The muzled ox, treading out the corn, and bellowing out his just complaint against his merciless masters. Or, A loud cry from heaven, against the crying sin of this nation, viz. the with-holding competent countenance and maintenance from Gospel ministers; to the high dishonor of God, and the grief of all truly godly. Wherein is laid down first, the several causes, secondly the sad consequences of this grand and Gospel grievance. Thirdly, solutions to all contrary cavils and scruples. Fourthly, remedies for future prevention. Fiftly, several motives to ministerial encouragement. / By a friend to the threshing floor of Ornan, aut Ecclesiæ Dei.

WHen I consider the extream forwardness, freeness, and liberality of all countryes, and all ages to promote the cause and service of that god, Idol or devil which they serve or worship; yea of the veryest heathens, and Pagans in the whole world: together with those many presidents and eminent examples of holy men recorded in sacred writ for their piety and zeale to the service of that true God. And withall, the length of time that this nation hath enjoy∣ed that unspeakable benefit of the Gospel of grace, with 'its plenty, purity, and prosperity, exceeding all presidents: how many famous favorites and patriots of piety this English Island hath formerly bin honoured with: I am ashamed and confounded at the very thoughts of this most degenerat generation in which we live: who notwithstand our predecessors have given so many excellent example and remarkable characters of their love to God and his truth, by not onely yeilding as bountiful as competent maintenance to the labourers in his vineyard in their life times, but also let be∣hind them many rare and ample manifestations of the same by those liberal Legacies to Scholes of Learning, Universities, Hospi∣tals,

Colledges, Lectures, and preaching Ministers, to succeeding ge∣nerations: yet we are so shamelesly sacrilegious and irreligious, as not onely to decline their lively-hoods by whom we live, but as much as in us lyes, rob them of that which both by the Law of God and Nations is their real and undubitable right, neither am I a little troubl'd that so general mischievous and matchless a malady as this, is no more laid to heart, that none pleads the cause of them; whose sin it would be accompted (by some) to plead for themselves; the neglect whereof is the sin and shame of all men: I have therefore (notwithstanding many discouragements) resolved to cast in my mite to the treasury of their supply, hoping hence to encourage those more able to contribute their more effectual assistance, that the success of so sacred a service may not be impaired: neither am I altogether without incouragement: for,

• First, As I am not a concerned party, I am not so readily ren∣dred self-ish.
• Secondly, 'Its ordinary for one word of a friend to prevail more in a mans cause then ten of his owne.
• Thirdly, I bless God my maine aime is to honour him as much as in me lyes, in promoting his cause and Kingdome.
• Fourthly, The Lord ordinary brings not only great things to pass by despicable but even contrary meanes.

Time permits not to memorize how Famous the very heathen have bin and are in their superstitious devotions dayly; experience speaks lowd enough the vast expense our adversaries the Papists are at to promote their Popish and Idolatrous hierarchie, that Romish rabble of Monks, Abbots, Fryers, Nuns, mass Preists; with their Idols and gods of all sorts; it were endless and as needless to recount the one half of that blind zeal the poor ignorant deceived people declare, in the support and supply of not onely their dumb Idols, but their Idle Abby-lubbers, neither will I wrong the dead so much as to un∣dertake to memorize their famous acts of piety and Protestant de∣votion who lived amongst us, by reason of my owne incapacity, who are now reaping the harvest of that seed time they enjoyed; onely resolve to give some brief hints out of Gods word, as the bu∣siness may require, to enkindle a religious fire of love and godly zeal to the house and servants of God, in the hearts of such who yet ap∣pear to live in the frozen zone of Ignorance, prophaness, cold for∣mality, lukewarmness, and light esteem of the Gospel.