IT is , I must needs say , an over-just complaint of a Reverend writer a a D. King Lect. upon Ionas Prof. , that Presses are already opprest , the world abounding with bookes even to satiety , and surfeit . And of Another , that the untimely brats of mens braines fly thicke up and downe the world , in this scribbling Age b b Passim circumvolitant in hoc feraci chartarum saeculo humani cerebelli Minervae . D. Prid. Lect. . And of a Third , that too many set forth in print , some , their owne wit , more , their owne folly c c Hezek . Rec●v . . Whilest , with Dominio in St. Hierome they care not What , but Howmuch they utter d d Non quid , sed qua●●um &c. Hier. in Ap●l . ad Domnionem . : with Alcibiades in the Moralist , they talke much , but speake little e e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . plutar . : or with those triflers in the Gospell , they hope to be heard , for their much habling f f Matth. 6 7. confer Ec●les. 10.14 . . These forget , belike , that Writers should set forth not Treatises , but Treasuries g g Amhores non debere libros , sed thesauros componere . Domitius Piso . Sic Pli●●j Opus Erasino thesaurus est , imò verè mundus rerum cognitu dignissimatū : and that words ( as monies ) are valued by their matter , not by their multitude h h Idem sermoni congruit quod nummi● &c. S●hyox . : and ( as suffrages ) they passe not among wisemen , by tale , but by weight i i Non nume●arda suff●agia , sed expen denda . . Great talkers , indeede , would be thought eminent : and some that publish much , affect to be publike ; albeit they sound , many times , from their emptinesse onely k k Vasa quae magis continent , minus sonant . Sen. . Whereas the deepest waters are le●st heard l l Lene fluit Nilus , sed cunctis amnibus extat Vtilior , nullas confessus mutmure vires . Claudian . : and those orient starres , the higher they are set , the lesse they are seene . The best and biggest of them , as they appeare not at all by day ; so by night , they shew themselves but small in their hugest Orbes , and but slow in their swiftest motions m m In maxima sui mole se minimùm ostendunt stellae . : besides many a goodly one , that because of height comes not within our ken or account . I wot well , there 's never a mothers child of us that is not too much the true child of our great grand-mother . We have each of us ( saith our English Seneca ) an Eues sweet-tooth in our heads , and would be more than we are : Every man would be either ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) or ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) The man , or Some body n n B Hall . Epist. . The sweetest hearing ( however dissembled ) is ones owne commendation o o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Xonoph . : and he is a rare man that hath not some Babel , whereon he bestowes paines and cost , either to be pointed at p p digito monstrari , &c. , and talked of , as Demosthenes q q 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or to curry favour with the commonsort , as Herod r r Legatur Bez An●●t . in Ioh. 2.20 . . For my selfe , truly , as I looke not to please all ( mens fancies being as different as their faces s s D. Haukw . Atol . ) so , if I may approove my poore paines to Christ the Judge of all t t Heb. 12. , and to his Hidden ones u u Psal 83.3 . Equidem plutis secerim justam commendationem unius alicujus pij & boni viri quàm admirationem stultam totius multitudinis . Host . in Ioh. 3.28 . , the godly judicious , I have enough , and shall well enough comfort my selfe with that white-stone , Rev. 2.17 . against the blacke coales ( if any such be ) of the more malevolent x x Malis displicere , laudari est . Sen. . It was a sweet and savoury saying of Occolampadius : I should be loth to speake , or write ought that Christ should disallow y y Nolui aliquid loqui vel scribere , quod improbaturum putem Christum . . He ( truly ) is that master to whom every man stands or falls z z Rom. 14 4. : and one good look from him , is insteed of all acclamations . For , not he that commendeth himself , saith that great Apostle ; nor he whom the world commends , is approved , but he whom the Lord commendeth . Wherefore , let him that glorieth , glory in the Lord , 2 Cor. 10.17 , 18. There are , that glory in themselves , as those ancient Gnosticks * * Gnostici se solos fontem veritatie hausisse , &c. Iren. lib. 1 cap. 24 , and our moderne Iesuites a a Iesuita non potest esse haereticus : & Imperium literarum est penes Iesuitas Casaub . ex Apologista . They vaunt that the Church is the soule of the world , the clergy of the Church , and they of the Clergy . Sand. rela . of West . relig. ; sacrifice to themselves , as Sejanus b b Seianus sibi sacra facere solebat . Dio in vita Tiber. , and those Babylonians , Hab. 1.16 . set up , and serve themselves of Christ and his service , as Judas and his successours ; that rob him of his rent , and run away with his glory : dealing with his worke , as once Phydias the famous Carver , did with the Shield of Minerva , wherein hee so cunningly enchased his owne countenance , that it could not be defaced , but the Shield must be disfigured . Such were those flaunting Preachers of Philippi , that to carry away the bell from a better man c c Philip. 1.16 . , sought to set up themselves in the hearts of their hearers . And such are those deceitful workers d d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 2 Cor. 11.13 . now a daies , as pretending to be Christs spokesmen , will needs bee his corrivalls ( upon the matter ) whiles they give out themselves for some great ones e e Testis est Iustinus , quod hi● statuam habuerit inter pontes Tiberis cui insculpebatur , Simoni Deo Sancto . , with Simon Magus , Act. 8.9 . and interest themselves ( as he , too far ) in the peoples affections , ver. 10 11. These cannot preface to their works , as those ancients did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 f f Co●l . Rhodig . ex Pausania . : but may justly betwitted , as that Pope was pithily ; when he had engraven upon the gates of his new-built Colledge : Vtretent ( where he was borne ) planted mee ; Lovain ( where he was bred ) watered mee ; but , Caesar ( who had promoted him to the Popedom ) gave increase : A merry Passenger under-wrote ; Here God did nothing g g Papa Haàrtatus cum Lovanij collegium magno sumptu struxisset . &c. Hommis vanit item reda●gait alius subs●ribens , Hic Deus ni h●l fecit . Pareus in 1 Cor. 3 6. . So , God is not in all the tho ghts h h Psal. 10.4 . of these selfe-seekers , that thus i●tervert one part of the price ; with that ill couple , Acts 5.2 . whiles they turne Gods glory into shame , loving vanity , seeking after lyes i i Psal. 4.2 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . The word there used , signifieth such a lye , as deceiveth mens expectations , Psal. 89.35 . Isa. 58.11 . 2 King . 4.16 . Of which sort , by a specialty , is that smoke of popular applause , which the higher it mounts , the sooner it vanisheth . Verely , saith our Saviour to such , ( and it is fearfull ) they have their reward k k Math. 6. : all they are over like to have ; let them make them merry with it . But what speake I of merriment ? when the best that can come of such mens wood , hay , stubble , laid upon the common foundation , is Repentance to salvation l l 2 Cor. 7. , yet so as thorough the fire * * Inferiore gradu gloriae quàm alij Paereus . quem consule . : besides the losse of their worke , if not of some part of their wages , when the day shall declare it m m 1 Cor. 3.12 13. : that is , when the light of the Truth , Rom. 13.12 . or Time the father of Truth , or that Day of death , ( when many recognize , and recant their errors ) shal shew them their Sin . Good S. Austin cryed to God , to pardon the vanities of his youth , and especially this , that hee had preached ut placeret , Confess . non ut doceret , to delight the eare , more than to smite the heart . A faire glasse for such to look in , a faire copie for such to write by , as write nothing but as in a frame . Every word is so marshalled , and every sentence with its apt cadencie , lies in such comely equipage . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . In these mens discourses , you cannot see matter for words o o Melaneth . apud Laert. as in some mens againe , scarse words for matter . Euripides , saith the Oratour , hath more sentences than sayings p p Plu es sententias quam verba . Cic. : and Thucydides , hath so stuft every syllable with substance q q 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that the one runs along paralell with the other r r Adeò plenus referrusque rebus , ut prope verborum numerum numero rerum exaquet . Cic. . Lysias his workes are so well coucht , that you cannot take out the least word , but you take away the whole sense with it s s S●ex Platonis oratione aliquid dema● , manesque de elegantia tantum detraxeris ; si ex Lysiae , de sententia . Phaverinu● apud Gell. . And Phocion had a speciall sacultie of speaking much in few t t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plutarch . . Those best of Greekes were the short spoken partans u u 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . ; and the ●re●ans in Pla●ces time , ( however degenerated in Saint Pauls x x Tit. 1.12 . ; were more waighty than wordy y y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Plat. . Timanthes is famous for this , that in his pictures more things were intended than deciphered z z Plin. li. 35. cap. 10. : and Homer , that none could ever peere him for Poetrie , nor match him for matter a a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Xenophon . . How much more apt and apposite are these high praises to the Booke of God , rightly called The Bible ? as if it were ( as indeed it is , both for fitnesse of termes , and fulnesse of truth ) the onely booke ; to which , all other bookes in the world are but waste paper b b Ego odi meos libros , & saepé opto eo , interire , quod metuo ne morentur lectores à lectione ipsius Scriptura quae sola namis saptentiae sons est . Luther in Gen. 19. . Called it is also , The Word , ( by an excellencie ) because it must be the But , and boundary of our words : and , The Scriptures , as the standard of all humane writings . Yea , that princely Preacher stiles them Princes , or Leaders c c Prov. 8 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in one place , and Lords of Collections d d Eccl. 12.11 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in another , because they are as Leaders , and Lords Paramount above all other words or writings of men , collected into volumes . Here we are bound to bestow our day and night-studies e e Iosh. 1.8 . : and hence wee may well gather flowers , and phrases to polish our speeches with ; even those sound words f f 2 Tim. 1.13 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . in Saint Paul , that have a healing property in them , farre above all filed phrases of humane elocution . To the Law therefore , and to the Testimonie ( saith that rare Rhetorician ) for , if any speake not according to this Word , it is because there is no light in them g g Isa. 8.20 . . This is the c rtaine Cynosura , the Lampe and Lanterne , the Rule , and Rudder , the Wise-men , starre , that leades men to Christ , and without which , all their learning and language doth but light them into utter darknesse . Good therefore , and worthy of all acceptation is the counsell of Saint James : So speake yee , and so doe , as those that shall be judg'd by the law of libertie h h Iam. 2.12 . . And of Saint Paul : Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you , in all wisedome , &c. that , whatever yee doe in word or deed , yee may doe all in the Name ( that is , in the word and warrant ) of our Lord Jesus Christ i i Col. 3.16 , 17. . And of Saint Peter : If any man speake , saith hee , let him speake as the oracles of God k k 1 Pet. 1.11 . : there 's his patterne . Neither need wee feare , as some prophane miscreants have done before us l l Longolius , Pon p●n Laetus , Poli●●unus Canonicus Florent : qui odas Pindaricas psalmis Davidiers pratulit , ausit nelario . Spuinx Philos . p. q. , lest our smoother and purer stile should be marred or bemired , by the interlacing of Scripture solecismes l l Longolius , Pon p●n Laetus , Poli●●unus Canonicus Florent : qui odas Pindaricas psalmis Davidiers pratulit , ausit nelario . Spuinx Philos . p. q. . The vulgar Translation , I confesse , is so pesterd with Barbarismes , that , not onely Saint Hierome would disavow it , but Priscian himselfe would call for his Ferula . But read , as it was written , or rightly rendered ( besides that , for the matter , it is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 2 Tim. 3.16 . that m m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ut ille olim de Liblioth . A●●● 〈◊〉 . Physick for the soule , that crystall brooke , out of which , nay out of that one booke of which , nay almost out of that one sixth chapter of that one booke of Deuteronomy , Our heavenly David chose all those stones , wherewith he prostrated the Goliah of hell n n Matth. 4. ) there is a divine majesty ( that character of the deity ) shining through the humility and simplicity of the phrase : And oh the happinesse of that man , that can aptly utter his minde in pure Scripture ! God himselfe , I am sure ( the greatest Master of speech , and Maker of it too , Exod. 4.11 . ) when he spake from heaven , made use of three severall texts in a breath o o Matth. 17.5 . This is my beloved Sonne , Psal. 2.7 . in whom I am well pleased , Esay , 42.1 . heare ye him . Deuteronomie , 18.15 . Which you may note against the curious queasinesse of such nice ones , as disdaine at the slately plainnesse of the Scriptures ( saith one p p Cart. in locum . ) And to shew of what authority Scripture phrase is with God , saith another expositour q q Malcolm . in Act. 3. . I yeeld , there is a latitude , and a liberty lest here , wherein to expatiate . Neither am I of Spiridions spirit , that could not brooke it in a Bishop of his time ( more el●quent , haply , then himselfe ) that he should vary the least tittle in his text , though for another of selfe-same signification r r Voce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cum usus esset in istius historiae enarratione . Mar. 2 4. Episcopus quidam discitio● , tam fuit offensus Spi●dion , celob●● & lortasse morosior Episcopu● , ut in media concione in rexerit . Beza in l●● . ex Niceph. . They that stumble at such strawes , must first get their cares healed s s Demost . orat . de o●d . civ . ( as the Oratour told his country-men ) before they will be in cas to beare with fruit , or reade with profit . Let men be so ingenious , saith a Father , as to favour that in others which they cannot finde in themselves . Eloquence is certainely a singular gift of God , if not affected , abused , idolized : and becomes no man better then a Divine : whose part it is , by the tongue of the learned to time a word t t Esay 50 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and to set it upon its circumferences u u Prov. 25.11 . : to declare unto Man his righteousnesse , when not one of a thousand x x Iob 33.23 . can doe it like him : to seeke to finde out pleasant words y y Eccles. 12.10 , 11. Verba desiderata : Ca●e● . delectabilia . Tre●● . expetibilia . Va●ab . , and an upright writing : such words as have goades , and nailes in them , being neither lecta nor neglecta , too curious , nor too carelesse . Not this ; for where hony is forbidden for sacrifice , yet , there the first-fruits of hony are commanded , and call'd for . Leviticus , 2.11.12 . Not that ; because Gods holy things must be handled sanctè magis quàm scitè , with feare and reverence rather then with wit and dalliance , as he once told the wanton vestall . Holy Moses covers his glistering face with a vaile when he speakes to the people : and hath more glory by his vaile then by his face . Those profoundest Prophets accommodate themselves to their hearers capacities , fetching discourse from that the people were most acquainted with , and accustom'd to : as from fishes to the Egyptians , from droves of cattle to the Arabians , trade and traffique to the Tyrians , &c. So our blessed Saviour tells his fisher-men they shall be fishers of men . And after many plaine parables to the people , cries out Marke 4.13 . ( as if the wisedome of the Father , the essentiall word , had beene at a fault for a fit word , familiar and low enough for our slow and shallow apprehensions ) Whereunto shall we liken the Kingdome of God ? or with what comparison shall wee compare it ? Yea , 't is well observed , that th' Evangelists speake vulgarly , many times for their Hearers sakes , even to a manifest Incongruity , Joh. 17.2 z z Manifestum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Sed Evangelistae multa di●endi genera è medio petierunt , ut ●udi vulgò s●s● accommoda ent . B●● in loc . Rev. 1.4 . &c. In after-ages ( those two great lights of the Church ) S. Austin confesseth that hee was fain to use some words , sometimes , to those Roman Colonies in Africke , where hee preached , that were not Latine , to the end they might understand him a a As essum for os , d●lus for dolor , stor●et for s●●rebit . Bice●●voods enq●●ties . p. 29. . And Saint Hierome is for this much commended , that remembring he was a Minister , hee stood not alwaies upon the purenesse of his stile , but was farre more solicitous of his matter , than of his words b b L. Vives . lib 2. & 3. de t. ad . discip . . Children , wee see , use money to gingle with , and men use slowers onely for sight and scent : but Bees for hony and waxe ; not to guild their wings , as the Butter-flie , but to fill their Combs , and feed their Yong. In like sort , others store their heads , and tip their tongues , some for shew , and some for delight : but , Divines have these talents in trust , that therewith they may save themselves , and them that heare them c c 1 Tim. 4.16 . ; whiles they become all things to all men , in Saint Pau●● sense , that they may win some d d 1 Cor. 9.22 . . And this ( to ●●y sooth ) is the just intent and indeavour of this tumultuary Treatise , hudled up , and scribled out in great haste and heat of Passion , and Compassion ( a paire of ill Speakers , as wee see in David , Psal. 116.11 . and Peter , Math. 16.22 . ) for mine own * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Antonin . , and some few others support and solace , in the sad losse of our dearest friends , and sweetest children by the last-yeares mortality . Since then , it fell ( or ere I wist ) into the hands of Authority , by meanes of such as ever-ween'd it : Being got abroad , how it will take among the Many , I know not , feare not , force not * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Hero●ot l. 7. . Those that have a blemish in their eye , think the skie to be ever cloudy : and nothing's more common with weaker spirits , than to be criticizing , and contending . The matter ( I conceive ) is sound and seasonable ; much of it borrow'd from the best Authors I have met with ; and I shame not , yee see , to professe by whom I have profited f f Ingenuum est prositeri per quos profeceris . . Neither need I , when I call to mind , how the Prophet Zachary ( as some will have it ) commits to writing that which the Prophet Ieremy had preached g g Pareus in Math. 27.9 . ; Obadiah ( I am sure ) that which the same Ieremy had penn'd , before them . St. Iude transcribes St. Peter in many things : St. Marke abbreviates the other Evangelists , but yet , ever with Vsury , as one speakes * * The blessed Virgin hath much of her Magnificat out of Esay 29. . Clemens Alexandrinus is call'd Contextor h h Clem. Alex a Ca●iedoro appellatur Contexter . A●ste● . Chronol. p. 434. , and a latter man , Comestor , for their often allegations and authorities i i Ibid. p. 450. . I will indeavour ( saith Gerson , and I with him ) out of other mens good Meditations and Collections , to frame to my selfe , with the busie Bee , some sweet Hony-comb of Truth , by mine owne art and industrie , in mine owne words and method k k Enicar ut ex bene inventis , & doctrinis altotum ego men verbis ●●coordine , savum aliquem veritatis , &c. De la●de sc●ipt . : and then be bold to say with another , Omne meum , nihil meum l l Macrob. ; All 's mine , though 't were none of it m●●e . But something , I take it , I ●ave learn'd by the things I have suffer'd m m Heb. 5.8 . . Affliction is a good helpe to experimen●●ll knowledge n n Zox practica . Pareus . as Job fo●nd it chap. 42.5 . And there shall be onely feare , saith the Prophet , to make you understand the hearing . Isay , 28.19 . * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Nonn . Vnderstand yee these things ? saith our Saviour : yes . Therefore every Scribe that is instructed to the kingdome of God is like unto a housholder that thrusteth forth o o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Math. 13.51 , 52. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . ( that is freely and fully imparteth ) out of his store-house ( called here a treasury , because we cast pearles afore men p p Math. 7.6 . , if they be but as ready to take them as we to tender them ) things both new and old : that is , not onely out of the New and Old testament ( as sonne would restraine it ) but new for the nice , and old for the stronger stomacke . A good stomacke , we see , falls to the same dish oft and afresh , againe and againe , to day and to morrow , and feeles no satiety , nor cries out , he is cloyed : No more doth a good Christian . And this meetes with those that demaund , what neede this waste after so much written already of the same subject * * Quasi post Homerum Iliada . ? The Heathen answers : What forbids to say the same good things over once and againe q q 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; ? Our Saviour , I am sure , ( in whose one example is a globe of precepts ) preacht the same thing himselfe , and bad his disciples doe the like , that Iohn Baptist had done before him r r Quod utinam ●j perpenderent quib●● ade● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 placent , neq●id ab alijs didicisle videantur . Muthes . So he twice over , taught his Apostles the Lords prayer ; nay , that whole sermon , as some probably gather by the circumstances , as they are severally set downe by the two Evangelists s s Math. 6. Luke 6. And when at twice , he drove those mony-merchants out of the temple , he both times made use of the selfe-same allegations , and arguments t t Ioh. 2.16 . Marke 11.17 . . Most sure it is , that that can never be too much taught , that 's never sufficiently learn'd * * Nunquam satis dicitur quod nungaā satis discitur . Sen. . And how others have profited in Afflictions Schoole u u Schola crucis , schola ●icis . , they can best tell : but for mine owne part ; though I feare not lest while I preach to others , my selfe should be a castaway x x 1 Cor. 9. ult. ; Yet I have cause to feare lest some man say unto me , Physitian heale thy selfe : or twit me in earnest ( as one did Erasmus in jest , touching his Enchiridion ) that there 's more good sound in my booke , then in my bosom y y Plus sanctin onix conspici in ipso libello quam in l●belli authore . Eras . The comfort is , I am chiefly to approve my selfe ( and so art thou , Reader ) to him that takes goates-haire from some hands as well as Iewells ; and two mites from a meane body z z 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . ●uc . 19 2. id est , irquit Sy●us , duas octavas ●e licet , oboli . in as good part , as two millions from those that are more able . A female was allowed in peace offerings : to note , that a ready heart sets an high price with ●od upon a low p esent . Araunah was but a su●ject , yet because of that little he had , he gave like a King , 2 Sam. 24.23 . his piety is renowned , and registred to all posterity , Zach. 9.7 . Ekron ( that is the barbarous people of Palestina ) shall be as the Iebusite : that is , as this famous proselyte Araunah , as Iunius interprets it . Saul had but five pence in his purse to give the Seer : the Seer , after much good cheare , gives him the kingdome a a 1 Sam. 9 8. & 10.1 . . Loe such is Gods dealing with the sonnes of men . Doth Iob serve God for nought ? chap. 1.9 . doth any so much as shut the doore or kindle a fire upon his altar for nought ? Mal. 1.10 . I trow not . God is a liberall paymaster , and all his retributions are more then bountifull . Nebuchadnezzar the tyrant going upon Gods errand , shall have Egypt as his pay , for his paines at Tyr● b b Ezek. 29.18 , 19. . And Simon of Cyrene , Ezra 9.8 . with his two sonnes Alexander and Rufus , have a naile and a name in Gods ho●se better then of sonnes and of daughters d d Isa 56.5 . , for that involuntary service he did our Saviour , in carrying his crosse , Mar. 15.21 * * Lege Bez●●●n ad locum . & ad Act. 20 4. Nec illum tantùm sed filios ejus Rufum , & Alexandrum ad Ecclesiam aggregatos & inter discipulos probe notos . Luc. 23.26 . . How much more then will he graciously accept , and liberally reward the small offerings of his weake servants , when he seeth them to proceede from great love ? 'T is of his owne alas that we give him , as David gladly acknowledgeth when the people had given their best e e 1 Chron. 29.14 . . And what are we Ministers , but the voice of another that crieth f f Math. 3.3 . , as Iohn Baptist : the pen in Gods hand as Moses , and the prophets , 2 Pet. 1.2 . vessels to beare Gods name , as Paul , Act. 9.15 . Brethren ( said hee , Act. 13.15 . ) if there be in you ( as in so many vessels of honour , 2 Cor. 4.7 . ) any word of exhortation , say on . Spirituall nicenesse is the next degree to unfaithfulnesse . If thou have not fine Manchet ( said Bucer to Bradford ) yet give the poore people Barly-bread , or whatsoever else the Lord hath put into thy hand g g Fox Martyrolog . . Hee hath concredited unto us these precious talents , not to hide them , but to trade with them * * Agricol● è sterco●ibus quaestum faciunt , quantò magis in preciosis de● donis nihil non exercendum ? : which if wee doe faithfully , ascribing all the gaine and glory to God , as those good Servants did , Luke 19.16 . when they said ; Not we , but thy talents have gained other five , and other two , &c. ( which is parallell to that of Saint Paul , Howbeit , not I , but the grace of God that was in mee , 1 Cor. 15. ●0 . ) hee will surely reward our labour of love , * * Secundum labor●m , non secu●dum proventum . Bern. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , not according to our acceptance with the world which is ●fiea little enough ) but according to our honest indeavour of serving the Lord Christ . Who will in that name ▪ put upon us the inheritance , Coloss. 4.24 . and in that day meet us with an Euge bone serve , Well done good servant , thou hast beene faith●ull in a little , ( so hee calls the largest measure here , even ten talents , in comparison of that sarre more exceeding and eternall waight h h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 2 Cor. 4.17 . Alludit ad Heb●●u●● & Chal leu● nomen gloriae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 came ro● . hereafter ) be thou master of much ; whether five , or ten , or two Cities according to thy proportion , and capacitie ; besides , a largesse of joy to boot ; Enter into thy masters joy i i Math 25.21 Non ita mortales , Luc 17.7 . A●raba●●us cum oeconomum fideliss : haberet , ●g●e tamen tulit illum sibi h●●re lem , liberotum o●bitate , conseribendum . Salomon , Ieroboamum , &c. . A joy more like the joy of God than of Man , a joy more meet for the master than for the servant ; yet , such a master doe wee serve , as will crowne us with such a joy . Oh how should the serious consideration hereof , fire up our hearts , and force open our eyes , to see with all Saints , what is the bredth , and length , and depth , and heighth ; And to know the love of Christ , that passeth knowledge , that wee might be filled with all the fulnesse of God k k Eph. 3.18 , 19. ! But I must contract , for if a great booke be a great vill * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Callimachus apud Athenaum . ( as he said once ) how much more a long Preface to a little book ? I shall therfore suddenly shut up with the same Apostle , in the words next following those afore cited : Now , unto him that is able to doe exceeding abundantly , above all that wee aske or thinke , according to the power that worketh in us ; Vnto him be glory in the Church , by Christ Jesus , throughout all ages , world without end l l ver. 20.21 . . Amen .