ISSACHARS ass, BRAYING under a double Burden. OR, The Uniting of Churches. BY WILLIAM GVILD, MINISTER OF GODS WORD AT KING-EDWARD. Hab. 1.2. O Lord, how long shall I cry, and Thou wilt not hear! Even cry out unto Thee of violence, and thou wilt not help? Isai. 49.4. Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgement is with the Lord, and my work with my God. Aberdeen, ☜ imprinted by Edward Raban. ☞ cum PRIVILEGIO. 1622. TO THE RIGHT honourable His worshipful and worthy Parishoner, John VRQVHART, Of Craigfintrie, Craighous, Creichie, Lumford, Lathers, and Lethintie: Tutor Of Cromertie, &c. And his most virtuous and godly lady, ELIZABETH SETON, All Peace and prosperity, Health and happiness. IN these distress-full dayes ( Right Honourable) if ever the lords Watch-men, who are set up-on the walls of jerusalem, should not cease; Isai. 65.6▪ then surely now( as the Prophet exhorteth) those that are mindful of the LORD, should not keep silence, when the kirk of CHRIST is not only by open cimnies assaulted abroad, Psal. 55.12. Genes. 25.22. for( with David) that shee could bear, and hid herself from those that avowedlie hate her, and magnify them-selves against her: but as a dolorous Rebecca, complaining, Why am I thus? shee bath an in-ward struggling within her womb at home: and the egyptian not only striveth with the Israelite, Exod. 2.11 but as that royal Psalmist complaineth of his very familiar, in whom he trusted, that he rose up against him; and of his companion, and acquaintance, Psal. 41.9 who went with him to the House of GOD together; that even he reproached him, and was his adversary. Even so, that glorious Profession of the truth, which wee have taken up-on us, and the true Spouse of CHRIST, hath not found amongst most professed Opposites, those that have been to her( as Esau his Wyves were to his Mother) greater grief of heart, and hurtfuller enemies, Gen. 26.35 than those whom most tenderly shee nursed, and did owe un-to her a filial duty, and not a Foe-lyke dealing: and in place where-of, as in sundry sorts shee hath found of late, their unnatural wounding, and cursed under-myning. So to the shane of our Nation, and scandal of Religion, that of the uniting of Kirkes hath not been the least: and where-in even Kirke-men( as Iudas did in the death of CHRIST) had the chiefest hand, and are stained there-by with the most odious guilt: So that( as in Zedekiah's time) it may bee justly said, Chron. 36 That the chief also and of the people trespassed herein wonderfully: their Eyes, and their Heartes,( as saith the Prophet) being only for their covetousness: 〈◇〉. 22.17. And there-fore no marvel that wrath and the woeful day bee imminent above the Land, and that wormwood bee prepared as Meate, and the Water of gull as drink: For in the lords own House hath he found this wickedness: and from the very Prophets is wickedness gone forth in the land, whose course hath been evil, and their force not right. Sam. 24. It smote the tender Conscience of David, that he cut only a lap from Saul's Garment: Sam. 24. and he would no wise drink of that Water out of the Well of Bethlehem, which was gotten with the hazard only of the corporal lives of a few. But( alace) to cut off, by that woeful privilege and Practise of uniting, so many of GODS Houses, destinating them to ruin, after robbery; and to drink and eat that which most sacrilegiouslie is gotten not with the hazard only, but the apparent loss of the Soules-lives of many, in these remote united Parishes: as a Cage is full of birds, so filling their Houses with Deceit: what Conscience, yea, what cruelty, sheweth it? Or what Wrath and Vengeance shall it procure? surely, like the trespass of judah, this sin is written with a pen of iron before the LORD, 〈◇〉. 17. 〈◇〉. 5. and with the point of a Diamont. And shall not he visit for these things( saith the LORD?) Or shall not His soul bee avenged on such a Nation as this? These small pains, there-fore( Sir) which I have taken, in taxing this sin, and the discovery there-of, to bear record, jer. 6.17. jer. 88. And 6.29. Amos, 6.12 that( as the Prophet saith) the Watch-men have warned, and said, Take heed to the sound of the Trumpet; all the men would say, Wee will not take heed: and that the pen of the Scribes bee frustrate, or the bellows bee burnt, the led bee consumed in the Fire, and that the Founder hath melted in vain. As I have directed my speech to the lords Vice-gerent, and moaned to him who best can mend the Wrong; So( Sir) I have dedicated the same to you, my most worthy and ever-honoured Parishoner; as one who is freest of any of your rank or Rent in the whole kingdom from any sacrilegious guiltiness: and who ever hath abhorred, in all your earthly conquests, where-with the LORD hath greatly blessed you,( that same GOD grant you still an humble and thankful Heart there-fore) from meddling with the Tithes of any, enhancing Patronages,( the High-way now to become Master of other mens Tithes) or having the least entres in these woeful unions. And on the other part,( with-out assentation to speak, and for your further encouragement to go on) with howe bountiful and cheerful mind you have bestowed up-on the Enlarging, Decoring, and Furnishing of GODS House where your special residence is, these monuments of your pious mind, obvious to the Eyes of all, shall clearly, to GODS glory, and your due praise, give sufficient evidence to all posterity. And for myself( Sir) in particular, how constantly comfortable I have found you in the discharge of my Calling ever, since the LORD laid that Burden on my weak and unworthy Shoulders; as I can not, with-out the stain of odious Ingratitude, but aclowledge, praising GOD for you: So in testimony of my most affectionate duty there-fore, I recommend this small Pamphlet un-to you: which since it came from his Majesties royal hand, with gracious approbation,( being first sent and presented un-to him in Writ) I have been solisted by sundry to put it to the press. Receive it there-fore( Sir) from the hand of one, who ever shall wish unto you and yours, the accomplishment of all true happiness: and that as GOD hath dealt many ways liberally with you in temporal benefits; so the LORD to sanctify the right use of them un-to you: and give you an holy Heart, only to bee set up-on the earnest desire of heavenly blessings: counting all things ( with the Apostle) but dung in respect of the saving knowledge of CHRIST, and to bee found in Him: Matth. 6. and laying up a Treasure for yourself( as your Saviour commandeth) in Heaven, where you may surely find it at the last day. And as these things are given you( Sir) for Love-Coardes, to draw you nearer in a thankful Heart un-to Him: So by a fruitful life, in godly and good works, 1. Tim. 6. ( as those that are rich in this world are charged to bee) testify that grace to the world, that so your age may bee as a crown of glory, being found in the way of righteousness: laying up in store for yourself a good Foundation, against the time to come; that the glory may bee the lords, the fruit and good example may redound to the survivors, and the eternal comfort and Reward of well-doing, may cleave to your soul, and your soul to the LORD. Your juleps ever in all affectionate obsequy, WILLIAM GVILD. TO THE KING HIS SACRED majesty, ISSACHARS ass, BRAYING under a double Burden. WHen old ISRAEL prophetically pronounced this doom concerning his son Issachar, Genes. 49.14. that he should bow his shoulder to bear, he likened him to a strong, or osseus, 〈◇〉, bonie ass: as needing much strength to bear a great burden. And it was thought of old, that the burden of the ministery, uni praeesse Ecclesiae, to have the charge of one kirk, & non duabus subesse Ecclesiis, and not to bee over-charged with under-going two, was such, that in the balance of the sanctuary, weigh the burden with the strength, the one surpassed the other, 〈◇〉? and who is of sufficiency for discharge of that Calling? But nowadays the cure of souls, Daniel, 5. judge. 16. is either weighed in Belshazzars balance, and found too light: or mens backs are thought like Sampsons shoulders, strong anough to bear two Kirks at once, as he carried the two posts of the gates of Azzah, to the top of the Mount which is before Hebron. A strange thing, that mens policy should so meet a Princes piety, that where he intended the bettering of the Kirks-impoverished-estate, by some competent provision, at least, to each one: If Patrons can not evite the necessity of obedience to that law of his royal Parliament, and Decreet of his honourable Commission, they shall find out such a politic course, as in effect the same shall be but frustrate, how-so-ever: for where two Kirkes are to be provided severally, getting the charges united, & making one sing dumb, they have made the poor petty portions, united together likewise, to equal that measured mean competency of provision appointed in the Act: as if bettering of provisions for several Kirkes had not been meant; but that in the kingdom the impairing of the few number, both of Kirkes and Pastors, had been intended. And making there-by some Ministers that it may bee said of them, as of Hercules Pillars, nile ultra: being life-renters only to wear off, and none there-after in those places any more to succeed them. Because( for-sooth) men are so loathe to parte with the patrimony of the Kirkes, should there-fore bee made such an illicit matrimony and conjunction, Deuter. 22.10. Nehem. 13 as is much less tolerable than with the Iewes under the Law, to have ploughed with an ox and an ass together: or a-like unlawful, as when they coupled them-selves with the Women of Ammon and Ashdod? Or should such a monstrous metamorphosis bee made, that so many Kirkes, and Congregations, which before were Substantives, and stood by them-selves, shall bee now so woeful and variable Adjectives, as a sound agreement and happy consolidation is never to bee expected, and as their ruinated Cases shall hereafter declare? Wee detested before idols in Kirkes, but wee are making now Idole-Kirkes, henceforth not to bee ob solatia vivorum, but to bee caemiteria mortuorum, the sound of Gods word no more to bee heard in their Pulpits, but of the dead tolling of the Bell at Burials in their Steeples. Gen. 26.18 As the philistines filled up Isaacks wells of springing water, which his father Abraham had digged in his time: so hereby closing up the cisterns and conduits of that still and living water which gave refreshment to the lords flock: Psalm. 23. and encroaching upon the limits of that green Pasture where-in the lords sheep were duly made to feed. As if there were no means howe the Kirkes of this kingdom here, could bee other-wise to such a mean competency of maintenance provided, out of their large and sacrilegiously detained Patrimonies, than by making the Israelite and egyptian, Exod. 2.11 who in Moses time striven together of them, killing one of them, to preserve another. judge. 12. Or as the Ephraemites, who could not so grosselie pronounce Shibboleth, but entituleth, with a smaller voice, were all slain by the Gileadites, at the passages of jordan: Even so, that all such Kirks that are not excessive in burden and bounds, and of the grossest and greatest in the Land; but of any meaner and lesser sort or size, should bee so extinguished, swallowed up, and devoured, Numb. 16.31. Gen. 41.17 Matth. 13 12. 2. Sam. 7. as with Korabs punishment, or Pharaohs dream, they should symbolise, men miss-construing herein( as seemeth) the words of our Saviour, That to him that hath, more shall bee given: and from him who hath not, even that which he hath shall bee taken from him. David, when he sate in his house, and had rest given him round about, from all his enemies, did advice to build Gods House: So his peace bread him piety; and his rest, religion. But it is contrary with us: our peace hath bread such policy, and the fruit of our rest, is the robbery first, and next, the ruin of GODS House, counting Kirkes to bee like Esau to us, Genes. 25. not to bee Planters, but Supplanters there-of: Contracters, and not In-largers of the kingdom of CHRIST. And thus( as the Prophet Micah saith) the great man spake out of the corruption of his soul, and so they wrapped it up. Micah. 7.3 But assuredly, such Appendices as they have made many Kirkes of, will bee seen at length, never to have proceeded of a good Thesis: neither will ever such a perilous Copulative Conjunction, do what they list, admit of, nor take places in a good Construction. Before Pastors were impoverished, 1. Pastors made fewer. Genes. 37. and now shall their number thus bee diminished? The kirk first stripped( like joseph) of her coat, which should warm her: and next, of her Watch-men, which should arm and defend her: under pretence of some Restitution of means, to make her woefullie destitute of Men: Is not this the vilest sort of sacrilege? Or how far is it from the practise of julian in likeness, qui extinxit non solum Praesbyteros, said Praesbyterium. 2. Advantage to seducers. 2. Sam. 24. And how agreeable this Syncope, or Contraction, is now to piety, or Reason, may bee clearly discerned, that when not only the sheep of the lords Pasture are increased, and the People( as in David's time) are multiplied exceedingly; but the number also of the Wolves, who assault the lords flock, daily like-wise groweth: and the Foxes, who destroy the Vines, even the Vines which have small Grapes:( to wit, Cant. 2.15. simplo and unlearned Christians.) Should then the number of the careful and watchful shepherds, bee diminished, and made fewer? It was the Precept of our Saviour, because the Harvest was great, Matth. 9.37. and the Labourers were few, That wee should pray the Lord of the Harvest, to thrust out many faithful Labourers in-to His Harvest. But to this Precept of His our practise nowadays is flat contrary, and contradictour: yea, absurd, and against common Reason, where much work is, there fewer workmen to bee. It was Pharaoh's working-wiselie( indeed) to augment the Israelites task, and to impair their strength, and means to perform the same. Exod. 1.10 But such policy, being void of piety, did procure plagues only, and drew on misery. And as the kirk, to the great advantage of her enemies, receiveth( as is said) hereby a notable injury, what wrong is like-wise done to Learning and universities, any one may easily perceive. colleges and schools, the Seminaries of Sciences, 3. colleges hurt. and Nurseries of Religion,( like Goshen in egypt, where the light of the Land is) they shall carefully train up, and yearly send forth, a more and more numerous Off-spring, at Parentes large expenses, like Levi to bee divided in jacob, Gen. 49.7. to teach the lords judgementes, and to bee scattered in Israel, to teach the people His Law; and yet the places which they should fill, and live by, by a new practise of Annexation of Kirks, next unto Kirke-Rents, shall be occupied Titulo oneroso only, for the most parte, and taken up by others. 4. Parents discouraged. If this then bee a way, either to encourage Parentes, and hearten Youth; or a practise to replenish the schools of the Prophets hereafter: and so consequently bee profitable either to kirk or policy: or rather be not a mean to effectuate the contrary, and make Bethel a Babel, let any indifferent or pious mind judge. 5. The country harmed. The country in like-manner, howe with kirk and schools it may many ways cry out, the apparent scars of her deep in-flicted wounds shall hereafter offer them-selves conspicuous, & make the truth here-of more than clear and manifest. At the time of that Reformation of our country, where rather a Deformation was in many parts, through popular and unruelie confusion,( greed, and not godliness, possessing the mindes of many) it was not anough then, to the grief of the godly, to level with the ground, deface, and cast down Kirks thorough the Land, and other Religious places, which might have served( beside the Ornament of the country) for other better uses crying only in the language of Edom, Psal. 137.7. Levit. 14.41. Raze them, raze them, even to the foundation: as if( against the Law) the House, having the leprosy, could not be purged, but by pulling down: so that as yet in many places there remaineth but the monuments of headless fury, & sedges ubi Troia fuit: But also men nowadays, and goodly Professors( forsooth) thinking that there are too many Religious places as yet in the Land, and Houses of GODS Worship, have redacted two till one: and made there-by a second Defalcation, to abridge the sum. Cic. de divi. Lib. 1. It is reported of Hannibal, a captain of subtle policy, that he saw in a dream, being in italy, which he intended to subdue to himself, a monstrous Image appearing before him: at the sight where-of being amazed, asked what it was that so ghastlie appeared? The Image answered, Vastitas Italiae. But this Image deceived Hannibal: for after the sight of his Brothers head, sent unto him by the romans, he was forced to flee from italy to Carthage: and so frustrate of his expectation. It shall proovelyke-wyse but an unlucky prodigy to them, the devastation of their country: who by laying waste so many Kirkes of goodly and godly ornaments, shall make the same, in short time, to become like Achan or Absolons Burials: Ioshua, 7. 2. Sam. 18. heaps of Stones, here and there through the whole kingdom. Our Saviour was much moved, and as a great motive it was also used by the Elders of the Iewes, to persuade and induce CHRIST to grant the Centurions petition, and heal his servant, Luke, 7. Because he loved their Nation( said they) and had built to them a Synagogue. Where they make there this outward action a sure testimony of his sincere and in-ward affection towards their Religion. Then what can bee the affection or zeal that many Professors now bear to the Worship of GOD which they profess, when in place of building Synagogues, or Temples, and multiplying their number, where-of this kingdom standeth so much in need; they rather by such uniting have impaired the number, & exposed the edifices to ruin and contempt? Thus( as the Prophet saith) while every one of them runneth to build up his own house, and prepare Galleries syled with Cedar to himself, Agg. 2. the House of GOD is not only left, but made forsaken and desolate. civility hath ever also been seen to have been the Daughter of Religion: which as shee pointed out, Quae DEI sunt, 6. civility hindered. so likewise Quae Caesaris: teaching to bee holy towards GOD, and righteous towards Man: and so to give each one their due, and observe both Tables. And Experience hath taught, where piety hath bid Fare-well, there civility and comely policy hath, like Ruth, inseparably followed Naomi, Ruth, 1.16. 1. Pet. 2.17. and godless barbarity taken up their room. And where GOD is not feared, the King can not bee rightly honoured: for these two, like geminy, both go together: and the strongest In-forcer is known to be the Conscience: which, where it is not informed, no marvel that deformity of manners, and breach of duty bee both to GOD and Man. Now, where it was requisite then, more Kirkes for this effect in sundry partes of our country to have been erected, should such a concise abridgement of the number of these been made, which were auncientlie for several Service appointed, and had several maintenance for that cause allotted, as nowadays,( necessity flat contrary requiring) two to bee redacted to one, especially their bounds being become more habitable, and more people now in-dwelling also the same? poor people in like-manner in many places, 7. poor people and elects, both miseased, & scandalised. how they are hereby wronged, their grieved hearts furnishing matter of regrate to their plain & pleaning tongues, and their sad querimonies powred forth in-to the ears of every man, indifferently give sufficient proof: when by the toilsome labour of the six dayes commanded, their bodies being worn and wearied, they shall be made, up-on the Lords Sabbath, with grieved hearts, and grudging speeches, to pass by, and desert their own commodious and kindly Parish Kirks, where-in so frequently they had received the comfort of the Word and Sacraments; and to trudge further to these new made Mother( I had almost said Step-mother) Kirks: where, in discontenting amazement, after they have heard a Stranger-seeming voice, returning home-ward, and backe-treading their tedious and uncouth way, after mutual regrating, they may justly say, That they have gotten both Preaching and Pennance together. And what scandal and offence it is to those simplo ones, when they shal see Religion thus so little regarded by goodliest Professors, and great men of the Land, the exercises of the Worship of GOD in so many places extinguished, so many Lamps of the candlestick of the sanctuary plainly put out, Mammon to have subjected mens hearts so to her slavery, that she hath made their hands to pull down the Lords Houses, and Manour-places of His Divine Worship, the publishing of His gospel so to be confyned, the number of His Ministers so to be impaired, the Kirks patrimony, still to be retained, and now eternised, as it were, to the posterity, and in place of Restitution, Gen. 9.22. 2. Sam. 16. nothing to be either had, or heard, but mockage, or railing, as if Cham were revived, or Shimei set on foot again. If this bee not matter to scandalise weak ones:( and woe bee un-to him, who giveth offence to such:) or if this bee an examplare persuasion to such, who are given most to follow the example of their superiors, to respect Religion, to reverence the Worship there-of, to regard Pastor or Place, or to bee un-fallen away, either in error, or in mere atheism, let any one of judgement discern. Yea, I dare boldly and confidently, with conspicuousnesse of truth and equity, avouch, Where two Parishes are made one, that it had been more urginglie necessary, of such Parishes that are but one, and where-of there is a great number in the Land, a division there-of to have been made, each one in two or three competent & sufficient ample parishes at least: the most of such great parishes, rather like petty shires, or Countreyes, in their several circuits, being in the Inne-Countrey, and most populous, and best in-habited partes of the Land. In which hudge parishes of so many thousands of communicants, and of such far and large extended bounds, those that dwell in the utmost and remotest parts there-of, 1. Sam. 1.21. 〈◇〉. 2.41. are like the Iewes, who once in the year only came up from their Borders and coasts, to the Temple of jerusalem, to worship. Such is their anniversarie visiting of their parish Kirkes only: it being not a sabbath-days, but a Weeke-dayes journey, to go thither, tho not the same day to return. Ioshua, 23. And as Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, when they were dissmissed by Ioshua, and had returned to Gilead, the Land of their possession, were forced for the longinquitie, and far distance of place from Shilob, where the lords Tabernacle was, to build an Altar, for a memorial, to them-selves: even to testify, That they had parte in the GOD of Iaakob, and were not aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel. So, I say, many one, and much people, in such parishes a-fore-sayde, and in many partes of the Land, have more than great necessity, in respect of their far and remote habitations from their parish Kirkes, to have erected amongst them-selves Temples of GODS Worship, and exercise of Religion: Seeing that in most of these parishes, the poor people, otherwise remain, through want thereof, like blind Idiots, nusled up in Ignorance, and atheism: whose reuthful condition, like that Vision of the man of Macedonia, to the Apostle Paul in the acts, Acts, 16. doth plead for like aid, and in-vocateth like pity. And amongst whom, if our blessed saviour were corporally, as he was amongst the Iewes, he should bee seen with like pity, and sighs to complain, Matth. 9.36. and bewail them: because he saw them like sheep wanting a shepherd: it passing the power of any one man, tho never so diligent, to discharge a pastoral duty; no, not to the half. Hence it is, that not only, as by the Prophet the LORD complaineth, That for want of knowledge His people perish, and pitiful ignorance is seen in their minds: but also, that such barbarity and viciousness is seen in their manners. Hence it is, that more are oftentimes seen in their Kirke-yardes gazing, than with-in their thronged Kirkes gathering. Hence it is, that poor Infantes, especially in Winter season, have died with-out baptism, before that either the Pastor could bee advertised, in such a long and lingering way, up-on necessity to come; or the Infant by any means, quarter way, could bee brought. And hence it is, that many a poor soul, with-out pastoral presence, or notice, hath died with-out comfort: beside the many fayntinges of poor and sillie ones, by a wearisome way, which made CHRIST to bee compassionate towards the Multitude, Mark. 8.2. and there-fore would not send them away empty: For some of them came from afar( saith the EVANGELIST.) Where otherwise, through putting up, and not pulling down of Kirkes: raising, and not razing Christian Synagogues: pastoral duty in in-forming ignorants: Reforming the vicious: Comforting the distressed: and watching over all, should this way bee better discharged, elects and poor people more should bee eased, the country and kingdom more should bee decored, the fewer starting Holes left to the subsidiarie Seminaries of the envious Adversaries, Popple and Tares in the lords field, and the glorious gospel of IESVS CHRIST, more plenteously should abound, and shine in the Land. But what shall I say? Too doleful experience of this clayey Age, hath too well taught the facility of pulling down: but the too great difficulty in their places of putting up of Kirkes, and the Ablative, hath ever been in far easier use with us, than any ways the Dative: practising so the first parte of Zaccheus life, but not acting the last parte of his restitution: and to impede hereafter any expectation of the same; converting now, by a Retrograde, the plural number of Kirkes, in-to a simplo singular. Yea, to speak to such men, of building of Kirkes, where in such populous a-fore-sayde places there is more than need: or, as Salomons Precept is, Prov. 3.9. of honouring the LORD so with their Riches; a man shall seem to them, to bee a Barbarian, whose Language they know not: or like joseph with his Brethren, Genes. 42. as needing an Interpreter: yea, they shall think, as is said of Peter, That he wist not what he said, when on Mount Tabor he would have builded one Tabernacle to Moyses, Luk. 9.33. and one to Elias, and one to CHRIST: or as Festus objected to Paul, That too much Learning had made him mad: Acts, 26. So that they who mind such things, too much zeal hath made them frantic. But speak of casting down two Kirkes, to make up one: or annexing one unto its neighbour Parish, henceforth ever to bee but one Cure, and in sundry places: as it were alluding to trinity and unity, to cast three in one, they will strait ways applaud, with that of the Poêt, unio divina est, &c. Polion. Lib. 1. strat. It is reported of Pericles, that being asked by Alcibiades, Why so often he seemed so sad and pensive? Who answered, Because( said he) I remember up-on that Account which I have to make for that which I have received to build a porch to Minervas Temple in Athens. But howe few are now like to Pericles, who mind how much they are addebted to GOD, to build His kirk, or maintain His Service: or what Account they have to make before GOD, and His Angels, for the means which they withhold, and where-on the same should bee done? But on the contrary, make no conscience, zeale-less-lie, through greed, to ruinated those which zealously, through godliness, were formerly by others already erected. go to the Yles of Chittim, and behold: send unto Kedar, and inquire of the Nations round about, jer. 2.9. If any such thing bee done: let bee by Christians, but by very Turkes and pagans, to their Gods, as to the true GOD, whom in CHRIST wee worship a-right. What Temples, or Religious places of theirs, once dedicate, deface or expose they, to contempt, ruin, and daily decay, as name Christians nowadays, who will not only first rob the rents from them; but next( like Antiochus, Dan. 8.11. who made the daily Sacrifice of the Temple to cease) will abrogate and exile the Exercise of GODS Worship, in word and Sacramentes, out of them; and set up the Abomination of Desolation in the places where it ought not? An ill Positive( for-soothe) admitting no-where a Comparative. Let this clayey Age look back also to their Fore-fathers zeal, and bee ashamed: with their chapels with-out their Houses, and Oratories with-in: with their Kirkes piouslie respected, and their Hospitals plenteously then doted: the swarms of Kirke-men with-in Towns, 1. King. 18. Genes. 47. like Baals Prophets, sitting at plentiful Tables: and those with-out, like Aegyptes Priestes, abundantly provided for: Erecting also daily, and not, as now, dejecting, Religious Temples: and, like Nebuchadnezar, 2. Chron. 36. first spoiling the Vessels, and treasury of the Temple; and then razing the Edifices there-of: first to bee Kirke-robbers, and then, ere they restore, to bee Kirke-ruinaters. Consider also in that flourishing and reverend Neighbour kirk of ours, where far less Parishes are in sundry partes: and search as narrowly as Laban preached the stuff of Iaakob, if this bee their practise: Genes. 31 or aniewhere else, where GOD in mercy hath restored His Gospel, to bury the memory of so many ancient Kirkes, as Iaakob butted the strange Gods of his House-holde under the oak which is beside Sechem. Genes. 35. Not that anie-way I speak against such uniting as is permitted, and clearly mentionate in that Statute of Parliament: to wit, using the very words of the Act itself, Where the fruits of any one alone will not suffice to entertain a Minister: and that the rents and whole patrimony there-of are no-wayes aunswearable to the proportion of the quantity of five Chaulders victual, or five hundreth marks of Silver in yearly commodity, and value: and where for distance of place, and other lawful causes, they are not also found incommodious so to bee united. Of which sort there are few, if any, with-in the whole kingdom. But where beside distance of place, and other lawful causes, why they are incommodious, fair Parishes and famous benefice are united together, the value of the rents, fruits, and patrimony of any one where-of, will exceed far the meanest fore-saide proportion: to wit, of five Chaulders victual, or five hundreth marks Silver: yea, equal, and surmount the highest quantity: to wit, of ten Chaulders victual, or a thousand marks Silver: and double, if not triple, the same. Where such as these then are coupled together, like Ratches for the Game of Hunting, what importeth such a smothering union, but the foresaid sad sequels? Or what better fruit can such a bitter three produce, but sour Grapes, to set the Teeth on edge? And with what Eternall-lyke Prorogations, Ratifications, and Securinges,( putting from them the Day of the LORD afar) they have now fastened unto them-selves, not only their own, but even the Tithes of others also? giving a little bait, to draw on a great booty: and by a small Skirt, to assure them-selves of GODS whole coat: So that they, and not the kirk, have received the benefit. And howe Christianlie, or conscionably, they everie-where use them, every one doth know, and many one doth regrate. For I dare avow, that those who were most easily dealt with themselves in their own, are not-with-standing the sharpest Scourge of other Gentle-men for their Tithes, which they have catched of theirs in-to their hands, Genes. 37. even by an Ismaelite sort of merchandise, out of benefice, and erected Praelacies, as is matchless, and scarce would seem credible, Matth. 23. through the whole kingdom: being herein like the Pharisees, who bound full heavy Burdens on other mens Shoulders, and would not touch such them-selves with their little Finger: Or like that pardonned servant himself, Matth. 18. by his bountiful Master, who throttled his Fellow-servaunt at meeting, who was owing him but a little, with-out reuth, or pity. Which sort of Tyrannicall and extorsing impositions of slavish conditions, and exhausting hudge Girssomes, where-of there is too doleful experience through the Land,( but in special, and extraordinary, within the bounds of mine own Residence and Service for the present) giving their law and will peremptorlie there-in, as Princes unto vanquished Captives. I may truly say, if your majesty were in-formed there-of, and knew a-right, how not only Men, but the very Land, groaneth, and crieth, under such heavy Bondage, your majesties Heart, with admiration, and astonishment, should melt in pity towards these, your loyal, but not free, lieges: whose mouths only at your last royal presence amongst them,( and as yet) in bursting Heartes, suppressed their just complaints: even for fear, as Rehoboam's answer was to the people, 1. King. 12. by the counsel of the young Men, That his little Finger should bee heavier up-on them, than his Fathers loins: and where his Father chastised them with rods, he should hereafter correct them with Scourges: So if they got not remedy from your Well-willing majesty, that these grievous Exacters, like unto Aegyptes taskmasters, Exodus, 1. should rather there-fore increase their Burden, and where their Yoke was grievous, should make it yet more heavier: and so, like the mans estate whom the unclean spirit, Matth. 12. returning, did possess; their last condition should so become worse than their first. Yea, to such an height in many places is this Bondage of theirs already come, through excessive ambition, and violent greed, that men can-not think howe it can bee any more worse with them: 1. Sam. 1. while as out of their sore-troubled spirites, with Hannah, and heart-bursting grief, they openly are not only made to profess their slavery, as if they were made subject to the Curse of Cham; Gen. 9.25. but are forced to regrate likewise, through their exhausting, by such exorbitant Girssomes, which in very few yeares shall bee able heritablie to buy their lands:( and so the Tithe, like Pharaoh's lean kine, in short space, to eat up the stock:) that there-by they are so woefullie in-debted, as their rightest marshalling, and last refuge, is like to bee with persecuted Davids Associates, to rank them-selves in order: 1. Sam. 22. of whom it is said, That there gathered unto him, all men that were in trouble, and all that were in debt, and all those that were vexed in mind, and he was their captain. Having proof of no greater courtesy used towards them, than such where-of that roman Fimbria boasted of, which he shewed to Quintus Scaevola, whom he slay at the Funerals of Cajus Marius, Quod non totum telum corpore suo receperat: tho he killed him, yet that he thrust not his Dagger in-to his body up to the Hiltes. So where the Tithes are not casten, or untimelie led, yet men are both slaved and beggared, by paying for the same. neither, SIR, shall there ever bee but increase of tyrannicall Burdens and Bondage, and there-by the expectation of some fearful and desperate breach, at last: and that your Land, like Aceldama, shall bee a field of Blood: Nor yet shall ever your loyal elects enjoy true freedom under your happy Governament, to bee truly called, The free lieges of their royal and Native Prince, and to bee emancipate to his service, and only to attend the same: neither shall settled Peace, and Christian Love, bee expected in your land, with encouragement to industrious virtue, or comely policy: neither shall the minds of all men, for the most parte, so generally bee contented: and the perpetual and established weal of your kingdom, both in kirk and policy, unto GODS glory, and your eternal memory happily bee procured; until that every Inheritor bee Master, and have the right of his own Tithe. O happy then should that Day bee to this kingdom for ever, and the noise of the cheerful applause there-of, making the Earth, as at Salomons Coronation, to ring, 1. Kings, 1.40. Levit. 27.31. should never henceforth in any Age cease: this only being agreeable to the word of GOD, for a man to redeem, and appropriate to himself, his own Tithe: as all other practise, to appropriate the Tithes of others, and make GODS staff, Mans Scourge, is flat contrary, and contradictour there-unto: and much more shall draw on the Curse of GOD, duty. 27.17. to in-haunce such a Right, than that which is less praejudiciall, to violate the Neighbours Boarders. Ezek. 7.11 But thus, contrarie-wyse,( as saith the Prophet, is the rod flourished, pride hath budded, and cruelty is risen up, in-to a rod of wickedness: our kirk, the Princes in the midst of her, are like Wolves, 22.27. ravening the Prey, and destroying souls for their filthy lucre: so that shee may take up Micah's Lamentation, saying, Woe is me, for I am as the Summer gatherings, Micah, 7.1.4. and as the Grapes of the Vintage: There is no Cluster to eat: The good man is perished out of the earth: And the best of them now is as a Brier: And the most righteous is sharper than a thorny Hedge. jer. 6.4. The LORD set Watch-men also over them, who said. Take heed to the sound of the Trumpet: But they said, Wee will not. And since His Prophets cried out of Wrong, and proclaimed Desolation, jer. 20.8. there-fore the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto them, and in derision daily. jer. 8.8. Yet under a Simeon-lyke veil of profession they say, Wee are wise, and the Law of the LORD is with us: but lo, certainly in vain made he it. Isai. 29.13 And the pen of the Scribes is in vain. It is near in their mouths, but it is far from their reins. They have a show of godliness, but have denied the power there-of: For they abhor idols, Rom. 2.22. and yet commit sacrilege. Or as the LORD by the Prophet, Ezek. 14.3 saith, They have their idols in their Heart: and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before them. But let those hear that have declared their sins like Sodom, and hid them not. Isai. 7.13. Is it a small thing for them to grieve Men, that they will also grieve GOD? Or, Is it not because I hold My peace, saith the LORD, Isai. 57.11 and that of long time, that there-fore thou fearest not me, and that Iudgement is turned backwards, and Iustice thus standeth afar off? For truth is fallen in the streets, and equity can-not enter. Isai. 59.14. But their own wickedness shall surely correct them: and their turninges back, reprove them. Their day also shall decline: and the shadows of their Evening shall bee stretched forth. For( as the Prophet saith) it hath not seemed a small thing for them, Ezek. 34.18. jer. 9.3. only to have eaten up the good Pasture: but they have trodden down the residue with their feet. Or,( as ieremy speaketh) proceeding from evil to worse, they have first robbed, and then razed the Kirkes. Shall, there-fore, that two-edged sword, which proceedeth out of His Mouth who walketh in the midst of the golden Candle-stickes, Rev. 1.16. like Peters, after he had strike off Malchus ear, bee made in many places so to bee put up in-to its sheathe, through a conspiracy, which is found amongst the men of judah, and the In-habitantes of jerusalem, jer. 11.9. Amos, 8.11. and the making of a Famine in those partes, not of Bread, nor a thirst of Water, but of the hearing of the word of GOD: And shall not this move the LORD to draw out such a destroying Sword against them, as David saw in the Angels hand, 2. Sam. 24. Exod. 12. Nehem. 5.9. in the Threshing floor of Araunah, or that which ranged through the Land of egypt? Or is not this flat contrary to Nehemiah's Exhortation, to the great men, and Princes of judah, To draw up-on us the reproach of our enemies, which are round about us, when in the time of less light, but greater zeal, that which the predecessors built, as places of GODS Worship, for His Name to dwell in, their successors should now demolish: they doting the holy things, and these devouring the same? As Moyses then( SIR) commiserating the estate of the wronged Daughters of the Priest of Midian, Exod. 2.19 who were driven away from the Troghs of Water, which they had filled to water their Fathers flocks: As he, I say, defended, and brought them back again to those places, and gave their sheep refreshment: So( SIR) pity the wronged estate in like-manner of the kirk in your Land: defend it like-wise, and make patent again the doors of so many Christian Temples, Ioshua, 10. shut up like the Caves of the Cananite kings: that comfort again may bee with-in them ministered to the lords people: that the flock of His Heritage( as the Prophet speaketh) may bee fed with the Rod of His own Mouth, as in the midst of Carmel: Micah, 4.14. and that they may pasture in Bashan, and Gilead, as in old time. And as Zacharias, the Baptists Father, Luke, 1. tho for a short time he was strike dumb, yet as at last his mouth was again opened, by sensible and clear speeches to prophecy, and proclaim that horn of Salvation, that was raised out of the House of David; and Day-spring, which from on high had visited his people Israel: So( SIR) restore in like-manner, to speech and prophecy again these dumb, yea, dead-stricken places of GODS Sacred Worship: that the same gospel may bee as yet published, and that the same tender mercy in them may still be manifested through all the corners of your Land; to give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of Death, and to guide their feet in-to the way of peace. Or as the Whale, how-so-ever she swallowed up jonas, dis-gorged him again up-on the dry land: jonas, 2. Even so( SIR) how-so-ever this uniting of Kirks, through the moyen and greed of men, hath past, the true Cases of many where-of were never( I am persuaded) clearly known to your Honourable Commission: Like a wise Salomon, then, pronounce the Sentence of Division: and that as the two Women which pleaded before him, were each one restored to her own Child; so that every kirk may be restored with a competent maintenance, to its own former & primitive condition: Else, it had been better both for kirk and kingdom, that, poor as they were, still as yet they had remained several. Gen. 13.5. judge. 6.30 And let not( SIR) Abrahams Altar be as it were Baals Grove, that GOD should bee left to plead for himself: But sway that sceptre of royal power, which, one after an-other, for the defence of His Cause, he hath put in-to your hand. Let not Christian Temples go down in your kingdom, which were as the Tents of the shepherds, Cant. 1.7. where the LORDS Well-beloved went forth by the steps of the flock, and there fed her weak and tender Kids, with the spiritual Food of the Bread of Life. especially where greater need is to put up more. neither let the Watch-men, which go about the city, of whom the Spouse in the Canticles seeketh her direction, Cant. 3.3. where she may find him whom her soul loveth, be diminished in number, where there is more necessity they should be augmented. 1. Sam. 11. Let not Nahash his enter-pryse come also nowadays in practise: where two eyes are to pull out the one: and bring a shane so up-on the LORDS Israel. neither let the barking Dogs bee removed from the LORDS flocks: except there-by wee would please the devouring Wolves. The LORD( SIR) hath done to you, as He did before to good Nehemiah: Nehem. 2.18. you have found the Hand of your GOD ever to have been good over you: and he hath strengthened your royal hand to do much good: So that according to the Elders and peoples apprecation to Boaz, you have not only done worthily in Ephrathah, Ruth, 4.11 and is famous in Bethlehem; but the sound of your Noble famed, like Salomons, hath gone afar off; & like a powred-foorth savoury Ointment, by the delectable & sweet smell there-of, it hath spread itself to the uttermost Coasts of the Earth. Psal. 20. Let not the hand, then, of the LORDS anointed anie-wayes bee weakened: But go on: and the Name of the GOD of Iaakob shall defend you, 2. Chron. 31. and sand you help from His sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion: yea, he shall fulfil all your purpose, and with godly Hezekiah, prosper your Sacred majesty, in all the works which you intend for the Service of the House of your GOD. It is true( SIR) the repairing of the walls of jerusalem, Nehem. 2.19. and the ruins there-of, hath ever had great lets; some with Sanballat, and his associates, to mock and despise the work:( who there-by show that they have no right, nor portion, nor memorial in jerusalem:) and with mocking, who next, up-on sight of some father progress there-in, will join wrath, and subtle machination:( but the LORD shall ever bring their counsel to nought:) and some, with Tobiah, Nehem. 6.17. aided with the secret intelligence of the very Princes of judah, by cunning, advertising, and advising Letters, only to put Nehemiah, that godly Prince, in fear; & so weaken his hands in the LORDS work: Who not-with-standing will ever the more in-courage him, and dis-cover their craft; prospering him still: until, at last, the walls bee set up, and the House of GOD with-in bee set in comely order. Let the same assurance, then,( SIR) of the like constant aid of the Hand of your good GOD, which you have ever found stretched forth for your miraculous many Deliveries, and continual defence, encourage you to over-come all such lets, or other impediments what-so-ever, tending to the delay, or inter-mitting of the work of the LORDS House; whose Nursing-Father you are: and where-in also you are a nursed child. But let the walls of HIERVSALEM still be going up, maugre all opposition: repair the ruins of your kirk, restore the rapines there-of: and in the well-ordered House of GOD, let the Levites, Nehem. 8.8. being restored to their Portions, be reponed also, and set in their places: who may read in the book of the Law of GOD distinctly, and give the sense, & make the people to understand the same: that so your GOD may remember you still in goodness, Nehem. 13.14. and not wipe out your kindness, which you have shown up-on His House, & up-on the Officers thereof. AMEN. FINIS. AD AVTHOREM AMICISSIMVM G. G. DE SVIS REIP. ECCLESIASTICAE QVERELIS CELEVSMA. MActe animi Iuvenis, cujus non irrita vota, Hactenus indulsit, qui dare sola potest. At miris rediviva dolis, per damna resurgens Hydra, animos tollit, sanguine pasta gregis. Perge igitur justos regni defiere dolores: Vulneraque, heu nostris condita visceribus. Si locus auguriis, noxam depellere certet, Vindice quo metuit, sacrilega impietas. M. R. GORDONIVS. APPARATVS LIBRI. IDEM: ILlecebris mulcere aures, & pascere mentes Quam variae ingenii luxuriantis opes. Dum regni marcescit honos, Respublica languet Esurit indignis plebs agitata modis, Hinc passim in triviis tot mendicabula prostant Mutatos toties rura gemunt dominos, Qualis Niligenas totidem depasta sorores Bucula septena, & vix been pulsa fames, Sic decimis grassante malo ter tertia messis Opprimitur, sortem foenora prostituunt. Cuncta patent, multique luunt, said nemo labores Et gemitus profert: mens stupet icta malis. Ingredere orchestram popularibus anxie curis Neve ministerii munia prodideris. Pande metus, clades, & tristia vulnera pacis Quamque minus tectis vis inimica dolis Vt nimiis legumque armata licentia telis Compedibus cives nexuit innumeros, Fessa malis, tristes referunt ad sydera gressus Cana fides, pietas, candida simplicitas, Has vacuas seeds, vacuas sine nomine terras Vendicat impietas, possidet improbitas. M. R. GORDONIVS. To the Author. THo IOSEPHS Pressure of Affliction sore, Few now deplore, or drenched cheeks bedew With holy tears, tho wounded more and more His dearest Spouse, her well-beloved show: Yet thou with Throbs, and Threnodies most just, IERVSALEM her ruins dost bewail: Whose barbarous Breaches, which Greed-gryping Lust Of Men hath made, GOD surely shall retail. So whilst thou moan'st what others must amend, Thy Plaints( we hope) in vain thou shalt not spend. J. C. FINIS.