with other mens pouertie immortall with other mens death Wherefore one being asked how a man might be free from enuie answered if he had no great and worthy gifts or did nothing famous or praise worthy non â—ola miseria careâ— invidia Onely miserie is free from enuie This sinne is almost common in all One Prince enuieth the glory of an other One rich man the wealth of an other One minister the gifts of an other And the meanest sort the better state of an other But loue enuieth not but reioyceth at the prosperitie of others Enuie saith one is the daughter of pride But this mother pride cannot be barren wheresoeuer she is she doth continually bring forth Suppresse the mother and there will be no daughter This woman is so full of loue and humilitie that though Salomon doth farre excell her in wisedom in glory in wealth yet she grieueth not at it but reioyceth praysing and blessing God for it And if she doe thus reioyce for the gouernment of Salomon how much more cause haue we to praise God continually for the gouernment of Christ for his kingdome of grace and glory And if Salomons subiects and seruants wheâ— he was annoynted King reioyced with such great ioy that the earth range with the sound of them How are we to reioyceâ— for the spirituall and heauenly kingdome of Christ Dauid praying for the prosperous state of the kingdome of Salomon who was but a figure of Christ concludeth thus Blessed be the Lord God euen the God of Israel which onely doth wondrous things and blessed be his gloriouâ— name for euer and let all the earth be filled with his glory so be it euen so be it Dauid being a long time reiected of Saul of the people at length obtaining the kingdome he exhorteth the people to ioy and thanksgiuing saying The stone which the builders refused is become the head of the corner this is the Lords doing and it is maruellous in our eies This is the day which the Lord hath made let vs reioyce be glad in it Blessed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord we haue blessed you out of the house of the Lord. Praise yee the Lord because he is good for his mercy endureth for euer Dauid was a figure of Christ that place is a plaine prophecie of Christ was most liuely fulfilled in him And therefore the subiects of Christ are most hartily to reioyce for the gouernment of their Lord and King Christ Iesus Reioyce greatly â— daughter Syon saith the Prophet shout for ioy ô daughter Ierusalem behold thy King commeth vnto thee he is iust and saued himselfe poore and riding vpon an asse and vpon a colt the foâ—le of an asse This prophecie was fulfilled in our Sauiour Christ when this King Christ Iesus hauing righteousnes saluation in himselfe for the good of his Church he came I say very porely basely to the Citie of Ierusalem yet the multitude spread their garments in the way others cut downe branches from the trees strewed them in the way And the Disciples began to reioyce and praise God for all the great workes that they had seene Saying blessed be the King that commeth in the name of the Lord peace in heauen and glory in the highest places Hosanna the sonne of Dauid Hosanna thou which art in the highest heauens The fathers Patriarkes Prophets Ioyed greatly with the desire and expectation of his first comming Abraham reioyced to see his day and he sawe it and was glad yet he sawe it but in figure He sawe it a farre off with the eyes of faith Olde Simeon being iust man waited for the consolation oâ— Israel And when he sawe Christ in the flesh he tooke him vp in his armes and praysed God Nay not onely he but all the faithfull reioyce at Christs coÌ„ming as Zacharie and Elizabeth Iohn the Baptist in the wombe The Virgin Marie the wise men the Shepheards and Angels reioyced exceedingly at his comming Laâ—ding and praysing God And this is a sure signe of our loue to him to looke waiâ—e for his second comming then shal we haue fulnesse of Ioy when this our King shall haue fulnesse of glory When he shall sit 〈◊〉 the throne of God at the right hand of his father with all the Angells Saints and blessed soules and all his enemies shall be trod vnder his feete then shall we be glad and reioyce and giue glory vnto him because the mariage of the lambe is come and his wife hath made her selfe readie Now let vs come to the causes of this womans Ioy and thanksgiuing The first â—s that Salomon was King set in the throne of God And here she secretly admonisheth Salomon and Israel to be thankfull to God for if she a stranger blesseth God for Salomons preferment how much more ought Salomon and Israel to do the same she sendeth them to the fountaine of all graces bestowed vpon the King and subiects she acknowledgeth God the chiefe Monarch and disposer of Crownes And herein she speaketh diuinely according to the scripture in diuers places By me Kings Raigne saith wisedome and Princes decree in iustice By me Princes rule and the nobles and all the iudges of the earth And Daniell saith it is God that changeth times and seasons He taketh away Kings and setteth vp Kings Elihu saith in Iob His eies are with Kings in their throne where he placeth them for euer and thus are they exalted And Hanna an other holy woman can teach vs thus much The Lord maketh poore and maketh rich bringeth lowe and exalteth he raiseth vp the poore out of the dust and lifteth vp the begger from the dunghill to set them among Princes and to make them inherit the seate of glory For the pillars of the earth are the Lords and he hath set the world vpon them And Dauid saith that preferment promotion commeth neither from the East nor from the West but God is the iudge he maketh lowe and hee maketh high CHRIST sayeth to Pilate Thou couldest haue no Power ouer mee except iâ— were giuen thee from aboue And the Apostle saieth The Powers that are they are â—â— God The true God saith Augustine giueth the heauenly kingdome only to the godly but the earthly kingdomes both to good and bad as himselfe liketh Whose pleasure is all iustice he is to haue all power of giuing or taking away Soueraignetie ascribed to himselfe alone and no other For though wee haue shewed some things that he pleased to manifest vnto vs yet farre is it beyond our power to penetrate into mens merites or scanne the deserts of kingdomes aright Hee that gaue Marius rule gaue Caesar rule He that gaue Augustâ—â— it gaue Nero it Hee that gaue Vespasian rule or Titus has sonne both sweete natured men gaue it to Domiâ—â—an that cruell blood-sucker And to be briefe He that gaue it to
children The Kingly Prophet exhorts Kings of the earth and all people Princes and Iudges of the world young men and maydens also old men and children to prayse the name of the Lord. Saint Paul chargeth Timothie and Titus to teach old and young without exception Saint Iohn writeth his Epistle to fathers young men and children therefore the youngest are not exempted in regard of their young and tender yeeres Inasmuch as God is their Creator they are to remember him in the dayes of their youth Seeing in their first entrance into the world they haue beene baptised into the name of the blessed Trinitie and so haue taken vpon them the profession of true religion their proceeding and practise when they come to yeeres must be answerable to their beginning Further that age is slipperie weake dangerous and subiect to many temptations easilie seduced and ouercome by bad counsell and company They had neede therefore betimes to bee armed with the shielde of faith and sword of the spirit their witte and capacitie is then most fresh pregnant to conceiue remember keepe and hold good and gratious instructions Parents therefore are commaunded to bring vp their children in instruction and information of the LORD And it is the counsell of the wise man Teach a childe the trade of his way and when hee is olde he will not depart from it Againe yong men are subiect to death and must appeare before the great Iudge in that day as well as other Neede therefore haue they of due preparation Besides a religious disposition and behauiour in young age will bring them credit and honour all the dayes of their life and comfort ioy and peace of conscience in old age And what ioy what exceeding ioy will this be to Parents friends Tutors teachers and to all that loue and feare God A wise sonne saith Salomon maketh a glad father but a foolish sonne is a heauinesse to his mother It is therefore sayde of Iohn the Baptist that his father should haue ioy of him and many should reioyce at his birth because hee was filled with the holy Ghost in his mothers wombe Saint Iohn writing to that noble and worthie Lady reioyceth greatly that hee found her children walking in the trueth And examples we haue of grace and religion in the younger sorte Samuel from his childhood was consecrated and dedicated to the seruice of God Iosiah was but eight yeares old when he began to raigne in Ierusalem yet there was neuer any before nor after him more vertuous and religious Salomon though most tender and deare in the eyes of his father and mother yet in his young yeares was taught diuine and heauenly wisedome When our Sauiour Christ came riding to Ierusalem in a base manner though the Scribes and Pharises disdained him yet children cry Hosanna the sonne of Dauid Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord. Timothie from his childhood had knowledge in the scriptures being instructed by his good Grandmother Lois and his mother Eunicâ— Iohn the Baptist grew and â—â—â—ed strong in the spirit and Iesus Christ being but 12. yeares old increased in wisedome in statute and fauour with God and men God will haue the first borne the first fruits and he that begins well is halfe his way Dimidium facti qui bene caepit habet The tree that buds not in the spring is dead and such as are deformed in youth neuer proue welfauoured in age As the arrow is first directed so it flyeth youth is compared to the day while it is day let vs walke in the light the night commeth when no man can worke The time of youth is the summer time with the Ant and Bee we must prouide in summer against winter The time of youth is compared to Haruest wherin men take the occasioÌ„ vse all meanes they can for the reaping and enioying of the fruits of the earth if they let that time slip all is lost He that sleepes in haruest is the sonne of confusion Dauid in his youth killeth the Lyon the Beare and great Goliah Sampson in his youth killed the Philistines let vs by our spirituall armour ouercome the wicked one euen in our young time Now besides all this giue me leaue Right Hon. to put you in remembrance of one worthie example of a noble young man Ioseph full of grace and vertue worthie to be imitated of Kings Princes and Potentates In this famous patterne I obserue these sixe vertues The first is his rare chastitie who being tempted to follie by his mistresse did flatly refuse her saying How can I doe this great wickednesse and so sinne against God He knew with Iob that this was is a wickednesse and iniquitie to be condemned yea that it is a fire which shall deuoure to destruction and shall roote out all his encrease The second vertue in young 〈◊〉 which is the ground of all the rest is his religion and the true feare of God in his heart All his actions and all his proceedings doe sauour of the feare of God It was this that kept him from that grosse iniquitie He ascribes the interpretatioÌ„ of dreams not to himselfe but to God He protesteth to his brethren that he feareth God And againe when he made himselfe knowne to his brethren he said Be not sad neither grieued with your selues that you sold me hither for God did send me before you for your preseruation And when his father asked him of his sonnes These are my sons sayd he which God hath giuen me This is the chiefe vertue in great persons the best Nobilitie A third vertue in Ioseph is his faithfulnes to his Prince He gathered all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan for the corne which hee bought not for his owne priuate vse but for the profit of the King his maister And as he is carefull to preserue the royall dignitie of the King and seeketh the wealth of Pharoah so hee hath a pittifull heart to the poore distressed people and is carefull to relieue them This is an excellent vertue in great persons which serue in the Court not to seeke their owne priuate gaine but the credit and wealth of their Prince and yet to haue louing and merciful hearts to the poore distressed commons The fourth vertue in Ioseph is his seueritie and clemencie wisely mixed together Hee speaketh roughly to hiâ— brethren hee threatens them and chargeth them to be spyes and yet his heart is full of compassion and loue When they are truely humbled know themselues hee doth entertaine them kindly and receiue them with much ioy And this is a speciall vertue required of Princes and Magistrates They must with Dauid in the gouerning of their Court Church Common-wealth and house strike on these two strings Mercie and Iudgement They must bee seuere and rough against notorious offenders and yet
and confesse yet they silent and neuer speake once a good word of them others are malitious and doe daily carpe depraue disgrace and diminish as much as they can the gifts of God in his seruants Againe this reprooueth those which hunt for glorie praise this they greatly seeke for and desire though they haue no care of vertue nor wisdom these are like the Pharises proud vaine-glorious Hypocrites seeking onley the praise of meÌ„ What is more vnseemely or more infamous then to be desirous of glorie the more we seeke and desire it the lesse we shall finde it If thou wouldest be glorious despise glorie and thou shalt be glorious to all the vaine glorie of this world is a deceitfull sweetnâ—s an vnprofitable labour a perpetuall feare and a dangerous preferment vaine glorie it flyeth lightly it pursueth easily but it doth inflict not alight wound but doth easily kill such as be blind and negligent it is a secret venom a subtill euill a close plague the mother of hypocrisie the beginning of many vices the rust of vertue the mouth of holines the blindnes of the heart be not proud for the praises of men when thou knowest there are many wants and infirmities in thee if thou seeke for praise thou hast lost it and thy good deeds are corrupted let God be praised in them and not man who is an instrument let the holiest say Not vnto vs ô Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy name giue the glorie What hast thou that thou hast not receiued If thou hast receiued it why reioycest thou as though thou hadst not receiued it The Apostle saith of himselfe By the grace of God I am that I am And againe Let him that reioyceth reioyce in the Lord for he that praiseth himselfe is not allowed but he whom the Lord praiseth when we haue done al that we can let vs count our selues vnprofitable seruants esteeme thy self vnprofitable God will count thee amoÌ„gst them that are profitable If thou wilt be great in heaueÌ„ thou must be small in earth small in thine owne conceit and thinke rather of thy manifold sinnes both of commission and omission rather then of any goodnâ—s that is in thee What a vanitie madnes is it to desire to be wel spoken of praised and glorified of men if we seeke it we shall scarce attaine it when we haue it it is worth nothing at all being but the breath and blast of fewe mens mouthes and vpon euery light occasion soone altred and changed Christ himselfe was tossed too and fro with the speech of men some said he was a Samaritan and had a diuell others said he was a Prophet sometimes they will make him a King receiue him into Ierusalem with triumph of Hosanna a litle after they crie Crucific him crucifie him and preferred the life of Barrabas a wicked murtherer before him The Barbarians at the first they count Paul a murtherer and presently after they say hee is a God Let vs therefore be of the Apostles minde saying As touching me I passe very little to be iudged of you or of mans iudgment No I iudge not my owne selfe yet am I not thereby iustified but he that iudgeth mee is the Lord. The praises or dispraises of men are little to be regarded they account some iust holie vertuous honest which are nothing so what are these men the better for the flattering speeches of men when God their owne consciences can tell them that they are no such kind of men at all but indeed prophane vniust vile and naught Some againe are accounted in the mouths of men as wicked and notorious hypocrites what neede they care for these speeches when God and their owne conscience doth witnes that they are sincere in hart desiring to liue honestly and vprightly in the sight of God and men The testimonie of a good conscience is a sufficient bulwark against all false reports and slanders whatsoeuer but the common mischiefe and poyson amongst men is the pleasing speeches of flatterers and clawbacks which doth feed them in their humours and magnifie them to the skies when there is litle or no cause at all Nay when rather they are to be blamed and dispraised There be two kindes of persecutors saith one first of such as doe dispraise vs and secondly of such as doe praise vs but the tongue of the flatterer doth more hurt and persecute vs then the hand of a persecutor I had rather to be reproued of any then to be praised of a flatterer no reproofe is to be feared of him that loueth the truth but he that flatteringly praiseth doth erre and confirmeth vs in error Therefore true is that saying of Salomon he that rebuketh a man shall finde more fauour at the leÌ„gth then he that flattereth with his tongue And the wounds of a friend are better then the kisses of a flatterer Therefore saith Dauid Let the righteous smite me for that is a benefit and let them reproue me and it shall be as a precious oyle that shall not breake my head The desire of praise doth hinder zeale in religion and constancie in the profession of Christ How can ye beleeue saith our Sauiour which receiue honor one of another and seeketh not the honor that coÌ„meth of God alone And in another place it is said that many of the chiefe rulers beleeued in Christ but because of the Pharises they did not confesse him least they shuld be cast out of the Synagogue for they loued the praise of men more then the praise of God It is almost an vniuersall vanitie to be desirous to be praised when we deserue it not and not to praise those who are worthie of praise and this is a vaine thing that through our ignorance oftentimes that is concealed which is and that is published which is not Lâ—udâ—mâ—â— mendacitâ—r delectamur inaniter we are falsely praised and we delight in vanitie so that they which are praised are vaine and they which doe praise are liâ—rs man is not to be praised in his life which praise is a temptation and tryall vpon the earth yet is he to be praised who is dead to sinne liues to God It is a vaine and a seducing praise whereby the sinner is praised in the desires of his soule yet he is to be praised who can truely say I liue not but Christ liueth in me and so not he but the life of Christ is praised the gifts and graces of God wheresoeuer we finde them are to be reuerenced honoured and magnified with praise and ioy And let the best take heed that they be not desirous of vaine-glorie It is lawfull to receiue due praise when it is offered and we are not vtterly to renounce and forbid it good men are not ignorant of the goodnes that is in them and therefore they reioyce that God hath giuen vnto men such good affections to like so
wisedome there is wisedome it selfe If true loue then we shall loue God more then our selues and one another as our selues If thou louest companie there is the best all thy good friends and kindred the blessed Saints Martyrs and Angels If thou desirest honor and glorie there we shall be as the Angels of God our bodies shall be like the glorious bodie of Christ and this mortalitie shall put on immortalitie If thou desirest riches there is an heritage and kingdome that neuer fadeth away If thou louest mirth musicke and melodie there is a consort of Angels singing Alleluia glory honor and praise be to the Lambe for euer If thou wouldest haue certaintie safetie and securitie there we are sure to loose none of these things no enemie can assault vs no enemie can hurt vs the Citie of God saith a Father is eternall no man is borne in it because no man dieth in it felicitie is there fullie yet no goddesse but a Gods gift of this habitation haue we a promise by faith As long as wee are here in this pilgrimage on earth and long for that rest aboue the Sunne riseth not there both vpon good and bad but the Sunne of righteousnes onely ouer the good how great shall that felicitie be where there shall be no euill thing where no good thing shall be hidden there we shall haue leisure to vtter forth the praises of God which shall be all things in all for what other thing is done where we shall not rest with any slothfulnes nor labor for any want I knowe not There shall be true honor where no man shall be praised for error or flatterie there is true peace where no man suffereth any thing which may molest him either of himselfe or any other hee himselfe shall be the reward of vertue which hath giuen vertue and hath promised himselfe vnto vs then whom nothing can be better or greater there shall be the great Saboth hauing no euening there we shall rest and see we shall see and loue we shall loue and we shall praise And behold what shall be in the end without end for what other thing is our end but to come to that kingdome of which there is no end Oh most blessed incomparable and vnspeakeable felicitie but this is not to be found in this present world nor so long as we liue in thiâ— life no perfection no perpetuitie in earth why then should wee set our heart vpon the things of this world and vpon the loue of this life true felicitie we all desire but that is in heauen in an other life why doe we not then set our heaâ—t and affections aboue and not vpon the earth seeing we are strangers here why doe we not loue and long for our owne home and countrie if our treasure be there why is not our heart there why are we not rauished with the desire of our resurrection restitution glorification and full redemption this is the delight and desire of the godly Oh wretched man that I am saith Paul who shall deliuer mee from the body of this death And in an other place Wee knowe that if our earthly house of this tabernacle be destroyed wee haue a building giuen of God that is a house not made with hands but eternall in the heauens therefore we sigh desiring to be cloathed with our house which is from heauen And againe he saith That he desired to be loosed and to be with Christ and the bride the true spouse of Christ all true faithfull Christians crie in their soule Come Lord Iesu come quickly What a desire had Dauid to seeke and serue God in the Temple in the assemblie of Gods Saints on earth saying As the Hart bayeth for the riuers of waters so panteth my soule after thee ô God my soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God when shall I come and appeare before the presence of God And againe O Lord of hostes my soule longeth yea and fainteth for the Courts of the Lord my heart and flesh reioyceth in the liuing God blessed are they that dwell in thy house they will euer praise thee a day in thy courtes is better then a thousand other where I had rather be a doore keeper in the house of my God then to dwell in the tabernacles of wickednes If Dauid had such a desire such loue such zeale such longing to the tabernacle to the company of Gods people in the publike assemblies on earth how much more should our affections be set and fixed vpon the heauenly tabernacle O Lord saith Dauid How manifold are thy workes in wisedome hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches he confesseth the abundance of Gods mercies in this world in his workes of creation prouidence and preseruation of all mankinde and yet if all the world be so full of his mercies his Church militant here on earth hath farre greater mercies as his word and Sacraments election calling redemption and sanctification so that we may say how great is thy goodnes ô Lord which thou hast laid vp for them that feare and done to them that trust in thee And if the earth be full of so many temporall and generall mercies and the Church so full speciall and spirituall blessings how full is the life to come the kingdome of heauen of all perfect glorious and heauenly blessings Indeede the holy meetings of the Saints worshipping and praising God truely according to his worde hath some resemblance and shadow of our eternall happines in heauen and our felicitie there must begin in this life and there is a way and meanes to leade bring vs thither And of this happines speaketh this worthie woman in this place and our thoughts and meditations may applie this sentence further For if shee esteme and account the seruants and Courtiers of Salomon to bee happie because they enioy the sight and presence of so glorions a King Are not we to esteeme it as the best most perfect happines to enioy the presence of Christ the true Salomon and to bee with him in his house in euerlasting glorie Ierusalem the citie of God the beautie and ioy of the world the temple of Salomon most glorious and beautiful his owne house and Pallace most sumptuous costly and pleasant So that happie might they be counted which were citizens of such a Citie which might worship God in that Temple And indeed many came farre neere to their great cost and paines to offer seruice to God in that place and happy might they seeme to be which liued and dwelled in such a Pallace but all these were nothing in comparison of that Citie of that Temple of that Pallace whereof wee speake Those were earthly outward mutable and transitorie and subiect to ruine destruction these are Celestiall durable and euerlasting Our Pilgrimage being ended we shall be indeed citizens of that heauenlie and holy Ierusalem which shall be all of pure golde like vnto
all that iudge the world â—ong men maids old men children let them praise the Lord his Name is onely to bee exalted and his praise aboue the earth the heauens Dauid before his death chargeth his son Salomon to walke in the Waies of God and to keepe his Statutes that so he might prosper in that he tooke in hand Princes we heard are fathers of the Country of the Church Common-wealth Now the Apostle exhorts fathers to bring vp their children in the feare of the Lord. Dauid Prepared a place for the Arke of God and pitched for it a Tent and gathered all Israel together to Ierusalem to bring vp the Arke of Gâ—d to his place which he had ordained for it so he they brought it with great ioy Salomon after he had built a famous house for God Hee blessed the people hee praiseth the Lord hee prayeth to God for those that should pray in the Temple Asah destroyeth Idolatry and commandeth his people to serue the true God and they made a couenant to seeke the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soule and whosoeuer will not seeke the Lord God of Israel shall be slaine whether hee be great or small man or woman they sware vnto the Lord with a loud voyce and all Iuda reioyced at the oath Iehoshaphat he walked in the waies of his father Dauid sought the Lord God of his fathers and walked in his CoÌ„mandements and tooke away Idolatry and sent forth Teachers with the book of the Law of the Lord who went about through the Citties of Iudah taught the people In time of distresse he prayed vnto the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all Iudah and humbled his soule and asked counsell of the Lord. Hezekiah repaireth the Temple aduertiseth the Leuits of the corruption of Religion the King and his Princes sacrifice ian the Temple he coÌ„mandeth the Passe-ouer to be kâ—pt exhorteth his people to returne to the Lord. Good Iosiah destroyeth Idâ—lâ— repaireth the Temple took away all the abhominationâ— out of all the countries that pertaine to the children of Israel compelled all that were found in Israel to serue the Lord their God Nehemiah reproueth and reformeth the prophanation of the Sabboath The Lord stirred vp Cyrus King of Persia to build him an house in Ierusalem And see the zeale of that King in furthering the building of that house Nebuchadnezzar maketh a decree that euery People Nation and Language which speake any blasphemy against the God of Shadrach Meshech and Abednego should be drawne in â—â—eces their houses should bee mâ—de a Iâ—kes because there is no God that can delâ—â—â—r after this sort Darius maketh a Decree that in all the Deminions of his Kingdome men tremble and feare before the God of Daniel for hee is the liuing God and remaineth for euer The King of Niniue after hee heard the Preaching of Ionah hee beleeued God hee proclaimed a fast and commanded his Subiects to cry mightily vnto God and to turne from their euill way Thus wee see by all these examples that good Princes are to haue a care of Religion both in themselues and others And here is a further blessing of a good King that wee haue not onely by his meanes iustice peace and ciuill honesty protection of body and goods but also true Religion and the worship of the true God and the Gospell of Christ commanded and enioyned and established amongst vs by many good Lawes and Statutes Now for a conclusion of the duties of good Gouernours let them remember these counsels directions and examples A worthy King by his last will gaue this aduise to his son and successour saying Be deuout in the seriuce of God bee in heart pittifull charitable to the poore comfort theÌ„ with thy good deeds keep the good Lawes of the Realme take no Subsidies nor releise of thy Subiects but vpon vrgent necessity for to profite the Common-wealth vpon iust cause voluntarily Iulius Pollux Gouern or of the Emperour Commodus in his youth giueth him these titles calling him Father of the people Gentle Louing Merciful Wise Iust courteous Couragious despising Mony not subiect to Passion but commanding ouer himselfe ouercomming Lust vsing reason quick of coÌ„ceit Sober Religious carefull for his Subiects Constant no deceiuer adorned with Authority ready in his affaires prouided to doe well slow to reuenge Affable gracious in speech open-hearted a louer of the vertuous desirous of peace valiant in warre an example of good manners to his subiects a maker of good lawes and an obseruer of the same There was a worthy Table as is recorded found at Thebes by Marcus Aurelius and at his death giuen to his sonne as a precious Iewell conteining these protestations and sentences following I neuer exalted the proud rich man neither hated the poore that was iust I neuer denied iustice to the poore for his pouerty neither pardoned the wealthy for his riches I neuer benefited nor gaue reward for affection nor punished for passion onely I neuer suffered euill to escape vnpunished neither goodnesse vn-rewarded I neuer committed the execution of manifest iustice to another neither determined that which was difficult by my selfe alone I neuer denied Iustice to him that asked it neither Mercy to him that deserued it I neuer punished in anger nor promised benefite in mirth I was neuer carelesse in prosperity neither faint-hearted in aduersity I neuer did euill vpon mallice nor commited villany for couetousnesse I neuer opened my gate to the flatterer nor gaue care to the backe-biter I alwayes sought to be loued of the good and feared of the wicked Lastly I alwayes fauoured the poore that were able to doe little and God who was able to do much fauoured me A mirrour for Magistrates a patterne for Princes and happy are they that in the end of their gouernement can truely say thus at least let Gouernours striue and endeuour to the vtmost of their power to learne and practise these lessons and to performe all other duties of their callings And thus we haue heard the chiefe and principall doctrines concerning the Magistrate as the necessity authority and dignity and duty of their callings This doctrine is necessaâ—y and profitable often to bee vrged and serueth for many good vses By this the Magistrate may be encouraged and comforted in the execution of all the parts of his calling hauing his allowance and warrant from God By this hee is stirred vp and prouoked to zeale and religion and holinesse of life seeing hee carrieth vpon him the name the place and Image of God By this doctrine he may see the greatnesse the difficulty and the heauy burden of his calling which may bee a cause sufficient to humble him in the sight of God and men In consideration wherof he may say with the Apostle who is sufficient for these things And let him pray with
prouidence that there shall bee some poore as long as the world endureth Let them therefore bee content with their state seeing God who knoweth what is best for them hath so decreed it in his Wisedome It may bee if they had riches they would abuse them in pride and wantonnesse he can if he see good turne their want into plenty Let them know that many worthy men haue beene in want and necessity Let them take their pouerty as a crosse and let them be patient and humble the rather because sometimes their owne idlenesse and loosenesse of life hath caused it let them repent of their sinnes past let them take heed hereafter of pride enâ—y slothfulnesse and vnlawfull shifts and meanes Let them depend vpon God and cast their whole care vpon him and though they bee poore in the world let their chiefe care bee to bee rich in grace in knowledge and in faith and so they shall bee sure to bee greatly in the fauour of God Let euery one of them say with the Apostle I haue learned in what state I am there-with to bee content I can be abased and I can abound euery where in all things I am instructed both to bee full and to be hungry and to abound and to haue want I am able to doe all things through the helpe of Christ which strengthneth mee Let them bee kind and pittifull to those which bee in like case with them seeing they are in the same misery Let them bee thankefull towards their Benefactors and though some rich-men bee hard-hearted vnmercifull to theÌ„ let them not curse but blesse and pray to God for them who is able to mollifie and soften their hard hearts for it may bee God in his iustice doth turne the hearts of men from them because they haue turned their eares and hearts from him they haue beene hard hearted against God against Gods word and against their brethren and therefore the hearts of others are iustly hardened against them Let them remember and follow the example of poore Lazarus which though the rich man dealtmore cruelly with him theÌ„ did his dogs had no pitty at all of so poore a creature yet this poore man did neither grudge repine nor curse and therefore being full of faith and patience he was receiued into Abrahams bosome And finally seeing that God hath such a great care of the poore in making so many Lawes for them in giuing so many preceps for their reliefe and taketh their cause to be his owne and seeing he hath appointed Ministers to speake for them and Officers and Magistrates yea Kings and Princes for their defence and reliefe Let the poore I say bee carefull to serue feare that God which is so carefull of them let them reuerence and loue the Ministers louingly embrace that word which doth perswade moue prouoke all men to the duties of mercy loue liberality Let them honor the Magistrates who are appointed as fathers vnto them who take care and watch and take continuall paines to comfort and helpe them And let them say in their soules blessed be God for good Gouernours And thus we haue heard many good parts of good Gouernours that by their meanes the wicked are punished the good are praised and countenanced euery man possesseth his owne oppressions and wrongs are suppressed the poore and needy are comforted and relieued and all these benefits duties this gracious Queene includeth in these words Equity and Righteousnesse One duty yet remaineth which is also a part of Equity and that is to establish and mainetaine true Religion this is the first chiefe duty of a good Prince though I haue referred it to the last place Good Princes are not onely to haue a care of iustice in punishing the wicked of mercy in defending the good and releeuing the distressed but also to plant and maintane the worship of God in their Kingdomes Thus much wee haue heard already that Religion Diuine Wisedome belongeth to all sorts degrees of men to rich and poore to yong old to men women children and most of all to Princes Gouernours who are to be giudes and ringleaders to others We haue examples before our eyes of a religious Queene comming so great and long a iourny to be resolued in the truth of religion reposing the greatest happines in true heauenly wisedome Here also is the example of Salomon a mirrour of Religion and Diuine Wisedom to all the world who also planted and established the true worship of God in his Kingdome We haue heard also that God is the authour of the callings of Kings and Princes that they are in his steed and carry his Name and Image therfore they of all others are to be most Religious to be most carefull that the true God who hath so highly aduanced them may bee worshipped and serued in their Kingdomes And this is Equity and Righteousnesse to command establish the Law and Seruice of their Creator and Protector And further wee haue heard that it is the duty of Gouernours to ouerthrow and roote out all false worship all false doctrine heresie and idolatry as all these are to bee remoued so in steed of these good Princes are to plant true Religion to establish faithfull Teachers in their Kingdomes They must be examples of Religion and Piety to others they must guide their families so carefully religiously that they may be patternes and presidents to others If Religion be first in their owne hearts also planted in their houshold and families they will be also carefull that all the people committed to their charge may feare God be truely Religious This is part of the counsell of Iethro Moses father in law wishing him that hee should prouide not onely men of courage and iust men hating couetousnesse but also such as feared God There be generall places in the Scripture as Loue God with all thine heart with all thy soule with all thy strength Feare God and keep his CoÌ„mandements Seeke for Gods Kingdome Labor for the meat that neuer perisheth These such like commandements exhortations as they belong to all Christians so also to Magistrates They are keepers of both the Tables of the Commandements therfore to maintaine the one as well as the other they must see as well the duties to God performed to him as the duties to meÌ„ one to another They must haue a care not only of iustice peace ciuil honesty but also of the sincerity of Religion The King is commanded to haue the book of the Law to reade in it continually that so he may learne to feare both his God and to keep al the words of the Law Dauid saith Be wise ye Kings be learned ye Iudges of the earth serue the Lord in feare reioyce in trembling kisse the sonne least hee bee angry And in another place he saith Kings of the earth all people Princes