their duety in this behalfe but doe shew themselues vnworthy of such worthy men as the Lord doth send vnto them and vnworthy of the Gospell and gladtidings of saluation which they preach among them Thus Christian Reader hauing imparted vnto thee in part and in breefe what hath induced me to the hope I haue to see at length the cause I handle in my succeeding Sermon better respected whereof thou maist reade more what I haue written otherwhere as one zelous for the house of God whose stones it pittieth mee to see still lying M. Minist cap. 7. et 10. in the dust praying God to put into the heart of our thrice noble gratious and religious King into whose hand hee hath put the sword of Soueraigne authoritie not onely a good inclination and forward disposition this way but also an irreuocable and vnresistable resolution to execute his supreame power for the reformation of this euill and extirpation of this shame of our Church and disgrace of our Nation I pray thee for our Lord Iesus Christs sake for the loue of the spirit that thou wouldst Rom. 15. striue with mee by prayers to God for mee that I may bee deliuered from them which are disobedient and euill minded men and that this my seruice and labour for the Church and house of God in our land may bee accepted of the Saints VVhich God for his Gospell sake vouchsafe Amen Thine euer in the Lord R. Eb. THE SECOND SERMON MATH 22. 21. Render vnto God those things that be Gods OVr blessed Sauiour a Luk. 12. 42. Luke 12. notes it to be the office of a faithfull and wise steward disposer of the mysteries of God as Paul calleth him b 1. Cor. 4. 1. 1. Cor. 4. to giue vnto the household their due portion in due season which c Erasm Epist ad Iod. Ionam saith a great clarke consisteth in these points promere cum res postulat cuique promere quod est accommodum promere quod satis est that is in deliuering the meate of the word at a fit houre in deliuering that which is good and wholesome and in deliuering that which is sufficient For d Galen de Sanitate â—uenda lib. 1. pag. 65. in our corporall food we obserue these three things First a fitte time to eate in Secondly the good qualitie and Thirdly the conuenient quantitie of our foode otherwise it is not dispensatio a disposing e Bern. de Coâ—â— sid lib. 3. saith Saint Bernard but Dissipatio a wasting hauing heretofore to dispose vnto you the meate laid vp in this garner and the little wheate I found in this vallie how I dispensed it vnto you then either in regard of the due season or in respect of the qualitie of that I deliuered vos ipsi iudicate you must be iudges But least I should haue beene offensiue in the quantitie I made an end f Bern. super Cant. ser 36. Vbi finis non erat where was no end as they are inforced to doe that are as was the high Steward of this familie when hee said g Ioh. 16. 12. Multa haÌ„beo dicere quae non potestis portare modò I haue yet manie things to say vnto but ye cannot beare them away now streightned either with the deepenes of the matter or as I then with the shortnesse of the time wherefore since now by course we are returned as the Sonne to his place I to speake and you to heare h Bern. de Concil lib. 1. recurrat stibus ad suam materiam let my tongue returne to that part of my text where then I left without anie long repetition of that is past sauing onely thus farre vt recolant qui audierant discà nt qui non aderant that is that they may call the whole to minde which heard it and they may learne somewhat thereof which heard it not that it may please you to remember that I deuided this my text into a twofould dutie A duety A briefe repetition of the former sermon to Caesar and a duetie to God The duetie to Caesar in the words formerly handled wherein I obserued first the particulars of that duetie to be these sixe feare honour obedience tribute defence and prayer secondly I added some motiues to the performance of this sixe-fould duetie and they were principally foure viz. The ordination of Caesar the hainousnesse of the crime of disloyaltie against Caesar the punishments of that sinne from God and man and the rewards of loyaltie externally internally and eternally to them that faithfully walke in the performance of these duties to Caesar It remaineth now that by your accustomed patience I The latter part of the text now to be handled should speake of the other duetie the last in the text but in practise not the least that is our duetie to God in these words Reddite quae sunt Dei Deo that is Giue vnto God the things that are Gods Of which they being manie some spiritual some temporal the shortnes of our ordinarie time not permitting me to speake of both sorts leauing wholly the former though the principall as which are so commonly handled by others that i Augustine Magis desiderant lectorem quam expositorem that is there want readers rather then expositors for them I will as either more proper to the state of my text which k Aug. in locum Serm. 129. Idem Tom. 10. Homil. 48. And. Hispan reg decim 4. Scourge of Sacrelidge D. 8. a. H. 5. a. fig. 8. Abulens in Mat. 22. qu. 101. Glos ordin in the iudgement euen of the auncients deuotes vnto vs of our temporall things the goods of this life what sort or what part there of is due to Caesar and what to God or more pertinent to my present purpose which is most to insist vpon that point which is least knowne and to vrge that hardest which is worst obserued spend my speech in declaring vnto you what temporall things are due to God For as it is a thing already granted and lately taught you That besides the feare the honour the obedienee and the other like dueties that wee owe to Caesar wee owe him also a part of our goods we must yeeld him Tribute custome and other like so it cannot be denied and shall presently be taught you That besides the spirituall dueties which we owe to God as faith feare loue trust hope c. We doe owe him also a part of our temporall goods to be imploied in his seruice that so as he is Lord of all of our selues body and soule and of all that we haue life and goods so by all and with all he may for all be glorified And to this purpose directly as I take it tends our text The state and summary sense of the text For question being mooued not what things were due to Caesar but whether this one thing reddere censum to pay him tribute were
THE TVVO-FOLDE TRIBVTE OR TWO SPECIALL DVTIES COMMANDED BY OVR Lord and Sauiour IESVS CHRIST to be rendred The first of Subiects to their Caesar the second of Christians to their God for the better furtherance of the one in his Regall Dignitie and of the other in his Euangelicall Ministerie EXPLANED IN TWO SERmons and now published Anno. 1613. By RICHARD EBVRNE 1. PETER 2. 17. Feare God Honour the King London Printed by Felix Kyngston for William Welby 1613. TO THE RIGHT REVEREND AND WORTHILY HONOVRED Father in God IAMES by Diuine proui dence Lord Bishop of BATH and WELLES in Christ Iesus our Lord all Health and Happinesse A Twofold necessity Honourable and my very good Lord inforceth me to offer to the commmon view this my Twofold Tribute The one is the desire I haue of the publike good of that Church and Country wherein I haue hither to had my being and biding the other is the Deuoire I beare to the priuate good of such as haue sometimes desired and somewhile expected that I should farther both gratifie and satisfie them with some thing of that Argument wherein I haue formerly and somewhat plentifully laboured To the which scope forsomuch as the latter but the greater part of this my little but laborious worke doth wholly tend both hauing one Author and one Argument this being but as an Accession to the first building and a new Supplie to an old Charge I haue much desired that both might haue but one Patrone assured that passing vnder your Lordships honourable name as the other hath beene so this will be shielded from the iniurie and the enuie both of the couetous and contentious and vouchsafed with men of godly knowledge and sound Iudgement the better acceptation and with men of good place and great authoritie the grauer consideration Which fauour that your Lordship will of your great Loue to learning and good liking to all such indeuours as tend to the glory of God and benefit of his Church the Honour of the Kings most excellent Maiesty and bettering of his subiects easily vouchsafe mee nothing doubting at all commending these my second labours also to your Lordships protection and your good Lordship to the protection of the Lord of Heauen and earth I doe humbly rest Your Lordships in the worke of the Lord and seruice of his Church euer to be commanded RICHARD EBVRNE THE FIRST SERMON MATH 22. 21. Giue therefore to Caesar the things which are Caesars and giue vnto God those things which are Gods WHEREFORE at this present welbeloued in the Lord I take in hand this text you wil easily conceiue I suppose if you cal to mind The 5. of August that this day is the Annuall Commemoration of our Soueraignes deliuerance from the hands of his enemies who hauing long since viz. in An. D. 1600 in Scotland Anno. 1600. on this day the fifth of August by Gods mercy and that with great difficulty escaped the vile trecheries and bloudy villanies of the Gowries intended attempted against him hath made it an ordinance in all his Dominions See the discourse thereof printed An. 1603. by V. D. Booke of prayers and thanksgiuing for the 5. of August Psal 144 â—0 that during his life on that day for that benefit speciall and publique Thanksgiuing be rendred to God his shield and protector which so gratiously and miraculously saued his annointed and deliuered him from the power and perill of the sword Thereunto to stirre vp our ready hearts and incite our willing affections and dutifull dispositions the more I haue made choice of this Text which speaketh of that dutie which wee as subiects and Christian subiects owe to our Soueraigne and most Christian Soueraigne In handling whereof looke not beloued that I should tye my selfe ouerstrictly to the words of my Text which inferre in generall tearmes A double dutie one to God another to the Prince My purpose is rather for this time deferring wholly the former and omitting no small part of the latter to insist by Gods assistance only vpon these two points First to shew you in part what these things The parts of this sermon are which properly are Caesars that is what that duty is which to Caesar wee must yeeld then secondly to deliuer you some special reasons motiues why we should so do To beginne withall I must entreat you to preconceiue Who is vnderstood by the name Caesar Ioseph Antiqu. iudaic lib. 8. capit 2. Abulens in Matth. 22. quaest 90. thus much of the sense of the word Caesar that as the Kings of Aegypt in ancient time were alwaies called Pharaohs and of Philistia Abimelech so the Romane Emperours were euer called Caesars vnder which as a generall title befitting mighty Princes any Prince in our text is or may be vnderstood and that in particular wee by that name may specially vnderstand our gratious Soueraigne Who neither as the Rhagusians to the Turke paying pension to any nor as Bologna from the Pope expecting protection from any nor as the Knights of Malta and of the Castilian holding in see and fealty of any nor as the Dukes of Venice to the Colledges of seuen and ten and to the signiority of Gentlemen God and his owne conscience excepted beeing countable to any but beeing for right a king for dignity an absolute Soueraigne and for largenes and variety of dominions imperiall truly meriteth the title of Caesar And therfore whatsoeuer I shall in generall tearms deliuer as the duty of subiects towards their Prince my desire is that you wil so conceiue mee and so apply it as speaking of our owne dutie vnto our most high and mighty Prince Iames who is By the grace of God of great Brittaine Fraunce and Ireland King Defendor of the Faith and next vnder God within his Maiesties Dominions ouer all persons and estates in all causes as well ecclesiastical as temporall Constit eccles Canon 1. 36. all forraine power title and iurisdiction beeing vtterly excluded and wholly cut off supreme Gouernour This premissed for clearing of the Text I come now forthwith to my first point proposed which is to note vnto you according to our text which saith Reddite giue to Caesar in part what is that duetie and what bee those things which must be yeelded and giuen to Caesar And to this purpose I say That as there were sixe steps 6. Branches of Allegiance 2. Chron. 9. 18. to the throne of Salomon so there be 6. parts of this dutie 6. seuerall payments of this Tribute to Caesar that is 1. Feare 2. Honour 3. Obedience 4. Tribute 5. Defence and 6. Praier and as about the King himselfe sixe things may bee obserued namely 1. The sword carryed before Rom. 13. 4. Psalm 21. 3. 45. 6. 2. Chron. 9. 17. 1. King 2. 15. him 2. The Crowne of pure gold vpon his head 3. The Scepter of righteousnesse in his hand 4. The throne of royall Maiesty vnder him 5.
His Person vpon it and with these and aboue all these 6. The Lord God of Heauen who hath thus exalted him so by these 6. things wee may bee put in minde of these 6. seuerall payments of this Tribute the sundry parts of our sixe-fold duty vnto him For The sword exacteth feare the Crowne importeth honour the Scepter requireth Obedience the Throne expecteth Tribute the Person deserueth defence and the Lord commaundeth Praier Each of which that we may yet better conceiue of each a little as God me shall assist and time permit 1. Feare is to be giuen to Caesar It is the duety of subiects 1. Feare to feare their King so teacheth Humanity so teacheth Diuinitie For humanity Periander saith Feare Periander Prou. 24. 21. Princes for Diuinity Salomon saith Feare the Lorde and the King Prou. 24. If I be a master doth God say where Mal. 1. 6. is my feare If I be a master may the King say where is my feare Bee ye afraid of the sword saith Iob cap. 19. for the Iob. 19. 29. sword will be auenged of wickednesse And why for saith S. Paul Rom. 13. Hee into whose hand it is committed by Roman 13. 4. God beareth not the sword for nought It is not put into his Roman 13. 4. hand onely for a shew No but he is the minister of God to take vengeance on him that doth euill According wherunto Prou. 16. 14. it is that Salomō faith The wrath of the King is as messengers of death Pro. 16. And again The kings wrath is like the roaring 19. 12. of a Lion Worthy the noting to this purpose is the speech which the second of those squires of the body made before Darius and his nobles wherein discoursing of the 1. Esdr 4. 2. power of a King and the cause why he ought to be feared he saith Though men rule by land and Sea and ouer all things The power of a King in them yet is the King greater for he ruleth all things and is Lord of them If he bid thē make war one against another they doe it If he send them against the enemy they goe and breake downe mountaines and walls and towers They kill and are killed and do not passe the Commandement of the King If hee bid kill they kill if he say spare they spare If he bid smite they smite if he bid make desolate they make desolate If hee bid build they build if he bid cut off they cut off c. Feare wee therefore the sword the powerfull sword of Caesar A good The good effects of loyall feare subiect feareth blame as much as paine reproach as much as torment and dishonour as much as death This feare carrieth one eye of the subiect vpon the Princes sword that hee neuer prouoke it the other eye vpon the offense that hee neuer commit it This feare as the best porter at the Princes gate keepeth traytors out of the Kings court and trechery out of the subiects heart This feare as ballast preserueth the ship from being ouerblowne of the winde keepeth the soule of the subiect that it be not ouerthrown by others flatterie or her owne presumption This feare as a bridle curbs vs from all disobedience and as a naile fastned by the Masters of the assembly fixeth vs firme in our dueties This feare therefore let vs giue to Caesar for to Caesar we owe it 2. Vnto Feare Honour is to bee adioyned And seeing 2. Honour as among earthly creatures man is most eminent as among the elements fire is most excellent and as among the celestial lights the sunne is most splendent so Caesar among the sonnes of men is most orient who will not since honour is as the Philosopher saith a testimony of excellencie Aristotle giue honour to Caesar least he beare false witnesse not against his neighbour nor against Caesar but against God who hath exalted Caesar and brought him to Honour least he seeme to degenerate from nature which in all honoureth the more excellent least he breake the Canon of the Apostle Rom. 13. Giue honour to whom ye owe honour Rom. 13. 7. Least he transgresse Gods expresse Commandement that saith Exod. 20. Honour thy Father by which note name Exod. 20. 12. the King of the land because he is Pater Patriae i. Father of the whole countrey is specially signified least as Ieremie of some Lament 4. They reuerenced not the face of the Lamen 4. 16. Priest so some complaine of him Hee reuerenceth not the face of the Prince the greater crime of the two For the Priest was a figure of Christ the King is a figure of God If Nebuchad King of Babel setting vp a dead Image could Dan. 3. 1. so preuaile with his vngodly subiects that at the sound of his musicall instruments they did fall down to it and gaue it such honour as God condemneth shall not Iehouah the King of Heauen setting vp not a dead but as Menander Menander calleth a King his liuing image preuaile with all his godly subiects at the sweet harmony of the sacred Scripture sounding out of S. Peters mouth as a principall Herauld Regem honorate Honour the King to giue him that Honor 1. Pet. 2. 17. which he hath commanded The Philosopher compareth the King to a Father to a Physition to a Pylot and to a pastour the causes are apparant And doth not God in holy Scripture giue him in manner the same titles yea and almost all the titles of honour in heauen and earth And why but to teach vs that as the sonne honoureth his Father the sicke his Physition as the mariners regard their Pilot the flock their shepheard so and much more should subiects honour their Caesar people regard their prince God and men hauing so honoured Caesar let all our people honour him Let Hester not presume into the presence of Hest 5. 1. 2. the great Ahashuerosh till he hold out the golden Scepter Let Ioab though the Generall of the Armye giue Dauid 2. Sam. 12. 27. the honour of the victory Let euen Nathan the Prophet and Sadoc the high Priest make obeisance before my Lord 1. King 1. 23. the King with their face to the ground In a word as Ioachim et ver 39. 40. the High Priest and the ancients of the children of Israel said vnto Iudith for the benefits that God by her had Iudith 15. 8. 9. shewed to his people so let the reuerend Fathers of the Church the truely Honourable Nobility of England the graue Iudges and Magistrates of the Common-wealth in honour of our most worthy and glorious King King Iames for the benefits which God by his most excellent Maiesty hath done to his Dominions say Thou art the exaltation of our land thou art the glory of our Israel thou art the reioycing of our nation Thou hast done much good vnto our countrie and God
tribute or other duties from Caesar being the father of the Countrie and saith it is no transgression is the companion of a man that destroieth his Countrie and he little considereth what that meaneth Non furaberis Thou shalt not steale Exod. 20. 15. Is any so vnreasonable that without examples he will Examples of God Exod. 30. 14. not yeeld to reason They abound Before there was any King in Israel to take tribute the Lord himselfe tooke a tribute when they had Kings the flower of all their Kings had for their tribute a peculiar office Dauid the paterne Dauid 2. Sam. 20. 24. Salomon 1. Reg. 4. 6. Gods people Nehem. 5. 4. of piety ouer the tribute set Adoram and Salomon the mirror of wisdome placed ouer the tribute Adoniram When they were vnder the Kings of the Gentiles there were amongst the people of God that vpon their lands and their vineyards borowed money for the Kings tribute When the blessed Virgin went great with child with the The blessed Virgin Marie Luke 2. 4. Sauiour of our soules in the depth of winter she trauelled from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Iuda to performe this dutie to the vnder-officers of a Lieutenant to an Heathen Prince Finally when the Son of God conuersed And of the Son of God Matth. 17. 24. with the sonnes of men Peter was asked if his Master paid not tribute who presently taking tribute of an vnreasonable creature that tribute for himselfe and Peter might be paid bound all reasonable men though they do it with some difficultie to performe this dutie to Caesar Wherefore I conclude this point with Saint Ambrose Si Ambros in locum censum filius Dei soluit quis tu tantus es qui non putas esse soluendum 1. If the Son of God paied tribute or subsidie what so great a man art thou which thinkest thou oughtest not to pay We come now to the fifth part of our dutie and that is 5. Defence defence due to the person of Caesar which dutie bindeth euery subiect Caesar hath to his power and according to his place to defend his roiall person from all iniuries This dutie requireth euery subiect 1. To reueale all forraine complots so that if any know that the King of Aram 2. King 6. 8. with his seruants are consulting against Israel hee must with Elizeus make knowne vnto Caesar euen the words that the King of Aram speaketh in his priuy Chamber 2. To detect all domesticall conspiracies so that if any know that Bigthan and Teresh do seeke to lay hands on Ahashuerosh Heste 1 2. 21. he must presently with Mardocheus and Hester certifie the King of the matter Farther if the seruice of any time bee fitting that they diligently attend him as that band of men did Saul whose heart God had touched that 1. Sam. 10. 26. so no wicked hand may touch the Lords annointed If any perceiue any appearance of euill to be neere vnto him that they with Dauids men and with the true hearted people 2. Sam. 21. 27. 2. Sam. 18. 3. Lament 4. 20. be carefull that his Highnes being worth 10000. of vs the light of our Israel and the breath of our nosethrils come not into any perill And to be short if in the least distresse the Lord keepe him from all distresse his soule desireth any thing which might doe it good that they doe with al alacritie and celeritie prouide it and hazard if neede should be as the three Worthies for the life of Dauid euen 5. Sam. 23. 15. their owne liues Assured that as they fought from heauen euen the Starres fought in their courses against Sysera Iudg. 5. 20. and his people enemies of God and the Riuer euen that ancient Riuer Kishon swept them away so heauen and earth and all creatures in them both shall fight with them against and sweepe away as filth in the streete all such as be his enemies and seeke or desire the hurt of his soule So euen so let al thine and his enemies perish O Lord Vers 31. but they that loue him and his royall issue shall bee as the Sunne when he shineth in his might To the last place I reserued Prayer for Caesar not as the 6. Prayer least but as the chiefest dutie we owe vnto Caesar The other bee intended wholly to the King this is directed immeadiatly vnto God Feare is in regard of the Sword Honour in respect of the Crowne Obedience because of the Scepter Tribute for the Throne and Defence to the Person but Prayer to the Founder and Protector of Caesar And little doe all the former preuaile to Caesars happinesse without this last without prayer Prayer I say beloued which springeth from the holy Ghost which as saith Saint Paul maketh request for vs with sighes that Rom. 8. 26. cannot bee expressed Prayer which is the messenger of the faithfull soule to God for the prayer of him that humbleth Ecclesiasticus 35. 17. himselfe saith the sonne of Syrach goeth through the clouds and ceaseth not till it come neare and will not depart till the most High haue respect thereunto prayer which is the odours in the golden violl offered vpon the Reuel 8. 3. golden Aultar which is before the Throne Prayer whereunto Saint Paul exhorteth Christians before all 1. Tim. 2. 1. duties whereunto hee exhorteth generally for all men speciallie for Kings For Kings and that as partlie wee may gather and partly the same Apostle doth shew in respect of themselues and of our selues 1. Of themselues Pray for Kings in respect 1. of themselues because of their cares Heb. 6. 1. Their perils in respect of the greatnesse of the care and troubled thoughts which they take for in great dominion is euer great care making many times the Kings sleepe to depart from his eies In respect of the perils to the which they are subiect because in the King the enemy hath Neroes wish all the heads of the people vpon one bodie and therefore as did the King of Aram the enemie oft commandeth his Captaines to fight only against the King In respect of the 1. King 22. 31. The difficultie of their charge difficultie of the right bestowing rewards and inflicting of punishments there being smooth Absalons dogged Doegs blackmouthed Shimijes bloody handed Ioabs false hearted Shibaos shamelesse harlots as well as friendly Ionathans true hearted Ionadabs faithfull Nathans valiant Abners constant Mephiboseths and honest matrons so that Salomon himselfe had neede to pray 1. King 3. 9. The good that issues from them to all for wisdome For who is able to iudge this mightie people And in respect of the abundant good which descendeth from the Royall Maiesty to the whole estate which is such that as the Sunne is a resemblance of the Deitie in the frame of the world giuing light heate and life to all things so the Soueraigne of euery estate is
plentifullie and admirably And sith as God himselfe saith This is the very honour that he expecteth at our hands sith as the Kingly Prophet telles vs it pleaseth God better then the oblation of many Psalm 50. 23. fatted beasts or the smell of much incense and sith as the Apostle S. Paul teacheth vs this euen this giuing of thanks 1. Tim. 2. 3. for all men and namely or specially for Kings is a thing good acceptable in the sight of God our Sauiour let euery one of vs in particular say with Dauid quid retribuam Domino Psalm 116. 12. c. That is What shall I render vnto the Lord for all the benefits he hath done vnto me and namely in placing ouer me so good so gratious and so worthy a King and resolue with Dauid I will take the cup of saluation and call vpon the name of the Lord I will offer to him the sacrifice of thankesgiuing And let vs all say as the Queene of Sheba 2. Chron. 9. 8. did concerning King Salomon 2. Chron. 9. Blessed bee the Lord thy God O King which loued thee to set thee on his throne in the stead of the Lord thy God because thy God loueth our land to establish it for euer therefore hath hee made thee King ouer vs to execute iudgement and iustice The second generall part HItherto haue I shewed you beloued in the Lord our dutie to Caesar consisting in sixe things viz. Feare Honour Obedience Tribute defence and Prayer Now let vs consider also according to my promise as God shall assist and time permit me some motiues and inducements to this duty And to that purpose that we may neuer slide either by the corruption of our owne heart or the perswasion of men or suggestion of the Diuell I will since the wisest either of Kings or men affirmeth that a threefold cable is not easily broken shew you a fourefolde corde which may well kept and obserued euer hold the whole heart Eccles 4. 12. and soule of euery subiect in loue and Allegiance to his Soueraigne the seuerall twists whereof are these viz. 1. The ordination of Caesar 2. The haynousnesse of the crime of disloyalty against Caesar 3. The punishments of that sinne 4. The rewards of Loyalty and dutifulnesse to Caesar Motiue 1 1. Concerning the former of these neither any wicked spirit nor mortal man nor Heauenly Angell but God himselfe The Ordination of Caesar is hee that ordaineth Caesar to bee Caesar and setteth him vpon his throne This is euident by many proofes of holy Scripture generall and particular Generall partly negatiue and partly affirmatiue 1. Negatiue as where Christ saide vnto Pilate Thou Ioh. 19. 11. couldest haue no power at all against mee except it were giuen thee from aboue And the Apostle vnto vs all There is no Rom. 13. 1. power but of God To whom agreeth the Psalmist when he singeth thus Promotion commeth neither from the East nor Psal 75. 7. from the West nor yet from the South And why For God is the Iudge He putteth downe one and setteth vp another 2. Affirmatiue for By mee saith the vncreated wisedome Prou. 8. 15. of God doe Kings raigne and Princes decree iustice The name of God be praised saith Daniel the Prophet chap. Dan. 2. 21. 2. for Wisedome and strength are his He changeth times seasons he setteth vp Kings and taketh them away And the blessed Apostle in the place before alleaged telleth vs directly that The powers that bee are ordained of God To Rom. 13. 1. these we may adde the words of the wiseman speaking to all rulers in this sort Giue eare ye that rule the nations and Wisd 6. 23. glory in the multitudes of people for the Rule is giuen you of the Lord and power by the most high Particular which do consist in God his immediate designement of diuers vnto kingdomes as of Saul whom by the hand of Samuel he annointed to be Head ouer his 1. Sam. 10. 1. people and whom by the same Prophets mouth he testifieth to the people that he had chosen to be King ouer them Of Hazael and of Iehu appointing his seruant Elijah to Vers 24. 1. Kin. 19. 15. 16 annoint the one of them King ouer Syria the other ouer Israel According wherunto Daniel telleth Nebuchad that great King of Babel which yet knew not God That the Dan. 2. 37. God of Heauen had giuen him a Kingdome power strength and glorie and had deliuered not the men onely that dwelled on the face of the earth but also the very beasts of the field and the foules of the heauen into his hand and made him ruler ouer them all Likewise for Salomon the sonne of Dauid the Queene of Sheba can tell vs that it was the Lord 2. Chron. 9. 8. God of Israel that had set him on his throne in his steed to be King ouer his people and both for Salomon and Dauid his Father Dauid himselfe the man after Gods owne heart doth most plainely testifie in this sort The Lord God chose mee 2. Chron. 28. 4. before all the house of my Father to bee King ouer Israell for euer among all the sonnes of my Father he delighted in mee to make me King ouer his people and euen so of all my sonnes hee hath chosen Salomon my sonne to sitte vpon the throne of the Kingdome of the Lord. Thus it is most manifest that Caesar is ordained to be Caesar by God and therefore vnto him as vnto the ordinance of God wee ought to yeeld whatsoeuer is Caesars lest in reiecting him we reiect God Obiection That this is so of all good Princes all goodmen wil easily grant But since that an euill Prince is a great euill an extreame plague it is a question with some how such a one can be of God or be said to be set in place by God who is the spring from whence all goodnesse and onely Iam. 1. goodnes doth flow Answere Though the particulars before recited doe sufficiently prooue not onely the good but euill Princes also to bee Gods ordinance For who are euill if Saul if Hazael if Nebuchadnezzar were not and the generals extending to all do necessarily comprehend both good euill Yet farther and more fully to cleare this doubt wee must vnderstand beloued in the Lord that there is Malum culpae and Malum Poenae an euill of crime and an euill of paine The euill of crime is sinne the euill of paine is the punishment of sinne the euill of crime is not of God God being all sufficient needs it not beeing most holy commands it not being most righteous approues it not in a word hee hateth accurseth it in all in this world and in all the impenitent will condemne it eternally in the world to come But the euill of paine being the punishment of sin is thrown from the throne of God vpon the heads of
more greeuous and intollerable then of burning Wouldest thou know what time it Math. 25. 41. doth last Hee calleth it euerlasting and in eternity what end or what hope of any end wouldest thou know the company they shall there haue he foretelleth that too that is the Diuel and his Angels and worse what can be wouldest thou haue it yet farther expressed vnto thee assure thy selfe that as the ioyes of the godly purchased by the obedience of the sonne of God are such as the eie of mortall man hath not seene his eare hath not heard nor can enter into his heart so also the paines and torments prepared 1. Cor. 2 9. for the wicked and preordained for the children of disobedience Motiue 4 4. Now remaineth the last motiue the reward of loyaltie which as it most concerneth vs that studie to approue The rewards of the loyall our selues faithfull loyall to our Caesar in thought word and deede so haue I the rather deferred to the last place in hope that your eares filled dulled happely with the former might be refreshed and your minds and attention quickned againe and stirred vp to the hearing of this point especially The reward of loyalty I distinguish as its contrary I haue done into a twofold state that is from man from God and generall and particular 1. Generall to all darkely signified in Nebuchadnezzars 1. From Man Dan. 4. 7. dreame vnder the parable of a tree The Boughes wherof were faire and the fruit thereof much In it was meat for all the beasts of the field rested vnder the shadow of it and the fowles of heauen dwelt in the boughes of it more plainely expressed by Isaiah cap. 32. That man viz. the Prince of the Isai 32. 1. country shall be as a hiding place from the winde and as a refuge for the tempest and as riuers of waters in a drye place and as the shadow of a great rocke in a weary land Wherefore as Ieremy willed the Israelites to seek the prosperity of the citie Ier. 29. 7. whether they were carried so I beseech all subiects to seeke the prosperitie of the Caesar vnder whom they are gouerned and Ieremies reason may induce them for in the peace thereof they shall haue peace in his prosperitie they shall haue prosperitie and in his glorie they shall haue glorie 2. Particular as safety honour preferment riches a good name both aliue and dead c. Wherein if euery particular mans merit be not of that moment or there is not that opportunity to haue euery well deseruing person knowne vnto Caesar and therefore Caesar cannot say with Ahashuerosh though Caesar be as bountifull and as gratefull as Ahashuerosh what honour and dignity hath beene giuen to Mordecai for this Yet the hope in which euery Hest 6. 3. good subiect doth dwell to be well respected as time and place may serue and the priuate good which euery particular party to him and his duety may and daily doth draw out of that large fountain and inestimable treasure last before remembred flowing and issuing vnto all cannot be but a rich reward and an ample recompence of all seruice honour obedience and other duetie whatsoeuer loyally done and faithfully performed to Caesar Besides all this such shal be rewarded of God externally 2. From God internally and eternally Externally with the blessings in Gods law promised to Externally such as shall obserue and keepe his commandements whereof Obedience and Loyaltie to the higher powers is Deut. 28. 3. 4â— c. one of the cheefe Blessed shalt thou be in the Citie and blessed also in the field Blessed shall bee the fruit of thy body and the fruit of thy ground the fruit of thy cattell and increase of thy kine and the flocks of thy sheepe Blessed shall be thy basket and thy dough Blessed shalt thou be when thou commest in and blessed also when thou goest out e. Internally with the peace and benefit of a good Conscience which is a continuall feast or most delicious banquet Internally Prou. 15. 15. to the soule What melody to this and what comfort to be compared vnto it when others wring their hands for greefe this will make thee clap thine hands for ioy when others tremble thou shalt triumph This will make thee to sleepe quietly to wake cheerefully to bee alone without Rom. 2. 15. et 8. 16. feare and with others without distrust in thine affaires confident and in thy recreations cheerfull If rebels should be behind thee and traitors before thee as the Ammonites and the Aramites were before Ioab and behind him yet 2. Sam. 10. 9. by the benefit heere of mightest thou resolue with Ioab Be strong and let vs be valiant for our people and for the cities of our God and let the Lord doe that which seemeth him good in his eies and incourage others as the man of God did his seruant saying Feare them not for they that be with vs are 2. King 6. 16. moe then they that be with them Eternally when after our loyalty to our Soueraigne here on earth the Soueraigne of all Princes shall aduance vs to Eternally be to dwell to liue and to raigne for euer in that great citie the holy Ierusalem where of the Diuine eagle or Egle of Diuines in the clearnes of his sight beholding the goodlinesse Reuel 21. 20. and the glory therof hath said that it is of pure gold like vnto cleare glasse that the streetes thereof doe shine like vnto a stone most pretious euen as a Iasper stone cleare as christal that the foundations are garnished with al manner of pretious stones the 12. gates are 12. pearles the 12. Porters are 12. Angels that the glory of God and the lambe is the light thereof that so pure and vndefiled it is that in it is nothing but holines and there enters into it no vncleane thing nor whatsoeuer worketh abhomination or maketh lyes The Records whereof is the booke of life the water whereof is a kind of Aqua vitae as cleere as christal proceeding out of the throne of God and of the lambe and the immunities or priuiledges wherof are such that by the benefit of them there shall be no more curse no night no need of candle nor of the light of the sunne or starres Such and so great are the things which God hath prepared for them that obey him and in him and for him the Lords annointed their Caesar And now beloued in the Lord hauing according to The Conclusion my purpose and promise for the former part of my text shewed you what be the things which as Caesars we ought to giue to Caesar namely Feare Honour Obedience Tribute Defence and Praier and hauing confirmed the same with speciall motiues and inducements I doe for this present Acts 20. 32. commend you to God and to the worde of his grace which is able to build you vp and make
Matth. Paris I find them recorded Matth. Paris here inserted Innocentius Episcopus c. Cum sicut accepimus in tua ciuitate et Diocaesi nonnulli religiosi et alij collegiati ecclesias parochiales in proprios vsus obtineant in quibus nimis exiles aut nullae taxatae sunt vicariae Fraternitatituae per authoritatem summam mandamus quod in ijsdem ecclesijs de ipsarum prouentibus vicarias instituas et institutas exiles adaugeas vice nostra prout iuxta consuetudinem patriae secundum Deum videris expedire non obstantibus si praedicti exempti sint aut aliâs muniti Apostolicis priuilegijs siue indulgentijs per quae idimpediri vel differri possit c. in English thus Innocentius Bishop c. Forsomuch as we are credibly informed that within your City and Diocesse many religious and other collegiate persons doe holde parochiall Churches vnto their owne proper vses in the which vicaridges either too small and slender or none at all are setled Vnto your Brother hood by our speciall and supreame authority we doe command that in the saide Churches of the prouentions and emoluments of the same * These two things duely and well performed would very much amend the poore and wretched estate of our clergie vicaridges you doe institute and such as being already instituted * are slender and not sufficiently endowed you doe on our behalfe augment according as after the custome of the country to the Honour of God you shall see it to bee expedient Notwithstanding that any the persons aforesaid be exempt or otherwise fensed with Apostolicall priuiledges or indulgences by which the same might be hindred or differred And whosoeuer shall you contradict or withstand therein that you doe by censures ecclesiasticall by vertue of our power Apostolical to you committed them punish and condignely represse Dated at L. vij Kalend of Octob. in the yeere of our Popedome the viij which was saith our English history Anno. Dom. 1252. This memorable monument finding which hee good man did execute Cum effectu I do reason thus with my selfe If this one good Bishop in the daies of vtter darkenesse could obtaine of the Pope though scant his friend authoritie to repaire the Churches of his Diocesse in this sort for the better sustentation of blind Masse priests why may it not be possible that the most reuerend Archbishops and other graue wise and zealous in the land might by some good meanes best known to their owne wisdomes prouide and settle maintenance in their Churches for the learned able and worthy preachers of the Gospell 3. The very state of the time present doth so necessarily require some alteration to be made some augmentation of our maintenance to be yeelded that he that shall denye it may iustly bee thought to speake against all reason and conscience For why must our paies our stipends our portions alone stand now as they did for an hundred yeares agoe And why are wee alone vnworthie that fauour which is affoorded and iusty too vnto labourers seruants artisans and to whom not will they tell vs things done cannot be vndone We answere common sense and daily experience towards others in cases not vnlike do tell vs and assure vs the contrary Humanum est errare in errore vero perseuerare diabolicum Will they say we must be content We confesse we must perforce till remedy can be had But they will not I hope in the meane time forbid vs to complaine and secke as men diseased imprisoned or distressed some redresse and ease Neither can they replie That we complain without cause and are discontented without need seeing it cannot be denyed that vnto many of vs that which is left was with the least and but in a most sparing sort when it was at first laid out and allotted to the Church and therefore can no way be found competent or sufficient now were it in no other respect then of the time it selfe which is so farre different in prices of all things from that then it was 4. Besides which though the state of times were alike there ought some other manner of consideration to be had of our clergie men that now are then heeretofore there was or seemed to be needfull For respecting learning and sufficiencie our clergie are not God be thanked as heeretofore euen our enemies being iudges blind and vnlearned bussards idolatrous and massing priests of whom little more was expected then to be able to turne their Portuise or to reade plaine english nor are they now like Ieroboams priests taken out from amongst the lowest and dregs of the people for whom that they had or that they got in the ministerie their deserts considered was enough if not too much But a great number of them now are and long or this if due prouision for them had been made manie more there would haue beene learned and worthie men men whose education and time spent whose friends expences great charge before they come into the ministerie men whose present labours and assiduous paines in their ministerie doe both deserue and require better regard What comfort shall they finde for the time present and what reward shall they reape for the time past if their best preferment bee so little and their highest pitch so low Can they continue and maintaine their studies with nothing or is it intended so soon as they are placed they shall for lacke of meanes to maintain them and their studies scoller-like giue ouer their studies and betake themselues to idlenes or drudgerie Then respecting their manner of life our ministerie at this day consisteth for the most part of married Men whereas in former times they were all vnmarried If in those times they made prouision accordingly and left as in many places they did no more to the Church then might then conueniently finde and suffice a single Man must that suffice still If any will say that it is not their part to prouide for married men and that if there be not sufficient to maintaine vs with our families we must liue vnmarried too I say that is Vox Daemonis non hominis a speech not befitting the mouth of a Christian 1. Tim. 4. 3. Neither will I stand to prooue that wee ought to haue such maintenance prouided vs as may suffice for vs and our families too if we be disposed to enter that state of life which is as free as fit for vs as for anie other estate of men but referre them that make a question thereof to the practise of the first and best times in which for our owne Church they may see if they will not be blinde that the prouision they made for their Curch-men was euerie where such as was both able for and befitting only a married clergie and not feare to conclude that vntill the like bee made for our Clergie in some measure which in many places by the one halfe at least is wanting our people haue not done