The Zealous Magistrate, To the reader
To the Reader.
IT was a true Obſervation,Sir Walter Raleighs Hiſt. l. 1. c 1. S. 15. which a Learned Gentleman made of Truth, that he that prizeth Truth, ſhall never proſper by the poſſeſsion, or profeſsion thereof. The fear of this hath wrought ſo ſtrongly with ſome, even of the holiest Calling; that to follow the thriving Method of the Times) they have ſet themſelves upon the ſtudie of men, and humours, to flatter the one, and obſerve the other; by that means to widen their fortune, and work themſelves into the favour of men, though it be with the diſpleaſure of God.30 Iſ ah 10 Nulli grata reprehenſio eſt, imò quod pejus multo eſt, quantū libet malus, quantumlibet perditus, mavult falſarum laudum irriſiombus decipi, quàm ſaluberimd ad monitione ſervari Salo. de Guber. l. 8 Hence it comes to paſſe, that the men of the world, being willing to be flattered by ſuch Chaplaines, into a good opinion of themſelves, cannot endure to meet with any that ſhall deale plainly and roundly with them, but are readie to ſay unto the Seers ſee not, and to the Prophets propheſie not unto us right things, ſpeak unto us ſmooth things, propheſie deceits. Thoſe that would not willingly be couſened of a peny, are yet very well pleaſed to bee guld of Heaven; and though in other matters they crie out for plain-dealing; yet in things that concerne God and their ſoules, they are all for Sophiſtry and deceits, Propheſie deceits. The ſmall experience I have had in the world, hath furniſhed me with plentifull proofes in this hind. This very Sermon hath tryed it, which met with ſome of rotten Conſciences, and itching eares,2 Tim. 4 3 foreign, qui titillentur & pruriunt auditu, undè quaerunt qui ſcalpant aures volvptale orationis, …on qui radant veritate. Eraſm. Annot. that could not endure ſound Doctrine; and if they would but ſpeak out their owne thoughts, I believe they were angry with the Sermon for the Texts ſake.
When St. Steven had made an end of his Sermon, the Jewes made an end of him too, and ſtoned him to death. 7. Act. 57, 58. I can accuſe none for casting of Stones, yet ſome there were which could not hold from ſhooting out of*64 Pſal 3. Mr Ferdin. Nicols preaching the Anniverſary Serm. of the Cities deliverance from the Rebells 6. Aug. Arrows even bitter words, Tincta Lycābaeo ſpicula felle. But I have bin the leſſe diſcouraged, becauſe it was the ſame reward, which a Reverend and worthy Divine had for his pains in that verie place, but the day before If others could have ruled their tongues I had at this time mastred my pen, which must now ſtand me in ſome ſtead, to free me from the groſſe miſtakings of ſome, and the envious gloſſes of others, both which are able to betray the moſt innocent paſſages (yea even Scripture it ſelfe) to ſcandall and exception.
Reader, If thou wert a hearer of this Sermon, and thoughteſt amiſſe of it; then take the paynes to peruſe it now, perhaps thy ſight may confute thy hearing: And thine eyes prove better Judges, than thine eares: But if thou hast beene a Cenſurer at ſecond hand, and upon tradition, foreign,In Aristoph. foreign. as Chremylus told Blepſidemus, Thou haſt done me the more wrong to paſſe a blindfold Sentence upon me. But if hearing or reading, will neither change thy heart, nor ſtop thy mouth, I ſhall reſolve with Hezekiah's ſervants, who when the King of Aſſyria had ſent Rabſhakeh, 36 Iſaiah. … 11.(one of his most deſperate Cavaliers) to rayle and threaten, they kept ſilence, and anſwered him not a word.
I have now delivered over this diſcourſe to the Preſſe, with no other cloaths about it, than it had at its firſt birth in the Pulpit; ſhould I have offered to new-dreſſe it, ſome perhaps would have taken it for a changeling. The thought of this made me forbeare the enlargement of it with thoſe proofes and reaſons, which at the deliverie of it, I was forced (by ſtraitneſſe of time) to keep in, and omit. I was willing to ſay ſomething of each poynt (being all of them ſuitable for the occaſion and ſeeing the Text was ſo pregnant, and teeming with ſuch needfull Truths, I had not the heart to ſmother or ſtifle any of them. Read them with the ſame mind that they were ſpoken, and thou ſhalt endeare me to be,
Thine, and the Churches Servant, THO. TRESCOT.