'TIs very true, my Beloved; for when a man must die, who the devil can help it. Almidor King of Morocco being to die, would have given St. George more than our deceased Champion was worth to have sav'd his life, yet, quoth he, thou speakest in vain. Then answered the Morocco Emperor, Why do I speak in vain? spare but my life and I will give thee yearly ten runs of tryed gold. B [...]t St. George reply'd, Thou speakest in vain. Nay further, quoth the Empe­ror, I will give thee five hundred Webs of woven Silk, a hundred Ships of Spices and refined Sugar, and a hundred waggons laden with Pearls and Jasper-stones. Sabra, who was a woman that loved new Gowns, Cau­dles, and Jewels, hearing that, fell at her husbands feet, and fain she would have begged his life but nei­ther her intreaty, nor the tears of the poor Emperor could prevail, Thou speakest in vain, quoth St. George, not all the Treasures hidden in the deepest Seas, nor all the golden Mines of America, shall redeem thy life. [Page 4] Beloved, I think this Text is as pat to our purpose as a Cows thumb; if you don't like it, you may go seek a better where you can finde it. For first, it is a dogged surly Text: and secondly, it is a vain-glorious, proud, imperious. Text; and therefore be not angry that I am so testy, for we are now to preach surlily and dog­gedly, according to the natu [...]e of the person whom we are to speak of. Nor shall we call ye Brethren any more, as in preachments of a milder nature, but piti­ful fellows, such as he would have made ye, had he had but life and power together. And if ye don't like the tearm, ye may get you out of the Church. First then ye pitiful Rascals, let us consider the words. But stay: was he ever wont to consider when he liv'd? No: Then why should we consider the words? I won't con­sider the words. Why ye pitiful Rascals, will you make me? — ye shall be hang'd first— I come here to make a Funeral Sermon. — I come not here to consider the words. Here one interrupts him in the Pulpit. — Then pray good friend let ye the words alone.—Sirrah, now I will consider the words. — Yes that I will in spite of your teeth.— Let me see, what's the first word? Thou. I marry sir, there's a bold word indeed. He does not come sneak­ing, and cry You, or Your Worship, or Your Lordship, or Your Highness, or Your Majesty, but down-right Thou, to shew him he was none of his fellows that he spake to. He was not afraid to thou him to his face; I like a fellow that speakes with mettal. For ought I know it was too good for him: nay now I think on't, it was too good for him.— How do I know?— Why I do know, and I will know, and I wonder who should know but I? Why, who did St. George speak to? [Page 5] Why, he spoke to a King, what if he did? Our de­ceased Champion has spoke to a King before now. Speak to the King! why he thought himself as good a man as the King could do for his ears. He—he card no more for the King, than I care for a straw: He was one of his Judges mun, one of those that con­demned him; then give me leave to tell ye: give me leave do I say? nay Ile take leave to tell ye, that a Judge is a better man than a prisoner at any time.

Thou speakest: This is not a word to my minde; 'tis too meek, 'tis not sturdy enough, ye rogues you, it should be thou pratest, and I'le lay my l [...]fe now 'tis so in the Original; Pox take him for a Puppy, why could not he translate it as it should be? Rogue—an I had him here, I'de make him translate it as I would have it—Why, 'tis as it should be—Ye lye, Another in­terruption 'tis not as it should be—What do I do? Pervert the Text do you say? What's that to you; Sirrah? I'le pervert it, and pervert it, and pervert it again; yes and I'le pervert a hundred Texts more if I have a minde to it. Ye Rogue you, I'de have to know that I am not a­fraid to pervert a Text. Am I bound to follow the Text? No; let the text follow me and 'twill. Well then, let it be thou pratest— let it be!—I say it shall be so—The fellow—You'l say he was an Em­peror,—shit o the Emperor—The fellow I say, was saucy—Whats the matter?—Why, he would have begged his life of one that would not give it him, and therefore he was answered in his own coyn. Why if a Cavaleer should come to begg his life of me, are you such Fools and Puppies to think I'de give it him? No I warrant ye—Yet I would not say to him as [Page 6] if I were afraid of him. Thou speakest in vain—but Sirrah, thou pratest in vain: and so drive on to the next. Thou pratest in vain. That is, thou talkest like a Fool, an Ass, and a Cox-comb, of whose words there is no more notice to be taken, then of the barking of a Beggars Cur Here now must I wedge in a little speech concerning Forgiveness. He spies some body sleeping Ye Rogues you, I command ye to give attention—You friend, d'ye hear there! what cant you hold open your eyes? I had thought I had bawld loud enough to keep ye waking, good folkes—but some will give the devil opportunities in spite of a mans heart—take heed, take heed—when your soul is gon a wooll gathering, the devil he comes and takes possession—But as concerning forgive­ness; I'le tell ye, 'tis the basest quality in the world— tis a signe of Good nature, and whats Good-nature, but folly, and simplicity? Look ye now, I have given you a reason for what I say, 'tis more then I need to do, I tell ye, I do use to give reasons for every thing I say: Then I tell ye again that Forgiveness is an ill quality, a base quality, a vile quality, never use it, never practise it, y' are damnd if ye do, the devil, the devil will cer­tainly have ye if ye let it enter into your brests—Now ye Rogues, you'd have a reason for this, would ye?— Yes when y' are hang'd, ye shall have new doublets— Reason quether! what would you do with reason? Stop Glister-pipes? What quirks the devil puts into folkes heads? Do's the devil give ye any reason, I wonder? And yet you can believe the devil, and wont believe me. But I care not for that, I say forgiveness is a base quality, and I'le justifi't, and I believe if the the truth were known the devil is of my minde too, if [Page 7] he be not, he is a Ninny-hammer, and a Woodcock— But we must forgive our brother seven times— I con­fess a brother is a neer relation, but I am so far from forgiving any body, that rather then I would forgive my brother seven times, I'de go seven mile to see him hang'd. Thus much by the by. Thou speakest in vain, replyed St. George.

I make no question but you have all a very great de­sire to know who St. George is: But suppose I han't a minde to tell ye If I thought you did not take it for a Curtesie, I'de not tell ye, though it were to save your Souls. However, if I do, 'tis more my goodness then your deserts. Why this St. George was the likest man to our deceased Champion that ever was in the world. He was the son of a woman, and so was our Champi­on: but he was not the daughter of a woman, no more was our Champion. He had a left arm and a right arm, and so had our Champion: He killed a Dragon, and so did not our Champion; S. George he was for England, and our Champion he was for the Fifth Monarchy. St. George was mighty furious, and so was our Champion. St. George went from Coventry to Dunsmore, and our Champion went from London to Warrington-Bridge; That journey broke St. Georges heart; and this journey broke our Champions heart: Judge you now how like they are. I hope ye are sa­tisfied, if ye are not I can't help it; I am not to stay here all day to give you satisfaction. But why Saint George, and not Sir George? as if Saint were a better Title than Sir. But I say, No: for every man may be a Saint that will, but every man cannot be a Sir, un­less it be conferr'd upon him for some noble act. Is a [Page 8] Knight then a better man then the King? Yes marry is he —How do I prove that? — Thus: if the Knight trye the King, then the Knight is a better man then the King; but the Knight did trye the King, Therefore — but that was against Law, you'l say — You Rogues I know the time when ye durst as well have bin Hang'd as have said so—But what if it were against Law. What then? All men know, the Law's abolish't.— But 'tis against the Gospel then — 'tis not, — but suppose it were so: What's the Gospel to us? I have preached against it a hundred times. The Gospel! why if a man be resolved, it signifies no more than the Story of Tom Thumb. Does it not, y'ould say? No ye Rogues, that it don't. — How dare you con­tradict me? Was I ever in Orders? Did ye ever see me preach with a Gown on? Did I ever keep close to my Text? Then I say again, How dare you gain­say me? Dont let me thunder among ye, dont let me throw fire and brimstone among ye; for if ye do, Ile make you smoke yfaith: Nay Ile begin even now while I think on't.

For the fifth Vial is poured out, and a tempest, a furious tempest, and a tempest of fury issues from the East, with a great smoke, and a Thunder-clap of wrath and indignation upon all Nations, and the ter­rible things that are to come shall make the Children quake, the Nurses tremble, Big-bellyed women shall groan at their Delivery; for the Sun shall shine by day, and the Moon shall shine by night, the Earth shall stand still, and the Waves of the Sea shall roar, then the wicked shall fall into the pit, but cursed is he that goeth with a Pitch-fork in one hand, and a pair [Page 9] of Bellows in the other, thinking to pick up the glea­nings of Ephraim where they are not to be found.— Bounce, — bounce, — bounce, — there are three Amalekites slain. — Bounce, — bounce, — bounce, — there are six Amalekites slain. — So shall all the Amalekites be slain. Cucumbers shall not grow in Egypt, nor Musk-melons in the Valley of Jehosaphat: then all things shall be as it was in the be­ginning. There you Rogues you, there is an Excur­sion for you. Now let us see what's next.

Not all the Treasures hidden in the deepest Seas, nor all the golden Mines of rich America, shall redeem thy life. I, did St. George say so? 'twas resolutely spo­ken upon my soul: but it was spoke more like a Sol­dier than a Politician; and that was our deceased Champions fault: the devil take him for me, he has soldier'd himself out of this world by his foppery. For my part, if the fellow would have given me half so much, I would have sav'd his life. But Almidor was a dull, thick-pated fellow, and understood not how St. George mis-understood his promise: for mark how the words run, Not all the treasures hidden in the sea. What a devil should a man do with all the treasures hidden in the sea? but if Almidor would have taken 'um out of the sea, and given 'um to St. George, and St. George had then refused to save his life, he had been the greatest fool in the world. But perhaps the times were not so hard as now. — I dont know that, nor I dont much minde it. Let the times be hard or soft, he ought not to refuse such a proffer as that was, especially being a Saint; I am sure it has not been the practise of the Saints in my time. And for my part, I [Page 10] believe we have as good Saints now, as any they had then: And so Exposition farewel and be hang'd, that's twice god-buy.

Being thus quit of our Exposition, let us uncase our Doctrine, which I perceive by the story will be a very long one, even as long as the Maggot that was in our Champions head.

That if a man have an enemy, and that enemy lye at his mercy, then it is the duty of that man to kill that enemy, though he would give never so much to save his life.

This Doctrine, yee Rogues, is very true, Ile swear it to be a truth. Old Fiery face that dyed with a hors­pocks was of this opinion, and left it behinde him as his Basilicon Doron to his son, but the Puppy had not the wit to practise it. Why if the King could, and would have given that old Hypocrite a Mansion in heaven, it would not have saved his life; and I have have heard our deceased Champion say, That before his Son should have dominion over him, he would roll to his grave in blood. Hector of Troy in his life of Judith and Holophernes, says, That a man ought to seek all opportunities to murther his enemies; For, saith he, when thou hast done a man a mischief, be sure thou never let it be in his power to do thee another. Attila King of the Vandals, swears a great Oath in his Comment upon Bell and the Dragon, that he took as much delight in killing and slaying his enemies, as Richard Cromwel took in hawking and hunting Ta­merlane in his Treatise of Repentance, saith, That he never repented of any thing, but that he did not kill Bajazett presently after he had taken him; For, saith [Page 11] he, suppose the Forces of Bajazett had beaten me, and he had got loose, then might he have carried me in a Cage, as I have carried him in a Cage. Orlando Fu­rioso in his book called The Vanity of Forgiveness, sayes absolutely there is no such thing, and for my part I believe it, and if you wont, yee are not of my minde, and who is not of my minde, is damn'd: if you wont believe that neither, kiss my back-side.

Hold! What have I forgot? Now I think on't I have a Letter from our deceased Champion which was given me by his wife, to read to ye for your satisfacti­on; But as for your satisfaction I value not that of a straw, I onely read it for my own minds sake, and be­cause 'tis a novelty, and therefore ye varlets you give attention.

Look ye, ye Rogues you, did you ever hear such a Letter as this? Ye may thank me for't, a Letter from hell ye Rogues you: There's news for ye — Now you that are so much for heaven, what think ye of Hell now?—You had thought there had bin no honest men there, I warrant,—but ye see there are—Well then—and why goodman Cox-combs will not you go to Hell then — a Rope take ye all, 'tis too good for yee, unless ye were better. Do but marke here the honesty of this man, he had promised his wife to come to her in three days, good woman she could say no o­therwise then she was told, and she tells you, that he said so. Well then! what of all this? As if a man might not promise sometimes a thing which he knows he cannot perform, and sometimes a thing which he ne­ver intends. But this man doubtless did intend to come though when he saw he could not, he sent word by the [Page 14] first return of the post. But you'l say is not his wife very sorry? Why goodman Puppies, what have you to do whether she be or no — good now meddle with your own business — What need you be asking so many questions to trouble your braines? If I don't tell you as much and more then you are able to carry a­way, without your help, let me suffer for it.

For when I came in, his wife was a saying, Lord I wonder my husband does stay so long, and knows that the meat will be spoyled. I wonder too, said I, truly I don't think he will come to night. Yes, yes, I am certain on't, quoth she. Would he would come away then, thought I, for I was very hungry, and was very melancholy to see such good meat like to be over Roasted: Well— While I was in these meditations, my gutts chiding my stomack, and my stomack making defences and excuses to my gutts, in comes this Letter, I read it over, and when I saw he would not come, I cen bid the maid set the meat upon the Table, for we teachers ye know, are always very familiar where we come. She wept, I swallowed my victuals; Come Sister quoth I, the more you weep, the less you'l Piss and so I com­forted her as well as I could, but she would not be comforted but wept exceedingly. From hence I gather that necessity has no law: for I finde by the story that our brother would have bin glad with all his heart to have come again, but it seemes he cannot. And for my part I don't care whether he ever do or no, onely I had a minde to read the Letter, because she desired me, it may be she may do me as good a turn. But that's no­thing to you, and so lets jogg on to the Uses.

Is it so then that a man ought not to save the life of [Page 15] his foe, though he would give him never so much.

Then let this serve for a use of admonition, to ad­monish us to make our selves great in this world, that we may be able to destroy all our enemies. Namely Emperors, Kings, Dukes, Marquesses, Earles, Lords, Viscounts, Knights and Gentlemen. For these, mark what I say ye Varlets, are the posts, by which Satan up­holds his weak Government upon the Earth: Ay but ye Rogues you, I can tell you one thing, they are but [...]otten posts; stay but a little while and they shall be all pulled down, for our King shall come among them with a firy indignation, who is King of the world, though he is not in the world yet, but he shall come, and shall bring along with him ten thousand Angels with blew Wings, and Turkish Semitars by their sides, and shall destroy all and wom [...]n, that are not of our profession, then shall we swim at the top of the waters like Cork, but the wicked shall sink down to the bottom, and shall be covered with the waters of destruction. Then shall Satan roar like all the Bulls of Bashan, the Rulers of the Earth shall sit bare-breeched upon Hawthorn-Bushes, with Knitting-needles in their hands, But Ravili [...]ck shall sit in glory for killing the King, for we that are the Saints shall rule the Earth: but how came we to be saints you I say? Why you Rogues you who made you examiners? is it not enough that I tell you so? Therefore when you get your foes into your Cluttches use them like dogs, cut um, slice um, boyle um, roast um, bake um, stew um, hang um, hew um, torture um; and why? Because they are the accursed generation, or the generation of the accursed. For Antichrist and the Pope are all one. Ah Pope, [Page 15] have I caught thee, Ile have a fling at thy breech ifaith, Oh thou accursed whore, thou monstrous devil, thou confounded punk, how often have I railed against thee both in private and publick, but thou art still the same, shame on thee and all thy warbling noates, and thy Queristers and thy bagpipes, and this lawn sleeves, for you have Gold and Silver in abundance, and we can get nothing but a little butter-mony from the silly wo­men which they glean from their husbands by over rating the price of provisions. But the time shall come when ye shall all be sent out of the world will a horse­pox. And then hey for the men that hate Cuffs, and tye the latchets of their shoes with blew Tape; for they are the blades that shall sack Rome. Then shall Scarlet be at three half pence an Ell, and men shall pave the Hearths of their Chimneys with Diamonds. But hold! I must not let you surfeit with too much joy at one time, and therefore Ile keep the rest till I see you again, and so farewel.