Levis Complaint

TO THE SACRED MAIESTIE OF THEIR dearest & dread Sovereign GREAT BRITANS MONARCH, &c.

IT was a grievous wrong (Deare Lord and dread Sovereign) done by the men of Gibeah, that made the Levite to complain so to Israel in Mispeh: It was oft smiting and an extraordinary extremity (as a secundarie cause) that made Balaam, the son of Peors Ass to speak: And doeth the wild Ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the Ox when he hath fodder? (saith that mirror of patience Job ) A grievous increasing bondage likewise made Israel to groan: And a desperate-seeming-danger drove Mordecai to Esther, and her again venterouslie to the King.

Even so woeful desolation in most partes, and that of no small bounds of your Majesty's Kingdom here, where the Kingdom of CHRIST by preaching thorough want of provision withholden, is not yet established, and the musseling of their mouths who treadeth out the Lord's Corn, where they are retained, but beggerlie entertained, and the over-loading of them with base contempt, forceth us all to come to your Majesty at this time, with Peters words in our mouths, crying and craving, Master help us, else we perish.

It was the will of the Supreame Lord of Heaven, if thou seest thine enemies asse lying under his burden, help him up again: And a righteous man regardeth the life of his very beast (saith that wise Preacher.) If pity & charity then command help to the brute of an enemy; and if God commend care of the beast of the field, what may these then expect of their Supreame Lord on earth, being his own Levites, and his makers inheritance, failing for weakness proceeding of want, and falling for weariness proceeding of contempt?

As Hannah then answered to Eli, blame us no to have poured out our souls before our Lord, nor that we come as the people did to our godly Nehemiah (whose soul the Lord bind in the bundle of Life) complaining of our necessity and wrong, that there is no power left in our hands: for others have our livings, and we are in subjection, being like Issachar’s asse, couching down between heavy burdens: but most unlike to Judah's, which was tied to the best Vine.

For it is th'estate of the poor Ministry that we moan, and would have mended, who as if with the Capucian they had wowed poverty, are so plumed upon by these whose greede would have need, an inseparable accident, quarto modo proprium to Ministers, that as Beth-auens Priests are deprived of their lawful Matrimony, so they think that Beth-else Preachers should be denuded of their lawful patrimony: and therefore they have turned Israel's afferre to the Sanctuary, to Lysimachus auferre from the same: being only skillful to decline in the ablative case, their only Arithmetic consisting in subtraction from the Church, to make up an addition to themselves, and inverting that speech of David competent unto CHRIST, for their zeal hath eaten up the Lord's house.

Shall Israel then fulfill their task, and have their straw with-drawn, to gather short stubble to themselves? Shall Jacob feed his masters flock, and have his wages so changed and impaired? Shall the Levite be either forced to desert the work, because of the portion withholden, as in the time of captivity and desolation? or else to turn in to Micah's petty portion, as in the time when there was no King in Israel, and a whole Tribe scarce cared for one Priest amongst them all?

Shall Scotia be rightly construed darkness, in regard of many places thereof, where that light which is the life of men never yet shined, nor that word of glorious peace never yet sounded, but are a people sitting in the shadow of death, thorough want of the means of the Gospel of Life? And shall the Ambassadoures of the King of Israel be so vngratelie entreated by the Ammonites, as to be so nearlie shaven, and their garments curtailed; and shall not this be shown to our godly David?

Poverty is now so seated where plenty was installed, and contempt where honor had place, that where the Churches bread was sometime like Ashers, fat and abounding, now she must be content of Ruthes scattered glaininges, for all her friends have dealt unfaithfully with her, and are her enemies: And where many excellent things were spoken of her (as of the city of God) and glorious were the feet of those that brought the glad tidings of peace, now she may exclaim, saying, See, O Lord, and consider, for I am become vile.

Pastors, as if they were professed Poenitentiars, in many places are kept at under in disciplinarie subjection, nill they will they, like Amnon, looking lean from day today, their Cottages more spacious than specious (albeit little of either:) a great part of their plenishing, being with Elisha, their stool and bed, their table and candle-stick: and forced in other things to go in one categorie with Gibeons ambassadors sent unto Joshua: being so far unable to use hospitality (as the Apostle requireth in such) to others, as they have more need to be received (like Elijah, with the Widow of Sarepthah ) in hospitality by others.

People, who starve for the bread of Life, have Zion's dolorous threnodie put in their mouths, and are moved to cry, Woe is me now, for my soul fainteth because of the murderers: So that justly may the Lord expostulate by the Prophet, saying, Also in their wings is found the blood of the souls of poor Innocentes, I have not found it in holes, but upon the high places: practicing flat contrary to that prayer, Let thy Kingdom come: and with the Gergesins for their filthy lucres sake, expelling CHRIST out of their coasts.

The poor, by this sacrilegious robbery, who are our flesh and CHRIST'S members, and whose cry, is his craving, and their hand his treasury, are cruelly bereft, and carelessly trodden under: So that where out of their hospital oratories a consort of prayers and praises for their been-factors should have been like incense offered up to the Lord, they are forced in their feeble strayinges, and bed-fast staruinges, to post such groans to the Tribunal of Justice, as may be sittest complainers of their want, and pleaders for their wrong.

The Schools of the Prophets, and Seminaries of the Church, what interest they have received, even foreigners do know, and home-bred do regrate. As the Philistines filled Isaac's fountains, which his fathers servants had digged; so stopping likewise by their earthly avarice, those sacred conduites, which others had founded, from whence the pleasant streams of Sciences should flowe and fill the land, ut hinc etiam, & lucem & pocula sacra.

O leave then, Sir, such a sacred stamp of your Royal presence at this time, for the comfort of the mourners behind you, that the happy relish thereof may delight the posterity to record, & characterize in letters of loyal love upon the tables of rejoiced hearts, that which your Majesty acknowledgeth to be the fairest style of a Christian Prince, to be a nursing father of the Church of JESUS.

And as your Majesty hath caused restitution of the portions of the Prelates of the Church, thereby to abolish our parity, so extend your gracious and like tender care to the Preachers of the Church, and abrogate their poverty, who with the poor woman that pleaded restitution of her fraudefullie-stolen child from her, before you, our godly and wise Solomon, claimeth equity likewise, suum cuique.

And as you are a Defender of the Faith, be likewise of the maintenance of the means thereof, and so enlarge his Kingdom, who peaceablie hath enlarged yours: and see that he have his right, who must keep you and yours ever in your right Royal: counting ever (as yourself saith) the flourishing of the Church to be one of the chiefest pointes of your earthly glory.

In some part then, Sir, let the piety and prudence of yourself and your estates, amend at this time that former act of annexation: whereby not only lands, (which more tolerablie may be retained) but also besides tithes, the very small gleanings of poor & petty Vicarages are monstrouslie metamorphized temporal, and made Lord's and Barons customs: so that the Patrons now are Parsons, and they fleece the sheep who feed not the flock. Or (as that reverend Father affirmed) if erections cannot suffer further correction, & robbery restitution, that Solomon's dimension at least of due sufficiency, may be measured forth, which may both vindicate from pride and contempt.

Whome you love, therefore, let them not keep such an eating moth, and consuming canker, which howsoever for the present like stolen waters the same seem sweet, yet in end it shall prove but like the accursed water, whereof the guilty woman did drink, causing swelling at first indeed, but consuming rottenness at last: And as Jacob was to Esau, the holy thing shall be the supplanter of the unholy usurper: so that getting the pottage, and hunting their profit, they shall lose the birth-right, and miss the blessing.

For Dans Serpent will so bite the horse-heels once, that assuredly the ryder will in ende fall backwardes: and Achan's theft will bring him and his whole house to a consuming fire at last: Pharaohs lean Kye and blasted Ears of Corn, when they have devoured the fat and the full, shall be still as lean and blasted as before: and Ahab's robbing of poor Naboth's Vineyarde, will lose to him his life, and his rich Kingdom. Nebuchadnezzar's spoiling of the Temple, will once be seen on Belthazzar his successor: and Manna's residue kept against command, will but turn to vermin, provoking God, and polluting the vessels, Jonah gourd must wither and decay, because of the hidden worm at the root thereof: And if coloquintida be gathered amongst the other herbs, death doubtless shall be in the pot. Aesop’s crow with her collop to the nest, shall carry the cole with it: and assuredly the execution of the threatened curse shall follow on the meddling with the forbidden tree: So that Israel's proverb shall be taken up against him that increaseth that which is not his, by inquiring, Ho, how long? And if he be accursed who encroacheth upon his neighbors borders; or if the detaining of the wages of an hired servant crieth for wrath: much more who doeth so on the Lord's limites, and shall that of the Lord's employed messengers shout aloud for vengeance.

When the Star shined which led unto Christ, the Wise-men of the East following the direction thereof, came to Bethlehem, and gave gifts to Christ. And shall it be thought wisdom now, when the Star of the Gospel hath re-appeared, against the direction thereof to pull from Christ? Shall the Lamp of the Sanctuary be kindled, and the Oil thereof be with-drawn? Shall the Aramit-papist seek the over-throw of Hierusalems doctrine, and our Ephraemite-professoures join with them to seek the over-throw of the maintenance of doctrine? the one being like the Jews, who sought Christ's life: the other like the Roman Soldiers, who parted Christ's garments.

And shall Mount Zion, the Lord's chosen, remain thus still as a cottage in a Vineyarde, like a lodge in a garden of cucumers, and as a city besieged of the enemies? Shall the ministry of the word, the foundation of this Countries peace, be as a Widow left to the spoil, as an cake whose leaf fadeth, and a garden that hath no water? And shall they still receive only in their hands, that which the Souldioures put mockinglie in Christ's, an empty hollowe reed (to wit) to uphold them.

Go to the Isles of Chittim, and behold: and send unto Kedar, and the Countries round about; and take diligent heed, and see, if there be any such things: or what nation there is that hath robbed their gods. Surelie, the Lord's expectation was otherwise, he looked for judgment and zeal but behold oppression, and robbery: for righteousness, but behold a crying.

And indeed (Sir) while they were catching all into their angle (being with the Prophetess son, as speedy robbers, and swift to the prey: ) They were as Naphthali, like hinds let go, giving goodly words, and promising sufficient plantations: but they have proved in ende as Benjamin, of whom it is said, He shall rauin as a wolf, in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil. So that the Church may say as is said, Lament. chap. 3. verse. 10. They were to me as Baires lying in wait, and as Lions in secrete places. So they get the goods, leaving the good of the flock altogether vncared for: for like skillful aiming Benjamits, they have hit the mark they would been at, albeit sinistrouslie, with the left hand, and there they put a period, inverting that speech of the King of Sodom to Abraham, Da mihi animas, bona cape tibi: to give us the goods, and let others take the souls cure.

And as Jeroboam to advance his Idolatry made Priests of the lowest and skirtes of the people who were not of the sons of Levi: So many named patrons, so they may inhaunce their commodity: and like Micah, by a private paction for a petty portion indent with the intrant, they care not whom they present: albeit Dagon should be set up anewe beside the Ark of God: counting no longer for the Preacher than he can serve for their particular, and so long only will sit by Cherith, or repose under the gourd, as the one flourisheth, or the other floweth.

With good Nehemiah then, Sir, say to your Rulers and great men, Why is the house of God thus forsaken and neglected? That which you do is not good: ought you not to walk in the fear of our God? for the reproach of those that are our enemies, and assemble your Levites, reponing them in their places, that your God may remember you, and not wipe out your kindness that you have shown on the House of GOD, and Officers thereof.

And as the Angel said unto Gideon, The Lord is with thee, thou valiant man: go then, Sir, in this your might, and purge your land of such hateful robbery, And we hope that the prosperous success that followed good Hezekiah, shall likewise attend your Majesty's zeal herein: whereof it is spoken, that the hand of God was upon all Judah, and he gave them one heart to obey the Kings commandment according to the word of the Lord. And of whom it is recorded in the register of eternity, that in all the works that he began for the service of the house of God, because he did them with all his heart, therefore he prospered (saith the Scripture.)

By doing whereof, we hope also in the mighty GOD of JACOB, that your Majesty shall have the greater assurance of security against all the enemies of your Royal person and estate: And blood-red, or fire-red Esau's, that traiterouslie are hunted out against your sacred Majesty: and that the prayers of your relieved Levites, sent up unto him whom they carry on their shoulders before the people in the Ark of his eternal Covenant, shall be a secrete guard, like Elisha's, against both their Shimei -like malice, and Achitophel -like machinations.

And if he was pronounced blessed who enlarged Gad, much more shall you and your land be, who enlargeth GOD, his right whereof he is robbed, and his Levites inheritance.

And if heathen Pharaoh was so careful for his Priests portions in the scarcity of Egypt, that they should retain their lands; much more are we assured, that our Christian JACOB, and zealous Soueraign, will have a care of the Preachers of Jesus, in some sufficient measure to restore them their Livings.

And seeing that Baals Priests are so bountifullie dealt with by Ahab in Israel, and sit at Jezebels table, that our godly Jehoshaphat will not suffer the Lord's Prophets in Judah to be vncared for likewise: or, as the glaininges of the grapes of Ephraim were better than the vintage of Abiezer; so that the smallest accidents of Popish shauelinges, should be still better than painful Preachers greatest allowance.

And what woeful effects, and fearful fruits this damnable bramble of sacrilegious rapine and impoverishing of the Church produceth, is too well feene, but not so sorrowed.

For first this impoverishing of the Ministry maketh both them and the calling contemptible, as if the curse of Reuben were brought upon the same: the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power is gone, and Jeremiah's threnodie put in their mouths, saying, I am made as the off-scouringes of the world, and as the refuse in the midst of the people: So that Obadiah's reverence to Elijah is forgotten: Cornelius honor to Peter, and Joash estimation of Elisha, is buried in the grave with him. Wherefore the like judgment is to be feared, as for the like cause was threatened by the Prophet, saying, The anger of the Lord hath scattered them, neither shall he anymore regard them, for they reverenced not the face of the Priests, nor had in estimation the countenance of the Elders.

2. What abstraction it maketh from doing of the Lord's work diligently, woeful experience too well declareth: for where that precept of Solomon, Be diligent to know th'estate of thy flock, requireth a whole man, busilie occupied, this impoverishing rapine, (like that false mother, who desired the division of the Child ) halfs many men in such sort, as thorough Midians spoiling, Gideon must privately go to the threshing himself: So many poor Preachers, when with hand-griping giving, and heartgrieving getting, they have received their short straw for their long task: for necessity of life, they are forced besides to use other shifts: and as they are servants to the flock for CHRISTES sake, so to be drudges, in a manner, to themselves, for main necessities sake, being herein often times forced to say with the Apostle, These hands have ministered to my necessities, and these that are with me.

3. It is a ready way hereby to make that fearful curse fall upon the land, Like people, like Priest: so that when the people shall bring him a book, saying, Read this we pray thee: he shall answer, I cannot, for it is sealed, and I am covered with the spirit of slumber. Thus shall not the Priests lips preserve knowledge: But when they shall seek the law of God at his mouth, they shall come to the welles, and find no water, and return with their vessels empty: the holy Vrim thus being darkened, & the Lord's people perishing for want of knowledge. So that the best estate of the Ministry shall be but plowing with an Ox and an ignorant Ass together, their 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 right arm being clean dried up, and their right eye woefullie darkened.

4. It greatly hindereth the sincerity of God's word, in the evidence and liberty thereof, so that rightly it may be called the musseling of their mouths who carry the Lord's Ark from lowing freely as they go, neither turning to the right nor left hand: or as clean beasts dividing the hoof: and dissecating the word aright, rebuke to whom rebuke belongeth. Therefore the Bethlemite Levite must tolerate the Teraphim, and the Idols that are in Mount Ephraim, for fear of the loss of his place found out, and of the want of Micah's petty portion, and the Baptist must look for no more favor of Herod, if he once touch the having of his brothers wife: So that

Christ's Kingdom thus nowise increasing, but that of Satan's tyranny over men altogether standing.

5. It wonderfullie discourageth Parentes to train up their Children at Schools of Learning or Universities: especially in that sacredest Science of Heauenlie Divinity, either within or without the Country, for their better enabling for the Holy Ministry, as likewise the very hearts of Youths themselves, when they see such beggerlie provisions only to be looked for, as the best reward of their painful studies, and the richest recompense of their expensiue charges, † all other Sciences having better & more assured hopes, and this only being deprived of that double honor, whereof God's Spirit hath thought it worthy, due reverence (to wit) and debtbound recompense, the with-drawing of this one, being the unhappy cause of the want of that other.

6. It exileth in a manner, the best and quickest spirits of our Nation to other Kingdoms, and so depriveth their own Conntrey of their fruitful labors: Which otherwise to the great advancement of both Church and Commonwealth at home, happily it might injoye: And hath moved many to turn to the Idolatry and plenty of Egypt; leaving the sincerity of Moses, and society of Israel. Therefore it is, that as Isaac went to Gerar, and Jacob to sojourn in Egypt, where there was food; Even so they get themselves elsewhere, where Virtue and Learning have their own reward. And thus our Suns shine in others Firmamentes, and our best Trees fructify in other men's Gardens: So that as Nazarethes ingratitude may be our double dittie: so sic vos non vobis, may be our quadruple diton.

7. It is the special cause and occasion, both of the growth and continuance of ignorance & Popery in the land, whereby y ^e language of Ashdod halfs with y ^e speech of Israel: And Sanballat with his conspiring associates, attendeth the hindrance of the building of the walls of Jerusalem: and Rehum with Tatnai, and their companions the rearing of the Temple: and so long still, shall Dagon stand in such places, till by preaching the presence of God's Ark make him to fall, and the Levites that carry the same receive their due portion.

8. Besides that, it maketh the Lord angry with the Land, & as Malachi saith, bringeth his grievous curse and visitation upon the same. It is likewise the most poisonable plant, and perilous practice, against the good of the Civil estate of the Country, as never any Age did know the like before.

For doeth not daily experience manifestly teach, that no greater yoke nor spurr of compulsion is, and hath been used, to force Gentlemen sell & put away their auncientlie possessed Lands (which are to them as Naboth's dear Vineyarde) for half value and leffe than the power and possession of the right of the tithe: for hence it is, that otherwise Lands have lain waste: for none so could labor them, and many are undone and ‡ wracked in the whole Kingdom, dissention and grievous grudging is found amongst equalles, the heavy yoke of slavery is laid upon inferioures, Land is the most commonmerchandize of any: fewars are in no better condition nor farmers: Policy in building and planting is hindered: the laborer is exacted on by his Lands owner: the owner is slaued again by his Tithe-master: Tithes are the thing in all the Kingdom most griedilie gaped at: Preachers and the Poor are impiouslie robbed: and in a word, both Church and Commonwealth woefullie wronged.

And what an advantage for intestine troubles or uproars (which the Lord avert) this sacrilegious rapine is, or may be, and ingrossing of the Tithes of sundry Parishes, and of heritable proprietors Lands, into the hands of mighty men, and of the hindrance of the Princes service speedily to suppress the like, any one may easily guess: for the power of the Tithe not only slaueth men unto them in the time of peace, but also in time of commotion, if not only, not coming against them be, albeit in the service of justice, & of the supreme Magistrate: but also if ready rising, and cleaving unto them be not, to be associate actors with them of their praesumptuous designs, no less to be looked for than Summum jus thereafter, which herein I am sure may be called Summa injuria: and which upon every other light discontentment also, men are now menaced with, sundry feeling likewise the stroke of their lightly conceived but heauilie executed, wrath.

And yet many of these, like the ravenous fowls, of all other are the leanest: they catch all, and can keep nothing: for the Lord bloweth upon it, and as Namans leprosy with his gift cleaved to Gehesi; so GOD'S curse with his portion adhaereth to them likewise.

Seeing therefore (SYR) that this hateful Hydra doeth luxuriate and break forth into so many dangerous heads, be to this Serpent as a valiant Hercules; and suppress in time, the feared growth of such daily and deadly evils, which assuredly otherwise will be found to ensue.

And because likewise Jacob hath an Esau with him in the womb, and JESUS a Judas going in his company, & nos nostro jugulamus gladio, let your Majesty's holy zeal take such order with these intestine cut-throats, and moths of the Ministry, who for their own private gain, by getting great girsomes, by subdolous assignations, and other vile and late invented forgeries, with Demas hath forsaken CHRIST, and embraced the world, and so dilapidate the livings, which they in good estate, either of present possession, or certain expectation, were presented and admitted unto, and dealt without any regard of posterity or successor: that it is a great hazarde if ever the Gospel flourish in these places, which most of them once occupied: who if they were marked with the like impression of Judgment, as was before inflicted upon their fellow Gehesi, I fear (Sir) there should need more Leper-houses within the diocies of this your Majesty's Kingdom: whose successoures doubtless shall wish of them, as Job did of himself in his impatiency, that their Birth-day had been their Burial, and that the judgment of good Josiah, executed upon the bones of Beth-else Priests, were likewise so on theirs.

SYR, For his sake therefore whose Faith you defend, maintain his cause in this also; and suffer not the Church to be a den of thieves: but whether he be Prelate or Preacher whatsoever, that impaireth Leuies inheritance, and emptieth the Sancturie, with the whip-coardes of your royal authority redress such wrong, and drive them out of the Temple.

And albeit it be too Sero, as Vlisses caused bind him to the mast, lest he should endanger himself, and peril his followers by the enticing voice of the singing Sirens. So bind up, SYR, the hands of all Ecclesiastical persons, that seeing no vsufractuar nor life-renter of man's right can prejudge the lawful heir or successor, or dispone but for their own time by the Law: so that the same equity in like manner in God's right may stand. Otherwise Religion, the main pillar of this Kingdom, at last assuredly will ruinate and decay: and while anything shall remain as yet to dilapidate, no stay shall be, till like the play-fishes of Jordan, in the common speate of exemplare wickedness, speedily all hurl down into the dead Sea of general defection, and desperate desolation.

Whereby the fire which should warm the successoures in their places, shall not only be extinguished, but men be made (as by Eli's sons impiety) for the Preachers fault to disdain the profession. They also who preach spiritual liberty, shall fasten the yoke of corporal bondage upon their necks, whose tithes they set to others. In God's judgment likewise they make themselves contemptible for no longer are they respected than they have done the turn: And last, they leave the coal and fuel of such woeful variance amongst men, which often hath proved, and shall prove, a flaming fire when they lie in ashes.

O let your sacred heart then, SYR, harbor our regrate, and by the royal gates of your eye and ear let gracious access be to that seat of pity, that the bellows be not seen to be brunt, the Lead consumed in the fire, and the founder to have melted in vain: or that with the Prophet we be still made to mourn, that the harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not holpen: but with good Hezekiah, speaking comfortably to your Levites, & doing so, that they may be encouraged in the Law of the Lord: and having our petition without need of repetition gratiouslie regarded, supplying out of the storehouse of your prudent heart, what we mean and would speak: and mending with your powerful hand, what we moan and would have done, with inflamed hearts, and enlarged mouths, bearing Israel's affection, and borrowing their words, we may ever breath, and burst forth in the like loving prayer to GOD, and loyal wish for our KING.