and complaine Aug. de ciuit Dei lib. 1. cap 8. but the point is Non qualia sed qualis quisque patiatur Since his blessed Raigne doe not our hearts secretly tell vs that wee feele and daily tast of ioyfull Peace Peace sought by mightie Kings and embraced by forraine Nations as in the daies of Solomon Is not true Nobilitie honorably respected Virtue and well doing cheerefully rewarded Holy men and discreet daily aduanced Vertue rewarded the reuenewes of the Church lately confirmed and diuers foundations of Religion already laid as in the glorious raigne of great Constantine The Lord is God the Lord is God and who is such a God as our God O wretches and vnthankefull men that we are wee know not our owne good we weigh not the sweet mercies of a kinde and gratious God For in these and many other respects which are most apparant to the view of all men I assure my selfe that his royall Maiestie whom the Lord protect with his mightie hand long to reigne ouer vs is now and shall bee for euer renowned amongst the most famous Kings that euer liued in the world and that the Church and common Wealth of England so happely gouerned by his Highnesse is now at this day the most Apostolike and florishing Church the most religious Court the most peaceable and vpright state that is in all Christendome How bee it when Prince and People when Nobilitie and Clergy when all estates and degrees doe thus Godly and peaceably go on enioying such blessed happines such quiet and reposed peace would not the Sunne bee abashed and the powers of nature daunted that Christian men and especially such as are deuoted vnto God in sacred and holy orders some professing great holinesse and austeritie others much purenesse and great singularitie both these should neuer cease to disturbe and waken the churches peace Surely it is the Lord that giueth his beloued sleepe and this sleepe this prosperitie of the Church and Common Wealth it is a blessing inestimable vnto his people therefore when hee vouchsafeth to giue rest no man ought to waken or stirre vntill shee please and that is neuer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vntill it is plainely neuer Vntill Genes 8. The Rauen returned not vntill the waters were dryed vp that is Neuer Mat. 1.25 Ioseph knew not the blessed Virgin vntill shee had brought forth her first begotten that is Neuer neuer neuer let any man waken the blessed Spouse The Conclusion BVt for as much as the person from whom this Commission is directed is the Metropolitane and great shepherd of our soules Christ Iesus the penner of the holy Ghost the heauenly Secretary seing hee vouchsafeth to call the Church his Loue the deepest of all the affections her peace compared to Sleepe the sweetest comfort in nature seeing Christ Iesus himselfe most wise louing and fearefull is not content to perswade but vehemently to charge and yet the attributes applyed most sweet and kind Daughters for Loue Ierusalem for peace seeing the Charge it selfe is so straitly giuen not one to stir and in no case to Waken the Date so plainely set downe that is must bee Neuer according to the tenure of my text in the person of Christ Iesus I adiure and solemnly charge I charge by the holy Patriarkes Abraham Isaac and Iacob who in their generations were men of Peace I charge by the holy Apostles who haue commaunded vs to keepe the vnitie of the Spirit in the bond of Peace I charge by the holy Angels who at the birth of Christ did sing Peace I charge by our Faith Hope and Charitie which are the fruites of Peace I charge by that Obedience due both to the ciuil Magistrate and spirituall gouernour who are by all good meanes to preserue and maintaine Peace I charge by the Dum Beastes of the field who shall take reuenge vpon the disturbers of Peace Lastly I adiure and charge by the Soules of the ignorant and simple people the least whereof a thousand worlds are not able to redeeme that no man despise the voyce of this great shepherd this double and three-fold Charge which concerneth the flowrishing and happy peace of our country the prosperitie and peaceable rest of the Church the beeing liuing and well being of vs all Whosoeuer hath any true tast of a religious heart whosoeuer hath any care of his Soules Saluation whosoeuer hath any respect to the honour of his name and regard of his posteritie whosoeuer hath any dutifull affection to his Prince and country let him pray rather that his tongue may cleaue to the roofe of his mouth and his right arme wither from his body then once to bee accounted amongst the number of those who will bee seene to stirre in so well gouerned a state to waken so blessed rest of the Spouse to discontent the religious heart of so gratious a King and to blemish the glory of so renowned a Common Wealth Ah Lord what estate of Church or Common Wealth did euer in this world at thine vnto perfection 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whose desert and wisedome could euer content all humours wherein haue not the most Noble and Christian Worthies of the world beene sought one way or other secretly to bee wronged and who knoweth touching these late and grieuous treasons why the Lord hath suffered euill counsell to bee vndertaken and with such malice and bloud to bee pursued Vndoubtedly First it may bee thought to this ende that all the people of this Land and euery one heere present might take heede how wee forget our louing God in the dayes of our prosperitie that wee might learne to stand fast vpon the Lord as vpon mount Sion to relie on his loue as the centre of our life in all dangers to stye vnto him as a Bird doth vnto the shadie hill for safetie that so both heart and tongue might acknowledge his gooodnesse and as a floud into the Sea send thanksgiuing to so deare a God againe Secondly Aug. permittit Deus quod nemo impunè committit God suffereth euill and wicked men for a time expecting their repentance and looking for their conuersion but if they persist and become as Pharao was hardened in their bloud-thirsty crueltie then the Lord euen for his owne glory doth suffer them to play vpon the hooke and daunce in the snare till at length it might bee knowen to all Nations and Kingdomes round about that when it comes to the very poynt the Lord will rouse himselfe like a Gyant turne all such practises vpside-downe but will deliuer his chosen execute iudgement vpon the wicked Psal 16. and the vngodly shall bee trapped in the works of their owne hands Therefore let neither Prince nor people bee dismayed and cast downe with traiterous and fearefull rumors but let his sacred Maiestie comfort his heart raise vp his Spirit and walke cheerefully vpon the inuincible hope and assured experience of the Lords fore passed loue let him hold
themselues the applause of common people Plato de Rep. Plato in his common wealth forbids men to tange vp and downe to ring away other mens Bees yet the onely glory of some men is to get flockers and followers after them by tanging and iangling in matters of no importance Surely as a weake and feeble braine followeth the waxing and waining of the Moone so the braine-sicke humour of the multitude is subiect and pliable to euery change and reuolution Whereupon Homer compares the disposition of common people to the standing corne Homer ther comes a puffe and blowes it all on the one side there comes an other blast and swayes it as much on the other side It is a fit comparison made by the Kingly Prophet Psa 65.7 It is the Lord that stilleth the rage of the Sea the noise of the Waues and the madnesse of the people iumping therein with the Prophet Esay 17. Chapter where the nature of the people is compared vnto the billowes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the trouble some and working Sea So easily set a gog so delighted with nouelties so full of alteration and change are the affections of common people In the 28. of the Acts. Saint Paule whilest the Viper hung vpon his hand he was a murderer againe the Viper shaken off in the turning of an hand he was a God In the 3. of Ezra and the 12. the people wept because they had no Temple after when the Temple was builded then they wept as fast againe because the glory of the second was not like the first In the time of queene Mary there was lamentation and crying out that I dolatry was set vp the Church polluted and the Gospell taken away afterward when through the great mercie of God the Gospell was aduanced and the light thereof did comfortably shine throughout the whole kingdome then they murmured and cryed out as fast againe that wee had no Church no Ministry truth was wrapt vp in Ceremonies and all was Antichristian In the 19. of the Acts Demetrius and other subtill heads of the tradse men of Ephesus meerly for their owne gaine raised a great tumult and getting the people together cryed out great is Diana of the Ephesians presently the people were carried with such a tempest of fury that the cittie was all in an vprore they can and rushed whether they list in great confusion much violence was offered and yet at last as appearerh in the 32. verse the most part knew not wherefore they were come tog ther. In like sort Nobiles quiâ—am praeciâ—uâ—â—uiâ—s â—egâ—â—merum â—ge unt 〈◊〉 ann 1583. not many yeeres agone diuers personages of great credit and countenance they and their predecessâ—urs being long since enriched by the reuenues of the Church and fearing to lose them apprehending presently the successe inuegled many weake men young diuines trades-men artificers and such like and they all cryed out for the Geneua discipline and Scottish reformation in the Churh The ignorant multitude once stirred vp the whole land was in sects and tumults the state was troubled the Prince was disobeyed good lawes were neglected by Libels Pamphlets by consealements by treacheries by sundry foule disorders violence and disgrace was offered b A booke of discipline compiled after the Geneua fashion by M. Knox others reiected of the disciplinarians and termed a deuout imagination Another booke called Disciph ecclesiae sacra verbo Dei discripta correct d altered amended about 1587. to many societies and worthy callings in this land and yet I dare say the most part neuer knew what they did desire Nay I dare confidently affirme that the chiefest learnedst sectaries of those times and euen at this day not sixe of them did euer fully and soundly agree in the maine points and manner of erecting this their Goddesse Diana this affected discipline and reformation Yet behold and obserue the effects These silly Roes and Hindes once stirred vp they flockt together and assembled in woods they haunted priuate conuenticles in the night they had secret Printers in euery corner the publike congregation grew odious the holy word and Sacraments were despised at length they affirmed plainely there was no true Minister in the Church of England and so some fled beeyond Seas others gaue vp their calling lurking idly in other mens ho ses seducing their mindes and wasting their estaâ—es While these reformers thus ranne their course honest plaine men simple people beholding such parts taking and contention seeing such acceptions of persons and varietie of opinions they in their ignorance stood at a gaze some fell away to the Church of Rome others waxed neither hot not cold Athisme crept in deuotion was laid aside God exceedingly dishonored and the estate both of Church and common wealth very much defaced I say no more of these Roes and Hindes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If then we regard the saluation of simple people by rooting out all Athisme and Superstition if wee tender their peaceable and Christian life who are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 misse-led vpon euery light occasion then we must wholy lay aside all contention and difference whatsoeuer with one hart with one consent we must all preach one and the selfe same doctrine all vse the same ceremonies thereby to win the people to Godlines of life and holy reuerence and alwaies in regard of their weaknes we must be shie and fearefull of stirring in the Church The very Heathen haue taught vs discreation in this point Amongst the wise Grecians the difficult points of their religion Aug. de ciui Del. li. 4. cap. 38 were neuer laid open to the discussing of the ignorant people but closed vp with silence Varro that notable and learned writer remoued those bookes which he wrote touching the deepest questions misteries in Theologie from the sight and knowledge of the multitude Scholis verò ac parietibus clausit Aug. de ciui Dei li. 6. cap. 5. he reserued them priuate to the learned Schooles Aboue all others the holy Apostles and aunciant Fathers of blessed memory were so chary in this point hat if any doubt arose â—f any question or controuersie fell out among them they did not by and by set forth bitter inuectiues and sedicious Phamphlets they did not put vp clamorous bils to temporall courts they did not creepe and couch to lay men for the boulstring and bearing out of any disorders in the Church they did not haunt trouble Christian Princes with bould and vnaduised petitions but as wee may see Act. 15. by the Apostles Acts. 15. A matter of great consequence was orderly and louingly disoussed at Ierusalâ—m the Schoole of the Prophets and so peaceably ended by the chiefe and most excellent Apostles This president and worthy example was truely followed by Saint Hierome and Ruffmus by Saint Augustinâ— by Chrysostome and Epiphamus by the good Bishop of Alexandria in the time of Arrius Niceph. eccle hist lib.
temporall and spirituall blessings shee doth rest in great prosperitie Shee hath laid her downe in peace Psal 4.9 and taketh her rest for now the Lord hath made her to dwell in safetie O let vs praise the Lord for his goodnesse and neuer be ashamed to declare the wonders and to publish the blessings which hee hath brought vpon vs this day Our eyes doe see them our thoughts must needes acknowledge them and our enemies wee finde by late experience with secret and great mallice doe enuie them Giue me leaue therefore I humbly beseech you euen for the glory of Gods blessed name whose exceeding mercie we are bound to acknowledge also for a testimonie of our owne priuate duties to make some relation of those benefites which wee enioy by the blessed gouernment of our gratious Soueraigne whose happy and ioyfull entrance into this Kingdome wee doe celebrate this day It is a plaine but an excellent principle Euripides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let him neuer take vpon him nor desire to rule who hath not first learned to obey and to forbeare It is well knowne vnto vs all sundry times hath the quiet state of this Realme beene disturbed much hurly burly raised many treasons brued practising and procuring the death of our former Queene pretending most what some title and interest vnto the crowne but beehold notwithstanding the apparant truth of his Maiesties title was openly knowen to all the States in Christendome and that long before he might haue procured stronge meanes to haue inuested himselfe Forbearancce with the honour and possession of the same yet still did he patiently abide the Lords leasure as one who truely feared God hee neuer combined with France nor complotted with Spaine he neuer stirred vp either subiect within or forraine power without but that which is yet very ioyfull to remember and seldome performed of naturall brothers in one familie two mightie Princes good Queene Elizabeth and our blessed King most amiably they did liue and loue and as it were in one land peaceably raigne together When God had ended her daies in peace after many distracted feares wherewith the hearts of all beegan sodainely to bee perplexed how blessed were we in the present succession of the crowne Successiō the happie gouernement whereof did calmely come in and peaceably arise as after a short night the cheerefull and faire morning Sun-shine How secure is now the state in the vndoubted apparance of blessed Issue Issue a stay to the Land and comfort to euery good subiects heart Blessed art thou Pron 28.15 O Land saith the Scripture whose Prince is the Sonne of Nobles Royall discent In the royall discent of this imperiall crowne the Rose is not onely sprounge from the Red and White descended from the noble off-spring of both houses Lancaster and Yorke thereby most happely taking away all occasion of ciuill dissention but moreouer happy are wee in our selues and fearfull to other nations in the quiet and lawfull vnion of these Kingdomes Phantasticall humors did please themselues a while and selfe conceited heades haue vainely discoursed with idle similies against the ordinance of God in this behalfe but leauing the future successe and farther coniunction to prayer forbearance and time in this one blessing Vnion we may plainely beehold the extraordinarie mercies of the Lord. For I am vndoubtly perswaded next after the knowledge of Christ and the true profession of the Gospell this day this day I say is now and hereafter shall bee the most memorable and happy Day that in this Land was euer commended vnto posteritie these 1000. yeares Indeed the conquest of France hath title of renowne but wee know well the possession thereof was gotten by bloud kept with charge and lost with dishonour But by his Maiesties lawfull succession vnto the crowne that which the great and deepe Statesmen of England forecast many hundred yeares to compasse that which by dint of sword and much effusion of bloud hath often beene attempted that which all the victorious Kings of England often desired but neuer fully effected that which the example of other Christian Kings and the wisest nations teach vs that which the very idencity of place language condition nature soyle affinitie and all in themselues doe offer the Lord God who is wonderfull in counsell and excellent in workes that hath he sweetly brought about without present alliance in mariage without tumult in warre without wronge to any state whatsoeuer Israell and Iuda Scotland and England are both one the secret and wise ordinance of God hath so setled it O let the consent and mutuall loue of both nations peaceably confirme it and God in his mercie and goodnesse seale it fast for euer Irish expeditions ceased Since his happy entrance into this kingdome how well is the whole Common wealth eased and disburdened of the continuall and troublesome charge of our Irish expeditions Spanish broilcs appears How Christianlie are appeased the vnchristian and bloudy spoyles robberies and murders daily committed betweene Spaine and vs. Most Godly and amiable is the confederate league concluded with our bordering neighbors round about vs. Confederate derate League most christian To subdue Nations and enlarge Kingdomes by conquest and bloudshed to wicked and tirannous Princes it seemes great glory and felicitie but by good and Christian Kings warre is neuer sought but enforced by necessitie Faelicitas maior est Malis faelicitas bonis necessitas Aug. lib. 4. Aug. de ciuit Dei li. 4.15 vicinum bonum habere concordem quam vicinum malum subiugare bellantem It is greater honour and felicitie to retaine the loue of a good neighbour concording in peace then to continue the secret hatred of an ill neighbour seduced by war Isocrates ad Nicole The wise Orator saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Faithfull and wise counsellers are the most profitable and worthy treasure Faithful Counsellers which any prince enioyeth And is not the Common Wealth furnished with as noble faithfull and wise Counsellers of state as learned stoute Learned vncorrupted Lawers vncorrupted Iudges and worthy Lawyers as reuerend Bishops shining in their liues and learning as euer age afforded Reuerend Bishops all these through the milde and wise gouernement of a gratious King retaining their former dignities Gospell established and faithfully performing their duties both to God and to their King Is not the truth of the Gospell most peaceably established and carefully professed with such reuerend and constant ioy in hearing the word and frequenting of prayer as giueth example to all the protestant Princes of Christendome To see the populous Court of a mightie King as peaceable well giuen and religious as the well ordered familie of a priuate mans house what christian heart will not ioy to heare it and who can but magnifie the God of heauen to know it Mariage honored The sacred bands of holy mariage are they not tenderly
kept highly esteemed and haue they not beene solemnly graced in Court to the imitation of all the Land Euery great Cittie and incorporation and euery part of the Land is it not replenished with Godly and learned Preachers Learned and Godly teachers trained vp in the vniuersities able in some good measure to teach rebuke and exhort with good discreation and iudgement What so is wanting and defectiue herein ConfereÌ„ce as HamptoÌ„ such hath beene his Maiesties Princely zeale that hee hath referred the care thereof to speciall Committies that with all couenient speede Wales Ireland and the Northren borders might be supplyed and planted with learned and religious Teachers Henry Iacob in his seditious Epistle dedicated to the King H. Iocob is not ashamed to affirme that the present Ecclesiasticall orders are more friendly to Papists Ceremomonies Godly and approued T. C. Libertines and Atheists then to the sinceritie of the Gospell an other also of the same rancke sets it downe that wee may better conforme our selues in orders and ceremonies to the Turke then to the Papists What a strange and dangerous position is this O where is discretion and pietie where is Christian loue and holy moderation Seeing the doctrine is sound and good in the chiefe and maine points of saluation why should any man speake so vnaduisedly in matters of lesse importance Alas wee also are bound to pray for you to shew you the right way and woe be vnto vs if as men pleasers we shall speake against our owne knowledge or that others should bee constraind to subscribe to that which is not consonant with the truth Heare therefore and as a wise and vnderstanding people at length bee satisfied For vndoubtedly the ceremonies of the Church and especially the vse of the Corsse The vse of the Crosse approued by Origen in Psal 38. Basi de spir Sanct. cap. 37. Chris tom 2. hom 55. in Mat. cap. 16. Hiero. li. 3. in Ezech. Aug. tract 55. in Ioh. de veabis Dei serm 18. 53. Greg. Mag in li 3. in Iob. cap 33 Ambro. li. 2. cap. 7. other many so much excepted against this day as the Standard of Christs honor hath euer beene aduanced and borne aloft in the eye of the Church to the comfort of all good Christians by the whole troupe of the blessed Fathers the Charrets and horse-men of Israell And generally those ceremonies vsed at this day in our Church they are in themselues indifferent in number few in vse decent They are peaceable in regard of conformitie reuerend to breede denotion in the people and for continuance these 1500. yeares vncontrowlable They are consonant with the Scriptures the exposition whereof is confirmed by the iudgement of the aunciant Fathers of the primatiue Church approued directly by later interpreters defended souldly by new writers discussed by Kingly conference agreed vpon by nationall consent established by highest authoritie attested and made good by the approbation and iudgement of other neighbour Churches as appeareth plainely in the confessions and seuerall articles of Heluetia Boheme Ausburge France Flanders Heluetia 1. art Boh. 25.15.18 Aus art 4. Fra. art 32 Sand. 32. Sax. ar 20 Sweuel cap. 4. Saxonie and Sweueland It is a grounded principle approued by the learned diuines in all ages In iis rebus in quibus nihil statuit certum scriptura diuina nobis populi Det Christiani principis iura tenenâ—ia sunt In those things wherein the Scripture hath set downe no certaintie the Lawes of the Christian Prince and of Gods people are with all obedience to bee embraced To proceede in this peace and prosperitie of the Church concerning the Saboth How generally is it obserued how religiously sanctified euen in this great and busie Citie wherein the streetes may often be seene in a manner desolate and few stirring vpon the Saboth Saboth in the time of diuine prayer and preaching The painfull preaching frequented with infinite congregations and mightie assemblies in this famous Citie the diligent and daylie prayers the deuotion and thankesgiuing the readinesse and attention in heating the word of God both preached and reade euen in this place where I stand doth witnesse what I say O how faire and blessed a thing it is for a Christian King to heare and know all the inhabitants of his Dominions to bee assembled vpon the Saboth to bee knit together as one man praising singing and reioysing in God all their prayers well neere at an instant as the flame of a thousand mountaines ascending aloft and peircing the very heauens And is it not as louely to behold all the people of these Kingdomes Industry of the people with obedience to Law and loue to their Soueraigne to go peaceably on as birds in the spring busied euery one in their seuerall callings and all the weeke long cheerefully following their vocation Hath not the Lord crowned yeare after yeare with his blessing the Land giuing such encrease that notwithstanding there bee at this present in this Citie and Suburbs sixe hundred thousand liuing Soules Plentie yet they all are well and plentifully fed and all the people throughout the land waxing warme and wealthie sit peaceably vnder their vines taking their pleasure and recreation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is a waies an assured and good signe of excellent gouernement when the people of any kingdome doe grow more wealthie and become more ciuill and religious What excellent and Godly acts stand in force for the wise ordering and comfortable reliefe of the poore What straight and holy Canons or Good Lawes for the religious proceeding in all matter Ecclesiasticall What seueritie is openly pronounced and what punishment daily executed vpon corrupt Officers powlers of the people Hath not Mercie triumphed ouer iustice Mercie and compassion to forgiue the perfect note of true Christianitie shewed it selfe abundantly in pardoning sundry offences and sparing the liues of dangerous and hatefull Traitors Feare admitteth no securitie Democrit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whom all men are afraid of such a man stands in feare of all men And therefore like a wise and right Christian Prince he doth not build his safety vpon strength and power but vpon the mercie of God vpon Princely affabilitie Affability with his Nobles and vpon the loue and faithfulnesse of his subiects Doctor Hill and other Papists Iacob and other sectaries they slanderously auouch that their persecutions are many and their afflictons very grieuous and ye behold all dissention in religion Milde gouernment hath beene awaies labored and is still sought by all forberrance and gentle meanes to be appeased yea towards all men in generall the gouernement is sweet and milde and himselfe in his priuate nature so louing and compassionate Ambro. de obitn Theod. that as Theido hee seeketh to binde men vnto him not by force but by bountie religion Troublesome and sedicious spirits will neuer cease to murmure