There is a ghoftly mercy, which is to admonish them that be in errors, to bring them to the right way. Alfo to forgive them that do me wrong, this is a mercy, and a needful mercy; and therefore they that will be cruel-hearted, fo that they will not forgive unto their neighbours their faults, let them not look for mercy at God's hands. For we must be merciful, loving, and comfortable towards our neighbour, if we would obtain mercy at God's hands. But this feemeth now as though malefactors ought not to be put to death, because God requireth mercy. Sir, you must underftand, that God requireth private mercy; fo that private men one fhall forgive unto the other: but it is another matter with Magiftrates; the King, and all other Magistrates, are God's Officers, they must do according as God requireth them to do; he faith, "Thou shalt take away, thou fhalt root out the "ill, (them that be malefactors) from amongst the "people: and fhew not mercy unto them." Here were a place to intreat of miniftring of juftice, if the audience were in office: how Juftices of peace and other Magiftrates ought not to be bolsterers, and bearers with wickedness, but punish the malefactors according to their deferts: "Wo be unto you that juftify the wicked." To justify the wicked, is not to punish them. "He that juf"tifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the

46

juft, they are both wicked and abominable before the Lord." So that Magiftrates ought to punifh fin, and wickedness; but private men, ought to fhew mercy one to another; that is, he ought to forgive when any man hath done him harm, and fo he fhall have mercy at God's hands.

The fixth day's pi'grimage.

"Bleffed be the clean of heart "for they fhall fee God." By thefe words we may perceive that we fhall

not

not look to fee God, to see our felicity, when we be impure of heart. We cannot come to that unfpeakable joy and felicity which God hath prepared for his, except we be clean in our hearts: therefore David, knowing that leffon, faith to God, "O "God, make clean my heart within me." But you will afk, how fhall our hearts be purified and cleanfed? Anfwer, " Through faith the hearts of "men must be cleanfed." They that hear God's word, and believe the fame to be true, and live after it, their hearts fhall be purified, and fo they fhall fee God.

There be two manners of feeing God; as long as we be here, we must see him by faith, by believ ing in him: yonder we fhall fee him face to face, as he is; therefore believe here, and fee there. And fo it appeareth, that he who will not hear God's word, and believe the fame, that his heart may be cleanfed, he fhall not fee God.

"Bleffed be the peace-makers, for they fhall be "called the children of God."

Here is another journey. There is The feventh day's pilgrimage. a law in Deuteronomy, where God faith, "There fhall not be a flanderer or whifperer "amongst you, which are my people." But I tell you this law is not kept: for there be a great many of those which speak fair with their tongues, as though they would creep into a man's bofom, but behind his back, or before other men, they betray him, they lie upon him, and do all they can to bring him out of eftimation: these whisperers be peace-breakers, and not peace-makers; for the devil bringeth his matters to pass through fuch fellows there be many fuch in England, which tell falfe tales of others to promote themselves withal; thefe be the children of the devil, and no doubt the devil hath many children in this world.

I will fhew you an example: There was one Doeg an Idumean, a fervant of Saul the King, he was "The mafter over his heardsmen ;" When David, flying from Saul, came to the Priest Abimelech, very hungry and weary, and therefore defired fome meat, the Prieft having none other bread but "the "holy bread, of that he gave David," and after that he gave him the fword of Goliah, whom David had killed before.

Now this Doeg being there at that time, what doth he? Like a whisperer, or man-pleafer, he goes to Saul the King, and told him, how the Prieft had refreshed David in his journey, and had given unto him the sword of Goliah. Saul hearing that, being in a great fury, fent for all the Priests, and their wives, and their children, and flew them all.

This Doeg now, this whifperer, was not a peacemaker, but a peace-breaker; and therefore not a child of God, but of the devil. I could tell of fome other Doegs, of other whifperers; for I have known fome in my time, but all fuch are the children of the devil, they are not God's children; for Chrift our Saviour called thofe God's children, that are peace-makers, not them that cut their neighbour's throat. Seeing now that it is fo good a thing to be a peace-maker, let all them that be in profperity endeavour themselves to be peacemakers: let the Landlords fhew themselves to be peace-makers, when they hear of contentions and ftrifes between their Tenants; fend for them, and hear their matters, and make him that is faulty to be punished; and fo let them be peace-makers. But there be fome Gentlemen in England, which think themselves born to nothing elfe but to have good chear in this world, and to go a hawking, and hunting. I wish they would endeavour themfelves rather to be peace-makers, to counfel and to help poor men, and when they hear of any difcord

between

between neighbour, and neighbour, to fet them together at unity; this fhould be rather their exercise than banquetting, and fpending the time in vain. But they will fay, it is a great pain and labour to meddle in matters, to be a peace-maker. Sir, you muft confider, that it is a great matter to be a child of God. And therefore we ought to be content to take pains to be peace-makers, that we may be the children of God. But in matters of religion, we must take heed that we have not a peace which may withstand God and his word: for it is better to have no peace at all, than to have it with the loss of God's word.

In the time of the fix Articles, there was a Bishop which ever cried unity, unity; but he would have a Popish unity. St Paul to the Corinthians faith, "Be of one mind:" But he addeth, "According "to Jefus Chrift;" that is, according to God's holy word; elfe it were better war, than peace: we ought never to regard unity, fo much that we would or fhould forfake God's word for her fake. When we were in Popery we agreed well, because we were in the kingdom of the devil, we were in blindness. In * Turky we hear not of any diffen

tion

*The reafons given for this are; 1. They permit no difpute about their Koran, or tranflation of it; which is the cause of much quietnefs among them. 2. The continual jars and debates among Chriftians about queftions of Religion, which hath made many doubt the truth thereof. 3. The wicked and fcandalous lives of Chriftians; for the Mahometans are generally more devout in their religious duties. 4. The conquefts of the Mahometans have propagated their Religion. 5. Their Religion is more pleafing to the Senfe than Chriftianity, Mahomet promifing in his Paradife fenfitive pleasure. 6. Their tyranny over Chriftians, and the rewards, honours, and freedom from taxes. given to all renegado Chriftians, &c. that will receive circumci. hon, and turn to Mahometanifm. 7. The indulgence of many wives, which pleases carnal-minded men. 8. They prohibit philofophy, keeping the people thereby in ignorance. 9. They

teach,

ac

tion amongst them, for religion's fake. The Jews likewife have no diffentions amongst them, because, they be in blindnefs. When the rebels were up in Norfolk and Devonshire, they all agreed, there was no diffention; but there peace was not "cording to Jefus Chrift." Therefore St Hilary hath a pretty faying: "Speciofum quidem nomen eft "pacis & pulchra opinio unitatis: fed quis dubitat eam "folam unicam Ecclefia pacem effe qua Chrifti eft; It is a goodly word, Peace; and a fair thing Unity, but who doubts this to be the only right peace of the Church, which peace is after, "Chrift;" according to his words? Therefore let us fet by unity, let us be given to love and chari-, ty but fo that it may ftand with godliness. For peace ought not to be redeemed with lofs of the truth; that we would feek peace so much, that we fhould lofe the truth of God's word.

દ

Bleffed be they that fuffer perfecution for righ"teoufnefs fake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." This is the laft journey, when we be demanded of our faith, and examined, and afterward be forced

The eighth day's pilgrimage.

to

teach, that all who live a good life fhall be faved; which makes weak Chriftians revolt, not caring whether they ferve Chrift or Mahomet, fo they be faved. 10. They hold, that after fuffering torment for a certain time in hell, the wicked fhall be released; which is infinitely more agreeable, than to allow of no redemption from hell. (This is fomething like the popish doctrine of Purgatory.) 11. They are more modeft in converfation betwixt men and women; lefs fumptuous in building; more sparing in diet; more fober in speech and gefture; lefs fantastical in clothes, &c. and men are taken with moral outfides. 12. Private revenge, forbidden Chriftians, is allowed them; for they may hate, and even kill their enemy if they can. 13. Arius's doctrine had infected most of the eastern churches, and Mahometanism was grounded on Arianifm. 14. They fuffer no. Man to blafpheme or difhonour Chrift, Mofes, or Abraham; which makes no fort of people violent against their religion. And, 15. they have always been diligent and defirous of gaining profelytes, and yet force no man.