Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	deliver_v	good_a	lord_n	8,077	5	5.2704	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91279	The signal loyalty and devotion of God's true saints and pious Christians, especially in this our island towards their kings: (as also of some idolatrous pagans) Both before, and under the law and gospel; expressed by their private and publick prayers, supplications, intercessions, thanksgivings, well-wishes for the health, safety, long life, prosperity, temporal, spiritual, eternal felicity of the kings and emperours under whom they lived, whether pagan or Christian, bad or good, heterodox or orthodox, Papists or Protestants, persecutors or protectors of them: and likewise for their royal issue, posterity realms; and by their dutiful conscientious obedience and subjection to them; with the true reasons thereof from scripture and policy. Evidenced by presidents and testimonies in all ages, worthy the knowledg, imitation, and serious consideration of our present degenerated disloyal, antimonarchical generation. In two parts. By William Prynne Esq; late bencher, and reader of Lincolns-In; Signal loyalty and devotion of Gods true saints and pious Christians, towards their kings. Parts 1 and 2.	Prynne, William, 1600-1669.	1680 (1680)	Wing P4082A; ESTC R229902	277,267	460

Subjects do most justly acknowledge this great and infinite Blessing to have proceeded merely from God his Great Mercy and to his most holy Name do ascribe all the Honour Glory and Praise And to the end this unfeigned Thankfulnesse may never be forgotten but be had in perpetual Remembrance that all Ages to come may yield praise to his Divine Majesty for the same and have in memorie THIS IOYFULL DAY OF DELIVERANCE Be it therefore enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majestie the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authoritie of the same That all and singular Ministers in everie Cathedral and Parish-church or other usual place of Common prayer within this Realm of England and the Dominions of the same shall alwaies upon the fifth day of November say Morning Prayer and give unto Almighty God thanks for this most happy Deliverance And that all and everie person and persons inhabiting within this Realm of England and the Dominions of the same shall alwaies upon that day diligentlie and faithfullie resort to the Parish Church or Chapel accustomed or to some usual Church or Chapel where the said Morning prayer preaching or other service of God shall be used and then and there to abide orderlie and soberlie during the time of the said prayers preaching or other service of God there to be used and ministred And because all and everie person may be put in mind of this Dutie and be the better prepared to the said holy service Be it enacted by Authoritie aforesaid That every Minister shall give warning to his Parishioners publikelie in the Church at morning prayer the Sunday before everie such fifth day of November for the due observation of the said day And that after morning Prayer or preaching upon the said fifth day of November they read publicklie distinctlie and plainlie this present Act. Upon this occasion there was a special Book of Prayers and Thanksgivings compiled by the Bishops and Clergy prescribed by Authority to be annually read in all Churches and Chapels on the 5th of November wherein amongst others there were four remarkable prayers and thanksgivings relating to the King Queen Prince all the Royal posterity Nobility and Magistrates which I shall here insert I. ALmighty God who hast in all Ages shewed thy power and mercy in the miraculous and gracious deliverances of thy Church and in the protection of righteous and religious Kings and States professing thy Holy and Eternal Truth against the wicked conspiracies and malicious practises of all the enemies thereof We yield unto thee from the very ground of our hearts all possible praise and thanks for the wonderfull and mighty Deliverance of our gracious Soveraign King Iames the Queen the Prince and all the Royal branches with the Nobility Clergy and Commons of this Realm assembled together in Parliament by popish treachery appointed as sheep to the slaughter and that in most barbarous and savage manner no age yielding example of the like cruelty intended towards the Lords anointed and his people Can this thy goodness O Lord be forgotten worthy to be written in a pillar of Marble that we may ever remember to praise thee for the same as the fact is worthy a lasting monument that all posteritie may learn to detest it From this unnatural conspiracy not our merit but thy mercy not our foresight but thy providence hath delivered us not our love to thee but thy love to thy anointed servant and thy poor Church with whom thou hast promised to be present to the end of the world And therefore not unto us not unto us Lord but to thy Name be ascribed all honour and glorie in all Churches of the Saints throughout all generations for thou Lord hast discovered the snares of death thou hast broken them and we are delivered be thou still our mighty Protector and scatter our cruel Enemies which delight in blood infatuate their Counsel and root out their Babylonish and Antichristian sect which say of Ierusalem down with it even to the ground And to that end strengthen the hands of our gracious King the Nobles and Magistrates of the Land with Iudgement and Justice to cut off these Workers of Iniquity whose Religion is Rebellion whose Faith is Faction whose Practise is murthering of Souls and Bodies and to root them out of the confines and limits of this Kingdom that they may never prevail against us and triumph in the ruine of thy Church and give us grace by true and serious repentance to avert these and the like Judgements from us This Lord we earnestlie crave at thy mercifull hands together with the countenance of thy powerfull protection over our dread Soveraign the whole Church and these Realms and the speedie confusion of our implacable Enemies and that for thy dear Sons sake our onlie mediator and advocate II. ALmighty God and heavenly Father which of thy everlasting providence and tender mercy towards us hast prevented the extreme malice and mischievous imagination of our ensmies revealing and confounding their horrible and devilish enterprise plotted against our Soveraign Lord the King his Royal House and the whole State of this Realm for the subversion thereof together with the truth of thy Gospel and pure Religion amongst us and for the reducing of Popish Superstition and tyranny into this Church and land we most humbly prayse and magnifie thy glorious name for thine infinite gracious goodnesse in this our marvellous Deliverance we confesse it was and is thy mercy thy mercy alone most mercifull Father that we are not consumed that their snare is broken and our Soul is escaped For our sins cryed to Heaven against us and our iniquities justly called for judgement upon us but thy great mercy towards us hath exalted it self above judgement not to deal with us after our sins to give us over as we deserved to be a prey to our enemies but taking our correction into thine own hands to deliver us from their blood-thirsty malice and preserve from death and destruction our King and State with thy Gospel and true Religion amongst us Good Lord give us true repentance and unfeigned conversion unto thee to prevent further judgements increase us more and more in lively Faith and fruitfull love in all obedience that thou mayest continue thy loving favour with the light of thy Gospol to us and our Posterity for evermore Make us now and alwaies truely thankfull in heart word and deed for all thy gracious mercies and this our special deliverance Protect and defend our Soveraign Lord the King with the Queen and all the Royal Progeny from all treasons and conspiracies preserve them in thy faith fear and love under the shadow of thy wings against all evil and wickednesse prosper their reign with long happinesse on earth and everlasting glory following in the Kingdom of Heaven Bless the whole State and Realm with grace and peace that with one heart and mouth we may praise

parts specially in this last was so peremptory and penal that whosoever should alter or disobey it was to have the Timber pulled from his house and hanged thereon and his house to be made a Dunghill for this Therefore this Duty was no doubt constantly performed by the Priests and Elders of the Jews in whose favour it was made If then those Priests and Subjects demerited such a severe punishment as this for refusing or neglecting to make daily sacrifices and prayers to the God of Heaven for this forein Pagan King and his Sons to whom they were only Captives and Tributaries what penalties executions do those undutifull disloyal Christian Subjects and Ministers deserve who wilfully neglect refuse nay prohibit under grievous penalties daily Prayers and Intercessions to be made to the God of heaven for their own undoubted natural hereditary Christian Protestant Kings and their Sons against the purport of this Decree and the express injunction of God himself in the New Testament 1 Tim. 2. 1 2 3 No doubt hanging and demolishing their Houses is too good for them if this Pagan King may be Umpire The 4. is the Decree of King Artaxerxes to Ezra the Priest and Scribe of the Law of the God of Heaven for monies to buy Bullocks Rams Lambs with their Meat-offerings and Drink-offerings and to offer them upon the Alter of the house of God which was at Jerusalem Ezra 7. 11 to 25. in which Decree though there be no such express clause as in the former to offer Sacrifices and Prayers to the God of Heaven for the King and his Sons yet it is comprised therein in the general being but a confirmation of the Decree of Darius and it is clearly intimated and expressed in the reason of this Decree at the close thereof Whatsoever is commanded by the God of Heaven let it be diligently done for the house of the God of Heaven for why should there be wrath against the Realm of the King and his Sons which wrath Ezra the Priests and people of Israel worshipping the God of Heaven were to deprecate and slave off by their daily publick Sacrifices and prayers to the God of Heaven in the behalf of this King his Sons and Realm and praying for their welfare and prosperity which no doubt they constantly performed as is evident by Ezraes special Thanksgiving to God v. 27 28. Blessed be the Lord God of our Fathers which hath put such a thing as this into the Kings heart to beautifie the House of the Lord which is at Jerusalem and hath extended mercy unto me before the King and his Counsellors and before the Kings mighty Princes ch 9. 8 9 10. And now for a little space Grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God to leave us a remnant to escape and to give us a Nayl in his holy place that our God may lighten our eyes and give us a little reviving in our bondage For we were Bondmen yet our God hath not forsaken us in our Bondage but hath extended mercy to us in the sight of the King of Persia to give us a reviving to set up the House of our God and to repair the desolations thereof and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem And now O our God what shall we say after this for we have forsaken thy commandement c. The recital of which mercy in Ezra his solemn Thanksgiving and also in his publick humiliation was a most effectual prayer for this King and his Sons and praysing God for the benefits extented to his people by their means and favour To these 4. Precepts and Presidents in sacred writ I shall annex a 5th out of the Jewish History Apion accused the Jews to the Emperor Caius Caligula who usurped to himself divine honour that when all other Nations throughout the Roman Empire dedicated Temples and Altars to him and erected his Statue in their Temples and sware by his name that the Jews would do neither nor permit his Statue to be set up in the Temple of their God whereupon he commanded Petronius with two Legions to make war upon the Jews unless they would erect his Statue in the Temple which they peremptorily opposed as being contrary to the law of their God and custom of their Ancestors choosing rather all to dye and offering their Necks to the Block than to permit such a transgression against their Gods law Hereupon they sent Embassadors to Caius whereof Philo was chief to satisfie him who informed him that though they could not erect his Statue nor adore him as a God being contrary to their Religion yet such was their loyalty towards him That they did twice every day offer Sacrifices prayers unto their God for him in the Temple Therfore no doubt they did the like for Darius Artaxerxes Nebuchadnezzar and other Kings to whom they were Tributaries and much more for their own natural Kings and their Sons of the House of David Xly. God himself gave this express prohibition to the Israelites Exod. 22. 26. Thou shalt not revile the Gods nor curse the Ruler of thy People repeated Acts 23. 3. and thus seconded Eccles 10. 20. Curse not the King no not in thy thoughts for a bird of the Ayr shall carry the voyce and that which hath wings shall tell the matter Therefore it is clear by the rule of contraries yea by Christs and Pauls own expositions resolutions Mat. 5. 44. Lu. 6. 28. Rom. 12. 14. that they were to bless and pray for them yea though they persecuted and despitefully used them Shimei for violating these divine Precepts in cursing and rayling against King David and stiling him a Man of blood c. when he fled from his usurping Son Absolom was thought worthy to lose his head by Abishai who would have cut it off had not David for the present forbad his execution 2 Sam. 16. 7 to 10. c. 19. 21. For which crime Solomon by Davids order afterwards put him to death 2 Kings 2. 8. 44 45 46. using this speech unto him Thou knowest all the wickedness which thy heart is privy to that thou didst to David my Father therefore the Lord shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head and King Solomon shall be blessed and the Throne of David shall be established before the Lord for ever whereas Shimei said the Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul in whose stead thou hast reigned and the Lord hath delivered thy Kingdom into the hand of Absolom thy Son and behold thou art taken in thy mischief because thou art a bloody man Now if this sin of his in cursing and rayling against David his King was a capital crime and treason deserving death and God himself reputes it an heinous offence in the idolatrous Israelites and others when vexed with famine oppression and other judgements by evil Kings to curse their King and look upwards Isay 8. 21. Then questionless it is a grievous sin and capital

all men in general yet when he comes to the particular enumeration of them he placeth Kings in the front before all others being ranked before them all by the Apostle in these words For Kings and all that are in Authority and more particularly by the Apostle Peter 1 Pet. 13 14. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether to the King as supreme or unto Governors as to those who are sent by him c. 8ly The plurality and universallity of the word KINGS in the plural not singular number and that without any restriction of their personal qualifications extending universally to all Kings and excluding none though Pagans Idolaters Hereticks Schismaticks Tyrants Oppressors Persecutors Murderers Wicked Prophane Vitious Flagitious in any kinde for which many might doubt whether they ought to pray which the Apostle fully clears by this general expression as well as for the most Christian Pious Just Righteous Virtuous Kings for which all will grant Christians ought to make supplications prayers intercessions thanksgivings without dispute This I shall clear by 5. undeniable Arguments 1. Because all Kings Emperors Princes throughout the world when this Epistle was written and for above 500 years after but Lucius were Pagans Idolaters and for the most part bitter persecutors of the Saints Church of Christ and some transcendently impious flagitious especially Caligula Claudius and Nero under whom Paul lived and suffered Martyrdom with others of the Apostles and many hundreds of Christians yet even St. Paul himself exhorts first of all that supplications intercessions prayers and thanksgivings should be made for them by Timothy all other Christians then living under them 2ly Because the Apostles precedent and subsequent exhortation is universal for all Men for Kings and All that are in Authority If then we must make supplications prayers intercessions thanksgivings for all men good or bad then certainly for all Kings though the Apostle had not named Kings because all Kings are men and included in the general all men and if for all that are in Authority or Eminent place then certainly for all Kings being in supremest Authority and Eminency and included by name between those two universals All men All in Authority 3ly Because the subsequent words that under them we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty And who will have all men to be saved and to come to the know●edge of the truth implies that the Kings and all in Authority at that time for whom they are exhorted to make supplications c. were persecutors under whom they had no present rest nor quietnesse and unconverted to the knowledge of the truth and means of salvation 4ly Because St. Pauls precept Rom. 12. 14. Blesse them which persecute you bless and curse not compared with v. 20 21. Rom. 13. 1 to 10. Titus 3. 1 2 3. paralleld with our Saviours own reiterated precept Mat. 5. 44 45. Luke 6. 27 28 29. But I say unto you love your Enemies Bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer him also the other and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven for he maketh his Sun to rise to the evil and to the good and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust Which precept relates principally to Kings and Rulers before whom they should be brought persecuted and put to death Mat. 10. 18 to 38. Lu. 21. 12 c. 5ly Because he never exhorted commanded encouraged in the least degree any Christians to curse or pray against their Kings though Pagans Tyrants Persecuters much lesse to rebell against depose or dethrone behead execute them If Christians then be thus exhorted obliged by the Apostle to make prayers supplications intercessions and thanksgivings even for their Persecuting Tyrannical Pagan wicked Kings not to depose murder execute them in High Courts of Justice or to extirpate their royal posterity Kingship and alter their form of Government which they are professedly prohibited to do for conscience sak under pain of damnation in direct terms Rom. 13. 1 to 7. Tit. 3. 1. and 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. Then certainly they are much more obliged to make supplications prayers intercessions thanksgivings for their hereditary Christian Protestant Orthodox rightfull Kings and not to dethrone murder execute them in any strange High Courts of Justice nor to extirpate their royal issue Kingship and change their whole frame of Government from which they are expresly prohibited by these Gospel Texts and restrained by their Solemn Oathes of Allegeance Fealty Supremacy Protestation Vow League Covenant under pain of eternal damnation and the guilt of highest Perjury Treachery Rebellion It was Sedulius his Apostrophe to Herod who feared our Saviour Christ would have deprived him of his earthly Crown Herodes hostis impie Christum venire quid times Non abripit mortalia Qui Regna dat coelestia Why wicked Herod do'st thou fear and at Christs coming frown The mortal he takes not away who gives the heavenly Crown Which Claudius thus seconds That King which is born cometh not to overcome Kings by fighting but to subdue them after a wonderful manner by dying c. for he is come not that he may destroy alive but that he may triumph being slain How then any Servants can be greater wiser powerfuller than their Lord King Jesus who came not to dethrone uncrown any earthly Kings and reign alive in their steads but to conquer and triumph over them only by his death though King of Kings and Lord of Lords in daring to ravish not only the Crowns but Lives Kingdoms hereditary Lands Revenues Powers Kingships of their Christian Soveraigns instead of making Supplications Prayers Intercessions Thanksgivings for them and their Royal posterity let their own Consciences resolve them and all others who preach the Gospel wherein there is neither Precept nor President for such Antichristian Jesuitical practices 9ly The end reason why Ministers Christians and other Subjects should make Supplications Prayers Intercessions Thanksgivings for their very persecuting tyrannizing oppressing Pagan KINGS Governours and yielding patient loyal Subjection under them is because it is the most effectual means prescribed by God whereby to reclaim convert save them by overcomming their evil with goodness Rom. 12. 20 21. the most probable ready prevalent course by which they themselves may lead a quiet and peaceable life under them in all godliness and honesty and recover enjoy both their invaded civil and Christian Liberties not their mutinous Rebellions or taking up Arms against them forcibly to reform or dethrone them which would but increase their troubles pressures persecutions interrupt their peace quietness yea make shipwrack of their godliness honesty loyalty faith and good Consciences which we

Progeny our selves and our Posterity and for the preventing suppressing and final rooting out of the spring issue and fruit of all such hellish and popish hearts intentions and practices to the everlasting praise and glory of thy blessed name Hear us we pray thee O Father of mercy in these our most humble and needfull petitions forgive and answer us according to thy fatherly and great goodnesse for Jesus Christ his sake to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost three Persons and one God be all praise glory and power now and for ever Amen A Prayer for the Parliament used also in the House II. ALmighty God which by thy holy Prophet David art most truly said to stand in the Congregation of Princes and givest judgement in the midst of the mighty men of the world and through whom Princes do reign Law-makers do discern just things Lords bear rule and all Judges of the earth execute judgement and for that cometh of thee all Counsel and equity all understanding and strength grant unto us here gathered together in thy name that wisdom which is alwaies assistant to thy seat to give knowledge to our feeble and ignorant minds Send down we beseech thee the same wisdom out of thy holy heavens and from the throne of thy Majesty that is may be now with us and labour with us whereby we surely knowing what is acceptable unto thee may be led through it to the debating weighing and final determining of those matters by the which thy blessed Name may be glorified thy Catholick Church of England confirmed and increased the Kings assurance established the common tranquillity of this Realm safely maintained and last of all all estates and people thereof in true obedience and charity united and knit together Grant this O God for thy only Sons sake Jesus Christ our Lord Amen In the Lords House the Collects and Prayers in the Common Prayer Book and Letany for the King Queen Prince and Royal Posterity with other prayers were daily used by the Bishops and Peers during their Session To mention all the particular Prayers for the King Queen and Royal posterity comprised in Books of private Prayers and Devotion as the Practice of Piety and the like and Epistles Dedicatory perfixed to hundreds of Books and Sermons dedicated to King James by Bishops Ministers and others of all sorts and in usual Graces before and after meals would be both infinite and nauseous being commonly known and obvious to all and therefore I shall wholy pretermit them the substance of them being comprised in those Prayers already mentioned I shall now proceed to the reign of our late King Charles who as he had constant Supplications and Prayers made for him in all Cathedral and Parish Churches Chapels Colledges most private families and in our Parliaments themselves by name during all King James his reign as Duke of York and Prince of Wales so after his comming to the Crown March 27. 1645. till January 1648. he had the like publike and private Prayers Intercessions and Supplications made for him throughout his 3. Realms as King and for his Queen and royal Posteritie not only by our preaching Ministers in their prayers before their Sermons and by most others in their morning and evening family and closet prayers Graces before or after meales as our own experience attests but likewise these special set Prayers Petitions and Collects in our Letany and common Prayer Book which I shall here transcribe because almost quite forgotten by above 12. whole years discontinuance in most Churches Families too In the publike Letany ordered to be read thrice every week or oftener upon occasion there are these several Prayers and Petitions to God That it would please thee to keep and strengthen in the true worshipping of thee in righteousnesse and holinesse of life thy servant Charles our most gracious King and Governor That it may please thee to rule his heart in thy faith fear and love and that he may evermore have affiance in thee and ever seek thy honour and glory That it may please thee to be his defender and keeper giving him the victory over all his Enemies That it may please thee to blesse and preserve our gratious Queen Mary Prince Charles and the rest of the Royal Issue After every of which several Prayers and Supplications all the People severally answered We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. After which followed these two Prayers for the Kings Majestie the Queen Prince and Royal Issue and read twice every day in most places O God our heavenly Father high and mighty King of Kings and Lord of Lords the only Ruler of Princes which dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold our most Gracious Soveraign Lord King Charles and so replenish him with the grace of thy holy Spirit that he may alwaies incline to thy will and walk in thy way endue him plentifully with heavenly gifts Grant him in health and wealth long to live strengthen him that he may vanquish and overcome all his Enemies and finally after this life he may attain everlasting joy and felicity through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Almighty God the Father of thine elect and of their seed which Bishop Laud changed into the fountain of all goodnesse we humbly beseech thee to blesse our gracious Queen Mary Prince Charles and the rest of the royal issue Endue them with thy holy Spirit enrich them with thy Heavenly grace prosper them with all happinesse and bring them to thine everlasting Kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen In the Prayer for the whole Estate of Christs Church there is this Clause relating to Kings in general and King Charles in particular We beseech thee also to save and defend all Christian Kings Princes and Governors and Specially thy servant Charles our King that under him we may be godly and quietly Governed When these Prayers and Collects with the Book of Common-Prayer were suspended by the Directory of the publike worship of God in most places throughout the 3 Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland Printed by order of both Houses 13 Martii 1644. yet the substance of them was still continued by the very Directory it self during the heat of the late Wars between the King and Parliament witnesse p. 10 11. of publike Prayer before the Sermon wherein all Ministers are directed To pray for all in Authority especially for the Kings Majesty that God would make him rich in blessings both in Person and Government establish his Throne in Religion and righteousnesse save him from all evil Counsel and make him a blessed and glorious Instrument for the Conservation and Propagation of the Gospel for the Encouragement and Protection of those that do well and the terror of all that do evil and the great good of the whole Church and of all his Kingdoms for the Conversion of the Queen the Religious education of the

liberty and restored them unto their pristine Greatnesse and Splendor After Maximinianus the Tyrants death anutter Enemy to all Pietie and Godliness through the Grace of Almighty God Churches were re-edified and erected from the Foundations the Gospel of Jesus Christ freely preached professed and propagated Maximinianus by publick Edicts proclaimed the chiefest and most deadly Enemy the most impious wicked pernicious and malicious Tyrant and most exeerable hater of God All Tables and Inscriptions set up in every City to his and his Childrens honour were either thrown down from aloft to the ground or obliterated or blotted out with a deformed black colour In like manner all Statues erected to his honour being tumbled down were broken in pieces and exposed to the laughter and derision of such who would abuse them All his persecuting Instruments Favorers and Partisans were in like manner disgraced disofficed and some of them slain The Christian Bishops Ministers and Professors of the Gospel made and sang special Songs of Prayse and Thanksgiving unto God Almighty the King and Governour of all things and to Jesus Christ his Son the Redeemer of their Souls and Author of their internal and external peace enjoyed under their Christian Emperor whose Prayses they extolled as you may read at large in Eusebius Ecles Hist l. 10. c. 1 3 4 6 9. And De Vita Constantini l 2 3 4. After which Constantine prescribed to all his Soldiers and Subjects as well Pagans as Christians a set form of Prayer to God for himself and his Sons to be said every day or Lords Day at least recited in the former Chapter This first Christian Emperor in the first General Council of Nice Anno 325. when he dismissed the many Bishops there assembled by him from all parts whereof 3. came from our Isle of Britain with a grave exhortation to preserve mutual coneord added this request to them in the close thereof Vt pro ipso ad Deum preces obaixe funderent That they would earnestly powre forth Prayers for him unto God Eusebius further records of him That where as he esteemed that the Prayers of Pious men were of great moment to him and to the safety and preservation of the whole Common-wealth towards which seeing he reputed them necessary he did not only upon all occasions throw himself down as a Supplicant unto God Verum etiam ut pro s● ab Ecclessae Praesidibus supplicaretur mandavit but likewise commanded that Supplications should be made for him by the Rectors of the Church which they accordinglie performed In the 30th year of his reign when a certain Priest praysed him to his face as worthy to enjoy the chief Power of all things in this life to reign together with the Son of God in the life to come He signifying his dislike thereof exhorted him not to use such flattering words concerning him for time to come but rather to contend for him with Prayers from God that he might seem worthy to be the servant of God both in this life and that which is to come The same year this Emperor having assembled a very great Synod of Bishops and Priests to Ierusalem to the Dedication of the Temple he had there built some of them adorned that solemnity with Prayers and Disputations others with elegant Orations Sermons and Interpretations of obscure places of Scripture others who could do none of these Supplices Deo preces c. Offered up humble Prayers and Supplications unto God for common peace for the Church of God and for the Emperor himself the Author of these most excellent things and for his Children who were dear to God In his Expedition against the Persians communicating his design unto the Bishops and defiring some of them to be alwaies present with him who were most fit to discharge the Duties of Piety they readilie promised to follow and not to depart one step from him but to go on warfare with him Et apud Deum supplicibus vovotis se pugnaturos and that they would fight with God for him against his Enemies with Supplications and Prayers whereupon being greatly delighted with this expression of their Wills and Endeavours he caused a magnificent Tabernacle to be made in form of a Church in quo Deo victoriarum datori ipse cum Episcopis supplicaret Wherein he with his Bishops might make Supplications to God the giver of Victories When he lay upon his Death-bed his Centurions and Captains of the Army coming to his Chamber deploring his Condition Longioremque ei vitam optarent and wishing him a longer life he answered them He had now obtained true life after his Baptism and that he only understood of what felicity he was made partaker and therefore he would hasten and not procrastinate his migration unto God Upon the tydings of his death all his Gards renting their Cloaths casting their Bodies upon the Ground and knocking their Heads against it sending forth mournfull Voyces with great sorrow and clamours calling him their Lord Prince Emperor and in the interim bewayling him not as a Lord and Tyrant but as pious and natural Children do their Father The Centurions and other Officers and Souldiers predicated him their Saviour Keeper Benefactor the whole Army with all reverence desired him as Flocks of Sheep their Shepheard all the People throughout every City running up and down manifested the secret wound and grief of their minds by outcries and clamours and the rest walked with dejected Countenances as if they were astonished every one reputing that this calamity had principally hapned to himself and miserably afflicting themselves as bereaved of the common safety of human life All the Dukes Earls and Assembly of Princes who were formerly accustomed to reverence and bow down unto him observing their pristine use and custom going in at set tim●s saluted the Emperor lying in his Herse as if he were alive even after his death bowing themselves to the ground the Senate with all the rest of the Magistrates and People doing the like reverence to him Upon which Eusebius hath this memorable Observation Solus vero iste beatus Imperator etiam mortuus regnavit cum ei solipost hominum memoriam vel ipso Deo authore omnes qui solebant honores tanquàm superstiti tribuerentur Nam cum is solus ex omnibus Imperatoribus Regem omnium Deum Christum ejus omnibus vitae actionibus pièsanetèque coluerit jure sanè etiam hunc honorem solus adeptus est ut Dei voluntate quod in eo morte sepultum erat tamen apud homines regnaret ut ista scilicet ratione nobis Deus signifiearet animarum Regnum his qui non prorsus obduruerunt nunquàm consenescere nunquàm emori His two Sons being absent when he died there were some select Captains out of the whole Army eminent for their Fidelitie sent to acquaint them with his death the News whereof being

excite encourage provoke and enflame our degenerated disloyal undutifull Men-fearing Time-serving Generation conscienciously to revive and constantlie to practise this long neglected Christian Dutie as being the principal means p●e●cribed by God himself and pursued by his Saints in all Ages to produce that publick peace unitie prosperitie and settlement which we have all so long expected and longed for but could never yet obtain by anie carnal policies fastings humiliations prayers since we gave over this enjoyned Duty and can never probably hope for much lesse actually enjoy till we return to the cordial un-interrupted performance thereof and to our pristine Allegiance Loyaltie Obedience and Subjection to our undoubted hereditary Soveraign Lord and King according to our multiplyed Oaths Protestations Covenant the Laws both of God and the Land the only rules of our Consciences and Practises both as Christians and Subjects And if all these with the precedent and subsequent Presidents Scriptures Examples Authorities our own present Pressures Dissentions Confusions decay of Trade hopes of settlement peace and prosperity will not perswade our whole 3. Kingdoms to this their bounden Duty that black Character which the Apostle gives to the obstinate hard-hearted Jews upon whom wrath was come to the uttermost will be ours too 1 Thes 2. 15. who both killed the Lord Jesus Christ their KING and their own Prophets and have persecuted us and they please not God and are contrary to all men * Pudet haec opprobria Nobis Et dici potuisse non potuisse refelli CHAP. VII I Have heretofore in the 4th Chapter presented you with sundry Presidents of the Primitive Christians signal Loyaltie and Pietie to their very persecuting Heathen Emperors in making fervent publick and private Prayers Supplications and Intercessions unto God for their long life health and prosperitie To which I shall adde two Presidents more The first out of the Annals of Eutychius Patriarch of Alexandria translated out of Arabick into Latin by learned Mr. Pokock printed Oxoniae 1656. who relates this of the Christians under Marcus Antonius Severus a great Persecutor of them Magnae hic calamitatis tristitiae diuturnae Christianis author fuit multis sub illo Martyrium passis Ejus tempore magna fuit fames siccitasque pestis dum per biennium non plueret adeo ut parum abesset quin Rex populus Imperio ipsius subditus fame peste perirent Qui ergo Christianos rogarunt ut Precibus a Domino suo pluviam impetrarent illis igitur Preces ad Dominum nostrum fundentibus magnam pluviae copiam demisit quo pacto sublata est et fames et pestis both from this persecuting Emperor and his Subjects The second is the memorable storie of the Emperor Maximinianus who was smitten by God with several Diseases for persecuting the Christians so that his flesh did rot away and worms crept out of his Bowels and he lay prostrate on the earth stinking in such sort that no man could come nigh unto him All his Companions admiring and his very Enemies pitying him for what had thus befallen him Whereupon Ipse verò ad se reversus Hoc forsan quod patior inquit inde mihi accidit quod Christianos interfecerim Literas ergò ad omnes provincias suas dedit ut Christianos quicunque in carceribus essent dimitterent eosque honore afficerent nec ullum iis damnum inferrent Rogarent autem ut inter precandum pro Imperatore vota funderent orantibus ergo pro Imperatore Christianis ac preces fundentibus Deus ipsi sanitatem restituit adeo ut viribus 〈◊〉 sanitate melius quam antea gauderet as Eutichyus or Addit praetereà mandatum ut statas solitasque pro Imperatore preces ad Deum funderemus Christianos Christiana sua templa exaedifieare rem maturare consueta Officia in illis facere Preces pro Imperii-statu fundere he publishing 2. Edicts in the Christians behalf Vndè Christiani hac indulgentia concessa devincti Debent Deo suo obnixe supplicare pro nostra pro Reipublicae pro sua ipsorum salute ut quovis modo cum publicus rerum status integer incolumis retineatur tum ipsi in suis familiis absque cura sollicitudi●e vitam traducere queant as Eusebius Nicepborus record the story Lo here this persecuting bloodie Pagan Emperor restored to his perfect health by the Prayers of the Christians whom he slew imprisoned persecuted in his health yet behold his desperate ingratitude both to God and them Ille verò ubi sanitati restitutus convaluisset ad majorem impietatis gradum quàm antea prolapsus in omnes ditiones suas scribens Christianos occidi jussit ne professionis ejus quispiam in Imperio ejus relinqueretur neve urbem aut oppidum incolere sinerentur sed penitus extirparentur Interfecti sunt ergo è Christianis qua viri quafeminae qua pueri plures quàm numerari possint adeo ut prae occisorum multitudine Plaustris delati in mari in deserto projicerentur But God soon after smote him with an ulcer in his Bowels which tortured him extremely corroded and eat out his Bowels caused his verie eyes to fall out of his head upon the ground burnt up his Flesh which was severed from his bones so as he perished by a most miserable death confessing that God had deservedlie punished him in this sort for his madnesse and rashness against Christ and his Members Constantine the Great born and declared Emperor first of all in this our Island of Britain the first professed Christian of all the Roman or other Emperors in the World about the year of our Lord 310. having conquered this Tyrant Maximinianus in the field he and the Christians sang prayses unto God for his great victorie in the words of Moses and the Israelites after Pharaoh his overthrow Exodus 15. 1 to 22. After which entring into Rome in tryumph with great pomp he was there received by all the people both men women and children Senators and other Noble persons running out by Troops to meet him with joyfull countenances willing minds happy acclamations and unsatiable joy as their Deliverer the Conservatour of their Countrie and most benign Patron But he as one having the fear of God naturally residing in his mind not puffed up with these triumphant acclamations and popular applauses nor yet with the Proclamation of his prayses yet very conscious of the ayd given him from God commanded immediatelie that the Banner of our Saviours passion should be set in the hand of his statue Which being set up in the most famous place in Rome holding the sign of the Crosse in his right hand he commanded this following Inscription to be engraven thereon in Roman Letters In this wholsom sign the true cognisanee of Fortitude I have delivered the City from under the Tyrants yoke and set the Senate and People of Rome at