it is most troublesome and perillous And therfore they knew that Dauid beeing now aduaūced to the throne of the kingdome of Iudah and that in such maner as before is declared could not but finde many enemies by whom he should bée subiect to no few troubles nor small daungers yea many were the troubles and perils which were laid before him and stirred vp against him of his desperate enemies both within without both for his aduauncement to Iudah and Israell within beyng aduaunced to the kingdome of Iudah he had those that striued for the aduauncement of Ishbosheth Sauls Sonne and these were they of the house of Saule of whom you heard before betweene whom there was a long warre as appeareth 2. Sam. 3. beyng aduaunced to 2 Sam. 3. the kingdome of Israell both within and without viewing him within first his owne sonne Absalon the Sheba the sonne of Bechin a man of Iemini both which raysed vp Israel against Dauid without he had the Philistines and other nations oft times making war vpon him of both which you may read plētifully 2. Sam. 5. wherfore 2. Sam. 5. they séeing Dauid subiect to so many perils they pray for saluatiō at the hands of God saying O Lord I pray thee saue now For what was Dauid against his aduersaries either in multitude or mightines wherefore they flye vnto the Lord for refuge and defence saue now O Lord euē thyne annoynted whom thou hast aduaunced from the handes of his enemies which purpose and practise his destruction Secondly they pray for the prosperity of their king O Lord I pray thee now geue prosperity as Dauid could not saue himselfe from the hands of his enemies except the Lord saued him so neither could hee gouerne the common wealth except the Lord prospered him therin It is no easy thing to gouerne a kingdome to order a common wealth for the welfare happines of the people if the Lord teach not the king what to doo by whom shal he be directed If the Lord direct him not how cā he prosper in any thing which he taketh in hand how shal he prosper in his counsails how shal he prosper in his enterprises If the Lord build not the house in vaine do they labour that build it Psal 127. They euen Psal 127. Gen. 11. with the sons of men Gen. 11. thinke they to build neuer so lofty a building yet they build vnto themselues nothing else but a Tower of confusion The common wealth can not prosper but come to ruine and destruction wherefore O Lord I pray thee geue now prosperity vnto Dauid our King that thou prospering him the Common wealth may bee in prosperity by him The example of this people dearly beleued teacheth vs that in the middest of this our reioycing this day for the happy aduauncement of our most gratious Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth we must not forget to ioyne prayer therunto for her euen for the safety and prosperity of Elizabeth saying O Lord I pray thee c. First for her safety and that from the handes of her enemies for albeit that she is aduaunced to the throne of the kingdome yet hath shée not bene neither is shee frée from her manifold perils first by her rebellious subiectes within who for the aduauncemēt of an Ishbosheth nay of a Iezabell to the Crowne both by open insurrections leuying of armies displaying of Banners and pitching of fieldes and also by secret conspiracies with dagges and daggers c. haue practised her destruction then by forraine enemies of other nations for we are not ignorant of the often thretned inuasiōs in times past neither can we be ignorant of the purposed prepared mischiefe at this present to depose her from the Crown Wherefore O Lord I pray thee saue now euen thyne annoynted thou which hast lifted her vp hold her vp that thine and her enemies plucke not her downe whō thou hast exalted continue thy wonted goodnes towardes her as thou hast hetherto saued her so saue her now make perfect that same good woorke which thou hast begunne in her yea Now O Lord saue her for now is the wrathful indignation of thine and her enemies as a consuming fire enflamed against her wherefore O Lord saue now yea and saue her for euer Hereunto wee must ioyne prayer for her prosperity O Lord I pray thee now geue prosperity vnto Elizabeth béeing safely couched vnder the shadow of thy winges prosper thou her O Lord prosper thou the counsailes of her hart prosper thou the woorks of her hands yea O Lord whatsoeuer shee taketh in hand let it prosper in thy sight yea and so prosper her O Lord in the gouernment of vs thy people committed vnto her charge as that we also may prosper vnder her and that as in all worldly prosperity so principally in all godlines and honesty yea Now O Lord geue prosperity vnto her as thou hast hetherto prospered her gouernment aboue al other Kinges and Princes of the earth to the terror of thy enemies to the comfort of thy chosen to the admiration of all men so O Lord geue now yea and euer prosperity vnto Elizabeth Thus ought we dearly beloued in the middest of our reioycing to mixe prayer vnto God for the safety and prosperity of Queen Elizabeth great is the force of prayer before God it pearceth the clowds and assendeth into the eares of the Almighty and although the Lord heareth not sinners Iohn 9. But their Iohn 9. prayer is turned into sin yet the prayer of the righteous is euen as the sweet incense and as the euening sacrifice most pleasant and delectable in his sight hauing this promise that whatsoeuer they shal aske they shal obtaine it yea great is the force of the prayer of one righteous man if it be feruent as Iames speaketh cap. 5. And then how much more Iames. 5. forceable is the prayer of the whole congregatiō of the righteous being assembled together before him in his house which is the house of prayer Wherefore now being assembled together at this time vpon this occasion into this place yea at what time soeuer vpō any other occasiō we assemble our selues together into the Church of God that I speake nothing of priuate prayer in all places lifting vp cleane handes and purifyed hartes let vs pray O Lord I pray thee saue now O Lord I pray thee now geue prosperity vnto Elizabeth For as this is the duty of all men one towards another but principally of subiects towards their Kinges and Princes to commend thē in their prayers vnto God 1. Tim. 2 1 Tim. 2. so yet chiefly it standeth vs vpon which are the subiectes of this Common-wealth to pray for the safety prosperity of our Queene Elizabeth for in the safety of Elizabeth consisteth ours in her peace ours in her prosperity ours in her life ours in her death ours in her destruction ours If the Lord either by timely or vntimely either by
opposed against the doing of man thereby shewing that it was brought to passe only by the power of the Lord without the helpe and beyond the expectation of man for albeit that euen those things which are brought to passe by the ministery of man are said to be done of God who vsed man as the instrument yet most properly are those things said to be the Lords doing which by his absolute power are brought to passe without the helpe beyond the expectation of man thus was the destruction of Pharao his host of Senacheribs host of Herod and thus wss the preseruation deliuerance of the Israelits of the thrée children of Daniel of Peter the Lords doing and thus doe this people affirme the aduancement of Dauid to be the Lords doing Secondly that it was the Lords dooing they proue by the marueilousnes therof And it is meruelous in our eies As if they had said Dauid is aduanced to the kingdome but without the helpe yea beyond the expectation yea aboue the reason and vnderstanding of man yea in so strange a maner as that in our eies it is a thing most merueilous and therefore surely it is the Lordes dooing And was it not a straunge thing woorthie to be merueiled at that Dauid a man of a meane parentage in the common wealth of Israell the youngest of all his brethren and one fetched from the shéepefold should be annointed to be king yea notwithstanding hee found so many enemies and so few friends so many perils and so small safetie being a man reiected and persecuted by Saul and his princes yea being a man despised and scorned of the people as he himselfe speaketh Psal 22. Should Saul Psal 22. being dead raigne ouer Iudah and at the length also Ishbosheth being slaine ouer Israel yet this came to passe Dauid that litle one was annointed that persecuted and despised one was aduanced first to be king ouer Iudah and then also ouer Israell This therefore was the Lords doing and it is merueilous in our eies And no lesse merueilous if we consider it was the aduancement of Quéen Elizabeth to the Crowne of this Realme for what though the kingdome successiuely by right appertained vnto her yet if we consider the multitude and mightinesse of her enemies that withstood her the infinite number of their subtile and deuilish deuises and practises to destroy her again if we consider the smal number of her able friends to defend her and her lesse abilitie to defend her selfe being a mayden virgine and therefore vnmeete vnarmed and therefore vnfit to resist againe being fast shut within the stone walles of strong holdes and therefore not able to fly but enforced to aduenture the extremitie of those dangers which by her bloudie enemies were daily threatned against her and prepared for her againe on the other side if wée consider how sodenly and wonderfully the chiefest of her enemies when shée was in chiefest danger of death and in the iudgement of man in desperate estate of life were brought to destruction wherby Quéene Mary being dead she was aduanced to the Crowne I say if we throughly cōsider these things and accordingly waigh them in the true ballances of an vpright mind we shall find the aduancement of Quéene Elizabeth a thing most marueilous in our eyes yea and the more we consider it the more marueilous we shall find it yea I assure my selfe you dearely beloued that of all those marueilous works which through the mighty hand outstretched arme of the Lord we haue either with our eyes séene in our daies or els with our eares heard in the daies of our fathers to haue come to passe this one is the greatest the most merueilous in the eyes of all those which throughly and vprightly consider it euen this the aduancement of Quéene Elizabeth to the Crowne of this land It was maruailous in the eyes of her verie enimies who were amased at the sight of it and whose hearts are yet astonished at the remembrance of it if therefore it séeme not marueilous in the eyes of any it is in the eyes of those which consider it not Wherefore if we are not too sottish we can not but sée and too malicious we can not but acknowledge that it is the Lords doing and not mans that it is the Lord which hath pleaded her cause and reuenged her wrong and that he onely which is mightie and almightie hath magnified her saying It is the Lords doing and it is marueilous in our eyes 3 The benefit thereof After that the people haue expressed the wonderfulnes of Dauids aduancement they likewise expresse the benefit thereof Vers 24. This is the day which the Lord hath made euen to the singuler benefit of the whole Common-wealth For here they speake of a speciall day made by God vnto a speciall vse for otherwise there is no day which the Lord hath not made and that euen for the vse of man as appeareth Genes Gen. 1. 1. The Lorde made the light and deuiding it from the darkenesse called the light Day and the darkenesse Night and so hee made the first second third fourth fift and sixt in which hee made the world and all the creatures therein and the seuenth wherein he rested from all his Gen. 2. worke which hee had made and so hee likewise maketh euerie day vnto the end of the worlde for as now and alwaies in his prouidence hee appointeth what thinges in euerie day from day to day shall be done so hee also in the same his prouidence maketh euerie day wherein all things shal be done Here therefore as I said before they speake of a special day made of God vnto a speciall vse for the same people and that not of a speciall day made for the sending of a speciall plague for thus also is the day of tribulation and of affliction for the punishment of the sinnes of the vngodly a speciall day which the Lord hath made to a speciall vse and therefore the day appointed for the captiuitie and destruction of the Iewes Ierem. 30. Ioel. 1. Amos. 5. Zophon 1. is called the day of the Ierem. 30. Ioel. 1. Amos. 5. Zophon 1. Lord but of a speciall day made by him to their speciall benefit and commoditie this day was the day of the aduancemēt of Dauid vnto the kingdome whereby the whole common wealth after the vnhappie raign and happie death of Saul was wonderfully blessed and therefore say they this day the Lord hath made not to the benefit of one or a fewe but to the benefite of the whole common wealth The Lord had made many daies for the benefite of that people before the time of Dauid both in the time of Moses and of Iosua and of the Iudges and of Samuel as appeareth in the perusing of those bookes but yet amongst those there was not one wherein they had receiued greater blessings then in this day of the aduancement of Dauid and
blessed by her so haue wee euery yeare renuing of this day the greater cause to reioyce for her and therefore euen in this day let vs reioyce and bee glad thereof yea euery way let vs testify vnto the whole world this our reioycing let the cherefulnes of our coūtenances the decency of our garmentes the songs of our lippes the clapping of our hands our melody on instruments of musicke the making of bonefires the ringing of belles the sounding of trum pettes the displaying of banners the shooting of gunnes yea and whatsoeuer meanes haue bene vsed or may bee deuised as testimonies of reioycing let them be vsed of vs as an euident testimony of our vnfayned and harty reioycing this day for the aduauncemēt of Queene Elizabeth Thirdly concerning the maner of this our reioycing it must also bee obserued for there is areioycing which is euil as the Apostle speaketh 1 Cor. 5. The end of which is weeping as Christ testifieth 1 Cor. 5. Luc. 6. Luc. 6. woe be vnto you which now laugh and reioyce for yee shall wayle and weepe This our reioycing therefore must be onely in the Lord in the same wee must not forget God which fault man for the most part falleth into in the middest of his reioycing in his reioycing he is so ouerioyed as that he clean forgetteth to reioice in him in whom hee ought to reioyce the reioycing in the gift maketh him forgetfull to reioyce in the geuer if God geue wealth health of body after pouerty and sicknes strength after weaknes peace after war plenty after scarcity c. euery man is glad thereof and reioyceth thereat But who is hee that reioyceth in him who hath bestowed those thinges on him the people of Israell beyng brought out of Egypt from the slauery of Pharao and of the Egiptians they were no doubt glad thereof and reioyced therat but as Dauid speaketh Psal 106. They forgat Psal 106. God their Sauiour which had done great things in the land of Egipt wonderous woorks in the land of Ham and fearefull thinges in the red sea for them so those ten Leapors spoken of in the Gospell Luc. 17. beying healed of their leprosie Luc. 17. by Christ were all no doubt full glad thereof and reioiced but yet all forgate to reioyce in him who had shewed this mercy vnto thē for onely one of them who was a Samaritane returned backe falling downs on his face gaue him thankes and with a lowde voice gaue praise vnto God Of al those blessinges which wee the people of this nation at this present enioy or euer in times past haue enioyed this one euen the aduauncemēt of Queene Elizabeth ouer this land is not the least but rather the greatest and therefore not the least but the most woorthy to bee reioyced at of al of vs which reape the benefite therof but yet in this our reioicing we must bee mindfull to reioice in him who hath geuen Elizabeth vnto vs and aduaunced her ouer vs For this was the Lordes doing and not mans but euen without the helpe of man yea euen beyonde the expectation of all men nay further contrary to the wil of the chiefest men of this world as you heard before the Lord brought it to passe in whō therefore should we reioyce but in him for in whom should wee reioyce but in him who hath bene the woorker thereof hee onely is woorthy of the praise who alone hath done the worke yea and to this end it is that hee hath so miraculously brought the same to passe that no flesh should reioyce in his presence but that hee which reioyceth should reioice in him saying Not vnto vs O Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy name geue the praise for thy louing mercy and for thy truthes sake Psal 126. Let this our reioycing Psal 126. testify our thankefulnes vnto him for the same Wee are not woorthy of the least of all his mercies Gen. 32. Gen. 33. much lesse of this and all which wee haue or can geue vnto the Lord our God is not woorthy the name of a recompence for the least much lesse for this yet such is the mercy of our God vnto our weaknes as that this onely hee requireth at our handes for al his vnspeakable benefits in so ouerflowing a measure powred vpon vs euen this that we should geue thankes vnto him and reioice in his holy name therefore Dauid vpon the consideration of the woonderfull mercies of God towardes him falling into this godly meditatiō what shall I render vnto the Lord for all his benefites bestowed vpon mee Psal 116 Psal 116. thereby acknowledging that hee was both altogether vnwoorthy of them all which hee could geue was no proportionall recompence for them and at the length resoluing himselfe what recompence to geue breaketh foorth into these woords I wil take the cup of saluation and will call on the name of the Lord Loe then this one payment doth fully satisfy the Lord for all his graces benefites and blessings powred vpon vs And therefore also for this O therefore that we could truly reioyce in him and hartely be thankfull vnto him this day and euen for Elizabeth that the Lord may this day and euer blesse vs with Elizabeth God forbid that our vnthankfulnes vnto him should bereaue and depriue vs of Elizabeth of this so great happines which we haue so long time enioyed and now at this present do and long time hereafter may which God grant enioy by Elizabeth as therfore this day the Lord hath made for our singular benefite and vnspeakable happines so let vs reioyce and bee gladde in it and bestow the same in thanksgeuing vnto him for the aduauncement of Elizabeth 2 A Prayier from reioycing they come vnto prayer Non minor est virtus quam quarere parta tueri as Dauid could not without the helpe of the Lord obtaine the kingdome so nether could he without the helpe of the Lord defend himselfe and gouerne it and therefore as they saw iust occasion to reioyce in him for the one so they saw as iust occasion to pray vnto him for the other saying verse 25. O Lord I pray thee saue now O Lord I pray thee now geue prosperitie Where wee say they pray for two thinges in the behalfe of Dauid the King first Saluation secondly Prosperity First they pray for Saluation O Lord I pray thee saue now that is from the hand of the enemy which laboureth to supplant him In the time of mirth they remembred eminent daungers they thought of perils at hand which the Preacher Cap. 11. exhorteth Eccl. 11. vs vnto though a mā liue many years and in them all reioyce yet let him remember the dayes of darknes that is of affliction and trouble There is no mans estate in this world so quiet but that it is mixed with many troubles nor so safe but that it is subiect to many dangers but yet principally the estate of a King
1588. A SERMON PREACHED ON THE Queenes day Beeing the 17. of Nouember 1587. at the towne of Lidd in Kent by ISAAC COLFE Preacher of the word of God LONDON Printed by Iohn Wolfe for Harry Carre and are to bee sold at his shop in Pauls Church yard ¶ TO MY WORSHIPFVLL FRIENDES THE Bailife and Iurats of the towne of Lidd Isaac Colfe wisheth all prosperity in this life and life euerlasting in the world to come HAuing Preached this Sermō amongest you woorshipfull Sirs seeing the General wel liking thereof and therewithall the desire of some to haue the copy of the same I chose rather to commit it to the Printer then to copy it out in writing because that as the labour should bee easier vnto my selfe so the benefite should bee greater vnto more And this I haue done not vpon the absolute well lyking of the maner of my labour therin which I confesse simple but onely the cōsideration of the matter therof which for this time I see necessary containing as appeareth in the discourse thereof the woonderfull aduauncement of our most gratious soueraigne Q. Elizabeth to the crowne of this Realme to the singular benefite of vs all that vpon the consideration therof we might bee the more stirred vp to yeeld dutifull thankfulnes and prayer vnto God for her the one in that hee first aduaunced her thereunto and preserued her hethertoo therin the other that hee would still preserue and prosper her in the gouernment of the same And I haue thought it requisite to dedicate this my labour vnto you not onely because it was preached amongest you but principally because of those passing great curtesies which I haue cōtinually receaued at your hands For the which as I can not but acknowledge my selfe wholly indebted farre beyond my power fully to requite so do I acknowledge my selfe euery way bound to testify my thankfulnes vnto you which is the only recompēce which either you demaund or I can geue againe for them Wherefore vouchsafe I pray you Woorshipfull Sirs as an vndoubted testimony therof to accept this same at my hands who as I am alwaies and by al waies ready prest according to duty with all the power of body and mynde to seeke your spiritual profite so am I as ready at this present herein to satisfy your Godly desires The Lord heape vpon you the manifold graces of his holy Spirite in aboundant measures to the benefite of his Church whereof yee are members of the Common wealth whereof yee are subiectes but yet principally of that Corporation whereof yee are Magistrates to your praise on earth and eternall glory in the highest Heauens At Lidd this first of Ianuary 1587. Your woorships to bee commaunded in the Lord Isa Colfe A Sermon Text Psal 118. verse 22. c. 22 The stone which the builders refused is the head of the Corner 23 This was the Lords doings and it is meruailous in our eies 24 This is the day which the Lord hath made Let vs reioice and be glad in it 25 O Lord I pray thee saue now O lord I pray thee now geue prosperity 26 Blessed is hee that commeth in the name of the Lord we haue blessed you out of the house of the Lord. THis Psalme woorshipfull and beloued in our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ was framed by Dauid and that as it séemeth when after so many daungers auoided he had obtayned the kingdome of Iudah raigned in Hebron 2 Sam. 2. And it containeth 2 Sam. 2. partly the wordes of Dauid exhorting the house of Israel the house of Aaron yea and all them which feare the Lord to praise the Lord for his great goodnes and aboundant mercy towardes him which how great aboundant it was hee himselfe thankfully expresseth And partly the woordes of the people who vpon the consideration of the woonderfull aduauncement of Dauid notwithstanding all the outragious practises of his enemies and of the happines therof redounding to their singular and vnspeakable benefite with a solemne obseruation of the day therof giue thanks to the Lord therfore also ioyning prayer thereunto for the safety and prosperity of Dauid their king to which latter part are these woords to be referred which I haue at this present hereout in respect of this present occasion through the goodnes of God so happily multiplyed vnto vs made especiall choice off to deliuer vnto you and therefore are to be taken and vnderstood as being the woordes of the people and not as being the woordes of Dauid They do containe 2 principall partes 1. A declaration of the woonderful and happy aduauncement of Dauid to the kingdome 2 Theire louing and dutifull behauiour vpon the consideration thereof The first part A declaration of the woonderfull and happy aduauncement of Dauid to the kingdome Wherein yet more particularly the people expresse first the aduauncement of Dauid verse 22. Secondy how it came to passe verse 23. Thirdly the benefite therof vers 24. vntil the middest therof 1 The aduauncement of Dauid verse 22. The stone which the Builders refused is the head of the Corner For the more liuely describing and full expressing whereof we see they vse a metaphor comparing the commune wealth vnto a building the subiectes vnto stones therein the Princes and rulers vnto the builders thereof the King vnto the head Corner stone of the same For albeit that these woordes be referred vnto Christ of whom Dauid was a Type and figure and therefore are so vsed by Christ Math. 21. And by Matt. 21. Act. 4. the Apostle S. Peeter Act. 4. and else where yet as they were spoken by this people in this place they were applyed vnto Dauid therby shewing that Dauid a subiect of that Common wealth although refused and persecuted by the Princes and Rulers thereof yet was aduaūced to be King of the same where First let vs obserue the fit vse of this metaphor by the examination of the partes thereof Secondly the application thereof to the purpose of the people First concerning the fit vse of this Metaphor it is apparant by the partituler examination of the seuerall parts thereof For euerie Common-wealth is as a building consisting of many parts which being coupled together in one according vnto art make one house of this house first euery subiect is a stone seruing in one place or other and to one vse or other in the building whereby as wee learne how perillous in each common wealth contention is betweene the subiects of the same that it is euen such as if the stones of one building should forsake their places refuse their offices in keeping in and supporting of one another should deuide themselues the one against the other to the beating out and breaking of each other wherby it must needes come to passe that the house yea bee it neuer so goodly and stately neuer so firme and strong must haue a downfall and come to destruction for a house deuided against it selfe can not stand
as it is written Mat. 12. Matth. 12. So hereout wee are taught with what carefulnes euery one of vs of what estate and condition of what vocation and calling soeuer wee are ought to procure according to the same the benefite of the Common wealth whereof we are subiects in that we are borne to be stones in this building for the benefite of the same Which Tully an heathen oratour lib. 1 de offic could Cïc de offic lib. 1. sée and say Non nobis solum nati sumus c. which notable saying hee had out of Plato although therefore we are borne partly for the benefite of our selues partly of our parentes partly of our friends yea of our enemies also yet principally for the benefite of the common wealth and surely as that stone is vnwoorthy to lye on the Earth which will serue to no vse in the building so is that man as vnwoorthy to liue on the earth which in nothing either can not or wil not benefite the common wealth Againe in this house the counsailers nobility rulers al men in authority are builders whose office is if they see this house downe to build it vp if decaied to repair it if weakned to strengthen it if falling to hold it vp if assaulted to defend it if strong for to maintaine it and this is first by ordaining of good holsome lawes according to the present times occasions 2. by the diligent faithfull execution of them being established 3. if néed require by spending their goods aduenturing their lyues in the defence of it Thus ought they to be builders of the house of the Common wealth otherwise well they may beare the name of builders but they are indeed pluckers down of the same Hee that is not with mee is against mee and hee that gathereth not with mee hee scattereth Luc. 11. there is no middle nor third thing Luc. 11. betweene the one and the other Againe of this house the King is the head of the Corner whereby the whole building is strengthened and held vp For as the sides quarters of the house are strengthened by ioyning vnto the corners thereof and as the corners of the house being taken away the house can not stand Iob. cap. 1. So are all the Iob. 1. partes and members of the Common wealth sustayned and strengthened by the power of the King and where there is no King that Common wealth is like vnto an house rent from the corners thereof which can not stand but come to confusion One notable example whereof is to bee seene euen in this Common wealth of Israel in the book of the Iudges which albeit it was directed and gouerned with all good and necessary lawes not inuented by man but ordained by God himselfe yet Sampson beyng dead there being no Iudge in Israell all thinges came to a miserable confusion as appeareth Iudic. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. Thus Iudi. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. wee see how fitly this Metaphor is here vsed in all the partes thereof And now secondly followeth the application of the same vnto the purpose and meaning of the people which was thereby to expresse the more fully and manifestly the aduauncement of Dauid to the kingdome For this is the profitable vse of Metaphors Allegories parables or similitudes liuely to describe those thinges which otherwise could not so fully be expressed Wherein First they begin with his reiection by the builders Secondly come to his exaltation afterwardes First they begin with his reiection that his exaltation might appeare the more glorious for the lower the abbasing is the more notable is the lifting vp the greater the daunger is the more woorthy is the victory The stone which the builders refused Lo this is the reiection of Dauid Dauid was a stone of the house of Israell a subiect of that Common wealth and albeit by byrth hee was not great the sonne of Ishai a meane Israelite yet in respect of his noble actes hee was a most pretious stone and a principall vpholder of the glory of the same as amongst other thinges most euidently appeareth 1. Samuel 17. in his encountring 1 Sam. 17. with and ouer comming of Goliah the Philistine for when this Goliah a man of mighty stature and of like strength defied the host of Israell and no man durst go downe vnto him this Dauid being yet but of young yeares and of tender age yea being also vnarmed valiantly encountred with him and victoriously ouercame him wherby the honor of Israel was preserued yea and aduaunced and the enemies vanquished destroyed But what was his reward This stone the builders refused They which should haue aduaūced him reiected him yea so reiected him as that they did not onely esteeme him vnwoorthy to bee the chiefe stone of the Corner but also to bee euen an inferiour stone in the building for they would cleane haue taken him away from the house of Israell whereunto tended all those tyrannous persecutions practised against him whereof wee read aboundantly in the first booke of Samuel Wel thus wee sée the reiection of this Stone by the builders Now followeth his exaltation The same is the head of the Corner although the builders refused this stone yet the Lord had chosen it yea although they had reiected it yet the Lord had takē it vp and exalted it and that not onely to bee a meane stone in the building but euen to bee the head in the Corner of the same that is not onely to be a fellow subiect amongst them in the common wealth but euen to be king ouer them in the gouernment of the same Wherby first we learn that as those things which are highly esteemed before men are many tymes abomination in the sight of God Luc. 16. so that on the other Luc. 16. side oftentimes those thinges which are reiected of the world are most accepted of God that the things which are most vile and contemptible before men are most pretious and glorious before God Dauid a stone refused by the builders but allowed chosen of God 2. Hereout wee learne how impossible a thing it is for a man to preuent the purpose of God God preuenteth mā in his purposes mā purposeth but God disposeth al things but no mā is able to preuent God in his purposes who shal resist his wil There Rom. 9. is neither wisedeme vnderstanding nor counsaile against the Lord. Pro. 21. For the Prou. 21. Lord our God is in heauē doth whatsoeuer Psal 115. he wil yea euen notwithstāding all the practises of man to preuent him The Lord had preferred Iacob before Esau the younger before the elder Isaac wold haue preuented it but the Lord preuented him Gen. 27. The Lord had Gen. 27. appointed that Ioseph should be Lord ouer his brethren and that his brethren should bowe vnto him and doo him reuerence they would haue preuented it by selling him to the
naturall or vnnaturall death should take away Elizabeth from Englād it would indeed be a ioyful and happy Elizabeth but a most woefull and miserable England God graunt mine eies neuer see nor mine eares neuer heare of the death of Elizabeth Wherefore O Lord I pray thee saue now O Lord I pray thee geue now prosperity vnto Elizabeth and let all those which entirely loue Elizabeth say So be it 3 A blessing verse 26. Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord we haue blessed you out of the house of the Lord. Which words the most vsuall translations do set downe after the forme and maner of wishing or desiring Blessed be hee c. As if the people had prayed vnto the Lord to blesse Dauid their King But the most approued translatiō according to the Hebrew set them downe by way of affirmation Blessed is hee c. Wherin the people do affirme Dauid their King to bee the blessed of the Lord. Blessed is Dauid the which they confirme by two notable arguments First Dauid commeth in the name of the Lord that is Dauid commeth to rule and gouerne the common-wealth Hee obtaineth the Kingdome not in his owne name but in the name of the Lord not thrusting himself thereunto but hauing the same thrust vpon him by the Lord not vsurpingly aduauncing himselfe but beeing miraculously thereunto aduaunced by the Lord and therefore Dauid is blessed for as they which come in their owne names are cursed so they which come in the name of the Lord are blessed but Dauid commeth in the name of the Lord therfore Dauid is blessed Secōdly Dauid is blessed of them that are of the house of the Lord that is either of the priests of the Lordes house of his Sanctuary whose office it was to blesse as appeareth Num. 6. and also Deut. 10. or else Num. 6. Deut. 10. more generally euē of all those that belong to the house of the Lord that is which purely woorshippe him in his Sanctuary in Sion And therefore Dauid is blessed of the Lord for the Lord mercifully ratifyeth and confirmeth the blessinges of his Church hee blesseth those whom his Church blesseth and hee curseth those whom his Church curseth But his Church euen the Congregation of his chosen Children beeyng blessed by Dauid haue blessed Dauid and therefore Dauid is blessed of the Lord Lo how inuincibly they haue prooued that Dauid is blessed The consideration whereof could not but much confirme the hope of the safety and prosperity of Dauid for which they prayed before for not onely safety and prosperity but euen all good thinges follow the blessing of God The Lords blessing is no vaine nor naked blessing as is oftentimes the blessing of man But al good things are heapēd vpon those which are blessed of the Lord Let Shemei therefore curse Dauid 2. Sam. 16. yet Dauid is blessed yea let the enemies of 2. Sam. 16. Dauid conspire together against him yet shall the Lord geue safety and prosperity vnto Dauid because hee is the blessed of the Lord. In like sorte dearely beloued this can not but bee vnto a singuler comfort and consolation continuing our hope of the safetie and prosperitie of our gracious Quéene Elizabeth because she is the blessed of the Lord. Elizabeth is the blessed of the Lord and therefore let her enimies curse her with booke bell and candle the curse shall not fal vpon her but she is blessed yea shall be blessed for euer for there is no repentance in the Lord God is not as man that hee should lye nor as the sonne of man that he should repent hath he said and shall he not doe it and hath he spoken and shall he not accomplish it hath he blessed and shall he not continue his blessing yes surely with him there is no variablenesse neither shadow of chaunging Iames. 1. If Isaac Iam. 1. was constant in his blessing vnwittingly bestowed vpon Iacob and notwithstanding all the teares of Esau would not call backe the same but confirmed it saying I haue blessed him and therefore he shall be blessed Gen. 27. Then how much more constant Gen. 27. shall the Lorde bee in continuing his blessing vpon those his children whom he hath once not vnwittingly but willingly blessed notwithstanding all the teares outcries cursings and bannings of the vngodly saying I haue blessed them therefore they shall bee blessed And if the Lord blesse who shall curse How shal I curse where the Lord hath not cursed saith Balaam to Balaac or how shall I detest where the Lorde hath not detested or if they curse or detest those whom the Lorde blesseth and reioyceth in their cursing shall fall vpon them selues as the Prophet Dauid saith Psal 109. As they loued cursing so shal it come vnto thē as they loued Psal 109. not blessing so it shal be far off from them as they clothed themselues with cursing as with a garment so it shall come into their bowels like water and like oyle into their bones But the blessed of the Lord shal be blessed for euer That Elizabeth is the blessed of the Lord I proue euē by the selfe same arguments wherby the blessednes of Dauid is confirmed in this place First Bessed is he that cōmeth in the name of the Lord but Elizabeth commeth in the name of the Lord she came not to gouerne this land in her own name but in the name of the Lord she obtained not the crown by her own power but by the power of the Lord who miraculously aduanced her thereunto no lesse miraculousily hath hetherto vpheld her therin therefore this is an euident testimonie the she is the blessed beloued of the Lord. Secondly She is blessed out of the house of the Lord as it hath béene blessed by her so it blesseth her amongst all the mightie kings and princes of the earth there is none by whom the house of the Lord the Church of Christ hath béene so wonderfully blessed as it hath béene by Quéene Elizabeth at this day by her principally it is that the kingdom of Antechrist decayeth dayly by her principally it is that the Church of Christ within these few yeares in so many nations is augmented and aduanced by her it is that the banished children of Christ not hauing a place where to rest their heades are louingly receaued and carefully fed and nourished by her it is that the oppressed ones are defended they which war for it are strēgthned and therfore woorthely hath she deserued the euerlasting blessing of the house of the Lord yea and no doubt the whole house of the Lord doth blesse her And therefore wee may also assure our selues that the Lord ratifying and confirming the blessing of his Church blesseth her The consideration whereof dearly beloued as I said before can not but greatly comfort and confirme the certainty of our hope concerning the safety and prosperity of our most gracious Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth that notwithstanding shee is cursed by the Pope the maister of misrule and author of all mischiefe and be hated of all his fauourers who with all their powers bend themselues against her to subdue her and bring her to confusion yet that they shall not bee able to preuaile ouer her but that the Lord for his names sake who hath miraculously aduaunced her and hetherto preserued her yea and for his Church sake which béeing blessed by her hath blessed her he will geue safety and prosperity vnto Elizabeth to the continuance of the glory of his name and the encreasing of the blessednes of his Church by her The which the Lord vouchsafe to graunt for his Sonne Christ his sake the head of his Church To whom with the holy Ghost three distinct persons and one onely God bee rendred all honour and praise both now and for euer Amen FINIS