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THE 
 
 ROYAL ROBE 
 
 TREATISE 
 
 O F 
 
 eekneffe 
 
 Upon Col, 3. 12. 
 
 Wholly tending to 
 
 PEACEmBLENESSE, 
 
 By fames Barker 
 
 BfiATiPAciF'ici.rMatth. 5.9 
 The Mee^fiall inherit the earth, and 'fall' delight 
 them/elves in tfy abundance of peace, pfal. 3 7. i 1 , 
 TranquiHus Deu$> tranqfcillat omnia. S. Bemfuper iaxk 
 Serm.ij.p. 6?3i.CoI. 1. 
 
 LO NDONy Printed by E. M. for tyte>*G:&x7att&e 
 golden-Ball in Chancer yAznz. 
 
\ 
 
 
 
 I v \ 
 
 \ 
 
 
 
TotheHonorable 
 
 SvHAKBOTLE GRMSTON 
 
 Baronet, 
 
 SPEAKERoftheHoufeof 
 
 CO M M ON fc 
 
 Fire mine abilities as 
 large as my WiU y 
 6r could I perform 
 what might chal- 
 lenge the Applaufe of all godd 
 men ,♦ All this from me is a debt 
 to your Merit. What obligati- 
 ons of duty^md thankfulnefle 
 you haveTaid upon i^e, I eve- 
 ry where find : what Achpow* 
 A : ledge- 
 
TheEpifile Dedicatory. 
 
 ledgemenrs I fhall mak, I am 
 ftill to feek : but in the wane 
 ofbetter, I humbly offer this 
 TreatifeofMeefyieffe: unworthy 
 (I confefle)your judgment or 
 acceptance : yet doubt not you 
 will give it entertainment for 
 thefubjeSts fake: for in my hear- 
 ing (from his mouth by whom 
 the Commons of England fpeak 
 unto tht King) Meeh^es hath re- 
 ceiv'd the com^ndationof an 
 excellent fubjeSi -Mceknefsh a- 
 nother thing than it is comon- 
 ly taken to be, well known to 
 you 5 which makes you fo emi- 
 nent in the pra&icc of it. 
 
 And your dtfereet %ealdoth 
 fpeak your courage 3 no lefle, 
 than your Cbrifiian meeknefi y 
 
The Epiflle Dedicatory. 
 
 your Wifdome (ipecial qualifi- 
 cations in a Magiftraie): which 
 feconded with your great ex- 
 perience, and Piety, who more 
 likely (confidering the place 
 you fuftain jto doGod, the King, 
 the Chnrcbfitid his Conntrey bet- 
 ter fervice. 
 
 Sir, I fend forth this Book to 
 you, with the fame bleffing that 
 Israel fent forth his fons unto 
 Jofeph (God Almghty give thee 
 mercy in the fight of the man) the 
 Author and the Work do need 
 the Patronage of a perfon of 
 note and eminencie , both for 
 Goodnefs8c Yower, fuch an one 
 as your Je/f is:from whom they 
 may receive countenance &* pro- 
 A 3 tedti- 
 
The Epiftle Dedicatory. 
 
 te&ion.ln this what I have per- 
 formed, I humbly fubmit to 
 your Grave Cenfitre, being con- 
 fident you will not deny it a fa- 
 vourable peruftl i in it I com- 
 plain not of Wrongs , for com- 
 plaints arc not pleafing Where 
 they are neceflary, my projeSi 
 only is to commend Meeknefs. 
 TbisTreatife ofMeetyefs I 
 have entituled (The Royal 
 RobbJ not only becaufe the 
 Apeflle propofes it as a Garment 
 to be put on; and Synefiws tells 
 me; Clemency or Meeknefs is ($*- 
 wa/Wtww) a vertue meet for a 
 Prince : but alfobecaufe his fa- 
 cred Maje&y our Soveraigne 
 Lord the King (amongft other 
 A 3 Prince- 
 
TheEpiftle Dedicatory, 
 
 Princely and Heroick vcrtues 
 that beautifie his Royal per fin) 
 hath fulfilled the Jpojiles rule, 
 in Futtingon Meekpefs, which as 
 a Royal Robe he wears, and 
 appears confpicuous, illuftri- 
 ous and exemplary in it in the 
 eys of al his people. Clemency or 
 hAeeknefs hath in it a majefty af~ 
 wel as jn>eetnefs:zChwent Prince 
 is an objeft for love and won- 
 der to ftand amazed at; unto 
 whom all men (tanquam ad cla~ 
 rumacbenefcum fidus cert at im 
 advolant.) The Orator praifing 
 Ctefar above all commends him 
 for hhClemencie^thzt his fortune 
 had nothing greater than that 
 he had power ,hh nature nothing 
 
 better 
 
TheEpiflle Vedicttgry. 
 
 heller than that he had will to 
 fave many ; and what greater 
 honor can there be, than to be, 
 what TitH* Vejpajian is {aid to 
 be (Delicti humani Cenerk)thc 
 Darling of the World. And 
 now if the World be composed 
 to follow their Rulers (Regis 
 adexewplnm totws contponitur or- 
 bk) and the difpofition of our 
 Nation do incline them to Imi- 
 tation (apt to iollow the faflii- 
 on) there is great hopes that 
 Meekgefs will come into fafbion 
 (being thuscoromended,bythe 
 ApoftiesRafc; the Kings Ex- 
 ample, /he practice of {uchIVor~ 
 tbies as your (elfiwith the whol- 
 fome lefsous of pious Pajiors) 
 
 and 
 
The Epiftle Dedicatory. 
 
 and that fuch ( who wgre as ra- 
 vening Wolves fcattering the 
 flochy and devouring one ano- 
 ther : frighting the Shepherds 
 (the Magistrates afwel as Mi- 
 nifters) from their Charge, 
 wrought upon, and won by 
 thefe means,) will be convert- 
 ed, and become new mm : will 
 follow after Meekpefs, and ap- 
 prove themfelves the Lambs 
 oiQhrifis flacky harmlefle, gen- 
 tle, meek, quiet and peaceable, 
 then (hall we live to fee good 
 dayes; Jerufalem in profperity 
 all oar life long, and peace up- 
 on Ifrael. 
 
 And the God of heaven who 
 hath made you honourable^ and 
 
 placed 
 
 ts 
 
The' Epifik Dedicatory: 
 
 placed you in the eye of the 
 Landfi Patron of learning)* fin. 
 cere friend oi Religion, an en- 
 courager of vertue^ encreafe in 
 you his graces , direft you in 
 your courfes, prolper you in 
 your honorable undertaking!) 
 fill you full of dayesznA blef- 
 fings, and at laft bring you to 
 his ever lajiing Kingdom 7 which 
 is, and (hall be the prayer of 
 
 Tour Honours in all faith- 
 ful and humble obfervance 
 
 Auguft 7 . 
 I66a James Barker. 
 
To ch-- truly Religious a -d :\ : Jat verruous. 
 
 The Lady G R IMSTON, 
 
 Wire ro the Honourable 
 
 Sir HARBOTLE GRIMSTON Baronet 
 The Mafter of the ROLLE S- 
 
 MADAM, 
 
 T written Papers {a few moneths a- 
 gon commended to pur rending by 
 your Renowned Husband) yw 
 f >leafed to take the pains, and to 
 have the patience to read through : 
 and according to your excellent under ft and inland 
 found judgment, to give your fence, and with 
 much ingenuity to pafl jour approbation of them " 
 the fame are now again {after feme delay in the 
 Prejfe)prefented to your Ladifhip in Prints In a 
 fairer C harader to return mo ft humble thanks for 
 that noble favour. 
 
 It is an addition to the worth of my per labors, 
 that they find the Patronage ana Countenance 0/ 
 fuch Honorable and judicious per Jons y and of jo 
 known and eminent Goodnejfe. And 
 
The Epiftle Dedicatory J 
 
 And truly Madam, I cannot hut let you know^ 
 what fatisfa&ion it is to mejhat my Meditations 
 were directed to a fubjecj fo {likable to the quiet 
 temper of your Religious mind: fo agreeable to the 
 con (l ant practice of your vertuouslife, meek and 
 peaceable. * 
 
 It is your MeekaefTe., Madam, that gives a lu- 
 fire to all your other vermes and Graces, which 
 heautifie "jour p erf on, and ChrMian convex fation^ 
 and render you an Ornament toy our Sex: no plai- 
 ting of "*A*Hair, wearing of Gold, putting on of 
 Apparel, do fet forth a Lady, in that high efiima- 
 tion with God and good men, as her exemplary ver- 
 mes do-jhofe outward Adornings you do not ufe 
 them; for you do not need them; God having abun- 
 dantly ftorcd you, out of his ownX 'reafury of nature 
 and G vac?. 
 
 Good Madam, I know it is unpleafmg to youjo 
 read your own Commendation {though never fo well 
 defervd)yet 1 be fetch you give me leave to acknow- 
 ledge to the Glory of God,what I have obfcrv'dto 
 the joy of my heart : and when you fhall be taken 
 into heaven-, and I fhall be turned into duft,/# this 
 be written for a memorial to the worlds of your 
 Merit, and my dmy. 
 
 In 
 
The Epiftle Dedicatory. 
 
 In Treating of Meekneffe, I am not ignorant 
 that (Lupum suribas teneoj Anger t ketone ex- 
 treme is a hot ^heady force and fiery paffion (like a 
 wildbeaft) Meekneffe is the Mean that tames it- 
 Andfo I here^thrtugh Meekneffe I have (with 
 jmne indufery) beaten a plain path for the fober mo- 
 derate Chriftian to walk in. 
 
 And nfiv were it not totrejpajfe too fane upon a 
 jioble patience, Icouldgivein a Breviat of my 
 Booh b ml pre fume of "a candid interpretation from 
 \our Ladifhip, (if in a very few words)! humbly 
 )jfer an Affay of what I have treated on. 
 
 May it pleafe your Ladifhip then ! / have en- 
 kavouredl to fettle the weak and wavering mind: 
 o quiet the wilful and unruly Jpiritito fet the heart 
 n a right frame and temper both towards God, and 
 \ilfo towards man : to fupprejfe impatience, murmu- 
 \ing> fretting and repining : tofhew how fufferings 
 }re to be entertain d, and afflictions of what kind 
 Soever under gone jvtth <* patient and quiet mind,- 
 
 I have fet forth Meekneffe as a moflrare ver-' 
 fee; andjuch that brings beauty, fafety, dignity ta 
 | hem that have itiand not only fils the foul and con- 
 \Hence with tranquillity and krenhy:but doth fa- 
 f ion the countenance^ carriage^ language and out-^ 
 
 ward 
 
 _ 
 
The Epittle dedicatory. 
 
 mrd comportment to amiableneffe and JweetneJJe 
 It doth pafiby indignities,^* up injunes 5 W. 
 Reproaches^ and forbears Revenge 3 qualifies the 
 heat r/paflions, rectifies the disorder of AfFe£li- 
 ons.appeafes Diftradions, heals Diftempers, re- 
 conciles differences both in judgment and p raft ice. 
 Here is pnpounded alfo a means/or the flopping oj 
 private quar-rels:* way opened topubick peace:*// - 
 reftions given for the ordering of our Civil ana 
 Chriflian convention : and certain Inftruftions 
 About order andDecencpn the public k duties of 'Re- 
 ligion - 7 fating down the natureand ufe of things 
 indifferent,*^ how Chriftian liberty is to be re- 
 gulatedto peaceablenefle. 
 
 And this I (hall ever reckon amongft the chef 
 e(l bleffmgs of my holy Callings be in any mea- 
 sure Inftrumental in promoting the publick peace: 
 and by the Grace of God {Jo long as I live) next 
 to the Truth of Chrift, the peace of the Church, 
 {hall be f ^Center both ofmyftudies and pr a ft ice. 
 Andjeeing by the Providence ofGod, and by 
 the greatWi(dom>and unwearied pains ofourRu- 
 lers, we have attain d to that happineffe, which oj 
 late years we could rather wifli, than hope for: and 
 feeing above hope , and beyond expe&ation, 
 
 Cod 
 
The Epiftle Dedicatory. 
 
 ' God bath afpcar'd for our falvation Wfettlemenc 
 ! both in Church and Common-wealth; it were to be la- 
 \ mentedthat anyfkould be f.mdfo great an enemy to their 
 \\ own felicity,^ to tall for new troubles phen the wounds 
 J of the old (though healed with a tender and skilful 
 ,j hand) are yet blew: orfofar in love with their own mi- 
 | fery, at to put away from them this precious mercy, and 
 ^not rather with heart and both hands to entertain it, to 
 ! be contented and thankful. 
 
 j Moft honoured Lady , God hath given you your 
 I hearts de fire , to live in peace under a rightful Govern- 
 ment. And the Affeaions of your mofi worthy husband 
 ,*nd your felt fo happily meeting in the love of Truth 
 .(and Peace : in the diflike *f Error and Schifm : your 
 jcontmualpraclice of Piety, and in the worfhip and fer- 
 XiCQofGodyourchearful conformity (to the Order 
 of the Church *f England by Law eftablifhtd) doth let 
 the world know the mofi truly Religious, and mofi judi- 
 cious, are mo ft conformable. Long may you both live s 
 (to move like ftars, in your own Sphere J a light and di- 
 rection %n every good way, to all that are below you. He 
 Mde no more\ after I have beg'd of your Ladifhip to ac* 
 kept of thu m y moil humble fervice; and of my mofi 
 tarty wifhes, for a happy New-year. 
 \ And I pray God, eve ry Revolution of the year, may 
 fnng with it a Renovation of your health , honour, 
 fud outward profperity,Wr£ an encreafe ofallffiritual 
 ^jizcts 3 and heavenly b\eftin°s,tmtilyou come to the ex- 
 change of 'time for Eternity, for the which I (hall not 
 VMfe to be importunate at the Throne of Grace whilsl 
 [jr am 
 
 il Jan. ?. i66n. 7? A v v -c t> _ 
 
CO 
 
 THE 
 
 ROYAL ROBE 
 
 OR, A 
 
 TREATISE 
 
 OF 
 
 MEEKNESSE. 
 
 COL 3.12. 
 Put on Meekpejfi. 
 
 Here is mention in Scri- 
 pture of ijirft, indie- lCoj r^ 
 coud Adam 5 the jSw,is 47. 
 
 of the earth eart%: f^f^ 
 
 1 . r , . \Jj fat humz- 
 
 the /f/wMf is; the Lord n \ gemr ^ 
 from heaven. Thefe taw are the two n' mce P s > 
 
 B to 
 
wr^mm - ■ ■•m 
 
 2 Of Nleekmffe 
 
 . to a twofold eftate of Nature and 
 
 83$$ •*■*. The W ^ w is th f ff 
 
 pinccp fc thor or principle of oar natural Itje, 
 c £ut- he being the Root of all mankind. 
 
 " rW Eft in I Cor. If. 45. Per.Mar. Tn > Oar. H. ***!**■ 
 
 a^rfMarUn : Cor 15.45- 
 
 Calvin. «/><«• Marl.in 1 Cor.15.45- 
 
 TheSraW is the Author of our 
 Spiritual lifejie being the root of the 
 Eph.j.ij. £/<tf,the Wand Srfwwrot his bo- 
 dy the CW. Now as all men de- 
 rive their nature from! the nrft A- 
 Rom 5- ' l <£«» • fo alfo the Corruption that 
 iC om5- it hath contracted, being all co- 
 "■ vered over with it , conceived in 
 Pfa „ , finne, and borne in iniquity fil- 
 *Lr » W with deprav d affedions and evil 
 ZSZ, concurrence, breaking forth into 
 
Or y the RoyalRobe* 2 
 
 finfullxhoughts, words and a<ftk>ns 5 Jam« r . 
 altogether defiled and unclean, and l4 iM $ 
 this Corruption derived from thefirft 
 ^W,wherewith mans natures tain- 
 ted^ called the old man which muft Col. 3 . | 
 be put off with his deeds. The new 
 ^/^growes out of the jeebnd Adam y 
 the effe& of his Merit, Grace mdjpi- 
 nt h corppleat in all the parts oingh- 
 eottfaeffe^nd true bolinejfe, filled with Rom - T ?. 
 all heavenly Gifts in believing^ this CoI 15 ; o 
 new man muft be put on*. 
 . Here the Apoftle inftrufts us in the 
 two fundamentals of Chrifiiamty , 
 CM unification and Renovation^ and 
 that his Exhortation may take the 
 better, and make the deeper impref- 
 U0n,he ufes thtMctafhor oiptttngon 
 %ndo^ that it may be knowne whofe 
 we are, and to whom we belong* 
 Wh&k livery wc ivear, and whofe 
 Velours webear 5 ifwebeC^i/?^and 
 belong tothefecond^^ we muft 
 fat on the Gark of Cbrifiiamty, pdt 
 
 B ' % 
 
 on 
 
4 of Meekpefie, 
 
 etl as the Eleti ofGodMl *rdbdoved, 
 Bowels of Mercies, kindne^hnmble- 
 nefleofmnd, weehcfs , Long-^er- 
 
 Now of the Graces,vertues, fruits 
 of the Spuit here mentioned, I have 
 fmpledout»«,achoife one, and it is 
 
 jtf«*«M whichI am now Putpofed 
 to/JwMndtoj?wi-ofitasitishe;e 
 
 propounded as a G*n»wt to be fUf on. 
 Rom. i J- '^ n d indeed M«t»# isa ?*"»»"* 
 Gl i. 3 . \% meet foraChriftians wear, the Avo- 
 Eph. 4 »4- tf/« hath failed it for us, and here 
 JF& 6 ' - commends it to us, to be p* w •, P«* 
 &*•- w mtktntfc. It is.a M«*p*« ; where- 
 tra' t# w i t htheApoftle feemes to be much 
 \t£V delightedly which he would give us 
 l« few* tounderftand, that wrrt« 4**yf«' 
 J* 7 *". S are W^-,and tf ^ to the Bwafcare 
 £«£ as ^Ke//to the W»,to be P « f J 
 Ar'ft-""-- an d off. And as a fordid ragged anc 
 
 ;ri ? eri a nd difhonour theHr, fo <lo w 
 *«*&«. t h e f^. W d as a clean and cornel; 
 idem ibid, i C.xrmen 
 
Or, the Royal Roh. % 
 
 i Garment doth honour and beautifie 
 ; -thtbody^ fo do vertues beautifie md 
 adorne the foul. And as it is uafighc- 
 ly and unfeemely to appear in publike 
 | on an high and folemne day in a torne 
 i and filthy Garment foin the light of 
 - the Gofpel and in the day of Salvation 
 j it is diflioneftand uncomely to be 
 ! doathed with fin and vice. St Paul R «m*i* 
 condemnes k" as a pra&ice unr^afo- 
 nableand abfurd, that we whoVe 
 | dead to fin, (hould live any longer 
 ; therein. The father could tell his fon 
 | now come to perfed years -jamque Kom ' *' * 
 h&c at as aliamvitam^alios mores Pofiu- Teren . *n 
 lat h before the light of the Goftdjhe Andr * 
 | times of that ignorance God winked Ads / r * 
 \ at: now the time of the Gofpel xz- 
 j quires another courfcof///^ let it fufc 
 ifice to have mifpent the time paft; 
 | for the time to come, bring forth 
 I fruits worthy of amendment of life, i p e t. 4 , 5 . 
 ] faith $ohn the Baptift. Sin no more J 4 ****- 
 ]/ faith Chrift). Iniquity is .a Itfa- j^ s £ 
 B j ragement 
 
'^ OfUeehejfc. 
 
 fakement to Cbrifiiamty^and therefore 
 let every one that calleth upon the 
 
 iiim. x. name of the Lord depart from Ini- 
 l? ' quity-, let not him that is fikhy be 
 
 Rcv.zm filthy (till, but let him cleanfehim- 
 felfe from all filthinefTe of theflefh 
 
 jjtCor.tli and fpiric, perfecting holinefs in the 
 fsareoi God. 
 
 We mu&ftrippeom felvesof the 
 Rams of old Adam, (our fins and vi- 
 ces)by true and unfained repentance, 
 zxxdfHi'dn the New Man^ which ac- 
 cording unto God is Created in -righ- 
 teoufnefle and true holinefie- 7 ltifli- 
 f cation and Santfifieation^ which are 
 
 Col. 3. 10. piionby faith aud love, wherewith 
 the Spwfe of chrift is all glorious 
 
 pfai. 4 y. wittiqj 5 & t ' ie ground work i her 
 ckwthingof Wrought Gold\sii\\ rai- 
 ment of needlewbrk 3 wrought about 
 with divers colours,are thole feveral 
 *vertaes and grace) \ wherewith a Chri- 
 stians conversion is adorned, where- 
 with the (poufe of 'chrift is decked/et 
 
 forth 
 
 *h *4« 
 
Or y tbe&oyal&obe. J 
 
 forth intht Canticles in the Kofe&nd cant. 2.1; 
 Zi/AV 5 the iter// and the S&phiyejmts 
 oifemlsfhrints'oi Gold, Borders of Canr.i.io> 
 CW*/, with finds o{ Silver, thatis. 
 Bowels of Mercits, kindneffe, hum- 
 blenefieof mind, Meekneffe, long 
 fuffering, which the Coloflians are* 
 and we in them 3 here exhorted to put 
 on. 
 
 Put on*-*-lAeekneffe. 
 
 Meekenefie, is the fubjeii lam to 
 fpeake to. 
 
 Theufeweare to make of it* ? It 
 muft be put on. 
 
 Firft of the fubjed, Meekneffe. 
 
 Meekneffe is of excellent life in 
 jOHr Chrifiian Conversions we can 
 ! tetter be without our Apparel then 
 (Without it*, for we can neither live 
 (Contentedly, nor die Comfortably 
 B 4 1 with* 
 
8 -OfMeikneffe,. 
 
 without Mecincffc.- The holy Scrip- 
 ture highly commends it : Chrift 
 Matth.jr.y- Crowns it .with eternal bleffedneffe.* 
 and God he will guide the meek in 
 Pfal 2< , judgement: and the meeke Tie will 
 teach his way.- he will fave all the 
 Pfai.76. r Meeke of the earthjhe will beautifiie 
 f the meeke with Salvation-,and there- 
 
 • 1 *?• 4- £ or e y ut m Meekne([e, 
 
 And now, about to _fpea te of 
 
 MeekneffeJ cannot begin better than 
 
 Ho crave a tafte of it in your Attcn- 
 
 ft'00, inthe words of the Apoftle, 
 
 jAm.i.ii, Receive with Meekneffe the ingrafted 
 
 woid^&c. In fpeaking of Meefaejfe, 
 
 I will fay fomewhat of the nature 
 
 of it, and fomewhat of the kinds of 
 
 it. 
 
 AijiXib.4. For the nature of it, it is amoral 
 
 ftfer.cs. ver ttH h and vertue^ to fpeak plainly, 
 
 is the right ufe of Reafonin the gc- 
 
 verment of the affections wind faff ions 
 
 of the yi#/(?5 for knowledge o^c reafcv 
 
 being an Allot the [me refulting 
 
 from 
 
Or, the Hoy al R obe* 9 
 
 from the prime faculty the mind or 
 understanding* by difcourfe, doth 
 worke npon the Inferiour part of the 
 Joule y the will and affeclions, tnformes 
 them in the choice ^nd rectifies them ^l l J mt 
 in the »/f of things" good and law- SS*. 
 tull^ hence comes pafion to be ruled tz.apm- 
 by reajon, and Reafon to be guided by ^^ Ber ^ 
 Religion, and then is a Christian Man 
 in his right temper when the Will 
 and Affe&ions with all external ani- 
 ons are ordered according to the en- 
 lightened rule oiRecttfiedReafon. 
 
 Affections we cannot be without, 
 for they are natural, implanted in the $f e f&* k 
 foule by the Maker of it, and the ope- nimt ad 
 rations of tHem /are not in vaine^ for ^ft'V 
 of great ufe they are in Religion-? they> u*im # 
 help to devotion and to dutie^ they are Mjmuduc. 
 the wings of the foul that carrie it up pf;/f^' 
 to Heaven in Devotion 7 and they are d[frt. 7 . 
 
 . izi.b. 
 
 Ajfecim velut uhertat ■>/? natural li : , ad qiiam cum virus tultus 
 acce]ferit,fiatim ccdentibtts vitiis,jruges virtutis srigWutigLji&m 
 Uj i cap.if.ad-fuftMpf. m lib. * Mamid. ad S^.PhilofA.7. 
 
 the 
 
ro Of Mcefoejfe. 
 
 dfoJtioiu' ^ vtWtn ^ 6 f t ^ e l ml that carries it onia 
 
 UufyaMgite- dutk t$ God-, were there not afeUions, 
 
 bit omnu we fliouid neither/!?^* God, nor love 
 
 d ^°nc %- Goodneffe, nor hate evil, nor dtfirc bap- 
 
 gor mimi pi ntffe , nor rejoyce in the Lord, nor 
 
 reftteetttr. \ t zealous for his glory-, yet the affec- 
 
 Sira! * titos when they are in their Elevati- 
 
 confute^*- on, and grow into exceff e 3 they de- 
 
 f m$L frw$^« iftt0 M*^ 3 and j$*>*i 
 
 3. Ato*i tee feu md fierce-, qua data porta ru- 
 adstoicm unth upon any occafion break forth 
 am%fen. mxo diftemper to the great dlfquiet 
 7-p.in.t. and difturbance of the mind; Now 
 No* emm vertue it is that does Moderate, finds 
 
 ratio Om- r . ~ 5 . 
 
 nm pw- out a meane, lets the ajjettions in a 
 
 jus eveite. right frame and temper-, brings into 
 
 "LvJnZ' the foul a (wen confent, a heavenly 
 
 *n\tn\ co- harmony ^ablefied tranquillity. 
 
 nttuY^cum 
 
 nequz fieri id pit/fit ncq/tt expediit: fed prompt firem ti yuend-m 
 qui impon'it odj?icm*hi?ai'ratque vittut&s mobiles qua nonfunt 
 vatiiilitcs moiumt feu affeftuum kjvmjea cortmmcdiocitatrs, 
 & cmcmtates,\&c. Vlumch.devirtutc Moral, cap. 10. 
 
 The off eft ions mdpaffunts are of 
 
 them- 
 
Or, the Royal Kobe. i i 
 
 themfelves unruly, head-ftroag and w& piu- 
 
 violence m/<fo»<? and Grace which ^^ 
 
 God gives to keep in and under thefe dc'vimtl 
 
 brutifh affections , and fweetly to mrali - 
 
 temper them, is <vertue $ it bounds Briutpak 
 
 the affetiions , and binds up the />*/- devkdtm: 
 
 Cms. which like nocent beafis (if 7*1? '' M 
 
 they enjoy d their own liberty) r *ar, mi- 
 
 would do much harrne and ftrangely ram e wr\ 
 
 diftemper the world as well as man, Vltlf^lc 
 
 tranquilli- 
 t.ite &c. it a vehwemes, furhfos rabidofqifi motusra.- 
 'liozxivix\t % &c. Per to:, cap. 20 . lib. Plutarch, de vlrtme 
 
 The ad: of vertue then is to ob- W/i^l 
 ferve a golden mean between two ^f^ ™* 
 extremes^ and fo we fee in temfe- ^^fM 
 rance^ whereof Meekneffe iszffecies, di^^ J 
 it is liberal without lavifhnefte. : Iru- ^P'^m 
 gal without Covetou[neffe:Civilmth- Ev 
 out \ullenmff : Staid without (loth- 
 fulnefje {[affable without wtntonneffe . 
 Modefl without affectation : Shame- 
 faced without ignorance: Zealous with- 
 out 
 
ijj Of Meeknejfe, 
 
 Ml Rafbneffe z devout, and yet not fa- 
 perflitious :preci(e,but not [eruptions : 
 feveye but notin]nrios: Auflere^bxxt not 
 malicious : ftrittjbut not Contention 
 in a word,it bridles Anger , mitigateth 
 grief i, moderateth pj, that a man is 
 neither over- joyd at the fruition, nor 
 over-griev'd at the want or lofle of 
 things moft dear and delightfull. Ic 
 fheweth, vohen^ and how farre, and for 
 rvhat^ we may be angry, or ghd, or for- 
 rovofull; where we mud love ,and what 
 we muft hate$ and feafons all our Ac- 
 tions with that due time which is ap- 
 pointed for every thing under the 
 Jtm. And as for Meekenefe^k is 
 chiefely fhewn in bearing and for- 
 bearing. 
 
 For he is Meeke that being pro- 
 voked by in] (tries, doth patiently 
 beare,.M\d having opportunities of 
 Revenge put into nis hands, doj:h qui- 
 etly for he are. 
 
 The Meeie (faith Beza) are the 
 
 gentle, 
 
0r, the Royal Kobe. L j 
 
 gentle, mild 5 and courteous, oppofd 
 to fuch as are wild, fierce and favage. 
 
 He is 'Meeke (faith Hemingiws*) 
 that bridles his ajfeBions^ who is not 
 eafily provokt.and very ready to for- Mtesfm 
 gweminjurie. 
 
 He is Meeke ( faith Melanchthon) 
 that poiTeflTeshis foul inpatience^conr 
 tents himfelf, and leaves vengeance 
 \mto God, 
 
 He is Meeke (faith Calvin) that 
 refiftethnot evilly but overcometh piw 
 evill whh good. - wo * w ' 
 
 He is Meeke (kith Arnbro. Cath. ) 
 whobridieth his affeclions that he is 
 not Angry, or being Angry^ finneth 
 not.- 
 
 He is Meeke ( faith Caffiodorus ) 
 that fuffers all monges , and jw/srfi' 
 none. 
 
 He isMwfc ( faith ffi^) who 
 isfofarre from doing hurt, that he 
 thinks none. 
 
 By thefe defcriptions which thefe' 
 
 Authors 
 
i4 OfMeefyeffe, 
 
 Author give of the Meeke,\vt eafily 
 underftand what the nature of Meek- 
 ae(fe is. It is a rare vertue^ the true 
 Character of a Saint, the proper Garbe 
 ofEle&ion,San(5tification. ) Adoption # 
 By it we relemble God the Father 
 who is xhzFather of Mercies, m& God 
 iCor.1.3. ofallConiblation. 
 
 By it we referable God the Son, 
 whofe proper Attribute is to be 
 Mat.n.29 Meekemdlowely. 
 
 By it we referable God the Holy 
 Ghofi the Comforter ^ who to (hew the 
 meek and Gentle properties of his 
 nature , appeared in the fhape of a 
 to -* x f- dove. 
 
 It is a Certaine figne of heavenly- 
 mindednejfe*, for as the fupe,rior part 
 I vats fapr of the world, and that which is near- 
 : : r £ r Xt eftthe/4rw,hath neitherC/*** nor 
 I tm,acpro- Stormes^ nor any Meteers engendered 
 
 ftpinqm (7- 
 
 I de<ib?is> nee in nubem eoghur, nzc in tempefiatem impclli 'frr, ncc 
 I vsrfatur in tx-binm-.onmi tumultH cn:ct ^inferior 1 fulr, ■'■n&nt .Se- 
 ; nscaiib.^. dc Iiacip.6. 
 
 irx 
 
Or^ the Royal Kobe. ij 
 
 fa ic ? nor i$ it fubjed to perturbation; 
 &mm timultu caret^zW is cairn & quiet 
 thererwhereas thundering 5 lightning 3 
 ftormes,and tempeft$ 5 are engende- 
 red in the lower parts. So the good 
 Chriftian whofe Converfation is in 
 heaven 5 whofe thoughts are above 
 the Cleudsy and is mov'd with no- 
 thing here below is free from M*/- 
 lice y envie^ revenge, hatred y difdaia^ 
 
 j and is alwayes Lalme^qukty mode ft, 
 
 j mildygentU. 
 
 Meekenefek is placed betweene i^jj^^: 
 
 two extreames. ?' kyte' 
 
 On the one fide is Anter, a hot !&£&: 
 
 nerce ana fiery ya\\iw % ^ ««rcW 
 
 On the other fide Lenitude, or ra- ¥^*i ^ 
 
 ther dulneffe and ftupidity D a fl@w 5 Yv&Wh 
 
 idle, dull affe&ion. (u'wrg- 
 
 Theformetofthefe I may com- °^ f7 ^ m 
 
 | pare to fire-, the Prophet hath done ^^ Z^l 
 
 Vte. Arifh lit. i, Ethic, cap. 7* 
 
 it 
 
i5 Ofw& ne $ e - 
 
 it for vat : flu 11 thy wrath burn like 
 fire t the latter unto water, which of 
 it felfe without an higher Principle 
 of Nature,is cold andchill 5 very hard- 
 ly either moved to good, or remov'd 
 from evils thus the Meek man is fet 
 inthemidft of evil: if he incline to 
 one hand , he is in danger to be 
 fcorch'd with the burning fire of an- 
 ger: if to the other hand , to be 
 drown d in the dead fea of dulnefle 
 or fenfeleffe ftupiditj; medio tttif- 
 
 rilh lib- 4. r r l \ ' i_ 
 
 Ethicc f. fimus -, no (afety but in a meane be- 
 tween the two 5 and that is Meek- 
 nefs. 
 
 Thus the meek man muft pafle 
 through fire and water •, fo the Pfal- 
 mift fpeaking of the injuries Gods 
 people endured, fets forth how hard* 
 ly they were put to it, We went(faith 
 he) through fire, and through water: 
 but thou br ought efl us out into a weal- 
 thy place. The meek man in the 
 midlt of milchief hath the promife 
 
 of 
 
 tv(. Arift. 
 Eth. Lc 6. 
 
 iih lib. 
 
 KaUtf.i* 
 
Or , the Royal Kobe . iy 
 
 |b£ Gods prefence and prote&ion, 
 ;//i.43.2. When thou f^e(l through ir 
 |f fo n^ter, / tfv# £<? #/>& lfe<? : <*«</ 
 through the rivers jibej fha/i not ever* 
 \flew thee : when thou rvdkeft through 
 {the fire^ thou {halt not be hurnt^ mi* 
 ther /hall the fame kindle %pn thee% 
 find this for the Nature cfi/ieeknefie. 
 
 For the kinds ofMeeknefa There 
 [is a Mejsknef towards God , and a 
 Meeknejfe towards mm. 
 
 For Meeknefje refpe&eth both' 
 God and man ; It fets the foul itf £ 
 right temper to Gi)d^ aad aHb to' 
 man. \ 
 
 Meefaeffetomtis Godjs a willing 
 and ready fubmiffion of our /W<^~ 
 1^?^^ and Affe&ionj to the will and 
 jpleafure of God in all things, without 
 (fretting, tmiririurmg or repining. 
 
 For as we muft not cjueftbri the 
 'the fafticetf God in fnfitriag the 
 kicked to pr<?j^rr: 
 
 So neither nauft we m»m#rt£t 
 C the 
 
18 OfUeeknejfe 
 
 the godneflfe and providence of Gad 
 infuffering the godly to he afflifled. 
 Why God doth differ it to go ill 
 with the good, and well with the bwii 
 that the vvorft proffer beft, and the 
 beft fuffer moft, is a fecret of divine 
 frovidrnce which we muft fubmit un- 
 to, notqucftion: knowing ihztrvick* 
 e*/men, the more happy they are, 
 the more wretched they are-, for what 
 greater Wretchednefs can therebethen 
 to profper in evil Courfes i Gods deal- 
 ings in this particular, &his difpenfa 
 tion of outward bleffings is both wife 
 and jufi. Why God dothfo or fo,he is 
 not bound to give us anacconnt^ ft 
 iret he may be, unjuli he cannot be. 
 Here then let us acquiefce-,the Ju 
 ftice olGod herein is not to be accufed 
 of partiality, as if he lightly pa (Ted 
 by, zci&flightly pafifed over the fins oi 
 fome,asan Accepter of ' perfons (when, 
 God knows there is nothing in then 
 pcrfons he mould accept)but wemuff 
 
 let 4 
 
Of y the Royal Robe* %$ 
 
 !:t God alone with his own Work, and 
 iifferhim to take his owjjh^ for 
 aough he permit the wicked to pref- 
 er, to proceed arid go on in aaun- 
 jiterruptedftate of outward felicity 
 M immunity from dangers^ though 
 !e feeme to order and diipofe all oc- 
 lifions and occurents for tbeir ad- 
 lantemenim this prefent world-, and 
 though theybe not unfurnifhed of 
 ;etences bothplaufible and pleafing 
 s a thing Cuflomable and Common 
 
 the world, and therefore the 
 jfle queftionablc 5 and more excu- 
 pie in the judgments ot corrupt 
 \en ) entertaining any means , un- 
 I'rtaking any condition , laying hold 
 [any advantage, flicking at no- 
 ting that may help or further their 
 '"•tcreft, or mount them to the top 
 
 their depress yet that light y and 
 :I1 pfe notions they labour to quench^ 
 " d eradicate, breaks in upon them 1 5 
 many times iu the midft of their 
 C z coa- 
 
SO of Meetyejfe y 
 
 confidence they are brought into 
 ftraights $ and at length thofe dread- 
 ful curfes and maledi&ions , which 
 continually doggc them^ will furely o^ 
 vertake them, either at their paffagi 
 out of this life, or entrance into an] 
 other,(though Babjlon fit as a Queen, 
 and fee no forrow, yet God dotb 
 know her day is coming ) So Goc 
 may connive at them, he confents no 
 to tfyem : He may feeine to pav' 
 their way to hell with oyle and buc 
 ter : fuffer them to play with th: 
 Wajpe and Hornets neft, till they b 
 ftung to death j they have all thing 
 they can defire, but as nets and [nafe. 
 and a cttrfe withal, as the jfraeltti 
 had guailes-j we fee their open f rid 
 we fee not their fecret pinches. Er 
 vie not therefore the profperity < 
 wicked men , fret not thy felfe h 
 caufe of evil doers y but obferve ti 
 PM.3M end of the Lord. ' 
 
 Surely their cendui&n is uncd 
 
 tai 
 
Or , the Royal Robe, gi 
 
 iain,they have no fure ftanding$ God 
 jath fet them in flippery places, and 
 feeir foot fliall flip in due time 5 which n*\. 7h 
 lould invite them to repentance, or a ) 8 - 
 reater/^rand therefore that God f[ aI *^' 
 (Oth fuffer them 3 and fufpend his 
 rengeance, as it doth commend his 
 ftience and abundant clemencie s fo 
 (lould it filence our murmuring, 
 jiufe us applaud his wisdom and 
 J/n^to be contented with hisdea- Job. 1U7 . 
 jigs, and put on meeknef. Pfai.ip. 
 
 j I fenowhowmany good men have vtii 75 . 3 
 tenfirangelyaffeded at Gods do- &c - 
 gs in this kind. $ob and David? Jer 
 |d Ajapb and Jeremiah with othersl 
 jit after a thorough fearch and exa-" 
 sf nation of Gods wates 5 they refted 
 ijerewith not contented only but 
 tnkful, acknowledging their ar- 
 ks and overfight, and admiring the 
 jlice of heaven, who fooner or la- 
 [will not fuffcr the wicked to go <;«,.,* 
 jpunilhed. When their miquitje m ' - 
 
 H.J: 
 
22 OfMeeheffc. 
 
 Rev.14. is full, and the harvcft of their fins 
 is. ripe, Godwill put in his fide, and 
 
 they (hall foon be cut down as t-e 
 Hal. 3 7.1 g r afs,and wither as the green herb, 
 And if they (cape free in this life as 
 feldomethey dp, yet in the life tc 
 come they ihall meet with wrath anc 
 vengeance in full vials: and there- 
 fore though ft out andftubborn [inner 
 do think to bear up themfelves 9 
 gainft the ju^ice of heaven, yet fcnov 
 there is placed over fhem an armec 
 revenger who will not acquit thi 
 wicked of his doings; for Gods pati 
 ence and [tlenct have fixed bounds 
 he will plead hisowncaufe 5 wi!l righ 
 his Saints,and punifh the wicked at 
 ter their defervings : For the tim 
 when he will do it, that we mui 
 leave to GWy it is not for us to kno^ 
 the times and feafons, which the Ri 
 ther • hath kept in his own powei 
 AU that we know is, that there | 
 tTHthin Gods word y 2Xid power in h 
 
 han 
 
 Afts- 1.7- 
 
Or, the Royal Robe. 23 
 
 md. He is not ( as Cacilius in 
 %mutiiu Felix alledges) invalidus 
 itt- iniqitus, unable and eannoc, or - 
 pjuft and will not ^ but he both can 
 ad will make good his word upon 
 iem. For the time when, and the 
 paeans how he will do it, we muft 
 jave to his ordering : we havefeen 
 leteorsbhie by night, and perifh the 
 pt morning with the Rifing Sun. 
 tfiey have their Heaven here , till Pfai.^. 
 jddenly the Oracles of God take J^ 
 \zcty and then in a moment they i^..' 21 
 tmbie into the pit. Pfai. ?7 . 
 
 Their good is not in their handfov pf a J ' 
 moment fliall devour them with 19 
 ■mr portions. Though they fcape 2 p * c ='* 
 Ufa time, thinking, fpeaking, doing pfau*. 
 hat they pleafe, wallowing as Swine 1 h 
 the mire, -and fatted as Buls of Ba~ \ a Per * * 
 « for the day of (laughter $y ct when Luk. 23 .. ^ 
 ie Heavens fliali melt, and the j£ 
 §&mmm be fiaoved ^ what covert i&.^^ 
 
 ii hide thejn from that »wtf& *m*q.s s 
 C<$ which 
 
 . 
 
 
H 
 
 Vitfyna. 
 facra Veo 
 comburip 
 tkr, abrijtit 
 offarn B'wc 
 Aquila, ad 
 f alios fcrt 
 que itteiw- 
 dafuos;?*- 
 tali ignicu 
 Ins pad* 
 itnpeicejt.'is 
 adbtGt 5 
 Sdcrikgit- 
 
 oft. & 
 
 14. 
 
 Pfalji. 
 
 lia-lSitf. 
 Rare ante- 
 
 fceltftum 
 defn&t 
 pedz $<zna 
 e'audi. 
 Re. ix. 1 9. 
 
 Of Meeknejfe, 
 
 whidh they (hall not be able to abide I 
 $r evade * 
 
 No mans niifeiy then being great- 
 er then theirs whofe impiety is 
 mod fortunate, there is greater caufe 
 for them to bewail their own unhap- ' 
 pinefs, then others to tnvy or mux- 
 wre at their happy eftate. 
 
 There is a me for him that en- 
 creafcth that which is not his$ we 
 readofthe^/^fnatching a mortal 
 from the Altar, carried therewith the 
 Cod that confam'd her nefi, and 
 burnt up hei young ones: means ill 
 gotten will one day more torments 
 man> than ever it did enrich him $ and 
 a fucceding age ( if not before ) (hail 
 fee them melt to nothing. 
 
 In the mean time let us take the 
 Pfolmifts advice, to tarry the Lords; 
 leafure, and to wait his good plea- 
 fare-, Far thej that believe, mil not 
 make baft, rtngume is Goisjje mil 
 refaj) it mtkedteft go befae, t/<?*~ 
 
 geance 
 
Or, the Royal Robe. 2$ 
 
 f e&nct is not far behind : it follows 
 cloie at the heels of wickednefs $ 
 though hand go in handset fhall not the Pro.ir, 
 wicked go unfunijhed. For God mil ZI - 
 wound the head ef his enemies, and the v ^i 6Zm 
 hairy Jcalp of ftich an one as goeth en *i; 
 fliSinhis mcke&nefs. 
 
 I know fome are too hafly, and 
 would prevent God *, will take upon 
 ithem to prefcribe him voaies and 
 \ weans, like the two fpns of Zcbedie^ Lu k-M4* 
 jfire they muft have from heaven: . W 
 four Saviour reproves their rajh ani'xvi,^%. 
 i heady fyaly and tels them they know 
 1 not of what ffirit they are. Chrifi 
 I was their Mafter 3 and it is fit the 
 bifciplesftiovld be of their Mafiers 
 ffirit. It was a prime leflbn he 
 I would have them learn, Learn of m 
 \ for "I am meek and lowly: it feems 2? / 
 
 St- Paul had well cond this leffon^nd 
 1 therefore commends it to the pra- GaJ ■ 
 I &\fe of his Brethren as tht beft ornx- 
 
 mtnt of their profeffion. 
 
 The 
 
%6 Of Meefaefli. 
 
 The fpirit of chrift is a fpirit of 
 meehnefs^ He came not to deflroj mens 
 *- u -M*« lives, hm to fave them. And fuch-a 
 fpirit bed becomes them who call 
 themfelves by the name of Chrtft- y 
 they are much to feek who think 
 Chrift will have his canfe vindicated 
 with fire and (word. That the feffe- 
 mies of Cbrijl deferve no better, no 
 man doubts-, but if every one ihould 
 have his defei t , the world would 
 have an end;and therefore Peter muft 
 Man6. up with his fwsrd : $amt$ and John 
 * 2 ' muft out with their fire: there will 
 
 beuieof- both, but they muft ftay 
 his leafurc until he call who hath the 
 command of both. 
 ' But Harare impatient, think the 
 time long, which meafured by their 
 diftemper.ed appetites, they flie out 
 into pifsion, and accufe God dfflzfh 
 nef\ and think they are wrong'd, if 
 they be not prefently revengM,whea 
 their betters forbear and are ftill un- 
 
 reveng'd: 
 
Or, the Woyal Kobe. 27 
 
 I reveng'd: wedaylyfeeit- 7 Gto/tf />™- 
 ! *vfked everyday, he 'fuffers much, and pfal, 7 %11 * 
 ! he(uff&slwg,as dCtrt is preffed tt>at Amos a. 
 j is full of [heaves * He bears the y&w 13. 
 1 of men, and forbears his judgments, 
 \ not this day, and the next, but how Mat. ^; 
 <?/}«*? he bore with the lfraelites f£i 
 ioorty years -, with the old world one 10. 
 hundred and twenty ywj$ and ftill Gen -^3* 
 tvevy day, and all the ^y long, he 
 reacheth forth the hand of mercy to a Ifa ^ 5<i 
 -gain- fay ingulf/*. God hath iw- Ko.-rou, 
 geance in his /w*r 5 bct not in his m/7/-, 
 if he were as impatient as man is, the 
 fdo'ater in his Sacrifice : the fmarer in 
 his hUfphemy: the unclean perfon in 
 his ' Adultery : the formalist in his 
 Hyp eerily: the Epicure in the mid ft 
 or his drunkenness and gluttony : and 
 Tyrants in their r^ 4#d? m*<?//y had 
 been confum'd, 
 
 God is mwged, y et he endures iz: « ' 
 God fufifers, what no man would *#- 
 «for*.Nay,the ScnefGodtfefa cbrift 
 
 cur. 
 
a% OfMeeknejfe, 
 
 #or L Wis not yet avenged of the in- 
 juries that have been done unto \xm , 
 the Indignities that have been caff 
 upon him: the Blafphemies fpoken 
 againft his name ♦, the Crudtie s done 
 againft his fervants -,Hovv long Lord 
 holy and true i oh ! the meeknefs^ 
 gtntlenejs and patience of a bleffed Sa- 
 
 %n*.io. viour, to fuffer a company of worms 
 and vermine upon eart n to blafphems 
 that name, whom all thehoft of hea- 
 ven do adore : He is judged of men : 
 
 Jo.8.1* . ' ^ Ht ^ j*dg*tb no man : and although 
 the Father hath committed alljudg- 
 
 johf.ii. mmt t0 ^ e Sonr > y et ^ e Sm &£ 
 
 pendeth his judgment until the ap- 
 pointed time, to which he hath re- 
 Aft.x7.j1. ierved the unjuft to be punifhed > 
 iPcm. vv i» e n he fliall be revealed from hea- 
 ven with his mighty Angels^ in fla- 
 ming fire, taking vengeance on all 
 them that know not God, and obey 
 not the Gofpel of our Lord fefus 
 Cbrift, And the holy Gfo/l is grei- 
 
 <ved 
 
Or.tbeKoyalKobe. 29 
 
 ved every day, refifted, dejpited, tUf* |^9 
 pbemed*, his motions quenched: his Heb.io, a ^ I 
 infpirations (mothered: his operations Mar. 12. 
 interrupted :yaiti\l he waits 5 expe&s, Liuia.io, 
 ftands at thedore,and knocks .* thus Aa. 18 6. 
 he doth yet , but thus he will notal- ** bcf ' *• 
 wales do-, the fpirit of the Lord vi& Rev. 3.40. 
 not alwaies drive with mam for that Sen. 6. }. 
 heisbut/?f/fc; he will withdraw, and 
 will at laft give place to that heavy 
 indignation, which (hall break forth 
 from the prejence tfthe Lord,md from 
 the glory of his power. Let us do as 
 God does, judg not before the times 
 he is/7g^<rwinaUhiswaies, and the 
 difpenfetions of his providence are 
 moft wife and good. Wherefore let 
 us not judgamifs in repining or mur- 
 muring, either at our own Offerings, 
 Qxzzhislong'fufferingthote that are 
 not his. But let every one in the 
 fear of God, be careful to wqrk out 
 their own Salvation: and as for Gods 
 tmrnies aad theirs , let them pray for 
 
 their 
 
ZG Of Mtefyiejfe) 
 
 their converf.on, and not folicite their 
 fubverfion before the appointed time. 
 
 Peter was chek'd for his curiofity'm 
 demanding concerning tfbhtii what 
 fhall this man do< If I will (faith 
 loh.n. Qfojfi ) chat he (lay till I come, wlnt- 
 is that to thee. ? follow thou me. W hat 
 and if it be the will of God both tares 
 Mat.ij, and wheat fhould grow up together 
 3°- to the harveft . ? What and if God 
 
 willing to (hew his wrath, and to 
 make his power known, endure with 
 much patience the veflels of wrath 
 fitted to deftrudion f fhall man re- 
 pine at the doings of his Maker ? ra- 
 ther in all humility let us fubmit our 
 (elves to bis moft juft and wife Ibfigm 
 mentf^ reft contented with his pro- 
 ceedings, and futon meeknefs. 
 
 Secondly, as we muft not call in 
 Queftion thejufliceoi God in fulle- 
 ring the wicked to profper, fo nei- 
 ther muft we.murmure at zhegoodnefs 
 and frovidcnce of God in fuflering 
 
 the 
 
 Ko.^.221 
 
Or } the Vxojal Rcbe* . g I 
 
 the godly to be affiided. Jo.i*.i<* | 
 
 t or affliction is the Srf/fltt lot ; the fl"ic. 2<te 
 
 portion oi the Righteous •, the Legacy PC34.19. 
 
 C hnft bequeathed his ownDifcipies: ^jhe 4 ' 2 * 
 
 in the world yefhallhave trouble 5 xTim^V 
 
 and in the whole book of God we read J1 ' 
 
 ot one that finned not , but not of a- \ it ° r, * # 
 
 ny one that fuffered not. Job. i 4 .t; 
 
 Ecd.40.1- 
 iPe.4.12. 
 
 ptittusi-feivus CbrifH, fn.c tvtbuUhne rfc fi put as tenon. b&~ 
 
 here per fee uti on?s,. nondwrt ccepifii effe Chriftimus^ Aug. 
 
 Si except hs e"s pafftoif fl,??eUorum> exceptus es a mu,° 
 nt.zf/irum. Iditn de pajf. r.de Hicron. adEuftoch. 
 
 And therefore reafon fhould teach 
 us to fut on meeknefs^zo fuffer afflitfi- 
 on with a quiet and contented mind: 
 for who can think to efcape that 
 I which hathbefaln all ? and not tv do 
 \ willingly, what muft oi necessity be 
 [ done 1 '. 
 
 I Fer quod fo-s prafens tibi feH\nrm } ferre rewfatis te lades •&• k is 
 We fors tarn n abripiet Rafilius. ' Vroximm Dee fUnas eft 
 \fag2Uis^mjb. C]zm. Alex. lib. z. Strornat. 
 
 And Religion teaches that it is the 
 \wayo£a\\ Saints, no man ever came 
 
 to 
 
1% OfM^ehteJfe. 
 
 to heaven but by it: and if we be no 
 vvorfe us'd then Gods befi beloved 
 friends, we have no caufe of com- 
 plaint. 
 
 See firft what they endufd: and 
 how they endufd it, 
 
 They endured fomtis not to be 
 endur'd: they had tryal of cruel 
 mockings and fconrgings : yea more- 
 over of Bonds and imprisonments ? 
 they wexeftoned: they were fawn a- 
 HcKti.j funder: were tempted: were pin 
 i*j>3pii with the/nW : they wandered about 
 mfheep-s<ins, and goat-skins-? being 
 deftitute, affli&ed, tormented. This 
 they fuffered. 
 
 How [uffered they this? They 
 went away rejoycing that they were 
 frt < di accounted worthy to /ajfer for the 
 name of C^//?. And the j#*/«* teH 
 Hcb .10 u *5 of the /frforiw, that they /»jf<?w 
 with joy the fpoiling of their gW/ 
 And if we look higher, aAd take ou 
 dire&ion from a dmcr fight ^ let n? 
 
 look 
 
The Royal KoBc. <*j 
 
 jlook ta fcfas the author arfd Sniffer hai*. & 
 | of cur faith: no mam fuffefings were Lam - Ilz - 
 JeVerKke his (while he lived upon j5&£ 
 ;^r//^) though he walked unhid- mk-mV. 
 Imobly never hurt any, pitied .//, J£|{2 
 llieiped *// that came mwhim^ yec Mar. 4< f£ 
 pe was not believed in his nwi, he J oh - r ' Ir - 
 (was re fr cubed in his ///a bated in his J?** 4 '* 
 ferfegreived in his $/>/>, the whole M £. 6 4% 
 Jwayoftheaw/4vent againft A/^, Ma?if* 
 ■lyet his ritdbr/f was as great as his' M*\£*i 
 wferings> To fuffer what he /*/*/*/ Mar.i 7 .i 7 
 i^ith^w W asmuch: butrb)*/*r ©.*■£■ 
 Mth filente, was much more: many p&u.x." 
 limes in the mijft of their afflictions, */«** 
 men ufe to releive themfelves with 
 tomflawts : But He was led as a lamb 
 iM w (laughter, and as afheep is dumb 
 before the fhedrcr^ (a opened he not hit Tr 
 •totffc There was no < complaint in * '"** 
 Ms //pj : no clamour in his f wgw : hi 
 Jiidnotrty, neither was his voice 
 jieardinthe (ireets h and Saint Paul < 
 
 ivould have all Cbrifium mc» tobe 
 
 D of - 
 
g^ Meeknejfe, 
 
 *to^. p of the fame temper : for hereunto 
 are we called ( faith Saint Peter ) to 
 • be partakers ot his Offerings •, for he 
 fuflered for us, leaving us an example 
 that we Ihould follow his jteps. 
 i Pet.!. Notoaly to fuffer what he did: 
 
 **■ but to fuffer as he did, with the fame 
 
 quietnefs of mind, meeheft and hu- 
 mility. 
 
 Can there be a ftronger induce- 
 ment to meeknef in the midft of affli- 
 ctions then the example oiChriftiH he 
 Author to the Hebrews advifeth to 
 confider him that endufd fuch contra- 
 i*fet».3< ditfionoffwnerslejlje be wearied and 
 faint in your minds, Thuswhether 
 we look upon the example, ( our 
 Saviour Chrijt) or the virtue exem- 
 plified (meeknef) both are worthy 
 our imitation. Such a virtue were 
 to be imitated in any ferfw : fucha 
 pcrfon to be followed in any virtue. 
 So then the more meek a man is, the 
 more like drift he isjk confequent- 
 
The Royal Kobe* g 5 
 
 \y the more heavenly and happy he 
 is 5 and therefore^ *f a» meehefi. 
 
 Our enemy the Dm/ knows how 
 uMulaggmwt our meeknefi is, arid 
 therefore would rob us of ir. 
 
 G^fuffer'dhim to pra&iceupon T . 
 $d h but by all the lodes and croffes J Xi ' 
 he brought upon him, he could not 
 provoke him to murmuring and im- J<*.w. 
 patience. He had thought to have 
 given his meehef the foyl, by lay- 
 ing his &«W u pon his ^, For he 
 &iA Jut forth thine hand upon his hone r 
 and upon bisftefcandbe wiU curfe thee Job * '* 
 to thy face. 
 
 But as cunning ss the tempter was 
 here, he was deceived : forf^was J<*-**?- 
 refolv'd nor to cur fe God though he 
 laid him: he knew the utmoft ex- Tobl , J 
 tent of Sathans power was but his bo- ' 
 dy, and if it muft befo, he is willing 
 to lay it down with meekaeft, in af- 
 fnrancc.ro have it reftor'd : and to 
 receive it again, compleat in all the T L 
 
 D2 pansKr 
 
5 5 Meekpejfe, 
 
 parts of it. Though fob could objeft 
 his innocm") x&v&Satans calumnjjte 
 Will not therefore prefently murmur 
 and call in queftion Godsgoodnef, bat 
 will attend with fatimt, the further 
 manifeftation of his good will and 
 pleasure-, and in the mean time put 
 
 Ad all- 
 
 VSSm his mouth in the duft. Oh then 
 fomtK vvhen Cod threatens, let us meet him 
 m * is onourtew, and like obedientCfo/- 
 ug*m* *w*i&tew* and give glory to 
 fumwv.o, the^^»^that?uidsit, and lay with 
 jfj&i. holyM SbaUm receive good from 
 ih *&• Ged: and flmHwe not receive evil Mo". 
 me , f*« Coiis t j ie fountain of all goodnef^ni 
 T*Z, ifhebepleafedtoturn our (weetnef 
 m qui /.«. i nt o a little bimrnef, fhall we repine 
 
 «5, W* jk«r? Cto* is fo#W, that he w ouid 
 judicial*- (ug ev none evil to befal us, except 
 W" hewerefo^, « to know how to 
 Aug. ««- extra«ft^outofm/,andtomake 
 "5 ?"& the 4//W»«w of his Chilire* (like 
 *«**». foroany^fflriy/'W) meet 
 
 <v»ftr 
 
The Royal Kobe. 37 
 
 center oi his glery and their go<rivv$te 
 
 king all things work together for the Ram.g.tS 
 
 good of them that are his. 
 
 There are divers cafes men frame 
 to themfelves, which caufes them, 
 to entertain their [nfftrings with iw~. 
 f alienee. 
 
 Firft^ they are not thorowlyper- 
 fwaded their afflictions are from God y 
 and therefore they fly out and are 
 unquiet^ they bfame their fiats , they 
 rail on fortune ? and after a brutifh 
 manner like unreafonable creatures 
 they let fly at the jW, and never 
 eye the handthnktit it ( Subordi- 
 nate www, fecond caufes, andfuch 
 «*». and things which God only 
 makes inftrumentalto his providence} 
 they imputing thek Offerings to any 
 ffetfg- rather than GW> vvheras indeed 
 they fliould look beyond all things 
 below unto an hand above that guideth 
 all: for what can any thing do, or be, 
 without him, who is the firfi Agent A ^ s _ 
 D r ancj ' J /' 
 
4-55 
 
 m 
 
 and original of all bmg t botb pro 
 ducing and itnploying fubordinat e 
 means to his own wife purpcfes • con" 
 trivingand fetching about all things-* 
 and a&ing them according to own 
 Wilt 
 
 This not well confidered, but 
 men in their afflictions poring too 
 much upon immediate Instruments^ 
 and fecond caufes, bieak out into 
 pafsionmd impatience ^ fretting and 
 fuming and meditating revenge* but 
 when they confider they have to do 
 with God, this filences all complaints , 
 makes the fufferer quietly to fubmit, 
 andtoacknowledgthe hand of God, 
 and that there is no driving with his 
 Maker ^ when Saint Pauls friends un- 
 dei flood the mind of God concer- 
 ning his^onds and lmpri [onment ,and 
 that no fear of danger could divert 
 him from his peremptory rcfolution 
 of going to Hierufalem , they ceafed 
 to importune him, fubmitting unto 
 
 the 
 
The Royal Kobe. g 9 
 
 theiwY/oftheZW, the difpofer and Aa.u.i* 
 orderer of all events. And D^/af I4# 
 was filent when he was fatisfied con- 
 cerning his /^ragj, that they were 
 from Gcd •, he laies his hand upon 
 his mouth, andfaies no more, But I 
 became dumb and opened not my mouthy a '** 9 
 for it was thy doing. 
 
 Yea, inonr bleffed Saviours [uf- shaikh* 
 feriws the sates of hell, and powers 3*^1* 
 
 J r 1^1 /? 1 <-*> i <-* i Mat. 2$. 
 
 01 aarknefi, the Jews and fudas^ Vi* % 7; 
 latemd C alphas , the Priefis and the Ma ^4- *f 
 Soldiers y a&ive inftruments all of joh.18.10 
 fa, but their paw was derived Joh 19.11 
 from GW , their w^/w limited by 
 $W.$ and they <sW that, and ^Oj Q \ ltl9S6 
 more could they do^ but what the 
 hand of God and his Counsel determi- 
 ned before to be done : and all that ,2 ' n 
 was done unto him, and all that was 
 fuffered by him, he acknowledges 
 to be Gods doing ,not to , the for- 
 row wherewith the Lord affii&ed 
 him, Could we take this courfe in Lam.i.i t 
 D 4 our 
 
40 Meekpfjffe, 
 
 ltev.3.1^. our private and publick calamities, to 
 
 Miiti 9 ' ta ke them as from G*?^ theeffedtsof 
 
 75 '. ' his love 3 wijdom and faithfulnefi ', 
 
 Mat. 10. without whole providence 3. (p anew 
 
 ilk. 1 16. felsnot.to the ground, nor a /;<*/> 
 
 7. ' from our /y^j: that thefe things 
 
 are done unto us in Angular rvifdom, 
 
 and fpecial /w/f to our fords : fo D^- 
 
 vid took them-,1 know (faith he) 
 
 O Lordjhatthy Judgments are right: 
 
 and that thou tn fatthfulnefs haft af- 
 
 pr.uo fii£ied v &e t This will quiet our 
 
 hearts, and fuftain onr (pirits in the 
 
 inidft o£ afflictions : ££ ^/// <f,W £#<w 
 
 Pfa.^^.io that J am God. When Mauritius the 
 
 Emperorhis wife and five fons were 
 
 taken, his n'//^ and /?*/* /W put to 
 
 death before his eyes y and himfetf 
 
 ftWmu 9 waiting for the like fatal blow, 
 
 in- . concluded thus, Righteous art that 
 
 Secm.i 'f/t: q l otc L dn d Yivlrt are thy Judgments. 
 
 ••foil tint p&- 5 >> . j -s 
 
 dith Dei, let our thoughts quietly reft here : 
 fy"jh n .4f' thecanfe-ofGWj Judgments may be 
 fecret , and unknown tj us, they 
 
 can- 
 
dccalami- 
 tatlbus & 
 de cruce ,«- 
 bi trattat 
 de quatuor 
 ?eneribus - 
 rffiiftie- '■ 
 
 YlUlTi'y 
 
 TheRoyalKobe. 41 
 
 not be unjufl; how unjuft foe- -^%^ 
 ver the Agents be, by which the juH \\ ? . Milan. 
 €odfcourges his own, who deftight- lo ™ n ^™~ 
 fully do their own wils, whilft they rheoisgui 
 unwittingly do Gods. 
 
 Confider not how unjuft the A- 
 gent is that gives the blew, as how 
 juflG$d\s tkat guides it. 
 
 And this would be our meditation 
 in al <r^fo to think whofe handftrikes: 
 whether in Epidemical vifitations, JjjjJJJj^ 
 of famine, peftilence,orthefword$ tu^wrti- 
 or perfenaL as ficknefs , poverty, fWtohfbv 
 
 r \ r r I Novvmt 
 
 ion ow , lois or crofs$ and to con- ^ 
 elude the blow is 6W* , whofoever ? 
 or whatfoever is us ? d as the weapon,, 
 Yea/ it comes not without defert>be- 
 cm fe <W is /«/? ; nor (hall be . with- 
 out profit, becaufe God is good. 
 
 It is to be confidered likewife that 
 God who fendeth afflitf 10ns, ord&eth 
 them to very good ends, as namely, to 
 conform men to the Image ofchrijl*^ 
 who was a man of forrows and learn'd 
 
 BafiUtoi/.2i.* Heb.a, Jo Luk. 2 4. 26. !fa. $3. 3 Keb. 5.8 
 
 nt men t s 
 quia Dcus 
 
 (tJHJiitsi 
 nic eritfittt 
 commotio^ 
 quia Vetis 
 (ft boms. 
 Aug. 
 
 ha yuttei- 
 (A'jph lit 
 erBfamp 
 
4* MwkMjfti 
 
 tin* favem fall* paieace by the things he 
 prmlfteu m nobis om- fiiffered •, To wean them 
 &£&%&& **> ^ ^ve of this world : 
 c^c.Greg.^vEzcc. to make them fit tor mercies : 
 wdesanttttmHierrmr to make his nMnor* more 
 
 mum ir;?». 9. f/>. 10. l J j ~L 
 
 Anne eft dfcd fJW choice and dear unto them ? 
 diirHm.&r. ut m fed- to [often & melt their hearts^ ; 
 
 am cmmmiandam. to kindle their zeal : to in- 
 
 huoJeverbkDemlm fl ame t \^[ r dsvotiom tO 
 
 >^C4tMf* «&*vjf* ftroigthen their jwA: toex- 
 
 flr*fe*th cf.GKg. moffate their A*/* .- to beeet 
 
 "taSft^MU /n thcm chari i w "■*#* 
 
 virtutis effo$ Ud>ci- en towards others : to make 
 
 mrepfsbathM.Gzeg.ftyal f t heir fattmCtt tO 
 
 iVe?i. 7 . Rom .j, 3 4 . break the f ride oithtixjpirits, 
 
 tat'uKi* m p oftc- that they ma yfearch and try 
 
 m p0« e/? ,</ , h[ • - h them 
 
 Gteg. r/.-^ t t/. f.'». 11. 
 
 wj>. 10. in mxits qua to deny themielves, and cait 
 qui fy*e f*tii w,»«? in fF their carnal confidence : to 
 
 bonis qmbtts friftUt-,0- ' 
 
 fus eft patient t a. Aug.'* jQhiXi.+.v'ukTert.dtpCB&H'Cdp* io^d 
 ex pi or *n dam ^deptorsnd^m ,i m 'loranium. Alfted. Syftem.Theol. 
 Aug.inVf.^.'dcm lib. i.coafeff.opm cnlm eji ad pi: notitiam ex- 
 pcrimntQ)& c. s/«. lib.de P ro . Dm imq ic q ■d q >cm orrfipit d>- 
 ligitquando cortipit ad hoc corn pit at erne 'Jet. Cyy.lib.+.cp. 4. 
 
 amend 
 
TheRoyalRcfre. 43 
 
 jmend whatfoever he finds ^mcmu^umuj. 
 tmtjsi making them mote u Spro cedete, fed phs* 
 
 iaiy of their ftepS : and to ** verbmbus emendat. 
 
 javetheir cenvtrMmmthc J£*j * * J 
 
 jvorld more bumble and void pf a . $o.« # ». <^Ltf- 
 4 offence : with a greater ha- #**■ 5alviaR £j£ 
 ,r.ed and ck*eftation orj?#: , m , r/> ^, b ^, e . 
 lid with a more fervent de- m*da> fciatqm imp°- 
 ilre and care to ferve and Vt h i^ Bapc * M if 
 
 I - ^ dcfo'-tun&GQiMgxC** 
 
 peate GW : yea, Gii orders ^^« ^ ?«/««, g**i 
 their afflictions for the exer- #* ^^ watur.Ad* 
 kteoUhegraces he hath oe- p^M^Mm d* 
 
 ftov/d Upon tnem in thlS ///if.' fummo bono, lib. 3. Ad 
 
 find for the further encreafe mm0«t^* : 
 
 , j ; ? 1 1 1 ticn sfr titer firfunere. 
 
 3ltne ^/^ he hath prepared B« n ./«/>» -clnlpm. 
 bizhem in the life to come, s?« *» ^0 &»** <# 
 
 f duel cL> quando pro bo- 
 le opife'adv rfu.is addJtur, \n hoc mundo recipitur, ut pulcbx'iof 
 ncrccs in r tr'tbutum atewa fervetur^Gtcgan Kgiflro.videitkm 
 3rcg. trior, lib. 16. csp.i%. 
 
 Men therefore being once perfwa- 
 jded of this, that all afflictions are 
 from God, of his fending, and of his 
 \ordering,they fhbuld take up the re- 
 iolotion of old Ely, It is the Lord, 
 
 let 
 
44 Meehnejfe y 
 
 i Sim.?, kt him do what feemeth him good ^ foj 
 l8# whatfoever feemeth^W to him, is 
 
 £*W indeed, henvfoever it feem to 
 us. 
 
 Thus Goi chafteneth us for our 
 Hcb.ix. fwfi f * (ftiA t ^ e Author to the //<?- 
 io. ' ft/*fn?j)&therfore we fhould accept of 
 his correct tons ,not with meeknef on- 
 ly, but with thankftilne[s> So Z>4- 
 1//^/ thanks (wji for his troubles as 
 for a fpecial/ii^tfr} /£ /* £00^ /^ 
 pfal. 119. jne that I have been in tmune: and 
 Pfa, <? 4 . 1 2 pronounces fuch for bleffed, Bleffedare 
 they whom thou chaftenefl. For Gods 
 love is the ground of all bleffednefc 
 and that may confiil with affliction^ 
 infomuch that God loveth not whom 
 Heb.i*.*. heaffliclethnot: So that afflittiom 
 Pra/.u, are Mtow ^(7^ love, markes* of A- 
 n. dopion, testimonies of eternal happi- 
 
 iob' IZ i 7 ' I s *> anc ^ therefore we fa° u ^ P re- 
 jaoa.x.i^ pare our felves patiently to endure 
 them, by pitting on meeknefs. 
 Bjtft there are fome cafes efpecial- 
 
TheKHyalKobe. 45 
 
 fjf w herein wf» are apt to mnmnre$ 
 p fir ft when their troubles are exiream, 
 \t:y great ^ and man% and hard to be 
 mdufd. 
 
 Secondly, When they ait tmim 
 
 and of long continuance^ when a man 
 ■can fee no end of his troubles , find 
 inon?^to'get out of them. 
 
 Or Thirdly, when they are alone^ 
 Juffering what no man elfe, when no 
 
 man befides themfelves doth fuf- 
 
 Here are hard op put : yet iucti 
 as the beft Saints of Goi have un- 
 dergone. 
 
 This was Davids ca&fe 5 read the 
 ! 3 3 and the 8? P/i/w, and fee into 
 what a fad and forlorn condition Da- 
 vid was brought: what heavy com- . 
 f hints and grieveous lamentation 
 doth he make, that the Arrows of praI -S***' 
 God did flick faft in him, that his 
 AWprefled him fore, thatthefewas 
 no [oundnefi in his fiefh^ that he was 
 
 bowed 
 
4^ Aieekpeffe, 
 
 *- bowed down greatly , and went 
 1I# mourning ail the day long: that 
 
 Pfci.s8.j. there was none to comfort him-, lo- 
 vers, friends, neighbours, acquain- 
 tance flood a far off, that his foul was 
 full of troubles, that his lite drew 
 nigh unto the grave •, that the 
 7 * wrath of Godlay heavy upon him : 
 
 that he affli&ed him with all his 
 waves. 
 
 This ms fobs cafe r for he ac~ 
 
 Job.*. 4 . knowledgeth he wantcth words to 
 
 exprcfs hs grief: for ( faith he ) the 
 
 Arrows of the Almighty are within mil 
 
 the foyfon whereof drinketh up my $i- 
 
 rit-j the terms of Cod fet t hem f elves 
 
 in array againft. me. That Moneths 
 
 of vanity and wearifome nights were 
 
 job 7.3. appointed to him-, That he could 
 
 not reft day nor nighty But was full 
 
 4- of toflings too and fro-, fo difquiet- 
 
 ed he was, that he curfed the day of 
 
 job 4 ^is nativity, and wi(hes that he 
 
 t-7.f .'/zd W b een 2$ an untimely birth ; or 
 
 as 
 
the Y\oyal Kobe. 47 
 
 as infants which never fee the light ; Job. i.u. 
 yea his diftemper grew to that 
 1 height h that he breaks forth and 
 cries out, O that it would pleafe God &y£5 
 to deftroy me, that he would let ^ n °po 
 loofe his hand and cut me off. Thus r ££™ 
 $chs Offerings were great, which tofm. 
 were the caufc of much difquiet to 
 that geod-man : hi^ life was full of J&14& 
 mtfery, he juffered lo(fe in his EftaU, J°£; *"" 
 fear in his children, fain in his&^/y, Job.^u. 
 horror in his foil discouragement hom 14 >*s 
 his/r/W/.Now to fettle the minA& j b.i<r. * 
 quiet kin themidft of thefe troubles, 
 when at anytime they come thick 
 and threefold: 
 
 It niuftbe confidered that Cod is 
 with his children in their greateft 
 afftiBions \ and his prefence fweet- *%* n 
 ens every condition 5 for where he is, h 
 he is not as an idle fpedator of their 
 miferiest but there is with him kfa ii^p t? , 
 and comfort^ and light \ and life. 
 
 Where he is, no evil can be fear- 
 ed. 
 
 
Mtektiejfe. 
 
 p&U$. 4 , e j no CT rea ter rood de fired % he rat- 
 1? . ies the /pint 5 comrorts the Aiwf - 7 
 
 Jfo.40.u2 he is a Sun 10 give light unto them, 
 rrai.84.11 an( j a ^ tf to ^/eW them, when 
 
 one is brought to that extremity, that 
 not an Angel ± nor any creature can 
 help ^ when friends, and means , and 
 pfatm * fejhyZttd heart, and ///<?, and all do 
 z*. /^'/j he ftands by and is the (trength 
 
 of the /^rf , and our portion for ever: 
 pfaU}.!. where God is, there no true comfort 
 P £ mS7 ' can be wanting. 
 Pro. 15-. If means,be little ,he can hleffe it, 
 
 175& x 7. and make it a fufficiency. 
 1 Kin. 1 7. It there be no w^^ 5 he can ere- 
 »4- 4^ it, and caufe a pfotfjr . 
 
 6 X0 * * 7 ' And in greateit Exigencies God 
 Exod \6. can fo fupply that he c an make the 
 pfaW* f J^ °^ k* s Children as Comforta- 
 pertotm, ble as if they had all good things at 
 Mac. 4. 4. h m d a God will be feen in the Mount: 
 
 Gen. 2,2. „ / 
 
 I4 . #m#j extremity is Gods opportunity : 
 
 MicaK 7- there's no man can be brough t to 
 
 Ha 9 'ea?" that defperateyftift whom he cannot 
 
 1,. ' eafily 
 
The Royal Robe. 49 
 
 I eafily and fpeedily Recover. . riag g a.# 
 
 Ii: God be with him, David will ** 
 1 fear none evil,though he walk in the T sari^t* 
 j midft of the valley of the fliadow of i- 
 [death, and his own people talkoffto- ^"if" 
 j ning him. Peter can fleep fecurely $ 2?. 
 ; and pW fing fweetly'm the PW/i>#, if Dan.6.22." 
 j God be with them. Daniel in the Zy- x ^' z ^ 
 ons den, and the three Children in the 2 Cor.i/?, 
 yfcrjF Furnace, are fafe through the 1 ^ 4 ' 1 *' 
 \fre fence of God. He proportions his If . 
 j Confolations to their afflictions : lee 
 'not then their hearts taint, nor their 
 IJ^ffifA faile, but when they fit in dark- 
 neffejmd fee nd light, let them truft 
 in the Name of the Lord, andftay j eT . 1J3 , 
 themfelves upon their God, let them Jer.17.150 
 jnotflyeto broken Cifierns^ feeing i*^££l 
 j they have the fountain at hind 5 and Revel **> 
 J let them not long for ftoln waters l t\ 
 j when they may drink their fill at the 
 
 t ring ox well of Life. Wherefore 
 ands God by them, but to fill them 
 Jwith his Grace, to fupport them id 
 E times 
 
$o Meefaejfe, 
 
 times of danger and difficulty i then 
 hape holdeth up the heart •, and faith 
 ifa.57.1. a {f U res their hope, that eafe, and reft, 
 and peace and deliverance will come: 
 Pfal •» 4 and who ever trufted in God, and was 
 *. ' difappointed^ the confideration here- 
 of made David to flfcdr the difqui- 
 Pfai 4 z 5. etneffe othis own heart, and to put it 
 j 1. upon Record** one of his experimen- 
 
 ted Observations, that in all his time 
 pfaim.37- j^ never f aw the Right eous for- 
 
 faken. 
 
 Indeed they may find much trou- 
 AfH trU bleftd much fadnefs, be brought to 
 l^^ttylmM : but God will bring 
 fed ft ad them up again : * or it he do not, 
 .mwfe- h ec h ac h |W/>/, and fuf forts for 
 
 frofperabk them, 
 
 mmtcr gaudeas & pre gandio rtmfum filvaris* Mercerus 
 in lobiCap, S. w% , 
 
 * lfa.rfo. i4,if.xtf 3 &c.Dcut.3x. 3*. x-Pctz.9. Pi. 51. 8- 
 n.Pral.ia*.fj*.Marka.Mfa.*i.3>&4*-i*- Pfal. 30. |. 
 Ifa.5^n.lfa.^:-vMat.5.4.JoH.i4.itf. 
 
 Men 
 
Men fee their (arrows and (uffe- . H * hss * , 
 fcag^but then Comforts znd]oyes men ga #fo«? 
 fee not 5 which are fuch as the world *ug. m pc. 
 knows not of-, fuch as the world can- }°: f * ? - 
 
 , r latent .anil 
 
 not deprive them of # . /«** n ^: 
 
 oQeJto e^j & tarn merita "aum fi.n: :n iibfcondito conjiliuiA 
 
 jMg SJ4.8. t Cor 7.30. P1OV.T4. io.Joh.i^. to. Luk. t. 
 47. Gal.tf.x*. Mac. j. 1 a-Pfalm ..86.4. i.Cor. 1.? Joh.xs 21, 
 
 1 r.i . 3 1. 10. 
 
 God hath a bottle for their iimi - 7 >fr*-s^*i 
 m all their afflictions he is afflicted -, ^.u^ r 
 he is about their fe/ •, he putteth un- Judges 10. 
 der his everlafting &m*£? , and up- l * praI * 
 holdeth them .with his land from Deu& 35. 
 finking : their foarw may lye in ^zi#, *£ 
 but their fo& (hall live at &*/* $ and ^ '^ 7 ' 
 however it fare with them in their pfai.17.2. 
 outward <?/?<***, their Soul (half be T 5am - 2 ? a 
 bound up in the bundle of life with 
 the Lord their God : Nay, he will 
 fo flrengthen them with his Grace, 
 arm them with patience,* endue them 
 with Wijdowe, protect them with his 
 E 2 power 
 
5 z Meetyejfe^ 
 
 power, and cheer them with his Spi- 
 rit , that neither paines of death, nor 
 powers of belly Jhall be able to prevaile 
 againit them . 
 
 For when the World and the De- ' 
 vil difcover their greateft malice, 
 he reveales his greateft mercies : the 
 comforts of his love, the joy of his pre* 
 fence ', the light of his countenance ^ t he 
 hleffmg of his affiance, found and 
 fefcin ihefagiiitneffe if fins, in ffo 
 iefiimony of Conscience, in f/tf (upplyes 
 of his Spirit, and a([urance of Salvation, 
 are fulficient to convince all accusa- 
 tions of Afc# or Dfi;/7j •, to filence 
 all mwmnrings and impatience of our 
 own form, to heal all diflempers ot 
 a»/W, and to eflabltfh and fettle the 
 Soul inquictne([e mdtneeknefs. 
 
 For the continuance of forrom 
 
 Tofuffer much, and tofuffer long, is 
 4 ftrong temptation) too ftrona for 
 
 flcfo 
 
The Royal Robe. $3 
 
 flefli to fuftain-, for one to live many praI ^°- 
 dates, and not fee one good day, to Ge n4 9.7. 
 begin ones life in forrow, and to fee Job. j.7. 
 no end of it, is a fad condition -,who ]^ r ^jl 
 can bear it , and not be diftra&ed i fms mm, 
 it was Davids cafe find who of us (hall iJK m ** 
 dwell with everlafting burnings i ptilifc* 
 ( faith the Prophet Ifaiah. ) ftUus jm 
 
 dcfcftit 5 
 qui* '&• mors vivit, & finis fcmper imi\>'it y & dfice f e de- 
 fe£ttis?rfciu Greg;. Moral lib. 9.cap. 47. 
 Hal.88.5 14- Pfal. 4 o. n.Pfal.8.15. Pra!.77.8,9.Tfa.33.i 4 . 
 
 Yet here's the comfort, when 
 God lengthens the day of Affliction 5 
 he enlarges his confolation, and he will |°j] n 2 - ^ 
 never fuffer his faithfulness to faile 5 T4 *. ' 94>I 
 or his Grace to forfake thofewho irt p fcM&£.*<& 
 their Offerings feek unto him •, and j£ L ^*' 
 this is one comfort in greateft ^//, Heb.tj 5! 
 that if the affliction lye very tot^, Ffal -*fc 
 it cannot laft very /<wg. The Win- pf a i. 40 . 1, 
 *# dayes, they are the fharpeft, but *• 
 they are the porte ft dayes 5 the day ef^^ 
 Calamity begins fedly. Alafs ! for *?.« «y*w<? 
 that ^ is great $ none hath been like d °£ re & 
 Ej its 
 
*j4 yLeelvefje, 
 
 jcr.30.7- |^ it is the day of J^* trouble ; 
 
 I Pom * ^s but dbreviatum e(i "tempos •, Goci in 
 
 pwliij. RighteoufneiTewiilcutit ihort •, for 
 
 3' the rod of the Wicked (hall not reft 
 
 upon the lot of the Righteous. God 
 
 doth limit the times of their fuffe- 
 
 Pfil.39. r j n gs 5 they ihall be but tor a little 
 
 f>l while, a little little while, In a little 
 
 ifa 54 "■« ^wrathl hid my face from them: for a 
 
 fmall moment have I forfakcn thee : 
 
 vto brezi f or ^d is faithfully and will not fuf- 
 
 ^^1" ier his C hildren to be tempted a- 
 
 lotgame- bove.their ftrength, but with the 
 
 ^tcn'.Pm- temptation will make a way of 
 J;" 5 T Evafion \ and after they have fef- 
 Vom. fered' awhile, make them perfect, 
 jCor.io. eftablifh,ftrengthen,and fettle them. 
 Jta.y. Sometimes" God fetteth down a 
 J0 < prefixed time how long the trouble 
 
 fhall laft \ the jewcs Captivity for (e- 
 jer.x f 11. venty years : Nehcbawezz,nrs ktmi- 
 bin. 4 .ij ' //^/<w for feven years : >/#* i**$*i* 
 Gcn -4 X - (mmentioi two years •, the Trtbula- 
 % : ■ tion 
 
TheRoyalRobe. $5 
 
 m» of fome in the Church of Smyr- 
 na for ten dayes-, and when the p^*? 
 appointed time is come 3 comes ig. 
 eafe. Pial.71^ 
 
 For if God fet down a Day, heel Luk.24^ 
 keep his Word, and his time to a mi- l' YCY r iS 
 nuit $ and therefore let our [orrorvs tazqum 
 be never (o great or (o grievous, ftay *P°} 05 
 Gods leafure, wake upon his n>///and 'medicus , 
 pteafure; be not impatient • but with & q^od 0- 
 all meekness expecl: deliverance : and ~^tf& 
 ifthevifionftay, waitefor it. It was qumdo % 
 JE^^i Refolution, Yet will I wait £'* f # 
 upon God, though he have hid his A , g _4* 
 face from us. And it was Davids H^-iW 
 Confolation,That he verily believM & ** 7 'l* 
 to fee the goodnefs of God in the Heb." io. 
 Land of the livings for the poor (hall %g*' 37 - 
 not alwayes be forgotten^he patient ic^ij. 
 abiding of the meek (hall not perifli Pfa.i 7 . 
 for ever^but hope defei'd maketh the *^ 
 heart fick, this made David think and Pfai. 7 7 g' 
 fay that God had quite forgotten him, *• 
 that he had caft him off for ^ver, 
 E4 that 
 
5 6 Meeknejje, 
 
 that he ihould never fee good day 
 more. 
 
 But he acknowledges his Error, 
 ? ial77I ° blames his Infirmity and folly thus 
 to queHion the nature and faithfulne[s 
 of God. 
 
 For God is not forgetfull of his 
 
 f>rflw*/<?,nOrunmindtull of the [uffe- 
 
 ringso{\\\%(ervmts^ if he delay the 
 
 . _, a&ual performance of his promt fe 
 
 pV to n» ^d come net m to their hclp^ when 
 
 A'n&a and how they Would have him > they 
 
 x*J±aw" muft not m *>' mwrt againft G<4 nor 
 accukhimoffackenef, or account 
 of what he hath fromifed after the 
 manner of Men, as if it were only a 
 fromife(thzi is a verbal ^/^)with- 
 outanypfirpofe of performance •, for 
 what hefrmifeb he purpofeth, and 
 what he pmpoUth he will" furely fer- 
 forme. 
 
 And therefore reft upon his word 
 ^nd faithfulnefs which will never 
 faile. We muft not Indent with 
 
 Cod 
 
The R oyal Kobe* 5 7 
 
 ; God : we may not prefcribe to him : 
 But leave him to his own liberty ..- he 
 is free, though we be bound. Let 
 him take his own time ^ and go his 
 own way 5 he will not be limited : he 
 knows his time , and his time is the 
 bedtime. p 
 
 If the mercy of God appear not for z . a 
 pur Salvation this day or the next 5 Judith 9. 
 nor perhaps for many dayes to come, »tjj^i 
 wait ftill 5 and in its time there (hall be *) ^ ^ 
 an accomplishment of all that is «*(#*" 
 fromtfed. ' m% 
 
 Bat we are impatient • when we G«g. 
 wsfnt any * eod, or feele any /^/>, then ^£ s ad% 
 is our time •, but then perhaps is not Eur.om. 
 Gods timeim are not yet fit for mercy y ™ l 6 - x > 
 though he be ever ready to (hew it 
 when we are, his mercy will appear 5 Mkab^ 
 for mercy pleafeth him. l8 - 
 
 When men are better'd and a- 
 mended by affliftiom , their vain 
 imaginations call down , their rebel- 
 lious/^ fubdued 3 their minis hum- 
 bled a 
 
58 Meekf?ejfi y 
 
 bled, their companions towards others 
 
 ftirred up, the'tr hard hearts foftned b 
 
 their affections weaned from the 
 
 world : when they fearch and trye 
 
 A ch ? A9 theirwayesand f«w to the Lord, he 
 
 7.14. will then return to them 5 and if he do 
 
 not, let them call themfelves down 
 
 before him with David, and fay with 
 
 *sam.u. Mm 5 If I fliall find favour in the eyes 
 
 a*, of the Lord, &c. But if he thus fay, 
 
 Tara.1.4 I have no deliehtin thee i Behold 
 
 Jia.20.18. 1 _ 1 1 - 1 
 
 .Ffai.44. here ami •, let him aotqrne, as it 
 
 i7>i8>i $, feemeth good unto him. 
 
 rllVnqwt, Patience is a grace that pleafeth 
 
 averth ' God : let it have its per fed work, and 
 
 faciemtu- nevC r think of leaving God. though 
 
 fed ego «c may feem to nave lett /#. 
 
 uonfim a- God knows our frame and temper, 
 
 Ruffing aac * r ^ e meta ' wea ^ e niadeof : he 
 Pfai. z 9 . knows our hard and ftubborn nature 
 }jec hra. that will never work kindly without 
 dtfittt''* the fire. Our hearts are like fieele 
 Kumen. and /><?#>eafie to be wrought any way, 
 It^cL nttefircoiAffliltiofi. If this be the, 
 x 3 arC ' ' . way 
 
the Royal Robe. $9 • 
 
 bay he will work os to his pirfofe, let 
 'us vield our felves to be wrought up- 
 [on with meekntfcwz muft be content 
 'to endure many htates and blows un- 
 Itill his work be done-,for when that is 
 \finijh:J, our Juferitgs toll have an 
 'end 5 or if they have not, but laftzs 
 I Ion? as life /*/?*, chrifiians muft be 5 pmus. 
 ! as (fir//? was> obedient unit death. ^ 
 
 Let" us not rr.urrmire againft G^E, ^ j£ 
 though he feem to have lett us and qnnmmk 
 to have quite forgotten us : but let us **** 
 feel our own />»J/W, and lay our W£ gw-.^ 
 , upon om hearts-? for doth not God '& nobis 
 ' deal with ^, as m fejitf dealt with ^^ 
 htm >znd pay us in our own C0/#* - ? * W*> $** 
 
 dtfeamus 
 no* noi audin a Bio, cum ipfi Be urn non aitdiamus ? & fufurre^ 
 wus noi rcfplri a Be o terv as ,c am ipfinnn efpiciamus ad C*lum$ 
 & mol jhrnftt defpici a B amino preccs vofiias,cumpr*cepta ejus 
 dsfp'iclantur a npbh ? q %d djgnius ? gold, tufilus ? non audivi- 
 trntsy mm a?idi'mr : non rcfpexmus, non ref^cimuriquisogdtx 
 ctoialibus domims bac cumfms lege agfrc cixtmm eft m co*- 
 temntf tantwmoda fcrvos fo^ quiafuerit ab eisipfe tontomp- 
 iiiS'Salvian.'is de Gubem- Dei Ml 3 fog. $5.86. * Hof. 4. 
 
 have 
 
6o MeekneJJe y 
 
 have not we forgotten ? have not we 
 
 negleftedr'havenotwerefufed^ have 
 
 not we delayed him * what can be 
 
 more juji and equal y than that he 
 
 fhould do by us as we have done by 
 
 hi ml rve are too apt to forget God and 
 
 our felves, when all things go well 
 
 with us: therefore God will have it go 
 
 otherwife^ will lay afflictions upon 
 
 us, and leave us toftruggle under the 
 
 burden, then rve begin to remember 
 
 there is a G&/, and that we our fielves 
 
 are but msn\ then rve admire no man, 
 
 and defpife no man : but look up to 
 
 God^ and throw down our (elves, not 
 
 fretting or fepinitig^but with all meek- 
 
 ne[s acknowledging that God is 
 
 Righteous in all his waycs, and holy 
 
 in all his works. 
 
 cm* tri- But V$& M a man be alone i What 
 
 Matitms, if he have none to bear a part with 
 
 jJJJjjfJ-J" Mb in W forrows and fufferings? 
 
 quand* ' n° n e to pity him y to help him, to 
 
 mMfdrh ftrengthen him 7 io comfort him i this 
 
 is 
 
TheRoyalRobe. 6t 
 
 is a heavy cafe. It was our Saviours , ?™ sp f'~ 
 for he trod the wine-prefs alone 5 and nmme 
 when he was ready to be offa &**&&&* 
 all his DtfcipUs forfook him and^f 
 
 fled. Markx 4. 
 
 It was Saint Pauls cdfofot he com- *£ 
 plains that no man flood with him , 5 ^ * z ' 
 but all men forfook him in hisforeft * Tim. 4. 
 trials. * 
 
 It was Davids cafe^l looked (faith 
 he)on my right hand, and beheld 5 hut 
 there was no man that would know ?kl 142; 
 me 3 refuge failed me, #0 0^0 cared 4 * 
 for my foul. Company is a comfort soiamm 
 in calamity and ta#-are better than m }ft?™f*- 
 one : but wo to him that is alone; man fffhtioris, 
 could not be happy in Paradise with- Eccief. 4 .° 
 out acompanion:CWfavv it was not gj* ,- 
 good that he fhould be alone ( »#///#* 1$, ' % * 
 reifmefocio ]ucunda eft pojfeffw ) how 
 heavy then and difcomiortable rauft 
 it be,in deepeft forrows, and greateft 
 extremities 5 to have none to pity z 
 mans cafe t all againftAwi none tor 
 
 him, 
 
6& 
 
 7«bn- 4« 
 
 32. 
 
 Vohifcutn 
 illic in 
 cxrcere 
 quodim- 
 mud) & 
 nbs ftimus; 
 fifartii 
 (tit'ccT'o- 
 py.m [pi si- 
 tus wi 
 fft't : vos 
 tliic con- 
 {ejjia, me 
 affect iq 
 mclbdit. 
 Cyp.Epb. 
 16. 
 
 Jokl*. 
 
 3*- 
 
 Pfa.17. 
 
 :o 
 
 i Tim. 4. 
 
 i«,i 7 - 
 
 Mac 1.23. 
 Jfa 7. ] 4. 
 
 xieeknejje) 
 
 him.Yet here let this be thzChrifiians 
 Mo*to^ Bear, forbear, for as our Saviour 
 (aid to his Mciples, I have meat to 
 eat that ye know not q£ fo Chri(tians y 
 though they feem alone in rheir/*/- 
 ferin^s, have Comforts and companions 
 the World knows not of. You (hall 
 leave me alone ( faith Chriu to hisr 
 ftifciples) yet am I not alone, be- 
 caufe the Father is with me, fo may 
 the afflicted Chrtflian : he is not a- 
 lone, Godh with, him ^ Chnftiswith 
 him, and he is Emanuel God with us. 
 Whendeareft/r/V#i^ neareft Rela- 
 tions, ftand afar off, the Lord is ac 
 hand-,fo David, when mv Father and 
 my Mother forfakc me, then the 
 Lord will take me up". So St. tail, 
 when no man flood with him, but 
 all men forfook him, the Lord, faith 
 he, flood with me, and ftrengthened 
 me.Cbrift is the Lord., and he is Ema- 
 nttLGod with us. 
 
 If the trouble be my difficulty, in' 
 
 matter 
 

 The Royal Kobe. 
 
 matter of duty to be done, he puts Jf . 
 his neck under the pdK and draws tLmef^ 
 j with us 5 and it becomes edfis. jute qnod 
 
 If it be any danger, My crop to be ^ Z M ^' 
 endur'd , he puts hisfl)$#lder under, 30 . '" 
 helps to bear it, and the burden be- l %3-4-7 
 comes //£<&*. 
 
 Let him never murmtne at his 
 fufferings, that hath Godmdcbrifl Daniio' 4 
 to bear a part with him that hath the 19. 
 bleffed y4^/j aflifting, fupporting, ^*\% 
 fuftaining, and as bleffed Guardians ' l ' 7 ' 
 preferving him from all evil ^ and 
 bearing him in their armes^ that he Pfal.ji. 
 dafli not his foot againft a ftone ♦, the 
 Angel of the Lord encampeth round 
 about them that fear him 5 and delive- 
 red them. 
 
 Beildes, being in the Body every ^pd-efi , 
 part partakes of the priviledgeof the ™ L ™P ore . 
 whole 5 and the members fhould have m^Uei* 
 the fame care one of another $ zsfp&m 
 whether one member iuffer, all the r %** ' m 
 members fuffer with it-, for we are cal- ch-^4 
 
 led 
 
 Us IZ* 
 
 Pfil.j+7. 
 
64 Meeknejfe. 
 
 ■fycciefcA^.sc.m.iu. fed anc j commanded to 
 
 de temp. < . . . 
 
 oc*/«f &/** v-dt m bear one anothers bnrdeusi 
 
 corpqrc i fed nunquid roil thziQ is in the body a 
 
 Sf£1S^ W^becaufe there is 
 & <r*/wf mmbrh videt, a neer Conjunftion ot 
 Apg. 7Va#. j x , # jo- member s'm out body, and 
 ^r*^ *««» r«Ku«- of the W) with one W ; 
 ™?» moftitimizvwmr, nor can the diftance of 
 Sff&fM ?[«« diffolve or break off 
 
 wiftfriVr Qkftq&it fraterax that Z/w/2 which the 
 
 fmr^mfeqimm- : qitid members have in the Wy, 
 
 rfe£e; J;<wo bommh quern i / , • i_ l / j 
 
 riSfl *or, 6- to* a( : °r the £W;y with the head ? 
 ftffio ? y?^f nfofatffiis for although the A^j be 
 
 «E$fi&TS£' in Heaven, and the *«* 
 nem-Afak^&j;. Bern, upon Earth •, although 
 
 Serm. de trhlici gen. bono- one mem bcY be in EmIm^ 
 rum. px?. ?$z. ro/. i. F. i i »• 
 
 vi . 5«- and another in iW/4, yet 
 
 «£*£$$& the wholes being mo- 
 
 Heavens , that the head thereof (houM b: where Chrift 
 fcur head is, and the feer where we his members arc :no fpener 
 could that head think ot moving bnC of the toes, but inftantlv 
 the thing would be done, without any impediment siven bv 
 that huge diftance or" the one from the other, and wrn 'f !■: 
 caufethe fame foul that is in the head, as in the fountain or 
 fence and motion* is prefent like-Wife in the lowcft merribr* <. ; 
 che body.Ujh?r A.chyp. /finish, rp Scm.cinwrn ZteW.C vm. ep&J 
 Weft, Feb. 1 8. \6 zo* m i Cor. it\ 17. 1 
 
 ved 
 
The Royal Kobe. 
 
 ved by the influence of oris 
 bead: animated and a&ed 
 by one and the fame fiirii $ 
 whereby it cam&to pafs that 
 thechiefeft and nobleft part 
 isfenfibie of the hurt and 
 fmart of the meaneft and 
 kebkftpart. He then that 
 is in the body cannot com- 
 plain he is alone •, feeing God 
 \ himfelf, and the SonoiGoi-? 
 I and thefiirit of God-,and the 
 j Angels of God 5 and the 
 I Churches of God: all the 
 Servants of God ftand by 
 him : and fo he hath many 
 eyes to fee for him : many 
 hands to work for him : ma- 
 ny tongues to intercede for 
 him : all bearing a part with 
 him : enough to quiet him , 
 to filenice his complaints, and 
 to let him kno# he fuffers 
 not alone. 
 
 *s" 
 
 hitoto univirfali^quic- 
 quid tains. eft } etiam 
 partis eft. Log. Max, 
 Eccesjinam calcat 
 pes : quid tarn lange 
 ab ocidis quam pes* 
 lenge eft locoiproximi 
 eft chxritatis ajfefix. 
 Lingua dicihqmd me 
 calcas, non ipf'a caU 
 cat a efty caicas me 
 charitas- dick. Aug; 
 Tracl.in i.Jo. mag* 
 nm profecto hab'tfioi 
 fimt teftimmum quo* 
 in cizlo pater fufcepe- 
 rit tanquam filios & 
 b<eredeS) filins afci~ 
 verit tanquam fratres 
 & cohceredes spirit us 
 fanftus adharentes 
 Deo unu,m fpritum 
 fad at e[fe cum co. Eft 
 en'mfp'rritus ipfe in- 
 drffolabile vinculum 
 trrnitatisper qucm ft- 
 cut pater & filius u- 
 num funtyftc & nos «- 
 num fumus in ipfis. 
 Bern.mott.Pafch./h*. 
 i.detribus tzftimo- 
 niis in ccelo & in ter- 
 ra pag. 1 %-CoL 1 :'.*« 
 
 fnej).E4otfm orbis common? fimdmur,Axi&de tiniuiicx* % 
 
66 WLeek-ieJfiy 
 
 But in another cafe, meeknefs is 
 
 * fore aflfaulted , when one puffers what! 
 
 no man elie doth. To be in trouble 
 
 when all others are quiet i to lie in 
 
 fain when others live at eafe, to be 
 
 in want when others have what they 
 
 jpfci^f" candefire. To fee wickedness ex- 
 
 Ecci . 7 .7. alted & innecenq opprefled: oppref- 
 
 Deut. 27 . g on ^ fc t h Salomon) will make a' 
 
 Pfii.10.8. wife man mad. But if Go^^mM. 
 have it fo 3 there is no remedy but 
 meeknefs. 
 
 God deals with his children as the 
 Embroiderer with his cloath of gold 
 and other rich ftuffes-j cuts them 
 into many peeces, laies them confu- 
 fedlyonan heap, antil he refume 
 them to make up his imagery. So 
 «*As* fttV God firft cuts in /> w<fj his children 
 ^?w±-- vvit ^ fr ^ ^ afflictions, but fets 
 
 zfiHA&TSfcuJifoki'7P#y7*fiA'7tt&if, Greg. N»z. Orat.19. 
 
 them 
 
TheRoy'alRobe. &J 
 
 them together again in excellent 
 
 forms 5 to be looked upon as fArrf/^A?/ 
 
 to the xvorldythm he dealt mthAbra- 
 
 h$m, with Mofesj and with 5^s thatc 
 
 he might preferve them, and pre- Gen-is,' 
 
 fent them as patterns of obedience, ? x b od,2 ° 
 
 meeknefs, and patience - 7 to all fuccee- job.V 7 ,$. 
 
 ding *£#. Now if we confier what 
 
 God docs to particulars, we may per- 9^ arim 
 
 flaps find juft matter of complaint p 'cmlk 
 
 it a jinty 
 f totum 
 queetik hoc murJo efi, cur a & gubernaculg &'judicjoDei 
 agnnr ; cur melior mult d fit Barbarorum conditio quamnopaf 
 cwc inter nos q-oque ipfosfors bonorum durier quam malorum : 
 cur probi jaceant, improbi convalefcant ? poffim quidem rath- 
 mbiliter & fatis conftanter dicere : nificlo fecretum,& confiH- 
 am divinitstis ignorti, &c. Sufficlat tibi quod Demafe a- 
 gi ac difpenfari cmcla teftatur. ^uid me interrogate quart 
 titer major fit alter minor? alter mifcr alter beatus > alter 
 fotis,alter infirmus? qua caufa quidem hacDeus faciat non in.-* 
 telligo',(ed adpleniffinam rat'ionem ab<mdc [ufjicit, quod a Deo 
 agi ifia demmftro-^cut en'im plus eft Deus quam omtm humana 
 ratio : fie plus mibi d.ebet ejfe quam ratio? quod a Deo agi cun- 
 cia cognfeo. Nihil ergo in hac re opus eft, novum aliquid. 
 audiriyfiitisfitpro univerfis rationibm autor P^SalvJanus de 
 Gub?r,Dei\fo i, ab Initio. 
 
 $ 2 M$ 
 
68 Meefyejfe, 
 
 &think there is disorder and injustice 
 in the works of God , but whenl 
 we lay them all together wefhal 
 find the compofition excellent, and 
 of Angular ufe and benefit to us. 
 And that God dothnot^ nor permit:- j 
 teth any thing to be done unto the 
 righteous but only for their good. And 
 therefore to murmure or repine againft 
 God, or to queftion why he affl els 
 one man more than another, were in 
 effe<5t to queflion why he loves one 
 man more than another. 
 
 Gem- 
 
 inns ergo 
 
 difcipulns 
 non fibi 
 prafumt 
 fcriipulofe 
 Deo pra- 
 fcribendi 
 quid & 
 quantum 
 fibi impo- 
 nere^ aut 
 qwmedo 
 fecum age- 
 re debeat. 
 'Neque e- 
 tiam fub 
 
 cruce conptutusr, oculos curio fc ad a Dot CQnvzmu& cumVzvo 
 dicit,quid autem hi omuUo minus impat tenter, qumtatxr quafi 
 Deus aliis breviorafbi aut em graviora & difjicilioraportancLa 
 im^oftmit. %ed in bona Dei vo'umatc patienter acquirfcit, 
 certus Deum optimc vmn'um ftovijfe quid ipfi ad refranynd.w 
 carnem lafewientem fit maxime conducibile,8tc. Kemnitius. 
 Har. Evan%, cap, %6.pag. 1647- coi - *• 
 
 But what if the caufe of trouble 
 be the confcioufnefs of fome known 
 (m with the apprehenfion of Gods 
 
 juft 
 
The Royal Kobe. 69 
 
 juft^^when a man fees Godkt 
 againft him, and his own ccnfcience 
 agamft him .• Gods anger and a woun- 
 ded j^irit who can bear < 
 
 When the (p iritis overwhelmed 
 with grief and fear, it drives a man 
 out of his right mind, which in its 
 diftemper apprehends nothing but 
 httemejs: the bed of eafe is a tor- J° b -7.*>* 
 menu where dreams do fcare, and ItZVj 
 vifions terrtfie, fo that the foul chu- 
 feth /tangling and death rather then 
 life.5%7. 14,15. 
 
 This trouble David felt in a great 
 meafure: which made him com- 
 plain there was no fonndnefs in his pra, -3*.j 
 flefh : no reft in his bones : no Miet 
 m his mind: no comfort in his foul: ^ , 
 the fight of hkfws,znd fence of Gods l 
 anger, had fo diftra&ed him, that he 
 roared for the very difquietnefs of pfa. ss . s. 
 nis heart. 
 
 In this cafe take meeknefc and 
 this will bear»/>and bear out the fpi- 
 
jo Meekneffe, 
 
 tit, and beware by any means of fay- 
 ing as Cain faid, mine iniquity is 
 Cm. 4 13 greater then can be forgiven-, ( my 
 
 fumfhment greater then I can bear,) 
 TeMo.T? But pluck up thy heart, and fay 
 M'c 7- 9. with J>eremiah^ This is my forrow 
 1 co b 'i 7 an ^ l wt ^ beayjt. And with the 
 ^. Prophet Micah, 1 will bear the indig- 
 
 Uit.10. nation cfthe Lord, becaufe I have ft a- 
 *ililut * ned ar&inttbim. 
 
 1 Jem 1. « <& ■ -jT • ..„ * 
 
 EpS.z,4» And in this ^/f there is no cauie 
 
 Jo. 5. 16 . f r much 4ej tBion and dijiemper. 
 
 fti%.u t° r ^ vve confider, 
 *Ta.86.f. The excellency of th^ merits of 
 
 Ro.ii.az (thrift : thefufficiency ot hisgftrfffi 
 
 Ff ioo. ?. th e wifdom of Gods p-ov tdence : the 
 
 ^r.MT <?• faithfulnefs of his promifes: how 
 
 frCtf.jp* r ich he is in mercy: how infinite in 
 
 s,9,t^ love: and that his goocnefs neither 
 
 5.0m. i; 4. [ $ nor can b„ excee( J e J by any wret- 
 
 chednefs or finiulnefs of man. 
 
 He is fo patient^ that he is long ere 
 he be provoked * and when he is 
 piovQkediheisfo graciws, that he 
 
 is 
 
TbeRojalRobe* 71 
 
 is eafie to be appeafed : men can- HM7- m 
 
 notfo foon fall out with their fins^ Num!i . 
 
 though they have grievoufly cffen- ig. 
 
 dW.- buthefalsin with them 5 and ^ xod -34» 
 
 becomes gracioufly reconciled. ^l' x 8 . 2 ra 
 
 And as a companionate and an in- "?*£ 
 
 dulgent Father forfakes not his Child ^; l8<3Ii 
 
 when he is //fit, fo neither will God m*«..ii. 
 
 leave his Children when they have 2 i?: 
 
 finned 3 #<? may take difiafi: they uaTj'iu 
 
 may be dejected (but being bis) his 1fa.49.i5. 
 
 grace and their faith (hall never fail. ^% 5 27 o > 
 
 pf'?/. • 
 
 Pf.37.t4, Mat. 24. 24.110m. $.20 i Joh ?. 9. Jam. 2 17 Rom. 
 ii.i.Mai.3.6.i?oin. 11.29.1 Joh-4-4- Jer.32.40. 2 Tim.4 .18. 
 D^i- non deferit ctiamjidefererc vldeatw hv.^Jnl J [.^\.'DclUta. 
 non. videt vis amor Is, Ch\\{o\oous Serm, 3 .dc fiOo prodigo. - 
 
 By fuch erroneous fins they grsatly off.nd Gbdj incur 
 the guilt of death, g'reive the holy fpirit, break off the exercife 
 of faith, mod grierptafly wound the confcience, now ancl thee 
 for a time loofe the fente of grace, until upon their returning 
 into the way by true and earneft repentance Gods Fatherly 
 countenance mine again upon them. The judgment of the 
 5ynod of Dort. d? qainqiic Art. comov.'m Eccfcf. Btlg. cap. j, 
 de perftv. Sanfi. 3&F. 5, 
 
 Asm Peter and David 2 Sam.i a. Luk' 'n. See it in Ori- 
 gen, and others in primitive times. Pniasbic eft, nou pottfi 
 non cjfe.fed latet.Hyems e/?j iMus eft viriditaun radice.huv. 
 in Joh. y.HabitesMonamtiiturwfhts mtermlttltur: gr'adus 
 ismitti tux Vide Aug.? » ££, rf* correp,&gra< F 4 F or 
 
7* M*&#, 
 
 «U i. ,.„ For .although the <ur«m{|& and for- 
 K 3 8.<f. mer comforts ofgvw may be lefle- 
 w«-»3 4. ned.- the good morions. of the fiirst 
 **'i 4. f u PPrefTed : the wonted /W-w«r ot 
 
 ^nn. itabated: andthe fenfihle toeMtim 
 tTim.z. ofitinterrapted: yctttill it if there, 
 Kom.n.y. when it is not felt: they have it 
 
 Ub! 9 'o tfl0U ? h the y know not ot it. For 
 fft.55.ij ll cani > ot be , God fliould forget \ 
 *Tim.2. though man may be forgetful-, God 
 & j*t- cannot * # i faimfclf 5 nor will he ^ - 
 Joh .tf.47. «? his favour to them that come un- 
 Jfcty.* to him for itrwhat GWhath few he *r 
 l7 10 iJ ftill : and can iA, as much as he hath 
 wcb.ij.8. d**es He will not leave the r/*/** 
 
 *Tkf x ' * vfierc ^ e fiat ' 1 ta kenpofTeflion 5 r*- 
 n. im * * /*£ what he hath rec&ivd: nor <&f- 
 T^.fo. */*/« what he hath once <m>#W: He 
 
 M iM, iFet.1.4, ?. Fra.89.j5. Luk.123z.Eph4.;. 
 
 For God who is rich in mercy according to unchai.'ec- 
 aWepu.pofeofclc^ion,doth not wholly take away his holy 
 ipjnc from h!s,no hoc in their grievous flips, nor fuffcrs them 
 to wander fo far is to fall away from the pace of adoption & 
 UareoMufr.ficatioihor to cbmit the fin unto death,or aeainft 
 c ^? ^ G 5° rt ' or t0 bc alco g«^er forfaken of him&udicium. 
 mJmr+f %.Axt. Vontrov.m Eccl. Belg.c.f.dcp:r/ev.Se£i.c. 
 
 wiU 
 
TheRoyalRobe, 73 
 
 will not fuffer his truth to fail •, nor 
 his ffirit to forfake the heart , into 
 which it hath been once admitted. 
 
 When doubts are raifed concern- 
 ing things fromifed let them call to 
 mind what they have known ferfor- 
 wed, and let this aflure them of re- 
 ceiving mote. It were extream weak* 
 nefs for men to forfake their own 2 j> et . 3 ., 7 
 flcdfaflnefs, and overwhelmed with 
 the waves of temptation and corrup- 
 tion, to leave their hold of that 
 which can only keep them from 
 
 finking. 
 
 Let the temptation ofSathdn be 
 never fo ftrong : the corruption of 
 their own hearts never {ogreat; their 
 fins never fo many 5 yet the mercies of 
 God, and the merits oichrifi applied 
 to the contrite fiiriu the humbled 
 [ml : the believing heart by the fo- 
 veraign and healing hand of divide 
 Grace doth over-powre all that can 
 beoppofed-, vvhofe operations can- 
 not 
 
74 Mtthpeffc, 
 
 not cither by 5.tf^fubtlety,or mans 
 frailty be ti uftrated or hindred, for fo 
 long as there is power in God to make 
 him ^/(f : mdgoodnefc in God which 
 vviil make him mW&g to help and 
 eaie the afflicted ( for who is a God 
 like unto him, forgiving iniquity, 
 
 Mic 7 , s- tranr § re(ri0 Vnd fin )/ 4 // they may : 
 utterly fall may they cannot, for the 
 
 Fra.j 7 .24 ^ 0rd upholds them with his hand* 
 though fome be of tender heatts apt 
 to entertain troublefome fears and to 
 have a hard opinion of themfelves ; 
 yet let them not fudge amifs of God 
 who hath mercy latd up for all that 
 vvill feek it. God faith not to the 
 humbled finer as Chrift faid to the 
 fern (xoti fhall dye in yoar fins ) 
 
 Joh 8 m buC aS i ie 6ld t0 the /^" '//^- 
 " ' fus crL*l*rns ftcknejfe, this ficknefs 
 
 Joh. ii. 4 . (tms (in ) is not unto death. Sin is 
 
 the ficknefs of the foul 5 theS^/ may 
 
 If* ^ ^ l f pcnt VVlth ^ as the Mr vvitfl 
 ifa.^.i."' jfrw/f : but though the humors be 
 
 ^Vi* corrupted 
 
The Royal Robe. 75 
 
 corrupted and the blond diftempered : >$.#■ 
 yet it nature be not quite exhaufted, jp 1 ; 1 ^ 
 and the (pints of life extinguifhed, *™. 
 the fkilfull Phyfitm hath hope tOMatu.zo. 
 cure the body. ; gft*$ 
 
 In like manner the foul Phjjttian if a , 4i . 3 _ 
 will bind up the broken he Art : quiet gV?'fr>* 
 the troubled $/>/* : cherifli the feeds q£*£ 
 of grace : forgive the fins of the /W ; /fa.jj.i. 
 cmdrettore to a firmer the joy of his %pM : 
 Jalvation. If they have /*#A to be- ^ c cn . 
 lievethepromifesof(7^, and r^*- jfjL*^' 
 tote tobewaile their fins : God hach P f^£j£ 
 mercy to heal their fouls: the medicine i? ? j7**4- 
 and ww^ of recovery is neither ww* £j^£ 
 #w wanting to him that cm apply it. joViU^ 
 
 If S*'*0 put zconceit into the Aw^ ^$Fj 
 of the (inner * that gW will not be en- [j> e ^-| 
 treated: let it not get the conjent of zfa.jj; 7 
 
 theWf. £z!|§.rf 
 
 Toy?.^ '^dangerous \ but to caft a- /Hm. 13. 
 way all hope of fcrgivenefs is deffe* J ^V' z { y 
 rdte> and therefore give not way to ^f,' 5 ' 5 
 
 1 Tim.a.4.Pf.io3.io s ji,ii;.K;n.r;H &c.Rom.5 : i^i^3 i7j&c» 
 Ft h m p*er& fnpra smrum madum exuperat gratia Dei delicto- 
 rum magwud-Mtn, comm & rravitatem.Lmr Alex, fag.gf r 
 
Meeknefje y 
 
 your own corruptions^ and Satans 
 temptations \ if you be weakly et in any 
 cafe be not wilfull^mi take heed that 
 a (in of infirmity, become not a fall 
 or ' Apoftacy. It is the Affiles advice 5 
 caft not away your confidence, but 
 keep your hold (till : which fob 
 would not forgoe, though God kiil'd 
 him. It is an evil heart,and unfaith- 
 ful^ that thinks of departing from 
 the living God. Christians in their 
 conflicts muft not do as * Demofthencs 
 did in the battel, caft away their 
 jhield {the hope offafoation,) for God 
 hath not loft the bowels oicompaffi- 
 on y if men have not loft all fence of 
 grace. There is no fin fo great : but 
 is pardon'd to the penitent : it man 
 have the power to repent : God hath a 
 tvi/ltoforgivejiisbandis never fhort- 
 ped, but when mens hearts are hard- 
 ned. 
 
 Think of Manafes Idolatry : Da- 
 vids adultery : Noahs drunkennefs : 
 
 Ptfers 
 
TbeRoyalRobe. J°J 
 
 Peters denial, and Pauls blafphemy , 
 all thefe finned greatly but being 
 greatly humbled for their fins by 
 prayer and true repentance they ob- 
 tained pardon : they could plead no- tfab.t. y. 
 thing but mercy&nd this may any one ^ !*:£ x <• 
 plead as well as thev, and therefore 7 ,8. 
 never murmure at God 5 or repine at -Nmldea] 
 thine own condition : but be con- yff^- 
 tented,and thankfull 5 and put on meek- quia ad 
 nefi : Repent and be converted, and J*^ 
 a time of refrefhing will come. fifflum*. 
 
 Eut #4/#rf is a great enemy to this &** ^ 
 excellent grace 7 ior the nature of fome "$*£& 
 is peevifh and tachie, and content nofrafe 
 inno.condition % never mil either full exf *%rt~- 
 orfafiwg ( as we ufe to fay. ) q ue voth 
 
 Some when they have what they mmenfa 
 can de fire, yet enlarge their de fires as %$*** 
 heS 5 and grudge if they be not^ abforbet, 
 tisfied : they murmure under plenty, l^ff" 
 and whereas neceffaries fhould fuffice 2 v nt dimicili 
 they are not content with fuperfltr w®& \m- 
 ■itiesjx is not enough that their cover p Q^' ln t 
 
 toufnefs Tw+ 7 \ 
 
,78 Meeknefle, 
 
 tmfnefs is anfwer'd with plenty : but 
 their curiofity longs after novelty •, and 
 if the multiplied Aa//V« of a luxu- 
 rious wanton age y do not prefent 
 themfelves to their longing appetites: 
 if their dyetbe not fome choice */*//- 
 r*^ $ and their apparrel of the coftli- 
 eft fluff and neweft * «f and fajhion : 
 they are^f* of the [aliens, and out of 
 charity : both with G$d and w^ff, fuch 
 jfc Himori^s were the//^/;mwho^,- 
 *#£>w« ««r«/ againft GodjumVL he corrected 
 ntmiait, ttieir corrupt humors by flaying the 
 "JpS- »«fo&/>/* of them in the wilder- 
 fauit cm &efie % 
 
 c ctZ exm ^ mt a s ain are troubled > and the ? 
 
 Catv.i» r 
 
 VrodlUnrum luxuries nwiquan parvo cogent* param:& 
 a^Gonm terra pelagoqve cibowm amhitiofa f*mes, & UX* 
 
 ^ ttCicdno^ Tynol&ccedo acurn nimbus difUw*- 
 dis, &p»!verem dcmibits elimandh, & btfulctm ali^id 
 femvcUrlsungulbis rmf&udis :fimd fifc »,w«, b 
 Lidcoatlirulsris.^iib-ia^tge^s urge at , &c Icrt. OTj 
 d>? dm:, cap. it. Ffai.78r3t. Nuni.u. 33. 
 
 know 
 
The Royal Kobe. jp 
 
 know notjvbere, nor know not tvhy\ 
 but difcontent they are, and out of all 
 fauence^confUm of cro{fe$,and loffes* 
 and wants, of difappo'ritments and 
 pains, when they cannot tell where 
 the pain holds them. 
 
 In this cafe take heed there be 
 not fome Canaamte^ fome tfebttfite in 
 the hznd y - fome fecret fin in the foul jof. 23.13; 
 unrepented of$ which (as a icourgein, 
 the fide, and a thorne in the eye ) 
 will fuffer 2 man to take no Reft, 
 
 Moreover, fome are naturally fgd^ 
 per? five and melancholy {all out with 
 themfielvesy repine againft G$d> and 
 every man , they abandon all comfert 7 
 and repell all cccafions of joy, de- 
 lighting to nourifh^n?/', and toen- 
 jtertain a ptnfwe foul ? they eate up 
 1 their own hearts, and drink up tkek 
 } own fjtirit /, this is a dangerous ( I had 
 jalmoft faid ) a devillifh humor ( one 
 J hath faid it ) Spirittts meUnchelkm 
 \* ft $ iritys DiaMictu, the Devil loves 
 
 to 
 
%o Meekneffe, 
 
 to fifh in troubled waters, and is the 
 molt difcontented fnU in the 
 World. 
 
 Discontent is oh deffier ate: Sat km 
 hath a Cord, a knife, &c. Hang : 
 drotvne: flab: a violent hand, a viru- 
 lent tongue are his Infimmeuts to de- 
 ftroy man and blafpheme God, they 
 are impatient of all p^/> : the leaft 
 crofs overwhelmes them* ; and fo af- 
 fe&s them - 7 that they £#011? not : they 
 ^r? #rt what they fay or do, they 
 guarrel with God, with themfelres , 
 and with all men& fad condition, and 
 enemy to meeknefs. Bat all this while 
 I have not clear'd the Saints of that 
 fcandalth&t is taken againft them for 
 their diftempered behaviour in their 
 job.M x. afflictions, 'jobs uncharitable/w^J 
 jo^iy.i , * n e ff^ te ^ him to his//tf* ( that he 
 5. rav'd and talk'd idlely,) That the 
 
 a£u.'m S^^havetranfgreff'd in their fits, 
 jini.j'17 cannot be deni'd, they were men of 
 MkefaffioM with us, and in their paf- 
 
 fiom 
 
The Royal Kobe. 81 
 
 fions fometimes mutin'd againft 
 God^ and in the weakness of their fpi- 
 r'tts did flirink under the crofs, fa- 
 tob for the lofs of a Son will go 
 down into the grave fortovting : $™' * 7 ' 
 Mofes fpeaks unadvifedly with his n'*Lio6- 
 lips : Jonas frets, and is angry : Eli as 3?- 
 is weary of his ///if 5 and J0I expoftu- x °Kin.^! 
 latesand reafons withG^arid thinks 4. 
 kim zoofevere: and in this they were l ^ 1 ^ ^ 
 carnaLtas St. Vaul fpeaks) walkt as 26, 27 . 
 men by f^ 3 and not by faith : but l Cor - *• 
 reafm cone&s (en fe : and/^/>redi- Ia3 ' 4, 
 fies r^/i;* : and when they come 
 to their right tcafefy they acknow- 
 ledge with David, it was their infr- ff 77 — 
 mityj It is fure the Saints of God 
 have a Wjy of flefh, as well as a fpiri- 
 tua! foul : their fle/b is fenfible and 
 I their (oitls affe&ionate •, and as tfre 
 one is fenfible of the pain, fo the other 
 I is moved with it •, indeed to be nk>re 
 ij affe&ed than there is catife is finfull: 
 ] and it is finfull not to be affafted 5 
 I where cavfc is given; G And 
 
g z Meekneffe^ 
 
 And if the Saints have been , much 
 
 affe&ed under the Crofs : they are 
 
 therein not to be excus'd only but 
 
 jnflified : if from a juft ground for 
 
 jona ? i\. ^ n committed. md God offended. To 
 
 io. apprehend God offended, and angry •' 
 
 Joel 2.12. anc j an g r y J ie w i][ not b e but f or fl n : 
 
 jfta.p.15. 2nd for this we find the Saints to hare 
 jer.230. been both ftrangely and ftrongly 
 
 fail's. 4 c[icd > read the P/i/w of David, 
 
 z Cor. 7 . the Lamentations of Hieremy, and fee 
 
 l c r w ^ at * m P re & on t ^e effeds of Gods 
 
 fpeakche 4 ^ r did make upon their affetfions 5 
 
 tiifcipiin- and this God not only approv'd : but 
 
 tivfchri- comma nded, and £2<m»« them when 
 
 fiiaite. they were not as was meet affected at 
 
 -* ^ his fmiting them. 
 
 3 ridhnom- He lay es a C^/r£f on them to rend 
 
 vicom- their hearts, to afflict their fouls, to 
 
 TejjhTb pa* on fack- cloth : to fit in aflies : to 
 
 §nmi vita figh and cr j : to weef and mourn : and 
 
 fvjigc&iia- t0 make other deep expreffions of 
 
 & cm** troubled affedions even to indigna- 
 
 z-oiHtames tion and revenue ( two main parts of 
 
 v * vidu Repentance 
 
The Royal Robe, 83 
 
 Repentance as Szint Paul fets it Calu J? 
 
 forch ) for Goi will have them break ms!~&k 
 
 their Jpirits : hiimble thtir fouls : be Tert. A?i 
 afrgry with, and take revenge of J°^ ^ 
 
 themfelves by the wholfome #$:?- cap, 4 o. iii 
 
 jf>//#£ of fpiritual mortification. j^ c A.7H 
 
 Thus to do in dear Affection , and 1 pd)'*/. 
 
 true devotion unto God^unfained «##- Gal.?. i 4 . 
 
 /r/V/W; for their fins : and compasfton ^]^' s s ' 
 
 towards man may well con'fift with 1 Cor.'*. 
 
 that meeknefi which the Apoftle re- 2 ?* ' 
 
 quireth to be/w** 00. «™*fg 
 
 But here two extreams muft be a- *w<? «h 
 
 voided, a ^40 mult be obferved : ^j]^" 
 
 and it is a bleffed f A/#g to hit it, to impem' 
 
 know both n?to to be affe&ed and hl ^f^- 
 
 b01t> fdr. r tHcompefi 
 
 Affections of themfelves are apt e- « c#f»# 
 
 fioughtoruninto m^/;, have more {?*' t p "J 
 
 need of the <;#r£ than the fltur, Saint Twfr** 
 
 Paul fpeaking of the Apofiles and ftm^- 
 
 their f^r/V^^fayes,they were made bS&I 
 
 as gazing- flocks, a fpeffacle to the pr 8 
 
 &tdd and to Angels and to meri.fuch ™r l 3-M 
 
 ® 3 - 1 Cor, 4.9, 
 
 G 2' are 
 
84 Meetyejfe, 
 
 are the Saints they have many eyes 
 upon them, and therefore fhould 
 have a care to comport themfelves 
 decently and exemplarily that no 
 fains or faffions difcompofe or dis- 
 order the decencie of their thoughts 
 or duties. It may be, by thtir fuffe* 
 rings God intends the infiruBion of 
 others: and it is a heavenly thing, 
 when others as well as themfelves 5 
 are better'd by their afflictions. 
 
 To do otherwife were to fall fhort 
 of their duty, or to exceed it 3 they fall 
 fhort of their duty 5 that being affli&ed 
 are not humbled : not fenfible of Gods 
 anger 5 nor moved with it. 
 
 This fome would bear the world 
 in hand is their Patience^ \Meeknefs 
 and Calmtnefs of fpirit : but indeed it 
 is a ftoical negligence and carelefsnefs, 
 zfencelefsdulnejfc andftufidity. 
 
 When Gods hand islifted up they 
 
 wilt not fee $ they will not grieve, nor 
 
 ifa, itf.u. fear^not be humbled, nor tr cabled, not 
 
 daunted 
 
The Royal Robe* 8$ 
 
 daunted or dejected: there is no mm 
 but would diflike that in his Child^ 
 and xeiput&it ftubbernnefe rather than 
 meekness and fo will God, who is 
 greatly afflicted when he fees af- 
 fliction has no kindly work upon 
 men. 
 
 For men to be affected and paffio- 
 nate to be moved and troubled at the 
 effe&s of Gods anger may ftand 
 both with Reason and Grace. 
 
 To this end God hath given man 
 a foft and flexible nature to take im- 
 preflion of every fasfionjo that when 
 God is angry he will have us to pour 
 outourfupplications and complaints 
 to lament after him, and to be very Pfr'.i4»« 
 much difpleafed with our Celves', j er . 48 . 
 that judging of our felves , we may 
 notbe judged of the Lord. \i 
 
 They exceed their duty that in their 
 
 afflictions are too much troubled, our 
 
 ■ /^fw<?urgeth downwards, and our 
 
 ifafltons have their felf aptnefs and 
 
 Q $ pronefs 
 
 1 Cor.il* 
 
8 5 Meekpejft, 
 
 proriets to that which is evilly men o- 
 therwife udlameabU, hereia are 
 worthy to be bUmd -, that any little 
 or light Affliction doth too much dis- 
 quiet them, and makes them won- 
 drous impatient, yea many for a fmall 
 \ok do (o vex md fret, that like IU- 
 Ter „ „ cbeUhey refufetobe comforted, and 
 ' become fofeevifh that no good cw*#- 
 Mcao rk»« themtopdf/««tf, like 
 |D«?..4.f i^A they will defend their froiv- 
 m&Ml and with him will tell you 
 they do well to be angry, but as God 
 tohimfolmayfaytothem, do you 
 well to be angry for atriBe f what is 
 thi's or that man ? or what is any 
 man i that he fliould be (o tender and 
 tachie, there are very few that an be 
 iound better than David, or if than 
 Davidbam than Chrifi, I am fure 
 they cannot be 5 yet David in theper- 
 fcn of cfe//? faies of himfelf ( I am a 
 worm and no man ) the bed man 
 V compared\vith God is but as a^ 
 
 of the earth. 
 
The Royal Robe, 87 
 
 If then God fhall tread upon us 
 fhall we turn againft him : if he fhall 
 /^againft us : fhall we j?m^ againft 
 him ! no Ira t her let us fubmit unto him, 
 and humble our felves before him , 
 adoring his wifedome 5 and admiring 
 the unfearchablenefs of his tvayes . 
 who brdeneth all things if againft our 
 wills : yet according to his own. 
 
 Yet there are feme that fhoot 
 their arrows againft heaven even bit- 
 ter words,, fearfull execrations,heavy 
 curfes, reviling God and Man if they 9 fTtque~ 
 be crofs'd in their defigns, and alf *ftra no- 
 things anfwernot their deferes, they ™ e ™ a f^ 
 break out into exclamations and ac- virg. Ec- 
 cufations againft God, and in their d °g- 1- 
 furious and frantick -fits with great 
 horror they utter fuch prodigious 
 fpeeches that are inconfiftent altoge- 
 ther with Chriflianity or humanity, 
 they forget themfelves to be Chrijli- 
 ms, to be men, and behave them- ; 
 felves as brutes and devils > ready to 
 G 4 for? 
 
83 Meeknejje, 
 
 forfakeGW, to revolt from Religion, 
 i ull of bitter thoughts , breaking 
 forth into (uch horrid exprejjions , 
 which will make the heart of any 
 moderate man to quake and tremble 
 for to hear them in the heighth of 
 their madnefi,xa§\n% againft pod and 
 his creatures. Good men under 
 the fenfe and pain of fome heavy 
 dffliclicn, may be affe<fied 5 may be 
 moved, but affe&ed or moved above 
 meafure they may not be,rayling,and 
 reviling, curing and blaffheming is 
 the language of Hell, and that man 
 that ufcs it, is no better than an in- 
 carnate Devil, a paflion to be tamed, 
 and with much caution, as a dange- 
 rous/^// to be fhunned •, and begge 
 bf God an humble, and a meek ftirit, 
 and thus much for awjb*/? as it re- 
 lates to God, 
 
 The 
 
The Royal Robe. 8^ 
 
 The (econd kind of meekneft which re- 
 lates to man. 
 
 Of Meeknef towards Man. 
 
 Meeknef towards mm is fliewn in 
 a kind affetfion, and in a fwcct and 
 gentle conv-erfation, and is chiefly 
 intended in this place. 
 
 And this kind of meeknef^ which 
 the Af$ftU here commends to be rheCiu- 
 put on, is a calmnefs of fpirit, a quiet' rafter of 
 nefs of mind, a g*7tf/* moderation in m o ee ^ r n d er$ 
 all our a&ions, When as the fwel- 
 ling pi anger together with the vexa- 
 tions and difquietnefs of heart and 
 mind are fuppreft, when as both an 
 internal and external tranquillity is 
 obferved, with modefly of counte- 
 nance, together with a fweet and 
 amiable comportment of the whole 
 body, whofe tongue is the law of 
 kindnefs, with words both few and 
 
 men. 
 
i Con}. 
 
 $o Meefytejfe, 
 
 [oft; affable; and courteous: cenfo- 
 rious of none, injurious to none, re- 
 jpeffiveoi all-,patient,mild 3 and hum- 
 ble : ever ready to give a reafon of 
 the hope that is in you to any one 
 thatfhal move the queftion,&to give 
 the beft conduction of every a&ion 
 that charity will bear. For meeknefs 
 like charity hopethiW things: helieveth 
 all things: endmeth all things : & is fo 
 far from doing evil 5 that it thinks none. 
 Roma j. Meeknefs of all others knows how 
 so * to make a vert tie of neceffity, and to 
 
 put evil to good ufc. It cannot be 
 difcountenanc'd^ will not be discontents 
 hath learnd to pafs by Indignites^ to 
 put up injuries : prates for what it 
 cannot help: laments what it cannot 
 mend: and patiently fufers what it 
 Romi ,c* abhonesto^: bearing wrongs^ and 
 i 9 y ' forbearing Revenge: receiving evil y 
 Mar. j. 44. b ut ^turning go$d: good lot evtl: 
 for hatred, love : for blows 5 hlefsings. 
 Thus God as the perfe&ion of 
 
 our 
 
The Royal Robe. 9* 
 
 |3ur meeknefs requires at our hands 
 lot only a free remission of all injuries 
 chat we forgive men their trefpaffes : 
 but alfo an entire affeffion to their 
 pr\ons^ to love even our enemies. Mar# £kl 
 To recompence to no man evil Rohm 2. 
 for evil is a fair meafure of meeknefs* ££ k 6 
 but to overcome evil with good is a a g. * 
 very high degree of Meehefje > R«n-i*« 
 and fuch as well becomes chrifHans^ 1U 
 jwho are the followers of that Mafler 
 who ilied his blood fat them thztffik 
 lit. 
 
 i You hear what meeknefs is the *w-. 
 \tne here commended : now will you 
 ! hear what */2? we are to make of it, 
 jitmuftbepitf 0*. 
 
 Put on meeknefs m 
 Meeknefs is a garment or apparel 
 for the foul : and as a man is feen in 
 his clothes*, and known by them: fo 
 is a chriflian by meeknefs; This 
 meeknefs it comes not by nature $ ic 
 is zgrace of God., '$ fruit, of the fpirit. 
 
93 Meefyefle, 
 
 And a man may as well be (aid to be 
 born with clothes on his back as with 
 grace in his heart. 
 
 This and all other graces we have 
 jam.1,7. not only as the gift of God to us: 
 1 cor. 1 y. but as the work ot God in us. 
 Gal. 1 9. It is a fpiritual and heavenly gar- 
 Bph 4 7 . went, and fuited to the foul. 
 f.°& \)\ It is a wonder to fee what a great 
 deal of care there is to get apparel for 
 the body -, and ctmoftty to fit it, that 
 Ornzmtis it may be comly •, what ftrange attires 
 nofmetit- f or fafhion* and unreafonable for 
 tutMul' *&**&* are devifed and worn beyond 
 omamntis ability. But the beft and f eemlieft 
 * c \ h *i. garment ( which is meeknefs) is not 
 memaqui- regarded. 
 
 tuspiacere This Garment the Apoftle advi- 
 p ^' ms fethto get, and not to get it only, 
 
 Chrip cos- 
 
 leflifponfo; Bern. lib. de tpodo beqe vlvendi. Scm. 9. de 
 
 babitn. fig. ia$ r 
 
 If* me Cb'tjlfS ben$ timet*, pudcre nvs hu'yis nnfl,* dete- 
 fanix: luxur*, in:m & in. eerie nopo debebat \ qti* indtibi- 
 tatvn vatiifltma myitis v.olr.t rfi Tnt(j.*i{tQ?. Diatericu^. 
 i*A/f.t!tg. *vkwe, Domini, i* Vomi!t,i t ?r'm.$>ir t \/Aft.-> t 
 
 but 
 
The Royal Robe. 93 
 
 but to Mark. It is a fearful thing 
 to think of the great negled: of this 
 vtpparcl. But for that of the body p,„ ™ 
 what a deal of time is taken up (as *« *w 
 jthevfoy) between the comb and the V m ™ 
 \Ws. Whatcarcabout the back? &ffi 
 what dreffing, and tricking, and w* m fais 
 trimming and fo many trifles go to SJffi 
 the compleating of a >/V 5 that a ™/«W 
 P>is as eafily ^Vas a^4» arratd. 7 B ; rn \ '* 
 ty/dfcj his Prentice about to draw 2"ift£ 
 the face olHellen, failing in his skill vmd >* 
 painted her wl : much like to thofe j£j * * 
 |fao when they fail of vertue to o«to/- 
 peautifie their lives , think to be cens c " m 
 known by their fine ,/*&,. Ana-S*, 
 by /*//« for their backs, and never a *^5E 
 j^fortheirhearts: furdy thofe are ?£ *^ 
 
 m*. car. 10. aiex '^« 
 
 ,: Noncflf^micuUchnfii $oxfa, fi amat^ftm p m h* 
 \m. Bern, de m a<> ben* vivendi Strm. 9. dthahitu 
 
 beft 
 
94 Meeknejje, 
 
 bed clad that have their hearts eld- 
 thed with vertue. And therefore 
 put on meeknefs. Not on youi 
 tongues only, in fvveet and fugred 
 words : but on your hearts in a quiet 
 and meekjpirit which before God is 
 a thing much fet by. Yea , in the 
 whole carriage arid converfation oi 
 your lives. 
 
 You muft ever put it on^ and ne^ 
 ver put it off \ until the foul put off the 
 body, you muft fit in it, lie dowr 
 in it, walk in it, and work in it. 
 
 It is a garment for all times, and 
 {ox z\\ places. 
 
 For all times ^ in the time of wars 
 famine, ficknefs, in the day of trou- 
 ble and hour of temptation, whei 
 ftormsand tempefts break in upo* 
 us, it isaszfafefhelter. 
 
 In the time of peace, health,plen 
 ty,in good days which no misfortun 
 clouds, in Halcion daies when th 
 Sun of profperity fhines upon us •, 1 
 
The Royal Kobe, 95 
 
 is as a pleafant jhadow. 
 
 For all places ! at home within 
 dores in the family, it is as apf ecious 
 cintmentio perfume the hmfe. 
 
 Abroad amongft neighbors, it is 
 as an excellent vertue to feafon your 
 conversation : At the Market about 
 yourbufinefs: In the fields, amidft 
 your Cattel: In the City at your 
 vocation: In the Jffembly at your 
 ; devotion: on the Tribunal, and in 
 j the Pulpit, meeknefs agreeth with all 
 ; places. Wherefore it is the whol- 
 fomeadviceofa wife Father to his 
 fon. My fon goon in thy bufinefs 
 with meeknefs, fofhalt thou be be- 
 loved of him t hat is approved. 
 
 Now ?neeknefs as apparel ferves 
 for divers ufes. 
 
 I 
 
 1 1 tn Indumentum : for clothing, 
 
 2 In Munimintum*. for defence. 
 
 3 IxiOrnamtntumi forcomliaefs. 
 
 a la 
 
9& Meehejpi 
 
 4 la yUnimcntmn : for diftin&iorc- 
 
 Gen.5.7. Firft 5 Apparel is for do tithing to 
 
 mdwlY ^e our nd ^ ne f s : anc * t0 be a 
 ftis a vs. comely fuwr for oar more uncomely 
 ia?tdo 3 juod parts. So meeknefs ferves as a wz/f- 
 u/auT' r * n g t0 h^ and conceal the brutifh 
 pgat rar. rage of oar heady pafsions : and the 
 fiithinefsofour diforder'd affections s 
 which fhould they be feen in their 
 own form, would appear fo monftru- 
 ms andm/fhapen that they would be- 
 come odious ^>th to God and Man. 
 For all Affutions and pafsions they 
 . are, as man is, conceived in fin : and 
 fin which hairh blemifh'd our under- 
 standing and defaced our pureft mind, 
 hath made much more deformed and 
 ugly, affections and fafiions which 
 -arife from the bruitiftvpart of the 
 foul. 
 
 Of thefe fome are more gentle % re- 
 tenting and traftabU, and eaply drawn 
 to the obedience ci reafon , other? 
 
 more 
 
The Rdyalkiihe. f>f 
 
 more furious fnddenand unruly ^ hard vide a*h 
 to be tamed and reduced: fuch is An- 'jffifl* 
 ger^ which leaves a man naked 7 and ut'i^cm 
 Tayes him open to fhame. and drives wj&tral 
 the foul from her feat of>^«»«rf, £» 
 raifes fuch commotions and fertwha- imdocm- 
 tions^ that like a troubled /^ftirred (f^- 
 iwich a violent temfefl^ the very ibdfi- ^j^^T; 
 dationis fhakeri, the bottomeis (jiif- 4$iimi 
 [covered, and the Channel appears. &** £ 
 
 gurgite 
 |p »f0* vert'ttur, Ovid. 3. Fad, Qutpp/fonant clamors vvti 
 p,idon rudemes undarum incur [n gravis unda y : toittribtti *~ 
 tbtr fluaibus erig tut , c&lumquL <eqiwe videtnr pemm,— 
 & rune ftthlimts veluti de vcrtice mantis^ deSpicere in vaUes> 
 ir/i>onqu? Acheron!* lidetur: lyim ubi dcmiffam curvam cirium-* 
 $t$H aijuoi fu!}ic2T. fafirfco fummumde gurgite cmhm w Scat. 
 
 The paffionof Anger it deals by 
 [men as the Jem did by the Egyptians, 
 fjboyls themof their jewels and ray- Exod -3-2i 
 ptentoi Reafon and Judgment 5 or as 
 \Aaron did by the jfraelttes , makes 
 them naked to their fhame: thus ^^- Exod.su 
 %er makes a man" naked and niti&ver- „ 2 * 
 H ed, G ™ 9 ' zl 
 
98 Meeknefe, 
 
 m'mw fri ed, like Noah in his Tent^ for Anger 
 compos 'c? j s ^e drunkennefi of the [oid 5 it ri 
 "br'Jas* a P*? n rnadnef by which a man is 
 Eraf. so carried away from himfelf with heat 
 the Fa- and choler unto (uch unhanfome and 
 
 thersterm , . i , . . . . 
 
 it. unmanly behaviour^ that he becomes 
 
 filer, ad a lu jf* u i fp e ffacU, befides the deformi- 
 Dumhaf- l Y l ^ 1 l m ks within •, hence it is 
 chuY mfa- that in the whole nature of things 
 
 mre creda- t h ere j s not a more prodigious Mon- 
 tour. Hi- a , r n n r 
 
 eT.ad-ver-jhr than an ^gr) man. But Hea\on 
 metri. ira and Religion l^ke the two fonnes of 
 (T^ XoahiSemzn&Iaphet, take that^r- 
 Horat.Ep. ment of liecknefiio cover him. -By 
 
 G- Ep z *i r ^ e ^p °^ ^i^ a man ma y ^° 
 
 angcrwfw m "ch s but by the help of Grace and 
 furore (* Religion a man majido much more in 
 /aMMEz" o^er to the quieting and fetlingthe 
 
 Sxt 7M.f7ti Im'-mv offlo&utSzt. Menander It' Mum ab inp.no 
 tantwn tempore di(i.ire puta.Ca. m. 
 
 Orci tumnt Ira, mgrefcant fanguin? ven£, lum'ma Got- 
 gpneo favius angue micant. O/id. lib. j d: art. Am. 
 
 Qtialla pctielnferniJiamonHxa finxerc fnctinfta ferpenti- 
 buT & imc <& flitu-,&c. p?rlegc op. 3$. Scnccae in lib. 
 *. de irA 3 nbi ej'gr.nfijjim* defer ftio irsft. Gen; 9 13. 
 
 tffettim 
 
T^ Royal Robe. $$ 
 
 affstiions, which when they are tmrrr- 
 ly mail not be r*i»*d ? bat rectified. 
 
 AfeBions and fashions were in the 
 fir ft Adam in the time of his innoeen : 
 cy without prcturbation 5 and in the 
 feeond Adam in the time of his *&i 
 carnation without fin : yea God him- 
 Sfdfis faid to be ^Mfr&Mtfy) Angry, Jg|^ 
 and to hate not really but Analogi- vanr'c. 49 . 
 jcally-, for in him is ho motion or> e 7* oc ^ 
 Icommotion, neither paifion or per- u e l \ 7% 
 jturbation, he hath faid it of himfelf, WW. ?• k 
 jand vtfcllhe might without tax of ^litS 
 pride or injuftice ego Deus & non \H*i 
 mutor. Num. u. ^ 
 
 chriftz\£o took upon YM$t { \kf &I6 ' l2 \ 
 (tons with pur nature, he Was not James*; 
 'w&ki no ftupid ffoick but ( as Saint 17.' 
 ^ames faid of Elias)he was of like 
 pas (tons and affections with usrand the Heb. z.ij 
 author to the Hebrews tells us he ??N->* 
 
 I ' Heb. 5.5. 
 
 L- . fl . . . ' ■. ,., . la humana 
 
 ^n^irutturi diiocortfiderandafimty effemh camis & affeftwj 
 \uire Apofidlusdocet iwicarnemmoio bormms ipfum mduiffe fed 
 ffittus quoque omaes qfofmt hmimm proprii. Calv.fecpof. id 
 Hfeb. cap. j. vsu 17. 
 
 i' a had 
 
10 o Meekpeffe, 
 
 had a fellow-fee-ling of our info 
 
 mines. 
 
 Mar 2? There was an Antipathy between 
 
 " zj.' our fins and him •, he did loath them, 
 
 Mark.s.j. an( j was f ori y f or them, and angry at 
 
 them. 
 
 But there was a Sympathy between 
 his pasfions and ours which in him 
 were funijlments, not fins : in us they 
 are both, for the tranlgreflion of A- 
 damh diforder'd the whole frame of 
 nature, that to this day there is a 
 Schifm in the foul,the inferiour facul- 
 ties rebelling againft the fuperiour 5 
 and pasfion fighting againft Eeajon: 
 for naturally in man fince the fall 
 Eom.8.7. there is ( i &Wvtr& k^Sia ) a foolijh 
 wilfull heart that will not beadviPd, 
 fo over-maftred with pasfion that ic 
 will not yeeld to enlightned Rea- 
 [on. 
 
 How {hall this difference be com- 
 pofed>and this rebellion of the pasfions 
 quieted 5 the Stoicks prefcribe a Kerne- 
 
 dy 
 
 Gal j. 17. 
 
7he Royal Robe* lot 
 
 dy worfe than the difeafo ( to deftroy 
 them ) but Saint Hierom likes not 
 this way (which were, faith he, homi- 
 nem de homine tolkre to unman aMan, 
 feeing the pasfiovs are infeparably 
 united to our human nature, which 
 when it is out of order muft be rec- 
 tified not deftroy d. 
 
 As therefore' in a popular Tumult ff* P tu ~ 
 
 i . / rt- r r •> ts graven 
 
 and w[urretfionAomz grave wile man mentis fi 
 interpofes himfelf, who with the fat*wm 
 xeverence of his per fon, fWeetnefsof fylZre°% 
 language, and prudent and difcreet ijt arret* 
 ; behaviour doth overawe and per- ^'J^ 
 fwade them. So fefus chrifi the nil iegk 
 great Mediator of peace between God **&« «f-j 
 and Man, he fo moderates the faff (ens ^ZtJ^ 
 that he makes peace in man, he fub- c«v vkg. 
 idues the will ol the ftefh to the Law ^ n , eIrU * 
 pt thzfjtmt, makes paflion yield to cai»mfem- 
 feafM) cuts the nailes, and hair of the '&&*(& 
 fondwmanjeconciles Sarah and B^ifl^i^ 
 MT) and makes them quietly inlk- 'RomV** 
 pite under one Roof. Thus oW/? d«k.^. 
 
 I 
 
.102 Mi ehpejje, 
 
 Zfefas hath (hew'd us away tocutje 
 cyxxfasfions not to kill them •, to qua^- 
 lifie their heat^ to re&ifie their di[o*~ 
 derj.o heal their diflempcr, gently to 
 lead them, and fweetly to incline 
 them to their proper objects : not to 
 take them away, ne fmt^ that they be 
 not at all : for that cannot be without 
 the deftru&ion of the whole man , 
 fo long as the foul dwelsinthebody, 
 there will be fas [tons in the foul 
 (whatfoever the jloicks fay to the 
 contrary.-but fo to compofe them,#<? 
 cbfmty that they hurt not. 
 Humphrey A Chriftian muft deal with his 
 Sycijrm in* fasjions as the Apothecary doth with 
 hisSeimon p yf 0f ts, who to make his confections 
 
 called the r Jl . - , J 
 
 waters of Ti\OYQ palatefome, and yet more o- 
 MarafrqaA perative, qualifies the malignity of 
 
 {5Stx? r m t les by P re P arin § them - ma- 
 king p yfon not only medicinable , 
 
 but delightfully and fo both cures and 
 
 pleafes. 
 
 The pdspns thu$ handled by the 
 
 difcreet 
 
The Royal Robe 103 
 
 j : difcreet chrifiian, they are wholly 
 I conceal'd, and nothing of them ap- 
 : pears but fo feemly clad in the ha- 
 I bit of Metknefi that they loofe their 
 ; venome and malignity^ and are a help 
 I no hinderance to the foul in the ope* 
 I rattens of it. 
 
 Meeknefi -is a Garment that well 
 fines a christian man, but in fome 
 ! fafiSy upon fome occasions at fome 
 tim*s, with fome persons ( Anger ) is 
 very feafonable and feemly, we may 
 be angry, but we rauft notfw: for e pM*^ 
 there is an anger without Jw \ and if 
 you will be angry and fin not, be angry 
 at (in. When you fee Gods Name 
 , difhonoured , his ferv ice negle&ed, 
 hk d$y prophaned, his good jpirit de- 
 fpited, here is a fair occafion tor the 
 exercife of anger ; the leaft difgrace in 
 our own per fins $ or damage in our 
 own ejlates toucheth us near, and for 
 thefemen will ftorm, and fret arid 
 ycx themfelyes, and nogenfleper- 
 H4 fwafions 
 
104 Meeknejfe, 
 
 pifc&mm fwafions can move them to tneekncfi; 
 
 ShP*. and fll3U we be fo tendcr and fenfible 
 
 Uras h t u- of that which concerns our (elves, and 
 
 nm mig- f c arelefs and fenfleffe ot that which 
 
 nan* miter 
 
 Jiipmw , concerns Gedjll do we deferve to have 
 
 pej autcm fo good, and fo gracious a God , who 
 
 k^/T*' gi vet ^ us a ^ things that pertain to 
 
 adaitditum life and godlinefs, when we are fo 
 
 f4e,re&c C0 \ L \ m fa caufe 5 whereas indeed there 
 
 %i>iriltA can be no furer fign of an upright 
 
 Mat. y. qui heart, then to be more fenfible of the 
 
 dixent, indignities ofter'd to God then of our 
 
 i/2 propria own dangers-, tor certainly no inge- 
 
 ifijuriispa- n ious difpoficion can be fo tender 01 
 
 fifaudfbi- & s own difer'ace, as the true Chrifti- 
 
 ie cfty mju- an is of the dijhonour of God, 
 
 tS m- m ^ our a ff ec ~it m were right and 
 
 wiunim. kindly that which difpleafes God 
 
 />;«;» *!?. fj^[&dz\{6difpka[tiiS) and allexcefs 
 
 £j/k£" in our affections fhould run this way, 
 
 ~ p ^4. we may btfasfionatcio^ God, and a- 
 
 WeBafiL gainft fin, but wemuft beware we 
 
 ma z. or at 
 
 fctra. pretend not indignation agamft finne 
 t*\m w hen we intend (atisf action ofa felf 
 
 humour. 
 
 Hon tltmctt 
 
The Royal Robe. *°5 
 
 humour. It is good to be zealous in ^ t ]^ e t ^ 
 a good thing alwaies, but all zeal is fctufacert* 
 not good;we muft not take that for a ^™* Uf £ d 
 fpiritual temper which is but a natural Moiuchum 
 diftemper. For fome are zealous out Gai.4. * 8 . 
 of envy (this was G*w s^/:)fome wifeneu 
 out ofcboler , ( this was J^^ £&*/ : ) cb^imis 
 fome out otHypocrifie, (this wasje- f^f* 
 hues zeal : ) Some out of ignorance^ vtvu&zt. 
 (this was the J ewes zeal : ) but fome ^^ * 
 for theglory ofGed,(th\s is a f /•#* C/tf7- \*^p?£ 
 flian godly zeal :) true zeal cannot n^.^/.z. 
 y?^i by, and be filent when it fees K t 
 God dijbonoured^ and the foul o^#- x John \. 
 gered, Msfeswos the meeke ft man a- I2 - 
 Kve,yet will not Mofes fit ftill,and fay {&" s *£ 
 nothing, when he fees the Congrega- %6. 
 tion corrupted •, the peace of Ifrael di- Kow.io.** 
 limbed jhzmagifiracie and the />w/?- jjhni.i 7 . 
 /Wqueftioned, if men will be faEti- Xicus*.^ 
 out Sacrilegious and unruly , it is then NusLi*.fl 
 time for Mofes to fliew himfelf to be N ^- 1^ 
 Mofes, (Gods minifier and their awgi- 
 j?r^). And a ' greater /w/£ tf thee 
 
 Mofes 
 
Mat.i7i4 
 
 ip5 Meeknefley 
 
 hUjes yetnoleismeek ( ]e[iu chrift 
 
 the righteous) who had not a word to 
 
 {ay for himfelfe : yet in his fathers 
 
 caufe when he fees the Temple, the 
 
 houfe of God.the houje of prayer,made 
 
 a houje of merchandize , a den of 
 
 theeves,hath a fcourge to la(h the pro- 
 
 phaners of the San&uary, the Lamb 
 
 of God will fometimes (hew himfelf 
 
 to be the Lyon otjudab, thus with 
 
 Chrift and Mofes ( when a good caufe 
 
 wants it, and a lawfull call warrants 
 
 it,) we may put on a juft di[dain, a 
 
 zealous anger againft the enemies of 
 
 Religion and peace y endeavoring by all 
 
 good means to in forme the judgments 
 
 of fuch as are contrary minded \ and 
 
 to reform the practice of fuch as are 
 
 ill-marincr'd, but in thus doing wc 
 
 muft joyn discretion with zeal : left 
 
 fervor dlf- ' 
 
 cretion'tmergz^ r> dlf cretin fervor cm rcgaf. Bern, fupcr Cwt. 
 $tr. i'$.p. 6 :.8« eft ergo difcreti* nm tarn virtus qu-im mod°ratrix 
 & aurigi v's tivum Oj&w atr'ty q\ *ffefty.um> & fftornm doctrix. 
 
 Jo.i.29,^ 
 
 Virtus ji- 
 qttidem dh 
 fcretioiis 
 abfq-y thai 
 ritalis fr- 
 vore jacet, 
 & fervor 
 vehm*7ir 
 abfo tf/1 
 cretwx ■' 
 ttmperamcn. 
 to p'xeipi- 
 tatyid'oqw 
 lcLndxbil>s 
 citmeu*rvn 
 dee ft qitx-i 
 tenm ■&- 
 
 \crn.jKpsr Cm. Sfmtjtfi. $*%* 7*1* & 
 
 like 
 
The Royal Kobe. toy 
 
 like ablind Archer ( who thinking to 
 haveflainabeafl^kil'da man) inftead 
 of mending a friend we make not a 
 foe' wounding him in his name : vyfaen 
 weihouldwin him to God. &*?■> # 
 
 And herein is to be obferv'd both * m ?™Z 
 zdue timejmd a right order. co> npuo- 
 
 i. A due time for everything is n °™\ *"'* 
 beautifull in its jeafon 5 and what is r _ ddam 
 out of feafon is out oireafon, there is konum& 
 a time for all things, phlick offences tmm$ 
 muft be openly reprov'd, but he that &quodhL 
 offends in private meft be privately |f|* P au ' 
 admonifhed. It thy brother offend Temjusi 
 tell him his fault, between thee and Rfw-Dor 
 him alone, left thou difgrace his per- J,'^' • 
 fon when thou wouldft heal his cor- dammiitf- 
 
 - . .;"•' - ftma. fan- 
 
 d' tempora, (tngula qwaqm locum uneant forllta decenter. Ho- 
 rat. dcarteVo t. 
 
 TempmbnsMdicmava/et dau tempore prefunt,& data. non. 
 ap'o tempore vlna nocent. Johannes Herodem quiafublke pcc~ 
 cabal publice arguebat. Bonavent. in cap. 3. Luc. , 
 
 Sep? gtavm vidl ofendere anlmos audttorum,cos, qm ali- 
 en* flagitia apme dixerwit quam cosquicommifermt. Ciccr. 
 refp. ad Saluft. .. . 
 
 Ecclef.$.ii.Prtr. i?.n,i2.1fa. yo.^Eecief.s.x.lTJm.j.io. 
 Mark 7.33.Match.x8i5. zSim.t.zo. ruptioa 
 
io8 Meekgejje, 
 
 i ^am.z5. ruption,moroeveras thou muft refrain 
 
 i5am 5 zj. reprebenfion in the beat of thy f^/jfo//, 
 
 3*, 37. fo alfo in the beigkh ot his fin. 
 
 Mat.ij. Abigails commended for her difcre- 
 
 Mati7.3 M , "^hat (lie watched her ogportuni- 
 
 £ ty, and dealt with iV^a/, not in his 
 
 d'runkenneffe, but yyhen he was [ober t 
 
 then flie told him Freely both of his 
 
 fa, and oi his danger. 
 
 2. A due order muft be obferv'd, 
 ta*!i!*oL andas every fin is greater, fo muft 
 ftp* main vve.be more incens'd againft it. We 
 
 Tf*Y* mu ^ not ^ vra ^ ovv a c <* me l an ^ 
 l &*ilvC~ ftnmbleata/?^^^ be troubled at a 
 scnec. in moat and pafs by a beam •, we muft 
 
 «»/*" ^*" not ^ e more Proved af fome fmall of-, 
 fence wherein our felves are axr 
 cern'd -, then at a far greater that 
 concernes us nothing-, to be touched 
 with an injury done agaiuft our 
 felves and pafs by open blajphemy 
 fpoken againft God ; were not this 
 to proftitute religion to our own 
 reafon y yea to our oy vn pajfion , and 
 
 to 
 
The Royal Kobe. xo^ 
 
 to fet up our own intereft , above 
 Cods. 
 
 And if in reproving a man wou Id 
 obferve a due order , let him begin 
 61 ft with himfelf* let him firft 4- 
 mend in himfelf what he would re- 
 form in another.- Let him fpend his 
 fileen upon his own faults, confume Luk.4.23. 
 his anger and take revenge of his own 
 fins, and he will learn to deal more 
 mildly with hisoffending Brother-, in- Gal.&x. 
 fait not over his imperie&ions, but Cann dgs> 
 lend him an helping hand^ and if he betomm z 
 err and go aftray, reclaim him in love^ vitio v* 
 and with modejly reduce him into the 'pJamTft 
 right way. Ifinfomethinghebe^- 4 : #-Cir 
 ficienty in fome other things he may ? eu * e f\ 
 be a good fropctent : be not too Je- Qimim- 
 vert agafnft him for the good he wan- P eri f i^p* 
 tetK bxxt love znUonor him for the {ggg 
 good he hath. mtur 
 
 quamdica- 
 tur;nam doftrins fduciam fubtrxtit* qnando tovfeientia //»- 
 gumfrtptdit. Gieg* Moral, lib. a. cap. 7. 
 
 ~&efnhtnftm 
 
1 1 O Meeknefje, 
 
 ^Jieprehenfions are not to be given' 
 /ajbneffe but with good advice •, the 
 mind of man is of a weak and tender 
 conftitution, and muft foot be chaf'J, 
 •jam.!.ao whenitfhouldbe fuppl'd. He that 
 ^m'^Cicut would reclaim his friend, and bring 
 vkU 'cor- him to a true and perfed under ft w- 
 P9 r"trT~ ^ n & °f himfelf 5 muft do it by ftrength 
 &&*&*. of reaf&n 5 noc by heat of paffion : 
 5cncca. leaft he feem rather to pleafe his own 
 m^c™m b****** th en corred anothers. Ea- 
 defoiqxci- gernefs and harihnefs of reproof doth 
 im: apt rat her exonerate then reduce •, viru- 
 umum ne lency and bitternefs doth neither 
 occult: pleafe nor profit', reproof es muft be 
 ^hidZlm deemed with gentle words, and plea - 
 mb'ifio- fing carriage, leaft they bethought- 
 £$■&?' to proceed rather from (pwbt and 
 tnsxrcfc? fflttn then any good meaning or de- 
 rasjrm ne. fi r e to wrk a man to goodnefs >( *The 
 fcU-itc,m. ^ ^ s mm mr k e tb# 0t the rwhieouf- 
 
 catu mas J ' o J 
 
 imo dctrc Mfje Of God.) 
 
 ftationWm 
 
 tuis al'um vulwn & wtat'm 'omnibus nirrcs > ficjinghlis lo- 
 
 qtms qu:.fi?it;lli dixcris ? tficrori: Ad x#[2. MoMcbum. 
 
 When 
 
The Royal Robe. hi 
 
 When we would amend in any 
 what is ami\s A it muft not be done by fcotur-i* 
 railing and reviling ( raging like a 
 Eear robbed of her whelps) but 
 with tendernefs and difcretion, a dif- 
 ference muft be put between the fan- 
 ner and his fin, and he muft fo be 
 dealt with that his fin may be killed, 
 and foe cured. Let the righteous 
 finite me friendly: but he is no 
 friend^ and will hardly pafs for a Pf.** 1 -*- 
 righteous man that (with bitter in- A ^ n \ tM 
 vedives ) will bla/t my name 5 when od^m fa~ 
 with who]£ome.i*ftr*a$m he fhouid ™%™~ 
 amend my life. Ovid.2. 
 
 de Arte. 
 
 Crimlnanonbomincs no(tra Tbttia premat. Carando fieri 
 qMxdum jttioio. vldemm vUlnera. %x* melius nm teti£Jft 
 
 Thus is anger to be clothed with 
 ; meekneffe. But anger as it is a heady 
 ipaffien, and is hardly moderated, (o 
 'is it many times mi (j> lac d 7 and fets e 
 againft vatm and goodnejje. Is thine'; |g&&^ 
 
 evil 
 
m Meeknejfe, 
 
 evil becaufc I am good < .( faith 
 
 Chrift ) and am I become your ene- 
 
 <}xl 4. .<« m y becaufe I tell you the truth r 
 
 faith Saint Paul; Cain was of the 
 
 Devil and flew his Brother* and 
 
 1 Jo.3.12. wherefore flew he him < becaufe his 
 
 own works were evil and his Bro- 
 
 . thersgood. 
 
 Sore eyes cannot endure to look 
 
 upon a bright and fhining (tbject : the 
 
 fair whitenefs ofinnocency^ the iuftre 
 
 and brightnefs that is in vertue is an 
 
 eye-fore to malicious men, who 
 
 fearch for privy Jlanders : and digg 
 
 the filth out of lewd tongues, to caft 
 
 upon the innocent , and think they 
 
 have made a rich game of their Jkigbk, 
 
 when they have made themfelves 
 
 mod vile and wicked, to make him 
 
 Jeem fo. 
 
 vHt Tcr. Anger is ne\ r er more hot and out- 
 
 Afpt. ad- ragious then when it fets upon inrio- 
 
 ^mTapT tWitruth and right eou[ ne(fe y when 
 
 pag.i*. * evil men are kicenfed againil the good, 
 
 they 
 
The Royal Robe. 113 A 
 
 I they know not when to take up 5 and r merit™ 
 >. can never ?r/? but in his r nine .See it in s**<fc» 
 J the^wwhofoTiotlypurfuccAr^ ^^ 
 I that nothing will fatisfie them, till dt&prop?- 
 i he be crucified, if any ask, what ft/// ^f'^ 
 I hithhedone? we know their hatred a mm pe- 
 is, becaiife he did none rutins /<ww,Bafii, 
 
 T0.2Ep.87. 
 
 I The fafne fpirit of /wjr that in- j^*^ 
 
 flam'dthe Jews againft Chrifi ^ fet l^' 
 I the world on )5>£ againft Cfmfilans i j^^y 
 ! which nothing could quench but the Dhuilm 
 
 Tryphone 
 ' J'dao pag. 3 23- Cbriftianos ad leon.es tantos ad ununt^ Terr. 
 | .d/to/. nd-jerfui Rentes cap, 40. /wg. 70. 
 
 $ Micafmi <? dvQfavrivns ?vW*>*. Juftin. Martyr, Dialo- 
 gnmcitm Tryfho. Judaeo. pag. 127. Juftiu. Marty/. 4pol.i. 
 pro chifilanis pag. 43. ibid pag. ?£, 57. 
 
 E V riy.Mv Ji td oyjLtt m iteyyjv KUf*@dpiTt s Sec. 
 Juft Mart. Apol. 2. pro Ch ifti.mis. pag. fj. 
 
 Bova vir Cains Se ins, fed malm tantum quodChriflianM,' 
 Tcrt ApoU adverfks gentes. cap. 3. pag, 27. 
 
 H.?#d /wfmV ^7«^/w ullo fermonz ex[licari .qua fitpplicia qkof- 
 qui wuiatm [iftimemnt Martyr es, Lege & qu* {kqituntw in 
 Ettfcb, £tt/. bift. libs.cap.f, 
 
 I blood 
 
«4 Meeknejfe, 
 
 van; I-,,-, blood of thofe Innocents, it was their 
 fuperftitiff. -crtme they were Cbrijtians , and the 
 C jt* % T ^f world ^Wagainft them for no other 
 ,Y* ' reafon but theif religion^ their only 
 ^fl&Vfc /i#/j was their /i/f A in Chrift^ and 
 
 &nSt»» *° r c ^ s ^' e y are hated, persecuted, 
 
 gems ho! defamed, tormented, and wit and 
 
 niwumfii- malice fet on work to devife firange 
 
 *tJl7" and horrid deaths, and Mf it felf 
 
 miefu*. rak'd for bloody inventions to take 
 
 S*»e in. 0Ut °* t ' ie Wa y t ' ie W e ^ ec ^ vhlKffc* Of 
 
 Nero.ccE- whom the world was not worthy 5 but 
 
 iaium. 
 
 6. cap. 16. 
 
 Kat -duj etnicty tik s^Sfct; €Msrg7y 0/ (unviT&s a* 
 imoiv. Juft;n Ai:Tyr. £/> 90. DIoct. M/Jei; en /£ '&£<** 
 ? ho}ff&ciQvnv ctf&QVf, Athenagofjfc /<ge fro GhriftUifis, 
 
 Z- 34* . .' . . 
 
 Neto ^afiuffi.mus paws afec/t , fl/*oj per flag* tin M&- 
 fos , vulgus thrift: anas epp: [Libit. Com. Tac ,amal.lib> 'f. 
 
 XfiSMvos. Juft. ikta. £/>. tf/Diogn. /> ? £-497' 
 Socrat. £«/. /;//?. /it. 4. c.-p. x^& z^. 
 Catcmm , infignis vcro & Catholic* Ecclcfia Splendor , 
 ilfdem virtutum veftigtis inccder.s, & pure vivendi rati- 
 onis mflitutlo fie mirandum in mocUtm emicuit > ut defar- 
 mis infamia lab is, fanul cum tempore deleta : ut nemo tx liln 
 tempore turpem aftqiiam dedecoris maculam, fdsi noftra auderct 
 infeoe* Euf, Eccl. bifl. lib. 4». cap, 7. 
 
 their 
 
The Royal Robe. 115 
 
 their meek fuf&ring did conquer the 
 cruelty of their ferfecutors^ and over- 
 came the worlds for at laft the fplen- 
 dor of the ChriftiaxS lives ^ and invin- 
 cible verity of their dodlrine, did fo 
 prevail and tryumph fo viftorioufly 
 over the lives arid tongues of their e- 
 hemies , that the blood of Chriftian 
 Martyrs became the feed of Chrifis 
 Chunky which did fpririg and grow l WW 
 up with fuch wonderful encreafe, °slmX 
 that the world flood amazed to fee detiat. 
 it felf fo fuddenly become Chri- ^ r f^ 
 
 fctan. gills Mar- 
 
 tyrum fe- 
 wer* Eccte- 
 ]?■<•. A guft. JaPfal. 39. Nee wrcqiiim tamen proficie exquift - 
 tior qu*q ne crude lit as vcflr.i , ifaabra eft magis, [efioe plures 
 efncimur q'loties mtfiw-r a vobis , jemert eft [amgiik Chrifiian.9~ 
 ruin. Ten. Jpol. adverjus(]cnt,cap. fc*p.?g.$i. Ifa.j^.i, 
 
 Sluts furor, O Gives f qii£ tania Lucan< 
 dementia ? What hellifh fury f farj, 
 what madneffe in their brains f with 
 what blind zeal was the ignorant ma- 
 I % licioui 
 
itS Meel&ejfe, 
 
 %u'td Hcious world tranfported againft the 
 
 jamattmet t ^ m d the froftffors of it < 
 
 35* The Rukrsoi the world, who 
 
 yW (as God appointed ATwi 5 ) lhould 
 
 kw«ifw« have carried thefe harmlefs lambs in 
 
 mnncm- their fo/ww?, hke ravening wolves do 
 
 feremui- wa ft an d devour theflocktoi Chrijl. 
 
 timdinem 
 
 aa! van a 
 
 CMcmdorum Umjrnm dfenben qtufxrtim fecmbus erf 
 font ficut cont'git in Arabia: pmm faBucikubmfmt} 
 'q-temdmodum acciditjn Cappadoc* fr, timer p dibus m 
 fublime cjplte dewffo f/ttyeif, i&iqu rwfflore fuh f e£to ar- 
 dtntls mavrUfnmo extl*airf**l* cm-atm f-atribm M Mc- 
 fapocamia*/to^/h ^icu'oi en.imn.inbus.mribus, ac mxm- 
 busmiitilat'h &c Euf. Eccl. hf. I b+ 8. ctp. 12. 
 
 Ifi.49. 23. Ifa. 1. 17. Numb 11. 1 ». 
 
 Architus dixit J« i ; Cf>» c^ Aram idem ejfetfirtW en'm ad 
 utrwaiie cenfug : unt qui inju'ia tfficnmtur. fcral. Afmheg 
 TV .Poet cals the Migiftrate. &»ip& ?*vv Horn. Iliad, 
 U<i\iv $i mftv A**' 7i t^' vanupd** t? **rfc*T0*, 
 ™< A^ 76a ^cAmi** ije**«&««9* a'Axfivrrit) Vfdn- 
 
 iteyyjDjutwoif , t£ <#*» w'^fli' •JWWWTI. Juftin. Atajr. 
 pro Ski. ^0/. 2. P*g. 54- 
 
 *>M>. 4 Juft. i^f • pro Chrisms. Jpp.z.pag. 1 9 - 
 
 What 
 
the Royal Robe* \\y 
 
 What an evil afpecS the malicious 
 world did caft upon religion and righ- 
 teousness the Uf dries of all ages fuffici- 
 ently fligvv. A fhadow whereof we 
 have in Athens, where by the law of 
 Opacifm there was no man of fpe- 
 cial eminericy permitted to live. It 
 fo fell out that Ariftides the* juft 
 came under the cenfure of this law, 
 who being requeued by a certain £?* 
 man that could not write,(who was to ££ ?*/ 
 give his voice for the banifhmcnt of % ribmt 
 ^f^Otowritehisnameona^ ££* 
 or //*// as the manner was, he que- ?«^^ 
 ftioned the man, whether Ariflides t !at * rud * 
 at any time had done him wrong? he **%? 
 aniwered, no! neither do I know bete M»* 
 Wit But it grieves me ( [aiesthe ^gj 
 
 beret Ariftidem ; admirante co & tmmt^mm anil h^Srl 
 for mferf, 'J+i m audiL q L audita «S» 
 i*m reaaHt.-J/iPlwrch. de ww Ariftidis. ■ 
 
 *1 
 
 J»4/2 
 
liS Meefyeffe, 
 
 man ) to hear every one fay Arifti- 
 
 des is a ]uft man. Now here is a plain 
 
 cafe ( ]uftu* quia juftu* ) the righ- 
 
 at.j. xo. teous p er f ecute( ^ f or righteoufnefs 
 
 fake. 
 
 But it is no matter of wonder that 
 this malignant humour hath fo much 
 prevail'd amongft the fews and Pa- 
 gans, for we find the Church of God 
 when it was flhut up in one family was 
 not free from it b amongft Brethren 
 of the lame Father^ and of the feme 
 faith 3 yet this inveterate pa[sion 
 \ breakes all bonds of relation, and in- 
 ^o"' 3 ' noc'nt fofeph is hated by his Fathers 
 Ge n . 37. fas ( for his coat) for his coat ! the 
 aJ * pledg of their Fathers love : the En- 
 
 fign of their Brothers honor : in both 
 which refpe&s, it fliould have been 
 unto them [acred and inviolable 5 and 
 ifthere had been in them any ( the 
 leaft) fear of God, reverence to their 
 Father, or afeclion to their Brother, 
 they would not hive dar'd toliave 
 
 touched 
 
The Royal Robe. 119 
 
 touched his coat with a violent hand, 
 but their inveterate hatred having ex- 
 tinguifh'd in them all that was of God, 
 or good nature, and blinded with 
 fafsion, they ftrip him of his coat, 
 and had rid him of his life too, had 
 not a fpecial providence restrained Gen. 37. 
 them. And he that permitted their 25 * 
 malice ordered it another way, and 
 yet an innocent perfon muft fuffer 
 for his coats fake. 
 What ufase may tfofeph expe6i from ^ 
 
 *C ;• 1 ^ • r Gcn.37. 
 
 I\madites and Egyptians, tiiat meets 28,35. 
 with fuch hard meafure amongft his 
 Brethren, mtvWbeaft hath /<?.r# him Gcn -37> 
 ( faies the deceived Father ) and ?3 ' 
 rightly ! for what bea(t fo fierce as in- 
 veterate wrath. But let them palliate 
 their malice with pretences and hide— - 4— - 
 their cruelties with a lie, yet the time 
 fliall come* when their eyes which 
 were blinded With an ungovern'd paf- 
 fion y fhall be opened with an unexpe- 
 cted afflifiion : and their fin and their q 
 
 I 4 Brothers J*' 41 * c 
 
ISO Meekt7eJJe y 
 
 Gc M i- Brothers Offerings (hall be brought 
 
 %1 * to their remembiauce, and fo fadjy ! 
 
 that what drew tears from- his 
 
 eyes: (hall fetch blood from their 
 
 hearts. 
 
 This was the lot of the righteous in 
 
 •^Ifafens a '" ^ fJ '* t ' ie ^ **#f ^ ave ^ een P er ' 
 
 fmperatdr fecuted and repa&hed, David a 
 fawAlcx- man a f ter Gods own heart com- 
 
 r*/»i£- ' p!aines 3 fA<r mouth of the wicked-, and 
 g ypt ios ^ z»<?#/i of the deceitful are opened a? 
 
 f$L & ai »fl me - rhc 1 htveftoken agamfi 
 
 adfl gi U- me with a lying tongue. Wrath is the 
 
 gepr*ce- £?// that fets on fire a wicked tongue, 
 
 jlibaumr Fafslon blinds reafon , darkens the 
 
 fopvertc- fcnderftandin^ that it cannot difcern 
 
 b n?x&°?iii the truths puts out the eyes of the 
 
 adr.ib*- foul: drives a man out of himfelf: 
 
 ttfepj' that like a mad man , or one that is 
 
 5R$« drunk ^ he fa f es and doe * he knowS 
 urems JlQt what. 
 
 191 l CU- 
 
 bizntur, & al':i fftc/torqiiebmfur : zw/afquidem fuppl'cia 
 ton'r.i quiet is afmntcs cxcrcchan. u\ tacracte Eccl. h'ijl. lib. 4. 
 cap. z 4 . p fa. 109. 2. \ am- 3. 6. lmpcdu ir.i am mum ne po^lt ccr- 
 Mttev$rum. Caio a;j7, -pi 
 
The Royal Robe. 131 
 
 The Wicked (fajes David) n*U±i. 
 whet their Tongue like a Sword > v ^' 6 *** 
 the) bend their Bow to [hoot ont their Ffal^j.*, 
 Arrows even bitter Words , they *' 
 fteak Wickedly and loftily , they fa 
 their mouth againfl the heavens. But 
 although Dogs baric at the Moon : 
 yet ftill (he keeps the heavens : and 
 daily runs her conftant courfe in her 
 own fihere. Coedneffe is never the 
 Its good, becaufe it is maligned, and 
 reproached. Anger is a fire, let it be 
 rightly placed (on the hearth or in 
 the furnace)^ it is of Angular ufcbxit 
 in (Ira w or on the houfe top, it fets all 
 in a combustion. It is a pafsion that is 
 headftrong : meekneffeis the £r/V/f to 
 check it. Anditmuft have more of 
 the curb and left of the raine: to Eph.4.2^ 
 yield to wrath is to yield to the Devil, 1? ' 
 tobefeton fire againft goodnefs is 
 deviltjh. 
 
 chrifiian f whence will advifedly 
 confider what is fit for every flats 
 
 and 
 
and condition of men, and will deal 
 with them with all meekneffe: put- 
 Jade 23. ting a difference , faving fome with 
 fear, on others having compaffion. 
 Some are unruly , and muft be 
 1 Thef. 5. fhuffly admonifbcd : fome are wilful 
 17 ' and obflinate and muft be terrified: 
 
 fome are weak and muft befupported: 
 others feeble-minded & muft be com- 
 semper for ted: and fome are tradable and 
 IZmde mu % be gently eifrpMQ ever %;*; 
 eo?*?w well of thole in whom there is any 
 cirsgAtf thing of grace or of Gftfc 
 b«. Cal- And if we meet with any that are 
 via."x*Jo- frowardwe. muft not rejeS them, but 
 han - do as God does ; follow them with 
 
 8*wj and new offers of ^^, pitying 
 and praying for them. 
 r,i^ We muft fair one anothers foub 
 
 dfc/w, it is lure there is corruption in 
 all: every one hath fome fault or o- 
 ther : fome are bajiy, fome zxefufpi- 
 ciou* , fome are covetous , we rauft 
 Rom.if.i, bear one with another, let every one 
 
 of 
 
TheRoyalRobe. 133 
 
 of us fUafe his neighbour* for his ^^ d 
 good to edification, and" fpeak evil pebcndiutr 
 of no man, be no brawlers, but gen- ^ ***/- 
 tie, (hewing all meeknefs unto all jg££ 
 men. */«&?#. 
 
 I 3. ^c- jra cap. 16, 0»r; in-confulti & iwptovidi fumus 
 \ vffl*es'??rcernj q , terul'i 9 r.mhitiop,qmd ImionbHS verbis hulcus 
 \ publicum abftcnio} cmncs Mali fcmki. idem ibid, Tir.^.v 
 
 2. In Mjmamentum^ a fecond uje 
 j of apparel is to defend and frotefl the 
 ! body from cold y heat, and outward 
 J harmes 5 fo ! meeknefs is a fure *fe- 
 ; /wf, and ferves as a n>d# of hrafs to 
 ! proteft from danger, that no ftorms 
 or tempefts of injury, {landers, affli- 
 ctions can hurt us. It only knows 
 by yielding how to overcome y and to 
 triumph over the conqueror. Meek- 
 nefs (like Medufas head) ftrangely 
 aftonifhes all that behold it: for 
 when rage and cruelty meet with an 
 unexpe&ed mteknejfc and humility, 
 how fuddainly many times is fury 
 
 turnd 
 
12f Meefyfle, 
 
 tmt\d into mercy. The Lion dif- 
 dains to prey upon him, who lies 
 proftrate before him : and we find by 
 experience that no force or outward 
 violence, is of that power as meek- 
 neffe is : for the one (ttbdues the body, 
 hat the Other enthrals the heart, and 
 conquers the moft valiant mind. He 
 that knows not to be overcome, and 
 returns victorious from many a battle, 
 yields himfelf a captive to mecknejfe $ 
 all his powers fall a (baking, and all 
 his ftrengfkhand courage fails him, 
 when meekneffe doth oppofe him. 
 The tongue of the meek wifely guided 
 hath as Jharp an edgzs the [word of 
 the mighty and more enemies have 
 been vanquiflied, and more Coun- 
 tries fubduedby courtefic then cruelty. 
 And experience teacheth us that a 
 yielding eafwefle hath been preferv'd 
 when a refuting pbbomneffe hath 
 been ruin'd. 
 Jn a violent tempefi, the ftiff apd 
 
 ftubborn 
 
The Royal Kobe. 
 
 ftubhorn Oaks tee overturned whetf 
 the pliable and bending r cedes and 
 vfiers have been fafe. 
 
 The piercing lightning when ic 
 breaks forth, cleaves asunder things 
 /Wand which refijt tt : but meeting 
 with things [oft and giving place $ ic 
 doth eafily penetrate and hurts them 
 not. For when violence meets with 
 violence, it threatens the ruine of one 
 or both, when wrath encounters with 
 ! wrtf^t'reconfluSis or dangerous or 
 I Jejperate, 
 
 Wherefore our Saviours precept 
 is a good rule ( refifi: not evil.) And 
 St. Paul teaches the fame leffon/ 
 avenge not your felves, and this is no 
 new commandment, but found in 
 | the old Teftamentj Lev. 8. 19: 
 I Thou flalt not feek reveng , neither 
 1 {halt thon keep in mind the tnjury of thj 
 i peoptl?*( faith Salomon) I wili do to 
 S him as he hath done to me, I will re- 
 ward him according as he hath de- 
 fended 
 
 »>5 
 
 Ham ird. 
 cundia per 
 hacuniim 
 amnon 
 empeftitur 
 jed amplim 
 us irrha- 
 flwv'Chry- 
 foA. 
 
 Rom.11.1^ 
 
I z6 » Meekneffe, 
 
 rro.z4.s9 ferved. Prov-. 24. 29. VVouldft 
 g., mo thou live inpe ace and win thine em* 
 f£im°4 mj i the way to do t his is not to vex 
 famrWn- hi m ? overcome him( if poflible ) 
 %!xmitl- Wit ^ kindneffe^ if that will not work : 
 0/ajstn, neglect him : fwget him: and he will 
 d ' tr mt' l ^ e f° oner remember himfelf: the 
 end oipajsion is many times the be- 
 ginning of repentance. 
 
 Thus muft we deal ( in meeknejje ) 
 and that in obedience to the word of 
 God, leaft we divert the eourfe 
 of Godsjujtice ( which aimed at our 
 enemies ) upon our orvn heads - 7 for 
 whilft men follow their own hjls^ in 
 feeking revenge againft the mind of 
 Cod: the judgments of God do iol- 
 
 Nuthm, 
 tarn ar- 
 
 Bnm eft fugwn quod non triims lieS.it ducentem quim repujtpdit- 
 tem,SctiQC de i;\i l)b. 3. cap. 16. 
 
 Con.feri.;i<tmit.iqu?{idverfario weo, ccdam dainue irgwr, 
 acaleo m bis pimgit. Tarcetur enim ci qui f'aifcrit & dedeih 
 {oc K mir<e.Bcm.Scrm. de verbis Downi) omnis qui fe cxilta: 
 b/tmUiabiturJit fins D.n.$9i> col.i* G, 
 
 low 
 
The Royal Kobe. . 127 
 
 low them, which many times take 
 place,, in the mine oftbetr own fami- 
 lies •, and they in wraiftiing with the 
 hatred and wickednefs of other men, 
 to their own deftru&ion, waft them- 
 felves, their friends, their goods, 
 deprive themfelves of all reft, and 
 many times fall into mifchicfovherezs 
 the meek and fatient ( beiides the~^* Cr *** 
 hope of future blelfednefs in heaven) 
 find a recompence here on earth, 
 live in peace and quietnefs : their 
 ! names continue : their boufes (land .• 
 their pofterity encreafe: they keep 
 jtheir leaf and greenejfe: and enjoy 
 the fruit of the promt fes of this life* 
 and that which is to come, 
 I He' therefore that would live, m 
 mfeij) muft ftudy to be qwt and live 
 fin peace 3 for he that lives not in 
 Charity on earth, (hall never live in 
 <Glery in heaven 5 he therefore thac 
 forgives an enemy, furthers himfelf 5 
 for in fo doing he heaps coals upon 
 
 his 
 
1^8 Meeknejfe, 
 
 Rom u. ^is head, by making his Reckoning 
 the more, and his own the lets. 
 
 Now he that would live in quiet, 
 muft be careful of two things. 
 
 I . To decline aUoccafions of$i& quar- 
 rel. 
 
 2. To inure himfelf to meekness. 
 
 Firft, he muft decline all occafi- 
 ons of Quarrel-, for truly it is a great 
 fault in fome (who otherwife may 
 be both wife and good) to be too 
 tender and too inquifttive. 
 < Too tender, by laying to heart 
 what men fay of them. 
 
 Too inquifttive, what fuch an one 
 or fu& ?.n one fays. 
 
 Whereas in prudence they fhould 
 not feem to know, or not feem to 
 mind what is faid, at leaft not to be 
 too inquifttive after the Author $ for 
 by this means, a man may mnd Kim- 
 
 felf 
 
The Royal Kobe. \rS 
 
 felf and not malice the perfon* 
 
 We know what the fern faid of 
 John and of Iefut : but rvifdom is ju- 
 flifiedol her Children K 
 
 Moreover $ too much Iealoufie Mat - I1 - I 5> 
 may apprehend a nw/zg" when it is 
 none 5 be fure of proofs that carry 
 in them weight and conviction, o- 
 therwife whilft men feek to revenge 
 an injury, they may begin one. 
 
 Rafhnefs, ignorance, or a mif-un- 
 I demanding may pafs for an excufe 
 i with a good man, whofe Conftructi- 
 | ons are ever wifh char it) and fa- 
 vour. 
 
 Secondly, he that would live in -- 
 quiet, muft inure him felf to Meek' 
 nej's 5 for cujlom will make a thing 
 eafte and familiar. m k 
 
 Milo by bearing a Calf daily 7 was urgent %j 
 
 va iiex- 
 pertns, grave efitenera ' cervlci jugum. Sense, lib. car bo- 
 nis uris mala fiant . cap'. 4. 
 
 h r ihil mijenim ejlquodinnAturam confuetndop^rhxit, Se- 
 neca, ibid, 
 
 K able 
 
able to bear it, when it was an Ox i 
 
 how eafie will he bear the injuries of 
 
 malicious men , that hath attain d 
 
 the habit of Meeknefs • it is nothing 
 
 ut qaifqv t o fuch an one to be reviled or (l.wde- 
 
 KS£ "i, whocanpafsby evil language 
 
 maximc in- vvith negleft and contempt. 
 
 !Pf?f f fe"" J\fcf/<r#will foonerkillan //m/ry 
 
 mxiingu* than Revenge - 7 alltne/Mraza com- 
 
 fj?. 5enec m on flanderer can do with his foul 
 
 llb l m ,&' mouth, h but tofhrnehmfelfi and 
 
 fo/ar/tfw. to ieem to be touched with an /»j//^, 
 
 **Mi. is an advantage which an enemy /<wb 
 
 for. 
 
 Contempt is the beft Remedy in a 
 caufe-lefs «w?£-, for to contemn an 
 enemy that is full of malice, but 
 wants w/gAf, is better than either to 
 fear him, or anfwer him : in (uch a 
 cafe, contempt of an injury and 
 Courtefie to him that offers it, puts 
 both out of Countenance. Thus 
 Meeknef begets p&*tt and quietnefs y{ 
 by fetting a man in a way to patifie 
 
 an 
 
The Royal Robe. -ifi 
 
 an enemy by filence and foftnefs. 
 
 i. By filence : Anger is a fhort 
 frenzie : what profit is it, nay what . ;, 
 
 folly were it,to exchange words with € jjjff rf s 
 
 one that is frantick. Return not netted me- 
 
 then reviling with reviling • but if d !™ s} ?f% 
 
 - D >, i ° . i citur idem 
 
 an enemy let fiercely upon us, and ibid. 
 6pen his mouth wide againft us, give 
 wa x> let him vent his fplecn, and the 
 jftormwill quickly ceafeilet him a- 
 llone, and he will the fooner come to 
 ihimfelftthe way to break an ene- 
 !mies fpight,is not to meet him in his 
 ifury, to give rebuke for rebuke, but 
 rather give place to wrath : Anger is 
 the fckneff of ihe mind: he that 
 would*:/*rethefick,muft not admi- 
 lifter phyfick in the fit. So if thy 
 neighbour be angry , forbear him 5 
 >ive f lace {01 the pre lent, deal not 
 jvith him irithe fit, but fet upon : him 
 vhen he is more cdm and cafahle of 
 ^otinfel. 
 <Jw tragi out f of ions are violent and 
 K 2 againffi 
 
132 Ts/leetyejfe, 
 
 againft nature {as a (lone forced up- 
 ward) ftrong at the beginning, and 
 the further it pafleth, the more it 
 weakqeth, until at laft it return to 
 tfie natural courfe again : therefore i 
 little fpace muft be given for the pa\- 
 fwnate to draw back, for the patient 
 to put forward. Papon prevails on 
 . . the fudden, but Reafon gathers force 
 MuLTcl by leafure. Serpents when they 
 funt, [nut firft creep out of their dens^ are full 
 fcrpmmim f p yfa t i ie j r dfa- j s m ortaL it 
 
 cubiiirt- vvere madnejje to abide their bites ; 
 
 ftmum but after they have fpent their venom 
 
 Z£l!£- with frequeat */*/*£*, you may 
 
 rw /to, handle them without barm. 
 fT* ¥** Secondly, By foftnefs is anger pa- 
 
 morfus S cified •, a loft anfvver turneth away 
 
 txaaufitse- wrath, which Saint /W and his fel- 
 
 hlu'ci*. low A ?°fi les knew ful1 wdl > and 
 
 i*. * therefore they went a meek way to 
 
 Pro.!?. i. W ork with their enemies - 7 fo/^j re- 
 
 C ° 1,4 ' 12 " viled (fay they ) n>tr ble[s : £mg 
 
 perfected, we [ujfer it : king defamed^ 
 
 we 
 
the Royal Kobe* 733 
 
 ! weintreat : and this Courfe muft we 
 I take, if ever we look for peace with 
 
 God, or comfort in our Souls. 
 I, And furely there is little fafety to 
 ; him that is taffy, raft, or eafily an- 
 ! gry 5 for Anger makes many enc- 
 \ mies, divides friends, turns love into 
 fajsion, pafsion into grievous words , 
 
 and fometimes words into blows ♦, and 
 j then a third Adverfary to both, hath 
 zfak Advantage to in (bit over them. 
 Wudal is hot agptft ifrael , Ifrael 
 jagainft ^uiab^m the King of Sy- 
 ria fmites them both. 
 
 And the common enemy of Man- 
 kind, whilft we in heat wound one a- 
 (iother, wins upon us all. If men 
 will be contentious, let them contend 
 ^s Ariftides and Themijlocles, drive 
 jto exceed one another in wr- 
 
 i We read of the King of ljrael y 
 jthat he commanded to fet bread and 
 mter before the hoaft of the Kinr 
 K 3 of 
 
*3 2 
 
 Meeh^effe^ 
 
 of Syria when he might have flain 
 them 5 and he loft nothing by it, but 
 by his courteous and gentle uiing 
 them, he did fo work upon them, 
 ** in P- that he pre vent e&juccecding quarrels^ 
 fo that the bands of Aram came no 
 more into the land of Israel, 
 
 He that would live fecurely, muft 
 
 live peaceably •, for by Contention 
 
 mrncnm ' comes no good : to ftrivc with a [u- 
 
 pirecoh- yeriour is madness : with an equal, 
 
 beeps' ea- MK-btful: with zninfenour^ordtd and 
 
 etwfufc-'. bafe : with any full of ttnquietne[s . 
 
 mrcfuro- l cc CV ery man therefore refrain 
 
 Mer-wT his ftint ; ior when, men that are 
 
 UrdUum, hafty and given to quarrel, do meet, 
 
 &c - Sf jt is as when the flint and fleel do 
 
 %% a . * clafli, the iffue is fire, and how great 
 
 #•54- a matter will a little fire kindle: and 
 
 pw-i-f- when the pre begins to kindle, 
 
 who knows where it may end - y it 
 
 may begin in a poor Cottage, but 
 
 £nds in the ruin of Princes PaUces. 
 
 Break offthe beginnings offtrtf e 
 
 to. 
 
 d 
 
 or 
 
The Royal Kobe, 133 
 
 m awer to the mind, is as a coal on * Pro - , 7-x4 
 :hejle[h or garment 5 caft it oft ipeedi- ^ OTaftfl _ 
 ;y, it doth little harm, let it lie, it *'« few- 
 fc* deeply. .>.;■- -V SSS 
 
 The beginning 01 Jtrife, is, as Chrjta 
 when one letteth out water, like a ^jj'( u ' 
 breach in the fea , therefore the quidhmt 
 Wifeman well advifeth,*leave off f'Wifw 
 contention before it be medled with. 2* jgg 
 How many are there who have fuf- vem ^«- 
 fered afwordin their bowels, becaufe f «^**> 
 chey would notfuffer a/y<? in their anim"m$ 
 throats 5 and a jvi/fc warrf hath been '* extern 
 "ometimetheoccafionof a world of K°j-nll':^ 
 
 ^OOd-jned. in.ju.rian 
 
 It is a proverb,*^ £4/?y 0*40 /t/jtta* fi enth 
 
 r - - • \1 J • fare mlu* 
 
 wants wo % for it is with a man given 07 > r> grim 
 to wrath: as it is with a man given -tijjima 
 to mm : who hath wo i who hath $fl*ffi, 
 brrow i who hath wounds without Sene'c." de 
 baufe ? Prov. 23.29. for a mans »>*•#.:■*- 
 jhafty fpirit ibftfi him into /mow : Jjjjjjj-^ 
 jivhereas o{ fufering comes eafeiezfe *em. 
 'ind quietnefs is the effeft of quiet p '°«**-**' 
 K 4 foffering 
 
l%6 Meeknejfe, 
 
 Mar.11. offering - Learn of me (faith 
 2 ** Chrift) for I am meek and 'lowly - 5 and 
 
 ye fhdll find re ft for your fouls $ for if a 
 man obferve it, when he can bear in- 
 juries^ and pafs by indignities, and 
 {uffet reproaches quietly he (hall find 
 inch a tranquillity in his fpirit, fuch 
 peace and content in his heart, as if he 
 had gained fome victory. But a man 
 may vviong himfelf in being too 
 gentle and patient •, for put up one in- 
 vuvm jury, and you (hall have enough : 
 to pafs by one injury, is to draw on 
 another : the Afs doth never want a 
 .hufs &urden,becauk he never refufes »i 
 ^ £ e '*°?j hear one: and he that makes himfelf 
 1*. a. fheep, (hail be fure to be hunted (if 
 
 not devoured of the Wolf.) Malice 
 delights to fet her foot upon the neck 
 of meeknefl : and patience makes 
 preemption infolent. 
 
 For fome are fo wild and hair- 
 
 invites no 
 vam 
 
 hrairfd : fome fo knotty and crojs- 
 grain d, io dogged and furly •, that 
 
 they 
 
 K* 
 
The Royal Robe. 137 
 
 ! they are capable only of the Re- 
 ! ftraint of fear. Meeknefs to fuch had 
 I need to be guided with wifdom, left 
 it prove cruel to it felf. Ic were 
 madnejs^ not meeknefs to tender the &jnim£ 
 throat to an un]uGi firoke y or to give ^j&M^ 
 an enemy occafionto infult. re,miiks 
 
 It is difcretien fo to bear an injury* ^imT 
 as not to encourage an enemy :ne bommvb- 
 that hath wronged one without lcntia > 
 controul, threatens many. Lawful ^pthegl* 
 Remedies profecuted with modefty 
 andgentlenefsare warranted before 
 God and man. 
 
 Chrijlians 5 though it is their 
 praife, they are meek And patient: yet 
 are they not flocks and ftones,unfen- 
 fible of wrongs 'and injuries 1 do they 
 feel the [mart > and ihall they not 
 feek for eafe ? no queftion, endea- 
 vour to right themfelves they may, 
 . revenge themfelves they may not. 
 And becaufe the good nature of 
 the meek lies open to abufe 5 it will 
 
 not 
 
136 Meefyieffe, 
 
 not beamifs to put in here a Caveat 
 or two. 
 
 Let him beware of being too 
 credulous^ or too timer oiis. 
 
 The meek is apt to be too Credu- 
 
 t Joh.4. 1. i ou$ : not confidermg that the Snake 
 lurks in the grafTe, it is not wisdom to 
 bejujpicious without caufe: and it is 
 tveaknefle to be too creddotts upon e- 
 very caufe. Believe not every fpi- 
 rit 5 all is not gold that gliflers ; ene- 
 mies fometimes mask under the vi- 
 zard of friends : who have honey in 
 their mouths ^m poyjon in their hearts-, 
 their words fmoother than butter, 
 but war in their hearts •, like the Bee 
 that will (ling moft when (lie is ful- 
 left of honey. Of fuch treacherie 
 David complains. It was not an open 
 
 ?hl 41^. enemy that reproached him, but his 
 own familiar friend whom he trufted: 
 and what ! Thou my fonne (fayes 
 Cdfar) take heed of luch that with 
 
 tKht+%? fy A b will j'aluts you kindly , when 
 
 they 
 
The Royal Robe. 137 
 
 I they hate you deadly : jmile in your 
 
 face, and [lab you at the^rf.- and 
 
 \$udas like, will offer zkifie, when _ 
 
 ; they intend to £/// : fubtleandhoU 
 
 low-hearted, who will undermine 
 
 i you, and do you a mijchief, and you 
 
 i (hall never know who hurt you : pe- 
 
 j ftilent and plaguie fellows thatmedi? 
 
 i tate deceit : who like dangerous 
 
 I Gurres, will bite and never barke : or 
 
 like a flaughterman, that will clawe 
 
 i the Oxe on the back, that he psay the 
 
 j better by the beetle on his head, 
 
 ! Thefe are thofe white Devils, who 
 
 j when they fpeak fair, beleeve them 
 
 not: for there are feven abominati- Ftq.i6.xs 
 
 ons in their heart: a falfe friend is like 
 
 Solomons harlot, whofe lips drop as an Rrov. ?. 3. 
 
 honey comb jti\& her ww* is fmoo ther 
 
 than ^/e, but hcxhoufe is the way to 
 
 ^<?# 5 going down to the chambers of 
 
 death, who will hunt for the precious 
 
 life. Now how much better are the Prov '* s z<? * 
 
 lajhes of a real friend, than the kijfes 
 
 of 
 
140 Meefyjfe, 
 
 ot&foe. Beware ! there are none 
 more quickly ruin'd, than thofe who 
 are moft fecure^ remember what 
 J«4g-4.tx cfaelM to Sifera, and if thou defireft 
 to approve thy felf Mee^ yet do not 
 like a tame /W, run thy neck into e- 
 very noofe •, our Matter would have 
 
 Mat 10 16 us t0 * earn °^ Ser f ents -> b ut to beware 
 \ 7 oimm. 
 
 Secondly 5 fometimes they are too 
 timerous^ take heed of timidity, too 
 much fear will put a man befides his 
 meekneffe , fear of a danger fome- 
 times caufes a man to fall into the 
 danger he fears. 
 
 Fear not big words j nor a blabbing 
 tongue, which like fquibs , fire, 
 crack, and flame, and vanifh in an in- 
 ftant, and leave no remembrance that 
 they have been , but a fmoak and a 
 jtink. 
 
 ' A lewd tongue, and aloud mouth 
 when they begin to move and open, 
 as if they would blaft and deftroy 1 
 
 fear 
 
The Royal Kobe. 141 
 
 fear them not, for the moft pare, 
 ithough their will be great [ their pow- 
 ler is tittle. In malice they are Gi- 
 \ fonts and Dragons , in might dtvarfes 
 \3t\d flies. Like a kind of Serpent, 
 [ which being full of foyfon^ yet being 
 \tootbleffe, hurts none but it felf . 
 
 And in their reviling they may 
 | perhaps do a man more good than . 
 they think for 5 like one, who fmit- 
 ing another , thinking to kill him, 
 broke his Imp flume 3 and perfectly 
 cur'dhim. 
 
 But here I take it not to be im- 
 pertinent to offer in an humble ad- 
 vice about Meeknefy to take heed of 
 Miftakes, Lenitude and Remifnefi of 
 fpirit , iiiay not pafle for meekneffe $ 
 for a man to be fo devQted to his pri- 
 vate fafety, as to give over himfelf to 
 eafe and reft , without refpeft unto 
 others •, that cares not (fb he may be 
 in quiet, live in peace, and deep in a 
 whole skin) though others be vexed, 
 
 rrou- 
 
troubled and torn-, this is not a tem- 
 per futable to thofe Rules of Chrifli- 
 anity which the Gofpel layes before 
 us. 
 tie pr*P°- Men that care not what becomes 
 Z^vel of Religion, let the Church finke or 
 tmjedge- fwim, fo they may thrive and live 
 ixofe per- f ree f rom trou bl e# j n f uc h a caie to 
 
 tem ufyv. part with fr*/A 5 to purchafe^Mw, is 
 
 chryfoft. a hard bargain • and fuch an one as 
 
 faJiM aever enrich'd the Chapman with 
 
 Rom.f*M»- gain% unleffe they make account 
 
 tum in vo- that Gods difpleafure 5 and the mine 
 
 am Imlt of their fouls will be advantage 5 a 
 
 bus habere dear rate to lofeGodsprotedion^and 
 
 m - incur condemnation : let no man en- 
 
 ilave his jndgment to orher mens 0- 
 
 pinions j but take courage for the 
 
 truth, and whatfoever trouble or lofTe 
 
 it may bring, recede not from it. Sin 
 
 is the fling of all troubles-, pull out 
 
 the fling, and deride the malice of the 
 
 Serpent. 
 
 Though it breed anger, and beget 
 
 haterd, 
 
The Royal Kobe. 141 
 
 Jatred and malice -? yet nevertheleffe « John 16 
 [* cell you the truth. ?• 
 
 Wemuft not be fo far in love with 
 our own tender eafe, as not to vindi- 
 cate and free the irtttb^ when it is op- 
 jpofedoroppreffed* Suppofe there 
 may be danger in this ingenuity^ the 
 'good Chriftian forecaftethit not, or 
 iregardrth it not, for he fo fixes his 
 eye upon Gods glory i that he doth 
 jnot fo much as refleft on his own 
 fafety, whofe thoughts being wholly 
 jtaken up with mdt to the commoa 
 good: leave no roometo think of a 
 private danger. 
 
 And although mfe and good men 
 are taught highly to value their lives, 
 where to die is not to obey: yet the 
 jaffuranceof Gods call and prote&i- 
 pn (when a mans a&ions are warran- 
 ted by the Word) will take away the 
 fear of death which can never ftartle 
 him who hath this affurance : that 
 beiag in Gods way, whileft he is here, 
 
 God 
 
44 Meeknejfe, 
 
 God wiU protect him : and when he 
 goes kerne , God will receive him : 
 and therefore to lofe life topreferve 
 the Truth, there cannot be a more 
 comfortable death. It is the noblefi 
 death that can be 3 to die accompanied 
 with vertus. Gracious and good 
 men, what have they not (aid/ What 
 have they not done I What have 
 they not differed i to vindicate truth i 
 and for the maintenance of true Re- 
 ligion andvertue. It is a figne of a 
 poor (pirit, and argues a degenerate 
 mind to grow out of lave with a 
 discountenanced truth y and to cleave 
 tofome foul error that is inrequeff. 
 Yet in pleading for truth ^ a decorum 
 muft be kept 5 an awful reverence > 
 and dutiful obedience to Supericurs^ 
 whether in nature or place •, for God 
 who highly commends zeale for his 
 Truth y ftri&ly commands obedience to 
 higher Powers: a reverential diftance 
 muft be obferv'd that Gcxi be not e- 
 vil fpoken of. Zeak 
 
The Roy al Kobe. 143 
 
 Is.?*/ muft be ever accompanied with 
 
 idifcretion^ refped muft be had to 
 
 ;rime 5 and place, and perfons : and 
 
 I the whole bufiriefle muft be carried 
 
 ion, with meekneffe and modefty^ 
 
 lit we cannot have truth, but we muft 
 
 ! contend for it, it is beft contending 
 
 Iwith the fword of the Spirit (which 
 
 lis the Word of God/ whetted with 
 
 prayers and teares. If God and Mm 
 
 iftand in competition, theRefolutiori 
 
 lis a ruVdcd\e (We ought to obey God 
 
 bather than man:) Fatber^m refped: of Ads '.'** 
 
 the danger that attends the difobey- 
 
 ihg of either ; for it is a fearful thing; 
 
 to fall into the hands of the living Heb.x0.3V 
 
 God. , Men can defiroy the body, 
 
 and after that have no more that 
 
 ithey can do. God can caft both Mar ' IC ° ag 
 
 ((body arid foul) into hell fire. 
 
 T he fear of loffe, or hope of gain^ 
 jrouft not fo benum the fenfes^ or cor- 
 rupt our reajon , as to admit a great 
 evil^foiz little good. When we fee 
 L meiV 
 
44 Meekflejje, 
 
 men bold and bufie for error \ even tc 
 impudence-, it is afhame to belaziej 
 eafie, and fo addicted to the enjoy* 
 mentsoi outward peace, that no care 
 be had what encroachments are made 
 on truth, the true ft peace and fatety 
 is that, which is grounded on verity, 
 which the world can neither give,nor 
 take away. 
 
 Their fafety, and their quiet,men 
 do prefer, and juftly, yet on thefe 
 menfet.too high a price, when for 
 them they can fwallow down any er- 
 ror, change their frofeffion, beot any 
 religion, betray the truth ^ and never 
 look towards them who loved the 
 truth above their lives. 
 
 Men then are truitifh, when they 
 feek only to live, whofe degenerate 
 thoughts are all for the prefent fupply 
 of back and belly 5 furely of fuch, 
 there can be no fatety to the foul, no 
 quiet in the confcience $ when as to, 
 avoid the cenjures tf men, they fell 
 
 into 
 
\ , ... 
 
 ikrn. in 
 
 u de 
 
 The Royal Kobe. i^ 
 
 I intd the h&vitfudgmcni of God. 
 
 The Meek man then muft have a 
 \ care he iuffer not a vice to fteale 
 i upon his good nature-, for Remifnefie 
 by no meanes may paflfe for Mcek- 
 I neffe. 
 
 And he that is meekc indeed had 
 I need to be very heedful : his cafe be- 
 ! tag much like that oiEzecbiel (to be *** 
 \ with briers and thornes, and to dwell SL 
 (among Scorpions) the meek man Befi Mm* 
 nard fitly referables to M Church ^jgl 
 in tnQ C articles ^ which is as the Lillie dm UM 
 among tholes. Now the Lillie is ^S 11 ^- 
 a fair and ffomiffiing plant < fmooth, C 
 
 pntle,tra&abie, eafie to be handled** 
 put the ions offlf/w/areall of them 
 Suborns, becaufe they cannot be ta- 
 ken with hands, but the man that 
 mil touch them , muft be fenced 
 jvith iron^ and the ftaffe of a (pear. 
 ] The meek man thus befet (like the 
 t'i/lie growing among thorms) with 
 jhe ions of Belial (enemies to peace) 
 L z ' that - 
 
that at every blaft threaten to wound 
 andtearehim, mult be vigilant for 
 the prefervation of himfelf. 
 
 Tothispurpofe S.Paul fladious 
 of thefafety otthe Chriftians (who 
 liv'daniidft their enemies that were 
 incens'd againft them) welladvifeth, 
 Rorff. 12. i p. Dearly beloved, avenge 
 Rom. xi. not your f elves, but ra'her give place 
 1 '* unto wrath, for by this means enemies 
 are either van(\ui^ei^ or appeafed h 
 for the meek commending himfelf 
 and his matters unto God , by pati- 
 ence and forbearance maketh God 
 for him, who beholdeth mifchief and 
 ipight to requite it with his own 
 hand, and therefore faith the Pjalm- 
 ' pfil.io. ik } the poor committeth himfelf unto 
 «4- God, who is the helper of the father- 
 leffe When they curfe, God will 
 ^\!° 9 ' hle(!e,for heihallftand at the right 
 hand oi the poor , to fave his foul 
 from unrighteous Judges j yea, he 
 will break die pgwer o.i the ungodly 
 
 and 
 
The Royal Robe* 147 
 
 •tad malicious : bring the counfcl of Pk.xo.i* 
 
 the Heathen to nought, and make 
 
 the devices of the people of none 
 
 eflfeft. Thus God undertakes for Pfa.j3.1e1. 
 
 the meek^ and under his pmtedion 
 
 they reft fecure "5 for none can hurt 
 
 whom God will help, but God is the 
 
 helper of the Week* and therefore 
 
 put on Meeknefs , in Manimentum. ltZ e T~ 
 
 as a lure defence. m manfu- 
 
 etus & 
 
 Ji?np ! eX) itbi dolofusoppri miter vel elatm* Bern, ftper Cant' 
 Serm. 6z.jwg. 751. X- 
 
 Thirdly, Inornamentum^ a third 
 nfe o( Apparel , is to beautifie and 
 adorn the body. So meeknefi is the 
 go6<0iefl ormmenio^ tKe foul, and 
 is that which readers a man amiable 
 and lovely in his whole life. For 
 modejlj in the countenance 5 gentle- 
 nefoi carraige , affability of fpeech, 
 calmnefi%{ fpirit, qttietnefi of naind 5 
 are lov'd and commended in all. No 
 pUiting ofhair^ wearing ef Gold, or 
 L 1 ' ?*#% 
 
1 48 Meekpejpy 
 
 fiuting on of apparel, is an ornament 
 
 comparable to that of a meek and 
 
 quiet fpirit, this hath in it a power and 
 
 jweetnefi ftrangely attractive, and 
 
 commands all hearts and eyes in the 
 
 iPct.3-3, Judgment of Saint Peter. Meekncfl 
 
 is an excellent grace, which in the 
 
 Jie^rt is ienderneffe, in the difpofition 
 
 foftnejfe, in the aflfe&ions temper, in 
 
 the mind caimnefie, in the carraige 
 
 Do&or [weetneft. 
 
 ]featley n 
 
 Clavi Aiyjiica, Seym. 3. m Marth. it. 19. ^. 3^ 
 
 The excellence of CMeekneffe is 
 rarely fet forth by TertulUan in his 
 book of Patience in thefe words. 
 
 It ftrengrhens fa : th, governs 
 peace, helps love, trains up humi- 
 lity, waits for repentance, feals up 
 confeffion, rules the flefh, preferves 
 «. the fpirit, bridles the tongue, con- 
 tains the hand, ftippreffes temptati- 
 . pns,pu:s away fcandals, confum 
 
 mates 
 
The Royal Robe 149 
 
 Snares Martyrdom , comforts the j*J«jj 
 ooor, guides the rich,prolongs not gubtrnat., 
 ilcknefs, nor deftroyes health: re- fi- 
 reflies him that believesdnvites him wf , Jf 
 >■ hat believes not, commends the mSmm': 
 Servant to his Mafter, the Mafter jgg^ 
 :oGod: it beautifies the woman, amexpe . 
 I commends the man : it is lbv'd in *#> «*■ 
 ! t child, itisprais'dinayoungman, J^ggj : 
 lonor'dinaa old: in every Tex, in camemre- 
 j^ryage it is lovely The effigies g^g 
 ;)fmeeknefs by the fame Author is ^^ 
 ihus fet forth, /$M& 
 
 fo^f, tentathnes inculcat fcandaU pellit , jfcW*?*g (r ^- 
 fcmtt*', ^, f e/m confolatur , dlvitm tcmpsrat : i^rmum 
 Wtxtddh, valmte.nnmconfimt fidel.m deleft at, gentium 
 In : fr^ /frx/iri Dohh/m Dom'nim T>-o eommendatf *>&**»* ex ' 
 p.t', wir»3w rf#w&tf> -: */0«W in pwro, Ividitur in V^m? y 
 WpicitH' in fern; in omm Jcx/i, in omni <etat? fwffS.fi -*/*. 
 Age jamfi/ffigem habitamqae ejus commbendmus, 
 
 Her countenance calm and plea- 
 
 ]ing, her forehead fmooth^contra&ed 
 
 ir drawn together with no wrincles 
 
 >£ grief or anger , her brows not 
 
 L 4 frowning 
 
I go Meeknejfe, 
 
 frowning or fallen, but tempered to 
 a chearful modeity, with eyes caft 
 pte iih down not for any misfortune, but in 
 uT&p^ humility- her mouth feaied with the 
 adus, honor of filence, her color and com- 
 •»X P mz- plexionbewraisher innocency,as one 
 frits am that is fecure & fears nothing : (lie of- 
 ir * )U "4- ten (hakes her head againft the De- 
 mtiti v ^> anc l her (miles are threatnings. 
 h$m : d* Blither Apparel about her bread 
 ?!l <4 S! *" i s wn\w and clofe to her body, which 
 
 turn 77i)~ • i 11 
 
 rf«w/tf- no wind can blow up, nor any moti- 
 
 J^K* on (hake, for (he fits in the throne 
 
 muitau' 4 ' ofthatmoft mild and gentle {pint, 
 
 «**;»/"«#- which no boiftrous ftorm can ihake, 
 
 §f*^ *§?*" nor clouds obfeure, for with her it is 
 
 t^tw-J- ever fair weather, (lie is Ample and 
 
 ttiishw.0- plain, thus far Hertullian. 
 vJt*Tdor It greatly matters not what fome 
 
 ftaiisfe- are pleas'd to fpeak of Mcefocfle, 
 
 cutis <&• 
 
 \nnoxlis : Mrur ffeq*vtt.sc.if'tJt'ut D':zh i \!:i>n> > & m'.inx y[fi-s* 
 Caternri im'tf'A ci cun pcnori taH^ltuSi & co poH iw- 
 m(f>u i ut qtii (t-r ll]tttf/tf , ntt ih-i '.i ir.i;cf. Sec/el irim in 
 throno ty'inttt} em: mtffffA '■ fr vi.mfoet- jjim'i qui run turb'ne 
 glgm^ratu't QQiUf-zbJo Itvet, f L d e/2 tcze--* fcroihatis-, e/ferfUt 
 &-fi , xplex i vc. T$tt. Mb. de Pattimi*. cap. 15. pag. 203. 
 
The Royal Robe. 151 
 
 that it is for Fools and Cowards^ and 
 a note of a poor and lueeik mind 5 that 
 it is childifh and effeminate, and no 
 mafculine ox manlike venue. And if 
 this were fo, then were Meeknefs 
 rather a difyaragement than an orna- 
 ment. But that it is not fo, but a 
 vertue well becoming the moft wife 
 and valiant is apparent. 
 
 Firft, It is an ornament to the 
 wife, for if Meeknefe, quietaefs and 
 peaceablenefs had hot well become 
 the wife, the wifeft mans name 
 fhould not have been Salomon ( that 
 is padficus , peaceable 5 ) and the 
 wifdom that is from above is fure and 
 peaceable, gentle jafie to be entreated^ 
 and full of mere) faith Saint $ames. 
 and the fame Afofile y tfames 3, 13. 
 fets it down as a fpecial note to know 
 a wife man by. Who is a, wife man Jam 
 and endued with kmwledg among you t 
 let him (her» out of a good conuerfation 
 his works with meeknefi of wifdom. And 
 
 however 
 
 Jam. j 17- 
 
I$3 Mtehjieffe y 
 
 however the wory may account men 
 wife that know how to fifliin troubled 
 waters, and by keeping up a [chijm 
 in the Church, or maintaining a fa- 
 ction in the State, do ma ke a party • 
 & weaken a common Force by divi- 
 ding it 5 or that in private affaires 
 knoweshowto over-reach or over- 
 bear their neighbour, yeatmay call 
 this wifdom, but not from above, it 
 is earthly, faith Saint fames, and 
 which is worfe,carnal, fenfual and de- 
 vilifh. So that it is plain, the peace- 
 able, meek and patient man, is the 
 wife man, when all is laid ♦, for the 
 lefs patient or meek a man is, the 
 lefs mfe he is -, anger refts in the bo- 
 (om of fools, faith the Preacher, and 
 in the 24 of his- Proverbs at the 19th 
 .79- verfeheteacheth,thatfe that is flow 
 to anger is of great under Handing ; but 
 he that is kafty of jpirit exalteth folly. 
 Meekntffe then is a vertve well-ber 
 coming a wife man. 
 
 Secondly 
 
1 be Royal Robe. 153 
 
 Secondly, It iszn ornament to the 
 Willi ant y for rafhnefs and fury , and 
 revenge, do rather become a fiend 
 pf Hell, than a man who is a creature 
 fitted for fociety. The Heathens 
 could fay it was the mark of a poor 
 fpirit to be toach'd with injuries: Magmas 
 but a generous and noble mind did t™ m W 
 trample and contemn them. And ^,^1 
 therefore let no man fay that Meek- tidum cfe 
 neffe is a want of courage, indeed the f f ^~ 
 ?hzl0Jopberi3Lith,that anger is the (pur qu ? ;#/«?•*. 
 "of W<?r, the whetftone of courage. M *tf*^ 
 But Khegreatc&Philojbpher that ever f^t^de- 
 
 was, & beft feen in i»w^/> in the 1 6. of jjW«rf. 
 his Proverbs thus fets down.H* that is f" t f* h ; 
 flow to anger, is better than the mighty. ul^ nt a l 
 arpdhe that ruleth his (birit than he that **m efi 
 ukthaCity. Jg**j 
 
 No man, I dare fay: will fay that sekdehx 
 David was a coward: he was a [word- * b; &$* 
 man with a witneft s a braver Cham- 
 pion, a ftouter man of fyis hands, and 
 pfa pore valiant courage' did never 
 
 tread 
 
!<J4 Meekpjfe, 
 
 tread on Gods earth : for he fought 
 when all Jfracl fear'd 5 yet David 
 wasaMtfi and tender-hearted man, 
 Pf2.za.x4 My heart is like wax (faith he)/> k 
 melted in the midft of my bwvels, yea 
 when that foul-moudVd Shemeixzvi- 
 iSam.i^ led and cuiied David to his face: yet 
 Ibid ii he forbad to touch him: let him a- 
 11% ' * lone^ and let him curfe* It may be 
 that the Lord wilt look upon mine affli- 
 tlion i and that the Lord will requite 
 good for his curbing this day. And 
 •when Sanl who fought after his life, 
 and would be appeas'd by none of his 
 good fervices, when nothing would 
 fatisfie the Tyrant but the blood of 
 that innocent \ and when God had 
 delivered him into Davids hand-, and 
 his friends and followers perfwaded 
 s t to ki/t him, yet David would not 
 I, ,24 ' confent any violence fhould be of- 
 fer 'd him. Yea he was fo loath at 
 any time to ,*ake offence, and fo un- 
 willing to give any , that his 
 
 heart 
 
The Royal Kobe. 15$ 
 
 heart fmote him becaufe he had cut * ****** 
 off Sauls skirt,[me\y then! it doth ml *' 
 bewray a want of courage to forbear 
 revenge : Pduijfe nocere & ndlh mag- 
 mefrgloria.lt is the greateft honor 
 that can be to a man, toletpafs oc- 
 cafions of revenge, and every good 
 man will account it his glory to pafs 
 hy offences, and not like many in our Pro#1 ,^ 
 daies, who will not differ the leaft 
 injurie to pafs unrevenged, and for 
 mew trifles, grow out ot meafure lb Quorum 
 offended, that the tedious trouble *g"jg 
 and charge of many years \uit can wdum 
 hardly reconcile them. T^t 
 
 And others will redeem the leaft fapwfa 
 difgrace wdthaftreamofblood, and coups 
 cannot reft 5 but like men out of 
 their wits take on. until they fee 
 their enemy weltering in his gore^ 
 Corforetmnco invidiofadabit minimis 
 fclatia fanguis. Yea moreover to 
 f>me> all company is loathfojne^ all 
 places irkfome, and their own life 
 
 becomes 
 
i$6 Meebieffi, 
 
 At <vm+- becomes cumberfome, except they 
 
 wtdj£ tm cm ^ e avenged of their enemy. 
 
 amdiiis For being wrong d in their reputa- 
 
 l P a * tion they take themfelves bound in 
 
 point ot honor to repair their credit 
 
 with the life of their Adveriai v. 
 
 How this will hold with the rules 
 of Scripture and of Chriftian Religion^ 
 let any man who is throughly ac- 
 quainted with either, judg- where- 
 as indeed in the judgment of the 
 more civil Heathen : this pradice 
 is reputed barbarous : there are other 
 waiesfor men to right themfelvesy 
 and repair their honor allowable both 
 btythelaives of God and Man, this 
 of duel and fingle comb it is not. No 
 Man (bould dare in fuch a Cafe to be 
 his own Carver, and to ufurp Gods 
 office-, who by himfelfor his Mini- 
 fters doth undertake to right all fuch 
 as fufter wrong. He that drawes his 
 fwor4 in a private quarrel: unlefs it 
 betodetend himfeif> and to fecure 
 
 his 
 
The Royal Robe. i$f 
 
 his own life-, Is a Rebehgzinft hea* 
 ven-, and no color or pretence what- 
 foever can quit him from bloodguil- 
 tinefs. I (hall need to fay no more 
 to this purpofe, feeing it fo clearly 
 appeares that Meekncffe may well 
 confift vvith Wisdom and Valour 5 and 
 he is neither a?//* nor valiant that is 
 not meek. It is a feemly ornament 
 for all perfons, and all profeflions/ 
 And therefore put on Meeknefs in 
 Ornamentum as thefaireft ornament of 
 aChriftian. 
 
 Fourthly ,in Monumentum,3.iomth 
 ufeof Jpfareliz ferves for diftincti- 
 on^ not of Sexes only, but of call- 
 trigs. So Mecknejfe is the badg of 
 our profeflion 5 the Livery or cog- 
 nizance of our Chriflian Religion: 
 by this(faithChrift,^i?^// men how 
 that yon are my Vifciples if you love J oh,I 3-3£ 
 one another. And therefore Chrift r^^ 
 calleth his followers jheef y which is a 
 gentle,quiet and harmlefs Creature, 
 
 and 
 
i $8 Meehejpy 
 
 Mat.xo \6 nnc | j) dve s which is an inno'cent? 
 
 Mac.18.3. Meek and gaule-lefsCreaiture. And 
 
 Mat 19. huh Children Ample without all 
 
 i?> i 4 . drifts oraimes. And Saint Paul to 
 
 the Romans affirmes that he that hath 
 
 7*11.5. not the fpiricofc^r//? is none oihis r 
 
 Rom 8- 9 now no difgracedoth touch a man to 
 
 nere as to fay he is none of Chrifls , 
 
 no Chriftian^&z no Chrifnan he is (St. 
 
 Paultth us) that hath not the fpirit [ 
 
 oichnfl^ now Chrifls fpirit is a fpirit 
 
 Mat. 1 1. of Meeknefi , Matth. 11.29. Learn 
 
 fifweChith he ) for I am meek, fo J 
 
 Meekamanmuft be^or a Chriftian 
 
 he cannot be: or if in name yet not 
 
 in deed : for a Chriflian Man is a 
 
 Meek Man. 
 
 Thofe unquiet and turbulent fpr- 
 rits, that like Cadmus Brethren are 
 ib enrag'd againft one another, that 
 rhey cannot reft whilft they can fee 
 oneaUve.doflievv of what generati- 
 on they are, the feed of the Serpent- 
 fey their malicious cruelty they do de- 
 clare 
 
7be KoyalKobe* 15 $ 
 
 xlareffom whence they are defend- 
 ed- as the Thifile is known by its 
 picks, having nothing notable,either 
 beauty or fweetnefs to commend it 5 
 it would be trod upon without notice 
 but that it difcovereth it felf by vex- 
 ing thofe that touch it. 
 
 It is nothing to fee Creatures of a 
 favage nature to tear one another: 
 how ill would it become Jheep of the 
 fame fold * Doves of the fame houfe> 
 to put on cruelty and devour one a- 
 ftother. And will it, not hold as 
 well for Chriftians of the fame pro- 
 feffioni, the refemblarice is Chrifts' 
 own 5 thofe men arelike wolves and 
 Tygers and fnarl.ing Dogs, .( not 
 Doves and Lambs) that are clothed 
 withimmanity. 
 
 . Wrath and Cruelty and Quarrel- 
 ling is abkmifh to the profefGoa of - 
 Chrijlianity: for he that profefTes 
 the Chriftian Religion ( faith Socra- 
 tes in the ftventh Book and fifteenth . 
 M Chapter 1 
 
i6o Meeknejfe, 
 
 Chapter of his Ecclefiaftical Wlory ) 
 
 Mm ought to be a ftranger altogether , 
 
 utZ it (that is clearly free) from fighting & 
 
 cbnfifm quarrelling, and all of the like fort, 
 
 Japirmty 
 
 alien i funt ' 
 
 cades , ptign.*, & qu*. alia f« nt bujuftnodi, Socrat. 
 
 Ecct. hifi. lib. 7. C «P- if* 
 
 And JmSrtfe in his fecond Tome 
 the fife Book of his Orations in the 
 32. Epiftle, doth thus purge him- 
 felf of his pretended rebellion againft 
 the Emper our , when I am compel'd 
 unto it, I am yet to learn what kind 
 ot refiftance I (hall make. I have 
 learn'dtoforrow, lean weep, lean 
 coa8m figh againft armed enemies, Soldi- 
 
 rep ;gnate 
 
 non novi, 
 
 dolere pctere , potcro fierc > potero gemere adve.fns arma y 
 
 mines Got hi qnoqite facryma m -a erm\ f.nt j tafia 
 
 eriim muniment a funt SaccrdGUs 5 cii:cr nee dtbeo , nee 
 
 poffum Y(jiflcre. Arnbr. Tern. 2. \m 5. or at. m Ep, 
 
 I*, fag. up 
 
 ers 
 
The Royal Robe. \$x 
 
 ers aild Gothesy alfojmy tears are my 
 weapons : It is meet that fuch fhould 
 be the fortification of one of my pro- 
 fefiion, otherwife I ought not, I can- 
 not refift. The Cbri(lian(hks Ter- 
 tullianj) is no mans foe, we render chrifi- 
 to no man evil for evil. We are for- ^S^ 
 bidden to wifh evil, to do evil, to ^.Terr. 
 fpeafc evil, to think evil of any one ad Sc *?"- 
 without exception, pfg^o. 
 
 Widhp 4.pa£. 13 x. Nulli malum pro milo reddimus, male 
 e&ml>eUe, mule fflCcre, male dicer e, male cogitarc dequoquam 
 eszraquo vetf'mitr. Ttn.ApoL cdverf. Gemes. cap. %6> pag-66. 
 Si malum mato difp'wigi pen.es nos llcerety &c. Terc. ApgU 
 adverjus Genres, cap 37. pzr totum. 
 
 For if it were lawful to return e- 
 vil for evil, or to wipe out one inju- 
 ry with another, they were abun- 
 dantly furnifhed with all neceflaries, 
 both to defend themfelves, and offend 
 their enemies, they wanted neither 
 Men nor Arms, number nor force 
 fufficient : but that they were re* 
 ftrain'd by the confcience of their 
 Religion which taught magis cccidi 
 M 2 Ikcrtt 
 
\6i Meeknejp, 
 
 liceret quam eccidere. We miift lay 
 down the [word, and take up the 
 Crofs and follow Chrifl. I have (ome- 
 where read of a Bifbep of France ta- 
 ken ( in the wars ) a prifoner by the 
 Kwg,unto whom the Pope diredled a 
 threatning lette;- 5 commanding to fet 
 him at liberty 5 and withal, expoftu- 
 lating how he durft violently detain 
 3 fon of the Churchy unto whom the 
 King returned a modeft Anftrer y and 
 wit£ial 5 fent him the Armour the Bi- 
 fhof was taken in, with this Infcripti- 
 on 5 Anne hac eft tunica filii tui< does 
 the Church give fuch liveries to her 
 Children! 
 
 The Liverie of the Church of 
 Chrifl is Meehejs: and the good 
 Chrijiian is far from brables , and 
 will rather Jufer evil than do any. 
 
 Arrpcrc ' . ( 
 
 ^Uimf^ccreyAefMt itiyenaitr. M. T. C. ' T.'/e. quafi.lib^. 
 
 7 o eb'cft&ifp* to (Ap.ycLf <?Azt1ov, to* JV 'vXtiav CXilv its 
 <7*{/s<r«. AriiK £//;/>. M. j. ftx/>. xi. 
 
 And 
 
■The :Royal Kobe. t^g 
 
 And it is more comfort to a Chrifti- 
 an and honor too to fujfer wrongs 
 than in preventing it or removing it 
 to do wrong. A eare therefore fliould 
 be had that infeeking eafe from the 
 evil of punijhmerii^men burden not 
 themfelves with the evil of fin. For 
 the lightefty?# is a greater evil than 
 the heavieft punifhment in the judg- 
 ment of the Apoftle, He that dot-he- p v om.5.8. 
 withal good ma) come of it ^ his dam- 
 nation isjufi, \Nowtofin to avoid 
 a puni(hment;is to do a great evil for 
 a little good: much like to him, who 
 troubled with a pinchiug fhooe, doth 
 pare his foot. 
 
 Chrijiianmm muft bear the re- 
 proachesand injuries of the men of 
 the world, their hearts muft not rife, 
 nor their tongues rail, nor their hands 
 violently attempt any thing againft 
 their enemies : but they muft fairly 
 and gently lay their faults before 
 them, that they may fee their error 
 M 3 and 
 
164 Meefytejfe y 
 
 and repent of it : and if they will 
 not be reformed, lawful remedies 
 when they can be had, may be ufed^ 
 and In the mean time they are to be 
 pity fcd and prafd for, till they can 
 be brought to a fober reckonings and 
 this is the Meek mans way , and by 
 this he is known to be what indeed 
 heis 5 anfovefi man, and a good Chri* 
 ftian. 
 
 But can any man think, or will a- 
 ny man fay the four faces, the disfi- 
 gured countenances, the rude behavi- 
 our, uncivil carrdge , and railing 
 aTim.3-8 fpeeches , cholerick fumes , refitting 
 the truth, men of corrupt minds,no 
 judgment, little honefty, whofe fol- 
 ly is manifeft to all men , are thefe 
 the markes whereby Chrijis fteep are 
 known. ? or muft fuch fellows as thefe 
 carry away the note of perfe&ion, 
 whilft all iober men , and all others 
 befides themfelves, muft lie under 
 the rubbifhof a finful condition I 
 
 thefe 
 
The Royal Robe, gf § 
 
 Thefe kindle the codes of conten- 
 tion, throw about their fire-brands , fly 
 in the faces of all that contradict 
 them, clamour againft Magistracy and 
 Minlftry with open mouth,as pannes zTim^.g 
 & $ambres refitted Mofesfo do they 5 
 they defpife dominion 3 fpeak evil 
 of dignities, raging waves of the fea 3 
 foming out their own fhame, mur- ju/sf^; 
 murers, complainers , crying down *6. 
 Mlnijiers, Sabbaths , Sacraments , 
 Churches, all Order .and Government 
 ( as the Edomites did Hieru[ale?n) 
 raze it, raze it even to the foundati- 
 on thereof. And of thefe men there ' I37 * 7 * 
 are different feels, but although they 
 have their heads turned diverfe waies, 
 and be divided in their judgments 
 and opinions, yet like Samfons foxes, 
 they are tied together by the talks ^ judg.i ? , 
 and in their ends and aimes they all 4- 
 agree. 
 
 Isthistheeffeftand fruit of that 
 
 ThirdTeftamM, that law of love, that 
 
 M 4 eternal 
 
}66 Meehyejje, 
 
 eternal G ojp el ( as they are pleas'd to 
 call it ) the produft of the holy 
 Ghofi in thefe laft daies ? as thefe Ph&- 
 naticks dream, but I leave thefe 
 vain men. 
 
 It is a fad thing to confider what 
 ilirs and broils there have been in the 
 Chrifiian world for very trifles i unto 
 what height and heat the Contention 
 has grown amongft perfons oi note 
 and eminency for learning and piety 
 about things of little moment,which 
 would never have been 5 had there 
 beenMeekneffe: for where Meeknejfe 
 is 5 there will be a quietneffe of heart, 
 acalmnefs ofjgirtfy'4 teachxhlewffe 7 
 a tract ableneffe^ an eaftneffe to be per- 
 fwadedj there will be patience^ humi- 
 lity and a fear and tenderneffz of of- 
 fending. 
 
 For want of Mcekntjfe what la- 
 mentable rents have been in the 
 Church of Chrifl: in former times.- 
 not only about things indifferent^ (the 
 
 Eajlerne 
 
cal HJ£a- 
 
 nts. 
 
 The Royal Kobe. i$j 
 
 Eafterne Church following one cu- Kc f c E ^ 
 ftom & the We fi erne another, oppo- ^ 5r £. 
 fing each othe 1 ' with . great bitternefs). defi'aft 
 
 But alfo about things meerly z»i- 
 flatten, the contention has grown fo 
 hot between the G w£ and Z<tf/# 
 Churches, that the Chnftian world 
 was like to be torn in peeces for a 
 miftake of words: the Gmi/ judging 
 the Latins Sabellians: and the £^- 
 iim the Greeks Arrians: had not 
 this difference been feafonably com- 
 pos'd by Athanafws. 
 
 In latter times what contentions 
 hay e arlfen in the Churches of Ger- 
 many , Sweden , Denmark 5 France, 
 Helvetia, about the ubiquitarie pre- 
 fence 3 predeflination , lofing and 
 hot lofing of grace , &c. Which 
 were much encreafed by writing and 
 diluting, that might have happily 
 been ended by a friendly Mediation, 
 if in a meek way the meaning of both 
 parties had been throughly lifted; 
 
 And 
 
1(53 Meefyeffe, 
 
 And in thefe latter daies what 
 fearful rents have been,and are ftill a- 
 mongft us, he has no mind that con- 
 (tiers not : no heart that condoles not : 
 <3jtis taliafando temper et alacrymis ? 
 who can keep the Rivers of tears 
 within the banks of their eyes i 
 whofe heart doth not bleed , whofe 
 ipirit is not broken, (and who in the 
 anguifti of his foul, could not wifh 
 each pore of his body, an eye ^ that 
 every eye might weep, for brinifh 
 hloody tears) when he fcrioufly 
 thinks of the miferable diftra&ions 
 that ate among ft us < the land is di- 
 ftk.£o.2.; vided, Lord heal the fores of it, for 
 it ihaketh. Oh could we but right- 
 ly lay to heart the mifchiefs of our 
 divifions, how odiou* to God ^ how 
 fernitiow to Religion. Alas that 
 the Church of Chrift mould be fo 
 tent about certain accidentals y imma- 
 terials^ unneceffaries : when there is 
 agreement in fundamentals and fuch 
 
 points 
 
The Royal Robe. if? 
 
 joints as are efitntial to falvation 3 at* 
 ( vay with thole contentions that occa- 
 sion /taw and fop to both fides, 
 'And let us endeavour to quench 
 chofe flames which have already 
 burnt down fo many and fo worthy 
 parts of the houfe of God. 
 
 When Meeknejfe hath been laid 
 afide, and cruelty put on, what la- 
 mentable combuftions have been in 
 the Chriftian World? what fury did 
 Sathan fend up 3 to animate Nation? a- 
 ^ainft Nation: and in the fame Na- 
 tion one man againft another h the 
 mifchiefs o f an inteftine Warre ( oo 
 cafion'd for want of Meekntffe) the 
 Ruines of Germany evidently fpeak, 
 and I would I might have -fmght an 
 inftanceat fo great a diftance , and 
 not found one nearer home , even 
 in the bowels of this Kingdom, 
 What divifions have there been i 
 What [editions have been mov'd j? 
 yfhaxfoffim have been rais'd? 
 
 The 
 
1 7° Meekneffe, 
 
 The glittering [word, whofe face 
 flafhes forth lighting ot terror , hath 
 paflfed through the land, wafting 
 and deftroying : the fad Calamities 
 of a Civil Wane are better known 
 than that I (liould fpend time to 
 repeat them. 
 
 - Alas! what hath any Kingdome 
 gaindatany time by this way, be- 
 sides filling the b\oo^,and foiling 
 the goods of the uqhappy people. 
 And it terrifieth me to Remember 
 how many flourifhing Empires and 
 Kingdoms, have been by means 
 of fuch Contentions , either torn 
 in peeces with inteftine divifion , or 
 fubdued to forrain Princes , under 
 pretence of afliftance aad aid ! And 
 our own Chronicles make mention 
 how fore this Kingdom hath been 
 fhaken with thefe dangerous evils, 
 
 Th? Birons war$jind the wars between the Houfcs of Toi'he 
 and Lane after, 
 
 i 
 
 2 And 
 
the Royal Robe. t]i 
 
 And yet neither the examples of ci- 
 ther Countries 5 normiferies of their 
 t)wnare fufficient to make men be- 
 ?ware$ and you (hall ever obferve it . 
 [i of any Nation , that then it begins 
 (to be miserable , when it ctaje s to 
 be obedient. Rebellion puts an end to 
 I the profterity 5 and gives beginning 
 j to the miferf of ariy people. i 
 
 J(cyli( -(jKyahw T&S t BoKUS i £l& $ €tvlvvb@io{ facet C"LF*S8/'- 
 Theophilaft. Com. inEp.adiHom. 1 3. i. 
 
 Let us theh befeech the God "of 
 mercy that he would fend down 
 from Heaven a fpirit of Meekrieffcy 
 and raife up on earth able and fit 
 Inftruments to make up the breaches, 
 and to quiet the distractions that are 
 amongft us 5 to cure the wounds and 
 heale^the hurt of the Daughter 'of his Jcr 4 1 * 
 People. 
 
 For let me tell the World, te- 
 dious fuiies and bloody Warns' mi 
 
 & 
 
*72 Meekneffe, 
 
 a fcandal to the chriftim Riligion] 
 It were a great deale more comely 
 ( thinks our Apoftle ) to put on 
 Meeknef^ to fuffer 'wrong, and to 
 iCor *' 7 ' fuftain harm. Yet I would not be 
 miftaken,asif my meaning were to 
 deprive men of the benefit of that 
 means which God hath ordained to 
 t9n.fjr.- right fuch as are wronged, for the 
 Magi (I rate is the Minifter of Gods 
 ordinance. 
 
 For the prefervation of mens 
 lives,honors and eftates : as well by 
 force of Arms, as fates of law. 
 
 Yttno fitite of law mu& be com- 
 menced but with Meekneft, in love 
 & charity ; no wars begun but by the 
 Command of a lawful Authority. 
 Aad in both,in jWfr of law & feats of 
 Arms , juftice, not mallice muft 
 bear theivvay : and nQt the fury of 
 unruly pafsion, but the wholfome 
 direction of reftified reafon fhould 
 govern qut affaires. Tne Lord of 
 
 Hoafts 
 
Rom* i *i 
 
 18. 
 
 'the Royal Robe. 1/3 
 
 Ilodfts is the God of peace , and thi- 
 ther fhould fuites and war tend, to 
 j gain a more fafe, honorable and fet- 
 led peace. 
 
 A Christian man fhould ftudy to 
 be quiet, his defire and his endea- 
 vour both fhould be for quietneft 
 and peace. If it be pofsible as much as 
 in you liesjiivepeaceabluwith all men : 
 But if men will be fo quarrelfome, 
 j fo froward and contentious , that 
 nothing will perfwade them to peace- 
 I ablenefs: and that our caftfe is much 
 I like that of Davids, to dwell a- 
 i mongft thofe that are enemies to 
 peace, that when we fpeak of 
 peace they are for warre. If we 
 do what in us lies, arid what is vino 7, 
 poffible for us to do, and yet 
 they will not be quiet, nor a- 
 bate any thing of their favagena-, 
 ture, we may implore the aid of 
 heaven, and pray the God of peace to 
 affift usagaiqft the Enemies of feace f 
 
 and 
 
174 Meefyjfe, 
 
 arid then let God arife and let his e- 
 nemies be fcattered $ let them alfo 
 that liate him>fiee before him. 
 
 In perfwading to Meekttejfe thenj 
 the Apoftle never meant to deprive 
 men of lawful remedies againfl: wrong's 
 arid injuries^ when in a fair way with 
 moderation and Mceknejfe men feek 
 . to right themfelves.But only to let 
 men know how well it becometh 
 Chriftian men to be gentle & mild, 
 & to profeciite their affaires not with 
 rigour and feVerity 5 but with Meek- 
 neffe ? by fuch proceedings giving 
 meri to undertone! that reformation^ 
 not revenge is aim'd at. 
 
 And as rhis is the proper garb of a, 
 Cbrtfthw>'£6 anion gfi Chriftians it 
 
 C Magiftrates 
 beft becometh ^ and 
 C Minifters. 
 
 yiildnef doth well become a Chrl- 
 
 flian 
 
7 he Royal Kobe* 175 
 
 tim Magi(irdte 7 \vho fhould order his 
 c&ions according to Reafon, not 
 alter his Paffion, Clemencie (faith 
 Sytrfw) is /W/A/fctfWp, a vertue meet 
 for a Prince , vvhofe royal difpofition 
 is better known by gracious remiffi- 
 j ons, than rigorous exadions. The 
 I Orator praifiag-€i/ir 3 aboveall,com- Nlhilcii 
 mends him for his dementis? that tampan- 
 his for tune had nothing greater than i* re :$*w 
 [. that he had power, his nature no- nuiu^de 
 thing better, than chat he had will vimtibw 
 J to fave many h and the PhHofopher £? ^ 
 : doth not only commend 5 but mehgratbrn.ec 
 j admire the rare temper of thatPrince, **™™bU 
 who importuned by one of his Of- record, 
 ficers to fubfcribe a Bill againft cer- mhiibabet. 
 tain maleiaftors .,- after forae delay es, ( ortm2t ^ 
 oeing, urged to (ignc the writing, he & fo$ s 4 
 much againft his"will 3 took the pa- *■*»*«** 
 1 per, and cried out , / would I knew g**g 
 
 veils.. crrafirv/ire quam plurimos. Cicero Qrat. vcl. 3.171 Oratw 
 fio o^_ i.'igar'io in fine. 
 
 Invitm invito cum . cbartamprotxHjfet traderctque exclt* 
 I W4j?/' Velkm ritfcire licetastSftf. in lib. a, ^ Clem. ci. 
 
176 
 
 iHinammi- 
 bi liceret, 
 & mortuos 
 
 advltam 
 Hvecare. 
 
 xKiiMo.3 
 flfal.82.tf. 
 
 not. how to mite. And Theodoftus 
 the youfiger, when it was demanded 
 of him why he would not punifh 
 fome capital offences, made anfwer, 
 I rPould it were in my power to re for e 
 life to the dead. 
 
 And the clemericie of thofe Ma- 
 giftratesis worthy to be remembred, 
 who deferred the execution of frcb 
 perjons (that by their Lawes were 
 condemned to die) for certain dayes, 
 that in the interim enquiry might be 
 made, whether any thing could be 
 found in favour of them, that they 
 might be fpared. 
 
 mrfes the beft Magifirate that ever 
 was, was the meekefi man that ever 
 was 5 and it is written of the Kings 
 of Ifraely that they were merciful 
 Kings. Magi ft rates are Gods upon 
 earth , and it cannot be denied but 
 they are the beft Magiftrates that 
 come neareft to the example of 
 God 5 now God is loving to every 
 
 one 
 
The Royal Robe. iJJ 
 
 one, and his tender mercies are ever 
 All his works. The Bees (it is faid) PIa ' 14 "- 
 amongft themfelves do exercife a 
 certain difcipline, and have the forme 
 of a Commonwealth , and amongft JJf^r 
 them there is a Mafter Bee, whom all d$mMfc 
 the reft do follow as their King, yet c*mmm 
 this Bee is without a /?/*£$ even na- SS^ 
 ture teaches the chief MdgiftfyWid tore facta- 
 be gentle and gracious , and it will ™* ™™h 
 ttirn much to his advantage , for in g^Jira' 
 being fuch,he (hall be morej^more c**tif*m* 
 hommd, and better ckjed. ££» 
 
 fugtixcijjt- 
 mt funt apes , & accitkos in zulrive relinqnn&t ; Rex ipfe 
 fme aculeo cfi, nbluit ilium nature nee fsiwn effe^nc ulUon e m 
 magno conftitiftam petere : telumque diftaxity & ham ejm tv- 
 ermemreliquit. Sen. deQltm. lib. ft. ap. 19. 
 
 i. More (afe he Mllb^thepeo- cer %f^ 
 
 pies love is the Princes greate ft (afety, "xManft- 
 
 and this is procured, and maintained etudm/k 
 
 vvith gentkneile and humanity, the $*£"% 
 
 wifeft and the great eft Princes have ciem. fit. 
 
 cap. 8. 
 Vnumeft inexpugnabile mnwme?itHm 3 apfQr>civium. Szn.de &kj 
 lib. 1. gap. if. i N i left 
 
1^8 Meehncjfe, 
 
 *g& cic- left to the world many notable ex- 
 
 Tt'ToilL am P les of their Clemencie, whereby 
 ex parte they have eftabliihed their throne^nd 
 lifqm, ad ma d e their Empires more firme and 
 tiitoZxr- lading, iilim magnitude* flabilis fun- 
 enmt.Bapt. dataque eft , his Mijejiy is fure and 
 C fa m ffi lL permaaent whom men are perfwad- 
 exempt. ed is for them as well as above them?- 
 mim, m*g- who watches for their welfare, whole 
 ViUs°, la- preftnee begets in his lubjefts a love 
 dataqu? as well as reverence^ not flying from 
 *h q!i ' m him, but running to him as to an A- 
 fum fe fylum or San&uary ^ fuch an one they 
 tjfe qn.vn ought to efteem as the breath of 
 ^Ven." their noftiils D worth ten- thoufand of 
 fi/ciem. themfelves. 
 
 M.i.cap.3 2> He (hall be more honoured for 
 his clemencie, it is the mod precious 
 Jewel in the Crowns of Princes , an 
 addition to their greatneffe, hath in 
 '* it a majejly as well as frveetnef^hich 
 
 not allures only, but awes. & cle- 
 ment Frince is an objeft for love and 
 wonder to ftand amazed at, unto 
 
 whom 
 
The Royal Robe. 179 
 
 whom all men tanquam ad Clarum 
 ac benejicum [idm certatim advolant^ Titus cog- 
 can there be a greater honour than *jjjj^ 
 was that of Titus ^ to be the darling ac Mc\<& 
 of the world f What can be more himam 
 honourable , than to live with the f^Jli. 
 good liking of all ? whofe life is Tran. de 
 tendered as a common benefit of ™*« Titi * 
 mankind) whofe death is the fear of extend 
 -al 5 the hopeofnone 5 whofe prefenceis pmchrim 
 defired as fome CctleftUl influence, q ™ r ™Jtal- 
 and whofe perfon is beheld with al- tibm w? 
 moft a divine veneration^ for he that #.#- Sen. 
 comes neareft to God in his ckmen- ilb ^' 
 tie and moderation, why fliould he 
 not be next to God in our love and 
 efiimation? 
 
 $. Heftiall be fe## <?%W: Ri- 
 gour and feverity is an unfafe and an 
 unpleafant way to keep the people in 
 their obedience. Man is a fociable ; 
 creature , and is eafilyer led , than 
 drawn. The will of man is fooner 
 earned with advis'd following , than 
 
 .2f 3 rjfk 
 
180 Meekpeffe, 
 
 rafh refitting. Befides the clemen- 
 VtYecwtii- cieof the Magiftrate makes the fub- 
 ampeecatt- je<3: afhamed to often i, for he muft 
 hi ^cie- neec ^ s ^ e accounted extremely bad, 
 Jcnth n- whom a Magiftrate inclined to pitj, 
 gjntis.s.n. doth prtifk* Therefore the faying 
 lit. m.T*. °f c ' ie Philofopher is to be approv'd, 
 R»'|i/« who faith, The people rviH be beftru- 
 *npe?>mi j e j wfcn tfay are m \UU governed, 
 
 mar. sen Yet a care muft be had that the Ma- 
 de ciem. giftrate be not too remifi in punifh- 
 l ' c,z *' ing, for fome if they (hall perceive 
 the reins of government to be flack- 
 ened like a mettal'd horft^ they will 
 overthrow the Rider. It rs^ better 
 to live under a rigid government 
 where no man- dare do any thing, 
 than in an Anarchic ^ where any man 
 dare do all things. It is likely to 
 go ill with the good, when bad men 
 may do what they will \ clemencie 
 to the bad, is cruelty to the good: it 
 is the duty of a good Magiftrate to 
 flop the mouth of nrkkcdaejfe, and to 
 
 vindicate 
 
The Rojfl Kibe. 181 
 
 vindicate a wronged inmcencie. The 
 [difcreet Magiftrate will wifely di- 
 ftinguifh, he willfmake a difference, 
 that hone (I men be not difcouraged^ 
 ; and the hands of the wicked flreng- 
 i thened. 
 
 When rvickednejfe is grown exem- 
 plary^ and wickji men incorrigible* 
 the Magtftrate muft deal with them 
 as the Chirurgeon with an unfound .. 
 | member % cut it off left it endanger the bite vu'inl's 
 whole body 5 for it is better that one m f e re "- 
 I member peri(h,than that the whole ***** 
 ; body ihould be rmtfa y the Jafety of n trabatur 
 I many is to be preferred before the flea- Q^»*/i- 
 fureofone: cc feafonable juftice pre- S|L^ 
 ?c vents many mifchiefs, which after pitch u>u- 
 cc knows no remedy but patience s Tmftilm 
 cc foz/ty in fome cafes is cruelty. in owner 
 
 But as the Chirurgeon in cutting ^*f r T*' 
 off a member^ or fearching of a wound^ m 
 is deaf to the complaints of his pati- 
 ent, and heeds not his team nor his 
 tries, till he hgve done his work. So 
 N 4 the 
 
18 a Meek'ejp, 
 
 the goodMagifirate^ though never fa 
 Aw & mee K d° tn $°P hiseares to the cries 
 muiiercuu of the guilty ■ It is for women and 
 funty qua children to be mov'd with the t cares 
 
 lacWimis 
 nocctttlfji- 
 morummo- 
 v oritur. 
 Sensed 
 C\cm. lib. 
 
 Aut at cum 
 q lempunlt) 
 emend. t : 
 aut ut p<e 
 
 Tcrl^mcii- be had to the meafure,for ibme there 
 
 o: sreddut: 
 aututfaht 
 
 latis m d is 
 
 fecurio if 
 
 eeriest vi- 
 
 •ja?it. S*r\. 
 
 de Clerr, 
 
 l>b. i. cap. 1 1. C-u.dc!:; fn~: 7/i p'.<\i;idl c.'ujam bi- 
 
 bm\ TKv'uffi ?iM$aBcn£. Sen. de Clem. lib. i. c p. 4 
 
 and fufferings of defperate and in- 
 corrigible offenders. 
 
 The Magi/Irate then is meek and 
 merciful, not, that punifheth not at 
 ail 5 but with juftice and due mode- 
 ration, and that having juft caufe to 
 punifli, hath refped both to the mea- 
 sure, and to the end. Refped muft 
 
 are who having caufe to punifli , 
 know no mean in punifhing 5 but pro- 
 ceed to that height that mans nature 
 isdifhonour'din a perfonal fufFering. 
 
 2. Refped *muft be had to the 
 end, and that is, firft the reformati- 
 on , not deftrudion of the delin- 
 quent : 
 
The Royal Robe. 183 
 
 S-qjient : for a difference muft be made 
 J between the fin and the finner 3 the 
 ;j perfon and his fault 5 let the fault be 
 j correded 5 butlet the perfonbe fpared? 
 andfo punifh, that the fin maybe 
 1 deftroyed, and the finner faved. 
 
 A fecond end of punching the 
 \ guilty, is for the example of others, ' 
 I that they may fear and beware left 
 I they foil into the fame condemnati- 
 ! on, jungantur in culpa non {eparen- 
 ivr in fcena. It is the rule of ju- 
 j ftice that they who are guilty of the 
 I fame offence, fhould partake of the 
 j fame punifhment. 
 
 A third end of punifhing, is that 
 the evil being removed and taken 
 out of the way, the reft may live the 
 more fecurely % for when the wicked 
 perifh, the righteous encreafe, Frov. Pro-afc**. 
 28.28. 
 
 For as the painful hmbandman 
 doth gather out the weeds that the 
 Come may grow the better, and cuts 
 
 off 
 
184 
 
 CUmintht, 
 fuafcverl- 
 tatem \en- 
 ten.t:<e icm- 
 perav'tM'i- 
 
 Vt fa rn> n-x 
 fiitconm 
 periculo ca- 
 dunUorwii. 
 um met a ; 
 fie ammad- 
 t uerfion n s 
 magna, wn 
 potcftattim 
 terrcnt la- 
 tins qwim 
 nocent.Sen 
 dc Clem. 
 HKi.c. 8. 
 Summa pay 
 Ctmoit'acti- 
 am viliffi- 
 mi fdigui- 
 « if. Sen de 
 Clem, lib. 
 I. cap. 1, 
 
 Meefyiejfey 
 
 off the fuperfluous and dead branches 
 of his trees and vines, that they may 
 bear fruit the better \ fo doth the 
 good Mm fir ate deal with fuch men, 
 whom he ftiall find to be pernicious 
 and unprofitable to the Common- 
 wealth. 
 
 And thus as $u(liee hath rqfpeft 
 unto the caufe, fo hath Clemenck re- 
 gard unto the meafurejmd to the end- 7 
 for the Magiflrate, like the Surgeon, 
 fliould have an Eagles eye, a Lions 
 hearty but a Ladies hand -, /£/'// and 
 courage y but withal tendernejfe and 
 gentlenefe. 
 
 For the threats of the Magijirate 
 fliould be like thunder ', which atrights 
 many with the noife, hurts few with 
 the /?rtf^, and therefore the Magi- 
 ftrafe hath the fword carried before 
 him in the (heath {ferrum vagina re* 
 conditum) and is not to be drawn but 
 upon weighty occafion, they muft be 
 fparing of blood, even of the moft 
 
 vile. 
 
The Royal Robe. 185 
 
 vile. And now you have heard that 
 meeknejfe is a garment meet for the 
 Magiflrates wear. 
 
 Secondly, mildneffe doth well be- 
 come the Wnifters the Prophet faith 
 jjof God, Thou Lord art good and gra- 
 cious y and of great kindnefi to all PfaU*.f. 
 \that call upon thee. Rigour and fe- 
 ll verity will ill become the fervanc 
 Iwhen his Lord is gentle and full of 
 courtefie^ theMinifters of the Go* 
 fgel are to be followers of Chrift, 
 I and he was a Lamb ioxmeeknefte : for 
 ; were a Minifter never fo well gifted, 
 land had the tongue of men and An- 
 ; gels , if he have not meekneffe and 
 charity, all is nothing 5 and therefore x or,I, * ,f 
 Saint Pauls advice is, let all things he 1 cor. 1$ 
 \done in love .-and his praffice was J 4» 
 !the fame : for them with whom he 
 'had to deal, the people under his 
 (charge, how gently did he handle 
 them! how kindly did he entreat *^£f*\ 
 [them : requeft^fiem : praying them : I eSx, 
 
 exhorting 
 
186 Meeknefje, 
 
 iCor#oI exhorting them with all earneftnef?, 
 befeeching them •, and fo often as he 
 
 aCor 6 is ^P ea ^s unto them, it is in all tender* 
 derneffe as a father to his children % 
 in all things fo behaj/ing himfelf, 
 
 xCor^.n that his care towards them in the 
 fight of God might appear. 
 
 When a point of do£lrine\$ to be 
 delivered,he will have that done with 
 a kind affection 5 follow the truth in] 
 
 Eph.4.15:, \ ovc: w hen fin is to be reproved \ 
 
 Phir.3.i8. r ' iat mU ^ ^ e 0Ile *° ten ^ er COMpAfft' 
 
 en. I have often told you : and notv tell 
 you weeping. 
 
 When any abufe is to be reform- 
 ed 7 he will have it done with a gentle 
 moderation $ if an) man be overtaken 
 with a fault 5 ye which are fpirttual 
 rejlore fuch an one with the Spirit of 
 
 GaU.i. mcekneffe : And we were gentle a- 
 mongfi yon (faith the Apoftle) even 
 'as a nurje cherifheth her children - 7 for 
 
 iThcf.2.7 a my £ e t0 q U j et J ier infant y cum da- 
 bit verbera^ ofiendit ubcra^ fhews -the 
 
 breafis > 
 
The Royal Robe. 187 
 
 tyreafts^ when (he (hakes the rod. Saint 
 iPaulto the Corinthians, the firft £P, 1 Cov ^ 
 \dw fourth chapteh at the laft i^r/^ 
 5/^// / £0/#e unto ptf (faith he) n>/f£ 
 I be rod , 0r /# /tfi/?,. 4^ /# the Sp- 
 rit of meekneffc; for the good Mi- 
 ;??//? r^like Davids fhepbeard, hath a 
 ijW as well as a /^fe. A rod of corre- pfa1, 5# 
 ipton^as well as a Jtaff of confolationj 
 |A (taffe to uphold the weak, a ra/ to 
 beat down the wicked. For the Mi- 
 ■nifter,if occafion be 5 may, and ought 
 to ufe fharpneffe , according to the 
 rower which the Lord hath siven to n r ., 
 eaipcztion, and not to dejtruclion. i ©, 
 
 When cfey? was transfigured on 
 the mount, there appeared with him 
 Mofes and Elias* Mofes the giver 
 of the Law, the meekeftman alive, 
 Elias a revealer of the Goffielj a man 
 full of zeal and fervencie. The fe- 
 verity of the Law required a graci- 
 I ous difpencer , and therefore it was 
 < given in the hand of a Mediator- 7 bm 
 
 the 
 
S8 Meekneffe, 
 
 the Grace oi theGofpel requires a 
 zealous Minifter. 
 
 The Word of God is a free ions 
 treafure , but the Mmfiers of this 
 Word are but earthen veffeh^ men of 
 like infirmities and paflions with 
 your felves (as Saint Fad faid ) we 
 have this treafure in earthen veffels, 
 and as the liquor relifhes of the vef- 
 fel, fo amidft the divine graces of the 
 holy Spirit, aliquid humani interve- 
 ne, there is fome relifh of humane 
 paflions and affections- hence we fee 
 fome of Gods ablefl: fervants , his 
 bed Minifters, fometimes too pafli- 
 onateand hafty, and fometimes too 
 remifle and flow: and therefore as 
 the flow are to be excited and quick- 
 ened , fo are the haftie to qualifie 
 their natural iharpnefle with gentle- 
 neffe and moderation. Peter was a 
 mild man, flits ?*n<e, the fonne of 
 3 Dove , and therefore had fames and 
 fpfa joynd with him who were Boa- 
 
 nerges^ 
 
I 
 
 The Royal Kobe. 1S9 
 
 verges , fonnes of thunder. 
 
 Paul on the other fide was of a 
 ta>t and (harp nature, and had for his 
 companion, Barnabas ^ a fon of confo- 
 ation. 
 
 TheMinifterof the Word, hath 
 a word of terror for the obftinate 
 and ftubborne, a word of comfort for 
 i fuch as are poor and penitent ^ to the 
 I one he comes UkeElias in zwhirlwind mnax € a 
 \ to beat him down 5 to the other he bmma 
 J comes like Noahs Dove y with the O- &?"J^ 
 I live branch of peace in his mouth to trariumat- 
 j raife him up : to the one he is the ^ rd ««m 
 favour of death unto death : to the n q TiZqus' 
 other of life unto life, facWus 
 
 Yet what ever their condition be, ^f™ *H 
 
 the Mini ft er of the Ge/pel is to preach de cicm!*' 
 
 Repentance^ and to offer Grace to all ttba.c.%.% 
 
 that will accept it, and this is to be *jS.^ 
 
 done with all gentleneffe^fov the will Ez 53.11. 
 
 ■ot man is naturally ftubborne, and, ^f 2 '**' 
 
 'therefore fweetly to encline it 5 and mLV^I' 
 
 igently to move it, is the beft means iPec.5,10, 
 
 efei 
 
Meefyejfey 
 
 effectually to perfwade it, which o- 
 therwife will become invincible by 
 any terrors or threats of death or 
 judgment, ther'e is no more ready 
 way to fnatch a man out of the hand 
 of (in 5 and to make him willing to 
 run the way of Gods Command- 
 ments, then to preach the Word in 
 meekncjfe, for is not God the Father, 
 the Father of mercie < not willing that 
 any jlwuld ferifh , but that all jhould 
 come to repentance , who will have all 
 men to be (aved, and to come unto 
 the knowledge of the truth : He de fires 
 not the death of a finner, bat is gra- 
 cious and merciful, flow to anger,and. 
 of great kindnejfe , forgiving fmnes 
 and iniquities $ and are we not called 
 to the imitation of our heavenly Fa- 
 ther, to belike h:'m in this particular, 
 in patience and meekne(fe,and tender* 
 nejje of companion f God the Senne is 
 the Cod of all grace, the very cha- 
 racter of meeknejje , who would not 
 
 break 
 
'the RoyalRobe* ip 
 
 b reak the hrui fed reedy nor quench the 
 fmoakingflax. Who came not to de- 
 ftroy mem lives hut to Cave them. Not ± 
 to hut down, hut to huUd up the bro- u '-' 
 ken-hearted, when he comes it is like Ii * a ^ I -i- 
 dew upon a fleece of wdoll , or like rain pfa 6 
 j upon the mown grafs. And the fame 
 I mind Saint Paul would have in us all, r && a . ^ 
 j that was in him. 
 
 God the >W; (?&?/? he is the Com- 
 forter* the God of all confolation 
 that breaths inward comfort into the 
 [foul, whqfe working is very fecree 
 andinfenfible^ but with great efh- 
 icacy, powerful, fweet and unfpeak- 
 able. The God of love and unity 
 he is, anddelightstobe where men 
 I live in peace and amity , appeared to 
 jChriftin the Ifrape of a D§ve 6 and Matj. 
 ijworketh in all that are Chriftsthe 
 'properties of zDoveimeeknefi, gen- 
 Uenefs, fimplicitj andinmcency , and 
 if there were no more , this is 
 jfuffidea%t^e united examples of the 
 O shies' 
 
lip 2 Meehpeffe, 
 
 three perfons, Father, Soti^ and 
 holyGhoft, to work us to this graci- 
 ous practice of meeknefs in out cal- 
 lings, and ^aint Paul (heweth that 
 thelervant of the Lord muft be no 
 firiker , but gentle towards all men, 
 apt to teach ■ fuffering the evill men 
 patiently, Inftrutfing them with 
 meeknejs that are contrary minded, if 
 Cod at any time mil give them repen- 
 i Tim i. tance f l jat t^J ma ] ^ nm tl ° C truf h. It 
 
 if . \ is fare our Tribe hath met with many 
 difcouragements, ftrong oppofnbns, 
 what dealings they have iound, let 
 
 A&t$. Ssint Luke {peak A&s i 3. 45. where 
 
 4'5» 4*- he brings in the Jews fpeaking again ft 
 Saint P&ul^ contradicting andblafyhc- 
 wing 5 pitting from them the word of 
 Cffd^ and judging tbemfeves unworthy 
 of everlaftifiglife. Of inch the A- 
 poftle hach pafs'd his fentence , he 
 that troubleth you fhall bear his ]ndg- 
 
 ti^<io. ment , whofoever hebe. VVherefore 
 let Mmilters-, who fuffer according 
 
 to 
 
The Royal Kobe. f^g 
 
 to the will of God patiently wait up- 
 on the Lord, and commit themfelves 
 to him in well doing, meekly atten- 
 ding the maniftftation of that mercy 
 which God will in doe time reveal, f l0 .iki$ 
 vviU plead their caufe,& §bil the foul 
 of them that foiled them. And now 
 you have heard Mezkriefs is a garment 
 meet for the Minifters wear. 
 
 I ally , It is a Garment for eve- 
 ry mans wear , of what conditi- 
 on foever he be^ if he be foor y 
 meeknefs will make him patient and 
 content with his poverty • if he be 
 ricb y meeknefs will make him humble, 
 and thankful to God for his wealth $ if 
 he be wife and learned 5 meeknefs will 
 make him fober and moderate •, and if 
 he be given to be angry ^meeknefs will 
 make him difcreet and temperate, li 
 a man have offended, meeknefs will 
 make him penitent 5 and if he be in- 
 nocent 7 meeknefs will make him 
 peaceable and quiet. If a man be n?- 
 O 2 vik&r 
 
Ip4 Meeknejje, 
 
 viled, injur'd, perfecuted, affli&ed, 
 meeknefs will make him filent , or 
 {peaking to pity , or to pray for the 
 flanderous and injurious. And if he 
 be praifed, or honored, meeknefs 
 will make him mode ft , gentle , not 
 proud nor puffed up. 
 
 You percieve how much it 
 concernes every man, in what- 
 foever condition he is in, to get 
 meeknefs^ which, that he may 
 
 C fomewhat he muft labor for. 
 do 1 
 
 I fomewhat he muft beware of. 
 
 Of thofe things he muft labour 
 for. 
 
 The Firft is humility : For where 
 humility is, there will be meeknefs - 7 
 an humble heart is the proper habita- 
 tion of a meek ftirit. He that is 
 humble will look into himfelf, & un- 
 , derftanding upon enquiry what a pew 
 
 thing 
 
The Royal Kobe. 199 
 
 thing himfelf is 5 will learn to deny 
 himfelf and acknowledg his defe&s , 
 imperfections , finfulnefs , the dan« 
 gers and miferies he is liable unto s 
 will have a mean opinion of himfelf. 
 
 Will not dejpife or envy men. 
 
 "Will not murmur e or repine a- 
 gainft God. 
 
 But will account the meaneft of 
 Gods mercies too great 3 and po 
 jW for him, and will be contented 
 with that portion , God in his pro- 
 vidence fhall deal out unto him what- 
 foever it be. • 
 
 The Second thing he muft labour 
 for ; is love and charity , for where 
 thefe are , there will be meekne[s t 
 
 If there be any thing faid. 1 
 
 > that 
 j If there beapy thing done. 3 
 
 j is capable of a good conftru&ion 5 
 ! Charity will give it/ 
 
 O 3 Where 
 
}$& Meekpeffe, 
 
 Where there is Peace and Unity % 
 Charity will feek to maintain them. 
 
 Where there are differences and 
 diftra&ions, Charity will labour p 
 compofe them. 
 
 Where any thing is amifs 5 chs- 
 vhy will feek to amend it-, for want 
 of which Charity , what wofql rents 
 and breaches have there been, even 
 amongft Brethren. Witnefs the 
 A&* l M9 falling out between Paul and Barna- 
 bas y Chryjeflome and Epiphaniw^ be- 
 zoxom.^ tween Hicrorqz and Ruffinus . Eti- 
 
 JtCCl. till . . . f> J ' JJ * 
 
 tik&ea;. flat hi it* and En\ebw. 
 if* 
 
 iocrat. Ecd. hift, fiK #. t<rp. 14. H i m'hl q<u vn: aluub' , f- 
 mul inveti're no* 0$umfQrt •■ »' nunc pqycqr — - *?e dc vnb* a 
 fc/ibendo spargatu? q%* qwrndoj. <e con r c,dcs d I re nan potcu- 
 tti, Au°>rp. 1 *• Z 07.0m. h:(K Ecc'cf. lib. z. cap. iS. 
 Socrat. Eccl. b'f. lib.i- cap. i 4 . 
 
 And thofe hot contentions be- 
 tween the Lutherans and Calvenifts , 
 the Remonftrants and Contrarcmon- 
 ftrants, How have thefe contenti- 
 ons been hcightnedand aggravate^ 
 
 which 
 
The Royal Robe. \$J 
 
 which might have been happily re- 
 conciled , if each fide would have 
 laid afide all prejudice 3 and met toge- 
 ther in charity with Meeknefs. 
 
 Thirdly, Labour tor a good con* 
 [cience , not f crapulous to take of- 
 fence 5 but tender to give offence. 
 
 A Conscience mifinformed is a 
 blind guide, fuch 5 like the Ponticks in 
 the Moon light, will fight with rerem- 
 their own fhadowes: troublefome remid*g: 
 they are and unfatisfied •, and will be £* ^/»* 
 contented with no Religion: except *squ*fi 
 fuch as is after the module they have ^^ 
 fet up in their addle-heads. With %Zt 
 fbme (all unlawful both opinions and Luc f/j; 
 pra&ifes fhall go for Conscience. ) ^ntf co . 
 Affe&ion and the ftiffnefs and un- if a .jio*. 1 
 fiexiblenefs of their own wils : con- 
 jectures and opinions how are men 
 carried away with, and Confcienct 
 muft bear out all. Men who never 
 made Conscience of any thing, yet if 
 it come to be queftioned, wherein. 
 O4 the^ 
 
198 Meekpejfe, 
 
 they are concerned or interefted , 
 they will evade ~a duty fo far 
 as the pretence of Conscience will 
 ferve their turn. ! 
 
 Now let any man judg what ef- 
 fects the granting liberty of confci- 
 Ifa.y.tc» ence is likely to producp. 
 
 Rafhnejs fliall go for resolution , fa- 
 ction for zeal, goed for evil, & evil 
 for gooi\ and groffeft absurdities 
 fhall be palliated under Confeience. 
 
 To inftance in fome particulars 
 the confcience of truth , take truth 
 (or religion. Then the truth of rer 
 Ugion there is nothing more to be 
 laid to Conscience. 
 
 Yet that may not pafsfor truth of 
 Religion^ which fome men will take 
 up and (land upon, if it be funda- 
 mental , admit not the variation of a 
 letter : holdfafl to it , mede not from 
 i t , contend earneflly for it # 
 
 But if it be otherwife , a circum- 
 ftintial truth only, of little mo- 
 ment, 
 
The Royal Robe. 159 
 
 nent, fome logemachia , fome trifle MofccUae 
 )f fmall concernment , lay not this valdi mi ~ 
 
 r . . 'J nutis can- 
 
 ;:o conscience : better an unnecellary p - imr 
 mth be loft , than the unity of the w«- 
 fe&*w& , detain not the truth of God "^f 
 in unrighteoufnefs. 'dftictvH 
 
 ftan./ikz. 
 j«£p- Confl. <m? Alex. #» Arium . Nnffi £(\uw $t at pro- 
 pter modic'as quafdam ac vaitas vcrborum inter nos contenmiones 
 fratcr fratri , &c. ibid, fam (xilibus & nuUomodottecef- 
 fariis de caufis inty 729s dim'icamus, ibid, aliqua de reify} - 
 fftia. Rom. i. ig. 
 
 Repute not that zeal which is paj- 
 \fton > in matters of lefTer moment , 
 ;k is chrtfiian prudence to prefer 
 peace , and far better it is for the glo- 
 iryof God, and edification of the 
 jChurch to be quiet than contend. 
 A man to 3(51 according to consci- 
 ence at all times is not warrantable^ 
 tor truth, though it muft never be 
 demdy is not alwaies to be declard. 
 
 Befides God is above conference, 
 and God hath fet us Mules to aft by , 
 and if we leave Gods Rule to follow 
 
 our 
 
See Dr 
 
 200 Meetyejje y 
 
 our own humour , this fome will call 
 conscience 5 butfuchan one as mull 
 firft be mortified, then Reformed. 
 
 And what is more ufual than to 
 pretend conscience, when other mat- 
 ters are intended. Hypocrifie is a 
 fainted Sepulchre • what is more u- 
 fual then to paint over a rotten heart 
 with a zealous mouth , Abfolons vow 
 is his Mask for his Conspiracy againft 
 David, anigfezaklsfa/l is hetsfor 
 deftroyin|f^lfe^. The Hypocrite 
 under pretence of Religion hath other 
 aimes than Gods fervice , and only 
 makes Religion for which he feems fo 
 hot, a Stalking- horje to his own 
 erjds. 
 
 The greateft villanies that ever 
 theSunfaw, have been committed 
 under pretence of Religion and Con- 
 science : What will men be aftiam'd ? 
 What will ipen be afraid to do? 
 that in a bad caufe dare appeal to God 
 and Cenfcience 5 to fay nothing of the 
 
 waiwardnefs 
 
The Royal Kobe. spi 
 
 waiwardnefs of a fcrupulous and mif- 
 jiatormed conscience ^ all that I ftiall 
 [fay , is to vvifh all men by all means 
 to labour to inform jtheir conferences 
 aright, which will lead them ia 
 j their way with calmnefs and quietnefs y 
 ! get a good conference and that is the 
 i way to Meeknefs. 
 
 Fourthly, Labour for Unity , for 
 ; where that is , there will be meek* 
 nefs - y thisllnity is fpiritqal, (foSt. 
 Faul cals it ) the unity of the fpirit. 
 For if one fpirit do animate all, 
 and ad in all ; All will be as the pri- 
 mitive Chrijlians were , and as Saint 
 fanl would have all Chriftians to be, Aa - 1,u 
 of one mind and of one heart. 
 
 Where men are divided in their 
 minds , there is \ diffention. 
 
 They think otherwife, and as 
 they think , fo they teach , and teach 
 fo becaufe they confent not. 
 
 Where men are divided in their x TIM. 
 hearts , they are eftranged in their J- 
 
 ajfeffionS) 
 
03 MeekneJJe, 
 
 ajfeitions , and there is difcord. 
 
 So where there is division , there 
 is difjention and difcord. 
 
 And what meeknefi can there be 
 where thefe are i 
 
 Whereas being one in mind and 
 heart \ there will be Kindnefi and 
 Gentlenef to^each other, for thus 
 united they will confpire together 
 for the welfare of each others and 
 will help one another, and forbear 
 one another , and bear with one ano- 
 ther, and be kindly affeElionated one 
 towards another , will love one ano- 
 ther , and do good to one another , 
 for where is unity ^ e\ r ery one partakes 
 of thzbtnefit of any one. 
 
 T his Jpir itual u^iiy is of two kinds: 
 
 An unity of faith ; and, 
 
 An unity of order. 
 
 For thus all joyned together in 
 one by a fpiritual bond a religious 
 }not\ (for Religion they fay comes a 
 jteligando ) becaufe it iaflens and ties 
 
 all 
 
IheRoyalRobe. 203 
 
 ill in one : the body to the hud, and 
 
 he members one to another, fo the ^^ m 
 
 Apoftle , we being many are one body efiRetigU 
 
 in Chrift. Now of thefe two unities °™™J uod 
 
 we (hall firft enquire how the unitie f a %mD<>- 
 
 pi faith tends to meeknejfe. That «;*; w* 
 
 jfaith is one Saint P^/puts it out of fjfi^ 
 iQueftion, there is but one faith. Hieron. " 
 
 Diximus 
 Rtligionk 
 \nomm a vinculo pietatls ejfe dcduclum ; quod homincmpbi Dent: 
 ffligaverit & fletdte conftrinxerU '. Lad. ln$. lib, 4. cap. »&. 
 
 Rqc vinculo pHpetis Qbftricli Deo& nligati fumus , *K«fe 
 ftp fa, relivio nomen. accep'.t. idem ibid. 
 
 I Religio di clae fa eo quodpr earn urn foil Deo religamns am* 
 mas nojlras , ad cult urn divinum anlmo Jervicndu ifidor. lib, 
 i$. Etym. 
 
 Religio eft, quafi ammauni Deo wide fe peccato fcpprav?* 
 rat rcconcUiatiofie ligat. Auguft. lib. de qmntiUU amm& % 
 
 Rom. it. y. x Cor. I*. 12, x$. £ph. 4. j. 
 
 For as there is but one common Ju&* 
 j ulvation that any man can hope for. *££* u 
 j So is there but one common faith 
 \ which every man muft profeiTc alike j oh#1 . 2f# 
 ; fretiotts in aS K Mar.i. x p 
 
 I This faith is one, as having m * T \ er,i * 
 
 4#?*/ft xTim.4 .p 
 
004 Meeknefje, 
 
 Aa ao.*i- divine truth for the general obi Gt of 
 
 Eph-3.11> And cne Lord Jtfa Chrifiior the 
 
 x 7 fpecial objed of it. 
 
 /J' 14 ' The general objetf of faith which 
 
 joh.1t.17 is the Gbfbel is a Dottrine of meek- 
 
 & 1 6 3 1 . Theftecialohjetf of faith ( which 
 joh.^n. j s chrift) is an example of iffft£- 
 
 i Joh. ? . So, that where true faith is , there 
 li j, io. mu ^ nece {f ar iiy b e wecfaefs. 
 
 For as /i/>» ##/ttJ the foul unto 
 God by the band and conscience of Re- 
 ligion •, fo doth it unite one to ano- 
 ther by the band of love. 
 
 But where men are divided in 
 
 their faith ^ and one takes this tor 
 
 truth^ another that , and a third de- 
 
 Te '* nies both , for many men many minds, 
 
 icr.11.x3 who mukiplie their faiths , as $u- 
 
 dah her Gods. 
 
 And whilft every one drives to 
 make good his tfinion to the preju- 
 dice 
 
The Royal Kobe. QOJ 
 
 i dice of another, they heap all the 
 
 ! contumelies and reproaches , upon 
 
 ! their adverfary they can devife 3 and 
 
 i for want of better Arguments , will 
 
 j difyarage his Doffrine by di\gracirig 
 
 j his pet [on $ this is the ufual courfe 
 
 I men take when they divide them- 
 
 ' fel ves from tht truth , and want Rea- 
 
 J fon and Scripture to fupport their tr- 
 
 I ror: and no marvail though their 
 
 ! foul mouthes be opened againft the 
 
 Orthodox, {whom like Beagles they 
 
 purfue with cpon cry) when they 
 
 open their mouthes againft God, 
 
 his cafe is the fame with Gods -, be- 
 
 caufe God and he maintain the fame 
 
 caufe 5 and therfore the Pfalmift 
 
 prai'd, JrifeO God, plead thine own 
 
 caufe', remember how the foolifh man tt*z±%i 
 
 reproaches thee daily. Who knovves 
 
 not that Herefies make meninfolent, 
 
 proud and ftabborn , fpeaking pef- 
 
 verfe things to draw Difciples after 
 
 them , by whom the way of trt&h is 
 
 evil 
 
2o$ Meefyejfe, 
 
 evil fpoken of. It hath ever beert 
 the face of truth to meet with oppo- 
 fition, (verit as odium) am I become 
 your enemy becaufe I tell you the 
 truxh , faith our Apoftle , truth 
 to- AM* is fain in the ftreet, and Chrift when 
 he cometh fhall he find faith upon 
 earths many falfe faiths, but true 
 faith is but o»e. 
 
 It is a fure rule, to fet up a multi- 
 tude of Gods, is to deftroy the true 
 tnt^ for he is not if he be not one. 
 Faith is, as God is, but one, yet al- 
 though it be nmca y it is to be lamen- 
 ted it ihould bejola. 
 
 Great contention there is on all 
 hands, fome for the truth , and fome 
 again ft it ; yet there is none fo far 
 carried away with a liking of error , 
 but pretends truth ^ they fo cloak and 
 conceal their error, that there may 
 be a ihew , fome appearance and 
 probabilities of truth, their dodtrine 
 is thedeftrw gf OwHs^ and there- 
 fore 
 
i be Royal Robe* %qj 
 
 fore had need of fophifikation to 
 Imakeit either pUuftble or pafoble. 
 
 For lying in wait to deceive, all 
 their engines are fee on work 5 to 
 iwork men to a belief of that which 
 lis falfe. They fpeak lies in hypo- 2 Thef> „ 
 jerifie ( faith the Apoftle ) . Know- ii 
 
 ing that the fimple never put it to 
 ihequeftioti fwallows all, takes up- 
 iontruft, and with Salomons fool be- TlQ%i * :i S* 
 lieveth eveiyword. 
 
 And fome that would be accoun- 
 ted tvtje, ( whether for private inte- 
 reft 3 or perfonal ingagements , of 
 what other particular concernment I 
 enquire net/ are infatuated with 
 the fpirit of error : for not receiving 
 the love of the truth , that they 
 might be faved. 
 
 ! God fends them flrohg delufion^ 
 (that they fhouid believe a lie - 7 they 
 doat on error , and will be miserable 
 in defpight of pity. VVe read in 
 [Saint Aufiiif i in the firft of his me- 
 P dotations" 
 
 Thef. £ 
 
208 Meeknejfe, 
 
 Quamvc- dilations, what he fpeaketh of the 
 
 h am ?l do'Z Manichies raging againft the Sacra 
 
 reindigna- ments,in this cafe the Meeknef of one 
 
 bar mw- fife muft cure the madnefs of the 
 
 chats 3 cy , ' 
 
 miferebar Other. 
 
 eos mfith Could they erre with fobrietj, 
 }Z?amen.u keep themfelves within the bounds 
 t & ilia me- of moderation ^ and be ready to lay 
 dicammta ^fcfe their m^r, when they are con- 
 &ir?faMcf vincdof it, fomewhat might be faid 
 fmtadvcr- j n favour of them •> but when that 
 I umqm%- wn i cn with great peremptorineffe they 
 m cffvp- have rajhly taken up, with much per- 
 twpm. tinacic and ftubbownefte they will ob- 
 ftinately maintain, and defperately 
 with bitterneffe flie in the faces of 
 fuch as contradict them, admo- 
 nilh them 5 or would reduce them - 3 
 when by their indefatigable and un- 
 wearied wiles they corrupt and enfnare 
 the minds of the fimple&nd compaffe 
 feaand land to make a Profelite * it is 
 & high time that fuch be dealt with, as 
 
 Seducers* and deftroyers of filly fouls.. 
 
 To- 
 
 
IOj 
 
 The Royal Robe. 209 
 
 :ij Towards unruly and vain talkers and 
 I deceivers, Saint Paid diredeth Titus 
 ■\ how to behave himfelf , to rebuke 
 ^thein Jharfly 5 and in the Acts Saint 
 j&uke tells us how Saint Paul handled tim. ioi 
 Elimas the Sorcerer ^ for he that is a<^s 13.10 
 an Heretick, if he will not be r eclai- 
 med , muft be rejected ; when they 
 become intolerable, caft them off 3 if Tit * * 
 they will not be brought to the uni- 
 ty of the faith, but defperately feek 
 to deftroy it, and feduce men from 
 the right way, they are enemies to 
 meekneffe : whom no fair means can 
 reclaim, rigour and extremeft feveri- 
 tyis fitteft for them: this for Sedu- 
 cers. 
 
 But fuch.as are feduced through 
 weakneffe or igriprance,muft be pitied, 
 not intuited over : in this way to be 
 profitable, is. to be pleating. 
 
 Anger and indignation muft be 
 
 flippreft, Meekne([e and Charity muft 
 
 fhine forth, tears in the eyes, grief 
 
 P i r in 
 
210 hteekneffe, 
 
 in the heart, compaffon in the bow- 
 tKtendernefle of affe&ions mud wit- 
 neffe the deiire to help them out of 
 their errour. Brethren^ if any of y/u 
 do erre from the trut'^ and one con- 
 vert him, let him know that he that 
 James * . converts a fmner from the errour of 
 1*10 his rvay, full fave a foul from 
 death. Overcome them with kind- 
 neffe, though they have erred from 
 the truth in great meafure 5 bring 
 them back ? and (hut not that Gate of 
 Grace againft them 3 which God hath 
 fet open for all- nor with precipitate 
 haft, be not righteous overmuch • Is 
 he a perfecutor of the truth * fuch 
 was Saint Paul: an idolater > an adul- 
 terer f fuch were (ome of you. 
 
 Deal ivkmetknefi with him, and if 
 he fail in judgment only, be not too 
 rigid in judging fuch failings, if from 
 infirmity. 
 
 It were harfli to condemn every 
 mor for hereftc, about truths of lef- 
 
 P 2 fer 
 
The Royal Robe. 211 
 
 fer moment, and remote from the 
 foundational that diffent from us 3 or 
 think otherwife than we do 5 are not 
 to paffe under fo hard a cenfure. It. 
 cannot be expe&ed in a world of fuch 
 variety of men and minds , that all 
 (hould agree in all points, and there- 
 fore let the modefty of the Afeflle in 
 1 this cafe be our rule, if many thing &&$$* 
 \ye be otherwife minded, God fhall re- 
 Wed this unto you. 
 
 Better infiruBion from good men, 
 and further revelation from a gracious 
 \God^ may bring them into tffe right 
 ; 8?^, who for the prefent are in the 
 \wong. Befides, truths (we know) 
 as they are not all of one fize, fo are 
 they not all revealed at one time, la- 
 tter times have manifefted Some truths 
 1 which formerly were infolded in ge- 
 neralities 5 which being throughly 
 fcanned, a more full, diftinft, and ex- 
 • prefle knowledge isattaind : andun- 
 ! to fuch to whom they are ftill veiled, 
 ! P 3 if 
 
2 ia Meefyteffe , 
 
 if they come not up in every parti- 
 cular to our fenfe , they are with 
 meekneffe genii) to be entreated, not 
 rafhly to be reprehended • fo many 
 i Cor. j. as build upon the fame foundation, 
 12 though the fuperftrufture differ. 
 
 The fiery trial (hM manifeft eve- 
 ry mans work) of what fort it is, and 
 according to his work /hall his reward 
 be \ let us nor therefore judge one 
 another any more-, when God fees 
 his time, he will judge uprightly : and 
 then,if we w T ould ftand before God 
 with comfort: let us be fure our work 
 he good, our doctrine found, and la- 
 bour for an unity of faith, which until 
 .. we can have, we can never have qui- 
 et. United in affection we cannot be fo 
 long as we are divided in our faith, 
 be one there, and a caltnt will quickly 
 follow. 
 
 Thenext,wemuft labour for an 
 unity of order^thatoi faith refpeft- 
 eth Dotfrine 5 this of Order, Difci- 
 
 fline- ? 
 
thfjRojal Robe. 213 
 
 pline 5 the Doctrine of Faith is up- 
 'held and maintaind by Order of 
 Discipline, and what Or^fo* can there 
 be, where there is not unity f but 
 .Where all decently and in a feemely 
 order are united under one Difcipline, 
 |there will be quiet • the Apoftle 
 'doth often tell us, the Church is but 
 \one Body, confifting of many mem- 
 hers, fo diftinguifhed for their ufes 
 and offices 5 yet fo compared for 
 j their places and order a that there 
 ! might be no fchi[m in the body -, for 
 j where fchifm and fa&ion is,there will 
 j be ammo fities, which many times rifes 
 to a greater height, to biting and de~ G ^;* 
 ajouring one enother. The Church yrwdum 
 without order, is as a monftrous body «tf^«& 
 without fhape, or as the firft Chaos, %^$- 
 without forme, a rueful Jpetfacle, a chaos gf« 
 j £0^/* to it felf, and a ^y to others. ** 'j^i 
 i Now Unity ever attends Order , and ^Towd. 
 I thefeare followed with meeknefizni Met. 1. 
 ! tranquillity, but where V/f^r is, fj^I 
 P 4 there pump™- 
 
2 1 4 MeekpeJJe, 
 
 f'pa ccnftittiit rt'imer/iy-'m :ftmtnm alt emm-quod (ft Mitas, aU 
 t rum infinitum qui eft binmuty alteram bono.um, alter urn w&~ 
 lommpriacipiuTn. Vmtatis en'tm natura ft aer'i inftt, bonim 
 temperiem rfiawmo virtutcm 'ft rorprr fan''tx f 'm<,(i civ'tatihi's 
 & familiisy pacem & coacordiam pmejtu^&c. Plut. moral. Ob. 
 de Homero. 
 
 <*M7u&. there is division 5 there's confufion^ 
 
 Lyranus, t J leres ditfcntion 3 there is wnult 
 
 Hieron. ' great dijlurbmce^ and things turn a 
 
 T«wf" u P~^ e down; for fo that word of 
 
 oilmen ^'aint pWis by feveral Authors thus 
 
 Eft ms. variouflyrenderd: by which we are 
 
 3 StxA§fc gi ven to underiland the beauty of 
 
 ** «'£gf- <?p$r W »/;/ty> which God inafpe- 
 
 v "r* i c * a ^ manner * s glcas'il to own, as very 
 
 teJMs*-* much conducing to the peace and 
 
 x*k>hov. quietneile of the churchy without 
 
 A°oft ir /^ vv ^ c h t ' iere ls not ^ing but jarres.and 
 **cap.$i. broiles, and rents 5 heart-burnings, 
 and fpleene againft one another 5 to 
 the decay and overthrow of meek- 
 neffe, which by order and unity is 
 brought in, upheld, and maintaind. 
 But there are not a few that fay (for 
 what ends I will not, I cannot fay) 
 
 that 
 
The Royal Kobe. 215 
 
 that the befi way to peace and quiet- Q}im ^ 
 !nefle 3 is to give every man leave to hem qui- 
 iferve God as he will. How dangerous **»*« *' 
 JdW deBruttive this is to Chriftian diftipiZ 
 Religion^ let Saint P*»/ fpeak, for nam cupu 
 .where there are fchifms, (and one li ™)™ l Jf 
 j ferves God in this fajhion, another mreftitL 
 ] in that 3 and a f&rrf in a forme dif- tion.m> fi- 
 ltering from both- where there is S»m& 
 j this diver fit y ofworjhip, divifion about 0/^ ^* 
 ! Difcipline. take heed of corruption in * er ™ eo &. 
 
 i-'rt 1 . v \, r r 1 rr tamtam, 
 
 j Doffrine) Herefies are not farre oft. £c ^ 
 
 How great an enemy to peace and qui- wte extn- 
 etneffe, and confequently to mek-^Jf 
 ncjje^ let experience fpeak 5 our ene- ? «^r»af; 
 mies could wifli no greater mfchief ^ id mim 
 amongftus, than tofet us at oddes y [Tm}™tf> 
 where we fhould be moll at one ( in bcm quod 
 theworfhipof God) hoc Ithacus <ve~ g^ift. 
 lit 7 dr magno mercentur Atrida, m, 4 . cap] 
 
 iz.para.i. 
 
 Khnaiew %<nu 3* iteTiw %b ww>, Chryfoft. *?? Eph.hom. n. 
 Quant arum rixa: urn futura fit ear urn reriim confufio, fi front 
 culq-y libitum fit, mutare Uceat qu<e tad cpmmunem fiatum perti°> 
 n. M? Calv, MfiMb. 4. cap, 1 1 . farag. 3 1 . 
 
 In 
 
Ol6 ^ Meekneffe, 
 
 In the wor(hip of God Liberty 
 may not be granted to men to do 
 what they will, for if it fhould, what 
 cwfuftm would it bring into the pub- 
 lick wor(hip of God f and God is 
 not the author of confufion , but of 
 peace, as in all the Churches of the 
 Saints. And feeing I am fallen up- 
 on this point, which rightly ftated 
 and refolved , would much conduce 
 to the prefervation of meekneffe , let 
 it notfeemean impertinent aigrefft* 
 on if I take leave not largely todi- 
 fcource upon it, but briefly to touch 
 
 The Que/Hon is not about things 
 that are of abfolute necefllty, things 
 that are [imply good , which may not 
 be omitted $ nor fimply evil , which 
 by no means may be admitted \ for as 
 no man hath liberty to refufe the do- 
 ing of that which is [imply gW,when 
 it is m his power. 
 
 So no man hath power to impofe 
 
 that 
 
\ 
 
 The Royal Robe. 217 
 
 jthat which is fmfly evil, when it is in 
 
 'his mU. 
 
 If in the worfbifof God I be com- 
 manded to do that which is {imply e- 
 vil,l may withdraw my felf with mo- 
 
 jdefty, and make profeflion,that it is 
 better to obey God than man. 
 
 The Jgueflion then is about things 
 of a middle nature ', fuch as We call MM 
 
 ! different , and are left to our liberty* 
 which liberty about things indifferent \ 
 
 j we are wondrous apt to abufe 5 and 
 
 ' therefore there is required a great 
 
 I deal of godly difcretion in the ufe of 
 it, which muft be with z\\{ebriety,md 
 withont offence-^ not making it an oc- 
 cafion to the flefh to the breach of Cal * ,f 3' 
 Chriflian charity, which Saint Paul 
 forbids. 
 
 Nora cloak of malicioufneffe to 
 the contempt of a lawful authority^ 
 which Saint Peter difliker. 
 
 Thefe two in the judgment of thefe 
 im great Ap&ftles fhould regulate 
 
 our 
 
A; 
 
 318 MeekneJ[e y 
 
 our chriflian liberty about things in- 
 different. It is well men know their 
 liberty but not fit alwayes to ufe it * 
 not at all to be infiftec^onjto the 
 breach of Chriflian charity, or to ths 
 contempt of a lawful authority. 
 
 The nature and ufe ot that which 
 is indifferent, are two diftinft things : 
 It is not the intervening of either 
 ofthefe {Authority or Charity) r that 
 can alter or change the nature of that 
 which is indifferent ,which ftil remains 
 the fame in the judgment and confci- 
 tnce, free and arbitrary : but only de- 
 termines the ufe, and foit becomes 
 to that particular (to whom it is fo 
 determined) necefiary. 
 
 For that which in it felf, and of 
 its own nature was determinable to ei- 
 ther part, and fo left free to the par- 
 ty concerad to do or not to do it : 
 upon theacceffeof a moral , or legal 
 tnjunffton, (by the rule of honefty or 
 inflict, the party concern d is oblig'd 
 
 to 
 - 
 
The Royal Robe. My 
 
 to ofie part, according to the rule, or 
 precept negative or affirmative, 
 
 Letthtinftance be matter of or- 
 der in the external worfhip of Cod* 
 which order fuppofe to be reckoned 
 amongft things indifferent , and ftill 
 arbitrary and undetermined : whilftit 
 !fo remains, one may not condemn an- 
 I other, for ufing fuch or fuch an orders 
 ! nor is the other to be centred for for- 
 bearing the ufe : but deal in meekneffe 
 I one with another $ and every one 
 ! pleafe his neighbour for his good unto 
 \ edification. 
 
 But whilft either party will pleafe 
 themfelves , they provoke one ano- 
 ther, and incenfe one another : they 
 judge one another, and dejpife one an- 
 other •, and grow (0 hot , that they 
 czdoff all meeknejfe^ and burn in an- 
 \ger-, and break out into contention one 
 \ againft another. 
 
 J Herein both parties are too blarney 
 [the one in finding fault, and being of- 
 fended 
 
z&o Meeknep, 
 
 fended at that which they pretend 
 they can, but foundly cannot prove 
 to be unlawful by the Word of God - 7 
 judging uncharitably of their bre- 
 thren, cenfuring them for fuperpti- 
 bus for doing fuch things, which up- 
 on falfe grounds they condefnn as##* 
 lawfuF'The mifperfwafion of the un- 
 " lawfulneffe of a thing is no oblr 
 cc gation to bind to abftaiti from it. 
 
 The other when they impofe or 
 require the doing of that by others, 
 which as yet remains undetermined: 
 and are apt to fall foul upon every 
 one that joyns not with them in their 
 practice (whereas anothers frattice a- 
 bout things indifferent cannot deter- 
 inine me.) 
 
 Seeing there is the fame liberty left 
 to one to abftain, as there is to the o- 
 ther to aft, in this cafe let every man 
 be fully per {waded in his own mind% and 
 let us all behave our felves in all meek- 
 wlfowith difcretion, not unfeafona- 
 
 bly ? 
 
 Rom. 1 4", % 
 
the Royal Robe. 2 q 
 
 bly, or disorderly , not lightly , or 
 irafhly out of due time and place, do- 
 ing our felves, or prefling others to 
 do fuch anions, which as yet remain 
 undetermined •, but rather follow af- 
 ter the things that make for peace, 
 and things wherewith one may edifie 
 another. 
 
 If what is to be done be lawful." 
 if there be not in Scripture any com- 
 :mand, or coanfel 3 or example to con- 
 jtradivft it (if yet it be not expedient) 
 it may not be done though lawful; 
 jfor what is in it felf, and in a general 
 irefped lawful, may not be lariful {hie 
 dr»w-J tor the time 7 and the place, 
 and perfons with whom we converfe 
 doth vary the cafe much. 
 
 Men are not to follow their own 
 impetuous wills in doing it all times 
 to the utmoft of that they may do : a 
 HifcreetChriftian will fufpend for a 
 idme the doing of that (which is law- 
 fell and allowed, and which he may 
 I do) 
 
xxt Meefyejje, 
 
 do) when it is found to be inconveni- 
 ent, ^htfublick good (hould con- 
 troul the fancies of a private humour: 
 that Ghriftians (hould be hnmo. ifts, 
 Saint Paul diflikes-, Ghrift pleated 
 Rom 15.3. n ot himfelf, nor (hould we 5 - left our 
 good be evil ffoken of. 
 
 Believers (hould behave them- 
 Col. 4 j. ftlves fo warily towards them which 
 are without^ that they may he won by 
 their hone ft converfation - 7 and there- 
 fore the Apoftle forbids to give any 
 offence either to the zfew^ or to the 1 
 Gentile, or to the Church of Chrift* 
 
 It is to me, and (hould be to any 
 man a thing indifferent whether many 
 things be done or not done 5 provided 
 that offence be not given by the doing 
 of them to my neighbour^nov excepti- * 
 on taken for leaving them undone by 
 the Magiftrate. 
 
 For as Chriftian charity forbids a 
 man to give juft caufe of offence to his 
 neighbour. 
 
 So 
 
'the Royal Rohe* dij 
 
 So the conference of his obedience 
 fhould be a ftrong reftraint from 
 breaking the laws arid ordinances of 
 the Magi fir ate civil or ecclefiaftical ? 
 who hath power to determine df 
 Chrifiian liberty^ and to judg and ap- 
 ipoint what orders ate moft decent iiti 
 the external worjhip of God. 
 
 In matters of this nature the 
 Churches of (^according to the ex- 
 ample of the A pottles, have ever ta- 
 jken upon them by vertue of that 
 'rule prefer ibed by the Apoftle., to 
 jcommand all things to be done de- 
 cently and in order : and to fee that 
 things fo commanded be dtiely ob- 
 ferv'd. For were it left arbitrary tQ 
 every man to do what himfelf lifteth 
 in the external worfliip of God, no- 
 thing would be more abfurd and un- 
 reafonabk. And if every fotiety of f 0C F lm ^ 
 men be diftinguiihed by their feveral ^ITlmk 
 Ri^tisandCuftoms^ all being united hern'nim 
 in one civil policy 3 for, the mainte- f^J^ 
 
 Q^ nance ejfs J $&:£ 
 
234 Meeknejfe, 
 
 am aliquant vidimus* qua ad alendam commuhcm taccnij & 
 retinendam toncordiam vateai fi in r€bw agendis vigcre fern* 
 per all quern ritum , qumnuft nsfu'i ptbllce hom^atk intercft, 
 atq\ adeo bumanitatis ipfus. Id in uclcfiis preferthn dbfavan- 
 'ditrn cjfe, que cum bene tompofiO tfrum omnium confiitutiu. e 
 oprime ji{(lincntur,tum vero fine cmuirdJa nulla funt pYo>:fu<* 
 Calvin- lb. 4. Inft- tap. 10. de externis m?diis 3 &c.par>ig. 17. 
 
 nance of their common peace and pre- 
 ferring of amity. If in mannaging 
 civil affaires, men ever obferve fome 
 erder^ which cannot be avoided as 
 confifting with common honejly and 
 humanity, and every a&ion is naked 
 that is not clad with due circumfian- 
 ces, fhould we think disorder and 
 confufwn to be priviledg'd in the holy 
 congregation^ which is not permitted 
 in amy civil Jffemblyt grant this and 
 how deformed will the face of fublick 
 Religion appear. 
 
 And therefore becaufe amongft 
 tnhSm mn c ^ ere are ^ diverfuy of man- 
 
 nimbus 
 
 tantainfit diverfitas,i.inta in judiciis ingemifque ptgna WM 
 politta ullq, fatis firma e&Tt'fi ccrlis lejibuf con-fiituta : nee fine 
 SAta quadamformaftVA i ■iUitsqtf.fpwmpWft. £alvm. inftit* 
 i ib. 4. cap. 1 o. partg. ners- 3 
 
The Royal Rohe, \ £ j 
 
 I mr* ? fueh variety of minds, and fo 
 j great repugnancy in their judgments 
 | and difpofitions, that no order or dif- 
 I #£>/% can keep them in, that is not 
 fenced by fome certain laws : nor can 
 | any buutj or come line fs appear in the 
 j duties of Religienwhete there is noc 
 j fame Jet order which is by all inviola- 
 j bly to be obferv'd. 
 
 In this: Men are aot to be left to 
 |i theirown/z^r^todowhat they think 
 1 for, but what the Governors of the 
 ] church ( licenced by fupream Autho- 
 rity ) rhall ordain as fine ft and mo ft 
 'convenient. 
 
 For as in every church multitude 
 of unfignificant 3 and unlawful Cere- 
 monies (hould bedeclin'd to avoid /#- 
 ferflition • fo it will be very fit ( to 
 avoid confufion andprcfanenefs) a cer- 
 tain and fee form {hould be us'd, u&- 
 I to which all (hould be bound that by 
 J fuchtfieapsDevotionmay be excited? 
 I 2nd true zeal kindled^ when we fee 
 Q_z menr 
 
az6 Meehnejfe, 
 
 men go about holy duties with that 
 Gravity , Reverence, Piety and Mohefty-, 
 that betokens the Majefty of God? 
 becomes the dignity of Religion 9 
 sec Hocker anc j concurs with the Celeftial tin- 
 fojft&i C " preflions in the minds of men. 
 p otitic. Now 5 for order and decency ! for ce- 
 
 remonies and circumftances-, in the 
 publick duties of Religion-, our Lord 
 Zpe(us Chrift in his holy Gofpel hath 
 no where prefcribed any Rule , nor 
 ^f? B *n fet down any fet form, to which he 
 fmvivcn- would have all perlbns at all times to 
 di reguiam be neceffarily bound. For in his di- 
 
 fflZw' vine vvifdom he thought fit to fet 
 crmfcxns down Fundamental and Effential 
 cjidcmmus ^/*/A* with all things neeeffary to fal- 
 &c Caiv. vation. 
 
 uft. ft, 4 . But for external difcipline and ce- 
 remonies we have nothing from him 
 fyecified and expres'd: becaufe he 
 forefaw diem to be various and chan- 
 geable according to the exigencies of 
 times and occasions. 
 
 What 
 
 raz, 
 
The Royal Kobe. i%j 
 
 What he hath fet down in general 
 j terms we mult content our felves 
 | with , looking to the practice of 
 primitive. Cburehes, and to the exam- 
 1 pie of the Apofiles and holy Fathers 
 | with the Counsels ( fequentes igitur & 
 i nes per omnia fanftorum vestigia ) 
 i their example in this cafe is to be our 
 I Rule. 
 
 It is certain in the general 5 Saint 
 Paul commands in the firft to the Cor. 1 Cor -^- 
 j cap. 1 6. at the i/[tb. verfe-, and in If 
 
 I iqtb. Chapter of the fame Epiftle, lCor . f ^ 
 j at the 40th. verfe. 40. 
 
 Ana gives direclion too about 
 fome particulars, in the firft to the 
 Cor. the 16th. Chapter, at the firft *Cor.i*.r*-;'l 
 verfe : and in the jth. Chapter of T Cor 
 the fame Epiftle, at the i otb. verfe 5 
 and in the eleventh Chapter of the iComi, 
 j fame Epiftle, and in fome other 
 ! places •, But not he nor any of the 
 j reft, have taken upon them to fee 
 j down any form <f pnblick worjhip 
 0^3 vvnicn 
 
a"8 Meelffeffe, 
 
 which (hould perpetually bind all 
 perfons. Nor do we find any one of 
 the Afefkies in this cafe peremptorily 
 to command any thiftg. Indeed we 
 have Saint Paul about things indif- 
 ferent, giving his advice, and fpea- 
 king by way of Counfel , not Com- 
 mand. 
 
 But neither chrifl 3 nor Be, nor 
 any of the Apfttes have peremptori- 
 ly determined any thing about this 
 matter. Nor prefcribed any parti- 
 cular Rule, which all men are invio- 
 lably to obferve, they have only laid 
 down (ome general Rules, %ccox&ti% to 
 wilich the Governors of the Church are 
 to relblve particulars: whofe discretion 
 with Chriftian charity , is the beft 
 Interpreter of thofe general Rules 
 whichin the particular circumftances 
 of Gods fablickworjhi pare to be fol- 
 lowed. Now then for the manner 
 of Gods outward worfhip , we are ro 
 mkeom direcJions from the Gover- 
 nors 
 
The Royal Robe. 329 
 
 nors of the Church, whofe conftitu- 
 Itions and ordinances are to be obei'd, 
 ;not as neceflary to falvation, but ac- 
 cidental, containing not the (ubftance 
 \of Religion, but matter of circum- ^b^jf 
 fiance only , comly and convenient , iuigenm 
 \not neceffary -j and though not nccef- omnes u- 
 \jm yet ufeful: for all are to u[e them: ~? 
 though all do not neea\h&&i ande- a m aim 
 venthofe that need them not 3 by a f a ^ e ^ 
 the Rule of Charity , and common n $? C bvZ 
 bonA of obedience* are neceffarih to' tatem,&i 
 
 It matters not greatly what lome parag.^u 
 contentions perfons alledge : every man 
 knows how eafie it is for fuch as are 
 given to quarrel, to cavil at a Cere- 
 mony. Saint Paul would have fuch 
 that fingle out themfelves , to be 
 noted and avoided. For if every 
 jWyfliouldbe followed, we fhould 
 be led into ftrange maws. 
 
 In the body natural if any vitious 
 
 humours be obnoxious to the health 
 
 CL4 of 
 
a 30 yieehjieffe, 
 
 of it, a care is taken that by fitting 
 medicines they be expel'd/To in the 
 myjlical body , when any humourifts 
 difturb the peace and quiet of it , a 
 timely tourfe is to be taken for the 
 fx]>pre[fing of them. 
 
 The weak are to be borne witfi, till 
 they may be better informed: but no 
 way to be given to the wilful : Schif- 
 maticks like Sathan feem medefi in 
 their beginnings, and content with a 
 little, but yielding to them in a tit- 
 tle^ doth encourage them to ask a 
 great deal^ (as the Proverb is ) ( give 
 them an inch and they will take an 
 ell ) for where impudence meets with 
 a yielding nature it knows no mean 5 
 like the waters of the fancJuary, they 
 Ek*. 47- fif e & a[ ow upon you unmeafurably. 
 Firit Jhaliow to the Ancles -, ftraight 
 to the knees : anon to the lolnes 5 and 
 at laft to a / iver that could not be 
 paffedover. 
 
 So let them have their will with 
 
 the 
 
 5' 
 
The Royal Kobe. 231 
 
 the discipline and they will venture 
 upon the doBrine s and if they can cry 
 down the Ceremonies , have at the 
 Sacraments : for contentious (pints 
 know not where to refill they have Jgjg* 
 
 ftf/Wall. fnt ww eft 
 
 I will fay no more at prefent to utomvbus 
 this pqrpofe, but only this.- that;fio ]t?Jt 
 Church at any time could ever frame caiv. izk 
 z discipline to &&€t, nor ordain Cere- llb ;*' c ' 1 * 
 monies {0 innocent, comly and ufe- pi,ag ' ilm 
 ful that could pleafe all. True it is, 
 food men and godly Chrt (Hans will be 
 pleafed folong as they fee no hurt. 
 But Charity ( youl fay ) feeks ' to fatif- 
 fie all: It doth fo ! Ntv'erthelefs if Re ^ !C€ m 
 men will not "hearken to reafon h nor £fofo**s* 
 be fattsfied with that which men of %£«£ 
 great wifdom and hollnefs, upon le'fithistf. 
 grave advice, and mature deliberation , ^ d &»* 
 (following the fas of the bleffed ™J^t 
 Jpoftles, and warranted by the ex- am formic 
 ample s of the ancient Fathers^ and f^'^f 
 continual praffice of all precedent ePt J.; 
 
 (ag.es 
 
a 3 3 Meetyiejje, 
 
 ages) have according to the general 
 
 Rule of Gods word determined If 
 
 men will be froward, and peevifh 
 
 and wife beyond that which is meet 
 
 3*4 fi It they will take upon them to fee 
 
 jETfc bene randfurther ha „ otherS5 t[ / en 
 
 fort- he a" that have been before them: how 
 
 «K «*»* God will approve their Preemption I 
 
 g/&z morofi- 
 
 tatem finmratione D mift9%aifpi-obet :nwk tame* fffurfpjuli &' 
 r»^««r« debehnos co?ite*ie*di morem no* hakre.&c. Calv $j 
 I lib. 4 . wp. a* parag. 3 t. 
 
 ■ 
 
 Sure I am , their contention 5 all 
 good Cbriftian men, and all true 
 cfo^Aw churches do diflike. ( fo S. 
 *mI ) //a/g, wa/* lift to he contentious 
 we have no fuck cttjlome, neither the 
 i Cor. it. Churches of God. The Cuftomes of 
 V* thecWi that confift with *fe«wy, 
 m&rand edification are to be obferv'd 
 without /owf /; ^ contention. 
 
 Some are fo (crtpulous , /;/V<? and 
 »^j ptevijbandttnfatisfied, that 
 
 they 
 
The Royal Robe. 3? 
 
 they are ever whining, they arene- S ^Z% 
 Iver pleasM or content with any order i uacam in- 
 frzyqueftion^ doubt of all, fearch ggjg* 
 for a knot in a raft, and dare not go f . VvW r. T ; 
 lover a pro* if it lie in their way, for 
 fear of breaking their fhins. 
 
 Others are contentious about all ^ „t 
 
 I Church orders, cenfuring all harm- ^J^,, 
 
 lefs Ceromonies for fuper(titious,Popjh, Mam in. 
 
 ' Jntichri(iian,ldotatro^thcy clamour ««™ ^ 
 
 ! againft them, railing and reviling , j^/m,*- 
 
 although they have all the qualifi- g^j% 
 | cations requirable in Ceremontes, law- p gn}f ^i 
 
 ful and laudable,) that is to fay, one dignU 
 
 'jnnunAorfmi In fubftance grave: *«£&*- 
 
 I in choice decreet i In fight comly -: /# /^. 4 . w ,. 
 
 obfervation eafie : In fignification fro- *^*# 
 
 fer and cone/pendent : W men c w- p er chrms 
 
 Sacramen- 
 
 tu ntmcropmijjtm&ffilicatimprtftartifswisi obfervatione 
 facMmisnovipopulijocietatemcoUigavh. Ep. 18. tdlanum- 
 
 *3mimqm totitafdenhnequt contra bon-os moresh^mgnur 
 rirtrSandm. Aug. $ i i 8. "p. *• Crfv.ep. ad protetiorem An- 
 fejteg 87- 4^ adformulamprecum & Rituum Ecclejiajhcorm 
 Xaldepoboyutccmmaexma qua pajioribnt m fm fmftwne 
 
 difcedere 
 
L 
 
 234 Meehtefle, 
 
 totofdknT* ^^ CaIV ' m Calvin -^ iC0 ' AagUCFraiiV 
 
 Legitim* Ccremoni* Scnatu Ecclfaffko inflitut*,&c. Etff. 
 nonpar fey amen lege charitatis o'fervand* fiat adto ut qui eas 
 cmtemmty& contumaciter cum fcandalo mgligu fit rem violati 
 (ftdinu & rupti charitatis vinculi coram Dio BucanJoc. Com.zi 
 de liber tat e Chri flam. Seff.if. ' ' ■ 
 
 Zanchius de extcrno cu!tu qu*fi. 4. 
 Pet. Martyr, if cp. ad Hooperum. 
 ^ Ud»fcrip:ioie communionis & quotidian t\ urn pre cum nihil vi^ 
 ceo in libro (ffe defcripium quod non fit ex div'mis Uteris defum- 
 ptum,fimn ai vcrbtm.ut Pfalmi & letlion.es tamen fenfu ut Col- 
 left* Buffer. cp. Scrip. Anglic, csp.z.pag. 4 ^. Rtfigione igiiur 
 fiumma retinenia erit, & vindicanda hxc Ciremonia. Idemtbid. 
 Cc remoni* funt externa human* infimitatis rudiment a. C al v . 
 !»/?. lb. 4. cap. iQ.pvrag. 31. Tali bus aimink-ulis ad pietatem 
 excitcmur-Co.\v~ Inft. lib. +.ccp. 10. parag. 28. Omni no mm 
 utile jUis effe fentio hoc genus Adminic-uH. Ibid. par. a 4. Smt 
 qudm & nobis hodie externa qwedam pietatis cxercitia, quibus 
 ruditas nostra ini'get. Caly.wjoh. ver, 4. yideC&W. mepitt. 
 3 79. Adiophora quando pr*ci'piuitw {wit quodam modo necef. 
 fina, the princes impoton and Churches determination 
 doth cau lea kind of neceffity. Bc^a Ep.i$. 
 
 David Parous in Rbm. 1 4, 1 $ . * Mclahc lot. com.de liber- 
 tate Chnpami. Libera est Ecclefia vcl nun re hoc gmm.tr aditio- 
 nwi,ycl abrogarc & quieqiiid communi canfinfu hi hoc genere 
 Jttptit Ecclefia, & pi or um docjorum au'kritas, in eo non cflper- 
 tmacner refjftendum, fie bona confeientia minimus in cede fa 
 certos Rim? ex vetertbus, &c, qui verofimpHcittr omnia put ant 
 abojenda effe q U * accepimus, nonfolum f^:r fe impia, verim etiam 
 tndifferentta, & per fe non mala, eumpoflint ret ineri fine pecca- 
 to yinbono ufii & non violata charitate Eeclefi* confentientis : 
 11 nibilo funt meUo res, quvnilli qui afflngunt nccef/ltatem in hoc 
 lencre triditionum fervanio : ficut mm illi qui conmdunt bu- 
 
 jiifmocii. 
 
the Royal Robe. 23$ 
 
 ufmodi tradhijfncs^cejfar'wfervarid.aj cffe, conflfingimt confti- 
 \ntias & tollttk ■ libertatem £hri(tianam y ita & 'M qui affingunt 
 uceffitatcm in lifdem itvditionibus abolcndisjn ttjim pmt vitio, 
 fo'inmici liber tatis Chripian* [me qua falvari nim@ poteft. 
 
 ,f Melattchthonhuh excellently written to this purpofe in his 
 CommonVlacc of Ceremonies^ where he advifes juniors to be- 
 ware that they be notPhanacicks, &c,; 
 
 Steckelius Annot. wloc.com.Md. de liber Xhnf.pag. ilf 
 prope fincm. 
 
 monies fo compofed to decency order 
 and edification, have the approbation 
 of the raoft eminent reformed Di- 
 vines that livedbeyond the feas, as 
 Calvin, Beza , Bucer, Melanchtbon, 
 Steckelius , Peter Martyr, Zanchius^ 
 Bucanus^Tar&us, and others.* 
 
 By which it appears what little rea- 
 jon there is-, there fhould befucb [wel- 
 ling againft the frafiice and ufe of 
 things' indifferent, (the obfervation of 
 erder and decency in the jvorjhip of 
 God.) Whereas in all things, order 
 and decency is commendable: it comes 
 from God, is feene in every Creature. 
 Look on Heaven and Earth, we fee 
 tomelinefi in their fabric k$ order in 
 
 their 
 
2^6 Meeknejje 1 
 
 their ftte 7 beaut) in all : without 
 
 which the World were Tohu and' 
 
 Bohu. 
 
 How much more excellent is it 
 schia r>e* in the Churchy which is the Scboole 
 € ° n Qfj}f °f comelineffe and of order, and is a 
 **M i. name not °* Sep cr at ton and division, 
 fajS^cji- but of concord and 00/00 : the Church 
 k *"-*lZ: is compae'dto a well-ordered ^^-, 
 e^S" «a- now an ^rw^ of all K^iffemblies can 
 **&*'<*** leaftbear Diforder >, diforder it , arid 
 SXrX ru * ne * c : ty w l^ c h is intimated un- 
 wofjtackyf. to us, the necefluy of order in the 
 £«£>*»> church 
 
 Carit°i.4. What a monfter will a Chrifttan 
 *°. affembly be, without w^kr 3 let Saint 
 
 2?mw*/*fpeak? not a people, but a 
 *Dam<im, rabble^ a Babel, not 'ferufalem^ not a 
 f /?, rX «- P' ace of p^<? and M&r ? but r^//*- 
 
 n-m&tur- (ton. 
 
 taeflEttf. 
 
 raraphr. in A&s i nbi fi?r fadere pacts') foe oh fur van.'' a Iczis* 
 
 five D'Cciplinz & Rtgimm 9 aceph.ifa miilttudo cw%fBgat*fi*e- 
 
 rh, mn po:u 7 w fid tnrbs r octHtt ; nor, eft civjtas fid cpnf'fio.; 
 Babylonem cxh:bct,cb Hicrufaicm n.\)il hgfc;. B^riv h P$. 
 Eccl.Sem. 5.^/^.^.349. D 
 
 the 
 
urn 
 
 The Royal Robe. ^ 3 7 
 
 The Churchy I have told you, is 
 j eompar'd to a body -, a body confifts 
 1 of many Members or limbs, thefe by 
 j nerves or finervs and jopts are knic 
 ] together, are a&ed and moved. w 
 
 * Calvin tells us, the nerves or /?- *iri&. 
 i #*jw of this myftical body are Difci- pi-utfca 
 \vline. ^ Vo ~ 
 
 j * anna a- 
 
 s #/w* cfi 
 \ Ecclefia, ha illic difcipl'mipro n p rvis eft, qui fit ut membra cor- 
 \ prisifuo quodque loco Inter fe cohxreant. Calv. InUit. lib.4. caf m 
 
 j il.parai.i. 
 
 j Saint Paul faith the jopts are or- £ P h, 4- J *- 
 \dermdunity. Cvl1 ' 19 ' 
 
 If the finevvs be broken,or if there 
 j hezContortion^ a Contraction or Con- 
 vulfion o{ them $ a Luxation (Jolutio 
 continui) advocation of the Joynts, 
 by which the parts of the body are 
 kept and held in their Contiguity and 
 continuity^ though the body may live, 
 it is deprived of a ffion and motion : at 
 leaft its motion is both uncomely and 
 Painfull, Thus Schifme and Bivifion 
 
 puts 
 
.238 Meefyejfcj 
 
 puts the body out of frame, out of 
 
 •fbynt ( fo Saint Paul implies ) when 
 
 noting the Schtfmes in the Church of 
 
 Corinth J&e declares they were disjoyn- 
 
 ted: exhorting them to befet again of 
 
 x*7Wf7/£g- perfedly joynd together,for lb the 
 
 Ft^jv'x* 1 - worc * imports. To take Vniiy and or- 
 
 ThfTjc^nvoi der Ixom the Church >is as much as to 
 
 1 Cor. i. ta j ce jj^^^j ^^ jojnts from the £0^, 
 
 by which it is reriderd uncapable of 
 
 action^ unable and unfit for motion^no 
 
 Kmbe is able to help it felfe, or to be 
 
 #/f/»fforferviteable to the boiy^ but 
 
 is a trouble and grief to it felfe, a 
 
 . m a Vexation arid torment to the whole 
 
 Saner a ec- * . 
 
 defia fie voty. ; 
 
 coffin m This is the prefent ftate of this 
 *klum % Church'jX. is quite out of frame, mife- 
 cut corpus rably ^/>/<?/#/^difordercd-, diffracted 
 wefbrmn e- ^nd difmember£d 3 tern into pitiful 
 atmfage re # ts and Scbijws 2nd faBions^ how 
 membra- bitterly and latytically doth one in- 
 Jy^J veigh againft another, what rude 
 i&hpU. intentions and uncivil c$ntefiationsi 
 \ how 
 
■ Ihe Royal Robd 94 s 
 
 ■urncs all >about it. One man is 
 worthier , another man is holier , a 
 Ithirdis ip/|fr-, fuch they know they 
 ire, and 'fuch they muff be ac- 
 counted , any the leaft abatement 
 in point of refutation* is harfli 
 land unpleafmg. Diotrephes muft fJ oh ?-£ 
 We the preheminence , he muft 
 be honoured before the people, and. 
 |tf the people will not do it , he is 
 lifted up in his own conceit, like 
 Simon Magus , giving out himfelf is Ads 8. $ 
 fome great one. 
 
 It is not the truth, but their re- 
 futation they labour to maintain, and 
 wheri they crre , they think it a 
 dijparagement to confeffe their er- 
 ror, and therefore put themfelves 
 to p oor fbtfts to maintain it. I will 
 'not fay but fome of thefe men that 
 jthink fo well of themfelves, had 
 tome caufe fo to do, could they 
 have kept themfelves within mea- 
 sure, but. chey muft conjure up un- 
 R i ruly 
 
•I ■ -I 
 
 242 MeekneJJe, 
 
 ruly faints ^ who taken with thel 
 parts, and for worfcr ends, helj: 
 to maintain the fafiion^ cry up then 
 Letdtts , who gotten into the midft 
 of a crmd , the filly people that are 
 carried away with Hobubs , ( like 
 cattel that follow the ftepsofthofe 
 that go before them) for compa- 
 nies fake will btjfle 5 and bufie them- 
 ielves to do they know not ^ they 
 care not what. 
 
 Secondly 5 beware of coveteouf- 
 ncffe, another enemy to meekncfle J 
 1 Tim. 6.. the love of money is the root of all 
 evil'y this is a furious lufl 5 and 
 where it is obey ed > it rages y robs and 
 deprives a man oi all quiet. 
 
 What quarrels have been railed : ' 
 in Church and State about this gol- \ 
 
 1 Tim £ ^ ^^ ,? F rom vvhence comes 
 
 4 , f *. envie, ftrife, railings 5 evil furmi-j 
 
 fings, perverfe difpunngs of men J 
 
 of corrupt minds, and deftitute of! 
 
 the truth & From whence all this 1 
 
 unquiet;! 
 
The Royal Kobe. 243 
 
 I ynquiet i but from this Satanical 
 |delufion {that Gaine is godli- 
 \ nejfe.) It is evident, and he that will 
 1 not (hut his eyes muft fee it * That 
 'the greedy defire of the churches 
 \ means , hath created unto her , her 
 j greateft troubles. What fcufling 
 J is there to keep by greedy dogges 
 \ that can never have enough* look- 
 | ing to their, own way , every one 
 i for his gain ftom. his quarter ; not \^,^. u . 
 
 earing what becomes, of Church 
 j or State ^ fo they may thrive, tum- 
 ! ble all into a confufion, what care 
 ! they, . 
 
 What Scratching to get chat ,mor~ 
 
 fei that muft aeain be vomited up* Prov.«.s 
 
 J TT * 1 1 • » j Internum. 
 
 How many men have been mind f oW , m p rQ 
 for no other caufe , but that they cuip.i eft. 
 had fomewhat to lofe i fomewhat c£ ffl ^& 
 that might ftop the mouths of de- i.c^.V 
 vouring harpies < he that is greedy 
 of gain (faith Solomon) troubles his 
 p\vn houfe : but if he he a man in 
 R 3 place 
 
244 Meekpefle, 
 
 place and power,he troubles a whole 
 Kingdom. He that hafteth to be 
 rtcb ^ cannot be innocent ^ when 
 mens deftres are too immoderate 5 and 
 too eagerly fet upon the vfotld% how 
 pnquiet are they in themfelve$ 5 and 
 what troubles do they bring upon 
 others-, fo ? if you would have meek- 
 #f/JVbeware otcoveteoufnejfe. 
 
 ' Thirdly , Beware of -envie and 
 malice , for thefe are great enemies 
 to meekneffe \ where thefe are, there 
 can be no quiet, everyone will be 
 fome body ^ and he that hath no [uf- 
 fciemie to raife himfelf will make 
 a Udder of any mi (chief. Who can 
 Pro? 27.4. ftand before Envie ? (faith Solomon) 
 Abel could not, nor tfofeph^ nor T>x- 
 vid^Mofes and Aaron muft be brought 
 down, though the Confiirators finke 
 to bell. What fupplanting and un- 
 dermining ) like Lifander peecjng 
 cut the lions skin with the Foxes 
 tail' 7 what malicious and envious 
 
 men 
 
In-viaieiSi* 
 cull non in* 
 
 turn. 
 
 The Royal Kobe. 24$ 
 
 men cannot do by force, they will 
 
 attempt by fraud. What ftrong 
 
 oppojitions, what deadly contestations 
 
 theie deviliih lufts haverais'd? let 
 
 Athanafiui fpe&k, what (landers, ca- 
 
 i lumnies , and odious afperfions have 
 
 1 men thrown upon their competitors^ 
 
 I & ft 'won aliqua nocuiflet mormus ef- 
 
 ' fet, Envie and Malice will rake HeM 
 
 ! for mifchievous devifes $ and fuch is v e?we Ty 
 
 ! the nature of thefe paffions , whilft ? 
 
 they vex others, they torment them- 
 
 i fel ves. Beware of Malice and Envie 
 
 \ a third enemy to Meeknef. 
 
 Fourthly , Beware of Ignorance > 
 j it is a blind enemy , but a bold 
 one, jlubbom, rude, bojfierous^an un- 
 traftablc and unteacbable humour^ 
 efpecially if it be affetfed : When 
 zwifeman (faith Solomon) conten- 
 ded* with a foolifh man , whether 
 he rage or Imgti ; there is no reft 9 
 Let a heart robb'd of her whelp 
 meet a man ^ rather than a foole in 
 
 his 
 
 x 
 
24 6 Meekpeffe , 
 
 his folly. Bray a fooh in a mortar, 
 ufe all means 5 do what you can, 
 fay what you will , He will be , He 
 {till. 
 
 But fuch as are not wilfully «£- 
 nor Ant * but ignorant through n?^&- 
 »f/jj time and experience may work 
 then\ to abetter tt»^ if they .have 
 
 p<ol 7 'll- errecI > t!l ^ r error difcovered muft 
 c&*fvtsTp be retraced 5 if they have gone a- 
 honfitiscr- ft;ay 5 they muft vield themfelves 
 55fcl ■">■** redue'd. I^ God do open 
 t* pr/i- their eyes, whereas they were blind, 
 
 T^'G- kt them not be fllut a S ainft t!?e 
 Sphibti knowq truth, Frovvardneffe, wai- 
 z& wm wardnefle, pettifh , and' peevifli- 
 fTcZ7cd n ^ 5 are the individual compani- 
 Wmnum cms o.t ignorance^ it is trouhlefome 
 
 urtmt t0 deale wkh > wh erefore if thcu 
 jkciSS wouldeft retain ntukmfi, beware of 
 o™r. & ignorance. 
 
 ffofttift Fifthly, Beware oi {ufricion, an 
 enemy alfo to meeknejfe. 
 
 Men that are confeious to them- 
 
 feives 
 
The Royal Robe. 
 
 felvesof any ndugkinefi, upon any 
 occafion are apt to judge others as 
 naught as themfelves , efpecially if 
 they (hall perceive worth in a per- 
 fon they hate 3 they will labour to 
 ecliffe it all they can : will greedily 
 entertain any fufyition 5 and cun- 
 ningly foment the fame : what will 
 they not do that are bafe, that Q- 
 thers may be t bought as baft as they 5 
 they'l lie, and flander., and fay 
 and do any thing to bridge into an 
 odium the man they hate. 
 
 To let go particulars , this curr 
 fed humour , what mif chief hath it 
 not«done * what jeahufies have been 
 raifed by the wicked fcmentors of 
 pur unnatural diftra&ions ? which 
 fet on work by the Devil '% what 
 have they not devifed to blaft and 
 blurre the perfons to whom tkey 
 .{land ill-affe&ed i 
 
 This is£h§§08ii$r of the foul 
 that eats into it^ and will cat out all 
 
 grace 
 
948 Meeknejfe, 
 
 grace and goodneffe. It is not good- 
 neffe nor innocencie that can privi- 
 ledge" a man from (ufpition : yea> 
 the better and more innocent a man 
 is, the more he fliall be fufpe&ed 
 of wicked men, who if by all their 
 prying they cannot find him faul- 
 ty i they will be fure by their wick- 
 ed and ialfe imputations to make 
 himfeem fo. 
 
 A good dtfr option will be ever 
 ready to give a good conftruEiion , 
 but natred doth hatch Cockatrice egs, 
 and what prodigious mongers hath 
 it not brought forth f whereas they 
 that have the fear of God, wilfrnot 
 xzMy judge others-, but what doth 
 not malice and fright utter againft 
 the moft innocent < the man is fault* 
 left, but they are felf-mll'd, nor is 
 innocence a (belter againft evil- 
 tongues } malice never regards how 
 true any accufation is , but how 
 frightful. 
 
 Sixthly, 
 
The RoyalKobe. 249 
 
 Sixthly, Beware of Novelty and 
 LeHitf i great enemies to weeknefc 
 It is adifeafe that many are fide of 
 our Epidemical dijeafe 5 we are na- 
 turally uncpnflant and long for No- 
 velties , which no fooner had and 
 enjoy'd , but we grow weary of 
 them, and are only conftant in un- 
 conflanciei that which pleafes to day. ^f *gj 
 to morrow is call aiide , and alter repemquea 
 fonie certain dayes, with great con- w#<»*n 
 tent refum'd , which yet in the %*** 
 midft of the delight it brings , and tufamdit 
 in its beft liking is hth'd. pTut'W 
 
 Look upon Reuben , unftable as Ji^kpanj 
 as water ( and read his doome ) be *HndfeJm, 
 [hall net excel. Wavering men like J^jjjj 
 waves of the fea,whom every blaft m-citSl * 
 of vaine doftrine doth toffe up and Ge *M9.*l 
 down {weak <u water) reftleffe as JamesI '* 
 wind, no man knows where to have 
 them , altering their opinion (I had 
 almoft faid Religion) as the Al- 
 manack doth the Dominical letter 
 
 every 
 
3 50 Meeknejfe, 
 
 every year •, we know what they 
 
 believe this year , we know not 
 
 what :they will believe the next. 
 
 Let but an African gale blow, fbun- 
 
 ding fome novelty* and how quick- 
 
 thamtUm ly are they pi fed up ! The frothy 
 
 W UYe t( > % agitations of unquiet heads ^ and win- 
 
 *d valet" dy inventions ot unfetled brains do 
 
 fe»»J cum carry them up and down as they 
 
 U L C0 !"' IS pleat e-, thefe mens perfons they 
 
 wx p , have in admiration , violently con- 
 
 l ''r ac ^ tending tor them, and are refra- 
 
 |jpX«r &®% i obftinate, perverle and wil- 
 
 Ter iib.di M- 7 and like children^ at the fight 
 
 PaUio c.$. Q f f ome ew f0 y J ec g Q a U t | 1 
 
 Chxmcleo? . i_ • i j 1 1 
 
 koimmrtA gervgayes m their hands, and there 
 |& /tap* is no quiet untill they be filled with 
 
 qwmcimq; ♦ 
 proximo tt- ' 
 
 : tiger it pra Yea, iome like the Camelion 
 
 tvKubmm ( which 'turns it felf into every ca- 
 
 <pe. Ri-n. *w he cleaves unto, lave red and 
 
 n.uiirai. white) will be any thing but ju(l 
 
 &*?£ ^nd innocent. 
 
 welcome. And woyld you think it? there 
 
 are 
 
"the Royal Robe. % 1 1 
 
 3re that would do by their Religi- 
 on as they do by their elotbes, change M ^ mi \ > f 
 the fajhion every fummer. Not »J£» «^ 
 unlike the Hy^na that changes his fimiiu* j 
 ie, every year ./ ggji 
 
 Oh how good were it could we i j *m*.c/m 
 fhake off our Novelties, and follow BoKti ^4 j 
 theite/tt of reverend, learned, wife, S-^^ 
 godly and innocent Antiquity ? that denahers 
 we would not too much doat on |™*"^ 
 the degenerate child of our $## /^»- juftinian, 
 a> 5 but modeftly iubmit our felves c T-^Hia 
 to better and abler judgments, which a £ ut ™h* 
 until we can do 5 we can never live wcmeA 
 
 in fl/Wtf. Conftin: 
 
 The enemies of meeknef ( you p ° 
 have heard) are Pride, Covet ewf- 
 nefi 5 Envie , CMalice , Ignorance \ 
 Sufyition and Levity, which (if we 
 would have Meeknejfe) we mull be- 
 ware of 5 for thefe wonderfully di- 
 sturb the heart, and marveiloufTy fill 
 it with perturbations. How quick- 
 ly doth pajfion overcome us t how 
 
 m 
 
fiiffe are our wills i and how reft- 
 lejje and unquiet our affections 1 which 
 would not be, would we futon Meek- 
 ncffe. 
 
 We fhould therefore labour for 
 : Charity, unity, humility^ and a good 
 Conscience, that we may get this 
 Royal lobe and weave it, to the Glo- 
 tie of God 'and £www of our Chriftian 
 pofefiion. 
 
 That fo ! God may <mw us and ac- 
 cep us , and make good his precious 
 *wrf unto us. 
 
 Ta guide us in judgment. 
 
 To teach us his way. 
 
 To heautifieus with falvation* 
 
 For he will fave all the meekufoji 
 earth. 
 
 Crowning their dayes with pace 
 here,and with eternal bleffednejfe here- 
 after. AMEN. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
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