land went into the house of Baal and brake it downe c. And godlie IOSIAH when hee entered in COVENANT made a thorow Reformation There is a fourfelde Reformation in Scripture and contained in the LEAGUE COVENANT 1. A personall Reformation 2. A Familie Reformation 3. A Reformation of ludicatories 4. A Reformation of the whole land Kinges have had their hand in all the foure and therefore I recommend them to our KING 1. A personall Reformation A king should reforme his owne lyfe that hee may bee a Patterne of Godlinesse to others and to this hee is tyed by the COVENANTS The godlie Reformers of IUDAH were pious and religious men A King should not follow Machiavell his counsell who requyreth not that a Prince should bee truelie religious but sayeth that a shadow of it and externall simulation are sufficient A divelish counsell and it is just with GOD to bring a king to the shadow of a kingdome who hath but the shadow of Religion Wee know that dissembling kinges have been punished of GOD And let our King know that no king but a religious king can please GOD DAVID is highlie commended for Godlynesse HEZEKIAH a man eminent for Pietie IOSIAH a young king commended for the tendernesse of his heart when hee heard the Law of the LORD read Hee was much troubled before the LORD when hee heard the judgementes threatened agaynst his fathers house and his people It is earnestlie wished that our Kinges heart may bee tender and bee truelie humbled before the LORD for the sinnes of his fathers house and of the land and for the manie evills that are upon that familie and upon the kingdome 2. A Familie Reformation The king should reforme his Familie after the example of Godlie kinges AS A when hee entered in COVENANT spared not his mothers Idolatrie The house of our king hath been much defyled by Idolatrie The king is now in COVENANT and to renew the COVENANT Let the Royall Familie bee reformed And that it may bee a Religious Familie wherein GOD will have pleasure Let it bee purged not onlie of Idolatrie but of prophanitie and loosnesse which hath abounded in it Much hath been spoken of this matter but little hath been done in it Let the king and others who have charge in that Familie thinke it lyeth upon them as a duetie to purge it And if yee would have a Familie well purged and constitute take DAVID for a Patterne in the purgation and constitution of his PSAL. 101. The froward heart wicked persons and slanderers hee will have farre from him But his eyes are vpon the faythfull of the land that they may dwell with him If there be a man better then another in the land hee should be for the king and his Familie Yee may extend this Reformation to the Court A prophane Court is dangerous for a king It hath been observed as a provoking sinne in ENGLAND which hath drawnedowne judgement upon King and Court as appeareth this day It is to bee wished that such were in the Court as DAVID speaketh of in that PSALME Let the King see to it and resolve with DAVID PSAL. 101. 7. That Hee who worketh deceat shall not dwell within his house and hee who telleth lies shall not tarrie in his sight 3. Reformation in Iudicatories It would bee carefullié seene to that Iudicatories bee reformed and that men fearing GOD and hating Covetousnesse may bee placed in them A King in COVENANT should doe as IEHOSHAPHAT did 2. CHRON. 19. 5. 6. 7. Hee set Judges in the land and sayd Take heed what yee doe yee judge not for men but for the LORD who is with you in judgement wherefore now let the feare of the LOR'D bee before you c. 4. The Reformation of the whole Land The Kings eye should bee upon it 2. CHRON. 19. 4. Jehoshaphat went out thorow the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim and brought them backe to the LORD GOD of their fathers Our Land hath great need of Reformation For there is a part of it that hath scarce ever yet found the benefite of Reformation they are lying without the GOSPELL It will bee a good work for a COVENANTED KING to have a care that the GOSPEL may bee preached thorow the whole Land Care also would bee taken that they who have the GOSPEL may live suteably thereto If a King would bee a through Reformer hee must bee reformed himselfe otherwayes hee will never lay Reformation to heart To make a king a good Reformer I wish him these qualifications according to the Trueth and in sincerity where-with they report TRAJAN the Emperour to have been endued Hee was 1. Devote at home 2. Cowragious in warre 3. Iustin his Iudicatures 4. Prudent in all his effaires True PIETIE FORTITUDE IUSTICE and PRUDENCIE are notable qualifications in a Prince who would reforme a kingdome and reforme well I come now to the fyfth and last particular and that is the Covenant made betweene the king and the people When a king is crowned and receaved by the people there is a Covenant or mutuall Contract betweene him and them contayning conditions mutuallie to bee observed Tyme will not suffer to insist upon manie particulars I shall onlie lay before You three 1. It is cleare from this Covenant That a king hath not absolute power to doe what hee pleaseth hee is tyed to conditions by vertue of a Covenant 2. It is cleare from this Covenant That a people are bound to obey their king in the LORD 3. I shall present the king with some directions for the right governement of the people who are bound to obey I. It is cleare That the kinges power is not absolute as Kinges and flattering Courtiours apprehend a kinges power is a limited power by this Covenant And there is a three-folde limitation of the kinges power 1. In regard of subordination There is power above his even GODS power whom hee is obliedged to obey and to whom hee must give an accompt of his administration Yee heard yesterday that text By mee kinges reigne PROV. 8. 15. Kinges have not onlie their Crownes from GOD but they must reigne according to his will which is cleare from ROM. 13. 4. Hee is called THE MINISTER OF GOD Hee is but GODS Servant I need not stay upon this Kinges and all others will acknowledge this limitation 2. In regard of Lawes A King is sworne at his Coronation to rule according to the standing receaved Lawes of the kingdome The Lawes hee is sworne to limite him that hee can not doe agaynst them without a sinfull breach of this Covenant between the king and the people 3. In regard of Governement The totall Governement is not upō a king He hath Counsellours a Parliament or Estates in the Land who share in the burthen of Government No king should have the fole Government It was never the mynde of these who receaved a king to rule them to lay all Government upon him to doe what hee
the LORDS Throne Remember you have a king above you The King of Kings Lord of Lords who commandeth thrones He setteth kinges on thrones dethroneth them at His pleasure Therefore take a word of advice Be thankfull to Him who hath brought you thorow many wanderings to set you on this Throne Kisse the Sonne lest Hee bee angrie and learne to serve Him with feare who is terrible to the kings of the earth 2. Your Throne is the LORDS Throne and your people the LORDS People Let not your heart bee lifted vp above your brethren Deutr. 17. 20. They are your brethren not onlie flesh of your flesh but Brethren by Covenant with GOD Let your Government bee refreshing vnto them as the rayn on the mowen grasse 3. Your Throne is the TORDS Throne Beware of making his Throne a Throne of iniquitie There is such a Throne Psal. 94. 20. Which frameth mischiefe by a Law GOD will not owne such a Throne It hath no fellowship with Him Sir There is too much iniquitie vpon the Throne by your Predecessours who framed mischiefe by a Law such Lawes as have beene destructive to Religion and grievous to the LORDS People You are on the Throne have the Scepter beware of touching mischievous lawes therewith But as the Throne is the LORDS Throne let the Lawes be the LORDS Lawes agreeable to His Word such as are terrible to evill doers and comfortable to the Godlie and a reliefe to the Poore and oppressed in the Land 4. The LORDS Throne putteth you in mynd whom you should have about the throne Wicked Counsellours are not for a king vpon the LORDS Throne SOLOMON knew this who sayd Prov. 25. 5. Take away the wicked from before the King and his Throne shall bee established in Righteousnesse And Prov. 20. 8. A King upon the Throne scattereth away all evill with his eyes 5. The LORDS Throne putteth you in mynd that the Judgement on the Throne should be the LORDS Take the exhortation Jer. 22. from the beginning The Prophet hath a cōmand to goe to the house of the king of Judah and say Heare the Word of the LORD O king of Iudah that sittest upon the Throne thy servants thy people Execute ye judgement righteousnes delyver the spoyled out of the hand of the oppressour doe no wrong do no violence to the strāger the fatherles nor the widow neither shed innocēt blood in this place If ye do this thing indeed then shall there enter by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the Throne of DAVID But if yee will not heare these Wordes I sweare by My Selfe sayeth the LORD This house shall become a desolation And vers. 7. I will prepare destroyers agaynst thee SIR Destroyers are prepared for the injustee of the Throne I intreat you execute Righteous Judgement if you doe it not your house will bee a Desolation But if you doe that which is right GOD shall remove the Destroyers And you shall bee established on your Throne And there shall yet bee Dignitie in your House for your servants and for your people Lastlie If Your Throne bee the Throne of the LORD Take a word of encouragment agaynst Throne Adversaries Your enemies are the enemies of the LORDS Throne Make your peace with GOD in CHRIST and the LORD shall scatter your enemies from the Throne And Hee shall magnifie you yet in the sight of these Nations and make the misled people submit themselves willinglie to Your Governement SIR If You vse well the LORDS Throne on which you are set then the two words in the place cited 1. Chron. 29. 23. spoken of Solomon sitting on the Throne of the LORD Hee prospered and all Israel obeyed him shall belong vnto you Your people shall obey you in the LORD and you shall prosper in the sight of the Nations round about Then the Lord Chancellour went to the four corners of the Stage The Lyon king of Armes going before him and proclaymed his Majesties Free Pardon to all Breakers of Penall Statutes and made offer thereof Whereupon the people cryed GOD SAVE THE KING Then the King supported by the Great Constable and Marishall and accompanied with the Chancellour arose from the Throne went out at a door prepared for the purpose to a Stage and showed himselfe to the people without who clapped with their handes and cryed with a lowd voyce a long tyme GOD SAVE THE KING Then the King returning sitting down upon the Throne delyvered the Scepter to the Earle of Craufurd and Lindsay to bee carried before him Thereafter the Lyon king of Arms rehearsed the Royall Lyne of the Kings upward to FERGUS the first Then the Lyon called the Lords one by one who kneeling and holding their hands betwixt the Kings hands did sweare these words By the Eternall and Almightie GOD who liveth and reigneth for ever I doe become your Liedge man and Trueth and Fayth shall beare vnto you and live and die with you agaynst all manner of Folkes whatsoever in your service according to the Nationall Covenant and Solemn League and Covenant And everie one of them kissed the Kings left cheek When these Solemnities were ended The Minister standing before the King on his Throne pronounced this Blessing The LORD blesse thee and save thee The LORD heare thee in the day of Trouble The Name of the GOD of Jacob defend thee The LORD send thee helpe from the Sanctuarie and strengthen thee out of Sion Amen After the Blessing pronounced the Minister went to the Pulpit and had the following Exhortation The King sitting still upon the Throne Yee have this day a King crowned and entered into COVENANT with GOD and his people Look both King and People that yee keep this COVENANT and beware of the breach of it That yee may bee the more carefull to keep it I will lay a few things before you I remember when the Solemn League Covenant was entered by both Nations The Cōmmissionars from ENGLAND being present in the East Kirk of Edinburgh a passage was cited out of Nehem. 5. 13. Which I shall now agayn cite Nehemiah requyreth an Oath of the Nobles and people to restore the morgaged lands which they promised to doe After the Oath was tendered in the 13. vers. hee did shake his lap and sayd So GOD shake out every man from his house from his labour that performeth not his promise even thus bee hee shaken out and emptied And all the Congregation sayd Amen Since that tyme manie of these who were in Covenant are shaken out of it yea they have shaken of the Covenant and layd it asyde It is true they are prospering this day and think that they prosper by laying aside the Covenant But they wil be deceaved That word spoken then shall not fall to the ground GOD shall shake them out of their possession and emptie them for their perfidious breach of the Covenant The same I say to King and Nobles and
all that are in Covenant If you break that Covenant being so solemnly sworn All these who have touched your Crown sworn to support it shall not be able to hold it on but GOD will shake it off turn you from the Throne And ye Noble-men who are assistant to the putting on of the Crown setting the King upon the Throne if yee shall either assist or advyse the King to break the Covenant over-turne the Work of GOD hee shall shake you out of your possessions and emptie you of all your glorie Another passage I offer to your serious consideration Jer. 34. 8. After that Zedekiah had promised to proclaime libertie to all the LORDS People who were servants entered in a Covenant hee his Princes to let them goe free and according to the Oath had let them goe Afterwards they caused the servants to returne and brought them into subjection vers. 11. What followeth upon this breach vers. 15. 16. Ye were now turned had done right in my sight in proclaiming libertie but yee turned made them servants again And therefore vers. 18. 19. 20. 21. I will give the men who have transgressed My Covenant who have not performed the wordes of the Covenant which they made before Me when they cut the calf in twain and passed between the parts thereof I will even give them into the hands of their enemies into the hand of them that seek their lyfe even Zedekiah and his Princes If the breach of a Covenant made for the Libertie of Servants was so punished what shall bee the punishment of the breach of a COVENANT for Religiō the liberty of the people of GOD There is nothing more terrible to King and Princes then to be given into the hand of enemies that seek their lyfe If yee would escape this judgement Let King and Princes keep their Covenant made with GOD Your enemies who seeke your lyfe are in the Land if yee breake the COVENANT it may bee feared GOD give you over unto them as a prey But if yee keepe COVENANT it may bee expected GOD will keepe you out of their hands Let not the place ye heard opened bee forgotten for in it yee have an exemple of Divine Iustice agaynst Joash and the Princes for breaking that COVENANT 2. CHRON. 24. 23. The Princes who intised to that Breach are destroyed and in the 24. vers. it is sayd The armie of the Syrians came with a small companie of men and the LORD delyvered a verie great hoste in their hand because they had forsaken the LORD GOD of their fathers So they executed judgement agaynst Joash And vers. 25. His owne servantes conspired agaynst him and slew him on his bed c. The Conspiracie of Servants or Subjects against their king is a wicked course But GOD in His Righteous Iudgement suffereth Subjects to conspire and rebell agaynst their Princes because they rebell against GOD And Hee suffereth Subjects to break the Covenant made with a king because hee breaketh the Covenant made with GOD I may say freely that a chief cause of the judgement upon the kings house hath been the Grand-fathers breach of Covenāt with GOD the fathers following his steps in opposing the work of GOD his Kirk within these kingdoms They broke Covenant with GOD and men have broken Covenant with them Yea most cruellie and perfidiouslie have invaded the Royall Familie and trodden upon all Princelie Dignitie Bee wyse by their exemple You are now sitting upō the Throne of the kingdom your Nobles about you there is one above you even JESVS the King of Sion and I as His servant dare not but be free with you I charge you Sir in His Name That you keep this Covenant in all points If you shall break this Covenant and come agaynst His Cause I assure you the Contraversie is not ended between GOD and your familie But will be carried on to the further weakening if not the over-throw of it But if you shall keep this Covenant and befriend the KINGDOM of CHRIST It may bee from this day GOD shall begin to doe you good Although your estate bee verie weake GOD is able to rayse you and make you reigne maugre the opposition of all your enemies And how-so-ever it shall please the LORD to dispose you shall have peace toward GOD through CHRIST the MEDIATOR As for you who are Nobles and Peeres of the Land your share is great in this day of Coronation yee have come and touched the Crowne and sworne to support it yee have handled the Sword and the Scepter and have set down the King upon his Throne 1. I charge you to keepe your Covenant with GOD and see that yee never bee moved your selves to come agaynst it in anie head or article thereof and that yee give no counsell to the king to come against the Doctrine Worship Government Discipline of the Kirk established in this Land as ye would eschew the judgement of Covenant breakers If the King ye who are engaged to support the Crowne conspire together against the Kingdome of CHRIST both yee that doe support hee that is supported will fall together I presse this the more because it is a rare thing to see a king great men for CHRIST In the long Catalogue of kings which yee have heard recited this day they will bee found few who have beene for CHRIST 2. I charge you also because of your many Oathes to the king That you keep them inviolablie Bee faythfull to him according to your Covenant The Oathes of GOD are upon you if directlie or indirectlie yee doe anie thing agaynst his Standing GOD by whom yee have sworne will bee avenged upon you for the breach of His Oath And now I will shut up all with one word more to You SIR You are the only Covenanted king with GOD His People in the world many have obstructed Your entrie in it Now seing the LORD hath brought You in over all these Obstructions Only observe to doe what is contayned therein and it shall prove an happie tyme for You and Your House And because You are entered in tymes of great Difficultie wherin smal strength seemeth to remain with You in the eyes of the world for recovering Your just power and greatnesse Therefore take the Counsell which David when he was a-dying gave to his sonne Solomon 1. King 2. 2. 3. Bee strong and show thy selfe a man and keep the Charge of the LORD thy GOD to walke in His Wayes and keepe His Commandements that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest and whether-so-ever thou turnest thy selfe After this Exhortation the Minister closed the whole Action with Prayer and the xx PSALM being sung hee dismissed the people with the Blessing Then did the Kinges Majestie descend from the Stage with the Crown upon his head and receaving agayn the Scepter in his hand returned with his whole Trayn in solemn manner to his Palace the Sword being carried before him FINIS
THE FORM AND ORDER OF THE CORONATION OF CHARLES THE SECOND King of Scotland England France and Ireland As it was acted and done at SCOONE The first day of Ianuarie 1651. 1. CHRON 29. 23. Then Solomon sate on the Throne of the Lord as King in stead of David his father and prospered and all Israel obeyed him PROV. 20. 8. A King that sitteth in the Throne of Judgement scattereth away all evill with his eyes PROV. 25. 5. Take away the wicked from before the King and his Throne shall bee established in Righteousneâ—â—… ABERDENE Imprinted by James Brown 1651. Hollars Habits or the Nobility in their Creation Robes The Original Plates Engrav'd by W. Hollar 1664. The Creation Robe of the Prince of Wales Printed for John Beâ—lâ—â—… at 〈◊〉 in Cernhill CAROLUS Secundus Dei Gratia Anglioe Scotioe Francioe et Hibernioe Rex Fidei Defensor etc. Aspice â—uem Reducem Pictas Patientia Pâ—â—sum DAVIDI CAROLUM fecit 〈◊〉 parem Regius en etiam Psaltes cui Musica Temple Et Châ—rus Câ—â—tus sic placuere Secri Hujus ut auspiâ—iâ—s merito jungantur in â—â—um Hymnus Iessiadae Maeonidaeq Meles A Herâ—â—â—â—â—… CORONATION OF CHARLES THE SECOND King of Scotland England France and Ireland Done at SCOONE The first day of Ianuarie 1651. FIrst the Kings Majestie in a Princes Robe was conducted from his Bed-chamber by the Constable on his right hand and the Marishall on his left hand to the Chamber of Presence and there was placed in a Chaire under a cloath of State by the Lord of Angus Chamberlaine appointed by the King for that day and there after a little repose the Noble-men with the Commissioners of Barons and Burroughes entered the Hall and presented themselves before his Majestie There-after the Lord Chancellour spoke to the King to this purpose Sir Your good Subjects desyre You may bee crowned as the righteous and lawfull Heire of the Crowne of this Kingdome that You would maintain Religion as it is presently professed and established conforme to the Nationall Covenant League Covenant and according to Your Declaration at Dumfermling in August last Also that You would bee Graciouslie pleased to receave them vnder Your Highnesse Protection to governe them by the lawes of the Kingdome and to defend them in their Rights Liberties by Your Royall Power offering themselves in most humble manner to Your Majestie with their Vowes to bestow Land Lyfe and what else is in their power for the maintenance of Religion for the safetie of Your Majesties Sacred Person and maintenance of Your Crowne which they intreate Your Majestie to accept and pray ALMIGHTIE GOD that for many years You may happilie enjoy the same The King made this answer I doe esteeme the affections of my good People more then the Crownes of manie Kingdomes and shall bee readies by GODS Assistance to bestow my Lyfe in their Defence Wishing to live no longer then I may see Religion and this Kingdome flowrish in all happinesse There-after the Commissioners of Burroughes and of Barones and the Noble-men accompanied his Majestie to the Kirk of Scoone in order rank according to their qualitie two and two The Spurres being carried by the Earle of Eglinton Next The Sword by the Earle of Rothes Then the Scepter by the Earle of Craufurd and Lindesay And the Crown by the Marques of Argyle immediately before the King Then came the King with the great Constable on his right haÌ„d and the great Marishall on his left hand his train being carried by the Lord Ereskine The Lord Montgomery The Lord Newbottle and the Lord Machlene four Earles eldest sonnes under a Canopie of Crimson Velvet supported by six Earls sonnes to wit The Lord Drummond The Lord Carnegie The Lord Ramsay The Lord Iohnston The Lord Brechin The Lord Yester and the six carriers supported by six Noble-mens sonnes Thus the Kings Majestie entereth the Kirk The Kirk being fitted and prepared with a Table Whereupon the Honours were layed and a Chaire set in a fitting place for his Majesties hearing of Sermon over against the Minister another Chaire on the other syde where hee sat when hee receaved the Crown before which there was a Bench decently covered as also Seats about for Noble-men Barons and Burgesses And there being also a Stage in a fit place erected of 24 foot square about four foot high from the ground covered with Carpets with two stairs one from the West and another to the East upon which great Stage there was another little Stage erected some two foot high ascending by two steps on which the Throne or Chaire of State was set The Kirk thus fittingly prepared The Kings Majesty entereth the same accompanied as aforesayd and first setteth himselfe in his Chaire for hearing of Sermon All being quyetlie composed unto attention Master ROBERT DOWGLAS Moderator of the Commission of the Generall Assemblie after incalling upon GOD by Prayer preached the following SERMON SERMON Preached at Scoone Jan. first 1651. At the CORONATION of CHARLES the SECOND King of Scotland England France and Ireland By Master ROBERT DOWGLAS Minister of Edinburgh Moderator of the Commission of the Generall Assemblie 2. KING 11. vers. 12. 17. And hee brought foorth the Kinges sonne and put the Crowne vpon him and gave him the Testimonie and they made him King anointed him they clapt their hands said God save the King And Jehojada made a Covenant betweene the Lord and the King and the people that they should bee the Lordes people betweene the King also and the people IN this TEXT of SCRIPTURE you have the solemne enthroning of Ioash a young King and that in a very troublesome tyme for Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah had cruelly murthered the Royall seed and usurped the Kingdome by the space of sixe yeares Only this young Prince was preserved by Jâ—hâ—sheba the sister of Ahaziah and wyfe to Jehojada the high Priest being hid with her in the house of the LORD all that tyme Good Interpreters doe conjecture though Joash bee called the sonne of Ahaziah that hee was not his sonne by nature but by succession to the Crowne They say that the race of Solomon ceassed here and the Kingdome came to the posteritie of Nathan the sonne of David Because 2. Chron. 22. 9. It is sayd The house of Ahaziah had no power to keep the Kingdome which they conceave to bee for the want of children in that house And because of the absurditie and unnaturallnesse of the fact That Athaliah the Grand-mother should have cut off her sonnes children I shall not stand upon the matter Onlie I may say if they were Ahaziah his own children it was a most unnaturall and cruell fact for Athaliah to cut off her owne posteritie For the usurpation there might have been two motives 1. It seemeth that when Ahaziah went to battell Athaliah was left to governe the Kingdome and her sonne Ahaziah being slaine before his returne shee thought the
governement sweet and could not part with it And because the Royall seed stood in her way shee cruellie destroyed them that shee might reigne with the greater freedome 2. Shee was earnest to set up a false worship even the worship of Baal which shee thought could not bee so well done as by cutting off the Royall race and getting the sole power in her hand that shee might doe what shee pleased The businesse you are about this day is not unlyke You are to invest a young King in the Throne in a verie troublesome tyme and wicked men have risen up and usurped the Kingdome put to death the late king most unnaturallie The lyke motives seeme to have prevayled with them 1. These men by falsehood and dissimulation have gotten power in their hands which to them is so sweet that they are unwilling to parte with it And because the King and his seed stood in their way they have made away the King and disinherited his children that the sole power might bee in their hand 2. They have a number of damnable errours and a false worship to set up and intend to take away the Ordinances of CHRIST and Gogovernement of His Kirk All this cannot bee done unlesse they have the sole power in their hand and this they cannot have till the King and his posteritie bee cut off But I leave this and come to the present solemnitie There is a Prince to bee inthroned good Jehojada will have the Crowne put upon his head It may bee questioned Why they went about this Coronation in a tyme of so great hazard when Athaliah had reigned six yeares Had it not been better to have defate Athaliah and then to have crowned the King Two reasons may bee rendered why they delay not the Coronation 1. To crowne the King was a duetie they were bound to Hazard should not make men leave their duetie They did their duetie and left the successe to GOD 2. They crowned the young King to endeare the peoples affections to their own native Prince and to alienate their heartes from her that had usurped the kingdome If they had delayed the king being knowne to bee preserved it might have brought on not onlie compliance with her but also subjection to her governement by resting in it and being content to lay asyde the righteous heire of the Crowne The same is observed in our case and manie wonder that you should crowne the king in a dangerous tyme when the usurpers have such power in the Land The same reasons may serve to answer for your doing 1. It is our necessarie duetie to crowne the king upon all hazards and to leave the successe to GOD 2. It appeareth now it hath been too long delayed Delay is dangerous because of the compliance of some and treacherie of others If it shall bee delayed longer it is to bee feared that the most part shall sit downe under the shadow of the Bramble the destroying usurpers I come to the particular handling of the present Text and to speake from it to the present tyme I have read the 12. and 17. vers. Because of these two which meet together The crowning of a King and his renewing the Covenant Amongst manie particulars which may bee handled from the Text I shall confyne my selfe to these fyve 1. The Crowne Hee put the Crowne vpon his head 2. The Testimonie Hee gave him the Testimonie 3. The anoynting They anoynted him These three are in the 12. vers. As for that which is spoken of the peoples joy wee shall give it a touch when wee come to the peoples duetie 4. The Covenant between GOD and the king the people Jehojada made a Covenant between GOD and the King and the people that they should bee the LORDS People 5. The Covenant between the king and the people Between the King also and the people both in the 17. vers. First The Crowne is put upon his head A Crowne is the most excellent Badge of Royall Majestie To discourse on Crownes in a state way I shall leave unto States-men and lay onlie these three before you of the Crowne 1. In putting on of the Crowne it would bee well fastened For Kinges Crownes are often tymes tottering and this is a tyme wherein they totter There are two thinges that make Kinges Crownes to totter Great Sinnes and Great Commotions and Troubles take heed of both 1. There are manie sinnes upon our king and his familie Sinne will make the surest crown that ever men set on to totter The Sinnes of former kinges have made this a tottering Crowne I shall not insist here seing there hath been a solemn day of Humiliation through the Land on Thursday last for the sinnes of the Royall Familie I wish the LORD may blesse it and desyre the king to bee truelie humbled for his owne sinnes and the sinnes of his Fathers house which have been great Beware of putting on these sinnes with the Crowne For if you put them on all the well-wishers to a king in the three kingdomes will not bee able to hold on the Crown and keepe it from tottering yea from falling LORD take away the Controversie with the Royall Familie that the Crowne may bee fastened sure upon the kinges head without falling or tottering 2. Troubles and Commotions in a kingdome make crowns to totter A Crowne at the best and in the moste calme tymes is full of trouble which if it were well weighed by men there would not bee such hunting after Crownes I read of a great man who considering the trouble and care that accompanied a Crowne sayd Hee would not take it up at his foote though hee might have it for taking Now if a Crowne at the best bee so full of troubles what shall one thinke of a Crowne at the worst when there are so great commotions wherein the Crowne is directlie aimed at Surelie it must bee a tottering Crown at the least especiallie when former sinnes have brought on these Troubles As the remedie of the former is true Humiliation and turning unto GOD So the remedie of the latter is Psal. 21. 3. speaking of Davids Crowne Thou settest a Crowne of pure golde vpon his head GOD set on Davids Crowne and therefore it was setled not-with-standing of manie troubles Men may set on crownes and they may bee throwne off agayne But when GOD setteth them on they will bee fast Enemies have touched the Crowne of our king and casten it off in the other kingdome and have made it totter in this kingdome Both the king who is to bee crowned and you who are to crowne him should deale earnestlie with GOD to set the crowne on the kinges head and to keepe it on agaynst all the commotions of this cruell generation 2. A king should esteeme more of the people hee reigneth over then of his crowne Kings use to bee so taken up with their crownes that they despyse their people I would have a king following CHRIST the king of his people
who sayeth of them Is 62. 3. Thou shalt bee a Crowne of glorie in the hand of the LORD and a Royall Diademe in the hand of thy GOD CHRIST accounteth His people his Crowne and Diademe So should a king esteeme the people of the LORD over whom hee ruleth to bee his Crowne and Diademe Take away the people and a Crowne is but an emptie symbole 3. A king when hee getteth his crowne on his head should thinke at the best it is but a fading crowne All the crownes of kinges are but fading crownes Therefore they should have an eye upon that Crowne of glorie that fadeth not away 1. Pet. 5. 4. And upon a Kingdome that cannot bee shaken Hebr. 12. 28. That crowne and kingdome belongeth not to kinges as kinges but unto believers and a believing king hath this comfort that when hee hath endured a whyle and been tryed hee shall receave the Crowne of Lyfe which the LORD hath promised to them that love Him The second thing in this Solemnity is the Testimonie by this is meant the Law of GOD so called because it testifieth of the Mynde and Will of GOD It was commanded Deut. 17. 18. 19. When the king shall sit upon the Throne of his kingdome hee shall wryte him a copie of the Book of the Law and it shall bee with him that hee may reade therein all the dayes of his lyfe The king should have the TESTIMONIE for these three maine uses 1. For his information in the wayes of GOD Deut. 17. 19. This use of the kinges having the Book of the Law is expressed that hee may lèarne to feare the LORD his GOD The reading of other books may doe a king good for governement but no book will teach him the way to salvation but the Booke of GOD CHRIST biddeth Search the Scriptures for in thom yee thinke to have aeternall lyfe and they testifie of Mee John 5. 39. Hee is a Blessed man who meditateth in the Law of the LORD day and night Psal. 1. 1. 2. King DAVID was well acquainted here-with as appeareth Ps. 119. Kinges should bee well exercised in Scripture It is reported of Alphonsus king of Arragon that hee did reade the BIBLE fourteene tymes with glosses there-upon I recommend to the king to take some houres for reading holie Scripture It will bee a good meane to make him acquaynt with GODS Mynd and with CHRIST a Saviour 2. For his direction in governement kinges reade bookes that they may learne to governe well which I condemne not but all the bookes a king can reade will not make him governe to please GOD as this Booke I know nothing that is good in governement but a king may learne it out of the Booke of GOD For this cause IOSHUA is commanded IOS. 1. 8. That the Booke of the Law shall not depart out of his mouth and hee is commanded to Doe according to all that is written there-in Hee should not onlie doe himselfe that which is written in it but doe and governe his people according to all that is written in it King DAVID knew this use of the Testimonie who sayd Psal. 119. 24. Thy Testimonies are my delight and my Counsellours The best Counsells that ever a king getteth are in the Booke of GOD Yea the Testimonies are the best surest Counsellours Because although a kinges Counsellours bee never so wyse and trustie yet they use not to bee so free with a king as they ought But the Scriptures will tell kinges verie freelie both their sinne and their duetie 3. For preservation and custodie The king is Custos vtriusque Tabulae The keeper of both Tables Not that hee should take upon him the power either to dispense the Word of GOD or to dispense with it But that hee should preserve the Word of GOD and true Religion according to the Word of GOD pure intier and uncorrupted within his Dominions and transmit them so to posteritie And also bee carefull to see his Subjectes observe both Tables and to punish the transgressours of the same The third thing in this Solemnitie is the anoynting of the king The anoynting of kings was not absolutelie necessarie under the Old Testament for wee reade not that all the kinges of IUDAH and ISRAEL were anoynted The HEBREWES observe that anoynting of kinges was used in three cases 1. When the first of a Familie was made king as SAUL DAVID 2. When there was a question for the Crowne as in the case of SOLOMON and ADONIâ—AH 3. When there was an interruption of the lawfull succession by usurpation as in the case of IOASH there is an interruption by the usurpation of ATHALIAH therefore hee is anoynted If this Observation holde as it is probable then it was not absolutelie necessarie under the OLD TESTAMENT and therefore farre lesse under the NEW Because it may bee sayd That in our case there is an interruption by usurpation Let it bee considered That the Anoynting under the OLD TESTAMENT was typicall Although all kinges were not types of CHRIST yet the Anoynting of kinges Priests and Prophets was typicall of CHRIST and His Offices But CHRIST being now come all these Ceremonies ceasse And therefore the Anoynting of kinges ought not to bee used in the NEW TESTAMENT If it bee sayd Anoynting of kinges hath been in use amongst Christians not onlie Papistes but PROTESTANTS as in the kingdome of ENGLAND and our late king was anoynted withoyle It may bee replyed They who used it under the NEW TESTAMENT tooke it from the Jewes without warrand It was most in use with the Bishops of Rome who to keepe Kinges and Emperoures subject to themselves did sweare them to the Pope when they were anoynted and yet the Jewish priests did never sweare kinges to themselves As for ENGLAND although the Pope was casten off yet the subjection of kings to Bishops was still retayned for they anoynted the king and sware him to the mayntenance of their praelaticall dignitie They are here who were witnesses at the CORONATION of the late king The Bishops behoved to performe that rite and the king behoved to bee sworne to them But now by the Blessing of GOD Poperie and Praelacie are removed The Bishops as limmes of Antichrist are put to the doore Let the Anoynting of kinges with oyle goe to the doore with them and let them never come in agayne The anoynting with materiall oyle maketh not a king the Anoynted of the LORD for hee is so without it Hee is the ANOYNTED of the LORD who by Divine Ordinance and appoyntment is a King Is 45. 1. GOD calleth CYRUS His anoynted yet wee reade not that hee was anoynted with oyle Kinges are the Anoynted of the LORD because by the Ordinance of the LORD their authoritie is sacred and inviolable It is enough for us to have the thing though wee want the Ceremonie which being layd asyde I will give some Observations of the thing 1. A King being the LORDS anoynted should bee thinking upon a better
unction even that Spirituall Unction where-with Believers are anointed which you have 1. John 2. 27. The anoynting yee have receaved of him abydeth in you And 2. Cor. 1. 21. Hee that hath anoynted vs is GOD who hath also sealed vs This anoynting is not proper to kinges but Common to Believers Few kinges are so anoynted A King should stryve to bee a good CHRISTIAN and then a good KING The anoynting with GRACE is better then the anoynting with oyle It is of more worth for a king to bee the Anoynted of the LORD with GRACE then to bee the greatest Monarch of the world without it 2. This anoynting may put a king in mynde of the guifts where-with kinges should bee endued for discharge of their Royall Calling For anoynting did signifie the guifts of Office It is sayd of SAUL when hee was anoynted king 1. SAM. 10. 9. GOD gave him another heart And CAP. 11. 6. The Spirit of GOD came vpon him It is meant of a heart for his Calling and a spirit of abilitie for Government It should bee our desyre this day That our king may have a spirit for his Calling as the Spirit of Wisdome Fortitude Iustice and other Princelie Enduements 3. This anoynting may put Subjectes in mynde of the Sacre-dues of the authoritie of a king Hee should bee respected as the LORDS Anoynted There are diverse sorts of persons that are enemies to the authoritie of kinges As 1. Anabaptists who deny there should bee kinges in the NEW TESTAMENT They will have no king nor Civile Magistrate 2. The late Photinians who speake respectfullie of kinges and Magistrates but they take away from them their power and the exercise of it in the administation of justice 3. These who ryse agaynst kinges in open Rebellion as Absalom and Sheba who sayd What have wee to doe with David the sonne of Iesse To your Tentes O Israel 4. They who doe not rebell openlie yet they despyse a king in their heart lyke these sonnes of Beliall 1. SAM. 10. last Who sayd of Saul after hee was anoynted king Shall this man save vs And they despysed him and brought him no Presents All these meet in our presentage 1. Anabaptistes who are agaynst the being of kinges are verie ryfe You may fynd to our great griefe a great number of them in that Armie that hath injustlie invaded the Land who have trampled upon the authoritie of kinges 2. There are also of the second sort who are secretlie Photinians in this poynt They allow of kings in profession but they are agaynst the exercyse of their power in the administration of Iustice 3. A third sort are in open Rebellion even all that generation which are risen up not onlie agaynst the person of a king but agaynst kinglie governement 4. There is a fourth who professe they acknowledge a king but despyse him in their heart saying Shall this man save vs I wish all had DAVIDS tendernesse whose heart did smyte him when hee did but cut off the lap of SAULS Garment That wee may bee farre from cutting off a lap of that just power and greatnesse which GOD hath allowed to the king and wee have bound our selves by COVENANT not to diminish I have gone through the three particulars contayned in the 12. vers. I come to the other two in the 17. vers. which appertayne also to this dayes Worke For our king is not onlie to bee crowned but to renew a COVENANT with GOD and His People and to make a COVENANT with the People Answerable hereto there is a twofolde COVENANT in the wordes One betweene GOD and the king the people GOD being the one partie The king and the people the other Another betweene the king and the people The king being the one partie The people the other The COVENANT with GOD is the fourth particular propounded to bee spoken of The summe of this COVENANT yee may fynd 2. King 23. 3. in Iosiah his renewing the COVENANT To walke after the LORD and keepe His Commandementes and Testimonies with all the heart and to performe the wordes of the COVENANT The renewing of the COVENANT was after a great defection from GOD and the setting up of a false worship The king and people of GOD bound themselves before the LORD to set up the TRUE WORSHIP and to abolish the false SCOTLAND hath a Preference in this before other Nations In tyme of Defection they have renewed a COVENANT with GOD to reforme all And because the king after a great Defection in that familie is to renew the COVENANT I shall mention some particulars from the LEAGVE and COVENANT 1. Wee are bound to maintaine the True Reformed Religion in doctrine Worship Discipline Governement established in this kingdome and to endevour the Reformation of Religion in the other two kingdomes according to the Word of GOD and the example of the best Reformed Kirkes By this Article the king is obliedged not onlie to maintaine Religion as it is established in SCOTLAND but also to endeavour the Reformation of Religion in his other kingdomes The king would consider well when it shall please GOD to restore him to his Governement there that hee is bound to endevour the establishment of the Worke of Reformation there aswell as to maintaine it here 2. According to the second Article The king is bound without respect of persons to extirpate Poperie Praelacie Superstition Heresie Schisme and Prophanenesse and what-so-ever shall bee found contrarie to sound Doctrine and the power of godlynesse And therefore Poperie is not to bee suffered in the Royall Familie nor within his Dominions Praelacie once plucked up by the roote is not to bee permitted to take roote agayne All Haeresie and Errour what-so-ever must bee opposed by him to the uttermost of his power and by the COVENANT the King must bee farre from Toleration of anie false religion within his Dominions 3. As the people are bound to maintaine the kinges person and authoritie in the maintenance of the True Religion and Liberties of the Kingdome So the King is bound with them to maintaine the Rights and Priviledges of the PARLIAMENT and Liberties of the Subjects according to the third Article 4. Wee are bound to discover and to bring unto condigne punishment all such as have been or shall bee Iucendiaries Malignantes or evill instrumentes in hindering the Reformation of Religion divyding the King from the people or one of the kingdomes from another or making aniefaction or parties amongst the people Here-by the King is bound to have an eye upon such and neither allow of them nor comply with them but to concurre according to his power to have them censured and punished as is expressed in the fourth Article I shall summe up all in this That a King entering in COVENANT with GOD should doe as Kinges did of Olde when they entered in COVENANT They and their people wēt on in the work of Reformation as appeareth here vers. 18. And all the people of the
pleaseth without controlement There is no man able alone to governe all The kingdome should not lay that upon one man who may easilie miscarrie The Estates of the Land are bound in this Contract to beare a burthen with him These men who have flattered kinges to take unto themselves an absolute power to doe what they please have wronged kinges and kingdomes It had been good that kinges of late had carried themselves so as this question of kings power might never have come in debate For they have been great loosers thereby Kings are verie desyrous to have thinges spoken and written to holde up their Arbitrarie and unlimited power but that way doeth exceedinglie wrong them There is one a learned man I confesse who hath written a booke for the mayntenance of the absolute power of kinges called DEFENSIO REGIA whereby hee hath wronged himselfe in his reputation and the king in his government As for the fact in taking away the lyfe of the late King what ever was GODS justice in it I doe agree with him to condemne it as a most injust and horrid fact upon their part who did it But when hee commeth to speake of the power of kinges in giving unto them an absolute and illimited power urging the damnable Maxime QUOD LIBET LICET hee will have a king to doe what he pleaseth impunè and without controlement In this I can not but dislent from him In regard of Subordination some say That a king is comptable to none but GOD Doe what hee will let GOD take order with it this leadeth kinges to Atheisme let them doe what they please and take GOD in their owne hand In regard of Lawes they teach nothing to kinges but Tyrannie And in regard of governement they teach a king to take an Arbitrarie power to himselfe to doe what hee pleaseth without controlement How dangerous this hath been to kinges is cleare by sad experience Abuse of Power and Arbitrarie Governement hath been one of GODS Great Controversies with our Kinges Praedecessoures GOD in His justice because Power hath been abused hath throwne it out of their handes And I may confidentlie say That GODS Controversie with the kinges of the earth is for their Arbitrarie and Tyrannicall Governement It is good for our King to learne to bee wyse in tyme and know that hee receaveth this day a power to governe but a power limited by contract and these conditions hee is bound by Oath to stand to Kinges are deceaved who thinke that the people are ordayned for the king and not the king for the people The SCRIPTURE showeth the contrarie ROM. 13. 4. The King is the MINISTER OF GOD FOR THE PEOPLES good GOD will not have a king in an arbitrarie way to encroach upon the possessions of Subjects EZEH 45. 7. 8. A portion is appoynted for the Prince And it is sayd My Princes shall no more oppresse my people and the rest of the Land shall hee give vnto the house of Israell according to their Tribes The king hath his distinct Possessiions and Revenewes from the people hee must not oppresse and doe what hee pleaseth there must bee no Tyrannie upon the Throne I desyre not to speake much of this subject Men have been verie tender in medling with the power of kinges yet seeing these dayes have brought forth debates concerning the power of kinges it will bee necessarie to bee cleare in the matter Extremities would bee shunned A King should keepe within the boundes of the Covenant made with the people in the exercyse of his power And Subjectes would keepe within the bounds of this Covenant in regulating that power Concerning the last I shall propound these three to your consideration 1. A King abusing his power to the over-throw of Religion Lawes and Liberties which are the verie Fundamentalls of this Contract and Covenant may bee controled and opposed And if hee set himselfe to over-throw all these by Armes then they who have power as the Estates of a Land may and ought to resist by Armes Because hee doeth by that opposition breake the verie bondes and over-throweth all the essentialls of this Contract and Covenant This may serve to justifie the proceedinges of this kingdome agaynst the late King who in an Hostile way set himselfe to over-throw Religion Parliaments Lawes and Liberties 2. Everie breach of Covenant wherein a king falleth after hee hath entered in Covenant doeth not dissolve the bond of the Covenant Neither should Subjectes lay asyde a king for everie breach except the breaches bee such as over-throw the fundamentalls of the Covenant with the people Manie exemples of this may bee brought from Scripture I shall give but one King ASA entered solemnelie in Covenant with GOD and the people 2. CHRON. 15. After that hee falleth in grosse transgressions and breaches 2. CHRON. 16. Hee associate himselfe and entered in League with Benhadad king of Syria an Idolater Hee imprisoned HANANI the LORDS Prophet who reproved him threatened judgement agaynst that association And at that same tyme hee oppressed some of the people And yet for all this they neither lay him asyde nor compt him an hypocrite 3. Private persons should bee verie circumspect about that which they doe in relation to the authoritie of kinges It is very dangerous for private men to meddle with the power of kinges and the suspending of them from the exercyse thereof I doe ingenuouslie confesse that I fynd no exemple of it The Prophets taught not such doctrine to their people Nor the Apostles Nor the Reformed Kirkes Have ever private men Pastoures or Professoures given in to the Estates of a Land as their judgement unto which they resolve to adhere That a king should bee suspended from the exercise of his power And if wee looke upon those godlie Pastoures who lived in KING IAMES his tyme of whom one may truelie say more faythfull Men lived not in these last tymes For they spared not to tell the king his Faultes to his face Yea some of them suffered persecution for their honestie and feeedome Yet wee never read nor have heard that anie of these godlie Pastoures joyned with other private men did ever remonstrate to Parliament or Estate as their judgement That the king should bee suspended from the exercyse of his Royall power II. It is cleare from this COVENANT That people should obey their King in the LORD For as the King is bound by the COVENANT to make use of his power to their good So they are bound to obey him in the LORD in the exercyse of that power About the peoples duetie to the king take these foure Observations 1. That the obedience of the people is in subordination to GOD For the COVENANT is first with GOD and then with the King If a King command anie thing contrarie to the will of GOD in this case PETER sayeth It is better to obey GOD then man There is a lyne drawne from GOD to the people they are lowest the lyne
in such a condition by the praevayling of the Enemie that there is no remedie And thereof or that it is best to sit still and see how thinges goe 3. They who doe not act upon scruple of conscience I shall ever respect tendernesse of Conscience and I wish there bee no more but tendernesse If there bee no more men will stryve to have their consciences well informed They may be supposed to scruple upon one of these grounds 1. To act in such a cause for the kinges interest Sure I am this was not a doubt before but all seemed to agree to act for the kinges interest in subordination to CHRISTS and this day there is no more sought Wee owne the kinges interest onlie in a subordination to CHRISTS Or 2. To joyne with such instrumentes as are Enemies to the Worke of GOD Our answer to the Estates Quaere Resolves that such should not bee intrusted But wee doe not count these Enemies who professe repentance and declare themselves solemnelie to bee for the Cause and the Covenant and doe evidence it by their willingnesse to fight for them If it bee sayd Their repentance is but counterfet Wee are bound to think otherwayes in charitie till the contrarie bee seene No man can judge of the realitie of heartes for wee have now found by experience that men who have been accounted above all exception have betrayed their trust If anie who have not yet repented of their former course shall bee intrusted wee shall bee sorie for it and playnlie say That it ought not to bee But I thinke there must bee more in this that men say they cannot act For my selfe I love not that word in our case It is to frequent Hee can not act and Hee can not act I feare there bee three sort of persons lurking under this cover 1. Such as are Pusillanimous who have no cowrage to act agaynst the Enemie The word is true of them They can not act because they darre not act 2. Such as are selfish men serving their Idole credit Hee hath been a man of Honour and now hee feareth there will be no credit to fight agaynst this prevailing Enemie Therefore hee can not act and save his Credit Bee who thou will that hath this before thee GOD shall blast thy reputation Thou shalt neither have honour nor credit to doe a right turne in GODS Cause 3. Such as are Compliars who can not act because they have a purpose to complye There are that can not act in an Armie but they can betray an Armie by not acting There are that can not act for safetie of a Kingdome but they doe betray it by not acting In a word There are who can not joyne to act with these whom they accompt Malignantes I speake not of declared and knowne Malignants but of such as have bene and are fighting for the Cause Yet by them esteemed Malignants But they can joyne with Sectaries open declared enemies to Kirk and Kingdome I wish Subjectes who are bound to fight for the kingdome would lay by that phrase of Not acting which is so frequent in the mouth of Complyars and offensive to them who would approve themselves in doing duetie for endangered Religion King and Kingdome That men may bee the more cleare to act I shall offer to your consideration some passages of Scripture about these who doe not act agaynst a common enemie 1. IUDGE 5. There are manie reproved for lying still whyle an Enemie had invaded the Land As Reuben with his divisions Gilead Dan and Asher seeking themselves all are reproved for not joyning with the People of GOD who were willing to jeopard their lyves agaynst a mightie oppressing enemie But there is one passage concerning Meroz vers. 23. which fitteth our purpose The Angell of the LORD sayd Curse yee Meroz Curse yee bitterlie the inhabitantes thereof they came not to the Helpe of the LORD to the Helpe of the LORD agaynst the Mightie What this Meroz was is not cleare yet all interpreters agree that they had opportunitie and power to have joyned with and helped the People of GOD and it is probable they were neare the place of the fight They are cursed for not comming to the Helpe of the LORDS People This may bee applyed to these in the Land who will not Helpe the LORD agaynst the Mightie Another passage you have NUMB. 32. Reuben and Gad having a multitude of cattell having seen the land of Gilead that it was a place for cattell they desyre of MOSES and the Princes that that Land may bee given them and they may not passe over IORDANE vers. 6. 7. MOSES reproveth them in these wordes Shall your bretheren goe to warre and shall yee fit still Wherefore discowrage yee the heart of the Children of Israel vers. 16. 17. 18. Reuben and Gad make their Apologie showing that they have no such intention to sit still Onlie they desyre their wyves and little ones may stay there they themselves promise to goe over IORDANE armed before ISRAEL and not returne before they were possessed in the Land Then MOSES sayd unto them vers. 20. 21. 22. If you doe so then this shall bee your possession But vers 23. If yee doe not so beholde yee have sinned agaynst the LORD and bee sure your sinne shall fynd you out I may apply this to them that can not act Will yee sit still when the rest of your Brethren are to hazard their lyves agaynst the Enemie Wee have reason to reprove you If MOSES that faythfull Servant of GOD was still jealous of Reuben and God even after their Apologie and promise to act for hee sayeth If yee doe not so Have not honest and faythfull Servantes of GOD ground to bee jealous of their brethren who refuse to act Let them Apologize what they will for their not acting I say they sinne agaynst the LORD and their sinne shall fynd them out It will bee clearlie seene upon what intention they doe not act 3. A third passage is SAM. 23. vers. 26. SAUL hath DAVID enclosed that hee can hardlie escape In that verie instant there commeth a messen er to SAUL saying vers. 27. Haste thee and come for the Philistines have invaded the land At the hearing of this message vers. 28. SAUL returned from persuing after DAVID and went agaynst the Philistines It is true the LORD did provyde for His Servant DAVIDS escape by this meane But if you consider SAUL hee tooke it not so Nothing moved him to leave this persute but the condition of the Land by the invading of an Ememie Three thinges might have moved SAUL to stay and persue DAVID 1. Hee hath him now in a strayte and hath such advantage that hee might have thought not to come readilie by the lyke 2. That although the Philistines bee Enemies yet DAVID is the most dangerous Enemie for hee aimeth at no lesse then the Crowne It were better to take conditions of the Enemie then to suffer DAVID
that after the dayes of Iehojada the princes of Iudah came did obeysance to the king he hearkened unto them vers. 18. It appeareth they had been lying at waite till the death of Iehojada took that opportunity to destroy the true worship of GOD set up false worship flattering the king for that effect For it is said They left the house of the LORD served groves Idoles were so far from being reclaimed by the Prophet of the LORD that was sent unto them that they cōspired against Zechariah the son of Iehojada who reproved them mildly for their Idolatry and stoned him with stones and slew him at the kings commandement And vers. 22. it is sayd Ioash remembered not the kindnesse that Iehojada his father had done to him but slew his sonne SIR Take this exemple for a warning You are obliedged by the COVENANT to goe on in the Work of Reformation It may be some great ones are wayting their tyme not having opportunitie to work for the present till afterward they may make obeysance and perswade You to destroy all that hath been done in the Work of GOD these diverse years Beware of it Let no allurement or perswasion prevayle with You to fall from that which this day You bynd Your selfe to mayntayn Another exemple I give You yet in recent memorie of Your grand-father king IAMES He fell to be very young in a time full of difficulties yet there was a godly party in the land who did put the Crown upon his head And when he came to some years He his people entered in a Covenant with GOD He was much cōmended by godly faithfull men comparing him to young Iosiah standing at the Altar renewing a Covenant with GOD And he himselfe did thank GOD that he was born in a Reformed Kirk better reformed then England for they retained many popish ceremonies yea better reformed then Geneva for they kept some holy dayes Charging his people to be constant promising himselfe to continue in that Reformation to maintain the same Notwithstanding of all this he made a foule defection He remembered not the kindnesse of them who had held the crown upon his head yea he persecuted faithfull Ministers for opposing that course of defection He never rested till hee had undone Presbyteriall Governement and Kirk Assemblies setting up Bishops and bringing in Ceremonies agaynst which formerly hee had given large testimonie In a word hee layd the foundation whereupon his sonne our late king did build much mischiefe to Religion all the dayes of his lyfe SIR I lay this exemple before You the rather because it is so near You that the guiltines of the transgression lyeth upō the Throne Family it is one of the sinnes for which You have professed humiliation very lately Let it be laid to heart take warning requite not faithfull mens kindnes with persecution yea requite not the LORD so who hath preserved You to this tyme and is setting a Crown upon Your head Requite not the LORD with Apostasie and Defection from a sworn Covenant But bee steadfast in the Covevant as You would give Testimonie of Your True Humiliation for the Defection of these that went before You. I have set vp these two exemples before You as beacons to warne You to keep off such dāgerous courses shal add one for imitation which if followed may happily bring with it the blessing of that godly mans adherēce to God The exemple is of Hezekiah who did that which was right in the sight of the Lord 2. king 18. 5. 6. It is said of him He trustea in the Lord God of Israel and he clave vnto the Lord and departed not from following him but kept his Cōmandements And vers. 7. The LORD was with him and he prospered whither soever he went forth Sir follow this exemple cleave unto the LORD and depart not frō following him the LORD will be with You prosper You whithersoever You go To this LORD frō whom we expect a blessing upon this dayes workm be glory and praise for ever Amen SERMON beeing ended Prayer was made for a Blessing upon the doctrine delyvered The King being to renew the COVENANTS first the Nationall Covenant then the Solemn League and Covenant were distinctlie read After the reading of these COVENANTS The MINISTER prayed for grace to perform the contents of the Covenants and for faythfull steadfastnesse in the Oath of GOD And then the Ministers Commissioners of the Generall Assemblie desyred to bee present standing before the Pulpit hee ministred the Oath unto the King who kneeling and lifting up his right hand did swear in the words following I CHARLES King of Great Britane France and Ireland doe assure and declare by my Solemn Oath in the Presence of Almightie GOD the Searcher of Hearts my allowance and approbation of the Nationall Covenant and of the Solemn League and Covenant above-written and faythfullie obliedge my selfe to prosecute the ends thereof in my Station and Calling and that I for my selfe and successours shall consent and agree to all Acts of Parliament enjoyning the Nationall Covenant and the Solemn League and Covenant and fullie establishing Presbyteriall Government The Directorie of Worship Confession of Fayth and Catechismes in the Kingdom ōf Scotland as they are approven by the Generall Assemblies of this Kirk and Parliament of this Kingdom And that I shall give my Royall Assent to Acts and Ordinances of Parliament passed or to bee passed enioyning the same in my other Dominions And that I shall observe these in my own practice and Familie and shall never make opposition to anie of these or endevour any change thereof After the King had thus Solemnlie sworne The Nationall Covenant the League Covenant and the Kings Oath subjoyned unto both being drawne up in a fayre Parchment The King did subscrybe the same in presence of all Thereafter the King ascendeth the Stage and sitteth down in the Chaire of State Then the Lords Great Constable and Marishall went to the four corners of the Stage with the Lyon going before them who spoke to the people these wordes Sirs I doe present vnto you the King CHARLES The Rightfull and Vndoubted Heire of the Crowne and Dignitie of this Realme This day is by the Parliament of this Kingdome appoynted for his Coronation And are you not willing to have him for your King and become subject to his Commandements In which action the Kinges Majestie stood up showing himselfe to the people in each corner And the people expressed their willingnesse by chearfull acclamations in these wordes GOD SAVE THE KING CHARLES THE SECOND Thereafter the Kinges Majestie supported by the Constable and Marishall commeth downe from the Stage and sitteth downe in the Chaire where hee heard the SERMON The Minister accompanied with the Ministers before mentioned cometh from the Pulpit toward the King requyreth If hee was willing to take the Oath appoynted to bee taken at
to live and take the Crowne 3. Hee might have sayd If I leave DAVID at this tyme and fight with the Philistines and bee beaten hee will get a power in his hand to undoe mee and my posteritie These may seeme strong motives But SAUL is not mooved with anie of these The present danger is the Philistines invading the Land and this danger is to bee opposed come of the danger from DAVID what will As if SAUL had sayd I will let DAVID alone I will meet with him at another tyme and reckon with him now there is no tyme for it the Philistines are in the Land let us make haste agaynst them I wish that manie of our Countrey-men had as great love to their Countrey and as publick a spirit for it as this prophane king had then there would not bee so manie questions for acting as men make this day The Objections I have been touching are in mens thoughts and heads 1. Some say Now the Malignants are under for this Enemie is their rod It is best to put them out of having anie power yea there are some who would more willinglie goe to undoe these whom they accompt Malignants nor agaynst the common Enemie who are wasting the Land If they had SAULS resolution they would say The Philistines are in the Land Let them alone wee will reckon with them at another tyme wee will now goe agaynst the common Enemie They have also the second Objection The Malignants are more dangerous Enemies then the Sectaries I shall not now compare them at aequall distance and abstract from the present danger But I shall compare them in the present posture of effaires I am sure the Sectaries having power in their handes and a great part of the Land in their possession are farre more dangerous then Malignants who have no power for the present And therefore the resolution should bee The Sectaries have invaded the Land and are destroying it Let us goe agaynst them 3. The third Observation weigheth much with manie The Malignants being imployed to fight for their Countrey may get such power in their hand as may hurt the Cause For answer 1. The Resolution given to the Quaere of the Estates provydeth agaynst that for therein is a desyre that no such power should bee put in their hand 2. This feare goeth upon a supposition that they doe not repent their former course This is an uncharitable judgement Wee are bound to bee more charitable of men professing repentance for with such wee have to doe onlie And to speake a word by the way to you who have been upon a malignant course Little good is expected from you I pray you bee honest and disappoynt them I wish you true repentance which will both disappoynt them and bee profitable to your selves 3. I desyre it may bee considered whether or not feare of a danger to come from men if they praevayle agaynst the common enemie being onlie cloathed with a capacitie to fight for their Countrey Bee an argument agaynst rysing to oppose a seene and certayne danger comming from an Enemie cloathed with power and still praevayling I conceave it ought to bee farre from anie to hinder men to defend their Countrey in such a case I confesse indeed The Cause which wee mayntayne hath met with manie enemies who have beene agaynst it which requyreth much tendernesse Therefore men are to be admitted to trust with such exceptions as may keepe them out who are still Enemies to the CAUSE of GOD have not professed repentance renounced their former courses and declared themselves for Cause Covenant I doubt not but it shall bee found that the admitting of such to fight in our case as it standeth is agreeable to the Word of GOD and is not agaynst the former Publicke Resolutions of KIRKE and STATE The second sort of persons wee are to meet with are such as act for the Enemie agaynst the Kingdome If they bee cursed who will not come out to helpe the LORD agaynst the Mightie What a curse shall bee upon them who helpe the Mightie agaynst the LORD as they doe who act for the Enemie Three wayes is the Enemie helped agaynst the Cause and People of GOD 1. By keeping correspondence with them and giving them intelligence There is nothing done in KIRKE or STATE but they have intelligence of it A baser way hath never been used in anie Nation Your Counsells and Purposes are made knowne to them If there bee anie such here as I fear they bee let them take this to them They are of these who helpe the Mightie agaynst the LORD and the curse shall sticke to them 2. By strengthening the Enemies handes with questions debates and determinations in papers tending to the justifying of their injust invasion What ever have been mens intētions in taking that way yet the thing done by them hath tended to the advantage of the Enemie and hath divyded these who should have been joyned in the Cause to the great weakening of the power of the kingdome and this interpretativelie is to act for the Mightie agaynst the LORD 3. By grosse complyance with the Enemie and going in to them doing all the evill Offices they can agaynst their Native Kingdom If Meroz was cursed for not helping shall not these perfidious Covenant-breakers and treacherous dealers agaynst a distressed Land bee much more accursed for helping and assisting a destroying Enemie so farre as lyeth in their power Is. 31. 3. May bee truelie applyed to them who are helping Strangers Enemies to GOD His Kirk and Religion Both hee that helpeth shall fall and hee that is holpen shall fall down and they all shall fayle together III. The third particular about this COVENANT resteth to bee spoken of to wit Some Directions to the King for the right performing of his duetie whereof I shall give seven 1. A King meeting with manie difficulties in doing of duetie by reason of strong corruption within and manie tentations without Hee should bee carefull to seeke GOD by Prayer for grace to over-come these impedimentes and for an understanding heart to govern his people SOLOMON having in his option to aske what hee would hee asked an understanding heart to goe out and in before his people Knowing that the governement of a people was a verie difficile worke and needed more then ordinarie understanding A KING also hath many enemies as our King hath this day and a praying King is a prevayling King ASA when hee had to doe with a mightie enemie 2. CHRON. 14. prayed ferventlie and prevayled IEHOSHAPHAT was invaded with a mightie enemie 2. CHRON. 20. hee prayed and did prevayle HEZEKIAH prayed agaynst Sennaheribs hudge armie and prevayled 2. CHRON. 32. Sir You have many difficulties oppositions to meet with acquaint your selfe with PRAYER bee instant with GOD Hee will fight for You. Prayers are not in much request at Court But a Covenanted KING must bring them in request I know a King is burthened with