and Spanish saw Make England happy by no Salick Law This Monarch's rising first restores to health The Kingdom deadly sick o' th' Commonwealth Obstructions thus remov'd each lively vein Conveighs its active spirits once again Hark how the Bels Guns Drums and Trumpets ring And loyal Pulpits cry God save the King See how the blazing earth by Bon-fires tries To translate Heaven and outshine the skies Lyme's glorious Triumphs do bespeak it glad To gain the Title Regis once it had My joys are mixt with pray'rs that Charles his wain By Traytors hands be ne'r o'return'd again That Crown and Church may flourish and the State Be fix'd in spite of strange or home-bred hate That CHARLES be wise as Solomon to give The Childe to those would hav 't united live Theophilus Philanax A SERMON PREACH'D AT LYME-REGIS May the 18. 1660. at the Solemn Proclamation of His most Excellent Majesty Charles II. c. THe Proclamation and Inauguration of Kings hath been observed with great solemnity in all ages The Preamble by all Nations In the observation of which Solemnities none have been more forward than God's most faithfull Prophets and Priests and Ministers of the Gospel And therefore that I may give a further testimony of that loyal and sincere affection I have ever born to His most excellent Majesty our Sovereign Lord Charles by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith I shall at present apply my self to speak something suitable to the solemnity of this day that by so doing I may quicken you to the observation of it both with an inward and outward rejoycing suitable unto it not that I think you need a spur being fully assured of the sincerity of your affection both to his Majesty's Person and Authority Now the words I shall insist upon to this end you shall finde written 1 KINGS 1.39 40. The Text And Zadock the Priest took an horn of Oyl out of the Tabernacle and annointed Solomon and they blew the trumpet and all the people said God save King Solomon And all the people came up after him and the people piped with Pipes and rejoyced with great joy so that the earth rent with the sound of them The words are Historicall and in them you have a Relation of the Proclamation and Inauguration of Solomon to be King over Israel For methods sake and your better understanding of them you may take notice 1. Of the Agents or Persons who were imployed in the observation of these solemnities 2. Of their Actions or the things done and performed by these Agents 3. Of the Person about whose concernments these Agents were imployed The Agents were Zadok the Preist who began the solemnity and the rest of the people who were then present among whom for the honour of the solemnity was Nathan the Prophet and many others men of great account and esteem both in the Church and State of Israel as evidently appears by the verse immediately foregoing So Zadock the Priest and Nathan the Prophet and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went downe and caused Solomon to ride upon King David's Mule c. And from hence I conclude That it is a thing no way unbecoming a Priest Note a Prophet a Minister of God to act his part in the Procla mation and Inauguration of his just and lawful Sovereign 2. The Actions of these Agents and they are divers every man in this Solemnity was imployed in some thing suitable to his place and station 1. Zadok the Priest begins the work 't is said he took a Horne of oyle out of the Tabernacle and anointed Solomon A Ceremony frequently used by God's command and appointment in the designation and Inauguration of Persons to be Kings as you may see by comparing these Scriptures 1 Sam. 9.16 I will send thee a man out of the land of benjamin and thou shalt anoint him to be Captaine over my People Israel that he may save my People out of the hand of the Philistines So cap. 10. v. 1. Then Samuel took a viall of oyle and poured it upon his head and kissed him and said Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be Captain over his Inheritance So cap. 16. vers 1. And the Lord said to Samuel c. Fill thy horn with oyle and goe I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlemite for I have provided me a King among his sons Item v. 13. Then Samuel took the horne of oyle and anointed him in the midst of his Brethren and the spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward Againe 2. Sam. 2 4. And the men of Judah came and there they anointed David King over the house of Judah so 1. Cron. 29.22 and they made Solomon King the second time and anointed him to the Lord to be chief Governor And this ceremony was upon these considerations used 1. To declare that God had called and appointed the Person thus anointed to the exercise of the office of a King 2. To give assurance to others and to the persons thus anointed that God would furnish them with gifts graces and abilities for the discharge of the Kingly office to which he had designed and called them And from the use of this ceremonie it is that Kings in Scripture are often called the Lord's anointed as you may see 1. Sam. 24.6 God forbid that I should do this thing unto my Master the Lord 's anointed c. Seing he is the anointed of the Lord. So Isa 45.1 thus saith the Lord to his anointed to Cyrus c. and in many other places 2. The Priest having done his part the Trumpeters performed their parts they blew the trumpet and by the sound of trumpet proclaimed him King 3. All the people which were present cryed God save King Solomon and then followed after him and piped with pipes and rejoyced with exceeding great joy so that the earth rent with the sound of their shouts and acclamations of joy an Hyperbolicall speech to expresse the exceeding greatness of their joy 3. Solomon the son of David by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Vriah was the person about whose concernments these Agents were thus imployed The person about whose c. I say was Solomon who was 1. Not only a Prince but a lawfull Prince being appointed of God and nominated by David his Royall father to succeed him in his government as you may see by comparing the 1. Chr. 28. and 5. with this 1 King 1.28 c. 2. A hopefull Prince a Prince from whom they might expect much good both to the Church and Sate of Israel and that because he was 1. A very pious Prince 2. A very wise and prudent Prince 3. A beloved Prince beloved even of God himselfe with a speciall love and therefore called Jedediah 2 Sam. 12.24 25. And she bare a son and he called his name Solomon and the Lord loved him
proudly against the ancient and the base against the honorable But the accession of a lawfull and hopefull Prince c. will undoubtedly prevent or put to an end these mischievous evils that else would happen to that people over which he is to rule 4. The accession of a hopefull and lawfull Prince to Rule and Government will certainely prevent or put to an end those mischeivous disputes and divisions which otherwise will arise amongst a people about the particular forme of Government the person or persons by which they will be ruled When the seat of Authority is vacant or possessed by usurpation every man as he is affected will be contending to be ruled under this or that particular form of government or by this or that particular person The truth of this we have seen made good by sad experience even in our dayes How have disputes about these things broken and crumbled us into a thousand pieces since the horrid murther of his late Majesty of glorious memory and the treacherous exile c. of his present most Royal and most excellent Majesty Now this mischief also the accession of c. will assuredly either prevent or put to an end 5. The accession of a lawfull hopeful Prince to Rule and Government will also prevent or put to an end those frequent and mischievous changes in government to which a State and Kingdom is Subject through the want of such a Prince to Rule and govern it Frequent changes in government either in respect of the persons ruling or the form of government by which it is ruled are very destructive and mischievous to it And therefore when God is displeased with a people he usually brings this Judgement upon them Prov. 28.2 For the transgression of a Land many are the Princes thereof c. And of all Kingdoms those are most subject to this destroying Judgment where their lawful Sovereign is rejected and the Throne is possessed by Usurpation How often did the ten Tribes change their Rulers after their Revolt from the House of David and what frequent changes both of Governors and Government have we seen in this Nation since the murther of our late and Exilement of our present Sovereign but by the accession of a lawful hopeful Prince to Rule these changes are either prevented or put to an end Prov. 28.2 For the transgression of a land many are the Princes thereof but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged i. e. by a lawful Prince who is wise and prudent the state thereof shall be preserved viz. from such frequent and mischievous changes of its Governors and Rulers These are some of those great mischiefs which by this means will be prevented or put to an end and therefore the accession of a lawful hopeful Prince to actual Rule and Government is a thing greatly to be rejoyced in by those over whom he is to rule But secondly The Accession of such a Prince to actual Rule and Government 2 Reas s a thing greatly to be rejoyced in because it gives the people over whom he is to rule great hope of much approaching and continued good to them by his rule and government over them A lawful hopeful Ruler is a great blessing to a Nation and therefore God promiseth to bestow such upon his people as a great blessing to them Isa 1.26 And I will restore thy Judges as at the first and thy Counsellors as at the beginning i. e. I will give thee Rulers like unto those which I set over thee when thou wert first constituted a State and Kingdom such as were Moses Joshua Samuel David c. such as shall be Instruments of much good unto thee as all good and lawful Princes are to all such as they rule over Now the good a people have grounds to hope for upon the accession of a lawful hopeful Prince to Rule and Government is 1. The injoyment of outward peace plenty and prosperity By Solomon's accession to the throne the state of Israel injoyed the good of all these The whole time of the Reign of Solomon they did not onely injoy peace acording as God had promised they should 1 Chron. 22.9 For his name shall be Solomon and I will give Peace and quietnesse unto Israel in his dayes But also great plenty and prosperity as you may see 1 King 10.27 And the King made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones and Cedars made he to be as the Sycamore trees which are in the vale for abundance And 2 Chron. 1.15 in the same words And thus it often comes to passe by the accession of a lawfull hopefull Prince to Rule and Government and therefore there is ground to hope upon the accession of such a Prince to Rule and Government 2. The right administration and execution of law and justice This good and benefit Israel injoyed by the accession of Solomon to Rule and Government as a peares by many instances especially by his decision of the difference betwixt the two Harlots about the living child 1 king 3 from the 16 to the end 3. Safety and protection from all wrong and injury or at least justice against such as wrong and injure them as 't is the duty so 't is for the most part the disposition of lawfull Princes to protect their Subjects yea the meanest of them from wrong and injury and to do such of them right as are wronged and injured This good also Israel injoyed by Solomon's accession to the throne as appears by the foregoing instance 4. Suitable rewards and preferments to their deserts and merits Vsurpers bestow their rewards and preferments upon such as are rightest for their turne but lawfull Princes if they are wise and prudent upon them who are most deserving but especially upon such as are most faithfull to God within their dominions such David resolved to prefer to the honor of being next yea nearest to his person in attendance upon him Psal 101. throughout but especially ver 6. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithfull of the land that they may dwell with me He that walketh in a perfect way he shall serve me By the faithful there he means the truly godly in the land as appears from the latter part of the verse And such were they whom Solomon advanced upon his accession to the throne as appears by 1 King 4. begining 5. The preservation and if need be the Reformation of Religion with due countenance and encouragement in the practice and profession of it Vsurpers for the most part are Corrupters and Suppressers of the truth and power of Religion Such a one was Jeroboam and those Kings that succeeded him in his Vsurpation as you may see 1 Kings 12.26 27. c. to the end And Jeroboam said in his heart now shall the Kingdome return to the house of David If this people go up to do sacrifice in the House of the Lord at Jerusalem then shall the heart of this people turn
again unto their Lord even unto Rehoboam King of Judah and they shall kill me and go again to Rehoboam King of Judah whereupon the King took counsel and made two Calves of gold and said unto them It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem Behold thy gods O Israel which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt and so on You may see more of this in the Histories of his Successors recorded in the Books of the Kings and Chronicles But on the contrary such as are lawful and pious Princes are Preservers Promoters and if need require Reformers of Religion yea and countenancers of the most sincere Professors of it Such were all the godly Kings of Judah Such a one was Asa 1 Kings 15.11 12 13 14 15. And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord as did David his Father And he took away the Sodomites out of the Land and removed all the Idols that his Father had made And also Maacha his Mother even her he removed from being Queen because she had made an Idol in a Grove and Asa destroyed her Idol c. 'T is true his reformation was not a through reformation but yet he was a great Reformer and so was his Son and Successor Jehosaphat 1 Kings 22.41 42 43. He walked in all the wayes of Asa his Father he turned not aside from it doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord c. Such a one was Hezekiah he did not content himself with the Reformation of his Predecessors but he carried it on to a higher degree of perfection He did not only break the Images but he also removed the High places as you may see 2 Kings 18.3 4. And so we finde that Solomon's accession to the Throne made much for the advantage of Religion and the Professors of it For immediately upon his coming to it he built the Temple and did very much beautifie and adorn the Worship and Service of God Now the Use and Application of this point is two-fold and 1. Vse 1 The first is a Use of Reproof for such amongst us if any such there be who do not rejoice but grieve at the accession of our Sovereign Lord King CHARLES the second to Rule and Government If I thought there were any such present I would enlarge upon this Use but I hope better things of you all and therefore I forbear lest I should this day sadden the heart of any who will otherwise rejoyce 2. Vse 2 I shall therefore come to the second Use a Use of Exhortation to exhort and stir you up to the observation of the solemnity of this day with all possible joy and cordial rejoycing And I beseech you let us all this day rejoice with exceeding great joy and rejoycing Now to quicken and raise your hearts to a rejoicing suitable to the solemnity of this day consider you have as good cause of rejoicing at the Solemnity of this day as they had who were present at the Proclamation and Inauguration of Solomon Seeing the Prince whose Proclamation-Solemnities you are this day to observe may be in some measure and that without flattery compar'd with Solomon at whose Proclamation this people so greatly rejoyced For as Solomon was so he is 1. A lawfull and 2. A hopefull Prince I say he is 1. A Legitimate and a lawful Prince He is not a spurious Mushrume self-created Prince but a Prince by lineal succession and inherent birth-right being lineally descended by the Father of glorious memory from James of blessed memory the 6. of Scotland but the first of Great Britain France and Ireland and by the Mother from that great and worthy Heroe of his age Henry the 4. of France So that our King is on both sides the Son of Nobles And when it is so Solomon tels you the Land is blessed Eccles 10.17 And as he is a Noble so he is a lawful Prince too The clearness of his Title is such that to argue the lawfulnesse of it would but darken and eclipse it You may as well question the shining of the Sun at noon as the lawfulnesse of his Title 2. He is as a lawful so a hopeful Prince A Prince by whose accession to rule and government we are 1. At present freed from our feares and dangers of being haressed by the attempts of every aspiring ambitious Adonijah to make himselfe King We need not now to feare the aspiring ambition either of a Cromwell or a Lambert Nor need we now feare of being kept in bondage and slavery by an inconsiderable part of a Parliament or a Phanatick Committee of safety under the notion of a free State or Commonwealth 2. We have grounds of hope that his accession to Rule and Government will be a meanes in time to free us 1. From our unsupportable burdens of Excise and monthly Taxes 2. From our soul-destroying and damning universall tolleration 3. We have ground to hope that his accession to actuall rule and government will be a meanes of much good both to our selves and the whole Nation There is now hopes 1. That we shall enjoy a setled Government our antient Government of King Lords and Commons the best forme of Government that the wisedome of man could ever yet contrive to prevent Tyranny on the one hand and Annarchy and Confusion on the other 2. That we may recover and enjoy a firme and lasting peace Not onely a peace within our selves but a peace with the Nations which are round about us Such a peace as Israel enjoyed all the days of Solomon who had peace on all sides round about him so that Israel and Judah dwelt safely every man under his vine and under his fig-tree from Dan even to Beersheba As you may see 1 King 4.24 25. 3. That we may again enjoy an equall distribution of law and Justice We need not now to fear of being outlawed for refusing to perjure our selves by subscribing an Engagement or taking an Oath of abjuration contrary to our former Oaths of allegiance and supremacy or solemn league and covenant 4. That we may againe enjoy freedome of Trade both at home and abroad and thereby recover our exhausted and of late mis-spent treasure If any thing in the world be a meanes to revive Trade in the Nation his Majesty's accession to Government will be the meanes to doe it 5. That we may recover our wonted honour and renowne in forreign parts and Countries England hath been as renowned a Nation as any in the world both for Courage Policy and Pyety But the strange actings of some men in our late revolutions and changes hath made us the contempt scorn and hatred of the whole world It hath made most men believe that we have lost both our piety policy and courage too But now by the Restitution of his Majesty it will appear to all the world that there are some men both of piety policy and courage left among us so that by this meanes
we may recover our honour againe 6. That we may now enjoy the liberty of our persons We need not now to feare of being imprisoned for meer pretended crimes and imaginary plots and designs against the State There 's hopes now that no mans person shall be attached or imprisoned but in a legall way 7. Lastly Which is more then all There is now hopes that we may see a through reformation of things amisse in our religion and from henceforth enjoy the Gospel Gospel-worship and ordinances in their full power and purity and so in due time through the blessing of God see an end of all our seperations and Church divisions And all this we may hope for upon the accession of the Kings Majesty to actuall Rule and Government if we consider 1. The various even miraculous providences of God towards him 2. If we consider his Majesty in respect of his personall qualifications for rule and Government I begin with the first 1. The providence of God in afflicting of him in suffering him to be Exiled out of his native Countrey and Dominions to be persecuted and enforced to fly from one Countrey to another by the Tyranny of his Enemies at home by the falshood and treachery of pretended friends abroad The providence of God in this kind I know hath been made use of as an Argument that God had no delight or pleasure in him But Brethren for my part I cannot but look upon it as an Argument that God hath designed him to be an Instrument of much good to us And I cannot but think that Gods design in afflicting of him was to humble and to fit him for Rule and Government And indeed God usually takes this course with such as he hath designed to be Instruments of much good to his Church and People This very course he took with Joseph Gen. 37.27 c. with Moses Exod. 2.15 with David He suffered him by the Tyranny of Saul to be driven out from the Inheritance of the Lord 1 Sam. 26.19 Thus God dealt with them to fit them for Rule and Government and we have reason to think that God took this course with His Majesty to the same end And no doubt he is the better fitted for Rule and Government by his Sufferings It is not imaginable that one who hath so long groaned under tyranny should become a Tyrant that one who hath so long felt the smart of injustice should be unjust to others 2. Again there is hopes of all this good by his accession to Rule and Government if you consider the wonderfull providence of God over him in the preservation of his person and in delivering him out of the hands of all his Enemies His dangers have been great and his deliverances have been eminent both at Worcester and elsewhere In this respect God hath wrought well-nigh as wonderfully for him as he did for Moses Joseph or David And this to me is another Argument that God hath designed him to be an Instrument of much good to these Nations and to his Church and people in them And that there is hope will further appear if you consider 3. The wonderful providence of God in making way for his Restitution to Rule and Government And in this respect the providence of God hath been wonderful even to astonishment 1. In plucking down Richard by his nearest Relations and the same hands that set him up by which means they opened an effeectual door for their own ruine and for His Majesties peaceable Restitution 2. In blasting and infatuating the Counsels of his implacable enemies of every kinde so as to cause them to dash one against another and to throw themselves down by their own hands 3. In stirring up the Spirit of the deservedly Renowned General MONCK with his faithfull Army to disown and declare against the Councel of Turkish-Christian-Janisaries and their Committee of Safety Both which by the special providence of God he quickly scattered as dust before the wind First by sitting still and afterwards by a peaceable and prudent march to London 4. In raising a spirit of courage in the generality of the people throughout this Nation to declare for the admission of the secluded Members and the calling of a free Parliament both which with the blessing of God upon the General 's prudent management of affairs we have seen effected 5. In putting it into the hearts of this present Parliament acording to their duty and allegiance to restore his sacred Majesty in turning about the hearts of all the Commanders both by sea and land to receive his most Royal Majesty againe into his Dominions In all which the wonderfull power and providence of God hath signally apeared So that we may say of our Sovereigne's Restitution what David said of our Saviors Exaltation Psal 118.22 23. The stone which the Builders refused is become the head stone of the corner This is the Lord 's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes And upon this ground we have reason to hope for much approaching good to these Nations by the accession of his most excellent Majesty to the exercise of Rule and Government 2. If you consider him in himself I mean his most excellent Majesty without the least respect to these signall and in a manner miraculous providences of God towards him you shall find him in all respects a very hopeful Prince every way as hopefull as any that hath hitherto swayed the imperiall Scepter of these Dominions And this you shall finde evidently to appeare if you please to lay aside all prejudice and look upon him with a judicious and impartial eye indeed if you look upon him under that shape and representation wherein our late Vsurpers have from time to time exposed him to publick view you cannot but thinke him the unfittest person in the world to wear the Imperial Crowne of these Realmes But I hope you have attained to more grace and wisdom than to believe what his persecuting enemies by Jesuitical example and inspiration have reported of him who have done by him as the Papists of old did by John Husse They have as it were cloathed him in a coat of painted Devils nay have represented him in the shape of an incarnate Devil thereby to make him odious to his subjects if it could have been to have rendred his restitution to his just rights impossible But blessed be the Lord who hath cursed this devilish policy and hath restored him to his Right And now that you may know him to be a hopefull Prince I shall at present give you a true but short representation of him And this I shall doe not to curry favour but to satisfie your doubts and quiet your feares concerning his Majesty whose excellent endowments I am fully perswaded doe far transcend what my tongue or pen can express of him So that when I have said all I would have you to conceive him to be far more eminent than I can represent him unto you However
stile themselves The Royal party Doubtless he wanted not some who like Rehoboams young and heady Councellors gave him advice to take this course And it must be confess'd that some attempts have been made to this end but having found by constant experience that all endeavors this way have proved abortive and unsuccessfull by reason of the indiscretion of some and the treachery of others he hath at last rejected all Councels tending to force and violence and wisely resolved upon a contrary course And this in a juncture of time when he had the greatest hopes of assistance not only from Allies and Friends abroad but also from his most loyal and dutiful Subjects at home wherein he hath exactly troden in the steps of his truly Heroick and prudent Grandfather Henry the 4. King of France and Navarre who after he had fought many Battels and obtained as many signal Victories chose to obtain the possession of his Crown of France by treaty and capitulation rather than to endeavour the recovery of it by making use of further force and violence And in this respect also he hath shewed himself to be every way as wise as Rehoboam by his contrary practice discovered himself to be weak and foolish 3. By casting himself upon his Parliament in order to his own and the settlement of his Dominions By which Act he hath in a manner told them that he is willing to be or doe what his best and wisest Subjects shall thinke best and most honorable for him in order to the settlement of his Dominions in safety peace honor and by this also he hath shewed himselfe a truely wise and prudent Prince for by this means he hath and will engage the hearts of his conscientious Subjects to become his servants for ever As Rehoboam would certainely have done had he put in execution the Counsell of the old experienced men 1 Kings 12.7 Constant experience sheweth us that Princes gaine more by complying than they do by contesting with their Subjects That by gratifying them in smaller they win upon them in greater matters this Solomons old experienced Counsellors did very well understand and therefore advised Rehoboam to comply with his Subjects and to abate something of the rigour of his fathers Government And this also was well understood by Queen Elizabeth the wonder both of her age and sex for masculine wisdome and valour who by gratifying her Subjects just demands in Parliament became in a manner the sole and absolute Mistris both of her Subjects hearts hands and purses And this was it which made her so formidable to her Enemies and so great a comfort and support to her Allies and freinds Let no man therefore thinke our Prince imprudent in casting himselfe upon his Parliament for termes of settlement it being the most prudential course in the world to make him both a great and happy Prince 4. He hath shewed himselfe a wise and prudent Prince in resolving upon the reformation and settlement of the Church by consent of Parliament according to the advice of a select Assembly of pious and learned Divines Which indeed is the most proper and most prudentiall meanes in the world to discover and reforme those damnable Heresies and to make up those Church-destroying divisions that are crept in amongst us Who are more likely to discover the minde of God and to finde out wayes and meanes of reconciling differences and divisions amongst Brethren than godly and learned Divines whose whole work and business it is to study the minde and will of God Besides this is that means that God himself hath appointed for the curing of these evils as Acts 15. doth appear where we finde the Apostles and Elders did assemble themselves in a Synod to this very end Now by all this it appears that our Prince is a wise and prudent and so by consequence a hopeful Prince 5. If your view him well with an impartial eye you shal finde him to be an exceeding Patient and long-fuffering Prince a vertue so necessary that without it a Prince cannot mannage the affairs of his Kingdome And in this Princely vertue also he far outshines if not all yet the most of his Predecessors his most Royal Father only excepted And no wonder seeing he hath been from his Youth accustomed to the yoke and inured to affliction Now his eminency in this Princely vertue doth evidently appear 1. In bearing his great and extraordinary afflictions and the persecutions of his enemies and unkindnesses of his pretended friends in foreign parts 1. Without murmurring 2. Without fainting In respect of murmuring for any thing I have heard he was like David dumh and opened not his mouth because he knew his suffering was the Lords doing Psal 39.9 And he was so far from fainting under them that he rather gathered strength and courage by being accustomed to the bearing of them 2. This princely vertue appears eminently in him by his waiting upon God in his greatest straits with hope and confidence of his goodness and mercy to bring about his Restitution to Rule and Government in his own way and time In which respect it seems he had taken up the Churches resolution Mic. 7.9 10. I will beare the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him untill he plead my cause and execute judgement for me he will bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his righteousness 3. This princely vertue shines forth apparently in him by his declining the use of unlawful means and by his resolution in a way of dependence upon God to persist in the use of all lawfull meanes to recover his right Had he been impatient he would have cast off the use of all meanes like that impious and impatient King we read of 2 King 6.33 Behold this evil is of the Lord what should I wait for the Lord any longer Or else he would have turn'd aside to the use of sinful unlawful means had he not been a patient Prince he would have been in danger of changing his religion in hopes to gain his earthly Crowns though by so doing he had lost an Eternal Crown 4. That he is a long suffering Prince appeareth also 1. In that he hath not been provoked and moved to Acts of revenge by all those wrongs and injuries that have been done him If reports be true when some of those English Souldiers that were in direct opposition against him were taken by the Spaniard and put into his hand to be disposed of as he thought good instead of revenging himselfe upon them he fed and cloathed them 2. In that he still retaines his princely and paternall affections to his Subjects notwithstanding all the provocations wherewith he hath been provoked 4. If againe you look upon him with an unprejudiced eye you shall finde him to be a very sober and moderate Prince And that 1. In his passions 2. In his affections The moderation of his passions appears by his endeavors to allay and