S. Peter , aduertising the Iewes & the Proselytes , that e e Acts. 2. 38 they should receiue the gift of the holy ghost , if they repented , & turned to Christ : for to you ( saith hee ) is the promise made , and to your children , and to all them that shal be long hereafter , euen to as many as the Lord our God shall call : the same in like sort may I say vnto you ( fathers and brethren ) touching this promise of bringing your enemies to vtter ruine and destruction . For , f f Gen. 12. 3 God said to Abraham , I wil blesse than that blesse thee , & I will curse them that curse thee : meaning , that hee would make a perfect league with him , & bee at peace with his friends , at war with his enemies . But the league and couenant which God made with Abraham , g g Ge. 17. 7 he made with Abraham & his seed . And h h Gal. 3. 7. the seed of Abraham are all faithfull Christians . To vs all therefore is that promise made , that God will blesse our friends , and will curse our enemies . Moreouer , his particuler curse & plague ensuing it , vpon the Idumaeans , is a patterne of that which shall fall on such as treade in their steps . For i i 1. Cor. 10 6. the punishment of the Iewes , who lusted after euill things ▪ is threatned to the Gentiles if they lust as the Iewes did : and k k Re. 18. 4 . if yee bee partakers of the sinnes of Babylon , ye shal receiue of her plagues . Now , amongst the enemies of the faithful Christians , others doe more resemble the Philistines , or Ammonites , or Moabites , or Amalekites , or Cananites , or Assyrians : there are none liker to the Idumaeans , then are the Papistes , as it hath been shewed . The Idumaeans borne according to the flesh of the seed of Abraham : the Papists by of spring come of Christian parents . The Idumaeans circumcised as children of the couenant : the Papistes baptised in the same that we be . The Idumaeans serued not the God of their fathers according to the law : neither do the Papists in spirit & truth after the Gospel . The Idumaeans persecuted the Israelites to death , & vexed them with al crueltie : the Papists haue butchered the godly with massacres , and made themselues drunken with the blood of saints . Wherefore the spirite of the Lord assureth vs that the Papists shal be consumed in his wrath , when it shall burne sodeinly : and as they haue folowed the factes of the Idumaeans , so they shall feele their punishmentes . I speake not herein of all that are Papists : as neither did the Prophet of al Idumaeans ▪ For the l l Amos. 9. 12. remnant of Edom shal inherite with Israel , and Papistes with vs : as many as shall m m Act , 15. 17. 8. seeke him , whose name is called vpon them . which God graunt they may doe by faith in his mercy , that Papistes may liue , and papistrie may die . But I speake of all who flubbornly per sist in the Popish heresies . In whom shal bee fulfilled the Apostles prophesie touching the man of sinne : n n 2. Thes. 2. 8. the Lorde shall consume him with the breath of his mouth . And so , that which is written of Edom by the Prophet , may be said by vs to the Romish An tichrist : If theeues had come vnto thee , if robbers by night , ( how art thou destroyed ? ) would they not haue stollen that which were enough for them ? If Grape gatherers had come vnto thee , would they not haue left some grapes ? Howe are the things of Antichrist sought out , his secret things are searched ?

Howbeit , as S. Paul ▪ though o o Act. . 27. 24. he were assured that al who sailed with him sheuld escape aliue : yet p p Ver. 31. said , that they could not escape except the mariners abode in the ship : so , though it be certaine that Antichrist and his members shal be consumed , yet cannot that be , except they be set vpon by warriours . For god doth worke by meanes ordinarily . And this is the meanes that he hath ordeined for the atchieuing of that conquest , as we sawe before in q q Obad. 1. the Ambassadours message , Arise & let vs rise vp against her to battaile . The warriours , whose seruice the Lord doth vse therto , are all his seruants in a sort ; r r Psal. 110. 3. his people most willing in the day of his armie : but speciallie Preachers and Ministers of hys worde . For his worde is s s Esa. 11. 4. the rodde of his ▪ mouth , t t 2. Thes. 2. 8. the breath , u u Reue. 19 15. Agge . 1. 1. the sword , wherby he doth destroy his enemies : & ministers are souldiours , by whose hand he weeldeth it . For which cause their function is compared to warfare , in that it is written by S. Paule , x x 1 ▪ Cor. 9. 7. Who goeth to warrefare any time at his y. 2. Tim. 2 ▪ .4 owne cost ? And , No man that warreth entangleth himselfe with affayres of life , that hee may please him who hath chosen him to be a souldiour , And God saith of them by the Prophet Esay : z z Esay . 62. 6. I haue set watchmen vpon thy walles , O Ierusalem , which all the day , and all the night continually shall not cease . The watchmen and warriours therefore of the Lorde , the keepers of hys Church , the conquerours of his enemies ▪ the spoylers of the Idumaeans , the consumers of Antichrist , and Antichristian impes ▪ are ministers of his word , Pastors & Teachers , who to please him by whom they are chosen souldiours , should not bee entangled with affaires of life ; to discharge their dutie , should bee sent foorth and kept on publike cost ; to preserue their flocke , shoulde watche day and ▪ night continually ouer it . The lesse marueile is it , if in our English Churches Antichrist and Edom bee not consumed yet ; nay , if they attempt to consume vs ; if by Popish pollicies , by superstitious tokens , by blasphemous writings , by trayterous libels and conspiracies , they vndermine our state ; if a a Psal. 83. 3 they take craftie counsaile against the people of God , and say , b b ver. 12. Let vs possesse his habitations by inheritance ; if they looke for a day when they may crie once againe , c c Psal. 137. 7. rase it , rase it to the foundation thereof ; in a word , if they raunge through the land like woolues , & sucke the blood of sheep and lambes : sith the shepheardes fayle , the watchmen are a sleepe , the warriours doo not fight , through want , somewhere of will , somewhere of abilitie . Of will , where they entangle themselues with such affaires as draw them from their warfare , and are not content to be watchmen in Ierusalem , but they must haue a watchmanship in Caesarea too ; or , if they haue one flocke alone , yet doo not fee●… it , but take their ease in Sion . Of abilitie , where there is not sufficient prouision for trayning of men to make them good souldiours ; nor maintenaunce sufficient to finde them being trained : that , setting all other cares of life apart ▪ they may attend their charge wholy . To them heere amongest vs , who , through want of will are backwarde in this seruice of the Lorde God of Hoastes , so much hath been spoken , so often , so earnestlie , both out of this and other places : that I am halfe ashamed againe to solicite them with d d Esay . 28. 10. Precept vpon precept , Precept vpon Precept . Notwithstanding , as I haue read , that when wee had gotten Calice from the Frenchmen , there was one appointed to put them in remembraunce from time to time of Calice , in all their solemne meetinges for State-consultations , till they had regained it : so ▪ I am perswaded , that , til the amendement of this fault bee woone , it is most conuenient for the Lordes remembrancers in all our Church-assemblies to wish it to be thought of .

Wherefore , to put you in minde euen nowe also of our Spirituall Calice ▪ I beseeche you fathers and brethren ( whom it toucheth ) nowe at length to regarde the state of the Soules , the precious Soules of men committed to your charge : whose blood , if they perishe for lacke of that attendaunce , which you ought to giue them , will crye for sharper vengeaunce then did e e Ge. 4. 10 , the blood of Abel . Or , if my perswasion cannot preuaile with you : yet let his preuaile , whose prayer hath preuailed for you ; who died himselfe that you might liue ; who saide , and all thinges were created ; whose word the winds and seas obey . Consider the function that hee hath called you to , the dutie laide vpon you , the reward , if you do it ; the punishment , if you doe it not . f f Luk. 12. 24. Who is ( saith hee ) a faithful and wise Stewarde , whom his master maketh ruler ouer his housholde , to giue them their portion of meat in due season ? Blessed is that seruant , whom his master when he commeth shall finde so doing : verily , I say vnto you , he shall make him ruler ouer all his goods ▪ But if that seruant say in his hart , my master doth deferre his comming , and begin to smite the seruants and maidens , and to eate and drinke , and to bee drunken : that seruants master wyll come in a day when he looketh not for him , and in an houre that he is not ware of , and will cut him in peeces , and giue him his portion with the vnbeleeuers . Our Sauiour the sonne of God , the king of kinges , & Lord of Lordes , hauing entertained men and women of all degrees to be his houshold seruants , is carefull to feede them with conuenient food , that they may serue him in their vocation frutefully . This food is the doctrine of his holy word , which must bee deuided in diuers sorts vnto his seruants , according to their diuers states : some to be ▪ fed with milk ▪ some with strong meat ; some humbled with the law , some raised with the gospell ; each to haue his portion of meat most wholesome for him . Nor only must they haue it , but haue it too , in due season , as often as they need it : which is so often , that the holy Ghost ( to shew the continuall necessitie thereof ) doth will it to be giuen them g g 2. Tim. 4 2. in season and out of season . For , as mens bodies should loose their temporall life , vnlesse , as they decay still , so they were repaired with sustenance of meat and drink : in like sort mens soules are fainting stil also , to their Amos. 8. 11. hazard of life eternall , vnlesse they be refreshed with the food of Gods word . Wherefore that his seruants and maidens he not famished : the master of the houshold hath made you his stewards to minister meat vnto them . If you behaue your selues , as wise stewards , & faithful ; wise , in discerning what portion of meate they need eche , and when ; faithfull in giuing it to them in due season : your master shal come , who now is absent as it were and h h Luke . 19. ●… . gone into a farre countrie , but he shal come againe and fill you with blessednesse ; he shal make you rulers ouer al his goods and honour you as highly as i i Gen. 41. ●…0 . Pharao did Ioseph ; , yea , hee shall reward you with k k 1. Pet. 5. 4 a crown of glorie , an incorruptible crown , and yee shall l l Dan. 12. ●… . shine as starres for euer and euer . But if ye thinke his comming to be farre of , and so begin to smite the seruants and the maidens ; nay , I would to God yee did smite them onely , so that ye taught them too , for that were a benefite ; but if ye famishe them , and play the good felowes your selues with the world , & eate , & drink , & be drunken : your master will come in a day when ye looke not for him , & in an houre that ye are not ware of , & wil m m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . cut you in peeces , & giue you your portion with the vnbeleeuers . By the Roman n n Tit. de re ●…dicata . lawes of the 12. tables , if a man owed money vnto sundry creditours , & after iudgement giuen , did not agree with them himself , or others for him : his creditours might ( after certain daies respite ) cut his body in peeces , & take them ech a part therof . o o ●…gol . Noct. ●…ttic . li. 20. ●…ap. 1. Phauorinus the Philosopher reprooued this lawe as cruell & barbarous . But Caecilius the Lawier replyed well vpon him , that so great a punishment was appointed of purpose , that they might neuer com vnto it . For now we see many ( said he ) laid vp fast , & cast into fetters , because the paine of fetters is contemned by lewd persons . But I neuer read nor heard that of olde time any was cut in peeces : because they could not set light by that punishement . Metius Fufetius , the Prince of the Albanes , hauing promised the Romane king Tullus Hostilius to succour him against his enemies , did treacherously deceiue him : by whom he was therfore tied to two carts , his handes to the one , his feet to the other , & so ( the horses being driuen contrary wayes ) he was torne in peeces . p p Hist. ab V Cond. lib. 1 Liuie misliketh this punishment as ouer sharp , & saith that ther was smal regard of humane lawes had in it . But q q Aeneid . lib. 8. Uirgil weighing better the greatnesse of the fault , aloweth it with graue censure , * * But thou , O Alban Prince , thy promise shouldest haue kept . At tu dictis Albane maneres . Traitours in our dayes , though they be not torne with horses as Metius , yet are they rent in peeces , as Metius was , & quartered . r r Epist. de persequut . Anglic. The Papists complaine therof to foreine nations as of outragious tyrannie , when they are put vnto it for traiterous factes against our prince . But it is vsuall and lawful for the Pope ( as Leo the tenthes practise in s s Hist. Ital. ▪ 13. Guicc●…ardin doth witnesse ) to quarter men for treason wrought against him . Now , this seuere punishment , which hath bin thought fit by mortal Iudges to be laid vpon vnfaithful debters , vpon treacherous persons , vpon rebellious Traitours , is the same that Christ the immortal iudge denounceth vnto you , if ye be disloyall to God , your soueraine Lord , if ye breake promise with him and his seruants , if yee pay them not the debt which yee owe them , and giue them their portion of meat in due season . A very greeuous punishment : yet nothing to that , which Christ importeth by it . For hee doth import ( as the wordes following shew ) that yee shall haue your portion with the vnbeleeuers . And t t ●…u . 21. 8. the vnbeleeuers shall haue their portion in the lake that burneth with fire & brimstone , which is the second death . Of Damocles a Heathen man it is recorded , that when Dionysius the Tyrant entertained him magnificently & princely , although at the first bee thought him selfe happie , respecting the traine of men , attendant on him , the place of gold and siluer , the gorgeous cloathes , the sweet perfumes , the Uiands most delicate , all furniture rich and royall : yet after , seeing a sworde hanging by a threed let downe ouer his head , he could take no ioy of his entertainment , nay hee tooke griefe , and desired earnestly to be dimissed from it . How much lesse ioy should you take in your eating , your drinking , your pleasures , with which , as worldly baites , the Prince of this world doth pamper your flesh against the day of slaughter : sith there hangeth ouer your neckes an axe of vengeaunce , not that may perhaps , but that will assuredly ; not kyll your bodies onely , but both bodies and soules ; not with temporall death , but with euerlasting into hel fit ●… ; u u Matt. 24 51. there shal be weeping and gnashing of teeth . O consider this , yee that forget God least he teare you in peeces , and there be none that can deliuer you . The warriour that spoileth the Idumaeans , shall honour him : and he , that watcheth ouer the Israelites to saue them shall see the saluation of God . And thus much to them , who through want of wil , search not the secrete thinges of Esau.

As for the defect which this exploite suffereth through want of habilitie , because such as should doo it , are eyther not trayned or not maintained to it in sufficient sort : that is so much hurtfuller to vs then the former , by how much the contagion of it spreadeth farder . For souldiours ought to learne and practise feates of warre ( as x Veget. de milit. lib. cap. 1. expert men haue noted ) before they deale in martiall affayeres with their enemies : and as y Lib. 2. ca. 9. Lib. 3. ca. they should employ themselues to no businesse , but to their seruice onely , so shoulde they be allowed victuals , & other necessaries , that they need not to doe it . Wherupon the Lord appointing Priestes and Leuites to serue him in this a Nu. 4. 23. Num. 18. warfare ( as Moses termeth it ) & ministery , alotted them b offerings , first frutes , and tithes of all the land to liue by , with c Num. 35. ●… Cities to dwell in , and groundes annexed therunto . And , beside the conuentence of their abode together in Ierusalem and other Cities that they might the better betrained from their infancie to skill of the priestly and Leuitical duties , to teach the law of Deut. 33. ●… . God , and offer incense , and Sacrifice : there were also e 1. San. 10. 5. 19. 10. Kin. 2. 3. 6. 1. Colleges and companies of Prophetes , wherein the younger learned vnder the elder ( as children vnder fathers ) to be men of God , to prayse his name , and teach his wil. These orders , receiued by the Church of Israel , should bee followed by ours : though not in all particulars , yet in the general equitie . For f f 1. Cor. 19 ▪ 13. as they who serued about the holy thinges , did eate of the temple ; they , who wayted at the Altar , were partakers wyth the Altar : so the Lord ordeined too , that they who preach the Gospel should liue of the Gospel . And Timothee , who was chosen to serue in this g g 1. Ti. 1. 1●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 warfare , as a h h 2. Tim. 2 . souldiour of Christ , did not onely i i 2. Tim. 3. 15. knowe the Scriptures from his infancie : but also was k k Act. 16. 3●… brought vp to the ministerie by S. Paul , whose l l 2. Ti. 3. 1●… doctrine & behauiour framed him vnto it . In which consideration our Auncetours prouided houses , Glebeland , Tithes , & other profites , for the commodious dwelling and maintenance of Pastours : and endowed Byshoprickes , Cathedral and Collegiat Churches ( as we call them ) with landes and reuenewes , * * As appea●…reth by the groundes thereof in 〈◊〉 Cyprian , Eusebius , Grogor●… the Councel●… of Toledo , with othe●… Councels ▪ Fathers , and Stories Ecclesiasticall : an M. Bu●…r sheweth in his booke , entituled , De reformatione Collegii C●… 〈◊〉 . that learned godly Teachers being placed there , myght instruct others by their doctrine and behauiour , as S. Paul did Timothe . For the fuller perfecting & finishing of whom to all the Lordes worke , they founded Uniuersities and Colleges therein also . But I would to God these nurseries of Pastours & Teachers of the Church , were husbanded in such sort to the Lordes aduauntage , that we need not feare his sentence of that vineyard , m Mat. 21. that he wil let it out to other husbandmen . Then should not so many raw vntrained souldiours receiue the Lords pay , who doo him small seruice in the day of battaile . And yet there were lesse cause to complaine hereof , if they , who bee trayned , were procured to serue him . But the imprest money & wages due to them , the liuings ( I mean ) appointed for their maintenance , are so impaired & minished : that , being not able therwith to finde themselues in souldiourlike state , they refuse the calling ; or if they vndertake it , they are distracted from it , with cares how to supply their need . Wherby it commeth to passe that , n Ieh. 13. that Leuites flying ech into his land for lack of their portions , the house of God is forsaken . And to fill their roomes , others are taken , who wil be hired for least : not according to the Prouerbe , Best is best cheape ; but to the common practise , Best cheape is best . Who though not to serue the calues of Dan and Bethel , yet are made Priestes , as those by Ieroboam o king . 12 of peeces of the people , not of the sonnes of Leui. Who , if they had the grace , p 〈◊〉 . 13. 5 should say , I am no Prophet , I am a husbandman : and returne to that trade which their friendes haue taught them . Who are not endued with necessary gifts for the prophets duty : and therefore , howsoeuer men haue called them to it , God hath not called them . For , whom God calleth vnto anie function , them endueth he with giftes to performe it : as q q Exod. 31. 2. Bezaleel , to make his taberbernacle : r r Ier. 1. 9 , Ieremie , to doo his message ; s s Act. 2. 4. the Apostles , to preach the Gospel . So the flock of Christ , is desolate of shepheards ; and his campe , of souldiours : while such haue the places , as cannot t t Ezech. 34 4. strengthen the weake , heale the sicke , binde vp the broken ; nor destroy his enemies with the u u Heb. 4. 12. two edged sworde , & defend his subiectes . A great cause here-of are Patrones of benefices . For wheras the interest of choosing the Pastor belonging of old time to the Congregation , is now conueyed to them , because their predecessours did benefit the Church some way , and therefore were put in trust as Patrones of it : they , a number of them , do deale with the matter as Polymestor did with Polydore , that is , as euill gardians doo with their wardes , and turne their patronage into pillage . The lust of their hartes hath defiled their handes with the sacriledge of Acan : to x x Ios. 7. 21. take gold & siluer , and Babylonish garments , of the spoiles of Iericho y y Io. 6. 19. consecrated to God . Or , if not with so foule sacrilege as his was , because their Predecessours gaue some of it perhaps : yet with z z Acts. 5. 2. the sacrilege of Ananias & Sapphira ; yea , though themselues had giuen it . If they thinke to couer their profane dealing with a a Ios. 7. 22. Acans conueyance by hyding the pray , or to b b Mat. 27. ●…4 . wash their handes with Pilates pretense , that they are giltlesse of it , they gaue the aduowsons freely to friends or seruants : they deceiue themselues . For c c Gal. 6. 7. God is not mocked . And he wil finde them out in a day , when they looke not for him , and in an houre that they are not ware of , d d Ios. 7. 25. & bring them to shame with more dreadfull punishment , then either he did Acan , or e e Acts. 5. 5. Ananias , & Sapphira . Wherfore I hartely beseech the young Gentlemen that be here present , & all that are or shal be Patrones hereafter , in a religious reuerence and feare of the Lord , to keepe themselues pure from this abomination . At least , to remember the miserable ende of Richard the vsurper : who beeing made Protector of the King and Realme , got the realme himself , & robbed the King of it . That , if they deeme their patronage to be meerely ciuil , & the goods of benefices to be as common mens , not sacred to the Lord : yet being made Protectors therof , & of the Pastors , they follow not his fault whose ende they detest . Though , the very truth is , ( which I wish they weigh too , ) that the Churches goods , allotted to the maintenance of Pastors & teachers , are not profane but sacred : and therefore the sinne of them who purloyne them is sacrilege , not theft : wherein God is spoyled , as himself pronounceth , f f Mal. 3. 8. Will a man spoile God ▪ that ye doo spoile me ? And ye say , wherin doo we spoile thee ? in tithes & offerings . Howbeit , if church-liuings were impouerished by none but by Patrones : the case were not so euill , because it is against the law . But they are distressed also ( beside other pensions & incombrances ) by Appropriations , as the lawyers term them ; or , as they are named commonly , impropriations . Whereof the condition is the more grieuous , for that in many parishes there is not a Vicar well & sufficiently indowed to doe diuine seruice , & instruct the people , and keep hospitality : which yet g g Ann. 4. Henr. 4. cap. 12. the law commandeth , if it were obeied . Iosias , h h 2. Chr. 34. 3. in them eighth yere of his raigne , began to seek the God of his father Dauid ; & in the twelfth yeere he began to purge Iuda and Ierusalem from the hye places , and the groues , and the grauen images , and the molten ; and in i i Vers. 8. the eyghteenth yeere hee sent Saphan and others , to repayre the house of the Lord his God . Reformations of disorders cannot be made al at once : chiefly , when the Church hath of long time beene ouergrowen with them , as then it had vnder idolatry , and hath with vs vnder Popery . King Henry the eight , a Prince of noble memorie , began to sett foorth the holy worde of God . And his sonne , ( another Iosias , had he liued ) began to purge England from Images , and Masses , and Massing-altars , and superstitions . I doubt not but our gratious Queene and soueraine Lady desireth in the steppes of her father and brother , to adde this vnto them , that workemen be maintained for repairing of the Church . But it lieth not in her Highnes alone to bring it to effect ▪ the Lordes and the Commons haue a stroke in it . Wherefore , seeing now a Parliament is summoned to be helde shortly : let vs desire God in humblenes of spirit to encline their hearts , that , although it be with losse of some part of their owne commodities , yet they will folow k ●… . Exo. 35. 11. the zeale of the Israelites for the tabernacle of assembly . And as the religious professours of the truth haue shewed that Church-liuinges appropriated to others , should in conscience finde the Pastors of the Church : so God graunt that they who haue the authority may see it with a single eye , and bring it to passe with an vpright hand . Martin Bucer ( in l l De regno Christi lib. ●… . cap. 7. his godly requestes and aduises presented to King Edward ) treating of skilful Pastors to be ordained throughout the realme , saith ; that their maintenance ought to be required of them who receiue the profits of the parishes by appropriation , or any other way . Bishop m m Exposit. of Agg. the prophet , chapt. 1. Pilkinton ( vpon Aggaeus ) complayning that the Pope robbed parishes to feed his moonkes , wisheth , that the Gospell may restore that iustly : which he tooke wrongfully away , and gaue them yet a right name of impropriations , because they be taken away improperly , & properly belong to the parishes . But what should I mention Bishops and Diuines ( of whom there haue n n M. Latimer , in his 1. & 6. Serm. preached before King Edward . M. Fox●… in the Actes & mon. lib. 4. All the Bishops of England ( 300. yeres since ) misliking in the moonks that they had gotten benefices to be appropriated to them : as appeareth by Mat. Westm. in Florib . histor , ann. Dom. 126●… . many declared the same minde , ) when as Maister o o The perambulat . of Kent : in Frensbury . Lambard , a gentleman and Lawier , speaking of a Kentish Benefice conuerted to an appropriation , doth censure it with these wordes : One ( amongst many ) of those monstrous birthes of couetousnes , begotten by the man of Rome in the darke night of superstition , and yet suffered to liue in this day light of the gospell , to the great hinderaunce of learning , the impouerishment of the ministery , and the infamy of our profession . Hard may this seeme to such as haue the lyuings : & some peraduenture wil say of these speeches , p p Amo ●… . 7. 10. The land cannot beare them . But it is harder to suffer the land to stand in those termes , in which God saith to Iuda : q q Mal. 3. 9. Ye are cursed with a curse for that ye spoyle me , euen the whole nation . And if heathen men Philaeni , Codrus , Curtius , haue giuen their liues to benefit their countrey with a temporall blessing , and that vncertaine too : what should Christians doe to draw that blessing on it , which he , who cannot lye , doth promise , r r Vers. 10. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse , that there may be meate in mine house , and p●…oue me now herewith , saith the Lord of hosts , if I wil not open the windows of heauen vnto you , & powre you out a blessing without measure : & I wil rebuke the deuourer for your sakes , that he shall not destroy the fruit of your ground , neither shall your vine be barren in the field , saith the Lord of hostes : & al nations shal call you blessed , for ye shal be a pleasant land , saith the Lord of hostes . Wherefore let vs ( beloued ) of the Uniuersitie , get our countrey this blessing , as much as lyeth in vs , by prouiding that Pastors , where we haue appropriations , may be maintained with their tithes , that there may be meate in the house of God . I meane not hereby that wee should giue away that by which our schooles and schollers be mainteined . For God hath ordeined Ecclesiasticall goods to finde , not onely Priestes and Leuites , but their ofspring ; euen them , who are brought vp to be Priests and Leuites , and them who bring them vp ; the children of the Prophets , & the Prophets themselues . That , if there bee enough in our appropriations for the Pastors maintenance , beside that which we haue for the nurserie of Pastors , as commonly there is : we may with good conscience receiue our owne reuenue . My meaning is therefore , that , the rents reserued , we should allowe the rest of the liuinges to Pastors : which I speake not so much for those that publikely our Uniuersitie hath , to be let by Conuocation , whereof the greater part hath shewed well already them selues to bee of this minde : as for those that priuately belong to our Colleges , to be lett by the heades thereof and the fellowes .

It is of an humane and honest affection , that we sometimes would pleasure other men therewith , our friendes , suing for them . But if Iob said to Sophar & his partners s s Iob. 13. 7. Should you speake wickedly for Gods defence ? how much lesse ought we to do vnrighteously for the fauour of men ? And may we not looke for the plague that fel on Eli , if , as he did t t 1. Sam. 2. 29. honour his children aboue God , so we doo our friendes ▪ Leui is commended by the holy Ghost for u u Deu. 33. 9. saying of his father and of his mother , I looke not on him ; neither doth he acknowledge his brethren , nor know his children : but they obserue the word of God , and keepe his couenant All Christians are bound herein to be Leuites , x x Mat. 10. 37. regarding neither father , nor mother , sonne , nor daughter , in respect of God , when his word and couenant commeth into question . Wherefore , sith this is a speciall point thereof , that all the tithes be brought into the storehouse , that in his house there may be meate : we should obserue and keepe it , though with the disfauour of friendes whatsoeuer . And as it behoueth vs to doo it our selues : so , to wish that others enioy the blessing with vs . In which case , the duty that we owe to y y Tim. 2. 2 Kings and all in authoritie , doth binde vs to pray for the high court of Parliament , that by their ordinance the Church may be repaired , and we may leade a quiet and peaceable life in al godlines & honesty . When z z Neh. 13. ●… Eliasibthe Priest ( the high priest of the Iewes ) had made for his kinseman Tobias a great chamber , where they afore time did lay the meate offering , the incense and the vessels and the tithes & offeringes , appointed for the Leuites and Priestes : as soone as Nehemias ( the Priuce of the people ) vnderstoode thereof , it grieued him sore . Therefore he cast out the householde-vessels of Tobias out of the chamber : and brought thither agayne the vessels of the house of God , the meat-offering , and the incense . And perceiuing further , that the portions of the Leuites were not giuen them , who therefore were fledde eche into his land : he reproued the rulers , and saide , Why is the house of God forsaken ? and assembling them , he set them in their place agayne : and all the Iewes brought the tithes into the store-house ▪ to be diuided to them . The Pope in the iniquity of his high vsurped Priest-hood ouer Christians , endowed his kinsmen the moonks with tithes and liuings , by which aforetime the Pastors were mainteined . Whereof it hath ensued , that many a Tobias doth holde them vntil this day . O that it might grieue , that it might grieue sore , our Nehemias ; the Parliament , that they might dispossesse Tobias therof , & againe apply them to maintaine Pastors . The Antichristian councell assembled at Trent , tooke order for a ●… . Conc. Trident . ●…ess . 22 ▪ de re●…rm . cap. 11. restoring of the goodes of benefices , and b b Sess. 24. de ●…eform . cap. 18. setting learned Priestes in them , with c c cap. 19. disanulling of aduowsons , and d d Sess. 5. de re●…orm . cap. 1. erecting lectures , and mainteining teachers , and e e Sess. 23. de reform . cap. 1●… . seminaries of scholers in all Cathedrall Churches ▪ to set Popery forward , and builde vp the houses of Idumaean Idols . f f Luk. 16. 8. The children of this world are wiser in their generation then the children of light ▪ and g g 1. King . ●…8 . ●…9 . Baalites more zealous for their superstition , then Israelites for the truth . But thou canst ▪ O Lord , & wilt ( vnlesse our sinnes prouoke thy wrath against vs ) cause the light of thy countenance so to shine vpon vs , that the Christian Court of our English Parliament shall be as carefull to builde vp thy house , & aduaunce religion : that h h 2. Chr. 36. 10. the vessels of thy temple , which Nabuchodonosor tooke away , & i i Dan. 5. 2. Baltasar did drinke in , be k k E●…ra . 1. 7. restored by Cyrus , to whom they are befa●●en , that Elizabeth thy handmaide l l 2. Chr. 31. 4. command the people too giue the portion of the Priestes and Leuites , that they may bee strong in the law of the Lorde , as did thy ●…eruant Ezekias , that pastours may be set againe in their places , and all the Tithes be brought into the storehouse to be deuided to them , that none of them want , as Nehemias prouided ▪ and thou commaundest by thy prophet . So shall they by whom this noble worke is wrought , be m m Neh. 13 ▪ 14. remembred in it , & the kindnes , that they ▪ shew on the house of god & the offices therof , shal not bee wiped out . So shall n n Mal. 3. 10. the windowes of heauen be opened to vs , and a blessing poured on vs without measure , a temporall and eternall blessing : for o o 1. Ti. ●… godlinesse hath promise of them both . So shal the deuourer be rebuked for our sakes : & p p Reu. 9. 3. the Locusts ( the Iesuites & Seminarie-Priests ) shall not destroy our fruite , neither shall our vine ( our christian q q Esay . 5. ●… vine ) be barren . So shall wee bee called blessed by all nations : for we shal be a pleasant land : a lande that shall flow with the word of God , r r Psal. 19. 10. more to be desired then gold , more sweet then hony . Finally , so shall Israel triumph ouer his enemies , and the thinges of Esau shal be sought out , his secrete things shall be searched : that is , Christ shall raigne , and Antichrist shall bee confounded . Which GOD graunt for his mercie sake in Iesu Christ ▪ through the operation of his holy spirite ▪ to whom , three persons , and one God , bee all prayse , and honour , and glory , and power , for euer and euer .