comfort of his Church and our countrie We haue heard how when the wicked fall to trauaile with plats of treasons rebellions and such like they bend themselues to take all occasions and presse into Courtes and winde themselues into fauour and creepe into credit to haue oportunities and aduātages for their diuelish intents and how Princes following the example of Dauid in the wisdome of God shoulde make their resolutions for choyse of faithfull and godlie persons to bee neere vnto them and about them and whom they shoulde auoide out of their housholds Thus muche of the third principall matter what trauailing is who setteth and whetteth them continually on to trauaile how they bend themselues to take all occasions and aduantages for the execution of their wicked plats The 4. principall matter After trauailing what fruite such wicked persons bring foorth HE shall bring foorth saith Dauid a lie or vaine thing Sheker the worde Sheker signifieth a lie Some expounde it Rem inanem A vaine matter in respect of the sequell and effect which will deceiue them The Septuagint translate it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in respect of the trāsgression vnrighteousnesse excesse outrage against Gods lawe and mans lawe of which sense the Septuagint giue occasiion And in respect of the sequell and successe not aunswering their plats but cōming to an afterdeale and disappointing them they are called lies vaine matters which sense doth grow out of the Hebrewe worde The 1. sense out of the Septuagint Touching the first sense if the Diuel himselfe shoulde trauaile to bring fruite on earth would he not bring the like iniquitie impietie transgressions and outrages against the law of God man Where such wicked are there is as it were an hel on earth Verres hell on earth as Cicero said of Verres regiment in Scicilie that whether he came because of the troupes of wicked that hanged about him thither came another hell on earth God blesse vs from them that bring such troupes and from all troupes of traitors rebels conspirators and confedrates against the Prince estate gods church our country The second sense springing out of the root of the Hebrew word The 2. sense out of the Hebrew word and the aptest in that respect to which I refer my tract or treatise touching it is they shall bring foorth a lie a vaine matter that will not take effect but they shall sticke in the gappe and perish in the breach that themselues haue made Though king Saul had neuer such deadly food against Dauid King Saul like a woode Lion or wild Panther ran into the woods wildernesse to kill him yet will it not come to effect but hee had his trauaile for his paine wretchednes was his reward In the title of this Psalme in the word Chush the sonne of Iemini Psal 7. the Hebrews note Saul to be signified who is called Chush Chush as much to say as an Ethiopian or a manne of Ind Ob immutabilem animi malitiam contra Dauidē as Monster expoūdeth it Monster in scho in ti Psal 7. because of his immutable or vnremoueable malice against Dauid As the mā of Ind cānot change his naturall blacknes of hew so hee such other like to him are called by the name because of the blacknes of their malice within which neuer can be washed out vnles god powre out the cleane waters of his spirit as Ezechiel calleth thē to wash whiten them Ezech. 36. But though Sauls malice was neuer so rooted in nature that he put himselfe in armes made vprores against Dauid 2. Sam. 23. and threatned to searche him out through all the thousandes of Iuda yet for all his trauaile hee brought foorth but a lie and a vaine thing For Dauid and faithful godlie Princes vnder the protectiō of God are garded and as it were mured and walled in the high and heauenly castle of Gods prouidence where the Councels and trayterous trauels of the wicked cannot reach them Car therfore the Saulites and Chushites The Saulits Chushits and men of Ind of England for they are degēdred out of the true kinde of their owne Countrie that are such plucke the crowne from Q. Elizabeth her head Psal 21. which God hath set on it As Dauid said of himselfe thou shalt set a crown of pure gold vpon his head Psal 15. Can they vndertake the wonderfull workes of God to flie on the winges of the winde Psal 18. as Dauid saieth of God or mooue mountaines out of their places Then let them vndertake to pluck Princes out of their thrones also For it is God as Iob saith Iob. 12. that looseth the coller of kings and leadeth away Princes as a pray ouerthroweth the mightie As easie it is to mooue mountains out of their places as to remooue the estates of Princes maintained by the prouidence of God Psal 30. Dauid saith Thou hast made my mountaine so strong hee meaneth his estate maintained and established by the prouidence of God He questioneth with the high traggie hilles in an other Psal wherfore they so skippe leape against Gods mountaine Psal 68. Craggie hils against Gods mountaines so calleth he the state of Gods Church stayed established in God So likewise the stayed estate of godly Princes is called as the Prophet calleth his owne Princely estate established of God which of craggie hilles though they vance themselues neuer so high Traytors like blind moles are taken in their owne trenches cannot be remooued As blind moles cast hilles and make trenches vnder earth and are taken themselues in them so they that trauaile with treasons are like the blind moles which walk in trenches vnder the earth and yet at certain ventes and breaches of their owne making they are descried and taken Though in their treasons they moile and mine as in worke vnder ground because of the priuitie of them as they conceiue of them yet as they worke trenches vnder ground so they cast hilles a-aboue and in the veutes and breaches of their owne workes they are bewrayed and in sted of fruit they bring forth a lie or a vaine thing Is it not a vaine thing for molehilles to rise against mountaines Such is the state of godly Princes in respect of the trauaile of traytors rebels and enemies that vndermine the same Let thē heare therfore the great proclamatiō of God by the Prophet Dauid Be still then and know that I am God I wil be exalted among the Heathen I will bee exalted in th◠earth The proclamation of the spirit of God to traitors all that encounter the workes of God The spirit of God warneth al Saulites Chushites craggie hilles mole hils against the mountains of God to be still and quiet to desist from wicked attempts of treasons against God the encountring of
Prophe R. Saadias reporteth the Eagle once in tenne yeres to mount so neere the globe of the Sun that hee syngeth his old feathers that after they come vp newe But daungerous mounting it is where not only they synge their feathers and consume their worldly goods but consume their liues and bodies also It is safe going on foot as God hath giuen to man But if hee wyll needes flie or mount aboue the possibilitie of his estate The Diuell prepareth wings for those that wil mount soone commeth he to fall The Diuell as Dedalus will make him winges but they will melt before the Sunne of the eternall prouidence of God Diuelishe Dedalus of Rome hath prouided winges for many but in mounting sodainlie they are fallen They faile alwayes in the vp-shoote and their fruite is but a vayne thing Cicero saieth to Catelin the Captaine of the conspiracie against the state of Rome Fuisti apud Leccam Thou wast saieth hee at Lecca his house Catelin his Cōsorts night haunts noting his and other his consorts night haunt and desciphering their plats and discouering all their practises with their mounting and aspiring minds but their weake winges fastened on as it were with waxe sodainly melted the fruite of all their practises was but a lie or vaine thing The secretes of traitors are written in their foreheads Dan. 15. Balthasar And al the secretes of their plats and pacts was by Gods prouidence so laide open as if they had been written in their foreheads For hee that caused the hand from heauen to write on the wall when king Balthasar was at his banquet by marueilous meanes also doeth lay open the secret plats of treasons as if they wer set on their foreheads It is a wonder to see how when they come before Magistrates and the seat of Gods iudgement on earth by their wordes gestures looks and other signes they are desciphered A guiltie cōscience will shew it self ◠Reg. 9. As Iezabell when shee had painted her selfe shewed her selfe out at a window when Iehu the Magistrate set vp of God to execute his iudgements came vnto Iezrael so giltie conscience though outwardlye it bee painted with pretence of excuses yet in countenance wordes and other circumstances as at a window wil shew it selfe and before Magistrates bewray it selfe Cicero of traitors accusing themselues by lookes gestures c. Therefore Cicero said of the conspiratours against the estate when they came to examination that they needed none others to accuse them for by their hanging lookes wordes and gestures they did accuse one another and betrayed themselues It is like to greeuous sicknesses rooted in the verie bones and marrowes which yet by venemous vapours whose nature is to ascende shewe themselues in the faces foreheads and highest parts of the infected persons so the sicknesse Eliphantiasis Elephantiasis because it sheweth it selfe in the forehead like the Lions rough wrinkled hide or pelt is called Leontiasis Leontiasis Satyriasis it is called Satyriasis because it sheweth it selfe in the face like the ouglie face of Satyres So the ougly sicknesse of treasons though it be rooted in the marrowes and bones yet it sheweth it selfe in their very face and foreheads Psal 13◠There is no hiding of them though they could hide them as deep as hell for euen there is the power of God As Dauid saith whither shall I goe saith hee from thy spirit and whither shall I go from thy presence By marueilous meanes God bringeth suche thinges to light Eccle. 10 The birds of the ayre will bewray them as Salomon saieth carrie the voice that shall accuse thē Curse not the Prince saith hee no not in thy thought nether curse the rich in thy bed chamber for the foule of the aire shal carrie thy voice that with halfe wings shall declare it So farre Salomon By extraordinarie and merueylous meanes euen as though the foules of the ayre shoulde carrie the voice Gods prouidence discouereth such things before the facts and turneth the fruite of them to lies and vaine matters Thus howe common experience sheweth howe the fruite that traitors and such bring foorth is but a lie or a vaine thing The 5. principall matter What is the end of treasons rebellions and such like wickednesse DAuid expresseth the ende of such wicked persons in these words He hath made a pit and digged it and is fallen into the pitte that he made his mischiefe shall returne vpon his owne head and his wickednesse shall fall vppon his owne pate Hitherto the Prophet Dauid Hee resembleth the end of such wicked persons to one that graueth a pit and falleth into it whose mischiefe returneth on his owne pate If they would way their wicked plats in the wisedome of God by his worde they woulde not digge such pittes for their ownd plats are like pits to swallow them vp as the practise of stories in all ages doth confirme ◠Sam. 31. Did it not so fall out with the malicious trauaile of king Saul which drawed his sworde on guiltlesse king Dauid and by the iust iudgement of God hee died on his owne sworde and with his owne hande 2. Sam. 18. The Philistines saieth hee according to his first plats shall deuoure him in the warres and my hand shall not bee on him and after in the Philistines warres hee was so distressed himselfe that fearing to be deuored of them hee deuoured himselfe so hee fell into the pit that oee made for other So Absalon the traitor and rebell against his owne father 2. Sam. 18. without the hand of man was hanged at a tree the iudgement was from heauen the executiō on earth Ioab as hee hanged thrust dartes into his heart and his bodie was cast into a great pit in the wood and they laide a mightie great heape of stones vpon him So hee digged a pit for Dauid and was cast into it himselfe Achitophell the traitor to Dauid likewise had no other hangman but his owne hand to hang himselfe 2. Sam. 18. his heart was false to his soueraigne his hand was not true to himself Shebah the traiterous rebell had his head flung ouer the wall 2. Sam. 20. as he deuided the head from the members in the ciuill bodie so his head was deuided from his owne members in his owne bodie and his wickednesse was turned on his head Act. 1. Iudas betrayed Iesus Christe our master his bodie brake and his bowels ranne out Dathan Coraah and Abiram rebelled against Moses the earth opened swallowed thē vp aliue Moses cried before Depart from the tents of these wicked men Num. 16 and touch nothing of theirs least you perish in all their sinnes God graunt that Moses cry may be in the heartes and eares of all subiects to her Maiestie that they depart frō all Traitours Rebels and such like that they touch nothing of their plats and practises Traitours reward Ro.
of Godlie and louing affections of faithfull subiectes to her Maiestie and howe such Godlie affections are of God and are accepted of him In the very beginning of my discourse the louing and dutiful affections of faithfull subiectes in the discouerie of traytors against the royal person of her Maiestie and our CouÌ„tree doth offer themselues to my remembrance and deserueth good memorie and commendation of al that beare true hartes to her Maiestie When did euer the heartes of faithfull subiectes more melte at the tender mercie of God in the deliuerance of their Prince 2. Tim. 4. As if they had seene her plucked out of the Lions mouth as Paul sayeth of himselfe Psal 18. or drawne out of the gulfe of many waters as Dauid of himselfe sayeth Dan. 3. Or saued out of Nabuchadnezzers furnace which he had prepared for the three seruantes of God God sent his Angell to saue his seruantes in the middest of it Dan. 6. as also to stoppe the mouthes of ramping Lions in the denne Hester 7. where Daniel was in the middest of them God deliuered Hester the Godlie Queene with her kinred and people from the cruell conspiracie of Haman And godlie Iudith from the rage of Olophernes Iud. 13. 2. Sam. 18. And Kinge Dauid from the treasons of Absalon and out of their blody hands which would haue eaten vp his fleshe Psal 27. according to his owne words And his most tender mercie also woonderfully hath deliuered Elizabeth our gracious Queene as most ioyfully we haue seene of late Therefore her louing subiectes so well in London as otherwhere haue shewed signes of thankeful ioy by singing of Psalmes to God making of Bonefires in streetes ringing of Belles and such like vsual signes of publike ioy and triumphe of people But one thing passeth all that wee haue seene the louing affections of faithful subiectes to her Maiestie which as a fier burned inwardly in their heartes and bowels as outwardlie the fiers did in the streetes And these in true valewe and estimation passe all triumphes It is in common practise by Beacons and markes of fiers to giue warning to countries of inuasion of enemies And the councell of the learned is in common infections and plauges Io. Palmariâ—s de febri pestili lib. 1. cap. 11. for purging of the infected ayre from pestilent vapors not onely to make open fiers but arromaticall sweete and fragrant fiers with sweete Woodes Hipocrates Herbes Oyles and such like As they write that Hippocrates did when by making of such sweete fiers God so disposing and working by him hee turned awaye the great plague mentioned of Thucidides which out of Ethiopia was by the ayre infected comming into Grecia And that Empedocles before him gaue the like councell Empedocles But there is no fier more effectuous to wake and warne the hartes of people against the comming of common enemies then the fier of true loue and fidelitie in their heartes and bowels to their Prince and which more is feared of their enemies and more purgeth the countrie of infectioÌ„s and practise of treasons and is like an arromatical and fragraÌ„t fier of sweete sacrifice in the sight of God For by this late daunger which the mercie of God hath turned away he hath stirred vppe the mindes and the verie bowels of tender affections in faithfull subiectes Gods goodnesse doth dispose of euils to the good of his Church and seruauntes Gods prouidence disposeth euils to the benefite of the faithfull Origen hom 14. in cap. 13 lib. Nume His prouidence ordereth all occurrentes in the world to the benefite of the faithfull Origen saith Omnia in hoc mundo sic sunt disposita vt nihil prorsus ociosum sit apud deum etiamsi malum illud sit etiamsi bonum All thinges saith he in this world are so disposed that with God nothing at all is idle whether the same be euill or good For God is the perfect workeman of all things as Augustine saieth August lib. 1 de naturae boni citatur ab Hugone car in cap 13. Epist ad Rom. Origen hom 14. cap. 23. in lib. Num. And with good thinges he intermedleth the euils by disposing the euil to good Origen saieth Maliciam deus non fecit sed cum ipsis a quibus habetur vtitur ea ad necessarias causas God saith he hath not made malice but he vseth it with those in whom it is to necessarie causes In the noble antidote or preseruatiue against poysons called Theriaca vipers are put and therof commonly it is called Medicamentum ex viperis Gale lib. 1. de antido And Galen sheweth how of vipers flesh and grated bread are made balles which are called Trochischi de vipera Orige Hom. 19. in cap. 24 lib. Num. Origen saieth Serpentium venena depelli medicameÌ„tis confectis ex serpentibus perhibent They say saieth he that poysons of serpentes are driuen away with medisons made of serpentes What maruaile then though God turneth the poysons of trayterous plattes into preseruatiues of godlie Princes and faithfull subiectes The late occauÌ„ons by Gods prouidence hath wrought this good effecte that they haue stirred vp the mindes and bowels of tender affections in faithfull subiectes to their Prince and in the Prince to her subiectes As if heroicall nature and vertues did striue who should haue the prize in the subiecte of loyaltie and tender compassion to the Prince in the Prince of pietie and tender compassion to her subiectes The subiecte powreth out his hearte and bowels of tender compassion to his Prince and in the faith of a subiect voweth himself to his Prince The Prince powreth out her pietie and bowels of motherly affection to her subiectes and from the very roote of heroical nature tender compassion issueth out vnto them What hart can heare of this heroicall emulation contention I should rather say compassion and not melte We yeelde the prize of heroicall pietie and motherly compassion vnto our Prince Ye let vs striue stil in pietie in loyaltie in bowels of tender affection to our Prince euen to winne the prize also if we may and to shewe our selues herein to striue for such maisteries is true pietie The heroical mindes of godly Princes are greatly pleased with such strife I will carry vs to higher contemplation God the fountaine of all pietie is highly pleased with such emulation And to striue for the garland of this pietie is highe pietie it selfe in the sight of God God continue this strife encrease it and enflame this emulation in the heartes of tender affections of subiectes to the Prince and in the bowels of motherly pietie and compassion of the Prince to her subiectes Thus of the good effect that of the prepensed euils God hath wrought By corrupt nature we are giuen to securitie and if not to be wearie yet to be full of Gods blessinges and by continuall custome to make lesse account of them Heb. 5. Paul
fall in trauaile with their wicked plattes Plin lib. 8. cap. 17. Panthers and Pardes haue spottes by nature without in their bodies but they haue spots of hypocrisie infidelitie and treason in their soules Serpents haue many wreathes Mathe. de Lâ—b in obser hypocrites traytors haue many wyles Conuoluulus according to the name windeth and bindeth it selfe about plants and plucketh them down The shuts and springs of the hearbe called Impia Plinii Plin. lib. 24. cap. 19. Math. in lib. 4. Dios cap. 572. doth ouergrow the principall stump or stocke Cassutha hath no rootes of it selfe but liueth on other herbes and lodeth them When the winding Beathwine is ridde from plantes they prosper the better They are daungerouse shoutes that ouergrowe the stocke that norisheth them That lacke rootes of fidelitie themselues wil liue of them and lade them whome they would bring downe Is is good cheifely for Princes persons of high estate to looke into their housholds and to those that are neere to them and about them to rid from them wicked and vnfaithfull imphes daungerous to their persons and estate which would like the shuts of the hearbe Impia ouerclime them or like Cassutha ouerlay and ouerlade them lacking the rootes of true fidelitie in them The example of Dauid in looking into his houshold The example of the Propheticall king Dauid maye bee a mirror principally for all Princes and estates of honour and high callings in the wisdome of God out of his word to looke vnto their estates and housholds and those that are neere them and vse to be about theÌ„ and into their gouernments as he layeth downe example in himselfe his owne estate Psal â—01 houshold gouernment First hee looketh into his own estate touching God by whose wisdome vnlesse hee be directed all wil runne on wheeles headlong He prayeth therefore to God for vnderstanding let me haue saith he vnderstanding in the way of godlines when wilt thou come vnto me I wil walke in my house with a perfect hart I wil take no wicked thing in hand I hate the sin of vnfaithfulnes there shall no such cleeue vnto me A froward hart shal depart from me Thus how he looketh into his own estate and prayeth for the conduicte of vnderstanding from God to lead a godly life and maketh profession of the vprightnesse soundnesse of his hart that he will clense his hart from vnfaithfulnesse and frowardnesse Then hee sheweth from whom he wil withdraw his hart and countenance and whom by his princely power hee will suppresse Who so priuilie saith he slaundereth his neighbour him will I destroy who hath also a proud looke and high stomacke I wil not suffer him And after he sheweth whoÌ„ he wil haue in his houshold There shall none that worke deceit or with a deceitfull hand or deceitful person as some expound the sence dwel in my house The word Remiia is expouÌ„ded of some by the substantiue of some by the adiectiue Such are they that contriue craftes warpe wiles work by sleight conuaiance legerdemaine to beguile deceiue others He ioineth an other fit mate vnto him he the telleth lies saith he shal not tarry in my sight He detesteth such as pernicious persons in court the are deceitful liers 〈◊〉 not Hist lib. 9. câ—â— 36. who with lies slaunders pray on others with their euil tongs As Purpura the fish with his sharp tong perseth the shelles of other fishes so prayeth on them so there is no armour of proofe of sufficient defence against the lying tongues of such which perse through al defences of truth They hoise vp the sailes of their tongues say as the Prophet Dauid describeth them with our tongues say they shal we preuaile Psal 12. we are they that ought to speake who is Lord ouer vs. And as Purpura the fish aforesaid hath in his mouth the humor which is the mother of the right orient purple colour so thogh they pearse with their tongues as Purpura doth yet they carry in their mouthes such orient colours with which they so paint out their lyes Plin. lib. 9. cap. 36. Carneades Plin. nat lib. 7. cap. 30. as though there were none other truth Cato said it was hard to finde truth wheÌ„ Carneades spake because he painted out his owne purposes left truth dim hardly to be discerned So hard it is to discerne truth when they speake whose tongues are embrued with lies Of such liers the Prophet sayeth they shal not tarry in his sight After he hath shewed whom he will abandon from his court hee sheweth likewise whoÌ„ he wil place plant mine eyes saith he ar to the faithful of the earth that they may dwel with mee Who so leadeth a godly life he shal be my seruant Thus by the directioÌ„ of Gods spirit he maketh choise of his houshould whoÌ„ he wil haue nere about him Valerian the Emperor his Courte â—useb eccle hist lib 7. cap. 10. of Eusebius is commended as a Church of God because of the godly faithfull that were in it till after he relapsed to bee an open enemie and persecutor of the Church of God Epist ad Phile. Rom. 16. 1. Cor. 16. Iosua 24. The houses of Philemon Priscilla Aquila are commended of S. Paul as little Churches Iosua the noble Prince and the chosen captain of Gods people after the death of Moses setting himselfe and his housholde as example to the people saide I and my house will serue the Lord. And the people prouoked and encouraged by his example said wee will serue the Lord also Abraham Isaac Iacob Ioseph and the Patriarches had the like godly care of their housholdes to haue the godly and faithfull dwelling with them God blesseth Countries kingdomes for the godly faithful that are found in theÌ„ Egypt had the great blessing of God vnder king Pharao by the gouernment of Ioseph Ioseph Gen. 41. Iacob Gen. 46. Daniel 1. and for the receite of Iacob the Patriarche and the faithfull people of God God blessed Darius his kingdom in the chief gouernment of Daniel and for the faithfull seruants of God Dan. 6. Nehemiah â— â—â—d 2. Nehemiah as he wayted at the cup of Athaxerxes was heauie of heart cheare for the breaches and ruines of Ierusalem the Citie of God and God gaue him fauour thereuppon in his suite to his Prince for the people of God and God blessed king Athaxerxes for him and the fauourable support of his people Eliakim Eliakim in the court of the godly king Hezekiah is called a father of suche as dwell in Hierusalem Esay 22. and in the house of Iuda Suche are the blessings of God in Courtes of Princes and gouernmentes of Countries God blesse the Prince Court and Countrie with such godly and faithfull Eliakims Daniels Nehemies Iosephs and blesse our Prince with long and prosperous raigne ouer vs to the singuler
Chaunceller red it before the king he rent his clothes his hart melted and he humbled himselfe before God and he clensed the temple of God from idolatrie and he◠gathered all his people from the greatest to the smalest as the Scripture saith 2. Chro. 34. and hee red in their eares all the wordes of the booke of the couenaunt that was found in the house of the Lord. And the king stood by the Piller made a couenaunt before the Lord to walk after the Lord to keepe his cōmaundemēts his testimonies his statutes with all his hart with al his soule and that he would accōplish the wordes of the couenant written in the same booke And he caused all that were found in Ierusalem Beniamin to stand to it And the inhabitātes of Ierusalem did according to the couenant of God euen the God of their fathers Hitherto the words of the Scripture What a blessed state was in Iuda and Beniamin then when the harts of the Prince people melted at the word of God were knit in one to serue God according to his law their Soueraigne in true fidelitie according to it How good comely a thing is it as the Prophet Dauid saith for brethren to dwell together in vnitie Psal 133 It is like the precious oyntment vpon the head that ran down vpon the beard euen vnto Aarons beard vnto the skirtes of his clothing c. So far Dauid And if this we ioyne our hartes together to serue God in true faith and our Prince in true loyaltie and fidelity we shal find cōfort helpe frō God God wil blesse the prince for the people the people for the Prince forraine enemies wil feare traitors wil trēble rebels wil be ready to run into caues dens seditious persons wil shrink in their owne secret imaginatious Psal 58. the wicked ones like snayles shall be readie to melt away in their owne wicked wayes as the prophet praieth they may Thus how acceptable a thing it is to God when the people ioyne their hartes together in the true faith to God harty fidelity to their Prince The 5. is of Dauid his loyaltie and fidelitie to the royal person of king Saul The 5. cheefe matter notwithstanding he sought his life While Dauid was yet a subiect to king Saul The Example of Dauid his loyaltie to the person of king Saul 2. Sam. 24. by the euil spirite sent of God on him he was so incensed against Dauid that he chased him as abird from couert to couert to deuoure him His spies hunted him and they told him behold Dauid is in the wildernesse of Engaddi and the men of Ziph brought him tidings that Dauid lurked in the hill of Hachilah by them Psal 11. And how say yee saith he as some lay downe the words in the Psalme to my soule that shee should flye as a bird to the hill Yet notwithstanding he was thus chased for life and driuen out to the vttermost and put on his garde for safety of life yet he bare such loue loyaltie and fidelitie to the royall person of his Prince that when God eftsoones had put him into his handes he would suffer none of his retinue or garrison to offer violence vnto him 2. Sam. 24. For he said the Lorde keepe me from doing that thing vnto the Lordes annoynted to lay my handes vpon him for he is the annoynted of the Lorde And with these words he quailed his owne seruantes which said vnto him See the day is come which the Lord said vnto thee Behold I will deliuer thy enemies into thy hande and thou shalt doe to them as seemeth good to thee But Dauid would suffer none of his men to lay hands on him euen when hee came as it were into his mouth into the caue to ease himself Dauid saued kinge Saules life in the caue wher Dauid his men were hid in the inward partes thereof And his men said now is the day c. And they were sharpe set euen to haue torne him with their teeth And if Dauid in the plung had not pacified his men and garded the person of his Prince which notwithstanding persecuted him to death king Saul had bene dispatched of them And an other time God put king Saul into his handes Dauid saued king Saules life being asleepe in the campe 1. Sam. 26. when Dauid came vpon him as he was a sleepe and the people lay round about him And Abishai said to Dauid God hath closed thy enimie in thy hand this daye I pray thee let me smite him once with a speare to the earth and I wil not smite him againe And Dauid saide to Abishai distroy him not for who can lay his hand on the Lords annointed be giltlesse And he tooke the kings speare and the pot of water from Sauls head and from the toppe of a hill he cryed to Abner the captaine of Sauls hoast and to the people This is not well done of thee as the Lorde liueth ye are worthy to die because you haue not kept your maister the Lordes annoynted and now see where the kinges speare is and the pot of water that was at his head And Saules hart rued he said I haue sinned come againe my son Dauid for I will do thee no more harme because my soule was precious to thy eyes this day Behould I haue done foolishly and haue erred exceedingly So farre the Scripture Thus king Sauls life was precious to Dauid though hee did persecute him to death because he was his Soueraigne Lord placed of God in the royall seate His priuate causes and oppressions he commited to God abyding his pleasure and leasure and as his prouidence shoulde dispose of him and them But he cold not frame his hart either himselfe or to suffer any other vnder his regiment to offer any violence to the person of his Prince notwithstanding they were in armes and had him at their deuotions And his conscience was so tender touching his loyaltie to the person of his Prince that when in the caue mentioned before he had cut off but a lappet of Sauls garment in signe that God had put his life into his handes he was touched in his heart after as the Scripture saieth because he thought he had bene to bold with his Prince 1. Sam. 24. Dauid resolute loyaltie Though he were cast out of his protection yet so he abhorred treasons violence against the person of his Prince that he was resolute whatsoeuer should become of him not for the winning of his kingdome to the person of his Prince 2. Sam. 26. or sauing his own life to do or suffer violence to be done to his person For this was his resolutiō touching the person of his Prince As the Lorde liueth saith he either the Lorde shall smite him or his day shall come to die or he shal goe downe to battail and perish
Prince And if Lylla did so for king Edwin a Prince as then heathen and but ouer a corner of this land much more will faithfull subiectes with their bodies and bowels defend the sacred person of so Christian and gracious a Prince and good mother of all England against the swordes of all traytors and enemies vnto her England is the mother of manie Lyllas in these daies and hath fostered and bred many such faithfull subiectes for life to their Prince God send many such and long continue them and blesse vs with the long life prosperous continuance of our Prince Thus of the example of Lylla his famous fidelitie in defence of the royall person of his Prince The 7. cheefe matter The seuenth is howe the late occasions and daungers should encrease true loue loyaltie and vnfayned fidelitie in the hartes of all good subiectes to her Maiestie The late daungers should enflame loue loyaltie in true subiectes Iohn 16. The feare daunger to depart frō a persō most deere to vs doth encrease and enflame more loue in vs. When our Sauiour had resolutely tould his disciples that he must depart from them their hartes were filled with sorrowe And they fell on the necke of Paul and wept on him Act. 20. after he had tolde them of Ephesus that they should see his face no more When Sixtus the auncient byshop of Rome Sixtus Laurentius Platina in vita Sixti 2. was going to martyrdome for the faith of Christ Laurence his Archdeacon cryed out after him Whither goest thou father without thy sonne He so loued him in life that in death he was loth to be parted frō him three dayes after he followed him in martirdome also Ex passione Cypriani à Pontio eius diacono edita When Cyprian the Archbishop of Carthage was brought to the place of his martyrdome and stoode vppe in lynnen ready for the executioner the peoples hartes so rued on him that they cryed let vs dye with our holy Bishop The people of Constantinople Chrisostoms first banishment so entyrely loued Chrisostom their Archbishop that the first time by Eudoxia the Empresse her meanes hee departed into banishment they made a mutenie in the Cittie After at the Emperour his cōmaundemēt being recalled home againe the people ran on heaps to meet him and shouted about him and as rauished with ioy of his returne they would needs perforce haue him to the great Church there out of his old place to heare his voice againe And after his second banishment Chrisostoms second banishment many the could not temper their zeale affection to him sequestred banded thēselues in a factiō were called Iohannitae after his name great sturre eftsoones was made for him And if so greeuous their departing was from their Bishop deere to them how doleful would the departing haue been from such a gracious Prince and naturall mother of our whole Countrie And therefore the late feare and daunger thereof should encrease and enflame the fier of true loue loyaltie and vnfeyned fidelitie in the hartes of all true and naturall subiectes to her Maiestie The 8 cheefe matter The eight is how directed in wisedome from God we may take the right way long to obtaine her of the mercie of God by making harty prayers and supplications to God for her That he wil set the watch of his prouidence about her and send the garrison of his Angels to garde her That the euil spirits and those by whom they worke and that work and practise by them may haue no power against her With what minds we shuld pray to God for her that he may accept our praiers That wee may longe obteine and enioy the blessing of her royall person and soueraignetie amongest vs the right way in the direction of godlie wisedome is to haue continuall recourse to God by making hartye prayers supplications to him for her These be the safest munitions of Princes on earth as it were Castles in heauen to keep her on earth frō al treacheries practises of enemies and euil spirites whatsoeuer The safest munitions of Princes are hartie prayers of the faithfull vnto God for them Let vs build for her bulwarkes on earth in the bowels of harty affections of faithfull subiectes and Castles in heauen with hartie prayers and supplications vnto God for her That God will vouchsafe to be a continuall Castle to her on earth as he was to his seruant Dauid Psal 18. whose glorie was that the Lorde was his rocke strength and defence Psal 61. And that he will be a Tower of strength to her against all her enemies and that he wil prepare his mercie and faithfulnesse to preserue her This is the impregnable Castle Tower of defēce as Salomon saith The Tower of strength Prou. 18. is the name of the Lord. That the mercie of God wil vouchsafe cotinually to keep her for his poore Church and our Countrie let vs ioyne our selues as Tertullian speaketh as in an army to God and as if by violent force of feruent prayers we would win it of God Ad deum saith he quasi manu facta praecationibus ābiamus Tertul. in Apolog cap. 39 And let vs with heauenlie affections beat at heauen gates and touch God in our prayers as Tertullian sayth in an other place Coelum tudimus saith he deum tangemus Tertul. in Apolog cap. 40 Such violēce and force of faith is acceptable to God as the same Tertullian saith Tertul. in Apolog cap 39 Haec vis deo grata est This violence is acceptable to God As he that knocked at his neighbours dore at midnight and would not giue vp till he opened and gaue him that he came for Luke 11. And as the widowe that hanged about the iudge till he graunted her suite Luke 18. And as the woman of Canaan that followed our Sauiour with open mouth Mat. 15. til she obtayned that she came for of him Marke 10. Bartimaeus And as blind Bartimaeus the begger the sonne of Timaeus begging by the high way when Christ passed by he left not begging crying after him till he cōmaūded him to be brought vnto him then off went the beggers cloake that lighter and without let he might run to him and his running and casting of his cloake was not in vaine for of a darke man he was made to see he glorified the mercy of our Sauiour to him If we awake but a little out of the dreames of worldly vanities for mortall creatures in respect of their worldly states Psal 90. as Dauid saith are like a sleep or dreame what are worldly states portes countenances but as Bartimaeus his beggers cloake in the sight of God If we behold them in the glasse of true valewe of the wisdome of God by his blessed worde Eccle. 1. Psal 62. all is but most vaine vanitie as Salomon
king to heare thee O that I were made iudge in the land that euery man that hath matter might come to me that I may doe him iustice Thus as a malecontent himselfe he eggeth the people to discontentment mutening against the state and gouernment of king Dauid his father And after from discontentment hee fell to flat treason So likewise Dathan Coreh Dathan Coreh and Abyram Nu. 16. and Abirā first began with discontentment and mislyking after they fell to murmuring and mutening and at last to open rebellion Sheba blewe vppe his trumpe and said Sheba wee haue noe part in the sonne of Isai so in disdaine he called Dauid 2. Reg. 20. He was a murmuring malecontent at first a ranke rebel after Beware we be not touched with the first lest happely wee bee tised on to the later Where affections are framed perswasion is halfe made The fier flyeth to the tow The match and powder are soone mette Euill affections open a gap to others to make an entrance into vs to assaile vs and to lay snares for vs and so they become stumbing blockes to vs and bring vs to ruine Take heed therefore they doe not carrie vs on and be occasions to plucke vs into the gulph of great daungers by custome they growe into an habit as into an other nature then ther is no sence feeling or remorse of them as in the sicknesse called Hectica Febris when it is growne into an habite and nature Hectica Iowbertus de curan sc lib. 2. cap. 1. and setled in the substance of the bodie though they be in daungerous state yet they lacke sence and feeling of greeuous paine Beware that our mindes be not possessed with like sicknesse whereof though we haue not feeling and remorse by reason it is so rooted and setled yet it may plunge vs into daungerous state It is good therefore to hearken to the councell of the holy Ghost by S. Paul 1. Thess 4. 2. Thess 3. how we should carry our selues in outward dealings affaires That we endeuour ourselues to be quiet and to imploy our owne businesse and not to stake our owne and to bee curious in the affaires of others and as busie bodies whome likewise the Apostle S. Peter reproueth to spie and prie in other mens dealings 1. Pet. ◠to be as controulers of other mens causes to put our sickle into other mens corne to haue an oare in other mens matters to bee climing aboue our calling and to put our selues in great and dangerous actions not appertaining to vs. But let euery one as he is called so cōtent himselfe as Paul exhorteth vsing better if God giueth 1. Cor. 7. and beware that by vncontentment he grow not into bitter affections or eager humours against the Prince and estate and become vnquiet and troublesome in publike and priuate dealings mingling his speech with gall and his actions with bitternesse but that he with a quiet minde keepe himselfe within the precinct of his vocation and within the limites of affaires and actions belonging to him least by aspyring with Adonias and by venturing hazarding and ouerreaching hee loose himself and by lifting at burthens too heauie for him he bee crushed of them God giue grace to all Subiectes to carry themselues in true faith to God true fidelitie to their Prince and to nourish louing and loyall affections in dutifull hearts to their Prince and to powre out heartie prayers and supplications to God for her long life and the long preseruation of her Royall person and prosperous raigne ouer vs to the glory of God the singular comfort of his Church and the great blessing of our whole Countrie THE Second part Against Treasons Rebellions and such like disloyalties PSALME VII Behold hee trauaileth with mischiefe or iniquitie hee hath conceiued sorrowe and brought foorth a lie or vaine thing Hee hath grauen and digged vp a pit and is fallen himselfe into the pit or destruction that he hath made for his trauaile shall come vpon his owne head and his wickednes shall fall vpon his own pate I wil giue thanks or praise vnto the Lord according to his righteousnesse and will sing praise to the name of the Lorde the most highest · DEXTRA · TVA · SVSTENTAVIT · ME · Psal 63 · MR · IN · IVGIS · AD · RHENVM · FLV · ¶ The Contentes principall points and chiefe matters of this Treatise 1 THE Bishop of Rome is the great Patron and practiser of treasons rebellions and such like disloyalties against Christian Princes and Countries with his adherents followers and practisers for him and by colour of authoritie from him In the treatise of this matter I followe this order 1 What engin he hath vsed continually vseth in the practise of such thinges by excommunicating cursing banning of princes cursing and interditing of countries 2 What time chiefly he began to vse this engin of cursing banning Princes lands and practising of treasons rebellions and such disloyalties against them 3 By what meanes the Bishop of Rome and his followers doe manage carrie on their practises of treasons rebellions such disloialties against christiā Princes Realms 4 Of the iudgements of God vpon the cursing and banning Popes 2 Of the conceiuing of treasons rebellions and such like disloyalties by occasion of these words of Dauid in the seuenth Psalme Psal 7. He hath conceiued sorrow 3 How they trauaile with their treasons rebellions and such like disloyalties and wickednesse by occasion of the wordes of Dauid in the same Psalme Hee trauaileth with iniquitie or mischiefe 4 What fruites Traitours Rebels and such like bring foorth by occasion of these words of Dauid in the same Psalme He bringeth foorth a vaine thing or a lie 5 Of the end of Traitors Rebels and such like by occasion of the words of Dauid in the same Psalme Hee hath grauen and digged vp a pit is falne himselfe into the pit or destruction that he hath made for his trauaile shall fall vpon his owne head and his wickednesse shall fall vppon his owne pate 6 Of giuing of thankes and praise to God for his righteousnesse and our deliuerance by occasion of the wordes of Dauid in the ende of the same Psalme I will giue thankes or praise to the Lorde according to his righteousnesse and wyll sing praise to the name of the Lorde the most high Against Treasons Rebellions and such like disloyalties NOw I wil bring foorth the vglie monster of treason rebellion such disloialties into the viewe and sight of all As the Lacedemonians were woont to bryng foorth their slaues and vnderlings whē they were drunken to the open gase and sight of the people that all by seeing of them might abhorre the vice that so disfigured man So I will bring foorth the vglie vice that all may see it and see into it that they may shun and loth it And first I will bring
sorrow the Septuagint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is labor or trauail other molestiaÌ„ trouble or disquietnesse and the word amal that the Prophet vseth signifieth wretchednesse griefe sorrowe labour wearinesse So the worde importeth the true nature and qualitie of such things as in themselues and in sequell and true iudgement they are for euen in the conceiuing and contriuing of their wicked Councels plats they shall feele gripings of sorrow boyling of conscience gnawing of vnquiet minds wheÌ„ they would rest they shall finde themselues in many strange moodes As they that in conceiuing by reason of a sicknesse commonly called Pica Pica haue strange appetites and longings after thinges because of the distemperature of their stomacks Trinka de rati curan lib. 7. cap. 2. so because the state of their mindes wholy is distempered such as are conceiued with such wicked intentions haue moÌ„strous appetites longings aspirings and find themselues in many strange moodes and because of their conceiuing and contriuing their wicked Councels such fruites ensue they are called by the name of trouble trauail sorrow wretchednes wearinesse Thus in true iudgement they are and the word that the Prophet vseth giueth vs notice of the true nature of the thinges God endue vs with true iudgement to shunne such thinges Because iudgement is corrupt in them that conceiue suche thinges therefore they seeme not so to them for the Diuell singeth sweete songues and tunes vnto them till hee hath made them sure in his snares The Fowler hath pleasaunt calles to bring the foule to his Nets Hiena the cruel beast hath a familiar call to call out shepheardes by name Pli. hist nat lib. 8. cap. 30. as Plinie telleth and when they come shee falleth vpon them to deuour them So the Diuell hath a familiar call in the very bosomes of the wicked by euil suggestions and councels to bryng them into his ginnes to destroy them hee sheweth them sweete hanging hopes and lyngering expectations in one hand and in the other hee bringeth snares halters shame and payne Therfore if with the eye of true iudgement wee looke into such thinges they are rightly as the holy Ghost calleth them wretchednesse toyle trauaile trouble sorrow vnquietnesse as the nature of the word doth induce That they seeme pleasaunt and plausible to those that are conceiued with them it is longing of the suggestions of Sathan which are like sweete songes to them but they turne to sorrowe Hee transfigureth himselfe into an angell of light 2. Cor. 11. as S. Paul saieth And in the humors of the wicked hee transfigureth himelfe as hee listeth and by secrete suggestions turneth himselfe into such shapes as he will But in right iudgement the conceiuing of suche wicked intentions and councels in them is like the running of soranses and spreading of Malanders that cannot stay Am. Pareuâ— li. 12. ca. 10. which they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and because they growe into ill qualities and habite they are called Cacoethe that will not yeeld to cure and these are like to fretting cankers and eating Gangrenes 2. Tim. 2. to which S. Paul compareth the speache of Himenaeus and Philetus There is no remedie for eating cankers and resolute treasons Psal 55. Dauid saith of the churles of Coila that woulde haue betrayed him for the good hee had doone to them there is no change with them or they will not turne and feare God Can the Ethiopian or man of India as Hieremie sayeth of the Iewes hardened in their wickednesse chaunge his hew Hier. 13. or can the Leopard change his spots No more can they leaue to do euill that are taught trained and giuen vp vnto it The holy ghost giue them grace to be reclaimed from such wicked waies and direct them with the light of true iudgement to flie and shunne them Thus what in true iudgement they doe conceiue sorrowe trouble trauaile toyle wretchednes and wearinesse The 3. principall part Of the trauailing with treasons rebellions such like disloyalties vppon the wordes of Dauid Hee trauaileth with iniquitie or mischiefe Of traueling with treasons WIth a generall worde is noted and imployed all wickednesse The Septuagint translate the word auen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnrighteousnesse some expound it a vaine thing others mischiefs Such is the trauaile of the wicked wheÌ„ they imploy themselues to bring foorth their wicked intentions and purposes In this treatise I will note first what trauailing is The order of this part then who setteth them on to trauaile after howe they watche for oportunities and occasions The first of this part First what trauailing is It is a bending of all their wittes abilities and forces to the vttermost to put in execution their wicked intentions What trauailing is and to bring them to passe As we see when a woman is in trauaile she doth all that possibly she can to bee deliuered of her fruite And heere wee may note that the wicked when they are conceiued and resolute in their wicked plats imploy their whole minds and maine mights to the vttermost to put theÌ„ in execution and to accomplishe them After that Adonias had conceiued in his aspyring minde to sit on Dauids seate after him Adonias 1. Reg. 1. hee gate him horses and chariots horsemen and fiftie men to run before him with other confederates and men of armes and he thought by such means to carry it and to be his own carâ—er but he missed the garland Absalon for gods prouidence had appointed it to Salomon Absalon the Traitor to king Dauid his owne father 2. Sam. 15. was long in trauaile with his treasons hee wood the people with fawning flattery as the scripture setteth him foorth At last he sounded his trumpet that Absolon was king and Dauid was downe but Gods prouidence sodainelie turned Absolon downe and Dauid continued in the royall seat Sheba the rebell Sheba had gotten a walled towne ouer his head assoone as Ioab with the kings hoast came thither his head was trilled ouer the wall by the counsell of a wise woman the perswaded them Dathan Dathan Coraah and Abiram Coraah Abiram made a great mutenie against Moses began to make theÌ„selues stroÌ„g against him but while they wer in trauaile of their treason rebellion against him sodainly the earth opened swallowed them vp quick Iudas had coÌ„ference with the Pharisees and Priests for the betraying of his master to theÌ„ Iudas Mat. 26. after he trauailed with his treasons and came with forces hy night with lanterns weapons but assoone as they came they reeled back and fell on grouÌ„d Ioh. 18. Before his hand was in the dish with our Sauior at his last supper Luke 22 after he had receiued the sop at our Sauiour his hand as S. Iohn saith the diuell entred into him Ioh. 13. by and by hee was in trauaile with the treasonâ— which
hee had conceiued before Thus what trauailing is The 2. of this part Who setteth them on trauaile The 2. point of this part is who setteth thē on to trauaile After the Diuel is entred them as he did into Iudas and that they are resolute in their treasons wicked intents he mightilie effectually worketh in children of disobedience as the woorde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 importeth which S. Paul vseth Ephe. 2. Then they fall in trauaile with them if they stay he wil set spurres to thē by secret suggestiōs affections passiōs For of mad moodes raging passions the wicked in the scriptures are called Reshaim because they are vnstable cannot stay in one state as Pagnin voucheth out of R. Abrahā The prophet Esai cōpareth thē to troublesome Seas that cānot rest Esay 57. The diuel rideth in their humors as horses he neuer leueth spurring of thē with inward suggestions outward occasions occurrents till he set thē in trauaile They must needs go as cōmonly they say whō the Diuel driueth he driueth them on in their own humors passions like horses mules without vnderstanding Psal 31. as Dauid saieth till hee bring them to their trauaile to work his will When the good spirit was departed from king Saul 1. Sam. 16. the euill spirit did towse trouble him as the scripture saith Turbauit cum spiritus malus à domino the euil spirit sent of God did trouble him so the euill spirit will be continually troubling tesing of them on to their trauail Thus of the second note who setteth them on to trauaile The 3. note is The third of this part How they watch for oportunities 1. Sam. 18. how after they begin to trauail they watch for oportunities occasions After they fall in trauaile they bend thēselues to take all occasions oportunities as king Saul did against Dauid hee deuised to haue him slaine in the wars of the Philistines and at home he sought to dispatch him Whē Dauid plaid before him as hee sate in his house the euill spirit being on him 1. Sam. 19. sodainly in a rage he would haue nailed him to the wal with his speare if Dauid had not shunned the blow fled frō him He sent murderers to his house to kill him in his bed but by Michol his wiues helpe he escaped out at a window Hee chased him frō wildernes to wildernes he hūted him frō couert to couert as a birde as some translate the beginning of Dauids Psalme Psal 11. In the Lorde put I my trust how say yee then to my soule that she shuld flie as a bird vnto the hil For lo the vngodly bend their bow make readie their arrowes wtin their quiuers that they may priuily shoot at them which are true of heart Thus how his enemies bended their forces to do him mischiefe 2. Sam. 31. and watch all occasions And in another Psalm he saith Psal 56. They hold altogether and keep themselues close and mark my steppes while they lay wayt for my soule And likewise in another Psalme Psal 10. Hee sitteth lurking in theeuish corners of the streetes and priuilie in his lurking dens doth hee murther the innocent his eyes are set against the pore for he lyeth wayting secretly euen as a Lion lurketh in his denne that hee may rauish the poore He rauisheth the poore when hee getteth him into his net Thus farre his words After Saul fell in trauaile with mischiefe against him hee sought for occasions to take him at a sodaine lift and to rid him and hee neuer gaue him vp 1. Sam. 31. till in the warres against the Philistines to whose swordes he thought to haue betraide him hee was himselfe woūded and after being distressed with diuelishe dispayre furiously hee fell on his owne sword and killed himselfe So his wicked trauaile turned on himselfe It is a notable example to shewe howe after the wicked fall in trauaile with their diuelish intents they are readie to take all occasions and occurrentes within without in bedde abroade to accomplishe their prepensed plats Cicero When Catilin and the Conspiratours against the state of Rome while it was as yet heathen trauayled with their treasons and conspiracies Cicero being then one of their consuls and great gouernours of the state complayned that nether his house nor his bedde could be free and safe from their trayterous attemptes and that they would haue giuen him a bloody breakefast in his bed but that they were preuented by a watch and gard prouided against them Isboseth 2. Sam. 4. Isboseth the son af Saul as he rested on his bed in the heat of the day Duke Hum. Fabian the 2 part in anno 1447. Cron. Fruct temp part 7. Edward 2. was slaine of Rechab and Baanah Humfrey Duke of Gloster and vncle to Henry the 6. and in his minoritie protector of the land was found sodenly strangly dead on his bed Edward the 2. surnamed of Carnaruen because he was there borne as he was fast a sleepe in his bedde in the Castle of Corf as the Chronicle called Fructus Tenpots noteth but in the Castle of Barkley as Fabian sayth where he was prisoner sodenly hadde a greate Table caste on him therewith to presse him to death Fabian in an 1326. Valentinian the Emp. and by trayterous and cruell meanes was made away Valentinian the Emperor was slaine by the practise of Eugenius and treason of those that were of his Chamber Frederick the second Emperor of that name as he lay on his sick bed was stifled with a pillow as Albert by reporte of some noteth it of Manfrid his base sonne Peter of Besinguen K. of Cyprus a victorious Prince vpon Turkes Souldans as Iohn Froysarth writeth who tooke Alexandria in Egypt Sir Iohn Froysart the 3. 4. booke the 40. chap. Triple in Surry Laias in Armeni Scitalie in Turkie with diuers others was trayterously killed in his bedde of his owne brother called Iaquet by practise of the infidels who so greatly feared his forces Albert the Emp. Alber. Krāz. Wan lib. 7. cap. 32. Albert the Emperour as he passed by the banke of the riuer of Rein slenderly accompanied was sodenly set on and slayne of his neere kinsman Iohn his owne brothers sonne Aurelius the Emperour as hee was on his way Alber. Kranz Saxo. Lib. 3. cap. 3. Ro. Gag in an Re. Fran. lib. 2. was of his own traine sodenly slaine as Albertus writeth Chilperich king of Soisons in Fraunce as he came from hunting slenderly garnished with retinue was of one Laūdri a noble man of his court and by counsell of Queene Fredegund his wife at a soddaine slayne as he drew homeward neere his Palace Fabian the 5 part cap. 117 as Fabian telleth but within the court of his Palace according to the French Chronicle as he light frō his horse Edward the sonne
and prayse his name be telling of his saluation from day to day And after For the Lord is great and cannot worthelie be praysed Thus by deliuery vpon deliuery and blessing vpon blessing the bountifull goodnesse of God daily doth minister to vs matter of new songs of thansgiuing praysing of his name It is not Moses that stood vp for vs in the gapp as the Prophet Dauid saith that Moses stood vp in the gappe els he would haue destroyed them nor Phinees that stood in the breach to turne away his wrath from vs Psal 106. and Abraham as the Prophet Esay saith knewe it not Esay 63. but it was the blessed aduocate of the Church of God whom S. Steuen at his death saw standing at the right hand of his father and our only mediator Christ Iesus Act. 7. which stood vp in the gappe and breach before the mercie of God for vs. Except that mediator had shewed himselfe at the dead lift and at the very dore of death the deepe waters of the proud had euen gone ouer our foule as the Prophet Dauid saith And as in the beginning of the same Psalme hee sayeth Psal 124. If the Lorde himselfe had not been on our side now may Israel say if the Lord himself had not been on our side wheÌ„ men rose vp against vs they had swallowed vs quicke when they were so wrathfully disposed at vs yea the water had drowned vs the streame had gone ouer our soule And after But praysed be the Lord which hath not giuen vs ouer for a pray vnto their teeth Our soule is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the hunter the snare is broken and we are deliuered Our helpe standeth in the name of the Lord which hath made heauen and earth Thus the whole Psalme portrayeth out our case the rage of our enemies and our deliuery by the tender mercie of God Psal 44. We were as sheepe appointed to the slaughter as Dauid saith and the butcherie and massacre was appointed and the sworde that should haue been bathed in our blood And our gracious Soueraigne as the Prophet Hieremie speaking of the murtherers of Anathot which conspired his death saith in his owne case as a lambe shoulde haue beene brought to the slaughter Hier. and I knewe not saith Heremie that they had deuised thus against me And before he saith that God did shew and reueale to him their practises And in an other place The Lord saith he is with me like a mightie Giant Hier. 2â— therefore my persecutors shal be ouerthrowne and shall not preuaile And after he breaketh out in praysing glorifying of God Sing saith he vnto the Lorde for hee hath deliuered the soule of the poore from the hand of the wicked Thus in the Propthets case the conspirators of Anathot against him the case of our gracious Soueraigne is sette foorth before our eyes Let vs with the Prophet breake out in praysing of God for the wonderfull works of his manifold deliueries For we haue heard of deliueries vpon deliueries the latter are linked to the first Psal 121. Behold he that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleepe as the Prophet Dauid saith The Deuil as a ramping Lion gaddeth about and trauaileth in his members with treasons vpon treasons 1. Pet. 5. But the fatherly prouidence of God hath been the watch and gard of the royall person and estate of our Prince and hath wrought wonderful workes of deliueries vpon deliueries for her and vs. Treason the verie imph of the Deuill with which the Deuil thus trauaileth in this latter age is like to Hydra the serpent of many heads Caro See 〈◊〉 dictio Hist Pâ—e which being cut off spring againe Let vs praye that the sword of Gods prouidence may not onely cut them off but so feare them vp that they neuer spring againe Plin. nat Hist lib. 8. cap. 55. Plini wryteth that the Hare as sonne as she bringeth forth breadeth againe and before she bring forth she conceiueth againe with one vnder another and beareth in her bellie at once one with lawne and heire an other all naked and hee termeth it Superfaetat So treason in these latter dayes before it bringeth foorth is ready to breede againe and to conceiue one vpon the other and would fill Countries with treasons but that Gods prouidence encountreth them wheÌ„ they are conceiued and frustrateth them and turneth them to a lie and vaine thinge as Dauid termeth it Though they redoble thicke on vs yet we haue seen the wonderful works of God in the discoueries and our deliueries redoubled also vpon vs. Psal 68. Let vs say with Dauid praysed be the Lord dayly euen the Lord God which helpeth vs and powreth out his benefites vpon vs. Hee is our God euen the God of whom commeth saluation God is the Lord by whom wee escape death God shall wound the head of his enemies and the hearie scaspe of such a one as goeth on still in his wickednesse So farre the Prophet Dauid What aboundance of matter of prayse and thanksgiuing hath the infinite mercie of God ministred vnto vs in these wonderfull works of discoueries of treasons and deliueries of our gracious Soueraigne from them and his Church and our Countrie He hath sent her helpe as Dauid prayeth from his Sanctuarie Psal 20. strenghned her out of Sion Where are now that thankful harts in Sion Psal 88. wherof Dauid saith al my fresh springs shal be in thee We are the true Sion sanctified to god by his word sprinckled with the blood of Christ in our harts by fayth and sanctificatioÌ„ of the spirit of God through obedience sprinckling of the blood of Christ according to Peter his words We are the Israel of God as Paul calleth vs the true Iewes by circumcision of our hearts 1. Pet. 1. that is in the spirite not in the letter whose praise is of god not of meÌ„ as Paul saith Hierusalem that is aboue Rom 2. Gal. 4. is free as Paul saith is the mother of vs al. We are those true Iehudei and Iewes which haue their name of confessing and praysing of God For from the roote of the word Iada which signifieth to coÌ„fesse prayse and giue thanks to God Pagnin in Thesau Heb. 13. Iehuda which is the tribe of their kingdome hath name therof Iehudaei the Iewes haue theirs By him that is Christ we offer vp as Paul saith the sacrifice of prayse that is the fruit of our lips the prayse his name Wher therfore is Moses with his song the Children of Israel which so thankfully praysed God for their deliuerie from Pharao and the ouerthrow of his hoast in the redde Sea Exod. 15. Where is Miriam the prophetisse and sister of Aaron with troupes of women following her with timbrells daunses and praysing of God Psal 134 And Aaron with the Leuites lifting vp their
hands in the sanctuary And Phinees with his zeale 2. Chro. 20. And the people that praysed God for the wonderfull worke of their deliuerance vnder the godly king Iehoshaphat when the singers went before the hoast praysing God with the Psalme Psal 136. Praise the Lord for his mercie endureth for euer And after the recitall of the great workes of God in the end the Prophet saith Which remembred vs when we were in trouble And if the tender mercie of God had not remembred vs in the late daungers and troubles Psal 28 we had been like to them that goe down to the pit as Dauid speaketh Let vs now remember hartely to thanke and prayse him for his wonderfull workes of the late deliueries of Elizabeth our gracious soueraigne his Church our Countrie Let vs awake our dullspirits frayle affections as Dauid awaketh himselfe to prayse God Awake my glorie saith hee so hee calleth his soule as they note awake my Lute Harpe I my selfe will awake right early Psal 57. I wil giue thankes saith he to thee O Lord among the people I will sing to thee among the nations For the greatnesse of thy mercie reacheth to the heauens and thy truth to the cloudes Thus farre the Prophet Dauid Let vs thus awake our soules if we be the true Syon and sanctuarie of the Lorde sanctified to him by his blessed worde in Christ to extoll prayse and glorifie him for the wonderfull workes of his great mercies thus magnified and multiplied amongst vs. Let Moses bring his song of prayses and Miriam and all godly women their thanks Let Phinees shew his zeale and the Leuites lift vp their hearts and hands in thankfull praysing of God And al godly people true subiects follow the example of the godly and thankful people that vnder Moses and Iehoshaphat extolled and magnified the mercies of God for the wonderfull worke of their deliuerances We haue seen of late deliuerance vpon deliuerance and the wonderfull workes of God multiplied vpon vs. Our hearts are heauie our mettle dull our spirits slow to shew foorth our thankfulnesse and praysing of God Let vs stirre vp our spirites and soules as the Prophet Dauid calleth to his soule Psal 103. Prayse the Lord O my soule all my inward partes prayse his holye name Prayse the Lord O my soule and forget not all his benefites Which forgiueth all thy sinne and healeth all thy infirmities Which saueth thy life from destruction and crowneth thee with mercie and louing kindnesse God giue vs grace thus to call to our soules and to stir vppe our inward partes to prayse God for his great and manifold mercies and namely especially for the wonderful works of the late discoueries and deliueries of our gracious Soueraigne the poore Church of God and our Countrie Thus what matter of thanksgiuing and prayse the mercie of God hath ministred to vs. The third What thankfulnesse our gracious Soueraigne and good mother of our Countrie hath shewed to her faithful subiects and what compassion to her poore people what hearts her people should beare to her againe and praâ— that the mercie of God will long maintainâ— and magnifie her as he didde his seruant Moses Touching the thankfulnesse of so gracious a Soueraigne to her faithfull subiectes carefully trayueling for the preseruation and safetie of her sacred person long amongst vs I referre my selfe to her Maiesties aunsweares extant in publike memorie and vewe to the great comfort and encouragement of all true hearted subiectes to her Maiestie Touching her compassion to her poore people she hath heard their cry and her motherly heart hath melted with compassion ouer them She hath caused exhortation to bee published for fraining feastings and hath sent and appointed that good meanes and orders be taken and vsed for the releeuing of her poore people in this time of dearth She hath opened the bowels of motherly compassion vnto them as if shee would plucke them out of the mouth of famine and the gulph of death If euer any people opened their very heartes and tender bowels of nature to receiue their Prince into their very hearts and bowels of tender loue shee most iustly hath deserued it of vs. For she traueyleth in continuall daungers for vs. Her sacred person sweete life and royall estate is continually subiect to such imminent daungers and perils for vs. In her they seeke the spoyle and massacre of vs the rauen ruin of our Countrie to make it a pray and bootie for strangers and enemies Queene Elizabeth as a marke amoÌ„g Princes set vp of God She is the marke they shoote at But this is our comfort that God hath set her as a marke among Princes and in the world and by his diuine prouidence and power continuallie magnifieth and mainteyneth the marke that he set maugre all enemies of it And they that shoote at this marke to strike it downe shoote in a casting bowe which laide to the marke doth misse it and shooteth wide from it Psal 78. Traytors like to the casting bowe The Prophet Dauid compareth the Iewes to a casting or deceitful bowe for the worde Remiia signifieth deceitful And al traytors to the sacred person royall estate of our Prince may well be compared to the casting bowe which shoote at the marke but their bow wil deceiue theÌ„ Would God that all traytors rebels and seditious persons to her royall person and estate might not onely heare that I saye but take it to heart when they shoote at this marke which Gods prouidence hath set vp and thus magnified and which in the sight of God is precious by the continuall prayer of his Saints their bowe will deceiue them and their own string wil strangle them And it may be said of them as Dauid said of the Iewes they are like a casting or deceitfull bow Esay 77. Would to God they coulde effectuously remember the qualities and properties of this casting bow The qualities of the casting bow for whether they be likened themselues to it as Dauid likneth the disobedient Iewes to it or whether they shoote themselues in the casting bow when they ayme at the marke they misse and are wide or whether they are shot theÌ„selues out of that casting bow whose string doth strangle them and which first doth cast them and after setteth them vp in a contrary kind to be marks publike spectacles examples to warne al others either they may well bee called the casting bowe in respect of themselues either may bee compared to it in respect of their actions either in respect of the euent consequence may fitly be referred to it God graunt that all may be warned by the examples of such for they are set vp of Gods iustice as marks spectacles for the warning of al. God strengthen the princely hart of our gracious Soueraigne with heauenly comforts and with an heroicall principall and nâ—â—rincely spirit
I liue I will magnifie thee in this manner and lift vppe my hands in thy name And touching his thankful remeÌ„brance in the same Psalme after he saith Haue I not remembred thee in my bed and thought vpon thee when I was waking Because thou hast been my helper therefore vnder the shadow of thy winges will I reioyce My soule hangeth vpon thee and thy right hande hath vpholden mee Those also that seek the hurt of my soule they shall goe vnder the earth Thus of his comfort in thankfulnesse and ioyfull praysing the mercy of God to him of his thankfull remembrance of God and confidence in his help and mercy And of the good comfort of conscience and witnesse fruit of the faith of saints Dauid saieth Psal 149. that the saints reioyce in their beds and that the prayses of God are in their mouthes What maner of praises they are The praises of the saints the nature of the worde Romemoth doth import which the vulgare for expressing the sense traÌ„slateth Exaltationes the exaltatioÌ„s by which are ment the praise with which they exalt extoll the magnificences of the hâ—rcâ—ies of God to them And these prayses are in their mouthes or throates So they make no dainty of their lippes in praysing God but the prayses by which they exalt and magnifie the mercies of God are in their throates which as trumpets sound out in praysing of God Let such prayses of God be in our hearts and thrtotes sounding as trumpets with thankful praising of the mercie and benefitts of God to vs. We are the liuely Organes and instruments of prayse and the true trumpets of thanksgiuing SouÌ„d out the truÌ„pets of thanksgiuing blow vp the Cornets of prayse strike vp the heauenly harpes and Lutes with thankful melody in our harts and mouthes praysing glorifying of God Ephe. 5. And as Paul exhorteth the Ephesians In Psalmes saith he Hymnes and spiritual songs singing and making melody to the Lord in your harts And as he sayth to the Colossians Col. 3. in Psalmes and Hymnes and spiritual songes singing with grace in your harts to God Nicol. de Lyra in cap. 3. ad Colos Amb. in cap. 3. ad Ephe. Nicolaus de Lyra expoundeth the word in grace in consideration of the benefits of God Ambrose saith he hath commauÌ„ded singing in our harts to him lest in fauour and regard of men it be done and so the fruit be lost This is the true melodie of the heart and the heauenly harmony of thanksgiuing and praysing God with Psalmes Himnes spirituall songs making melody in our hartes to God And this is the good fruit witnes of faith which the Saints and faithfull seruants of God doe shew the thankfulnesse and ioyfull melodie of their heartes and mouthes in praysing of God with Psalmes Himnes and spirituall songs with reioysing lips in praising of God as Dauid saieth So Moses and the children of Israel praised God for their deliuerance from Pharao Exod. 15. Moses Miriam So likewise Miriam did with the godly woman that praised God with her for the same deliuerie And Deborah the Prophetesse Iudges 5. Deborah Barah and Barah song praise and thanksgiuing to God for the ouerthrowe of Sisera and their deliuerie from Iabin king of Canaan 2. Chro. 14. Asa So Asa the godly king with his people assembled praysed God for their deliuerie from Zerah king of Ethyopia which came with such numbers to ouerrun him So likewise Iehoshaphat the religious and godly Prince with his hoast 2. Chro. 20. Iehoshaphat praised and glorified God for their marueilous deliuerance from their enemies without stroke of mans hande whose swordes God turned vpon themselues Therefore after the gathering of the pray the fourth day Iehoshaphat and his hoast assembled themselues in the valley of Berachah where they gaue thankes blessed the Lorde for Berachah signifieth blessing and giuiâ—â— of thankes 〈◊〉 â—alley of â—achah â— Chro. 20. And the place is called the valleâ— of Berachah vnto this day as the Scripture saith As Iehoshaphat and his people by then thankfull praysing and blessing of God in the valley of Berachah and by the renowme and name of that place haue left a monument oâ— their thankfulnesse blessing and praysing of God for their wonderfull deliuerance so what better monument can wee present to God for the wonderfull deliuerances of our gracious Soueraigne his Church and our Countrie then the liuely monument of thankfull hearts blessing and praysing God for them Howsoeuer our bodies bee disseuered by distance of dwelling place yet if in our mind we in eâ—â— assemble our thankfull affections together to pray and glorifie God for his wonderful deliuerances it will be as a valley of Berachah of blessing and praising God in his sight God giue all subiects of her Maiestie grace with meeting of thankfull mindes and assembling of their thankfull affections to the praising blessing of God for these wonderfull workes of the late deliuerances to arreare vppe as it were an acceptable monument of their thankfulnes vnto God which may be as a valley of Berachah in the sight of God Luke 2.1 and our blessed Sauior which in the temple beheld those that 〈◊〉 giftes 〈◊〉 â—he treasuâ—â— vouchsafed â—â—â—â—â—â—hly the wâ—â—â—es mite offered with so 〈◊〉 will vouâ—â—â—afe to looke downe vppon 〈◊〉 â—mall monument of thanksgiuing and â—â—ysing his name and as the widowes mite â—â—accepte the same The glorious maiestie 〈◊〉 our God through the tender mercie of our Sauiour vouchsafe mercifully to looke â—â—nne from heauen vpon the good nurse of 〈◊〉 Church and the mother of our Countrie â—ur â—ige natural Soueraigne Queene Eliâ—abeth his handmaid and vnder the winges 〈◊〉 his fatherly prouidence alwayes to shrewd and preserue her from all her enemies from all traytors and conspirators and from all their plats and attempts at home and abroad wheresoeuer whatsoeuer and of whomsoeuer Amen 1 The Lord heare thee in the day of trouble Psal 20. the name of the God of Iacob defend thee 2 Send thee helpe from the Sanctuarie and strengthen thee out of Sion 3 Remember all thy offerings and accept thy burnt sacrifices 4 Graunt thee thy harts desire and fulfill all thy mind 5 Wee will reioyce in thy Saluation and triumph in the name of the Lorde our God The Lord performe all thy petitions FINIS