and Subjects to Church and Common-wealth then ignominious or any way prejudiciall That there may be better notice taken hereof to enlarge our hearts the more to praise God and to move us the more securely and confidently to cast our care on him I hope it will not be unseasonable here to set down a particular catalogue of such deliverances from the foresaid evils as God hath given us since the beginning of that blessed Queenes raigne §. 93. Of Englands Deliverances since Queene Elizabeth began her Raigne 1. GOD preserved Queene Elizabeth from death in the time of her sister Queene Mary For being charged with conspiracy in the case of S r. Thomas Wyats rising but most unjustly was sent as a prisoner to the Tower An. Dom. 1553. 1. Mar. of London Her death was in those dayes many wayes plotted but by the divine Providence all those plots were disappointed 2. When by the death of Queene Mary the Crowne and Kingdome by just and unquestionable title descended on her the whole Land professed a religion contrary to the Religion 17. Nov. 1558. which she professed and the Peeres and Commons were then assembled in Parliament and that with purpose to settle Popery as it is likely more firmly in this land yet did the Lord move their hearts then and there to acknowledge her title and that by the mouth of Doctor Heath then Arch-Bishop of Yorke and Lord Chancellour of England so as she was forth with openly proclaimed Queen of England and answerably with as great joy and rejoycing as ever Prince was received by her Subjects 3. Being crowned she found a potent Prince namely Henry the second then the French King to endeavour to set An Dom. 1559. Reg. 2. up another title of Mary then Queene of Scots who was maried to Francis his sonne To them they gave this title Francis and Mary by the grace of God of Scotland England Franciscus Maria Dei gratia Scotiae Angliaeo Hiberniae Rex Regina and Ireland King and Queene Answerably they quartered the Armes of England with the Armes of Scotland To settle the said Mary in the roome of Queene Elizabeth an army was sent out of France into Scotland to joyne with the Scots and to invade England and the Pope was dealt withall to declare Elizabeth to be an heretique and illegitimate and Mary to be the true Queene of England But by the Divine Providence all this vanished as smoke into the aire For the Scots refused to joyne with the French against England Yea they desired and obtained aid of Queene Elizabeth to thrust the French out of Scotland 4. Philip King of Spaine earnestly desired mariage with An. Dom. 1559 Reg. 2. Queene Elizabeth notwithstanding his late mariage with Queene Mary sister to Queene Elizabeth Now because Gods Word expresly forbiddeth one man to mary two sisters he pretended to get a dispensation from the Pope But all his endeavours about so impious a matter nought prevailed with so pious a Prince Wherefore he endeavoured to make a mariage betwixt Queene Elizabeth and Charles son of Ferdinand then Emperour and uncle to the said Philip. All was to bring the Kingdome of England to his owne linage and family But neither could this attempt take effect Whereupon Philip King of Spaine became an utter enemy to that royall Queene which enmity thorow the divine providence turned to Queene Elizabeths glory 5. Arthur Poole of the race of George Duke of Clarence An. Dom. 1562 Reg. 4. of the house of Yorke with sundry of his kindred and alliance conspired to set againe on foot the title of Mary Queene of Scots and to bring an army out of France into Wales to make their challenge good but they were before the execution of their plot discovered and themselves condemned 6. After the fore-mentioned emulation yea and enmity betwixt King Philip of Spaine and Queene Elizabeth one Pope after another was much solicited by Spanish and other Papists to excommunicate that pious Prince upon pretence of heresie But till she was made able to stand out against all her enemies God kept away those thunderbolts under Pope An. Dom. 1569 Reg. 11. The forme of this excommunication is in the very words thereof recorded in Camden Annal. rerum Anglic. Hibern Reg. Elizab. part 2. MDLXX Paulus 4. and Pius 4. 7. Pope Pius 5. a man of a fierce and fiery disposition was so farre wrought upon as in the most solemne manner that he could excommunicated and anathematized blessed Queene Elizabeth and caused a briefe thereof with his leaden bull annexed thereto to be fastned to the gate of the Bishop of Londons pallace neare Pauls Church by one Iohn Felton who being apprehended confessed the fact and received condigne punishment on a gibbet before the said gate This excommunication caused many troubles on mans part but withall as many preservations and deliverances on Gods part 8. The Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland thorow An. Dom. 1570 Reg. 12. promises of aid from the Pope and Spaniard raised up a rebellion against Queene and State in the North-parts but were soone discomfited The Earle of Northumberland was taken and beheaded The other Earle fled beyond sea and ended his daies in a poore and meane estate 9. Iohn Story Doctor of Law a spie to the Duke of Alva An Dom. 1570. Reg. 12. conspired with one Prestol a man much addicted to magick and a subject to the King of Spaine against the life of Queene Elizabeth He sent advertisement to the Duke of Alva how he might invade England and make Ireland revolt God bringing this treason to light both Story and Prestol were by a Parliament adjudged guilty of high treason Thereupon they received their just demerit 10. The Bishop of Rosse practiced with sundry English An. Dom. 1571. Reg. 13. men to intercept Queene Elizabeth and to trouble the Parliament then sitting that so another Queene might be set up instead of Elizabeth But there fell out such mutuall mistrust among the Conspirators as their plots turned to their owne damage 11. Iohn Duke of Austria ambitiously affecting the kingdomes of England and Scotland dealt with the Pope and An. Dom. 1576. Reg 18. King of Spaine for aid against England For a pretence of title thereto he sought mariage with the next heire But in the middest of his ambitious projects he suddenly died 12. Thomas Stukely an English fugitive plotted with two Popes Pius 5. and Gregorius 13. to lead forces into Ireland An. Dom. 1578. Reg 20. there to joyne with the Rebells and to conquer it for Pope Gregories bastard sonne For this purpose he was made Generall of 8000 Italian souldiers But by the perswasion of Sebastian King of Portugal he went with his troupes into Mauritania and was there slaine 13. Nicolas Sanders an English Priest went further for he with a banner consecrated by the Pope and an army of An. Dom. 1580. Reg 22. Spaniards
entred into Ireland joyned with the Rebels caused a great insurrection but to the overthrow of himselfe and all that tooke part with him 14. Robert Parsons Edmund Campion and other Seminaries An. Dom. 1581. Reg. 23. and Incendiaries were sent by the Pope from Rome into England to draw the Queenes subjects from their allegiance to prepare them to a change and to take part with forraigne powers when they should be sent into England Campion Sherwin Kirly and Briant were convicted and condemned of high treason and answerably executed But their divelish attempts turned to a greater restraint of Papists in England and a greater security of the Queenes Majesty and her State 15. Iohn Somervill was apprehended as he was comming An. Dom. 1583. Reg. 26. in a desperate manner to kill the Queene being moved thereto as he himselfe confessed by reading certaine popish bookes written against the Queene by Seminaries Being condemned in New gate he strangled himselfe 16. William Parry Doctor of Law made promise and An. Dom. 1585 Reg. 27. vow to kill the Queenes Majesty and for that end obtained of the Pope an absolution for the fact before it was committed But God strucke his heart with such terrour as though he had opportunity yet he put it off so long as at length his purpose was discovered and he received the just reward of a traitor 17. Iohn Ballard a Romish Priest stirred up the fiery spirits An. Dom. 1586 Reg. 27. of certaine Popish Gentlemen to undertake to kill the Queene as she should go abroad to take the aire which though they had vowed to do yet was their unnaturall treason discovered before they had the opportunity to do it At their arraignment they were found guilty of high treason against the Queenes person of stirring civill warres in the Realme and of practicing to bring in forraigne power Foureteene of them were as traitors executed 17. William Stafford a young Gentleman and one Moody An. Dom. 1587. Reg. 29. a desperate man were by a forraigne Ambassadour lying in England perswaded to kill the Queene But the plot was discovered before it was effected 19. The inveterate hatred of Philip King of Spaine An. Dom. 1588. Reg. 30. against Queene Elizabeth and his unsatiable ambition and desire of enjoying England as his owne was at length openly manifested by an huge navy supposed and thereupon intituled invincible set to sea against England But the Lord of sea and land soone disappointed their hopes The navy was dissipated on the sea and England secured 20. Rodericke Lopez a Iew Physitian in ordinary to her An. Dom. 1593. Reg. 35. Majesty upon promise of 50000 crownes to be sent him out of Spaine undertooke to poyson the Queene But before the hire came the treason was discovered and the traitor executed 21. Patrick Cullin an Irish Fencer was hired by English An. Dom. 1594. Reg. 36. runagates in the Low Countries to kill the Queene and with that purpose came over but intelligence being given thereof he was apprehended and executed 22. Edmond York and Richard Williams hired in like An. eodem manner to the like namely to kill her Majesty and to set on fire her navy with balls of wild-fire were prevented and executed 23. Edward Squire being in a ship on sea taken by the An. Dom. 1598. Reg. 40. Spaniards and brought into Spaine was there suborned and directed by Richard Walpoole an English fugitive and a Iesuite to poison the Queene by laying a strong poison which the Iesuite there gave him on the pommell of the saddle whereon the Queene should ride that she laying her hand thereon might cary the sent thereof to her nose and thereby receive it into her body which if she had done it had beene her death Never any treason came so neare to the execution as this For the traitor Squire observed his direction did the deed and that immediately before the Queene rid forth But the divine providence kept her from touching the pommell with her hand Yet the treason was discovered and the traitor received condigne punishment 24. The Earle of Tyrone an Irish man having beene some while in Spaine returned from thence An. Dom. 1599 Reg. 41. with a rebellious mind and raised by the assistance of the Spaniard and popish faction in Ireland a rebellion More damage accrued to Queene and State by this rebellion then any other way all her dayes Yet thorow the constant providence of God this rebell also was brought under and that land secured 25. There was a plot for removing some of the Queenes An. Dom. 1600 Reg. 42. chief Officers and Counsellors from her which if it had not beene prevented might have proved dangerous to her Person and State and so much the rather because there were Papists which had a great hand in that conspiracy Therein therefore was the divine Providence manifested by preserving her Majesty in safety 26. Henry Garnet Superiour of the Iesuites in England Robert Tresmond Iesuite Robert Catesby Francis Tresham An. Dom. 1602 Reg. 44 45. and others in the name of all the Romish Catholiques in England imploy Thomas Winter into Spaine to obtaine an army from Spaine to joyne with the forces of Papists in England to change the government and religion thereof There being then hostility betweene Spaine and England the motion was readily embraced by the Spaniard and 100000 crownes promised to helpe forward the businesse But before any thing could be effected Queene Elizabeth full of Queene Elizabeth was borne at Greenwich 7. Sept. 1533. and died at Richmond 24. Mar 1602. She began her raigne 17. Nov 1558 and ended her raigne with her life 24. Mar. 1602. yeares in peace on her bed ended her dayes being 69 yeares 6 moneths and 17 dayes old a greater age then any other King or Queene of England from the Conquest attained to She was about the age of David King of Israel when he died who lived the longest of all the Kings of Israel and Iudah She raigned 44 yeares 4 moneths and 7 daies Doubtlesse many more treasons were intended and plotted against her then are recorded but she was kept so sure and secure under the wings of the Almighty whose truth she constantly maintained herein especially shewing her selfe to be SEMPER EADEM alwaies the same as no open hostility no privy conspiracy ever prevailed against her Her preservation much made to our security The remembrance therefore thereof ought ever to be fresh among us that so long as the benefit thereof continueth which will be so long as true Religion continueth among us due praises may be yeelded to her and our Protectour §. 94. Of Gods Providence to England in King Iames his time 1. THe day of Queene Elizabeths departure out of this life was the day long expected by Papists as a day 24. Mar 1602. for rooting out our Religion and altering our government For Pope Clement 8. had sent the yeare before
two Bulls to interdict all claime or title to the Crown of England though never so directly and nearly interessed by discent to all such as would not by their best endeavours promote the Catholique cause and by solemne and sacred oath religiously subscribe thereto But God who approveth our Religion and detesteth their superstition or rather idolatry made all their hopes utterly frustrate For in the setting of one Sun immediately arose another and that in full brightnesse to the unspeakable Occubult sol nox nulla secuta est comfort of all true hearted Englishmen and to the utter astonishment of all popish enemies of this flourishing State In the same morning wherein Queene Elizabeth died Queene Elizabeth died about two in the morning About eight King Iumes was proclaimed at Court about eleven in Cheape-side An Dom. 1603 Reg. 1. was King Iames first at the Court gate and then at the Crosse in Cheape side with wonderfull great acclamations and all manner of manifestations of joy proclaimed King An especiall evidence of the divine providence 2. In the first yeare of his Majesties raigne before he was solemnly annointed and crowned Watson and Cleark two Romish Priests conspired with others some noble men some Knights and some Gentlemen to surprize King Iames and Prince Henry presuming on forraigne forces for aid and assistance thereby to alter religion and to set up such Officers of State as they thought best But their plot before it came to execution was discovered they condemned some of them executed others spared thorow the Kings clemency 3. Garnet and Tresmond Iesuites with Catesby and Tresham before mentioned notwithstanding the death of Queene Elizabeth when they saw that King Iames defended the same faith continued to solicite the King of Spaine to send an army into England to joyne with the forces of Papists here for extirpation of Religion But the King of Spaine being then in treaty with the King of England about peace refused to hearken to any such motion Thereupon they together with other unnaturall and traiterous subjects plotted the matchlesse mercilesse devilish and damnable gun-powder-treason whereof before § 67. If ever the The day appointed to blow up the Parliament with gun powder was 5. Nov. 1605. Reg. Iacobi 3. eye of the divine providence did shew it selfe watchfull for the safety of England it was in the discovery of this plot before it came to execution Wherefore among other deliverances this is to be had in perpetuall remembrance 4. If we consider the great hazard wherin blessed Charles then Prince now our royall Soveraigne was in going to Spaine and returning from Spaine on land and sea and withall if we well weigh the admirable and unutterable benefits which we enjoy by his happy raigne over us we shall find just cause to put the day of his safe arrivall to England 6. Octob. 1623 Reg. Iacobi 20. into the catalogue of daies of memorials of Gods mercifull Providence over this Kingdome From that day the crests of Papists fell downe especially after the downfall of many An Dom. 1623 26. Oct. stilo vet 5. Nov. stilo novo of them at a Romish Priests sermon in Blacke-Friers London Of the forementioned deliverances much more is recorded in Camdens Annales Bishop Carltons Collections Speeds History and other Chronicles of England For my purpose it is enough to have pointed at the heads of them Yet because contraries laid together do more lively set out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dixit Arist Rhet. 3. 2 each other in their owne proper colours Hereunto shal be annexed another briefe catalogue of such troubles as in former Princes times from the Conquest for to go higher is not much requisite have fallen out to the great prejudice of Kings and Kingdome that thus Gods blessing on us under the raignes of Queene Elizabeth King Iames and King Charles by whom our light and life the Gospell is still continued among us may be the better discerned §. 95. Of the troubles of England from the Conquest to Queene Elizabeths time 1. WIlliam Duke of Normandie surnamed The Conquerour 1066. Oct. 14 got the crowne with much bloud having slaine Harold the King immediately before him two of his brothers and 67974 English men He changed many of the lawes and customes of England He defaced many Churches and depopulated sundry townes to make a forrest for beasts where two of his owne sonnes were strangely slaine The Danes to recover the Crowne in his dayes invaded the land burnt Yorke and slew 3000 men The Scots likewise about the same time made great spoile in England and spared nor sex nor age Much trouble was in the land all his time Being in France and there setting a towne on fire he rode so neare the fire as his horse with the heat therof gave such a leap as it brake the rimme of his belly whereof he died in the 21. yeare of his raigne and 64 of his age Being dead he was denied buriall till much mediation was made and a great composition paid 2. William Rusus son to the Conquerour having an elder 1087. Sep. 9. brother then living came not without difficulty to the crowne He had much warre both with his elder brother Robert and also with his younger brother Henry In his time were many warres with the Scots and Welch much English bloud spilt and himselfe casually slaine by one of his subjects with an arrow shot at a stag in the 13. yeare of his raigne and 43 of his age His corps were caried towards Winchester in a colliers cart 3. Henry 1. youngest sonne of William the Conquerour 1100. Aug. 1. put Robert his elder brother by the crowne whence arose many broiles He getting the mastery over his brother imprisoned him and cruelly put out his eyes He had much warre with the Welch All his children but Mawde his daughter with 160 persons were drowned together He died of a surfeit in the 36. yeare of his raigne and 65. of his age 4. Stephen with perjury usurped the kingdome from the 1135. Dec. 2. fore-said Mawde Besides some warres abroad he had continuall civill jarres at home by reason whereof he was taken prisoner and forced in the end to leave the heire of his opposite to be his successour He died of an Iliacke passion mixed with the Emeroids in the 19. yeare of his raigne His body after it was interred was taken out of the lead and cast into a river 5. Henry 2. sonne of the foresaid Mawd thorow his incontinency 1154. Oct. 25. with Rosamond set his owne wife and children against him which caused perpetuall unquietnesse in his kingdome In one battell at Edmondbury 20000 were taken and slaine He adopted his sonne who laboured to disthrone him in the government and having much embroiled the kingdome he grew so discontented as he curst his children and the day of his birth and in much perplexity ended his daies in the 35. yeare of his
raigne and 61. of his age Being dead his people fell to spoile all he had and left himnaked 6. Richard 1. sonne to Henry 2. having in his fathers life 1189. Iul. 6. vowed a journy to the Holy Land had his kingdome in his absence usurped by Iohn his younger brother Much trouble thence arose in England On notice thereof Richard hasted home but in the way he was taken prisoner by the Duke of Austria Whence though he were after 17 moneths imprisonment with a great ransome released and restored to the Crowne yet both he and his hingdome were in continuall trouble As he was besieging a castle which would have yeelded unto him if onely their lives might be saved but he would not accept it on any condition he was shot with a poisoned arrow and thereof died in the 10. yeare of his raigne and 45. of his age and was buried at his fathers feet whom he confessed he had betrayed 7. Iohn younger brother to the foresaid Richard notwithstanding 1199. Apr. 6. Arthur sonne to his elder brother and true heire to the Crowne by might got the Kingdome But himselfe and his subjects either with others or among themselves were in continuall broiles and had many unsuccessefull warres with French Scots and Welch He was opposed by his Lords deposed by the Pope poysoned by a Monke in the 18. yeare of his raigne and 51. of his age 8. Henry 3. eldest son of the foresaid Iohn began his 1216. Oct. 19. raigne when he was not full 10 yeares old and the State very troublesome The miseries of his raigne were almost infinite by Invasions Rebellions Exactions and the sundry calamities that follow such disasters Lewis the French King entred the land many of the Barons tooke part with him On both sides very many were slaine The King himselfe by his Barons with his brother Richard King of Almain and his sonne Prince Edward taken prisoners There were then slaine 4500. He died in the 57. yeare of his raigne and 67. of his age 9. Edward 1. was enbroiled in war against the Sarazens when his father died There he received three wounds 1272. Nov. 16 with a poisoned knife by a treacherous Assasine but by the daily licking of his ranckling wounds with the tongue of lady Elenor his wife he is said to be cured With much glory he returned home and was victorious against the Scots and Welch Yet those victories were not atchieved without the expence of much English bloud He died as he was going with a mighty host against the Scots in the 35. yeare of his raigne and 68. of his age 10. Edward 2. son to Edward 1. was one of the most miserable Kings that have raigned in England The 1307. Iul. 7. Northerne parts were over-run and harried by the Scots In the battell which was called the white battell 3000 Yorkshire men were slaine by the Scots Rob. Bruse King of Scots invading England burned all the country before him He had much civill warre with his Barons and much bloud was shed on both sides He was at length himselfe imprisoned and deposed in the 20. yeare of his raigne and 42. of his age and about 8 moneths after cruelly broached to death withan hot iron spit 11. Edward 3. son of Edward 2. came to the Crowne in 1326. Ian. 25. his fathers life-time by his fathers forced resignation thereof His raigne was indeed glorious by forraigne victories but the Kingdome was much exhausted of men and mony thorow sundry expeditions into Scotland France and Spaine which occasioned great complaints of his Subjects In his time Southampton was burnt by Pirates and Carlile with other places by the Scots to the losse and vexation of many Subjects At the time of his death all of all sorts forsooke him Onely one Priest is said to be with him when he gave up the ghost in the 51. yeare of his raigne and 65. of his age 12. Richard 2. grand-child of Edward 3. came young to 1377. Iun. 21. the Crowne and by ill counsell and ill courses occasioned many Invasions Oppressions Insurrections Rebellions and last the deposition of himselfe and untimely death Wherupon ensued that fatall division betwixt the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster in pursuit of which quarrell were 13. maine battells fought three a a a Henry 6. Edward 5. Richard 3. Kings besides himselfe b b b Hen. 6. his son Edw 5 his brother two Princes heires apparent 12 Dukes one Marquesse 18 Earles one Viscount 23 Barons besides Knights and Gentlemen innumerable were slaine Richard 2. was deposed in the 23. yeare of his raigne and murdered about five moneths after in the 34. of his age 13. Henry 4. as he got the Crowne by violence so he held it by force not without continuall feare having all his 1399. Sept. 29. raigne either warres abroad or conspiracies and insurrections at home which cost the lives of many Nobles and Commons He died in the 14. yeare of his raigne and 46 of his age 14. Henry 5. sonne to Henry 4. spent most of the time of 1412. Mar. 20. his raigne in warres in France Very victorious he was therein but hastened his death thereby and in the 10. yeare of his raigne and 34. of his age leaving his crowne to an infant What followed thereupon is now to be shewed 15. Henry 6. sonne of Henry 5. was crowned in the first 1422. Aug. 31. yeare of his age with the Crownes of two Kingdomes but that of France which his father wonne was soone lost and this of England was twice pluckt from his head in his life time Many bloudy battels were fought in England betwixt the two great factions of Yorke and Lancaster wherein many thousand subjects perished This King at length was taken and imprisoned the Queene his wife exiled his sonne and heire kild his Counsellours slaine the Crowne conferred on his corrivall in the 39. yeare of his raigne and he himselfe murdered in the 50. of his age 16. Edward 4. being of the house of Yorke obtained the Crowne with much bloud there being in one battell slaine 1460. Mar. 4. 36776 English men There were civill warres almost all his raigne He was taken and imprisoned whence escaping he was forced to fly the land but returning with much hazard to his person and death of many subjects recovered the Crowne but so as his children had little joy thereof On a sudden after a sort he died in the 23. yeare of his raigne and 41. of his age 17. Edward 5. Sonne of Edward 4. was for the space of two moneths and 16 dayes accounted King but never 1483. Apr. 9. crowned For he was murthered in the Tower in the first yeare of his raigne and 12. of his age 18. Richard 3. brother to Edward 4. a bloudy tyrant usurped the Crowne caused his Nephew then King together 1483. Iun. 22. with his brother to be murthered many of his Nobles and others
food destroy the inhabitants of a land enemies will forbeare to invade it especially if they be not able to bring with them provision enough for horse and man to so remote a place fearing least they and their cattell be all starved Thus these two judgements may be some meanes to avert warre But warre ordinarily causeth plague and famine These Lev. 26. 25 26. Ier. 14. 12. Ezek. 6. 11. three Sword Pestilence Famine are very oft joyned together and for the most part Sword is put in the first place as the cause of the other two Plagues oft arise from multitudes of people thwacked together from noisome savours from want of cleane shiftings from unwholsome food from infected aire and other like causes which are ordinarily occasioned by warre especially when people are by enemies blocked up and have not liberty to goe abroad and to provide for themselves In Ierusalem when it was besieged by the Babylonians Ier. 21. 6 7. there was a great pestilence and much famine but much greater * * * Ioseph de Bello Iud. l. 6. c. 11. when it was besieged by the Romanes The first great plague that was in Queene Elizabeths daies was brought into England by the souldiers that came from Stow in his generall Chron. of Engl. an 4. Eliz. New haven that was somwhile besieged and after taken by the enemy Of famine caused by warre see Dearths Death on 2 Sam. 21. 1. § 22. 24. If warre be an usuall occasion of plague and famine it must needs be the greatest of them and if of them surely the greatest of other judgements §. 89. Of delighting in warre II. NO true Christian can or may delight in warre He may b b b §. 17 18. on just cause wage warre but there is a great difference betwixt the doing of a thing and delight therein God doth afflict and grieve children of men but not c c c Lam 3. 33. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex corde suo from his heart willingly Iudgement is d d d Isa 38. 21 his strange worke his strange act So ought warre to be unto Christians A true Christians heart is possessed with true charity But charity delighteth not in spoiles in wounds in paines and tortures in bloud of men nor in any other evils that warre ordinarily causeth They are therefore destitute of true Christian charity and in that respect no true Christians that simply desire warre that without just and urgent cause raise warre that with delight enbroile themselves therein They are worse then savages yea then savage beasts Though the Lord made many of the Heathen his rod to correct his people yet because they delighted in shedding bloud the Lord brought heavy judgements upon them as on Ashur Isa 10. 5 c. on Babylon Isa 14. 4 c. Ier. 50. 23 24. Hab. 2. 7 8. on Mount Seir Ezek. 35. 5 6. Yea also upon the house of Iehu who destroyed the stocke of Ahab Hos 1. 4. §. 90. Of Christians backwardnesse to warre III. CHristians ought to be very backward to warre The evils thereof are ordinarily so many as they should make a Christian trie all other faire meanes for retaining or recovering his owne and for preventing or redressing wrongs then by warre to seeke the accomplishing of his desire Christians should be affected to warre as the Apostle would have them to law 1 Cor. 6. 1 c. They ought not to use it but in the last place after all other good meanes have beene used as a desperate remedy when no other remedy will serve the turne Vrgent necessity should force Christians to warre The evill effects of warre cannot but be very grievous to a true Christian soule How then may he be forward to that which causeth such evill effects See the caution even for just warres before given in the latter end of § 18. §. 91. Of circumspection in waging warre IIII. GReat circumspection must be used in waging war Many evils ordinarily arising from warre if men be not watchfull over themselves pride wrath revenge cruelty and many other corruptions whereunto our nature is much prone will soone find occasion to display themselves by reason of that power which men gathered together in an army have David a man in a great measure renewed a a a Act. 13. 22. yea a man after Gods owne heart b b b 1 Sam. 25. 22. being accompanied with an army of valiant men upon a discurtesie offered unto him by a churle was so incensed with rage and enflamed with revenge as he vowed and swore to destroy all that pertained to that churlish Nabal before the next morning If such a man by reason of his warlike power was so soone provoked to so great an evill what will not warre provoke others unto especially if they be confident in their power and get any advantages against their enemies Wherfore to prevent the evils of war such as have just occasion of waging war must look to their manner of waging war and lay aside al malice envy wrath revenge desire of bloud cruelty other inhumane passions and continually walk before him carying themselves as in the presence of God ordering all their actions according to the word of God yea and oft looking to God calling upon him and doing such things as in the good successe of them may give them just cause to praise God Thus may we avoid the ordinary evils of warre §. 92. Of warre kept out of a land V. IT is a blessing to have warre kept out of a land Warre being a cause of many evils to have war kept out is to be freed from those many evils This is that case wherof the Psalmist thus saith a a a Psal 144. 15. Happy is that people that is in such a case This was the happinesse of Salomons raigne for b b b 1 Chro. 22 9 God gave him rest from all his enemies round about As a blessing on Iehosaphat and his kingdome it is recorded that c c c 2 Chro. 17. 10 The feare of the Lord fell upon all the kingdome of the lands that were round about Iudah so that they made no warre against Iehosaphat Thrice happy is England in this respect that under the blessed government of Queene Elizabeth King Iames and our now and long may be be our now royall Soveraigne King Charles hath beene preserved from warre the cause of many evills and from the many evills of warre It cannot be denied but that in blessed Queene Elizabeths daies there was much warre and that many attempts were made by enemies abroad and traitors at home to disturbe our Peace extirpate our Religion and ruinate our State but they all turned to the increase of our happinesse in that we are delivered from them all and so preserved from the evils of open hostility and privy conspiracy as those attempts proved thorow the divine providence more glorious and many wayes beneficiall to Soveraigne
of raine that fell in harvest so that a quarter of wheat was sold before Mid-sommer for 30 shillings and after for 40 shillings An high rate in those daies The beasts and cattell also by the corrupt grasse whereof they fed died whereby it came to passe that the eating of flesh was suspected of all men For flesh of beast not corrupted was hard to find Horse-flesh was counted great delicates The poore stole fat dogs to eate Some as it was said compelled thorow famine in hid places did eat the flesh of their owne children and some stole others which they devoured Theeves that were in prison did plucke in peeces those that were newly brought amongst them and greedily devoured them halfe alive When Henry 6. raigned scarcity and dearenesse of corne Ibid. H. 6. 18. 1440. forced men to eate beanes pease and barley more then in an hundred yeares before Bread-corne was so scarce in England that poore people made them bread of Fern-roots In the time of King Henry the eight there fell such raine in November and December as thereof ensued great flouds Ibid. H. 8. 18. 1527. Famine caused by much raine which destroyed corn-fields pastures and beasts Then was it dry till the 12 of Aprill and from that time it rained every day and night till the third of Iune whereby corne failed sore in the yeare following Againe in the time of the said King such scarcity of bread was in London and in all England that many died for Ibid. H. 8. 19. A president for Princes default thereof The King of his goodnesse sent to the City of his owne provision 600. quarters or else for one weeke there had beene little bread The bread-carts comming from Stratford-Bow towards London were met at Mile-end by the Citizens so that the Major and Sheriffs were forced to go and rescue the said carts and to see them brought to the markets appointed Many more instances of exceeding great dearth in other Kings times might be added but these are sufficient §. 27. Of uses to be made of the terriblenesse of famine BY the forementioned instances of famines in this our and it is manifested what may befall us how patient the Lord is toward us what cause we have to feare God and to take heed how we provoke him to inflict even this judgement which may prove very fearefull as hath beene proved and finally how it standeth us in hand when there is cause to feare a famine or when a famine is begun to search out the causes thereof to confesse before God our sinnes to turne from them humbly heartily earnestly extraordinarily with weeping fasting and prayers to supplicate mercy of the Divine Majesty We have a late evidence of the efficacy of such meanes used For in the yeare 1626 it rained all the spring and all the summer day after day for the most part untill the second of August on which day by publique Proclamation a Fast was solomnly kept thorowout the whole Realme of England and Principality of Wales as it had by the same Proclamation beene solemnized in the Cities of London and Westminster and places adjacent on the fift day of Iuly before On the said second of August the skie cleared and raine was restrained till all the harvest was ended Which proved a most plentifull Harvest Thus the famine threatned and much feared was with-held So as Gods ordinances duly and rightly used are now as effectuall as ever they were FINIS An Alphabeticall Index of the speciall Points of this Treatise of Famine A ABundance exhausted by famine 135 Accessaries to sinne 149 Acknowledge plenty to come from God 138 B BAnishment of mens selves caused by famine 136 Barrennesse of earth causeth famine 159 Bread bought at high rates 165 C CAterpillars cause famine 159 Charity to poore 139. 144 Childrē how punished for fathers sins 148. 149 Child by owne mother eaten 167 Clemency defers judgements 150 Cold excessive causeth famine 159 Confession of sin 143 Conversion from sin 143 Corne violently taken away 166 Corne at an high rate 166 Corne hoorded up eaten by vermine 170 Cries of the starved 169 Cruelty to strangers 140 Cruelty occasioned by famine 164 D DAies how taken 131 David what it signifieth 132 David punished for Sauls sin 149 Dearth See Famine Death desired in famine 165 Death by famine miserable 137 Decay of graine and other food causeth famine 160 Deferring judgement a part of clemency 150 Diseases from famine 137 Desperatenes caused by famine 136 Dogs eaten by men 170 Dogs eate men 169 Drunkennesse causeth famine 140 Dung eaten in famine 136. 166 E ENemies cause famine 160 Englands fearefull famines 170 Enquire after God how we may 132 Enquirie to be made of God in and by his Word 161 Extremity of famine by sieges 163 Extremity of famine other waies 168 F FAith in Gods promises 144 FAMINE Famine in Davids time when 130 Famine a judgement 134 Famines effects 135 Famine how prevented 138 Famine by what sinnes caused 139 Famine how moderated 141 Famine how removed 143 Promises for succour in Famine 145 Famine removed and persons therein succoured 146 Famine in pious polities 147 Famine long continued and why 152 Famine long continued what duties it requireth 153 Famines causes to be searched out 153. 154 Famine caused by God 157 Famines meanes what they be 158. 159. 160 Famines meanes ordered by God Ibid. Famine makes unmercifull 169 Famine causeth cruelty 164 Famines extremities 163. 168 Famine forceth to eate any thing 168. 170 Famines fearefull in England 170 Famine caused by much raine 171 Famine fearefull by siege 163 Famine what uses it teacheth 171 Fasts frequent in famine 142 Fathers sinnes how punished in their children 148. 149 Flesh of mens owne selves eaten by famine 137 Food of any thing made by famine 136 Food bought with dearest things 168 Food snatched out of others mouthes 164. 166 Food made of unwholsome things 168 Frost overmuch causeth famine 159 G GLory of God to be aimed at in the use of all things 138 Gluttony causeth famine 140 GOD. God how enquired after 132 God able and ready to helpe in extremity 146 God to be sought unto for removing judgements 157 God causeth famine 157 God ordereth meanes of famine 158 God to be enquired in and by his Word 161 GOVERNOVRS Governours though good may have famine in their daies 147 Causes of judgements under good Governours 147 Duties which judgements under good Governours require 151 Governours care in publique judgements 151. 153 Governours as shepheards 156 Governours power to command others 156 Governours examples 156 Governours to be prayed for 152. 156. 157 Governours piety must not make people secure 151. 152 Grashoppers cause famine 159 H HArd heartednesse caused by famine 136 Houses broken up for corne 163 Humiliation for sin 143 I IMpious subjects cause judgements in the time of pious Princes 147 Inhumanity from famine 137 Injustice caused by famine 136 Ingratitude causeth famine 140 Insensiblenesse of
will we shall live and do this or that This is not to be taken as if we should to every sentence that we utter adde this clause If God will but that we should be so well instructed in the divine Providence as to know nothing can be done without the will of God and thereupon ever to have in our minds that reservation If the Lord will Thus by submitting our wills to Gods will we shal be sure both to have our wills effected yea also that to be effected which is the best Gods will will we nill we shal be accomplished If then we will nothing but that which may stand with Gods will in the effecting of Gods will our will must needs be effected And because Gods will ordereth and disposeth all things to the best on the same ground that which we will must needs fall out to the best But suppose our will should wish any thing that God would not have what skilleth it We may know what we would have but God knoweth what we should and shall have It is therefore much better that our purpose and desire be crossed if at least it be contrary to Gods then effected If Gods counsell and determination be accomplished as accomplished it shal be it is enough My will therefore shall take the pattern of our Saviours for her guide and in all cases say as he did in a most extreme case O my Father not as I will but as thou wilt Mat. 26. 39. O how impious sacrilegious and blasphemous yea atheisticall and Luciferian was that speech of a Pope who being forbid by his Physitian a meat that he liked replied that Iulius 3. he would have it in despite of God Such are the thoughts if not the speeches of many presumptuous spirits §. 11. Of Contentednesse VII * * * See §. 5. COntentednesse is requisite in all estates The extent of Gods Providence giving evidence to Gods disposing and ordering all estates if men rest not content in their estate they manifest a discontent at his Providence Surely he had an eye on Gods Providence ordering his estate who in his great affliction said a a a Psal 39 9. I was dumbe and opened not my mouth because thou Lord diast it And he who having heard a judgement denounced against him which would make a mans eare to tingle againe replied b b b 1 Sam. 3. 18. It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good In like manner c c c 2 Sam. 15. 26. 16. 11. David d d d Iob 1. 21. Iob e e e Isa 39. 8. Hezekiah and others manifested great contentednes in great extremities But most pertinent to our purpose is this of S. Paul f f f Phil. 4 11 12. I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need g g g 1 Tim. 6. 10. Heb. 13 5. To this contentednesse we are all exhorted by him that had so well learned it himselfe Well it beseemeth the sonnes of God children that have so high and heavenly so potent so prudent so provident a Father whose Providence extends it selfe as to all creatures not the least excepted so to every thing that appertaineth to them seeme it never so small as to their haire the number and colour thereof and to the just pitch of their stature well I say it beseemeth children that have such a Father to rest contented with that estate wherein he setteth them Whatsoever the present estate of Saints is God hath set them therein On this ground as when we are in high and honourable places when we abound in wealth when we have good health when we enjoy peace or any manner of prosperity we ought to be perswaded that these are good for us so on the other side when we are in meane places when we are pinched with poverty when we are visited with sicknesse when we are molested with sundry troubles when we are pressed with all manner of adversity to be perswaded that even these latter estates are best for us at that time when and so long as we are in them For our estate of what kind or condition soever it be is disposed by our Father before mentioned and he knoweth what is fitter for us then we can know Therfore the Lord here in this text speaking of the extent of the divine Providence putteth them in mind of this Father saying A sparrow shall not fall to the ground without YOVR FATHER Faith herein will make us thankfull for all manner of prosperity as proportioned out unto us in wisdome and love by this our Father and patient under all manner of adversity as laid upon us in like wisdome and love by the very same Father This is rightly and truly to be * * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 praesentibus content with things present or with such things as for the present we have or with the estate wherein for the time we are §. 13. Of ascribing the glory of all deliverances to God VIII * * * See §. 5. THe glory of all deliverances is to be ascribed to God For by that Providence which extends it selfe to all things deliverances from enemies from dangers from distresses from all manner of evils are obtained But that is the Providence of God To whom then if not to him shall the glory thereof be ascribed Hereof we have spoken * * * The Churches Conquest on Exo. 17. 15. §. 77. before Onely here learne we to apply this generall point to such particular deliverances as God hath given unto us Considering therefore that this our land which hath now for many yeares enjoyed the bright pure comforting sanctifying and saving light of the Gospell lay for many hundred yeares together in the dismall and damnable darknesse of Popery we are oft to call to mind and duly to meditate on the means and times whereby and wherein the divine providence hath brought into our land this light to discover and drive away that worse then Egyptian darknesse of Popery For instances take these 1. Iohn Wickliffe about the yeare 1371 in the raigne of Edward 3. even in the midst of popish darknesse held out the light of the Gospell wherewith many in those dayes were enlightned This fire by the abundance of ashes which the Romish Clergy heaped upon it lay after the death of Iohn Wickliffe smothered up yet were those ashes raked away about 40 yeares after by Iohn Hus and the sparkes of that fire so blowne up as dazled the eyes of the Papists and made them mad againe against those that laboured to bring out those sparks 2. Henry 8. disanulling the Popes usurped authority in England had by Act of Parliament the title of Supreme An. Dom. 1534 Head of the