| TO THE HIGH AND MIGHT Y P r inc e CH A RLE S, b y th e g r a c e of God, King of great Britta ine, France and Ireland, Defe n der of the Faith, &c. ({inverted ⁂}) Most gracious Souereigne: DEbt is a thing which hath exercised the minds of most men in all ages, but the pennes of verie fewe in this kind wherein I handle it. The Ciuilians I know tell vs what it is, and determine the cases incident to their facultie worthily and skilfully; but to shew how Debt not duly and seasonably paid, falles heauy vpon a mans outward estate, yea, and reflecteth bitterly, sometimes vpon the conscience, this few or none (that I know) haue hitherto vndertaken. And yet we see not any thing more frequent in experience, then the dismall effects, which Debt produceth in the life of man: some it pierceth with perpetuall cares, some it impouerisheth, som it imprisoneth, some it banisheth, to some it cleaueth, and to their seede for euer, like the leprosy of Naaman, to Gehazie, till they he consumed vtterly. It stayeth not heare but in some cases; it staineth and polluteth mens consciences. The wages of the hireling, the portion of the Labourer in the Lords haruest, the patrimonie of the fatherles, the widowes right, kept backe by force or fraud, are due Debt: the cries whereof as they are entred into the eares of the Lord, so can they not chuse but pierce the consciences of the vniust detainers of them vnless they be seared or otherwise sealed vp by some iust iudgement of God leauing them to their wilfulnesse and obduration. The ordinary silence of Ministers in this argument may make men thinke, perhaps, that we iustify, either the security of those who willingly continue in the bonds of Debt, or the sinfulnesse of those who pay them not at all. The sinnes of the times and the vices of the seuerall ages of the world haue beene imputed, for the most part, to the Pastors and Ministers of those ages and times, who by holding their tongues haue seemed to consent thereunto: though it may bee they mourned for them in secret. This hath made me willing to say somewhat in this thing, to free myselfe and others, whom it doth concerne, from the censure of posterity, for seeming by silence to giue way to that which clogges a Christian life otherwise comfortable, with intollerable troubles and molestations; and to draw on others, who are better able to giue their counsaile and directions for the preuenting or remouing of this miserie of Debt which hath wasted the state, and perplexed the soules of manie thousands in the world. This Treatise I haue desired not without your Gracious permission to present vnto your Maiesty, as the ablest instrument of God, by iustice to reforme the vnrighteous dealing of such as will not pay their Debts, and by Law to restraine the grieuous exactions of vsurious lenders, and by mercy to relieue the misery of such as in the businesse of Debt are not willing doers, but vnwilling sufferers: such I meane as either by the hardnesse of mens hearts are constrained at their need, to borrow vpon conditions to them intollerable, or as cannot get their owne though neuer so due, without spending more then the thing is worth, in trying a doubtfull issue for an vndoubted right, which is the case of almost all the inferior Ministers of the Kingdome, who cannot without such cost as they are not able to beare, recouer their due, if a couetous or crafty or wilfull opposite will denie it. It might possibly haue seemed fitter for one of my coate to haue handled some matter of Faith, or tending to mortification or some controuersy of the times, these I know are more properly pertinent to my calling, had not other men of better gifts done them abundantly with good successe and approbation; but this argument of debt as a barren soyle, hath lyen vntilled like a desolate wildernesse: no man regarding to reduce that into order, which hath disordered and put out of frame the thoughts and actions of the wisest men in the world. In managing wherof if I haue done the office of a faithfull Minister, let mee passe vnder the protection of your Gracious countenance; if in any thing I haue failed (as easily a man may doe) I humbly craue pardon, but no protection. Pardon alone will serue his turne, who will throw the first stone at his owne error when he sees it. In an argument of this nature its easier to speake pertinent things to men of lowe degree, then to Princes and Potentates; the state of Kings is aboue priuate capacities, and reasons of State beyond common rules, yet my hearts desire and prayer to God shall be that the cares of your Kingdoms (impossible to be gouerned without a most excellent spirit in your Maiesty, and speciall diuine assistance from God) may not bee aggrauated with the snares of Debt. Debt is a burden to a free spirited man, bee hee otherwise neuer so well able to beare it. And though it stand with the power and magnificence of great Princes freely and daily to grant iust requests, and bee also a more blessed thing to giue then to receiue, yet ordinarily it is counted a more necessary, iust, and conscionable act to pay Debts, then to giue gifts: If the one at any time but preiudice to the other; for although in them both, goodnesse and greatnesse, worke together: yet the giuing of gifts is more properly a fruit of power and greatnesse, payment of Debts an act of goodnesse, and true goodnesse will then stand in greatest perfection, when all earthly greatnesse will bee laid in the dust. The Lord of heauen blesse your Maiesty with a religious, aprosperous and long Raigne ouer vs, and make you as supreminent in goodnesse, as you are glorious in greatnesse; that you may not onely long inioy these earthly Dominions, but a Crowne of Immortalitie, a farre most excellent and exceeding weight of Celestiall glory, by the onely merit of our Lord and Sauiour IESVS CHRIST, to whose blessing and grace I shall as humble duty bindes mee, commend you while I liue in my truest Affections, and heartiest Prayers.
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