hundreth yeeres or there about But in her declining age great diuisions did fall out by ciuill warres which did bring foorth a great desolation and dissolution of the which there did rise a multitude of other Kings and kingdomes according to the prophecie of Daniel during the perfection of this Monarchie Christ did establish his eternall kingdome which was the calling of all the nations of the Gentiles from their Idolatrie foretold by the Prophet Christ amongst all estates of the world did make choise of this vnited estate of all kingdomes vnder one King Monarche to begin his spirituall kingdom here amongst men Whereby we are taught that the onely son of God did loue the condition of the Vnion of many kings in one as being an Image of his heauenly kingdome aboue all other estates For the choise of Christs birth Incarnation vnder the estate of Vnion was a prophesie of the Vnion of Christs vniuersal kingdome which was to be ioyned with the earthly Monarchie The beginning of the foundation of Christs kingdome was in the age of a generall peace established by Augustus who as we learne by the Romane histories Toto arbe pacato Ianum clusit did close the Temple of Ianus the whole world being at peace We will lay before your eyes briefly the estate and progresse of this blessed vnion of the worldly Monarchie with the spirituall kingdome of God and shew you also what a great benefit God hath powred foorth vpon this Iland of great Brittannie in choosing it to be the holy place wherein this admirable vnion of God and man is conioined in the person of a Britaine King vniting the temporall and spirituall Monarchie in one We are taught by Ecclesiasticall histories and others that Christ Iesus the eternall son of his eternall father after his crucifying and ascension by sending of his Apostles through the world did propagate the true religion and adoration of the increated God in the whole Romane Monarchie for the space of fiftie yeares But Satan who was and as yet is a vigilant watchman a carefull searcher and a busie Bishop did not forget his diuellish attempts For knowing that the preaching of the Euangell would destroy his Temple which was full of Gentilique Idolatrie he did raise vp Nero many of his successors to excercise many bloody and cruell persecutions against Christs owne Apostles and Disciples for the space of three hundred yeares or therabout Hoping by such cruell murdering of Gods holy Saints to abolish the true adoration and religion of Christ and to maintaine the temples of his Idols and false Gods But that is true which antiquitie doth say Sanguis Martyrum est semen Euangelij The blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Gospell So that in this case Satan was frustrated of his wicked expectation that he had to destroy the true religion by the shedding of the pretious blood euen as he was deceiued when he seduced the people of the Iewes to crucify the Lord of glory For if Satan had knowen that the crucifying of Christ Iesus and the shedding of the bloud of that immaculat Lambe should tend to the saluation of mankind and of his revnion with God he would not then haue instigated the Iewes to crucifie the Lord of glory and if he had knowen that the bloudshed of so manie holie Martyrs which were killed for the space of three hundred yeeres after Christ by the Romane Emperors and their lieutenants if he had imagined that all these things did more establish and confirme Christs Gospell then they did hinder the passage thereof he would haue left of to haue procured so many persecutions against the Christians All these persecutions being ended God did conciliat a marriage betwixt Constantius Chlorus who had to his part of the Romane Monarchie Germanie France Spaine and great Brittaine and Helena daughter to Coilus or Coelus who was King ouer that part of Brittaine that did resist the Romans by the which mariage Constantinus Magnus their sonne was borne in this Iland who after the death of his father that died at Yorke did enter into the full possession of this Iland of great Brittannie and so it was wholy vnited in his person where he did establish the true Christian religion and the true worship of the onely vncreated God From thence he did take his iourney by Fraunce to Rome where he ouerthrew in battell Maxentius that great persecutor of the Christians And hauing established there and in the whole occident the kingdome of Christ he went to the Orient where he did likewise ouerthrow in battel Licinius the which Licinius after he had been long a Christian did returne to gentilisme and became a persecutor And so by all these victories this Britaine King became Emperour King and Monarche of the whole world who did make Lawes for the abolishing of Gentilisme and establishing of Christian Religion We doe learne by this historie how the propheticall signification of the name Britannia was fulfilled in Constantinus daies in whose person both the temporall kingdome of the whole world and the spirituall kingdome of the true Religion of God was vnited Of this we collect that the restoring of this auncient and glorious name of Great Britannie into one kingdome vnder our newe Constantinus is to be embraced by all men with great congratulation and gladnesse Secondly we doe learne of this historie that as God did first procure the blessed Vnion of this Iland by the mariage of Constantius and Helena Euen so that same good God who is euer like himselfe did bring foorth three most happy Vnions within these hundred yeeres or there about by a mariage betwixt King Henry the seauenth and Queene Elizabeth heire of Yorke The first Vnion was of the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke the second Vnion did consist in the vniting of all the people of this Iland in the true Religion and worship of God and abolishing of Gentilisme which was brought in vnder the pretence of Christian Religion the third vnion was the vniting of England and Scotland together in the person of our gratious Soueraigne who is descended Lineally from King Henry the seauenth For it is notoriously knowen that by that happie mariage of King Henry the seuenth heire of Lancaster and Elizabeth heire of Yorke the cruell wars which were for many yeeres betwixt these two houses were extinguished and the Vnion in their royall progeny established out of which mariage came King Henry the eight who did begin to abolish Idolatrie in this Iland King Edward the sixt who did establish true Religion and Queene Elizabeth of happie memory who did embrace all the daies of her life the true auncient Christian Religion vnto whom lineally our Kings Maiestie succeeded in whose Royall person is made the revnion of this Iland in one kingdome as it was before in Constantinus Magnus daies Let vs all then call to memorie three great blessings
ΕÎΩΤΙΚΟΠOR A SERMON OF the Vnion of Great Brittannie in antiquitie of language name religion and Kingdome Preached by IOHN GORDOVN Deane of SARVM the 28 day of October 1604 in presence of the Kings Maiestie at WHITEHALL LONDINI Impensis GEORGII BISHOP 1604 ΕÎΩΤΙΚΟΠOR A Sermon of the Vnion of Great Britannie MATTH 12. vers 25. Euery Kingdome diuided against it selfe or in the selfe shall be brought to nought or desolate and euerie citie or house diuided against it selfe or in it selfe shall not stand CHrist Iesus the eternall Sonne of the eternall Father doth deliuer vnto vs in this text a most wholesome and profitable doctrine into the which he sheweth to all estates of euery Societie of man in the world That Diuision is the ouerthrow destruction and desolation of all estates whatsoeuer whereby we are taught That the contrary vertue to Diuision which is Vnion hath beene is and shall be to the end of the world the cause of the preseruation and keeping of all spirituall and temporall felicitie and happinesse in the societie of mankinde in this earth In these three words Kingdome 〈◊〉 House are comprehended all men of whatsoeuer estate qualitie or condition they be Christ in this doctrine doth proceed à generaliori ad specialius a summo ad infimum from the more generall to the more speciall from the highest to the lowest This word Kingdome doth containe in it Cities and Citie houses and House man and woman on the other part by that order of doctrine which doth proceed ab imo ad summum from the lowest to the highest which is the order Architectonicke of building By the vnion of man and woman is made the lowest degree of societie which is here called a House by the vnion and coniunction of many houses doth proceed the second degree and estate of mankinde which is called Citie and last by the vnion of many cities doth come the third and lowest degree of societie which is comprehended vnder the word Kingdome In the exposition of this text we meane God willing to gather some wholesome and fruitfull doctrine of the mysticall signification of these three words out of the auncient originall Hebrew language These words then that signifie all the estates and conditions of the societie of mankinde in the originall language haue a certaine hid doctrine which doth expresse and signifie that which is most wholsome and profitable to the felicitie and happinesse of all men We must first beginne at the words that signifie man and woman by whose vnion a house is made The Hebrew word that signifieth man is Isch in the which word are three letters vnited to signifie one thing The first Aleph signifieth learning knowledge and a conductor The second Iod signifieth God because by the ancient Hebrewes he is called Macom a place that doth containe and comprehend all things created inferiour to himselfe The third Schin doth signifie second Which three letters vnited in the word Isch which is man doth set before our eyes a wholsome doctrine for the instruction of all men that will follow the same to wit that the knowledge of God doth make man a second God and the image of God as Clemens Alexandrinus teacheth vs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God dwelleth in the middle of man that is in his soule and minde euen as the letter Iod which signifieth God is in the middest of the Hebrew word Isch that signifieth man The word that signifieth woman in Hebrew is Ischah which is made by the growing or augmenting of the letter He to the foresayd word Isch that signifieth man This letter He signifieth respiration of life which doth serue to be a memoriall that the woman tooke life from God by making her out of man This letter also signifieth her inclination towards man for this letter affixed to the word Isch that signifieth man doth denote motum ad aliquid a motion from one thing to another as from God to man the woman being created by God to adhere to man This blessed coniunction of man and woman in the holie bond of marriage doth make a house The Hebrew word Beth that signifieth house doth consist of three letters The first Beth doth signifie the forme of the materiall and earthly house in the which man and woman doe dwell the second Iod signifieth God as said is the third Tau signifieth a mark or signe For in the 9. of the prophesie of Ezechiel it is called the marke of saluation and preseruation of the people from death and destruction as the blood of the paschall Lambe was sprinkled on the house posts of the Israelits to be a signe that when God sent his destroying Angell to kill all the first borne of the rest of the people their first borne should be saued and preserued which marke was a figure of Christ his blood that saueth all true beleeuers from the destroying Angell and death eternall Of this mysticall signification of these three letters vnited in one word we are taught that God his true knowledge and worship signified by the letter Iod being in the middle of the house ioyned with the mark of the letter Tau which is a signe of saluation contrary and against the destroying Angell that that house is preserued kept safe against sinne and Satans machinations This much for the mysticall interpretation of the Hebrew letters in the word Beth that signifieth house Note also that this word House is here figuratiuely taken for man and woman dwelling within one a house Which is continens pro contento that is when the container is taken for the thing contained The second word whereby is signified the second degree of the societie of mankind is the Hebrew word Gnir which doth consist of three letters hauing in them a mysticall signification shewing vs by what meanes all cities are to be conserued from this diuision whereof Christ speaketh in this Text. The first Hebrew letter is Gnain which signifieth the eye the second is Iod which as we heard before signifieth God the third is Resch which signifieth the head whereby we collect the signification of the whole word to be this That God being in the eyes and heads of the Citizens shall be the onely meanes to preserue and defend that Citie from diuision which doth bring foorth as our Text saith a miserable desolation The third Hebrew word whereby is signified the most high and generall degree or estate of the societie of mankind is the word Kingdome which doth come from King which in the Hebrew language is called Melech and consisteth of three letters also the first is Mem which signifieth water and is of the duall number because that there are superior and inferior waters which in their mysticall signification doe denote and signifie spirituall and temporall Life As Christ in the Gospell of Iohn calleth himselfe and his doctrine the water of life the second is Lamed
in preparing and administrating foode to vphold and nourish the head and the whole body The force of both the armes and hands doth come from the head to the body and from the head to the armes Let not the feete and legges deny their seruice in carying of their body because from thence commeth their nourishment and foode But let vs apply this doctrine more particularly to our selues The head of this Iland the Kings Maiestie hath vnited in his Royall person the armes hands and legs of this body which is this kingdome of Great Brittannie to wit the South and the North in one obedience and seruice whose strength and nourishment doth flow from this head as from a fountaine So hauing this consideration before you iudge and ponder with your selues what a miserable and dangerous estate it were that one of the armes hands or feete should draw to it selfe the whole foode which commeth from the head and not to suffer his fellow to be participant thereof Therefore let not the armes of the South I meane the Officers and great Gouernors in the South attribute to themselues onely the whole sustenance and nourishment that doth come from the head that is to say preferments offices and dignities as well Ecclesiasticall as Temporall excluding from thence the fellow arme of the North which is the other arme of this body and on the other part let not the arme of the North which is the other arme of this body withdraw from his fellow the offices preferments and dignities that proceed from the head which equally should pertaine to them both But according to the disposition of nature in this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or little kingdome Let both the armes be equally participant of the benefits that come from their head Thus much concerning a perfect and stable Vnion betwixt the members and the head and of the Vnion of the members amongst themselues We come now to the Image of a kingdome which is represented vnto vs in the inward man Honorius a very faithfull Christian Emperour instructing his sonne Arcadius who succeeded to his Father into that great huge Monarchie of the whole world described the forme of that kingdome which is within man As Claudianus the Poet doth record in a very elegant panegyrike of the fourth Consulship of this foresaid Honorius Wherein he doth teach vs that this inward kingdome of the inwardman doth consist of Mens which in the Greeke language is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the wit vnderstanding or minde of man hauing within it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ratio reason which by him is called syncera Mens and alluding to the allegorie of the auncient Greeke Poets he imagineth that this mind filled with wit vnderstanding was stollen out of heauen and placed within the outward man by Prometheus which doth signifie the vnspeakeable prouidence of God in the creation of man to his owne Image which is this diuine mind wit vnderstanding soule and reason infused by God his spirit into the inward man The wit and reason of the mind beareth the Image of a King in the inward man And as Claudianus sayeth in the person of Honorius The maker of man to wit Prometheus as is sayd hanc alta capitis fundauit in arce mandatricem operum prospecturamque labori He did place this spiritual king of the inward man in his head as in a throne out of the which he ruleth and disposeth all the actions of man prouideth and foreseeth to keepe his subiects which are Ira Metus Cupido anger feare couetousnesse in good order and temperature of the which it will please you heare Claudianus words as followeth Illas inferius collo praeceptaque summae Passuras Dominae digna statione locauit That is the maker of man did place the subiects of this King of the inward man in these parts of the body which are vnder the head and necke as in a fit station ward or standing place to obey the commaundement of their soueraigne Lord the first of these subiects named Ira anger hath his seate in the hart which is full of heat the second Metus feare hath his seate in the lungs or lights the third Cupido desire couetousnesse hath his seate in Iecore in the Liuer Let vs draw this example of the image of the kingdome in the inward man to our selues in this vnion of great Britannie which great worke is now in hand for euen as Mens or Ratio is the king who ruleth and keepeth in order his subiects to wit Ira metus cupido euen so the king and head of this Iland must keepe his subiects in the South and in the North that are as diuers of nature as Ira metus cupido in good order temperature least that not being ruled and ouerruled by their King they fall into a lamentable diuision whereupon will follow according to Christs words in this text a most miserable desolation from the which I pray the Lord deliuer vs So that I conclude if we be vnited vnder one head and one king we must be vnited amongst our selues or els be disobedient to Reason our King This if we do all the members of one body shall agree in a harmonie amongst themselues and be participant euerie one of his fellowes benefits in so much that the heate of the hart wherein wrath and anger dwelleth must participate of the moist and cold of the lights that is the furie of wrath and anger must be ruled and brideled by the feare of god and of the king his Lieutenant heere on earth which otherwise getting loose bridle raines would cut the whole kingdome by diuision in pieces Also the respiration and breathing of the lights must temperate and moderate the ardent heat of desire and couetousnesse that is in the liuer So that ye may see the three inward parts of man which are subiect to their king reason must communicate one with another all their offices and commodities otherwise the subiects of the kingdome of the inward man could not keepe themselues in the obedience of Reason their king Of this we learne that by the figure and type of this kingdome of the inward man the whole people and subiects of this Iland should consider that if they will follow the law of their king reason which they must needes doe or els they cannot remaine vnited with their soueraigne king whose kingdome is ruled by reason it behoueth them all to make euery one participant of an others helpe and aide in communicating mutually one to his neighbour and fellow the emoluments and preferments on both the sides For when the heat of the hart is withdrawen from the cold moistnesse of the lungs and humiditie of the liuer or when the lights and the liuer doe withdraw their refreshing from the heart then the kingdome of the inward man is brought to confusion and desolation by the diuision of the subiects in withdrawing the commodities one from another which should be common