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A15398	Ecclesia triumphans: that is, The ioy of the English church for the happie coronation of the most vertuous and pious prince, Iames by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, defendour of the faith, &c. and for the ioyfull continuance of religion and peace by the same. With a briefe exposition of the 122. Psalme, and fit application to the time: wherein are declared the manifold benefits like to grow by these good beginnings to the church and common-wealth of England. Dedicated to the most gratious ladie and vertuous princess, Ioland Anne, by the grace of God, Queene of England, Scotland, France, &c.	Willet, Andrew, 1562-1621.	1603 (1603)	STC 25676; ESTC S114434	63,703	152

Scots slaine in one battell Sometime the Scottes had the vpper hand as in the 7. yeare of Edward the second in a battell fought at Retraueling in Scotland there were put to the sword and taken 10 thousand or after the Scottish historie 50. thousand English I will not make mention of Flodden and Musleborough fields other fierce battels between these nations By this ye may consider what a great blessing is like to ensue vpon this ioyfull coniunction of these kingdomes Dauid againe brought home the arke that a long time had soiourned abroad this is our greatest comfort that contrarie to the desire and expectation of the Papists God hath sent vs a Princely shepheard that shall still lead his people to the greene pastures and refresh them stil with the waters of the word of life Dauid also expelled the Iebusites out of Ierusalem and there are yet some Cananites in the land Iesuites they are called but more truely Iudasites and other of Baals priests with whome I trust such order shall be taken that they be no more as thornes in our eies and prickes in our sides Thus you see how iust cause we haue to celebrate a song of thanksgiuing with the Prophet Dauid for Gods great mercies which shall be a meanes when the Lord seeth our thankfull acceptance of these good beginnings that the proceedings shall be answerable for God by our thanksgiuing is not profited but we are altogether thereby benefited as it is said in Iob If thou be righteous what giuest thou vnto him thy righteousnesse may profit the sonne of man Augustine teacheth this point well Non laudibus nostris ille crescit sed nos deus nec melior fit si lauda●eris nec deterior si vituperaueris c. God increaseth not by our praise but we he is not the better for our praise nor worse for our dispraise but we are the better if we praise him and worse if we praise him not The 2. meditation A song of Dauid That Church and common-wealth is happie to whome god giueth a Prince such as Dauid was whose heart is set aright to seeke God In that Dauid was occupied in godly meditations and did exercise himselfe to endite holy songs and sonnets to the praise of God and comfort of his church Princes are taught to be deuoted to the worship of God and subiects doe learne to pray to God to send them Kings and gouernours such as Dauid was after Gods owne heart 1. Thus the prophet Esay speaking of the last times saith that kings shall be nourcing fathers and Queenes nourcing mothers of his Church Isay 49. 23. 2. Such was Salomon that praied himselfe in the audience of the people with his hands stretched out vnto God at the dedication of the temple 1. King 8. The same wise and vertuous Prince did write those heauenly bookes of the Prouerbes Ecclesiastes the Canticles giueth himselfe the name of a preacher Eccles. 1. 1. Such an one was Iosias that himselfe read in the eares of the people the bookes of gods couenant 2. King 23. 2. 3. For praiers should be as the he goates before the flocke Ierem. 5. 8. to goe before the rest by their good example whose godly lawes and wholesome precepts are as the raine that commeth vpon the mowen grasse Psal. 72. 6. So they make religion and vertue to increase and flourish 4. Hereunto Princes should be mooued considering whose place and office they beare in earth that as they are called Gods Psal. 82. 1. so they should seeke to set forth gods glorie for they are called gods as our Sauiour expoundeth it because to them the word of God is giuen Iohn 10. 35. The cheife charge and care of preseruing the worde of God is committed to them Philip an heathen king could say that a Prince must remember that he had obtained a diuine power that he should command diuine things Beside great is the reward of godly and vertuous Princes who by their good example drawe others vnto God They that turne many to righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for euer and euer Dan. 12. 3. 5. Wherefore as this consideration should stirre vs vp to giue great thankes vnto God that hath in his mercie sent vs a Prince not onely wise and learned but sound in religion and deuout in affection as appeareth by his Maiesties books such as we found not the like written by any king of this nation before So let vs not be slacke to commend his Maiestie in our continuall praiers vnto God that the lord would direct him by his spirit and guide him in his feare and strengthen him to holde out to the end that godly course which he is entred into And further the people of God are taught that where the Lord hath vouchsafed so great a blessing then the which in this world there can be no greater to send his Church a Nursing father and the Cōmonwealth a prudent and vertuous gouernour they should endeauour for their parts in pietie to God and obedience to their prince and in all Christian duties to be answerable It is a monstrous thing that there should be a good prince and a bad people a sound head and a diseased bodie The subiect should not by his vntowardnes grieue the heart of a good prince but shew himselfe so conformable to all acts of pietie that the vertuous gouernour may reioyce in the obedience and deuotion of his people that in the ende he may yeeld vp himselfe and his people with comfort vnto God and say with the prophet Behold here am I and the children which thou hast giuen me Isa. 8. 18. For as Ambrose saith of good children so it is true of good subiects Stipendia militiae suae sunt vernet in dei laudem terra quia colitur mundus quia agnoscitur ecclesia quia devotae plebis numerus a●getur They are as the hire or reward of the princes warfare let the earth sprout forth to Gods praise because it is tilled the world because it is inhabited the Church because it is with deuout children filled and replenished The 3. meditation Of degrees There are thus intituled 15. psalmes that are here set together which are next this so called as though the Leuits were appointed to sing them vpon the degrees and staires of the temple for as yet in Dauids time the temple was not built nor the plot thereof drawne or the forme and patterne set forth neither is it to be referred to the rising of the tune wherewith those psalmes were sung in the temple for other psalmes beside these were tuned sometime with the falling sometime with the rising of the voice some in an high tune were sounded forth which was called Atamoth 1. Chron. 15. 20. some in the eight or base tune as psal 6. and 12. which was called Sheminith 1. Chron. 15. 21. This title then if it depended of the tune could not be proper to these

ECCLESIA TRIVMPHANS that is THE IOY OF THE ENGLISH CHVRCH FOR THE happie Coronation of the most vertuous and pious Prince IAMES by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland defendour of the faith c. and for the ioyfull continuance of religigion and peace by the same With a briefe Exposition of the 122. Psalme and fit application to the time wherein are declared the manifold benefits like to grow by these good beginnings to the Church and Common-wealth of England Dedicated to the most gratious Ladie and vertuous Princesse Ioland Anna by the grace of God Queene of England Scotland France c. Prov. 28. 2. When the righteous are in authoritie the people reioyce Psal. 118. 23. This was the Lords doing and it is maruelous in our eyes v. 24. This is the day which the Lord hath made let vs reioyce and be glad in it PRINTED BY IOHN LEGAT Printer to the Vniuersitie of Cambridge 1603. And are to be sold in Pauls Churchyard at the signe of the Crowne by Simon Waterson To the most noble and vertuous Princesse the Ladie ANNA by the grace of God Queene of England Scotland France and Ireland A. W. wisheth all spirituall comforts and encrease of honour in this life and euerlasting ioy in the next MOst gracious Ladie and noble Princesse whē Zerubbabel that faithfull prince of Iuda beganne to build the temple with the stone of tinne in his hand the people reioyced but when he had finished the worke and brought forth the head and chiefe stone thereof then shoutings vvere heard of those that cried grace grace vnto it If then the people of God in this kingdome had great cause to reioyce when religion began first to be planted and the spirituall building of the Church to be reared much greater ought our ioy now to be when we see religion continued and hope if any thing yet be wanting that the same in good time may be perfited Others will striue diuersly to expresse the ioy of this happie day and to solemnize the entrance and initiation of so religious and much desired raigne of your Highnes louing lord and our gracious Soueraigne some by pleasant pageants and shewes some by valiant and martiall feates of armes and iustings some by rich and costly presents and gifts but we among the rest the Ministers of the Gospell of Christ both by preaching and setting forth the great mercies of God towards vs and by writing to conserue a perpetuall memorie thereof will consecrate our tongues and pennes to this seruice that we may say with the kingly prophet Dauid My tongue is the penne of a readie writer I will entreat in my works of the king Your Grace hath great reason to be glad of this day whose honour able estate is thereby enlarged according to the rule of the law Mulier marito concrescit the ladie encreaseth with her lord your royall issue and princely heire reioyceth whose noble title of inheritance is augmented your Highnesse faithfull seruants and domesticalls haue not the least part in this common ioy whose true and diligent seruice is like to be highly recompenced But all these ioyes which particularly in any of these may be singled in the Church and commonwealth of England doe all concurre and are not onely dubbled but multiplied God hath giuen in his mercie to vs both a comfortable husband to his Church a carefull parent to the Commonwealth an honourable Master to all honest and louing subiects The first shall haue we trust ioyfull experience of his Christian pietie the second of his fatherly benignitie the third of his princely equitie that both Church may say with the spouse in the Canticles We will remember thy loue more then wine and the Commonwealth as the Prophet of Eliakim he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Ierusalē and be whole realme as the same prophet saith he shall be called a repairer of the breach and a restorer of the decaied pathes And now most noble Queene seeing God hath aduanced your H. to this great honour honour him againe that hath honoured you Forget not him that hath remembred you and serue him faithfully that hath preuented you with blessings liberally Two Annaes are famous in scripture Anna of Elkanah for her godly posteritie in Samuel Anna of Phanuel for her deuout pietie in praying in the temple Elka●ab whose wife the first Anna was signifieth the possession of God Phanuel whose daughter the second was is as much to say the sight of God Anna also is interpreted gratious or mercifull Answerable vnto these names were the effects the first had a vertuous sonne Samuel a possession of God in deede the second saw Christ in the temple and confessed him and both of them were vertuous women God graunt vnto your Highnes the possession of Elkanah encrease of spirituall sight and knowledge with Phan●els daughter and to be a right Anna both to fin● grace with God and to shew mercie and compassion to men Two other of this honourable and Christian name Anna I finde in the Chronicles of this nation both vertuous Queenes your Highnes worthie pr●decessours one wife to Richard the 2. sister to Wincelaus king of Bohemie the other ladie Anna Bullen wife to king Henrie the 8. and mother to our late gratious Soueraigne Q. Elizabeth The first is honoured for her studie in the Scriptures who had in those blind daies the 4. Euangelists in English and the doctors of the Church vpon the same The other is commended for her excellent vertues as her sinceriti● in true religion her Christian charitie and princely liberalitie toward the poore whose almes giuen that way in three quarters of a yeare are summed to be 13. or 14. thousand pound And now God hath sent vs a third Queene Anna which we trust in all these princely vertues as shee continueth the Christian name so will reviue the honourable fame of these vertuous matrones That innocent ladie Queene Anna Bullen though by the malice of her aduersaries traduced yet both by her godly death and Gods blessing vpon her posteritie is sufficiently cleared At her coronation these verses were exhibited Regina Anna paris regis de semine nata Et paries populis aurea saecla tuis As Anna Queene of princely race doth equally descend So to her people golden daies her offspring shall extend These propheticall verses if I may so call thē had their due accomplishment afterward in the happie issue of this Ladie then vnborne Queene Elizabeth by whome indeede this Church of England enioyed a golden time such as the like as his Maiestie saith hath not been read nor heard of since the daies of the Romane Emperour Augustus And it is the comfortable hope of this nation of England tha● God hath raised your Highnes vp another fruitfull Anna by whose royall offspring this lanà may long haue fruition of like golden and happie daies which God

are moe then I am able to expresse Our princely Ecclesiastes declareth that a king should be custos vt riusque tabulae the Gardian of both the tables of the lawe full well hath his Maiestie testified the same in euery particular in his Christian and iudiciall treatises For the 1. lawe he professeth himselfe an enemie to all atheisme p. 25. for the 2. he condemneth the adorers of legions of Gods and such as are ruled by the foolish traditions of men for the 3. he saith beware to offend your conscience with swearing or lying p. 17. For the 4. alwaies let the Sabboth be kept holy and no vnlawfull pastime vsed p. 53. For the 5. Honour your parents for the lengthening of your owne daies as God in his lawe promiseth p. 96. For the 6. There are some horrible crimes saith his Maiestie to his princely heire that ye are bound in conscience neuer to forgiue Such as witchcraft wilfull murther p. 31. For the 7. God commanding by the mouth of Paul to abstaine from fornication declareth that fornicatours shall not inherit the kingdome of God p. 74. For the S. His Maiestie hath shewed his worthie resolution for the reformation of robberies and oppressions of the Borderours p. 36. For the 9. Our royall Ecclesias●es saith Beware to offend your conscience with vse of swearing or lying c. Lying commeth much of a vile vse which banisheth shame pag. 17. 18. For the 10. His princely counsell is Abstaine from haunting before your marriage the idle companie of dames which are nothing else but irritamenta libidinis p. 127. Thus our Iosua well remembreth the wordes of the Lord vnto that valiant captaine let not this booke of the lawe depart out of thy mouth but meditate therein day and night that thou maiest obserue and doe according to all that is written therein of whome I trust we may truely say as Ambrose of Theodosius Licet in aliis laudabilis tamen apex tuorum operum pieta● semper fuit though in other things you are praise-worthie yet the cheifest of all your workes is humilitie Further our noble teacher prescribeth euery man his dutie from this lampe there is no calling but may fetch light and deriue water from this fountaine Euen here may the nobilitie learne not to thrall by oppression the meaner sort that doe dwell by them nor to maintaine their seruants and dependants in wrong p. 45. Merchants are taught not to buy the worst wares and sell them at the dearest prices p. 50. Iudges are admonished to take heed of briberie aduocates to decline the long somnesse of suites for the inriching of themselues with the spoile of the whole countrey p. 90. Church gouernours to preserue doctrine and discipline in puritie according to Gods word p. 43. Yea ministers preachers may receiue instruction for their calling how to handle the word 1. not to varie from their text 2. not to meddle with matters of state p. 89. 3. that their speech be not fairded with artifice c. but to eschewe all affected formes p. 115. 4. We are taught to vse onely Scripture saith our Ecclesiasticall Salomon for interpretation of scripture if we would be sure neuer swarue from the analogie of faith in expounding May we not now truely without flatterie pronounce that saying which the kingly preacher vttered of himselfe The more wise the preacher was the more he taught the people knowledge and caused them to heare And in this sense we find that saying true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euery good prince is of a priestly order instructing his subiects both by wholesome lawes and precepts and a vertuous example Neither haue we onely from our christian Salomon the light of direction but the sweete influence also of comfort and consolation that there is no sort or degree that is not interessed in this common benefit The nobilitie shall be duly respected eschew the other extremitie in lightlying cōtemning your nobilitie p. 47. schooles and schollers maintained p. 43. Ministers reuerenced and sufficiently prouided for p. 44 souldiours and martiall men liberally rewarded p. 59. faithfull and diligent seruants recompenced p. 71. the worthiest still preferred let the measure of your loue to euery one be according to the measure of his vertue p. 152. all subiects relieued and their oppressions helped be diligent to trie and carefull to beate downe the hornes of proud oppressours embrace the quarrell of the poore and distressed as your owne particular c. p. 34. What degree then or calling is there in the land which hath not great cause to reioyce in the aduancement of so worthie a prince I speake not this God is my record to please by glozing speach for I should so rather displease his Maiesties mind herein is well knowne loue them best that are plainest with you p. 71. but I trust I may speake the truth without flatterie and all the world I thinke will witnesse with me that I haue not fabled It is fit that Gods graces vpon his Maiestie and mercies therein toward vs should be proclaimed and published that his highnesse may thereby be stirred vp to proceed and goe forward and the people prouoked to be thankefull As herein no nation hath greater cause to ioy then England to whome God hath giuen a prince respectiue to all sorts and degrees in their places and according to their necessities who herein may be compared with Eliakim to a sure naile wherevpon all vessels both small and great doe hang euen from the cuppes to the instruments of musicke Isay. 22. 13. 24. And as Ambrose applieth that saying in the Canticles Species eius sunt cedrus Lebani quae ramum nubib radicem in terris inserit in altis habitat humilia respicit His countenāce is like the Cedar of Lebanus which stretcheth the branches to heauen and the roote to the earth so beeing in high estate he respecteth the lowly I trust of such a prince England may more truly pronounce then Rome of Scipio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Rome could not fall as long as Scipio stood But we assure our selues that this Church and common-wealth through Gods gratious fauour shall not miscarrie as long as his Maiestie liueth But because perseuerance is Gods gift and there is no mortall nature but is subiect to chaunge it is our part to pray vnto God to giue strength and grace to our Christian prince to hold out in this godly course and that his Maiestie be not snared or intangled with this great honour wealth and prosperitie to the which the Lord hath aduanced him but may take heed by the example of the fall of Dauid the backsliding of Salomon the declining of Asa that he forget not the lord his god that hath exalted him which by Gods grace we doubt not as his highnesse hath herein a firme trust thus professing of himselfe that it shall please God who with my being and

waies haue of late in the Church of England set a foot some popish doctrines mingling the sweete lumpe of the gospel with sowre leauen of their owne Such teachers I trust will hereafter be better aduised and fill their hands with better seede that no more cockle and darnell be scattered in good ground God graunt a generall consent in iudgement and concord in heart both in teachers and hearers that we may goe vp together to Gods house and that our feete may stand stedfastly in Ierusalem that as Ambrose well alludeth Sicut rotam intra rotam vidit propheta currentem ita teres vita sanctorum est ita sibi concinens vt superioribus posteriora respondeant as the Prophet saw one wheele runne within another so the life of the Saints should be round and currant and so consorted together as one part may answer to another The 8. meditation In thy gates O Ierusalem This citie God made especiall choise of as it is in the pslame God loueth the gates of Sion aboue all the habitations of Iacob psal 87. 2. It was called the citie of God v. 3. the citie of the great king math 5. 35. the holy citie mat 4. 5. there Abraham was bid to sacrifice his sonne Gen. 22. of this citie was Melchisedeck founder and king Gen. 14. yet notwithstanding all these priuiledges this citie was often for their sinnes besieged by Pharao Necho 2. king 22. 23. by Nabuchadnezzer 2. king 24. 11. destroied by the king of Babylon 2. king 25. and at the last vtterly ruinated and made desolate by the Romanes Whereby we learne that there is no citie or countrie though indued with neuer so great priuiledges but if they continue in sinne may be in Gods iustice cast off 1. The Prophet saith He turneth a fruitfull land into barrennes for the wickednes of the people that dwel therein Psal. 107. 34. God is able both to change cities and countries to bring them to perpetuall ruine and desolation because of the sinnes of the inhabitants 2. Thus the Lord dealt with Samaria 2. king 21. 13. and with Shiloh where three hundred yeares the arke of God rested Goe vnto my place which was at Shiloh where I set my name at the beginning and behold what I did vnto it for the wickednes of my people Israel Ier. 7. 12. What is become now of Babylon the chiefe citie of the Chaldeans of Niniue of the Assyrians of Reuatane the great citie of the Medes Susis of the Persians there is no monument of them left but as Seneca saith Ipsa fundamenta consumpta sunt nec quicquam extat quo appareat illas saltem fuisse the very foundations are worne out and it doth not appeare that there were any such cities 3. As God hath dealt with these citties so he can offer the same occasion to others I will stretch ouer Ierusalem the line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Achab and I will wipe Ierusalem as a man wipeth a dish which he wipeth and turneth it vpside downe 2. King 21. 13. It is no whitte harder for God to bring destruction vpon citties then for the mason to lift vp his line and plummet ouer his worke or then it is to wipe a dish when it is foule 4. The cause why the Lord iudgeth countries and citties is expressed in the case of Israel because they sinned against the Lord their God c. and walked according to the fashion of the heathen c. and had made them images c. therefore the Lord was exceeding wroth with Israel and put them out of his sight 2. King 7. 8 10 18. The like sinnes in any cittie neuer so famous or honourable in the world must needs procure the same iudgements 5. First in that Ierusalem that famous citie is now forsaken of her inhabitants made an habitation of deuils of pagans infidels we learne that Gods church and the true religion is not limited to any certaine place and seeing God hath shewed such indignation toward that countrie nation which put Christ to death what reason had the Romane bishops in time past to incite Christian Princes to mooue such deadly warres for the recouerie of the holy land as they called it After God had polluted his owne cittie and temple and Christ neglected the very place of his birth for the sinnes of the people what cause had Christians so superstitiously to be addicted to that place which was reiected of God Their ouersight herein well appeared by the euent for we shall not read of any warres that continued longer with greater bloodshed and lesse happie successe then these maintained by Christians against the Saracens for the possession of the holy land Hereupon Princes lead with a superstitious conceite take vpon them the crosse to goe fight for Hierusalem as Henrie the 2. Richard the 1. king Iohn with diuerse other who thought simply as Naaman that no earth was so holy as that about Iordan 2. King 5. 17. But our Sauiour hath giuen vs a rule for this The houre commeth when ye shall neither in this mountaine nor at Ierusalem worship the father Iohn 4. 23. The true worship of God is not tied to Ierusalem as Hierome wel expoundeth those words of the Psalme God loueth the gates of Sion more then all the habitations of Iacob Nunquid istas portas diligit Deus quas videmus in cineres favillas conuersas c. Doe you thinke that God loued these gates which are turned to dust and ashes no man is so foolish to thinke so c. And againe he saith Ne quicquam fidei tuae deesse putes quia Hierosolymam non vidisti c. Thinke not any thing therefore wanting to your faith because you haue not seene Ierusalem nor vs therefore better because we haue there our habitation Secondly the like fantasie the Papists haue of Rome which the Iewes had of Ierusalem they imagine that Gods Church cannot possibly faile there as though they euer had the like promise for Rome as the Iewes had for Sion That God would dwell there for euer Psal. 132. 14. Howe would the Papists triumph if they could finde any such text for Rome This is my rest for euer yet if they did such promises are but conditionall for God no longer bindeth himselfe not to forsake a nation then while they doe not forsake him Let proud Rome therefore know that seeing shee is fallen away from the faith of Christ by most grosse idolatrie and other apostasies that shee cannot long escape vnpunished Ierusalem was deerer in gods sight then euer Rome was it was longer protected by him greater miracles had God wrought for them more holy men and Prophets there preached then euer Rome had And Hierome speaking of poore Bethlem saith Puto sanctior locus est rupe Tarpeia quae de caelo saepius fulminata ostendit quod deo displiceat I take it to be a more holy

iudge the people from morning to night and by the aduise of Hobab his father in law he appointed other inferiour gouernonrs both to ease him of some burthen and for better expedition for the people Exod. 18. And at Ephesus what would haue beene the issue of that tumultuous vproare if it had not beene appeased by the authoritie and wisdome of the towneclarke who among other wise speaches said vnto them If Demetrius haue a matter against any man the law is open and there are deputies let them accuse one another Act. 19. 38. And what miserie is like to befall a commonwealth without gouernment it is euident by the historie of the Iudges where this is yeilded as a reason of the oppression of the children of Dan Iud. 18. 1. and of the horrible adulterie committed by the men of Gibeah with the Leuites wife Iud. 19. 1. In those daies there was no king in Israel 3. For men without a gouernour are as the fishes of the sea that deuoure one another Hab. 1. 14. But the protection of Magistrates and gouernours is like the shadow of a great tree where the beasts doe finde shelter and the birds build their nests Dan. 4. 18. And as we see the wall is a proppe to the small boughes or Ivie that runneth vpon it Gen. 49. 22. so was Ioseph to his brethren and euery good Magistrate to his people 4. Therefore Iudges in Scripture are called Gods Exod. 21. 6. as Moses was to Aaron as a God Exod. 4. 16. to giue him direction And for this cause the Lord endueth Magistrates with necessarie graces of discerning and directing of boldnesse and courage of protection and deliuerance that they might be guides and gouernours of his people and distribute vnto euery man his right as the Lord said to Iosua I wil neuer leaue thee nor forsake thee be strong and of a good courage for vnto this people shalt thou deuide the land for an inheritance Ios. 1. 5 6. 5. This doctrine then giueth vs occasion herein also to remember the louing kindnes of God towardes vs that as the thrones haue beene set for iudgement all the happie and peaceable raigne of Q. Elizabeth so they doe and are like to cōtinue still Many feared great confusion to fall vpon the land and some wickedly imagined and as treacherously desired that this famous countrie might haue bin a pray for the Spanyard then indeede the thrones of iudgement should haue beene cast downe and no other iustice should haue beene expected but by the sword such iustice as Lysander shewed when the Argives who seemed to haue better right contended with the Lacedemonians about their bounds he drew his sword and said He that vseth this can best determine of the bounds and titles of lands Much that like was the Duke of Medina his speach the king of Spaines factor and chiefe captaine for the pretended inuasion of England ann 88. that his sword knew not to make any difference betweene Papist and Protestant if he had preuailed The same reports also the secular masse priests affirme that Parsons should thus write concerning the king of Spaine that after the losse of his Armado he ranne to an altar and taking a siluer candle sticke swore a monstrous oath that he would wast not onely all Spaine but also all his Indies to that candlesticke but he would be auenged on England But thankes be to God these cruell lords that would haue raigned ouer vs haue lost their hope and as the Psalmist saith They haue slept their sleepe and all the men of strength haue not found their hands at thy rebuke O Lord both the chariot and the horse are cast asleepe Psal. 76. 5 6. Many of those which gaped for our destruction are asleepe as Pharao with his hoast in the bottome of the sea so that we may say againe with the prophet Thou hast saued vs from our aduersaries and put them to confusion that hate vs Psal. 44. 7. Blessed be God that hath not suffered such cruell lords to raigne ouer vs but hath raised vp the thrones of iustice from among our selues Long may these thrones set for iudgment cōtinue and be established in peace which we trust to see that as it is in the psalme we may sing Mercie and trueth shall meete iustice and peace shall kisse each other Psalm 85. 10. Truth vertue in religion bringeth forth mercie and equitie in the princely administration and the vpright sitting in these thrones of iustice is the way to establish peace as Augustine well saith vpon these wordes of the psalme Vultis pacem ama iusticiam quia duae amicae sunt iustitia pax ipsae se osculantur si amicam pacis non amaueris non te amabit pax nec veniet ad te c. If you will haue peace loue iustice because iustice peace are two friēds they one kisse another if you loue not the friēd of peace peace will not loue thee nor come at thee God graunt that both in the Ecclesiasticall and Ciuill state of this kingdome iustice and peace may so embrace the other with veritie and truth that if it be Gods blessed will they may neuer be parted nor pulled asunder The 15. meditation Euen the thrones of the house of Dauid That is God had giuen vnto his people a gouernour from among themselues as the Israelites say to Dauid We are thy bones thy flesh 2. Sam. 4. 1. as also an vpright wise and iust prince that did feed them according to the simplicitie of his heart and guided them by the discretion of his handes Psal. 78. 72. It is then an vnspeakable benefit when the Lord setteth vp the thrones of Dauid that is giueth vnto a people iust gouernours and the same not strangers but of their owne bone and flesh 1. For the first the wise man saith When the righteous are in authoritie the people reioyce Prou. 28. 2. Great ioy there is when God raiseth vp to his Church vertuous rulers and gouernours as the contrarie is a great iudgement When the wicked beareth rule the people sigh Prou. 28. 2. For the other the Lord by Moses gaue them this law From among thy brethren thou shalt make a king ouer thee thou shalt not set a stranger ouer thee which is not thy brother Deut. 17. 15. 2. Such an one was Salomon who both was the sonne of Dauid borne from among his brethren the Israelites as he himselfe saith Thou hast kept for Dauid this great mercie and hast giuen him a sonne to sit vpon his throne as appeareth this day as also he praied vnto God to giue him an vnderstanding heart that he might iudge the people righteously 1. king 3. 5. 9. Such an one was Zorobabel of whome the prophet Ieremie thus testifieth Their noble ruler shall be of themselues and their gouernor shall proceede from the middest of them and I will cause him to draw neere and approach vnto

crowne gaue me this minde to maintaine and augment the same in me and my posteritie And God giue vs the people of England the like grace that we may continue obedient to God loyall and dutifull to our prince that he may haue comfort of vs and we ioy of him that he may many yeares raigne ouer vs in godlinesse and peace and his posteritie after him that God may aboundantly blesse both prince and people in this life and afterward grant vs both a ioyfull entrance into his euerlasting kingdome through Iesus Christ to whome be praise for euer Amen Certaine fruitfull meditations vpon the 122. Psalme by the example of the people of God reioycing vnder the raigne of King David for God● manifold benefits moouing the Church and nation of England to the like thankefulnes to God for his vnspeakable mercies shewed aboundantly toward vs. Psal. 122. A song of degrees of Dauid v. 1. I reioyced when they said to me Let vs goe vp to the house of the Lord 2. Our foote shall stand in thy gates O Ierusalem 3. Ierusalem is builded as a citie that is compact together in it selfe 4. Whether the tribes goe vp the tribes of the Lord to the testimonie of Israel to praise the name of the Lord. 5. For there are thrones for iudgement the thrones of the house of Dauid 6. Pray for the peace of Ierusalem let them prosper that loue thee 7. Peace be within thy walles and prosperitie within thy palaces 8. For my brethren and companions sake I will wish thee now prosperitie 9. Because of the house of the Lord our God I will procure thy wealth THis Psalme wherein the kingly Prophet Dauid expresseth his great ioy for Gods singular mercies to his Church consisteth of two parts the first containeth a congratulation with the Church of God and a ioyfull declaration of his gladsome heart v. 1. with the causes thereof first generally propounded v. 2. then particularly prooued which are 1. the great vnitie and concord of the citie the Iebusites beeing now expulsed v. 3. as we read in the storie 2. Sam. 5. 6. 2. The restauration of Gods worship the arke beeing now brought to Ierusalem v. 4. see the whole narration thereof 2. Sam. 6. 3. The administration of iustice established v. 5. which had beene much hindred by the diuision betweene the house of Dauid and Saul 2. Sam. 4. 1. The second part of the Psalme is an exhortation to all Gods people to pray for the continuance of these benefits vers 6. which is inforced by setting downe the forme of their godly praiers and desires v. 7. and propounding his owne example in the performance of that dutie in his owne person and the reasons moouing him thereto the law of his countrie v. 8. his affection to Gods Church v. 9. A song of degrees of Dauid Before I enter to treat of this Psalme three things are out of this inscription of the psalme to be considered 1. the occasion of making and enditing this psalme 2. the author thereof which is Dauid 3. the title it selfe why it is called a psalme of degrees The 1. meditation First the occasion as is partly touched before was threefold 1. the vniting of the citie of Ierusalem before infested with the idolatrous Iebusites 2. The restoring of religion maimed before by the absence of the Arke which was twentie yeares in the house of Abinadab 1. Sam. 7. 2. 3. The reconciling of the kingdome before diuided betweene the house of Dauid Saul for these so great blessings the Prophet reioyceth before the Lord and exhorteth the whole church of God to reioyce with him We learne hereby that like blessings require like thanks that we also should for all Gods mercies to his Church remēber to be thankfull 1. Thus elswhere the prophet Dauid saith My soule praise thou the Lord and forget not any of his benefits Psal. 103. 2. Yea this is an euident marke of Gods Church to shew themselues thankfull The voice of ioy and health is in the tabernacles of the righteous Psal. 118. 15. 2 This hath beene the practise of the Church of God from time to time Thus Moses and the children of Israel as soone as they came foorth of the red sea sung a song of thanksgiuing vnto God Exod. 15. 1. Dauid daunced and sprang for ioy for the bringing home of the Arke 2. Sam. 6. 14. Iehosaphat and his people praised God for the victorie ouer the Moabites and Ammonites in the valley of Berachah which was so called because there they blessed God 2. Chro. 20. 27. 3 Our thanksgiuing vnto God is as incense Psal. 141. 2. that as they vsed to lay oyle and incense vpon their sacrifices Levit 2. 15. the one maketh a cheerefull countenance the other is gratefull to the smell ●o should all our actions be perfumed with thanksgiuing vnto God This dutie of praise is compared by the people to a young bullocke that hath hornes and hoofes Psal. 66. 31. He then that remembreth not to giue thankes vnto God is as though he offered an olde and leane bullocke beeing faint and slouthfull to praise God without hornes and hoofes such an one shall neither haue strength to withstand and push the spirituall aduersarie neither is shodde with hoofes and prepared to beare all things patiently 4 If the superstitious heathen doe encourage themselues to praise the gods of gold and of siluer Dan. 5. 4. to whome no praise is due much more are we bound to render praise to God to whome it of duty belongeth it is all the recompence which we pay vnto the Lord. Quid repēdam Iehouae What shall I pay vnto the Lord for all his benefits towards me I will take the cuppe of sauing health and call vpon the name of the Lord Psal. 116. 12. Giuing of thanks then vnto God for his benefits is as our Landlords rent vnworthie are we to hold our farmes if we refuse to pay so easie a rent-charge our great Landlord of whome kings and princes hold their kingdomes raiseth not his rent but onely expecteth the old seruice of thanksgiuing which is the freest rent that can be 5 So then as here the Prophet Dauid made this song or hymne for his people to shewe their thankefulnesse to God for those great blessings we ought also vpon the like occasion now offered to expresse our ioy before the Lord Dauid vnited the kingdome before deuided and now God hath raised vp vnto vs a prince in whome both the regiments of England and Scotland are conioyned great was the rent which in time past was between these two nations though for these 40. yeares the gospell the onely bond of peace hath maintained loue and amitie amongest vs yet pitifull is the remembrance of former calamities how continually these nations did one offend another with bloudie and grieuous battells Sometime the English preuailed as in the 21. yeare of Edward the first there were 40. thousand of the

Ismaelites of this age that are readie to offend all their neighbours both by sea and land thirsting after the monarchie of many nations and stretching out their line beyond their measure These are the fruits of the Popish separation and such is the spirit of that bodie breathing out continually contention and warre It is no rare thing for one countrey citie or state professing poperie to prouoke another witnesse hereof the great contentions betweene the Guelphs in Italie taking part with the Popes and the Gibelines of the Emperours part the strifes warres mooued among the Popes themselues that diuers times warred one vpon another for the triple crowne as Alexander the 3. against the Antipopes Octavian Guido Ioannes the Vrbanists against the Clementines and twentie times beside was that Sea deuided Such were the wars betweene the states of Italie as the Romanes and Tuscanes ann 1166. betweene Millane Florence and Mantua an 1398. betweene the Venetians and the citie of Pavie and Verone ann 1405. Thus France and Spaine haue beene at variāce England and Scotland til the religion and faith of the Gospel vnited them Which vnitie we trust nowe shall for euer hold beeing knit together with three most sure bonds natural ciuil religious the first in that the same continent containeth them the second one kingdome and gouernment ruleth them the third one religion and worship of god instructeth them and therefore as the preacher saith a threefold cord cannot easily be brokē Eccles. 4. 11. Long may this cord hold long may his princely Maiestie continue among vs that hath twisted this cord and God graunt that both prince and people may walke in his feare that as our Christian king is pious and faithfull toward God so we may be obedient to God and our king And let vs not onely pray for peace but practise it not wish it onely but worke it that we may desire so to please God that he may delight to dwell among vs That according to the angels song Glorie be to God on high and in earth peace c. Luk. 2. 14. We may in all things set forth the glorie of God that we may enioy peace that God hauing his due we may receiue our desire glorie beeing not giuen vnto God peace is denied to men where God by our sinnes is prouoked there peace in earth is like to be interrupted And therefore he saith well Quanam est causa tanti furoris non alia sane nisi quia displicet mortalibus angelica illa partitio c. What is the cause of so great rage none other but this because that partition of the angel disliketh men whereby glorie is giuen vnto God peace vnto men Quonam modo stabit pax hominum coram deo si deo apud homines non potest tu●a esse sua gloria Howe shall mans peace be ratified before God when Gods glory is violated with men The 19. meditation Vers. 8. For my brethren and neighbours sake I will wish thee now prosperitie First the prophet sheweth that the loue of his countrie and affection to his brethren mooued him to wish well vnto them and to desire the peace thereof So then religion taketh not away naturall affection to countrie friends and parents but it rather maintaineth and vpholdeth it 1. The Apostle reprooueth the Gentiles because they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Men void of naturall affection Rom. 1. 31. And the Prophet saith Hide not thy selfe from thine owne flesh Isay 58. 6. He which withdraweth his affection from his neighbours and countrimen is as though he had no pittie or compassion vpon his owne flesh 2. Thus nature wrought in faithfull Abraham when he armed himselfe and all his familie and rescued and recouered Lot his brothers sonne which was taken captiue Gen. 14. S. Pauls affection was very ardent toward his countrey when he wished himselfe to be separated from Christ for his brethrēs sake which were his kinsmen according to the flesh But cursed is the memorie of cruell and vnnaturall Abimelech who destroied his owne citie of Sichem and sowed it with salt to make it vnfruitfull and desolate and slue the people whome before he saide were his bone and his flesh Iud. 9. 2. 45. 3. Like as the doue returned to the Arke from whence she came forth Gen. 8. as the oxe and asse know their masters cribbe where they are vsed to be fed Isa. 1. 3. and loue that place before any other as the riuers goe vnto the sea from whence they came Eccles. 1. 7. so should our loue and affection be vnto that place which hath bredde vs and where we had our beeing The lyons doe couch in their dennes where they are accustomed and the birds will hardly forsake the place where they were hatched and nature draweth affection to our countrie which first gaue vs breath and life 4. Nehemiah giueth this reason of his affection to Ierusalem because there was the cittie and the house of the sepulchers of his fathers Nehem. 2. 3. Therefore a man can not be forgetfull of his countrie vnlesse he will shewe himselfe vnnaturall and vnthankefull to his parents and progenitors which there remained while they liued and there lie buried nowe they are dead This made Iacob charge his children to burie him in the caue with his fathers There they buried Abraham and Sara his wife there they buried Isaack and Rebecca and there I buried Lea Gen. 49. 29. 31. 5. By this doctrine then we condemn vnnaturall and mostrous practises of all traiterous papists that haue heretofore most cruelly practised against their prince and countrey Such were Morton to the Popes bellowes to kindle the rebellion in the North Saunders in Ireland such were Ballard Babington Arden Sommerfield Parrie Campion Sherwin Yorke Standley Squire with the rest of that popish broad who by their treacherous attempts against the life of their Soueraigne intended nothing els but the hauocke spoile of their countrie and to make it a pray to the enemies teeth Herein they professing Christianitie were much inferiour to the heathen who preferred the safetie of their countrie before their owne liues so farre were they from attempting any thing preiudiciall to the state and welfare thereof So forraine stories make honourable mētion of Codrus king of Athens who warring vpon the Thracians which had promise of victorie by an Oracle so that Codrus were killed rushed into the middest of his enemies and by his death obtained the victorie to the Athenians The like did the Decij among the Romans the father in the warres against the Albanes the sonne against the French vowed thēselues to die for the safetie of their countrey Therefore it may be a shame for such as would be counted Christians to seeke the spoile of their countrie for the preseruation whereof they ought to spend their life and blood Iudge then what manner of religion this is that nourisheth such disciples