their life their King being safe they are all at unity So long as their King is well they follow their worke but being lost they leave and loath their Honey-combes and when their King waxes old and cannot flye they carry him on their wings and if he dye they dye with him as some write f Hieron epâ—st ad Rusticam Behold how nature hath stamped obedience by instinct to Bees to be subject to a superiour in their kinde g Pet. Chry. in Policrat lib. 7. how much more should Nature Reason and Grace stampe obedience in the heart of Christians knowing that without a Kingly Government Kingdomes are thraldomes h Aug de civit dei lib. 4 c. 4. Take away Iustice and what are Kingdomes but Dens of Theeves Take away obedience to Government and that were to make earth and hell all one but onely in name There is not wanting divine Precepts or divine Patterns to allure loyall obedience take two in stead of many the first and best of all our Saviour Christ i Matth. 3.17 in whom God is well pleased and the second David k 1 Sam. 13.14 a man after Gods owne heart Our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ yet God and man in the dayes of his flesh disdained not to obey such as were in authority l Matth. 22.21 commanding to give unto Caesar that which is Caesars and paying m Matth. 17.27 tribute to Caesar for himselfe and and Peter by the hands of Peter though Peters supposed Successors and they that pretend to Peters inspiration will pay none And though our Saviour Christ received manifold injuries and indignities from unjust and faithless Governours yet he never moved rebellion or resistance but digested all with patience and obedience knowing that the powers that be are ordained of God telling Pilate that unjust Iudge that his power was given him from above for the rule is given of the Lord and the power of the most high And by mee Kings raigne saith hee that had the wisdome of God given unto him Prov. 8 15. And saith another Pisâ—â—t anal in Mâ—â— 22 2â— God is to be obeyed for himself being cheif Lord the Magistrate is to bee obeyed for God as being Gods Minister or deputy So that the pattern of Christs obedience to temporall powers must bee the platforme of instruction in the duty of obedience 2. Davids obedience to King Saul is very commendable and remarkable Saul was a a A Tyrant by abuse of power not by usurpation Tyrant and sought without cause or colour to kill David yet David often hazarded his life and limbs against Sauls enemies the Philistins evermore testifying his prompt obedience and service to his Soveraign and when this K. Saul like that other b Acts 9.1 Saul breathing out threatnings and slaughter against David followed him to the wildernesse of Engedi where David used pia fallacia hid himselfe in a c 1 Sam. 24.4 Cave and had opportunity to cut off Sauls head as well as the lappe d 5 of his garment or if he were timerous to dip his hand in blood as once Gregory e Greg. lib 7. epist. 1. willed Sabinian to tell the Empeâ—or exciting him against the Lombards I feare God and am afraid to have any hand in blood if David I say had such a qualm of fear come over his heart lo the f 1 Sam. 24 8. hands of his servants ready to have done it and scarce could be kept from it only David doth terrifie them from doing it g 7 The Lord keep me from doing that thing unto my Master the Lords Anointed Dum timuit olâ—um servavit inimicum as excellently h Lib 2. advers parmenianum Optatus in fearing the anointing he preserved his enemy In a word David might have killed Saul sleeping or if he would not himselfe do it i 8 Abishai offered his service I pray thee let me smite him once with a spear to the earth and I will smite him no more but still see how obedience holds his hands and moves his tongue Destroy * 9 him not fâ—r who can lay his hand on the Lords anointed and be guiltlesse And afterward Saul being slaine and a certaine Amalekite hoping to have bin a happy Post in telling k 2 Sam. 1.4 David Saul is dead and shewing David that hee hasted l 10 Sauls death though m 1 Sam. 31.4 Saul himselfe had acted the Prologue of his own death this made the Epilogue of his life and brought the Crown in his hand a tempting baite to get praise or pardon yet all in vain how wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy the anointed of the Lord sâ—iâ—h n 2 Sam. 1 14 15. David and commands his servant to give him legem talionis to kill this King-killer though by consent and intreaty Sic pereant qui moliri talia pergunt Good God thou King of Kings so let them perish Who ' gainst thy Charles such bloody deeds do cherish And now what doe all these particulars summed up together inferre but this Ecce o Iohn 1.47 Behold a true Israelite in whom is no guile behold a good subject indeed in whom is no treason behold a man after Gods owne heart who from his soule hateth and abhorreth the very name and thought of Rebellion his heart p 1 Sam. 24 6. smiting of him but for cutting of the lap of Saules garment after whose heart then those men are who now a dayes cut off from a David all Regall ornaments devest him of all ensignes of Royall Majesty and cloath him with nothing but the foule garments of reproach and slander I leave to all the world to judge How unlike are the wayes of this sonne of God to those who would bee thought the sonnes of God in these dayes Popish Iesuits of the Sea of Rome and oh wonder those Lord and Commons who call themselves the Parliament of England David labours to speake his mind to Saul these labour to hinder David to speake his mind to them David manifested himself upon all occasions obedient and loyall to his Soveraigne though wicked that so evinced thereby hee might become good these upon all opportunities declare their disobedience and disloyalty to their Soveraigne though good and to colour their Rebellions would fame make the people beleeve that he is wicked and should be if they could make him so either by flattery or force David desired nothing more than to come to a q 1 Sâ—â— 24 9. 26.14 Personall Treaty that so the truth might appear and the innocent be acquitted These abhor the thought of a Personall Treaty and Vote it treason for any man to speak from or to him least their ambitious villanies should be detected and our poore oppressed Kings wronged innocence manifested and honour vindicated Lastly David in all his consultations and actions did endeavour to evidence himselfe faithfull
in his obedience and a patterne of Loyalty to all generations adventuring his body and blood for the service of Saul in defence against his enemies the Muster-roll of whose battailes for Sauls well-fare is recordded in holy Scripture from the xvii Chapter of the first of Samuel almost to the end of that Booke the glorious Trophy of the fidelity of an obedient Subject But all the counsels and practises of the Lords and Commons now sitting at Westminster have wholy tended to advance disobedience and manifest themselves the Presidents of disloyalty and rebellion to all other nations and future ages engaging not many of their own bodyes I confesse or much of their own blood but many thousand of bodyes and an ocean of the blood of poore seduced and deluded Christians their fellow subjects for the pulling downe their religious King a David and utter ruine and destruction of all his faithfull freinds and loyall subjects the Muster-roll of whose battails for King Charles his subversion and deposing is hung out at most Pamphlet-sellers stalles the glaring Trophy of the disloyalty of such impudent unmatchable Rebels So that I well say with Toxaris to Anacharses Å¿ Lucianus in Sâ—â—tina viso Solone vidisti omnia here I can shew you the two wonders of the world at once Looke upon David and you shall see the wonder and pattern of Loyalty and Obedience Looke upon that thing at Westminster which calls it selfe a Parliament compassed round with their Army of Sts. as they tearm them and there behold the wonder and president of Disloyalty and Rebellion In their Declarations and Remonstrances read principles fit to direct Traytors in his Precepts and Practice read Doctrines sufficient to instruct faithfull subjects and if that be not sufficient nothing will suffice Object But the enemies of Charles reply and say We ought to be obedient and subject to good Kings but if they bee bad wee may resist and deny our obedience to him yea good men may send him to his grave and indeed this Doctrine to depose a King dispose of his Kingdome and deprive him of his life if he be not as the Iesuites count Catholique as this Parliament counts Protestant the treacherous Iesuites at Rome and our Rebellious new-lighted Saints at Westminster doe with an equall heightned fury of blind zeale labour to maintaine by their published seditious Papers and where their Pens faile their Pikes prisons yea poysons make good as you may read Page the seventh both their wayes of proving their Arguments are Answ Answer It is an easie task to shew that loyall obedience is to be performed to wicked Kings as our former Instances of the best note Christs obedience and Davids obedience to Saul make it manifest it is due to them omni jure naturali civili morali municipali divino By the Law of nature civill morall municipall divine wee will only prove it due by the last by divine Law if that prove it who dare deny it The Apostle Rom. 13.1 makes the matter plaine Let every soule be subject to the higher Powers for there is no power but of God c. From which place I argue thus Aâ—l Powers that are ordained of God must be obeyed The higher Powers be they good or bad are ordayned of God Ergo to be obeyed We may corroborate these two propositions by manifold places as Proverbs 8.15 By mee Kings Reigne c. Iob 36.7 He placeth them as Kings in their Thrones for ever Sometimes God suffers the hypocrite to reigne Iob 34.30 I gave thee a King in my anger and tooke him away in my wrath faith the Lord to Israel Hosea 13.11 Thou couldest have no power except it were given thee from above said Christ to â—il te Iohn 19 11. Give care all you that rule the people all your power is given of the most High Wisd 6.3 Touch not â—ine anointed 1 Chr. 16.22 be they good be they bad touch them not a 〈◊〉 12.19 vengeance is the Lords not mans Mâ—n must not meddle in Gods matters Wâ— b can lay hi haâ—ds on the Lords Anointed and be guiltlesse Though they grow defective in their high office yet still remain Kingâ— because eâ—throned by God By whose command men are borne by his command doe Princes reigne c Iraeâ—◠〈…〉 saith Iraeneus Thence have Princes their power whence they have their breath d Tâ—â—â—ul 〈…〉 saith Tertullian The Kings Commission is sealed â—y the hand of God and though it runne During the good will and pleasure of God yet man yea a * 2 〈…〉 4. Parliament cannot nay must not cancell it for that were to warre with God The wise e Bâ—acâ—oâ— sive 〈…〉 sineâ—te deo Aug conte Faust Manich 〈◊〉 22. c. 7. Heathen saith the power of good Kings is by the speciall ordinance of God of evill by his permission the first are badges and pledges of his mercy the second are the scourges of his furie So f Esay 10.5 God called Ashur the rod of his wrath and Attyla called himselfe the scourge of God and Tamberlaine in his time termed the revenge of God and terror of the World Saul was a Tyrant King yet David g 1 Sam. 24 6 trembled to touch the skirts of his garment What greater Tyrant than King Pharaoh yet Moses neither had nor gave any Commission to the Israelites to rebell he makes no Law or Booke either to dispose or depose him from his Kingdome Nebuchaanezzar a wicked and Idolatrous King yet God h Jerem. 25.9 calls him his Servant and though he commands the three children to be put into the fiery i Dâ—â—â— 3.21 Aâ—â—ud esâ—â—ervaâ—â—◠〈◊〉 me aliud 〈…〉 Oveâ— they offer no violence or resistance but commend their soules to God and commit their bodies to the King Saint k 〈…〉 Peter who wrot his Epistle in the time of the raigne of that wicked Emperour Clandius as l 〈…〉 Baronius conjectured exhorts all people to feare God and 〈…〉 the King 1 Pet. 2 17. and that for 〈…〉 v. 13. yet this Claudius was a most wicked Emperour maintaining many Ethnick superstitions and the worship of Idols he was as Suetonius * Sueton. c. 34. writes of him by nature cruel bloody libidinous yet to this Emperour a tyrant and an infidell S. Peter exhorts the faithfull Iews to obedience S. Paul who lived under the same Emperour as a Rhemist in tab Paul some doe thinke writes to the Romans the Emperours subjects exhorts all to submit themselves not in any colourable or dissembled obedience but ver 4. for conscience sake Let us heere a voyce or two of the ancient Fathers that lived in old time Tertullian who as b In Catal scriptor Eccles Jerome saith flourished under the raigne of Severus the Emperor who was a great Tyrant an Infidell and an enemy to Christianity who in the fift persecution after Nero troubled the Christian world with most cruell persecution as c Baron An.
GREAT Britans Vote OR God save King Charles A TREATISE Seasonably published this 27 th day of March the happy Inauguration of His Sacred though now despised and imprisoned MAIESTY WHEREIN Is proved by many plaine Texts of Scripture That the Resisting Imprisoning or Deposing our King under what specious pretences soever couched is not onely unlawfull but damnable LONDON Printed for G. M. and W. H. MDCXLVIII Great BRITANS Vote OR God save King CHARLES CHAP. I. THE outward expressions of a man declare the inward affections of his soule at the first appearance of a thing whether good or bad if good our hearts are affected with joy which our tongues will soone declare if bad they are possest with griefe which our dejected countenance will soone discover The dayes of the Inauguration or crowning of Kings hath in the purest times and by the godliest Christians beene as a superlative good to a nation celebrated with great solemnity their persons being accounted sacred and their Government the joy of each good mans heart however in these last and worst times the scorne and contempt of Rebells Sectaries and Levellers whose hatred to our Gracious Soveraigne the more it manifests it self in them should the more inflame our soules with love to him and breake forth into as loud acclamations of all Loyall hearted Subjects acknowledging him their Soveraigne with joy in his Crowne as the Rebells and Schismaticks Declarations against him to depose him from his Throne and when can we better doe this than on the day of his Coronation a neglect might justly deserve a sharpe reprehension That our King is worthy of our love and his Coronation of our solemne observation and joyfull acknowledgements I am confident all but Traitors and Levellers will confesse and shall wee passe over so much good with neglect silence in this matter is sinne and worthy of reproofe and here it is which I beseech God may pierce deep into the soules of all that read or heare it as it is in these two Texts of Scripture delivered This is the day of our King Hosea 7.5 Wee doe not well then this day is a day of good tidings and we hold our peace 2 Kings 7.9 CHAP. II. IOash the sonne of Ahaziah being hid by Iehosheba the Daughter of King Ioram six a 2 Kings 11.3 yeares in the house of the Lord because bloudy Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah whom b 2 Chron. 22.9 10 11. Iehu killed had destroyed all the Kings seed of the house of Iuda excepting onely Ioash whom Iohâ—sheba the wife of Jehoiadah the Priest had preserved In the c 2 King 11.4 seventh year Iehoiadah the Priest seeing Athaliah to usurp the Crowne calls forth the Captaines and gathers the Levites out of all the Cities of Iudah and the chiefe Fathers of Israel to d 2 Chr. 23.2 Ierusalem and having first bound them with an e 2 Kings 11.4 oath of Allegiance presents unto them the sacred spectacle of their Regall Soveraigne f 2 Chr. 23.3 Behold the Kings Sonne must reigne He sets a g 1 Kin. 11.6.11 watch and h 2 Chr. 23.11 guard to secure and safe-guard him Loc how dangerous is the chair of State all like officious Subjects stand to withstand the treachery of Traitors Then in a regall solemnity they bring forth the Kings Sonne the joy and Iubilie of their hearts the wished and welcome Progeny of Jehoshaphat descended of an ancient line of Princedome they put the Crowne upon his head they give him the testimony they i 2 Kin. 11.12 make him King Iehoiadah and his sonnes anoint him they all clapt their hands for joy and with their hands their hearts and with their hearts their tongues till their many yet united voices even reverberate the aire with this heaven-piercing Eccho this Eucharistique gratulation God save the King So when the dayes of that admired Queene Queene * Bâ—zâ— Epigr. in class hisp Anno 1588. Elizabeth of most famous and blessed memorie were on earth concluded then the Foxes of Babilon who had laine in holes forty foure yeares began to threaten as Esau did his Brother a Gen. 27.41 The dayes of mourning for my Father will come shortly then will I slay my Brother Iacob the day of her death the dawning of their desire for then they thought like Bustards in a Fallow field to raise up themselves by the violence of the multitude the Papists hoped then to have raised their Religion by a whirle-winde of Rebellion but our blessed Peace-maker frustrated their bloudy hopes and as Paterculus saith of the Roman Empire after Augustus death that there was great expectation of much troubles but there was so great a Majesty in one man that there was no use of Armes for good men or against bad men So the great Majesty of our succeeding Soveraigne King Iames as learned vertuous and religious a Prince as any under the roofe of heaven calmed all the stormes and imaginory tempests which were feared and expected so that the world did see our Sunne did set and yet no night did follow the enemies of England saw it then to their griefe who hoped that when the Sunne went downe some erraticall starre should shine but still the Planet kept its course Phoenix-like a new and yet the same renewed for the Augustus of this latter world Iames came to the Crowne a King not onely virorum but sacrorum a defender of men and Defender of the Faith Which indeed he did performe with such wisedome and discretion that he not only totally silenc'd the open threats conspiracies of his forraign adversaries and discontented Subjects of the Romish party but also slumbred the stormes threatned from the then beginning swellings against Monarchy of those little Foxes of Sectaries and Schismaticks whom he kept under all his days dyed was not murdered though of late falsely and maliciously insinuated and left a religious and both in Church and State well-govern'd Kingdome to his Sonne our present religious and Gracious King Charles A Prince in whom all graces both Divine and Morall were and are as apparent as the Sunne in the Firmament among all which glorious Starres none was more pâ—rspicuous than that of his Clemency even to the bitterest of his Adversaries at the luster of which oh nefandum dici the Sectaries and Schismaticks lighted there before extinct Tapers of Rebellion Licentiousnesse and Liberty which is now heightned to that flame which you behold it at at the light whereof the world may behold a most Religious Conscientious King imprison'd the heir apparent of the Crown banished with his Royal Mother that fruitfull Vine of so many fair now clouded separated clusters a free born nation slaved unto slaves ambitious Traytors and bloudy Rebels under the notion of that deluding good of our Nation a Parliament who sit and vote and declare they wil fight against him whom at their first calling together they swore to fight for as having
derived their being from him though now like cursed Vipers they endeavour to gnaw out the way to their resolved upon Democracy through the Bowels of their Father Monarchy But what ever we heare or see such Traitors Vote or Act let the remembrance of the Blessings both spirituall and temporall which under eighteen yeares of his Majesties good and happy Reigne we did enjoy and might stil have enjoyed if we would have beene content and could have knowne when we were well and undoubted hopes of what blessings his future Gouernment may bring upon this Land yea all his three Kingdoms Let I say the remembrance of the one and hopes of the other move all Loyall Subjects to lift up their hearts and hands to the King of Kings to multiply his dayes as the dayes of Heaven to deliver him out of his present thralcome and restraint to restore him to his rightfull Crowne and Dignity and us his Subjects thereby to the right profession of true Religion and an once more enjoyment of Peace and Plenty yea I am confident 〈◊〉 doe move all true hearted Nobility Gentry and Commonalty to pray for him as the Christians prayed in old time for their Kings though Heathens God of his infinite mercy grant him a Tertul. in Apolog c. 30. a long life a quiet Kingdome a safe Court strong and victorious Armies a faithfull Counsell yea with David b Psal 132.18 that God would cloath all his enemies with shame but set him at Liberty restore him his Scepter and on him and his to cause his Crown hereafter to flourish That so as on the day of his re-inauguration into all the hearts of his Subjects and re-establishment in his Throne the united voyces of his Majesties populous Kingdomes may annually send up to heaven their cordiall and continuall acclamations God save the King that the eccho thereof may resound in heaven as fervently as the noise of the Romans did in applause of Flaminius generally calling him Saviour Saviour the noise whereof was so violent and vehement that as c Plut. in vita Flaminii Plutarch writes it made the Fowles of the aire fall downe dead or that as the d 1 King 1. people of Israel did to Solomon when hee was created King in Gihon and anointed there by Zadock with an horne of Oyle taken out of the Sanctuary the e 1 King 1.40 people piped with pipes and rejoyced with great joy so that the earth rang with the sound of it f 39. blowing their Trumpets and saying God save King Solomon So may all the people within his Highnesse Dominions lift up their hearts and hands blow their Trumpets ring their Bells frequent their Churches and pray God save the King Corporally in Body God save the King Spiritually in Spirit God save the King Politically in Government And excite one another to say This is the day of our King we do not well then this day is a day of good tidings we doe not well to hold our peace And indeed we can never have greater cause to speake of and pray for our King then now in these Rebellious times upon which we are unhappily fallen For these are the times wherin by those that call themselves a Parliament Rebellion is countenanced yea counted Devotion and holy Reformation and the most desperate Traytors entitled Saints and Martyrs Wherein not onely in the Popes Conclave but also in the Sectaries Conventicles shall I say nay in the grand Counsell of the best reformed Protestant Kingdome nothing is more rife than the slandering rebelling against and Imprisoning shall I say Yea the Theorick and practicke of deposing nay it is to be feared which God prevent it will proceed to murthering Princes Wherein as Mariana that insolent Iesuite prescribes to Traitors rules and cautions for poisoning Kings and highly commends King-killers So Marten that impudent Rebell publisheth with the approbation of a Parliament too to the encouragement of Sectaries and Traitors grounds and reasons to proceed in Kings resisting and deposing and highly applauds that cursed crue of King catchers eclipped Saints of the Army Wherein those Traiterous assertions of Suarez and other Iesuites are the constant Positions of those who would be thought to abhorre and beate downe Poperie Subditos posse de privare Reges a Papa excommunicatos vitâ Regno That is to say the Sectaries of England Subjects may deprive Kings if Voted against by the Parliament not onely of their Liberty Crownes and Kingdomes as appeares by the present sad condition of King Charles but also of life it selfe with their Tradatur Satanae and we know not though we feare what event that may in time produce Wherein that horred saying of that foule mouth'd Guignard concerning the murther of one of the Henries of France committed by two Jacobine Friers Heroicum factum donum spiritus sancti is become the oft incultated Doctrine out of Protestant Pulpits and re-resolved Votes of the grand Committee Chaire to resist fight against imprison Depose yea kill and slay the King and all his adherents is a most Heroicall act and the gift of the Holy Ghost Lastly these are the times wherein that knowne bloudy practice of the Spanish Inquisition is parallel'd shall I say nay out-practized by the action of the English Parliament As in the Spanish Inquisition their arguing is this whosoever is an Heretick ought to â—ee burnt but whosoever will not submit to our Canons and Decretalls is an Hereticke therefore whosoever will not submit to our Canons and Decretalls ought to be burnt He that is under the Inquisition denyeth that every one that will not submit to their Canons and Decretalls are Herereticks and consequently not to be burnt and offer to dispute it They of the Inquisition prove it thus They command him to withdraw decree his death dragge him to the stake bind him to it put Faggots about him set them on fire and burn him a most invincible argument So the Vote of this Parliament is whosoever will not doe the Law of God and the Law of the King ought to have judgement specâ—â—â—y executed upon him either by death or by banishment or by confiscation of goods or by imprisonment But whosoever will not obey the Orders or Ordinances of one or both Houses of Parliament doth not doe the Law of God and the Law of the King Therefore whosoever doth not obey the Orders or Ordinances bee they never so opposite to reason and justice of one or both Houses ought to have judgement speedily exâ—cuted upon him either by death or banishment or confiscation of goods or imprisonment Those men that are brought before them as guilty in this point Deny that whosoever will not obey the Orders or Ordinances of one or both Houses of Parliament therfore do not do the Law of God and of the King and consequently ought not to have judgement executed upon them without a legall Triall Hereupon they command them to retire resolve upon the
Question that judgement bee executed upon them and then either behead or hang them or banish them or plunder them or at least imprison them oh unparâ—lleld disputants This is most certainly true witnesse the case of Corew Lilborne Jâ—nkins Mainard yea which ought to make a deepe Impression in all good mens hearts of the Kings Majesty himselfe whom they unjustly keep a Prisoner because he will not contrary to his Conscience and Honour say as they say and enact that for Law which contrary to Law they Vote and accuse him of his Fathers Murther and other crimes of a high nature and yet not admit him to answer for himselfe or permit others to write in his Vindication So that th se things considered heare oh heavens and judge oh eartâ— have not all the people of great Britan just cause to joyne as their loyall obedience bindes them to their necessary service both in hearts and voices to Almighty God the protector of Kings to a Psal 2â— 8 9. finde out all his enemies and make them like a fiery Oven in the time of his anger to confound all their Conspiraciâ—s making them like the grasse b Psal 119.6 on the house tops which withereth before it come forth And when more seasonable than upon this day for this is the day of our King c. CHAP. III. BVt besides these Reasons I shall here produce other causes and motives to induce all good Subjects to this Christian service and loyall duty to pray continually for the preservation of the King which because many and manifold I will but touch some of them and omit the reâ—â— for we must be short â—â—â—im 2.2 The first is the Apostle Paules Precept ante omnia before al that Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of thanks bee made for Kings c. and renders a powerfull motive to perswade all consiâ—ting of three benefits d Pâ—sâ— in â—â—â—um arising from it 1. a quiet and peaceable life 2. in all godlinesse and honesty 3. this is good and acceptable in the sight of God The Kings preservation is our preservation his welfare is the weal of our Common-wealth Pliny saith e Plin. 2 Panâ—g ad Praâ—◠〈◊〉 A Countrey is unhappy under an unhappy King so that if people desire to live a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty let them like dutifull members pray for the prosperity of the supreame head for if he fall upon the rocks they are like to come to ruine As a Ship whose Pilot perisheth is driven upon the rocks and so is cast away even so how can the ship of State saile with a prosperous winde whose Regall Pilot suffers shipwracke Regall adversity is the Harbenger of popular calamity and a Kings imprisonment of his peoples perpetuall slavery Wherefore if Subjects desire to bee happy themselves let them continually pray for the happinesse of their Soveraign whose prosperity is the Axis or Cardo the very foundation of their temporall felicity 2 Motive is the great difficulty in the right managing of the Regall Office and therefore had need to be assisted with the frequent and fervent prayers of the people imploring divine wisedome to direct the heart of their Soveraigne for it is the Art of Arts rightly to rule and governe Common-wealths this many-headed multitude so divided in faction and action scarce two of one minde or mould Peace pleaseth Cato Warre Pompey the Souldier cryes Arma virumque Cano War war that makes us merrie the Merchant prays give peace in our time oh Lord Brutus desires a Common-wealth Caesar a Monarchy Cicero's Counsel is Let us be Time-servers but Lentulus thinks that the voice of a flatterer in the f popular sort as many heads as hearts and let every one doe what seemes good in his owne eyes wee will not have Charles King in our Israel So that to reconcile and to reclaime to unity and unanimity this Babell of men and these men of Babell it is requisite that the King be for the people to God-ward Exod. 18.19 bring their causes unto God teach them Ordinances and Lawes shew them the way wherein they must walke V. 20. and the worke that they must doe and then provide out of all the people able men V. 2â— such as feare God men of truth who may judge the people in every small matter though every great matter be brought to him V. 22. so that each starre moving in its proper Orbe about the Sun who by this influence of his power unto others is not thereby accounted falne from his Sphere himselfe no more than to be conceited to bee placed therein at first by their appointment though such preposterous opinions have beene vented of late to the distraction of this poore Kingdome and without a timely retraction will produce its utter ruine and destruction which God of his mercy prevent I say that so each one in the Kingdome acting in his owne place the Commons under the Iudges or Peeres the Peeres or Iudges under the King and the King under God alone then shall the King be able to judge and rule this people wish ease and comfortably and all this people shall also goe to their place in peace â— â—od â—8 23 Now 't is the God of Heaven onely that can qualifie Kings with wisedome and knowledge fit for an imployment of such difficulty and he alone it is that will and must appoint the person whom he will thus qualifie For the Israel of God must accept of acknowledge and obey him for their King wh m the Lord their God shall chose not then whom themselves shall elect Deut. 17 15. Vnto God then it is the duty of all good subjects to pray alwayes with all manner of prayer and Supplication in the Spirit that God would enlarge with heavenly wisedome the heart of our Soveraigne and the Kings a Prov. 21.2 heart is in the hand of the Lord and furnish him with all blessed gifts sutable to performe his Royall Task making him as wise as b 2 Chr. 1.21 Solomon as religious as c Psal 27.4 Davia as zealous as the good King d 2 Kin. 2â— 1â— Iosias and in respect of his present condition as patient as Iob defending him against all forraine Invasions delivering him from all domestick Conspiracies and giving him Liberty from his present Captivity that so being by the power of our God restored to his Throne and Dignity full of the knowledge and experience of the great goodnesse of God towards him and endued with the wisedome which is ahout the Throne of the King of Kings with an understanding heart may judge this great people and awe and order this stiffe-necked and Rebellious nation then shall all this people also go to their owne place in peace and sit under their owne Vines and Fig-trees being for the future godly and governed quietly under him saying this is the day of our King this is a day of good
circumspection care counsell and continuall vigilancy they are preserved in peace and prosper in plenty and whether we did not enjoy all blessings which Subjects could hope for under His Majesties reign before this Parliament set themselves to pull him downe I leave all English men that are not prepossessed with prejudice to Monarchy and partiality to a side to judge what a condition we have been since in too sad experience can testifie Oh then my deare Countrey-men let no Theudas herein deceive you or any Iudas of Galile who in the dayes of the Tribute drew away much people as a Acts 5.37 Gamaliel speaks delude you for hee perished and all that obeyed him and as our Saviour said of them so I may say of this Nation in this matter except ye repent of this sinne you shall all likewise perish b Aug. in lib. iâ— Rom proposit 7 2 Augustine saith If any one thinke Imposts Tribute and Honour ought not to bee paid to the King hee falls into a great errour c B Aretii Com. in 13 Rom. v 7. Aretius saith We owe them by right if we doe not pay them we offend against the rule of Iustice Nay to pay them is necessary for all as the same Aretius there unlesse they would be deprived of their Fortunes Wealth and Wellfare Therefore pay it truely and doe it heartily as to the Lord and not unto men not grudgingly as if compelled by necessity but cheerefully and voluntarily in humble testimony of your hearty fidelity love and loyalty But to them that challenge immunity from the performance of these publique Debts of Tributary duties to their Liege Lords and Kings I may say as Dioclesian to the Philosopher Thy Profession differs from thy Petition thy Profession teaches thee to give Caesar his due and not to robbe him of his right Bishop Latimer calls such Theeves that rob the King of his due debt Subsidies Tribute or Taxes Rather imitate that d Ambros con ra Auxâ—◠〈◊〉 quaest 1. Can si tribistum Ambrose the famous Bishop of Millan who teacheth thee a better Lesson If the Emperour demand Tribute wee doe not deny it the fields of our Church shall pay Tribute If the Emperor demand the fields hee hath power to challenge them let him take them I neither give them nor deny them in no case arguing obedience in ordinary or extraordinary exactions agreeing fully with Luther e Luth. in Matt 22.21 If thy substance body or life should be taken from thee by the Magistrate thou maist say thus I doe willingly yeeld them unto you and acknowledge you for ruler over mee I will obey you but whether you use your Power and Authoritie well or ill see you to that For Kings must one day give account of all their workes to the King of Kings and if they have abused their Power by Tyranny Cruelty or any bad Government an hard judgement f Wisd 6.5.8 shall such have that beare such Rule for then abides the sorer Triall as the Sonne of Wisedome speaks The power is from God the abuse of it from themselves and they will finde it when God and it calls them to reckon The Chain of gold is not made the worse because an Harlot weares it about her neck it is g Luth. in Mat 2â— 21 Luthers comparison in this case so still Kings must be obeyed for Conscience sake if not commanding contrarie to Gods Commandements Let us with these follow the steppes of faithfull Fabricius of whose fidelity Pyrrhus boldly speakes Difficilius Fabricius a legalitate quà m sol a suo cursu verti possit Let the Sunne first turne from her Course than we from the course of Loyall Obedience and Allegiance alwayes remembring that Christian saying of that martyr h Ignarepiâ—â—â— 2. d Magnâ—sianos a Ignatius No man ever lived unpunished which lifted up himselfe against his betters superiours his Princes disobedience brings Infamy disgrace death yea hatred after death that the sorrowfull Sonne may say of his treacherous Sire i Gen. 3â— 30 Yee have troubled me and made me stinke among the Inhabitants of the Land as Iacob said of Simeon and Levi And whether we of this Kingdome have not too just cause to say of those two Brothers in iniquity the factious Party of the Lords and Commons sitting in Parliament you have made us by your proceedings stinke in the Nostrills of all neighbour Nations and rendred us the scorne and contempt of the whole World I leave it to the experience of Travellers To conclude lâ—t us alwayes from the bottome of our hearts 1 Prayer pray so the Kings safety Corporally for his salvation Spiritually and preservation Politically Let us obey him because he is the Lords Anointed 2 Obedience appointed by God to be his Vicegerent representing the person on earth of the King of Kings in heaven 3 Honour Let us honour him not with lips only but with hearts truely because he is the Father of our Countrey the constant Defender of the Faith and so worthy of double Honour 4 Service Let us bee ready to performe at his Command our best Service being his native and naturall Subjects born and bound by Allegiance to all Christian duties of Subjection Let us be willing to pay Tribute 5 Tribute a publike Purse must helpe the publike Peace Multorum manibus grande levatur onus Yea let us pay him his duty Tribute to him for we owe him Tribute Custome to him for we owe him Custome Feare Honour Obedience Service and all other loyall services and performances of Duties belonging to good Subjects in their severall degrees and places humbly to tender them and render them unto our Gracious and high Soveraigne Lord the King whose Sword Crowne Scepter Throne and Person justly requires all these duties the Sword exacts obedience Crown commands honour Scepter service Throne tribute and Person prayer alwayes powring forth to God this Prayer and Petition God save King CHARLES Let us be in Pace Lepores but in Praelio Leones in Peace like Hares timerous to offâ—nd his Majesty in any way of disobedience but like Lions when opportunity shall be offered fight for his freedome and re-establishment in his Throne and Power against all the enemies thereof with unwearied courage undaunted magnanimity joyning with our fighting hands our fervent prayers like faithfull Israelites against all rebelling Amalekites continually let us pray with David Psalme 20.9 Domine salvum fac Regem Lord save the King send him an happy Deliverance out of all his troubles visit him with much comfort now after the time that thou hast afflicted him and the yeares wherein he hath suffered such great adversity Lord keep him as the Apple of thine owne eye and hide him under the shadow of thy wings oh turne not thy face away from thine Anointed but let him be refreshed with the joy of thy Countenance Make his dayes as the dayes of heaven before thee and grant