David mourns for cutting off the skirt and abhorreth cutting off the Head of Saul From whence note That Injuries received by Subjects from their Soveraign Observ are not to be accounted a sufficient Charter to absolve and discharge them from their Allegiance nor a sufficient Patent to authorize and commissionate them to exercise revenge rebellion and violence against him but ought to be swallowed down and passed by with a meek and patient spirit Or thus Subjects oppressed by their King by reason of his false and groundless suspitions concerning them ought to be the more solicitous to clear up their innocency and vindicate their Loyalty 1. David deserved as well of his King and Countrey as ever any Roman Generals riding in triumph through the streets of Rome with Captives bound to their Chariot wheels did of theirs 2. He received not only an inadequate and insufficient reward but no reward yea he was not only non-rewarded but evilly intreated Saul sought after his Life 3. Yet his carriage is so meek and Heroical that it scarce admits of an Hyperbole or Parallel For never was a Subjects Integrity more groundlesly suspected his Morits more unsutably rewarded his Injuries more wrongfully received and yet his behaviour more gallantly Loyal than Davids He revenged the Injures received from Saul by studying to approve himself innocent by redoubled courage against the Philistines As Paul saith where sin did abound Grace did much more abound so Davids Loyalty did exceed Sauls tyranny Saul would have smote David to the wall with a Javelin though he could not but David though he could have smote Saul to the Cave with a Sword yet would not As the Oak is more strongly rooted by the winds and the fire burneth most fiercely in winter by reason of the Antiperistasis of cold so Davids undeserved Persecution was rather like Oyl to increase than water to extinguish that Loyal Fire that was in his breast Davids design in cutting off Sauls skirt was no other than as Goliahs sword was laid up behind the Ephod to be a Monument of Davids victory over him to obtain a Trophy and Monument of his Loyalty 1 Sam. 24.9 10. Wherefore hearest thou mens words saying behold David seeketh thy hurt Behold this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee into my hands in the Cave and I said I will not stretch forth my hand against my Lord for he is the Lords Anointed Moreover he said yea see the skirt of thy Robe in my hand For in that I cut off the skirt of thy Robe and did not kill thee know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hands and I have not sinned against thee yet thou huntest my soul to take it If you consider Davids consequent contrition of spirit for but the shadow of disloyalty in smiting Sauls garment and his vehement antipathy against destroying his Life it will appear that God hath stamped such inviolable authority on all Kings as well the evil as the good that they are exempted from the Lashes of their Subjects and the Offices of both to be had in equal respect though the vertues of the one sort be to be preferred before the vices of the other 1. Protection is not the ground of Subjection That speech salus populi suprema lex doth not detract from the Supremacy of Kings nor justifie the contumacy of Subjects but the genuine sense thereof is this that the safety of the people should be the scope of Legislators whose Laws should conduce thereunto 2. A Simili If a Master exercise too much rigour toward his Servants shall they therefore cast off the yoke of Subjection The Apostle Peter exhortech otherwise Be subject to your Masters 1 Pet. 2.18 not only to the good and to the gentle but to the froward If a Father provoke his children to wrath and give them immoderate and undeserved Correction shall they therefore break the Bond of Filial Subjection disown his Paternal Jurisdiction and Absalom-like rise up in Rebellion against him God forbid In like manner a Political Fathers violation of his trust is no ground for Subjects violation of their duty 3. There is a general good attained by the Government of the worst Princes which doth over-ballance all their Personal Failings Zedekiah an evil King is called by Jeremiah the Breath of the Israelites Nostrils Lam. 4.20 Without Government men would be like wild beasts in the wilderness and like Fishes in the Sea the stronger devouring the weaker Praestat sub male Principe esse quam sub nullo Corn. Tac. Lib. 1. Hist Wherefore to endeavour the redress of Irregularities and male-administrations of Government by dismounting or destroying the Governour is a Remedy worse then the Disease it is to cure a distemper in the Head by cutting it off 4. The Providence of God is often judicially exercised in setting evil Kings over a Nation as a punishment of the sins thereof Isa 3.4 Compared with Ec. 10.16 Hos 13.11 God threatneth wo to a Land by giving Children to be their Princes and Babes to rule over them i. e. Foolish and Froward Governours I gave them a King in mine anger These words do not argue Gods displeasure against Monarchy for he gave Israel David and Solomon and other Kings not in Anger but in Love and Mercy 1 Kin. 10.9 Because the Lord loved Israel therefore made he thee King saith the Queen of Sheba to Solomon But the scope of them is to shew that for the sins of the Israelites the Lord set over them Saul a fierce man that handled them in such a rigorous manner as is expressed in 1 Sam. 8.10 to 18. Persons groaning under Oppression and revenging themselves on their Rulers and not looking to the Judicial Providence of God are like Dogs that snarle at the stone but look not to the hand that threw it 5. God hath reserved Kings for his own Tribunal and not exposed them to the tumultuous rage of the Common people Against thee Ps 51.4 and thee only have I sinned and done evil in thy sight David had sinned against Uriah by depriving him of his wife and life but because he was above the jurisdiction of his Subjects and his offence came under the Cognizance of God alone therefore he saith against thee only have I sinned The Lord shall smite him 1 Sa. 24.12 or his day shall come mine hand shall not be upon him 6. The unanimous Suffrage of Holy Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Primitive Christians and of Jesus Christ himself may be produced against Subjects Rebellion against their King under pretence of Tyranny Abraham prayeth for Abimelech King of Gerar. Jacob blesseth Pharaoh King of Aegypt Gen. 20.17 notwithstanding they were both Heathens Jeremiah and Daniel assert the Authority of Nebuchadnezzar an Idolater a Tyrant and a destroyer and depopulator of Countries Thou Dan. 2.37 O King art a King of Kings for the God of Heaven
hath given thee a Kingdom Those Nations that will not serve Jer. 27.6 8 9. and put their necks under the yoke of the King of Babylon shall be punished with the Sword and with Famine and with Pestilence until they be consumed Therefore hearken not to your Diviners nor to your Dreamers nor to your Enchanters nor to your Sorcerers which say unto you ye shall not serve the King of Babylon The holy Apostles Peter and Paul command Subjection to heathen Emperors Rom. 13.1 2 3. 1 Pet. 2.13 17. For it was about 300 years after Christ and consequently a long time after the death of the Apostles before any Magistrates became Christians The Primitive Christians were wont to pray for Pagan Princes Exoptantes ipsis vitam prolixam imperium securum domum tutam exercitus fortes Senatum fidelem populum probum orbem quietum Tertul. Apologet. Cap. 30. Eminent was the example of Mephibosheths Loyal deportment toward David notwithstanding he 〈◊〉 unjustly sequestred half his estate The King said 2 Sam. 19.29 30. why speakest thou any more of thy matters I have said thou and Ziba divide the Land And Mephibosheth saith yea let him take all forasmuch as my Lord the King is come again to his House in peace Our Saviour Jesus Christ commandeth the payment of Tribute unto Caesar Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars Mat. 22.21 And acknowledgeth that Pilate an unjust Judge had his Commission from Heaven Thou couldest have no power against me John 19.11 unless it were given thee of God The barbarous Jews themselves who crucified the Lord of Life being asked by Pilate whether they would have their King to be crucified answered we have no King but Caesar intimating that if they had believed that Christ was their King no violence should have been offered unto him Rehoboam threatned Tyranny unto Israel saying my little finger shall be thicker than my Fathers Loyns my Father chastised you with whips but I will chastise you with Scorpions yet the Revolt of the ten Tribes from him is called Rebellion 2 Chron. 13.4 5 7. and the Promoters thereof Sons of Belial Ahab and Jezebel were as great Oppressors and as bloody Persecutors of the Prophets as ever held Scepter yet God threatneth to punish Jehn for destroying them and their Posterity Hos 1.4 I will avenge the bloud of Jezreel on the House of Jehu and will cause the Kingdom to cease from the House of Israel Though the defection of the ten Tribes from the House of David was the punishment of Solomons Idolatry and the destruction of Ahab and Iezebel 1 Kin. 11.11 the Judgment of God on them for their Cruelty to Naboth Yet this did no more excuse the Treason of the ten Tribes and Jehu 1 Kings 21.19 21. who out of rebellions minds executed these Judgments than Gods predetermination of the death of Christ did justifie Judas betraying him or the Jews crucifying him So then we conclude that in case of private and personal or publick and National Injuries received from a King Subjects ought to lay aside all Malice Guile Envy Evil Speakings 1 Pet. 2.1 and all weapons of War and Instruments of death Jesus saith to one of his Disciples resisting the Officers of the Chief Priests and Elders of the Jews that were sent to apprehend him Put up thy sword into its place for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword Mat. 26.52 Preces Lachrima were the only Arms that the Primitive Christians used when they were oppressed and persecuted Humiliation Refâ—â—â—â—ion and Supplication unto God who judgeth among the gods and in whose hands are the hearts of Kings Prov. 21.1 who turneth them as Rivers of water are better Expedients for the removal of Pressures from a Nation than Rebellion Samuel having in the precedent verses foretold to the Israelites the rigorous carriage of their King towards them 1 Sam. 8.18 he saith ye shall cry out in that day because of your King but the Lord will not hear you he doth not say ye shall rise up and depose your King but ye shall cry unto the Lord for Relief A provoked Prince ought to be pacified by Submission not irritated by Revenge which is not lawful against a Private Person much less against the Head of a Nation For a Subject lying under groundless suspitions to infer from thence that it is better to be suspected for somthing than nothing is the Devils Logick and to exercise Rebellion correspondent to such a Principle is a diabolical Fact Mens submissive deportment and sedulous endeavours to remove even the causless Jealousies of their Prince is the most probable means to stir up the Embers of Ingenuity in his heart A Flint will break upon a Featherbed No heart can be so Adamantine as to withstand the force of an Argument drawn from doing good for evil This like a Sun-beam melted the spirit of Saul himself Saul said is this thy voice my Son David and he lift up his voice and wept 1 Sam. 24.16 17 18 19. And said to David thou art more righteous than I for thou hast rewarded me good whereas I have rewarded thee evil and thou hast shewed this day that thou hast dealt well with me forasmuch as when the Lord delivered me into thy hands thou killedst me not For if a man find his enemy will he let him go free 1 Sa. 26.21 Again I have sinned return my Son David for I will no more do thee harm because my soul was precious in thine eyes Behold I have played the fool and erred exceedingly Herein the words of Solomon are verified By long for bearing a Prince is best perswaded Prov. 25.15 But a revengeful retaliation of Injuries will exasperate the Spirits of Princes who being Cedars in Lebanon will disdain to receive affronts from Thistles in Lebanon Wherefore that Admonition in Eccles 10.4 is not only most pious and Christian but also most prudential If the spirit of a Ruler rise up against thee leave not thy place i. e. flee not away in rage and passion for yielding pacifieth great offences Now this Prerogative of Princes to wit their exemption from the violence of their Subjects should be a golden Bridle to restrain them from all actions exorbitant and excentrical from Justice and equity and a golden spur to quicken them to such Heroical actions for the publick good that may argue them to be of Noble and Prince-like spirits as well as of Noble and Princely Blood and Dignity But blessed be the Lord who hath set over England not a Scratching Bramble but a Royal Olive whose Fatness and Sweetness doth rejoyce and exhilerate our hearts A Prince that is as it was said of Titus the Roman Emperor Deliciae generis humani the delight of mankind in whom Clemency Wisdom and all other Royal endowments and Princely vertues are concentricated Upon this account I had almost
should come that some should think they did God good service in killing them Paul during his Pharisaism persecuted the Church of God out of zeal Men may give their bodies to be burned and yet die not as Martyrs but as malefactors An Heretick may seal his heresy with his Blood as Servetus at Geneva I Doubt not but many Mahumetans would Dy rather then renounce their religion The glory of Martyrdom requires a just and righteous cause to be suffered for as well as a good intent in them that suffer Martial law excuseth not a Captain exceeding his commission notwithstanding he did it out of a good intention and with good successe Subjects should not be injurious to their Prince either for the sake of Religion or civill Liberty Davids intention smiting Sauls Skirt was Honourable yet the Act it self is Condemned by himself I come now to the Second part of the Text. Davids Loyal detestation of cutting off the Royall head of the Lords Anointed manifested in his excellent Oration Part. II. 1. The Occasion whereof first presents it self to our consideration which was two-fold First the fit Opportunity Secondly The great Importunity he had to slay Saul from whence note these two fundamentall principles of loyalty 1. That the fittest opportunity wherein to offer violence to a Prince is to be rejected 2. That the greatest importunity thereunto is to be resisted First Obs 1. That the fittest opportunity wherein to offer violence to a King is to be rejected Opportunity is the Touchstone of Loyalty David might have effected the death of Saul with the greatest certainty and with the greatest security 1. 1 Sam. 24.4 With the greatest certainty David and his men had so incompassed Saul in the Cave that his men cryed out unto him behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand that thou mayest do to him as shall seem good unto thee Saul being asleep in the Trench Abishai said unto David 1 Sam. 26.8 let me smite him I pray thee with the spear even to the Earth at once and I will not smite him the second time David finding Saul in the Cave might have smote off his Head as well as the Skirt of his Robe and turned the Cave into his Grave And finding him asleep in the Trench he might have took away instead of the Cruise of water from his Bolster so much blood from his Heart and made it his last sleep courting him with that Complement wherewith a Captain once courted his Souldier whom he found asleep on the watch when he thrust his Sword into his bowels saying Dead I found thee and dead I leave thee But this was the Crown and Glory of Davids loyalty that he was Opportunity-proof As the Salamander remaineth unscorched in the Fire and as a man in a Pest-house escapeth the infection of the Plague so David preserves his loyal breast untainted with these temptations instead of improving opportunityes for the acting of murther he converts them into Trophyes of his fidelity had David abstained from an attempt on Sauls life only while the Successe was Dubious it would have been an argument of his Policy But to forbear it when he had such an opportune season at one blow to make this Royal Lyon that was so rampant not only couchant but also a Dead Carkasse was a Monument of his Loyalty 2. With the greatest security Had David been the Object of the Peoples Envy a desire of self-preservation was enough to restrain him from the Murder of Saul lest the Noise of such a Fact should have given an Alarm to the People to rise up as one man to avenge the bloud of their King and like Lions robbed of their Whelps to tear him into pieces as a destroyer of their Countrey But David was so far from the danger of being exposed to the rage and fury of the Israelites that he was even their Idol Insomuch that Saul being slain he might have expected their Acclamations rather than Exclamations their Congratulations for his Safety rather than their condoling of Sauls death Peruse the History and it will appear what great interest he had in the Affections and what great applause from the mouths of the Children of Israel 1 Sam. 18.5 He behaved himself so wisely that he was accepted of all the people and of Sauls Servants And v. 6 7. VVith Tabrets and with Harps they sang Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten thousands How willingly did the men of Judah anoint him King after Sauls death 2 Sam. 3.4 Deservedly was David thus esteemed of his Countrey-men For never did any gallant Romans not Regulus or Cato themselves merit better of their Countrey than David of his Now how different was Loyal David from the mind of his Son Absalom The Son by fair Speeches and courteous behaviour stole away the hearts of the Israelites and then employed them in rebellion 2 Sam. 15.2 to 7. But the Father not only abstained from all subtil Insinuations and horrid Calumniations of Sauls Person and Government but when his Deserts like the Sun drew all eyes and affections unto him yet disdained to pervert his popular interest and favour to any rebellious Design This Self-denial condemneth our English Absaloms who by Machivilian dissimulation and slandering the Footsteps of the Lords Anointed sought to render his Person odious and his Restauration impossible themselves amiable and their Usurped Power impregnable Likewise it admonisheth all Persons of Renown and Interest in their Countrey to employ themselves in extinguishing rather than fomenting that Turbulency which is a Chronical disease in the Vulgar Now Davids abhorrence of Revenge when he might so certainly and so securely have dispatched his Enemy sets such an Emphasis on his Loyalty 1 Sam. 24.17 18 19. that it struck Saul himself into an admiration and adoration of it It is nothing for a Beggar who hath not sufficient for necessity to abstain from supersluity but to fit at a Rulers Table swimming with all manner of Dainties and to put a Knife to the throat to be temperate with Timothy among luxurious Asians enhaunceth the worth of Tempetance As it was the Glory of Joseph that he rejected a fair opportunity and great importunity to commit adultery Gen. 39.7 8 9. As it was the Honour of Joseph afterward in Pharoah's Court of Obadiah in Ahabs of Daniel in Nebuchadnezzars of Nehemiah when Cup-bearer to Artaxerxes of Lot in Sodom and of the Saints in Nero's House a monster of men Phil. 4.22 that they retained their Piety notwithstanding the manifold Temptations and opportunities unto sin wherewith they were assaulted so like a Diamond in a Ring it sets a great price on Davids Loyalty that at the Cave he did not violate it Not to seek an opportunity for revenge is honourable but to reject it when offered is double honour Many are not disloyal because they cannot rather then because they would not As Tully saith
Princes to the Church in protecting the Ministry from the fury of grossely prophane and giddy Fanatick people to whom it is an eye-sore in supplying the Church with maintenance in order to the carrying on the Worship of God in providing Universities and Colledges to be Seminaries of Learning in backing the Laws of God with their secular Authority doth lay strong Obligations on Ministers to make their Churches Schools as of Piety toward God so of Loyalty toward their King What horrid ingratitude would Ministers be guilty of by proving fire-brands of Sedition Trumpeters of Rebellion and by making their Sermons an Alarm unto war It would be to rip up the bowels of their Nursing Fathers and to cut off the Breasts of their Nursing Mothers Furthermore as Simeon and Levi made the Name of their Father Jacob to stink Gen. 34.30 Num. 13.32 by their perfidious Murder of the Shechemites as the Spies brought an evil report on the Land of Canaan and as Judas delivered his Master unto the Scoffes of his enemies so disloyalty in Ecclesiastical persons scandalizeth Religion The sins of Elies Sons caused the Sacrifices of the Lord to be abhorred 1 Sam. 2.17 The Prophet Davids Adultery with Bathsheba and Murder of Uriah Rom. 2.17 to 25. gave great occasion to the enemies of God to blaspheme For Ministers to prostitute their Sacred Function unto Ambition and Rebellion is a great provocation unto Magistrates to root them out of their Kingdoms yea to put them to death as Saul did Ahimelech and the Priests of the Lord of whom he slew fourscore and five persons upon Doegs false and malicious information that they conspired with David 1 Sa. 22.18 Let Sermons be Exclamations against sins not against Kings against the Prince of the power of the Air not against the Princes of the earth The Lord teach the Clergy of England not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they may neither procure the accusation of disloyalty to themselves nor derive any scandal unto Religion Let no man be lifted up with pride by reason of the dignity of his Office Judas cast Devils out of others Luke 22.3 but could not keep the Devil out of himself Then Satan entred into Judas and so as Luther saith there was one Devil in another As water cleanseth other things and then is crst into the sink as many who laboured in building Noahs Ark were drowned in the Floud so a Minister may teach others and yet be himself a cast-away without true Piety which is inconsistent with disloyalty The Scripture hath linked them both together My Son fear thou God and the King It was the honour of Zadok and Abiathar Prov. 24. that they turned not aside unto Absalom but faithfully cleaved unto David their rightful Soveraign 2. David was anointed to the Office of a King The Lord said unto Samuel how long wilt thou mourn for Saul 1 Sam. 16.1 seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel Fill thine Horn with Oyl and go I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite for I have provided me a King among his Sons 1. David by vertue of this Unction had a plausible Argument to have justified the Murder of Saul being rejected by God and himself elected in his room and to have represented such an act as the execution of Justice as Jehu did the destruction of Ahabt posterity But David abhorred this obvious plece of Policy 2 Kin. 10.10 because it would have been a breach of Piety Forasmuch as Comminations are no Commissions Gen. 4.15 Whosoever shall slay accursed Cain vengeince shall be taken on him seven fold So the bloud of rejected Saul would have brought down vengeance on the head of David if he had shed it The crucifying of Christ was an Act of Glorious Mercy in God but of barbarous Cruelty in the Jews Joseph tels his Brethren that it was not they but God that sent him into Egypt and yet they were guilty of the most unbrotherly act next to actual Fratricide that ever was committed Gen. 45.8 One and the same action may be righteous as it proceedeth from the first cause and unrighteous in respect of the Second Gods bidding Shimei to curse David 2 Sam. 12.11 12. and permission of Absalom to ravish his Fathers Concubines were acts of Justice in God but acts of Treason and Incest in Shimel and Absalom Wherefore let such be accounted Instruments of the Devil Ch. 16.10 who dare offer violence to Kings under pretence of being Instruments to execute divine Justice 2. David by vertue of his Unction might have produced a specious Title unto the Kingdom of Israel if he had been of an ambitious spirit but he knew that he was anointed only to the reversion of the Kingdom and that as a last Will and Testament is of no force until the death of the Testator So his Unction was of no force until the death of Saul A Loyal Subject will wave obvious Pleas for his Right unto a Kingdom 3. David being anointed to the reversion of the Kingdom by the death of Saul might have took Livery and Seisin of it But as Moses cast the Kingdom of Egypt with all the Honours and Treasures thereof at his heels chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season Heb. 11. So David preserred the prolongation of his undeserved persecution before the unjust acceleration of the day of his Inauguration unto the Office of a King he esteemed a Turfe in the wilderness with a clear Conscience a better seat than a Throne in a Palace with a Conscience laden with Royal Blood-guiltiness he accounted it a greater honour to be a Loyal Subject than an unlawful King Crowns Scepters and Kingdoms are cogent Temptations Caesar said If Justice may be broken in any case it is regnandi causa Mat. 21.38 The Husbandmen cry out This is the Heir come let us kill him and the Inheritance will be ours But David abhorred to swim unto a Throne through the Blood of his Master having taken the resolution of Ferdinand the first Emperor of Germany Fiat Justitia pereat mundus Let Right be done and come what will of it The gain of a Kingdom will not countervail the loss of a good Conscience What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own Soul Or what will be given in exchange for the Soul There is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the words What will it profit i. e. What an hard bargain will it be What infinite Damage and Detriment shall a man sustain thereby For put the whole world into one ballance and the Soul into another and this little spark of Divinity will out-weigh the whole Globe of the Earth the vast Fabrick of the Creation It is far better to be upbraided as Balaam was by Balak The Lord hath kept thee
back from Honour Num. 24.11 than to be told at the day of Judgment That Honour hath kept us back from the Lord from Heaven and everlasting Happiness A Crown is not worth the taking up on sordid much less on sinful terms It is enough for a bloudy Phocas to slay his Master Mauritius that he might obtain the Succession in the Empire For Pagan Emperors and Antichristian Popes to poyson one another as Hildebrand poysoned 7 Popes to get into the Papal Chair for their own advancement Godly David valued his Conscience and the glory of God at a greater price than to wound them for any temporal Emolument Even as Jonathan did before him who being Heir apparent to the Kingdom of Israel and knowing that David was appointed to set him besides the Throne as appeareth by his Fathers Information 1 Sa. 20.30 31. Thou hast chosen the Son of Jesse to thy own Confusion for as long as he liveth thou shalt not be established nor thy Kingdom And by his own Confession 1 Sam. 23.17 Yet would not conspire with Saul against Davids Life but contracteth close friendship with him loveth him as his own Soul giveth him intelligence of his Fathers designes pleadeth his cause vindicateth his Innocency proclaimeth his Merits and saveth his life 1 Sa. 20.33 by the hazard of his own and by the loss of his Kingdom O bravely acted Noble Jonathan How doth thy Heroical Self-denial condemn all those who lay wait for bloud and lurk privily for the Innocent without a cause and swallow them up alive as the grave and whole as those that go down into the pir that they may find all precious substance and fill their Houses with Treasure Especially Pr. 1.11 12 13. those bloudy and ambitious men who cut off the head of their Soveraign for the sake of his Royal Crown upon it even as a man breaketh a Branch from a Tree for the sake of the Fruit which groweth thereon Oh the cursed Idolatry of Jeroboam who to establish his own Throne set up another for the Devil by erecting Calves at Dan and Bethel Oh the barbarous cruelty of Herod and of Pharaoh Mat. 2. Exod. 1. who for their own Security massacred so many innocent Infants that knew not their right hand from their left Oh England How barren hast thou been of Self-denying Jonathans and Davids these late years And how hast thou exceeded Affrica in the ingendring of Monsters Monsters like unto Ahab and Jezebel who for an Acre or two of ground shed the Blood of Naboth 1 Kings 21. And like unto Judas who for Thirty Pieces of Silver sold our Saviours Body and his own Soul Yea such Monsters whose Actions would almost make us believe that they had compacted with the Devil for the Kingdoms of the world upon those terms which he proposed to Jesus Christ And whose Rage Mat. 4. Ambition and Cruelty did speak aloud that to gain a Kingdom they regarded not though the Streets did run with Bloud in stead of the Conduits with Wine at the Coronation 4. The Fourth General Head observed in the Analysis of Davids Oration containeth the Reasons of his detestation of cutting off the Royal Head of King Saul which are drawn from Sauls Relation 1. To himself My Master This word denotes that chief power which men have over their Servants Observe Observ That Kings are invested with Supreme Power and Soveraign Authority over their Subjects They are called gods to shew their preheminence over their Subjects who ought to account of them as pleni-potentiary Ambassadots of the Supream Jehovah 1 Pet. 2.13 Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether unto the King as Suprems Where the word of a King is Eccles 8.4 there is power and who may say unto him what dost thou This power of Kings is both Legislative and Executive 1. Legislative or Nomothetical The Laws of Kings oblige the Consciences of Subjects Rom. 13.5 Ye must be subject not only for wrath but for Conscience-sake And be ye subject to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake 1 Pet. 2.13 2. Executive As Swords are worn both for Ornament and defence So the execution of Laws is both the priviledge and the duty of Princes Good Laws not duly executed are to no more purpose than a rusty Sword that cannot be drawn out of the Scabbard Now this Legislative and executive Authority of Kings extendeth not only to Civil Matters as the decision of Controversies arising between man and man and criminal as the punishment of Malefactors even with Capital punishment but also to Ecclesiastical Affairs Thus the Regal Authority of David Asa Jehosaphat Hezekiah and Josiah was exerted in the extirpation of Idolatry establishment of the true Worship of God compulsion of the Priests and People to discharge their mutual duties and in the Convocation of Synods with other Acts of Jurisdiction A King without Supreme Power is but magni nominis umbra and his Office but a Titular dignity but the Feathers of Authority The Usurpation of a Tyrant who assumeth unto himself power without a Title is fatal to a Kingdom And the Government of a King who hath a Title without power to defend it is fatal to himself As Might without Right is Tyranny so Right without Might is Pageantry but the Picture of a King A King manacled and fettered if I may so speak cannot protect himself much less his Subjects His Person will be exposed to violence his Government to contempt and the Execution of Laws the Nerves and Ligaments of a Realm obstructed His Throne would be invaded by every insolent Rebel and himself deposed by every Popular Traytor For as a Scabbard without a Sword and a Gun charged with Powder without a Bullet which may give a great Report but will do no Execution Such is Royal dignity without Soveraign Authority Shall a Paterfamilias claim a despotical power over his Family and shall the great Pater patriae have his Regal Power clipt and abridged God forbid With whom can Power be more safely intrusted than with a just and prudent Prince Surely not with the Common People where it will prove as dangerous as a knife in a Childs and a Sword in a mad mans hand which will be used only to do mischief Our late Distractions have sufficiently taught us that Democratical Government is a Solecisme in Polity and that Democracy and Anarchy are equipollent terms Wherefore we conclude that a King ought to be acknowledged Supreme in all his Dominions according to the Apostle our oaths of Allegiance c. And all that have taken the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance must subscribe to this Doctrine or else contract the guilt of Perjury The Texts of Scripture alledged against this Truth are grossely perverted we may say with Solomon that as the wringing of the Nose bringeth forth blood so the wresting of Scripture bringeth forth bloudy Tenents The Lord saith
Hadadrimmon Sive Threnodia Anglicana ob Regicidium A SERMON ON DAVIDS HUMILIATION For Cutting off the ROYAL ROBE AND DETESTATION of Cutting off the ROYAL HEAD Of the LORDS ANOINTED Preached Jan. 30 1660. Being a Solemn Fast for the Horrid Murther of KING CHARLES I. Of Glorious Memory At WESTBVRY in the County of WILTS By JOHN PARADISE Preacher of the Word there London Printed by J. H. for Nathanael Webb at the Sign of the Kings Head in St. Pauls Church-yard 1661. TO THE Right Reverend Father in God HUMPHREY By the Providence of God LORD BISHOP of SARVM Right Reverend Father in God MEmorable if not Miraculous is the Story concerning the Dumb Son of Croesus how that seeing an Assassine about to kill his Father though he never spoke before yet then cried out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So our Political Father Cor Sol Anima Regni the Heart Sun and Soul of the Kingdom being translated from us in a Fiery Chariot Who can but cry out with Elisha My Father My Father the Chariot of Israel and the Horsemen thereof Should Subjects neglect to sing the Obsequies of their Murdered King the Wals of the Royal Palace would be monuments of their shame even as the Stones would have supplied the defect of the Childrens Hosanna's to the Son of God the dust of the ground where the bloudy Tragedy was acted would testifie against them as the dust of the Apostles Feet against the unbelieving Jews Seeing Rebels have been so industrious in forming Cyclopical Weapons in anvelling out Diabolical Machinations against Monarchy and have published so many bitter Invectives and Satyrical Libels against the Sacred Persons of Kings to enchant and intoxicate the English Nation and to seduce us from our Allegiance God forbid that we should omit the Confection of Antidotes and Counter-medicines against this Poyson Wherefore I have attempted to vindicate the Royal Prerogative of Kingâ— wherewith they are invested by a Divine Charter and which is a Jewel fixed in their Crownes by the King of Kings to wit Their exemption from the violence of Subjects and likewise though indeed the Acts and Monuments of our Royal Martyr deserve rather to be registred by the Golden Pen of some Able Martyrologer another Fox to commemorate that Fatal Blow which caused an Earth-quake of Desolation in England and as it were unhinged the Earth from its Center The Lord grant that it may now produce an heart-quake of Lamentation and prove d Lymbeck to distil our hearts into tears to extract the Quintessence of our spirits and to sublimate our Affections and Faculties into the height of Sorrow Now my Lord the Beams of your Favour accented and enamelled with manifold Amplifications have so influent â—â—ally shined on me that they cannot but work indelible Impressions of Gratitude in my heart unless it were petrefied and most strenuous endeavours after testification thereof Wherefore I present unto your Lordship this ensuing Book of Lamentations as a Pepper-corn by way of acknowledgment of my great Obligations unto you Humbly imploring your candid Acceptance and Patronage of this unpolished piece in imitation of the Divine Majesty who accepted of Badgers Skins Goats hair a Cup of cold water and the Widows Mite as well as more magnificent Oblations As I am conscious of many Imperfections which your judicious eye will discern herein so I am confident of your Indulgence I have endeavoured more to manifest the Affection of my heart then the Affectation of Art Sackcloath and Ashes is a fitter Garb for Mourners then Gorgeous Attire Who can be eloquent on such a doleful Theam as the Murder of a Christian Protestant King which like Opium is enough to stupifie the the Faculties of all that study on it and at the Tidings whereof as David wished for Absalom O my Son Absalom my Son my Son Absalom Would God I had died for thee O Absalom my Son my Son Your Lordship with many more English Hero's could I believe have cried out O my King Charles my King my King Charles Would God I had died for thee O Charles my King my King I think it Honour enough to be vouchsafed to bring but one Pin to the decking of Christs Spouse while others adorn her with more costly Jewels and rich Medals said a Reverend Bishop So I account my self superabundantly honoured if this Threnodia may be accepted by my Dread Sovereign through your Lordships Intercession as the smallest Testimony of my Cordial Lamentation for the barbarous Decollation of his Royal Father though but like the casting a Branch of Rosemary into a Grave while others erect more Glorious Tombes and Statues and as a pledge of my great exultation for his own Happy Restauration and Coronation My Lord it is my Intention to write an Eucharistical not a Panegyrical Epistle because I know that Flattery as it is abhorred by my self so it would be nauseated by your Modesty However without contracting any such guilt or censure I may record it for your perpetual Renown That while so many have proved Erratick Stars somtimes Prograde somtimes Retrograde never Stationary you have been a fixed Star in the Firmament of the Church of England And while others have courted their Sovereign with Parasitical Friendship for saking him in Adversity as Rats and Mice do a Barn when the Corn is spent your Soul hath cleaved like Jonathan Ittai Barzillai and Zadok to distressed David to an afflicted Prince that you have reverenced the Setting Sun of Martyâ—ed Majesty King Charles the First and the clouded Sun of exiled Majesty King Charles the Second I have read concerning Agrippa that being imprisoned for wishing the Empire unto Caius he was afterwards gratified by Caius with a Chain of Gold as heavy as that of Iron wherewith he was loaded in Prison So that your Lordship who have magnanimously endured the Malignant Influences of Blazing Comets during the dismal Eclipse of the Proper Light may as a Blessing unto the Church of God long sit under the vivifical and salutiferous Beams of our Royal Sun now Triumphant in his Noon-day Glory is the Prayer of Your Lordships most Humble Servant JOHN PARADISE Errata Pag. 2. Line 37. read Renowned p. 3. l. 18. r. Engedi p. 3. l. 14. r. Absaloms p. â— l. 29. r. ingenuous p. 6. l. 3. r. connivence p. 6. l. 13. r. worn p. 8. l. 22 r. Bloud of Charles ib. l. ult r. Isaac p. 12. l. 32. r. edge of your humiliation p. 15. l. 33. r. Martial p. 20 l. 31. r. There can be no Adulterer without an Adulteress p. 23. l. 21. dele of after Glory THRENODIA Anglicana ob Regicidium OR THE LAMENTATION Of Loyall Subjects for the DECOLLATION of their Royall Sovereign 2 Sam. 24.5 6. And it came to passe afterward Davids heart smote him because he cut off Sauls Skirt And he said unto his men The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my Master the Lords Anointed to stretch forth my hand against him
seeing he is the Anointed of the Lord. JUlius Caesar being brutishly murthered in the Senate house Marcus Antonius brought forth his bloody Coat to the people of Rome saying behold the bloody Coate of your Emperour who at the sight hereof so Condoled his death that they fell into a furious rage against the murderers so King Charles the first being inhumanely murdered at the Gate of his Palace I am this day to revive the memory and Represent the barbarousnesse of this doleful Tragedy and as it were to hang forth his bloody Robes before your eyes that all your hearts may be stirred up to Godly humiliation for this horrid murther of our sacred Sovereign the breath of our Nostrils the Anointed of the Lord and therein the beheading of three Kingdomes For the Wish of Nero which was That all the Citizens of Rome had but one Neck that so he might kill them all at one blow was fulfilled to and executed by our English Neroes who at once severed the Royal Head of King Charles from his own Body natural and our body Politick leaving England Scotland and Ireland in a bleeding dying condition on that fatall birth-day of Englands misery Jan. 30. 1648. This dreadful dooms-day if I may so call it among all the daies since the creation next to that wherein Christ was crucified were it not vain to curse a day irrevocably past Gen. 1.3 4 5 31. Job 3.3 to 10. and sinfull to curse a day that God hath made doth chiefly deserve to have such Anathema's thundred out against it as Job pronounced upon the day of his Nativity We may affix such a motto unto it as David unto the day of Abners murder Know ye not that a Prince and a great man is faln this day in our Israel 2 Sam. 3.38 Wherefore Pious and Christian is our turning it into an Anniversary Fast that the Nation by solemn and sorrowful lamentation may discharge it self from the guilt and avert the punishment of this Royal blood which was shed in the midst of it That I may contribute something thereunto I have chosen this Text to be the foundation of my ensuing discourse which being so suitabe to the season and occasion may challenge the honour that Solomon gives to a word fitly spoken Prov. 25.11 namely to be like Apples of Gold in pictures of silver These Golden Apples require little paring by explication my chief work will be in the doctrinal and Applicatory parts to cut and quarter them forth unto you for your edification in Loyalty The words are Historical being a part of the Chronicle and Narrative of the persecution of David by Saul the sum whereof is briefly this Heroical David having out of zeal for the weal of his country through his Wisdom prowess the blessing of God crowning his enterprises with successe performed many glorious exploits particularly that famous victory over Goliah the great gyant of Gath Who defied the armies of Israel and of the living God with many more honourable atchievements against the Philistines was Admired and Renouned among the people Inthroned in their affections and applauded with Superlative acclamations yea through the indiscretion of the vulgar 1 Sam. 18.7 above the King himself Saul hath slain his Thousands and David his ten thousands Saul seeing his own glory thus extenuated and eclipsed while Davids shined forth so brightly envieth Davida praise fearâ—ch his person is jealous of his fidelity least by reason of his popularity he should carry on some ambitious designe for his own accession to the Kingdome and therefore pursueth after his life knowing that mortui non mordent thereby to prevent the peoples revolt and Davids heading them So dangerous is honour that it often proves the snare and ruine of the persons dignified therewith Though this act of Saul may seem a necessary piece of state-policy to a Machivilian eye yet certainly to the eye of a Christian it will appear a grosse violation of Piety For David had given many demonstrations of his unfeigned loyalty but never any ground of suspicion of intended Rebellion by abusing his interest in the affections of the Israelites The imitation of Davids integrity by our late popular Absoloms would have been Englands happinesses as their deviation from his footsteps was our misery The persecuted having escaped many ambushes laid for his life at length findeth his perseoutor at a great advantage in a Cave at Engedy but spareth his life cutting off only the Skirt of his garment Thus having taken a survey of the Suburbs of the Text I am now arrived at the words themselves which contain First Davids Cordial contrition for cutting off the Royal Robe of King Saul ver 5. where consider 1. The great degree of his sorrow His heart smote him 2. The slight nature of the Act considered materially for which he mourned It was his cutting off the Robe not the Head of Saul Secondly Davids Loyal Detestation of outting off the Royal head of the Lords Anointed manifested in a succinct and excellent Oration ver 6. wherein may be considered First The occasion thereof which was twofold I. The fit oportunity he had to slay Saul being in a Cave II. The great Importunity wherewith his Souldiers perswaded him thereunto Secondly The Orator He i. e. David said unto his men 1. David a Subject 2. David a General of an Army 3. The Auditours he said unto his men i. e. his Souldiers 4. The Oration it self which may be Analyzed into 4. parts I. A vehement detestation The Lord forbid II. The Act detested That I should do this thing to stretch forth my hand against my Master III. The person detesting this Act that I i. e. David should do this thing IIII. The reasons of his Detestation which are deduced from Sauls Relation First To himself My Master Secondly To God the Lords Anointed 1. I shall begin with Davids Cordial Contrition for cutting off the Royal Robe of Saul And from the greatnesse of his sorrow and the slightnesse of the Act which was the ground thereof compared together Observ Observe That the least disloyal action the smallest injury and slightest indignity committed against and offered unto a King ought by Godly sorrow and true Repentance greatly to be lamented Davids heart smote him because his hand smote Sauls garment Though David being himself surprised with his sudden and unexpected surprisal of Saul in such a place of advantage did through incogitancy and inadvertency not thinking there had been any evil in spoiling the garment seeing he spared the life of Saul And likewise out of zeal for the vindication of his innocency adventure on an Act unbeseeming the Majesty of a King and the Duty of a Subject yet as soon as he recollected his thoughts and considered that not only the persons but the Robes of Princes which are the Ensignes and Badges of authority ought to remain untouched and found his action criminal and himself culpable his heart smote him As