quietnesse from the sword such an excellent thing is peace that it includes all worldly blessings Nay I dare say it is so excellent that it includes all divine blessings too For as there is Pax temporis the peace of time which is when our swords are sheathed and turned into Mattocks so there is Pax pectoris the peace of conscience which we have when sinne is pardoned and pax numinis the peace of God which we obtaine when Satan is conquered all which God grant us through Iesus Christ Amen In a word peace is either First Eternall which we have in hope Rom. 5.1 and must wait for the fruition of it till the next life or Secondly Internall which we get by faith in Iesus Christ or Thirdly Externall and this in a divine sense is a mutuall consent when all Preachsers preach one holy truth and all Beleevers professe one holy faith that faith and this truth meeting in one Iesus Christ and morally it is this A wishing love within and a working love without when there is no grudging no heart-burning within when there is no brawling nor bloodsheding without for which let us pray Peâ—ce in our time O Lord. So excellent a thing is peace that as by the Wine-presse many Grapes are pressed into one cup that as in the kneading tub many grains are made into one loafe that as in the field many sheep are put into one fold that as in the wombe many members are united into one body that as in a Fabrick many stones are cemented into one building so by peace and peace onely are many Saints made united cemented and builded into one Church pray we therefore Peace in our time O Lord. For as those Grapes that are ungathered and come not to the wine-presse the Birds of the ayre eat them as the eares that are ungleaned and come not to the barne the Beasts of the field devoure them as the Sheepe that straggle in the field and come not to the fold the Foxe worries them as the arme that is cut from the body rottennesse and putrefaction corrupt it as the stone that is shaken and rent from the building it makes a deformity in the building so those Christians that are separated from the communion of Saints those men that make a fraction in a society that make a commotion in a Common-wealth the Devill that fowle of the aire that beast of the field that Fox of hell eats worries and devoures them pray we therefore Peace in our time O Lord. For what safety hath the sheep that strayes from the fold what strength hath the arme that is parted from the body what beauty hath the stone that is scattered from the building what sweetnesse hath the Grape that is withered from the Vine Iust so much sweetnesse beauty strength and safety hath that Christian hath that man that divides himselfe from the â—â—ity of the Church from the unity of the State that breaks the bond of peace pray we therefore Peace in our time O Lord. So excellent a thing is Peace Zach. 8.16 Luc. 10.5 2 Cor. 13.11 c. that God in the Law commands it that Christ in the Gospell commends it that S. Paul in all his Epistles not one that I remember excepted exhorts it Rom. 12.18 1 Cor. 1.3 that God is called the Father of peace 1 Cor. 14 33. that Christ is called the King and Prince of peace Isay 9.6 Heb. 7.2 that the holy Ghost is called the Spirit of peace Mat. 5.9 Gal. 5.22 that the Saints are called the children of peace Iohn 13.35 that the holy Trinity promises to crowne it with the fatnesse of the earth and the dew of heaven Rom. 14 17. And now my beloved would you obey the law or enjoy the Gospell would you have God to be your Father Christ your Saviour or the holy Ghost your Comforter and the Saints your Companions Would you see many dayes and inherit the earth and enjoy heaven then pray Peace in our time O Lord. Peace is the onely Sunne that can disperse the Clouds of Schisme and Faction in the Church whereby we may all keepe the unity of the Spirit Peace is the onely Sunne that can expell all mists and fogs of quarrels and contentions in the State that we may all be happy and joyfull living like brethren in unity pray we therefore Peace in our time O Lord. Peace is the onely Key to lock warre out of our walles and let quietnesse into our borders and keepe the doore so fast that no headstrong Iehu shall open by violence that no cunning Ieroboam shall shut by subtilty the key of David pray we therefore Peace in our time O Lord. Peace is the onely heart in our body that can expell the sanguine humour of revenge and the melancholy distempers of revolt and conserve in Temperance the state of our body politick and the state of his body mysticall For if peace be gone the Spirit is gone for he is the Spirit of peace and if the Spirit be gone Christ is gone with him for nunquam divelluntur they are never asunder He is the Prince of peace and if Christ be gone God the Father is gone too and how miserable that Church or State is â—â—om whom the blessed Trinity is departed Father Sonne and holy Ghost judge your selves I pray God this be not our case now and that it may not pray you too Peace in our time O Lord. Peace is the onely spring in the year to blow out the malice of cold blood in Winter and to keepe out the anger of hot blood in Summer that the greennesse and tranquillity may ever flourish in a Church and kingdome and that they may ever flourish in this Church and State pray we Peace in our time O God Peace is the onely vertue that S. Paul joynes with grace in all his Epistles Grace and Peace q. d. you shall never have grace unlesse you will entertaine Peace It was the speech of disordered spirits that said Non pacem petimus superi â—â—â—e gentibus iram We beg not peace we long for warres for Nulla salus bello no good can come from warre Nulla fides pietasque viris qui eastrâ— sequuntur no piety no fidelity in that people that delight in warre and love to bathe their swords with the blood of men Omnia pace vigent we can never so earnestly pray for grace as in the time of peace faith cannot be wrought by the sword heresies will not be consumed with Faggots and those Disciples that would have fire from Heaven to consume the Samaritans because they would not entertaine their Master Christ told them Luc. 9.55 they knew not of whâ—t spirit they were of If you earnestly desire grace â—â—ay for peace peace not onely with God but also with man For so long as thou art in malice with man thou canst not be at peace with God 1 Joan. 3.14 For the best signe of peace with God is to
mercy c. God of Heaven when thou shalt returne thy spirit into us and send thy Dove with an Olive branch of peace into our Ierusalem because thy mercy c. And then we shall give thanks to thee who art the Lord of Lords if thou continue the Gospell of thy Son amongst us even the Gospell of peace because thy mercy endureth for ever Which that God may doefor us and which that wee may doe to God pray we to God the Father the Author of peace and to God the Son Redeemer of the world the Prince of peace and to God the Holy-Ghost the spirit of peace to give us peace alwayes peace in affection and peace in opinion peace in unity and peace in charitie peace on earth the peace of Grace untill he exchange it into peace in Heaven peace of Glory And this O Holy Trinity and whatsoever else is needfull for us and our Ierusalem for the Mediators sake betwixt thee and us Iesus Christ the Righteous To whom three persons one God be ascribed all honour and glory for the peace of our Ierusalem Amen FINIS The second Sermon ROMANS 13.1 Let every soule be subject unto the higher powers c. THe first curse that ever fell upon Creatures was for insurrection for insurrection against Soveraigntie and those Creatures were the Angels what Angels they were Saint Peter tells you saying They were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Angels that sinned and what their sinne was the Prophet tells you 2 Pet. 1.4 Isa saying They would bee as high as the highest i. e. They would not be Subjects and their punishment was they were cast downe into Hell The second Curse that ever fell upon Creature was for insurrection too and for insurrection against Soveraigntie too and that Creature was the Serpent the Serpent whom the Devill used and abused by subtiltie to insinuate into Genesis 13 and deceive the woman and what his punishment was the Prophet Moses tells us saying he must creepe upon his belly and licke the the dust of the earth all the dayes of his life And that sinne of the Angels and this sinne of the Serpent was against Soveraigntie Monarchicall For God is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but one and Adam was the only Lord of all Creatures upon earth I could descend and tell you that another curse that fell upon man was for insurrection against Soveraignty Monarchicall Absolon by cunning and by Courtship stole the hearts of the people and by and by tooke up Armes against his Father David the King of Israel and his curse was that which is due to all traytors he was hanged onely he was hanged by miracle by the boughes or branches of a tree and now all traytors are to be hanged by law with an halter I could descend lower yet and tell you that Jerusalem was lost by insurrection and so was Constantinople too for had those Christan Princes which undertook that holy warre yeelded to one generall Commander had those Citizens given Paleologus a seasonable supply the Turke in all probability had never been Lord of the one nor the other Nay I could descend lower yet even to our owne countrey and tell you had it not beene for Tonstaines insurrection some call it a fraction or division had it not beene for Gnorthigernus and Mordredus insurrection had it not beene for Mandubratius his insurrection we had never been conquered by the Norman the Dane by the Saxon. Saint Paul saw the first of these by the eye of history and for ought I know he saw all the latter by the eye of Prophesie and fearing the rumours of his owne time that Christianity was an enemie to Monarchy might have brought such a curse as to make Christian Religion abortive when it was yet but in conception he brought this water to coole this fire Let every soule c. I need not in these times of division to make any division of the words you to keep an order they divide themselves Division Into a Precept Let every soule be subiect to the higher powers Into a perswasion For the powers that be are ordained of God or There is no power but of God In handling these words I shall require 1 Qualis potestas what Saint Paul means here by the higher powers 2 Qualis anima who is meant by every soule for one malignant Church saith it is onely Anima Laica the Layâ—mans soule that S. Paul here means by every soule and thirdly Quid subjectio what is meant by subjection Or if you will please to give me leave I shall without any wrong to S. Pauls intention make his perswasion or reason my proposition and his precept your application his perswasion is For there is no power but of God and my Proposition is Every power is of God his Precept is which I shall make your Application Therefore every soule every one of your soules must be subject to the higher powers I begin with the first Every power is from God and thus I discourse it Part and resolve it All powers are supreame or inferiour the supreame or higher powers are either first Monarchicall when the people are governed by one the King or secondly Aristocraticall when the people are governed by many and the best the Peeres or thirdly Democraticall when the people are governed by the most the Commons Each of these powers where these powers governe by themselves a part in severall places or Nations is from God for there is no power but from God and the best of these three where they are severed is the first of these three the Monarchy because it most resembles God for God as I said ere while is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but one but the best government is when these three meet in one and such is the happy government of this kingdome and long may it be happy in the government where we have not three Kings but one King but three powers to governe one kingdome to keepe this kingdome from tyranny which is the ill of Monarchy and from faction which is the ill of Aristocracie and from Licentiousnesse which is the ill of Democracie but these three meeting in one though severally they are equally and immediately from God yet joyntly the first onely Monarchy is immediately from God and the rest from God but mediately by the King For the power of Monarchy was never involved or invested in the people it was a cleere mistake by whomsoever said as will appeare by and by but the power in the people whether Aristocraticall or Democraticall is derived from and created by the King as appeares now by S. Peter whether it be to the King as supreame or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him And his supreame power of Monarchie is attained and obtained either first by inheritance which is the best clayme or secondly by donation which is the second best or thirdly by election which is the third best or fourthly by the sword which is
wee seeke for or to maintaine peace so long as we live in sinne Repentance therefore in our time O Lord that we may successefully pray for and continually maintaine the peace of our Ierusalem Reminiscatur paternitas fraternitas Remember there is a paternitie over you and a fraternity amongst you not only Pater spirituum the Father of your spirits God whom you are bound to obey in all things but also Pater patriae the Father of your Countrie whom you are bound to obey in all things hee commands either according unto or not contrary to the revealed will of God Obedience to Monarchie is an excellent conservative of peace especially where the Monarchie is bounded by an Aristocracie of Peeres and Democracie of Commons and this mixture meeting in their command and observed in our obedience For then we shall neither feare Tyranny nor Faction nor violence and where neither of these three invade there peace continues but where either of these encroach there peace is dissolving you may see it in Israel in the Raigne of Rehoboam he would not hearken to the Counsell of his Sages and the Commons rebelled and againe you may see it true in Germany of late dayes when the Commons were weary of a well settled Government But they would have the free choyce of sincere Ministers they would be disburthened from paying Tythes They would have it beleeved that God revealed his will by dreames They would have all judgements civill to be by the Bible or Revelation from God they would have all men to be equall in dignitie and what followed Confusion that which was once the Garden is now the dung-hill of the world That England never be made a like spectacle God give us grace to remember we have a King and to obey him that we are brethren as being all subjects under that one King as being all members of one Church as being all sworne by one oath as being all professors of one truth and shall brethren fall out God forbid Abraham put an end to that quarrell which was like to arise betwixt Lot and himselfe We are brethren Gen. 13. and I pray God we may ever endeavour to maintaine and keepe what we now pray for because we are brethren and all the sonnes of one man King CHARLES the peace of our Ierusalem c. Jerusalem is my third part the most excellent Subject Part 3 and now I am to speake out and in speaking of it I shall wave the three severall names and the three severall situations it hath had and exercise your patience upon these two enquiries 1. What is meant by Ierusalem and 2. Why Jerusalem is made choice of And first King David here saying Pray for the peace of Jerusalem 1a 3ae hee meanes in the Letter his owne City in the Type the State and Church of Christ and so Saint Paul calls the Church Jerusalem Ierusalem on high and heavenly Ierusalem so that the meaning is pray for the peace of Ierusalem i. e. pray for the peace of the Christian Church and Common-weale and especially wee for the peace of England Scotland and Ireland But why for Ierusalem why not pray for the peace of Inda 2a 3ae Or pray for the peace of Israel They weâ—e in no lesse danger then Ierusalem and they greater than it by far Iuda was his kingdome Israel was his people Jerusalem was but his City though his Metropolis some great reason surely then that Ierusalem is made choice of rather than Iuda his Kingdom or Israel his people surely a Kingdom is better than a Citie and the people of the Kingdome better than either Kingdome or Citie Let us see then what may be the reason that Jerusalem is made choice of and preferred before Iuda or Israel Is it because as the Oratour sayes the Citie is not the walls the streets and the houses but the people and so while King David sayes pray for the peace of Ierusalem hee intends pray for peace amongst the people of Ierusalem This may be a reason but this cannot be the maine reason Is it then because the people of Israel thorow out all the Land were bound thrice the yeare at Easter at Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles Deu. 16.16 to come up and worship at Ierusalem This comes nigh the maine reason especially if you receive for truth the opinion of some who say this Psalme was prophetically made to sing by the way when they went up by the steps to the Temple And yet this cannot be the maine reason For at these three times the Males onely came up the women staid at home and peace surely is as necessary and as necessary to be prayd for amongst women as amongst men amongst men and women as amongst men and men The maine as I take it why Jerusalem is named and not Iuda or Jsrael is double Not so much because Jerusalem was the Citie and Throne of David as because it was the Throne and City of God God calls it his house This is my house Psalme 132 here will I dwell At this time when David penned this Psalme the Tabernacle was there but afterward there was the Temple too and God is said to dwell in both the Tabernacle and Temple both and both these being the Type of Christendome Ierusalem where both these stood is onely made choice of and David saying pray for the peace of IERVSALEM intends thus much O God make all thy true Worshippers wheresoever over the face of the whole earth to be of one heart and wee must pray now O God send unitie and unanimitie into all Christendome Ierusalem is named not the peace of Iuda not the peace of Jsrael because the peace of the State i. e. of Iuda and Israel depends much if not altogether upon the peace of Ierusalem i. e. the Church you never see the Church divided in opinion but by and by you see the Common-Weale running into rebellion when Micaiah the true Prophet was confronted by Zedekiah the false Prophet by and by the Kingdome lost his peace I could give you a sadde instance of this in Germany and a nearer instance of this in England but God hath prevented the plot and now pray wee for the complement of it that our churchmen may bee of one judgment for matter of Doctrine and of one heart for matter of affection that once Prince and Peeres and people may goe hand in hand and wee enioy the peace of our Ierusalem Amen And now I am come to give you the summe of these three excellent parts of my text The most excellent duty Pray The most excellent gift peace The most excellent subject Ierusalem In that point of doctrine which I conceive to be the naturall and genuine issue of my Text viz. It is every good mans duty to pray for the peace of the Church Doct. And thus I prove it David prayed for it and he was a good man for he was a man after Gods