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more we deduce, the fewer we leave. Oh, how happy were it then, if every man would begin at home; and take his own heart to task; and, at once, be his own accuser and judge; to condemn his private errors, yea to mulct them with death! Till then, alas, what avails it to talk? While every man censures, and no man amends, what is it but busy trifling?

But, though our care must begin at ourselves, it may not end there. Who, but a Cain, is not his brother's keeper? Public persons are not so much their own, as others are theirs. Who sits at the common stern, cannot distinguish, betwixt the care of his own safety, and his vessel's: both drown, at once; or, at once, salute the haven.

Ye Magistrates, for in you stand all our lower hopes, whom God hath, on purpose, in a wise surrogation, set upon earth, to correct her disorders; take to yourselves firm foreheads, courageous hearts, hands busy and not partial; to discountenance shameless wickedness; to resist the violent sway of evils; to execute wholesome laws, with strictness, with resolution. The sword of the Spirit meets with such iron hearts, that, both it enters not, and is rebated, Lo, it appeals to your arm, to your aid. An earthen edge can best pierce this hardened earth. If iniquity die not by your hands, we perish.

And, ye Sous of Levi, gather to your Moses, in the gate of the camp. Consecrate your hands to God, in this holy slaughter of vice. Let your voice be, both a trumpet to incite, and a twoedged sword to wound and kill. Cry down sin, in earnest; and thunder out of that sacred chair of Moses; and let your lives speak yet louder.

Neither may the common Christian sit still, and look on in silence. I am deceived, if in this cause, God allow any man for private. Here must be all actors; no witnesses. His discreet admonitions, seasonable reproofs, and prayers never unseasonable, besides the power of honest example, are expected as his due tribute to the common health. What, if we cannot turn the stream? yet, we must swim against it. Even without conquest, it is glorious to have resisted. In this alone, they are enemies, that do nothing.

Thus, as one that delights more in amendment than excuse, I have both censured and directed. The favour of your sentence proceeds, I know, from your own innocent uprightness: so judge my severe taxation. It shall be happy for us, if we can, at once, excuse and diminish; accuse and redress iniquity. Let but the endeavour be ours; the success to God,

of

EPISTLES:

THE THIRD AND LAST VOLUME; CONTAINING II. DECADS.

BY JOSEPH HALL.

225

TO THE MOST HIGH AND EXCELLENT

PRINCE HENRY, PRINCE OF WALES,

ALL HAPPINESS.

MOST GRACIOUS PRINCE:

LET me not, while I desire to be dutiful, seem importunate, in my Dedications. I now bring to your Highness these my last, and perhaps most material Letters: wherein, if I mistake not, (as, how easily are we deceived in our own!) the pleasure of the variety shall strive with the importance of matter. There is no worldly thing, I confess, whereof I am more ambitious, than of your Highness's contentment; which that you place in goodness, is not more your glory, than our joy. Do so still, and heaven and earth shall agree to bless you, and us in you. For me, after this my officious boldness, I shall betake myself in silence, to some greater work, wherein I may ap prove my service to the Church, and to your Highness, as her second joy and care. My heart shall be always and upon all opportunities, my tongue and pen shall no less gladly, be devoted to my gracious Master, as one

Who rejoice to be your Highness's

(though unworthy, yet) faithful

and obsequious servant,

JOSEPH HALL.

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