publique service where the losse and daunger or benefit and honour befall's to all alike This is insinuated in the partition of the prey betwixt the souldier that fought Num. 31. 27. and the rest of Israell that stayde at home where though the greatest share befell the souldiar who indured the heat and hazard of the day yet all who stayde at home had thir parts and shares also in the prize or booty and none were excluded that all might be admonished thereby how they had share and common interest in the gayne or losse honour or dishonour of each other Rubenâ— and Gad and the halfe tribe of Manasses were seated vpon the neere side of Iordane toward the wildernes by the way of indulgence yet they were enjoyned to passe over armed to helpe their brethren in the conquest of their portions and not to returne till they were in posession and the church setled in peace For it is a shame for one member to looke on as senlelesse whilest the rest are in such jeopardy And therefore Iud. 5. 15. 16. 23. in that song which Deborah Barach sung after the victory wee heare of great thoughts of heart for the devisions of Ruben and wee heare this curse pronounced against pollitique or rather negligent Meroz who stood Neuter whilst religion was in question Curse yee Meroz saith the Angell of the Lord curse the inhabitants thereof because they came not to helpe the Lord against the mighty Doth God then stand in need of helpe doth the Almighty stand in neede of helpe against the mighty noe surely it were madnes to think soe But because God hath appointed meanes for the effecting of his worke here belowe therefore such as are faithfull offer themselues to his worke knowing it is his will they should doe soe and it is their honour so to be imployed in this service where a crowne of glory is layde vp for the workeman None then will stand Neuter in this case who are perswaded of the truth of Gods promises Such only who seeme indifferent or wholy withdraw themselues who doubt and waver in their faith or like fooles haue sayde in their hearts their is noe God For this cause the Edomits are called cruell and cursed by God because they stood on the otherside aloofe off looking on in the day Obad. 1â— that straungers carried away the substance of their yonger brother Iacob And Gideon after his victory over Zeba and Zalmunnua raced Succoth and Penvell which refused to victuall his army in their passage over or to assist him in those warres taught the inhabitants of those cittyes by bryars and thornes a sensible kinde of instruction what it is to become Neuters when the welfare of the Church and state is in question and how worthily whilst they will take part with neither side they become a prey to both sides It is a shame whil'st Heathens and Idolaters bynde themselues in strict leagues that Abraham and Lot should not helpe each other or that whilst Oreb and Zeb Zebah and Zalmunnah joyne in confederacy Succoth and Penvell shoulde not releiue Gideon Much more shame is it that whilst Turkes and Heathens and Idolatrous Papists stand together in one and haue their Catholique leauges to extirpate vs and the truth wee posesse which is and hath beene a maine prime and principall point in all their articles treatyes and transactions concluded betwixt them from the dayes of Charles the Fift to this present such as professe the true faith should for pollitique and worldly respects or perhaps without respect of policy or profit abandon their distressed neighbours and brethren Whatsoever such say in pretence of their backwardnes the true cause is either personall cowardice because they dare not provoke a false enemy nor trust a true God or lukewarmenes in religion because they are indifferent which side prevayle's so their bodyes and temporall estates be safe or slavery whilst they jmagine their is no other honour then to enjoy the vayne and beastly pleasures of this life for a season though vpon the basest conditions that can be â—â— trechery whilst either for golde or some other corrupt bayte which they haue swallowed the safety of Prince of state of religion is cast behinde their backs and they desire change as vermine that haue eaten rats-bane doe fresh water which they drinke till they bur'st with drinking Thus cunning practicioners haue learned their art of the Devill and doe so posesse and bewitch the hearts and eares of Princes as often the better the cause is the worse it is like to speede For they are able to cast aspercions vpon innocence her selfe and to palliate the fowlest cause with fayre and honest pretences So that men knew not well what part to take whilst it is hard to distinguish right and wronge a sunder If the cause be just as they vsually oppose such causes then they perplex it with other knots and questions of doubt If it be vnjust as they commonly take part with error then they lyne and interlay it with a mixture and florish of right that so the appearance of truth may beguile the eyes of the vnwary When such traytors as these beginn to worke they loue like spydars to make the whole webb out of their owne bosomes Neb. 6. 6. and when they entend most mischeife pretend all for the publique good and lay treason to the charge of all honest men whome either they see able or willing to stand in their way Yea with great care they advise Princes and Princes too often follow their advise to avoyde that Councell for wicked which may seene to discover the least part of their wickednes When Haman entende's to worke his maister to destroy the Iewes Hest 3. 8. that amongest them Mordocay might perish he pretends the Kings profit to be the grounde of his Councell It is not for the Kings profit saith he to suffer them Notwithstanding wee must not be discouraged with these encounters but prepare our selues to meet them with greater resolution If Sanballat and Tobiah conspire together to hinder the repayring of Ierusalem they pretende the Kings prerogatiue 〈◊〉 call all those rebels which stand for religiâ—â— This doeth not discourage Nehemiah Neh. 2. 19 but 〈◊〉 him to greater vigilancy Neh. 4. and more 〈◊〉 in the worke So that the people become â—ouldiars and artificers at once holding a swâ—â—de in one hand and a toole in the other Foâ—â—y such men and after such a manner must the temple of God be built and the temple of â—ntichrist pulde downe namely by those that are couragious and diligent And though Sanballat proceede's by plots and practises to hinder the worke and to rayse vp false Prophets like the Iesuits in all Christendome and the Arminians in the vnited Provinces to discourage the Prince and people and to distract and divide them yet resolute Nehemiah resisteth this temptation Nehâ—m â— and breake 's forth into these honorable and holy
VOX DEI. The frontispice explaned TRuth-telling Ramsy Treason doth vvithstand And for the Kinges life liftes his happie hand The Duke kils Briberie bane of Commonweales With fire-brand Faction and so truely deales For Kinge and Kingdome as a man that knowes Vpon one roote their equall vvelfare growes The Prince false Vniversalls doth detest And true of faith is by the true faith blest Hee for the Kinge the Kingdome and the Kirke Like Hercules begins heroick vvorke And sets new pillars on the coast of Spaine To bownd three-bodyed Geryon once againe Who vvith his dooble-headed dog did drawe Backward against divine and humane Lawe Kingdomes and Countries of seduced men Into his darke and Hell-resembling denn The Kinge hedg'd rownd with sweete yet pricking roses And Thistles in securitie reposes His bay-crownde heade vvhilst soe incircled Hee Guarded by these guardes these from tyrannie Iesus from Iesuites and all spirituall harmes Defendes his Flock vvith his all-mightie armes Treades sinne and Death and Sathan vnderfoote Whilst God the Father puts his blessing to it Then vvho giues back who is on our side whoe Where wordes and Treatyes faile resolue to doe VOX DEI TO THE READER IT may be thought perhaps by some which shall vouchsafe to reade this following discourse that my generall aymes in this publication are to exasperate the humor of the tyme too tart as some thinke already against the Common Adversary and withall to flatter my selfe into favour by needles repetitions of notable by-past actions For the first let such know that neither my minde nor my booke looke higher then the middle Region being both bred and conversing continually in the inferiour where they haue no force to raise stormes of action but to participate in passion with such gufts as fall from aboue I am not so vaine-gloriously apprehensiue as to thinke my selfe able to raise the least dust with any feete but mine owne or to workâ— vpon the judgement of any man with my weake oratory to moue him to a violent course beyond his naturall inclination Yet thus much I say for my selfe and my cause that if I should avme at what they object and should accomplish my aymes I did no more then the greatest wisest devoutest amongst them professe to doe and practise continually against vs praise in others so following their footesteps Witnesse that treatise amongst divers the like which Scioppius a famous Counsellor for the house of Austria hath made against the protestants and intituled Classicum Belli sacri Siue sâ—asoria ad Imperatorem de Christiani Caesaris erga Principes Ecclesiae rebelles officiâ— veris Haereticorum compescendorum rationibis Fdito 1619. A Trumpet of the holy warre wherem by authority of Scripture pitifully wrested and misapplied by reasons of state and policy violently vrged and wrung to force out blood he moues and excites nay as it were inforceth the house of Austria in generall and in particular the Emperour so by consequence the King of Spaine to a merciles massacre of their subjects neigbours round about against whome they may any way pick a quarrell â— for point of Religion And what needes the blood of Austria be heated to this end I am to be blamed with others therfore if my zeale for truth be any whit colder then his for falsehood and I am to be pardoned and excused even by such as are of his opinion if I pursue as eagerly as he doth the side and cause I affect and resist vnto blood where he bloodely assaults my innocency or the innocent truth in me and in others Nay let this worke of his moue all Counsellors and others that haue place about Princes and Power with them to doe their dutyes in a contrary course and whet the edge of authority with all the arguments of their art to shew it selfe sharpe for Christ and his cause against Antichrist and his adherents And let not their goodly discretion and moderation delude the world any longer with vaine expectations and promises as if they were like Iobs faint freindes lob 12. 2. the only people and that all wisedome lived in them and should dye with them least if they dally any longer the axe be layd to the roote of the tree Mat. 3. and they for their fruitles fearnes without sap of sincerity or piety only with a smoake or shadowing of hypocrisy be cast into the vnquenchable fyre of Gods just judgement Assuredly Necessity calls vpon vs to do something in time for our cause and our freindes or to prepare our selves to suffer all thinges from our Enemyes Spaine can easely charme France by the helpe of the Iesuites and Pope to sit still and giue ayme till his foote be vpon the neck of the Vnited Provinces for it wil be made a warre of religion which France as the eldest sonne of the Romane Church is by all meanes to advance If then they can keepe vs back but a while longer either by pretences or promises or gifts or presents or pensions or East-Indian quarrells or treatyes or marriages or threatnings or by any other meanes the goale is gotten and wee must be forced to take the law from them and to admit not only Tâ—lleration but also Alteration of Religion and perhaps the Inquisition also into our land in spite of our hearts though wee our King with vs say NOE never so loud ther will neither heare vs nor beleeue vs nor then admit of our negatiue voyce And I am perswaded all that are not of this minde so ready to take all occasioÌ„s vse all meanes to prevent it are of their minde and wills take all occasions vse all meanes though closely and by degrees to advance it For the second objection made by such as thinke I am out of favour intend hereby to flatter my selfe into grace againe I let such know that as I account the favour of my superiours to be a great blessing so beleeving I never lost it at least by desert I professe sincerely not to seeke it with any corrupt or ambitious thought If what I write offend not it is the yttermost extent yea crowne of my happinesse here being for the rest contented and holding it a thing indifferent to liue in any ayre and to be buryed in any soyle Since I liue by faith and expect the resurrection of the just But the truth is that as those who looke on doe often see what the Gamesters over-see And as those who stand in a direct lyne against the mouth of the Cannon cannot discerne the danger comeing swifftly vpon them soe well as those that staÌ„d a-loofe off and obliquely soe wee that stand removed from the steeple heare the noyse of the bells distinctly and where they jangle and where they ring round and where they vary with musicall and delightfull changes which such as stand vnder cannot so perfectly judge And wee thinke wee saw the danger coming and were more sensible of it then many seemed to bee that stood
yet they are easely married together as they are both hott Soe the water is cold and moist and the earth cold and dry as the one is moist and thother dry they haue neede of each other and yet they fall out and fight but as they are both cold they easely agree and are compounded in one body And thus it is in the members of the humane body composed of these elements and thus is it in the Church and Comon-wealth which is a mysticall and politique body composed of these men Now therefore hauing thus beheld the comunity of the parts even in nature let vs looke into a few examples following this reason or law of nature and there see how actions otherwise questionable are warranted and justified by necessity when they respect the publique The King of Sodome rebells against Chedorlaomer King of Elam Gen. 14. 4. It is vnlawfull to rebell vnlawfull to assist rebells yet Lot takes his part and is taken prisoner Abraham thinks it noe injustice to joyne in confederacy with this rebelling King but that it is lawfull to make an invasiue warre to rescue his brother Lot The reason is nature bynds him to it and if hee should neglect his duty in this case he were worse then an infidell Nay religion bynds him to it and a righteous family calls for helpe Herein Abraham though he assailes doth but defend according to the law of nature for if they had not first inuaded the Church and taken Lot Abraham had sate still but now his assault is taken as a defence for otherwise the Church faith of the church could not be defended The Church is in distresse in hazard to receiue a blowe by this meanes Hee is noe living parte of the Church that suffers any parte to fall whilest his hand can vpholde it I had rather pull the house with Sampson ouer my head then grynde in a mill like an idolatrous and blynde beast all my life to the rejoycing of vncircumcised Philistims Surely Sampsons death Iud. 16. 30. 2 King 25 Num. 31. 6. was more honorable thē Zedechias life yet both lost their eyes when religion is at the stake the Preist who is a man of peace maye excite to the warre nay must blow the trumpet must sound the Alarum And then doubtles Salomon the peaceable builder of the Temple may draw his sword for the glosse or brightnes of that sword of justice is not stayned nor the edge bated with any other spott or stroke then the touch of innocent blood But that like as Aqua fortis eats into steele or as the blood of Goates softens Diamonds doth indeede soften the mettall and soe turnes the edge of authority that it cuts not at all or only cuts the abuser and perverter of it This wee see in Abraham who after this very warre and only then is blessed by Melchisedesk the King and Preift of peace Yea Melchisedeck accepts the tythe of the spoiles by his acceptance confirme's vs in the lawfulnes of the like acquisition for had the goods beene ill gotten as they must needs bee were the warre vnlawfull that King of justice would not haue pertaken nor receaued any portion of it for himself or for God but now his acceptance approues the action and warrants our imitation soe that if any man question the fact shall beholde Abraham stands foorth Like David in this place and saith what haue I now done Is their not a cause Moses beholding with sorow the bondage of his Country-men and how basely the Egyptians insulted over them provoked by the necessity of the case offered himself to be their deliverer and in revenge of a wronged Isralite slew an oppressing Egyptian but they notwithstanding Gods worke for their weale were loth to be admonished of any error therefore where he laboured to vnite them in loue they requite him with accusation and cast in his teeth what he had done for their good with the hazard of his owne life This make's him slee but they smart for it fourty yeares after Phineas in case of necessity though a Preist a man of peace when he beholds manners corrupted religion profaned Iustice contemned steps vp and armes himself with the weapens of warr and executes judgment vpon two impudent offenders hauing the necessity of the case sor his calling and the approbation of God after the fact to encourage our zeale in the like The noblenes of blood should be noe warrant to protect notorions sinners from shame and punishment Num. 25. 7. if like Phineas our harts were inflamed with the loue of God and his truth Deborah a woman modest vertuous in the time of necessity becomes a Iudge becomes a Captaine At other times to doe thus had neither beene the part of a modest nor vertuous wooman now not to doe it when necessity calls her out were to become as beastly and slauish as those be who should censure or condemne her for doing it Iud. 4. 4. 9 Sheba flying into Abel Ioab beseigeth him therein The Citty being brought to extremity 2 Sam. 20. 13. 15. noe way likely to auoyd ruine a woman steps vp among the Captayns and Councellors and by her wisdome in case of necessity finds a meanes to satiffie Ioab and to secure the City In case of necessity Azariah withstand's the King saying It pertaineth not to thee Vzziah to burne in cense vnto the Lord but to the Preists the sonnes of Aaron that are consecrated for to offer incense Goe forth of the sanctuary for thou hast transgressed 2 Chr. 26. 18. and thou shalt haue noe honour of the Lord God Had not the Preist bene stout in this case he had bene worthy of that leprosy which the Prince was plagued withall for being too stout It was here found true which Salomon saith Better is a poore a wise child Eccl. 4. 13 then an olde and foolish King which will noe more be admonished The Iewes vnder Ahazhuerus are in great daunger of a generall massacre by the practise of an ambitious and irreligious favorite Mordocay sends word to Esther who is safe her self and secure in the armes of the King that shee would remember her inocent Countrey-men and bestirre her self in the time of this extreame necessity shee resolue's presently to doe her best in this buisines and layidg a side all respect of the Ceremony of the Court the Majesty of the King Est. 4. 14. 15. 16. the terror of a contrary law shee goe's on with this resolution If I perish I perish Let these examples that follow be of credit with the Reader according to the credit of those Apocriphall books from whence they are taken Yet this will follow that those who penned the books were of this judgment the times wherein these books were penned approued and praised these actions and soe would haue done the like if in these dayes they had liued and met the like occasion as was then offered them And
to this end did they write and propound these examples to our imitation nor can wee choose but reverence their antiquity though wee doe not Canonize their verity Iudith another woman in case of necessity for preservation of her Country and Religion hauing before given testimony of her Chastitie Modesty Charity Contentment in a retyred course of life as if now shee had layd by or forgot all these and become vpon a suddayne wanton and loose and merciles and monstrous vndertaks a worke which makes men tremble Whilst they thinke vpon it and shews how strong God is in weake instruments when he begins to worke Good old Tobit in case of necessity buryes his bretheren though with the hazard of his owne life and estate he is banished for this but the same God that set's him to worke raises him freinds at Court to helpe and restore him Archiacharus beg's his goods which were confiscated and his life which was forfeited for this pious offence and rectore's them vnto him Yet being restored he doth not therefore cease doing good in time of necessity for feare of the penalty threatned and formerly inflicted nor can his mocking neighbors fright him from his duty but he reiterate's the same charitable and holy transgression againe and againe whilest if any man reprâ—hends him for it he can say with David What haue I now done Is their not a cause In necessity rather then chastity shal be condemned by injustice because she would not bee deflowred by lust God stirs vp the spirit of young Daniell without an ordinary calling to coÌ„demne them that were ordinary Iudges and to cleare the innocent from imminent danger For wheresoever I haue an occasion offered me by God to doe good I haue a calling and command from him to doe it In necessity Mathias withstand's such as sacrifice contrary to the law and whilst the vsurping King commaunds the doeing of it he kill 's the person that presumes to doe it And for this is parralelde with zealous Phineas whose like act of necessary yet extraordinary justice without an ordinary calling or warrant on the behalfe of God and the truth was so farre from finne and shame as it was counted vnto him for righteousnes vnto all generations for evermore and is stiled by the Psalmist according as the septuagint expounded it a prayer of peace a sweet smelling sacrifice of attonement which caused the consuming pestilence to cease To speake of Prophets both ordinary extraordinary after all these who haue done the like in their kind as Ieremiah Micheas Esay Daniell Amos with otthers were but to proue what nothing but tyannous custome dare's and nothing but invicible ignorance or villanous Atheisme will deny Objection or call into doubt But if any shall say these are no presidents to follow because they were extraordinary I answer Answer therefore they are to be followed because they are extraordinary For their examples fitt extraordinary times and occasions best And yet what action is done but a man might say as much of it if that were enough to make it lye dead and vseles But who can know whether an other man hath the same extraordinary mover or noe where the same cause present's it selfe verely none but the person himselfe who hath the testimony of his owne conscience to acquitt or condemne him other men judging by the naked fact or badd successe may mis-judge and condemne a worke for wicked which proceede's perhap's from the good spirit of God And this must neede 's be true except wee thought the spirit of God that spake by the Prophets speake's not now to Gods people in the Church but that Oh blasphemy God were now growen olde and become blinde or deafe or dumbe or forgott himselfe and his poore afflicted flock Breifly whilst some will not beleeue God when hespeakes and workes by extraordinary meanes and others will not beleeue him except he soe speake's and worke 's wee are come to that passe that wee see not our tokens neither will wee heare others admonishing vs nor doe what wee ought without admonition nor suffer any man to speake or doe worthily without an vnworthy censure To conclude this point though the actions of all these men before recited might be called in question as many of them were by a cavilling and envious enemy and some of them challendged of partiality others of singularity of popularity presumption pride disobedience irregularity treachery or the like So that none shoulde escape vncontroled yet they all passe currant in the Church vnder the generall warrant of Necessity and may all stand vp with these words of David in this place what haue wee now done Is their not a cause Such a cause there was as if Abraham had not fought he had bene registred for lack of good nature for lacke of courage for lack of zeale in his frends case in the states in Gods And as this Father of the faithfull so should all that succeede him aswell in religion as greatnes and goodnes of minde haue vndergone censure in their perticulars for omission as now they haue by their worthes attayned the favour of God and men For in the case of necessity God himselfe dispenseth with his written law Because the law of Nature which he hath written in every mans hart Gâ— 38. 26. Exod. 17. 20. 21. Iud. 3. 15. subjects him thervnto So that it excuseth or at least extenuateth in some sorte the incest of Thamar the disobedience of the Midwiues the cruelty of Ehud Iael 1 Sa. 19. 2. Pro. 6. 30. Tho Aqu 22. q. 62. st 5. 4. the falshood of Ionathan bewraying the Councell of his Father his King insomuch as Salomon saith men dispise not a theefe that steales for necessity Yea in case of necessity it shall be lawfull to breake the Sabboth and to eate the shew-breud to dispose of the holy vessells to omit circumcision For a woman to circumcise and all this without blame whilst all of them haue this Buckler of Davids to defend themselves from obloquie What haue I now done Is their not a cause Vbi vrget necessitas excusabilis est dispensatio vbi vtilitas provocat laudablis est vtilitas inquam communis non propria Neither is this a Paradoxe in divinity nor yet a thing practised only amongest the Iewes but a law vniversall both of nature nations So that wheresoever wee shall finde man wee shall finde the footstepps of this practise And the more noble the nation is the more frequent the examples The Grecians and Romanes shall suffice and some few amongest them Codrus King of Athens vnderstanding by the oracle the benefit his Kingdome should receiue by his losse and the losse it should haue by his life disguised himselfe and provoked an enemy with harde words and then exposed himselfe voluntarily to his enraged and suddaine revenge that so by his singuler daunger and death he might procure the generall good of all Mutius Scevola for his countrey