while they Cry out against Popery they mean Episcopacy and do but amuse us with the Romish Wolf that we may be made a prey to the Northern-Bear Were not the late instances of Tumultuary Proposals and Applications Tricks of the Old Trade Addresses in the nature of Remonstrances Arbitrary Orders for Imprisoning Subjects and Votes suspending Penal Statutes and rendring the King uncapable of making use of his Own Revenue for the Publick Safety and putting him into a worse condition than the meanest of his Subjects did not they court the King to have the Militia and all Offices and Places of Trust at their disposal and were not these the very things that begat the War and ruin'd us all Did not the Parliament in Forty One c. Protest their Duty and Allegiance to his Majesty in the fairest terms imaginable and confirm'd the same by Oaths and Covenants that they had no intentions to offer Violence to his Majesties Person to Hurt his Power or Destroy his Monarchy and yet did not the same Persons against their own Remonstrances Declarations Protestations Promises Vows and Oaths in cold Blood Murther their Lawful Sovereign Did they not in a Declaration publish'd in 42. say they intended nothing but a Reformation of some Abuses crept into the Church and yet did not the same men pull down Churches to set up an Enthusiastick Devotion seize the Churches Patrimony to inrich themselves and at last abolish its Government to gratifie the Phanatick Zeal of a distracted multitude and shall we be ruined by them a second time God forbid One would think there needed no other Argument amongst us against Rebillion or Sedition in the State or against Schism or Division in the Church than the bare remembrance of what this Nation hath already suffer'd by them we have felt to our Costs what it was to want our Lawful Government and what was the Effect of resisting Authority for our Enemies having by a vast Expence of Blood and Treasute wrested the Power into their own hands they threw down the Nobles from their Honours and Estates and set up the very Scum and Dregs of the People in stead of One King of a Glorious Race we had a whole Army of Vsurpers who sent their Horses to Church and went themselves to Conventicles and a great part of their Devotion there was to Curse Loyal Subjects under the Name of Meroz and contrive to Murther their King in the Name of Jesus Two things they promis'd the abus'd Nation viz. Religion and Liberty and made good their promises by bringing in all the Religons in the world except the Orthodox and to be of that was to be an Enemy to the Gate men might pray without sense so they prayed without a Booke but to say the Lords Prayer was to be called a Malignant and to pray for the King was to be accounted a Traytor And as they dealt with us in the affairs of Religion so did they in respect of our Priveledgs allowing no other share to us than what might confirm our Vassalage and uphold there Tyranny they had the Liberty to Plunder and Oppress and we had the Liberty to Beg or Starve they had the Liberty to be Cruel and Savage and we had Liberty to be Dishonest or be Hang'd which I think is sufficient to perswade us by all lawfull means to prevent the designs of those persons which but lately were so mischievous and deadly to the King and his three Kingdoms But say some is it not unreasonable and unjust to charge the sins of the former Age upon this No but on the contrary t is both rational and equitable so to do since the same principles will upon the same occasion eternally act the same things unless prevented by the greatest care and circumspection And for those who are displeased at the rehearsal of former Wickedness if they would lay aside their Prejudice have cause to thank us for our design is to Reform and not Ruine them to shew them the Danger and not draw them into the Snare and to tell them the naked truth of things which they hear not at all in Conventiâ—lâ—s or else are represented to them under more favourable Expressions than they ought be for who that sees Rebellion in its ugly hue and Murther in its own shape would not fly from it with Horror and Amazement and therefore hath it been a man Artifice amongst the Non-Conformist Preachers to disuade their Admirers from frequenting those places where the Doctrine of Obedience is Taught lest their Eyes should be opened and their Consciences convinced and they lose both their Pension and their Proâ—â—lâ—te And therefore if there be any in this great Congregation who have frequented such Plaâ—â—s where People are alienated from their Duty to God and the King let me intreat them by a Religious Conformity to the Laws Ecclesiastical and Civil to seek their own Peace and Safety and by a true Repentance prevent the Ruine of Soul and Body For they that Resist Lawful Authority shall receive to themselves Damnation To which give me leave to add the Advise of a great Lawyer Peruse all Books Records and Histories and you shall find a Principle in Law a Rule in Reason and a Tryal in Experience that Treason doth ever produce fatal and final destruction to the offender and never attains the desired End two incidents inseparable thereunto and therefore let all Men abandon it as the Poysonous Bait of the Devil and follow the Precept in Holy Scripture Serve God and Honour the King and have no Company with the Seditious Lastly Pro quibus orandum pro tis laborandum Let an honest indeavour inforce your Prayers and Seeing we Live among those that are Enemies to Peace a Race of Cruel and Blood-Thirsty Men let it be your greatest Care to Discover and Prevent their Treacherous Designs that we may have no more Rebellions hatched among us Suffer not Ambitious Men to purchase their own Advancement with the Price of your Blood and Treasure for they may Contrive with their Hâ—ads till they drop from their Shoulders unless they have more Hands to Assist them And since I have the Honour to speak to the Magistracy of this Famous City of whose Fidelity to the King I come not to Doubt but rather Congratulate Suffer me to intreat you not to let any Man or Thing divide you from his Majesty for none can do it but with a design to destroy you The Safety of the King is in the Welfare of his People and the Prosperity of this City depends upon the King's Safety and if Men would look into the Truth of things they would soon perceive that their Interests are complicated and indeed the same for it is true in Experience as well as Speculation and whoever will trace either the Ruine of the Late King of Blessed Memory or the subsequent Misery of this City to their first Origins will soon find the Artifice of some Men in Separating them from each
our Sins And again pag. 53. says that the reasons that moved the Pope to despose Kings was good and just and meet to be received and Executed by the body of every Common wealth Apel. Pag. 26. Knox the Scottish Presbyter says it is blasphemy to say we must obey Kings whether they be good or evil And asserts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pag. 26. Buchanan in his Book de jure Regni apud Scotos among other things of dangerous consequence to crowned heads says populus rege est prastantior melior Pag. 38. The People are more excellent than the King And this he avoucheth with the greatest confidence imaginable though the Holy Scripture says plainly that the King is worth ten thousand of the people The same Author says that the People have the same power over the King that the King hath over any one man and that Ministers may Excommunicate him and then draws this damnable conclusion that he who by Excommnication is cast into hell is not worthy to live upon earth Thus hath the Scotch Rebell like that Italian Tyrant taught Sbjects how at one blow they may kill both the Body and Soul of their Prince But as if this were not bad enough yet Pagâ— 40. the wretched Presbyter adds that it were very good that rewards were appointed by the people for such as should kill Tyrants and such they account all those Kings that will not submit their necks to the yoke of their discipline as there be sallaries allowed for those qui lupos aut ursos occiderunt aut catulos eorum deprehenderunt Who have killed Wolves or Bears or have destroyed their brood And who that hears these Doctrines more bloody than Popery or Paganism will doubt that 't is the leaders of these people that dipping their pens in Gall make way for the sword to glut it self with the Blood of Kings Nor were our English Presbyters and Independents much behind their holy brethren the Scots in wicked confederacy and against their King and like the Priests and Praeco's of Mars in scattering Fire-brands through the Nation Book of the Covenant in Evangel Armat pag. 42. Mr. Case calls the late Rebellion the Holy War the Cause of God and Saints all that ingaged in it the Scotch Covenant he calls Christs marriage-contract and says to act against it was to despight the Holy Ghost Zach. Crofton's Answ to Bp. Gauden Edit 3. Pag. 22. Crofton says that all Acts of Parliament made against it were damnable and that Parents ought to baptize their Children into the Scotch Covenant Spirit of Popery 7. 26. 42. Calamy's Ser. before the Lords Dec. 25. 1644. Jenkin's Humble Pet. Oct. 15. 1657. Mr. Calamy and Mr. Jenkins said that the Parliament without the King were the Supreme power of the Nation and that they were assisted by the speciall direction of God And that none could do such things viz Rebelling against the King and Butchering his Subjects except God were with them Mr. Love in his Sermon at the Treaty at Vxbridge Says that the Sword not Arguments must end that Controversy Evangel Armat vid. First Second Part of the History of Separation Mr. Baxter hath said enough in his Holy Common-wealth and other writings to prove him the Bell-weather of Sedition and a man of blood and he that would see further let him view the first and second part of the Dissenters sayings collected from their works and besides this Rebellion against and deposing of Princes is warranted in above twenty places in the Assemblies Annotations and of the same Complexion is Mr. Pool's Criticks Vid. Hist Athaliah Thus have you seen the Devil of Rebellion transforming himself into an Angel of Reformation Icon Bisil and those that should have been Embassadours of Peace the fomenters of an unnatural and bloody War And all under the pretence of Religion The true Religion prevailed upon the world by Purity of Doctrine and Innocency of Life but these mens principles having in this particular a nearer affinity to the Laws of the Impostor Mahomet pudet haec opprobr a nobis dici potuisle non potuisle refelli than the precepts of the Holy Jesus a took the same method for the Establishment thereof as he did who injoyn'd his worshipers by a Law Alcor pag. 125. to persevere in Killing Christians till they was rooted out of the earth So that if Rebellion be Religion then the Papists Mahumetans and Presbyterians are the only true Protestants in the world if the Second murther of a King and utter exâ—irpaâ—ion of the Royall Family the way to promote Gods Glory then are Dissenters the only Champion for the Government and to say worse of them than that they are Seditious and Rebellious upon the accompt of their Religious Principles were to cast Iâ—k upon the face of an Ethiopian You have now heard some of those Monstrous Doctrines that in defiance to the Laws of God and Man encourage the Resistance and consequently the ruin of Kings But that they are as opposite to truth as Light is to Darkness is the next particular wherewith I shall Exercise your patience and this I will do by proving that Religion doth not exempt us from the Authority and Power of Kings and rulers though they be infidels and Heathens and not only strangers but Enemies to true Religion and the professors of it It is not objecting Enormities in the Religion Life or Government of a King that can absolve their subjects from Obedience for the tyes and bonds of duty and subjection to them are Sacred and inviolable Dominion and soveraignty are the Ordinances of God not as he is the Author of grace and redeemer of his Church But as he is the Author of mankind and Governour of the world Dominium temporale non fundatur in gratia Supernatural grace is not that which constitutes Kingdoms nor is the calling of Magistrates a Mistery of the Gospel but an appointment of God by his universall providence The duty of Children to Parents of Servants to Masters of Subjects to Princes is not a consequence of Christianity but a principle of Nature and unalterable by Religon a Christian Child cannot abandon his duty to his Parents tho they be Heathens or Infidels a Christian Servant cannot shake off the yoke of Subjection because his Master is an Vnbeliever 1 Tim. vi 1. nor Christian Subjects deny their allegiance to their Lawful Sovereign tho Heathen and Infidells And he must be a stranger to the Sacred records and the practice of good men in all ages that asserts the contrary But that I may give you one Example for all in a case that directly agrees with all that the Enemies of Monarchy can object against our obedience see it in the Prophet Daniels behaviour towards King Darius Now this Darius was a Heathen Prince one that kept the Church and people of God in cruel bondage and captivity Dan. iii.
what to collect unless it be that of the Prophet Isaiah The Leaders of this People cause them to Erre (b) Qui devoratur a malis Pastoribus St. Jerom. for where doth this Gangrene so mortally spread and from whence doth the Plague of Sedition Privy-Conspiracy and Rebellion disperse its contagion but from the Conventicles which are the Schools wherein Male-contents are disciplin'd for publick mischief 't is in those Vnlawful Assemblies that the Sons of Bichry and Belial Gebal and Ammon and Amalec blow the Trumpets of Rebellion disclaim their right in David and persuade others that they have no inheritance in the King 'T is there the deluded Mobile are Taught that the just and equitable Restraints of Authority are Incroachments upon their Birth-Right and 't is there they are Instructed to Obey for Wrath and Disobey for Conscience-Sake Doctrines big with Rebellion and Confusion Nullum malum majus aut infeliciter feâ—â—cius quam inobedientia Senec. whose teeming wombs bring forth no other issue than Blood and Fire and Pillars of Smoke Now have they unridled the mystery of their Non-conformity they would not come to Church because that Holy-Ground could not be Desecrated by such impious Consultations They would not Pray with us well knowing we could not consent with them to injure the Lord 's Anointed and therefore must find out such lurking holes and secret places as correspond with such black Designs Honest dealing dares look the Sun in the Face only Treasonable Purposes must be mantled in the horrid shades of Obscurity Gen. xlix 6. O my Soul come not thou into their Secrets nor unto such Assemblies be your honours united for in their Anger they slew an excellent King and in their Self-will digged down the Walls of the best Government in the World Now that they may not run into the same Extremities nor reduce us to such repeated Confusions Let us Pray God Save the King Which words are the same with those in 1 Kings i. 34. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and with that in Psal xx 9. Psal xx 9. rendred by the Septuagint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O Lord save the King and hear us a form of words used by the Jews at their Feast of Tabernacles and Coronation of their Kings and sounds as much as Vivat Rex Ita vulg Lat. Vatabl. Hâ—m Annot. Psal xx or Let the King Live wherein we do in one word wish the King Prosperity and Peace Long Life and Health Victory over his Enemies and Everlasting Happiness matters of so great consequence and so aptly expressed that our Church hath appointed it to be one of the versieles in her Publick Devotions O Lord save the King and mercifully hear us whose Peace is linck'd with his Prosperity when we call upon Thee Prayer is commonly divided into two parts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Supplicatory for the Blessings and Favours we want and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Gratulatory for the Mercies and Benefits we have already receiv'd and these words Vivat Rex Let the King Live or God save the King are both but I shall Treat of them only as they are a Prayer and Supplication Wherein we have four particulars 1. The Supplicants All the People 2. The Person Supplicated for The King 3. The Person Supplicated to God 4. The matter of the Supplication That the King might be Saved and Preserved And all the People shouted and said God save the King The first particular that offers it self to our consideration and immitation is that Vnity among Brethren so much commended by the Royal Psalmist Psa cxxxiii 1. and so much desir'd among all true Christians The Israelites were not broken into Parties and consequently not divided in their Judgments and Affections but were at Unity and Agreement among themselves All the People shouted and said God Save the King Their Hearts stood bent the same way they had the same inclinations and desires not the least appearance of any variance or repugnancy the Thoughts of their hearts as we may guess by the Agreement of their Tongues that spake from them were in all the same those many Bodies seemed as they ought to be but so many members of the same Body which were animated and influenced by one Soul This is that Agreement and Consent that the Policy of Heathens did recommend and the Religion of Christians hath since more powerfully enjoyn'd as the way to preserve us in the Fear of God and the King and then none of us would consent to any Treason in our hearts attempt no Mischief with our hands nor by our Schisms and Factions provoke God to Scourge us with the Rod of another Civil-War It was the breach of Vnity and neglect of Religion that exposed us to all the miseries and and mischiefs of Forty one If they had not divided us in our judgments they could never have made us a prey to their Teeth and if we had not been careless in the exercise of Religion and Devotion God would not have removed from us his watchful Care and Providence Look in elder days and you will find the goodness of God to this Kingdom and that he never forsook it whilst we kept inviolate his judgments and statutes Prosperity attended the long Reign of Queen Elizabeth although the enemies of our Church were more numerous then and as busy and active as they are now The peaceable bringing in our King James almost to a miracle was a demonstration of the kindness which God had for a unanimous People for then neither Popery no Phanaticism were tolerated All the time he reigned both Church and State were in a prosperous condition but as soon as ever extravigent spirits began to Teach that the very genious of Religion was Separation and make it their business to set men at an infinit distance from the Solemn Service of almighty God then did God righteously break the bond of Peace which that we may prevent for the future let there be no divisions amongst us but with one minde and one mouth let us say Vivat Rex The next particular is Rex the King and this shews his dignity for melech in the Hebrew and Rex in the Latin tongue come from verbs which signifie to Rule and Reign Rom. xiii 1 2 all powers have their original from God and among all the powers that be ordained of God the Regal is highest being Superiour to all Communitas nihil sui confert Regibus Spalat Tom. II. 529. but inferior to no man or community of men whatsoever Now his Kingly dignity deriues its excellency From the Author or institutor thereof God the sublime power which resides in earthly Potentates Summum Imperium nunquam fuiste populo de mandatum is not a derivation or collection of humane power scattered among many and gathered into one head but a participation of Gods own omnipotency which he never did communicate to any but crowned heads Meriander who are 〈◊〉
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the living Images of God and derives their power from him And this I could prove from the consent of most Authors both antient and modern but St Chrysostome hath said enough alone in these words Rom. xiii 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which may be Englished out of St. Paul the Powers that be are ordained of God to which also Tertullian bears witness a Christian saith he is no mans enemy much less the Emperours whom he knows to be appointed by his God Psal xlvii 9. The shields of the earth are the Lords they bear his arms and inscription and he holds them up over all the world The Kingdom is the Lords Psal xxii 28. and he is the governour among all Nations And this truth is the grand supporter of Monarchs Thrones by me Kings Reign (c) Divisim imperium cum Jove Caesar habet which per denotes not a bare permission but by his commission not by Gods sufferance only but by his ordinance also their Charter is granted from heaven and may not be revoked at the peoples pleasure Magnificent Titles triumphant Arches honourable Attendants Crowns Thrones and Scepters are all requisite and suitable to the grandeur of a King and apt to beget awe and reverence in the hearts of the Vulgar but Alas this is but the outside and Ceremony of the Sacred Majesty whose representative the King is this is that which renders him truly sacred to all religious and judicious men and minds that he is placed in the throne to rule and govern us by the appointment of God whose King he is and whose judgment he pronounceth Away then with that dangerous Tenent that so frequently and maliciously falls from the mouths and pens of the seditious Rabble that all Power is from the people interpreting dei Minister the peoples Servant and if he comply not with their giddy humours which in Prudence and Conscience he is not bound to doe then they may assert their native right and reassume the trust reposed in him this monstrous opinion flies in the face of God Almighty by pretending to a law of nature for the violation of all the laws both of God and man And reproacheth the wisdom of the most high for appointing no better government over them And to their other objection I answer that sovereign powers have their imployment from God and by his Authority and so are his servants only and the end of their employment is to be beneficial to the good of others but not in Subjection to their powers Now this truth rightly improved will be matter of Comfort to us that the government we live under is of Gods Institution and that God may bless his own ordinance and continue it in the right Line to the glory of his Name and the good of this Nation Let us pray God save the King the Queen the Illustrious Prince James Duke of York and all the Royal Family The excellency of Kingly dignity appears in this Jus Sangain nullo Jure dâ—rimi potest that even God himself hath among his own honorary titles taken to himself the name of King his title runs thus King of Kings and Lord of Lords and his goverment over the whole world is Monarchical for tho' there be three persons in the sacred Trinity yet there is but one God and confequently but one King everlasting Let then those Scriblers and Pamphlereers who of late have scattered their poyson through the Nation to the disparagement of Kingly government and ruin of unwary Subjects Let them I say blush for shame and tremble to consider how through the side of their lawful Soveraign they have struck at God's own Monarchy over the world as far as their power or malice could extend The dignity of Kings is seen in their Supremacy which is the most express character of himself which God can put upon a man 1 Pet. ii 13. and such a supremacy St. Peter tells us is only in God and the King for God is the supreme ruler of Kings and Kings are the supreme rulers of men therefore God himself the better to oblige our obedience to them Psal lxxxii 7. as well as to himself stiles them Gods That God who by an omnipotent fiat first called the passible world into act and hath ever since laid out the same power for preserving what he first created 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath indued Kings with Prerogative more than humane for though they be shrouded under the Veil of mortality yet their power bears no small Resemblance with the Deity and to make the Supreme power accountable to any Inferior Jurisdiction or the will of the people were to set up an authority over him to whom our subjection is due Illa dicitur summa potestas cujus actus alterius juri non sâ—beunt ita ut alterius voluntatis humanae arbitrio irriti possint reddi Grotius which is a down right contradiction in terms For Supreme power is not nor cannot be subject to anothers law and this great truth all good subjects are obliged to defend with their lives and fortunes For yield up the enemy but this one flower the Kings Prerogative and their incroaching fingers will be reaching after all their malice being so unreasonable that a dear-bought experience hath told us It is easier to deny them all than having gratified them in part to prescribe them a measure And now methinks I hear our Antimonarchists say the doctrine of the Kings Supremacy is urged by none but those that by Court-flattery seek their own preferment and promote Arbitrary Government To which I Answer If to preach obedience to Authority does brand men with the name of flatterers they cannot excuse God almighty the blessed Jesus the Patriarks Prophets Apostles Saints and Martyrs from being guilty of it For this is the Doctrine of the Bible and the language of good men in all ages and if this be a scandall God grant that all the Sons of the Church of England may live under this disgrace and dye under this Ignominy Neither is this the way to promote arbitrary government but the contrary for the Kings Supremacy is the Subjects safety t is that Palladium which whilst preserved Inviolable stands as a bulwark about the Nation to protect us in our rights both Civil and Religious For by this Trust reposed in the Prince Each single Person is fortified with the strength of a Nation And this is attested by the every days Experience of all our fellow Subjects who live quiet obedient and peaceable Lives and opposed by none but those that think his Majesties Guards a grievance his Laws an oppression and the benefit of his Life and Reign a check to their disobedience and rebellions Come we now in the third place to speak of the Person supplicated to God and indeed to whom should Persons address their Prayers for their King but unto their God who is King of Kings who hath both Authority
first of all Supplications and Prayers be made for all men for Kings and all that are in Authority and however the Author of the Life of Julian raking up some passionate Expressions in one of the Fathers hath falsly maliciously and scandalously represented the whole this is agreeable to the Practice of the Primitive Christians as we may read in Tertullian Oramus pro omnibus Imperatoribus vitam illis prolixam Imperium securum domum tutam exercitus fortes Senatum fidelem populum probum orbem quietum quaecunque hominis Caesaris vota sunt We pray for a long Life for our Emperours a secure Empire a safe House valiant Armies a faithful Senate a good People a quiet World and whatsoever Caesar or any man can wish for or desire Thus have I shew'd you that it is the duty of all good Christians and all good Subjects to Pray for the Safety and Preservation of the King I come to the reasons inforcing this duty and the first is we have need to pray for the King 1. Because his Safety is fiercely opposed and his Life in danger upon the account of Policy and under the pretence of Religion Upon the account of Policy Monarchy it self is undermined by the Republicans to lay a foundation for such an Anarchy as they are pleased to call a Common-Wealth but this being wholly out of my Sphere I shall not invade the States-man's Province any further than to tell you besides being Subjects to the King in our Parents Loins and so under Obligations to Obedience by the Law of Nature we are in the bonds of Religion and Conscience tyed to Subjection by many solemn Oaths wherein we have lifted up our hands to the most high and sworn not to indeavour any alteration and change in the Government And I hope we are none of us so fond of a Common Woe as to go to the Devil by wilful Perjury to set up the Tyranny of our Fellow-Subjects and for your fuller Satisfaction give me leave to repeat the words of the Learned Bishop Sanderson whose single judgement is of greater value than the whole rout of those that would unhinge our Government Lib. de Oblig Consc p. 350. I think saith he an Hereditary Kingdom may not lawfully be changed for an Elective nor for any other sort of Government either by the People alone nor by the People and Nobles joyntly nor by the whole Body of the People in their greatest latitude that is the People Nobles and the King consenting together unless perhaps the whole Royal Progeny should so totally fail that there is not one surviving who may claim it as his due by Right of Inheritance all which considered it amounts to this That unless we will violate the Law of Nature and Religion and incur the heavy guilt of Perjury we must behave our selves like dutiful and obedient Subjects praying always God Save the King Again the Safety of Kings is impugned under the pretence of Religion by the several sorts of Dissenters whom I cannot being under one denomination unless it be in calling them all Amalekites and truly it will concern them to consider if they do not deserve the Name and I pray God give them grace to consider whether the Curse of Amaleck be not justly their portion I say this Truth is opposed by the Rebellious and Bloody Tenents of the Jesuits Anabaptists and Presbyterians I rank them all together for tho' like Sampson's Foxes their heads part yet their tails are joyned to put the Kingdom in a Combustion It is the constant Tenent of the Jesuits that King-killing is not only Lawfull but Meritorious if he be an Heretical King that is to say if he be not a Roman-Catholick And to this devilish Doctrine are they so wedded however some of their Church are pleased to obscure it that they leave no ways unattempted to put 'em into practice as the woful Tragedies they have Acted on the Theatre of the World is too sad a proof And that these are their Principles I refer you to Azor Bellarmine and Mariana who have wrote printed and published to the world Tracts of the Lawfulness of Regicide of whom I shall add no more here Cause and Cure of Scandal Pag. 11. having done it fully in another Treatise The Safety of Kings is opposed by the bloody principles of the Independents Anabaptists and Fift-Monarchists for what else were the publick Preachments of all these men in our late days of Rebellion but what tended to the ruine of our Monarchy Evangelium Armatum pag. 26. as you may read in the Parliamentary Sermons of Burton Marshal Nye Caryl Bridges Saltmarsh c. And of the same stamp were the harangues of Muncer in Germany as you may read at large in the first of Sleidan's Commentaries God that cannot lye saith he hath warn'd me face to face to attempt the Change of the Government by killing the Magistrates and Phipher his Brother in Iniquity did but dream of Killing Rats and Mice and Expounds his Dream of Murthering the Nobles and did not those Fift-Monarchists the English Rebels in Venner's Rebellion having laid their Accursed Designs the Sunday before in their Conventicle in Coleman-street proceed in the same manner and justifie their Principles with their Arms till the hand of Justice overtook them It was an Observation of old Regnabit Sanguine multo Ad Regnum quisquis venit ab Exilio The King that returns after Exile will Reign for the future in Blood and Revenge but our Gracious Sovereign resembling God in one of his noblest Attributes that of his Mercy had at the same instant given Life to them who were indeavouring to take away his Odiorum causae acriores quia iniquiores Their Hatred was the sharper because it was the unjuster and so stain'd themselves with the black Guilt not only of Rebellion but of an ungrateful Rebellion whereas an ordinary stock of Ingenuity and Religion upon the receipt of so great a Mercy as Pardon and Property would have silenced their Murmurings and made them loud in Applauses and Thanks for the felicity of his Reign but on the contrary we see that when men are inclin'd to Mischief upon the account of their Religion they prove the greatest Villains in the world and notwithstanding all obligations that Heaven and Earth can bestow upon them Hell gets the upper hand Nor have the Sons of the Presbyterian Kirk less opposed the safety and wellfare of Kings by those dangerous positions they have published to the world Doctrines that will make you blush sweat and tremble if you have any fear of God or any honour for the King And that I may not be supposed to do them wrong I will Cite their Names and Books from whence I have collected them Pag. 30. Goodman saith in his Book of Obedience That it is unlawful in any case to resist the Superior pnwers is a dangerous Doctrine taught by some by the Permission of God for
all Extremities Peevish without Reason Rebellious without Cause and Troublesome without End and therefore if we will not fall into the same miseries let us have a care of the Men and the Methods that brought them about A second Reason inforcing the Duty of Praying for the King is because in so doing we do but Pray for our selves and seek our own good in endeavouring his Majesties Safety Loyalty is the Interest as well as Duty of English-Men and their being true to Monarchy is their Happiness as well as Honour past experiences have demonstrated how Happy we have been under it and how Miserable without it and I cannot but congratulate the happiness of the English genius in this for it is the just honour and prelation of Monarchy that its Safety consists in the wealth and happiness of its Subjects when few instances can be given of any Common-Wealths that have flourish'd much longer than while Necessity and Poverty were their Ligatures and Cements and it is the good hap of a People to be so naturally inclin'd to that which is much their Interest and their Felicity In prudence and interest I say we are obliged to pray for the King's safety to the wisdom of whose Government under God we owe the correction of our Evil Fate to whose Care we are indebted That under it we may live quiet and peaceable Lives to whose Authority it must be thanfully referred that we are restrain'd from that Violence and Evil whereby we are naturally prone to ruinate our own and our Neighbours Felicity to make our selves and others miserable It is the great concern of all good Subjects that the Supreme Power should be always Vigorous and Safe Prosperous and abounding in all Plenty that he may be a Terror to his Enemies and a Defence to his Loyal Subjects In his Majesties Safety are we Safe his Health and Wealth inable him to secure us in our Liberty and Religion our Properties and our Peace and thus our own interest may move us earnestly to intercede with God for the Safety of our Sovereign for the benefit is ours more than his whilst we are not troubled with the Cares and yet enjoy the Blessed Fruit of Government We must pray for the Kings Safety that we may not be exposed to the Cruelties of those that if there were no King in Israel would do what was right in their own Eyes 'T was the Custom of the Antient Heathen when they Besieged a City in the first place to endeavour to intice out the Guardian Deity by alledging the injustice of the Inhabitants and inviting it to reside with a more holy People ut habeat te Vrbs melior acceptiorque holding it impossible to prevail against the Out-Works when the divine inward Strength stood firm Whilst our Monarch is Safe and Prosperous and our Laws Executed according to justice and equity the blessings of Peace and a happy Agreement between the King and the People cannot be charm'd out of our Coasts but if once either through Envy or Avarice Ill-nature or Disobedience we suffer his Power to be Eclipsed his Prerogative to be curtail'd and the Glory of his Crown to be sullyed we are then undermining the Safety of the whole Kingdom and make way for those that would Rob God of his Honour the King of his Diadem and Subjects of their Peace Tyranny is infinitely more tolerable than an unbridled Liberty for that like a Tempest might throw down some fruitful Trees but Arming the giddy Multitude with a Power to do what they please would ruine all before it Confusion is worse than the hardest Subjection and a corrupt Government better than a Civil-War Melius est sub his esse sub quibus nihil licet quam sub quibus omnia And therefore the want of a King to gag the mouths of Blasphemers to bound the Extravagancies of a lawless Liberty and to manacle the hands of Plunderers must be a complicated mischief and we cannot expect more miseries than will infallibly invade us nor fewer than befell us in those days when we had no King in Israel and were scourged by the Rods and Scorpions of those that did what was right in their own Eyes Which that we may prevent for the future let us pray God save the King And indeâ—ed we are more concerned in the last place to this duty because the same Men are tracing the same Methods for the destruction of the Son by which they brought about the Murther of his Father and shall our Land not sufficiently purged from the Blood of one King incur the Guilt of another Kings Blood by giving way to the Sons of Violence to accomplish their hellish designs To be guilty of this repeated Villany doth strangely aggravate the Nations Sins for we sin against Light and Knowledge and Fair Warning given us and late Experience already had of such doings Many I suppose that had a hand in the late War did not foresee or dream that the fair pretences that began it would have ended in such a bloody Tragedy but if we permit the same Amalekites to trepan us again into the same Crimes and make us serve to the same evil purposes again we then make our Ruine our own Guilt as well as our misery and must perish as unpittyed Fools for ever Let me intreat you to look a little behind you that you may not be again surprised Did not all the mischiefs our Late Troubles produced owe their Original to Schism and Faction did not the Dissenters of those times seduce the People by making them believe That the Church of England was forsaking her Doctrine and embracing the Errors and Superstitions of Rome did not they carry on their designs against the Government by publishing Libels and making People believe the Late King of blessed memory was either a Papist or Popishly-Affected were not Fears and Jealousies the main Engines used by those bloody miscreants to serve their turns and is their not plain demonstration that the same things are indeavoured by the same sort of Men to be acted over again is it not daily inculcated that Popery is bringing in amongst us and if we do not submit to it our Throats must all be cut by the French that invaded Purbeck or a vast Army of Spanish Pilgrims are we not told many a dreadful Story of Slavery Popery Tyranny and Arbitrary Government and God knows what only to Affright us out of our Religion and Allegiance into a sordid complyance with men of Anti-Monarchical and Anti-Episcopal Principles For God's sake tell me why we should give credence to the Pretences of such men as have once already subverted a Flourishing Kingdom and overthrown both Religion and Property I rather think if these things were well consider'd we should not so easily be cajol'd by them for though their Cry be for Liberty they mean nothing less than to bring in such an Anarchy as would introduce Confusion and the greatest Slavery on this side Hell and
to make and Power to preserve them and by all demonstration of Kindness watcheth over them for good Nay so jealous is God Almighty in this particular that he will not allow any mortal man or thing to have the honour of rescuing them from danger nor give the glory of their Preservation to any other than himself it is God that giveth Salvation unto Kings and delivereth David from the hurtful Sword It is not the Wisdom of his Counsellors the Care of his Magistrates the Fidelity of his Servants nor the Courage of his Soldiers that preserve a King tho' all these act commendably in their Stations for unless the Lord watch over Them as well as their Cities the Watchman waketh but in vain Nor can the Love of his Subjects lengthen his days the best Office they can do him is but like the People in the Text to pray for his Health it is God only that can give him Help in the time of Trouble be Rebels never so rebellious and outragious he that stilleth the raging of the Sea and the madness of the Multitude can so charm the unruliness of a Seditious People as to bring them to Submission or Confusion Now God's special care and providence over his Anointed Ones is shewn in Scripture by a threefold injunction laid by Himself upon their Subjects under very severe and heavy penalties God doth not allow any Subject to harbour in his breast an ill Thought against his Sovereign Curse not the King no not in thy thoughts Eccles x. 20. for the birds of the Air shall carry the voice and that which hath wings shall tell the matter By which some Commentators understand a Power given by God to the Tutelary Angels of Kings and Governours to understand the trayterous thoughts of all such as bear disloyal and treacherous hearts against their Princes That the Sin of Rebellion might never be brought forth God does stifle it in the Womb nip it in the bud and destroy it in the very thoughts that it may never come to do further mischief And greater Reason is there for our observance of this Prohibition since the first entertainments of Sin are oftentimes of dangerous consequence while the Enemy is without doors it is an easie matter to keep him there but when he has entred the house he is not expulsed without trouble and difficulty therefore God Almighty who always designs the good of his People that we might not inure our Tongues to speak Evil of Dignities nor stretch forth our Hands against the Lords Anointed will not permit us to lodge a disloyal thought in the most secret recesses of our bosoms Not to open our mouths in disparagement of their Persons or government and great cause is there for this prohibition also or no sooner hath Pride formed men into Disobedience but the next step they take is by Reproaches to ruine the reputation of the government and impede the accomplishment of righteous designs Reputation being to actions what Feathers are to Arrows making them fly the better and pierce the deeper they indeavour to deprive their governors of this advantage If there be any fallings in their conversation they are sure to be represented in the blackest Colour And by all the advantages of art improved into a Condemnation of the whole constitution These were the wretched methods that first begat and also continue the feeds of rebellion among us Let the King say what he will they read it backwards and make the best of his actions speak nothing but Arbitrary Government and Persecution When the King declares he will govern by the known Laws they remonstrate that he does not and suggest by their groundless and unreasonable faers and jealousy that he will not and by carping at his proceedings and misrepresenting his actions so deflower the beauty of his Crown with Satyrical invectives that he becomes less able to serve those great ends for which government was instituted if therefore you desire to approve your selves good Subjects and good Christians invent not evil stories of him whom God hath set over you falsly believe them not easily report them not disloyally aggravate them not spitefully scatter them not industriously but aprrehend such disloyal thieves whom you take a pillaging your Princes good name the forward receiver of an evil report being as bad as he that brings it always remembring that railing against Kings was a Capital crime in David's judgment who commanded Solomon to put Shimei to death for it Not to lift up a finger to their prejudice for no man can do it and be guiltless Touch not mine Anointed saith the Psalmist and wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand against the Lords Anointed saith David to the wicked Amalekite that slew King Saul in all times hath God manifested his vengeance against such Rebells as have risen up against them witness Corah Dathan and Abiram whom the earth swallowed up quick and became at once both their Sexton and their grave Witness Zimri burnt to ashes in that very palace whence he had driven his Lord and Sovereign and so notable a vengeance indeed it was that wicked Jezabel took special notice of it for had Zimri Peace said she that slew his Master I might here be infinite if I should add to these instances all those dreadful Examples of God's Vengeance against such as have been Rebells against their Kings which I could fetch you both from Ecclesiastical and Secular Histories but I shall at present ease my self and you of that Trouble since what hath already been said does sufficiently demonstrate that God hath a most special and particular Care in the Preservation of Kings and therefore to none so fitly may the People address themselves for the Life and Safety of their Sovereign as unto God and more comprehensive words we cannot use than what is prescrib'd in the Text God save the King The last particular is the matter of the Supplication That the King might be Saved and Preserved and all the People shouted and said God save the King And we are encouraged to a chearful performance of this duty because God doth usually grant it and because the King needs it more than ordinary persons do The King's duty is more difficult his abundance exposeth him to more temptations and his height to more dangers than any of his People and his preservation is far more necessary and of universal concernment for he is worth ten thousand of us and we had need pray heartily to God to Save him who doth defend us all the King stands in need of more wisdom to direct him more power to protect him more care to preserve him than other men For as the King doth not Live Sibi sed Populo so neither doth he Dye to his own but to our disadvantage a thousand others may steal out of the World and no body mind or miss them but the loss of a King would soon be felt therefore saith the Apostle I Exhort that