Shall ?

Nabal will expostulate vpon the businesse ; though not exhibit , yet expostulate ; though not part with a crumme , yet speake with the mouth of distrust and disdaine . Shall ? Next , Shall I. Though other men may be brought to condiscend to such things , yet thinke ye to haue me at command ? Greatnesse must be taken notice of , and priuiledged euen for the golden trappings ; misery is too bold there to aske any thing , Shall I ? Againe ( saith Nabal ) that which thou expectest is a great matter , Bread , Water , and Flesh . Nabal , summes vp the gift to the height ; though but Bread , Water ; and a little Flesh , yet it seemes a matter of moment to bee spent in charity . Besides ( saith Nabal ) I have a lawfull excuse to detaine it , I haue killed it for my shearers . Covetousnesse neuer wants her subtile pretences . Further ( saith Nabal ) yee are such persons , as I know not whence ye are . Not know whence they are , and yet had done so many courtesies for him lately in Carmel ? Oh see how Nabals ingratitude can dry vp an Ocean of fauours in a bubble , and cast vp the totall summe of a million of good turnes into a cipher ; he hath spunged out the memory of all Dauids kindnesse , and though not long since hee had ventured limbe , and life for his welfare , yet vpon vrging of requitall , hee is ready to call him to his face , impudent . Expressely thus , Dauid is now in distresse , and so may hee bee for all Nabal , he knowes him not ; Persons in misery are ever strangers , necessity hath but small acquaintance in the World ; whomsoeuer Nabal knew exactly , yet these distressed men he knows not whence they are , Shall J then , &c. Let vs come to the division of the words , 1. Shall , with a bitternesse . 2. I , with an haughtinesse . 3. Bread , Water and Flesh , with a poysing . 4. Which I haue killed for my shearers , with an evasion , 5. And giue it vnto men whom I know not whence they bee , with a cleauly discarding .

Shall ?

First , Shall , with a bitternesse . From whence obserue that the tart veine belonges to the Worldling , Ephe● 4.32 . Iames 3.17 . Gal. 5.24 . {αβγδ} . Religion teacheth vs no such amarulency ; no , Be yee courteous one to another . The wis●dome that descendeth from aboue is gentle . They which are Christs , haue crucified the flesh with the passions thereof . Passi●ns I know in themselues are not euill , so they bee ordered by reason ; Ira , W●ath is put amongst the affections , and as lawfull as joy , or love , or feare , or hope , or any of the rest . Ira per zelum . There is a zealous wrath , when a man is incensed for things noxious , & apparent , and this is laudable ; but when men make indignation an humour , and asperitie , is euen as common as speech it selfe , Charles 5. in admon to Phil . 2. this is to be a Slane to passions : What more seemely in man , then humanity ? let a man deprive himselfe of that , and what is hee then but a wilde beast ? the froward affections belong to the wicked , as to Nabal here , Shall . This serues to reproue the rough language , or rather the dog eloquence of the times . For many there are , that speake in no other phrase then snarling ; propound a question , the answere is rage ; they are like the beast that is on all sides prickles . Totus Esch●nus asper . Adag . Prou. 1● . 18 . Vt vinum austerum non est aptum pot●ons , sic mores agrestes &c. Prou. 16.24 . There is that speaketh words like the pricking of a sword : they fight not at foyles , but at sharpe . But o● , learne more moderation of spe●ch , for as Socrates was wont to say , As sharpe wine is not fit for tast , so harsh manners are not fit for conuerse . Morosity is one of the greatest enemies to all the horr●i●iticall vertues Faire wordes are as an hony-combe , sweetenesse to the soule , health to the bones . Away therefore with all ●owre , peeuish , Saturnine dispositions ; if thou beest earnest , bee deepely , and justly incensed , not vpon euery occasion tetricall ; for that were like Nabal here , who is no sooner spo●en to , but hee casteth balles of wild-fire . Shall saith Nabal ?

Shall ?

Shall ? From hence further obserue that Checkes are worldlings almes . They not onely not satisfie the demand but giue the deniall with a kind of vnkindnesse . Lingua infirmi quae infectae est cholerico & amar● humore non potest percipere a●●quid aul●e , &c. Tho Aq. 1. q . 75. art . 2. Pro . 19.7 . The tongue of a sicke man being touched with choler , or some other sharpe humour can tast nothing sweet , but all things seeme bitter ; So to a heart touched with couetousnesse no request seemes pleasing , but all offensiue ; such are vpon termes of defiance vpon euery charitable motion ; the whispering of an almes is vnto them as the challenging of the field . They pursue them with words , yet are they wanting to them . Let not persons in necessity aske any thing there , for if they doe , Nabals winter-face is soone discerned , and a nest of scritch-owles seeme to come out of the lippes . The poore speaketh with prayers , and the rich answereth roughly . Pro . 18.23 . They braue vpon men in their misery , they turne the key vpon them with a contumely , and banish them away with a chafe . Shall saith Nabal ?

This serues to send home the scornes of worldlings to their owne thresholds with ignominy ; for can they hold their hands , and not their tongues ? must they needs bee putting the varlet vpon men in misery ? and bee telling of them a tale of statute-lace ? Speeches more bitter , then their misery it selfe to bee indured ; no , away with all reproachfull , taunting language . Si nihil habes Colla●hryma . Greg . Naz . Crudelis in re aduersa est obiurgatio Pub . Ecclus 4.2.3.5.8 . If thou hast nothing to giue a poore man giue him thy teares , but if thou canst giue much and wilt giue nothing yet giue him not surly vsage . No , Reproofe in the time of aduersity is no other then cruelty . Provoke not a man in his distresse , adde not more trouble to a heart that is afflicted , Turne not away thine eye from the needy , giue him no occasion to curse thee , Let it not grieue thee to bow downe thine eare to the poore , and giue him a friendly answere with meckenesse Hee is harsh indeed , which in stead of releening the wants of his brethren sends a storme after them ; like Nabal heere , Giue I pray thee any thing that comes to thy hand saith Dauid , Shall ●aith Nabal ?

I ?

Next , I ? with an haughtinesse . From hence obserue that worldlings by th●ir riches plead nothing but priviledge ; that whereas being most able , they should be most willing to doe good , Mat . 23.4 . they turne off this to their inferiours ; as if they would be as ill Common-wealths-men , as some are Pulpit-men , Pro 18.11 . laying heauy burthens vpon other mens shoulders , but not touching them with one of their singers themselues . The rich mans goods are his strong confidence , and as an high wall in in his owne imagination , euen to fence him from all sort of payments . Worldlings thinke themselues of too Noble a breeding to beare burthens , no , preserve them for footecloth horses to pace the streets in pompe , but lay no chargable loades on their backes ; no , that 's but servile worke , and they would haue it left to the sumpter-horses of the times . Nabal here perhaps would haue beene contented , that other men might have releeued Dauid , yea , had he sent to him for his judgement in the point , he would have held it expedient , but Nabal cannot endure that the man in his owne skinne should be touched . Shall I , saith Nabal ?

This serues to exhort rich men to make themselues Superiours to others , chiefely in good workes ; Greatnes is then most conspicuous , Neh . 5.14.17.18 . when it holdes the fore-rancke in vertue renowned for euer be Nehemiah , who when he would induce others to Charity , He himselfe tooke not of the people the bread of the Gouernour ; Hee himselfe would not that yeere lay cut his estate in purchasing , Vena porta . but maintained at his table an hundred and fifty of the Iewes . If the great wheeles of the Countrey doe not stirre in Charity , how shall the lesser mooue , if the prime veine of the body be stopt , what good blood can there be in the lesser veines ? if the chiefe light of the firmament bee eclepsed in workes of mercy , Si stomachus infirmus erit omnia meusbra inuentuntur infirma , Chry . in Mat . hom . 38. Plut. what a darke sky will there bee besides ? If the stomacke waxe feeble all the other members languish . Tenacity in great men is like the hearbe Sea-holme in the mouth of the Leader of the goats that puts all the flocke to a stand . Yet how commonly is it seene that many rich men for charges desire to be let loose like the Scape-goat in the Law , the Commons are brought forth only as the beasts for sacrifice . They are not Rich men for expences , but only for the right hand or the vpper seat ; if yee will they will bee Oracles of wit to perswade others , or scourges of iron to enforce others , yee shall haue their letters or their warrants to constraine or distreine , but if yee pry too farre into their estates , how farre they must bee rated yee will bee blasted . Must they ?

Shall I ?

Shall I ? Nil nisi Cecr●pides . Iuv . Neseisme ? scio te esse primo geni tum Diaboli . Euseb . eccl . histor . lib . 4. c . 14. From hence further obserue that Greatnesse would bee eyed . Pride is oftentimes the Comrade of wealth , if men grow wealthy their eyes start out with fatnesse . There is nothing then , but intimating of their state , and pedigree . Knowest thou not mee ? said Marcion vnto Polycarpe ; The man would faine bee knowen to bee some body , though the good old Father told him that hee knew him indeed , but it was for nothing but to bee the first begotten of the Deuill . Manlius loc . com . Tit . de calamit . Many rich men loue to pride themselues in their greatnesse , and to be formidable to the world , to make the very mouing of their lips raise earth-quakes in the hearts of poore people . As the Lant-graue Fredericke daunted his enemies with the gingling of his spurre , so these endeauour to make their inferiours appalled with the very sound of their names ; they speake nothing but Mannours ; in euery syllable , gesture of the body , cast of the eye , they conuey a secret insinuation of their thousands . Shall I saith Nabal ? hee need not mention his house at Maon , nor his pastures at Carmell , nor his sheepe , nor his goats , nor his attendants and retinue ; for this I pronounced with a paire of Nabals lips is a sufficient Interpreter of all the rest .

This serues to humble pride in her basenesse ; for can there bee any thing more ignominious then to be proud of dust-heapes ? to swell for scutcheons ? no , bee thankefull to God for your estates , and not disdeignfull to your Inferiours . For should yee neuer bee well but when yee are carrying an Image of your owne greatnesse before you , as that diseased man did in Aristotle ? or setting out your magnificence to the world as Apothecaries doe their gally-pots ? should yee be your owne heraldes to blason your armes ? or your owne Painters to draw out the pictures of your power ? that yee may bee bright Sparkes , will yee turne all others into dead coales , cinders , ashes ? that your impresses may seeme curi●us , will yee rase out the characters of all other mens worth ? will yee looke as if yee were the onely men of merit ? and speake as if yee would be held to be the sole worthies of the times ? Oh hee had need of a cleere eye that should see sufficiently the mischiefe of this practise . {αβγδ} . Superciliousnesse is euer rewarded with the contempt of the world . A proud man is his owne Idoll , and the worlds scorne . Mans nature can better endure any sinne in thee , then insolency . Paruipension , too meane an esteeme of a mans selfe hath beene held in Ethickes a defect ; but arrogancy hath euer beene held a grosse excesse . He may write all his true friends in the compasse of his nayle , that lookes vpon others as abjects , and holds the world at a distance . What two faire Kingdomes of Aragon , and Nauarre did Don Pedro de Atares his vnseasonable grauity loose him in scorning to speake with any man but when he pleased pretending that he was busie about matters of state , Turquet . when hee had none but his Barber trimming him ; they therfore that would hunt for command by pride , goe out with a mastiffe to chase it away . Oh therefore let all looke to bee knowen of God , and not care too much to bee knowen of the world ; to bee ambitious of this , is but a Worldlings quality . Shall J saith Nabal ? I with an haughtinesse .

Bread , Water and Flesh .

Next Bread Water and Flesh with a poysing . Doth Nabal sticke so much at Bread , Water , and a little flesh ? Hee made a feast in his house like the Feast of a King ; Vers . 36. surely then hee had more then bread , Ibid . and flesh ; and his heart was merry within him that he was drunke , surely then hee had more then water . Is Nabal so free at a Feast , and doth hee sticke so much at a sew scantlings to bee bestowed vpon men in misery ?

Then from hence obserue , that any thing spent in charity with worldlings is a Burthen , seemes a great cost ; though riot may deuoure pounds , yet almsdeeds must not haue a few pittances ; Peraldus Gulosus expendi● in piscibus vnde viginti pauperes satis haberent de pane . Nullum compendium , sed dispendium . Chrys . in orat . de mulie . & pulchri . Potius dissipatio quam dispensatio . Luke 16.6 . Amos 4.5.6 . the very fragments that fall from the table of surfet are held too much . An Epicure spends more in dressing of a fish , then would buy twenty poore men sufficient bread . Much is spent , but there is rather damage , then aduantage comes by it ; there is rather a lauishing out of Gods blessings , then an orderly disposing of them . Many care not what they spend in excesse , but they weigh the very refuse bits they giue to the poore ; profuse in one kind , penurious in another . Diues fares deliciously euery day , but grudges at the very Crums that fall from his table for La●●rus , yea his dogges shew more mercy then hee , in so much that a man would thinke the true hous-keepers were without , and the true Dogge within . Those Libertines in the 6. of Amos , Eat Calues out of the stalls , lye in beds of iuory , make them instruments of musicke like Dauid , drinke wine in bowles , anoynt themselues with the chiefe oyntments : But no man remembers the afflictions of Ioseph . Nabal here feasts like a Prince , but relieves the poore like a very Egeno . Bread , water , and flesh , then seeme much .

This serves to reproue the vanity of these times , in which men are liberall in wast workes , parsimonious in charitable . They call them their Goods with which they doe no good , Bona appellan● ex quibus nullus nisi ad malas res vsus est . Cyp . ep . 2. ad Donat . but vse them to their owne evill purposes . There are many that will drinke whole Cellars dry over night , that will scarce bestow a cup of small liquor vpon the poore in the morning ; many that will cast downe handfulls of gold for a Banquet , that notwithstanding repine to give a few small peeces of silver in charity ; that will build gorgeously , burnish curiously , furnish sumptuously , that vpon pride and bravery for Spanish heads , and French bodies , for sweet powders , sweet waters , new complexions , care not what they bestow ; yea , for suites , and quarrels , to lay a neighbour gasping at their feete , or to teare out the bowels of a Churchman , be it but for a shoo-latchet , or a title of the last Springs planting , care not how they cast away coyne ; But when they come to a point of charity , then they pawse and descant , yea , cease to be great men , a man would thinke they were decayed , and turned Bankrupts . But oh beloved , if any should be sicke of this disease here , I beseech you let your vaine expences touch you , never let God seeme to charge you . Let supersluity be abated , never let charity be restrained ; for that 's but a Nabals part , who feasts like a Prince , but in charity sticks at a little Bread , water , and flesh : shall I then take my Bread , water , and flesh ?

Which I have killed for my Shearers .

Now let vs come to Which I have killed for my Shearers , with an evasion .

From hence observe , that the strength of the covetous mans excuse lies in his dependants ; the state of the house must be vpheld , the honour of the Family maintained , servants must be well provided for , and because these , therefore none else . ●i porcinam habuisse● animani , quid aliud dicere potuisies . Basil . Digite facultatum . If thou hadst the soule of a Swine what could'st thou resolve on more ? These are kinde to all them within the compasse of the coate . Servants I know are singers to bring in our wealth , therefore not to sustaine these , were to lame our selves in our estates ; but to provide onely for these , is to thinke never to have neede of Gods helpe , but onely of the helpe of the Family . I know the maine Article of their faith lay in , 8 Tim . 5.8 . 1. Timoth . that Jf any man provide not for his owne houshold , he is worse then an Infidell ; and therefore to shunne to be Infidels in one kinde , they care not to be as ill , as Athiests in another kinde ; their charity is made of the iust size of their family , they poyse out their provision according to the counter-weight of the houshold , even to Arithmeticall proportion ; with alacrity there comes little else from them . I wonder why Porters in so many places are provided , are they in all places onely for due state ? or to keepe out theeves ? no , I feare in some places they are to keepe out the poore , that Nabal and his Shearers might be merry together .

This serves to exhort great men not to list their charity to them onely that weare the livery , and rise vp and call them Master . For art thou good onely to them of thy own houshold ? I see no charity in this , for God ha'mercy gaine , or service , or state , for else even these Shearers might goe seeke their Bread , water , and flesh , as well as others . So often as I heare men to be of generous mindes to their companies , followers , and I heare no further , I count it rather a matter of mockage , then of praise ; for it is not conscience but some sinister respects that draws them to this . Thou may'st be a niggard then for all thy domesticall bounty , nature wishes thee to respect these , policie wishes thee to tender these , & livest thou by no higher principles then of Nature , and policie ? then thou art no deeper Scholler then one of Nabals forme , for he can spell charity heere to none , but his owne Shearers . Shall I then take my bread , water , and flesh , which I have killed for my Shearers ?

And give it vnto men whom I know not whence they be .

Lastly , And give it vnto men whom I know not whence they be , with a cleanly discarding .

From hence observe , that the poore are thrust out of the Worldlings charge ; they are strangers , and therefore what haue they to doe to take care of them ? Pro . 14.7 . The friends of the Rich are many , but the poore is hated even of his owne neighbour : Many a poore man as well knowne at Turkey , as at the next Towne , perhaps at the next threshold . Ye may see what great acquaintance they take of them by that in the second of Iames , Depart in peace ; the first word they speak to them , 2 Iames 1● . is , Farewell , are they not Strangers thinke ye , that can get no other greeting ? Erasm . are these willing to entertaine any friendship with the poore ? no , as the Image of Minerva in Chios , looked frowningly on them that came towards it , smilingly on them that went away ; so these Rich men have nothing but the frowne for them that come to them , the smooth brow they bestow on them that are ready to turne their backes ; their estates are their fee-simple , and they wonder such Strangers will come to claime any thing out of them . Possident ad hoc tantum , vt alters possidere non liceat . pecunta●suam dicunt quam velut alienam domi custod●unt . Cyp . cp . 2 Vag● potius habent terras quam habitant Pomp Mela . They possesse their riches for no other end , but that others might get no possession out of them . They call it their money , and yet they keepe it vnder locke and key at home ; as if they had no power of it themselves , but were onely intrusted with it for others . As it is said of the Blemmyes and Gamphasanes , and other people in the Island Cyrenaick in the lesser Affrick that They rather had land , then dwelt in it ; so these rather have riches , then make any good vse of them . I thinke they are some Brownists , they like not the Lords prayer , Pater noster , Our Father ; or howsoeuer not that petition of it , Giue vs this day our daly bread , no they would appropriate all vnto themselues ; their riches haue not beene distilled through the Limbecke of their owne paines and prouidence , now to bee sprinckled about in Charity ; no , this they count the lavishing away of their costly water ; call to them for an almes , and ye are forging a title against their demeanes ; goe about to open their hands , and they are ready to cry fellony ; they stand ouer their riches , like harpyes ouer their preyes , not one to get a morsell out of them but themselues ; they are providing for a yong stripling perhaps , and him they know , but as for this sordid crew , They know not whence they are .

This serues to cast Nabal in his title , to bring in cleere euidence , that he is not the sole proprietary of his goods , for God hath reserved ( as it were ) a standing rent of euery mans estate for the poore . Pro . 6.26 . Eccles . 11.2 . Let thy fountaine flow foorth , & thy riuers be in the midst of the streets , there must not bee then a private pond . Giue a portion to seuen , and likewise to eight . A man must not make himselfe the peculiar almesman . Iob 31.17 . Acts 9.39 . Luke 16.23 . Thom . Aquin . Tho Aquin . 22. ae q. 117. art 5. These are precepts for charity , there are likewise precedents , as of Iob , that eate not his morsels alone , of Dorcas that prouided coates and garments . And what needes more , is not Heauen called Abrahams bosom ? that is the bosome of Abraham the Almes-giver . Liberalitie is one of the potentiall parts of justice , as if so bee that those that were able , and were not charitable , were injurious . Rich men are not their owne men , no , they are all debters , although not for a legall , yet for a Morral de bt . Hide not thy face from thy owne flesh , saith the Prophet ; though not thy owne Gentry , yet thy owne flesh , Es. 51. taken out of the same slime-heape with thy selfe ; thou maiest eate of delicater fare , weare costlier rayments , have one day a statelyer tombe , proue a daintier morsell for wormes-meate , but set these things aside , they , and thou are cousin-germanes ; seeing then there is so little difference betwixt rich flesh , and poore flesh , I pray take better acquaintance one of another , Know whence they are , and the rather , because riches ( whereby many men challenge such high preheminence ) are but transitory . Prou. 23.5 . Wilt thou set thy eyes vpon that which is not , riches may take them wings and flye away as the Eagle . How many possesse those lands that wealthy men were once owners of ? I know not what better assurance yee have of your felicitie , then they had ; I thinke yee hold your lands by the same tenure they did ; Therefore vse your estates , as God hath appointed , for feare one judgement of God or other take vp your lands , as forfeitures ; respect these strangers , for feare strangers come to plucke downe your armes , and to turne the keyes of your doores vpon you . Besides , why will yee not Know them whom Christ will assuredly Know ? yea , not Know you , if ye take no notice of them ; for remember I beseech you in the midst of your greatnesse , sublimitie , splendour vpon earth , the finall sentence , & heart cleauing doome of worldlings , Depart from mee ye cursed into euerlasting fire , Matth . 25. For I was an hungred , &c , Oh therefore though something for posterity , yet something for charity ; though something for your owne sake , yet something for Gods sake , pitty the poore , cherish the poore , tender them as your owne limbes , honour them as Christs members ; close not the eye , deafe not the eare , dead not the heart , turne not the backe vpon them ; hold not them as strangers , with whom yee are not acquainted , vse them not as persons whom yee know not whence they are , for that were like Nabal here , Shall I then take my Bread , and my Water , and my Flesh that J haue killed for my shearers , and giue it unto men whom J know not whence they be ?

Thus have I shewne vnto you the portraiture of Nabal ; what fitter picture to be presented to the eyes of the world ? that if people detest his name , they might take heed of the reflexe of his manners . But when I see many count their goods seuerals , which take as much acquaintance of strangers as the needy , which bring out a dish of checkes to the poore , which giue nothing , or nothing but with the misers eye set vpon it , how doe I instantly thinke on Nabal ? for thus hee looked , ●●sic vultus , sic or●ferebat . thus hee spake , these were his purposes , these his practises . Nabal is not so hard a patterne then , but many are contented to limme out their liues by him ; which count his resolution the lustre of true wisedome , yea , a beame of plausible Divinity ; oh the miseries of the poore ? oh the mercilesnesse of the rich ●an inhospitableage , costive times ; the hand of bounty is cramped , the breastes of charity are dryed vp , the complaint of the Prophet may euen bee taken vp . Hosea . 4.2 . — sunt silicis circum praecordia vena Commun●a possidentes propria faciunt occupando Basil . ser 1. in d●vit . auaros . There is no mercy in the Land ; there are veines of flint about mens heart strings . Men take possession of those goods that are common , and make them their owne by vsurpation , much like them that proclaime themselues heyres to the goods of Widdowes and Orphans . Not such a plentifull Nation vnder heauen , not such a penurious Nation vnder heauen . Our Kingdome was once an almes-house , and now it is turned into a Chuffes hutch as it were ; wealth that was once a nource , now beates those children shee was wont to foster ; it hath giuen ouer the stewards office , and is turned Treasurer ; it hath left the house at the Pelicane , and is come to dwell at the Dogge ; it is good for nothing but to gorge it selfe like him in the Gospel . Luke 12. Thou hast much goods layd vp for many yeeres . What then , goe feast the hungry ? goe perfume the streetes with the workes of mercy , no , Eate , Lucull●● cum Lucull● . Plut. drinke , and be merry : What the rich man onely with himselfe ? will he invite onely his owne throate to his dainties ? hee is much at his cost , a Rich man sits downe , and a Churle rise vp , yet these are the guises , and fashions of the times ; Nabal counts all intruders but his owne company at his bourd . Did our fore-fathers thus looke for honor ? did they thus eternize their names vpon earth ? were the poore such eye-sores to them ? tooke they so little acquaintance of them ? no they sought them out , they brought them home , they fed them as c●eerefully as their owne children , they gaue them as kind welcome , as if they had beene their solemne guests ; they mewed not vp themselues in a narrow parlour , as if they had beene too neat pieces for a meane mans eye to behold , or a beggers lippes to breath vpon , but they came out to them , were familiar with them , filled their bowels with sustenance , their backes with raiment , their hands with rewards , and their hearts with gladnesse ; they provided portions for their children , they built hospitalls for them . A Nabal was then as hatefull a creature to bee discerned , as a Crocodile , they would haue thought to haue beene in hell before Shroue-tide , if they had not feasted the poore at Christmas , and made them honour Christs birth , for the tastes of mercy they then found . Oh that compassion towards the poore might thus be streaming in her full tide , that charitie could be so generally seene with her basket by her side : I would then thinke part of the golden age were returned . But as the Turks vse to say in the midst of their solemne griefes , Mustapha is dead , Knolles in the life of Solyman the Magnificent . Mustapha the flower of chiualry . So we may say our old Benefactors are gone , our old Benefactors , the Fosterfathers of the distressed ; good workes are now by many turned into good clothes , people care not to have their tables furnished , but their Wardrobes , they thinke people are blessed enough , if they can see them in crimson ; or almes-deedes are turned into purchases , they will loose their euidence in heauen , to become owners of other mens euidence ; they will sell all the poore , to buy out another neighbour ; one heire makes many shut vppe their handes to a whole Countrey ; Yea , in these griping times , how many doe rather devoure the poore then sustayne them ? mercilesse wretches which haue the swe●t of their browes , and the strength of their loynes euen at their owne price , which keepe away their Commons from them that were ditched in with the Deuils spade , which pare not their nayles , restraine not their sharking officers from tearing of skin and flesh from the backes of their poore Tenants by cruell fines , and amerciments ; Thus yee see how charity is turned out at the backe doore ; and pride , and insatiablenesse , and oppression come to domincere in the house . But oh if any here should be thus destitute of charity , or haue none but that woluish charity in them , if they be not quite incorporated into Mammon , let bowels of compassion stirre in them ; let them not loue that earth that is appointed to bee trampled on , nor set their hearts on that wealth that is not worth the least joynt of their bodies ; let them not hate those poore whom Christ ownes , nor grieue to giue them an almes to whom hee gaue his blood ; let them shunne all sinnes , but especially abhorre to be vncharitable ; Let them blesse God that they themselues are aduanced , and in the midst of their opulency and affluency let them remember the friends of their gracious Promoter ; oh for miseries grones sake , for Christs Iesus precepts , patterne , blood sake let them not count their estates ( though neuer so iustly gotten ) pure , but troubled with a kind of infection without being clensed by almsdeeds , Luke 11.41 . for Giue almes and all things shall be cleane vnto you ; oh let them not put their almes amongst their desperate debts , Eccles 11.1 . of which they haue seene in all likelyhood their last comfort ; no , Cast thy Bread vpon the waters , and after many yeares thou shalt find it againe ; oh let them not hold theirselues to haue carued well that meale to all their guests wherein the poore haue not receiued their portions , Nehem . 8.10 . for Eat of the fat , and drinke of the sweet and send some part to them , Tho . Aq. for whom none is prouided . Let them know that the keeping of money is the rest of it , and the communicating of it is the motion of it ; now money is not fetched out of the veines of the earth to lay in a corner , but to be communicated . The Moralists make honours , and riches adminicles vnto vertue ; let them so bee vsed , and not as obstacles to hinder them from all goodnesse ; to shew that they affect not the world , but haue renounced it , let them scatter abroad the treasures of the same : Oh communicate , oh distribute ; consider your ability to doe good , consider the heauy necessities of the times ; let your charity run in a free current amongst the distressed , and scluse not vp all your meanes within the channell of your owne family . For that were like Nabal here , Shall I then , &c.

Thus haue I spoken in generall for charity , giue me leaue to speake something vpon the same subject vnto you the worthy citizens of this renowned incorporation , to whom I am particularly called . Farre hence haue I heard your Citty commended for a place of ciuill gouernment , make it famous in all places , for a place of charitable gouernment ; As ye are an incorporation , a body , so I beseech you count not the poore , dead members . The times are already sharpe , but this is but the chilling of an ague , the strong fit is still behind ; trading hath beene a long time dead , the prices of all graines are excessiuely deere , alas poore soules , how shall they be able to wrestle long with these miseries ? if yee do not speedily helpe to releeue them , yee may ere long helpe to bury them . Your vigilancy I trust sleepes not , your charity I hope is in its due feruour ; your praise is in the gates for your mercy abroad , we the children of a mother lately distressed blesse you that Alma mater Academia , our renowned Vniuersity , or howsoeuer the Towne her Hostesse drawes her breath the more comfortably for your beneficence ; it was an offering indeed of a Faire eye , and the more acceptable because free ; Well if the hearing of misery with the eare were thē so forcible , let the seeing of it with the ey more preuaile , be most sensible of the paines in your owne bosomes ; know that that gouernment is most praise worthy , by which sighes are remoued from the brests of the poore . In publicke therefore let your chiefest communications , and consultations be for the poore ; store their granaties , appoint solemne collections for them , heare their plaints with patience , visit their distressed corners , cast a Citie-liuery vpo● 〈◇〉 backes , vse your best wits , and counsels to remedy their griefes , to preserue their liues ; your Citie may prosper the better many yeares for one yeares charity to the poore . And whereas here are amongst you many priuate merchants , tradesmen , and Artificers that from some hundreds , are risen to an estate of ten , twenty , thirty thousand pounds , Educ diuitias compedibus v●●ctas . Basil . Diuitem te sentiant paupe●es . Cyp . let not these mighty estates now bee wedged vp in a corner ; no bring forth those riches that are bound as it were fetters , and triumph ouer them as slaues ; let the poore feele yee to be rich ; take vp these poore as commodities : yea haue trafficked much beyond Seas , trade amongst these at home ; to get aduantage yee haue trusted men with much , let me entreat you to trust God with part . And oh yee which haue set your faces ( in a more particular manner ) towards Sion , which haue a name to liue , seeme not you to haue renounced the delights of the world , but not the desires ; shal your hands be shut & yet are your hearts opened ? will yee honour Christ with a Psalme , or a Chapter , or a prayer in the parlour , & yet driue him away from the doore with a staffe , or a frowne ? Yee damne a Drunkard , an Adulterer , a Sabboth-breaker , a Blasphemer , and yee doe well , but will yee magnifie a Worldling ? where doe yee euer finde S. Nabal ? well , bee not ghosts of profession , blisters of Religion ; I honour your profession so it bee as full of charity , as piety . But otherwise remember that of the Apostle , 1. Ioh 3.17 . Whosoeuer hath this worlds goods , and seeth his brother in want , and shutteth vp his bowels of compassion , how dwelleth the loue of God in him ? Hos . 6.6 . I will haue mercy and not sacrifice . 1. Iames 27. Pure religion , and vndefiled before God the Father is this , to visit the Fatherlesse and Widowes in their aduersity . Let no man say then I haue Wife and Children to mainetaine ( as if thy cares were onely to bee restrained to these ) remember thou hast also a Iesus . Nemo dicat , habeo vx●rem , habeo liber●s ; habes Iesum . Chrysost . Shew thy selfe a mysticall member of the Church , aswell as a prouident Father of a family . Well , one and other now is your triall whereby men may see whether yee belong to God , or Mammon ; 1 Tim . 6.19 . now the time to Lay vp a good Foundation against the time to come . Looke not onely therefore on your owne families , but on the distressed housholds ; as yee want not meanes , so want not minds to doe good ; seuer out something for the hungry and thirsty , designe not all your meanes and m●intenance for your owne throats , for that were to bee Nabals Professours : Shall I then take my Bread , &c.

Next seeing the Sessions are now to beginne , let mee entreate all you that haue here any interest in them , to take some prouident course for the poore , let them taste of your charity aswell as your justice ; to hang vp felons , and not to prouide for maintenance , is almost to force theeues to the gallowes ; the poore are at an exigent , if they heare not of some speedy intendments for their comfort ( I tremble to speake it ) they are ready to lay their blood to your charge : whom haue they heere next vnder God but your selues to betake themselues to for refuge in their extremities ? Oh therefore whatsoeuer yee resolue on else , decree something for charity ; count it no dishonour to this meeting to haue it stiled a Sessions of charity , though they meet with churlishnesse elsewhere , yet I beseech you , let them not find Nabal vpon the Bench .

Further , least ( as Themistius said of the slatterers in the Court of Iovian ) I should seeme to feare the purple Robes , more then the wrath of God , giue mee leaue to speake something vnto you the Knights and Gentlemen that in these hard times are resorted into the Citie ; Purpuram magis quam Deum coler● . Niceph . Call . lib . 10. c . 42. as yee haue most meanes , so shew not yee least mercy . That charity therefore that yee are to enjoyne your neighbours in the Countrey to shew , first make it exemplary in your selues ; if plenty stop her current , how will the shallow brookes afford a few drops ? yee left behind you good orders in your Countrey , why did yee not stay to see them executed , and to giue life to them by your presidents of mercy ; His Maiesty ( whom God for euer blesse ) out of his pious disposition , sincere compassion , and pectorall affection to the present distresses commaunded your presence in the Countrey , why then haue yee oppugned his Royall pleasure ? will yee vilifie his proclamations , and edicts , as if they were but matters of forme ? would yee count it a dishonour to you now to bee thrust out of his Commission ? thinke then what a dishonour yee offer him , thus to put a Braue vpon his Order . Giue me leaue to discharge my conscience towardes my God and my King . I will not speake what I could concerning this , yet thus much I must tell you , that if you stay heere long , yee will hazard to loose that which is many great men● Paradise , your honour in your Countrey . Should such a man as I flee ? Neh . 6 . 11● layd Nehemiah ; so should such men as you , now haue forsaken your Countrey ? There are some Gentlemen I confesse ( for whom God be praysed , and their names euer honoured ) that haue kept their houses , and maintained an Odour of Charitie at their thresholds , but as for you ( I must speake truth in this place , and at this time ) yee seeme to feele too much of a deere yeere , yee are afraid of your Christmas boxe ; ye haue fledde into the fortified places , as if there were an invasion in the land ; and seeme to haue left off to bee true Countrey-men , Turqe●t . and to bee turned new-created Citizens ; inso much that as Oviedo for the great confluence of Bishops thither in the time of the Mores Conquests in Spaine , was called the Citty of Bishops , so this Citty will hazard to lose the name , and be called the Citty of Knights and Gentlemen ; ye are left out of the Charter , and yet ye seeme to bee of the Body politique . Heere ye take vp your mansions , and vse your houses in the Countrey , but as Pallaces of pleasure . But one time in the yeare to doe good , but one yeere in twenty , and yee are Non residents from your places . If yee doe any good here , yee doe it but like a Minister that leaueth his owne Cure , to goe feede other mens flockes ; your company heere is neither desired , nor needed . If yee have done any good where yee should , it is but as a dramme to that pound yee ought to haue expended in such a scarcity . Oh that ye heard the lamentable cryes , and bitter exclamations of the poore against you , they say yee preferre your hawkes , and horses , and hounds before them ; for thirty poundes for an hawke , forty poundes for an horse , an hundred poundes for houndes , and though these dye within a moneth after , yee thinke it stands not with generous mindes to grieue for the losse of them , but there is no such bountie and freenesse to the poore ; the Hawke is sed whilest the poore euen famish , the Horse pampered whilest the poore euen pine , the houndes haue their set provision , whilest the delicatest fare many poore haue , is but course bread , and the strongest liquor , faire water ; a pittifull thing , when birds , and beastes , and dogges , are preferred before Christian soules . I condemne not your lawfull pleasures , but I condemne those pleasures that turne Hospitality out of dores . Ponder vpon these things , and if your hearts be not of flint , and all the quicke flesh in your bosoms turned into Adamant , I trust they will dissolue into pitty ; for consider in your selues , is this to bee Common-wealthsmen , no Private wealths-men , Christians ? no Newters . ●h therefore let these advertisements be as a Habeas Corpus , to remooue you to your proper dwellings ; and goe not thither , I humbly beseech you , onely to shew your foreheades , but your mercy to helpe the helpelesse , to succour the succourlesse , to disperse abroad your Bread , Water , and Flesh , and not to serve it in , only to your owne tables , for that were to bee Nabals housekeepers . Shall I then ( sayth Nabal ) take my Bread , Water , and Flesh , which I haue killed for my Shearers , and giue it vnto men , whom 〈◇〉 know not whence they bee ?

And because Salomons Wife Woman not onely lifted vp her hand to the distaffe , Prov. 31. but likewise stretched ●ut her hand to the needy , Giue mee leaue to exhort , that if the Master should be Nabal , yet that the Mistresse bee Abigal to tell Nabal of his Churlishnesse , and by her discreetest and powerfullest perswasions , and inducements , to seeke to reclayme him ; howsoeuer to preuent Gods heauy curses vpon the family , let her goe foorth to men in misery with her bottels of milke , her parched corne , her frayles of raysins and figges : the Wife indeed hath not power to dispose of her husbands estate at her pleasure , but for true Charity shee hath , why else are women in Scripture exhorted to be Charitable ?

And you my reuerend brethren of the Clergy , if euer yee would have your wordes like Apples of gold set vpon Pictures of siluer , know what is a word in due season ; shew ye to the World miseries , naked armes , and bring foorth hunger , ready to eate her owne flesh ; cause the cheekes of couetousnesse to blush , and the heart of parsimony to chinke in the bosome ; by your most pregnant motives , and prevalent charmes , endeavour to raise vp a race of Charity in the World ; that so if people should remaine inflexible , incorrigible , yet as his Majestie sayd ( after his Pious Orders given for the reliefe of the poore , if they were not put in execution ) his Throne should bee Innocent , so the Pulpit may bee innocent . What should wee doe now filling the eares of the people with our sublimated conceptions , Seraphicall subtilties ? Alas , they have need of mercy . In these distressefull times therefore , what a sweete Odour is the sent of Charity out of our Pulpits ? Turquet in the life of Alphonso the Noble . Roderigo de Ximenes by preaching of Sermons of Charity in such a great scarcity , was reverenced of the people as an Angel of God , and so honoured by Alphonso , that hee bestowed vpon him the Arch-Bishopricke of Toledo , worth above two hundred thousand Crownes by the yeere ; so by such kind of Doctrines wee shall get reverence vpon earth , honour in Heauen ; and though our labours should not take place with men , Es. 49.4 . sure we are , Our labour shall be with the Lord .

Lastly , to speake vnto you the distressed soules of the times , I wish you comfort from Heauen , patience vppon earth ; though grace cannot keepe you from beeing insensible of these miseries , yet let it keepe you from being impatient ; it is your time of triall , Oh blaspheme not God to his face , but with all meekenesse , and humble lowly submission , yeeld your selues vnto Gods chastisement , endure a kind of dry Martyrdome . And as I wish you patience towards Gods chastisement , so towardes mans churlishnesse ; though men should bee open-mouthed to reproch , and close-fingered to releeue you , yet lift not vp an arme of revenge ; no , I beseech you by the peace of your Countrey , and by the honour o your profession , that yee fall out into no rash , precipitate , tumultuous rebellious courses . Remember , that Dauid beeing denied reliefe at Nabals hand , at first hee seemed irritated , incensed ; yea he vowed ruine , euen to rippe vp the bowels of the Churle , to make his house a shambles , but that which Rage resolues on , Grace repents of ; at last how doeth hee honour God , and blesse the instrument that stayed him from that bloody purpose ? 1. Sam . 25.32 , 33. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel , which sent thee this day to mee . And blessed be thy aduise , blessed bee thou which hast kept mee this day from comming to shedde blood , and from auenging my selfe with my owne hand .

Magnifie not Worldlings therefore as Worthies ( no pittie it is such painted postes should bee stooped vnto ) nor bee not your owne carvers of satisfaction from them ; Let euen Churles liue to their greater ignominy , damnation ; Vengeance in God were just , but in you barbarous , and inhumane ; Rebellion is the fruit of vnregenerate nature ; Commend therefore your fainting soules vnto God in silence , rather then force releefe ; the poore mans weapon is his tongue , not his pike ; though they may be guilty of hard heartednesse , mercilesnesse , yet be not ye guilty of blood .

And now Lord , bow thou the hearts of people vnto Charitie , melt them into compassion , let them not bee ashamed of Christ , hungry , and naked , but as they looke for Heaven , so let them lay vp treasures for their selues in Heauen , and that for his sake that purchased Heauen with the price of his owne blood , euen Iesus Christ the righteous . To whom with thee O Father , and the Blessed Spirit , bee ascribed , all Honour , Glory , Praise , Power , might , Maiestie , and Dominion , from this time forth for euermore , Amen .