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
hands vpon his annoynted whom to obey by rule of reason and all true religion not our actions onely are tyed with our words but our very thoughts must be chaste that way according to that Detract not from the king no not in thy thought for the foules of the ayre shall carie the voyce Nay were our Prince as euill as she is good were she set ouer vs in iudgement to plague vs as she is in mercy to saue vs I meane to shelter vs as the shadowe of a great rocke in a weary land were shee as bloudie in persecuting as she is carefull in cherishing finally were shee as great a Pagan as she is a christian yet stands it with religion pietie and godlines not to touch her life but to pray for her safetie so were the people of the Captiuitie enioyned to doe by Ieremie Seeke the prosperitie of the Citie whither I haue caused you to be caried away captiue and pray vnto the Lord for it for in the peace thereof shall you haue peace And Baruck 1. 11. saith pray for the life of Nabuchadnezzar king of Babylon and for the life of Baltasher his sonne that their daies may be vpon earth as the daies of heauen What should I say more Vnder Augustus Caesar all the world was taxed and vnder Tiberius Caesar the Lord was crucified and yet said hee of both Giue to Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are Gods Though Nero was cruell and Domitian was bloudie yet Pauls diuinitie was that euery soule should be subiect to the higher powers for there is no power but of God exhorting with all that first of all prayers intercessions and giuing of thankes should be made for all men but especially for kings froÌ„ the same spirit spake Peter when hee enioyned submission to all publike gouernment for the Lords sake whether vnto the King as Supreme or to others as subordinate Where the Apostolike doctrine is as you may see that Popes are inferior to Kings whoÌ„ they must obey as their Superiours so farre from all primacy as they may not challenge a parity by the word of God but must yeeld a precedencie to their Kings as to their Soueraignes next vnto God supreme gouernours vpon earth whereunto both popes al papists if they haue soules must be subiect Nec attendat verus Obediens quale sit quod praecepit hoc solum contentus quod praecipitur sincere obedieÌ„ce neuer reasons with the meanes but quiets it self with the command quits the conscience with the precept of his God who presseth nothing more then homage to himselfe and honour to his annoynted Qua Obedientia vnicimus daemones Caeteris virtutibus oppugnamus by which obedience to God and the King as one saith well we subdue diuels by other vertues we do but oppugne them Sathan and sinners are neuer seene more shrinking then in our obedience it daunts men and dammes diuels Now the subiect of the peoples praier 〈…〉 passioÌ„ for their King was that the Lord Would remeÌ„ber him with all his afflictions Where first obserue that Kings euen Kings haue their trials troubles and crosses in this world and may say in the height of all their honour as Paul did in his persecutioÌ„s Idy dayly for besides the things that are outward I am cumbred daily and haue the care of all the Churches warres without treasons within Councellors perfidious subiects seditious and are not these afflictions O well said Alexander Regum est benefacere male audire It s incident to Kings well to do euil to heare euilly to be intreated that Embleme is for Princes which one of that ranke set vpon his herse to wit a lampe burning with this Empresse Alijs micans meipsum consumo whiles I shine to others I consume my selfe It would bee tedious to tell of Princes thoughts euen in the bed of their rest as it was with Ahashuerus the King when in the sileÌ„ce of thâ— night he could not sleepe but commanded to bring the booke of the Records and Chronicles that he might solace his soule in seeking to succour them who had saued him Baltassers Emblem was fearfull euen in the height of the feast it may be a Motto to all the mightie that they neither presume 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 nor boles least a fearefull hand-writing vpon the wal warne them both of their sin and of their shame that they haue praised the Gods of gold of siluer of brasse and of Iron of wood and of stone but the God in whose hands their breath is and all their waies him haue they not glorified Giue eare therfore you that rule the multitudes and glory in the multitudes of people for the rule is giuen you of the Lord and power by the most high which will try your works search out your imaginations because that you being officers of his kingdome haue not iudged aright nor kept the law nor walked after the will of God horribly and suddenly will he appeare vnto you saith the wise man for an hard iudgemeÌ„t shall they haue that beare rule hee that is most lowe is worthy mercy but the mightie shall be mightily tormented Wisd. 6. 6. But it may be to flatter Princes Sicophants will say these trayals are for tyrants they touch not the godly good and religious kings may keepe and carry their crownes without cober passe their time in pleasure wallow vpoÌ„ their beds of delight â—â—t downe their diadeâ—nes without danger â—â—d bid all doubts adewe I answere no For if there were no care to gette a Kingdom for that they haue it yet is there care to keepe it for that they may loose it nor is the care of conscieÌ„ce least or last of the three in a godly King which laboureth to quit it wheÌ„ the great Iudge of all the world shall demaund an account of their Gouernement Psal. 58. The good Kings of Israel and Iudah haue euer caried this conscience with their Crownes and haue carefully studied they might bee bossed with blessing from God both vpon themselues and vpon their people neuer failing them in the field to fight their battailes nor in their Oratories to further their Deuotions with a care of their Leuites to serue at the Altar and aboundance of sacrifice for the holy offering yea and more then all this so carefull of their God and good of his Church as they neuer failed to honour it with their presence and to sanctifie it with their prayer Now hâ—â— all this could passe them without passion trouble and affliction I leaue it to the feeling conscâ—â—â—â—â— of faithfull Kings whose wrought Crownes of gold often are worne with the wreathed crowne of Christ pricking in their hearts with like passionate speech as when he said Remember mine affliction and my mourning the wormewood and the gall he was a King that said it you may beleeue it Lord thou hast made
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
a woman so may I likewise charge their mould for that they are but men whose breath is in their nostrels and if God doe not charge England with the sinnes of England little doe I feare their force we commend your prayers for they will moue the heauens so doe wee your powerfull preaching for that will shake the earth of our earthly hearts and call vs to repentance whereby our good God may relieue vs and roote vp in mercy his deserued Iudgements intended against vs onely be faithfull and feare not Si deus nobiscum quis contra nos And thus shee went on in her holy march with her Princely power spirit and praier against that inuincible Nauie for preparation might and bloodie designes the greatest and most fearefull that euer was intended any nation For as Emanuel van Meteran reporteth their shippes were an hundred fiftie furnished with eight thousand mariners besides of slaues for the Gallies two thousaÌ„d eightie eight of Souldiers twentie thousand besides noble men and gentlemen voluntaries they had great cast peeces 2650. peeces of brasen ordinance 1600. of Iron 1000. bullets 120000. gunpowder 5600. quitals of match 1200. quintals Muskets and Calliuers â—000 Halbarts and Partisanes 100â—0 This Nauie as Diego Pimentello afterward confessed was esteemed by the King himselfe to containe two and thirtie thousand persons and to cost euery day thirtie thousand Duckets Adde to all this Parma his forces in the Lowe Country thought to be fortie thousand strong Dukes Princes and Potentates from Italie Spaine Sauoy Hungary Hesse with many Turkish captaines all hasted thither to the seruice and were had in Parma his court and campe The Pope Sixtus Quintus placed his part with sixe cinque for all he published a Crâ—sadoe as against Turkes and Infidels with ample Indulgences he bestowed the Realme of England vppon the Conquerour and proffered a million of golde towardes the seruice and if all reports be true hee dispatched out D. Allen the great Apostle of our English Catholiques to lye alooffe with a Frye of Seminaries and Iesuites vermine of our Church to poyson within corrode the very bowels of their dearest countrey But there 's no counsell against the Lord No might can marche with his Maiestie Mans wisedome is but foolishnes his greatest strength but weakenesse his life but a breath and all his honour but a blast for the Lorde had no sooner blowne vppon all this their pompe and pride but their spirits were daunted their Armies were discomfited the great Armada was scattered beaten and broken with it owne burthen and as they say only fiftie three poore shippes returned home to carie tidings of all the test Thus England had the honor of the day day like that of Iosuah bright shining from heaueÌ„ wherin the black night of our throuâ—â—â—â— destruction was beaten backe by the puissance of our Prince praying our Armies fighting and the creatures of God relieuing to make vs glorious by deliuerance And now to close with your religious cares and hearts which heare me this day our care is for our Prince to keepe her in life the crowne of our head the breath of our nostrels the annointed of the Lord vnder whose shadow we haue bin thus preserued aliue amongst the heathen Where must wee then begin to beg that the line of her life may be lengthened but at the Author of life that her dayes may bee multiplied on earth but at the auncient of dayes in heauen Iosua could not stir a creature till he had moued the creator nor stay the Sun till he had communed with his God as it is here Then spake Iosua vnto the Lord c. For it was as in the day of famine when God by the Prophet promised plentie saying in that day I will heare saith the Lord I will euen heare the heauens and they shal heare the earth and the earth shall hearethe corne and the wine and the oyle and they shall heare Israel yet all as it 〈…〉 this caution I will not heare the 〈…〉 till the heauens heare the earth I will not heare the earth till the earth heare the corne the wine and the oile nor will I heare the cry of these till these heare the cry of Israel so as Israel must be the PrimuÌ„ mobile to moue the Lord to mercy No corne wine or oile no earth sunne or heauen could preuaile with the God of heauen till the praiers plaints and cries of Israel there and Iosua here at Aialon were out and piercing to make him propitious Therefore you that stand this day for the Lords annoynted and keepe it solemne like one of the feasts of Iudah I exhort with the Apostle that first of all supplications praiers intercessions and giuing of thankes be made for all and especially for Queene Elizabeth that wee may leade a quiet and peaceable life vnder her in all godlines and honestie without which praier to God all other succours are but vaine For her counsell may aduise her officers may care her guard may keepe watch her Souldiers may fight her Ladies may loue her and her handmaides may attend her her Physitions may apply her person her Cookes her diet yea and her Reuels may solace and refresh her wearied spirits all these with all the subiects of the land may wish and worke her good yet all nothing without the Soueraigne good for except the Lord build the house they labour but in vaine that build it Come then ye Counsellers of state and aduise with your God come yee officers in Court resigne your staues and be instant with your God come yee Souldiers out of the field let fall your weapons and yeeld to your God Ye Ladies and maides of honour leaue your closets and attend your God Physitions lay by your Cordials and apply your God You reuerent fathers of the Church slide from your Consistories and pray to your God you preachers people and all contend with your God for a blessing this day that it may yet dawne a bright blessing to this English nation Iosua preuailed as I haue told you and was encouraged to commaund the creatures because of the promise wee haue a more precious promise from God and a greater commaund euen to still the heauens till our prayers bee offered vp there was silence in heauen for the space of halfe an houre till the Saints prayers were offered vp and now tel me whether is the greater command to stay the Sun in Gibeon till the Amorites be vaÌ„quished or to silence the heauens till the Saints prayers bee answered Againe the rather to embolden vs to pray with confidence wee haue as good a God to goe to as euer Iosua had euen the Lord Iehoua wee haue as good a meane to goe by as euer Iosua had euen Iesus Christ the righteous we haue had as good a cause in hand as euer Iosua had euen the life of our Queene the safety of her state and the preseruation
Surely surely a Prince so high in the fauour of God and so mightie with men so blessed with daies and prosperous in her raigne so beloued at home and so dread abroade so absolute for blessings and so admired for gouernment was neuer seene in England Herauld thy praier was powerfull and preuailed with God for thy proclamation hath wrought heaueÌ„ filled the earth with the cloude and glory of her happie raigne I might here speake to make good the doctrine I aime at of that disastrous disease of our nation the Kings euill cured by no hand but of the Lords annoynted vpon whose sacred touch and prayer thousands within the kingdome haue beene deliuered from that wofull maladie the humour being beaten backe the veines purged and the canker killed when neither surgions skill nor Physicions cunning could helpe theÌ„ had the Prince precedencie by praier Nullâ—s adhibitis pharmacis to relieue the patient it may be the cause is secret in nature but not in grace which vsually helpeth when all other succours faile And thus you see how Princes praiers pleadings with God haue much preuailed being graced with faith not a creature of God but it stands at their checke if they grieue the creatures groane after a deliuerance God in heauen and his Gods on earth doe sympathise they soare high who came from an high and their generous spirits beg much at the haÌ„ds of the Lord God of spirits there was neuer yet any truly noble or of an honorable descent but from an heaueÌ„ly asceÌ„t It s not your royall blood but the honour of your God that makes you noble your greatnes is in the breath of his being according to that Nemo vir magnus vnquaÌ„ extitit sine diuino aliquo afflatu numine there was neuer yet any great man moulded on earth but had his minde inspired with some diuine influence from heauen And now from the combate Iosua had with his God by praier come we to the command he had ouer the creature by the word wherein spare me a while to speake it shall be as I hope a seasonable instructioÌ„ lessoning vs how to demeane our selues toward God as the whole hoste of his creatures may stand either for vs if we doe wel or against vs if we doe euill the lesson is short and soone taken out For if we be at enmitie with God then all his creatures wil be at enmitie with vs The earth will swallow vs the water will drowne vs the aire will infect vs the fire will consume vs Yea the basest creatures vpon the earth will bandie our destruction wormes will eate our entrals Lice will consume our faire flesh flies will fright vs and frogges will leape into our Kings chambers monstrous visions will trouble vs and make vs swoone as though our owne soules should betray vs the darkenes of the night will be intollerable and the thoughts of the graue insupportable What should I say more the whistling of the windes chierping of birds amongst the thicke branches the water falls the skipping and roaring of wild beasts with the sound that answereth againe in the hollow mountaines these fearefull things as Salomon saith will make vs appalled for the lesse that the hope is whithin the more is our torment without Nay which is more then all I haue said and I yearne to speake it if we be at enmitie with God his word and Sacraments wil be our enemies the law will fright vs and the Gospell will flatter vs to our destruction the blessed Sacraments seales of our assurance wil rubbe off if vnreuereÌ„tly we rubbe vpon him Psalmes Hymnes and spirituall songs will turne to dolefull ditties and our melancholy will marre our melodie Songs of Sion to vs will be but songs of sorrow with a woe and welladaie that euer we were at enmitie with our God and Christ. But è regione altera if we be in amitie and friends with God as Iosua was then all his creatures will fawne vpon vs the earth will support vs and the aire will cheare vs the water will coole vs and the fire will comfort vs our meate will feede vs and our clothes will warme vs our houses will shroude vs and our beds will ease vs yea and God will make our greatest enemies either our friends or our footestoole What should I say more if God be thy friend the beast that beares thee will bid thee beware as he did Balaam and Ionathans arrow will bid thee be gone as he did Dauid thy weake sling and peeble stone shall quell a Giant and with the iawe bone of an asse thou shalt kill a thousand Starres shall fight for thee as they did for Deborah and the riuer Kison shall sweepe them away Rauens shall feede thee as they did the Prophet and the Cocke shall crowe thee to repentance as he did Peter Nay if thou be in amitie with God the night will be short and thy sleepe sweete the graue will be to thee as a bed of downe there to rest till the day of thy resurrection word Sacraments and Sabaothes will be thy solace till thou come to that Sabaoth of rest thy prayers will sent sweete as perfume and thy praises sound in thy soule like harmonie of the heauens In a word and so to conclude with my text and close with your religious eares and hearts ye may not maruell if Iosua hauing God his friend had also the coÌ„maund of his fairest creatures and bad them stand still who neuer stood before for the prayer of a righteous man auaileth much if it be feruent Elias was a man subiect to like passions as we are and hee praied earnestly that it might not raine it rained not on the earth for three yeares sixe monthes and he praied againe and the heauens gaue raine and the earth brought forth her fruite The vse is good and much to our comfort if we be feruent in praier for we haue a greater commaund then either Iosua or Elias had they commaunded but the creatures we commaund the creator euen the Lords Christ we bring him down we must make him ours with all the benefits of his passion euen remission of sinnes and euerlasting life to the which God bring vs. And let this suffice to satisfie you of Iosua his great puisance as preuailing with God by prayer and with his creatures by command All the Hoast of heauen earth and hell being as I haue told you mans Hostes from the Lord of Hoasts whilest we be friends with God and fetch them off by faith either to defend our selues or offend our enemies in the day of battel otherwise if we be at enmitie with God as likewise I haue said the basest of his creatures as lice flies and frogs are big enough to beate downe Pharao in his pride or the greatest monarke in this world in his presumption against the Lord. And now come we from the praier and word of Iosua to the arme and
no lacke her exactions are not grieuous Lastly and so an ende of her praise but neuer of our praier to GOD for her Ezechia was sicke vnto the death hee prayed vnto the Lord and hee heard his prayers and pitied his teares and the Lord spake comfortably vnto him and gaue him a signe of his recouerie by the going backe of the shadowe of Asa his diall tenne degrees vpon the wall A sure symboll or Sacrament of fifteene yeares moe to bee added vnto his daies Where note first I pray you that the promise from God was fifteene and the degrees were but tenne to teach vs as one hath truely obserued that the Lord euer giueth moe graces vnto his word then to his Sacraments that begettting these but confirming the faith which the word hath formerly be gotten But to the comparison in hand and proiect I ay me at wee knowe that Princes are GODS yet must they dye like men there 's no difference in the moulde from the rich Crowne of Kings to the poore beggars crutch all must grinde to greete and to determine of the life of Kings and period of Kingdomes is not the least of Gods secretes onely reserued to himselfe yet if when it shall please the Lord to touch our dread soueraigne with sicknesse the harbenger of death it would likewise please him to pull backe the diall of her dayes some fewe degrees and adde more yeares vnto her dayes it were and would be as great a blessing to vs of England as euer Hezechia his life was to Israels Iuda which and if it may not by reason our many sins then Lord take her to eternitie neuer to dye And in the meane time whilest wee may enioy her blessed raigne with her life let vs foster and cherish Elizabeth as chaste Abishagge with the worthies of Israel did their Dauid of whom it is written that when he was old stricken in yeares they couered him with clothes but no heate came vnto him The counsell was to finde out a fairer virgin to stand before the King to chearish him and lie in his bosome that the King might get beate so they found one Abyshag a Sunamite and brought her to the King the maide was exceeding faire and cherished the King and ministred vnto him but the King knew her not The vse is good for in the person of Dauid you may behold as in a mirrour the state and condition of Princes what it is Princes are old cold and chillery Princes must decay and weare away In the person of Dauids seruants and faire Abishage is to be seene the loue and loyaltie towards their Soueraignes what it ought to be they stretch their wits to aduise practise with all their power how to preserue the Lords annoynted subiects must be carefull of their King The publike and priuate praier of all the land who owe faith to God and fealtie to their Prince all praise and prophecie this day what is it but chaste and faire Abishage found out to foster their liege Lady the Queene to stand before her chearish and lie in her bosome to get her heate and lengthen her life but oh that our praiers were more powerfull yet to preuaile with the Lord of life that she might liue to his glory and our comfort sweete Sunamyte let thy virginall vigor pierce her vaines warme her blood refresh her spirits Lord let the powerfull praier of priest Peere and people preuaile with their God for the safetie of his annoynted Without which it is to small purpose what euer we can say doe or deuise for what 's pollicie without pietie except the Lord keepe the citie the watchman watcheth but in vaine and except the Lord be her guard great is her danger for all humane succours faile in their greatnes no gold of Ophir no Orient pearle of Peru or Mexico no arme of flesh no horse ship or shower of shot no watch guard or counsel no Physicke drink or diet no furs of spotted Ermynes or sweet Sables can preserue your Elizabeth giue her life or length of daies faire Abishage must giue her heate It is the perfume of our praier to God in heauen that must preserue our Prince on earth And so let vs pray O Lord God almightie c. FINIS Psal. 93. 2. Sam. 7. 2. Mat. 8. 20 Heb. 11. 38. Numb 3â— 1. Sam. 4. 5. 1. Sam. 6. 7. Heb. 8. 2. Lament 1 4. Gen. 8. 9. Gen. 31. 40. Acts 13. 22. Psal. 49. 9. 1 2 Claudian 2. Sam. 3. 2. Sam. 21 17. 2. Sam. 1. 21. Zachar. 12. 11. 12. Lament â—5 16. Rom. 13. Prou. 8. 15. 16. Psal. 77. 〈◊〉 12. 18 â—â—â—l 82. 1. â—en 12. 1. Exod. 3. 2. â—sal 78. â—1 Psal. 2. 6. Iob. 1. 21. Rom. 13 1. 2. Prou. 21. 30. Reuel 9. 3. Prouerb â—8 2. Psal. 45. 4. Augustinus in confession Eccles. 10. 20. Esay 32. 2. Ieremie 29. 7. Luk. 2. 1 Matt. 22 21. 1. Tim. â— 1. 2. 1. Pet. 2 13. 14 1. Pet. 2. 17. 2. Cor. 11. 28. Ester â— â— c. 〈◊〉 â— Verse 23. Psâ—â— Lament â— 19. Psal. 38. 2. Gen 5. 2. 2. 〈◊〉 5. 18. â—say 49. 23. Reuel 12 Dan. 12. Reuel 1â— 11. Psal. 137. 7. Psal. 105. 18. â—el 21. 22. â—uel 7. 9. Iohn 1â— Rom. 9. 3. Gen. 22. 9. 10. Gen. 7. 33. Psal. 10 18. Exod. 3â— 32. 1. Cor. 11. 29. Cant. 5. 2. Lum 112. 1. Chron. 22. 1. Chron. 22. 8. Deut. 34. Gal. â— 26. 2. Sam. 5. 2. Sam. 6. 1. Chron. 22 14. Phil. 3. 8. â—â—â—k 19. 8 Luk 23. 52. Lu. 14. 26 Luk. 7. 3â— Matt. 26. 8. Act. 1. 1â— Phil. 2. 2 Gal. 4. 26. Exod. 25. 1. c. 2. Cor. 9. 7 Ps. 54. 6. Exod. 35. â—1 c. Exod. 38 26. Exod. 38 24. 25. Exod. 38. 8 Exod. 35 26. Exod. 36. 4. 5. Mal. 3. 8. 1. Chroni â—2 17. 18. c. 1. Chron. 28. 2. 1. Chron. 29. 2. c. Iud. â— 1â— c. Deut. 1. Pope with prince hath neither pre â—edency nor parity â— Sam. 6. â—3 2. Thes. 2 4. Iohn 21. 15. 16. c Intertia parte summâ— maiorit lib. ter Dist. 19. Matth. 1. 1. â— Mach. â—6 2. c. Abacuck 2. 2. 1. Sam. 16 11. Psal. 129. Psal. 69. 8. 1. Sam. 17 28. 1. Sam. 18. 1. Sam. 20 1. 1. Sam. 22 9. 1. Sam. 24 4. Psa. 35. 11 12. 1. Sam. 18. 10. 11. 1. Sam. 27. 1. 1. Sam. 30 5. 6. 1. Sam. 22 9. 1. Sam. 25 3. 1. Sam. 20 11. c. Iudg. 5. â—â— â— Sam. 5. 17. 8. 1 Psal. 83. 6. 7. 2. Sam. 15 1. 2. Sam. 20 1. 2. Sam. 6. 16. 2. Sam. 16 5. 2. Sam. 16 21. 2. Sam. 3. 27. 39. 2. Sam. 6 16. Heb. 10. 29. Reuel 1. 4 Esay 9. 23 Esay 9. 47 Psal. 72. 6 Esay 8 â— 1. Sam. 17 45. c. Dan. 2. 45. 1. Sam â— 45. 4. 6. 2. Sam. â— 2. Sam. â— 10. 11. â—â— 2. Sam. 8. 14. â— King 2.