Chaunceller red it before the king he rent his clothes his hart melted and he humbled himselfe before God and he clensed the temple of God from idolatrie and he◠gathered all his people from the greatest to the smalest as the Scripture saith 2. Chro. 34. and hee red in their eares all the wordes of the booke of the couenaunt that was found in the house of the Lord. And the king stood by the Piller made a couenaunt before the Lord to walk after the Lord to keepe his cōmaundemēts his testimonies his statutes with all his hart with al his soule and that he would accōplish the wordes of the couenant written in the same booke And he caused all that were found in Ierusalem Beniamin to stand to it And the inhabitātes of Ierusalem did according to the couenant of God euen the God of their fathers Hitherto the words of the Scripture What a blessed state was in Iuda and Beniamin then when the harts of the Prince people melted at the word of God were knit in one to serue God according to his law their Soueraigne in true fidelitie according to it How good comely a thing is it as the Prophet Dauid saith for brethren to dwell together in vnitie Psal 133 It is like the precious oyntment vpon the head that ran down vpon the beard euen vnto Aarons beard vnto the skirtes of his clothing c. So far Dauid And if this we ioyne our hartes together to serue God in true faith and our Prince in true loyaltie and fidelity we shal find cōfort helpe frō God God wil blesse the prince for the people the people for the Prince forraine enemies wil feare traitors wil trēble rebels wil be ready to run into caues dens seditious persons wil shrink in their owne secret imaginatious Psal 58. the wicked ones like snayles shall be readie to melt away in their owne wicked wayes as the prophet praieth they may Thus how acceptable a thing it is to God when the people ioyne their hartes together in the true faith to God harty fidelity to their Prince The 5. is of Dauid his loyaltie and fidelitie to the royal person of king Saul The 5. cheefe matter notwithstanding he sought his life While Dauid was yet a subiect to king Saul The Example of Dauid his loyaltie to the person of king Saul 2. Sam. 24. by the euil spirite sent of God on him he was so incensed against Dauid that he chased him as abird from couert to couert to deuoure him His spies hunted him and they told him behold Dauid is in the wildernesse of Engaddi and the men of Ziph brought him tidings that Dauid lurked in the hill of Hachilah by them Psal 11. And how say yee saith he as some lay downe the words in the Psalme to my soule that shee should flye as a bird to the hill Yet notwithstanding he was thus chased for life and driuen out to the vttermost and put on his garde for safety of life yet he bare such loue loyaltie and fidelitie to the royall person of his Prince that when God eftsoones had put him into his handes he would suffer none of his retinue or garrison to offer violence vnto him 2. Sam. 24. For he said the Lorde keepe me from doing that thing vnto the Lordes annoynted to lay my handes vpon him for he is the annoynted of the Lorde And with these words he quailed his owne seruantes which said vnto him See the day is come which the Lord said vnto thee Behold I will deliuer thy enemies into thy hande and thou shalt doe to them as seemeth good to thee But Dauid would suffer none of his men to lay hands on him euen when hee came as it were into his mouth into the caue to ease himself Dauid saued kinge Saules life in the caue wher Dauid his men were hid in the inward partes thereof And his men said now is the day c. And they were sharpe set euen to haue torne him with their teeth And if Dauid in the plung had not pacified his men and garded the person of his Prince which notwithstanding persecuted him to death king Saul had bene dispatched of them And an other time God put king Saul into his handes Dauid saued king Saules life being asleepe in the campe 1. Sam. 26. when Dauid came vpon him as he was a sleepe and the people lay round about him And Abishai said to Dauid God hath closed thy enimie in thy hand this daye I pray thee let me smite him once with a speare to the earth and I wil not smite him againe And Dauid saide to Abishai distroy him not for who can lay his hand on the Lords annointed be giltlesse And he tooke the kings speare and the pot of water from Sauls head and from the toppe of a hill he cryed to Abner the captaine of Sauls hoast and to the people This is not well done of thee as the Lorde liueth ye are worthy to die because you haue not kept your maister the Lordes annoynted and now see where the kinges speare is and the pot of water that was at his head And Saules hart rued he said I haue sinned come againe my son Dauid for I will do thee no more harme because my soule was precious to thy eyes this day Behould I haue done foolishly and haue erred exceedingly So farre the Scripture Thus king Sauls life was precious to Dauid though hee did persecute him to death because he was his Soueraigne Lord placed of God in the royall seate His priuate causes and oppressions he commited to God abyding his pleasure and leasure and as his prouidence shoulde dispose of him and them But he cold not frame his hart either himselfe or to suffer any other vnder his regiment to offer any violence to the person of his Prince notwithstanding they were in armes and had him at their deuotions And his conscience was so tender touching his loyaltie to the person of his Prince that when in the caue mentioned before he had cut off but a lappet of Sauls garment in signe that God had put his life into his handes he was touched in his heart after as the Scripture saieth because he thought he had bene to bold with his Prince 1. Sam. 24. Dauid resolute loyaltie Though he were cast out of his protection yet so he abhorred treasons violence against the person of his Prince that he was resolute whatsoeuer should become of him not for the winning of his kingdome to the person of his Prince 2. Sam. 26. or sauing his own life to do or suffer violence to be done to his person For this was his resolutiō touching the person of his Prince As the Lorde liueth saith he either the Lorde shall smite him or his day shall come to die or he shal goe downe to battail and perish
The Lorde keepe me from laying my hand vpon the Lords annoynted So far the Scripture Dauid honored king Saul in the field though he pursued him to death 1. Sam. 24. And humbly hee honoured the person of his Prince euen in the feild and amides the forces furniture of warres For after he came out of the caue where he had so much adoe to qualifie the rage of his souldiers and restrain them from running vpon king Saul he cryed after Saul saying O my Lord the king And when Saul loked behind him Dauid inclined himselfe to the earth and bowed him as the Scripture sayth and after spake to him Notwithstanding that kinge Saule continually sought his blood and in armour lay in the feild against him yet hee honoured the person of his Prince in the middest of the warres And his person was so precious in his sight that he coulde suffer no bodilie harme or violence to be done to him insomuch hee had remorse for cutting off the lappet of his garment What hartes then or rather what addamantes in steed of hartes Zacha. 7. haue they as the prophet Zacharie saith of the Iewes which liuing vnder the peace and protection of so mercifull a Prince can finde in their hartes so much as to thinke any trecherie or violence to her royall person who hath bene so good a mother of her countrie and so pitifull a nurse of the Church of God Epist ad Philemone by whom the bowels of Gods saintes haue beene refreshed as of Philemon Paul sayth and who hath fostered her faithfull subiectes in the blessings and benifites of God which so aboundantly vnder her gouernment so many yeeres God hath bestowed vpon vs. If therefore there be any remorse of conscience to God and his ordinance if there be any bowels of good nature in vs to our naturall and leige Soueraigne if there be any valew of true worthinesse in vs let vs shewe our loue loyaltie and hartie fidelitie to her and honour her royall person as Dauid did the person of his Prince and gard her from al violence in respect of Gods ordinance and the manifold blessinges which vnder her so manie yeeres we haue receaued and that God may blesse vs for our loyaltie and honoring the person of our Prince as he did blesse his faithful seruant Dauid Though his loyalty seemed to be lost touching king Saul yet it was not lost with God for Gods blessngs more abundantly followed fell on him Beside Dauids loyaltie to king Saul was a comfort to him in his troubles 1. Sam. 26. he found such comfort of conscience by it in his troubles that he said to king Saul Behould like as thy life was much set by this day in my eies when he came on him as he lay fast a sleepe so let my life be set by in the eyes of the Lorde that he may deliuer me out of al tribulations So the loyaltie that he shewed to his Prince in respect of God he found aboundantly againe with comforte of conscience in his greatest troubles and his owne life was precious is the sight of God Abigael As Abigael the vertuous woman said to him The soule saith she of my Lord shal be bound in a bundel of life with the Lorde thy God 1. Sam. 25. and the soule of thy enemies shall God cast out as out of the middle of a slinge What comforte and encouragement may this bee to the hartes of true subiectes to their Prince since God blesseth loyaltie and it is a comforte to the conscience in troubles and as their Prince is precious in their sight so for their loyaltie their owne life is more precious in the sight of God Besides this Dauids comfort in the righteousnes of his cause 2. Sam. 25. Dauid tooke comforte of the vprightnesse and innocencie of his cause and thereof hee saide The Lorde rewarde euery man according to his righteousnesse for the Lorde hath deliuered thee into my handes and I would not lay my handes vpon the Lordes annoynted So farre the Scripture And before he said to Saul when he saued his life in the caue 1. Sam. 24. vnderstand and see that there is neither euill nor wickednesse in me yet thou huntest after my soule to take it The Lord bee iudge betweene thee and me and auenge thee of me and let not my hand be vpon thee So farre the Scripture God tooke the iudgment into his handes and deliuered Dauid and auenged his cause of Saul So God hath taken of late the iudgment of the cause into his handes and hath deliuered our gracious Prince reuenged her cause of her enemies the vprightnesse and innocency of her cause is great comfort to her in the sight of God God vouchsafe long as Abigael said to Dauid to binde her soule in a bundle of life and long to locke vppe her life from all her enemies as a iewell of comfort to his Church and our Countrie Thus of the example of Dauid his loyaltie and fidelitie to the person of king Saul notwithstanding he persecuted him to death and howe God blessed him for it The Sixt is the example of the famous fidelitie of one Lylla a Briton and heathen man The 6. cheefe matter in the defence of the royall person of his Prince As I haue layed out at large the example of the loyaltie and fidelitie of Dauid to the person of king Saul so I will set downe breefely the example and fidelitie of one Lylla a Briton in the defence of the royall person of his Prince Fabian in his Cronicle of Englande the 5. part cap. 130. When Edwin king of Northumberland at a Citie beside the water of Darwent in Darbishire being smallie accompanied was sodenly assailed of a murderer and swordman as Fabian calleth him by Quincelinus kinge of the West Saxons hired to it Lylla a Briton his famous fidelity in the defence of the person of his Prince who ranne on him with a sworde that was enuenimed one Lylla the kinges trusty seruant vnarmed and disgarnished of weapon thrust his bodye betweene the traytors sword and the king and saued the king his life with losse of his owne And yet through the bodie of Lylla with the thruste of the sword the king was wounded also because the wound was poysoned it was more hardlie cured A worthy example of famous fidelitie in defence of the royall person of the Prince worthy to liue in the memorie of al faithfull subiectes as a glasse to be set before their eyes to encourage and emboulâ—eÌ„ them as a walle to set their bodies bowels in defence of the royal person of their Prince against the swords of al traytors enemies Though Lylla be dead in person many huÌ„derd yeeres since yet his loyaltie liueth still in the bowels of faithfull subiectes ready to thrust their bodies against the swordes of all traytors and enemies to the royall person of their
Prophe R. Saadias reporteth the Eagle once in tenne yeres to mount so neere the globe of the Sun that hee syngeth his old feathers that after they come vp newe But daungerous mounting it is where not only they synge their feathers and consume their worldly goods but consume their liues and bodies also It is safe going on foot as God hath giuen to man But if hee wyll needes flie or mount aboue the possibilitie of his estate The Diuell prepareth wings for those that wil mount soone commeth he to fall The Diuell as Dedalus will make him winges but they will melt before the Sunne of the eternall prouidence of God Diuelishe Dedalus of Rome hath prouided winges for many but in mounting sodainlie they are fallen They faile alwayes in the vp-shoote and their fruite is but a vayne thing Cicero saieth to Catelin the Captaine of the conspiracie against the state of Rome Fuisti apud Leccam Thou wast saieth hee at Lecca his house Catelin his Cōsorts night haunts noting his and other his consorts night haunt and desciphering their plats and discouering all their practises with their mounting and aspiring minds but their weake winges fastened on as it were with waxe sodainly melted the fruite of all their practises was but a lie or vaine thing The secretes of traitors are written in their foreheads Dan. 15. Balthasar And al the secretes of their plats and pacts was by Gods prouidence so laide open as if they had been written in their foreheads For hee that caused the hand from heauen to write on the wall when king Balthasar was at his banquet by marueilous meanes also doeth lay open the secret plats of treasons as if they wer set on their foreheads It is a wonder to see how when they come before Magistrates and the seat of Gods iudgement on earth by their wordes gestures looks and other signes they are desciphered A guiltie cōscience will shew it self ◠Reg. 9. As Iezabell when shee had painted her selfe shewed her selfe out at a window when Iehu the Magistrate set vp of God to execute his iudgements came vnto Iezrael so giltie conscience though outwardlye it bee painted with pretence of excuses yet in countenance wordes and other circumstances as at a window wil shew it selfe and before Magistrates bewray it selfe Cicero of traitors accusing themselues by lookes gestures c. Therefore Cicero said of the conspiratours against the estate when they came to examination that they needed none others to accuse them for by their hanging lookes wordes and gestures they did accuse one another and betrayed themselues It is like to greeuous sicknesses rooted in the verie bones and marrowes which yet by venemous vapours whose nature is to ascende shewe themselues in the faces foreheads and highest parts of the infected persons so the sicknesse Eliphantiasis Elephantiasis because it sheweth it selfe in the forehead like the Lions rough wrinkled hide or pelt is called Leontiasis Leontiasis Satyriasis it is called Satyriasis because it sheweth it selfe in the face like the ouglie face of Satyres So the ougly sicknesse of treasons though it be rooted in the marrowes and bones yet it sheweth it selfe in their very face and foreheads Psal 13◠There is no hiding of them though they could hide them as deep as hell for euen there is the power of God As Dauid saith whither shall I goe saith hee from thy spirit and whither shall I go from thy presence By marueilous meanes God bringeth suche thinges to light Eccle. 10 The birds of the ayre will bewray them as Salomon saieth carrie the voice that shall accuse thē Curse not the Prince saith hee no not in thy thought nether curse the rich in thy bed chamber for the foule of the aire shal carrie thy voice that with halfe wings shall declare it So farre Salomon By extraordinarie and merueylous meanes euen as though the foules of the ayre shoulde carrie the voice Gods prouidence discouereth such things before the facts and turneth the fruite of them to lies and vaine matters Thus howe common experience sheweth howe the fruite that traitors and such bring foorth is but a lie or a vaine thing The 5. principall matter What is the end of treasons rebellions and such like wickednesse DAuid expresseth the ende of such wicked persons in these words He hath made a pit and digged it and is fallen into the pitte that he made his mischiefe shall returne vpon his owne head and his wickednesse shall fall vppon his owne pate Hitherto the Prophet Dauid Hee resembleth the end of such wicked persons to one that graueth a pit and falleth into it whose mischiefe returneth on his owne pate If they would way their wicked plats in the wisedome of God by his worde they woulde not digge such pittes for their ownd plats are like pits to swallow them vp as the practise of stories in all ages doth confirme ◠Sam. 31. Did it not so fall out with the malicious trauaile of king Saul which drawed his sworde on guiltlesse king Dauid and by the iust iudgement of God hee died on his owne sworde and with his owne hande 2. Sam. 18. The Philistines saieth hee according to his first plats shall deuoure him in the warres and my hand shall not bee on him and after in the Philistines warres hee was so distressed himselfe that fearing to be deuored of them hee deuoured himselfe so hee fell into the pit that oee made for other So Absalon the traitor and rebell against his owne father 2. Sam. 18. without the hand of man was hanged at a tree the iudgement was from heauen the executiō on earth Ioab as hee hanged thrust dartes into his heart and his bodie was cast into a great pit in the wood and they laide a mightie great heape of stones vpon him So hee digged a pit for Dauid and was cast into it himselfe Achitophell the traitor to Dauid likewise had no other hangman but his owne hand to hang himselfe 2. Sam. 18. his heart was false to his soueraigne his hand was not true to himself Shebah the traiterous rebell had his head flung ouer the wall 2. Sam. 20. as he deuided the head from the members in the ciuill bodie so his head was deuided from his owne members in his owne bodie and his wickednesse was turned on his head Act. 1. Iudas betrayed Iesus Christe our master his bodie brake and his bowels ranne out Dathan Coraah and Abiram rebelled against Moses the earth opened swallowed thē vp aliue Moses cried before Depart from the tents of these wicked men Num. 16 and touch nothing of theirs least you perish in all their sinnes God graunt that Moses cry may be in the heartes and eares of all subiects to her Maiestie that they depart frō all Traitours Rebels and such like that they touch nothing of their plats and practises Traitours reward Ro.
of Godlie and louing affections of faithfull subiectes to her Maiestie and howe such Godlie affections are of God and are accepted of him In the very beginning of my discourse the louing and dutiful affections of faithfull subiectes in the discouerie of traytors against the royal person of her Maiestie and our CouÌ„tree doth offer themselues to my remembrance and deserueth good memorie and commendation of al that beare true hartes to her Maiestie When did euer the heartes of faithfull subiectes more melte at the tender mercie of God in the deliuerance of their Prince 2. Tim. 4. As if they had seene her plucked out of the Lions mouth as Paul sayeth of himselfe Psal 18. or drawne out of the gulfe of many waters as Dauid of himselfe sayeth Dan. 3. Or saued out of Nabuchadnezzers furnace which he had prepared for the three seruantes of God God sent his Angell to saue his seruantes in the middest of it Dan. 6. as also to stoppe the mouthes of ramping Lions in the denne Hester 7. where Daniel was in the middest of them God deliuered Hester the Godlie Queene with her kinred and people from the cruell conspiracie of Haman And godlie Iudith from the rage of Olophernes Iud. 13. 2. Sam. 18. And Kinge Dauid from the treasons of Absalon and out of their blody hands which would haue eaten vp his fleshe Psal 27. according to his owne words And his most tender mercie also woonderfully hath deliuered Elizabeth our gracious Queene as most ioyfully we haue seene of late Therefore her louing subiectes so well in London as otherwhere haue shewed signes of thankeful ioy by singing of Psalmes to God making of Bonefires in streetes ringing of Belles and such like vsual signes of publike ioy and triumphe of people But one thing passeth all that wee haue seene the louing affections of faithful subiectes to her Maiestie which as a fier burned inwardly in their heartes and bowels as outwardlie the fiers did in the streetes And these in true valewe and estimation passe all triumphes It is in common practise by Beacons and markes of fiers to giue warning to countries of inuasion of enemies And the councell of the learned is in common infections and plauges Io. Palmariâ—s de febri pestili lib. 1. cap. 11. for purging of the infected ayre from pestilent vapors not onely to make open fiers but arromaticall sweete and fragrant fiers with sweete Woodes Hipocrates Herbes Oyles and such like As they write that Hippocrates did when by making of such sweete fiers God so disposing and working by him hee turned awaye the great plague mentioned of Thucidides which out of Ethiopia was by the ayre infected comming into Grecia And that Empedocles before him gaue the like councell Empedocles But there is no fier more effectuous to wake and warne the hartes of people against the comming of common enemies then the fier of true loue and fidelitie in their heartes and bowels to their Prince and which more is feared of their enemies and more purgeth the countrie of infectioÌ„s and practise of treasons and is like an arromatical and fragraÌ„t fier of sweete sacrifice in the sight of God For by this late daunger which the mercie of God hath turned away he hath stirred vppe the mindes and the verie bowels of tender affections in faithfull subiectes Gods goodnesse doth dispose of euils to the good of his Church and seruauntes Gods prouidence disposeth euils to the benefite of the faithfull Origen hom 14. in cap. 13 lib. Nume His prouidence ordereth all occurrentes in the world to the benefite of the faithfull Origen saith Omnia in hoc mundo sic sunt disposita vt nihil prorsus ociosum sit apud deum etiamsi malum illud sit etiamsi bonum All thinges saith he in this world are so disposed that with God nothing at all is idle whether the same be euill or good For God is the perfect workeman of all things as Augustine saieth August lib. 1 de naturae boni citatur ab Hugone car in cap 13. Epist ad Rom. Origen hom 14. cap. 23. in lib. Num. And with good thinges he intermedleth the euils by disposing the euil to good Origen saieth Maliciam deus non fecit sed cum ipsis a quibus habetur vtitur ea ad necessarias causas God saith he hath not made malice but he vseth it with those in whom it is to necessarie causes In the noble antidote or preseruatiue against poysons called Theriaca vipers are put and therof commonly it is called Medicamentum ex viperis Gale lib. 1. de antido And Galen sheweth how of vipers flesh and grated bread are made balles which are called Trochischi de vipera Orige Hom. 19. in cap. 24 lib. Num. Origen saieth Serpentium venena depelli medicameÌ„tis confectis ex serpentibus perhibent They say saieth he that poysons of serpentes are driuen away with medisons made of serpentes What maruaile then though God turneth the poysons of trayterous plattes into preseruatiues of godlie Princes and faithfull subiectes The late occauÌ„ons by Gods prouidence hath wrought this good effecte that they haue stirred vp the mindes and bowels of tender affections in faithfull subiectes to their Prince and in the Prince to her subiectes As if heroicall nature and vertues did striue who should haue the prize in the subiecte of loyaltie and tender compassion to the Prince in the Prince of pietie and tender compassion to her subiectes The subiecte powreth out his hearte and bowels of tender compassion to his Prince and in the faith of a subiect voweth himself to his Prince The Prince powreth out her pietie and bowels of motherly affection to her subiectes and from the very roote of heroical nature tender compassion issueth out vnto them What hart can heare of this heroicall emulation contention I should rather say compassion and not melte We yeelde the prize of heroicall pietie and motherly compassion vnto our Prince Ye let vs striue stil in pietie in loyaltie in bowels of tender affection to our Prince euen to winne the prize also if we may and to shewe our selues herein to striue for such maisteries is true pietie The heroical mindes of godly Princes are greatly pleased with such strife I will carry vs to higher contemplation God the fountaine of all pietie is highly pleased with such emulation And to striue for the garland of this pietie is highe pietie it selfe in the sight of God God continue this strife encrease it and enflame this emulation in the heartes of tender affections of subiectes to the Prince and in the bowels of motherly pietie and compassion of the Prince to her subiectes Thus of the good effect that of the prepensed euils God hath wrought By corrupt nature we are giuen to securitie and if not to be wearie yet to be full of Gods blessinges and by continuall custome to make lesse account of them Heb. 5. Paul
saieth to the Hebrewes that they were dull of hearing notwithstanding the iewels of Gods word are most precious 1. Cor. 4. And to the Corinthians that they were full and reigned without him But this late woonderfull woorke of God hath awaked vs out of slumber and whetted dull affections in vs and hath set an edge on vs to be more mindfull and thankefull for Gods blessinges Act. 20. After Paul had said to the elders of the Church of Ephesus for whom he sent to Miletum to take his last farewell of them that henceforth they should see his face no more they wepte all aboundantly and fell on his necke and kissed him The last farewell and departing from a deare frend is dolefull much more from a deare mother and most of all from the most deare mother of our countrey and the good nurse of the Church of God The verie remembrance thereof would rase the bowels of good natures and the mention of it doth in manner wound tender hartes of faithfull subiectes As for the vngodlie they are without good affections of nature Paul calleth them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is without naturall affection trucebreakers traitors The fidelitie of kinge Dauids seruants 〈◊〉 the treaâ— Let vs heare of the true fidelity and louing affections of king Dauid his seruantes when he was assailed with the treasons of Absalon WheÌ„ king Dauid begaÌ„ to decline 2. Sam. 15. Absalon had blowen the blast of his treason abroad and gathered great strengthes about him the heartes of the men of Israel turned after him as the Scripture witnesseth king Dauid his father was fayne to flie And as hee went vppe the mount of Oliues he wepte and had his head couered and went barefooted Then did the true heartes of faithfull subiectes shew themselues in the right vaine to the reskewe and comforte of their Prince The Scripture telleth how the people that were with him had euery man his head couered and as they went vppe 2. Sam. 15. Ioab Abishai Ittai Zadok Abiathar The Leuite Ahimaaz Ionathan they wepte Then flocked his faithfull subiectes about him Ioab and Abishai his brother and Ittai the Gittit as captaines of special trust were at hand with him Zadok and Abiathar the Priestes cleaued vnto him and the Leuites bearing the Arke of the Lorde Ahimaaz Zadok the Pristes sonne and Ionathan the sonne of Abiathar the Priest were as running postes to bring tidinges from Herusalem and Absolons Campe to King Dauid They aboad in En-Rogel because they might not be seene to come into the Citie But they were descried 2. Sam. 17. And when Absalons seruants searched after them they went downe into a well in Bahurim and a faithfull woman that bare true heart to Dauid spread a couering ouer the wels mouth with ground corne theron so by her fidelitie they escaped brought intelligence to Dauid what councel Architophel had giuen against him 2. Sam. 15. The Cherethites and all the Pelethites the Gittites which wer of his chief garrison gard or as som note of his principal bands euen sixe hundreth men issued out of Gath after the king marched before him Ittai the Gittit a stranger Ittai the Gittit a stranger followed his Soueraigne in no hand could be parted froÌ„ him for when king Dauid willed him to prouide for himself because he was a stranger late come he answered said the Lord liueth as the Lord the king liueth in what place my Lord the king shal be whether it be in death or life euen there surely will thy seruant be Then Dauid vpon trial of such trust made him leader of the third parte of his Armie And wheÌ„ Dauid was come to Mahanaim Shobi of Rabbath of the children of Ammon whom Lyra the Interlinearis note for the sonne of the king of Ammon and Machir out of Lodebart Shobi Machir Barzelai and Barzelai the Giliadite brought Beds Basons earthen vessels Wheate and Barlie and Flower and parched Corne and Beanes and Lentils and Hony and Butter and sheepe and cheese of Kine for Dauid and for the people for they said the people are hungrie and weary and thirstie in the wildernesse But let me not forget Hushai the Archit Hushai the Archit which came against Dauid with his coat torne and hauing earth on his head Whom Dauid sent backe after â—o the Citie where by his counsell God so disposing it he was the meane to dash the counsell of Architophel thereby to ouerthrowe Absalon and to deliuer Dauid Thus of the fidelitie that king Dauid found in his friends and faithfull subiects when he was distressed with treason And in the late dangers which Gods prouidence from heauen turned away would it not reioyce good heartes to see howe the faithfull Hushaies Shobees Berzillaies and Ittaies shewed themselues in true loyalty and fidelitie to their Prince The most honorable and persons of nobilitie and honor hath by their prouident counsell care and true loialtie got great honor good wil of al the beare good heartes to her Maiestie The faithfull subiects haue had their deserued praise The whole estate of the Ministerie like Zadok Abiathar and the Leuites entirely cleauing to their Dauid and Soueraigne and vnder God depending of her in forward fidelitie and true loyaltie haue shewed themselues Finallie all faithfull subiects flocked about the roiall person of their Prince with their heartes and with tender affection garded her and woulde haue gaged their bodies and bowels also for the safetie of her Royall person and estate if such occasion had required it Many Ittaies would haue been founde in England to haue said to their Dauid and Soueraigne Whersoeuer our Soueraigne Ladie and Mistresse the Queene be whether it be to life or death there her seruaunts will be also For if shee should faile whom the tender mercie of God long continue among vs then might the faith full Hushai and true hearted subiect of England goe with earth on his head and in steede of renting his clothes rent his heart and wail in woe But whither doth my pen wade in sorow The tender affections of faithfull subiects hath carried me on this far God vouchsafe long to blesse suche Hushaies Shobies Berzillaies Ittaies and all of the right rase of true hearted subiects to her Maiestie of what state or name soeuer they be Thus of the coÌ„mendation of louing affections in faithfull subiects to their Princes From whence such affections are Now from whence such affections good will are They are inspired of God who as he boweth and bendeth the hearts of Princes as pleaseth him according to Salomons saying so by his grace he worketh frameth good affections Pro. 21. good will in subiects to their princes also 1. Sam. 10. After that Saul from God by Samuel was appointed king and hee went home to Gibeah there followed him the bande of men of chiualrie or strength
magnifie her as he did his seruant Moses Fourthly how God requireth and looketh for thankfulnes of vs. Fiftly how it is a sweet comfort of conscience and good fruite of the grace of God of christian faith to shew true thankfulnesse and praising of God for his benefites bestowed vpon vs. The first Touching the first howe by Dauid his example we should be stirred vp to thanksgiuing praising of God After the Prophet had meÌ„tioned the iudgements of god on his enemies the wretched end of their wickednes wherin the great mercy of God in his deliuerie is imployed by and by hee maketh profession of praising giuing thanks to God for his righteousnes in his iudgements to theÌ„ and in them of his mercy to him One word signifieth to giue thanks praise Because one worde doth signifie to giue thanks praise therfore some expound the word Iada to giue thanks some to praise and both are interlaced the one with the other one followeth of the other No soner thankfulnes is in the hart but praise is in the mouth Both flowe out of one fountaine A godly heart is the fountain thanksgiuing praise spring first in it and issue out of it with outward giuing of thanks and praising God As Dauid giueth vs here example that he wil giue thanks or praise to god for his righteousnesse Psal 145. sing to the name of the Lord the most high The Lord saith hee is louing to euerie man and his mercy is ouer all his works His worke saith hee is worthie to be praised and had in honor Psal 111. his righteousnes endureth for euer The mercifull and gracious Lord saith he hath so done his marueilous workes that they ought to be had in remeÌ„brance Psal 145. The memoriall saith he of thy aboundant kindnesse shal be shewed meÌ„ shal sing of thy righteousnes Psal 62 O congregatioÌ„ or people saith he powre out your harts before him for god is our hope He calleth vpoÌ„ al estates high low to praise God for his benefits Psal 148. Kings of the earth saith he all people Princes and all iudges of the world yong men maids men childreÌ„ praise the name of the Lorde for his name only is excellent praised aboue heauen earth Hee shall exalt the horne of his people al his saints shall praise him euen the children of Israel euen the people that serueth him Psal 150. And in the last Psalme knitting vp of the Psalmes he willeth euery thing that hath breath to praise the Lord Thus the prophet out of his thaÌ„kful hart powreth out outward thaÌ„ksgiuing praising of God calleth to the congregation people of God and to all of all estates and to all that hath breath to praise God for his benefites And he associateth to him those that haue thankfull hearts to prayse God for his benefits and as a foreman encourageth them Psal 34 O praise the Lord saith he with mee and let vs magnifie his name togither And in another Psalme O come hither behold the works of God Psal 66. how wonderfull he is in his doing towards the children of men And after in the same Psalme O praise our God yee people make the voice of his praise to be heard Which holdeth our soul in life suffereth not our feete to flip And after at the view of Gods blessings priuately be stowed on him he saith O come hither hearken ye that feare God and I wil tel you what he hath done for my soule Thus publikely priuately he calleth vpon the congregations of God all estates and all that hath breath to praise Godâ— and he calleth on his own soule al his inward partes to yeeld thankful praise to God not to forget his benefits God giue vs grace by the example of this Prophet both publikly for the publike and great benefits of God and especially for his wonderful workes in the late deliueries of our gracious Soueraigne his Church our country with â—â—â—nkfull harts to praise glorifie his blessed name Thus how by the example of the Prophet we should be stirred vp to thanksgiuing and praising of God for his great benefites The second note is what aboundant matter of thanksgiuing and prayse the bountifull goodnesse of God hath giuen to vs. The matter abouÌ„dantly ministred to vs of God is yet but fresh in our remembrance But nothing sooner slippeth out of our minds then the great benefites of God Of an vnsauery forgetfull and churlish clay wee come Are we not of the same mettle by corrupte kinde that they were of of whom the Prophet said But they forget what he had done Psal 78. and his wonderfull worke that he had shewed for them And in an other Psalme Psal 106. But within a while they forgotte his workes and would not abide his counsell Of such frayle mould we are Nothing is more to be feared then least that frayle forgetfulnesse and carnall securitie swallow vppe these wonderfull workes of God Carnal securitie like the Charib of Scicilie As the Charib of Scicilie swalloweth all that come on it so carnall securitie is as a Charib in vs and swalloweth vp all the wonderfull workes and blessed benefites of God for without true thankefulnesse they are all lost they perish if we hartely prayse not God for them they are cast away if carnall securitie ouercome them As the Charib hurleth about first that it swalloweth and after it hath swallowed it it casteth it out againe so wee tosse and hurle about in our minds the wonderfull works and great blessings of God while they are nue fresh but after carnal securitie and frayle forgetfulnesse swalloweth theÌ„ vp and casteth theÌ„ cleane out of our minds againe Thus fareth it with our frayle nature churlish clay of old Adam if we be not waked vp to harty thankfulnesse by the spirit of God Therfore the spirit of God cryeth out by the Prophet to vs Come hither behold the workes of God how wonderful he is in his doing toward the Children of men Psal 66. If we looke into the late workes of God in the woÌ„derful deliueries of our gracious Soueraigne and his Church and people how wonderfull hath he shewed himselfe in his doings to vs What abouÌ„dant matter of thanksgiuing and prayse hath his mercie ministred to vs One wonderful worke commeth in the necke of an other and one deliuery is doubled on the other that wee haue daily matter of new songes of thanksgiuing and praysing of God Psal 98. as the Prophet Dauid exhorteth vs O sing vnto the Lord a new song for he hath done marueilous things With his own right hand with his holy arme hath he gotten himselfe the victorie And in another Psalme O sing vnto the Lord a new song sing vnto the Lord all the whole earth Psal 96. Sing vnto the Lord
at his sodain death vnlooked for the Diuell deceiued him then at that instant he bewailed cōfessed his wickednesse as Platina aforesaide telleth Besides many Sorcerers and Nigromācers followed in that Sea Beno the Cardinall confessing it as disciples of Syluester and right successors of Simon Magus What maruaile though euill spirites haue so preuailed in that Sea and wrought by them and those that haue been bewitched by them such monstrous mischiefes vnnaturall treasons and blooddie butcheries and outrages against the Church of God against Christian Princes People and Countries Therfore seeing the Church of God and our Prince and our country hath such enemies confedered with euill spirits by whom they worke and bee continually set on by them what should be the refuge of godly faithfull subiects to her Maiestie but with Constantine the Emperor in the like case in his warres against such sorcerers workers by wicked meanes with heartie and feruent prayers to commend and commit the Royall person of our Prince her estate and raigne the estate of Gods Church and our country to the Almighty prouidēce protection of God that so with Constantine shee also may haue victorie ouer all her enemies maugre all euil spirites whatsoeuer Then feare thē not The blessed banner of the fatherly prouidence of God is displaied ouer vs. God is the protector of our life as Dauid saith whō then shall we fear Psal 27. Thogh an hoast of men wer laid against vs yet shall not our heart bee afraid though there rose vp war against vs yet will we trust in him Thus let our hearts take hold of Dauids comfort Rom. 15. for the holy Scripture is written for our comfort and instruction These are examples for vs. What is a cordial comforte and soueraigne salue if it bee not vsed Enlarge therefore our owne harts in Dauids cōforts Psal 46. saying with him God is our strength and hope a very present helpe in trouble And in his prayer growing into comfort and courage he saith The Lord of hoasts is with vs the god of Iacob is our refuge And in another place Psal 44. it is not saith he their owne arme that helped them but thy right hand and thy arm and the light of thy countenance because thou hadst a fauour to them Thou art my king O God send help to Iacob Thus Dauid Let vs arme our selues in his spirite with his praiers against all forces of euill spirites and enemies and they will flie Iaco. 4. Resist the Diuell saieth Iames and he will flie from you What though Balaam doth inuocate and call on diuels against the people of God as Origen saieth Orige ho. 13. in ca. 22. lib. Nu. Inuocet licet Daemones Balaam non potest Deus à daemonibus defendere Cannot God saith he defend vs frō Diuels He raigneth ouer the Diuels and euill spirites also as the same Origen in annother place saith Non solum bonis sanctis mentibus ac spiritibus dominatur Origen in Epist ad Rom. ca. 4. lib. 9. verum nequam refugis his quos Scriptura malignos Angelos appellat Hee ruleth not only ouer good and holy mindes and spirits but ouer the euill and reuolted spirits whom the scripture calleth the euil angels And therfore feare them not Feare cōmeth of wāt of faith Neither must we fear thē nor fawn vpō thē To. Gerson ser 1. de 5. Antonio veritate 3. Gersō a writer of great name in their own schooles somtime Chanceller of Parris giueth godly counsell herein that we should not feare the euill spirites nor fawn on them to seeke to them by sorcerie and vnlawfull meanes to haue helpe or any good of them or by them What frendship saith he can a man haue of a deadlie enemie What truth of the father of lies If hee telleth any true thing it is to deceiue by colour of truth to betray thee He is a Traitour to thy Lord and wilt thou look for help of him And God threatneth to destroy thee if thou deale with him and seeke to him and those that work by him Against God and against the faith is to seek health of the enemie of God Thus Gerson imboldneth vs against the feare of euill spirites and feareth vs against fawning and seeking for helpe or any good thing by them Let vs not therefore that are inuested in the name and faith of Christe fawne on them or feare them or those that worke and practise by them But let vs fear the liuing God and powre our heartie praiers and supplications to him for the continuall protection and long preseruation of the Royall person of our Prince and her prosperous estate and for the ministration and garrison of holie Angels about her aganist all euill spirits and workers by them Then the euill spirites themselues will feare and the instruments in whom and by whom they worke will quake at their very heart rootes and we shall see the great saluation of our God and shall magnifie his marueilous mercies and wonderous workes for the continuall preseruation of his Church the Royall person and estate of our Queene and Countrie Thus of the ende of the seconde braunch of this matter that we shoulde pray for her that the euill spirits and those that are set on by euill spirites and worke by them may haue no power against her The last branch With what mindes we shoulde pray to God for her The last braunch of this matter is with what minds we should pray to God for her that he may accept our prayers We must not only lift vp our hands in prayer which as Athanasius saith God hath giuen vs Vt in oratione supplices tendamus addominum That humblie in prayer wee should lift them vp to the Lord but we must lift vp our heartes with our hands to heauen as the Prophet Ieremie saith and with our hearts we must crie to God for her For heartie prayer is the crie of the heart and bending of the thoughtes as Augustine saieth August in Psal 18. Aug. de ver Apost ser 13. and not the clamor of the mouth and iawes as in another place Augustine saith but the clamor of the heart which soundeth in the eares of God And thus with heart and handes wee must take with vs also the warning of S. Paul 1. Tim. 2. that wee lift vp pure hands in prayer to God not polluted and defiled with grosse and greeuous sinnes and with vnrepentant hearts For sinners continuing in their sins God doth not heare as the blind man whom our Sauiour healed witnesseth in S. Iohn Iohn 9. And if I incline to wickednesse in my heart Psal 66. the Lord wil not hear me saith Dauid He that sinneth with vnrepentant heart dwelling and abiding in sinne is of the Diuel saith Iohn God abhorreth the wicked 1. Iohn 3. will destroy them as Dauid saith Psal 5. Psal 109. Pro.
15. â—1 Let his prayer saith he in annother Psalme bee turned into sinne The sacrifices of the wicked as Salomon saith are abhominable to God If therfore we lift vp such hearts and handes as the wicked doe with vnrepentant hearts in their sinnes then we harbour the common enemies in our owne bosomes Wee praye for the Prince and beare good hearts vnto her but looke into our owne bosomes and there lurke the Ghostly and common enemies euen grosse greeuous sinnes which breake out carry all before them ouerflow all Osee 4. One sin as Osee saith toucheth an other and ouertaketh an other Esai 5. they are linked together as if they were drawne with Wainropes as Esai saith and they are heaped vp to heauen as S. Iohn saith of the sinnes of Babylon Reue. 18. And they are in the eares of the Lorde of Hoasts as Esai saith Esai 5. Alacke for the greeuous sinnes of England our sinnes are the common enemies our sins arme our enemies against vs Chrysost ho. 1. de ver Esai vide Dom. as Chrysostome saieth Ones heart may bleed to thinke it cannot but rue in the speaking and hearing of it The great and greeuous sinnes of England are readie to conspire to pluck out our gracious deare mother out of the Royall chrone Because for the sinnes of the people God taketh away a godlie Prince and giueth them a Prince in his wrath Osee 13. as the Prophet Osee saith and sendeth oppressours and effeminate persons to rule ouer them as God by the prophet Esai sheweth Esay 3. Iob. 34. And as Elin saith in the booke of Iob for the sinnes of the people hee causeth an hypocrite or wicked man to raigne ouer theÌ„ For the word Chancph doth signifie both because commonly they are concurrent So Iosiah the godlie Prince was taken away Iosiah Hier. lament for whom Hieremie the Prophet wrote Lamentations and all singing men and singing women as the Scripture saith mourned for Iosiah in their Lamentations to this daye 2. Chro. 25. and made the same Lamentations an ordinaunce in Israel and there succeeded hym Iehohas a Prince of three Moneths Iehohas and after him Ichoakim an vngodly king Ieoachim 2. Chro. 26. Hesechiah 2. Chro. 32. So after the godlie and gracious King Hesechiah by Gods visitation ended his life whome all Iuda and all the inhabitantes of Ierusalem did honour at his death Mannasse 2. Chro. 33. as the Scripture saith Manasse his sonne succeeded him an vngodlie and idolatrous Prince Iehosaphat Iehoram 2. Chro. 21. till by repentance after he was reclaimed Likewise after Iehosaphat the religious and vertuous Prince Iehoram his sonne followed who embrued himselfe in the blood of his brethren and walked in the wicked wayes of Ahab Abiah Absha c. And for Abiah and Ashah and other godlie kinges eftsoones followed wicked and idolatrous Princes which were snares and stumbling blockes to the people of God This is the course of Gods iudgment for the continuall multiplying of greeuous sins in Countries he withdraweth the blessing of gracious and godly Princes from them If therefore our hartes melte ouer the Prince by occasion of the late daungers as the hartes of all faithfull subiectes doe let vs put from vs those great and greeuous sinnes which continually prouoke his displeasure against vs. Let vs cast our sinnes from vs as by Ezechiel God warneth that they bring vs not to ruine Ezech. 18. I haue no pleasure in the death of a sinner sayth the Lorde God shall he not liue if he returne from his wayes Now is the Are put to the roote of the tree as S. Iohn the baptist sayth Luke 3. God by his late wonderful worke hath giuen generall warning to all and summoneth all to repentance Let vs fal to hartie repentance and turne to God from greeuous sinnes and wicked life with an vnfeyned purpose to leaue them and a gracious purpose hencefoorth to lead a godly life And in this purpose let vs lift vppe pure handes to God as Paul exhorteth for the long and prosperous preseruation of the royall person and estate of our Prince that the goodnesse of God in the tender mercye of Christe will vouchsafe to accepte our prayers Thus of the laste clause of this matter with what mindes wee should make our prayers for her that the goodnesse of God may vouchsafe to accept them The 9 cheefe matter The ninth is of the inner wall of England which is true faith to God vnfeyned fidelitie to our Prince and mutuall loue and concord amongst our selues And of the outward wall which is the shipping nauigation and the furniture thereof wherewith her Maiestie hath fortified our Countrie and what a comforte and blessing it is to our whole Countrie The inner wall of Engnland is made of liuely stones as Peter calleth Christians closely couched to Christ the corner stone The inner wall of England 1. Pet. 2. Ephe. 2. Col. 2. Act. 15. Ephe. 3. as Paul calleth him by true liuelie faith which is the gift of God and his effectuous worke to purifie and clense the heart and by which hee dwelleth in the hartes of the faithfull as Paul sayeth And in the bodie politike and ciuill building of the same liuely stones are layed and linked together with hartie fidelitie to their Prince as the Principall stone of that building and in the reste of the building the same liuely stones are ioyned and coped togither in mutuall loue and Christian concord and charitie together Thus the inner wall of the Realme is built and arreared vppe by true faith to God hartie fidelitie to the Prince and mutuall loue and concord amongest our selues Dauid speaking of the walls towers munitions of Herusalem willeth vs to walke about Syon Psal 47. to tell her Towers to marke well her Bulwarks and withall and without the which all the rest is nothing saith hee for this God is our God for euer and euer hee shal be our guide vnto death And if we will truely consider of the inward wall of England these be the Towers Bulwarkes and munitions therof true faith to God loyaltie to our Prince and mutuall loue amongst our selues and with all and without the which all worldly munitions and fortifications are nothing if in the spirite and faith of Dauid we say This God is our God for euer and euer he shal be our guid vnto death Therefore let al good subiects of England earnestly indeuour to lay themselues close and firme in the building of the inner wall of England by true faith to God vnfeyned fidelitie to our Prince and mutuall loue amongest our selues Beware there be none like loose and sagging stones which lye in the middest of the wall and deceiue and weaken the building of it and make riftes and rentes in it by infidelitie to God disloyaltie to the Prince and malicious hate of true subiectes to