enemies thereof §. 125. Of the seasonable succour afforded to oppressed Germany AMong other evidences of the divine Providence towards the reformed Churches the late seasonable succour afforded to the Churches in Germany is most remarkable Many yeares together hath Germany beene sore vexed with intestine and civill warre Who can without a melting heart thinke on the much bloud that hath beene spilt the ruines of many faire Cities Townes Castles Churches and other edifices that have beene made the distresses that many exiles of all sorts Princes and Subjects Noble and Meane Clergy and Laiety Male and Female Old and Young have beene brought unto the miserable bondage under which such as have remained in their owne territories and habitations have groaned the heavy and undue taxes that have beene laid on such as have not had their titles dignities inheritances callings and liberties by violence wrested from them who can without much compunction and compassion heare of or thinke on those and many other pressures and oppressions The Princes of the reformed Churches in Germany were forced to put up a joint complaint and remonstrance of their grievances and to consult about means at least of some ease for their burdens were intollerable if not of full redresse But their complaints proved like to the complaints of the Israelites put up to Pharaoh for easing their heavy burdens Their savour thereby came to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants They were in a worse case then before So proud was the enemy by reason of the great armies that he had gathered together and so flesht he was in the conquests that he had made as he regarded no complaints he feared no revenge He deemed his power to be invincible When thus the reformed Churches in Germany were brought to the lowest ebbe and so neare to the pits brink as they were upon tumbling downe to their utter ruine that mans extremity might appeare to be Gods opportunity in a most seasonable time the Lord raised up and sent unto them a Deliverer Gustavus of Sued in whose title is couched Augustus and Deus Gustavus importing by transposition of letters Augustus and Sued read backward Deus If the small army with which he came into Germany and the great things which he hath done since he came thither be duly weighed we shall see cause to acknowledge that the Lord of hosts was with him That which is by experience noted of the snow that by being tumbled up and downe of a little ball it comes to be a great heape that can hardly be stirred is likewise by experience found verified in his army We read of a dreame which a souldier of the huge host of the Midianites that for multitude was as the sand by the sea-side thus related to his fellow I dreamed a dreame and loe a cake of barley bread tumbled unto the host of Midian and came unto it and smote it that it fell and overturned it that the tent lay along The interpretation which in the event proved most true was this This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the sonne of Ioash a man of Israel for into his hand hath God delivered Midian and all the host A fit allusion thereunto which hath likewise in the event proved to be most true may be this The sword of the King of Sued a Defender of the true Religion hath smitten the armies of the enemies of the Gospell and into his hand hath the Lord delivered his Churches enemies This King proves to be as another Cyrus the Lords Annointed whose right hand the Lord hath holden to subdue nations before him He shall performe the Lords pleasure Cyrus the Persian Monarch though he were to admiration victorious yet did he not with such expedition gaine in and bring under his power so many Forts Castles Walled Townes and Cities every way well manned fenced and fortified no nor that hammer of the world great Alexander â—s this Annointed of the Lord hath done in so short a time The Enemy spent more yeares in subduing Cities and Townes in Germany then this Deliverer hath spent moneths in reducing them Conquering Caesar came even into this Country whereinto victorious Gustavus is come and with such celerity subdued one principality after another as the Orator is bold to say that he passed over places by victories more speedily then another could have done by paces This is indeed an hyperbolicall speech but yet thereby exceeding great celerity is set out which also is implied by another hyperbolicall phrase used by Caesar himselfe in a letter to his friend in these three words Veni Vidi Vici I came I saw I overcame meaning thereby that so soone as he came to a place and tooke a view of it he forthwith tooke it Yet in much shorter time hath Gustavus subdued and taken in more townes and cities then Caesar did and that after another manner then Caesar did Had Caesar when he came into Germany such an adversary as Tilly Were there raised such armies of men and horse against Caesar as against Gustavus Were there such garrisons such amunition such provision of all things requisite to repell an enemy in the places which Caesar subdued as in those which Gustavus tooke Never did Caesar at least for the time that he was in Germany meet with so strong opposition as Gustavus hath met withall Never was that Generall brought unto such hazards as this King hath beene brought unto In no part of Germany did Caesar ever meet with such a pitcht held or such a set battell as Gustavus did on Gods-Aker neare Liepsich Nor ever was a battell maintained with such prudence and providence with such courage and constancy against an enemy that was so strong and stout so seldome foiled so much prevailing against an army supposed invincible by reason of former successes and present preparations against all the advantages that an enemie could desire as the battell at Leipsich by valorous Gustavus And all this after a great if not the greater part of his owne army was put to rout and the Enemy thereupon made so confident as he cried Victory Victory Follow Follow but with such successe as the Benjamites had when in the beginning of the battell they had smitten the Israelites and thereupon cried They are smitten downe before us On the seventh day of September the Birth-day of victorious Queene ELIZABETH was this never to be forgotten victory obtained And on the seventeenth day of November the Coronation day of the said puissant Princesse was the high and mighty King of Sued entertained in the Imperiall city of Frank-ford on Main the city where the Germane Emperor useth to be elected Since the fore-named incomparable victory at Leipsich all things with very good successe have fallen cut §. 126. Of the causes of the Suedish Kings entring into Germany THe conquests made by the victorious King of Sued are in their kind very glorious but
to God O Lord. 2 A note of asseveration truly 3 An The Asseveration is a note of confidence So as II. Saints may confidently professe that relation which God is pleased shall passe betwixt him and them The Ingemination importeth an earnestnesse in that which he professeth and giveth instance that III. Confidence in the interest which Saints have in God maketh them earnest in pressing it The continuance of the mutuall relation betwixt God and him even from his birth is added as a prop to his faith Therefore IIII. Faith is much strengthened by constant evidences of Gods favour The expresse mention of his mother which is for honour sake sheweth that V. It is an honour to children to descend from pious parents §. 99. Of Saints being Gods servants I. SAints are Gods servants As this Prophet here so stileth himselfe so are the three great Patriarchs Abraham Isaac and Israel so also Moses Iob all the true Prophets the Apostles as Paul Peter Iude yea and Christ himselfe stiled Sundry are the respects wherein Saints may truly and properly be termed Gods servants 1 As all creatures are being made sustained ordered and governed by the Lord. 2 As many naturall men being deputed by the Lord to speciall functions and services 3 As many in the Church making profession of God to be their Lord. 4 As true faithfull professors who doe indeed take God for their Lord. In the three former respects as Gods creatures as deputed to select functions by God as professors of the name of God others are servants of God as well as Saints but the fourth respect which is the most honourable profitable and comfortable respect is proper and peculiar to Saints and that two waies 1 By reason of Gods affection to them 2 By reason of their disposition to God 1 God accounts them members of his house and answerably affects them as of his houshold In regard of such an affection he thus saith of Moses My servant Moses is faithfull in all my house Yea as united unto Christ and in him adopted and accepted he saith to Saints as to Christ Behold my servants whom I uphold mine elect in whom my soule delighteth 2 They are affected to the Lord as dutifull faithfull gratefull servants An heathen Monarch observed thus much and thereupon saith O Daniel servant of the living God whom thou servest continually This relation thus taken affordeth matter of gratulation and direction to such as can truly and justly apply it to themselves Gratulation by reason of the dignity of it Direction by reason of the duties that are thereupon expected 1 It is here as a dignity expressed and made the ground of gratulation And that not without cause For though this title servant be in it selfe a meane title yet in relation to God it is an high an honourable title The greatest noble-man in a kingdome thinks himselfe honoured with this title The Kings servant But what are mortall Monarchs to the immortall and incomprehensible King of kings Not onely Patriarchs Kings Prophets and Apostles but Christ the Sonne of God thought himselfe dignified with this title servant in relation to God It is therefore a noble service whereof David here saith to God I am thy servant c. and blessed Mary to the angell Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Moses also and other Saints were such servants Neither is it any marvell that holy men were dignified with this title whereas the Father thus speaketh to his Sonne It is a great thing for thee to be called my servant Such is the Maiesty Omnipotency Immutability Perpetuity Integrity Clemency Mercy Bounty and Excellency every way of this Lord as it nor will nor can repent any one to have any relation to him or dependance upon him which the royall Prophet well understood when he said to this Lord A day in thy courts is better then a thousand I had rather be a doore-keepein the house of my God then to dwell in the tents of wickednesse Psal 84. 10. The particular dignities and prerogatives of the Lords servants are such as these 1 They are all free 1 Cor. 7. 22. 2 All the services which the Lord enjoyneth are faire services Psal 19. 7 c. 1 Ioh. 5. 3. 3 The Lord gives ability to doe the worke which he expects and exacts of us Ioel. 2. 29. Phil. 2. 13. 4 He accepteth and approveth what he enableth his servants to doe Mat. 25. 21. Iob. 1. 8 9. 5 He bountifully rewardeth every good thing His wages are good and great Mat. 10. 42. 19. 29. 25. 21. 6 Gods servants get favours even for others also Iob 42. 8. 7 They are sure of safe protection from all hurtfull things and of sufficient provision of all needfull good things Isa 65. 13 14. 8 The Lord taketh care of his servants seed Psal 69. 36. 2 This relation directeth us unto such duties as here follow 1 To honour our Lord Mal. 1. 6. 2 To obey him Mat. 8. 9. Col. 3. 22. 3 To feare him with an holy trembling Eph. 6. 5. 4 To be faithfull to him Num. 12. 7. 5 To do all that we do on duty Luk. 17. 10. 6 To be no men-pleasers Gal. 1. 10. 7 To serve him onely not to serve Mammon or any other master save the Lord Mat. 6. 24. §. 100. Of Saints confidence in Gods mind to them and theirs to God II. SAints may confidently professe that relation which God is pleased shall passe betwixt him and them This confidence is manifested sometimes in the acknowledgement of that part of the relation which is on mans part and other times that which is on Gods part In this text that on mans part is professed truly I am thy servant So where he saith We are the people of his pasture and the sheepe of his hands People and sheepe are notes of relation on mans part So are clay and worke of Gods hands where the Prophet saith We are the clay and the worke of thy hands On Gods part he saith O Lord thou art our father and thou our potter To like purpose are other like notes of relation on Gods part with confidence professed thus Thou art my father my God and the rocke of my salvation Thou art my King O God Thou O Lord art my glory In these and other like places though the note of asseveration truly is not expressed yet the manner of expressing the notes of relation on the one and the other part import much confidence These and such other relations betwixt God and man give assurance of Gods gracious acceptation and favour If God meant not to deale with us as a Father with children as an Husband with his wife as a King with Subjects as a Master with servants as a Shepheard with sheepe as a Potter with pots for all these and other like notes of relation betwixt God and us are expressed
father Hydaspes sight yet I would have my selfe excused to thee if thou happen to live and to him that shall finde thee if the gods procure any and therefore I declare the cause of thy exposition after king Hydaspes had beene married to me ten yeeres and we had never a child we happened one time to rest us after dinner in a gallerie where hung rare pictures and images amongst which were those of Perseus and Andromeda portrayed as when he first redeem'd her from the rocke at this time your father lay with me swearing that by a dreamâ— he was commanded so to doe and I by and by perceived my selfe to be with child but thou wert borne white which colour is strange among the Aethiopians I kâ—ewe the reason because I looked stedfastlie upon the picture of Andromeda naked and by that meanes conceived a thing like to her yet I determined to rid my selfe of shamefull death counting it certaine that thy colour would procure me to be accused of adulterie and that none would believe me when I tolâ— them the cause and to commit thee to the unstablenes of fortune which is a great deale rather to be wished for then present death or to be called a bastard and telling my husband that thou wert straight dead I have privilie layd thee forth with the greatest riches that I had for areward to him that shall find thee and take thee up above all thinges remember that thou seeke among thy jewels for a certaine ring which thy father gave me when we were first made sure in the hoope whereof is a princelie posie the stone is a Pantarbe of secret vertue consecrated in the place where it is set The gods preserve thee my deerest daughter and grant us a happy meeting Theag. A strange but blest discoverie hast thou made Of faire Caricleas royall pedegree Right reverend father which before lay buried Deepe in the obscure vault of ignorance Now princelie virgin raise thy glorious head Above the clouds and give thy conquering beautie Command to pull the thunderer from his seate To serve thee here on earth or in Olympus Where thou shalt please to dwell and rest not here Let Mars be fetter'd Mercurie a slave Andbright Apollo dazled with the sight Of beames more splendant then his owne fall downe And worship thy appearance offering thee His throne to sit upon Calas Theagenes Fie be not such a vaine Idolater The gods may plague you for it Theagines plague me for Adoring queene Caricles deity They are unjust then for themselves commit The same Idolatry aswell as I. Calas That 's but your superstitious jealousie Thinke you the gods will rivall you or love A mortall Virgin fie 't is blasphemy Theag. They have done so or else the Poets lie Witnesse Europas bull and Laedas swans Faire Danaes shower and Daphnes transformation If their poore beauties had that operation To worke such strange effects in heavenly powers How much more force nay violence thinke you Hath hers to whose compard theirs are like glasse To sparkling diamonds Caric. My dearest friend Forbeare these candid raptures of your wit Not my desert and enter into thought Of what concernes us most Theag. Agreed my goddesse Calas No more dispute then but forthwith to sea Delphos adiew the fates call us away Exeunt Actus quarti Scena secunda Enter Arsace and her old baud Cibile Arsa So sweet a man as thy description makes him Cib. Nothing inferiour Madame but beyond it His body is a Temple stately built Where Venus comes and offers turtle doves To gaine his liking Arsa Such a majesty Accompanying that sweetnesse too Cib. As if They wedded were together hand in hand Walking in so delectable a mansion Arsa So active and broad shoulder'd as thou saist So tall and portly Cib. Every way provided To satisfie your pleasure Arsa Thou hast kindled A fire within me but what Countrey ownes This wonder of a man when landed he At Memphis thore who brought him canst thou toll Cib. He came with Calasiris from some parts Of Greece as I am given to understand And landed here last night Arsa Where doth he lodge Cib. In Calasiris house without the Temple Arsa Thou must devise some way to bring him tome And lodge him in our palace for I have Aâ— itching humour to enjoy the man Cib. Let me alone I am your Ingineer To worke your pleasure Arsa But who is the maid Thou saist did beare him company and was So neere his bosome Cib. I suppose she is His sister or his wife Arsa Is she faire as he Cib. I never saw one fairer such a beauty As would have made love stoope and shaken off His Eagles borrowed shape to force a kisse From her Nectorious hand Arsa Thou mak'st me jealous With praises of my rivall Cib. Let not that Trouble your thoughts he cannot be so foolish That when so great a happinesse shall be Offer'd unto him as the love and liking Of faire Arsace Oâ—omdates wife Fgypts great Deputy but reverently Kneele downe and worship such a change in love Arsa If thou canst bring deare nurse this thing to passe Thou shalt at once cure two diseases in me Fell love and jealousie Cib. I doubt it not What mad man but will be content to change His Brasse for Gold his Copper for rich pearle Both which he shall enjoy enjoying you Arsa O what a sugâ—ed time have I to use My sweet disports now that the Deputy My husband is imployed in the warre Against Hydaspes King of Aethiopia About the Smaragd mines pray heaven they end not Before my pleasures period Cib. Never feare it You shall have time ynough to bathe in blisse Arsa See Cibile who knocks there one knocks Cib. Calasiris And the faire parties Arsa Heavens conduct them in Enter Calasiris Theagines and Cariclea Calas All haile unto the Palace of my Prince Madame it may seem strange unto your Highnesse That I presume to bring these strangers with me To kisse your Princely hands I make no doubt But when you shall be well informed of Their biâ—â—h and breeding it wil plead my pardon Arsa What need this complement you 'r welcome sir So are your friends when did you ever know me Unkind to strangers or inhospitable To such as these whose outward lookes declare Their inward minds and speake their noble parts So elegant a grace and stately beauty As shineth in their countenances cannot Proceed but from some Princely pedegree Pray sir speake whence you are Theag. Most beautious Lady Please you to understand we are of Greece Descended of a Noble family Which ne're produced yet unworthy branches Let it suffice I doe beseech your Grace We open it no further we have beene Rob'd on the sea by pyrates but redeem'd By Noble Calasiris and brought here To Memphis stately City Arsa Is this Lady Your sister or your wife Theag. My sister Madame Tost equally with me by fortunes blasts Arsa but now those stormes are past and you
are in A quiet harbour pleasant calmes appeare Sir I must rob you of your ghests Calas I durst not Deny you Madame though I must confesse I should to any other Arsa Cibile Prepare their lodging neere our owne and let No costly furniture be wanting there Cib. It shall be done with speed Arsa My noble ghests I know not if you would retire alone Into your private chambers travell doth Require repose please you to follow me I le be your glad conductor Caric. O I feare This kindnesse is some love plot on my deare Exeunt Actus quarti Scena tertia Enter Thisbe sola This What sly evasion to put off thy guilt Is left thee now poore Thisbe what device To shun the severe justice of the Law All will be now discover'd and my plots Returne upon my selfe the heavens are just In sending Cnemon home from banishment To punish me in cheering of himselfe Canst thou behold his face or speake one word In thy defence when he stands forth t' accuse thee Before the people O what shame what curses Breath'd from a generall mouth will weigh thee downe Even to Avernus gulph I feele the weight Of my offences poised in the scale Of sad despaire O thou incendiary Of all this mischiefe saith my guilty thoughts Thou murtheresse of thy mistris hie thee hence To the infernall shades where never light Appeares but gloomy darknesse covers all Under her sable mantle there finde out Medea Clitâ—mnestra Pasiphe Long since condemn'd for murther to this place Companions of thy shame why lingrest thou Upon the earth is not thy sinne compleat And ripe for hell yes yes I know it is I know it is my sad despairing thoughts I le follow your suggestions gentle violl Reserv'd for such a use this kisse from thee Shall crosse the sentence of the Lawes decree She drinks poyson Enter Aristippus and Cnemon Arist Hold hold thy hand drinke not the poison downe Thou desperate woman This Not to gaine a crowne T is done and past prevention Arist Thisbe yet Make thy confession and subscribe thy hand That innocent Cnemon die not This Write it then Cnemon writes I Thisbe doe confesse yong Cnemon was Unjustly banish'd I and Demeneta Did forge that plot against him for the which We have our condigne punishment Cnem. T is done now put your hand to 't she signes iâ— Dying Thisbe she dies Arist Sonne t is ynough to cleare thee of all things Can be objected I 'le forthwith declare This matter to the people and produce Thisbes confession strengthned with her hand Come with me Cnemon Cnem. See the wretched state Of 〈◊〉 accusers and their poisonous fate Exeunt Actus quarti Scena quarta Enter Theagines and Cariclea to them presentlie Cibile Cibile My children great Arsace recommends Her love unto you who hath sent me here To serve you in all things that you command I 'm proud to be imployed in your service Who am a 〈◊〉 too and borne in Lesbos Most beautifull yong man cheere up thy selfe I bring thâ—â— joyfull newes Arsace loves thee Arsace the whoâ—â—â—avour kings have kneel'd for Doth knâ—elâ— to thâ—e petitioning thy love With 〈◊〉 oblatio a both of pearle and gold Theag. O heavens my prophesie is too too true My â—ealâ—uâ—ie foresaw this Theag. Tell Arsace My sister and my selfe both kisse her hands And doe returne her humble thanks for all Her noble fauours but that she doth love me I thinke it strange whose â—â—soâ—nd is a man So farre beyond my ranke as put in ballance With worthles me it would not brooke the triall We know you are her hands her eyes her eares Her minde her all for countries sake perswade her I doe beseech you to remove her thoughts Upon some worthier person all that we Deâ—re is onely this that she would please To send us backe againe to 〈◊〉 And â—eâ—er bring strange banish'd restlesse lives Unto so high and excellent a fortune Cib. My sonne be rul'd by me be not so foolish To shun this happinesse that courts thee now Imbrace it least hereafter thou repent Thy over-sight thou shalt have rule and riches Dalliance and all the fruits of flourishing youth If thou but condescend unto her will But if thou dost deny know that she hath A high and Princely stomack which nere brooks Affronts of such a nature Theag. Tempt me not But tell your mistris I despise her lust As much as prize her love you shall oblige us Unto you in a bond of love and kindnesse To get us leave from her hence to depart To seeke our fortunes Cib. Obstinate young man That wilt not see thy good Lady perswade Your brother to some reason you may hap To worke upon his nature and prevaile I leave you to your selves Exit Cibile Caric. Theagines This is no honest dealing I perceive Was it for this she sent us from her table Such curious viands and such costly cates Was it for this she did adorne our chambers With stately hangings wrought with sundry colours Which came from Sidon and faire Lidia Was this her wicked end would that we were A hundred leagues from this accursed place Or that we never had beheld her face Exeunt Actus quarti Scena quinta Enter Arsace and Cibile Ars But will he not be wonne Cib. Not all the art I have can worke him to it Ars Doe my favours Make no impression in him Cib. Yes of thankes No otherwise he craves leave to depart A signe he doth not like his entertainment Arsa Thou mak'st my hot blood cold within my vaines As if an ague ceâ—z'd me how depart E â— he get 〈◊〉 power I am resolv'd T' enjoy him or destroy him Cib. A right course Your wit hath found out mistris my advise Is this that onâ—e more you sollicit him By faire intreaty and perswasive memes To win him that way but if he stand out And stubbornly refuse to grant your suit Let him be ti'd unto cold fare hard lodging And give him up unto your Eunuches hands To be scourg'd and tormented for yong men Regard not when they are intreated faire But when enforced then they stoope and yield Arsa T is well advis'd but how can I endure To see that body bleed Cib. Madame you are Too pityfull if that an eye-sore be To see him scourg'd you may refraine the sight I know t will molliâ—ie his haughty stomacke To your desire Arsa First try all meanes before You put this last devise in execution But Cibile what cause or colour have we To hold them prisoners or detaine them here Against their wills Cib. We 'l give it out they came As spies from King 〈◊〉 army hither To view the strength of Memphis Arsa Excellent How shall we handle faire Cariclea His beautious sister Cib. Sister I believe Shee is his mistris rather for such dalliance As I have seene betweene them argueth love Of a more fervent nature I have come And found them kissing with such ardency As is
her so flowring age O had my daughter I bare unto you liv'd she would have beene Almost as old as she I doe beseech you Spare her and let her serve me at my table For I am prompted strangely by my Genius Unto commiseration Hydas So am I Beyond imagination but you know The Law requires the first fruits of the warre Should be the gods oblation to the Sunne Therefore we 'll offer him she to the Moone The gods must be obey'd the lawes fulfil'd They all offer to rise Cariclea fals at the feet of Sysimethres Caric. Wise grave and learned sir be pleas'd to stay A little longer for I have a cause Of consequence to plead before the King And Queene Persina which concernes them too Aswell as me this matter doth require A speedy judgment and I heare that you Give sentence on such noble personager Therefore judge you this plea of life and death And know it is not just to offer me Unto the gods Sysim Vouchsafe to heare most gracious Soveraigne This strange appeale and what this maid requireth Hydasp What judgement may this be or what have I To doe with her by what meanes should I come Into her danger Sysim Pleâ—se you to attend She will declare it Hydas But take heed that this You doe be no true judgment but plaine wrong If I that am a King must stand to plead My cause with any prisoner whatsoever Sysim Justice and equity ner'e lookes into The person but the cause and he speeds best That brings best reasons Hydasp But the Law permits You onely to determine controversies Betweene the King and subjects not with strangers Sysim Wise and discreet men doe not measure things By the appearance but by equity Hydasp Well let her speake since good Sysimethres Will have it so but it is manifest She will say nothing to the purpose but Some forg'd devise to shun the stroke of death Caric. O Sunne thou founder of my ancestroâ— High pedegree and all ye other gods Ye noble men that here are met together Assist me in this place and be a witnesse That what I say is true and by firme proofes It shall appeare doe you command O King Strangers or your owne subjects to be offer'd Hydasp Strangers Caric. Then it is fit and necessary You seeke out such I am no stranger borne But of this countrey and your subject too Hydasp Thou liest Caric. You seeme to wonder at small thinge But there are greater undiscover'd yet I am not onely of this Country borne But of the royall blood Hydasp This woman's mad Away I 'le heare no more such lunacie Hydaspes turnes from her in anger Caric. My royall father I beseech you know Your onelie daughter and despise her not Hydasp Sysimethres and grave Gymnosophists How long shall she abuse my patience This mayd 's distracted and the feare of death Makes her speake any thing how false soever How bould and impudent I know I had Sometimes a daughter but she dy'd assoone As she was borne this is a false impostor Wherefore away with her and let 's delay The sacrifice no longer Caric. none shall dare To take me hence unlesse the judges please So to command for you are not to judge In your owne cause although a King but must Be subject to the law aswell as others Which priviledgeth you perchance to kill Strangers but neither this law nor the law Of nature doth allow you to destroy Your naturall children for the gods to day Shall by a strange discoverie make you know I am your daughter though you now disclaime me All controversies in the law depend One these two pointes especiallie that is Firme proofe by writings and sure confirmation By witnesses both which I can produce To prove I am your child my witnesse shall not Be common neither but the judge himselfe And heer 's a writing shall declare both mine And your estate She gives the Fascia to the Queene she knowes it and is amazed Hydasp What meaneth this Persina that thy blood Thus comes and goes and that thy countenance Weares such an alteration is there ought Contayned in this writing troubleth thee Pers O King my Lord and husband I have nothing To say unto it but take heed and read it Your selfe the same shall teach you well and truelie Hydaspes reads it to the end then gives it to Sysimet and the rest Hydasp Persina doe you owne this character As your owne hand and know the birth to be Legitimate and true Pers By Sunne and Moone I sweare it Hydasp Although you tould me that my daughter dy'd I yet believe she was exposed forth As heere is mention'd but who was the man That tooke her up and carryed her to Aegypt How shall I know that he was taken with her Of this is she or whether the exposed Be dead or no besides whether some man When he hap'd to finde this might his good luck Abuse and make her play this famed pars Mocking the great desire we have of issue By the suborâ—ing of some changelinge and Colouring the truth with this devised Fascia All these doubts must be cleer'd ere I believe Sysim I can resolve you in the first for I Was he that tooke her up and carried her With me to Aegypt when you sent me thither Embassadour you know we may not lye Who are Gymnosophists I know this Fascia Written with Aethiopias royall letters Therefore you need not doubt that it is forg'd Besides t is signed with Persinas hand But there are other tokens that I gave To him that did receive you at my hands Can you produce them Caric. Yes loe heere they are She showes Sisimet and the queene her jewels Hydasp What are they doe you know them Pers Yes with wonder Caric. These jewells were my mothers but this ringe Was yours I thinke you know the Pantarbe well Hydasp I doe and all the rest but whether you Câ—me by them as my daughter that I know not You might have got them by some other meanes For to omit all other needles questions Your colour 's strange and the like never seene In Aethiopia Sysim She was also white That I brought up and with this virgins age Doth correspond the terme of yeeres when she Was forth exposed being seuenteene yeeres So old seemes this faire mayd Hydasp Sysimethres In my opinion you have show'd your selfe An advocate in this cause not a judge Beware least while you strive to cleere this doubt I may suspect Persina hath beene false For how i st possible that such a thing Sould be in nature we two being black To have an issue white this is against All humane sence and reason naturall Sysim The Fascia tells you how this came to passe Persina in the act of generation Contemplatively eying the faire picture Of beautifull Andromeda and firing A strong imagination thereupon Conceived in her wombe the very figure Of Perseus Mistris when she was bound fast Unto the rocke and he redeem'd her
Moses Miriam Deborah Barak Samuel David Asa Iehosaphat Hezekiah the Iewes in captivity the Apostles and many other in all ages yea and the blessed spirits in heaven also All deliverances are wrought by God Whatsoever the instrumentall meanes be he is the principall efficient and author As he is the Creator of all things so the Governour the disposer and orderer of all And all creatures in the world are his servants his instruments used by him according to his will If therefore by any right victory be ascribed not to the munition but to the Generall recovery of health not to the potion but to the Physitian good-workmanship not to the materialls or tooles but to the Artificer by much more right victory recovery all deliverances all blessings are to be ascribed to God who enableth Generalls Physitians and all others to do what they do and giveth all efficacy to the means that are any way effectuall It is therefore most just and equall that that which is done by God be ascribed to him His right it is and shall he not have his right Will subjects deale so unjustly with their King souldiers with their Generall servants with their master Fie on them therefore that either take no notice at all of such deliverances as they have or els impute them to any other then to God whether it be to themselves to other men to any secondary causes to fortune or to any thing els Three sorts of men do especially offend herein Idolaters that ascribe Gods due to Idols Flatterers that attribute it to men Ambitious persons that take it to themselves Two great evills are thus committed The Creator is robbed of his due To creatures is given more then their due He the onely true God is esteemed as no God They that are no Gods are accounted as Gods O my soule come not thou into their secret unto their assembly mine honour be not thou united Be rather of the communion of Saints whose understanding being rightly informed in the extent of the divine providence wherby every good thing that is wrought is wrought they are so in their hearts affected therewith as they cannot conceale the same but make their tongues their glory in acknowledging and making known what God hath done to their soules This though it be most due to God yet he accepts it as a kindnes as an honour done to him And in testimony of his gracious acceptance of this gratefull remembrance he will afterward on other occasions be ready to deliver For he never repenteth any goodnesse shewed to such as duly acknowledge the same If we thankfully commemorate his blessings we shall excite him to conferre greater blessings upon us Behold then a ready way to give glory to God and to gaine good to our selves §. 52. Of Gods delivering from death III. GOD can deliver from the power of death He can deliver 1. In such cases as threaten death wherein men have cause to feare death as the Israelites had when Pharaoh with a mighty hoste pursued them and they had no way to fly but thorow the sea Exod. 14. 2 c. and againe when they were besieged by the Syrians 2 King 6. 24 c. 2. When death hath begun to lay hold and to ceaze upon them as a lion and a beare did upon the lambs which David kept Thus it seemeth that death had ceazed on Paul and on Hezekiah who notwithstanding were both delivered 3. When there is no possibility of avoiding death by any ordinary meanes Thus was Ionah delivered out of the sea and Shadrach Meshach and Abednego out of the hot fiery fornace God hath promised to be with his in fire and water in most desperate distresses 4. When they are in the very power of death and death actually ceazed upon them and deprived them of life Hereof we have many instances both in the old and New Testament The vision of dry bones that came together were knit with sinewes covered with flesh and skinne and had breath of life breathed into them and lived was a visible demonstration hereof But that evidence which farre surpasseth all is the generall resurrection of all at the last day Supreme and absolute is the power and soveraignty of God over all even grave and death and him that hath the power of death the Devill They are all his vassals to hold or to let go whom he will 1. Admirable is the comfort which hence ariseth to such as being well instructed in the power of God can in assurance of faith rest on him as David did who when he knew not whither on earth to flie for succour encouraged himselfe in the Lord his God For nothing can befall us without the limits of his power no danger can happen out of which he is not able to deliver us Quest. May Saints in confidence expect any deliverance that God is able to give Answ Not simply but with a willing subjection of themselves to his will as they who said Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us from thine hand O King But if not be it knowne to thee O King that we will not serve thy gods Herein then lieth the comfort which ariseth from Gods power that our God who is able to deliver us will deliver us if in his wisdome he see deliverance fit for us For thus we may safely conclude What God seeth to be good for us he will do What God will do he can do What God can and will do shall be done Therefore what God seeth to be good for us shal be done Iust cause is here given unto us of looking to God when death presents it selfe before our eyes and to say unto him We know not what to doe but our eyes are upon thee Cast not therefore thine eyes too much downeward Fixing eyes aright on God worketh faith §. 53. Of Passion in Saints IIII. SAints may be much affected with afflictions They may weepe as this Prophet did and cry yea with a loud and bitter cry and roare all the day long and waile and houle and expresse other symptoms and signes of much anguish and great griefe Is their strength the strength of stones Or is their flesh of brasse Flesh and bloud remaining in the best while they remaine in this world maketh them sensible of smart of paine of losse of disgrace of other crosses which lie heavy upon them and presse and pinch them sore 1. Away with the senslesse and blockish opinion of Stoicks who say that no passion beseemes a wise man The Heathen Philosophers by that light of nature which they had have sufficiently refuted that paradox To us that have the light of Gods Word which commandeth expression of passion when
much more glorious in the cause of undertaking them All confesse that it is not so much the punishment that maketh martyrdome glorious as the cause So is it in warre The cause rather then the event makes it warrantable and praise-worthy Good successe in just warre brings much glory to the undertakers thereof In this respect victorious Gustavus carieth away more glory then Sennacherib Nebuchadnezar Darius Cyrus Alexander Caesar or other the great Conquerers among the heathen Of those Conquerors who are commended by the Holy Ghost it is said that they subdued kingdomes and wrought righteousnesse Might and Right must goe together Right without might may be much wronged Might without right may do much wrong Take we therefore a briefe view of the causes of sundry other conquerours and we shall find might without right Take we a view of the causes which moved the conquering King of Sued to undertake his warres and we shall find might regulated by right The cause which moved conquering Monarchs in former times to enter into other mens dominions and to subdue nations was especially the pride of their heart and their ambition to have the supreme soveraignty over the whole world if possibly they could atchieve it It is said of Alexander the great that when he heard the Philosophers conclusion concerning the unity of the world he wept because there were no more worlds for him to overcome Behold the ambition of mens minds how boundlesse how unsatiable it is The fore-mentioned Caesar invaded Germany France England and other nations to enlarge the dominion of the Romane Empire So did other Romane Generals before and after Caesar True it is that God in his unsearchable wisdome stirred up many of them to be his instruments to punish peoples rebellions against God In which respect they are called the Rod of the Lord his staffe his sword Yea God is said to put his sword into their hands and because the Lord useth them as his instruments they are in that respect stiled The Lords Annointed his servants his Shepheards Yet notwithstanding this secret intent of the Lord which he by their Ministry brought to passe they were stirred up by pride and ambition to do what they did So saith the Lord of Ashur O Assyrian the rod of mine anger c. I will send him against an hypocriticall nation c. I will give him a charge to take the spoile c. Howbeit he meaneth not so c. For he saith by the strength of my hand I have done it and by my wisdome c. And further to shew that they by their inward wicked disposition were set on worke it is said that when God gave people into their hands they shewed them no mercy and againe when the Lord was a little displeased they helped forward the affliction But the pious and righteous King of Sued hath made it manifest to all the world that no ambitious thoughts no desire of enlarging his owne Dominions by forcing away other mens rights from them hath embroiled him in these Germane-warres Great wrongs were done to him by the Enemy and feare given of greater if he looked not the better to himself So as he was forced to take up armes to secure his owne dominions and his neighbours bordering upon him It is noted of the Philistimes that they came up to seeke David Whereby is implied that they first provoked him to warre and his setting upon them and destroying them is thereby justified It is also recorded of the Syrians that they helped the Ammonites who had most despitefully used Davids Ambassadours Thereby Davids warring against the Ammonites and Syrians is justified Against the Ammonites for wrong done to David against the Syrians for aiding Davids enemies Such provocations had King Gustavus to enter upon these later warres He was first sought by the Enemy His Ambassadours were basely used This later Enemy sent armies under his owne Ensignes in aid of the Pole his former enemy with whom he was then in warre Besides these wrongs done to himselfe Complaints and invitations were made to him by sundry oppressed Princes and States and particularly of those to whom he was engaged by ancient allyances and confederacies By these also he was drawne into these warres wherein the divine providence hath given him so good successe and so great glory Abraham on such a ground as this later is was moved to take up armes against those that spoiled Sodom where his brother Lot was wherein the Lord gave him good successe Ioshua also on such a ground made warre against the five Kings of the Amorites who encamped against Gibcon The Gibconites were at that time in league with the Israelites Thereupon Gibeon being invaded by the Amorites sends unto Ioshua to the camp saying Slake not thy hand from thy servants come up to us quickly and save us and helpe us Thus Gustavus in affording succour to such as were oppressed and craved his aid they being also his confederates hath done that which such as were guided by Gods Spirit have done before him and that as well for securing his owne dominions as for relieving others For had that flood of warre which over flowed and in a manner ruinated the greater part of Germany beene suffered to swell and run longer and further it might have made an irrecoverable breach even unto the very Kingdome of Sued Where that floud of warre had a current it carried away the true Religion before it it bare away Princes out of their principalities other Governours out of their jurisdictions Ministers of Gods Word from their charges Owners from their possessions and others from their places and callings it deprived free cities of their immunities and priviledges and brought many mischiefes and inconveniences to many others Wherefore to preserve true Religion where it was in great hazard to be suppressed to re-establish it where it was removed to restore Princes other Governours Ministers Owners and others to their owne rights to recover to free people their priviledges to bring home the banished to take off the heavy yoke of bondage and intolerable burdens from their necks on whom they were unjustly laid and finally to prevent cruell massacres and persecutions for the Gospell sake hath this contrary streame of warre beene opposed so as violence by violence as necessity required hath beene resisted and a strong streame of sweet waters hath beaten backe a great flood of salt waters §. 127. Of the effects of the Suedish Kings warres THe blessed events that have followed upon the King of Sued his warres in Germany do give evident proofe to the truth of the ends and intents before mentioned For thereby true Religion is in many places re-established and a free liberty for exercise thereof procured to the professours of it Ancient immunities and priviledges are recovered Princes other Governours Ministers of the Gospell States Polities private Lords and Owners are restored to their dominions dignities charges callings inheritances and