but their goods were Guelphes and must pay for it The Gibellines of Papia could not foresee this our Catholikes by them may Let them leaue their brainsicke desires and divelish purposes of bringing a Faciâ—… Canis into their country least by experience they fâ—…le which God forbid that though themselues be Catholikes their goods may be Heretikes perhaps some Heretike-blood in their bodies also by contagion of ours The Lord take away this stony heart from them and giue them an heart of flesh a new spirit that wee may all iointly praise him for the deliverance of our gracious Queene pray for the continuance of her blessed governement to the honour of his name the furtherance of his gospell the welfare of his Church the peace and prosperity of our English Iuda the griefe disappointment of Popish Assyrians and the confusioÌ„ of Antichrist At Corpus Christi College in Oxford Octob. 24. 1586. PSAL. 18. VER 47 48 49 50 51. 47. The Lord liveth and my blessed strength therefore let the God of my salvation be exalted 48 The mighty God that giveth me revengements and bringeth people vnder me 49. That delivereth me from mine enemies yea thou hast exalted me aboue them that rose vp against me thou hast delivered me from the cruell man 50. Therefore will I confesse thee O Lord among the Gentilâ—… and I will sâ—…g vnto thy name 51. He giveth great deliverances to his king sheweth mercy to his annointed to David and to his seed for ever IT hath beene a godly custome of the faithful although not observed so customably alwaies as by the Rules of faith it ought that when they received any speciall benefit either in attaining to things commodious for them or 〈◊〉 avoiding of discommodities they lifted vp their voices to the authour of it the Father of mercies the God of all comfort and did honour him with giving speciall thankes for it Melchisedek king of Salem a man of power and credit in the land of Canaan had not so great cause to care for the state of Abram Lot two strangers in the land Yet when Abram had rescued Lot being taken and had spoiled the spoilers Melchisedek brake forth into his praise who gaue the victorie Blessed bee the high God which hath delivered thine enimies into thy hand The state of the Israelits touched Moses neerer how much the lesse is it to be marvelled at if he thought it his duty to magnifie the Lord for guiding them out of Egypt through the red Sea and drowning Pharaâ—… with his host Though that the childreÌ„ of Israel themselues an vnthankfull murmuring and stifâ—…ecked nation should ioine therein with Moses all both men and women it is a president worthy to be noted to the shame of ChristiaÌ„s if in greater measure of the grace of God we shew lesse gratitude for his graces The feasting ioy that the Iewes kept for their owne deliverance out of the snares of Haman and for his destruction with the partakers of his conspiracie might seeme to bee only a proâ—…ne reioycing as worldly â—…ded men câ—…monly doe vse at their good successes But that it was holy and seasoned with a sacrifice such a sacrifice as lawfully they might offer there where then they were dispersed the circumstance of sending parts vnto the poore with precepts and examples of daies in like sort kept holy to the Lord doth argue Wee are assembled at this present fathers and brethren beloued in the Lord to giue him most humble most harty thanks for his great and singular goodnesse shewed vnto vs in discovering the traiterous intent of graceles wretches who vilanously conspired to take away the life of our gracious Queene whom God long preserue to kindle flames of vprores through the realme to the vtter wasting of her faithfull subiects O that wee had the hearts to praise him for it with the like religious affection of spirit in zeale and sinceritie as Melchisedek did for Lot recovered by Abram as Moses and the Israelites for the Egyptian yoke broken as the Iewes for their safety and the destruction of their enimies Sure we hâ—…ue greater causes so to doe then any of them had For Lot was but one and that a meane man nor much indangered more then of losse of libertie Here a most excellent Princesse was in hazard not of libertie but of life with God knoweth how many righteous Lots besides And the bodily tâ—…s which the Israelites endured in Egypt vnder the taske-mastâ—…s that Pharaâ—… placed over them were nothing in comparison of the spirituall bondage of Antichristian tyrants to whom might these Egyptian impâ—… hâ—… had their wills we should it is likely hâ—…e beene most lamentably enthralled Neither hath the Lord so mercifully delivered vs out of the Lions mouth at this time onely but at sundry other heretofore often that the Iewes could not be so much beholding to him for that of Haman who did not liue to put them more then once in danger Wherefore that wee may accept the more thankfully and dutifully esteeme of his inestimable goodnesse in saving our gracious Queene and vs her subiects from so great so many so 〈◊〉 Mâ—…iefs I haue thought good to take for the ground of mine advertisement and exhortation these wordes which you haue heard written by the godly Prince and Prophet David in the eighteenth Psalme asoâ—…g of thanksgiving which he made when the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enimies out of the hand of Saul Forso is it noted in the title thereof and manifested farther by the course of the story iâ—… the second of Samuel where the same is wholly registred againe well-nigh word for word as a most worthy and memorable monument to bee thought vpon eftâ—…s of all posteritie that on like favour received of the Lord they might shew themselues alike gratefull to him In these words therefore compreheÌ„ding briefly the purport and 〈◊〉 of the whole Psalme by way of conclusion two things are recommâ—… to our considerations one is the benefite of God in delivering David from his enimies the other the thankfulnes of David vnto God for the deliverance The benefit of God in delivering David is signified by that he faith The Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 specâ—… of his being his everlasting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whâ—… sense notwithstanding be is said to liue and to â—…ly but in respect of his workes his effects to David ward in whose preservatioÌ„ he sheweth that he 〈◊〉 and saueth his and ruleth all things by his 〈◊〉 providence Which meaning David openeth in that hee adioineth and my blessed strength calling God his strength his fortresse his rocke his blessed strength and fortresse his rocke his blessed strength and fortresse because his life his safety his welfare is maintained by the might and mercy of the living God As in the beginning he testified also The Lord is my rocke and my fortresse and my
deliverer my God my strength in whom I will trust my shield and the horne of my salvation my refuge And this is the benefit of God vnto David The thankfulnesse of David vnto God followeth Therefore let the God of my salvation be exalted Wherein by the way the cause of his thankfulnesse to wit the benefit is repeated For though in our tongue the name of salvation is by commoÌ„ vse referred to the blissefull state of life eternal in the kingdome of heaveÌ„ wherto the scripture phrase doth likewise oft referre it yet is it amplified in the Prophets laÌ„guage heere to bodily safetie and temporall preservation of this present life As salvatioÌ„s also are afterward meÌ„tioned or as our English translation interpreteth it deliverances before he set downe the generall proposition with the same word I call vpon the Lord who is worthy to bee praised and I am safe from mine enimies Vnto this author then of his safety hee rendreth praise and honour and that in such sort as may stir vp others therevnto withall that God by the thankesgiving of more may bee more glorified let him be exalted To the performance of the which dutie that he may giue a sharper edge hotter zeale to himselfe and others he amplifieth and openeth more particularly both the cause of the duty and the dutie it selfe in the verses following Touching the cause of the dutie he saith The mighty God that giueth me reuengemeÌ„ts bringeth people vnder me that deliuereth me from mine enimies yea thou hast exalted me aboue them that rose vp against me thou hast deliuered me from the cruel man A summary but pithy rehearsal of the specialties of the fauour done him by God against Saul against Sauls sonne Ish-bosheth against the Philistines the Moabites the Syrians the Ammonites the Amalekites and the Idumaeans against Absolon against Sheba with their rebellious complices of Israel Iuda too Of whom a great many were punished in iustice the Lord avenging him of some by other mens hands of some by his owne as being armed therevnto with the sword of vengeance The rest though their liues were spared in mercy yet were they brought in awe and subiection vnder him So himselfe his enimies either not remaining or not remaining enimies at the least not daring to practise their enmitie was delivered from them Yea which he vttereth more emphatically by turning of his speech to God God did exalt him and advance him higher then any of his adversaries that rose vp against him and delivered him from Saul who of long time pursued him most fiercely put him oft in preseÌ„t daÌ„ger of his life from the cruel violent the most violent man Touching his duty wherevpon he addeth Therefore will I confesse thee o Lord among the Gentiles and I will sing vnto thy name hee giueth great deliverances to his king and sheweth mercy to his anointed to David to his seed for ever To confesse the Lord is to acknowledge him to bee the author and giver of whatsoever good we haue to sing vnto his name is with ioyfull melodie of voice to acknowledge it But these things doth David vow that he will do and therein will testifie even before the Gentiles that the Lord who made him king and anointed him doth giue him great deliverances and sheweth him mercy nor only him but his too his seed his posteritie and progenie for ever The very literal sense of the which words doth import an excellent thankfulnesse in David that would yeeld such tokens thereof among the Gentiles the heathens whom hee had subdued a more excellent goodnesse and graciousnes in God who raised him to royall state and mightily preserved him in it and rid him out of many dangers and shewed mercy still to him yea to his of spring also that should raigne after him But all this is base in respect of that which the holy Ghost in a spirituall meaning doth hereby signifie betoken For David was anointed king of the Iewes made conquerour of the Gentiles cast into perils troubles paines of death by speciall grace againe delivered from them to the intent hee might be a figure as we tearme it an image and picture an historicall picture and a living image that should resemble and represent the person of another David his sonne our Saviour Christ. Which mystery himselfe knowing as a Prophet did write by inspiration from God sundry things whereof the full perfit accomplishment appeareth in Christ his kingdome as the scriptures teach vs though a thinne slender performance of the same was before expressed and drawn out as it were by lineaments shadowes of a type and figure in David and his state So the great deliverances and salvations temporall given and assured to David and to his seed for ever after a sort that is for long continuance of many yeares succession did prefigure greater spiritual deliveraÌ„ces salvatioÌ„s simply absolutely eternal which should be likewise giveÌ„ to Christ to his seed that is to the faithful the chil dreÌ„ of God whoÌ„ Christ doth beget in his church by the inunortall seed of his word To Christ to his seed is given the treading downe of the Serpent the overthrow and victory of Satan and his Angels To Christ and to his seede is death quelled the graue vanquished the power of hell daunted and all their enimies put to flight To Christ and to his seede is a guard of Angâ—… appointed for their safety an entrance into Heaven opened and the ioies of life of everlasting solace of endlesse rest assured Which most excellent mercies deliverances salvations as the Prophets commonly in the ende of their prophecies do commende to men by figuratiue speeches of Israël of Iuda of Sion of Ierusalem and blessings incident thereto so in this conclusion of his song of thankes doth David ascende to them by the other to shewe himselfe gratefull vnto God for them A proofe whereof we haue in the last words that he concludeth with For therein he seemeth to respect the promise that the Lord would set vp his seed after him and stablish the throne of his kingdome for ever Which the Angel Gabriel sent to the Virgin Mary expoundeth of Christ telling her that God shall giue vnto him the throne of his Father David and he shall raigne over the house of Iacob for ever and of his kingdome shall be no end And a farther proofe in the former clause touching his confessing of God among the Gentiles considering that S. Paul declareth the goodnes of Christ in receiving the Gentiles to his glory to be meant thereby As if the holy Prophet had said that he would vse a new and vnaccustomed thankefulnesse to God for his passing singular and vnspeakable benefits neither would confesse him among
head Wherefore trusting in the assured confidence invinciblenes of the Almightie he feareth not though ten thousand had set thēselues against him This therefore bringeth a terrour to the wicked when they be forsaken of their friends haue nothing to trust in but their wickednesse but a notable comfort is it to the godly when continuing in their goodnesse they haue the Lord alwaies to bee at their side So the wicked dare look for no helpe of the Lord but the godly are full of the consolation of the holy spirit So that the wicked may say if our friends be against vs who shall be with vs but the godly may say If God be with vs wh◅ shall be against vs Which consideration of the state of the godly that such as professe themselues their friends haue set thēselues against them may teach vs how to answer that obiection of the Papists who because many haue revoulted from vs to them yea of our Ministers would perswade the ignorant that our doctrine is naught A worthy matter no doubt if some for 30 peeces of silver to be paid in their Seminaries haue gone thither that they may betray Christ Iesus And what say they herein against vs which the Iewes might not haue said against our Saviour that one of his Disciples yea of his chiefe Disciples was set so against him that he had betrayed him Another reason they haue like vnto this though not in all circumstances yet in the maine ground which iss the dissention amongst vs and such as are of other Churches beyond the sea concerning certaine ceremonies wherein we differ from them But seeing that the Lord knowes how to turne it to the profiting of his Church and when it pleaseth him can reveale these things to vs why should any make an argument hereof against the truth of our doctrine seeing we find that God hath turned the like to his greater glory as that dissention of Paul and Barnabas Paule and Peter But as I shewed by cōparison of other points that the Papists do most liuely represent the Idumeans so also falleth it out that they should bee betraied by their owne confederates and friends as were the Idumeans as by Albertus Pigh◅s in iustification by faith only by Arias Mōtanus in the sufficiency of the Scriptures by And. Masius in Reliques by Alphonsus de Castro Espencaeus Caretanus c the schoolemē in the rest of the points of superstition And Luther Calvin Bucer Occolampadius Zanchius Beza c the most worthy warriours in the Lords battels we know were sometimes of their friends some being Friers other Priests and Canons they who were least nursed vp in Popery So truly is the saying verified of them also Thy confederates haue driven thee to the borders c. Whose godly example I wish may moue them if there be any here of their cōfederates to deceiue them and helpe to driue them to their borders by the example of Saul who being made a Paul revolted from the Pharisees and destroyed that which before he had builded Iosephus reporteth that Cyrus who caused the Iews to build the temple gaue thē backe the vessels thereof was moved to doe it by reading the prophecie of Isaiah who 200. yeares before had named him who should do it I beseech GOD that these men also reading this prophecy that the friends of the Idumeans shal destroy them may bee encouraged to doe it that this may prevaile so much with them as that did with Cyrus For though they be your confederates friends brethren parents children yet must you not bee affraid to wound them spiritually for the wounds of a friend are sweet We must destroy not their persons but their errors and to be cruell herein is piety And such cruelty as this is commanded by GOD Cursed be he that withholdeth his hand from this bloud When Aaron had entised the Israelites to Idolatrie and provoked them to the offending of GOD by worshipping the golden calfe Moses proclaimeth who so pertaineth to the Lord let him come to me and all the sonnes of Levi gathered themselues So they went from gate to gate through the host slew every man his brother every man his companion and every man his neigh bour and so they consecrated their hands vnto the Lord and drew a blessing vpon them But alas how farre are we from doing this same in the warfare of Christ against our friends kinsfolkes and neighbours Would to GOD many of vs were not caried away with that foolish pitie of Achab. When Benhadad had come vp to fight against Israel but was discomfited was faine to flee into a secret chamber to saue his life It was told him that the kings of Israel were mercifull kings Wherfore he sent to him certaine men who said thy servant Benhadad saith I pray thee let me liue To whom Achab said is he yet aliue he is my brother Yea said they thy brother Benhadad c and so was hee content to make a covenant with him and Achab confederated himselfe with Benhadad But there was sent a man of God to Achab who told him for as much as he had let a man scape out of his hands whom the Lord woulde haue slaine his life should be for his his people for his There bee this day too many Achabs who can aske whether their brother Benhadad be aliue and willinglie spare him hoping that he will one day remember them with the like curtesie so long as he is aliue hee is their brother Benhadad yea their brother Benhadad but because they let them scape whom the Lorde woulde haue to be slaine their life shal be in steed of theirs and their people insteede of theirs Yet O Lord spare thy people and powre out thy wrath on them that know thee not and on such as haue not called vpō thy name yea O Lord powre thy wrath vpon Benhadad and let him not escape thine hand c. VERSE 8. 9. 8 Shall not I in that day saith the Lord destroy the wise men from out of Edom vnderstanding from the moūt of Esau. 9 And thy strong men O Teman shal be affraide so that the valiant of the mount of Esau shal be cut of by slaughter THere be two things whereby we purchase to our selues safety against our enimies wisedome strength wisedome in foretelling and preventing strength in repressing and withstanding the attempts devised and practised against vs. The Lord having shewed that he would vtterly destroy and bring to cōfusion the Idumeans for that the matter seemed not very likely and the message not easie to be credited seeing they were furnished with wisedome strength wherewith they were able to prevent and subdue any mischiefe ◅e sheweth how these things shall nothing let his purpose for as much as he would depriue them of their wise men in the 8. verse and spoile them of their strong in the 9. verse Shall not I
sentence neither of humanitie only but of duty for who caÌ„ lay his hand on the Lords anointed saith he be giltles At least if they would not be still as he was for conscience sake yet for feare they might be seeing that a foule of the aire shal cary the voice a bird shall declare the matter if they but speak euil of the king yea in their thought much more if they intend to doe him any evil And sure if they turne not if they whet their swords bend their bowes and make them ready getting theÌ„selues deadly weapons prepare their arrows for persecutors they haue travelled with lewdnesse and conceiued mischiefe to bring forth a lie into the pit that they haue digged they shall fall their mischiefe shall returne vpon their owne heads and on their â—…wne pates shall their crueltie light For God doth giue revengements vnto his anointed and sheweth mercy to his Queen advancing her aboue them who rise vp against her But whether they doe vse this benefit of God to their good or no let vs my deere brethren let vs our houses as Iosua said serue the Lord. And that not by acknowledging only Gods goodnesse in this and all his benefits the foremost steppe to thankfulnesse but the next also I meane by confessing of him among the Gentiles and singing to his name with yeelding him all glory for it For the Heathens theÌ„selues in that smal knowledge of God which sin left theÌ„ did acknow ledge him to be the worker autor of the coÌ„modities that they had In the Greeke Poets the Gods are surnamed by a coÌ„moÌ„ title the givers of good things The Captaines of the Romanes having conquered their enimies took part of the lawrel which they did beare in signe therof laid it in the lap of Iupiter The CaldaeaÌ„ king subdued divers nations took their holds spoiled their cities seazed on their wealth ascribing that his power force to his God But they did not glorifie God as they ought neither were thankfull They robbed him of his honour and gaue it vnto many Gods their owne Idols Images of mortal creatures Yea part of the lawrel they kept to theÌ„selues sacrificing to their nets burning incense to their yarne because by theÌ„ their portion was fat their meate plenteous The time of this ignorance is overpast brethreÌ„ the daies are come wherof it was prophecied that the earth should be ful of the knowledge of the Lord as waters cover the sea How much the more excuselesse shall our fowle ingratitude vngodlines be if we be no thankfuller to him then the Heathens theÌ„ the Greeks the Romans the Caldaeans were Chiefly sith beside the temporall benefit of the preservation of our Prince and vs wee haue received graces more excellent precious to endure for ever name ly the enioying of his Sonne Christ Iesus our wisdome our righteousnes our sanctificatioÌ„ our redeÌ„ptioÌ„ the Spirit of adoption whereby we haue boldnes to cry Abba father the peace of conscience tranquillity of mind contentednes of heart the inheritaÌ„ce immortal vndefiled that withereth not the coÌ„fort the protectioÌ„ the assuraÌ„ce of his loue in a word so many blessings both of this life of the life to come as never any natioÌ„ vnder heaveÌ„ greater Wherfore I beseech you by the mercies of God who spared not his own Son for our sakes but gaue him to the death the vile death of the crosse that we might liue through him let vs confesse him sincerely faithfully not only in words but in deeds confesse him among the Gentiles eveÌ„ those which are straÌ„gers alieÌ„s froÌ„ the faith that we may win theÌ„ to the Lord. Let our coÌ„versatioÌ„ be honest amoÌ„g theÌ„ that by our good works which they shall see they may glorifie God in the day of the visitatioÌ„ Let vs cast away profane songs of wantonnes of lightnes of vanity sing vnto his name vsing both our voice speech in al respects as it becoÌ„meth Saints To be short let vs shew let vs striue to shew by al parts of duty a thankfull acceptance of the great saluatioÌ„s that he hath wrought for vs zealous remeÌ„brance of the end wherto that we being deliuered out of the hand of our enimies should serue him without feare in holinesse righteousnes before him all the daies of our life The godly Prince Prophet whose vertuous example as in al the rest so in this specially should be a spurre vnto vs calling into mind how God had delivered his soule froÌ„ death his eies froÌ„ teares his feet from falling brake out into these words What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me I will take c. Neither said he more therein theÌ„ he performed For when he had offered sacrifices of thanksgiuing he made a holy banket therewith vnto the people in remeÌ„brance of the manifold safeties deliuerances that hee had received He praised the Lord called vpon his name his Psalmes doe witnesse it to this day He promised that he would iudge righteously he did it He vowed to bring the arke into a place of rest he brought it How great cause we haue fathers brethreÌ„ to say as he said What shal we render so the Lord your selues do wel know How small care wee shew of doing as he did in praising God paying our vowes before his people the world doth see Our slacknes in frequeÌ„ting of sermons of praiers of celebrating the Lord supper taking the cup of the salvatioÌ„ of salvations I wish it were amended rather then reproved We haue made vowes and promises to God al of perpetual holines in baptisme some of special duties in their several callings And is it to be hoped that every one of vs though not with Davids zeale yet with some measure of it will pay them to the Lord Sure the greater hope thereof is to be had if that which hath been moved of order to be takeÌ„ for ordinary sermons preaching of the word on our Sabbath-daies in the afternoone not the forenoone only may be effected by the godly forwardnes of theÌ„ who should say And this will we doe if God permit The father of mercies God of al coÌ„fort who hath raised vnto vs a most glorious light placed a most gracious Princesse in the throne of government among vs sanctifie vs throughout with his holy spirit that we may offer vp the sacrifices of righteousnes the fruits of our lips of our harts of our hands to the glory of his name for all his benefits powred on vs And 〈◊〉 hath hitherto givâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deliuerances shewed mercy to his anointed so be 〈◊〉 we him for his Son our Saviors sake to do it stil. Saue her O Lord saue her out of the haÌ„d of al her enimies Let their
rather then that one of those little ones of whom thousands are perished through them should haue miscaried Wherefore I beseech you in the name of Christ by that duty and loue which you owe him if there be any care in you any feare of his name that you woulde go to Niniveh whither you are sent and though Tarsus be a famous Vniversity yet seeing GOD hath sent you thither that you would arise and go to Niniveh As for vs that remaine in Iurie let vs arise against her to battel against Sathan and his angels of darknes against the power of darknesse those principalities and powers and spirituall wickednes against our owne lusts and concupiscenses against the old man and law of our members for all these are enimies to GOD and enimies to vs and against all these must we rise vp to battel As also against al errors and heresies which fight against the truth Against these let vs arise and let vs rise vp against them to battel For it is not now a time for vs to say with Solomons sluggard a little slumber a little solding of the hands togither least poverty come vpon vs is one that travaileth by the way necessity as an armed man There is great necessity in it for the Idumeans are even within vs we haue no neede to folde our hands togither but rather to rise vp with that good 〈◊〉 who ariseth whiles it is night giveth the portion to her houshold and the ordinary to her maides In the book of Genesis we read that Abraham hard that his brother was taken by his enimies wherevpon he brought forth of them that were borne and brought vp in his house 318 and pursued them and that he and his servants divided themselues by night and smote them brought againe his brother Lot Our brother Lot nay many of our brethren are taken and caried away but they are not yet so far gone but that if we make hast they may be recovered And if ever it behoved Abraham to arme his houshold it is now time Yee that are in the place of AbrahaÌ„ arme theÌ„ that are brought vp in your houses to the bringing backe of our brethren Arme them and your selues with that spirit of Abraham with that brotherly loue and care over others I caÌ„not say to every one of you as is said to him in the Poet Nate Ded potes hoc sub casu ducere somnos But I say to each of you Nate Deo potes hoc sub casu du cere somnos And so much the rather for that the danger was but neere him but it is within vs. Wherefore let vs vse the sword of Gods word against these enimies And cursed be the man that withdraweth his sword from bloud I meane not to flay the person bodily but I speak of the spirituall sword of the spiritual slaughter to kill their errors to slay our wicked and vngodly lusts and mortifie the body of sinne which we beare about with vs. Which the Lord grant that each of vs may doe VERSE 3. 4. 3 The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee thou that dwellest in the cleftes of the rocks whose habitation is high that saith in his heart who shall bring me to the ground 4 Though thou exalt thy selfe as the Eagle and make thy nest among the starres thence will I bring thee downe saith the Lord. THE Prophet having shewed in the former verses that GOD would bring to passe the destruction of Edom by nations stirred vp against them sending messengers from one to another to rise vp against her in battel doth in this place refute a reason with the which they were prepared to come against this Judgement of GOD. For whereas the land of Edom was mount Seir a countrey full of Rockes their cities were strong situated on hils or amongst hils seated vpon rocks by nature mightily fortified for which cause they imagined that it was impossible to conquer them this conceipt of theirs the Prophet doth here open and reproue saying the pride of thy hart c. Wherefore in few wordes hee saith thus much GOD will destroy thee notwitâ—…standing thy great strength which hee hath confirmed by the infallible worde of GOD. Hererevnto they opposed the fond and vaine imagination of man for they said who shall bring me downe to the ground Because I dwell in the Clefts of the rocks and am strong on the high mountaines This coÌ„ceipt is said to proceed from pride of heart thereby being advertised that notwithstanding their vaine conceipt of defensed places as though by reason of them it were impossible they should bee subdued yet they should find it false as issuing not from the truth but from the pride of heart The truth also hereof that GOD would assuredly bring them downe is amplified by comparing their defences to the neast of an Eagle which is wont to be builded aloft in the top of high craggie mountains as Aristotle also writeth And wheÌ„ hee saith that though their neast were made among the starres by the hyperbole he signifieth that nothing should hinder but he will subdue them The Lord telling Edom that though hee make his neast never so high yet he will fetch him downe and therefore will also destroy him though he dwell in the Cleftes of the Rockes And although these things were prophâ—…cied against Edom. yet were they deliuered for instruction to Israel Wherfore it seemeth that hee turneth the person for hauing sâ—…id before in the second person I haue made thee small the pride of thy heart hee immediately turneth to the third person saying whose habitation is high that saith in his heart c. This thing then as it is spoken to the terrour of the Idumeans so it is for the consolation of Israel Israel is the Church of GOD that is the house of GOD whose house are wee if wee hold fast vnto the end the confidence and the reioycing of the hope These things then are written for our learning comfort that wee should bee neither puft vp with a vaine opinion of any gifts in vs whatsoever neither yet discouraged with any feare though the Idumeans dwell in the Cleftes of the rockes and say in the pride of their heart who shall bring vs downe to the ground For though they exalt themselues as the Eagle and make their neast among the starres yet thence will the Lord bring them downe Pride goeth before destruction and a high mind before a fal Wel may the wicked for a while flourish as a greene bay tree and draw forth their sword against the godly but their sword shall enter into their owne bowels and they shall be rased out that men shall say where is he or with the Prophet This is Pharaoh Ezek 31. 18. The Iebusites that held the fort of Zion so trusted in the strength thereof that the blind and the lame said David shall not
this treacherous dealing should be so crafty that they shoulde not espie much lesse prevent it When it is said there is no vnderstanding in him Wherof he also speaketh more at large in the next verse saying shall not Iâ—… that day saith the Lord even â—…estroy the wise men cut of Edom The point which I would here commende to your coÌ„siderations is that the Lord will 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Edom by his friends which is meant in these worâ—… Thy confederates haue driven thee The Iudgement of the Lord executed by his law vpon enticers to Idolatry disobedient to magistrates vnthankefull children c is in sundry places of Deutronomy knit vp with this senteÌ„ce So shall all Israel heare and feare Whereby is declared the end of punishments appointed by GOD and executed in iustice vpon offenders namely that the rest might heare and feare and learne not to offende in like maÌ„ner lest they incurre the like vengeance The point then that we haue to learne is to vnderstand by the ex ample of the Iustice of GOD executed vpon the Idumeans that all their confederates should driue them to the borders c that if any haue such hatred against the servants of GOD as Edom had against Israel then that this Iudgement is denounced against them For the Lord hath determined that who oppresseth his friends must be deceived and plagued by their friends and such as they reposed greatest confidence in The Madianites as it is in the history of the Iudges oppressed Israel very sore so that for feare of them the Israelites made them dens in the mouÌ„tains caues when Israel had sowen they came vp and destroied the fruit of the earth and left no food for Israel Against theÌ„ the Lorde sent Gedeon and to overthrow them he vsed not the hands of the Israelites but after that Gedeon the coÌ„ pany that were with them had blowne their trumpets and broken their pitchers the Lord set every mans sword against his neighbour Senacherib the king of Ashur came against Ierusalem and Ezechiah the king thereof with a mighty army thinking to make thrall to him all the people and Rabsakeh with most arrogant presumptuous words defied the Lord who he said could not deliver them But the Lord first confounded his armie and by an Angel destroyed them so that he was faine with shame to flee home where hee armed his two sonnes Adramelech and Shareser against him who wheÌ„ hee worshipped his God in the temple slew him with the sword But the cruelty of Nero against the Christians farre exceeded that of the Madianites and Senacherib in so much that he sowed them in the skins of wilde beasts so cast them to dogges to be devoured tying them also to stakes to burne in the night for lights But the Lorde raised against him his councell his friends captaines subiects c so that he found not that favour which Senacherib did for he could neither haue friend nor foe to do so much as kill him Yea if men woulde not conspire against these enimies of GODS people rather then they should lacke friends to destroy them the wormes out of their owne bowels should devour them as befell to Herod Antiochus Wherefore whosoever haue followed the cruelty of the Edonâ—…tes against the Israel of GOD let them remember for their instruction that they shal be parta kers of the same punishment with the Edomites And let vs consider that if the wicked draw his bow to shoote at the poore and needy though they whet the sword to slay the innocent yet their sworde shall enter into their owne heart and their bow shal be broken which the Prophet threatneth not without exception namely if the wicked turne not then the Lord will wheâ—… his sword c. And whereas he travâ—…led to bring forth a lie his mischiefe shall light on his owne head and the wrong which he imagined against others shall fall downe on his owne â—…lpe But the godly are at league with the stones of the field and the beasts of the earth but such as are not at peace with the Lord a stone shall fall on their head as on Abimelechs or Lyons shall fall on theÌ„ as on the Samaritans Wherefore such as are godly let them yet be more godly and let the wicked remember that all their confederates shall drive them to the borders c. Yet must we take heed that we imagine not that all such against whom their confederates deale are in nature and condition like the Idumeans For as other chastisements are common to the godly with the wicked though the effect fall not out alike in them both so also in this to be deceiued by friends and principally by those wee bee at peace with doe often happen vnto them For wee read of David that his familiar friend had laid a snare for him and such as were neere vnto him as Aâ—…tophel and his owne sonne Absolon That which befell to David happened also to Iesus Christ of whom David was a figure as is plainely declared in â—…e 〈◊〉 of Iohn where as the very words of 〈◊〉 are applied to Christ to teach vs the dealing of 〈◊〉 He that eateth bread with 〈◊〉 hath lift vp the heele against me Now we knowe that it is the chiefest blessing of Christians to bee made like to the image of Christ. No marvaile then if they haue beene so dealt withall and that such as haue eate their bread haue lift vp their heele against them The example of the noble Admirall of France traiterously murthered in Paris now 12. yeares since in this case is so pregnant that we need not goe further With whom there were so many thousandes murthered by such as professed themselues their friendes Whereby wee may perceiue that this is no certaine signe of Idumeans but that it is apparant that even in the Church of God there is falsehood in fellowship in trust treason The difference therefore in this point betwixt the wicked and the godly is 1 in the cause 2 in the comfort 1 In respect of the cause the wicked vngodly are worthily so served making their confederacie in world ly respects but the godly vnworthily so that David iustly protesteth If this wickednesse bee in my hand c. yea if I haue not deliuered him that without any cause was mine enemie c. 2 In respect of comfort for that the wicked when they be so intreated of their friends haue no manner of succour or ease which they can betake themselues vnto whereas the godly in this case fly to the Lord whom they finde to bee a sure rocke and certaine defence when the helpe of man fayleth and is set against them as David being persecuted by AbsoloÌ„ cryeth out how are my adversaries encreased how many rise vp a gainst me but thou Lord art a buckler for me my glory and the lifter vp of my
fall on him Wherefore it proceedeth from the heart as even the outward gesture also which our Saviour declareth when he saith that out of the heart proceed evill thoughts c. and an evill eye meaning the effects of an evill eye and envious For many there are that see well and yet haue evill eies Namely such as delight at the harme of their brother and sorrow at his good Wherefore we must beware of both effects namely that we neither behold the prosperitie of others with griefe nor their adversitie with ioy And for the former we must be so much the more diligent in avoiding it because a good mind is sometimes subiect vnto it When a young man told Ioshuah that Eldad and Modad prophecied in the host hee willed Moses to forbid them But Moses rebuked him enviest thou saith hee for my sake yea would to God that all the Lords people were Prophets and that the Lord would put his spirit vpon them But as for the latter which is to reioice at the adversitie of others it is not so incident to the heart which is sprinckled with any drop of grace because that evē naturally we pitie such as be in miserie Howbeit if there be any such among vs let him remember what the wise man saith That he who reioiceth at the harme of another shal not himselfe escape vnpunished The summe is this that we look to our heart the fountaine of these affections and purifie it The heart as the Philosophers saie in naturall generation is first framed and in spiritual regeneration it is first formed Wherefore we are first to looke that it be pure For what the heart conceiveth that the tongue vttereth and what the tongue speaketh the hand practiseth 2 The second thing is that we speak not against our brethren Neither exhorting the enimies scoffing and deriding our brethren as the Idumeans To exhort men to do evill I hope we may learne how deere it will cost vs by the example of the Iewes who exhorting the Romanes to slay our Saviour and being admonished of the great wickednesse answered his bloud be vpon vs on our children so it was indeed But how sore it was vpon them the noble history of Ierusalems destruction which followed within the cōpasse of their childrens life doth sufficiently declare of whom were slaine 1100000. For taunting as not onely doers but abetters are culpable in faults so these scoffers as well as the doers of evill and so much the more because they scoffe the Lord himselfe as when they said The land wherein the Lord is How heavy the hand of the Lord was on Rabsakeh for this blasphemy we haue an evident example I will not go so farre in this assembly as to speake of such grosse blasphemy but if there any among vs which are not afraid to abuse the words of Scripture in scoffe as did those wicked Iewes which had in their mouth The burthen of the Lord c. Let them consider the punishment threatned against such scorners and be afraid thereof A shame it is if the counsell of Trent condemne such wickednesse for vs to vse it Wherefore if any prophane cogitations concerning GODS word rise in our mindes let vs betime quel these Impes of Babylon dishing them against the stones that they go no further 3 The third thing is that we take from them as not their life so neither their living whereby their life is maintained For although wee go not so farre as to come to sacking yet if we lay hands vpon the goods of Iudah whether publique or private we play the part of Edom I am loath to speak that which I should heare touch Doe not they commit this wickednesse which take mony for that which was provided to main taine the poore either in the Vniversity publikely or privately in any colledge which sell the poore for shoes or come not so low as those beggarly iudges but make their owne advantage by what meanes soever ◅ut they will not say that they lay hands on them but that they take that which is offered Alas poore soules do they offer it yea even as men their purses on Salisbury plaine they yeeld their goods to saue their liues This was right Verres answere hee tooke nothing but what was offered him Or they will say that themselues receiue nothing but yet as Maister Latimer said their wiues shall or the steward of the kitchin Now if this be blame worthy being done in privat goods how much more in publique The wise Steward whē he should be put frō his office meaning to pro vide for a deare yeare called togither all his Masters deb ters saying to the first how much owest thou to my Maister and he said an hundred measures of oile and he said take thy writings set down quickly write fifty c. The Steward cācelled not the obligations but made thē a new so made him friends of his masters goods I would to GOD this practise were not too common among vs by pub lique goods to make vs private friends in our owne suits c. The Lord commended the wisedome of this vnthristy Steward he commended his policy not his hone stie And if hee were among vs and were to speake of Stewards he would commende the policie of our Stewards no losse then that of the wise steward The Pharisees gaue 30. pence which were indeede 30. sicles about in value two shillings a piece which they tooke out of the publique treasury vnto Iudas to betray our Saviour when Iudas had returned them they woulde not put them againe into the treasurie because it was the price of bloud but bought therewith a potters field to burie strangers in The Pharisees gaue 30. pieces of siluer if it had beene 30. pieces of gold or thrise 30. it had bin fitter for my purpose For the sinne is such of them that haue given much more out of the publique treasury to compasse such things as when they haue them they may betray the soules of Christians And whether this practise be rise among vs I leaue to their consideration who wiselie consider the dealing of the world But let such men as be faulty herein consider the end of the givers and takers whereof the one strangled himselfe the other were overthrowne in the destruction threatned against them And for the money what end it had we see I speake not because it buried strangers but it served to no purpose but to burie carkases and so shall this mony serue to none other end but to bury not the carkases but the soules of such in hel fire which staine their hands with it 4 The fourth thing is to abstaine from murther I wil not propose vnto you so high a degree of this sin But exhorte such as to whom it appertaineth to beware that they murther not the soules whereof they haue charge The surest death and most pitifull is the famine of the soule
the Iewes onely as then the faithfull did according to their order of praying in the Temple but among the Gentiles also in time to come whē they being called to the church of Christ should be made acquainted with his Psalms Hymnes and learne to praise the Lord with him So that I may say the same of these words that on like occasion our Saviour did of other This day is this scripture fulfilled in your eares Howbeit not onely these wordes of this Scripture are fulfilled this day but the other too that lay forth the favour of God vnto his childrē in saving his anointed For what more commodity did the Iewes receiue by King Davids meanes then we by our sove raigne Lady Queene Elisabeths What enimies what dangers what deaths did he escape frō the like wherof the Lord hath not as often as wonderfully preserved her Maiesty The arke of the covenant wherein the testimony was laid whereon the mercy-seat was placed from which the voice of God was hard at which his name was called vpon whereto they had not sought in the daies of Saul King David brought into his city and caused the Levites ioyfully to play on instruments of musicke and lift vp their voices at the bringing of it Queene Elisabeth hath brought vs the body and truth of that where of his ceremonies were but shadowes onely the free vse and Christian doctrine of the Gospell the word of God the holy Scriptures the praiers and publike service of the Highest all in a language knowne to all and hath moved her Subiects to receiue these meanes of their instruction and k salvation with l Psalmes hymnes and spirituall songs singing with a grace in their harts vnto the Lord David to those heavenly treasures added earthly enriched his kingdome with silver and gold The purity of coine restored by her Maiesty for brssae and copper monies wherewith shee found the realme pestered doth say no lesse for her beside plate of siluer and gold with other ornamēts in so great plenty as if God would verifie according to the letter that which hee promised his Church in a mysterie n For brasse will I bring gold and for yron will I bring silver Much did it make for the safety of Iurie that o David put garisons in Syria Idumaea countries that bordered vpon the North and South thereof Much But more for England that Elisabeth to passe over the fortifying of borders hath furnished it with all sort of armour and munition never more or better and thereto with a royall navie of vessels so stately so strong so wel appointed for wars that our land is fensed with wals not only of wood P as Graecia was against Xerxes but of brasse and yron too against foreine enimies The people of Israel confes sed of themselues that q they were delivered out of the hād of the Philistines other enimies by that King The wars which our Queene hath had for our safegard in Frāce elsewhere even aliens haue seen shewed to the world that they were atchieved with marvellous honour and advantage to her selfe and her realme As this by Gods grace which shee hath presently vpon the like ground in the low countries shal be in due time also Againe how sweet a peace haue we so long enioyed vnder her at home as vnder a Solomon in that cōsideratiō rather thē a David The fruits whereof if nothing from abroad had sprong to our wealth and welfare which hath notwithstanding in no small abundance might countervaile the profites that did grow to Iurie by Davids warres victories Yea our dearth and sicknes the chastisements and afflictions that now we do taste or did heretofore as needes we must some and expedient we should haue been but gentle threats to her Maiesties subiects in respect of his the famine that lasted three yeares togither the plague that consumed seaventy thousand men And though by occasion of difficulties and wants what of men what of maintenance her Highnes hath not yet bin able to provide that wise and faithful worke men for the perfit edifying of the house of God with doctrine and discipline shoulde bee set in every Church through her dominion as neither was b David by reason of his warres to build vp the Temple yet as hee prepared things necessary for it that it might bee the better done when time should serue so hath shee by fostering Colleges and Schooles the nurseries of the ministerie Her princely care wherof hath appeared specially of late vnto vs in a branch of Oliue that was almost withered the state of Queenes College Which she hath refreshed confirmed advanced with benefits immunities so bountifully and noblely that we our posterity haue as iust cause to thinke of Queene Elisabeth in the name thereof as of Queene Philippa Our whole Oliue tree did generally feele it before in the famous and worthy Act of Parliament for the maintenance of Colleges and the reliefe of Scholers in both the Vniversities and also Winchester and Eaton An Act that I haue heard men of iudgement say and I am persivaded that they said truely God grant the care of Heads and industrie of Students doe bring it to effect may proue as beneficiall for the increase of learning as might the erecting at least of two Colleges The cōmodities then which we haue receaued by her blessed governement are as great and many as those which the Iewes did receaue by Davids That we cannot chuse but acknowledge Gods favour to haue beene as singularly extended vnto vs in preserving her as it was to them in preserving him For although her Maiestie hath not beene assaulted by so many forraine enimies as David yet by more domesticall Wherein her deliverances are to bee esteemed so much the more precious by how much it is easier to beware of open foes then of secret of vipers that are farther of then in our bosomes of Abners though valiant who professe hostilitie then of trecherous Ioabs who pretend amitie First in Queen Maries time the house of Saul I mean the brood of them who preferre will-worships before obedience to God fearing as Saul did that their seeds succession should not be established as long as David lived desired devised to bring that to passe which one of them sithence made mone it was not done the boughs were cut of the root was not hewed vp But the axe which he wished to the plesant root fel on the root of bitternes his owne hairie scalpe the devises of the wicked were disappointed by the Lord and their desires frustrated Afterward the vsurper the Ish-bosheth of Rome indeed an Ish-bosheth when She was anointed and setled in her throne sought to dispossesse her by his accursed curse Antichristian sentence declared and published in his Bul. Moorton sent from him to stirre vp wicked spirits
to the executing of it The Earles of Northumberland and West-merland in armes with thousands of rebels When they were fled and scattered their outrage renued by Dacres and his legion The Bull it selfe proclaimed as it were by â—…elton to gather more conspiratours to it All in vaine still For the hand of the Lord was over his handmaid and made his word good that the vndeserved curse came not vpon her 〈◊〉 came to them who louedit they were clothed with it as with a garment Now what should I say of the traitours in Ireland of Stukeley the rakehell the Popes Irish Marques sent thither to subdue it slaine in Barbarie by the way of Sanders the Priest the firebraÌ„d of sedition dead there agreeably to his life of the arch rebels the Earle of Desmond and his brother served both like Sheba of the whole rabble of their mates and souldiers Italian Spanish Irish feeling by the vengeance of deserved miseries the folly and fâ—…ie of their â—…ewd attempts What of the brainesicke youth Summerfields Whose enterprise in substance like vnto Achitophels did purchase Achitophels event and end vnto him What of Parry the proud miscreant who hauing opportunity to worke his divelish vow being resolute to do it the Pope incensing him with allowance of the fact plenary pardoÌ„ of his sins the Cardinal of Como with coÌ„meÌ„datioÌ„ request the Papists some with counsel some with praier for him some with remeÌ„braÌ„ce at the altar Allens traiterous libel making it cleere in his coÌ„science that it was lawful and meritorious every word therein a warrant to a mind prepared there was but a step between her death had not God bewrayed him by his IonathaÌ„ by the haÌ„d of iustice given him that meed which his vow did merit An intent as mischievous more poteÌ„t means had the next conspiracie which dealt in before by Fr. ThorckemortoÌ„ was after prosecuted by others The Popes aide as alwaies ready to gaine kingdomes the Spanish Kings assistaÌ„ce the Duke of Guyse with forces to invade the realm the plots of coasts havens for his fit arrival the names of RecusaÌ„ts with hope of their furtheraÌ„ce the heathens â—…aging the people murmuring kings baÌ„ding theÌ„selus princes taking couÌ„sel against the Lord his anointed Yet eveÌ„ in that also were their powers policys never so out-reaching there shewed himselfe aboue theÌ„ a mightier wiser who sitteth in the heauens laugheth theÌ„ to scorne discovering and dispersing the smoaky puffes of their endevors Which of his accustomed goodnes and bounty he hath done in this to the last I beseech God it be the last that now he hath disclosed In the discomfiting wherof of the former his out-stretched arme hath appeared the more glorious because the vnderminers of her Maiesties state haue cloaked their attempts with pretence of ReligioÌ„ salvation of souls most suttle means forcible to inveigle men to steale away her subiects hearts froÌ„ hir haue reconciled theÌ„ to hir deadly enimie as to their soveraign Pastor made theÌ„ sure vnto him by badges pledges of halowed graines of medals of beads of Agnus-deis of crucifixes of pictures with Fili da mihi cor tuuÌ„ et sufficit Son giue me thy heart it sufficeth other such spiritual sorceries A practise more dangerous theÌ„ any of Davids adversaries did vse yea theÌ„ Abso lom himselfe the cunningst of theÌ„ all who had no High Priests that woulde take vpon theÌ„ to depose David nor meritoriousnesse to see devils incarnate with to murder him nor autorities for Harding others to assoile theÌ„ that would revolt froÌ„ him nor faculties for Parsons Campian to instruct theÌ„ to obey or rebell as things should fall out nor Iesuits Seminary Priests like the Donatists to spread seditious doctrine and beare the world in hand that wheÌ„ they were punished for it they were Martyrs Wherefore al the words of the text that I treate of which doe lay before vs the most provident care fatherly loue of God in saving delivering our most excellent Princesse out of the hand of her enimies of Papists of Atheists of Malecontents base noble secret open external domesticall are fulfilled verified in our eares this day It remaineth that the rest which concerne our duty to God for this benefit be likewise fulfilled verified in our eares or in our hearts rather nay both in harts bodies also The foremost degree step wherevnto is to acknowledge that the Lord our blessed strength our mighty God is the autor of 〈◊〉 it is he that liveth that saveth his anointed that giueth her reveÌ„gemeÌ„ts that bringeth people vnder her that deliuereth her froÌ„ her enimies froÌ„ the cruell man that exalteth her aboue theÌ„ who rise vp against hir that giueth great deliverances sheweth mercy to her yea to al his servants the childreÌ„ of God the seed of Christ for ever And this hath our Soveraigne provoked vs to do by her owne example ascribing not only the present detection apprehension of traitours to the great singular goodnes of God but also the infinit blessings laid vpon her as many as ever Prince had yea rather as ever creature had The Lord hath indued her Maiesties person with most rare prudence her state with CouÌ„sailers very wise faithfull her Realme with many thousands of dutiful loving subiects Nor is it to be doubted out that sundry circumspect eies loiall hands of these haue bin occupied in finding out bringing to light the conspiracy Yet because the Lord is the father of lights what hath any maÌ„ that he hath not received neither caÌ„ he effectuate ought with that he hath except the Lorde blesse it except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it except the Lord keepe the city the keeper watcheth in vaine therefore doth her Highnes in the meanes theÌ„selues aboue the means acknowledge the working of the principall agent vnder whose protection her selfe resteth safe seeth vengance powred on theÌ„ that wish her evill Which I woulde to God the disloiall harts if there be any more yet of that brood of Cockatrices did acknowledge also as the Prophet willeth did weigh it with theÌ„selues thinke vpon their bed of it Then were it to be hoped that in consideration thereof they would be still and after his example whose advise that is detest the very breath of such as make mention of laying violent hands vpon the Lords anointed For though it were true as the traiterous libeller endeavoureth to perswade men that the Popes sentence against her were as lawfull as Samuels was against Saul which yet is most false and proued so to be but grant it were true yet had they to remember that David did refraine to lay hands on Saul after Samuels