and right Worship defacing Idolatry and of worthy Joshua who lived before them it is said Josh 24.31 That all the dayes of Joshua the people served the Lord. Now in all these respects it is that a good King is compared to the Light whose rising makes a day unto a people whose setting and obscuring makes their night as the Ancients expound that 24. verse of the 118 Psalm that was sung at the inauguration of David This is the day which the Lord hath made we will be glad and rejoyce in it It is called a day because of the Occurrents of the time that David had risen upon them like a Sun to make a lightsom day The 104. Psalm tels you what difference there is betwixt the day and the night The night is the time when the savage beasts range abroad Wolves Lions and Serpents creep out from their dens and holes But when the day appears these beasts retire to their caves and man goeth forth to his labour So it is in times of confusion when Government is cast loose all sorts of beastly men filthy as Swine greedy as Wolves cruel as Tygers deceitfull as Crocodiles they come abroad boldly to satisfie their lusts But in time of lawfull Authority when a King is on the Throne these vermine are chased to their holes and dens as is declared at large Psal 101. and honest men come forth appear and lift up their heads Application Thus you have seen the Doctrine Let us apply it to our Case We are assembled this day to blesse God for restoring our Kings Majesty to his Dominions Now if any people ever had cause to rejoyce upon such an occasion we much more Considering the unparallel'd circumstances of this our great mercy I desire you to consider of them in these five 1. What is the blessing restored to us 2. When the circumstance of time 3. How the manner 4. Who for a King is set over us 5. To Whom all this goodnesse is manifested a very undeserving people What. 1. What is the blessing restored to us Even our ancient fundamental Government under which these Kingdoms have enjoyed both the Gospel and Peace under which our progenitors have enjoyed many happy and good dayes by the Royal protection of our Kings It hath unhappily come in debate in these late times of confusion what kind of Government is the best But whoever might have disputed such a case it did no wayes become these Nations to do it Kingly Government being of so old and firm and undubitable possession amongst us In this Nation some hundred years before Christs incarnation it was established And if we go to the Scripture with it sure I am there is none will vye with it the very history of the lives of the Kings of the people of God taking up a great part of the Bible and Kingly Government being such a fair Image of God Almighties Government in the world and Christs Kingdom in the Church that the whole dispensations of providence the whole dispensations of grace in the Gospel are set forth to us under the expressions of King and Kingdom Every other word of the Gospel soundeth forth a King and Kingdom to us And why doth the New Testament in many places where duty to the Magistrate is pressed expresly and particularly mention Kings 1 Pet. 2.13 and v. 17. 1 Tim. 2.2 if not to set the seal and approbation of the holy Ghost upon Kingly Government in special And though it be said in Scripture of Saul that God gave Israel a King in His wrath and took him away in His displeasure Yet this can no manner of wayes rub upon Kingly Government seing it is most clear from these two that Kingly Government was not given them in wrath but in much mercy 1. That in Moses time the Lord had appointed that they should be ruled by Kings Deut. 17. and Moses himself was King in Jesurum 2. That after Saul God gave them a David in great love and we may easily perceive that the times of David and Solomon were the best times that ever Israel saw for Religion Peace and Prosperity they were never so godly never so wealthy and well every way as under them I remember when that prevailing Faction in England made their Act rejecting Kingly Government they put in this as a reason because it had been burdensome and troublesome to the Nations But I appeal to all who have considered whether their little finger hath not been more burdensom than the loyns of an hundred of our Kings And I cannot forget what an English Divine hath truly printed of their Commonwealth That we had saith he never so much common poverty as since we became a Commonwealth When. The second circumstance is the time When God hath restored this blessing to us After a dark night of Confusion a sad Interruption that hath been for many years I told you what the Persians did in policy to make the people esteem more highly of Government being established But God in his wisdom hath so disposed of us that we have seen not only a few dayes confusion but have been under sad distractions for many years that we might learn more highly to prize the blessing of lawfull Government when restored In King James the sixth his time we had a very clear and fair day a day like Joshua's day that continued for a long time In King Charles the first his time we had a fair day for the blessings of Government continued with us till the sins of all ranks coming to a great height our day was turned into a very black night and now in respect of the comfortable blessings of Kingly Government we have had a sad interruption for many years Yea and when after the detestable and execrable Murder committed upon Him We in this Nation expected a dawning of our day by calling home our present Kings Majesty to Scotland and crowning him here Behold it fell out to us as it is Isa 21.12 The morning cometh and the night also Our morning was soon turned into a night of captivity for ten years And as it is with the natural night that it is darkest just before day So before this appearing of light there was the greatest darknesse of confusion and reeling The righteous Lord overturning overturning one thing after another till he should come whose right it was And now that the Lord hath made light to arise after so long so black and dismal confusions How should it make us rejoyce Psal 118.27 God is the Lord who hath shewed us light binde the sacrifice with cords even unto the horus of the Altar How A third Circumstance is How There is a book in Scripture that hath its name ECHAH the book of How 's and there are many dolefull How 's in it the book of the Lamentations How doth the City sit solitary How is the Gold become dim But in this our mercy there are so many joyfull How 's that I cannot reckon all
can drink to him And that you may know what particulars to minde in using these words on this solemn day I shall give you the descant of this short word of prayer in these few particulars 1. In the Original Hebrew as you have heard it is Let the King live Then 1. minde his natural life to pray God that it may be precious in the Lords sight Ezr. 6.10 Darius renewed Cyrus Decree in favour of the Jews with many additional benefits That they might offer sacrifices unto the God of heaven and pray for the life of the King 2. Minde his civil life that he may live in Honour Freedom and Safety that is a main thing in the King's life he is no living King without his Honour Pray for that which God gave to David Psal 21.5 That Honour and Majesty may be laid upon him It is a great mercy from God to Kings when he maintains their esteem in the hearts of their people much of God is seen in this 3. Minde his spiritual life that he may live a most Christian King a sure partaker of the Faith whereof he is a defender David begins the Psalm of prayer for the King to wit Psal 72. with this Give the King thy judgments O God and thy righteousness all that is good all grace is called by the name of righteousness and Gods Laws and Judgments are the Rules of all Righteousnesse And it is a most excellent word to remember at this time when the King hath to do with men of several judgments and wayes and some will be ready to say this is my counsel and judgment and this is mine Now Lord give Thy judgments to the King Thy counsels hold forth these clearly to him 4. Minde his eternal life Good Kings have a two-fold eternall life 1. An eternal life in this world in the long duration of their race and progeny Let us minde this to pray God that we may never want one of the Line to sway the Scepter as long as the world standeth Psal 89.36 37. That his seed may endure for ever and his throne may be as the Sun before God and be established for ever as the Moon and as a faithfull witness in heaven 2. There is a life eternal properly so called Remember this also that our King may be an heir of eternal life in heaven after he hath lived many happy dayes here All Christian Kings since the dayes of Constantine have born a Cross upon the top of their Crowns there is no Poperie in it But to teach them that they must bear the cross of Christ as well as other Christians And if they do so and exalt the cross of Christ above their Crown God will give them a Crown of glory above their cross according to Gods promise James 1.12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tryed he shall receive the crown of life Our King hath born the cross before the Crown and when he hath got the crown there is no crown without a heavie cross But let our Prayer to God for him be That he may so bear the earthly Crown and the crosses of it that he may assuredly possesse the Crown of life Will you a little take the words as we have them translated and as we use them We say God save the King and there is a twofold Saving we should minde 1. One positively when God blesseth prospereth guideth governeth and endueth a King with graces and gifts needfull for his place this is the Lord's Salvation wherein the Kings glory is great Psal 21.5 Let it be our prayer to God then as it is Psal 80.17 Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand that God may make him strong for himself giving to him wisdom courage and zeal to the honour and glory of God justice temperance and every other Royall endument 2. Another Saving privativly to wit when God delivereth from all evills and dangers both bodily and spiritual Minde this also Pray God save the King from conspiracies and treasons from all enemies and false friends David himself a King hath a terrible prayer against the Kings enemies Psal 21.9 10. Make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger That their fruit may be destroyea from the earth and their seed from the children of men Abigail a Subject she hath a notable prayer against the enemies of David 1 Sam. 25.29 Let the soul of my Lord be bound up in the bundle of life with the Lord his God and the souls of thine enemies slung out as out of the midle of a sling But pray that he may be delivered from spiritual evils and dangers much more God save the King from all wickednesse Prov. 16.4 It is abomination to Kings to commit wickednesse above all others for the Throne is established by righteousnesse and God save him from evill counsellers Take away the wicked from the King and his throne shall be established and from lyars and flatterers that are a very Pest in the Courts of Kings Prov. 29.12 If a Ruler hearken to lies all his servants are wicked Pray God to save him from wronging the precious Interests of Christs Kingdom But that be may employ all the interests of his Kingdom in subordination to Christ using for the Lord all the honour and authority he hath received from the Lord. And now for conclusion of all I shall say but this word That same God who hath saved our King hithertils even from the womb who saved him when he was hid in the Oak That gracious God who put his vail about him in his disguise That God who helped him when his nearest relations proved but unkind to him He who provided for him in his wants comforted him in his straits strengthened him in his temptations in France Holland Flanders Germany and Spain Even that gracious God who hath seen and numbred all his Troubles and delivered him continue his Salvation with him for evermore Amen FINIS
the honourable So it is threatned as a sad judgement Hos 3.4 The children of Israel shall abide many dayes without a King and without a Prince A sad condition for a people to be without a King to protect them to maintain their Lawes their Liberties and Priviledges On the contrary by the presence of this blessing all other blessings are insured to a people See Ps 72. where the chearfull face of the State doth speak the comfortable influence of a good King The people are judged with Righteousness the poor with Judgment the mountains bring Peace the little hills Righteousness I cannot stand to reckon all the particular blessed fruits of a good Kings Government But let us consider at this time these five particulars 1. Restraint of vice by the execution of justice is the fruit of lawfull Authority set up How often is that inculcat in the Book of Judges Chap. 17.6.18.1.19.1.21.25 In these dayes there was no King in Israel and every man did that which was right in his own eyes When there was no King to rule Idolatrie waxed common without any punishment whoredom and uncleanness without controlment murder and oppression practised without any check a lamentable disorder and confusion It is reported of the Persians that it was their custom upon the death of their King to let the people be without all Lawes and Government for some dayes to dismiss malefactors and permit a time of licentious liberty That so they seeing the mischief and inconvenience of being without their King they might the more willingly submit themselves to his successor But now when a good King is set up he is a terrour to evill doers Rom. 13. And it hath been truly said if some men were not gods among men most men would be beasts yea devils among men in all kind of wickedness 2. The second happy fruit of a good Kings Government is Protection to the innocent the poor and the weak This goeth along with the former What is among a people destitute of lawfull Authority but as Habakkukâ— speaketh Chap. 1.14 Men are as the fishes of the sea as the creeping things that have no Ruler over them The greater fish eat up the lesser the rich and wealthie oppresse the poor the great ones in whose hand is power bear down the weak and mean ones But now when the good King is set up the poor have a father and a defender the Jawes of the wicked are broken the spoil pluckt from his teeth Job 29.16 17. There is a covering against the heat a hiding place from the wind a refuge from the tempest rivers of waters in a dry land and the shaddow of a rock in a weary land In his dayes the righteous flourish for he delivereth the needy when he cryeth the poor and him that hath no helper He redeemeth their soul from deceit and violence and precious is their bloud in his sight Hence are Princes called the Shields of the earth Psal 47.9 for the safety and defence of the innocent and the fence they afford to our liberty and propertie if none will be subject none can be free if men owne not lawfull Government they shall not call any thing they have their own 3. A third happy fruit of a good Kings Government is peace and quietness Acts. 24 2. the Orator Tertullus began his Speech to Felix with this Seing by thee we enjoy great quietness and that very worthy deeds are done unto this Nation by thy providence We accept it alwayes with all thankfulness most noble Felix Yet Felix was none of the best Governors a man far better than Tertullus inspired by the Spirit of God the Apostle Paul exhorteth to pray for Kings and all in Authority upon this account that we might live in peace and godliness under them Two wayes is a good King the procurer of Peace 1. By being a bulwark against Invasions from without keeping that there be no crying out in our streets no breaking in Psal 144.14 All the dayes of Solomon Judah and Israel dwelt confidently every man under his own Vine-tree from Dan even to Beersheba 1 King 4.25 2. By being the cement to unite scattered societies within and the healer of breaches and dissentions Zecha 10.4 Out of Judah came the corner and the nail The good King is not only the corner-stone for foundation for a people to rest on and the top-stone for ornament but the corner that joyns the sidewalls together he is not only the nail for hanging all vessels great and small upon him but the nail for joyning the beams and rafters of the house and building 4. A fourth happy fruit of a good Kings Government is Plenty That this followeth upon the former we cannot but understand for when all things run in a right channell the lawes of the land are in force under lawfull Authority people enjoying their liberties lives possessions and houses in peace Then Industrie Learning Arts Trade Traffick are encouraged and advanced and a people prosper even in externall things 2 Chron. 9.27 You read that Solomon brought in such wealth into Judea by his good Government his advancing Trade and Traffick by sea and land that silver was nothing accounted of through the abundance of it Yea God Almighty also from above seconds the blessing of righteous Government with the dew of heaven and the sat of the earth Psal 72.16 There shall be a handfull of corn upon the top of the mountains the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon a litle shall yeeld a plentifull increase and left it should be said this is for the villages and country it is added They of the City shall flourish like grasse of the earth they shall be green and grow in prosperity and wealth 5. A fifth happy fruit of a good Kings Government and which is the chief of all is the comfortable use of the Gospel and the liberty of the Ordinances of Jesus Christ holy freedom of conscience which is the very marrow of our bones and life of our lives when now the Church hath a nursing father Isa 49.23 and the good King becomes under God a defence upon all the glory according to the title of our Kings A Defender of the Faith of the Gospel Many Heathen people have enjoyed happy dayes for Protection Plenty and Prosperity under their heathen Kings as the Romans under their Augustus Trajan Adrian Titus But when the King is a member of the Church and is one of Christ's Kings who holds his Crown in subordination to the King of Saints Then beside all outward blessings to the State there is a far greater enjoyed The Gospel hath free passage the Ordinances of Christ are maintained in purity Error and Heresie Idolatry false Worship Atheism and Irreligion are banished for the Christian King is as Constantine to the Church Episcopus extra Ecclesiam a watchman and overseer to her We all read what good offices David Hezekiah and Josiah did unto the Church advancing true Religion