LEVI HIS COMPLAINT: OR, THE moan OF THE poor ministery. LAMENT. 3. vers. 59. O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong, judge thou my cause. By WILLIAM GVILD, Minister at KING-EDWARD. EDJNBURGH, Printed by Andro Hart, ANNO 1617 By authority. TO THE SACRED majesty OF THEIR dearest & dread sovereign GREAT BRITANS MONARCH, &c. psalm 20. vers. 9. save Lord, and let the King hear us in the day that wee call. IT was a grievous wrong ( dear Lord and dread sovereign) done by the men of Gibeah, judge. 20. that made the levite to complain so to Israel in Mispeh: Nomb. 22. It was oft smiting and an extraordinary extremity( as a breviary cause) that made Baalam, the son of Peors ass to speak: And doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? job. 6.5. or loweth the ox when he hath fodder?( saieth that mirror of patience job) A grievous increasing bondage likewise made Israel to groan: Exod. 2.23. And a desperate-seeming-danger drove Mordecai to Esther, Esther. 5. and her again venterouslie to the King. even so woeful desolation in most partes, and that of no small bounds of your Majesties kingdom here, where the kingdom of CHRIST by preaching thorough want of provision withholden, is not yet established, and the musseling of their mouths who treadeth out the lords corn, Deut. 25.4. 1. Tim. 5.18 where they are retained, but beggarly entertained, and the ouer-loading of them with base contempt, forceth us all to come to your majesty at this time, with Peters words in our mouths, Matth. 8.25. crying and craving, Master help us, else we perish. It was the will of the supreme Lord of heaven, if thou seest thine enemies ass lying under his burden, Exod. 23. help him up again: And a righteous man regardeth the life of his very beast( saieth that wise Preacher.) Prov. 12.10 If pity & charity then command help to the brute of an enemy; and if God commend care of the beast of the field, what may these then expect of their supreme Lord on earth, being his own levites, and his makers inheritance, failing for weakness proceeding of want, and falling for weariness proceeding of contempt? As Hannah then answered to Eli, 1. Sam. 1.15. blame us no to haue powred out our souls before our Lord, nor that wee come as the people did to our godly Nehemiah Nehem. 5 5 ( whose soul the Lord bind in the bundle of Life) complaining of our necessity and wrong, that there is no power left in our hands: for others haue our livings, and wee are in subjection, Genes. 49. being like Issachars ass, couching down between heavy burdens: but most unlike to Iudah's, which was tied to the best Vine. For it is th'estate of the poor ministery that wee moan, and would haue mended, who as if with the Capucian they had wowed poverty, are so plumed vpon by these whose greed would haue need, an inseparable accident, quarto modo proprium to Ministers, that as Beth-auens Priestes are deprived of their lawful matrimony, so they think that Beth-els Preachers should bee denuded of their lawful patrimony: Exod. 36 2. Mac. 4. and therefore they haue turned Israels afferre to the sanctuary, to Lysimachus auferre from the same: being only skilful to decline in the ablative case, their only arithmetic consisting in substraction from the Church, to make up an addition to themselves, Psal. 69.9. John. 2.17. and inverting that speech of David competent unto CHRIST, for their zeal hath eaten up the lords house. Shall Israel then fulfil their task, Exod. 5.7. and haue their straw withdrawn, to gather short stubble to themselves? Shall Iaakob feed his masters flock, Genes. 31. Nehem. 13. and haue his wages so changed and impaired? Shall the levite bee either forced to desert the work, because of the portion withholden, as in the time of captivity and desolation? judge. 18. or else to turn in to Micahs petty portion, as in the time when there was no King in Israel, and a whole Tribe scarce cared for one Priest amongst them all? Shall Scotia bee rightly construed darkness, in regard of many places thereof, where that light which is the life of men never yet shined, nor that word of glorious peace never yet sounded, but are a people sitting in the shadow of death, thorough want of the means of the Gospel of Life? And shall the Ambassadoures of the King of Israel bee so vngratelie entreated by the Ammonites, Sam. 10. as to be so nearlie shaven, and their garments curtailed; and shall not this bee shown to our godly David? poverty is now so seated where plenty was installed, and contempt where honour had place, that where the Churches bread was sometime like Ashers, Genes. 49. fat and abounding, now shee must bee content of Ruthes scattered glaininges, Ruth. 2. Lament. 1.2 Mal. 2.7 for all her friends haue dealt vnfaithfully with her, and are her enemies: And where many excellent things were spoken of her( as of the city of God) and glorious were the feet of those that brought the glad tidings of peace, now shee may exclaim, saying, Lament. 1.11 See, O Lord, and consider, for I am become vile. Pastors, as if they were professed Poenitentiars, in many places are kept at under in disciplinarie subiection, 2. Sam. 13. nill they will they, like Amnon, looking lean from day to day, their Cottages more spacious than specious( albeit little of either:) a great part of their plenishing, 2. King. 4.10 being with Elisha, their stool and bed, their table and candlestick: and forced in other things to go in one categorie with Gibeons ambassadors sent unto Ioshua: Ioshua. 9.13. being so far unable to use hospitality( as th'Apostle requireth in such) to others, 1. Tim. 3. as they haue more need to bee received( like Eliah, 1. King. 27. with the Widow of Sarepthah) in hospitality by others. People, who starve for the bread of Life, haue Zions dolorous threnodie put in their mouths, Jerem. 4.31. and are moved to cry, Woe is me now, for my soul fainteth because of the murtherers: So that justly may the Lord expostulate by the Prophet, saying, Also in their wings is found the blood of the souls of poor innocents, Jerem. 2.34. I haue not found it in holes, but vpon the high places: practising flat contrary to that prayer, Matth. 6.10. Mat. 8.34. Let thy kingdom come: and with the Gergesins for their filthy lucres sake, expelling CHRIST out of their coasts. The poor, by this sacrilegious robbery, who are our flesh and CHRISTS members, and whose cry, is his craving, and their hand his treasury, are cruelly bereft, and carelesselie trodden under: So that where out of their hospital oratories a consort of prayers and praises for their bene-factours should haue been like incense offered up to the Lord, they are forced in their feeble strayinges, and bed-fast staruinges, to post such groans to the tribunal of Iustice, as may bee sittest complainers of their want, and pleaders for their wrong. The schools of the Prophets, and Seminaries of the Church, what interest they haue received, even foreigners do know, and home-bred do regrate. As the philistines filled Isaacs fountains, Genes. 26. which his fathers servants had digged; so stoping likewise by their earthly avarice, those sacred conduits, which others had founded, from whence the pleasant streams of Sciences should flow and fill the land, ut hinc etiam, & lucem & pocula sacra. O leave then, Sir, such a sacred stamp of your royal presence at this time, for the comfort of the mourners behind you, that the happy relish thereof may delight the posterity to record, & characterize in letters of loyal love vpon the tables of rejoiced heartes, Basilic. dor. book 2. pag. 44. that which your majesty acknowledgeth to bee the fairest style of a Christian Prince, to bee a nursing father of the Church of IESVS. And as your Majesty hath caused restitution of the portions of the Prelates of the Church, thereby to abolish our parity, so extend your gracious and like tender care to the Preachers of the Church, and abrogate their poverty, 1. King. 3. who with the poor woman that pleaded restitution of her fraudefullie-stollen child from her, before you, our godly and wise Salomon, claimeth equity likewise, suum cvique. And as you are a Defender of the Faith, bee likewise of the maintenance of the means thereof, and so enlarge his kingdom, who peaceably hath enlarged yours: and see that he haue his right, who must keep you and yours ever in your right royal: counting ever( as yourself saieth) the flourishing of the Church to bee one of the chiefest points of your earthly glory. Basil. dor. 2. book, fol. 43. In some part then, Sir, let the piety and prudence of yourself and your estates, amend at this time that former act of annexation: whereby not only lands,( which more tolerablie may be retained) but also besides tithes, the very small gleanings of poor & petty Vicarages are monstrouslie metamorphized temporal, and made lords and Barons customs: so that the Patrons now are Parsons, and they fleece the sheep who feed not the flock. Or( as that reverend Father affirmed) if erections can not suffer further correction, & robbery restitution, that Salomons dimension at least of due sufficiency, may be measured forth, which may both vindicate from pride and contempt. whom you love, therefore, let them not keep such an eating moth, and consuming canker, which howsoever for the present like stolen waters the same seem sweet, yet in end it shall prove but like the accursed water, whereof the guilty woman did drink, causing swelling at first indeed, but consuming rottenness at last: And as Iaakob was to Esau, Genes. 25. the holy thing shall bee the supplanter of the vnholie usurper: so that getting the pottage, and hunting their profit, they shall lose the birth-right, and miss the blessing. For Dans Serpent will so bite the horse-heeles once, Genes. 49. that assuredly the rider will in end fall backwards: Ioshua. 7. Genes. 41. and Achans theft will bring him and his whole house to a consuming fire at last: Pharaohs lean kine and blasted ears of corn, when they haue devoured the fat and the full, shall bee still as lean and blasted as before: 1. King. 41. and Achabs robbing of poor Naboths betide, will lose to him his life, and his rich kingdom. Dan. 5 Nebuchadnezars spoiling of the Temple, will once bee seen on Belthazzar his successor: exod. 16.20. and Manna's residue kept against command, will but turn to vermin, provoking God, and polluting the vessels, ●●nas. 4.7. jonas gourd must whither and decay, because of the hidden worm at the roote thereof: ●. King. 4. And if coloquintida bee gathered amongst the other herbs, death doubtless shal be in the pot. Esops crow with her collop to the nest, shall carry the coal with it: and assuredly the execution of the threatened curse shall follow on the meddling with the forbidden three: Genes. 2.17 Mal. 3.9 Hab. 2.6 Deut. 27.17 ●nd 24, 15 So that Israels proverb shall bee taken up against him that increaseth that which is not his, by enquiring, Ho, how long? And if he bee accursed who incroacheth vpon his neighbours borders; or if the detaining of the wages of an hired seruant crieth for wrath: much more who doth so on the lords limits, and shall that of the Lords employed messengers shout aloude for vengeance. When the star shined which led unto Christ, Math. 2.9 the Wise-men of the East following the direction thereof, came to Bethlehem, and gave gifts to Christ. And shall it bee thought wisdom now, when the star of the Gospel hath re-appeared, against the direction thereof to pull from Christ? Revel. 11 Shall the lamp of the sanctuary bee kindled, and the oil thereof bee withdrawn? Isai. 7.2 Shall the Aramit-papist seek the ouer-throwe of Hierusalems doctrine, and our Ephraemite-professoures join with them to seek the overthrow of the maintenance of doctrine? the one being like the Iewes, who sought Christes life: the other like the roman soldiers, who partend Christs garments. And shall Mount Sion, the Lords chosen, Isai. 1.8.30 remain thus still as a cottage in a betide, like a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, and as a city besieged of the enemies? Shall the ministery of the word, the foundation of this Countreyes peace, bee as a Widow left to the spoil, as an cake whose leaf fadeth, and a garden that hath no water? And shall they still receive only in their hands, that which the Souldioures put mockinglie in Christes, * Such are many modified stipends and assignations. mat. 27.29. Jerem. 2.9. an empty hollow reede( to wit) to uphold them. go to the Iles of Chittim, and behold: and sand unto Kedar, and the Countreyes round about; and take diligent heed, and see, if there bee any such things: Mal. 3.8 Isai. 5.7. or what nation there is that hath robbed their gods. surely, the lords expectation was otherwise, he looked for judgement and zeal but behold oppression, and robbery: for righteousness, but behold a crying. And indeed ( Sir) while they were catching all into their angle( being with the prophetess son, Hab. 1.15. Isai. 21. Genes. 49.21 as speedy robbers, and swift to the prey:) They were as Naphthali, like hinds let go, giuing goodly words, and promising sufficient plantations: but they haue proved in end as Benjamin, of whom it is said, Genes. 49.27 he shall ravine as a wolf, in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil. So that the Church may say as is said, Lament. chap. 3. vers. 10. They were to me as Baires lying in wait, and as lions in secret places. So they get the goods, leaving the good of the flock altogether vncared for: for like skilful aiming Benjamits, ●●dg. 20. they haue hit the mark they would been at, albeit sinistrouslie, with the left hand, and there they put a period, inverting that speech of the King of Sodom to Abraham, Gen. 14.20. Da mihi animas, bona scape tibi: to give us the goods, and let others take the souls cure. And as jeroboam to advance his idolatry made Priestes of the lowest and skirts of the people who were not of the sons of levi: ●. King. 12.31 So many name patrons, so they may enhance their commodity: and like Micah, ●udg. 18. by a private paction for a petty portion indent with the intrant, they care not whom they present: ●. Sam. 5. albeit Dagon should bee set up anew beside the ark of God: counting no longer for the Preacher than he can serve for their particular, and so long only will sit by Cherith, ●. King. 17.7 ●onas. 4.7 or repose under the gourd, as the one flourisheth, or the other floweth. With good Nehemiah then, Nehem. 13 11.14. Nehem. 5.9. Sir, say to your Rulers and great men, Why is the house of God thus forsaken and neglected? That which you do is not good: ought you not to walk in the fear of our God? for the reproach of those that are our enemies, and assemble your levites, reponing them in their places, that your God may remember you, and not wipe out your kindness that you haue shewed on the House of GOD, and Officers thereof. And as the Angel said unto Gideon, judge. 6.12. The Lord is with thee, thou valiant man: go then, Sir, in this your might, and purge your land of such hateful robbery, And wee hope that the prosperous success that followed good Hezekiah, shall likewise attend your Majesties zeal herein: whereof it is spoken, 2. Chron. 30.12. that the hand of God was vpon all judah, and he gave them one heart to obey the kings commandement according to the word of the Lord. And of whom it is recorded in the register of eternity, that in all the works that he began for the service of the house of God, 2. Chron. 31.21. because he did them with all his heart, therefore he prospered( saieth the Scripture.) By doing whereof, wee hope also in the mighty GOD of jacob, that your majesty shall haue the greater assurance of security against all the enemies of your royal person and estate: And † Goureā or Powder treasons. Joshua. 3.6 blood-red, Genes. 25.25 or fire-red Esaus, that traiterouslie are hunted out against your sacred majesty: and that the prayers of your relieved levites, sent up unto him whom they carry on their shoulders before the people in the ark of his eternal covenant, shall bee a secret guard, like Elisha's, against both their Shimei-like malice, and Achitophel-like machinations. 2. Sam. 16. And if he was pronounced blessed who enlarged Gad, much more shall you and your land bee, Deut. 33.20 who enlargeth GOD, his right whereof he is robbed, and his levites inheritance. And if heathen Pharaoh was so careful for his Priestes portions in the scarcity of egypt, Genes. 47. that they should retain their lands; much more are wee assured, that our Christian jacob, and zealous sovereign, will haue a care of the Preachers of Iesus, in some sufficient measure to restore them their livings. And seeing that Baals Priestes are so bountifully dealt with by ahab in Israel, and sit at Iezabels table, that our godly jehosaphat will not suffer the lords Prophets in judah to bee vncared for likewise: 1. King. 18. or, as the glaininges of the grapes of Ephraim were better than the vintage of Abiezer; so that the smallest accidents of Popish shauelinges, judge. 8.2. should bee still better than painful Preachers greatest allowance. And what woeful effects, and fearful fruits this damnable bramble of sacrilegious rapine and impoverishing of the Church produceth, is too well feene, but not so sorrowed. For first this impoverishing of the ministery maketh both them and the calling contemptible, as if the curse of reuben were brought vpon the same: the excellency of dignity, Genes. 49.4. and the excellency of power is gone, and Ieremies threnodie put in their mouths, saying, I am made as the off-scouringes of the world, Lamen. 3.45 and as the refuse in the midst of the people: So that Obadiahs reverence to Eliah is forgotten: 1. King. 18. Acts 10. 2. King. 13. Cornelius honour to Peter, and joash estimation of Elisha, is butted in the grave with him. Wherefore the like judgement is to bee feared, as for the like cause was threatened by the Prophet, saying, The anger of the Lord hath scattered them, neither shall he any more regard them, for they reverenced not the face of the Priestes, Lament. 4.16 nor had in estimation the countenance of the Elders. 2. What abstraction it maketh from doing of the lords work diligently, woeful experience too well declareth: for where that precept of Salomon, Prov. 27.23 1. Tim. 4.16 1. Pet. 5.2 Bee diligent to know th'estate of thy flock, requireth a whole man, busily occupied, this impoverishing rapine,( like that false mother, who desired the division of the child) halves many men in such sort, as thorough Midians spoiling, judge. 6.11 Gideon must privately go to the threshing himself: So many poor Preachers, when with hand-griping giuing, and heartgrieving getting, they haue received their short straw for their long task: for necessity of life, they are forced besides to use other shifts: and as they are servants to the flock for CHRISTES sake, so to bee drudges, in a manner, to themselves, for main necessities sake, being herein often times forced to say with the Apostle, Acts 20.34 These hands haue ministered to my necessities, and these that are with me. 3. It is a ready way hereby to make that fearful curse fall vpon the land, Like people, like Priest: Isai. 24.2 and 28.10 so that when the people shall bring him a book, saying, read this wee pray thee: he shall answer, I cannot, for it is sealed, and I am covered with the spirit of slumber. Thus shall not the Priestes lips preserve knowledge: But when they shall seek the lawe of God at his mouth, they shall come to the wells, and find no water, and return with their vessels empty: the holy urim thus being darkened, Isai. 56.10 Deut. 22.10 & the lords people perishing for want of knowledge. So that the best estate of the ministery shall bee but ploughing with an ox and an ignorant ass together, their right arm being clean dried up, Zech. 11.17 and their right eye woefullie darkened. 4. It greatly hindereth the sincerity of Gods word, 1. Sam. 6. in the evidence and liberty thereof, so that rightly it may be called the musseling of their mouths who carry the lords ark from lowing freely as they go, neither turning to the right nor left hand: or as clean beasts dividing the hoof: and dissecating the word aright, 2. Tim. 2.15 rebuk to whom rebuk belongeth. judge. 18. Therefore the Bethlemite levite must tolerate the Teraphim, and the idols that are in Mount Ephraim, for fear of the loss of his place found out, and of the want of Micah's petty portion, and the Baptist must look for no more favour of Herod, mark. 6. if he once touch the having of his brothers wife: So that Dum medicas adhibere manus ad vulner a pastor Abnegat, Virg. george. vitium alitur viuitque tegendo. Christes kingdom thus nowise increasing, but that of Sathans tyranny over men altogether standing. 5. It wonderfully discourageth Parentes to train up their Children at schools of Learning or universities: especially in that sacredest Science of heavenly divinity, either within or without the country, for their better enabling for the holy ministery, as likewise the very heartes of Youths themselves, when they see such beggarly provisions only to bee looked for, as the best reward of their painful studies, Dat Galenus opes, &c. and the richest recompense of their expensiue charges, † all other Sciences having better & more assured hopes, and this only being deprived of that double honour, whereof Gods spirit hath thought it worthy, 2. Cor. 4.2. 1. Tius. 5.17 Prov. 3.9 due reverence( to wit) and debtbound recompense, the with-drawing of this one, being the unhappy cause of the want of that other. 6. It exileth in a manner, the best and quickest spirites of our Nation to other kingdoms, and so depriveth their own country of their fruitful labours: Which otherwise to the great aduancement of both Church and Commonwealth at home, happily it might injoye: And hath moved many to turn to the idolatry and plenty of egypt; leaving the sincerity of Moyses, and society of Israel. Genes. 26. and 46. Therefore it is, that as Isaac went to Gerar, and Iaakob to sojourn in egypt, where there was food; even so they get themselves elsewhere, where virtue and Learning haue their own reward. And thus our suins shine in others Firmamentes, and our best Trees fructify in other mens Gardens: Mat. 13.57 Luke 4.27 So that as Nazarethes ingratitude may bee our double ditty: so sic vos non vobis, may bee our quadruple diton. 7. It is the special cause and occasion, both of the growth and continuance of ignorance & popery in the land, whereby the language of Ashdod halves with the speech of Israel: Nehem. 13 And Sanballat with his conspiring associates, attendeth the hindrance of the building of the walls of jerusalem: and Rehum with Tatnai, Nehem. 4 Esra. 4. and their companions the rearing of the Temple: and so long still, shall Dagon stand in such places, till by preaching the presence of Gods ark make him to fall, and the levites that carry the same receive their due portion. 8. Besides that, it maketh the Lord angry with the Land, Aalach 3 9. & as Malachi saieth, bringeth his grievous curse and visitation vpon the same. It is likewise the most poisonable plant, and perilous practise, against the good of the civil estate of the country, as never any Age did know the like before. For doth not daily experience manifestly teach, that no greater yoke nor spur of compulsion is, and hath been used, to force Gentlemen sell & put away their auncientlie possessed lands( which are to them as Naboths dear betide) for half value and leffe than the power and possession of the right of the tithe: for hence it is, that otherwise lands haue lain waste: ‡ By imposed ●oudge gir●omes, which compare, and ●he Princes ●axations shall no wise squall them. for none so could labour them, and many are undone and ‡ wrecked in the whole kingdom, dissension and grievous grudging is found amongst equals, the heavy yoke of slavery is laid vpon inferioures, Land is the most commonmerchandize of any: fewars are in no better condition nor farmers: policy in building and planting is hindered: the labourer is exacted on by his Lands owner: the owner is slaued again by his Tithe-master: Tithes are the thing in all the kingdom most griedilie gaped at: Preachers and the poor are impiouslie robbed: and in a word, both Church and Commonwealth woefullie wronged. And what an advantage for intestine troubles or uproars( which the Lord avert) this sacrilegious rapine is, or may bee, and engrossing of the Tithes of sundry Parishes, and of heritable proprieters Lands, into the hands of mighty men, and of the hindrance of the Princes service speedily to suppress the like, any one may easily guess: for the power of the Tithe not only slaueth men unto them in the time of peace, but † So that men cannot bee said to be free lieges. also in time of commotion, if not only, not coming against them bee, albeit in the service of justice, & of the supreme Magistrate: but also if ready rising, and cleaving unto them bee not, to bee associate actors with them of their praesumptuous designs, no less to bee looked for than Summum jus thereafter, which herein I am sure may bee called Summa injuria: and which vpon every other light discontentment also, men are now menaced with, sundry feeling likewise the stroke of their lightly conceived but heavily executed, wrath. And yet many of these, like the ravenous fowles, of all other are the leanest: they catch all, and can keep nothing: for the Lord bloweth vpon it, and as Namans leprosy with his gift cleaved to Gehesi; hag ai. 1.7 so GODS curse with his portion adhaereth to them likewise. 2 King 5 Seeing therefore( sir) that this hateful Hydra doth luxuriate and break forth into so many dangerous heads, bee to this Serpent as a valiant Hercules; and suppress in time, the feared growth of such daily and deadly evils, which assuredly otherwise will bee found to ensue. And because likewise Iaakob hath an Esau with him in the womb, Genes. 25. and IESVS a Iudas going in his company, & nos nostro jugulamus gladio, let your Majesties holy zeal take such order with these intestine cut-throates, and moths of the ministery, who for their own private gain, by getting great girsomes, by subdolous assignations, and other vile and late invented forgeries, 2. Tim. 4.10 with Demas hath forsaken CHRIST, and embraced the world, and so dilapidate the livings, which they in good estate, either of present possession, or certain expectation, were presented and admitted unto, and dealt without any regard of posterity or successor: that it is a great hazard if ever the Gospel flourish in these places, which most of them once occupied: who if they were marked with the like impression of Iudgement, as was before inflicted vpon their fellow Gehesi, I fear( Sir) there should need more Leper-houses within the diocies of this your Majesties kingdom: whose successoures doubtless shall wish of them, ●ob. 3.11. as job did of himself in his impatiency, that their Birth-day had been their burial, and that the judgement of good josiah, ● King. 13 executed vpon the bones of Beth-els Priestes, were likewise so on theirs. sir, For his sake therefore whose Faith you defend, maintain his cause in this also; and suffer not the Church to bee a den of theeues: but whether he bee Prelate or Preacher whatsoever, that impaireth levies inheritance, and emptieth the Sancturie, with the whippe-coardes of your royal authority redress such wrong, and drive them out of the Temple. And albeit it bee too Serò, as ulysses caused bind him to the mast, lest he should endanger himself, and peril his followers by the enticing voice of the singing Syrens. So bind up, sir, the hands of all ecclesiastical persons, that seeing no vsufractuar nor life-renter of mans right can prejudge the lawful heir or successor, or dispone but for their own time by the Lawe: so that the same equity in like manner in Gods right may stand. Otherwise Religion, the main pillar of this kingdom, at last assuredly will ruinated and decay: and while any thing shall remain as yet to dilapidate, no stay shall bee, till like the play-fishes of jordan, in the common speate of exemplare wickedness, speedily all hurl down into the dead Sea of general defection, and desperate desolation. Whereby the fire which should warm the successoures in their places, shall not only bee extinguished, 1. Sam. 2. but men bee made( as by Eli's sons impiety) for the Preachers fault to disdain the profession. They also who preach spiritual liberty, shall fasten the yoke of corporal bondage vpon their necks, whose tithes they set to others. In Gods judgement likewise they make themselves contemptible for no longer are they respected than they haue done the turn: And last, they leave the coal and fuel of such woeful variance amongst men, which often hath proved, and shall prove, a flaming fire when they lie in ashes. O let your sacred heart then, sir, harbour our regrate, and by the royal gates of your eye and ear let gracious access bee to that seat of pity, that the bellows bee not seen to bee brunt, Ierem. 6.26. the led consumed in the fire, and the founder to haue melted in vain: or that with the prophet wee bee still made to mourn, that the harvest is past, the summer is ended, and wee are not holpen: Ierem. 8 20. but with good Hezekiah, speaking comfortably to your levites, & doing so, that they may bee encouraged in the Lawe of the Lord: 2 Chr. 30.22. & 31.4. and having our petition without need of repetition gratiouslie regarded, supplying out of the store-house of your prudent heart, what wee mean and would speak: and mending with your powerful hand, what wee moan and would haue done, with inflamed heartes, and enlarged mouths, bearing Israels affection, and borrowing their words, wee may ever breath, and burst forth in the like loving prayer to GOD, and loyal wish for our KING. TO GOD. PSAL. XXI. LORD, prevent thine anointed with liberal blessings, give unto him his heartes desire, Psal. 21. and deny him not the request of his lips. Let his glory bee great in thy salvation, and grant him a long life, even for ever and ever. As thou hast set much honour and dignity vpon him, so set him still as blessings for ever, and make him glad with the joy of thy countenance. TO THE KING. PSAL. XX. THE Name of the GOD of Iaakob defend thee, and send thee help from his sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion. The LORD grant thee according to thine heart, Psal. 20. and fulfil all thy purpose; that wee may rejoice in thy salvation, and set up the banner of praise in the Name of our GOD, when the LORD shall perform thy petitions. AMEN. AMEN. A H printer's device of Andro Hart ON Caltha since that Phoebus deign's to blinke, Let others favours joyntlie therewith link. And since that royal verdict doth allow, These limned Lines, let others judgements bow. A. D.