Princes to the Church in protecting the Ministry from the fury of grossely prophane and giddy Fanatick people to whom it is an eye-sore in supplying the Church with maintenance in order to the carrying on the Worship of God in providing Universities and Colledges to be Seminaries of Learning in backing the Laws of God with their secular Authority doth lay strong Obligations on Ministers to make their Churches Schools as of Piety toward God so of Loyalty toward their King What horrid ingratitude would Ministers be guilty of by proving fire-brands of Sedition Trumpeters of Rebellion and by making their Sermons an Alarm unto war It would be to rip up the bowels of their Nursing Fathers and to cut off the Breasts of their Nursing Mothers Furthermore as Simeon and Levi made the Name of their Father Jacob to stink Gen. 34.30 Num. 13.32 by their perfidious Murder of the Shechemites as the Spies brought an evil report on the Land of Canaan and as Judas delivered his Master unto the Scoffes of his enemies so disloyalty in Ecclesiastical persons scandalizeth Religion The sins of Elies Sons caused the Sacrifices of the Lord to be abhorred 1 Sam. 2.17 The Prophet Davids Adultery with Bathsheba and Murder of Uriah Rom. 2.17 to 25. gave great occasion to the enemies of God to blaspheme For Ministers to prostitute their Sacred Function unto Ambition and Rebellion is a great provocation unto Magistrates to root them out of their Kingdoms yea to put them to death as Saul did Ahimelech and the Priests of the Lord of whom he slew fourscore and five persons upon Doegs false and malicious information that they conspired with David 1 Sa. 22.18 Let Sermons be Exclamations against sins not against Kings against the Prince of the power of the Air not against the Princes of the earth The Lord teach the Clergy of England not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they may neither procure the accusation of disloyalty to themselves nor derive any scandal unto Religion Let no man be lifted up with pride by reason of the dignity of his Office Judas cast Devils out of others Luke 22.3 but could not keep the Devil out of himself Then Satan entred into Judas and so as Luther saith there was one Devil in another As water cleanseth other things and then is crst into the sink as many who laboured in building Noahs Ark were drowned in the Floud so a Minister may teach others and yet be himself a cast-away without true Piety which is inconsistent with disloyalty The Scripture hath linked them both together My Son fear thou God and the King It was the honour of Zadok and Abiathar Prov. 24. that they turned not aside unto Absalom but faithfully cleaved unto David their rightful Soveraign 2. David was anointed to the Office of a King The Lord said unto Samuel how long wilt thou mourn for Saul 1 Sam. 16.1 seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel Fill thine Horn with Oyl and go I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite for I have provided me a King among his Sons 1. David by vertue of this Unction had a plausible Argument to have justified the Murder of Saul being rejected by God and himself elected in his room and to have represented such an act as the execution of Justice as Jehu did the destruction of Ahabt posterity But David abhorred this obvious plece of Policy 2 Kin. 10.10 because it would have been a breach of Piety Forasmuch as Comminations are no Commissions Gen. 4.15 Whosoever shall slay accursed Cain vengeince shall be taken on him seven fold So the bloud of rejected Saul would have brought down vengeance on the head of David if he had shed it The crucifying of Christ was an Act of Glorious Mercy in God but of barbarous Cruelty in the Jews Joseph tels his Brethren that it was not they but God that sent him into Egypt and yet they were guilty of the most unbrotherly act next to actual Fratricide that ever was committed Gen. 45.8 One and the same action may be righteous as it proceedeth from the first cause and unrighteous in respect of the Second Gods bidding Shimei to curse David 2 Sam. 12.11 12. and permission of Absalom to ravish his Fathers Concubines were acts of Justice in God but acts of Treason and Incest in Shimel and Absalom Wherefore let such be accounted Instruments of the Devil Ch. 16.10 who dare offer violence to Kings under pretence of being Instruments to execute divine Justice 2. David by vertue of his Unction might have produced a specious Title unto the Kingdom of Israel if he had been of an ambitious spirit but he knew that he was anointed only to the reversion of the Kingdom and that as a last Will and Testament is of no force until the death of the Testator So his Unction was of no force until the death of Saul A Loyal Subject will wave obvious Pleas for his Right unto a Kingdom 3. David being anointed to the reversion of the Kingdom by the death of Saul might have took Livery and Seisin of it But as Moses cast the Kingdom of Egypt with all the Honours and Treasures thereof at his heels chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season Heb. 11. So David preserred the prolongation of his undeserved persecution before the unjust acceleration of the day of his Inauguration unto the Office of a King he esteemed a Turfe in the wilderness with a clear Conscience a better seat than a Throne in a Palace with a Conscience laden with Royal Blood-guiltiness he accounted it a greater honour to be a Loyal Subject than an unlawful King Crowns Scepters and Kingdoms are cogent Temptations Caesar said If Justice may be broken in any case it is regnandi causa Mat. 21.38 The Husbandmen cry out This is the Heir come let us kill him and the Inheritance will be ours But David abhorred to swim unto a Throne through the Blood of his Master having taken the resolution of Ferdinand the first Emperor of Germany Fiat Justitia pereat mundus Let Right be done and come what will of it The gain of a Kingdom will not countervail the loss of a good Conscience What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own Soul Or what will be given in exchange for the Soul There is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the words What will it profit i. e. What an hard bargain will it be What infinite Damage and Detriment shall a man sustain thereby For put the whole world into one ballance and the Soul into another and this little spark of Divinity will out-weigh the whole Globe of the Earth the vast Fabrick of the Creation It is far better to be upbraided as Balaam was by Balak The Lord hath kept thee
King and Nursing Father ought to be unfainedly lamented by all that name the name of Jesus Christ As the Husbandmen slew not only the servants Math. 21. but the Son of the Lord of the vineyard and the Jews not only the Apostles and Prophets but also the father of the Prophets Jesus Christ himself So our English Cannibals drank not only the blood of the Nobles and Peeres of the Realm the Divines and Ministers of the Church but also the Royal blood of their sacted Sovereign 4. The Authors and Actors of this cruell Massacre and bloody Tragedy were subjects sworn subjects that had taken the oaths of Allegiance and Supremacie Professed Christians yea Protestants It had been enough for Forreigners Heathens Popish Inquisitors Recusants Jesuites A Ravilliack a Faux to have attempted such a devilish wickedness But for persons obliged by the laws of Nature of Nations of Humanity and Christianity by their own Oathes Protestations Covenants to defend the authority and life of their Sovereign yet unnaturally inhumanely barbarously impiously perfidiously to take away his life What a volume of wickednesse was it 5. Consider the Malignant influences and effects hereof in reference to the Royal Family England our Neighbour Nations and Religion First The Death-day of our present dread Sovereignes Royal Father was the birth-day of Woe and misery to himself and all the Royall Family Even as when the Root is digged out of the Earth all the branches wither So barbarous a butchery of so glorious a Father could not but work excessive sorrow in all their royal brests by reason of natural Sympathy and filial-affection How were they exiled from the inheritance of their Father their native soil and the imbraces of their loving subjects to wander about like David in the Wildernesse Quis talia fando temperet a lachrimis Secondly Englands happinesse being imbarked and bound up in the life of its King as Jacobs in the life of his Son Joseph it was shipwrackt together with him The Eclipse of our Royall Sun benighted the Kingdom with all its glories as Phineas his wife named her child Ichabod saying the glory is departed front Israel because the Ark of God was taken So might we have wrote Ichabod on all our injoyments saying the glory is departed from England because the Anointed of the Lord was taken from us which like the opening of flood-gates caused a Deluge and inundation of calamities to flow upon Church and State Thirdly What an evil example did this English Regicide yeild to neighbour Nations to incourage them to rise up and cut the throats of their Princes yoa the memory of such a villany is enough to infect posterity and to poyson the generations to come with King-killing principles Sins the more contagious they are the more hainous as the Plague is the worst of all diseases because most infectious Thus Memucan aggravateth the disobedience of Queen Vasthi to her husband because she had done wrong not only to the Kings Person but also to all the Princes and people of the Provinces of King Ahasuerus Esth 1.16 17 18. by giving an evil example unto all the Ladies and Women of Media and Persia to despise and disobey their husbands Fourthly What scandal hath been brought unto the Protestant Religion as if the principles thereof did justifie the murder of kings It hath groaned and travelled in pain until now under that reproach which hath been cast upon it by reason of that pre onded zeal for God which was made use of to colour cloake maske and disguise the murder of the King who therefore might have said as Henry the 7th Emperor of Germany did when he was poysoned in the Eucharist and felt the operation thereof Calix vitae Calix mortis the cup of life is made the cup of death to me Absaloms Rebellion against his Father 2 Sam. 15.7 10. 1 Kin. 21. under pretence of a vow to be paid at Hebron Jezebles proclaiming a fast for the more plausible murder of Naboth And Jehu's extirpation of Ahabs posterity his competitors for the Kingdom and Baals priests their Abettors pretendedly out of zeal for God but intentionally for his own establishment on the Throne seem to be the originall and Prototype from whence those blasphemous and Hypocriticall transactions in order to the murder of K. Charles were transcribed for this likewise was hatched under the warme wings and swadled up in the mantle of abused Religion yea never did a child more resemble his Father then the actions of English Absalom's Jehu's Jezebels do the actions of those Jewish hypocrites They answer one another as face answereth face in a glasse Uladislaus King of Hungary having agreed on a cessation of Arâ—e with the Turks did notwithstanding upon an advantagious opportunity assault them The Turks perceiving the battle to goe against them cryed out O Jesus Jesus wilt thou permit such perjured persons to call themselves Christians Whereupon the battle turned and the Christians were vanquished Likewise an Indian rejected Christiani y and vilified Heaven because he heard the Spaniards did goe thâ— her whose cruelty rendred both their persons and Religion abhorred What offence do even Turks and Infidels take at the abominable practises of professed Christians and how great a wound is given to religion hereby As the sight of Asahels Dead body stopt the march of Joabs souldiers so the grosse failings of professors of Religion cause some to stagger at and others to retreat back from the prfe ssion it self Wherefore take up weeping and wailing ye inhabitants of England for that the holy and reverent name of God pure and undefiled Religion hath been so much blasphemed abused and prostituted to and made a Stalking-horse for the vile lusts and bloody designes of ambitious men especially in that God dishonouring Gospel-disgracing Religion-reproaching sin of regicide that was committed amongst us I have read a dreadful story concerning a company of Stage-players whilst some of them were personating and acting the part of the Devil the real Devil came in amongst them and drove them all away If the Devil disdaineth to be brought upon the stage in a mockery much more doth the Jealous God There are two obstructions which if not removed may possibly abate the edge of your sorrow for the murther of King Charles to wit the long distance of time since which it was committed And your perswasion of your innocency and freedom from the guilt thereof For the first The old Age of this murder should be so far from antiquating the sense thereof or blunting the edge of your humility that it should rather accelerate and increase it for the time past is enough yea too much for the nation to have retained the guilt of that Royal blood Now it is high time to awake out of sleep and by a National repentance to testifie an abhorrence of the Treason least that judgement which hath been hitherto suspended should now be executed God may reprieve when he doth not pardon
Mat. 5.22 To Tongue-murder But I say unto you that whosoever shall say unto his Brother Racha i. e. shall thou him saith Chrysostom shall call him silly shallow Fellow that wanteth Brains saith Irenaeus shall be in danger of the Council and whosoever shall say Thou Fool shall be in danger of Hell-sire So that scornful and reproachful Speeches of or unto a King do amount to a kind of Murder of him There are three things of King Sauls which David seems to account Sacred His Life His Good Name and His Robes We read of some that despised Saul 1 Sa. 10.27 and brought him no Presents but they are called Sons of Belial for it How inexcusable are those whose teeth are as spears and arrows and their tongues as sharp swords to wound the Reputation of Princes The Apostle Jude ranketh those among the Black Hereticks of the last daies who despise Dominion and speak evil of Dignities or blaspheme Glories as the Greek words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifie and condemneth them by the example of Michael the Archangel who when contending with the Devil he disputed about the Body of Moses durst not bring against him a railing accusation but said The Lord rebuke thee If an Angel of Heaven would not rail at the Devil of Hell then surely such are a kind of devils incarnate who rail at Angels For so Kings are called in Scripture As an Angel of God so is my Lord the King 2 Sa. 14.17 How was our Dread Soveraign King Charles the first reviled by his Adversaries They said unto him as Shimei to David 2 Sam. 16.7 Come out thou bloudy man thou man of Belial As the Papists cloathed that Holy Martyr John Husse with a coat full of painted Devils when they bro ght him to the Stake that he might appear odious in the eye of the Spectators so was our Royal Martyr represented in monstrous shapes that his death might neither be prevented not lamented O Blessed King How was thy Good name wounded with the poysoned daggers of enemie tongues set on fire in Hell even as Queen Elizabeths was by Jesuites who called her an English Wolf and Lioness far surpassing in cruelty all the Athaliahs Maachas Jezebels and Herodiasses that ever were Os durum And Davids by Shimei whom Abishai calleth a dead Dog for reproaching the Lords Anointed And again Shall not Shimei be put to death because he cursed the Lords Anointed David himself deeply resented the grievous curse 2 Sam. 16.9 2 Sa. 19.21 wherewith this Benjamite of Bahurim cursed him Though out of Policy David reprieved him during his own Reign because his Kingly Authority being like a broken Bone newly set and like a man newly recovered from a desperate fit of Sickness he durst not shed Blood though in a way of Justice lest the noise thereof should have caused a second Revolt of the people and so broke the Bâ—ne again in the same place and brought a Relapse into the former distempers which would have been doubly dangerous yet he retained the memory of this Offence unto his dying Day and in his Last Will and Testament gave a strict Charge unto his Son Solomon not to hold Shimei guiltless but to bring down his hoary head to the Grave with Blood Famous was the example of old Quintus Fabius who 1 Kings 2. his Son being Consul laid aside the Robes of his Paternal Dignity and in stead of demanding Reverence from him as his Son yielded reverence to him as a Roman Consul Though a Son being a Magistrate is not thereby divested of his Filial Relation nor priviledged from Subjection to his Father a private man in all domestical and personal transactions between them yet in all publick and Political Actions the Prerogative of Honour is due from the Father a private person to the Son a Magistrate Solomon indeed rose up to meet his Mother Bathsheba bowed unto her 1 Kings 2. and caused her to sit down on his Right hand but not on his Throne that he reserved for himself Oeconomical Relations must give place to Political Honour and Reverence being due 〈◊〉 Kings it ought to be manifested by sutable Expressions and Gestures Fear God 1 Pet. 2.17 Rom. 13.7 honour the King Render unto every one their dues Fear to whom Fear Honour to whom Honour belongeth The Apostle saith render not give honour to shew that it is an indispensible not an arbitrary act a matter of necessity not of gratuity of duty not of Curtesie The Vulgar Tremellius and Beza render 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reddite non date which signifies debitum quoddam inexcusabile Subditis impositum esse as Marlorat observes and praestationem horum officiorum ad Justitiam negationem ad injustitiam pertinere Pareus in locum 2. This Title The Lords Anointed doth signifie Gods furnishing and qualifying of Saul with all Gifts and Endowments requisite for the discharge of his Office Assoon as Saul was anointed he was turned into another man and God gave him another heart 1 Sa. 10.6 9. The most fragrant and odoriferous Spices Myrrhe Cynamon Calamus and Cassia were the Ingredients whereof the Anointing Oyl was compounded Ex. 30.23 to shew the composition of the sweetest Gifts and Graces in him on whom it was poured When the Lord calleth persons unto an Office he will furnish them with Gifts sutable hereunto When Elisha was called from the Plow to be a Prophet a double portion of the Spirit of Elias rested on him When the Apostles were called from their Fishing-nets to be Fishers of men Acts 2. the Holy Ghost descends upon them When God took David from following the Ewes great with young to feed Jacob his people 1 Sa. 16.13 Ps 78. ult 2 Sa. 14.17 and Israel his inheritance and turned his shepherds Crook into a Royal Scepter he caused also his Spirit to descend upon him and gave him skilfulness to wield his Scopter and made him wise as an Angel of God to descern between good and evil And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much 1 Kin. 4.19 and largeness of heart as the sand of the Sea shore 3. This title the Lords Anomted signifieth the divine designation and consecration of Saul unto his Office for Unction with holy oyl was an usual ceremony at the instalment of Prophets Priests and Kings as of David Solomon Jehu In allusion whereunto Jesus Christ in respect of Gods designation of him unto the Mediatorial Office is said to be anointed Isa 61.1 The Office of a King is Divine and his person sacred Observ 1. By the Divine Office of Kings I understand that the Royal function hath its Original and Institution from God that it is not only lawfull but sacred not only allowed but ordained The Delegation of God not the Election and Donation of the people is the foundation of Regal authority Civil Polity is established by a Divine sanction Kings reign not only by the
Hadadrimmon Sive Threnodia Anglicana ob Regicidium A SERMON ON DAVIDS HUMILIATION For Cutting off the ROYAL ROBE AND DETESTATION of Cutting off the ROYAL HEAD Of the LORDS ANOINTED Preached Jan. 30 1660. Being a Solemn Fast for the Horrid Murther of KING CHARLES I. Of Glorious Memory At WESTBVRY in the County of WILTS By JOHN PARADISE Preacher of the Word there London Printed by J. H. for Nathanael Webb at the Sign of the Kings Head in St. Pauls Church-yard 1661. TO THE Right Reverend Father in God HUMPHREY By the Providence of God LORD BISHOP of SARVM Right Reverend Father in God MEmorable if not Miraculous is the Story concerning the Dumb Son of Croesus how that seeing an Assassine about to kill his Father though he never spoke before yet then cried out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So our Political Father Cor Sol Anima Regni the Heart Sun and Soul of the Kingdom being translated from us in a Fiery Chariot Who can but cry out with Elisha My Father My Father the Chariot of Israel and the Horsemen thereof Should Subjects neglect to sing the Obsequies of their Murdered King the Wals of the Royal Palace would be monuments of their shame even as the Stones would have supplied the defect of the Childrens Hosanna's to the Son of God the dust of the ground where the bloudy Tragedy was acted would testifie against them as the dust of the Apostles Feet against the unbelieving Jews Seeing Rebels have been so industrious in forming Cyclopical Weapons in anvelling out Diabolical Machinations against Monarchy and have published so many bitter Invectives and Satyrical Libels against the Sacred Persons of Kings to enchant and intoxicate the English Nation and to seduce us from our Allegiance God forbid that we should omit the Confection of Antidotes and Counter-medicines against this Poyson Wherefore I have attempted to vindicate the Royal Prerogative of Kingâ— wherewith they are invested by a Divine Charter and which is a Jewel fixed in their Crownes by the King of Kings to wit Their exemption from the violence of Subjects and likewise though indeed the Acts and Monuments of our Royal Martyr deserve rather to be registred by the Golden Pen of some Able Martyrologer another Fox to commemorate that Fatal Blow which caused an Earth-quake of Desolation in England and as it were unhinged the Earth from its Center The Lord grant that it may now produce an heart-quake of Lamentation and prove d Lymbeck to distil our hearts into tears to extract the Quintessence of our spirits and to sublimate our Affections and Faculties into the height of Sorrow Now my Lord the Beams of your Favour accented and enamelled with manifold Amplifications have so influent â—â—ally shined on me that they cannot but work indelible Impressions of Gratitude in my heart unless it were petrefied and most strenuous endeavours after testification thereof Wherefore I present unto your Lordship this ensuing Book of Lamentations as a Pepper-corn by way of acknowledgment of my great Obligations unto you Humbly imploring your candid Acceptance and Patronage of this unpolished piece in imitation of the Divine Majesty who accepted of Badgers Skins Goats hair a Cup of cold water and the Widows Mite as well as more magnificent Oblations As I am conscious of many Imperfections which your judicious eye will discern herein so I am confident of your Indulgence I have endeavoured more to manifest the Affection of my heart then the Affectation of Art Sackcloath and Ashes is a fitter Garb for Mourners then Gorgeous Attire Who can be eloquent on such a doleful Theam as the Murder of a Christian Protestant King which like Opium is enough to stupifie the the Faculties of all that study on it and at the Tidings whereof as David wished for Absalom O my Son Absalom my Son my Son Absalom Would God I had died for thee O Absalom my Son my Son Your Lordship with many more English Hero's could I believe have cried out O my King Charles my King my King Charles Would God I had died for thee O Charles my King my King I think it Honour enough to be vouchsafed to bring but one Pin to the decking of Christs Spouse while others adorn her with more costly Jewels and rich Medals said a Reverend Bishop So I account my self superabundantly honoured if this Threnodia may be accepted by my Dread Sovereign through your Lordships Intercession as the smallest Testimony of my Cordial Lamentation for the barbarous Decollation of his Royal Father though but like the casting a Branch of Rosemary into a Grave while others erect more Glorious Tombes and Statues and as a pledge of my great exultation for his own Happy Restauration and Coronation My Lord it is my Intention to write an Eucharistical not a Panegyrical Epistle because I know that Flattery as it is abhorred by my self so it would be nauseated by your Modesty However without contracting any such guilt or censure I may record it for your perpetual Renown That while so many have proved Erratick Stars somtimes Prograde somtimes Retrograde never Stationary you have been a fixed Star in the Firmament of the Church of England And while others have courted their Sovereign with Parasitical Friendship for saking him in Adversity as Rats and Mice do a Barn when the Corn is spent your Soul hath cleaved like Jonathan Ittai Barzillai and Zadok to distressed David to an afflicted Prince that you have reverenced the Setting Sun of Martyâ—ed Majesty King Charles the First and the clouded Sun of exiled Majesty King Charles the Second I have read concerning Agrippa that being imprisoned for wishing the Empire unto Caius he was afterwards gratified by Caius with a Chain of Gold as heavy as that of Iron wherewith he was loaded in Prison So that your Lordship who have magnanimously endured the Malignant Influences of Blazing Comets during the dismal Eclipse of the Proper Light may as a Blessing unto the Church of God long sit under the vivifical and salutiferous Beams of our Royal Sun now Triumphant in his Noon-day Glory is the Prayer of Your Lordships most Humble Servant JOHN PARADISE Errata Pag. 2. Line 37. read Renowned p. 3. l. 18. r. Engedi p. 3. l. 14. r. Absaloms p. â— l. 29. r. ingenuous p. 6. l. 3. r. connivence p. 6. l. 13. r. worn p. 8. l. 22 r. Bloud of Charles ib. l. ult r. Isaac p. 12. l. 32. r. edge of your humiliation p. 15. l. 33. r. Martial p. 20 l. 31. r. There can be no Adulterer without an Adulteress p. 23. l. 21. dele of after Glory THRENODIA Anglicana ob Regicidium OR THE LAMENTATION Of Loyall Subjects for the DECOLLATION of their Royall Sovereign 2 Sam. 24.5 6. And it came to passe afterward Davids heart smote him because he cut off Sauls Skirt And he said unto his men The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my Master the Lords Anointed to stretch forth my hand against him
unto this day and made them an ordinance in Israel Zac. 12.10 compared with Acts. 2.36 37. Yea so great was their sorrow that the holy Ghost accounts it a fit pattern and resemblance of that grief which should possesse the hearts of the converted Jews for their crucifying the Lord of glory They shal mourn over him whom they have pierced as a Father mourneth for his only Son And in that day there shall be mourning as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon which was the place where Josiah was slain If the Israsites thus lamented the death of Josiah 2 Chron. 35.22 notwithstanding he was slain in battle by enemies in open hostility against him which might have mitigated their grief How inexcusable would the neglect of a sorrowful resentment of murder of our English Josiah be seeing he was not slain in the heat of War which would have excused a tanto though not a toto but butchered in cold Blood in time of peace by his own Subjects or at least those that ought to have been such It was the saying of our Martyred Sovereign himself That it is more honourable for a King to be invaded almost destroyed by Forreigners then to be dispised at home Psal 55.12 13 14. Had it been an enemy I could have borne But it was thou O Man my friend and mine acquaintance The Dagger of Brutus peirced Caesars heart more then any of the rest which he intimated to him in his last words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And Scipio was wont to say that he had rather Hannibal should ear his Heart with salt then Lelius his friend offer him the least unkindnesse How did David weep over the Hearse of Abner being perfidiously murthered by Joab He commanded the people to rent their cloathes 2 Sam. 3.31.32 33 35. and gird them with sackcloth and mourn before Abner And King David himself followed the Bier and lift up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner saying Died Abner as a fool Dieth and all the people wept again over him And David would not tast bread or ought else till the Sun was down whereby all Israel understood that day that it was not of the King to slay Abner the Son of Ner. Did David a King so much lament the murder of Abner his subject How much more should we Subjects lament the murder of our Sovereign that all the world may know that it was not of us to slay Charles King of England That funeral oration and mournful Elegy which David pronounced for the death of Saul with a little variation will serve for our occasion 2 Sa. 1.17 to the end England laments with this lamentation over King Charles the first ver 17. The beauty of England is slain upon thy high places how is the mighty faln ver 19 Tell it not in Gath publish it not in Askelon least the daughters of the Philistines rejoice least the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph ver 20. How was the crown yea blood of the mighty vilely cast away the blood Charles of as if he had not been the Anointed of the Lord ver 21. Ye daughters of England weep for Charles who cloathed you with Scarlet with other delights who put on ornaments of Gold upon your apparel ver 24. O Charles thou wast slain at the Gate of thy Palace ver 25. we are distressed for thee Oh King Charles very pleasant hast thou been unto us thy love to us was wonderful passing the love of Women ver 26. How did the mighty Prince fall and the Royal Crown perish That the horrid nature of this cruel Regicide may be more fully represented unto you as an argument for humiliation Consider First the Act it self Secondly the manner of its commission Thirdly The Object thereof Fourthly the Authors Fifthly The effects and consequents 1. Consider the nature of the act it self It was not only contempt imprisonment but murther The Superlative love of Abraham unto God was amplified in that he was willing not only to chastise Disinherit or banish his Son Isaack but also to kill him by cutting his throat ripping open his bowels and burning his quarters on the Altaâ— so it is on the contrary the high aggravation of the high Treason for which we mourn this day that it was not terminated in some smal affronts but proceeded to the effusion of the Royal blood of his Sacred Majesty 2. Murder Purposed though not perpetrated is of an infinite guilt Sin conceived in the heart is damnable though it never come to the birth or be brought forth Was it not a cursed and Diabolical design in Faux and the rest of the Gunpouder-Traytors at one blow to blow up King Prince and Nobles notwithstanding it proved Abortive how villanous then were those bloody consultations and resolutions which came to Maturity and ripened unto the execution of the Lords Anointed 3. It was a voluminous and bigbellied sin a sin in folio which containeth a great litter of other sins in the belly of it Ingratitude envy malice covetousnesse ambition rebellion perjury Treason blasphemy were the bitter ingredients whereof this confection of porson was compounded 4. It was a sin that admitted of no reparation An imprisoned Prince might have been set at liberty a dethroned Prince inthroned againe but a murdered Prince cannot be revived Secondly Consider the manner how the Death of our Royal Sovereign was effected It was no casual or involuntary act no chance-medly nor man-slaughter but wilful murther How studiously and Deliberately was it acted with what Impudence and malice with what boasting and triumph with what impenitency and Remorslesnesse and with what a fixed resolution against all admonitions and supplications was it committed Murders of Kings in former ages being done privately were modestly acted in comparison of this It was the aggravation as of Absaloms incest 2 Sa. 16.22 that he spread a tent on the house top and went into his Fathers Concubines in the sight of all Israel So of our King-slayers treason that they built a Scaffold before the Royal Palace and adventured on the Decollation of the father of the Nation in the face of the Sun before thousands of spectators in the most populous City of London Thirdly Consider the object of this cruelty or the subject whereon it was acted Not a private person but a King whose person is sacred by the Law of God of Nature and of Nations yea not only a King but a Christian a Protestant King Jesus Christ his Apostles acknowledged subjection unto the primitive Christians prayed for heathen Emâ—â—rors The Jews were commanded to seek the peace of the King of Babylon to whom they were captives Mordicai discovered the treason plotted against the life of Ahasuerus by his two Chamberlaines Esth 3.21 22 23. If the lives of Pagan Emperors and bloedy Butchers of the Church were precious in the eyes of the primitive Christians then certainly the murder of a Gracious
hath given thee a Kingdom Those Nations that will not serve Jer. 27.6 8 9. and put their necks under the yoke of the King of Babylon shall be punished with the Sword and with Famine and with Pestilence until they be consumed Therefore hearken not to your Diviners nor to your Dreamers nor to your Enchanters nor to your Sorcerers which say unto you ye shall not serve the King of Babylon The holy Apostles Peter and Paul command Subjection to heathen Emperors Rom. 13.1 2 3. 1 Pet. 2.13 17. For it was about 300 years after Christ and consequently a long time after the death of the Apostles before any Magistrates became Christians The Primitive Christians were wont to pray for Pagan Princes Exoptantes ipsis vitam prolixam imperium securum domum tutam exercitus fortes Senatum fidelem populum probum orbem quietum Tertul. Apologet. Cap. 30. Eminent was the example of Mephibosheths Loyal deportment toward David notwithstanding he 〈◊〉 unjustly sequestred half his estate The King said 2 Sam. 19.29 30. why speakest thou any more of thy matters I have said thou and Ziba divide the Land And Mephibosheth saith yea let him take all forasmuch as my Lord the King is come again to his House in peace Our Saviour Jesus Christ commandeth the payment of Tribute unto Caesar Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars Mat. 22.21 And acknowledgeth that Pilate an unjust Judge had his Commission from Heaven Thou couldest have no power against me John 19.11 unless it were given thee of God The barbarous Jews themselves who crucified the Lord of Life being asked by Pilate whether they would have their King to be crucified answered we have no King but Caesar intimating that if they had believed that Christ was their King no violence should have been offered unto him Rehoboam threatned Tyranny unto Israel saying my little finger shall be thicker than my Fathers Loyns my Father chastised you with whips but I will chastise you with Scorpions yet the Revolt of the ten Tribes from him is called Rebellion 2 Chron. 13.4 5 7. and the Promoters thereof Sons of Belial Ahab and Jezebel were as great Oppressors and as bloody Persecutors of the Prophets as ever held Scepter yet God threatneth to punish Jehn for destroying them and their Posterity Hos 1.4 I will avenge the bloud of Jezreel on the House of Jehu and will cause the Kingdom to cease from the House of Israel Though the defection of the ten Tribes from the House of David was the punishment of Solomons Idolatry and the destruction of Ahab and Iezebel 1 Kin. 11.11 the Judgment of God on them for their Cruelty to Naboth Yet this did no more excuse the Treason of the ten Tribes and Jehu 1 Kings 21.19 21. who out of rebellions minds executed these Judgments than Gods predetermination of the death of Christ did justifie Judas betraying him or the Jews crucifying him So then we conclude that in case of private and personal or publick and National Injuries received from a King Subjects ought to lay aside all Malice Guile Envy Evil Speakings 1 Pet. 2.1 and all weapons of War and Instruments of death Jesus saith to one of his Disciples resisting the Officers of the Chief Priests and Elders of the Jews that were sent to apprehend him Put up thy sword into its place for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword Mat. 26.52 Preces Lachrima were the only Arms that the Primitive Christians used when they were oppressed and persecuted Humiliation Refâ—â—â—â—ion and Supplication unto God who judgeth among the gods and in whose hands are the hearts of Kings Prov. 21.1 who turneth them as Rivers of water are better Expedients for the removal of Pressures from a Nation than Rebellion Samuel having in the precedent verses foretold to the Israelites the rigorous carriage of their King towards them 1 Sam. 8.18 he saith ye shall cry out in that day because of your King but the Lord will not hear you he doth not say ye shall rise up and depose your King but ye shall cry unto the Lord for Relief A provoked Prince ought to be pacified by Submission not irritated by Revenge which is not lawful against a Private Person much less against the Head of a Nation For a Subject lying under groundless suspitions to infer from thence that it is better to be suspected for somthing than nothing is the Devils Logick and to exercise Rebellion correspondent to such a Principle is a diabolical Fact Mens submissive deportment and sedulous endeavours to remove even the causless Jealousies of their Prince is the most probable means to stir up the Embers of Ingenuity in his heart A Flint will break upon a Featherbed No heart can be so Adamantine as to withstand the force of an Argument drawn from doing good for evil This like a Sun-beam melted the spirit of Saul himself Saul said is this thy voice my Son David and he lift up his voice and wept 1 Sam. 24.16 17 18 19. And said to David thou art more righteous than I for thou hast rewarded me good whereas I have rewarded thee evil and thou hast shewed this day that thou hast dealt well with me forasmuch as when the Lord delivered me into thy hands thou killedst me not For if a man find his enemy will he let him go free 1 Sa. 26.21 Again I have sinned return my Son David for I will no more do thee harm because my soul was precious in thine eyes Behold I have played the fool and erred exceedingly Herein the words of Solomon are verified By long for bearing a Prince is best perswaded Prov. 25.15 But a revengeful retaliation of Injuries will exasperate the Spirits of Princes who being Cedars in Lebanon will disdain to receive affronts from Thistles in Lebanon Wherefore that Admonition in Eccles 10.4 is not only most pious and Christian but also most prudential If the spirit of a Ruler rise up against thee leave not thy place i. e. flee not away in rage and passion for yielding pacifieth great offences Now this Prerogative of Princes to wit their exemption from the violence of their Subjects should be a golden Bridle to restrain them from all actions exorbitant and excentrical from Justice and equity and a golden spur to quicken them to such Heroical actions for the publick good that may argue them to be of Noble and Prince-like spirits as well as of Noble and Princely Blood and Dignity But blessed be the Lord who hath set over England not a Scratching Bramble but a Royal Olive whose Fatness and Sweetness doth rejoyce and exhilerate our hearts A Prince that is as it was said of Titus the Roman Emperor Deliciae generis humani the delight of mankind in whom Clemency Wisdom and all other Royal endowments and Princely vertues are concentricated Upon this account I had almost
back from Honour Num. 24.11 than to be told at the day of Judgment That Honour hath kept us back from the Lord from Heaven and everlasting Happiness A Crown is not worth the taking up on sordid much less on sinful terms It is enough for a bloudy Phocas to slay his Master Mauritius that he might obtain the Succession in the Empire For Pagan Emperors and Antichristian Popes to poyson one another as Hildebrand poysoned 7 Popes to get into the Papal Chair for their own advancement Godly David valued his Conscience and the glory of God at a greater price than to wound them for any temporal Emolument Even as Jonathan did before him who being Heir apparent to the Kingdom of Israel and knowing that David was appointed to set him besides the Throne as appeareth by his Fathers Information 1 Sa. 20.30 31. Thou hast chosen the Son of Jesse to thy own Confusion for as long as he liveth thou shalt not be established nor thy Kingdom And by his own Confession 1 Sam. 23.17 Yet would not conspire with Saul against Davids Life but contracteth close friendship with him loveth him as his own Soul giveth him intelligence of his Fathers designes pleadeth his cause vindicateth his Innocency proclaimeth his Merits and saveth his life 1 Sa. 20.33 by the hazard of his own and by the loss of his Kingdom O bravely acted Noble Jonathan How doth thy Heroical Self-denial condemn all those who lay wait for bloud and lurk privily for the Innocent without a cause and swallow them up alive as the grave and whole as those that go down into the pir that they may find all precious substance and fill their Houses with Treasure Especially Pr. 1.11 12 13. those bloudy and ambitious men who cut off the head of their Soveraign for the sake of his Royal Crown upon it even as a man breaketh a Branch from a Tree for the sake of the Fruit which groweth thereon Oh the cursed Idolatry of Jeroboam who to establish his own Throne set up another for the Devil by erecting Calves at Dan and Bethel Oh the barbarous cruelty of Herod and of Pharaoh Mat. 2. Exod. 1. who for their own Security massacred so many innocent Infants that knew not their right hand from their left Oh England How barren hast thou been of Self-denying Jonathans and Davids these late years And how hast thou exceeded Affrica in the ingendring of Monsters Monsters like unto Ahab and Jezebel who for an Acre or two of ground shed the Blood of Naboth 1 Kings 21. And like unto Judas who for Thirty Pieces of Silver sold our Saviours Body and his own Soul Yea such Monsters whose Actions would almost make us believe that they had compacted with the Devil for the Kingdoms of the world upon those terms which he proposed to Jesus Christ And whose Rage Mat. 4. Ambition and Cruelty did speak aloud that to gain a Kingdom they regarded not though the Streets did run with Bloud in stead of the Conduits with Wine at the Coronation 4. The Fourth General Head observed in the Analysis of Davids Oration containeth the Reasons of his detestation of cutting off the Royal Head of King Saul which are drawn from Sauls Relation 1. To himself My Master This word denotes that chief power which men have over their Servants Observe Observ That Kings are invested with Supreme Power and Soveraign Authority over their Subjects They are called gods to shew their preheminence over their Subjects who ought to account of them as pleni-potentiary Ambassadots of the Supream Jehovah 1 Pet. 2.13 Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether unto the King as Suprems Where the word of a King is Eccles 8.4 there is power and who may say unto him what dost thou This power of Kings is both Legislative and Executive 1. Legislative or Nomothetical The Laws of Kings oblige the Consciences of Subjects Rom. 13.5 Ye must be subject not only for wrath but for Conscience-sake And be ye subject to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake 1 Pet. 2.13 2. Executive As Swords are worn both for Ornament and defence So the execution of Laws is both the priviledge and the duty of Princes Good Laws not duly executed are to no more purpose than a rusty Sword that cannot be drawn out of the Scabbard Now this Legislative and executive Authority of Kings extendeth not only to Civil Matters as the decision of Controversies arising between man and man and criminal as the punishment of Malefactors even with Capital punishment but also to Ecclesiastical Affairs Thus the Regal Authority of David Asa Jehosaphat Hezekiah and Josiah was exerted in the extirpation of Idolatry establishment of the true Worship of God compulsion of the Priests and People to discharge their mutual duties and in the Convocation of Synods with other Acts of Jurisdiction A King without Supreme Power is but magni nominis umbra and his Office but a Titular dignity but the Feathers of Authority The Usurpation of a Tyrant who assumeth unto himself power without a Title is fatal to a Kingdom And the Government of a King who hath a Title without power to defend it is fatal to himself As Might without Right is Tyranny so Right without Might is Pageantry but the Picture of a King A King manacled and fettered if I may so speak cannot protect himself much less his Subjects His Person will be exposed to violence his Government to contempt and the Execution of Laws the Nerves and Ligaments of a Realm obstructed His Throne would be invaded by every insolent Rebel and himself deposed by every Popular Traytor For as a Scabbard without a Sword and a Gun charged with Powder without a Bullet which may give a great Report but will do no Execution Such is Royal dignity without Soveraign Authority Shall a Paterfamilias claim a despotical power over his Family and shall the great Pater patriae have his Regal Power clipt and abridged God forbid With whom can Power be more safely intrusted than with a just and prudent Prince Surely not with the Common People where it will prove as dangerous as a knife in a Childs and a Sword in a mad mans hand which will be used only to do mischief Our late Distractions have sufficiently taught us that Democratical Government is a Solecisme in Polity and that Democracy and Anarchy are equipollent terms Wherefore we conclude that a King ought to be acknowledged Supreme in all his Dominions according to the Apostle our oaths of Allegiance c. And all that have taken the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance must subscribe to this Doctrine or else contract the guilt of Perjury The Texts of Scripture alledged against this Truth are grossely perverted we may say with Solomon that as the wringing of the Nose bringeth forth blood so the wresting of Scripture bringeth forth bloudy Tenents The Lord saith
unto Jeremiah Jer. 1.10 I have set thee over Nations and Kingdoms to root out and to pluck down and to destroy These words are to be understood of the denunciation of Gods Judgments by the mouth of Jeremiah against wicked Nations Kings shall bow down to thee with their Faces toward the earth and lick up the dust of thy Feet Isa 49.23 These Metaphorical Expressions do not signifie the subordination of Civil Power unto Ecclesiastical but only that Princes shall submit unto the Laws of God and account it their honour to be Patrons of Religion and Nursing Fathers and Nursing Mothers unto the Church The two-edged sword in the hands of the Saints Psal 139.9 to bind Kings in Chains and Nobles in Fetters of Iron is to be understood not of a Weapon of War or Instrument of violence but of the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God which is said to be quick and powerful Heb. 4.12 sharper than any two-edged sword It is a Spiritual not a Martial a Theological not a Polemical sword that is given to the Church to bind Kings in Chains and Nobles in Fetters of Iron What by corporal Imprisonment God forbid but by awakening their Consciences and convincing them of the evil guilt and danger of sin which in Scripture is set forth by spiritual Captivity Isa 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to proclaim Liberty to the Captives and the opening of the Prison doors to them that are bound that is to file asunder the Fetters and to knock off the Chains of the guilt of sins from the Conscience by the promulgation of Gospel-Grace and pardoning Mercy 2. The Second Reason of Davids detestation against stretching forth his hand against Saul is taken from Sauls Relation to God the Lords Anointed Which is ingeminated in the Text. Ingeminations do augment the force and signification of expressions In blessing I will bless thee Gen. 22.17 and in multiplying I will multiply thee that is I will certainly and greatly bless and multiply thee As David by the frequent Iteration of Absaloms name 2 Sa. 18.33 O my Son Absalom my Son my Son Absalom would God I had died for thee O Absalom my Son my Son did signifie his great sorrow for his death So by his duplication of these words the Lords Anointed he doth shew the great and awful reverence due to Saul by reason of his Relation unto God This expression the Lords Anointed may be considered in a threefold respect 1. As it is a Title of Honour 2. As it signifieth Gods Qualification of Saul for this Office 3. As it imports the Divine Original and Institution of his Office 1. As it is a Title of Honour It is an Epithere which is given to Jesus Christ himself Psalm 2. Christ is a word that signifieth Anointed David doth not exclaim against Saul as a Tyrant a Persecutor as a devouring Lion and a destroying Bear though he received as much Injury from him as ever any Subject did from a Prince but maketh mention of him in a very reverent and honourable manner He was so far from wounding Sanls heart with the Sword of violence that he would not wound his good Name with the Sword of his Tongue From whence note That the Language of Subjects of and to their Soveraign Observ ought not to savour of Contempt and Insolency but of honour and reverence toward his Person and Office Thou shalt not revile the gods nor curse the Ruler of thy people Ex. 22.28 The August Names of Kings ought not to be besooted with the opprobrions and ignominious Titles of Traytors Tyrants and Usurpers Is it sit to say to a King thou art wicked or to Princes Job 34.18 ye are ungodly Take heed of painting such in the shape of the Devil who wear the Livery of God I have said ye are gods Psalm 82. Isa 49. Ezek. 34.23 Psal 78.71 72. Rom. 13. Ps 82.6 Jude v. 8. 2 Sa. 21.17 Lam. 4.20 With what honourable Titles hath the Holy Ghost adorned Rulers They are called Fathers yea and Nursing Fathers and Nursing Mothers to a Nation Pastors and Shepherds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sons of the most High Dignities the Light of Israel or the Lamp or Candle of Israel As the Sun is to the world so is a King to his Kingdom even the Fountain of Light and Life The Breath of our Nostrils And here in my Text the Lords Anointed The Lord hath purposely dignified Princes with these Names betokening Majesty and Preheminence as with so many orient Pearls and shining Diamonds and Jewels to beget a reverence in us toward them and to guard them from the virulent and insolent Tongues of cursing Shimei's Wherefore take heed that ye slander not the Footsteps of the Lords Anointed nor reproach the Father of your Nation For the eye that mocketh his Father and despiseth to obey his Mother the Ravens of the Valleys shall pick it out and the young Eagles shall eat it Beware of reviling those sacred persons on whom God hath accumulated so many Titles of Honour Yea the Lord foreseeing how many Malicious Doegs and blasphemous Rabshekahs Kings would meet withal Exod. 21.6 Ex. 22.28 Psal 82.1 Ps 138.1 2 Thes 2.4 hath baptized them with his own most Reverent and Glorious Name The Lord standeth in the Congregation of the Mighty he judgeth among the gods Before the gods will I sing praise unto thee This venerable Appellation given to Magistrates should teach the Cynical Quaker and the morose Anabaptist with all other ejusdem farinae not to scruple at expressions of reverence such as His Maâ—esty Dread Soveraign and the like toward them and instruct them in better Manners Breeding and Civility than to court the Lords Vicegerents and Deputies with such blunt and rustical Language as if they were their Equals or Inferiours Piety is no enemy to Civility not Christianity to Humanity Religion doth not forbid good Manners The Apostle Paul accounted it nothing unbeseeming his Apostolical Office to use some Courtship in his Apologetical Oration before King Agrippa Murder may be committed by the Tongue as well as by the Hand As the Seventh Commandment doth forbid not only the gross act of Adultery but also 1. Heart-adultery as unclean Thoughts 2. Eye-adultery as wanton Glances 3. Ear-adulterie as hearkening to obscene discourse 4. Hand-adultery wanton Dalliances 5. Lip-adultery as unholy Kisses 6. Tongue-adultery Lascivious speech and uttering Ribaldry So the Sixth Commandment Thou shalt not kill doth extend not only to the actual embruing the hands in the bloud of men but also 1. Mat. 5.22 1 John 3.15 To Heart-murder rash anger envy hatred and all inordinate passions and degrees of Murder Wherefore saith Solomon curse not the King in thy thought for a Bird of the Air shall carry the voice Eccl. 10.20 and that which hath wings shall tell the Matter 2.