A Murmurer. 
  
LONDON Printed by ROBERT RAWORTH, and are to be sold by john Wright, at his shop near Christ-Church gate. 1607.   

TO THE RIGHT Honourable, the Lords of his majesties most Honourable privy Counsel.  
RIght Honourable, It cannot be unknown to your wisdoms, how perilous a thing, both to the Crown, the Peers, and the Nobles; yea and to all the parts of the commonwealth, is the ungracious, ungodly, yea, profane, & hellish humour of murmuring: especially against God, the king, or any their ordained magistrates, in a Kingdom: for the cure whereof, what care is to be taken, your discreet considerations can determine: and knowing in your honourable dispositions, an assured hate unto all such unpleasing and unprofitable spirits, as no doubt, but you will weed, out from the good herbs in the ground of your charge; and again, how blessed a thing, the union of hearts will be to your honourable Spirits, whose continual care of the preservation, both of our king, and his whole kingdom, deserveth no little honour: I have presumed rather upon your honourable pardons, of what may offend your patience, than your favourable acceptance of my unworthy service, to present your Honours with a little tract against Murmurers & murmuring, in which if I have passed any thing displeasing to your good patience, humbly craving pardon, I attend the sorrow of my Imperfection, but if I have in any thing contented the least of your good like, I will leave murmurers to the fruit of their malice, and pray to God, so to bless your good minds, that you may find out such offenders, and give them the due of their desert; and in yourselves, among yourselves, may be so linked in your loves, that to God and his Majesty, you may ever live together in your service, that when wickedness is weeded out, and Grace is planted in the place, God may be pleased, the King best preserved, and the Common wealth best governed: So fearing with tediousness, to be a trouble to your good patience, beseeching God to bless you all, with as much happiness, as murmurers are worthy to want, I humbly rest.  
Your Honours in all Humbleness,   

To the Reader.  
LET me entreat you (by the kindness I hope in you) to be persuaded that what I have written in this little Tract, is rather done to reveal the folly of a malicious humour, then to tax any person with the infection: The labour is not long, nor the sense obscure; the substance whereof, leaving to the censure of your discretion, or correction of your good patience, with my love to your kind desert, I rest as I find cause.   

Against Murmurers, and Murmuring.  
OH Murmurer, what wouldst thou have? was there ever any Kingdom so many years, and so many ways blessed? and thou in it, so little worthy of thy comforts, and so worthy of the contrary: is not thy Earth fertile? are not thy Rivers sweet? is not thy Air temperate? are not thy cities fair, thy people rich, thy men strong, thy women fruitful, thy Magistrates wise, and thy King gracious? are not thy Seas as a wall to defend thee from the assaults of thine enemies? and hath not thy peace bred such a plenty, as makes thee admired in the whole world? hast thou not with all this, the richest jewel in the world? yea, and more worthy than the whole world? which is the heavenly word of God, to direct thee in his holy will? and will not all this suffice thee, to bring thee to the service of thy God? to acknowledge his goodness, to admire his greatness, & to give glory to his Majesty? what shall I then say unto thee? but as I said in the beginning: oh what wouldst thou have? In the time of blindness, when the book of life was shut from thy reading, when thy learned preachers, and zealous people were put unto the fire, when civil wars did breed thy penury, and thy foreign enemies were ready to invade thee, when thy Governor was a Tyrant, thy life a bondage, & thy estate a misery, then how glad wouldst thou have been, to have tasted the least of the blessings? that now thou art full of; and then wouldst thou have prayed for deliverance from thy sorrows, and joyed in the least hope, that might have cleared thy heavy heart: and art thou now so hard hearted? so ill natured, so void of sense, or so full of ingratitude? that thou canst not conceive, thou wilt not acknowledge, thou dost not understand, or wilt not be thankful, for this great measure of grace that God hath bestowed upon thee? what then will become of thee? but let me ask thee, what doth ail thee? is ease a grief? pleasure a pain? peace a Trifle? plenty a Toy? a good King, a small blessing? a grave Counsel, a mean comfort, and the word of God, a slight jewel? learned Preachers, and profound lawyers little blessing; what shall I then say unto thee? but that they are ill bestowed on thee; dost thou murmur at Religion? is it not better to serve God, than Man? and to believe the Truth, then follow Error? to worship God in the Heavens, then make a kind of God on the Earth, and to beg pardon of thy God at home; then to buy it of a man abroad: dost thou murmur that the Saints are not worshipped? and wilt thou forget to worship God above? wilt thou murmur at thy Loyalty? & learn the witchcraft of Rebellion? wilt thou forget thy vocation, and fall into the sin of presumption? are these the fruits of thy devotion? fie upon thy folly, that hast no more taste of discretion: wouldst thou rather hear the word? & understand it not, then understand it, and believe it? or trust rather to the word of a Priest for thy comfort, then to thine own faith for thy Salvation: oh pitiful imperfection! what shall I say unto thee? but only pray for thee; that God will forgive thee, & open the eyes of thy understanding, that by the light of his grace, thou mayst get out of thy darkness, and beholding the greatness of his mercy, give glory to his holy Majesty. Leave therefore thy murmuring, and turn it to thanksgiving, that so great a part of the world, being shut up in the cave of Error, thou walkest in the understanding path, of the perfection of all truth: lest if thou continue in thy accursed nature, thy gracious God, seeing thy ungratfulnes; either deprive thee of thy comfort, or cast thee into utter darkness; while the Bulls of Rome shall breed too many calves in Brittany: Again, dost thou murmur at peace? hast thou a spirit of discord? dost thou delight in blood? oh brood of Cain, look on thy brother Abel, & hear the curse on thy condition: dost thou walk in quiet? work in quiet? eat in quiet? sleep in quiet is thy wife in thy bosom? thy Children at thy Table? thy servants in thy business? do thy friends come to see thee? thy neighbours salute thee? & thine enemies live from thee? doth Music fill thine Ears? Beauty thine Eyes? Wisdom thy Heart? and Treasure thy mind? and are all these benefits to be despised, and this peace not to be applauded? God forbid: when children with Drums strike marches of mirth, and Trumpets sound dances in stead of deadly marches; when men may sing, women dance, and children play; & altogether rejoice▪ and give praises unto God; is this peace to be murmured at? fie upon such wicked spirits, that can be possessed with such hellish humours: leave therefore thy murmuring at this great blessing of peace, and give glory unto God for the comfort of so great a grace; for by it thou possessest more than all the world without it: for though by labour may wealth be gotten, and by wisdom honour, yet without that blessing of peace through the malice of Ambition, thou mayst soon lose all that thou enjoyest: pray then for the continuance of so great a comfort, and murmur not at the ordinance of God, in so gracious a showing of so glorious a mercy: show not the dogged nature, of such a devilish spirit, to drown thy soul in the delight of blood: Think on the misery of civil wars, or what wars soever; subversion of States, death of Princes, massacres of People, tears of Widows, cries of Children, Cities burning, Tyrants killing, Terror spoiling, and hearts despairing; when thou shalt see before thy face, thy wife dishonoured, thy daughter deflowered, thine infant slain, and thyself made a slave to villainy▪ and if it possible might be, a hell upon earth, where devils like men, or men like devils, seek the destruction of the whole world. Murmur not then at the joyful blessing of peace, but embrace it with such thankfulness, as may continue thy happiness, lest when thou wouldst have peace thou canst not, because when thou hadst it, thou regardest it not: Again, dost thou murmur at plenty? pity but thou shouldest want that is necessary, who hadst rather see thy brother starve then to relieve him out of thy abundance: Oh ungracious wretch, so far from the feeling of God's grace, that for a private gain wouldst wish a general grief, like a miser that pinching his belly to spare his purse, would see the death of a whole Kingdom, to fill up one corner of his coffers: or dost thou murmur at the plenty of another, beholding thine own penury? Why, remember thou broghtest nothing into the world, nor shalt carry any thing with thee out of it, and what thou hast, is but lent thee, & shallbe taken from thee, or thou from it: canst thou not then content thyself with thy portion? and rather labour for thine own good, then envy at the wealth of another? or dost thou murmur at the wealth of many, and thine own poverty? look into thyself, and see if there be not more poorer, than richer than thyself; and if not, yet, that thou art not alone to bear the burden of thy cross. But hadst thou rather see a bare harvest, a naked tree, a thin Meadow, and a blasted vineyard? then thy barns full of corn, thy stacks full of hay, thy trees full of fruit, and thy vessels full of wine? canst thou so much forget God, to be unthankful for his blessings, and be so unnatural to thine own heart, as to seek the misery of thine own Soul? What dog would show so devilish a nature? Hadst thou rather gnaw upon a crust, then have a whole loaf? sip of a little cruse, then drink of a full cup? wear a piece of a rag, than a whole suit of apparel? and a penny in thy purse, rather than thy chest full of gold? then art thou either a fool, that understandest not what is good for thee; or a dog, that dispisest that is given thee; or a devil, in not acknowledging the goodness of thy God towards thee: hadst thou rather see a table without meat, a stable without horses, a pasture without cattle, & a purse without a penny; then good meat, fair horses, fat cattle, and a full purse? oh monster of nature, what dost thou then among men? leave therefore thy murmuring, and let me thus far advise thee: what thou hast, spend not vainly; what thou gainest, get not vilely; what thou wantest, bear patiently; and what thou givest, give frankly, & murmur not to part with thy plenty, nor at the plenty of another, for plenty is a blessing of God, which taken thankfully, breeds many comforts, while penury is a plague, either inflicted upon sin, or sent for a trial of virtue, where patience possessing the soul, the body may be the better servant. Murmur not therefore at the blessing of plenty, either upon thyself, or others. Again, dost thou murmur at ease? oh what madness doth possess thee? hadst thou rather tyre out thy body, than give rest to thy mind? and labour out thy heart, them give comfort to thy spirit? hadst thou rather mourn than sing? cry then laugh? run than walk? & be beaten of thine enemy, them be kissed of thy friend? hadst thou rather watch two nights, than sleep one? work ten days, then play one? and fast ten weeks than far well one? I do not believe thee, or else believe thee to be mad. Hadst thou rather ride a hard trotter, than an ambler? sit on a Pitchfork them a pillow? lie on a board than a bed? if thy will so much exceed thy wit, I shall never take thee for a reasonable Creature; & therefore murmur not at ease, which to nature is so comfortable, & to reason so acceptable: but dost thou murmur at ease in others, & pain in thyself? others may have the ease thou wantest, & thou the ease they cannot have: they may sit while thou walkest, but perhaps walk when thou sleepest: they may have health, & thou sickness, yet thy conscience may be at better quiet: they may far delicately, & thou hardly, yet thy stomach may digest better: they may possess more, yet thou be better contented. Murmur not therefore at ease, either in thyself, or other, for it is a blessing sooner lost then gotten; & murmuring is the work of malice, which once settled in the mind, overthrows more than body, when many kinds of diseases rob the heart of all ease. Again, dar'st thou murmur at thy King, that he is not in all things to thy mind: Traitor unto God and man, how canst thou excuse thy villainy? when if thou canst consider his worth, & confess his worthiness, thou wilt hate thine own soul, to conceive one discontentive thought of his Majesty, or the least thought of hurt to his sacred person: but, base wretch that thou art, to grudge at that which thou canst not judge off, or to enjoy that thou art not worthy off: for, if thy King were unlearned, it might be a sorrow to thy heart; if irreligious, a torment to thy soul; if of base lineage, it might have been a wound to thine Honour; if Tyrannously minded, a woe to thy comfort▪ if wickedly inclined, a plague to thy patience: but of a Royal Line, from the Loins of many Kings, and from one Kingdom to an other, or rather by uniting of Kingdoms to make a Monarchy of peace, to the admiration of the world, so profoundly read in the rules of best learning, and so well Linguist in the most necessary Languages, as are gracious in his person, and Majestical in his place; in Religion, so zealous; in disposition, so virtuous; in mercy, so gracious; as both for his presence and his spirit, is worthy to be honoured, honourably loved, and lovingly served. How canst thou be so vile of disposition, or senseless of good, as to murmur at so great a blessing, as God hath given thee in his government? Dost thou murmur at his pleasures, and love the same thyself? Doth he hunt and delight in Dogs? better to nourish dogs, who show but their natures, and will be at their Master's Service, then to maintain those monsters of men, that contrary to the nature of men, will murmur at the welfare of their Master. Again, hadst thou a King without a Queen, thou mightst fear trouble through want of Issue, but so gracious a Queen, and the mother of so blessed Children, so Princely a Progeny, as may glad the hearts of the whole Kingdom; Villain to thine own Soul, that wilt murmur at these Comforts, and not be thankful for these blessings? Did he hunt thine heirs from their possessions? their heads from their shoulders? thy Preachers from their Churches? or thy Cities from their Liberties? then hadst thou cause to grieve, but hast no warrant to murmur: but he that seeketh thy safety, continueth thy peace, increaseth thy plenty, and maintaineth thy pleasure, is loving to thee, rejoiceth in thy love, and deserves to be loved of thee, What devil can possess thee, that such a King cannot please thee? wouldst thou have him governed by thee, who governs the whole Kingdom besides thee? thou art foolish, who being a Subject, wouldst be a King; and how canst thou think to govern, when thou hast not learned to be governed? Again, canst thou by thy policy unite kingdoms, as he hath done by his person? art thou so well allied as to link such love in royal lines? No, thou art not; and if thou wert▪ yet God hath made thee a Subject, and therefore make not thyself a rebel, but rather learn how to obey his will, then to murmur at his government: be thankful to God for the much good in him, and murmur not at the evil that thou misconceivest in him; lest God seeing thy vileness, bring thy villainy to light, and with a shameful death give thee the due of thy desert: leave then to murmur at him, and be thankful for him, murmur not at his greatness, considering his goodness; nor at his case, for thou knowest not his care; nor at his wealth, considering his worthiness; nor at his power, considering his wisdom: but love him, serve him, honour him, and obey him, and be thankful to the Majesty of the heavens, that thou mayest behold such a Majesty on Earth: Murmur not at the tribute thou payest him, for all thou hast is too little for his service: Murmur not at the Service thou dost him, for thou canst never do him enough for his worthiness: Murmur not at thy want of his bounty, lest he see more thy greediness then good will. In sum, murmur not at him, not any thing that may dislike thee in him, lest God making him see thy wickedness, thy life make answer for thy folly, while continuing in thy murmuring till thy death, it carry thee headlong to the devil. Again, dost thou murmur at the Counsel, either for the power of their authority, the honour of their place, or the State of their possessions? Look back into thyself, and be ashamed of thy sin: Is not the care of the Commonwealth the course of justice, the quiet of the state, and the preservation of the whole Kingdom under God and his Majesty, in the hands of those Magistrates, whose wisdom deserveth honour, whose care deserveth praise, whose labour deserveth wealth, and whose will deserveth obedience; and canst thou (senseless wretch) fretting in melancholy, not able to discern the least part of their perfections, offend thy God, thy King, thy State, yea, thyself, and thine own Soul, with the wicked humour of Ingratitude? which grown out of Ignorance, bred in Envy, grows up in Ambition, & shall die in Ignominy: Fie upon thy inhuman Nature; that, abiding nothing that is good, dost only seed upon Evil: who being careless of order, wouldst have no Law; dissolute in thy will, wilt endure no Counsel; fond in thy wit, makest no reckoning of Wisdom: and not knowing the labour of Study, wouldst allow nothing for the Student. Oh what a common woe would be in that commonwealth, where thou shouldest have power to appoint Governors? but leave thy murmuring at them, reverence them in their places, honour them in their wisdoms, love them in their virtues, serve them in their worthiness, and obey them in their commands: lest finding thy condition, they take order with thy disposition, when to weed out such a venomous Serpent, is necessary for the preserving of better spirits: for Murmurers are like to Mutineers, where one cursed villain may be the ruin of a whole Camp; for which, if there were not Martial Law, there were no life for the Soldier, nor honour in Arms. Again, dost thou murmur at the Lawyer? oh witless creature, how wouldst thou keep thy Lands, Goods, or Houses? if there were no Law to maintain thy right? How wouldst thou have thy wrongs redressed, if there were no power of justice? How should the King govern, and the Subject be governed, but by the course of Law? And are not the judges, Counsellors, and true Administers of the Law, rather to be honoured for their learning, and rewarded for their labours, then to be murmured at for their service: But live thou within the limits of the Law, and thou wilt not murmur at their Laws: For who hateth the judge but the Thief, the Traitor, the Cosener, or the Consumer? and therefore murmur at thyself, and leave murmuring at Lawyers. Again, dost thou murmur at the word of God? oh, child of the devil? is it not the key of Grace, that openeth the gate of heaven? and the lamp of Love that gives light unto the way of life? Is it not the comfort of the heart? and the food of the Soul? and being a jewel of such price, as all the world cannot purchase; a Treasure of that worth, that all the world cannot value: a joy of that Nature, that doth ravish the Souls of the Elect: What shall I say to thee? But, thou art a Devil incarnate, that so far from the Spirit of Grace, canst be ungrateful for so gracious a blessing, or murmur at so glorious a gift of Mercy: for to scorn the tidings of Salvation, is to hasten the way unto Damnation? Note, what it is to murmur, and the estate of Murmurers. Coran, Dathan, and Abiram, murmured at Moses: what became of them? The earth swallowed them. Pharaoh murmured at the Israelites: What was his reward? Drowned with all his host in the red Sea. joseph's brethren murmured at him: what became of them? They became all his Servants. Saul murmured at David's ten thousands: What was his end? He killed himself. judas murmured at the Box of Oil, that was poured on Christ's head: What was his reward? He hanged himself. Take heed therefore, murmur not at the Word, nor at the will of God, lest thy reward be with the Reprobate: For if thou murmur at God, the Devil will meet with thee; if thou scorn the Word of God, wickedness will follow thee; if thou murmur at the grace of God, Hell will gape to receive thee. Leave therefore thy murmuring at God, his Word, his Grace, or his Will, least with Lucifer, thou be thrown out of Heaven with Cain be accursed, or with Esau lose thy blessings on the Earth; and learn with Abel to serve God, with Abraham to believe in God, with David to love God, with job to fear God, with Moses to honour God, and with Christ to obey God; and then shall the Devil have no power to make thee murmur at God. But let me come to particulars; Dost thou murmur at this man, or that man, for this cause, or that cause? Oh unhappy wretch, how dost thou trouble thyself? Call thy wits a little better together, and weigh thy thoughts in an even Balance: If thou be wiser then another, that is preferred before thee, it may be he is more Honourable: If thou be more Noble, he may be more wise: If thou more learned, he more valiant: If thou more valiant, he more wealthy: If thou more wealth, he more honest; If thou hast a good face, he may have a better body; if thou a good body, he a better face; if thou a good face and body, he a better wit; if thou a better wit, he a better heart; if thou an honest heart, yet he a more gracious Soul: and therefore, if another be advanced, and thou displaced, have patience, and murmur not; for, what knowest thou whether God will bless his humility, and correct thy pride, or make him swell till he burst, and make a trial of thy love in the truth of thy patience▪ But let me see with thy murmuring, what manner of man he should be, whom thou wouldst have moulded to thy mind; if thou be tall of stature, then less than thou, are dwarves; if low of stature, them tall men are Cyants; if of a mean stature, then that is the best proportion: So that except all be as thou art, thou wilt find fault with God in his Creation, or Nature in her Generation, or (through lack of wit) with Fortune, in her Indiscretion, in preferring such before thee, as thou fond thinkest should come behind thee: when, if thou hadst thine own eyes, thou shouldest see in the glass of Truth so many imperfections in thyself, as in the conceit of unworthiness, might make thee rather come behind many, then go before any, and rather grieve at thyself, then murmur at an other: art thou finical & fantastical? and wouldst have a man to thine own mind? what manner of man shall he be? shaped like a picture? countenanced like a Bride? and talk like a Player? oh fine fool, how thou wouldst have the sign of a man stand for a man? and if thou be such a one, wouldst thou have all like thyself? alas, the world is so full of fools already, that there is no need of any more of them: and therefore leave thy murmuring, and fall to some better reckoning, lest thy account come to worse than nothing, and while thou art wise in thine own conceit, there may be more hope of a fool then of thee: dost thou murmur to see a traveler advanced for his virtue, while thou art forgotten for thy service? perhaps his knowledge is more worth than thy toil, and he hath taken pains, while thou hast lived at ease: art thou a travailer, and murmurest at the home servant? perhaps, he hath gotten more wealth at home, than thou abroad, and taken pains at home, while thou hast had pleasure abroad; and what knowest thou, whether the wisdom of State, or rather the will of God, think it necessary, to make a Trial of thy condition, ere they reward thy deserts: for advancement may be a hurt to Ambition, while humility begins her heaven in this world. Murmur not therefore at the good of another, nor grieve at the nature of thine own Cross: for, when patience doth kindly carry it, it is the best badge of a Christian; and dost thou murmur to see one of base Lineage come to honour, while thou livest in disgrace? Take heed that he be not the first, and thou the last of a Noble House, and rather learn to thrive by his virtue, then continue thy decay by thine own folly. In sum, leave thy murmuring at the will of God, or the welfare of any man, or at thine own woe; for God hath his working in all things, and if thou wilt be one of his children, thou must lovingly allow of what he doth. But now, as to men, let me a little speak to women. Dost thou being fair, murmur at the preferment of a foul one, and in thy rage call her foul dowde? Alas, think Fortune had need to do somewhat for her, when Nature is so little her friend. Again, it may be her inward virtue might be of more worth than thy forced Beauty. Art thou a foul one? and murmurest at the advancement of a fair creature? and in distemper of thy brain, call her Picture? Fie upon thee, so shalt thou be no man's meat, foul without and within: for the evil mind is more foul, than the blackest face; and if she be virtuous with her beauty, is she not then worthy of Honour? Again, dost thou murmur at the wealth of another, while thou art in poverty? why, it may be thou knowest not how she gets it, & perhaps, thyself wouldst not so have it: dost thou murmur, that she is more suedto by Lovers? why, it may be she is loved for change, and thou for choice: dost thou murmur at her that hath more children than thou? perhaps thou deservest them not, or it may be God doth not bless thee to thy desire. Rather pray therefore then murmur, lest a worse plague befall thee: dost thou murmur to see a wicked wench put thee down in preferment? what dost thou know whether she have her heaven in this world, which thou seekest not, or begin her hell, ere she came at it? again, it may be, her repentance may be gracious, when thy pride may be odious: And therefore be she fair or foul; wise, or fond; wealthy or poor; godly, or wicked, Murmur not at any whatsoever she be, in what state soever thou thyself be: lest, in fretting at others fortune, thou consume thyself with folly, while he that hateth the grudging heart, plague home the Spirit of malice: but leaving women as the weaker vessels, let me come again to men, that should have the stronger spirits, to withstand the power of Impatience. Note, I say, first of murmuring, how many incontieniences do grow to the Murmurer himself, and then, to other, by his means; and again, how great are the comforts of the contrary: Murmuring troubleth the mind, disquiets the heart, distempereth the body, and sometime breeds the consumption of the purse; it forgetteth reason, abuseth nature, showeth disloyalty, displeaseth a friend, and doth purchase an enemy: it carrieth wit from reason, Reason from Grace, and Nature from her self, yea & sometime, man, even from God to the Devil: while patience enduring those perplexities, that put reason to his best power; nature is not distempered, reason not abused, grace is embraced, and God is truly honoured, the league of amity is continued, the law of nature is not broken; Truth is gracious, and the soul is blessed, where the body is not distempered, nor the mind disturbed, the creature is most able to give glory to his Creator: Note then the differences of these two natures: Murmuring, a horrible vice, and patience a heavenly virtue; do but think on the fruit of murmuring, and the condition, and end of murmurers, rages, frettings, wars, death, poverty, sickness, and sorrow, while the child is sick of the father, the wife of the husband, the brother of the sister, and one friend of another; what massacre, or murder hath there grown, but through the invention of murmuring, and the malice of murmurers? look a little, if thou be a murmurer, of what kind thou art, and who thou art, and so note the condition of thy nature, or nature of thy condition. If thou be a man, and murmurest against God, thou art a Devil; if thou be a Subject, and murmur against thy King, thou art a Rebel; if thou be a Son and murmur against thy father, thou showest a bastard's nature▪ If thou murmur against thy Brother, an unkind nature; if against thy friend, an unthankful nature; if against an honest man, an unhonest nature; if against a fool, an unwise nature; if against a Christian, a heathenish nature; if against a man, a dogged nature. Thus thou seest by murmuring what thou shalt be esteemed of God and man, yea, and in thine own conscience, of thyself, either a Fool, a Knave, a Heathen, a Bastard, a Traitor, a Dog, of a Devil: and dost thou then see the villainous nature and condition of this quality, and wilt not leave it? take heed lest if thou continue in it, that God will hate thee for it, do not send thee to the devil with it, who was the first Author, and is the continual nourisher of it. Again think with thyself, when another man shall find thee in thy murmuring, either by thy discontentive countenance, or soletarie delight, sequestering thyself from men, to converse with the Air, how great will be thy shame to hear the skoffing, that will fall upon thy folly? Some will say thou art mad, other, thou art foolish, another thou art dogged, but no man, that thou art either wise, kind, or well in thy wits: Again, when thou hast revealed thy folly to the world, and fretted thyself to the heart, with the humour of an evil spirit, and yet art never the better any way, but many way a great deal the worse, what canst thou think of thyself? but fret that thou diddest fret? blush at thy shame? grieve at thy folly, and murmur at thyself, that thou didst murmur at thyself or any other, while repentance which bringeth sorrow, is the best fruit of such a frenzy: Again, when thou shalt see the patience of another blessed, and thy murmuring accursed, an others patience enriched, and thy impatience impoverished, an others patience advanced, & thy murmuring disgraced, what canst thou think of it? but a Canker eating into thy Soul worse than any Fistula in thy flesh: pray then to the heavenly Surgeon for a plaster of patience, with the oil of true repentance to cure thee of this disease, which in the world, at least, by all the Art of the World is Incurable: wilt thou see a murmurer truly described? that thou mayest the better hate to be his image: Behold his Eyes, like a hog, ever bend downwards as if he were looking into Hell: his cheeks like an anatomy, where the flesh from the bones doth fall, with fretting; his brows ever wrinkled with frowns, to show the distemper of his unquiet Brain; his lips ever pulled inward, as if Envy would speak, and durst not; his tongue, like the sting of a Serpent, which uttereth nothing but poison; his voice, like the hissing of an Adder, which maketh music but for hell; his neck, like a weak pillar, whereon his head stands tottering, and ready to fall; his breast like an impostume, that is ready to burst with corruption; & his heart, the anvil whereon the devil frames his firework; his body a Trunk where Sin hath laid up her store; his hands like claws, that catch at the world; and his feet like wings, that make haste unto hell: Now, dost thou behold this ugly sight? and dost not fear to be such a monster? what shall I then say unto thee, but if God have given thee over to a reprobate sense, there is no reason to be had with thee, nor hope of recovery to be had of thee; but, hoping a little better in thee, let me go a little further with thee: The word of God saith Beati pacifici, blessed are the peace makers, think than it is a work of the Devil to sow sedition, and being at war with thyself; how canst thou be at peace with the world, except it be the good war betwixt the spirit and the flesh, where the peace of conscience overcomes the trouble of conceit; by patience is the Soul possessed, which is more worth than the whole world, and by murmuring is the soul lost, which gone, what is the gain of the world? Is it not strange that all the parts and the members of the body, can so well agree together, and one do service to another, and men, the parts and members of a commonwealth, should be so at variance among themselves? In the body of man, if the head ache, the heart is not well, if the Eye be hurt, the head is distempered, the heart is diseased, and all the body is the worse, if the finger be hurt, the head will seek to help it, the heart hath a feeling of it, the Eye will pity it, and the feet will go for ease for it; if the foot be hurt, the Head, Heart, and Hands will seek for cure of it, while the Eye will be careful to look to the dressing of it; If the body be diseased, the head with all the members will labour for the help of it, that all parts being in their perfect state, the mind or Soul may be at rest: & if in this private body of man, all things be brought unto this good order, what shame is it for a commonwealth, that men should be so out of order? and while all parts of the body are at the service of the head, to the great peace of the heart, why should not all Subjects join together in unity of service to their King, to the great and blessed peace of the whole Kingdom? God made all the parts of the body for the Soul, and with the Soul to serve him, and all the Subjects in a Kingdom to serve their King, and with their King to serve him. If the head of the body ache, will not the heart be greatly grieved? and every part feel his part of the pain of it? and shall a King in his will be displeased, and the heart of his kingdom, the hearts of his Subjects, not have a feeling of it? Can the Eye of the body be hurt, or grieved, and neither the head, heart, nor any other member be touched with the pain of it? No more can the Counsel, the Eye of the common wealth be disturbed; but the King will find it, and the Commonwealth will feel it; can the hand, the Artificer, be hurt? but the commonwealth will find the lack of it, the Eye with pity will behold it, and the head with the eye, the King with the Counsel take care for the help of it? Can the labourer, the foot be wounded? but the body of the State will feel it, the head be careful, the eye searchfull, and the hand be painful in the cure of it? and the commonwealth? the body be diseased, but the King, his Counsel, and every true Subject, will put to his hand for the help of it? how then grows this murmuring at the will of God in men? while there is such an agreement of the parts in man, but only by the work of the devil in man, to bring him from God and the world, to work against himself, his service in the world, and as he taught it first our parents to bring them out of paradise, so he will as many as he can of their posterity, to lead them into Hell: But let me tell thee, it is better that a few murmurers perish with their murmuring, than a whole kingdom perish with their malice: In the holy word I find written; If thine Eye offend thee, pull it out; if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: better to enter into heaven with one hand, or one eye, then with both into hell. But all this while, there is nothing spoken of the head, that must still be kept on: so if a great man, or a mean man do offend, cut him off, or cut him short, that he may do no hurt; for better a member perish, than the head or the heart should ache, then either the King, or the commonwealth should be diseased: but for the King howsoever he be disposed, he must not be disturbed: for it is written, Touch not mine anointed, and do my Prophets no harm: again, transgression is as the sin of witchcraft; and what greater transgression, than Rebellion? which chiefly hath her breeding in murmuring. If thou hast a cruel & wicked King, take him for a punishment, and pray for his amendment; but murmur not at his power: but if thou hast a good King, take him as a blessing; and having a good King, be thankful to God for him, & for his prosperity, serve him, love him, & obey him, & hate thyself to have a thought of murmuring against him, or any thing commanded by him: look a little more into thy glass of murmuring, & see (if at last thou hast the least spark of God's grace) what thou beholdest: God in the heavens frowning upon thee, his angels either murmuring for thee, or ready to plague thee, his servants on the Earth hating thee, and the devil with his angels ready to destroy thee; thy Soul made a Receptacle of sin, thy mind made a torment to thy Soul, thy heart made a grief to thy body, and every part of thy body out of temper: while being driven out of the ground of all goodness, Thou shalt be left in the maze of all wickedness, where, losing the hope of all comfort, thou shalt live in the hell of all misery; yet, a little look further into thyself, and into the vileness of thy nature, if it be touched with that infection: If the weather please thee not, thou wilt murmur at the heavens: if the world go not with thee, thou wilt murmur at the world; if thy friend rebuke thee, thou wllt murmur at his care of thee: If thine enemy overcome thee, thou wilt murmur at his fortune; If thy Father be aged, thou wilt murmur at his life; If thy brother be thine elder, thou wilt murmur at his Inheritance; If thy neighbour grow rich, thou wilt murmur at his prosperity; If a Stranger be favoured, thou wilt murmur at his grace, if a Beggar be relieved, thou wilt murmur at his Alms; and if a godly man be beloved, thou wilt murmur at God's blessing; If thou be a woman, or a womanish man, then how many things will trouble thee? thou wilt murmur at fashions, colours, toys, tricks, words, gestures, and a world of such idle fancies, when always the other is the best, & nothing pleaseth but variety: he, or she hath the best face, the best eye, the best hand, the best leg, the best body, or the best foot, speaks best, hath the best countenance, sings best, dances best, rides best, feeds fineliest, goes gayest, hath apparel the best made, and wears it best: & thus all is best where there is none good; while, that, which should be best, serves God best, is not spoken of: for indeed, who serveth God best, will not let his spirit be led away with these idle humours: dost thou then see the folly of this murmuring, and the hurt of so great a poison? seek the cure of it by prayer, & keep it from thee by patience; lest if it once get hold of thy heart, it breed a cureless wound in thy Soul: If thou be a king, keep thy seat; If a Courtier, know thy place; if a Scholar ply thy book; if a Soldier, look to thine honour; If a merchant, take thy fortune; if a farmer follow thy plough; if a beggar, fall to prayer▪ but murmur not, oh King, if thou be not an Emperor; nor courtier if thou have not grace; nor Scholar if thou want preferment; nor Soldier if thou lose thy day; nor Merchant, if thou loose goods; nor farmer, if thou lose thy labour; nor beggar if thou get bare alms: but murmuring at God's will; take heed that thou lose not thine own soul, more precious to thee, than the whole world: Is it not strange to see the insensible Creatures, what a concord there is, and among the Creatures of best sense, so great a disagreement: In music the Treble is the highest, and the base the lowest; the Tenor and Counter-Tenor between them: yet though every one hath his place, when they are in their full concord, they make the sweetest harmony: so in a Kingdom: a King is the highest, and the labourer the lowest: (I leave out the Beggar as an unnecessary member, but only for the exercise of Charity) burr, betwixt the King and the labourer, there are Counsellors, Preachers, Lawyers, Soldiers, Merchants, and Artificers, and when all these together in due allegiance to their King, do true service unto God, how excellent a music is the sound of peace in such a kingdom: If the strings be out of tune, the music will be harsh, and if the people be out of order, the State cannot be in peace: Think then, if among these insensible Creatures be such an unity as is most pleasing, why should not among men be so great an union? that may be as well pleasing as profitable? we can be contented with the gold of India, the Sugar of Barbary, the oil of Candie, the Spices of Spain, the wine of France, and so, of other things, of other Countries, to mingle with our own, to make a medicine for the comfort or preservative of our bodies, & can we not unite unto ourselves, a people so like ourselves, & so near unto ourselves, as might be to us as ourselves; if we would look with the eye of Charity, what blessing doth grow of love: nothing did part our land, but a little water, and nothing can part our love, but a little will: but, as it may be said, of a more wilful than wise man, who having a coat made all of one piece, was persuaded by a Tailor to have it cut in pieces, and wear guards upon the seams; only to set himself on work, and make again of the shreds, giving that part another name, then before it had, that was new set on again; So, I may say, this Land, once all one, and by what persuasion, I know not cut off, was so long guarded, that it seemed to be of some other stuff, than the whole piece, till it pleased God by the great power of his Grace, in the Majesty of our King to bring both Lands again into one: which done, it now resteth, that the guards taken away, no seam of dissevering be to be seen▪ but, the Lands, as one piece of Earth, enlarging the bounds of one Kingdom, the people be united in that union, that, to avoid ambition, there be no dissension, and to maintain an unity, there be no Rebellion: for, as there is one God, one King, and one kingdom: so, there should be one law, one love, and one life, one voice, one heart, and one people: to the contradiction whereof, when all reasons are alleged, it is only lack of love, that hindereth the heaven of such a happiness; But, what ever thou be, that murmurest at this motion, let me say unto thee, as the poor woman of Ireland says to her dead husband: oh man, man, why didst thou die? Thou hadst cows, and thou hadst a horse; thou hadst a sword, and a shirt of male, and why wouldst thou die? so thou hast a good King, a sweet Country, a kind people, and a blessed peace, and why dost thou murmur? dost thou fear to have many friends? then get the among enemies, art thou unwilling to have many neighbours? then live among strangers: dost thou love no Christians, then devil among Turks; or dost thou love no men? then live among Devils; or dost thou love no house but home? make thy grave in thy bed; wilt thou eat no meat but milk? Baby, suck thy damn, till thou be a dizzard; wilt thou abide no company, but thine one kindred? lap thyself in thy mother's apron; or dost thou doubt thy neighbour will overthrow thee? oh, let not lack of wit so deceive thee: for if God hath not so blest thee, as to make thee know what is good for thee, thou needest nothing more than thyself to undo thee: consider therefore of every thing, if thou canst in the best kind, and make thy construction with that care, that God first may be pleased, thy King obeyed, thy Country benefited, and thyself contented: That when the murmuring of malice is put away, and patience hath brought peace into thy bosom, thy heart may find the happiness of that blessing, that thy Soul may be joyful to behold where, the people united, God is served, the Kingdom preserved, & the State most blessed, where such a peace is applauded. The Seas are a brickwall unto our Earth, to keep it from the enemies, & shall we within our land be at wars within ourselves? or shall we make a show of love in our words, and harbour hatred in our hearts? or shall we be borne neighbours, & live as strangers? God forbid: let not the Devil so work among the servants of God, to cross the course of such a peace, as is so much to God's glory: Our heavenly master Christ jesus king of kings, wore his coat without a Seam, and our King would have his Kingdom without a Severance: It is the word of Christ; that when a kingdom is divided in itself, it cannot stand: If therefore we will be christians; we must follow Christ; if we will be subjects, we must obey our King; if we will stand, we must not be divided: For example, to allege ancient histories offorrain Princes, at least a far of is needles, when near hand before our Eyes that cannot deceive our judgements: how grew the wars in the Low Countries? but, by the malice of murmurers? how grew the massacres in France? but, by the division of the Princes, and noble houses; and how many broils have been betwixt Scotland & us, while we were in the State of division? Again, how strong are the States where they are united in the Low Countries, how is France enriched by his peace? and how are we; or at least may be with GOD'S blessing strengthened by this union? Esope telleth a pretty tale to this purpose: That a Father having many sons often disagreeing, and as it were at jar one with another, called them before him, and caused every one to bring unto him, a little rod, or wand, which taken of them, he bound them up altogether in one bundle; which made fast with a band, he gave to every one of his sons, one after another to break; which they found impossible: whereupon the Father took out every rod, and gave one to each one of his sons to break, which was quickly performed: Now quoth the father, ye see my sons of what a strength is love, where hearts are united together; for as these wands, so are ye; strong when ye are knit together in the band of brotherly love, & weak and to be broken, when you are divided one from another▪ Surely so it may be said of us: If we be united, and knit together in the band of brotherly love, our strength will be great to withstand our enemies; but if we fall at variance, what peace can continue betwixt us? nay what hurt shall we do unto ourselves, while the enemy will be ready to invade us? It is written. O quam bonum et jucundum? fratres concordare in unum? Oh how blessed a thing it is brethren to agree in unity? Are we not all brethren in Christ? brethren in respect of our near birth? brethren in our language? & is it not possible for our lives to make us brethren in loves? Let us see, where is the fault, what is the cause? and why it should take place? In God? no, he loveth unity: In the King? no, he would have an Union: In the Subjects? noe, they would be obedient to their King: In the Godly? noe, they would be obedient to GOD'S will: In whom then? Surely in none, except in some private persons for some private causes, to some private ends: oh than those private persons are not for the public weal: those private causes for no common good, and those private ends, are for no godly end, but hoping there are none such: I speak to none, but wish all well, that all may be well: Is not our Religion all one? and shall we differ in Ceremonies? and if our Laws were all one, should we differ in the execution? our earth all as one, and shall we then differ in nature? what should be the cause? but this; while God is working, and the King is willing, the Devil is stirring, and man is striving, but, God is above the Devil, and a King is above his kingdom; and while God is God, and the King gracious, though the Devil be wicked, let not man be wilful. A true loves knot is long in knitting, when both ends must meet in the midst: but once well put together, it is both fair and fast: So, an union of people is long a working, but once sast linked in jove, where far and near meet in the midst of a good mind, how beautiful is such a peace, where the people are so blessed? let then all murmurers be shut out from the sound of such a Parley, where wisdom may show her grace in the work of such a worth for it must be that our King▪ and theirs, is, and must be (and ever I pray God be) all one: our Religion and theirs one: and our laws and theirs all one: else how can there be love in our lives? or union in our hearts? but I hope, that God who did create our hearts by his will, will so work our hearts to his will, that we shall not serve from his will: but as he hath made all into one kingdom; so we shall be all as one people, with one voice praising God, with one heart serving one King, and with one love, embracing one another: Many little birds fly together in one flock, many kinds of cattle feed in one field: many kind of sheep lie together in one fold, and shall two neighbour borne Children, not live together in one love? God forbid: It is an old saying, and ever true, Concordia paruae res crescunt, discordia maxima dilabuntur: by Concord small things prove great, by discord the greatest do decay: Two little Lands have made a great Kingdom, and shall one great people be little in love? God forbid: The Lands were divided, and are united; and if the people may be united, let them not be divided: Division breeds Ambition, Emulation, and faction, and what are the fruits of these frenzies? how many kingdoms to their great misery have tasted? but union breeds love Charity, & faith, of which blessings what are the benefits, what kingdom may not be glad to taste? A King of a divided people may have power in his sword, but a king of union may rejoice in his Sceptre: a people divided may be grievous to themselves, but a people united may be pleasing to God: division is the cause of destruction, and union of Comfort: compare them then together, & see which is to be accepted: division breeds fear, and jealousy; union breeds the resolution and trust: division breeds war and hatred; union breeds peace and love: division breeds dearth, and danger; union plenty, and safety; division breeds malice and murder: union breeds love, and life: division breeds grief and sorrow, union breeds mirth and Comfort: Think then upon the venom of the one, and the virtue of the other; and if thou be not senseless of thine own good, run not headlong upon thine own ill: desire not rather to live in the hateful nature of division, then to be linked in the lively knot of union; lest the God of love that offers it, and thy loving King, that desireth it, both hate thee for refusing it, and deny thee it when thou wouldst have it: The Tower of Babel could not be builded, when the languages were divided: Jerusalem went to ruin when the Princes were divided, Rome hath been shaken since Religion hath been divided: Antwerp hath been decayed, since the States were divided: France was impoverished, when the Nobles were divided, and England was disturbed, when Scotland was divided: but now the Lands all bearing one name, the Subjects all one, under one King, the laws all tending to one end; why should not the Nations be all one people? Flowers grow sweetly together, Trees bear fruit naturally together, fishes swim friendly together, birds sing merrily together; & beasts seed quietly together, and is it not then a shame for men, that we cannot live lovingly together? a drop of water is weak, but many drops of water will drive a mill: a spark of fire is little, but many sparks together, will make a fire to consume a whole Country: a corn of powder is little, but a great many together will discharge a great shot: a herring is a small fish, but a skull of them together will overthrow a pretty ship: a pike is a small weapon, yet a stand of them being together will overthrow a great troup: and a man is a small Creature; but where men hold together, what monster can hurt them? So these Lands being one land, and the people one people; what kingdom can annoy us? no let us say, and if we be ourselves, to ourselves, and in peace among ourselves, and that our God be with us; neither the world nor the Devil can hurt us: But if there be a breach in a bank, the Sea breaks in, & overflows the Land: If there be a breach in a furnace, the fire will burst out, and burn the whole house: If there be a breach in a wall, the Boar will break in, and spoil the whole vineyard: If there be a breach in a hedge, the cattle will break in and eat up the grasses if there be a breach in a Fort, the enemy will enter and sack the Town: if there be a breach among pikes, the horsemen will break in, and ruin the Camp: If there be a breach in a conscience, Corruption will get in, and kill the whole man: & if there be a breach of love in the hearts of a people, the enemy will take advantage for the invasion of the kingdom. See then, and consider how dangerous a thing is division, and how safe an assurance is unity; and take the best, and leave the worst; and so shall none of your pales be broken▪ oh heavens, what a hell is this in the world? that men should live so like Devils one one with another: It is written that a man should be as a God unto man, but it may be written, that man is, or at least many men are, as Devils unto men: where there are so many murmurers, that there can be few lovers; the rich man murmurs at the poor man, that he should dwell nigh him: the Usurer murmurs at the Broker; that he g●●eth any thing by him: the Tradesman murmurs at his neighbour, that he should prosper or thrive by him: the Lawyer murmurs at the Term that it is so short a harvest for him: The Merchant murmurs at the winds, that his Ships come not home to him: the Soldier murmurs at the paymaster, that he keeps his money from him: The Courtier murmurs at his Tailor, that his clothes are not fit for him: The Minister he murmurs at the Parson, because he hath the greatest profit from him: and the Parson murmurs at the parish, that they come not to Church to pay their duties to him; and the parish murmurs at the Parson, that they pay so much, for so little pains from him: the Tenant murmurs at his Landlord for racking of his rent: the Landlord murmurs at his Tenant to see him thrive by his husbandry. In sum there is almost no profession or condition wherein one doth not murmre at an other; which murmuring while it continueth in the hearts of people, it will suffer love to have no life among them: but were the world purged of that malicious humour, than would there be as great a heaven, as thereiss now a hell in the world; where love should establish such a Law, as should never be broken: among men; do not two Eyes in one head, two hands, and two legs to one body make one man; and shall not two lands make one kingdom; nay more; doth not one Eye the same that the other, the one hand, the same that the other, and shall not one people so near another, as one member is to another, have one will, one law, and one love one with another? It is strange it should be so, But I hope it will be otherwise; God will have his will, and our good King his will: in this work of GOD'S will, every good Christian, and good Subject will give his good will to Gods and our Kings will; against which, if any shall murmur, God will be displeased that the King is not obeyed; the King will be displeased, that God is not obeyed: the Counsel will be displeased, that God and the king are not obeyed: the court will be aggrieved to see God, the king, and Counsel displeased: and the Commonwealth will have a common woe, when all these are displeased. Look therefore betimes to this business, detract no time for this dispatch, suppress the power of the devils pride; and plant in your hearts that grace of humility, that in the life of true love, may bring forth fruit to God's glory. Break an Angel, and you shall have loss in the metal; break a Cup, and you shall have loss in the fashion; break a Glass, you shall lose the fashion and the metal; break wedlock, and you lose your credit; break the Law, and lose your liberty; break Love, and lose the joy of life: But keep your Coin whole, and it will go currant; keep your Cup whole, and you shall save the fashion; keep your Glass whole, and you shall save metal and fashion; keep your wedlock from breaking, and save your credit from cracking; keep your Law from breaking, and your love will be great; keep your Love from breaking, and your lives will be blessed: Divide the head, & the Brains will come out; divide the Body, and the heart will come out; divide the Mind, & the wits will come out; divide the Wits, and the wills come out; and divide the Wills, and the woes come out▪ but keep the head whole, and the Brains will be the better; keep the Body whole, the heart will be the better; keep the mind quiet, the wits will be the better; keep the wits in temper, the wills be the better, and keep the wills together, the commonwealth will be the better. Note therefore in all causes, & all courses, division breeds loss, grief, or sorrow: and union, gain, comfort, and joy. But I doubt I have only spoken of that which would quickly be helped, if the right way were once found: and therefore it is rather the manner, than the matter, that the workman cannot agree upon: but to help the ill hammering of a piece of work so worth the framing, let me make a comparison betwixt a house and a kingdom: There is a great Landlord will have a house builded, his will must be obeyed, he gives command unto the master workman that it be speedily performed: The master workman calls his labourers, and gives order for the work, every one in his place, and according to his quality: Now when the work is in hand, Timber, Stone, Brick, Lime, and water, Iron, Glass, and Lead, and all is ready that is necessary: If either the workmen be unwilling to work, or cannot agree upon their work, there will no house be built: But if they fall to their business, & agree upon the direction, the ●…ame will soon up: Even so the ●ord God, our Saviour jesus Christ, the great Landlord, and Lord of Heaven and Earth, will have a commonwealth builded, and his will must be obeyed: for performance whereof, he hath given commandment to his servant, and our Sovereign Lord King james in this world, under God only workmaster of this union: where if either the people be unwilling to yield unto the course or order set down by the workmaster, or among themselves disagree upon the manner of their working, whatsoever fair words be used, whatsoever good reasons be alleged, or whatsoever shows of love be made, there will be no true league of friendship, nor peace for the ground of a Commonwealth: but let the labourers be willing to be directed by their workmaster, and every one in his place, show the best of his good will; and no doubt, but such a commonwealth will be built, as while God doth bless it, all the world shall not hurt it. Consider therefore the inconveniences of division, and the comforts and commodities of union, and let not selfe-will self-will carry you away from the course of wisdom: you see, if you will still murmur against this so gracious an action, how many are against you? God himself, who loves unity: the King, who would have an union: Subjects, that love their King, and godly men that love God, for they will be obedient to his will: the flowers of the field are against you, for they will grow together; the trees, for they will bear fruit together; the fish, for they will swim together; the birds, for they will sing together: and is it not then a shame for men, that we cannot live and love together. For shame then go from yourselves unto God, and go from the Devil unto man: and in the name of God agree together; live under one God, one King, one law, and one love: so shall God best be pleased, the King best contented, the kingdom best governed, and every wise and honest man best satisfied: where living in murmuring and malcontent, God may be displeased, the king disquieted, the State disturbed; and few men but some way discontented: what shall I say, to conclude, but this? Is not union a kind of marriage, wrought by the hands of God? and performed in the hearts of his people? I say, a marriage where hearts joining hands, make two bodies as one: and is not a kind atonement, better than an unkind divorcement: let then these two kingdoms be one, marry them in love, and since our King is the Father that gives them, while God himself doth unite them, what Subject or Christian can be so ungracious, as not to give his consent to them? yea let me say with the minister in the time of marriage: if any man know any lawful, or just cause, why these two Lands, now one kingdom, should not in marriage be linked with such a love, as may make them live under one law, and devil together as one people, let him now speak, or ever hereafter hold his peace: But if there be any man, that knowing no just, nor lawful cause, will out of the malicious humour of a wicked spirit, hating to see a heavenly Action upon earth, murmur at the blessed proceeding of so gracious a work, the God of peace make him for ever hold his peace.  
Amen