them that beare the sword (a man may say of many Governours) altogether in vaine for matters of religion.  Are not kings of the earth charg’d to render double to the bloody strumpet of Rome?  Why then doth the hurtfull pitty of our times imbolden and increase their numbers? Laodicea it selfe, I doubt not, for matters of mine and thine, had (as their name imports) good civill justice and justicers; but what was God the neerer for it? doth hee not threaten for all that to spue them out of his mouth? shall hee not curse those that doe his worke negligently, fearfully & partially?  Our times complaine of two speciall canker wormes of justice, which eat up zeale in Magistrates.  The first is Covetousnesse, which makes men of place to transgresse for a morsell of bread; the zeale of their owne houses consumes the zeale of Gods house:  The building of great houses, keeping of great houses, and matching with great houses, raising and leaving of great houses behinde them, makes them so ravenous, that they devoure so much, as choakes all their zeale; which would teach them to shake their laps of bribes, and scorne to accept gifts, though men would augment them for the perverting of judgement.  The other is Cowardice and Fearfulnes:  which how unfit, and base a quality did Nehemiah thinke it for a man of his place? no better then shynesse in a fore-horse, whose eyes men fence on both sides, that they may lead the way, and goe without starting; unto which, zeale is answerable in Magistrates, causing them onely to see him that is invisible, without casting a squint eye at men; to sing to God onely of judgement and mercy, without tuning their songs to mans eare; to walke in the perfect way, without turning, either to the right or left hand for feare of favour.  Oh that there were such an heart in our leaders; how easily would our people follow! what a spring tide of zeale should wee have, if the Sunne and Moone would cast out a benigne aspect upon them!  Doth it not flourish in all those shires and townes, where the Word and Sword doe joyntly cherish it?  In others which are the greatest number, how doth it languish and wane away, and hang downe the head? where is it in diverse places of the land to bee seene?  I had almost sayd in my haste and heat, there is none that hath zeale, no not one, there is no courage for the truth; but that I remember that Eliah was checked for over-shooting himselfe in his too short and quicke computation.  I hope the Lord hath his fifties amongst us, though but thinn sowne in comparison of the swarmes of professed Recusants, and Church-Papists, of prophane Atheists, key-cold worldlings, and lukewarme professors.  The bodies of our many severall Congregations, yea even of the better sort, whereunto have they beene likened by our separated adversaries; but unto the Prophet Hosea his cake, halfe baked upon the hearth, having one side, that is, the one side to the world-ward, in publique