Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/264

 226 Readings in European History especially if they be poor, are counted the greatest burdens, which, if things were right, would be the chiefest earthly blessings. 4. The whole earth is the Lord's garden, and he hath given it to the sons of men with a general commission (Gen. i. 28) to increase and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it, which was again renewed to Noah ; the end is double and natural, that man might enjoy the fruits of the earth and God might have his due glory from the creature. Why then should we stand here striving for places of habitation, etc. (many men spending as much labor and cost to recover or keep sometimes an acre or two of land as would procure them many, and as good or better, in another country), and in the meantime suffer a whole continent as fruitful and convenient for the use of man to lie waste without any improvement ? 5. We are grown to that height of intemperance in all excess of riot as no man's estate almost will suffice to keep sail with his equals ; and who fails herein must live in. scorn and contempt. Hence it comes that all arts and trades are carried in that deceitful and unrighteous course as it is almost impossible for a good and upright man to maintain his charge and live comfortably in any of them. 6. The fountains of learning and religion are so cor- rupted as (besides the insupportable charge of their educa- tion) most children (even the best wits and of fairest hopes) are perverted, corrupted, and utterly overthrown by the multitude of evil examples and the licentious government of those seminaries where men strain at gnats and swallow camels, use all severity for maintenance of caps and other accompliments, but suffer all ruffianlike fashions and dis- order in manners to pass uncontrolled. 7. What can be a better work and more honorable and worthy a Christian than to help raise and support a par- ticular church while it is in its infancy, and join his forces with such a company of faithful people as by a timely assistance may grow strong and prosper, and for want of it may be put to great hazard, if not wholly ruined ? . ..