UPON THE MEETING Of the Sons of the CLERGY, At a Sermon Preached before them in Saint Paul's Church the eighth of November, 1655. SPECIFYING Their several Capacities, as they stood in the time of the LAW, AND NOW UNDER THE GOSPEL. By E. G. LONDON, Printed by T. R. 1655. Upon the meeting of the sons of the Clergy, At a Sermon in Paul's Church, Preached on the eighth day of November, 1655. O For a new Elisha now you're met, 2 Reg c. 6. And in that unrepaired Temple set, Who would commission you for stone and wood, To build it as wise S stood, Ezra 3. 2. Or if such glory mayn't be hoped for well, To make it such, as did Zerubbabel, Though while the much unequal groundwork rears Your joys are more, Ezra c. 20 but more your father's Tears. Where are the Trumpets now? the Cymbals where? All is dumb music, 1 Chr. 6. none of David's there, Priests to your office yet, and sons of Priests, (The meaner Levites were the Organists, And music part) keep up th' alternate song. Ezra 11. The office of the place in th' holy Tongue, Though 't be not musical, yet praise the Lord, Since 't can't be had in tune, in honest Word. It is a great Indulgence that you meet In your own place yet and your Brethren greet. How know you whether the Power that is, Ezra ●●3. May not restore you your Metropolis. ‛ When some more envious (Than was liked of late) ‛ Of six score odd, thought yours too much of eight. Complain not with the Sons o'th' Prophets, 2 Reg. 6. 10. that The place wherein you pray or preach is straight. 'Tis not the many Churches nor the Coaches, Are God-sent Prophets Triumphs or Reproaches. A little Zoar is enough: Gen. 19 23. when Fire Is round obout the ears, no more Desire, Nor yet with fled and sad Elijah grieve, Or of God's Providence so mean believe, Because you see but few are orthodox, Therefore the shepherd's worried and the flocks. Alas fond Augurer! yet just condoles, Upon a thousand hills in thousand holes. David in Psal. 10 God doth preserve whom he doth forthwith call, ●. Reg. 19 18. That never yet did bow the knee to Baal. Complain not with the scanted sons of Levi, When hunger and the Syrian host lay heavy About besieged Samaria, that your pot Hath death in't, 'cause of some bitterer lot, Or herb of Rue fallen in, Wormwood is good For morning's draughts, and brown bread is good food. And purld estates are best which keep us fixed Unto the hands by which our drink is mixed. That he would temper it, so 't might not be All Wormwood▪ But {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} for me. Should it be bitter unto death indeed, Avert●t Deus. Send you Eisha's (children) and with speed That may unbitter all your Pottage, and Give you the ancient service of the Land, Pottage and Meat, That you may meet, and pray, And praise your God, as is done on this day. To the Sons of the Prophets as they are under the Gospel of Peace. SOns of the Prophets still, for still you are, Either in Ark, or else in Altar care. Sons of the Prophets, so be always styled, But he who knows his Father's a wise child, Not then a lineal order, as the Jews, Nor does a Priest with us a Priest traduce, No Tribe of Levi now distinct, as that Which was the third, which Prophet Jacob got, Yet from a Father still else how can ye Derive till now a legal Progeny. Spiritual Fathers yours, yet called as was, From the Jews high Priest, and so you pass By Ordination, not by birth, though they That were so born, were called in that way, A Priest ex traduce, but sanctifid, And put in Robes, this world would not abide Ointm●nts and Mitres, Bells and Ephods, Breeches, More than our this day slighted rubric Teaches, No Priest (though their inheritance) unless They did accept th' instalment, and the dress, So Aaron was, so Hur initiate So was it always, (until now of late) Only the Order is not now confined, Simeon may be a Prophet, all the kind, And Zebulun and Naphtali and Dan And Issachar and Gad and every man, Here is indeed a thorough prophecy, Beyond my doctor tailors Liberty. Joel did say it (before Jeremy) His Spirit upon all the World shall fly. And let us now the prophet's meaning know, And not in prophecy too much o'erflow. No more shall Israel, or a tribe of them. No more Judea, or Jerusalem Shall be the Church, but that shall spread, As far as is the World inhabited. You knowing Sons of every Trade shall be Apted and called to his high prophecy: So prophecy is Catholic and we See Butchers sons in Episcopacy. So Christ did call, but from the net and trade, And of Fish-Fishers, fishermen he made, Those he instructed, blessed, ordained: no more Than Fishers, in the sense they were before. Nor was it an enlightening only, that But real Orders, Presbyterian Plat. Disciples, that is, Deacons, first were sent, And made by him, in whom was resident, The Bishop's power, nor did Apostleship, Flow into seventy, but in Twelve did keep, And when that one by Providence did fall, Judas. Not every one was fit but only one had call Yet all were Presbyters, Acts ●. 25. but none could be Apostle made, but out of that Degree. New hands imposed upon a Presbyter, Quid potest Episcopus supra Presbyterum praeter ordinationem. Learned S. Jerome is our friend thus far. Then I have found you Fathers (more than one) And your famed Preacher is a double Son, Born of a Presbyter, and a priest's Father, (But for the Times, I'd call him Bishop rather.) Thus from the Shop by learning and the Schools, Apted for Doctrine (not remaining fools) By lawful imposition, all trade's heir May be a Priest and Doctor of the Chair. Nay and sometimes we may be retrograde, Gradus Simeonis. Do as old Simeon, fall into a Trade. As did Saint Paul, when powerful schisms and Rents, And Poverties extreme, live by our Tents Labour for victuals (in a common weal That won't allow you) rather than to steal, Now sons of the black coat, or cloth, that's all, Now left to you of habit clerical, Honour your Parents, double honour give, To those by whom you all do doubly live, And from the banquet of the Ear, the quaint Spiritual food now preached and soul provant, Go to your Feast, more than Elisha made The sons o'th' Prophets, and when Grace is said, Remember Joseph, sons of Levi, be Not like jobs sons in gallant jollity, While that your Father prays and perchance fasts, And on his watery eyes no feeling casts. Take heed unto the House then, though it be The Merchant tailors, and my Company, But I do know you sons of Temperance, Who will your Feast to Charity advance. Sic vovet totius Cleri, in Radice, Palmite, Flore, Autumno. Servus & Ephestion, E. Gayton. FINIS.