Diuine epistles. Dedicated. to right honble. & worthy guests inuited to ye nuptialls of the great Kings sonne. &c By Augustin. Taylor. preacher at Hawarden.

TAYLORS EPISTLE to the Honorable, and VVor∣shipfull So••ieties of the well Gouerned City of West-Chester, &c.

GOD that of nothing hath so great things made So many and so glorious may perswade, The created, the Creator intends, Some speciall good, whereto the finall ends, Of euery creature leads, which act discouers, Nothing was made to serue it selfe but others: As nothing made it selfe, it must needs bee, Nothing was made to serue it selfe, we see A power that sends and suffers good, and ill, "The made is subiect to the makers will, The Heauens (it seemes were made) to serue the ayre, The ayre to serue the earth, the earth doth share, Her store to serue the beasts, and foules, which feede (Although to them vnknowne) to serue mans neede: The Sunne doth serue with light, the clouds with raine, The fire with heate, the cooling springs remaine,

To serue the swelting soule, all things that moue, Are tokens manifest the makers loue, Which both submit and serue at mans dispose, The question is man being Lord of those, By lycence giuen him from the onely king, (Let him beare rule) if he bound to bring His seruice as a subiect or if hee, Being seru'd by others may claime soueraigntie And onely seru'd himselfe. I answere thus, God did make all things good, man optimus, Iudu'd wrth reason, onely to expresse, His makers glory and's owne holinesse: But was not made to serue himselfe for God, Teacheth subiection both with staffe and rod, The good the staffe supports, to flourish still, The bad the rod corrects, to punish ill: Man is Gods Image, and in that is showne, God did make man that man shold make God knowne Gods power and prayse, should euery where be spred, For what's not knowne, cannot be worshipped.

Then ayme to do your office, that you may With much content tell many a happy day, On earth of grace, and one in Heauen of glory, Obserue the stature's in the sacred story; Honor the Lord, fight in his truths defence, Cloath you and your in coates of innocence, Euer support the good, suppresse the ill, "This the meanes to keepe your station still: Beleeue, releeue, and as you loue the Lord, Maintaine such ministers as giue his word A perfect true construction, haue a care, The selfe conceipted Schismatickes, that are Not pure in life, but in opinion doo, Not onely wrong themselues, but others too. Since there is but one God, and that one hath, But one truth to direct vs in one path, That leads to endlesse blisse, it fits your place, To giue the Preachers of it so much grace, As bounty, and affection can afford, As you haue grace by the incarnate word,

And promises of glory, euer see Such honor giuen to the ministrie, As God himselfe commanded and mongst all Th'Embassadors made Euangellicall, Cut out rewards according to their merits, And know thus much those that some gifts inherits, Aboue the rest, are worthy more respect, Because those gifts are signes they were elect, By Gods diuine decrees, for we should still Farre more by heauenly then by humaine will, Enter the Temple, th'alter to imbrace, Not with the armes of nature but of grace, Truth should haue trumpets to divulge her will, Not such as sounds too often, but sounds shrill, The Church is iniur'd by a number such, As keepeth silence, or else speakes too much, Truth's sicke, and like to dye, vnlesse she doo, Find speciall friends both good and great ones too, As Naomi is alone, without a Ruth, A sad forsaken widow, such is truth,

Without'n true supporters, be you then, (As you are principals mongst many men:) Of Dauids perfect mind, when he did sing Of mercy and iustice, to his Lord and King; Oh imitate him with a free consent, You are the Cities starres, whose gouerment Commandeth millions, and your houses bee, The Cities schooles where all the rest should see, Peace, pyety, bounty, loue, and decencie, Cherish the vertuous, and all goodnesse grace, Looke on th'offenders but with halfe a face, Banish the bad, and doe the good adore, Fauour not Parasites, rather feede the poore, Seeke for the loue of all, because 'tis prou'd, The strongest man is he, that's best belou'd, What you may do to learne, do not request, But striue to know what will become you best: Your places are both great and worthy, and Vnfit for those that doe not vnderstand,

Your City's free and ancient, and may boast Of better Lawes then those that glory most, Your orders and proceedings, all are such, I know no City that may speake so much Of her owne prayse so iustly; there's not any, Hath had so worthy gouernours, so many So generous, still may faire Chester bee, Blest with such heads, that true prosperity, And peace, and plenty in your wals may dwell, And that your charge you may discharge as well, As Dauids worthies did in Israell, Iacobs good God protect and keepe you still, And make you Citizens on faire Syon Hill.

FINIS.