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A91279 The signal loyalty and devotion of God's true saints and pious Christians, especially in this our island towards their kings: (as also of some idolatrous pagans) Both before, and under the law and gospel; expressed by their private and publick prayers, supplications, intercessions, thanksgivings, well-wishes for the health, safety, long life, prosperity, temporal, spiritual, eternal felicity of the kings and emperours under whom they lived, whether pagan or Christian, bad or good, heterodox or orthodox, Papists or Protestants, persecutors or protectors of them: and likewise for their royal issue, posterity realms; and by their dutiful conscientious obedience and subjection to them; with the true reasons thereof from scripture and policy. Evidenced by presidents and testimonies in all ages, worthy the knowledg, imitation, and serious consideration of our present degenerated disloyal, antimonarchical generation. In two parts. By William Prynne Esq; late bencher, and reader of Lincolns-In; Signal loyalty and devotion of Gods true saints and pious Christians, towards their kings. Parts 1 and 2. Prynne, William, 1600-1669. 1680 (1680) Wing P4082A; ESTC R229902 277,267 460

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Progeny our selves and our Posterity and for the preventing suppressing and final rooting out of the spring issue and fruit of all such hellish and popish hearts intentions and practices to the everlasting praise and glory of thy blessed name Hear us we pray thee O Father of mercy in these our most humble and needfull petitions forgive and answer us according to thy fatherly and great goodnesse for Jesus Christ his sake to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost three Persons and one God be all praise glory and power now and for ever Amen A Prayer for the Parliament used also in the House II. ALmighty God which by thy holy Prophet David art most truly said to stand in the Congregation of Princes and givest judgement in the midst of the mighty men of the world and through whom Princes do reign Law-makers do discern just things Lords bear rule and all Judges of the earth execute judgement and for that cometh of thee all Counsel and equity all understanding and strength grant unto us here gathered together in thy name that wisdom which is alwaies assistant to thy seat to give knowledge to our feeble and ignorant minds Send down we beseech thee the same wisdom out of thy holy heavens and from the throne of thy Majesty that is may be now with us and labour with us whereby we surely knowing what is acceptable unto thee may be led through it to the debating weighing and final determining of those matters by the which thy blessed Name may be glorified thy Catholick Church of England confirmed and increased the Kings assurance established the common tranquillity of this Realm safely maintained and last of all all estates and people thereof in true obedience and charity united and knit together Grant this O God for thy only Sons sake Jesus Christ our Lord Amen In the Lords House the Collects and Prayers in the Common Prayer Book and Letany for the King Queen Prince and Royal Posterity with other prayers were daily used by the Bishops and Peers during their Session To mention all the particular Prayers for the King Queen and Royal posterity comprised in Books of private Prayers and Devotion as the Practice of Piety and the like and Epistles Dedicatory perfixed to hundreds of Books and Sermons dedicated to King James by Bishops Ministers and others of all sorts and in usual Graces before and after meals would be both infinite and nauseous being commonly known and obvious to all and therefore I shall wholy pretermit them the substance of them being comprised in those Prayers already mentioned I shall now proceed to the reign of our late King Charles who as he had constant Supplications and Prayers made for him in all Cathedral and Parish Churches Chapels Colledges most private families and in our Parliaments themselves by name during all King James his reign as Duke of York and Prince of Wales so after his comming to the Crown March 27. 1645. till January 1648. he had the like publike and private Prayers Intercessions and Supplications made for him throughout his 3. Realms as King and for his Queen and royal Posteritie not only by our preaching Ministers in their prayers before their Sermons and by most others in their morning and evening family and closet prayers Graces before or after meales as our own experience attests but likewise these special set Prayers Petitions and Collects in our Letany and common Prayer Book which I shall here transcribe because almost quite forgotten by above 12. whole years discontinuance in most Churches Families too In the publike Letany ordered to be read thrice every week or oftener upon occasion there are these several Prayers and Petitions to God That it would please thee to keep and strengthen in the true worshipping of thee in righteousnesse and holinesse of life thy servant Charles our most gracious King and Governor That it may please thee to rule his heart in thy faith fear and love and that he may evermore have affiance in thee and ever seek thy honour and glory That it may please thee to be his defender and keeper giving him the victory over all his Enemies That it may please thee to blesse and preserve our gratious Queen Mary Prince Charles and the rest of the Royal Issue After every of which several Prayers and Supplications all the People severally answered We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. After which followed these two Prayers for the Kings Majestie the Queen Prince and Royal Issue and read twice every day in most places O God our heavenly Father high and mighty King of Kings and Lord of Lords the only Ruler of Princes which dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold our most Gracious Soveraign Lord King Charles and so replenish him with the grace of thy holy Spirit that he may alwaies incline to thy will and walk in thy way endue him plentifully with heavenly gifts Grant him in health and wealth long to live strengthen him that he may vanquish and overcome all his Enemies and finally after this life he may attain everlasting joy and felicity through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Almighty God the Father of thine elect and of their seed which Bishop Laud changed into the fountain of all goodnesse we humbly beseech thee to blesse our gracious Queen Mary Prince Charles and the rest of the royal issue Endue them with thy holy Spirit enrich them with thy Heavenly grace prosper them with all happinesse and bring them to thine everlasting Kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen In the Prayer for the whole Estate of Christs Church there is this Clause relating to Kings in general and King Charles in particular We beseech thee also to save and defend all Christian Kings Princes and Governors and Specially thy servant Charles our King that under him we may be godly and quietly Governed When these Prayers and Collects with the Book of Common-Prayer were suspended by the Directory of the publike worship of God in most places throughout the 3 Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland Printed by order of both Houses 13 Martii 1644. yet the substance of them was still continued by the very Directory it self during the heat of the late Wars between the King and Parliament witnesse p. 10 11. of publike Prayer before the Sermon wherein all Ministers are directed To pray for all in Authority especially for the Kings Majesty that God would make him rich in blessings both in Person and Government establish his Throne in Religion and righteousnesse save him from all evil Counsel and make him a blessed and glorious Instrument for the Conservation and Propagation of the Gospel for the Encouragement and Protection of those that do well and the terror of all that do evil and the great good of the whole Church and of all his Kingdoms for the Conversion of the Queen the Religious education of the
purposely instituted to make daily prayers and supplications for the Kings safety and eternal salvation and the peace of the Nation Theodorus Archbishop of Canterbury about the year of Christ 680. thus inscribes his Epistle to Ethelred King of Mercians touching Wilfrid Archbishop of York Ethelredo gloriosissimo excellentissimo Regi Merciorum Theodorus c. In Domino perennem salutem c. Then subjoyns Oculi mei jucundam faciem tuam videant Benedicat tibi anima mea antequam moriar c. Praying for his perpetual health in the Lord and blessing him with his Soul before his death Pope Agatho begins his Epistle to Aethelred King of Mercians Anno 680. thus Agatho c. Aethelredo glorioso Merciorum Regi salutem a Deo et Benedictionem nostram And this King the very same and the next year in his Charters of Lands to the Church of St. Peter of Cantertury gives Lands tàm pro salute animae meae ac pro orationè Fratrum that the Freers therein might pray for him and for the salvation of his soul The Synod of Berghamsted under Withred King of Kent Anno 697. Can. 1. made this decree Pro Rege preces fiant mandatisque ejus non urgente necessitate sed ex sponte obediunto Let prayers be made for the King and let his commands be obeyed not from compelling necessity but from a voluntary minde King Ina in his Charter Anno 704. by the Decree and Counsel of his Prelat Adelm the suggestion of all his Priests and upon the Petition of all the Monks in the Province of the West-Saxons granted this Priviledge to the Monks of Glastonbury Abby ut sine impedimento secularium rerum absque tributo fiscalium negotiorum liberis mentibus sub Deo serviant monasticam disciplinam Christo suffragium largiente regulariter exerceant et pro statu et prosperitate Regni nostri et Indulgentia commissorum criminum ante conspectum Divinae Majestatis Preces fundere dignentur et orationum officia frequentantes in Ecclestis pro nostri fragilitate interpellars nitantur Most antient Monasteries as well as this being specially founded and endowed by our Kings and their Successors for this purpose that they might pray for them and their Realms their Parents Children and Successors tempor●l spiritual and eternal felicity as the Charters of their foundations and endowments in Monasticon Anglicanum pars 1. 2. and other Authors attest About the year 714. Abbot Ceolfrid writ a large Epistle to Naitan King of Picts concerning Easter and the Tonsure of Clerks beginning thus Domino excellentissimo gloriosissimo Regi Naitano Ceolfridus Abbas In Domino salutem and ending with this Prayer for him Gratia te Regis aeterni longiori tempore regnantem ad nostram omnium pacem custodiat incolumem dilectissime in Christo fili And if Abbots Clergy-men then thus prayed for their health safety long-life and the publike peace of the Nation in their Epistles to Kings much more did they thus pray for them in their private and publike Devotions Ethelred King of Mercians in the year of Christ 716. in the presence of his Bishops and Nobles by his Charter gave and granted the whole Island of Croyland to God the Virgin Mary and St. Barthollomew to found an Abby therein for the black Monks submitting himself wholy to the mercy and piety of Christ and commending himself Sanctae matris Ecclesiae precibus to the Prayers of his holy Mother the Church and particularly to the Prayers of St. Guthlac the Confessor and Anchorite Whence a Poet thus writ of him Ethelbaldus c. Oret pro nobis sanctissimus iste Sacerdos Guthlacus Ad tumbam cujus haec mea dona dedi A clear evidence that the Churches and Ministers of Christ in England did then constantly pray for their Christian Kings who specially recommended themselves to their prayers Our venerable and most learned Beda doth very much p●esse this Duty of Prayer for Kings though Pagans and Persecutors from sundry Texts of Scripture on which he comments In his Expositiones allegoricae in Ezram l. 2. c. 7. Et offerant oblationes Deo Coeli Orentque pro vita Regis et Filiorum ejus He thus comments Offerunt autem ea Sacerdotes iidem pro vita Regis et Filliorum ejus juxta illud Ap● stoli 1 Tim. 2. Obsecro igitur primò omnium fieri obsecrationes orationes postulationes gratiarum actiones pro omnibus hominibus pro Regibs omnibus qui in sublimitate sunt ut quietam tranquillam vitam agamus c. And in his Exposition on the 1 Tim. 2. 1 2 3. Tom. 7. p. 708 709 710. he recites and approves the passages of St. Augustin at large recited in the next Chapter commanding Prayers Supplications Int●rcessions and Thanksgivings to be made not only for Christian and pious Kings but even for Pagans and Idolaters though vitious though Persecutors of the Gospel and sincere Professors thereof Our famous Council of Cloves●o under Archibishop Cathbert Anno Dom. 747. cap. 30. De orando pro Rege decreed Vt deincepts per canonicas Orationum horas non solum pro se Ecclesiastici sive Monasteriales sed etiam pro Regibus ac Ducibus totiusque populi Christiani incolumitate Divinam incessan●èr exorent clementiam quatenus Quietam et Tranquillam Vitam sub eorum pia defensione mereantur agere Et ut ita post haec unanimes existerent in Deum fide spe caritate seipsos invicem diligerent etiam post hujus peregrinationis pericula ad supernam pervenire pariter mereanter patriam The reason of making this Canon for incessant Prayers for Kings Dukes and Princes is thus expressed in the preceding part thereof that there was a scandal and suspition raised amongst the Priests of God inferiour Clergy that they had an ill opinion of Kings Dukes and Princes as too many have now Hoc est quod Reges cum Ducibus Principibus suis ac deindè minoris potetesatis persuasi plurimi de eis dicere soleant quod non tantum sincero eos non diligant affectu sed insuper eorum bonis praesentibus ac prosperitatibus quibusque foelicioribus magis invideant animo nimis infesto quàm devoto satis congaudeant corde eorumque conversationis statum Odibili quadam detractatione dilacerare non desinant A very good ground to revive and re-enforce this Duty both on Ministers and people now Vt horis canonicis Preces fiant pro Regibus as the Margin of this Canon prescribes as well as the body thereof Boniface Archbishop of Mentz an Englishman by birth thus inscribes and begins his 19. Epistle to our King Ethilbald Domino charissimo in Christi amore caeteris Regibus praeferendo inclyta Anglorum imperii sceptra gubernanti Ethilbaldo Regi Bonifacius c. Wera
persons remaining within the circuit of London where the said Edward lay sick ut devote orarent pro Pueri incolumitate that they should devoutly pray for the recovery and health of the child Whereupon amongst others he writ specially to the Abbot and Covent of St. Alban ut pro ipso orantes that praying for him all the Monks should solemnly sing a Masse whose first Collect should be of St. Alban but the second for the sick Prince namely Omnipotens sempiternè Deus salus aeterna credentium c Which being done per Dei gratiam puero sanitas est restituta Haec idcircò dixerim writes the Historian propter murmur populi dicentes ecce laici orant Dominum et exaudiuntur et quare non orat Papa facit pro causa sua imò nostra universalis Ecclesiae Orare imò rapinis inhiat pecuniae indefessus Dictumque est affirmatum quod non sine lachrymis scribo plus confidit in pecuniae thesauris quam fidelium precibus vel Eleemosynis The Abbots of the Order of Black Monks assembling at the Abby of Bermondeshie in the year 1249. Ordained by Common-Council Quod ipse Dominus Rex ab ipsis omnibus impetravit ut pro ips● et Regina dicatur quotidie in missa quae in veneratione beatae Virginis canitur in eorum Ecclesiis Collecta celebis Deus in cujus manu For the preservation and welfare of the King and Queen King Henry the 3d. being very sick at Westminster in the Lent Anno 1270. and despairing of his recovery se orationibus Ecclesiae commendavit recommended himself to the Prayers of the Church Whereupon the Monks of Westminster fearing to lose such a Patriot went in Pilgrimage bare-foot in a rainy season to the new Temple and there singing a Masse for the King and returning thence in the same manner as they went it was told them that the King had recovered of his sicknesse Whereupon he commanded the Monks by his Mandates that they should sing Ga●deat in coelis quod convaluit precibus monachorum George Cassander in his Preces Ecclesiasticae hath sundry forms of Prayers for Christian Kings Emperors Princes and Kingdoms collected out of several antient Liturgies Missals Letanies and Canonical Houres used antiently in most Monasteries and Churches as well in England as in other Kingdoms during the reign of King Henry the 3 d. and in the Kings reigns preceding and succeeding him which I shall here insert Dèus qui populis tuis virtute consulis amore dominaris da huic famulo tuo spiritum sapientiae cum regimine disciplinae ut tibi toto corde devotus in Regni regimine maneat semper idoneus tuoque munere ipsius temporibus securitas Ecclesiae dirigatur ut in tranquillitate devotio Christiana permaneat ut in bonis operibus perseverans ad aeternum Regnum te duce valeat pervenire per eundem Dominum Omnipotens sempiterne Deus qui famulum tuum Regni fastigio dignatus es sublimare tribue ei quaesumus ut ita in hujus seculi cursu in commune salutem disponat quatenus a tuae veritatis tramite non recedat Per eundem Dominum nostrum Deus qui scis humanum genus nulla virtute posse subsistere concede propicius Vt famulus tuus N. quem populo tuo voluisti praeferri ita tuo fulciatur adjutorio quatenus quibus potuit praeesse valeat prodesse Per Dominum Omnipotens sempiterne Deus coelestium terrestriumque moderator qui famulum tuum N. ●●ad Regni fastigium dignatus es provehere concede propitius ut a cunctis adversitatibus libertatus Ecclesiasticae pacis dono muniatur ad aeternae pacis gaudia te donante pervenire mereatur Per Dominum nostrum Quaesumus Omnipotens Deus ut famulus tuus N. qui tua miseratione suscepit Regni gubernacula virtutum etiam omnium à te percipiat incrementa quibus decenter armatus vitiorum monstra devitare hostem superare ad te qui via veritas vita es gratiosus valeat pervenire Per Dominum nostrum Deus in cujus manu corda sunt Regum inclina ad preces humilitatis nostrae aures misericordiae tuae famulo tuo Imperatori nostro regimen tuae appone sapientiae ut haustis de tuo fonte eonsiliis tibi placeat super omnia Regna praecellat Per Dominum nostrum Deus cujus Regnum est omnium seculorum supplicationes nostras clementer exaudi Christianorum Regnum tibi ●ubditum protege ut in tua virtute fidentes tibi placeant super omnia Regna praecellant Per eundem Dominum nostrum Deus qui providentia tua coelestia simul terrena moderaris propiciare Christianorum rebus Regibus ut omnis hostium fortitudo te pro nobis pugnante frangatur Per eundem Domiuum nostrum Propiciare Domine Precibus famulorum tuorum propter Nomen tuum Christiani nominis defende Rectores ut salus ser vientium tibi Principum pax tuorum possit esse populorum Per eundem Dominum Deus Regnorum omnium Regumque Dominator qui nos percutiendo sanas ignescendo conservas praetende misericordiam tuam ut tranquillitate pacis tua potestate firmata ad remedia correctionis utamur Per Dom. nostrum These were the constant publick and private prayers and Devotions of the Clergy and people for their Kings Princes and their Kingdoms heretofore not unseasonable for our present times In my perusal of the Clause Rolls in the Tower of London I have observed sundry Memorable Writs and Mandates issued by King Edward the 1 2 3. Richard the 2. and other of our Kings to their Bishops Clergy Abbots Freers Predicants Minors and other Religious Orders upon sundry emergent occasions requiring and commanding them to make frequent and fervent Supplications Prayers Intercessions and Thanksgivings unto God alone not Saints or Angels in times of War danger Treaties and the like for his special assistance direction protection blessing and favour upon the King Queen Prince of Wales the Royal issue kingdom Nobles Armies the Kings Counsels Treaties affairs of all sorts and for publike peace and prosperity Which Writs because very rare pious pertinent to my present Theme suitable to the state of our affairs and never hitherto published in print I shall here insert the chiefest of them at large pretermitting all others of like nature for brevitie sake those here transcribed comprehending in them the form and substance of the residue except only Writs for Masses Dirgees and Prayers for deceased Kings Queens and Princes of which there are many Presidents heterogeneal to my Subject matter which I shall totally passe by Claus 22 E. 1. m. 11. dorso Rex Archiepiscopo Eborum c. salutem Cum inter magnificum Principem Dominum Regem Franciae illustrem Consanguineum nostrum et Nos aliqua sint
Prince and the rest of the Royal seed for the comforting of the afflicted Queen of Bohemia sister to our Soveraign and for the Restitution and Establishment of the Illustrious Prince Charls Elector Palatine much more then now of our Illustrious long-exiled King CHARLES to all his Dominions and Dignities To pretermit all Prayers made for King Charles in Epistles perfixed to hundreds of Books of all sorts dedicated to him whiles Prince of Wales and King of England Scotland and Ireland I shall Conclude only with 3. short Prayers of this Nature in 3. of our learnedest late deceased Antiquaries Dedicatory Epistles to his Majesty being of 3. several professions The first is Mr. John Seldens in the clo●e of his Dedicatory Epistle to His Mare clausum Londini 1635. Inexuperabilem Tibi felicitatem sanctissima illa Majestas quae Tuae archetypae est praestet conservetque The 2. is Sir Henry Spelmans in the end of his Dedicatory Epistle before the first Tome of his Councils Londini 1639. Dei Vicario Ecclesiae Nutricio Fidei Defensori Carolo Dei gratia Magnae Britaniae Franciae Hiberniae Regi c. Magno Pio Augustissimo Deus optimus maximus Regiam vestram Majestatem sovolemque Serenissimum Ecclesiae et Britaniis Imperpetuum sospitet beatissime The 3 is most learned renowned and pious Archbishop Vsher who thus winds up his Epistle to King Charls perfixed to his Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates Dublini 1639. Deus optimus maximus Regum suorum custos et vinder vitam tibi det proliram imperium securum domum tutam exercitus fortes Senatum fidelem populum probum Veteris Ecclesiae pro Imperatoribus suis vota haec solemnia pro tua et tuorum salute Redintegrat et toto animi affectu numini divino nuncupat Serenissimae Tuae Majestatis servus humilimus Jacobus Armachanus The very next day after the most illegal Trial Condemnation and bloody Execution of our late Soveraign Lord King Charles by that Prodigy of Lawyers John Bradshaw and his Assessors in the new created High Court of Injustice against the Votes and Protests of the Secluded Lords and Secured Commons one of the then secured Members out of his Loyalty to his Majesty and his royal Heir and Successor whose rights he strenuously asserted in his Speech in the House for which he was seized and imprisoned by the Army Dec. 6. 1648. at his own charge Printed 350. of the ensuing Proclamations which he caused to be sent to most Sheriffs and Mayers throughout England and Wales and some of them to be pasted up at Westminster and elsewhere in and about London notwithstanding the Anti-Parliamentary and Antimonarchical Junctoes strict Proclamation to the contrary under pain of High Treasons and the most Capital Punishments which deterred others both from crowning and proclaiming their Hereditary Soveraign according to their former Oathes Covenants and printed Remonstrances A PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING CHARLES Prince of VVales King of Great Britain France and Ireland WEE the Noblemen Judges Knights Lawyers Gentlemen Free-holders Marchants Citizens Neomen Seamen and other freemen of England doe according to our Allegiance and Covenant by these presents heartily joyfully and unanimously acknowledge and proclaim the Illustrious Charles Prince of Wales next heir of the Blood Royal to his Father King Charles whose late wicked and trayterous Murther we doe from our souls abominate and all parties and consenters thereunto to be by hereditary Birthright and lawfull succession rightfull and undoubted King of Great Britain France and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging And that we will faithfully constantly and sincerely in our several places and callings defend and maintain his Royal Person Crown and Dignity with our Estates Lives and last drop of our Bloods against all opposers thereof whom we do hereby declare to be Traytors and Enemies to his Majestie and his Kingdoms In testimony whereof we have caused these to be published and proclaimed throughout all Counties and Corporations of this Realm the first day of February in the first year of his Majesties Raign God save KING CHARLES the Second This short ejaculatorie Prayer and Acclamation GOD SAVE THE KING subjoyned to this Proclamation was not only used at the Coronations tryumphs and publick Receptions in Cities Colleges Villages Corporations of all our own forein Kings as I have elswhere touched but constantlie annexed at the end all our Statutes at large printed after everie Session of Parliament from 19 H. 7. till 1 Caroli and at the close of all our Kings Queens publick Proclamations yea ecchoed out by our Sheriffs Heralds Cryers Officers who proclaimed them and by the generalitie of the people present at such Proclamations And it was likewise constantlie used by all Cryers of all publick Courts of Iustice Assises Sessions of the peace Eyres and Gaol Deliveries upon sundrie occasions yea by everie Malefactor acquitted or admitted to his Clergie who usually cry'd GOD SAVE THE KING neither could our Kings enter into anie Citie Town Village College School or House within their Dominions but their Ears were filled with the joyfull sound of this Prayer and Loyal Acclamation Which custom I trust will grow into common practice again after its over-long Dis-continuance through the treacherie and disloyalty of those who above all others had most obliged themselves to continue it by their respective old oftreiterated Oaths of Fealty Homage Supremacy Allegiance Iustices Maiors Recorders Serjeants at Law Freemen their new Protestations Solemn National League and Covenant Commissions Trusts Offices Callings obliging them both in point of Conscience and Dutie to bear Faith and true Allegiance to the Kings Majesty his Heirs and lawfull Successors and to maintain and defend his and their Persons Crowns and all Jurisdictions Rights Privileges and Royal Prerogatives united annexed and belonging to the Imperial Crown of their Realms against all Powers Persons Invasions Plots and Conspiracies whatsoever without any Apostacy defection or detestable Neutrality Which I hope they will now at last remember so far as to expiate all former violations of them by their future fincere cordial constant inviolable Observations by their dailie publick and private fervent Prayers Supplications Intercessions Thanksgivings to God for his Majesties restitution long life and prosperous Reign and by ecchoing out this usual Acclamation upon all occasions according to its pristine frequent use throughout our Realms and Dominions I have thus at large by Histories Records and Presidents of all times sorts to which sundrie more might be accumulated irrefragably evidenced the constant un-interrupted practical loyaltie of our Christian Predecessors in making publick and private Supplications Prayers Intercessions and Thanksgivings for our Christian Kings in this Island whether of the British Saxon English Danish Norman or Scotish Race and for their Queens their Royal Posterity and Kingdoms in their publick and private Devotions and in their Epistles Addresses and Dedications to them to the inrent they may now at last
liberty and restored them unto their pristine Greatnesse and Splendor After Maximinianus the Tyrants death anutter Enemy to all Pietie and Godliness through the Grace of Almighty God Churches were re-edified and erected from the Foundations the Gospel of Jesus Christ freely preached professed and propagated Maximinianus by publick Edicts proclaimed the chiefest and most deadly Enemy the most impious wicked pernicious and malicious Tyrant and most exeerable hater of God All Tables and Inscriptions set up in every City to his and his Childrens honour were either thrown down from aloft to the ground or obliterated or blotted out with a deformed black colour In like manner all Statues erected to his honour being tumbled down were broken in pieces and exposed to the laughter and derision of such who would abuse them All his persecuting Instruments Favorers and Partisans were in like manner disgraced disofficed and some of them slain The Christian Bishops Ministers and Professors of the Gospel made and sang special Songs of Prayse and Thanksgiving unto God Almighty the King and Governour of all things and to Jesus Christ his Son the Redeemer of their Souls and Author of their internal and external peace enjoyed under their Christian Emperor whose Prayses they extolled as you may read at large in Eusebius Ecles Hist l. 10. c. 1 3 4 6 9. And De Vita Constantini l 2 3 4. After which Constantine prescribed to all his Soldiers and Subjects as well Pagans as Christians a set form of Prayer to God for himself and his Sons to be said every day or Lords Day at least recited in the former Chapter This first Christian Emperor in the first General Council of Nice Anno 325. when he dismissed the many Bishops there assembled by him from all parts whereof 3. came from our Isle of Britain with a grave exhortation to preserve mutual coneord added this request to them in the close thereof Vt pro ipso ad Deum preces obaixe funderent That they would earnestly powre forth Prayers for him unto God Eusebius further records of him That where as he esteemed that the Prayers of Pious men were of great moment to him and to the safety and preservation of the whole Common-wealth towards which seeing he reputed them necessary he did not only upon all occasions throw himself down as a Supplicant unto God Verum etiam ut pro s● ab Ecclessae Praesidibus supplicaretur mandavit but likewise commanded that Supplications should be made for him by the Rectors of the Church which they accordinglie performed In the 30th year of his reign when a certain Priest praysed him to his face as worthy to enjoy the chief Power of all things in this life to reign together with the Son of God in the life to come He signifying his dislike thereof exhorted him not to use such flattering words concerning him for time to come but rather to contend for him with Prayers from God that he might seem worthy to be the servant of God both in this life and that which is to come The same year this Emperor having assembled a very great Synod of Bishops and Priests to Ierusalem to the Dedication of the Temple he had there built some of them adorned that solemnity with Prayers and Disputations others with elegant Orations Sermons and Interpretations of obscure places of Scripture others who could do none of these Supplices Deo preces c. Offered up humble Prayers and Supplications unto God for common peace for the Church of God and for the Emperor himself the Author of these most excellent things and for his Children who were dear to God In his Expedition against the Persians communicating his design unto the Bishops and defiring some of them to be alwaies present with him who were most fit to discharge the Duties of Piety they readilie promised to follow and not to depart one step from him but to go on warfare with him Et apud Deum supplicibus vovotis se pugnaturos and that they would fight with God for him against his Enemies with Supplications and Prayers whereupon being greatly delighted with this expression of their Wills and Endeavours he caused a magnificent Tabernacle to be made in form of a Church in quo Deo victoriarum datori ipse cum Episcopis supplicaret Wherein he with his Bishops might make Supplications to God the giver of Victories When he lay upon his Death-bed his Centurions and Captains of the Army coming to his Chamber deploring his Condition Longioremque ei vitam optarent and wishing him a longer life he answered them He had now obtained true life after his Baptism and that he only understood of what felicity he was made partaker and therefore he would hasten and not procrastinate his migration unto God Upon the tydings of his death all his Gards renting their Cloaths casting their Bodies upon the Ground and knocking their Heads against it sending forth mournfull Voyces with great sorrow and clamours calling him their Lord Prince Emperor and in the interim bewayling him not as a Lord and Tyrant but as pious and natural Children do their Father The Centurions and other Officers and Souldiers predicated him their Saviour Keeper Benefactor the whole Army with all reverence desired him as Flocks of Sheep their Shepheard all the People throughout every City running up and down manifested the secret wound and grief of their minds by outcries and clamours and the rest walked with dejected Countenances as if they were astonished every one reputing that this calamity had principally hapned to himself and miserably afflicting themselves as bereaved of the common safety of human life All the Dukes Earls and Assembly of Princes who were formerly accustomed to reverence and bow down unto him observing their pristine use and custom going in at set tim●s saluted the Emperor lying in his Herse as if he were alive even after his death bowing themselves to the ground the Senate with all the rest of the Magistrates and People doing the like reverence to him Upon which Eusebius hath this memorable Observation Solus vero iste beatus Imperator etiam mortuus regnavit cum ei solipost hominum memoriam vel ipso Deo authore omnes qui solebant honores tanquàm superstiti tribuerentur Nam cum is solus ex omnibus Imperatoribus Regem omnium Deum Christum ejus omnibus vitae actionibus pièsanetèque coluerit jure sanè etiam hunc honorem solus adeptus est ut Dei voluntate quod in eo morte sepultum erat tamen apud homines regnaret ut ista scilicet ratione nobis Deus signifiearet animarum Regnum his qui non prorsus obduruerunt nunquàm consenescere nunquàm emori His two Sons being absent when he died there were some select Captains out of the whole Army eminent for their Fidelitie sent to acquaint them with his death the News whereof being