The Humble Address Both of Church and Poor to Britains Monarch, Part 1
THE …VMBLE ADDRESSE Both of Church and Poore, To the Sacred Maiestie of Great BRITANES Monarch. …or a just redresse of the Vniting of Churches, and the Ruine of Hospitalls.
By WILLIAM GUILD, Minister of ABERDENE.
PSAL. xx.9.
Saue, LORD, and let the King heare vsus in the day that wee call.
Imprinted in ABERDENE, by Edward Raban, 1633.
To the most Reverend Fathers in GOD▪ IOHN, By the MercieMercy of GOD, L. Arch-bishop of Sainct-Andrewes, Primate, and Metropolitane of SCOTLAND: And PATRICK, By the same MercieMercy of GOD, L. Arch-Bishop of Glasgow, &c. the maine opponer to these Vnions.
D. D. A.
THE …VMBLE ADDRESSE both of Church, and Poore, to the Sacred Majestie of their dread Soveraigne, CHARLES, Great Britannes Monarch, &c.
For a just redresse of the Vniting of Churches, and the Ruine of Hospitalls.
WHen olde Israel (most Sacred Soveraigne) Propheticallie pronounced this Doome concerning his sonne Issach…r, Genes. 49.14.that hee should co…ch downe betweene two burdens, he likened him to a strōg Asse…s needing much strength to beare so great a burden. And it was thought of old, that the burden of the Ministerie, Vni praeesse Ecclesiae, … hauehave the charge of one Church, & was d…bus subesse Ecclesus, and not … be over-charged with vnderunder-going two, was such, that in the bal…nce of the Sanctuarie, weigh the burden with the strength, the one …rpassed the other, foreign and who is of suffi…encie for discharge of that Calling?
But now-a-dayes the cure of Soules,Daniel, 5. Iudg. 16. is either weighed in Belshaz…rs ballance, and found too light: or mens backes are thought like …mpsons sholders, strong anough to beare two Churches at once, as he …rried the two Postes of the gates of Azzab, to the top of the Mount …hich is before Hebron.
A strange thing, that mens policie should so meete a Princes pietie, … where he intended the bettering of the Churches impoverished …ate, by some competent provision, at least, to each one: If Patrons can … evite the necessitie of obedience to that law of his Royall Parlia…ent, and Decreet of his honourable Commission, they shall finde out …ch a politicke course, as in effect the same shall be but frustrate, how…-ever: for where two Churches are to be provided severallie, getting … charges vnited, and making one sing dumb, they hauehave made the …oore pettie portions, vnited together likewise, to equall that measu…ed meane competencie of provision appointed in the Act: as if bette…ng of provisions for severall Churches had not beene meant; but that … the Kingdome the impairing of the few number, both of Churches … Pastors, had beene intended. And making thereby some Ministers that it may be saide of them, as of Hercules Pillars, Nil ultra, beei… lyfe-renters onlie to weare off, and none there-after in those places and more to succeede them.
Because (forsooth) men are so loath to parte with the Churches Patrimonie, should therefore be made such an illicite matrimonie & conjunction, as is much lesse tollerable than with the Iewes vnderunder the Law,Deut. 22.10. Nehem. 13 to hauehave plowed with an Oxe and an Asse together? or a-like vnlawfull, as when they coupled themselues with the Women of Ammon and Ashdod?
Or should such a monstrous metamorphosis bee made, that so manie Churches, and Congregations, which before were Substantiues, & stood by themselues, shall be now so wofull and variable Adjectiues, as a sound agreement and happie consolidation is never to be expected, and as their ruinate Cases shall here-after declare?
Wee detested before Idoles in Churches, but wee are making now Idole-Churches, hence-foorth not to be ob solatia vivorum, but to be ca… teria mortuorum, the sound of Gods Word no more to bee heard in their Pulpits, but of the dead tolling of the Bell at Burials in their Steeples.
Gen. 26.18As the Philistims filled vp Isaaks Welles of springing water, which his father Abraham had digged in his time: so hereby closing vp the Cisternes and Conduits of that still and living water which gaue refreshment to the Lordes flocke:Psalm. 23. and incroaching vponupon the limits of that greene Pasture wherein the Lords Sheepe were duelie made to feede.
As if there were no meanes how the Churches of this Kingdome here, could bee other-wise to such a meane competencie of mayntenance provided, out of their large and sacrilegiouslie detayned Patrimonies, that by making the Israelite and Aegyptian, Exod. 2.11who in Moses tyme stroue together of them, killing one of them, to preserue another.
Iudg. 12.Or as the Ephraemites, who could not so grosselie pronounce Shibboleth ▪ but Siboleth, with a smaller voyce, were all slaine by the Gileadites, at the passages of Iordane: Evē so, that al such Churches that are not excessiue in burden and bounds, and of the grossest and greatest in the Land; but of … meaner and lesser sorte or syze, should be so extinguished, swallowed vp▪ and devoured,Num. 16.31. Gen. 41.17 Math. 13.1…. 2. Sam. 7. as with Korabs punishment, or Pharaohs dreame, they should symbolize, men miss-construing herein (as seemeth) the wordes of our Saviour, That to him that hath, more shall bee given: and from him who hath … even that which hee hath shall bee taken from him.
David, when he sate in his house, and had rest given him round about from all his enemies, did advise to build Gods House: So his peace … him pietie; and his rest, religion. But it is contrarie with vsus: our peace … such policie, and the fruit of our rest, is the robberie first, and next, the …uine of GODS House,Genes. 25. counting Kirkes to bee like Esau to us, not to bee Planters, but Supplanters there-of: Contracters, and not In-largers of the Kingdome of CHRIST.Micah. 7.3 And thus (as the Prophet Micah sayeth) the great man spake out of the corruption of his soule, and so they wrapt it up.
But assuredlie, such Appendices as they have made manie Kirkes of, will bee seene at length, never to have proceeded of a good T…esis: neither will ever such a perilous Copulative Conjunction, doe what they lift, admit of, nor take places in a good Construction.
Before Pastors were impoverished,1Pastors made fewer. and nowe shall their number thus …ee diminished? The Kirke first stript (like Ioseph) of her Coate, which should warme her:Genes. 37. and next, of her Watch-men, which should arme and defende her: under pretense of some Restitution of meanes, to make her woefullie destitute of Men: Is not this the vilest sorte of Sacriledge? Or how farre is it from the practise of Iulian in likenesse, qui extinxit non solum Praesbyteros, sed Praesbyterium.2Advantage to seducers.
And how agreeable this Syncope, or Contraction, is now to Pietie, or Reason, may bee clearlie discerned, that when not onelie the Sheepe of the LORDES Pasture are increased,2. Sam. 24. and the People (as in David's time) are multiplied exceedinglie; but the number also of the Wolves, who assault the LORDES Flocke, daylie like-wise groweth: and the Foxes, who destroy the Vines,Cant. 2.15. even the Vines which have small Grapes: (to wit, simple and unlearned Christians.) Should then the number of the carefull and watchfull Shepheardes, bee diminished, and made fewer?
It was the Precept of our Saviour,Matth. 9.37. because the Harvest was great, and the Labourers were few, That wee should pray the Lord of the Harvest, to thrust out manie faythfull Labourers in-to His Harvest. But to this Precept of His our practise now-a-dayes is flat contrarie, and contradictour: yea, absurd, and against common Reason, where much worke is, there fewer Worke-men to bee.
It was Pharaoh's working-wiselie (in-deede) to augment the Israelites Taske,Exod. 1.10 and to impaire their strength, and meanes to performe the same. But such policie, being voyde of pietie, did procure plagues onelie, and drew on miserie.
And as the Kirke, to the great advantage of her enemies, receiveth (as is sayde) heere-by a notable injurie, what wrong is like-wise done to Learning and Vniversities, anie one may easilie perceive.
Colledges and Schooles,3Colledges hurt. the Seminaries of Sciences, and Nurseries of Religion, (like Goshen in Aegypt, where the light of the Land is) they shall carefullie trayne up, and yearlie sende foorth, a more and more numerous Off-spring,Gen. 49.7. at Parentes large expences, like Levi to bee divided in Iaacob, to teach the LORDES judgementes, and to bee scattered in Israel, to teach the people His Law; and yet the places which they should fill, and live by, by a new practise of Annexation of Kirks, next unto Kirke-Rents, shall be occupied Titulo oneroso onelie, for the most parte, and taken up by others.
4Parents discouraged.If this then bee a way, eyther to encourage Parentes, and hearten Youth; or a practise to replenish the Schooles of the Prophets heere-after: and so consequentlie bee profitable eyther to Kirke or Policie: or rather be not a meane to effectuate the contrarie, and make Bethel a Babel, let anie indifferent or pious mynde judge.
5The Countrey harmed.The Countrey in like-manner, howe with Kirke and Schooles it may manie wayes crye out, the apparent scarres of her deepe in-flicted woundes shall heere-after offer them-selves conspicuous, & make the trueth here-of more than cleare and manifest.
At the time of that Reformation of our Countrey, where rather a Deformation was in many parts, through populare and unruelie confusion, (Greede, and not Godlinesse, possessing the mindes of many) it was not anough then, to the griefe of the godlie, to levell with the ground, deface, and cast downe Kirks thorow the Land, and other Religious places, which might have served (beside the Ornament of the Countrey) for other better uses crying onlie in the language of Edom, Psal. 137.7. Levit. 14.41.Raze them, raze them, even to the foundation: as if (against the Law) the House, having the Leprosie, could not be purged, but by pulling downe: so that as yet in many places there remaineth but the monuments of headlesse Furie, & seges ubi Troia fuit: But also men now-a-dayes, and goodlie Professors (forsooth) thinking that there are too manie Religious places as yet in the Land, and Houses of GODS Worship, have redacted two till one: and made there-by a second Defalcation, to abridge the summe.
Cic. de divi. Lib. 1.It is reported of Hannibal, a Captaine of subtile policie, that hee saw in a dreame, being in Italie, which hee intended to subdue to him-selfe, a monstrous Image appearing before him: at the sight where-of being amazed, asked what it was that so ghastlie appeared? The Image aunswered, Vastitas Italiae. But this Image deceived Hannibal: for after the sight of his Brothers head, sent unto him by the Romanes, hee was forced to flee from Italie to Carthage: and so frustrate of his expectation.
It shall proove lyke-wyse but an unluckie prodigie to them, the devastation of their Countrey: who by laying waste so many Kirkes of goodlie and godlie Ornamentes, shall make the same, in short time, to become like Achan or Absolons Burials:Ioshua, 7. 2. Sam. 18. heapes of Stones, heere and there through the whole Kingdome.
Our Saviour was much mooved, and as a great motive it was also used by the Elders of the Iewes, to perswade and induce CHRIST to grant the Centurions petition,Luke, 7. and heale his Servaunt, Because he loved their Nation (sayde they) and had built to them a Synagogue. Where they make there this outward action a sure testimonie of his sincere and in-ward affection towardes their Religion.
Then what can bee the affection or zeale that manie Professors nowe beare to the Wo…ship of GOD which they professe, when in place of building Synagogues, or Temples, and multiplying their number, where-of this Kingdome standeth so much in neede; they rather by such Vniting have impaired the number, & exposed the edifices to ruine and contempt? Thus (as the Prophet sayeth) while everie one of them runneth to builde up his owne house,Agg. 2. and prepare Galleries syled with Cedar to him-selfe, the House of GOD is not onelie left, but made forsaken and desolate.
Civilitie hath ever also beene seene to have beene the Daughter of Religion:6Civilitie hindred. which as shee pointed out, Quae DEI sunt, so lyke-wyse Quae Caesaris: teaching to bee holie towardes GOD, and righteous towardes Man: and so to give each one their due, and observe both Tables. And Experience hath taught, where Pietie hath bid Fare-well, there Civilitie and comelie Policie hath,Ruth, 1.16. 1. Pet. 2.17. lyke Ruth, inseparablie followed Naomi, and godlesse Barbaritie taken up their rowme. And where GOD is not feared, the King can not bee rightlie honoured: for these two, lyke Gemini, both goe together: and the strongest In-forcer is knowne to be the Conscience: which, where it is not informed, no marvell that deformitie of manners, and breach of duetie bee both to GOD and Man.
Now, where it was requisite then, moe Kirkes for this effect in sundry partes of our Countrey to have bene erected, should such a concise abridgement of the number of these beene made, which were auncientlie for severall Service appointed, and had severall maintenance for that cause allotted, as now-a-dayes, (necessitie flat contrarie requiring) two to bee redacted to one, especiallie their boundes being become more habitable, and moe people now in-dwelling also the same?
Poore people in like-manner in many places,7Poore people and Subjectes, both miseased, & scandalized. how they are heere-by wronged, their grieved hearts furnishing matter of regrate to their plain & pleaning tongues, and their sad querimonies powred foorth in-to the eares of every man, indifferentlie give sufficient proofe: when by the toylesome labour of the sixe dayes commanded, their bodies beeing worne and wearied, they shall be made, up-on the Lords Sabbath, with grieved hearts, and grudging speaches, to passe by, and desert their owne commodious and kindly Parish Kirks, where-in so frequentlie they had received the comfort of the Word and Sacraments; and to trudge further to these new made Mother (I had almost said Step-mother) Kirks: where, in discontenting amazement, after they have heard a Stranger-seeming voyce, returning home-ward, and backe-treading their tedious and uncouth way, after …tuall regrating, they may justlie say, That they have gotten both Preaching and Pennance together.
And what scandal and offence it is to those simple ones, when they shal see Religion thus so little regarded by goodliest Professors, and great men of the Land, the exercises of the Worship of GOD in so many places extinguished, so many Lamps of the Candle-sticke of the Sanctuarie plainlie put out, Mammon to have subjected mens hearts so to her slaverie, that she hath made their hands to pull downe the Lords Houses, and Manour-places of His Divine Worship, the publishing of His Gospell so to be confyned, the number of His Ministers so to be impared, the Kirks Patrimonie, still to be retained, and now eternized, as it were, to the Posteritie, and i… place of Restitution,Gen. 9.22. 2. Sam. 16. nothing to be eyther had, or heard, but mockage, or railing, as if Cham were revived, or Shimei set on foote againe.
If this bee not matter to scandalize weake ones: (and woe bee un-to him, who giveth offence to such:) or if this bee an examplare perswasion to such, who are given moste to followe the example of their Superiours, to respect Religion, to reverence the Worship there-of, to regarde Pastor or Place, or to bee un-fallen away, eyther in Errour, or in meere Atheisme, let anie one of judgement discerne.
Yea, I dare boldlie and confidentlie, with conspicuousnesse of trueth and equitie, avouch, Where two Parishes are made one, that it had beene more urginglie necessarie, of such Parishes that are but one, and where-of there is a great number in the Land, a division there of to have bene made, each one in two or three competent & sufficient ample parishes at least: the most of such great parishes, rather lyke pettie Shyres, … Countreyes, in their severall Circuites, beeing in the Inne-Countrey, and most populous, and best in-habited partes of the Land. In which hudge parishes of so manie thousandes of Communicantes, and of such farre and large extended boundes, those that dwell in the utmost and remotest parts there-of,1. Sam. 1.21. Luk. 2.41. are lyke the Iewes, who once in the yeare onelie came up from their Borders and Coastes, to the Temple of Hierusalem, to worship. Such is their anniversarie visiting of their parish Kirkes onelie: it beeing not … Sabbath-dayes, but a Weeke-dayes journey, to goe thither, tho not the same day to returne.
Ioshua, 23.And as Reuben and Gad, and the halfe Trybe of Manasseh, when they were dissmis…ed by Ioshua, and had returned to Gilead, the Land of thei… possession, were forced for the longinquitie, and farre distance of plac… from Shiloh, where the LORDES Tabernacle was, to build an Altar, fo… a memoriall, to them-selves: even to testifie, That they had parte in th… GOD of Iaakob, and were not aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel.
So, I say, manie one, and much people, in such parishes a-fore-sayde, and in manie partes of the Land, have more than great necessitie, in respect of their farre and remote habitations from their parish Kirkes, to have erected amongst them-selves Temples of GODS Worship, and exercise of Religion: Seeing that in moste of these parishes, the poore people, other-wyse remain, through want thereof, lyke blind Idiots, nusled up in Ignorance, and Atheisme: vvhose reuthful condition, lyke that Vision of the man of Macedonia, Acts, 16.to the Apostle Paul in the Actes, doeth pleade for lyke ayde, and in-vocateth lyke pittie. And amongst whome, if our blessed SAVIOVR vvere corporallie, as Hee was amongst the Iewes, Hee should bee seene with lyke pittie,Matth. 9.36. and sighes to complaine, and bewayle them: because Hee saw them lyke Sheepe wanting a Shephearde: it passing the power of anie one man, tho never so diligent, to discharge a Pastorall duetie; no, not to the halfe.
Hence it is, that not onelie, as by the Prophet the LORD complaineth, That for want of knowledge His people perish, and pittifull ignorance is seene in their myndes: but also, that such Barbaritie and vitiousnesse is seene in their manners. Hence it is, that moe are often-tymes seene in their Kirke-yardes gazing, than with-in their thronged Kirkes gathering. Hence it is, that poore Infantes, especiallie in Winter season, have died with-out Baptisme, before that eyther the Pastor could bee advertised, in such a long and lingring way, up-on necessitie to come; or the Infant by anie meanes, quarter way, could bee brought. And hence it is, that manie a poore Soule, with-out Pastorall praesence, or notice, hath died with-out comfort: beside the manie fayntinges of poore and sillie ones, by a wearisome way, vvhichwhich made CHRIST to bee compassionate towardes the Multitude,Mark. 8.2. and there-fore would not sende them away emptie: For some of them came from a-farre (sayeth the EVANGELIST.)
Where other-wyse, through putting up, and not pulling downe of Kirkes: Raysing, and not razing Christian Synagogues: Pastorall duetie in in-forming Ignorantes: Reforming the vitious: Comforting the distressed: and vvatching over all, should this vvay bee better discharged, Subjectes and poore people more should bee eased, the Countrey and Kingdome more should bee decored, the fewer starting Holes …eft to the subsidiarie Seminaries of the envious Adversaries, Popple and Tares in the LORDES Fielde, and the glorious GOSPELL of IESVS CHRIST, more plenteouslie should abound, and shyne in the Land.
But what shall I say? Too dolefull experience of this clayie Age, hath too well taught the facilitie of pulling downe: but the too great difficultie in their places of putting up of Kirkes, and the Ablative, hath ever beene in farre easier use with us, than anie wayes the Dative: Practizing so the first parte of Zaccheus lyfe, but not acting the last parte of his restitution: and to impede heere-after anie expectation of the same; converting nowe, by a Retrograde, the plurall number of Kirkes, in-to a simple singular.
Yea, to speake to such men, of building of Kirkes, where in such populous a-fore-sayde places there is more than neede: or, as Salomons Precept is,Prov. 3.9. of honouring the LORD so with their Riches; a man shall seeme to them, to bee a Barbarian, whose Language they know not: or like Ioseph with his Brethren,Genes. 42. as needing an Interpreter: yea, they shall thinke, as is sayde of Peter, That hee wist not what hee sayde, when on Mount Tabor hee would have builded one Tabernacle to Moyses, Luk. 9.33.and one to Elias, and one to CHRIST: or as Festus objected to Paul, That too much Learning had made him madde:Acts, 26. So that they who mynde such thinges, too much Zeale hath made them franticke. But speake of casting downe two Kirkes, to make up one: or annexing one unto its neighbour Parish, hence-foorth ever to bee but one Cure, and in sundrie places: as it were alluding to Trinitie and Vnitie, to cast three in one, they will straight wayes applaude, with that of the Poët,
Vnio divina est, &c.
Polion. Lib. 1. strat.It is reported of Pericles, that being asked by Alcibiades, Why so often hee seemed so sadde and pensive? Who aunswered, Because (sayde hee) I remember up-on that Account which I have to make for that which I have received to build a Portch to Minervas Temple in Athens. But howe few are now lyke to Pericles, who mynde how much they are addebted to GOD, to builde His Kirke, or maintaine His Service: or what Account they have to make before GOD, and His Angels, for the Meanes which they with-holde, and where-on the same should bee done? But on the contrarie, make no conscience, zeale-less-lie, through Greede, to ruinate those which zealouslie, through Godlinesse, were formerlie by others alreadie erected.
Goe to the Yles of Chittim, and beholde: sende unto Kedar, and inquire of the Nations round about,Ier. 2.9. If anie such thing bee done: let bee by Christians, but by verie Turkes and Paganes, to their Gods, as to the true GOD, whome in CHRIST wee worship a-right. What Temples, or Religious places of theirs, once dedicate, deface or expose they, to contempt, ruine, and daylie decay, as named Christians now-a-dayes, who will not onelie first robbe the Rentes from them;Dan. 8.1…. but next (lyke …, who made the daylie Sacrifice of the Temple to cease) will abrogate and exile the Exercise of GODS Worship, in Worde and Sacramentes, out of them; and set vp the Abomination of Desolation in the places where it ought not? An ill Positive (for-soothe) admitting no where a Comparatiue.
Let this clayie Age looke backe also to their Fore-fathers zeale, and bee ashamed: with their Chappels without their Houses, and Oratories within: with their Churches piouslie respected, and their Hospitals plenteouslie then doted: the swarms of Church-man within Townes,1. King. 18 Genes. 47▪ lyke Baals Prophets, sitting at plentifull Tables: and those without, lyke Aegyptes Priestes, aboundantlie provyded for: Erecting also daylie, and not, as now, dejecting, Religious Temples: and, lyke Nebuchadnezar, 2. Chron. 36.first spoyling the Vessels, and Treasurie of the Temple; and then razing the Edifices thereof: first to be Church-robbers, and then, ere they restore, to be Church ruinaters.
Consider also in that flowrishing and Reverende Neighbour Church of ours, where farre lesse Parishes are in sundrie partes… and search as narrowlie as Labau searched the Stuffe of Iaakob, Genes. 31.if this bee their practise: or anie-where else, where GOD in merciemercy hath restored His Gospel, to burie the memorie of so manie auncient Churches, as Iackob buried the strange gods of his House-holde vnderunder the Oak… which is beside Sechem.Genes. 35.
Not that anie way I speake against such Vniting as is permitted▪ and clearlie mentionate in that Statute of Parliament: to wit, vsing the verie words of the Act it selfe, Where the Fruites of anie one alone will not suffice to entertaine a Minister: and that the Reutes and whole Patrimonie thereof are no wayes aunswearable to the portion or qua… titie of fi…e Chaulders Victuall, or fiue hundreth Markes of Silver in yearlie commoditie, and value: and where for distance of place, and other lawfull causes, they are not also found incommedious so to bee vnited (Of which sorte there are few, if anie, within the whole Kingdome) But where beside distance of place, and other lawfull causes, why they are imcommodious, fayre Parishes and famous Benefices are vnited together, the value of the Rentes, Fruites, and Patrimonie of anie one whereof, will exceede farre the meanest fore-sayde proportion: to wit, of fiue Chaulders Victuall, or fiue hundreth Markes Silver: yea, equall, and surmount the highest quantitie: to wit, of ten Chaulders Victuall, or a thousand Markes Silver▪ and double, if not triple, the same.
Where such as these then are coupled together, lyke Ratches for a Game of Hunting, what importeth such a smoothering Vnion, but the fore-sayde sadde Sequeles? Or what better Fruite can such a bitter Tree produce, but sowre Grapes, to set the Teeth on edge?
Exod. 2.19As Moyses then (SIR) commiserating the estate of the wronged Daughters of the Priest of Midian, who were driven away from the Troghs of Water, which they had filled to water their Fathers Flockes: As hee, I say, defended, and brought them backe agayne to those places, and gaue their Sheepe refreshment: So (SIR) pittie the wronged estate in lyke manner of the Church in your Land: defende it lyke-wyse, and make patent againe the Doores of so manie Christian Temples,Ioshua ▪ 10 shut vp lyke the Caues of the Canaanite Kinges: that comfort againe may bee within them ministred to the LORDS people▪ Micah, 4.14.that the Flocke of His Heritage (as the Prophet speaketh) may bee fed with the Rod of His owne Mouth, as in the midst of Carmel: and that they may pasture in Bafhan, and Gilead, as in olde tyme.
Luke. 1.And as Zacharias, the Baptists Father, tho for a short tyme bee was stricken dumbe, yet as at last his mouth was againe opened, by sensible and cleare speaches to prophesie, and proclayme that Horne of Salvation, that was raysed out of the House of David; and D…yspring, which from on high had visited his people Israel: So (SIR) restore in lyke manner, to speach and prophesie againe these dumbe, yea, dead-stricken places of GODS Sacred Worship: that the same Gospell may bee as yet published, and that the same tender merciemercy in them may still bee manifested through all the corners of your Land; to giuegive light to them that sit in darknesse, and in the shaddow of Death, and to guide their feete into the way of peace.
Ionas, 8.Or as the Whale, how-so-ever shee swallowed vp Ionas, disg… ged him againe vponupon the drye land: Even so (SIR) how-so-ever this Vniting of Churches, throgh the moyen & greed of mē, hath past the true Cases of manie wherof were never (I am perswaded) clearlie knowne to your Honourable Commission: I yke a wyse Solomon, then, pronounce the Sentence of Division: and that as the two Women which pleaded before him, were each one restored to her owne Chylde; so that everie Church may bee restored with a competent mayntenance, to its owne former and primitiue condition: Else, it had beene better both for Church and Kingdome, that, poore as they were, still as yet they had remayned severall.
Gen. 13.5.And let not (SIR) Abrahams Altar bee as it were … that GOD should bee left to pleade for Himselfe:Iudg. 6.30 … that Scepter of Royall power, which, one after another, for the defence of His Cause, Hee hath put into your hand.
Let not Christian Temples goe downe into your Kingdome, which were as the Tents of the Shepheardes,Ca…. 1.7. where the LORDS Well beloved went foorth by the steps of the Flocke, and there fed her weake and tender Kids, with the Spirituall Food of the Bread of Lyfe. Especiallie where greater neede is to put vp moe.
Neyther let the Watch-men, which goe about the Citie, of whom the Spouse in the Canticles seeketh h…r direction,Ca…. 3.3. where shee may finde him whom her Soule loveth, bee diminished in number, where there is more necessitie they should bee augmented.
Let not Na…ash his enter-pryse come also now-a-dayes in practise:1. Sam. 11. where two eyes are to pull out the one: and bring a shame so vponupon the LORDS Israel. Neyther let the barking Dogs bee remooved from the LORDS Flockes: except thereby wee would please the devouring Wolues.
But let the Walles of HIERUSALEM still bee going vp, maugre all opposition: Repare the ruines of your Church restore the rapines thereof:Nehem. 8.8. and in the well ordered House of GOD, let the Levites, beeing restored to their Portions, bee reponed also, and set in their places: who may reade in the Booke of the Law of GOD distinctlie, and giuegive the sense, and make the people to vnderstand the same:Nehem. 13.14. that so your GOD may remember you still in Goodnesse, and not wype out your kyndnesse, which you hauehave showne vponupon His House, & vponupon the Officers thereof. AMEN.
FINIS.