Why then doth the hurtfull pitty of our times imbolden and increase
their numbers? _Laodicea_ it selfe, I doubt not, for matters of mine and
thine, had (as their name imports) good civill justice and justicers;
but what was God the neerer for it? doth hee not threaten for all that
to spue them out of his mouth? shall hee not curse those that doe his
worke negligently, fearfully & partially? Our times complaine of two
speciall canker wormes of justice, which eat up zeale in Magistrates.
The first is _Covetousnesse_, which makes men of place to transgresse
for a morsell of bread; the zeale of their owne houses consumes the
zeale of Gods house: The building of great houses, keeping of great
houses, and matching with great houses, raising and leaving of great
houses behinde them, makes them so ravenous, that they devoure so much,
as choakes all their zeale; which would teach them to shake their laps
of bribes, and scorne to accept gifts, though men would augment them for
the perverting of judgement. The other is _Cowardice_ and _Fearfulnes_:
which how unfit, and base a quality did _Nehemiah_ thinke it for a man
of his place? no better then shynesse in a fore-horse, whose eyes men
fence on both sides, that they may lead the way, and goe without
starting; unto which, zeale is answerable in Magistrates, causing them
onely to see him that is invisible, without casting a squint eye at men;
to sing to God onely of judgement and mercy, without tuning their songs
to mans eare; to walke in the perfect way, without turning, either to
the right or left hand for feare of favour. Oh that there were such an
heart in our leaders; how easily would our people follow! what a spring
tide of zeale should wee have, if the Sunne and Moone would cast out a
benigne aspect upon them! Doth it not flourish in all those shires and
townes, where the Word and Sword doe joyntly cherish it? In others which
are the greatest number, how doth it languish and wane away, and hang
downe the head? where is it in diverse places of the land to bee seene?
I had almost sayd in my haste and heat, there is none that hath zeale,
no not one, there is no courage for the truth; but that I remember that
_Eliah_ was checked for over-shooting himselfe in his too short and
quicke computation. I hope the Lord hath his fifties amongst us, though
but thinn sowne in comparison of the swarmes of professed Recusants, and
Church-Papists, of prophane Atheists, key-cold worldlings, and l