Works of Joseph Hall, Section 23 – Dedication 26
SECT. XXIII.
ANd if at any time theſe vnworthy papers may fall betwixt the hands of my Soueraigne Maſter, or any of his graue and honorable Miniſters of State, let the meanneſſe of ſo weake and obſcure ſolicitors preſume to commend this matter to their deepeſt conſideration; and out of an honeſt zeale of the common ſafetie, ſue to them for a more ſtrict reſtraint of that dangerous libertie, whereof too many are bold to carue themſelues. Who can be ignorant of thoſe wiſe and wholeſome lawes, which are enacted already to this purpoſe? or of thoſe carefull and iuſt cautions, wherewith the licences of Trauell are euer limited? But what are we the better for Gods owne lawes, without execution? Or what are limits vntounto the lawleſſe? Good lawes are the hedges of the Common-wealth: iuſt diſpenſations are as gates, or ſtiles in the hedge. If eueryevery ſtraggler may at pleaſure caſt open a gap in this fence of the State, what are we the better for this quick ſet, then if we lay open to the common? Who ſees not how familiarly our yong Recuſants immediatly vponupon their diſcloſing, are ſent ouer for their full hatching & making? Italy, Spaine, Artois, and now of late France it ſelfe prouides neſts, and perches, and mewes for theſe birds, vvith the ſame confidence, wherewith we breed our owne at home; vvhichwhich when they are once well acquainted vvith the Romane lure, are ſent backe againe fit for the prey. And as for thoſe of our owne feather: whereas the libertie of their trauell is bounded chiefly with this double charge; one, that they hauehave no conuerſation or conference with Ieſuites, or other dangerous perſons; the other, that they paſſe not into the dominions of the Kings enemies; both theſe are ſo commonly neglected, as if they were intended onelyonly for a verball formalitie, yea, as if the Prohibition meant to teach men what they ſhould doe. EueryEvery of our Nouices hath learned to make no difference of men; and dare breathe in the poiſonous ayre of Italy it ſelfe, and touch the very pommell of the chaire of peſtilence. It is this licentious freedome (which we miſ-call Open-hearted ingenuity) that vndoes vsus. Doe we not ſee the wary cloſeneſſe of our Aduerſaries, which will not ſo much as abide one of our bookes (a mute ſollicitor) to harbour in any of their coaſts? How many of the Italian or Spaniſh Nobleſſe hauehave wee knowne allowed to venture their education in our Courts or Vniuerſities? Doe they lie thus at the locke, and doe we open our breſt, and diſplay our armes, and bid an enemie ſtrike where he liſt? Since then we hauehave no more wit, or care, then to be willingly guilty of our owne ſhame; oh that the hands of ſupreme authoritie vvould bee pleaſed to locke vsus vvithin our owne doores, and to keepe the keyes at their owne girdle! And (to ſpeake truth) to vvhat purpoſe are thoſe ſtrait and capitall inhibitions of the returne of our factious fugitiues into this Kingdom, if whiles the vvicket is ſhut vponupon them, that they ſhould not come to vsus, the Poſterne be open to vsus, that we may goe to them? As all intercourſe is perilous, ſo that is moſt, vvhichwhich is by our owne prouocation. Here yet they dare but lurke in ſecret, and take only ſome ſudden ſnatches at a vveake prey, like vntounto euening-wolues, that neuer walke forth but vnderunder the cloake of the night; but in their owne territories, they can ſhew the Sunne their ſpoiles, and thinke this act worthy of garlands and trophees. Here wee hauehave maſtiues to ſecure our flockes: there the prey goes ſtragling alone to the mouth of their dennes, vvithout protection, without aſſiſtance, and offers to be deuoured. Yee whom the choice of God hath made the great Shepheards of his people, whoſe charge it is to feed them by gouernment, ſuffer not their ſimplicitie to betray their liues vntounto the fangs of theſe cruell beaſts; but chaſe them home rather, from the wilfull ſearch of their owne perdition, and ſhut them vp together in your ſtrong and ſpacious folds, that they may be at once ſafe, and yee glorious.
SECT. XXIV.
LAſtly, for thoſe, whom neceſſary occaſions draw forth of their own coaſts (that we may hauehave done with thoſe, which like fooliſh Papiſts goe on pilgrimage to ſee another blocke better dreſſed then at home) let me ſay to them, as Simeon that propheticall Monke ſaid to the pillars which he whipped before the earth-quake, Stand faſt, for ye ſhall be ſhaken. And therefore, as the Crane, when ſhee is to fly againſt an high wind, doth ballace her ſelfe with ſtones in her bill, that ſhe may cut the ayre with more ſteddineſſe; ſo let them carefully fore-inſtruct, and poize themſelues with the ſound knowledge of the Principles of Religion, that they may not be caried about with eueryevery winde of doctrine: Whereto if they adde but thoſe leſſons, which they are taught by the State, in their letters of paſſage, there may bee hope, they ſhall bring backe the ſame ſoules they caried. It was at leaſt an inclination to a fall, that Eue tooke boldneſſe to hold chat with the Serpent. And as ſubtill Lawyers deſire no more aduantage in the quarrell, which they would picke at conueyances, then many words: ſo neither do our Aduerſaries. Whiles our eares are open, and our tongues free, they wil hope well of our very denials. Error is crafty, and out of the power of his Rhetorical inſinuations, oft-times caries away probabilitie from truth. I remember in that famous Embaſſie of of three Philoſophers, which Athens ſent to Rome, Critolaus, Diogenes, and Carneades, there falling out many occaſions of diſcourſe, wiſe Cato perſwaded the Senate to a ſpeedie diſmiſſion of thoſe (otherwiſe welcome) gheſts; Becauſe (ſaid he) whiles Carneades diſputes, ſcarce any man can diſcerne which is the truth. There is more danger of theſe ſpirituall Sophiſters, by how much the buſineſſe is more important, and their ſubtilty greater. Let our paſſenger therefore (as that wiſe Grecian ſerued his fellowes) ſtop vp his eares with waxe againſt theſe Syrens. Our Sauiour would not giuegive Satan audience euen whiles he ſpake true; becauſe he knew that truth was but to countenance error. There is euer true corne ſtrowed vnderunder a pitfall: thoſe eares are full and weightie, vvhichwhich we dreſſe with Lime to deceiue the poore birds in a ſnow. No fiſher lets downe an empty hooke, but cloathed vvith a proper and pleaſing bait. Theſe Impoſtors hauehave no other errand, but deceit. If he louelove himſelfe, let him be afraid of their fauours, and thinke their frownes ſafer then their ſmiles. And if at any time (as no fly is more importunate) they thruſt themſelues into his conuerſation, let him (as thoſe which muſt neceſſarily paſſe by a carrion in the way) hold his breath, and haſten to be out of their aire. And if they yet follow him in his flight, let him turne backe to them vvith the Angels farewell, Increpet te Dominus.
FINIS.
THE RIGHTEOVS MAMMON. AN HOSPITALL SERMON PREACHED IN THE SOLEMNE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY ON Munday in Eaſter weeke. 1618.
BY IOS. HALL.
LONDON, Printed for THOMAS PAVIER, MILES FLESHER, and John Haviland. 1624.
TO MY MVCH HONOR'D FRIEND, Sr HENRY BAKER, Knight and Baronet.
SIR,
AMongst many, to whom my poore labours owe much for their acceptation, J know none that can challenge ſo deepe a debt as your ſelfe. If others hauehave taſted of my well-meant papers, you hauehave fed heartily on them; and ſo made them your owne, that your memory may compare with others eyes, and your practice with the ſpeculation of others: Neither hauehave your hand or tongue beene niggardly diſſemblers of your ſpirituall gaine. VntoUnto you therefore (to whoſe name I had long ſince in my deſires deuoted my next) doe J ſend this meane preſent: A Sermon importunately deſired of many: That which the preſent Auditors found vſefull, the Preſſe ſhall communicate to poſteritie; The gaine of either, or both, is no leſſe mine: I doubt not, but you hauehave already ſo acted that part of this diſcourſe which concerneth you, that the direction I giuegive to others, is but an hiſtorie of what you hauehave done. And goe on happily (worthy Sir) in thoſe your holy courſes which ſhal leade you to immortalitie; and ſo vſe your riches, that they may be made vp into a Crowne for your head in a better world: My hearty well-wiſhes ſhall not be wanting to you and your vertuous Ladie, as whom you hauehave obliged to be iuſtly
Worceſter, April 14. Yours, IOS. HALL.