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
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
in Scripture would God have suffered such relations to be betwixt him and us They are not complementall and meere titular phrases but expressions of true reall unions and communions Take notice here of the ground of true holy boldnesse and confidence Wisely and diligently observe how God offers himselfe unto thee what bond of relation hee suffereth to passe betwixt him and thee As Saints in former times have done do thou in thy time Plead them before God Confidently plead them to sharpen thy prayer to strengthen thy faith Say to God Thou art O Lord truly thou art my God my King my Father my Master my Maker my Shepheard c. And on the other side I am of thy people of thy flock thy child thy servant the worke of thy hands Behold thy people which have of old beene called thy people These sure grounds of faith will enlarge thine heart and open thy mouth and embolden thee both to pray to God and to expect from God what thou prayest for That thou maist doe this with the more stedfastnesse of faith search thine heart examine thy disposition try how thou standest affected towards God If thou have the mind of a child a servant a creature a sheepe towards God thou maist rest upon it God hath an answerable mind to thee Yea because God hath the minde of a father and master to thee thou hast an answerable mind to him The reflection of his respect to thee on thy heart worketh respect in thee towards him §. 101. Of Saints earnestnesse in pressing their interest in God III. COnfidence in the interest which Saints have in God maketh them earnest in pressing it It maketh them againe and againe to presse the same thing which is an undoubted evidence of great ardency Did not the fire of a zealous spirit even flame out of the mouth of him that doth thus redouble a like relation before God Doubtlesse thou art our father though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel acknowledge us not thou O Lord art our Father our Redeemer The like is manifested by the multiplication of severall words to the same sense thus Behold and visit this vine and the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted and the branch which thou mad'st strong for thy selfe Vine vineyard branch import one and the same thing Such confidence as is rightly grounded on an assured interest in God perswadeth a mans heart that God cannot suffer him to call and cry upon him and not heare him Therefore if God at first heare not he will not presently give over but rather cry the more earnestly and instantly till the Lord doe heare him Indeed they that know no title that they can make to God nor believe any interest they have in him may soone be driven away as Saul who when the Lord answered him not presently enquired after a witch But they that well knew their interest in God tooke another course When God seemed to be angry against their prayer they humbly expostulate the case with God they presse the former favours that God shewed to them and that title which they had in him and thereupon once and againe most earnestly they pray that God would cause his face to shine upon them resting on this that they shal be saved By that ground of faith whereof in the former § labour to bee strengthened in faith Get confidence in God and that by considering as what he is in himselfe a potent prudent faithfull mercifull God so what he is to thee Thy God thy King thy Father c. And give evidence of this thy confidence by stirring up thy spirit to depend on him who gives so just cause to make thee depend on him Oft and seriously meditate on those grounds and when thou art before God whether it be in humiliation or gratulation call them to mind presse them againe and againe Imitate the worthy patternes that in this case are prescribed unto us in Gods Word If thus with understanding we doe inwardly in our soules or outwardly with our tongues inculcate our right title and interest in Gods Word urging the same againe and againe thereby our dull spirits 〈◊〉 much quickned our blunt prayers much sharpened and our weake faith much strengthened especially if with patience we can rest upon God Saints of old by their patient expectation and stedfast confidence attained what was promised If therefore to trust confidently be the way to receive we also may so receive §. 102. Of the vigour which is preserved in faith by the constancy of Gods favour IIII. FAith is much strengthened by constant evidences of Gods favour Herewith did hee support his faith that said to God Thou art he that tooke mee out of the wombe thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mothers breast I was cast upon thee from the wombe thou art my God from my mothers bellie Thou art my trust from my youth by thee have I beene holden up from the wombe thou art he that took me on t from my mothers bowels It was not only the disposition of Obadiah towards God but also the evidence that thereby he had of Gods affection towards him that made him with confidence say to Eliah I feare the Lord from my youth By long continuance of ancient favour many demonstrations are given of a fast fixed and unremoveable affection So as if by reason of temptations one or more evidences should be questioned yet others would remaine to uphold faith and to keep it from an utter languishing and a totall falling away As when an house is supported by many pillars though some be taken away yet by the support of them which remaine the house will stand 1 Be admonished hereby O Parents to initiate your children betimes and from the cradle yea from the wombe to dedicate them to the Lord and to bring them up in the nurtuoe and admonition of the Lord so soone as they are capable of instruction that when they are growne even unto manhood thâ—â— may on all occasions with much comfort and strong confidence say in the same sense that the Prophet here doth I am the sonne of thine hand maid being borne under the covenant and having in their infancy received the seale of the covenant and from their child-hood knowne the holy Scriptures being taught when they were tender and thereby brought from their youth to feare the Lord. It is a glorious and blessed prerogative to be borne a servant in Gods house This is no slavish condition but the best freedome and most happy immunity that possibly can be Such as are borne servants in Gods house are by vertue of that their birth sons and free from the instant of that their birth Christs servant and the Lords freeman are reciprocall terms either may bee said of the other Christs servant is the Lords freeman and the Lords freeman is Christs servant 1 Cor. 7. 22.
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
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