Many a one abounds in wealth and honour, who abounds no less in miseries and vexation. Many a one is carried away with an unruly greatness, to the destruction of body, soul, The world abounds every where, with men, that do abound; and yet, do not know how to abound: and those, especially, in three ranks; the Proud, the Covetous, the Prodigal: the Proud is thereby transported to forget God; the Covetous, his neighbour: the Prodigal, himself.

Both wealth and honour are of a Swelling nature; raising a man up, not only above others, but above himself; equalling him to the powers immortal; yea, exalting him above all that is called God. Oh, that vile dust and ashes should be raised to that height of insolence, as to hold contestation with its Maker! Who is the Lord? saith the king of Egypt; Exod. v. 2. shall be like to the Highest: I am; and there is none besides me; saith the king of Babylon; Isa. xiv. 14. xlvii. 8. The voice of God, and not of man, goes down with Herod; Acts xii. 22. And how will that Spirit trample upon men, that dare vie with the Almighty! Hence are all the heavy oppressions, bloody tyrannies, imperious domineerings, scornful insultations, merciless outrages, that are so rife amongst men, even from hence, that they know not how to abound.

The Covetous man abounds with bags, and no less with sorrows; verifying the experience of wise Solomon: There is a sore evil, which I have seen under the sun, riches kept for the owners thereof, to their hurt; Eccl. v. 13. What he hath got with injustice, he keeps with care, leaves with grief, and reckons for with torment. I cannot better compare these money-mongers, than to bees: they are busy gatherers; but it is for themselves: their masters can have no part of their honey, till it be taken from them; and they have a sting ready for every one, that approaches their hive; and their lot, at the last, is burning. What maceration is there here, with fears and jealousies! What cruel extortion and oppression exercised upon others! and all, from no other ground, than this, that they know not how to abound!

The Prodigal feasts and sports, like an Athenian; spends, like an emperor; and is ready to say, as Heliogabalus did of old, "Those cates are best, that cost dearest ";" caring more for an empty reputation of a short gallantry, than for the comfortable subsistence of himself, his family, his posterity: like Cleopes, the vain Egyptian king, which was fain to prostitute his daughter for the finishing of his pyramid. This man lavisheth out, not his own means alone, but his poor neighbour's; running upon the score with all trades, that concern back or belly; undoing more with his debts, than he can plea

Ælius Lamprid.

sure with his entertainments: none of all which should be done if he knew how to abound.

Great skill, therefore, is required to the governing of a plentiful and prosperous estate; so as it may be safe and comfortable to the owner, and beneficial unto others. Every corporal may know how to order some few files; but, to marshal many troops in a regiment, many regiments in a whole body of an army, requires the skill of an experienced general. But the rules and limits of Christian Moderation, in the use of our honours, pleasures, profits, I have at large laid forth in a former Discourse. Thither I must crave leave to send the benevolent reader; beseeching God to bless unto him these and all other labours, to the happy furtherance of his grace and salvation. Amen.

THE PEACE MAKER

LAYING FORTH

THE RIGHT WAY OF PEACE,

IN

MATTERS OF RELIGION.

BY JOSEPH, BISHOP OF NORWICH.

I have perused this Discourse, entitled "The Peace Maker:" and, observing it to be, in respect of the subject matter, pious, profitable, and very seasonable in these Distracted and Distempered Times; and, in the manner of handling it, sober, learned, and impartially judicious; I allow it to be printed and published.

JOHN DOWNAME.

TO

MY REVEREND BRETHREN

OF THE

DIOCESE OF NORWICH.

Worthy Brethren,-Ye cannot but have taken notice of the silence, that hath lately possessed my tongue, which was wont to be vocal enough. Besides some external reasons, it is my care and zeal of peace, that stops my mouth for the time; and bids me refrain, even from good words. In the mean while, the same dear respect to peace employs my hand; and bids it supply the place of my tongue, as that, which shall speak louder, and to more eyes, than my tongue could to ears: both of them are heartily devoted to peace, and strive whether shall more express it.

It was ever the desire of my soul, even from my first entrance upon the public service of the Church, according to my known Signature, with Noah's Dove, to have brought an Olive-branch to the tossed Ark; and God knows how sincerely I have endeavoured it: but, if my wings have been too short, and the wind too high for me, to carry it home, I must content myself with the conscience of my faithful devotions. Some little hint whereof, notwithstanding, I have thought fit to give to the world, in this present Discourse, lest I should seem to be, like itself, all pretence; and that I might, by this Essay of mine, open the way to some more able undertakers.

Now, therefore, let me recommend this subject to your seriousest thoughts; and beseech you all, in the bowels of our common Saviour, to join with me, in the zealous prosecution of what I here treat of, Peace.

It is an useful rule of our Romish Casuists, that he, who will have benefit of their large Indulgences, must porrigere manus adjutrices. Surely, it holds much better, in the present case. Whoever will hope to reap the comfort of this incomparable blessing of Peace, must put forth his helping hand, towards the procuring of it. Oh, let not our Studies, nor Prayers, nor Tears, nor Counsels, nor Solicitations, nor Engagements, nor Endeavours be wanting to it no; nor, if need were, our Blood. What the price of it is, since the fruition of it did not teach us, we have too well learnt in the want.

:

Alas, my Brethren, we cannot help one another sufficiently to condole the miseries under which we, yea this whole Church, yea this whole bleeding Monarchy, yea the whole Christian World, at this time groaneth, by reason of that woeful and deadly debate, that rageth every where. All the whole earth is on fire the flame reacheth up to heaven, and calls for more thence. Woe is me! our very punishment is our sin. What should we do, but pour out floods of tears, towards the quenching of it; and say, with the lamenting Prophet, Oh, that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep, day and night, for the slain of the daughter of my People! Jer ix. 1.

But, as Chrysostom said long ago in the like case to Innocentius, It is not wailing will serve the turn, if we do not bestir ourselves, what we may, for redress. When we see our house on fire, do we stand still and cry? do we not ring bells, and call neighbours, and bring ladders, and fetch buckets, and pour on water, and pull down reeds and rafters, and whatever may feed that flame? And why should we not do so, in this common conflagration? Oh, let every man of us put his hand to the work; and labour to withdraw that