ordinary negotiations and conversation amongst men Now I come to the next point the subject of Soveraignety a righteous man whence I briefly and plainely ground this point Doct. Those that rule should be righteous or thus men in Authority should be righteous men That you may understand a right what I meane by righteous take notice of a double righteousnesse first imputed second inherent Inherent two-fold first morall second religious By imputed I meane the glorious justice of IESUS CHRIST purchased by his blood and obedience and imputed as his owne most sure for ever to a truly humbled sinner wherewith being richly and compleatly arrayed from top to toe as with a Royall and everlasting Robe he stands thereby acquit justified and accepted at the strictest Tribunall of the ever-living GOD world without end and so ipso facto as they say becomes ever after favourite to the mighty LORD of heaven and earth one of his jewels as the apple of his owne eye the dearely beloved of his soule a Royall Diademe in his hand for so are GODs Children though vilified by the world yet stiled in the World This righteousnesse is required in Rulers and such as are placed above their brethren to wit that themselves be reconciled unto GOD in IESUS CHRIST For sense of this alone is able to beget that right noble and well-composed temper of spirit those high and unshaken resolutions which onely are fit to make a Magistrate and create earthly Gods as Iudges are called Psal. 82.1.6 Without this righteousnesse assuredly whatsoever faire pretexts and representations to the contrary may dazle and deceive the worlds eye yet all is rotten at the heart-roote And the executions of their places though they may carry things smoothly and palliate with much art and pollicy yet questionlesse in case of strong temptation great advantage rising and enriching themselves gratification of some great one hazard of temporall happinesse c. will be exorbitant and yeelding and at the best but formall The cry of that happy soule which leanes and hath taken up his everlasting resting place upon the rocke of eternity is constant and still the same in all cases and causes Vt fiat iustitia ruat coelum Let right be done and a good conscience discharged and then come what come will Let me not onely loose my place and the favour of the times but let even the heavens fall and they will all is one to me by the mercy of GOD I shall stand upright under the ruines and rejoyce in the testimony of a good conscience amidst the confusions both of heaven and earth But to speake in Scripture phrase for the other was the speech even of an honest heathen Ever when standing on the better side and keeping a good conscience threatneth danger and disgrace he growes into Hesters happy resolution well whatsoever comes of me I will take GODs part and if I perish I perish But not to perish so is to perish everlastingly and so to perish is to be eternally saved But now on the other side he which hath not made his peace with GOD nor hath any part upon good ground in the Person Passion and promises of CHRIST will most certainely especially in stormy times and such tryals which search whether he be steele to the backe or no manifest and make plaine by his practise that in the height of his counterfeit courage his heart did hold in earnest that pestilent principle It is better to sleepe in a whole skin then with a good conscience If he be put unto it indeed for alas no heavenly strength as yet doth steele his spirit he will warpe winde-out one way or other and shrinke in the wetting Againe it is a cause of great comfort and matter of much joy to have a favourite to the highest Majesty and one whom GOD accepts graciously in his Sonne to sit in a high place and beare sway over others It is a goodly sight right pleasing unto GOD applauded of Angels amiable and admirable in the eyes of all good men And thrice happy is that people which breathes under the influence of such a blessed Authority and all those who are judged ordered and over-ruled by him be he Iudge Iustice of Peace Minister or Magistrate in any kind whom GOD ownes for his servant who entered into his office Benefice Bishopricke or any other publicke employment in GODs Name and not by bribery symony flattery temporizing or any other base and unblessed meanes and afterward in every passage of his place aimes principally at GODs glory and not at his owne particular to advance the Kingdome of CHRIST and not his kindred and outward estate And it is the better with them and they are the more blessed besides many other in these two respects First He that growes into familiarity with GOD by the favour of IESUS CHRIST besides an universall and impartiall integrity in the managing and discharge of the particulars in his publike calling may comfortably and with a good conscience presse daily to the Throne of grace and bring downe abundance of blessings both upon himselfe and those that are under him He doth not onely watch over his owne heart but also wrastle with GOD continually by prayer for himselfe that he may not disparage the Majesty of his place by any personall lightnesse or make his person odious by partiality in his publicke deportment that he may neither poyson his people by any scandalous example or plague them by private revenge that he neither lessen his Authority or loose good mens love by serving the time or servile yeelding or swell over the banks of patience and moderation with selfe-wild sowrenesse and unseasonable severity In a word that he may doe just so as GOD would have him and therefore begs not onely generall ability to weld aright the great body of his publick charge but also speciall direction and resolution in every severall affaire which passeth his hand that it be ever carryed faire and never crookned to his owne ends For his people that he may ever preferre his peoples spirituall welfare before the wealth of the whole world Now whether doe you thinke were it more happy and comfortable living under that Minister Magistrate or man of Authority whatsoever who thus acquaints himselfe with GOD and walks with him as with his friend or under that fellow who is an alient and meere stranger to any such precise mystery and might of prayer who never thought with comfort of comming to this place it being empoysoned unto him as he knowes full-well himselfe though he tell no body with basenesse or indirection never aimed so much in the discharge of it at GODs glory and the good of his people as at his owne particular his rising enriching or revenging is so far from discharging Samuels duty in constant praying for those commited to his charge that he prayes not even in his owne family constantly not in private to any purpose was never feelingly humbled
of murderous complotments as no age or story can possibly parallell Whereas on the other side that knife that could but strik out the teeth of Henry the fourth while he stucke to the truth of GOD and true Religion upon the pulling downe the Pyramis for their gratification and admitting againe those bloody firebrands and cut-throats of Christendome the Iesuits had power to take away his life Secondly consider that counsell given to great ones Psal. 2.10 11 12. Be wise now therefore O yee Kings be instructed yee Iudges of the earth serve the LORD with feare and rejoyce with trembling Risse the Sonne least he be angry Here Princes Iudges and all that beare Authority are charged to lay hold both upon imputed and inherent righteousnesse Kisse the Sonne entertaine and embrace IESUS CHRIST blessed for ever bleeding upon the Crosse for your sinnes and sakes and sweetly and amiably offering himselfe to all broken hearts in the armes of your faith love and everlasting affection And serve the LORD in feare Let the feare of GOD be ever before your eyes in all places at all times about all affaires and thereupon neither thinke nor speake nor doe neither judge nor plead nor being in verdict c. But so as you would be content when it is new done to goe immediatly to give an account of it before the high and everlasting Iudge otherwise this Sonne whom you should Kisse and to whom all Iudgement is committed Iohn 5.22 will be angry and if once a fire be kindled in his anger against an impenitent wretch that hates to be reformed it will burne unto the bottome of hell and set on fire the foundations of the mountaines And howsoever you may carry things faire to the worlds eye in the meane time yet assure your selves very shortly for that day hasteneth apace all the judgements pleadings sentences verdicts which have passed against IESUS CHRIST the truth any good cause or a good conscience they shall all be reversed and repealed before that last and highest Tribunall in the face of heaven and earth before Angels men and Devils and there and then you shall be horribly universally and everlastingly shamed be then advised before hand and in the Name of GOD take heed what ye doe Thirdly for our purpose let us ponder well those properties which the Scriptures require in a man of place Exod. 18.21 Deu. 1.13 They are seven in all foure in the first three in the second place I name them not in their order you shall finde them all in the Text Magistrates should be First Able men apt to fill the place with some competency of parts and equallity of worth to answer and sustaine the heat and burthen of it with a fit sufficiency of endowments ability activenesse and industry There ever ought to be a convenient correspondency betweene the importance of the place and the capacity of the party It is a thousand pitties to see in a Church and Common-weale many places full and yet so few filled when there is no proportion nay a vast distance betweene the height or rather the weight of the place and the weakenesse worthlesnesse if not the notorious wikednesse of that unworthy person who either by a golden violence or temporising basenesse hath most impudently thrust himielfe into it Secondly Wise sapient men Such as are skil-full in the Theory nature mystery and meaning of the place and Office into which they are to be preferred A man can never happily execute and successefully any function office or Art which is not learned in the speculative part before he descend unto the practicke Is it fit thinke you for a man to plead at the Barre before he hath well studyed and profitably passed thorow the course of the Common-law If a Physician should fall to practise before he be skilled in Hypocrates Galen in the natures causes signes symptoms prognosticks and remedies of diseases he is like enough to kill all before him Proportionable miseries and mischiefe may be expected and ensue when important places are prest into and undertaken without habituall understanding and speculative skill what belongs unto them It is a pittifull thing when a man will needes thrust into publicke imployments onely for the gaine and honour and depend upon others for the discharge of them or else doe them beastlily Thirdly Prudent So fitly rendred by Iunius approved also by Vatablus that great Professour of the Hebrew tongue They must not onely be Sapient if I may so speake and it cannot possibly be otherwise exprest in the English tongue but also Prudent endowed with a practicall dexterity and discretion to order wisely all the particulars in the execution of their place This prudence which is as the Moralists speake the generall Queene superintendent and guide of all other vertues Auriga virtutum without which there is nothing good beautifull fit and decent being sanctified especially will enable them by comparing one thing with another by well weighing all accidents circumstances appurtinances times persons places c. to guide and manage all the severall passagâ—â—f their publicke charges with wisdome equity and impartiality It consists principally in three things which are all of one ranke to consult deliberate well to judge and resolve well to conduct and execute well It hath a chiefe stroke in affaires of judicature to moderate rigour with equity That you may more clearely apprehend the necessity of adding this to the former requisite in a good Magistrate take an instance or two It is not enough for a Minister of GOD to be a good Scholler and preach generall truths though I confesse a great deale of learning is required in euery Minister of our times I say besides his speculative Divinity and ability to preach he must exercise a prudent zeale to winde himselfe by the Word into the consciences and affections of men to convince and cast them downe and so conduct them thorow the pangs of the new birth into the holy path he must labour to adde to the excellency of learning the art of converting else woe unto the people that are under him It is not enough for a Iustice of Peace to have a good revenew and rich attire and to present himselfe solemnly upon the Bench every Sessions and Assize but he must be skilfull in the duties of his office and Statutes so farre as they concerne it other wise he will sit but as an Idoll or cipher upon that Tribunall which requires a great deale of understanding and action Nay and not onely so knowledge in the duties of his place though never so univerâ—â—â—l and exact will not serve the turne except he be also active and imployed Being thus furnished with speculative abilities and wisdome for that purpose he must take to heart the good of the Country out of conscience labour and pray for an holy dexterity to discover and dive into the depth of the Devils Agents their combinations haunts and hypocrisies to search businesses that are brought
TWO SERMONS PREACHED AT NORTHAMPTON AT TWO SEVERALL ASSISES THERE The one in the time of the Shrevalty of Sir Erasmus Dryden Baronet Anno Domini 1621. The other in the time of the Shrevalty of Sir Henry Robinson Knight Anno Domini 1629. By Robert Bolton Bachelour in Divinity late Minister of Broughton in Northampton-shire and sometimes Fellow of Brasen-nose Colledge in Oxford Published by E. H. LONDON Printed by GEORGE MILLER dwelling in the Blacke-Fryers 1635. TO THE READER THe ancient Imperiall Lawes gave to an Overseer of a Will F. de Administ Tutor li. 1. §. 1. not onely a protection over it but an Action for itin case of abuse If I had not had this interest in the last will of this Author yet as a * Est ille cujus fidei legatum vel relictum committitur Ant. Koberg in Vocab utâ—iusque Iuris Fidei Commissarius to him and specially intrusted by him for the publishing these two Assise-Sermons I durst not but performe this trust to my deare friend I neede not assure the Reader that these Sermons are truely his owne for when hee shall observe how they are cloathed and apparrelled hee will quickly discover who was their Father Besides there are hundreds of people yet living who heard him preach them and can with me sufficiently attestate their legitimation But I cannot say so for some other Sermons that are audaciously vented under his Name For I must say that the Booke called the Carnall Professor printed for R. Dawlman 1634 is none of Master Boltons neither Quoad materiam nor quoad formam as they say in Schooles I goe not about to question it or to draw any party into punishment and therefore I will not ventilate a question in the Civill Law whether * D. de Dolo l. 2. C. eodeâ— tit Actio de dolo doth not lie in this case I onely note the injury and protest against it In the former Workes of this Author you may observe his Eloquence for GOD In this for his Prince in vindicating the Soveraignty of Kings as the immediate Ordinance of GOD against those proud usurpations upon them by that Man of sinne and in extolling Piety which is then set in the highest place when it wisely rules and directs in the hearts and wayes of righteous Governours I will say no more of this Worke nor of the Workeman for neither he nor it stand in need of my praise it onely contents me that I have lived to see him live againe to performe his will to execute his trust committed to me though it might have beene better done by another if hee had so pleased The law of reason and right pardons some aberrations in the Worke where there is a necessity of Doing and I doubt not but a loving Reader will performe this right to me that am content thus to expose my selfe for his sake From any other I expect it not it being a common humour with men that live at ease to censure other men as too busie though they worke for the publike of whom I may say as Erasmus spake of the Friers in his time Erasm. Coll de Fra. Francise They are more then men at their meate and lesse then women at their worke And as I contemne the flouts of the one so I covet the good will and desires of the other Let me enjoy this and I have done Middle Temple Aprill 24 1635. EDW. BAGSHAWE AN ASSISE SERMON PROV 29.2 When the righteous are in authority the people rejoyce but when the wicked beareth rule the people mourne EVen as the Sunne in the Spring by his beames and influence doth revive and quicken with new beauty of life as it were things here below makes the face of the earth to flourish a fresh and smile the birds to fill the ayre with much melodious sweetnesse and so proportionably all other treatures in their severall kindes lying within the Sphere of his springing warmth to enlarge themselves into exultations and mirth so a good man graced with Authority doth marvellously refresh all gracious hearts But as a bitter tempestuous storme doth with its unresistable impetuousnesse and violence beat downe and teare deface and bruise So a Shâ—bâ—a or Haman unworthily mounted on horse-backe and haled by the cords of corruption against the haire into some high place undoes all by his domineering fastens the bloody fangs of cruelty and hate upon the face of the fairest vertues and which is an inexpiable villany makes the hearts of honest men to bleed And that which is an equall mischiefe sets the sonnes of Belial on foot and causes good fellowes as they call them I meane brethren in iniquity Ale-houses hunters drunkards and such refuse and riffe raffe of the Devil to lift up their heads It is incredible to consider what a deale of hurt is done and mischiefe many times wrought insensibly and unobservedly when a wicked wit and wide conscience welds the sword of Authority For it is easie to a man so mounted by Legall sleights and pretence of deeper reach to compasse his owne ends either for promotion of iniquity or oppression of innocency For the latter there is some truth in that Hyperbolicall speech of a great Moralist Let any man present me saith hee with the most excellent and blamelesse action I will oppose it with so vicious and bad intentions all which shall carry a face of likelihood What may he do then who besides the habituall malice of his owne heart and wit at will hath power a pretended mystery of government to plague a man with in this kind Especially sith he knowes himselfe backt with that principle in pollicy It is not safe so to reverse transactions of State though tainted perhaps with some manifest impressions of miscarriage errour Woe therefore to those empoysoned stirrops by which so many such servants rise aloft and climbe so high I meane bribery simony flattery temporizing base insinuations and such vile meanes But I hope this Gangreu of going into Offices Benefices and high roomes by corruption is not unhappily crept into this famous and florishing State which if it should it will eate so farre into the hearts and sinewes of the State that no wit of man can foresee into what basenesse and degenerations this noble Kingdome would fall in the next age It would be the cause that many vines olive-trees and sigtrees should wither away in obscurity and brambles brave it abroad in the world wallow and tumble themselves in the pleasures splendour and glory of the times But let such alone this is their day When they have blustered a while like mighty and boisterous winds they breath out into naught Their breath is in their nostrils stop but their nose and they are dead Their big words are but as a vaine foame c. If they be not humbled in their place and repent and turne the edge of their sword the right way there is a day comming upon them wherein they
muddinesse imperfection and infirmity Who doubts then but when we spy these last muddy streames to crosse the current of the divine Law we must have recourse unto the well-head Divine Lawes do bind the conscience primarily as they say properly and by themselves GOD is the LORD of the conscience and onely able to damne and save the soule for the breaking or keeping of his Lawes and therefore he alone hath an absolute and soveraigne power to binde the conscience If humane Lawes even that are just doe any way it is by the power and precept of divine Law See Rom. 13.1 c. I meane meerely humane For that is false which Bellarmine hath De laicis Cap. 11. Par. 5. that every just Civill Law is either a conclusion or determination of the divine Morall Law Iunius as all along in his Animadversions so here he hath also nobly conquered and confounded him And therefore as we would preferre the keeping of a good conscience before the sleeping in a whole skin and the feare of him which can destroy bondy and soule in hell fire before him that can onely kill the body let us cleave unto the commandements of GOD against the contradictions of the whole world Yet notwithstanding the mis imployment and the errour in the exercise of it Authority is still venerable in the originall and to be reputed GODs creature else had Daniel never spoken thus to Nabuchadnezzar an ungodly King and scourge of Nations Dan. 2.37 Thou O King art a King of Kings for the GOD of heaven hath given thee a Kingdome power and strength and glory And hence it is also De Civitate Deili 5.6 21. that Austin that renowned Father tells us Hee that gave Soveraignety to Augustus gave it also to Nero. Hee that gave it to the Vespasians father and sonne sweetest Emperours gave it also to Domitian that bloody monster In a word saith he hee that gave it to Christian Constantine gave it also to Iulian the Apostata That infinite wisedome of GOD which hath distinguished his Angels by degrees which hath given greater and lesse light and beauty to heavenly bodyes which hath made difference betweene beasts and birds created the Eagle and the Flye the Cedar and the shrub and among stones given the fairest tincture to the Ruby and the quickest light to the Diamond hath also ordained Kings Dukes or Leaders of the people Magistrates Iudges and other degrees amongst men Reason 2. Secondly Government is the prop and pillar of all States and Kingdomes the cement and soule of humane affaires the life of society and order the very vitall spirit whereby so many millions of men doe breath the life of comfort and peace and the whole nature of things subsist Let the heart in a man surcease from the exercise of its principality prime motion and the wholebody would presently grow pale bloudles and livelesse If that glorious Giant in the sky should retire his light into himselfe and through a languishing faintnesse stay his course and the Moone should wander from her beaten way whom GOD hath appointed rulers over day and night the times and seasons of the yeare would blend themselves by dis-ordered and confused mixture This goodly frame of the world would dissolve and fall into confusion and darknesse Proportionably take Soveraignety from the face of the earth and you turne it into a Cockpit Men would become cut-throats and Canibals one unto another Murder adulteries incests rapes roberies perjuries witchcrafts blasphemies all kinds of villanies outrages and savage cruelty would overflow all Countries We should have a very hell upon earth and the face of it covered with blood as it was once with water Reason 3. Thirdly It giveth opportunity by GODs blessing for the free exercise and full improvement of all humane abilities to their utmost worth and excellency Trades traffike lawes learning wisdome valour policies of State religion all Arts and excellencies thrive and flourish with much happinesse and successe under the wings and warmth of a godly government Some shadowes of these notable and worthy effects appeared even in the Heathenish State as in that of the Romanes to what a matchlesse noone tide of earthly glory and greatnesse to what an incredible and uncomparable height of humane felicity did that people aspire by managing their mysteries of State and guiding the raines of their commanding power by a faire ingenious and noble hand and that out of the meere illuminations of reason and principles of naturall policy But I must tell you by the way they were notably assisted in this Imperiall rise by their strict and severe lawes against those two grand impoysoners of the strongest See Godwin de Ro. Leg. pag. 161. and most flourishing States first Bribery secondly basenesse in comming to high roomes They had many lawes De ambitu de pecunijs repetundis If a Senatour were found to have used unlawfull meanes for the attaining of any Office he was to suffer ten yeares banishment and so proportionably of bribery No Kingdome under heaven harbouring these two cut-throates can stand long without basenesse or ruine If Government then hath such power and workes such wonders in Pagan Kingdomes what heavens upon earth what worlds of happinesse by GODs mercy may be comfortably expected when it is seasoned and sinewed with the truth of Religion and power of Christianity which is the chiefest top and well-spring of all true virtues even as GOD is of all good things For all other ornaments and excellencies of Nature Art Pollicy are as but a dead and livelesse carkasse except they be animated and quickned with the true feare of GOD and religious forwardnesse for his glory Nay a gracelesse Magistrate is a grievous plague for when he followes the publique administration of Iustice onely as a trade with unquenchable and unconscionable thirst of gaine and attaining his owne ends being not in heart perswaded that Iustice is GODs owne worke and himselfe his Agent in this businesse the sentence of right GODs owne verdict and himselfe his Minister to deliver it Formalities of Iustice doe but serve to smoother right and that which was necessarily ordained for the common good is through shamefull abuse made the cause of common misery which is too manifest by too many wofull experiences See Bacons aduancement pag. 3â— But now for instance of those happy fruits and excellencies springing by GODs blessing out of Government sanctified by the effectuall and powerfull Majesty of true Religion I will goe no further then our owne State since that peerelesse Princesse Queene Elizabeth of sweetest and dearest memory the happiest instrument of GODs glory of her sexe since the most blessed Virgine I say since she rose into the Imperiall throne what a deale of glory and light admiration and honour what miracles of unparalled deliverances and preservations have crowned this famous Iland To say nothing of temporall felicities for which purpose instance might be given in some
and fire-works which have most unworthily at one time or other beaten upon and blasted all the Imperiall and Regall Thrones of Christendome Nay a fellow in the Counsell of trent did fiercely labour to confute that passage of de Ferrieres Oration That Kings were given by GOD as hereticall and condemned by the Extravagant of Boniface the eight Vnam sanctam if he did not distinguish See Hist. of the Coun of Trent pag. 275. and Spalat pa. â—25 that they are for GOD but by mediation of his Vicar Thus it was in that Conventiele of scarlet Fathers The Romish Locusts did very furiously * Ibid pâ— 766. as appeares obtrude 13. Articles for the reformation of Princes all pâ—ring from Imperiall Crownes to patch up the most unjust usurpations of their shavelings I will trouble you with one or two As you may see Ibid. p. 769 770. that you may take notice how justly King Iames out of a pang of Royall indignation after a survay of that most grievous yoke of miserable bondage to which the Crownes of Christian Kings are made to stoope by that man of sinne That GOD in whose hands the heart of Kings are poysed and at his pleasure turned as the water-courses that mighty GOD alone in his good time is able to rouse them out of so deep a slumber to take order their drowsie fits once over and shaken off with heroicall spirits Against 〈◊〉 pag. 289. that Popes hereafter shall play no more upon their Princely patience nor presume to put bits and snafles in their noble mouthes to the binding up of their mighty power with weake cords of scruples like mighty Bulls led about by little children with a small twisted thred Thus speakes his Majesty in his Answer to the French Cardinall for which booke and that other premonition to all Christian Princes especially the ages to come shall call him blessed I say the childe unborne shall blesse King Iames his golden pen which hath given such a blow to that beast of Rome that howsoever they may have some lightning before their small ruine by the mercies of GOD he shall never be able to stand upright upon his foure legges againe One of the Articles is this that the Ecclesiastikes shall not be forced to pay taxes gabels tiths passages subsidies though in the name of gift or loane either in respect of the Church goods or of their Patrimoniall c. Another is this Hist. of the Counsell of Trent p. 77â— that neither the Emperour Kings or any Prince whatsover shall make Edicts or Constitutions in what manner soever concerning Ecclesiasticall causes or persons nor meddle with their persons Causes Iurisdictions or Tribunals c. The rest also sound the same way and all tend to the * Ibid. p. 237. shaving of Imperiall Crowne but these two are sufficient to represent to the weakest understanding the unsufferable indignity and villany offered to Regall Soveraignty by these Antichristians sith in those Kingdomes where the Pope doth tyrannise and domineere almost the * Kings Premonit p. 21. third part of subjects and Territories is Church-men and Church-livings Porrò uâ—esse Romano Pontifici omni humane creature declaraâ—us dicimus definimus pronunciamus omninoesse de necessitate salutis Extra cap. vnam sanctam de major Obel See also Bâ—ll de Eccl milit lib. 3. ca. 2. sect Nostra autem sentencia pag. 195. Nay more then this from the ground of that fellowes reply to the fore-named passage of de Ferrieres Oration concerning the Articles for the reformation of Princes I doe not see how any true Papist either Ecclesiasticke or Laicke can possibly be a true subject to any monarchicall Soveraigne my reason is this at this time Boniface the eight guided as they dreame and damnably lie by an infallible spirit pronounceth peremptorily in the fore-cited Extravag unam sanctam that it is altogether of the necessity of salvation to be subject to the Pope of Rome How then is it possible that any one of those mighty swarmes of stinging * Against Pâ—â—son pag. 255. Locusts and busie waspes which lye at ease in the bowels of this Kingdome ready and addrest when time serves to cut the very heart strings of it should be a sound subject to King Charles sith upon paine of damnation and as they would be saved in the Romish Church they must be absolutely subject to a forraine Antichristian and sometimes Sodomiticall and Atheisticall Priest of whom as they * Hist. of the Councell pag. 775. See Mortons dissert adversus Bell pa. 84. say he immediatly holds his Crowne and who may for many causes depose and butcher him Bellarmine names six De officio Chr. Principis One of them is If he offer injury to the Pope who many times will complaine without cause so that if King Charles perhaps should refuse to kisse his cursed toe a thousand times more worthy to trample upon his triple Crowne he might lye open to the bloody stroke of some Clement or Ravillac Nay and had not CHRIST IESUS given this power to that holy father saith the Glossator upon the fore-named Extravagant prodigious blasphemy he should have beene undiscreet Nam non videretur Dijs discretus suisse ut cum reverentia loquar nisi unicum post se talem vicarium reliquisset qui haec omnia posset These are the words for he would not seeme to have beene discreet to the Gods that I may speake with reverence unlesse he had left one onely such Vicar behind himselfe who could have done all these things Besides the Romish Locusts falling foule upon Government upon all Imperiall Royall and Princely power by debasing the originall of it by disroabing it of that native reverence due attributions and obligations of State which divine ordination and purest times appropriated unto it by teaching acting and approving the bloody killing of crowned Potentates as appears before There is another monstrous engine of Popish imposture hammerd in the heads of those hellish firebrands which if it were generally entertained were able in short time to cut in pieces and dissolve the sinewes and ciment of all humane society I meane Equivocation and mentall reservation Many cunning shifts and evasions have they coined from time to time to cousen the State and delude the Magistrate in their oaths and answers before our just Tribunals They have vainely laboured to dawbe over and still their consciences against their lyes and perjuries sometimes first by the supposed benefit of popish dispensation 2. Somtimes by a wicked conceit of our Magistrates incompetency 3. Or pretended unauthenticalnesse of our Bibles in English upon which they sweare Fourthly but at this day they rest most upon this last Iesuiticall strategem which was wont to be confined to Courts of Iustice and more publike cases but now the Popish Casuists by their Conclusions begin to convey this damnable Doctrine and accursed poyson of mentall reservation into the common passages of
fame saith Austin were the aime in the Actors of those admirable things amongst the Romanes Adde then these and we have Thirdly religious righteousnesse which ever strikes the stroke doth the deed and goes through stitch indeed in all comfortable Christian government It onely steeres aright in all publicke employments stands upright in all stormes and is steele to the backe Either there must be an addition of Religion to reason piety to policy counsell out of GODs Booke to the light of naturall conscience sanctified righteousnesse to civill honesty or as tho preferred party himselfe though otherwise of never so good parts never so universally and excellently enriched with all endowments of all kinds naturall morall politicke learned is but as a dead man a rotten carrion stucke over with flowers so certainely with whatsoever outward flourishes and formalities he may seeme to dazle the eyes of underlings he will poyson his place by preferring his owne particular and private ends by putting sometimes hatefull businesse into good language for his owne advantage and further advancement and ever by temporizing rather then hazard his temporall happinesse Heare what judicious Master Hooker did happily let fall from his pen to this purpose So naturall saith he is the union of Religion with Iustice that we may boldly deeme there is neither where both are not For how should they be unfainedly just whom Religion doth not cause to be such or they religious which are not found such by the proofe of their just actions If they which employ their labour and travaile about the publicke administration of Iustice follow it onely as a trade with unquenchable and unconscionable thirst of gaine being not in heart perswaded that Iustice is GODs owne worke and themselves his Agent in this businesse the sentence of right GODs owne verdict and themselves his Priests to deliver it formalities of Iustice doe but serve to smoother right and that which was necessarily ordained for the common good is through shamefull abuse made the cause of common misery It is no peculiar conceit Note but a matter of sound consequence that all duties are by so much the better performed by how much the men are more religious from whose abilities the same proceede This explication thus premised I come to confirme the point first by Scripture And first take notice of GODs owne words to King David 2 Sam. 23.3 The GOD of Israel said the Rocke of Israel spake to me He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the feare of GOD. And why a Rocke upon purpose to intimate give assurance of an all sufficiency and omnipotent arme for protection in such cases And why so because all that set themselves to governe graciously and as GOD would have them shall be sure to be mightily set against by all the powers of darkenesse all the Devils in hell and all their wicked instruments upon earth Magistrates that are no medlers as they say but onely seeke themselves and a name and an honour in their places neede no Rocke The Governour of a Corporation who will suffer himselfe to be intreated for the erecting and supporting of those bloody dens of swinish drunkards schooles of misrule and nurceries for the gallowes resolves to take no notice of those sonnes of Belial who belch out their blasphemies in the street against that blessed law provided in such a case is willing to be accessary to all those sinnes through his whole yeare which out of cowardlinesse or connivency he left unpunished I say such a one is like enough to sleepe in a whole skinne he needes no Rocke The negligent and unconscionable Minister which never goes about to stirre the Devill in the ignorant prophane and those that hate to be reformed but is well enough content that so he may rise and jovialize it in the meane time to treasure up the bloody cries of so many murdered soules against the day of wrath he shall not have so much as a drunkard to open his mouth or wag his finger against him he needes no Rocke The idoll Iustice that onely hunts after plausiblenesse and popularity and for the good word of all the good-fellowes about him to serve his owne turne for some intents when the time serves and for that purpose upholds as much as he can for shame or dare for law all prophane sports rotten Ale-houses I say there where the Iustice of Peace is milde and the drunkard merry as they say there is mischiefe enough he needes no Rocke But now that man of Authority who in love to the LORD IESUS and out of the Lion-like boldnesse of a good conscience dare and will draw the sword of Iustice against the proudest Nimrod if neede require sets his breast from the beginning to the end of his yeare with impartiality and resolution against all the flouds of Belial bends himselfe with such an universall sincere severity against all sinne that he is now become the drunkards song c. That man of GOD which being sensible of the horrible sinne of killing soules dares not but discover unto his people the damnablenesse of their state all kinds of hypocrisie all sortes of unregeneration the whole counsell of GOD and so dwell upon their bosome sinnes with terrour and truth and still beate upon those barres with the hammer of the Word which keepes them from CHRIST untill the Devill be driven out of them Which you know what a world of ungodly opposition bedlam rage and railing it will raise against a faithfull Minister The Iustice of Peace which resolves to be serious and reall to doe his Country good indeed and to discharge a good conscience undauntedly without all feare or faction and lookes upon blasphemers drunkards whore-masters railers against Religion c. as the North winde upon raine c. I say such as these and in a word all who deale uprightly and rule in the feare of GOD have neede of a Rocke against the rage of all ungodly oppositions And such a Rocke will the GOD of Israel be unto them all that set against them shall set their shoulders against a Rocke all their cunning and close projects and open base practises of all prophane opposites and underminers the plausible politicke tyrannise of those that sit in the gate all the scurrill dunghill rimes and railings of deboist Bilial drunken jesters All that man or Devill can any wayes doe against them shall all be but like so many proud and swelling waves which dash themselves against a strong impregnable rocke which the more boisterously they beate against it the more desperatly are they dissolved and broken into a vaine sonne or froth The ever glorious Princesse of sweetest and dearest memory Queene Elizabeth is a most memorable and matchlesse instance of protection in this kind The mighty arme of GOD was as a Rock of brasse to beate backe from her sacred and Royall person See Raâ—ot lib. 2. pag. 432. defending the Gospell of IESVS CHRIST such variety