How sorts our practise with this Doctrine? show me a sacrilegious Patron, a Pirate of the Church, that (if his hand cease from spoiling God of his Tithes, yet) will repair the breaches, his rapine hath made: show me a Bribe-guilty Officer, seek out with wet eyes, and reward with a full hand, the wronged Suitors: how many are more cruel-hearted then Judas, that neither on repentance nor despair will bring back the price of the Poor's Blood, which they have sucked? Behold the earthly Churl, to make his son a Gentleman, prostituting his honesty, conscience, soul, and forsaking his own mercy: (as the Proverb is vile, if ever true, Happy is that Son, whose Father goes to the Devil:) After he hath mowed Corn, or fatted his Ox, on the very place, ([…] Trotafuit) where the Town stood; nay, kennelled his Dogs within the walls of the Sanctuary;1 and turned the Hall of Charity into the Parlour of Pride; his Body sinks to the Grave, and (it is to be feared) his Soul to Hell, being rung thither with the peals of Belles and curses. The better instructed Heir, (to omit those that exceed the tyranny of their Fathers) seeing and detesting his dead Fathers deader courses,2 withdraws his hand from extortion, from depopulation, but what reasons can make him a restorer? it is enough (he thinks) to cease wronging. But ⟨image 33⟩curse ye Meroz, saith the Angel of the Lord, curse the inhabitants thereof, because they came not forth, to h•lp• the Lord in the day of battle: Did they fight against God? No, they helped him not:3 that Servant was condemned for claiming his own debt: the Prayers and Fastings of the Jews were despised, for claiming their own debts; and standing upon Sacrifice with men,4 Whiles they would have mercy with God.5 Nehemiah threatened the same people with a stricter taxation: They must restore the extorted Lands and Houses of their brethren; nay, remit some part of the debt, or they were cursed with that fearful sacrament, the shaking the lap of his Garment, so to be shaken out of Israel, all the congregation crying, Amen. Lastly, beyond all exception, the manner of the Lambs coming to Judgement, testifies as much; Go ye Cursed: For what cause? Because ye denied the Labourer his hire, or took Bread from the hungry, &c. No, these are crying Sins, and Hasten before unto Judgement:
How sortes our practise with this Doctrine? shew me a sacrilegious Patron, a Pyrate of the Church, that (if his hand cease from spoyling God of his Tithes, yet) will repayre the breaches, his rapine hath made: shew me a Bribe-guilty Officer, seeke out with wette eyes, and reward with a full hand, the wronged Suitors: how many are more cruell-hearted then Iudas, that neyther on repentance nor despaire will bring backe the price of the Poores Blood, which they haue sucked? Behold the earthly Churle, to make his sonne a Gentleman, prostituting his honesty, conscience, soule, and forsaking his owne mercie: (as the Prouerbe is vile, if euer true, Happy is that Sonne, whose Father goes to the Diuell:) After he hath mowed Corne, or fatted his Oxe, on the very place, (〈…〉 Trotafuit) where the Towne stood; nay, kenneled his Dogges within the walles of the Sanctuary;1 and turned the Hall of Charitie into the Parlour of Pride; his Body sinkes to the Graue, and (it is to be feared) his Soule to Hell, being rung thither with the peales of Belles and curses. The better instructed Heire, (to omitte those that exceed the tiranny of their Fathers) seeing and detesting his dead Fathers deader courses,2 withdrawes his hand from extortion, from depopulation, but what reasons can make him a restorer? it is enough (he thinkes) to cease wronging. But ⟨image 33⟩curseye Meroz, sayth the Angell of the Lord, curse the inhabitantes thereof, because they came not foorth, to h•lp• the Lord in the day of battaile: Did they fight against God? No, they helped him not:3 that Seruant was condemned for clayming his owne debt: the Prayers and Fastinges of the Iewes were despised, for clayming their owne debts; and standing vpon Sacrifice with men,4 Whiles they would haue mercie with God.5 Nehemiah threatned the same people with a stricter taxation: They must restore the extorted Landes and Houses of their breathren; nay, remit some part of the debt, or they were cursed with that fearefull sacrament, the shaking the lappe of his Garment, so to be shaken out of Israell, all the congregation crying, Amen. Lastly, beyond all exception, the manner of the Lambes comming to Iudgement, testifies as much; Goe ye Cursed: For what cause? Because ye denyed the Labourer his hire, or tooke Bread from the hungry, &c. No, these are crying Sinnes, and Hasten before vnto Iudgement:
- 1Non ignota cano.
- 2Q•is talia […] •mperet a lad […]? lud. 5. 23.Q•is talia 〈…〉 •mperet a lad 〈…〉? lud. 5. 23.
- 3Math. 18.
- 4Isaiah. 58. 3.Esay. 58. 3.
- 5Neh. 5.
