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MY time, at the first, was repu∣ted but a spanne long, and now I cannot account it a fingers br••adth: yet, while I haue my being in this life, I shall stand in neede of the con∣tinuall vse of mine owne labours (hauing no other reuenues, no, not the bredth of a foote) wherein I craue Gods diuine aide, directi∣on,
and blessing, who hath been mine original Schole∣master * 1.1 in all the good things that euer I haue learned, or haue been able to practise: for, of my selfe I am a foole, ignorant, not only of diuine, but of hu∣mane profitable know∣ledge, yea of mine owne worldly profession; and finding mine owne insuffi∣ciencie, I sought & found that which I haue (slender as it is) at the hands of him that made Iub••l a * 1.2 pleasant Musician, and Tu∣bal a painfull Smith.
And to say as I find, my * 1.3 professiō agrees little with the qualitie of the first, but much with that of the last: for, it is mixed with farre
more paine, then pleasure; and with more care, then comfort; and with more griefe, then gaine; and with more suspicion, then thanks.
Can there be (may some * 1.4 say) a profession, bringing with it such a troupe of incōueniences? yes, though I be no publik Magistrate, my calling is as subiect to censure: for, what man is hee that deales betweene two, or more, of contrarie desires, that can truly giue them all contented satisfa∣ction, be he the most iudi∣cious and iustest Iudge or Magistrate? How much more, to deale with multi∣tudes of peruerse and pre∣iudicate people: yea, if it
be in a businesse that con∣cernes their soules, by the sincerest Minister of God, will they not censure ac∣cording to their seuerall cōceiued (though corrupt and peruerse) opinions? But if the businesse con∣cern their worldly estates, much more will the most of them kicke against the most iust, and most indif∣ferent iudgement of the Agent, who being tyed by the band of dutie and a good conscience, to giue a true account of his im∣ploymēts to a second per∣son, the maintenance of whose dignitie and liuely∣hood, in some part consi∣steth in the iust execution of that wherein he is tru∣sted,
cānot yet escape their slanders, deale he neuer so sincerely.
Need not I therefore to * 1.5 be carefull of my carriage, being subiect to a double censure? If I come short of mine expected dutie, I may be taxed at home; if I performe it truely, I am condemned abroad: and, to arbitrate mine actions, there are such, sometimes, as for their owne vaine po∣pularitie among the multi∣tude, and to insinuate with the Honorable wise, will rather adde a sentence of rash (yea false) condemna∣tion, then a sillable to ex∣cuse the smallest slip (if a∣ny bee) incensing so the waspish Hidra, to a cla∣morous
out-cry, that I haue abused them: who being thus seconded, will not forbeare to disgorge their malicious hearts to the vttermost disgrace of him, that with a most sin∣cere conscience carryeth his desires, neither to leane vnto the right hand, par∣tially to please his Master; nor to the left hand, in∣iuriously to wrong any, whome his seruice con∣cernes.
What then? Shall I * 1.6 looke backe? shall I leaue my plough for some rubs it meets withall in a rough and rugged soyle? No, I may not, but rather inde∣uour so to carry my selfe in my calling, as my con∣science
may still (as euer∣more formerly it hath) te∣stifie with mee mine inte∣gritie, whatsoeuer may be said or done against me.
I am not of my selfe ig∣norant, but doe know and acknowledge, that if I should rest either carelesse of▪ my dutie on the one side, or ouer-harsh or hea∣uy on the other, respecting onely my priuate salarie and extorted gaine, for∣getting dutie and charitie, * 1.7 I should carry a greater charge of conscience (not questioned) then all the vniust calumniations and * 1.8 slanders of malicious men could cast vpon me; I will therefore with patience goe on, and vndergoe the
God in all things hath been my Schole master.
Gen. 4. 21. & vers. 22.
A thanke∣lesse pro∣fession.
A calling subiect to censure.
To be sub∣iect to a double censure, requires care of a mans car∣riage.
Not to re∣linquish our cal∣ling, for false sug∣gestions.
A cleere consciēce makes bold.
Pro. 28. 1.