Sermon 13 August 1610, Sermon
A Sermon Preached in Canterbury to the Corporation of Blacke-ſmiths, declaring the goodneſſe, neceſſity, antiquity, and vſe of that trade which workes in Iron.
1. SAM. 13.19.20.
There was not a Smith found throughout all the land of Iſrael, for the Philistines ſaid, leaſt the Hebrewes make them ſwords or ſpeares.
VVherefore all the Iſraelites went downe to the Philiſtines, to ſharpen eueryevery man his mattocke, his ſhare, his axe, and his weeding hooke.
IT plainely appeareth by ſacred Story, Summe of the text.that God had deliuered the Iſraelites into the hands of the Philiſtines, who were become their Lords, and exerciſed do minion ouer them. Now in this tex… it is ſhewed in few termes what art, & deuiſe the Philiſtines did ſtill vſe to keepe the necke of the Iſraelites in their yoke: namely this, by ſpoyling them of all armour, and depriuing them of all meanes how to come by any weapons: for they rooted out of their land, both out of villages, and citties all the Black-ſmiths.
The text is hiſtoricall, Diuiſion.and containeth three parts. Firſt, is the narration of a want, or an euill hapned: which is ſet forth by the perſons, to whom: to wit, the Iſraelites or Hebrewes (in the land of Iſrael;) ſecondly, bv the generality of the iudgement (in all the land not a Smith found.)
The other part of our text is, a confirmation, rendring a reaſon of the want, or iudgement, and it is taken from the inſtrumentall cauſe, to wit, the Philiſtines who were the meanes and inſtruments of this great …ill (for the Philiſtines ſaid.)
The third and laſt part is, a notation …d deſignement of the effects which …llowed this euill brought vponupon Iſ…l, by the crafty counſell of the Phi…ſtines. Theſe effects concerne the …e both of warre (leſt the Hebrewes …ake them ſwords or ſpeares) and of …eace (all the Iſraelites went downe to …he Philiſtines to ſharpen eueryevery man his …are, &c. Now let vsus proceed to the …terpretation of the words, that we may raiſe vp doctrines out of them, …nd make vſe of them for your edification.
There was no Smith.] Interpretaon.There be Smiths) of ſundry kindes and ſorts, according to the diuerſity of the ſubiect wherein they worke; there be that worke in gold, in copper, in ſiluer, whence we hauehave Goldſmiths, Siluer-ſmiths, as Demetrius Asts 10.24. Alſo Copper-ſmiths 2. Tim. 4.14. but the circumſtances do very clearly proue, that our text ſpeaketh of the Black-ſmiths, and ſuch as worke i… yron; for theſe make ſwords and ſpeares, Inſtruction. Dignity of this trade.and by the hand of theſe ſhares, mattocks, and axes be both framed and ſharpened. Now in that i… pleaſeth the holy Ghoſt to take knowledge of this trade or myſtery, Reaſon. and to name it with fauour and liking (as he doth) Hence I gather the goodneſſe, worth, and dignity of the ſame, that it is a trade alowable and noble; for it is no ſmall ennobling and dignifying of any perſon or thing, Lanàari à laudato non minima laus.(if we rightly iudge of it) to be named in the moſt ſacred Scriptures by the Spirit of God with approbation. If it be accounted a matter of grace, countenance and credit to be mentioned with reſpect and commendation in a prophane ſtory; how much more grace doth it bring to a function or perſon to be honored ſo farre as with good alowance to be written and ſet downe in holy writ.
I hauehave certainely heard of a wealthy Citizen in London, who hauing … priuy Seale ſent him from our …te famous Queene, tooke it to be no ſmall fauour done vntounto him. Doth the Queene (ſaith he) know me, ſhe ſhall lacke no money, if I hauehave it; …nd may not our Black-ſmiths, then account it a fauour and honour vntounto him, that the King of heauen takes knowledge of him, and hath put his name, and memory (not in a peece of paper) but in the booke of bookes? eſpecially, ſeeing ſundry other vocations, of greater worth and value, in the eyes of the world are paſt by of him, without the leaſt touch or mention? To be ſhort, do men of meane ſort thinke it to be a credit vntounto them if but a noble man do name them, and ſpeake of them with louelove and reſpect; may not I then iuſtly affirme, and ſpeake it to be a dignity to this meane trade (as men account it) that the Lord of Lords hath from his owne moſt holy mouth honored: yea, ſanctified it by a louing fauourable mentioning of it?
Let the knowledge and conſideration hereof ſerue for theſe purpoſes and vſes. Vſes. Firſt, to ſtir vp your hearts to giuegive thanks to God for placing and ſetting you in ſuch a calling, as hath giuen vntounto it both warrant, and worth from his owne mouth. Secondly, earneſtly to pray vntounto him for his grace, that you may walke in it with all good conſcience, that as your trade is good and honeſt, ſo you may deale in it wel and honeſtly, gaining credit to that vocations, vponupon which it hath pleaſed God to put ſuch credit, and honouring him who hath honored you. Thirdly, let this prouoke you to performe, and go through the hard labours of this calling with a more willing and chearefull heart, doing your tough worke not grudgingly, or of neceſſity, but with a ready minde; for that God that hath honoured your calling, doth louelove chearefull workers. Laſtly, let it admoniſh others that are wont to deſ…iſe your perſons for the baſeneſſe of your trade, hereafter learne for your …rades ſake to make better account of your ſelues; for if no trade be baſe in it ſelfe, being Gods ordinnace, much leſſe is that, which hath Gods commendation. And thus much be ſpoken of the dignity and worth of your trade.
In the next place, let vsus obſerue the antiquity thereof, Antiquity.in that it hath bene vſed in the world, not for a few years, it is no ſtart vp, and newly diuiſed trade (as it were a yeſter-daies bird) but it was bred and borne long ſince, & hath had ſo many hundred of years gone ouer his head, as it hath now gotten not onelyonly gray, but white haires, euen as white as wool, or ſnow. It is ſixteene hundred yeares, and more, ſince the incarnation of Chriſt, who was borne in the yeare of the world 3928. Howbeit, your trade was liuing, and flouriſhing to, a great while before this time: euen in the daies when Samuel, and Saul gouerned Iſrael, which was 490 yeares from the worlds creation (as the learned affirme:) nay, which is more, we find, in the hiſtory of Geneſis, that Tubalkaine, Gen. 4.22.the ſeuenth from Adam, was the Father and Author of thoſe that worke in yron, and in braſſe: ſo as your trade is very ancient, which doth adde no ſmall increaſe of credit, and grace vntounto it. For antiquity (when it is ioyned with goodneſſe) doth more augment the eſteeme, and regard of a good thing. We are commanded (ye know) to honour the gray head, and to riſe before the perſon of an old man. Leui. 19.32. It is written alſo, that old age when it is found in the way of righteouſneſſe, it is a crowne of glory to a man. Prou. 16.31. As ancientneſſe breeds reuerence to perſons, ſo it doth to things when they be good and commendable, wicked men the elder they be, the more to be deteſted; but …ertuous men, the more aged they be, …e the more to be reſpected; for euen …heir age is a crowne to them, when …hemſelues be righteous. In like man…er it fareth with things, which if they …e euill they are the worſe they more …ncient they be (for antiquity is a diſ…arce to naughtineſſe) but if they be …ood, Conſuetudo ſine veritat eſtv tus error.they be the better by being ancient: for antiquity doth put more grace vponupon a good thing, and makes it venerable. And were it not ſo that …here were ſome moment in priority of time, as well as of place, our two Vniuerſities ſhould deſerue ſome blame, which hauehave ſtriuen ſo long both by word and writing which ſhould be more ancient. In a word, ſeeing it is written that old wine is better then new, and a new friend is leſſe to be eſteemed then an old (as experience teacheth (it is therefore ſure that the oldneſſe, and long continuance of any good calling ſhould make it to be more acceptabl… and gracious.
The which point beeing we… weighed of you, Vſe. it ſhould ſerue as a ſecond ſpurre to quicken you to vndertake, and performe the labour o… your vocation with ſo much the more willingneſſe, diligence, and vprightneſſe. Many euill men do ſticke vntounto, and with greedineſſe follow after ſundry euil things, vnderunder pretence of cuſtome; becauſe they hauehave bene long vſed (as if preſcription could iuſtifie vices, as it doth mens titles and things euill at the firſt, could in time become good by long vſage of them) which to thinke, were a great madnes; yet many men (as if they had a deſire to be mad, and to dote with reaſon) would therefore be excuſed for their embracing euill things and courſes; becauſe they hauehave bene accuſtomed to be done of old, and much frequented; with how much better reaſon may good men cleaue to good things, and exerciſe good trades when goodneſſe is commended by reue…ent antiquity?
Let vsus now paſſe forward to examine the neceſſity of your function, Neceſſity.which appeares in this, that when the …nd of Iſrael wanted it, the people …here had a ſenſible, and great miſſe of it, neither ſhould it be ſpoken of …ere as a iudgement to want Smiths, …f the hauing of them were not neceſſary. Reaſon and experience teach, that good men, good creatures, good ordinances, good vocations are neuer ſo well perceiued how good and needfull they be by enioying and hauing them, as by wanting and forgoing them. Carenmagis quam fruendo. Virtutem preſentem odimus omnas ſublatū; ex otulis quaerium in vidi.This is a corruption in mans nature leſſe to eſteeme and care for good things which be preſent, then for thoſe which be abſent; the reaſon is, becauſe the want doth more bewray the neceſſity and vſe. The exceeding and continuall lamentation for the death of Ioſiah (that good king) doth tel vsus how much they miſſed him being gone, who beeing preſent they did not ſo regard. Lam. 4. When our Sauiour tels his hearers that the time would come, when they ſhould deſire to ſee but one of the daies of the Sonne of man. He doth hereby inſinuate that the Meſiah being preſent in perſon, was without due reſpect to him and his doctrine, and that the great need of him and his teaching would be more diſcerned by the abſence of them. The Sunne is a glorious creature very beautifull and benificial to the world, yet our daily beholding it doth leſſen our account of it, and our thankfulneſſe to God for it, were it taken from vsus but one yeare, by the want of it we ſhould be forced to learne the great and manifold neceſſity of this one creature: What, do I ſpeake of the Sunne that moſt lightſome and goodly creature, if we ſhould lacke either the aire to breath in, or the fire, or water, or the earth, or trees, foules, or beaſts, or any one creature allotted of God to our neceſſities, though we had and enioyed all the reſt, yet the want of that very one would be felt, and would teach vsus experimentally the neceſſity of that, and of all the reſt: and this which I ſpeake of the creatures, I would hauehave vnderſtood of the members of our body, whereof there is not the leſt, but is needfull; the foote, the loweſt and baſeſt member, yet it cannot be ſaid there is no need of it. 1. Cor. 12.21. This which is true in the naturall body, is verified alſo into the Eccleſiaſticall, and politicall body in the Church and common wealth. There is no Church-officer, or ordinance that can be ſpared: if we were without either preaching, or reading, or Sacraments, or prayer, we ſhould ſoone ſee that we could not be long without it, and be well, ſo truely is that which is commonly ſpoken, that God and nature hath done nothing in vaine. Deus et natura nihil ſeterunt fruſtra.Touching the common wealth, were it ſo with vsus here in England, as it was ſometimes with Gods people in Iſrael, that there were no gouernour, or Magiſtrate in our land, as ſometime there was no King in Iſrael. Iudg. 18.1. The horrible confuſions, the excreable impieties, and iniquities, that would abound in our ſtate, and ouerflow it, as a winter-floud would enforce, euen thoſe which be moſt impatient of authority, and moſt aduerſe to gouerment, 1. Sam. 8.5.to cry out as that people did, make vsus now a king to iudge vsus? Howſoeuer now that we hauehave the benefite of rule and rulers, we do not rightly value it: yet were there no ruler to be found in all our land, we ſhould quickly miſſe it: ſo auailable and effectuall is the abſence of a thing to teach vsus the neceſſity of it. After Magiſtracy, conſider the ordinance of Matrimony, which howſoeuer by being common groweth contemptible with many (as other things do) yet the lacke of it, would ſoone proclaime & ſpeake forth the neceſſity of it, in as much as without it, Matrimoniumrei pu… Eccleſiae ſe… men e…r…gn coeleſtis ſeminarium.the kingdome of heauen ſhould miſle many inhabitants, and the kingdoms of the earth ſhould in ſhort time hauehave none at all.
And no maruaile that there is ſuch need of theſe maine ordinances, ſeeing there is not the meaneſt manuary trade, or art, but when it is lacking the body politicke doth feele the miſſe of it with griefe, and ſmart, whereof we hauehave ſufficient proofe in this very text, which inſtructs vsus to ſee that the whole land of Iſrael was the worſe for want of the Black-ſmiths, and ſure it could not otherwiſe be, for though the particular euils which came by this want, were not mentioned in our text (of the which we ſhall ſpeake more at large anon) yet common reaſon and ſence may teach vsus the truth hereof. For of many trades which are now in this citty vſed, tell me which of them all you could lacke, or if you did lacke it, whether you ſhould not feele the want of it, and thinke it a great euill to be without it; yea though it were but your ſcauinger, or chimney ſweeper.
But if we ſhould looſe or be without either our Tailours, or Shooemakers, or Smiths, Glouers, Ioyners, Carpenters, or any one of our meaneſt occupations, though we ſhould keepe all the reſt, yet thoſe that be of the beſt, and richeſt trades amongſt vsus, ſhould eaſily ſee the great need of that one, and how hardly they could ſubſiſt without it. The mouſe may plucke a thorne out of the Lyons foote, which the Lyon could not do for himſelfe: ſo the baſeſt trades are neceſſary euen to the wealthieſt, and moſt worſhippifull Citizen, who becauſe they are not in all things ſufficient to themſelues, Solus Deus …. Gen. 17.2.therefore can no more lacke the meaneſt tradeſmen, then the meaneſt artiſans can lacke them. For it fareth ſo with trades …nd ſciences, as it doth with linkes in a chaine, or ſteps in a ladder, whereof if one or two be wanting, the chaine is broken, and the ladder were of no vſe, for we could neither aſcend nor deſcend by it. Likewiſe there is ſuch a mutuall, and reciprocall neceſſity of trades in the common-wealth, that when any one faileth all the reſt are impaired. The comon-wealth is like vntounto a kind and tender mother, which though ſhe be poore, and hauehave a great charge of children, yet would ſhe mourne for the loſſe of any one of them; ſo the land would mourne if is wanted but a Peuterer, or a Cutler, a needle-maker, or an yron monger.
But happily ſome will ſay, Ʋſes. to what purpoſe is it that you do thus enlarge the neceſſity of manuary trades and occupations? Of the neceſſity of trades.we do all know they are needfull for vsus.
It may be ſo, but there are many more that know this, then that do… conſider it ſo, as to make a right vſe o… it. Let me therefore entreat you to thinke ſeriouſly vponupon it, and bend your minds ſo to conſider it, as to make profit of it.
And firſt of all, VſUs. 1 let it ſerue you a… a rule to direct you to iudge of the warrant, ableneſſe and lawfulneſſe, not only of this one trade o… Black-ſmiths, hut of all other ordinary vocations amongſt vsus. Your rule is this. Whatſoeuer calling is needfull in the Church, Common-wealth or family: ſo as if it be wanting there will follow detriment or hurt, eithe… to family, common-wealth or church This is a ſure argument that ſuch a calling is approueable before God and man in foro in ciuili, & conſcientiae Hereby we do know that vermine are not Gods creatures, framed amongſ… his workes of the ſixe dayes: becauſe were they all deſtroyed, yet the world ſhould not want any thing of his perfection. Alſo it is a certaine demonſtration that Carbuncles, Wennes, Warts, are no parts at all of the body: becauſe they being cut off and taken away, the body is not the worſe, but the better. Semblablewiſe, there needs no better reaſon to proue that common vſurers, which liue vponupon the loane of money, eating other mens fleſh to cheriſh their owne, dice and card-makers, enterlude-makers, and players, fortune-tellers, & palmemaiſters, coniecturall Mathematicall Aſtrologers, that by the Horoſcope aduenture to giuegive iudgement of the manners and euents of men, of their life and death. Alſo tapſters & beere-drawers, Ballad-makers, pipers, and fidlers, beare-warders, and hobby-horſe-makers. Theſe, I ſay, and all ſuch like, which are ſo needleſſe and idle, that if none of them at all were found in all this land; yet not onelyonly there would be no want of them, but great cauſe to thanke God for the want of them (being properly and not by abuſe, as ale-houſes and brewers be, onelyonly the neſts and nurceries to hatch & harbor many foule vices) need no better euidence againſt them to conuince them to be ſuch as ought to be blotted out of the catalogue of warrantable trades; becauſe they be not onelyonly needeleſſe, but ſome of them alſo vnprofitable and hurtfull: as on the other ſide it is an vngainſayable argument to proue any calling lawfull, if it may truly be ſaide it is needfull. Luk. 19.34.VVhen the owners of the colt (mentioned in the Goſpell) heard the Diſciples ſay the maiſter hath need of it, they let it go: Likewiſe, whatſoeuer trade or function it be vntounto, which either Church, or comon-wealth, or family can ſay, I hauehave need of thee, we may very well and ſafely to that function or calling giuegive a dimittimus, and quietus eſt.
Beſide this rule to diſcerne of trades VſUs. 2 by, ye are to make a further vſe of the …ormer point, euē this, both to repent …our ſelues with true and vnfained g…iefe of heart; becauſe yee hauehave not ſeene, or not eſteemed the goodneſſe of God in the benefit, and vſe of ſo many needfull trades as he hath afforded you for commodity of life, but alſo inioyne it to your ſelfe as a law hereafter better to thinke vponupon it, lifting vp your minds ſo high as heauen, beholding and acknowledging the mercies of your louing Father, euen for the leſt of theſe mechanicall occupations. Quod cuiquā contingit cuiuis potest.Otherwiſe for your vnthankfulneſſe that may befall you, that befell theſe Iſraelites, either wholly to want them, or enioy them without a bleſſing, putting the mony which you earne by them into a bottomleſſe bag.
The third and laſt vſe is, Vſe. 3 in reſpect of you that are Magiſtrates (whereof I ſee ſome preſent this day) that as by vertue of your place and office, you are the Fathers and Guardians of the common wealth in this place, put in truſt by God, and his Maieſtie, to ſee to the publicke weale of it: Rom. 13.1.2.3.ſo it wold pleaſe you to make a conſcience of your duty herein, to afford your countenance and protection to all painefull tradeſmen, and vntounto all needefull trades, the loweſt as well as the higheſt, not ſo cheriſhing ſome as you neglect the reſt, but equally maintaining, and ſupporting them al, all being equally behoofull, though all not equally excellent, and fruitfull.
It is a good ſpeech of the heathen Oratour, that it is requiſite in a good gouernour ſo to reſpect one part of the weale-publicke, as that he doth not deſpiſe another. Hitherto I hauehave entreated of the firſt part of our text: to wit, the narration of the want, that Iſrael had of Smiths: wherin we hauehave ſeene the dignity, and the neceſſity of this vocation. I haſten now to the ſecond part of our text, Theſecond part of the Text, to wit, the reaſon of the want.to examine the reaſon of this want. (For …he Philiſtines ſaid, leſt they make them wordes or ſpeares.) Theſe words do teach vsus to know that the reaſō of this …he Iſraelites want was the deepe pol…cy of the ſubtile Philiſtines: who …eing deſirous ſtill to keepe Iſrael in …ruitude, craftely inuented this deviſe, Pollicy of the Philiſtines.to take their Smiths wholly …rom them, to this end and purpoſe, that the Hebrewes might hauehave no heart to riſe vp in rebellion againſt them, or no hope of preuailing of they …d, being left deſtitute of weapons, either to defend themſelues, or to offend their aduerſaries, this was a dangerous drift.
Theſe craftie vncircumciſed Philiſtines dealt with Gods people, as common robbers with vsus deale, with true men and honeſt trauellers: whome they firſt ſpoyle of their weapons, and afterwarde bind them; ſo theſe Philiſtines that they may keepe the Iſraelites fa… bound in the cords of their tyranny they do therefore take order that the… may hauehave no warlike weapons whe… with to helpe themſelues.
This craft they learned of the ol… Serpent, Sathan author of this pollicy.the father of all lies and deceit, who hath taught the Philiſtine… of our time the like craft in ſpiritua… things, as he had inſpired into th… Philiſtines of old for furtherance o… their worldly matters. For our ſpirituall and Romiſh Philiſtines hauin… enthralled vnderunder the heauy yoke o… their helliſh idolatry and hereſies th… greateſt part of Europe, Popiſh policy.to the en… they may continue this iron yok… holding in it kings, nations and people: therefore hauehave taken away th… Lords Smiths, skilfull and godly Paſtors: yea, not ſuffering the Lord… people his Chriſtian Iſrael (ſo much as they may) to hauehave that ſword o… the ſpirit, the word of God in thei… hands, or hauehave in their mother toung… without perill.
Our owne and the French ſtories …ford vsus examples of their bloudy …nd cruell counſels and practiſes in …his kind, reporting of ſome put to …ath and burned, becauſe they hauehave …ene conuicted to hauehave had but a …hapter of the Bible, or a portion of …he Goſpell tranſlated in the vulgar …nguage. I hauehave heard honeſt Gen…emen which hauehave trauelled into Ita…y and thoſe parts neere Rome to af…irme at their returne vponupon good …nowledge, that not onelyonly no Bible, …ut not any other Proteſtant booke ▪which might giuegive any light vntounto …uth againſt Popiſh errors) was to be found in the Italian tongue through all the Stationers and Book-ſellers ſhops there.
This is the vniuerſall policy of the …opiſh Prelacy in all places (where …hey can preuaile) to depriue the people of all meanes to eſcape the ſlauery and tyrannicall butchery of conſciences: for this purpoſe keeping from them by fire and ſword, both the weapon of the Scriptures, and ſuch wiſe and expert Smiths as might inſtruct them how to handle their weapon, herein lending their hand and helpe to Sathan (though with no ſuch direct intention) to ſtrengthen his power and increaſe his dominion, which by no way is more eſtabliſhed and enlarged, then by driuing out ſuch Smiths from vsus, and denying that two edged ſword to vsus.
To deſcend from whole countries vntounto particular perſons. When Sathan would draw any backe into his ſnares who hauehave eſcaped them, or hold thoſe faſt which yet are entangled in his bands, is not this his ordinatie policy to perſwade tempted and troubled ſoules, that it bootes them not to reade or to heare, An anciēt and common policy of the Tempter.and that it is in vaine for them to pray, for God will not heare ſuch ſinners, or elſe ſuch ſinners cannot pray to God? He knowes full well how eaſie the victo…y will bee for him, if once hee may …aine this at our hands, that we be…ome willing to caſt away our weapons: for then as naked and vnarmed …en, ſo we may be ouercome by him …ithout any ſtroake ſtriking. No …orldly enemie feares the edge of a materiall ſword, ſo much as Sathan …eareth the force of feruent prayer: which preuaileth much with that God, whoſe power alone is Sathans curbe and bane: Therefore hee reſolues that he hath more then halfe won the field, if he may winne this to make thee giuegive ouer praying to God in the mediation of Chriſt.
Now ſithence we heare what policies olde and new Philiſtines vſe for vpholding of their kingdomes, and whence they learne it, what remai…eth but this: that we be admoniſhed not onelyonly to beware of them, leſt we be circumuented: But furthermore, Chriſtian pollicy.to …ſe ſuch policie to good purpoſes, as they turne and employ vntounto euill and miſchieuous ends. Children of the light ſhould be wiſe in their generation. Luke 16.Our gouernours do imitate the deuiſe of the old Philiſtines in the affaires of the common wealth: for there is order taken by acts of Parliament, that ſuch Papiſts as be knowne Recuſants, conuicted to be ſuch, refuſing the oath of Allegiance, ſhall be ſtript of all their armour (ſauing for neceſſary defence of their perſons) that if any ciuill or forraine warres ſhould ariſe, they might lacke meanes to hurt and annoy their king and country, to which it is ſo well knowne, that they are ſo ill affected, like vipers, which come into the world with the death of their damme: Alſo here at home, if a quarrell or fray be likely to happen, the firſt care of our rulers and officers is this, to take from them their weapons.
Let vsus imitate this policy alſo in our ſoule dangers, againſt the enemies thereof, to diſpoyle and rob them of ſuch weapons wherewith they vſe to fight againſt our ſoules. And ſeeing the luſt of honour and promotion is the weapon whereby Sathan fighteth againſt the ambitious, and againſt the couetous and letcherous, with the luſt of money and pleaſure; againſt the intemperate and proud, the malicious and enuious, with the concupiſcence of delights, prayſes and reuenge: Let it be our wiſedome to keepe, or (if he hauehave got hold of them) to wreſt theſe baites and inſtruments out of Sathans hands, that he may not therewith ſubdue vsus to his will, and ouerthrow vsus with deſtruction.
Moreouer, whoſoeuer hauehave heretofore giuen their members as weapons to ſinne to commit iniquity, let him now contrariwiſe giuegive his members as weapons to righteouſneſſe, vntounto holineſſe.
Laſtly, concerning you Blackſmiths, who hauehave hot worke in hand, which cauſeth dryneſſe, and this engendreth want of liquor to moyſten, and this breeds thirſt, and thirſt, not moderated, drawes on drunkenneſſe, and drunkenneſſe whets choler and wrath, and this kindles contention, and this puls on words, words beget blowes, blowes wounds, whereof ſometimes followeth death of body, and danger of ſoule (being in feare of being depriued of both parts of your ſelfe in one day, nay, in one houre:) let me therefore beſeech you to be ſober, to drinke for ſtrength, not for exceſſe, to liue temperatly at home with your wife and children: ſo ſhall ye withhold from Sathan a perilous weapon, wherewith (if ye ſhould put it into his hand) he will be able to cut the very throat of your ſoule vntounto your eternall perdition. Let this ſuffice concerning the ſecond part of this text. Nowe to the third and laſt.
The third thing obſerued in our text, The third part of the Text.doth concerne the effects which did follow the peſtilent policy of the Philiſtines, in taking Smiths from the Hebrews. Theſe effectes do belong to the time of warre or of peace. In the time of warre they had neither ſword nor ſpeare, a ſore defect: for it gaue power and liberty to the treacherous, and tyrannous Philiſtines, a great deale more eaſily, not onelyonly to keepe vnderunder the Iſraelites, but to kill them alſo: euen to take away their liues when they liſted, as they had before taken away their liberty. We may very well by our ſelues iudge how miſerable this caſe was, if we will but a little imagine it to be our owne caſe.
Though we be now at peace with all our neighbour countries; yet doe but ſuppoſe that we wanted ſpeare, ſhield and ſword, bow and bill, guns, and all other military furniture offenſiue and defenſiue, is it not more then probable, and likely that we could not be in this peace foure and twenty dayes to an end: but that one or other which now holds league of peace with vsus, more to ſerue their owne turne then for any louelove to vsus, would take the oportunity, eſpecially ſuch as hold their hands off, becauſe they are too weake for vsus: lacking not will but might to deſtroy this noble kingdome, and be glad to make a ſpoyle of our riches, and a maſſaker of our perſons.
And touching the other euill effect enſuing the want of Smiths, if it were ſo with vsus, that for our axes wherewith we hew our wood, or mattocks wherewith we digge our ground, our ſhares wherewith we plough our fields, and our hookes wherewith we weed our corne, we ſhould be inforced to trauell ſo farre as Scotland, or Wales, or Holland to whet them when they were blunt and vnfit for vſe; might we not thinke this (and that worthily) to be a very great extremitie?
This was the very caſe of the Iſraelites, whoſe land was much like in compaſſe (as appeares by the maps) to this our Realme of England. There being then neither in towne nor city a Smith to be had, it muſt needs be that ſuch as dwelt in ſome part of the country, were driuen to trauell very far when they had need but to whet a toole: for they were faine to go to the Philiſtines for it, who had gotten all their Smiths into their coaſts. From hence there is iuſt occaſion offered to ſay ſomething of the commoditie of Black-ſmiths, as before we ſpake of their worth, ancientneſſe, and needfulneſſe. Commodity of Smiths in peace.For the times of peace what vſe and benefit they are to vsus it is more manifeſt then I neede to ſay much: for who is ignorant that this trade doth helpe to maintaine huſbandry, by which euen the King is maintained. The life both of prince and ſubiect is preſerued by the fruits of the ground, and theſe cannot be attained without the aid of the Blackſmith, who ſhapeth and ſharpens the inſtruments by which the ground is manured.
What ſhall I tell you, that neither could you hauehave Cities to dwell in, nor Churches to ſerue God in, nor ſhips to tranſport, and import commodities by, were it not for Smiths, who make thoſe inſtruments, by which great Fabricks are both made and maintained? Neither can we in the night lye ſafe in our beds, for feare of theeues, if the Smiths daughter be not before their hands. Nor trauaile in the day ſecurely for robbers, were we not armed with weapons of their framing. And touching the vſe of them in warre; becauſe eueryevery man doth ſufficiently vnderſtand, that neither our harneſſe can be at the firſt faſhioned, For war.nor afterward burniſhed, and made fit for vſe, but by their hands; therefore I am determined to ſpend, no more time in a thing ſo plaine.
I will addreſſe my ſelfe now, Concluſion containing an exhotation to men of all callings to behaue themſelues religiouſly and iuſtly in them.that I …aue ſhewed you the dignity, ant…quity, neceſſity, and commodiry of th…s your calling, to inſtruct you how t… cary your ſelues worthy ſo good …d commendable a vocation. For the which purpoſe, there are two things ſereof you hauehave ſpeciall need, and …ſt take ſpeciall care of; the one is, that you walke in your calling religio…ſly: the other, that you behaue your ſelues iuſtly therein.
But this I would hauehave noted, that what I ſpeake to you Black-ſmiths, for exhortation to carry your ſelues vprightly and religiouſly in your callings: the ſame I alſo ſpeake to all ſere preſent, of what art or function ſoeuer they be. Hearken then, I pray you, and conſider, that to a religious walking in your calling, there be theſe fiue things very requiſite. Firſt, ſound and diſtinct knowledge. Secondly, true faith. Thirdly, Chriſtian hope. Fourthly, feruent prayer. And laſtly, humble thankfulneſſe, Of each of theſe a little, and but a little.
To begin with knowledge, which is the beginning of eueryevery good action. Knowledg.That which the Apoſtle ſpeakes of meates, and marriages, that they muſt be ſanctified by the word. 1. Tim. 4.4, or elſe the vſe of them cannot be holy and good vntounto vsus, the very ſame is to be affirmed concerning all trades and functions, that ye cannot vſe them with a good conſcience, vnleſſe your minds be firſt informed, and enlightned by the word to know their lawfulneſſe, and directed by the ſame word to the right vſe of them. Ignorance which is the mother of errour in opinion, is alſo the mother of ſinne in action: men do erre both in iudgement, Mat. 22.29. …. Faith. Heb. 11.and practiſe, becauſe they know not the Scriptures.
But what vſe is there for faith (will you ſay) toward the religious performance of our manuary workes? Yes very great: For it is written, that without faith we cannot pleaſe God: neither we, nor our workes can pleaſe God, vnleſſe they become acceptable vntounto him through faith. Two actions of faith there be needfull to him, that will do the duties of his calling in a religious ſort, acceptable to God.
Firſt, 1. Action of faith.to apprehend the promiſe of forgiueneſſe of ſinnes by Chriſt, beleeuing that God is reconciled to our perſons by the bloud of that immaculate Lambe: for as a gift can neuer be welcome vntounto vsus, Simile. when we diſlike the giuer: ſo God is neuer well pleaſed with any thing that we do, till he be pleaſed with vsus.
The ſecond office of faith, 2. Action of faith.is to aſſure our hearts, that our calling is warrantable, that we may do the workes thereof with a good conſcience, and that through pardon of the wants, and faults that ſticke to them, (as they come from vsus) they are accepted of God through that mediatour, by whom we know our ſelues to be accepted. If any of you hauehave gotten this faith, you may be bold and well perſwaded, that the meaneſt worke you do in your calling, euen to the wiping of a ſhooe, and ſweeping of a houſe, & driuing in a horſenaile, is gratious vntounto that God, who doth euer more reſpect the manner, then the matter of our workes. 3. Hope.Labour therefore in faith, and labour alſo vnderunder hope; for ſeeing God hath made a couenant with you to be your God, and this couenant containeth in it things earthly belonging to this life, as well as ſpirituall things belonging to the life to come; it is therefore your part, and duty, to do eueryevery worke of your calling with a ſure expectation, and hope for a bleſſing from God.
Howbeit ſeeing the commandement enioynes ſuch as will hauehave, 4. Prayer.and find, any bleſſing from God, that they muſt firſt aske, and ſeeke it; therfore it is your duty to giuegive all diligence, as to ioyne faith to your knowledge, and hope to your faith: ſo …o adde prayer to your hope. Iam. 1.16.EueryEvery good gift and perfect giuing comes from aboue: and therefore you muſt begin your worke with prayer. 1. Tim. 4.4.All the creatures of God, and all the lawfull workes of men are ſanctified by prayer; therefore either muſt godly prayer go before eueryevery lawfull duty, or elſe it will be polluted, and profained, and turned into ſinne to vsus. Moreouer, we cannot ſtirre a finger without God, in whom we liue, Acts 17.moue, and hauehave our being, and as all our ſtrength to worke is from him, ſo all ſucceſſe of our work comes from him alſo, (for the builder labours but in vaine, except God build the houſe) wherefore as you deſire to ſee the fruit of your labour, and that it ſhould go well with you, in any wiſe ſee, and looke to it, that you call your familie together in the beginning of the day, before you begin your work, make an entrance by praier, deſiring your good God to ſtrengthen, direct, and to proſper your handy worke, but this is not all, as you begin the day with God, ſo if you do well you muſt end it with God. Humble thankſgiuing muſt alwaies accompany harty prayers, for he that commanded, ſaying, Pray continually, 1. Theſ. 1.18.19.did alſo charge vsus in al things to giuegive thanks. Againe, if before our worke we ſhall pray for a helpe and a bleſſing, and after our worke is proſpered and ended, ſhould not returne thanks to God, this would witneſſe againſt vsus that we ſought rather our owne profit then Gods praiſe: beſides, for as much as thankfulneſſe is a ſacrifice of ſweet ſmelling ſauour to God, Heb. 13.better liked then a bullocke with hornes, and hooues, and is all the rent, charge, and homage, exacted of vsus, for all the good things which we hold of God: therefore let eueryevery one be as willing and forward to offer vp thankſgiuing before he ſleepe, as he was to ſend vp prayers before his worke: ſo ſhall God be rightly glorified, and you ſoundly comforted in all that you put your hand vntounto; 2. Iuſtly,eſpecially if your care be as to walke religiouſly, ſo to deale iuſtly in your vocations, expreſſing the power of your piety towards God, by the fruits of righteouſneſſe towards men, to which end you hauehave need of two graces principally, LoueLove, and Integrity.
LoueLove will cauſe you not to ſeeke ſo much your owne, LoueLove.as the profit and good of others. So it is teſtified of LoueLove, that it doth not ſeeke it owne things. 1. Cor. 13. they that labour in their callings for no other ende but that they and others may liue, they ſhew forth not Chriſtian, but ſelfeloue, ſuch as may be found in Turks, Iewes, Pagans and Heathen, who by the light of nature are ſtirred vp to take care for themſelues and their families, 1. Tim. 5.6.7.to prouide food for the belly, and cloth for the backe: yea, the very brute beaſts by the inſtinct of nature are moued to ſeeke out for themſelues, and their yong ones, that they may be able to liue without periſhing for want of meate. Therefore as our Sauiour Chriſt ſaid vntounto them that would louelove none, but they that loued them; and would do good to none, but to them that do good to them againe, what a ſingular thing do ye? do not euen the publicanes and ſinners the ſame? So I ſay to theſe that labour in their calling, diligently and conſtantly: yet, for their liuing ſake onelyonly, not for the common good of that ſociety wherein they liue, what ſingular thing do ye? Do not the Pagans; nay, the very brute beaſts the ſame? Hearken therefore to the counſaile of the Apoſtle, willing vsus to do all things in louelove, which will make vsus to reſpect our neighbour as well as our ſelues, and in ſeruing our ſelues to ſerue others.
The next vertue required to your iuſt walking in your callings, Integrity.it is Integrity, that you do vntounto eueryevery one that which is right, making your ware ſubſtantiall, and your price equall, that you may giuegive as good as you take, auoyding all wrong, deceipt, and oppreſſion. To which purpoſe, I beſeech you, Reaſons to perſwade louing and iuſt dealing.to conſider of theſe few reaſons, why you ought after this ſort to cary your ſelues in your vocations.
Firſt, if you do not deale louingly, and vprightly, it will coſt you no leſſe then the loſſe both of Gods fauour and kingdome: for it is written, that vnrighteous perſons ſhall not inherite the hingdome of heauen. 1. Cor. 6.9. Therefore looke to it, for as ſure as God ſpake this, Non tollitur peceatum, niſi restituatur rabletum.ſo ſure it is they ſhall neuer be ſaued, that deale deciptfully, except they repent, and reſtore if they be able. Againe, if you deale ſubtilly and deceiptfully with your neighbours vttering bad ware in ſtead of good, or bad and good together (as if all were good) or good ware onelyonly at too high a rate, you ſhall giuegive teſtimony to the world, and to your ſelues that you are his children, who is the father of lyes.
We vſe to terrifie our children from lying with this argument, becauſe they that lye are the diuels children, and in the 13 of the Acts, Paul doth conclude Elymas to be the child of the diuell, becauſe he was full of ſubtilty: doth it not then ſtand you vponupon as you would not be counted the children of ſuch a father, to abhorre a deceiptfull lying tongue, and falſe weights, both which are as abhominable to God, as they be pleaſing to ſathan.
Adde hereunto that you cannot deceiue, and wrong others in your dealings, but that you much more deceiue and wrong your ſelues, for by vncharitable and vnrighteous practiſe in your callings, you giuegive a deepe wound. Firſt, to your conſcience. Secondly, to your credit. And thirdly to your ſtate. Your conſcience by your ſin takes a greater gaſh then any ſword can giuegive vntounto your fleſh, and it cannot but be a great bleamiſh to your reputation and names, when you gaine the report of vnhoneſt, and vnfaithfull dealers, the very fame and noiſe whereof will be as a ſharpe and ſtrong ſcourge, to driue away from you all your cuſtomers.
Thinke vponupon theſe things ſeriouſly when you are tempted to any falſehood and iniury, & do but aske your ſelfe, at that time, when you are about to offer it vntounto others, whether ye could be pleaſed to hauehave it done to your ſelues, and if your conſcience tell you, that you your ſelues would not be ill dealt withall; then take heed how you offer ill meaſure to others. For this is the law, and the Prophets, Mat. 7.to do to others as we would be done to, I am ſure if a ſmith, Pewterer, or Ioyner, if he hauehave to do with a Tailour, he will looke to hauehave all his cloth put into his garment, or elſe to returne to him that which is too much. Let the Smith and the Cutler do likewiſe vntounto others: and the rather becauſe if your ware ſhould not be ſubſtantiall; it may proue not onelyonly hurtfull to ſuch as vſe it, but turne to the harme and vndoing alſo of many others, as if a ſword hauehave not a ſtrong backe it may breake, and be the ouerthrow of an army, if a ſtrake be not firme it may ouerturne the wagon, and the paſſengers, as is often ſeene by lamentable experience, if a plough be not ſharpe it will make no furrow in the earth.
Finally, that we may draw to an end, among innumerable reaſons which may preuaile to hold you in a louing and vpright courſe one toward another, be ye alwaies mindfull of your death, and of the laſt iudgment. For would you ſeriouſly thinke vponupon this, and beleeue that you are mortall, brittle, and glaſſy creatures, and of a daies continuance, like to the ſmoake that vaniſheth, like to the weauers ſhuttle, and to the Eagles, that paſſe & flie away ſwiftly, haſtening to your graues, as the day to an end, hauing death euer at your elbow, ready as a ſergeant, or baylife to arreſt you: and withall ponder this, that being dead, you muſt come before that al-ſeeing, ſeuere, and mighty Iudge: whoſe knowledge you cannot deceiue, whoſe power you cannot auoid, whoſe iuſtice you cannot eſcape, and whoſe wrath you are neuer able to abide. Theſe meditations being imprinted in your hearts, would moue and bow them (were they as hard as flint) to relent for your miſdealing paſt, laying hold on Gods mercies in Chriſt for pardon, and conſcionably to looke to your ſteppes in time to come, and ſurely if ſo holy men as the Apoſtle Paul, and the Euangeliſt Timothy did ſet before their eyes the terrour of that day, 2. Cor. 5.10. 2. Tim. 4.1.2.and the comming of that dreadfull iudge that they might hold themſelues the better to the duties of their callings, let not other men thinke if they neglect ſuch meditations, that they ſhall well and worthily diſcharg their workes? That ancient father Hierome profeſſed of himſelfe that whether he were at home, or abroad, in worke, or recreation, eating, drinking, walking, talking, ſleeping, waking thought ſtill he heard a trumpet ſound, & a voice ſaying vntounto him, ariſe from the dead and come to iudgement. Bleſſed are they that are thus watchfull, alwaies thinking vponupon their own ends, and the worlds end, that when the Bridgrome commeth either, to eueryevery man particularly by death, or to all generally by iudgement, he may find vsus all ready & prepared, with the good ſeruant in the Goſpell, hauing our loynes girt, and our lampes burning that we may enter with him into his ioyes, which God grant euen for Chriſt Ieſus ſake, to whom with the Father, and the holy Spirit, be all praiſe, and thankſgiuing now and for euer. Amen.
The end of the Sermon.
End of the text · Thomas Wilson, Sermon 13 August 1610 (1610)