seeing he is the Anointed of the Lord. JUlius Caesar being brutishly murthered in the Senate house Marcus Antonius brought forth his bloody Coat to the people of Rome saying behold the bloody Coate of your Emperour who at the sight hereof so Condoled his death that they fell into a furious rage against the murderers so King Charles the first being inhumanely murdered at the Gate of his Palace I am this day to revive the memory and Represent the barbarousnesse of this doleful Tragedy and as it were to hang forth his bloody Robes before your eyes that all your hearts may be stirred up to Godly humiliation for this horrid murther of our sacred Sovereign the breath of our Nostrils the Anointed of the Lord and therein the beheading of three Kingdomes For the Wish of Nero which was That all the Citizens of Rome had but one Neck that so he might kill them all at one blow was fulfilled to and executed by our English Neroes who at once severed the Royal Head of King Charles from his own Body natural and our body Politick leaving England Scotland and Ireland in a bleeding dying condition on that fatall birth-day of Englands misery Jan. 30. 1648. This dreadful dooms-day if I may so call it among all the daies since the creation next to that wherein Christ was crucified were it not vain to curse a day irrevocably past Gen. 1.3 4 5 31. Job 3.3 to 10. and sinfull to curse a day that God hath made doth chiefly deserve to have such Anathema's thundred out against it as Job pronounced upon the day of his Nativity We may affix such a motto unto it as David unto the day of Abners murder Know ye not that a Prince and a great man is faln this day in our Israel 2 Sam. 3.38 Wherefore Pious and Christian is our turning it into an Anniversary Fast that the Nation by solemn and sorrowful lamentation may discharge it self from the guilt and avert the punishment of this Royal blood which was shed in the midst of it That I may contribute something thereunto I have chosen this Text to be the foundation of my ensuing discourse which being so suitabe to the season and occasion may challenge the honour that Solomon gives to a word fitly spoken Prov. 25.11 namely to be like Apples of Gold in pictures of silver These Golden Apples require little paring by explication my chief work will be in the doctrinal and Applicatory parts to cut and quarter them forth unto you for your edification in Loyalty The words are Historical being a part of the Chronicle and Narrative of the persecution of David by Saul the sum whereof is briefly this Heroical David having out of zeal for the weal of his country through his Wisdom prowess the blessing of God crowning his enterprises with successe performed many glorious exploits particularly that famous victory over Goliah the great gyant of Gath Who defied the armies of Israel and of the living God with many more honourable atchievements against the Philistines was Admired and Renouned among the people Inthroned in their affections and applauded with Superlative acclamations yea through the indiscretion of the vulgar 1 Sam. 18.7 above the King himself Saul hath slain his Thousands and David his ten thousands Saul seeing his own glory thus extenuated and eclipsed while Davids shined forth so brightly envieth Davida praise fearâ—ch his person is jealous of his fidelity least by reason of his popularity he should carry on some ambitious designe for his own accession to the Kingdome and therefore pursueth after his life knowing that mortui non mordent thereby to prevent the peoples revolt and Davids heading them So dangerous is honour that it often proves the snare and ruine of the persons dignified therewith Though this act of Saul may seem a necessary piece of state-policy to a Machivilian eye yet certainly to the eye of a Christian it will appear a grosse violation of Piety For David had given many demonstrations of his unfeigned loyalty but never any ground of suspicion of intended Rebellion by abusing his interest in the affections of the Israelites The imitation of Davids integrity by our late popular Absoloms would have been Englands happinesses as their deviation from his footsteps was our misery The persecuted having escaped many ambushes laid for his life at length findeth his perseoutor at a great advantage in a Cave at Engedy but spareth his life cutting off only the Skirt of his garment Thus having taken a survey of the Suburbs of the Text I am now arrived at the words themselves which contain First Davids Cordial contrition for cutting off the Royal Robe of King Saul ver 5. where consider 1. The great degree of his sorrow His heart smote him 2. The slight nature of the Act considered materially for which he mourned It was his cutting off the Robe not the Head of Saul Secondly Davids Loyal Detestation of outting off the Royal head of the Lords Anointed manifested in a succinct and excellent Oration ver 6. wherein may be considered First The occasion thereof which was twofold I. The fit oportunity he had to slay Saul being in a Cave II. The great Importunity wherewith his Souldiers perswaded him thereunto Secondly The Orator He i. e. David said unto his men 1. David a Subject 2. David a General of an Army 3. The Auditours he said unto his men i. e. his Souldiers 4. The Oration it self which may be Analyzed into 4. parts I. A vehement detestation The Lord forbid II. The Act detested That I should do this thing to stretch forth my hand against my Master III. The person detesting this Act that I i. e. David should do this thing IIII. The reasons of his Detestation which are deduced from Sauls Relation First To himself My Master Secondly To God the Lords Anointed 1. I shall begin with Davids Cordial Contrition for cutting off the Royal Robe of Saul And from the greatnesse of his sorrow and the slightnesse of the Act which was the ground thereof compared together Observ Observe That the least disloyal action the smallest injury and slightest indignity committed against and offered unto a King ought by Godly sorrow and true Repentance greatly to be lamented Davids heart smote him because his hand smote Sauls garment Though David being himself surprised with his sudden and unexpected surprisal of Saul in such a place of advantage did through incogitancy and inadvertency not thinking there had been any evil in spoiling the garment seeing he spared the life of Saul And likewise out of zeal for the vindication of his innocency adventure on an Act unbeseeming the Majesty of a King and the Duty of a Subject yet as soon as he recollected his thoughts and considered that not only the persons but the Robes of Princes which are the Ensignes and Badges of authority ought to remain untouched and found his action criminal and himself culpable his heart smote him As
Princes to the Church in protecting the Ministry from the fury of grossely prophane and giddy Fanatick people to whom it is an eye-sore in supplying the Church with maintenance in order to the carrying on the Worship of God in providing Universities and Colledges to be Seminaries of Learning in backing the Laws of God with their secular Authority doth lay strong Obligations on Ministers to make their Churches Schools as of Piety toward God so of Loyalty toward their King What horrid ingratitude would Ministers be guilty of by proving fire-brands of Sedition Trumpeters of Rebellion and by making their Sermons an Alarm unto war It would be to rip up the bowels of their Nursing Fathers and to cut off the Breasts of their Nursing Mothers Furthermore as Simeon and Levi made the Name of their Father Jacob to stink Gen. 34.30 Num. 13.32 by their perfidious Murder of the Shechemites as the Spies brought an evil report on the Land of Canaan and as Judas delivered his Master unto the Scoffes of his enemies so disloyalty in Ecclesiastical persons scandalizeth Religion The sins of Elies Sons caused the Sacrifices of the Lord to be abhorred 1 Sam. 2.17 The Prophet Davids Adultery with Bathsheba and Murder of Uriah Rom. 2.17 to 25. gave great occasion to the enemies of God to blaspheme For Ministers to prostitute their Sacred Function unto Ambition and Rebellion is a great provocation unto Magistrates to root them out of their Kingdoms yea to put them to death as Saul did Ahimelech and the Priests of the Lord of whom he slew fourscore and five persons upon Doegs false and malicious information that they conspired with David 1 Sa. 22.18 Let Sermons be Exclamations against sins not against Kings against the Prince of the power of the Air not against the Princes of the earth The Lord teach the Clergy of England not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they may neither procure the accusation of disloyalty to themselves nor derive any scandal unto Religion Let no man be lifted up with pride by reason of the dignity of his Office Judas cast Devils out of others Luke 22.3 but could not keep the Devil out of himself Then Satan entred into Judas and so as Luther saith there was one Devil in another As water cleanseth other things and then is crst into the sink as many who laboured in building Noahs Ark were drowned in the Floud so a Minister may teach others and yet be himself a cast-away without true Piety which is inconsistent with disloyalty The Scripture hath linked them both together My Son fear thou God and the King It was the honour of Zadok and Abiathar Prov. 24. that they turned not aside unto Absalom but faithfully cleaved unto David their rightful Soveraign 2. David was anointed to the Office of a King The Lord said unto Samuel how long wilt thou mourn for Saul 1 Sam. 16.1 seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel Fill thine Horn with Oyl and go I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite for I have provided me a King among his Sons 1. David by vertue of this Unction had a plausible Argument to have justified the Murder of Saul being rejected by God and himself elected in his room and to have represented such an act as the execution of Justice as Jehu did the destruction of Ahabt posterity But David abhorred this obvious plece of Policy 2 Kin. 10.10 because it would have been a breach of Piety Forasmuch as Comminations are no Commissions Gen. 4.15 Whosoever shall slay accursed Cain vengeince shall be taken on him seven fold So the bloud of rejected Saul would have brought down vengeance on the head of David if he had shed it The crucifying of Christ was an Act of Glorious Mercy in God but of barbarous Cruelty in the Jews Joseph tels his Brethren that it was not they but God that sent him into Egypt and yet they were guilty of the most unbrotherly act next to actual Fratricide that ever was committed Gen. 45.8 One and the same action may be righteous as it proceedeth from the first cause and unrighteous in respect of the Second Gods bidding Shimei to curse David 2 Sam. 12.11 12. and permission of Absalom to ravish his Fathers Concubines were acts of Justice in God but acts of Treason and Incest in Shimel and Absalom Wherefore let such be accounted Instruments of the Devil Ch. 16.10 who dare offer violence to Kings under pretence of being Instruments to execute divine Justice 2. David by vertue of his Unction might have produced a specious Title unto the Kingdom of Israel if he had been of an ambitious spirit but he knew that he was anointed only to the reversion of the Kingdom and that as a last Will and Testament is of no force until the death of the Testator So his Unction was of no force until the death of Saul A Loyal Subject will wave obvious Pleas for his Right unto a Kingdom 3. David being anointed to the reversion of the Kingdom by the death of Saul might have took Livery and Seisin of it But as Moses cast the Kingdom of Egypt with all the Honours and Treasures thereof at his heels chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season Heb. 11. So David preserred the prolongation of his undeserved persecution before the unjust acceleration of the day of his Inauguration unto the Office of a King he esteemed a Turfe in the wilderness with a clear Conscience a better seat than a Throne in a Palace with a Conscience laden with Royal Blood-guiltiness he accounted it a greater honour to be a Loyal Subject than an unlawful King Crowns Scepters and Kingdoms are cogent Temptations Caesar said If Justice may be broken in any case it is regnandi causa Mat. 21.38 The Husbandmen cry out This is the Heir come let us kill him and the Inheritance will be ours But David abhorred to swim unto a Throne through the Blood of his Master having taken the resolution of Ferdinand the first Emperor of Germany Fiat Justitia pereat mundus Let Right be done and come what will of it The gain of a Kingdom will not countervail the loss of a good Conscience What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own Soul Or what will be given in exchange for the Soul There is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the words What will it profit i. e. What an hard bargain will it be What infinite Damage and Detriment shall a man sustain thereby For put the whole world into one ballance and the Soul into another and this little spark of Divinity will out-weigh the whole Globe of the Earth the vast Fabrick of the Creation It is far better to be upbraided as Balaam was by Balak The Lord hath kept thee
Ephraims repentance is set forth by his smiting on the thigh Jer. 31.19 Luke 18.13 Mat. 26.57 Act. 2.37 The Publicans by smiting on the Brest Peters by weeping bitterly The sorrow of the converted Jews for their crucifying Christ by being pricked at the heart So Davids Remorse for wounding the robe of his Sovereign is expressed by his Hearts smiting him Compunction of spirit for the least disloyal actions should alwaies follow the commission of them A Loyal subject being overcome by a violent temptation may be induced to Act some things Derogatory to his Kings Honour and his own Loyalty yet when by deliberate reflection thereon he discerneth his crime he will expiate the guilt by true repentance Even as water though it be hot whilst set over the fire yet when removed from thence returns to its pristine coldnesse and as an heâ—â—ie Body violently detained from its center Remoto prohibâ—nte naturally and immediately descends thereunto Loyalty may be sullied but cannot be obliterated smothered for a time but never totally exstinguished It may be wounded but cannot be Killed fall asleep but will awake again and like the Sun breaking forth out of a Cloud appears in its brightnesse and glory-David being conscious of his clemency towards the life of Saul might have excused his cruelty towards his garment but so pure and Christalline was his Loyalty that he seems to forget his imparallel compensation of good for evil and wholly Dwels on this Punctillio Thus S. Austine in his confessions saith that he was troubled in conscience for stealing Apples in his youth Moderation in disloyal actions is no sufficient Apology for them Had David urged this plea he might have rather justified himself for doing no more then accused himself for acting so little He might have expected to have been Commended rather then Condemned saying Saul hath no reason to be offended with me for cutting off his garment but much reason to reward me for not cutting off his Head Should a Thief finding a Thousand pounds in Gold in a travellers purse take away only six pence leaving all the rest untouched yea and afterward be troubled in his minde for those six pence it would argue eminent honesty This is the nearest Embleme and resemblance of Davids Heroical innocency which yet did surmount this instance The Law alloweth no Accessaries in the case of treason all are principals The Law of God adjudgeth them guilty whose hands were only inch-deep as well as those whose hands were Elbow-deep in the blood of King Charles Men viewing their failings in the Crack't glasse of selfe-love and through the false Spectacles of self-justifying pride account little Sins no sins and great sins little sins David was of a more ingenious and impartiall Spirit choosing rather to aggravate then extenuate to magnifie then to mince the violation of his Allegiance A Thief if he leave mony enough in the traveller purse to carry him to his journies end thinks himself to deserve praise rather then dispraise but an honest mans conscience wil smite him should he wrong a man in the smallest matter though he did it ignorantly David knew that Disloyalty is of an incroaching nature that little sins are gradual approaches toward greater that if he could have dispenced with wounding the Royal Robe he might at length have adventured to wound the Royal heart of his Sovereign Though Treason appear but as a sparke of fire at first yet if not quenched with the tears of repentance it will soone flams forth into open Rebellâ—â—s and spread over the whole body Politick as the Gangren creeps from joint to joint over the whole body naturall Should indulgence connivance and Impunity be afforded to an indignity though never so diminutive against a King it would animate imbolden men to Act superlative enormisies Petty-larceny is a preparative to felony it is felony in its infancy He that can without remorse smite a King with the sword of his tongue will when opportunity serveth smite him with a sword of steel As smal brush-wood is first laid on the fire to kindle the great Blocks afterwards laid upon it and as the lesser wedges make way for greater so little sins are but shooing-horns to draw on greater and Dwarf-like crimes but stirrups and footstoolls whereby to mount up on Gigantick ones Garments when the Hems are wore off will soon unravel Despising of Kings will grow to Deposing of them and contemning of them to condemning of them if not checked betimes either by the Magistrates sword or the Offenders own conscience even as the Cockatrices egg will grow to a Serpent if not crashed in the Shell For contempt of a Prince is Regicide in the Bud in the shell and actuall Regicide is but Contempt full-blown and hatched Wherefore laudable was Davids relenting for so small an injury offered to his Prince But let me correct my self why do I speak of small injuries offered to Kings when the slightest indignities in themselves yet when committed against such sacred persons become hainous flagitious and inexpiable The transcendent and incomprehensible greatnesse of God causeth the least offence against his infinite Majesty to be of an infinite guilt so that dignity which the supream Jehovah hath conferred on his deputed subordinate Deittes doth cause the most inconsiderable offences against them to swel up into high Treason There can be no little sin because there is no little God to sin against So there can be no Diminutive Treason because the object thereof is the sacred and honourable Person of a King An Act receives its specification Denomination and aggravation from the nature of its Object Use This Doctrine doth conclude a fortiâ—ri for our lamentation this day for that fatal and mortal blow that was given to our Royall Sovereign If the wounding of King Sauls Robe the smiting of his skirt cast David into such pangs of sorrow much more should the cutting off King Charles his head the 〈◊〉 of his heart cause England to mourn â—n Sackclotheand Ashes How should the memory of this murder bedew English checkes with teares fill our hearts with sorrow and over-shadow us with mourning as the Departing Sun doth the night with Darknesse and the Declining Sun the Winter with Cold and Frost In Ramah there was a voice heard weeping and mourning and great lamentation Rachel weeping for her Children and would not be comforted because they were not Mat. 2.18 And all by reason of the cruel infaticide acted by Herod So in England was there a voice heard weeping and Mourning and great Lamentation Subjects weeping for their King and would not be comforted because he was not and all by reason of the bloody Regicide committed by cruel Herods We find in sacred History that subjects have bewailed all disasters bef illing their Kings especially their violent death 2 Chron. 35.4 5. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah And all the singing men and singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations
should come that some should think they did God good service in killing them Paul during his Pharisaism persecuted the Church of God out of zeal Men may give their bodies to be burned and yet die not as Martyrs but as malefactors An Heretick may seal his heresy with his Blood as Servetus at Geneva I Doubt not but many Mahumetans would Dy rather then renounce their religion The glory of Martyrdom requires a just and righteous cause to be suffered for as well as a good intent in them that suffer Martial law excuseth not a Captain exceeding his commission notwithstanding he did it out of a good intention and with good successe Subjects should not be injurious to their Prince either for the sake of Religion or civill Liberty Davids intention smiting Sauls Skirt was Honourable yet the Act it self is Condemned by himself I come now to the Second part of the Text. Davids Loyal detestation of cutting off the Royall head of the Lords Anointed manifested in his excellent Oration Part. II. 1. The Occasion whereof first presents it self to our consideration which was two-fold First the fit Opportunity Secondly The great Importunity he had to slay Saul from whence note these two fundamentall principles of loyalty 1. That the fittest opportunity wherein to offer violence to a Prince is to be rejected 2. That the greatest importunity thereunto is to be resisted First Obs 1. That the fittest opportunity wherein to offer violence to a King is to be rejected Opportunity is the Touchstone of Loyalty David might have effected the death of Saul with the greatest certainty and with the greatest security 1. 1 Sam. 24.4 With the greatest certainty David and his men had so incompassed Saul in the Cave that his men cryed out unto him behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand that thou mayest do to him as shall seem good unto thee Saul being asleep in the Trench Abishai said unto David 1 Sam. 26.8 let me smite him I pray thee with the spear even to the Earth at once and I will not smite him the second time David finding Saul in the Cave might have smote off his Head as well as the Skirt of his Robe and turned the Cave into his Grave And finding him asleep in the Trench he might have took away instead of the Cruise of water from his Bolster so much blood from his Heart and made it his last sleep courting him with that Complement wherewith a Captain once courted his Souldier whom he found asleep on the watch when he thrust his Sword into his bowels saying Dead I found thee and dead I leave thee But this was the Crown and Glory of Davids loyalty that he was Opportunity-proof As the Salamander remaineth unscorched in the Fire and as a man in a Pest-house escapeth the infection of the Plague so David preserves his loyal breast untainted with these temptations instead of improving opportunityes for the acting of murther he converts them into Trophyes of his fidelity had David abstained from an attempt on Sauls life only while the Successe was Dubious it would have been an argument of his Policy But to forbear it when he had such an opportune season at one blow to make this Royal Lyon that was so rampant not only couchant but also a Dead Carkasse was a Monument of his Loyalty 2. With the greatest security Had David been the Object of the Peoples Envy a desire of self-preservation was enough to restrain him from the Murder of Saul lest the Noise of such a Fact should have given an Alarm to the People to rise up as one man to avenge the bloud of their King and like Lions robbed of their Whelps to tear him into pieces as a destroyer of their Countrey But David was so far from the danger of being exposed to the rage and fury of the Israelites that he was even their Idol Insomuch that Saul being slain he might have expected their Acclamations rather than Exclamations their Congratulations for his Safety rather than their condoling of Sauls death Peruse the History and it will appear what great interest he had in the Affections and what great applause from the mouths of the Children of Israel 1 Sam. 18.5 He behaved himself so wisely that he was accepted of all the people and of Sauls Servants And v. 6 7. VVith Tabrets and with Harps they sang Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten thousands How willingly did the men of Judah anoint him King after Sauls death 2 Sam. 3.4 Deservedly was David thus esteemed of his Countrey-men For never did any gallant Romans not Regulus or Cato themselves merit better of their Countrey than David of his Now how different was Loyal David from the mind of his Son Absalom The Son by fair Speeches and courteous behaviour stole away the hearts of the Israelites and then employed them in rebellion 2 Sam. 15.2 to 7. But the Father not only abstained from all subtil Insinuations and horrid Calumniations of Sauls Person and Government but when his Deserts like the Sun drew all eyes and affections unto him yet disdained to pervert his popular interest and favour to any rebellious Design This Self-denial condemneth our English Absaloms who by Machivilian dissimulation and slandering the Footsteps of the Lords Anointed sought to render his Person odious and his Restauration impossible themselves amiable and their Usurped Power impregnable Likewise it admonisheth all Persons of Renown and Interest in their Countrey to employ themselves in extinguishing rather than fomenting that Turbulency which is a Chronical disease in the Vulgar Now Davids abhorrence of Revenge when he might so certainly and so securely have dispatched his Enemy sets such an Emphasis on his Loyalty 1 Sam. 24.17 18 19. that it struck Saul himself into an admiration and adoration of it It is nothing for a Beggar who hath not sufficient for necessity to abstain from supersluity but to fit at a Rulers Table swimming with all manner of Dainties and to put a Knife to the throat to be temperate with Timothy among luxurious Asians enhaunceth the worth of Tempetance As it was the Glory of Joseph that he rejected a fair opportunity and great importunity to commit adultery Gen. 39.7 8 9. As it was the Honour of Joseph afterward in Pharoah's Court of Obadiah in Ahabs of Daniel in Nebuchadnezzars of Nehemiah when Cup-bearer to Artaxerxes of Lot in Sodom and of the Saints in Nero's House a monster of men Phil. 4.22 that they retained their Piety notwithstanding the manifold Temptations and opportunities unto sin wherewith they were assaulted so like a Diamond in a Ring it sets a great price on Davids Loyalty that at the Cave he did not violate it Not to seek an opportunity for revenge is honourable but to reject it when offered is double honour Many are not disloyal because they cannot rather then because they would not As Tully saith
unto Jeremiah Jer. 1.10 I have set thee over Nations and Kingdoms to root out and to pluck down and to destroy These words are to be understood of the denunciation of Gods Judgments by the mouth of Jeremiah against wicked Nations Kings shall bow down to thee with their Faces toward the earth and lick up the dust of thy Feet Isa 49.23 These Metaphorical Expressions do not signifie the subordination of Civil Power unto Ecclesiastical but only that Princes shall submit unto the Laws of God and account it their honour to be Patrons of Religion and Nursing Fathers and Nursing Mothers unto the Church The two-edged sword in the hands of the Saints Psal 139.9 to bind Kings in Chains and Nobles in Fetters of Iron is to be understood not of a Weapon of War or Instrument of violence but of the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God which is said to be quick and powerful Heb. 4.12 sharper than any two-edged sword It is a Spiritual not a Martial a Theological not a Polemical sword that is given to the Church to bind Kings in Chains and Nobles in Fetters of Iron What by corporal Imprisonment God forbid but by awakening their Consciences and convincing them of the evil guilt and danger of sin which in Scripture is set forth by spiritual Captivity Isa 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to proclaim Liberty to the Captives and the opening of the Prison doors to them that are bound that is to file asunder the Fetters and to knock off the Chains of the guilt of sins from the Conscience by the promulgation of Gospel-Grace and pardoning Mercy 2. The Second Reason of Davids detestation against stretching forth his hand against Saul is taken from Sauls Relation to God the Lords Anointed Which is ingeminated in the Text. Ingeminations do augment the force and signification of expressions In blessing I will bless thee Gen. 22.17 and in multiplying I will multiply thee that is I will certainly and greatly bless and multiply thee As David by the frequent Iteration of Absaloms name 2 Sa. 18.33 O my Son Absalom my Son my Son Absalom would God I had died for thee O Absalom my Son my Son did signifie his great sorrow for his death So by his duplication of these words the Lords Anointed he doth shew the great and awful reverence due to Saul by reason of his Relation unto God This expression the Lords Anointed may be considered in a threefold respect 1. As it is a Title of Honour 2. As it signifieth Gods Qualification of Saul for this Office 3. As it imports the Divine Original and Institution of his Office 1. As it is a Title of Honour It is an Epithere which is given to Jesus Christ himself Psalm 2. Christ is a word that signifieth Anointed David doth not exclaim against Saul as a Tyrant a Persecutor as a devouring Lion and a destroying Bear though he received as much Injury from him as ever any Subject did from a Prince but maketh mention of him in a very reverent and honourable manner He was so far from wounding Sanls heart with the Sword of violence that he would not wound his good Name with the Sword of his Tongue From whence note That the Language of Subjects of and to their Soveraign Observ ought not to savour of Contempt and Insolency but of honour and reverence toward his Person and Office Thou shalt not revile the gods nor curse the Ruler of thy people Ex. 22.28 The August Names of Kings ought not to be besooted with the opprobrions and ignominious Titles of Traytors Tyrants and Usurpers Is it sit to say to a King thou art wicked or to Princes Job 34.18 ye are ungodly Take heed of painting such in the shape of the Devil who wear the Livery of God I have said ye are gods Psalm 82. Isa 49. Ezek. 34.23 Psal 78.71 72. Rom. 13. Ps 82.6 Jude v. 8. 2 Sa. 21.17 Lam. 4.20 With what honourable Titles hath the Holy Ghost adorned Rulers They are called Fathers yea and Nursing Fathers and Nursing Mothers to a Nation Pastors and Shepherds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sons of the most High Dignities the Light of Israel or the Lamp or Candle of Israel As the Sun is to the world so is a King to his Kingdom even the Fountain of Light and Life The Breath of our Nostrils And here in my Text the Lords Anointed The Lord hath purposely dignified Princes with these Names betokening Majesty and Preheminence as with so many orient Pearls and shining Diamonds and Jewels to beget a reverence in us toward them and to guard them from the virulent and insolent Tongues of cursing Shimei's Wherefore take heed that ye slander not the Footsteps of the Lords Anointed nor reproach the Father of your Nation For the eye that mocketh his Father and despiseth to obey his Mother the Ravens of the Valleys shall pick it out and the young Eagles shall eat it Beware of reviling those sacred persons on whom God hath accumulated so many Titles of Honour Yea the Lord foreseeing how many Malicious Doegs and blasphemous Rabshekahs Kings would meet withal Exod. 21.6 Ex. 22.28 Psal 82.1 Ps 138.1 2 Thes 2.4 hath baptized them with his own most Reverent and Glorious Name The Lord standeth in the Congregation of the Mighty he judgeth among the gods Before the gods will I sing praise unto thee This venerable Appellation given to Magistrates should teach the Cynical Quaker and the morose Anabaptist with all other ejusdem farinae not to scruple at expressions of reverence such as His Maâ—esty Dread Soveraign and the like toward them and instruct them in better Manners Breeding and Civility than to court the Lords Vicegerents and Deputies with such blunt and rustical Language as if they were their Equals or Inferiours Piety is no enemy to Civility not Christianity to Humanity Religion doth not forbid good Manners The Apostle Paul accounted it nothing unbeseeming his Apostolical Office to use some Courtship in his Apologetical Oration before King Agrippa Murder may be committed by the Tongue as well as by the Hand As the Seventh Commandment doth forbid not only the gross act of Adultery but also 1. Heart-adultery as unclean Thoughts 2. Eye-adultery as wanton Glances 3. Ear-adulterie as hearkening to obscene discourse 4. Hand-adultery wanton Dalliances 5. Lip-adultery as unholy Kisses 6. Tongue-adultery Lascivious speech and uttering Ribaldry So the Sixth Commandment Thou shalt not kill doth extend not only to the actual embruing the hands in the bloud of men but also 1. Mat. 5.22 1 John 3.15 To Heart-murder rash anger envy hatred and all inordinate passions and degrees of Murder Wherefore saith Solomon curse not the King in thy thought for a Bird of the Air shall carry the voice Eccl. 10.20 and that which hath wings shall tell the Matter 2.