The Sacrifice of Thankfulness, Sermon 2
POLITICKE HVNTING: OR, A Discouerie of the cunning Esauites of our times. And, Plaine Dealing: or, A president of Honesty.
The Text. Genes. 25. 27.
Esau was a cunning Hunter, and a man of the field: and Iacob was a plaine man, dwelling in Tents.
WHen God hath a long while deferred his actuall Blessings to the importunate suppliants, and extended their desires; at last hee doubles on them the expected MercieMercy: So hee recompenceth the dilation with the dilatation and enlarging of his fauours. Rebecca had been long barren; and now the Lord opens her Wombe, and sets her a teeming, she conceaues two at once.
It is obserueable, that many holy Women, ordained to be the mothers of men specially famous and worthy, were yet long barren. Sara the wife of Abraham, that bore Isaac: Rebeccah the wife of Isaac that bore Iacob: Rahel the wife of Iacob, that bore Ioseph: Anna the mother of Samuel, Elizabeth the mother of Iohn the Baptist: Hereof may be giuen some reasons. duplicate page duplicate page
1. One Chrysost. Hom. 49. in Gen.giues, Vt ex mirabili partu stirilium, praestrueretur fides partui virginis: That by the miraculous Child-bearing of barren Women, a way might be made to beleeue the birth of Christ by a Virgin.
2. To shew that Israel was multiplyed, not by N…turall succession, Q…est 7 …. in Gen.but by Grace. So Theodoret.
3. To exercise the Fayth; Hope, & Patience of such as notwithstanding a Promise, had their issue delayed.
But now Isaa… prayes, God heares, Rebecca conceaues: she conceaues a double burden; a paire of Sonnes strugling in her wombe. Her body is no lesse disquieted with this plenty, then her minde was before with the lacke of Children. Esau and Iacob are borne: brethren they are, not more neere in birth, then different in disposition: For Esau was a cunning Hunter, a man of the Field: but Iacob was a plaine man, dwelling in Tents.
These two are the Subiect of my Discourse: wherein I will regard their Nomina, Omina; Names, and Proceedings. Their Names, Esau and Iacob: note their conditions for opposite. The one a cunning Hunter: the other, a Plaine man. Of both whom I will be bold to speake literally, and liberally: literally, of their indiuiduall persons: liberally, as they, were figures and significations of future things.
For herein is not onelyonly regardable a meer… Historie, but a Mysterie also. And as S. Paul applied the true Storie of Isaac the sonne of the free, and Ish…ael the some of the bondwom…; that by these thinges was another thing meant Gal. 4. 24. So I may conclude of these two Brothers in the same manner. ver 29. As then, hee that was borne after the Flesh, persecuted him that was borne after the Spirit; euen so is it now. So it is now, and so it shall be to the end of the world.
A Discouerie of the cunning Esauites of our times.
Genes. 25. 27.
Esau was a cunning Hunter, and a man of the field:
I Must speake first of the first borne Esau. It is probable, hee was called Esau in regard of his manner of birth. ver. 25. Hee that came out first, was redde all ouer like an hayrie Garment: and they called his name Esau.
Some deriue it from the Hebrew word, Quasah, which signifieth, To make: and taken passiuely, it implies a Perfect man. For he came forth redde, and hayrie: Redde, to betoken his bloody disposition: Hayrie, to shew his sauage and wilde Nature. Other Children are borne with Haire onelyonly on the Head, Eye-lids, and Browes: but hee was hairy all ouer; promising extraordinarie crueltie.
Hee had three names. 1. Esau, because hee was complete. 2. Edom, because he was red of complexion; or because he coueted the red Pottage.Perer. 3. Seir, that is, Hayre.
You heare his Name, listen to his Nature. Gods Spirit giues him this Character: Hee was a cunning Hunter, &c. A Name doth not constitute a Nature: yet in holy Writ, very often, the Nature did fulfill the Name, and answere it in a future congruence.
The Character hath two Branches: noting his
Dition.
Condition.
His Condition or Disposition was Hunting: his Dition, Portion, or Segniory was the Field: he was a Field-man.
The first marke of his Character is, A cunning Hunter. Wherein wee hauehave expressed his
Power.
Policie.
His Strength, & his Sleight: his Brawne, and his Braine. His Might; hee was an Hunter. His Witte; hee was a Cunning Hunter.
His Strength: A Hunter.
Hunting, in it selfe, is a delight lawfull and lawdable: and may well be argued for, from the disposition that God hath put into creatures. Hee hath naturally inclined one kind of Beastes to pursue another, for mans profite and pleasure. Hee hath giuen the Dogge a secret instinct to follow the Hare, the Hart, the Foxe, the Bore: as if hee would direct a man by the finger of Nature to exercise those qualities, which his diuine Wisedome created in them.
There is no Creature but may teach a good soule one step toward his Creator. The World is a Glasse, wherein we may contemplate the eternall power and maiesty of God. For the inuisible things of him, from the creation of the World, Rom. 1. 20.are clearely seene, being vnderstood by the thinges that are made, euen his eternall power and God-head. It is that great Booke, of so large a Character, that a man may runne and read it. Yea, euen the simplest man that cannot read, may yet spell out of this Booke, that there is a GOD. EueryEvery Shepheard hath this Calendar, eueryevery Plough-man this ABC. What that French Poet diuinely sung, is thus as sweetly english'd,
The World's a Schoole; where in a gen…rall Story,
God alwayes reades dumbe Lectures of his Glory.
But to our purpose: This practise of Hunting hath in it. 1. Recreation. 2. Benefite.
Delight. Though man by his rebellion against his Creator, forfeited the Charter which he had in the Creatures: and hereon Adams punishment was, that hee should worke for that Sudore vultus, which erst sprung vp naturally beneficis Creatoris: Yet this lapse was recouered in Christ to beleeuers, and a new Patent was sealed them in his Blood; that they may vse them not only ad necessitatem vitae, but also in delectationem animi. So God giues man not onelyonly Bread and Wine to strengthen his Heart, but euen Oyle to refresh his Countenance. Let thy Garments bee alwayes W…ite, Eccle. 9. 8.and let thy Head lacke no Oyntment. When Salomon had found men pulling on themselues vnnecessary vexations in this world, and yet not buying Peace in Heauen with their trouble on Earth; hee concludes: Then I commended Mirth, Eccle. 8. 15.because a man hath no better thing vnderunder the Sunne, then to Eate, and to Drinke, and to be Merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour, the day, of his life that God giueth him vnderunder the Sunne.
But there is a Liberty, the bounds whereof because mens affections cannot keepe, it is better their vnderstandings knew not: For, Melius est nescire centrum, quam non tenere circulum. I may say of too many, as Seneca: Nihilfaelicitati eorum deest, nisi moderatio eius: They hauehave happinesse enough, if they could moderate it. Nothing is Magis proprium materiae, (say Philosophers) more proper to matter, then to flow; nisi a forma sistitur, vnles the forme refraine and stay it. Nothing is more peculiar to Man, then to run out, and to erre exorbitantly, if Grace direct not.
Men deale with Recreation, as some Trauellers doe with anothers Grounds: they begge passage through them in Winter, for auoydance of the Miry wayes; and so long vse it on sufferance, that at last they plead Prescription, and hold it by Custome. God allowes Delights to succour our infirmitie, and we sawcily turne them to habituall Practises. Therefore Salomon condemnes it in some, as he commendes it in others. Reioyce in thy youth, Eccle. 11. 9.and follow thy vanities: but know, that for all this, God will bring thee into Iudgement. And our Sauiour denounceth a Vae ridentibus, for they that will laugh, when they should weepe; shall mourne, when they might hauehave reioyced.
Wee often read Christ weeping, neuer laughing: taking his creatures for sustentation, not for recreation. Indeed hee afforded vsus this benefite; and what wee had lost, as it were ex postliminio, recouered to vsus. But it were strange, that Haeres succedens in defuncti locum, should doe more, then the Testator euer did himselfe, or allowed by his graunt: Or that Seruants and Sinners should challenge that, which was not permitted to their Maister and Sauiour. But thus wee preuent our libertie, as the Pharises did the Law, in sensum reprobum. These Hunt, but keepe not within Gods Pale; the circumferent limits, wherein hee hath mounded and bounded our libertie.
Benefite. Recreations hauehave also their profitable vse, if rightly vndertaken.
1. The Health is preserued by a moderate Exercise. Sedentariam agentes vitam; They that liue a Sedentarie life, so find it.
2. The Body is prepared and fitted by these sportiue, to more serious labours, when the hand of Warre shall set them to it.
3. The Minde, wearied with grauer employments, hath thus some coole respiration giuen it, & sent backe to the seruice of God with a reuiued alacritie.
His Policie. A Cunning Hunter.
But wee hauehave hunted too long with Esaus Strength, let vsus learne his Sleight: A cunning Hunter. Hunting requires tantum artis, quantum martis: Plaine Force is not enough, there must be an accession of Fraude. There is that common sense in the Creatures, to auoyde their pursuers. Fishes will not be taken with an empty hooke: nor Birdes with a bare Pipe, though it goe sweetly: nor Beastes with Briareus strength onelyonly, though he had an hundred hands. Heere Actus pollentior armis. Fishes must hauehave a Baite, Birdes a Nette; and hee that takes Beastes, must be a cunning Hunter. Can a Bird fall into a Snare vponupon the earth, Amos. 3. 5.where no Ginne is for him? Nay, often both Vises & Deuices, Toyles and Toylings, Strength and Stratagems, are all too little.
A cunning Hunter.
It appeares, that Esaus delight was not to surprise tame Beastes, that did him seruice; but wilde: For, against the former, there needed no such cunning. How easily is the Oxe brought to the Yoake, the Horse to the Bitte, the Lambe to the Slaughter? His intention and contention was against wild and noxious creatures.
This Obseruation teacheth vsus to doe no violence to the Beastes, that serue vsus. Salomon stampes this Marke on the good mans Fore-head, that hee is mercifull to his Beast. And the Law of God commanded, that The mouth of the Oxe should not be mussled, that treadeth out the Corne. God opened the mouth of an Asse to reprooue the folly of Balaam; who strucke her vndeseruedly for not going forward, when Gods Angell stood ad oppositum.
Those sports are then intollerable, wherein we vexe those Creatures, that spend their strengths for our benefites. God therefore often iustly suffers them to know their owne power, and to reuenge themselues on our ingratitude. The Romane Southsayers diuined; that when Bulles, Dogges, and Asses, (Beastes created for vse and obedience) grew madd on a sodaine, Bellum seruile imminebat, it boded some seruile Warre and Insurrection. But wee may truly gather, that when God suffers these seruiceable and domesticall Creatures, to make Mutenie and Rebellion against vsus; that God is angry with our sinnes: and that they no otherwise shake off our seruice, then wee hauehave shaken off the seruice of God. So long as wee keepe our Couenant with the Lord, he makes a League for vsus, with the Beastes of the field: but when wee fall from our Aleagiance, they fall from theirs; and (without wonder) quit our Rebellion against God, with their Rebellion against vsus. Wee see what wee get by running from our Maister; wee loose our Seruants.
But if they that flie from God by Contempt, shall thus speed, What shall become of them that flie vponupon God by Contumacie? If wicked Nabal could blame the Seruants, qui fugiunt Dominos, that run from their Maisters; how would he condemne them, qui persequuntur, that run vponupon them with violence? But if we band our selues against God, hee hath his Hostes to fight against vsus. Fowles in the ayre, Fishes in the sea, Beastes on the earth, Stones in the street, will take his part against vsus. So long doth the Henne clocke her Chickens, as shee takes them to be hers: but if they flie from the defence of her Winges, she leaues them to the prey of the Kite. So long as wee obey GOD, Heauen and Earth shall obey vsus; and eueryevery Creature shall doe vsus seruice: But if we turne Outlawes to him, wee are no longer in the circle of his gracious custodie and protection.
A cunning Hunter.
AS Cunning as hee was to take Beastes, hee had litle cunning to saue himselfe. How foolish was hee, to part with his Birthright for a messe of Lentile Pottage? And since there is a necessary discussion of his Folly, as well as of his Cunning, I will take here iust occasion to demonstrate it: and that in fiue Circumstances.
1. Hee had a rauenous and intemperate desire. This appeares by three phrases he vsed.ver. 30. 1. Feed mee, I pray thee; Satisfie, saturate, satiate mee: or, let mee swallow at once, as some read it: The words of an appetite insufferable of delay. 2. To shew his eagernesse, hee doubles the word for haste: With that Red, with that Red Pottage. Red was his colour, Red his desire: Hee coueted Red Pottage, hee dwelt in a red soyle; called thereon, Idumea: and in the Text, Therefore was his name called Edom. 3. Hee sayes, I am faint: and ver. 32. at the poynt to die, if I hauehave it not: Like some longing soules, that hauehave so weake a hand ouer their appetites, that they must die, if their humour be not fulfilled. Wee may here inferre two Obseruations.
1. That Intemperance is not onelyonly a filthy, but a foolish sinne. It is impossible, that a rauenous Throate should lie neere a sober Braine: There may be in such a man, vnderstanding and reason; but he neither heares that, nor followes this. A Citie may hauehave good Lawes, though none of them be kept. But as in sleepers and mad-men, there is Habitus rationis, non vsus et actus: Such men hauehave reason,Sen. ep. 21. ad Lucil. but want the actiue vse. Venter praecepta non audit: The belly hath no eares. Though you would write such mens Epitaphs whiles they are liuing, yet you cannot;Id. ep. 60. for Mortem suam antecesserunt, they hauehave antedated their death, and buried themselues aliue: as the French prouerbe sayes, They hauehave digged their Graue with their Teeth. The Philosopher passing through Vacia the Epicures grounds, sayd; Hic suus est Vacia: not heere hee liues, but heere hee lies; as it were dead and sepulcherd. The parcimonie of ancient times hath been admirable. The Arcadians liued on Acornes: the Argiues on Apples:Elian …. hist. lib. 3. the Athenians on Figges: the Tyrinthians on Peares: the Indians on Canes: the Carmanes on Palmes: the Sauromatians on Millet: the Persians nasturtio, with Cresses: And Iacob heere made daintie of Lentil…s.
2. That a man may epicurise on course fare: For Lentile Pottage was no extraordinarie fine dyet. But as a man may be a Crassus in his Purse, yet no Cassius in his Pottes: So on the contrary, an other may be (as it is said of Iob) Poore to a prouerbe; yet be withall, as voluptuous as Esau. Men hauehave talem dentem, qualem mentem: Such an Appetite as they hauehave Affection. And Esau may be as great a Glutton in his Pottage, as those greedy Dogges. Esa. 56. 12.(Esay 56.) that fill themselues w…th strong Wines: or those fatte Bulles (Am 6.)Amos. 6. 4. that eate the Lambes and Calues out of the Stall. Thus the poore may sinne as much in their Throate, as the rich: and be Epicures tam Latè, though not tam lautè, in as immoderate, though not so daintie Fare. Indeede Labour in many bodies requires a more plentifull repast, then ease: and the sedentarie Gentleman needes not so much Meate, as his drudging Hind: But in both this Rule should be obserued; Quantum naturae sufficiat, non quantum gulae placeat; Not what will please the Throate, but what will content Nature: to eate what a man should, not what hee would. The Poore man that loues delicate Cheare, shall not bee Wealthy: and the Rich man that loues it, shall not be Healthy. As cunning as Esau was, heere is one instance of his folly, An intemperate Appetite.
2. His Folly may be argued, from his base estimation of the Birthright; that he would so lightly part from it, and on so easie conditions, as Pottage. It seemes, hee did measure it onelyonly by the pleasures and commodities of this life, which were affoorded him by it. ver. 32. I am ready to die: and what profite shall this Birthright doe m…e? Which words import a limitation of it to this present World, as if it could doe him no good afterwards. Whereupon the Hebrews gather, that he denyed the Resurrection. For this cause the Apostle brands him with the marke of Prophanesse. Heb. 12. 16.Heb. 12. that he changed a Spirituall Blessing for a Temporall Pleasure.
And what, O yee Esauites, Worldlings, are momentany Delights compared to Eternall? What is a messe of Gruell, to the Supper of Glory? The Belly is pleased the Soule is lost. Neuer was any Meate, except the forbidden Fruite, so dearely bought, as this Broth of Iacob: A Curse followed both their feedings. There is no Temporall thing without the trouble, though it be farre more worthy then the Lentile-Pottage. Hath a man good things, hee feares to forgoe them: and when hee must, could either wish they had not been so good, or a longer possession? Hath he euill, they bring griefe; and hee either wisheth them good, or to be rid of them? So that good things trouble vsus with feare, euill with sorrow. Those in the future, these in the present. Those, because they shall end: these, because they doe not end. Nothing then can make a man truly-happy, but Eternitie. Pleasures may last a while in this world; but they wil grow old with vsus▪ if they doe not die before vsus. And the Staffe of Age is no Pole of eternitie. Hee then hath too much of the sensuall and Prophane blood of Esau in him, that will sell euerlasting Birthrights and Comforts, for transient Pleasures.
3. Another Argument of his folly, was Ingratitude to God; who had in merciemercy vouchsafed him, (though but by a few minutes) the priuiledge of Primogeniture: Wherewith Diuines hold, that the Priesthood was also conueyed. The Father of the Family exercised it during his life; and after his decease the first borne succeeded in that with the Inheritance. And could Esau be ingratefull to a God so gracious? Or could he possibly hauehave aspired to a higher dignitie? Wretched Vnthankfulnesse, how iustly art thou branded for a Prodegie in Nature? There are too many, that in a sullen neglect, ouerlooke all Gods fauours, for the want of one of their Affections long after. Non tam agunt gratias de Tribunatu, quam queruntur, quod non sunt euecti in Consulatum: It is nothing with them to be of the Court, except they be also of the Councell.
4. His Obstinacie taxeth his Follie; that after cold blood, leasure to thinke of the Treasure he sold, and digestion of his Pottage, hee repented not of his Rashnes; But ver. 34. Hee did eate, and drinke, and rose vp, and went his way: Filled his Belly, rose vp to his former Customes, and went his way without a Quid faeci? Therefore it is added, Hee despised his Birthright. Hee followed his Pleasures without any interception of Sorrow, or interruption of Conscience. His whole life was a circle of sinfull Customes; and not his Birthrights losse can put him out of them. A circular thing implies a perpetuitie of motion, according to Mathematicians. It begins from all parts alike, et in seipso definit, endes absolutely in it selfe, without any poynt or scope obiectuall to moue to. Earth was Esaus home; hee lookes after no other felicitie: therefore goes his way with lesse thought of an heauenly Birthright, then if hee had missed the Deare hee hunted. It is wicked to sell Heauenly things at a great rate of Worldly: but it is most wretched to vilipend them.
5. Lastly, his Perfidious nature appeareth, that though hee had made an absolute Conue…ance of his Birthright to Iacob, and sealed the Deed with an Oath; yet hee seemed to make but aiest of it, and purposed in his heart not to performe it. Therefore chap. 27. 41. … said in his heart, the dayes of mourning for my Father are …t hand, then will I s…ay my br…ther Iacob. Hee tarryed but … the Funerall of his Father, and then resolued to sende his Brother after him; as Cain did Abel▪ because hee was more accepted. It is hard to iudge, whether he was a worse Sonne or a Brother: Hee hopes for his Fathers death, and purposeth his Brothers; and vowes to shed bloud in stead of Teares.
Perhappes from his example, those desperate Wretches of England drew their instuction. They had sold their Birthright, and the Blessing which Iesus Christ, like old Isac dying, bequeathed in his Will to all beleeuers, and all the interest in the truth of the Gospell, to the Pope for a few Pottage, red Pottage, dyed in their owne blood for seeking to colour it with the blood of Gods Annoynted, and of his Saints. And now in a malicious rancour, seeing the Children of Truth to enioy as much outward peace, as they were conscious of an inward vexation: they expected but Diem Luctus, the dayes of Mourning, when God should translate our late Queene of eternally-blessed memorie, from a Kingdome on Earth, to a better in Heauen: and then hoped, like Busterds in a Fallow field, to rayse vp their heauy Fortunes, …'… turbinis, by a Whirlewind of Commotion. But our Pacator Orbis, (which was the reall attribute of Constantine) beguiled their enuious Hopes. And as Pat…rculus said of the Romane Empire after Augustus death, when there was such hope of Enemies, feare of Friends, expectation of trouble in all; Tanta suit vnius viri Maiestas, vt nec bonis, neque contra malos opus foret armis: Such was the maiestie of one man, that his very presence tooke away all vse of Armes. Our royall Iacob precluded all Stratagems, preuented all the Plots of these malicious Esauites, and setled vsus both in the fruition of the Gospell, and peace with it. But in meane time, God did punish their persidious machinations; as hee will doe Periurie and Treason, wheresouer hee finde them. For hee will naile vponupon the Head of the Periurer, his Oath trayterously broken.
IN all these circumstances it appeareth, that though Esau was subtile to take Beastes; hee had no cunning to hunt out his owne Saluation. From all which scattered Stones brought togeather let mee raise this building of Instruction.
The wisest for the World are most commonly Fooles for Celestiall blessings. Wicked men can Sentire quae sunt carnis, not, Sapere quae sunt spiritus, Sauour things of the Flesh, not of the Sp…rit. The Prophet Ieremy compounds both these, and shewes, how Wisedome and Folly may concurre in one man. Ier. 4.Ier. 4. 22. They are Wise to doe euill: but to doe good they hauehave no knowledge. Let them Warre, they hauehave their Stratagems: Let them plot in Peace, they hauehave their Policies. Hunting, they hauehave Nettes: Fowling Ginnes: Fishing Baites: not so much as euen in Husbandry, but the professors hauehave their reaches: they know, which way the Market goes, which way it will goe. Your Tradesmen hauehave their Mysteries: Misteries indeed, for the mysterie of Iniquitie is in them: they hauehave a stocke of good Wordes, to put off a stocke of badde Wares: in their particular qualities they are able to schoole Machiuell.
But draw them from their Center Earth, and out of their Circumference Worldly policies; and you hauehave not more simple Fooles: They hauehave no acquaintance with Gods Statutes, and therefore no maruell, if they misiudge Vices for Vertues; as Zebul told Gaal, that hee mistooke Vmbras montium, pro capitibus hominum. A man may easily run his soule vponupon the rockes of Rebellion, whiles he neither lookes to the Card of Conscience, nor regardes the Compasse of Fayth.
A man of the Field.
WEe hauehave taken the first branch of his Character, the maine proportion of his Picture: Hee was a cunning Hunter. There is another colour added: Hee was a man of the Fielde. But because I take it for no other then an explanation of the former attribute, an exposition of the Proposition, sauing it hath a little larger extent, I doe no more but name it.
Wee doe not thinke, because hee is called, A man of the Field, that therefore hee was a Husbandman: but as the Septuagint call him, A Field-man, in regard that hee was continually conuersant in the Field: There was his sport, there was his heart. Therefore (ver. 28.) did Isaac louelove Esau, because he did eate of his Venison: Hee loued his Venison, not his Conditions. Some would read it thus, Because Venison was in his mouth; and so turnes his Hunting into a Metaphore: as if by insinuation hee wound himselfe into the fauour of Isaac: But the other reading is better; sauing that by the way, wee may giuegive a reprehension to such Mouth-hunters.
If you would know who they are: they are the Flatterers. Of whom wee may say, as Huntsmen of their Dogges, They are Well-mouth'd; or rather, Ill-mouthd▪ For an ordinary Dogges byting doth not ranckle so sore as their licking. Of all Dogges they are best likened to Spanyels; but that they hauehave a more venemous tongue: They will fawne, and fleere, and leape vp, and kisse their Maisters hand: but all this while they doe but hunt him; and if they can spring him once, you shall heare them quest instantly, and either present them to the Falcon, or worrey and prey on them themselues: perhaps not so much for their flesh, as for their Fethers. For they louelove not Dominos, but Dominorum; not their Maisters Good, but their Maisters Goods.
The golden Asse got into sumptuous Trappinges, thinkes hee hath as many Friends, as hee hath Beastes comming about him: One commendes his Snoute for sayrer then the Lyons; an other his Skinne for richer then the Leopards; an other his Foote for swifter then the Harts; a fourth his Teeth for whiter and more precious then the Elephants; a last, his Breath for sweeter then the Ciuet-beastes: And it is wonder▪ if some doe not make him beleeue, hee hath Hornes, and those stronger then Bulles, and more vertuous then the Vnicornes. All this while they doe but hunt him for his Trappings; vncase him, and you shall hauehave them baffle and kicke him.Prou. 19. 4. This doth Salomon insinuate, Prou. 19. Riches gather many Friends: But the Poore is seperated from his Neighbours. Hee sayes not the Rich man, but Riches. It is the Money, not the Man, they hunt.
The Great-one bristles vp himselfe, and conceats himselfe higher by the head then all the rest; and is proud of many Friends. Alas, these Dogges d…e but hunt the Bird of Paradise for his Fethers: These Waspes doe but hoouer about the Gally-pot, because there is Hony in it. The proud Flie sitting vponupon the Charriot-wheele, which hurried with violence huff'd vp the Sand gaue out, that it was shee, which made all that glorious dust. The Asse carrying the Egiptian Goddesse, …well'd with an opinion that all those crouches, cryings, and obeysances, were made to him: But it is the Case, not the Carcase, they gape for. So may the chased Stagge boast how many Hounds hee hath attending him: They attende indeed, as Rauens a dying Beast: Acteon found the kind truth of their attendance. They runne away as Spiders from a decaying House; or as the Cuckoe, they sing a scuruie note for a monethmonth in Summer, and are gone in Iune or Iuly: sure enough before the Fall. These Hunters are gone; let them goe: For they hauehave brought mee a litle from the strictnesse and directnesse of my intended speach. But as a Physitian comming to cur…, doth sometimes receiue some of his Patients infection: So I hauehave been led to hunt a litle wide, to find out these cunning Hunters.
Bee pleas'd to obserue two generall Notes, and then I will come to the Application.
1. These two Brethren were borne togeather, were brought vp togeather; yet how great difference was there in their composition of Bodyes, in their disposition of Mindes, in their euents of Life; or as they say, in their Fortunes?
1. For Bodyes: One was rough and Hairy, the other was smooth and Plaine. This is seldome seene in Children begot and borne of the same Parents; but seldom… or neuer in two borne at one birth. And wee may goe so farre with the Physiognomer to say, That Complexion (though not guides,) yet inclines the inwarde Disposition.
2. For Disposition of Minde; this Text shewes a wide and opposite difference: Esau was a cunning Hunter, a man of the Field: But Iacob a plaine man, dwelling in Tents. And Gregory obserues from this example,Lib. 5. moral the remotenesse or contrarietie of Worldlings & Holy mens delights. Men of the World hunt after the pleasures of the World as Esau: Men of Grace giuegive themselues to the contemplation and studie of Vertue, as Iacob.
3. For Euents or Successe in this World, there was such Distance, as greater could not be imagined: For it is heere sayd, the Elder shall scrue the Younger. The priuiledge of Primogeniture belonged to Esau; yet both that, and the Blessing went to Iacob. If among vsus, the eldest Sonne sell all his Lands to a younger Brother, many are ready to blesse his Starres, and to say, Hee is borne to better Fortunes. But this Presiedent will besot that speach: diuers things are heere figured.
1. Literally heere is intended, that the Idumeans, the seed of Es…u, should be subiect to the Israelites, the posteritie of Iacob. So wee read 2 Sam 8. that they were subdued to Israel by Dauid. 2. Sam. 8. 14.All thoy of Edom became Dauids seruants; and so continued to the raigne of Iotham. This gaue the Iewes not onelyonly a superioritie in temporall Dominions, but in spirituall Blessings; the Grace and Mercy of God▪ for they were the visible Church, and Edom was cut off.
2. Mystically, this signifies the carnall Iewes subdued to the Christians; though the other were the elder people:Aug. de …x…it. Dei. lib. 16. c. 25. Therefore it is obseruable, that in the Genealogie of Christ Math. 1. many of the first borne were left out.Luk. 3. 38. Luke. 3. Seth is put in for the sonne of Adam▪ yet his eldest sonne was Cain. So Math. 1. 2. Abraham begate Isaac; yet his eldest sonne was Ishmael. Isaac begate Iacob; yet heere his first borne was Esau. Iacob begate Iudah; yet his first borne was Reuben. And Dauid begate Salomon in Mathewes Genealogie, Nathan in Lukes; yet both younger brethren by Bethsheba. Exod. 4. 22.Exod. 4. Israel is called Gods first borne, and his chosen people, his appropreation. Populus Iudaeus adumbratus fuit in his primogenitis: The Iewes were figured in these first borne; and wee the Gentiles, that were the younger Brothers, hauehave got away the Birthright. Rom 11. They are cast off, wee grafted in: so that now the Elder se…eth the younger.
Which teacheth vsus to looke well to our Charter in Christ: for it is not enough to bee borne of beleeuing Parents, but wee must also be beleeuers. Iob may sacrifice for not expiate his sonnes sinnes. It is sinfull for men on earth to depriue the first borne: but God may,Ge… 48. 14. and doth it. Gen. 48. Israel stre…ched out his right hand▪ and laid it vponupon Ephraims head, who was the younger: and his left hand on Manass…hs head, guiding his handes wi…tingly: though M…n…sseh was the first borne. And ver. 18 When Ioseph sayd to him, Not so my Father. Iacob answered, I know it my Sonne, I know it. Thus Generation may be cut off, Regeneration neuer. A man may be lost, though borne in the Fayth, vnlesse he be borne againe to the Fayth. Neither is it enough for Ishmael, to plead himselfe the Sonne of Abraham, vnlesse he can also plead himselfe the Sonne of God, and an heire of Abrahams fayth.
2. Commende me here to all Genethliackes, casters of Natiuities, Star-worshipers, by this token, that they are all Impostors, and heere prooued Fooles. Heere be Twinnes conceaued togeather, borne togeather; yet of as different natures and qualities, as if a vast locall distance had sundred their Births; or as if the originary blood of enemies had run in their Veines. It is S. Augustines Preclusion of all Star-predictions out of this place.De cu…it. D…i lib. 4. cap. 5. And since I am falne vponupon these Figure-casters, I will be bold to cast the Destinie of their Profession, and honestly lay open their Iuggling in sixe Arguments.
1. The falshood of their Ephimerides. The Prognosticators, as if they were Midwiues to the Celestiall bodyes, plead a deepe insight into their secrets: or as if like Physitians they had cast the Vrine of the Clouds, and knew, where the fitte held them; that it could neither raine nor hayle, till some Starre had first made them acquainted with it. Demonstration hath prooued these so false and ridiculous, that they may rather Commouere nauseam quàm bilum, and risum more then both.
Perhaps when some appoynt Raine on such a day, some Frost, others Snow, a fourth Winde, a last calme and faire weather; some of these may hit, some of these must hit: But lightly hee that against his knowledge told true to day, lyes to morrow: and hee that lyed yesterday, may happen right next day; as a blinde Archer may kill a Crow.
For this cause (I thinke) some were called Erring, or Wandring Starres: not so much that they were vncertaine in their owne seates and motions, as because they caused to erre their Clients and gaping Inquisitors. And so they are called Erring in the same phrase and sense,Pallidamors as Death is called Pale; not that it is Pale it selfe, but because it makes those Pale it seasseth on: And Winter durtie, not formaliter, but secundum effectum, because it maketh the Earth durty. So that rather their owne speculations by the Starres, then the Starres, are erring: both Decepto sensu cum iudicio, et corruptis organis.
Therefore some of the subtler, hauehave deliuered their opinions in such spurious, enigmaticall, dilogicall termes, as the Diuell gaue his Oracles; that since Heauen will not follow their Instructions, their Constructions shall follow Heauen. And because the Weather hath not fallen out, as they hauehave before tolde, they will now tell as the weather falles out. So that reading their Bookes you would thinke, as the Beggars hauehave their Canting, they had got a new Language out of the Elements, which the poore Earth neuer did or shall vnderstand: And it is thought, that Canting is the better Language, because it is not so ambitious, as to meddle with the Starres: Whereof the Prognosticators head comes as short, as his tongue doth of the Beggars eloquence.
2. The state of Fortune-tellers, and Prophecie-vsurpers: which is not onelyonly poore and beggarly, as if the enuious Earth refused to relieue those, that could fetch their liuing out of the Starres; but also ridiculous.
Nil habet infaelix paupertas durius in se,
Quàm quòd rìdiculos homines facit.
This is not all; but they are vtterly ignorant of their owne destinies. Now Quisibi nescius, cui praescius? Hee that is a Foole for himselfe, how should hee be wise for others? Thracias the South sayer, in the nine yeares drought of Egipt, came to Busiris the Tyrant;
Monstrat que piari
Hospitis effuso sanguine posse Iouem.
and told him, that Iupiters wrath might be appeased by sacrificing the Blood of a Stranger. The Tyrant asked him, What Country-man he was, of Egipt, or an aliant? Hee told him, a Stranger.
Illi Busiris;Quid. Am. lib. 3. & in Ibin. fies Iouis hostia primus,
Inquit, et Aegipto tu dabis hospes aquam.
Thou, quoth the Tyrant, art that lucky guest,
Whose Blood shall wet our soyle, and giuegive vsus rest.
It is reported that Biron, that French Martiall, came to an Astrologer, to know the future successe of his Plots; which because hee gaue disastrous, the angry Duke begun to his mischieuous intendments, in the Fate-tellers blood. Can they read other mens Fates in the Starres, and not the…s owne? Therefore one wittily wrote on such a Booke, after throwing it into the fire:
Thy Authour foretels much: alas! weake frend:
That hee could not prognosticate thy end.
3. The quicke moouing of the Celestiall bodies, and their remotenesse from our eyes: Both our sense is too weake to pierce into those Fires; and those Fires are too quicke in motion for our apprehension. Therefore sayth S. Aug. Si tam celeriter alter post altaerum nascitur, De ciu. D. lib. 5. cap ….vt eadem pars Horoscopi manea…, paria cuncta quaero, quae in nullis possu…t geminis inueniri: If one of the Twins be so immediatly borne after the other, that the same part of the Horoscope abide, I require likenesse and equalitie in them both; which can in no Twins be found. Wee see here two Brethren borne togeather (it is most likely) vnderunder the raigne of one Planet or Constellation; yet as different in Natures, as the Planets themselues.
To this they answere, that euen this cause, the swift motion of the Planets, wrought this diuersitie: because they change their Aspectes and Coni…ctions eueryevery moment. This would one Nigidius demonstrate, who vponupon a Wheele turning with all possible swiftnesse, let dropat once two aspersions of Incke, so neere togeather as possibly he could: yet Stanterota, &c. the Wheele standing still, they were found very remote & distant. Whereby hee would demonstrate, that in a small course of time, a great part of the celestiall Gloabe may be turned about. But this S. Austin soundly returns on them: That if the Planetarie courses, and Celestiall motions be so swift, it can not be discerned vnderunder what Constellation any one is borne.Hom. 10. sup. Eu…ng. And Gregory wittily derides their folly, that if Esau and Iacob were not therefore borne vnderunder one Constellation, because they came foorth one after another. By the same reason, neither can any one be borne vnderunder one Constellation, because hee is not borne all at once, but one part after another.
4. Vitabreuis hominum: Mans short and brittle life. If our age were now, as it was with the Patriarches, when the Stagge, the Rauen, and long-liu'd Oake, compared with mans life, dyed very young: They might then obserue and vnderstande the motion and reuolution of the Starres, and behold their effectes: when if any Starre had long absented it selfe from their contemplation, they could stay two or three hundred yeares to see it againe: But now as an English Nightingale sung;
Who liues to age,
Fitte to be made Methushalem his Page?
On necessitie this Astrologer must liue so long, as to hauehave obserued the life of such a man, borne vnderunder such a Planet: and after him of another borne in the like maner. Nay, he must ouertake the yeares of Methusoalem in the successiue contemplation of such experiments. But this life is not giuen, therefore not this knowledge.
5. The infinite number of the Starres take from them all possibilitie of infallible predictions. They cannot giuegive their generall number, and can they giuegive their singular natures? To attempt it, is Imprudentia caecissima; to affirme it, Impudentia effrontissima, blinde dotage, shamelesse impudence.
6. The various Disposition, Conditions, Natures, and Studies, coaetaneorum, of such as are borne togeather. So Gregory reasons of these Twinnes:Hom. 10. in Euang. Cum eodem momento mater vtrumque fuderit, cur non vna vtrius que vitae qualitas (vel aequalitas) fuit? When the Mother brought them both foorth at one instant, How comes it to passe, that they hauehave not the same qualitie and equalitie in their liues? Are not many borne at the same time, and vnderunder the same Constellation, Quorum processus et successus various et saepe contrarios videmus: Whose proceedinges and euents wee beholde so different?
If we may giuegive credite, that Romulus and Remus were both borne of a Vestall (defiled by a Souldier) at one birth, both exposed togeather to a wide Desert, both taken togeather and nourished of a shee-Wolfe, both building and chalenging Rome; yet Romulus slew his brother, and got the Kingdome of that Citie, and after his owne name called it Rome.
Fraterno primi maduerunt sanguine muri. If Castor, Pollux, and Helena, were got by Iupiter, and hatch'd by Laeda out of one Egge, How came they to so various fortunes?
Cur fratrem Pollux alterna morte redemit? Aenead. b.Cicero mentions it for the Chaldean follie,De Dininat. lib. 2. that they would hauehave Omnes eodem tempore ortos, all that were borne (wheresoeuer) togeather, eâdem conditione nasci: to be borne to the same condition.
But were all the Infants slaine at one time by Herod, borne vnderunder one Constellation? Or all the old World, drowned in the Deluge, vnderunder one Starre? Or all Souldiers slaine in one field, vnderunder the same Signe? The Mathematicians were wont to affirme, that all borne vnderunder the Signe Aquarius, Greg. Hom 10. in Euan.would be Fishers: But in Getulia there are no Fishers; was neuer any there borne vnderunder the signe Aquarius? The Cretians, (saith Paul) were alwayes Lyers: What, were they all borne vnderunder Mercurie? The Athenians greedy of Nouelties: had they all one predominant Starre? The Belgick…s Warriours: Were they therefore all borne vnderunder the raigne of Mars?
But I hauehave spent too much breath about this folly of Prognosticators. Of whom it may be sayd, that not onelyonly The Children of this world are wiser in their generation, then the Children of Light: Luk. 168.But they would be wiser ipsa Luce, then the Light it selfe. They would know more then Saints and Angels, and search out the inuestigable things of the Lord.Pacuv. Nam si qui, quae euentura sunt, praeuidea…t, aequiparent Ioui: If they could foresee future things, they would bragge themselues equall to God: But Secret things belong to GOD, reuealed to vsus. The other is both arrogant in man, and derogant to God. And Greg. sayes well: If such a Starre be a Mans Destenie, then is Man made for the Starres, not the Starres for Man. The Diuels know not future euents: and will these boast it? Sus mineruam scilicet.
THey grew vp togeather: and presently, Esau was a cunning Hunter, Iacob a plaine man. Wee see that euen Youth doth insinuate to an obseruer, the inclination and future course of a man. The Sprigge shooting out of the Tree, bendes that way it will euer grow. Teach a Child a Trade in his youth, and when hee is old, hee will not forget it, sayth Salomon. Esau entred quickly into the blacke way, which leades to the blacke Gates, that stand euer ready open for blacke soules. Palet atri ianua Ditis: As if hee should want rather time for his sport, then sport for his time, hee begins early; at the very threshold of his life, and morning of his yeares. Nequitiae cursus celerior quam aetatis: His wickednesse got the start of his age.
And did hee euer stay his course; that foolish parents should be so indulgent to their childrens licentiousnes? nay, ready to snibbe and checke their forwardnesse to Heauen with that curbe, A young Saint, an old Diuell: and, Wild youth is blessed with a stayed Age. But indeed most likely, a young Saint prooues an old Angell: and a young Esau, an old Diuell.
And hence followes the ruines of so many great Houses; that the young Maister is suffered to liue like an Esau, till hee hath hunted away his Patrimony; which scarce lastes the Sonne so many yeares, as the Father that got it had Letters in his name. But what cares hee for the Birthright: when all is gone, hee like Esau, can liue by the Sword: Hee will fetch Gold from the Indies, but hee will hauehave it. But hee might hauehave sau'd that iourney, and kept what hee had at home. If the Vsurer hath bought it, though for Porredge, hee will not part with it againe, though they weepe Teares. It is better to want superfluous meanes, then necessary moderation. Inse magnarunt, summisque negatum est, Stare diu: especially when the huge Colosses hauehave not sound feete. Vast Desires, no lesse then Buildings, where Foundations are not firme, sinke by their owne magnitude. And there comes often Fire Ex Rhamno, Iudg. 9. 20.out of the Bramble, that burnes vp the Men of Shechem, and sets on fire the Eagles nest in the Cedars.Psal. 37. 16. Psal. 37. Parumiusto, A litle that a righteous man hath, is better then the riches of many wicked. And a plaine Iacob will prosper better, then a prophane Hunting Esau. Let a man beginne then with God. Wherewithall shall a young man clense his way? Psal. 119. 9.by taking heed thereunto according to thy word.
Thus literally: Let vsus now come to some morall application to our selues.
Hunting is for the most part taken in the holy Scripture in the worst sence.Gen. 10. 9. So Gen. 10. Nimrod was a Hunter, euen to a Prouerbe: and that Before the Lord, as without feare of his Maiestie Now if it were so hatefull to hunt Beastes, what is it to Hunt-men? The wicked oppressors of the world are here Typed and Taxed: who employ both Arme and Braine to Hunt the poore out of their Habitations; and to drinke the Bloud of the oppressed. Herein obserue the
Persons Hunted.
Maner of Hunting.
Hounds.
The Poore.
Are their Prev: any man that either their witte or violence can practise on. Not so much Beggars; yet they would be content to Hunt them also out of their Coasts: but those that hauehave somewhat worth their Gaping after; and whose estates may Minister some Gobbets to their Throtes. Aquila non Capit muscas: the Eagles hunt no Flyes, so long as their be Foules in the Ayre. The Commonaltie, that by great Labour hauehave gotten a little stay for themselues; these they Hunt, and lay along, and Prey on their prostrate Fortunes.
If they be Tenantes, woe is them. Fines, Rents, Carriagas, slaueries shall drinke vp the Sweat of their Browes. There is law against Coyners; and it is made treason iustly to stampe the Kings Figure in Mettalles: But what is Mettall to a Man, the Image of God? And we hauehave those that coyne Money on the poores Sinnes: Traytors they are to the King of Kings.
The whole Countrey shall feele their hunting. They hunt Commons into Seueralles; Tilled grounds into Pastures, that the Gleaning is taken from the Poore, which God commaunded to be left them; and all succour, except they can grase in the High-wayes. And to others, to whom their Rage cannot extend, their Craft shall: for they will hoyst them in the Subsidies, or ouercharge them for the Warres, or vexe them with Quarrels in Law, or perhaps their Seruants shall in direct tearmes beat them. Naboth shall hardly keepe his Vinyard, if any nooke of it disfigures Ahabs Lordship: If they can not buy it on their owne price, they will to Law for it; wherein they respect no more, then to hauehave a…sam querelae, a colourable occasion of contention: for they will so wearie him, that at last hee shall be forced to sell it:Lib. 4. in uer. But Tully sayes of that sale; Ereptio non emptio est: It is an Extorting, not a Purchasing.
Thus the Poore man, is the Beast they hunt: who must rise early, rest late, eate the Bread of sorrow, sitte with many a hungry meale, perhaps his Children crying for Food, whiles all the fruite of his paines is serued in to Nimrods Table. Complaine of this whiles you will, yet as the Orator sayd of Verres: Pecuniosus nescit damnari. Indeed a Monny-man may not be damnified, but hee may be damned. For this is a Crying sinne, and the wakned eares of the Lord will heare it: neither shall his prouoked hands forbeare it. Si tacuerint pauperes, loquentur Lapides: If the Poore should hold their peace, the very Stones would speake. The Fines, Rackinges, Inclosures, Oppressions, Vexations, will cry to God for vengeance.Hab. …. The Stone will cry out of the Wall; and the beame out of the Timber shall answere it.
You see the Beastes they hunt: Not Foxes, not Wolues nor Boares, Bulles, nor Tygers. It is a certaine obseruation; no Beast hunts the owne kind to deuoure it. Now if these should prosecute Wolues, Foxes, &c. they should then hunt their owne kind: for they are these themselues; or rather worse then these: because here Homo homini Lupus. But though they are Men they hunt, and by nature of the same kind; they are not so by qualitie: For they are Lambes they persecute: In them there is Blood, and Flesh, and Fleece, to be had: and therefore on these doe they gorge themselues. In them there is weake Armour of defence against their cruelties; therefore ouer these they may domineere. I will speake it boldly: There is not a mighty Nimrod in this Land, that dares hunt his equall: But ouer his inferiour Lambe hee insultes, like a young Nero. Let him be graced by High ones, and hee must not be saluted vnderunder twelue score off. In the Countrie hee proues a Termagaunt: his very Scowle is a Prodegie, and breeds an Earthquake. Hee would be a Caesar, and taxe all: It is well if hee prooue not a Caniball. OnelyOnly Macro salutes Seianus so long as hee is in Tiberius his fauour: Cast him from that Pinacle, and the Dogge is ready to deuoure him.
You heare the Obiect, they hunt; attende the Manner. And this you shall finde, as Esau's, to consist in two things: Force, and Fraude. They are not onelyonly Hunters, but cunning Hunters.
1. For their Force, they are Robusti latrones, and hauehave a violent impetuous, imperious Hunting.Esay 59. 7. Desolation and destruction are in their Pathes. We may say of them, as Tertullian sayd of the Montanists. Nontam Laborant vt aedificarent sua, quam vt destruerent aliena. They seeke not somuch their owne encreasing as the depopulation of others. Philosophers hold the world to be composed of three concurrent principles, Matter, Forme, and Priuation: holding the last, to be rather a principle of Transmutation, then of Establishment. Oppressours besides the Matter, which is the Common-wealth; and the Forme which is Iustice; hauehave deuised to make necessarie also Priuation.
There are sinnes, which striue onelyonly Intra orbem suum urere: Sen.which hauehave no further latitude then the Conscience of the Committer: They are Priuate and Domesticall sinnes: the sting whereof dies in the proprietary. Such are Prodigality, Enuie, Sloth, Pride. Though euill example may doe somewhat, they hauehave no further extention. But some are of so wild a nature, that they are Mallets and Swords to the whole Country about them. And these are districtly, the sinnes of the Hand. So Micah. 2.Mic 2. 2. They couet Fieldes, and take them by Violence: and Houses, and tàke them away: so they òppresse a man and his house, euen a man and his Heritage. Why doe they all this, but because Manus potest. ver. 1. It is in the power of their Hand. And they measure their power, sayth Seneca, by the Span,De Benef. lib. 1. by the reach of their Hands. Iniurijs vires metuntur. Anaxagoras thought man the wisest of all Creatures, because he hath Handes, whereby he can expresse all signes. He might hauehave concluded him the Wickedest of all Creatures, quia manuatus, because he hath Hands. For no Tyger or Vulture vnderunder Heauen is more hurtfull with his Clawes and Tallents, then Man with his Hands. Achilles asked Palamedes going to the Troyan Warres, Why hee went without a Seruant? Hee shewed him his hands, and told him they were Loco seruorum, in stead of many seruants. Manus organum organorum. Their dexteritie and aptnesse chargeth them with sinnes, whereof the other parts are no lesse Guilty.
For the most part, those Beasts hauehave least immanitie that hauehave most strength. Oxen and Horses and Elephants are tame and seruicable, but Bees and Hornets hauehave Stings. So wisely hath the Creator disposed, that there may not be a Coniunction et Potentiae et Maleuolentiae: that might and malice may not meete. So they are suffered to hauehave Will to hurt, & not Power; or Power, and not will. The curst Cow hath short Hornes: But these Hunters hauehave got both. The Poet sayth:
That Lyons doe not prey on yeelding things,
Pittie's infeoffed to the blood of Kings.
Posse et nolle, nobile: That thou mayst harme and wilt not, is laus tua, thy prayse: that thou wouldest and canst not, gratia Dei, is Gods prouidence. Haman would hang Mordecai and cannot: hee is a villaine in Hell for his intent. Dauid, when hee had Saul in the Caue, could hurt and would not: hee is a Saint in Heauen. Shimei would, but can not kill (though rayle on) Dauid: Dauid can, and will not kill Shimei. The hote Disciples would hauehave Fire from Heauen to destroy the Samaritans, and could not: Christ could commaund it, and would not. How rare is a man of this disposition among vsus? If aduantage hath thrust a Bootie into his hands, the Lambe is in the Wolues Caue with more securitie. Plead what thou wilt, prostrate thy owne innocence, aggrauate the Oppressors crueltie: hee answeres as Esopes Wolfe answered the Lambe; Thy Cause is better then mine, but my Teeth are better then thine; I will eate thee. Aud this is a shrewd inuincible argument, when the cause must be tryed out by the Teeth. Pactum non pactum est,Plaut. non pactum pactum est; quicquid illis lubet: Bargaine or not bargaine; the Law must be on their sides: Nemo potentes tutus potest aggred…: Hee comes to his cost,Sen. in medea. that comes to complaine against them.
2 For their Fraude; they are Cunniug Hunters. They are Foxes as well as Lyons to get their Prey. Nay the Fox-head doth them often more stead, then the Lyons Skinne. Mical. 7.Mic. 7. …. They hunt with a Net. They hauehave their politicke Ginnes to catch them. Gawdy Wares and darke Shoppes, (and would you hauehave them louelove the light, that liue by darknesse, as many Shopkeepers) draw and tole Customers in: where the craftie Leaches can soone feele their Pulses: if they must buy, they shall pay for their necessitie. And though they plead, Wee compell none to buy our Wares; Caueat emptor: yet with fine voluble Phrases, damnable Protestations, they will cast a mist of errour before an Eye of simple Trueth; and with cunning deuises hunt them in. So some among vsus hauehave feathered their nestes, not by open violence, but politicke circumuention. They hauehave sought the Golden Fleece, not by Iasons Merite, but by Medeas Subtiltie, by Medeas Sorcerie.
If I should intende to discouer these Hunters Plottes, and to deale punctually with them, I should afford you more matter, then you would afford me time. But I limit my selfe,De vit. et morib. Christ and answere all their Pleaes with August. Their tricks may hold in iure fori, but not in Iure poli: in the Common-pleas of Earth; not before the Kings bench in Heauen.
Neither doe these Cunning Hunters forrage onelyonly the Forrest of the world. but they hauehave ventured to enter the Pale of the Church, and hunt there. They will go… neare to emparke it to themselues, and thrust God out. So many hauehave done in this Land: and though it be danger for the poore Hare to preach to Lyons & foxes, I am not afrayd to tell them, that they Hunt; where they hauehave nothing to doe. Poore Ministers are deare to them; for they are the Deare they Hunt for: How many Parishes in England (all most to the number of halfe) hauehave they empayled, to themselues, and chased the Lords Deare out? Yea now, if God lay Challenge to his owne Ground against their Sacrilegious impropriations, for his owne Tithes; they are not ashamed to tell him, They are none of his: and what lawes soeuer he hath made, they will hold them with a Non obstante. They were taken into the Church for Patrons, defenders; and they proue offenders, Theeues; for most often Patrocinia, latrocinia.
You hauehave read how the Badger entertain'd the Hedghogge into his Cabine, as his inward friend: but being wounded with the Prickles of his offensiue guest, hee manerly desired him to depart in kindnesse, as he came. The Hedge-hog thus satisfies his iust expostulation; that hee for his part found himselfe very well at ease, and they that were not, had reason to seeke out another place, that likes them better. So the poore Horse, intreating helpe of the Man against the Stagge; euer after Non equitem dorso, non fraenum depulit ore: They hauehave ridde vsus, and bridled vsus, and back'd vsus, and spurr'd vsus, and got a tyranny ouer vsus, whom wee tooke in for our familiar friends and fauourites.
3. Now for their Houndes: besides that they hauehave long Noses themselues, and Hands longer then their Noses, they hauehave Dogges of all sorts.
Beagles, cunning Intelligencers. Eó laudabilior, quò fraudulentior: The more crafty they are,Aug. Confes. lib. 1. the more commendable.
Their Setters, prowling Promoters; whereof there may be necessarie vse, as men may hauehave of Dogges; but not tollerable for their purposes.
Their Spanyels, fawning Sycophants, that lick their Maisters handes, but are brawling euer at poore strangers,
Their great Masti…es; surely and sharking Bayliffes, that can set a Rankling Tooth in the poore Tenants Ribbes.
They hauehave their Bandogs, corrupt Soliciters, Parrat-Lawyers; that are their properties, and meere Trunkes, whereby they informe and Plead before Iustice, against Iustice. And as the Hounds can somtimes smell out the Game, before their Maister; as hauing a better Nose, then he an Eye: so these are still Picking-holes in poore mens estates, and raking vp broken Titles: which if they iustly be defended; Actio fit non Lustralis, sed secularis: Whereif (because Iustice doth somtimes preuaile) it goe against them; yet Maior est expensarum sumptus, quam sententiae fructus: The cost is more Chargeable then the victorie profitable.
Some of them, whose Pale is the Burse, hauehave their Bloud-hounds;AElian. lib. 9. Cap. 18. long-nosd, hooke-handed Brokers, that can draw the sinking estate of poore men, by the bloud of necessitie. If they spie Pride and Prodigalitie in the streets, they watch ouer them as Puttocks ouer a dying Sheepe. For Pascuntur scelere: they are not Doues but Rauens, and therefore sequuntur cadauera, follow Carcases. O that some blessed medicine could ridde our Land of these Warts and Scabbes; free vsus from these Currs. The Cunning Hunters could not doe so much mischeefe, without these Lurchers, these insa…iate Hounds.
Thus I hauehave shewed you a Fielde of Hunters: what should I adde, but my Prayers to Heauen, and desires to Farth, that these Hunters may be hunted. The hunting of harmefull Beastes is commended; the Wolfe, the Boare, the Beare, the Foxe, the Tyger, the Otter. But the metaphoricall hunting of these is more prayse worthy: the Country-wolues, or Cittie-Foxes deserue most to be Hunted. Non est meae Paruitatis, &c. I am to shallow to aduise you Demodo: I onelyonly wish it might be done: they that hauehave authoritie to doe it, know best the meanes, I will but discouer the Game, and leaue it to their Hunting: naming the persons they should Hunt: they know the Hounds where withall.
1 There is the wilde Boare, that breakes ouer Gods mounds and spoyles his Vineyeard.Psal. 80. 13. Psal. 80. The Boare out of the Wood doth waste it: and the wild Beast of the Field, doth deuoure it. This is the depopulator, that will forrage and lay all waste, if he be not restrained. What; Doe you call him a wasting Boare? hee rather encloseth all, breaketh vp none. Yes, hee layes waste to the Common-wealth, though hee encloseth to himselfe. Hee wasteth Societies, Communitie, Neighbourhood of people; turnes them out of their auncient Dores, sendes them to the wide World to begge their Bread. Hee is a bloody Boare, and hath two damnable Tuskes: Money to make him Friendes, and to charme conniuence: And a wicked Conscience, that cares not to swimme to Hell in Blood. The brawny Shield of this Boare, whereby hee beares off all blowes of Curses, is the securitie of his owne dead Heart: Hee thinkes the Cryes and Vlulations of Widdowes and Orphans, the best Musicke. When the hand of God strikes him, (as strike him it will, and that fearefully) hee euen rouseth and rageth on him; and dyes like an angry Boare, foaming at mouth, as if hee were spitting defyance at Heauen. Let this Beast be Hunted.
2. There is the Foxe, the craftie Cheater, that steales the Grapes. Cant. 2. Take in the Foxes, &c. Cant. 2. 15.It is Gods charge to hunt him. Hee turnes Beastes out of their Dennes by defyling them. Hee sold his Conscience to the Diuell for a stocke of villanous Witte. Hee hath a stinking Breath;Plin. corrupted with Oathes and Lies: and a rauenous Throat to prey vponupon mens simplenesse. If all tricks fayle, hee will counterfeit himselfe dead, that so drawing the Fowles to feed vponupon him, hee may feed vponupon them. The Defrauder puts on a semblance of great smoothnesse; you would take him for a wonderfull honest man: Soft, you are not yet within his clutches; when you are, Lord hauehave mercy on you, for hee will hauehave none.
3. There is the bloody Wolfe; the profest cutthroat the Vsurer. Hunt him, sease on his Denne; it is full of pooremens Goods. What a Golden Law would that bee, which were called a Statute of Restitution: Such a one as Nehemiah enacted. Neh. 5. that Lands and Vineyards,Nehe. 5. 11. Houses and Goods, morgag'd into Vsurers hands, should be restored. When hee sealed it with a sacramentall Oath, and made them sweare consent to it. And hee shooke his Lappe, and sayd. So God shake out eueryevery man from his house, and from his labour,ver. 13. that performeth not this Promise; euen thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the Congregation sayd, Amen. But if they will not restore by themselues, they shall by their posteritie. For, as Plinie writes of the Wolfe, that it brings foorth blind Whelps: so the Vsurer lightly begets blind Children, that cannot see to keepe what their Father left them. But when the Father is gone to Hell for gathering, the Sonne often followes for scattering. But God is iust. A good man leaueth his Inheritance to his Children Children:Pro▪ 13. 22. and the Wealth of the sinner is laid vp for the iust.
4. There is also the Badger, a Beast of rapine: Wee hauehave his fellowes among vsus, the Ingrossers of Corne, the Raysers of the price, sweeping away whole Markets: Wee call these Badgers. The Poore that comes with a litle Money, cannot speed; but at an vnreasonable rate: they ingrosse all. And by their Capacitie, or rather Rapacitie, hauing so much in their hands, they sell it at the place of their transporting, at their owne price.
5. The Dromedarie would also be better hunted: I meane the vagrant Rogues, whose whole life is nothing but an exorbitant course: the maine begging, the by's silching and stealing: OnelyOnly they are not so seruiceable as the Dromedary; which is a Beast of quicke feete, and strange speed. The reason is giuen by Aristotle, because the extreame heate of Nature doth waste all the vnctuositie and fatnesse, and thereby giues greater agilitie. But these Dromedaries are not swift: Let one charitable Constable amongst a hundred light on him, and giuegive him correction, and a Pasport to his (false-named) place of birth, and hee will not trauell aboue a Mile a day. Let them alone, and they will trauerse their way…; Ier. 2. 23.which are no wayes: for they cannot keepe the beaten path: let them be where they will, they are neuer out of their way. They boast themselues of the broode of Cain… for they are perpetuall Runnagats. If the Stoks and Whip-post can not stay their extrauagancie, there remaines …nely the Gal-house.
6. Let the roring Bull be hunted; the Bulles of Basan, the Bulles of Rome; sent ouer by the Pope ad interitum, either of vsus or themselues: For their end is not implere Ecclesiam, but c…miterium; to fill Church-yards with dead bodyes, not the Church with liuing soules. No Seruice would be so welcome to them, as the Sicilian Euensong, or the Parisian Mattens. But since no Drugge is currant in their Shoppes, but Diacatholican, Treason and Ruine; let it be first ministred to themselues to purge their burning Feuers. And since the Pope sends his Bulles into England so thicke, bellowing to call his Calues togeather, and to excite their reuolting from their Soueraigne; let them speed no otherwise then those Bulles once did, that cald in an other Bull, which was Bull the Hang-man: to dispatch them all.
If you be disposed to hunt, hunt these Beastes that hauocke the Common-wealth: Let the Lambes alone, they doe you much good, no hurt. And to this chase vse all your skill: in this worke it shall be your commendation to be cunniug Hunters. The Lord shall emparke you within the Pale of his owne mercifull Prouidence, and restraine the sauage furie of your Enemies. Let those, whom God hath made Maisters of this serious game, and giuen Commission to hunt vicious persons: Let eueryevery particular man hunt Vice out of his owne heart. If there be any violence to get the Kingdome of Heauen, vse it: if any policie to ouerthrow Satan and his complices, against whom we wrastle, exercise it. This Warre shall be your Peace. You shall helpe to purge the Land of noxius Beastes; and clense your owne hearts from those lustes; which if you hunt not to death, shall hunt you to death; as the morall of Acteon. And God that giues you this commaund and courage, shall adde for it a mercifull recompence; taking you at last from this militant Chace to the Parke of his triumphant Rest. Amen.
FINIS.