Tribe destroyed in Israel the Book of Judges closeth it with these words In those daies there was no King in Israel intimating and implying that all the impieties the wickednesses the villanies that were then committed vvas upon this account because there was no King in Israel Alas what a woful Commonvvealth there vvas when there was no King in Israel then Idols vvere erected Idolatry committed Errours Heresies Blasphemies false Religion false VVorship connived at tollerated robbing rifeling and plundering of houses rapes and murthers bloody and cruel vvars all vvas out of course in State in Church Micah vvas a private man Gibeon a City Dan a Tribe Tribes Cities Families all in disorder and confusion Nor was this in secret corners but all the Land of Israel over Micah dwelt at Mount Ephraim in the midst of Canaan Gibeah was at one end Dan at the other so in the midst and both ends all were wraped up in darkness and blackness You see what misery comes by want of a King what a masse of mischief disorder upon disorder the holy Ghost doth not charge them with a flat Anarchy that there was no Estate no kinde of Government among them there were both Priests and Judges there was a millitary Government but there wanted a King and God hath assigned this for the only cause and we will not be wiser then God to search for other reasons I could easily paralel all that I have said in our English Israel but the King and Parliament hath made it forbiden fruit and have passed an Act of free and generall pardon Indempnity and Oblivion may God and all the people of the Land seale to it You see what the want of a King is and by that you will the better judg of the blessedness of happiness of that people that have a King Kingly Government is the best Government for order peace strength so saith the Philosopher and he proves them all one by one the best without controversie for had there been a better God would not at last have resolved on this for his own people This is the most perfect most like the Government of Heaven God changed the Government from Joshua the Captain to the Judges from the Judges to Eli and Samuel Priests but when he set a King over his people he changed that Government no more Jehotada did a great and glorious vvork when he brought forth the King a vvork pleasing to God and acceptable to the people this was the first work Jehoiada did He brought forth the King 2. He put the Crown upon him He Jehoiada not the people Chr 23.11 Consult The Crowne doth not make the King it shews him to be King it addes nothing to the truth and being though much to the honour and glory the putting the Crown upon him is an external right and ceremonie nothing intrinsecal essential to the constitution of a King The Crown is an ornament of renown and glory proper and peculiar to the wearing of Kings alone The Crown crowns the head the head the highest member of the body naturall the Crown on the head of the King speaks the King the highest member of the body politick honour glory dignity is originally from the Crown where there is no Crown there honours are not confer'd Dukes Marquesses Earles Viscounts Barons Knights they have their dignity derived from the Crown streame greater and lesse flowing from this Fountaine rivers rivolets coming from this Sea and returning to this Sea again Jehoiada he puts the Crown upon him but it is God that reacheth the Crown to Jehoiada to put it upon the head of the King Ps 21.3 Thou settest a Crown of pure gold on his head as David acknowledgeth on the triumphant day of victory yea not King David only but King Jesus the King of Saints the King of Nations the king of kings hath said it Pro. 8.15 by me Kings reigne we have Gods word for it his deed his best deed his guift I have given you a King kings are placed in their thrones by God vested with their Robes by God girt with their Swords by God anointed by God crowned by God so saith the Scripture had I time to quote the texts God hath imparted his Name to kings I have said you are Gods Sons of the most high Kings have their descent from God king of kings is upon his thigh and Melchizedeck his first king and his tipe is brought in without father and mother to shew that Kings are the generation of God This made the Emperours to stamp their coyne with an hand coming out of the Cloudes houlding a Crown and putting it on their heads and accordingly to stile themselves crowned of God 3. He gave him the testimony a Book wherein the Law of God was registred the Book of Deutronomy saies the Greek the five Books of Moses saies the Jewes Deut. 17.18.19 And it shall be when he sitteth upon the Throne of his Kingdome that he shall write him a copy of this Law in a Book out of that which is before the Priests the Levites and it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the dayes of his life that he may learn to feare the Lord his God to keep all the words of this Law and these Statutes to do them The Hebrews record it thus when the king sitteth upon the Throne of his kingdome he hath a Book of the Law that his Father had given unto him and he was to write with his own hand a second Book of the Law and ever to carry this Book about with him the original Book was kept in the Sanctuary and out of that Book was the kings copy written that it might be most exact and perfect This testimony was given to him that he might know what the Law required of him in reference to God to himself to his people and what he might expect from God and the people At this day Christian Kings have the Bible put into their hands which requires wisedome understanding integrity courage the feare of God love of the truth hating of covetousness having no respect of persons the two last properties Heathens themselves required whence the Thebans painted Justice without hands without eyes to intimate they should receive no guifts nor be sway'd with sight of persons He gave him the testimony that he might be the keeper the revenger of both Tables The king is a mixt person he hath the Crown upon his head and the testimony in his hand which speaks him in all causes and over all persons within his Dominions supreme Head and Governour they steal from the kings Crown the most precious jewel that exempt persons and causes from him whilst the king hath a Crown upon his head and the testimony in his hand God and the people will love and honour him the Crown honours him in the sight of the people and the testimony in the sight of God and may the king have ever this honour and love
A SERMON Preached at the COLLEGIATE CHURCH AT MANCHESTER On Tuesday the 23. of April 1661. Being the CORONATION-DAY OF HIS Royal Majestie CHARLES II. By RICHARD HEYRICK Warden of the said Colledge LONDON Printed for RALPH SHELMERDINE Bookseller in Manchester 1661. To the Reverend RICHARD HEYRICK Warden of Christs Colledge in Manchester REVEREND SIR OF those Truths you have frequently delivered to us this one which you preached to our eares upon that happy and joyous day of his MAJESTIES Coronation which is not of the smallest concernment a Truth which with the KING hath been an Exile and banisht both the Pulpit and the Presse in this Land for many yeares together but since both are returned together home the one to the Throne the other to the Pulpit the one Crowned the other preached both on a day we judged it worthy the Press whereby it might better manifest it self to the world that as at the Presence and Sight of his Maiesties Sacred Person all his enemies flie and fall before him so at the approach of this light the grosse mists of errors and contrary tenents which have possessed this Island of late yeares might be dispelled and utterly confounded Necessary also we judged it in respect of us sonnes of the Church of England to vindicate our selves that though darkness might cover the surface of our Church and seize upon some persons yet we still kept this light within us unextinct the doctrine of our Church we still retain and we who are souldiers will fight for his Majestie in defence thereof to the last drop of our blood nor was it fit the Herauld and Proclaimer of this doctrine should be concealed and unknown therefore passeth it under your name Pardon us wherein we have acted without full directions from you it was our love and zeal to the Truth and to you the Preacher of it that caused this forwardnesse in us Sir the Town ingeneral we more particularly who were further Actors in the solemnization of the day are obliged to you for your great paines And to testifie our gratitude for so great a favour thought good to send them both together abroad into the World your paines with our unfeined thanks affixed thereto who in the name of our selves and the rest of our souldiers under our Command do subscribe ourselves SIR Your affectionate Neighbours and well-Wishers John Byrom Major of the Trained Band. John Cawsey Lieut. Hugh Johnson Ensign Nicholas Mosley Captain of the Auxiliaries William Heawood Lieut. William Byrom Ensigne Manchester May 11. 1661. 2 KINGS 11.12 And he brought forth the Kings Son and put the Crowne upon him and gave him the testimony and they made him KING and anointed him and they clapt their hands and said God save the KING HE that reads the Text and knowes the occasion of this great and solemn assembly and he is a stranger in our Israel that knowes it not will presently acknowledge the suitableness and fitness of it The Text speaks of the Coronation of a King of a King the Son of a King of a Kings Son whose Father was treacherously and traiterously murdered of a King who by force and violence was kept from the exercise of his Kingly Office his Royaltie and Dignitie of a King who for severall years lay hid in darkness and obscuritie yet afterward beyond all expectation probabilitie by divine Providence yea almost possibilitie restored to his Crown and Dignitie without the sheding of blood but of the Usurper the grand Conspirator and Traytor The History is briefly thus Ahaziah the Kings Father King of Judah was by the hand of Jehu a furious Zealot yet a great Politician a notorious close Hypocrite yet a gallant Commander shott to death He being dead Athaliah his mother like a Beare rob'd of her whelps like a shee Tyger full of rage and madness a furie and friend of hell destroyed all the Seed Royal. Jehosaba sister to Athaliah stole Joash the Son of Ahaziah from amongst the Kings Sons that were slaine she hid him in the house of the Lord six years Jehoiada in the seventh year brings him forth to the people puts the Crown upon him gave him the testimony they made him King and anointed him they clapt their hands and said God save the KING There is no difficultie in the words he that runs may read and he that reads will understand there is no diversity nor varietie in them In the Text there are three parties and the parts they performed in this restauration Jehoiada the high Priest Joash the King and the People I name them not according to their excellency and worth but as they are presented in the Text. 1. Jehoiada he shews himself upon this great and glorious Theatre and he acts four things 1. He brings forth the Kings Son 2. He puts the Crown upon him 3. He gives him the testimony 4. He anointed him The second Person is Joash the King and the parts that he performes answerable to the parts of Jehoiada are likewise four 1. He publickly shews himself to the people in his Royaltie and Majestie 2. He weares the Crown on his Head 3. He takes the testimony in his Hand 4. He hath the sacred Oyle on his breast The third partie that appears the People the parts that they performe are three 1. They made him King 2. They clapt their hands 3. They said God save the KING these are the parts and parcells of the text Of these in their order briefly and plainly and first of the First Jehoiada brought forth the Kings Son In the book of Judges it is four several times recorded there was no King in Israel and it is very observable that every time it is recorded is occasioned by some notorious villany some horrid impietie that was then committed The first time we read these words that there was no King in Israel Iudg. 17.16 is Micah had a house of gods and made an Ephod and Teraphim and consecrated one of his Sons to be his Priest Idols were erected Idolatry was committed an abomination that Gods soule hateth The second time we read the words is and then we read of robing and spoyling Iudg. 18.1 plundring and rifling of houses murdering and massacring man woman and child and burning the City The tribe of Dan every one with their sword girt about them march't to Laish unto a people that were quiet and secure with a rage reaching up to heaven they destroyed all before them a wickedness not to be paralleld The third time we read the words in the men of Gibeon offered force and violence to a Levite a wafareing man they ravished his wife Iudg. 19.1 they forced her to death a greater wickedness they attempted a wickedness not once to be named Iudg. 21.25 The fourth time we read the words Judg. 21.25 And there we read of an unnaturall war a civil uncivil war a bloody and cruel war amongst the Tribes themselves thousands were slain and almost a whole
and let all the people say Amen 4. He anointed him all kings were not anointed such kings as imediatly succeeded their parents as Heirs apparent their titles being no way questioned are upon the royal Throne without any such anoynting but such as were immediatly chosen of God as Saul David Jehu were anoynted so also when the younger Brother vvas prefer'd before the elder as Solomon and they who vvere made kings in troublesome times vvhen the Land vvas in great danger and fears the former king being slain as Jehoahaz and vvho had their right interrupted by an Usurper as Joash in the text kings vvere anoynted to signify the collation of guifts and graces by the Spirit unto that place and function to vvhich God called them as it follovved the anoynting of Saul Again kings vvere anoynted to set them apart and to advance them above others in authority and eminency in which oyle hath some resemblance which mixeth not with other liquors but seperateth from them and floateth above them Once more Kings were anointed to give evidence to the true title and to make them depend on Gods protection and blessing Lastly Kings were anointed to secure them from the force and violence of men and devils Ps 105.15 1 Sam. 26.9 Touch not mine anointed Who can stretch forth his hand against the Lords anointed and be guiltlesse Thus Jehoiada he brought forth the King he put the Crown upon him gave him the testimony he anointed him he did not one of these but all had he only brought him forth and not crowned him he had appeared as one of the people had he crowned him and not given him the testimony he might have been a Pagan a Heathen had he brought him forth crowned him given him the testimony he might have been King but not fitted nor qualified but being brought forth crown'd having the testimony and anointed these speak him a King indeed a glorious a religious a King chosen and given by God unto the people He brought him forth he who Jehoiada and why Jehoiada he was of the blood Royall a kinsman to the King he was the High Priest the second in the kingdom a great States-man a prudent Councellour a Loyall Subject a Religious and a Holy man who so fit as Jehoiada Princes may be Priests and Priests may be Princes Aaron and Moses joyning together make a glorious Government And thus much for the first partie and the four parts performed by him The second partie that appeareth upon this publick Theatre and makes it more glorious is Joash the King The parts that he performes First he shews himself to the people without blushing He stands upright with boldness and confidence innocence and justice supporting Him not as an Vsurper not as an Intruder not as one elected by the people but as the next the right the lawful Heire to the kingdom tacitly claiming the Royalty the Soveraignty as due to him He shews himselfe to the people as a Star of the first magnitude as a light shining out of darkness as the Sun conquering and triumphing over mists and cloudes overcoming a dreadfull Eclipse that interrupted his influence 2. He weares the Crowne upon his Head not because set on by Jehoiada but because given Him of God the Heir and Inheritour to it His Head fitteth the Crown and the Crown His Head Had any other had the Crown upon his Head it would have been a Crown of Thorns a vexatious Crown a Crown a talent of Lead that neither he nor his heire should have been able to beare a Crown not steddy not fixt but ever shakeing and tottering loose and burdensome It is a remarkable observation that I have read in our English History though the Crowne hath been some times misplaced though sometimes Usurped though often interrupted yet at last it returned to the right heir and now is seated upon the head of the heir of our English Kings before the Conquest Josephus tells us of Moses when an infant Pharaoh King of Egypt to pleas his daughter who had adopted Moses to be her Son takes the Crown from his own head and sets it upon the head of Moses but he takes the Crown from his head and throws it upon the ground Once a Crown falling into a River one dives for it and having recovered it sets it upon his head and swims to the Land with it the King takes his Crowne rewards the man but cuts off his head That Citizen that said he would make his Son heire to the Crowne meaning his house that known by the Signe of the Crowne lost his life for it Joash weares the Crown Athaliah is crushed to pieces by it 3. The King takes the testimony into his hand David accounted more of the testimony then of the Crown the Crown was on David's head the testimony was engraven on his heart he found an end of crowns but the testimony was exceeding broad Oh! how do I love thy Law It was sweeter to him then the honey and the honey combe dearer to him than thousands of gold and silver he made it his counsellour his friend his companion Great Alexander in all his wars and travels he carried Homer's works about with him and lodged them in the Persian Cabinet Queen Elizabeth highly prized Seneca de Clementia Ahasuerus commauded the Books of the Records of the Chronicles to be read to him It was not Homers's works no Poetical fable no Romance It was not Seneca de Clementia no moral philosophy It was not the History the Annals the Chronicles that King Joash took into his hand it was the testimony the Book of God the royall Law so the Apostle James calls it the royal Law because royally given with Majesty and power because a standard to all Laws because it reacheth to all times Nations tongues and languages because Kings are to keep it and protect it It was not the Scepter that he took into his hand the embleme which shews his power to give laws but the testimony according to which he was to frame he Laws It is a fundamental Law of this Nation that if any Law be enacted contrary to the Law of God there needs no repeale of it but is null of it self and people are not bound to the obedience of it Joash took the testimony in his hand and this was the third part he performed 4. He had the sacred the anointing oyle upon him It was not the Crown on his head nor the testimony in his hand but this anointing that qualified and fitted him to be a King King Jesus he was anointed no King anointed as he he had not the Spirit in measure the fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily in him Zach. 4.12 and of his fullnesse Kings receive grace for grace It is said of that oyle wherewith the Kings of France are anointed that it was first given from Heaven In the Scripture we read of two Olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden Oyle out of