WHen olde ISRAEL prophetically pronounced this Doome concerning his sonne Issachar, Genes. 49.14. that he should bow his shoulder to beare, he likened him to a strong, or osseus, [...], bonie Asse: as needing much strength to beare a great burden. And it was thought of olde, that the burden of the Ministerie, Vni praeesse Ecclesiae, to have the charge of one Kirke, & non dua­bus subesse Ecclesiis, and not to bee over-charged with under-going two, was such, that in the ballance of the Sanctuarie, weigh the burden with the strength, the one surpassed the other, [...]? and who is of sufficiencie for discharge of that Calling?

But now-a-dayes the cure of Soules,Daniel, 5. Iudg. 16. is either weighed in Belshazzars ba­lance, and found too light: or mens backes are thought like Sampsons shoul­ders, strong anough to beare two Kirks at once, as he caried the two postes of the gates of Azzah, to the top of the Mount which is before Hebron.

A strange thing, that mens policie should so meete a Princes pietie, that where he intended the bettering of the Kirks-impoverished-estate, by some competent provision, at least, to each one: If Patrons can not evite the ne­cessitie of obedience to that law of his Royall Parliament, and Decreet of his honourable Commission, they shall finde out such a politicke course, as in effect the same shall be but frustrate, how-so-ever: for where two Kirkes are to be provided severally, getting the charges united, & making one sing dumb, they have made the poore pettie portions, united together likewise, to equall that measured meane competencie of provision appointed in the Act: as if bettering of provisions for severall Kirkes had not beene meant; [Page 8] but that in the Kingdome the impairing of the few number, both of Kirkes and Pastors, had bene intended. And making there-by some Ministers that it may bee sayde of them, as of Hercules Pillars, Nil ultra: being life-renters onelie to weare off, and none there-after in those places anie more to suc­ceede them.

Because (for-sooth) men are so loath to parte with the patrimonie of the Kirkes, should there-fore bee made such an illicite matrimonie and con­junction,Deuter. 22.10. Nehem. 13 as is much lesse tollerable than with the Iewes under the Law, to have plowed with an Oxe and an Asse together: or a-like unlawfull, as when they coupled them-selves with the Women of Ammon and Ashdod?

Or should such a monstrous metamorphosis bee made, that so manie Kirkes, and Congregations, which before were Substantives, and stoode by them-selves, shall bee now so wofull and variable Adjectives, as a sound agreement and happie consolidation is never to bee expected, and as their ruinate Cases shall heere-after declare?

Wee detested before Idoles in Kirkes, but wee are making now Idole-Kirkes, hence-foorth not to bee ob solatia vivorum, but to bee caemiteria mortuo­rum, the sound of Gods word no more to bee heard in their Pulpits, but of the dead tolling of the Bell at Burials in their Steeples.

Gen. 26.18As the Philistims filled up Isaacks Welles of springing water, which his father Abraham had digged in his time: so heere-by closing up the Cisternes and Conduites of that still and living water which gave refreshment to the Lordes flocke:Psalm. 23. and incroaching upon the limits of that greene Pasture where-in the Lordes Sheepe were duelie made to feede.

As if there were no meanes howe the Kirkes of this Kingdome heere, could bee other-wise to such a meane competencie of maintenance provi­ded, out of their large and sacrilegiously detained Patrimonies, than by ma­king the Israelite and Aegyptian, Exod. 2.11 who in Moses time strove together of them, killing one of them, to preserve another.

Iudg. 12.Or as the Ephraemites, who could not so grosselie pronounce Shibboleth, but Sibboleth, with a smaller voyce, were all slaine by the Gileadites, at the pas­sages of Iordane: Even so, that all such Kirks that are not excessive in burden and boundes, and of the grossest and greatest in the Land; but of anie meaner and lesser sorte or syze, should bee so extinguished, swallowed up, and devoured,Numb. 16.31. Gen. 41.17 Matth. 13 12. 2. Sam. 7. as with Korabs punishment, or Pharaohs dreame, they should symbolize, men miss-construing heere-in (as seemeth) the wordes of our Saviour, That to him that hath, more shall bee given: and from him who hath not, even that which hee hath shall bee taken from him.

David, when hee sate in his house, and had rest given him round about, from all his enemies, did advise to build Gods House: So his peace bred him pietie; and his rest, religion. But it is contrarie with us: our peace hath [Page 9] bred such policie, and the fruit of our rest, is the robberie first, and next, the ruine of GODS House, counting Kirkes to bee like Esau to us,Genes. 25. not to bee Planters, but Supplanters there-of: Contracters, and not In-largers of the Kingdome of CHRIST. And thus (as the Prophet Micah sayeth) the great man spake out of the corruption of his soule, and so they wrapt it up.Micah. 7.3

But assuredlie, such Appendices as they have made manie Kirkes of, will bee seene at length, never to have proceeded of a good Thesis: neither will ever such a perilous Copulative Conjunction, doe what they list, ad­mit of, nor take places in a good Construction.

Before Pastors were impoverished,1. Pastors made fe­wer. Genes. 37. and nowe shall their number thus bee diminished? The Kirke first stript (like Ioseph) of her Coate, which should warme her: and next, of her Watch-men, which should arme and defende her: under pretense of some Restitution of meanes, to make her woefullie destitute of Men: Is not this the vilest sorte of Sacriledge? Or how farre is it from the practise of Iulian in likenesse, qui extinxit non solum Praesbyteros, sed Praesbyterium. 2. Advan­tage to se­ducers. 2. Sam. 24.

And how agreeable this Syncope, or Contraction, is now to Pietie, or Reason, may bee clearlie discerned, that when not onelie the Sheepe of the LORDES Pasture are increased, and the People (as in David's time) are multiplied exceedinglie; but the number also of the Wolves, who assault the LORDES Flocke, daylie like-wise groweth: and the Foxes, who de­stroy the Vines, even the Vines which have small Grapes: (to wit,Cant. 2.15. simple and unlearned Christians.) Should then the number of the carefull and watchfull Shepheardes, bee diminished, and made fewer?

It was the Precept of our Saviour, because the Harvest was great,Matth. 9.37. and the Labourers were few, That wee should pray the Lord of the Harvest, to thrust out manie faythfull Labourers in-to His Harvest. But to this Pre­cept of His our practise now-a-dayes is flat contrarie, and contradictour: yea, absurd, and against common Reason, where much worke is, there fe­wer Worke-men to bee.

It was Pharaoh's working-wiselie (in-deede) to augment the Israelites Taske, and to impaire their strength, and meanes to performe the same.Exod. 1.10 But such policie, being voyde of pietie, did procure plagues onelie, and drew on miserie.

And as the Kirke, to the great advantage of her enemies, receiveth (as is sayde) heere-by a notable injurie, what wrong is like-wise done to Lear­ning and Vniversities, anie one may easilie perceive.

Colledges and Schooles, the Seminaries of Sciences,3. Colledges hurt. and Nurseries of Religion, (like Goshen in Aegypt, where the light of the Land is) they shall carefullie trayne up, and yearlie sende foorth, a more and more numerous Off-spring, at Parentes large expences, like Levi to bee divided in Iaacob, Gen. 49.7. to [Page 10] teach the LORDES judgementes, and to bee scattered in Israel, to teach the people His Law; and yet the places which they should fill, and live by, by a new practise of Annexation of Kirks, next unto Kirke-Rents, shall be occupied Titulo oneroso onelie, for the most parte, and taken up by others.

4. Parents discouraged.If this then bee a way, eyther to encourage Parentes, and hearten Youth; or a practise to replenish the Schooles of the Prophets heere-after: and so consequentlie bee profitable eyther to Kirke or Policie: or rather be not a meane to effectuate the contrarie, and make Bethel a Babel, let anie in­different or pious mynde judge.

5. The Countrey harmed.The Countrey in like-manner, howe with Kirke and Schooles it may manie wayes crye out, the apparent scarres of her deepe in-flicted woundes shall heere-after offer them-selves conspicuous, & make the trueth here-of more than cleare and manifest.

At the time of that Reformation of our Countrey, where rather a De­formation was in many parts, through populare and unruelie confusion, (Greede, and not Godlinesse, possessing the mindes of many) it was not anough then, to the griefe of the godlie, to levell with the ground, deface, and cast downe Kirks thorow the Land, and other Religious places, which might have served (beside the Ornament of the Countrey) for other better uses crying onlie in the language of Edom, Psal. 137.7. Levit. 14.41. Raze them, raze them, even to the foundation: as if (against the Law) the House, having the Leprosie, could not be purged, but by pulling downe: so that as yet in many places there remaineth but the monuments of headlesse Furie, & se­ges ubi Troia fuit: But also men now-a-dayes, and goodlie Professors (for­sooth) thinking that there are too manie Religious places as yet in the Land, and Houses of GODS Worship, have redacted two till one: and made there-by a second Defalcation, to abridge the summe.

Cic. de di­vi. Lib. 1.It is reported of Hannibal, a Captaine of subtile policie, that hee saw in a dreame, being in Italie, which hee intended to subdue to him-selfe, a mon­strous Image appearing before him: at the sight where-of being amazed, asked what it was that so ghastlie appeared? The Image aunswered, Va­stitas Italiae. But this Image deceived Hannibal: for after the sight of his Brothers head, sent unto him by the Romanes, hee was forced to flee from Italie to Carthage: and so frustrate of his expectation.

It shall proovelyke-wyse but an unluckie prodigie to them, the deva­station of their Countrey: who by laying waste so many Kirkes of goodlie and godlie Ornamentes, shall make the same, in short time, to become like Achan or Absolons Burials:Ioshua, 7. 2. Sam. 18. heapes of Stones, heere and there through the whole Kingdome.

Our Saviour was much mooved, and as a great motive it was also used by the Elders of the Iewes, to perswade and induce CHRIST to grant [Page 11] the Centurions petition, and heale his Servaunt,Luke, 7. Because he loved their Na­tion (sayde they) and had built to them a Synagogue. Where they make there this outward action a sure testimonie of his sincere and in-ward affe­ction towardes their Religion.

Then what can bee the affection or zeale that manie Professors nowe beare to the Worship of GOD which they professe, when in place of buil­ding Synagogues, or Temples, and multiplying their number, where-of this Kingdome standeth so much in neede; they rather by such Vniting have impaired the number, & exposed the edifices to ruine and contempt? Thus (as the Prophet sayeth) while everie one of them runneth to builde up his owne house, and prepare Galleries syled with Cedar to him-selfe,Agg. 2. the House of GOD is not onelie left, but made forsaken and desolate.

Civilitie hath ever also beene seene to have beene the Daughter of Re­ligion: which as shee pointed out, Quae DEI sunt, 6. Civilitie hindred. so lyke-wyse Quae Caesa­ris: teaching to bee holie towardes GOD, and righteous towardes Man: and so to give each one their due, and observe both Tables. And Experience hath taught, where Pietie hath bid Fare-well, there Civilitie and comelie Policie hath, lyke Ruth, inseparablie followed Naomi, Ruth, 1.16. 1. Pet. 2.17. and godlesse Barba­ritie taken up their rowme. And where GOD is not feared, the King can not bee rightlie honoured: for these two, lyke Gemini, both goe together: and the strongest In-forcer is knowne to be the Conscience: which, where it is not informed, no marvell that deformitie of manners, and breach of duetie bee both to GOD and Man.

Now, where it was requisite then, moe Kirkes for this effect in sundry partes of our Countrey to have bene erected, should such a concise abridge­ment of the number of these beene made, which were auncientlie for seve­rall Service appointed, and had severall maintenance for that cause allot­ted, as now-a-dayes, (necessitie flat contrarie requiring) two to bee reda­cted to one, especiallie their boundes being become more habitable, and moe people now in-dwelling also the same?

Poore people in like-manner in many places,7. Poore people and Subjectes, both misea­sed, & scan­dalized. how they are heere-by wronged, their grieved hearts furnishing matter of regrate to their plain & pleaning tongues, and their sad querimonies powred foorth in-to the eares of every man, indifferentlie give sufficient proofe: when by the toylesome labour of the sixe dayes commanded, their bodies beeing worne and wea­ried, they shall be made, up-on the Lords Sabbath, with grieved hearts, and grudging speaches, to passe by, and desert their owne commodious and kindly Parish Kirks, where-in so frequentlie they had received the comfort of the Word and Sacraments; and to trudge further to these new made Mother (I had almost said Step-mother) Kirks: where, in discontenting amazement, after they have heard a Stranger-seeming voyce, returning [Page 12] home-ward, and backe-treading their tedious and uncouth way, after mu­tuall regrating, they may justlie say, That they have gotten both Preaching and Pennance together.

And what scandal and offence it is to those simple ones, when they shal see Religion thus so little regarded by goodliest Professors, and great men of the Land, the exercises of the Worship of GOD in so many places ex­tinguished, so many Lamps of the Candle-sticke of the Sanctuarie plainlie put out, Mammon to have subjected mens hearts so to her slaverie, that she hath made their hands to pull downe the Lords Houses, and Manour-places of His Divine Worship, the publishing of His Gospell so to be con­fyned, the number of His Ministers so to be impared, the Kirks Patrimonie, still to be retained, and now eternized, as it were, to the Posteritie, and in place of Restitution,Gen. 9.22. 2. Sam. 16. nothing to be eyther had, or heard, but mockage, or railing, as if Cham were revived, or Shimei set on foote againe.

If this bee not matter to scandalize weake ones: (and woe bee un-to him, who giveth offence to such:) or if this bee an examplare perswa­sion to such, who are given moste to followe the example of their Supe­riours, to respect Religion, to reverence the Worship there-of, to regarde Pastor or Place, or to bee un-fallen away, eyther in Errour, or in meere Atheisme, let anie one of judgement discerne.

Yea, I dare boldlie and confidentlie, with conspicuousnesse of trueth and equitie, avouch, Where two Parishes are made one, that it had beene more urginglie necessarie, of such Parishes that are but one, and where-of there is a great number in the Land, a division there-of to have bene made, each one in two or three competent & sufficient ample parishes at least: the most of such great parishes, rather lyke pettie Shyres, or Countreyes, in their severall Circuites, beeing in the Inne-Countrey, and most populous, and best in-habited partes of the Land. In which hudge parishes of so manie thousandes of Communicantes, and of such farre and large extended boundes, those that dwell in the utmost and remotest parts there-of,1. Sam. 1.21. [...]. 2.41. are lyke the Iewes, who once in the yeare onelie came up from their Borders and Coastes, to the Temple of Hierusalem, to worship. Such is their anniversarie visiting of their parish Kirkes onelie: it beeing not a Sabbath-dayes, but a Weeke-dayes journey, to goe thither, tho not the same day to returne.

Ioshua, 23.And as Reuben and Gad, and the halfe Trybe of Manasseh, when they were dissmissed by Ioshua, and had returned to Gilead, the Land of their possession, were forced for the longinquitie, and farre distance of place from Shilob, where the LORDES Tabernacle was, to build an Altar, for a memoriall, to them-selves: even to testifie, That they had parte in the [Page 13] GOD of Iaakob, and were not aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel.

So, I say, manie one, and much people, in such parishes a-fore-sayde, and in manie partes of the Land, have more than great necessitie, in re­spect of their farre and remote habitations from their parish Kirkes, to have erected amongst them-selves Temples of GODS Worship, and exercise of Religion: Seeing that in moste of these parishes, the poore people, other-wyse remain, through want thereof, lyke blind Idiots, nusled up in Ignorance, and Atheisme: vvhose reuthful condition, lyke that Vision of the man of Macedonia, to the Apostle Paul in the Actes, Acts, 16. doeth pleade for lyke ayde, and in-vocateth lyke pittie. And amongst whome, if our blessed SAVIOVR vvere corporallie, as Hee was amongst the Iewes, Hee should bee seene with lyke pittie, and sighes to complaine,Matth. 9.36. and be­wayle them: because Hee saw them lyke Sheepe wanting a Shephearde: it passing the power of anie one man, tho never so diligent, to discharge a Pastorall duetie; no, not to the halfe.

Hence it is, that not onelie, as by the Prophet the LORD complai­neth, That for want of knowledge His people perish, and pittifull igno­rance is seene in their myndes: but also, that such Barbaritie and vitious­nesse is seene in their manners. Hence it is, that moe are often-tymes seene in their Kirke-yardes gazing, than with-in their thronged Kirkes ga­thering. Hence it is, that poore Infantes, especiallie in Winter season, have died with-out Baptisme, before that eyther the Pastor could bee ad­vertised, in such a long and lingring way, up-on necessitie to come; or the Infant by anie meanes, quarter way, could bee brought. And hence it is, that manie a poore Soule, with-out Pastorall praesence, or notice, hath died with-out comfort: beside the manie fayntinges of poore and sillie ones, by a wearisome way, vvhich made CHRIST to bee compas­sionate towardes the Multitude,Mark. 8.2. and there-fore would not sende them away emptie: For some of them came from a-farre (sayeth the EVAN­GELIST.)

Where other-wyse, through putting up, and not pulling downe of Kirkes: Raysing, and not razing Christian Synagogues: Pastorall duetie in in-forming Ignorantes: Reforming the vitious: Comforting the distressed: and vvatching over all, should this vvay bee better dis­charged, Subjectes and poore people more should bee eased, the Coun­trey and Kingdome more should bee decored, the fewer starting Holes left to the subsidiarie Seminaries of the envious Adversaries, Popple and Tares in the LORDES Fielde, and the glorious GOSPELL of IESVS CHRIST, more plenteouslie should abound, and shyne in the Land.

But what shall I say? Too dolefull experience of this clayie Age, hath too well taught the facilitie of pulling downe: but the too great difficul­tie in their places of putting up of Kirkes, and the Ablative, hath ever beene in farre easier use with us, than anie wayes the Dative: Practizing so the first parte of Zaccheus lyfe, but not acting the last parte of his restitution: and to impede heere-after anie expectation of the same; converting nowe, by a Retrograde, the plurall number of Kirkes, in-to a simple singular.

Yea, to speake to such men, of building of Kirkes, where in such po­pulous a-fore-sayde places there is more than neede: or, as Salomons Pre­cept is,Prov. 3.9. of honouring the LORD so with their Riches; a man shall seeme to them, to bee a Barbarian, whose Language they know not: or like Ioseph with his Brethren,Genes. 42. as needing an Interpreter: yea, they shall thinke, as is sayde of Peter, That hee wist not what hee sayde, when on Mount Tabor hee would have builded one Tabernacle to Moyses, Luk. 9.33. and one to Elias, and one to CHRIST: or as Festus objected to Paul, That too much Learning had made him madde:Acts, 26. So that they who mynde such thinges, too much Zeale hath made them franticke. But speake of casting downe two Kirkes, to make up one: or annexing one unto its neighbour Parish, hence-foorth ever to bee but one Cure, and in sundrie places: as it were alluding to Trinitie and Vnitie, to cast three in one, they will straight wayes applaude, with that of the Poêt, ‘Vnio divina est, &c.’

Polion. Lib. 1. strat.It is reported of Pericles, that being asked by Alcibiades, Why so often hee seemed so sadde and pensive? Who aunswered, Because (sayde hee) I remember up-on that Account which I have to make for that which I have received to build a Portch to Minervas Temple in Athens. But howe few are now lyke to Pericles, who mynde how much they are addebted to GOD, to builde His Kirke, or maintaine His Service: or what Account they have to make before GOD, and His Angels, for the Meanes which they with-holde, and where-on the same should bee done? But on the contrarie, make no conscience, zeale-less-lie, through Greede, to ruinate those which zealouslie, through Godlinesse, were formerlie by others al­readie erected.

Goe to the Yles of Chittim, and beholde: sende unto Kedar, and inquire of the Nations round about,Ier. 2.9. If anie such thing bee done: let bee by Chri­stians, but by verie Turkes and Paganes, to their Gods, as to the true GOD, whome in CHRIST wee worship a-right. What Temples, or Reli­gious places of theirs, once dedicate, deface or expose they, to contempt, ruine, and daylie decay, as named Christians now-a-dayes, who will not [Page 15] onelie first robbe the Rentes from them; but next (lyke Antiochus, Dan. 8.11. who made the daylie Sacrifice of the Temple to cease) will abrogate and exile the Exercise of GODS Worship, in Worde and Sacramentes, out of them; and set up the Abomination of Desolation in the places where it ought not? An ill Positive (for-soothe) admitting no-where a Com­parative.

Let this clayie Age looke backe also to their Fore-fathers zeale, and bee ashamed: with their Chappels with-out their Houses, and Oratories with-in: with their Kirkes piouslie respected, and their Hospitals plen­teouslie then doated: the swarms of Kirke-men with-in Towns,1. King. 18. Genes. 47. lyke Baals Prophets, sitting at plentifull Tables: and those with-out, lyke Aegyptes Priestes, aboundantlie provided for: Erecting also daylie, and not, as now, dejecting, Religious Temples: and, lyke Nebuchadnezar, 2. Chron. 36. first spoy­ling the Vessels, and Treasurie of the Temple; and then razing the Edifi­ces there-of: first to bee Kirke-robbers, and then, ere they restore, to bee Kirke-ruinaters.

Consider also in that flowrishing and Reverende Neighbour Kirke of ours, where farre lesse Parishes are in sundrie partes: and search as narrow­lie as Laban searched the Stuffe of Iaakob, if this bee their practise:Genes. 31 or anie­where else, vvhere GOD in mercie hath restored His Gospel, to burie the memorie of so manie auncient Kirkes, as Iaakob buried the strange Gods of his House-holde under the Oake which is beside Sechem. Genes. 35.

Not that anie-way I speake against such Vniting as is permitted, and clearlie mentionate in that Statute of Parliament: to wit, using the verie wordes of the Act it selfe, Where the Fruites of anie one alone will not suf­fice to entertaine a Minister: and that the Rentes and whole Patrimonie there-of are no-wayes aunswearable to the proportion of the quantitie of five Chaulders Vi­ctuall, or five hundreth Markes of Silver in yearlie commoditie, and value: and where for distance of place, and other lawfull causes, they are not also found in­commodious so to bee united. Of which sorte there are few, if anie, with-in the whole Kingdome. But where beside distance of place, and other lawfull causes, vvhy they are incommodious, fayre Parishes and famous Benefices are united together, the value of the Rentes, Fruites, and Patri­monie of anie one where-of, vvill exceede farre the meanest fore-saide pro­portion: to wit, of five Chaulders Victuall, or five hundreth Markes Sil­ver: yea, equall, and surmount the highest quantitie: to wit, of ten Chaul­ders Victuall, or a thousand Markes Silver: and double, if not triple, the same.

Where such as these then are coupled together, lyke Ratches for the Game of Hunting, vvhat importeth such a smothering Vnion, but the fore-sayde sadde Sequeles? Or what better Fruite can such a bitter Tree [Page 16] produce, but sowre Grapes, to set the Teeth on edge?

And with what Eternall-lyke Prorogations, Ratifications, and Se­curinges, (putting from them the Day of the LORD a-farre) they have nowe fastened unto them-selves, not onelie their owne, but even the Tithes of others also? giving a little Bayte, to drawe on a great Boo­tie: and by a small Skirt, to assure them-selves of GODS whole Coate: So that they, and not the Kirke, have received the Benefite. And howe Christianlie, or Conscionablie, they everie-where use them, everie one doeth know, and manie one doeth regrate.

For I dare avow, that those who were most easilie dealt with them­selves in their owne, are not-with-standing the sharpest Scourge of other Gentle-men for their Tithes, vvhich they have catched of theirs in-to their handes,Genes. 37. even by an Ismaelite sorte of merchandize, out of Benefi­ces, and erected Praelacies, as is matchlesse, and scarce would seeme cre­dible,Matth. 23. through the whole Kingdome: Beeing heere-in lyke the Pharisees, vvho bound full heavie Burdens on other mens Shoulders, and vvould not touch such them-selves vvith their little Finger: Or lyke that pardo­ned Servaunt him-selfe,Matth. 18. by his bountifull Master, vvho throtled his Fel­low-servaunt at meeting, vvho was owing him but a little, vvith-out reuth, or pittie.

Which sorte of Tyrannicall and extorsing impositions of slavish con­ditions, and exhausting hudge Girssomes, vvhere-of there is too dolefull experience through the Land, (but in speciall, and extraordinarie, with­in the boundes of mine owne Residence and Service for the praesent) gi­ving their law and will peremptorlie there-in, as Princes unto vanquished Captives. I may truelie say, if your MAIESTIE vvere in-formed there-of, and knew a-right, how not onlie Men, but the verie Land, groa­neth, and cryeth, under such heavie Bondage, your MAIESTIES Heart, vvith admiration, and astonishment, should melt in pittie towardes these, your loyall, but not free, Liedges: vvhose Mouthes onelie at your last Royall praesence amongst them, (and as yet) in bursting Heartes, suppressed their just Complaintes: even for feare, as Rehoboam's aunsweare vvas to the people,1. King. 12. by the counsell of the young Men, That his little Finger shoulde bee heavier up-on them, than his Fathers Loynes: and vvhere his Father chastised them with Roddes, hee should heere-after correct them with Scourges: So if they got not remedie from your Well-willing MAIESTIE, that these grievous Exacters, lyke unto Aegyptes Taske-masters,Exodus, 1. should rather there-fore increase their Burden, and vvhere their Yoke was grievous, should make it yet more heavier: and so, like the mans estate whom the uncleane spirit,Matth. 12. returning, did possesse; their last condition should so become worse than their first.

Yea, to such an height in manie places is this Bondage of theirs alreadie come, through excessive ambition, and violent greede, that men can-not thinke howe it can bee anie more worse with them:1. Sam. 1. while as out of their sore-troubled spirites, with Hannah, and heart-bursting griefe, they openlie are not onelie made to professe their slaverie, as if they were made subject to the Curse of Cham; Gen. 9.25. but are forced to re­grate lyke-wyse, through their exhausting, by such exorbitant Girs­somes, vvhich in verie fewe yeares shall bee able heritablie to buy their Landes: (and so the Tithe, lyke Pharaoh's leane Kye, in short space, to eate up the Stocke:) that there-by they are so woefullie in-debted, as their rightest marshalling, and last refuge, is lyke to bee with persecu­ted Davids Associates, to ranke them-selves in order:1. Sam. 22. of whome it is sayde, That there gathered unto him, all men that were in trouble, and all that were in debt, and all those that were vexed in mynde, and hee was their Captaine. Having proofe of no greater courtesie used to­wardes them, than such where-of that Romane Fimbria boasted of, which hee shewed to Quintus Scaevola, whome hee slew at the Funerals of Cajus Marius, Quod non totum telum corpore suo receperat: tho hee killed him, yet that hee thrust not his Dagger in-to his Bodie up to the Hiltes. So where the Tithes are not casten, or untimelie ledde, yet men are both slaved and beggered, by paying for the same.

Neyther, SIR, shall there ever bee but increase of tyrannicall Burdens and Bondage, and there-by the expectation of some fearfull and desperate breach, at last: and that your Land, lyke Aceldama, shall bee a Fielde of Blood: Nor yet shall ever your Loyall Subjectes en­joye true Freedome under your happie Governament, to bee truelie called, The free Liedges of their Royall and Native Prince, and to bee emancipate to his service, and onlie to attende the same: Neyther shall setled Peace, and Christian Love, bee expected in your Lande, with encouragement to industrious Vertue, or comelie Policie: Neyther shall the myndes of all men, for the moste parte, so generallie bee con­tented: and the perpetuall and established Weale of your Kingdome, both in Kirke and Policie, unto GODS Glorie, and your Eternall Memorie happilie bee procured; untill that everie Inheritor bee Ma­ster, and have the right of his owne Tithe.

O happie then should that Day bee to this KINGDOME for ever, and the noyse of the chearfull applause there-of, making the Earth, as at Salomons Coronation, to ring,1. Kings, 1.40. Levit. 27.31. should never hence-foorth in anie Age cease: this onelie beeing agreeable to the Worde of GOD, for a man to redeeme, and appropriate to him-selfe, his owne Tithe: [Page 18] as all other practise, to appropriate the Tithes of others, and make GODS Staffe, Mans Scourge, is flatte contrarie, and contradictour there-unto: and much more shall drawe on the Curse of GOD,Deute. 27.17. to in-haunce such a Right, than that which is lesse praejudiciall, to violate the Neighbours Boarders.

Ezek. 7.11But thus, contrarie-wyse, (as sayeth the Prophet, is the Rodde flowrished, Pryde hath budded, and Crueltie is risen up, in-to a Rodde of wickednesse: our Kirke, the Princes in the midst of her, are lyke Wolves,22.27. ravening the Prey, and destroying soules for their filthie lucre: so that shee may take up Micah's Lamentation, saying, Woe is mee, for I am as the Summer gatheringes, Micah, 7.1.4. and as the Grapes of the Vintage: There is no Cluster to eate: The good man is perished out of the Earthe: And the best of them now is as a Brier: And the moste righteous is sharper than a Thornie Hedge. Ier. 6.4. The LORD set Watch-men also over them, who sayde. Take heede to the sounde of the Trumpet: But they sayde, Wee will not. And since His Prophets cryed out of Wrong, and proclaymed Desola­tion,Ier. 20.8. there-fore the Worde of the LORD was made a reproach un­to them, and in derision daylie.

Ier. 8.8.Yet under a Simeon-lyke Vayle of profession they say, Wee are wyse, and the Law of the LORD is with us: but loe, certainlie in vaine made Hee it.Isai. 29.13 And the Penne of the Scribes is in vayne. It is neare in their Mouthes, but it is farre from their reines. They have a showe of Godlinesse, but have denyed the power there-of: For they abhorre Idoles,Rom. 2.22. and yet commit Sacriledge. Or as the LORD by the Pro­phet,Ezek. 14.3 sayeth, They have their Idoles in their Heart: and put the stum­bling Blocke of their iniquitie before them.

But let those heare that have declared their sinnes lyke Sodom, and hide them not.Isai. 7.13. Is it a small thing for them to grieve Men, that they will also grieve GOD? Or, Is it not because I holde My peace, sayeth the LORD,Isai. 57.11 and that of long time, that there-fore thou fearest not Mee, and that Iudgement is turned backwardes, and Iustice thus standeth a-farre off? For Trueth is fallen in the Streetes, and Equitie can-not enter.Isai. 59.14. But their owne wickednesse shall surelie correct them: and their turninges backe, reproove them. Their day also shall decline: and the Shadowes of their Evening shall bee stretched foorth. For (as the Pro­phet sayeth) it hath not seemed a small thing for them,Ezek. 34.18. Ier. 9.3. onelie to have eaten up the good Pasture: but they have trodden downe the residue with their Feete. Or, (as Ieremie speaketh) proceeding from evill to worse, they have first robbed, and then razed the Kirkes.

Shall, there-fore, that two-edged Sworde, which proceedeth out [Page 19] of His Mouth who walketh in the middest of the goldē Candle-stickes,Rev. 1.16. lyke Peters, after hee had stricken off Malchus Eare, bee made in manie places so to bee put up in-to its Sheath, through a conspiracie, which is found amongst the men of Iudah, and the In-habitantes of Hierusalem, Ier. 11.9. Amos, 8.11. and the making of a Famine in those partes, not of Bread, nor a thirst of Water, but of the hearing of the Worde of GOD: And shall not this moove the LORD to draw out such a destroying Sword against them, as David sawe in the Angels hand,2. Sam. 24. Exod. 12. Nehem. 5.9. in the Threshing Floore of Araunah, or that which ranged through the Land of Aegypt?

Or is not this flatte contrarie to Nehemiah's Exhortation, to the great men, and Princes of Iudah, To drawe up-on us the reproach of our enemies, which are round about us, when in the time of lesse light, but greater zeale, that which the Predecessours built, as places of GODS Worship, for His Name to dwell in, their Successours should now de­molish: they doating the holie things, and these devouring the same?

As Moyses then (SIR) commiserating the estate of the wronged Daughters of the Priest of Midian, Exod. 2.19 who were driven away from the Troghs of Water, which they had filled to water their Fathers Flockes: As he, I say, defended, and brought them backe againe to those places, and gave their Sheepe refreshment: So (SIR) pittie the wronged estate in like-manner of the Kirke in your Land: defende it like-wise, and make patent againe the Doores of so many Christian Temples,Ioshua, 10. shut up like the Caves of the Cananite kinges: that comfort againe may bee with-in them ministred to the LORDES people: that the Flocke of His Heritage (as the Prophet speaketh) may bee fed with the Rod of His owne Mouth, as in the midst of Carmel: Micah, 4.14. and that they may pasture in Bashan, and Gilead, as in olde time.

And as Zacharias, the Baptists Father,Luke, 1. tho for a short time hee was stricken dumbe, yet as at last his mouth was againe opened, by sensible and cleare speaches to prophecie, and proclaime that Horne of Salva­tion, that was raised out of the House of David; and Day-spring, which from on high had visited his people Israel: So (SIR) restore in like-manner, to speach and prophecie againe these dumbe, yea, dead-stricken places of GODS Sacred Worship: that the same Gospell may bee as yet published, and that the same tender mercie in them may still be ma­nifested through all the corners of your Land; to give light to them that sit in darkenesse, and in the shaddow of Death, and to guide their feete in-to the way of peace.

Or as the Whale, how-so-ever she swallowed up Ionas, dis-gorged him againe up-on the drye land:Ionas, 2. Even so (SIR) how-so-ever this Vniting [Page 20] of Kirks, through the moyen and greede of men, hath past, the true Ca­ses of manie where-of were never (I am perswaded) clearlie knowne to your Honourable Commission: Like a wise Salomon, then, pronounce the Sentence of Division: and that as the two Women which pleaded be­fore him, were each one restored to her owne Child; so that everie Kirke may be restored with a competent maintainance, to its owne former & primitive condition: Else, it had bene better both for Kirke and King­dome, that, poore as they were, still as yet they had remained severall.

Gen. 13.5. Iudg. 6.30And let not (SIR) Abrahams Altar be as it were Baals Grove, that GOD should bee left to pleade for Him-selfe: But swey that Scepter of Royall power, which, one after an-other, for the defence of His Cause, Hee hath put in-to your hand.

Let not Christian Temples goe downe in your Kingdome, vvhich were as the Tents of the Shepheardes,Cant. 1.7. where the LORDS Well-belo­ved went foorth by the steps of the Flocke, and there fed her weake and tender Kids, with the Spirituall Food of the Bread of Life. Especiallie where greater neede is to put up moe.

Neyther let the Watch-men, which goe about the Citie, of whome the Spouse in the Canticles seeketh her direction,Cant. 3.3. where she may find him whom her Soule loveth, be diminished in number, where there is more necessitie they should be augmented.

1. Sam. 11.Let not Nahash his enter-pryse come also now-a-dayes in practise: where two eyes are to pull out the one: and bring a shame so up-on the LORDS Israel. Neyther let the barking Dogs bee remooved from the LORDS Flockes: except there-by wee would please the devouring Wolves.

The LORD (SIR) hath done to you, as He did before to good Ne­hemiah: Nehem. 2.18. you have found the Hand of your GOD ever to have bene good over you: and Hee hath strengthened your Royall hand to doe much good: So that according to the Elders and peoples apprecation to Boaz, you have not onelie done worthilie in Ephrathah, Ruth, 4.11 and is famous in Beth­lehem; but the sound of your Noble Fame, like Salomons, hath gone a-farre off; & like a powred-foorth savourie Ointmēt, by the delectable & sweet smell there-of, it hath spred it selfe to the uttermost Coasts of the Earth.

Psal. 20.Let not the hand, then, of the LORDS Anoynted anie-wayes bee weakned: But goe on: and the Name of the GOD of Iaakob shall defend you,2. Chrō. 31. and send you helpe from His Sanctuarie, and strengthen you out of Zion: yea, Hee shall fulfill all your purpose, and with Godlie Hezekiah, prosper your Sacred MAIESTIE, in all the Workes which you intende for the Service of the House of your GOD.

It is true (SIR) the reparing of the Walles of Hierusalem, Nehem. 2.19. and the ruines there-of, hath ever had great lets; some with Sanballat, and his as­sociates, to mocke and despise the worke: (who there-by show that they have no right, nor portion, nor memoriall in Hierusalem:) and with moc­king, who next, up-on sight of some farder progresse there-in, will joyne wrath, and subtile machination: (but the LORD shall ever bring their counsell to nought:) and some, with Tobiah, Nehem. 6.17. ayded with the secret in­telligence of the verie Princes of Iudah, by cunning, advertising, and ad­vising Letters, onelie to put Nehemiah, that Godlie Prince, in feare; & so weaken his hands in the LORDS Worke: Who not-with-standing will ever the more in-courage him, and dis-cover their craft; prospering him still: untill, at last, the Walles bee set up, and the House of GOD with-in bee set in comelie order.

Let the same assurance, then, (SIR) of the like constant ayde of the Hand of your good GOD, which you have ever found stretched foorth for your miraculous many Deliveries, and continuall defence, encourage you to over-come all such lets, or other impediments what-so-ever, ten­ding to the delay, or inter-mitting of the worke of the LORDS House; vvhose Nursing-Father you are: and where-in also you are a nursed Childe. But let the Walles of HIERVSALEM still be going up, maugre all opposition: Repare the ruines of your Kirke, restore the rapines there-of: and in the well-ordered House of GOD, let the Levites,Nehem. 8.8. being restored to their Portions, be reponed also, and set in their places: who may reade in the Booke of the Law of GOD distinctlie, and give the sense, & make the people to understand the same: that so your GOD may remember you still in Goodnesse,Nehem. 13.14. and not wype out your kyndnesse, which you have showne up-on His House, & up-on the Offi­cers thereof. AMEN.