The people's impartiall, and compassionate monitor; about hearing of sermons: or, The worlds preachers and proselites lively painted out, for a person of quality; upon occasion of hearing two famous divines, whose transcendent wit, oratorie, and elegancie, made many at their wits end with admiration! Being a rare discovery to vndeceive the deceiver. / By R. Younge of Roxwell in Essex.

Section. 15.

And so according to my promise, and as well as I can: I have given you the Character of a non-preaching Minister, of a witty and Rhetorical Preach∣er; And to the end you may bee instructed, aswell by similitude as contra∣riety, I have declared the difference between these speculative Preachers, and experimentall Divines: whereby you may cleerly see, that the former in comparison of the latter, is but a hollow Reed without pith: that though his memory bee sufficiently sull fraught, yet his judgment is hollow and em∣pty: that hee is a barren divine, whose roots knowledge, bear no fruit but flowers: that for any solid divinity that is in him, hee may do as Pope Ce∣lestine the fifth did, who deposed himself by reason of his ignorance. In a word, that such a preacher is a bladder full of wind, a skin full of words, a fools-wonder, and a wise-mans fool.

But the better to undeceive the deceived, and to the end that wee may bee gainers by this discovery: because evill were as good not known, as not avoided. I will shew you how God's people are gulled, and Satan ad∣vantaged by these non-preaching Ministers. Who deal with the Church, as Vespatian did with Rome: who intending to invade the Empire, first made sack of Alexandria, where were all the Granaries, that so hee might make them yield for want of victualls, and become his vassalls. As to way-lay an enemies provision, hath ever been held and sound a principall stratagem in war.

How God's people are gulled, and Satan advantaged by this deep, and de∣vilish stratagem; I sear few consider as they ought: for if they did, they would as much detest these preachers, as now they applaud them. For what do they, but in a great measure (and asmuch as in them lies), bring the heaviest judgment upon the land that can befall any nation. Namely, a famine of the Word, and Gospel: Yea, they do not only bring this judgment upon those parishes which they are placed in; but they draw thousands from other parishes, (so hindering, and depriving their souls of their spi∣rituall food): and make the wholesom, and faithfull preaching of all good 〈…〉〈…〉, and disregarded by their people. Insomuch, that they do the Devill service, under a colour of serving Christ: and destroy souls, under a pretence of saving them. Nor is this their sin of a narrow ex∣tent. For hereby the people me brought into such a loathing of the true

Mannah of Gods Word: that wee have just cause to fear our being depri∣ved of it. As what cause have wee to fear, the removall of our Candlestick? and that God should leave us in the dark, since most men (I fear ninety nine of an hundred) love darkness, rather then light; and had rather hear wit and froth, then the pure and solid Word of God. And to take away our faithfull Ministers from us, when wee so little regard, and so ill and unworthily intreat and reward them, preferring the worlds preachers before those who are of Christs sending. Behold the days come saith the Lord God; that I will send a famine in the Land: Not a famine of bread, nor a thirst of water; but of hearing the Word of the Lord, Amos 8.11.

And this, (what ever carnall hearts conceive of it) were a greater judg∣ment, then were the loss of the Sun out of the firmament. Yea is it not just with God to take away the Lamp from that Nation? which hath (besides all this) taken away the holy oil that should maintain it; and to send up∣on us a famine of preaching, who have brought a famine upon the Preachers: For do not most men deny them maintenance, unless by Law they are compell'd: and then if they give it, they as good as give their curse with it. At least they will smite him with the tongue, giving no heed to his words, as the Prophet Jeremiah complains, Jer. 18.18. Lament. 3.45.46. And every penny they are forced to part with, is drawn from them, as so many drops of blood from the heart. Nor will they give it, but after such a base manner; that one would scorn to accept of it: for then nothing but find faults or mock them: As, I like not his preaching, or he is a round-head, or I cannot edifie by his sermons, or hee preaches the Law, and therefore is a railer: with an hundred the like, which apparently proves them God-haters, and Gospell-haters; as the root of this their enmity to the Ministry, is their enmity against God and his Word, and holiness: which they cannot indure, as appears by these places of Scripture, Rom. 1.30. Joh. 15.23, 24, 25. Rev. 16.9, 10, 11. Luk. 10.16. Matth. 11. ver. 6. 1 Sam. 8.7. Num. 16.11. John 7.7. Act. 9.4.5.

Wherefore look to it my brethren, lest you rob your selvs, and your posterity to the worlds end, of injoying this matchless mercy, this unpa∣rallel'd pearl. And Lord I fear, that England shall want the Gospell! when the Barbarians receive it: because England had the Gospell, and did so little esteem of it. You indeed set a low price upon it, and thereafter deal with the publishers of it; But O what large bribes would Satan give! (whose Chaplains onely you desire to hear) to have such men hold their peace; In the mean time I am sure, hee hath effected his will upon us, in a great measure another way, by sending these his Chaplains amongst us. Insomuch, that many men in England may bee said to wander, as Amos speaks Chap. 8. not from Sea to Sea, nor from the north to the west; but from parish to parish to seek the Word of God, and cannot find it ver. 11.12.

As let any knowing, and experimentall Christian go to hundreds of parish∣es in England, and hear but what preachers they have; yea, have chosen for themselvs (for by their good wills they will admit of no other then

these or worse.) Or rather let there bee a survey made, throughout the three Nations; and the number taken: first of such as preach so unprofita∣bly, that the people are never the better for their preaching; secondly of scandalous Ministers, that pull down either with one or both hands; that is to say with their lewd lives, or by their devillish doctrine; thirdly of ser∣pentine preachers, who instead of edifying to salvation, do edifie to damna∣tion; being very Rhetoricall to discourage the godly, and incourage the wicked; rarely eloquent to flatter sin, and flout holiness. And you will say, that God is as much beholding to hundreds of the best of them for their pains in preaching, and receivs as much good by their labour in the Church, as doth a Farmer by those quick cattle which continually live in his barn, feed upon his corn, and though they do him no great hurt, yet hee hath no service from them at all. Yea, I doubt not, but themselvs, I mean these non-preachers, these witty preachers will one day (If ever God bee pleas∣ed to open their eyes) acknowledge as much; and as much disdain to preach so, as now they do the contrary. For as the Jews, when they heard the Apostles preach, burnt their curious books, and had no more delight to study such toies: so as these Ministers come to the knowledge, and expe∣rience of the truth; and to have their eyes opened: they will bee con∣tent to leave these fancies, and say with Saint Paul, I desire to know, or preach nothing but Christ and him crucified. And indeed, there is but one right way of preaching; that is, when sound doctrine, and home-application goes together; many indirect ways: God chargeth his Ministers to refuse all ways but one, Satan bids them refuse that one, and take which way they please. Now whether God, or Satan is most heard, and obeyed, I leave for the indifferent Reader to iudge. In the mean time, these barren Trees, that occupy the room where better trees might grow; are not onely liable to a fearfull curse, Luke 13.7. Ezek 3.17, 18, 19. 1 Cor. 9.16. Zach. 11.17. Jer. 23.12.19. but have made themselves guilty of the blood of the Lords people; in taking upon them to bee their Captains, and conductors; and yet have no skill at all, in managing of martial affairs: being like that Souldier, who was very diligent in scowring of his Musket, preparing his match, practising his postures, &c. but when hee came into the field, had forgot his powder; or some careless Carpenter, that should square all by his rule, but sticks it at his back, and works by aim. For this I may boldly af∣firm, that all such as come to this spirituall warfare with carnal weapons; and strive to encounter that spirituall Goliah, with Sauls harness, and not with Da∣vids sling: with the blunt sword of meer humane eloquence, the words of men, Philosophers, and Fathers only; and not with the sharp two-edged sword of the Spirit, the Word of God: shew themselvs more like the Devills depu∣ties, then Christs Vicars. For instead of preaching the Word, they bring a famine of it.