Idols made a colour for committing Sacriledge such Sacriledges too as seldom or never had been heard of amongst the Gentiles Pictures and Images in Church-windows retained for Ornaments till this day in the Lutheran Churches defaced on purpose for the ostentation of a swifter Zeal than could keep company with Knowledge But in the mean time such a worshipping of Imaginations advanced and countenanced as seemed no less destructive to all Christian Piety than the worship of Images and in a word all the exploded Heresies of the elder times revived and justified without reproach to them that did it to the displeasure of Almighty God the dishonour of the Church the grief of all good men and the shame of the Nation Nor did we speed much better in our Civil Rights in reference to that liberty and property which seems peculiar in a manner to the English Subjects Quocunque aspiceres luctus gemitus que sonabant in the Poets language No news in any of our Streets but that of leading men into fresh captivity nor Musick to be heard in our private Houses but the sighs groans and cries of afflicted people who either suffered in themselves or their friends and kindred Our persons haled unto the prisons and our heads to the block our children born to bondage and brought up to servitude our goods taken from us and exposed to sale all our Lands either held in villenage or which was worse ad voluntatem Domini during the will and pleasure only of our mighty Landlords Such a confusion in the City such spoils and rapines in the Countrey and such oppressions in all places under their command that greater miseries never fell upon God's own people in those wretched times in which there was no King in Israel 46. To put an end to which misfortunes God brings the King unto his Throne as upon this day and brings him to his Throne after such a manner as makes it seem all-miracle in the eyes of Christendom When first like Noah's Dove in the book of Genesis he left the Ark of his retreat and preservation that he might trie whether the waters were asswaged from the face of the earth he found no resting place for the soles of his feet but when he took his second flight and came next amongst us and brought an Olive leaf in his mouth to be a Pledge of Peace and Reconciliation betwixt him and his people he made his coming most agreeable to those very men who before most feared it A coming so agreeable to all sorts of people that never King was entertained with more signs of joy or welcomed with a greater concourse of his faithful Subjects all of them with Te Deum in their mouths and the Magnificat in their hearts old women being as busie at their Benedicite's in their dark retreats as Children were at Hosanna's in the wayes and fields The mountains skippe like Raws and the little hils like young Sheep as he passed along the Trees bowed down their heads to salute their King and the glad earth rejoyced to become his footstool But when he came within the view of the Royal City Good God! what infinite throngs of people did run out to see him With what a gallant equipage did the Nobility and Gentry set forth to meet him Never did England see it self so glorious as upon that day nor old Rome so magnificent in her stateliest Triumphs as our great City then appeared in the eyes of those who flocked from all parts of the Kingdom in such infinite numbers that London could no more be called the abstract or epitome of the Realm of England but the Realm it self 47. Incouraged with which general Welcome he hath received here here in this Church he hath received his last Anoynting to the great joy of all his true and faithful Subjects who once again repaired to our Capital City but in greater multitudes that by their quality numbers and external Gallantry they might express their good affections and add some new Lustre to the accustomed Pomp and Splendour of the Coronation The Pomp and Splendour of which day is not to be described by a readier pen than I am able to pretend to nor to be equalled by any other in the times preceding but only by the glorious day of the Kings Reduction of which we may affirm with the Court Historian though with no such flattery Laâ—itiam illius diei consursum totius civitatis 〈◊〉 pene inferentiâ—m coelo mâ—â—is c. What pen is able to express the Triumphs of those two great dayes when all the bravery of the Nation seemed to be powred into the City and the whole City emptied into some few streets the windows in those streets to be glased with eyes the houses in a maner to be tyled with men and all the people in the streets the windowes and the house tops also ingeminating and regeminating this most joyful acclamation God save the King 48. For which great mercies and the rest of this glorious day let us sing our Benedictus also to the Lord our God Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his people and hath raised up a mighty salvation for us in the house of his servant David To which Immortal and Invisible God the Almighty Father and to the Honorable true and only Son the Lamb that sits upon the Throne and to the Holy Ghost the Comforter Let us ascribe as we are bound all Majesty Might Praise Power and Glory from this time forth for ever more And let all the people say Amen THE END a Prov. 15. 23 2 Sam. 20. 1. 2 Sam. 16. 5. 1 Sam. 16. 13. 1 Sam. 17. 24. 1 Sam. 28. 28. 1 Sam. 18. 27. 1 Sam. 18. 1 Sam. 19. 1 Sam. 19. 1. 1 Sam. 20. 33. 1 Sam. 21. 6 9. 1 Sam. 22. 18 c. 1 1 Sam. 21. 10. 1 Sam. 22. 3. 1 Sam. 23. 1 Sam. 23. 20. 1 Sam. 25. 11. 1 Sam. 22. 1. 1 Sam. 27. 2. 1 Sam. 22. 2. 1 Sam. 29. 8. 1 Sam. 27. 2. 1 Sam. 27. 6. 1 Chr. 12. 1 c. 1 Chr. 12. 22. 2 Sam. 2. 1 4. 1 Sam. 14. 50. 2 Sam. 2. 8 9. 2 Sam. 3. 8. 2 Sam. 4. 2. Antiq. Iud. lib. 7. cap. 2. August in Confes lib. 8. cap. 2. 1 Sam. 23 6. ☞ Muscul. in Psal. 31. Psal. 127. 1. Origen in Rom cap. 9. Horat. Aâ—iq Iud ic 〈◊〉 7. chap 3. loseph de â—ello Iud. lib. 7. c. 17. Id. ibid. Athanas. in Epist ad Mar. in Tom. 3. Virgil. Aencid 1 King 18. 44. Tacit. Hist li. 2. Vellei 〈◊〉 Hist. l. 2. Antiq. Iudaic. lib. 7. chap. 10. Aug Conf. lib. 10. ch 23. Id. ibid. Dan. 3. 5.
God and to enquire his will and pleasure in all difficult cases The want whereof necessitated the unhappy Tyrant to have recourse for counsel to the Witch of Endor as if he had been forced upon that desperate resolution in the antient Poet Flectere si nequeo superos Acheronta movebo that since he could not move the Gods he would trie the Devil 15. Nor was all this a kindeness only or a great kindeness as the old Translation and misericordia mirabilis a marvellous great kindeness in the eyes of all men but it was misericordia sua the Lords own kindeness factum Domini the Lords own doing to which no humane prudence could pretend a title This David understood none better And therefore attributes his safety and deliverance to the Lord alone Ipse sit licèt magna unique cura industria usus as Musculus hath night-well observed though he himself had used all possible industry and care for his own preservation He had his agents and intelligeneers in the Court of Saul to give him notice of the secret purposes of his mortal enemy He entertained Abiathar in a place both of trust and nearness that by his means he might maintain a correspondence with the rest of that Order And when necessity compelled him to ingage in battail he sent out Ioab a man of most undaunted courage to incounter Abner with whom he was competitor for the Palm of victory More providence and care could no man use then David did and yet he calleth it misericordiam Domini only Gods mercy and his marvellous kindeness by which he was preserved in the day of trouble 16. And so indeed it was meerly Gods mercy and his marvellous great kindness by which he was preserved in the dayes of Saul and raised to the Throne of Israel on the death of Ishbosheth For what could David have effected with all his diligence had not God secretly forwarned him of those dangers which were near at hand or what advantage could Abiathars discoveries have procured unto him had not God sent the spirit of infatuation amongst the Princes of Sauls house supplanted their designes and turned their wisdom into foolishness Or what could Ioab with all his valour have atchieved against so many enemies had not God broken them in pieces had not God throwen amongst them such a Ball of discord such a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as made them turn their Swords upon one another In which dissention the Royal Nothing is dispatched on his bed of ease and dispossessed at once both of Crown and Life before he had served out his Indentures in the Trade of Government which also must be factum Domini the Lord 's doing only as to the ordering permitting and disposing of it though Abner and the sons of Riâ—mon had their own vile ends For who but God could turn his own Sword upon him and so infatuate the Counsels of his chief Commanders as to contrive the ruines of their nearest kinsman by whose sole power they stood and might have longer stood in all apparent probability in their former greatness 17. Except the Lord doth keep the City saith the Royal Psalmist the watchman watcheth but in vain Except the Lord doth build the house their labour is but lost that build it What then Shall then the Workman play and the Watchman sleep Not so saith Origen â—mpendant ipsi quantum in se est laboris et sollicitudinis c. Let them continue their indevours in the name of God and let the Watchman watch and the Workman labour Though God be all and that our safety is from him and from him alone yet he hath told us that the lazie person shall not eat and the careless person shall not prosper It is the hand of the diligent which maketh rich and he becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand faith the wiseman Solomon God in the ordering and disposing of humane affairs is like the Pilot in a Ship It is the Pilot only which doth steer and guid the Vessel and bringeth it safe into the Haven yet it is expected that every several Mariner do discharge his duty and yield obedience to the whistle of the Boat-swain 18. But on the other side it is not therefore to be thought that we may warrantably intitle either our industry or strength or wisdom to the rights of God The wisdom of the wise saith Paul is it not foolishness with the Lord What Man is there saith David that can save himself by his much strength Yea or by taking thought saith the Son of David can add one cubit to his stature Man purposeth but God disposeth And when we have most spent our spirits and consumed our bodies in the well ordering of our fortunes yet it is all in vain and fruitless and of no effect except the Lord even our own God doth give us his blessing Ascribe we therefore to the Lord the glory of his own exployts and let us not presume to say in any of our prosperous actions that This my own right hand hath done or my wit effected Though David did as much as care and wisdom could perform for his own security yet he refers it all to God and reckons it His mercy only and his marvellous kindeness whereby he was preserved from danger made Master of Hierusalem and setled after all his troubles in so strong a City 19. In a strong City That 's the next In civitate munita In a fenced City saith the Latin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a City walled and ditched about as the Greek Text reads it In civitate robusta firmata A City strong in men and as strongly fortified in St. Hierom's Gloss. Only Tremelius with some notable difference from all men else doth translate it thus Benedictus Dominus Blessed be the Lord for she hath shewed his marvellous kindeness to me in as great a measure ut in civitate munita collocans me as if he had inclosed and kept me safe in a Town of War as if I had been billited and strongly garrison'd in a Fort and City T is true indeed Gods mercy is the surest Hold to which we may commit our safety the strongest Castle of defence to which we may intrust our persons A fortress against all our foes an Antidote against all Plagues a Remedy against all Diseases He that is so defended need no other Arms. Non eget Mauri Iaoulis nec arcu Not shield nor bow nor poysoned arrows Gods mercy is all kinde of weapons to him both for annoyance and defence No armour is so sure of proof but it may be broken nor Town so strong but may be taken nor wals so high and close to keep our contagion Put if Gods mercy doth protect us and his power defend us if we be compassed round about with his deliverance as with a wall we will not be affraid through war and poverty and sickness do conspire against us For we are sure that
26. Et De quo loquitur Propheta vel populus fidelis And in this place may be asked in the Eunuch's words Of whom here speaks the Prophet either of himself or of some other Not of himself alone saith Cassianus an old Christian Writer but in behalf of all Gods children of his faithful servants The Books of Psalms is so composed saith Athanasius that every man may read his own Story in them and find therein his own particular concernments and that as punctually as if the purpose of the Psalm had been addressed and fitted only unto his occasions Let it be so and then Who may not find the quality of our late afflictions and our deliverance together in this present Psalm and read the state of our affairs in the Story of David and then draw down an easie and familiar parallel betwixt the Persons and the mercies and the places too A parallel right worthy of the pen of Plutarch if any such were found amongst us but such as seems to have been done in part already by laying before you David's troubles and his great deliverance And therefore passing by those things which apply themselves and those in which the Story of both Princes seems to make but one we will observe the method which is used by Plutarch in laying down the points in which they differ or those wherein one party seems to have preheminence above the other 27. First then It may be truly said of our English David as Commodus not without vain-glory did affirm of himself Quem Primum Sol Principem hominem vidit that he was born a Prince and that the Sun did never otherwise behold him then as Heir to a Kingdom Which cannot be affirmed of David nor of David's Ancestors though all of them might live in expectation of obtaining that Scepter which had been promised to that Tribe in the person of Iudah And as his Birth was higher so his Fall was lower and his afflictions so much greater and the more insupportable because he was more tenderly bred and less able to bear them Nay they were greater in themselves then the heavyest sorrows that ever fell upon David in the time of his troubles who kept himself most commonly unto those retreats which his own Countrey did afford him and when he was compelled to retire to Moab or to sojourn in the Realm of Gath neither Saul's malice nor his power did pursue him there But so it was not in the case of our Royal Exile Driven out of all the Forts and Cities of his own Dominions by the power of his Enemies and by their practises not suffered to remain in France nor to be entertained in Holland compelled to shift from one Imperial City to another from the Higher to the Lower Germany but pursued in all seldom nor never free from their trains and treacheries who would not think themselves secure but in his destruction Sic aquilam fugiunt trepidae Columbae Never was Patridge flown at with a swifter wing by a well-train'd Falcon nor game more hotly followed by the fiercest Hounds than this poor Prince was chased by those mighty Hunters those Nimrods those Robusti Venatores as the Scripture calls them who had the building of that Babel which they raised amongst us They had their cunning Lime-hounds to draw Dry-foot after him and plyed the chase with all the Kennil at his Heels when the Hunt was up not with a purpose to call off when they had breathed their Horses or tryed their Dogs but with a merciless retreat to hunt him down and then to wash their cruel and accursed hands in his precious bloud as is accustomed in the fall of a Buck of Stagg 28. And as the dangers which accompanyed our English David were more transcendent in respect of his Sacred Person so were they far more grievous to him in respect of his party whose tears he put into his bottles whose stripes he bare on his own body and whose calamities did more afflict his righteous Soul then his own misfortunes And if we look upon his Party with an equal eye we shall soon find them to have suffered more and far heavier pressures in his cause and quarrel then all the Hebrew Nations did for the sake of David We read indeed of 85. Priests slaughtered by the cruelty and command of Saul But we may read of more than twenty times that number of our Regular Clergy all the Bishops Deans and Dignitaries and almost all the Heads of Houses imprisoned plundered sequestred ejected their wives and children miserably turn'd out of doors some of them left for dead in the open streets And why all this but for adhering to his Majesty and his Fathers house and to the Laws and the Religion here established and for no crime else But then again we do not read of any man of quality in the Tribes of Israel condemned and executed or otherwise deprived of Lands and Liberties for his well wishing unto David Amongst us nothing was more common than the imprisoning of our choisest and most able Gentry selling the Goods confiscating the Lands and calling those in question for their very lives whose known fidelity was imputed to them for their only crime For now we had attained to that height of wretchedness that Loyalty must pass for Treason and Treason must be Unicum eorum crimen quivacabant crimine as in the worst and most deplorable condition of the Roman Empire And thereupon it was concluded in the School of Tyrannus that they who were so prodigal of their Money Arms and Victuals to another man especially to one marked out for ruine by their mighty Masters should have no bread to feed their Families or money to maintain themselves or other Arms but Prayers and Tears to save them from the violence of unjust Oppression even from Death it self 29. Besides it might be some alleviation unto David's followers to suffer by the hands of a lawful King a King set over them by God by the Lord himself whose Power they were not to resist whose Person was too Sacred and his Authority too transcendent to be called in question But it must be a torment unexpressible to a generous spirit to be trode underfoot by an Adoni-bezek to have their lives and Vineyards taken from them at the will of an Ahab to see the Bramble Reign as King over all the Trees our tallest Oakes felled down by a shrub of yesterday and all the goodly Cedars of the Church grubbed up to make room for a stinking Elder 30. In the next place as the calamities which fell upon our English David and his faithful followers were more in number and more grievous then all those which had been suffered by the other so was the kindness of the Lord more marvellous in his preservation the hand of God more visible in his Restitution And first the kindness was more marvellous in his Preservation because we do not find that David ever hazarded his own