accouÌ„ting all things but dung for that excellent Knowledge which is in Iesus Christ CHRIST is a costly guest and to giue him entertainement will cost Kings their Crownes Scepters Diadems all to be throwne down at the feete of Christ Lands lordships possessioÌ„s to be sold and distributed to euery man as he hath neede the half we haue to the poore restitution fourefold of all we haue wrongfully taken which done the liuelyhood will be small in pede Computi if thou burie him in thy hart it must be broken and he will lye alone and in such a Tombe as neuer man lay in but himselfe what should I say more Christ his Crosse and Crowne his Faith Religion will cost you Father Mother Sister Brother Life and all according to that he that loues any of these better then me is not worthie of me Finallie Marie her Teares Hayres Perfume Boxe and all must out ere CHRIST come in either to lodge in her house or lie in her hart Largiter demus Christo quae demus Spare no cost to spend it vpon thy Christ. Ad quid perditio haec what needs this waste so said Iudas in his sinne that son of perdition who purchased a field with the teward of his iniquiitie Rather say with Dauid God forbid I should builde him an house of that which cost me nothing Pardon mee in your patience yet a while if I further presse this point of pleÌ„tifull prouision towards the Lord and his Religion in these chilling and colde dayes of decayed Deuotion wherein both Princes people are prodigall to speÌ„d vpoÌ„ theÌ„selues but too sparing God wot to maintain the religioÌ„ of God of his Christ I feare one day Moses will stand vp in iudgemeÌ„t against vs with a readie and a willing people to condemne vs in this that they haue bene more carefull of the type then wee of the truth they to build a Tabernacle then we a temple they of the Sacrifice then we of the Sacrament they of the lawe then we of the Gospell they of Moses then wee of Christ yea they of Agar of mount Sina which gendereth vnto bondage then wee of Ierusalem which is aboue and free and the mother of vs all It is memorable and of due regard what the Lord commaunded Moses for the Fabricke of the Tabernacle how all such whose hearts gaue it freely should offer towards the building for forced obedience fashioneth not with God hee loueth the cheerfull giuer and faithfull receiuer A free offering will I giue vnto the Lord and praise thy name because it is so comfortable so saith Dauid to his sauing God Now in this their alacritie cheerfulnes and diligence they set vpon the worke 1. in their ioynt vnitie without distraction 2. in their great cost without grudging 3. in their much labour without wearines 4. and 〈…〉 The people were of one heart in one worke for one God their number was great euen six hundred thousand three thousand fiue hundred and fiftie men that offered from tweentie yeares old and aboue euery one at the least halfe a sicle of siluer the gold was much that was occupied in all the worke wrought for the holy place and freely offered euen twentie nine talents seauen hundred and thirtie sicles according to the sicle of the sanctuarie the siluer was aboue an hundred talents the brasse of the offering seauentie talents and euery man which had blue silke purple scarlet and fine linnen and goats haire and rams skinnes dyed red and badgers skins brought them womeÌ„ brought their taches and ear-rings rings and bracelets and Iewels of gold and offered a free wil offering vnto the Lord nay they spared not their looking glasses of brasse but cast them in for the lauer the Princes rulers brought Onix stones and pearles of price to set in the Ephod in the brest-plate as also spice oyle and sweete perfume The vse is good they robbed themselues to inrich their God Now wee robbe our God to inrich our selues Then Bezaliel and Aholiab left their worke to tell Moses that the people had brought too much and more then enough The Bezaliels of these our dayes may leaue their preaching and tell Moses the people bring too little and lesse then nothing Will a man spoile his goods saith God by the Prophet Malachie yet haue yee spoyled mee and if yee say wherein I answere in Tithes and Offerings yee are religiously wise I will presse it no further but proceede with the rest And now as Dauids care to builde God an house did begin his raigne so did it ende his life Hee could not die till he had determined of that businesse with Salomon his Sonne to perfect the worke and with the Nobles of Israel Iudah to be his assistaÌ„ts Dauid commaunded all the Princes of Israel to helpe Salomon his Sonne saying Is not the Lord your God with you and hath giuen you rest on euery side for he hath giuen the Land into my handes and the Land is subdued before the Lord and before his people nâ—w-set your hearts and your soules to seeke the Lorde your God and arise and builde the Sanctuarie of the LORDE GOD to bring the Arke of the Couenant of the Lorde and the vessels of GOD into the House built for the Name of the Lorde See the passage of his passions and how hee aggrauates his Afflictions for the Church with his Affections towardes the Church both in his life and at his death as if hee should haue saide Now must I die yet burie these my last words in your dearest Thoughts and thinke vpon them when I am gone I haue liued to fight your battels and haue quieted the Land before your eyes I haue beene your King in warre that peace might bee within your borders and by my hand the Lord hath giuen you rest on euery side Now therefore see to his rest who hath thus repaired your ruines builde God an House with an habitation to dwell in Bring in the ARKE of the COVENANT and the Vessels couer it with a vaile Turne your tossed Tentes into a steaddie Temple Wander no more in the wildernesse of Shinai which is shaken but come to mount Sion and there abide by his holinesse You may build so may not I for that I haue beene a man of blood yet haue I thought it a duty wel beseeming my place to leaue nothing vndone that may further the worke and helpe my successor looke into my store when I am dead and see my prouision that I haue made for the house of my God I haue prepared Caedars from Sidon and Algunum wood from Tire an hundred thousand talents of gold and a thousand thousand talents of siluer of brasse and of Iron passing weight I haue prepared masoÌ„s to hew and polish the stones carpenters to fashion and frame the timber all men
this world his altogether of this world both in power and pompe In a word Christ gaue all hee taketh all and giueth nothing vnlesse it bee in giuing that which is not his owne As Absolution from sinnes Pardon from paine Kingdomes from Princes as hee did this kingdome of England But all the cunning is in catching and in the meane time wee blesse our God in heauen and leaue this earthlie God to sporte himselfe with his vsurped power in giuing Pardon to those that neede it not Blessing to those that desire it not Cursing to those that care not for it and Crownes to such as by the grace of God shall neuer weare them What should I say more but make way to the rest and assure you of this That this mysterie of iniquitie of Popes power ouer Kinges was first reuealed and broken forth then when Boniface the third obtained of Phocas to bee called vniuersall Bishop and since that time Perijt virtus Imperatorum Pietas Pontificum The Emperours waxed weake and the Bishops wicked whereas before they were of a milder spirit moulded to greater obedience more subiect to their Soueraigne and yeelding to Princes that which was their due You are religiously wise and by this little which I haue said you haue seene enough I will therefore say no more but rest my selfe and I hope you vpon this loyall resolution that Dauid is set before al in the Genealogie of Christ for that the dignity of a King is chiefe and greatest in power so great in care not as a priuate man but as a publike Magistrate to answere for the sins of many the good of all ordained of God to be their King and as Cyrill saith the knitting together or Iuncture of godlines in the prosperitie of his people Which to effect as you haue heard was Dauids care both in his life at his death leauing it as a legacie to Salomon his sonne and successe together with his Peares and Princes that as Simon in the Machabees did for fighting so should they for building when calling his sonnes Iudas and Iohn hee said with good courage now I am old and ye are of a sufficient age be ye therefore in stead of me and goe forth and fight for your nation and the helpe of the heauens be with you So Dauid go forth and build for your God and the helpe of heauen be with you As and if he should say yet further I am wearied with warres abroade and worne with mine afflictions at home I am old weake and withered but ye are young strong and flourishing out of my pouertie I haue afforded you some store let it be speedily bestowed vpon the worke and build for your nation be ye therefore in stead of me and the helpe of heauen be with you And now mee thinkes it is with me as it was with the Prophet Abacuck when the Lord answered him and said write the vision and make it plaine vpon tables that he may run that readeth it for the vision is for an appointed time and now is the time at last it shall speake and now it speaketh Paralell the passions of Princes Queene Elizabeth with King Dauids in their grieuances for the maintenaÌ„ce of the religion of their God and see whether our English Iudah haue not as great cause to pray as euer Israels Iudah had Lord remember Elizabeth in all her afflictions Afflictions I say afflictions before her raigne since her raigne piercing her sacred brest like a continuall Archers shot whose arrowes are tipped with gall and sorrow and now be strong my spirit fly out my voyce to compare them in their afflictions Dauid was the least and last of his fathers house so was Elizabeth of her fathers familie Dauid persecuted from his youth so was Elizabeth Dauid contemned of his brethren Elizabeth of her sister Saul a King persecuted Dauid Marie a Queene was wroth with Elizabeth Dauid an exile in the holdes of Engeddi she close prisoner in the holds of Wodstocke Doeg reuiled Dauid vnto Saul so did Gardiner Elizabeth vnto Mary Dauid declared his innocencie vnto Saul so did Elizabeth vnto her sister Much was suspected by Dauid which they laid vnto his charge things which he neuer thought and they euer failed in the proofe So was it with Elizabeth her hand yet witnesseth to the innocencie of her soule which she left as a constat of her loyall hart in these lines and letters neuer to be blotted out Much suspected by me nothing proued can be quoth Elizabeth prisoner Saul in his spirit of furie purposed to haue killed Dauid playing vpon his harpe Winchester in his spirit of poperie purposed to haue murthered Elizabeth at her deuotions by Paul Peny and Iames Basset Dauid relieued and pitied by Achish King of Gath a stranger to his person and an enemie to his religion Elizabeth pitied by Phillip of Spaine a friend to her person yet no friend to her profession let the bedde curtaines and arrasse witnes Philips parlience with the Queene for Elizabeths preseruation Dauid was spoiled of his wiues by the Amalekites at Ziglack Lady Elizabeth robbed of her sworne seruants at the Tower of London when left alone and forsaken of all shee went on wearily with a woful heart and said in the silence of her soule Tanquam Ouis as a sheepe to the slaughter so am I sent Dauid had many Doegs in Court and Nabals in the country to wrong him with the King and pinch him in his prouision and not a friend durst speake for him but Ionathan and he aloofe with arrowes when hee sawe the Kings wrath implacable shee poore Lady had many Stories in Court to wrong her with the Queene to perswade her to strike at the roote and the branches would wither many Nabals in couÌ„try who pined at her prouision and not at Ionathan to speake or shoute for her safetie for that the Queenes heart was implacable But see a wonderfull prouidence of God in her preseruation Gardiner hoped to liue to see her dead but she hath liued to see him buried his flesh turned into dust and his bones to rottennes Story repented that he had not stroke at the roote whilest he cut off the branches â—uâ— God hath so ordained that the root should liue to haÌ„g vp that blasted bowe The time was wheÌ„ a poore child foure years old might not bring her a nosegay without suspition and churlish checke of her cruell keeper but now God hath so ordained as both young and olde high and low Rich and poore doe hang vp a garland in her praise with a praier to his prouideÌ„ce for her preseruation euer to liue with this resounding Eccho liue liue The time was when passing a prisoner from Windsor to Woodstocke the poore people ioy ful of her presence raÌ„g the bells in a village or two whereat her keeper raged railed vpon them as Rebels clapt the Ringers in the
stockes and so stayed the bells but now Benefielde hath his passing peale and to God bee the praise I hope there is not a bell in England that rings not a tongue in England that prayes not an hart in England that ioyeth not in and for the life of their soueraigne if any Meroits there be who will not do as we do let the curse of Meros light vpoÌ„ them for that they come not to help the Lorde against the mightie and let the Israel of God â—ay Amen To passe by her afflictions sithencâ— her raigne I may not euen since shee came to the royall diademe of her crowne and dignitie no sooner set vpon her head but the care of her people was in her heart pressing out this passionate speech I care not for my selfe my life is not deare vnto mee they which might knowe what cares I beare with this burthen would neuer thinke I take no great ioy in wearing the Crowne Ballance them with Dauids afflictions and if yee bee not partiall of her perils you shall finde them such as may pierce your hearts to prouoke your speech and pray Lord remember Elizabeth in all her afflictions vpon Dauids entrance the Philistines were against him the Aramites against him Edom and Ammon with the Moabites and Hagarens the Grecians Sirogrecians these are forraine foes manie in number mightie in power malitious in heart bloody in hand and practises how many and mighty were they who cast their heads together with one consent and as it is in the Psalme were confederate these were enemies of state forraine and abroade And were they lesse dangerous at home Absolon his owne sonne Absolon by name the fathers peace became the fathers bane and sought his death who gaue him life Seba the sonne of Bechry a man of Gemini with his wicked roote disclaimed that hee had any part in the sonne of Iesse Michol mocked him and despised his deuotions Shemey curseth Achitophel plotteth Abner dieth and the sons of Zerniah are too hard for Dauid Forraine power were against our Elizabeth and are confederate Balaam Balack Turke Pope with all their vnited forces and for our home treasons they are greater then they can be expressed with tears they breake the heart ere they can bedewe the cheekes mightie Absolons and base borne Sebaes many Achitoâ—hels I meane plotting Iesuits and Seminaries with their whining Cardinall Allen in their bloody designes haue disclaimed their Elizabeth Shemey curseth Pope Pius is become Impious the cursse is turned vpon himselfe for Elizabeth liueth a blessed Prince hee is dead a cursed Pope Lord remember Elizabeth c. Nay more to make ful the measure of her afflictions the Michols of this land are manie who disdaine our Dauid dauncing before the Arke scorne her deuotions and mocke her religion traÌ„ple vnder foote the bloud of the couenant as an vnholy thing and is not this an affliction yes no doubt and an afflicting affliction therefore we had need to pray Lord remeber Elizab c. Lastly our sinnes euen our loude crying sinnes hazard the life of our Prince our vnthankfulnes to God for her our colde deuotion and chilling zeale being fallen from our first loue our neglect of the word Sacraments and Sabaoths our generall Apostasie from the Faith our lacke of loue our great oppression and gnawing vsurie our extrauagant lusts of the flesh our excessiue Pride and hellish heate of Ambition I say anie of these hazard a Prince all these together shake the State and therefore wee had need to pray Lorde remember Elizabeth c. In tender of whose deliuerance long life and happie raigne there remaineth a dutie to bee performed this day on our behalfe eueÌ„ with our good God to plead her cause and pray for her person Lux haec venerabilis Anglis This day is deare to England and of all the mercies of our GOD registred in the Kalender of his Loue next to that of his Sonne CHRIST Albo signanda lapillo to bee of blessed memorie wherein wee haue found to our vnspeakable ioy and doe feele to the gladnes of our hearts that the people that walked in darknesse haue seene a great Light and wee that earst dwelt in the Land of the shadowe of death I meane of poperie and grosse Idolatrie vpon vs hath this Light shined God in mercie hath increased our ioye in the life light and gouernment of our dread soueraigne in whose fun-shine now we walke and pray that her day may euer dawne The allusion is good from our Christ to our Queene for by him and her the yoke of our burthen the staffe of our shoulder and the rodde of our oppressor hath bene broken as in the day of Midian and surely till these her Alâ—ion dayes euery battel of the warrier hath bin with noise and tumbling of garments in bloud but hers hath bene in softnes and in silence like a showre of Raine vppon a fleece of wooll like vnto Siloah that runneth softly by Sion like vnto the battell of Salmos hath fought our Salem Queene Sine Sudore sanguine without sweat or blood and like her Christ patiendo potiùs quam agendo auxit imperium her conquest hath beene without blood or broyle rather by sufferance and succouring of others at home then by seasures abroad hath she inlarged the bonds of her Empire And here seasonably and for conclusion of all spare me in a word to Paralell the two Princes as in their afflictions so in successe of blessings to make the yoke of their heauie gouernment more supportable Dauid killed Goliah in his weake strength with prayer in his mouth a peeble stone in his hand he stroke him on the forehead for that hee did confront his God Etibi percutitur vbi deerat Christus There hee felled him where Christ was fayling Queene Elizabeth in her weake and femimine sex to giue God the glorie hath subdued that great Giant at Gath I meane that man of Rome with the sweete perfume of prayer in her mouth and the power of the word of God in her blessed hand a stone hewen out of the mountaine without hands as Daniel saith dashing in peeces all the marbles of this world in the spirit and speech of Dauid hath beene her royall martch Thou commest to me with a sword with a speare and with a shield but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hostes that God of the Hoste of Israel whom thou hast railed vpon this day shall the Lord close thee in my haÌ„d that all the world may know that englaÌ„d hath a God Dauid brought the Arke into his Citie by the hands of the Leuites So doth Queen Elizabeth the Religion of her Christ into the bowels of al her kingdomes by a beautifull ministery Dauid dedicated the vessels gotten of the Gentiles to the vse of the temple so doth she the spoiles of the Papists to the maintenance of
of that heauenly station I dare not for that the Scripture seemes silent of that secret although the authors of the Hebrewe Homilies induced with sharpe and subtile reasons haue written of threescore and six houres standing others of a naturall day which is foure and twentie houres others of an artificiall or diurnall day which is twelue houres mentioned by our Sauiour Christ when he saide are there not twelue houres in the day if a man walke in the day hee stumbleth not c. But in answere to all it shall bee sufficient for vs to knowe that the Sunne stirred not till the battell was ended and Israel had auenged himselfe vppon the heathen the Lord was mercifull to giue them light that they might walke fight in the day not stumble by night in the desert one day was as long as two and it is sufficient for vs to knowe that such a day did neuer dawne such a battell was neuer fought that there was neuer day like that before it nor after it â—herein the Lord heard the voyce of a man and so fought for Israel And here see the power of prayer hee heard the voyce of a man and fought for Israel but the Lord fought not while Iosua prayed not nor was it the voyce of an Angell but the voyce of a man that preuailed with God for Israel nor was it any volly of shot no speare or pike no warlicke stratagem horse or sword could pierce the enemie till the voyce of Iosua had pierced the heauens that shoot of prayer that shiuered the walles of Iericho amazed the hearts of the Amorites weakened their hands and subdued their power in the valley of Aialon Iosua was neuer so puissant in his fight as in his prayer for in his fight he preuailed but with men but in his prayer he preuailed with God his faith his prayer and his loue conquered him that comandeth all according to that Solus amor triumphat à Deo onely loue conquereth God God by the Prophet shewes vs a Sentinel set vpon the walles of Ierusalem a watchman in his tower that wardeth and warneth onely by his praier which all the day and all the night continually should not cease keepe silence or giue God any rest till he should repaire and set vp Ierusalem the praise of the world It s true It s true Orationes Lachrimae sunt arma Ecclesiae praiers and teares are church weapons Oratio deum lenit lachrima cogit haec vngit illa pungit praier softeneth teares in force this melteth that pearceth the sweet soule of thy Sauiour to pittie thy plaints in the daies of thine affliction as in the day of Iosua And hereby the example of Iosua ye that are potentates of the world mightie men and Princes of the people spare me a little to prouoke your praier as more preuailing with God by priuiledge of your spirits then others of lower rancke Are the Amorites abroad are your states indangered is the Church grieued and are your soules afflicted for your selues for your people ye may be bolde with God for ye haue precedencie as Iosua here had euen by the power of your prayer to make him propitious Spare mee while I spare no Creature in Heauen Earth or Hell priuiledged froÌ„ the power of your prayer by which they are inforced to yeeld to the necessity of the Saints Moses prayed preuailed with God and had precedencie of the people when hee deuided the red Sea and put backe Iordane when he stroke the Rocke and inforced softe and sweete water to gush out In the height of his hands was the health of Israel for when they were lifted vp Amalek fell but when they shrunke Israe fainted when Eliah prayed the Heauens were as brasse and when he prayed againe the Clowdes dropped downe Fatnes Lyous mouthes were stopped at the prayer of Daniel and the childrens prayer beatte backe the Flame By the wrestling of prayer the Angell yeelded and at the commaund of prayer Diuels were daunted What should I say more By the power of prayer Sheol is shaken Hell is in horror sicknes ceaseth yeares are added winde and Seas obey Such priuiledge prayer hath especiallie in Men of might Princes Patriarches and Prophets which made the Israel of God when carefull of their king to pray that the Lord would be attent vnto his proper praier as more preuailing then theirs when they saide The Lorde heare thee in the day of Trouble the Name of the God of Iacob defende thee beeing well assured of this that the prayers of godly Princes are and euer haue bene powerful with God and profitable for his people Salomon prayed and the Temple was filled with the Clowde and the glorie of the Lord. Dauid prayed and doubly preuailed with God First that himselfe might fall into the handes of God rather then of men Secondly that the people might be spared and himselfe plagued Ezechia prayed and God restored him to health with increase of dayes euen fifteene yeare of the surplusage of his loue assured vnto him by the shadow of Ahaz his dyall vpon the wall brought backe ten degrees to make good the Lords promise vppon his prayer And why might not Iosuah a prince and Sauiour of his people by prayer to God commaund the creature euen the faire Fabricke of Sunne and Moone to none no more till Israel were auenged vpon their enemies Pardon me in your patience a while If to parallel these Princes praiers in their precedencie with God I leaue not out our owne Princes at home the perfume of whose praiers are yet sweete in this our English Eden and like the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed that powerfull praier of Edward the sixt made at his death and in the houre of his dissolution shall neuer die while the state standeth but euer be blessed by it O my God defend this Realme from papistry and maintaine thy true religion that I and thy people may praise thy holy name and therewith all he said I am faint Lord haue mercy vpon me and take my spirit Let me neuer liue to pray more or pray to liue longer if I be not perswaded in my soule and from my God that euen yet the blessing of that prayer is vpon this people as a wall of brasse to beate backe poperie as Iosuas day lengthened til the Amorites were vanquished and as pure mirrhe dropping still vpon the barres and handles of our doores to sweeten England in the maintenance of true religion and pietie Againe at the birth and baptisme of his deare sister Queen Elizabeth our dread Soueraigne who now liueth and long may we say Liue liue the King of Herauldes when the christening and ceremonies were ended proclaimed this praier and with what effect iudge yee God of his infinite goodnes send prosperous life and long to the high and mightie Princesse of England Elizabeth
vpon the earth he doth it himselfe and therefore I will goe forward in the strength of the Lord God and will make mention of thy righteousnesse euen of thine onely In this coÌ„fideÌ„ce he beat back the rage of rayling Rabsecha in the day of battel saying vnto his people bee strong and couragious feare not neither bee affraide for the King of Assur neither for all the multitude that is with him for there be more with vs with him is an arme of flesh but with vs is the Lord our God for to helpe vs and to fight our battels Surely it was an argument of a soueraigne faith in the day of his affliction to runne to GOD when most men runne from GOD some to the Diuel some to their Idols some to the creatures and some to their owne workes vnwisely wrought Dolefull was the song of Moses euen in that particular when hee saide of Israel the LORDS peculiar they offered vnto Diuels and not to God but to Gods whom they knewe not new Gods that came newly vp whom their fathers knewe not Ahaziah being sicke vppon his fall fell from his GOD whenheâ— sâ—nt to Baal-zebub the GOD of Ekron to enquire of his recouery whom the Prophet iustly taxed both of his diffidence and of his death when hee saide Is it for that there is not a GOD in Israel that yee goe to Baal-zebub the God of Ekron tell the Kings hee shall neuer come off his bed but dye the death Saule in his extremitie sought to the witch at Endor and left the LORD it made a rent in the Kingdome and brought a ruine to himselfe with an vtter subuersion to his house and familie while Israel trusted in their GOD they failed of no blessings but when they ioyned themselues vnto Baal Peor and did eate the offerings of the dead then they prouoked him vnto anger with their owne inuentions and the plague brake in vpon them Balaâ— sought to Balaam and was cast away by the deceite of Baalams wages and the Aramites shifted from the GODS of the hilles to the Gods of the valleys and because they left the true God they were relieued with no God Ahab and Asa ioyned with Benadaâ— a professed enemie of GOD and in the day of their distresse had they trusted in the LORD GOD of Israel Hanany the Seer had neuer so sharpely reproued the sinne with the iudgement because thou hast rested vppon the King of Aram and not rested in the Lord thy God therefore is the hoast of the King of Aram escaped out of thine handes and because thou hast let goe a man whom I appointed to dye thy life shall goe for his life and thy people for his people Good Iehosaphat is reproued by the same Prophet for leauing the Lord and loyning with Ahab in the seege at Ramath Gilead wouldest thou helpe the wicked and loue them that hate the Lord therefore for this thing the wrath of the Lord is vpon thee A good caution for Princes to beware with whom they enter league whom they helpe whom they loue that the wrath of GOD bee not vppon them What should I say more but conclude with this aduertisement cursed is the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arme and withdraweth his heart from the Lord but blessed is the man with good Ezechia that maketh the Lord God of Israel his soules support with this no lesse Christian then Kingly confidence the Lord redeemeth the soules of his seruants and none that trust in him shall euer perish Againe it is of due regard in this good King to perfect his praise in the full affiance he euer had in his God that he did acknowledge him both God and Lord for so it is here saide hee trusted in the Lord God of Israel Lord of heauen and Lord of the earth Lord of life and Lord of death Lord of Israel where hee was King and Lord of the nations hee was to subdue yea and his Lord too though hee were a King as to whom he ought both faith and fealtie with a limited subiection of all his power to his blessed will and soueraigne command and therefore it was not without cause Dauid ended his Psalme with this beatitude Blessed are the people whose GOD is their LORD for Multi habent eum in Deum pauci in dominum Manie take GOD to be their creator but fewe make him their Lord and gouernour many will bee graced with his stampe as he is God but few will be guided by his rule as hee is Lord that hand thâ—â— made them must not direct them and euen in that they disclaime their subiectioÌ„ therfore they make him their God but not the Lord. Sound it in a true sense with a sanctified soule and you shall finde that lacke of consideration in this very point of pietie is and hath beene the breeder of all Atheisme mischiefe and wickednesse in this woful world the Angels had kept their first estate if they had made their God their Lord Adam and Eue his fairest creatures had neuer fallen so farre had they not failed in their obedience to that Lord that was their God Israel played the harlot vnder euery greene tree shee was disloyall to her Lord and therefore no maruell if they went into Captiuitie when their God was not their Lord. I might tell of Sodom and Gomer Shilo and Sion of Niniueh Carthage Babylon Corinthe and Thessalonica with all the Cities of Asia where once the Gospell flourished like a greene tree in the middest of the Paradise of GOD and what 's the reason of all their ruines no other cause of their wofull supplantation but that God was not their Lord they failed in fealtie to God both in matter of faith and fact they were misled through misbeliefe they burst the baÌ„ds of all obedience they rebelled against their God in that they did not vse him as their Lord. They would liue by him but they would not be led by him and so hee was their God of destruction but not their Lord of protection Finally I am prswaded that sin was neuer more sinfull and deserued Iudgemnts neuer more doubtfull and the breeder of both is nothing else but this euen our rebellion against the Lord wee dare not but say he is our God and yet wee denie him homage and how is hee then our Lord Our secret Idolatries and open stealth our gnawing vsuries and extrauagant lusts of the flesh our excessiue auarice and grieuous oppressions our contempt of the word Sacraments and Sabaoths our generall Apostasie from all good and godlines with our lewde liues led by no rule shew that wee are irregular dead to God and fallen from all obedience to our Lord wee doe not trust in the Lord God of Israel And so to conclude and close with your religious eares and hearts who heard mee this day place your confidence in the brest-plate of your
Queene Elizabeth PARALELD IN HER PRINCELY vertues with Dauid Iosua and Hezekia 1 With Dauid in her afflictions to build the Church 2 With Iosua in her puissance to protect the Church 3 With Hezechia in her pietie to reforme the Church IN THREE SERMONS as they were preached three seuerall Queenes dayes By William Leigh Bachelor of Diuinitie ISAYAH 49. 23. Kings shall be thy nursing fathers and Queenes shall be thy Nurses they shall worship thee with their faces toward the earth and lick vp the dust of thy feete and thou shalt know that I am the Lord for they shall not be ashamed that waite for me LONDON Printed by T. C. for Arthur Iohnson 1611. TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTIE PRINCESSE ELIZABETH Daughter to our Soueraigne Lord the King c. Grace be multiplied in this life and happinesse in the World to come MADAME I Am bolde to put into your Princely hands this Balme of Gilead a Newe-yeares guifte of an olde-yeares store powred vpoÌ„ the head of Queene Elizabeth in her life and now againe shâ—â—â— vpoÌ„ her sacred hearse after her death the iniquiâ—â—â— of the time requiring a rescue of her 〈◊〉 soule from the virulent tongue of Popiâ—â— pietie then which I am verily perswaded there was neuer malice vpon the earth more implacable Sanguine placactis ventos virgine caesa the boysterous windes as poets faine were stilled with virgins blood but here no virgins blood no Princes blood no martyrs blood no Sauiours blood can quench the fire and furie of popish indignation or appease their God Apollyon who pitieth neither sex nor age person or presence be they quicke or be they dead all is one Bucers bones must he burned and the sacred soule of Queene Elizabeth her Manes spirit and ghost may not passe to blisse without a blast of Parsons poysoned penne and breath thinking it not sufficient to glut themselues with the blood of their Soueraignes vnlesse with their buried bones they might ransacke their blessed soules Witnesse the moderne doctrine of these our daies divulged by Dolman Benedetto Palmio Haniball Codrotto Guicknard Ambrose Vyrard Mariana and others of that Iesuited crewe who hold it not onely lawfull and meritorioâ—s to kill Kings if they be not pleasing to their deuotions but â—ith all an heroicall acte and a gift of the holy ghost which Rauelacke their designâ—d agent â—ately put in practise vpon his liâ—ge Lord the King of France by no â—essesatall then mortall stabbe This their damnable doctrine bloodie stroake and poysone breath against the liues and soules of Princes haue made mee to reuise my papers and with Iames to looke backe vpon my former thoughts how vpon the view they might frame in opposition against these more then heathenish and no lesse then hellish designes whose thirst is neuer quenched but with the blood of their Soueraignes nor gorge euer filled but with the grosse viandes of popish bull and indulgence pardoning from time to time their damnable agents to subuert states by two of the last and most dangerous stratageâ—s that euer were deuised against the Church of Christ Parricide and Periurie thereby taking away all faith from God fealtie from Princes and commerce with men And what 's that other but the breeder of all wickednes the mother of mischiefe and Babel of all confusion Time was when an Angell durst not reproue a diuell but said The Lord rebuke thee Now Iesuited diuels dare reproue Angels sent from God to be our Soueraignes and say Rauelacke may kill thee Time was when none might touch the Lords annoynted or doe his prophets any harme Now popish powder may blow vp popish knife may kill and popish brambles may teare the flesh of Kings Time was when Rulers were regarded and Kings had their Maiesties quicke and dead as the Royall Chappell of Westminster can witnes euen froÌ„ their Diademes downe to their dust But now Iesuited crueltie may crush all rule burst the bandes of all obedience curse Kings ouer-awe authoritie are so farre from honouring the shrines and maiestie of Princes here on earth as they haue not spared to maligne their soules in heauen In a word trust them who will and they shall finde their doome is still for death their drumme for destruction and their march in the cry of Edome Downe with it downe with it euen to the ground A man would haue thought they might haue spared her soule whose body they could neuer still with more then thousand intended treasons against her state and person by poyson stabb and shot by forraine inuasions homerebellions and domesticall incumbrances from all which the Lord still made her glorious by deliuerance And now her soule being tied in the bundle of the liuing and she gathered vnto her fathers in peace they cannot spare to banne what God hath blessed I shall not neede to stand in defence either of her sacred life or death whose saued soule the heauen of heauens doth now possesse Neither shall I neede to beate backe his poysoned breath who now is breathlesse knoweth by this what it is to haue touched the Lords annoynâ—ed either in her life or in her death that hellish breath is beaten backe by guste and gale of a more heauenly aire and fully answered by two reuerend fathers of our Church diuines of worth whom the pride of poperie may enuie but shall neuer match otherwise then as their manner is with the â—ume feathers and froth of their owne inuâ—ntions lighter then vanitie it selfe For were their pennes as perillous as their powder the shot were more dangerous but to God be the praise truth hath discouered their penne of ignorance and their powder of treason My purpose is not to stirre Elizabeths sacred hearse whose graue is full of Princely earth and her obsequies are ended my thoughts are higher eueÌ„ to match her Manes in blisse with greatest of Soueraignes there Soueraigntie it selfe onely excepted I meane with Dauid Iosua and Ezekia guides and Kings of Israels Iudah Pardâ—n me gracious Lady if I put this vndâ—r the sheltâ—r of your highnesse protection Semblance of sexe name and blood together with your high place person and pietie craueth no lesse at your Princely hands then protection of her shrine and Ghost Shee a Kings daughter so are you shee a maiden Queene you a Virgin Prince her name is yours her blood is yours her carriage is yours her countenance yours like pietie towards God like pittie towards men onely the difference stands in this that the faire flower of her youth is fallen yours flourisheth like a Rose of Saram and a Lilly of the Valley Her dayes are determined on earth and begun in heauen yours are a doing on earth and blessed be the current till they bee ended euer may your happinesse growe together and make you blessed with that immortall crowne that withereth not The Sermons I here present were preached vnder the shadowe of her blessed gouernment and in the three last yeares of her gracious raigne When if
to thinke how the Arke of his God lay in the open fielde tyred in Tents weather-beaten and wearie without shelter to shrowde it other then those worne Curtaines of skinnes and Canuas The vse is good like affliction hath followed the godlie of all Ages in the care and conscience they haue euer had to build vp a Church in the hearts and soules of Gods Saiâ—ts I am verily perswaded that if all the cares in the world besides might blend in one they could neuer be found so piercing so bleeding so deare so desperate in designes as is and hath beene the care and conscience of our soules in tender whereof good and godlie men haue neither cared for meate drinke sleepe friends life death nor the hazard of their owne solues if I may say so And why may I not when Paule wished himselfe to bee separated from CHRIST for his brethrens sake This affliction cut the heart of Abraham asunder when hee the Father of all the Faithfull should at one blowe cut off all hope in Sacrifycing Isaack his sonne his onely sonne whome hee loued this Affliction battered the heart of Iacob when hee saw the bloody coate of Ioseph and saide with a sorrowfull soule Fera pessima deuorauit eum a cruell Beast hath deuoured him This Affliction rent the heart of Ioseph when the Iron entred into his soule and none was sorrie for his affliction This was the affliction that moulded the hart of milde Moses to such compassion ouer Israel for their Idolatry wheÌ„ the Lord was angrie with them as hee wished himselfe raced out of the booke of Life that Israel might be saued This Affliction like a sworde pierced through the soule of MARIE that the thoughts of manie hearts might bee opened This Affliction like a dampe stroke the heart of Paule when hee saide I die daylie who is weake and I am not weake who is offended and I burne not This this was the Affliction that melted the heart of CHRIST when as a suter hee stood at the dore and knocked saying Open vnto mee my Loue my Doue myne vndefiled for my Head is full of deaw and my Lockes with the droppes of the Night and yet can haue no entrance Finallie that others might haue a Fellow feeling of the Afflictions and miseries Christ suffered vpon the Crosse for vs his Church hee calleth vpon the Passengers that goe by that they should looke vpon him and pittie him in this paines Haue yee no regard at all ye that passe by this way Beholde and see if there bee any sorrowe like vnto my sorrowe which is done vnto mee and wherewith the Lord hath afflicted mee in his fierce wrath O remember mine Afflictions and my mourning the wormewood and the gail Well I say no more because I see you passionate these are gone before and are all heires euen heires of God and heires annexed with IESVS CHRIST and so shall you be if you suffer with him as they did that yee may bee glorified with him as they are And so againe to Dauid the Seas of whose Afflictions to sounde were to beate backe a Iorden to reckon vp his cares with his cost for the prouision of that Worke which another should perfect were an endles account to expresse with pen or speech the passions hee felt in following the businesse were for a more powerfull spirit then I feele in my selfe I cannot come neere the depth thereof Yet this dare I say as I haue saide that all the ioyes hee had in this worlde either of pleasure or profite hee passed by them with an Abrenuncio leauing off all Princely sportes and Kingly delights till hee had done with the deuotion of his GOD his meate drinke sleepe his house bed and Palate his Courte Crowne and Kingdome These were least and last in his thoughts hee neuer deemed them deere but in the denyall binding his soule to God by vowe and oathe neuer to delight in earthlie solace till hee had fulfilled his heauenly ioyes and found out a place for the Lord an habitation for the mightie God of Iacob The beautie of which house though he might not see for that hee was a man of blood Salomon his Son must perfect the worke yet as Moses from Morijah though hee might not enter that earthly Canaan ioyed in the sight of CanaaÌ„ as a type of that heauenly being hee was to enioy vpon his death so Dauid though he might not finish the worke hee had in hand yet exceedingly ioyed that hee might prouide for the temple belowe a pregnant type of that heauenly Hierusalem which is aboue Now the building of this house here on earth where his people might more safely rest and render vp their vowes to God in heauen was Dauids holy care and greatest part of his affliction with which if you marke well you shall finde he beganne his raigne continued his rule and ended his princely life for vppon his entrance it is saide that Dauid tooke first the fort of Sion and with thirtie thousand of the chosen men of Israel rose and went from Baal of Iudah which is Kiarathiearim to bring from thence the arke of God to Abinadabs house that was in Gibeah Thence to Nachans threshing Floore and so to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittyte where after it had continued three monethes with a blessing to himselfe and all that hee had then Dauid with gladnesse brought it into his owne citie and set it in his place in the midst of the Tabernacle that Dauid hadde pitched for it where after hee had offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hoasts How this care continued his rule it may appeare by the princely preparation hee made as of the place to build vpon so of things necessarie for the building of Algunum wood fyr-trees Caedars from Tyre Sidon and Lebanon of gold from Ophyr of pearle from the Iles of siluer brasse and Iron from all about his kingdome all totalled by Dauid himselfe when he bequeathed it to God as a legacie for Salomon his sonne to bestowe vppon the Temple In these wordes Behold my sonne according to my pouertie haue I prepared for the house of the Lorde an hundred thousand Talents of Golde and a thousand Talents of Siluer and of Brasse and of Iron passing weight I haue also prepared Tymber and Stone and thou mayest prouide more thereunto vp therfore and be doing and the Lord be with thee According to my pouertie that may bee thought straunge I say straunge that there should seeme to be penurie in such plentie want in so much wealth and pouertie in so great aboundance but what is Gold to Grace I tell it from my God and speake it from my soule that who will bee rich in Heauen must be a begger on earth though not in reputation of this world yet in estimation of a better
the Church Dauid put Garisons in Edom and made Siria tributary and the Lord kept Dauid whithersoeuer he went Ireland France and Flaunders haue bin garded with her Garisons paied her tribute and done her homage by land and by seaâ— haue her colours displayed in their defence to keepe them from the spoile of Popery Dauid with these heauenly had the successe of earthly blessings for he was rich and his kingdome was populous hee was needing to none yet most of his neighbour-nations had neede of him Queene Elizabeth is blessed of God in her bountie toward all her shipping shot men and munition are a wall of defence to her selfe a guard of comfort to her neighbour-bordering friendes and a terror to her frowning enemies What should I say more Dauid is dilectus domini the beloued of God she is Elizabeth Gods rest whose quiet rule and peaceable gouernment in and for her Christ is to all her louing and loyall subiectes as it were a retyring campe after the day of battell Finally Dauids raigne was with the longest and neare the highest of his rancke the dayes of our Elizabeth are faire and full and the Lord lengthen them as the dayes of Iosua which had the fairest creatures at commaund till the battell was ended and the fight finished and thou GOD of time and of all eternitie so determine her dayes as may bee most to thy glory best for the poore Church for Englands good and the saluation of her princely soule Amen Amen and the helpe of heauen be with her THE SECOND Sermon IOSVA 10. 12. Then spake Iosua vnto the Lord in the day when the Lord gaue the Amorites before the children of Israel and saide in the sight of Israel Sunne stand thou in Gibeon and thou Moone in the valley of Aialon TWo mightie nations did contend in the wombe of Rebecca the one in Esau the other in Iacob but by the prouidence of God the younger preuailed against the elder gained the birthright with the blessing Such wofull contentions haue euer bin in the wombe of the Church betwixt the Israel of God and Esau his brood and proâ—eniâ— yet hath not the Lord failed in mercy to deliuer his Turtle-doue from the violence of the assaulter As we here find in Iosua and feele in our ioyfull experience this day who maugre the spite of Esau Ismael all the Amorites of our State Church and Kingdome hath graced our nation with a birth-right and a blessing a birth-right in our Christ a blessing in our Prince both such as Esau with all his Romish Edomites shall neuer obtaine at Isaacks hands though he begge seeke it with plaints and teares For so good a God so gracious a Prince so happie and desired a peace so great plenty with such aboundance of all things and a time of continuance so long and so bright of all Gods blessings both heauenly and earthly is not for Moab Ammon or mount Seir but for the hill of Gods holinesse Israel England and mount Sion Nor doe I doubt but this blessed day will yet dawn and lengthen like the day of Iosua Gods mercies will yet abound his graces flowe ouer the enemies of our State bee discomfited and the helpe of heauen shall prosper our Prince â—â— it did Iosua if wee practise and pray for her preseruation Yea the Lord shall stand for England as hee did for Israel in mount Perazim hee shall bee wrath as in the valley of Gibeon that hee may doe his worke his strange worke and bring to passe his acte his strange acte euen to match the power of Elizabeth with the might of Iosua her prowesse with his puissance a maiden Queene with a manly king to deliuer his Church from the disastrous designes of Adoni-zedeck and all his Romish retinue And first of Iosua as I am guided by my text whose puissance was such as First preuailed with God Secondly with his fairest creatures And lastly with his greatest enemies Hee preuailed with God in the highest heauens He preuailed with his creatures in the firmament of his power He preuailed against his enemies in the vaste valley of Aialon Tendit ad ardua virtus There was neuer King aduentured vpon greater dangers the God with whom he dealt was a consuming fire The creatures hee encountred before that time were neuer backed and the enemies be subdued were fiue mightie Kings of the Amorites with all their retinue like grasse-hoppers vpon the ground for multitude and thus with his heroicall spirit as Siracides saith hee rushed in vpon the nations in battell and in going downe of Betheron hee destroyed the aduersaries that they might knowe his weapons and that he fought in the sight of the Lord that gaue him might and in the shine of the Sun that gaue him light intreating the one and commaunding the other to bee propitious Now for the weapons of this his warfare as you here see they were not carnall but spirituall and mightie in operation to cast downe holds for he sent to God the arrowe of his deliuerance which was his prayer when hee saide Then spake Iosua vnto the Lord hee sacked both Sunne and Moone with the word of his commaunde when he saide Sun stay thou in Gibeon and thou Moone in the valley of Aialon and then hee drewe out his sword to take vengeance of his enemies that rose vp against him when hee set Israel in their possessions Thus honourable Iosua managed the battell like renowned Dauid when he marshalled the field said Let the praise of God be in your mouthes and a sharpe two edged sword in your handes to be auenged of the heathen and to rebuke the people Iacob wept and prayed found God at Bethel Iosua fought and prayed and found God at Gibeon the Sunne Moone obeyed the word of Iosua because the God of heauen heard the prayer of Iosua O piercing word and powerfull prayer so to preuaile when all other succours failed for the day was welneare spent the battel was scarce begun the passages were daÌ„gerous dark night approached Israel knew no way the Amorites were acquainted with euery winding bogges bushes and shady groues rockes hils and derne dales might haue broken the battell and disordered the campe in the darknes silence of the night if God had not lengthened the day and therfore Iosua his issue was but one it was a strange one to dismisse the night and bid it be gone to stay the passage of the Sun to bid it stand and spare no light till the fight were finished that God and Israel might haue the honour of the day by that most miraculous and heauenly station Now tell mee who was there before him like to him that thus fought the battels of the Lord for the Sunne stood still at his command and one day was as long as two Here to determine the certaine howers of that day and minutes
Lord God and when all other helps succours faile with this good K. Ezechia trust in the Lorde God of Israel Trust not in friendes for they will faile you Trust not in this world for it will forsake you trust not in pleasure for it will flatter you trust not in wealth for it will Ieaue you trust not in strength it will weaken like water trust not in beautie it will vade like a flower trust not in witte it s often wauering trust not in Learning it s alwayes doubting trust not in Honour it s still a sliding trust not in Princes fauour it s often fleeting trust in no societie in marr'd with factions trust in no earthlie ioyes they are but borrowed passions All these Trusts are but transitorie worne out with Time but that transcendent confidence of thy GOD and LORD neither vadeth nor vanisheth out abideth for euer It effecteth wonders where it worketh and it tyeth the prouidence of the Almightie to thy particular it hales on the Heauens to helpe the Earth and like a threefold Cable from the Kings heart to the Lords eare it pulled him downe to be propitious when tyed to the Sunne it drew it backe ten degrees tyed to Time it put it on fifteene yeares as an Addition to his dayes and tyed to the Angels it brought them downe to scatter and kill the Hoast of Assur And now tell mee yee Atheists of the world Artists and Polititians in whom Nature euer abridgeth Grace tell mee what starrie influence wit of man might or abilitie could euer haue effected so admirable wonders had they not beene haled on rather by tye of Religion then by touch of reason for Fides non habet meritum vbi humana ratio praebet experimentum Faith hath no prehemineÌ„ce where reason maketh experiment well may it here houer belowe but it can neuer reache the height of the Heauens well may it make men famous on earth but it can neuer make them glorious in heauen O Religion beautifull is thy band it chameth man to God in his obedience and God to man in his deliuerance but where it is not Princes powers are but cordes of sand their glory but a morning dewe their speares but Reeds to pearce their owne entrals and with all their wit they doe but weaue vnto themselues spiders webs vneth able to keepe out a flie much lesse the fire of Gods heauie wrath and indignation against delinquents Nay oftentimes it falleth out that where there is a trust and confidence in the creature more then in the creator that very creature turnes to their destruction who trust to it Sampson twice trusted in his strength and it was first cut off by the weake and feeble hand of Dalila againe hee trusted in his strength and it pulled downe the house aswell vpon himselfe as vpon the Philistines Absoâ—on trusted in his faire face feature and beautie and his golden locks tyed him to the tree till Abner had pierced his heart with a speare That very sword wherein Goliah trusted cut off his owne head and the speare he tossed at Dauid before the combâ—te aduanced his head in the sight of all Israel What should I say more of that multitude of men wherein Dauid so trusted thousands fell vppon his right hand and ten thousands vppon his left and this good King when hee shrunko but a litle from his God and in some princely ambition shewed his treasures wherein hee-trusted to Baladen King of Egypt it was the ruine of his house and cause of Israels captiuitie The vse is good and seasonable for the day on solemnize I shall neuer thinke so long as I haue a thought in my heart that euer Queene Elizabeth I could haue rained and ruled so happily to the honour of her God preseruation of her state safetie of her people and wonder of all the world but that shee onely trusted in the Lord God of Israel It was her faith and full affiance in her God that made her so glorious by deliuerance For was it reason or faith that put 〈◊〉 the stabbe of Parry and poysoned the Bill of Lopus was it reason or faith that scattered the great Armâ—â—â— of Spainee when the sturtes fought for England and the Riuer Kison swept them away sinke their ships wherein they trusted and cast the carkâ—sses welneere vpon euery coaste from Portesmouth in England to Dingle Cushe in Ireland Was it reason or religion when in the day of her afflictions shee went towards the tower Tanquam Ouis a poore persecuted prisoner that brought her backe againe not long after to her pallace of Westminster a free borne Prince and that I onely say no more but haste to the rest Is it reason or religion that with the linâ— of her sacred life still draweth on the mercies of our blessed God Sweete as perfume and like the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed surely surely if I should ascribe these our blessings by her gratious gouernment rather to pollicie then pietie to reason then religion to the puisance of her power then to her trust and confidence in her God I should preiudice the right of faith and the Princely vertues of her heauenly minde And so to the second vertue wherewith the religious heart of this good King 〈◊〉 replenished which was his magnanimitie to wit a generous minde and spirit soaring high and seldome ayming at mediocrities neuer content to sit downe with the worst but euer striuing to contend with the best of his ranke and therefore it is said that after him was none like him amongst all the Kings of Iuda neither were there any such before him for hee did emulate the vertues of all the ancient Kings of Israel and Iudah that went before him and matched them he did animate the succeeding Kings of Iudah and made himselfe a patterne for them so walke saith the Apostle euen as you haue vs for an example so rule saith this good Prince euen as you haue vs for a president Like the sunne amongst the planets so are eminent Princes amiddest their peeres they lighten all aboue and all belowe precedent Kings are honoured succeeding Kings are bettered by them Yet so as this heroicall vertue of Magnanimitie euer springs out of the fountaine of faith her first and fairest in the ranke of all religious vertues for faith is euer operatiue it will worke it will striue wrastle and contend with the best by the best meanes and for the best blessing Out of this vertue it was that Sampsâ—â— contended with the Philistines and not in strength only but in wit had excelled them all if they had not plowed with his heiffer out of this vertue Iob conetnded for vprightnesse with all the land of Hus when the Lord saide of him that there was none like him in the earth for an vpright and iust man one that feared God and eschewed euill Out of this vertue