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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A15398	Ecclesia triumphans: that is, The ioy of the English church for the happie coronation of the most vertuous and pious prince, Iames by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, defendour of the faith, &c. and for the ioyfull continuance of religion and peace by the same. With a briefe exposition of the 122. Psalme, and fit application to the time: wherein are declared the manifold benefits like to grow by these good beginnings to the church and common-wealth of England. Dedicated to the most gratious ladie and vertuous princess, Ioland Anne, by the grace of God, Queene of England, Scotland, France, &c.	Willet, Andrew, 1562-1621.	1603 (1603)	STC 25676; ESTC S114434	63,703	152

psalms Wherefore psalmes of degrees signifie nothing els but excellent songs of an higher degree and more principall vse for so the word magualah is sometime taken as 1. Chron. 17. 17. Dauid saith Thou hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree O Lord. From hence then it may be gathered that although the word of God in it selfe is of the same excellencie as proceeding frō one and the same author yet in respect of our vse and mens seuerall necessities some part of the Scripture may be saide to be more excellent then an other 1. For whereas the scripture is profitable to fowre speciall vses to teach to improoue to correct and instruct in righteousnes as the Apostle sheweth 2. Tim. 3. 16. which fowre properties are answerable to those fowre set downe by the prophet Dauid to giue light to the eyes wisdome to the simple to conuert the soule and reioyce the heart psal 19. 7 8. The light is to know the truth wisdome to discouer and improoue errour conuersion to turne the heart and correct vice the reioycing is to take delight and to be instructed and goe forward in well doing Now euery man hath not neede alike of all these some man had more neede of knowledge to be instructed other of conscience to be conuerted one hath greater cause to be reformed of errour other to be reclaimed from vice Therefore in respect of mens diuerse and particular occasions the scriptures are diuersly to be applied and accordingly to be singled out 2. It was not then by chance that our Sauiour Christ opening the booke in the synagogue at Nazareth vpon the sabboth day did light vpon that place of the prophet Isai Luk. 4. 8. or that Eunuch was directed to read vpon that prophecie Act. 8. But this prophet as most directly foreshewing Christ was sorted out as fittest to instruct them that yet did not beleeue on Christ. The same reason mooued Ambrose to commend vnto Augustine as yet but a newe conuert the reading of this prophet 3. For like as though all meates be wholsom in their kind yet are they not fit for euery stomacke but a man of discretion will haue a care of his diet sitting at a great mans table where is varietie of dishes will consider diligently what is set before him Prou. 23. 1. The like iudgement should euery one bring to the reading of Scripture as in an Apothecaries shop though euery drug haue his vse yet are they not to be ministred for euery disease so the word of God must be applied according to the diuers maladies of the soule 4. The reason why the Lord hath thus tempered the Scriptures the Apostle sheweth That the man of God may be absolute beeing made perfect to euery good worke 2. Timoth. 3. 17. That from the rich treasure of Gods word we may draw for euery occasion as the wise Scribe taught vnto Gods kingdome is as a wise housholder that hath in his store-house both newe old Math. 13. 52. both old experience of Gods mercies to comfort him I remembred thy iudgements of olde and receiued cōfort Psal. 119. 52. and newe examples of Gods iustice to humble him as the Prophet againe saith Feare is come vpon me for the wicked that forsake thy law Psal. 119. 53. In the scriptures there is milke for babes and strong meate for the riper age there is instruction for the simple meditation for the deeper wit Augustine saith well Pascimur apertis exercemur obscuris ibi fames hic fastidium tollitur We are nourished with the easier and exercised by the harder places of scripture there are we kept from famishing here from loathing 5. Let euery man then learne when he readeth or heareth the worde to sort out that which is most for his vse to lay vp places of comfort against the day of affliction if he feele his heart to be dull to quicken it with the sense of Gods iudgements Thus the Prophet Dauid teacheth vs to single out scripture where he giueth this note Selah in diuerse places of the psalmes as thrice in the 3. psalme v. 2. 4. 8. which is a marke of attention whereby he would haue those sentences so marked especially regarded And in the same sense are these called excellent psalmes because of their excellent matter and necessarie vse Whole men neglect this course not knowing their owne necessities neither set apart the spirituall food of the word but take it as in a whole lumpe they misse of the right vse of scripture and defraud their owne soules Ye shall haue some that had neede to be humbled and as yet know not themselues dwelling and delighting in their sinnes and yet forsooth these men cannot endure the law euery thing hath an harsh sound in their eare that rellisheth not of the sweete com●orts of the gospel Like as it is not good to eate too much honie Prou. 25. 16. so neither is it fit for such alwaies to tast of the sweetnes of Gods promises And as Augustine saith well of Iudas mustum sancti spiritus potare non potui● quo accepto continuo crepuit he could not drinke the sweete liquour of the spirit but after he had receiued it he burst So impenitent persons and such as are hardened in their sinnes when they heare of nothing but peace peace are thereby made more incurable and their wounds are not purged but putrified It is fit therefore for euery man as his disease is so to applie the medecine The 4. meditation v. 1. I reioyced when they said vnto me Let vs goe vp into the house of the Lord. This princely prophet reioyceth in the publike and peaceable exercise of religion that the people of God had now free recourse vnto the house of God And indeede this is a benefit wherein all Christian people are much to ioy that they are not exiled from Gods house but may chearefully and quietly thither assemble 1. So saith the prophet Dauid Blessed are they that dwell in thy house they will euer praise thee Psal. 84. 4. Therefore our Sauiour noteth this as a fearefull signe of future miseries when they shall see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place then let them that be in Iudea flie vnto the mountaines Math. 24. 15. When the holy place of Gods worship beginneth to be desolate and forsaken what comfort can elswhere be expected 2. Therefore Dauid desireth this as first and principall aboue all other that he might dwell in Gods tabernacle all the daies of his life Psal. 27. 4. And he professeth that he had rather be one day in Gods courts then a thousand els where Psal. 84. 10. And he powreth out his heart for griefe when he remembred how he had gone vp with the people to Gods house as a multitude keeping a feast Psal. 42. 4. but now was tossed from place to place and banished from that place of ioy and comfort 3.

in his mercie graunt The Lord make your grace vnto his Maiestie 〈◊〉 D●borah to Baruch as Huldah to Ios●●● as Esther to 〈◊〉 A●ashuer●sh Christ Iesus graunt you the pietie of Rebecca that consulted with God the zeale of M●riam that praised God the knowledge of the Teko●●● that perswaded Dauid the wisdome of the matron● of Abel that deliuered the citie the charitie of the Shunamite that prouided for the Prophet that the Church of God● beholding your zeale toward God your 〈◊〉 to his Chur●● desire to the truth obedience 〈◊〉 his word humilitie in your high estate mercie and pietie toward the po●re members of the Church constancie in vertue and all goodnes may blesse you with the saying of the wise man of the godly matrone many daughters haue done vertuously but your surmount them all and that you may be eternally blessed in heauen that in that day it may be pronounced to your comfort Giue her of the fruit of her hands c. Your Highnes readie to be commanded in the Lord Andrew Willet Minister of the Gospel of Christ. The Preface to the Reader THe Iewes returning from captiuitie did so wonder at their strange deliuerance that they seemed to be as men that dreame Psal. 126 1. As strange a worke hath God wrought for the Church of Englād for though we are not come from thraldome to libertie or from captiuitie to our owne countrie hauing many yeares vnder our late Soueraigne enioyed both true religion and therewith as the handmaid waiting vpon her mistresse all flourishing peace yet in respect of our deliuerance from that danger to the state which many feared the change of religiō in the church which some doubted others desired we can no lesse wonder at the Lords strange worke and say with the Church of God The Lord hath done great things for vs whereof we reioyce Psal. 126. 3. In this common ioy who shall forbidde any to reioyce and where Gods mercies are so manifest and euident to all the world who can hold his peace But as benefits are not acknowledged where first they are not well considered nor due thankes performed where the grace receiued is not worthely esteemed for this cause haue I addressed this short treatise that Gods goodnesse to Israel might be proclaimed and that no man be ignorant what God hath done for vs that we again be not negligent to doe to him that which becommeth vs to giue vnto him thankes and praise Samuel to disswade the people from al their wanton desires to haue a king wheras God was yet their king telleth them what the properties of their king shall be and how hardly he should vse them and how little pleasing vnto them his gouernment was like to be 1. Sam. 8. As he would disswade from their vnthankefulnesse to God in that headstrong request by propounding vnto them the hard conditions of their king so mine intent is to perswade to thankefulnesse to God by setting forth the princely and Christian endowements of our gratious Soueraigne and the manifold benefits which both Church and cōmon wealth are sure by Gods grace to enioy vnder his Maiesties godly vpright regiment For this cause haue I sorted out this 122. Psalme as seruing most fitly for this present occasion which I haue deuided into 20. seuerall meditations shewing so many blessings vpon this Church and common-wealth answerable to those which Israel enioyed vnder Dauid 1. As Dauid appeased the strife betweene him and the house of Saul and brought all Israel to one gouernment which was before deuided so these two kingdomes of England and Scotland hauing beene long at variance and exercised in time past with long and bloodie battels are now vnited in one His Maiestie is the corner stone that hath conioyned these two walles togither 2. Vnder Dauid true religion was cōtinued and by our Soueraigne the faith of the gospell by his Maiestie truely professed and in his princely bookes protested shall still be maintained 3. Dauid was a learned prince an inditer of heauenly songs and sonnets And God hath giuen vnto vs a wise and iudiciall king whose princely writings do giue him the preheminence before all his predecessors another Salomon a king and yet an Ecclesiastes a learned writer such an one as Gratian the Emperour was of whome Ambrose saith Scripsisti tua totam epistolam manu vt ipsi apices fidem tuam pi●●atemque loquerentur You haue written not an epistle onely but whole bookes with your hand that the very points and letters doe vtter your faith and pietie 4. In Dauids time there was free accesse to Gods house I reioyced when they said let vs goe vp c And nowe the doores of Protestants Churches shall be as wide set open as euer 5. Then the faithfull one exhorted an other saying Let vs goe vp to the house of the Lord And now may Christians goe hand in hand conferring freely and edifying one another 6. Dauid in bringing home the Arke went before himselfe and was an example of godly zeale to his people So it is our Dauids godly precept to his princely sonne Teach your people by your example p. 24. And such is the practise in his owne royall person giuing light by his Christian life to all his subiects 7. Before Dauids time religion was vnsetled the Arke was flitting from place to place but he brought it to Hierusalem where it staied and therefore he saith Our feete shall stand in thy gates O Jerusalem and nowe whereas many feared an alteration of religion at the next change we verely hope that the Gospell hath set sure footing in the Church of England which both by his Maiestie while he liueth whose happie raigne God in his mercie many yeares prolong and by his roiall posteritie walking in his steppes we trust shall be continued to the end of the world wherein his highnesse also hath deliuered his sound iudgement and constant resolutiō That in the last estate when the church is deliuered from the thraldome of Antichrist without any more generall mutations the world shall remaine to the consummation and end of the same 8. Vnder Dauid the cittie flourished beeing enlarged with goodly and beautifull buildings Ierusalem was a cittie well compact and built togither And nowe also we hope by Gods mercie that men shall plant vineyards and eate the fruit thereof build houses and dwell in them 9. Dauid was brought vp to Ierusalem with the ioynt consent of all Israel who said we are thy bones and thy flesh 2. Sam. 5. 1. And it is admirable to consider the generall resolution of all English people and the coniunction of their hearts affections both of high and lowe in receiuing their Soueraigne 10. Then the tribes of Israel were not onely vnited in one kingdome but were reconciled among themselues vnited also in one religion thither the tribes went vp c. So not

onely externall warres are like for euer to cease betweene these two nations but one vniforme religion shall hereafter containe them in perfect loue and vnitie that neither the Church of Scotland shall be iealous of the English Church as inclining in some things to poperie nor the English suspect the other as affecting a popular paritie but as louing sisters fellow tribes shall hold one worshippe of God and go vp to Ierusalem togither 11. Dauid expelled the Iebusites not admitting contrarie religion in Hierusalem And it is no doubt but that God will so direct our Dauids heart that religion shall be sincerely professed among vs without any mixture or toleration as his Maiestie most godly professeth thus Is there not nowe a sincere profession of the truth among vs in this Isle oppugned by the nations about haters of the holy word and doe we not also as Israel professe one onely God ruled by his pure word onel yon the other part are they not as Philistims adorers of legions of gods and ruled by the foolish traditions of men And again in another place We must feare to fall from the trueth reuealed and professed by vs that we may be free from the like punishment c. 12. Dauid reformed many things that were amisse in Israel he appointed the Leuites their courses and seruices that were farre out of order Our zealous Dauid hath giuen vs great hope of the like who in his princely treatise Queene Elizabeth then liuing thus writeth I doubt nothing yea in her name I dare promise by the by-past experience of her happie gouernment that no good subiect shall be more carefull to enforme her of any corruptions stollen into her state then shee shall be zealous for the discharge of her conscience and honour to see the same purged and restored to the auntient integritie and further during her time becomes me least of any to meddle in it c That which his Maiestie promised in behalfe of our late Soueraigne God shall direct his wisdome to performe by himselfe the dealing wherin before as it pleased his princely modestie to call medling so nowe the whole managing thereof of right appertaineth vnto him 13. In Dauids time there was both publikely and priuately a free entercourse of religion the praises of God were in euery mans mouth The tribes went vp to praise the name of the Lord. Their seruice was not mute and dumbe but the temple did ring and sound againe of Gods praises And thankes be to God that the Church of England is not forced to hang their instruments of praise vpon the willowes with the Israelites in Babylon and to intermit the comfortable exercise of thankesgiuing as it hath happened in some changes but that we haue as great cause as much libertie as euer to sound out Gods praises that we may say with the prophet thē was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with ioy 14. Then were the thrones set for iudgment and it is Gods mercie that hath not giuen vs ouer to the cruell desire of our enemies that the course of iustice is not interrupted but the lawe and seates of iudgment open for euery man whose heart do not his Maiesties princely speeches reuiue thus writing to his noble sonne Preasse to drawe all your lawes and processes to be as short and as plaine as you can c. wearie not to heare the complaints of the oppressed aut ne rex sis 15. Euen the thrones of Dauid God gaue Israel no stranger to raigne ouer them but one of their owne kinred And the Lord hath raised vnto vs a Soueraigne descended of Dauids stocke of the royall blood of the kings of this land a prince of the same language of the Island of the English royall blood yea of the same religion who as he is no forrainer so giueth counsell to his princely heire To haue ordinarie councels and iustice seates in euery kingdome of their owne countrimen 16. Dauid would haue euery one pray for the peace of Ierusalem and not to disturb it So whereas the peace of our Church hath beene hindred by the opposition of strange and newe doctrines our hope is that our Dauid will restore the peace of the Church and bring vs to one vniforme doctrine whose princely aduice is That if any doe vrge to imbrace their owne fantasies in the place of Gods word c. acknowledge them for vaine men c grauely and with authoritie redact them into order againe 17. Peace be within thy walls The people vnder Dauid were freed from the feare of the enemie they needed not to set watchmen vpon their towers and garrisons vpon their walls So we trust to haue peace abroad with other nations who if they will be wonne with kindnesse we haue a prince that will vse all other princes as brethren honestly and kindly and will striue with euery one of them in curtesie and thankefulnesse But if they be readie to offend our nation we haue a couragious defender that will reuenge and free his subiects from al forraine iniuries done vnto them 18. In Dauids time plentie and peace was within their pallaces and houses and now we trust that euen our children shall haue cause to blesse this day wherby they may obtaine godly education not distracted from their parents by iniquitie of the times which was feared and might haue iustly befallen vs that we may say as it is in the Psalme Our sonnes shall grow vp as plāts and our daughters as the polished corners of the temple Psal. 144. 12. 19. Dauid wisheth all good to Israel because they were his brethren and neigbours God hath sent vs a louing prince Who as our naturall father and kinde master thinketh his greatest contentment standeth in his subiects prosperitie and his greatest suretie in hauing their hearts 20. Dauid cheifly because of Gods house procureth the peace of Hierusalem Such is the zeale and affection of our Dauid to Gods house who holdeth that the cheife vertue which should be in a Christian prince namely feruencie and constant zeale to promoote the glorie of God that hath honoured him And concerning the Ministers of the Church his Maiestie saith Loue no mā more then a good pastor reuerence and obey them as the heralds of the most high God These singular mercies extented to the Church of England I haue dispersedly handled in this treatise that the consideration thereof may prouoke vs to thankefulnesse And in trueth not only these but many other blessings with a full horne the Lord at this present some in possession some in expectation some in acte some in hope hath powred vpon vs so that the Church may say with Dauid O Lord my God thou hast made thy wonderfull workes so many that none can count in order thy thoughts towards vs I would declare and speake of them but they

iudge the people from morning to night and by the aduise of Hobab his father in law he appointed other inferiour gouernonrs both to ease him of some burthen and for better expedition for the people Exod. 18. And at Ephesus what would haue beene the issue of that tumultuous vproare if it had not beene appeased by the authoritie and wisdome of the towneclarke who among other wise speaches said vnto them If Demetrius haue a matter against any man the law is open and there are deputies let them accuse one another Act. 19. 38. And what miserie is like to befall a commonwealth without gouernment it is euident by the historie of the Iudges where this is yeilded as a reason of the oppression of the children of Dan Iud. 18. 1. and of the horrible adulterie committed by the men of Gibeah with the Leuites wife Iud. 19. 1. In those daies there was no king in Israel 3. For men without a gouernour are as the fishes of the sea that deuoure one another Hab. 1. 14. But the protection of Magistrates and gouernours is like the shadow of a great tree where the beasts doe finde shelter and the birds build their nests Dan. 4. 18. And as we see the wall is a proppe to the small boughes or Ivie that runneth vpon it Gen. 49. 22. so was Ioseph to his brethren and euery good Magistrate to his people 4. Therefore Iudges in Scripture are called Gods Exod. 21. 6. as Moses was to Aaron as a God Exod. 4. 16. to giue him direction And for this cause the Lord endueth Magistrates with necessarie graces of discerning and directing of boldnesse and courage of protection and deliuerance that they might be guides and gouernours of his people and distribute vnto euery man his right as the Lord said to Iosua I wil neuer leaue thee nor forsake thee be strong and of a good courage for vnto this people shalt thou deuide the land for an inheritance Ios. 1. 5 6. 5. This doctrine then giueth vs occasion herein also to remember the louing kindnes of God towardes vs that as the thrones haue beene set for iudgement all the happie and peaceable raigne of Q. Elizabeth so they doe and are like to cōtinue still Many feared great confusion to fall vpon the land and some wickedly imagined and as treacherously desired that this famous countrie might haue bin a pray for the Spanyard then indeede the thrones of iudgement should haue beene cast downe and no other iustice should haue beene expected but by the sword such iustice as Lysander shewed when the Argives who seemed to haue better right contended with the Lacedemonians about their bounds he drew his sword and said He that vseth this can best determine of the bounds and titles of lands Much that like was the Duke of Medina his speach the king of Spaines factor and chiefe captaine for the pretended inuasion of England ann 88. that his sword knew not to make any difference betweene Papist and Protestant if he had preuailed The same reports also the secular masse priests affirme that Parsons should thus write concerning the king of Spaine that after the losse of his Armado he ranne to an altar and taking a siluer candle sticke swore a monstrous oath that he would wast not onely all Spaine but also all his Indies to that candlesticke but he would be auenged on England But thankes be to God these cruell lords that would haue raigned ouer vs haue lost their hope and as the Psalmist saith They haue slept their sleepe and all the men of strength haue not found their hands at thy rebuke O Lord both the chariot and the horse are cast asleepe Psal. 76. 5 6. Many of those which gaped for our destruction are asleepe as Pharao with his hoast in the bottome of the sea so that we may say againe with the prophet Thou hast saued vs from our aduersaries and put them to confusion that hate vs Psal. 44. 7. Blessed be God that hath not suffered such cruell lords to raigne ouer vs but hath raised vp the thrones of iustice from among our selues Long may these thrones set for iudgment cōtinue and be established in peace which we trust to see that as it is in the psalme we may sing Mercie and trueth shall meete iustice and peace shall kisse each other Psalm 85. 10. Truth vertue in religion bringeth forth mercie and equitie in the princely administration and the vpright sitting in these thrones of iustice is the way to establish peace as Augustine well saith vpon these wordes of the psalme Vultis pacem ama iusticiam quia duae amicae sunt iustitia pax ipsae se osculantur si amicam pacis non amaueris non te amabit pax nec veniet ad te c. If you will haue peace loue iustice because iustice peace are two friēds they one kisse another if you loue not the friēd of peace peace will not loue thee nor come at thee God graunt that both in the Ecclesiasticall and Ciuill state of this kingdome iustice and peace may so embrace the other with veritie and truth that if it be Gods blessed will they may neuer be parted nor pulled asunder The 15. meditation Euen the thrones of the house of Dauid That is God had giuen vnto his people a gouernour from among themselues as the Israelites say to Dauid We are thy bones thy flesh 2. Sam. 4. 1. as also an vpright wise and iust prince that did feed them according to the simplicitie of his heart and guided them by the discretion of his handes Psal. 78. 72. It is then an vnspeakable benefit when the Lord setteth vp the thrones of Dauid that is giueth vnto a people iust gouernours and the same not strangers but of their owne bone and flesh 1. For the first the wise man saith When the righteous are in authoritie the people reioyce Prou. 28. 2. Great ioy there is when God raiseth vp to his Church vertuous rulers and gouernours as the contrarie is a great iudgement When the wicked beareth rule the people sigh Prou. 28. 2. For the other the Lord by Moses gaue them this law From among thy brethren thou shalt make a king ouer thee thou shalt not set a stranger ouer thee which is not thy brother Deut. 17. 15. 2. Such an one was Salomon who both was the sonne of Dauid borne from among his brethren the Israelites as he himselfe saith Thou hast kept for Dauid this great mercie and hast giuen him a sonne to sit vpon his throne as appeareth this day as also he praied vnto God to giue him an vnderstanding heart that he might iudge the people righteously 1. king 3. 5. 9. Such an one was Zorobabel of whome the prophet Ieremie thus testifieth Their noble ruler shall be of themselues and their gouernor shall proceede from the middest of them and I will cause him to draw neere and approach vnto