grace this woman would haue the courtiers and seruants of Salomon to coÌ„fesse that blessing which she had found in hauing so wise a gouerner and teacher Seuenthly she reioyceth and blesseth God for Salomons instructions so that is the dutie of good hearers as to be thankefull to the men and meanes of their conuersion so much more to God the author and giuer of all good as Dauid blessed Abâ—gaâ—l so first of all he blessed God for her counsell And the same Dauid saith to the Lord I will praise thee with an vpright heart when I shall learne the iudgeâ—ments of thy righteousnes And againe seauen times a day doe I praise thee because of thy righteous iudgements And in another place he exhorteth Ierusalem to praise God as for peace and plentie so chiefely for that he had shewed his word to Iacob his statutes and iudgements to Israel he hath not dealt so with euery nation saith he neither haue they knowne his iudgements praise ye the Lord. Our Sauiour himselfe reioyceth in his spirit and giueth thankes to his heauenly Father for the good successe of the Gospell when Phillip preached in Samaria with great power profit there was great ioy in that Citie the Infidel being conuerted by the preaching of the word blesseth God Eightly good hearers after this royall example are to be bountifull and thankefull to their teachers she giues vnto Salomon abundance of gold sweet odours exceeding much as you may see in the next verse following this our text It may be some will say that Salomoâ— had no need of such gifts hauing such abundance of wealth and riches It is true yet he doth accept it and requiteth her kindnes with precious presents and gaue her whatsoeuer she asked so that she went home richer then she came richer I am sure in grace and diuine wisedome yet in giuing Salomon such precious gifts she shewed her thankefulnes thinking nothing too deare for such a teacher And though the ministers be not able to requite the kindnesses and liberalities of men yet God is able to doe it and he hath promised to blesse and reward all true friends and benefactors to his seruants And yet the people must knowe that they receiue from good ministers more gaine and profit then they doe from them the ministers they offer and deliuer heauenly misteries the Iewells and treasures of the word the spirituall foode of the soule which is more precious then thousands of gold and siluer they receiue from the people onely earthly and outward maintenance prouision and substance for this bodie and life and therefore the people haue no cause to grudge the maintenance of good ministers seeing if they make their accounts aright the gaine is theirs The Apostle saith Such as labour in word and doctrine are worthie of double honor That is of reuerence and munificence And againe Let him that is taught in the word make him that hath taught him partaker of all his goods they that sowe spirituall things are worthie to reape temporall things And the Lord hath ordained that they that preach the Gospell should liue of the Gospell It is the law of nature equitie and thankfulnes that such should be maintained being spirituall pastors fathers and souldiers and spending themselues as a candle for the common good The good Shunamite is kinde and liberall to Elisha the Prophet not suffring him to want either foode or lodging Holie women in the Gospell ministred vnto Christ and maintained him of their owne substance Cornelius kindly entertaineth Peter Lâ—dea euen constrained Paul and his companie to come to her house And the Iaylor conuerted refresheth Paule and Silaâ— his prisoners And thus you may plainly see in this worthie example eight notes and markes of good hearers Some before this Texte some in this text and some after and these notes doe containe and comprehend the whole storie of this worthie Queene And now because this whole text is a praise and commendation of Salomon let vs learne from hence that vertue and wisedome is to be commended in whom soeuer we finde it A man saith Salomonâ— shal be commended for his wisedome and not only great personages but the poorest are to be commended for vertue Better is a poore nise childe saith Salomon then an olde and foolish King which will no more be admonished And againe Better is Wisedome then strength Yet the wisedome of the poore is despised And in an other place Better is the poore that walketh in his vprightnes then he that peruerteth his wayes though hee be rich Saint Iames reprooueth this parcialitie in men who esteeme highlie and magnifie rich men bee they neuer so wicked and despise poore men such as are chosen of God rich in Faith and heyreâ— of the Kingdome Those that honor mee shall be honoured saith the Lorde and those that despise mee shall be despised God himselfe commendeth and praiseth such He saith of Iob that he was an vpright and iust man one that feared GOD and eschued euill Christ commendeth Iohn the Baptist saying There was not a greater Prophet amongst womens children Zacharie the Priest and his wife Elizabeth are said both by the holie Ghost to bee iust before God and to walke in all the commandements of God without reproofe And Simeon is saide to bee a iust man fearing God and wayting for the consolation of Israel And Christ writing to the seuen Churches Though hee hath something against most of them worthie of blame and reproofe yet hee commendeth anie good thing in them Yea he especially commendeth the church of Smyrna though in persecution and pouertie accounting it rich in grace and spirituall treasures So that it is lawfull and it is our dutie to commend and praise vertue and goodnes in anie the behauiour of good men is such as deserueth draweth loue and praise And this doth incourage them to go forward in goodnes and doth prouoke others to follow their example as the shadow doth follow the bodie so Honor and praise doth follow vertue sometime the wicked doe praise their vertues and are forced to commend them and though they doe it not yet righteous men commonly will praise them and the more godly wise that men are the more praise they deserue and we must take heed that our praise be moderate iust and without flatterie aboue all things we must take heed that we praise not without cause and desert that we neuer iustifie nor commeÌ„d the wicked remembring that there is a fearefull woe pronounced against them that speake good of euill euill of good The vse of this doctrine is for the reproofe of many as of those that are so blind and senseles that they cannot see and discerne the grace of God in men others are so dumbe and vnthankfull that though they be partakers of many graces from others which they must needs see
body wee may haue too much surfet of it to our hurt yet it is not so in this spirituall foode wee may be too wise in the world too wise in our owne conceit but we can neuer haue too much of this spirituall wisedome so long as we liue in this world and he that is most wise or holie hath his wants and doth dayly desire increase of grace Corporall food saith one when wee haue it not doth breed in vs a great desire to haue it when we haue it and eate it and fill our selues with it we oftentimes loath it but on the contrary spirituall dainties and foode when wee haue them not we loath them when we haue them in truth we the more desire them In bodilie foode appetite breedeth fulnesse and fulnesse breedeth loathing in spirituall foode appetite breedeth fulnesse and fulnesse breedeth appetite and desire for spirituall daynties when they feede and fill they doe increase in the minde an earnest and ardent desire Therefore oh worthie Citizens confesse and acknowledge this great blessing of God vpon you be thankful to God for it others confesse this blessing vpon you they are glad reioyce for it and would be more glad to haue the like blessing in some sort amongst themselues they take paines to come to take some part with you in this grace and many neighbours and strangers haue receiued much comfort and profit by these blessed gracious meanes which you enioy in such abundance It may be some amongst you do scarcely confesse this blessing they thinke it needlesse or that they may well spare it but most vnkind vnthankfull are these without grace or vnderstanding Others say happie are you but they can neither feele nor see any such happines It may be some of Salomons Courtiers and seruants thought it no great happines to haue such a maister such a diuine teacher to be partakers of such heauenly wisedome but yet this woman a stranger a Gentill pronounceth them happie and happie were they indeed if they knew their owne happinesse And I doubt not but many of you doe acknowledge with ioy this to be the chiefe happinesse of your citie to haue so long time so sincerely in such varietie of gifts so plentifullie the true wisedome of Christ preached and published amongst you Indeed the Lord hath not dealt so with euery nation with euery towne or citie Nay the Lord hath stricken many countreys and townes with palpable darknes but there is light cleare light the day light yea the cleare light of the sunne in this worthie place where you dwâ—ll Many places haue long endured the most bitter famine of the soule they haue bin depriued destitute many yeres of the sweet bread of life but here hath bin many yeares plentie and others come hither to get food and sustenance for their soules We therefore brethren as helpers exhort you that you receiue not this grace of God in vaine but receiue with meekenes the word that is grafted in you which is able to saue your â—oules And here by your patieÌ„ce let me stir you vp to more care and diligence in resorting to Sermons on the weeke day There is great negligence and slacknes in some not onely of the common prophane sort but also of some professors of the Gospel a fault I say in neglecting so many Sermons which they might heare if slothfulnesse worldlinesse or some idle conceit did not hinder them If wee did sincerely loue this wisedome and esteeme it as our chiefe felicitie wee would neglect no time nor meanes which is offered to vs hee that truely loueth the word doth loue it at all times A Sermon in the weeke day tryeth our true loue to the word On the Saboth day men are compelled to come by force of lawe all sorts of men come then Publicans and Pharises Atheists and time-seruers but to come on the weeke-day when law doth not bind vs when we haue other occasions to hold vs back it is a more sure signe of our sincere loue zeale to the word And though the Saboth day be chiefly ordeined for diuine seruice and Sermons that day we are wholie to giuâ— ourselues to such exercises without distraction and though the Lord giue vs liberty to worke the sixe daies yet we owe him all the dayes of our life and euery day we are to prefer heauenly things before earthly and the soule before the body when occasion is offered whensoeuer the Lord calleth though it bee to the losie of the best things we haue Euery one is to answere with Abraham Heere I am and with Samuell after hee knew it to be the Lordes voyce speak Lord for thy seruant heareth And with the Aposties to be ready to forsake all when CHRIST calleth Euery day we are to preferre Heauen before earth things most necessarie before things lesse necessary things publike before things priuate This care and pollicie we haue in the matters of the world Euery day wee must remember and practise these holy scriptures Thou shalt loue the Lord thy GOD with all thy minde with all thy soule That wisedome is the beginning that wee must first seeke Gods kingdome and labour for the meate that neuer perisheth and that there is one thing needfull Oh that wee would often thinke with our selues how much we are bouÌ„d to God how many duties he requireth of vs how many graces we want how weake we are in faith and knowledge Oh that wee would seriously remember the vanity of riches and pleasures the shortnes of this life the comforts of the Worde the great necessity and vse of it in all the occasions of our life And that we would consider how dull and forgetful we are what measure of knowledge zeale loue and sanctification is required of vs what account wee are to make for not hearing for losse of many Sermons which we might haue heard and what a blessing the plentifull preaching of the word is then would wee thinke no time too much nor too long that is spent about it but would say with this woman Happy are they that may alwayes heare such wisedome And if it be a happy thing to heare then are they vnhappy which heare not Those that keep themselues from hearing they hinder their owne happines Some say they goe to a Sermon when they haue nothing to doe As who should say they would not goe if they had anie thing to doe at all but these doe not rightly esteeme of wisdome preferring it before all things Nay as it seemeth they preferre all things before it There is a promise of blessednes made to such as come though they be neuer so small a number But there is no such promise made to them which vppon light occasions absent themselues from holy meetings Nay our Sauiour Christ threatneth such that they shall neuer taste of his heauenly Supper There is nothing lost by seruing of God at any time to such onely he promiseth
Salomon Giue vnto thy seruant an vnderstanding heart to iudge thy people that he may discerne betweene good and bad For who is able to iudge this so mighty a people This doctrine serueth also to reproue conuince and condemne all rebels traytors and seditious spirits which make insurrection against their lawfull Soueraigne And hereby all good subiects are encouraged to loue honour and obey their lawfull Rulers and with this Queene to blesse and praise God for the happinesse of good Gouernement And considering the manifold blessings which wee receiue by good Rulers as Iustice peace punishment of euill doers defence against forraigne and domesticall foes reliefe for the poore comfort to the good fruition of liberty yea freedome of the Gospell and true Religion Considering I say so many and so great benefites which wee enioy vnder Christian Magistrates let vs all with this Queene blesse God for so happy gouernement And indeede all true English Christian hearts haue iust cause to reioyce and praise God for his Maiesties happy reigne amongst vs both for his entrance and continuance What feares what perplexities and doubts had we at the death of our late Soueraigne What boasting what hopes and triumphing of the Aduersaries who made account they had that day which they long looked and gaped for They had spoken it often and thought it often in their hearts saying and thinking with Esau The dayes of mourning for my father wil come shortly then wil I slay my brother Iacob The best had cause to feare in respect of the horrible and manifold sinnes of the Land deseruing such a iudgement But blessed bee God who cared for vs though we little cared for him He presently prouided another gracious Soueraigne for vs the next in bloud a Christian Prince a man of wisedome and experience in Gouernement After Moses succeded Iosuah after Dauid Salomon Let vs say with the Prophet Thou hast saued vs ô Lord from our aduersaries and hast put them to confusion that hate vs therefore will we praise God continually will confesse thy name for euer It may be said of diuers other Countries There is no peace to him that goeth out and in amongst them but great troubles are to all their inhabitants But it may be said of vs as the Lord saith to Dauid Behold a Sonne is borne to thee which shall bee a man of rest for I will giue him rest from all his enemies round about therefore his name is Salomon And I will send peace and quietnesse vpon Israel in his daies c. And that which the Prophet Ieremy speaketh is fulfilled amongst vs Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I wil◠raise vnto Dauid a righteous branch and a King shall reigne and prosper and shall execute iudgment and iustice in the earth In his daies Iudah shall bee saued and Israell shall dwell safely How much are wee beholden to God that so soone and suddenly turned our sorrow and feare into ioy and gladnesse and doth still continue and confirme the same vnto vs Though weeping was in the euening yet ioy came in the morning As the cold waters to a weary soule so good newes from a farre countrey did cheere and refresh our hearts Wherefore praise the Lord ô Ierusalem praise thy God ô Sion for he hath made the barre of thy gates strong and hath blessed thy children within thee Hee setteth peace in thy borders and satisfieth thee with the flowre of Wheate He sheweth his word to Iacob his statutes and his iudgements to Israel He hath not dealt so with euery Nation neither haue they knowne his iudgements Praise yee the Lord. O that we had hearts to think seriously of these benefits which we enioy vnder his Maiesty and that we were truly thankfull for them then might we hope for the continuance and increase of these blessings But our iniquities haue turned away these things and our sinnes haue hidden good things from vs. O that we had such hearts and tongues that wee might continually with ioy say in our soules Blessed be God for his so great and vndeserued blessings bestowed vpon this sinfull land blessed be his name for all good Lawes good Gouernours and good Gouernement vnder his gracious Maiestie One thing more I obserue worthy of commendation both in this Queene and in Salomon It is worthy of memory in her that shee made choyce of such a Teacher and Schoole-maister And indeede shee could not at that time make a better choyce in the world Dionysius made choyce of Donatus for his Schoole-maister in Grammer and Victorinus for Rhetoricke and Gregery Nazianzene for Theology Theophrastes made choyce of Aristotle to be his teacher Aristotle made choyce of Plato and Plato made choyce of Socrates These were all wise in their choyce but this Queene goeth beyond them all choosing Salomon for her Teacher who excelled all men in the world both in humane and Diuine wisedome And as she made choyce of him so she was content to bee taught by him and profited much by his instructions as wee haue already heard Yea she so profited that in some sort she teacheth him and putteth him in minde of his duety Shee remembreth Gods mercies towards him and admonisheth him of the end of his place and calling And it is worthy of commendation in Salomon that as hee was willing to teach her so he is content to bee taught by her And if Salomon had but remembred this her admonition it might haue beene a pretious preseruatiue against those horrible and grosse sinnes into which he most fearfully fell in his old dayes But he forgot the loue and mercies of God towards him he forgot his high place and dignity he forgot the end why God had placed him and the rules of Equity and Righteousnesse Yet this is worthy of commendation in him that at this time hee doth not as some would haue done reiect the admonition of this woman being farre his inferiour He might haue said Doest thou take vpon thee to teach me seeing thou camest to learne of me I know my duty wel enough I need no teaching But Salomon doth take in good part her good counsell and doth still most louingly and kindly entertaine her From hence we are to learne that wee must be content to receiue good counsel admonition and instruction from any though they be farre our inferiours Such as bee truely humble and lowly in their owne eyes are content to receiue good doctrine from meane persons they are not ashamed to learne of any yong or old learned or vnlearned good or bad men or women they are not ashamed to confesse their ignorance wants and infirmities they do not contemne the plaine stile of teaching which is agreeing to Scripture they can be content to receiue good drinke not onely in cups of gold siluer but also in cups of pewter wood and stone Worthy is that counsell of an ancient Father There is no age
and bodies he did not thunder or threaten hâ—aâ—ie iudgements but freely promise remission of sinnes and freely offereth the inheritance of eternall life and yet they say he hath a diuell and they pursue and hate him to death so farre are they from being drawne to repentance by his heauenly doctrine Therefore most iustly doth our Sauiour both alledge the example of this woman and the example of the Niniuites to their shame and condemnation This may seeme very hard and heauie to some but it is most true and confirmed by common sense and reason that those shall be most seuerely punished which are not moued by such meanes as haue moued many other those I say are in most heauie case which haue moe and greater meanes of repentance and yet haue not repented this will lye heauie vpon all contemners of the word vpon all false Christians vpon all vnprofitable and vnthankefull hearers though they come of Christian parents though they professe heare and be partakers of the Sacraments yet this will not serue the turne if they be inferiour to them in grace and goodnes and so condemned by their example that had either no knowledge of religion or lesse meanes then they such men sometimes to their shame the Lord sendeth them not onely to the heathen but also to the very bruite beasts to learne of them Heare ô heauens and hearken ô earth for the Lord hath sayd I haue nourished and brought vp children but they haue rebelled against me The Oxe knoweth his owner and the Asse his masters cribbe but Israel hath not knowne my people hath not vnderstood His meaning is that the very bruite and and dull beasts are more kind and more dutifull to their Maisters and feeders then many people are to God their Creator preseruer and redeemer And in an other place he complaineth saying I hearkned heard but none spake right no man repented him of his wickednes saying What haue I done euery one turneth to the rase as the horse rusheth into the battel euen the storke in the aire knoweth her appointed times and the Crane the Turtle and the Swallow obserue the time of the comming but my people knoweth not the iudgement of the Lord. The meaning is that these birds doe better knowe and obserue the seasons of Summer Winter cold and heate then his people did the times of mercy and iudgements The greater means the longer time and the more plentifull we haue it the heauier shal be our iudgement if we profit not by it And therefore our Sauiour Christ did most of all vpbraide and threaten those cities where he preached most and wrought most miracles because they repented not Woe be to thee Chorazin sayth he woe be to thee Bethsaida for if the great workes which were done in you had beene done in Tyrus and Sydon they had repented long agoe in sack cloth and ashes but I say to you it shall be easier for Tyrus and Sydon at the day of iudgment then for you And thou Capernaum which art lifted vp to heauen shalt be brought downe to hell for if the great workes which haue beene done in thee had beene done among them of Sodom they had remained to this day but I say to you It shall be easier for them of the land of Sodom in the day of iudgement then for thee In these places he did many of his greatest workes and that a long time yea so many so great workes as might haue moued the very Infidels to repentance his works doe comprehend his doctrine for the more confirmation of his doctrine these people they heard Christ teaching they receiued and entertained him they saw his miracles they accepted his benefits both corporall and spirituall the benefits and priuiledges were very great which he vouchsafed them he did not deale so with euery Nation Citie or Towne It is a great mercie to haue a Prophet though it be to our cost paines but Christ came to them freely vndesired vnsought for It is a mercie to haue the word without miracles but they had both his word and miracles It is a fauour to see Christ and to heare him though it were but once but they heard and saw him many times and yet they are vnthankefull and disobedient But let vs more neerely consider what Christ speaketh of the citie of Capernaum it was a famous citie of Galilie and had some speciall prerogatiue aboue the rest for the Sonne of God beginning his kingdome and priesthood he did choose that citie as his Pallace and Sanctuarie there he liued and dwelt amongst them This is the chiefe glorie of Cities to entertaine Christ and his Gospel This doth as it were lift them vp to heauen but if they repent not but still continue their sinnes and abuse the mercies of God their iudgement shall be the heauier The grace of God is tyed to no place nor person he will spare none if they abuse his mercies and this maketh much to the shame and condemnation of the Pope of Rome who glorieth that he is Christs Vicar Peters successor and that Rome is the Metropolitane and Mother-Church of all the world Though this be most false yet if it were true he must know that the more promises and priuiledges they haue they must looke for the greater iudgements Idolatrie pride vncleanesse vnthankfulnesse incredulitie and other like sinnes haue bin the ruine and destruction of many famous Cities which haue had greater promises greater priuiledges then euer Rome had Memorable and fearefull is the example of Ierusalem which was called the citie of God the holie citie a figure of the spirituall and heauenly Church of the which the Psalmist speaketh excellent things God is knowne in Iuda his name is great in Israel that there are thrones for iudgement euen the thrones of the house of Dauid Pray for peace of Ierusalem let them prosper that loue thee The Prophet Esai saith The law shall goe forth of Syon the word of the Lord from Ierusalem What Citie had euer greater priuiledges and yet according to Christ prophecying it is long since come to miserable ruine and desolation the Iewes that were once the people of God haue beene long since reiected the naturall branches are cast off and they are become a lamentable spectacle to all the world for the contempt of Gods word and abusing of his mercies The like fearefull examples we haue in the seuen Churches of Asia of the which S. Iohn speaketh in his Reuelation they were planted by the Apostles themselues they professed the Gospell of Christ they had the word and Sacraments they had all the prerogatiues priuiledges and markes of true Churches yet are they long since quite ouerthrowne for their vnthankfulnes and disobedience to the Gospell What then shall become of Papists Athists Recusants despiâ—ers mockers Pagannes and Infidells when as such as haue receiued the Gospell and entertained it shall be in harder and heauier estate in the day of iudgement then
in Ahab his time They flie as birdes for shelter But when the godly rule the righteous swarme as Bees in a sunnie day They multiplie and fill the Churches and shew their faces bouldly and openly The necessitie and commoditie of kings may be seene in the vniuersall order of nature The chiefe Philosophers Plato Aristotle and Apollonious did see and feele that as generally there is one chiefe Creator and maker of all things and as among the starres the sunne beareth the chiefe light as among Bees there is one chiefe king as the flockes and heards of beasts haue one guide and ruler finally as the cranes doe follow one leader So there ought to be in a common-wealth one king as head by whom all the members may consent And this reason of the common-wealth declared by the instinct of nature God hath more euidently opened in the holy scripture and maketh mention of kings and doth approue and allowe their authoritie with his owne mouth as we haue heard before and the words of this woman doth approue and testifie the same She blesseth God for this king who had set him in his owne throne She acknowledgeth God the author of this kind of gouernment so that the authoritie of kings is a sacred and diuine ordinance But it will be obiected How is God the author of this kind of gouernment when as Salomon was but the third King that Israel had they had no King at all before Saul who was a wicked King giuen to them not in loue but in wrath and that at the vnlawfull and turbulent desire of the people wherein they sinned both against God and Samuel For thus it is written That the Elders of Israel gathered them together and came to Samuel vnto Ramath and saide vnto him Behold thou art olde and thy sonnes walke not in thy waies make vs now a King to iudge vs like all nations But the thing displeased Samuel when they said giue vs a King to iudge vs and Samuel prayed vnto the Lord. And the Lord saide vnto Samuel Heare the voyce of the people in all that they shall say vnto thee for they haue not cast thee away but they haue cast me away that I should not raigne ouer them As they haue euer done since I brought them out of Egypt euen vnto this day and haue forsaken me and serued other gods euen so doe they to thee Now therefore hearken vnto their voyce howbeit yet testifie vnto them and shew them the manner of the king that shall raigne ouer them Behold heere are a people great and small affecting and desiring a king hauing had none before yet their desire is displeasing to God and Samuel the reason is why God misliked their petition because they did now cast off that forme of gouernment which God himselfe had ordained for them They aske that which would be hurtfull vnto them and that with an obstinate and bad minde But it will be obiected that they had a commandement and warrant from God who said thus vnto the forefathers when thou shalt come into the land which the Lord thy God giueth thee and shalt possesse it and dwell therein If thou say I will set a king ouer me like as all the nations that are about me then thou shalt make him ouer thee whom the Lord thy God shall chuse from among thy brethren shalt thou make a King ouer thee Thou shalt not set a stranger ouer thee which is not thy brother Behold here the allowance of God to chuse themselues a king so he be not a stranger And whereas it is said the Lord should chuse them a king they come in this place to him that be would make choyce of a king for them how doe they then offend in this their petition and desire Indeed their desire is not simplie euill of it selfe for if it were so it might not haue beene graunted but their desire is not to this end to haue the word of God performed but to satisfie their owne humors They should haue stayed Gods time and leisure but they distrust God and are most vnthankfull to Samuel despising him in his olde age neither doe they aske a king according to Gods appoyntment and institution But let vs haue a king say they as other nations haue be he good or bad But yet if God would as it fell out after giue them a king why is he angry with them for asking a king because they did aske it with a bad minde offering some iniurie to Samuel yet in his secret will and purpose his meaning was to giue them a king He disliked in this people their distrust and difficience who relied more vpon man then God their bouldnes in attempting so rashly and suddenly to erect a new forme of gouernment He misliked the contempt of his owne gouernment in that contemning him their king they sought a certaine king after the example of other nations and so they were wearie of Gods order And yet the gouernment of kings doth not shut out the gouernment of God but God doth raigne by kings as well as he reigned by iudges The king is the minister of God his seruant and deputie he sitteth in his place and throne and God is the author of his office and authoritie as we may see in this place And this forme of gouernment hath beene of many nations much desired This principalitie or kingdome was first begun as it is thought by the Egyptians who could liue no while without a king And we finde in the booke of Geneses which is most ancient that the Aegyptians had their kings one after an other And whereas in the administratioÌ„ of a common weale there hath beene long since three sortes or kindes of gouernments set downe the one Monarchie an other Aristocratie when the best gouerne the third Democrati or popular state when the common people haue a stroake in ruling the publike weale The first kinde of gouernment is thought as good as any if not the best of all For when counsell or gouernment is in the power of one In the gouernment of the common-wealth all things are more easily performed In the other two kinds of gouernmeÌ„ts one oftentimes saith one thing and others will not graunt it and they are not easily agreed Heere one hath a stroake the preheminence and prerogatiue of commaunding and graunting The whole world is ruled and gouerned by one and what can be better or more wisely gouerned The gouernment by Iudges was not very strong but almost voluntarie and therefore more contemptible but in the gouernment of a king there is more maiestie in their kingly pompe and glory which is a more admiration and a wonder to the people and is a meanes to keepe them in better order and subiection The name of a king hath beene alwaies famous great most glorious and sacred amongst all nations of the world But yeâ— sâ—e the madnesse and inconstancie of this people They egerly desired a king and when