Admonition Moving to Moderation, Part
A Contemplative Invocation for MODERATION.
O Almighty, Everlaſting, and only wiſe Lord God! who judgeſt the world with righteouſneſſe, and thy people with equity. Are not thy wayes equal, O Righteous Lord! nay, are not our wayes unequal? unrighteous wretches that we are. For we have gone aſtray like loſt ſheep, ſtumbling from the ancient path, the good old way; loving to wander in wayes not caſt up. Our whole life and way hath been either a backſliding, or a halting, or a turning either to the right hand or to the left. We have not walked with a right foot, no not in our beſt actions; but have ſtarted aſide like broken bows, even in our beſt aimes. Our manifold tranſgreſſions in all their inordinateneſſe and immoderations (the fire in our boſomes, and rottenneſs in our bones,) are not unknown to thee; who markeſt all our ſteps, and telleſt all our fl…ttings. Now, becauſe it hath pleaſed thee to moderate thine own Law, by the Goſpel of thine own Sonne. Moſt humbly and heartily we beſeech thee, (for the meekneſſe and Moderation of Chriſt, our bleſſed Saviour) to pardon and heal our backſlidings, and grant, that by the leading of thy gracious ſpirit, our wayes may be ſo directed, that our ſteps may be ordered according to thy Word. That our eyes may look right on, and our eyelids look ſtraight before us, to ponder the paths of our feet, that all our wayes may be ordered aright, and we turne neither to the right hand nor to the left, but wholly removing our feet from evil. And for as much as it hath pleaſed thee in great mercy, and after a wonderful manner to free our necks from that iron yoke of thoſe mighty Hunters and Hammers of the Earth, our Egyptian Task-maſters, that ſcourged us with ſcorpions: and haſt in like manner reſtored to our Head our Nurſing Father, to carry us in his boſome, to draw us with cords of a man, and bands of love; Thou that haſt thus raiſed him up in righteouſneſſe, eſtabliſh thou the Throne of his Kingdom as the dayes of Heaven; direct thou his wayes, and prolong his dayes, that thy pleaſure may proſper in his hands. And teach us now to be ſubject unto the higher powers, and to ſubmit our ſelves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords ſake, giving to Caeſar the things that be Caeſars, and to God the things that be Gods. He whoſe is Counſel and ſound Wiſdom, ſo counſel our multitude of Counſellours, that they may be to us in ſtead of eyes, that their good and wiſe purpoſes may not be diſappointed, nor the people fall; but that the peace and ſafety of us all may be therein; Vouchſafe ſo to order and moderate all thoſe, to whom thou haſt committed the Word and Miniſtry of Reconciliation, that they may pray and beſeech men, in Chriſts ſtead, to be reconciled firſt to God, and then to one another: Approving their Miniſtry, by being indeed the Salt of the Earth, (through their diſcretion and moderation) ſalted with fire (of love as well as zeal) And never ſuffer that Salt ſo to be infatuated, or loſe the ſavour, that it be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be caſt out, and trodden under foot of men. Let it be our ſtudy and care, (not others reproaching) firſt (Phyſician-like) to heal our ſelves: that having caſt out the beame out of our own eye; we may ſee the more clearly to pull the mote out of our brothers eye. Purge us therefore (we pray thee) from all immoderateneſſe of paſſions, affections, or affectations: thoſe dead flies, that cauſe the ointment, (which ſhould heal our diviſions) to ſend forth a ſtinking ſavour: A very little of which leaven is enough to leaven, or ſoure the whole lump, or maſſe of all our actions and affaires. Farre be it from us, to be ſo unwiſe as to meaſure our ſelves by our ſelves, or to compare our ſelves among our ſelves; be it our part rather not to pleaſe our ſelves, but every one to pleaſe his neighbour for his good to edification. Lead us (O Lord) in thy Righteouſneſſe becauſe of our enemies: make therefore thy way ſtreight before our faces; leaſt they blaſpheme and ſay, Where is now their God? where is now their Church? Do thou quaſh thoſe Cockatrice-Egges in the ſhell, which hereticks have hatched, that they break not forth into vipers; and ſo thy children be not only ſtarved with ſtones in ſtead of bread, but even poiſoned with Serpents in ſtead of Fiſhes. And for as much as a Kingdome divided againſt it ſelfe cannot ſtand; knit thou thy Word, the Church, and our own conſciences ſo together, that the gates of hell may not prevail to break this threefold cord. Break down therefore the partition-wall, and let the enmity be ſlaine: that we of one body, one ſpirit, one faith, may be of one minde in the Lord. And not divide the child, nor halt between two, nor ſerve two Maſters, nor couch between two burdens. Nevertheleſſe, let us not be ſo preciſe, as to forbid even the caſting out of devils in thy Name, becauſe they follow not with us. Nor yet ſo cenſorious as to ſay, he that is not with us is againſt us; but to ſay more aptly to this purpoſe, he that is not againſt us, is with us. Sith there may be the ſame ſubſtance of truth, though not exactly under the ſame circumſtances, yet (we beſeech thee) ſtirre us up to the keeping of the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. And ſeeing ſo many as are perfect are thus minded: if any man be otherwiſe minded, do thou (Lord God) remark it to him in good time. Howbeit, whereunto we have already attained, grant us to walk after the ſame rule, minding the ſame thing. Neither ſuffer us to judge one another any more, but to judge this rather, that no man put a ſtumbling block, or an occaſion to fall in his brothers way: To the intent our good of liberty be not ill ſpoken of either by one or other. That ſo we ſin not againſt the brethren, wounding their weak conſcience, or ſet them at nought by our not walking according to charity. Abate therefore the vigorous zeale or emulation of all ſuch Sonnes of Thunder, that are for nothing elſe but ſire from Heaven, not knowing what ſpirit they are of, in contending ſo bitterly to break the bruiſed reed, and quench the ſmoaking flax, wholly bent to binde heavy burdens upon mens ſhoulders, yet can even therein ſo diſpenſe with themſelves, as ſcarce to touch them with one of their fingers. Be pleaſed withal to rectifie and eſtabliſh their judgements that are yet children in underſtanding, toſſed to and fro (like waves of the ſea) and carried up and down with every wind of doctrine, by the ſleights and cogging juglings of men. Who are ſo ſuperſtitious in their ſcrupuloſities, as not to ſow in obſervation of the winde, neither yet to reap in their regarding of the clouds, and thoſe no other but clouds without raine. As they abound in their own ſenſe, ſo let them be fully perſwaded in their own mindes, that to the clean all things are clean: neither let them preſume to call that common or unclean, which thou thy ſelf haſt cleanſed. Diſcover to them their owne nakedneſſe, that ſeek no further, but to ſow to themſelves Fig-leaves of frivolous pretences, and their lameneſſe too, that truſts only to the broken reeds of their own wilfulneſſe: and ſo kick againſt the pricks of lawful Authority; and ſtrive againſt the ſtream of univerſal conſent. Quiet each one of thoſe querulous ſpirits, and malecontents amongſt us, who (worſe then the wilde Aſſe) brayeth, when he hath graſſe; or the Ox that loweth over his fodder. Confute them likewiſe to their faces, that dote about queſtions, and ſtrife of words, with perverſe diſputings of men of corrupt mindes, and deſtitute of the truth. Pull down and deface thoſe whited walls, and painted ſepulchres, where there is no other cleanſing but that of the out-ſide of the platter. That compaſſe ſea and land to make a Proſelite, that ſtrain at gnats and ſwallow camels, and put on ſheeps clothing to no other purpoſe, but to the rending of Chriſts ſeamleſſe coat. Quench the tailes of thoſe ſmoaking firebrands, whoſe peeviſhneſſe and perverſeneſſe hath proved ſmoak to our eyes, vineger to our teeth, and thornes in our ſides. Teach us with ſubmiſſion to admire thy wiſe diſpenſation, of clean and unclean beaſts in the Ark. And therefore ſo moderate us, as that we may neither be too haſty, nor ſevere, in offering our ſelves, to the plucking up the tares from amidſt the wheat; leaſt we root up the wheat alſo with them. But let us be content to poſſeſs our ſoules in patience, if both muſt grow together till the harveſt, Nevertheleſſe, help us that are of Chriſt, to have no communion with thoſe that are known to be of Belial. For what hath the wheat to do with the chaffe? Remove from us all ſuch as would remove the ancient Landmarks, and break the common hedge, and let their own conſcience be the firſt Serpent that bites them. Confound both the tongues and the hands of all thoſe tumultuous ones, children of noiſe and clamour, that are given to change: who to build their Babel, would not care to turne the whole earth upſide down. Free us evermore from the tyranny and ſlavery of men overwiſe and overjuſt, that wring the noſe till they bring forth blood, ſtrip the naked of their clothing, ſell the poor for a paire of ſhoes, that turne judgment to wormwood, cauſe truth to fall in the ſtreets, and equity cannot enter. That have ſet ſervants to rule not only over us, but over Princes: And (like Iſmaels own ſonnes) not caring whoſe hand could be againſt them; ſo their hand might be but ſtrong enough againſt every man. Uncover their skirts, open their own faces, and let them be cloathed with no more but the ſhame and diſhonour of fanatick God-mockers, that have faſted for ſtrife and debate, and to ſmite with the fiſt of wickedneſſe, bowing down the head like a Bulruſh, and yet putting forth the finger nevertheleſſe. Hating their brethren, and caſting them out for thy names ſake, and yet ſaying, let God be glorified, yea, killing them, and thinking they have done thee good ſervice. Put to confuſion that harlots forehead that cannot bluſh; break to pieces that crooked thing which will not be made ſtreight; and who ſo will daſh againſt that rock, let it fall upon him again and grinde him to powder. Ariſe, (O Lord!) and diſappoint the cunning craftineſſe of men that lie in wait to deceive. And let not the children of this world boaſt themſelves in their generation, far wiſer then the children of light. But graciouſly prevent us with thy watchfull Eye, that while Judas is awake, the Diſciples may not be found aſleep. Laugh to ſcorne the vanity, and negligence of all them, that in the work of the Lord, build upon the Sands; labour for, ſow, and feed on the wind; and nothing but beate the ayre: and ſo ranne altogether in vayne. Stirre up the ſlothfull ſpirits of ſuch as (ſluggard like) only fold their hands, and cry out (at every difficulty) there is a Lyon in the way. But they that pray for the peace of Jeruſalem, and beare good will to Zion; comfort all their hearts, and cover all their heads, and ſtrengthen all their hands; to be valiant for the truth, fight the good fight to the finiſhing of their courſes, and receiving of the Crown. Satisfie, or rather ſtint thou the ſtomacks of thoſe Daughters of the Horſe-leach, that cry continually give, give; and never ſay it is enough. And let it alwayes be a ſnare to thoſe ſacrilegious God-robbers, who devoure that which is holy, and yet never once vow to make inquiry. Sopp thoſe ſtolne waters, and break the ſtaffe of that bread of ſecrecies which are ſweet and pleaſant to the thief, that entred not in by the door: to the end that he who planted the Vineyard, may eate of the Fruit; and he that feedeth the Flock, may taſte of the milke: and the Ox treading out the Corne, may not be muzled; but that the labourer may be accounted worthy of his hire. So order thou every man in the calling wherein he is called, that he may therein abide with God, not walking diſorderly, like a buſibody; nor wandring from his place, like a Bird from the neſt, nor exerciſeing himſelf in great matters, or in things that are to high for him; neither yet eſſaying or ſeeking great things for himſelf. Eſpecially not medling with the ſtrife that belongs not to him; leaſt it ſo falls out that he holds a dogg by the eares. So moderate all our ſenſual appetites, that we may remember to put the knife to our throats. And though we have found hony, yet temper us ſo as only to eate ſo much as is ſufficient for us; leaſt we be filled therewith, and vomit it up again. Give us neither poverty, nor riches; but feed us with food convenient for us. And having food and rayment, grant us therewith to be content. As knowing both how to be abaſed, and how to abound. That in all caſes and conditions our moderation (both of body and minds) may be approved by thee; and known to all men. Grant this for Jeſus Chriſt (our only Mediatour, and Moderators) ſake. To which bleſſed Son of thine, with thee (mercifull Father) and the Holy Spirit, be the worſhip and the glory, now, and ever, world without end. Amen.
FINIS.