again unto their Lord even unto Rehoboam King of Judah and they shall kill me and go again to Rehoboam King of Judah whereupon the King took counsel and made two Calves of gold and said unto them It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem Behold thy gods O Israel which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt and so on You may see more of this in the Histories of his Successors recorded in the Books of the Kings and Chronicles But on the contrary such as are lawful and pious Princes are Preservers Promoters and if need require Reformers of Religion yea and countenancers of the most sincere Professors of it Such were all the godly Kings of Judah Such a one was Asa 1 Kings 15.11 12 13 14 15. And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord as did David his Father And he took away the Sodomites out of the Land and removed all the Idols that his Father had made And also Maacha his Mother even her he removed from being Queen because she had made an Idol in a Grove and Asa destroyed her Idol c. 'T is true his reformation was not a through reformation but yet he was a great Reformer and so was his Son and Successor Jehosaphat 1 Kings 22.41 42 43. He walked in all the wayes of Asa his Father he turned not aside from it doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord c. Such a one was Hezekiah he did not content himself with the Reformation of his Predecessors but he carried it on to a higher degree of perfection He did not only break the Images but he also removed the High places as you may see 2 Kings 18.3 4. And so we finde that Solomon's accession to the Throne made much for the advantage of Religion and the Professors of it For immediately upon his coming to it he built the Temple and did very much beautifie and adorn the Worship and Service of God Now the Use and Application of this point is two-fold and 1. Vse 1 The first is a Use of Reproof for such amongst us if any such there be who do not rejoice but grieve at the accession of our Sovereign Lord King CHARLES the second to Rule and Government If I thought there were any such present I would enlarge upon this Use but I hope better things of you all and therefore I forbear lest I should this day sadden the heart of any who will otherwise rejoyce 2. Vse 2 I shall therefore come to the second Use a Use of Exhortation to exhort and stir you up to the observation of the solemnity of this day with all possible joy and cordial rejoycing And I beseech you let us all this day rejoice with exceeding great joy and rejoycing Now to quicken and raise your hearts to a rejoicing suitable to the solemnity of this day consider you have as good cause of rejoicing at the Solemnity of this day as they had who were present at the Proclamation and Inauguration of Solomon Seeing the Prince whose Proclamation-Solemnities you are this day to observe may be in some measure and that without flattery compar'd with Solomon at whose Proclamation this people so greatly rejoyced For as Solomon was so he is 1. A lawfull and 2. A hopefull Prince I say he is 1. A Legitimate and a lawful Prince He is not a spurious Mushrume self-created Prince but a Prince by lineal succession and inherent birth-right being lineally descended by the Father of glorious memory from James of blessed memory the 6. of Scotland but the first of Great Britain France and Ireland and by the Mother from that great and worthy Heroe of his age Henry the 4. of France So that our King is on both sides the Son of Nobles And when it is so Solomon tels you the Land is blessed Eccles 10.17 And as he is a Noble so he is a lawful Prince too The clearness of his Title is such that to argue the lawfulnesse of it would but darken and eclipse it You may as well question the shining of the Sun at noon as the lawfulnesse of his Title 2. He is as a lawful so a hopeful Prince A Prince by whose accession to rule and government we are 1. At present freed from our feares and dangers of being haressed by the attempts of every aspiring ambitious Adonijah to make himselfe King We need not now to feare the aspiring ambition either of a Cromwell or a Lambert Nor need we now feare of being kept in bondage and slavery by an inconsiderable part of a Parliament or a Phanatick Committee of safety under the notion of a free State or Commonwealth 2. We have grounds of hope that his accession to Rule and Government will be a meanes in time to free us 1. From our unsupportable burdens of Excise and monthly Taxes 2. From our soul-destroying and damning universall tolleration 3. We have ground to hope that his accession to actuall rule and government will be a meanes of much good both to our selves and the whole Nation There is now hopes 1. That we shall enjoy a setled Government our antient Government of King Lords and Commons the best forme of Government that the wisedome of man could ever yet contrive to prevent Tyranny on the one hand and Annarchy and Confusion on the other 2. That we may recover and enjoy a firme and lasting peace Not onely a peace within our selves but a peace with the Nations which are round about us Such a peace as Israel enjoyed all the days of Solomon who had peace on all sides round about him so that Israel and Judah dwelt safely every man under his vine and under his fig-tree from Dan even to Beersheba As you may see 1 King 4.24 25. 3. That we may again enjoy an equall distribution of law and Justice We need not now to fear of being outlawed for refusing to perjure our selves by subscribing an Engagement or taking an Oath of abjuration contrary to our former Oaths of allegiance and supremacy or solemn league and covenant 4. That we may againe enjoy freedome of Trade both at home and abroad and thereby recover our exhausted and of late mis-spent treasure If any thing in the world be a meanes to revive Trade in the Nation his Majesty's accession to Government will be the meanes to doe it 5. That we may recover our wonted honour and renowne in forreign parts and Countries England hath been as renowned a Nation as any in the world both for Courage Policy and Pyety But the strange actings of some men in our late revolutions and changes hath made us the contempt scorn and hatred of the whole world It hath made most men believe that we have lost both our piety policy and courage too But now by the Restitution of his Majesty it will appear to all the world that there are some men both of piety policy and courage left among us so that by this meanes
c. and he called his name Jedidiah because of the Lord. 4. A Prince of peace or a peaceable Prince So much is signifyed by his name Solomon 1. Chr. 22.9 Behold a son shall be borne to thee who shall be a man of rest and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about for his name shall be Solomon and I will give peace and quietnesse to Israel in his dayes He was called so to shew that the people of Israel should enjoy much peace under his government Now the consideration of these and such like things was the cause why the people present at his proclamation and inauguration were thus transported with exceeding great joy and rejoycing From all which put together you may observe this point of Doctrine That the accession of a lawfull hopefull Prince to the actuall excercise of Rule and Government Doctr. is a thing greatly to be rejoyced in by all those over whom he is to rule and govern 1. That this is a thing greatly to be rejoyced in c. is evident by the universall practice of all good and loyall subjects in all Ages Countryes and Nations whose constant use it hath been to solemnize the accession of their lawfull hopefull Princes to actuall rule and Government with all outward Domonstrations of joy and rejoycing How excessively did this people here reioyce at Solomon's accession to the Throne this was matter of rejoycing not onely to the common rabble and rude multitude but to Zadok the Priest Nathan the Prophet also these as well as others who were present rejoyced at it with exceeding great joy Which being wise and pious men they would not have done had it not been a thing greatly to be rejoyced in 2 The truth of this is further evident by these two following reasons Because the accession of such a Prince to actuall Rule and Government will assuredly prevent 1 Reas or put to an end many otherwise unavoidable mischeifs and inconveniencies to which the people of a State and Kingdome are incident and obnoxious for want of such a Prince to rule and govern them Many are the mischiefes and inconveniencies to which the people of a State and Kingdome are liable for want of a lawfull Prince to rule and govern them all which mischiefs and inconveniencies are either prevented or put to an end by the accession of such a Prince to actual Rule and Government I shall name some of them 1. The accession of such a Prince to actual Rule and Government will either prevent or put to an end the aspiring attempts of proud and ambitious men to exalt themselves to the highest place of power and authority together with those many inconveniencies mischiefs that accompany or follow their attempts When a People are without a lawful Prince to rule them every ambitious person that can but head a Faction will be ready to take the opportunity of setling himself upon the Throne In an Interregnum every man who can make a party to assist him will be climbing up unto the Throne Now the mischiefs and inconveniencies that befall a State or Kingdome by the aspiring attempts of ambitious men to possesse themselvs of power and authority are innumerable Such were the mischiefs that befel the people of the ten Tribes upon this account after their revolt from the House of David After they had rejected their lawful Sovereign those that were ambitious were still scrambling for Authority amongst them by reason whereof innumerable mischiefs befel them But now I say the accession of a lawfull Prince c. will either prevent or put to an end these sad mischiefs and inconveniencies This was the effect of Solomon's accession to the Throne it put to an end the aspiring attempts of Adonijah to make himself King together with the many inconveniencies that were like to follow upon it as you may see 1 Kings 1.5 49 and 50. verses compared Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself saying I will be King and he prepared him Charriots and horsmen and fifty men to run before him And all the Guests that were with Adonijah were afraid and rose up and went every man his way And Adonijah feared because of Solomon and arose and went and caught hold on the horns of the Altar 2. The accession of such a Prince to rule and government will either prevent or put to an end the Tyrannies and Cruelties which are usually exercised by such as exalt themselves and usurp Authority It is almost impossible for a Prince to be a Tyrant in Title and not be a Tyrant in Exercise Such as get power wickedly do for the most part use it unjustly Though Absalom-like they may make fair promises to make a party to lift them to the Throne yet they seldom or never observe and keep them The truth of this evidently appears almost in the whole series of the Kings of Israel after their revolt from the House of David The most of them were not only Tyrants in Title but in Exercise also But now the accession of a lawful hopeful Prince to the actual exercise of Rule and Government will prevent or put to a period these Tyrannies and cruelties which Usurpers usually exercise over an enslaved Nation 3. The accession of such a Prince to Rule and Government will assuredly prevent or put to an end those Rapines and Oppressions whereby the people are subject to be oppressed every one by another and every one by his Neighbour When the seat of Authority is vacant or possessed by such as have no right or ability to Rule the people are in danger tobe oppressed every one by another When there was no King in Israel every man did what seemed good in his own eyes though it were to the hurt and prejudice of others as you may see Judg. 18.1 and 18. compar'd In those days there was no King in Israel c. and cap. 19.1 25. compar'd And the like evils are men in danger of when the Seat of Authority is possessed by such as have no right or skill to Rule hence a wo is denounc'd against that land whose King is a Child Eccl. 10.16 i.e. who is as unfit and unskilful to Rule and as much wedded to his own will as a childe is And therefore when God is angry with a people he threatens to give Children to be their Kings and that Babes should rule over them Isa 3.4 i. e. men of a childish disposition in respect of wit skill carriage courage no better than Children or in some sort worse because more wilfull and lesse advisable And now that land where such rule must needs be in a woe case because where such rule every man is subject to be oppressed by his neigbour as appears by 3. Isa 4,5 And I will give children to be their Princes and babes shall rule over them and the people shall be oppressed every one by another and every one by his Neighbour the child shall behave himself
proudly against the ancient and the base against the honorable But the accession of a lawfull and hopefull Prince c. will undoubtedly prevent or put to an end these mischievous evils that else would happen to that people over which he is to rule 4. The accession of a hopefull and lawfull Prince to Rule and Government will certainely prevent or put to an end those mischeivous disputes and divisions which otherwise will arise amongst a people about the particular forme of Government the person or persons by which they will be ruled When the seat of Authority is vacant or possessed by usurpation every man as he is affected will be contending to be ruled under this or that particular form of government or by this or that particular person The truth of this we have seen made good by sad experience even in our dayes How have disputes about these things broken and crumbled us into a thousand pieces since the horrid murther of his late Majesty of glorious memory and the treacherous exile c. of his present most Royal and most excellent Majesty Now this mischief also the accession of c. will assuredly either prevent or put to an end 5. The accession of a lawfull hopeful Prince to Rule and Government will also prevent or put to an end those frequent and mischievous changes in government to which a State and Kingdom is Subject through the want of such a Prince to Rule and govern it Frequent changes in government either in respect of the persons ruling or the form of government by which it is ruled are very destructive and mischievous to it And therefore when God is displeased with a people he usually brings this Judgement upon them Prov. 28.2 For the transgression of a Land many are the Princes thereof c. And of all Kingdoms those are most subject to this destroying Judgment where their lawful Sovereign is rejected and the Throne is possessed by Usurpation How often did the ten Tribes change their Rulers after their Revolt from the House of David and what frequent changes both of Governors and Government have we seen in this Nation since the murther of our late and Exilement of our present Sovereign but by the accession of a lawful hopeful Prince to Rule these changes are either prevented or put to an end Prov. 28.2 For the transgression of a land many are the Princes thereof but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged i. e. by a lawful Prince who is wise and prudent the state thereof shall be preserved viz. from such frequent and mischievous changes of its Governors and Rulers These are some of those great mischiefs which by this means will be prevented or put to an end and therefore the accession of a lawful hopeful Prince to actual Rule and Government is a thing greatly to be rejoyced in by those over whom he is to rule But secondly The Accession of such a Prince to actual Rule and Government 2 Reas s a thing greatly to be rejoyced in because it gives the people over whom he is to rule great hope of much approaching and continued good to them by his rule and government over them A lawful hopeful Ruler is a great blessing to a Nation and therefore God promiseth to bestow such upon his people as a great blessing to them Isa 1.26 And I will restore thy Judges as at the first and thy Counsellors as at the beginning i. e. I will give thee Rulers like unto those which I set over thee when thou wert first constituted a State and Kingdom such as were Moses Joshua Samuel David c. such as shall be Instruments of much good unto thee as all good and lawful Princes are to all such as they rule over Now the good a people have grounds to hope for upon the accession of a lawful hopeful Prince to Rule and Government is 1. The injoyment of outward peace plenty and prosperity By Solomon's accession to the throne the state of Israel injoyed the good of all these The whole time of the Reign of Solomon they did not onely injoy peace acording as God had promised they should 1 Chron. 22.9 For his name shall be Solomon and I will give Peace and quietnesse unto Israel in his dayes But also great plenty and prosperity as you may see 1 King 10.27 And the King made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones and Cedars made he to be as the Sycamore trees which are in the vale for abundance And 2 Chron. 1.15 in the same words And thus it often comes to passe by the accession of a lawfull hopefull Prince to Rule and Government and therefore there is ground to hope upon the accession of such a Prince to Rule and Government 2. The right administration and execution of law and justice This good and benefit Israel injoyed by the accession of Solomon to Rule and Government as a peares by many instances especially by his decision of the difference betwixt the two Harlots about the living child 1 king 3 from the 16 to the end 3. Safety and protection from all wrong and injury or at least justice against such as wrong and injure them as 't is the duty so 't is for the most part the disposition of lawfull Princes to protect their Subjects yea the meanest of them from wrong and injury and to do such of them right as are wronged and injured This good also Israel injoyed by Solomon's accession to the throne as appears by the foregoing instance 4. Suitable rewards and preferments to their deserts and merits Vsurpers bestow their rewards and preferments upon such as are rightest for their turne but lawfull Princes if they are wise and prudent upon them who are most deserving but especially upon such as are most faithfull to God within their dominions such David resolved to prefer to the honor of being next yea nearest to his person in attendance upon him Psal 101. throughout but especially ver 6. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithfull of the land that they may dwell with me He that walketh in a perfect way he shall serve me By the faithful there he means the truly godly in the land as appears from the latter part of the verse And such were they whom Solomon advanced upon his accession to the throne as appears by 1 King 4. begining 5. The preservation and if need be the Reformation of Religion with due countenance and encouragement in the practice and profession of it Vsurpers for the most part are Corrupters and Suppressers of the truth and power of Religion Such a one was Jeroboam and those Kings that succeeded him in his Vsurpation as you may see 1 Kings 12.26 27. c. to the end And Jeroboam said in his heart now shall the Kingdome return to the house of David If this people go up to do sacrifice in the House of the Lord at Jerusalem then shall the heart of this people turn
for your satisfaction give me leave as in a glasse to give you as it were a dark shady resemblance of him And herein I shall speak as in the presence of God and therefore utter nothing but what I am fully perswaded is most true and reall But to come to the business if you view him well with an unprejudiced eye you shall finde him to be 1. A Prince most eminently stout and valiant of the truth of this he gave an undeniable proof at Worcester his enemies themselvs being Judges His most capitall enemy Oliver then General against him at a publick festival entertainment in London upon the occasion of his victory over his Majesties Army there gave this testimony of him Which together with the unconquerableness of his spirit under all his sufficiently great sufferings is an evident demonstration of the more than ordinary stoutness of his spirit acording to that of Solomon Pro. 18.14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity And indeed had not his spirit been like himself great it had been impossible for him to have borne up under afflictions of so great a weight And this is the first qualification or princely vertue that you may finde him endowed with And this is so necessary a qualification for a Prince that without it he can neither oppose his Enemies protect his Subjects or execute impartial justice upon Offenders 2. If you view him with an unprejudiced eye you shall finde him to be a very wise and prudent Prince a Prince who is neither a Childe in age nor in understanding He is not like Rehoboam who at 40 years of age was but a very Baby both in respect of wisdom and experience as plainly appeared by his rejecting the wise and prudent Counsels of his Fathers old and experienced Councellors and by imbracing the violent and heady advice of his own raw and as to State-affairs unexperienced Play-mates and Companions By which his Childish folly and indiscretion through the just judgement of God upon him he occasioned the Revolt of the ten Tribes from him as you may see 1 Kings 12.8 13 14 15 16 c. But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him and which stood before him And the King answered them roughly and spake to them after the counsel of the yong men saying my Father made your yoke heavy and I will add to your yoke c. So when all Israel saw that the King harkened not unto them the People answered the King saying What portion have we in David c. and in respect of this his imprudence he was said to be young and tender-hearted 2 Chron. 13.7 although he had at that time compleated the 41. year of his age as appears in 2 Chron. 12.13 for Rehoboam was 41 years old when he began to reign But blessed be God our Prince may more fitly be compar'd unto Solomon who though much younger in years than Rehoboam is yet many years elder in wisdom and experience which Princely vertue together with his right to these Dominions he hath through the grace and mercy of God derived from his Grandfather James the first of Great Brittain the Solomon of his Age and from his late Majesty his no lesse wise and prudent Father Now that he is a Prince of eminent wisdom and prudence may as easily be demonstrated as that there is light and heat in the body of the Sun And indeed it is evident beyond all doubt 1. By his choosing rather to get accession to his Throne by the lawful dutiful and loyal endeavors of his most pious and prudent Subjects than by the forcible assistance of Forreigners and Strangers It may be some may think this latter had been his best and wisest course Seeing by the aid of such he might have made himself more great and absolute than he can expect to do by his coming in upon the loyal and affectionate endeavours of his own Subjects But that such may see their own imprudence I would have them to consider 1. That his attempting to come in by such a means as this would have been very hazardous and uncertain and so by consequence imprudent Had strangers endeavoured his Restitution by force of Arms it is probable that many if not the most of those who have been active to bring him in would have been meerly passive in it if not active to keep him out Besides his settlement by this means would not have been so sure and lasting as now a Princes greatest security lying in the affections of his Subjects That Prince who gains the hearts of his Subjects procures himself a firmer settlement by far than he doth who only conquers their bodies by the force and violence of strangers and keeps them in subjection only by armed Guards and Soldiers 2. That his coming in by this means would at least have endangered the utter destruction if not the irrecoverable loss of his Dominions 'T is unquestionable that he could not have conquer'd without the hazard of the total devastation of the 3 Kingdoms Besides he might have been in danger of being dethroned by those Foreigners themselves when they once conquered his own Subjects We are not without instances of the like practises of Strangers in former Ages who when they have conquered their enemies to set up themselves did not stick to depose those very Princes that called them in to their assistance And indeed he could expect no other from his Popish Allies without making shipwrack of that Faith whereof he is the Defender and reconciling himself to the Church of Rome the Mother of Harlots it being a received Maxim and Principle amongst Papists That Faith is not to be observed and kept with Hereticks Besides if as it might have done the Conquest had faln to the side of his Opposers his Restitution would have proved if not impossible yet infinitely more difficult than it hath now appeared to be 3. That a Princes greatness and happiness doth not so much consist in the absolutenes of his power as in the affections of his Subjects and in their cheerful and willing submission to his Person and Authority Now though foreign force may over-awe yet it cannot gain the hearts of Subjects though it may force them to submit to the power of their Prince it will never cause them cheerfully to obey their Prince And therefore this our Prince in choosing to be restored by his Subjects rather than by forreign force hath chosen the best way of accession to his Throne and thereby shewed himself a wise and prudent Prince 2. He hath discovered his eminent wisdome and prudence by his choosing the Recovery of his Right by a gracious composure of things with his truly loyal and faithful Subjects who in the late unhappy differences adhered both to King and Parliament rather than to attempt the regaining of it by the forcible help and aid of such as
stile themselves The Royal party Doubtless he wanted not some who like Rehoboams young and heady Councellors gave him advice to take this course And it must be confess'd that some attempts have been made to this end but having found by constant experience that all endeavors this way have proved abortive and unsuccessfull by reason of the indiscretion of some and the treachery of others he hath at last rejected all Councels tending to force and violence and wisely resolved upon a contrary course And this in a juncture of time when he had the greatest hopes of assistance not only from Allies and Friends abroad but also from his most loyal and dutiful Subjects at home wherein he hath exactly troden in the steps of his truly Heroick and prudent Grandfather Henry the 4. King of France and Navarre who after he had fought many Battels and obtained as many signal Victories chose to obtain the possession of his Crown of France by treaty and capitulation rather than to endeavour the recovery of it by making use of further force and violence And in this respect also he hath shewed himself to be every way as wise as Rehoboam by his contrary practice discovered himself to be weak and foolish 3. By casting himself upon his Parliament in order to his own and the settlement of his Dominions By which Act he hath in a manner told them that he is willing to be or doe what his best and wisest Subjects shall thinke best and most honorable for him in order to the settlement of his Dominions in safety peace honor and by this also he hath shewed himselfe a truely wise and prudent Prince for by this means he hath and will engage the hearts of his conscientious Subjects to become his servants for ever As Rehoboam would certainely have done had he put in execution the Counsell of the old experienced men 1 Kings 12.7 Constant experience sheweth us that Princes gaine more by complying than they do by contesting with their Subjects That by gratifying them in smaller they win upon them in greater matters this Solomons old experienced Counsellors did very well understand and therefore advised Rehoboam to comply with his Subjects and to abate something of the rigour of his fathers Government And this also was well understood by Queen Elizabeth the wonder both of her age and sex for masculine wisdome and valour who by gratifying her Subjects just demands in Parliament became in a manner the sole and absolute Mistris both of her Subjects hearts hands and purses And this was it which made her so formidable to her Enemies and so great a comfort and support to her Allies and freinds Let no man therefore thinke our Prince imprudent in casting himselfe upon his Parliament for termes of settlement it being the most prudential course in the world to make him both a great and happy Prince 4. He hath shewed himselfe a wise and prudent Prince in resolving upon the reformation and settlement of the Church by consent of Parliament according to the advice of a select Assembly of pious and learned Divines Which indeed is the most proper and most prudentiall meanes in the world to discover and reforme those damnable Heresies and to make up those Church-destroying divisions that are crept in amongst us Who are more likely to discover the minde of God and to finde out wayes and meanes of reconciling differences and divisions amongst Brethren than godly and learned Divines whose whole work and business it is to study the minde and will of God Besides this is that means that God himself hath appointed for the curing of these evils as Acts 15. doth appear where we finde the Apostles and Elders did assemble themselves in a Synod to this very end Now by all this it appears that our Prince is a wise and prudent and so by consequence a hopeful Prince 5. If your view him well with an impartial eye you shal finde him to be an exceeding Patient and long-fuffering Prince a vertue so necessary that without it a Prince cannot mannage the affairs of his Kingdome And in this Princely vertue also he far outshines if not all yet the most of his Predecessors his most Royal Father only excepted And no wonder seeing he hath been from his Youth accustomed to the yoke and inured to affliction Now his eminency in this Princely vertue doth evidently appear 1. In bearing his great and extraordinary afflictions and the persecutions of his enemies and unkindnesses of his pretended friends in foreign parts 1. Without murmurring 2. Without fainting In respect of murmuring for any thing I have heard he was like David dumh and opened not his mouth because he knew his suffering was the Lords doing Psal 39.9 And he was so far from fainting under them that he rather gathered strength and courage by being accustomed to the bearing of them 2. This princely vertue appears eminently in him by his waiting upon God in his greatest straits with hope and confidence of his goodness and mercy to bring about his Restitution to Rule and Government in his own way and time In which respect it seems he had taken up the Churches resolution Mic. 7.9 10. I will beare the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him untill he plead my cause and execute judgement for me he will bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his righteousness 3. This princely vertue shines forth apparently in him by his declining the use of unlawful means and by his resolution in a way of dependence upon God to persist in the use of all lawfull meanes to recover his right Had he been impatient he would have cast off the use of all meanes like that impious and impatient King we read of 2 King 6.33 Behold this evil is of the Lord what should I wait for the Lord any longer Or else he would have turn'd aside to the use of sinful unlawful means had he not been a patient Prince he would have been in danger of changing his religion in hopes to gain his earthly Crowns though by so doing he had lost an Eternal Crown 4. That he is a long suffering Prince appeareth also 1. In that he hath not been provoked and moved to Acts of revenge by all those wrongs and injuries that have been done him If reports be true when some of those English Souldiers that were in direct opposition against him were taken by the Spaniard and put into his hand to be disposed of as he thought good instead of revenging himselfe upon them he fed and cloathed them 2. In that he still retaines his princely and paternall affections to his Subjects notwithstanding all the provocations wherewith he hath been provoked 4. If againe you look upon him with an unprejudiced eye you shall finde him to be a very sober and moderate Prince And that 1. In his passions 2. In his affections The moderation of his passions appears by his endeavors to allay and
moderate the passions of some who stile themselves the King's or Royal party The moderation of his affections appears by casting himself upon the Parliament without making any the least demand of having his own power or greatnesse inlarged or augmented 5. If you look upon him with an impartial eye you shall finde him to be a self-denying Prince as evidently appears by his referring the settlement of things to the Parliament 2. By his resolution to be advised by the Parliament in all things which doe concerne both Church and Sate Affaires 3. By his willingness to part with his Lands and Revenues if the Parliament shall thinke fit in order to the settlement of these Nations in peace and tranquility 6. If you look upon him with an impartial eye you shall finde him to be a Gracious mercifull and compassionate Prince which princely vertues do eminently appear in him 1. By his readinesse to pardon his worst of Enemies who are not resolved to persist in their enmity against him excepting such as the Parliament shall think fit to exempt from pardon In which respect he hath shewed himself to be a follower of David that man who was one after Gods own heart who granted an act of Grace to Shimei who cursed and threw stones at him when he fled from Jerusalem for fear of Absalom as you may see by comparing 2 Sam. 16.5 6 7 8. with 2 Sam. 19.18 19 20 21 22 23. 2. By declaring his readinesse to grant a General pardon to all parties amongst us as well knowing that the best of us yea that such as would be thought his best friends do in some respect or other stand in need of it 3. By his professed readinesse to allow a liberty to men of tender consciences to such as are truly so 4. By his declared Resolution to extend his princely love and favour to all his deserving Subjects of what party soever without putting the least distinction or difference between them 7. And lastly if you look upon him with an unprejudiced eye you shall finde him probably to be a truly pious and religious Prince I say probably to be so and this is the greatest assurance that we can have of any mans piety and religior in the world 1 Pet. 5.12 By Silvanus a faithfull Brother as I suppose Now that he is so is very probable 1. By his adhering to the true Protestant Religion notwithstanding 1. The injurious dealing of professed Protestants both with his Royal Father and himselfe 2. The many kindnesses of Papists heaped upon him together with their strong temptations to corrupt and seduce him Beloved these things considered we may be consident of his piety upon the account of his adhering to the Protestant Religion for some who do not only profess themselves to be Protestants but to be the most refined and reformed Protestants in the world have by those not to be parallel'd injuries they have done him given him the justest occasion that could be given to renounce the Protestant Religion As namely 1. By their impudent and abhorred murther of his Father under a pretence of Law and Justice a thing never before done by any professing themselves Protestants 2. Their banishing him out of his own Dominions into Holland from thence into France and then into Flanders amongst the most rigid and zealous sort of Papists by which acts they did as it were bid him to go and to be a Papist As David complained that Saul did in effect bid him to go and serve other gods 1 Sam. 26.19 2. As the injuries done him by seduced Protestants have been many which might have caused him to distast the Protestant Religion so the kindnesses heaped upon him by Papists have been great And it is not to be doubted but they have made use of both as inducements to perswade him to forsake the protestant and to embrace the Popish Religion You may be sure they have sufficiently aggravated the miscariages of those among us who murthered his most Royall father c. charging that and all other injuries done him upon the Parliament and their whole Partie though the most of them did detest it from their hearts endeavoring to prevent it and do bewail it to this day nay they have not been wanting to suggest unto him that the principles of Protestants do allow and encourage Subjects to murther and depose their King This and much more doubtlesse they have suggested to him that if possible they might work in him an abhorrency both of Protestants and of the protestant Religion Whilst no doubt on the other hand they have upon all occasions represented to him the Papists in his Dominions under the notion of his most Loyal Subjects not sticking to tell him how much they have suffered especially in Ireland for their Loyaltie to his late Majesty though the world knows they were in open rebellion against him before the war brake forth in England that they might at once gaine his affections both to his popish Subjects and their Religion And truely these things considered together with his aboad among Papists and his then dependence upon them for supply of personal wants and their large promises of restoring him to his just Rights and Authority It is even a miracle that the temptation had not prevailed upon him for my own part I question whether the best of us would have held constant to our Religion had we been under the like temptation Nay when I consider upon how slight temptations seemingly the best amongst us have changed both their principles and practice in Religion I even conclude that if any of us had been in his Majesty's condition and if his temptations had been ours we should not have stood so firm and unshaken as he hath done Now Brethren it is either pollicy or piety that hath preserved and kept him But 1. It cannot be imagined that he hath been preserved meerly by policy Nay in appearance it had been his best policy to have changed his Religion seeing by so doing he would certainly have obtained all possible assistance both from Popish Princes abroad and from his Popish Subjects at home so that I conclude it is not pollicy that hath preserved him and therefore 2. It must be piety and grace in the heart which hath inabled him in the midst of these temptations to adhere unto the Protestant Religion both in profession and practice and that even in those Countries where the Protestant Religion is not allowed And this is the first ground upon which I conclude him to be a pious Prince 2. That he is a pious Prince is further probable by his desire whilst he was in Scotland to be delt plainly with in respect of his own personal sins and the sins of his Family which he apprehended were the cause the hand of God was so heavy upon him that he might be humbled for them In which respect he seemed to imitate Job that great example and pattern of patience who in his affliction begg'd
of God that he would make him to know his transgression and his sin Job 13.23 3. That he is probably a pious Prince is further evident by his meek and humble behaviour towards Mr. Douglas both in the time of hearing and after who in his Coronation-Sermon dealt both boldly and plainly with him in laying open his own and the sins of his Family Though this Reverend man Nathan-like as appears by his Sermon since printed made use of his ministerial Authority to reprove him he shewed not the least displeasure against him either in the time of preaching or after but by his behavior seemed to say as David did Psal 141.5 Let the Righteous smite me it shall be a kindness c. And by this also he hath manifested himself to be both a prudent and a pious Prince 4. 'T is further probable that he is a pious Prince by his professed detestation and abhorrency of profainness and impiety his loathing of those things he doth upon all occasions discover by reproving men for drunkenness swearing and all such like prophane and impious practices And now Brethren having spoken him a pious Prince I have expressed the best the all that can be said to make it manifest to you that he is a hopefull Prince a Prince by whose accession to the Throne we may well hope for much approaching good both to our Church and State And therefore let us this day yea all our dayes rejoice with an exceeding great rejoycing But here I beseech you let it not this day or at any other time express our joy for his Restitution to Rule and Government in any way displeasing to God or dishonorable to His most sacred Majesty I beseech you let not any of us dare to do it so as to debauch our selves by drinking his health either upon our knees or otherwise This practice though so much used amongst us doth better befit heathens than profess'd Christians Nay it is a bruitish practice against which even Heathens themselves have thought fit to enact and make Decrees as you may see Esther 1.8 And the drinking was according to the Law none did compel c. Now in the custome of drinking Healths it is imposed upon every man that he drink the same quantity and measure that others do Besides to be upon our knees drinking is a Ceremony fitter to be observed in an act of worship to Bacchus than in our rejoycing at the Proclamation of a Prince so truly pious and Christian So that it is not only displeasing to God but dishonorable to his Majesty who therefore cannot but dislike the debauchery of those who allow themselves in the practice of it seeing by so doing they represent him to the world in the shape of a sensual Bacchus and not as indeed he is a truly noble and religious Prince who eats in due season for strength and not for drunkenness Let us then for ever banish this Bacchanalian custom from this and all other such like days of Solemnity and let us leave it to those whose King is a child and whose Princes eat in the morning and drown themselves in sensual delights and pleasures as the Idolatrous and usurping Princes of Samaria did as you may see Amos 6.1 3 4 5 6. Let us I say banish this wretched custome whereby the God of glory hath been so highly provoked and thousands of precious souls have been eternally damned And let us betake our selves to such a way of rejoycing as may be pleasing to God and grateful to his Majesty And 1. Let us express our joy in his Majesty's Restitution to his just rights both this day and all the days of our lives by our putting up sincere hearty and importunate Prayers to God for him Instead of being upon our knees drinking healths to him let us often prostrate our selves before the Throne of Grace to pour out our selves to God for him Thus the people here in my Text exprest their joy at King Solomons Proclamation and Inauguration They cryed God save the King and doubtless they did it not for the present onely but every day of their lives And indeed this is a duty that we are commanded to performe on the behalfe of such as are lawfull Rulers whether they be Kings or others And so to do the Apostle tels you is good and acceptable in the sight of Godour Saviour 1 Tim. 2.1 2 3. Express we then our joy in his Majesty's Restitution by beseeching the God of life health and Grace 1. To give and to bestow upon him both health of body and length of days say we to God in his behalf let the King live and let his soul be bound up in the bundle of life with thee 2. That God would pour down upon him from day to day a greater portion of that Princely and governing spirit wherewith he hath already so plentifully indued him 3. That he would cause his Crowne to flourish upon his head maugre all that malice and hatred wherewith Satan hath filled his enemies hearts 4. That he would give our Israel both Church and State peace and plenty truth and prosperity all his dayes 5. That he would give him grace more and more to improve his authority for his glory and his Churches good that so when he layeth down together with his life this transitory and earthly Crown he may obtaine that heavenly and immortall Crown which God hath laid up and will bestow upon all those who love the Lord Jesus and long for his appearing 2 Tim. 4.8 2. Let us express our joy in his Majesty's Restitution c. By all outward expressions of it that are lawfull and convenient Let us eat the fat and drinke the sweet Let the Trumpets sound the Bels ring the Guns roare the Drums rattle The Bonfires flame the people shout so as if possible to make the very earth to rend with the very loud noises of their shouts and joyful acclamations thus the text tels us the people here expressed their joy at Solomons Praclamation to be King 3. Let us expresse our joy in his Majesty's Restitution c. By yeilding all cheerfulobedience and submission to his Majesty's person and just Authority all our dayes And this let us resolve to doe though it be improved by his sacred Majesty as I doubt not but it will for the enacting of lawes to curb and restraine us in the practise of Sin and in the satisfaction of our brutish and sensuall lusts and pleasures Let us not obey his Authority onely whilst he commands those things that suite with our interests lusts and humors but also when he commands that which is good though it be cross and contrary to our own wils and interests So is the will of God that we should do 13. Rom. 1 2 3 4. 1 Pet. 2.13 14. If we rejoyce at his Majesty's Proclamation this day and disobey his Authority another day we shall but evidence our selves to be Hypocrites and make our selves the more obnoxious to