The Prophecy of Obadiah Opened and Applied, Sermon 3
VERSE 5. 6.
… If theeues had come vntounto thee, if robbers by night, (how …rt thou …?) … they not b… stollen that which were enough for them? If grap…gatherers had come vntounto thee, would they not hauehave left some grapes?
6 How are the things of Esau sought out, his secret things are searched?
THE ruine & destruction of the Idumaeans is set forth by the spirit of God in this prophecie, for the instruction and comforte of the Israelites: to assure them, that God will execute iustice, and iudgement on their enemies, in the day of his visitation, whē hee will saue them. In the former verses (as I hauehave shewed already) the …phet declared the sentēce of the Lord against the …, that they should be destroyed; …. … 2the witnesses thereof, himselfe, and other Prophets, who … it …; the meanes, that he woulde worke by, the warr…urs … against them to battail…, …. … 4.the weakenesse of their helps and holdes to the contrary, which, though they exalted as the Eagle doth his nest among the … th…e should they be brought downe, saith the Lord. Now, in these that follow to bee handled presently, the greatnes and grievousnesse of their destruction is opened: to wit, that they shall be spoiled and wasted, evē vntounto the vttermost, insomuch that their things shalbee sought out, yea their hidden things and secret places shalbe searched. And this is amplified by 2. dissimilitudes: the one of theeues, the other of grape gatherers. Theeues, who rob by night, doe steale for neede commonly, and so they take no more then may suffice their neede: neither stay they lightly to search all things and places, for feare least they be taken. Grapegatherers among the Iewes, were accustomed to leaue some grapes behind them, according to the law: Thou shalt not gather the grapes of thy vineyard Lev. 19. 10.cleane, nor the grapes that fall downe; thou shalt leaue them for the poore and for the stranger. But the warriers sent by God against Edom, shall not deale with him as theeues, or as grapegatherers. They shall not be contented with that which is enough, as robbers by night are. They shall not leaue somewhat of his things behind them, as men doe grapes in the vineyard. They shall seaze on al, on more then enough; they shall seeke out the things of Esau, that is, Edom, they shall seeke thē out, and by seeking finding them; yea they shall search and Gen. 25. 30.rifle the corners, the dennes, the secret places, wherein the Idumaeans would hide themselues and theirs. By which meanes there should be such hauocke made of them, that the Prophet vttereth it with admiration, and, as if he saw it done; saying first to Edom, How art thou destroyed! And then of him and his, How are the things of Esau sought out, his secret things are searched! Thus is foreshewed, that the desolation of Edom, or Esau, that is, of Esau's ofspring, the people of the Idumaeans, shall be great and grievous, as being wrought by warriours, who shall spare nought, either of feare, as theeues doe; or of compassion, as grapegatherers. If theeues had come vntounto thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou destroyed?) would they not hauehave stollen that, which were enough for them? If grapegatherers had come vntounto thee, would they not hauehave left some grapes? How are the things of Esau sought out, his secret things are searched?
Saint Peter advertising the Iewes and the Proselytes, that they should receaue the gift of the holy Ghost, if they Act. 2. 38.repented, and turned to Christ: for to you (saith he) is the promise made, and to your children, & to all them that shal be long hereafter, even to as many as the Lord our God shal call: the same in like sort may I say vntounto you (fathers & brethren) touching this promise of bringing your enimies to vtter ruine and destruction. For, God said to Gen. 12. 3.Abraham, I will blesse them, that blesse thee, and I wil curse them, that curse thee: meaning, that hee would make a perfect league with him, and bee at peace with his friends, at warre with his enimies. But the league and covenant, which God made with Abraham, hee made with Abraham and his seed. And the seed of Abraham Gen. 17. 7. Gal. 3. 7.are all faithfull Christians. To vsus all therefore is the promise made, that God will blesse our friends, and will curse our enimies. Moreover, his particular curse and plague ensuing it, vponupon the Idumeans, is a patterne of that, which shall fall on such as tread in their steps. For the punishment of the Iewes, who lusted after evill 1. Cor. 10. 6.things, is threatned to the Gentiles, if they lust as the Iewes did: and if yee be partakers of the sinnes of Babylon, Rev. 18 4.yee shall receaue of her plagues. Now, among the eni mies of the faithfull Christians, others doe more resemble the Philistines, or Ammonites, or Moabites, or Amalekites, or Cananites, or Assyrians: there are none liker to the Idumeans, then are the Papists, as it hath beene shewed. The Idameans borne according to the flesh of the seed of Abraham: the Papists by ofspring come of Christian parents. The Idumeans circumcised as children of the covenant: the Papists baptised in the same that we be. The Idumeans serued not the God of their fathers according to the law: neither doe the Pa pists in spirit and truth after the Gospell. The Idumeans persecuted the Israelites to death, and vexed thē with all crueltie: the Papists hauehave butchered the godly with massacres, and made themselues drunken with the blood of Saints. Wherefore the spirit of the Lord assureth vsus, that the Papists shall bee consumed in his wrath, when it shall burne suddenly: and as they hauehave followed the facts of the Idumeans, so they shall feele their punishments. I speake not herein of all, that are Papists: as neither did the Prophet of all Idumeans. For the remnant of Edom shall inherit with Israel, & Papists with vsus: as many as shall seeke him, whose name is called Amos, 9. 12. Act. 15 17, 8.vponupon them. Whi…h God grant they may doe by faith in his mercy, that Papists may liue, and papistrie may die. But I speake of all who stubbornely persist in the Popish heresies. In whom shal be fulfilled the Apostles prophecie touching the man of sinne: the Lord shall consume them with the breath of his mouth. And so, that 2. Thess 2. 8.which is written of Edom by the Prophet, may be said by vsus to the Romish Antichrist: If theeues had come vntounto thee, if robbers by night (how art thou destroyed?) would they not hauehave stollen that which were enough for them? If Grapegatherers had come vntounto thee, would they not hauehave left some grapes? How are the things of Antichrist sought out, his secret things are searched?
Howbeit, as S. Paul, though he were assured, that al who sailed with him, should escape aliue, yet said, that Act. 27 24. V. 31.they could not escape, except the marriners abode in the ship: so, though it bee certaine that Antichrist and his members shall be consumed, yet cannot that bee, except they be set vpō by warriers For God doth worke by meanes ordinarily. And this is the meanes, that he hath ordained for the atchieuing of that conquest, as we saw before in the Ambassadours message, Arise, and let vsus rise vp against her to battel. The warriours, whose Obad. 1.service the Lord doth vse thereto, are all his servants in a sort; his people most willing in the day of his armie: but specially Preachers and Ministers of his word. For his Psal. 110. 3.word is the rod of his mouth, the breath, the sword, whereby he doth destroy his enimies: & Ministers are souldiers, Esa. 11 4. 2 Thess 2 8. Rev 19. 15. Ag…e 1. 1.by whose hand hee weeldeth it. For which cause their function is compared to warfare, in that it is written by S. Paul, Who goeth to warfare any time at his 1. Cor 9. 7. 2. Tim. 2. 4.owne cost? And, No man that warreth entangleth himselfe with the affairs of this life, that he may please him, who hath chosen him to be a souldier. And God saith of thē by the Prophet Esay: I hauehave set watchmen vponupon thy walls, O Ierusalem, Esay 62. 6.which all the day, & all the night continually shall not cease. The watchmen and warriours therefore of the Lord, the keepers of his Church, the conquerours of his enimies, the spoylers of the Idumaeans, the consumers of Antichrist, & Antichristian impes, are Ministers of his word, Pastors, & Teachers, who to please him, by whom they are chosen souldiers, should not be entangled with the affaires of this life; to discharge their dutie, should bee sent forth and kept on publike cost; to preserue their flocke, should watch day and night continually over it. The lesse marvaile is it, if in our English Churches Antichrist and Edom be not consumed yet; nay, if they attempt to consume vsus; if by Popish policies, by superstitious tokens, by blasphemous writings by traiterous libels and conspiracies, they vndermine our state; if they take craftie counsaile against the people Ps. 83 3. V. 12.of God, & say, Let vsus possesse his habitatiōs by inheritance, if they look for a day, whē they may cry once againe, rase it, rase it to the foundation thereof; in a word, if they range through the land like woolues, & suck the bloud Psal. 137. 7.of sheep & lambs: sith the shepheards faile, the watchm…n are asleepe, the warriours doe not fight, through want, somewhere of will, somewhere of abilitie. Of wil, where they entangle themselues with such affaires as draw them f…om their warfare, and are not content to bee watchmen in Ierusalem, but they must hauehave a watchmanship in Caesarea too; or, if they hauehave one stocke alone, y…t doe not feed it, but take their ease in Sion. Of abilitie, where there is not sufficient provisiō for training of men to make them good souldiours; nor mainetenance sufficient to finde them being trained: that, setting all other cares of life apart, they may attend their charge wholly. To them here amongst vsus, who, through want of will are backeward in this service of the Lord God of Hoasts, so much hath beene spoken, so often, so earnestly, both out of this & other places: that I am halfe ashamed againe to solicite thē with Precept vponupon precept, Precept vponupon Precept. Notwithstanding, as I hauehave read, that when we had gotten Esay. 28. 1….Calice from the Frenchmen, there was one appointed to put them in remēbraunce from time to time of Calice, in all their solemne meetings for State consultations, till they had regained it: so I am perswaded, that till the amendment of this fault be woone, it is most convenient for the Lordes remembrancers in all our Church-assemblies to wish it to be thought of.
Wherefore, to put you in minde even now also of our Spirituall Cal…e, I beseech you fathers & brethren (whom it toucheth) now at length to regard the state of the Soules, the precious Soules of men committed to your charge: whose blood, if they perish for lacke of that attendance, which you ought to giuegive them, will cry for sharper vengeance, then did the blood of Abel. Or, if my perswasion cānot prevaile with you: yet Gen 4 10.let his prevaile, whose praier hath prevailed for you; who died himselfe, that you might liue; who said, and all things were created; whose word the windes & seas obey. Consider the function, that he hath called you to; the duty laid vponupon you, the reward, if you do it; the punishment, if you do it not. Who is (saith he) a faithfull Luk. 12. 24.and wise Steward, whom his master maketh ruler over his houshold, to giuegive them their portiō of meate in due season' Blessed is that servant, whom his master, when he cōmeth, shall finde so doing: verily, I say vntounto you, he shal make him ruler over all his goods. But if that servant say in his hart, my master doth deferre his comming, and begin to smite the servants and maidens, and to eate and drinke, and to be drunken: that servants master will come in a day, when hee looketh not for him, and in an houre, that he is not ware of, and will cut him in peeces, and giuegive him his portion vvith the vnbeleevers. Our Saviour the sonne of God, the king of kings, and Lord of Lords, having entertained men & women of al degrees to be his houshold servants, is carefull to feede thē with convenient food, that they may serue him in their vocation fruitfully. This food is the doctrine of his holy word, which must be divided in diverse sorts vntounto his seruants, according to their diverse states: some to be sed with milke, some with strong meat; some humbled with the law, some raised with the gospell; each to hauehave his portion of meat most wholesome for him. Nor only must they hauehave it, but hauehave it too in due season, as often as they need it: which is so often, that the holy Ghost (to shew the continuall necessitie thereof) doth will it to be given them in season & out of season. For, as mens bodies should loose 2. Tim 4 2.their temporall life, vnlesse, as they decay still, so they were repaired with sustenance of meate and drinke: in like sort mens soules are fainting still also, to their hazard Amo…. 8. 11.of life eternall, vnlesse they be refreshed with the food of Gods word. Wherefore that his servants and maidens be not furnished: the master of the houshold hath made you his stewards to minister meate vntounto thē. If you behaue your selues, as wise stewards, and faithfull; wise, in discerning what portion of meat they neede each, and when; faithfull in giving it to them in due season: your master shall come, who nowe is absent as it were and gone into a farre country, but he shall come againe and fill you with blessednesse; he shall make you rulers Luk. 19. 1.over all his goods, and honour you as highly as Pharaoh did Ioseph; yea, he shall reward you with a crowne Gen. 41. 40. 1 Pet 5 4 Dau. 12. 3.of glory, an incorruptible crowne, and yee shall shine as starres for ever and ever. But if yee thinke his comming to be farre of, and so begin to smite the servants and the maidens; nay, I would to God yee did smite them onelyonly so that yee taught them too, for that were a benefite; but if yee famish them, and play the good fellowes your selues with the world, and eate and drinke, and bee drunken: your master will come in a day when yee looke not for him and in an houre, that yee are not ware of, and will cut you in peeces, and giuegive you your portion with the vnbeleevers. By the Roman lawes of the 12. tables, if a mā foreign.owed money vntounto sundry creditours, and after iudgement … de … iudicata.given, did not agree with them himselfe, or o thers for him: his creditours might (after certain daies respite) cut his body in peeces, and take them each a part thereof Phavorinus the Philosopher reproved this law A Gel. Noct. …. l 20 c. 1as cruell and barbarous. But Caecilius the Lawyer replyed well vponupon him, that so great a punishment was appointed of purpose, that they might neuer come vntounto it. For now we see many (said he) laid vp fast, and fast into fetters because the paine of fetters is contemned by lewde persons. But I never read nor heard, that of old time any was cut in peeces: because they could not set light by that punishment. Metius …, the Prince of the Albanes, having promised the Romane king Tullus Hostilius to succour him against his enimies, did treacherously deceiue him: by whom he was therefore tied to two carts, his handes to the one, his feet to the other, and so (the horses being driven contrary waies) he was torne in peeces. Livie Hist. ab Vib. Cond lib. 1.misliketh this punishment as over sharp, and saith that there was small regard of humane lawes had in it. But Virgil weighing better the greatnes of the fault, Aeneid lib. 8.alloweth it with graue censure, At tu dictis Albane maneres. Traitors in our daies, though they be not torne But thou O Alban Prince, thy promise shouldst hauehave kept. Epist. de persequut. Angl.with horses as Metius, yet are they rent in peeces, as Metius was, and quartered. The Papists complaine thereof to forreine nations, as of outragious tyrannie, when they are put vntounto it for traiterous facts against our Prince. But it is vsuall and lawfull for the Pope (as Leo the tenthes practise in Gu…ciardin doth witnesse) to quarter mē for treason wrought against him. Now, Hist. Ital l. 13this severe punishment, which hath bin thought fit by mortall Iudges to be laid vponupon vnfaithfull debters, vponupon treacherous persons, vponupon rebellious Traitours, is the same, that Christ the immortall iudge denounceth vntounto you, if yee be disloyall to God, your Soveraigne Lord, if yee breake promise with him and his servants, if yee pay them not the debt, which yee owe them, & giuegive thē their portion of meate in due season. A very grievous punishment: yet nothing to that, which Christ importeth by it. For he doth import (as the words following shew) that yee sh…ll hauehave your portion with the vnbeleevers. And the vnbeleeuers shall hauehave their portion 1. Rev. 21. 8.in the lake, that burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Of Damocles a Heathen man it is recorded, that when Dionysius the Tyrant entertained him magnificently and Princely, although at the first hee thought himselfe happy, respecting the traine of men, attendant on him, the plate of gold and silver, the gorgeous cloths, the sweet perfumes, the Viands most delicate, all furniture rich and royall: yet after, seeing a sword hanging by a thread let downe over his head, he could take no ioy of his entertainement, nay he tooke greefe, and desired earnestly to be dismissed from it. How much lesse ioy should you take in your eating, your drinking, your pleasures, with which, as wordly baits, the Prince of this world doth pamper your flesh against the day of slaughter: sith there hangeth over your necks an axe of vengeance, not that may perhaps, but that will assuredly, not kill your bodies only, but both bodies and soules, not with tem porall death, but with everlasting into hell fire; there shall bee weeping and …nashing of teeth. O consider this, Mat. 24 51.yee that forget God! least he teare you in peeces, and there be none that can deliuer you. The warriour, that spoileth the Idumeans, shall honour him: and he that watcheth over the Israelites to saue them, shall see the salvatiō of God. And thus much to thē, who through want of will, search not the secret things of Esau.
As for the defect, which this exploit suffereth through want of habilitie, because such as should doe it, are either not trained or not maintained to it in sufficient sort: that is so much hurt fuller to vsus then the former, by how much the contagion of it spreadeth farder. For souldiours ought to learne & practise feates of warre, (as expert men hauehave noted) before they V… de re …e milit. lib. 1 cap. …. Lib 2 cap. 19. Lib 3. cap 3.deale in martial affaires with their enimies: and as they should employ themselues to no businesse, but to their service only, so should they be allowed victuals, & other necessaries, that they need not to doe it. Wherevpon the Lord appointing Priests and Levites to serue him in this warfare (as Moses tearmeth it) and ministery, allotted them, offerings, first fruits, and tithes of all the land Num 4 23. Numb 18 9.to liue by, with Cities to dwell in, and grounds annex Num, 35. 2.ed therevnto: and, beside the convenience of their abode together in Ierusalem and other Cities, that they might the better be trained from their infancie to skil of the priestly and Leviticall duties, to teach the law of Deut 33 10. 1. Sam 10 5. & 9. 10 … …. 2 3. & 6. 1.God, and offer incense, and Sacrifice: there were also Colleges and companies of Prophets, wherein the youn ger learn…d vnderunder the elder (as children vnderunder fathers) to be men of God, to praise his name, & teach his will. These orders receaued by the Church of Israel should be followed by ours: though not in all particulars; yet in the generall equitie. For, as they who served about the holy things, did eate of the temple; they, who waited at the … Cor. 19 13.Altar, were partakers with the Altar: so the Lord ordained too, that they who preach the Gospell should liue of the Gospell. And Tim…thee, who was chosen to serue in this warfare, as a souldiour of Christ, did not only knowe the Scriptures from his infancie, but also was brought vp to 1. Tim 1. 18. foreign. 2. Tim. 2 3. 2. Tim. 3 15. Act 16 3. 2. Tim. 3. 10.the ministery by S. Paule, whose doctrine and behauiour framed him vntounto it. In which consideration our Auncestours provided Houses, Glebeland, Tithes, & other profits, for the commodious dwelling & maintenance of Pastours: and endowed Bishopricks, Cathedral and Collegiat Churches (as we call them) with landes and revenewes, that learned godly Teachers being placed As appeareth by the groūds thereof in S. Cyprian, Eusebius, Gregorie, the Councels of To …, with other Councels, Fathers, and and … Ecclesiastical: and M. Bucer shew eth in his booke entituled, De reforma…ione Colleg… Canonici. Mat. 21. 41.there, might instruct others by their doctrine and behaviour, as S. Paul did Timothee. For the fuller perfecting and finishing of whom to all the Lords worke, they founded Vniversities and Colleges therein also. But I would to God these nurseries of Pastours & Teachers of the Church, were husbanded in such sort to the Lords advantage, that we need not feare his sentence of the vineyard, that he will let it out to other husbandmen. Then should not so many raw vntrained souldiours receiue the Lords pay, who doe him smal service in the day of battell. And yet there were lesse cause to complaine hereof, if they, who be trained, were procured to serue him. But the imprest money and wages due to them, the livings (I meane) appointed for their maintenance, are so impaired and minished: that, being not able therewith to find thēselues in souldiourlike state, they refuse the calling; or if they vndertake it, they are distracted from it, with cares how to supply their need. Whereby it commeth to passe that, the Levites flying each into his land for lack of their portions, Neh. 13. 10.the house of God is for saken. And to fill their rooms others are taken, who will be hired for least: not according to the proverbe, Best is best cheape; but to the common practise, Best cheape is best. Who, though not to serue the calues of Dan and Bethel, yet are made Priests, as those by Ieroboam, of peeces of the people, not 1. King. 12. 31.of the sons of Levi. Who, if they had the grace, should say, I am no Prophet, I am a husbandman: and returne to Zac. 13. 5.the trade which their friends hauehave taught them.
Who are not endued with necessary gifts for the Prophets duty: and therefore, howsoever men hauehave cal led them to it, God hath not called them. For, whom God calleth vntounto any function, thē endueth he with gifts to performe it: as Bezaleel, to make his tabernacle; Exod. 31. 2. Ier. 1. 9. Act 2. 4.Ieremie, to doe his message; the Apostles to preach the Gospell. So the slock of Christ, is desolate of shepheards; and his campe of souldiours: while such hauehave the places, as cannot strengthen the weake, helpe the sick, Ezech. 34. 4.bind vp the broken; nor destroy his enimies with the two edged sword, and defend his subiects. A great cause Heb. 4. 12.hereof are Patrons of Benefices. For, whereas the interest of choosing the Pastour belonging of old time to the Congregation, is now conveyed to them, because their predecessors did benefit the Church some way, and therefore were put in trust as Patrones of it: they, a number of them, doe deale with the matter as Polymest…r did with Polydore, that is, as evill gardians doe with their wardes, and turne their patronage into pillage. The lust of their hearts hath defiled their hāds with the sacrilege of Acan: to take gold and silver, and Ios 7. 21.Baby…onish garments, of the spoiles of Iericho consecrated to God. Or, if not with so soule sacrilege, as his was, … 6. 19.because their Predecessours gaue some of it perhaps: yet with the sacrilege of Ananias and Sapphira; yea, though themselues had given it. If Act. 5. 2.they thinke to cover their profane dealing with Acans conveyance by hiding the pray, or to wash their hands with Pilates pretense, that they are giltlesse Ios. 7. 22 Mat 27. …4.of it, they gaue the advowsons freely to friends or servants: they deceiue themselues. For God is not mooked. And he will finde them out in a day, when they looke Gal 6. 7.not for him, & in an houre, that they are not ware of, and bring them to shame with more dreadful punishment, then either he did …can, or Ananias, & Sapphira. Ios. 7. 25.Wherefore I hartily beseech the young Gentlemē Act. 5. 5.that be here present, and al that are or shalbe Patrones hereafter, in a religlous reverence & fear of the Lord, to keepe themselues pure from this abomination. At least, to remember the miserable end of Richard the Vsurper: who being made Protector of the King and Realme, got the realme himselfe, and robbed the King of it. That, if they deeme their patronage to be meerly civill, and the goods of Benefices to be as common mens, not sacred to the Lord: yet being made Protectors thereof, and of the Pastors, they follow not his fault, whose ende they detest. Though, the very truth is, (which I wish they weigh too,) that the Churches goods, allotted to the maintenance of Pastors & Teachers, are not profane but sacred: and therefore the sin of them, who purloine them, is sacrilege, not theft: wherein God is spoiled, as himselfe pronounceth, Will a man spoile God, that yee do spoile me? And yee say, wherein Mal 3. 8.do we spoile thee? in tithes and offerings. Howbeit, if church livings were impoverished by none, but by Patrones: the case were not so evill, because it is against the law. But they are distressed also (beside other pensions and incombrances) by Appropriations, as the lawyers tearme them; or, as they are named cōmonly, Impropriations. Whereof the condition is the more grievous, for that in many parishes there is not a Vicar well & sufficiently indowed to do Divine Service, and instruct the people, and keepe hospitality: which yet the law A…n 4. Hen… 4. cap. 12. 2. Chr. 34. 3.cōmandeth, if it were obeied. Iosias, in the eighth yeare of his raigne, began to seeke the God of his father David; & in the twelfth yeere he began to purge Iuda and Ierusalem from the hie places, and the groues, and the graven images, and the molten; and in the eighteenth yeere he sent Saphan Vers 8.and others, to repaire the house of the Lord his God. Refor mations of disorders cānot be made all at once: chiefly, when the Church hath of long time beene overgrowne with them, as then it had vnderunder Idolatrie, and hath with vsus vnderunder Popery. King Henry the eight, a Prince of noble memory, began to set forth the holie word of God. And his sonne, (another Iosias, had he lived) began to purge England from Images, & Masses, and Massing-altars, and superstitions. I doubt not, but our gracious Queene and soveraigne Lady desireth in the steps of her Father and Brother, to adde this vntounto them, that workemen be mainetained for repairing of the Church. But it lyeth not in her Highnesse alone to bring it to effect: the Lords and the Commons hauehave a stroke in it. Wherefore, seeing now a Parliament is summoned to be held shortly: let vsus desire God in hū blenes of spirit to encline their hearts, that, although it be with losse of some part of their owne commodities, yet they will follow the zeale of the Israelites for Exod. 35. 21.the tabernacle of assembly. And as the religious professours of the truth hauehave shewed, that Church-livings appropriated to others, should in conscience finde the Pastors of the Church: so God graunt, that they who hauehave the authority may see it with a single eie, and bring it to passe with an vpright hand. Martin Bucer (in aD…regno Chr. …. 2 cap 7.his godly requests & advises presēted to King Edwarde) treating of skilfull Pastours to bee ordained throughout the realme, saith; that their mainetenaunce ought to bee required of them who receiue the profits of the parishes by appropriation, or any other way. Bishops bExposit of Agg the Pro phet, chap. 1.Pilkinton (vponupon Aggaeus) complaining, that the Pope robbed parishes to feed his Monkes, wisheth, that the Gospell may restore that iustly, which he tooke wrongfully awaie, and gaue them yet a right name of impropriations, because they be taken away improperly, and properly belong to the parishes. But what should I mention Bishops and Divines (of whom there hauehave c…. Latimer. in his 1. & 6. Se…m. preached before K…ng E…. M Fox in the Acts & m…n. lib 4 All the Bish…ps of England (300. yeares since) misliking in the monkes that they had gotten Benefices to be appropriated to them: as appeare by M…. … … … Do 1261many declared the same mind,) when as Master dThe peram bul… of Kent in ….Lambard, a gentlemā & Lawyer, speaking of a Kentish Benefice converted to an appropriation, doth censure it with these words: One (amōgst many) of those monstrous birthes of covetousnes, begotten by the man of Rome in the darke night of superstition, and yet suffered to liue in this day light of the gospel, to the great hinderance of learning, the impoverishment of the ministery, and the infamy of our profession. Hard may this seeme to such as hauehave the liuings: and some peradventure will say of these speeches, The land cannot beare them. But it is harder to suffer the land to stand in those Amos. 7. 10.tearmes, in which God saith to Iuda: Yee are cursed with Mal. 3. 9.a curse, for that yee spoile me, even the whole nation. And if heathē men. Philaeni, Codrus, Curtius, hauehave givē their liues to benefit their coūtry with a temporal blessing, and that vncertaine too: what should Christians doe to draw that blessing on it, which hee, who cannot lie, doth promise? Bring yee all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meate in mine house, and proue me nowe Vers. 10.herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windowes of heaven vntounto you, & powre you out a blessing with out measure: and I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, that he shall not destroy the fruit of your ground, neither shall your vine be barrē in the field, saith the Lord of hosts: and all nations shall call you blessed, for yee shall be a pleasant land, saith the Lord of hostes. Wherefore let vsus (beloved) of the Vniversity, get our country this blessing, as much as lyeth in vsus, by providing, that Pastors, where we hauehave appropriations, may bee mainetained with their tithes, that there may be meate in the house of God. I meane not hereby, that wee shoulde giuegive away that by which our schooles and schollers be maintained. For God hath ordained Ecclesiasticall goods to finde, not onelyonly Priests and Levites, but their ofspring; evē them, who are brought vp to be Priests & Levites, and them who bring them vp; the children of the Prophets, and the Prophets themselues. That, if there bee enough in our Appropriations for the Pastors maintenance, beside that which wee hauehave for the nurserie of Pastors, as commonly there is: wee may with good conscience receiue our owne revenue. My meaning is therfore, that, the rents reserved, we should allow the rest of the Livings to Pastors: which I speake not so much for those, that publikely our Vniversity hath, to be let by Convocation, whereof the greater part hath shewed well already themselues to be of this minde: as for those that privately belong to our Colleges, to be let by the Heads thereof and the Fellowes.
It is of an humane and honest affection, that wee sometimes would pleasure other men therewith, our friend…, suing for them. But if Iob said to Sophar and his partners, Should you speak wickedly for Gods defence? how Iob. 13. 7.much lesse ought we to doe vnrighteously for the favour of men? And may we not looke for the plague, that fell on Eli, if, as he did honor his children aboue God, so we do our friends? Levi is commended by the holy …. Sam … 29.Ghost for saying of his father and of his mother, I looke Deut. 33. 9.not on him; neither doth he acknowledge his brethren, nor knowe his children: but they obserue the word of God, and keepe his covenant. All Christians are bound herein to be Levites, regarding neither father, nor mother, son, nor daughter, in respect of God, when his wo…d and covenant Mat. 12. 37.commeth into question. Wherefore, sith this is a speciall point thereof, that all the tithes bee brought into the storehouse, that in his house there may be meat: we should obserue and keepe it, though with the disfavour of friends whatsoever. And as it …ehoueth vsus to doe it our selues: so, to wish that others enioy the bless…ng with vsus In which case, the duty that we owe to Kings Tim. 2 2.and all … authoritie, doth bind vsus to pray for the high court of Parliamēt, that by their ordināce the Church may bee repaired, and wee may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty. When, Eliasib the Priest Neh. 13 4.(the high Priest of the Iewes) had made for his kinseman Tobias a great chamber, where they afore time didlay the meat offering, the incense, and the vessels, and the tithes and offerings, appointed for the Levites and Priestes: as soone as Neh…mias (the Prince of the people) vnderstood th…reof, it grieved him sore. Therefore he cast out the h…ushold vessels of Tobias out of the chamber: and brought thither againe the vessels of the house of God, the meat offering, and the incense. And perceiuing further, that the portions of the Levites were not given them, who therefore were fl…d each into his land: he repro…eth the rulers, & said, why is the house of God for saken? and ass mbling them he set them in their place againe: and all the Iewes brought the tithes into the storehouse, to be divided to them. The Pope in the iniquitie of his high vsurped Pr…hood over Christians, endowed his kinsmen the m…ks with tithe… and livings, by which aforet… the Pastors were maint…ined. Whereof it hath ens…d, t…at many a Tob… doth hold them vntill this day. O th…t it might g…ue that it might …, our Nehemt…, the Parli…ment, that they might dispossesse Tobias thereof, & againe apply them to maintaine Pastours. The Antichristian councell assembled at Trent, tooke order for aCōc. Trid. Sess. 22. de reform. c. 11.restoring of the goodes of Benefices, and bSess 24. de reform cap. 18.setting learned Priests in them, with cCap. 19.a… sanulling of advowsons, & dSess. 5. de reform cap. 1.erecting Lectures, and maintaining Teachers, & eSess. 23 de reform cap. 18.Seminaries of Schollers in all Cathedrall Churches, to set Popery forward, and build vp the the houses of Idumean Idols. fI…uk. 16 8.The children of this world are wiser in their generation, then the children of light: & g…. King 18. 19Baalites more zealous for their superstition, then Israelites for the truth. But thou cāst O Lord, and wilt, (vnlesse our sins provoke thy wrath against vsus) cause the light of thy countenance so to shine vponupon vsus, that the Christian Court of our English Parliament shall be as carefull to build vp thy house, & advance religion: that the vessels of thy temple, which 2. Chr. 36. 10. Dan. 5. 2. Ezra. 1. 7.Nabuchodonosor tooke away, and Baltasar did drinke in, be restored by Cyrus, to whome they are befallen, that Elizabeth thy handmaid command the people to giuegive the 2. Chr. 31. 4.portion of the Priests and Levites, that they may be strong in the law of the Lord, as did thy servant Ezekias, that Pastours may be set againe in their places, and all the Tithes be brought into the storehouse to be divided to thē; that none of them want, as Nehemias provided, and thou commandest by thy Prophet. So shall they by whom this noble worke is wrought, be remembred in it, and the kindnesse, that they shew on the house of God and Neh. 13. 14.the offices thereof, shall not be wiped out. So shal the windowes of heaven be opened to vsus, and a blessing poured on vsus without measure, a temporall and eternall blessing: Mal. 3. 10.for godlinesse hath promise of them both. So shall the devourer be rebuked for our sakes: and the Locusts (the Iesuites 1. Tim 4 8. Re…. 9 8.and Seminary Priests) shal not destroy our fruite, neither shallour vine (our Christian vine) be barren. So Esay, 5. 1.shall we be called blessed by all nations: for wee shall bee a pleasant land, a land that shall flowe with the word of God, more to be desired then gold, more sweet then hony. Finally, so shall Israel triumph over his enimies, and the Psal. 19. 10.things of Esau shall be sought out, his secret things shall be searched: that is, Christ shall raigne, and Antichrist shall be confounded. Which GOD grant for his mercy sake in Iesu Christ, through the operation of his Holy Spirit: to whom, three persons, & one GOD, bee all praise, and honour, and glory, and power, for ever & ever,
Amen.