈…〉 that every moulehill will seem 〈…〉 ta'en: our hearing will be so con〈…〉 at every light sound will seem 〈…〉 mne: and our taste so far dis 〈…〉 d, that one drop of sour will 〈…〉 entie: yea all our fraternity 〈…〉 so empoisoned, that we shall take 〈…〉 rethrens as bastards, and reckon 〈…〉 ve only for right heirs, ripping 〈…〉 o folks trifling sins, as most 〈…〉 us and damnable, and favouring 〈…〉 wn as light and excusable in come 〈…〉 on. By means whereof, we degene 〈…〉 from God above, whom in charity 〈…〉 ught to resemble: and become all 〈…〉 with Satan beneath in malignity, 〈…〉 ome we ought to be as unlike as unlike may be. For in deed no eas●● a thing it is for to know the Sun 〈…〉 the brightness thereof, the fire by 〈…〉 heat, or the honey by the swetenesse● than it is to discern Gods chosen children by their friendly relation and charitable sentence giving, touching other men's doubtful dealings or demeanours And again, no easier is it to know the night by the darkness, the serpent by his poison, or the wormwood by the bitterness, than it is to know bad an● evil disposed men by their bolting out 〈…〉 sharp censures concerning other men● indifferent actions: wherein, because they be doubtful, we ought to be n● less advised afore sentence giving, the● we would be, for to adventure a great wager about a pair of equal weights or balances, whether side should fall down first: which in deed is a very hard matter to foretell. Yea we ought to be a great deal more advised in the other, then in this, and that because the losses are much unlike. For the one is but barely the loss of our silver, but the other is the shipwreck and loss of our souls. Let us not then buy this pig 〈…〉 e poke, as some men do, which are 〈…〉 redulous, but rather let us handle 〈…〉 d look on it first, and that because 〈…〉 rice and valuation thereof is of all 〈…〉 rs the greatest. And here finally 〈…〉 we note this by the way, that as 〈…〉re enjoined not to judge or con 〈…〉 e the righteous, so are we forbidden 〈…〉erein to bolster or justify any 〈…〉 d and vicious persons: for both 〈…〉 two iniquities as one, are to God 〈…〉 an offensive alike. And therefore 〈…〉 aith Solomon, He that justifieth 
prou. 17.  〈…〉cked, and he that condemneth 〈…〉 st, even they both are abhomis 〈…〉 to the Lord. Again, He that 
prou. 24.  〈…〉 to the wicked, Thou art right 〈…〉 in shall the people curse, and 〈…〉 ultitude shall abhor him, saith 〈…〉 Woe unto them, (saith isaiah) that 〈…〉ke good of evil, and evil of good, 
Esa. 5.  〈…〉 ch put darkness for light, and 〈…〉 t for darkness. And this woe (I 〈…〉re me) may well be denounced against 〈…〉 umber of wicked and waieward peo 〈…〉 in this age, which taking their 〈…〉 arks amiss, preposterously misterm 〈…〉 ce virtuous, & virtue vicious, wormwood sweet, and honey sour: evil men good, and good men evil. For many there be doubtless now a days, licentious and prodigal livers, which will impudently undertake to clear and justify their fellows, be they never so bad & notorious evil. So that if an honest zealous man do at any time justly reprove any of that crew for his bad conditions: O, will an other say, you do him wrong sir, for I will avouch, he is as honest a man as ever broke bread, yea, thus will he say, though he be as bad a man as ever broached drink: and then is he bad enough, for Tapsters we say are not always the bestlivers. Let them then which are guilty this way, as well as the other, betimes repent and amend: for better were it for them to slide an hundred times with their feet, than once to slide thus with their tongue, by justifying the unjust. It followeth in the text, And ye shall not be judged. And this, in a word, is the confirmation or covenant, annexed to the proportion and commandment here. Wherein the Lord by way of promise showeth, how good and gracious he is, in recompen 〈…〉 a single good turn with a double re〈…〉 de. For by abandoning of one sort 〈…〉 dgement, & the same against others, 〈…〉re assured here from Christ's own 〈…〉 th', for to escape a double judgement against ourselves: that is to say, the se〈…〉 judgement of God at the last dreadful 〈…〉 f doom: & beside this, the sharp cen 〈…〉 of men during this our mortality 〈…〉 poral life time: for both sorts are 〈…〉 y meant, though not severally men 〈…〉 d, here in this place. th'one of these 〈…〉 elf is most terrible & fearful, and 〈…〉re with all might & main now in 〈…〉 f grace to be prevented: and the o 〈…〉 e all take to be a thing most odi 〈…〉 shameful, & therefore warely for 〈…〉 lie honesty sake to be avoided. 〈…〉 t the former is most horrible & dread 〈…〉 this dooleful & irrevocable saying of 〈…〉 Lord foretold us in the Gospel, doth 〈…〉 ciently declare. Depart from me ye 
Mat. 15.  〈…〉 sed, into everlasting fire. That the 〈…〉 o also is a very unseemly & shame 〈…〉 l thing, it appeareth by the Apo 〈…〉 es earnest exhortation directed to 〈…〉 s fellow-labourers, where he will 〈…〉 th' them to contend, that through due desert they might be honestly reported off among all men, & so stop the mouths of malignant & evil speakers: who for the most part in seeking by this means wrongfully to hurt others, do nothing else but raise up a dust, whereby they put out their own eyes. For so it fareth with these men, as it doth with the Hen, which by long scraping in the dunghill, discovereth the knife that doth afterwards cut her own throat: or as it doth with a hasty and hairebraind soldier, who desperately rushing out upon a mischievous purpose for to smite & wound his fellow, returneth home again himself with a broken pate. And herewithal agreeth this saying, Qui quae vult loquitur, quae non vult audiet. He that speaketh what he will, shall some whiles hear what he would not. Moses therefore upon good consideration, among other precepts gave the people this charge, that they should not in any wise speak evil. And why? because the very custom and practise hereof, is of itself so uncharitable and devilish, that there can nothing be devised, which doth sooner than it call for vengeance at God's hands. Of this mind 〈…〉 King David, saying, Him that 〈…〉 ily slandereth his neighbour, will 
psal. 101.  〈…〉 stroy. And so was also King Salo 〈…〉, when he said, Put away from thee 
prou. 4.  〈…〉 ward mouth, & put wicked lips 〈…〉 e from thee. We read of one, which 〈…〉ng the space of three years kept a 〈…〉 within his mouth, for this end,  〈…〉 et tacere, that he might learn the 〈…〉 to enure and acquaint himself 〈…〉 silence. We have also by writers 〈…〉uered unto us, the nature of certain 〈…〉 s, which when they draw nigh to 〈…〉 ount Taurus, thrust their bills 〈…〉 their wings for fear of noise 〈…〉 g, and so consequently for fear 〈…〉 ouring by the Eagles, which free 〈…〉 that place in great abundance. 〈…〉 n whence we are to draw and de 〈…〉 thus much for our own security 〈…〉 safety sake, somewhiles to close and 〈…〉 e up our mouths, for fear they 〈…〉 ath & pour out any hurtful or un 〈…〉 istianlike speech against our neigh 〈…〉 rs, the greatest harm whereof grow 〈…〉 h in the end to be our own: for this one 〈…〉 given blow is always sure to bring 〈…〉 me with it two wor●e again. Which harm and inconvenience a great many of peevish and wayward people do no whit at all foresee, and so by means of this their gross oversight, they commonly catch their fall where they hoped for to have had their rising: yea, by poring at other men's, they do nothing else but put out their own eyes. And why? By reproving and judging amiss of others, they bring (as I told you afore) both the heavy judgement of God, and the like sharp censures of men upon their own backs. For whereas the Lord saith here, judge not, and ye shall not be judged, it is as much in effect as if he should have said, Take this for a warning at me, that if ye will needs be intermeddling to judge others, ye shall verily in like case be judged yourselves, and that not only by me when the last Trumpet shall sound, but also by other men, amongst whom ye live here in this world. And albeit the case standeth thus, yet nevertheless sooner may the raging Sea be restrained within a hedge of willows, than we within the compass and precinct of this precept: so lose and unru 〈…〉re we all of us in this behalf. For 〈…〉 rre hath Satan bewitched the most 〈…〉 of us, that as heretofore among 〈…〉 Egyptians, there was no man ac 〈…〉ted happy, which had not a beast 〈…〉 of spots: so now a days among us, 〈…〉 e is no man almost reckoned provi 〈…〉 and worldly wise enough, which 〈…〉 not his heart all over bespotted with 〈…〉 rmising, his tongue berayed with 〈…〉 es of reproach, and his hands de 〈…〉 with sundry acts of rash and ro 〈…〉 condemnation against others. 〈…〉 is our glory for a while, which 〈…〉 th' us to shame in the end: This 〈…〉 ward appearance seemeth a kind 〈…〉 doom we have, which in it own 〈…〉 e proveth a point of slavery: This 〈…〉 l take to be a token of wisdom, 〈…〉 h in deed is nothing else but a trick 〈…〉 ere foolishness: For thus saith 〈…〉 omon, Every fool will be med 〈…〉. 
prou. 20.  And here by the way we are to note 〈…〉 mild & favourable manner of adver 〈…〉 ment, which the Lord useth where 〈…〉 to win & draw us on obediently to 〈…〉 actise this same special commandment 〈…〉 his: for hereiu he doth not only execute his regal authority by forbidding us that which he disliketh, but therewithal he showeth also his father lie kindness and clemency by persuading us thereunto, foretelling us flatly what great good by means of this his precept keeping, shall afterwards ensue to us ward. And yet for all this, not one of us almost amongst a thousand, doth weigh or perform this same aright, so blockish and careless are we, touching the salvation of our souls, which we ought to tender a thousand times more, than the safety & good estate of our bodies. But mark I pray you, how far we are from this: for if an earthly Prince should forbid us a bad thing, commending unto us no reason thereof, we would hardly gainsay him, fearing the danger of his displeasure, yea, if he should forbid us the practice of a good & godly thing, afording us no reason but this, Sic volo, sic jubeo. Thus I will have it, thus I command it to be: the most of us would be afraid to withstand him, fearing the less of our life & goods. And yet when the Prince of all Princes, who is not only able to destroy the body, but the soul also, forfendeth a 〈…〉 hang, and that with a most forcible 〈…〉 n whereby to persuade, we carelessly 〈…〉 ect the same, and profanely with 〈…〉 all fear or trembling incur the 〈…〉 h thereof, as if thereupon there could 〈…〉 e no danger, no penalty, or harm 〈…〉 against us: whereas in deed we do 〈…〉 y provoke God's vengeance and 〈…〉 full judgement at the last general 〈…〉 and in the mean time till that be 〈…〉, we shall be as sure as is the skin be 〈…〉 our eyes, for this our own peevish 〈…〉 ment, to be bitterly stung again, 〈…〉 mo●thes of malicious and malig 〈…〉 ople. And therefore good is it for 〈…〉 es attentively to give ear to 〈…〉cept, and faithfully to rely upon 〈…〉 omise of our Saviour Christ, who 〈…〉re, judge not, and ye shall not 〈…〉 ged. Condemn not, & ye shall 〈…〉 e condemned. For as touching 〈…〉 ame latter proposition, because it is 〈…〉ng else but an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a mere expo 〈…〉, I mean, of the former, I think 〈…〉 to overpass it without any several 〈…〉 ours, having inclusively handled it 〈…〉 ady with this other part aforegoing.  

Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.  
Forgive (saith our Saviour Christ) and ye shall be forgiven. In this same other weighty charge giving us, the Lord doth wholly bend his force against the very ground, and root of the foresaid rash judgement and roving condemnation of ours, which I note to be rancour, or malice proceeding of too too long remembrance of injuries done to us: For when by this means and occasion, we grow to be out of joint, and at variance with others, then will our ears itch to hear, and our tongues roundly bestir themselves to speak evil of our brethren, (be they never so blameless.) For the preventing therefore of this mischief, our Saviour goeth about to do away, and to wipe out the cause here, where he doth enjoin us to a certain voluntary forgetfulness and forgiveness of private harms committed against us, by whom, and how great soever. For, this injunction or precept hath relation only to private 〈…〉 which through fury and rage of 〈…〉 and blood, most commonly seek re 〈…〉 e. This Commandment (I say) 〈…〉 rneth these men only, & not them 〈…〉 h sit in place of judgement, for just 〈…〉 of sake and punishment of pub 〈…〉 ffenders: yea, they in regard of 〈…〉 alefactors, (as saith the Apostle) 〈…〉 not, neither aught to bear the 
Rom. 13.  〈…〉 in vain. For by them, with 〈…〉 partiality, must the evil doers 〈…〉 like weal sake, be corrected and 〈…〉 f, even as by the Physicians the 〈…〉 and putrefied members are seared 〈…〉 the preservation sake of the whole 〈…〉 And yet must they do all this 〈…〉 t private grudge or indignation: 〈…〉 Ise, these, also as well as the o 〈…〉 come within compass and dan〈…〉 this Statute: for hereby in both 〈…〉 s alike, is barred and condemned 〈…〉 athful hatred and enmity, (what 〈…〉 o) may seem either to boil in the 〈…〉, or break out from the stomach 〈…〉 man: whose inclination by nature 〈…〉 so furious and malicious, that (unless 〈…〉 odds spirit bear the greater sway) it will sooner break a sunder, then bend to undertake this burdenous and heavy charge. For, what is it that natural man can more hardly away withal, than patiently to put up, and clearley to forgive all injuries whatsoever are done or pretended against him, by his deadly enemy? Surely, this is such a matter, as man's frailty (not regenerate) can of itself in no wise possible afford the performance of: yea, an easier, and more unsuall thing it is throughout amongst us all, for to let a hundred good turns done to us, slip out of our remembrance, then to blot out by forgetfulness one bare injurious act or pretence against us. For the impression of a benefit being wrought in to wax, is quickly wiped out: but an injury, graven in marble, is hardly done away. A benefit like butter melteth apace out of our hands: but an injury like bird-lime cleaveth fast to our fingers. A benefit hath both legs to run, and wings to fly out of eyesight: but an injury having neither of both, sitteth sadly with us, and tarrieth still by it. A benefit, when we are waking, we can seldom remember: but a bad turn, when 〈…〉 sleeping, we can oftentimes dream 〈…〉 The one (I say) is sooner wiped of 〈…〉 feather, than the other conveyed 〈…〉 pt aside with a besom. Yea, so 〈…〉 ard are we to requite a good turn, 〈…〉 appliable to avenge a bad, that when 〈…〉 d one calleth for the like again, 〈…〉 where to be found: but when 〈…〉 e knocketh, be it never so light 〈…〉 are always at hand to recompense 〈…〉 s hardly for want of grace are we 〈…〉 to do good, & thus easily through 〈…〉 ne iniquity are we set on fire to 〈…〉. And yet surely (my brethren) 
Deut. 32.  〈…〉ings ought not so to be: For ven 〈…〉 and recompense is mine (saith 〈…〉 rd) in whom alone as it is a thing 〈…〉 most kindly and princelike: so in 〈…〉 s a thing most unnatural, servile, 〈…〉 eastlike. For what can the sottish 〈…〉 do more, than when he is hurt or 〈…〉 n on, to spurn with his heel? Or a 〈…〉 is Dog, then when be is bitten, fu 〈…〉 sly to bite again? This (no doubt) is 〈…〉 that a beast can do, whose sense ruleth 〈…〉 stead of reason: and this is more than 〈…〉 an aught to do, whose reason should 〈…〉 ache his sensual desire an handmaiden or underling. Well therefore doth Solomon dissuade us from this evil as thus, Say not thou, I will recompense evil, 
●rou. 20.  but put thy trust in the Lord, & he will deliver thee. Here the wise man beginneth to find fault with the smoke in token that he can worse abide the flame or heat following. Here he seemeth so far to mislike the preamble, that he condemneth the wrathful words usually going afore, which are these, I will recompense evil, I will be quit with him: (for thus be speaketh in very familiar, & emphatical manner, saying,) Say not thou, I will recompense evil, Say it not, once again I tell thee: do it therefore much less. I forewarn thee, Thou shalt not avenge, 
levit. 19  nor be mindful of wrong against the children of thy people, (saith the lord) Again, (saith the wise man) Forgive thy neighbour the hurt that he hath 
Eccle. 28.  done to thee, so shall thy sins be forgiven thee also when thou prayest: for if he that is but flesh nourish hatred: (saith he) who will entreat for his sins? Remember the end therefore, and let all enmity pass. The Apostle unto the Collossians saith, If any man 
Colloss. 3.  among you have a quarrel to another, 〈…〉 Christ forgave you, even so do ye. 〈…〉 d this worthy example of our Saviour, though it be not the first that we read 〈…〉 n Scripture, yet is it simply the best 〈…〉 t we ought in word & deed to conform 〈…〉 selves after: whose innocent meek 〈…〉 was so great, that he spoke them fair 〈…〉 ch reviled him, and whose patience 〈…〉 zeal was such, that he instantly 〈…〉 d for them that crucified him, as thus 〈…〉 o, forgive them, for they know 
Luke 23.  〈…〉 what they do. Other precedents be 〈…〉 this, there be many in God's book, 〈…〉 ch we ought to take our direction by: 〈…〉 avid, who when he might easily 
1. Sam. 24.  〈…〉 slain his deadly enemy Saul, cut 〈…〉 off the lap of his garment only, in 〈…〉 en that he could have done more, and 〈…〉 was touched in heart, and did great 〈…〉 forethink this dalliance, as if it had been 〈…〉 matter of death. The other Prophets 〈…〉 sides whom we read of, were all of them 〈…〉 far off from recompensing evil, that they 〈…〉 avelled mightily night and day, for the 〈…〉 enefit and salvation sake of them, which 〈…〉 n the other hand greedily sought their 〈…〉 verthrow & desiruction. Thus dealt Moses in the behalf of his enemy's the Israelites, when he prayed unto the lord his god, and said, O Lord, why doth thy wrath 
Exod. 32.  wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought out of the land of Egypt? The godly Martyr S. Steven is also to be enroled here, as one that hath no little part and share in this cake, who prayed thus for the jews, whose hearts braced for anger, whose teeth gnashed at him, & whose hands stoned him to death, Lord, lay not this sin to their 
Acts. 7.  charge. Whereby it seemeth that he was so mindful to forgive, and to entreat the Lord for them, that he left out and quit● forgot himself: for we read not here that he prayed for himself, but for them at his last gasp, For when he had thus spoken, he slept. And yet may we rightly say, that in this his prayer for them, was covertly included also another prayer for himself: for as our right hand by washing the left, cannot miss but also be washed again, so in praying for our enemies, we are always on the surer hand to pray for ourselves, because we are either copartners with them, or else full possessors without them, of the final use and benefit of that Prayer. Wisely there 〈…〉 ealt Paul and his fellow Apostles 〈…〉 they took this innocent & harm 〈…〉 course, We are reviled, (say they) 
1. Cor. 4.  〈…〉 yet we bless: we are persecuted, 〈…〉 suffer it. We are evil spoken of, 〈…〉 yet we pray. These cool complexio 〈…〉 emperate, and heavenly wise men 〈…〉 well enough, that soft fire made 〈…〉 ault, That a gentle answer did 
prou. 15.  〈…〉 ay displeasure, & that for a time 〈…〉 h they were dashed out of count 〈…〉 & overcrowed, yet in the end they 〈…〉 d either by patience overcome their 〈…〉 ies, as the foresaid David without 〈…〉 edding: by forhearing only, got 〈…〉 per hand of Saul: or else if this 〈…〉 they happily failed of their hope, 〈…〉 h would have been no more but a 〈…〉 hearts ease for them, yet were they 〈…〉 e assured, that on the other side they 〈…〉 d not miscarry, but become coheirs, 〈…〉 have share, and share like with the 〈…〉 intes, in that great dole and reward in heaven promised by Christ him 〈…〉 fe to all them, Which should be re〈…〉ed, 
Matth. 5.  persecuted, and have all ma 〈…〉 o of evil said against them for 〈…〉 s name's sake. This they made reckoning of, as the largest recompense, though perhaps it might seem unto them somewhat long in coming: And thus after their ensample in hope of this heavenly hire, though we miss (as miss we may) of that other worldly hearts case, we must also forbear, and forgive all men, whosoever have done or proffered us any wrong: For if we do not thus, we● shall deal hardly in respect of them, and very unwisely in regard of ourselves: for as we hold him as a fool, and most fit for slavery still, who will not abide an hours imprisonment for a thousand years liberty: And as we do account him an unwise husbandman, and worthy himself to starve through hunger, who refuseth to sow that one bushel of grain, which within a while afterwards would yield him a whole barnefull: so likewise may we repute him an improvident straitlaced striplin, and worthy himself to smart for his extremity, who will not remit that one poor penny debt to his brother, which would grow to be a pound in his 〈…〉 way at the hands of his father. 〈…〉 thus I speak the rather meta 〈…〉 callie, because it is the very fi 〈…〉 in this text used by Christ him 〈…〉, derived and drawn from Credit 〈…〉 s, which were wont freely to strike 〈…〉 f their debtbookes, the names of 〈…〉nable debtors, and so likewise 〈…〉 we to wipe away out of our 〈…〉 brances, all men's injuries what 〈…〉: for otherwise, we ourselves 〈…〉 e without all redemption to lie 〈…〉 till the uttermost farthing which 〈…〉 we, be also paid. The which 〈…〉 and extreme requital we are fore 〈…〉 by Christ himself, as thus, If 
Math. 6.  〈…〉 oo not forgive men theirs, no 〈…〉 shall your heavenly Father for 〈…〉 you your trespasses. We may not 〈…〉 (I say) for any cause (whatsoever,) 〈…〉 such broad way unto malice and in 〈…〉 anitie, as that we should account o 〈…〉 men's danger our own security, 〈…〉 o men's loss our own advantage, o 〈…〉 r men's dishonour our own credit, 〈…〉 o men's weakness our own strength, 〈…〉 d other men's overthrow our own up 〈…〉ng. For in so doing, we shall become monsters whom nature hath no stroke in, streams of a corrupt fountain, branches of a rotten root, beams of a wrong Sunshine, yea, the very offspring of Satan, and no true Christians. And why? The Lord no doubt, who saith, The mountains shall remove, and the hills shall fall down, but my loving kindness shall in no wise move, even the same Lord I say, looketh for some like lovely agreement, unity, and mutual kindness again at the hands of all of us in some measure and proportion among ourselves, and therefore he saith, A new 
john. 13.  Commandment give I you, that as I have loved you, so ye love one another. This must be our conformation to Christ, herein must we have our resemblance with God, in this must we be at utter discord and defiance with the Devil, yea thus must we (I say) which be true Gospelers, countrymen and fellow Christians, inseparably cleave together, as stones of one Temple, orderly grow up together as imps of one stock, lovingly agree together as children of one mother, and (if need be) wholly burn together as the leaves of one book. For 〈…〉ng thus beset and besieged as we 〈…〉 with many both foreign and do 〈…〉 tical enemies: our next way for 〈…〉 ipe them of all advantage, and 〈…〉 et the upper hand in this gene〈…〉 quarrel for God's cause, is, peacea 〈…〉 here at home among ourselves, 〈…〉 take up all private matters of 〈…〉 burning and variance. And that 〈…〉 se our own unity is always 〈…〉 nemies' dissolution, our own con〈…〉, their disagreement, and our own 〈…〉 full coherence, their back cast and 〈…〉 rance, in whatsoever mischievous 〈…〉 se they have either heretofore, or 〈…〉 hereafter take in hand against 〈…〉 majesties person and us, whom 〈…〉 Lord (as he hath thus far,) so 〈…〉 by his outstretched arm mightily 〈…〉 e and protect (we beseech him.) But 〈…〉 s (my brethren) we which are all 〈…〉 one nation, under one regiment, 〈…〉 id all of one family as it were, like 〈…〉 release men for our own safety, and the enemy's confusion, are very far off from this same brotherly affection: for now a days the Courtier against his coequal, the Preacher against his fellow Preacher, the Citizen against his fellow freeman, the Commoner against his copartner, the husband against the wife, the father against the son, and the Mother against the daughter, all and every one of these (I say) one against another, (yea for the least thing done amiss) do on every hand breath out vengeance and recompense. Some do it by bloodsheading in the streets, as the Courtier: Some by defacing their fellow labourers in the pulpits, as the Preacher: Some by annoying their neighbours about the sale of their wares, as the Merchant: Some by open and causeless defamation where secrecies should most be concealed, as the husband and the wife: Some by disinheriting through a little displeasure taking, as the Father against the son: And some one way, some an other. Seeing therefore all the members of this whole body of ours are altogether out of joint, and are so far off from being armed in warlike sort, that they want in deed their 〈…〉 e natural habit in way of de〈…〉 against the adversary: what can 〈…〉 look for else, but either to be 〈…〉 anted and overrun by foreign 〈…〉 o, which would be a heavy 〈…〉: or else to be swallowed up and 〈…〉 red one of another, which would 〈…〉 thing much more lamentable and 〈…〉 us? For a house divided a 〈…〉 
Matth. 9  itself can no way stand: but 〈…〉 s must it some way fall down 〈…〉 For the appeasing therefore of 〈…〉 wrath, which (no doubt) is 〈…〉 indled, and for the preventing 〈…〉 s our own universal calamity 〈…〉 ownfall, which we see immi 〈…〉 and hard at hand: let us all of 〈…〉 of what degree soever,) acquaint 〈…〉 selves to forgive, to brook, and to 〈…〉 ear one another, yea though we 〈…〉 e never so great cause of private of 〈…〉 ce proffered us. For greater cause can 〈…〉 ee have no way given us, then 〈…〉 hrist himself had by traitorous Iu 〈…〉 s, 
Matth. 2.  able by his malicious brother 
Gen. 4. Gen. 37.  〈…〉 ain, joseph by the whole crew of his brethren, and yet took they all in good worth, as ensamples to us in way of sufferance: shall we the● which say we are Christians, relinquish Christ's barn, because of the chaff that is in it? Shall we break asunder the lords Net, for the bad Fish's sake? Shall we quite forsake the Lords flock because of the Kids, in the end to be put by? Or shall we give over the Lord's house for the Vessels of dishonour, to be rejected? I mean, shall we so rashly make havoc and breach of the bond of Charity and peace here among ourselves, as to seek vengeance against a whole corporation, for one members offence? Against a whole family, for one man's fault? Against the Father for the sons, and against the Son for the Father's trespass? Surely, me thinks, this outreacheth the limits of all modesty and reason, and yet hath it been heretofore, and is a thing at this instant most rife and usual among us, so that (as I say) if we take not up quickly and grow to one among ourselves by way 〈…〉 onstliation, out of this same foul 〈…〉 ie weather of ours here at home: 〈…〉 nimies' abroad for their turn will 〈…〉re me) pick a fair harvest time, 〈…〉 hich desolate visitation to us ward, 〈…〉 ord for his mercy sake deliver us 〈…〉. Forgive (saith our Saviour) and 〈…〉 ll be forgiven. This the Lords 〈…〉 of't together with the command 〈…〉 is all one in nature with that con〈…〉 in his prayer hard afore, wherein 〈…〉ght us thus to say: Lord, forgive 〈…〉 r trespasses, as we forgive them 
Mat. 6.  〈…〉 trespass against us. This same 〈…〉 (sicut dimitttimus, as we forgive) 〈…〉 slike not greatly that it should still 〈…〉 e it standing here in the prayer: but 〈…〉 it should be lively, or carry any 〈…〉 y at all with us, we allow not of that 〈…〉 ie saucs. For when it should actu 〈…〉 e do our errand to almighty God, 〈…〉 remission of our sins, we thrust it 〈…〉 t by the shoulders, and put it by this 〈…〉 fice, as though it were unfit for this 〈…〉 essage: and yet none so fit, as it, nay, 〈…〉 dare say more, none fit, but only it. 〈…〉 or if this clause be left behind at home, 〈…〉 ooke whosoever goeth upon this our errand unto almighty God for remission of sins, is like to return as empty a● he went. If we will then speed of th●● message, dimit nobis, we must always aforehand send out this same, Sicut dimittimus. For this is one in deed which carrieth his warrant about him, and 〈…〉 will not be said nay. Wherefore, truly saith Augustine. unusquisque talem indulgentiam accipiet a Deo, qualem ostend● proximo. That is, Every one shall have the like favour & benevolence at God's hands, that he showeth to his neighbour. And this falleth flat with that saying in the Gospel, If ye do forgive men 
Mat. 6.  their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. For why? God 
Eccle. 2.  is gracious and merciful, and forgiveth sins, & saveth in time of trouble. This the lords indulgency & goodness is covertly commended unto us by the story of the prodigal son, who being 
Luke. 15.  reclaimed, was received into favour again, as also by that parable of the servant who ought ten thousand talents, 
Mat. 18.  and yet through humbling himself, had all the whole debt forgiven him. And this same discharge & acquittance from 〈…〉 hands, is a thing worth grammar 〈…〉 otherwise David would never have 〈…〉, Blessed is the man whose unrigh 〈…〉 snesse is forgiven, & whose sin 
psal. 32.  〈…〉uered. Besides this, when we our 〈…〉 s forgive our trespassers there grow 〈…〉 also thence a new forgiveness to us 〈…〉 e, that is, other men by this means 〈…〉 the rather won to pardon and 〈…〉 e us, when we come within their 〈…〉ger and fall into their hands. This 〈…〉 (as you see) is no robbery but a 〈…〉ge, & such a change, as we have two 〈…〉 e: the former at our death, the o 〈…〉efore: the former celestial, the other 〈…〉 oral: the one we have immediately 〈…〉 Gods own hands, and tother we 〈…〉 also from him, but yet mediately by 〈…〉 s means. Two (I say) we have for 〈…〉, and that is great usury, yea & good 〈…〉 rye: but there is an other kind of usu 〈…〉 less profitable, and yet (I fear me) 〈…〉re in practice: but let that go, for so 〈…〉 ll it, and that for good dealing. Seeing 〈…〉 en (my brethren) the benefit of peace 〈…〉 le forgiveness and reconciliation a 〈…〉 ong ourselves, is thus behoveful 〈…〉 d necessary both these ways: let us not become like unto that stone, which being once hot can not possibly be cold again. Neither let us resemble Sydera errantia, the wandering Stars, which being once at discord could never afterwards agree with the heavens: but rather casting aside all debate and variance, let us by how much the more able we are, be by so much the less willing to avenge our quarrels. Debet enim nostrum unusquisque quò magis nocere potest, hoc minùs velle. Every one of us the more able he is, the less willing he ought to be for to avenge his quarrel. For as in our lot and ability, there is nothing greater than that we may: so in our good nature and humanity there is nothing better than that we will freely pardon and forgive our malefactors. Yea, I say, it is both a great matter for us to be able, and a good matter also for us, to be willing thus to do. Finally therefore, as Thrasybulus after the battle at Peloponnesus, and the Roman Senate also after the death of Cesar, made a law which they called legem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, a law of forgetting and forgiving injuries: so likewise must we all 〈…〉 us duly embrace and observe the 〈…〉 e law, as we will answer to the 〈…〉 trarie at the last dreadful day of 〈…〉 e, when the son of man shall send 〈…〉 Angels with the sound of a great 〈…〉 mpet, and come himself in the clouds 〈…〉 even with power and great glory, 〈…〉 lie to judge them which wrongfully 〈…〉 e judged others, and to recompense 〈…〉 in vengeance, which in way of re〈…〉 〈…〉ge have sought the spoil, the dis 〈…〉 ce, and overthrow of their brethren.   

Give, and it shallbe given unto you. etc.  
THirdly and lastly, the Lord goeth 〈…〉 on with his charge, & saith, Give, and it shall be given unto you. And 〈…〉 e, as by the giving out of the other 〈…〉 o precepts immediately afore, so now 〈…〉 y prescribing of this last point of Christianity, our Saviour commendeth unto us more at large the fullness of his ●nestimable wisdom and goodness. The former quality appeareth plainly in him, by this his wise manner of schooling his auditors: and the other property of his, we may also perfectly perceive by the due consideration of the very good matter itself, wherewithal he chargeth us here. As for Christ's method and manner in this place, whereby his wisdom is approved, it is in resemblance and effect all one with the skilful dealing of the cunning surgeon or physician: Whereof the one useth to remove the putrefied matter out of the wound, before he applieth his salve to heal withal: and the other telleth his patiented first what meat he shall not eat, before he doth enjoin him what diet he must keep. Even so likewise our Saviour having already forewarned & premonished his Disciples, for to keep back from thinking, speaking or doing evil to any of their brethren, he maketh there no final stay or full period, as though he had said enough so soon as he had barred rash judgement, condemnation & malice bearing: but he goeth on a large step further, & after his dehortation from doing evil, he chargeth them afresh with beneficence, and bountiful dealing, saying thus unto them, Give. And here as by the gradation & order of these his precepts giving we are to note his wise 〈…〉 to be great, for that he wéedeth his 〈…〉 d first, before he soweth it, for that 〈…〉 seth up the evil eye, before he openeth 〈…〉 ood, & cutteth off the left hand from 〈…〉 g evil, before he draweth out the right 〈…〉 to distribute & do good withal: so in 〈…〉 rt by the matter itself included 〈…〉, we may gather the perfection and 〈…〉 of Christ's own goodness, which 〈…〉 h not only in doing no evil at all, 〈…〉 so in doing what good may be done 〈…〉 valley, & to every one whomsoe 〈…〉 For such as in this behalf he will 〈…〉 s to be, such a one is he himself, & 〈…〉 and us, if we should compare with 〈…〉 due proportion of perfectness. And 〈…〉 such in a word, touching the wise 〈…〉 and goodness of Christ the Author 〈…〉 apparently seen by that very manner 〈…〉tter of this portion of his preaching. 〈…〉 to come to the very point & charge 〈…〉 fe given out for our use & practise: 〈…〉 we (saith Christ) & it shall be given vn〈…〉 you. Our Saviour having premised 〈…〉 rd before, forgiving, as his forerunner 〈…〉 harbinger: now he sendeth next after 〈…〉 m, liberality as his chief steward, for 〈…〉 take up his abode & mansion house in the 〈…〉 cry bosom & heart of man. And this officer under Christ, as we are to worship him for his masters sake, so must we bid him welcome for his own: & that because he doth not any way tyrannically overcharge us, but reasonably advertise us for our own best behoof. For he willeth us not to cut off our own legs, to give them to him who wanteth legs: to pull out our own eyes, for to give them to him who hath no eyes: to tear off our own skin from our flesh, for to cover the sore and green wound of an other: or to lay down our own life, for the safeguard of our brethren: (although S. john accounteth it but our duty thus to do, and that because Christ himself laid down his own life for us:) but the Lord, I say, 
1. joh. 3.  giveth us here an easier & lighter charge by much than this, which is to give (as we may spare) of our own temporal goods to the needy and succourelesse, the reward and recompense whereof groweth ten fold again, from Gods own hands to us ward. And this same work of benevolence, though the Lord in his mercy make reckoning of it, as a precious thing and gracious act, 〈…〉 eyesight: yet it is no more th' 〈…〉 rye instinct and law of nature 〈…〉 bound to do. For we find it alto 〈…〉 o a thing most natural, that one 〈…〉ber should suffer with an other, ac 〈…〉ng to Paul's saying, If one man 〈…〉 uffer, 
1. Cor. 12.  all suffer with it: but we be 〈…〉 any, are one body in Christ je 〈…〉 
Rom. 12.  every one of us one an others 〈…〉 ers'. Neither is this property of 〈…〉 assion, & sympathy peculiar unto 〈…〉 alone, but inherent also in the na 〈…〉 f bruit beasts: for they (saith the 〈…〉 opher) which are of one and the 〈…〉 e kind, have some feeling one 〈…〉 there's grief, and after a sort suf 〈…〉gether, as appeareth by the Ox. 〈…〉 fowls of the air also, as the Crow 〈…〉 sample, when she hath found out a 〈…〉 y and place of repast, she calleth unto 〈…〉 all her fellows for to join with her 〈…〉 opartners. In this behalf then, let 〈…〉 ask the beasts, and they shall 
job. 12.  〈…〉 ach us, and the fowls of the air, 〈…〉 d they shall tell us. And what shall 〈…〉 ey tell us? This forsooth, to be so pit 〈…〉 ll and so tenderly affectioned towards our brethren, that we shall willingly cover their nakedness with clothing, expel their hunger & thirst with relief and sustenance, direct their ignorance with good counsel, deliver them from slavery by redemption, yea, we shall suffer with them in all their woes, as we ought, and supply all their wants as we may. For look whatsoever the Lord beyond our necessity giveth to any 
What soever the Lord beyond our necessity 〈…〉eth unto us, 〈…〉 e giveth unto others by us.  of us, he giveth it unto others by us. But to many of us (we see) he sendeth abundance of meat, and yet but one belly to put it in: great plenty of clothing and yet but one back to wear it on: huge masses of money, and yet but one pair of eyes and one pair of hands to behold and handle the same: What then meaneth this large reckoning and this little place of receit? This plentiful harvest, & this narrow houseroom? This great store of wine, and this small vessel to contain the same? But this, that whatsoever God sendeth us over & beside, should freely go to the poor man's box, should covertly be conveyed into his bosom, and bountifully poured into his pitcher. Again, what betokeneth it that we may as easily 〈…〉 tch our arms out, as draw them in 〈…〉 d as soon spread our hands open 〈…〉 nder, as shut them up closely toge〈…〉? But this to put us in remembrance 〈…〉 t we ought to be as prompt and for 〈…〉 rde to give, as we are appliable to 〈…〉 i've a benefit, and as willing to prof〈…〉 good turn to others, as we are 〈…〉 e to take one again at their hands. 〈…〉 des, what doth our stomach teach 〈…〉 which converteth the meat that it 〈…〉 iveth, to the use and nourishment 〈…〉 he whole body. The Bee which for 〈…〉ing the juice out of our herbs, yéel 〈…〉 us honey again? The young 〈…〉 nbe which by nature at the first 〈…〉 g but slenderly wolled, casteth us 〈…〉 rwardes great fleeces of woll● 〈…〉 he earth, which for one corn re 〈…〉 ived, returneth us twenty fold? What do they (all these I say) teach 〈…〉 s else but this, that we ought as good Stewards, to impart the Talents of that wisdom and riches which GOD hath lent us, to the common use and benefit of others? Which in deed is such a comfortable and Christianlike kind of living that Lycurgus in regard hereof, and that for more humanity sake, schooled his Citizens, that they should not privately live every one to himself, but that they should as Bees join hands all in one together, for the indifferent behoof sake one of an other. So that as we see here, man only by natural reason without grace, bruit beasts by sense alone without reason, and the earth itself by vegetation only without sense, do prescribe and signify unto us, that man ought to be beneficial, harborous and bountiful to man. Well then, if the Lamp without oil, yield us this light, the body without soul, proffer us this life, and the earth without tillage, afford us this crop of increase: how much more ought the Lamp which is oiled, to burn more brightly? The body that is quickened, to be more lively? and the earth which is tilled, to fructify more plenteously? I mean, when souls of the air, and beasts of the field without reason, when the earth without sense or moving, and man without regeneration, appear thus bountiful and beneficial one to another: How much more ought we, which are regenerate children by adoption and grace, & have 〈…〉 these wants supplied in us, for to ex 〈…〉 de in benevolence and bountifulness: 〈…〉 he which virtue is so plausible and 〈…〉 recious in the eyesight of God, that 〈…〉 is taken in, as a Queen at the gates 〈…〉 even. And therefore good cause there 〈…〉, why, they which went afore 〈…〉 be't, Christ himself in his time, and 〈…〉 Apostles that came after in theirs, 〈…〉 all of them mightily beats at this 〈…〉 tue, and charge us sore therewithal. 〈…〉 ou shalt not hearden thine heart, 
Deut. 15.  〈…〉 shut thine hand from thy poor 〈…〉 there, saith the Lord by Moses. Show 〈…〉 rcie and compassion every man 
Zach. 7.  〈…〉 his brother, saith Zacharie. Give 〈…〉 him that asketh, & from him that 
Mat. 5.  〈…〉 old borrow of thee, turn not a 〈…〉 ay, saith our Saviour Christ. And 〈…〉 hatsoever ye would that men should 〈…〉 o unto you, even so do ye unto them, according to the exhortation of the Apostle, who saith, Remember them which 
Heb. 13.  are in bonds, as though ye were bound with them: and them that are in affliction, as if ye yourselves were afflicted in the body. The same Apostle also willeth the Ephesians, that they should be courteous one to another, 
Ephes. 4.  and tenderhearted. S. Peter likewise saith, be ye harborous one to 
1. pet. 4.  another without grudging. Thus much then for equivalent sayings by way of exhortation. Examples & precedents we have a great many, for our better encouragement and imitation sake, touching hospitality and bountifulness: as the example of Abraham, & Lot, job, and Tobias, joseph, Ezechias and josias, David, and Solomon, Zache, and Tabytha, Cornelius and Martha, Nichodemus, with many more: yea, our Saviour Christ we have as a chief pattern in this behalf, who mercifully in the zeal of his spirit said, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have 
Mat. 8.  compassion on the mnltitude, and so did throughlie victual and relieve them, before he would dimisse and send them away from him. He did not by outward pretence and fair words only bear them in hand, that he pitied them and would do them good, as many men now a days use to do, resembling the 〈…〉 Taurus', which hath a great voice, 〈…〉 yet but a little body, the thunder. 〈…〉 ch hath a great clap and ye● but 〈…〉 stone, which comfort (as saith ma〈…〉 is cold and unsavoury, because it 〈…〉meth not wrapped with some kind 〈…〉 medie: but the Lord, I say, perfor〈…〉 it in deed, and all for our ensample 〈…〉 the like, accordingly as S. john 〈…〉 h us. Let us not love in word, 
1. john. 3.  〈…〉 o in tongue only, but in deed & 〈…〉 e. For as it is not the cutting, but 〈…〉 rtue which valueth the precious 〈…〉: so is it not the fair gloze in word, 〈…〉 e full performance in deed, where 〈…〉 neighbour is helped, God the sa 〈…〉 noured, and we ourselves accep〈…〉. For so saith S. james, The wise 〈…〉 
jam. 3.  that is from above, is full of mere 〈…〉 & good fruits. But so cool (I say) 〈…〉 e devotion, & so churlish is the dis 〈…〉tion of many rich men in this age. 〈…〉 they be found when time serveth, 〈…〉 ee and forward to give, as the flint 〈…〉 ne is for to yield water: who in deed 〈…〉 e more they have, the less they give, 〈…〉 d the more they would have, after 〈…〉 e manner of the insatiable dropsy: yea, by how much the more their coffers do increase in store and substance, by so much the more do their minds shrink in and decrease in frankness and beneficence: wherein they become like the cypress tree, which the more it is watered, the more it withereth. And this surely is a strange matter, that the longer a man's arm is, the shorter should be his reach: that the stronger a man's bow is, the weaker should be his shut: that the fuller a man's hands be, the emptier should be his heart: I mean, it is a wonderful point of ingratitude, that the more substance a man hath given him, the less he again should give and part from: and yet shall we find this thing most true, if we look into the course of the world and condition of this time, wherein men for the most part are grown to be so hard hearted, that rather than they will give to others enough, or nigh enough, moderately to suffice them, they themselves will surfeit by too much. Yea, rather than they will put out their Talon to advantage, they will haply bury it so deeply, as no man 〈…〉 have use thereof: and yet better 〈…〉 it for them by much, if they had 〈…〉 orldly wealth at all, then having 〈…〉 ame, not to cut and carve it out in 〈…〉 sort, as both they themselves and 〈…〉 s may be the better for it. Let us 〈…〉, my brethren, be provident and 〈…〉 ll in this case, That our riches 
jam. 5.  〈…〉 ne not corrupt, our garments 〈…〉 eaten, and our silver and gold 〈…〉ed by too too long keeping: for so 〈…〉 ust of them shall be a witness 〈…〉 st us, and shall eat our flesh as 〈…〉re fire. But rather let us always 〈…〉 dfull, to disperse and give to the 〈…〉 For so shall our righteousness 
psal. 112.  〈…〉 e for ever. And here for our 〈…〉 direction fake in this point, let 〈…〉 nsider a little the parties to whom, 〈…〉 inner whereafter, and the end 〈…〉 refore we ought to give. Touching 〈…〉 st circumstance, we are thus taught 〈…〉 he prophet isaiah, saying: Is not this 
The parti whom we must give. isaiah. 58.  〈…〉 fasting that I have chosen, to deal 〈…〉 bread to the hungry, & that thou 〈…〉ing the poor that wandereth, unto 〈…〉 in house, when thou seest the naked, 〈…〉 at thou cover him, & hide not thy self from thine own flesh. When thou 
●●ke 14.  makest a feast (saith our Saviour Christ) Call the poor, the maimed, the lame and the blind. And again, If thou wilt 
watch. 〈◊〉.  be perfect, saith he, Go and sell all that thou hast, & give to the poor. Herewithal agreeth that saying of S. james the Apostle, Pure religion, & undefiled 
●am. 1.  before God the Father, is this, to visit the fatherless & widows in their adversity. The remembrance of this devation towards the needy and succourless, was jobes' chiefest comfort and hearts ease, when in the midst of his own miseries he broke out thus & said, I was the eyes to the blind, the feet 
●●b. 29.  to the lame, and a father unto the poor. Unto this same distressed condition of men, very bountifully did Zache also put forth his helping hand, when 
●●ke 19  dividing his goods in two shares, he imparted the one half to the poor. This then, as hereby we learn, is the special state, whereunto by giving we ought to have regard: Now because as well our own countrymen as strangers borne, as well Christians as infidels, as well virtuous as godless people, 〈…〉 ewhiles put to the like trial in 〈…〉 rnace of adversity: it shall not 〈…〉 se for us to observe a little, when 〈…〉 t plunging in like distress and 〈…〉 e, must of duty be supported, 〈…〉 lpen first. As for foreigners or 〈…〉 gers, albeit the Lord straightly 〈…〉 th' us both to love & relieve them, 〈…〉 eviticus. The stranger that 
levit. 19  〈…〉 h with you, shall be as one 〈…〉 r selves, and thou shalt love 〈…〉 thyself. And again in Deu 〈…〉 y the Lord saith, The stranger 
Deut. 14.  〈…〉 ome, and the fatherless which 〈…〉 hin thy gates, and shall eat 〈…〉 ee, and be satisfied: Although 〈…〉 the general title of Christiani 〈…〉 mon to us, and them, should 〈…〉 et us at one in mutual love and 〈…〉 ce, than the divers and several 〈…〉 s of Countries separate our of 〈…〉 s asunder, seeing as the Apo 〈…〉 aieth, There is one Lord, one 
Ephe. 4.  〈…〉, one Baptism, one God and 〈…〉 o of all, which is above us all, 〈…〉 through us all, and in us all: 〈…〉 notwithstanding, as nature common 〈…〉 us, so the spirit of God forbiddeth us not, but that we relieve, and every way befriend our own countrymen and neighbours born afore strangers, if th●● on both sides there be like necessity, an● not unlike zeal to Godward, else not. For although we be enjoined by the holy Ghost, to do good unto all men without exception, whether they be neighbours or strangers; friends, or enemies; grateful, or thankless, godly, or graceless people: yet be we charged specially t● be helpful towards them, which in faith and singleness of heart seek the Lord. For so saith Paul, While we have time, let 
Galat. 6.  us do good unto all men, but specially unto them which are of the household of faith. This discretion d●● the same Apostle himself use, when h● carried the alms to jerusalem and di●minister it unto saints there. And unto 
Rom. 15.  this same sincere sort of professors ou● Saviour Christ had relation, when he said, In as much as ye have done alms 
Matth. 25.  unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. But now a days among the richer sort, men of this simple outward condition, be they of never so sound inward complexion, eftsoons 〈…〉 orst of all: insomuch that Salo 〈…〉 aying is verified, Riches gather 
prou. 19  〈…〉 riends, but the poor is separa 〈…〉 m his neighbour. Again, Every 〈…〉 i'th' he) is friend to him that gi' 〈…〉 fts, according to that proverb, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, prosperity is always 〈…〉 iended. For look as our sha' 〈…〉 time of Sunshine, do accom〈…〉 bodies, and in time of cloudy 〈…〉 they vanish away from us: and 〈…〉 olphins' of the Sea with joyful 〈…〉 n with us, whiles we have wa 〈…〉 l, but when that faileth, they 〈…〉 and forsake us: so likewise 〈…〉 hile they have full fruition of 〈…〉 nour, and wealth, shall be sure 〈…〉 s every where: but when these 〈…〉 s wear out and are overcast, 〈…〉 l friendship wheresoever. This 〈…〉 is our frailty from the highest to 〈…〉 est, frankly to give where gifts 〈…〉 less, be the parties never so bad 〈…〉 ours: and unkindly to withdraw 〈…〉 nds where help is needful, be the 〈…〉 s never so godly and good deser 〈…〉 Touching this circumstance there 〈…〉 o the end we may offend the less, we must as nigh as we can resemble the integrity and incorrupt nature 〈…〉 God Almighty, who specially by his power and providence, doth relieve a● advance the sincerest, best, and worthy 〈…〉 men. Concerning the commendable an● 
The manner whereafter we must give.  Christianlike manner of alms giving we must not as men wayward and unwilling, foreslack the performance he●● of being once determined where need requires: for so are we told by the wi〈…〉 man, Say not unto thy neighbour, Come 
prou. 3.  again, and to morrow will I give thee, if thou now hast it: Neither may we do it frowningly or with an evil will, f●● this also doth the Apostle forewarn us off, saying, Let every man do according 
〈◊〉. Cor. 9  as he is disposed in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity, & why? God loveth a cheerful giver. In all thy gifts show a cheerful countenance, saith the Preacher. And look what thy hand is able, give with a cheerful eye. For a man not according to the measure of his gift and largition, but according to his pitiful mind and charitable affection, is accepted of with the Lord, as may appear by the great 〈…〉ing he made of the poor wi〈…〉 two mites, afore the rich man's 〈…〉 l and large offering. Though I 
Mark. 12. 1. Cor. 13.  〈…〉 the poor (saith the Apostle) 〈…〉 all my goods, and have not 〈…〉 me, it profiteth me no whit 〈…〉 So that as we see, this same 〈…〉 love and compassion, affoor 〈…〉 kind both of inward and out 〈…〉 cheerfulness, must be as a per 〈…〉 r sweet powder whereof our 〈…〉 must smell, as a garland where 〈…〉 it must be beautified, and in 〈…〉 of a delightsome sauce whereof 〈…〉 taste. Otherwise, the Lord 〈…〉 will abhor and abandon it, 〈…〉ng unpleasant to his nose, un 〈…〉 e to his eye, and unsavoury to 〈…〉 outh. For in truth, without 〈…〉 two foresaid appurtenances, I 〈…〉 e both inward and outward 〈…〉 fullness, all men's gifts how great 〈…〉 o, are but as flowers without 〈…〉 ur, masses without shape, bones 〈…〉 hout marrow, and as lamps with 〈…〉 oil. If we will then by dis 〈…〉 rging our duty accordingly, right 〈…〉 lease God in this behalf, we must be as forward and prompt to give, wh● riches abound, as the Sea men are to sail when wind and tide serveth, the birds to flacker when feathers come on, or the earth to fructify when she hath moisture at will. Yea, we may not be so slack in our benevolence as was Pericles, who had his memory rubbeth by his old tutor Anaxagoras, afore he gave him aught, as thus, O Pericle, qui lucerna indiget, oleum instillet. This he sai● when Pericles, hearing that through want of maintenance he was about to make a hand of himself, came to dissua 〈…〉 him from doing that violence against his own person, and the rather, because (as he said) he and she whole Country beside, could hardly forego him. Why th●, saith Anaxagoras, he that needeth a lamp or light, let him pour in oil for to keep it burning: as if he should have said, He that for his use needeth a man, let him relieve and secure him. This reasonable round saying was Pericles ashamed of, who afterwards took more care over him, but less a great deal to his commendation and credit, then if he had of his own accord dove it afore. For 〈…〉 hich is quickly given, is twice gi' 〈…〉 Qui cito dat, bis dat. And yet be 〈…〉 I fear me) many well able and 〈…〉 en, which take as much delight in 〈…〉 as the Ox in his yoke, or the Horse 〈…〉 eavy harness. As for these world 〈…〉 which possess not, but rather are 〈…〉 of their goods, some will come 〈…〉 'em to Hogs, which serve for 〈…〉 ill they come to the Butchers 〈…〉 and some will liken them to 〈…〉 de Dogs, which afore they 〈…〉 ewed one piece of meat, 'gree 〈…〉 e after another: and yet (me 〈…〉) they may be resembled to a 〈…〉 enly beast, though more subtle 〈…〉 her of these, and that is in deed to 〈…〉, who had rather bruise & break 〈…〉 I'll on the ground, then give or 〈…〉 any part of it to the silly Ape 〈…〉 wanteth a tail. Let us not then, 〈…〉 rethrens, when we give, be closefis 〈…〉 and when we take, openhanded: 〈…〉 rather let us frankly both do & say 〈…〉 Zache, Half of my goods I give 
Luke 19  〈…〉 o the poor. For why? Wisdom 〈…〉 t is hid, and treasure that is hoarded 〈…〉 what profit is there in them both? And thus much for the manner how we 
The end wherefore we ought to give.  ought to give. lastly, touching the right end wherefore, we ought to giue● it may in no wise be this, to be seen 〈…〉 men: I mean, for vain glory sake, 〈…〉 so we forego the reward at our heavenly Father's hand. And therefore saith Christ, When thou givest thine 
Matth. 6.  alms, thou shalt not make a trumpet to be blown before thee, as the hypocrites do in the Synagogues & street● to be praised of men: but when tho● dost thine alms, let not thy left hi● know what thy right hand doth, that thine alms may be in secret, and the father that seethe in secret, he will reward thee openly. Neither may we pass away our alms upon hope of ma● reward and retributron again, for this dealing tasteth rather of usur 〈…〉 then of any kindly liberality: b 〈…〉 when we give, we must do it fréelie● through mere pity and compassion towards the needy, and that because the Lord himself hath straightly enioyn● us so to do. So that, to be short, t 〈…〉 very end and drift of this our ad 〈…〉 on must always be this, to pleas 〈…〉 〈…〉, who requireth it, whom we ought 〈…〉 ache reckoning of above all, and to 〈…〉 we our neighbour, who needeth it, 〈…〉 m we ought to love as ourselves. 〈…〉 this then suffice that I have spo 〈…〉 concerning the parties to whom, 〈…〉 manner whereafter, and the end 〈…〉 efore we ought to give. It fol 〈…〉 h in the text as thus. And it shall 〈…〉 ven unto you, etc. And this (I say) 〈…〉 richeses promise or covenant of re〈…〉 & retribution, directed to so many 〈…〉, as be faithful Christian almoners, 〈…〉 ein for our better encouragement 〈…〉 the lord displaieth unto us, by way 〈…〉 iliar description, the good & gainful 〈…〉 ure of the said reward, mutually 〈…〉ing to us ward again, as thus: A 〈…〉 d measure, pressed down, shaken 〈…〉 ither, & running over, shall men give 〈…〉 o your bosom. First then, let us 〈…〉 ndle the promise in general, omitting 〈…〉 itle these circumstances, whereby the 〈…〉 me lieth here notably enriched, & beau 〈…〉 fied. It shallbe given unto you, saith Christ. If so be that in worldly affairs we account an honest man's word, as a reasonable good pledge, & take an able man's obligation, for sufficient security, whose conditions are in both kinds variable, and therefore untrusty and deceivable: how much more securely may we rely upon God's promise here, who according to his immutable will and power ordereth man's doings, disposeth his heart, and hath under his will all man's will at a ●eck? And this is he who hath here given us his hand, that if by gifts giving, we be helpful unto others, we ourselves likewise shall be courteously entreated, and frankly recompensed again, both at his and at their hands. Such reckoning then and reputation must we make of this, that no usury in comparison, may seem so beneficial unto us, nor yet any treasure, so surely laid or locked up for our use, as that which is devoutly given, and covertly conveyed into the needy man's bosom. For why, as saith the Apostle, God is not unrighteous, that 
●ebr. 6.  he will forget our works, and labour, that proceedeth of love. Who as he maketh the earth to acknowledge the benefit of the Sun, by yielding again a reflection of his bright beams: And as he causeth the tilled land, seasonably with 〈…〉 ntage for to repay that in harvest, 〈…〉 h was sown and lent out to inte 〈…〉 in seed time: so doth he by his good 〈…〉 te inflame and stir up men's hearts, 〈…〉 ee thankful for the benefits they 〈…〉 e by others, and he enforceth them 〈…〉 eir ableness groweth on, for to re〈…〉 and render the like again to their 〈…〉 ctors and first founders. And 〈…〉 this rule holdeth not throughout, 〈…〉 son of man's slackness, and ingra 〈…〉: Yet doth the Lord of his own 〈…〉 e make this his word good, and 〈…〉 this his promise, by way of re〈…〉 himself: according to Salo 〈…〉 is saying, He that hath pity 
prou. 19  〈…〉 e poor, dareth unto the lord, 〈…〉 e Lord will recompense him 〈…〉 which he layeth out. The libe 〈…〉 an then (as we see here) hath two 〈…〉 ges for his bow, so that if the one 〈…〉, the other will be always ready 〈…〉 and to make supply. For the Lord 〈…〉 h not always post over this matter 〈…〉 o man's discretion only, (albeit he 〈…〉keth him somewhiles as his Fac 〈…〉 r or Deputy in this point) but he 〈…〉 formeth this thing actually himself also, without means or mediation. And here, for our further assurance and better resolution sake in this behalf, we will a little oversee & survey these several places of scripture following. As first those of Solomon, Honour the Lord with thy 
●ou. 3.  riches, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall burst with new wine. The liberal 
●rou. 11.  persou (saith he) shall have plenty, and he that watereth, shall have rain. And again, he holdeth this as a rule infallible: He which followeth after righteousness 
●rou. 21.  and mercy, shall find life, righteousness and glory. This doubtless was Tobias persuaded of, when he spoke thus to his son, by way of advertisement, Give alms according to thy 
Tob. 4.  substance, for thereby thou layest up a good store for thyself against the day of necessity. Likewise saith the wise man, Bestow thy treasure 
Eccle. 29.  after the commandment of the most high, and it shall bring thee more profit than Gold. Again he saith, Give thine alms secretly, and it shall keep thee from all affliction, 〈…〉 s also did king David think in his 〈…〉ience, when he said, Blessed is he 
psal. 41.  〈…〉 judgeth wisely of the poor: the 〈…〉 de shall deliver him in the time of 〈…〉ble. And this falleth flat with the A 〈…〉 es saying, Whatsoever a mansow 〈…〉 
Galat. 6.  that shall he reap. Let us not then, 〈…〉 ethrens, be weary of well doing, 〈…〉 that in due time We shall reap if 
Galat. 6.  〈…〉 〈…〉nt not. For no doubt, the Lord 〈…〉 ath here made this frank cove 〈…〉 and promise with us, hath already 〈…〉 rmed the same to our forefathers, 〈…〉 whence there groweth also to us 〈…〉 no small encouragement & hope: 〈…〉ragement (I mean) for to deal 〈…〉 lli●, as they our predecessors 〈…〉 and hope again for to have plen 〈…〉 lie, even as they themselves had. 〈…〉 some perchance will ask me, who 〈…〉re they? What did they? And 〈…〉 at reward had they? Who they 〈…〉re, I told you afore, as namely 〈…〉 raham, Tobias, David, Ezechias, 〈…〉 seph, josias, Solomon, Corn 〈…〉 us, Martha, Nichodemus, with ma 〈…〉 ie more besides these, all which for their 〈…〉 mes deeds and compassion towards the poor, received again in temporal blessings, some more, some less, some single, some double fold, according as the Lord in his secret wisdom, did foresee it to be best & most expedient for them: and in the end they also reaped eternal life, which benefit they found far surpassing the other. Seeing than the Lord who promiseth, hath so duly kept touch with these our elders before us, we for our parts may hereby assuredly persuade ourselves, that we also as well as they, by scattering shall gather, by losing shall find, by giving shall take, by lessening shall augment, by emptying to the bottom, shall fill up to the brim, yea by having nothing, we shall surely possess all things. For so manifold is the use we have always by our gifts giving, that though we pass them from us out of time, yet do we receive them again in time: though they go from us as things superfluous, yet return they to us again, as things most necessary: and though we give them in earthen Cups, yet do we receive them again in golden Goblets: and what should I say else: whereby to rouse and 〈…〉 us up unto beneficence and boun 〈…〉nesse, but this, that contrary 〈…〉 by hoarding up, we shall make ha 〈…〉 t: by keeping, we shall forego: by 〈…〉ng, we shall spend: by pinching, we 〈…〉 bring on poverty: yea, when like 〈…〉 ardes we think to make all, then 〈…〉 gets shall we mar all? For why, 〈…〉 sing to give an inch, we defraud 〈…〉 ve of an ell: by withholding one 〈…〉 up of cold water from others, we 〈…〉rred from a whole fountain our 〈…〉: and for not emptying, the one 〈…〉 by giving, we forego both our hands 〈…〉 taking: according to that saying 〈…〉 omon, There is that scattereth, 
prou. 11.  〈…〉 more increased: but he that 〈…〉 h more than is right, shall sure 〈…〉 e to poverty. Yea most true it 〈…〉 o penny, no paternoster: nothing 〈…〉 nothing take: for so saith the wise 〈…〉, He that stoppeth his ear at the 
prou. 21.  〈…〉 g of the poor, he shall also cry 〈…〉 not be heard. And again, He that 〈…〉 draweth the corn, the people 〈…〉 curse him, saith he. Herewithal a 〈…〉 th' that saying of the Apostle, There 〈…〉 be judgement merciless to him 
jam. 2.  that showeth no mercy. The verity and proof hereof appeareth at large, by the wrathful subversion of Sodom: For among other iniquities which wrought her desolation & overthrow, the Prophet Ezechiel nameth this for one, that she did not strengthen the 
Ezech. 16.  hand of the poor and needy. The men of Succoth, for not relieving Gideon 
judg. 4.  his people, when they craved sustenance, became in th'end distressed themselves, and torn asunder with thorns and briars. The rich glutton, for withholding 
Luke. 16.  his helping hand from Lazarus, fell himself finally into a most miserable, distressed, and helpless case. Well then if it fareth thus with them which give not of their own substance, when and where need is: what (I pray you) shall befall unto them, which being come of the takers, as we term them, do not only not give to, but take from the poor: do not only not help them up again, when they are fallen down, but assay to hurl them down flat, when they are fair standing: do not only not salve them when they see them sore wounded, but bitterly 〈…〉 them, when they see them per 〈…〉 wholeand sound: do not only not 〈…〉 en them, when they see them lie 〈…〉 g, but cruelly smother and 〈…〉 w them up, while they are yet 〈…〉? For such are the ways of every 〈…〉 at is greedy of gain, that he 
prou. 1.  〈…〉 take away the life of the owe 〈…〉 ereof: what shall be their por 〈…〉 I mean, which are so far off 〈…〉 iving to others, that they at 〈…〉 by open violence for to wring 〈…〉 rest from them, that which of 〈…〉 s theirs? Surely these men if 〈…〉 ten to and believe the two Pro 〈…〉 Esais and Ames, shall find 〈…〉 hay have a heavy matter, and 〈…〉 e cold suit in hand, and that 〈…〉 se their end shall be utter death 〈…〉 esolation. For thus saith isaiah, 〈…〉 e to thee that spoilest, and wast 〈…〉 spoiled, and dost wickedly 
isaiah. 33.  〈…〉 they did not wickedly against 〈…〉 e. When thou shalt cease from 〈…〉 iling, thou shalt be spoiled, 〈…〉 d when thou shalt make an end 〈…〉 doing wickedly, they shall do 〈…〉 ckedlie against thee. The same Prophet also elsewhere, threateneth utter overthrow against them which join house to house, and lay field to field, 
isaiah. 5.  and foretelleth them that many houses even fair and great ones, shall be without inhabitant. The Prophet Amos also doth thus prophecy of these merciless and ravenous men: Forasmuch, saith he, as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from hi● 
Amos. 5.  burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall no● dwell in them, ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drin● wine of them: For thus doubtless falleth it out with all extortioners, & oppressors whosoever, that in the winding up, they themselves reap no more use by their spoil and rapine, than Achan did by taking the Babylonish garment, Adoram 
Ios. 6.  by extorting the Israelites tribute, 
1. King. 12.  or Ahab by compassing of Nabothe 
1. King. 22.  vinyeard. Yea this bad end and misfortune, as we learn, befell to all the Canaanites, the Assyrians, the babylonians, the Persians, the Grecians, and the Romans, which were themselves merciless, and altogether given to spoil. 〈…〉efore all mighty men, and rich 〈…〉 rdes, by the example of these 〈…〉 e like afterclap, when they do 〈…〉 ely with dry eyes look upon 〈…〉 over tenant's miseries, but by op 〈…〉 and violence grind their faces, 〈…〉 n up & devour them, even as the 〈…〉 es in the Sea devour the less 〈…〉, I say, beware and look to 〈…〉 doubtless, the Council of the 〈…〉 ching their shameful fall and 〈…〉 n, shall surely stand. And let 〈…〉 t only learn hereby for the pu 〈…〉 t sake, to abandon such mon 〈…〉 mpietie in oppressing and ra● 〈…〉 it poor brethren: but let them 〈…〉 the reward sake, relieve and 〈…〉 them with their own wealth 〈…〉 bstance: for this in deed is that 〈…〉 smelling sacrifice, which the Lord 〈…〉eth here, as a riper branch and 〈…〉 r degree of true Christianity, then 〈…〉 ther. Yea, this is it finally, where 〈…〉 the Lord affixeth his promise of re〈…〉 all and retribution, saying, Give & 〈…〉 all be given unto you. Wherein 〈…〉dly with one breath (as it were) is 〈…〉 ribed unto us, the perfect measure and manner, how we shall in due tim● reap this reward again, as thus a good measure, pressed down, and 〈…〉 forth as followeth in the text. And th●● same familiar means of persuading (I say) the Lord doth solicit us by for this end, that being acquainted 〈…〉 forehand with the gainful manner 〈…〉 the recompense ensuing, we for ou● parts, should the more courageously go on, to put in ure such charitabl● works of benevolence, as we an● here charged withal. For having not only a reward, but the same 〈…〉 most bountiful one promised us according to this our Saviour Christ's amplification here, we ourselves by means of this frank proffer must needs become willing, yea most willing to perform this his will, by way of Alms and liberality. And herein as we are to admire Christ's wisdom, for the familiar and effectual manner sake of this his promise, as also to magnify his goodness, for the final performance hereof, when time doth serve: so are we to condemn our own dullness in conceiving, and to prove our own slackness in exe 〈…〉 g this and other such like deeds 〈…〉 lmes, and all because our sense 〈…〉 and churlish nature is such, that 〈…〉 ll not of it own accord, conceive 〈…〉 eld from it any thing that good 〈…〉 unless it be thus roused up and 〈…〉 on in this manner, by fair and 〈…〉 omises. This knew our Savi 〈…〉 ell, who albeit of his own an 〈…〉 tie like a Lord, he might have 〈…〉yned us this charge without any 〈…〉 far of reward at all: yet hath he 〈…〉 Father, dealt more mildly with 〈…〉 by way of persuasion, including 〈…〉 a bountiful promise, thereby, 〈…〉 awe us on the rather, obediently 〈…〉 willingly to embrace this his special desire. And this description of 〈…〉 compence formally framed by our Saviour Christ, may seem indifferently to afford us, a double sense and meaning: that is to say, both a celestial and a temporal signification. Notwithstanding, whether way soever we construe it, we find that the reward doth not only countervail the desert, but doth also by many degrees far outgo and surpass the same: for by giving an even, proportionable, and an equal measure unto others, we are here warranted by Christ himself, that we shall reap the like again, with a mends, and large interest, either from them, whom before we ourselves have gratified, or else from some other more thankful persons, whom the Lord in stead of their unthankfulness will stir up again for to recompense, and befriend us. Hereupon it cometh, that Christ elsewhere in the Gospel promiseth an hundredth fold in temporal blessings to them, ward again, which for his name's sake and the Gospels, renounce and 
Mar. 10.  willingly part from their earthly possessions, and substance. Yea we read that our Saviour himself, who by promise standeth payable for this targe account and reckoning, hath heretofore miraculously discharged himself thereof, as namely, when by his mighty power and providence, the Disciples after the satisfying of five thousand hungry men, with five loaves and two silly 
Mar. 6.  fishes, took up again twelve baskets full of the fragments, that were left, 〈…〉 so when through his mighty hand, 〈…〉 oore widow found her store fully 
2. King. 16.  〈…〉 e up, after she had frankly and free 〈…〉 otcht it out for the Prophets suste 〈…〉 e and behoof sake. Again, beside 〈…〉 two miracles, many other ordina 〈…〉 oofes, & ensamples we have, which 〈…〉 irectly teach us, that Christ's li 〈…〉 retribution hath been always 〈…〉 at hand, and answerable to man's 〈…〉 ifulnesse: but of these I made men 〈…〉 fore, as occasion served. I will now 〈…〉 fore overpass them. Only thus 〈…〉 I say, and say again, that the 〈…〉 himself is so far off from broo 〈…〉 or bearing with any worldly jug 〈…〉 egerdemaine, and deceit, that he 〈…〉 no wise suffer his chosen children, 〈…〉 g well dealt withal and done to by 〈…〉 r brethren, so disloyally to entreat 〈…〉 delude them again, as to re〈…〉 e them chaff for good corn, light 〈…〉 res for down weight, bad mea 〈…〉 e for good, a stone for bread, or serpent in stead of a fish: but being 
Luk. 11.  their supervisor and guide, he will make them (will they, nill they) or to repay such good measure again, as is here lively described by three several properties of integrity and perfectness, which namely be these, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. This measure then (as we see here) shall not be through any fraudulent or slight devise, heaved up to the outward appearance, and so afterward fail on us: but it shall be so roundly huddled up, and so substantially couched together, that it shall not possibly shrink in any whit at all on any side. For first of all, it shall not be deceitful in the bottom beneath, because it shall be pressed down: again, it shall not be hollow or sleight about the sides betwixt, because it shall be shaken together: neither yet shall it deceive us at the top above, because it shall outreach and overflow the brim. Yea, this same measure (I say) promised us by Christ, shall from head to foot, and from top to toe, as we term it, be sound without unperfectness, substantial without guilefullnesse, and full without scarcenesss, and what else can be wished over and beside, saving only the safe delivery and conveyance thereof, unto our hands. 〈…〉 this also doth our Saviour Christ 〈…〉 assure us off, where he saith that o 〈…〉 men shall give it into our bosoms: 〈…〉 if he should have said, This mea 〈…〉 shall not be desperately cast to 〈…〉, (for so it might miscarry by the 〈…〉) neither wrathfully hurled at 〈…〉 (for so it might offend you) 〈…〉 yet openly or ambitiously given 〈…〉 (for so perhaps it might disgrace 〈…〉 discountevance you:) but it shall 〈…〉 onueyed into your bosom, modest 〈…〉 r security sake, cheerfully for bet 〈…〉 king sake, and covertly for your 〈…〉 t sake. Note here (I pray you) 〈…〉 there the perfectness of the 〈…〉 sure, the secure and singular good 〈…〉 o also of the conveyance thereof, 〈…〉 o our besoms. And here finally 〈…〉 ncerning this word Bosom, I ob 〈…〉 we this as a special note among the 〈…〉 t, that all men's good gifts what soever, aught to have their chiefest revolution, affiance, and settling place, about ●he heart, that is, from a beneuo●nt heart must they come, and to a thankful heart must they go. For otherwise, if they halt betwixt both, they must needs degenerate, go out of kind, and so consequently come to no proof. So that, as you see, our heart must be our hand to give from us, and our heart must be our hand to take to us, yea, our heart must be all in all. And thus much concerning the temporal meaning of this our saviour Christ's promised reward, amplified at large as ye have heard already, with a full description of the properties incident thereto. Now for the other more divine interpretation, and celestial acception of these words, if I should particularly by order as they lie, stand deskanting upon them, I should thereby rather satisfy the curious, then edify the simpler sort: I will not therefore meddle with the description of this incomprehensible heavenly recompense. Only thus much and no more dare I boldly say with the Apostle, that no eye hath seen, no ear hath heard, 
1. Cor. 2.  nor heart of man conceived the joys that the Lord hath in store for them that love him, yea for them which love him above all, and their brethren 〈…〉 m selves, which love must needs 〈…〉re by their works of charity, 〈…〉 lmes deeds. For, with what 〈…〉 ure ye meet, with the same shall 〈…〉 meet to you again, saith Christ, 〈…〉 e which general sentence derived 〈…〉 common sense, and approved by 〈…〉 w of nature, all the foresaid seve 〈…〉 'tis of recompense are now round 〈…〉 prized, wound up, and ratified. 〈…〉 us our saviour Christ reasoneth, 〈…〉 what measure ye meet withal, 〈…〉 good or bad) with the same shall 〈…〉 eat to you again: If ye then 〈…〉 l judging, by forgiving, and by 〈…〉 also, afford good measure un 〈…〉 rs, ye yourselves likewise shall 〈…〉 of the like benevolence, mutual 〈…〉 in at their hands. And why, 〈…〉 well thought off, when we think 〈…〉 of others, is the still inward har〈…〉 ie: to be well spoken off when we 〈…〉ke well, is the outward rebounding 〈…〉 cho: and to be well done to, when we 〈…〉 well to others, is the kindly proper 〈…〉 of man's nature universally. This 〈…〉 ubtlesse did Homer feel by good ex 〈…〉 rience both in himself & others when said, Talia dicentur tibi, qualia dixeris ipse. that is, Such words as thou broachest abroad by others, such like shall fall to thine own share again, be they good or bad. And this same Homer'S saying may seem of right to have great affinity with that saying of Solomon, He that seeketh good 
prou. 11.  things, getteth favour: but he that seeketh evil, evil shall come to him. For as by God's favourable appointment, it cometh to pass, that men of integrity and uprightness, such I mean, as delight both to speak well, and to do well by others, reap again the like good reputation and benevolence at their hands: even so through God's just judgement falleth it out, that men of sinister and malevolent minds, such I would say, as are viperous, hateful & illiberal persons, meet commonly in the end with like mates unto themselves, which will sting them outwardly, disdain them inwardly, and draw back their helping hands even then, when assistance might stand them in most stead. Thus were the Sodomites, and the men of Succoth (as 〈…〉 e you) for their own unmerci 〈…〉sse justly dashed and dealt withal, 〈…〉 when they might worst have born 〈…〉 Yea as there be none almost so un 〈…〉 full, qui non gratiam benè merenti: 〈…〉 ere be none in manner so innocent, 〈…〉 alum malè merenti non reponent. As 〈…〉 be none (I say) so ungrateful, 〈…〉 will not repay a good turn to 〈…〉 at deserveth a good one: so is there 〈…〉 o harmless, which will not do 〈…〉 bad turn, who deserveth no bet 〈…〉 Well then, if most men accor 〈…〉 as occasion shall be given them 〈…〉 good or bad, use commonly to render 〈…〉 epay the like again, & all through 〈…〉 own permission and ordinance: 〈…〉 r our parts, if so that we wish to 〈…〉 e back the evil from us, and to 〈…〉 w on the good recompense into our 〈…〉 soms, must always think off, speak 〈…〉, and do to our brethren all good and 〈…〉 evil. Yea, we must (I say) con 〈…〉 rme our hearts to think well, smooth 〈…〉 d file our tongues to speak well, and 〈…〉 o'th' bow and bend all our joints to 〈…〉 oe well to others, which no doubt 〈…〉 o'th' may, and will be grateful to us in like sort, when time shall serve. And here perchance some will ask me, How may these sayings hang together, and be reconciled aright? For whereas immediately afore, the Lord termed it measure running over that should be given us, now he seemeth to fall & light short of that proportion, promising no more but this, that the same measure shall be returned us again, that we meet unto others withal. We answer, that by the same measure here, is meant no more but this in general, that for our well doing to others, we again shallbe well done unto. So that whether this reward be more or less, whether it light short or exceed in quantity, touching the verifying of these words, all (I say) is as one for that. Seeing therefore, my brethren, the Lord himself hath enjoined us here, liberality, and benevolence, as asweete smelling sacrifice in his nostrils, and hath also promised a large retribution thereto, whereby is signified, that the neglect thereof is a thing punishable and unrewarded. Let us for these four causes, that is, first 〈…〉 e Commandment sake, second 〈…〉 for the dignity of the action it 〈…〉 being elsewhere termed a sacrifice, 〈…〉 lie for the promise sake, and lastly, 〈…〉 guard of the penalty proceeding of 〈…〉 ntrarie, let us (I say) for these cau 〈…〉 as bountiful, as harborous, and as 〈…〉 ciall one towards another, as pos 〈…〉 e may be. And to the end this acti 〈…〉 be the more easy and delightsome 〈…〉 s in the performance, let us by 〈…〉 f gradation observe and put in use 〈…〉 paratives, the other two precepts 〈…〉 y going afore, touching the aban 〈…〉 g of rash judgement and malice 〈…〉 g. For these be the chiefest even 〈…〉 and obstacles that we have, in the 〈…〉 ianlike course of all our benevo 〈…〉 whatsoever. For the supplanting 〈…〉 fore of these enormities, tending di 〈…〉 y by way of alms, to the glory of 〈…〉, to the behoof of our neighbours, and the safeguard of our own souls, let us say) with one accord, in all humility 〈…〉 ferventness of spirit, crave the assi 〈…〉 nce of God the Father, God the Son, 〈…〉 God the holy Ghost, in such devout 〈…〉 o and form as followeth.    

The Prayer.  
ALmighty, most merciful, and gracious Trinity, from whose incomprehensible godhead, fatherly goodness, & ghostly influence, we receive in hand, & have derived unto us our creation, our redemption, and sanctification, with all things else, we thy sorry creatures, overlaid with the accusation, and remorse of our own guilty consciences, for the wilful breach by past of these thy precepts: do now before thy throne of majesty, prostrate ourselves, with humble confession of our heinous disobedience, against these same fatherly prescriptions of thine, touching true sanctimony of life, & brotherly conversation For being aforetime too too much in love & liking with ourselves, & so on the other side, out of all league and love with our brethren, we have parcialli● 〈…〉 wot) justified our own doings, 〈…〉 we should have condemned, 〈…〉 ave peevishly condemned theirs, 〈…〉 of right we should have justify 〈…〉 Thus have we by flattering our 〈…〉, and by defacing our fellow ser 〈…〉, shamefully to thy dishonour, de 〈…〉 ur own souls. Yea, albeit we 〈…〉 s watchwoord given us afore 〈…〉 That by our words we should be justi 〈…〉 
Matth. 12.  by our words we should be condemn 〈…〉 〈…〉 t this alas have we done, to our 〈…〉 overthrow and confusion. A 〈…〉 over and beside this, we have 〈…〉 r at thy bidding rebuked our tres 〈…〉 
Luke 17.  nor yet forgiven them upon their re〈…〉 e: but having our hearts by Sa 〈…〉 r heavy lodesman, overfraught 〈…〉 malice, we have furiously sought 〈…〉 ease and unburden the same, by 〈…〉 of vengeance against our evildo 〈…〉 Thus also being out of joint with 〈…〉 ers', have we impatiently lashed be 〈…〉 the compass of thy will, & precinct 〈…〉 high sacred word, which seriously ad 〈…〉 th' us, That we should not avenge our 〈…〉 es, but rather give place unto wrath and indignation: yea, For hereunto verily were 
●om 12. ●et. 3.  we called. lastly, as for that due benevolence & compassion of ours, which thou (O Lord) for the behoof of the succourless, without all nay say requirest at our hands, we for our parts, which in substance have most, and so might best have been bountiful, even we (I say) cannot deny but that we have churlishly, with that delicious Cormorant Dives, kept back our helping 
●uke. 16.  hand from silly poor Lazarus. Yea, thus croslie against thy will have we dealt in this behalf, and have not made us friends of the riches of iniquity, to 
●uke. 16.  the end they might receive us into everlasting habitations. For as much then, O heavenly Father, as our demeanour hath been so captious, so cankered, and so cross at all assays, we thy sinful caitiffs relying wholly upon thy mercy and forgiveness, have now made our appearance before thy judgement seat, with voluntary arraignment, and condemnation against ourselves: and in this our own citation, and submission, before thee, we crave not only an acquittance, and full discharge, for 〈…〉 ur offences bypassed, but we also 〈…〉 ie beseech thee to afford us 〈…〉 orth such copious measure of 〈…〉 ace, as we may never hereafter 〈…〉 o the like lapse, and labrinth a 〈…〉 For so in deed might our end 〈…〉 s in the Gospel, Become a great 
Luke. 1●.  〈…〉 se then our first beginning was. 〈…〉 s having quashed against the 〈…〉 e brains of these Babylonish 〈…〉 spirits, I mean, evil jealousy, 〈…〉 and unmercifulness: grant us, 〈…〉 Lord) we pray thee, such ghost 〈…〉 r and assistance of thine, as we 〈…〉 aies hereafter be priest, to give 〈…〉 nstructions in things indiffe 〈…〉 o brook and bear out with 〈…〉 e, all men's injuries and bad 〈…〉 ces, yea and that which is more 〈…〉 is, to feed our enemies if they 〈…〉 r, & to give them drink if they 〈…〉: For thus, O Father, of thy bless 〈…〉 as'st thou charged us, That we 
1. pet. 3.  〈…〉 not be overcome of evil, but overcome 〈…〉 i'th' goodness. Over which evil we 〈…〉 eaklings can never any way get 〈…〉 pper hand and pre-eminence, 〈…〉 le thou, who as our general and chief Captain dost force us on to fight this field, lend us also thy helping hand for to give the foil to flesh and blood. For these in deed be the two sore enemies, which daily come upon us in such jolly and giantly manner that if thou thyself dost not aid us they will never surcease till they ha●● either by mere flattery, or main 〈…〉 force, subdued and conquered us. B 〈…〉 yet, O Lord, If thou be with us, who (b 〈…〉 
Rom. 8.  he never so jolly or giantlike) can p 〈…〉 sibly be against us? Defraud us no 〈…〉 therefore, we beseech thee, of thy me 〈…〉 cifull assistance, whensoever we come 〈…〉 in combat with Satan our Ghostly enemy: so shall we according to th' 〈…〉 thy will, with all delectation & pea 〈…〉 of conscience acquaint our hearts 〈…〉 think, accustom our tongues to speak and enure our hands to do well for 〈…〉 our brethren and companions sake yea, and all this shall we rightly do 〈…〉 for the due advancement of thy gl 〈…〉 yea, for the temporal behoof of o 〈…〉 fellow Christians, and for the perp 〈…〉 tuall salvation of our own soul 〈…〉 Which crown of endless saluatio 〈…〉 〈…〉 this our corruptible, shall put 〈…〉 corruption, we crave at thy 〈…〉 s, O heavenly Father of bliss, 〈…〉 e name be worthily magnified 〈…〉 the first to the last generation. 〈…〉.   

LONDON 〈…〉 inted by john Wolf.