our King that sword which being pampered with Peace we wantonly drew God would not sheath till he had beat us with It and sheathed it in our Bowels How destructive Warre is to a Nation I need not tell you we have too too long tasted of the bitter fruits of it ever since that constrained departure of his Majesty from his Palace the devouring sword hath been among us till the happy restitution of our now Raigning Soveraigne How did our own mercilesse fellow subjects like the Tyrants of Athens or like so many Wolves or Tygers worry us That usurped Dominion which they unlawfully got by the sword they as unlawfully maintained by the sword O what summes did they extort from us that they might consume it upon their lusts O what armies did their appaled guilty consciences levy O how did they scarre us into a constrained obedience Though our bodies were subject to them yet our hearts and souls onely to our lawful Prince 2. As we wanted Peace so also truth instead of ancient Apostolique truths we had onely divided novelties figments Chimeras the dreams and fancies of deluded mens brains who would own nothing for truth but what made for their own interests Instead of Preaching loyalty they Preached rebellion instead of Preaching unity they Preached Schisme and Heresy The Church mourn'd the Woman was fled into the Wildernesse Religion put on black our pious learned teachers were driven into corners the blind led the blind our Starres of the first magnitude were overclouded there were no stately Cedars left in the Lebanon of the Church few or no Trees that bare pleasant fruit were standing in the Paradise of God Those Divines that were most eminent for piety and learning were silenced their adversaries works were the works of darknesse therefore they hated the light and the dispencers of it The seers themselves were blind the people perished because there was no vision England was turned Amsterdam any one that had lost his Religion might have found it here every family had a certain Religion peculiar to it self The Universities were discountenanced the Church revenues converted to private mens uses They that had no reverence for the Crown had lesse for the Mitre 'T was no wonder that they that would have no King would have no Bishop England that was the Goshen of the World a Land of light was now turned into an Egypt a Land of darknesse It was such darknesse as we afterwards felt in those swarmes of Heresies and blasphemous opinions that were among us 3. The want of Lawes and the due administration of Justice As it is one of the great happinesses of a Nation to have good Lawes and to have them executed so it is the great misery of a Nation either to be without Lawes or without the execution of them this was our misery the Fountains of Justice were Sealed the Streams were dam'd up those Servants that ruled over us they turned judgement into gall and the fruits of righteousnesse into hemlock they trampled upon all the Fundamental Lawes of the Land they raced the very Foundations of Government they knew no Lawes but their lusts and what ambition prompted them to The voice of Justice could not be heard for the beating of Drums sounding of Trumpets the prerogative of the King the priviledges of Parliament the just rights and liberties of the people were violated and trodden upon it was death as much as to name any of these a man could call nothing his own neither was there any certainty of any thing We were nothing else but a sacrifice to their ambition and cruelty For the iniquities of our Nation many were our Princes we that would not submit to the Government of one pious mercifull King before were afterwards compelled to submit to the Tyranny of thirty or fourty mercilesse ones these these were the miseries these were the heavy burdens we sighed and groaned under when we had no King in this our Israel Now we have seen the black let us now see the white we have heard the harsher and more grating let us now hear the sweeter and more ear-pleasing notes Let us view those blessings that we enjoy now God hath bin pleased to give us a King in this our Israel As the setting of our first Sun King Charles the I. the mirrour of Kings and glory of Martyrs was one of the greatest causes of our miseries darknesses ever since so the rising of King Charles the II. is under God the greatest cause of our light warmth and comfort This Sun like the Sun of Righteousnesse did arise with healing under his wings Parallell and answerable to all our fore mentioned wounds In King Charles the II. we have a salve 1. We have peace our wound was war now oursalve is peace What can be more acceptable to a Nation so long worried with wars than peace Peace it is the glue that cements and sodders a divided distracted Nation It is a choice mercy a token of Gods love and favour Surely if warre be a great judgement then by the rule of contraries peace cannot but be a great mercy Peace is the Mother of plenty the nourisher of arts and ingenuity it is hard to tell whether a Nation be more miserable by war or happy by Peace whether the one doth it more harme or the other good Now our insulting Tyrannizing lawlesse armies are disbanded that were wont to destroy not defend us and blessed by God we can sit in Peace and quietnesse under our own Vines and Fig-tree and there is none to make us affraid 2. As we have Peace so we have also truth Peace and truth doe well together it is our happinesse that we have both now our eyes behold our teachers such as have the tongue of the learned and know how to speak a word in due season such as can divide the word of truth aright pastours that can feed us with knowledge Now the Starres of the Church are fixed the Trees of Paradise take root Universities are in couraged the Churches revenues are restored Religion learning and what soever is praise worthy flourish The word is Preached the Sacraments are administred in a reverent decent manner all things are done decently and in order The face of all things both in Church and State is more amiable and lovely 3. As there is respect had to Divine so also to humane Lawes we are now governed by the ancient fundamental Lawes of our Realme these are the compasses that we steer by these are the standing rules of the Nation Justice now runs down like a mighty stream and waters all our Land the cryes of the Fatherlesse and Widow are heard courts are open grievances are redressed the Kings prerogative the Priviledges of Parliament the liberties of the subject are all preserved inviolate These are the happinesses we enjoy under the wings of a gracious Prince and surely happy is the people that is in such a case If we reflect upon our former and
also to continue its happinesse The Preacher tells us in the words of my Text blessed art thou O Land when thy King is the Son of nobles In the 16. verse of this Capter wee read of the misery of that Nation that hath a childish Prince one that hath not an head fit for a diadem nor shoulders able to sustaine the weight of Government and as he tells us of the misery so also of the happynesse of a Nation when it is blessed not with a Tyrannizing upstart of the meanest of the people but with one of the blood Royal not with a Thistle but with a Cedar blessed art thou O Land when thy King is the Son of nobles that is happy art thou Oh Nation when thy King is not of mean base but of high noble extraction whose nobility and vertues may command reverence and bespeak him fit for a Crown In the words we have 1. A Governour or King happy art thou Oh Land when thy King 2. His Character he his no bramble but the Son of Nobles happy art thou Oh Land when thy King is the Son of nobles 3. The product or result of both happynesse happy art thou Oh Land when thy King is the Son of nobles the main hing upon which my discours shall turn shall be this That it is the great happynesse of a Nation to be governed Monarchichally It is the happynesse of a Nation to be Governed by a good King especially one that is of noble extraction of the blood Royal. In the prosecution of it I shall use this Method 1. Prove it by Scripture 2. Give you some reasons and arguments for it 3. Shew you that it the happynesse of our Nation in particular 4. Make use of all 1. That itis the happiness of a Nation to be governed by a good King especially one of Noble extraction is clear from these Scriptures 2 Chron. â— 11. Because the Lord haloved his people he hath made thee King over them Solomon was a good King one of the blood Royal descended from a King it was the happynesse of the Israelites to have such a one and it is said expresly because the Lord loved them he gave them Solomon That which is a token of Gods love and favour cannot but bespeak a Nation happy 1 Kings 10. 8 9. Happy are thy men happy are thy servants which stand continually before thee because God loved Israel therefore hath he made thee King to doe Justice and Judgement In the 8. vers The Queen of Sheba proclaims the happynesse of Solomons subjects under the pious and prudent Government of so good a King shee looks upon it as a special argument of Gods favour that he had given them one that would doe Justice and Judgment Proverb 28. 2. For the transgressions of a Land many are the Princes thereof but by a man of understanding and knowledge the estate thereof shall be prolonged In the former part of this verse we have the misery of a Nation groaning under the oppression of many Princes or Tyrants and in the later part the happynesse of it under one lawful prudent Prince which is styled here to be a man of understanding knowledge which prolongeth the Estate of a Land and makes it long lived and durable 1 Tim. 2. 1 2. I exhort therefore that prayers be made for all men for Kings and all that are in authority that wee may lead a quiet and peaceable life under them In the 1. verse We are exhorted to pray for Kings and such as are in authority in the 2. verse We have the reason that we may tast of the pleasant fruits of their Government that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life under them this is the happynesse that we enjoy under Kings and Governours and therefore we are to pray for them Rom. 13. 4. The Apostle tells us that a Magistrate is the Minister of God for good a King the supream Magistrate he is Gods Minister for the good of a Nation So much may suffice for the 1. Thing the proof of it by Scripture I proceed to the 2. The reason and arguments of it 1. Monarchy or Kingly Government is a Government of Gods own ordination not only so but approbation also and therefore a Nation cannot but be happy in it surely if a Nation be happy in any kind of Government it must be in a Government of Gods own designation and appointment God being most wise and most good and therefore knows what Government is best for a Nation and most tending to its happynesse Now that Monarchy is a Government of Gods own ordination and approbation it is very evident Prov. 8. 15. By me Kings Raigne and Princes decree Justice By me that is by my authority and appointment by my special grace and goodnesse 1 Chron. 29. 1. Solomon my Son whom alone God hath chosen Solomon was a King of Gods Election and God saith of David with my holy Oyl have I annointed my Servant David The King is the Lords annointed The Apostle Paul saith the powers that be bee of God that is of his appointment his institution 1 Sam. 10. 24. See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen that Kings are Iure Divino of Gods appointment is unquestionable and as Monarchy is of Gods institution so approbation this is a consectary of the other Kingly Government being ordained by God he cannot but approve of it for God doth approve of those things he doth himself 2. Monarchy or Kingly Government is the best of Governments and therefore it cannot but be the happiness of a Nation to be so governed It is the happynesse of a Nation to be governed with the best Government surely if any Government can promise happynesse it must be the best in vain doe we expect it from any other if the best cannot doe it That Kingly Government is the best will easily be evinced that Government is the best which most resembles that Government which is absolutely the best to wit that of the King of Kings the Lord of Lords That picture is the best which cometh nearest to one of Vandikes Michael Angelos or some exquisite artist the Moon we look upon as the best of lights except the Sun because it resembles it most that Orator is best that comes nearest Cicero the best of Orators that Moralist is best which is most like Seneca the most reputed Moralist that Philosoper is most excellent that resembles Aristotle most whom by way of eminencie we call the Philosopher That Government is the best in the World which hath the most legible Characters and similitudes of the Government of the World That Monarchy hath so is apparent what is a King but the lively embleme and image of the King of Kings The one is the Archetype the other the ectype the one is as the Seal the other as the Wax What 's the whole World but Gods Kingdome the World is governed by a wise just merciful God and a Kingdome is
those fair copies which they have drawn us I proceed in the seaventh place to make use 1. This may be for the just reproof of all unjust Stewards all straight handed Divese's those that doe not discharge their trusts that doe not disburse their goods to those good ends uses for which they were bestowed upon them whether publick or private Oh! how many unprofitable Vacias are there in the world that are good for nothing but seeme to be buried whilst they are alive how many are there of whom it may be said as they said of degenerated Alexander that how was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the burthen of the earth how many are there that are like Cypresse-trees 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stately and high but fruitlesse But such Trees they are not for Paradise they are fit onely to be hewen down cast into the fire How many are there in the World that Cleopatra like spend whole Kingdomes upon their lusts Whose God is their belly whose end is destruction They spend so much on their own bellies that they can spare nothing for the bellies of the poore it will be a sad thing when God shall say to such men you were my stewards why did ye not cloath the naked give meat to the hungry drink to the thirsty Go ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels for I was an hungred and ye gave me no meat I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink naked and ye did not cloath me sicke and ye did not visit me Nay how many sacrilegious Persons are there in the World that are so far from building Churches and colledges that they would pull them down They are like the King of Scicily that to enlarge his Palace pulled down a Temple Oh how many are there that to enlarge their owne houses can be content to pull down the house of God We have had too sad experience of this in our own Nation those two wide-mouthed Cormorants pretended piety liberty had allmost swallowed up Church and State It was of the Lords mercies that we were not consumed and because his compassions fail not I think this Nation hath been one of the most Sacrilegious Nations under the cope of Heaven I am verily perswaded that that deep dyed Crimson Heaven deriding sin of Sacriledge was one of the greatest causes of this Nations miseries But now that Justice which seemed to sleep all this while hath at length over taken the Authours and Achans of our miseries by this time some of them know what it is to kill Kings rob Churches and may all men that propose to themselves no better ends have no better ends for those that are unexecuted though I cā wish no great good to their bodies yet in charity I wish much good to their souls I wish that God may be more merciful to their souls than they have been to other mens bodies and that those that thirsted so much after blood would at length thirst after the bloud of Jesus 2. Are we to do good to lay out those blessings that God hath beē pleased to bestow upō us for publicke private uses O then let me here in the more especial presence of God and his Holy Angels beseech and intreat you to doe good to lay out your gifts graces goods for Gods glory the benefit of your Brethren look upon your selves as born not so much for your selves as for Gods glory and the good of others look upon your selves as lent onely to your selves and wholly given to others O you that are rich in this World and have so many golden opportunities of doing good endeavour to be rich in good works as God hath made you great so endeavour to be good and to doe good though greatnesse and goodnesse seldome meet together yet they are not incompatible inconsistent it is not impossible for the same man to be great good and just O cloath the naked give meat to the hungry drink to the thirsty entertain the stranger redeem the Captive visit the sicke consider that ye are not Lords to doe what ye please with what ye have nor treasurers to hoard up but ye are stewards ye are the hands of God to disburse and wo be unto you if ye not doe so Consider that when ye come trembing and shivering before Christs dreadful Tribunal it will not be asked you how great ye were but how good ye were It will not be for your comfort that ye had an abundance but that ye were abundant in well disposing of that ye had O ye that are Magistrates doe good and distribute Justice vindicate the right of the Fatherlesse and the Widow see that Gods purer Worship be maintained that Justice be executed that the peace be kept O let noti the sword of Justice lye rusty in the scabbard but draw it against all Sabbath-breakers contemners of Church discipline blasphemers swearers drunkards scandalous irregular livers know that God stands in the assembly of the Gods And you O my Fathers and Brethren of the Ministery if the slenderness of your fortunes will not permit you to doe good to your Brethrens bodies yet doe good to their souls There is a charity to the soul as well as to the body and it is as much nay more charity to relieve a fainting languishing soul than to relieve a fainting languishing body O bind up the broken strengthen the weak comfort the comfortlesse visit the sicke doe good by your Preaching doe good by your writing doe good by your living doe not onely talke of God but walke with God doe not onely Preach in the Pulpit but out of the Pulpit doe not onely Preach Sermons but live Sermons the whole life of a good Divine should be nothing else but a Sermon he should be an Angell in comparison of other men taller than others by the head and shoulders in piety O consider that you are Suns and if ye be in an Eclipse the whole World will take notice of you people are apter to take notice of one vice in a Minister more than of a hundred vertues A copy should be fair a line straight and he that is to teach others to walke should be no cripple himself How unbeseeming a thing is it for a Minister that Preacheth humility to be proud For a man that discourseth whole years of Heaven to be earthy O my Brethren do not cloyster your excellencies hide your Tallents in a Napkin doe not like dark Lanthornes shine onely to your selves but let your light so shine that men secing your good works may glorify your Father which is in Heaven O ye that are Tutours do good to your pupils be not unfaithful to God and men and for your encouragement consider that when ye doe good to a pupil ye doe good to a whole Nation nay peradventure to the whole world Who knowes but such a one may prove an Ursine an Usher an Andrewes a Cedar in learning