A murmurer Breton, Nicholas, 1545?-1626? 1607 Approx. 69 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 51 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2009-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A68984 STC 3671 ESTC S104771 20190825 ocm 20190825 5014 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A68984) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 5014) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 645:10 or 1706:12) A murmurer Breton, Nicholas, 1545?-1626? [100] p. 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Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Dissenters, Religious -- England -- Controversial literature. 2007-04 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2007-04 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2008-04 Elspeth Healey Sampled and proofread 2008-04 Elspeth Healey Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A Murmurer . LONDON Printed by ROBERT RAVVORTH , and are to be sold by Iohn Wright , at his shop neere Christ-Church gate . 1607. TO THE RIGHT HOnorable , the Lords of his Maiesties most Honorable priuie Counsell . RIght Honorable , It cannot bee vnknowne to your wisedomes , how perilous a thing , both to the Crowne , the Peeres , and the Nobles ; yea and to all the parts of the common-wea●th , is the vngratious , vngodly , yea , prophane , & hellish humor of murmuring : especially against God , the king , or any their ordeyned magistrates , in a Kingdome : for the cure wherof , what care is to be taken , your discreet considerations can determine : and knowing in your honorable dispositions , an assured hate vnto all such vnpleasing and vnprofitable spirits , as no doubt , but you wil weed , out frō the good hearbs in the groūd of your charge ; and again , how blessed a thing , the vniō of harts wil be to your honorable Spirits , whose continual care of the preseruatiō , both of our king , and his vvhole kingdom , deserueth no little honor : I haue presumed rather vpō your honorable pardons , of what may offend your patience , then your fauorable acceptāce of my vnvvorthy seruice , to present your Honors vvith a little tract against Murmurers & murmuring , in vvhich if I haue passed anie thing displeasing to your good patience , hūblie crauing pardon , I attēd the sorrovv of my Imperfection , but if I haue in any thing contented the least of your good likings , I will leaue murmurers to the fruite of their malice , and pray to God , so to blesse your good minds , that you may find out such offendors , and giue them the due of their desert ; and in your selues , among your selues , may be so lincked in your loues , that to God and his Maiestie , you may euer liue togither in your seruice , that when wickednes is weeded out , and Grace is planted in the place , God may be pleased , the King best preserued , and the Common wealth best gouerned : So fearing with tediousnes , to be a trouble to your good patience , beseeching God to blesse you al , with as much happines , as murmurers are worthy to want , I humbly rest . Your Honors in all Humblenes , To the Reader . LET me intreat you ( by the kindnes I hope in you ) to bee perswaded that what I haue written in this little Tract , is rather done to reueale the follie of a malitious humor , then to taxe any person with the infection : The labour is not long , nor the sence obscure ; the substance whereof , leauing to the censure of your discretion , or correction of your good patience , with my loue to your kind desert , I rest as I find cause . Against Murmurers , and Murmuring . OH Murmurer , what wouldest thou haue ? was there euer any Kingdome so many years , and so many waies blessed ? and thou in it , so little worthy of thy comforts , and so worthy of the contrarie : is not thy Earth fertill ? are not thy Riuers sweet ? is not thy Aire temperate ? are not thy Citties faire , thy people rich , thy men strong , thy women fruitfull , thy Magistrates wise , and thy King gratious ? are not thy Seas as a wall to defend thee from the assaults of thine enemies ? and hath not thy peace bred such a plentie , as maks thee admired in the whole vvorld ? hast thou not vvith all this , the richest iewel in the world ? yea , and more vvorthy then the vvhole vvorld ? vvhich is the heauenly vvord of God , to direct thee in his holy vvill ? and vvil not al this suffice thee , to bring thee to the seruice of thy God ? to acknovvledge his goodnes , to admire his greatnes , & to giue glory to his Maiestie ? vvhat shall I then say vnto thee ? but as I said in the beginning : oh vvhat vvouldst thou haue ? In the time of blindnes , vvhen the booke of life vvas shut from thy reading , vvhen thy learned preachers , and zealous people vvere put vnto the fire , vvhen ciuil vvarres did breed thy penury , and thy forraine enimies vvere readie to inuade thee , vvhē thy Gouernour vvas a Tyrant , thy life a bondage , & thy estate a miserie , then hovv glad vvouldest thou haue bin , to haue tasted the least of the blessings ? that novv thou art full of ; and then vvouldest thou haue prayed for deliuerance from thy sorrovves , and ioyed in the least hope , that might haue cleered thy heauy heart : and art thou novv so hard harted ? so ill natured , so void of sēce , or so full of ingratitude ? that thou canst not conceiue , thou vvilt not acknovvledge , thou dost not vnderstand , or vvilt not bee thankfull , for this great measure of grace that God hath bestovved vpon thee ? vvhat then wil becōe of thee ? but let me aske thee , what doth aile thee ? is ease a griefe ? pleasure a paine ? peace a Trifle ? plentie a Toy ? a good King , a small blessing ? a graue Counsaile , a meane comfort , and the vvord of God , a slight Ievvell ? learned Preachers , and profoūd Lawiers little blessing ; what shall I then say vnto thee ? but that they are ill bestovved on thee ; doest thou murmure at Religion ? is it not better to serue God , then Man ? and to beleeue the Truth , then follovv Error ? to vvorship God in the Heauens , then make a kind of God on the Earth , and to begge pardon of thy God at home ; then to buy it of a man abroad : dost thou murmure that the Saints are not worshiped ? and wilt thou forget to vvorship God aboue ? wilt thou murmur at thy Loyalty ? & learne the witch-craft of Rebellion ? wilt thou forget thy vocation , and fal into the sin of presumption ? are these the fruites of thy deuotion ? fie vpon thy follie , that hast no more tast of discretiō : wouldest thou rather hear the vvord ? & vnderstand it not , then vnderstand it , and beleeue it ? or trust rather to the vvord of a Priest for thy cōfort , then to thine ovvne faith for thy Saluation : oh pittiful imperfection ! vvhat shall I say vnto thee ? but onely pray for thee ; that God vvil forgiue thee , & opē the eyes of thy vnderstanding , that by the light of his grace , thou maist get out of thy darknes , and beholding the greatnesse of his mercy , giue glorie to his holy Maiestie . Leaue therfore thy murmuring , and turne it to thanksgiuing , that so great a part of the vvorld , being shut vp in the caue of Error , thou vvalkest in the vnderstanding path , of the perfection of all truth : least if thou continue in thy accursed nature , thy gratious God , seeing thy vngratfulnes ; either depriue thee of thy comfort , or cast thee into vtter darknes ; vvhile the Buls of Rome shal breed too many calues in Britanie : Again , dost thou murmur at peace ? hast thou a spirit of discord ? dost thou delight in blood ? oh brood of Caine , looke on thy brother Abell , & heare the curse on thy condition : doest thou vvalke in quiet ? vvorke in quiet ? eat in quiet ? sleep in quiet is thy vvife in thy bosome ? thy Children at thy Table ? thy seruāts in thy busines ? do thy friends come to see thee ? thy neighbours salute thee ? & thine enemies liue from thee ? doth Musicke fill thine Eares ? Beautie thine Eyes ? Wisdome thy Heart ? and Treasure thy mind ? and are all these benefits to be despised , and this peace not to bee applauded ? God forbid : when children with Drums strike marches of mirth , and Trumpets sound dances in stead of deadly marches ; when men may sing , women dance , and children play ; & altogether reioyce ▪ and giue praises vnto God ; is this peace to be murmured at ? fie vppon such wicked spirits , that can bee possest with such hellish humors : leaue therefore thy murmuring at this great blessing of peace , and giue glory vnto God for the comfort of so great a grace ; for by it thou possessest more thē all the world without it : for though by labour may wealth be gotten , and by wisedome honor , yet without that blessing of peace through the malice of Ambitiō , thou maist soone loose all that thou enioyest : pray then for the cōtinuance of so great a comfort , and murmure not at the ordināce of God , in so gracious a shewing of so glorious a mercy : shew not the dogged nature , of such a deuilish spirit , to drowne thy soule in the delight of bloud : Thinke on the miserie of ciuill warres , or what warres soeuer ; subuersion of States , death of Princes , massacres of People , teares of Widdowes , cries of Children , Citties burning , Tyrants killing , Terror spoiling , and hearts dispairing ; when thou shalt see before thy face , thy wife dishonoured , thy daughter deflowred , thine infant slaine , and thy selfe made a slaue to villanie ▪ and if it possible might be , a hell vpon earth , where deuils like men , or men like deuils , seeke the destruction of the whole world . Murmure not then at the ioyfull blessing of peace , but imbrace it with such thankfulnes , as may continue thy happines , least vvhen thou vvouldest haue peace thou canst not , because vvhen thou haddest it , thou regardest it not : Againe , dost thou murmure at plentie ? pittie but thou shouldest want that is necessarie , vvho hadst rather see thy brother starue then to releeue him out of thy aboundance : Oh vngratious wretch , so far from the feeling of Gods grace , that for a priuat gain wouldst wish a general griefe , like a miser that pinching his belly to spare his purse , wold see the death of a vvhole Kingdome , to fill vp one corner of his cofers : or doest thou murmure at the plentie of another , beholding thine own penury ? Why , remēber thou broghtest nothing into the vvorld , nor shalt carry any thing with thee out of it , and what thou hast , is but lent thee , & shal be taken frō thee , or thou frō it : cāst thou not then content thy selfe vvith thy portion ? and rather labour for thine own good , then enuy at the welth of another ? or dost thou murmur at the vvealth of many , and thine own pouerty ? looke into thy self , and see if there be not more poorer , then richer then thy selfe ; and if not , yet , that thou art not alone to beare the burthen of thy crosse . But hadst thou rather see a bare haruest , a naked tree , a thin Meadow , and a blasted vineyard ? then thy barnes full of corn , thy stacks full of hay , thy trees full of fruite , and thy vessels full of vvine ? canst thou so much forget God , to bee vnthankfull for his blessings , and bee so vnnaturall to thine owne heart , as to seeke the miserie of thine owne Soule ? What dogge would shew so diuellish a nature ? Haddest thou rather gnaw vpō a crust , then haue a whole loafe ? sippe of a little cruse , then drinke of a full cup ? vveare a peece of a ragge , then a vvhole suite of apparrell ? and a penny in thy purse , rather then thy chest full of gold ? then art thou either a foole , that vnderstandest not vvhat is good for thee ; or a dogge , that dispisest that is giuen thee ; or a deuill , in not acknovvledgeing the goodnes of thy God tovvards thee : hadst thou rather see a table without meat , a stable vvithout horses , a pasture vvithout Cattell , & a purse vvithout a pennie ; then good meate , faire horses , fat cattle , and a full purse ? oh monster of nature , vvhat dost thou then among men ? leaue therefore thy murmuring , and let me thus farre aduise thee : what thou hast , spend not vainly ; what thou gainest , get not vilely ; vvhat thou vvantest , beare patiently ; and vvhat thou giuest , giue frankely , & murmure not to part vvith thy plēty , nor at the plentie of another , for plentie is a blessing of God , vvhich taken thankfully , breeds many comforts , while penury is a plague , either inflicted vpon sinne , or sent for a triall of vertue , vvhere patience possessing the soule , the bodie may bee the better seruant . Murmur not therfore at the blessing of plentie , either vpon thy selfe , or others . Againe , dost thou murmure at ease ? oh vvhat madnes doth possesse thee ? hadst thou rather tire out thy body , thē giue rest to thy mind ? and labor out thy heart , thē giue cōfort to thy spirit ? hadst thou rather mourn thē sing ? cry then laugh ? run thē vvalke ? & be beaten of thine enemie , thē be kissed of thy friend ? hadst thou rather watch two nights , thē sleep one ? vvorke ten dayes , then play one ? and fast ten vveekes thē fare vvel one ? I do not beleeue thee , or els beleeue thee to be mad . Hadst thou rather ride a hard trotter , thē an ambler ? sit on a Pitchforke thē a pillovv ? lie on a board thē a bed ? if thy vvil so much exceed thy vvit , I shall neuer take thee for a reasonable Creature ; & therfore murmure not at ease , vvhich to nature is so cōfortable , & to reason so acceptable : but doest thou murmur at ease in others , & pain in thy self ? others may haue the ease thou wātest , & thou the ease they cannot haue : they may sit while thou walkest , but perhaps walke whē thou sleepest : they may haue health , & thou sicknesse , yet thy conscience may be at better quiet : they may fare delicately , & thou hardly , yet thy stomacke may disgest better : they may possesse more , yet thou be better contented . Murmure not therefore at ease , either in thy selfe , or other , for it is a blessing sooner lost then gottē ; & murmuring is the worke of malice , which once setled in the minde , ouerthrowes more then bodie , when many kinds of diseases robbe the heart of all ease . Again , dar'st thou murmure at thy King , that hee is not in all thinges to thy minde : Traitor vnto God and man , hovv canst thou excuse thy villany ? whē if thou canst cōsider his worth , & confesse his worthynesse , thou wilt hate thine ovvne soule , to cōceiue one discontentiue thought of his Maiestie , or the least thought of hurt to his sacred person : but , base wretch that thou art , to grudge at that vvhich thou canst not iudge off , or to inioy that thou art not vvorthy off : for , if thy King vvere vnlearned , it might be a sorrovve to thy heart ; if irreligious , a torment to thy soule ; if of base linage , it might haue bin a vvound to thyne Honor ; if Tiranously minded , a vvoe to thy comfort ▪ if vvickedly inclined , a plague to thy patience : but of a Royall Lyne , from the Loynes of many Kinges , and frō one Kingdome to an other , or rather by vniting of Kingdomes to make a Monarchie of peace , to the admiration of the vvorld , so profoundly read in the rules of best learning , and so vvell Linguist in the most necessary Languages , as are gratious in his person , and Maiesticall in his place ; in Religion , so zelous ; in disposition , so vertuous ; in mercie , so gracious ; as both for his presence and his spirit , is vvorthy to be honored , honorably loued , and louingly serued . Hovv canst thou be so vile of disposition , or senceles of good , as to murmure at so great a blessing , as God hath giuē thee in his gouernmēt ? Doest thou murmure at his pleasures , and loue the same thy selfe ? Doeth he hunt and delight in Dogges ? better to nourish dogs , vvho shevv but their natures , and vvill bee at their Masters Seruice , then to maintain those monsters of men , that cōtrary to the nature of men , vvill murmure at the welfare of their Master . Again , hadst thou a King vvithout a Queene , thou mightst fear trouble through vvant of Issue , but so gracious a Queene , and the mother of so blessed Children , so Princely a Progenie , as may glad the hearts of the vvhole Kingdome ; Villain to thine owne Soule , that vvilt murmure at these Comforts , and not be thankefull for these blessings ? Did he hunt thine heires from their possessiōs ? their heads from their shoulders ? thy Preachers from their Churches ? or thy Cities from their Liberties ? then hadst thou cause to grieue , but hast no vvarrant to murmure : but hee that seeketh thy safetie , continueth thy peace , encreaseth thy plentie , and maintayneth thy pleasure , is louing to thee , reioyceth in thy loue , and deserues to be loued of thee , What deuill can possesse thee , that such a King cānot please thee ? wouldst thou haue him gouerned by thee , vvho gouernes the vvhole Kingdome besides thee ? thou art foolish , vvho being a Subiect , vvouldest bee a King ; and how canst thou thinke to gouerne , vvhen thou hast not learned to be gouerned ? Againe , canst thou by thy policie vnite kingdōs , as he hath don by his person ? art thou so wel allied as to link such loue in royall lines ? No , thou art not ; and if thou vvert ▪ yet God hath made thee a Subiect , and therefore make not thy selfe a rebell , but rather learne hovv to obey his vvill , then to murmure at his gouernment : be thankefull to God for the much good in him , and murmure not at the euill that thou misconceiuest in him ; least God seeing thy vilenesse , bring thy villany to light , and vvith a shamefull death giue thee the due of thy desert : leaue then to murmure at him , and be thankfull for him , murmure not at his greatnesse , considering his goodnesse ; nor at his case , for thou knovvest not his care ; nor at his vvealth , cōsidering his vvorthinesse ; nor at his povver , considering his vvisdom : but loue him , serue him , honour him , and obey him , and be thankfull to the Maiesty of the heauens , that thou mayest behold such a Maiesty on Earth : Murmure not at the tribute thou payest him , for all thou hast is too little for his seruice : Murmure not at the Seruice thou dost him , for thou canst neuer doe him ynough for his vvorthines : Murmure not at thy vvant of his bountie , least he see more thy greedinesse then good vvil . In summe , murmure not at him , not any thing that may dislike thee in him , least God making him see thy vvickednes , thy life make ansvver for thy folly , vvhile continuing in thy murmuring till thy death , it carry thee headlong to the deuill . Againe , dost thou murmure at the Counsel , either for the povver of their authoritie , the honour of their place , or the State of their possessions ? Looke backe into thy selfe , and bee ashamed of thy sinne : Is not the care of the Commonwealth the course of Iustice , the quiet of the state , and the preseruation of the vvhole Kingdome vnder God and his Maiestie , in the hands of those Magistrats , vvhose vvisdome deserueth honour , vvhose care deserueth praise , vvhose labour deferueth vvealth , and vvhose vvil deserueth obedience ; and canst thou ( sencelesse wretch ) fretting in melancholy , not able to discerne the least part of their perfectiōs , offend thy God , thy King , thy State , yea , thy selfe , and thine owne Soule , vvith the wicked humor of Ingratitude ? vvhich growne out of Ignorance , bred in Enuie , growes vp in Ambition , & shall die in Ignominie : Fie vpon thy inhumane Nature ; that , abiding nothing that is good , doest onely seede vpon Euill : vvho being carelesse of order , vvouldest haue no Law ; dissolute in thy vvill , vvilt endure no Counsaile ; fond in thy vvit , makest no reckoning of Wisedome : and not knowing the labour of Studie , vvouldest allow nothing for the Studient . Oh vvhat a cōmon vvoe would be in that commonvvealth , vvhere thou shouldest haue power to appoint Gouernours ? but leaue thy murmuring at them , reuerence them in their places , honor them in their vvisedomes , loue them in their vertues , serue them in their worthinesse , and obey them in their commaunds : least finding thy condition , they take order vvith thy disposition , vvhen to vveede out such a venemous Serpent , is necessary for the preseruing of better spirits : for Murmurers are like to Mutiners , vvhere one cursed villaine may be the ruine of a whole Camp ; for which , if there vvere not Martiall Lawe , there vvere no life for the Souldior , nor honour in Armes . Againe , doest thou murmure at the Lawyer ? oh vvitlesse creature , how wouldest thou keepe thy Landes , Goods , or Houses ? if there vvere no Law to maintaine thy right ? How wouldest thou haue thy vvrongs redressed , if there vvere no power of Iustice ? How should the King gouerne , and the Subiect bee gouerned , but by the course of Lawe ? And are not the Iudges , Counsellors , and true Administers of the Law , rather to bee honoured for their learning , and rewarded for their labours , then to bee murmured at for their seruice : But liue thou within the limits of the Law , and thou vvilt not murmure at their Lawes : For vvho hateth the Iudge but the Theefe , the Traytor , the Cosener , or the Consumer ? and therefore murmure at thy selfe , and leaue murmuring at Lawyers . Againe , doest thou murmure at the vvord of God ? oh , child of the diuell ? is it not the key of Grace , that openeth the gate of heauen ? and the lamp of Loue that giues light vnto the way of life ? Is it not the comfort of the heart ? and the food of the Soule ? and being a Iewell of such price , as all the vvorld cānot purchase ; a Treasure of that vvorth , that all the vvorld cannot value : a ioy of that Nature , that dooth rauish the Soules of the Elect : What shall I say to thee ? But , thou art a Deuill incarnate , that so farre from the Spirit of Grace , canst bee vngratefull for so gracious a blessing , or murmure at so glorious a gift of Mercie : for to scorue the tidings of Saluation , is to hasten the vvay vnto Damnation ? Note , vvhat it is to murmure , and the estate of Murmurers . Coran , Dathan , and Abiram , murmured at Moses : what became of them ? The earth swallowed them . Pharaoh murmured at the Israelites : What vvas his reward ? Drowned vvith all his hoast in the red Sea. Josephs brethren murmured at him : what became of them ? They became all his Seruants . Saule murmured at Dauids tenne thousands : What vvas his end ? Hee killed himselfe . Iudas murmured at the Boxe of Oyle , that vvas poured on Christs head : What vvas his reward ? Hee hanged himselfe . Take heede therefore , murmure not at the Word , nor at the will of God , least thy reward bee vvith the Reprobate : For if thou murmure at God , the Deuill vvill meete vvith thee ; if thou scorne the Word of God , vvickednesse vvill follow thee ; if thou murmure at the grace of God , Hell vvill gape to receiue thee . Leaue therefore thy murmuring at God , his Word , his Grace , or his Will , least vvith Lucifer , thou bee throwne out of Heauen with Caine bee accursed , or vvith Esau loose thy blessings on the Earth ; and learne vvith Abell to serue God , vvith Abraham to beleeue in God , vvith Dauid to loue God , vvith Iob to feare God , with Moyses to honour God , and vvith Christ to obey God ; and then shall the Deuill haue no power to make thee murmure at God. But let me come to particulars ; Doest thou murmure at this man , or that man , for this cause , or that cause ? Oh vnhappie vvretch , how doest thou trouble thy selfe ? Call thy wits a little better together , and vveigh thy thoughts in an euen Ballance : If thou bee vviser then another , that is preferred before thee , it may bee hee is more Honourable : If thou bee more Noble , hee may bee more vvise : If thou more learned , hee more valiant : If thou more valiant , hee more vvealthie : If thou more vvealthy , hee more honest ; If thou hast a good face , hee may haue a better body ; if thou a good body , he a better face ; if thou a good face and body , he a better vvit ; if thou a better vvit , he a better heart ; if thou an honest heart , yet hee a more gracious Soule : and therefore , if another be aduaunced , and thou displaced , haue patience , and murmure not ; for , vvhat knowest thou vvhether God vvill blesse his humilitie , and correct thy pride , or make him swell till hee burst , and make a triall of thy loue in the truth of thy patience ▪ But let me see vvith thy murmuring , vvhat manner of man hee should be , vvhom thou wouldest haue moulded to thy minde ; if thou be tall of stature , then lesse then thou , are dwarfes ; if low of stature , thē tall men are Cyants ; if of a meane stature , then that is the best proportion : So that except all bee as thou art , thou vvilt find fault vvith God in his Creation , or Nature in her Generation , or ( through lacke of vvit ) vvith Fortune , in her Indiscretion , in preferring such before thee , as thou fondly thinkest should come behind thee : when , if thou haddest thine owne eyes , thou shouldest see in the glasse of Truth so many imperfections in thy selfe , as in the conceit of vnworthinesse , might make thee rather come behind many , then goe before any , and rather grieue at thy selfe , then murmure at an other : art thou finical & fantasticall ? and wouldst haue a man to thine owne mind ? what manner of man shall he be ? shaped like a picture ? countenanced like a Bride ? and talke like a Player ? oh fine foole , how thou wouldest haue the signe of a man stand for a man ? and if thou be such a one , wouldest thou haue all like thy selfe ? alas , the world is so full of fooles alreadie , that there is no need of any more of them : and therefore leaue thy murmuring , and fal to some beter reckoning , least thy account come to worse then nothing , and while thou art wise in thine owne conceit , there may bee more hope of a foole then of thee : doest thou murmure to see a Traueller aduanced for his vertue , while thou art forgotten for thy seruice ? perhaps his knowledge is more worth then thy toile , and he hath taken paines , while thou hast liued at ease : art thou a Trauailer , and murmurest at the home seruant ? perhaps , hee hath gotten more wealth at home , then thou abroad , and taken paines at home , while thou hast had pleasure abroad ; and what knovvest thou , vvhether the vvisedome of State , or rather the vvill of God , thinke it necessarie , to make a Tryall of thy condition , ere they revvarde thy deserts : for aduancement may bee a hurt to Ambition , vvhile humilitie begins her heauen in this vvorld . Murmure not therefore at the good of another , nor grieue at the nature of thine own Crosse : for , vvhen patience doth kindly carry it , it is the best badge of a Christian ; and doest thou murmure to see one of base Linage come to honour , vvhile thou liuest in disgrace ? Take heed that hee bee not the first , and thou the last of a Noble House , and rather learne to thriue by his vertue , then continue thy decay by thine owne folly . In summe , leaue thy murmuring at the vvill of God , or the vvelfare of any man , or at thine owne vvoe ; for God hath his vvoorking in all things , and if thou vvilt be one of his children , thou must louingly allow of vvhat hee doth . But now , as to men , let me a little speake to vvomen . Doest thou being faire , murmure at the preferment of a foule one , and in thy rage call her foule dowde ? Alas , thinke Fortune had neede to doe somewhat for her , vvhen Nature is so little her friend . Againe , it may bee her inward vertue might be of more worth then thy forced Beautie . Art thou a foule one ? and murmurest at the aduancement of a faire creature ? and in distemper of thy braine , call her Picture ? Fie vpon thee , so shalt thou be no mans meate , foule vvithout and vvithin : for the euill mind is more foule , then the blackest face ; and if shee bee vertuous vvith her beauty , is shee not then vvorthie of Honor ? Againe , dost thou murmure at the vvealth of another , vvhile thou art in pouertie ? vvhy , it may bee thou knovvest not hovv she gets it , & perhaps , thy selfe vvouldest not so haue it : doest thou murmure , that she is more suedto by Louers ? vvhy , it may be she is loued for change , and thou for choise : doest thou murmure at her that hath more children then thou ? perhaps thou deseruest them not , or it may be God doth not blesse thee to thy desire . Rather pray therefore then murmure , least a vvorse plague befall thee : doest thou murmure to see a vvicked vvench put thee dovvn in preferment ? vvhat doest thou knovv vvhether she haue her heauen in this vvorld , vvhich thou seekest not , or begin her hell , ere she came at it ? againe , it may be , her repentance may be gratious , vvhen thy pride may be odious : And therfore be she fair or foule ; vvise , or fond ; vvealthie or poore ; godly , or vvicked , Murmure not at any vvhatsoeuer shee bee , in vvhat state soeuer thou thy selfe be : least , in fretting at others fortune , thou consume thy selfe vvith follie , vvhile he that hateth the grudging heart , plague home the Spirite of mallice : but leauing vvomen as the vveaker vessels , let mee come againe to men , that should haue the stronger spirits , to withstand the power of Impatience . Note , I say , first of murmuring , how many incontieniences doe grow to the Murmurer himselfe , and then , to other , by his meanes ; and againe , how great are the comforts of the contrary : Murmuring troubleth the minde , disquiets the heart , distempereth the bodie , and sometime breedes the consumption of the purse ; it forgetteth reason , abuseth nature , sheweth disloialty , displeaseth a friend , and doth purchase an enemie : it carrieth vvit from reason , Reason from Grace , and Nature from her selfe , yea & sometime , man , euen from God to the Deuill : while patiēce enduring those perplexities , that put reason to his best power ; nature is not distempered , reason not abused , grace is embraced , and God is truely honoured , the league of amitie is continued , the law of nature is not broken ; Truth is gratious , and the soule is blessed , where the body is not distempered , nor the mind disturbed , the creature is most able to giue glory to his Creator : Note then the differences of these two natures : Murmuring , a horrible vice , and patience a heauenly vertue ; doe but think on the fruit of murmuring , and the condition , and end of murmurers , rages , frettings , wars , death , pouertie , sicknes , and sorrovv , vvhile the child is sicke of the father , the vvife of the husband , the brother of the sister , and one friend of another ; vvhat massacre , or murther hath there grovvne , but through the inuention of murmuring , and the malice of murmurers ? looke a little , if thou bee a murmurer , of vvhat kind thou art , and vvho thou art , and so note the condition of thy nature , or nature of thy condition . If thou be a man , and murmurest against God , thou art a Deuill ; if thou bee a Subiect , and murmure against thy King , thou art a Rebell ; if thou bee a Sonne and murmure against thy father , thou shewest a bastards nature ▪ If thou murmure against thy Brother , an vnkind nature ; if against thy friend , an vnthankfull nature ; if against an honest man , an vnhonest nature ; if against a foole , an vnwise nature ; if against a Christian , a hethenish nature ; if against a man , a dogged nature . Thus thou seest by murmuring what thou shalt bee esteemed of God and man , yea , and in thine ovvne conscience , of thy selfe , either a Foole , a Knaue , a Heathen , a Bastard , a Traytor , a Dogge , of a Deuill : and doest thou then see the villanous nature and condition of this qualitie , and wilt not leaue it ? take heede least if thou continue in it , that God vvil hate thee for it , doe not send thee to the deuill with it , who was the first Author , and is the continual nourisher of it . Againe thinke with thy selfe , when another man shall find thee in thy murmuring , either by thy discōtentiue countenance , or soletarie delight , sequestring thy selfe from men , to conuerse with the Aire , hovv great will be thy shame to heare the skoffings , that will fall vpon thy follie ? Some will say thou art mad , other , thou art foolish , another thou art dogged , but noe man , that thou art either wise , kind , or well in thy wits : Againe , when thou hast reuealed thy folly to the world , and fretted thy selfe to the heart , with the humor of an euill spirit , and yet art neuer the better any way , but manie way a greate deale the worse , what canst thou thinke of thy selfe ? but fret that thou didest fret ? blush at thy shame ? grieue at thy follie , and murmure at thy selfe , that thou didst murmure at thy selfe or any other , while repentāce which bringeth sorrow , is the best fruit of such a frenzie : Againe , when thou shalt see the patience of another blessed , and thy murmuring accursed , an others patience enriched , and thy impatience impouerished , an others patience aduanced , & thy murmuring disgraced , what canst thou thinke of it ? but a Canker eating into thy Soule worse then any Fistula in thy fleshe : pray then to the heauenly Surgeon for a plaster of patience , with the oyle of true repentance to cure thee of this disease , which in the worlde , at least , by all the Arte of the Worlde is Incurable : wilt thou see a murmurer truely discribed ? that thou maiest the better hate to bee his image : Behold his Eyes , like a hogge , euer bent downewards as if he were looking into Hell : his cheekes like an Anathomie , where the fleshe from the bones doth fall , with fretting ; his browes euer wrinckled with frownes , to shew the distemper of his vnquiet Braine ; his lippes euer puld inward , as if Enuie would speake , and durst not ; his tongue , like the sting of a Serpent , which vttereth nothing but poison ; his voice , like the hissing of an Adder , which maketh musique but for hell ; his necke , like a weake piller , whereon his head stands tottering , and readie to fall ; his breast like an impostume , that is ready to burst with corruption ; & his heart , the Anuile wheron the deuill frames his fireworke ; his body a Trunk where Sinne hath layed vp her store ; his handes like clawes , that catch at the world ; and his feete like vvinges , that make hast vnto hell : Now , doest thou behold this ougly sight ? and doest not feare to bee such a monster ? what shall I then say vnto thee , but if God haue giuen thee ouer to a reprobate sence , there is no reason to be had with thee , nor hope of recouery to bee had of thee ; but , hoping a little better in thee , let me goe a little further with thee : The vvorde of God saith Beati pacifici , blessed are the peace makers , thinke then it is a vvorke of the Deuill to sovv sedition , and being at vvar vvith thy selfe ; hovv canst thou be at peace vvith the vvorld , except it bee the good vvarre betvvixt the spirite and the flesh , vvhere the peace of conscience ouercomes the trouble of conceit ; by patience is the Soule possest , vvhich is more vvorth then the vvhole vvorld , and by murmuring is the soule lost , vvhich gon , vvhat is the gaine of the vvorld ? Is it not strange that all the parts and the members of the bodie , can so vvell agree togither , and one doe seruice to another , and men , the parts and members of a common-vvealth , should be so at variance among themselues ? In the body of man , if the head ake , the heart is not vvell , if the Eye be hurt , the head is distempered , the heart is diseased , and all the body is the vvorse , if the finger bee hurt , the head vvill seeke to help it , the heart hath a feeling of it , the Eye vvil pittie it , and the feete vvill goe for ease for it ; if the foote bee hurt , the Head , Heart , and Hands will seeke for cure of it , while the Eye vvill be carefull to look to the dressing of it ; If the body bee diseased , the head vvith all the members vvill labour for the helpe of it , that all parts being in their perfect state , the mind or Soule may be at rest : & if in this priuate body of man , all things bee brought vnto this good order , vvhat shame is it for a common-vvealth , that men should bee so out of order ? and vvhile all parts of the bodie are at the seruice of the head , to the great peace of the heart , vvhy should not all Subiects ioyne togither in vnity of seruice to their King , to the greate and blessed peace of the vvhole Kingdome ? God made all the parts of the bodie for the Soule , and vvith the Soule to serue him , and all the Subiects in a Kingdome to serue their King , and with their King to serue him . If the head of the bodie ake , vvill not the heart bee greatly greeued ? and euerie part feele his part of the paine of it ? and shall a King in his vvill bee displeased , and the hearte of his kingdome , the heartes of his Subiects , not haue a feeling of it ? Canne the Eye of the bodie bee hurt , or greeued , and neither the head , heart , nor any other member bee touched vvith the paine of it ? No more can the Counsell , the Eye of the common vvealth bee disturbed ; but the King vvill find it , and the Common-vvealth vvill feel it ; can the hand , the Artificer , bee hurt ? but the common-vvealth vvill find the lacke of it , the Eye with pittie vvil behold it , and the head vvith the eye , the King vvith the Counsell take care for the help of it ? Can the labourer , the foote be vvounded ? but the body of the State vvill feele it , the head be carefull , the eye searchfull , and the hand bee painfull in the cure of it ? and the common-vvealth ? the body bee diseased , but the King , his Counsell , and euerie true Subiect , vvill put to his hand for the helpe of it ? hovv then grovves this murmuring at the vvill of God in men ? vvhile there is such an agreement of the parts in man , but only by the vvorke of the deuill in man , to bring him from God and the vvorlde , to vvorke against himselfe , his seruice in the vvorld , and as hee taught it first our parēts to bring them out of paradise , so he vvil as many as he can of their posterity , to lead them into Hell : But let mee tell thee , it is better that a fevv murmurers perish vvith their murmuring , then a vvhole kingdome perish vvith their mallice : In the holy vvord I find vvritten ; If thine Eye offend thee , pull it out ; if thy hand offend thee , cut it off : better to enter into heauen vvith one hand , or one eye , then vvith both into hell . But all this vvhile , there is nothing spokē of the head , that must still bee kept on : so if a great man , or a meane man do offēd , cut him off , or cut him short , that he may do no hurt ; for better a mēber perish , thē the head or the hart should ake , then either the King , or the common-vvealth should bee diseased : but for the King hovvsoeuer hee bee disposed , hee must not bee disturbed : for it is vvritten , Touch not mine annointed , and do my Prophets no harme : againe , transgressiō is as the sin of vvitchcraft ; and vvhat greater transgression , then Rebellion ? vvhich chiefly hath her breeding in murmuring . If thou hast a cruell & vvicked King , take him for a punishment , and pray for his amendment ; but murmure not at his povver : but if thou hast a good King , take him as a blessing ; and hauing a good King , be thankful to God for him , & for his prosperity , serue him , loue him , & obey him , & hate thy selfe to haue a thought of murmuring against him , or any thing cōmanded by him : looke a little more into thy glasse of murmuring , & see ( if at last thou hast the least sparke of Gods grace ) vvhat thou beholdest : God in the heauēs frowning upon thee , his angels either murmuring for thee , or readie to plague thee , his seruants on the Earth hating thee , and the deuill vvith his angells readie to distroy thee ; thy Soule made a Receptacle of sinne , thy mind made a torment to thy Soule , thy heart made a greefe to thy bodie , and euerie part of thy bodie out of temper : while being driuen out of the ground of all goodnesse , Thou shalt bee left in the maze of al wickednesse , where , loosing the hope of all cōfort , thou shalt liue in the hell of all miserie ; yet , a little look further into thy selfe , and into the vilenesse of thy nature , if it be touched with that infection : If the weather please thee not , thou wilt murmure at the heauens : if the world goe not with thee , thou willt murmure at the vvorlde ; if thy friend rebuke thee , thou vvllt murmure at his care of thee : If thine enemy ouercome thee , thou wilt murmure at his fortune ; If thy Father bee aged , thou wilt murmure at his life ; If thy brother be thine elder , thou wilt murmure at his Inheritance ; If thy neighbour grow rich , thou wilt murmure at his prosperitie ; If a Stranger bee fauored , thou wilt murmure at his grace , if a Begger bee releeued , thou wilt murmure at his Almes ; and if a godly man bee beloued , thou wilt murmure at Gods blessing ; If thou bee a woman , or a womanish man , then how many things will trouble thee ? thou wilt murmure at fashions , coulors , toies , tricks , words , gestures , and a world of such idle fancies , whē alwaies the other is the best , & nothing pleaseth but variety : hee , or shee hath the best face , the best eye , the best hand , the best legge , the best body , or the best foote , speakes best , hath the best countenance , sings best , dances best , rides best , feeds fineliest , goes gaiest , hath apparrell the best made , and weares it best : & thus all is best wher there is none good ; while , that , which should be best , serues God best , is not spokē of : for indeed , who serueth God best , will not let his spirit be led away with these idle humors : dost thou thē see the follie of this murmuring , and the hurt of so great a poyson ? seeke the cure of it by prayer , & keep it from thee by patience ; least if it once get hold of thy heart , it breed a cureles woūd in thy Soule : If thou be a king , keepe thy seate ; If a Courtier , know thy place ; if a Scholler plie thy booke ; if a Souldier , look to thine honor ; If a marchāt , take thy fortune ; if a farmer follow thy plough ; if a beggar , fal to prayer ▪ but murmur not , oh King , if thou be not an Emperor ; nor courtier if thou haue not grace ; nor Scholler if thou want preferment ; nor Souldier if thou loose thy day ; nor Marchāt , if thou loose goods ; nor farmer , if thou lose thy labor ; nor beggar if thou get bare alms : but murmuring at Gods wil ; take heede that thou loose not thine owne soule , more precious to thee , then the whole world : Is it not strange to see the insensible Creatures , what a concord there is , and among the Creatures of best sence , so great a disagreement : In musique the Treble is the highest , and the base the lowest ; the Tenor and Counter-Tenor betvveen thē : yet though euery one hath his place , when they are in their full concord , they make the sweetest harmony : so in a Kingdome : a King is the highest , and the labourer the lovvest : ( I leaue out the Beggar as an vnnecessary member , but only for the exercise of Charity ) bur , betwixt the King and the labourer , there are Counsailers , Preachers , Lawyers , Souldiars , Marchants , and Artificers , and when all these togither in due allegeance to their King , doe true seruice vnto God , hovv excellent a musique is the sound of peace in such a kingdom : If the strings be out of tune , the musique will be harsh , and if the people bee out of order , the State cannot be in peace : Thinke then , if among these insēsible Creatures be such an vnity as is most pleasing , why should not among men bee so great an vnion ? that may bee as well pleasing as profitable ? wee canne bee contented with the gold of India , the Sugar of Barbary , the oyle of Candie , the Spices of Spaine , the vvine of France , and so , of other things , of other Countries , to mingle with our owne , to make a medicine for the comfort or preseruatiue of our bodies , & can we not vnite vnto our selues , a people so like our selues , & so neer vnto our selues , as might be to vs as our selues ; if we vvould looke vvith the eye of Charity , vvhat blessing doth grovv of loue : nothing did part our land , but a little vvater , and nothing can part our loue , but a little vvill : but , as it may be said , of a more wilfull then wise man , who hauing a coat made all of one peece , vvas persvvaded by a Tailor to haue it cut in peeces , and vveare guardes vpon the seames ; onely to set himselfe on vvorke , and make againe of the shreds , giuing that part another name , then before it had , that was nevv set on againe ; So , I may say , this Land , once all one , and by vvhat perswasion , I know not cut off , was so lōg guarded , that it seemed to bee of some other stuffe , then the vvhole peece , till it pleased God by the great power of his Grace , in the Maiestie of our King to bring both Landes againe into one : vvhich done , it now resteth , that the guards takē away , no seame of disseuering be to be seen ▪ but , the Lands , as one peece of Earth , enlarging the boūds of one Kingdom , the people be vnited in that vniō , that , to auoid ambition , there be no dissention , and to maintaine an vnitie , there be no Rebellion : for , as there is one God , one King , and one kingdome : so , there should bee one law , one loue , and one life , one voice , one heart , and one people : to the cōtradictiō wherof , whē all reasons are alleadged , it is only lacke of loue , that hindereth the heauen of such a happines ; But , what euer thou bee , that murmurest at this motion , let me say vnto thee , as the poore woman of Ireland sayes to her dead husband : oh man , man , why didst thou die ? Thou hadst Cowes , and thou hadst a horse ; thou hadst a sword , and a shirt of male , and vvhy vvouldest thou die ? so thou hast a good King , a sweet Country , a kind people , and a blessed peace , and vvhy doest thou murmure ? doest thou feare to haue many friends ? then get the among enemies , art thou vnwilling to haue many neighbours ? then liue among strangers : dost thou loue no Christians , then dvvell among Turkes ; or doest thou loue no men ? then liue among Deuills ; or dost thou loue no house but home ? make thy graue in thy bed ; vvilt thou eate no meate but milke ? Baby , sucke thy dambe , till thou bee a dizard ; vvilt thou abide no company , but thine one kindred ? lap thy selfe in thy mothers apron ; or doest thou doubt thy neighbour vvill ouerthrovv thee ? oh , let not lacke of witte so deceiue thee : for if God hath not so blest thee , as to make thee know what is good for thee , thou needest nothing more then thy selfe to vndoe thee : consider therefore of euery thing , if thou canst in the best kind , and make thy construction vvith that care , that God first may bee pleased , thy King obeyed , thy Country benefited , and thy selfe contented : That vvhen the murmuring of malice is put avvay , and patience hath brought peace into thy bosome , thy hart may find the happines of that blessing , that thy Soule may be ioyfull to behold vvhere , the people vnited , God is serued , the Kingdome preserued , & the State most blessed , vvhere such a peace is applauded . The Seas are a vvall vnto our Earth , to keep it from the enimies , & shall vve vvithin our land be at vvarres vvithin our selues ? or shall vvee make a shevv of loue in our vvords , and harbour hatred in our hearts ? or shall vve be borne neighbours , & liue as strangers ? God forbid : let not the Deuil so vvorke among the seruantes of God , to crosse the course of such a peace , as is so much to Gods glory : Our heuēly master Christ Iesus king of kings , vvare his coat vvithout a Seame , and our King vvould haue his Kingdom vvithout a Seuerance : It is the vvorde of Christ ; that vvhen a kingdom is deuided in it selfe , it cannot stand : If therefore vvee will bee christiās ; we must follow Christ ; if vve will be subiects , we must obey our King ; if vvee vvill stand , vvee must not bee deuided : For example , to alleadge ancient histories offorrain Princes , at least a farre of is needles , when neere hand before our Eyes that cannot deceiue our Iudgements : hovv grevv the vvars in the Low Countries ? but , by the malice of murmurers ? hovv grevv the massacres in France ? but , by the deuision of the Princes , and noble houses ; and hovv many broyles haue beene betvvixt Scotland & vs , vvhile vvee vvere in the State of deuision ? Againe , hovv strong are the States vvhere they are vnited in the Lovv Coūtries , hovv is France inriched by his peace ? and hovv are vve ; or at least may bee vvith GODS blessing strengthened by this vnion ? Esope telleth a prettie tale to this purpose : That a Father hauing many sonnes often disagreeing , and as it vvere at iarre one vvith another , called them before him , and caused euery one to bring vnto him , a little rod , or vvand , vvhich taken of them , he bound them vp altogither in one bundel ; vvhich made fast vvith a bād , he gaue to euery one of his sons , one after another to breake ; vvhich they found impossible : whereupon the Father tooke out euerie rod , and gaue one to each one of his sonnes to breake , which was quicklie performed : Now quoth the father , ye see my sōnes of vvhat a strength is loue , vvher heartes are vnited togither ; for as these vvandes , so are yee ; strong vvhen yee are knit togither in the band of brotherly loue , & vveake and to be broken , vvhen you are diuided one from another ▪ Surelie so it may be said of vs : If vve be vnited , and knitte togither in the band of brotherlie loue , our strength vvill be great to vvithstand our enimies ; but if vve fall at variance , vvhat peace can continue betvvixt vs ? nay vvhat hurt shal vve do vnto our selues , vvhile the enimie vvill be ready to inuade vs ? It is vvritten . O quam bonum et iucundū ? fratres concordare in vnum ? Oh hovv blessed a thing it is bretheren to agree in vnitie ? Are vve not all bretheren in Christ ? bretheren in respect of our neere birth ? bretheren in our language ? & is it not possible for our liues to make vs bretheren in loues ? Let vs see , vvher is the fault , vvhat is the cause ? and vvhy it should take place ? In God ? no , hee loueth vnity : In the King ? no , hee vvould haue an Vnion : In the Subiectes ? noe , they vvould bee obedient to their King : In the Godlie ? noe , they vvould bee obedient to GODS vvill : In vvhome then ? Surely in none , except in some priuate persons for some priuate causes , to some priuate endes : oh then those priuate persons are not for the publique vveale : those priuate causes for no common good , and those priuate ends , are for no godly end , but hoping there are none such : I speake to none , but vvish all vvell , that all may be vvell : Is not our Religion all one ? and shall vvee differ in Ceremonies ? and if our Lavves vvere all one , should vve differ in the execution ? our earth all as one , and shall vvee then differ in nature ? vvhat should bee the cause ? but this ; vvhile God is vvorking , and the King is vvilling , the Deuill is stirring , and man is striuing , but , God is aboue the Deuil , and a King is aboue his kingdome ; and vvhile God is God , and the King gratious , though the Deuill bee vvicked , let not man bee vvilfull . A true loues knot is long in knitting , vvhen both endes must meete in the middest : but once vvell put togither , it is both faire and fast : So , an vnion of people is long a vvorking , but once sast lincked in Ioue , vvhere farre and neere meet in the middest of a good mind , hovv beautiful is such a peace , vvhere the people are so blessed ? let then al murmurers be shut out from the sound of such a Parlee , vvhere vvisedome may shevv her grace in the worke of such a worth for it must bee that our King ▪ and theirs , is , and must be ( and euer I pray God be ) al one : our Religion and theirs one : and our lavves and theirs all one : els how can there be loue in our liues ? or vnion in our hearts ? but I hope , that God who did create our hearts by his will , will so vvorke our hearts to his will , that wee shall not swarue from his will : but as hee hath made all into one kingdome ; so vve shall bee all as one people , vvith one voice praising God , vvith one heart seruing one King , and vvith one loue , embrasing one another : Many little birdes flie togither in one flocke , many kindes of cattell feed in one field : many kinde of sheepe lie togither in one fold , and shall tvvo neighbour borne Children , not liue togither in one loue ? God forbid : It is an old saying , and euer true , Concordia paruae res crescunt , discordia maxima dilabuntur : by Concord small things proue greate , by discord the greatest doe decay : Tvvo little Landes haue made a greate Kingdome , and shall one great people bee little in loue ? God forbid : The Landes vvere deuided , and are vnited ; and if the people may bee vnited , let them not be diuided : Diuision breeds Ambition , Emulation , and faction , and vvhat are the fruits of these frenzies ? hovv many kingdomes to their great misery haue tasted ? but vniō breeds loue Charitie , & faith , of vvhich blessings vvhat are the benefits , vvhat kingdome may not bee glad to tast ? A King of a deuided peopl● may haue povver in his svvord , but a king of vnion may reioyce in his Scepter : a people deuided may be grieuous to themselues , but a people vnited may be pleasing to God : diuision is the cause of distruction , and vnion of Comfort : compare them then togither , & see vvhich is to be accepted : diuisiō breeds feare , and ielouzie ; vnion breeds the resolution and trust : diuision breeds warre and hatred ; vnion breeds peace and loue : diuision breeds dearth , and danger ; vnion plentie , and safety ; diuision breeds malice and murther : vnion breeds loue , and life : diuision breeds greefe and sorrow , vnion breeds mirth and Comfort : Thinke then vpon the venom of the one , and the vertue of the other ; and if thou bee not senceles of thine owne good , runne not headlong vpon thine own ill : desire not rather to liue in the hatefull nature of diuision , then to bee lincked in the liuely knot of vnion ; least the God of loue that offers it , and thy louing King , that desireth it , both hate thee for refusing it , and deny thee it vvhen thou vvouldest haue it : The Tovver of Babell could not be builded , vvhen the languages vvere diuided : Jerusalem vvent to ruine vvhen the Princes vvere diuided , Rome hath beene shaken since Religon hath beene diuided : Antwerpe hath beene decayed , since the States vvere diuided : France vvas impouerished , vvhen the Nobles were diuided , and England vvas disturbed , when Scotland vvas diuided : but now the Landes all bearing one name , the Subiects all one , vnder one King , the laws all tending to one ende ; vvhy should not the Nations bee all one people ? Flowers grovve svveetely together , Trees beare fruite naturally together , fishes swim friendly togither , birdes sing merrily together ; & beasts seede quietly together , and is it not then a shame for men , that vvee cannot liue louingly togither ? a drop of water is weake , but many droppes of water will driue a mill : a sparke of fire is little , but many sparkes together , will make a fire to consume a whole Countrie : a corne of powder is little , but a great many together will discharge a great shot : a herring is a smal fish , but a skull of them together vvill ouerthrovve a prettie ship : a pike is a small vveapon , yet a stande of them being together vvill ouerthrovve a greate Troope : and a man is a small Creature ; but where men hold togither , what monster can hurt them ? So these Lands being one land , and the people one people ; what kingdome can annoy vs ? no let vs say , and if wee bee our selues , to our selues , and in peace among our selues , and that our God be with vs ; neither the world nor the Deuill can hurt vs : But if there bee a breach in a banke , the Sea breaks in , & ouerflowes the Land : If there be a breach in a furnace , the fire will burst out , and burne the whole house : If there bee a breach in a wall , the Bore will breake in , and spoile the whole vineyard : If there be a breach in a hedge , the cattel vvill breake in and eate vp the grasses if there be a breach in a Fort , the enemie will enter and sacke the Towne : if there bee a breach among pikes , the horsemen will breake in , and ruine the Campe : If there bee a breach in a conscience , Corruption will get in , and kil the whole man : & if ther be a breach of loue in the hearts of a people , the enemie will take aduantage for the inuasion of the kingdome . See then , and consider hovv dangerous a thing is diuision , and hovv safe an assurance is vnitie ; and take the best , and leaue the worst ; and so shall none of your pales bee broken ▪ oh heauens , vvhat a hell is this in the vvorld ? that men should liue so like Deuills one one vvith another : It is written that a man should bee as a God vnto man , but it may bee vvriten , that man is , or at least many men are , as Deuills vnto men : vvhere there are so many murmurers , that ther can be fevv louers ; the rich man murmures at the poore man , that hee should dwell nigh him : the Vsurer murmures at the Broker ; that he g●●eth any thing by him : the Tradesman murmures at his neighbour , that he should prosper or thriue by him : the Lavvyer murmures at the Tearme that it is so short a haruest for him : The Marchant murmures at the vvindes , that his Shippes come not home to him : the Souldiour murmures at the pay-maister , that hee keepes his money from him : The Courtier murmures at his Taylor , that his clothes are not fit for him : The Minister he murmures at the Parson , because hee hath the greatest profit from him : and the Parson murmures at the parishe , that they come not to Church to pay their duties to him ; and the parishe murmures at the Parson , that they pay so much , for so little paines from him : the Tenant murmures at his Landlorde for racking of his rent : the Landlord murmures at his Tenant to see him thriue by his husbandry . In summe there is almost no profession or cōdition wherin one doth not murmre at an other ; which murmuring vvhile it continueth in the hearts of people , it vvill suffer loue to haue no life among them : but were the vvorlde purged of that malicious humor , then vvould there bee as great a heauen , as thereis novv a hell in the vvorld ; vvher loue should establish such a Lavv , as should neuer bee broken : among men ; doe not tvvo Eyes in one head , two hands , and two legges to one bodie make one man ; and shall not two lands make one kingdome ; nay more ; doth not one Eye the same that the other , the one hād , the same that the other , and shall not one peple so nere another , as one mēber is to another , haue one vvill , one lavv , and one loue one vvith another ? It is strange it should be so , But I hope it vvill bee othervvise ; God vvill haue his vvill , and our good King his wil : in this vvorke of GODS vvill , euery good Christian , and good Subiect vvill giue his good will to Gods and our Kings will ; against vvhich , if any shall murmure , God vvill bee displeased that the King is not obeyed ; the King vvill bee displeased , that God is not obeyed : the Counsel vvill be displeased , that God and the king are not obeied : the court vvill be agreeued to see God , the king , and Counsell displeased : and the Common-vvealth vvill haue a common vvoe , when all these are displeased . Looke therfore betimes to this busines , detract no time for this dispatch , suppresse the power of the diuels pride ; and plant in your hearts that grace of humilitie , that in the life of true loue , may bring forth fruite to Gods glorie . Breake an Angel , and you shall haue losse in the mettall ; breake a Cup , and you shall haue losse in the fashiō ; breake a Glasse , you shall loose the fashion and the Mettall ; breake wedlocke , and you loose your credit ; breake the Lawe , and loose your libertie ; breake Loue , and loose the joye of life : But keepe your Coyne whole , and it will goe currant ; keepe your Cup vvhole , and you shall saue the fashion ; keepe your Glasse whole , and you shall saue Mettall and fashion ; keep your wedlocke from breaking , and saue your credit from cracking ; keepe your Lawe frō breaking , and your loue will be great ; keepe your Loue from breaking , and your liues vvill be blessed : Diuide the head , & the Braines vvil come out ; diuide the Body , and the heart vvill come out ; diuide the Minde , & the vvittes vvill come out ; diuide the Wittes , and the vvilles come out ; and diuide the Willes , and the vvoes come out ▪ but keepe the head vvhole , and the Braines vvill bee the better ; keepe the Body vvhole , the heart vvill bee the better ; keepe the minde quiet , the vvits will be the better ; keepe the wits in temper , the vvilles be the better , and keepe the wils togither , the common-wealth vvil bee the better . Note therefore in al causes , & al courses , diuision breeds losse , greefe , or sorrovv : and vnion , gain , comfort , and ioy . But I doubt I haue onely spoken of that vvhich vvould quickly bee helped , if the right vvay vvere once found : and therefore it is rather the manner , then the matter , that the vvorkeman cannot agree vpon : but to helpe the ill hammering of a peece of vvorke so vvorth the framing , let mee make a comparison betvvixt a house and a kingdome : There is a greate Landlord will haue a house builded , his will must bee obeyed , hee giues commaund vnto the maister workeman that it bee speedely performed : The maister vvorkeman calls his labourers , and giues order for the worke , euery one in his place , and according to his qualitie : Now vvhen the worke is in hand , Timber , Stone , Bricke , Lime , and water , Iron , Glasse , and Leade , and all is readie that is necessarie : If either the workmen bee vnwilling to worke , or cannot agree vpon their worke , there will no house bee built : But if they fal to their busines , & agree vpon the direction , the ●…ame will soone vp : Euen so the ●ord God , our Sauiour Iesus Christ , the great Landlord , and Lord of Heauen and Earth , will haue a commonwealth builded , and his will must be obeyed : for performance whereof , hee hath giuen commaundement to his seruant , and our Soueraigne Lord King Iames in this world , vnder God onely workemaister of this vnion : where if either the people be vnwilling to yeeld vnto the course or order set dovvne by the workemaister , or among themselues disagree vpon the manner of their working , whatsoeuer faire vvords be vsed , whatsoeuer good reasons be alleadged , or vvhatsoeuer shews of loue be made , there vvill bee no true league of friendship , nor peace for the ground of a Common-wealth : but let the labourers be willing to bee directed by their vvorke-maister , and euery one in his place , shevv the best of his good vvill ; and no doubt , but such a common-vvealth vvill bee built , as while God doth blesse it , all the vvorld shall not hurt it . Consider therefore the inconueniences of diuision , and the comforts and commodities of vnion , and let not selfe-will carrie you away from the course of wisedom : you see , if you vvill still murmure against this so gratious an action , hovv many are against you ? God himselfe , who loues vnitie : the King , vvho vvould haue an vnion : Subiects , that loue their King , and godly men that loue God , for they vvill bee obedient to his will : the flowers of the field are against you , for they will grow togither ; the trees , for they vvill beare fruite togither ; the fishe , for they vvil swim togither ; the birdes , for they vvill sing togither : and is it not then a shame for men , that vve cannot liue and loue togither . For shame then goe from your selues vnto God , and goe from the Deuill vnto man : and in the name of God agree togither ; liue vnder one God , one King , one law , and one loue : so shall God best bee pleased , the King best contented , the kingdome best gouerned , and euery vvise and honest man best satisfied : vvhere liuing in murmuring and malecontent , God may be displeased , the king disquieted , the State disturbed ; and fevv men but some vvay discontented : vvhat shall I say , to conclude , but this ? Is not vnion a kind of marriage , vvrought by the hands of God ? and performed in the hearts of his people ? I say , a marriage where hearts ioyning hands , make two bodies as one : and is not a kind attonement , better then an vnkind diuorcement : let then these tvvo kingdomes be one , marrie them in loue , and since our King is the Father that giues them , vvhile God himselfe doth vnite them , what Subiect or Christian can be so vngratious , as not to giue his consent to them ? yea let mee say vvith the minister in the time of marriage : if any man knovv any lavvfull , or iust cause , vvhy these two Landes , now one kingdome , should not in marriage be lincked vvith such a loue , as may make them liue vnder one lavv , and dvvell togither as one people , let him novv speake , or euer hereafter hold his peace : But if there bee any man , that knovving no iust , nor lavvfull cause , vvill out of the malicious humor of a vvicked spirit , hating to see a heauenly Action vpon earth , murmur at the blessed proceeding of so gratious a worke , the God of peace make him for euer hold his peace . Amen