where the Prince and the Prophet Anglicè the * Civil and Ecclesiastical Tyrants had their Seats and their Seas the Cities Towns Countries were the most debauch'd parts of the whole Nation 5. He will rule all and be ruled by none he throws away the bonds of Nature Reason and Religion and acts by his pride pleasure and passion No not by God Nature Reason Law Exod. 5. 2. Pharaoh said Who is the Lord that I should obey his voyce and let Israel go I know not the Lord neither will I let Israel go Pride compasseth them about like a chain violence covereth them as a garment Psal. 73 6. Taking pleasure in their pride and cruelty until their pride bring them low Prov. 29. 23. Their greatness and gallantry makes them swell and look loftily Is not this great Babel that I have built for the house of my Kingdom by the might of my power and for the honour of my Majesty said proud Nebuchadnezzar but God pluckt down his plumes and stain'd all his glory and sent him to school amongst wilde beasts that he might learn better manners then to vye it thus with the great God of Heaven Earth Sea the Râ—ign and Ruine the pride and punishment of Tyrus Eze. 28. 27. because his heart was liftâ—d up he said I am a God but God threatened to darken his brâ—ghâ—ness to shame his glory and to bring him to the pit I might instance likewise in Herod who glittering in his shining garb as Josephus hath it assuming the honour of God was ungodded yea unman'd by the basest of vermin The time would fail to speak to Bâ—nâ—adad Rabshecha Zenacherib Antiochus Nicanor of Alexander the Great of Nero of Bajazet the great Turkish Emperor with many others whose pride insolency and haughtiness brought the wheel oâ— Gods wrath so exemplaâ—lry upon them that they are made some in sacred and others in other Histories perpetual monuments of Gods most fearful indignation amongst whom may we not bring the late King of England of bleeding memory whose stubbornness resoluteness and unruleableness by Parliaments Councels or the wisest of his people brought him to ruine because they would not suffer him to command like a God without contradiction He acted so like a Devil murthâ—ring and massacring his people with fire and sword until the wrath of the Lord broke out upon him like a Lion from the thickeâ—s devouring him by the hands of his own people to the hâ—rror and amazement of all the Princes round about his Will was his Reason and his Reason his Will and both his downfall 6. His Commonwealth is a common woe where his pâ—or Subjects as in a great Bridewell receive their work and their wages their labour and their lashes their stripes and stipends as his meer discretion and the will of his Beadles Where a Tyrant rules the Estates Lives and Liberties of the People are not theirs but his not at theirs but at his commands Cato calls them Fures publicos pâ—blâ—qâ—e Tâ—ieves another Latrones cum privilegio Râ—bbâ—s by authority the very Scabs of a Nation Isai. 5. 7. He looked for Judgment but behold Oppression or a Scab for Righteousness but behold a Cry Like that of the poor Subjects of Phalaris whose delight it was to see and hear their tortures and screeches as John Maria Duke of Millane who took pleasure to throw his people to be torn in pieces by fierce Mastives With the Spaniard it is sin to enquire into Religion and punishable by a perpetual cruel Inquisition With the French it is crime enough in the poor Husbandman to wear good clothes of his own getting eat good meat of his own breeding it is meat for his Master and his Attendants too good for him The great Turk hath his Bow strings to strangle his Subjâ—cts at their pleasure whose commands must be obeyed though they be to require whom he pleaseth to throw themselves headlong and break them into pieces down steep Rocks and Clifts lest a worse thing if worse may be should befall them 7. In stead of punishing offences he arms Offenders whereby he becomes the greatest Traytor Murtherer and Thief violating the greatest Trusts of the Liberties Lives and Livelyhoods of the People As God hath his good Angels to do his Will viz. secure and defend protect and preserve his people and the Devil his evil Angels for contrary service even so Tyrants which are Satans first-born have their Angels or Messengers viz. whole Troops Regiments and Armies to execute their cursed Commands as Herod had his armed men sent out to destroy poor Innocents all Histories recording the cruelty of Tyrants mention their numerous and armed Agents their swift Mâ—ssengers and Executioners of fury who are commonly the scum filth and froth of the Nation hence it was that when the late King set up his Standard against his Parliament and People the vilest basest and worst of the Nation did flow in unto him whereof God made a great Sacrifice unto his Justice and Indignation by their utter ruine and destruction 8. He eats up the people like bread and drinks their blood like sweet wine commanding all as if he made all though he mars all making his Creators his creatures his Makers his meat his Lords his Loons All men naturally are born free made at first to command and not to obey and so lived until from the Spring of Adams transgression they fell among themselves to do violence and wrong and foreseeing that such courses must needs tend to common destruction they agreed by common consent to bind each other from mutual injury and because a mutual faith was not sufficient unto mutual peace therefore they ordained Authority by mutual consent and betrusted some therewith to restrain by force and punishment the violation of common right which Trustees were not so made to bâ— their Lords and Masters but Dâ—puâ—ies and Commissioners to execute that Justice which else every man by the bâ—nd of Nature and Covenant must have executed for himself and for another and why any man should have lordship or authority over others but for this common end is not imaginable Rulers were made by the people not the people by them they were made for the people not the people for them they are each particular mans Lord by their own consent for each mans peace but they are servants to the whole for the good of all no manâ—s bound to the Ruler in any matter of common prejudice but he iâ— bound to them all in common preservation the whole owe not their lives to any though never â—o great on Earth the greatest oweth his liâ—e to the whole and is made great by God and man for service and not for Lordship sake whâ—n such Trustees turn Tyrants what are thâ—y but the greaâ—est Traytors Is not Treason the betraying of just Trustâ— the greater the Tâ—ust the greater the Treason the worse the Tâ—aytor What greater Trust then that of Governmenâ— which being once voâ—unâ—â—râ—ly
me an empty vessel he hath swallowed me up like a Dragon he hath filled his belly with my delicates he hath cast me out It is said that the Roman Tyrants in the first Persecutions did destroy twenty seven millions of people and that with such cruelties as were never heard of before One mentions a cruel Tyrant who to get monies of his miserable Subjects used to send for them first to the Court as Charls ultimus Angliae did use to send for the Citizens of London and others that refused to pay Ship monies c. and if they did deny to pay according to his pleasure he would first knock out one of their tâ—eth and then another until they did yield to pay the same as Charls aforesaid by himself or Agâ—nts did send persons that would not pay his illegal and unjust demands to New-gate 2. A Tyrants Regiment is without Righteousnesâ— he lives by Robbery with Authority making his Will his Warrant and his Lust his Law He is not a Magistrate but a Malefactor not a Preserver but a Persecutor of Law and Equity Righteousness is a raâ—iâ—y in the Court of Tyrants except unconcerned in their own interest where golden Angels especially if their name be Legion are their sacred Oracles from whose mouth they receive and so give sentence accordingly be it right or wrong to the wresting of Judgment the Bribe prospereth which way soever it turneth making even wise men mad by their unrighteous sentence Their right hand is full of bribes Psal. 26. 10. Solomon saith such personâ—trouble their own houses Prov. 15. 27. fire their nests while they think to feather them Fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery Job 15. 34. It was an Oath taken by the very Heathen Judges Audiam accusatorem reum sine affâ—ctibus personarum respectione I will hear the Plaintiff and Difendant with an equal mind without affâ—ction or respect of persons It is â—â—corded that Olanes sat upon the fleyd skin of his father Sâ—lanes naâ—led by Chambises on the Tribunal There are more thâ—n whispers of very sad stories of the bribery and baseness of our laâ—e English Court and the greatest therein taking mony on both sides and doing Justâ—ce on neither side but as I said before â—iâ—e consumes the tabernacles of bribery wiâ—ness the woful desolations of that wretched Family the Husband hunted out of the world by the hand of Justice and driven from light to darkness the Wife banished from the Land of her pleasures the Children in their several dispersions in several places unwelcome to all being a burthen to all The Word of the Lord is tryed The house of the wicked shall be overthrown Prov. 14 11. Brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation Job 18. 15. 3. He carries death at his tongues end the peoples welfare is at his mâ—er pleasure where his word is there is power and be his doings right or wrong who dares say unto him What dost thou Hiâ— heart is hard his hands are heavy and wo be to him thaâ—â—eels their stroke He hath long arms and can strike at a distance he wants not a heart to conceive a head to conâ—â—ive nor hands to execute his bloody Commands It is said that Methridates with one Letter did slay fourscore thousand Citizens of Rome none must cross them in their devilish cruelty except he will take a Bear by the tooth or a Lyon by the beard I dare not dispute said a Philosopher to Adrian the Emperor with him that hath thirty Legions at his command neque in eum scribere qui potest proscribere nor write against him that can easily undo me Against his word there must be no rising up Prov 30. 31. They will ride without reins until unhors'd with Haman and their honour of all becomes the hatred and scorn of all His wrath is as a roaring Lyon Prov. 19. 12. amazing al that are about them as a late King of England who though he had more of the nature of a Fox then a Lâ—on yet would make hâ— Courtiers tremble with his sparkling countenance fierce fiery furious and phâ—enzylike cursing and swearing Nebuchadnâ—zzars rage against those three Worthies in Daniel was hotâ—er then his Oven for he had destroyed them in his heart when his Oven could not hurt them for refusing to obey his idolatrous Commands and Herod by the word of his mouâ—h hath bloody Executioners to murther poor innocent childâ—en in a barbarous manner Now cursed be the anger ofâ—yrants for it is fierce and their wrath for it is cruel by means whereof they live undesired they dye unlamented as Nerva Valentinian yea their ruine is the rejoycing of the people as was that of Nero Cum mors crudelem rapuissâ—t saeva Neronem Credibile est mulâ—os Romam agitasse jocos When the wicked perish the City shouts for joy Prov. 11. 11. Absolute Power tickâ—es Tyrants to destroy with a word a nod this is their glory Caesar told Metâ—llus he could as easily destroy him as bid it to be done And Caligula speaking to his Consuls I laugh said he to think that I can kill you with a nod of my head and that this fair throat of my Wives shall be presently cut if I but speak the word To have power to crucifie and power to save was Pilates pleasure and delight 4. He makes his people tremble before him he kills and saves puts down and sets up in the haughtiness of his heart and pride of his power persons and principles at his meer discretion It is said of Nebuchadnezzar that having a Kingdom Majesty glory and honour in so much that all people Nations and Languages feared and trembled before him his heart was lifted up and his mind hardened in pride that whom he would he slew and whom he would he kept alive and whom he would he set up and whom he would he put down You may judg of their disposition by his own and of his by his cruel decree against Daniel who did him no wrong like King like Courtiers like Prince like Priest for whom will they advance but either those that are their likes or whom they hope to make their likes When Princes are roaring Lions Zeph. 3. 3. they that are advanced Judges are evening Wolves vers. 3. The Prophets are light and treacherous and the Priests do violence to the Law vers. 4. What a cursed crew is here He doth not scatter but gather the wicked about him for they love their image Regis ad exemplum c. Hence it is that Kings Courts in Cities and Countries as they remove from place to place are little other ways then a moving Hell on Earth where the Elect of Satan the most cursing swearing blaspheming lascivious proud wanton effeminate base and beastly persons are gathered together from all the Nation people and families of the whole Country infecting all places where ever they come rendring them as it were the very suburbs of Hell Hence it was that
justice in a publick manner and himself and accomplices were rendred acceptable spectacles of justice unto the people When Rehoboam shall tread in the steps of his fathers unjust exactions and upon the complaint and petition of his people for their just rights and priviledges he shall refuse to hear them to ease them but tells them I will add to my Fathers yoke he chasâ—ised you with whips but I will chastise you with Scorpions Ten parts of 12. of his people cast him off made war against him What said they if this be the case that we must be whipt and slasht by this proud Tyrant and at his will and the will of his cursed Courtiers and his green-headed Grandees Away with him what portion have we in this Tyrant To your tents O Israel Arm arm let him now look to himself 1 King 12. from the first to the twenty one ver. his grave Councellors told him plainly Vers 7. If thou wilt be a Servant unto this people and serve them and speak good words to them treat them kindly they will be thy servants for ever Where you may see i. that the King was made so to be their Servant and not to Lord it over them And secondly That when Kings are Servants to the people the people are thâ—iâ— ready and free and willing servants yea vassels unto them Love will compel them But when they perceive that they have no portion in him he shall have as little in them By how much the greater the person is that offâ—nds by so much the greater is his fault by so much the greater his punishment ought to be And I believe that that late exemplary piece of justice at Whitehall Gate upon the late Tyrant was one of the â—attest richest and most acceptable Sacrifice that hath been offered up unto the most righteous God that loveth righteousness in this Nation before that day And that the zeal of our Judges in executing petty thieves robbers and murtherers at Tyburn was but as the tything of Mint and Cummin in comparison of that great thing of the Law then done 16. His light shall be put out his sparks shall not shine Terrors shall make him afraid on every side his own Counsel shall cast him down his roots shall be dried up beneatlh and above shall his branches be cut off His remembrance shall perish from the Earth and he shall have no name in the Street His triumph is but short and his joy but for a moment though his Excellency mount up unto the Heavens and his Head reaches unto the Clouds yet shall he perish for ever like his own dung he shall flye away as a dream and be chased as a vision of the night the eye which saw him shall see him no more neither shall his place any more behold him Solomon saith That a violent bloody Tyrant shall flee to the pit let no man slay him Prov. 28. 17. Let no man mediate for him lest he pay down as Ahab did life for life people for people 1 King 20. 42. When Tyrants perish the righteous increase Prov. 28. 28. They swarm like Bâ—es in a Sun-shine day When the wicked rise good men skulk and hide their heads as Moses fled from Pharaoh David from Saul Eliah from Ahab Obadiah's Clients from Jezabel Jeremiah from Jehoiakim Joseph and the Child Jesus from Herod c. But wherein they dealproudly God is above them He seeth their day is coming He sits in Heaven and scorneth these scorners The Most High cuts off the Spirit of Princes he is terrible unto these tyrannical Kings of the Earth those scourges of the World God so subdued Senacherib as the Egyptians in memory of it did set up his Statue in the Temple of Vulcan with this inscription Let all that behold me learn to fear God Tyrants shall be sure sooner or later to meet with their match The blood-thirsty man shall not live out half his dayes God will at last appear to their fearful destruction to be glorious in holiness fearful in praises doing wonders of wrath and ruine upon bloody Pharaohs he will tear out those bowels that are fill'd and stuft with the blood of the poor and make inquisition for their blood then will he remember and not forget the complaint of the poor hâ—e hath fulfill'd his threatnings against Tyrants in our eyes and â—â—â—ed our Nation from those men of blood that they may fall and fall in all the parts of the world and never rise up again especially in our English Nation That God would melt all Crowns and Sâ—epters of the Potentates of the Earth into a Crown Sâ—epter for the Head and hand of Jesus Christ putting all Powâ—rs and Authorities under his feet making our Government peace and Exactors Righteousness that violence be no more heard of in our Land nor desolation nor destruction within ouâ— Borders Let all the people CRI IN HOPE AMEN A Protector OR Homo Homini Deus JUst Government is Gods Ordinance for mans good the form thereof mans appointment with Gods approbation the end thereof mans felicity and Gods glory and a just Governor is a Protector of both The Institution of Government is of God the Constitution of man the Governors themselves of both viz. Gods permission and mans election JVST GOVERNMENT IS GODS ORDINANCE The Powers that be are ordained of God Rom. 13. 1. Mans sin was the cause of his subjection to all mortals but Gods mercy did institute the same to preserve him from ruine by his own wickedness had not man sinned there had been a priorâ—ty but not a soveraignty there had been a reverence in the child to the father as the instrument of his production but no subjection because no justiciating power had been stablished there being no need of it the eternal Law written in every mans heart would have been every mans guide had it not been for sin sin ushered in subjection as a curse at the heels of it Gen. 3. 16. Thy desire shall be to thy husband he shall rule over thee her disobedience expos'd her to subjection by Gods Ordinance Soveraignty and subjection are Gods appointment FOR MANS GOOD He is the minister of God to thee for good Rom. 134 Sociableness or appetitus convivendi is the impress of Nature and the reason thereof mutual preservation and accommodation which cannot be without Government Sin hath brought sorrow upon the world Sin entered into the world in the van of a black and bloody Regiment sorrows pains aches hunger thirâ—t shame c. with death through sin in the rear Conscience of guilt brings fear of death hence one end of society is preservation and because men need security from misery and ruine by one another therefore hath God appointed Government and Governors among themselves for the good of all the form of which Government is leâ—t by God to their own discretion who hath only confin'd them within the limits of this general rule His GLORY and THEIR FELICITY Forms
her adversariâ—s but the goodness of her cause he is no secret accepter of persons Job 13. 10. he hears causes without prejudicial impiety and judiciously examines them without sinister obliquity and sincerely determins them without sinful partiality It was said of Cato that he was one A quo nemo unquam rem injustam petere audebat So just as no man durst make any unjust request unto him He esteemeth royalty without righteousness as eminent dishonour guilded putrifaction glorious baseness riches retinue splendor and greatness no better then meer Pageantry shews and shadows of Nobleness which causeth his vigilancy over his own heart and his own family Righteousness is the way to ricâ—es goodness makes men glorious It was said by one of Constantine the Great Bonus Deus Constantinum magnum tantis tâ—rrenis implevit muneribus quanta optare nullus auderet The good Lord heaped so much outward happiness upon his faithful Servant Constantine the Great as no man ever durst to have wished more his glory like Sarah's beauty consisteth in the hidden man 1 Pet. 3. 4. He knows that Dignitas in indigno est ornamentum in luto That a jewel of gold in a swines â—nout is as comely as gay clothes upon vile persons painted Sepulchres Solomons wisdom rendred him more honourable then all his glittering and golden glory the justice wisdom righteousness of a pious Prince these are Ornaments of grace and Crowns of glory Prov. 4. 8 9. Riches honours delights pleasures life length of days seed and posterity are all entailed upon piety and holiness outward pomp greatness and glory suck out the goodness of the heart as the Ivy from the Oak except there be curious caution What are they but insufficient and unsatisfactory often provocations to vice and hinderancâ—s of vertue The Order of nature is inverted when vile men are exalted Psal. 12. 8. It is a foul incongruity and of very evil consequence vile persons are loathsom though veild with velvets and the children of Satan though in Sattin He hath great vigilancy over his own family he sees who they are and what they are every officer every servant he keeps is of his own choyce or approbation He cannot rule well in the Church much less in the Nation that ruleth not his own house well He bewares of an Achitophel a Doeg an Haman It was said of a Prince of Germany That esset alâ—uâ— si esset apud alios He would be another man were he with other men He takes heed who gets the royalty oâ— his ear lest he doth with him what he list David would not know i. e. own a wicked person Psal. 101. 4. and vers. 7. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house he that telleth lyes shall not tarry in my sight An hypocrite an Ismaelite shall not dwell wiâ—h him He takes heed of proud servants knowing that men will be apt to mistake him in them and think they read him in them A wicked person in his family is as an Achan in the Army a Jonas in the Ship 'T is his honour and wisdom to be loved and feared of his family which he will never be except they be wise and honest He that delicately bringeth up his servant shall have him become son at the length Prov. 29. 21. Solomon himself that sometimes knew better how to give good counsel then to take it entertains Jeroboam gave him great power in his house admitted him into so much familiarity that he let loose the bridle of domestical discipline unto him in so much that he took state upon him as a young Master in the house and soon after turn'd Traytor See the like in Abner Ishbosheths servant who grew so haughty that he must not be spoken to and so Zimri whom his Lord and Master Elah 1 King 16. 11. advanced Captain over half of his charets being thus like a begger set on horsebâ—ck â—ides without reins to the ruine of his Master and whole house Asperius nihil est humili dum surgit in altum It is with a Ruler in respect of evil servants as with a creature called Millipeda the more feet it hath the flower it goeth corrupt servants hinder the course of Justice this reflects upon their Lords His frowns are upon evil and his favors upon wise servants which is Solomons counsel Prov. 14. 3â— as was Pharaohs towards Joseph Darius towards Daniel Henry the Eâ—ght towards Cromwell who for his wisdom and faithfulness he raised from a mean person son to a Blacksmith to be Master of his Jewel-house Baron of Okeham in Rutland-shire then Knight of the Garter Earl of Essex Lord great Chamberlain and at last his Vicar General A wise servant may have rule over a son without dishonor to the father and discredit to the son Amongst his servants some may be wiser some better some more in Gods favour then others He lets such have rule over his houshold by his commission and suffers not the bâ—ambles to domineer over the Cedaâ—s The leâ—ity luxury idleness wantonness of the quondam Court at White-hall together with their concomitants were none of the lâ—ast onâ—â—ns of their destruction It is observed by one that among all the servants pleasures and delights which Solomon had he got him no fool or Jester which formerly Princes could not be without in this Nation no not when they should be most serious It is recorded of Henry the third King of France that in a solemn Pâ—â—cession at Paris he could not be without his Jestâ—r who walking between the King and the Cardinal made mirth to them both Was not here sweet devotion The truth is â—â—eir religious actions were all in jest their wicked in earnest I hope no such vile and vicious persons will be ever found more in our English Courts He is the joy of the just the delight of their souls the breath of their nostrils He lives beloved he dyes desired is buried with lamentations his generation is blessed and his name is had in everlasting remembrance The Death of Josiah struck the heart of Israel and Judah making their eyes as fountains of tears and their mourning so grâ—at that it grew to a Proverb The mourning of Hadadrimon in the valley of Megiddon Zach. 12. 11. His memory shall be blessed his name shall be heir to his life and hâ—s posterity shall enjoy the fruit of his vertue His children are blessed after him Prov. 20. 7. His righteousness is inherited by his posterity and laid up in everlasting remembrance and his translation shall be unto an incorruptible Crown of Glory which is undefiled and fadeth not away with the whole Family of God and the Spirits of just men made perfect where he shall receive a prepared Kingdom and dwell among those Mansions shining as the Sun in the Firmament for ever and ever FINIS * Kings and Bishops * Veraciter se excusavit de honore regni