his Sonne of the women of Canaan so heere is an oath of Canonicall obedience required that no man affiance himself to any schismatical or hereticall Church but onely the true Spouse of Christ she must be as the louing Hinde Prou. 5 1◠and pleasant Roe in thy sight to delight in her loue continually The words of Gods spirit they are not otiosa supplementa verborum nor as Iob saith words of the winde but wher the holy Ghost fals on charging without question there is some waightie matter in hand Iob. 6.26 and therefore in regard of the person who doth adiure charge when the assemblie is broken vp this charge must be thought vpon to be performed Daughters of Ierusalem THE persons to whome this charge is directed is to the Daughters of Ierusalem that is by the iudgement and consent of all interpreters to the Magistrates and to the Ministers especially to the holy Priestes who are attending vpon the Church as waighting women on a Queene or as louing daughters vpon their mothers They are named Daughters of Ierusalem because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Daughters in their qualities resemble their mother Arist de ge 4. cap. 3 Ierusalem by Dauid it was made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the mother citie in all Iudea in the 12. of the Reuel shee is said to trauaile in birth and in the 4. to the Galath 26. it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the mother of vs all a plaine periphrasis of the Church Ierusalem as appeareth in the 18. of Ioshua 28. it first tooke the name of Iebuseus the sonne of Chana and was called Iebus Iosephus Arqueri after it was enlarged by Melchisedech and called Salem which signifies Attonement or the vision of Peace Hebr. 7. and 2. King of Salem that is King of Peace Thus then daughters of Ierusalem are to bee vnderstoode Daughters that resemble their mother Daughters of Peace What and is it to be feared that Ierusalem shall be disturbed of her owne Daughters they that professe themselues to be children of the holy Citie and should continually pray for the peace of Ierusalem are they such stirrers that they must bee charged I verely the holy Ghost knew right well both how to whom to speake For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 20.30 euen from among your selues shall men arise speaking peruerse things and seeking to draw Disciples after them When the Diuell saw his Temples forsaken and his Oracles put to silence hee deuised this as a speciall supply to haue alwaies his agents in or about the Church Aug. de ciuit Dei lib. 18. c. 51 Qui sub vocabulo Christiano doctrinae resisterent Christianae who vnder the title of a Christian name might euer be ready to resist the Christian doctrine Inimici hominis domestici eius our owne calling and countrymen are our most vnkinde and cruell enimies Had not diuers of vs like vnnaturall children shaken off that reuerend obedience due to the Church our mother but had shewed our selues as heere we are named Daughters of Ierusalem the holy spouse of Christ had neuer been so wounded at the heart nor her patrimonie so bouldly beene made a pray to sacrilegious Atheists Whereas we should preach Christ Iesus crucified that is reconciliation by his bloud holy life repentance and good works christian Charitie and such like still there is much a doe about such points as make not to the furtherance of the people in good life and deuotion but to the ouerthrow of the state Ecclesiasticall to the disturbance of the Church of God It is a wofull ofspring when the birth of the childe is the death of the mother If It is run to his mother Progne and bee betraied in her bosome if when the childe aske bread the father giue a Scorpion if the Phisition minister poison if there bee no succour in the iudge Contra solitudinem inopiam if one truth bee not generally taught of vs all et locum vbi consistat reperire non potest if still there be a difference made betweene the Reformed and the Formalistes and affirmed that the Reformed though they lose their liuings yet they will keepe a good conscience but the Formalists will euer be of the same religion the king is of If when we celebrate the Lords Supper we play as they say a pageant of our owne and make poore silly soules beleeue they haue an English masse if Church men affirme that our Church hath in it still so many black marks that the naturall children of the Church cannot discerne it what hope can be conceiued that the blessed Spouse shall euer attaine vnto any setled and ioyfull rest The people in all ages they haue euer delighted to heare of the faultes and frailties both of their gouernours of their teachers it hath euer beene laughing cheere to the ignorant multitude to see strange innouations change in the course of religion and men of the Church at variance and contention yet all this is not sufficient to aduise but still euen vpon no occasion diuers are euer troubling the state and murmuring against the gouernment established Our Sauiour Christ he directeth this charge especially vnto vs calleth vs Daughters of Ierusalē Bernard piè blanditur ac suauitèr allicìt Daughters for loue Ierusalē for peace teaching vs thereby humilitie obedience to the christian Maiestrate peace lowlines and submission to the Church our mother so that if wee doe ioy in the prosperitie of our country if we doe long after the florishing estate of the Church aboue all others we must be knit together in vnitie and peace Gel. 5.15 For if we bite one an other wee shall be consumed one of another Surely the Lord is with King Salomon God is with our King hee hath giuen him wisedome riches and honour hee hath built him a glorious pallace Cant. 3.9 the timber is of Lebanon the pillers of siluer the ornaments of gold the worke doth prosper in his hands and there remaines nothing but that it may bee paued throughout with the loue of the Daughters of Ierusalem Therefore you that bee Magistrates Parlament men flowers of the land and ornaments of your Countrie heere also called Daughters of Ierusalem doe you by all good meanes procure the Peace of the Church Giue no encouragement to humorous men doe not fauour their disorderly proceedings win them by your authoritie perswade them in your loue to peace and conformitie It is said of Saint Ciprian that with teares he bewailed those who in the time of persecution denied Christ much more is their contempt and peruersenes to be lamented who in the time of the Churches prosperitie doe wilfully forsake Christ for what is it else to forsake Christ but without iust cause with out any sure ground to forsake that blessed calling wherof before God and men before Saints and Angels they haue made publike profession before the Church Is this integritie is this humblenesse
and complaine Aug. de ciuit Dei lib. 1. cap 8. but the point is Non qualia sed qualis quisque patiatur Since his blessed Raigne doe not our hearts secretly tell vs that wee feele and daily tast of ioyfull Peace Peace sought by mightie Kings and embraced by forraine Nations as in the daies of Solomon Is not true Nobilitie honorably respected Virtue and well doing cheerefully rewarded Holy men and discreet daily aduanced Vertue rewarded the reuenewes of the Church lately confirmed and diuers foundations of Religion already laid as in the glorious raigne of great Constantine The Lord is God the Lord is God and who is such a God as our God O wretches and vnthankefull men that we are wee know not our owne good we weigh not the sweet mercies of a kinde and gratious God For in these and many other respects which are most apparant to the view of all men I assure my selfe that his royall Maiestie whom the Lord protect with his mightie hand long to reigne ouer vs is now and shall bee for euer renowned amongst the most famous Kings that euer liued in the world and that the Church and common Wealth of England so happely gouerned by his Highnesse is now at this day the most Apostolike and florishing Church the most religious Court the most peaceable and vpright state that is in all Christendome How bee it when Prince and People when Nobilitie and Clergy when all estates and degrees doe thus Godly and peaceably go on enioying such blessed happines such quiet and reposed peace would not the Sunne bee abashed and the powers of nature daunted that Christian men and especially such as are deuoted vnto God in sacred and holy orders some professing great holinesse and austeritie others much purenesse and great singularitie both these should neuer cease to disturbe and waken the churches peace Surely it is the Lord that giueth his beloued sleepe and this sleepe this prosperitie of the Church and Common Wealth it is a blessing inestimable vnto his people therefore when hee vouchsafeth to giue rest no man ought to waken or stirre vntill shee please and that is neuer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vntill it is plainely neuer Vntill Genes 8. The Rauen returned not vntill the waters were dryed vp that is Neuer Mat. 1.25 Ioseph knew not the blessed Virgin vntill shee had brought forth her first begotten that is Neuer neuer neuer let any man waken the blessed Spouse The Conclusion BVt for as much as the person from whom this Commission is directed is the Metropolitane and great shepherd of our soules Christ Iesus the penner of the holy Ghost the heauenly Secretary seing hee vouchsafeth to call the Church his Loue the deepest of all the affections her peace compared to Sleepe the sweetest comfort in nature seeing Christ Iesus himselfe most wise louing and fearefull is not content to perswade but vehemently to charge and yet the attributes applyed most sweet and kind Daughters for Loue Ierusalem for peace seeing the Charge it selfe is so straitly giuen not one to stir and in no case to Waken the Date so plainely set downe that is must bee Neuer according to the tenure of my text in the person of Christ Iesus I adiure and solemnly charge I charge by the holy Patriarkes Abraham Isaac and Iacob who in their generations were men of Peace I charge by the holy Apostles who haue commaunded vs to keepe the vnitie of the Spirit in the bond of Peace I charge by the holy Angels who at the birth of Christ did sing Peace I charge by our Faith Hope and Charitie which are the fruites of Peace I charge by that Obedience due both to the ciuil Magistrate and spirituall gouernour who are by all good meanes to preserue and maintaine Peace I charge by the Dum Beastes of the field who shall take reuenge vpon the disturbers of Peace Lastly I adiure and charge by the Soules of the ignorant and simple people the least whereof a thousand worlds are not able to redeeme that no man despise the voyce of this great shepherd this double and three-fold Charge which concerneth the flowrishing and happy peace of our country the prosperitie and peaceable rest of the Church the beeing liuing and well being of vs all Whosoeuer hath any true tast of a religious heart whosoeuer hath any care of his Soules Saluation whosoeuer hath any respect to the honour of his name and regard of his posteritie whosoeuer hath any dutifull affection to his Prince and country let him pray rather that his tongue may cleaue to the roofe of his mouth and his right arme wither from his body then once to bee accounted amongst the number of those who will bee seene to stirre in so well gouerned a state to waken so blessed rest of the Spouse to discontent the religious heart of so gratious a King and to blemish the glory of so renowned a Common Wealth Ah Lord what estate of Church or Common Wealth did euer in this world at thine vnto perfection 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whose desert and wisedome could euer content all humours wherein haue not the most Noble and Christian Worthies of the world beene sought one way or other secretly to bee wronged and who knoweth touching these late and grieuous treasons why the Lord hath suffered euill counsell to bee vndertaken and with such malice and bloud to bee pursued Vndoubtedly First it may bee thought to this ende that all the people of this Land and euery one heere present might take heede how wee forget our louing God in the dayes of our prosperitie that wee might learne to stand fast vpon the Lord as vpon mount Sion to relie on his loue as the centre of our life in all dangers to stye vnto him as a Bird doth vnto the shadie hill for safetie that so both heart and tongue might acknowledge his gooodnesse and as a floud into the Sea send thanksgiuing to so deare a God againe Secondly Aug. permittit Deus quod nemo impunè committit God suffereth euill and wicked men for a time expecting their repentance and looking for their conuersion but if they persist and become as Pharao was hardened in their bloud-thirsty crueltie then the Lord euen for his owne glory doth suffer them to play vpon the hooke and daunce in the snare till at length it might bee knowen to all Nations and Kingdomes round about that when it comes to the very poynt the Lord will rouse himselfe like a Gyant turne all such practises vpside-downe but will deliuer his chosen execute iudgement vpon the wicked Psal 16. and the vngodly shall bee trapped in the works of their owne hands Therefore let neither Prince nor people bee dismayed and cast downe with traiterous and fearefull rumors but let his sacred Maiestie comfort his heart raise vp his Spirit and walke cheerefully vpon the inuincible hope and assured experience of the Lords fore passed loue let him hold
of mind and an heart truely knit and deuoted vnto God No verily Is in amore Dei maior erit qui plurimos ad eius amorem trahit Greg. in hom That man shall bee accepted most in Gods loue who doth win most to the holy loue of God It is a blessed thing to be euen a doore keeper in the house of God and it sauours of an humble minde of a sweet spirit to become all things to all men by all possible meanes to win some Thus did Christ teach in his life and thus did he performe in his death Perdidit vitam potiùs quam perdidit obedientiam But if it be so that nothing can preuaile with these men and that they will needes leaue of to be Daughters of Ierusalem then here is not onely a charge giuen to fore-warne them by word but in the 15. ver there followes an attachment If I charge will not serue the take vs the foxes Cant. 2.15 that destroy the vines must follow If Arons rod cannot sway Moses must stinge Fitches are to be beaten with a staffe and cummin with arod Whosoeuer will not doe Eza 7. â—6 the Law of thy God and the Kings law let him haue iudgement without delay S. Basile saith that Magistrate is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with out bowels and compassion who suffereth disorders in the church vnpunished Diuers questions beginning onely to arise betweene the Disciples of Saint Iohn and our Sauiour holy writers haue this obseruation that God in his wisedome did suffer the death of Saint Iohn to hasten Iohn 3 25. that there might be no sects nor diuision in the Church Chrisost Theodo Very loth haue I euer beene to be seene at any time to meddle in these troubles of the Church and therefore the Lord knoweth my heart I speake not in bitternesse to exasperate any mans thoughts against them But in this case who is offended and I burne not by lamentable experience doe I know what strange and wofull effects these disordered courses haue brought forth Diuers in whose vertuous and louely societie my heart hath often ioyed and some for whom nature would cause a man to cry out would to god I had dyed for thee my brother some of these haue forsaken both friends and country and others men of excellent parts in humaine learning whereas they had purposed to take holy orders by reason of these contentions they fell away and embraced this present world Therefore in those things which concern the glory of God the peace and prosperitie of the Church Plutarch Optima legum institutio vt non solùm sint sed vt latis pureatur As it is a blessed thing to haue begun well so it is the crowne of glory to perseuere in well doing to persist by all good meanes that as much as possible may bee from the Orcades to the South seas from the Irish pale to the Westerne bounds there may bee one publike perfect and Christian Peace amongst vs for feare least as by the discord of the Arians innumerable people fell away Dluus Hilar. lib. contra Const August from Christianitie to Gentilisme and infidelitie so by reason of our discord they neuer cease to fall away as fast to Atheisine impietie Roes and Hindes OF the Persons you haue heard novv commeth in the charge it selfe wherein first we are to consider the Manner which is very sweet and proper For being in the fieldes and alluding to shepheards according to the tenor of the Canticle hee doth charge by the Roes and Hindes of the field Why wee should bee charged by Roes and Hindes such a strange kinde of adiuration and what is ment by them there is great varietie of interpretations amongst all writers In the originall tongue Tzeboath and Ailoth the Hebrew words they doe signifie exercitus virtutes wherevnto the Septuagints agreeing doe translate it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O yee Daughters I charge you by the royall armies and strength of the field Aponius in his 4. booke Aponius saith we are adiured by Roes and Hindes For example sake quòd horuÌ„ est amor ardentissimus because of all other beasts their loue in feeding and keeping quietly one with an other is most peaceable and affectionate Per Hinnulos Capreas Rupertus that is saith Rupertus by the holy Patriarks Abraham Isaac and Iacob who in their generations were men of peace Thomas Aquinas hee expoundeth it Tho. Aqui Lyra. by the holy Prophets Apostles Lyra saith we are charged by Roes and Hindes for that these beasts are enemies to poyson and fellow helpers against such as hurt them Saint Bernard Bernard serm 53. Beza hee adiureth by the holy Angels who are as swift as Roes and Hindes Beza whose exposition is very good he saith the spirit of God doth call the very dum creatures to witnes against stirrers in the Church Some expound Roes and Hindes to bee the chiefe theologicall vertues adiuring vs by our faith hope and charitie Others they say wee are adiured amore quo tenemini Sanctis Hugo Cand. by that loue and reuerend duty which we doe owe to the Saints and reuerend Fathers of the Church To bee short Gregory Gorrhan Cassiodore Ambrose Origen Honorius Anselmus Angelomus almost euery author doth differ in his exposition So that as the Poet cryed out Quid clamem quae fata vocem quae numina poscam so all authors are at a stande and cannot tell either in heauen or in earth or amongst the creatures what to call to witnesse that they might sufficiently charge But that they might be sure to make all men fearefull to stirre or trouble the Churches peace euery one doth adiure by that which in his senerall iudgement is most forcible Amongst the rest Venerab Beda the exposition of Venerable Beda is very significant and religious I charge you by the Roes and Hindes that is saith he per delitias agri by the soules and tender consciences of the ignorant and simple people they are the Roes and Hindes which we must hunt after and study to take And very fitly are they compared to Roes and Hindes because as Pliny P li. lib 8. cap 53. Solinus lib 3. Philostratus and Solinus writeth they are most tender and fearefull of all beasts affrited with any noise checked with the least foile tourned out of course with the cracking of a sticke presently make head another way and when they are once out of their wonted walke Erranti in via nullus est terminus they run they know not whither euen to their owne death Such is the nature and disposition of common people soone stird vp quickled awry sometimes running full head one way on a sodaine turned as much an other 1. Sam. 15.24 Act. 12.2 Therefore it is a seruile course and bewraies a vaine and proud spirit for any especially men of religion and vnderstanding to fit the fancies and seeke to win vnto