the Lorde hath crossed vs namely by contraries The first hitherto I haue amplifyed Now followeth the second obserue them with me how wonderfully the Lorde the former yeere by the deluge of the Pestilence hath in diuers things crossed our expectation First which wee had spoken Secondly expected Thirdly begunne First we had said and expected 1 Encrease of people was expected that the number and multitudes of people should haue bene augmented both in the citie and in the Land and behold there hath bene a just contrarie it hath bene diminished in both ô howe many thousandes haue bene buryed Howe haue the Church-yeardes beene filled vppe that scarce there was no place hath not the Lorde shewen the trueth of that threatning Ier. 7.32 They shall bury in Topheth till there be no place Secondly wee had said and expected that multitudes against the Coronation would come both in the citie and in the Land and beholde a contrary multitudes haue departed out of Both some leauing the citie others the Land Thirdly wee had expected that euen our streetes should haue bene filled with joyes and tryumphs 3 Tryumphs that therein we should haue shewen the signes thereof and behold a contrary they haue bene filled with sorow mourning weeping howling for the funerals which haue walked along them These haue bene the tryumphs of LONDON We expected in our streetes the sound of the Trumpets The tryumphs of the last yere and the sweete harmonie of Musicke to welcome our Prince and behold in steede of them wee haue heard a contrary musicke the continuall knels of Belles to welcome death we expected shewes of tryumphs behold other shewes we haue seene the funerals of dead men who were gone to tryumph in heauen We had begun to builde towards heauen almost as high as the builders of Babell euery one for highest and finest ô the great preparations and diligence in their building and erecting But behold a suddaine alteration a stay of their worke where some had set vp others plucke downe and as the builders of Babel haue bene dispersed euen so ours haue bene scattered Some are dead and some yet left a liue The Lord hath sent some of them from their downe-beds to their dust-beds And as the arrow came suddainly from IEHV his bowe and stroke IORAM euen in his Chariot 2. Reg. 9.28 euen so the Pestilence the Lordes flying arrow Psal 91. hath strooke some euen in the midst of their tryumph he changed our glorie into shame Hos 4.7 and fulfilled that threatning by the Prophet Ier. 7.34 I will cause to cease from the cities of Iudah and from the streetes of Ierusalem the voice of myrth and the voice of gladnesse So that with HESECHIAS Esa 38.17 Thou hast ô London had occasion to say Behold for felicitie I had bitter griefe but it was thy pleasure to deliuer my soule from the pit of corruption Fourthly wee had expected profite Profite and that the traficke should haue flourished moreouer that now we should haue aduentured where before many kept themselues close and durst not How many had brought vp great store of pretious wares thinking that neuer they had had such a time and yet beholde a contrarie the traffick both of the mother-citie of the daughters of the head and of the members hath bene slacke doings little or none no aduenturing litle paying wares esteemed better thē debts and euery one keeping close so that wee haue had occasion to vse the saying of the Prophet Iere. 8.15 We looked for peace but no good came and for a time of health and beheld troubles Further we expected that our shops shold haue bin open in that ioyfull time which were furnished with great riches against the future triumph thinking to reape great profit and beholde a contrary many haue bin lockt vp by reason of a double departure of some out of the citty of others out of this world The Lord hath taken away from vs our markets and faires the greatest stayes of the common wealth and from thee ô London that renowned BARTHOLEMEVV faire and the sportes thereof wrastling and Shooting and insteed of them there haue bin wrastling against death the Lords Angels shooting off the Lords arrowes Psal 91. The reason of this all hath been because the Lord would haue vs profit not by our cōmodities but by his chastisements It is reported that the mountaines which are full of golden mines that they are commonly barren and vnfruitefull we by reason of our riches were vnfruitefull and barren in good workes therefore the Lord by his rod would make vs fruitfull and to reape profit for our soules Lastly many had made preparatiōs against the future tryumph to adorne themselues and to meete their Prince and beholde a contrarie some of them haue been adorned with a shrouding sheete and so are gone to meete another Prince in another kingdome to tryumph eternally It hath fallen out ô London with thee and thy inhabitantes as with the Emperour SALADINVS after he had gotten great victories and had tryumphed fell sicke had nothing carried before him to his graue then a shrouding sheete what else haue had many of your inhabitantes Thus then beloued the Lord hath spiced your great ioyes cōceiued in the beginning of the yeere with sorrow and bitternesse If you would know the reason that you shold not forget eyther the Lord or your selues for if you had surfeted of pleasure and receiued to much good it would haue bin as an introduction to worse to come When tydings was brought to PHILLIP of Macedon First that PARMENIO got the victorye ouer his ennemies Secondly ALEXANDER his son was borne And thirdly his Chariots wonne the prize at Olympus all in one day he called vpon fortune to doe him some little hurt to spice his ioyes with bitternesse that they should not make him forget himselfe Euen so ô England seeing that thou hast first obtained a vertuous Prince a wonder of the world secondly victories ouer thy enemies of Ireland thirdly aboundance of Corne and fruits of the earth and that all in one yeere it hath been good that the Lord hath done thee some little hurte and spyced thy joyes with bitternesse that thou shouldest not forget thy selfe That the Lord then hath thus crossed our expectations by contraries to what shall we ascribe it but to this that wee haue crossed his expectation by our sinnes I may vse the Apostles saying 1. Cor. 11. For this many among you are sicke many are dead The Lord of Hoastes hath dealt with thee ô England as TAMBERLAINE the Great in his besieging of cities First he erected white Tents in token of mercy if they would render themselues Secondly if they remained obstinate he erected red Tents in signe of blood Thirdly whē that preuailed no he erected black tents in signe of death Euen so the Monarcke of the worlde hath first erected among vs the white Tents of mercy by the
THE KINGS MEDICINE FOR THIS PREsent yeere 1604. prescribed by the whole colledge of the spirituall physitions made after the coppy of the corporall kings medicine which was vsed in the city the former yeere GIVEN As a NEWYEERS-GIFT to the honorable city of LONDON to be taken in this yeere for the soule as the other was for the bodie HEREVNTO are intermixed First the wonders of the former yeer his triumphs two funeralls two coronations two preachers Secondlie LONDONS and ENGLANDS newyeers-gift to offer vp vnto the Lord for his new-yeers-gift containing King DAVIDS Sacrificing after the ceasing of the pestilence necessarie to teach vs the duty of our deliuerance The whole collected out of the first book of Chr. ch 21. Made and vvritten by IAMES GODSKALL preacher of the vvorde Iohn 5.14 Behold thou art made whole sinne no more least a worse thing come vnto thee At London printed for Edward White at the little Northdoore of Saint Pauls Church at the signe of the gunne To the right honorable the Lord Maior of the most reowmed City of London and to the right worshipfull the Sheriffes and Aldermen their Brethren I. G. wisheth all graces to be multiplied from the Lord by the holy spirit both for the gouernment of his people and for their euerlasting saluation through Iesus Christ THE almightie God right honourable and worshipfull hath dealte the former yeere with your city and suburbes as Kings and Princes in the besieging and taking in of towns first they inuade the suburbes and liberties where they destroy pull downe and set on fire Secondlie they come before the walles and gates of the city which if the inhabitauntes bee not able to resiste they presentlie take in sound the allarum blowe the trumpets strike the drumme and destroy both yong and old which causeth sighs lamentations weeping and howling So likewise the Monarche of the world the Lord of hoasts hauing put on his helmet cloake of reuēge Es 59.17 taken one of the weapons of his wrath of which in his armory of iustice hee hath great store hath first by his destroying Angel taken in your suburbs freedoms liberties there he hath kindled their housen with the fire of the plague made whole families desolate hee hath shot off his arrow that flieth by day Psal 91.5 set the pestilence that walketh in the darkenesse destroyeth at noon day thousandes and ten thousandes haue fallen before him Psal 9.6.7 hee hath made manie to fall and one fel vpon another as the Prophet speaketh Ier. 46.16 So that they haue first tasted the cup of gods wrath Secondly he is come before your gates takē thē in to speak with the psalmist he hath whet his sword Psal 7.12 bēt his bowe made it ready ordayned his arrowes for thē that persecuted him His angel hath kindled the flying fire among your citizēs it hath entred into their housen remained in the mids of thē Za. 5.4 The allarū hath bin giuen witnesse the cōtinuall allarum of bels the trūpets of Iehouah which haue soūded in your ears so that your citizens haue also bin set as a mark for the arrows of his heauēly displeasure to be spent at O the widdows desolate orphās O the sighs tears lamentatiōs of old yong rich poor yet cōtinuing for the miseries of the former yeer To what shal we ascribe the cause of our weaknesse that the bars of our gates we also haue not bē able to keep out the destroyer And to vse the prophets words why haue our valiant men been put backe Ierem. 46.5 and could not stand Two things R. H. make the inhabitants not able to resist first the force of the enemy without and lacke of weapons within to repell the enemy Secondly treason or traitors within the city which rēder it vp The first they are able often couragiously to withstand as experience of greene memorie in that admirable besieging of Ostende admired of all the nations of the world doth testify but the second very seldom of which the Low-coūtries haue had often wofull experience Both of these forenamed haue made vs vnable to keepe out of our city the Lorde of hoastes his slaying angell and his flying arrowes First the default and want of spirituall weapons and of that armor of proofe described in the 6. to the Ephesians our heades being not couered with the helmet of saluation our harts with the brest plate of righteousnesse our loyns with the girdie of verity our feet with the gospel of peace our hands hauing not the sword of the spirit and the buckler of faith the which weapons our long peace prosperitie had made vs to cast aside as carelesse soldiers and to take the armour of sathan The armour of Sathan the helme of mistrust the brestplate of iniury the girdle of falshood the shoos of discord the shield of infidelity the sword of the flesh the darts of Atheisme epicurisme vnmercifulnesse pride and gluttony The second cause of our weakenesse hath beene treason within the traitors and rebelles within our walles which haue rendred vp the city vnto the Lord of hoastes Perhaps you will obiect the Apostles saying vnto me 2. Cor 7 4. that I vse great boldnesse of speech toward you Be not offended beloued I meane our manifold sinnes and iniquities which are as an auncient father tearmeth them traitors within vs which render vp the castle and fortresse This is the nature of sinne it maketh vs soldiers rebels and to vse the words of the holy ghost fighters against God Act 5.39 Sathan beeing the captaine our flesh the lieftenant our pride the standart and flourishing ensigne our lying tongues the trumpets our blasphemies the pikes wherewith we do as it were pearce him through our dissensions the drum to giue the allarum and our damnable oathes and swearings the horses wherewith wee doe as it were tread and trample vnder feet the sacred name of the immortall god Foure sorts of traitors haue rendred vp the city But to particularize foure sorts of traitors and rebels wee haue had amongst vs which haue betraied vs and rendred vp the city First traitors against the maiesty of god the king of heauen our blasphemies Atheismes cursings idolatries damnable swearings our contemning of his heauenly proclamation and of his spirituall heraulds Thus sathan as an old Seba had blowen the trumpet and many entising blasts had caried vs away from our true allegiance to Christ Iesus our king These kinds of sins although they are committed beneath vpon the earth yet they reach as high as heauen and therfore may be compared vnto the Pioners or vnderminers who although they are busie vnder the earth about the foundation yet their purpose and intent is aboue to cast downe the high wals towres and fortresses Secondlie traitors against our neighbors our murthers adulteries our thefts robberies fraudes and oppressions of the poore our false witnesses against the innocent
vnto thee not the water of life but the water of death Adde also a good quantitie of that comfortable Triacle of hope with the consideration of the future glorie being sure that thy redeemer liueth and that thou shalt see him with thine eyes Iob. 19.25 Mingle and temper thus well together this patience faith confidence and hope and let the patient that is infected with either of them both vse to drinke this Kings medâ—cine often let all his life in health or in sickenesse be a continuall repentance and meditation of these things and it will expell the venome of his sinne of impatience distrustfulnesse and immoderate feare But if the filthy botch of impatience distrustfulnesse and immoderate feare doe happen to appeare then insteede of Elder leaues take a good quantity of elders examples the faith of ABRAHAM patience of IOB the hope of DAVID take my brethren the Prophets for an example of patience in suffring aduersitie Jam. 5.10 Further take also the Mustard-seede of Gods word Matth 13.31 with the excellent commandements admonitions promises and comforts contained therein mingle these together consider vpon them make a plaister of them apply it to thy sore it will draw forth the venome corruption of impatience distrustfulnesse and immoderate feare The Mustard-seede as PLINIVS doeth witnesse is both purgativum curatiuum it purgeth the bodie of euill humours and cureth the venemous byting of a Serpent Euen so the Spirituall Mustard-seede of the Word purgeth and voydeth the euill humours of the soule and healeth the venemous byting of that old Serpent the Deuill THE KINGS MEDIcine for this present yeere Collected out of the 2. booke of Sam. Chap 24. and out of the first of the Chron. Chap. 21. THat which the Apostles in the beginning of their Epistles haue wished vnto the Saints of God the same in the beginning of the yeere I wish vnto you beloued of LONDON for a New-yeeres-gift Grace be with you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ Let vs beloued beginne this present yeere with that excellent Prayer of MOSES Teach vs Psal 90. O Lord to number our daies that we may apply our hearts to wisedome That which is reported of the DOLPHINES in the enrie of this yeere may put vs in minde of the state of the former yeere they play most in the Sea when a tempest is neerest And haue not we the former yeere in the Sea of this world beene most playing reioycing tryumphing erecting our Arches and some of the workes like BABELL when the tempest of the Pestilence was neerest and when we least expected it the suddaine alteration which ensued preacheth it to the whole Land And as the Lord hath bestowed the former yeere vpon this Kingdome the greatest benefite which she euer receiued so hath he also in the same yeere sent the greatest Pestilence in our memorie which she euer felt And note this with me that as the Prophet DANIEL in the first yeere of the reigne of King DARIVS who was made King ouer the Realme of the Caldeans Dan. 9. vnderstoode the desolation of Ierusalem the royall Mother-citie of Iewrie which moued him to turne his face vnto the Lord by Prayer and supplications with fasting and sack-cloth So likewise euen in the first yeere of the reigne of King IAMES who was made King ouer the Realme of England We vnderstood and also saw the desolations of the English Ierusalem the Mother-citie and imperiall Chamber of this kingdome which mooued vs with DANIEL to turne our faces vnto the Lord with prayer and fasting which is the best Phisick to cure the Plague of the soule with the effect thereof the Plague of the body The Physitions against the bodily Plague haue prescribed a certaine remedie called THE KINGS MEDICINE so tearmed because a king of England vsed it in the time of Plague This hath bene the medicine of the old yeere great hath bene your diligence beloued of LONDON to follow this prescription and being ayded by nature and expeperience some of you haue taken in this Kings medicine to preuent the Plague others being alreadie preuented by the sicknesse haue taken it in to expell the venome and to be deliuered from that secrete euill and noysome Pestilence with what successe your selues haue had experience The olde yeere being past giue mee leaue to prescribe another Kings medicine fit for the New yeere so called because a king of Israell vsed it with the Elders of the people It is a medicine against the Plague of the soule fit for all times If PLATO could say Repentance that the life of a Philosopher ought to be a continual meditation of death how much the better may we christians saie that the life of a Christian ought to be a continuall repentance Although the Plague of the bodie bee ceased yet it is to bee feared that the Plague of the soule doeth yet raigne and continue in manie places both in the Citie and suburbes therefore as you haue bene diligent the old yeere to take in the kings medicine for the body so bee not negligent this New-yeere to take in the Kings medicine for the soule It is a medicine which wil cost nothing and as fitte for the poore as for the rich The Phisitions deuide their whole practise in two generall partes in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 preuenting Physicke and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 recouering Physick according to this rule The bodily kings medicine vsed the former yeere doth consist of two parts as it may be seene in the medicine it selfe which I haue annexed to this Treatise The first is for them that are not yet infected to preuent it The second is for the infected to remooue it The same medicine for both but with an addition So likewise the Spiritual kings medicine which I purpose to describe consisteth of these two parts It is a preuenting and a recouering Physicke necessary to preuent future calamities and to recouer the health of the soule All this hitherto spoken premitted as a Preface before we proceed let vs let some order in this our discourse and draw the scattered branches home to their roote I will vse the methode that Phisitions doe vse in their practise of Physicke shewing vnto you the cause of the sicknesse the medicine to heale it and the operation of the medicine And this is the methode which the Holy Ghost himselfe that wise Physition doeth follow in these two Chapters prefixed which I haue taken to be my text and the subiect of this discourse The words doe empty themselues into these foure particulars A diuision of the whole discourse The first containeth The Kings sicknesse the Plague of the soule DAVIDS sinne consisting in the numbring of the people verse 1.2.3.4 5. which I may call the Kings euill The second the effect operation and misery of the kings sicknesse the Plague of the bodie verse 14.15.16 with the outwarde cause of it The prouidence decree of
the Lyon is sometimes sicke the Feauer Hectick the wandering feauer that keepeth no certain fits lastly that which lasteth but a day The Plague of the soule as you see is not a Feauer of one day it lasted nine Moneths in DAVID he knew it not This kings euill may be compared vnto the continuall Feauer wee haue all of vs continually some sparkes of pride and ambition in vs the one more the other lesse and principally the Lyons Princes and great men are troubled with it Seeing then this is the nature of sin that it sometimes is not knowen of vs I will shew vnto you the signes to know if we be infected with the spirituall Plague The Physitions haue prescribed the former yeere in their Treatises touching the corporall Plague the signes whereby a man may iudge of himselfe whether he bee infected or not which are many First when the outward members are colde and the inwarde parts burning hot when there is paine and heauinesse of the head and a great inclination to sleepe a wearinesse heauinesse and difficultie in breathing a sadnesse of the minde a change of countenance losse of stomacke and appetite immoderate thirst and often vometing a bitternesse and drinesse of the mouth the Pulse frequent the vrine troublous lastly if there doe arise Botches behinde the eares or else where Giue mee leaue this yeere following the same methode to shew vnto you beloued certaine signes whereby wee may iudge if wee bee infected with the Satanicall ayre Signes to know if wee are infected with the spirituall contagion or no. These are also manifold First if our outward members are colde our eares in the hearing of the worde our mouthes to speake and sing the prayses of God our hands to offer the Sacrifices of mercie vnto the poore our feete to enter the Temple our inward partes burning hot with the heate of concupiscence hate enuie pride and ambition Further if our heades bee heauie with drunkennesse surfetting gluttonie and with the cares of this world if there be in vs an inclynatioÌ„ to the sleepe of sinne and a difficultie to breathe good words deeds or thoughts an immoderate and desperate sadnesse of the minde as there was in SAVL ACHITOPHEL IVDAS a change of countenance caused by couetousnesse anger and enuy losse of appetite to the milke of the word the bread of life and the righteousnesse of Christ Iesus a losse of our zeale and forsaking of our former loue Reu. 2. Further when there is in vs an immoderate thirst after the riches honours and pleasures of this worlde a returning to our filthinesse and vomit with the Dog and Swine 2. Pet. 2.22 A bitternesse and vnpleasantnesse in the vnsâ—â—uery words of our mouthes If the pulse of our hearts smite vs with horrour of minde and make vs to breake foorth in Blasphemies Lastly if there doth arise a filthy Botch in our eares which stoppeth theÌ„ maketh theÌ„ vnwilling to heare the word of God a hardnes of heart a swelling of pride and enuie and such other like they are all signes declaring that we are already infected with the poyson of Satan If this yeere thou seelest thy self thus infected immediately seeke to cure thy selfe by the Kings medicyne I end this point with the counsaile of SALOMON Pro. cap. 4.23 vers keepe thine heart with all diligence for thence proceedes the actions of life Let me now beloued of LONDON The application of the first part hold out the looking-glasse to discrie and see therin whether we haue not beene infected with the Kings sicknesse The old yeare is past and the Newe is ap-appeared let vs now examine our selues and as DAVID hath bene busie to number the people so let vs bee busie with a better Arithmaticke and number our sinnes Wee may apply to our selues all the foure members of the first parte and to inuert the order let mee beginne with the last 1 The time how long As DAVID hath had the spiritual infection in his soule nine moneths long and knew it not for in the ende of them his heart smote him So we haue bene a long time infected with the same and sin hath raigned in the mortall bodies of many not nine moneths but nine yeres euen since the last plague time and alas the most parte of vs haue as it were not knowen it we haue took no regard to it we haue bene senseles not esteemed it till that now in the ende of these nine yeeres and odde our hearts seeing the hand of God haue begun to smite vs made vs to cry out with DAVID Lord we haue done foolishly and sinned exceedingly And what hath bene our disease 2. Our disease alas the Plague of the soule for which we haue suffered the Plague of the body yea the Kings euil hath bene our euill which hath manifested it self with the deuils tokens pestilential vlcers of DAVID and to speake plainely we haue sinned in numbring This Plague hath raigned not onely in the head-citie but in the whole bodie of the kingdome Englands arraignement If England were arraigned indited before the Iudge of heauen should it not be found guilty I appeale first to the court and to the tribe of Iudah 1 The Court. hath she not these many yeeres had the kings euill and with DAVID bin lifted vp in the multitude glorying in the number and multitude of her riches and treasures of her stately buildings and royall Pallaces in the multitude of her followers attendants of her Nobility and Gentility 2 London Secondly thou LONDON tender delicate the Mistres of felicity the Imperiall chamber of this kingdome to whom I may as ARISTOTLE speaketh of Babilon giue the title of a countrey rather then of a city the Piller of England as Troy is called of that parte of the world Hast thou not also had the kings euill it is too manifest thou hast gloried in the number and multitude of thy people in the greatnesse of thy Citie mightinesse of thy state singularity of thy gouernment in the number of thy merchaÌ„ts riches stately buildings in the number of thy Temples Turrets and as Ierusalem thou diddest trust in thine owne beautie because of thy renowne Ez. 16.15 And as Nabucadnezar spake of his Babel Is not this great Babel c. So your inhabitants of their city Is not this great LONDON our city the like not in Europe Thus haue they swelled in the vanity of their conceit and saide with Laodicea Re. 3. I am rich and increased with goods haue need of nothing Royall Citizens Citizens not I but the kings sicknes wherewith you haue bene infected giueth you this name hath not the carbuncle of curiosity pride and ambition bene seene in your buildings feasts attendants May it not be said of you as it was said of the marchaÌ„â—s of Tyrus Es 23. whose marchants are Princes If our king had entred the city in tryumph as
Constantius the Emperour in the city of Rome and beheld the companies that should haue entertained him might he not haue vsed that Emperours saying Tot vidi reges quot ciues I haue seene as many kings as citizens Parents Parents haue you not had the kings euill haue you not gloried in the number and multitude of your children and set too much your hearts vpon them And not to spare our selues We children of the Prophets we haue bene infected with the kings sicknesse I do appeale vnto our two Vniuersities Vniuersities they haue gloried in the number of their Colledges and stately buildings in the greatnesse and multitude of their reuenewes of their Doctors learned writers Schollers and Students And I dare say our voicâ— hath bene a proude and ambitious voice despysing the forraine Schooles as not to be compared vnto vs. And it is to bee feared that of them may be saide that which was spoken of Gilead Hos 6.8 which was the place where the Priests dwelt and which should best haue bene instructed Gilead is a citie of them that worke iniquitie As for the whole body of the kingdome not to flatter our selues 4 The whole body it hath had the kings euill alas our voice hath bene insolent and imperious we haue magnifyed our selues in the mightines of our nation and haue gloryed our selues in the number of our swift-sayling-Shippes in the greatnesse of our strength and number of our people that in few houres warning many thousands we haue bene able to make ready ascribing our victories to the st ength of our arme and not to him who teacheth DAVIDS fingers to fight Psalm 144. Let mee nowe adde this that a generall disease of the whole body hath bene defect of charitye The Physitions saye that the bodye is sicke when that his kindely heate is to lâ—ttle or when it is to much Charity to God and our neighbour is as it were the naturall heate of the body of a kingdome lustfull loue to the creatures is an vnnaturall heate the first hath beene too little in the body of the kingdome the second too great and therefore it hath sorely bene sicke Lastly I do appeale to the Cleargie 5. The Clergy Many of them haue not onely had the Kings euill but also haue bene infected with IOABS sicknesse Haue we not had some ô would to God that there yet were none that are spiritual Physitions to others and in the Lords Temple produce their reasons as IOAB did to disswade their auditors from the Plague of sinne and yet themselues that seeke to binde vp the wounds of others are carelesse of their owne sores their notorious sinnes as ABSOLONS adulteries euen vpon the house toppes open to the worlde to the great scandale of the church like to MERCVRIES images that point the way to others but themselues stand still and stirre not one foote like to Water-men that look one way but rowe another O Physitions heale your selues builde not an Arke for others and your selues be drowned Tribe of LEVIE I am ashamed to vncouer our own nakednesse which hath also bene a cause of that deserued pestilence whose printes and markes are yet to bee seene amongst vs. To apply the last circumstance we of England haue got the Plague of the soule and the Kings euil 3 How and when wee haue got the kings euill in such a time as the king got it in our peace and prosperity our hearts being at ease after our victoryes Satan hath set before our eyes our excellency glory power victories our long peace and prosperity as a contagious ayre hath infected vs. And because we were become grosse and fat as ISRAEL wee haue spurned with the heeles Deut. 32.15 It is an opinion that fat men get sooner the corporal Plague then the leane macilent experience teacheth that the body of this Realme through his long prosperity beeing waxeÌ„ fat grosse hath got the spiritual plague There is a disease in the body called a Lethargy or sleepinesse which disease hants commonly grosse and fat men There hath beloued raigned in our soules a spiritual Lethargy in vs who were become fat by reason of our halcyonious daies It hath brought vs to wanton Babels estate and made vs tender delicate Es 4.7 or like to the vntamed heyfar by reason of our long running in plentifull pastures we haue forgotten to carry the sweete yoke of obedience and are become so dainty that we haue esteemed more the dinners of the world then the supper of the Lambe the Garlicke Onions of Aegipt then the milke hony of the land of promise Thus haue wee lost our spirituall appetites Wee may speake of our selues as PLINY speaketh of a certaine Countrie that ex siccitate lutum ex imbre puluerem c. drought hath caused durt and raine hath stirrid vp dust among vs for what hath the Sun-shine of his mercies but caused vs to lye in the myre of our abhominations what hath the moysture of his graces but euen dried vp the fountaine of grace in vs It is true of vs as of Rome that religio peperit diuitias et filia deuorauit matrem the blessing of the Gospel hath made them wealthy and the Daugther hath deuoured the Mother Our prosperitye hath made vs like to the springes in the suÌ„mer the more heate abroad the dryer they are or like vnto the Moone in our fulnesse wee haue been farthest froÌ„ the Sun of righteousnesse And yet the Lord hath all the day long stretched out his haÌ„ds vnto vs made as loÌ„g a day as euer he did to IOSVAH as long houres of the day as euer were shadowed vpon the Diall of AHAZ to prouoke our repeÌ„tance for the 12. houres of the day he hath giueÌ„ vs almost 4. times twelue yeres Esd 3.1 why haue wee theÌ„ takeÌ„ these his benefits with the left hand why haue they engendred in our soules the kings euill The old yeere theÌ„ being past and the new yeere come coÌ„sidering that this is our estate let this be ô England thy Arithmeticke to nuÌ„ber thy sins Marchant be not so busy to nuÌ„mber thy debts Lawyer thy clyents gentlemaÌ„ thy landes husbandman thy cattell captaine thy souldiers minister thy tithes as the sins of the old yeere that now this new yeere we may apply our hearts to wisdome And thus much for the first part The second part contayning the operation miserie and effect of the Kings Euil which was the Plague of the body Second part AS the sicknesse of the patient after that he hath followed his owne humour and appetite despising and reiecting the counsaile of the Phisition and taking in that which is hurtfull for him maketh him to smarte for it and produceth dangerous effects so hath it fallen out with DAVID who being strucken with the Plague of the soule and infected with the Satanicall aire and IOAB as a good Physition hauing giuen him counsaile how to preuent
preacheth also the Lords mercie to England and that in two things First that he hath not sent vnto vs the whole Trinitie of chastisements propounded vnto DAVID Secondly In that he hath not sent the heauiest of them three First our sins did deserue them all three together 1 Of the trinitie sending but one the famine and scarcitie of good workes famine and scarcitie of bread our fighting against the Lord the sword of the enemie the infection of the soule the infection of the body But the Lord who is mercifull hath called backe his anger and not stirred vp all his wrath Psal 78.38 The Low-countries may Preach the Lords mercie towardes England They haue sometimes felt at one time the trinitie of punishments and the former yeeres both warre and Pestilence wee in the meane time feeling but the rodde of DAVID Wee did I confesse expect a heauier judgement wee looked for nothing else but blood-shedding and fighting for a crowne behold we haue nothing but joye peace prosperitie and joyful ringing for a Crowne This our joy in the meane time being spysed with a litle bitternesse Secondly he hath not onely visited vs with one of the three 2 Sending not the heauiest but also with the sweetest and the best vsing not the rodde of reuenge but the scourge of correction And although our sinnes had deserued the heauiest yet he hath shewen to vs that mercie which he shewed to DAVID not suffering vs to fall into the handes of men If he had sent vs famine it would haue made many to haue morgaged their Landes to PHARAOS Gen. 47.20 to haue left the kingdome Gen. 12. Famine as the Prouerbe is is an euill counsellor when hunger had gryped vs it would haue egged men to thefts murthers deâ—eits Many would haue liued vppon the ayre and their owne moysture and so consumed away and in doing nothing to vse the saying of AVGVSTINE haue come to nothing Mothers you may be Preachers of Gods mercie if hee had sent a famine alas the tongue of the sucking childe had cleaued to the roofe of his mouth for thirst The yong children had asked bread no man should haue broken it vnto them And to vse further the words of IEREMIE the hands of the pittiful woman would haue sodden their own children as they did in the siege of Ierusalem Iam. 4.10 If he had sent vs hostile persecutioÌ„ Alas the vnmerciful souldier would haue laied opeÌ„ your hedges leauiled your houses with the ground emptied you yours of all their possessions Where had bin your cities your wiues your daughters where your temples your Prophets yea where your religion they would haue displayed the banner and set vp the ensigne of the Romish-beast erected the signes of their abhominatioÌ„s They would haue blaspheamed the God of Israel and said are these the Christians where is their God But nowe beloued they all remaine in their flowre prime the rod of DAVID hath not hindred vs to enter the temple nor the exercises of religion we see our signes and our prophets we enter into the house of the Lord with libertie of conscience there to behold her beautie Psal 27. and to adore the God of Israell in the spirit and trueth Wee strangers An apostrophe to strangers may also bee preachers ô Lorde of thy mercie in the middest of thy justice It is true thou hast much diminished the number of thy litle flock collected in this Kingdome yet better hath it bene for them that are exiled here for the name of thy Sonne for the testimony of thy eternal truth to haue falleÌ„ in thy hands then in the hands of meÌ„ of whose barbarous cruâ—lty both they their fore-fathers haue had experience and although they are buried in their exile yet thou hast transported theÌ„ in their heauenly father-land Thou which hast brought this vaine out of the Romish Egipt planted it in this land as in another Canaan make it fruiteful returne we beseech thee and now visite it in thy mercie and wee will not goe backe from thee but cal vpon thy name I returne to thee ô LondoÌ„ preach thou also the Lords mercie he hath not vndon or dissolued thy coÌ„position nor couerd thee with brambles hee hath not vtterly destroyed thee as Babilon The great Niniuie Troy Ierusalem and the rest of which wee may truely say O iam periere ruina the verie ruines of them are gone to ruine thou standest yet and I hope shalt flourish as much as thou euer didst if the former iudgement mooue thee to repentance I will conclude with a paradoxe Mercie we had desired the former yeere and mercy hee hath also shewen the former yeere A paradoxe the trueth whereof the euent of the former yeere hath manifested yea by the sending of the Plague The Lord hath heard our prayers If this seeme strange to you beloued I will expound the paradoxe In the beginning of the yeere when that Noble Princesse Elizabeth of famous memory fell sicke during her disease wee mourned sighed and lamented We were heauie and much troubled many righteous soules prayed vnto the Lord and in their prayers desired two thinges of the Lord first that if she should come to die that hee would not suffer them to fall into the hands of men Secondly that hee would bee mercyfull to Sion and not dispearse and scatter them but gather keepe together his church and beholde the Lord hath heard our prayers he hath not suffered vs to fal into the hands of men he hath sent a pestilence by which we are fallen into his handes for what is the Plague but a fall into God his hands according to the definition of DAVID Further he hath not dispersed but rather called and gathered many of vs vnto himselfe for what is death else but a gathering vnto our fathers a departure vnto God The Lord hath called many of his children froÌ„ Schoole froÌ„ the Schoole of this world where they had learned no good he hath called them to that heauenly vniuersity Many had desired to see the tryumphes of the cittie but the Lord in his mercy hath made them to see a better tryumph in that permanent Cittie and heauenly Ierusalem Many had desired to see the Coronation of their newe Prince but the Lord in hss mercy hath made theÌ„ to see a better Coronation the Coronation of the Prince of glorie of the true SALOMON Christ Iesus yea he hath made many the royall priest-hood Apo. 1. Thus theÌ„ beloued of LONDON I haue amplyfied vnto you the mercy of the Lord which hath onely staied the Angels sword or else it would haue gone forward There is no comparison betwixt the mercy of God and the mercy of men It is reported that MARCELLVS after that his souldiers had conquered SIRACVSA not without the great slaughter of many was so compassionate ouer them that hee went vp to the highest Towre in the Castle with teares lamented the
this robe as the Ap. exhorteth Cast off lying and speake euery man trueth vnto his neighboure Zeph. 4-25 The thirde sorte of indumentes Garments to put off which with the old yeere wee must put off to take in this medicine are according to the counsayle of the Apostle Col. 3.8 put yee away wrath anger cursed speaking and filthie speaking out of your mouth The fourth is hate for as loue is the liuerie of a christian as Tertullian tearmeth it so hate and enuie is the badge and liuerie of Sathan an ornament of the prince of darkenesse The fift is hypocrisie and dissimulation 1. Pet. 2-1 Lay aside all guile and dissimulation The sixt the robes of curiositie vanitie and pride and facion not your selues like vnto this world Rom. 12-2 Wiues it is the Apostles precepte 1. Pet. 3.3 bee subiecte to your husbandes and let not your apparelling be outward as with broyded hayre and golde put about or in putting on of apparell Sicke men which are to take in medicines for their bodily health which are cast down vpon theyr beds take no care for the adorning and attyring of their bodies neither doe take pride in theyr apparell but cloathe themselues as patientes and sicke men euen so seeing wee are infected and sicke of the plague of sinne and that wee are to take in this medicine for to recouer our spirituall health shall wee busie our selues to adorne and trimme vppe these mortall bodies and take delight in these outward ornaments Alas sinne and shame were the first taylors that shaped ADAMS garments and the garmentes on our backes they are signes that we are sick with the plague of the soule For as the bill and red crosse vpon the doore is a token that that house is infected with the Plague euen so the garments vpon our backes are as a bill and red crosse shewing that the houses of our hearts with our whole bodie are infected with the plague of sinne Should he not be accounted foolish who should glorie himselfe of the red crosse vpon his doore It is maintained by the vulgar experience that the bodily plague doth or can lye sticke in the apparell and by this meanes that others are infected whether this be true or no I can not affirme But this is certaine that there is a plague which lyeth and sticketh in the apparell the plague of strange fashions of curiositie vanitie and pride which plague infecteth others It is also maintained that the plague can be brought out of other contries in the apparel wares and merchandises whether this also bee true I will not dispute but this we may affirme that the plague of pride curiositie vanitie and strange fashions is brought out of other countries into England as out of Italy Spaine and Fraunce and so infecteth vs English-men If wee shunne the garment which is suspected of bodily infection shall not wee fly from the induements which are stained with the spirituall contagion Let vs not then giue countenance by them vnto our beggery alas what is their nature they are but the painting of a graue or whiting of a rotten wall the couer and case to a lumpe of mortall flesh they make vs honourable in the sight of men but worke no reuerence or estimation before the Lord of Hostes And yet good God how are wee degenerated from our father ADAM When God made apparell for man hee made it but of the skinnes of beastes but now this fashion is quite out of fashion we robbe al the creatures of the world to adorn vs by taking from some their wool from some their skins frō others their fur frō some their very excrements rather then we wil be vnfurnished of any thing we will not sticke to diue into the verie bottome of the sea for pretious stones O how many are there of those fooles of which Bias speaketh He that wasteth much to followe euery fashion may bee called the Mercers friend the Tailors foole and his owne foe Many doe erre in the taking in of this Kings medicine and bring other guises and shewes in repentance but as for vs there must bee in vs not DAVIDS Iewish putting on but his penitent putting off Lustie gallants if yee will take in the kings medicine for this yeare you must put off your Absolons haire painted Iesabels you can not take it in with your painted faces open breasts monstrous verdingales long staring ruffes ruffianly lockes Daintie dames if you will vse this medicine you must not gird your selues so straight to bee fine and small but you must girde and pinch the loynes of your mindes Royall citizens Luke 12. if you will take in this royall medicine you must put off your princely furniture your wanton disdainefull superfluous sailes of pride wherein yee esteeme not warmth but the colour and die wearing them for their price more then necessitie They are as AVGVSTVS the Emperour of Rome termeth them vexillum superbiae nidusque luxuriae the banner of pride neast of riotousnesse The cause of Gods anger against vs and which hath brought many to shame and beggery hath it not beene their backe and their bellie Let vs therefore crush these vipers and not suffer them any longer to liue amongst vs. This excesse hath beene one of the two daughters of the horse-leach which hath suckt the bloode of the whole lande and consumed in vaine the substance of manie and therefore let vs crosse it in our repentance And as BENADAD 1. Reg. 20. hauing receiued an ouerthrowe of an hundred thousande foote-men vpon that miserie wherewith hee and his seruantes were toucht his seruantes saide we haue heard that the Kinges of ISRAEL are mercifull kings let vs put on sackcloath and ropes about our heads and goe to the king of Israel c euen so ô England hauing receiued the former yeare an ouerthrowe of many thousands by the Lords Angell and knowing that the God of Israell is a mercifull God leaue your prince-like furniture goe vnto him that you may receiue mercie To conclude this point whensoeuer we see the Lord is angry let vs imitate ABIGAIL 1◠Sam. 25. who perceiuing Dauid to be angry arose and went to meete him with a present to appease his wrath and laded her asses with two bottles of wine and frailes of raisons euen so let vs lade our bodies and sinful carcasses which we haue vsed as Asses to beare the huge burthen of our sinnes with fasting sackcloath mourning which are the armour of repentance Le◠our eyes bee as two bottles of wine to carrie with vs the teares whereof wee may drinke to comfort vs in the assurance of Gods mercie le◠vs present our broken and contrite hartes the which hee will receiue kindly at our hands and lay his sworde downe and bid vs to returne in peace vnto our houses And thus much for the Robes of the olde yeare which wee must pu◠off 2 The garments for this newe yeare which vve
this sacrifice publikely in the congregation in our streetes in our houses let vs fill our meetings and conferences with this heauenly harmonie and sweete sounding melodie Prouoke one another citizens to praise the Lord for his miraculous deliuerance Vp yee families vppe yee parents vp yee children vp euery particular soule whome the lord by the shadowing wings of his mercie hath preserued Ministers preach it in your Temples sing it in your streetes rich men write it vpon your doore postes paint it vpon your walles cut with an Adamant vpon the tables of your hearts You neede such remembrances for memorie as SENECA writeth is most delicate tender and brittle and soone forgetteth a benefit Citizens neitheir eate or drinke without this condiment to it The Lord bee praised for our deliuerance Daintie Dames let the frontlets beteene your eyes the bracelets vpon your armes and the gards vpon your garmentes bee thanks-giuing 24. Elders of the citie sing with the 24. Elders Reuel 4.10 Praise honour and glorie be vnto him that sitteth vpon the throne It is hee onely not our prudence our phisitions the colde or the frost but as the Prophet speaketh Saluation is the Lords Here is an excellent posie and Epiphoneme Beloued of London I haue a suite vnto you if you doe erect your tryumphant arches against the entrie of him of whome wee may say as the Israelites did of Dauid Psalm 118. Blessed is hee that commeth in the name of the Lord forget not among the rest to adorne theÌ„ with Posies preaching the Lords mercies in this your deliuerance and to write this Saluation is the Lords write it in the Calender of Gods deliuerances and leaue a Chronicle of it to all posterity As for the newe yeare let the accustomed Lord of misrule and your vnlawful sports be banished and bring it ouer in the praises of him who hath deliuered you Shew your spirituall deuotions in the openest places as Dauid built an Altar in the threshing floore of Araunah Lastly offer vp this sacrifice not onely for your selues like vnto the Athenians who woulde offer sacrifice onely for their owne citie and their neighbours of Chios but for the whole bodie for the father for the mother for the daughters And thus much for the third kinde of sacrifice 4 Our children The fourth and last kinde of sacrifice are our children which must bee offered vp this newe yeare vnto the Lord. This concerneth you ô Christian parents Many haue offered them a long while some to Sathan teaching them the language of Sathan to sweare lye and blaspheeme some to the world and the pride therof bringing them vp in all voluptuousnesse delicious fare others to theft oppression and deceipt for which the Lords anger hath bene prouoked and hath also beene a part of our deserued pestilence Bring them therfore better vp then you haue done and as the wise man exhorteth Ec. 7.23 If thou haue sonnes instruct them and holde their neck from their youth If thou haue daughters keepe their bodies Worthy is the saying of Ferus Let vs learne to offer vp our children vnto the Lord non occidendo c. not murthering and slaying them as they did the beasts in the law but bringing them vp in the feare of God and accustoming them to religious exercises for this is a sacrifice acceptable to God Parents seeke rather to leaue your children honest then wealthy for which preposterous care Crates the Theban would deride manie if he liued that your children watch not for your death as the Eagles for a carcasse Families are the fountaines of all common-weals purge the fountaines that the streames may bee cleane And as the Israelites after that the slaying Angell was departed and had spared their children Exo. 13 offered sanctified vnto the Lord all the first borne euen so the lords slaying Angel being departed let vs offer saÌ„ctifie vnto the lord not onely our first borne but all the progenie by good instructions wholsom admonitions keeping them froÌ„ the infection of this world Further as you must saÌ„ctifie them so forget not the sacrifice of good Iob to sacrifice offer your prayers also for theÌ„ Iob. 1.5 shewing therby your religious care for them These are then the foure kindes of sacrifices the â—â—crifice of the heart of the mouth of the hand of the wombe which this newe yeare we must offer vp vnto the lord in the ceasing of the Pestilence Differre not to offer them but as Abraham rose vp earely in the morning in the beginning of the day to sacrifice his sonne euen so beloued of London rise vp early to offer theÌ„ in the verie morning beginning of the yeare A new yeares gift for England to bestowe vpon the Lord. And thus I haue absolued the Kings Medicine Now because it is the manner that one friend bestoweth a newe yeares gift vpon another giue mee leaue belooued of England to shewe vnto you out of the whole frame of the precedent discourse a newe yeares-gift to bestowe vpon the best friende wee haue If ye are desirous to knowe it it is the repentance of King DAVID vnto the bestowing of which three reasons ought to perswade vs. First the reliques of the Kings euill and of the spirituall Plague which yet remaine in vs that it may serue as a medicine to heale them Secondly the prints markes and reliques of the corporall Plague which in some places yet are to be seen that it may serue as a spiritual weapon to chase and driue them from among vs. Thirdly the decreasing of the pestilence in the mother citye from whence the other members receiue their maintenance as the senses and nerues of the bodie from the heade that seeing the Lord hath answered repentance with repentance we may againe returne repentance for repentance Holy and commendable hath beene your zeale and diligence Reuerend Elders of the English Israell that yee haue sanctified a fast blowen the trumpet in Sion called a solemne assembly gathered the Elders and all the inhabitants of the Land into the house of the Lord. Ioel. 1.14 Great hath also beene your obedience blessed inhabitants of this Land that yee haue all come togither mourned togither fasted and cryed togither and the Lord graunt repented togither Beholde therefore the blessed fruites of your zeale diligence and obedience the wrath of the Lord appeased his hand hath not beene shortned that hee coulde not helpe neither his goodnesse abated that hee woulde not heare Wisd 11. And to vse the wordes of that hony Father BERNAD you haue founde honie in the Lyon mercie in the feareful God of heauen I finde that verified among vs which Socrates found in the Lacedemonians who perceiuing that in certaine wars betweene the Athenians and them the Athenians offered much gold vnto their Idols and yet departed still beaten out of the field asked the Oracle what might be the cause of it It was answered that the praiers of the Lacedemonians preuailed more then
the golde of the Athenians Euen so I may say that the prayers of the Church of England haue preuailed more then the gold of the Papists and more than if we had presented with the wisemen golde Incense and Myrrhe Math. 2 and that for these the Lords Angell is departed This mercie and bountifulnesse of the Lord doth call vs all this newe yeare vnto repentance 1 The tribe of Iudah First it doth appeale vnto you ô Royall Court ô tribe of Iudah in honour degree and dignitie the first as you offer vnto the Prince a newe yeares-gift so forget not to offer this present to the Prince of Heauen Doe homage vnto the King of Heauen who rideth vpon the wings of the Cherubins bowe the neckes of your soules before the throne of his maiestie put on the royal garment of King DAVID and take in this year a Kings medicine for the soule a royall medicine becommeth a royall Court Honourable Counsellors meditate the lawe of the most high and vse King Dauids counsellors Psalm 119.24 Great men let your wils not bee inordinate and hauing the raignes of dominion in your hands proclaime not with Nero My authoritie giueth mee license to doe all things gouerne by lawe and not by lust Noble peeres take heede of the sinne of Zimri Numb 25.14 Possesse you vessels in holinesse and honour and not in the lust of cōcupiscence 1. Thessa 4. You that are in high places bee patient of iniuries forget nothing but iniuries as Caesar esteeme with Theodosius a Christian Emperour that yee haue receiued a benefit as often as yee are entreated to forgiue or say with Marcus Cato vnto him that smote him beeing now desirous to make amends I remember not that I was smitten For as Lactantius speaketh Ira mortalium debet esse mortalis the anger of mortall men must bee mortall You that haue adorned and imbossed your speaches with oathes come out of this humour esteeme them not the humour of gentilitie nor an ornament to your discourses chāge blasphemies into prayers and let your tongues bee bels to sound the praises of him who hath deliuered vs. Let not the voluptuous pamper themselues more in carnall delights nor sport themselues with sinne as Sampson with Dalilah let them shake it off and not account this world a siluer shrine Painted Dames bee contented with the naturall colour of your Creator Altogither bee not senselesse at the former stroke of Gods hammer but spend your time in the royall pastime of King Dauid 2 The tribe of Leuie Secondly the bountifulnesse of the Lord doth appeale vnto you ô tribe of Leui. Giue vnto the Lord this newe yeares gift Prophets take in this yeare a Prophets medicine Reuerend fathers and Elders prostrate your selues with DAVID and the Elders of Israel and as the holy Ghost exhorteth you Act. 20.28 Take heede vnto your selues and to all the flocke whereof the holy Ghost hath made you ouerseers to feede the Church of God which hee hath purchased with his owne bloode You the other Prophets bee vnreproueable watching sober modest harberous apt to teach not giuen to wine or filthy lucre 1. Tim. 3.2 Vnto you that are in the office of Archippus Col. 4.17 it is also saide Take heede to the ministerie that thou hast receiued in the Lord that thou fulfill it It is a worke not a play onus non honos a burthen not an honour a seruice not a vacancy You that should guide others to the Land of promise come not short your selues Wee that build Arkes for others let vs not bee drowned our selues Wee that are the Lords Seers let vs not bee blinde wee that are the Lords Cryers let vs not bee dumbe and tongue-tide and because sinne is impudent and cannot blush let vs from hence-forward arme our selues not with the speare but with the zeale of Phinees for the gentle spirit of Eli is not sufficient to mende children past grace let vs not put hony into the sacrifice in steade of salt but bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sonnes of thunder You the two Vniuersities 3 The two Vniuersities obtain in this rank the third place vnto you also the Lords bountifulnesse doth appeale giue vnto him this excellent newe yeares-gift children of the Prophets take one another by the hande yee two sisters and say with DAVID wee haue also done foolishly O Lord. Let the Kings medicine come among you take it in against the kings euill Your schooles haue beene broken vp the former yeare the newe yeare beeing come breake the strength of sinne that the Lords Angell disperse you not againe You that should bee fountaines and welsprings of good life to others bee not dryed vp that if men seeke for the water of life at your hands they returne not with an emptie pitcher or else as Iob speaketh 13.4 You are Physitions of no value Sende forth skilfull Bezaleels and Aholiabs filled with the spirit of Wisdome and vnderstanding to worke with all the wise-hearted all manner of workmanship for the seruice of the Lords Sanctuarie for the vniting of the Saints and for the edification of the mysticall bodie of Christ Iesus that from you the two heades as the pretious ointment from the head of Aaron was deriued vnto the very skirts of his garments many pretious oyntments may be deriued to all the members of the Kingdome Lastly because the haruest is great suffer your selues to bee thrust into the haruest Fourthly it appealeth to you that obtaine the fourth place 4 Magistrates and Iudges and who are the politicall Elders the Iudges and magistrates Present vnto the magistrate and Iudge of heauen and earth this newe yeares gift and take also in the Kings medicine for this present yeare You haue ordained and prescribed the former yeare good orders for the staying of the bodily infection shewe now your diligence to prescribe good orders for the staying of the spirituall infection Bee rather desirous of the maintenance of good lawes and reformation of manners then of honour preferre the weale-publike before your priuate good take heede of the spirituall Plague First bee not louers of giftes which blinde the eyes Deut. 18.21 Secondly differre and delay not to giue iudgement in the righteous cause and if yee can doe your neighbour good to day say not to him come to morrowe Prouerb 3.28 Viewe your selues in Iob that right paterne of a good Iudge Iob. 31. Let your sentence bee to the oppressed as the comfortable raine to the thirsty ground Iob. 29.23 Thirdly haue not respect of persōs in iudgemēt Deut. 1.17 hear the small as well as the great fear not the face of man You are the pillers Ps 75.3 If the pillers be weakned if the nail be broken or the strong mē bow themselues the house the burden all falleth that leaneth vpon them By the way it speaketh to you also lawyers Lawiers men of counsell magistrates attedāts offer vp also this newyeers gift to the Lord