The persecuted minister, in defence of the ministerie, the great ordinance of Jesus Christ.: Setting forth the severall names of Apostles, prophets, &c. [brace] 1. That there is a ministerial office. 2. That the sacrament of baptisme by a lay-person is invalid. 3. That necessity is no plea. 4. That the long omission of the Lords Supper is unwarrantable. With many other things, plainly and methodically handled / by William Langley late of S. Maryes in the city of Lichfield, minister ...

To M. and his Mates.

IT is storied of Publius Clodius (lest Cicero should unjustly tax him of sacriledge) that he stept in, and first told the Senate, That Cicero had prophan'd all Religion in his house. Thus he that hath the most corrupt Lungs, soonest complains of the unsavoury breath of others. I invite not such, nor you Mr. M. and your company to my banquet; for, I know you are apter to fashion strange Interpretations of what was ne∣ver meant, than like civil guests, to cut fairly and resp∣ctively: you stick not to say any thing that is false, and misapply any thing that is true. Nacrissus-like, you are enamoured of your own beauty, and judge your selves the fairst and refinedst stuffe: you must be ownd (forsooth) as the GODLY PARTIE: Oh! it is an injury not to give you that title you give your selves forth to be, The Temple of the Lord, Th Temple of the Lord: and if reproved, presently cry, We are Abrahams chil∣dren: of all men you are the hardest to be cured; for, why should Physick be administred to those that are perfectly sound? I must take the liberty to tell you, That you forget to build up the Cedar-work of piety, and learn onely to paint over with Vermilion: to borrow the words of a wor∣thy Divine, Men think you Saints, you think your selves Angels, Flatterers make you Gods, and GOD knows

you are Devils; and will smite such painted walls, and rotten gilded posts.

It is not amisse to give some Characters of you, that you may be known and avoided.

1. The best things published, with the best intent, scape not the lash of your censure: he that doth not dance after your pipe shall be sure to be scoured, and scourged.

2. Malice and Envy are seated in your looks, and you let slip no advantage that may accomplish your own ends, though to the ruine of your neighbours.

3. You are tender of no mans Reputation, (if be crosse your humours) his name, fame, and credit shall be ship∣wrackt, and all the scandals and contumelies that can be imagined shall be layd to his charge to render him vile and odious.

4. Before you want matter for persecution, bare infor∣mation shall serve your turn: contrary to the Law of God or man.

5. You are knowne by your lofty lookes, envenomed tongues, cruell hands, surly salutations, and imperious commands.

6. Perfoetorem oris, By your stinking breath, which proceeds either from some hot distemper of your mouth, rot∣ten humours in the stomach, or ulceration of the lungs.

If Mr. M. and his crew finde fault with my tartnesse, let them know, half is not told: Emendate vitam, ego emendabo verba, Mend your waies, and I will mend my words. Cessate perversè agere, Cease from doing evil, and I will cease to reprove and rebuke: I pray God give you sober judgments, peaceable spirits, devotion with pro∣fession, Zeale without envy, love without partiality, and Religion with Gospel. charity; for, were you guided by this (as they that will be Judges of other mens actions ought to

be) you would forbear to censure or condemn; but if my prayers prove ineffectuall, and that your flinty hearts can∣not be broken; know, that your sharp frosts, and nipping blasts shall not marre the beauty, or enervate the vertue of my flourishing tree, which (God assisting) shall stand unshaken in your greatest storms. My Saviour came once with Pax vobis, Peace be unto you: at another time with Vae vobis! Woe be unto you! The searching wine of Reprehension, to eat out the dead flesh, is for you more ne∣cessary, than the oyle of Consolation. Woe unto them that prophesie to such as you are smooth things, and deceits, Isa. 30.10, 11. Yet if any be so bold as to bring sowre grapes, and the sharp wine of reproofs, and you once come to be fretted with the just Reprehension of your Hypocrisie, then farewell Pastor, expect expulsion from thy poor Vine∣yard, thou shalt finde these fiery Serpents, (wheresoever thou goest) with their venemous and burning stings, woun∣ding thy person, doctrine, name, fame, and whatsoever is dearest to thee.

I conclude you men of ill temper'd constitutions, all earth in your hearts, all water in your stomachs, all aire in your brains, and all fire in your tongues; your hearts heavy, your stomachs surfeited and watry, your brains light and aërie, your tongues flaming, and fiery, you never are at rest, but like the troubled Sea, cast up myre and dirt.

Lord deliver me from unreasonable men, for all men have not Faith.

Farewell.